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MICROCOPY RiSOlUTION TEST CHART
(ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2)
tSi tii
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S%S Rocheiter, New York U609 USA
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1
CINDERELLA.
rv
CoPtaiOHT, S. B. C»OCK«IT,
1901.
'm
p/^r-<s.^ ^
i
THE BIRDS OF THE GARDEN SANO THEIR WEDDING MARCH."
[Page 370.
j
CIJVDEItELLA :
A NOVEL
M
S. R. CROCKETT,
Ba»der».' The Flay Aetrtu." " The Qreu Man " » ThsReA aJ^»
-Kit Kennedy." "1*. Silver ll^- Jtc..^, ^"^ ^**'
•■* K
TOBOJTTO :
THE COPP CLARK COMPANY. LIMITED.
1001.
.- .-^"^ I
CONTENTS.
■.— The Honae of Arioland
. — The Innocent Lambs
.—The Beast of Dead Man's Pool'
.—The Bed Cross Knight
.—The Master of Darroch ... *"
.—The Front Door Bell Eings ...
. — Hester's Fortune
—A Mother in Bamah ... *.]
— Megsy's Bomance
—A House Left Desolate ...
-The Mourning of the Torphichans ..."
—Dr. Sylvanus Dances a Breakdown
-Megsy Tipperlin Beards the Lion in'his
-The Minister's Fortieth Housekeeper
-A Glance Under the Sunbonnet
—An Answer to Prayer ]'
—Hester in the Stranger's Land
—A Somewhat Warmer Welcome
-My Lord Darroch Talks Business
-Her Grace of Niddisdale
-The Foui Worlds of Empress Gate. '
-The Comfortable Estate of Matrimony
-Bed-Letter Day at the Manse
-The Way Not to Fall in Love
-The Way to Fall in Lore ...
-Heater Has an Audience
-Vic Geta Even
-A Fairy Godmother's Catechism .
-The Scratching of the Cats ...
-The Magic Wand Z
Den
1
9
17
23
32
40
46
63
61
69
74
81
89
99
106
113
120
125
134
141
146
150
165
160
168
176
184
191
198
Coirmm.
XXXI.— Canu in Love .
XXXII.-The Worm Turns
if f J?-J?* """^ ^~°-C"t Men ::: -
xYTv ~^* J^'^^*" °^ <^»^'» Table ;;:
AXXV.— On Bail
Xvi^T'-Jv® ^"^ ^°' **»« Pwis^utio'n '■'
SIS'I^' '^?^' ^"^ ^'^ *^° Tame !
AAitlX.—Gnunphy Guddlestane
YTT'"~S"f°'i ^^^* *^« Tables on Euth.'.*
XLI.—The First Hester
^^^"^.— love's Golden Weather
XLV.— Ways and Means
XLVI._A Masterful Young Man
X?vm'~l^°?'^ ^^^^^' *"^ the'wisdom
tTJ?"??^,,^"' ''^** ^*<* ^^ » Hell...
Aliix. — At Bay
L.— The Bolt Palls... ."."'
ttt"~?®' Mother's Wedding Dress"
lilL— Under the Canopy
End Paper
•••
of it
216
128
fli2
260
266
280
26S
27^
S8t
286
801
306
817
826
340
846
860
860
865
871
ILLUSTRATIONS.
^ltatM,,ini^teofier»U,d„bimhed'» ,ff
«ae found herself curiously isolatSrSlwallie'd homeward" S
She was so happy that it must be wicked" ^^^^'^ «l
"Sylvanus did not shake off hifl wife tills tiine".;: 5*
h
sie <
U2
360
255
aoor
aes'
2!T4
28i
286
aoi
30&
817
»26
820
CINDERELLA.
CHAPTER I.
The House op Aeioland.
TK J ^'' w ^^Pe^Uy over the old house of Arioland
The cock from his high perch on the stable ^ke sent
a gay chaUenge across hill and dale To him ^^
another moment responded his brott^e; down at th^
Lmco^s. Nether Aird on its broomyknowet^k UP
^e chime the sound diminishing as it recedS^
ttS^T^nf /"''u'^i? ^^^ ^°*^°^® delicate as the
b^de^s^fth^^at'h"^ ^^^ '' '^^^^^^ *^« ^- ^1-
Au^usl ^'^f'^l «lf pawned the day of the 2l8t of
hS StirW '^T*^^l^^^ ^,^*^^ ^g«r heart of
Jaester Stirling. Usually she slept on till from th^
gneve^s house she heard the horn blow for breast !
or she struggled into consciousness as the hoSe^^me'
clattering homeward from their morning soef of ^S-
and w^ only fully awake when Meg^ TSn h^^^
entered with her staid « Good mor^g/E HesteT"
SStTesonni'"^^ ^^^'^^'^^ ^ pHe^'f neatlyiS^^^
^ But this morning Hester had seen the earKest rook,
nse clamorous from beneath tiie black umbTdl^ o^il
^toTl7T\^h' shrubbeiy. She had op^ed ier
^dow and looked out when the sky was onW a baS
of cool grey mist, wid no man wa« yet abroad! ^
2
CINDBRELLA.
w J^ * ^^ expected, yehemently desired, her cousins
were coming from the city, all /our of them, EtheUnd
Vic and Claudia girls ofder than herself, and with
them (quantitj deUciously unknown !) a boy-a Teal
boy m trousers-Thomas Alisteir Torphichan! of whom
ever since she could remember, Heste? had thought as'
^ th^r '/°^^*' !2^ altogether most exalted being
m the world Prom the time when Megsy TippeVUn
«ciuX"Tom'» had *\' ^^^."!? "^ *^« sVplaces
i^ousin lom had shone steady as a star in the
tremulous imaginato>e, eager heart of the little g^rl
Rni^J^ ** ^*'* '^^ r« ^ ^^ hi^ ^ the flesh. ^
A J!S At ^« P^'^ceed I must teU something more of
Anoland and of Hester Stirling. ^
The house of Arioland was a pleasant place to dwell
L\nf n?'^*^"'^ H\t^^* just stopped S^hort Tt S
a mountam rose behind it, where you could get 2
among the tall ling and brown bent grasses a brS
sweep of steath spread below, through wWch, iow bfu^
now grey now flashing sUver, a dimpW rivlr ™S
over gravel that talked and sand that onHougheda^
;^iT?V ^^^^ ^* *^« *^«^t <ioor of^Cof^d the
Werful brass knocker hung, shaped afteTthefeshion
of a hon's head, not to be toSched save by Her SZ
when she came to call on Hester's grandmotiiS^^r
Megsy Tipperhn, when for the best paS of T W on
Saturday forenoons she stood on a chair and breSied
upon It, painted it grey with paste, aSrubb^ it
myfterir" "'*^ "^^ '^"^^ «^ ^^ apriest^^s ofthl
, For at Arioland no age of gold ever succeeded +}!«
m)n reign of Megsy Tipperlin.^ But its SesV^!
of the outward and apparent only, for the li^htTf
humour played about the corners of Megsy's mou^
"^^lurked in her steadfast grey eye. ^^
+>,?»5?f tyrannised over every created thing within
lJebi«tt of the country folks* speech. But Megs/g
WJ^v .VVa,,te*
C3TND1BBLLA. ,
^^dom stopped at the white wall about the griere'.
n J^i.^^J?'^^ MacWhutterick'B empire, wide lu it
at t2« wi?l^ T,' '*??P^ ^^^'t' even a8 Me Jy's did
at the white wall and low stile. The shrubberies we^'
not his, nor yet the policies beneath. Not his S!
httle park that surrounded the avenue of ^1 ^
Hoose o* Arioland.with a fringe ofVfiln w. £ *^®^^»f
wif fii/n?" W'^' "^^^^^ SandV the Grieve Th^
was first of aU Megsy, his neighboii to the souVh «^Jk
country about whom was ffrowinTm* « l.vL -i-I- "5
^^ses daily vexed the nghteous soul of Sandy the
Then, in the third place, there was his master John
Gowa.Jock,theoneandcmly. He abode afrSstan^
truly, yet even upon the farm he had ovao +w • ^
^d feet that r^"!^ 10^0^3^^ ^^* b^f
ff or?f t£:'bir'' ^"'"''"'" " ^«-«« ■* "«». »
But Siunden MacWhutterick (u he eaUed h'm^ir,
1
wag to him as his God— or it may
* CINDERELLA.
.v"^^® v?^^*^," °°* * P'etty child. She is brown
^kmn^d Jxko her father, an/ has her m^C's S
This was the dictum spoken authoritatively bv
HesW s aunt as. suddenly grown shy and awk W
that trembhng mite stoo^ clutching ^a ^rne^ of W
deaii pinafore with one hand, while the forefinger of
tiie other went up rusticaUy to the maligned mS m
if to accentuate its width. "loum, as
wildirw^thi?"?!;!'' f ''^ ^ "'^^"^*' ^«' ^«^^ bating
jnidly within her her eyes gypsy-dark and gleaming,
the taU majestic lady took up the burden of W
prophecy, « Mother, you spoil the girl-indeed you do
1 said so to Sylvanus, my husband, only^is morning
Where is Sylvanus? Oh, he has been SnS bv an
importent case. He will foUow immediate!^ T' ^^ ^"^
«(Sl w^r^^^^""*^ ^'f*^' Stirling, she continued,
Uirl, what IS your name ? What, no answer » Do
you not hear me speak ? And wh^ do yTu Tot" come
and kiss your cousins prettUy-have yoi never bZ?
^1^17 "^f^^V^^ Vthis com^of indulgSg
a cluld for the sake of a good-for-nothing father^^^
more Harm than all the romances and improner
literature that are all too common even in home^ wE
call themselves Christian I I was saying so to SjlvaS^
^y, *^| '^^r'^JSl Oh, your name is Hester is kP
Hester Sybilla Stirling-^eU, let me see yoi Uw
prettJy and kiss your cousins ' " ^
at bo' hl/i^ ^!i '^^ ™ ^'^' ^"* i* ™ with a sinking
at her heart and a sense of being thrown emptily on hS
M«^:^ T- ^ r ^ ^^^"^^"^S to, or even the corner of
Megsy Tipperlm's stuff apron would have been gmt^.
finger'rd\w^^^ "^.t ^^^ --<^ betw^eHhe
nnger and thumb. But now the cool parlour of Ario^
■«W«HB*WKi«
■ajjK.
CINDEBELLA. 5
Ijttd seemed auddenly, so wide about her. It made her
htae legs feel quite tottery. And her cousLS^were 2J
Si! V^^^^y" 8^°^^ *^^y «»"8t be, and how wS
teigrht and obedient to their mother.
eldesT'^oln' f ' ""r* '**^i^^J^ «^«r *« Ethel the
manner hpM^ T'^^^'f f"^ ^"^°«* contemptuous
Z^r on fo v-^ fifteen for rustic seven. Then she
passed on to Vic, who tried to trip Hester un bv
thrurting a foot out suddenly in front of her. ^ ^
wouldTeler^'l nSr''^^""'" *^""^^* H^«*«'' "«h«
bi^ught up!" '''' purpose-she is too weU
Nevertheless, she liked Vic better because she di
not even pretend that she wanted to kiss her B .
SW^l*^' ^r"^.'«* «^ ^"' behaved quite d^eienL
w*uw, jceepmg at the same time an eve nnnn hn^
moth^ to see that ahe noticed. She^dToticT ''*'
''^> ti^at IS my own swee-eet child " cripd ivrw.
SWvanus Torphichan. « Mother, did you see ? Thli
g^l IS a wonder, little more tha^i elevJn yea« of at
Sefol M pif 1®?^°''* '° ^^'d Winters WM quite
grateful te Claudie last year. They gave her a mldal
Werrin tt '"^'l^' «ubsc-p^tiSs f rom aS^e
sSer '\*?l^^«^ghbourhood where we went in
bS f; J^^ ^f^ "^^^^ ^^* eventually all contri-
^^utTq?' • ^- .?^^^^ '^^^y ^om lot go aw
w?"*iL st^^a^rdeTr?^ *^^" ^^^ -^^^-
did'^r'oter'm^t^er "^^^^ ^ ^ ^'^^^ «*^^^' -<^
rani" tiTroLwif '^'^l ^ 'H'P "**^« ^^3^ «f Pai^ ^bich
^el of MfL*^TiS!i^r^^\r^^^^
«v«ii 01 megsy lipperlm on the stairs, as she waa
commg up with a tray of cleaoiec silver. ™
Oh, you hurt ! "
It was tJ,e voice of Hester Stirling. Her cousin Vic,
Vw7
• CINSBBXLLA.
thra rt«S ^ffc part mstantlv boxed her eon, and
thft.^ "*<,^i'»';°J«-% •* hi. ride re»i/t„
had bewTit^l? ♦ °°*''*'" ""* grandmother. He
«^^,ihj-ivT;*^i,';,«7:^He,^^^^^^
did not hurt j;our8elve8 P » teacups, I hope you
T„J? «»"™ not, my dear»-of Jouree not" Mr.
MarHnettofbmMv^w?"' °'*"^^ ^o^' »»* Miw
a question to her. wnenerer ber mother put
« Nrlmm« '^ ''''^F ^^ ^' Claudia ? "
BO much ^Z^alC^^^'^iT'^' ^^'"^^ °«-«r
Ti.*r+». '^"cnea tin. 'irl— httle country aillv f "
ii^^^ SThem 2r '"' ^*8^ OT^y'^yeef taking
first dCmi^to^i^!,!?'P?«"^,^erony when a child's
its ve27 ejes! ^ '^ ^^ ^^ shattered before
Tc:;McI^a:'^^irher'^^^^^^ Mrs 8,|.anus
always remember Who ^L^^-"'^?*^'^®^^' "a^d
i8> don't you?" ^^' ^°"- ^°" ^^^ ^o that
CINDERELLA. 7
mofW ^'° °.",*^^?^ ^°°* ^*^^«' «l»>o^ when her
l«^. i laughed when I spoke iuat now ?»^ said the
plvJt. ^°^ ~^ ^ ''^"*' ^ ^' '^« ^^'^«^ «° a
«aii"n^?S- '^<^'P*!;<^l»?n8 ^ere instantly united. They
reproachfully at Hester, who stood like a culprit, her
^'L^r^^'^^. ""^"" if- S^« ^<^°^«d to run to hS
^dmother, and say, « Oh, please senS them away II
want just you and Megsy Tipperlin ! » ^
But her grandmother n^ a little deaf, and also she
was much fluttered and excited by the coming of
her only daughter, whose husband had becomHo ^-at
?r«t ""^^ physician-some said he would be a ^o-
to be hoped for in this world.
Very sedately and with their six eyes on the caroet
their SIX hands primlv clasped befL ?hem a ffi
o^'^Jh^i' V'*^T^. ^^''' ^^^y *^« carefully tiined
out the three girls departed, whUe Tom sulked in the
fe pisIeT ^ '^'"^ ^ ^'* * '^^"^ ^ ^^'^ Vi° ^
Theu- mother gazed admiringly after them and
pointed out to Mi^. Stirling the^^ma^/r of kan^g
i>«rbTn-^!'?-f?/®^I *^?®.*° "^y instruction," she said, « and
r 1 Vi? ^"*i*"^ ^^"*^®» yo" know, mother, where
only children of the nobiUty^and gentay are Xwe Jl
t?Lfffr' ^^«*7r*^^^> «o thoroughl/weU attended
to and the general tone is so good, that one does not
fSs?ot*^^T7t?i^''*^"• ^V-sUydea^fc^*
^LrS ^* ^^^^^ ^°^ up to be models of aU the
graces and compendia of aU virtues, as you are yo^!
self, my love 'he often says. We aie so Kke-mi^dS
Sylva^nus and I, and he does express himself so tSl
tully ! I never forget one word he ever says I "
She reverted to the subject of Hester, which some-
s
Wi'
CINDERELLA.
'tj
»;wtti*:^" '■^'' '■^ "--«« "«» m an
girIf"i;'rS.^°^Xtr^««'-g with that littte
jou, Hester Sybiuf? nf„.f T'"" ^'■»' did I teU
manners ! Aid don't sto^S „i"K * ^T f^' " » ^"^
jour ear, nor m^ne To4 hat^' T ''">"^''«'' *°'>«hiag
ing tub. JfowldZ}^ ^ "^ ''.y"" "«'•« at a wash-
the Ay ^ould^rvniSl^l ^^^f"' «"PPosing^that
quesaoning. a„d so ^^SSfro^ ^^.nT'' ^" »*
gi ArserthiT^rL^riT'^^-^-^-
must trust her ZmLT-M^?^^''^''''' "Mother, you
We wiU change SuCnITs^ ^"' ^ ^^"^ ^* ^«^«t-
r^l ! Do you know Who se^s us^lT"^ ^'^^'''' ^^^^^
punishes us ? " ^ "^ ^^^^ ^^ <io wrong and
throS*Lr^"?sMaS' J!"^^^^^^ ^^*«« SH and
"itisSand^thegrie^^^^^^^^^ '^" "^^^^ *^« expLation,
sound with her ton^^e aSaiw f>.^^^ \^^^^ ''^''^^^S
Speech was denied Cr an ^ I *^^ ,T^ °^ ^«' °^0"t^.
reticule and extract S,Pri ^ ^"""^^ ^^^ <^l"t<^li her
red bottle of the sle ^ndl"''"' ^'' '°^""^"& '^^^ i^ a
ter. Her head f elf baefaXT^^^^ ^/^^" ^«<^-
extract the stopper feeblvl!? ^^^ ^1*'* '*^«^&*h to
between hersS^^and the ^-ll ""^^ -^^ ^^^^ ^«*"«
Wgat^y againstt^lra^i b^I^fc/ ^ ^^^ °^
wicked girl r\ferdeCff wickefgir/; T. eked,
ault wi4 your oT^ndwi, ^^'^''"^ "^"^^^ ^e ^ coni
and if you d£^ S^n?i . ^^'* .^^ *^ y^"'- ^ture f Go
where you wHl j^ ^X?^ ^^^-T* ^^°»^«' ^e^^embe;
as nien'iion ifa^t'on '^' wV V/^-" "^* «« "^^^^h
Tery severely with my own tjs'"^ ' ^^^ "^P ^^^
.:if»ilx?s?
CHAPTER II.
The Innocent Lambs.
S^'CSf"?' P^'**'' ^^"^^ "»t out to find
S^d over 'Cr'h^knrvf- ^« 8°'* •""! "'^
8 JiffhTin^tt. 'T*^ ^f^^^ Tipperlin, she stared her
t^^* *u *f *• 5°'* *» *he question, « Where aS
persons, and in nartc^f ^,. T^ ?» "^'P*"" «*
of the kitchen flags, "h« t^t' tr'm-s:'":^"'
won^willl—*!^^^' Tipperlm, ttat am a Christian
10
CK7DERELLA.
in W X^l ^"'* ^^^7 ^®<^e needlessly particular
to l^k i^^""?^'' '^ *^* **^« *^^*^^"1 chro^cler has
^Ohih7^%?'^\^'^^'. Ho'^ever, she ended thus-.
Oh, tjmt Maister Davvid had never gane awa-my
^ blethlS^? Y ^1??' ?^^^^^^' ^' ^ P«^k o' Jezebels
server o'thTw!^''^^^^^ ?^^^ ^« Almichty Pre-
hlnd an// ^^^^'^ ^''^, ^'P^*'^ *^^' *teni in His ain
Kbp«l *^^^i«it^ 7 ' the flails o' His wrath-yea,
like sheaf s on the threshing-floor of Abel-meholah ! »
endei ^'^^^'' ^^'^ *^® daughter of Tipperlin were
seSv ««^f^/^ ^^'*^ *? ^/^^ ^^' ««^«i^« «J«^o«t as
Mr^ TnZf.h '''' years she had dweUed with her aunt
Mrs. ToiTjuchan and been a favourite pupil of Miss
treasures she ha4 been saving up to show them ^st
d^a^ there was Fluffy, the ^allpersir Sn, ^th
way^?^Sir' '" ^^^ "^^^^* ^^d **^« faTciialig
^^ vnn^y,^^ •''''. r^.'^^"^^^'' «^d rubbing eaif
SflSl.Ti'^ "i tiie High Park there was Peggie
^d mt; ^°'^•''* °';*"'®. y^^'« («^ ^*^er months)
and much elevation of mind. For Peseie bein^
withal, refused to consort with any of his kind dS
&d^ac^SLX*'^ ^^^ ^^^ -^^ " ^^
As she went Hester heard the sound of her cousins'
SsteneTa^^'Sit:'^" ^^"« P^'* ^^ ^- ^--- «^e
her'»^*ffi/^'""?? T^-^^^f ^«'' ^i°^ •' You've got
Her! Hist-gooddog! Sick her then ! " ^
Ihe cnes grew louder, and Hester, with a wild fear
CINDERELLA.
11
^tfll '^^^ possession of her soul, ran at f uU sneed
^und th« greenhouse, pa^t the sundiW, a^d Xere ^
^e narrow ledge of a fence to which she had spri^rLm
^wmdow-sill of the potting-house stood Flufff-lC
own Fluffy every hair on enJ with pain and an Jr ^d
her tell weU-nigh as tiiick as her body. She wfs m^.
through by the yapping fox-terrier which stiU leaped
and snapped below A drop or two of blood had disffl
Tr^ flecked Fluffy's deHcate pearl-coloured fS^
Hester did not hesitate a moment. She dashed
through the gooseberry bushes, tearing her dreS S
several places, in spite of the fact t it it^was her ^est
and she had been allowed by Megsy to put it on in'
honour of her cousins' visit. In a moment she hid
hurled her small body between Tom a^d Oaudt wSo
were snapping their fingers and inciting Di?k ^he
terner to yet greater exertions,
mpw of i^^"^ ''•';* h«^^°^«' a^d Fluffy, with one glad
^:s^\'^X Tl"'"^^' " ^* ^^^' wholtilf La^A"
thrj? """l-^r^^'" ^h ^"«^' ^^^S furiously upon
them, to set a great dog on my own Uttle kittenf tC
I wa^ going te love you; and I shaU never now-^
^«;;er, so long as I Uve, you cruel boy ! » *
youteT*Yon"C "^^1 ^^""^ «^eeringly, "who asked
T w. i-i .^ I 1 ^% ?'^^ * common little country girl.
I wouldn't be loved by you-not if it were ever so^ '*
A nasty httle beast, that scratehed my darline
Dick s nose-ugh, the viper! Yes, Dickie, dear! 3
should worry her all to bits if I had my way ' " said
Claudia, who had token the fox-terrier u^ iTLr ^s
tei7at??^? ""T- He still struggled veheme^^
f^iS L 1^^^ f ?^ ^"'^''^^^ ^* h^« mistress when ahe
mnl /'''i^"'>°'i.'''*°'^°«'^hioh showed much
m^e of indignation than affection.
Hester was moving off towards the house with Fluffy
m her arms. •'
12
CINDEEELLA.
who ™I itwr?"^ ^1*!"/" '"-^"^'i I " eried Tom.
" Let the little rat alone,
fnfv w ♦■ • ^*y "« e™r so tame— we knfal
Ourlast time we were down. Yon remember Tom? "
Tom « n-T^i ^ f soi-g *» i™t ^S 1" cried
rivln f tr""!"*" *« ^^^^^•'- "'^ >■«■• heart fairly
dog had been trvL ^ wo57 P^ff."' A''* " f^*^
fcan'? ook&rtT*"'^'r f"""'' ^""^^^
KS:nS5s^=«'-^^irn^
after Srm"" 7hf °"' "*^.^*'' '"''''* »™ 8«a-working
»tonf^r ,Si "'^J' ™«teUnng together upon a
jf'y «»?."»*
CrNTDERELLA.
13
my Hester," said the latter kindly, « have you not
been able to find jour cousins ? I saw them gomg out
of the green gate on the road to the wood."
"Perhaps she does not wish to be kind to her cousins
«w TZ ^^ * v^^ ^x*^^ ^ ^P^'^^ ^ith her," said her
aunt. "Now when I was a little girl and any one
came to spend a day with me, I used io make them as
happy as I could, at whatever cost to myself. But,
after all, she added, in a tone of regretful meditation
what can you expect of the child of so bad-hearted a
latner and so common a mother ? "
r.Z^T^A^''^' ^^'^'" ?jbiUa," said her grandmother,
who had not caught the last part of her daughter's
8W^'i,^'1l^^^ ^^^ your ^cousins in the woods
jo7io tZml!?^ "^"'*^ ^^^*^- '' '^ -* ^^^«
For good grandmother StirUng was one of the people
I^S T ' wl '^^ ^°y ^^^* ^ *^«i' ^^'^ children.
And thou^^h there was no ardent affection between
them, her daughter had pleased her greatly by the wise
and prudent marriage she had made, and also by the
w"? S ^'"^^^'' "^^^ "" ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ brought up
Hester foDowed along the green path resolving that
^e would not be a selfish girl. Her cousins^ had
certemly seemed unkind, but perhaps she had been over
Si^i't ^"^.V ^1?^ ^T** eager and passionate,
quick and keen on the chase of love, yearned to forgive!
ffLi?i''T'' ^^* ^"^ *^'^^«^^ ^^<i thrown back on
itself by disappointment.
As she proceeded Hester could trace the track of the
^?/+ / ° -5 ^l *^^ ^^ ^^"^y^ of columbine, the
uprooted wayside flowers, the half-ripe rasps plucked
a^d thrown m the dust. But she kept on, with a
spite of aU. She would yet win their liking— this love-
hungry little Hester. She would show them of her
choicest. She would keep nothing selfishly to herself.
cJuddenly, with a unanimous yell, thev leaped unon
aer out of the thicket of yews Vhich ^^^eX^
u
CINDERBLLi..
fx;
, . " I onlj wanted to show you mv bowpr » TT^«+«
Place^l w^n^ satd T^^'^ ^o^-inasty. dirty
tbat^en^^^^^L r'^^^^^^^^
he is so particular! » ^ ^'^ ^"^'^ Darroch, and
"Stuff!" cried Tom "wlmf ^« t
Darroch ? T would li^' +^ ^^at do I care for Lord
Come on, Vicr» *° '^® ^"^ ^"^'^«r« ^ith me.
gi^l tt? malSyr i;[^r effoTtVf ^'C *^^ ^*««
from the dread Tori Wa^fJ^ -^^ ^^^ her cousins
covers. sacnlege of entering Lord Darroch's
Hester, "come on, let me^« 1 i seven-jear-old
onr'^l"C>r. ." ^°" '^'^«' ^''" " »id Tom, stridtog
indeed a prettV dW Tt ^S i Hwter's bower wm
of a little eLS mm„r 1°^ **;? ^"™«'J »° the top
where it caSTLS a»]7™,S? ^ •'"™' J™*
copses, and then brLtino^ .„. x? """^ "^ deepest
t-i^rt.. -^- tLtSf S^<S'2^-
CINDBRBLLA.
15
woods. She had pknted flowew, some common like
the "tarry ta-efod and Bagged Robin; oth^ mow
difficult to find, Uke the lady's slipper or the toU^S^
flax, pale hke a wintry sky. She hid trained Seepew
to grow up the trunks of the trees till the whok^C
glowed with colour. She was proud of it, proud of th!
rustic «eats which she had arranged with^Tcrup^JSs
care m suitable corners, of hir neat sSs for
ThoS""^' °' ^^' ^"^^'^- utensilTVr'«;iIy4'g
wiSj'ij^^T^ not prepared for the burst of laughter
Vicla^ghtd ^'^"^'^*^^ ^^^
"What a silly old tumble-down pot-shop!" said
Tom kic^ng away her favourite lo|, on which she
Wed to sit and read by herself in the IVenin^ It feU
with a plunge into the pool and floated away.^
.^^ TOat a lark," Tom cried; "let's chuck 'em all
"Come on, Tom," said Vic, "don't be a fool f
We've got i« gee to the woods and back before fa^er
SraLfer^"^'^^'^^^^^^-^- ^eaveThfl^'d'^
Tom was trying to « skip " on the surface of the pool
SSt^'^Cf^ ' 1?^T^^ pottery which had C
statutes Hester's best dinner-service. She alwavs
^^ r'^T r'^^ ^l ^*^ *^« «P««i«i duster MeX
Jftpperkn had given W. But he might have thro^
^Z t S^/^" ''^^'' ^Sl ^ *^* H^«*«r would W
^red at that moment. She stood rooted to the spot
feU they were gone, and then she waited till s^ hS
tiie sound of their loud voices die along H S
PSf V ^^ ?^ ^°^« "^^"^^ first, shaking her thin
little body and heaving her shoulders. Th^sl however
graduaUy ceased, um the tears gushed toAT^ ^U^^
\
16
CINDEEELLA.
L^arbu^? ^t'' '^''^ *^« ^-^« o^ ^er brown
Yes'l^dil^wwt^''®"^ dead!-I could kiU them-
yes, 1 could loll them every one I " The fier«A Ii^*l«
^ibuTf iir^ ""^ if*"^ through L";^i"
f
■.*1
CHAPTER III.
The Beast of Dead Man's Pool.
Hebteb hj a long time thus, without moving. The
not afternoon droned away overhead as the sun swunff
silently round the sky. I think she sobbed herself to
Sleep; tor it was with a strange sense of beinff a
nundred years old at least that Hester started up. Out
of the cool blue dusk of sleep (the sleep of childhood is
deep blue, it grows grey and colourless afterwards) she
popped up sjiddenly into a wrecked and desolate world.
Ihe reahty of things appeared aU at once to close in
upon Hester with a noise Uke the whirring of a miUion
mn^a. She sat up and began picking at a torn sprav
of tiie lesser scarlet Indian cress, the common creeper
of Galloway cottage walls. ^
Suddenly, away to the left she heard the noise of
shote that went off one after another in the Darroch
woods. Hester started to her feet. She remembered
how she had heard from the wild MacKinstrey herders
that my Lord Darroch was coming down from London
that day with a party of shooters. They would find
her cousins. They would get "taken up " for poachers,
aey would be sent to gaol, and she, Hester Sybilla
Htu-ling, would be blamed for not warning them.
She was determined that, for her own sake, this last
should not happen if possible. After what they had
done, her cousins - light spend their lives in prison.
SSne would never so much as go and see themf She
woidd not give them a single pet rabbit or the newest
^her doUs to play with. But in this matter her
pjidmother would certainly expect her to look after
her cousins, to warn then} of their dann-er.
18
CINDERELLA.
So, without Hsteningr for the repetition of the 8oun*J«
^LT ?''"'' *^'« P\«tures, from which ?he cowshad
and not succeeding very well Fnr <. KwZi, f
SirvoJ^wh^l' t 'e fr-ts": ■: a Z CmeV;^
apgl "" *^'' ""^^ ^' "^« * winter-ripened
Heater could not run fast enough with her best shoes
m;c^5^^v,^'^ been speciallj selected that morning by
fe^ "7*^^ ?^T *^ discomfort, or so at least Hester
imagined. Yet she must get to the Darroch woods
before her cousins should be caught and hal^d to
prison. Else her grandmother would never tr^st h^
irdYefgX^' ^'^ '^'''' '^ '-''-''' Helr^^^tlf^'
unloosed the lacing of/the sLe." Sh:7^eClrth^
leg of Its steckmg. It looked Kke a white sprout of
than her brown hands and facp Thor, of„« ^xi
stockings well into the toes oMhe shoe^ mfh^ S'
nJ^T '^^ '*^'^?? ^'^ "'°- ^* *be first touch of the
wind that pushed against her, as, swift as a deer 8h«
rushed downhill. Then her hair blew out i-ound her
and the coolness of the wind clasped itself Snd her
neck. If was glorious. She forgave them all Shi
forgave them even on Fluff^'s account! ^ "eeld not
■^ mm
CENTDEBSLLA.
19
to matter so much now about the bower. She had
lost track of her legs. They seemed to run of their
own accord. She felt herself treading on air. She
was upborne by the red sunset beams into which she
ran.
But the wild rush ended at a dyke which separated
^e smaU property of Arioland from the great one of
Darroch. It was a tall dyke, built of the rough blue
whin-stone of the country, and to most children it
would have been a formidable undertaking to climb it.
But not so to Hester, who had been climbing such fences
ever since she could remember.
It took only a brief clamber upwards to get astride
the top, her dangling shoes retarding her no little.
Ihen a thin hthe figure might have been seen for a
moment whiter against the dusk of the firs, as Hester
caught a branch, and swung herself towards the
ground with a gesture as true and certain as that of a
monkey, or any other arboreal expert. But, alas for
experts, the tree was an elm, and as is the way of its
gnd, it proved faithless. The branch snapped, and
Hester fell somewhat heavily to the ground.
And the very first step in the woods told her that
she was not now on the cool velvet of the home
pastures. A sharp pain caught her in the instep of
her foot, then a keener yet, as she put her foot to the
ground a second time, to keep from falling. She h.id
hurt her knee against a stone, and a thorn— Hester
knew it weU, had pierced her bare sole. So, with the
mstmct of country-bred youth she sank instantly to the
ground, and took her wounded foot in her lap. The
bruise on the knee did not trouble her for the moment
but the thorn was another matter. She could feel it
well enough, but in the dusk of the wood she could not
see to pull it out. When at last she screwed up her
courage to try, she pulled part of the long black haw-
thorn spike out, but alas ! a piece snapped off and
remained nearly level with the skin. Hester's ears
sang with the pain and disappointment.
Presently a gun went off much further a\7ay, and
- riHi"" rip- t, m
20
CINDEEELLA.
the 4iloi oneVmy Lo, ™""" "' """^ ^"^
«an,o „....„ the coD8e. Tom and Dick leadim
came across the copse Tnn.^''^' ?iT**- ^hej
Victoria with a flusffi W *°*^ ^°^ ^"^^^^l
while CJaudia and E^el ^ "^'^""^ ^^"^^7 ^l»i^5;
to rush alonir with f^ ' ^ ^^"I^, "P ^ncf ladylike
more leisiSeJjf ^ *^^ °*^""' *°"«^ed the chase
now"ptrn:dter^:rm„':^*i°^^^ ^^-^
stea^^d herself aSHre^."^ ^^' ^•^"^' ^»>i^e "^e
hurt^^Tw •? "''" ^'^ "^^ ^"* *o t^en., "I have
^o^^sZi::] ^^r/L?l.^r> "«Ws been
heS^teS \t%ri^^^^^^^ booking at
The sounds died awa^ d^^t^^^^^ ?,^ ^^^ «^rt.
upon a mossj stump anT th« fit ' ^,1 ?®'^' «*^k
freely. She took h^^«h^. f ^^" '"^"^ "P again
stocling onC^Z^Z W H'h"'f ^°^ ^'^^
for she could fJl «^^ V^ ®^® ^*'®d not move,
thorny h^^LXinXi^A\" ''^^^^'" ^«»t
appealed to her Wfver fh«f '7V ''*^V^' ^«'- It
upon the top o( S>e ^er 8^?^ "°^ ■?»"* ''"»«"
slowly along a Kttle waTS!^, A^^*'^? *» "i-np
IWch aTenue7HLte/iTlf%?'* Lodge Gate of the
CINDEBELLA.
21
^Uru^A^^^^'^T^^''^^^'' Of course from
a cooler and older point of view, this was weU-niirh
Sr? '• ^^.u*^" Tprphichan ihUdren, unkSdiSd
selAsh though thej mig6t be, would certainly, when
fe^ n?^ "^^iT"- f«°«d«~tio»8 did Uttle to quiet the
fea« of a small girl of seven, with the night Vowing
si^b '^'^ ""-r??* ^h^* ^«' *^^ *h« i«^t 'ed of thf
simset oanung itself out between the boles of the pine
iiv?,!l!?®lV *^® Darroch woods were haunted— so
averred the common gossip of the countrv-side.
^«s «^T *^^* «^« ghost was a white lady with shut
eyes, and hands outspread, who played a sort of
^VhSfll^^^ man's buff with any one found aft^r
mghtfaU on her domains. To this the imagination of
the MacKmstrejr chUdren had added a^ fearsome
«r n^ri *f ^®*°^"^ ^,*^ ^^ ^^^y ^3^68, which came
up out of the water of the Dead Man's P^k)! and haled
whifr^'T ?M^ ^j^ ^^^ ^°^«^& *he roots of the
rJ^n fi,^':^'??', .^^P MacKinstPey swore he had
seen the Water Kelpie, and only escaped by climbing a
dTmb a tree^"" ^''^^®''* ^^^^*' ^^^^"^ ceituinly could not
*;«;* o*^^- ??"^®^* ^ stick cracked near at hand, and
7hl\ ^^'^\^'y' Hester looked up, expecting to see
the horned head of the water demon, or the out-
Batched arms of the White Lady of Darroch, with the
^teal bony hngers groping about to citch her.
towlrdlher ^ something creeping along the wall
At this Hester's sorely-tried little heart now
absolutely stood still Another stick cracked quite
close by, and the child's fearful eyes ould make
out m the deepest dusk of the leaves a moving figure.
P^ ? ^ ^"^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ *h^ ^^*d M^'s
It is easy enough not to be afraid in the daytime,
and when there are grown-ups about, but at seven years
I;
22
CINDERELLA.
■*«r^fi?'%- ^^^^''^sgf,
■■s?-a; *«ifiriE*f^
CHAPTER IV.
The Red Cross KNmriT.
Instantly, at her cry, the beast rose to its feet in the
shape of a handsome lad with bared head, about which
fair curls crisped tightly. He wore a flannel shirt, very
much open at the neck, a rough tweed jacket and
knickerbockers, homespun stockings and brown shoes
while his waist was girt with a blue belt.
-Hello, Uttle girl!" he cried, in a tone of great
astonishment, " who are you ? And what on earth are
you doing here at this time of night ? "
"You are not the Beast?" stammered Hester
gazing with all her eyes at this apparition, so much
less terrible than she had anticipated.
The boy laughed, a cheery careless laugh, which re-
assured Hester more than an affidavit from the minister
ot the parish.
**I have often been called so at school," he ex-
plained ; " but which beast do you mean ? "
"The beast that lives in the Dead Man's Pool, and
eats little boys and girls ! " said Hester, gaining courage
with every word. °
The lad threw back his head in a fresh lau"-h,
" What larks ! " he said, « to be taken for the Water
Kelpie. No, I don't eat little girls. In fact, I don't
hke em ! I can't abide girls at aU ; though little girls
are not nearly so bad as the other kind ! "
The handsome boy spoke with the healthy intoler-
ance of fourteen. For at that period a colossal ignor-
ance and self-conceit prevents the animal from knowing
that in a few years he will become the abject slave of
those ? me girls whom he now regards as little better
than . J much superfluous live-8tx)ck.
24
ClNBEBELLA.
'■^ W^fiJ ^* ''"''^ ^^ '^^"^^^ *o remember.
«Iams^en^J^^%^*',';'»^'"— «> *•■« little giri.
suppose A bete"ir-Wotan''8Sl- '"^' "' ^
fam,'» "etoSVl'^"-f"'^»-8«rf"S "» the
not tat^ tt S^oS^t-'in^^ ^L^-M.,,
mj governor would buy the old lad vn?? +1 ' u rVf'^
posterityflunou haven-rt^ld'* *'"',, "iH, ""'HpM
here ? " ^ * *°'" ™« "l^t brought yon
ins^Vt%?Z ™T *" "^^' ^ *« J"^ been
remaA-\ip^^*3id3 Z *''»*.''*?»»>•«?'' which
in my Lord DaZc^W^oSs " '""'' "°° ™ *°o*'"g
tonl: " then? ^ ""^^iTS ^,="g" .«•"»?« in hi»
oar^g meny HaTs oK o'Stie™ ^^^ "^^ "»"
what hrSnn"^;:rteS'':Sr S^'"^ *" T'^' »"*
They got four Ust ye7r "^ * ^"""^ pheasants.
ln^^^ti:^4L- ^a^Tel^yl- ^^^t^^'^:
CINDEEELLA.
25
I heard Hm I wish I had got on to them. I bet I
would have shifted the lot of them ! "
"Don't go, thej were here a minu e ago," said
Hester, loyallj ; « perhaps they will come back." This
she said, knowing that that night the Darroch woods
snould see her cousins no more.
'*! wish they would come back; but what are you
doing here ? Are you waiting for them ? "
« I've hurt my knee, and I've got a thorn in my foot :
I cant walk a bit!" said Hester, summing L h^
troubles m a sentence. 6 f «
« Jove," cried the boy, « why didn't you tell us that
sooner. Let's have a look at them. The knee doesn't
look much— come out into the open first, though-it's
as black as my hat in here ! " ' ©
" I can't walk, please ; it hurts ! "
"Nonsense; there, try with my arm."
He offered that member with an awkwardness which
showed that he had as yet had no practice in the art.
Hester did try, but sank down on the ground again
with a groan of pain. ^
wdk a'ste^ "'" ' " ^'^ ^"^'- " ' ^^^ ^«- — ^ «-'*
caS:% ag1L\fa%r:? '"' '^"^ ""'' ^^^' ^^^^^^ ''
■o."^^^yi *^.^ governor's best double - barreUed
Purdie, he said; "I mustn't leave it out aU night, or
1 11 get two-and-two are five ! Here, get on my baik !
C^ive me hold of your wrists and I'll hitch you up in a
minute. I ve got my pony down at the lodge, to ride
Home on. I bet I can carry you as far as that. Then
nu w ""^ ^^^-""^ ** *^^ *■««*' a°d ride you home to
Uld-Woman-Stirlmg as jolly as eggs-a-breaking ! "
You are not to caU my grandmother that, or I shall
stay herf all night," said Hester, balancing herself,
notwithstanding on her one whole foot and reaching
her hands over the boy's shoulders.
"Never mind your grandmother," cried her com-
E^TIV. Z^^'""^ ^r ^oP^as good as you can ! One,
two, three-GO! Ugh-ugh-ugh! There you are
26
CINDBBELLA.
in'w ofT/^; '"' '"'^' P"^'"*'^' "^ " %W shone
Hester's steed marched straight ud to the »).„f ^™
footsteps and the door wa« flung wide open. "
p.+T^^^"'^^ ^^® «* deeper Dickson filled ud th«
entire doorway, and over his shoulder neLd C ft?-^?
his wife a little white and frightS W^hubbu^^
For her husband waa a standing termor L «?1 ^^u
within ten miles, and ha^ ofe^nThr^t^^ed'tft?:
rough quarrymen from the Bennan qiSs ^ '
rve found a Uttle girl up by tie wall of the deer-
•- M^^J^jg^
CINDEEELLA.
27
park, Dickson," said the boy, in quite a different tone
trom that which he had used to Hester, « she can't
walk— got a thorn in her foot, I think ! Bring a light ' "
I declare it's wee Hester Stirlin' frae the Bie
Hoose o Axioland," cried kindly Mrs. Dickson, «w?
b,s8ie, what's gotten ye? What were ye doin' in the
deer-park at this time o' nicht ? "
But Hester answered not. She had fainted quietly
away during the last hundred yards. The varied
excitements of the day had proved too much for her,
and now she was transferred, a Httle limp dead-weigh?
into the motherly arms of the keeper's wife. '
Wher she awoke, Dickson was gone, and his wife
stood or^er her with a lamp. She heard her first friend
say, Ihis way, Mrs. Dickson; now for the old thorn !
1 see it. I beheve I could draw it out with my teeth,
JJ" ^®''® ^ hold the lamp a little lower— so ! "
Then with a curious tickHng thriU Hester felt warm
lips pressed to the sole of her Uttle cold foot. There
came a sharp twinge of pain which made her wince,
and then all at once, a blessed sense of release.
n7i ..,^Vm' h^i^~aU clear! What a whopper!
(^oUy, it s hke a cleaning-rod ! " she heard the boy cry,
^^^ exhibited something triumphantly between finger
"Ye are a clever laddie, Maister Cams," said Mrs.
JJickson, with admiring affection in her voice, "an*
here s my guid man wi' the powny. He'U hae the gun
ower his shoulder. Gang ye your ways hame, Maister
Carus. They a' will be wHd aboot ye. Dickson will
convoy the bairn hame."
"No, indeed, Mrs. Dickson," the boy answered, with
a certain hard quality in his tone which did not escape
^e httle girl's quick ear, "There's not a soul about
the place cares whether I ever turn up at aU— except
old Dickson and yourself. I'm going over to Arioland
with the girl myself. Besides, I may see those young
poachers, and get a chance to give 'em * what for ' ! "
And so it happened that the square byre yard oic the
J! arm Town of Arioland was witness of a strange sight.
*l
a.
28
CINDERELLA.
Br SS ^^^""^ '"PP^^ ^-^ter his journey. For
Ia4°; Steftkild torn ^^^^ ^"-^ !S^ ^''=' «>«
woods aft*r *^i S^-x "°^ ^" chasings through the
Srine M^K™? "' 7«™ «"g»«ed. Witt a rtig of
due proDortiof^nTr "■^■^'' !* ""^ ■»• observing
thenS^rSfSi^^ssroSair^"*^'^ *~-
**Vr 'y-^'^
^•'^ ^.SBWi^^-wrv-
CINDERELLA.
29
«i
Thirty yards off she was," cried Tom, holding up
the hen pheasant triumphantly by the tail— «^irtv
yar^, as I m a living sinner ! And I keeled her over
tne lirst whack with a stone. Didn't I, Vic ? "
" 7®!*r ^^^^^ "1 Jiis sister, eager on an achieve-
ment of her own " and I killed the three young grouse
with a stick. The rest wouldn't help a bit-iid Tom
was off by himself, watching the old keeper ' "
"Boys, oh!" said the eldest MacKinsLxey, nick-
named the Gled, because of his rapid flight and
predatory habits, "Let's gang to the AuldWaa'san'
hae a rare feed. We'U pook them, an' clean them, an'
boil them m a pot wi' veegetables, like the gypsies
does. Me an' Kip has often done them that way ' "
I ken whaur there's some carrots I could steal'"
chimed m Babbefcy MacKinstrey, eager to take a hand
m so promising a ploy.
"An' me lots an' lots o' new pitawties ! I'm that
w^ I can crawl through a hole in the grieve's garden-
This was the contribution of the youngest Ma<;-
li-instrey of aU, whose given name of Archibald had
been replaced by " Clip-oloots," because his tongue
was locaUy supposed to be of such surpassing sharpifess
that it could " cut rags."
" Give me wp those birds and rabbits this instant, v(m
young thieves / " ' ^
******
A '^^?, "^*ef ^P*ion was dramatic in its apt suddenness.
And the picture itself was a thrUling one. TomTor-
phichan, aU undismayed, held up the stable lantern at
arm s length. Its hght showed a handsome boy, of a Kttle
less than his own age, leading a piebald pony. His head
was thrown back, and his whole mien betokened the
two things which Tom hated most in the world, aristo-
cratic pride and a strict attention to personal cleanli-
ness, lom, elevated on the MacKinstrey manure hean
and surrounded by the wild herders of that ilk, longid
with a mighty longing to kick the representative of aU
30
CINDERELLA.
that he most abhorred. Tom was by no means a
cowardly boy tiiough at the present^ tfme T™
passing through the era of cruelty which physioLJIte
birdsT^^'auoTTA *°l^h^*>«ine8s have you with our
Bv f y,,-?? ?''™.* *^^ undaunted buccaneer.
Th.Mut^^t ^^ I'^f ^^°"®' «^^^ f«r the faithful Vic
Th^y ^ew Hester's Ivllier all £o weU atd tWh
they hated him no less than Tom TorpClmn th!v
understood that they had not only himT^ reckon ^i
m any encounter, but the whole^ estabShed oTde^of
things as represented by gamekeepers, fo^s^s poTicl
tTem th^i/fl'"^' °^ ^T i^^ediate weight tith
• wT*^^^u/^*^^'' ^ waist-belt of stout buU's hide
inch-thick, black, and polished, the shiny suppleLss o|
which was wont to curl round their bare kSr^th a
most convincing solidity of argument. ^ *^ ^
* ^u f"^.*^^ ^^«*®^ of Darroch, and these are mv
father's birds and rabbits," said the lad at the pon^^
Ws?eT*« V^JT. ^^"' *^ *5^ spoil beS
iom s leet, you Jailed them en my father's m'n^^r^A^
this afternoon and if you do not give Sem up^ I^m
have you arrested ! " ^ -^ ^"^
wnnT-l^"#^f iT^^' P^^^«P« "lore loudly than he
wouM If he had been thoroughly comforJble in ^
" The Master of Darroch, indeed," he sneered " wpII
atuny rate, I'll precious soon sho^ you that you^'
Tf ?y °ia£ter ! If these are your father's pronert^
why don't you come and take them ? " Property,
Holding thus by the elder law, Tom put himself into
Ss'sSrthf ^/--,fPP-ven'by the^mostTal'e"^
B^ihaZ ' I^ankeiUor Christian Institute-where
CINDERELLA.
81
P7 ^""n ^/^^-shed hcking for cheek. But you'd better
have all that stufif ready for me when I come back.
morain^M' ""^ ^"""^ ^^*^'' ^^" ^^""P *<>-morrow
"You can't prove i ,» cried Tom, «T defy you to
prove we were ever on your old estate. There's
nothing worth taking on it anyway. We got aU these
on my grandmother's property. So put that in your
pipe and smoke it ! " ^
^ Hester's cavaUer did not take any notic- cf ^hese
insults. He only led the pony down the edc^ of the
waU which was furthest from the heaped litter of the
farm-yard.
Seeing him (as it appeared) in retreat, Tom tried
again to exasperate his enemy.
" I^ that little Brown Patch who is shamming lame
told you, 1 11 do for her to-morrow morning i " he cried
The Master of Darroch turned about instently
You dirty little coward," he cried, all his aristo-
cratic propriety of language instantly gone, "ifvou
dare lay a finger on the girl, I swear I'U come over and
hck you till you can't stand ! "
^cl^^'^'i'''^^':^'!!'-'! ''^^^^^ Tom in the darkness,
come back and do it my lord-knows-who ! Misted
Master of mudheaps ! Boo-oo-oo i "
fV,,"?!^? Z^^""^ *^?^ ^^"^ ^^^* i* ™ "o ^se putting his
thumb to his nose, thrusting out his tongue or -xpress-
Sff IT J'^^* ^^irj ?^ *^^«^ time-honoured means.
He pbbled hke a goose. He crowed Hke a cock, and
l1^:"';v?M tdTan" *'' '^-^'"* "^'"^^ ^^^P' *^« ^^"^^
of Da3x^^'^ ''''^ ^^* '^""^'^ ""^^^ "'^''^' ^''^"^ ^^«<^r
CHAPTER V.
The Master of Dabboch.
But at the front door of the white-washed mansion of
Arioland the eldest son of Lord Darroch met with quite
another reception. It was Megsy Tipperlin who opened
the door — Megsy, not attired in the white cap of the
maidservant — but Megsy in state, who would have
boxed your ears if you had called her a maidservant —
Megsy in one of her mistress's cast-off black-lace
" keps," with beads that glistened and tinkled like the
bums which flash on the hills after thunder-rain.
" Preserve us a', what's this, what's this ? Hester,
I thocht ye were wi' that ill-set * hyule,' Tam Tor-
phichan — what's come to my denty ? And wha's this
that has brocht ye hame ? Speak oot, callant, and tell
us whaur ye got the wee leddy ? "
"I am the son of Lord Darroch," said the boy,
politely, yet all unconsciously speaking as to an inferior.
" I found the little girl behind the wall of our deer
park. I think her foot is sprained, as well as hurt with
a thorn. But I believe I have got everything out ! "
"My lord's son — at this tune o' the nicht, an' to
bring her dearie back to auld Megsy ! The Lord that
lo'es the bairns bless ye and the blessin's o' twa auld
dune women follow ye, bonny laddie ! Bat what for am
I standin' bletherin' here ? Megsy Tepperlin, ye maun
be gaun doited ! Come ben ! Come ben !
A door opened in the hall and a sonorous and com-
manding voice was heard.
" Tipperlin," it said, " did you not hear Mrs. Tor-
phichan ring the bell twice ? Come here immediately !
And be good enough to shut the outer door, and not
''W'
CINDERELLA.
33
waste jour mistress's time gossipping there ! Who is
that you have with you? 'Miss Hester,' you say —
Who is Miss Hester? Oh, yes, I remember, the re-
puted child of my wife's brother "
" Beputed child, indeed," said Megsy, shortly, turn-
ing full upon him. " I wad hae ye ken. Doctor Tor-
phichan, that the bairn is as lawfully begotten an' as
weel vouched for as your ain — aye, or maybe
better "
" Hold your tongue, woman ! " said Doctor Sylvanus,
forgetting for once the suavity of his unapproachable
bedside manner, ''you are inclined to be insolent. I
will speak to my mother-in-law about dispensing with
your services. And bid the youth go away at once. If
he is waiting to be paid for bringing the girl home, tell
him there is nothing for him ! "
" This young gentleman — ^that there's no ane in a*
the country-side to hand a candle to— is the Master o'
Darroch, the sole and only son o' my Lord Darroch o'
Darroch, Lord Lieutenant o' the County ! "
Megsy rang out the boy's titles like a herald. And
it was amusing and pitiful to see the instantaneous
change that passed across the face of the fashionable
physician.
"My dee-ar young gentleman," he said, with his
wife's subscription-collecting intonation, "1 beg ten
thousand pardons ! The uncertain light-— my ignorance
of the neighbom-hood — ^the natural irritation of having
to deal with a woman so stupid and impossible as Mrs.
Stirling's maidsei'vant, whom she will persist in re-
taining — these must be my excuses ! Permit me to
conduct you within. The ladies are in the parlour.
Nay, I will take no denial. Let me secure your
pony."
So saying the Doctor came to the door and, with his
own large soft hands, he would have fastened the
spirited little piebald to the pillar of the porch. But
the boy had discovered the old " loupin'-on-ring "
which stands close to many old Scottish houses of the
bonnet-laird class.
84
ODTDII
i
At firtt the lad had intended to home at onoe, but
there was nothing at Darroch either to attract him, or
to compel him to be home by any stated hour. Besidea
which he remembered that old Mrs. Stirling had often
been kmd to him when as a child he used to come
across for a feed of the ripe Arioland gooseberries, the
like of which were not to be found among all the gay
parterres and glass-roofed hot-houses of Darroch.
" Ladies," said Dr. Torphichan with even more than
his usual purring suavity, " I have the honour of
presenting to you the Master of Darroch."
The two young ladies, who were sitting together at
the end of the room furthest from the door, tossed
their heads and giggled. It seemed so funny to them
to hear a schoolbov called "Master." But their
mother rose in stately fashion and bowed profoundly
at the title, while the old lady simply held up her
hands in surprise and cried, «Wi' Carus— what's
brocht ye to Arioland so late at e'en? Are ye
hungrisome ? Do ye want a piece ? "
The boy laughed a laugh of remembrance as much at
the sound of her voice as at her words.
';No, Mrs. Stirling," he said, eagerly, » I don't want
a piece to-night, though I can taste the flavour of your
apple jelly yet."
* Ye shall have a pot home wi' ye, Carus, lad ! " broke
in the old lady of Arioland.
"I brought home your granddaughter.'*
"My Lord," . 'd Mrs. Torphichan, looking about
her to see whicu vjf her chUdren was absent, "it was
indeed most thoughtful of you. My poor V^ictoria is so
headstrong and thoughtless. She has such spirits, and
I have often warned her not to get lost in the woods.
Hut then I understand that your father's woods are »o
extensive. I remember being taken over them when I
was a young giri, fuU of Hfe and energy, Kke my own
dear girls now. My Lord, let me present to you my
eldest daughter, Ethel— almost a young lady, as you
see, and my youngest Claudia, my dear sly puss, as
i call her. Dear, dear, how I seem to live my happy
-<ft- -F^r
•*r-V^f:-y*-w— ji-v,
ms.:^-
CINDSEELLl.
85
childhood oxer again in these jonng ones whom a kind
Providence hath given me ! "
At this Dr. Torphichan smiled and rubbed his
hands slowly over each other, as if he had been
professionallv called in by Providence to assist, and
had assumed his best bedside manner in honour of
the occasion.
Ethel, who took after her father, gravely bowed, but
said nothing, while Claudia, who had more of the
nature of her mother, jerked out spitefully, "Oh, it
couldn't have been Vic he brought home. She was up
at the dairy-steading with Tom, going over those horrid
things they killed in the woods."
" It was little Hester Stirling whom I found," said
the boy, standing perfectly unembarrassed in the
lighted parlour; "she had hurt her foot climbing the
wall of the deer-park, and I brought her home on my
pony."
The old lady had approached silently and taken him
by the hand, gazing earnestly into his face. At the
boy's words she drew him to her and kissed him on the
cheek, an operation to which the Master of Darroch
submitted philosophically enough.
" Ye are a kind laddie to bring hame the bairn on
your ain beast, Carus, like the Guid Samaritan. Ye
dinna favour your f aither — na, there's no muckle o' his
present Lordship aboot ye. But your mither — aye, ye
are a Niddisdale if ever there was ane. And (turn
aboot a' wee mair to the licht, that I may see your
face) I declare ye are the very moral o' your grand-
mither, her that is noo Her Grace o' Dalveen ! "
"Do you hear, Ethel?" said Claudia, in a loud
whisper, "his father is a lord and his grandmother a
duchess ? "
And as the good old lady of Arioland moralised she
gazed with her short-sighted eyes very near the boy's
face, murmuring half aloud and half to herself, " Aye,
it will be a blessed day when he comes into Darroch —
a blessed day — God send it speed — and bless his bonny
face!"
36
CINDEBELLA.
Then suddenly she humed away to a door on the
opposite side from that by whicii the lad had been
introduced by Dr. Torphichan.
"But what am I thinkin* aboot ? " she said, lifting
2?.t J* ^^ '"^h '^""^ ^""^ fumbUng in a swinginl
Poct^fc for her gold-rimmed spectacles.
^ " Where left I my keys, think ye, Sarah ? Did ony
o ye see my keys? They are on the gardevin in thi
d^ng-room, said ye ? Bin an' fetch them, my dauties.
What, ye daurna gang in the dark ? Sic' silly feared
^i2f^ nS'"" r^ *^^°' Carus-ye mind fine where it
stands. Often I hae opened it to gie ye a drink o' cur-
rant wme. Ye were feU fond o' that, I weel mind ! "
Oh, mother " cried Mrs. Torphichan, « do not send
Ti^ ^""Juf }^ '^ '''' ^''''^ ^ message. Let me ring for
" What, Megsy," cried the old lady, " faith, ye hae
forgotten wi a vengeance, Sarah lass ! That comes o'
bem sae lang amang the grand folk o' Abercaim. I
wad admire to see Megsy Tipperlin's face gin ye rang
CarusT" ""^ ^^^ ^ ^^ gardevin ! iin you,
"My mother spoils aU her servants," sighed Mrs.
Torphichan, liftmg her eyes to the ceiling, with a kind
of silent appeal to the higher powers for resignation, as
she saw the boy eagerly speed away to bring her
mother what she desired. ^
a Wd"^"""^^"* ^^ ^^ ^^^^' *^^^ *^^ ^^'^^ *^'®® **
nrl? p"^^ ^!r^ ^'^^''^ ^^" ^^'^ *^® «^<^ lady, beaming
upon Carus through large round benevolent glasses!
•• noo ye shall see ! " & » >
fl- ^A /^^®7^^ed lightly and daintily to the cupboard.
&cked the keys about with a characteristic little flutter
door °"^ showed itself, and with it opened the
Carus involuntarily took a step nearer. He seemed
to grow younger as the weU-remembered scent came to
w«!.Tm?- ?u*?'P* ^^ Torphichans. Once more he
was a httle kilted boy, hot and dusty, come in for a
CINDERELLA.
37
drink of currant wine Uberally laced with water, or
better still, one of Mistress Stirling's " pieces " of bread
and " jell."
A cool scent came from the stiff-waisted swinging
bmiches of lavender and balm beneath which the old
lady s black bugles gUttered, as her head shook with
the httle nervous quiver she had when excited. Within
the great parlour cupboard there were shelves on
shelves of preserves. Some of last year's candied fruits
in wide-mouthed glass jars had still power to make the
mouth of the Master of Darroch water. Beneath was
honey—blond in comb and clear amber in glass. In
the comer some of the latter was being slowly and
luxuriously strained through a cloth to clear it of every
particle of wax.
Mistress Stirling stood a moment regardant, her head
a little to the side.
" Bring the lamp. Cams, that I may see the better,"
she commanded. " There's my guidman's saddle-bags
that haena been pitten to ony use since he rade awa to
the General Assembly in Edinburgh to gie his vote in
the support o' Kirk and State as becam' an elder o' oor
National Zion. Ye shaU hae them filled to the brim
this night, for the peety ye took on a bit lamb that has
nane to richt her but twa doited auld women-folk ! Na,
na, ye shalhia refuse Isobel Stirlin' that held the
mither o' ye in her airms ten minutes after she was
born. And a bonnie bit lamb she was— thrown to the
wolves— thrown to the ravening wolves— the puir lassie
— ^the puir lassie ! "
As the old lady thus meditated she stood with the
ancient saddle-bags, which she had rescued from a
recess, over her arm— for the store-pantry of the
parlour of Arioland would in these degenerate times
have made an ample sleeping-room. They said, indeed,
that it had formerly been used in the bad old per-
secuting days as a hiding-place for the laird, its
entrance being concealed bv a vast sideboard with a
■hding back, through which a former Stirling of
Anoland had crawled upon the sHghtest alann.
'I
§i\
"tl
■m
1 1
88
CINDERELLA.
tf
'Beid curnuit jelly — an* some o' the black! And
grosarti — aye, ye were aye fell fond o* grosarts,
aru8 ! An' sugar plooma, that melt ~in the mooth
like honey frae the kame ! Will ye hae some o'
them, too? Laddie, ye maun tak' tent to your
beastie's feet this nicht, or a bonnie-like stramash ye
will mak' in my guidman's saddle-bags — there — and
there ! »
The hospitable old lady of Arioland topped off with a
little parcel of " dropped scones *' which Megsy had
made that afternoon on the girdle. Cams was as
grateful as any other hungry schoolboy, in spite of his
airs where Master Tom Torphichan was concerned.
" You are very good, Mrs. Stirling," he said ; " the
very sight of them makes me himgry. Yes, I am all
alone at the Darroch. Only the housekeeper and some
servants are with me. I don't often know where my
father is. He comes and goes without telling us.
But I go back to school in a week, and then it isn't so
bad!"
He took the old lady's hand delicately, as his grand-
mother the Duchess had taught him how when he was
little more than a baby, and dropping his bare head
with its tight crop of curls, he kissed the old lady's fine
fingers. He would have blushed crimson if any of his
school-fellows had seen him, and have fought any
number of pitched battles over an allusion to the affair.
But, somehow, with his grandmother's old friend the
ancient and pretty custom came back naturally.
Then he bowed ceremoniously to Mrs. Torphichan
and the young ladies, Ethel and Claudia. Victoria was
still absent. She had indeed silently opened the door
upon her return, and, seeing that she was observed by
no one save her sisters, as silently had " made a face,
and vanished again.
Dr. Torphichan accompanied the boy to the door
with ceremonious politeness, and with a word of
farewell Cams rode out into the night. By this time
he had forgotten all about Tom's poached game, and
did not even turn his pony's head m the direction of
/
CINDEBBLLA.
39
the MaoKinstrey stronghold, but took the longer and
easier road down the arenue.
Tom Torphichan, howerer, had not forgotten. For
at an angle of the drive where the yew trees grow
thickest a well-directed rat, some time deceased, and
lately resurrected from an unsavoury grave, took Gams
on the shoulder and dropped to the ground. He
turned angrily, and Mrs. Stirling would not have
recognised as his gentle mother's the face he directed
towards the imseen Tom.
" You beastly doctor's cub," he cried, " wait till I
catch you. I'll bang you till you can't stand, you dirty
little drug-shop sweep ! "
"Yah," the answer came back, rudely, "you said
that before, and much came of it. You want your
game — well — take it; here's some more if you like
it!"
And if Felix Carus's piebald pony had not started
away at that moment, a cat in a still more gamey
condition than the rat might have been added to the
varied contents of Mistress Stirling's saddle-bags.
.. jii
m
m
m
X-
CHAPTER VI.
The Feont Door Bell Rings.
« Have they truly gone ? » was Hester's first question,
two days later, as she awoke to find Megsy bending
over her, holding her breath, lest she should rous" her
too soon.
"Aye, dearie, they are gane. Never ye fret, my
lamb— they will never vex ye mair. Megsy will keep ye
safe. Foul fa' them that meddled ye-the taid and the
asic keep watch on their graves ! "
"Megsy, they are my cousins ! "
"Aye, Megsy kens brawly, but that is nae faut of
^Tl 1 » Jx'"'''^^^ help that, dearie! Sit up, then,
and tak bite an' sup o' this fine porridge--iraund
porridge they are 1 " *- s s «"*"«
" I don't like porridge, Megsy ! "
"Dinna say it lamb! There never was a tme
T^r' J!u *^^* ^^"^ f''^ ^^^ porridge like a man.
Look at thae crowls" (t.e., crippled or deformed per-
!?v U "" J<^T,^echans, as they caa' themsels. Deil
tak them for their impidence. No yin o' tham wad let
a spunefu o' guid porridge doon their throate !
Wad my braw lamb grow up to be Uke them, ill-set
gorbs o the world that they are ? Tak' the porridge
^ gmd new milk denty. And ye will grow up sae
^dTeelpus^^^^ "" '"* "^ '^'^ ^^''' ^^' '^^ ^Pi*«
At this, Hester, stung with great desire not to be like
ajij cf her cousms, sat up in bed, making only a little
mouth as the sore foot twinged, and fell to upon
Thl^^^-fL fA? ^^P^^-idg® Megsy had brought W.
The faithful Megsy fl anticipation of her futSre sur-
CINDERELLA.
41
passing beauty did not at this time seem likely to be
realised. For Hester Stirling was somewhat pale and
" shilpit " as Megsy expressed it. Her skin had not the
whiteness of her cousin Ethel's, or her figure the vigor-
ous robustness of Victoria's. She had not the large
regular features and statuesque beauty which belonged
to Claudia. But there was a witching something about
her, at once wistful and confiding, that drew the hearts
of good women to her. Her eyes were dark and
brilliant, with the liquid depths of a well seen under
trees in them, so that most men, even when passing
hurriedly by, would for no reason in particular, turn ana
look back at the flitting pensive figure of this little
girl.
" Noo let me see the bit scart on your foot, darlin',"
said Megsy, « hoot-toot ! It's juibt doin' bonny. Nae
mair than a flee-bite. It will never mar ye on your
marriage mom, dawtie ! There — there ! "
So saying, she boimd it up again, and began to
dress Hester for the day, commenting freely all
the while upon the hated Torphichans, with many
hopeful anticipations of their evil fortune in this
world and the certainty of worse in the next, mixed
with comfortable reflections upon how much more
beautiful, fortunate, and desirable should be the lot
of her pet.
At the very moment when the finishing touches were
being put to Hester Stirling's hair, the sound of a
cracked bed tinkling forlornly far down in the bowels
of the old mansion house was heard.
"Whatever's that?" cried Megsy, startled so that
she dropped the comb, " surely never yui o' thae ill-set
blasties come back again ? As sure as daith, I'll look
oot o' the wast chaumer window, and gin it should be
onything o' the name o' Torpheechan, I'll never steer a
bit. Praise to a guid Providence baith doors are lockit,
and the mistress that deaf, she'll never hear a whush ! "
** Megsy, you mustn't ! " argued Hester, " some
accident may have happened ! "
<'Nae siccan guid luck," retorted the implacable
r4-
-'mtM
^^^^^fmrnm^^mmmimm^
pnip
42
CINDERELLA.
r" BBm'
Me^^. tying a bow of ribbon under Hester's neck
with ., jerk.
"Oh, Megsj, you hurt ! "
"Dearie, my dearie, let stupit auld Meg kiss it better
—there, ^wtie ! It's better noo. For the moment I
declare I thocht ye were a Torpheechan ! Oh, but I wad
like to hae them to dress and fondle. Wad I no ruff
the verra hair oot o' their heids-coorse as horse-hair it
18— whirl them aboot by their lugs like bummin'
teetotums, aye an' never a preen (pin) wad I put intil a
band, but they should find the point o't first » "
The tinkle-tank of the cracked beU sounded again ere
Megsy had ended her diatribes against all the clan of
lorpheechan."
"Plague on the richt hand that poo'ed it!" cried
Megsy, "what mean they by a' that din at nine o'clock
m the momm' ? I'U hae to rin to the wast window, or
chai—'^^ *^^ mistress. But if it's a Torphee-
Silence fell upon the little girl's room as the vengeful
Megsy a footsteps died down the carpetless passaee on
her way to the "wast "window.
Apparently the inteiTupter of the morning peace of
Roland had not proved to be one of the hated house
ot lorphichan, for Hester could hear Megsy's decided
uw y^^^^"" ^J^^ ^*«*^ly ^'losed the door of the
Wast Chaumer" and hurry downstairs. We shall
tollow her and see who it was she found waiting in the
cnsp sunhght of that autumn morning.
It was with a tremulous heart and Hp and a hasty
hand tlxat Megsy Tipperlin opened the great doubli
leafed front door of Arioland. At ordinary times and
tor ordinary people she only opened one half. And her
procedure in shooting back aU the bolts and opening
botii doors wide to the wall might weU have warned
those who knew Megsy TipperHn that some one with
remarkable claims to honour stood without.
At first sight it did not seem to be so. The man who
faced round to meet the old servant of the Stirlinffs
was about forty years of age. His hair showed early
♦ '■
OINDEBBLLA.
48
gey under a coarse straw hat such as harvesters wear,
e had on a suit of rough tweed well polished by use.
The sldn of his cheeks and hands was tanned to the dry
parchmenty hue which betokens long exposure to a
tropical sun.
But all the same there was a set of the head upon the
firm shoulders, an air about the way he had of tugging
thoughtfully at his long grey moustache, and an assur-
ance of manner in turning to face whoever should open
to him, that betokened the man of courage and breed-
ing. There was also a certain lurking irony about the
mouth, an occasional downward twitch (as if a humor-
ous reminiscence gave him a speedily checked occasion
for mirth), which proved that this early morning visitor
to the house of Arioland was a man who could be the
best of company to himself.
But the effect of his appearance upon Megsy
Tipperlin was remarkable. She flung up her arms and
her hands upon his shoulders, all the while continuing
to gaze into his face.
" Davvid — ^Maister Dawid ! " she gasped, in the half-
whisper which one uses in a chamber of the dead.
"What's this — ^what's this? Are ye risen frae your
restin* grave — or are jse come back in the flesh to your
ain wee lass?"
The grave man on the doorstep smiled strangely and
wistfully, and his eyes were very like his daughter's
when he answered :
" Neither one, nor, as yet, the other, Megsy ! " he
said, slowly, " I am come to say a word to my mother ! **
" Come in — come your ways in, my laddie. A* thing
is as ye left it. Ye will ken never a differ! The
chaumers and the parlour and the wee bit room wi' the
cages that ye used to keep your birds in a' are the
same. It was bonny to hear them sing in the simmer
morns. The birdies are dead, but ye will find the
cages. I hae keepit them a' snod and clean against
your return. I aye said ye wad come back — I aye said
it, Maister Bawid. Come ben ! Come your ways
ben I "
•I
-; \\
9 -J
1
44
CINDBRBLLA.
3v
^e man shook his head slowly and the humorous
look went utterly out of his face.
mHI '^f'''V^' ^^.Ff^' " ^* ^« » fi°« morning as you say,
Megsy. I will wait for my mother in the garden, on the
stone seat by the sun-dial ! " e , «
" Wae's me, Dawid, surely ye hae forgi'ea in a* thae
weary years ! -Surelyye will f orgie the dead gin ye wadna
forgie the leevin' ! Your faither is gane, and as God is
my ludge he speeredforye kindly afore he gaed awa* on
his Ust journey. ' Have ye heard anything of David, my
r^ xu f ^^* speakin' grand and slow in the way he
had, that became so weel a piUar o' the Kirk. 'Nane
but this puir wee bit lass that he gied me hame to keep
when his wrfe was ta'en frae him ! * said the mistress.
Then he meditated a while, wi' the bridle thrown ower his
airm, and me waitin' wi' the stirrup cup as waa his
custom. * If it should happen that my son comes back
wnen I am absent, do not turn him away ! * quoth he
and sae mounted and rade I " •' ^ *
" I am glad," said the man in the straw hat, with his
eyes on the ground, « but it is not a matter of f ormve-
Mss, Megsy, it is the matter of the swearing of an oath.
Here, on this doorstep, I stood with my young wife
sick ana lU on my arm. I was refused admittance by
my father. I was cast out like a dog. And here in your
hearing and before high heaven and my father's face,
swore never to cross this threshold— and neither on
eartn nor as it might chance in heaven or hell to
change word or greeting with him or acknowledge
tnat man as any kin of mine ! "
"I mind--I mind the awesome words!" cried
Megsy, "but oh, Maister Davvid, forgie the dead.
For your puir mither's sake. For the sake o' the wee
lamb sitting in her bit chair up the stair yonder, dinna
^ud to a hasty word spoken in anger. Come ben and
Diess this hoose yince mair wi' the presence o' its only
Again David Stirling shook his head. He had taken
Oft his harvester's hat, and his hair, though stiU crisp
and abundant, was streaked with white.
CINDSBELLA.
45
looking at the dense green of the beech h^e curling
Its leaves a little edgewise in the northerly bi^ze. " but
I must keep my word. First be good enough to isk my
motiier to come to me in the garden, and then, after a
while, let me see my Uttle girl ! »
. II
. j
1
! I
W* ' -
f. *
CHAPTER VII.
Hbsteb's Foetttnk.
Meg3t Tippbblin
go within to her
did not answer him, but turned to
miatress. The visitor also strode
away without speaking towards the arch cut in the
tiiickset beech-and-privet hedge which shut off the
garden from the gravelled drive by a twenty-foot wall
of densest foliage. He lifted a small black bag of the
shape accepted of bank clerks for collecting moneys.
It was of shiny leather and had a stripe of red and
white across it upon either side of the strong handle.
Megsy went up to the bed-chamber of the lady of
Arioland. She found Mistress Stirling tying the strings
of her black " kep " with her usual care and circum-
spection.
** Weel, Megsy," bhe began as she caught sight of
her old servant in the glass, " an' how is your bairn
this momin* ? Brawly better, I'm in hopes ? "
As Megsy did not answer at once her mistress turned
about surprised at her silence. She found her standing
as it were fighting for the utterance of words that
would not come at all.
" What is't, Megsy, are ye no weel ? "
" Maister Dawid is below. Mistress," the astonishing
words came with a rush at last, " and wad speak wi' ye
in the gairden by the sun-dial ! "
It seemed as Ji the old lady would have fallen, but
her fifty years of habitual seLf-repression saved her.
She looked Megsy up and down.
" Ye are no wise, Megsy, to speak that gate of yin
that has gane to a better place ! "
" I kenna aboot a bett^ place," said Meggy, rallying
CINDEBELIiA.
47
to find her word doubted, " but I saw him wi' thae auld
een gang into the garden among the grosarts no twa
minutes since ! "
8 i^T?^^' ^®^^^'" °"®^ ^®'' "^"*'®''8' "ye ^ae seen a
"Speerit here—speerit there— speerits dinna carry
bags wi railway tickets on them! Maister Davvid it
was m the flesh and withooten ony fail. He wants the
I?"'* o speech wi' you, mem, he says."
Megsy was on her dignity, as was evident from the
IMle of courtesy she gave her mistress. For Megsy
hST ^^ ^as never poUte save when her pride was
"My son— my only son," murmured Isobel Stirling,
sitting down quietly on the edge of a chair *to com-
g)8e herself,' as she would have said, "can it be
His wull that thae auld e'en should again look upon
their desire? ShaU I indeed see yince mair the laddie
that I prayed for to be the well-beloved and the first-
born. Orive Thy handmaiden strength, O Lord ' "
At such a time she spoke easily in the manner if not
? I?^ ^if *f \ ""^ Scripture, as indeed the worthy
Scottish folk of her class and age still do. The ne:rt
moment, dropping instantly into the vernacular and
raismg her voice, she turned upon Me^sy.
"d°^ if Maister Davvid it be, what were ye thinkin'
on, Marget Tipperlin, no to ask him ben to the parlour ?
Is he no the eldest bairn o' the house, though heavy has
been his portion and dulefu' his heritage ? ''
Megsy set her hands palm down upon her sturdy
hips, fingers forward, thumbs behind.
"Hear till her," she said, ironicaUy (for she was far
past the stage of mere poUteness), "ask Maister Davvid
to come ben mtil his ain hoose ! Ask him yince-ask
hke It. Mistress Stirhn', I fleeched—I humbled myseP
to him—me that nursed him and brocht him up, me
that skelpit him till my bare loof dirled mony an' mony
fww'*'''' 1"« ful's guid! An' then ye say to m/,
*Whatfornodidn»yeaskhimben?'» -^ J' "»
•! ^
1 n
■3 >!
MM
•T. ju-l^ «•«■•■' T"i
48
CIimEBELLA..
I
"Megsy,** said her mistress, "gire me your arm. I
am strangelj taken. It is as if I had dono a sore day's
work, and yet I have scarce stirred across the ll-jor.
Megsy, come with me to the garden gate. Flyte after,
if jre like, but help me now. I am an old woman, and
this is my son, my only son ! "
And Megsy, easily pacified as well as easily irate,
penitently gave her mistress the support of her strong
arm. For her sixty years had not a whit abated her
natural force, nor yet quelled the fiery temper which in
her youth had sent many a suitor to the right about
with a flushed cheek and a ringing ear.
" Ye shall come wi' me till I see his back," said the
mother, " then ye will gang ahint the hedge and pray
for your mistress. Oh, Megsy, be kindly wi* me — I
am an auld dune woman — and ye kenna what it is
to hae a bairn break your heart, for ye never had a
bairn, Marget ! "
" Fll never be withoot a bairn as lang as I hae you,
mistress," said Megsy, shortly. She had no intention
of encouraging her mistress in any such melancholy
reflections. " Davvit is strong and hearty ; and see
you and fleech wi* him to stop stravagin' ower the
earth and bide decently at hame. I'll gang and sort
the bairn. That is the best kind o' prayin' I can do ! "
^ Mistress Stirling looked nervously through her gold-
rimmed spectacles towards the stone seat by the sun-
dial, as she tottered rather than walked up the gravel
between the thinning leaves of the gooseberry bushes.
The sun-dial of Arioland stood in the middle of a
green plot. Bound it and sholtered by tall trees ran a
row of F.tone benches, and there were pedestals at the
end of each for the reception of busts and statues.
But probably none had ever occupied them, for the
only marks upon the grey stone were those of the green
mould from the winter tree - droppings, and the
scratches and chippings inflicted by the knives of many
generations of boyish Stirlings of Arioland.
When David heard his mother's foot he rose quickly
and came to her. She had been leaning heavily upon
CINDERELLA.
4»
her stick, partly owing to a faintness about her heart
and partly from the loss of Megsy's arm. The action
took her son by the throat. His mother was an old
woman. He had not thought of tliat before. It was
nearly seven years since he had looked her in the
face— indeed, never since that day when, defying
her husband for the only time in her life, she had
arrived in time to take Hester to her breast out of the
arms of her dead mother.
" David— David ! " That was aU she could say, and
then again, after a pause and very tenderly, " My wee
Davie ! '* ^ j
And she bent her head on his breast.
"What for did ye no let your mither ken ye were in
hfe? Was il-Jdnd, David?"
Very quiedy and tenderly David Stirling led his
mother to a seat. She sat down with difficulty, and
pressed her neatly-folded handkerchief to her forehead
as if it ached.
"Mother," he said, speaking very low, yet so that she
could hear every word, " I did not know that my father
was dead till six months ago. Then I came home ! I
had my word to keep till then, you know, mother. I
also am a Stirling ! "
X ".Ji ^®^'. ■'■ ^®^'" ^^^^ ^y mother, " but it's a
temble thmg to pass a word in hot bluid and keep
it through years cauld and mony. Ye were two head-
strong men, your faither and you ; and as ye say ye
were Stirlings baith, but that is Uttle to your credit.
Yet since I married one of your name, I have had to
make my reckoning with that. But had ye no pity for
the bairn— the bairn ye left me to succour— to me and
Megsy ? "
She added the last clause that she might be just, for
she also (though originally but a Waldron) had the
Stirling sense of righteousness.
"That was just what kept me away, mother," he
daid. " I went to make a fortune. Not for myself,
(rod knows— for my life is but a husk without the
kernel— nor yet for you, for during your life you have
4
50
CINDEmCLLA.
the proTision which ought to have gone down to me
and my seed after me. But I have made Hester's
tortune, mother— enough and to spare ! And because
there IS a great danger before me, I come to put it in
.your hands. See, mother ! "
He lifted the striped bUck bag from the ground and
touchy a spring somewhere. The top opened, and as
he shifted it nearer to his mother that she might look
tiie contents gave out a faint tinkling sound like the
highest notes on some fairy piano.
At first the wide gold-rimmed glasses did not quite
get the focus of the contents, but presently, as David
Stiriing dipped his hand within, his mother saw a
gbttenng array of red stones, a few set, most of them
cut, but some, and those the largest, yet in the rough.
f or ? " * "^ *^^^®' ^*^^* *^^* ^® ^^ ^'®° y®^ ^®
" Mother, thev are rubies. I discovered, and for six
?7®^l J^^® worked, a mine among the mountains in
North Burmah. It is a thing forbidden— a Govern-
ment monopoly. But that which a man risks his life
tor I count his own. I brought these through, though
the King had men upon my track. I had two partners,
and this is my share, which I have brought to you to
keep for me and my little girl **
"David, ye are never thinkin* o' gangin' away back
to tak your life m your hands ? "
"Mother, I must," he answered. "I have two
partners who have stood by me like steel. They are
there still facmg the danger; now I must stand by
tHem. I have put their shares upon the market, and
airanged aU as they wished it for those whom they
eft at home. For me I had none but you and this
little girl. I do not want to seU at present. These ai-e
all pigeon-blood rubies, and will grow in value every
year. Besides, with what I have sold on behalf of my
partners, here and in HoUand, there are mere than
enough already upon the market. I want you to keep
them. Each one of them ii inventoried and described.
They wUl one day be my little girl's sufRcient dowry.
CINDERELLA.
61
I
To-morrow I must start out again. Hitherto we have
tZirf. V^' old fellows in%he Bible usS L b,Sld
in f h« .7^' \^'^^ ^ ^^« ^^*°^ '^"^ a repeating rifle
Sfc'frT^^'x.*^'^ ^^ *^« I'^^ii*^ Government
m^l? «i^' f i,^*?,?""^' ?7 partners-one a Scot, like
3 p^r?* ^u "^^^^^ a Putchman-are holding the
expect they will have spent some cartridges \"
Oh, Dand, David," said his mothir, "if ye hae
?n7 Ir® t^r"^ ^"^^ mitherdinna gang awa' again
into thae heathen ootland pairts." eg", again
"Mother, I have promised ! "
«f Tk®iP**^/ of frio^ad gave the Kttle helpless gesture
might do the same as he watched the judge lifting the
black cap She had lived too long with^StirKs ^
attempt to change her son's will when once the word
had passed his hps. That she and her sc werTsiS
there, two soUtery figures within the high cir^^ wag
of the b-ees was proof enough that she Understood Mb.
"And what am 1 to do wi' sicUke, David?" Z
said, abandoning her appeal without another word •
" they are surelj vailable ?" »""tuor wora,
"Put them in a safe place, mother-~give them to
your banker if you Uke. The papers hire "-^ he
spoke he turned the bag up a little, so that the bottom
showed ; and then, moving aside one of the plainbr^
knobs upon which it rested, an oblong Ud d^rop^dTn
concealed hmges and several papers^vere seeTSi a
"Here," he continued, "you can show these to your
Weroryourbaiiker. They ai-e quite enough tTpro^
tatJe. My agreement with my partners and tWi^!
sterdam cutter's certificate wilf be enough to esteb^h
pedigree for ^e cut stones. Then X t my 4Sl
gi^g them and my share in the mine~if ever thatb^
i worth anything-to my little girl • " ^
« David," said his mother, with a quaver in her voice
I am an auld woman, and know n?t what a ^y m^^
.J
52
CINDERELLA.
bnng forth. How can I be easy in mind with jewels of
pnce in the house? Give them into a banker's hand
yourself, David I "
David Stirling smiled, and patted his mother's arm.
"I would rather trust you, and take the risks," he
said ; " I know no one here whom I could depend on as
between man and man, and a corporation has no bowels.
Donald Simpson the lawyer, I know, and he is a
righteous man, but he sided with my father, and denied
me even the favour of his good word when last I called
upon him. The stones are better here in the old house.
*What none kens of, none comes seeking,' as we used
to say. Set the bag on a top shelf of your store
cupboard in the parlour, mother, and keep the key in
your work-basket among the bobbins of coloured silk."
CHAPTER Vllt
A MOTHEE IN EamAH.
Thbke was the sound of feet moving heavily on the
fh!'!!^ V. ri^* ^v}^^. ^^^^ S^^^ ^°^«r the arch in
the beech hedge chcked sharply.
"Where is granny?" David Stirhng heard a clear
young voice say, a voice whose tones thrilled him
sharply like the first prick of a surgeon's knife, making
him bite his lips to keep down a cry. ^
..^tr^^'u^ ^^^ S"°^' ^""^ *^^»'«> "^"^"^S towards him
up the walk, was Megsy carrying a Httle girl, who thus
in the strong arms of her old nurse seemed much
SS"" , *^^^,r^^^ years. And if the voice had
pncked him, the eyes, dark -.nd lustrous, with the
mnocent drawing attraction in them that he knew so
well, perced him to the heart.
"Megsy, set me down; I will not be carried like a
Baby. 1 can walk now quite weU, or if I can't walk I
can hirple. Megsy, do you hear ? "
The listener smiled a little this time, for if the voice
A ®{!^rrf another's the words and accent were
undoubtedly those of his own race, and David Waldron
atirhng, as by a curious back-spang or echo of memorv.
kb^Sers "^"^^ ""^^ ""^ addressing his Burmah
u2J^^\t^^i.^^ *^® ^^"* ^^* "^y ^enty," said Megsy,
owenng the littie girl caref uUy to the ground, but kfe^'
ing her arm still about her. « There noo-hap tentilV^
If ^ wdl hirple, ye contrairy maisterfu' wee besom ! "
Holding one foot crooked up, Hester hopped as
^mtily as a robin redbreast to her grandmother's side,
without, however, once taking her eyes off the unknown
•f'l
54
CINDERELLA.
man. For Megsy, though sore tempted by the way,
Imd loyaUy kept the secret. Her mistress could tell, if
«he liked, who the visitor was that had so quickly risen
at heir coming and now stood gazing so raptly at little
Hester Stirling. As for herself, she shut her thin lips,
and chcked the gate determinedly behind her as she
went back to her kitchen.
Then, quite suddenly lifting his head, the stranger
asked the little girl sharply, what was the matter with
her foot.
"I hurt it climbing the wall of the deer-park, but
rIS* got the thorn out, and now it is nearly better."
The tall grave man seemed to quiver anew at the
?p^? of Hester's voice. The fresh confiding tone of
it laid hold of him. It minded him of one who had
given up all for love. And it seemed that he looked
along the same perilous way which this little one must
tread.
" H -ster, my bonny," said her grandmother," ken ye
wha this is ? " ' j
"He is not my father, at any rate ! " was the quick,
unexpected answer. "I have prayed for him to come
back to me every night."
" Aiid how do you know that it is not your father ? "
said David Stirling.
"Because my father is a beautiful young man, with
golden hair, and oh, such a bright glad look in his
eyes ! There is a portrait of him in the parlour. You
can see it when you lift the big box, with * A Present
from Ceylon * on it in pink shells."
** And am I not a beautiful young man, with a brignt
look on my face, Hester? » queried David, quietly.
" No, indeed ! You are quite old— your hair is grey
--quite grey, do you know? But I hope you donM;
mmd, for I like you. Your name is not Torphichan, is
it ? "
"No," said David, smiling, "certainlv my name is
not Torphichan."
"I thought not," said Hester, brightly —stiU, how-
ever, holding her grandmother hj the black silk of her
m
"HESTER. THIS IS YOUR FATHER!'
[Poyc 55.
CINDERELLA.
55
apron ; you look kind, and jou wouldn't run away and
leave me if I took you to see the Bower and had hurt
my foot—nor set a horrid dog at my dear FlufFy—
oJ'P^^ ^« Torphichans do these things?" said David
Stirling, the comers of his mouth losing their humor-
ous look, and the Ukeness to the portnut of his father
in t^ haU coming out more strongly on his face.
"Hoots-hoots," said Hester's grandmother, " dinna
be speakm nonsense. It was but some bairns' dis-
agreement amang themsel's. I'm sure baith Edith
and Claudia said what a guid kind bairn ye were. So
dinna speak ony ill o' them that spak weel o' you » »
« I won't, granny. But aU the same it is true."
" Hester, this is your father ! "
" No, no, he is not my father ! "
"Why wiU you not have me for a father?" said
David, gravely, to Hester.
" BecauM my real father is to come in a coa«h and
SIX when all my cousins are here, and take granny and
mewidMegsy away right before them. He is to sit
on tiie lx)x and me beside him, and I wiU wave my
hand and say, ' The grieve's cart wiU be round for you
Go^yeT''^'''" ^"^ ^^'^ ^^'^'^ "^"^« ^^ ^'
" WeU" said David, "I am sony that I did not
come witii a coach and six. But just the same, I am
your father I" '
Tears rose m Hester's eyes, and a Uttle sob came
mto her throat. ^^
"What," he said, "are you disappointed ? Do you
not like me ? " ^
"Oh, it's not that." she answered. "I like you—
yes, very much But it's not the least like what I
thought it would be."
" Then you expected me to come ? "
"Oh, yes," said Hester, drying her tears, and smil-
ing up at him confidently. "Megsy would never let
me say so without snapping me up. But I always
knew you would come baok ! **^ «*w»/ii
56
CINDEEELLA.
** Well, now that I am here, will you come and gire
me a kiss?"
'* I can't come — 'cause I have a sore foot. You must
come and get it."
" It was well worth coming for, Hester ! " said David,
after the operation was complete, ** and indeed I have
come a great deal further than that for it."
"How far?"
" Eoughly, about seven thousand miles," said David.
« That is farther than to Edinburgh, isn't it ? "
" Ever so much farther ! "
'* And what did you bring me all that way ? " was
Hester's next question.
'I This ! " said David, lifting the bag with the red and
white stripes across it.
" It isn't very pretty. How heavy it is ! Can I
have it to play mth ? "
"You can when you grow up. In the meanwhile
your grandmother will keep it for you."
" Let me see what is in it ! "
Hester's eyes began to glow. She had a vision of
marvels unspeakable, and she was definitely dis-
appointed when she saw only what seemed rather
smallish bits of red glass, and some not nearly so
bright as glass. She was sure that if she could get a
piece of the window, through which the sun shone into
the Kirk of St. John on Sunday mornings it would be
far prettier. Still, Hester was a polite little girl, and
would not say so to hurt anyone's feelings.
"They are lovely, indeed!" she said, putting her
hand within, and letting a handful trickle tiirough
between her fingers. "How cool they are, and how
they tickle as they drop ! "
•**Yes, Hester," said her father, smiling. "Many
people have an itching palm for just such litt?e bright
things as these."
" Can I have just one ? "
Her father took a large bright ruby and gave it to
Hester. It was set in a kind of clasp or necklace of
gold, very curious in workmanship.
CINDEEELLA.
57
<(
David, ye mauna, the bairn will lose it!" cried
ms mother.
"Well, let her ! " said her father, "there are all the
others."
"Are those in the bag red beads ? " queried Hester,
selecting two or three and looking for the holes. "I
would like to string them ! "
"They are not for stringing," said her father.
You must grow up, I am afraid, before you under-
stand what they are good for."
Very reluctantly, Hester let the stones trickle back
into the bag and withdrew her hand. David shut the
catch with a snap.
..J*.-[* ^^ ^®'y heavy," said Hester, trying valiantly to
lift it. ^ a J
«l
That 18 the bag, not the pretty stones," said her
father. « It is made of steel and covered with leather.
Would you like to see how it opens ? "
So, sitting there on the stone seat with the old lady's
cap keeping up a constant stir of tremulousness and
the precious stones tinkling pleasantly between them,
David Svxrling showed his heiress how to unfasten the
secret catch which allowed the key to work, and (what
took much longer) how with a peculiar circular move-
ment to cause the false bottom to turn back upon its
hinges. The papers fell out, and Hester stooped to
pick them up.
"These are not so pretty as the stones," she said to
her father. « Why do you keep them together ? "
"Because they belong to each other," said her
father.
"Yes, I know," said Hester, brightly, for her
success With the movements of the bag had raised her
spirits ; « like you belong to me and I belong to grand-
mother—and Megsy ! "
So they sat there hour after hour till the sun had
mounted to the zenith, and Megsy Tipperlin, with a
s*™J&® look on her face, brought out a tray of silver,
old-fashioned in pattern, but with the silversmith's
pohsh yet upon it. It was covered with bread, sand-
H
■Tf
68
CINDERELLA.
wichei, sooneg, butter, and cheese. Next she set a
decanter down with a flourish.
She deposited them beside David Stirling respect-
fully, and drew back a little. He began to shake his
head.
" They are my ain," said the old maid with a certain
dignity ; " they were bocht for the pleniahin* o'
Margaret Tipperlin's hoose. And they were set aside
when — that happened which happened. They hae
never been used since, neither silver nor glass. Nae
hands hae touched them but mine. Will you deign to
taste, Davvid Stirling ? "
" Since you dare me like that, Meggy," said Hester's
father, filling a gbiss, " I have no choice. I drink your
health, Megsy — and yours, mother— and yours, little
one. Grow up quickly and get ready to play with your
pretty red stones.'*
In this fashion David Stirling ate and drank outside
his father's house, over the threshold of which he had
sworn never to set his foot. His mother laid a shaking
hand a little furtively on the back of his as it rested on
his knee, and Hester looked at them both with curious
eyes.
In after years she never forgot how the sunlight lay
on the grass, and how towards noon the image of the
tall sundial shortened till it seemed no more than a
blue-black splash on the grass, as if somebody had
spilled ink there and forgotten to wipe it up.
At last David Stirling stood ready to depart. He
looked about for his straw hat. It lay some distance
away, where it had fallen when he went forward to
greet his mother. Hester's quick eye caught his desire.
" I can fetch it ! " she cried ; " see me hop ! "
And sure enough she was back in a moment with the
hat in her hand. She put ^it on his head, as he bent
his body to receive it.
" I think you are my father now," she said ; *' you
have a nice-shaped head ! "
"Good-bye for the present, little one!" he said,
kissing her tenderly.
CINDEBELLA.
69
I.
"You are going?" she cried. "But jou will come
back again to-morrow."
"Itma^not be quite to-morrow," said David Stir-
ling, smiling gravely upon her, "but someday 1 will
come back ! " *'
He turned to his mother, who had also risen.
' f y son—my only son ! " she said, as she put down
her head on his shoulder.
"Mother .'"said David.
T."?"'''^./^^?. ^""^ ^®*^^ *^i8 auld hoose desolate,
David. Bide— bide a wee "
t{
^ I cannot, mother; my word— the word of a Stir-
hng.
" Bide for the bairn's sake— for the sake o'— ye mind
wha ! ''
"I know, mother, but now at least I cannot remain
in the land where she died for the lack of that which
m^theT'" ^ "''^* ^^ ' ^'''® ^^ ^^"^ blessing,
Then the "auld leddy" of Arioland lifted up her
voice and wept, like one of those mothers in Ramah.
who would not be comforted, because their children
were not. And this was her firstborn son.
Little Hester, forgetting her lame foot, stood up and
tugged at her grandmother's gown.
"Grandma— grandma, what for do ye greet?" she
cned, breaking into dialect at the sound of her friend's
distress. "I'll gie ye my dolly, my best dolly, if ye
wmna greet. I'U gie ye Fluffy. I'll never play at mud
pies on Sabbaths, but sit in a chair an' read a book.
Unly dmna greet, granny, 1 canna bear ye to greet. If
that^*^* tester will greet too! How wUl ye like
But the old woman did not hear her. She only lifted
"P ^e*" bead, and with her hands upon her son's
shoulders, and looking into his face, she gave him the
benediction Aaronic, sanctified by generations of use in
Scottish homes, whence sons and daughters go forth
alone into the world of unknown things.
« The Lord bless thee and keep thee. The Lord make
%i
\t, ,
80
CINDERELLA.
His face shine upon thee and be graciotis unto thed.
The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give
thee peace."
Thus departed, with a mother's blessing on his head,
the son who had last gone forth from Arioland bearing
the weight of a father's curse.
CHAPTER IX.
Meost'b Bohakce.
It was in Megsy's clean-scoured kitchen, and that laiJy
was washing her dishes and polishing her private t le
of silver. She had just begun to give a wh !•/
superfluous rub to the salver on which she hau ink -v.
out refreshments to the Stirling who would not ' niuoL
as enter the house of his fathers, when a knoci^ o.tiu*
to the back door. Megsy had heard the step upoi: tlie
brae which heralded the summons. She breathed upon
a doubtful spot before she replied, without moving or
looking up, " Come in, Anders ! If ye hae brocht ony
mair o your nesty fish wi' ye, ye can e'en clean them
yourseP ! For Megsy Tipperlin has as muckle as she
can do without thumbing a' the afternoon at slaistery
fish!" ^
" They're guid loch trout, Megsy," said a voice at
the door, "and my feet are clean. Can I no come
ben?"
" Let me see ! " quoth, uncompromisingly, the
mistress of the lower parts of the house of Arioland.
" Ow aye, I daresay ye can come ben ; but tak* your
great wheelbarrows o' boots aff, and leave them oot
there by at the door cheek. Ye'll no be nair the waur
o' sittin' a while in your stockin' soles at a decent
woman's fireside ! "
" Ah, Megsy, gin I had my will o't ye should be
sittin' caigily at mine ! "
There was an interval filled with external sounds of
struggle and stress. Then a ruddy-faced grey-headed
man entered, walking softly on his stocking feet like
o»e who takes heed to his going. This was Anders
82
CINDERELLA.
t--
MacQuaker, fisherman, authority on sport, busker of
flies, general gossip and " everybody's body " — through-
out all the Strath of Ken, and even unto Luce Bay,
and the uttermost parts of Minnigaff.
" What's that ye say, Anders ? " cried Megsy from
the depths of the cheese-room. She had by no means
waited to receive her guest, but went on with her work
without so much as lifting an eye m the direction of the
door.
" I was sayin', Megsy, that my heart was set on ye
to siccan a degree tha t --- — "
" Then if it's i.o frettin' ye— ye can juist keep it set
for five meenites mair till I feed the hens ! " said Megsy,
unfeelingly, as she passed out with a great bowl of
"daich' or freshly-stirred meal and water, for her
beloved fowls. They were well-bred hens, too, and
never attempted to cross the clean-scoured step of
Arioland back door. And the fear of Megsv's dishcloat
even kept them on the other side of a certain unmarked
but faithfully observed boundary-line, which was dmwn
from the comer of the front door gravel about the
flower-beds, concluding at the kitchen window. Beyond
this scientific frontier Megsy's happy flock had scope
and freedom limitless, and they were duly fed twice a
day to teach them to bide at hame, and never lay away,
like comni' a uncovenanted chuckles.
" And ye were remarkin', Anders, when I gaed oot.'*
Upon her return Megsy thus encouraged her visitor
to proceed so soon as she had dusted the " daich " from
her hands, and got down the bake- board in order to
begin the yet more important operation of " baking
the cake."
Now there is no prettier sight than this to be seen in
Galloway, hardly even a blanket washing when coats
are kilted for the tramping, when the sun deepens the
colour on rosy cheeks, and well-shaped ankles shine
white as the flashing heels of Mercury himself.
Many promising courtships b^^ this way. And a
pretty girl certainly looks her pettiest with arms bared
well-nigh to the shoulder, while the to-and fro move-
m
:wrm:^
CINDERELLA.
03
j-board brin
movement
and play of
ment of the roller on the baki
g j most fascinating graces of
dimpled elbow.
"fiap! Rap! Rap! Rap!" It comes to the ear in
vaned keys of sound, dull and sharp, according to the
thickness of the dough beneath. At intervals a hand
showers a delicate top-dressing of flour with a twist of
the wrist much admired by connoisseurs, and indeed
worthy of being noted by all. This is generally accom-
panied by a smile at the attendant youth, so he be a
worthy one and deserving of having trouble taken with
him. Immediately after this the cakes need attending
to. lliey have already been removed from the round
iron gird e which hangs over the clear fire, a fire
gentle, mild, and insinuating, no roisterous flame, but
aboufTt^^""*^ rather, meUow and mellowing aU
The same pretty hands, the flour being touched away
with the corner of snowy apron, now take the oaten
cakes and turn them at the side of the fire, setting each
at the proper angle to get the best of the heat, so that
It may come forth a worthy cake, light in the mouth,
cnsp to the tooth, and much to be desired as fare fit for
the gods ! After this, such knitting of brows-such
poisings of head to decide whether the fortmiate cake
be ready or not ! Then— almost as if it were a theft
sweet and pardonable as that other which (in intent)
has been in the young man's head for the last quarter
of an hour, tlie least crumb is broken off the corner—
follows a flash of white teeth as it is tested, and the rest
ottered to the worthy observer.
At this point the youth, if he have in him any man-
hood, or the adventurous spirit which makes its wav
ynth maids even in staid Galloway, slides off the corner
of the table, and—but let all those who have assisted at
such bakings of the cake recall to themselves what
happens then. There be heads grey and heads white
and heads (alas, that over it should be so I) already
growing thm or shiny a-top whose locks were once like
the raven. There be hearts which once bounded fiery
64
CINDEBELLA.
as barbs under the snowy baking-apron, that are now
covered by the staid dove's grev of the " old maid," or
oftener still by the widow's plain black— yet neither
head nor heart hath ever forgotten the baking of the
cake, nor yet that tell-tale print of a small floury hand
upon a shoulder, on account of which, issuing forth, the
favoured swain endured not all imwillingly his com-
rades' envious laughters.
Not thus, however, but quite otherwise was the
baking of Megsy, and if that resourceful lady called
to mind other bakings across the years, nothing of
the remembrance showed on her large and steadfast
face.
Anders the fisherman set him purposefully down by a
large basin, which he brought softly from a little
pantry, whose shelves were of the purple Parton slate,
beautifully spotted and splashed with green. Into this
he proceeded to "clean" the fish he had brought.
Largre and fine loch trout they were, even as he had
said, speckled and freckled with orange and saffron,
and their sleek firm sides yet shining from the wet
bracken in which they had been wrapped.
Anders MacQuaker cleaned awhile in silence, while
the purposeful dwnt-dunt of Megsy's roller of wood on
the oake-board alone broke the silence.
"Ye had better oot wi' it, and get it by for the
nioht, Anders ! " said the baker of cakes, presently ;
" ye hae come to do it, I can see ! "
" Ye are richt, Megsy, it wad maybe be as weel ! "
responded, with ^qual sobriety, the cleaner of fish,
sticking to his task.
" Weel than ! " said Megsy, like one definitely ex-
pectant, lifting her roller so that it stood up on end,
in order with short taps to shake off the superfluous
meal.
" Hae ye thocht ower what I said to ye the last time
I was here, Megs^?" said Anders, swiftly and scien-
tifically running his sharp and crooked knife along the
trout's white under-edge.
" And what wa« that ? "
CINDERELLA.
,"«•/"«'» /e imnk because I am a hif r^> \ l^l
oroclit up to on/ particular t«de, that ye can lichUr
kL"?""^'"' ^°" '•«"*•' « -o that ^df^^t"
orrX^^'^r^ffbi^^-J-vr^"^ he., warning.
m^ l!L? 5 ° 'J""*" ohamcter a' my life nae
mistak' thi h..o^i , ./^ "^y ""^-^ ever see Anders
S if I bTnn ^i^ ^ *¥ '^^•^ ^«' «^« length o't?
h^d to i^ir ?r^'jr" ^ ^'^^ ^^ *^^«> I can put my
« ' Ma^tr ^ ^' *^" "^"^ °*°^ i« t^e country ^
mention when I am on thiTenJ ^r! ^'^® i ^
plate to pit this next l?«?f h^ .^^^ ^® * "'"*'^«
Thanlrv«n Tk ^ ir ?* , ^"^^®^ ^^oo^s on. Meffsy?
hoos?a^d\ mtTt't'lf taf "^°%^ ^^^^^* ^^
boast that +>,3^ ^* I ^** ^^^^ *^e maitter o' a
ooast, tnat they hae made me an officer o' the tirk
66
CINDEBELLA.
i'uist terrible lonesome, Megsy, wantin' rou. And eren
tuskin* salmon huiks is no to be caa'ed ony real com-
pensation to a thinkin' man ! "
" Sae for the last time I ask ye, Megsj, will ye no
gie the auld leddy in your wamin' ? I need ye mair
nor her ! She has gotten a dochter to gang to, and
they say she's failin', that she's no lang for this warl*
onyway ! "
There was silence again as Megsy put the finishing
touches to her batch. TY , without the least sign that
she had heard, she erecte<. the roller again, and with a
flexible knife kept for the purpose she striped the
firmly adherent dough from the smooth rotundity of her
pin. This being done to her satisfaction she turned
upon her suitor.
" Hae ye dune ? " she asked.
** Aye ! " said Anders, selecting a fresh trout with a
mourxiful countenance, as if he had spoken indeed to
relieve his mind, but without any real hope of success.
" Is a' said that ye cam' to say 9 "
" A' is said, Megsy."
"Then, Hsten!"
For the first time Megsy Tipperlin turned fairly
round towards Anders, who, however, went on slitting
up his trout and disembowelling them with tlie same
indescribably technical motion of the thumb he had
been U6in<y. '* First and foremost, it is g^'en to me to
say that it wad far better become a man o* your years
and an officer o' the kirk to '.(> thinkin' on your latter
end, and, as it were, makin' yo^r peace wi* your Maker
for being sae conceited aboot yoursel' ! Did ye no hear
the minister say, last Sabbath nae farther gane, that
sinful pride was the unpardonable sin. Aweel, he said
sae, whether ye heard it or no. I ken noo what for the
Idrk officer's seat is higher in the back than a' the
rest!"
" I wasna sloepin', Megsy," Anders answered without
heat, " it micht hae been, but as a maitter o' fact it
wasna ! "
*< Weel, in the second place (fega, I tbiak I oould
#*•-
CINDEBELLA.
67
t '
preath no that ill a sermon mysel'), let me hnw tn irnni.
■peered Marget Tipperlin afore. She was Market
Tjpperhn then and she is Marget Tipperlin nooint
t«? 7^ -^r"^ *"^ ^r^'^ *^«» SheTne^er rin lot
yet the ither noo. And the silly hizzy promise/To hL
your wife, and there was a coprW L^b^t to alS
wi> a page m it a' scrawle"? ower 4' S wo^ds
Margaret MacQuaker, her book!' For the foS
lass wanted to see hoo the name wad look She wis
young though inthae auld days, but she had a lo™
heart, though the lass was never what ye wad caa' bonnv
For though mony a time ye telled her tharth/^*
Anders, she never fairly believed ye. And that maX
was the savin' o' the bit lass. mayoe
rJ^^ A^** *r !i* ""^^V *^^^ ^^°^* * bonnier in your
r^- Ml Anders MacQuaker-aye, I do her that
justice ! She wa* far bonnier nor mi. I name no W
name. I speak nae ill o' the dead. She ^s a woi^n
bonny t» look upon ! God rest her soul ' '' ^°^°
iJ,"^?"!? •." v^'^ ^^^^'' ^"^^ *^« tear was in his eve
though that did not prevent him squintini? as critUn v
as ever along the belly of the next fish. ^ cnticaUy
" Yet a' the time ye were trysted to me, and ve cam*
tosee me-first ^.verv second nicht, tlien e^r/tWrf
and then yince a weet, slower and slower li¥7a mSl*
wheel stoppin', till last o' a' the countryside I hSrd"
where it was ye spent the rest o' your forenichts. Then
Lkw? *^»»* |;»"»f„'^ere to be cried in the kirk on
Sabbath, and they telled me to bide awa*. But I L^
for I trusted ye, Anders, and I kenned nae ill that iCa
dune ye ! Then I heard the name that I wrote on \^e
copy book, the name that should haa been my am Jed
wi purpose o' marriage io anither lass."
"Oh Marget, woman, woman," groaned Anders, now
cut to the quick. " is forty year no lang enouch ? Wm
ye no let tliat suffice ?" ^ ^^
her^Zund'ZT^^^t^' "^^ ?^f^^^' '^^^y^ '^^^^^g
W ^rJi ' f A 'r^T '*^*'^-'^ ^* *^^ «"itor before
her. At last Anders dropj^ed fish and knifa togethi
68
CINDERELLA.
letting the latter fall on the floor with a ringing clatter
— " it is ower lang for a man — forty months, aye, or
forty weeks serve a man to forget in. But never a
womaji that has been sliglited and lichtlied as Marget
Tippr 4in was slighted and made licht o' before a* the
pansi. o' Sant John ! '*
" Then ye winna come, Megsy ? The slated hoose is
to stand lonely yet ? '*
'* Neither now nor ever, Anders. Ye shall never hae
the chance to serve the auld woman as ye served the
young ! The copy-book is gane to the winds and sae is
the silly young lass that yince on a day wrote doon
* Marget MacQuaker ' in it ! Gang your ways, Anders.
Ye come on a fule's errand ! Never let me hear the like
oot o' your mouth again ! "
Tlie fisherman rose without a word, and went out
upon his stocking feet to where he had left his boots.
The trout were neatly arranged m the table, laid out
upon a couple of clean platters.
From the window, Megsy atched his retreating
figure down the avenue, till it ew faint and fainter,
and then vanished. There was a smile upon her lips.
That was obvious to all. And if you had looked closer,
you might have seen something li^ a tear in her eye.
" I hae settled Anders this time ^r guid an* a*, I*m
thinkin' ! " she was saying to h« rsnlf as she clinked
the platters of speckled beauties u ;wn upon the clean
purple coolness of the Parton slate.
All the same, Megsy would have been greatly dis-
appointed if he had not been back within a month with
tne self-same tale. And so it had been between them
for over thirty years.
For Megsy Tipperlin and Anders MacQuaker were in
their hearts very good friends, neither bearing any
grudge for the things that had been, nor the things
that might have been, but were not.
,•
CHAPTER X.
A House Left Desolate.
The Bhinj black bag, with the red and white bands
«r!^l^ ^J''^ ^'^"y,*^*^? among the accumulating
products of the Arioland orchard and garden—the neat
white iwts of red currant jelly, beloved by Carus. the
larger dishes of gooseberry preserve, the marmalade,
with long amber straws lying across it, accurately cut
into lengths, and the more plastic parts deep and
l?Hi ^^^J^'^gormB. After a while it got shoved a
little farther back upon the ample shelves, as the
autumnal days crept in shorter, and the honeycomb
began to amye. There were no « sections " in thoi days
—no hives scientifically contrived. The poor bees had
perforce to be content with their straw-built tenement,
kbpunng late and early to fill it to the utmost peak.
This would have pleased them weU enough, but^,
one autumn night when the winds were still, or only blew
up the strath with a kind of sucking breath, there came
Anders MacQuaker with reek of burning sulphur.
And the next day, lo ! the black bag with thi bands was
pushed yet farther back, as combs of rich honey, ridffed
and shaped to the convolutions of the "skep," were
laid upon each other like huge pUed toadstools. The
whole house was scented with the "straining" of
SrL^i^''^''^ t^- °^*f.^^ «^"^^' swung iStween
SLf^^r' ""* .''^ll'"' ^"PP^ *^«i^ slow-running
8dent.falhng freight into the appointed jars ofcleS
The farthest back, and the nearest to the striped b«?
wwe the "firstings," the combs of the springtime/deE
catelj green, as if the bees had extract^ wme if the
70
CINDEBELLA.
moimting sap. These pots seemed to ba fragrant with
a foint far-away wild-wood breath of crocus and wind
flower, and the blowing heads of Lent lilies. The next
were of fuller flavour — alternately amber and tawnj,
from the clover of pasture-fields, over which the soft
winds of Jime had blown through the short and
merciful nights. Then, golden-brown as the pools
where the salmon sulk waiting for the floods that thej
may leap upward, arrived the first heather honey,
product of the purple ling, which clothed the sides of
the Bennan and gleamed afar upon Ben Gaim. Last
of all, keen-scented as wood smoke, yet with a tang to
it like nothing else in the world, most precious conseiTe
of leagues of the true heather, wine-red and glorious,
were Hester's favourite dark-brown combs, throueh
which the knife cuts clean and luscious, revealing tiie
scented essence which the bees carried while the shots
were cracking and the grouse falling over the leagues
of moorland. There was most of this, for that was the
best vintage which the Master of the Bees had kept to
the last. The hives for the heather-honey had been
carried in jolting carts up to the purple sides of the
Black Craig, and there left — a busy little colony — to
their own resources, till the heather browned and grew
dry and rustling as silver-shakers in the keen winds of
the moorland.
And ever the striped bag was pushed farther and
farther back, till none remembered it save the mistress
of the house of Arioland, and she only occasionally, and
that she might put the thought of it from her for a
season.
For it lay upon her like a weight that she should be
required to drive down the long valley to the station,
wait till the bustling train came snorting over the
Stroan viaduct, soughing out of the Big Cutting and
silently approaching over the padded levels of Mossdale,
till at last the engine shoved a black inquisitive fore-
head under the High arched bridge «id, with a hush
ajid creaking of iwrakes, the train tiki alongside the
little flnw»?=girt ?4s^orm.
* -^ ,»'"'* '^■- '
CINDERELLA.
71
■■i
Good Mistress Stirling did not like the railway, or
indeed anything that went at one particular time. She
resented the haste with which the train passes spots
desirable to be looked upon, farms that ought to be
leisurely gossiped about. What right had its snorting
fussiness to intrude upon the cud-chewing kine and s^d
them flying with tails in the air ? It was bound to be
bad for the milk, and might one ,day bring a judgment
upon the countiy.
" It wasna sue in my young days," she would object,
" there were nane o' thae nasty scraichin* (screeching)
machines raging through God's bonny land, startin' ye
wi' a tug like pooin' your teeth, and stoppin' ye wi* a
dunt-dunt that is like to shake the verra inside oot o*
ve ! Na, there was but a pillion set across a guid grey
horse, and the lad's sturdy waist that ye likit best, and
awa* ye set as canty as if a' the warl' was but yae
graund Rood Fair ! *^
"Some folk had nae graund yoxmg man's waist to
clip their airm aboot," Megsy would rejoin, as she
snipped out a cover for the next jar with swift-running
scissors. ♦* Na, mistress, in my opeenion the railway
is no only a great convenience but an oflFset to the
country. And lan^yne some had neither grey horse
nor ^oung man to hppen to for a lift. What did they
" Do," cried her mistress, covering the under surface
of the white circle with whiskey and white of e^^, to
keep the conserve from moulding, " what did they do
that had nae horse, say ye? Faith, brawly do ye ken
what they did, Marget Tipperlin. I mind myser mony
a day seeing ye tripping it ower the heather and alang
the roads that shone sae green across the muir, bare-fit
and bare-leggit, your Sunday coaties kilted to the knee,
nane thinking ill o't ! And a lad carrying your single-
soled shune that ye were to pit on when ye cam' to the
bum aneath the kirk-yaird wa' ! That's what ye did,
Marget, when ye had never a horse to ride on. Aud I
leave it to yersel', Megsy, to say if ye are ony mair
happy wi' your railways and eesgmea and trucks, whex«
'-Je^.
72
CINDEEBLLA.
fowk are penned up Uke sheep in a ree, than ye were
when ye legged it Kchtfit ower the heather and dabbled
your taea in the Darroch water before ye drew on your
■tockin's, wi' a gleg young lad standin' ready to buckle
your ghoon when ye had dune ! "
«'Aye, aye, mistresg," Megsy would take up the
running, « that's as may be, and the days o' yin*s youth
wha can recall? Him-up-yonder (she indicated the
Deity with a large and reverent gesture) yince on a
tune ^imed back the shadow ten degrees on the sun-
dial of Ahaz for the sake o* guid king Hezekiah. But
we dinna read that He ever made a practice o't ! Na
na, mistress, tak' what we hae and mourn not. For the
days o* yin*s youth wha can recall ? "
The last phrase was an overword to Megsy, and with
it she pointed many morals.
For all that the Mistress of Arioland cordially hated
going eve^ the neighbouring town of Drumf em. She
put the evU day as far from her as possible. She would
*^Lm 1. *^ ^^^ ** ^^' "when the berry-time was
past, then " when she had made the apple felly," then
"when a' the honey was strained and a^ the Hbels on
the jjars."
flesh will, by the first intention— thanks, perhaps, most
of all to Cams for extracting the thom and suckine the
wound clean. •*
She played sometimes with the red stone buckle her
father had given her. She liked to cover it up among
a heap of pebbles and scatter them with fcyr rand tifi
the strange eye looked through. But one d(ty Megsy
discovered it built into the waU of a square wiclosuro
of rough stones in which Hester had been playini?
"house." So after that it was kept in Msgsy's iistTm
the httle open locker at the top, along with certain
curiously musty old letters, spools of coloured thread,
Megsy s Bible (diamond type, hoimd in red leather,
none other of any authority), and lie thousand odda
1^1
L.
mw^s^mmw:
:.:-\
■}.
^»
OINDEBELLA.
78
and ends that the faithful and cross-grained servitor of
Anoland had picked up during her long life.
♦♦♦«»#
Then there arrived a bhick day to that house.
Hester M,me flying downstairs one morning to find
Megsy in the kitchen emptying out the tea-leaves by
the side of the old well. "^
"Oh, Megsy, Megsy, grandmother will not speak to
me this morning ! Come quick, Megsy ! "
And very swiftlv and with a fluttering heart Mejrsy
went and found her mistress turned on her side, and
toe red hght of the winter sun shining fuU upon her.
Her eyes were open and her colour bright. She
seemed about to speak, and from the gladness on her
face It seemed to be of something that pleased her
"Come awa', bairn," said Marget, "all is weel wi'
the mistress. She has seen the Vision! But, oh.
what's to come o' us? " *
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CHAPTER XI.
v.^B-1.
The Mourning op the Toephichans.
After that fell the days of darkness, and they were
many. *^
For the Torphichans filled the house. Black silk
rustled, hammers tick-tacked, and the whole world
seemed swathed in crape. Mrs. Sylvanus Torphichan
in especial, being next of kin to the dead and chief
mourner, faii-ly scraped like a file. She intruded her
discontented peevish face, with eyes devoutly upturned,
and mouth pursed to indicate emotion, into every room
m the house, a handkerchief set alternately to either
eye, and her whole figure radiating grief as she went.
But occasionally she would turn the handle of the
room where Dr. Sylvanus was supposed to be overcome
by his emotions. Here she would pause a little, with
^r hand on the brass knob before opening cautiously.
Her whole attitude suggested a resigned sorrow, anxious
that a still deeper grief should not be distiirbed.
What she really said was, « Have you found anvthinff
yet?" J s
And as soon as she had received the doctor's l^w-
spoken negative she would softly close the door again,
and resume her mournful peregrinations.
It chanced that little Hester, who in those days
found a refuge with Megsy below stairs, and during the
nights slept in Megsy's room, while Tom Torphichan
occupied her little white chamber under the eaves,
came hastily along on a message from Megsy to the
store-cupboard in the parlour. Her light tread did not
bnng the crape-cumbered sentinel to the spot in time.
So Hester had a glimpse of her uncle standing by the
"
CINDERELLA.
76
table, with the red-striped bag open before him. He
had his back toward her, and was pouring through his
fingers a tinkling stream of red stones that glittered in
the firelight. They were Hke the one in her buckle-
she remembered that long after.
The next moment she was pulled violently away,
shaken as a terrier shakes a rat, and pushed alonj? the
passage by her aunt.
"You wretched little good-for-nothing minx," she
^ssed, « what do you mean by spying and prying about
this house? Get downstairs with you till we decide
what is to be done with you. You are nothing but a
drag on respectable people— as your father was befr re
you. Yes, a drag and a disgrace."
"You shall not speak against my father— he was
your own brother, and better than any one of you—
kinder too. And this house ought to be his. Meesv
says so ! " » & j
With a farewell cuff Mrs. Torphichan was about to
let the slim little figure go. But she lifted up her
hands at the desecration of Hester's words.
"She must be taken away immediately; I will not
have such a wicked giri in the house. Ethel, my salts »
Quick, Ethel ! "
And the chief mourner staggered to a chair.
Thinking that Ler aunt was reaUy ill, Hester's eager
little heart was touched with remorse, and, having seen
the red bottle with the great cut-glass stopper lying on
one of the settles in the hall, she ran and brought it to
her aunt.
That afflicted lady had aunk back into an easy-chair,
and now lay with eyes shut.
" I am sorry I was rude, aunt," said Hester ; " please
forgive me ! Here is the smelling bottle ! "
The lady kicked out her heels rigidly, knocking them
on the floor with a smart rataplan.
**0h,'* she cried, in a high falsetto shriek, "I am
going to be taken, I know I am, if some one does not
send that dreadful little ^.hild away. This very moment
she flew at me in a fury— the ungrateful asp, the snake
-«i{j
76
CINDERELLA.
I warmed in n.y bosom ! Quick, I am eoms to be ill
I know it ! Ethel ! Ethel !" ^ ^ w be m.
Now when Mrs. Sjlyanus Torphichan was « taken "
the house also knew it. So when at la^t the eldest
sh^l'tdThTht^^f ' ^'^ ^«^- to ^ asUnt
m: JtV* Y^hrTfTou lifei ^"^'- " ^^ «*^p ^* *^«
The afflicted lady could only point venoraouslv at
S 'wCnd ' m^'' r.^y >y with the^'c'St^e
m ner Hand. Ethel snat^jhed it from her and ^av** if
to her mother. Then she caught Hester's ar^L!?
pushed her towards the head of the stet ^h^^'^e
up from the kitchen, scolding her aU^he time and
a^mistenng such corrective slaps as pleaseHer to
the httle girl's cheeks and ears.
an^h'^re ^7i IZ ?1^"'^ \ ^^^ ^ ^' '^^^'^^^^ or
anywnere. it you come up here where vou aw* nnf
wanted making mamma ill and upsetting everXdv-
there <Aaf'. what I'll do, only far worsTp^ everybody-
rol^hfchln^ut ofhl^^r up^tfsc^r^'^e^Z
struggled actively to escape. He was holrlinff ^^f* /
l^arently the nose of^the an'i^! tnltd? ^'S' L"
alon^ P^^'^\^*^/' ^x^ «*^^' "yon let that small kid
alone ! I m not a beast, and I'm not going to let von
^•/r r f^i"" *^^" ^«- ^oy,, you ^d me . "^
^rTlln ^ ??^ '^^^' ^^ ^«^«^ EtiJel pushed Se 'little
grldongthe passage and tumed io^o back te her
J'-J'"''^''^ """^^ ^ ^^^"*J^ c^il<^^ anyway, if Tom does
stick up for you. Aha, master f omf I Wrd papa s^v
^o^^HkTL^tT^ ^'^ ^^^ ^^" -- «^ ^-^ H^w wS[
to;iS^-^^^"--,--tcome
CINDERELLA.
77
tiiat's all or I'll make it joUj hot for you. I can, you
know— oh, beastly hot!" * ^
Meanwhile, Hester was quietly crying, for Ethel had
Hurt ner arm very much.
that 8 a good fellow Don't you mind her. It will soon
W^%i,l^^oV*^^."^^^ ^^^ Pi^^^^d y^^- She's a
beast for that. She pinches with her nails. Let's see !
Yes that's just Kke Eth. But I say, we'll put a rat in
her bedroom to-night, behind the door of he? wardrobe
I ve got a lovely one, all jump and teeth ; oh, my !
Then when she opens it-6oi*// Out his ratship will hop !
^d then won't old Eth holler? Oh, no ! Not at aU i
(Be qmet, Dick, there's a good dog. Oh, you beast! Be
quiet, I say, or the rmter will hear you, and then you
cant go rattmg.) I say, Hester-isn't your name
Hester? Rummy name that. Come down to the bam.
Vic IS there, and Kip MacKinstrey has four lov-v-v-ly
mts in a cage^ We are just going to set Dick on to
nnJ^«o rfi i^f "". ^?P\°^ ^> ^""""^y ^ ™y room on
purpose, till he's lust whoppin' mad. Come on and see
him scat 'em ! lt»s a blessed swot having to be down
here any way while the old man hunts up what everyone
18 to get. Ton don't want to come, eh? WeU not
many girls are such trumps about ratting as Vic. But
you U do. I say, I'm sorry about being such a beast
la^t summer. That's all right. WeU, so long, HesteH »
And Tom was gone, steaUng out on tip-toe by the
kitchen stairs, then making a dart for it, and scuttling
through the thickest of the shrubbery for the shelter
« Pi„! +ri.''^fi® ^'° ^Y^'^^ ^'"^ '^th the faithful
±'lay-the-Kip * or as he was generally designated
ZZi'T^\ ^P SH*^^^' ^^il« ^* l^«t Hester
iZ^ I ^Z ^"""S?" ""^^^ ^^"^ ^^^ o'l the faithful
breast of Megsy Tipperlin.
***** 4t
It may be as weU (though it is to some extent
*u* ^^?'t^®r?^P •■ *•*•' tJ^oant. Kip'a achievements in that line if
they had lost him a Christian name, had earned h2» fame «id ^t
glory among the boyg of two parish^. ^^^
78
CINDBREIXA.
woA?bv hl^4l>r -f "' ^ •^"'^ tbatsometimes Nemesis
^Wr^^h''"*.-" ^'' "*^^^ " f«' *h« great K
the funeral, brushing dresses, and being scolded fm^ h^r
'Arrr\^"v. *^^ time. Then with^bmsh in h^'J
would look done this way and that, now low on hpr
Ta?^; £-° ""Vt^^ °^^«' head-lthe effect of the
latter being sbghtlj marred by the holding two W
pins m her mouth. Next she reaUy must tfv Zt naT;
blue ^eckerchief she had bought bLre lea^gJown
Such a pity that now she could not wear it for ever ^o
l^m^eLbe^d'!!!™ ''' ^^' ^ ^« ward^oVerX^
if l^f^ '''' '^? P^l^^ *^°"&^ th« «lent house, for
It h^ grown late with all this rehearsing. Hester
heard fax away up under the eaves, and being^frightened
at the thought of her grandmother lying fo stiU she
s^tehed up a hand from the little t^cL bed "e
hs^hLni'ji!''" ^'^^\. ^""^ ^ *^« chamber that
^^ ?o- ? ^«*^®^ «' "n<i ^ the easterly slates, aJso heard
Srs'eJSo^tWn.'^"^^^^ ^^*' '^^^^*- ^^ -* 4 -
"He was a nice lively one!" he said te himself
"It was something like unselfishness, but ThTmaa
Torphichan isn't going te be mean in a Httle thW
hke that. I saved the pick of the bunch for Ethel m^^
o«^ •'? X ^T^f ^^® ^* ''^s^ed about the room
and tried te climb the curtains of the bed l/i i
tmder the bed and out again at ifoZ^toM
that It seemed to Ethel, as she stood on a ch^^ that
there must be a complete Uving chain of wild S ^ih
te"?.^ ^"1^ ^^l^ ^^^^ *^^ '«o- at a speed oT^
least fifty miles an hour. ^ ^^
Then presently at the door holding a candle in his
hand and exceedingly short in the temper a^bein^ ^l
turbed stood hr. Sylvanus Torphichan?^ ^ ^'■
Etliel, what is the matter that you disturb the
,11
■M
»5
CINDBBBLLA.
79
"I see no rat! You have been dreaming ( I know
you have ! " said the Doctor. « Oh, I have^some m^d^
room??' """ ^"'^ ^''^ "^*^^ ^"3^^i°g i^ JOur
i« IHnn^ ^ saw it papa! No, I shan't come down tiU it
18 killed. Do look under the bed, papa ! T shall not
sleep a wink if you don't. Oh, it was all that horrid
Me wretch, Hester Stirling, and Tom, whoLk h"r
out f " ""^^ ^^"'- ^^ '^'^ ^^ ^°^d serve me
" Nonsense— nonsense ! Come down at once, or I will
make you! Do you hear? I teU you I have looSd
everywhere, and there is no rat. 4ere never was
8ei?'';+fSl?^''%r' ""^1 ^"i^y- ^« ^a-d placed him-
self, attired m the garb of night, in several postures
unbecoming to a physician in^a large and hirfSs
poking under the bed, and discovering onlv paner
rs"aLow''Vr^"""^"^^P«" Whfthe^aSTed
3 S? t^tA ^V^™.''°. ^*' ^«' *ha* astute ani-
mal had bolted past him at the first opening of the door
while the Doctor stood petrified bv the licht ^f TS
eldest daughter with he^r skirts X ched ^^aLt her
S?t «'TT^.°^ *¥ ^'^^''^ ^"^ i^ the ro^m.
iiut as the Doctor returned to his chamber to quiet
his wife's apprehensions a sudden thou<.ht struck him
to take a look into Tom's room. But if ever there wS
a boy asleep-soundly and innocently asleep-It w^
Thomas Alistair Torphichan. The gW had%7rtainh?
been dreaming Of that there was no doubt The
T^m^V~^'''^r}f^'^'^''^^^- She must have been
stuffing some rubbish privately. Giris always did.
An7 ^ ^^^ister a little bromide of^potassium.
And-ahem-add a few drops of another drug, innSu-
80
CINDERELLA.
It will teach her not
ous bnt unpleasant to the palate,
to do it again ! "
The veil may safely be drawn in this nlace Efh^l
hated nasty medicine worse tha^ poor rektbns and
of th?r;u^^or.h *'' *"^1,-T'« *^^^ ever coSwd
ot the truth of the verse which says that a man's foes
are those of his own house. «- man s toes
CHAPTER XII.
De. Sylvanus Dances a BBEAKDowy.
went systematically about Ss t^ ITJ^^ -^^'^^^
ground and searchinff ev^rv 1 Lit h^^ f^'?''^^ ,*^®
her twenty.first birthday nnil or. ^^^^/_ S^hng on
five ^und{ a , J]^^? TTpp^S "^o^St
^But the chief mourner stomped her foonfa Xy of
L^:ot?J^- --" - "^^^^^^^^^ &^
, "Gently, gently, Sarah," said her husband . «*i,«
PorTo^^Tl ^^^^ erood reason to be content
±or he had found something which madp «]?^7u
Items of m. account^eveu" J^e tw^n^ ^^ °t"
82
CINDERELLA.
the pote of preserres iSJi.^^ thrusbng his finger into
and jdghinVr dripjS^L:y r„™^i^^^^^^
hoarded sovereigns he Wl «^? J ^? i.^ "*^ P^™ ^or
stripes pushed S%o fin i!^f*^ the bag with the red
lift it oVer the whiti i-«i *?'u .?^ t"ed casuallj to
but it profit ^xptt^S^ht^^ to ir«^-^^-d^^
to slide it to the frnniJ^AY' ,-^. , ® cleared a way
table itrattied wit^a^n^f/^^^¥H^* ^«^« *o tie
ear told him w^s Lt w?n- '"^^! 7^^"^ ^^« *^°ed
mother4n.]aw™pul^otnid ,A ^7 ^""^^ ^° ^^^^
gasped, and saw the day Th! .-^^ ^^«^- ^jlvanus
estate immediately before hi,S it'i^T^^ ^ ^ ^«^t'J
of his life, and here it was ^^^ ^'^ *^« ^^^
was in Mrs. Stirling's w^fcC'small ISIL^^T^^ ''
return to B«™a*?^-/S'^,?f ^«'' «-'»*. *e/<>r. A«
dishonest. So S temS^ f °5 ^^* consciously
sv^e^^fiiHSd - ^^ --^ *^
him like a Wu?Sf »*tuAt ttt'lirf '^"S^P'"'
^Ur. in other days he hS lnrted"t rfe'^C'""'
of watchine hfm sllJI ™"?''J ?^'*«'' *» «»e act
rt«.ng shuSder Si sSlf^A, 1"**^ ^'"^ » «"ick
not tin hir^e If rt„?*''%''''? V"- He must
to the HMe^T the l«?l'' ^^' ^^ *° ""^ Siven up
the better it TO^d be for thJ"'' """T °,* »« matte?
household of D^ To^iehL ^"""^ "" "*'" «">
CDIDEBELLA. gg
much LaCe X^r"™ ?'*"«/* fc^'to^/for lo
great bedrCupTtait.'^ *"• *" "*'"' "o-""" « ">«
84
CINDERELLA.
doubtful if the man would ever cc -e baolr n, •* i.
S?t T^'i^ ^'^ ^¥' *« prove hi^righi?'^W^;^L^!
gift to his mother? And if so cleariv rir a.f * .*
. SylvanuB shook his head smilinBly. as he did «t .»
^possible request from a rich patient' * ^* ** *°
houSto'vouroS^lCd.^' 'f *" '""> "-^
But he ae«\|f ra^'sS'un^r wiStS
X^ as°°fha™T»'"°'' "- '"' ^°" ""^ ^«» «■« '^ "^
"But the rights of it, Sylranns," said his wife.
'•. (,
'J'
CINDERELLA. gj
prmamg the point with the frntf,,! ^^- -i .
weak woman, " «nrel» ♦!,« iHj ."H Pfrtinacity of a
reft»o to do UaHrSght 1^"^' °^ *"" """^ '""^'> »»*
«n;^oSt'i.'^;:,1S'.' "I' J"^'"^''' r"'"^'''
«r"S^'oo3:nS-|'?'-
compensations'" "auons— on, yes, there are
That par^eula^ooZiabWhe m^t°°ke™'f i:^°"*H-
If he were to pro6t bj it £a% ^ *" ''™«*'''
POuJ^'Teft a™7Crone'o? »i,^™« '- thousand
Gmbs. You kno^„ Sey ^U n3jd it^I%lrT'"'"'™°*
careless and dear Pfi,ii . "^o « ail, for Tom is so
-weU, Vic isOes^" »'" ^ " *»'"'«'' ^'^ "i"
A f^errcoTsSL^Sn i^r^^ g r'^^^s-.
are the trustees an^ thfr j '?** "■** J"" and I
the monr^'iCLr sir ■'"•"f ""^ *° W <>"'
Xh^itoT/^Sf^ th friChe&i
You will have to Rok^fSMii q ^ ^^""^ ^^Tun eaxlj.
too cao-eful in the choicS^ .n * ®^P^J ^^ cannot Se
girls! WouWyor^'Ltofeen.^^^^^ *^?." «^^
yesterday's paper, of ^mi But^ w' ^^*'^'* ^ ^* ^
up here in these ^dsf^ ^^** '^'^ J'^" «*P««*
-^^h^TZr^Zra^.^^ l^s -rrespondence,
doctors do wheHbev rJ«^ i !I^ ^°^. *^^^®' *« °iany
with the^^wpr^f^^s^nt/^^^^^^
rooi^ something after this fashion- ' ^^^^ultrng
■Prom Rogers— ah! Old Mr T?;o«i, i ..
«^« 0, e4 "^'ToUi-t./^'-^Ltrs
86
CINDBKBLLA.
Hw wife put out her hand admirinsly.
not SVol.l-'^''-''^"*** "*"' Sylvanus. But do
wS h ''i' 7i'* ^™ ^- Torphichan the paper for
He «ad tJ2:^n» '"" "^f ^'■Sr out to hand a« Kpoke'
tten^morf^ST'"' '^"' " ""'^"' «^«-»''»t'-<'
MUEDBB OF ANOTHEE^ENGLISHMAN IN
executed at jC£L to the W k^S!' "f ^.'"J^K- ''»« »«•«
detaila are iu.t tokand^ Hi 1^5 Joloeauat ot viotimB, of which
oountiy after a riS k„m7 ^1 • "' "^"P "'"rned to that
Bad diooviJd a™ t ^T™,i ,'■ T''"?"' ^' Mr. StirlSg
territory to the Cft-Zt 3 ,w T''^ ""'""> nneiplorel
that the Oueen mi»?. t i . ^ ""^ mnrdered in order
Stirling is'fc^<S'g,">,'K*''T.°' '^" ^l «nd.^
their ^te noS? fa St k^l m'''"&-°??'P^'""' ''°' " *"
-^tahi, counlt^^a^d^r a ^n S^St ^J^ ^
he^'n hi: tod'Sl"^"?. S^'™''-^ ""ted hi,
wi«h to let h,,r^« and oOTered his eyes. He did not
wishtoiethMwrfeeeethegreataessiihisieUet. aSe
1-
CINDEBELLA. g^
sKd^r *" ^^' '^-^^-^ --^ !-<! her hand on his
soft-hearted, ^d T fS ^^ *,^'',^ "^^'^ always so
all a little W^cal t^mk mother's death has made us
put that chrSS^'mo^nT" wLT:^''' '^^^. ^
out, Sylvanus? Don't you fed ^n?' Yn/^'' ^'?^
Can I get jou anything? " ^ ^ ^""'^ ^'« Pa^e-
anfw'erinl'^Tfel^ttfifh^T.^ ^*-- -thout
he would burst So J^! ^^?'^ ^^<^ ^^"^^ or weep,
towards the Stroeh wooTsIn^""^^ the Vntation^s
a quiet spot he^nghZself dol^' 'T ^^^" '^^^^^d
and Jaughed aloud. '^'''' ""^ *^^ P^^ needles
" Nowr at last I havp if » i.r. „ • j ^.
me. I was born poor 'd/w^i./'' °°' '^^
thought it would never comf ^^^^,^3^ way, but I
the county. I sLZ:LaZ:'F^uZnLt''\ '"^ ^^^^
a peerage. Lord Arinior,^ L x • ^®^*- 1 may get
to think that I o^ce sto^*\^h-^^ ^"^^ name, a^nd
counter-on Sundays tnnf? a^?^ ^ apothecary's
it I ; A penn;wo'?4\*?t^^^^^^^^ ---^er .
worth o' lemon kali'' Bahiii.-L' ^ ha'penny
■"He ^'I'Vd'z.^K^^^^^^ir' "*
UL upX* shS thK £ :t:2t ""''■«'
tive of the renlm SttI^^ j , *^^ ^ peer prospec-
»pn.gy tof"^/^™Z,f'°^'* ^ breakdow„\„'rhe
ej J^atcht' U»* ^''* *^»« *™°t two sharp pair, „f
gov&'^l.e^^^^'Xf ^f!. n'°°^'^' "the
been havin' ? I^2L ^y- "bat has the old feUow
besides jalap in that^W?'"'^".^^ "^^P* something
"^^oi^T/^-^^^rferoSf J?-" *""■' °* "-'
KM c'S'n.ZSt^*^ '"*'"' P'«*^' " -"""-ber the
"I don't know whieh i, the Fifth Conunandment.
88
CINDBRBLLA.
2?ha^ ti!^ ^?i """^ ^ ^"^^ ^^®° you see your
father behaving hke a monkey climbing on a yellow
sfaok-weU Tom Torphichan ain't going to woSj
about any Fifth Commiidment I » » g to worry
A^^ ^}^ x^^** *^,® ^^*^^ children betook them
deeper mto the wood, while their father sat down to
arrange in what manner he was to carve out his way to
LSsl tur ^®'®<^W chamber of Her Majesty's
i-f.
m^.
w
7
n
o
o
8
CHAPTER XIII.
Mbgbt Tippeblin Beabds the Lion m His Dek.
On the morning of the funeral the only two r««l
mowrners in tiie Great House of AriolanSwaked eaSf
Hester laj in her little trundle bed beside MpS
a peated torehead through the roof. This looked out
Duteh fashion, on tree tops, in which the r^ks w^^
already cawing and making their morninrtoilX
Megsy Tipperlin wa« explaining the my! teries of
fCoX" *^ ^ ^"^" ^^ ''^ ^^^'^ inqZl:rbest
SS-^^^^^^^ - ;tic^ra
SifrKn' fhf 1^ • . ^?^ ajd. gotten a cuff on the lug for
BUttin the hnin* o* a chair That*s luist exaotlv ijvf
Providence ! We want something ^ sC as y? wL^
yonr granny's auld workbasket, L* if we eet it ^^
^e^» ''^ * ^^ *^^* I ^^<^ ^Ir^^^J and CnidT ."^
«'An' that's only anither way o% baimie » said
Megsy, sfaU holding the child's hand in hoover tib«
^^e of tke bedstead from which she h^ not yel^et
r^ijlfr' ^'^- ^, ^^"^"^^ ^* had bee/sLTned
B^/Sl? S^' T?-*'' ^' ^'^ ^«^ l^eart wad C?
But the herd jmst drives an' drives L' aye the loudK
90
CINDERELLA.
the lammie's maa-in\ Does the herd no care ? Aye
he cares. His heart is wae— that is, if he be a true
herd and nae hireling. But he disna stop for that.
Ihe lammies maun learn to gang their lane. They
maun drmk nae mair their mither's milk. They maun
put awa' childish things, and learn to seek for themsel's
the wat clover o' the meadow, and the sweet younff
grass that grows in the Urks o' the heather when thi
dew IS still upon it."
"And is that what he took awa' my granny for?"
X 1. f®*f' ^^^ ^ ^°^S pause, during which she had
watched the grey wispy cloudlets high up through the
garret wmdow tinged with the faintest rose of dawn.
I doot It na," said Megsy, in cautious affirmative :
torebye, she is happier where she is 1 "
"But she was happy here, too ! " returned the voice
from the truckle-bed beneath, putting her finger on the
weak place of Megsy's argument with the ruthless
ndehty of childhood.
For a moment Megsy was non-plussed, as many more
learned have been, oy the dealings and judgments of
the Court of Final Appeal. But she quickly rallied.
♦< Aye, Hester Sybilla," confessed Megsy, "that is
what I thooht mysel', in my haste and in my bUndness.
Said 1 to mysel , she wad hae wushed to hae seen how the
new grosart bushes throve in the hoUow o' the orchard
and what like were the young beds of strawberries next
yea*. Fo- she chose the runnerd hersel* ! And what
sort o the elderfloo'er wine turned oot to be, and
It the chucoe hens laid weel through the winter ! For
her heart was aye set on thae things. And she wanted
sair to see ye a big braw lass wi*a hame o* your ain and
oouce gmdman f "
rJi ■*■ *^??°* ^8^* ever to be married, Megsy," said the
m th ^* "^^* °^^ *° ^ ^*^ ^°" ^^^ ^^^'
"I daresay no the noo, baimie ; " the voice from the
mglier bed was breathing out graciously the wisdom
and the power of God. (You would never have
thought it in the daytime, to look at Megsy's grim
"I
4: t,i.
CINDERELLA. jj
her side irn f }.« i^?S ^^J^'^'f' It wad like to rin by
thought in^rff^therto"!"* ''"' *° P»**'» '-■^"o
"Will I have to go with thbm ? "
mere was a whole world of nain ««^ *
aversion in the accentuation of «,i^S^'i ^^ ^^' "^^^
there was also tt^WW nf ! k ^°«;'. .Proiioun. Yet
thevS %!.= T 'j* ™* ''*^«' "Jeny that! But will
would haye been surprised at the "even '') A„^ ^
maun luist submit von »»<) ^«^ / J* -^^ ^^
declare it" ' ^ ^"^ "'®' ^®**«'- This day wiU
./•hi
1^
. I
92
CINDERELLA.
« Suppose that we say a prayer, Megsj ? »
"It wad do no hairm, lassie^ "
^^Hester WM out of bed in a minute and kneeling by a
« ^iU you no rise and pray too, Megsy ? »
I will pray burme, but f will aot^ ! "
wiin ner Maker. And it seemed a thing too Dresumn
voSa i.^ M ^ * servant's bedroom when she wm I
JJ^deTll,! 'JT^ !?^ ^'^^^°^« excitement ™ch
Sm^^!? *^«,P«"JPtion) she had been known as
Meg the heathen," or shortly " Heathenie » Wus«
would We owned to tiiose who WteTh^tS she
often hid in the peathouse, in order that she^t sav
them where none but One could see ^e^. ^^* '^^
HtS ^^.^^e^z^^r:;:^''''^ ^^*^^^« -^ ^^
* * * « « JL
hB?^!,S?'*™i:™' °™'" ** '»'*• *••« dead woman laid in
hi* beSmTrrtl,!nP''''^r' *^* «"^»°t Christian,
uau oeen more Uian usually eminent fliat day. At Iha
K4^ed^f™aU* "^e't^ "-•'-aedrmat^o
Pansh of St. John's, till that shrewd cleric had (riven
r^W t^w.."P '"' .•*»«>'»We 80^ within hT^ '
wi+Vi fivl I "®^*er. jLyen at the grave-head, and
with the lowermg cord in. his hand, SylvwW hSd
CINDEEELLA. pg
l»t in hi, hand and fa, H,« fttn *'* ^*- ^'^k ^^
which 18 more common thai maSy sup^e "* ****
famUy property, tiie „^^ of the acquiaition of the
avewe from tiiis, gut someSL-it k^of^'' ^^"^
say what-had induced MmfJ^^r ??* necessary to
it struck C fordbly th^t wJ"!? ^' '^''^' ^ow
possibmties before him hei.^i^? *^^ °^^ ^^^i^l
practice, and even ^e liSe of^DocI^7 ^^^.^^^ J^^-
once been so proud of It nnw^ ' ""^'^^ ^« ^*^
common and undiTified JLJ^V^a ^^^^^ *^ a?P«ar
;-^. guinea ^J^tt t^^J^^^-^^^^
M.n^"';:^.?^-- -JHinHn, the. thing,
automatically in silpnf rTi oowed. His lips moyed
eyen as it was he di^ r,^ to the funeral. Howeyer,
about himXhigl''?on^"l^«^«- He looked
house of Ario^ to the S^ 'ir P'"'?"^'' ^'*^°^ «»«
mbbit-holes oTgandy Wf«£^''^^^i" ' ""^^^^ "^^^^
hedges for hare iSis so tw"]^' ??^ watching thj
clou'd of mguZer^^s" ' He 'T.T' 5^^**'
chance to kick the young^ster Sv^^^^ ^\^ *
come to the funerd of hSd fwL^^^t' "^^ ^*^
and whom Sylvanua +?!+ ^^^^ and benefactor,
Pharisee, l«>a fceUedV^^^hiS^^^^^
him was ..,^^\:trSes^e^X^^^^^^^
Kf^
94
OINDEBELLA.
even as SvlTanng held that at the top. When aU wai
«adj Syfyanus nodded to Cams, as^much m to ^
or'andXr ""fV ^?' ^^ ^«« *he «on oT^i
J^ K. 1 *5** "^^^ 8jlvanus»s religion. He also honed
respect for his own future position. "^^uicaw
In tiie great house of Arioland Mrs. Sylvajius drew a
long breatii as soon as she saw her niotfie™^C7eU
down the avenue. She rang the beU and^S Melsv
up to her from the whitewashed kitchen, wSre she wal
stilling the sobs of the Httle girl Hester
+hW*w^ *?i?'® °^''*^^? ^^^ ^°d clear away every-
To^],llf^' ^^li ^ ""T"^ pyramid of crape, Mrs.
tnie sne did go to her own room, but instead of
sitting down to mourn in the hopelessness of S L
she hoped a 1 would understend that she was doW s^
did something infinitely more practical. She Ck
ZS^ SJ^tT^'^' ^^^ ^'^ ^ ^''^Sn a new cr^st^d
«IW»^h«^«ir«-?^'' the black-ldged note-pap^r
been ^i ? ?' L'* T"* ''Vj. fi^t^"? that tiiose who had
been *caUed to high position should write on m^
rtmped plainly 24, ^lixtok S<,v^bTaZc^^.
1^ 7^ M^" ?^^"^^ *^' Toiphicharis, but for SL
^ded family of Torphichan-Stirling of Arioland a^
engraved crest was a necessity." -^oiana an
It was the evening before Hester knew her f^te*
that Megsy Tipperbn precipitated eveite by reques W
Tha?Z«^/ «^ mterjiew with Dr. Sylvanus limsSf^
vJ^ iK I ^^ ^"^^ ""^ ™ ^'^^S in the dining-
room with his fingers netted evenly in front of hil
those soft padded fingers which were like a benediction
Ifo^rS^S «iJ^\I-dy patiente (« There is some^g
abnost hallowed about Dr. Torphichan, you know mf
hke a Tibetan prayer-wheel. He did not turn in Ws
choir when Megsy in a clean white "mntoh '» and black
CINDBBBIiLA. 9,
aat ft the teW? 7h« L^*'^'' ¥"?*" »"*• Hi. wife
trailing do™ on '.itw T!*'^! "* ''«'• "'onnun.f aS
™» tmng to th^k ^f * ' ?l"i'"*'' » melancholy air
eoat of ai^,7 "' * """*"« »<*> for the new
a rilfinfl^S""'" "^ "'• S^'™""'. "rieflj, with
anything in the m^? » h^ «^r '-./^^ ^^^^ '^^^^ left
his face; ^® ^**^' ^i*^ a curious look on
;;^'I,^jna!-saidMeffsj.
::a*^ratt^i^^ro^ti"£^^^^^
SjlvanusmaleaSU wdl^l^^^^^^^ ^^« <*We.
she was to leave h^i^feTt^^^ ^^i" ^«> *^t.
"Aye, mem luist B^off allv *^® "^^-^^^^ alone,
jour ai^Tde^Cthef "\^/^^^°^ ^« °^^ °hild o>
"I have not veti^' ^o ^^^f^' pertinently.
^IvanusrwSSLAo^dfv''^/""'' Tipperiii," said
sorrow has come so unexw.^^ ''Ti'''* "*^^s Sreni
upon us aU.» unexpectedly and been so crushing
"iot^Uj JJS >^11*?7??«^ - ^^ -oice.
professionally ^ent at sn.l. ^®^*^^. ^^^^anus, who wm
W To^h^altjJ*.^:;;?^^^^^ "but so fa. as
^ie,'^^l^th;ft^X''r^^ - - under,
new median a^Lfth'tlSr^^ composing a
of pt^ttSg HesteritirW^? '"^ ^^^^^ ^« 1^^ «»ought
or indor thTcSe of IZp''*^ «ome respectable famSy;
view to her eduStior, «?! Responsible person, with a
course, a. we sho^^Havelo l,"^ f ^Z P°«^^«^- Of
would be .uit. in aXta^ TL'^^^r^'l^,
96
OINDEBELLA.
■eem to be of such a nature that one could venture to
brmg her up with one's own children. They must ever
be our first consideration. But she is youne— she is
younff! She may improve I "
"She may, sir!" said Mewy, "but as there is twa
thoosand pounds due her on the day she is twenty-wan.
It might be as weel to tak* some sma* trouble wi* her
eddication ! "
Sylvanus turned right round in his chair.
"How do you know that?" he cried, bending his
brows upon her as he did at meetings of the medical
council when an enterprising junior ventured to dispute
his dictum. *^
"Because my mistress let me see the will," said
Megsy, quite unintimidated, adding as if by after-
thought, "on her road up frae the minister's."
"And is the minister also acquainted with the terms
of my mother-in-law's bequests ? "
"He is that ! " afltened Megsy.
"Ah ! " said Sylvanus, deep in thought. This had
not previously occurred to him. He must walk circum-
spectiy, for there were serious matters involved here.
U Mrs. Stirhng had told the minister of her own
bequests, she might also have confided to him the
trust her son had committed to her.
"Did Mrs. Stirling frequently consult this Mr.— ah—
Borrowman ? "
"Oh," said Megsy, diplomatically, "as it micht
happen— whiles aye and whiles no ! "
Clearly Sylvanus must proceed cautiously. Even
this woman might know more than he thought. It
would not do to quarrel with her.
"Weel, aboot the bairn," she went on, "what
objections hae ye to commit her to me till sic time as
her faither comes hame to claim her? "
Dr. Sylvanus lifted a newspaper, rustled the pages,
and pomted with his thumb to the place he had so
hSS^° "^ ^^ ^^^^ *^®®® ^* twenty-four
Megsy took a pair of steel-bowed spectacles from
v^^.
CINDERELLA.
<»bfe,Xw'^ff''t?^ *« Wd the paper down on the
gluM. on her apwn '' ""* "^^^ "^P*! both
men aeit riie spoke, it was in a firm voice
fat. .V * •"'"bat objection ha6v«rt,7t'T t. „
•flf the *irn myael'? I (..f ^ , ' ^ "bould
g** foi Margaret Tipoerlf^' V^ '" ** !»■"»' will
wordsasheweJt «^K- ««^> slowly weighing h^
in the meantime r?ir«ii^- ''°*.'"« *^^* i* is not
any. But let 4^l^y Ldi^n/ *^ ^°^^*^ «"
we go further. I am -^^ TZS^f T^ <>«»«' ^fore
sole trustee under Ihi win W T ^^°^ ^^^ ^™ ^^^o.
terms of the dflS^ f f^ * • ^ *"^ prevented by the
bequest 'JuVhrifS^I^^^^^^^^^^^ Stir^ng^:
one years. Whatever iTdo^fS. ® ^?® <^* twenty-
my own pocket sTrih^rit*!^?' ?"«* c^nie out oi
no legaJ Lim u^n me to^l ^^^""^^ ^^* ^^^^^ «
" Sir," said XLv Ti^^ r^?"?^ whatsoever ! »
♦i,^_- '.« •'«'**^ ._^eesy lipperlin. "pIritm %, — __ , .
tK f
m
»w«uo. o— ~w*v> irtj Keep
98
k=>.
CINDBBIJLLA.
in my name, snd a bit hoose and irai-deM ihm^ *i.
Edward-I hae been 9 plain woman a' mY^iva rWS^
great condescension-" that the w,?nL~J^ ""''
credit." ^^ "''*' ?»» e«rjr
"Dinna ye fash yourael' aboot ttat!" said Mo»..
mth some haateur. J''6K«y.
t„'1^1;i"'^"S*i"°'"™"'°8 "y ^ear 'ri'e and myself
to anything," Sylvanus went on. "I mav m7 ti.. t
wUI«cond youin this to the b^'st of Z^aSy^taT^
far, that w, as we can do so witb inB^nr * ^ ^
famUy We wfll send yoS d„°™ t^a'^^^ a""?^,'™
»»
"Thank ye kindly, gir,
she retired J *- they will come
said Megsv, curtseying as
in handy for dish-clouts ! "
CHAPTBB Xrv.
Tom, who wj retim^^'f°^^*^ » »f>7 •olfen
who, with intent of nu^ or ^tifft^^"* .^^"^
upon their minds, foundth«m!!r*^**°^
eage of a chair, Ser^? ^^jl^ 'Sl^^ on the
as high aa the back wo^d Xw ^Lt^^t ^l ^^^
dustier pamphlete. BektivM 0^^^"" V^^ "^^
many and various, peered ^ih li, vis. ?orrowman,
wonderment intTthrm^f^ • f^ ^"^^ l^ands of
that had once^^h^en^^a'S^C ol^^ • tJ^' '^^
manse in reasonable ^d^I^ * °"^*™"8 of the
The walls were Sned w? ?t^n'o^aiuan tim* .
plam inch in them. ^tS.T' ^^^fe was not a
waited tiU the floor Wmr;fS^^^ ^^ "°»ply
with the mateiX^^r^fc impassable, and tfi
pUnks brought u^?Ws\hote4"?-««^y ^1?^
he had nailed and ooon«r«S „« rrom the saw-miU—
nobody leaned Zi^T^/£l'S^*^8^ ""^^^^ ^
with which the ^tioa\?L bu^^'iy ^" ^^^^'^^
one. below, would su^^^^ ^^ks^ VtlSJ
■'!;
psa^
■■'^^•i'\
100
CINDEBELLA.
rif
be coaxed and wedged, upon, above, beneath, and
around it.
The literary reader gazed with amazement at what
he considered the disorder of the whole. The novel of
yesterday lav next the editio princepa of Tacitus his
Annals, or tne little red-bound cropped Oxford octavo
of wise old Burton — ^most cheerful of melancholy men —
elbowed some disreputable yellow-papered iVenchman
or stone-coloured German.
But the confusion existed only in the minds of such
as possessed not the key to this admired disorder. For
it was a fixed idea with Mr. Borrowman that there
exists no book so dull, so crassly stupid, so utterly
superfluous that it coidd not bring to the seeing eye
something of personal or historical value, if only patho-
logical, or even criminal. He maintained this even of
local poetry.
To the intimate who objected that the only explana-
tion of the confusion worse confounded of the house
(for every room was equally full of books) must be that
Mr. Borrowman took all his exercise wandering from
room to passage and from garret to cellar looking for
the volumes he wanted, the minister had this unanswer-
able retort :
" What you say, sir, shows only once more the lack
of clearness in your own thinking, which I have had so
often reason to animadvert upon. I presume, sir, that
you have at least heard of the science of geology,
recently so much acclaimed among us. Well, sir, when
a ereologist opens out a new stratum he findo fossils of
f 1, shells, leaves of plants, and a thcuh jid other
ti ngs all huddled together. He does not find these
arranged according to their sizes, or e- m according to
their characteristics, anatomical or otherwise. Yet is
that what you are pleased to call confusion ? No, my
dear sir, to the mind of the geologist that apparent
disorder is fuller of instruction -ttian any cut-and-dried
so-called order. For all these unrelated particles lived
and had their being together. The mammoi^ and the
cave-bear were drowned in the same flood which swept
s^rhJii'^r'n
riCcrsE;
CINDERELLA.
101
.
the limpet from his rock
d buried the sturgeon alive
m nis coffin of plate armour."
"But, Mr. Borrowman," urged a clerical brother,
unwise even to temerity, « surely books are not geologic
strata, even when fossils write them ! "
"Sir," was the instant retort, ''if you would do me
the favour to follow my argument. I assure you I am
mafaing it specially simple in order to suit your capacity.
In the same manner, if I were to open up one of these
coUora,tions of volumes, which seem to you so absurd
Mid fortuitous, I should discover the whole history of
ttie formation of my mind upon a certain subject,
ihere, for mstance, is a pile which refers wholly to the
influence of the Genevan EngUsh Bible of 1560 upon
the mmd and style of Shakespeare. Here, again, under
my hand, you will find aU the books, which I used in
writing my reply to Mr. Headly Granger's vituperative
pamphlet, * Is Scotch a dialect or a language ? *"
But meantime we are keeping Megsy Tipperlin
waiting, which is worse mannei-s than those shown by
Mr. Borrowman himself; for that worthy, if somewhat
raakempt, divine opened the door for his visitor less
ttian a minute after she had rung the cracked manse
bell.
"Come
• J j.M y9V^,way8 in, Margaret, ye are welcome
indeed ! said Mr. Borrowman, who had two styles of
conversation,'one for the simple and the other for those
whom (often on insufficient data, as he agreed with
himself) he was content to consider the learned.
" Come your ways ben, Margaret, and 1 will see if I can
fij^d you a chair, always a difficult matter at this time
of the year, after my foreign book-box comes in from
Berhn. Moreover, I have just parted with Mary.
That makes my thirty-ninth. I keep a register of
them. Nineteen have been dismissed because they
were discovered dusting elsewhere than in the kitchen,
the bedroom in which strangers sleep, and the chamber
where I take my simple meals. It is a most terrible
thing that women are so constituted that they cannot
keep their fingers from dusters ! Some of these
mfflmitmlm
y^i^^im^^^m^
102
CINDERELLii.
females were outwardly respectable, too ! Eight of the
remauider greased or polished or oiled or blacked my
shoes, so that after putting them on, my fingers made
upon various folios and octavos marks and stains such
as no fuller could whiten."
"And what came o' the rest o* your housekeepers? "
said Megsy, with a certain contempt in her smile.
She was perfectly assured that no minister that lived
would have served Marget Tipperlin thus.
"Oh, the ether twelve were most of them light-
minded hizzies, with weU-fa'red faces, who left to get
marned, or, at all events, evaded upon some suchlike
frivolous pretext as that !' But what can I do for vou
Margaret? " ^ '
"Mr. Borrowman," said Megsy, sitting on the edge
of a chair and leaning forward, « I have come to vou
my capacity—though, the Lord
kens, no aboot my guid-will."
"Margaret," said the minister, with his shrewdest
look, " what hae auld dried stocks like you and me to
do wi* lassie-baims— you wi' your hens and me wi* mv
books?" •"" " " '^ ""^ "'^ "^ "^y
" Minister, ye are pleased to speak the word that ye
little mean," answered Megsy, "but gin ye gie me
your advice therewith, I shall be the more content. I
couldna sleep in my naked bed if I thought that the
young lamb was to be left to the wolves "
"In sheep's clothing!" murmured the minister,
softly, as if to himself.
"(^ten hae I hinted it to Her-that's-gane that she
should make some ither arrangement. But what
mither can see ony faut in her ain? She aye howpit
that David wad come back and lettle, frae oot that
CTuel heathen land o' Burmah. And as to her doohter
Sarah, that is wife to Doctor Torphichan o* Abercaim,
she thocht her sic a wonder that the showers o' heaven
shouldna licht on her."
"And am I to understand, Margaret Tipperlin,"
V
CINDERELLA.
108
said the mimster, with apparent severity, "that you
regard so eminently pious a vessel as Mrs. Sylvaius
Torphichan with aversion ? "
•J??' Ma-ister Borrowman, na, I dinna regard her ava,"
« t5®^^^ » " ^^^ *^ ^ °^e as the adder or the asp ! »
Margaret, Margaret ! " cried the mimster, "ti^s is
un-Chnstaan--most un-Christian. And I do not know
but that I shall have to take notice of it when ye come
tomt for your token at the next communion ! But in
the meantime, what is your difficulty? "
TJen, as Mr. Borrowman trimmed his evening lamp,
rabbmg the black oflf the wick with the sleeve of his
coat (Megs/s hands twitching all the time with desire
+ i?\ lifself), the old servant of the house of Arioland
her tale— how she had sa i « a wee pickle " and
now by the death of her mistress come into another
wee pickle.'' How, as he knew, she had a "bit
cottage of her own in Cairn Edward, and so on at
much grcater length. How it was her fixed purpose
to give Hester such a schooling as would fit her for her
father s place and rank in Hfe. The minister, when he
had finished setthng the globe in its place, sat down
and listened. He did not once interrupt the tale, but
only kept slowly muttering to himself, « Oh, aye 1 Aye-
'''^"aT S'^^°' ' " ^^out ever cersing for e noment.
Alter Megsy had ended, Anthony Borrowman sa
awhile silent, watching the flicker of the peat firu
seekmg its way up through the oval opening in the
little register grate.
At last he asked a question. " How long does your
engagement at Arioland last? " >^ j
"Nae engagement, hae I ! " said the old woman, with
switt vehemence, "my engagement ended when my
mistress lifted her lines frae tiie kirk veesible to hand
them m to the Kirk Inveesible."
" And you are sure they would not biect to your
removing the child ? " ^
1 * IJeed no—object ! They wad be blythe to see the
last o baith her and me. And that braw madam o* a
servant la^ they brocht frae Abercaim will be the
104
CINDBRELLA.
mi.te>«-, face in the mo^"g tht '' '"^^ °'' ''"
« ^^°® "® compromise, Megsv ? »
" What's yoOTwnll?"
wav^TilillTf v"^ *«r?* *» "■««* e««I» other half-
miZ^?'^lS^U**^ appointed place o' that hoik,
dust on its way ^ ^'^ disengaging clouds of
bit ,t?et trr h:£f^?ed'^';:«™" ;?^»
better to do, I'm wUhV^ Ya? " ^^^"i^® haenocht
CINDERELLA.
105
hr«vS^ ^^^^u^t.^®'^^"*' «^® ^^^> ^i«i the crisp
Kli^ '^ characterised all her deaUngs with^?
Torphichans, and making her regulation cUrtsey as if
drBssed m her Sunday best, as she said, "to ^g tea
mmister s hoose, httle as it deserves the name » ^
mat do you mean, Tipperlin? " said Mrs. Torohi-
chan, timing with the brow^beating frown which^t
oor 1^^-i ^l^' ""TxV ^® ^^•^ *^e ^aim are gaun to
oornew situation, at the manse o' the pairish f Saint
"But surely you would not leave us tiU we are suited
-you wiU receive not a penny of wages if yoTdT I
bid you remember that ! » b " /uu uo. i
v^rA® ^® JTl ^sured, mem, that Megsy Tipperlin
kens her nchts," answered that dauntless dame. ?^ShS
never was, nor never WiU be a servant in tS hoose o^
Igsteess Sarah Torphichan. An» when she co^to
wnatside his bread is buttered on, wiU no refuse her
S^^ ^ ^^ °'®°'- -^^«" MacQuaker, the S
offisher, wiU <^» for my bit box. My service toa' vSw
innocent lambs. Mistress TorphichL I Xy you^a^
them a» thnve accordin' to you? several deserts [»
* * * *
of W^W^'"'*^®'' ?^®^'y Tipperlin left the house
^d L?w^ years' service, taking Hester by the h^
Z .Z^°^ ^^^^\ °''* ^^^ *^« avenue, thi^S^h
tiie clachan, and so to the white gate of the mS
The minister met her there. majwe.
^^What said she, Marget?" he asked, eagerly for
nwf?^'^i* ''^?'°^^ '^'•'" «^« answered," but iuist
played chock* wi» her jaw Uke a body doited ! " ^
•<.«.. Made a dioking sound like a aenile person trying to Bpeak.
^•*»*1
i
■ aafejteJMffl!
i^^apFs^^-
CHAPTER XV.
A Glahcii Uhdjse the Sdhbohmt.
thepari^hofTeEvlS^hl'^-^ e«mn.onwe,Uth of
linen on &bbaT™ r^^^^'^a'^chTt t"' =^1
that bairn," a proeSJ*^«h i^^^ °'""^'' 'P^^
aU. Hester woV^^L^ , ' ™«ed, waa patent to
beyond SyJIS b^i?^ '°°^\ "old-faSioned"
ol/peopC^^rne^^tfo^tS ^'t l.fl^
node of trees win. tiL KT i. "°** double colon-
little way^oni ^"^^ ™**'' """-"rinK a
-"^^rrr^v^-
CINDERELLA.. 107
ont^+^>,?^ *^'°^'. S** ^*^"* ^«*"»e^ •' Thej were at
once the glory and the scandal of the neighbourhood.
w^i^lh^lH'^ 5 neighbouring joung minister, who
N^^o 3 f^« \ "upsettmg," with a. question ibout
riero and the burning of Rome? And when he
iTlipl ^^, °1*««^<»1 hi«<^orj, wa« it not Hester who
E ' x^' ^^\ P^P^® "«®^ *o think so, I know, but
Mommsen has put an end to aU that ' "
war! 7^*"^ first Mr. Anthony Borrowman, and after-
wards three presbyteries chuckled.
To another who was "a bit of a poet," she recom-
m^ded the study of Milton. "Par^ise Ct-^as
mcer to read tiian the little book he had sent her
Sr/fl *^^t^^«H%^ too. She had given it to AdS
for a flybook, and Anders Hked it fine
asSn/wT*^'"» ""t *^ought to court Hester by
^m^ii^fv,^ leave Megsy and Mr. Borrowman, and
«I won^^^^^ ^^^ was given her to reply as follows :
J^ G?i^LZ^''/''?/°A*r^^' ^*^ Megsy as witness,
Mi\ Crirvie— an<« after the last time, too !"
-ni^^/T"^!.™^ "^^ currently reported to have paid
fo^Tr fn '^J^^ *?, "^°^P« ^^ ^nsequences of a
former love affair. For in Galloway no minister can
^m'a'^e. ' "^"^^ ""^ ^ «^* ^^r breach of promised?
aiJhJ^^ ^^uf ® PfPPeriness of her tongue the little
g^l M a wealth of love to bestow. She lavished it on
he?baiJS W r' ^^ P!?^ exigencies, for to please
y^nLot become as the breath of life to the manse
housekeeper. The sadness of her pos^'^on, father and
mother dead, her heritage token by anotiie^ the «^y
Zi A f ^'!?^ g^ardian^only « twa auld dune bo^i
(and Anders that is half doited) " to look after her~
rtrd^T '' ""^^l^^^ ^ *^^* ^^^y P^ace Hester ran
a ^rd cnance of being spoilt.
hiS?' ^'fJ* C"lpaWe of all, there was the minister
^«?fo« ^ with whom she trotted on ail his pastoral
visitations. He>Jso did his best to spoil the ^rl, and
is/
.rr
108
CINDEEBLLA.
p .
iMf <5»^ 1. ? ^^® y®^ s^o^d certainly be the
^t. She must go among her equals. She must m?x
^tii other more ordinarF girls) and leaTthd^t^
^ugra%'^* L^y V^^"^ *^« ^^""^^^l^ ^i^> and
were stm overWe fofhl^'^^^^^ "^^ ^^'^ ^«*^«
in th« W,;!!: ^ . .. ' ^*^» *^®re was a something
But It was ever "only this summer, and then I » ir„,
^"^St^*'^?»*^.<'f^"»»™"' I^-
a^m II was after the wmter she shaU eo ! " Winf^r
^|^s,^trh.^s^™rn^-i-^""^5
fhn»^„r ^T^ . ^oiTowman often remembered how
thenffl:,l,^:2^*-,«. Hke ->^P^- -^
nestCT, of course, had not much to do wifl, ih^
of It. The minister attended to these things h£sS.
CINDEBBLLA.
100
?w J^® criticiwd every deteil, raiged a hundred neat
down the glen, the minister was in foil bCt H^Sd
forgotten eve^tiiing but "cyclical revoluS." IW
ItZet^^f^^' ^ ^^' ^^'^^ ^^^ consTering^Tn J
at the soimd of his considering the cattle down on tho
meadows began to bunch and Wgle hornew^d f bin^
mg they were being caUed to fromlf^. WW^Jhe s^±
Z ^?^P^'^'' .^^^^^^ «^«' their 8ho^de« fo?
IV Mow''^^' ^'""^^ "" '"^'^^ -^- °^-g «!
l.nJSlS^"'''^*'' Tf ^ contending for a period of three
«S>^l/T *' *^^* ^^^^^^ ^«* fit*«d the facte!!
J^i^^I^ii « course-.you can't expect these thingfto
^ « S ^, ^^ ^^ "^^^ matches I " ^
v^ufL*^^^ ^®'*®'^ mischievously, "but most of
yoiir^matohes are very slow, and some don't go off
" That is an objection futil^perfectly futile » Mr
Bom>wman wa^ declaiming. « I Cder It ySu, He^'
In presence of a great and glorious ianith Hke thSl*
newly discovered, and clea^^r demonXJ, you c^
&^'^ 'a^ ^}^y objections as that the^French
Bevolution did not come exactly three hundred yeaS
^reltL^n^ ^'^ ^^^"^^*-' Hester sSi^:^
we^^T^'^- ^^ J^ '*^°^^y *he J^andle, as if it
ZllaA' l"y^°&r^eel» and the works were racing
So a^d^iTl*^"f * ^^.*^ ^^'y ^ ^"^^r of an ho£
a^o, and It seemed good for several months of discus-
s^%™ r.^:i%^^^.ji^^ He
ance of Christianity by the people of the one civilised
no
OINDBBILLA.
?K
^«A c»lmi™.tion i. „,rt . evolution." „„™^
•^ a„<f of th^ble™ me. ^^jLfti^rS^
J" S«ietly seated on Tlower X It ^^*r° "!? °
^d, "whai_ha4,oufor,Xr«eP^^ ""*,'!?'
^•Slr:^: 'f^.^^*^ i^'-^gji^- «« the ^iJ
This? Oh/this « ZKttle^rf T tif- 1°" ^ ""^^
know hei^Bttle H^te Sa^r^f^/^S " '"* *»
HRj
"^^Afta
BUT NOW, IN SPITE OF HERSELF. SHE BLUSHED."
iPage 111.
'^-r'lm
0Iin>IBlLL4.
Ill
holding IJie ruin of his straw hat in his l^tSnd • whS
for a moment he kept the youn^ girff SS his^*
1 ^II ^^"^ ^ °«^«' ^ thelittle girll carried hom«
^IhtlrJI^" I' "*^^^ eyes^teUiSTontte
Mtomshment, « you have not grown. Yon ha.rm imJS-
heen made aU over again I »» ^^ on nave simply
The blood coursed richly in Hester's ohMka il^ ♦».->
remembr«ic«. Her face^had uT^^hSS^J L^
^bi^. But now. in spite of herself, shVwSSd whS
^e taU young man looked down upon h^ SS^
Borrowman gasped and stopped, his eyw «owSi wid^
Sl^i'^^r^stn'^^.^^-^^^ aiSSISSf J^
no«r^. H7«|t/^J oVSTnlser ^HI
grunted two or three time^ uncomfortebly ai XSd
saviL"?' ? ™^Kn^ f ^ *^ '°'^^* ^^^^ Hester was
5S3S.^ ^ l""""^ ^ you-and all those people at
AnolMid, except poor grandmotiier, Ihat is, w^K
"Oh, no, I have never forgotten it," said Oam.
SJTti T^^ *^y I ^«°* <« look at^e puS
where I f omid you. The tree you were leaning !S
was blown down some years ago, but everything^ k
rttlt:Z!Z^^''^' You must com^^^^SliS
hea^rtXirSfjSf'^''^**^^^^^
thm^*!^«T"*S ""« *® 1?®° sunbonnet whicu she had
ttu^wn on hastily, « as they were not going through^
y^ and It was best for the midges!" And 3Se
seemed mclmed to retire her face bSieath it, and l^k at
tiieheatiier. It was strange. Fsually she tW Wfc
her head, aoid ga^ atraigit and fearU at g^^el^
112
CINDEBELLA.
simple alike. But now ^9 fri.« , • • ±
for a moment Thp^T" ^^^'^ ^-^^ter was puzzled.
himselfT" Inthony Bn^^ ^ "**^" ^"^ ««^d to
indeed to W f^J^otSfCwTe ^0^:^^^^^ ""''
We put off too lone L^yL ^* ^'^^^^ ^^^'^^^ ' ^ou
AnthoV Umph_^phI;S^tdTll^ ."^^ .?«^'
sand tiiies ? f ou shoiSd haTelnt thafef "' ^ *^^"-
thouffh she STA+ iT ?.'^ ^®'' mother's too-and
down ! Likl>whv ^u!f r1? " bhishmg, and looking
Quick marcht"' Anthony! Shoulder arms!
3*
CHAPTER XVI.
An Answee to Peayee.
hJkd\v^tf*^'i'^^P*x''^''°^^^ '"^ ^er smaU white bed
lulled by the pleasant summer rustlf. nf +),r!. i J
beeches about the old mansTL^den Mr^.^' ^""^
Decidedly Hester must go— but wherp 9 w^i. a
"finish" hi? Mr R^, conation. A school to
Secessary. ^* ""* '^^' *««« "«« absolutelj-
Meggy shook her head.
^ "That's a* verra weel," she said «bi,+ +y,« i •
that ye wld stick on tZ to 1T'' i "^^ /" ^^^'«
bats ! She maun Hve as a v^,„i ^i ""^^"^ '^^'^ ^ ^^^
lassies. She i^a Teddy and Z, M ^^""^"^ ^^"^^
kind-no wi' auld selfiJh fo wV b°v ^ ^ ^T''^ ^^^
pardon, sir!" ^"^^ ^'^® us— askin' your
''Aye, ^.eiash/Megsy," groaned the minister, "ye
8
f(
i:
114
CINDERELLA.
have said it, woman. That was what came home to me
on the muir to-day. When I saw the young Master
trying to keek under that lassie's sunbonnet— it all
came to me in a flash. Hester must leave us— must
leave us ! "
"But, oh, sirce! The desolation o* th? hoose'"
lamented Megsy, "never to hear her step come
flichtenii doon the stair, and her voice in the chambers
liltm like a bird! Empty— a' empty ! "
"Hoot^hoot," said the minister, with indignation,
1 am selfish, but you must not catch the disease!
Margaret! True, it wiU be lonesome, but after all
there s the post and there's the raUway. She will be
back to us before we know it ! "
Yet more sadly Megsy shook her head.
"Aye, maybe," she said, with a pathetic fall to her
voice, -'out never the young bird o' the nest. Na,
never again ! Never ony mair oor ain wee lassie-the
baimthat cuddled in to me when she hadnae ither mither.
the baini that-oh, sir, bear wi' me. I am a fooUsh
auld body, gm ye Uke, but she has been to me mair than
ony dochter— me that was auld and thrawn and iU to
look upon .ind she has lo'ed me weel, and I had nane
itner 1
And Megsy picked at her black apron and alternately
sobbed and wiped the tears with the beaded hem of her
best apron, minding no more than if the rough let had
been the^finest and softest silk.
I.- *j^I®'l ^^^. ,*^® minister, sadly, " when the young
bu-ds fly the auld nest is bound to look bare. But your
lite and mine, Megsy, are wearing down to the swirl of
the sand m the hour-glass. Hester's lies before her
tmi to the bnm, scarce a score of grains yet faUen
into the abyss. It remains to us, therefore, to keep
an open door for her, here in the auld manse, to do
our day's work and to pray."
"Aye," said Megsy, bitterly, "ye hae your books— an'
me my duster! They are braw consolations for the
hcht o the e'e, the blithe word, the lovin' voung heart !
Oruid be thankit, there's better consolation still— oot
■. Wll'ii iimfi.
CINDERELLA. jjg
£pt u'^r^?' *"* ™' «■««'» ^» growin- green to
W«^'S^7^;^^J7« « '" '"'^- ^»' •" ^ the
a ^de'tTi^r?; r;'T^r ^-"•'— -
habit of going mornWw^ • ^«"o^an had a
where, clL hyZTS&XS^T! t,^' T^-^e,
pleasant of shade dannJ^^^ ? a walk under trees
flecks of sunsWne^nThll T^ J"^^^* ^^^ ^«i jeUow
still caUed "thr^n^^'i? ^^i^k '" Hf Sf^^ ? «
after whom it is called wa. Mr P. ^ *^® minister
figure, bent a little at the ^mZ'''''''^i ^^.^«« ^
everjr mominff for thirfll . ' ^^« ^ be seen
-o/wet mo?rW^^'^S\r/lf^? ^P «^^ down
waterproof coat Sd^X >,« ^*^^ ^^^^ ^ ^ long
back/ But on fine morniLr^' '^P^^ ^«^«d hi!
Testement between KX^"dS™K ^ J/f « <^reek
Xger^ be a sacred 'Jt ^^s^^> ^^^^^^^
p4?ng:^rte%^>^^^^ was reading, or
the Two immediate^Lncernpi^^ ^^ '"'"'' ^"^^^ ^
does not come into CCtorj ' °^ '' ^ "^***^' ^^°^
clac^al'^^^ft^'^^e-^^ ^^ ^« -*--ed^ lol the
of Fate ^ tS times rand ^'^ 'P^^^*^^^ disWbutor
the enidre conclave Jthi Grim ^f"'?' **! ^"^^e as
letter only was f Jr tL^SZ 'n'^ ^^* ^i^' One
postmark: The ministS^no^:^ l^ ''°''^ *^® ^^^don
thumb, and read the^swe??! V '* '^"^^^^ ^^^^ ^s
bitter in the moS^hrard^^Lrr"-^ ^«^«^
August. uniooted for as snow in
<^<ynimZl^tlJt\^^^C:^\f^^ ^jr'^^ y<y^ to receive a
hem vender yot W /^ l^, ^^^^ ^^, ^^er«ton^, ^^oJ
also, that yL hl^UZS^'T ^*' ^ ^^derstand,
^ « «o 6e a duty whuh I owe to the re-
116
CINDEEELLA.
spectahle of Hester Stirling's progenitors (in which class I
sincerelywish that I could include her parents) that I should
defray any reasonable charges you may have been at. Be
good enough, therefore, to draw up a properly-attested
statement and forward it to me. If I am satisfied with
the items I shall immediately send you a cheque for the
amou/nt of your claim -*'
At this point, Anthony Borrowman stamped his foot,
and the remark he made under his breath, though not
without excuse, could hardly be considered as worthy of
a placed minister of the Kirk of Scotland as by law
established.
He stood still, grimly biting his lip, while he perused
the remainder of the communication.
" But it is borne in upon my dear wife and myself, in
view of the fact tJmt Hester Stirling comes into the
possession of a very considerable sum of money at the age
of twenty-one, that we should have her more immediately
under our own eye, in order that she may have the very
necessary influence and stimulus of a Christian home "
Here the minister of Saint John's parish again made
a remark.
** Where by example and precept "
^ " Oh, I must skip this— I really can't stand it ! "
ejaculated Anthony Borrowman, rustling the pages
impatiently, for the letter was of some considerable
length. " Um — umm— desires that the girl be prepared
for the important change in her circumstances as quickly as
possible, but Lady Torphichan-Stirling — (bless the woman,
Sarah Stirling, he means) — desires that no purchases of
clothing be made in the coimtry, as it is her intention that
Hester Stirling shall be brought up with her own younger
children, and accompany them on their walks. In order
that she should do this, it is, of course, necessary that she
should be decently and appropriately clothed ! "
(" I suppose the man thinks we have had her running
about the Glenkells in a suit of woad! I wish to
heaven he was, and I two yards behind him with a
horsewhip ! ")
"The girl will be met at St. Pa^c^aa any day I
CINDERELLA.
117
mention, and he is, reverend sir, mv obedient servant,
Sylvanus Torphichan-Stirling, Bart/*
"Bah," said Mr. Borrowman, fiercely, crushing the
paper m his hand with a violence quite unseemly in a
placed minister, and striding on to the house, makine
thejfoodDarroch Water gravel grind under his angif
" It's enough to make a man never pray affain. to
get an answer like this ! » he said, unortEodoily.
******
It was indeed the day of Marah— of the drinking of
bitter waters— to the minister and Megsy, when they
were called upon te decide whether their Kttle maid
should go into what the latter called the "den of
wolves.
But it was certain that Dr. Sylvanus (now Sir
Sylvanus Torphichan-StirHng, Bart.) had the power to
entorce his request. Moreover, after aU, it might
possibly be that the letter betokened a change of
neart and a desire to make amends for years of neglect.
At any rate, the experience would give Hester oppor-
tnmties of seeing the worid such as it was impossible
she could ever have in the Clachan of Saint John.
Ihen Anthony Borrowman thought of the sunbonnet,
and resolved that she should go.
It was the afternoon of this day when the minister
caUed Hester to him in the study. She was ensconced
m an arbour of purple creepers out on the lawn with
a favourite book-" Lockhart's Life of Sir Walter
Za^ .X ^\ ^^°* *^ ^^« ^ea^ to <Ji8turb her, but it
nad better be done at once. The waters of Marah do
not improve by keeping.
^ ** I wiU not go," she cried, in a sudden panic of grief.
1 am qmte happy here— I don't care to seethe worid.
1 do not want experience. I want just to stay with
you always— always ! "
The minister's voice said something here.
" Why is he my guardian ? Did my father leave him
my guardian ? My grandmother had no right. I do
118
CINDERELLA.
m-
w
^Z7' f'S'lZ-J'^' "" *"»><>•>«»<' pound,
unless ,ou ATe Z of SJl ~St "is ^t^fl'"' ■"??
to go away frf^you m" ' " """^ ^"^ "''^ ■»«
y^ Z^ ^oked pT„»I\"" . 80 Sony I said it ! It
sleep S^^do-'" ''"' *°'^™ ■»«•' I «'°'t go to
I.afte?SSLg"*i^^U«^VT^ ^« "'^'- He
the sough of the wSS^S ?. °'..*^* J^"''"* "'"^ow,
black branches nf?i! I "?"?"* " ^' «»" and the
against rXXly He '± *^'^ I"™"^ 3'"<»"''y
^ses of t3ed dark LT ^ J * **»'-'.*^'°«^ *»««.
thatouiverodanrt^Vs^e!"'' " ""^*"'' """^^
it ^^rdfyTteCd^anf""^/?^ '■''''• ^0
thus oontracted thT »I!r. f ^ ^^"S girl had
"Keverond " „?! f ? !?'"®?* a*'* sonorous title of
she was e^pSlfof "" '* ™'' ""* '* ''^'"'^ ""^t
ha^%^'d\rnLr^e^r» ^-^ ■-*— "«
any ^^Id'Xr fll£° "^fi " ^°" »" "°" <» »« than
thJcMdo/m/sDirit tt?f/T ''*™ ■''<"• To" are
who has bLugh?S^pt;i°^| nljn' *^ """P^'""
stood on the rerge JfZ^te T^*'*»,\'^'"'1'0
least, we must l«f vm, «^ */ ,, ' ^^^ ^ *^^e at
be cont^fto Syfu ^a^o^-^T^ ■"" l-""
the door !f the*:i/^*:<^r*pr^rtli«to.
CINDERELLA.
119
ever the old place at the table for you. But it is right
tJiat you should go, and the Lord who gave will heln
us who wait to bide here in the hollow of His hand ! "
Megsy, the same pleading voice from the same
piteous red hps were to be heard at the old servant's
LTeep?" '^'"''^ ^*^'- "^'^'^' ^^^' ^'« yo«
«f3^ ^'^ sOenoe for a while, and Hester was almost
steahng away sJently as she had come, when she heard
Megsy s voice, altered somewhat, and hoarse, as if with
many tears.
" Yes, my bairn, bide— I am comin' te you » "
«io. ^ T °^°^® ^ *o you," Hester said, " I want to
sleep beside you this one last night ' »
And so the two who had been almost a« mother and
daughter-the woman who had never had a child of
her flesh, and the pi who had never known a mother's
s«^-r? ^»* of.^egsy Tipperlin's faithful and devoted
IIT^'}^^ ^ f^^^ ^""^^^^ ^^^1« ^^ ^ai« splashed on
wr^f.r'^^',"'*^'^^^*^'*^^ *he wind lashed the
Iht??.^i, ® ^1^°^^' ''P'''' ^^^ °*^«^ ^th a noise like
the Northern Sea on a rocky shore. But when with
the dawn the storm as suddenly ceased, and the light
^e up broa^ and large and wa«n out of the east, the
^iZ ' ^-^^ ^kness seemed to pass from off
^d foce ' ^ '"""^ "^^ Mssed the wrinkled
1 have done nothmg for you. But now I wiU try to
^^J^^^iorjovrBake-andBeyyie^al I will— I wi—
^mm^^^^^m
r*
U-^
CHAPTER XVn.
Hester is the Stbanger*8 Land.
goal. He had entered politics nearly ten years before.
mLnir^^ T 1 *^" ^"^^^«* contributors to thrcam:
?eSes^a^lM %«^J*^\P«?itical organisation which
requires a great deal of such sinews of war. And, as he
IZfJTAf deserving of a handle to his name as an
ri?h%e w'7" ^^^':r^a*«- Besides, he was so
Sw • * 'x "^^^ ^^'^' speculated in diamonds and
Whispered that his share m certain diamond mines at
tiie Cape amounted to several millions sterlinff It was
heyond question that he was largely interested S
precious stones. He went and cafie^a good deal to
S^f^^ ""! n '"h^'^y^'^^ ««" ««^bon and alumina
m their crystaUised forms.
hi^L ^o* only his wealth, but his reputo had wa^ed
higher and higher every year. He had now his • C^e
£>S^n!fo^*\^^ It was whispered that, for the next
London season, he was in treaty for a palace in Park
His wife interested herself so largely in good works
wL^P<l^^*r^.r'i ^^H^^Weldni thafuttie tkn^
was left her for the duty of attending to her youneer
children, of whom there were three.^ Of the Sore
whose acquaintance we have already made, Tom wS
now leaving coUege. But, aa yet, he was of no particu-
'#"^,'
CIKDEEELLA.
121
lar account in the hoase, and, as of yore, his sister Vic
was his sole crony and confidant.
As may well be believed, it was with a heart compact
of fears tumultuary, that Hester found herselP being
whirled southward through the soft, pleasant dusk of
an English twilight into the humming lamp-lit wilder-
ness of London.
All da^ she had been in a constant state of wonder
and bev'ilderment. The rush and clang of a great rail-
way, the echoing spaciousness of Carlisle station, the
eager shoutings of the porters, the whisking by of tele-
graph poles, and now the racing lights of the far-ex-
tending city, all these her heart noted with the sick and
sinking thought, " I am leaving behind me all I love,
and I am going to those who wall hate and despise me."
Perhaps it was fortunate that Hester was not alone
during any part of the way, or her face would most
likely not have been " fit to be seen," as Megsy had
warned her would be the case if she did not approve
herself " a brave lass."
Hester had seen and heard many new things that
dajr. The soft rounded hills of England, the gentle
lilting speech, the contrast of the red brick of the
houses and the intense green of the foliage, the lazy-
flap of a windmill by the seaward side of the line, all
broni^ht it home to Hester that she was very far indeed
from her own coimtry.
And so, when the train drew up at St. Pancras
with a long musical sigh of regret (which was the
settling back of the carriage bodies into repose), her
heart beat thickly in her ears, and she gasped as
if not comprehending when the man asked for her
ticket.
She was to be met, she knew. And she looked out
for her aunt, whom she had seen once or twice during
brief smnmer visits to Arioland. Or at least one of her
cousins would come. She was not prepared, however,
for the tall man-servant who, with a rug folded neatly
over his arm, paraded up and down, peering into all the
first-dass carriages.
122
CINDiiJRDLLA.
"h you please," she said, « I am Hester Stirling r "
member of a respectable family. on nun as a
weU ave you any luggage, Miss ? " imagine-
^•apanned tin-.CrynommoS'ou^''jS C^^Edward
ironmonger had call«H if v.Y« ^^ i^dward
6 ^ «wuu service with these 'ere mvoo reesh I "
se^^o^™"^ '""°*- ^''^ 8*« lamps strung t£-
seives out till there seemed no end to them »n^ «,.„
T«„„+ • I\ * *^® ^ver really knew his wav TT«
"^ Cl^f^^r™*^^'" *^« hope of Xe J|
^nf .1 w !v ""* somewhere or other. *
But ^k^ro^^:i:''z:''^ s
1^^^
we
'•*"-i*'iilii;rii''.
r:«7"^'
?t^iir<
CINDERELLA.
128
leaves, and she could hear the wind sough among
STnihW^/ It was doLng at that moment hfZ
^^^ y*^'"~i^"l^r ^ «°^ '««« involuntarily, and
was as instantly checked. ^
Hester had an ordeal to undergo, and she was
^d Me^s '* ^^""^^^ ^""^ *^^ ^^^^ ^^ " ^yyTe^*
.J^ *^/,^aU there was another tal! man in pale blue
tTn ?li « "^Z'^".^.!'' who looked even more LposiDg
than the first. Without even asking her name h?
'^^^ ^''*^f "P *r^ ^^^ *^f ^'^^ «teirs till he
hJw/ a large d.3or. He inclined his ear and
or perhaps what he did not hear. For he opened the
door, and ushered Hester in without announcement
fv,: ^^^ a great room, far grander in every appointment
than anything Hester had ever beheld, there were
tea-tables covered with a debris of dishes and dainty
?it th« nl^'''" ^f ^^H^. «*^^ ^^«* ^ corner!
wi?n/ IT' ^'^^y ^'^^^^ ^° comparison with the
brightness of the stairways. The idea seemed to be to
have as many lights as possible, and then to swathe
^iit V'^f/r'?^^* *^"°^^ «^ *^^* a« little of it as
E?^r ^^^^^^^^^ -s :^i^rwithr^d^*«o?
At the upper end of the room a pair of figures stood
very close together. It seemed I Hestefas i?l^e
r^nT? ^^ ^''^ ¥^^ *^« ^^^^ «f 1^« companion!
t Jr ? i?^^,.^res8ed m a most beautiful costume
which at that time, so little advanced was her sodal
education, she did not recognise as a Liberty tlgo^
theml^tttKolT"^ *"^^' "^^ ^^^^^* «^'^*-^
int:lX':in^^:^3 J^^^^^^^^ «^^ ««^^' " ^-W
-but JThiTf Pt'^^5' ^'''" «<»^°^ered Timson-
but 1 thought— I unders: jod as how "
You had no right to understand, or to think. You
{(
■an
"^A^I
124
.■V ^
CINDERELLA.
tut the voung-ah-ladv (Ho^ do you dSfHeite??)
WM to be sfiown to the achoolroom tiU my lady
could receive her ! " ^ ^
"Yes. Miss Ethel! " said Timson, submissively.
„„ L °"'^u*^''7*^' ^"«'" ^« whispered to Hester in
quite another tone, as if she had been responsib^foT
Bhe heard her cousm say, apparently in answer to
whTw^r^.^ l^ *^" T^ «^^^^^* J^«"«» gentleman
^2r -/l^V'^T"^ *^® ^«^«^ embirrassment, stood
posing with his elbow on the mantlepiece, "No. do not
go, Captein Carisbrook. It is only a sort if p^r
relation father is taking care of 1" ^
But at that moment the door closed upon Hester's
cousin and her visitor. ^ "wwrs
's^-yirmm
CHAPTER XVni.
A Somewhat Wabmxb Welcome.
Hester followed the tall servitor in the silver and
pale blue coat with a feeling akin to awe. He on his
part had abandoned all ceremony with her, and having
accurately apprehended from Miss Ethel's tone the
newcomer's exact position in the house, he confined
himself to " This way ! " and so strode brusquely
before her, along certain passages which seemed to run
about two sides of a large square. Then he stopped at
a door from behind which a great noise, confused and
peculiar, was proceeding. Timson did not knock
gently, probably knowing that he would damage his
knuckles in vain. He merely thumped with his closed
fist and opened.
It was a curious scene upon which Hester was
ushered so unceremoniously, and even the tall Timson,
in haste to return to his statutory occupation of admir-
ing his own calves and flirting broadly with such of
the servant-maids as mi^ht chance to pass through the
hall, stood awhile watching it with a grin.
In the comer of the room furthest from the door a
slight pale-faced yoimg girl was penned in by a table
which three riotous children were pushing against her
chest. She was making violent but unsuccessful
attempts to resist them, and to reach her feet, which
had somehow been tethered to the legs of the chair.
"My eye and Betty Martin ! " the eldest was crying,
a red-headed boy of about thirteen, " Come on. Lot ;
push. Grubby, you little lazy beast — give it to her. I'll
show her how * prep ' is done at our school ! "
" Oh, please don't. Master Stanhope, you are hurting
((<
126
CDfDEBELLA.
wlfi""* e? ' " cried the pale sir! " h™ •
s-kTot'U :^,iF;;rL^ XT'^jr"- ^'■^■'J
W more shawh Jd ttSL for voS^ off " ^J'™'' ^«'
PiJ^tf .;te^»'' «>»• You .han't go unless.
lon'SVoZf orm^^rr^fiT-^''' "'» »'7 ma's
let's see your brrtZ^thM^TZ, > P"""*^^'
the arm or we shan't own vou? w ** 't^a^Wry on
out Como ht - !,.■ S^ 7P" ' "one Renuine with
Ti,<._ 5 ?^ ''^^ Miss Martin aintr r " """
4^0^^^-^^tr ^-■PhiS-Stirling turned
GetS^d^a'f v^^^:j:,r^. "'<--^ » !«.
W-lost-oousin-with^jStaLwhi "'"'*, ^""^ **»<'''er.
Hizabeth Martin of itt H^nZ^rSr"'''' ^^ '^ ^^'^
inown as Betty Martin r " ^ ''Ollege, commonly
»s shameful when I am *»t;- I j ""^f pa'e cheek, "it
as kind to youas ii,s^?bltr.?^ *** ''° "^ "^"t. »°d to be
daSn'u^nt'rm&rZ^'^T f " «»-» «'
her She seemed to ^p~hlrt^ ' I°"« *<">ched
went forward to pull the to M^r 1 °^ ^* »°'=«- Sie
Master StanhopeC her ™y ' ''**• *"^ ^-countered
he aS5; "K"gi?n*Xtto'drwr' ""•»?""
you stay you'll ha?e plenty lough" '^"' "'-^«*- "
without his host. hSCs sl^/*"'''"""' "^together
notg.e much idea o/ft^en^ftt ^rLh^fh^^
IMtMMAl
CINDfiMBLLA.
127
sleek and soft with sweatmeats and surreptitious
pasties, was as nothing in the grip of one who for years
had accompanied the minister of Saint John over hiU
and dale, and all unbreathed had kept pace with his
heather-step, even when he had forgottin himself in
the full blast of an argument.
So Master Stanhope found himself as calmly set to
one side as if he had been a doll. Lot, a girl of nine,
puUed as vainly at Hester's skirts, and GrSbby, whose
age ^s seven roUed on the floor in vain attempts to
bite Hester's legs. But the table came back Never-
theless, and Hester, with her hat still on her hea4.
went forward to loosen the unfortunate girl from the
armchair to which she had been tied. But by this
fame Master Stanhope had rallied, and now once more
flung himself between Hester and his victim. He gave
the former a violent push on the chest, but the lirl.
accustomed to the quick movements of animals Ind
perfectly at home in the art of watching your oppo-
nent s eye, anticipated Stanhope, and with a step wide
f °~. Vif * ^'* ? swinging grasp upon the boy's coUar
landed the red-headed youth with his back to the
schoolroom wall.
« Oh, I say-you let Master Stanhope alone ! " cried
Timson from the door, « you're no right to hinterfere,
avmg just come " '
Hester turned. It was one of the times she wished
she had grown quicker. But she had height enough
for her purpose, and there was something on her f^e
which intimidated Timson as much as if he had found
a desperate burglar astride the plate-chest.
T Ti} '^^''. J.H''®'"^,^^!'^ ^°^^ ^'^^ ^^ *^at wench's eye,
l^ul''''' he «aid afterwards to the other footn4
word^sr'"*"""^ '''' ^''^' *^^* ""^ y^"" "'^^^ °^y
+l,r ^"^ ^ ^T^'^S^^ - " ^««*^^ ^*^e ^i°»> pointing to
}^'?:'^''' A^i.^"^^?"". ^«^*' muttering something
r^^M' ^''^''^ ^^' ^'^Wp* that
But he was not even thanked for his pains, for Master
f"-!.
•ailHMil
Miii
IMIli
128
CINDBRELLA.
Stanhope put his red head out at the door and cried
a^r him, « Bully for Countey-served you right "^
8*»cfang your oaj- in, old Straw-calves ' » ^
f^ «!?** ^"l^ ^^^ happened after tiiat it is difficult
to say. Hester was busy unfastening the cords from
the unhappy governess's ankles whe/a loud "Hem-
anSLwT ^^^ ^"""^ *^® P*««^&® announced the
f?^T 3,^ a.Jiewcomer. As soon as Master Stan-
hope heard this, he seized a knife which lay on the
martins feet. In a moment he had the cords cut
gatJier^ up and flung into a comer. In Se same
Sm T * IV."^^^^^ P^^^®^ °^<^^e quickly than it can be
t^:t^ and Grubby had seated themselves at throng
ink-stained table, while Stanhope, seizing a book at
at the bottom of the table and became desperatelv
absorbed in his studies, his brows knit, his eyS W
and the fingers of one hand making riit 2 hfs hal^!^'
weighty tread approached slovvly alone the
lT^-% .?'/ ^"'" *^« ^^d of footsteps whfch go
well with the tune of « See the conquering hero comes^"
Thej seemed to bring with them the accompaniment if
-LTT^ ^7 ?®f ^^^^ ®^®' ^e^" roughened hair, and
seat herself scholastically at the table-head when tba
d^ropen^andSirSylviiusToi^^^^^^^
tt'H" ni' *?•' ^."^'^ ^"^^""^ ^tli li" bland smile
an^i^^^' ^ '* '^^^? ^^ ^^ unfortunate pecuSy
of imtatmg some people. (« For heaven's sake l^hl
g^t eman teke th^t simile o^ff his face before f^^*^:
roI'i^'^drnLln^^'*'''*!"'^"' beaming upon all in the
^^'Ar. ^A'''^J\^^''^y^ pleasing in the young »
How do you do-Hester Stirling, is it not? I tWht
W T ^^ ^? "?'" ^"*y °^^* ^* th« station. You
vw^.*, 1 r* °^^y "'^^^ *^e acquaintance of our
youtiiful hopes. I trust you will be aU very hannv
together. They are good' children, and have n^^Z
CINDERELLA.
129
giren either their mother or mrsftlf ««..
uneasiness. You find them d^'lS"! ^ moment^s
Martin 9 » inl T <""gent, do you not. Miss
Zl.^^ The pale governess bowed silently as if
study's P®*"''"^' "^ *"'' ">■«* « that you are
Stanhope made a curious noise in his throat Ti,^
-7 intonation '^^^T'Z^'^nZyTJ^XS^Zti
me through where other men would have faUed 1^
leam to speak clearly, my bov And nZ toit i. x
jou a« studying ih , C&bltf TL'^arto't
aat. Stanhope. It argues weU for your future tC
.rKnVhTcS^r ort' ™^^' P^^*^«
theScripturer^fhSlinlo^^^'^noSlfrt^t"
££r?^---^trrhS^
« Wh-^a??'?!! ^«^^/?i»g to Ezra," he gulped.
«c7t .V"^Jr gasped his father. ^ ^
"Luke ! whispered Hester, taking pity.
liiib
130
CINDEEBLLA.
KS
" Saint Luke, sir ! » said Stanhope, picking his words
hke one weU accustomed to the opStion. ^
whatMspfcirs;^"'" ^^' ""' ^^*^-'-^« -- -me.
Stanhope gulped, fumbled, and dropped the book
?Z^\''^''7'^' '**^^^& °l««e behind the boy^s chSr
hfted the volume as if to hand it to Sir SyWnus and
. with a quick movement, learned in the Kirk oTst tX.
she opened it at the Gospel of Luk^the next moment
presenting it open to the baronet. moment
"Ah, thank you, Hester," he said; « I can see fhaf
you have already won the ^affection ind confidence of
your young charges-I mean companions."
tired Might I go up to my own room ? "
« w.^ ?? \!?^ ^^*^'" .'^^^ Sylvanus, with a smile-
we will doubtless see you agaii after dinner I will
pi^w^ryo^^lr bTun!*^^? ;ou*^;^--
a^pXtt:,^^^ ^^' -^^ ^^- ^- wiirrLl^.^,
Sir Sylvanus passed away up the corridor annar-
«ntly t« the same unheard roll of martial mus^T A
ex'ctieVulhTdu^ '^ *^^ schoolroom, thSSTast^d
exactly tiU the didl and resonant sound of his footstens
on the mlaid wooden floor of the passage had Wn «t
changed for the sharper fall of boot-lf ather u^n thj
W^MtteT'll,'.'"- 1'''' PandemoniuTSrok:
Whi;+^^ ™, stanhope flung the leather-covered
Bible to the end of the room, carrying with it an ^k
bottle and plentifully bespattering^Miss cLrioL on
the way, as also that young lady's doll, which he had
been concealing on her lap under the tible during her
father 8 visit Angry at this affront. Lot threw hfrself
upon her brother and pulled his ha r-in the circum-
stances an unfori^ate method of assault, for her o^
single Gretchen plait was much better adapted f^
rude seizure. So in a few moments she waT r^uced to
sulky sobs and moody shakes of the head She would
CINDBRILLA.
181
HlSTal'l^sfwd"^^^'^- «^« -uld be n^venged.
critically, as Hester extended th^mi of T?l!?'
vcmttL3^' ^^ ¥T y°^ °**<^« ^e see stai^ when
you fetehed me round that whopper against X^ wall?
.A^e has got none at all. That's^^hy wl can rot her" o
tin^t^r""^ gentleman pointed casually at Mias Mar-
everywhere and restoring tlZ tosome tnS nf 'T^
on the shelves that fiUed^ne TntSe s^e o^he room
S^nhope watehed her contemptuously ^ ''*^°'-
She s aU nght, but has got no savvy," he remarVprl
exactly as if Miss Martin h£ been dial ^^'"^'^^^^
. 1 think you are a horrid little boy," Hester bpc«,r,
indignantly, "and if I had anything^'to do^th v^ f
would teach you to behave differeaif ' » ^°'' ^
+>,.„ "^^^ ^'''' T^^,"*^*^'" ^^-id Stanhope, calmlv « but
" And who is Tony Gibbons ? " said Hester who woo
T "^°='y «'''''»"8 w mj sohool-pal. He » a wonder
i^L'r-' "•"* "^ *"" •-«"«»' temers-I°S
roo'™Ur P •**'*' "■''"' ^ ™ *» '^■"-■0" you to TOUT
woZ^^;oij?ea';"'ttirr:^;f.?L^
Barter. Howdo.&rker? Come'and dllce?. ' ^^
I
':%-
^^2 CINDERELLA.
"You may see me dance the polka
rou may see me whirlinf? round-
lou may eee my coat-tails flying—"
he sang to no tune in particular.
tJ^h^tlTt *^/ j*?"* a^d dignified woman could pro-
fit w f^"^^"!^^ '/"P °^ mischief had seized her by
^LTS' tV^*^''.^^.^^"^"^^^^^* ^' h« arm could
encircle. The next instant the two were spinning
round the room, colliding freely and solidly wi?h S
shelves, desks, and chairs, besides sending GiXy
howling into a comer by a resounding whalk on the
le&'l^rrt'^ """"^^ '"^""^^^ ^" P^- ^^-*-" -d
duck cned the old dame, breathlessly, when the
whirl ceased ; "your lady mother shall know of this
mdignity before I am an hour older."
/If you tell Biddy," retorted the red-headed boy,
"n^. wvf \^'''^- ^ ^^^ ^"*« ^^'^ th« certificate 5
your birth and give it to the coachman. He only
wants your money anyway. * Why. it's like kepmr,'
rr^y ! """"^ '"°°°'°' ^"''"""■- rttTu>
"Figgis never said no sich imperence," said theladv
resetthng her hair and dress. "He is a most res^t'
able man and careful of his words, ^d as f^r ^/ot
Master Stanhope, the birch does not grow that would
make you speak the truth » ^
+»,r ?''' ^"* *^® ^'^''^ ^^^«»" """^^^ a new voice from
the doorway, as a stoutish silk-hatted young ma^
round-faced and ruddy, rather over-dressed and o^erl
buttoned as to surtout, but with a good-humoured
th^s^P^ Why,U?tleHeXTot\ou'^V^^^^ SW
iJ^ T '^'''^ Stirling, up from college, and grown
nto a fine young man about town. He had just^ome
in from airing Iiis latest stick and lavender gloves on
the most suitable and fashionable pavemente. ^
CINDEEELLA.
188
the^^e*^' "^"""^ ^" ^0 '"d l"k»d him straight in
w^he'dltt r^ th^wX'tf-D.^.!:"' ."'" °" 7"*-
far o£B to-ni..ht It Si? Darroch appeared very
get back the?e again *^ °°* """"' ^' " "•« «>»ld ««'
eh'?*^ Soii^ ^'" 7»" things off and tittivate a bit
master — I mean Mr Tnm /« t^.> i,
MissEthe&Lfd^i:^^^-,,:^'"- ^ -oJoi
hole, hang"? I „ni L 1% "Tu"? ^"«» '" *"* °^
the ™ J die, St what tt^ ^ m' impudence, and
about it I " ^ *' "** 8U-1 sajs. ITl gee
thl'TrtiJr^t' "^'^' "^"^ *>•« «'-p»
himself, and Ster was th.rt* "l* «??™<>»ed "ith
W ?st*inX '°«:?r. ■""^^ An°^Ve l"don'1
than havine Vic awnv S *if- ' , ' " ^'K*** ''«**e'"
of Ethel's atout ttHC in^l"^ but these beast,
.line in the schooS^^rn J?', ^"^ " '"«»*^'"' ""»
house hi Impress Gal? i^tw'*^^ ?"« "^^ » «»
—at 1»«,t ^ *l t-ate.and that no unimportant one
To^^hlSlltirS;.''^"""'' "' ^- ThonLs AlLC
i
vlafifef j * ii i i»»»
CHAPTER XIX.
Mt Loed Daeroch Talks Business.
Caeus Daeroch steadily confronted his father in the
busm.ss-room at Da^och Castle. He came but
seldom into the presence of Lord Darroch, save at
meal-times, or when he had been specially sent for as
notllTrco^ '""" ^'''''' ^^^ -- hanbsXte"
most nL +V,o """"^ '^""^ ?^°^^ ^""^ ^^^> ^d for the
most part they were content to meet without gladness
and part without regret. g^aoness
woods" oS* """S? ^^ ^' ^^^ ^i*^ ^ ^«k about the
7^J:' V^^ '''' *?^ ""^^^^ «^ leather with a seldom-
1^ h?« nf tf ^^^^fM^^ ^'^' ^^d a favourite author
m his pocket. He had been bom at the tall old castle
b^h So IL^r^'' "5 ''' ^"^^^"- -' *^« ^etd of the
loch. So the bums and scaurs of Glencaim, the pebblv
^ w' Ti?- ^^^-«*?.d/«d shores of Loch DLmTch were
as part of his own life.
u;^ t^^H""* ^K P/®^®^* ^ord Darroch, had but two
^ m,T.r ^' ^^«^^d *1^« Strath, tiie first' being to g^?
S ^f 5 r'' ^'°§ accomplished to the accompani-
ment of cajohngs and coaxings-or, as it might be
of ^ths and curses,--^ get himself aa rapiSy aTd
as swiftly away as possible. ^
Lord Darroch considered the universe as madp
Z'l^^VrJ'^^'^t^'t'^^' TotCr^rthereTu^d
be no exceptions. He had impressed it on his wife so
Zi^Tln T.'f'^l ^r/birth to cLs, s^had
Duchefs o\ N^^^A 1^"''"^ ^^^ ^ ^'' °^«*b«^> the
liucness of Niddisdale, and presently, discovArino- no
claim or hold upon life, yet fa^heri-'to tTe pS of
^'4tei
CINDERELLA.
H
185
all unfulfilled hopes and wasted lives. The Duchess
considered this very weak, as doubtiess it was She
herself would probably have first horse-whipped Lord
Darroch, and t£en brought a suit against him in the
proper court. But she could not inspire tL same
determinate course of action in the Lady^Sophia!
«airl "^^S^ ?^^ Niddisdale it^ould turn out so," she
said. What can you do with a person who has no
pnde, and who is named Sophia ? "
Lord Darroch had come all the way from Paris in
order te have this interview with his s^on. He mLS
have sent for Cams to come te him there, indeed but
cin« 1 f?'^?^^*^^^^ of such parents he did not ^ant
« b^l » "'• Z?*^ ^.t'^^'^ *^«'« ^^^« ^^"ou« other
birds connected with the cutting of wood and the
Tat ffi"^ of some remainingmorsefs of free prope^!
that he hoped to kill with the selfsame stone. ^ ^ ^'
««lft„''5. ^T*?^,^ ^^^' ^^ arrival, he installed him-
self in the high-ba<;ked chair at the upper end of the
ris^to^i'^^' from which his own fXr had often
risen to flog him and sent the butler to summon Caxus
to the momentous interview. Of the two. Lord
Darroch was by a great deal the more nervous. Yet
Cams had known that there was something in^e wind
as soon as his fattier came in the night before. H^had
CnL^'^^* ^^^*"'^. °^°'« thanusuaUy effusive, and
^ifJZLS^'!'''' ' ^^^* '^^' o^f pleasantness
But Carus I^och knew his father weU enough to
llZT *^* ^^i\^^^^i^ was merely assumed for a
of h^ltfl* Jf J^^T""^ ""^^ ^ °^^^ ^^o at one time
of his life, when the "smart set "of the period was
nrlL'nV'^l by milKonaire proteges of roya^'; ?£an S
present, had made a certain figure in life a^ a young
fellow of expensive testes and a dashing manJe? of
S^^S'^fnir- ^^ °?.^ ^^^^ ^« was^three-score
m J i. J^^^/^'T^ ^'^^ straitened means and the
»;^*ai^%t!''^^'- ^--^^-^ others
,*a
136
CINDERELLA.
.1.,^^ -^^ "^^^ * ^^^^ ^^ clustering (and yet not too
nf siioo r«i„ 1 '=^ """BBu. ijut tnen it was tlie pnde
W ^thnt r^^''^®?''' that when allowed to do their
their mS f ^^""^ ^?^'^ ^^'y ««°* a man to study
their subject for a month before putting so much as the
foundation upon the block. Well-prfse^rd w^ n^t
the name for Lord Darroch. He wasHrfectTpr^-
fierved-tresh as if he had been packed^ki L?e?e7v
night and unpacked by his valet in^he Irniig. ^
chair n?«fTT^:,?^"'«'" said bis Lordship ffom the
ToS^take anij^^'"'^"^ graciously towards his son, "do
fatt^^fiflf ""^"^y- ""^ ^* "io™. regarding his
best. Tou ha7e taken yo-ir degree, which there wa!
fSow recitedin jo,i wS^r T^iTn ^'JP"**
what you are goiL to drTfa ^7ate Tthini ^Z
^«^ ^H™"" Ton could do a Uttle tor soldierine-a
»uu X was m the Guards. The o>ir]a lih^ n- „ i
W. thats what I always say-when a teUow is^
Mm*.
CINDERELLA.
187
catch, he can get a pretty rich girl just as easy as an
ugly one."
" There is no need to think about that yet, sir, I
think," said Carus, smiling.
"Never too soon to think about it, when it's got
to be done," rejoined his lordship, "or to *go where
money is,' as somebody or other said. Well, about
your future ? "
** I had thought, sir, of reading law, and by-and-by
writing a little, if I have the ability," said Cams,
modestly.
" Tut— tut, what does a man want with scribblin*^
for a few pence, when he will have a title, and one of
toe oldest in Scotland? Eeading law is all right.
The naore you get up about that, the better you will
know how to raise the wind when your time comes.
By the way, speaking of law, it was a matter of that
kind which brought me here. I have waited till you
were twenty-one in order to speak freely with you. It
IS this. The Glen Som estate does not lie well to the
rest of the Darroch property. It is chiefly arable land,
and contains no considerable moors worth shooting
oyer. It is badly burdened. Now, there has come
along an offerer for it who is willing to give a fancy
price, and I have determined to sell. We shall never
get another such offer."
"But, sir, is the Glen Som estate not a good
two-thirds of all the property— in rental at least^-and
IS it not strictly entailed ? "
Lord Darroch bit his lip and was silent a full minute,
while he controlled his temper. Then he rose, took
his son's arm and stepped to the window.
" Look," he said, and the young man's eyes swept
from verge to verge of bounding horizon. Dark heathy
mountains extended far to the west. Rolling moor-
land, purple and yellow and brown, undulated along
the east in great waves that never broke, and to the
north rose the deep-bosomed green hills of Windy
Standard.
" Two-thirds, you say, and yet all that would be
^J
138
CINDERELLA.
left P Hamperini? debts would be cleared, and. if that
"a|7man.»' '' ^^"' ^^^^ '**^^^ --^« - ^^^^^
wtJif"!^^ led the young man to the other window
which looked down the Loch of Darroch. sTue and
oeneath, nule beyond gleaming mile. White farm
houses nestled upon either side. The fiel«L aCt
were golden and green, and the pastures nearer at
hand were dotted white with sheep, tS Sd no
bigger than gowans, so high towered Darroch Se on
oZpq^^i^J^;^ Wett^^eTotfJ^^
l^^l^^>r<^ ''^ I^nowWe^thlVyTC
nhlf""^ P^"*?^^ ''®"* «1°^^J back and sat down in hig
^hT^'^'' '.^^ ^*^"^ a moment longer at the wfn-
dow before turning and saying quietly, "What wou?d
you have me do, father?" ^' vvnat would
The elder looked up hopefully. He had not heard
his son speak so affectionately for a W time Bfe
congratulated himself on tli success of^hS^^ppeS
jWey.' '"' carefully thought out upon his northTa^d
"I would ask you to join me in breaking the vexa-
tious entail on the Glen Som property," hf said iSk
woX mni?^ your own interests. Indeed the courts
r^ f T 1*1 c^^"^lj see to that. A part of the nricT
^iT^-^^^ ^i""^^ P^^^^ ^^^"I'i be «et aside for yoT-
invested m good securities, that is ' » ^
youn/mlZr n^^^ ""t^^?^ *^' proposal," said tiie
S o?m!^Lnfi, ^'''■'''^'.^°" ^^^« considered the
terms of my mother's marriage settlement?"
+l,if I uT^'^i eyebrows rose a full half-inch with
that haughty lift which is only seen on the face! of
rnted."'" "^^" *^^^ ^^ *^«--l-- une^pSd^y
« I have," he answered, with a quick ugly look, and
■ii.M ft
CINDERELLA.
189
something like a snarl in his tone, " or I should not be
here asking your consent. But how are you so glib
concerning marriage settlements ? ve you beg^im to
read law already ? Who has been . Jking to you, I
should like to know ? *'
" My grandmother showed me a copy of it the Inst
time I was at Dalveen," said Carus, quietly.
My lord muttered a malediction upon her Grace of
Niddisdale between his clenched teeth.
"I thought it was the old harridan who had put
3'ou up to all this. You refuse your conBent, then ? "
" I have not said so," said Carus, still more quietly.
" But you mean to say it 1 Quick, out with it— aye
or no ! None of your dashed philosophical melan-
cholies with me ! I want to know my friends ! "
"I certainly have seen no adequate reason for
giving my consent to what, once done, would be ir-
revocable, and might gravely prejudice not only myself,
but those who may come after me ! "
His lordship rose up in furious auger.
" Then I will do it without you, and in a way you
may like even less. If you do not give me your consent
to this arrangement, and in addition consent to marry a
daughter of my friend. Sir Sylvanus Torphichan-Stir-
ling, I will see to it, sir, that you succeed to a worthless
estate. Not a penny of money, not a farmhouse that
will not need to be rebuilt before a tenant will live in
it, not a stick of wood thicker than my little finger
from one end of the property to the other ! Now you
have heard, sir, and what I say, I will do ! "
" Is Sir Sylvanus the customer you proposed for Glen
Sorn, sir?" said Carus, with the least touch of weary
scorn in his voice.
** And if he is, sir, what is that to you ? Is his money
not as good as any one else's ? " cried my Lord, white
with the very intensity of his passion.
" So you propose to sell your estate to the father and
your heir to the daughter," ^-^ id Carus. "Well, sir, I
will be a party to neither transaction ! "
" You infernal young puppy ! " cried Lord Darroch,
140
CINDERELLA.
the devil your own wav I ^11 h! °^*--'^^3^^ fiTO to
to you! " ^* ^" ^*^® »o °»ore to saj
#>*-
I.
CHAPTER XX.
Her Grace op Niddisdalk.
Carus did go to London, but it was by way of Dalveen.
He found her Grace the Duchess of Niddisdale in her
rose garden. She was a tall powerful frame of a
woman who, though over seventy, still carried herself
like a grenadier, and showed hor age far less than her
perfectly preserved son-in-law.
As WM her custom when in the country, her Grace
was oqujpped with a hat shaped Uke a Chinese um-
Drei » the brim of which came down nearly to her
shoulders. It was, however, tilted well back from her
strong, capable, masculine face. Her dress was of
stout dust-coloured calico, such as no one of the house-
maids of Dalveen Castle would have done their morn-
ing s dusting in. The Duchess's slight but quite
perceptible grey moustache had a top-dressing of red
earth, and m her hands there were the trident and
spud used by gardeners for applying fertilising
materials to the roots of rosebushes and other plante
m need of nourishment. This nutriment was also
present m a bwrow. And a gardener, well accus-
tomed to his mistress's ways, and too well bred to smile
at them, was receiving a practical demonstration as to
his business from the Duchess's own gracious lips
But scarcely had he begun to carry out her instruc-
Hons— indeed, before he had been a minute at work
—the " spud " and "
graip " were snatehed from him.
aa he had expected. An aristocratic heel, concealed
in a huge "tacketty" boot, laced half-way up the
leg, was driving in the prongs of the "graip,"
and a plant was receiving food in the only proper
mmttam
i&mSm
142
CINDEBELLA.
"Helio, Cams, what wind blew you here? I wish
Lr W •*. -^^ "^^ blow from that wheelbarrow to my
myself Did you ever study the theory and applicatiS
of court manures, Cams? Just move the barrow a
yard to leeward, will you? No? Whatever didT you
spend your time on in coUege ? You can go, Thomson
The Master of Darroch will assist me ! Now teU me
SatSgr;-?"'^''^' ""^^"^^^ ^^« *^« ^^^ ^^- ^-
tinn«l'iJTr\^^*^" name that this most unconven-
tional of Duchesses was in the habit of referring to her
son-m-law. ^
JJi^iT^f^ ^''?' grandmother ! » said Carus, offer-
ing to take the spud and graip out of her hands.
. .^°^L "^11^^ ^®' ^'*''®' *^^&% astonished at his
te; i%^^' T^^ i^^^* ^^ acquainted with all the
fn^f /p^?^'^*S^^^*^^* ^^ *^^« to shovel dung
to my satisfaction. Do ye reaUy think, Carus, that what
So with Carus at the '* trams" of the wheelbarrow
and the Duchess feeding the roote of h^ ro^""^
daintily as if they had been sick canary birds th^
tale of Glen Som was told. ^ ' ^®
"What did I tell ye?" cried her Graoi* ««+««« -
hand on her hip in tie attitude of a fishwife l^tfn^
her creels against a railing while she « r^dds " up f
fnend s character over the way. « I think I hear fiim
-your interest '-* safeguards '-' burdens ' ! Truly
«ilu S -1 ^ ^ '''' gumptionless Eve, that he
should beguile me. The burdens he put on himself-
' your interest • forsooth, when all thi^s is Just tTat i^
may get tenthousand to squander on besoms like "_
uf^A xu . 9"^"^ entered into unnecessary detail)
And that for his threats, Carus." (Here the Duchess
snapped her loamy fingers.) « TherJ>s aye ^ mu^'^
^^■iitri I iiii'i I "ii..
CINDBBBLLA.
143
mnfW^oT,^** 7!?}** you advise me to do first, grand-
"Get another fill from John Tamson » said th«
Duchess of Niddisdale, "and when I have done tWs
Ust row ru ^et peace and ease to cast my mind over
*yri T '''** ^''^^^^ teaching the young man to observe
^e^ no'^ZJf/r "* J^ Vo^«e^ but the old Ti;
owned no bndle for her tongue. And to do her
ustice, she would have spoken £> the f uU as f mnWy
in the verv face of my Lord Darroch himself and
moreover, We ^en most grateful for the o^rtunHy:
After she had cleansed her hands and given a
perfunctory dabble to her face at the sto^cSc of a
garden watering-pipe, she called out "^7e je I
napkin Cams ? » Cams instantly plucked one from
She rubb^ her large-featured good-hiSnoured fiS
with It and as she finished off by poUshing W
hands she took up the burden of her^prophecyf
It has been in my mind, Carus, that ye were in
danger of Woming somewhat overcaSfiJ and
prnicketty. But I have hopes of vou v^ fiir ihi.
18 a good stieve linen napkin,^one of ;^i1>' L^'
Mid cambnc that make the young men of the day lit
^olah and Aholibah, thatVinted their eyeS Ind
decked them with ornamente and other applrel !
whaff £[l t^ »P««f Gary's daughter, Cai-us, this is
Z. +»r IT' ^^loo^^-see ! That is neither here
T^^^' T^«y,f '^"ot tie ye to a bed-post and ma^
uddie?" ^'^ * * ^'*^^ y^^s^ ^^'^ ^^^ yo".
father that I would have nothing to 4o witl» ^ther
1-
^1
^' il
I4i
CINDEBBLLA.
entail-brealdng or wife. Am I to go back to my father
with a finger m my mouth ' " j^ w
«ir^^?/SP* did ye?" cried her Grace, indignantly,
un nZ^ ^^"^ J""? telling you, lad, if'ye h^flared
up oftener and higher-as hfgh as Etna and as often
as-your grandmother! Nor do ye need to gang
back with any finger m your mouth. What for need
ye to be beholden to the Old Adam to introduce ye to
the lass? She «)mes of as good blood as yourself on
the * woman' side of the shilling. And when ye are
tiunking of marrying, that is the only one to bJ con-
wiU be worth kissmg by daylight. She was a beauty
m the year '30-1 mean 'SO-and my yery eood friend
I ma^ed poor NiddisdaJe, and sh^e alfent K
laird, but neither of us wa« the better or the worse for
that. Aye good friends we were till the day of her
death, as when we skelpit it oyer the braes barefoot and
bareleg, wild as colts turned out to the hill "
.J'^A^'l^^'' this fashion her Grace of Niddisdale coun-
seUed her grandson with the wisdom of an expert; in
affairs and a woman of the world. Cams had always
been a fayoujite with her, and wheneyer he rode oyer
tT ?T?-^ ""^^^ chestnut, his grandmother used
to look at him and say, "Ye should be clothed in blue
Bilk, my young Assyrian captain ! "
woulT Mk^° y«>^ caU me that, grandmother?" the boy
Then the old lady would sigh a little and answer.
Aye me and the days that were-the days that were
But It shall not be an auld wife's fault if ye be not
clothed in scarlet and other devices-which, being
interpreted, means that ye shall haye the whe^with^
to haye your fling hke every other proper lad. May I
be there to see ! And I shall also Sye vou ad^ce
J^n^tiie best kinds of fling-yery judicious S
« I^^^ ^H' ^?," f "^ ^'""^ ^ °*®' grandmother ? '»
.f^^']?l \ '^® """^l^ ""^P^^' "^^ tJ^a* is a long
■tory. It has been my blessing, or my bane (I kenn^
CINDERELLA. 145
gJUXlrP^ ^°" ^™ ""« «»* •"'"tout aare.
But that mSds me ^i^"" *" "T^ °" t^e scene.
love with another. Are vJ>u ir. iL! n *^* o® "i
with it, lad. I shaU c^^Jr^l ff- 1' ^^^"^ ^ 0«*
vou for if wu • certamlj think none the less of
8hLd?'>- ^^" " ^^^^^^'^ Niddisdale that she
"On my honour, no, grandmother ! "
takes ve. Carno 1 Tir;«^ •<.» , . ® '^^'^ "i® lass
the AuZe »»'"ii't%'"'th:'tetd thtr^'
looJduY'fri'^ifefSa^^Sl'J^ -"'But i, .e'a«
10
.-u
"J*
CHAPTER XXI.
The Four "Woelds op Empress Gate.
TLi^-\^^®Q.-^r*'^®''^;^'*''f 7®^^ ^^ ^der, the
lorphichan-Stirhng girls had enough beauty and
money to be attractive to three-fourths of mankind
enough sense to be tolerable to the other quarter, and
—what was doubtless a chief factor in rendering the
house in Empress Gate an agreeable resort— the tact to
keep their father and mother in the background with-
out appearing to do so.
By almost universal acclamation Ethel was allowed to
be the beauty of the trio. Victoria was a fine handsome
girl of the more dashing sort. But that type had not yet
fuUy come m, along with the decay of lawn-tennis and
the apotheosis of golf. Claudia— well, Claudia sat in
comers, and it was pleasant enough to sit in comers
also-when you could not get Ethel. Indeed, Claudia,
on her own merits, was as yet no more than the
snapper-up of Ethel's unconsidered trifles. But for all
that, the youngest Miss Torphichan-Stirling was the
cleverest of the three by a very great deal.
Devoted to her elder sister as Claudia apparently
was, she secretly aspired to quite another r6le. She
beheved from an early age that knowledge is power
and she had studied under several able instructresses.
She knew how to sting a dull man by a whip cracked
over his vanity, how to astonish a clever one by an
unexpected qmp, generaUy at the expense of another
woman, or how to draw on a reluctant cavalier by a
bold sally. Then she had taught Ethel a code of
f!?**?.!: ?"^ "^^^^^ co™e in or go out, according to
the lift of Ethel's eyelids, or telegraph to her helio-
CINDERELLA. 147
excluding the coteries of tfc servant,- fc,f. /"'
8epa«Lte and independent worlds!!^" betw^i' ^Z
stand the iS-ir^liSro^trest. Sn^ '^"■
tttt^" n^L?^ ""^^^^^
sometimes considerably out ^ *^'°^ *^
take pUce. having" thl ^n"2Sn;,l ^^^^17^
148
CINDEEELLA.
own imd her sister's foreheads with bay— or even with
rtrawberry leaves.
As to the third world, its perfume was tobacco, its
temnle enclosure and court of the Gentiles being the
smoking and bUliaxd rooms (added by Sylvanus against
his prmciples, but with the strongest feeling of their
necessity), and its Holy of Holies a certain nondescript
barracks at the top of the house, full of aU manner of
long-seated cane chairs, pipe-racks, guns, rods, golf-
clubs, dressing-gowns, with a table for Vic to sit on and
swmg ner legs while the men talked horse and race-
course, rod and gun, wine, women, and the music-hall
song of the moment. This comfortable lumber-room
was called, for no particular reason, " Tom's study."
To it a few approved men were sometimes invited to
ascend "after you have got through with Eth." But
the apartment was strictly tabooed, not only to the
majority of « Eth's wild beasts " and " tame cats," but
to the young lady herself, and her aider and abetter,
Claudia. '
"See here, you fellows," Tom would say upon
occasion, "light up and smoke like chimneys, or these
cnmpy girls from the Blue-room will be joming up to
spoil the fun. Light up, Vic, old gal— here's a gold-
tip for you ! " "^
And in five minutes there would arise a white cloud
suffocating like the smoky steam from a score of high-
pressure engines— not the dim blue haze pervading and
fragrant as incense which gathers when men are smok-
ing slowly and with their souls in the evening oblation.
Ihis faked-up pother would not have deceived a man for
a moment— even Vic v aald have detected the impos-
ture. But " bless you," as Tom declared, " Eth and Clau
will never know that we have not been at it for hours."
^en, when, having themselves "got through"
with their visitors in the Blue Drawing-room the two
young iadies of the house (Vic being avowedly one of
the "feUows ') were heard gingerly ascending the
wooden stairs, Tom would wave his arms wildly " to
mix things," as he said, occasionally animadverting, in
-#^-N
CINDERELLA.
140
rSS SlV ?°^oke as if you meant it ! "
thJSSsfSl^fafsSS.r*^^' ^^' ^^«^^« ^-'-
«Cor£,Tdl?rl!^*^^^^' the war, Tom would cry.
"Ugh ! ugh! You horrid wretches, you have an
atmosphere as thick a« black fog. liid^he smeS^
^me Claudia, we shaU be Uke costel^hi a m^ute J
b{%^' T"^ f^."^ *^® ^^'^ of ^ public-house !^> •
«^r^t K*"""^ Sa*^\^^° ^ on their feet.
Look here, Eth— hold on ' "
Didn^t'^wf ' ^^' ®*^'"°^ ' ^«'" «l^"t off stea^!
/inowV" '^ ^"" ^"'" ^«^^& "P •' Awfullj sorry;
JklVe^Su^D^^^^^^^^^ -- ^^-7
"and «JfmVn??if'" *^»*« Claudia would mediate, sadly;
haTe sSye^ l"' *^'°^ *^"^*« °^^' *-o ! I wish we co Jd
in '^vl fourth and last circle of this doubtful Paradise
WM^u«t «mp!i- '°^^^oo°^ »^d the day-nursery, which
was just emerging mto the " children's parlour." This
Sbe G^r nl' ™ *.^u" ^T*^^* «f StanW Lot, ^d
Sor M^s ]V^f„T' -^^ Inquisition and fioly Office of
^mof s«v^Hf ""°^^*^^ ^^^'^^"i^' and the lecture-
room of several tutors and masters during the day— the
a h^d Jfir^.^"! ^ ^"^^ ^^- Cl«^«oe Shimnglaw!
tut^t^M t ^^'^-^^"^■i"? Scot, than whom no lltte;
tutor could have been obtained for such Crim Tartars as
T^r^r ^"^'' "^ *\" ^^"«« «f Torphichan-sS!
ticular'^fffT'?' "T?" ??? ^^^^^ ««* a"<i« for our pa?:
wate^of Aarro^h^ ^"^^^"^ ^'""^ *^« % Pools of ^tbe
Srterof D^H ^""^ '^ r^ *S *^^ s/co'nd that the
m,? mof l^aiToch was welcomed with open arms-if
one may use the phrase of damsels so con-ect ^ th^
twin queens of the Blue Drawing-room
CHAPTER XXII.
The Comfortable Estate of Mateimony.
It was the stillest of mornings at the Manse of Ht. John.
The mjmster had gone down by the water-side to the
walk that IS caUed by his name to all time. The moon
was yet shining quite bri^rhtly when his thick water-
proof boots first swished through the grass. She was
an old moon, in her last quarter, already gravid and
quick wi^ the promise of the new light which was
to come after the days of darkness.
It was too dark for the minister to see his Greek
lestain^t, but the moan of his unspoken prayers
sighed from him as the night winds do through the
willow copses on the Darroch edge.
It was the Fwt-Pay— that is, the day of solemn
preparation for the yearly communion in God*s-House-
of-Saint-John, and the minister had old-fashioned
notions. So he prayed for his people, that they might
be enabled to attend the services of the sanctuary, and
lor stoength and grace strenuously to rebuke them if
tiiey did not. He prayed for Megsy, that she might
have resignation given her to see in the separation horn
her baim the onlaying of a higher hand.
He prayed for the baim herself— Aw hairn— their
baim.
And at that moment the prayer ceased in a little out-
cry--a kind of invincible eruption in Anthony Borrow-
man s breast, half protest of contempt at his own weak-
ness, half involuntary upheaval of his whole nature— as
when over a hidden rock, weed-grown, the green sea-
water which has long been gathering and swaying,
sinks, nses, and breaks in one great pulse of white'ning
CINDERELLA.
151
surge. So mthin him the soul of the minister heaved
swayed, and broke. neaved,
There came a voice from over the wall of the kirk-
^^'fr-^J'''''^^^^'»^ongihe tomba, atartiing enouch
at that hour, and in that quiet place. ^ ^
A Tu * ^?r *^® ^® greeVin*, minister? '»
fort^r- ""*' ^"" *° ™^ "^* ^ "» gwetin'-Btand
.„?V? """.ent the man had forgotten his weakne,.
and th, muuster men to the height of hi, officT '
. It was like being at a session meetin' when thn
minister girds his loins for the reproof of 1^^
necked and rebellions," «ud Anders 5lacQ.»ker lid
sth'Sin"^.""'"'' "' "•" »«»' "- " »-Sen^n
aoa angry bull o' B.ahan-faittrb^ri™^,''* C* ^^
™%rti;i*^? T* ? S^'' «-«-*<»' »ton«"yCtw«n
« is !n"hiL r"^'**' « no canny n«u. to f«i when Z
SF^FS""" " " - Tti^'- ^^d he!
Kip MacKmstrey cryin' in the kye on the back hiU o»
Anoland. But there stood the Minister, wi^he black
lee m his mooth and the licht o' anither warP on }W-
coontenance Faith, boys, but I coul^ f but admL "t
the gemus o' tlie man ! aumire at
"Then sap he, for I could speak no word. * Anders
MacQuaker/ says he, 'what sS ye in the wfn^
place of the sainte before the breaking oTthe day P »^
Noo, lads, ve are decent lads, but maiat n' v«««
experience o' life is vet to c^m« tAou • bSif t . ''^T
teU ye this thing as^ it happened, 'Z^e^'tt'Cj^
iwrmx- />■
152
CINDERELLA.
lauchin , or scornin*, or, by the grave o' Peden the Pro-
phet, though I am auld eneuch to be onv o' jour grand-
faithers, I will tak' the scoflPer to the di)r Ld g!e him
8trength-o'-airm. Noo, be heedin', hida !
« ?£r? *®"®^ *"™ ^^** ^ ^^ in the kirkyaird.
'Minister,' says I, *! seek no man's hurt, neither
the property of ony. I am no resurrectioner, nor vet
wad I move the ancient landmarks and say that any
man s plot o kirk-yaird grund was mine. But there is
a headstone here that I hae an interest in. It marks
the spot where he the forbears of an honest woman,
Margaret Tipperhn, that is housekeeper to yoursel'!
M !3: 1? ^,®I\«^tter, decent man, that was portionerin
Mayfield o Balmaghie, as the stane itsel' records, her
S!i5®' S?** ™r^."* ^ ^ ^«' 1^^^^ her faither's
laither, Tammas Tipperhn, carrier to Carsphaim, and
his bnther John, that was hangit for sheep-stealin'—
but maist unjustly, for John only helped the thief to
drive ^em awa', being prood o' the workin' o' his doff,
and satt by natur'. Ye see his inscription, « Died by &
ITl^T l^^^t^^-" Jot the lads beggit his body
traj Calcraft, and he wa« brocht in here ower the wa'
and buned under cloud o' nicht, as I hae often heard
my faither tell.'
" * Noo, sir,' says I to the minister, *ye ken that of
a lang season, I, Anders MacQuaJcer, hae desired to
put up the banns wi' Margaret TipperUn. But aya,
tor a faut in the past that 1 need not condescend upon
Marpt says me nay. So it is aye some comfort to a
man s heart when he no permitted to care for Mareet
leevin , to gie a bit owerlook at the place where she
will he when she is dead. And I hae bocht the bit o'
grund next to the Tipperlin plot, sir, so that at the
judgment-day her and me will sit up in oor shrouds
thegither, and I wiU juist nod to Marget, and she will
nod back tome, weel pleased-like to see a kenned face
It^l ? *^®- f "^'.^^ ^^ ^« ^ able to hear yin anither
speak for Grawbnel and his trumpet ! '
" Then the minister upraise to rebuke. I wondered
wnen it was coming !
CINDERELLA.
153
wi' a wife?' says I
'sk.
vt that, and says he,
j> bit alee look, for I
" 'Anders,' sayg he, ' that is no a proper mainner to
■^rTL?***^"^' *^® mysteries o' the Last Things ! '
*i. u/i!^ ^^' minister,' says I, for his e'en were kind,
though the anger was on his tongue, ♦ but, as ye ken, J
am an ignorant man and unlearned. Yet noo that your
honour is here, maybe I micht ask ye to say a bit word
to Marget for me— to influence her mind sae that after
a she micht tak' a thocht to marry me. I hae a bit
snug doon-sittin', minister ! "
" 'J^^.?* ??^^ * "'■' ®' y^^ ^e want wi' a wife P *
says he, bnsklike.
"*What doef on^ n.a,h tvan;
back to him, tr tl .* iij; ji Ist a^^ >
"TheminisfcH pi.d i Mt Un::
•I hae never >mw M v)ii, u., ujiv •
had served ir)on m Bo- ;ue. and iiad heard a wee sough
there o a bit liss 'h .y . .ux,^ Jennie Lake, an EngUshy
^rLl^^^^'-F^Q''' ''^"^ '-' «" «*"dent. And the
^rgue folk said she was a consaity handfu', and feU
bonny. At ony rate, she twined young Anton aboot
her hngers like woodbine on a hawthorn bush. And a'
the while the deceitfu' wee fairy was trystit to be max-
ned to anither man. And they said doon there that
Maister Borrowman never could look at ony woman wi'
pleesure again. And sma' wonder !
Ja^'^aH^^^I ^^ ^ ^^°» ' ^ever? '-like that, lads,
and gied him the pawky look, I saw that I had him.
jmst say ^Davert,' but that was the sense o't. « What
lll^^^ "^t *? ^? ^ \^^^ &^<i housekeeper, aiid
1 dmna want to lose her, and gang back to thae
^r ilJ'T'%\'^}'^^ '^^ ^' dishclouts and dusters
athwart the land ! *
" Oh, he's an abnichty queer speaker is the minister
substitute for sweenn' that ony reUgious man ever
invented. Na, na^l'U no sit'stiU^.id h^ ^y
man say that the minister swears. But a' the same.
ulilii ini
154
CINDERELLA.
a savour aboot his conversation as if
■5
g%
¥-2' .i-
whiles there's
he did!
"So says I, 'Minister, the same was in mj thocht.
It s ^mst a notion I hae that I'll no be lang for this
warl , and I wad like Marget to bear my name, and
heir my bit property when I am gane. It's wi' nae
bght and foolish thochts that I speak till ye, minister.
But if Marget wad mairry me, she micht Juist stop on
and keep the Manse as she has been doin'. And I wad
leeve my lane in the wee hoose at the tap o* the brae—
but oh, wi* whatna gladsome heart! For then her
an' me wad sit in the kirk on Sabbath days, no man
^nng to hinder or make us afraid. And we could
sleep soond thegither under yae moniment. I wad feel
it an honour to hae my name amang sic a weel-kenned
stock and on sic a weel-filled stane. It wad read
fine: —
"* Also of Andrew MacQuaker, spouse to the above
Margaret Tipperlin, departed this life in the sure and
certam howp o' a glorious resm-rection,' and so forth.
And I'll admit that it was wi' that thocht in my mind
that I hae gi'en this stane a bit touch up every year
wi' black soap and a flannel rag.'
" I could see that the minister was in a strait betwixt
two, and I had hope that he wad say the word I wanted
him to say. But instead he only looks at me kind o'
curiously.
" * That's a michty cauldrife view to tak' o' the maist
comfortable estate o' matrimony,* says he, * and I canna
expec' a sensible woman like Megsy to agree to ony sic
^t-like thing. But I'll do my best for ye, Anders.
Ill mention the maitter to Margaret at a suitable time.*
" * Thank ye, minister,' says I, *that is as muckle as
I hae ony right to expec' 1 ' "
CHAPTER XXni.
Rkd-Letter Day at the Mansk.
Thi8 was Anders MacQuaker's account of tlie interview
over the kirkyard wall early on the morning of the
simuner Fast-Day in the parish of St. John. The
minister walked awav back to his breakfast, smUinj?
quietly to himself at the peculiar views of Anders upon
TiSffis' ^^ceming the duties and privilegefof
When he reached the gate which leads to the Manse
door, he met the postman just turning out of the
avenue into the dusky, tree-shaded road which leads
towards Darroch Bridge. At sight of him, Mr.
Borrowman quickened his step ccr-iderably without
explaining very definitely to hiim^li why he did so
He found Megsy standing in the doorway turmng over
«K ?!J»'^ her haiid, a letter small and square.
*^l t^^ i'° Hester's quaint characteristic caligAphy
Gr^k "^^^ *"^ ^''^^ manner of writirig
}.hFZ\,'^''^^\''L ^'^^ ^^^^y* J»«^ding him tlie
letter, - It's as weel that ye cam' in when ye did. For
If ye had been a meenite langer, I declare to peace I
wad hae opened it mysel' ! " ^
Mr. Borrowman seated himself dehberately in the
great chair m hie study, and, producing his sijctacles.
entered upon a performance which tried to the utmost
the reasonable soul of Megsy Tipperhn. He breathed
"??"i ^?^*^^ He polished them with a particular
silk handkerchief he carried for the purpose in an
inner pocket. If another handkerchief appSired in its
place It had to be returned, and the proper one found
Iff mi I.
taaMai
156
CINDERELLA.
Then at last the glasses were carefully adjusted, and
from his waistcoat pocket the minister produced the
worn silver blade of an old fruit-knife, a relic of the
days when he pared apples for /ennie Lake on the fair
green shores of Borgue. the sea-washed pearl of
uallowaj parishes.
Finally, with the proper weapon, and holding the
missive at the proper angle, Anthony Borrowman slid
the ^int along the upper edge of the envelope, at the
precise moment when Mount Tipperlin was about to
erupt with destructive force. Then he turned the con-
tents leisurely over, looked well at the signature as if
he suspected forgery, counted the pages, examined the
envelope again, conaparing the postmarks with the date
Oi the letter — ^and (just as Megsy began to mov<; slowly
nearer to snatch the letter from his hand) he cleared
his throat and began. To allow her master to read
Hester's letter over to himself first was a point beyond
Megsy's endurance. He had tried it once, and once
only. For Megsy had snatched the letter out of his
fingers, with the words, •* For a minister o' the Word
ye are the maist provokin' craitur — gfie me the letter,
gin ve dinna want to read it," and so retreated into the
Kitchen, to which, after a conflict with his pride, the
minister was fain to follow her.
After that he drew the line at private readings.
" Dearest old darlings," it began (" How often have
I told the girl that such conjunctions of endearing
terms are superfluous and trivial!" commented the
minister, looking at Meg^y).
"I'm standin' aboot a*^I can frae you, minister!"
said Megsy, wamingly, her fingers twitching. So,
very hastily, in fear of that which might happen, the
reader resumed : " How are you both, and is Bevvy's
rheumatism better ? Mind the something warm before
vou send him to bed. I wish I were there to see that
he takes it. But Megsy will attend to that if I tell
her.
(As she listened, Megsy's face grew rapt and joyous
like that of a worshipper at a shrine.)
m
CINDERBLLA.
167
"I am Fery well here, and liking it better every day
VZ Z"J "l^^^'^^^y kind to me, and I think^wtn
I get U8ed trj being away from home, I shall enjoy some
^he many advantages I have he're. There^^eX
b6«t tutors and meters in London. And uncle C
gven orders that I am to have what lessons I l^e witt
them. The man who teaches dancing is a very funny
httle Frenchma^, and takes a great Seal of ^r^{
me. He often teaches me the whole hour, whUe the
children play, and afterwards, too, if we cJ find^
empty room. That is the pleasantest part of th^ d^
for me. But you can tell Anders, who teught me my
steps m the old barn at Arioland, that if I L wdl ^l
the Frenchman is pleased, it is all owing to him "
1 Jki^ upO ^ ^"^'''' " interjected the minister,
M:,^t^;:;-^f,^''' ^^^ ^-^-^ --ter,- said
i« « J" aI.*"^''' T*''' *^°'^' ^^^ ^"^^i«h «nd languages
IS an Aberdeenshire man ana a good scholar. He Tn
manage the children best of thim all, and he is vSv
strict with me. But he says my Latin ve«UiI Z
The^'safd''"?".^"^^^- "^^'^^ couldnrbLtte^
It, he said yesterday. So my dear old bear on the
MmtrS'^'p chair will be pleased that I am Lw
lum credit. Cousin Tom is nice to me, and means to
be very kind indeed, but I see little^ of anT^n th^
house except the three younger children a^d the ma^!
tere. I have supper with the « Preparation ' governess
Xld^:."'* '' "^^ '^^ ^ *^^^ ^y meals^rt^Te
" Uncle Sylvanus often comes in to see us, and some-
times Aunt. Occaaionally I go to the draCg-rrm
and who do you think was there one eveni^S
?n*nTtv ^V ^* r* ^^^^ ^^« ^^ me, iiough^
don t beheve he would have remembered me. They
«ay he is going to marry Ethel. But oh ! I hope noT
tor she IS ajain, empty, silly, spiteful, dressed-^ Tli;
undl^L LT v'F u.!^^^ "^ ^^^^'^y «f any one
under a roof which shelters me, but I am sure you
158
CINDERELLA.
will forgive me. I do not want any more monej,
dear Bear ; I have nearly all yon sent me at Christmas.
And I have not needed to get any new clotheb. Those
I have are quite good yet. I take great care of them,
you see — much better care than Some-one-who-shall-
be-nameless takes of his Sunday coat.
" I go to church with the children, but the minister
does not preach. He just stands in a comer and
mutters as if he was ashamed of what he was saying.
As, indeed, well he may. He is very young and clever
— so they say — and has just come from Oxford, where
he was a great scholar, which makes it all the greater
shame thet nobody there should have told him not to
mumble. His name is Rupert Challoner."
(** Wliat a peppery little quill we drive ! " said the
minister, smiling.)
"He comes te see Claudia on her *at-home' day," the
letter proceeded, "and one day he came inte tlie school-
room, where we were working, and I was all bent over
the desk (as the dear Bear has often teld me not te).
And Mr. Challoner patted me on the head, and asked
me if I had been confirmed, and if I knew my catechism.
For he has very strict notions about confessing and
early communion and things like that. They call these
religion here.
" * Which catechism ? * I answered as innocently as I
could, looking down as if I were shy. And I don't
think he knew I was so old. For you see it was a warm
day and, not expecting anyone, I had iust tied my hair
with a ribbon and let the ends hang down my back.
" * The Church of Engknd catechism, of course ; * he
said, very much surprised.
" ♦ I have read it,' I told him, ' but I don't call that a
catechism ! '
" Then he gasped just like a dog that had snapped at
a fly and missed it.
" • You are surely not a Dissenter? ' he said.
" * Oh, no,' I answered, * I belong to the Church of
Scotland, and if you came to my country, you would be
the Dissenter if you didn't go there, too.' So aff«r he
CINDERELLA. 159
inrtruct me about chu^^S cate^ul'"'''!'^',' '"''
dear Urea Maior annH m<. <d„ ""• So, please.
Doctor Whyi^s' Ck on ttr^rj"" *^« Cree^' and
Kutlierforf', Lex ^x-andtL?v '^'' Catechism, and
»nd oh. Principal Z^nfJ^^TtllT "^ *?''^ "'•
thing. Iwillread them aU sn^),!?r'^' ""? *'<"•■'-
ready to be instnicted ThL. 1 . ^ "J^ "« «"•«
but f think that™UU;f^'r Mr Chlli'l "Si"'"''
pat me on the head whe^J went aSv Tth^lT*
thought me a lapsed mass • an7nh i T^' . ,*'"°'^ *>«
me if I was a ' ievotee^' ' r „m r' v, '<"»»*' ''« asked
that was. Had it awthin^ tr.i^ ?*^ "",* '"""' "h**
"Then he did not k^now whefheri .' ^T""!?''
not, and went away inT ^l aL '»"g'>mg or
wicked of me. Butitisso^n'l. •ff''''"P' '* "«
lessons all day long ^d i^L''"^' '"."' ?»*"« »'»t
that one has t^do sfi.eTwng T ET^rv ""f """""»•
"^.J^S^?^; I.Will take?uchS'«'^f'fj'r« «»<»
"^ha?i: JiXro Ly^onclt^ -^ni-te"! smiling.
"'S r ? ;rto^"To*^;.jj:iv^ ^-^--^ "" ^ay
-ooklr^AnrMegs"; ^emWari'p^"^"^''"^* ^''-
appUcation '-aSttoe-h^t i " ^"^ ' ' '"'<'"'»'
il^^'v^"'-'^" tVeire^tn?' »^V.it
wSlr'?hef twXed'^rubirir^I', f *» "^""''"l'
white-washed Claehan on ^tiV*^'°"''*P'«»^^^^^
No » Empress Gat HTdePa?k";Tv''™^' "'"' **«" "'
-ng hollow as when one Tpel^luf ff^r--
■■"?'*^^'^*S«HI^B6i^s ^i^
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Wat Not to Fall in Love.
The Master of Darroch took his grandmother's advice,
and went to town, determined at least to see the ladj
whom fate and his father had constituted his alterna-
tive to practical disinheritance. The Duchess presented
him with a neatly-rolled parcel upon his departure,
which she described as a little silver lining for his cloud
of misfortune. Now the Grenadier had tipped Cams
ever since his going to school, and he tooK the little
sheaf of bank notes as readily as he had taken his first
grandmatemal sovereign.
In London and especiallv in Empress Gate it was glar-
ingly white and hot outside. Within the latter it was
Euiel's day, and, as usual, all was cool and dusky and
subdued in the Blue Drawing-room. The fountain
sprayed deliciously in the little built-on conservatory,
and, falling over concealed blocks of ice, diffused a
charming freshness through all the domains of Ethel
and Claudia, the second of the four Empress Gate
worlds.
Cams called somewhat late, walking reluctantly out
of Kensington Gardens, where he had been trying to
keep cool among the leaf shadows, and to retain his
self-respect in the vicinity of a host, of nursemaids, who,
Suite unabashed by his presence, continued to perform
lie duties of their profession with a frankness and zest
quite oriental.
The young man walked across Hyde Park and pre-
sented himself before the blue and silver menial at the
door of Sir Sylvanus Torphichan-Stirling. Carus asked
for Lady Stirling, but the man appeared to take no notice
CINDBRBLLA. ig|
d<«rof rBtae^.„i^!j^«'*«' »' D'-'oh " at the
Ware. .WkWly^a^ .^'^ ??"*' »i?" «^'' ««•
of an imdouSST ^. f^' ^ *''* <»nfldent carriage
STSSf the LtlL ""P"^"™ •"'««««io'»»e« which
h.d tol^n me'°"l'l''* ""?* i " I made certain you
all, andCfncht daW ?•?" ^" ""T *° "« "» a«er
chinriT^ere'':" .^'1 "^.l^^: f "'<^'}''' ••"
;&."^ tat^^-ciLSiMn?, 'i«:.rj
11
162
CINDSBELLA.
other girl in the world. The inginue was not her r6U,
and she knew it. Certainly, in that cool dusky room,
she looked wondrouslj vivid and full of life. She wore
what, to the eye merely masculine, appeared to be a
dress composed of creamy lawn or gauze, over a found-
ation of pale blue, full cuffs of the same were turned
back from her white wrists, and the permanent chill
which abode in her yellowish eyes was unnoticed in a
place into which the outer glare was only permitted to
filter.
Gams was the last man in the world to make a habit
of frequenting afternoon teas, but there is no doubt
that he thoroughly enjoyed tiiis one. It is pleasant
when the prettiest girl in the room, and your hostess to
boot, is moved to snow a marked preference for your
society. It is pleasant to find a sheltered nook, and
talk confidentially of books and men, of distant travel
and the hills of home.
*'It is strange,^ is it not," said Ethel, leaning
towards Carus a little mysteriously, "that we should
be such near neighbours and yet see so little of
each other? I hear my father talk a great deal of
yours. Tet you we have hardly ever seen since you
were a boy."
" I suppose I have been at college and abroad ever
since. And vou, I fancy, have lately been more in town
than at Arioland."
"The new house there has that to answer for,"
smiled Ethel ; " we have been building a new one on
the old site, vou know. I believe that from the towers
you can see Darroch Castle."
" I declare I don't know when I was last on the top
of Darroch," answered Carus, gallantly, " not since I
was a boy looking for jackdaws' nests. But now I shall
have a reason for climbing up there again ! "
" And what is that reason ? " said Ethel, piquantly,
letting her eyes dwell pleasurably upon the handsome
youth.
"Why, to find out whether you are at home, of
course — you mil fly a flag, I suppose 9*^'
i»»
CINDBEELL4.
168
•UU «* hm *» aend u, up a complete cod^» '' ^
the bC S^^* *^* ■"T*"* *•* Heeter came into
dinar brown frrvV i>ri,;..i. -IZ eff",*'®** aown at her
teten'^L?."'^ P'"^"'- ^o-*" '^'^'«-
"Ton are my moat favourite pupil." that <»««•-
m«. ™ «»u.tomed to aay to ffir; ^ou^h^«
k!Lij ' ™ *"° '""' J"" eye«! It is eood tn
comuig m one day at the do« of tfe to.onf g^S
164
CINDEBBLLA.
the graceful perfoimance with seTere disapproral, And
when Hester paused, panting, upon the ball-room floor
where the children received their dancing lessons, the
tutor came close up to her.
" Do YOU think Sir Svlyanus would approve P " Mr.
Shillinglaw inquired, looking at the red of Hester's lips
and the brilliance of her eves.
Hester had danced well, and she knew it. M. Qar-
gilesse was loud in her praise, and at Empress Qate she
got little enough of that. So at that particular moment
she was not going to be snubbed bj Mr. Clarence
Shillinglaw.
"Do you mean to ask Sir Sjrlvanus whether he
approves of my learning dancing or not 9 ** she inquired,
with the slightest saucy curl of the lip.
« No," said the Scot, readily, " that I do not ! "
" Then," said Hester, recklessly, " we will try again,
if you please, M. GargUesse ! "
Yet this was done in all iunocency — with the sole
thought of astonishing Megsy, and perhaps (under seal
of the utmost secrecy) the minister himself, when the
glad day of her return should at last arrive. And now,
though he maintained his attitude of severe and even
censorious disapproval, Mr. Shilinglaw did not go away.
On the contrary, he remained to the end of the lesson.
At which the eyes of the little Frenchman twinkled,
and his shoulders shook.
" Oh, Mees Hestere," he chuckled, as he brushed his
hat carefully on his coat-sleeve and waited for his
pupil, who always helped him on with his overcoat.
" Meester Sheelinglong is in lof — aha, yes — I see it I
He no like me to teach you how to dance, for fear one
day 7r:u dance yourself away from him ! "
'' But, Monsieur Gargilesse," said Hester, who was
rapidlj growing wiser, " I do not know Mr. Shilling-
law at all. You are pleased to talk nonsense,
Monsieur ! "
''Oh, he is quite raight," said the little man, "but
it was so funny. He no like zc dance, and yet he no
can go away ! Pardon an old man if he finds it
'i.-.^-i.
f-^^JJh^'lfr- ,
CINDERELLA.
166
S"d*°*f" ^*" *" °®* °""^ amusant thingi in
*♦♦*♦*
These were EthePs first words when the door of the
Dax ^f*'^*°^"'*^°* ^^^'^^^ "Pon the young Master of
.. mS?''® ^^T ^""If*^!' ?' *^* ali^adj?" said Chiudia,
a httle acidly. She had not obtained an innings her'
•elf , jMid she had much desired to pose for the handsome
newcomer. She had indeed stood talking to Sidney
Charlton for new-ly half-an-hour for that veir purpose.
Yet never once had the misguided young man's ^s
been raised to hers. Ethel had completely monoic
bsed him, and thought that was all right, aid ClauSa
fnew that as yet she had only second choice of the
visitora; stm there were moments when she felt
herself distinctly put upon.
" Cpme^ Claudia— isn^t he awfully handsome ? Don't
you think he has quite an aristocratic profile?"
«W /i,^®'" well enough," said Claudia, carelessly,
^but there are handsomer men to be found every
Zi-^TJ '*'" ''"^. ?*^^^» '^^^ '^as in high spirits;
Lo^^Datro'c" t^' "'"^ '' *'^" " "^^ ^"^^^-'* W
"So you have made up your mind to pick up the
glove ! ^' said her sister, a little spitefully, "fwish
^ou lov, Eth But what will Sidney Charlton sTy?
He looked a« black as thunder, and only hemmed at me
instead of answering, all the time you were talking to
young Darroch on the ottoman." ^
Ethel shrugged her shoulders at the name.
Sidney Charlton can exactly please himself what
^ ?^:. f « " "«*hi"g to ^^ ' '' she said, wi™a
curl of the hp, and the hard look rising to the surface
of her eyes. « Besides, I do not throw myself at ^y
man. I know my value too well for that f "
"Are you sure he is in love with you?" asked
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166
CINDERBLLA.
Claudia, her curiosity beginning to get the better of
her initial annoyance.
"No," said Ethel, with a toss of her head, « even I
could not say so much as that, after a bare hour in a
drawing-room. But he admires me, and I am sure I
can make him in love with me if I like ' "
" And will you like ? "
« That is as may be, miss," said Ethel, emphatic-
ally; "but did you see that little cat, Hester Stirling,
come sneaking in to see what she could spy out. I will
let her hear about that on the deafest side of her head.
What business has she to enter my drawing-room with-
out being invited ? And in that old brown frock, too j
none of the maids would be seen in it."
I' The maids have wages, Eth," said Claudia,
pointedly ; « has Hester had any since she came, do
you know?"
"What should she have wages for? She gets her
food, and the benefits of a good education "
"Mr. Clarence Shillinglaw," cried Claudia, with a
loud laugh ; " oh, Eth, do you know I met him in the
hail to-day. He looked more than ever bare and bleak,
as if he had been squared ofP with a chisel like a block
of stone for the new house, straight from the quarries
at Aberdeen."
"Well, anyway," said Ethel, reverting to her
cousin, " she had no right to come into my drawing-
room when we were receiving. And I will tell mother
as much ! "
* * « * #
On his way eastward to his hotel. Cams Darroch
meditated to himself. "You are young to think of
marrying. Cams, my friend— but, at any rate, she is
not so bad as your fancy painted. On the other hand,
she is distinctly handsome and certainly very kind. A
man might do worse than marry a bright, pretty, com-
panionable girl like that. And, after all, though the
governor and I don't get on, he has brought me up,
and I will oblige him if I can."
In this manner Cams began, a little indolently, to
CINDERELLA.
167
argue himself into a species of love, which is a very
amusing thing so long as it is not tried by the "ex-
pulsive power of a new afeection." A little carefully-
tended picnic fire, fed with casual sticks, is one thing,
and the horizon ablaze with burning heather from
verge to verge, leaping fences and eating up pine
forests, is quite another. o r r
On the whole, however. Cams came away from
Empress Gate very weU satisfied with the impression
produced by his visit. But he ate an excellent dinner
at the United Universities Club, of which he had
recently been elected a member, played a careful
rubber at whist, and never thought again of Ethel
Torphichan-Stirling till he was winding his watch.
"A decidedly handsome girl!" he said, yawning as
he spoke, and then started at the sound of his own
voice. For before him rose all suddenly the vision of
a hot moorland day, a stile, a crrished straw hat, and—
something he had seen beneath the shade of a white
linen sunbonnet.
CHAPTER XXV.
The Wat to Fall in Love.
"I WAS glad to hear it, my boy," said his father,
greeting Carus, heartUy for him; « Sir Sylvanus told me
you were frequently at the house and, as you know,
nothing could please me better. I am lider ver^
special and personal obligations to Torphichan."
Ai.J^ » *"' "!'^^ y^'^ ^^"1<^ ^^^ somebody else to
discharge was the phrase that leaped to the tip of
his son s tongue. But he also was anxious to keep the
peace, so the words remained unspoken.
^ifZ^!\^^ ^""f ^^ ""^^ ^^^® together in town. They
did not belong to the same clubs. Their only commoS
meeting-ground was the pavement, where, when they
encountered they stopped with forced smiles and
gingerly politeness, more Uke dogs smelling each other
m the armed neutraUty of mutual distrust, than Kke a
father and his only son.
««/^^T**°'5^T??^ and dine with me to-night, my boy,"
said Lord Dairoch, with a sham heartiness which £t
111 on him and deceived no one-not even himself.
U-~^ I can*t, sir," said Cams, smihng-" the fact
of roses which he was carrying as unobtrusively as
^ssible in a paper twist-a si^ that Carus hS^nS
far to go. For, hke aU men, he hated to carry any-
thing on the street. ^ ^
hi!! th ^""^ ^u^ ' ".'^'^ ^'^ ^«'*^«'' for the first time in
'^l^2\P'^''^'^S i^im conGdeniiBJly on the arm, "get
K«7«7S •^''''' P^ y^^^^ ™«°«^- I «8«<i *o do the same
tona ot thing, but you have a more considerate parent
CINDERELLA.
169
S?? I \ 1°' "^7- ^^*^®' ^°^^<^ have made me dine
mth him whether I U^ed it or not. But I never l^Ueve
in being too hard on the young."
But, alas, the visit turned out quite otherwise!
&J?r* ^'^/^ ^^^"« atEmpressGate. InS
he accepted an informal invitation from Tom, whom he
lT^.rV:t the stairs, to go up to his rcims S^r
he had got through with Eth and Claudia in the mZ
JJrawing-room.
.hP"!! ^^^t^ ^""'^^^ resented when he declared it. and
she strove by every means in her power to detain him
even to the extent of bidding TimsoS say « Not at W^
to the other young men who called later, and ffettinff
the room cleared of the tea-tables at an early hom-.^S
when aU was ready, she raised her eyeUds men^li
to Claudia who however, being a Uttle cross aHhaJ
8he considered her sister's selfishness, did not imme-
thStlTJ""?; Cams showed signs of moving Z?^
« ^^ %'^A? simphcity of method which made her
a power, asked him if he had seen the new Fig M^I
gold m the conservatory. Cams replied that he had
not, whereupon she rose and led the way, turning at the
sametimea fierce frown upon Claudia when shSgM
s^ifi^^^f ^'^''^*'''•. ^"* *^^ 3^«"^& °»«^ caught ^e
sigmfica^t gesture, and, naturally enough interpreting
It to mean that he had stayed too long, he prompt^f
d scovered an engagement, and took his departo^Sf
disconcertmg suddenness.
At once Ethel developed an astonishing frigidity. A
sTJSL ""^ discontent fairly Arctic in ite severity d^
hHi^^T ^^"^ countenance, and instead of sh^g
iT^r \^JT ^^" ^^«*^°^' «h« bowed the aston?
mtmder. He had begun to be sufficiently familiar at
TnTnow W ^iT' ^S ^* ^^^ umb^eUa^tSout
dSsk o7 ,^«*°^*l.^«elf searching for them in the
maze If^f^ <'^i^ed hall, in a kind of wondering
^1 mean ? °'*^'' °* ^"^^^ ^^* ^^** ^"^^ th?
Then aU at once he remembered his promise to Tom.
;t
170
CINDERELLA.
After his declaration to Ethel about the pressing en-
|agement, he certeinly could not go up to his rooms.
Yet Tom might be waiting in for him. So he tore a
leaf from his notebook and scribbled a line or two upon
It, resting the scrap of paper on the edge of the iron
calorifer by the wall.
Cams looked for some one to cany the note upstairs.
No servant seemed to be about. It was dusk, and that
ambiguous hour on the confines of dinner when the
service of hotels and great houses becomes, if not dis-
organised, at least temporarily invisible.
Suddenly and silently a door behind him opened,
and Cams saw a girl's figure pass across the haU in the
direction of the great staircase. A taUish sUm shape it
was, clad m bla<jk. The girl's head was turned away
trom him. He could see no more than the curve of a
cheek and that graceful poise of neck, which comes
naturally to women who dance well.
Something seemed to tell Caru3 that this was his
opportunity. He was afraid ot Ethel coming down-
staare and finding him stiU Ungering there. He did
not want to break his word to Tom, though probe blv
that young gentleman would not have been greatly
concerned if he had. He knew that this girl coidd not
be one of the family. As certainly she was not a
'^*'-i?'V.^®n.c^*5 it-Miss Martin the invaluable in^
visible Miss Martin, of whom Mrs. Torphichan-Stirling
had many times spoken to him, even unto boredom!
AU this want rapidly through his mind as the girl
passed across the hall and set foot on the staiioase
^ «I beg your pardon— Miss Martin," said Carus,
hesitatmg a moment over the name, " but I am anxious
tiiat Mr. Tom should get this note at once. I cannot
tod any of the servants. Would you be good enough—
you are going up— if I might ask ?— Thank you ! '*
The gu-1 had stopped on the lowest step, one hand
on the balusters looking back and downwards at
nim. The head and features were profiler against the
dim nchness of the painted staircase window which
encircled them with a kind of halo Hke that which
I
THEN HE SPOKE AGAIN.
'THANK YOU, MloU MARTIN.'"
LPagt 171.
CINDERELLA. 171
enshrines a saint. She held out her hand for the note
without speaking, bowed sUghtly, and moved awav
upstairs with a certain free wilfulness of carriage whicf
IXf A^f"' particularly attractive, through U
appeared to him curiouslv out of keeping will the
character of the immaculate nursery governess a!
revea ed him by Mrs. Tornhichan-S^rli^gf "^ ''' ^
But after all, that was not the strangest thing. It
was the impression upon his mind that he had seen the
girl somewhere before. She had reached the turn of
the staircase while he still stood at the foot with his
hat m his hand. Then he spoke again. « ThaSk vo^
&th:^';^'r'• ^^dinthfduskofthTem^;
hall the somid of his own voice came back to Caks
Darroch with a certain mocking flavour. At the s^e
moment the antique eight^ay%lock half way up the
staircase struck with a whirr and tingle like sudden
mpish laughter And at the sound Cams fled. Was
^}tlf^^ f *^r.^¥"' ^^ ^*^«1 Torphicha^ as^he
walked away from the door ?
«n5""-?J'^^' ^"^ •' ?^ ^*' recalling the graceful figure
and wild-wood carriage ef the unknow^ maid as^e
parsed up the staircase. How strange it was that Tom
?rSir'^^^''5 ^«^"*^' and often almost too
fraiikly oratory about it, should never have mentioned
L^tterT^"'' '"'• ^"* ^^^^' ^^^' ^^^' ^^^* <iidlt
AU the same, the young man was sure that he had
where '""I^/^J^^" *^^* Y""''^ ^' "^^^^ °«* ^°^embe?
wnere. And the momentary touch of the girl's hand
recall S^-^^f^l^*™^*^^'^ ^^^^^^ j5m with a
IriSl W' ^^® f cast-baxjk into some previous
existence of unknown happiness. Then her carriage-
ftfw^ 1 '^^5 sof ething Uke it once, when a stertled
W clewed a low wall, stood one moment wildly S
gaze looking Wk at him, and then bounded awav up
the slope. So tills giri had va^shed out of his si^ht?
his mini ''"?.*^® ^^M '^^ M* ^^^^ ^^^ ra^ed in
wl rS • A^^ ^^ * ^a^^ed arrow in his breast.
He had not been able to see tiie girPs e^. ^y
172
CINDEBSLLA.
I;
were lost m th, darkness of her face, which she had
obstmatelj kept in shadow. He had only a general
feehng that they were large and dark and luminous—
in fact ,like those of the startled fawn. They seemed
to reproach him— yet for what? Cams felt himself
singularly free from aU reproach. Ethel Torphichan
—why should he not marry her? Did it really make
any diflFerence whether she had money or not, or if his
father and her father wished this marriage as a
business arrangement ? That was neither his fault nor
hers. Besides, anything romantic was absurd. Every
one did it nowadays. He owed it to his family. Every
other fellow similarly situated had to do it, and why
not he ? Besides, Ethel was a very pretty girl, and—
what if he did not love her? Love was a figment of
the poets. He had often laughed at it with other
Cng men. He liked well enough to read about it in
ks— but, after all, it had no place in practical life,
when you brought things down to a fine point.
Nevertheless, Oarus looked back several times at the
gloomy house in Empress Gate as he walked away.
And he was not thinking at all about Ethel Torphichan,
as h-r his own showing he ought to have been.
Insteaa, he was carrying away a little aching place
nearly opposite the third stud in his shirt-front, which
had no business to be there. It was all too absurd.
But it was also undeniable.
As he looked back momentarily he saw someone in
huge and hatless haste dash across the road after him.
"Hallo, Darroch!" the voice was Tom*s. He
stopped in wonderment, and the reckless scion of the
house of Torphichan-Stirling dashed up to him with the
clatter of a fire-engine.
"You are a nice fellow, sneaking off like this— when
I was waiting for you more than an hour. And sending
up that rot about an engagement, as if it had been a
dinner of the old fogey philanthropists you were
gettmg out of. Look here, Darroch, are you doing
anything to-night ? No— then Vic wants you— I mean
I want you. She and I have a ploy on hand. We
CINDERELLA.
178
generally run in double harness, vou know. What An
K?" nwi:.l m^^f ^Y« 4^ going'sorewher:
an^Pio A- ^^^ V**^® **'^*- T^® «>^her two, Ethel
ajd Clau^a, are going out later, and wiU be having a
snack in their own rooms as thejr tittivate. "'he Powers-
that-be are away laying the foundation-sto -3 of some-
thing or other, llie governor has got a hodful S
silver trowels already. You'll come, eh? Good--.
SitiX^fc^^;*^^^'^' ^ ^-^ S^-t> you
A thought occurred to Cams.
" Who was it gave you the note I addressed to you ? »
But Tom was ah-eady down the street. He paused
however, at the sound of the Master's voice.
Eh, what's that? Certainly not— don't dress—
never do at aU I must hook it, V I'U g^t a tas%
cold m my head. See you at eight ! '» •^•■wy
hJ^^ '^?'? ™ ifo°l; Ca'"8 Darroch walked slowly
s^te nf^hf m^ '""^^^ ^"/ '^^S occasionaUy iJ
spite of the httle pam under his third stud. It was
Conscience pressing a button which rang a little irritant
^rmrm. in his heart like an electric beUout8idron?8
bedroom-door at an Embankment hotel. Canis
remembered inventing a certain little clip, a circle wiS
a watch-spring in the middle which, bek.^ pCd over
a bedroom electric button, caused it to riL till X
waiter came The thing in his breast was Uke that!
But he would find out more from Tom that night
v! J*'?^,^^ pleasant enough. Vic was certainly a
very handsome girl-dashing, excellent form, and a
good sort. Why should he not go ? Ethel might b^
angry but, after aU, that might prove eve/ more
interesting Miss Torphichan-Stirling didnot coSuU
^.f^.^ovrshe should spend her evinings. And-he
-rould find out about Miss Martin.
Then a sudden thought crossed him. Whv had
lem been so anxious to forward Vic's plans ? The
ad^ about "two being company" and itf annex were
certainly firmly held by Turn. Could it be that he
had been keeping dark~and that Miss Martin would
174
CINDEBELLA..
alBO be of the party ? What a simpleton he had been I
Of course that was it f They could not go without
Vic. They must have somebody to amuse the goose-
benr. He was young and innocent, and Vic easy
minded. Hence this sudden burst of friendliness on
Tom's part. Well, he would go— (savagely) and if it
should turn out to be as he thought
He did not fill in the hiatus.
And it never struck Carus that, being supposed to be
the property of Ethel in the Empress Gate house, all
this was emphatically none of his business.
.. mi:,-ai v»^;^
^■J-i.^-^ .^,.-.^^...^.~l^ -.r--_^^_
CHAPTER XXVI.
Hester has an Audience.
The prtj came oflf dulj, but Caxus had jmessed
The bond that was between them was of 4rsZnS
possible to brother and sister. They weretiie^sf of
good fnends, a^d Tom used to say^that he wo^d do
ever which he did not state so frequently 5f late mL
had been in the habit of doing. ^ " ^®
It is difficult to say whether Carus waa more din-
appointed or relieved. But Vic had certJSt ZmJt
^mpkin of in the attention of either of her^vE^
Yet she Old not flirt with Caiiis. Vic aptSi^ to
lum more like a handsome younger brolS"^om
^e yomig men were taking about to^ for the &4t^^
than a girl of exceUent parentage ajid upbSTgW d^'
an unusual thing. She was gayLd brigK?Tom hS5
much pnde m her appearanci. Only once was a^oM
said which gave Carus the least oj^^g to aL S«
?Z^wvT' l^^.^T^ They were^ateSiTg r^'
^m which activity had emphaticaUy banishli ^e
peop^lr^i^Cs^r '"^^ "'^ ""^^ ^"^ ^" --<^ *^-
« Shut up Vic ! » he said, quickly. « You know she
Tu ifn'tlL'r ^ ^'^ *" '"^^* ^y one wTbot
-i^y^s'iCinT^'" '^^^-^^'^^ ««^'17J "is it
Ssi""
176
CmDERBLLA.
Tom took one look at him, choked instantly, and even
Vic laughed merrily into her handkerchief.
"Yes — yes," said Tom, when he could command
himself, «* of course it is Miss Martin — Ha-ha, yes, of
course! I say, Vic, no wonder Darroch has been so
much at our house lately. He's been sneaking round
to get a chance to mash Miss Martin in the school-
room!"
******
But fate was kinder, or (as the case might be) more
cruel, to Cams than his friends Tom and Vic.
On his return to his hotel that night there lay a
largo square letter upon the table of the sitting-room.
The size of the missive and the huge angular hand-
writing, like a paper of pins or rather a battalion of
trees laid over by a storm, betrayed her Grace of
Niddisdale.
" Grandmother always writes as if she had a spite at
the pens and paper ! " said Carus, smiling as he took
the massive British square of envelope in his hand. In
one place the pen had cut right through the sheet, and
in another there was a perfect inky bombshell where
the hard-driven nib had exploded with great slaughter.
"Carus," her ladyship began, as usual, without
address or ceremony, " I am coming up to town. The
garden is at a standstill, and I defy even a scientific
Scotch gardener to make any mistakes for the next
two months. So I will run up and see whether or
not you are behaving yourself, and if you have taken
my advice— about, you know what! I daresay you
walk every day in the park with the Old Adam. Ugh,
the wretch ! Asking your pardon, Carus, I couldn't help
your being his son. I can see how he looks about him
as if every woman were an aboriginal Eve. But I will
teach you something better when I arrive. You shall
squire me to the park and see your grandmother cut your
father dead. That will be a new sensation for a son,
and should be valuable to an amateur in impressions like
yourself !
** How about the divinity of Empress Grate ? Have
■.mt''''iinrm 3mm.
■.< M .. i .> ^ i.hw». t ', a ^
CINDERELLA. 177
Civ W»?"*^ *if '"' ^i^*^ ^«^d it a pleasure ? I
near sue 18 both a pretty and a presentehlp m^i t x
see her. Call on me to mnr,.^«F • ^« • ■'^ °*^*
Ho.e about Z^ tTPF .7^^^^lt::^^l
phichanhSfsehddforhLeS-?""' *" W™ise ihe Tor-
g-ce, but that the old My'^lL^V^ZiTZ
to'mt'^i^S'.''^*'^' "I "- *»^e these up
untltf 14^. <"• ••'» ™y. « Wing hi, friend's loud
lovl^^n- ?™r ii* """^"f? »" » '"^. " With
»weethe£n^ ^'™' *" "^ °1''«»* ""d only
"™no°"jI™!/?' »';J^"«'-. »ir?" said the man.
eteTen to attend her gSSi" """"*» '"^ »»
178
OINDEBELLA.
" Thank you, sir ! " said James the formal.
Punctually at eleven Cams stepped out of the
hansom at his grandmother's door. The old lady was
not yet down, so Cams was shown up to her boudoir.
Here he waited, looking over some of the full-
flavoured French novels which lay about on tables
and couches, mixed with Dean Hole " On Eoses '* and
copies of The Gardener's Chronicle, Presently he
heard the voice of her Grace of Niddisdale, as the
stage directions say, ** without."
"If I don't box that silly boy's ears — wasting his
money, and most likely my money, on flowers for an
old woman as blind as a bat, with a nose that is good
for nothing except poking into other people's affairs.
Wait till I catch him ! "
The door opened and his grandmother entered, scold-
ing all the time at the top of her voice.
** Ah, you rascal " — she stopped at the threshold and
threatened Carus with her bony forefinger — "you
thought to catch an old bird with chaff, did you ? I
know very well what to think when young men spend
good red gfuineas on flowers for their grandmothers —
they think they are casting bread upon the waters.
You want something, you vagabond. Come, give me a
kiss, and let me pull your ears, then you can tell me
what it is. Have you spent all I gave you already ?
And now you want more ? What, it's not that ! Then
you can tell me what it is. Been making a fool of
yourself and want me to help you out ? Well, I'll do
my best. The only thing I bar is having to be civil to
—the old "
"No, no, granny," said Cams, laughing; "indeed,
I don't want anything in the world, except to have a
good long talk with you. You are better worth talking
to than any chit of them all — ^you know I always have
thought so."
"Don't perjure yourself overmuch, boy," said her
Grace, highly pleased; " remember the Becording Angel
is not talang a holiday, if you are ! Now tell me, how
goes the love affair ? Tell me all about her, and no
CINDERELLA. j^g
S, 'SZ'^rH:^^!:^ ""'' ^P'"- -*^ - false
head ! » ^"^ iialf-a^ozen practicable teeth in her
soo^^r^t'mig^lt*;'^^^^^^^^ ^r '-^-^y-four hours
Carua to answer But nnw'^ ^^^^''^ ^^^ embarra^s^
^"Itis true/g;andmotheT tLr^rT^^^^^^^^^^^
Empress Gat^/butTat fs wi,v iSn^ .^'^^ «^*^^ ^t
]ng; ';it is a pleasant house and /b« 5 ^^ '^^^' «°^1-
m their waj. I like Tom and_»' ^''^ ^^« ^U pretty
^euXnnZ'iV^l tZt:''' ^ mother-in-law!
your father and falC nW Zh th.^"- \r^ P^«^«^<i
"I have not fallen in love inTh. i ."^^* ^^^^^ "
said Carus, " neither to pleLe*tfi?ff** ^^^^
please him. I like Miss CphiZn ^ff.l "^' ^"* ^ ^"
and she .s most agreeable t^mrr"?^"^ ^^""^ ^'^ch,
more of her than !f anrof Cithers "' ''''^''^^ ^^«"
the Ia4Tr::if%tT*v:r"^^^^^^^^^^ ?' P-^s
you are a veiy proper younrman of v^"' • ^T^' **^at
you have a goodly nu^ergfS^^^^ mches-and
-y one eCtS ''' ^-^^-o*^- ; I don't care what
her te^h.^^^?^^^^^^^ old W shaking
lent title, better than half «.S? ^° ^""^ ^^ve an excel-
and political ma^quiLte f"'w^^^^ earldoms
disdale's ! A good in^t r« ^' * '^ ^'^'^^r than Nid-
Carus ! » ^ "* "'^''^ mammas would jump at jou
pulm^IS^u^'ittTJ^^^^^^ 'Tattersall's if I
' For sale, the oi?/son of a s^^^^ Something Uke this,
Pedipee guaiunLd no viSf 1^^' ^J^ ^^^^««»
single or double, ani kdv^nfv ^ •''K''. *^ harness.
Bound in wind and li^b i ' ^ ffi w"n'l/?^' ^^rr^nt^
grandmamma ? » ^* ^0'^<i draw 'em, eh
t-ct w,«. the ^ond^tttir^a^^-
'd
180
cinder|:lla.
see tho Bettlementa. Remember that your father has
only his debts to settle on you. So if the pair of you
want to have anything to live on, you had better make
sure of it before marriage ! "
" What a mercenary old lady ! " said Cai-us, smiling
fondly at her. " It is a pity that it says on the flyleaf
of the Prayer-book that a man may not marry his
grandmother. If it hadn't been for that I'd have
married you, certain sure, grandmother, and never
looked at any contracts."
Her Grace tweaked her favourite's ear, and when
Cams pretended to wince, she said, " I told you what
would happen the next time. But to be serious, I must
this Torphichan household. I declare the sooner
see
will ^
(Jome
QO with you
for me
back
■•o."
this afternoon and call
at five if you have
the better,
on the girls
nothing better tr
"I could ha\ -othing half so good to do," said
Cams, gladly. He really loved the outspoken and
eccentric old lady. She had been the only friend and
confidante of his youth, his loyal and silent helper out
of many a schoolboy scrape, the benevolent fairy who
supplemented his meagre allowance at college, so that
he could boat and belong to those clubs and associa-
tions which make all the difference between being of a
good college and at it.
So promptly at five Cams was again at Scotstarvit
House. His grandmother sat ready for him and the
carriage was in waiting. Cams, who b ' >d four wheels,
would have preferred a hansom, but v. i first sugges-
tion my lady of Niddisdale flared up.
" Do you think," she cried, as she ensconced hei*self
comfortably, " that I am going to trust my old bones to
one of those gimcrack, two-story, one-shaving-thick,
standing-on-end things, that the bottom may drop out
of any minute and strew you all along the street like
spilt straw out of a waggon ? Besides, Cams, your new
diamond-and-pills baronet won't object to the Niddis-
dale colours being seen opposite his door ! I know
these creatures ! "
CIKDERULLA.
I8l
Timson it was who opened the door. Beinff a man
^ many services he knew the Niddisdale liveries ^nd
™ well acquainted with the person of her GW He
wa^, however, somewhat flustered by her kd^shin's
quick imperious address. He started^hastily to sW
Carus and his grandmother upstairs. ^
X^ow, my good man," cried the ladv, "not so fa<.t
your latter end when you go upstairs quickly ! »
So It came about that the party mounted very slowly
and Timson, anions that the best apartment in tife
^eTpt^H ^ ''■''^' ^^^\^ ^««*' andLing a lightly
the great drawing-room, threw open the door and fLn
qmckly catching sight of what was goi^^^^^^^
o^r end, he would even more quicker' hfve closed tt
But her imperious Grace of Niddisdale put him aside
Inle Tt nT "^^tioning him to be silent. Under a
hX A **" ^^"^P"' ^^^^'^ «^ed a lustre down utK)n
her head, a young giri was dancing alone on tiie ffi
W«^ f T- 1^.^"^^ ^^^^' ^°<i screened by^e
Stopped aa if their owner longed to join so fair a partner
2l^T'T''''' '^^r^^ ^^ ^^« breast nuzffihe
^^h^fu^l I^""!? °'"''.' *^" ^^^ ^^««d- -Daintily jVt
witn tull abandon and verve she danced with nil XL
mno^nt delight of perfect physiqT anlfdm^Lw
touining. It seemed a kind of unconscious reioicinff in
^tfrTnl ^'^*^' ^l* *^^^^ ™ something con^S^sS
iSL P"'" ^^S''* *^^ performance, and in Xhe
lightning pauses and poses, through all the mysteries
so NaS ^^PP^?^^^« ^^, a giad and pure thing. Even
so Nausicaa's maidens danced on the beach unseen of
SurthC^-^' ^^' ^r^^ ^^ *^^ ^^^^^^ Sea broke
bached "" "^^"^ ^''' ^^"*" *^*" *be feet they
bre^athed n^X^^ /T-. ^"^ ^'^^'' ^^oulder. He
W viofp^r ^^1^ 'tl^ ^ be watched, and his heart
beat violently. The Fates had been kind indeed. ThS
182
cindeeella;
was the girl he had seen on the stairs in the dusk.
Fresentlj, with a quick flourish of flying bow, and a
twinkle of dainty shoon, the lesson was over.
"Brava! " cried the Uttle Frenchmaji, gaUantly, and
taking his fiddle and bow both in one hand, he dropped
a little stiffly but still cavalierly on one knee, " I make
you my most sincere compleements. Mademoiselle. I
can teach you no more. Permit me to kiss your hand.
It IS pairfect— magnifique ! "
"Brava! Brava indeed!" chimed in her ladyship
from the dark of the door where the visitors had stood
concealed. She came forward as she spoke, holding
out her hand. ^
" I did not think there was an amateur in London
who had so much spirit and grace— why, you are a
beauty, my dear, or will be very soon. Is this vour
Miss Ethel, sirrah?" ^
She turned upon Carus, who stood dumb for a
moment without finding any answer. "No, grand-
mother," he managed to stammer at last, " it is Miss
Martin — the governess, I believe ! "
« The governess ! " cried her Grace, " ah, you rascal !
lou dog ! But all the same she is a charming girl "
Meanwhile, the old Frer hman had been making
obeisance after obeisance. He also knew the Duchess
ot JNJiddisdale by sight, having in days long past taught
the present Duke his steps with exceedingly incomplete
success.
" I craif your Grace's pardon," hb s-id, "but this so
telented young lady is not Mees Martin, but Mees
Hestaire Stirling, zee cozin of zee young ladies of this
house ! "
« What, my dear," cried the impulsive old lady, " are
you Isobel Stirling's daughter ? "
"I am her granddaughter," said Hester, quietly.
"But bless me, bless me, what are you doing here?"
she continued, looking at her flushed cheek and the
httle foot which continued to show agitation by tappinff
qmckly on the floor. j trtr e
*'Lady Torphichan-Stirling is my aunt, madam,*
it
CINDEKELLA.
183
my guardian. Until not very long ago I was hmyn^hl
up by some kind people in S^tland. ^ButTLve S^n
^me°'^'^ T^r ^^r ''r-'^y "^'^^ sent for me to
Svanta'^e."' ^'^ *^^ ^^* '"^«^-- ^^ - ^ ^eat
cZ^'^^u^ ^^^^ ""^f ^®®° y^" before," interposed
Cams ; "you cannot be the Ut^le Hester StirHna f usS
to see with the minister of St. John's Parish How
you have ^own! ^And where have you hSdenyoi^ell
««/^ ^„*™, mostly in the schoolroom with the children »
-at fd^t^ce^^^' "'"* ' ^^^« «^^^ ^- — ^ «-s
8ee"^^afr;r "f^ f^% ^^^^^ "jo^^^st come and
SsMps w!ii ^?® J!;^t ?y ^^'^ &<^«d friend.^ And
he^^t^'* '^''^'''^ ""^ '^^ "^ ^^'^ ^^* only Cams
%t^-, '
CHAPTER XXVIl.
Vic Gets Even.
"I BEo your Grace's pardon," put in Timson, at la«t
fin^g his opportunity, "but the young ladies are
waitang your pleasure in the Blue Drawing-room ! "
"Come along with me, my dear," said the Duchess,
putting her hand on the girl's shoulder; "I want to
talk more to you ! "
"I think tiiey would not like it if I came up," said
Hester; "aiid oh, please don't say that you have seen
me dancing ! "
Hester was now crimson from brow to neck
" Very weU, Uttle one," said the Duchess, 'amiably ;
I am no teU-tale ; go ofE and make yourself look Uke
a school-miss agam, and then I will get them to send for
you«
Hester went ofB so quickly that she seemed simply
wSlV T^ **'^ ''^T^'^ ^""'^^ *^^ °^i««l««« were £er
motions. Then sc nething rustled in the hand of the
"And don't you say anything of this either!" he
whispered to Timson.
«No,sii--thankyou, sir!" said Timson, the weU-
trained, a* something crisp crackled in his palm.
MasSr'of ^I^r^oc^^" """'"^ ""' ""''''^'^'^ -^ *^«
Ethel was sitting by the tea-table, and she rose in-
voluntarily at the names. Claudia had assumed her
best pose by the mantel-piece. Vic was sitting, the
^ge of sullen despair, on the ottoman, her chin sunk
on her hands. She had been haled down at the first
CINDBRELLA.
185
sJktn'hS'ri/T'" Tl**^^ ^"°^«««' after she had
S of ann/ /""""l' ^"*J"« «^* *^«^°' a»d give me
W for^ n?/ ^"""^ ^^' ^^'^ '^^' «^« somewhat
on/nf ^r ^ """l?^", ^^ °^®- I ca»i ^alk with cuiy
xor me. ijet me look at you vea vph vmt a^ -ii
^ree pretty girls as pre^ ^s'^^'^ylZy^rig^t
™«^:i • """' ""^ i^^'^ "^^d *^" t=^U young lady by the
mantelpiece are Torphichans, I must suppose You
grandmother s people on the Stirlinff side But vi^
Instantly Vic forgot her sulks at beiu? haled into
^'sC w' -.* ^-rrJ- ^'"' '-niled a^nd iTdotog
testt" well-formed mouth and fine white
ViT/gmtefully"'*'' •"" ^ •'°"'* '^^"P " "P >»»&" "i-l
ij",^?" '^''"^* "*"* *« «>me down, eh ! " ffueaaed th.
to b^l^'m^id'^^'' "you thoughtth'afl woSd t^n ^t
to oe a meddlesome old frump ' "
^«r ^^"'^^^ng like it," quoth downright Vic ; « besides
smelf^l^n? ^1? ^^*^««^e Tom-or Toms-you
or«,!Sf ^ • "T^^""^ ^^*''" ««^<i tli« Duchess.
Uaudia signalled furiously to Ethel. "Did I not
tell you she would disgrace us ? *'
ofy^fsm^^''"''""'^ ^^' ^^^^^- "*«" -^--^ieh
"/am," said that young lady, with a slieht blush
It was evident now who^Carus Darroch had been
talking about to his distinguished relative ThP
?av:';?she^^-!\^\**^^ ^sap^n^ed, as t she co^d
^vU/wv '* ^^^ ^^®" ^i*'- But She turned to the
ner about the baU she intended to give in honour of
186
CINDERELLA.
w
Lo^rd ffiTrd^ ^^^ °^ Niddisdale'a eldest son, young
It was pretty enough (and Carus would have thought
so It his heart had not been elsewhere) to watch the
interest kindle on the girls' faces at the mere mention
of a baU. Ethel looked at Darroch to see if he were
elated, but he was somewhat moodily pulling his
moustache. It struck her that he was disgusted with
tHem all on account of Vic's forwardness.
" You know, poor dear Niddisdale's wife died young,
and he never married again, so we all want Kipford
not be too long in throwing the glove. I for one shaU
not be sorry to see him settled. A voung man is
a^mys best married early to a good girl, when he can
attord It. And when your turn comes, don't you say
mm nay if he s a good man, my dear ! " continued the
Uuchess, touching Ethel's pretty chin.
"My father and mother will be soriy not to have
been at home when you caUed," said Ethel, certain
tnat she was not acquitting herself well, but not
imowing what to talk about. She was never at a loss
with men, but with such a very unconventional
aristocrat as the old Duchess of Niddisdale, it was not
so simple.
"Oh, don't trouble about that,'* said the easy
JJuchess, « I will come again soon. I want a subscrip-
taon for my Children's Hospital. That's the way we
fleece one another, you know. Has your father been
buying another estate ? I hear he is possessing himself
ot all the countryside. He had better have stuck to
His diamonds. Clods don't pay nowadays, except in
cemeteries!'* ^ ^
Then she looked round the room as if missine
something. °
"But where is my Kttle Hester? I hear that you
Have her stowed away somewhere ! She is an old friend
ot mme. In fact, I beUeve I am her godmother, as
well as her father's " (the Duchess had an imagination).
1 want to see her. Will you let Carus ring and send
tor her ?
CINDERELLA. jg?
ES':nrcU;"'te~S:/i'53f - «- face, of
Grace, I am afreid HMteTi. 4 ' **«?"' " ^<""
not hiow o" jo^ c^ W »»ot prepared. She did
remains mo^tl/rthTe'cf ildren". "' "'' '"'"'«• '"«'
not a Go^^'n^iJS^'"'' *^\^"''^^': "I am
"an] 1" r aui^'s^ri'^ -^ance/Cid'tli^iiSra.
able." "*" *'«' "ost uncomfort-
jump.S'uf andl^f&aS^„Tg„^,°'.<''''»e ?» she
and fetch her myself ' .. J^' "<>» t "ng ; I will run
aa^eXhStS'Tf' '*„■'? r"^' ""^^ with
at ? ^^. if'^'f' "^T ' ■*» that-whati th^^re fa, la„„h
III re^rbt?ni.'„™sw Ji rd-^ ^'^ °^/°"-
credit for. Carus von W T.! blmd as you give me
Ethel answered T littl W^Ti,^ .^T^ ^^^ ^^"^- ^ut
she sawThe card *Pn^wl^- f^^ '^' ""^"^^ ^^* ««
applauded her. "^"^ "'^'^'^ ^''^^^ *^^ I>"ches8
noddfnt'bmq^^^^^^^^ she said,
gettiredso sTn I hl^!^^''^ ^?J^''' ««^ ^^ d^^'t
she comes? You have W^''^ ^J^ T^^' ^' ^«'«
added, turning "oimTto the Tnlv ^ ^'^ '• '^^^'^ '^'
hftvfiTi«+7«* 11 XL "* *"® lorphichan jnrls: "vnn
•' wf W «ed7"°''l"<''''" «<> O"* of^her'fai!^
we jwve tned faj make our dear cousin happy,"
188
CINDEBELLA.
f
coo^ Claudia. Ethel, being a Uttie more atraightfor-
ward by nature, said only, « She has plenty of exercise
and seems to keep very well in London."
"Come and give me a kiss, my dear," said the
Ihichess ; " why, vou are as like your grandmother as
pea IS hke pea; but why this black dress, are you in
mourmngP'*^ ^
" Oh, no," said Hester, quietly.
"Mamma says black lasts longest," said Vic, frankly.
and at least those Uttle ruffians, Stanny, Lot, and
Urubby, won't pull it to pieces quite so quickly."
"You teach the younger children then ? " asked the
IJuchess, with a w;iming chill in her voice.
"Not exactly," interposed Ethel, without giving
Hester time to answer; "my cousin has lessons alone
with the voimger children."
^J\^^'! ^f Glared Vic, smiling broadly; "she sees
that they do theirs— that's more like it ! "
"I love chUdren; it is no trouble at all," said Hester.
wiUingto throw oil on the waters; "and I am quite
sff^! " ^^^^^^ grateful for aU my opportunities of
Cams thought of the last study he had seen her
engaged in, and wondered if this demure slip of a girl
m the black stuff dress could indeed be the swift-Umbed
trrace of the ballroom platform.
u'o^"*^''! ^^ ^*^^^®« a^e pleasanter than others,
en !» said the Duchess, smiling meaningly.
At which Hester could only blush and glance appeal-
mgly at her. ^'^
"Oh, yes, I should rather say so," cried Vic, leaning
on the elbow of a chair and trying vainly to dangle her
long legs ; "Mr. Clarence ShiUinglaw never takes his
eyes off Hester all the time— I daresay he makes love
to her when none of us are by ! "
"Indeed he does not! He never speaks to me except
toscold me! ' said poor Hester, her face crimsoning
under its healthy brown.
But Vic laughed scornfully, and Carus began to
conceive a hatred for all Scotch tutors, especially those
CINDEBBLLA.
189
Stiriin^ ^ '^°^ ^^"" a day in the society of Hester
^nl^'V^^iJ *? ''P"'? *°."^ ^*"'" '^^^^ her Grace, who
thU held Hester's hand; «<no,you must not say you
have nothing to wear " J' J""
Et'heT^'" ^"^^* ^^ °°"*"* " "^* °"* ^®**" ^^"
"Now, my dears, don't be tiresome!" interrupted
the imperious dame; " it is one of the few privileges of
a Duchess of Niddisdale that she does as sV HlS In
these httle matters. And if Hester does not promise
to come--why, I won't give the baU at all, that's aU ! "
At this, the girls' faces promptly fell.
"Of course, what Ethel says is nonsense," cried Vic.
I can easily fix up something for Herter. She and I
are about the same height, but she wu. teed to take in
?ette^-b^x '*'''' ^* *^® ''*'^** ^ ^"^ ^'**'* ^^® * P'"^
, "You are a good girl," said the Duchess, approv-
ingly; "you must come and see me some day— indeed
you are all to come. But not in an army corps. Come
one at a time, and then I shaU really get to know you ! »
She patted Hester's cheek as she rose.
"But you, first of all," she said, "I want you for
your g^ndmother's sake and your father's. A little
died that he was bom, and your grandmother often let
me nurse him. Then I cried my eyes out going home
m the mnage every night. But I always went back
again the nert day! Good-bye, my dears. Don»t
think too much about the baU. And be sure you get
your beauty sleep. Good-bye! Good-bye'"
******
tem'**st\^'' as she was fairly gone from the door the
"Minx!" cried Ethel, advancing as if to inflict
personal chastisement upon Vie; "I shall teU mamma
—you have disgraced us. And as for that charity-girl
1-
190
CINDERELLA.
SZ«*^®-f^ I'l" rV^^« *°^*^^' ^ay i^ tte same
house with her! And so I shall tell my father aa
soon as he comes home ! "
"No more will I/' agreed Claudia, as bitterly; « you
are in league you two. With that Utile cat's blushing
and lookmg down, and 'her Grace's god^ughter,' §
you please^and 'everyone to be ve^ kind' to her,
as^^ she was a queen and we so much dirt beneath her
A^^A ^V^^^u?'"'®^*^® •'®'*®®' o^ Empress Gate wore
decidedly thm, and the aboriginal Torphichan emerged.
But Vic only laughed the more. ^
nJlAA%^''''' l^"" ^® ^ P^"* «^ jealous old cats," she
cned defying them ; "you want all the men and all the
attention and you thmk the way to get both is to sit
^?i,^''-li? ^ yourselves here,Uke tabbies upon cushions,
with ribbons round your necks. Why, I am no^ nearly
so good-looking as either of you, but I could give you
ten yards' start m the hundred and beat you romping '
And what 18 more, so could Hester-that is, if she were
only decently dressed and knew how to make use of her
youV c"" m/* ^^^^-»^' That's what I think of
r>^
-s:7¥nK.w-Ji-->E<.tjH5_
CHAPTER XXVIII.
A Fairy Godmother's Catechism.
Letter from her Grace the Duchess of Niddisdale at
Scotstarvit House, fe.W., to Lady Torphichan-Stirlinff
of 1, Empress Gate, W. : ®
(C
Dear Lady Torphichan-StirHng,— It was such a
pleasure to me to see the dear children yesterday
fOeorgtna Niddisdale, ye are an old humbug I ), especially
to see them all possessing so much of your own
characteristic Stirling beauty (Sarah was aye for a' the
world like a pin-cushion out for a walk — her mother was a
beauty though !). When can your husband and yourself
come to lunch? You must dine as soon as my son
Niddisdale returns to town. And the dear girls must
look in and see me some day during the week (Neale
can always say I am not at home). I am an old woman
but I like to be surrounded by bright young people. '
" Very truly yours,
" Gecrgina Niddisdale."
" P.S. — I had almost forgotten. I must carry out my
promise to your mother and be a real, if rather belated
godmother to our poor little Hester. Will you let her
come to me early on the evening of the ball? It is
such a good opportunity, dear Lady Stirling, to impress
the y. mg heart— on the occasion of a girl's first
entrance into the world, as it were."
The Duchess satb-^k in her seat with a smiling groan
as she wrote the last words.
" As it were" she murmured, pleased with herself.
"If that does not fetch the apothecary's wife, then
I don't know what will. It is so exactly her dear
I mi
rll^ fli II WH I ir ilillll ■■'"■ ;
li
192
CINDEREILA.
husband's style ! 'Dear Sylvanus— he is so good, so
wise —Ugh, the dreadful woman !— I would not touch
her with a tenfoot pole— except for Carus's sake I
would not care——**
But it is not at all necessary to state the inEnitesImal
amount of strictly non-legal currency the vigorous old
lady did not care for the friendship of the Torphichan-
Stirlings. ^
"Now for my Uttle Hester," she said; "she's worth
aU the ruck of them. It is a blessed thing, though,
that Cams is in love already. He Ukes pretty blondes,
at any rate. Sometimes 1 think— no, that's not fair.
Carus IS no milksop, but -he does seem to 'lave some-
thing of my poor dear Sophia about him. Well, well
he won*t faU in love with Hester— and if he does, well'
I can drive him on the curb. Here goes ! '* '
The Duchess dashed off another note.
" Sweet little He8ter,—I*ve asked your aunt to let you
come to me on Tuesday. I have never heard you your
catechism, so see you come prepared. I have promised
also, to give you some good advice and perhaps
something a trifle nicer. I never was fond of good
advice all my life— not even of administering it. Come
early— by seven at latest^I want you to help me about
the flowers and things. Your loving (and repentant)
Godmother.*'
* * * ♦ 4{. ♦
Hestor was in the schoolroom when Vic brought her
this note.
"Oh, I say, Hester, you owe me a pair of gloves,**
cned that impetuous young lady, « you were nearly in
a proper fix. Mamma came as near as a toucher to
reading your letter, and Ethel and Clau are just
scratehmg mad because the Duchess has written direct
to you. So before they could make up their minds I
snatehed it and came. You should have seen their
faces. And now you must tell me what she says ! **
By this time Hester was reading the widespaced
sprawly characters, staggering "reel-raU** over the
'•*»:■•*'!«£■
CINDERELLA.
198
gomgl She daT™Tw ir'^^^'^^* #^- ^he was
was-lweU, if ^t exlilTl T^'^^f^' She knew she
What woiid Cvy tS "^^-^^ J««ft plain-looking,
could the DucWwan^i; «? ?JT^^ ^^' ^^^ '^l^at
ing lesson ? Her 7u^r~ iT^^ ^^' *^o"* ^^^ danc-
oh, how ugly threye^* T^i'^^^^V't ^'^ So. And
made for Li. ShTh'fseenmhel's^?""* ^^^ ^^'^
peaXX?nX t^ ^th'ef ^^^^ T'^^^^^^ -^
swallow's winff the Tl.!-!' *i "^^^^ "P^n the
full-flight in the me ^ ^ ^^''*"° "^*^'- ^« ^^as dipped
Dol^ltsly^^^tr^n'ottclT^^^^ Let me see.
the letter^S Hester r/ ^^f^ ^ic snatehed
U-m-m-um I ll'i^^A -I"^^ ^^^^ trembKngly.)
you to go and Wat* a}-^ ^" '^*«- She wants
little sm^? 'That r^^^t fatechLr •'" '{ ^ "^^^^> ^«^
'^ai^r, don't you see? T?^ » ^^ 'L^"'* *^ g'^®^ the
that way. It's a bTpL7?? *°iJ ^^ten get round her
this sL JJuM W blotn ^^^^^^^^^ o^
w{fL%%t\:t5^^^^^^ sh^^fok'^^utT^!
are out at the m^L^Ld^nZ l^'"" ^t\l^^ ^^"
things are swilling aw! v«f ?i • ^ ^'"'^'^"^ ^^^^i^s a^d
the ma<«r .Si sfy oS t ,^'f w?' ^^ *^^- ^ ^^^ow
from the derDucTessM"^^^^*' '^^'^'^^^ le««r
My La^ hadLd:,^^^^^^ P---e^
reyerie upon the Dhp^I.^ ? 1^"^,/'^ * ^"<^ of deyout
W peacfy^^ind tre di/ 7 ^^K ^^ily for
comments with^hich itl t "°* .^^ar the significant
^ It chanced thItte!?tSs''>^^^ ""? interlarded,
that day, and Sir Sylyanuf tW ^^ i° ?^^^* *«'°o
•Jl
f i
II
194
CINDEEELLA.
white hands, "like half -readied soda scones," the
country-bred Hester thought. Nobody took any notice
of the demure little figure in the worn brown dress that
followed so quietly in the turbulent wake of Vic's
passage, as she scattered Timson and a stray guest
or two out of her path toward her mother, who, in
the farthest comer, sat simpering and bowing as if
specially fitted inside with clockwork for that very
purpose.
My lady toed the line of her daughter's expectation
to a hair's-breadth.
" What," she cried aloud, " not another letter from
that dear, dear Duchess ? How pressing she is. I
have already written to say that she may expect to see
you all to-morrow afternoon. This is no doubt for the
purpose of appointing an hour. About Hester Stirling,
did you say ? Surely not ! What can she want with
Hester?"
** Shall I read it aloud, mamma ? " came the clear
voice of Vic.
" No, no, dear," said her mother, in a low tone, drop-
ping her exclamatory method, " it is not necessary.
But what can her Grace want with her ? There must
be some mistake. 1 will write and say that I shall send
Ethel instead. She has so much taste in flowers — and,
besides, it is more suitable altogether "
She was going to say, *' because of Carus Darroch,"
but she caught herseK up. She could not quite an-
nounce that yet, except by hints and becks and meaning
smiles. "Well, dear, of course you know thare is
absolutely nothing in it — at least, as yet. Nothing
settled, that is. But, of course, young people, you
know! And it is obvious to every one how much
he But Ethel is a dear girl, and would ornament
any sphere, however exalted. Of course, you must not
mention "
Yic broke in remorselessly on the pleasing medita-
tion.
" Is Hester to go or not, mamma ? She has to t- >
and say so,"
v^' >».:.■
CINDERELLA. jg.
Lottie andGrubbvarohnS. J J""^ nursery tiU
to W Co^f "J,^ "Zr ' '^^'^^'^y^-* «e wanted
before *K,^X'cTme''ho5.r'i S^* *he letter off
th.^^1 ^l?t»™'/';tel^''1. - ^- "^-PPeared
STr^.^d-S-'^^^^^^^^^^^
about her future Swen^t L .t ^.'^'t^ '"•^''™
the elect ar^'^^'oSfedfoH"" ""** "^^ '"'"'''■- °*
otlleV'd'TotforL ttS??:««--""g'" "ooed the
ralfSHi?ro-rf-^^^
stdTi-- :SS£ ^S --
m the line of Lady StirU^grttTght. ^"* *''"™^'«'*
f es— yes," she said hastily, in the fr>T.« «* i
-hg,ou3 agreement couunou^'V^.X''^-"^
0'
196
S^v.
CINDERELLA.
enthusiast, « but dear Vic already gives us great anxiety.
She takes strong likings and dislikings. For instance,
we have a Scotch cousin in the house, a kind of poor
relation whom the Duchess has taken an interest in for
the family's sake — so condescending of her Grace.
And this girl— yes, that was she in brown, wto came in
with Victoria just now— she is in danger of having her
head turned— so bad for one in her position, don't you
agree with me? Well, Victoria absolutely rejoices in
crossing me, in exalting this girl whom we took out of
pure charity into the house, and especially in annoying
and vexing her sisters. But I am powerless, you
see, dear ; I dare not tell Sylvanus, or he would turn
the ungrateful minx instantly out of the house. And
I should not like that, you know. I should feel it
on my conscience if anything happened afterwards to
the girl."
The prophetic old lady raised her eyebrows at the
emphasis. She thought she was on the edge of a
scandal, and (next to the fulfilment of prophecy, and
pending the destruction of all things) nothing delights
the waiting faithful so much as a little spicy mundane
gossip. Let but a dozen seasoned veterans get together,
and even the Ten Lost Tribes are not nearly so much
lost as the characters of all their (absent) friends, when
the time comes^to close the sederunt with a few words
of prayer.
**0h, no," said her hostess, hastily, a little heart-
stricken, as she noticed the eager expression on her
friend's face, "Hester is quite a good girl. But hel"
father " Here she lowered her voice and for a
happy five minutes the apocalyptic old lady had her
fill of scandal. "Yes, indeed, dear Mrs. Gunther-
Lestock, dreadful, wasn't it, for his family ? It nearly
killed me. Of course he went abroad immediately after-
wards and his child "
Another pause— many flutterings of uplifted hands,
a continuous purr of virtuous tongue-clicking, the clash-
ing of black head-bugles. "Dear, dear, who would
have believed it possible ! But 70U know such things
> ' %'^^wij,M'"'WZ-m.
i^^r
CINDERELLA.
197
SS.i°hteta\h^^I.*i'- - ". poor
point of view) th" the oT^ f k\""1 Pp'^'^i^'opio
premonitoiT rustic „f ,r i tobbies had begun fi,.
been two of the ten hm^fs . S ,^ """■ "' -^ *^^y ^
conflict. "^ "'"O"* to oogage in a personal
holKfep^ra^S'. ^-"'-l^-tocl," said ti,
that I <»n8ide/it mv duX' to n^^JI^I.'^'r* "°»d«
•uch a father and such a motC f ^H <'^»g''ter of
»»chapitythattheDucher^'"™"' ''"■^'*- ^^
(Closed with prajer.)
# ■
- H.
■-- I'll
*^' ^"^^4^^
^
-*
I
CHAPTER XXIX. .
The Scratching op the Cats.
Meanwhile in the room above (very high above),
which was Tom's sanctum, among a "clutter" of
tobacco jars, Oxford framed photographs of ladies of
robust charms, coloured hunting scraps pinned askew
to the wall, broken tops of fishing-rods waiting (and
waiting in vam) to be" spliced, and in the heart of a
prevailing blue haze, Vic was assisting Hester to pen
her letter. She was balancing herself precariously on
the back of a chair, and looking over Hester's shoulder.
Tom, Cams Darroch and yoimg Kipford (who had
been Carus's fag and answered indifferently to the
names of " Waffles " and " Dukey ") were seated about
a small fire of wood — for, by one of the extraordinary
changes incident to the climate of London, it had
grown suddenly chilly as October.
It was a dead secret in the lower parts of the house
that Kipford ever came to Empress Gate. He had run
down from Oxford to see Carus, and he was particu-
larly anxious that his father should not know of his
escapade. Consequently he was Mr. "Waffles," a
friend of Tom's. Only Vic, who of course was a
"fellow," and did not count, was "in the know."
Even Hester was entirely innocent, and, indeed, had
nardly so much as looked at the closely-cropped young
man who stroked his delicate and indeed invisible fair
moustache so often, and said "JT-m-mm'* before every
sentence.
'' -; Thank you very much shall be sure to
be with you early hope you will not be disap-
pointed in me (oh, you needn't have put that— but I
CINDERELLA.
199
suppose as you are a "bud" it's all right. No don'f
call her * jour Grace,' she won't mind. She gets nlentv
of that sort of thing downstairs IwLfyou ^yl
WhSfa'hr""^^- Tom forgoodnesstrdt^
In^w ?*'^^°*- Carus, make him behave! There's
a mcket stump in the comer. Such ongoimrs are not
good for Uttle boys like Waffles ' '' ''"^^'"^' ^^^ **«*
" hov^:^^~^^\^ '^^' ^'^ Vic-/ona/" said the
.?L' caressing his moustache.
with it' "fh^-" '^JS' "^?.*^" '''^ «^ "« ^«d be done
witli It. She 18 neither a Camel nor a Hun," said Tom
Wrl7r ^ ?• «^«"ld«r-Wade8 and blowLg rings
Vic spun round on the chair-back, miraculously nre-
soUdTsf^T^M'"^ *^^^^' ^^^ ^I'^^k ^ very^f^l
^lid fist under the young man's nose nearest to hen
He put up ail eye-glass and regarded it stolidly.
cried TW ^"^"^ ^^ '* ^® ^^ ^^^ y^^ * Vic ' ? »
him^V'!"^"^ ^^ '^f^^^' "^^y> *cll his father on
scLl ! ,?^^^-^^^« ^i^ spanked and sent back to
Mr. "Waffles" was immensely delighted.
said '/T'!i,''''"?'^V^^"y-"^* "^^"J^^ y'^'^ ^o^." he
Bn?V>, i.u^^'"^ ^'^^^ «^ Wednesday, you know!
the baS ^.^r ^r%'^"*^f * ^^^ I reVcan't m^Is
swoS /^«^^««^\t 8 'I^ong* anyway, and I'm just up
all vo«r f« If n''^^^^' "? ^' "^* *« ^i«^^c« him. It's
all your fault, Cams, and precious hard it is to come
irt'tt'^-"^*'^' ^'^'"*^' ^'^' ^"^^ y«-- stm Vers
mike un ! T^^'l T^ ^'°,T"^ ^^^^^^ ^^"«^^« about to
majce up a scratch crew | » *"
Tom patted Kipford on the back.
m V w "" ' ^"?u^ ' •^*''''" ^^« o^* «- <iouble first, I bet
m^ boots, and then the Master's eye will be out. Ne^r
mmd what she says. Call her * Vic ' Tf, ...JLJll
^l^l ^'H ' f^y >'«a^'» ^^ glorious
call her 'Tictoria.'"
Vic' It sounds too
reign' when you
•^»
200
CINDERELLA.
There now, Hester, aU done! Let me lick the
envelope for luck. Got a stamp. Cams? Tom, I
know, never has— raids mine when my door isn't
locked !
"Well, I like that " began Tom.
"Thank you dear boy-shut up, Tom, you know
Its true. Will you post that, Carus? It is to
the Duchess about the ball, and very important.
Bo dont forget, as Tom always does. That's the
reason you never got my apology for calling you
Waffles. It IS, mdeed. Tom posted it in his
second-best overcoat pocket, left-hand side. It's there
now !
" Waffles will take the letter direct, and then I can't
s3l]^itCle."'™' '"'"■'^' "'"' " '^oi-P^^ "*
" With a rope ladder out at the bedroom window in
case his father should arrive in the night! " put in
Victoria, looking down at the young man. « Will vou
be responsible for it ? Swear to deliver it I On your
knees. Waffles ! " ^
• " *Y^^^^y honour, I wiU think of nothing else till it
IS in the hands of "
"Rats ! " cried Vic, "I know something better and
safer than a cartload of you feUows' promises. Stand
" / never forgot a letter you gave me to post," said
v>arus, demurely.
"ilU^ij'*?'^^^^''^'"! *1"^*^^ '^^^^ melodramatically,
last Monday at dusk as ever was— but no matter !
btand up. Waffles. Did you hear me speak ? "
The young man stood up, smoothing his invisible
moustache. Vic spoke the last words a trifle indis-
tinctly. She had a large safety-pin in her mouth. She
caught hold of the lapels of his coat.
"Now, put that envelope in your breast pocket," she
commanded, sternly. And when the young man had
obeyed with a kind of pleased and yet ihamefaced
sheepishness, she deftly caught his coat and pinned the
8a*ety-pin through cloth and letter.
CINDERELLA. 201
4 --rpLCph;"''""*" " "'-^^ «"> »!»»•«-.
" Yes, my under-waistcoat ! " said "WqAIo- >» u
W not been Can,, Da™.h-, fagrn'tain"^"""' "'"'•
that y«; do not Z^lf n^oV^^^Vl "•*'"'* ^'" <"'"'">
man'Jmemo^VoSja '^' "^ '"''" '"^^"^ " ^o-^S
JoufeUo^sTth/""!"""" "°*'''''^ »*«»■* "-y letter,
Hester had not said a word feelinc, l.^««i*
J* ^^?* ^ ^*"P^^ ^6 ^1 tliint me," she said f^ },«.
fW^-J '^^r^* ^"*> " I <^«^d not say 'bo' to a Z
that it matters, of course " "'^ a^not
But all the same she heaved a sieh as sHp loff v,-« a
do^tTlkeoTnT'*, *°"^ """' ■'"^ token iTSLm
had never nromiqerl T w-^. ^ rTi"^^y\ '-'^» J^ wish I
back ? » She Xi./ 7 ''' '^/ .^"^^ ^«* *^e letter
«>iie started to ner feet. But when she
202
CINDERELLA.
thought of Tom's room, and of trying to explain under
tne quietly observant eyes of the men, she sat down
again. That was not to be thought of. She pictured
herself standing on the floor before the three of them,
unable to utter a single word.
» t" 1 7<i»^er why I am such a fool ? " said Uttle Hester.
" I didn't use to be like this ! "
But Hester was not destined to be left long alone,
which m her present mood was perhaps as well. She
was inclined to be afraid of the Duchess and the baU,
but with her next visitors she forgot all about that.
"Open the door—we want to come in!" It was
Hitnel s voice outside.
" Yes, at once ! Do you hear ? " Claudia called out,
still more emphatically. Hester cast a hasty glance
about the room to see that she had left nothing on the
table that she cared abou . and opened the door.
Ethel and her younger sister entered and con-
fronted her.
"Now let us see that letter," said Ethel, her eyes
flashing fire and her small hands clenched at her sides.
Ihey had come straight up to Hester's room without
waitmg to take ofP their things.
" Yes, and we mean to have it, too ! " said Claudia,
marching over to Hester as if to overawe the girl with
her superior stature.
« What letter ? " said Hester, faintly.
"Oh, you know very well," cried Ethel; "you can't
play pretty little Miss Innocence with us. The letter
jovL had from the Duchess, that Vic buUied mamma
into letting you answer for yourself."
Yes," said Claudia, sniffing, "and you've been into
lorn 8 room, too— I smell the smoke. What business
had you there ? I shall speak to papa ! "
" I shall not give you the Duchess's letter, and if I
went with Victoria into Tom's room to answer it, what
business is that of yours ? " said Hester, with spirit.
• Went into Master Tom's room with Miss Victoria,
please, ma'am ! " mimicked Claudia, duckine a curtsev :
s the
way you ought to speak, charity-girl !
CINDEBELLA.
208
I
oruMan eS: ""'*''"^ -*" ^' ""-' '-P'- and
th^n'^^lre! *"' ''*'*' ' " '^' ^""l "Sain, mo« fiercely
"I will not ! " said Hester, firmlv « Tf },«« ««+k-
to do with you ! " urmiy. it has nothing^
nl'S^r } -^^^ ^* /^' myself-here it is ! » cried
^^:q,^f .^^^^^^^^^^ ,■',•':? ^XhT
and wa« hol.lmg t scornf uUy. " . Sweet li ?e Hester '•'
—she looks it, doesn't she? She looks «,!, ,f .T •
a nasty spiteful little toad! A charityVr f" rHer'
:X noT lateTth^n^se^r^^? f^' '•' ' Come
flowpra' T ci,^, n 1-1 ''f^en — to help with the
t";:ehd ""■""" ^'"'°""' "^ in W dotage" WU
" Now sit down and answer it as we tell vou " Vih^}
''" rlni *^^-,?o---d of the sitlatir- ^''''^'
dianantlv ^.%^^*^^°? f the kind," said Hester, in-
uignantly. I was instructed by mv aunt l.nw 7.
answer It, and the letter has alread^gZr" '''^ *^
thatnnlir^Jf' r^^"^"^' « we know from Timson
that no letter has been posted from the box in the haU
and It isn't there now- £ looked » " '
"What's more," cried Clarlia'lookin' ud frnm fi,.
Well, who has taken it?— tell us that "
Meantime Claudia had gone over to the h'ttle roof
^nduw and was reading another letter which she h^
been holding behindher back. With one gWHe^^
204
CINDERELLA.
saw that it was from Megsj, and she tried to snatch it
II way.
"Give it me," she cried, almost in tears ; « that is a
private letter with which you have nothing to do Oh
how mean of you ! » "s w uo. Kjn,
ir, Mh^^^^ ^f*!^ Hesters,' should have no private letters
m other people's houses, which the people whose brrad
tiiey eat must not see ! " mocked Claudia, howLg the
le^r at arm's-length, while Ethel interp'osed between
v^l^^""; ^T^ ^'^^f^ ^ *^i8'" she cried, from behind
andll? '^'^J "4^"J"^ *^^«^« y^^ f«r the SocK^gs
^vouno- rf; Jt^^'SS' («he spells it with two g^s)
i/^nf 1' ^ f^d him any more, as he has plenty and it
W«/ ifl'"'" ^'^i (^h« i« the dirty old man?)
namey The hoose is lonesome withoot ye!' Whv
don t you go, ours would not be lonesome without vou
I can tell you that, Miss Charity ' " "^^i^^oui you,
floo7/fnTp^r 'l^^T '^^t^henmaid and scrubbed the
« Hear whnf f>,^'* ^^^''^ '^^ ^^^^^ia, reading on.
f y,^1? l!^ *i,*^\ '^''°'^° «^y« "ext : a am gled that
the Duchiss has been kind to you. She was fell fon^
o' your grandmither, U^e bonny lamb ! And I doubt
not that she sees through thae Toipheechans, the cmel
^4h«t 5"' '"^^^* ^K ^"""^^ *> her inheritance r»
mnJJl ''^''^'*]L^^*^*^^t^"<'"ed Claudia, whirUmr
round the room tnumphantly. « She shall pick nJw-
for a certeinly We will show this to papa, and I W
atter this. Then we wiU see whether she will eo U
dine at Scotstarvit House or not ! " ^
frnl?fe]?*''^^?.ri''*'"^"^^^^C' suddenly appearing
from behind, at that moment, snatching the lette^it
of Cla-udia's hand and standing on the defensive •« vmi
KrswertiSis^\&^^ ^ ^^^. ^" ^^^ -ort
Tom i?" ask hi^,''"'*^"* Joumadeit up-and so wili
Ethel and Claudia rushed at their sister to force her
to give them back the incriminating documrnt, but Vic
-9!^
CINDERELLA.
205
a
hatp]
>m
made a dash forward h,ff '* '" hwhand. Claudia
vineZ^ind riZf r ^"" "^Z** ■"■<> ""od ! It's
one word llm "poller prUus K„": ,?'" "^^ '"*''»
games for you. I'M „„JL ?!/„ , . '"" Drawmg-room
and IT tell evwv s n^iri,P »»*/''*" ^^ ^-t "'e to,
about your spSuSa"d?hl ;;»/?'"'' *° *« '""'»«
The letter is answS and th. ^^ tempers you have.
Hester is goin " wS ro„ ^ "^/'^ ^^ " ''r "ow.
would give your eves L-^be iT T' '""*«''■ ""d you
would I " ^ " "^ '" '•^'" shoes— you know yon
lookp^t^aT^'hXrthoTe?""'* clu.upers-she will
doubt^u'Sy.''"'""''^'"^ «f-»i»^." said Vie, a little
Ethel laughed scornfully
keep :i7irletli C^t^Va^a ^^/^ -ver can
ones did you all last^te? "' ^^^*' ^""^ ^^'^ ^^«*
"And even ifshe did ffo" said TTfi^^i « i. ,
ever ask her to dance-f. " ^^' nobody will
her.'^SfothtlClu^^^^ frock Read is making for
8ale,a.dithas£*^^^^^^^^^ -* «^ -Lval
Claudia put in her contribution.
stai\trt'iin";'::d''.oi''"''?.' "?« "- ^s^^
something""™."':'';. ■*^™.. of course, mamma had
after her. And so abe
something else to do than look'
*
206
CINDERELLA.
sat and sat, and watched dance after dance. And .not
a soul spoke to her. And nobody even took her down
to supper." (Claudia stopped to laugh here— it was
her idea of humour.) " And like that woman in Tenny-
son or somebody, « She was aweary, aweary, and wished
that she were dead.' And at two o'clock in the morn-
ing, when somebody did finally take pity on her and ask
her to dance, she burst into tears before everybody,
and cried like a great baby, till mother had to get her
away somehow. And oh, it was so funny ! That's just
how it will be with the charity-miss ! "
"Never mind them, dear old girl," said Vic, stand-
ing on guard over Hester, whose face had grown
tearful too, for she fully expected Mabel Lyon's fate to
be hers; "you'll be all right at the bull. Cats can't
help scratching— if only to keep their claws sharp.
And if you don't get many dances, Tom will take you
down to supper and talk to you. I'll make him
promise. He doesn't dance, you know. He only
hitches round Uke a poodle on its hind legs, and looks
just as happy when he does it, too ! "
After her cousins had gone, Hester threw herself on
the little bed and gave way to a good cry. She did not
often indulge the weakness, but this had tried her just
a peg too high. Besides, though she had kept a brave
face before them, she felt the sting of each taunt, of
every carefully calculated unkindness, and it was not to
be denied that Ethel and Claudia had on this occasion
surpassed themselves.
Still there was not much time for sorrow. It was
not long before Read, Lady Torphichan-Stirling's maid,
rapped at the door with a message that her ladyship
wished Miss Stirling to come down and help Miss
Martin with the children's evening lessons. She had
no more time to think over her griefs that night, which
perhaps was as well. Vic looked in for a moment on
her way up to the drawing-room after dinner.
" Here's your letter," she said ; " they have not told.
I bluffed them about their Blue Drawing-room games.
They are no end frightened that I will go and stop
#-t:
mtk^^
'?^ .-p^-^^i "^^ ' •; 4," ',
CINDERELLA.
207
there mth them all the afternoon But if t
I would always burn your hom'p l^t ^ ^ T""^ J^°«
answer them. The cats wm,M ?? i ^^**?^ ^^^^ Jou
haulingthewholi^i;^VS^J^ -«^g «^ o--
laifhrifeTa fn "^^Z^ £ ^^^^^ ^^^r
to her of how st^^dilyC^AlLTlT^''^^^ returned
at her as she safw^tinT^Hr^^^^
shoulder. Of coursp ho J: /^i. ^ookmg over her
Vic. Perhaps it wa Vic af^^^^^^^ been looking at
he admired.^ What if hp .1,^ m ""^ °^* ^*^«J' ^^om
thought ought to have ^L her 1''^'"'''^ -"' ^ ^^"
contrary, rfester was conSs that f^"'!' ^^^ ^^ *^«
of deeper pain through Te^ bretf c"'^* ^ «' '*^^
sleep for three hours fSr thinking of it "^'''^^ ''''*
CHAPTER XXX.
i-i.-
^
:
it -'^■^
Thk Magic Wand.
The great day came at last. Hester woke in the
morning to a sense of something pleasant somewhere.
At first she thought it was the Darroch water singing
down in the linn. She was paddling her feet in it
and listening to the grateful hush of sound. But
instead the sun was streaming in between the blind and
the little ?tJ curtain which Hester had put up to give a
homelike flavour to her dingy little garret chamber.
The London sparrows were busy outside, elbowing and
quarrelling with each other incessantly as they trans-
acted their affairs domestic.
Hester lay listening. She tried to imagine herself
back by the Darroch. Across the deep brown pool be-
neath the kirkyard the Waterside kine vrere drowsing
or standing kneedeep in the shallows. Was that Eevvie
up there, walking with his Greek Testament in his
hand, to and fro along the minister's walk ?
But no, it would not do. The real, which was so
unreal, the New World, which was as old as Eve's
Tree of Knowledge, soon ousted even the sweetest of
day-dreams.
The naorning of the ball! Hester had a vision of
bright lights, of gay uniforms, of beautiful costumes,
of linked arms and mazy dances. She had seen from
the entrance door of the ballroom many such in the
house at Empress Gate, but she herself had never been
bidden enter into fairyland. The children's nursery
was her portion.
But to-night the New World was to be her own.
Yet there on the old chintz of the wheezy armchair
t"A. T: .-nSSi
"il^.'h^.
CINDERELLA. 209
give all har fttentionVm^^^^^^^^ ^« '^We to
"young ladies' » dresser XffS/^ ""^^S^^ ^ *l»e
tiie Court dressmaker *^®^ "^^^^ ^^^e from
W^fSd Cse^-Lt^ftlr^^^^^^^ r^^t ^ be
can't get you right ! '' sai? fier fo J ^ ^t l^^^*' ^
remnanted job-fot silk of the skirt ^^R ^f ^* 1^® "^^^P
ought not to say that fnr^« St" ^ ^^** after all, I
best. And Vic'^s S^^^^^ l^, '^^^^7 did her
were not better." "PP®"~»*»e nearly cried that they
And with that Hestpr o-nf «« „ j i.
there would be a ^^Zt Ke th?? V^ "-^^^^^ ^^
of all she would have to tellhJ^Jt morning, and
out of the wonder-worid into wh- ^V^^ ^^""^ ^^^^
turing. ^^'^^ "^^ ^hich she was adven-
The day passed slowly— indeed »» ,-f , .
minably. It was half-nast si^K ? * seemed, inter-
the day-nursery, where^she h Jt""'^ '^' "^"^^ ^«^^e
the children's lessor and hLi ^?.l° superintending
of sewing, to rusTu^stefrs te"^^.'*'^^ fragment!
ha^ tried severaJ tim^es toim^r^vi p"" Sf"" i'""^^- ^be
fea.^ with very indiffe^nTfurss"^^' ^ '*' ^"*' «^«
wished me t^ do a^fwnJ >^ ^^°« '^bat Megsy
always liked goL about "^^^^ ^ '^"^ "^« ^''' ^ut X
She sighed £ ?fe t^ars feU ^IT' '^^'^^^ ^«««r.»
bunched seams about tS wL «^? ?? irregularly
does not sit right somehow Tt«. ?^ ^ ^"^ «^« i*
the skirt; if I iL to d^!,p T; ,•/ T"^ ^ «baU trip over
that any one wi^l ask me ^ %^ ^? i^°^, ^^ .^^t."^ Not
there to dinner to-night f " ' °''^^'' ^ ^' ^^ be
{^tt*e 'r!!n^^it::nVLTh'^"^r^ -p-
being interrupted. Th^JS^ ^®* ^^'1?^^ out witW
rooms, and only ^e voice ^ToT^ ^,5 ^^^ ^^ *beir
the balusters, deSTnJ^ «K. . ''*''^? ^ beard over
Hester summoned^r aLi^^r*. * ^°?* «^ «<^d.
larked h^Wt^ally o^a sS i'Tr^'"^"^' ^bich
7 ua a stand at the corner, and
-,-t:*j
210
CINDERELLA.
was somewhat doleftdly trundled to Scotstarvit
House, where, in spite of the prevailing bustle of
preparation, she found herself at once in another
atmosphere.
Upon the very doorstep, James the Statlier-than-
usual smiled on the shy young girl. « Yes, her Grace
had giv. n particular orders that Miss Stirling was to be
taken directly up to her as soon as she arrived." And
with a quickly-beating heart the girl passed through
the decorated halls and up a staircase as broad (so it
appeared to her) as the steps of a church.
A light knock, a smiling maid, a warm delicious
smell of roses, and Hester found herself standing
trembling a little before her Grace of Niddisdale. She
had expected that the great lady would be already
gorgeous in her noblest silks and most magnificent
jewels, instead, the unconventional duchess was
attired in a dressing-jacket and yellow flannel petti-
coat. Her feet were thrust into red Morocco slippers
without heels, and she had a dilapidated French
novel in her hand.
"My dear,*' she cried, without turning her head
" come round and let me look at you. You won't mind
me not coming out to receive you. I am humouring
my great grandfather's gout, and I want to be all
right for to-night. Give me a kiss. There— why,
child, what possessed you to let them dress you like
a table-maid going out with her Sunday's sweetheart ?
I just guessed what the olu apothecary's wife would be
equal to. Child, you simply can't go to the ball in
a thing like that ! "
The tears sprang to Hester's eyes. Her lip quivered,
and a great lump built itself slowly up in her throat.
" I was afraid not," she stammered ; " I knew you
would say so. But it was all I had. My aunt got
Eead, her maid, to make it up for me "
And Hester broke down.
"Come, come, childie. Sit down by me, and per-
haps we will find a way out of the trouble," said the
Duchess, kindly.
OINDIBILLA.
211
go back home a^drtx^dl^bf^^^^ ^^^
^-s'klZrl^Z^Z^^^h'' f d the Duchess,
a footstool. "SeeXrefsatSr / ^/J ^^^ "Po«
you came. Sit doU on it! laslre C* ^^' ^^" ^^^'^
mother's oldest friend bidsv^she ^ih^' ^T ^^^'
ahve, wae's me ! je—slie is the only one left
bri^Sn^'Lf head ^at"\^ef Ic^ f^f^l^^ ^^^^ and
tnee, " I want you to^t^^st yo^X't.^^^ "^^'^^^
if T were your own o-rni^™ 11 ™® to-night as
n^J house, f his balHs mXrl J' '^'^^' ^""^^ ^«
dear goddaughter. Poor^id l7«^oi ? ^""^ *^® °^3^ O'^n
know. Kipf" rd has not vpi f » t ""'^^ '^ ^^^d, you
awomanofmrfamnvtJ.Jf T^^^° '"'^- There is not
So my goddau^htriVs^sVp^^;;' ^^ ^^^^^"^^ ^^th
I am going off to H?mbur "^^^n^ ""^"^ ^ '«<^eive.
you belong to me m«?^?^ ^^'^T' ^or to-night
^ "Iwili^do ^yihinTyL^i:^%,^^^^^^ '
ftJIy. "No one has been s^Sid t^ *^'' '^'*^' ^*«-
Bewie and Megsy » ^ **^ °*® since I Joft
^^rI^^Zt:%i'%^^^^ the Duchess, still with
more tears. For ! wanf vT^^^^I "^"t mind, no
A tear or two doirLr^^tr ^ }^^ their best?
otherwise, I used to thSi wht F f 5'^^' *^^
tbmgs. But you Ce crip^ ''*'^^, ^^^"t these
already!" ^ ^® ^"®<^ ™ore than enough
of t^*i::*4tl^^^^^ even the bitterest
after her grandmother's deat^o?Mf ^'^' ^ *^^ ^^'th
of her cominff to T n^^^ ' l ^^^^^ and of Rewie
I?nelinessof"l!fe*:t eC^^^^^ Jfal/'/'i ^ ^^«-^S
hstened and thought ^ ^^' ^^ *^e I>"che88
tbe^'birvi^goiLi;^^^^^^^ and i^g
"«iy. JMow I am going to be thi
««•--. .^WL ^-Ti;-r-
212
CINDERELLA.
■1;
fairy godmother indeed," she said, « and you are to
be good and do just what I tell you, not less and not
more. I was your father's godmother, too, though.
Heaven forgive me, not a word of his catechism did I
ever teach him. But I'm going to do better by you
that is, if you will le' me."
And her Grace pinched Eester's soft young cheek
and pointed to a pink dressing-gown which was
hanging limply on a hook.
" First of all, put that on, and then I shall begin to
wave my fairy wand in earnest. First wave, enter
Neale. Neale, ask Madame Celine's people to come
this way ! "
The maid departed, and after a moment or two
returned with a couple of smiling assistants, who
carried in their arms certain mysteriously swathed
parcels. Hester stood up with a long sigh, and
presently to her enchanted eyes a marvel appeared —
all a-glister with sheen of shimmering white with a
soft " puff " here and there of lace, fine as sea-foam
on the return wave, and, nestliner shyly beneath these,
half revealed and half concealed, the dearest and
most lovesome knots of real white heather.
"Now, Hester, dear," said the Duchess, looking
very pleased and happy, « on with it. I think it will
do. That was Madame Celine herself who was here
the last afternoon you took tea with me. She measured
you with her eyes, and Madame does not usually make
mistakes. But if there is any alteration these yoimff
ladies will do it in lots of time."
The girl's hands were trembling so that she could
hardly help the maid who, with a friendly pleasure
in her eyes, as it were reflected from those of her
charge, helped Hester to endue her slight young
figure, for the first time, with a garment that enhanced
its beauty.
Happily, Madame had proved worthy of her repu-
tation and of the Duchess's confidenc3. The dress fitted
to a mai'vel.
" How well the little one holds her head," murmured
CINDERELLA.
218
g. She will be
her Grace to herself. « I was not wrc
a swan yet, and no uglj ducklkg."'"^
seemed suddeSyZ ofwh j^^^^^^ *»d she
hand. Th6 silken rLtlTabou?\« '^ ^^^"^ ^ *^«
her ears, and a kind nf «n i? * ^®'' T^ "^"^^^^ *<>
from the veryVce and r^HWA^ ^-^'^'^^ ^""^^^
Duchess to L ^eat nfer 2 • t' l^? ^^"^^^^ «^e
on her neck Tnd fhoui£rB'^^'lf\^'^^ *¥ ^^' <^^^
her hands. ^^^ulders. Involuntarily she put up
wi^%:n\W3*i "' '"^ "^^^^ ^^ -*^ - Mroom
^^oll^s;:LZ\o^^^^^ of the
"Madame obiected but tX ^^^..^^ticed the action,
young girl M^ S^^^ ^* ^ost fitting for a
iositive^ gasped Shf Lit t^^^^^^^ "^ ^^^ &^^«« ^^d
behind her! ^d repreLed a fl'^^'"^''^^ 1'^ '^"^^ ^«
This tall and~yes~Sautif,^i 1' i ^"^^ ^ ^ ^^^^d.
Hester StirlingCho an h^^S^ ""^"f not be the same
off her old brolThoC^e^ Sfe\a r ^.f ^^^^^P^^
upon it. She saw refleS thp i^f ^^^*>y.had spilt
flush of colour inW cheeks ^ll '^T t ^^ f '^ ^^**^ *
coral, and large eves at n«n!' ^ ^'^ ^^"^^^ ^P«' ^^ as
and dark S noZn!! v T""^^'"^ ^^*^ excitement
was Xa realm^f S'^l ^"^ ?^''^^^ ^"^ t^^rs. It
onceshe\rS tlX^^X^Wsltf' hTr' '^'
t1^r:asl^^Vretrf£^^
of this faii-ylandionly the iov S^'^'^'^^^^^.^Winess
sciousness of having oVf or ^?hei«r?^' ^^^ f^ ^«'^-
a perfectly fitting ffock '* ^'"'^ "^ ^^^ ^f«>
self.'^sr^aw'fictoW^??""''""^'^^^^ ^«- to her-
straight faHf the strt^'^'LT T^'^T ^^^^^ ^^^
once^ut not before tfshl%WH^^Tj^^^Vt
caught sight of their condition^ ^ ^"^ ^"^^^ ^^
8aid,''Sng ""'" ^^' "^ *^^* -^'^be, Neale," she
wr-A^mg-'-'P
214
CINDEBELLA.
9'
And lo ! ranged in a glancing beaded row were a
dozen pairs of shoes.
" I had them sent up from Methren's on approval,"
said the old lady triumphantly, enjoying Hester's sur-
Srise with all the zest of a generous schoolgirl whose
ay it is to treat her companions.
"And as for your flowers — all in good time," she
continued; "that daft laddie. Cams, has had every
gamekeeper and herd on all Darrochside quartering the
moors for white heather. There will be a dearth of
good-luck in Gralloway for the next ten years ! **
It came to Hester with a sudden warm flush, spread-
ing upward about her heart, that Carus would be there.
Carus would see her like this. Perhaps she did not
really look pretty. Very likely it was all in her own
eyes, and at the thought she turned away her head
quickly from the pier-glass, y-^t womanlike took just
one last half-shy glance back ov^er her shoulder.
Her Grace laughed, and, going up to the girl,
pinched and kissed her on the cheek.
" Do that to-night, my lassie, and you will break
hearts ! *' she said.
" Do what ? " asked Hester, much astonished.
" All too soon you will know," said her Grace, smil-
ing and shaking her head; "and now off with your
finery and into that dressing-gown again! We may
p ay later, but meantime, in spite of braw goons and
new shoon, we must feed the inner woman. Come
along! "
Then afterwards Hester had again to resign herself
into the hands of Neale while the Duchess stood by
and criticised.
" No one can do hair like Neale," she said, " but
make her keep it simple — higher behind, Neale, to
show the nape of the neck. Providence did not stick
on your head with a screw-nail, my dear, and you must
b>e up to it."
So with all goodwill the swift-fingered Neale plied
her task. Hester's abundant hair was piled high on
her head, where, having never been so treated before.
■ i-IMii. ^■^it-.i'-^.c. j£^-..~''^...
s, -«"
\m^
i^!ir
CINDEEELLA.
215
" W^Tv.""'" ■=>»?!«« her hands as she watched
may not be qSte" Wy^™f UUIe'Z/Tr'- "^»"
»mething bitt«r. You Ve*S.e very "Sa" oTwh":?
J.onr grandmother was on her nXLe Z TlT.™
SLfa™drh\X4^U;";^r°-
she seemed to he" no?hiSrt S^. ^^^.^^'^ ^''' ^"^
heart, and she breatM so^deeply ClL 'n^^^^ f,^^
on her bosom seemed to brS Z. ^e le?£rs "o^
.all^ LTheS-nbtffil^ „-L' ^^^^Xa^"^
SJ'e^^M-.^-^-iX-^^^^
her, that's 3^". No d,e mriT\ ^ T" '«>'' ^f'^"-
men out of ihrJ':;^tC^t^Xtl,'^''J^ *r
flurd man round her HtUe fiiger"' ^^ "^^ *'"
I
'W'-:^m.'n. .
n-A
CHAPTER XXXI.
Carus in Love.
Hester never forgot the appearance of the ball-room at
Scotstarvit House as she entered it for the first time
with her Grace. The great ancient chandeliers, which
dated from the time of Charles the Second, were
brilliant with wax candles, and the floor of polished wood
glistened emptily and, as it seemed, illimitablj beneath
them. There was the green of ferns and palms and
foliage everywhere, and from beneath the wide arch
of the conservatory there came the tinkling of tiny
waterfalls.
It seemed to Hester that she must be temporarily
somebody else a» she stood near the entrance with my
Ipdy of Niddisdale. All her girlish fear had left her,
r ! as the guests began to arrive she did her share, as
i; e Duchess said afterwards, with the aplomb of an old
campaigner.
Niddisdale himself, to whom ballrooms were
anathema, had kept away on purpose.
" But then no one ever expected anything else," said
his mother. Kipford, however, was at hand and,
taking time by the forelock, had written himself down
on Hester's card for half-a-dozen dances. He smiled
to himself as he took advantage of her inexperience to
appropriate all the best round dances to himself.
Kipford danced very well, and he had heard his
grandmother rave about what she had seen when she
surprised Hester's lesson with the old Frenchman
who bad taught his own father to dance in the first
days of his long exile,
Carus also came up, eagerly soliciting the first dance.
u^hM
'j'^ivr. j^'
CINDERELLA.
217
fi-h ,^" fi^dpother bade him be off. He had other
W«vA»,^l*^°^J.^*"^ attendance o/ her goddaughter
*^t:r^'^^; an^H^rh^d nTld^zjp7,j^:,f :
wiS^^T,*^^ P'^^^ *^ad come, but becLe in the
rtroftr^ ^^ ^'^* ^"* -W she didU? ft!
TiW^^^'^itrJ^f ^L^f *.V^^ ;^^ ^/^^"^ *^« I>"ehe«8
fil-S ^"^, V^?» and with a kind of inner puritv and
freshness shining from her that was more than bTa^r
These were mostly men. The women wanted to ^et
ilt L u ®. ^^^ 7^'^^ ^^^ father had given her
the day he sat on the stone seat by the sS?al S
the old garden at Arioland. It was the only siSt S
weSr*'"' '^"^ *'^ ^"^^^«« ^'^^ insiste'dr^hel
^^^^Tr 'S ^^^ ^'^^^^ «^ *»^« stiffest, mhel^
pink and black, Vic in old gold, and Claudia thp
statuesque in close-fitting white^satin. ^^
Hester 8 aunt bowed low to the young lady at the
But eI'i tr "'S^'i* *^^ ^«*«* nJtionVho^e was!
fn. 7 • t '^^g^sed her at a glance, and stood like
onVe^4\?k ^'^Ih^l^'^lj'^J^fA^^ -^ ^^atl^^
on ner Cheek. She turned half round upon her cousin
as If about to say something. Then, recoverinrC
™!Lr^^''^.^'^' ^^S her lips. Claudia movi
w'g^^ ^^^* *' ^ «^« ^^<i -o^t «een any o'eb^
gl^' cry.''''^''^''' ''^'' '^"^ ^^*' 'P^°^ ^^^'^ard with a
Hester • /^ ^^X' '^l ^"®*^' ^'^ ^«' arms round
Hester, "so you have been keeping all tiiis up your
iwi '' -lo^MLJsmr-
2lS
CINBSBELLA.
deeve. How .old the enemy wiU be ! 1 would not
naje mused this for a thousand pounds f "
v X 1?°°^' ^" ^^^ ^P°° ^® moustache, hovered
^i^\ X * d'^gon-flj round a gnat-haunted pool,
*™"^^ ^ approach too near for fear of catching the
eye of the Duchess, and yet unable to leave such a
wonder as this little Cousin Hester, of whom he had
iutherto taken so little notice.
At last he got his chance. Carus had come again and
had departed, looking very indignant. Tom slid in.
"Hester," he said, in a low tone, "I can't ask you
to dance. I»m no good at that. But I want you to
sit out a square dance or so with me. I've pof some-
thing to say to you. And oh, I say, I just cau^t help
telling you that you are a stunner. Wh6re did you get
that dress? It is the prettiest in the room, and you
are the prettiest girl ! " ^
« A'7*^® I>uches8 gave it to me," said Hester, demurely.
"Of course I'll sit out with you, Tom dear, whenever
you like ! "
As the young man turned away he quailed under his
tather s eye. The eminent physician stood by a pahn
surveying the changing group round Hester with a
tand of tigerish look on his face. Tom slunk past
meekly enough, but Sir Sylvanus did not even gliice
at him. His eyes were on Hester's necklace, and he
seemed fascinated by the red eye of the ruby in its
network of golden chains.
He, too, watched his chance and approached Hester
as she mo\'ed towards the orchestra with a messajre
from the Duchess. *
"Where did you get that?" he asked in a tone
stifled and menacing. And as he spoke he laid a pulnv
finger on the pigeon's blood ruby. ^^
« My father gave it to me," said Hester, blushing.
J or tUl to-night she had never taken it out of the little
box m which Megsy had kept it. Indeed, it stiU re-
tained a famt reminiscent smell of Megsy's tea-caddy,
where it had Liin so long, waiting for its mistress "to
grow up and play with it."
lOlkilii
"AFTER THIS, HESTER HAD NO LACK OF PARTNERS."
OINDBBILLA. gig
hande tl^U^rbkd •=°""'»^'"<» "'ten white/ and
% »e SiSlk^re SSSirrlf '°7»»''«yi" rubies
gripped from S X ri^ r""": ^^^ ^*^ l"""*
memory of his c5me as to a mfir the ISS?„„** **''
™fcrLnL:&rh°^te4f'T^^^™^ '
momentarv cloudn^l^ iialf-heard words cast only a
found themselves "addenfvliZh? ^''^^^^PPfi*^*^
the hmn of voices X«?ti..^ ^ *"^' ■"* •'«»'*
resentful eai^ '~"' *^*"' "•"'' »*™>ge t» their
mother had ^17 su'oh^" ^^^0" « Olf f "'fT'"
It takes you clean off your feet I" ™raearteUow,
head and «Sgf «'tWs Z ^'"^^ "'^°? •>"•
f
220
CINDERELLA.
When Caras Darroch came for his third waltz he was
furious.
** Why, it's all full," he said, "not a Jack one — well,
I think you might have kept one or two for me, your
oldest friend in the room by a great deal ! **
" I am so sorry," said Hester, penitently, " but you
see I was so afraid that nobody would ask me to dance
at all, like that girl Ethel Torphichan tells about-
Kt
Oh, nonsense," said Cams, very rudely for him.
For he, too, remembered the lesson >/ith Monsieur, and
had counted on this experience for a long time.
" And besides, you know," continued Hester, taking
no notice of his exclamation, " I thought "
She hesitated, and looked at her fan.
"You thought what?
((
I thought that you would be so much engaged with
Ethel that you would not care to dance — with anybody
else."
" Not care ! " Cams was gnawing the end of his
moustache now. Yet for the life of him he could not
get the next words out. He was quite unconscious of
the curious look his father was bending upon him from
behind a palm. Lord Darroch was merely putting in
his time till a suitable card party could be arranged by
talking to Lady Torphichan-Stirling about the game
laws, and the necessity for "being severe with the
fellows." He had just got a new gamekeeper on purpose.
" It is time for our dance," said Hester. "Are you
very angary with me?"
*• No," said Carus, savagely, " but I'll take it out of
that young dog WaflBies when I get hold of him."
They moved o£P. Carus was not a first-rate dancer
like IQpford, but Hester seemed somehow to under-
stand, and fell into step so wonderfully, that in a
moment she had imparted to her partner 8ome of her
own consummate ease and grace. Carus had never
been so near her before. A subtle essence seemed to
breathe from her, as of the freshness of spring
roomings, Qf linen clean and delicate, and of ,the
charm of joyous girlhood. These came to him and
CINDERELLA.
221
weU-nigh made his brain reel. He looked down at
her with a sudden-springing tenderness. *
care- »'*B„M"^' "/st now you said I did not
^I r". xf^J ^® ^^^ &®* ^^ further. Indeed he
did not in the leaat know what he wa^ited to say
bhe looked at him, and her eves lawA ^JJr„ „ j
^"Sll S,t r* ■'•^ *" '^"^ ''^"- ^« only Ie?hS
go till the music c-ased. "*ooij.
"Do you know I have been steering you aU the
" Oh to r^'"l^" ledhertowardsthe^Cer^to^'
Oh ! I only wish you could » Cams be^n w^Vh
a very clear idea noJr of what he mS^l Ty?' ^ut
tt W^r ^^^^"^^ ^^*^- ^-'^^-S ^ from
"Yes?" queried Hester, quietly. Her heart was
beating fast with happiness. It would soon efd of
course, but meantime she would not think of that And
S^n^AeUr ^^^ "^^"«' ^' --«' -^ nt?
« I wish you would lend me your profframme fm
""« ill?' """'' 'I"""' ^*l!^^ "^ fome"Z W.
thenerd^:f..P»'*°" '^ »>« "»" -a moment for
comto^* nT'.i'm:^*'^"'^ young lady," said Tom.
But Carus was gone.
«iJ^%^if''''®''^^ ^P^°'*^ *«'"^ff to Vic on the other
side of the room, and swooped stmight down upon hh^
Wffl'^oTf; see Lady Niddisdale looking for y^'
Waffles? "he said, shamelessly. ^ ^ *
foir^**' r^u'® " grainy ?» said the youth, promntlv
falling mto the snare, "Pardon me a moment, jS^7"
Cams also murmured an excuse to Vic, i^ag s^n
rhe'ar^"""'^'^"^^^^^^^® ^^ ^ iooTAniorby
ۥ
SM
CINDIIBBLLA.
1^'
r
" See here, Waffles," he said, « you disgorge ! You
had no business to snap up all the best numbers on
Hester Stirling's card when I was dancing attendance
on the dowagers. Now I'm going to have the rest of
these bar one, and you can sit them out with Vic
over there. I don't think you'll mind much. You
and she seem great chums all of a sudden."
" I'll be hanged if I do," said Waffles, rebelliously.
"Now, attend to me. Waffles dear," said Carus,
softly; "I've licked you before, and I'll lick you
again— yes, this very night, if I have to take you
down to the billiard-room to do it."
Waffles had not been a fag in vain, and he
weakened.
"But how do you know that I can make it up
with Victoria ? " he grumbled.
" Because I have just seen her card, and I know
she has the vacancies. Let me mark your tally for
you. There you are, my boy. Go in and win ! Bless
you, my children."
Carus was jubilant.
"Oh, you unutterable beast!" growled Kipford,
staring at his mangled card. "You've gone and
nicked all the waltzes, except one ! "
"Yes," said Carus, mildly, "too much candy is not
good for little boys. Stick to pudding. Waffles-
stick to pudding ! "
Swiftly, all too swiftly, the tides of this New World
swept Hester onwards. The hours fled past.
"You are making a triumph, my dear," said the
Duchess, smilingly, "and I am glad you are not
dancing too much with any one man."
Hester's conscience smote her a little. Carus had
jurit returned her the amended list of her engagements.
She blushed hotly at the thought. Still, after all,
it was in no way her fault. He had done it without
telling her. It is strange, however, that it did not
occur to Hester to object to being made the subject of
exchange and barter. There was something masterful
about Carus Darroch always. She seemed to hear his
, » ..i.'.,^-. ,.»...<a^-!.-.:aByj , ij .-|,-| j |^ ||r
.."'V'^Sji" -tf-'- "^ - 'jT^^sfy 'J
cisimaxLLL. II,
thrilled at C tooT^rf kifi- "^ ?"*• ^S**" "he
thorn. Again%hrto.ted tt. l5" " >>« "tn^ted the
perfectlylSrm hu hJ^^ *"^ ""** °* *««"»»
thatyou»grd™8 more J^mlh'hS"^ •''*'» ."P""
eneth iron^ But'^whenThe 'Ztto&'themV.'e^
Ethel ^th s^hlofhr lK*^r?°?* ""^ '*»""i »t
to turn elaewhte toy™Te^'.^Htf^* T '^'"^'^
and ,pitef„i as the twf I^u^rZrl --■ "V""
lS"L"e- »e £df ?T-» Pf ^f
thrjpi.t Sir VvLt ToSan^.^""" """ J"^"
ereatu«. Likfa flowerTSt Z.%^^1^ the .''*''!?"*
after genial rain thp q.,vi o^ ?i ^ *"® sunshine
™ibl/ta thisX'o^Lfof wSje ^d^^i?^?"*'
She was so rfad fn iL oi^u f^ ,"^^8 ^<l admiration.
eenU, ha;pf^ t Tho^^Ll,:? ^ SS^Vt"
dark repressed jears it wai woSdeX to fin,1 ffc I ?*
'b.^^XT "' "^'"^ of"' 1-PP7 Witt! foSe'"''
af^r*dat: SedXraZf ^tl^^ t^-
sujreptitious fist at hi! coiX * ^"'' *~'' »
" loi s f^^'^^'.jz j^rx^rtt^i p»-.
and,, by the wa,. Sir ApoLoa^K p*?;^"|^^
"Waffles," said Cams, mildly, "I thought that in
^
224
CINDBBELLA.
time past I had done m j duty by you, but it appears that
I have not yet impressed upon you, that it is your best
policy to mind your own business. I shall try again
and succeed, if you don't look out ! "
"All right, dear boy," rejoined Kipford over his
shoulder, " I was only warning you, that's all ! "
But Cams did not want to be warned. He had taken
the bit between his teeth. He did not care for his
father or anybody's father. He was madly in love. He
owned it to himself. It was p;. in to see Hester give even
her hand to another man. How could she be interested
in the inanities of this and that fool ? —
"Do you like the floor? Are not the decorations
perfect ! What very poor champagne they are giving
— did you ever see the like 9 Have you been down to
supper? (He thanked Heaven he had forestalled them
there.) That idiot of a Tom — not Tom, but tomfool —
what could she have to laugh about with him ? What
if they were in love with each other all the time ! Tom
never went to balls ; why had he come to this and
stayed all night ? " And so forth, and so forth. The
pattern is constant with earnest young men, driven
this way and that by the primal ardencies of love.
" How could she appear so unconscious ? Why did
she never look at him ? She was a hard-hearted little
flirt, of that unconscious sort which is ever the most
deadly. Pshaw ! he would dismiss the matter — he would
think no more about such a girl."
But just then Hester, passing on Eipford's arm,
lifted her eyes once to lus as he stood gloomily apart.
She smiled, and his heart went into his throat with the
suddenness of physical pain. " What an angel ! Was
ever anyone so lovely ? " He tingled to his finger-tips
with desire to carry her o£E there and then — to the
Pacific Isles, to Hampstead, to the North Pole — ^to any
wild and desolate place where they would be sufficiently
alone together for ever and ever, Ye8, and he would do
it, too.
CHAPTER XXXn.
The Woem Turns.
jenior, Kke themaelves JuTd\x" . J^J' P ""ch
things— finding enioyment in .. •'^ xu^ , ^"J"^ """t
tke jouns. Yet ahomfl '» .'^e'"? the happiness of
her^Grai Ladv iZuchl^^^^r" compaSson with
caprices of a reallv ^u therefore humour the
S&Ung would eSd her wr""- ^I^^ Torphiohan!
To-moS-ow her o^^L '°?''°«»» M a little further.
tiMe-«w" must^.*T ^^Ji"^. ^"g'^-'J f» some
Sylvanus, must we „^„t*?" "P*^«f?U tabernacle, SiJ
a* iipford S put Wm „„ ». S""l' *°' '^?**- H« '^""M
thg.at as s^nTs CKr^;.'^ *° "^ "* «-*«''»
-houldeJ?' ^""""^^ ""^^^'f '*™<=k m over his wife's
"Certoinly, certainly, my dear Duchess," he said, i„
15
■■-■
ii
226
CINDERELLA.
his softest manner, " it was indeed most kind that your
Grace should interest yourself in the child. Her life
till lately has been such a sad and unfortunate one.
She succeeded to a heritage of disgrace. I am sorry to
speak of a relative of my dear wife's in this manner.
But Sarah will bear me out that nothing else does
justice to the facts."
So no alternative remained to Lady Torphichan-
Stirling but to collect her brood and make ready to sail
down the stairs of Scotstarvit House. Hester came up
with Vic, feeling that now indeed her fate was come
upon her. But her aimt received her with an ominous
chill and an intimation that at the request of the
Duchess she was to remain the night at Scotstarvit
House. Hester thanked her aunt falteringly, and then
turned to say good-bye to Vic.
"See you to-morrow morning, old girl, and get all
your news about everything," was that off-hand yoimg
lady's reply. "Nicest ball I ever was at, don't you
think so?" ^
" I never was at any other, you see," said Hester,
smiling, "but it has been very nice."
" You will have to stiffen your back to-morrow, little
girl," whispered Vic, " Eth is as sulky as a bear with a
sore head. Look at her face now. Pleasant, isn't it ?
She won't be any better in the morning. But never
mind, dear, Tom and I will pull you through somehow !
And I'll send you some of your ordinary togs for the
morning."
"Thank you, Vic, dear; you are always kind," said
Hester, giving her friend an impulsive little hug at the
head of the stairs.
" Now I'm off to be the pariah of a virtuous estab-
lishment, all the way home in that horrid old carriage ! "
The Baronet smiled upon his niece as he went out,
and Hester looked up at him even gratefully. But
there was something in the imsmiling eyes at once so
baleful and so thieateningthat Carus's vague instinctive
dislika for the distinguished physician changed into
frantic hatred upon the spot.
T.'.''': vXig
lIlKlMsS h llMS
».;a 'w ■.'v^.^.i- y-.-...;-
CINDBRBLLA.
227
" Thank heaven, that's over » »irA,^ *u t^ ,
jmking into a chai in the ^dronm^^ ^® Duchess,
been kept up by «,e whist pXSe^^hT ^ ^' ^^
inj Lord Darroch. "ReUocLT I I ® auspices of
here ? Why haven't you gine ?ff' ^^^* ^« J^^" doing
the rest ? " ^ ^ ® ®* *o Jour rooms with
"IVeTefh^rgTe pLt^ *^ ^'" -^ Cams.
.™. me a hea in^Ms^^SXi^iStef^^^^^^^
old"S;,^^^^t't1^;,^^^^^^^^^ Sighed the
arranges that these SLnsafaW ??. ^*?^'" ^^^^
Place when I have a prett^^S «f? -^^^ ..^'^^^« *aJ^e
1 will see to it that y^do f^t nr^^v? !j\"»«- But
which rules the ouCin^s „ */ • ^^ *^® Providence
You have not behavS Tt ^1/^^!^' "^ P^^^«-
with you. Why did vorn^fVl * i^ '^^^ Pleased
daughter down to supper as wJ^ *^? apothecary's
sir? You know yoS^foth^ Jl ^«]^,.bounden duty,
l7nx and he wiuSte'trserov:rTw\^/^" '^^-
--wh.h . bad for him, seeingTat" Js^Tea^^" H* •
^^Carus muttered the first excuse that came into his
mother. Now I do not c^elhL., '7^u ^^^^ ^ *^e
but I am going to see tharyou do not't'.V ^'^ '^'^'
little friend unhappv till vnn L J ™*^® ^y sweet
Masterly mind iSup! - ^^ ^^* ^^"^ Loriffigh-
And she nodded to Rpnf^i. »,i,
Kipford, was watcWn^^S T^'.''' "^^11 *^« ^^^o^ of
men putting out Se ^Z« ««] ^^'* *?« contractor's
tions of the ballroom ^""^ removing the decora-
tb:j^d7cfCbeU!lVtt^^^^^ -^PP^ ^or
some vague idea of co^^sl^nf^l ^^^^' ^^ ^^^
himself on his grand^'olXlood^'^ tfi ^'^^f"^
he could not muster the coSge kef "&t3
228
CINDERELLA.
rM
m-
always been good to him, but he had always known
that he must marry money. His father had told him so
a thousand times with brutal fmnkness. Niddisdale
had impressed the need upon him with dignified clear-
ness. His grandmother jested continually about it, yet
with an air that told how thoroughly she under-
stood the necessity. The opportunity passed. Hester
came up with Kipford, and was promptly whisked up-
stairs by the Duchess out of his sight.
Eipford led the way to the smoking-room, Cams
gloomily following in his wake.
The former made no remark till he had opened a new
box of his father's cigars, and let the gas escape from
a soda-water bottle with a loud report.
Then he spoke, without looking at his friend, appar-
ently to the long tumbler with the ice tinkling in it.
" No end of a fine girl that, Darroch — pity her people
are not more— eh ? '*
He stopped in surprise, for Cams had turned the face
upon him with which he used to lick him in the days of
his fagship.
"Her people are as good as yours — better than
mine ! " he said, fiercely.
"Don't jump down a fellow's throat. Cams," said
Kipford, laughing a little uneasily, " you know yourself
you don't much cotton to that sanctimonious doctor
humbug?"
" And what has he to do with her ? "
"Why, he is her father ! "
Cams looked at Kipford as if he had suddenly gone
crazy.
" Of whom have you been talking all this time ? " he
asked, coldly.
" Why, Vic Torphichan, of course ! " Kipford broke
into a laugh. " Oh, I see ! And you of that little girl
granny has swept off upstairs with her. Go slow, old
man, go slow ! Yoi\ know you danced with her far too
much to-night. And pray how often did you dance
with your Ethel?"
Cams muttered a fierce rejoinder.
CINDERELLA.
229
^ZJf^* ** ** ^^ buainesg, Carua. You were too f
gone to see your governor lying oflFin the winga, and the
^f dp'^S''Tl7*/^/°8r.you both with a &e on him
h^ death and heU following after. But I saw, and, if
inS^o^ n"""*' ^^^'' ^^" ^"^^ «"*' J^^» '^i" not only iet
into a 3oUy mess vourself, but what may weiijh J^
Cams tried a counter.
Jli^^'i ^"""T *^''"* ^*°^ ^^at will your father say
s^lf v^fwr''' ^^^, ^,^" ^^^^ ^«^ conducting you^^
self with that young lady aU the evening ? » '^ "^
No good, Carus," said Kipford, lighting a cigar
I flhouM w ,^««°°^ly' except for the Oxford business.
^W o n*- ^*^\ca'ed a domino if he had. Thirdly,
they are all in such a hurry for me to marry, that I^
pre% well sure they wilf give me my le^VZ
matter. You see I don't need to go in for dollars
as you do. Cams. Fourthly, and lastiy, Ly de2
fnend. hsten to the words oY wisdom fromIL C
S J ir^- ^'' '' \^f ^ ^'1' * g««d fellow! Sd
nfL* ""^^ ^'I^K ^^^^^^"^ «^« ever sees me igain
or not. Now If that little Hester of yours werfto
fa^ m love, she would put her last copper on th^
^. ^ ,Amen. Now PU take up the coUe?t?^n, 5 yZ
Carus smoked furiously, but did not reply.
feet f 1^1 k\^T®^* ^'^ * ^°"^g^« and elevated his
teet over the back of a contiguous chair.
It sounds joUy cheek, me ragging you about a girl
-you can tell me to depart to the shades of ^e
u^Bainted dead, or you can joUy well kick me down my
ancestral stairs But unless you mean-well, stendSg
z.':t^in^fi^,^::,^^:^^' ^^^ ^^^ ^ ^-d feuow!
Carus threw his scarce lighted cigar in the fire.
" rrJrl "^^^ T!^ Kipford, starting and rescuing it.
*you are in a bad way. That's one of the -ovemor's
best regalias! They stand him in about'' ten Sb
X4
230
CINDEBELLA.
apiece. Jolly good thing he didn't see you do that, my
fine young man ! "
"Look here. Kip," said Carus Darroch, turning
upon his ex-fag, "you know me pretty well— I do
mean to stand up to the pack. My father and my
grandfather have played the deuce with the property
for their own pleasure. I don't see why I should sacri-
fice myself to it. If I can make that Httle girl love me
for myself, I am going to do it. And if I can make
her love me, I am going to marry her in spite of fifty
fathers and all the apothecaries in creation ! "
Kipford threw himself out of his lounge with a
bound. He extended a hand across the little old-
faahioned knife-box which held the decanters.
" Shake ! " he cried, cheerily, " I'm wid yez, me boy !
Count your "Waffles in ! "
After this there was a long silence, and Kipford
arranged himself to listen at his ease till far into the
night when Carua at last began to talk on and on
about little Hester Stirling. First he told of the night
in the wood when he had carried her home to her
grandmother. Then he narrated at inordinate length
everything that had occurred since, till Kipford began
to nod and wake up again with a jerk (as it seemed,
after the interval of many years) to hear the voice of
his friend still proclaiming, as though it were a newly-
discovered truth, that " In all the world there never
was a girl fit to compare with her ! "
At which, finding himself directly appealed to, Kip-
ford nodded for the fiftieth time and relapsed into
unconsciousness .
******
Meanwhile, up in her Grace's boudoir, Hester was
back in the pink dressing-gown and assisting the weary
Neale to prepare the old lady for bed— in so far as that
energetic dame would permit of any interference with
her toilette.
The Duchess had been making a proposal to Hesfcer
which set that young woman's eyes fairly aflame anew.
Thii was no less tluui that she should accompany her
nil
«iiiii
CINDERELLA.
231
Grace to Homburg as her companion, and this without
waiting a day longer. In fact, they must start the
lollowmg morning.
* l\u^ f ^^^, ^^^ ^^^ ^®8*«' *o refuse. But she
lelt that she could not thus run away from those who.
It she owed them Httle kindness, had at least given her
both a home and an education during three years,
felie could not go away without consulting Revvie and
Megsy. Also, and a flush came upon her cheek as she
confessed it to herself, she did not really want to leave
l^ndon just then. It was foolish, of course. J?e could
never be anything to h-r, but during the last dance he
had asked her to be his friend. And in fact she did
not want to go to Homburg quite so much as she
had thought when first her friend mentioned the
project.
Her Grace of Niddisdale jhed.
"Well, I suppose I am a" selfish old woman," she
Mid, "and your impulse to stay is rigut and creditable.
Uut It does not seem to me that you owe these people a
penny piece. They have made a nursery-governess of
you, neither more nor less, and so saved themselves
the trouble of looking after their chUdren. That is
how the matter strikes me. But never mind— you can
imte me if you change your mind, my dear. And now
off with you to bed ! I am not so young as you, and if
I am to cross to-morrow, I must get some sleep before
starting out to catch the mid-day mail."
1
K
^mn
CHAPTEE XXXm.
The Two Cast-ieon Men.
of 7hl Z *^^ ^^"^t ^^ "^° ^^«" Hester rang the beU
1^^ BnXL^Tl ? ^^P'^«« ^^^' She had !een the
W rh«5 V^' ^Z^'' ^^ ^^^ &«^« straight home
Cckfn'rtC ^"^-'^^P-^dto^eranLtepped
andt^^T^f' Timson!" said Hester, brightly,
and tripped into the haU witii her usual dainty !wif£
ness removing her gloves a« she did so. Ve^
and then with the step of an avenger of blood he
Srilwa*^'>i.*^ *^« "**^^ back-room stmcill^
^jlvanus's study. It was mostly sabred to the
^S mir^'^?'?;*^^ *'^°^ *h« philanthropical
fSl Ci?^' ^1^ > *^« S:'^^* drawing-rSom.
^ r^Zf^ ""^ *°/ Pf-^icular trouble in store for her.
nw ?^ ?PT^ *^® *^^«' a-^d she found herself
^nfronted by her unde and two men cla4 in grey, ^th
^LV ^r^T.JPP^' ^1^> ^"^ ^*J^ a geniai'sense
aW ;i f S^"* *^®°'- T^««« three were standing
cW bwK ^i^ m constrained attitudes, and in an arm-
^^taia:;:i!i:rtoXr4r^^^ ^ -<^ *-
th^ fo*^ th^ h"'^ ''•^""* ^? bewildered. She knew well
8h^mu«t nL K^^'T'.^^ .*^ P^«<^ twenty-four hours
iW ^ ^ ^^^^ enduring the wrath of the Blue Draw-
^-room, and possibly the coldness of her aunt. But
rhetS^rn^tS^^^r^ --- *^-*^«^* ^ «to-
"Good morning, uncle," she said, brightly j « I beg
mitlumm
mim
CINDERELLA.
233
your pardon. I did not know you were here with any
one. Timson showed me in by mistake."
Sir Sylvanus did not answer directly. He was holding
his head a httle more erect than usual. It was, in fact,
the manner he cultivated for addressing his constituents!
Ihis, as It were, released another fold of chin, and was
accompanied by that haughty throwing forward of the
lett knee which one sees in poUtical statues, in
company with a togaesque frock-coat and a roU of
l^IT ^^]^<? ^^f ^^^* ^^^'^^ This was, in fact, the
ideal which Sir Sylvanus kept before him.
• ^®x i*l ^°*. answer Hester directly. He only
indicated her with his hand. ^
o* 'lu^'^ H *^®, yn^aPPy girl," he said, solemnly. And
Tni^^l a'l-^'^ of whimpering sob burst from Lady
loyhichan^Stirhng, and she rocked herself to and fro
taster than ever.
" ^y dear," said the baronet, turning suavely
round to his wife, "this is a very painful matter, and
perhaps— perhaps it would be better if you did not mix
yourself up m it. Had you not better retire for a time
to your own room ? "
+u"^®^?^^^^°^* certainly, if you think so," said
tnis model wife.
"What is it, aunt?" cried Hester, now thoroughly
bewildered, "why are you crying?"
And in the pity of her heart she would have accom-
panied the lady as she went out, but her aunt snatched
away her arm, and caught up her skirt with a gesture
which said as plain as print, " Avaunt, toad ! "
Even then Hester would have followed Lady Tor-
phichan-StirUng from the room, but with the most
noiseless of footsteps and quite unobtrusively, one of
the cast-iron men in grey moved to open the'door for
the lady of the house, and, as if it had been wjcident-
aUy, he interposed his body between Hester and the last
« w?^ rustle of her relative's sUken train.
"What is the meaning of all this?" asked Hester,
tammg to her uncle. Sir Sylvanus still maintained
hiB attitude of the incorruptible tribune.
:^i^
rl.-
234
CINDBBELliA.
It means, he said, forensically, « that you, Hester
Stirling, are accused of stealing from a cabinet in this
room a certain gold necklace of Oriental workmanship
with ruby clasp of the value, considering the centrd
stone alone, of twelf s hundred pounds » **
Hester did not faint. She did not even feel the
dreadfulness of her position. The accusation did not
seem a real one. Without doubt, all could be put right
by a simple explanation.
" Why," she said, " do you mean this ? »
And she took a little brown leather case out of her
pocket. The Duchess had asked to look at the ruby
when Hester took it off the night before, and had lifted
the case from her own dressing table and given it to
her to keep the necklace in.
Hester opened the brown morocco, and with a kind
of interested indrawing of the breath the two men came
fomard to look. The elder of them took the necklace
in his hand, and puUing a Httle glass out of his pocket,
minutely inspected it. He pointed out sometMng in
an undertone to his companion, and then he in his turn
stuck the glass m his eye.
*' Why,'' cried Hester, smiling "you cannot be
senous, or else you are dreadfully mistiken, uncle. I
nave had this ever since I can remember. My old
nurse, Megsy Tipperlin, told me that my father had
brought it from India, or somewhere, and given it
to me to play with when I grew up,' he said. She
Jtept It in her trunk, however, lest I should lose it, and
only gave it to me when I came to London three years
"Will you. Sir Sylvanus, be good enough to repeat
The ^der of the two cast-iron men spoke for the first
time. Ue held the Duchess's brown morocco box in
his hand, and snapped and re-opened the catch in an
absent-mmdod and mechanical way. Sir Sylvanus
cleared his throat. ^
"This young woman, Hester Stirling, is my wife's
rntmn
■Jill -m riniMifit ■
CINDERELLA.
235
mece, the daughter of a brother who was expeUed the
house and disinherited by his father. Three years ajro
Lady Toiyhichan-Stirling and I received her into o^r
house out of charity. She haa never shown herself in
the least grateful for anything that has been done for
her, being nahnjaUy, so my wife and daughters inform
me, of a spiteful, peevish, and malevolent disposition."
Sir Sylvanus was lengthening his periods, but the
cast-iron man opened the brown case and held it in
plain sight-hke one who would say, "Cut the cackle
and come to the point." Sir Sylvanus accordingly
proceeded more succinctly. ^
"Various articles have been missed from time to
time, but nothing that we could be definitely sure of
without a shallow of mistake. However, last night, at
a baU j^yen by the Duchess of Niddisdale, I saw the
ruby which you hold in your hand worn as an orna-
ment by Hester Stirling, and recognised it at once as
the missmg one of a set of six, aU exactly similar,
which has been lost ever since the first month she
spent m my house."
+i,r??f9^?"^?P'^P'*''**'' ®* *^® young woman before
the baU ? ; said the younger of the two men.
Suspicion—yes," said the baronet, as if the iniquity
of mankind saddened his heart, " but not enough to go
upon, a^d besides one is naturaUy very slow to harbour
so terrible a doubt concerning any one connected, even
remotely, with one's family."
Hester was about to speak, but the man with the
ruby held up his finger.
.ffi"^*i '! ""^ «xJ^> "^"^ y®"»" ^^ said, in a severe
official tone, "that anything you say will be used in
evidence against you. You may if you like answer
my questions. Is there any one in London to whom
you have shown this necklace, which you say has been
m your possession ever since you can remember ? "
* No, said Hester. « I do not think so. " Indeed, I
forgot all about it till the afternoon of the haU just
betore 1 went out to the Duchess of Niddisdale's."'
A very likely story," said Sir Sylvanus, contemptu-
^r^-
'k-^mf;
236
CINDERELLA.
ouslj, "to keep a jewel worth twelve hundred pounds
how Sf '^ 'f r^ ^^^^*' ^^ '^^^^^ either weK or
show It to any of her cousins— or to Miss Martin the
resxdent governess, in whose companyX hl^L^
day and every day for three years ! "
facte^ ^^""^"^ ^^' ''^ '^"''^' ^"* «^«^« «"'« of hi«
Then the elder man spoke again.
^hini.^"" -Yu !?^ ^^® ***^®'' «^°ii^ necklaces-the five
whch, with this one, make up the set?"
"Certamly,- said Sir Sylvanus, with grave and
keys out of his pocket he selected one and opened a
Me wallpress. From this he drew out a W The
men gave an involuntary start and bent do^ their
veiv^ while m the middle there waj a vacant place.
ouslv » J^<.-^T,' *^^* *^« ^^^" run^continu-
fndinf.^^- •^"" ^{^If^^i "at the bottom of eadi
65 66 fi7 fi^S? fn*^^^.^^ ^^^^ " * little tickS-
h/J % *\.^®* ^^? ^^- ^^e«« numbers ore also on ^
wanting. Now you have seen, gentlemen that I hava
not even touched the jewel, which you recd?^ f^I!
the hands of Hester' Stirling, ^m you be ^
enough to examine the markiSg on V Wk of^S^
setting and see if you can discern anytime P^
al«;« o "'•'''^ ^^Portent of the two men took out bis
glMs again, and screwed it into his eye.
1 see some faint marks very deUcatolv done of
'Cd^K'w r' ^s^ -^teiii^i^> hr/aiS
sc^^toh^^fn^fe'^^^^^^^ -«- -^%
tJL^s? hk"?^^5 of tiie cast-iron men stood erect and
Slli^^SnM^.l"*^ his overcoat pocket. Something
metalhc tmkled there. His senior turned about qui^v
"I don't think that will be necessair, Davie^* he
said. Then he addrpqiP^ Wo-f.-^ ^i ''^ -i^avies, ne
bpmnnin^ +« ^ aaaressecl Heater, who was only now
Deginning to realise her danger.
mmt
CINDERELLA.
287
1,0" ^-fV^^^^ *^** I ""^^ ""^^ y^^"^ ^ accompany us,"
he said kindly enough. "Davies, get a W-wheeler
tfT^n tr ^.^P^^^iWe for tiiis tra} with its contents;
to ™p Tt.'"^ ^^® ""^ "" ^'^"^ °^ newspaper in which
"Now, miss," said the detective, when this was
at ?^£r'' ^*\^ ^J""^ ^^" *^" «^y t« *he inspector
?till Jtt'^g »" ''" ^ magistrate in court, if he is
l,..S^«T+*2i """"a S, ^^^^^^P^?" stood te attention in the
hall as the sad httle procession filed out, with noses in
tne air, and a general appearance of saying, "We ex-
pected nothing else ever since the first day we set eves
on this young female ! " ^ ^
+.^'*5^4?^ '^^^ ^"^- ^"^ ?V^®^ anywhere, though a dis-
tant tittering intimated to Hester that Ethel and
Claudia watehed from an upper landing
"I think I wiU follow in a hansom," said Sir
Sylvanus. * "^
He did not relish sitting opposite to the pale set face
?iv'^'"®^ir®^ ?.' ^""^ ^ninutes. The senior detective
looked quicklv at him. cuci^uve
qJ^^'^ r^r^Y. J"^ ^^' "Davies, a<;company Sir
Sylvanus Torphichan-Stirling to Eburv Street."
He opened the door of the ancient ^d battered four-
wheeler and showed Hester in very respectfully. Then
he held the handle while he directed the veiy W old
^bman, who the night before had driven Hester to
?Hst;Sd ^Ttl ^^'^ ^ ^. ^ *^« police-stetion^
This he did Y»*^ the same nonchalance as if it had been
^!?'°Sl^*^'' ^^^y *^^ *^e nearest music-hall.
At the Ebury Street police-station they found a bluff
inspector busy with a multitude of papers. He looked
Zl'' Tr-'^ ^ ^' ^^-^' ^^" "P^^ "■ P^l« interesting
1^\ I, ® »°«Pector winced. He had a girl of his owS
about her age. Hester's lips were quivering, and she
cksped and unclasped her hands piteously, but so far
«nekept a brave gnp upon herselfT
With a face which gradually hardened to the official
iiplpip
'^fPSifS
288
CINDBBELLA.
look of cast-iron the inspector listened wl,iu a-
Sylvanus reeled off his weGreDarid n!l ^ ^ ^
deJtJ^e q'X'*^°'"«°"'" "»^" -"ked the «,„ior
had^had the custody ol it tuf ';:i5^- AT'^^
« quite ™w;v:,:^,".^n^„«'«i^°''t' "»l?e
league with the girl." ' "nprobablj, m
« ^1^ uot iuterrupt, if you please," said the iu-nw-t^, .
jou mil have an opportnnity of idiSna »„ J^^*^ '
may think n«ce«aryTyour SatemtntfftS^d"^. '""
^^« Tou deal in precious ston,,, sirP " he asked, looking
"I am largely interested in them " said R»1,™»,
reddening, "itisweU known thaST have Ln IT* '
many years, in rubies especially" ^° "*• '""■
Tim was not » question be cared to be exact about,
CENDEEBLLA.
239
^a^\ *^f *H* °^**®''' ^^ ^«^ *^t Ws secret
was perfectly safe.
The inspector bit the end of his pen and gazed
meditatively out of the window. ^
settle. I am afraid, Miss Stirling, that I shaU have to
detein you in the meantime. But if sufficient security
be forthcoming I ma^ admit you to bail. Tor this pur-
pose you are permitted to communicate with your
a?on^' ^^ ^f^Z^""^ "?.*^ ^*« ^" ^ forwarded
at once. Riswold, No. 5, if you please I "
And so with appalling suddenness Hester found her-
self alone in a pnson-cell, the best and airiest, certainly,
wood and bare boards were concerned merely a white-
washed pnson-cell She sat down stunned Ld dazed,
her spirits far below the point when she could have
wept because of this awful thing that had befallen her.
bhe did not feel angry with her uncle. The horror of
the fact was enough to blacken all else. In the viUage
of St. John there was a poUce office. It had certain
barred windows far round at the back, and the more
darmg boys used to rattle upon them with a stick and
then run away Such were felt to be ah-eady far down
the broad road But within the memory of man no
inhabitant of the pansh had ever seen the inside of
one, and once, when a travelling tinker became out-
rageous in the abuse of marital privileges so that he
J^ ^ ^rM ""^ *^ ^® ^^'«<1 <lown, the whole
countryside talked about the matter for a month
It was this inconceivable disgrace, and no fear of the
result, that struck Hester dumb, so that when the
police inspector followed in a few minutes to ask if she
had finished her letters, he found her sitting blankly
u^n the one chair and staring at the writing materials
with which she had been supplied by Riswold.
"Have you not written to your friends?" he asked,
shortly enough, but with a kind accent. Hester
looked at him vaguely, as if she did not understand the
question. "
'.'*'~JP^!BgjB' i
240
CINDBRELLA.
'I My friends are far away— in Scotland ! " shegaid
, Have you no friends in London-the adrnf tl«v
m whose house you stayed last nFght, for instance p^^^^
« ?r ^""^ ^?"® *^'<^»<^ *t" moraine f *»
app^p 2"^ ^"^ "° ^°« ^«™ to whom you can
R«w'1f^ 'h* *^''^"fi^^ Hester's brain-" Cams!-
jrdt-^:iil7,^S5»^
Jtaelf by an unusual particularity of addresJt'nd STm^
at aU that a poljceman stood watching them curio^sfT
"Can you tell me all about it ? " said P»™- << &•*
down and take your time W« will .^ i! **
of this pla«e I " ' '°*"' '"'™ yo» out
wo5rbe^^^^r^-*---wh^^^^
CINDERELLA.
841
the points like a lawyer. -You have had it thie ve^
thT?«8t of iSf« -t^*- Jk ^^*" a running number with
merest of the set in the possession of Sir Svlvanua
tttat wiU be their ca^e. (5n the other han^, we haT^
Scotland a witness who can not only prov^ absotuteS
c£^uVh»ut"tt^^^^^^^^^
by your own father. Is LTthatt^?'" "^ ""'' ^^^^"'^^
alwavfUri? f?^'*^'' t1^^^'^ ^°«^« that. She
?J:Cat?s*h:*u^'d rJiTa "t: i^a^n f ^-
^^r^she had dr^sed me for churl'o!;* ^blth 'ZZ
-"T^®"'" said Carus, smiling, " we must set vou onf
of this place first, and settle about the rest aft J T o
grf ^ff \set bail. I am not a Whofder I fea^
but I know those who are. I shall not be lon|.» *
26
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Thb Teleoeam on Cabu8*8 Table.
((
"I^lJh, ^"^ ^S'^K ^?^ ^^'^ ^*"«<^h, furiously.
Andl fHrK"^^ °''*^'°^ ^ ^^ ^^*^ ^^^ disgraceful affair
whatwmt/»^*^.^?/^"""^ "P ^^^' Think of
What wiU be said, of what every one will think "
Cams h!?f ^""""J^^P ^ gentleman, my lord," said
white! *^'°^ ^ "^^^ ^"^ «f g'-^J^h
His father took a stride forward as if to strike him
sweai* S*^«n '^ ^''^yy^'^r^^ly chance," he cried, "I
empty title. You have a chance to marry a ffood irirl
a pretty girl with such a dowry as wouwUkf all y^?
':^:7i t\feGhlT>^ *^^^ '-"^^ ^" *^-* ^- ^«
choked off the rest of the sentence by^compressSg Hs
father's throat with both hands before figging Wm
down on .the sofa, where he sat long dazed, hf eaS
Sv^£frrD '^' tumultuousness of hif son's de^"
ZL-i ^a":och went about for several days with a
pam in the region of his Adam's apple.
Cams sped ne^t te Scotstarvit House as fast as a
^To^drh'iS'.-^'^- Y-'^^««-wasathre
bov "^vfU?^"^'. ""^^i? *^^, r^^^""^ Sit down, my
«.£; ^ 1 . *' iS"^* P'"®**^ ^'^^ ' The nostrum-vending
scoundrel! My mother ha« told me aU about her!
m^-^S
'wv
CINDERELLA.
248
.JU ,1
tU!
■'"^r^ ^f oH.ct; I.e
^Jd2 w"V '""'/!?' boy-unto ihe half of my
. «ngdom. Won't your father come along ? No— hem-
hem just like the old-yes, yes. Cams, my bor I trill
meet you at the station. I 'think wrha7& Jke
James Chet^ynd with us in this, though. I wifl brS^
him. Yes, ves, he wiU be the other security. He 3
I generally hunt together ! " "'^ ® *^**
^'* Thank you— a thousand thanks, uncle ' -
JNot at all, I assure you, dear bov. In almn«f
sorry your friend is innocent. It will be\c * *^""''*
sailing tor Jim Chetwynd."
When Cams returned to the Ebu- v
found that Hester had two friends alri ' >v ii s . ^ a
vague sense of disappointment sei/.i up.:. F , ^i,.^
he found that these were Tom ai . Vii lot >4T..n
Vic's face was swollen, and her eyes Z t -i ' ":
Tom looked as if he were about to fight a du^ an.V ^
determined to kill his man. ^ ""^
iS^Z u*"^ ''^'' was speaking as Cams eniexeu.
(sob)— Tom did too. I have money of mv own (a^y.\
and we will all liye together-in a ^tta^^^tS iose
^qb) and Deyonshire cream, oh, and such^ a Tear Zy
Hester I m going to swear (sob) that you showed me
the ruby, the yery first night you came and m^« ^1
promise not to teU ! There-I wiU r' ®
Hester was smiling now.
" ^^' °o> you must not think of such a thing dear
« D u ^' ^^^^* *™ y°" ^^^ already ? »
Perhaps we had better adjourn into the office," said
the voice of Inspector Greig, at this point ; "there ale
two igenUemen waiting there-I preside oi the matter
They aU went out, and the Duke came forward and
took Hester's hand, smiling. wrwam and
21^ t^^ ' " ^"* ^^^ ^ a^ right ! "
HThe Duke's voice sounded just as if she had been
■ :-ms = ^. -^-
fc'iifNr^^jT^^-p
244
CINDERELLA.
'^'^
m^^
vl
wZt! "'"' '^ ''""" '''"™ " «■« »•«' ""^ •■"rt
"This is Hi! Grace the Duke of Niddisdalp «n,l ™.
tte flgjare muat be heavy. The char^ i» a ve^iZ
pj^^^ "C- o^e ^ttir^ -M
flnI^«of'h^»f'"" ''T' '!*'*• eloomily biting the
M.tK^„°"j '^^ *.". """^ <»"*»ide the station in the
momentarily without suggestioi. ^ ^'*"' ''^^
Mr r^Svi^T'^lf '""f^ ""^ '^^ i« o«t of town," said
^XheWnd ; " perhaps we had better take you to^n
Help came from Vic.
8a':"irEo^t r^" ■** '"'• "^'-'' ""« Co»„t«»
Even Mr. James Chetwynd sighed a sieh of relief
^iTl " **'"'" *''* ^'«"* ^"^>« B<""J Tom ^'i
" Kemember, then, we must be in the Court hv *i.„
^""f"" »?rning," .aid James Chetwynd! "fi ^ffl
almost wrtainly end in a lemand-to allow ™^
procure our Scotch evidence. That wiU ^e me ti.^
Mrtitti
'Ses^
■»Ai:4//r»*_i:y._ Jh^iii-**?:*.; ■^^,
Jl,>i5>S
CINDERELLA.
245
eked out by spite, or-as I am more inclined to think
—a thorough-going black-leg conspiracy."
Vip'^hatT"^^ Bouth-westward with Vic and Tom.
B^frite th«1,JT'^"* ?• .^^" ^*« ^» *^« highest
spirits. She ha^ drawn Hester's arm through her own,
^jlr.T^u^i^^';?"^^" ^h"«* «be stroked Td
S^f Sh • ^*'^ 1°^ ^f ^^^"^- The two young ^
ab^e behind, gloomily silent, each vaguely resentful
of the presence of the other. "cuwiu
Th^.?"" ?'^^' *^^^ '^1^^^^ *^« *^«'"«r of the bridge.
^"now T^ ''' ^ Purple and russet gloom beneath. ^
« T nr^tT; ^■''" ^""^ *^ ^"^ '*™»&ht home," said Vic,
Z. of f It r"* ^,"»«,a«y further-so that you cai^
Bay at home that you don't know where I am."
« vff^t^ *^^* in any case," said Tom, sullenly.
«.n I^'/ -l?"^' '^'^x ^^^' "^^* '^hen it is tnfe you
^l ^^ A* '^i^^^ '»"^h more elan, you know." "^
No, said Tom, -there you're clean oflf the eggs.
Hester held out her hand to him.
« W* 7^^ ^^''^ ^f" **" ^^^'^^ cousin Tom," she said,
but vou mi^t not get into trouble for me. YoiS
&TH^t1;.''""^*^'" Butnodoubthethinks^'
"Thank you, Hester," said Tom, "I wiU trv to
the fault of that beast Eth. That's my opinion."
f..iiil ^""S ^f "' ^''^^ *^®^® ^as not a great^mount of
S^^*^'"*'^? ?^"°^^ «"^""P«t them,* and he
Sg '^^^^ ^^"^ ""^ ^^'^ Da^och's throat wm
"And thank you a thousand times. Cams" said
fou 'sL^J"^ * ^""" ^?^' ' «''^"^^ have done butTor
you. Stayed in prison, I suppose."
It was good of vou to thmk of me first" he
^;fe"^ her hani jealously. Vic dir^tTfom'!
attention to a passing barge. Tom growled.
A quick sob shook Hester from head to foot. Tears
i"?.
S.'«.'-®.
■mBt/f^' '''^'.t.>;,'^ '.iSMiT, '''•'
.'IC-W1-&:
i
246
CINDERELLA.
uplt^r ^^ "^"^"^ ^ **^^" **'® ^hisP^'^. looking
Vic had tunied at the first sound of the sob, and
now she caught Hester swiftly by the arm and drew her
away»
Tjl'^f^^'^J^^^S^r^' '*" ^<^^P> suppressed tone.
He had forgotten about Tom and Vie. He only saw his
love going apart from him. ^
"No more to-night," said Vic, waving him ofiP with
her disengaged hand, but aU the same smiling at him
encouragingly over her shoulder.
The two young men stood wat^ihing the girls till
thej^^sappeared round the comer. Then Cams turned
"Good-night!" he said, "I suppose I shall see you
in the mommg ? " ^
"I am coming with you," said Tom, who appeared
determmed that his friend should take no \mfair
heart of Tom Torphichan. He had not, so fir as he
knew, cared much about Hester before. But now the
glaring injustice of which she was the victim, and
the consciousness that Carus had done more for her
than he could, had roused a tumult in his brave
brusque, inarticulate soul. For three years it had
^^n.ww*t'\^?? "^r-" Who was Carus
J^arroch that he should come between them ? It was
the bitterest of Tom's meditations that he should
only now have found out that he cared for Hester
Shrlmg. He had felt it as a possibility before,
but vapely. Furthermore, he had had a cheerful
sense that he had only to speak in order to end the
uncertainty.
He could have Hestor for the asking. There were
smarter girls but-Hester was Hester. There had been
a kind of patronage in his quiet assurance, some laziness
also. Un the whole, it was rather good of him. Hester,
he knew, had never had a sweetheart. She was a nice
"W
CINDERELLA.
247
little thinpf, pretty too, and in daM — when Tom got
ready, she should have her reward.
The ball and Hester's shining success changed all
that. He did not dance, yet he never once left the ball-
room. He Ktood in a comer watching Hester as she
fluttered around with flying feet, Madame Celine's
chiffons floating about her like butterfly's wings.
Hester nodded happily as often as she noticed him.
He thought that her shoes scarcely touched the ground,
so lightsome they were. Why were all dancing men
such fools ? That ass with the hair parted down the
middle ; what a smirk he wore on his face ' He would
like to kick him.
Tom vdshed he had learned to dance. What an
idiot he was, to have had the chance of Monsieur Saucy
and
******
Meantime Vic and Hester were receiving the
welcomes of that line old French gentleman, one of
the distinguished exiles sent out of the country by
Napoleon the Little.
" We are glad to see you ; we make you welcome,
Madame la Cumtesse and I. Allow me to present
you — Mees Hestaire Stirleeng, Mees Veectoria
Toroheechan-Stirleeng — Madame la Comtesse de Saucy
les Ecouis ! "
A little dark lady, bright-eyed and practical-looking,
such as you see at many a bourgeois pay-desk through-
out France, rose smilingly to receive them like long-
expected guests.
" We have come to cast ourselves on your mercy,"
said Vic. " I have left home because they have been
cruel to Hester. But, thank goodnesH, I am twenty-
one, and I have money of my own that Aunt Victoria
left me because I was called after her. They can't
touch that!"
And sitting down, she told all the story to these
syinpatliotic French people. Monsieur was hugely
indignant. He paced the floor. He sent in iuiagination
a dozen " cartels " to " Sir Torpheechan." M^^nwhOe
248
CINDEBELLA.
Madame came quietly over and sat between the fgixh
murmuring sympathy in every pause. ^ '
him Twilf^""*^ ^" Stirleenp my cartel. I wiU fight
uS; m«r^ i^orm him what I think of him/' cried lie
L an a^ll <^?; "^7^"^ ^o"? \«»a«e. « MademoiseUe
18 an angel. She dances with her soul. For me I wiU
never snily my hand with their money ag^^/^ '
And Hester and Vic had reason to believe, from cer-
^at^ JitTnlT? ^'^ °° ^" ^^^ dres;ing-table,
^at tL Jittle old dancmg-maater count and his lady
mfe had given up their own chamber to their gue^^
S^^dg^^^ule '''"'"'''''' ^^''^"^^^^ in the tiny SQ
oJZ ^^^ ^?^^8y and the natural consideration which
S in Sr''^"',5^^''i;\^ ^^^ ^^««^»"S «o princely
S;fnf iJ ^''*''if r^^ ^*^« «*ceUed this extruded
Tero^wnt^utZl'^^^^ ^°' ^« ^°-*«- -^« <^<^
w Jit*^^ .^ ''''*^^. *^** ^* ^^ ^i« '^ho rested little.
V?c ?«Slt'^ wearied witli the strain, slept profounSy
Vic leaned on her elbow, and watched kester in the
morning hght which filtered in across the river ^e
was lying with her cheek on the palm of one hZd.
ir«.l];®« ^*?f r* '^^ ^^^* ^'^^^g her head crypt-
ically, « and if I were a man " ^^
But curiously enough, Vic did not finish her phrase
m either case. tf^i^^
******
Since no -ttter might be, Tom accompanied Oarus up
table, the latter found a telegram. All the way back
through the wide south-western squares they had been
saying to each other, till it had become i common-
pla^, that there would be no difficulty in proving
Hester's innocence. f "»"»»
Tnl^ !^^'^- *^'°^ ^}^''^*^ ^""^ ^"*^ *h« governor," said
lom, he 18 generally not such a bad sort. I think
It must be that devil of a sister of min«*-oh, but I
■hh
iiiiiitftlrittiii
^^mit^-.
CINDERELLA.
249
"Go on," laughed Cants, "there is no occasion to
niind me. I have done some very considerable smash-
ing of the fifth commandment to-day myself."
Carus opened the telegram and stared at it blankly.
It came from Cairn Edward, the furthest point to
which the electric wires bad then penetrated.
" Will come at oitce. Margaret took shock yesterilay.
Too ill to be moved. — Borrmuman."
yfea
CHAPTER XXXV.
On Bail.
The police magistrate was a youngish man, recently
appointed and above aU thfngs anxious 'to avoid
responsibility. Also he was in a strait betwixt two
He was impressed by the immense respectabUity of the
well-known Parliamentarian and philanthropist, who
was Hester's accuser, and also to seme extent intimi-
dated by Jim Chetwynd, that famous lawyer.
But the lack .,f any direct evidence in favour of
Hester, the doubtfulness of the supposition that a
young giri coul have had in her possession a valuable
ruby all her lit. vithout knowing its worth, and, still
more, that she should have kept it three years in her box
in London wit hout showing it to any of her girl cousins,
the similarity of ' • markings and numbers upon the
jewels, done appai = ly by the same hand, d ecided him
to remand the pi n^mer for a week, increasing the
amount of bail to l sOOO, an amount Which, with the
p^ZX"^ ' ^"^'' ^'- C^^t'^y^'l irimediately
There is no need to dweU on the long-drawn pain of
this tune to Hester, the sordid surroundings of the
lawyer 3 oflices, the anxious waiting in halls and courts.
IJough Vic, renouncing all her relatives, went every-
where with her, and Cams followed her like her
shadow, though Revvie came up looking pale and
anxious, m spite of all these things, or ratle? because
ot them, Hester suffered intensely. There was no hope
of bringing Megsy. She was too ill and weak to be
moved, let alone to give evidence.
Mr. Chetwynd advised that no resiatance to a
CINDERBLLA.
351
oommittal to tnal be offered, on condition that the bail
be continued. The ma^strate gladly assented, eager
to nd hia own bounds of so compUcated and eiSu-
ordinary a case. ^^ w^
The date was fixed far enough ahead to allow of
Megsy s evidence being taken on commission. It was,
indeed, taken down with a fine directness by the
procurator fiscal of the Stewartry, who made a special
journey from Kirkcudbright for the purpose, aSd its
accuracy was borne witness to by a pair of local justices
01 tne peace.
,.'^^®.„Pr«>f"e«8 of the record was hindered and
diversified U the attempts of Megsy to import her
opinion of Sir Sylvanus and all the fimily of Torphi-
^-fwt?.*^® tenth generation into the text of Mr.
Nigil WiUiamson's affidavit.
th^il!'^Tf'''^^^^''^^^'^J^^ beginning (pit doon
that!), a fause loon, an ill-conditioned thief, that
never ha4 a gmd T/ord o' ony and gat his siller (ought
that ony body kens aboot) by cozenin' auld silly wives
to l^ve hira their money on their daith-beds."
Ihe fiscal quietly left out much irrelevant matter, so
that, when the completed evidence was read over to
her, Megsy declared that it was the truth, indeed, but
very far from being the whole truth. « A fushion-
ess thmg, FiscaJ," she said, « what for did ye no write
It doon that I wadna believe the craitur if lie cam' in
and tolled me that it was rainin' ? "
m^il^!l'^^^^!^''^ ?'^^ ""^ Georgiana, Duchess of
Niddisdale. That ady wrote from Germany (where
she had been verydl) to say that if the trial could be
put off for a foriiiight she would come home for it.
i have been thinking over a great many things here
since I was taken ill on my arrival " (she was writing
to Carus), "amongst others whether it might not be
possible to .I.OW the apothecary that there are more
theories than one which might possibly account for
•eweb"^ ^^^^ markings on these Indian
This somewhat mysteriout paragraph Cams showed
aWBWiiii i t^tt »a fe.
262
CINDERBLLA.
y,.-'-'-
irr
f
^^^HBKm:--
one day to Jim Chetwynd, with whom he rode in the
park every mormng.
« SY'^Z-i' r^ oldh^nving at ? " he asked.
Attf said Jim Chetwynd, thouffhtfullr «th«r«
may^ nothing in it, but atTy mte itCoTfiuf Xl
cross-examining idea." ^^
"TeU Niddisdale" (so the letter went on) "I am
very pleased with him. I do not teU him L ofC
And as for you, Master Cams, I suppose it is too Ste
tostop them.schief You are b a ^j^tty holet^o^Lg
man. If you don't marry the apothecaiVs daughter
your father wUl disinherit you. If yo7do I ,^'
This comes of disobeying your grandmother ! »
Bevi^i^^^ ^P of waiting Cams was exceedingly
severe with himself. He would have given his ears to
wo:;M^'*t*^f *j.r ^*^ Hester, butKlt thtrsht
would probably like to be alone. He went, howevor
JBhgiously to Jim Chetwynd»s office ev^^ day^Xw
m^Zf' ^"^f ^ ''^ ^^° ^^^ Hester, ^th^C S
out ot things, but he was comforted by an occasional
grateful glance which Hester gave him out of W S
oyes.
On one occasion it happened that he was at Chet-
w^d 8 office when it Became necessary to obtain
S^?^' 1^ "^"*^*?^«- Cams volmiteered to go it>und
to tiie old Frenchman's house at the Albert Bifdge^d
«v^- P l"" *^ ^*"^ P*'"^^"' Cams nearly stLbSd
over Kipford, who sat mth his head thrown Wk, plat^
wifh*^! ^as introduced promptiy by the Httle Udy
wi^ the sloe-hke eyes to if. le Marquis de Keepvort. ^
domg there. The girls were nowhere to be seen, but
Wn ,wf propounded his errand, their hostess offered
to go m search of them.
he^frcr^*"* *^*^''' ^'"^ "^""^ ^^'"^ '"* ^^"^ ^' ^^«*
'* What do you wiuit with Hester ? You can't see
CINDEBELJLA.
258
her— you must wait. I am just tryinjr on. So there—
we wiU be back in a moment. Waffles, have you wound
that SDool? Then do it. Don't waste your time, if
you will be in the way ! " j *
AU this without a moment's halt or grsce for
reply.
Carus intimated mUdly that he had brought a paper
for Bjgnature from the lawyer's office.
"Then give it to me!" she cried, snatching the
document from him.
"But it is necessary that it should be witnessed by
two persons ! " he protested, feebly.
" Then I and the Marquise will witness ilr-that will
do, won't it ? "
"I daresay it wiU," said Carus, rather crestfallen.
It might indeed satisfy the claims of law, as represented
byChetwynd's head clerk. But he had not come aU
T^^'^l ^?™ I'lncoln's Inn to Albert Bridge to listen
to Kiptord murder "The Beautiful Blue Dwiube."
Vio brought back the paper duly signed and witnessed
as indicated by the aforesaid head clerk's pencilled
tracing. ^
" There," she cried, " we are busy. We cannot ask
you to stay, and plewe be good enough to take Waffles
with you. He is only in the way "
I ."%.°*^°*! °°'^'" P«>*ested that youth, "I've done a
lot of things for you all the morning, Vic, and I've nearly
fimshed this confounded spool— you are not grateful
one little bit !
V/?^i® 1"°} ^"^^1 and give him some bread and mUk.
well boiled— it is good for boys of his age," said the
mi8tM«8 of ceremonies, ignoring his fervid appeals.
" *^»PPJ> get out ! " said Carus, shortly.
And having been a fag, and well trained, Kipford
rose to make his adieus to hU hostess. Vic beckoned
to Carus mysteriously behind his cousin's back.
, She peeped experimentaUy into a little room on the
nght, and theii, opening the door wider, she permitted
Carus to see Hester in a plain black dress adjustinff a
broad coUar of lace ab^.ut her shoulders. She^as
[
-m
^
864
CINDBBBLLA.
ISilf^f if *\® ^i"'' *.°*^ ^*™» '^^^e' fo'got the pretty
i^y and that. The next moment, warned bv some flaiih
of reflection ,n the little mirror, she turnKd^,
Carus stand silent in the doorwky. A ^Z uLd
red overspread her face. '^
"Oh Vic! " she cried, reproachfully.
The door shut to. The vision vanished.
«.i^ V- ~*"T' ^""^^'^ *i"»®» ^dies and gents!"
■aid Vic, wavmg her arm after the manner of f show
Ltlttrdr^"''*"^ *^^^' vigo.us^:l^S?
^K!"^^:a:;ssLr^^ ^^^^^^•
feltfh'artiXT^o'trmTin^n ^'''''' ^^ ^-'
.^^aNi
MMita
CHAPTER XXXVI.
The Cask roe the Prosecution.
It is not given to a mere layman to describe the
most commonplace of trials. Hester's was not dis-
tinguished by any very sensational incidents, though
the witnesses and friends of the accused made a some-
what remarkable show as they stood together in the
Old Court of Bailey waiting to be summoned into the
S?!^'. ^ , *' *^®** ^*« **" ^*^«e t^e Duke of
Niddisdale, taU and bluff, a man of the heather and
of the woods. He talked freely to M. de Saucy, his old
dancing-master, on the common platform of ancient
Uneage and mutual sympathy. Vic stood beside Cams,
markmg her faction by refusing to see her sisters or in
any way recognise them as they passed and re-passed
arm in arm. *^
" IVe made Hester look just as well as she can," Vic
was confiding to Cams, "and if that does not do as
much for her with twelve inteUigent jurymen as the
sbmmest of Jim Chetwynd's tricks— why, I'm a Dutch-
majtt, that's all, and the country is going to the dogs ' '*
The Old Bailey looked grim and dismal enough that
autumn mommg. The Court which knows no long
vacation was in session, and Hester, standing in the
dock, did not for a long time dare to lift her eyes.
She pleaded "Not Guilty," however, in a clear voice,
and the advocak^ for the prosecution opened the case
against her.
At last Hester mustered up courage to look for
Bevvie. At least so she told herself. She saw him.
He was smiling placidly. Then she caught Vic's eye.
Vic nodded encouragingly. Oarus came next. He
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CINDERELLA.
neither nodded nor smiled, but from that moment
Hester was conscious of a certain definite support
which, however things went, would never be taken
from her. She knew that his eyes would never leave
her face. She knew that his whole being was bent to
help and strengthen her in this her day of anguish and
utmost need. For these good friends she thanked God,
and took courage.
It was some time before she could look up at the
bench on which a row of gorgeous figures sat like gods
on Olympus. In the centre was a kind of throne, and
on it sprawled rather than sat a figure clad in fur robes
and gorgeous in blue and gold. A chain was about his
neck, and over his head a golden sword was suspended
against a scarlet hanging. This splendid personage
appeared to pay no heed whatever to the prosecuting
counsel. He held something in his hand which appeared
to be a large oflicial document (it was, in fact. The
ftmea of current date). He stared at Hester throuo-h a
single eye-glass and appeared to scrutinise her every
movement. Two other gentlemen in Court suits
(slientts they) sometimes sat down and sometime^ passed
noiselessly out. But nobody seemed to pay much atten-
tion to the evidence—except one man, clad in red, a
httle stoop-shouldered man, with a keen face, who sat
unobtrusively on one side of the splendid central
figure and wrote in a book. He kept his eyes on the
speaker. He followed the witnesses, as if to catch the
very words before they left their lips. He turned over
every statement as a man may who receives doubtful
change for good silver.
He spoke to no one on the bench, and none uttered
a word to him. Now and then the little red-gowned
man interjected a word, clean and clear-cut, a query
with a rasp to it. Then when he had got his answer,
he would shift his gaze, quick as a fencer shifting from
quarte to tierce, to the jury-box to see how it affected
ite occupants. This was one of Her Majesty's Judges
of the High Court doing quietly the whole work of the
sessions. All the rest was but the lust of the flesh and
^■■i""""^
> ! I
CINDERELLA.
257
mo' f hotCLb/rilS tf°:^ y"" -'J High Sheriffs
theceUin^ofthe'cotUfOUBaiW *'"'* "''^'^'""^
Hot tefX:zsr . "^rir "- '"^^-"
speaking seemed to himlihT\ ^f ""-^^^ ^^o was
hands sfook on tiie ra I st ^hT.' f^?"* ^^^- H^^
The jury-box began o ^.o round t 1 '^' ^,"^* ^^"*-
instant the restless eyes of thp Hf fl ^"^/^'3«d- In an
were upon her. ^ ^^ ^'**^^ ^^^^ bird-like man
Andltn'Llnt'S*^^^^^^^ ?-- attendant,
of water was being held at h^rl^^^^^^^^ ^«""' ^"^ a glass
J.t:ur&/;uV^^^^^ ^^^
strong emotion ; Ethd who L-Trf ^ ^t "^^"«°«« ^f
tive toilette; Claudirclln a-l = ^^i ^ •' '"^'* ^**^^°-
top to toe, looking so nurp^n^-P''*^"'' ^^ ^*^i*« from
as superfluous to s^^^rTe/to teHri *^.l* '' «^^°^«^
had the wings of an anapl ftnJ^ i ^ *?*^' »« if she
inglj down her back ^ ^"^ ^^^^^" ^^^^^^ becom-
himsdf'^X%J:\f^^^^^^^^^ keenly. He said so
have induced C tc pr^^fcute"'^^^^^ ^"^1" ^"*^ ^«"^^
offence. Yes, it was true O^^ ^^-'^^ ^ ^"' ^ ^^'*
missed, but of smaU value Nn r ^' ""^^ ^^^ ^^^^
like red judge) noni of ;), J^'", ^''"^^^ *« the bird-
prisoner's^ 1 r* ?here iasTn ^^^ ^f^fo^nd in the
belonged to his set n hA "^^i"^* *^^* *^^ Jewel
centre place in the ease made fl7S '''''t'^ *^^
missed it some months LnW ^""^ *^ej«- He had
after Hester Stirlin^s Sng t'Lo^^^"' I"* ^^"^
been thunderstruck to flpp;r„^^i,^ ^?°<^on. He had
that evening. No he i J *^5 ""'^ ^^ *^^ P^^oner
Stirling on that occasLn ^^'^ "^^^^^"^ to Hester
the Duchess of SsdS; !JS T 7/*^ ^^^ ^frace
neither the time nTthe^t'^f ^\^^^^ *h^* it was
The judge had anotW que,«^^^ T^'' .^ disturbance,
that it was a curious tZgloT a th^^ I^^ZVi^
17
258
GINDEBELLA.
property in a place where it must be seen by the
owner ? "
It had struck the politician as strange. But, he
submitted, it was quite in keeping with tiie prisoner's
character, which was vain and unstable to the last
degree. In fact, it was obvious from the first that she
had made up the tale she meant to tell, and was resolved
to stick to it at all risks. He submitted that vanity,
and not a desire for gain, was the motive of the theft.
The prisoner had, so far as he knew, made no attempt
to sell the necklace.
At this point Jim Chetwynd uprose to cross-examine.
" Would Sir Sylvanus state the precise circumstances
in which he became possessed of the set of six gold
neckbands with ruby clasps ? "
"Certainly," said the baronet, promptly. "As is
known to most people, I have all my life been much
interested in precious stones. I took tiiese in exchange
for some valuable diamonds about fifteen or sixteen
years ago, in a transaction with the firm of Metzinger
and Co., now extinct."
"You possess, of course, a record of the transac-
tion?"
"I have brought it with me," said Sir Sylvanus,
promptly, and put his hand into his breast pocket.
The " record " was part of a list of jewels written in
a bold and clerkly hand upon paper headed Metzinger
and Co., Nieupoort Street, Amsterdam. The description
seemed clear enough.
" Six (6) Burmese collars of fine goldsmith work two inches
wide, clasped at the front with ruby clasps in Burmese or South
Chinese gold setting — open. One pigeon's blood ruby to each
coUar — six in all, best colour. Marked in cipher, and with late
owner's running number."
« Thank you," said Jim Chetwynd, calmly, " that is
very satisfactory in so far as it goes. Can you inform
us exactly what you gave Metzinger and Co. in
exchange?"
A kind of angry spasm crossed the baronet's face.
♦♦I canuotj" he said, "and for Hob reason. In
In
CINDERELLA. 259
of butter over a counteT &/'«'' .''"'"S Po^^ds
p..e.ed„„Jew.eUer,„ftXI"^^^^^^^
^called away wSle to^^nfr^l *^i:*.*''t '^'''7'
go out leaving the door St},^ZT^ his jewels, would
seen Hester Stirling loinl S^ rt,t™^^ ""^ ,»"«'»
objected to her habit^ofSgs^ that r„om, and had
collar on Hester Stirlina.°f ? ?; ^f^ '*" t^e ruby
^. ^but did tt^KlrbX-iiVthi
master loolin" at 7r,a Jt ■ P?**" '««'' bis
Hester Stirli'g" w^ vSy fond TL/'' '='•"«'=*'»"•
spent hours unbekno™ V Ws Ister a?" -^^ ■""■
learning dancing frnm . i master and mistress.
Mossy lauey^^lih'Towtd 'Xf Snd'"o?i """''
^'he^jX- wi^' ^t 'r,! '■" l-i' '-Se'opti:„f""»^
x.«f
CHAPTER XXXVII.
The Case fob the Defence.
Evidence was then led for the defence. His Grace
the Duke of Niddisdale testified to the high character
of the accused, who was a personal friend of his
mothar's. He considered it an impossible thing that
a girl should wear such a jewel at a ball, openly, in
the presence of the man from whom it had been
stolen.
" Thank you, your Grace," said Mr. Chetwynd. The
counsel for the prosecution forbore to cross-examine.
Cams Darroch, called the Master of Darroch, testi-
fied that he had known Miss Hester Stirling from
childhood. She was perfectly incapable of a. ly wrong
action. At this point the red judge glanced at the jury
sternly. A smile had passed along the front row
and been handed over to the back like an offertory
plate in church. It was now returning to the foreman.
It was a smile, however, which did Hester no harm.
Remembered the night of the ball at his grklid-
mother's, Lady Niddisdale's. Saw the rub/ necklace
on that occasion. Miss Stirling were it openly and
seemed perfectly unembarrassed. Of her own accord
she told him that it had been given hei* when a little
girl by her father, that her nvu-se, Megsy Tipperlin, had
kept it for her in her trunk till she (Miss Stirling) had
come to London, and that she had forgotten all about
it till that night when she had taken it with her to
show to Lady Niddisdale. The Duchess had made her
wear it, she said, but now she wished she had not. It
made people look at her so, she thought. Witness did
not agree with her in this.
CINDERELLA.
261
Down went Cams, leaving behind him a pleasant
atmosphere of fresh directness and youth.
Thomas Torphichan-Stirling, eldest son of the prose-
cutor, had never seen any of the necklaces. He did
not beheve that his sisters had either. His father
never exhibited such things. Had seen the ruby in
question on the night of the ball. His cousin, Hester,
wore it quite openly. Saw his father looking at it,
and thought there would be a row next day. Did
not believe for a moment that Hester Stirling had
taken it. There was a mistake somewhere, he was
sure.
^.,,™®".* Torphichan-Stirling did not see the ruby
tm the night of the ball. Did not believe Hester had
stolen it— knew she had not, in fact. It was just all
spite. (Here she glared at her sisters.) Her cousin
did not need to steal an ornament. She herself had
offered her the choice of a drawerful on the night of
the ball. The Duchess of Niddisdale had given her
cousin the dress in which she appeared on that occasion,
and would have lent or given her anything she wished
in the way of ornament. She knew very well what the
whole thing meant.
" Thank you, Miss Victoria," said Jim Chetwynd,
who was afraid that in her zeal this witness might sav
too much. *' ^
Nigel Arthur Algernon RoUo, Lord Kipford, had seen
the stone on the night of the ball— had asked to be
allowed to look at it. Miss Hester seemed glad to talk
about the jewel, told him that it was the only memento
she had of her father, who was lost in Burmah. He had
been out there himself last year, on a tour round the
world. He noticed the writing on the back, thought
he had seen something Uke it— in fact, so impressed was
he that he had intended to bring his friend, Mr. Min
Alomprau, secretary of the Burmese Embassy, to call on
Miss Stirhng and see the jewel for himself. Owing to
circumstances, however, he had not been able to carry
out this intention. Miss Stirling wore the stone in a
perfectly open manner, and talked of it willingly.
i
••■1
262
CINDEEELLA.
He thought people who made such accusations against
their own relatives should be kicked
" That will do," said Jim Chetwynd, hastily.
(Not cross-examined.)
" Call Mr. Min AlomjHuu of the Burmese Embassy,"
said Jim Chetwynd, quietly.
A small thick-set man, clad in semi-Chinese fashion
in violet-coloured silk, and wearing a silk cap, appeared,
and bowed very low to the judge.
Mr. Min Alomprau declared himself a Buddhist,
but did not object to be sworn upon the sacred books of
the Christians. He was Secretary of the Embassy of
the Ejug of Burmah. He knew, of course, the lan-
guage of the Burmese, as well as that of the Shans. He
had been ten years in London.
"Would Mr. Min Alomprau be good enough to
examine the ruby collars, and state what he thought
about them?"
" The witness stated that the central ruby was one of
the finest colour. It was a hill, not a plateau, ruby —
that is, it did not come fiom the Mandalay ruby
plateau, which was a royal monopoly. The other five
(handling them and examining with a lens) were
similar. They had all been set by Chinese goldsmiths,
probably from the Yang-tze country, and had most
likely reached the sea by that river.
" Would Mr. Min Alomprau examine the lettering
on the back, and give a translation for the benefit of
the jury ? "
The little Burman in the violet silk screwed the
magnifying lens into his eye. Then he turned the
stone into a good light, took a. long look and smiled.
The judge craned forward like a hawk on the
pounce. The jury put their hands to their ears so as
not to miss a word.
"He say, 'David Stir-Ling own me. Chin Lin of
Li-Kiang set me, saving much filings.' There is also a
number in the usual foreign figures."
There was a murmur of voices. The little judge
wrote vigorously. The jury conferred under their
CINDERELLA.
263
'■ ^
breaths. Mr. Min Alomprau stood smiling. Only
Jim Chetwynd was unmoved. A ghastly pallor had
fallen upon Sir Sylvanus.
"Will Mr. Min Alomprau similarly examine the
other five, and translate the writing upon them ? "
The Burman turned the broad bands over on their
faces, and passed his lens along the reverse of the
setting. His smile 1 roadened.
" Chin Lin of Li Kiang he make great deal of gold
filings. He say the same words on each."
" Be good enough to repeat them ! "
" David Stir-Ling own me. Chin Lin of Li-Kiang set
me, saving third part of gold filings.'*
(Cross examined.)
"He had never heard of David Stir-Ling before.
He knew that there had been unlicensed mines of
rubies in the Yang-tze mountains. The King of
Mandalay had once sent a force to take them, killing
the prospectors. The writing was plainly written, not
m Chinese character, but in Shan, probably by a
Chinaman who had lived long there— as he might
write a pnvate note in English which he did not wish
people in his own country to read."
" Why should a Chinaman do this ? "
Mr. Min Alomprau smiled, and hinted that Mr. Chin
probably took other people's gold filings as weU as
those belonging to David Stir-Ling.
Called Mr. Victor Rose Noble, of the Oriental
Department of the British Museum. He was ac-
quainted with the Shan language. He examined
the productions. He read the inscription in the
same sense as his friend Mr. Alomprau. The sense
was quite clear, but the apocopation of the syllabi-
fication showed traces of Chinese influence, tending
as it did to a perpendicular mode of arraneemenfc
upon the setting.
Called M. Lascarnet Champollion, Professor at the
borbonne. Pans. He agreed with his distinguished
colleague, adding that the writing partook more of the
nature of « graflBti " than of that of set writing— being
II
261
CINDEJRELLA.
r
in fact, a memorandum on the part of a dishonest
tradesman of the amount of his peculations
».w ^ ^^'■^vf *. Tipperlin's evidence was read, as
selected and edited by the Fiscal from Kirkcudbright.
She remembered the visit of Mr. David Stirling to his
mother m the summer of 18-. She had received him
and conducted him into the garden, where she after-
wards saw him take tho ruby necklace from a handbag
aiid permit his daughter to play with it. Afterwards, a
similar bag stood for a long time in the parlour cup-
board m the house of Anoland. She had never seen 5
smce the death of her mistress. Sir Sylvanus and
Wy Torjhichan took possession of the whole house
then. Atter Mr. David Stirling's departure, she had
seen Hester playing with the necklace, and finally
findmg her in the field with it, she had taken charge of
It, wrapped it m a newspaper, and locked it in her
trunk. There it remained till Miss Hester went to
London to stay with her uncle. She had then given it
to aester t mking that such an ornament might be
useful to her m the city.
The newspaper in which it had been wrapped for
many years was produced. It was The Drumfern
^^ndard of date Ju^y 15, of the year in which Mr.
David Stirhng made his visit home.
The Eeverend Anthony Borrowman, minister of the
parish of Saint John in Galloway, had never seen the
niby,noryetheaxd either Margaret Tipperlin or Hester
Stirhng speak of it. Yes, it wa* true that he looked
upon the latter as a daughter. He remembered the
Tu , ""! fj"' ?^y\4 Stirling, in the summer of 18-.
The late Mrs. Stirhng of Arioland was accustomed to
consult him on matters of business, and he saw her the
night of the visit. She seemed depressed, and said
that she would never see her son's face again in this
world. She also stated that he had placed a great
responsibility upon her— by which he understood ^er
to mean the care of his child, Hester. The witness vxd
brought up Hester Stirling as his own daughter from
the age of eight years, and had never known her to be
CINDERELLA.
265
SL?tPr ^ivV"" *^^JT«1 <^'^"»- 'ito the hands of
miss Jiester Stirhng, and the right sJ has to rpfnin if
How it comes to nass ihai +i,« *i n ^^^^^ "•
the .uttfa ?rr:!;.^ItiS'' """' ''"'^^"™
And he sat down. ^
to tho laoi Pnncipai. He did not mean to reolv
Tha\!! Stirling had once possessed the iewels
occasion, hLa^n entri^^ ' "" f ""^ *''"" »»«
were kont^^i. ? ^te^ig a room where the stonea
througrtS Ld thl tI^^i^ ^ I^PP^^ ^^^ «^^rge
»nness. iie left his case with confidence to the
i<'
1^
266
CINDERELLA.
m
good sense of an intelligent jury of househoiclers and
property-holders. If this sort of thing were to be
parsed over in silence, their clerks might ransack the
safe for anything of value to wear as a breast-pin, or
their very maidservants take out their wives' diamond
nngs to adorn them in the park on Sunday afternoons.
In fact, to find Hester Stirling innocent was striking at
the root idea, the foundation of all the security of the
well-to-do in the enjoyment of those things Providence
and their own industry had procured for them.
And he sat down.
There was a pause while the judge arranged his
papers— a great bated hush in the midst of which he
began to speak.
'This is a case," he said, with a certain incisive
cameo-like clearness of speech, " which ought never to
have been brought before this court. I prefer not to
characterise the conduct of the man who, seeing a jewel
resembling certain others in hid possession on the neck
of an orphaned girl and a ward of his own, at a ball
given by a lady of the highest rank, flies at once to
the conclusion that she is a thief, and then, having
passed over the matter that night, has hcx- arrested on
her return to the only home she has in the city, taken
to a station-house, and left to be bailed out by the good
offices of comparative Strangers."
"All over except the shouting!" whispered Jim
Chetwynd to the Duke : « old Scratch has got his claws
full out— no great judgt is Old Scratch, but. Lord, what
an advocate ! "
" If the jury believed it possible that this young lady
had risked opening a safe, after entering a room in
which she had no business, for the purpose of abstract-
ing a necklace to wear in the presence of the owner of
the stolen property, undoubtedly they must find the
prisoner guilty. But first they must agree to disbelieve
the distinguished Secretary of Embassy who had given
evidence, before them, also the two notable experts in
Oriental languages. They must reject the evidence,
clear and imtraversed, of Margaret Tipperlin and the
CINDERELLA.
267
minister of the parish where Hester Sterling formerly
hved, as to the time and place at which the younff lad/
tame into possession of the stone. On the one
f^oV. *^^T^«^? (*;^^*.«f the defence), there were clear
!^orl i'^"''"'^^.'°'P"^^^- ^" th« ^ther, only
mahce and insinuation. The jury were perfectly free
to choose between these alternatives. If, however
they decided against the obvious weight of evidence he
would know what course to take." «v»"ence, ne
The bird-like head nodded solemnly twice at the
^^^y„*tt»ntive jurymen, as much as to say, "If you
The twelve heads bent together. The foreman
seemed to run along the double row with a question.
Une head after another nodded assent.
Then rising suddenly, the foreman turned sharp on
his heel, and stood waiting for Mr. Justice Scratehard.
Are you agreed upon your verdict? "
" My Lord, we are ! "
« SV^"-,?"*^ the prisoner guilty or not guilty ? "
" Not guilty, my Lord ! " ^
The applause broke out irrepressible, overwhelming.
fieJSiytthile'"'*''^^' '^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^-* ^"-
"Silence in court, there, or I shall have it cleared ! "
Ihen he turned to the prisoner in the dock.
Hester Stirhng, you have been the victim of a great
wrong You leave this court without a stain upon your
character Your lawyer will advise you as to any
further steps which, in his opinion, may be necessary
to safeguard your iutorests." ^
CHAPTER XXXYIII.
The Tongue Can no Man Tame.
Silence filled the Glen of TToiio c-i
th. deep defile of th " Darrf^h^Gien'^^^^^^^^^^
white manse of Sf T/^t,. v , ^'^^ "**^e
stars amid Ihe tree; ^i^ ^I^^ered beneath the
umbrellas oi^^ylZdeX^^ "^^^ *^^^
looking down at ih. L, ^' v'" .'*°°^ ^* ^^^ door
She coV-uVUtn't^ g^f i^tJ^^^^*^;
off in hMte. ^ "'""''' '""« »ne h»d flung
Hesto"irSfaSlJ;!«r' ''_,Wy little heart tlmt
d^ in tC£e oA«^° tool?" "^"^ *5?* ''"d »>«»»
;;^now When the.e';^ln*rrr ^^^ SS^
new had not yeT come Sff ff" .l"^ ?™'- Th«
S„:' ai. thi fS- s.^" IJ^ ASCTn
now I make even TW^l /n^ ^^^^ ™^ ^^^^^ and
What shall id:!!:„StTwMTy *° "« -"-«"•
fiJtetrtoi?r^J'«™ed^'f''?"°i" *\"-»« -■»»
Her nine.. wo^T^^^ ^^Z"^^^ t^a^J'lT.
CINDERELLA. 269
little parlour, which was Hester's in«+ +^ u
she was still there lih^Jv * ^ \ ^ ^® ^"^^ *hat
ful, ^d the foHi the klk LrtW ? rif ? ^^«<-
they .were more than kind sTn^ht ^^P^Sa^bath^
great joy that she had won home allt^ "T"""^ ^J^ ^
among simple folk ^ *^ simple love
i-^'^^tsZin^i^^ ^"^^"' Carus. He
were compeUed to adventareTuSrd int thf f''"'"
gers' land. Kevvie had tak™ ,m i- '"™'''« ^tran-
and thither Hester had ^^f "P .hjs quarters there,
after her triS^phLt tqS'"^ThL''T *^ "S'"
in London before return^„ ;^ « *^ *'^^'"' * "«et
vale of Darror iLTVae^eTr '"t*^"
search of second-hand bookshLr Zil fj^ °"J "■
ever, as he patrioticall? dS^^^i'"''"^, «>*». ''°'^:
teggarlv Iot,"'^con,pared^witt Sse ol ^i "f
where between Lotfean Street and th. J'*'"^"S'',
^w^r™ for a .odest fl^^^u^ ^^ .^^^^J"^
sv?^:rste!'tw"^^r~^^^^^
faSr-souTUfu*.";; S.ef "^ Pa-dil V'a
sententiouslj P""rajea, as he would say,
■-4
■3
%' s
i
-Eg
^>^
270
CINDERELLA.
P^7-X:r ^^''^'^ Moqueae^.M for a fe,
^u^^he describe, it in ar«rn p^Lta'S^S:
even the baU far a™y to some ^b.^ '"8'J*°'»".
existence, she herself infimSy oWer anr„is^^%.°*
EpfordCdTom ^° """^O"" ''«« 3""ed
yearned to \m *•+ +i,« nor leave Kevvie, and
NiddiSakha^glt hr^ ^ ""^"^ *fW-
modest, m,ac<j:SibrL^'Xtl™L''B„?t.."'?r-
young men. Tom, Kipford,Td S; ^^*t^
say good-bye, waiting Hester's cabund^rtl^ ^
« he spoke to hX rare^ming smile as often
•mim*fiiiilMii
fvz^f-
CINDBEBLLA.
271
It chanced that Chetwynd di-pw t^«,'
Hester and Cams found ihaJ.^ ^®* *'°*®-
alone. A stn.n,: corLfsrJd'VrT^^^^^
them. Hester almost wished that sheCuld In f
Revvie and plunge into the mi,l«+^f T- "^ *^
with Epford. "^^ ^^ conversation
"I wonder when I shaU see you affair," no
s£^:^th^:j;Se^rhis^t^^ It a^*^^' r^4
flagstones while Chetwynd Liked '"^'^ "^ *^«
simX**" °°* ""»" ""^ °«»^ *« D»n-oeh," he said.
Hester looked up in surnriae
" Why ?» she asked. ^
"^}'^^^<l^^rre]led with my father " he sai*!
A slow blush mounted unward ^^+1,. • v ^ ,
Hester's heart quickened Twi^ ^ ' '^''^ ''
wrote to you ! " ""uugnt or you in prison—
" No,'* Cams broke out with » IrinA «* i ,,
journey, you know," *^®® ^" *^^
<*!
J
•Jt
272
CINDERELLA.
And so their chance passed, and the words nn iha
young man's lips remained uns^ken. ^^
And so It was that this night by the door of +>,«
manse, alone in the silence of the wide valW Hester
n7tt:f f-\S^^^^^^ to hert^ T^
irn^^d.^'^^^^^ te ^e? ^The^^^ --
territorial in Galloway and the Gkn of KeUs """"
l,«i if^f^^^'i,- ''I''' ^^ possession land which his father
had before him he may be a sot or a buUy, a cvDher or
a scamp, yet hold in his hands the poJeroT public
opinion. He commands a weU-driUed Se arm?^?
v^enf^^m^' ^^'r^' catchers of 4>;s7ser!
vient shopkeepers, farmers a Httle behind w th t W
8MtC^'-4'\^'l^^^^^ ^ keen'L'sfof 'tie
sioeon ■'ih their bread IS buttered.
uncle and aunt. Lord Darroch had quari^Ued wS
his son because of her. It was easy to be seen That
her modest airs were only a sham. ^ "^ ""^ ^^^^ **^*
Through dU the countryside the murmur ran f«r,T,^
^t con.ide™«o: ,^:'r tie vmaTXCL:
and the more distant town tradesmm 4^^ , ^
«.nie about that good wives T^hZ%,,^\':^l
It was this which saddened the girl.
SHK roVSV H.HSEL. CUKIOUSLV ISOLATED AS .S„E
rALKED HOMEWARD
[Paje 272.
CDIDEBBliA.
278
^^iTaJir^^' ""» "<«»7." .he«id. ..I
•Ppet'^^e^h^ZS?'.^ ''» '»*<' "ot at once
wort, bat now^e^'"™^^^?*" the Duche., at C
rf Mother companioT Sh* rf^tf?^ '^/ '"^ »<> -eed
without comin/to anj oondu^f ** "'^ "«>* indoor.
H
CHAPTER XXXIX.
I'
Geumphy Guddlestane.
On the morrow she took her book and went out, mean-
ing to sit awhile and read in the warm sunshine of the
late autumn, in one of her favourite haunts — the ivy-
clad porch of the ruined Castle of the first lords of
Darroch. The new building — which had been new,
that is, some three hundred years before — was situated
on a lofty eminence overlooking the loch. Higher up,
on wide pleasant holms, stood the " Auld Castle," now
a picturesque ruin, mostly ivy-clad and crumbling, but
with staircases and garrets still fairly intact, and with
the arms of the Darrochs of Darroch above the door. A
little lower were brown pools where the salmon lurked
head to the stream during the hot, summer days, and
all about spread the Darroch Woods, bird-1 unted,
fragrant, fanned and cooled by the breezes which blew
up and dcvu the strath.
Thither, with a heart heavy within her, Hester took
her way. The leaves, getting dry a little, rustled under
foot. The air coursed keen from the North, and the
power seemed to have gone out of the sunshine. But
Hester was glad to be alone. A sense of the peace
which God has poured out on the world began to seek
inward to her soul. The grey turrets of the castle
towered above her, stately and reverend. Under this
archway Darrochs of old, knightly and gallant as— she
did not continue the comparison — had ridden with
their squires at their back. Across that shining water
they swam their horses when they went forth to the
King's wars. She thought of Cams and smiled. He
would have looked as gallant as any of them. After all.
CDflXEElLLA. . g?*
it was a good world to be alive in ,*
were unjust and unkind «f IL^ / ™®° ^»^ women
s^tij 4to the soSS: ^*' '^" ^"^^ ««^Pe ^
"^Uht"*Guddl^^^^^ -thout a certain
nostrSsTsVhl'^sa'rrL^^^^^^^ Hester's sensitive
up, axid there before hei stoTd mv T T^. ®^^ ^^^^^^d
pmekeeper, a jmn held T. ?^^ ^'^''^ Darroch's new
bat^redraAihafSostaui^^^^^ ^^«. -'-> a
cocked at a knowing angle o^r a faff"'^ ^T'"'^ ^^«>
and his black « cuttv " ^rnS t ^^*/ye that leered,
trudingfrom his mouth fc bn«''^^^T'^^"^«' P^o-
he named Grumph j Gud<^esti^^^ " ''''^- ^^" ^'^^
waS^rVhTd^to'^^^^^^^^ been found
mjlord. He had Sor l^en ^lo ""^ ^^°IP^^«^°* for
passers. He had even hZ il "^ !°*'"^b ^^t^ t^es-
visitors to «ie glen Sfn w ^'''?. *« «P«^k civilly to
the Darrochs. So The^ ttsT"^ *^" ^^^^«^* <^s«e of
imderhand methods to thi ears ffnfr> *^« "«"aJ
luid leave to go. Whereunnn * .? ^ v^^^' ^^ I>ickson
gate came « Grumphy'^SSwi^ Me lodge by the
fand of dog-breaU a^d a tebfe^ ^^^ ^^^ ^
Barroch's estates in the noV«^iu^®^^^^ °^ I'Ord
gamekeeping as about sSt '"" ^' ^uch about
anceaTSfii^fe^^^hj?^^^^ first appear-
to him ever since. Eo^A bv^l *^® T^^ ^^ stuck
jng, foul-mouthed brchW^"^!:^^"'*^^ ^y ^^-
bullyalways-such^as GrumVvT^.^ ^"^ ^
men, especially if thev hadTn«^ Gudd estane. With
could be sycoVSl^orrb? f ^"°^' ^ ^^^'^ ^^
woman upon whom he cold lent V ""^v H^^ *he
very earth seemed fouler whlfr^'' '^l^' ^or the
that which was in hi^ W a ^"^P^J spoke out
to the wandering bairn t^^h ^^ .^^T ^^^^ ^oe
steined, whom GLnphT'ca '^t ^^^H ^^' ^^We-
of his master's wS^^ ^^"^^* ^^«"t the precincts
"What are you doin'here-you have no business
S76
CINDERELLA.
here. We want nane o* your kind hereaboots ! " said
Grumphj without removing the pipe from between his
teeth, as he stood glooming and glowering at Hester
Stirling, the reek of his very presence poisoning the
wholesome air.
u r 1-5®^ ^®y pardon," said Hester, rising to her feet.
1 did not know I was doing any harm. I have
always come here ever since I was a little girl, and
nobody ever said a word to me before."
"Weel,*[ growled Grumphy, "you move on oot o*
this, an mind, dinna let me see ye here again, that's a !
—If ever I set e'en on ve on the estate I'll hae ye sent
back to the jail again, where ye came frae sae lately. Oh,
I ken ye brawly, ye fine madam. Ye are the lass that
stealed the necklace and got oft because ye could twine
siUy young men roond your finger. Ye wiU find that
ye canna twine me ! Sae oot o' this wi' ye ! "
Hester did not answer. She quietly gathered up her
shawl and books, and with a suddenly whitened face
took her way by the path down the riverside.
The noble victor followed at her heels, swelling with
tnumph.
" Come back oot o' that amang the game— ye "
Grumphy shouted the oaths in his most brutal tones;
"gang up by the stables, or I'U set the dowgs on ye.
We dinna want characters like you aboot the place ! ''
Grumphy was thoroughly enjoying himself now. He
had a woman to buUy, and best of all, one who had no
protector and did not answer back. It was one degree
better than beating a dog nearly to death with his do^^-
whip, which hitherto had been his heau ideal of happi-
ness. If he could only have lashed Hester across that
white face of hers, he would have been perfectly happy.
Thank God, there are few Grumphy Guddlestanes
within the bounds of Scotland, but I have -known one
A A *°^ *^®'®' ^^ *^®^® things are written to their
address. I have many friends among gamekeepers, and
they are one and all open-hearted and manly fellows,
generous and brave. I have sat in their kitchens and
tMted their good cheer. Better comrades can no man
' feet.
have
, and
})
CINDEKELLA. 277
P^'^i^^^tJ^l^uZ^^^ ^PP-- and the
Such are ninety-nine out of ?h{ ^^ 'i*'T«^ ^^ *^« ^^8-
keepers of S(K)tla^d^rd °V?i? . ""1""?.^^ ^^ S^^^
IB only because oftent^enh^ 'tSf'^.^hej °»V have
as usual, lays on thenTfK? tlie public, indiscriminatinir
Guddlestane, the hundljfl^ '^''^'?"^« <^^ ^'•^mphj
once for aU. write do^r T"*, ^ ^^^ therefore
with a mark, that he^avT^i^^ '^"^^ .^"^ mark S
and that his commdes bp^no^K^^''?/^^«°«^«r ^o^.
Let him be Sd a ,^Gr,lpb?^^^^^^ ^" «^»«-
no more-for true gamekeeP^hJ !« aonef ^^°^«^««P«-
thrtg^h'Th^p^fct^^^^^^^ the wa,
after Hester eyer7fo^name^^^^^^^^ f^^: x^« '^^^^
of such a man. Blessil ?1^?^°**"'''^ *Jie heart
Hester had nit the 1^ "^ '^^^^^^t' ^«^ ^o«tIy
gnmiphy's smaU pil ev^«\'^ti T^^K ^« ^^^^t^
flis purplish, soddel unshaZ f "^-^ happiness,
mastiff, marled wZ n^JLr , f*''®* J^^'^^ed like a
fairlj shook iShXs^ «f r ^^® .^"^^^^^ dough!
He permitted his slouc^Se 1^ ^' Y^ ^^'^S'
sniff about Hester's slrirteith«f ""!? ^ ^^^'^^ ^nd
tiioroughly frighten tWs^ri*^:,^^^^^ «iej would
upon whom he felt that he M hS^m««f .""P"*'*^^*^^'
to exercise all his Wi,ii?f ^is master's permission
Guddlestane was not a bJ^^^ ^^ 'P^*^* <>rumphy
a brute for ple^,^e A^-,^'"'' compulsion. He wm
faction te hLr,Xtfor^nce iH ^ '^^f ^^ '^^ «ati^
out aU the suUen deWIdom of v ""^l ^^ ^^^^ «Peak
of consequences He was no/ n^' ''?*^' without fear
public prejudice, aid h?^* ''^'' "^ agreement with
tunitj. dalf an Wr t^ ^J® ?°«* ^^ his oppor-
fullj about the manse^^^7^'^' -^"^'^i: ^^^^ ^'«-
other pressed in the sS nf If 'I T ^^^^ ^'^^ the
weeping in her room. ^*''" ^^^^' ^^^^ Hester
It wa. aImost*e«^tl/one we^k later 'that thi manse
278
CINDERELLA.
housekeeper found Gnunphy Guddlestane. It hap-
peaed on the eve of Market Monday, when the farmers
were putting their gigs up at the Cross Keys for an
hour s rest, and when there was as great a concourse as
* !r'^^'^?Srht together in the little upland village
of the Clachan of St. John.
1 ^™^phy stood with one elbow on the doorpost and
laughed. He had been drinking, and the tongue in his
mouth was furred with foulness. Before him suddenly
uprose Megsy Tipperlin, and power was given to her.
Stand ye there, Grumphy Guddlestane," she cried,
shaking her stick in his face ; "stand there, ye peetifu'
r^^M, ! '„*"^ as sure as my name is Margaret TipperUn,
1 will teU your name and character amang a' the folk.
Yon that never faced a man, stand up and face a
woman of three-score years and twa. You that
shamed the innocent, stand up and I will make you
ashamed, if an ounce o' shame is left in your shakin»
carcase.
Grumphy made a remark here in his usual bullvinff
style, but it fell flat. ^
" Na, an* I will no get oot o' your road— ye peetifa*
oooard, ye pasty-faced, dottel-nosed vaigabond. If I
were a man I wad tak' the whup oot o' your hand and
^ress ye frae your cloured hat to the boots that ye
Lae never paid for. I kenna what the Ahnichty is
thmkin on to permit sic a thing as ye fco crawl on the
faceo this bon^y earth, blackening the verra licht o*
the sun, and fylin' the clean mools as ye walk the
helds. But He that made the taed an' the ask and the
ether (adder) kens what for He made the like o'
Grumphy Guddlestane ! Ye wad break the heart o'
my innocent bairn, wad ye— the only child o' the only
son o the ancient hoose o' the StirHn's o' Arioland,
that were here afore there was ever ony Lord Darroch
to uplmud ye in your wickedness— aye, and shcU be
here when baith you an' he are forgotten aff the face
o the Glen Kells, and when the wanderin' messan
whauip fyles the nettles and pushionous paddock-stools
abune your graves.
CINDERELLA.
279
Nether Airds let him >,! *u ,' .^ "'™ "*^'ir this,
Tipperlin^Tf he X'^me'lo 'ttr ^ f ^^^'^-^
woni o' God a faithf,,' of J^^ ^""^ *<> ^©ar the
shall be preichedin hi. r^'^u^^ ^'^^^ "«^«' ^or^et
Glen KellHl'llle"^^^^^ t^' «-* - ti.e
Forth shall he eans wi' fh r J i? *"l^ ^*J^ onward.
Cain. But feint^ slht n'i^^i^ ?° him-iike unto
ever see. For the ban nf m^ ^^"L^ ^'^^ «ha" he
upon him, and on a' that confoTZ>V^^''^P «^^" ^
drink his drink for the fir Tt w- ""' i "" '^'^""*
the sicht o' him, and the verm Li °'^V''^" ^^^°»«t
lanes shaU crv c^t ' H,vL *^*"?«on the streets and
dlestane.' Y^c^uid sS/'"'-^""?,' Grumphy Gud-
ony hairm, but ye dauma ft .''^ *^'^* "r^' ^^ je
shut a* the days ?your Hfe ^ ""^^ ""^ ^^« '^^^^^^
yo;;Tani: NeXl?:^^^^^^^^ coat in
awa' in sic a hurn^lwm tha. ^j'^^ has ta'en hira
mrpmrbairn. I^wast^KuVh^wl' Wm' ^
w ^ Gt"i\:ri\^d^tt:%^^^ ^-^^^^^^^^^^ t/ . '^
n^ch^haesaid^L'^^^^^^^^^^ .
Nethiriu: aTu^ Sunrih^f.%^^«* '* -<^
« certes it is ^eeWZ^^La^"^^^^^^ ^-« *•
a man that's nae kin to ye SrSh fhl ll ^\^," P"*
asyehaeduneGrumphythedav whl? *^^««hm' mill
dune wi' your aiu ffWman--?JU ^^ -""^^ ^^ "« ^^^
speakin', deliveredToSd Yand and'f ^^^f ««' <>*
pooerP" ^'^^ *^d foot mto your
Megsy turned upon him.
It wad hae been tellin' vou ISTpfho^ a • i
meal ark in your kitchen S ih ^'''^^^' '"^"^ *he
the Cairn Edward Bank a'in v« i^%^^^«"."* 3^e hae in
pret Tipperlin'S, com^^h^^^^^ ^^' ^.^jf ^^^^e Mar-
hae stood sae lang haudin' «n ih. ^ ^^' ^^ ^^^°a
puMc-houseatthifti^eo'nTchtM' ^'^' P^'*^ ^' ^^^
^ere was a vacaiicy where Nether Aird had stood.
280
h
r#-
CINDERELLA.
disei^T* ""* *^^ ^~'' ^^^' '*^^ *^«~ ^«°« a°d
tl,rm iJlA"^. H' f f^P^a^och, that Stan's nicherin*
there like a calf lookin* ower a yett for the lickings o»
the parntch pat, it wad set ye better to forsweS the
company o' a' sic dour-faced ill-hearted wratehes a^
t^f^ ^uddlestane, and gang hame Jyo^r wif^
and bairns that ye are no worthy to creesh the cloffs o»
Guid peety them ! Gin I win at ye wi' a stick! my man'
CainY'^ r ^\ ™^^ «^d« «' yo^ face SS
HkeTodLrii'''-.^l"P-. Up, manra.!' owe; the h^
l.JZ • T®' "^ *^® ^^&« a**^' lii«i •' And gin eve^
I catch yin o' ye again consortin' or colloguin' wi' the
to for J^t'Ti?^' Guddlestene-weel, I micTlbeteLp^?
to forget mysel' and say somethings that ye michtna
lesson fin^^f^r ^t? ^""^^^ *^ '"«^^^ «f tt« second
!^X^Si!^^«nTLt;e^ h^e^^Scfce^nt
S^'SsXr "^^^^'^^^ ^'^- abouVroTot*^?
e and
herin*
n*s o*
r the
les as
wife
?8 o*.
man,
i g^im
hill,
L ever
/the
nptit
ihtna
cond
:hter
the
•8 of
CHAPTER XL.
Kaomi Turns the Tables on Ruth.
aFn^h\ '^?'?^' ff '^^^^'^ ^^*^« "8-ye shaUna. Even
wiU mLv *^ ^^T'> '"^^^^^r thou goes/ there
iTdffe-a^vY ^n^^""^ l""^''^ ^^^"^ ^^^SesV she ^
bn^!Z^^1'-i*^**"^^ "^^ ^*« ^o % US a boo'er by von
dS ^i ^^,^ ""*^ ^««i« BeU and Mary Grey * ^^»
' Bu? Mei^T" *^^ "^ *« ^^ Biccan"^. thSg ! '^
in her eye 'T.^^fV *f ^^^^^ Hester, with the tear
to you Inrl pi ^ ^^* ?; sha^e and a speaking against
crilT Afi'^f *^^^ i"^.*^^ baimie-hayers, juist hayers ! »
to enf^rr^i.^'^"^'^^ ^^^ ^«^-«^«d ^^ck on the floor
leein' T^ 1,^'' '"'^'^"^ "^^** maittors it that thae
«iL S'^'T'T:*^," ^^"^ fi^^d "de them l-h^
tTe truth w?lT^ ^ ^\^V ^« *^«^ i« a <^od in Heaye^
IS in her heart she might come ower a word or twa
Bessie Bell and Mary Grey,
They war twa bonnie lasses :
4 -^i*!?^'* * ^'''" ^" yo^ burnside.
And they theekit it ower wi' rashes.
/..M
m23m^m^z
282
CINDBRELLA.
i:-
a mainner o' speakin'." '"'™«'^ "»«« "of there, in
" But, Megsy," Hester reverted to the first fli.M»,.t
hiL"? r f ^t '' ''»'«"? Eewie Did route
momS|p''^''d w.'"*.''"™.*" ^^^^ tl"* ^k ^
SS !) t;^ I . I?j ""^ '**'' *••» ™"J'. 'Plead my
SSe?.p^e^'h;;tt^??.."''*^- ^^^^ '•^ -d "'
a^'|^^yro?^^r.s'''ir'?j^ ^i!ft:
S lame ^ """'r " t'*^* ^^'"^ confounded Ldpui
Gawbnel himseP hard on your tail a^fore I^e dun^
"Megsy, Megsj, I wish jou would forgive them as T
am sure I do with aU my heart." ^ ' ^ ^
r!!«i -^ ^ • , T'T^®*' «^® watches their funerals
S? ^ kirkward doon the glen " lunerais
She recurred to the words of the Psalmisf in +t,o+
^L^ comfortable Psalm ftn'^ti^Vhetl
not. Oh, Davvid, Dawid, though ye were a t^S
chiel amang the lasses, ye had thf rootoUhe matS
ye and wi' a fu' heart and a willin' tongue au^M^g?
will pmy your prayer: 'Rescue my soul from thpir
des^cfaons, and my darling from Ve pow^oUh"
r^'- '
■vlhiiMi
OnroEiJELLA. 283
»ycophant, for^oldllufffe SLu'r'''"^r ?'
averted eye. - ;' -. "77' /•>^Sr tongue, or jealonaJy ^
anything i,att^ht gLlt ^."'"l ^^^^J' '»'
stm for Meesv's So, «h! ^1j f^ ?"'' ""'•'^- Yet
toping ag^f St ho^tha^+ht"""P' but ever pnt off,
had bSen broneKVwlS '^"^'f ^"""'S whom she
friendly e^S. ^ "''* "^^ '"""^ "P"" !>«»■ «itt
cause of Hester M?»^h ff^* '^'''f' '"^ "?''«" the
of the oppressed. It chIZS T^f ? '""^''^ champion
to the Schen door ofari^l^r"'* T "'«?*
deansSg of his &t^n *,*"!'' »"'' » ceremoni^
in With fven "arhT^^Sl'' "-^ '»*-«'
Megsy received him austerely. ^•
did, fl^Li^:i'y?r ^«. ^-"i-," ahe said, "but if I
God'sSsr"''^''"' MacQuaker,in the hoose o>
wildow-r ree^^^/J'^:;?-!^." IP-^^ -
joung
/
^'
gangin*
the truth be made
leddj
^
1 \
284
CINDEEELLA.
+1,-+ "' ye hstened, or ye could never hae heard
that ye miserable, crawHn*, creepin' blastie ! »
JNa, Megsy, ye do me grievous wrane. I didna sn
muckle hsten as juist incUne my ear. Aid v^C
that^ commandit iJ the Bible itsel^" ^ ^^"^
"Dmna blaspheme the Holy Bulk, Anders Mac
Quaker, wi' your unhaUowed jibes ' *'
Y« W V* ^l?""' ^^ ?^ ^^ *^a* I Penned a way oot
IhPn^ w^^'? "!? 'P'^^ ^' "^y ^i* ««ttage that I biffSt
when I was head game-watcher to his Gra<;e It isS
mairthan a butt an' a ben. It standJTn the ee^
the Tap Eig o' Bennanbrack. It is a dentv bit Inof
"^ !AT*.^^ "^^i^' caUer and cleaTY bow?hof
ajieath the door. There's nae company up yondeTbut
he'a^er^LfT "^^^^^^--^-^y <Joon^ to^kl^nS Jhl
^IhSe Bnf%'°'^^?•^J^" P^«^«^ winnowin'the
air abune. But Buss-o'-Bield is a bonny name an' a
o' Anders MacQuaker will rejoice witiiii S» '"^
ten y1 iJeth^Z?: =:^o^prMS^t^;l-'
dent^«?«t«'''^*'''*v^*' *^^^" «^d ^«<iers the provi-
ttiink. And though ye scorn me, Megsy, there is W
^m^j^this wa.P that the heart ^o>\S ^2^*
"Gin ye hae ocht sensible to say, Anders mv bonnv
man," said Megsy, stopping in froit of hiiT^^^th J
porridge spurtie poised in her hand, "say on. But ^?
IIhi^^ ^^"^^ ^^ "' ^« havers aboot voir hearj
fw'v ^1f ^Jf ^? ^^^^' *^« ^^^ score aJten speaks
aW^' ^^"^1:'* ^*^^« *«' ^i« friends tXsW
aboot the condition o' his head ! " «» w oe seem
« WeU," said Anders, unabashed, « hear v T |,a^
tosayatonyiute. I am a man tha^ ^' keep^ [J^^:
!<*aii
■MtMMilMlMti
CINDERELLA.
like
286
oni
course.
w« 1 T»i/®°**° (barrin* yourseP,
poocf on Sabbath »oSk'8 Anf *f tW k""" *?>
^he'&dt He^te^ ' '""^ «- - -■— Then
O
^4i.l
i *-'
CHAPTER XLI.
The First Hester.
I^E Scot has the primitive instinct of nomenclature
When his name does not begin with " Mac?or en5^'„
1 ^^U^'' r^^^^lXl ™^^*' ^ Herd, a Shepherd"
I: 1 ^^: ?'® ^®"««8» ^lien not named ima^in
atively but obscurely in the aboriginalSLir^e"
W P "".T' ^!^««-«'-Bields, Hermitafes, GlowerSwS!
ems Cudd^ecozies. Beyond the Dungeon o' B^haL
the Black Craig o' Dee looks to the TlSee Cairnsmores
and the most northerly of tiiese passes on the^eS to
the HiU o' tiie Windy Standard."^ These are picSqu^
compounds mostly of Saxon speech ; the others tffi
primaeval spirits had sat, each on his own nartifuW
mountain top and bandied polysyllabir instead S
bombarding each other with gr^niSSders "^
But the story waits. To Anders MacQuaker's house
of Buss-o'-Bield, in the little ferny cleuch which opens
through the rough heathery moors of BennanbmT
Z's^Kf'^'Z'^^ ""'' Megsy.^Anders drovelSm L what
wa^ then known as a tax-cart, that is, a spring cart
upon which government duty had been paS?^ Thi
mmister walked sedately besidi them the fi^t part of
the way, silent mostly, but sometimes talking blithe?v
to Hester, or bidding her take care of thf Ml old
•» *»im. i tnr i in ;
mmm^m
CINDERELLA. 287
<or«, which he had ilaced for £?^°^ ^^K' ^"^^^^
of the cart. He was w« w ""J^^^S m the bottom
Megsy, he saw b?f hT *^*P!5* '^^^ tester and
thought tLatlok'ottm'T^^^^^ ^^ *h«
Manse bj the Water of SroT "" ''*^ *« *^«
theYc?^tt«^'LrT^ "* "^^^^ destination,
the heathef S^b'r^:^ Lfon tSe hJlls'^tlT"^^ '7 "H
searing to russet and fhT\.\!^l I' ,? ^^" bracken
flame-coloured in evt^i^'i^e 1^^^^ ¥^^^^« ^^^
door, having tied hL^east to tt^ ! ^^'^"^ *^«
minute he had a fire hckir^^^^^ I^ ^
the pale blue wood-smok? scented aH ir^'^^/' ^"^
hung over the cot till it thiSd itif ! ''^^"'^ «^^
the kitchen, wide and bl^lT there were but three-
and hung witrw and^f^^l^-^^-' '*' ^^^"^« '0«gh
wall. A tiered and^ ™«nv ^l '^'T^^ "^^^^^^^^ on the
the eaves/g^,' '^hTlu^-^^:;!^^^^^^^^ ^-^<^ to
onions and dried herbs waveredT/f\?^' i Strings of
roof where the wood-smoke hunt Tff ^".?^ ^ ^* the
"room," where a wMf o \^ ^: T^en there was the
piUows' and Knen Sheets hV *"?vf^ ^"^" ^ «how
waited their plea:^:'ltwH!^egLt'^^^ .«T'
fireplace teld that Anders h«^ ).l^^ !^^ ^'^^te m the
and had left s^mTof hi« ho 5^" ^\ ^""^ ^^^a^d,
the local ironmonger ^^'^-^^rned "siller" with
anfpirtuTe'oTtr rXLnre!r"^ '"^^ -^^ *^^ «-r>
chase in scarlet afd^mssX^^^^ 'Tf"^*^ «^ the
bound in what mustTnd'pfrf ?' i?'"^^* ^^"^^^^^ ^'^^^*
(if not cow), L^n a worti ^"^f ^'!° "whole calf »
drawers, te represent thln^^ wool-mat on the chest of
on the tabirCeml h^^^^^^^
■i-'.S
288
CINDEEELLA.
and one chair. In this Meffsv wif}im,f o »,^-
bestowed her chattels. After^The hS lished hi
inspection during which she had said no wo^ of^rai
or blame, she turned to Anders, who had followed h
for a man." ' generously, « it's nane sae iU-
ze^h.^'' Ma<5Quaker's spirits instantly rose to thei
« m J ^^ "^^* S^^ *o hear ye say sae, Meffsv " he sfti<1
better o , but ye'll juist hae to excuse Anders till he cai
find oot what they are. Surely ye will ken noo tha
he can be trusted to look weel aLr the miSsterT"
But Megsy had reached the limit of praise Mo«
was not good for Anders, who, like aU merC in th
• "^^"m'S's^Xi ^PP^'^" :r "P«ettin> c^aTturV^'
cooUV" but in^ho "" ^ r°*^ °' ^^" '"^^ Megsy,
coolly, but m the meantime ganp your wavs bap? {^
^l"T^ ^""tr^^ *^« «"PP«'- ^or^eef do I ken
mv^hfZ V ^'.r '"P ^^ ^^«*«' Borrowi^an tek^
fall ye bnng him the news that we are safe and soond
Guidmcht to ye, Anders, and mind and wan^ «?«
JJinister's boote on the 'hud' before he JutTthem
So Anders MacQuaker drove away, and left Me^v
and her young mistress alone in the deep encompasS
silence of Bennanbrack. He had brouSt a Se? J
trout carefully prepared and leaf-^fp^^i^t^^^^^^
him in the tax-cart. These Megsy "reaS"^nr
supper, Hester helping a. diligentlj as the s^ewhat
imperious mood of her companion wjLld per^t. ^^*
wn,,i^ ^^ ^^?^ i*^^y ^^ ^° ^^<i d^e woman ? » she
Zm fw^ •' ""^"^ Hester ran across the Htehen floor
to lift the frying-pan off the fire for her, « gae wa» vS»
fh^f r^i- ^^^y^^^^ook and let M^gsfrir^rlS
that "readied "meat for yourfaither and your fSeS
Sj^'o^^u^n t^ts!^ '' ^^^- ^-Q-^-\ p^%«
Afterwards, the washing up having been carried
I'liiHiiiii
M
CINDBBBLLA. £89
and Ustened to the wfa^L^ If^T^*^ *^« <^^r
faUs upon the hiUs. At first oo^nr^''^** *^** ^o^r
to the purring exidft on oVth^Z'?ro''7."t^^^^
logs Anders had cut for them an? lu'l *^® ^^*»-
kettle she herself had hnnt V*u *^® ^^ of the
for Megsy's eo^ntht JS^^ ^^^ "^ *« ^^^ easUy
could hear nothiL! The sil^L^ ^ ¥* ^^P)' He«ter
and by, however, f world%f s^dTcTSl t^*" ?^
one, as it were di8PTian«,-«« *u ?^® *® "®*' one by
mured loy, under Tteb^kenoo^^^^i ""S" '^"-
» mere hmnmine mimsi of ™t ""™ '» <*« glen,
height of the S Si mZl^ "'"'' ^^^'^ » the
be roaring red. °** ''™™ » to"™"* would
to come at the Ca^Sfof thSS l^'*"^^r"'» "^^
«he had had many m^teMfcf " J^"" l* ""> """«
"peciaUy as to what ehe^Iu dr^^'Ih^Y*. """'*-
tow relieve Revvip nf ^hT\. j ^. *"® future, and
ceived it) her p^rence wt 1 '^'^^'' ''^"^ (^« «he eon-
on the high R?g TfXraV^^^^^^^^ T° ^^- ^^^ ^ere
to think, Ind out of twtr^^^ f^ ""^"^^ have time
the ^st^ of a ;C' *^r;t hef Lrrrr "^^
a )wn an avenue. ^ ^** *^ad in, as
So first of all she thou<yht of r-ar^c t xi. ,
her need she had tumfS" to hi^ a K*^^ ^<>"r of
ha4 he kept the bS of «r,.^ / *''°^ "ght faithfully
too well, indeed, fo^ L eyeTh« ^ ^"^J^^^^P- Ahnost
tongue had confi'rmTd BufLster Zt T/ ^^^'^ ^'
was glad that he should not thtf. 7f\^^^^~7?^ «^«
oould n,t bear that he ^^U^Lf t^^S''^^:
19
■■Ij
1
■ST..
290
CINDBRELLA.
phichan. Yes, she was thankful that he would i
no more to Empress Gate. But further than thf
he was free. He could be nothing to her, this do
shamed Hester Stirling. He was the son of a ^
He would be a great man some day. He was cleyer-
oh, very clever-and-he must marry some one wortl
ot him, a great lady—some one with money and fan
Tke Mfsste^i.' "'" "**^^ ""'^^^ govemess-Uk.
"Come your ways in, baimie," the roice of Mej«
reached her from the kitchen, "dinna stand there i
get your daith o' cauld. What— no greetin'? Hoo
hoot (Hester had hastily put her official drjdng-aprc
to her eyes), this will never do! Tak' you? Bui]
baimie, and read me a lesson. There shall nae han
come to my wee lass sae lang as Megsy Tipperlin ca
^& r^'S .*»® ^^^® "*' *^® ^^^^' ^hilk is t& footsto<
o tne Liord I
+1,^1? f ^'*^ ^" ^®'" ^°°®^* «<^^ a-flame at the injustic
that had been done and in womanly understanding (
the heart of one httle more than a child, Megsy com
passed Hest3r about with observance, putting her i
bed almost as if she had been, indeed, once more th
bairn she stiU caUed her. And as the rough old Scotj
woman bent over to kiss her darling good-night, suddenl
Hester threw her arms about her neck, and ini^
agony of sobs whispered in her ear.
"Oh Megsy, I love him-I love him. He mue
never think of me or guess thal^that I love him sc
But I cannot hdp it, Megsy. I am so ashamed,
cannot help it. He made me ! "
"Bairn, bairn, wheesht then, speak not so. He is n.
r.v^^ T^ ^^^TiL^® "^^^ ^^' ^^ ^« ^^^ never ha<
spoken of love, and then "
"But he did not Megsy, indeed, he did not," Heste:
interrupted, eagerly. "It was aU my foUy. But Z
^e rest were so horrid, and he-well, he was great ant
kind, and ob, so different. And I could not help it
Megsy. What shall I do ? What shall I do ? "
"Is it some one in London, baimie? "
CINDEBELLA. g^j
think "^X"'' ^" " ^ ^^do"» Megsj. At least, I
bej^ftef &^^^^ loe. ,e
theioSTei^tVnTntHel^r^^^^ But
the loving shoX r of her fiit am?* Y ^*^" ^^«««'^to
Pitted hir, her toillard hl^^^,^^^^^^^ ^W
with love-yearnintr. Lut a« fL » k ^ ^^^ *« »»*"»
stronger, the anfer of tZ nl ' P^^^/ewer and
suddenly. ^ ^ *^® <*^<^ ^oman flamed out
wo/ds of We Xn the^ wlfnL^"^^*^^ ^P*^' *^«
" Hush, Megsv f N^nT "^V'' ^^ ^^art f »
He nere; safd^a wSjV^^ ^''t^ understand,
is all mine. I imarfnTd if' «. l-?''* .^" ^^ult. It
was kind when e^Sonf 1/ "^ ?it Just because he
Aest^Va^a^r^//^^ She sat
She watched her baSi Cilv rn.vf "°if ^?* ^^' '^^^k.
little touches of sy^^hv wiTk"^ her hand in the
still a woman's heart^SKtri«if T™-*^^^ ^^ «!««
and the fountains of ^f^'^T' '^''^^^^^^^ ^thin her,
Then at la^The s^d^S^Ba^^L'^^-S'^^^" "P-
aboot your ain mither ? » * ^^ ^® «^«' ^ear
sat^p't wSw'^^^tll*'^^^ She
o-^^eUoeT^^'i.:^^^^^ BtiU failing freely
Torp^a^i;^^^^^^^^ ;tfee'^nly what my aunt
" Heed not thatf da^! "^Z m ""*' ^^•"
who kenned the m^T^rom ?il h!^?^' soothingly, « I
swear to you that tW wa^ni i^^^'^'^^'i^ *« *^e end,
the story^of jour* SS^r'TeVe ?£: h, ' T^? '"-^ ^^^
hke that my heart yearns f nr \t t t i*' bairnie, sae
to tell you tiie t^e.^ B^t rZl' ^ M ^«^er meant
me for the sake of /^iT ^ A"'*~'* '^ ^^ «Pon
heritegetheyhl^el^behL'dSem'r^^^" ^' *^« ^-«
I
I .
292
CINDBEELLA.
to bf^" ^«fi^V was silent a while, as if deciding whe:
«J^i°®IJ'.vi''*^?'^°"'°»^**»e'> bairn, and so ca
never ken that hke she was when first I saw her. \
uJa'S^ Z r *^? ^^^» tut ye hae the Stirling e'e
f " f -l® ??'^Si? v^*"- ^°" ***^« ^o'^ some-deal taUei
too, hke the Stirhngs. But your mither, Davvid's wif(
^n see her noo— a creature sae denty, flichterin' lik
a butterflee frae floo'er to floo'er, her hair yeUow a
If; ^^ ? ^''^V''' ^^^^ ° mischief. Hester Stirlini
(that had been Hester Greyson) was a veesion to turl
tne auld heart young again.
"Ave, Hester she was, for ye were caaed for her. a
ye had a guid ncht to be. She was the dochter o' ai
auld pernicketty cat-witted Englisher that cam' to th<
Assembly Rooms o' Drumfem to learn dancin* an
deportment to the burgher bairns and the sons anc
dochters o» the country farmers. Simeon Greyson wat
his name—a great man to blaw aboot everything thai
he could do, and aboot the great man he had b^^^r
wn M .^'w'^'''^"®'- ^^* *^«y ^ere he never
would tell, but as he spent maist part o' what he made
m pubhc-hooses, guessin' was easy. In his orra time
he wad gather a company o' play-actors frae Guid-kens-
where and travel the countryside playin* «Paitie an'
Roger,' and 'The Curse o' Scotland"i
^hlf^ ^^^^"^ Greyson-judge ye what a stirrin'
there was amang the young callants o' Galloway when
she cam first amang them-her e'en glancin' in her
held wi mischief and youth. But innocent and un-
spoilt, keeped in safety by the mere swarm o' her
admirers there was nae sweeter maiden in the kingdoms
three. The fame o her gaed abroad fast, an' far and
mony there were that sought her out. Mony drank
wi W auld donnert vaigabond o' a faither for the sake
o bem askit to ^gang back to the lodgin's that she
made sa^ bncht. For she loved the worthless deboshed
auld guid-for-naethmg, and worshipped him lik« a
samt— a because she had as yet had naething else to
Mm*
ItMMlMli
an*
CINDBBBIiA. jg,
heart. LithSj^^L iff"' God help a' Win'
"Now it feU oott^t. ' '?.®°" *''** "'" need it t
your faithe.!t bri/itrai^t";'^""' '*''""«'
l«gr ower saddle was in nt, ? f ^^ *^ ®^®' se*
funrejin*. C hiJlIiZJ^S^?^ ^f ™i"' *h« land
becaiie he was Coiv «o„ „n^ ^T **"&^* *' thing,
in the uptek* ^ """^ *^^ ^ ^^^^e^ la<i> ^erj gleg
nxildoot mtThaf DaWe^S'mtr '. T- *^^ ^^^^ ^
the measurin' chain «nf1 **^V ^« attention to
scoundrePrplan to hJ?n V-^K *> ^* '^^^ t^e auld
academj/anf^ W*'?"^^!!^^^^ ^ the dancin'
and whUes U p^ner teTon^ fl ^^"""" *^«^' «t«P«
their learnin\ ^ ^^^'^ *^** '^^^e farther on In
and het4iTh?wis^t^^^^^ ^-ced,
WtheSnawCr irewlsthe finJ'5*^ *^'^ ^^
ever been seen in thae m7^! the finest dancer that had
"Hel't ~e taKie^a'r nt^"*'^* '^-
his teaching of ?he ToSni^^ii^i^ ^« ^^ °^e
^rfunctor/that he mi^t^^ti'm^^^^^^ '5^'^ ^°^
Greyson's daughter all the m;sW o? hfs a^"^^ ^''^'
« N^^ Tkln" ^^. "t."**^« pa?se forX^ht
are,?r;norr: ht^ t a^hancf f ^^. "^'^ ^^^^^^
anmng a' that mul?ftude of sui^^rs C^^' ^" ^"' «^
oor Davie was ever a XfiL • i ?/ ^®' ^^-^O"*"- But
he wus denTdref, tothTSTirtlh^^^''^ .^^
and broke a hole thron fk^ C 5 the berry-tune,
six foot wa' b/the nS h e tf t^S^ ^"i^ '"°^^«^ the
a' events there were loo W^^ ^"to. At
ithers-a hand S w^^ pLtdX^^lf ^J^''"*^' '^'
mavbea— 1 am an n„u .; ^ P'^^^^ed m the dance: and
«e thi^g8irb,^w"f,''irt^'! r'^' ^.nd m-re^d in
places o> the stoir, *^^ hye-gangm' at the dark
"But it cam- aboot that amang the ither young
I
294,
CINDERELLA.
rakish gentlemen that rade in to Drumfern to see th
marvel o' beauty and drink wi' the auld pC-a^tixTfi^
her faither, was my Lord Darroch, then a fine hand
Bome young man that had been a sijer a while Bui
then as noo, as ill-hearted a spendthrift and raHsh n^
Z.7^^1 " ^^ ^^^^ ^' ^- y^ searched the\^
^XLnlttr^^^^^^^^ Thet^att^her^rtf
was the mainner o' thp t^ptT tt^ faither. For thai
Drumfpm w!:+ tneman. He was never awa' frae
t^^i ' ?^^oJ^Pnvate lessons, if ye pleasb an^
n that guise he laid siege <^ theheak o' Hester C^
together Thpv ^fl^ • ^ "^""^^^ '" *^« P"^^^^^
their Ill-conditioned jokes, Hester heard how tStW
maybe"\£^uX?Jf/ ""^"^ ^? drumfern te Arioland,
mayoe tnrough the angry lord, or aiblins, some suai
picious word frae the d]fucken disappoLtedTaither
And saeDavvid was ordered hame. H^CruTnotc^me
CINDERELLA. 295
afodf Ce; hfs^^tife/ wl'r T' ^ ^' -PP^-. Only
a^d whiles-fit TwsTv^.r^"^ ^^^ ^ ^^>
Noo, as the months gaVd .".^dl.e" "^ t^^' '"^^^l
a tune when the need n'T \,-'? , '"®^' *^^^« cam'
the time being at h^„d m n , """"t l''^^' ^^^^ ^^^^t*
weird o' a' lovin' womrn^ A ^^ ""-^ ^ ^"^^ *^«
his pride in WsToocTwi^ft^^ sae Davvid, putting
to the great iro'^lSS^d ?^J'r-.^" ^^ ^"^
it were vestrpon ",.-'*^°'»"<'. i mind it weel, aa if
o' tiie i^ir o- yo"„; fo^\° 1"*" ff » i» the faces
on the doorstep! ^ **^ '*"<"1 «'<»« thegither
thick, LfeatCsa^lAutttti" "'"■'f '"^'- '»? ^'"J
statu^wasIiket^Jeed^rSSn:^ stane, and his
givene^f ^VsTn?r;l;'^<^^ T\*° ''^'^^°" ^^
have told you first hnfT .^^ • ^ V ^P^aps 1 ought to
'-'^'{Z b^^ ^Tf lot Sr^^^ *^ '^^^-
laddLTad'mat' t&a^^^^ ^^^ '^^--*) t^^* t^e
Doubtless ifhad been Tt^ o.M^\^ '^^ ^ ^^' ^^iti^er.
faither was, as I teU JTl ^^.'^^ ^ ^^- ^^r his
baithwife and baius L\^d:,^,f ^ man and ever kept
god. But when Kme ?o f h^"!' ^' ^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^'^ *
brak' frae him, andTe sabWt it T^ i \^^"^ «' ^'^
love her, father!* ®*^* *^® ^^s* words, *!
inTLftT w'^'"?^^^^^^ ^^".^ «^^'' «-^ ^- faither
jou can walk S it. I do ^tLf'^'Z ^""' P^*^' ^°^
am acquainted with W T* ^T *H' ^^'°^a"' but I
Had you asked my om^onn?'^ ^^^ circumstances,
should have 5ve7it to^o^ T T^ ^ ?f .™^^ ^^^ «^«> I
it is^^o late?i;r> C l^rTet^^r";^ *^ ^^^ -^-
doorP^'iruld'S^r^sr? "^^"^'^ ^^ ^^^ ^our
voice. * IteU you, otetr 3f 'fX "1"-^ ^ ^'^^^^^'^
^e, is weak aid V^e ^L^; f ^^^""^ *^^' f ^ ^^^^^
« lu, sae eaimot go far on such a night.
296
CINDEBELLA.
l^k^you to be merciful, sir, for her sake and not fo
lad7e^"mittf Sm?^Sn^^o?^r^^' T"^'* *^'
tim bring her in-Tas v^W.. * ^ ^?^^°^ J'^"* ^^
truth as I am teV^Jo^TsIw wh«7V '^" ""^'^^ "^^
mortal e'er saw n' To«i, i J!- Y- ^ ^°^ sure na«
doonatherhuZnd's w i f*i'^f. ^^^ ^^^^^^
them bide ^* ^*^ ^««^^«d on him to lei
he:,?td"';oSd^t' "^'^"^^ ^^ «^^^ ^^ ^-^-ed hi.
beWe ateo^^J^^j^^^^^ '*^?* one who can
bouse of SlaT^Frn^^r t°^' ^'.^^ ««^ ^^ *lie
faith^r4X°i;s\tT:s^'tt:: """^ ^-» ^O"
springtime ' n^^> S ® ^^^^^ "^ *^e woods in
your fatter for my ^e S'n,f V^ 3"*"*' ""»
I am not afraid. ^ll^' wSf ^ rt^*°^ '""°! »S»^-
mth us forlovmg one ^o£.^ """^ "^ "o* '"P?
as ^elXi^n^l'!^^^i S^j'^g. f- —
the bonny hanefn' JmnT f "^J .hack in his arms with
away. X Ser^m'^w'V ''"l *°f ' ^^ '""^"^
hayesnocourS W W tT^-, " ''2''^^ ""> """^d
help even »X?rt'C IZ''""'' ^"^
;^^st• isTife^HS Mtraix-s.-
3XL^xTyJ^SaS;f ^¥-' ^"'
ever I cross artSa^s^^^Sn^:?^'' "" "^^'^ "'
hi., b^aJ. bread or drinkXp ^Af- "Zj '^l^
CINDERELLA. 297
^/hl^The^r^n^^^^^^^ or heU, n.eet-
I recognise him by so much «? ^? ^M^' ^f the dead,
lovingVu^gheShehas broU ^^^^^^'^^'^ of the
doorstep. Aje. iTl were in fh! %?"" ^^m^* ^^« o'^^
Davvid sSiLTtS'aTi^^f ^« *^'"^^« «-tt>
carrying his wife in Us arms af^l T^ .*^' ^^"'^"^
" And he kept his oath He lotXt^ -^/^^ ^ ^^™-
common lodging in the ^ lage nfa A^^^ H? *" l^/^
a labourer, to earn the hur^^f^P' ^® worked as
back the siller his heartbr^.r -^t '"''*• ^^ ««»*
He passed his ain faitwTn f^ T'^^i '*^^^ ^^^ him.
moleskins, he T ffdlTth '^T^' ^^ ^^ ^"« ^^^kin*
na^e could hae telled by it '^^ ^ ^^^'^- ^"*
Jin kenned wha the HheJ was'. '""^ ^ ^" ^^^"'^ '^-^
cam'!^tTatt:s\^"u *m% ™"f t ^?«' *^- ^^
never ralUed but^«nV^^ 7^ lamb-the first Hester
«o theysaiFBu Z,fdT^Te?„' '"^'' T^ «°^^^
doctor, tiU vae wild mZ^ i °^°^»f ar her but the
Ariolaid ffaed fair^«f vf ?5^ ^^^"',^ *^« rmatress o'
leaWn> the^flt dot^l^llS? ht' "^A ^7 °^^ «^°'
fand it in the momin'. * ^^ ^^^'^ «ae I
it SXhe neveri^^f.' ^^ ^^^ ^' ^"^ they teU
hadna reche^^^'^i^^^i)*^^^^^^^ 7^^°' ^. ^^« ^Ur
his ain mither arhisTci)? *""^'°^ ^^^ ^'^ ^^"^^
Da^^d's Ss^ *^f ttt*^'V\Y."* *^^ ^Joamin' in
stiU wi' fe^Thea^thi ' I!«^^° \^° ^" «*^««* «tood
"Then he Wtff f if /^®*^ ^^ the strong man.
hamet"th\' rd'^tt\';en;:o^''T^f ''' -«^-
in her airms. F^HhernTZ,^''^^''^J ^"-y^^' Jo«
tn-ed him aboot and up th"tt^^^^^
There he waled boards to suS b1^ J i, ^ joiner's,
great laddie for toolTanS wl u' ^^' ^® ^^^ aye a
wood on his shood^!' '^ ^^"^^ ^" ^°fir« ^i' tl^e
"They heard tiienoiseo'hammerin'a'thatnicht. But
298
CINDEBELLA.
to the ncht hand nor to the Ipff i.„f +7 1 ^- ioonied
^ great >uuckle burial? *^t'1^ <^e*stL^oI7rf^
1 hen when some o' them e-apd noa^ +« • i.-
hand he never let on he slw S ; Zt te^^^h^
monument of the' SHriLg, he ea^edr*olS^^ ^° ^;
CINDEEELLA.
299
Sr ""• *^» ''orf»-mony i. the time I hae seen
Hestee Stirling,
our/i, i»__, agree? 17 year*.
last day he had occupied I^^ ' ^f ""^.^ ^^^^ *^ *^«
wasna touched Th«?i!,^'i ^"* s^*'^'*^*^^ ^s he had
office, goHhe'^ear fi??-'''"'^^?^^°^^^*»<>'«»e ^oZ
the young lasT'aplpa?^* ^"^^ f "i.^"' ^^««P* tl^at a»
been Wnt S asi on 1^"'J *^!i"^ ^' ornaments had
buttons o> soi^e tirZl^: J^^^}^ ^^11,^^^ the
had been makin' ae^insf fi,^ ? , , ° ^'*^*^^» she
but noeht ise belL^^f l^^e ^ tbt^^"^^^^^^^
auld^MLritiZ.1a'edt\f .^^^^^ -^en
terrible scene^en Weld fh« • ^'^\^^^'" ^^^ ^^ ^
less he wad heir tell o'7 A ^ inscription. For doot-
threepit ithat murder wLl t^A '^""^ *^^^ ^^^« ^1^^*
yet. Foi they said ZT^i'^^"?^. ^^^ ^be head o't
they caaed yo^ ^ran^f -i/"^^ Amland (that's what
buriedTn ?h^^u?^l^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^ l^er lifted and
he did, Dayvfd "^ad b^^^: ^^ ^*^"'« ^^ ^^^t if
faither Some W flT*^ come back and shoot his
congi\X':?theSctrrh"^- ^^t-T ^ ^-*
nane gled in that co^d heln^f "7^^^^^^ ^^^
auld Arioland vlTll ^ . ^^ *^®y waited for
to beTbsent Svn« ff.™ ^^""/^^^ and neyer kenned
Hke a great ;entW„ "^T ^^"^ *^« «t'«et, riding
doonat^he]ri^tS?nr^''^T^^^«^- He licht^
beast to a se^aJt Thl^\™ his custom, gied tiie
Stopping or nS*;>,«^^l" ^«,gaed in and,^withoot
/ vault. The door had been fastened again
■^^JJ^.«^_
300
CINDEBBLLA.
read it seveml «mf= faeinp the monument an<
though th^rewerB"!,' Tl '"tko^* «peakm'. An
«l":"*:V^. heS'<f'-\^* deliberate, aa if to him-
i. hw .ght ! ' ^' " " ''" "«" ' I d«y it not It
«^it'tte''Hrk%i' tr^y. "I^y ""^ "«»* »P to his
heart of stan™"L*^S?i;l*'^'^ man and Vith a
h« lights." ' y^^S^ndfaither wa« just according to
homtt':::'S^t°Lr",T» f^-^ tS" t« came
white face^nraeSi uf .^^^^ ?««*«■•' '''»'>»«
•train. Yet m ?« Sf' i? *"'"' "■» '«°sion of the
was quite^^.'Sonpir^'"^ *^'' '^^' ''«' ^' 'l«««tio»
And^hrhr,SL-1tk hT °' ''^'"^ 5*" °'' ""^ l"^-
or the grave wS S^♦.. "" ^^ "«»'• <*« ^rk
^ . I fa.ow, s^d Hester, positively, " whj he did not
"Why?" said Megsy.
Because he loved her ! "
MIgf;^^^i.e^^dZ ^' hated hunr* corrected
« TKen To ^ ? " grudges far ayont the ffrave "
HesSTniCgTStae'^-Tt'ar'^?'^^''"™*^-'
Ethel Torphich^." ' "'' ^ <^"'"' f<"-gi™ even
hefto marr^cl.i'. "" ^^"' "'^^ ^ <»« »»* want
Hester; UghSr'"^™" ^^ '""^ "«<>." answered
To;^!:'^^ ttter'^r.Tutlht^^T.^''^'
thing Hester would notteU Megsy. """ " *''" '"'*
CHAPTER XLII.
The Geumpht One Takes a Bath.
CaRUS DaEBOCH hart '
on a visit to his grmSlJr^l{\i,^% ^^« nominally
don a shooting-bSx wS ^J ^J^' ^^^S^ of Knock^
which separate the uplands of P?S ^ ^^^^^ *^« hills
O^ mth ^' vallej of the NM. ^^""^^ ^'^°^ *h« ^ch
ha^^th^tit HttLCrS V ^^P^"«"« I-dj
scanty fringing firwoods at' II! i ' "^^^ '"^ors and
young man? She herself ' w. li^® '""^^ *^^«Posal of the
decentlj to rest in the bS ni'^^^^J ^^^« l>een laid
dales than leave London iS^fe^^^^ ^^ddis-
Knockdon. "^ ^^3^ *o be buried alive at
upon him. ® ^''d ^^ buxom wife to attend
bu5™SST,S^ *?J^ -^»? W, and ,„ h, ^,^
matter which, howev«rw J „' t^^?." P 7 *>» a-othe;
upn the first. It wm« tf.il without its bearing
iim much durm" tl? lasrs^"' "^t'' '"'d oecu^
argmngand i„vesSgatLg1he^"<»f »• ?" ^^ «-
and her uncle. He was ™J^ • •? "' Heater Stirlinff
f^'j .as an inteSg Seifir ''^ ^-^ himserf^
profession. It reallr wL S^nt JP"" ""^ f^W
so he argued, but 4en ClJtw™?'*''^'"''' ^"'^.
man. And so, all without fl^ ""' » ^'J busy
tte matter off his friend"! l i"" '^^'""^' Cari t^^
posted as to resXSdpt^fiCU^^ ^fP^S Wm
advice. * prouting by hig earelesglj_giyejj
So he threshed it aU out a thous«.d times and ia.
302
CINDERELLA.
and mno:„t"tw^bttrSr*rTWr 1*^*1^
have considered inferior accmnr^nSlr * *^®^ ^^^^^
of warrantable ^Sv B^ +if '''' ^*''' ^ ^^^^ ««**«r
Bohemian in the nS« nf .t^'^ "^^ something
DaiToch, an^ so desnitefhf -^ 3^«Y«g, Master of
which s^panTtion frZHefte/SJ r ^' ^''^^'
prised t^ find how much Lr^' S^^ "^^^ ««r-
sodety of men who d^uJ^f^'^lv.^^ ^^^ ^ *^e
of the Bar,^nd wrote fo^„l ""^ ^}^ ^** ^^««
a couple of^^eas ont^^?^^^'"?^^^^^^^^^^
Dover Wt IT the only son ^f'^n, v% ^"f ^"^ ^
of Darroch. ^ ^* ^^ ^^'^ Darroch
He had written several times tn Mr Ti««-«
business connected with Us ST^^T^T" °P°2
answers in which no mention wM^«fl^„f^ '^"^
any subject near to his h™rt So W„ f/^l**' °' °^
he had'tmvelled north to 4Xwtr^d "1^* *^'
winter's eve he lmoc.lce<1 »+ tiT^ ^' , **"y "»»
MacQuaker it wT^o opt^'it'^,??/^^. .■^'*''"
to, Anders was sure of ff lfo« h^diT^tL™"
n^otrelf^hT^erMrXf^S - ;H-^
he surmised the l^^'^f^'^C^C" !':'dlt
CINDERELLA. g^
^n -e to W o't, ^n Kar,.ret TippeHin had been
-t~eX^.rn!^ a .uiet s.i,e as he .. to
said^to LSS ^^ ^^'^''^ng letters judiciously," he
at tce^fe^.t'^r ^^^ ^^ir^^r bega. te talk
«ie farmers of the gCwere on wfth""^^^^^^ T^ ^«^ ^^
You are stavin? at ilJn\7^i *heir ploughing,
though indeed /esSptsed wf-"' ^ «"?!><>«« ?"C£id,
^ec^imt^knewtheTrmsonw^^^ fo^Sl'
with his son. ^^™^ ®^ ^hich Lord Darroch was
" No," said Cams *'Tq«, a xi ^
A , ^a" ^^^^ t^e ministpr « t
to her Grace, and thank W on ^^^/^ fommend me
JIs Miss Hester' LT^?S^ft'^i^r^ "P^n it.
best to conceal his anxiety ^^ "^^^^^ trying his
. pne 18 absent from hq of
agister, succinctly. ^ "' ^* present!" said the
^te|»./-oS;^^^^^ «^. sti^ght
do not know." ^ ®°"7 that I cannot teU you--l
304
CINDEBELLA.
t%i
«^' °w'* ''•I'^.OM ™ the making." ^
'mTOMisB StolinjT retams I shall undertake th,
Ib^Chetwynd heaxs of V »id the mini,te''';;«h*Bi^
«f 7^^ J i i^** ?; Stirling of Arioland threw herseli
It IS not easy to put on record the feelings nf r««^«a
judicio^y «aid much and tiZotl ng*" Th^'Zg Zi
I^^rta.nly been in the viliage, but she h^^ ^t^bS
seeing her for some few wp*»Va__rt,. ;+ ^- x^ i!^
And.Ihe could not " oUS^UUL:^^"* ^^e^;
heanng where she had gone. She SioLht llVf
Kr. as. tf,r 'siszJ£^.
„ JS' Still none the wiser, Cainis went forth, as it were
GramnhvXiJl 4 ^^*°<^^"§r of earthly affairs that
w f ! L^ ?n ^^f"® "^^ *^^«ad that night. His was
not a subtie mteUect and when he got a subject to S
'^'•■nilRlilH
mmA.
CINDERELLA.
about he made the most of if a*
hw liquor each mght it was Gn,«,^ ? ^"^^ '^S^ of
This occurred regularly betwLn fK "? .""^ sycophants,
tumblersjf GruSphjgotso^^^^ *^,^,?'e^^th and"^ ninth
Grumphjr had beln tSie? out of^l' "^^^*» ^«^^^er,
Mistress Curljwee for^Sin., «. r*^.^"^^^ Keys by
was reduced to standin^at thf n^ disturbance, and he
l^^^yj? the loafers confr^Uted /^^^ the
full swing of oaths and reviHnl^ wif n ^^ '^'^^ ^» the
his hands in his pockets H/fK^^^uP^'^^ ^^^o^ed by,
was someone maldng a pditwi t^^^ ^* ^"* «»«* it
reproduce Grumphy's lan-uL? p • J^"^^ '^ "*^ "^ed to
Only those whoUow gS; f,f^'' '^ ^ impossible,
"ufficient to say that ^^ylJl "^?^-"'^ '*' ^t is
hnuted vocabulary, everv fn„l • •'^'^'"^ ^" Grumphy's
Grumphy's time. ^"*"^^"ed with his father before
♦^haareye?" fifti/i n^ v
play-actors' boys that'« . ""fV* "^nither o' thae
U that Stole tJe^twaeeT"^ ^«^^-' ^or theUny'
- T?f« w^* '*«P ^ argue.
and th^/n^rS^ fe'r^'r ^^« ' " ^« ^ried,
his coat behind, and tL Li T?i"'Ph^ ^^ *h*^ co'^ tr of
down the street of tL ri« i^^"*^"^ ""^ being p^tod
very practical stelpr^p^i^^^^^^^^ d'n ?r\'<^^- ^J^l^t
-"'''' - at^elSd^ t ^r lli'i^t tl^r^^S
so
4
909
CINDilRBLLA.
Sh-iaL^.."'!^"*-*""* *«^'"" the moonlight!
"^f^Jged upon her adversary. ' "*"" ^*"'"'
in^'l^rh^na^^^^^^^^^^
j^r;S ieKhl«:5;l"a3^,:^T,e'7„lJ
your ain youne master— Carnu T^^Af^ ao ye note
heir Sl/n onj vT • » i. ^*™*< ''O™ Darroch's son an
I» J«„ ?^ ^ ''®"'t ^^ "Pe»ted, tanntinffly, " hae ti,
mi'^k'lht'n^dSmr^'^, ''"""P'-^' "''•»* '
pound notes in Tobermor^" ' ***■ """* "* *"» S»i«
nichtl ^Ln? 'aT bS^ .Csel^ru'^^r 4
CMMik
rard with
is a sharp
Immedi-
id stables
>^all (the
was the
a black
w sea of
fast, the
)k much
^as that
moment
8 energy
rrumphj-
e figum
light — a
tmid the
Stirling
iplutter-
)oj who
no ken
son and
hae the
3 worth
what a
'8 fate,
a guid
mphj !
r this
r, it's
rts of
1 cir-
which
irroch
CINDERELLA.
right 'Cr" "* "'« ^"-^ ^OJ' C™, i„,p«te, hi.
"I Wish [ had had on mv ai •
mured, regretfully, « these hai ^"1^ ?"'«»" *»« mur-
BJ^^curio^^''"^ the edges?" ' ^"^^ ^'^^^ on the
tw4(^^^^^^^^^^ steeping his best
red silk tie out of the wimlnw va' *°^ throwing his
same thing. All hesJ^tl'^^W^'.^ '^"^P^^^" ^^ ^hl
Alpine, ithSd t,:rto%n't:''.**{ ^^*« -* ^^nd^
ment with the Grumph^sVth^^^^V '^^^^^'^ judg-
argument they understand""^ ' ^^"^- ^* " the onfy
'%^
?
*
'■nmMifcstMi^^^jmt
*Sm?' •:' ^/u
CHAPTER XLHI.
Dian's Kiss.
blow from the Arctio even then T, • *"**"
incision trulv Polar Bnt tSi. T. ". i^ * "8*""" »"
From the midSTof mII tt^^Yad ^fvhf "''' ^*^
wuaoiestwie had such cause to remember-b^ We
Cfll^BRELtA.
T^,^ '■"Mood, ^rltej'fe fhe eould
30>9
-7 -"-"■"•> wno Had KgaM'r'o- "i"' ""wi mistrega
^J^^ommon person. ^""^ ^^ ^^ ^^^ back-ahop Ukf
f},« "l'''\^^«*^e88 Dickson c^S^T'^^^^ ^^'3^^611.
«ie whereabouts of HesW ^^ ^^^^^r nothig of
?^mngelj.circun,scrite
mg according to the wirlfi ^ )^"^"n a radius, varv-
eveiything if W^ .Ith phoft'^^t^ ^^"^ ^^^^'^^
A man cannot get shaved wSt/'^^P^'^ particularitv
ajdno words cfn exnrlL fl^ ^- "^^*« ^^S canZsS*
chameters of womTar?studSr1fT^*^ ^^^S
judius of ploughmen who come W. ?{!* °^°?.«"<^ ^^ «»'
their coulters sharpened or f?^^ ^ *^® ^°^^<^<iy to get
ken of the herds who desc/n? I'w^?^^' «^H out of Se
shops for flour a^d ba&I^ off ".S "^^^ *^« ^^ge
which the farmersand SoE ' ^^ *^« "»ain roads gv
you are in a regiorabSi^wt •"»!"' ^^^« *<> the Cket
known or cared.^ A river mT '5- "^S^^^^ whatever is
2>mplet^ly in intefesS anHifi^^; ^'^^ P^«I^es i
«tnkuigandIove.maldn/asi?T ""^^^^ in bargain-
«f7of t^o hostile co^teier^i*^°^«*i<^tedthebo^.
■Hester than did +),« iT ^^ ^^at had becomo nf
Empress Gate.^^^ *^' ^"«^ ^^^'^ of Hyde S^l
saidUtVSru'^l.T-^^^^^^ 245h, as we have
young green of the braekl ! a^^ ^^ *" ^^^^ in the
on a stone twenty yarSs bet«,f .^^~^««<^r fitting
her hand, he stopped^ ifhTi^\ ^'"^ ^*^ ^ book if
The girl did nii m?ve sfe^ been shot.
mindediy over the oiT.oIumein''^ ^'f^ ^^-^^^^^
^ volume m her kp towards the
310
CINDERELLA.
^^ha^dGrstZ^Jr tL,^ ^"^^^^ between h
such havoc with h^?t J^^, *^f«^&,.™d l^ad play,
that desert place, sheha?^:,^ *' ^fl""^ ^^^ bW
swift inechLica:! X pettVf^* *^" ^"^^^^^ ^" «
rejoicing in their liberty fhl ^ T^""^"' ^^^ ^01
straying loosely over W«i,?^ P^®''*^"^ Jocks wei
to her waist. ^ ^^' shoulders and falling almol
^1^^^^^^^ «^f^ «till and drank in th
changed to sometMng i^finil,! t^^- '^"^^^ «"ddenl
The breeze that stirred HeswX ^'^"^ ^"^ ^'^eete
a draft of some rare^nt Jf ^oo iS'^^^^^^^ *" ^^ "^'
Carus took a step forwafd Thf o ''''''^•
hun, for it waa early ^d ^hl* c J5 ^""^ "^^^ «*i^ behind
^ Something dS parsed H.^^'*''' ^""""S-
be the swiyi^g^ZTof'^-^^ely. too large to
clamorous defence o^^itf youn^M ''^^ ^*^^P^°& ^^
shadow of a cloud floatinr^^'.u**''' ^^°«« ^or «ie
looked once over her sh^L.^ *^!, W^' air. She
J° ber feet, letting her tok^^n^^^ T^^^ «P'«^&
heather. Like a sfSrf^I^ * T^^P "^heeded on the
defiantly at bay h^H t^-^^r/^^.'*^^*^ ^ ^o^^ent Imlf
tide of a delidL sfarflf J^^ ?S^H while thereS
She had hidden wCellW^ ^''. "^'"^ ^^^ ^^^k^
been for the bpsf !o S^ **"* ^^^ *oo well. It had
sweet to be found igSn^S r?^^ .^"* «^' i* ^^s^
not a bit. ^^- ®^« <^d ^ot mind the danger
"Sester!" *
point. "" '**'«• »" Jus soul bent to one
0- the ^, -^t/u^ur^rh^z-jirr
CINDERELLA.
w£S?o'^SLr°"^J° think things ove. He
"moving spSenfhadU^* M^v''"'.''" ^
-S? where ^^P^''"^ -^^ ^"" V^* ^^^ ^^^ *« begin
fa^dges throuS; l^f ""^^^^ ^^Iks of winter, the
untrfublJd wafmfh nf '^'^ '^T^ ^*^"«' ^^e quiet
and^K Ti^Tht '''"''"'^ ^*y«' *^« country food
befo^^S-^^'be^^^^^ Xr\r^'l "^« ^«^ «*ood
to her shoulders a il,fn ""'^^ "7^^^^ ^^^ ^'^^S
p^rwW^^^^^^^
the exSL^o^^^^^ clothed
naturally. He wi^lrl Z^ f \i. * "^^f ^ ^ ^^se so
surprise HeLr^+ .r ""* ^''' *?^ ^^'^^ *a^e ^^' bj
He^^uld deaf ^th^f/^' a fawn easily frightened!
that- And 8o f-^)?o "". dehcately~so tactfully,
«n- ,? f® *°"^ even unto Amen ! •'^'
Hester, I love you ! "
*"u«nng at tbe station: she would rf^min/l k^^ *
thought her tf ^« ^ '^S'^f ^ ^>^ *« ber enemies
for a^iiment ^™^ ^""^^ to listen to him
,.1
X4_
ft
t
-rfs
■f
812
CDTDEEBLLA.
!> '
o J^?f^' ^ I^-«you^I adoi^ you-I cai^notlire witi
does noPa,7*l'L°y m^^ because the tiun
felft^:jfXl.t alt^^ ^-^<i b«.veresolutio.
would not comeT^ |L.^®'^ ^'^^^ forbidding
be«.me mou^enta^Xs ^1" '^'"^ <ietenniuatioI
ber a fuU half-dozen secoS' h!?^^^*> ^^ *»><>«i
apparently of its own accord q^!'''^ ' ''^''^ *^®'«
atliim with ejes of renro^h f. *if ""^^ J"«* booking ur
tim he must not, wherrtf^'"*^/ P"^^«« ^^ te5in|
Oh jes, she had been ffssed^,?!^^"^ *^^^ ^^PP«°ed^
worth anytting has been ^^^'J'^^l^^^^oU
w:orld whirlingind broke fi,o « * *^"' *^** «ent the
pieces ! Suilly liis co^d LfT^ ^^ ^ <iozen
Is there no other ^^ for it ?%^^ ^ ^^"«» only a kiss.
18 to EngHsh language '''' ^''°' ^^ inefficient
crja^^pLrof'^the Z'^m*^^.* i^«« ^^o^e the
and Caru8Dar«)ch, and l7h^i^ f ^"«*«^ Stirling
front, they stepped out Lto « ^^ ^ '"'^^^^'^ ^bo/
jj^j^ FP«u out into a new world hand £
wr;;^V?'^'"'"^^^^*--t^weniustnotl Itissnrely
Like a fluttered hir^ tr j.
coquettish nor a^igr^, b^' aw^^l .^^'^^^ neither
It. The thing wa?sofiwp^f*w.x^*^®^®*7 wonder of
wajsohappfthlu^Sli^^ckS^l^^^^ S^'
bad been either ouietlvW ^' ^^berto, Hester
But this tiiat cLrSin^ ff{ "^^ ^"*^^^ mi'serabS!
of a lifetime, Cfche fuC* *H^^^<£
making futile the past^lurehr aS^!'/^?*^^^ a^d
T TL^4«^^«^^«d tak"n7 ' "^"^^ "°* spring
^>A^^t%^:^tv::^^^^^^ Not
m the consecration of w/s moS hli^'^-S.*^* " ^^^^
Bi-tte. an old world Zt ^I^'T:^^,"^^^^
" SHE WAS SO HAPPY THAT IT MITST
BE WICKED.'
[Pane aia.
CINDEBELLA. gjg
^eufar face, tte/^"3 ^te""'^ "?*''« ^^^f^'
they sat down T?,«~ "*"' "" '"*'> «"« mind,
tri4phant r4e «SLe"of ^r*^'"* ^"^ '»<l
whenhe,p«keitwa^e::f?^,^„«4r^ man. Yet
themsekes. ^''*° »« '"^"y ttey averted
«ylnfa.r!"° ""^ ""^ *«""ff'" *« ^id, pitifully,
af^flA kTT * *° ''*" ^'"' "^y "'" »i^ «>« yo'-g man,
lia^tte'fX^"^- I'-™l«tyoukissn.e!"
frtaSding nkr shied »r^ il?f^ *"« *»■* ^"^ been
rattle of w'sC^ "if „^ *°^ "^ *^« r««' "'«> »
told you-noVSu me < " ™ ""^ '"°"""' ' ^ ''»™
T^'^t^^. "* "» » »<»»»*. gathering courage.
" I do love jou!" she said.
from several points of Wp- ^^.',^«^ ^^'""S restated
among these reXkaWp TrfJ' ^^ '*. "^^^ ^« ^^^^O'^^ed
that before S^/wn -/^"^ unprecedented occurrences,
assiLe crus^at^ha y ™ ?^*^«^^^ ^^'^^ ^^ to
world, SeS ^n M:irtJ;S better than aU the
love is a r«*.ii * j~^' "J't^r than Eeyvie. For
s^tisfl!^. "'^ *™*" »"^ "'^ds to be minuM^
Then, being of an enthusiastic and yet most practical
heard. It seemed Ssh^ 1, f t!^'*J ^"^ *^« ^^^ds si
8ie would wak^up pr^^^^^^^
Bmpreas Gate or Sf h^r o^^k^ *?« dull ga^et i
But there was, after aU so^fi^^® ^?i ^* <*« ^ans*
ing in Carus's am about w"^ •'?^ ^^ ''^"^^^
nestled in the placTLln^l k"" ""^'^ ^^^^ her hea
similar continlendeHSn/r- *^^^^ ^^*^« ^o'
the ages. occurring at intervals throughou
"bu^'w^'^LT^^^^^ ™ -,ing
l»r® on- Trowbridffe said flT^^i,^ 7"^*'°^ ^^r us tc
Pitj 1 was going Wa lor j^w^^T ^^^ *^* ^^ ^^« «
journalist. ^ And I onlv'^ij^^'*^™ born te be a
wallj hard. Thfin +1,.^ •®®*^ ^^" *« ^^^^ me work
^«.rs t\:'i %^-^.1 ^»'*^t ^h:
^des, rf.e loves luandl"'::. "''*" .*? " «™g'
of me ! " ^ ' "»" I am sure she is very fond
befo^^'?fS:^^^'^«' her for six months-she wiU
wh«t mouSy °* "* """ ' '^i'i Hester, so^e-
never would-noTn^ a* tl T5 T^T"*™"- «>»ld.
Methuselah. I had 1 ff* ^''^^^ J° •» "" old as
day." Carus went on m'^'»f°? ^^"'^ the other
"He seems to be sSngTlo ^Kr"" *^°"^''tfully,
bJ, ^'To-derif his father b,owsM?°'J""'»<"' «"'
Hester „„„^fl, „, ^ -w.
CINDEBBLLA.
— Qtr
teen as that of a * i i,
;; You don't mean- ?..
t « deuced odd I Kippie m^Tt i, l^"','" *» "me
mti^?,f " """t you wi„ ,:• ,^„, ^^ ^ ^
the"S,^'S:e"r^,'' '°* »* —-you a™ the .„u^_
hotter, till thei aS^^ Ir"^',^""? l»kr ""I
were just little pools rfiL- '* '"' t^iey came forS,
-ksoHh. Higf-S^"^ -^^o^«.e g^e„ lit^
''^J'^Sr?" *^ ^ ^"" '' Knookdon where you ^
s£^4;5^^^?fc»tfc^^^
now, the bar o™'S;Srt!eT4Xh^'Sy'* •«» -Clover
eitter hand), "yef j.l Hp*"*"''"^"?
rfewiUbee^et^^'^'^'-'^'^mu.ie a«f
MTuch shows that Carus Jh^?* ^'^Sry again ! "
had had .e.y little ex^S^'tde:§'*^ *" *■" '^''o »'
that &s "VfiT ^™'''" «ri^ Better all f. .
«»t lUTKB under the swepfhoQ,^.: ^^'^^^J^* aU the mother
m arms within her^^TA^^f^'^S of every woman up
"'"'''"-'^-'-'^^^^^ walked toward, the
-wvm
aid
iK~
CnfDEBBLLA.
comfortable that<>h«i root of Bu-^.-BieW h«,d i
^ It 4L
.tetnge "peffl^H^'','^^^''''™ 'ko -aw thi
heather, Tead bent ftwlf ^. Ji '"''biig oTer th«
other. ' '*"' heedle.8, wrapped in each
pebb^aid w»t';ffi'«:;i^ r'*' » .«>»«er on the
, "Megay,£y7'^»^^«»^P|^atherheart.
for ever and a day She S i.<.715Sf , /O"' hairn
Free this day fSgh«irii °"ther'« ain doohter.
thocht ower he? VhoSer^ '™'' <?f'"°»i' nor a kindly
linthathapiSt (£^^.*°27/tL J'fS'"* TiPP«'
heart has J^rned ower Lr ^"f! *^* ''?''{ «»'' "ha'a
dark or ImT^OKJi^ M^^' "'?' »'"' ^y-
be^ul,'^ttrXl^e1fJS""''r»^««-'y.
ehaU.. whenV«,t,^:^,,'i,tT,u?U^;''" " ""^
CHAPTER XLIV.
Love's Golden Weathee.
■""g*' i»*» the great whi "fenSSlv htte "^"^
LaSSi 'LX^^« «"°« r' *«>» KloSt, Jamie
.Twif-i V „ *• "'eantime, greatly marveUino'
the ffi'-tt'fi?*:'' 'i'^"'-"^ i/hS z:fed
ptnil-eiSTS^rfS-T^'^
bon/y youn^ f aS^^^^f ^^"^^ <^^^^> bless his
Jamie SL'eG^l^r*^'" '"T ^^^ °^«^«^
or if sae be Si ye^f lo^l/Cn"^?' ^% ^"°^P^'
pitaties ! » ^ ^^° ^®' * J®^' Peel me the
nawStr^"^?""*^^^ '^*^^«* that James Lammie was
■vma
11
lijiiu.mtf^ij
818
CINDERELLA.
S^e v«nnw ^y!f' /^?f *? "^« ^'•^"^ *heir nests a^Si
the yellow bent, as Hester ami (?aru8 came by Thesf
were no egg-lifters, they confided to each otfier a
?r«p^'^''!»,'3^^° ^"«^^** ^ h»^« known better! * If
indeed, in their curious linked manner of walking they
came upon a nest with beautifully mottled brown and
rXn:;.*?^^^^* ^M * '^''^ and look down a'
It. But good Mistress Curlew knew very well that
afeT^^''^""^^^^""^ ^" ^ "^«°»«"* forget an
Every morning by nine of the clock Cams was ex-
pected to appear on the sky-line to the east, eagerly
£ W m'cl^a*""' " '^^" " ^^'•^^'^ Wedom'a^co??:
"He'll surely never come the day— he'll hae
some o' his graund freends wi' him ^to b^ar him
JltT.7T"* ^«1?^^"; ^' "^^y^ ^^ the 8h^tinV>
theryr""'-^ ®"'^^ ^"'" ^«* * ^^y to oorsel's
Then Hester would laugh and run to Megsy with a
iZ^J"^^' V'""^' "^«" «% old jealous iKg^, of
course he will come. Why, he promised me ! " ^ ^'
And of course that settled it.
Then from the door Hester would spy him black
against the sky, and presently he would begiLtopky
thf H?it''# ^""^""^ the scattered granite blocks^ on
TvSa ? I^ig-iome with their noses in the air like
ItL^'"^' '"'®''^. *^" ^'^^^«> others like natmS
menhirs raising warning fingers to the skies. Hester's
eyes never wholly lost t^ack of Cams. She fsS in'
^mctively to know where he would appear next/and
Zll^r%^^^ *'^'^"^^ ^'""'^^^ would pitch abruptly
iir^ headlong oyer a stone as he watched for that
flash of white kerchief when the slight summer-gowned
figure m the doorway raised its arm. gownea
TTfi«Wc.\*^°'!vl'? ^^^ ''^^''hed the scaur of the bumside
Hester s breath began to come a little faster.
I dont think I shall go and meet him this
CINDERELLA.
319
:.u.t-
m^dow. ''" ^^''' ^^^"' ^«' ^« ^- crossing the
"But he will be so disappointed if I don't " rt^Uni^
Hester, and with a hast/^lance in the dass for ?h!?
"^VTrlP^'P^^^ of woman's-" to see Sla * *11
nght," she ran down the little path, clicked th.iil^
^r" r*\^Wnd her, and stoSi unSer the aldeS^
where the shade is, to wait her lover. ®"*
And to Cams coming across the meadow ami*! *h^
dehcate scents of cowslip and Mayflower? it Teemed
that life had never been worth livini befor^ rfo k
day he found her more beautiful! And sh^ ,« ^ ^^
beautiful too. For as genial sun and gid^^: 'i^?!
cause a flower generous by nature, but^s arved S
light and moisture, to bud and bourgeon «n?il
a thing more glorious than itseTf^^ i^ the TuT
shme of a great love and the inner glow of hea^'
l:!^i:;: """^^ '"'"^^^ ^^^"^ ^^ g-wV bet^y
Cams advanced towards her, a look of eairer hanni
Ke^adtiK •bo^:h'^^^^^^^^^ J?er «^ ^fp S
in a^flowered -/e^Vr^L^^^^^^
Lfc? fu^^^t 1^"^ P^^« ** h«»- throat. Then he
l(K>ked at her, taking her in from the topmost ci^l of
her dainty head to the little slipper thurr^en^rouf
from beneath the sprigged amber gown ^^^ ^'^^
n. ?-i,^? *^** "^^H^' ^^^^^ ^« heart sang, "There is
none like her, none." ^' ■^'*®'® ^
But as he came nearer he saw only her face aa bJ,^
turned her head a Uttle back t« gaze^up It hiS Bui
that which he saw there is the thine best worl^^'o..-
on earth-the look of the perflcrfove wS eS
Zil'^Vi *^^- ^^'' ^^ ^ ^«^^"- Then to the T^^
smile of happmess succeeded the yet more gr^ Z
suffusion of tears, maidenly reserve, girhsh^^ride
nings of that wifely companionship, the soUciSde
wm
320
CINDERELLA.
Bemi-maternal which is the best ultimate 'aiid issue of
tHe love of man and woman.
.r.t^^ % ^1T ^f ^T *^**"® ^'^^ *he face of an
angel. He did not analyse these mysteries or even
name them to himself, fnstead, he wanted to SssTe?
^w^T'"^;7^ u'^'i^^ ^°~ ^^'^^iWe thing. He
troubled himself about nought else. Only the tale-
teller sitting afar and alone, has time or carrto
separate trait from trait in a loving woman's fa<»
1.^1 \-°'2^®?* Carus held her a littie off at 'arm's
length, his hands upon her shoulders. And as he felt
her throb beneath him in all the radiance of W^t
youth and perfect love, he cried out, «0h, you arfmc^e
beautiful than you were yesterday ! "
o«^^ *^ ?® griadness sprang responsive from her eyes
and her hps pouted to answer him, he stooped Ld
gatherea her to him so close that sp'eech h^Terf o^
to give place to little dovelike murmurs, and it^seemS
to Hester that she floated with shut eyes upon a ^Z
upholding ocean~a mother-sea in whose arms she and
herlove were for ever alone and for ever safe.
When Hester came to herself she would find herself
ij^W up the narrow path with Carus a little in front
aL 4^r ?.*^.^^* if^^y ^*^ * ki««» ^^ fond
and half propitiatory. She followed blushful and
dehciously shamed that Megsy should know why X
had gone to meet him. Yet she told Megsy ever^
night how she loved him, and Megsy si^^hed as sS
^oi^ht how entirely this heart-ea^r lovlh^n^^
Hester was venturing her aU upon the faith of a maT^
'She 18 her mother's daughter-praise the Lord'"
s^dtheold woman, "a lass like that gies awa her
heart a m yae payment, and if she loses, Sod help her,
she IS for ever bankrupt and dyvour » "
Then, as she looked at Carus, Megsy would add
u!^ ^A'l fv' "?^* ^"' K *^** *^«^d is an honest
S^^l^^s'^o^merr-'^" "^^ '°' '^ ^ ^-^ "^-^ -
After this Carus sat him down on the oaken chair at
the comer of the hakeboard and telked jojoi«iy.
CINDERELLA. 321
BteaUng scraps of Megsy's cakes, tiU, as in former
ine rolling pm if he nipped any more pieces out
spoiling the symmefay of her shapely farles. '
Ajid ever a« Hester went about the clean-scoured
fatchen, a white apron girding her-the most adoraWy
stn ^eS M ^""T^^^'y ^oq^^try Cams SaHvS
seen-behmd Megsv's unconscious back eye continuaUy
^untered eye spote, and was answered. And^on
Hester's cheek the rose flushed and paled response
It was all very wonderful to the 5^unff Si who
^m3'' ^'r ^'r 1«^« ^^^ whoffiaTtringth
teit, to find himself suddenly first, and nresentlv
ev«^tiimginasweetandgirlishheart: Then^the very
plam-song intimacies of the house, the liftinV 3
h^Znii'^'f?: *\^^ '. ^y ^"i^kl^ averted ^fnce,
JSf yfJ?^^-''*^^ *''''^^^' "" ""^^ ^'^ ^^d ^ they Lried
the brimming can of water from f he weU beneath the
^e^rden hedge, the light in his Ws eyes ?hiW
^i^'''^\r ^^^^'^ sparklings even as the Z
fc «^ ^'^ the swayiner crystal floor of the pail-
wf ^«^n many thmgs else, impressed themselS^on
i^memoiy witii the matchless cleai^ess of a first
How gladly they sat down to the midday meal.
regularly lajd a place for her, but as regularly Megsy
saymg "Itisnofor a puir auld wife like me to be
MtW doon wi a son o' my Lord Darroch, and the la^
JL^^ f '^ ° ^^ *^^ ®*^'""'« «' Arioland-feTs,
wt^me up, I may no ken muckle, but I ken better no^
But between the three, thus divided by the old GaUo
S? ZTT/ ^'^"^te sense of « gentrice," the talk and
i? J£ ^i ^"^ ^^ J^y^"«- '^^^y J»»ghed at anything,
at that. Anders came twice a week and brought them
pruvisions-often a fishing of trout, or sometimes^
322
CINDBBELLA.
came he would have a dozen of eggs in a handtSi
or sixpots of jam set in a basket f-s^ng overhk^
^^ ,%87'8 private cupboard. ^ ^"^ ^
In the afternoon Hester and Cams wenf nnf o«-'
the moor, having first helped M^y to walT°,
^l^fT^^.'^P^«^^^""--^q^^ insuffid^nt
girt about with an apron of Hester's whi>r7^«f u
seemed to carrj with it a subtieTmgranttf S^^
and youth With laughter and scoTdl^tLVorW
done. Pretty wet fingers were lifted against thTeltr.
encroachments. Arched eyebrows froSatst^nS?f
or red lips smiled aU too aiuringly upo^ ho^^^^^^
cation to business. With a new deS CW« ?P
c^eZ'to '"r^ P"^^ t^'^"-'' conSioutTruSlS
c ean, to wall presses which, being opened sent fmS^
ple^ant smeU of oateakes Lid last^ea^^ honev H
hardly believed he could be the samAmorT^^^' ^
ago had lounged about mth a larS^rHst7ess .^„7^.
^^der the spindling firi^ees of theXockdr plLt
ev^Vhr* It? '^* ^\* ^S ^^ anticipation in thei
'^nsrp ;^re3run^^rt: tfe^ltds^ts^
mating, and gla4 w^^er.^ ^ ""^ ^^"^ ^°^«' ^^^
Megsy watohed them go a little wisffnll., a
times she accompanied them as f ar L fh!T^^* ^^^
through which Uught th^r W i^l^^L"'^!^^
?J^.^'?:^.'r'r ^^^^^^ t'e^'eatSe^Ta^h^r
my bade her fareweU as if they had b^n X„f *!. * '
the seven seas (nor by their pmteslSis^ouW t W
I love to dweU a little among these high and goldea
■s-^^l
CINDERELLA. ggg
days. They speed so fast when we have thntn tu
heftvenB seemed m brass and the efrtri^n T ! V'*
wande,, ti„„^ awhile, hand in warm hand Uioul,?'^
directly to « their Dlari^^J^+i; 1 !? generaUy went
beneath the cHff^XrPnF ^^*^ '^"^^ ^*' ^ °««fe
drowned their whiZred love fall /"^ "^^^P ^^^
I cannot do without jou—now ! » ^ ' ^°^
824
CINDBBBLLA.
p^ap tT^^ -"> ^" -^^ Car.
tuneagiin. Why it^l' ^* <»» «™r be the fir
about .8 jiu Si aere^'. ^^' "''»* ^o" "«" tbrnkin,
e»ctoth^;lSn^#' *?•" him, and thej to,d ;
rt»ries of t«^lTd <5 coS- h^^" ,Ca™« "taile.
anuntimely end wLn H«.*^ which almt^rg came t<
you lored me-tell me ^ S.7f if i «>»* you kneii
and don't skip " *°°''* '*' ^«"» «*« beginning,
C.t',.:fhi,^::S:io.^:X-»Jd «gh again, „a
you dgh.litae wo™mP " ^ ^""8"' *» »y. " Why do
•'^™tit1|'p?LgTS,tt„-->^ --'
hunted them^ut of ^^ 7±*"™"r T ?'™ »"">•
nae and say, « W« ™rj ^ ''°°'' Hester would
waiting for ^t" """' ^o home-Megsy will be
deSghe"""""'*-''"'* »"«'" C"™- would ple«l,
Ihe sun whS^'Cl^"i^^'« they would 4rry a!
than before. "onzonwards, more red and angry
w-k hon.^ in ^/^etltljh^rLl-lS^Xt^
how I
CINDBBELLA.
326
ofZ m^^K tV-^^^^^^ the nesting cries
plaintive music he^l„°? "^'^^ ^°^ ^^ off, like
would not sS mu^ 'S. '^"^S ^* *^''« ti°»e tiiey
thinli I am prettier IL tT *?? *''"• And, oh, he
<Kd jesterS/p' ' ""* ^ '°™ "m far better thi, i
of the lit^rb";t''X i^t'^^toJJl the *- -'
And a tear gUstened intTf, !!^ * earthenware pot.
Hester, who^a£^''lSk"tetodTr"'Sr Y *^»* »*^«
gott^.soUtaehappinet^^J^Yt.'^ on love, «,d had
mj£^^j*° *^ -°y l^i™ the better parti"
'^j^'m^^^
W
CHAPTER XLV.
Ways and Means.
brief^d^J^^?%*^^^°^ ^^^« ^^ ^«"°<Jer lag toward t
Meanw},iir!f *****®*' ^^S^^ ^^ Parting. "^
af^X'L'U'; Jans%rS ^^./^? ?^^' -
a* is their custom 0^tfh«i1^^ ''?i'^'^^°^^ ^^" «^^«"
on the hills/oS^ mor« ™l«f S.^' i*^^*^^^^
lo.e"^he"lft SrU^', "'"'"^ "t *« f^t of hi
gazed out over fL„ • "*™J'. *■»"»» ^8 curb as h
of these. ' *'' *^ 'O"* "> h" heart, was ont
hA\t; Z oZM."u»h*T*:'***' •""' *» Hester,
father and be «Io?r But Sh^'/* '!"'"" ^•"=^»«d his
ting out cartain Im;,».t ^ "° intention of shut-
on WacS. He woSyL"',^"""? » ""lihood
aSrotn;'lF^^^Va>^^ '«s^t^^;
m m m mm m ,>Lfjf^mm>'- ■
CINDEBBLLA. 327
• BigtdtvoirteiM'P^^"^^^'^''^^«^-i<^e Hester
dde woSd b^^r^fi^i /5:^«i,'^ «^*^ '"^ Lady Niddis-
and lay the whot ^«L w ' \^^ *^^*^^' ^« ''^"st go
«*/ we wnoie case before her Tr«» a; a «^+ 4.1. • 1
they should decS the ^hT', V""" ""^ *^«3^ ^^^^
which, if thev did nV ,!/ J? ""^ *^^ ^^«^ Besides
o'-Bield. * kitchen, as at the Buss-
alone S(tuX»I™« had ir** "l ''''"^ ''"
so stroniflT before ThTfi, '"»° °»» jome home to her
wi««n hl/rCoat^Xtu?^""""' ■-' "«"* O-'^o
andI;SSrU^.fo'L't'"'"" '''^ "•"""•""» °™'
;*Ihear."
" But let me speak to you "
" Speak on."
"It isn't fair, Hester. I can't say what I've got <.,
828
CINDBRBLLA.
dS^vSfat^ Jl^ ^•^J^f^y). after aU
:; But ™„ <£:.rJ;:^rtS rrfiT^.*" »^-^"'«k >
"Yes, Ido— <Aere/"
faMEng. before Hesternow ""'"■ ^^ *
good 4 me « Z^uTw rdo''?^ IS"* " "*" '
autumn, and we will fi»Kt {* x ."• ^'"^ me tt
during the wiTter A«*tL TV'!?**^*' » Loido
;;oS no, rTnotte""'^"""'' '^« ^«'"«""
Hi||fe7al'"utt^er'^ "^""^ «'-'«"•««
"fFAenlaay?" ^ ^^ do aa jou saj -»'
and he is so lonely !» ^*" *^°''« «> '"^ch ^or me,
mina«on like a^^^'u^^raUlt^^Sf f^P ^^ ^^^^r-
. \S%ned,seaJed!^^deH;^l»"^^^^^ ..
mg her triumphantly. °®"^®^ ^ ^ned C^iins, kiss-
CHAPTER XLVI.
A Masterful Young Man.
3SS i^^^A^ ^*^^^y Borrowman sat in his study
mth the window open, though it was after nine o'cbcf
ZfXJr:'^:^ ?^i*^ ^^^^ «plendiTsuCerr^y
l^^[^^^^^ W^£icen1n,-^pS;f iLZ ^^
i^^CSkdl^a^^^^^^ ^°^^^-- ^^-^
^. Why, Ca,rus Darroch," cried the minister dmn.
IZt'l^'f' 'IS?* ^^ ^^" ^^'^^ TTho^ht^^
• wUorT" ^°' ^^^« '"^^^ to be mjr LorT Ch^!
" I ^ on mj way to London— I have come over fmm
Wkd«a^.„ p^e to«K, you ! " eri«i uTiS;^,^"
41." 1 "*? "*'" "Peated the minuter, and than u w
the rface h.^ etoucThim, "from KnSkdSSp " " "*
a ho«^n*r * ^"St "i'™lk«d into Monialye and got
a bone of sorte. Then I rode over to see von I S^
gorn^to marry Herter, and I hare come to Xyon iTi
*M ueprecanon, "how often am I to tell vnn «/»* 4v>
mdncTe two ineconciUble proposition, in onrLto»
^."fct^'Ttrct^^siL^nve'^tt: ^
Ph-
~-H
830
CINDBBELLA.
thrown awiy/^^dcTUC ';^'^*¥'' ^"^^ ^^
she wUl not marrv m^un?^! *^ ^®**«'- She sav
"YourproposT^ors^^ZJ?'' ^"^^ Jour consent."^
-aid Mr. C^wmr^^.X'^sT/^^^^
But maj I P » gaid this «*«,?„£? 7
who hfxd not ridderaJl Ao ^^i^'''''^*'^^ ^^ung man
having said "S.nthf.l J^^^^^^- Motive: S
Bennanbrack, merelv 15 I • .^' °^ t^e Big oi
::MayvouVha?7'*^'''^^^"*^«««>°i^logic. ^ "^^
** May I marry Hester?"
wet* «.e la,t time I sMkff^ He ordered me out of hi,
•M ^ythin, to live oSzl -^ ^- ^ "ri" "ot giye
fool,a/«'J^te"t'h'Sr?*1*^Vi''»toyo«another
cried the miieZ ^S,^"''^" i'™ °» nothing"
torour8el^Nf^t&.^f^^ "'"<' ^ou Said
Mk "omebodv's—lefrMtSrf '?*•>«••« consent— must
" Oh, no, sir!^M,'d^„,°'^ Anthony Borrowman's I ' "
uk Tou-it »a« HMter " ^ ' ^ "'"' "o* "«>* to
out ■°^'**'' oye-'oftened and the humour died
ca^finrS'.,'^^';^^* SfthetS?^' "^'' "^ ^^at
jn«ted, this"%ung m"^' ^S in^lir-''!^'** '"'
thine fo getting it "^* »» ^i"* next
npr"fsitT:iL"?t£:s'"L*j ""»^'«'' ^*«"B
CINDBBBLLA. 33}
wiSiut'qZifit JS- »»"»"»«-•' -ay to do an^g
am not a man tolift n„ ■„«» . '. *?' '^ ""'* •»• 1
notbeoontenttj'iia'r^^!!^.'^"^ «"* ""^
heard teuC;*„1!L^.?'"ff " H««tera„dl, I have
^'.t^.r^V'S "'?,"'1'" '"*<'"'« ^ne-nj'' camp.
you been going everVday to^i -^^ n""" '?"i^ ""a™
" About gix week? sir ' " ^ °* Bennanbrack ? "
*e.^>cnCM'"So^r-^S'd it '"U' f.""^
ever» >eve»I Monday ^d^Af . . "L"™ '^•' *''««'
word to me aboutT*^' """^ ""* *"""• ^^ »
Hesterl Ae tf thTXt ^U'"'^'/' <'™'^'^» »
because an ung^teftd yn,,r^ °"' l' """"^ *° ■» ^d
mind to de^rt^e oulfSIl S/^'rf " V >"«•
world, in order to »„ TTI •!? '"«"'" she has in the
she kio™°;:Shi^„ It^, .T'*^ " """'S "»° of whom
we^ J*^° ^ ^"''* * ??^ d«»' of knowledge in bx
«;^wT^" ^r""Ar.tt/^UCen'''"/z«j:?r'';
tins parish, and cannot retZTZirrv^JT"*^- °!
whom no legal disabihties c^ LTuS^'VT"'*
them i,; my sleep." ^^' '"'^^^^ ^ carried
>tj
-■y.H 1
''o«"e oM^o^'j; fj?"" • 'P-ter or a widow 9 '
•how. The MuaffteT. t J? •* Hf'Ta" "iwrd, wj
a piece of the TJZg iki '^ "^ A"?""""^** ^
dutance under fifty lt^*'JrT**^ "'*'«"y at an
™m t» an umbreUa ••'^" *»»8»™e«. but krely, i
, 'i^J^itiS'^:^^^'^^^!^ -""hand
<».?«% of BennS;i;rtLTjTt ??? ■"" »<"»» >»«"
to Ni&e C^tl^rt' Jr «»»/ to rid, ove,
Niddisdale f » ' ^®® °*J^ firrandmotlier, Ladj
:: wjrrtf ttnty'^^^^ ? eried.the uunister.
^ to-morrow I I " ^,f ^ it w an inch ! Wait
Hester's room, i wiS ^^llT "^- ^«" ^'^^^ We
joul" ^^ coi-rect your syllogisms for
wi^^ChoX^atTo'r^ait'J ?*^« «^gements
wadyformel" ^oniaive to have another hoit-e
insisted » "^^' "'' But you see Hester
de^.-^'^- «-^ "P bi» h«.d« in a ge^tur, of
of W« hoofs, thSJuLT wu!hT„^7"^ » a clatter
caU, the cheery " GoXi JS » „?fA'''«ar «» a bngle-
"an. Cam., Jfastor «E D^J^ °' <*«* marteiful yoiag
CHAPTER XLVII.
A Foolish C. pt«e, akd the Wr.
Ui.. w OF IT
•venue to Niddi-dde S„ '„•',:""«' < :■ "»>
i3
So tired was the horse indeed th« ^ "n . , ,
and, at the first forkinrofthe ^aJ ^ '' " ""''^
towards the stables. In orL to%e^v V /^ '^ •' «^°»^l
yard, where the clock was Z ho^t " "^ ''^'^^
the garden wall. AdZst^a^J^ t"' '" '"^^'^^ ' "'
heard himself greetedXnn^^uT" ^^'' ^ ^«'"«
about, and ther^ quJ^^^^^ °f ^«- ile turned
flannel dressing-giX^irt with o **^?^«^*» her red
and comfortablf, a XS u^n h! ^^"^^ "^^^ '°*"°d
of tJie counter oi her ?eet S f f *'?*^' ^^°*^«° <^io»»
all about the insten h; tl^^i\"*®^'*'*^ P^eping cSt
of Niddisdale ^' ^^^^^ ^^' ^'^^^ thebu?h«M
"Will your beast stand Cariia9'» «i, n ,
lum without any anpa'^n't^urrrise. ''' ''"^ ^"^ *«
on a m^m^^^Tteel^ Hold
And letting^ the bridl p"" "^ ^^t^'* *^« ^^^ •' "
relative a filklW insSv^^Si' "^^^ ^ &»^« ^
• little groa. and a fhaketft'a fi^-s ^^ "^^^ ^^«^ «^
~the^"iikl tTrL^Tt 51^^^^^^^^ ''it is
truth is, these beasts of Si ^^^'^^^ ' ^"* *he
scientific, that if I did nof^ SI'.*'^ "** dreadfuUy
boring hiles, putting^ nafls^LS^"* ^^^^^^ «^i«^.
whole place wouK to ,^1^^^^^^^^ Sg **&«. the
gimlet jou felt. Cams, or Tnr^nL^-. ^^ *^** *
caiTj one openVor con^LienST"^ ^^' ^ "^'^^
*"-**^^('
334
CINDERELLA.
ft
midnight diMipation^a.^'" D^h ri.r™ °
»ir!" ^ Answer me this moment
i.nl'.S^"^'?^®'*' ^*'^'' I ^*^e come to tell you that T
am going to be married ! " ^ ** ^
o«lt?*^ ^^'^"'^ **^® » death's head about it» T« i*
anything disgraceful, sir ? " " '""^^ **
A *1 T ' "^' ^**^"'" ^'^'J Cams, eagerly, "of ro,ir«« ««+
And I want you to h^lp me out w th it lit?? '**^-
dear old sweetheart as you are !» * ^ * ^^
Diilsrbrut^.^ '^' *'^*- ^'"'^ --^^" -id the
chieJy"'^V^n;u^^"Lf^ ^""^^^ "•^^ ^«^«*» not
to the^weddrngll'' ^ ^^ '"^ "?' :^«" know-come
mn'J ^'^'^^^^J* respectable, middle-aged lady of
i«^her yery presence a certificate of cWter any.
Where. You have come to the wron? shon k^ L/J^
Mk your uncle Niddisdale. ThatT moi^^'jrv ?^*^'
"Hand, off; that., where I k«p my «„„^.
CINDURIILLA.
385
'^fi-'^l'i'i't meffiHl!H^",r *wo tHIng,
r°«8 your fatlier approve P "
1 do ! "
what's more Tin«l ?' r^'"* ^*'''"«» P'-on
Her G^e dZ^"* ^^^ ^"^^Srh before
hammer. S allJ^T^ ^^^'^^"^ «« the
ground,
course ! Oh Vou V,^\\L\. • ^^ ** .'?^ ^^*t^® Hester, "of
you such aTeeC';;^'^^^^^^^
Bcomfull?."^' "'^ ^^«« ^«"J<i it beP" said the jouth,
said'^" NoHn f ™ ^^«twynd about fifty pounds » «h«
»^a. iNot so heavy on mv left sirl«_*i .r^"",^» she
bigtenpenny nails Ire, for ^e lV**^'*I ' where the
the inside of the dr^h,!"^^ Be j^^^^t on
curb your emotion and l^-j, ^;® i^??^. «"«"gh to
corsets on. You need m.f i.?"l'^ *^*t I have no
things wiU cometo7o„ in Lp°'^'-..^r^» ««"»«
yread of education. C the ml^^-'''^^ *^^ ^^""^^^
Stay me with gimlets, cLfort m« *-S\P^^ ^^^ «^J-
am sick of lofe and C^T*o„„^*^ ^?^r^«' f«r I
caution you against irreve^LfT- '^ -^^ ^^^^ ^
place in the p?esence^ IS^^a^!^ ^t is special]^ out of
We you been making WeT^ ni'^^^^T' '^' ^^«~
while? If you are not SrlJ^ ^® ?®''t«'* »» this
break it to me jlJ^llf^y married and tryine to
the little fraTiJl'^^rrot^^^^^^^ disappointe'd?^^
behind a tree Si D^mo^^Zn I ' ^«™«V^"'«' ^'^iting
;;pn myhonour. l^lm^^ "appeased?"
fo,^vlv;xrr"it''irt ^-.^^^^-^^ ^ut m
and-^'Lhoped Y^u are n«lr ^^^ '^^ ^ ^^P^^^d,
Carus, after ^. Poor^S)^^^^ {J^, "^^t^erV son
you hidden your little Heste??- ^"' ""^^'^ ^a^«
It was seven of*the clocl when *Carua th, lUpid
~f j
82*
CINDERBLLA.
^rted from NiddisdaleCasUe, carrjine with him 1
E!^f r^v^l' very unconventional bfessfng, and™ 1
He had also annexed a fine hunfAi* «* v:^* jn
«md he had left behind him a note ^ hl^Zt
beginning, -D*ar WArFLEs, I've taken Sybil ilS
fetinawax. It's no use. I'll send her Uok all S^£
tiiem^aS.^ %T^ Hester Stirling, a^dt h^ng^*^
i«SS,-« v"^® ""^ ^"'"^ ^^®"">» a^d come to th
,^^T i>.^°? v.**^ ^ ^ ^^* man-second wee
m September, I hope-third I fear-last if no Jt^
may be. Yours, Cabus." '**^^
On the Rig of Bennanbrack Hester had passed
most unhappy morning. By eight o'clock X wa
looking out for him. Thougfi both Meirsv and h«r a^
good «»nse told her that he could nor^dbly ai?^
taUmne, she walked up and down the iSech lfe<Cl
least over one hundred times each wav Af fKo*if
tiiere was still no sign of h^lnTLjL^^J^'Z
t JS^^'lu^'^S^^^*- ^^^^'' «>«Id eat^nJJhin^ an^
hero;rivrc;:" ^^-^ - * ''"'^'^ « ^^^ ^^
At ten there were premonitions of rainy weather ««
.^'^''.rT**^^' ^'^'^ «^« could^ot biTouZ
in from the door on any pretext. She had seen him at
Jruld'thaUt *""'' T *^' ^^^^'"«' •^"^ ^ oC^sM
sX to^piigTe'r^e^^ ^'"^ ^^^«' ^ '^ ^--4
At eleven precisely, Hester came in and flunff herself
hopelessly down on her bed. She was sobS Civ
now, and when Megsy came to her with docWne^d
reproof she burst out, « Oh, you do not kno^him ^I
do ; he would have been here long ago if all Imd iLn
nas I Jjon t say it hasn't, Megsy. It is verv cruel ni
IT' "'^TJ^'l ^^'^ ^" your heart-CBobsT Oh hi
never did this before f " v^^wo;. un, ne
m1?® * "^^ i^^^ ^*^*®" »»<« » 8heep-dmin." said
Megsy, trying to arouse Hester, by a fiTe iron^, tea
CINDEBBLLA.
887
f^^y u TT^^' Heater had cau^hf *!,• t ,.
forter by the arm, "do you rllJ^fr , *^* ''^^^ « com-
haa caught his foit in one a Af^"^ f! ^ ^^ he
Perhapg hia head I I will c,n ^f "«» a"^ ^'"'t Wmself
fay to keep me, Megsy!L" ^-,^1^^,?^, .^/J^ him. Don'
For that waa the wL love hL '* .
hungry impulaive BeBtlr-^^ in^L^T ^ «"' ^^art-
her trom a child knew that ^t was tf ,T^" ^«<^ ^own
So for two hours anS « k ?r t,""*^ *** '^ome.
watched over by Mer^^wLdetd ''""'^ ^^'^^^^^^^
looking vainly 4 any tm(^^f' p„ ""^^f. ^"nanbrack,
^'W wavered and dissXdiSf "'V^^\^. *^^ ^^"« vault
Jhe stumbled blindly back J"If, ^^'^^"^ "'^t^. and
the blank wall of her room d„n,K Z'"'^" ^"'^ «*are at
not even that Rachel who fnp' "^'^r^^^' ^««olate^
«t.; py\?rt:",- t?u^^^^^^ dinner that noon-
belief that time, the ancient hp« in *" ^^ woman's
also. She went about Sinri"' ^^">\^ ''^^ ^his
iron, and sweeping up C fl "^, ^^f?fe«> blaek.ieading
puses of her Diftur£l r *^T' "^^^^^^ HestPr, in the
Wrted. After^^att47l'rn J'^^^* ^^^ ^«^-
not understand. Unhannf ^\f "°* ^"^^- «he did
*Th"en*^ ^ -"y -^^'mifei^r^' ^ ^ow whi?
wit^^^^^^^^ wei. heard
striding in, bright ofXe^f«o^\^r' ^''^'•"« ^'ame
eye, and held out his «;,«? W T^** Purple-ringed of
wi«i a chii, and vaj^t ^^' ^''''' *"™«^ "P<^n him
t««i1^'m';7ike'thisM'' ""'^^'^«" -o"W never have
last ^gh^r Ji^°^«' ««^- to .nd any woihI, not to m me
388
CINBBBELLA.
orlflr^n^ Megsj "listen, Better ; I have ner«r «
or Iain down smce 1 saw you. We are to be man
l^V^f fP??"^*'®.!* i" ^°>^» *o tte wedding, a
look at this [he flashed a blue slip of paper from
pocket] hei^ is a cheque for a thousa^d^^nds P^
♦>.o^ -f ""^S^ disgraced herself. She ^d afterwa
tibat It was the cheque that did it. Durin^^e^
moments Megsy had discreetly slipped out? but w
^e heao^d Hester laughing stfangelTshe ijmost *
he:rti^bidrVer'' ^"^' "'^""^' ^--' ^<^
1««i"* ^M*^' ^'''^^ ^"^^^ *^® «»ore' looking up he]
li' r Lgef ^'^' '"^ ^"^^^*^^ *^« '^^'^""^^J Ca'Ss ^
" I can't stop indeed I can't ! " she gasped betw©
aJia-ha!"^^' ^'"^' '*"P '''■ I* ^^« «« ^«V
Then with a rush came the tears, heart-breakino. at
hrr^v;r\*^~n"^^ ^'^'"^ ^«' eyes sSrL'^ghJ?:^
her body shook. Cams was infinitely pained He h«
much to leam, and wa* in the way o^f^SngTt to
1^13/^ ?.T° "^^^ * ^"^ «"<^1» ^ Hester^ a lorn
iref k7?w iJUrcTie^^^' '-^ *^^^ -^« *^-
J^J^tiSg^Tl-tSLiT-^^^^^^^^
comes P. d shows me a cheque f or a tho^nd 'pot'ds I
f«A^ ^r^'.^H^''"^^^ Iielplessly, signallifg feebl
powers, liu Cams, who had been on horseback al
mght and gone through many things, bekig dd^ witt
anticipated every mile of the lonj? backward i^l.
shook his frame. After a long moment there^m
went out" H^f "^t^''' ^*'^^' '^^ wise womS.
went out. Hester instainiv stopped her own ciyin^
CINDERELLA.
889
^ogSsedTn th^'L^A "**®ri^ unprecedented. She
'^^z^w'T'^ '-^^ ^"^- ^" """"^ ^
o- iSTho'uS:"^' """''*'" "^^ -«>. '^^"8 her h„d
do ait ! " ""• ''™ *> ■* /«" love me. Cams, don^
-^^ain!
«%, but I could not }"fp it " ^''''^ ^^"- I* ^«« so
S^>eeled to him, and put her ling „„ f. »,•
"Kiss me. Cama " «.),« ,1"' ,P® "P *o his.
/r.<weeki„'seSber ifv^^'^Tf',"" »'"'" h* the
CHAPTER XLVIII.
Thl Man Who Had Beek in Hell.
"Yes, it was about one chance in a million hnf
giinaged to get word out of the priso^ to Yu?e ^c
lined horizontaUv as if M hLl w.„ C^ Z"^™ ""
tonple. with whfi^^ who Ituing ru tetli* 5''
Who ^^^ -Sr '^^.i;.r ^ ^^- C'^^-.na,
way, H«n7Yulewa.abri^tyo«"„feC'to^
Engmeere, and he wa« sent down to Bn/.!™ tA ^1
«. embankment. He had ftSon ^C ttat""iL
Budmaahes— arrant scoundmli. t^A r""™' '"** w.
a» if he had i^ hrr^y'^il'''°JS' """I
learned the catechism, tht E 2^ mllT" bS V^
day he had a smart ittaok of ferer S tl.. j ■?"'
or no Bndaon coohe. And strange to s^y, whT hT^t
CDTOBBELLA. ^^
-""king fountaiS y^'^Se' wl?"?"'* T^? »»* »
wort would be exoellent B.L«^r^' T^ ''. '""^- ^he
the .h«lTof'TwtE«pS\^'',.f°* "^ »"*»" -»""P
my«If;?t wai^™, . ? "^ "»' '"^ ™P«« I fined
toS^cirxJd^?S?^""-svs'A'
fi4^£;f Sl)„tte\tt "^"^ a »M ^ H,
«ach any concea J w«2n^™ "n^ *' ere he could
fingws fefl on his ^hoJSr Chetwynd'. atrong
848
CnCDlBBELLA.
"trong dear inc^ive flfn«: i.-^i?®*''^''**^' ^*^ the
Lord DarrocS^s oSf L S ^ ^^'^ret tiiis is
wonder if he has a e«^'„^*^' • 4^*^ ^ 8*»o«ld not
He is the b^st £eUow1??h/^",T°^*^ ^^ ^* )^««-
prompt action tff yoS L^SS *^i^* ^*« *^^«
m the shameful mtt/r wl.in w^i?**' ^""^ everything
jou." ^**®' '"^^^'^ I ^ve already get befo4
at CaiSs. ^* ""^^ '^^^ch he had looked
Have been S^'^S^f IJ^** ^' th««e things you
7«>« ago. ^j^l «n «. ^PP«^e^.more thantweity
had, as I underata^r,^ ^•. ^°<*' "»deed, he has
long time"^tl^^'i^-rr<^«on whatever for"
daVte^r Hester'p^^^dr^^^ "'^'^^ *° --^ -^
" I did not luGM ,> ^ ^ ^.*^ °^^® o»t-
And battle* long ago!"
"™>. Ton .re mating nuae," inteijeoted
CINDBBBLLA. 848
Jm Chetwynd; "ask jonr permiMion, and be dono
irkVvnn tf^ '** "^" "^^ ^'^''' eameitlj; « I am verv
pad you have— ah— come alive fttminia.,* t ^/^
" And the others ? "
Chetwynd interrupted again.
1»TO tried to maie i?^hS? °J'*'"^*"''"'t'' "-P- I
wip:"^?''^^-^,':^^::f,„^e »oU„„i„,epi.t.e
"Sir,— As legal adviser for Miss Hesf^t. «+,vr
or at your lawyer'^ offl™: 1^ IJ* S Z". ''°"'*
in order that Aie account ^d^reclS^ f^""'"?'
» James Chetwynd "
will have him branded as a thief?" n»ri!i''S? !?
"we^We^a ^J^i' T ,''""■ '''''"<'"«» Chetwjnd,
out .( U.7S m;Sd''"- '""'""»* -* '«t ^o"
Ui
CINDBBELLA.
Good momteg r C^fi!! T "' information
bachelor .uZri. They Jl 1 "^ .T"' J"^^
beliera mo %Sii ^ "* ' ""take. Nothinir.
iwiUtrj! I onljr want tte chanci
eagerlj.
chance ! » said Canw,
end. wfthttrCnTnt of °f S^*^"-"'-V "^^^ "««
I have inonrrS ll^ ™. *^«00, lesg »uoh eipenaes aa
If you or voup representativA win ^ ^ convenient
Arioland Houiw ^ii ^^ ^^ "P^n me at
Septmber^ ^' ^"^'^^^ ^'^ «»« 6<^ day of
,,_ , "I am. Sir, Ac., Ac."
Hester can't go with you that day," «Ud Carus
'3«!brJHF ' a-
CINDSBBLLA.
845
teiS^^' we are to be married onthe 6th. It is her
tarthdaj; and w jou mutt fix it for an earlier date.
bwau«, after the 6th we .haU be out of r^icHSJ 2?S
•J^'^^*®'^*^' °°»" ""d Jim Chetwjnd. " Go
and order your trouMeau in St. Jamee' Street, «r. Let
me manage th,. bu-ineM. There i. no tweCi'cloS^
rule and no hurrying to church when you are
J^ed m Scotiand. You wUl be tied up^n Jh"
Mmw without an J fu.8, civil or ecclesiastic, at three
m the afternoon, and your grandmother wUl be there to
And Carua, stunned and uncertain, took a cab and
hS'bee^told*^ir'l' " ^*- 'r""' «*«^*' -«^"^«
hif mSSter^ " ^^ masterful tiU he meete
"Why did he mistake me for my father, and whv diA
he look as if he would have killed me/l CdeT ?^' i;
mused tlunking of David Stirling, i h?^ bein^
measured for a tweed travelling suit. ^
MiaiOCOPV RBOUITION TBT CHART
(ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2)
1.0
Hi,
tt Kb
13.6
2.5
2.2
2.0
I
Mis
mils
1.8
^ /1PPLED IIS/HGE li
inc
1653 Eos< Main Strmt
Rochnter. N«r> rortt U609 USA
(716) 482 - 0300 - Phone
(716) 2M - Mas - F(u
1 ^
I
I
CHAPTEE XLIX.
At Bay.
?if^i?-Ti'"''®.?^^"°^*^^«a*<^^siderably higher up
the hiU tha^ the old. It had been built under the
^^S^rf^^'^.T^^."* of taste in the best style of
Scottish baronial. The first house was more seques-
tered, set in deep stringently cHpped garden closes,
bosomed m tall trees, cawed over by perennial rooks.
Ihe new house was also built among trees, but out on
WrV?*^"" Jraeface, where only a few "auld scrunts o'
^r^A ^ ? /if'"'"'^ thorns," gnarled and twisted by the
wind, broke the smooth green sweep of the turf. Crow-
stepped, niMiy-gabled, far-regardant, the new Arioland
only waiited time and softening creepers to become
one of the "most desirable places of residence " which
could possibly be advertised in any country gentle-
man's newspaper. j e ^
wo"??*/*°'ri? Chetwynd and his friend David StirUng
walked up the unfinished avenue at ten o'clock precisely
on the morning of the sixth of September, the lawyer
leaking a^out him with the air of a proprietor who has
been absent for some time and has a keen eye to detect
shortcomings. David Stirling kept his eyis fixed on
the ground and took little notice of anything. Only as
he pissed the httle side avenue which led from the
rZi T^ ?.''''? !? f^t ^^^*^«^ «f *^« old house
Chetwynd noticed that he started violently, as at the
sudden appearance of someone or something unseen,
and, changing about, walked on the other side with his
companion interposed between him and the weed-
grown gravel in front of the ancient doorstep.
Steady, Stirling," said Chetwynd, gravely, laying
ita
*"" r " i i lwl iiB
wmmmlmtmm
■ Kiiiiil"IIHil-iMMfa^*w
CINDEBELLA.
347
his hand upon his client's arm, " as I said I>ef ore, we
ha^e a cunning fox to run to earth this morning. Don't
let him persuade you to throw away any points ! "
"You can count on me," said David. "I wiU be
calm."
" Leave everything to me, remember— do not inter-
rupt, whatever the provocation. If you are asked a
question, answer it — no more, no less — and keep your
powder dry ! "
These were Jim Chetwynd's final instructions as the
two went up the steps to the front door of the new
house of Anoland.
Timson it was who opened the door — a rural gentle-
man-farming Timson, not now gorgeously arrayed so
much as of a chastened dignity, in keeping with the
status of the ancient family of Torphichan-Stirling.
" Sir Sylvanus at home ? "
** I am not aware whether Sir Sylvanus can receive
you, sir. He has ibeen far from well," said Timson,
with dignity.
"We have come from London on business," said
Chetwynd, sharply ; " we have an appointment with your
master. Show us in."
Timson opened the door with an air of resignation
like one who would say, ** I have done my best for the
honour of the house, and if evil comes of it I am not to
be blamed. I decb'ne responsibility."
Sir Sylvanus sat in his writing-chair at a great desk
with a roller top. He was banked in with an array of
serried pigeon-holes that rose above his head and
extended on either side of him, as if the distinguished
philanthropist were about to soar to tracts unknown on
iVench-poUshed mahogany pinions, carrying all his
correspondence with him, as documents of importance
even to the recording angel.
Each nest of six or eight holes was labelled with the
name of its own society, from that of the Believing
Medical Students' Tract Union, to the more importu-
nate propaganda set on foot by the "Am-I-my-
Brother's-Sfieper-Besponsibility Socieiy.''
i
**
iiiii
^■iiM
»*»^it^ri»'
348
CINDEBBLLA.
from the farthw md of rt? ^^f"" ^* "''"^^ «P«
and piercing. * **■* """^ "=»"« » 'Wek, S
de^^f"" """'J-Da^d. my brother-risen from tl
her^an*srw„/^^j:r'1"'''^-«*^li-g,holdin
to ward OS ^m^ii^^ Tt^^JX,T^' ^ '
on her fapp R„++i.*^i- -^ ^"^^ oi startJed horror ws
through it as TChf ™- L i,-®"" f^l'anus, shinin,
lantern. ''^''* ""'S" "^'-e throngh a turnip
'i?ar^;SV;He rl^* ^M- ^haiiugvoice
He threw a lif Ma ™^-+- f ^ , °°* *®'&et yourself.'
Bhaidng'^rd'SUtr''eS'^S 1^^ ^T T't'
rampart of nio-pon >.«u *'™®^Srea irom behind hii
genaemen with outwarl^!. ^'^i""** ^ the twc
flush could »tin be'^s^n hf chrks*tdt»r ^^
clammy and glistened lite satin ' '="''«>'' was
be '■^^AT^ZuJ'""' l«««^*>»tyou would
To what dH owe tteZl^T"' ^^'**'' Stirling,
gentleman ? " *** '"'"«" »* » "'it fiom t4
you, ttii'^f CrotSt'?^ ^" ^^ ^o-^d
Stirling, late of Upp " Bu "^^"^ °''^",'' ^r. D^ria
daughter on this oSSon ° °* ^ ^ *<" "^
ThfdS^Tw^h'ffi ^r "** " "^S"' ««»'*•
the nat£« of the <^^thai^S?.^ '"O" »» »>« "aKsed
him had begm^l^^Seeffif K-"'\'1™^'*«°^7"P°'>
^r^^-the^sf^^~ m^T^X^.^
Jim Chetwynd went on. ''
We wUl first settle the setter of Miss Stirling'.
GINBEBELLA.
349
legacy. I have here certificates of birth and other
necessary documents if you care to inspect them ; and
if it is perfectly agreeable to you I shall be glad to
accept your cheque for £2,000, for which I have a
receipt ready in my hand. No, Lady Stirling, I beg
you will not go. I should very much have preferred
to meet with your husband in the presence of his
lawyer, but since he did not wish it to be so, your
presence as a witness is of the utmost importance."
Sir Sylvanus was sitting down at his desk to write a
cheque.
" Yes, stay, Sarah," he said. And, obedient to his
word, Lady Torphichan-Stirling sat down again on the
sofa, restlessly plaiting and unplaiting her fingers, and
gazing first at her husband and then at the two men
who stood so still and silent by the window. They had
not been asked to sit down, and indeed had no wish to
do so.
The baronet rose with the cheque in his fingers.
" Thank you," he said, steadily, as he looked at the
receipt. " Now, the business is finished, I shall have
the honour of wishing you good morning. I am, as
you have already been informed, still far from well."
And he laid his hand on the bell-pull which pro-
jected from the wall adjacent to his hand.
But Jim Chetwynd was before him.
" Before you do that," he said, in his fighting voice
— a clear hardish falsetto, with a metallic timbre to it
which suggested a trumpet — " would it not be better for
all parties that you should hear what we have to say ?
It may save us having to repeat our words in various
other places — in open court, for instance, and before a
jury."
i
-1
IWt%=''A.^
CHAPTER L.
The Bolt Falls.
n^deeidr"' '"'*' "^ "^"^ *"- «>« "eUand stood
David 8ti§Sg,Tho waT^kHjfd'-'"*^ ^"'*t''' ^'■
twenty years agQ?" *^ " Bunnah nearly
Pri^otd a^tr^ed'tS/'aut't ''"I'^^J "--
betoieneltt^pt'ru-^tireror^''"'*-'^ '-
youL^^^r-of'S.er''' '"' '^™»? toV«d, "that
lT.^ai:fc?""-^^r,Sr ? d\tf
« I am^^"""* * '^"^ S'*""" at uToiient
idenLrorlrtLfr5^rr?oLTa"n^«.*^' "* *^«
proijrty of her uZ £;^^^^^'^^^^\t^ *«
identity wiU doubtless be «Bt««T? A ® question of
" Oh, Sylvan"r" criS h^lf^ f"' P"?*"" <»'^-"
opening aid shutting her 1^°^"'^''^ *« »*
"a gripping the arSstf^^^ht "doVo? S^
OENDERBLLA.
361
them,
again.
It M David— truly, it is the dead come to life
Silence, woman ! " cried the baronet, bending a
look upon his wife, so fierce and uglj that the mail's
whole nature seemed to be laid bare. It was as if some
black depth of the primal sea had been drained of
water, and all the hideous writhing mass of polyp
tentacles, the glutinous mass of foul things that breed
and brood m the Under Dark had suddenly been laid
Lady Torphichan-Stirling lay back as if smitten by a
paralytic shock, and axter a moment's pause, the
baronet lifted his regard from her face.
" Gad, it was enough to make a man believe in the
after^^'d*^ loot at the beggar,*' said Jim Chetwynd
Presently, however, the lawyer continued his state-
ment, m the same impassive voice.
"I have, therefore, to claim restitution of acoUection
0* valuable rubies and other precious stones, committed
to the care of Mrs. Isobel Stirling by my client, Mr.
David Stirbng, her eldest son. These stones were con-
tamed m a black bag specially constructed for the pur-
pose, with an inner Uning of steel, which had a couple
ot red stripes going vertically across it. The approxi-
mate value of the jewels at the time of their comine
into your hands was £290,000.
Au'l*^*"^® °®^®' ^^^ ^^ ^^^^ as one of these," said
the baronet, firmly. "There was some ^vzh bag in
a provision cupboard in the old house, I believe, but it
was entirely empty when I found it. What became of
its contents I have no means of knowing."
Jim Chetwynd bowed gravely.
"Sir Sylvanus," he said," I fear the number and
importance of your phUanthropic occupations cause you
to forget. I will take the Hberty of recalling certein
facts to your remembrance. On October 16th, 18—
Mrs. Stirling died. You spent the 18th, 19th, and
«? •!? ^*^*"^ carefully over the house. You found
the will, and amongst other things you came upon the
> t
IT
■f
8{2
CINDEHIBLLA.
•triped beg in the cupboard of the ordinftrv riH!„.
ieweUon ft7tkblXte y^„£!ir" "^^^ '^"^ »" *"
Sir Sylvanus sneere4.
"Who aaw meP" he said, scornfully "Dn vn,
aJI '^^^^^'^ ^«gh it carefully against other ex vaH
ten Tou that she has never either seen or heard of »^.
thSSorkf™ ^ mother-m-law's house somewhere. H
iTrt when M? nZ-^'^r," °**^ '^'"»' »f ™l"«
found and removed." " ^^
The baronet rang the beU, and Timson appeared
" Bring down the old hand-bag with thT^d «;.-t>«»
I saw you carrying over from thTold hoSe afS?«
tune of the removal. It is Ithint iwv,^ at the
room." ' tnink, in the upper box-
TinS^^ returned in a few minutes with the bag in his
Whe^b?oulrr^{' ^ ^ ^* would S'^W^
^^ches If brought into too immediate conta<;t with
W ^ftr''^i?l *^*'. ^«^*«^ ^ *^e house of Ario-
land, tiie smaUish oriental-looking man with +h^
gmzled hair, glaoiced keenly at t^b^^i Ms haS
and^eemed to derive a cerJin satisfS W ^at
onfv he1fc« hf fif^ *^^ "^^^^ ^^i°^ indeed was
omy heid close by the pressure of the hinge spring
CINDERELLA.
353
a
Sn i?t ^^ been burst without skill, by the appUca-
tion of force on either side. ri'^wi
T^lihdl ^'^S,-^,'." *'^,f*^' glancing within. "Lady
S^' T:?*"'^'?^ "?" *«" y«^ *t** it was in this
exact condition when found."
1 Jl^^^ ?7 husband says is true," said the poor
kdj, "only the bag was found, not in tiie parlour stor^
^puoard which I went over carefully abSut ten da^
after, but m a recess behind the sideboard. It was
empty and open, as you see it now."
"I do not doubt it, my lady," said Ohetwvnd
bowmg ceremoniously and respectfully. « The question
Jll%''T'/ ^* ^^*r^" *^^ 1^*^' ^^«^ it was^ on the
Ifith ^?,^^«<1. securely and very heavy, and, say, the
26th, when it was found behind the sidebiard^in a
recess, forced and rifled? "
S^Un^ ^ ^^^^ ** *^® ^*^ ^ moment?" said David
vJi wii^J* Chetwynd will be personaUy responsible that
TthTfawyer. "' "^"'^' ^"' *^^ '^^^"^*' ^-^°^ i*
David Stirling took it into his hand with evident
pleasure. He topped the steel walls wi«i his knuckles
hstening as he did so. Then swiftly tilting it on end
he touched a concealed spring at one of the lower
^IfL ,T^,« Warently solid bottom feU away with a
mspmg chck, and several papers tumbled out. Sylvanus
&*7® a hoarse cry and sprang forward,
cried ^*^ tbem te me ; they are my property ! " he
nni^^^'^^ i^t^^Pos^i ^ '*^°"« ^'•°^' ^liile, with a
r T^; l^^.i!^^*T.^ ^^^'^ ®*^^^^"^ ^there'd them
^uen^e ^^ ^''^^ ^' ^^ ''^ "^^'^ ^«"-
whlffhlvl'^''"*^^^' they belong to my client. I know
what they are without looking at them. They consist
of a will and duplicate attested lists of the iewels
Werly contained in the bag. The wflT is^ Mr
ottmfl' MS?'*??^ ^""^ bequeaths them all to my
other chent, Miss Hester Stirhng. ^
23
354
CINDERBLLA.
eriI?ff«To*^^'! P*K"' ^'' I will summon aseistence
cned the baronet, white and ftirious.
rou can do that afterwards," said Mr Chatv^rr
James Chctwjnd went on.
^^'l^tl '"''' yonr*"^ yo" may take mj word for i(
de& of iS; 1, """"."""ther Ust in my hand, t
couect. Yon, ar, hare for many years h«en laVi..
mterested m precious stones, and thfs Ta fSy oS
intact Sn I ' °Z "^"^ •'"y *^« jewel-bag w
inract. len days after, on or about the 26fK ti
empty bag was found in a recess On Dec^mWl
of «ie same year, at the counting-house S Mess,
tt« hst by tte numbere 234 and 28S, a iMi^STOrTfe
S^r-nU^^\r^7l.?orm--,rJ
BpS'r-^XsT^t^d^^osrSs'ri ^"^
nm ^wn mto his eyes. But with a mighty effort h.
m0ii
CINDERELLA.
355
[stance ! "
hetwjmd,
i putting
le newlj-
emotion
1 for it —
it of the
>re your
it a most
me effect
and, the
ibour to
largely
ly corn-
Stirling
Jag was
>th, the
nber 1st
Messrs.
iterdam,
pigeon-
i.ted on
ery fine
London
for the
^ximate
d some
uost of
over to
can be
g this
w and
Id have
fort he
til
'The proof is insufficient, sir," he said; « there can
be no pedigree of an uncut stone ! "
"Most of the stones— nine out of ten at least— were
cut I Besides, I am of opinion that your lawyer, when
you put the er- .nee before him, will be of opinion
that it is suffio' nt^for about fourteen years' im-
pnsonment, that is ! " said Jim Chetwynd, grimly. He
had no mercy, for he remembered how callously this
™anhad accused a wronged and innocent girl.
, ."®3^,,fa<^.J/' ^e said, as the memory took hold of
him. I will grind his bones for that ! "
But aloud he went on.
"You have," he said, "one chance. It is not a
great one, but there is something to be said for it.
It 18 conceivable, or may be made conceivable to a
Bntish 3ury, that you did find the jewels, did appro-
priate them, conceaHng the fact from your yvifl did
dispose of them from time to time, did purchase
estetes, become a philanthropist, go into Parliament,
and so on, upon the proceeds. But, finding no direct-
ions regarding them, that you considered yourself as
next of km to the lady in whose house you found
them, and therefore, in default of other, their true
possessor.
"As against this, however, it wiU of course be argued
ttiat you made no discovery of the find, as you would
have done if you had behoved that you were honestly
entitled to the stones. They were not included in pro-
bate, therefore you yourself did not consider them to
come under the wiU. Further, you have represented to
your customers in Holland that these rubies are the
product of a mine in Burmah, worked privately by your
brother— such a brother not being in existence. And
lastly, and what will weigh with the juiy more than
anything else, your own evidence in the last case against
Miss Hester Stirhng, for stealing one of six ruby neck-
toces similar in pattern and identical in marking, will
dispose entirely of the contention that your action in
appropnatmgthe goods was because you conscientiously
believed theni to be your own proper^. You found five
4
^
856
CINDBBELLA.
J
of these in the bag, you swore that you lound .ix
"To recapitulate, the evidence which we shaU lead
mdu^a i^ fi^^* '* ^H proUiTbe sufficieS^
wiu^f M^^ A - *fi^*"^* y^^ on ancient points
innocent children Da^d iT^J^ *7^ ^""'t.""^ P^
"Whatdoyonpropo^?" **' lo«r-8poken word,
wui maJce count and reckoning with me for eveiy pre-
■ix. No
edit your
U lead ii,
I think
icient to
points to
in years*
is wife,
is neck,
e where
fe. I do
^Iranus,
reewith
nd is a
ly poor
not be
lasbeen
Is said,
•wmust
Pe stick
James
neans,
ve the
;ew to
hing),
I it is
elony.
"SVLVANrs BID XOT SHAKE O.K HIS KIP«.
Hla WIPE THIS TIME."
IPage 356.
;./■■*'
CINDBBELLA.
357
>»
cioM stone you have sold, on which we will alln«
J™ have paid for 4e«,T.^'^^^ '^^.'^Z
I^H you insist on this, I am a ruined man," said the
.o.^^iS^X-^d-diS^t'-^.rw.^
money. bufl'S^Sityo'" St^Ss^n*?* '"^"L*'»
™Pport you inTs Sr ^°"' """^ ^^ ""'^
u.^" "^siil^jrm Thf?^""^ thing is that I partly
companion of tte^Sel wT'^..'^ "" "Ke^^iS
jj^ uie sceei bag on their way over to the
StfrlW- "!f 'l\„Tf'^ ''°™ ^"o «"y." »id David
''^hii'^^^ SKy^'gS::?'^ '-^ "»<^
.eeni^i^^*"°*l''"'^"» JimChet^ynd: "I hare
S^S^rtnTnr^'""!^ have Cer Jn'r;
revenge yet. It is a
m
bormerang
858
CINDBEELLA.
^,^':-J -x
CHAPTER LI.
Hee Mothek's Weddikg Deebs.
« Theee's sic a cryin' o' the guidwives o' the village
^ doorstep to doorstep that jt are fair deafened^ve
gang doon the street," said Adders, descriWhis^r^
gress mansewards through the Clachan of ^f iS J?ht
on l^e mommgof the silth of September
the S;ISe^^^;"^' ^^ ^P ^ ^P •' " -— t-d
oilh^lT^ ^^*? t^^""'" '^d ^egsy, grimly, thinking
of the obloquy which, at the instaiiSeof local UeatW
^^t n/"'- ""i^^ overwhelmed her fa-easure. ^Ssy's
laiumpli. She was losing her darling indeed bnf i«
whjt circumstances of pride and hJp^f Heste; w^ Z
DiSf ^ f!f 17^1."^^°^ *^ ^^^ «^- ^ proximate
iiute was to be best man. The daughter of their
h^editaiy enemy waa to a<5t as bridSS. Th^
^SfnotXdpT''* "^r"^^^^ ^fP«'^> ^d ^e
^« W W A^"" '""^^^ ^""^ «f satisfaction. If
teTofc te'b^d'S^^' '' *^« countryside, "neither
Bkfai^}Jf^ awakened early, and her first thought, as
oeen ot Carus. She loved him— he loved he? Thin
was enough-for several seconds. "
^ Then, suddenly, with a breaking of bonds of sleep
iA^J^^^A^ ^""^^^ °* ^«* ^1^> a bouniing of
frightened pulses, Hester remember^ that this wS
m
1
I
1
860
CINDBBBLLA.
au<«mn moS Down Jn^ *"* ^^ ^^*^ «^^ ^qua
of Darroch.^ h!; f^th7XZ ! ^^^^I'^cross the wltei
had first met C P^"^«^^*- I* ™ there that she
waters to d?it-^Se hal „^,f , «°°^e„ttrough dark
seemed as if she Cd always thoLhf "! ^" "?^^PP^- ^*
And now-surely it 3 wT l^x"!"^^^ «^ ^^-^s-
«ie sun, whX wis Zat " ^? *^** to-daj-before
the worldXu^d r^d^f thn«f *^ V^^t^^rd'edges of
be-Hester coSd hSdlv *tT -^ ^^^^'^'S' «^« ^«"id
From hpad f/^ iL+ 2^ ?"* ^* "^ words— Carus's wife
fortunate it was oS^ th. wmt^hingly that it was
Aro/tL?"Sjif^ ?'^' thafr ^.er one,
once, not thS iZC T.^f^T'l**""^"'"'"
while he waa a3° " ^i<,„l^^'C^^' ""■"s to her
so mach the most te^W» «^j"- ^* ^J.^^ ^'°^ V
% before her ?Ht aS Md^i'Sr"''^ thing whict
»ft«an,somf wn„Mi,^ ?*"" ''*'■• Perhaps,
of it. Per£^ .n»7m^!T *?,P"''»t that i^
and made their o2 money b^SIr "'V'"' ™'t«
what the law was »„? J!5 ^ *"""« »ther people
who had bSI Xr^^ ^r r?' *"* "a^edg&b
Scotland, ^en^ft-r^i" '*1.^»' *<> "« P"" of
how these peopTe who wl. "g" °' *^» "^ "d of
lite her, anTfc memor^Z^' ^reat had seemed to
Bnt iow" SL mo™f„^,'t™ ""^* satisfaction.
l-PPinoss that in™ttl ^^^^^i^^^.
CINDBBBLLA. ggj
when C™ C to^iwav tnm^J' *^'' ""f'"' ""^
that lie "beloneed'^a^r^LvT"' *« """Id know
softlj-cliiiffinff, 80 whSp if ifof So diaphanous, so
With her sweet face all flnuivT^ V^ ^ Prettj. So,
pation, her 11 Sidled into Z T"' ^*^ ^°*i«i-
curls by the Seen o? f hf ^'^^J'^^Ved masses of soft
haps he was ill P.^ anything happened ? Pe?.
to Madame cSrf^*™n7'°r^ C" "^«
Architecf. nf *Y. . '■ ™gent Street, not to the
It-
■rt
862
CINDBRBLLA.
Tv^f^£fy-Meg8j--MGg8y dear, what is the mai^
yyhj are you drying like that? What is it? »
hemg'y«1±L"?*'i".'^^^^ ^'^^y recover
nera^, she turned indignantly upon Hester.
auld m!!^^^® ^'S ""^ "^^^ ^"«- ^J^* for sho
« i^?^ ^ greetin* on a day Hke this ? »
vn« ^A P^' ^^'^'^ ^^ yo"^ face this very miuB
JS? s^t ^t'Z^^ *^'\ ". one --(she SiS
wet spot on Megsy's cheek, where a furrow h
acted M a channel). "Dear Megsy, mZ w
JKLr?^^- AndwhatisthisUsitlTf;
« It is vour ain mither's wedding-dress, Hester " <u
Megsy, gfad to have found a subject «W War
^S'f«Hrt-V^\^°^^^^^«'- It was the oS/^
yom- faither didna bum. I'm thinking that his hS
ged way wiihin him when he toed to put that in 1
o^^L'^JSJ^f ' weddingHiress." said Hester. « ]k
^ T ?5? mother, whom I never saw »
«T>,o T ^ ^^® ^^J "^f ^'* ^^* sorrow," said Meffs
Jhe Lord gie ye her happiness an' your ain C^
She got the man she loved," said Hes+^r «
^llS * ?®®i ^"^ ""^^^^ °^a^ ^nny an' crraund^
h^ sent v^\T" ''.^^ ^'^^ ^^^ that^?GrS
^^sent ye. I kenned ye wad lauch to see the S
+1, S!*^& Megsy—jealous Megsy, too ! She thon^rl,
ge^er too much upon them, thus to arrange LT
taim even before tiiey got her away ftW^^e ,>it%
wheJ f CllT^'^ liush-a-bye over her in thel^
wailed and refused to be comforted, searching ^
C?'
CINDBBBLLA. gjg
WmdjKp, for that which wa, „ white a, marble and
«™fe,'t'?^*tl^^''*''».«'*Winher
wept, that her dL-wrS.?^v ^"'^^ '""' P^Je"! "i^
Kfe^ttan thTy^7^?rS?^d ^^t" '°"8«'.'»d happier
ft^k,hehadLdfu?Wo«h^!.I?rw""^''' "^*'
her b^TVa'''^^l-^?^*^f^* r"'"» »«"™rt
dear mother'a—-" K>-day-thi8 dress of mj own
"Nonsense — nonsense, lassie ,^ ^n
maonna " ' ""»'«> ye willna — je
"Meesy. I must— I will ! "
paper and ffilded f3w!y 1"^^"® P*P»' and silver
able the lithe sracTS I,.i fi5 ^'^ '^" ™»™ »^or-
ignoranoe h^^cted f tofe ^I^' "''» *" ^is
day. stared in Sr^nt '™'' ^^'^ ^^ '" *t«
Tton he nodded his heid.
Or, if ^t t^ntS^t r}/' 5'°" "^' >*« *hat^
iTter^cSsS^^'^n-af^S^^
S64,
OINDBKBLLA.
beneath tUd.^ * ' *"»*' '""' «""»<> »PPl
"I can wait I " mid the minigtor.
Thu. dipIonmhcaUy .poke Happy Deceit
l^
CHAPTER Ln.
horees were chanA a* th. f„^ ?S" P»o'l»on- The
th« h.^ been iof^^^Z^^^^"'' *» "J^-"'
of Prince ChX m the M* » ""*-H^ 'ritk a portrait
of cord,. Dr. John "n's" ^.ti^^i^S"""^ *"? P"*'
fast resolvinff itself in+^ f <**««««*» and a French novel
believe 4atth^ is ^"t^^P^:?'^' ^^li«glj, "I don't
thuA,gmndmothera?Xit^,r'?f« at a^^ Ju«t
in the afternoon, not in a chu * h ^ **3**^ ^'^^^^^
procession doW the ^sle no w^^"'' '^ ^^^^^ '^o
binding reaUy?" ' °^ wedding march,— ig it
He gave a little hitch to the thin T„^-
(m their care for the Duchess's WltMv^ ru/ which
thrown across the inside of !?! -^ ^^^ ^^ ^^ had
enced old eyes. *' of a pan. of very experi-
a™ in ^aL of tte wT-"^;" "''J' *!>« ">«"»*
4 and m^JZ'^^^ oteStr
366
CINDBIffiLLA.
know. Eve.^^g £,,£ t^^t ^FT^^ ?<«•
rufttS^'wJ'Vj'r'''" "^ th.t the Indian
(M ne pat it) the governor should cut up roui?h
theDu'Xl"''?"shT"^'l?'»^'» tSS"^H?" «ad
Dncliess's four snlnniliM ki«^t, erect, and the
b.rtwithaflfwerTwfbuC-t^lt"T"en"^h^r^'
Of unanimous hoof and h^rnl^A . ' ^^ chitter
the equipage ^^on^h^mr' 'P'*^^ ^^ P^^^es,
month is out Wha4- » i,« i. ^ . "^ ^^ before a
»«ii A " . . "'£?'* • 'le has not arrived vet 9 vr^ ,•-
X^oS&aUS^iT^--'-*^^^^ ^-"
be& took the Dnche„ np the rt»ir, into he, o™
I
CINDERBILLA.
!■*- i
M7
wear." ^^" " '^^at I am going to
■ -.;£jr^^Dr,u''/or:.«i.^->"-. «"'• but
my ^ihr;;i^diii!dJ^, "-l"'"!' but thi_tM. i.
but I must tell Jou-^mTShe/Silf "V* '^ » '^"^
told me not to teU ^h1 it * v''T '<""''• Carus
Chetwynd i, brinlg Sm ^Udl ^T* ^^- ^^
mother's weddiugj^fs Friustke - "™'* *° "«" "^
-m'^'ilTl.^ .t'V^a^i't' - ^o- *«"• ''^e
Oarus come bwk anTi^^f f"™* "'""' Tou and
alte«d for thalf '^Vw we%\^" v?'' »'' ->«•
jou look as lovely «;e<LT" ^"^ "P' ""^ "*ke
I«^y Nl&'alti^,-*tbtr'?V"''''' «»«^
HttlJroom. when 2^?to»''t^i:;??,l7 ?15«^'»
wonder if he is coming to fiTAj ^ v ^ finwhed. « I
hare done that to tt^ Vl n'*^ a *■"! ^^^- ^e should
I>arroch had come over fiJ? v ®^° t^** ^7 ^rd
kept him inf oS T;il £L ""^^J ^uddlesteie had
haSnts left to Wm 1 lie L^S^ ^J"/* *^« f«^
Bot as the justly mdign«,t parent app««ched the
868
OmDBEBLLA,
when it hod that BMTriint {! il it *? •» de
only alienate jour son more completel/3' t ^
jou have no wish to do that " *^'*^'^' and I um i
nurseiy governess who left her eSver'?^ "^'^ °**
grave suspicion » employer s house un<
remember too thA^%,Zl' ^^ ^ have no doubt j
trial Rni 1^' ^ . ^® * "^^^'^^s a* the close of 1
tnai. Hut let me remind you that Miba q«^- . ;
sole descendant in the d,W «.! i- ^*^W w t
branch of the StWin^ of Tli^i^ ^'"i^ ''*' *^« ^^^
give^hlm^aLTw^rrwm ^^ "
I have any iXeSI' over o^f 1 ^Y ^^^"^ ^*'*^"
Jim Chetj;^' gS™^!'.??' rrr'*"« ^*™'" »i
confidence, of J^La „„T^ mform you, in stric
honour, that o^Z' fetl.^^ ZfhM£X,r* ^
be^^wor^, something lite ten thoJ^rnd^ptuV;
•^^n*!!!! of tte realm gasped, as weU he mieht
renZ^iT::^,'TLtV'^ "" faS"-eadl
^ it would m^^a dSe^ e^ 'Tt^X.^tZ
ina. Lord
decline the
> easilj let
be denied
iter moon-
i,
uning the
make any
You wifi
[ i>in sure
lembrance
; "I hare
attempted
d now he
?ite me, a
«e under
that the
loubt jou
se of the
^g is the
te oldest
ts old, to
will not
farthing
will not
ts »»
Q," said
Q strict
vord of
ng will
mds a
hi.
dead?
Bknow-
3 loved
CINDXBSLLA. g^Q
"Ah, who is this P"
M^^' "I'^ToWurtr^i?!*'^ -^^^'^ '' *^«
farthest ^ *'*® ^**^« ^^en'ie at the
posed an arm • « SteLdS^^n * j Chetwynd not inter-
perfectly. °'*^"»^' »>"* fitting her young curves
«m,«m,tenoe,, he famed on'hn:ef a^d kit mtS-rf
■f
1
^^m
870
to pursue
Darroch.
ombwHELuL.
His, ruffled way back to the toww8
o^eroft:irofr^ F?^^^^^^^ ^
idea that tLysW^d^^^^^^^^ /* ^\« *^« Ouches,
clear amber pools of the Da^fwTter ^1?a ^ i*^
attt^ti^r^fr^^^^
cathedral, tCuffhwhthJL^^^'"^^^ "'^^^ ^ «P^«o^
the f^i^iit^^::^':^ w' ^^- ^
puiple m their dent f,« a«^ !f * * ^®' ^^^^ wer
« «.ey went sob^y^^ ff^tT Zif "^rl}
athL ^ "■"* ^'" '•" '»»''««<•. -"d smiled „p
END PAPER.
fetted caU-Tdo,^?Sj.ou?^rf C'Lli *^
look so anxious Rnf r'li +«ii ^^i*^^™' . *o« need not
I know y^are dvW to \^J^^ ^°T '* "'"' =«"*«'•
•till bro™-?S n,^ ^ ^T^ glasses were
he ^oifd tet'h,^w:u^^'^^ "■« mini. JK
cessor soon to be aDnoinf^ tt cojieague and sue-
placidly a. >^ mJiTnM^?^!^^^,'?'^ T'^
S^ Sn£:Ln to\e?^ta1 "tW ^t^ ^ '
over from Knoekdon togiSe? *^ '^ "^^*»
""" Timson let me in. with * -^oubtful
hiB facei so I said to him, 'You need^
't be
872
CINDERELLA.
afoaid, Timmn, I'm not after the spoors
house provides those.* » «poo.B.
The wor
oW Md"s<S*»a4^' "P"'"''''""!'. a« became m
as nobody sDoke T Hoi/i <t i. ""^J -n-earun. inen,
forgire LT^ ^"^' ^ '^™ <=»■»« <» "t you to
« Fv?^ '*• '?' "o*''*'' who spoke.
when y^S:^e Srf'iSt^«S "^"V^ ^ '"P™
for th^ sake oirSS^*^ "^ ^""^ "<«^ ">««on.
« 'h^'"!,^^ "*"?'* "^^^^ *■»* you should •
have^ute te^iE *^'' '»'-'• '1 wfllnot
•' 1 "ij' uouse — eitner now or evpr amain r t
will make an end of this » ' vrr or ever agam I I
me forth from^^T!^';*?'^"'"^ ""^ >«'<>" 70« drive
-^^m
9"-^
>*
wliere
;i h
CINDBEELLA.
878
Kipfo^"^""™ been « good a, a play!" chueUed
^>» '^hrSe'to wil^^. r*"^! "-Jy I bought
il
aa?9"3 V^TMbM^n^" P"""i "l*™ he bough?
telling U^VSeT'S?cZ»*''^ "p-"?"* ?"* *^* I ^en't
giris ? Tou^ori dir?^„°°r *° «^-^dn't I,
And you will be a rei ^et, l^e1^2 """i'** T"^''
cedenoe of that KtUe--^ • % I f^**""-.^* P"*
ThenOaudia camTmT.^J t: /'"'' ^^'^> she meant,
makeyou TOrrT^ hT^^T* ""^ . 'I hope he wiU
Cla«^owBS;i7ate' •'""'-i'nn.yeax. Oh,
nn&ppyf '"^ '^ *" ^ '^ "^^e iim singnlariy
^ti^ . ""^^^ Jr'''^ »» """eh ae to say, "And she
piospecT • * "^""^ unaccountably pleaded at the
-^^Tnull^, "" i«" ™ Y "eck and kis«^ „«
best min of 4e lot ^I./k'^ ^l "^?™' ''»' '•■« ™« *he
•cotton to uleTuaL b^et^*"^'^?'!?''- S"* -^i*"'
M%
s—nota little bit I
S74
CINDBRBLLA.
out as fine al yo^rea^ ?I^ ^^' '^ ^^ ^*
of ^w^u'hLl ?? if^i speak to you-beca.
Stirling I^ ^ ^ ^^^^ ^P *^* little Heel
forlorn now, isn't it, Eft p ."**-""* '* « ee«mg pret
hono^ i ™°'* ^^ ^ '«* her wJk off ,rith «n tl
whom (l doubt it not) he wei^l5S*r'^^=«'>
qnrit can oonunnne ^LLmTL,?^ ^ ^°"'' "'''"
untoammeUed to »U ^„it?"' '"'* '»" «"""'" '»'
couL^te "^ee'SI^oSl. T' "''^T the g«a
»»»n stiU, but someK to Cself &««'"'"*? ? ""^
out of his life s„ ™ J nimseit the savour had gom
triple omnti^ of r. ^^ he measured out ca«(X ,
wife was Sg *' «^ ^^e m to where hi
^^tl^sfe^tlJ^^^^ ^-' «»-^'" he
oriedTZrtleS "l^S'^,^!!!- '"^' '» *he matter ? •' she
" A, a™ 'the»T^^*'"'*^«-»e'«' » better! "
1^ on eaJtt ^ ""^ "^^ dept-never to waken
SqXMfor'feSfL'"' *"r" ^^ *» ^'"'el
u stiU unioMried %^ f' sometimes do, Ethel, who
pe'^TS^t'^ ^A r ^T' h"* Claudia ia
CWDUfiHtXA.
. 878
mm now a saint amoS^i ""^-^ * ™^°t "»on«
punishment and compromise fnff * threatens condign
on the tosis of presen^Sy i^"/"^ ^ ''«''»rioS
J-ius 18 indeed a privilpo-A '* iZ
J^. Car., ,ou dol, ttf;ou^;SS7J.V^^^^
forg^'r^'^^ "^--3^ - a useful one, even in what it
^eU fixed at your ba^ker« ? . ""' ^'^^^ ^ 3^0" a^
becoming confoundedly W^irt,°^J- J«^««^ is
amun^ur'^'^Cl?^^,^^^^^^^^ without
Re^e^'nd'T ^^^-^ tasT' °"* *^ * ---^
Kevvie 18 buying S«^? ^^^^^ «"* ^^^ old house
the first tiniH M8l^e%^or ^* ^ *^°^^' ^^^^^fo;
what to do with. MeiLTun'T?. *^5^ ^« ^<'^^
every day, and has the ^oLf ^n * -^^^ ?'^* House
nursery is conducted K!!*^'^'^^^" °^ *te way the
about the old house of A^ola^d^^^^'* ^^ *^« ^^'k
to "speer" Megsy, wh^t „nf . ^'^^'^ '"^^^ bid«8
him have his name on her stone ? ^ft* f.T^ted to let
Anders does not despaS "&1^^^ ^rk-yard. But
^ ' ^"»® ^y" he says, " PU
376
oanoBaLLk.
d«iflSfl4^^dwSd.*^ P»^' i. that E *
THI Kin>.
ir. ^pM%N ♦ 80m, ftmtmm, tetter Lane, Imden.
ilor^ she
dpIoMuit
t In ikeiT
,^i
^
•S-l^'.Of