■NWfe ^EUNIVE1% ^lOSANCIUr* ^OfCALIF(% &, iHVMIH^ »A ^OPCAUFO ^OKAUFGRfc, i UNIVERS/a OJO^ ^tfUDNVSOV^ %a3A!NQ3V^ ^ZKMITCHO^ 01^ mmiv y oxmm$> %0i\m JITVJ-iO^ <, — CHAPTEK PAGE I. Tea and Talk ..... i II. More Talk ..... 16 III. Lisette's Lovers . . . . .24 IV. Dora's Home ..... 34 V. Partings and Departures . . .47 VI. Father and Daughter .... 59 VII. Dora's Perplexity . . . . .67 VIII. The Venture Planned .... 75 IX. The First Step Taken . . . .93 X. The Journey Ended .... 109 XI. Aunt Leonora . . . . .118 XII. Hostess and Guest . . . . ni ' 5< FNf.I iqH IV CONTENTS. < HAPTER ' Mh XIII. The Firs . . . . . U4 XIV. A Successful Day . . . . 160 XV. Sunday . . . . . 173 XVI. Unexpected Meetings . . . . i8a XVII. Dora at Bushbank . . . .202 XVIII. The Garden Party . . . .21} XIX. Godfrey Rivers' Questionings . .227 XX. Women's Rights ..... 240 XXI. Mrs. Townshend'S Advice . XXII. " Lizzie's" Young Man . . . z6l XXIII. Some Morning Visitors . . .274 LISETTE'S VENTURE. CHAPTER I. tea and talk. " Dearest Dora, " Matters worse than ever. Fresh troubles — and all through the tiresome old maiden aunt. Come to me if you can. " Yours in despair, " LlSETTE." This was the concisely worded missive that impelled Miss F reeling to enter the open carriage one afternoon towards the close of a London season, and give orders to be driven from her father's house, in Chesham Place, to a VOL. I. B lisette's venture. certain square in Pimlico, or, as it is in more fashionable parlance styled, Belgravia South. As the young lady leant gracefully back in the well-appointed barouche, and the high-mettled, bright-harnessed horses bowled her swiftly through the streets and squares that inter- vene between those two localities, outwardly she presented a picture of perfect ease, luxury, and prosperity ; nevertheless, a shadow, if not of anxiety, at least of perplexity, was disturbing the serenity of her feelings. When the carriage stopped before the house indi- cated, without waiting for the footman to knock, she desired that the steps might be let down, and alighted just as the hall door was being opened, not by a grand London servant, but by a girl of about her own age, who, after embracing her enthusiastically, led her upstairs, past the drawing-room door, beyond the next landing, till after again mounting still higher, even into the uppermost story of all, they reached a small chamber, which they entered, closing the door behind them. It was a cosy, pleasant little nook, this maiden's eyrie bower, TEA AND TALK. 3 with its multifarious knick-knacks, the collection of years of childhood and early girlhood ; not one specimen of any real value amongst them all, — mere rubbish for the most part many would have deemed them, but each and all precious to its possessor, as links to bygone happy birthdays or Christmases, or tokens of remem- brance from their donors. The daintily draped toilette table, the carved brackets and shelves, the framed prints and drawings, the sundry pretty contrivances and arrangements to make the utmost of the limited space, not an inch of which was unappropriated, all gave an air of brightness and refinement to a room which would otherwise, with its well-worn, common furniture and unadorned walls, have looked bare and forlorn. Beside the open window, shaded by a deep, unfaded rose-coloured blind — the latest addition to the decorations of the apartment — stood two low, straw, beehive chairs with pink covered cushions, on each side of a small, round table, on which was set two teacups, a teapot, a plate of bread-and-butter, and a tiny glass jug, 4 LISETTES VENTURE. evidently borrowed from the chimney-piece for the time being, containing- a minimum of cream. For the young- ladies of the present day can as ill dispense with their afternoon's share of the beverage which serves " to cheer but not inebriate" as their mothers and elders — in fact, they go beyond them in their relish for the five o'clock tea ; often turning that lieht refreshment into a real meal, and substituting for the thin wafer-like morsels which satisfy the older generation, substantial slices of bread- and-butter, such as they used to pretend to despise and scoff at in their school-room and nursery, when bread and jam stood so much higher in their estimation. Many a tea-drinking on a glorious summer's afternoon by the open window, many a winter's kettle-drum — when the said kettle hissed on a small blazing fire, not only lighted but laid by her own soft little hands, had Lisette Audrey held in her bower aloft, amid much fun and laughter and harmless jollity ; and now that she had summoned her chief female friend and counsellor to advise with her on most TEA AND TALK. 5 weighty matters, it was still considered an essential point that the conference should be held under the influence of the invigorating sip of Bohea ; so Lisette at once placed Miss Freeling in one of the low chairs, and seating herself in the other, prepared to do the honours of the miniature feast. Could Millais have been there with his brush and canvas, a pretty sketch might have been made of the two girls as they sat opposite to one another, the difference in their styles of looks and dress enhancing the charm of the picture. Dora, with her finely-cut features, brilliant complexion, light hair, calm, almost cold expression, her tall erect figure attired in the perfectly correct costume of that season, the satin skirt surmounted by the silk panier (or pdplum as it was then called), and faultlessly fitting bodice, and the unmistakable Parisian bonnet, was an exact model for a belle of the year 1 86 — ; whilst Lisette's principal attraction con- sisted in the iris blue of her large searching eyes, the witchery of her smile, the dazzling whiteness of her small, even teeth, — and to the inexpen- lisette's venture. sivc materials of her dress there was imparted that peculiar grace and becomingriess which home-made toilettes often possess over the most studied productions of the professed artiste. In a fresh, flowery chintz-patterned muslin, looped up over a blue petticoat, the body cut square and trimmed with lace, a blue ribbon round her throat, and one of the same hue encircling- her (certainly) rather exaggerated chignon^ and tied in a bow in front of her head, she presented a living image of one of the Dresden china figures on her mother's drawing-room mantelpiece. " Oh, Dolly ! " she exclaimed, as she dropped a lump of sugar into her friend's cup, " what a darling you were to come, and so quickly too!" and her usual cheery little pipe was quite plaintive in its tones. " Tell me — what new misfortune has hap- pened now ? " said Dora. "Well, only fancy, just when everything was getting smooth, when papa and mamma were beginning to be so good and kind about it, and Godfrey's sister had written me such a dear, jolly little letter, that horrid old Aunt Leonora — TEA AND TALK. 7 at least, she goes by the name of aunt, but in reality, you know, is only a cousin, half a hundred times removed — after remaining wonderfully passive since her first outbreak of wrath, now writes to tell him that, setting aside the cessa- tion of her favour and good opinion for ever and ever, her heart will break if he is guilty of such an insane act as to marry me. And that is not all," continued the little creature, bridling with indignation and wounded feeling ; " she even dares to insinuate that she has other views for him — has set her heart on another, and a far better match for Godfrey. Only think of that now, Dolly ! " " And how did you learn all this ? " de- manded Dora, her cheeks mantling at Lisette's last words. " From Godfrey himself. Last night I went, very unwillingly, to the Cunningham's ball, not dreaming of finding him there. I was eoinof down to supper with old Colonel Stonier, — for I have extinguished all my young cavaliers by devoting myself desperately to the elder ones, — when, to my delight and utter surprise, S lisette's venture. I beheld Godfrey on the landing, standing like a graceful statue In the recess, among the plants and Chinese lamps. He of course followed us, and when Colonel Stonier had been sent off as far as possible in search of vanillc cream, we managed to talk a little of our affairs. I had fancied Godfrey looked some- what out of spirits, and by degrees I drew from him all I have told you." " And what is he going to do ? " asked Dora. " We had very little time for being alone. Colonel Stonier far too soon returned with his prize. You know no threats of any kind have had the least effect on Godfrey, and no one livine would be allowed to choose a wife for him ; that is a matter in which every man, and woman too, I think, should have free choice ; " and she drew up her little figure majestically. "It was only the idea of the broken heart that touched him. He has so much feeling — is so truly excellent, he would shrink from giving pain to any one ; and certainly the old lady, disagreeable as she is making her- self now, has been quite like a second mother TEA AND TALK. 9 to him : took him, when in petticoats, out of an over-crowded nursery, just when his temper was beginning to be spoilt by the bullying of elder brothers — his health and spirits broken by the worrying of nurses — and brought him to her beautiful, snug home, adopted him as her own, even taught him herself, till he de- clares she sent him to school a complete dunce, owing to her peculiar mode of education ; which consisted in spelling for him every word he could not get over comfortably ; guiding his hand when he made unsuccessful attempts at pothooks and hangers ; and taking away his slate, and filling in the figures for him, when- ever he looked pale or found ' Multiplication ' too great a ' vexation ' ; " and Lisette laughed one of her merry little laughs again. " Yes ; Miss Lomax dotes on Godfrey Rivers," said Dora, somewhat absently. " Which is not very surprising," might have been Lisette's rejoinder ; but she only answered very properly : " And he is very grateful to her ; and with the real affection he feels for her, would be very sorry to grieve her. But IO LIS I 111. S VENTURE. he says — what must be quite true — that his Aunt Leonora is a person of very strong prejudices, — most enthusiastic in her fancies, equally violent in her dislikes, — and that she is much influenced by good looks, and all that kind of thing- ; and he says, too, that — of course it is only his nonsense " — and Lisette blushed, and looked down into the bottom of her teacup — "that if she only saw me, she would be sure to approve of and to love me at once ; and he is longing, though the old lady holds herself firmly aloof at present, to bring us together somehow ; and that is why I sent for you, darling Dolly." " But what am I to do ? " demanded Dora, somewhat startled, yet amused. " Why, you know Miss Lomax, Dora, and often see her, especially when you are staying at Richmond with Mrs. Townshend, and I hear you arc going there again soon. Godfrey has said once or twice what a great favourite you are of his aunt's, and I want you to speak a good word for me to her." "But such a great many of the very best of TEA AND TALK. II words must have been spoken for you already," urged Dora. " Oh, but that is quite different ; an opinion from an unprejudiced, disinterested person would £o so much further than from a — a — " stammered Lisette. " A lover ! Well, then, little darling, what am I to say ? " asked her friend caressingly. " Shall I tell Miss Lomax that, in spite of a turned-up nose, rather a wide mouth, and a small, pale face, you bewitch all hearts, and would, I am sure, soon win hers ; that your eyes are the colour of her precious Sevres vase, and that in your tarlatanes and muslins you always manage to look far better, and prove a thousand times more captivating, than all the rest of us in our silks and satins ? " " Nonsense, Dolly ! But yes ; tell her, if you like, that I wear cheap things and make my own clothes ; that, like Jenny Wren, I'd ' Always wear my own brown gown, And never go too fine ! ' Don't mind about my looks and accomplish- ments — leave them to Godfrey," and she blushed 12 lisette's venture. and laughed. " Talk only of my behaviour, of my common capabilities. Tell her what I can do ; how useful I can be ; that I can act as housemaid and nurse both in one ; that my greatest treat is to spend the morning in the kitchen with our dear old cook, helping her with her puddings and rc'chaiifjc's, and learning to manage a house on the most economical scale possible ; that ' Mrs. Warren ' is quite a joke to me ; and that I could work morning, noon, and night for any one I cared for." " Shall I say at once, for Godfrey ? Oh, Lisette, what a pity it is that you cannot have an interview with Aunt Leonora ; you are so much more eloquent than I could ever be." " I wish indeed I could. Nothing do I more desire ; but as there seems no chance of such good luck just at present, I want you to promise to puff me off to her to the best of your ability, the first time you have the opportunity." " And that will be very soon," answered Dora, colouring. "Miss Lomax has asked me to spend a week with her, and mamma par- ticularly wishes me to accept her invitation. I am going to The Firs on Tuesday." TEA AND TALK. 1 3 " Really ! " exclaimed Lisette, opening- her large eyes to their widest extent. " I knew you were very well acquainted, and often saw the old lady, both in London and when you were at Richmond, but I did not remember that you ever stayed at The Firs before. Oh ! " she cried, clasping her hands together with amus- ing energy, " take me with you, Dolly ; take me with you, I implore you." " How I wish I could ! ' replied Dora gently. " Couldn't it be managed in any way ? Even if it were not to make acquaintance with the old lady, I do long so to behold the place of which I have -heard so much. All Godfrey's favourite haunts when a child : the pond he used to fish in for minnows, and sometimes tumble into ; the great pine-tree amongst whose wide-spreading branches he hid when lesson time came near, or would sit perched with an amusing book when the sun was too hot to make it pleasant to play about. Oh, for Alad- din's lamp, Fortunatus's cap, or the invisible coat of Jack the Giant Killer ! " 14 LISETTES VENTURE. " But your object, Liscttc, is to be seen as well as to see. The wonderful crystal ball of which we were reading the other clay, and which had the power of transporting its possessor to any spot he chose at a moment's notice, would serve your purpose best." " Oh yes," replied Lisette ; " for then you might expect me to make my appearance at The Firs at any instant. But under what pre- text could I <>o ? I am afraid I should still have to assume some disguise — pretend to be some one else. I could not run the risk of being badly received — could never presume, uninvited, to face the dreaded Aunt Leonora in propria persona. Oh, Dolly, what fun it would be if I could dress up and go as your maid." And this remark led the girls to revert to divers freaks of bygone days, when Lisette used to attire herself in various strange gear, and, with her wonderful gift of imitation, mystify even her own father and mother ; and to her success in personating a great many characters in succession in one charade without being once identified. It reminded them also of a fanciful, TEA AND TALK. 1 5 foolish, imaginary scheme it used to amuse them to talk about long- ago, namely, that should they ever be placed in such circumstances as to render the step advisable, how very easy and even pleasant it would be, for Dora to go out as a governess, and Lisette to have a place in the same family as lady's-maid ; the facts of Mr. Freeling's large and carefully protected fortune, rendering it almost an impossibility that his only child should ever be placed in a dependent position, and that there was no probability of Lisette's being called upon to perform the part of an abigail, excepting as an amateur, no doubt much enhancing the pleasure they took in picturing themselves in such an interesting and novel predicament. 1 6 lisette's venture. CHAPTER II. MORE talk. And so they chatted on, their spirits rising with their talk, as young spirits will rise ; and passing from one subject to another, they quite forgot how time was flying. Lisettc had jumped up from the tea-table, and brought forth from her wardrobe the dress she had worn at the ball on the previous evening, to exhibit to her friend her wonderful contrivance about the trimming for the skirt, and was standing before her large, muslin-draped looking- glass, — artistically as well as elegantly draped to hide an awkward fracture, for which it had been banished from the best bedroom, and was in- debted for its exaltation to the uppermost regions, — holding to one side of her head a flower, on MORE TALK. I 7 whose reflected image she glanced with evident affection and approbation, some might have said with a slight tinge of coquettishness — for had it not been made honourable and precious by Godfrey's praises ? — when the bell of a church close by, ringing for Evensong, recalled the fact to their minds that Dora's carriage had been waiting a considerable time, and also caused Lisette to exclaim, — " Oh, how selfish I have been, darling, talk- ing and thinking only of myself and of my own concerns, and never asking how you were getting on. Have you seen Mr. Arnott lately ? Do you go to St. Catherine's now ? Are matters prospering more with you, Dolly dear ? ' " Far from it," answered Dora. " I assure you I am not faring better than you are, Lisette, only the state of the case is reversed. You are considered too poor for Mr. Rivers ; my money is the ostensible objection, it seems, to my being allowed to think of Mr. Arnott, and this legacy of my godfather's apparently only strengthens the difficulty." " Oh ! think of my having forgotten to con- VOL. I. C [8 lisette's venture. gratulate you ; you arc really altogether an heiress now, Dolly." Dora only sighed. " Oh, if it is to put more impediments in your way, you will certainly not consider it a cause for felicitation. How I wish the money had been left to me instead ! — but it is quite true that riches possess the property of the load- stone ; money draws money, that is invariably the case, and, also that the more people have of it, the more they wish for. If parents can give their daughters fortunes, they expect husbands for them with proportionate wealth. Now, in my opinion that is quite a wrong system to go upon. What in the world can be the necessity for you, Doll)', to marry a rich man ? " " I do not fancy it is wealth so much that my mother desires for me ; a comparatively poor man of very good family would satisfy her, 1 believe, and my dearest father only thinks of my happiness, I am sure; but Mr. Arnott, you know, has no high connections ; it is by his great talents and abilities, his earnestness and excellence, that he must make his own MORE TALK. 1 9 way, in that highest of all professions he has chosen." " And he is rich in having won your precious love, dear Dolly. Would you really leave all the luxuries and comforts of your home in Chesham Place, to be a curate's wife ? " " As willingly, Lisette, as you would sacrifice everything for Godfrey Rivers' sake. And the life of a clergyman's wife is a happy lot — aye, the happiest of any, I think — that is to say, of a really good, zealous clergyman ; to be per- mitted to share his cares and anxieties, and assist ever so slightly in his labours of love and works of benevolence, is the greatest privi- lege I deem it any woman could possess." And Dora's meek eyes flashed with enthu- siasm- — her usually calm, passionless voice trembled with agitation. The conversation was interrupted by the entrance of a small brother of Lisette's, who, when playing in the hall, had been at last prevailed on by Mr. 'F reeling's weary coach- man to make the ascent of the upper regions, to give his young lady a hint to take com- 20 . lisette's venti passion upon him and the horses — an errand the busy servants of the house had not ap- peared willing or able to undertake. So the friends had to crowd all their remain- ing talk into a small compass, and there was still a great deal left for them to say, for they were not sure of meeting again for some little time ; for Dora was going out of town, and the Audreys were about to disperse, according to their usual custom, at the end of the mid- summer holidays, — the sons to return to their respective schools and colleges, Mr. and Mrs. Audrey and the "little ones" to pay a visit to some relations in Hampshire, and Lisette to adjourn to any friends whom it might be arranged for her to visit. " And what is to become of you this time ? asked Dora. " I haven't an idea. Perhaps I may be told to-morrow by what line I am to travel — Great Western, South Eastern, or Midland. Well, it is all the same to me where I go now, unless, as I said, you could smuggle me into The Firs," and Lisette sighed even whilst she smiled. MORE TALK. 21 Then the friends embraced, and each in her turn pronounced those magic words which in every parting, be it for a long or for a short period, seem always to carry with them a consoling power — "I'll write soon — if I do not see you again ; " and presently Miss Freeling's silken skirts went rustling down the uncarpeted, spiral staircase. On the drawing-room landing she met Lisette's mother. A wonderful little woman Mrs. Audrey was always called, and with justice ; for, in spite of her heavy weight of cares and responsibilities, she looked as placid, as pretty, as smart, almost as young as when she married, and moreover would not have exchanged her toilsome duties for the most easy, smooth-going life that could be found. Her manner, though self-possessed, was un- pretending ; common observers, indeed, could scarcely understand the unbounded influence and authority she exercised over her whole household. Her will was absolute, her com- mands law, and this not owino; to the slightest degree of severity on her part, but to a certain LISETTE'S \ ENTURE. self-confidence and quiet determination, which proved far more effectual than any amount of harshness would have done. She was very particular as to Lisette's asso- ciates, and Miss Freeling was much approved of by her ; so, after receiving- the usual kind greeting, and they had spoken a little while together, Dora ventured to inquire respecting her friend's intended destination. " Our arrangements for Lisette are not quite matured," answered the little mother ; " in a clay or two, I trust, they will be definitely settled." And then, somewhat unguardedly, Dora said, "Well, please remember, dear Mrs. Audn \ if at any time she cannot be better provided for, she can always come to us ; even if I should be away from home, there is mamma, who is always glad to see Lisette.'' Mrs. Audrey thanked her, but before she could add more, a bell rang for some family meal, and with its peal there was the sound as of the opening of many doors ; and the next moment, from every corner of the house, MORE TALK. 23 there seemed to swarm forth, like bees from a hive, boys of all ages and sizes — some so far taller and larger than their Oueen Bee, round whom they all clustered, that she was. almost lost to sight in the group. After shaking hands with each of them, and having made her adieux to their mother, Miss Free- ling was escorted downstairs, arm-in-arm with the biggest boy of all, politely handed into the carriage, and then was whirled back to Chesham Place, where she arrived just in time to dress for a home dinner-party, composed of persons all more or less uninteresting to her ; many of whom went away and said how very handsome Miss Freeling was — indeed, she would be quite beautiful, if she only had a little more animation. 24 lisette's venture. CHAPTER III. USKTTK'S LOYKKS. A GREAT deal has been said and written in censure of London mothers, who seem to be looked upon as a species of human shark, ever waiting to swallow up any golden fish that may be floating on the shining surface of the stream of a London season. It is true that one hears of many instances of unpleasingly dexterous angling, most flagrant acts of manoeuvring to secure a rich prize in the matrimonial market, producing disgust in by- standers, and much jealousy and spite in the hearts of other intriguers similarly employed. ]>ut in the present day, when young ladies- and gentlemen an- allowed to choose their own mode of education — to change about from LISETTES LOVERS. 25 tutors and governesses at home to schools for half a year or so, and back again, just as the fancy pleases them, thus entirely destroying any possible authority that might be possessed by those set over them, — in fact, in these times, when young England is allowed to assert its independence from the very cradle, ■depend upon it, in nine cases out of ten parents have little to do with the marriages of their sons, or of their daughters either. The matter is completely taken out of their hands, and happy and thankful must they feel, when their children choose as they would have chosen for them ; for they are now complete ciphers, where once they used to be the principal acting parties. And if the aspirations of mothers for their daughters are sometimes fraught with an undue amount of ambition, surely the disappointments, the destruction to their hopes, they are continually meeting with, demand some indulgence and pity. Almost every young mother, I believe, with her first baby girl on her lap, in imagination weaves a brilliant future for her darling. She looks 26 lisette's venture. clown on the tiny, expressionless face, and with a wave of a magic wand, invests it with the style of beauty she considers most perfect in a woman ; then she lifts one waxen finger, and in fancy places on it a golden ring. No, she does not place it there — it is that beautiful little lord in the velvet jacket and knicker- bockers, with his grand title, and heir to half a million at least ; for she has already fixed on him for baby's husband. But will the young lord really marry this little daughter of hers ? Oh no ; it is only a mother's airy vision, which will vanish away, like many another fond day- dream. The young lord will never cast one thought on baby — and she, who after all does not turn out by any means a beauty, will have to wed a commoner, just well enough off to keep her in comfort and respectability. And very likely will be none the less happy ! Well it is for us that there is a higher, an unerring Power and Wisdom to order and over- rule events for us ; happy indeed that our destinies, as well as the fates of those dearer to us than ourselves, are removed out of our weak lisette's lovers. 27 hands, though it is often hard to take this thought for our comfort, when our own vain hopes and schemes are frustrated. But surely it must have been from some such reflection, not mere cold, philosophical, physical endurance, that little Mrs. Audrey was enabled to bear up bravely and resignedly under the great disappointment she had sustained regard- ing her daughter. If ever it was of consequence for a girl to marry well, it was for Lisette. With a large family of sons to launch into the world, Mr. Audrey was anything but a rich man, and it was highly desirable on all accounts that the eldest girl, on whose education no expense had been spared, should be early estab- lished in an eligible home of her own, happy and free from the cares and privations her parents themselves had experienced, and able in after years, if need should be, to perform the part of second mother to the little sisters whose governess and kind protectress she already was. And there had been such a good promise for the fulfilment of the parents' wishes. Lisette's debut was quite a success. The piquantc little 28 i isette's venture. maiden was most kindly welcomed into society, and soon she had only to show herself in a ball- room, and quite a rush was made to secure her for a partner ; Mrs. Audrey must indeed have felt pleased and flattered by the admiration lavished on her child. I always think that must be such a very pleasant time in a girl's life — her first season ! — when everything seems to smile brightly upon her, and all that is expected of her is that she should go out to enjoy herself. This Lisette did thoroughly. Not only her little feet Hew lightly through the mazes of the dance, but her heart bounded, her spirits rose with the gay scenes, which were to her a charming change from the school-room, in which she had been hitherto rather closely immured. She estimated her partners entirely according to their proficiency in the trois temps and mazurka : as to sitting- out a dance from choice, as some young ladies did, she could see no fun whatever in that. Then her second season came, and she was quite read\- to go on in the same easy, joyous way again ; but somehow she found then LISETTES LOVERS. 2Q just a shade of difference — not perhaps her mother, but her relatives in general, and many matrons of maturer experience than Mrs. Audrey, seemed to expect something more for her than mere empty admiration ; and when one of her partners began to pay her marked attention, the grave realities of life had begun for Lisette. And Captain Selby was such an unexceptionable parti — just the very man for her. So every one said, and Mr. and Mrs. Audrey felt ; and soon the parents became anxious to discover their daughter's own ideas on the subject, — since not for the world would they have wished her to make a marriage merely to please them, or for the sake of worldly ad- vantages alone. When Lisette was first asked if she liked Captain Selby, she used to answer in the most simple manner that she did not at all dislike him, and he danced beautifully. She thought him very good-natured — yes, and she supposed he Avas rather good-looking too. By the end of the season she went so far as to declare that she really thought she preferred him to all her 3 vidi } rici!" might have been said by each of them, for there never was a more decided case of conquest at first sight ; in that one evening- " the silver link, the silken tie " which binds " heart to heart and mind to mind," were riveted by that secret sympathy which only cruel wrong or death can dissolve. The brightly Hushing cheeks and sparkling eyes of her daughter soon attracted Mrs. Audrey's vigilant observation, and she turned to a friend by whom she was seated, and made some inquiries respecting the gentleman who was engrossing all Lisette's attention. LISETTES LOVERS. " A truly delightful young man ! " was the whispered reply. " We have known him all his life ; his father and mother are very old friends of ours ; excellent in point of family, and all that kind of thing — but—" and the lady shrugged her shoulders warningly — " no money, — only his rising pay as clerk in the Audit Office now, and quite uncertain expectations for the future." "No money!" So Mrs. Audrey felt it her bounden duty, as they drove home through the clear cold air, to give Lisette a little lecture on the impropriety of allowing herself to be monopolized by one gentleman during the whole of an evening; to which accusation the young lady made no answer, and her mother, hoping that Mr. Rivers would not again fall in their way, dismissed the subject from her mind. But after that day Godfrey Rivers and Lisette Audrey, somehow or other, were always meeting, and soon the matter became serious, and caused the utmost consternation in many quarters. No pair of lovers ever met with stronger opposition, more resolute discourage- 32 LIMIT!. S VKX II RE. ment ; for several months they were doomed to- perfect martyrdom, from persuasions, exhorta- tions, and even threats ; but the same poet who says, "the course of true love never did run smooth," also declares that " love o'erleaps all impediments "-- and so it proved in this case, for Mr. and Mrs. Audrey, convinced that their child's health and happiness were giving way, yielded a reluctant though not ungracious consent to an engagement between the young people. It was just after this important step had been obtained that Captain Selby. arrived in London, and, ignorant of the state of affairs, wrote to Mrs. Audrey to propose for Lisette. It did indeed cause the mother's heart a pang to have to refuse so brilliant an offer for her daughter, but she had schooled her heart to bear the trial, — and bear it she did, as I have said, graciously, gracefully, and heroically. Godfrey's own family ceased to put obstacles in the way, being obliged to content themselves with the assur- ance that he would do nothing rashly or in a hurry ; so that by the close of the season which LISETTES LOVERS. 33 succeeded the Christmas meeting, matters might have been said to have advanced far more prosperously for the lovers than they could have possibly hoped or expected a few- months before ; when suddenly Miss Lomax, Godfrey Rivers' elderly relative and godmother, who had of late become wonderfully quiescent, considering how violently opposed she had been in the commencement, once more rose up in arms against the match. We have heard from Lisette the objections she openly broached ; but to explain the inward workings of the old lady's mind, we must turn to Dora Freeling, or rather to her mother* a much tried matron of Belgravia. VOL. I. I> 34 LISETTES VENTURE CHAPTER IV. DORA'S HOME. Dora's father had made his fortune in business. He was one of the most honourable, benevolent, and generous of men, nevertheless he was almost looked down upon by some of his wife's high-born relations ; though, in any difficulty or emergency, they were only too ready and willing to avail themselves of the substantial aid which the clear-headed, open-handed friend was so able to afford. Even Mrs. Freeling, affectionate and really attached as she was to her husband, was not entirely free from the foible of regretting, that to his hard-working perseverance and energy he owed the riches he possessed ; and this weakness principally dora's home. 35 -evinced itself in her great anxiety that their daughter and only child should marry into " her own set," as she called it. It was there- fore distracting to her maternal feelings when, with all her advantages of wealth and beauty, Dora set her affections on the young curate, who for some time past had been thrilling the hearts and ears, and pricking the consciences of the congregation at St. Catherine's, by his earnest, eloquent discourses, and winning the affections of all his humbler neighbours by his active parochial labours and sympathizing ministrations amongst them ; and to whom Mr. Freeling had insisted on showing some civility, both as a parishioner, and because Mr. Arnott was the nephew of one of his principal city friends. As for giving her consent, if Mr. Arnott ever had the presump- tion actually to propose for Dora, it was utterly out of the question; but that was not enough. Mrs. Freeling was determined, by some fell stroke, to knock the affair on the head altogether, before it proceeded further- — to give a thorough turn to Dora's ideas ; and the good lady, not 36 lisette's venture. being strongly imbued with romantic feelings — she had married somewhat late in life herself- was of opinion that the best means for up- rooting one affection was the introduction of a new one into its place ; so she determined to use every effort to provide her daughter with another suitor as speedily as possible. It will seem strange that the same young man who was considered such an ineligible parti for Lisette Audrey, should have been thought of by Mrs. Freeling as good enough for her beautiful Dora, and certainly a year ago she would have ignored the very idea of her daughter making so poor a match. But it is wonderful how some notions and aspirations become moderated by circumstances, and the time had arrived when it behoved her to take most decided antagonistic steps with regard to Mr. Arnott. Formerly, to the sundry hints Miss Lomax had thrown out, of the happiness it would give her to see her " darling boy," as she still called Godfrey, well married in her lifetime, Mrs. Freeling's only reply had been a would-be unconscious smile ; but now she DORAS HOME. 2>7 suddenly began to unfold her troubles to her friend, even going so far, at length, as to openly confess her regret, that Mr. Rivers was not to fall to her share as a son-in-law, instead of to Mrs. Audrey, who evidently begrudged him Lisette. The shrewd old lady saw plainly through the very transparent machinery of Mrs. Freeling's mind ; still it did provoke her to think of the loaves and fishes, to say nothing of the charming bride Godfrey might have secured for himself, had it not been for his folly in falling in love with penniless Lisette ; and although she was far from imagining that her endeavours would succeed, she determined, even at this eleventh hour, to make an attempt to detach him from such an unprofitable engage- ment. This was the history of the renewed opposi- tion of Miss Lomax, which, coming on again so late in the affair, had disagreeably surprised the lovers, and, coupled with her invitation to The Firs and other suspicious circumstances, had given Dora a pretty clear insight into the real state of the case, and caused the deeper ruffling 3$ lisette's venture. of her fair brow as she drove home from St. Egbert's Square. Those who went away from the dinner party in Chesham Place and spoke of her want of ani- mation, little guessed the conflict of aggrieved feelings hidden beneath that calm, cold exterior, for Dora had also casually learnt that Mr. Arnott had called during her absence, and been admitted, yet during the whole hour she spent with her mother before going upstairs to dress,, his visit had not been alluded to. It is always a pity when confidence is with- held between a mother and daughter. Mrs. Freeling acted as she thought for the best, but by keeping back the simple fact of Mr. Arnott having called — his visit had been nothing more than one of civility before leaving town for his short holiday — Dora was left to imagine all kinds of things, and greatly to magnify the importance of the fact. After an uncomfortable nisrht she came down the next morning pale and tired, but resolved to persuade her mother to let her visit to The Firs be given up. She found Mrs. Freeling already at the breakfast table, DORAS HOME. 39 and rather excited by the contents of a letter she was reading. " Oh, here you are, darling ! " she exclaimed, as Dora entered. " I am sorry to say I have not had a good account of your Aunt Banbury." "Really, mamma!" answered Dora regretfully. " Oh, it is nothing serious, I am thankful to say ; — only one of her usual neuralgic attacks ; but your uncle is obliged to go to this agri- cultural meeting at Bristol on Thursday — he is one of the stewards, or judges, or something, vou know — and he has written to beo- me, if possible, to go to Ashlands to be with her whilst he is away." " And shall you go, mamma ? " " Well, I suppose I must" replied Mrs. Freeling, most resignedly; "I could not well refuse. I am always too glad to be of use, especially to one of my own family ; but this happens at rather an inconvenient time, just when you are going away." " Oh, but mamma ! ' ; exclaimed Dora, her beautiful complexion assuming its most brilliant hue, " I can stay with papa — cannot I ? I need 40 I.ISl.TTKS VENTURE. not go to The Firs now ; this will be such an excellent excuse." " My dear," replied Mrs. Freeling, decidedly, " why should you wish to make any excuse ? There must be no alteration in your plans ; not on any account must Miss Lomax be disappointed." " But she cannot care about it — she has never asked me before," urged Dora. " That does not signify ; she has asked you now, and she is not a person with whom any liberty can be taken." " Oh, but mamma, indeed, why need I go at all ? " returned Dora despairingly, " when I do so hate the idea of it ; even if you had not received this letter, I intended to beg you to be so very good as to get me off, and now, when you can do it so easily, why must I go ? " " Because I wish it," answered Mrs. Freeling. " That ought to be quite a sufficient reason. But I cannot imagine why you should make these objections, my dear ; you will enjoy it when you are there, I am sure." This was not quite a veracious assertion of the good lady's. " Such dora's home. 41 a lovely little place, with everything about it to make it pleasant, and, for my part, I dote on the old lady." " But papa " was Dora's last appeal. " I explained to your father all about it before he started for the City, and he agreed with me that you ought to keep to your •engagement. He said he should get on very well, alone, from Thursday till Saturday, and on the evening of that day, would perhaps be able to run down to Ashlands to spend Sunday with us. But come, eat away, dear, for I shall have a great deal to do after breakfast." " When do you go, mamma ? " asked Dora. " By our usual train for Ashlands, the express to Reading at 3.48. I will order the open carriage that you may come with me to the station, and then you can drive anywhere you like afterwards. Tucker must be sure to start, at least half an hour before me, with the luggage ; she always puts me in a panic by not appearing till the last bell is ringing, and I should not like to miss this train, because your uncle says he shall send to meet me at C 42 lisette's venture. I do not intend to take James with me this time ; he is really of no use when there is no change to make." Mrs. Freeling was in excellent spirits, con- sidering her sister's indisposition : she enjoyed nothing more thoroughly than visits to her brother-in-law's stately dwelling. Luxurious and replete with every comfort as was her own home, she always felt more in her proper element in a large country place, — such, for instance, as that in which her girlhood's days had been passed ; and then to go to Ashlands, with the pleasant conviction of being of use to her favourite sister — this idea heightened her satisfaction. She could also leave Dora for the next day and a half in London, with the comfort- able belief that Mr, Arnott had already quitted, the metropolis, and, after that time, it would be so pleasurable to her to think of her daughter under the roof of her friend, and daily growing in the affections and favour of the fastidious old lad)-, even if she did not meet Godfrey Rivers there, as she hoped she would do. Before she left the breakfast table, Mrs. dora's home. 43 Freeling summoned her housekeeper for the usual morning's interview ; gave several direc- tions regarding her household arrangements, and ordered everything she considered most likely to contribute to the comfort and enjoy- ment of her husband, during her temporary absence ; for it might truly be said of this good lady, that — " Though on pleasure she was bent, She had a thoughtful mind." Then she ascended to her boudoir, and, seated in her capacious arm-chair, with Dora's aid, began to pack her work materials. Very for- tunately, only the day before, she had chosen an elaborate Berlin pattern, and there were all the skeins of wool and silk to be sorted and put into papers, and when this task had been accomplished — the 4tui with the gold and ruby- studded thimble, and the dainty little scissors, placed in the satin-lined basket — there was the long, purse-like knitting bag for evening use, to be prepared ; and Mrs. Freeling's heart quite bounded at the idea of the long, cosy gossips she should have with Lady Banbury, whilst her 44 I isi.'l'l l.'s VENTURE. fingers wove the brilliant mimic: wreath, or plied the ivory needles in making a couvre pied of as many colours as Joseph's coat of yore. But all the while, though the mother and daughter sat close together, busied with the same occu- pation, there was a kind of restraint in their conversation. Mrs. Freeling, who fain would have talked freely of Ashlands and its inmates, had to keep guard over her tongue on that topic, for, to tell the truth, Dora was somewhat in disgrace with her noble relatives, since not many months before, their son and heir, a youth just out of his teens, had made her a proffer of his heart and hand, which she without the slightest hesitation or compunction had declined; to the astonishment, not unmingled with indigna- tion, of Lady Banbury, and the unfeigned regret of Mrs. Freeling, who owed Mr. Arnott an additional grudge in consequence ; though of this offence he was perfectly innocent, as Dora would just as soon have thought of one of Lisette Audrey's schoolboy brothers for a lover or husband, as the Honourable Walter Norton. dora's home. 45 Then the visit to The Firs was another subject to be avoided, for whenever it was approached the wilful Dora renewed her protestations against it. " But, mamma," she said, " you must really promise me one thing, that I shall not stay an hour after the time for which I am invited ; you will at least promise me this r won't you ? " " My dear child, you are invited for a week, and I suppose that is the time you will remain ; if you are pressed to stay longer, why then we can — see about it." Ever since Dora was quite a little child, when she wanted her mother to promise her anything not very convenient to be granted, Mrs. Freeling, to save trouble and rid herself of her importunities, had been wont to say, she would " see about it," so Dora knew how much the words were worth in the present instance. But luncheon being just then announced, she was prevented from repeating her solicitations, and when that repast was over there were still a few notes to write, and sundry little matters to 46 lisette's venture. be attended to, and then Mrs. Tucker, elegantly attired in travelling- costume, entered the boudoir and craved permission to invest her lady with her bonnet and cloak, before she started in the vehicle which was waiting to convey her and the lueeacre to Paddinsjton. A quarter of an hour after, Dora and her mother were following in the same track, and on arriving near the station could see a cab in front of them, sur- mounted by neat, canvas-covered boxes, and when the two conveyances drew up almost at the same moment, James was in time, after attending to Mrs. and Miss Freeling, to rush forward and hand Mrs. Tucker from her equip- age, and bestow on her as much care and devo- tion, as if she were bound for the Antipodes, instead of merely going into Gloucestershire for a week or ten days. Tickets were procured; Mrs. Freeling chose her carriage, and entered it ; and then there ensued those moments of waiting, always more or less irksome both to to the departing traveller and to the friend that is to be left behind. ( 47 ) CHAPTER V. PARTINGS AND DEPARTURES. Reader ! never, if you can help it, go to see a friend off by the railway. If you are doomed to part from a beloved one — perchance a cherished son, who is leaving you for distant climes, for scenes of toil and peril ; or from a young daughter, the very light of your eyes and joy of your heart ever since she drew her first breath, who has cast in her lot with one bound for a foreign country — go not to the station to see the last of them. Spare yourself and them the torture of having to breathe the fatal word " farewell "in such a spot as that. You stand on the platform, and, amid rude, rough sounds, the din of voices, and the deafen- ing noise of the engine, gaze on the face 48 lisette's venture. about to pass from your sight for years — per- haps for ever ! You watcheach change of every treasured feature — the fond eyes dimming with tears — the cheeks becoming paler and paler, the mute, quivering lips — then presently some official comes up to you, and the carriage door, which had been open hitherto, is shut with a sudden, sharp, relentless clang. The first blow is struck ; the iron has entered into your soul. But a hand is stretched out of the window, you can still touch it — feel it — press it — oh, so fervently ! You can still gaze on the yearning, mournful countenance. But now the last bell rings, and the train begins to move on — on — slowly, very slowly at first — for you can even yet see the precious face — just catch a glimpse of the flowing tears, an arm upraised, a mouth moving, lips quivering, as if in vain strivings to utter some last words of love and comfort ; — and now it is gone — quite gone, and you are alone. You gaze on vacancy ; your brain is dizzy ; your heart is sick ; you are rooted to the spot on which you stand ; your shaking limbs refuse to carry you back to the haven you are longing PARTINGS AND DEPARTURES. 49 for — the sanctuary of your own home. Oh ! how far better to have given your darling" the last kiss, the last fond pressure, to have spoken the last words of tenderness, in the sacred privacy of your own chamber, where you could have poured forth prayers in soothing solitude ; wept agonizing but healing tears, unseen, un- noticed by human eye. And on ordinary occasions, it still seems to me better, even more courteous and hospitable, to bid adieu to a guest beneath your own threshold : it savours almost too much of speeding the departing guest, to go and see him consigned to the flying monster. At all events, by so doing, you prolong a leave- taking, which is always an affair best got over quickly. But probably few will enter into my view of this matter, certainly not those persons who, whenever an opportunity presents itself, rush to the station to have a transient peep at, and a few hurried words with, any friend who may be passing by. With what an unsatisfied sensation do they, notwithstanding, generally return from VOL. I. K 50 LISETTES VENTURE. the interview ! Their anxiety to make as much as possible of the brief time allowed them, to crowd into a few moments as much conversation as they can manage, produced quite the con- trary effect. They have felt tongue-tied, almost idiotic, unable to recollect what they had been so desirous to talk about ; all their fancied eloquence has vanished, their ideas have become congealed, so that, strange to say, the few minutes lagged, and were wasted, and it was an absolute relief to both parties when the meeting was over. Surely in such a case Ic jeu vc van t pas la chandelle ! The only occasion, I think, on which one can accompany a departing relative or friend to the railway station with any degree of gratification, is, when he or she is bound on a brief trip of pleasure ; and as Dora beheld Mrs. Freeling seated in the carriage, looking serene and cornel)-, her handsome, well-stuffed travelling bag beside her, a light cloak thrown over her knees by the attentive Mrs. Tucker, who was seated opposite to her mistress, she thought her mother presented a picture of complete comfort PARTINGS AND DEPARTURES. 51 and prosperity ; in fact, she was almost inclined to envy the freedom from care and disquietude her countenance expressed. For it is a mistake to suppose that the young are exempt from trouble. They have their full share ; for if the burden is in reality less heavy, it presses with as great a weight, upon fresh, unaccustomed hearts, keenly alive, acutely sensitive, to every pang ; and which struggle against pain and sorrow, like the captive bird that beats its wings unavailingly and hurtfully against its cage. For patience and resignation are the growth of older years ; time brings us into the routine, as it were, of trials and griefs ; we become habituated to expect them, and when they do arrive, we receive them with trust and submission, and strength is given with them to bear them uncomplainingly. But this is a lesson only to be learnt through a course of oft- repeated afflictions, and belongs not to the immature experience of the young. Dora, on receiving the final caress, the parting words of kind solicitude from her really fond, usually over-indulgent parent, 52 LISETTES VENTUP experienced n touch of self-reproach for the rebellious feelings to -which she had been giving way ; and to make some amends for the ingratitude of which she now accused herself, she determined to execute without delay th<- latest commission Mrs. Freeling had given her ; namely, to procure and send off by that evening's post, a skein of filoselle, which had been found wanting among the work materials. She had forgotten to bring the pattern with her, so had to return to Chesham Place for it. As she drove through the park, she was struck with the change in its aspect since the week before. There were indeed visible signs of the season having come to an end. The brilliant crowd of handsome carriages with their gaily dressed occupants, — the reigning beauties of the day, vieing to eclipse one another by the beauty of their toilettes, and all the gorgeous dowagers were no longer to be seen. The graceful equestrians on their well-trained, high-mettled horses had dwindled away. The magnificent dandies lolling against the railings, with their canes in their mouths. PARTINGS AND DEPARTURES. 53 had disappeared altogether. Only at intervals an open carriage or a brougham came rolling by with unimpeded speed, where, not many days before, a ceaseless stream of vehicles was •slowly ebbing to and fro. Even the flowery parterres were quickly losing their trim appear- ance. They seemed to know that they had been decked out for show — had well played their part of looking beautiful for many weeks ; and were aware that their day was over now — there was nothing more expected of them — for their blossoms hung their heads droopingly .and untidily in the dust ; whilst beneath the recently, thickly thronged shade of the trees, seated on the benches, or sauntering on the grass, were only a few nursery maids, with children, who looked much in need of a blow by the seaside, or a good free run in the coun- try, to restore the roses which had faded from .their cheeks during the past hot weather. Yes, London had just emptied itself of its fashionable world ; the fiat had gone forth that the season was over, was henceforth to be as a thing of the past. A few great per- 54 LISETTES VENTURE. sonages had departed, and then every one that could, followed the example of their leaders, by quickly, suddenly taking wing, and flying— -as from an infected city — from the place for which, two or three months before, so many hearts had fretted and fumed. As Dora drove over the almost deserted ground, she recollected some verses which seemed very applicable to the scene before her, for truly might she have exclaimed, - "Thy bumt-up turf, brown Kensington, No gentle footsteps marks ; Achilles is the only one That's seen in all the parks. August is come, and London's lonely, Of all that's gay bereft : Rich doctors and poor curates only Are all that now arc left." And then she beran to wonder whether her "poor curate" was doomed to toil on in his daily round of arduous, devoted labour, through- out the whole remainder of the summer, or whether she had not heard that he was soon to take his month's holiday ; and not five minutes after thus cogitating - , on passing by the corner of Wilton Street, her carriage had PARTINGS AND DEPARTURES. 55 to make an instant's pause, to avoid coming in collision with a cab just issuing therefrom, on the roof of which rested a portmanteau, and within which was seated the object of her thoughts — the Rev. Robert Arnott. It was but one of those sudden, momentary meetings, when two individuals start forward with a simultaneous sign of recognition, and then are parted, each being left with the un- comfortable uncertainty as to whether the one has been identified by the other or not. But the little incident, slight as it was, gave a kind of impetus to Dora's spirits. On one point at least she had been enlightened — he was going away ; and the knowledge of Mr. Arnott's departure certainly lessened her own reluctance to leave town ; indeed, had her intended desti- nation been any other than The Firs, and her father could have accompanied her, she would have been glad to have gone away from — now — empty, uninteresting London. She had intended calling again on Lisette, but the filoselle took longer to match than she had reckoned upon. Helbronner was quite out 56 lisette's venture. of the required shade, and she had to try at several other shops before she could obtain it ; then, surprised at the lateness of the hour, she returned home to be ready to welcome her father when he came back from the city. She waited in the drawing-room till his brougham drove up to the door, then met him on the stairs, and after a few cheerful words together, they went to dress for dinner. On entering her room, she fancied that her usual lively little handmaiden, Lizzie Gale, was grave and silent, but at first took no notice of it; however, as her hair-dressing proceeded, the generally dexterous ringers got strangely entangled in her tresses, and there were sundry ominous pauses, and a frequent use of a pocket-handkerchief drawn from an apron pocket, till at last, looking up, she beheld in her lookin^-^lass the reflection of a most woful countenance. On inquiring in alarm the cause of the damsels distress, in stilled, broken accents Dora was reminded of the lact, which in her self-absorption — for which she now blamed herself — she had forgotten, that .Mrs. Tucker was to have accompanied her to PARTINGS AND DEPARTURES. 57 The Firs, — Mrs. Candy, the housekeeper, who had formerly been lady's-maid to Mrs. F reeling, officiating again in that capacity, temporarily, for her lady during her absence ; this arrangement having been made to enable Lizzie to take a week's holiday, that she might attend the marriage of her sister. For many weeks the girl's whole thoughts had been fixed on this treat, and Dora had most warmly entered into her anticipated pleasure, assisting, both with her advice and presents, in the preparation of the bridesmaid's attire. But in the hurry of Mrs. Freeling's unexpected departure, poor Lizzie's plans had been quite overlooked by her elder mistress, and Mrs. Tucker would not remind her of them ; not being at all willing to give up her trip to Ashlands, where she not only possessed a great crony in Lady Banbury's maid, but an ardent admirer in the under-butler. Dora was truly compassionate and sympa- thising — said everything she could to comfort her little favourite ; and when she went down- stairs left Lizzie quite cheerful again, and 58 lisette's venture. building great hopes on her young- lady's promises, that she would do all in her power to help her, and that she hoped at least to be able to manage to get her a day's holiday for the wedding, if not a more extended leave of absence. ( 59 ) CHAPTER VI. FATHER AND DAUGHTER. Dora dearly loved her father. Always prone to hero-worship, she ranked him first and fore- most in her list of modern heroes. He was in fact her model for everything noble, sensible, and kind, and nothing delighted her more than to hear his praises sung by those men, who, having constant intercourse with him in busi- ness transactions, could properly estimate his integrity, his invariable liberality and straight- forward dealing, which made his word alone carry as much weight and security along with it as written documents from others would have done. He was indeed one of whom it might be said, they — " Carry music in their heart Through dusky lane and wrangling mart, Plying their daily task with busier feet, Because their secret soul some holy strain repeat ." 60 lisette's venti re. And he always had been such an affectionate father, and so just and judicious, that his opinion and wishes were ever law to Dora. She par- ticularly enjoyed being alone with him, and as father and daughter sat opposite to one another before the well-appointed dinner table, on which plate glittered, and fragrant Mowers shed their perfume and radiance, beneath the glimmer of a lamp suspended above it — whose chastened light mingled with that of the waning August evening, entering by the window left open to admit the soft cool air — their conversation flowed pleasantly and easily ; for Mr. F reeling, an agreeable companion at all times, was too glad, after the fatigue and strain that had been on his mind all day, to throw aside graver thoughts and talk only on light, lively subjects. They spoke of Ashlands, rejoicing that .Mrs. F reeling had such pleasant weather for her trip — wondering how she had found her sister ; and. when the servants had left the room, Mr. Free- ling asked Dora if she thought her mother had decided on any place for their autumn destina- tion. Mr. Freeling possessed no country house FATHER AND DAUGHTER. 6 1 of his own. For several years he had rented a place, for a few months at a time, within an easy distance of London, with the view of afterwards becoming its purchaser, should it be found eligible in all respects. But, perhaps from having Ashlands and her girlhood's home always before her mind's eye, each hired place in its turn, had fallen short of Mrs. Freeling's expectations and approbation, and for the last few autumns, Briohton and Folkestone had been substituted for a more rural retreat — a change Mr. Freelino- did not regret ; for he liked the facility of getting- to town without even a drive to the station, and also enjoyed falling in with different friends whilst taking his early morning walks on the esplanade and cliffs. Dora seemed to think her mother had rather a fancy for St. Leonards just now, and this subject gave her the opportunity of expressing her regret at having to leave her father to eo to The Firs on Thursday, and she was rather disappointed to find Mr. F reeling as anxious for her to keep to her engagement as her mother had been. 62 Llsi.'l MS VENTURE. " I have known Miss Lomax ;i great many years, you know, my dear, and have the greatest regard for her. I am very glad that you and my old friend should have this opportunity of becoming more intimate with one another. You have never fancied her much, I believe ; her manner is certainly brusque — perhaps harsh at times — and she has her little whims and weak- nesses like us all, but she is generous, high- minded, in fact, a fine character — what I call a woman with a very large heart. If I chose, Dora, I could give you many proofs of her benevolence and thoughtful acts of kindness, and tell you how she has often been a real friend in need. One instance in particular " He stopped, and there was a pause. Mr. Freelingf siefhed and seemed to check himself on the verge of some confidential disclosure; and I )ora, alter hearing his exalted opinion of her future hostess, could not possibly reveal that her repugnance to the idea of the Firs arose from the strong conviction she enter- tained, that a plot against the happiness of both herself and her friend was meditated FATHER AND DAUGHTER. 63 by the very person of whom he had been speaking so highly. So that subject had to be dropped, and as Dora presently ascended to the drawing-room, she felt vexed that she could not reckon on any assistance from her father. Then remembering poor Lizzie Gale and her troubles, she sought out a Bradshaw in order to ascertain if it would be possible for her to arrive at Ditchling from Easterton in time for the wedding, by leaving the latter place at a very early hour in the morning. She was puzzling over the perplexing columns of the little yellow book, and turning down several pages, when James entered with a salver, on which lay a diminutive billet, directed in that neat, minute hand-writing one so sel- dom now sees. It was from Mrs. Audrey, and ran as follows : — " Mv dear Dora, " We have been disappointed regarding our arrangements for Lisette. Our Worthing friends are absent from home at present, but hope to have returned, and to be able to 64 lisette's venture. receive our daughter towards the latter end of next week. Would Mrs. Freeling allow Lisettc to spend that interval with you ? I should not have ventured to make; so bold a request, if you had not so kindly suggested the idea to me when I saw you on Monday ; and I write to you, instead of to your mother, in reliance on your telling me candidly, if in the slightest degree it would be inconvenient for Lisette to be received in Chesham Place at this time. For in that case I could make another plan, though I know none that would be as agreeable to her as that I am now proposing. Might I ask for a line by the bearer of this note, as we leave town quite earl) r to-morrow morning, in order that we ma)' escort Jack as far as Henley, which is rather out of the way to Shipley. " I am, dear Dora, " Very affectionately yours, " Elizabeth Audrey." " If you please, ma'am, the servant is wait- ing," said James. FATHER AND DAUGHTER. 65 " Yes, I know ; I will ring when my answer is ready," and James and the salver quitted the apartment. A great defect in Dora's character was her want of forethought and decision, or rather her propensity to make promises without being certain of being able to perform them. For instance, the hope she had held out to Lizzie, though so kindly and sincerely meant, was it a well-grounded expectation, an assurance capable of realization, considering the circumstances of the case ? And now, what could possess her, in her desire to relieve Mrs. Audrey's mind, to sit down, and, on the spur of the moment, or rather in the fulness of her own willing, affectionate heart, to write and send off the following lines ? — & " Dearest Mrs. Audrey, " Make yourself easy about Lisette ; I will go to St. Egbert's Square without fail to-morrow. " Your affectionate, " Dora." VOL. I. F 66 lisette's venture. When the note was gone and past recall, and she had time to think over what she had done, she was seized with a pang of compunc- tion and consternation, though she trusted that even yet some fortunate, preventive cir- cumstance might spring up to her relief; but when she acquainted her father with Lisette's deserted state, expressing at the same time her wish that she could have invited her to Chesham Place, he only said her little friend must come and stay with her some other time. ( 6 7 ) CHAPTER VII. DORA'S PERPLEXITY. On going up to bed, her mind full of perplexity, Dora was almost provoked to find Lizzie in exuberant spirits and quite overpowering in her expressions of gratitude ; and though she made an attempt to moderate the damsels expecta- tions, and to hint at uncertainties regarding distance — trains, etc., — Lizzie had such un- bounded confidence in her young lady's power to overrule all difficulties, that now Dora had taken the matter in hand, she was not to be discouraged by any means. " I should indeed be sorry for you, ma'am, to have to be called before your usual hour," she said ; " and the worst of it is, Mrs. Tucker says Miss Lomax's maid is one of those old- 68 lisette's venture. fashioned, elderly bodies, that knows nothing whatever about the present style of doing hair. If there had been any one in the house that could have managed your dressing, just for that one morning, it would have made things much more straight and comfortable." " Oh, never mind my hair, Lizzie ; as far as that goes, I could easily wear a net for one day." " But Mrs. Freeling would not be pleased at that, and you on a visit too ; and, indeed, I should not like to go away and think of you all da)' without your plaits and chignon, looking quite shabby and poor like — it would quite spoil my pleasure, indeed it would, ma'am." " Oh, well," replied Dora, laughing, " if your happiness at all depends upon my chignon, I would get up at any hour — even before day- break — to have it done ; or, if necessary, have my hair dressed the last thing before going to bed, and try for one night to sleep in a sitting position, without putting my head on the pillow." " Oh ! that would be dreadful, ma'am ! " ex- dora's perplexity. 69 claimed Lizzie, half in feigned, half in real, dismay. " Well, I should really deserve it," returned Dora, " for it is so stupid of me not to be able to dress my own hair — on an emergency, at all events." " You were never brought up to it, ma'am, like some young ladies, and have no need to do it. Miss Audrey now, she has a pretty good notion of hairdressing, though of course her chignon is not quite the shape it would be if done by a professed hand ; still, she always looks tidy like ; and the night when you let me go to the play, and she insisted on doing my work for me, she did not manage at all amiss — con- sidering. (Nota bene. — Every one had remarked on this evening referred to, that Dora Freeling had never looked better or been more becom- ingly coiffec?) " And such a kind, pleasant, free-spoken young lady one seldom meets with," continued Lizzie, who was in a very talkative mood. "Her very voice is enough to do one good. I wish 70 LISETTES VENTURE. she was cooing - with you on Thursday, ma'am, if only to spirit you up a bit ; amongst such a set of old folks, I fear you will be quite moped — and in the country too, which is never over lively. I know Mrs. Tucker was glad enough to escape the job ; for she said, though nothing could be more comfortable than the servants are in every respect at The Firs, as regards living and rooms, and all that kind of thing, they and their mistress are quite out of date : Mrs. Benwell, the lady's-maid, the primmest and plainest of bodies, and the man- servant, even more ancient-like still. Now,. Miss Audrey would keep us all alive and merry even there — wouldn't she, ma'am ? " Dora made no reply to this harangue, though Lizzie's words were echoed in her heart. She felt that she would have given anything to have been able to take Lisette with her, instead of having to acquaint Mrs. Audrey that she had misled her with respect to her daughter. Distasteful and difficult, however, as was this task, she knew it was one that admitted of no delay. Mrs. Audrey must not be allowed to DORAS PERPLEXITY. J I leave London under the false idea that Lisette was comfortably provided for during her absence ; so, on dismissing Lizzie, Dora sat down in her dressing-gown before the writing table, and, in the best words she could find, begged her little friend's mother to forgive her for having too hastily sent a reply to her note ; telling her, that as she had been disappointed in her hope of being able to put off another engagement, to her great regret she must ask her to make some different plan for Lisette, just for this present week, after which time she still hoped Mrs. Audrey would let her dear Lisette pay her a visit before going to Worthing ; and in con- clusion she requested that an enclosed note might be given to her. Dora sighed as she wrote, and thought how much she would sink in the esteem in which she had hitherto been held by the good, methodical lady. " I know," she said in her hurried billet to Lisette, " Mrs. Audrey will quite lose her good opinion of me, which I have always greatly valued, but everything seems to be going wrong with me. I hate the idea of The Firs more j2 lisette's venture. than ever, but I cannot escape it ; I must go there and make the best of it, and I deserve some punishment for the trouble I have given to others. I am in a dilemma also about Lizzie, for Tucker, who was to have •'-one with me on Thursday, has had to accompany mamma quite unexpectedly to Ashlands (by the bye, I have forgotten to tell your mother of mamma's sudden trip, please do so for me). It will be a matter of great difficulty, if not an impossibility, to get Lizzie to her sister's wedding from Easterton, and only fancy the disappointment that this would be to the poor girl. She was wishing just now you were going with us, and though she would not allow it to be her chief reason for desiring your presence, I know she feels that she would be able, in that case, with a free conscience, to start off at break of day, provided she could find a train to suit her, knowing that you would turn out me and my chignon in first rate style ; in fact, she was only repeating in her own mind, what you, in fun, proposed on Monday, that you should play the part of my lady's-maid. I do indeed wish you could go, in DORAS PERPLEXITY. 'J T> any shape or form whatever, for I would give the world to take you with me, little darling." Then, the notes being accomplished, Dora went to bed, and doubtless, in consequence of her previous restless night, soon fell asleep, and awoke the next morning later than usual, but with that weight on her mind which one experi- ences when any disagreeable circumstance has happened the day before. Hastily ringing for Lizzie, she desired her note might be sent without delay to St. Egbert's Square ; never- theless the messenger had not reappeared when she went downstairs, and on being informed, after breakfast, of his return, she was also told that he had been desired to say there was no answer. Dora had many little occupations which required her attention during the forenoon : dresses to try on, letters to answer, etc. ; and after luncheon several visitors dropped in, rather inopportunely, but at length she was free and on her way to visit her friend, traversing the same ground she had passed over two days before, but this time on foot ; for her last caller, 74 LISETTES VENTURE. a staid, middle-aged lady, on hearing- whither she was bound, proposed walking with her, as she was going the same way, quitting her when they reached the end of the Belgrave Road ; so Dora arrived at No. 52, St. Egbert's Square, alone. ( 75 ) CHAPTER VIII. THE VENTURE PLANNED. For a moment she stood on the stone steps waiting for admittance, then the door was opened somewhat suddenly and sharply — by whom she could not see — but on inquiring for Miss Audrey, the reply, " The family are gone out of town, ma'am," coming from behind the door, in mincing, would-be obsequious accents,, made her start and look surprised, then, before she could speak again, there sprang out from her place of concealment, a small figure, which at a first glance might have been taken for her own pretty handmaiden, Lizzie, but which even with- out the merry melodious laugh, which pro- claimed her identity, Dora would have known to be the young lady of the house. 76 lisette's venture. " Oh, Lisette ! " she exclaimed, " how foolish of you ! ? " Will I do, Dolly, will I do ? " demanded the mimic abigail, instantlyVelapsing into her own tone and manner. " Do I look respectable enough to accompany you, as your body-guard and humble servant, to the redoubtable Firs ? " "What nonsense!" returned Dora; "and really I am not in a mood for joking." " No more am I," answered Lisette. " I am in right good earnest. But we must not stand here ; come upstairs, darling, and let us talk it all over." And she placed her arm coaxingly within that of Dora, and led her upstairs, this time no further than the drawing-room, which, like the rest of the house, looked uncomfortable and dreary ; as a great house always does during that pause which intervenes between the de- parture of a large family and the vigorous course of cleaning and scrubbing always deemed incumbent on such occasions. When, seated before her friend on the sofa, and Dora was able to examine into her appear- THE VENTURE PLANNED. 7 J ance more minutely, she was struck, as she had often been before, by the talent Lisette possessed for producing great effects by small means — a touch, a trick, a turn of her deft little fingers, being sufficient to alter the whole style and character of a thing in a moment. For instance, one of her hio-h morninof dresses of the fashion of a year or two back, with irreproachably neat, plain linen collar and cuffs, a smart little muslin apron, and a square morsel of tulle, most cun- ningly pinned on the top of her head, had been sufficient to transform her into a veritable repre- sentation of a lady's-maid — not of such a type as the grand, important Mrs. Tucker, but of her more attractive little subordinate, Lizzie Gale. " You sent mamma away quite happy after your note of last night," began Lisette, half caressingly, half defiantly. " She did not tell me she had written to you till your reply came ; and" — she continued with a kind of triumph in her tone and manner, " she was gone before your messenger arrived this morning - . She told me that I was to open and answer any notes that might come for her to-day, so of course I took 78 lisette's venture. possession of yours. Come, don't look so grave, Dolly — there is no help for it. Cost what it may, I am determined to go with you to- morrow." " Impossible ! " Dora exclaimed. " Why, impossible ?" returned Lisette, " every- thing seems to have arranged itself for this very purpose. Why should poor Lizzie be deprived of her treat— what harm could I do by going in her place ? At all events, go I must and will — for nothing shall induce me to undergo the torment of spending a week with my prim cousins in Westbourne Terrace." And so she went on, coaxing and insisting", whilst Dora deprecated the impropriety, and spoke of the impracticability of such a project, till in the end the energetic, determined spirit vanquished the weaker one, and Dora sub- mitted, rather than assented ; at the same time acknowledging to herself, what a comfortable plan it would be for her — an inestimable blessing indeed — to have Lisette as a kind of safeguard and defence — as she fancied she might prove — against any machination of Miss Lomax ; and THE VENTURE PLANNED. 79 then how conveniently it would settle the matter about Lizzie's holiday. In short, Dora gave in to Lisette as she had often done before ; and the foolish girls began to make their arrangements for the following day, and Lisette grew so animated and excited at the idea of the role she was to enact, and Dora so amused, in spite of herself, with her droll sayings, that soon they were both laughing merrily. What- ever characters they might be intending to personate on the morrow, they certainly just then, did not in the least resemble, the ill-used, love-lorn damsels they imagined themselves to be. At length the time came for Dora to take her departure, and she proposed to Lisette that she should • return with her to Chesham Place, to spend the rest of the evening. But Lisette declined. " No," she said, " I was very dull and dismal in the morning, but I'm all right now, and I shall have plenty to do — I am not half ready for going out to service. I must remodel my old black silk, for of all the perfect dresses, So lisette's venture. cither for parlour or lady's-maid, it is black silk, with a cherry-coloured bow on cap and collar. That shall be my afternoon costume. I wonder if I shall be required to bring any- thing into the drawing-room — perhaps a basin of broth on a little tray for the dear old missus. — I hope it is to your liking, ma'am," she drawled forth, dropping a little curtsy. " But O, Dolly, in one point I fear I shall always forget to imitate Lizzie. When you ring your bell in the morning and inquire the time, I shall never remember to give the proper gasp, and reply : ' It has this //instant gone //'eight, ma am. " How ridiculous you are, Lisette!" returned Dora ; " but Miss Lomax's servants, the)- will be sure to find you out at once." " That is perhaps the greatest danger we shall run," replied Lisette ; " but Godfrey has often told me that Mrs. Ben well is far Grander than her mistress, 'and that her sitting-room — which is on the same floor as the drawing- room, and in which she has all her meals — is quite like a lady's boudoir. I need have THE VENTURE PLANNED. 8 1 nothing to do with any of the other servants, and shall be able to keep quite clear of them all. Godfrey likes Benwell ; she was always very kind to him, and nursed him when a boy through several illnesses, and she is a most attentive attendant on his aunt. There is also an antiquated footman, who, Godfrey says, has been trying for thirty years to be turned into a butler, but without success. Though he can get his own way with Miss Lomax on every other point, on that one she is inexorable. Some people declare that Mrs. Benwell is the cause of this, for that old John in days gone by courted her for a time, then threw her over, and she has never forgiven the slight, and is determined to prevent his ever having the entree of 'the room;' to which he would be entitled on casting aside his metal buttons and bright coloured waistcoat." "Poor old John!" said Dora; "he does indeed look too ancient for liver)-. But you seem to know far more of the interieure of The Firs than I do, who have so often been there." VOL. I. G 82 lisette' s venture. " Of course Godfrey tells me little things about it now and then, and it interests me to hear any particulars of his childhood's home. But must you really be going ? No, I will not come with you. You must look out, when you arrive at Victoria to-morrow, for a respectable young person you will find on the platform. Lizzie will behold such a fac-simile of herself that she will, I expect, exclaim, like the old woman in the song, ' Why, sure it is not I ! ' Mind you arrive in good time, that we may ship her off before we have to start ourselves." Thus chatting and giving her last directions, Lisette, arm-in-arm with Dora, descended to the entrance hall, where she would have liked aora perceived that her hostess was not in her liveliest spirits; — something had evidently put her out of tune, ruffled her serenity. And "Aunt Leonora" was in fact suffering from two grievances. She had quite intended that Godfrey should be at The Firs to meet Dora — had planned for her visit accordingly, and he was not there. He had taken his departure, expressly to avoid his aunt's guest ; and she felt this was owing to her own foil)', in speaking out her mind to him too freely on a subject which, though she did it for his own good, she owned to herself it would have been better to have left alone. She had made him quite angry — for the first time in his life — almost dis- respectful, by the objections she had plainly set forth to his marriage witji Lisette Audrey ; and when at last she told him that it would gladden her remaining days, to see him the husband of a young lady she was expecting AUNT LEONORA. 121 tDn the morrow, he felt that a trap had been set for him ; and without even inquiring the name of the said lady, pleading business in London, he had departed ; offended with his Aunt Leonora, and leaving the devoted old lady hurt at his conduct, unhappy in being deprived of his society, and feeling that Dora's presence would now be only a burden and an annoyance to her ; especially since her second and lesser trouble, rendered it a somewhat inopportune time for receiving a visitor. " I thought, my dear," she said, when they were seated on the sofa before the large French window, " that you were to bring Tucker with you. I was rather reckoning upon having her, for Benwell has received a bad account of her mother — yes, I assure you she has a mother, though she does look somewhat ancient herself. My housemaid, Patty, can do pretty much all I require except my hair — that she cannot manage at all ; in fact very few, even lady's- maids, seem to understand curls now these abominable chignons have come into vogue ; but Tucker, I dare say, does know something 122 USETTB's VENTURE. about it, and I should have been glad of her help ; as she is not quite a stranger to me ; nor is she one of those young- fly-away minxes, one generally sees now-a-days, and which I detest." The concluding words saved Dora the necessity of offering Lisette's services, and just then John entered, brought forth the Sutherland table, and placed upon it the tea-tray, with its little service of old chased silver, and cups and saucers of transparent china. During this refreshment, Miss Lomax made inquiries after Mr. and Mrs. Freeling, and when Dora ex- plained about her mother being at Ashlands, she fancied there was a si ight touch of sarcasm in the smile with which her hostess received the information ; then the conversation Maimed again, for the old lady was certainly absent and graver than usual, and Dora was not one at all well calculated to carry on successfully a discourse where she was not met halfway. At length, seeing her guest's glance directed towards the window, Miss Lomax proposed going into the garden, and they stepped out on to a gravel path, which bounded the lawn. AUNT LEONORA. 12$ The exquisite beds of divers devices and sizes, were filled with the choicest flowers of the season ; not a faded blossom, not a withered leaf being ever suffered to sully the whole effect — not a weakly plant allowed to remain there a day ; all was one glorious mass of magnificence and luxuriance ; whilst the grass so carefully kept, so constantly shaven, looked and felt like a carpet of rich emerald velvet. Aunt Leonora's spirits seemed to revive when she got amongst her flowers, and she led Dora from border to border, pointing out to her her special favourites. " Is not that perfectly delicious ? " she said, pausing before a geranium of dazzling hue. " It is quite a new one. Yes, you are a darling," apostrophising the flower, " and I love you with all my heart. And you too are a delicious creature," turning to another group, " though not quite equal to my Princess Maud. And you are my grandest pet of all," she added, as the) - arrived before a bed of delicate pink masses ; " and you have quite surpassed my expectations. You see," she continued to Dora, 12.} 1 ISETTE S VENTURE. " I spend so much time alone with my (lowers, that I have got into the habit of talking to them aloud, as if they were living people It is astonishing what companions one may make of them, and after all, excepting that they cannot talk, their life is very much the same as ours. They take in nourishment, grow, come to full strength and perfection, flourish in all their pride and beauty for a time, then fade, decay, drop out of sight, and are gone and forgotten, like the rest of us. But now," said Aunt Leonora, changing from the softened, half melancholy tones in which she had spoken the last words, to her quick brusque manner : " I want to show you the fernery. It has been enlarged and improved since you came over to see me with Mrs. Townshend last summer." And she led the way across the lawn to a shady spot in which roots of trees of all kinds and sizes lay piled artistically upon one another, from whose every hole and crevice sprang Specimens of nearly every hardy British fern. I )ora expressed much admiration of one par- ticular little spray issuing from a cranny just before her. AUNT LEONORA. I 25 " That is the oak fern, my dear," explained her hostess, " the very plant your mother got for me from Tintern, and that reminds me — do not forget when you write, to ask her to be sure to bring a root of the parsley fern for me next week. I begged her to do so the last time she went to Ashlands, but I suppose she did not remember it. It grows like a common weed in Gloucestershire." Dora beoan to assure her that none of that tribe was to be found near Ashlands, though it grew abundantly in Hampshire, but was cut short by the old lady, who hated to be contra dieted, or to have made a mistake, particularly on any subject concerning plants ; and just then some sounds behind them made them turn, and in the paddock, only separated from the garden by light iron palings, Dora saw, quite close to them, a sleek chestnut horse and a little Shetland pony, not much bigger than a New- foundland dog, as rough as a hedgehog and as broad as he was long. " Oh, here are my pets come to welcome you, Dora ! and this is the time I give them. i26 lisette's venture. their evening treat. I always keep a store of carrots ready for them in the front hall. Yes, my darling, you shall have your supper. Is he not a princely creature ? " exclaimed Miss Lomax, as the fine old horse rubbed his head caressingly against her shoulder. " Call to your maid, Dora, to bring me the basket. She has been peeping out at us so often from your bedroom window," continued the old lady rather tartly, " that it is a pity not to satisfy her curiosity further. What is her name ? " Dora could unscrupulously answer, " Lizzie ;" Lisette being only another more refined abbre- viation of " Elizabeth," whilst by her brothers our heroine was generally called " Li/." " Well then, bid Lizzie fetch me my basket at once. So the order was given, and presently a little maiden came tripping across the soft lawn, with the light, firm steps so peculiarly her own, her figure erect, her head thrown back, the basket on her arm. Her cheeks flushed as she drew close to Aunt Leonora, and having delivered her burden she was about to retire, when she was desired to remain to carry back AUNT LEONORA. I 27 the empty basket. So she stood beside the old lady, handing to her the dainty roots, and watching the fine, sleek horse as he took them so gently into his mouth. Meanwhile the pony became very impatient, and performed a series of most amusing antics ; ambling, curvetting, wriggling, and twisting himself into the drollest attitudes imaginable. At length he rose up on his hind legs, and put his two paws on Dora's shoulders, very much as a bear might do when preparing to give a fatal hug. Dora screamed, pushed him away, and ran back. " Down, Donald — for shame, sir ! But Dora, you don't mean to say you are frightened of that mite of a thing ? What harm could he do you ? Give him a carrot, that is all he wants." Then observing Dora's reluctance to return to the railings, and Lisette's look of amusement, Miss Lomax continued : — " Well, then, your Lizzie must feed him, for I cannot hurry my pet here, who eats in a very slow, gentlemanly manner, and there is the dressing bell ringing." So Lisette had the delight of feeding God- frey's pony — the little Donald of whom she had 128 JET! E*S VENTURE. often heard her lover's Bucephalus when he was five years old. " I see you are not frightened of him," said Miss Lomax approvingly, as the Shelty munched with the utmost relish, snatching his portion without ceremony, from Lisette. "He means no harm, but small ponies have not the refined ways of a noble horse, and Donald has been encouraged to be impudent. His master used to teach him all kinds of naughty tricks, to pick his pocket, knock off his hat, and many other mishievous performances ; and he can sit up and beg, and fetch and carry as well as any dog. Yes, you are a clever rogue, Donald, and Mr. Godfrey has made you so." So after all it was to Lisette Audrey not to Dora Freeling that Aunt Leonora first spoke of Godfrey Rivers. But the carrots were gone. Conrad had thanked his mistress for the dainty feast, by ao-ain lovingly rubbing his head against her, Donald, finding there was nothing more to be <>-ot, with a neiLi'h of satisfaction kicked up his heels, and trotted off to drink from a trough AUNT LEONORA. I 2Q. placed under a tree, and Miss Lomax, fearing she was neglecting her guest, desired Lisette to take the basket back to the hall, and joining Dora, who was sauntering amongst the flower beds, placed her arm within hers, and led her to the house. The two girls were delighted to be alone together in Dora's bedroom, and Lisette, with all her courage and good spirits returned, gave her friend an animated account of her tea drinking with Mrs. Benwell, expressing the utmost delight with everything. " And whilst you, Dora, are at a stupid, hot dinner," she added, triumphantly, " I am to be taken all over the house, and into the delicious gardens and conservator)." They could not talk as much or as long as they would have liked, for Dora's toilette had to be attended to, and completed as quickly as possible, the dressing bell having rung before they had finished feeding the pet animals. Lisette had only just done smoothing the beautiful soft tresses of her friend, when the opening of a door and rustling of silk proclaimed VOL. 1. k 130 LISETTES VENTURE that the mistress of the mansion was already descending. The pretty muslin skirls were snatched from their box, the blue ribbons pounced upon, the trinket case opened, all in a moment's space. In fact, Uora had never before been dressed in such a hurry or scramble, and had Mrs. Ben well entered the room imme- diately after Miss Freeling left it, and beheld the scene of disorder it presented — bonnets and hats on the floor, dresses flung anywhere, the sofa and tables strewn with gloves and hand- kerchiefs — she would have quite changed the favourable opinion she had pronounced, whilst frizzing her lady's curls, of the young waiting- maid who had arrived at The Firs. ( i3i ) CHAPTER XII. HOSTESS AND GUEST. Dora found her hostess seated in her arm-chair in the drawing-room — a queer, gaudy little figure in her evening attire. Surprise was often expressed that a person possessing such perfect good taste in the decoration of her rooms — so much skill in the arrangement of her garden — should have so little notion how to choose her own clothes ; and not only that, but be so obstinate in resist- ing all advice on the subject. In vain had Mrs. Benwell protested against the apple green glacd being decked with pink ruches ; fain would the more chastened taste of the abigail have substi- tuted some of the handsome, black Chantilly lace, which lay unused in her mistress's cedar 132 LISETTES VIA rURE. chest of drawers, to tone down the over bright shade of the silk, but Miss Lomax was peremptory. Equally fruitless were her en- treaties that the cap of fine old point lace, to be worn with this gay-hued gown, should ha\ <• simple bows of black velvet ; her lady insisted on artificial flowers to match both the dress and its trimmings. The gown, too, was made in the height of the fashion — as far, at least, as the skirt went: there was the under jupou with its flounced and puffy garniture, and above it the pcpluni, with furbelows and Vandykes ; just as though the elaborate costume had been intended to grace the youthful figure- of a debutante, instead of being destined to encase the bent, faded form of the little old lady. And yet, inappropriate, ridiculous, as such a garb must sound for a person of her age, Miss Lomax understood the rules of harmony, and knew well what would suit her ; ma)' be the hours she spent in her garden, among her variously tinted flowers, had taught her what colours in reality blended best with one another. HOSTESS AND GUEST. 1 33 However it might have been, when Dora beheld her reclining in the dark velvet chair, which afforded an excellent contrast to the lustrous silk floating over it, her ungloved hands, with the gem besprinkled fingers, crossed on her lap, her forehead bordered by rows of shining, silvery curls, mingling with the lace and flowers of her cap, — she could not help acknowledging to herself, that the effect produced was wonderfully picturesque after all, and that Aunt Leonora looked twenty years younger than she had done in the morning. If Dora admired her quaint little hostess in her showy apparel, even greater was the ap- proval with which the lady of The Firs looked on her guest. Dora Freeling, lovely in feature and in form, had just the kind of beauty which is set off" and enhanced by dress. Especially becoming to her was the demie toilette, in which, in the soft light of that August evening, she sat opposite to Miss Lomax at the tete-a-tete meal, the shadowy folds of thin white muslin hanging gracefully around her, the lace on her 134 LISETTES VENTURE. bodice, scarcely whiter than the bosom it shrouded, and the blue ribbons, so well suiting her brilliant complexion. The old lad)- beheld one worthy indeed in every respect, to be the bride of her beloved Godfrey, and yet the foolish boy would not put forth his hand to take the prize, and was going to sacrifice his dearest interests for a passing fancy — at least, so she called it. It quite irritated her to look on Dora in all her perfection of beaut)' and worldly advantages, and to think of Godfrey's foil)', and her inward disquietude imparted to her outward bearing a cold severity of manner, ill calculated to encourage and enliven one who, from a child, had stood in awe of this friend of her parents, and now thought Aunt Leonora more formid- able in her own house than anywhere else ; and when, from her place opposite the window, Dora caught a passing glimpse of Lisette, stroll- ing in the paddock under the chaperonage of Mrs. Ben well, and once even heard the sound of her blithe laugh, she did certainly long to make her escape and join her. HOSTESS AND GUEST. 1 35 The evening passed off wearily to both hostess and guest. Miss Lomax seemed to try to be chatty and agreeable at times, but soon relapsed again into a contradictory, if not snappy mood, and Dora found it difficult to comport herself so as to please her uncertain companion. Naturally diffident and easily subdued, she could not talk freely or comfortably, at the risk of being set down with unpleasant brusquerie for any remark she might hazard, so there were some awful breaks and pauses in the conversation, and many furtive glances at the Sevres clock on the mantelpiece. Dora could not divine the chafed spirit with which the old lady was struggling, or know how hard it was for Aunt Leonora, unaccustomed to be thwarted or disappointed, to bear with patience any opposition to her will or wishes : "And to be wrath with one we love Doth work like madness on the brain." Nor could she understand that havino- her, Dora, seated before her in all her beauty, not only kept the heart's wound alive, but produced much the same distracting effect on her hostess 136 LISETTE'S \ I \ II RE. as did the sparkling drops of water on the long- ing Tantalus. And then it cannot be denied that excellent, perfect as she might have been in every way, when regarded in the light of a wife for Godfrey, — well fitted as were Dora's manners and whole bearing to entitle her to take a proud place amongst the youthful matrons of England, a different kind of crirl would have uot on better with Miss Lomax, — one with spirit to stand up for her own opinion, — who would have dared to contradict the old lady, or to pay her back in her own coin, and who could have borne being snubbed and set down, without wincing, and showing how much she minded it. In fact, Aunt Leonora wanted keeping in order, a task the gentle Dora by no means could accomplish, or even attempt. Once she did certainly astonish, and make her hostess feel that she had ventured a little too far. In a peevish, irascible moment Miss Lomax had alluded to Mr. Arnott, and made some re- mark disparaging to him. Then Dora's cheeks flushed into as bright a crimson as one of the carnations in the bouquet on the table before HOSTESS AND GUEST. 1 37 them, and her answer had been so ready and decided, that the old lady was quite cowed for a moment, and said, almost apologetically : " Well, my dear, you cannot expect me, who have only seen the man once, and do not even remember his face, to care about him, one way or the other. I dare say he may be all very well in the pulpit. But," she added, half bitterly, half sorrowfully, " I did hope, Dora, you had given up that folly." " Folly ! " exclaimed Dora. And then Miss Lomax thought it better to change the subject. Altogether, both hostess and guest hailed John's appearance with relief, when he entered with two small silver candle- sticks — the signal for their retiring. Dora, in her satisfaction, greeted him with compliments on the manner in which he had decked the vases, and Miss Lomax added her own praises, de- claring, "No one can make my flowers look half so well as John does." She was pleased with Dora for having given her this opportunity of making an amende to John, whose manner and looks had plainly indi- 138 lisette's venture. cated for the last two days, that she was in dis- grace with him. The fact was. after Godfrey's departure, just when the sharp duel of words she had fought with her boy was making her feel acutely bruised in spirit, and chafed in temper, John had brought in one of his most beautifully filled flower glasses, and having set it down and altered its position on the round table several times, on his mistress handiner over to him his quarter's wages, had chosen that inopportune moment to broach once more the forbidden subject of the liven', and had received an unequivocal refusal, delivered with so much asperity that he had retreated highly offended, and almost doubtful whether he would make up his mind to look over such ill conduct. But Miss Lomax's approval of his artistic taste he could never resist ; and when she spoke her kindly words of praise, John twisted his face into contortions, meant to express mingled dignity, indulgence, and pardon ; and probably neither mistress nor servant slept the less soundly ior the reconciliation, implied rather than spoken. HOSTESS AND GUEST. 1 39 Dora found Lisette anxiously waiting for her. The supposed abigail was to occupy the dressing- room, opening from the chamber of her young lady, on the other side of which was Miss Lomax's sleeping apartment. Both girls — feel- ing tired — began to undress at once, Lisette talking the while in her wonted animated strain — for she had so much to tell of all she had seen and done. She was seated on Dora's sofa in her white dressing jacket, braiding the hair which was streaming over her shoulders in the utmost disorder, and laughing at Dora's sigh of relief at having got away from her hostess at last, when a soft tap surprised them, and Lisette had only time to start up, before the door gently opened, and on the threshold stood the strangest little figure imaginable — Aunt Leonora, divested of her furbelows and petticoats — attired in white flannel, her curls vanished — hidden beneath the frills of a large cap — the Wellingtonian nose appearing more prominent than ever. She gave Lisette a scrutinizing glance, then turning to Dora said, with as 140 lisette's venture. stately an air as that of a queen in her robes of state: " I don't wish to disturb you, my dear, but I forgot to mention that I breakfast in my own room. I hope you will order your repast at whatever hour you prefer. Good-night!" and with a little wave of the hand she de- parted, leaving both Dora and Lisette too much startled by the apparition to do more than hurry into bed as quickly and quietly as they could. To bed went Lisette, but not to sleep, till the passing away of many hours had been pro- claimed by the silvery chimes of the old- fashioned clock which stood on a bracket on the landing place outside her door — her mind being too restlessly occupied with all the events of the past day. She had come as it were into a new world a spot tilled to the brim with reminiscences and signs of her lover, and yet a place in which she had no part— where she had no right to be. Lying there in the pretty little bed, by the pale moonlight she could descry the picture over the HOSTESS AND GUEST. • 14! chimney piece — a chalk drawing of a boy with a bat in his hand, and a collar much awry, and could distinguish some gleam of likeness in the features of the pretty lad to the (as all acknow- ledged) handsome young man he had now become. But what would be the consequence of this foolish, mad frolic, and Avhat end could be answered by her having come uninvited, unwished for, to the childhood's home of her betrothed ? And yet she could not at that moment feel any repentance for the rash, unheard-of adven- ture she had plunged into. She was so deeply interested, so enthralled by everything she had seen that evening. Each object seemed to wear a charmed spell for her, and as for Miss Lomax, she felt no shrinking from, no fear of her, as Dora did. No, even in those few moments she had stood on the lawn feeding the pony, and had seen the old lady caressing her horse, and heard her voice speaking in kind, soft accents, she had given her affections to Aunt Leonora in spirit, taken her to her heart at once, as part and parcel of Godfrey ; and, quite separate from all 142 LISETTES VENTURE. selfish considerations, she now yearned for the approbation and love of the quaint little mistress of the mansion into which she had clandes- tinely stolen. Oh, how delightful it would be if Aunt Leonora would only like her — could in any way be made to believe that, after all, Godfrey mififht manage to live without risk of starviiv'', and be just as happy with a little, portionless wife — whose whole earthly thought and care would be for his comfort and welfare, who would save for him, toil for him, with all her strength and will — as with an heiress, who might wish to spend her money on herself, and expect all sorts of luxuries and indulgencies. She had tried to discover what rich young ladies were in the neighbourhood, had inquired whether one young lad)- in particular was not coming to The Firs, and had been somewhat puzzled when Mrs. Bcnwcll had replied that Miss Freeling was the only visitor expected at present — for Godfrey had certainly gone away to avoid some heiress. It was all very strange, and the strangest part of all was this, that she, Lisette, should be there in Godfrey's HOSTESS AND GUEST. 1 43 place — in the very room that used to be his when he was a boy in his home — and he away from it. She fell asleep with a smile on her lips at the contrariety of their positions. 144 LISETTES VENTURE. CHAPTER XIII. THE FIRS. When, on the death of her father — her last sur- viving parent — more than thirty years before, Miss Lomax had to choose a home for herself, many were surprised at her selection of The Firs. They imagined she would have pre- ferred a residence possessing greater claims— both from importance and local it)- to be called a country place, but she knew perfectly* what she was about, and chose wisely and well, as all were ready to acknowledge later on. After living nearly all her life in London (her lather was at the head of the firm to which Mr. Freeling now belonged) she would have felt buried alive in any dwelling far removed from THE FIRS. I45 the scenes and acquaintances to which she had been accustomed so long ; and though, when she became its purchaser, the little Firs estate did not seem to possess any very striking advantages or beauties, she judged it, not so much by what it then was, as by its capabilities for improvement, by what it would be when all the care and money she intended to lavish on it had done their work : such, in fact, as it actually appeared at last, — a perfect bijou residence, quite near enough to London to command all its advantages and cheerfulness, yet as rural, as retired, as free from cockneyism in all its aspects, as a far-stretching estate in one of the midland counties could ever be. As years went by, Miss Lomax not only felt the greater satisfaction in her own choice, but found that the world in general was gradually- coming round to the same opinion as she had entertained so long ago. Large country seats were beginning to be shut up and deserted by their owners, whilst more moderate sized residences, within an hour's " rail " or there- abouts of the metropolis, especially in the VOL. I. I. 146 lisette's venture. locality she had fixed on, yearly increased in favour and money's worth. It is useless, I think, ever to try to describe a place. After having done your best to give an accurate idea of any spot, you find that you have failed to bring the actual scene before the mind's eye of the person to whom you have been describing it ; eloquent as the tongue may be, in many instances, it cannot in such a case accomplish what a few rough strokes of the fingers can do. I shall not therefore attempt an elaborate description of The Firs. Imagine it, reader, not one of those palace-like mansions, standing in the midst of a far-extending park, adorned with lordly forests and glassy lakes, but just what you could fancy the most perfect of medium-sized English homes, with pleasant airy rooms, verdant meadows, trees, shrubs, and flowers, and rich in all those sweet sounds and odours that in themselves make the atmosphere of the country so delightful. Very fair indeed and lovely was the prospect which presented itself before the eyes of our little "woman in white," at the early dawn of THE FIRS. 147 one of the most beautiful of August's mornings. Lisette had awakened suddenly, and with the strange, bewildering feeling of not knowing where she was. Then recovering her recollec- tion, she sprang out of bed, threw up the case- ment, and stretched out her head as far as it would £0, to look about her and to breathe the sweet air, wafting so refreshingly on her face, which was flushed and somewhat fevered by all the excitement of the previous day. The whole scene was steeped in beauty and freshness : the grass was empearled with dew ; the flowers were glittering with diamonds ; a glorious, golden sunbeam was struggling through the grey, filmy streaked sky ; there was a look of hallowed rest and serenity on every object, as if nature had not yet arisen to the duties and labours of the coming day. But the birds were wide awake. Plump, glossy blackbirds, with amber beaks, were strutting on the lawn ; thrushes were singing in the waving top boughs of one of the pine trees ; swallows were dashing down and dipping their dappled wings in the sunk stone basin which held the gold and 148 ltsette's venture. silver fish and aquatic plants on the lawn, and there was a low, measured sound proceed- ing from the meadow, — Donald, the little Shelty, was quietly cropping his green breakfast. Even the sounds that broke the hush of that gentle stillness were sweeter to the ear than the)' would have been in mid-da)', and seemed to echo pleasantly through the air. Lisette felt a longing to be roving about on the dewy lawn, sipping gladness, if not honey, from every opening blossom. How could she ofet out without disturbing the household, or awakening and frightening Aunt Leonora ? It was very early — no one yet astir — could she fly out by the window ? It was really not far from the crround, — how different from the height of her little bedroom at home,— and she prided her- self on her agility. The only use of learning calisthenics, she had always considered, might be to facilitate her powers of escape in any hour of need — if the house were on fire for instance ! There was a trellis to let herself down by from the window, and if she did tumble it THE FIRS. 149 could only be plump into a thick rose bush. She really had a great mind to venture, but then if she had a bad fall and hurt herself, what confusion would such a catastrophe produce. She recollected a small door at the end of the passage, which she thought she could unfasten without making much noise — this would be safer and far more comme il fciut than to run the risk of being" caught hanging to the wall amongst Aunt Leonora's clematis, like a small spider monkey. So she dressed herself, stole out of her room on tiptoe, carry- ing her boots in her hand, skipping noiselessly over the thick carpet on the landing and stairs, reached the little side door, which was soon unbarred and unbolted by her deft little fingers, then the next moment stood in the lovely parterre amongst all the birds and flowers ; in her white floating garments, with her looks of youth and freshness, seeming a fitting emblem of Aurora going forth in grace and dignity to greet her sister goddess, Flora. But lovely as was the sight before her, that was not, it seemed, the goal Lisette wished 150 I [SETTE S VENTURE. to reach. After passing in and out amongst the many-shaped flower beds, and pausing a moment to look at the golden fishes, she floated, farther away across the verdant, emerald space, avoiding- a nearer approach to Donald, lest he should see her and awake Aunt Leonora with one of his sonorous neighs. Putting; to the rout the blackbirds and thrushes, who had reckoned on undisputed possession of the lawn for another hour or two at least, she wandered to a dusky, quiet nook in the outskirts of the pleasure grounds ; for there Mrs. Ben well had taken her the evening before, and pointed it out as the favourite haunt of Mr. Rivers when a child. To two strong firs his swing was formerly hung. The rusty iron braces still enclasped the trees ; whilst to another trunk his target used to be fixed, when he chose to fancy himself William Tell, Sir Walter Tyrrell, or Robin Hood, or could entice John, or even Mrs. Benwell herself, to shoot a grand match with him. There, too, he kept his rabbits : and on the bark of one of the straightest, tallest pines, roughly cut in large, ill-formed letters, she had THE FIRS. T5I seen the initials "G. L. R.," and had longed to inscribe " Lisette " beneath them. Then the small ornamental poultry house beside the hedge had particularly taken her fancy, for it had a narrow tunnel which led under a road into the meadow beyond ; and she had been amused to see the beautiful little bantam cock and his two hens run into it, then issue forth again on to the grass to pick up a worm for supper. The whole spot had been full of delightful interest to her, and now in the early morning she walked backwards and forwards on the piece of uncultured sward beneath the trees, seeking on all sides for other mementos of Godfrey's youthful avocations. At the extremity of the shrubbery, in which this little bit of waste land lay, was a picturesque cottage, inhabited by the gardener. This had much taken Lisette's fancy the evening before, and now, as she inspected it again from a dis- tance, she thought : " Oh, how happy I could be in such an abode as that with Godfrey ! What should I care for the grand, large house, if Aunt lisette's venti re. Leonora would only be kind, and like me, and approve of me for Godfrey's wife." And such were her true feelings. Not for a moment must it be supposed that our little heroine was capable of double-heartedness — that to spy out the goodness of the land had she come to The Firs. No ; call her foolish, rash, adventurous, but never did love burn with a holier, purer flame, or with more self- abnegating" fervour than it glowed in the bosom of Lisette Audrey. But she must not stay dreaming of happy days to come — building airy castles — her heart filling with fervent, trembling hopes -she must return to the house. The gardener's family was evidently astir ; and divers sights and sounds proclaimed that busy day had now begun in right earnest — the tranquil hour of early morning gone. So she left Godfrey's " playground," got back safe and unperceived into her bedroom, and the next few hours were spent in completing her own toilette, eating her breakfast in Mrs. Benwell's little room, and afterwards performing" her part of THE FIRS. 153 hairdresser and tirewoman to Miss Freeling, in a manner that would have excited the mingled admiration and envy of Lizzie Gale. At half-past ten Miss Lomax descended, stood before her assembled household in the library, and read them a psalm, then, after the prayer that followed, escorted Dora to the draw- ing-room ; the latter casting a wistful glance behind her at Lisette as she departed. But the old lady, revived by a good night's rest, and perhaps conscious of having been a little ungracious, was a far more agreeable com- panion than she had proved the night before, though a somewhat restless one. No wonder, Dora thought, that she should be exhausted and irritable before the day was half over, if she began it so energetically. One moment she was out of the French window amongst the flowers, finding a little blemish or incompleteness in some of them, and sending for Roger the gardener to rectify it, or stooping her little figure over the fernery, and spying out a minute weed amid the fronds ; then she was back into the drawing- room asrain an d at her writing table for a few 154 LISETTES VENTURE. minutes, till recollecting something she had to say to Benwell, she bustled off to " the room ;" and though she frequently sent Dora on some errand, and constantly asked for her assist- ance in any matter in which she was engaged, Dora saw that it gave offence to proffer any services ; and, in fact, nothing annoyed Aunt Leonora more than to be considered helpless or incompetent in any way whatever. There had not been any bulletin by that morning's post of Benwell's mother ; therefore, taking no news for good news, when, on Miss Lomax speaking a few words in praise of Lisette, Dora ventured to say how proud she would feel to be of any use in case of Mrs, Benwell's required absence, the old lady had replied, " Thank you ! much obleeged, but I hope there will be no occasion now, and I am not used to be waited on by such a child." But in one of her sudden appearances in "the room " she had found Lisette standing before a table, on which was a china bowl, her sleeves tucked up to the elbow, her fingers shining pink through the soap lather she was making, the THE FIRS, I55 jessamine sprays which thickly embowered the open window forming - a pretty frame to the little figure. Miss Lomax inquired what she was about, and on being told by Mrs. Ben well that " Lizzie " was showing her a new way of washing point lace, the old lady smiled most graciously, then said, " But your hands do not look as if they did much work." "Ah, but I assure you they do!" returned Lisette. " They are quite hard working hands ; but with plenty of glycerine soap and violet powder, I can always manage to keep them smooth and white." " That is really a nice little maid of yours," was Aunt Leonora's observation when she re- joined her guest, " so refined — quite a little gentlewoman ; how old is she ? " " Six months younger than I am," answered Dora. " She looks less even than that, but it is from seeing her by the side of poor old Benwell I suppose," replied Miss Lomax. " Well, an ex- perienced maid is a great comfort, still it is always pleasant to rest one's eyes on something 156 LIS S VENTURE. pretty ; I like to have everything pretty about me," said Aunt Leonora, glancing with pride and self-satisfaction around her at her perfectly arranged drawing-room, and the conservatory beyond, gleaming with beaut)- and luxuriance. She had thrown herself into her arm-chair, fairly tired out with all her perambulations, and producing her knitting- from a basket, requested Dora to take up the neatly folded Times John had laid on the table, and let her hear the news. Nothing he hated more, Godfrey Rivers used to declare, than to have to read the papers to his Aunt Leonora, especially when Parliament was not sitting; and Dora soon fully agreed with him. She could not hit on any paragraph that suited the old lady ; each in turn was de- clared stale, flat, or unprofitable ; at length in despair she took refuge in the Court Circular, and was quite startled by the disapprobation which followed the intelligence, she quietly imparted, of the Prince of Wales having com- menced deerstalking, and that his Royal Highness had brought down three stags, one of which had magnificent antlers. THE FIRS. 157 " What do I care what he shot, and whether the creatures had horns on their heads or not ? " thundered forth Miss Lomax. " I cannot endure to hear of that young man, wasting- his time thus in mere amusement. When he has ' brought down,' as they call it, as many poor stags, and has shot as many grouse as he can, then we shall be daily apprized, for the rest of the year, of the numbers of poor, wretched partridges and pheasants he has slaughtered. What a life for a human beino- to lead ! " Dora remembered then Miss Lomax's deep- rooted prejudice on this subject, and that her father had often rallied his old friend about it ; assuring her that no young gentleman was harder worked, or had proved a better man of business for his age, than his Royal Highness ; that he was never known to shirk duty, was always at his post when wanted, and that she should remember princes required rest and recreation as well as other youngsters, and that " All work and no play Would make Jack a dull boy ! " upon which she would retort indignantly, " ' All 158 . lisette's venture. work ! ' I think it is a case of 'no work and all play, 1 and you know how that verse ends."' But Dora was saved any reply, or from continuing her unsatisfactory reading, for the knitting had got into sad disorder, and Miss Lomax became further provoked by finding that her guest could not help her out of the scrape. Dora happily recollected that she had seen Lisette doing the same stitch, when using up odds and ends of worsted in making a small counterpane for little Nina's crib, and suggested her being summoned ; and presently she came, and, seated on a low stool at Aunt Leonora's feet, soon set the matter to rights, and gave such clear, concise rules for proceeding, that she left the old lad)- comfortable and composed, the flush of irritation gone from her cheeks. Moreover, Lisette was rewarded by Aunt Leonora saying, with an approving smile (no one could smile more pleasantly or be more gracious in manner than Aunt Leonora when she chose), "Thank you! — you are a clever little gipsy. I hope Benwell gives you cverything you like. Mind you have the basket of carrots THE FIRS. I59 ready when we return from driving, and come and help me feed Donald — since you are not afraid of him," glancing- reproachfully at Dora ; and when Lisette had departed, she added, — " I was rather surprised to find that girl in your room last night, my dear, chatting and laughing with you so freely, but I can see now, she is something quite out of the common run — just the kind of little being to make a pet of; where did you get her ? " At that moment John, throwing open wide the door, announced luncheon, and Miss Lomax, laying aside her knitting, bustled up im- mediately, knowing he always expected instant attention to his summons ; so again Dora was spared from having to answer an awkward question. 160 i [Sette's v i.n ruRE. CHAPTER XIV. A SUCCESSI TI. DAY. That evening's post produced great conse- quences. Whilst the lad)' of The Firs and her ufuest were eating- their dessert in the soft twilight, John came in, presented Miss Frceling with a letter, then, passing on to his mistress, delivered one to her, directed to Godfrey Rivers. They were both from Mrs. Townshend, being invitations for her croquet part)-. Dora, after reading her billet, informed her hostess of its contents rather doubtingly, not knowing if she would approve of her absenting herself for a whole day of her week's visit. But the sharp-witted old lady at once took in the whole advantages of the position, nay, recognizing Mrs. Townshend's hand-writing on A SUCCESSFUL DAY. l6l Godfrey's note, almost imagined that, being aware of her wishes on the subject, her good friend had kindly and skilfully thus schemed for Dora and Godfrey being thrown together, without the gene and awkwardness of feeling themselves watched, and commented upon, as they might have done, if alone with her at The Firs. She was entirely in favour of Dora sending an acceptance, saying she would forward Godfrey's note without delay ; and in order to send it to the post that night, and thus insure his receiv- ing it in proper time, she left her grapes unfinished on the plate, hurried away into the drawing-room, and was speedily at her writing table — too happy and thankful for such an opportunity, without loss of dignity, of writing some tender, conciliatory, almost penitent lines, to the child of her affections ; then she diplo- matically ended her love letter with this pithy sentence: — " Dora F reeling will be at Bushbank, and though you would not please me by staying here to see her, I hope you will be civil to her there, for she has been a very kind and attentive VOL. I. m I 62 LISETTES VENTURK. companion to the poor old aunt you deserted, and, I fear, is having a very dull visit, all alone with a stupid old woman." Aunt Leonora's eyes quite beamed, as she lifted them from her writincr to be^ Dora to rin^ a summons for the missive to be despatched, and a bright pink spot was on each of her withered cheeks ; instead, however, of John appearing, there was a tap at the door, followed by the entrance of Mrs. Ben- well, for she also had received a letter, and had brought it to show to her mistress. It contained a hopeless account of her mother, coupled with an urgent request that the daugh- ter might proceed without delay into Essex, she being the only near relative the old woman had remaining to her. Though such a plea could not be resisted, Miss Lomax was at first thrown into a state of perturbation at the prospect of parting with her personal attendant. The idea, however, of the croquet party, and of Godfrey and Dora meeting, distracted her thoughts so agreeably from the subject for the rest of the evening, and Bcnwell used such powerful, if not authoritative, arguments during the sacred hour A SUCCESSFUL DAY. 1 63 of disrobing, that the old lady the next day, not only with tolerable placidity suffered her abigail to depart, but even agreed that the services of Miss Freeling's little maid should be brought into requisition, at whatever times Patty might prove deficient in skill, or be engaged in the duties of her own department. And very frequently, in the course of that morning, was Lisette called upon to perform some little office for the fidgety old lady ; in- deed, she found it impossible to sit down to any occupation of her own in the pretty little apart- ment which, now that it was divested of Mrs. Benwell and her. appurtenances, might quite have passed for a lady's boudoir. Still less was she able to stroll out into the delicious garden, to listen to the blackbirds, or to have a chat with Rogers, the gardener, another ancient retainer, who was generally pottering over some flower- bed near the house, or altering the position of some plant in the conservatory, and who had taken a great fancy to the merry, pleasant- spoken maiden ; even going so far as to declare, when speaking of her and Dora to his old wife, 164 lisette's venture. that he thought them the " prettiest posy of all the flowers in the garden," — the greatest com- pliment he could have paid ; for no one could have been more vain of his llowers than old Rogers. But Miss Lomax was continually summoning Lisette, or popping in upon her unawares, either to make her adjust the refractory knit- ting-pins, or to send her upstairs on some errand — once even to despatch her to the other end of the lawn, to pick up some few withered leaves which offended her exact eye ; — in fact, she ordered the youthful damsel about, and presumed on her promptness and activity, to an extent Mrs. Benwell would by no means have submitted to, or her mistress have ven- tured on, in her case. In the course of the forenoon too, John being out of the way at the moment Miss Lomax required the beef-tea she daily indulged in, adorned with the whitest, crispest, and most coquettish of muslin aprons, Lisette appeared with the tray and china cup, and, with a sidelong, arch smile at Dora, placed it, with a graceful A SUCCESSFUL DAY. IO5 little inclination of her body, on the table, and said, in the tone of due observance, — " I hope I have brought it as you like it, ma'am." That day flitted by very successfully and pleasantly ; Miss Lomax was in excellent mood — agreeably excited by the thoughts of the Monday's croquet, and the great ends it might achieve, and her doting heart at rest, since she had sent out an olive-branch to Godfrey. She was most sedulously gracious and affectionate to Dora, who was treated much more as an honoured guest, since Lisette had been enslaved in the hostess's service ; only once indeed, in the course of the day, did Miss Lomax launch forth so vehemently as to quench Dora on the instant, and make Lisette (who was in the drawing-room on her knees, diving into the fathomless depths of a drawer filled to the brim with wools, in search of one particular colour— not to be found), quiver throughout her whole frame with suppressed amusement at Aunt Leonora's rude speeches, mingled with admiration at the droll eloquence, and wise judgment the old lady dis- played. 1 66 lisette's venture. On speaking with great admiration and affection of Mrs. Townshend, Miss Lomax expressed her regret and surprise, that so ex- cellent and sensible a person should have such a tiresome daughter as Camilla ; whereupon Dora, who always, if she could, defended the absent, mentioned several amiable traits in Camilla, and ventured to plead her cleverness and talents, as an excuse for her taking up the subject of the Rights of Women rather too vehemently. " Rights of Women ! " shouted Miss Lomax, " fiddlesticks ! don't talk such rubbish, my dear, to me ; — zurong of woman I call it. I have no patience with Camilla! If I were dear Mrs. Townshend, I would show my mother s rights, by giving her a good whipping whenever she presumed to utter such nonsense. It is not woman's rights she has to think of, but woman's duty, and that consists in being a kind, helpful, submissive daughter, as long as she remains single, and, if she marries, a good wife, who will keep her home in neatness and comfort, see that her husband has his dinner properly A SUCCESSFUL DAY. l6j cooked, order his household well, with due regard to his means and position, and nurse and train her children carefully and judiciously. I don't believe Camilla has any idea how many legs of mutton go to a sheep ; and though she is longing to don the frock-coat and pantalettes like Dr. Mary Walker, she must be a perfect nuisance to her mother when she is ill, from her ignorant, tiresome ways. And then for such women to set up for being the benefactors and elevators of their sex ! It makes me quite sick to think of it ! I can tell you what will be the end of all this idiotic, presumptuous folly. It has hitherto been the pride and delight of well-principled, highminded men, to rank them- selves the protectors of the weaker sex, but if women choose to arrogate an equality with them, of course chivalry and devotion must be over for ever. And I should like to know how the silly things would get on, if it came to that pass ? However, there would soon be no men left, or women either, for there would be no more marriages — the world would come to an end. Besides, women cannot understand their i68 lisette's \ in ruRE. own advantage, when they demand to have equal rights and privileges with men ; why, only the other day the wife got off scot free in the great jewel robbery because it was discovered that, being unequal and subordinate by nature and position, she had acted under the coercion of the husband, who had absconded ; of course, if, in the future, she is to be regarded as on an equality with man in the eyes of the law, she must take the consequences, and pay the penalty of her exaltation. No, Dora ; take this to your comfort — you are a modest, gentle girl, and the strength of a woman is in her meek, domestic attributes. In her husband's home, amid her household responsibilities, let her reign supreme ; and she who performs her plain, straightforward duties as she ought to do, as either wife or daughter, gains a far greater amount of real power and glory, than if she possessed a dozen votes, or had the effrontery to be able to stand up on a plat- form, and lecture on emancipation and the Rights of Women, by the hour together " " Oh, I am sure Camilla would never wish A SUCCESSFUL DAY. 1 69 to do anything so conspicuous as that ! " said Dora. "Well, I don't know," returned Miss Lomax. " She attended that ridiculous meeting- the other day, to hear Mrs. Pounder hold forth, and came back from it, I was told, brim-full of admiration and enthusiasm, talking more nonsense than ever. But certainly, poor little Camilla is not quite the style of person for an orator, with her small figure, and weak pipe of a voice. She used to be rather a nice little thing, before she was bitten by this absurd mania, and she was content to appear what she was intended for — a lady-like girl of very fair abilities, but by no means calculated for a public character, or emancipatrix of her sex. Now, she is a torment at home (though her dear, kind mother would not allow this), is disliked by all sensible women, and avoided and laughed at by men — almost hated by some of them, I believe — who regard anything like masculine conduct in a girl, as the worst offence she can commit ; — indeed, I have known some men admire a woman chiefly for her very help- 170 LISETTES VENTURE. lcssness and dependence, and, though this is carrying the matter too far, I really agree that it is the best extreme of the two. I am provoked with Camilla for frightening every one away from her, for a good, judicious husband, and a healthy sphere of action, might cure her of her nonsense. Mrs. Townshend gives in to her far too much. I am always surprised that so sensible a person, on every other subject, should be so weak where her child is concerned. But come, the carriage is at the door. Run, Lizzie, for my cloak and bonnet — there's a good girl ; I will put them on here. I am c^oinuf to call on my friends, the Miss Sherlocks, Dora ; I want to hear all about their visit to London. When Dora returned from a somewhat long drive, she had to inform Lisette that she had made the discovery that the Miss Sherlocks were the identical elderly ladies with whom they had travelled on Thursday. They had not been found at home — fortunately for Dora, who would not have felt at all competent to respond to any remarks of recognition. She only hoped A SUCCESSFUL DAY. I "J I they would not return Miss Lomax's visit till after next week — for how could she get out of their way if they came and stayed to luncheon, as they often did ? Lisette also trusted they would keep away, and declared she should run out of the house and hide herself, if she heard of their beinof there. " Though, after all," she added, "I do not know but what they may, in reality, have taken me for your maid ; I am sure I looked and spoke the character quite properly." " What ! " exclaimed Dora, " when you gave them all that long account of your luncheon at Wimbledon, in Captain Selby's tent, and told them of your only getting back to London just in time to dress for the great ball at Lord D 's ? " " They might have thought I meant to dress my mistress" put in Lisette. " Well, let us not anticipate evils, and don't make me nervous, dearest Dora ; for sometimes I do feel awfully frightened at what I have done, and have made you let me do." Before Dora could make any answer to this \J2 LISETTES VENTURE. somewhat plaintively uttered speech, Patty came to beg Lisette to go to her lady, and the next moment she was again the brisk little abigail, twining around her fingers the soft, silvery locks of Miss Lomax, as carefully and gently as if the baby ringlets of her sister Nettie were within her grasp ; and there was something so pleasant to Aunt Leonora in the light, delicate touch, in the glimpses she caught in the mirror of the young face bending over hers, that, when she was coiffdc — fully to her approval — she preferred keeping Lisette to put on her gown, instead of allowing Patty to return to her ; and on de- scending, she was full of praises of Dora's little jewel of a maid. ( 173 CHAPTER XV. SUNDAY Lisette will often look back on that next Sunday spent at The Firs — the quiet, balmy- morning when, the usual sounds of busy toil being hushed, there was nothing to break upon the stillness without but the songs of birds, tuned, as it seemed to her, into some soft, holy melody — the distant musical peal of church bells — the gentle, breezy rustling of leafy boughs, and the hum of bees nestling in the jessamine and eglantine outside her bedroom window. Dora Freeling went alone to morning service, Lisette remaining behind with Miss Lomax, who summoned her young attendant to prayers with her in the drawing-room. The scene con- stantly returns before Lisette ; in her mind's eye I 74 LISETl ES VENTURE. she beholds the half-darkened room, shaded to keep out the fervid heat of the darning sun, which, notwithstanding', ever and anon lighted up the apartment, and all its rich furniture and ornaments, by one of its brilliant gleams, piercing through the conservatory, which, under the influence of the same bright ray, might have been a scene in fairy land, with its light trellises — its bowery arches — its festoons of feathery green — its gorgeous hues — its shining crystal roof — its multitudes of hanging sprays and flowery branches ; whilst the delicate, refined perfume, belonging so exclusively to exotics, mingling with the spicy pot-pourri in the china jars, and the scent of the sandal-wood cabinet in the drawing-room come frequently back upon her senses. Then the quaint little figure in the pale lilac silk dress, and gay cap-ribbons, stand- ing up so erectly whilst she jubilantly tripped through the Psalms, kneeling far into the deep, velvet chair, her feet off the ground — confidently arrogating to herself the office of priest and "minister, or seated in an attitude of repose, her arms folded, listening approvingly whilst Lisette SUNDAY. 175 read the appointed lesson (the story of the little maid who waited on Naaman's wife it happened to be) — all these, and many other circumstances, though quite trifling in themselves, will often in after days return to Lisette's memory, with the thought of Aunt Leonora. Then, the devotions being over, and the beef tea duly despatched, Miss Lomax desired her to unfasten the case containing a large photo- graph of Godfrey Rivers, which all day stood open before the old lady, and was closed by her own hands every night. As Lisette was obeying her order, she said, " You do not perhaps see any likeness in this to the picture of the little boy which hangs in my bedroom ; nevertheless they are of the same person." " Yes," answered Lisette, " and the same also as the young gentleman with the bat, in my room." "You are right," returned Miss Lomax; " there are a great many in the house, of one sort or another, for I used to like having him done at different ages." 176 lisette's venture. "I am sure he must have been a very nice young gentleman," put in Lisettc pertinently. " Well, I think so," returned Miss Lomax ; then she continued, " but my pet of all the pictures is this one in my bracelet. Come here, I will let you see it for a treat, because you are being very good to me whilst Benwell is away." And she touched a spring in the gold clasp, and displayed one of those exquisitely painted miniatures of a child, which used formerly to be so much in request, but unhappily have become almost superseded by the more inexpensive, but far less satisfactory, vignette photographs. " Oh, what a darling, what a little beauty ! " exclaimed Lisette, with all her natural enthu- siasm, " how you must have doted on him ! " " Yes," proceeded the old lady, " he was a pretty child, and he has grown up a handsome man — as you may perceive by that photograph," glancing at the one in the erect morocco case. Then, half to Lisette, half to herself, she mur- mured, " I had hoped he would have been here now." But judging this was a matter, which in no way SUNDAY. 177 concerned the waiting-maid, she arose and going to a bookcase, chose herself a volume therefrom, and taking one from another shelf, gave it to Lisette, telling her she might unfasten the blinds, go on to the lawn, and sit under the cedar-tree and read. Accordingly, Lisette passed out through the open window, and seated herself within call, but the volume on her knee did not command much of her attention. It was a dull little book, intended for the edification of juvenile minds, and had belonged to God- frey, who evidently had not found its pages more attractive than she did, so had used it (perhaps, she thought, on some such glorious summer's day as that, and seated just where she was sitting then) as a drawing-book ; for inside the covers, and on the fly-leaves, were very original sketches of trees and shrubs, a portrait of Donald, very like a pig, with a flowing mane and tail, one of Aunt Leonora, with a nose of most magnificent proportions, and an unflattering caricature of Benwell. Lisette was quite satisfied to keep the book open on her knee, at the pages which held these VOL. 1. N 178 lisette's venture. charming designs, without diving further into its contents ; and when she had fully inspected and laughed over them, in spite of the noon- tide heat she could not resist a saunter across the lawn, which was looking so lovely with the bright rays of light, flashing here and there athwart it. Then she strolled farther on to the " playground," and leant over the low wall to look at " Prince Imperial," who, unmindful of the sanctity of the day, was breaking the quiet stillness by his shrill crows as he strutted about the field between his two hens "Pert" and " Pet." But she was not left very long to herself ; she had just retraced her steps, and was standing watchin&f the " dumbledores " — so old Rogers contemptuously designated the bumble-bees — as they clumsily plunged their fat bodies into the trumpet blossoms of the tropacolum, twining round the tree under which she had been sitting, when she perceived that Aunt ' Leonora's sermon was over, and she was coming out into the garden. At the same moment the coachman appeared from a different direction with a pail of water, SUNDAY. 1 79 which he emptied into the trough for the horse and pony. Miss Lomax, after stopping here and there to speak a few complimentary words to some flower, advanced towards the railings. " Is he not a darling — that old horse of mine ? " she said to Lisette, as Conrad came towards her ; "and I always associate him with the pleasantest days of my life. I was a great horsewoman in my time, and when I used to ride him in the Park in London, vastly was he admired ; but one summer that my father took a house at Windsor, I enjoyed more than any- thing I can remember ; for the rides there in the glades and forest are beautiful beyond compare, and Queen Adelaide herself was not better mounted than I was. Indeed, once, after I had fallen in with the royal cavalcade, my groom was asked by one of the equerries if he thought his mistress would part with her horse. ' Not for the crown jewels,' I replied to James ; ' that is all the answer you are to give the gentleman. I deem my noble Conrad beyond all price ;' " and the old lady drew herself up with pride at 1S0 lisette's venture. the recollection of the crushing extinguisher she had placed on even a royal aspirant for her favourite steed. " I kept up my riding longer than I might have done, on purpose to accom- pany Mr. Rivers," she proceeded. " He used to ride by my side on that little Shelty, when he was only six years old ; I taught him to be quite a good horseman. I remember well our last ride together. It was in the spring, and the splendid horse-chestnuts — the pride of this neighbourhood — were in full bloom. Conrad on that day showed evident signs of failing — we must all come to that in time," and Aunt Leonora sighed. " I was determined he should do no more work. I had his shoes taken off that very evening, and he was turned into this meadow, where I think he has lived com- fortably and happily for man)' years, especially since Donald became his companion ; for the greatest friendship exists between the two animals, though one is so superior to the other in size and attributes. For shame, Donald ! ' as the pony attempted to paw her dress. " Pray consider I have got on my Sunday gown. But SUNDAY. 1 8 I here comes Miss F reeling ! " she continued, as Dora, in all her graceful dignity, swept across the lawn with her long flowing train. " My dear, how nice you look. I hope you are not very hot. Lizzie and I have done quite well together. Now we must go in to luncheon, for John expects the greatest punctuality on Sundays ; and I have ordered the carriage to take us to St. Andrew's. Lizzie is to go with ■us ; I always take Benwell with me — so get your dinner, girl, and be ready to help me on with my bonnet at half-past two." 1 82 lisette's venture. CHAPTER XVI. UNEXPECTED MEETINGS. So, in the afternoon, seated opposite to Aunt Leonora and Dora in the open landau, Lisette -was driven again through the shady roads and the groves of ornate villas, to the church with the tapering spire and the picturesque grave- yard, where almost each tomb has a cross for a headstone, on which, every Sunday, hangs a fresh garland of the brightest (lowers of the season. Miss Lomax greatly preferred St. Andrew's, the parish church of Easterton, to the district one recently built near the Eirs. She had attended it for so many years — had become so fondly familiarised with the old edifice — that it would have been to her like "singfingf the Lord's UNEXPECTED MEETINGS. 1 83 song in a strange land " to have gone anywhere else. She had even much deprecated the alter- ations made in its interior a few years back, when the square, baize-lined pew, whose high boundaries almost hid her from the sight of the rest of the congregation, was done away with, and she was apportioned in its stead a brightly varnished, open seat, which she denominated " slippery, cramped, and staring." This new pew only held two persons comfortably, and when she had no visitor staying with her, was occupied by herself and Benwell. On entering the church this afternoon, she requested the verger to find a place somewhere near her for Lisette, who was accordingly shown into the next pew behind, which, during the first part of the service, she had all to herself; but on rising from her knees, just before the Psalms were sung, two gentlemen •were hastily ushered in, one of whom she immediately recognized as Captain Selby. This was their first rencontre since she had given the death blow to his hopes, and the change that came over his face when he saw 1^4 lisette's venture. her, the look of mingled pain and pleasure, at meeting her so unexpectedly, plainly showed that the wound might be cicatrized, but was not healed. And she, — her confusion and consternation were great, agitation over- shadowed her always expressive face, her cheeks burnt like fire, her downcast eyes filled with tears of distress and vexation, the voice of the clergyman rung in her ears like the buzzing of the bees in Aunt Leonora's honey- suckles. She wondered whether Dora was aware of her predicament, and, longing for sympathy, felt inclined to grasp hold of the lace shawl enfolding her friend's tall figure. But Dora, standing and kneeling in turn, in due form, and decorously neither looking to the right nor the left, much less behind her, was as ignorant and unconcerned about the matter as the beautiful marble female figure on the opposite monument ; and even had she been made acquainted with the fact, what consola- tion could she possibly have offered then and there ? And before long, Dora Freeling had to UNEXPECTED MEETINGS. 1 85 undergo as sudden a surprise, and suffer almost .as much agitation, though of a different kind, as Lisette had done before her. Miss Lomax's pew was so situated that the pulpit hid from view one side of the space within the altar rails. The prayers had been said by the good old vicar, the lessons read by his young curate, and it was expected the former would preach, for those on the left side of the aisle, at least, were unconscious that a third clergyman was present. What, then, were Dora's sensations when, kneeling with her face covered, there sounded through the edifice, in those clear, mellifluous tones, which only could belong to one, the words of the collect, which, uttered with emphatic unction, had been wont to thrill the hearts of the hearers at St. Catherine's in BeWavia. " Merciful Father ! cast Thy bright beams of light upon Thy Church, etc." Yes, it was Mr. Arnott, who, on that bright summer's afternoon, preached a sermon in St. Andrew's of Easterton, which enthralled not only for the time being the attention of all 1 86 lisette's venture. assembled within its walls, but for Ioiiq- after was unforgotten by many of those who listened to him. It was not so much his great eloquence or superior oratory which enlisted the hearts of his hearers, as the earnestness of his manner, his freedom of expression, the increasing flow of his ideas, the retentiveness of his memory, the total forgetfulness of self his words and demeanour ^displayed, and the charm he possessed of preventing the least degree of weariness in his listeners. On this occasion, for instance, a pin might have been heard to drop — it was a silence that could be felt, as, with a rapt fixedness, with breath almost sus- pended, the congregation sat listening — some with eyes uplifted, or filled with tears, some with faces Mowing w Jth enthusiastic wonder and delight ; and Aunt Leonora — who, low be it spoken, usually on hot summer days fought in vain against the little nap which always in the end baffled her in the midst of the eood vicar's sermons — held herself superbly upright, and, even when her eyes did close just once or UNEXPECTED MEETINGS. 1 87 twice, evinced by sundry gestures and inclina- tions of her head that it was not to be imagined by any one that she was not listening as intently and admiringly as ever. As for Dora's feelings, they were those which she always experienced when she heard Mr. Arnott preach : the deepest admiration and respect, mingled with awe and unfeigned sur- prise that one so gifted, so pre-eminently superior, should have exalted her to a place in his esteem and affections, and could deem her worthy to be a partaker with him of that life below, the most blessed of any on earth. Lisette also recognized him with the utmost interest, and was turned from the thoughts of her own troubled perplexity, when attending to his discourse, whilst she could not help trying, half mischievously, every now and then to catch glimpses of her friend's face, to see if it retained its wonted unruffled serenity, even at such a juncture as this. Yes, excepting a slightly deeper bloom on the fair cheeks, a brighter kindling of the blue eyes, there was nothing to mark the surprise Dora had [88 LISEl I l.'s \ ENTURE. received ; in fact, she was far less discomposed by the presence of her real lover, than Lisette had been by the sudden appearance of her rejected suitor. After the service was over, many of the congregation on departing paused to ask the name of the stranger preacher, and amongst this number was Aunt Leonora, who, on tiptoe, whispered the question into the ear of the verger, and gave a little start of astonishment, on receiving the answer the official condescend- ingly stooped down to deliver, which drew a smile from Dora, who was closely following her. Miss Lomax was so busy when she left the church, receiving greetings from her various acquaintances, that for a few moments she could take little heed of either of her com- panions ; in the meanwhile, great had been Dora's surprise on beholding Lisette, for whom she had been vainly searching as she passed down the crowded aisle, standing outside the entrance porch, in the act of taking a hurried leave of Captain Selby, who certainly looked as it he fain would have lingered longer UNEXrECTED MEETINGS. 1 89 by her side ; and in fact Lisette's anxiety to get rid of him, before Aunt Leonora appeared, had imparted such a strange flutter and agita- tion to her manner, her replies to his inquiries whether she were staying in the neighbourhood had been so hesitating and contradictory — altogether she was so unlike herself — that Captain Selby was puzzled, and — vain man ! weakly, fondly allowed a shadow of a hope to revive in his heart. Oh, if he could only have known of the thrill of relief, the shudder of joy, she gave, when at length she saw him and his companion well out of the pretty cemetery, the rebound which her spirits sustained when he was fairly gone ! — though he might have felt hurt and mortified at first, he might perhaps have been effectually cured. As it was, he went back to Richmond perplexed, yet faintly encouraged, and during the rest of the evening proved a very dull, silent companion to the young man who was with him. There was no time or opportunity for any explanation between Dora and Lisette, for 190 LISETTES VENTURE. Miss Lomax was turning round and looking for them ; besides, Dora's attention was much pre-occupied. She was wondering- whether Mr. Arnott could have recognized her. Most probably not — and meeting him under Miss Lomax's eye would not be very pleasurable or satisfactory ; still to be so near, and to have to go away without a word, even a look of acknowledgment— not knowing either when they might meet again ! — the thought oppressed her. She would, at least, have liked him to know that she had been amongst those who had listened to him ; that she was one of the number to whom he had spoken words of counsel and instruction that day. Miss Lomax's carriage had drawn up before the entrance gate, the steps were being let down with great bustle and importance by 11 Billy Buttons," as Lisette had christened John's factotum, Aunt Leonora was motion- ing her guest to enter first, when Dora, casting a last, lingering look behind her, saw Mr. Arnott approaching quite near to her. After lifting his hat to Miss Lomax and Lisette, he shook UNEXPECTED MEETINGS. 191 hands with Dora, expressing the surprise it had been to him to see her in church ; he had imagined her still in London. He replied to her inquiry as to his whereabouts that he came from his uncle's at Twickenham — the Reverend Dr. Stone — she might have heard of him ; he was an old friend of the incumbent of St. Andrew's. Was she staying with Mrs. Townshend ? Then by the time Dora had answered this question, all three had been handed into the carriage, Miss Lomax gave a bow, in which dignity and condescension were admirably blended, the impatient horses plunged forward, and the lovers were parted again ; but those few short minutes they had passed together were more precious to Dora Freeling and Robert Arnott than hours when severed from one another. And the shrewd, penetrating, little old lady, who had witnessed the meeting, even in that brief space, beheld the downfall of her scheme regarding Godfrey Rivers and Dora Freeling. The young clergyman was a different person 192 I ISETTES VENTU] altogether from what she had imagined, from her one slight glimpse of him a year before, and Mrs. Freeling's jaundiced representation of him, His good looks, easy, gentlemanly address, and the voice, which that afternoon had been to her like " the voice of the charmer," were sufficient to captivate any girl. She no- longer considered Dora's a " foolish fancy," and with the power of preaching so gloriously Mr. Arnott would be certain to rise to a very high position in the Church. " No," thought Miss Lomax to herself; " it is the mother, not the daughter, that is the fool in this case, and Louisa Freeling certainly never had much wisdom to boast of. She says he is not sufficiently high born — pah ! ni noble, as she affectedly calls it. I am rather fond of rank myself. I believe most persons are, in different degrees, though many will not own to the weakness ; but then there are often compensating advantages to make up for that deficiency : superior talent, first rate education, prepossessing appearance,, and so forth ; and this lover of Dora's can lay. claim to all these superiorities." And the old. UNEXPECTED MEETINGS. 193 lady murmured to herself the lines of the epitaph she had once, with mock sublimity, provokingly recited to Mrs. F reeling, when that lady had been speaking in rather too boastful terms of her own aristocratic lineage, — " Here lie the bones of Matthew Prior, The son of Adam and of Eve.— Can Bourbon or Nassau rank higher?" Nevertheless she was determined not to let the favourable opinion she had formed of Mr. Arnott transpire. She had left her pew, pre- pared to lavish superlative praise and admiration on the preacher. " Transcendent, matchless ! — no one to be compared with him but the Bishop ofB -!" but immediately the verger had bent low and whispered the required name in her ear, her enthusiasm moderated ; and though it had risen again to its full height since the interview just mentioned, vexation, or a kind of jealousy on Godfrey's account, impelled her to pretend a total indifference concerning the sermon and its deliverer. " A penny for your thoughts, my dear," she exclaimed, somewhat satirically, after they had vol. i. o 194 LISETTES VENTURE. proceeded some distance without either of the party having spoken, with a suddenness and sharpness which quite dispelled the pleasant trance of musing in which Dora had been in- dulging; "but perhaps they are not worth even that," she added. Dora had no reply ready for this little assault of tongue, and Miss Lomax on receiving none, continued, after a pause, — " So that was Mr. Arnott. You did not expect, I imagine, to see him in our little, countrified church;" then remembering the presence of Miss Freelincr's maid, she checked herself in some- thing she was going to say, and remarked instead, " An able preacher, with a good clear voice ; and the uncle he is staying with — Dr. Stone — is a very clever man, a great scholar. I have met him occasionally at the dear old Sherlocks. (These ladies were both many years younger than Aunt Leonora.) I do not believe, however, that those kind of sermons, which keep the mind on such a stretch, can be really good for one to hear, in the long run. My back is aching, and as for Lizzie there, she looks UNEXPECTED MEETINGS. 1 95 quite scared and done-up, though she must have heard Mr. Arnott many a time before, I suppose." Then she changed the subject, pointed out different views, trees, and houses, as they passed them by, and spoke only of them till they arrived at home, and descended from the carriage, each of the three feeling that a kind of change had come " o'er the spirit of their dream" since, only three hours before, they had passed out under the jessamine-covered porch of The Firs. Miss Lomax, as she laid her hand on John's arm on his assisting her to alight, requested him to bring tea immediately to the drawing- room, whither Dora was obliged to accompany her. Then, having partaken of that refresh- ment, the fidgety little hostess was quite ready to go forth, to meander amongst her fragrant treasures, and finally took up her usual post beside the palings. " I don't want you here, my dear," she said, waving Dora back as she was approaching from a bright border of asters she had paused to admire ; " you can stop amongst the flowers. I 196 lisette's venture. don't want any one who does not appreciate my pets ; and I know you hate animals. Your dear father told me you were too much of a coward to take any pleasure in riding with him. But just go and call your Lizzie to bring me the carrots. That girl is quite one after my own heart — such a quick, clever little gipsy." Dora accordingly went round to the window of " the room " par excellence, and there, beside the jessamine garlanded window, with a little tea-table before her, in her pretty spotted muslin dress — for it had been far too hot for the black silk to be Avorn that day — the picture of comfort and coolness, but her cup of tea untasted, the plate of dainty slices of bread and butter unnoticed — with her elbows on the table, her head buried in both her hands — her wonted attitude when in dejection — Lisette sat weeping. But she started up at the sound of Dora's voice, waved her obedience to the summons, disappeared immediately from the window, and presently came on to the lawn at the opposite side to that by which Dora was returning to it. She was less ani- UNEXrECTED MEETINGS. 1 97 mated than usual, but she managed well enough to allow Miss Lomax to imagine that the now pale cheeks and languid eyes were to be attributed to the sultriness of the afternoon and the hot church. Dora was surprised, when afterwards they were shut into their bedroom together, to find what consternation the unexpected meeting with Captain Selby had produced in her friend ; she could not quite understand it, perhaps had been — as she feared — too much absorbed in her own pleasant thoughts to heed aught beside. And certainly, under ordinary circumstances, the mere fact of falling in accidentally with her rejected suitor, which she was liable at any time to do, would not have troubled Lisette, but a kind of restless, uneasy sensation had oppressed her ever since Dora's invitation to Richmond had arrived. What ? was there any chance of God- frey being so near, and she was not to see him ? A pang had shot through her heart at the very thought, and a strange forlorn^ feeling had come over her, as though she were blotted out of society, if not of actual existence. It was a very 198 lisette's venture. uncomfortable idea, and the fact of its having been all her own fault only fretted and irritated her the more. How could she possibly have been invited to Bushbank ? she was not Miss Audrey, but Lizzie Gale the maid. Yes, she knew all this, yet — strange inconsistency ! — she had felt aggrieved, a little bit jealous of Dora ; but she had managed to hide the thorn pricking at her foolish heart, to keep up a good show of serenity, till the sudden rencontre with Captain Selby threw her completely off her equilibrium. As she stood beside him in the pew, she felt not only that she had lost her identity, was no longer her very own self, could never be Lisette again, but that her mad folly- had raised up an impassable barrier between herself and Godfrey. Dora said that Mr. Rivers was not likely to be at Richmond, for he hated croquet, and only cared to follow in the track of his own " bright, particular star;" still there was just a possibility of his accepting Mrs. Townshend's invitation, and he would be sure to question Dora about her, and then it would all conn: out about her silly, senseless UNEXPECTED MEETINGS. 1 99 frolic. She wondered how he would take it ; perhaps he might treat it as an amusing joke, or be pleased at this Quixotic proof of her great love for him ; but she feared not, she was afraid he would be angry, though she really could not exactly tell how it might be. At any rate it did her good to pour out her doubts and hopes and fears, as she lay on the sofa whilst Dora was undressing ; and even after her friend was in bed, she lingered till she had talked herself into better spirits, then went away, and " Nature's soft nurse " did so much towards soothing and refreshing her ruffled feelings that she was in her own bright, buoyant mood again when, next morning, she was equipping Dora for her expedition — affection- ately entering into her pleasure, admiring her dress, and expressing her hope that Mr. Arnott might be at Bushbank — and since he was staying so near, it was very possible ; only heaving a few sighs when she wondered, Will Godfrey be there ? and wished she was going too. Both girls had received letters from their 20o lisette's venture. mothers by the early post. Mrs. F reeling wrote in reply to the note Dora had despatched on Friday. The good lady seemed disappointed that Mr. Rivers was not at The Firs, or even expected; but sent rather overstrained messages of tenderness to Miss Lomax. Then she informed her daughter of Mr. F reeling having come down to spend Sunday at Ashlands, and that he was to return to town by an early train on Friday ; told her that she should remain with Aunt Banbury till Wednesday, but, at all events, would be in Chesham Place in time to receive her on Thursday. The filoselle matched beautifully, and her sister was much better since she had had her to chat with. Mrs. Audrey, fortunately, had put her missive under cover to Dora, — directing, of course, to Chesham Place, — wishing to inform Mrs. and Miss Freeling that she had just heard that the friends at Worthing would be quite ready to receive Lisette on Wednesday or Thursday, and renewing her thanks for the kindness they had shown her. Then, in the enclosure, she had desired Lisette to write and UNEXPECTED MEETINGS. 201 arrange with the said friends the exact time for her arrival at their house, and to let her know when her plans were definitely settled. And afterwards she gave a detailed account of Jack's first impression of school, and told Lisette that her father was enjoying the country, and Nettie and Nina were looking all the better for change of air. Before her departure, Dora was admitted into Miss Lomax's room to be seen and admired, and to take her leave till the morrow ; for it had been decided that, as the party would not disperse till late, she would sleep at Richmond. Lisette stood in the porch to see her friend drive off, then went in to her solitary break- fast, somewhat disconsolately, but still rather enjoying the singularity of the circumstance of finding herself left in sole charge of Aunt Leonora. 202 LISETTES VENTURE. CHAPTER XVII. DORA AT BUSHBANK. Dora went early to Richmond, in order to have some hours with her friends before the influx of visitors began, and she was greatly pleased, on arriving at the station, to find Mrs. Towns- hend on the platform waiting to receive her. Camilla would have accompanied her, Mrs. Townshend said, but was particularly busy that morning. Bushbank stood on one side of the Green, so the walk thither was but a short one ; Dora wished it had been longer, for nothing she enjoyed more than a tctc-a-Utc chat with this dear friend, and though she was longing to tell her of her meeting with Mr. Arnott, she could not summon up courage till they were close to the house ; then she was saved the difficulty of being the first to speak on the DORA AT BUSHBANK. 203 subject, by Mrs. Townshend's pausing at the gate and saying, — "And now, before we go in, I must tell you that you will see a great friend this afternoon. I do not know what your dear mother would say to me for bringing you into contact with Mr. Arnott, but he is staying at Dr. Stone's, and when he called on us on Saturday, I could not do otherwise than ask him for to-day. I consider myself indeed fortunate in my list of gentlemen. I do not count much on Godfrey Rivers ; I fancy he only goes where he is likely to meet his lady love — still he may come ; if he does, he will meet his unsuccessful rival, for, late last evening, we fell in with Captain Selby, who, partly to pay his respects to a relative of his who lives at Easterton, and partly to give young Feversham a treat, came down to the Star and Garter yesterday morning, intend- ing to go back to town early to-day ; but he despatched his young cousin, who is in the War Office, alone this morning, and remains for our croquet. He is an excellent player, and will be an immense acquisition." 204 LISETTES VENTURE. Then Dora told of her meeting with Mr. Arnott the day before, and of the interest and admiration his sermon had excited, whilst her beaming countenance testified her happiness in the thought of seeing him again ; she did not mention Captain Selby's having also been at St. Andrew's, for she did not know whether he had recognized her, and was afraid of accident- ally betraying Lisette. " Yes," said Mrs. Townshend, replying principally to the language of Dora's beaming eyes and brilliantly glowing complexion ; " I am pleased, both for your sake and my own, that Mr. Arnott is coming this afternoon. He is such a very sensible as well as excellent young man, and, as Camilla thinks highly of his opinion, I am in hopes he may say something serviceable, for this new mania of hers greatly worries me. She was evidently struck with some observation he made on Saturday, in deprecation of the meeting held here last week, at which Mrs. Pounder held forth so eloquently." 'Yes; if any one could convince another, I am sure it would be he," returned Dora with DORA AT BUSHBANK. 205 artless fervour; " but still," she added, " I should have thought, dear Mrs. Townshend, in such a case your words would have been enough." " Not with Camilla," replied Mrs. Towns- hend, somewhat sadly. " It may sound strange, but it is nevertheless the case, that I possess less influence with my own daughter than with almost any one else I know ; and it has been my own fault. The truth is, when her dear father was taken from me so suddenly, and I felt I had only my child left to me, I spoiled her by giving way to her on every occasion ; and for a girl of naturally an opinionative dis- position, she was allowed to take her own line — to follow up her different inclinations— too freely and decidedly. But I must not keep you out here in the sun, my dear ; you must come in and sit still after your early journey." Then they passed through the iron gate into the precincts of Bushbank, which was a plain, commodious dwelling, with small pleasure grounds, and a lawn particularly well adapted for croquet. Mrs. Townshend led the way to the drawing- 206 lisette's venture. room, assisted Dora in laying aside her bonnet and cloak, placed her on a sofa, then seated herself beside her. It was certainly rather reversing the order of things that, when there was an unmarried daughter, the lady of the house should be left to do the honours, so completely, to a young lady guest, but Camilla did not appear, and Dora was always too happy to have Mrs. Townshend's undivided society. So they sat and talked together. Dora feastine on the charms of her friend's conversa- tion, and gathering strength and hope for the future from her wise, encouraging words. At length, on Mrs. Townshend being required to leave the room to give some directions con- cernin-'- the arrangements for the afternoon, she asked if she might not go to Camilla, and on Mrs. Townshend answering in the affirmative, though rather hesitatingly, Dora accompanied her along the hall passage to a little library, in which, on the door being opened, Camilla was to be seen seated at a table, with papers in- numerable spread before her in the wildest confusion, besides two high heaps of envelopes, DORA AT BUSHBANK. 207 one bearing directions and postage stamps, the other as yet empty and unmarked. So absorbed was she in her occupation, that she heeded not the turning of the lock, till, when her mother's voice aroused her, she started, and, lifting her head, looked reproachfully at Mrs. Townshend and annoyed at Dora's presence. And Dora, at that moment, quite coincided with Miss Lomax's condemnation of would-be " en- franchised " women, when she looked upon poor little Camilla, and could not help thinking, too, that such a type of one of their representatives would not tend to the advancement of their desired object. Instead of the formerly bright, plump little maiden, well-dressed, and with dark tresses neatly and prettily arranged, affectionate, even empress*? in her manner, there was a small, sallow looking girl, with an anxious expression in her eyes, her clothes hanging loosely around her, her hair rough and untidy, whilst the tone of her voice was quite fretful and impatient. " I told Dora that you were busy, my dear," said Mrs. Townshend, almost apologetically ; 2o8 lisette's venture. "but she was determined to come and look for you. And really, darling, you should put away those papers now, and go and dress, for luncheon will soon be read} - . " O, mamma, pray do not disturb me. I have not near done yet. I do not care for luncheon, and I shall be able to dress in ten minutes. I must send off all these notices to- day — I promised Mrs. Hacker. I am sure Dora will excuse me talking - to her just now." Mrs. Townshend glanced at the little shock head, the ink-stained fingers and cuffs, the tumbled, besmeared dress, and sighed ; whilst Dora, notwithstanding her ungracious reception, seated herself, and quietly asked if she might not assist her in her occupation. Camilla hesitated at first, but ""lancinc at the table, and not finding any valid excuse for resist- ing so good an offer, or for getting rid of her visitor, acquiesced ; and with two persons hard at work, and Dora's more methodical mode of proceeding, the printed heap of papers quickly diminished, whilst the envelopes, directed and stamped, soon mounted to quite a pyramid. DORA AT BUSHBANK. 209 Dora did not pause to examine the documents she had thus made herself such an active party in disseminating, though every now and then, in folding a paper, her eyes caught a chance word, such as " women," " Hacker," " protection," " suffrage," " disabilities," " franchise," etc. All her aim was to get the business over, and relieve . her dear Mrs. Townshend's mind, by sending off the inky Camilla literally " to clean herself," as servants say when about to perform their afternoon toilette, after a morning of hard work. She was also pleased to find that, with her labours lightened, and her thoughts turned on other subjects, by the sight and conversation of an old friend of her own age, Camilla gradually relaxed, threw aside her would-be strongminded- ness, became like her natural self again, and went upstairs at last, prepared for real enjoyment in a pursuit, which, not long before, had been as absorbing to her mind as the Rights of Women. It is a surprise to some that croquet, a game which appears tame and uninteresting to the uninitiated, should retain its undiminished popu- larity so long, that year after year, at the first VOL. I. P 2io lisette's venture. return of genial weather, on every lawn of possible dimensions, hoops and coloured balls are to be as surely seen as spring daisies, and mallets as plentifully in shop windows as parasols. There must certainly be a fascination in the pursuit which we outsiders cannot understand ; and that skill and science arc required in the art, we have abundant proof in the vexation often exhibited by the vanquished ones. It used to be said that only a perfect temper could stand being beaten at chess, but a young lady of the present day may, it seems, be pronounced of almost angelic nature, when, after a brilliantly contested game of croquet, she can behold with sweet serenity the last provoking, annihilating strokes, which give the final blow to the chances of herself and colleagues. But both to those who play, and those sup- posed to be looking on, this pastime is a great boon. It affords such a good plea for bringing young people together in an unostentatious, quiet way, and really it would appear that great results have been brought about by croquet DORA AT BUSHBANK. 211 meetings, to judge by one column in the Times, and published statistics. Marriages, in the upper circles, have been decidedly on the increase since the Census of 1861 was taken, and may not this fact be attributed, in some measure, to the greater facility and frequency of intercourse, the better opportunities for making, and afterwards cultivating, pleasant acquaintances, the means for helping on dawning attachments which these little sociable assem- blings afford ? Yes ; not only matches of croquet can be made — hearts as well as balls may be hit — hoops are not the only desired goals ; whilst we old folk are sitting by, thinking how monotonous and unexcitine is the scene, more than one little romance may be spread before our very eyes, and the fate of some of the competitors be about to be decided, not for the mere passing hour, but for life. The garden parties at Bushbank were con- sidered particularly delightful. With such a hostess as Mrs. Townshend, they could not fail to be successful. She possessed that happy art to perfection, of inviting the right people to 212 LISETTI.'s VKXTURJ . meet one another, and of making her guests, for the time being at least, feel pleased with them- selves, and good tempered with every one else. There was no clashing of uncongenial spirits, nor jealous competition — no grandeur — no fuss ; the arrangements wen- all of the most simple? and unpretending description. Yet the little entertainments gave more satisfaction, and sent the guests away more happy and amiable, than if they had just left the most costly feast. Dora wondered at the complete composure Mrs. Townshend evinced in anticipation of having thirty or forty people on her hands to amuse for several hours, as well as to feed, and with only so few servants to make all the preparations, when her own mother, with the large establish- ment in Chesham Place, was often fidget)- and nervous in the prospect of only a dinner part)-. " Oh r that is quite different, my dear," replied Mrs. Townshend, when Dora remarked to this effect. "When your father gives dinners, every- thing is expected to be of the grandest and best of its kind, and your mother is anxious to excel. My friends have no such ideas in coming here DORA AT BUSHBANK. 213 — croquet for the young ones ; chat for the ■elders ; plenty of tea and coffee and bread and butter (which I take care shall be good in all ways), ices and fruits, wine, and just a few real substantiate — that is the whole of my bill of fare. If not approved, no one need come again ; but, I must say, people are most kind, they seldom send me refusals, and, when here, seem as if they were trying to make everything go off well, and to be as lively and happy as possible, on purpose to please me." 2 14 LISETTES VENTURE. CHAPTER XVIII. THE GARDEN TARTY. The guests were received in the drawing-room,, from whence, when sufficient had assembled to crowd the apartment, they were conducted down a flight of iron steps from the window on to the lawn below, which soon could boast of a goodly array of company, the bright costumes of the ladies rendering the scene both lively and picturesque. There was also a very fair sprink- ling of gentlemen, some certainly rather of the hobbledehoy, or, as we should now denominate it, Young England, genus, and of course several curates — for croquet and curates are almost synonymous ; and by three o'clock there was quite a sufficiency of players for the match to begin. But Mrs. Townshend seemed still THE GARDEN PARTY. 21 5 waiting for some further arrivals before the sides, etc., were arranged; so her visitors strolled about a little longer, chatting blithely and contentedly, till their hostess descended the steps with Captain Selby and Mr. Arnott, who seemed to have arrived together. Mr. Arnott's eyes at once sought out and found the group amongst which stood Dora Freelino;. o " So shows a snowy dove, trooping with crows, As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows," might perhaps have been his opinion as he crossed the grass to join her, could he have been guilty of making such an invidious com- parison ; but for the sake of all the other pretty, nicely-dressed young ladies assembled there, it is fortunate tastes differ widely as to beauty. It was at all events not the tall, fair, brilliant belle that had attracted Captain Selby to the garden party — caused him to put off his return to town, and spend a long, dull morning, either sauntering about alone in Richmond Park with his cigar, or lounging in an arm chair in one of the sitting-rooms of the Star 216 lisette's venture. and Garter. Not the grand new hotel, but the clear old dingy Star, within whose walls such festive gatherings have been held, and the tones of merry voices — now hushed for ever — have echoed blithely ; the spot of many histories, memories and associations — the resort of .such diversities of ranks and characters, and once the scene of constant arrivals, de- partures, and active business. All silent now> nought left but patches of its mere outward crust — an empty shell — gone ! in a brief hour vanished, leaving not a trace of what it once had been. No ; Captain Selby came entirely in the hope of again beholding the small face, the large iris eyes he had seen the day before at St. Andrew's Church. He had soon accounted for the fact of having met Lisette there, for he remembered " that fellow" Rivers had an old aunt, or something of the sort, living in the neighbourhood. No doubt Miss Audrey was Staying with her. He rather wondered what had become of Rivers — why he was not of the party, for he had re- cognised Miss Freeling, but he was too happy THE GARDEN PARTY. 21 7 to have seen Lisette to have thought of aught else. And so when on the Green Mrs. Towns- hend had met him the evening before, and given him her invitation, being aware of her intimacy with Godfrey, and " putting all things together," as the saying is, he could not resist the chance of another glimpse of the little being who for so many long months had enthralled his thoughts and affections. It was very foolish of him, but he could not, try as he would, " smile and let her go" — not yet at least. In the end it must come to this he knew ; she was not " made for him;" she would never be his; yet, whenever he saw her, all the love he thought had been subdued by time and separation, sprang up in his heart anew, and his resolution and stoicism vanished. And now here he was in the midst of Mrs. Townshend's company, gazing anxiously round to meet the fawn -like step, to hear the silvery sound of the voice which, in happier days, a year gone by, had been wont to greet him when he joined such-like assemblies. And when he found them not, when the conviction burst 21S lisette's venture. upon him that she was not there, he was as much disappointed, as much aggrieved, as if he had really expected his true love to have been waiting: to receive him. He felt his heart sink, and knew his looks were betraying- his discomfiture, whilst he was compelled to reply courteously to the persistent chaperones, who always paid great court to the excellent parti, and now even rose from their seats to hold a parley with him. He would not inquire of them if Miss Audrey were expected, for the story of his suit and rejection was too fresh in the minds of man)' ; and he did not wish Mrs. Townshend to suppose he had come to Bushbank solely for the chance of seeing Lisette ; so he had to suffer himself to be led off, an unwilling victim, to take his place amongst the group who, armed with their mallets, stood ready to begin the contest. He resolved to keep near Camilla Towns- hend, whom he had known a long time, and rather liked, and with whom he felt sufficiently at case not to be obliged to exert himself to play the agreeable. THE GARDEN RARTY. 2IQ Robert Arnott and Miss Freeling were in the same game, but on the other side, and, besides being inferior players, were too much pre-occupied to have any chance against such proficients as opposed them. They longed for the match to be over, before it had been well started, grudging such a waste of the precious time they had to spend together. Mr. Arnott, indeed, was ardently desiring an opportunity for speaking to Dora alone, and had she known what he was longing to impart to her, she would have felt even the more inclined to throw aside her mallet and retire from the field. The clicking of balls, the flitting to and fro of brightly arrayed figures, the splendid strokes of the champions of the day, had gone on in due monotony for some time, when Dora suddenly beheld Godfrey Rivers standing beside a bench, on which Mrs. Townshend was seated. He looked grave and ill, and kept glancing at her, as if impatiently wishing her to leave off playing and go and speak to him ; and doubting not that it was about Lisette, she was so filled with perplexity and fear that she could not attend to 200 I [SETTES VENTURE. what she was about, brought disgrace on herself and part)' by her failures, and drew forth some looks of contempt from Captain Selhy, who, a a first-rate hand himself, appreciated really good play in others, and contrasted her strokes with those of Camilla, who was highly distinguishing herself, and convincing every one that her forte lay in croquet far more than in " emancipation." For the time being, at all events, Camilla seemed to have quite forgotten Mrs. Pounder, Mrs. Joanna Hacker, Mr. Jacob Bright, and all the rest of those renowned magnates, as well as her own strong-mindedness, and to give herself up wholly to the enjoyment of a recreation in which she had once delighted ; and though Captain Selby probably, had he been asked the question, would not have allowed that he thought her even s^ood-looking, it is neverthe- less certain that her attitude of defiance, when she placed her foot on the ball, her ex- pression of stubborn resolve as she knit her dark, broad eyebrows, whilst taking a survey of the situation of affairs, both rather pleased and amused him. THE GARDEN PARTY. 221 At length, when the match was supposed to be considerably advanced, a pause was made for the players to rest and have some refresh- ment ; and before the game was resumed, Dora' and Mr. Arnott had gladly availed themselves of an opportunity for giving up their places to a young lady and her brother, who, on arriving late, had appeared not a little disconcerted at finding themselves left out of the matches. Then, in a shady path in the Bushbank shrub- bery, Robert Arnott poured into Dora's ears his confession of the love which she had known and felt he long had borne towards her, but which honour and uprightness had hitherto restrained him from declaring ; for plainly per- ceiving, and even appreciating, the objections of Mrs. Freeling, not presuming, in the depths of his humility and plain-dealing, to ask one surrounded by all the prestige and comforts of wealth and station to give up so much for his sake, thinking her in every way " so far above him," he had at first struggled with his love, then, finding that a vain attempt, had sternly vowed never more to lift his eyes to one he so 222 LISETTES VENTURE. adored, until he could at least offer her a better position in the world than that of wife to a poor, hard-worked London curate. He had left London much depressed by his leave-taking visit in Chesham Place, Mrs. Free- line's manner having been discouraging in the extreme ; and his uncle, the first two days he spent with him, had thought him looking ill, and imagined he wanted rest. But on the Sunday afternoon, what a change had come over the young man ! with what a happy, bright countenance had he returned from Easterton, and informed Dr. Stone, that on leaving the pulpit, a gentleman, who introduced himself as Sir Frederick Stanmer, had joined him in the vestry, and offered him a valuable living in his gift ; and the next morning this excellent and enlightened baronet, already well known to Dr. Stone, spent some hours at his Rectory, and all the preliminary ar- rangements, for Robert Arnott's entering upon his new charge were further and fully discussed ; so that when in the afternoon he appeared at Bushbank, if not actually Rector of Bucklesley, THE GARDEN PARTY. 2 2$ he was very soon indeed to fill that most advan- tageous post. It must be a proud and happy moment in the life of a man endowed with rank, riches, and lordly lands, when he lays them at the feet of the object of his fondest affections and ex- claims — " All of this is mine and thine! " And if the lover can exult who has the good gifts of fortune and hereditary honours to lavish on the beloved one, deeper far must he rejoice who to his own talent and superior worth is indebted for advancement and prosperity. With the purest delight, the most generous, yet humbly thankful, feelings, Robert Arnott told his tale — told it too in those melodious accents which always carried with them such persuasive, convincing proof — as he and Dora stood together under an arch of boughs, through which the sinking evening sun ever and anon shot its brilliant rays, as if in congratulation of their happiness, the voices of the croquet players and the strokes of the mallets sounding in the distance, unheeded on their ears. Dora listened silently. When Robert paused, fain would she 224 LISETTES VENTURE. have poured forth her joyful feelings, her pride and pleasure in the just appreciation shown towards him, and have assured him at the same time that, though she rejoiced in the high posi- tion and consequent increase of means for his sake, she almost regretted that her own fortune would not now be of so much use to him, as it might have been, had he been fated to remain, as she had first known and valued him — curate of St. Catherine's ; that she loved him for himself alone, and felt herself only too highly favoured by his attachment. But as she had not the tongue of eloquence, like her lover, the light that shone in her eyes, and the crimson blushes which mantled her fair cheeks, could alone betoken the depth of her emotion and hap- piness. And then, pacing to and fro the shrubbery walk, Robert Arnott told her that his new pro- spects and arrangements would necessarily take him back immediately to London, anil he craved her sanction to write without any further delay to her father, formally to demand her hand. Then Dora remembered her mother, with re- THE GARDEN PARTY. 2 25 newed doubt lest she might still oppose her wishes. The Rector of Bucklesley, who could give his wife a comfortable home in a pleasant neigh- bourhood, where she could have excellent society, would certainly carry far greater weight than a curate without certain means or promi- nent station ; still she felt there would be one thing yet wanting in her mother's requirements for a son-in-law — the family connection which Mrs. Freeline so often talked about. But Dora trusted in her father for supporting their cause when the matter came decidedly before him, and he saw how completely her happiness was involved. And her mother, she knew, really loved her dearly too, and she hoped would not thwart her beyond a certain point, whilst the utter fruitlessness of the scheme regarding- Godfrey Rivers might perhaps make her more disposed to yield. At all events, Dora would not let that blissful moment be shadowed by the faintest tinge of doubt or misgiving ; and then of the active, useful future which, with God's blessing, he VOL. I. Q 226 lisette's venture. trusted was in store for them both, Robert Arnott spoke, Dora listening enraptured to each word that fell from his lips, and thinking herself the most happy and favoured of mortals. At length voices near them proclaimed that their interview was to be interrupted, and presently several of the guests came strolling down the path, amongst them Godfrey Rivers, who, on Mr. Arnott turning for a moment to speak to the gentleman accompanying him, took possession of Dora, begging her to walk with him, as he had something particular to ask her. ( 227 ) CHAPTER XIX. GODFREY RIVERS' QUESTIONINGS. " Tell me, where is Lisette ? " these were the words which struck painfully, almost accusingly, on Dora's ears, when, turning into a more secluded pathway, she found herself alone with Godfrey Rivers. " I came down here," he con- tinued in an imperative, agitated tone, " solely to see you, and try to gain some information about her. I have not heard from her since Thursday, when I thought she wrote rather mysteriously about her proceedings, but she promised to send me more definite tidings soon. However, as I had no letter on Saturday, I called in St. Egbert's Square, and was told by old Sweet- ways that I should find her young lady in Chesham Place with you. I went there immedi- 228 lisette's venture. atcly, and then was informed that Miss Audrey had not been there at all, and that you had left town on Thursday for The Firs. What does it all mean ? " asked Godfrey impetuously. Dora's reply was certainly not given promptly; still it was easier to speak now than when he had straightly demanded, " Where is Lisette ? " " No ; she has not been in Chesham Place with me, and I thought you knew Miss Lomax expected me at The Firs," she said meekly. " I had not the slightest notion of it till then," returned Godfrey, disposing of that part of her answer as quickly as possible ; " but tell me, is Lisette still in London ? has she gone to Worthing, or where is she ? " " She goes to Worthing next Thursday," Dora was thankful to be able to declare. " But where is she now ? what has she been doing with herself since last Thursday ? that is what I want to know," he asked urgently and exact ingly. This was a poser for Dora, and there was an ominous moment of silence, then recollect- ing the note she knew Lisette was going to GODFREY RIVERS QUESTIONINGS. 2 29 enclose to Mrs. Sweetways that morning, she said she supposed he would very soon hear about it from herself. " Well ! but you— her greatest friend — must be aware of her present destination at least," he persisted. Dora neither contradicted nor assented to this accusation, notwithstanding he was looking fiercely at her. " Why should there be any concealment, any mystery about it ? " he proceeded, his expression changing into that of pleading earnestness, mingled with alarm. "If there is anything the matter with Lisette, for God's sake don't keep it from me." " Oh no, no ! " exclaimed Dora, really shocked at his keen emotion. " I am sure you need have no such fear as that ; after all, four days is not so very long to be kept waiting for a letter." " Yes, it is, when one is accustomed to expect, and have one, every morning," was the answer, given in such despondent tones, that Dora, seeing evident proofs in his looks 230 LISETTES VENTURE. and whole bearing, of the anxiety and suspense he had been enduring, felt truly sorry for him, and provoked with Lisette for her wild strata- gem, whose probable result would be to cause distress to others and to drag herself into a difficulty from which she might find it no easy task to extricate herself. And if she felt angry with Lisette, still greater was Dora's self-condemnation for having yielded so easily to the foolish scheme ; had she been firmer of purpose, less selfish in desiring to have her friend with her for her own comfort, Godfrey would not, she thought, have been there then, looking at her with his penetrating, reproach- fully inquiring eyes." "If she is not ill," he continued, "there is only one other way for accounting for her silence. Has any cruel, false person been trying to separate us ? Has Aunt Leonora been insulting, persecuting my little darling ? If so, never will I set foot in The Firs again ! But Dora negatived this supposition. She was sure Miss Lomax — at least, since she had GODFREY RIVERS' QUESTIONINGS. 23 1 been with her— had not interfered in any way with Lisette, — " to distress her." The last words she added in her matter-of-fact way, and after apparently concluding her speech, with height- ened colour rising in her already roseate cheeks ; for, remembering on the instant the motive, which had brought upon herself her unwilling visit to The Firs, she felt she could not wholly exonerate Aunt Leonora from all charge of conspiring against the happiness of the lovers. " I trust not, indeed, " exclaimed Godfrey somewhat relieved ; " it would be too cruel, too barbarous." " And as to separating you," continued Dora, gaining a little courage, " I think it would be impossible for any living being to do that ; now that her parents have consented to your en- gagement, neither Miss Lomax nor any one else could prevail in any way. I should almost sooner think of your giving up Lisette, than aught affecting the constancy of her loving little heart towards you." This was a wiser, a more diplomatic speech 232 lisette's venture. than Dora cither intended or imagined it to be, and, uttered in a slightly reproachful tone, imparted a kind of stimulus to Godfrey's depressed spirits. He smiled for the first time, and his hand- some face lighted up with pleasure. Then Dora went on, and her tone of voice had a slight tinge of satire in it : " Lisette did tell me your Aunt Leonora had set her heart on some richer girl for you to marry." " Yes, confound it ! I beg your pardon, Dora. Aunt Leonora has been harping on the subject for some little time, but I took no notice, and hoped, when she saw the utter impossibility of her wishes being gratified, the affair would have died a natural death, as other similar schemes of hers have done before. So I was more annoyed and angry than I can describe, when last week she openly broached the subject, and after speaking in a manner which much displeased me of Lisette, tried to way- lay me down to The Firs to meet this heiress of hers. By the bye, can you tell me who is this gilded pill she wants to stuff down my GODFREY RIVERS' QUESTIONINGS. 233 throat — some new acquaintance, I suppose, who has sprung up in Easterton ? " " I am Miss Lomax's only invited guest at present," answered Dora, rather irrelevantly, and drawing herself up with a stately air. " What! no one but you?" exclaimed Godfrey, recovering his usual animation. " Only you ! not the 'Miss Kilmansegge with her golden leg' I have been fancying there, toadying Aunt Leonora and inspecting her "premises ? Well, after all, she is the kindest of old souls — never could really do anything to thwart or distress me — always comes out well in the end. She must have relented at the last moment, and put off the gorgon. She told me, in her note this morning, she had you with her, and seemed to think I was aware of it. I have felt quite ashamed of my ill-temper ever since the morning I left her ; and what with not hearing from Lisette, and one thing and another, have been thoroughly hypped. If I had known that only you were going there, instead of moping in London, fancying all kinds of dis- agreeables, I might have been at The Firs, 234 LISETTES VENTURE. talking to you all day long about my darling child." Dora smiled at this somewhat dubious com- pliment, and said she had fancied he was going into Somersetshire. " My people have been to the sea-side, and could not have me before Thursday, and, at all events, I should not have gone away without first knowing Lisette's plans. I do trust I shall find a line from her this evening; you think I shall, don't you ? Then I shall be quite happy, and send her a good scolding for having kept me in suspense, for she certainly might have written, naughty little thing ! Tell me, Dora, does Aunt Leonora ever speak of Lisette ? Do pray use your influence to try to make her more kindly disposed towards her ? Cannot you somehow manage to bring them together ? for my darling is just the girl after her own heart, if the dear, prejudiced old woman could only be made to believe it." Dora was perplexed as to what reply to make now ; Miss Lomax had never alluded to Lisette ; it was not likely she would speak to GODFREY RIVERS' QUESTIONINGS. 235 her of one she had herself constituted an un- willing rival of her friend ; still less, considering the position of affairs, could Dora have ventured to broach the subject of Godfrey's love to her hostess. So she only said that Miss Lomax had not spoken at all of Lisette, or of him either, excepting just when Mrs. Townshend's note had arrived, which she had to forward to him, when she had expressed a hope that he would go to Bushbank. " And she has not introduced you to her heiress ? " inquired Godfrey again. " I fancied it misfht be the daughter of the millionaire glass-blower, who has built that wonderful look- ing castle on Easterton Hill." Dora shook her head. She had it on the tip of her tongue to tell him at once that she was the " gilded pill " his Aunt Leonora had intended him to swallow. Almost any other girl, as intimate as she had been from childhood with Godfrey, would have done so. Lisette, in her place, most decidedly would not have hesitated ; vastly would she have enjoyed the fun of witnessing the confusion and dis- 236 LISET1 ES VEN1 I RE. comfiture the disclosure might have occa- sioned ; she would have made the air ring with one of her merry, melodious laughs. But Dora was very different to her, and was also restrained from such a revelation by several considerations ; therefore she only re- peated her assertion that there had been no other guest invited to The Firs but herself, that she knew of, and she had seen none of the young ladies of the neighbourhood. " Oh, well then, you have set my mind quite at rest," exclaimed Godfrey, "and altogether made me feel a different person to what I was an hour ago. You always were the kindest and best of girls, Dora, my greatest favourite when we were children, and now, as the friend of my darling child also, I shall love you dearly." And Dora, always fond of Godfrey, and happy to have been able to chase the gloom from his countenance, the look of suffering from his face, which it had borne when their conversation began, accepted this rather egotis- tical expression of gratitude thankfully ; and as they turned their steps towards the lawn, GODFREY RIVERS' QUESTIONINGS. 237 she blessed her stars that she had not uttered a word that could compromise or betray Lisette. But just as they left the shrubbery, and before they got amongst the rest of the company, Godfrey said, " Let me see ! this is Monday ; to-morrow I am afraid I have a tiresome eneaeement I cannot o-et off, though I mio-ht possibly manage it ; but at any rate there's Wednesday a clear day — yes, on Wednesday you may certainly expect to see me. Tell Aunt Leonora, with my best love, I am coming down to The Firs the very first moment I can. Ah ! there's Mrs. Townshend ! — just the person I wanted. I shall be able to take my leave of her at once, rush to the station and catch the seven up-train ; then I shall reach my lodgings before the late delivery. Thank you very much, dear Dora ; good-bye. You don't mind my leaving you so abruptly ? " And, without affording Dora an opportunity for a reply, the next moment his long legs were striding across the lawn, and presently he was to be seen gesticulating earnestly to Mrs. Towns- hend, who shook her head, half amused, half 238 lisette's venture. reproachfully ; then there was a clasping of hands, a few last words, and he was gone, and Dora was left, feeling almost stupified by the shock his words had given her — at the thought of this fresh knot of entanglement that was being woven in the labyrinth of Lisette's wild venture. Godfrey Rivers coming to The Firs on Wed- nesday, the very next day but one, and she was not to return there till the mofrow .'—and even had she been leaving Richmond that evening, what good could she have done ? She and her pretended maid could not decamp on the moment — they must bide their time till Thurs- day, especially as " Lizzie " was proving such an acceptable substitute for Benwell. To warn Lisette of the impending danger — to confer with her — that was all that would have been in her power. She almost wondered that her shrewd, clever little friend had never taken into account the risk of Godfrey breaking in upon them unawares. She had surely reckoned too con- fidently on his having gone far away in a different direction. Poor Dora groaned in GODFREY RIVERS QUESTIONINGS. 239 spirit at the idea of the trouble and perplexity that would ensue. Since she had been speaking to Godfrey Rivers, and seen the distress even Lisette's brief silence had caused to one pos- sessed from childhood of an over sensitiveness almost amounting to passionate jealousy, — a defect in an otherwise amiable disposition, which had been rather fostered than restrained by the indulgent training of his Aunt Leonora, — she no longer wondered* at the agitation, the qualms of fear and compunction, Lisette had weepingly poured forth the evening before. She could now only regard the conduct of herself and her friend as an act of base treachery towards Miss Lomax, and of actual cruelty and wrong towards God- frey. Her chief thought, however, was for Lisette — how to extricate her from the difficulty, and she longed to fly off from Bushbank at a moment's notice, as Godfrey had just done, to be with her, and to bid her set her ready wits to work to avert, by some means or other, the impending peril of discovery. 240 lisette's venture. CHAPTER XX. WOMEN'S RIGHTS. So rapt was Dora in her perplexing thoughts that she stood where Godfrey had left her motionless, not perceiving what was passing around her, till she was roused from her reverie by Robert Arnott's voice close to her, and then, looking up, she saw that the lawn was gradually thinning of the company. Many, warned by the damp gathering on the grass, and a slight chilliness in the air, had already retreated to the drawing-room, whilst other groups were in the act of ascending the iron stairs. Mr. Arnott offered her his arm, ostensibly for the purpose of conducting her the same way, but in reality to find time and place to finish the deeply interesting conversation in which they GODFREY RIVERS QUESTIONINGS. 24 1 had been engaged when Godfrey broke in upon them, before he took his leave, having promised his uncle to be back early. They paused therefore at the foot of the iron flight, and retraced their steps along the terrace on one side of the house, a few other couples, keeping them in countenance, who preferred to linger al fresco, rather than encounter the heat of the crowded drawing-room. The question nearest Mr. Arnott's heart, which Dora had not yet settled, was the day and hour when he might crave an interview with Mr. F reeling, and Dora yielding a blushing, willing consent, it was arranged that on Thursday morning, prior to her return home, a preliminary letter should be sent to her father. Then, after pacing to and fro the gravel walk a few more times in pleasant talk, the happy lovers left the terrace and ascended the steps, that Mr. Arnott might seek his hostess and bid her adieu. Their progress to the drawing-room was impeded by a group of persons stationed just before the window, who were talking with much animation, if not somewhat noisily, and Dora vol. 1. R 242 lisette's venture. could distinguish the small voice of Camilla raised to rather a high pitch, in argumentative discussion with a young man, formerly considered an admirer of hers, who appeared more pro- voked than convinced by her speeches, yet almost as if he were goading her on, to deliver her opinions for his diversion rather than edification ; whilst Captain Selby stood by, taking no direct part in the debate, but listening with interest, and every now and then rebuking, by a few quiet words, any remark of the youth's which he deemed savouring of the least approach to disrespect towards Miss Townshend, but on the whole rather enjoying the argument, and in no way expressing any agreement with the doctrine Camilla was promulgating. " And how is it to end ? " the young man drawled forth, as Dora and her companion joined the group ; " if ladies want to vote now, they will expect to be voted for by-and-by, and to sit in Parliament. The House of Commons will have to be made much bigger hold them all ; and the poor men will never GODFREY RIVERS QUESTIONINGS. 243 have a chance to get in a word when the women begin to hold forth." " Nonsense ! " returned Camilla ; " you ex- aggerate everything ; you know such a question was never intended to be brought forward." " Perhaps not now, but if the thin edge of the wedge is once got in, where will it stop ? If women, who pay rates, have the power given them to vote for those who make the rates, their partisans by-and-by are just as likely as not to advocate their sitting in Parliament, or pleading at the Bar. Fancy you, Miss Townshend, in a barrister's gown and wig." Camilla knit her dark eyebrows and turned red as she answered angrily, "It is just what Mrs. Pounder said : the strength of our cause is shown by the ridicule with which foolish people attack it ; and no one will understand the real merits of the question." " There I agree with you," replied her opponent ; " indeed I do not believe you ladies yourselves know what you are asking for, or comprehend what it all means." 244 LISETTES VENTURE. " Because you arc one of those who think women are quite; deficient in nerve, intellect, and brain — that only men are fit to do anything sensible or great. But if you look back into the history of the world, you will find that women have achieved as great ends, have performed as heroic deeds, as men. Look at Joan of Arc, Queen Elizabeth, and Margaret of Anjou, or still further back, to some of the ancient and Scripture characters." " All very unpleasant kind of women," re- marked the young man sententiously. " Oh, you would like a woman to be a sort of slave," went on Camilla, "half-educated, and with no ambition to rise above the- grade of an inferior being — you would wish your wife to be a mere household drudge." " Not a slave or a drudge ; but I should like a wife who could see that my house was kept clean and tidy, and that my dinners were properly cooked," — the young man's voice grew gentler, — " and I should prefer being the pro- tector of my wife rather than that she should be able to govern me." GODFREY RIVERS QUESTIONINGS. 245 " And, Miss Townshend," said Captain Selby, -' you spoke of household drudges just now. Have we not sometimes heard of household heroines ? 'The trivial round, the common task.'" # # # * # " Room to deny ourselves," etc., etc., Captain Selby might have added, had he been better acquainted with Keble, but Camilla was not in a frame of mind, just then, to enter into any delineations of domestic heroism. " And then," pursued the younger man, as if bent on irritating her further, " if women are allowed to be in the learned professions, they ought to take their turn and serve in the rougher ones also : the army and navy, for instance. How would you like, Captain Selby, to have Miss Townshend in the Fusiliers ? " " I am sure she would make a charming figlia del reggimento" replied Captain Selby, whose gallant speech, however, was only rewarded by an additional frown from Camilla. "And then," proceeded her tormentor, "if women had as much power given them as they 246 lisette's venture. wanted, what scrapes they would get into — what mischief they would do ; for they always take such a one-sided view on every subject, and generally the wrong side too ; what a shocking bad influence you would excite with your prejudiced views ! " " Dangerous, you should say, not bad," remarked Captain Selby. " I cannot allow it ever to be believed that a lady would willingly exert over any one a bad influence — much less Miss Townshend." " I do not mean only her," answered the youth, " but all of them ; and I am sure you, Captain Selby, do not support these ridiculous, new-fangled views of theirs." " No," said Captain Selby, " certainly I do not. I think ladies cannot know what they are asking for, when they desire to be taken out of the position in which they are so honoured and beloved, and which they grace and adorn so richly, to be mixed up in the rude, rough business of life to which we are subjected. Enormous evils would be the result of such a possibility — all domestic happiness destroyed — GODFREY RIVERS' QUESTIONINGS. 247 all comfort in society at an end. You agree with me, I fancy," he added, bowing to Robert Arnott whom he perceived to be standing by and taking an interest in the conversation. " Will you give us your opinion concerning the Rights of Women — that much agitated subject just now r Robert Arnott paused for an instant, then in a low tone, yet with a power and pathos which thrilled the hearts of his hearers and brought tears into the eyes, not only of Dora but of Camilla, delivered his sentiments in the follow- ing lines : — " The Rights of Women — what are they ? The right to labour and to pray ; The right to comfort in distress ; The right when others curse, to bless ; The right to love whom others scorn ; The right to comfort all who mourn ; The right to shed new joy on earth ; The right to feel the soul's high worth ; The right to lead the soul to God, Along the path the Saviour trod — The path of meekness and of love, The path of faith that leads above, The path of patience under wrong, The path in which the weak grow strong. Such woman's rights which God will bless, And grant support or give success." 248 lisette's venture. " I think you, at least, will agree that the question could not have been more ably or more convincingly answered," said Captain Selby with emotion. The other young man was silent. Then Robert Arnott, turning to Camilla, shook hands with her, crossed the room to where Mrs. Townshend was standing, and was presently seen to leave the room. ( 249 ) CHAPTER XXI. MRS. TOWNSHEND'S ADVICE. Another hour or two and all the guests were gone. Bushbank was wrapped in darkness, and Camilla had wearily retired to her room ; but Mrs. Townshend, in spite of the exertion she had undergone, was ready to listen to all Dora had to relate. Seeing that the latter would not be satisfied without a little talk, before going up- stairs, she dismissed the servants, who entered to close the shutters and put out the lights, desiring them to return for that purpose when all their other arrangements below were completed, and stretching herself on a sofa, Dora, seated beside her, told her tale, and received in return the warmest congratulations. Mrs. Townshend was truly one who could rejoice with those who do 250 lisette's venture. rejoice ; and no circumstance could have invert her greater pleasure than to hear of the dawn of happiness which was breaking forth for Dora and her lover, after their Ion"- course of obstacles and trial. No circumstance save one. There is a weak point in every heart; poor humanity will manifest itself as long as we possess earthly natures. She could not help wishing it had been her own daughter who had been beloved by Robert Arnott. Before he had taken the curacy of St. Cathe- rine's and become attached to Dora, Mrs. Townshend used to picture him as what she should consider perfection for a husband for Camilla. So superior in intellectual attainments, he could not fail to interest her, she thought; so decided in his opinions ; so firm in holding them ; so upright, honourable, and kind in all his dealings ; what a safe, true guide to her much cherished wayward child he might prove. And although, of course, all such ideas had come to an end long ago, and her sympathies had been most sincerely enlisted in Dora's cause, still just the slightest breath of a sigh now mingled with MRS. TOWNSHEND'S ADVICE. 25 I her felicitations ; not because she grudged Dora the prize she had won, but because her strong maternal love had prompted the wish for Ca- milla, " that heaven had made her such a man." And Mrs. Townshend could not help thinking, too, with perhaps the echo of that same faint sigh, how very seldom people got what they wanted. How gladly would she have accepted, how greatly valued, for a son-in-law, the man whom, even with his " new blown honours," Mrs. Freeling might still despise, because he lacked what she considered the one thing needful — family name and distinction. " It is indeed a strangely perverse, crotchety world we live in — everything in it going by contraries," Mrs. Townshend inwardly mur- mured ; but she shook off all thought of self, buried in the depths of her loving soul all the vain wishes of the past, and talked to Dora with a readiness, a quiet eloquence, and a power of reasoning and of saving counsel which few possessed like her, as well as with a degree of earnest tenderness which augmented as she shrewdly perceived that, notwithstanding all the 252 LISETTES VENTURE. joy Dora's words expressed, there was evidently some little drawback to her complete comfort and happiness still existing; till, impelled by all the kind words spoken, encouraged by the gentle accents sounding in her ears, Dora at length confided to her the fact of Lisette's ven- ture, and the danger of discovery which was now impending. The look of mingled astonishment, dismay, and yet of irrepressible amusement, that came over Mrs. Townshend's countenance, when she heard the strange relation, cannot be described ; and Dora, who had feared that her friend's strict sense of propriety would have caused her wholly and absolutely to condemn, gained a slight respite of relief when she saw the sofa shaking under the influence of the genuine burst of laughter to which her " mother confessor " was giving way. " A most unheard-of proceeding indeed, I must say ! and you, Dora, are the last person in the world I should ever have dreamt of getting into such a scrape. So that little girl in the carriage with you on Thursday was Miss MRS. TOWNSHEND'S ADVICE. 253 Audrey. I fancied I had seen the pretty face before, and that you looked rather guilty about something How could such an idea have entered your head ? — and such a person to choose to hoax as Aunt Leonora ! " " It was Lisette!" pleaded Dora. " I suppose so," replied Mrs. Townshend ; " I am quite sure she must have dragged you into the mess. Such a mad scheme would never have emanated from you. Ah, Dora ! it is quite time you should have a steadier arm to lean on — a wiser head to guide you than that giddy little friend, who always seems able to twist you round her finger. I cannot help lauehine ; I ousrht not to do so for a moment, but I can never help seeing the ludicrous side of things. The matter is no joke, however ; indeed, I tremble for the consequences of such folly." " Do you think Godfrey Rivers would be very angry with Lisette ? " asked Dora plain- tively. " No man can stand being made a fool of," replied Mrs. Townshend, " above all such a 254 I.IM.TM.S VIA TURK. tenacious, sensitive man as Godfrey ; one, too, so peculiarly fastidious as to a woman's con- duct. What could have induced Miss Audrey to play so rash a game ? What could possibly have been her object in coming in disguise to The Firs ? What end could it answer ? " Dora could only mention Lisette's ardent wish to behold the scenes so often described by her lover, and her resolution to see Aunt Leonora and make the old lady like her in spite of herself. Very insufficient motives, Mrs. Townshend naturally thought them, and Dora did not add, as she might have done, that Lisette's great failing was a propensity to act on the impetuous impulse of the moment, with- out regard to results. 11 I am really very sorry — more vexed than I can tell you," pursued Mrs. Townshend. " I never fancied Miss Audrey a fast young lady." " No more she is," protested Dora warmly. " I do assure you, dear Mrs. Townshend, Lisette has never been considered fast." " She has, I know, been most carefully brought up, and, in spite of the companionship of so MRS. TOWNSHEND'S ADVICE. 255 many brothers, does not, I believe, use the slang, enigmatic language many girls do. I dare say, for instance, she would not speak of ' going in for a thing' or of being ' sat upon' — a disgusting phrase in my opinion — or such like expressions. But after such an escapade as this, who could exempt her from the charge of fastness, if not of unsteadiness of character ? " " You do not know Lisette," sighed Dora. " No ; but I take an interest in her on God- frey's account, and because she is your friend ; and I feel very sorry and much provoked with her, for her own sake, for Godfrey's, and for yours. What would Mr. Arnott say to your being mixed up in such a silly plot ? " But Dora's entire confidence in the attach- ment of her Jiancd did not allow her to have any fears for herself ; all her thought was for Lisette. "But, dear Mrs. Townshend, do advise me — do help me. What had we better do ? " " There seems very little you can do now, my dear. Most decidedly Miss Lomax must never know the trick that has been played her — that would be ruination ; she of all people would 256 lisette's VENTURE. never forgive it. When did you say Benwell was to return ? " "On Wednesday, after her mother's funeral." " And do you suppose the servants have no suspicions — not that demure Patty or old John ? " " Lisettc acts her part to such perfection," returned Dora, "that I do not believe they could suspect anything. The maids see she is of a very different type to themselves, but probably fancy all young, fashionable London abigails are like her, and have not their old-world notions. She can even succeed in extracting a a smile from grim old John when he enters the drawing-room, and Rogers is her devoted slave. Every morning she finds a bouquet of the brightest, sweetest flowers laid ready for her on the table in Benwell's room, where she takes her solitary meals. No ; whilst they all treat Lisette as a young lady, I am sure they do not in the least realise that she really is one." " And Benwell ? " " She had no suspicions when she left, I MRS. TOWNSHENDS ADVICE. 257 think ; but she is certainly the one most to be feared." "Well, as to that, she is sure not to return till quite late on Wednesday, and you could leave early on Thursday, couldn't you ? Ex- cepting by Benwell betraying you, I do not see how Miss Lomax could discover the secret ; so Godfrey is the only person to be provided against." " And he will come to The Firs on Wednes- day," said Dora with a groan. " Yes ; but probably for only an hour or so, and there need be no occasion for Miss Audrey to be seen by him ; surely she could be kept out of sight for the time he is there : your maid would not be expected to appear when a visitor was in the drawing-room. " Oh," returned Dora, " Miss Lomax wants her every hour of the day ; she is not happy a moment now without her. I am afraid she will offend poor old Benwell when she returns, for she is continually making invidious com- parisons between our 'two maids.' So far Lisette has certainly gained her point, though, vol. 1. s 258 lisette's venture. as you say, what good can it do her, when, only under a false character, she has made the old lady fond of her. Yesterday Miss Lomax said it did her good to have something young about her, and it brought back the days of her youth to hear ' Lizzie's' laugh." " Yes," answered Mrs. Townshend ; " nothing keeps the heart so fresh, and preserves it so well, as contact with the young. It is a pity when any house is entirely peopled with old persons, as The Firs has been since Godfrey grew up and left it. How much happier Miss Lomax would be if he were married, for she would, I am sure, dote on his wife and children, and they would be a source of constant pleasure and interest to her." " But then she ought to let him marry Lisette ; not take upon herself to find a wife for him," said Dora colouring. " Ah ! I forgot ; what will the poor old lady say to your proceedings of to-day, Dora ? For your own sake, as well as Miss Audrey's, you had better make your escape as fast as possible." MRS. TOWNSHEND'S ADVICE. 259 Dora smiled, but heaved a little sigh too, and her sagacious friend thought she could divine its meaning. " Perhaps she thinks it will be like ' going out of the frying-pan into the fire,' leaving Miss Lomax to join her mother, for I am afraid Mrs. Freeling will still make objections to Mr. Arnott; but I hope not," pondered Mrs. Townshend, and she returned to the subject of Lisette. " Well, my dear, all you can do is to warn your friend of her danger when you see her, and make her keep out of Godfrey's way on Wednesday. Could not she be sent on some distant errand, or feign some kind of illness and stay in bed, then be off to London on Thursday as early as possible ? I shall feel quite relieved to hear you are both gone, and without any mischance having happened. Now, we must not keep the servants up any longer, and you and I both want rest. You will not leave us very early to-morrow, I hope." Dora, however, was longing to be with Lisette, and fixed her departure to take place 260 LISETTE'S \ EN 11 RE. immediately after breakfast ; but how weak and uncertain are all human resolutions and plans ! She awoke with a head-ache — probably caused by the excitement to her mind of the previous day— which kept her a prisoner to her bed during the whole forenoon, and it was not till rather an advanced hour in the afternoon that she reached The Firs. ( 261 ) CHAPTER XXII. "LIZZIE'S" YOUNG MAN. "Well, little woman, you have sent off your young lady looking like a beautiful princess ; and now you and I must take the best care we can of one another till she comes back again." This was Aunt Leonora's morning greeting, when, in obedience to her summoning bell, Lisette entered her room about an hour after Dora's departure, whilst the cheery tones of her voice, as well as the words she uttered, proclaimed the old lady to be in one of her brightest and happiest moods. Patty's services had been quite discarded for the last two days as an abigail, although she still took in her mistress's breakfast tray, which attentive John always carried upstairs and placed outside the 262 lisette's venture. door. Aunt Leonora was therefore out of bed, and seated in her frilled dressing-gown, ready to place herself in the hands of her coiffcuse, when Lisette appeared. As her faded, wrinkled cheeks assumed a fairer semblance, the shaq> outline which time had given to her face became softened by the curls, which gradually were ranged so becomingly around it, she cast approving glances at herself in the mirror, and spoke kindly thanks to her young embellisher. For the first time — as if the circumstance of Lisette being left quite alone, under her pro- tection, had prompted the idea — Miss Lomax asked about her home and parents, and whether she had brothers and sisters, to all which inquiries Lisette was able to give tolerably accurate replies ; but at last came a downright question, abruptly put, which made her face burn and her fingers tremble, from the sudden- ness and unexpectedness of the demand. " And pray tell me, have you a lover ?" After a short pause, blushing deeply, Lisette replied, " Yes, ma'am, I have." " Ah, I thought so," said Aunt Leonora, half " LIZZIE'S " YOUNG MAN. 263 provoked. " What a pity ! So then I suppose you will soon be wanting to leave Miss F reeling and your comfortable situation to live in a home of your own ? " There was only a little gentle sigh in reply to this. " But perhaps you are not thinking of being married yet a while. Well, you are very young ; you have plenty of time before you ; and it is far better not to be in a hurry about a matter of such importance. I hope your parents con- sider that you have [made a sensible choice ; that your intended is a steady, respectable character, and also that the young man is getting on well in whatever occupation he follows. What is he ? " By this time Lisette had recovered her equanimity, which for a moment had been dis- turbed, and entering into the drollery of the phase the conversation had taken, she began to answer the old lady in her own style. " My intended — my young man" — her eyes drooped beneath their dark fringed lids, her colour rose, as in true abigail phrase she thus 264 lisette's venture. denominated Godfrey, whilst a wicked little smile played on her countenance, " my young man, ma'am, is quite respectable, I can assure you ; my parents have given their consent, and he works hard." " Then I suppose there is nothing to stand in your way," returned Miss Lomax shortly. " Yes, there is, ma'am," continued the little maid, energetically, " my father and mother do not stand in our way ; they are most good — most kind ; but he — my young man — he has relations." " I suppose so. But what objection can they make to you ? " asked the old lady somewhat irately. " I think they might be proud of such a nice little girl as a wife for their son." " I have no money, ma'am." " Ah ! " said Aunt Leonora, shaking her head wisely, " a very common complaint, I am sorry to say." " But," proceeded Lisette, her courage rising, " we should be able to get on very well. We should have quite enough to live on, and I should not care for riches — I have not been " LIZZIE'S " YOUNG MAN. 265 accustomed to them ; and although he has been brought up to want nothing, he — he says he only cares for me." "Well," said Miss Lomax kindly, as she caught a glimpse of the flushed, excited little face in the glass, and felt how the small fingers were twittering amongst her curls, " if he is really a worthy and industrious young man and de- serving of you, though I never like to promote anything imprudent, I feel so sure, from what I have seen of you, that you would make a very good, useful wife, and put your shoulder to the wheel, and set yourself in right earnest to your duties, that really I believe you would, as you say, get on well enough." " Yes/' exclaimed Lisette, " I feel certain of it — I have no fears about it myself — not the slightest." "Then I hope," said Miss Lomax, "that his parents will relent some day." " It is not his parents," replied Lisette; "they did not like the idea of it, I believe, at first, and I know he might have done far better — that is, he might have had a richer, perhaps a grander, 266 lisette's venture. wife, but not one, oh, never ! that would love him better ; and what is marriage without love, ma'am ? They soon gave way when they saw how unhappy it made him to be gainsaid, but — but," she hesitated a little, "he has other relations who — who are still not at all agreeable to it." " And he is afraid of offending them — is that it ? " asked Miss Lomax. " Not so much of offending as of grieving them. It goes against him, ma'am, to give pain to those who have been so very kind to him — not that he would give me up for any of them," she added, with spirit, " but we do so wish for the approbation of all our friends, and he is so anxious for his (' aunt' she had almost said) — his relations to like me." "And do they not like you?." asked Aunt Leonora, smiling. " They do not know me— will not see me even. She — they — have some one else in their thoughts for him I know — some cirl with money." " Money is a very useful thing," said Aunt "lizzie's" young man. 267 Leonora, musingly, " and can do a great deal, certainly." " Yes," returned Lisette ; " and I am sure I wish I had some for his sake ; but money is not everything — it cannot do all things, and it does a great deal of harm sometimes ; but all I know- is this, whatever it can do, it will never separate me and — and him." "You must do nothing rash, my girl," said Aunt Leonora, in her heart admiring the spirit and pluck of her little handmaiden, but not con- sidering it right or dignified to let her real opinion transpire. Then the curls being all frizzed out and adjusted, the subject was dropped, and for a few moments the little old lady stood erect in her gored petticoats to have a eown "tried on," which with some hesitation and compunction she had begged Lisette to alter for her. It was the lilac silk she had worn the day before. " Benwell makes my bodies well enough," she had said on Sunday night when disrobing, " but somehow can never hit off the skirts to my satisfaction. Look how badly this hangs. 26S lisette's venture. I suppose you did not make the dress Miss Freeling wore to-day ? " " No," said Lisette, " but I made this one I have on myself." " Well, and how different that looks on you. I am sure Ben well puts the plaits in the wrong places, or does not make them the proper size. Would you mind trying to alter mine ? I should be greatly obleeged." So Lisette's destined task, on this sunny morning, was to try to transform, by the magic art of her clever fingers, the dwindled shape of Aunt Leonora into something like her own lithe, graceful, youthful figure. Though she inwardly smiled at the idea as she pinned and fitted the plaits with the utmost readiness and good will, she followed Miss Lomax downstairs with the heap of silk in her arms, determining, however, to seize an oppor- tunity, before she began her work, to finish and despatch the note she had already written to her mother, and the letter to Godfrey, to be enclosed in one to Sweelways. A more lengthened interview than usual, "lizzie's" young man. 269 which Miss Lomax held with her housekeeper, and the settling some accounts with John keeping her engaged, enabled Lisette to ac- complish her writing without interruption, and knowing Rogers would let a garden boy take her letters to S and thereby ensure their departure at a particular hour, keeping out of sight of the drawing-room window, she tripped across the lawn in search of him. She soon discovered his whereabouts, for his voice was heard raised in angry accents, and on arriving on the south side of the house, she saw at once what was exciting his ire. The Prince Imperial, in the coolest, most deliberate manner, was dis- playing the beauties of the garden to Pert and Pet, proudly strutting between them through the curved paths intersecting the borders, and every now and then testifying his approval and admiration by pausing to kick and scratch up some of the soil — an example his companions did not scruple to follow — and giving loud, shrill crows of delight, whilst Rogers and his factotum stood by, not knowing what steps to take, fearing to produce only further disorder and 270 lisettk's venture. mischief, by attempting to capture or drive away the intruders. The expression of dismay on the old gardener's face was almost ludicrous to behold, when Lisette approached and asked him why he did not try and catch them. " Just as if I could get hold of that tearing, rampageous bird," he wofully exclaimed. " No ! — if my missus will keep them 'ere poultry, she must find some one else to look after her plants, I will have no more to do with them, and so I have told her these many times." " But you are letting them do all the harm without trying to prevent them," cried Lisette, as she saw the Prince in the very act of uprooting, with his spurs, one of Miss Lomax's pet geraniums. " Let me see what I can do." And by warily pursuing the trio, and steadily but gently driving them before her, she suc- ceeded in making his Royal Highness evacuate the flowery territory, and once got on to the open space of the lawn, it was easy enough to expel him altogether. Rogers had soon the satisfaction of seeing him make an ignominious " LIZZIE'S " YOUNG MAN. 2 7 I flight and disappear down the bank leading to the tunnel, his two wives closely following him, and giving discordant duckings of terror as they vanished also. Nevertheless, the old gardener declared, as he looked on the de- rangement which had been created even by the brief visit he had paid ; if " that Prince ever set foot in his garden again, he should not escape having his neck wrung ; " and he walked away without Lisette being able to make him smile, and not even choosing to set the borders to rio-hts, till his mistress had been out and seen with her own eyes the consequences of keeping such rubbish as cocks and hens. Miss Lomax was very angry too when she heard of the invasion. She said, " Rogers is right — they must go ; there are no worse gardeners than bantams, and the Prince Imperial is the most audacious of his tribe. I wonder I have allowed him to go on so long ; but Godfrey — Mr. Rivers, I mean — used to keep bantams when he was quite a boy. These are some of their de- scendants, and I never have liked to part with 2/2 LISETTE'S \I.NTl ; them in consequence. However, Rogers must not be tormented, nor his beautiful flowers demolished." Of course Lisette stood up in defence of the Prince. She felt sure, she said, Rogers, who had been digging and removing a dead shrub from a spot near the tunnel, had left the opening- unprotected. She hoped Miss Lomax would not part with the pretty fowls, which she had once been fond of. " Yes, I used to be fond of them," returned the old lady, " but only for the sake of past associations, and everything must have an end in time you know," and she sighed whilst she smiled. " I am too old to care for such things now, Lizzie : when I was your age I was as enthusiastic as you are. The very next time those bantams enter the garden, they meet their doom, and it will serve them rigfht Now {jo and bring your work, and sit down there whilst I write my letter, and when I have finished it you shall read to me ; Miss F reeling said you read very well, quite as well as she did. I shall not venture into the garden until I have given "lizzie's" young man. 273 Rogers time to get composed and in good humour again. I shall like to see how you alter my skirt, and no one is likely to call before luncheon time." VOL. I. j;4 LISETTES VENTURE. CHAPTER XXIII. SOME MORNING VISITORS. Aunt Leonora was perfectly contented all the morning-, and less restless than usual. Lisette suited her admirably as a companion, and managed her with a degree of tact and judg- ment which made her comfortable and happy in herself, and pleased with those around her. When the letter writing and beef-tea were over, the skirt completed and carried away, Lisette, without waiting to be asked, laid Miss Lomax's knitting before her, and unfolded the Times. She was certainly rather at a loss what subject to begin upon. She did not venture to read the births, marriages, and deaths. It is said that the first of these lists is generally regarded with the greatest interest by youthful SOME MORNING VISITORS. 275 mothers ; the second, by young, unmarried ladies ; the third, by persons of mature years. Aunt Leonora eschewed all feeling of concern in the two first. " What do I care," she said to Dora, when she had attempted to enlighten her on these points, " how many new brats are brought into the world ? plenty there always have been, and plenty, no doubt, there will always be." She professed the same unmindfulness respecting the marriages ; whilst with regard to the last record, she observed : " What could be more depressing, more saddening, than to read of friends, or even of acquaintances, dropping off, one by one, like leaves from a tree in autumn weather ?" So the supplement to the Times was never glanced at by Aunt Leonora ; indeed, John had left off bringing it into the drawing-room, excepting when visitors were at The Firs. The leading articles happened to be of the driest description that day, and the Court Circular Lisette turned from as quickly as possible ; for the havoc the Prince of Wales 276 lisette's VENTUR] . was continuing to make amongst the crrouse and red deer in the Highlands, and the re- creation he was taking there in various ways, might have soured the old lady's temper for the rest of the morning. But below the column detailing the proceedings of royalty in Scot- land, was a paragraph on the Princess Mary having opened the F Hall, and this was an inestimable boon to Lisette. Miss Lomax was an ardent admirer of the Princess, and from her Royal Highness being one of the few remaining of what she styled the " old Royal Family," and associated in her mind with days gone by, she never wearied of hearing her praises sung. It was with the utmost interest she now listened to the eulogium on her graceful bearing, and the happy mixture of dignity and genuine hearti- ness which so peculiarly characterises her, and renders her so great a favourite with all classes of the English people. " Yes, there never was a more charming creature ! " exclaimed Aunt Leonora with enthusiasm ; " and so beautiful — such a right regal looking face, and she is as good as goold. SOME MORNING VISITORS. 277 I am so glad she has such a handsome husband. How fond her dear aunts used to be of her, and she reminds me of some of them. Well, they are all gone ! What a fine set George the Third's sons and daughters were ! but of course you never saw any of them." Lisette, who, during this speech, had been scanning the wide pages before her, had by good luck hit on a daring attempt at burglary in Essex, in which the maiden lady of the house had displayed a wonderful amount of self-possession, even confronting a villain who entered her bedroom, and defending the cup- board which held her silver teapot and jewellery with so much determination, until her servants came to her assistance, that the man was caught, and kept locked up in a cellar, until the proper authorities arrived to carry him off. Miss Lomax was delighted. In her younger days she had had several opportunities of shining forth as a heroine, not only in feats of prowess as a horsewoman, but, not long after Godfrey came to her, when a beam in the kitchen chimney had taken fire and en- 2;^> LISETTES VENTURE. dangered the house, and fancying the child's nursery was In peril, she had rushed through a passage filled with smoke and flames to his rescue. She always liked to tell this story, and also to give an account of a visit she paid, many years before, at a very old country place, supposed to be haunted, and in spite of all advice and remonstrance from its inmates, had insisted on inhabiting the ghost's chamber. Much to her vexation, each night her slumbers had really been disturbed by knockings and strange sepulchral sounds behind the tapestried walls, till at length, no longer able to put up with it with patience, she had sat up in bed, and in the loudest, gruffest tones exhorted the spectre, whoever or whatever it might be, to come forth at once and show itself, for she would stand its nonsense no longer. Then she had violently hurled a thick book, which lay on a table near her, to the other end of the room ; upon which the rumpus which ensued was tremendous — such a scuffle and rush, running and pattering, as well as a few squeaks, which in themselves SOME MORNING VISITORS. 279 would have sufficed to proclaim the dismay and panic she had caused amongst a legion of rats and mice, domiciled within the arras. Then she related how, the next night, she enticed Cyrus, the huge Persian cat — always driven from the upper chambers by the housemaids — to be her bedfellow, and she slept soundly without one disturbance, and informed her friends on descending to breakfast, that she had quite satisfied herself on one point — their ghost was a gentleman with a tail, let alone a long beard and whiskers. The merriest peal of laughter from Lisette applauded Aunt Leonora's spirited recital, and then the old lady, either tired of sitting still, or perhaps thinking she might be merging into too great familiarity with the little waiting damsel, chose that moment for putting down her knitting, and trotting across the room to the open window. She saw that the coast was clear of Rogers, so desiring Lisette to fetch her sunshade and to carry her garden scissors, " mistress and maid " presently arrived on the scene of the Prince Imperial's exploit. 28o lisette's venture. It seemed Miss Lomax thought, after all, very little damage had been done ; for she only smiled, and desiring Lisette to pick up a beautiful stemless scarlet blossom which lay on the turf beside them, and gently to smooth with the scissors a disordered corner of one of the borders, she said, " Now I think we have done Rogers' work very nicely for him ; but it must not happen again." Then the sun being hot in that spot she turned towards the shaded fernery. When they re-entered the drawing-room shortly after, she remembered a list that was to be made of the commissions she had to execute when they drove out in the afternoon, and Lisette had almost completed it for her, when wheels were heard on the gravel approach, and presently the hall bell rang. " Who can that be, I wonder ? " exclaimed Aunt Leonora. " Evidently some one come to luncheon ; rather an inopportune day. Do run and tell Mrs. Currie to send in now what I ordered for my dinner in the evening. I am sure you will lend her a helping hand, for the SOME MORNING VISITORS. 28 1 kitchen maid is out on a holiday ; and Currie told me you had taught her how to make that delicious caramel pudding we had on Saturday, so I know you can cook." Too srlad was Lisette to be off. With due decorum she walked out of the drawing-room and closed the door behind her, then she gave one glance through the open hall door, and catching a glimpse of two ladies in black de- scending from a carriage, she scampered off as fast as the rats and mice in the tapestried chamber must have done ; for she had beheld her travelling companions on the railway. She first ran to Mrs. Currie, who was pre- paring a few tiny, delicate lamb cutlets for her lady's solitary meal, and did not at all reckon on having to provide for company in the absence of her subordinate. "And if it is the Miss Sherlocks, they are very particular ladies, and my mistress likes them always to have of the very best ; still, if you will kindly lend a hand with the sweets, I think we may somehow manage to make a pretty fair show. 2S2 LISETTl/s VENTURE. Then Lisctte rushed up the back stairs to her room, exchanged her little lace-trimmed apron for a plainer one, put on the larger cap she had brought in case of any emergency, altered her hair — in short, having done everything in her power to make herself look as unlike herself as she could, she descended ; and not in the kitchen, but in the cool, large china closet ad- joining it, standing before a white deal table, and surrounded by shelves of costly porcelain, she achieved several little artistic feats on compotes and frothy creams — too thankful to be called upon to perforin any function which kept her in a region where she should be neither sought after nor seen. When at length her undertaking was com- pleted, and the pretty glass dishes were carried off on a tray, she received the thanks of Mrs. Currie, not in words only, but in the more sub- stantial form of " a dainty dish," fit " to set before a queen," which the good housekeeper apologised for asking her to carry herself to her sitting-room, as they w r ere so put about by Martha being out that day. Fain would Lisette SOME MORNING VISITORS. 2S3 have begged Mrs. Currie to let her stay to eat her dinner there, in the retired closet with the small wire-grated window, but as that could not be, she went and sat in Mrs. Benwell's bowery apartment, with the door wide open, listening for every sound which issued from the dining- room. When at length, from the moving of chairs and other indications, she knew that the guests and their hostess were about to pass through the hall to the drawing-room, leaving her cherry tart half finished, she jumped on to the window sill and sprang out. END OF VOL. 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"A remarkable book of genuine poetry." ■ — Evening Standard. "Genuine power displayed." — Exa- miner. " Poetical feeling is manifest here, and the diction of the poem is unimpeachable." —Pall Mall Gazette. 65, Cor nh ill ; &* 12, Paternoster Row, London. Works Published by ffttiry S. King 6* Co., Poetry — contim SONGS OF LIFE AND DEATH. By John Payne, Author <>f " Intaglio ." "£ " The Mas in'.- of Shadi >« ." etc. Crown Svo. $s. " The art of ballad-writing has Ion:' lost In England, and Mr. Payne may claim to be ik restorer. It is ;i perfect delight to meet with such a ballad .is • May Margaret' in the present volume." — Westminster Review. A NEW VOLUME OF SONNETS. V,y Rev. C. Tennyson Turner. Crown 4s. 6d. " Mi. Turner is a genuine poet ; hi is sweet and p utifiil in exprei u subtle in thought." — Pall Mall Gazette. 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" No extracts 1 justice t exquisite tones, tli and delicately wrought harmoni these poems." — N "A purity and delicacy of feeling like morning air." — (i>a/>liic. SONGS OF TV/O WORLDS. S S.-ii. s. Bythe Vuthor of " Song : " T. Worlds." I [In the Pt THE LEGENDS OF ST. PATRICK AND OTHER POEMS. By Aubrey de Vere. Crown Svo. 5*. " Mi. De Vere' versification in his earlier poems is 1 haracterised by great sweetness and simplicity. H his instrument, and rarely offends the ear with false notes." Pall Mali "We have but space to commend the varied structure oi his verse, the careful- ness of his grammar, and his excellent English." — Saturday Rt FICTION. AILEEN FERRERS. By Susan Morley. In Ci '■'■'ii Ivo, cl ith. [Immediately. IDOLATRY. A 1 By Julian Hawthorne. Author 1 own Svo, cloth. VANESSA. By the Author of " Thoma ;ina," " Dorothy," etc. Ci in ovo. CIVIL SERVICE. By J. P. Listado. Author of "Mi urice Rhynhart." 1 J UDITH GWYNNE. By Lisle Carr. In 3 vols. Crown 8vo, cloth. 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The A thenarum says that " the book is full of Hawthorne's most characteristic writing." COL. MEADOWS TAYLOR'S INDIAN TALES. THE CONFESSIONS OF A THUG Is now ready, and is the Volume <>f A New and Cheaper Edition, in 1 vol. each, Illustrated, price 6.r. It will be followed by " TARA " (now in the pre "RALPH DARNE1 L," and " TIPPOO SULTAN." 65, Cornhill ; and 12, Paternoster Row, London. Works Published by Henry S. King 6- Co., 25 THE CORNHILL LIBRARY OF FICTION. 3s. 6d. per Volume. IT is intended in this Series to produce books of such merit that readers will care to preserve them on their shelves. They are well printed on good paper, handsomely bound, with a Frontispiece, and are sold at the moderate price of 3s. Qd. each. THE HOUSE OF RABY. By Mrs. G. Hooper. A FIGHT FOR LIFE. By Moy Thomas. ROBIN GRAY. By Charles Gibbon " Pure in sentiment, well written, and cleverly constructed." — British Quarterly Review. 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"One of the most remarkable novels which has appeared of late."— Pall Mall Gazette. GOD'S PROVIDENCE HOUSE. By Mrs. G. L. Banks. " Far above the run of common three- volume novels, evincing much literary power in not a few graphic descriptions of manners and local customs. ... A genuine Possesses the merit of care, industry, and local knowledge."— Athenaum. "Wonderfully readable. The style is very simple and natural." — Morning Post. By Charles Gibbon. sketch." — Spectator. FOR LACK OF GOLD. " A powerfully written nervous story." — Athenaum. " A piece of very genuine workmanship." — British Quarterly Review. _ "There are few recent novels more powerful and engrossing." — Examiner. ABEL DRAKE'S WIFE. By John Saunders. "A striking book, clever, interesting, and original. We have seldom met with a book so thoroughly true to life, so deeply interesting in its detail, and so touching in its simple pathos." — Athenaum. OTHER STANDARD NOVELS TO FOLLOW. 65, Cor nil ill ; &= 12, Paternoster Row, London. 26 Works Published by Henry S. King &* Co., THEOLOGICAL. WORDS OF TRUTH AND CHEER. A Mission of [nstruction and Suggestion. By the Rev. Archer P. Gurney. i vol. Crown 8vo. Prio 6j. I In the j ' THE GOSPEL ITS OWN WITNESS. Being the Hnlsean Lectures for 1S73. ]!y the Rev. Stanley Leathes. 1 voL Crown 8vo. THE CHURCH AND THE EMPIRES: Historical Periods. By Henry W. Wilberforce. Preceded by .1 Memoir of the Author, by J. II. Newman, D.D. 1 vol. Po6t8vo. Price xou. 6J. THE HIGHER LIFE. A New Volume' by the Rev. J. Baldwin Brown, Author of "'The Soul's Kxodus," etc. I vol. Crown 8 Price 7j. 6Y. HARTHAM CONFERENCES ; OR, DISCUSSIONS UPON SOME OF THE RELIGIOUS TOPICS OF THE DAY. Hy the Rev. F. "W. Kingsford, M.A., Vicar of S. Thomas's, Stamford Hill ; late Chaplain II. E.I. C. (Bengal Presidency), "Audi alteram partem." Crown Svo. Price $s. Gil. STUDIES IN MODERN PROBLEMS. A Series of Essays bv various Writers. Edited by the Rev. Orby Shipley, M.A. Vol. I. Cr. 8vo. Price 5^. CONTENTS. Retreats for Persons Living in the World. [". 1 . CaKI BR, M.A. Catholic ami Protestant. Edward L. Hlenkinmh i-, M.A. The Bishops on Confession. The Editor. Sacramental Confession. A. H. Ward, B . A Abolition of the .; ) Arli les. Nicholas Pocock, M.A The Sanctity of Marriage. John Walter Lea, B.A Creation and Modern Science. George Greenwood, M.A A Second Series is being published, price Gil. each part. UNTIL THE DAY DAWN. Four Advent Lectures delivered in the I copal Chapel, Milvcrton, Warwickshire, on the Sunday Evenings during Advent, 1870. By the Rev. Marmaduke E. Browne. Crown Svo. Trice 2s. Gil. "Four really original and stirring sermons." — John Hull. A SCOTCH COMMUNION SUNDAY. To which are added Discourses from a Certain University City. Second Edition. By A. K. H. B., Author of "The Recreations of a Country Parson." Crown Svo. Second Edition. Price 5*. " Some discourses are added, which are "We commend this volume as full of couched in Ian ..f rare power." — interest to all our readers. It is written John Bull. with much ability and good feeling, with " Exceedingly fresh and readable." — excellent taste and marvellous tact." — GlusgiTtU NtWS. vrch llirald. EVERY DAY A PORTION: Adapted from the Bible and the Prayer Book, for the Private Devotions of those living in Widowhood. Collected and Edited by the Lady Mary Vyner. Square crown Svo, printed on good paper, elegantly bound. Price $s. " Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trustcth in God." 65, CornhiU; &* 12, Paternoster Row, London. Works Published by Henry S. -King &* Co., 27 Theological— continued. CHURCH THOUGHT AND CHURCH WORK. Edited by the Rev. Chas. Anderson, M.A., Editor of " Words and Works in a London Parish." Demy 8vo. Pp.250. Js. 6d. Containing Articles by the Rev. J. Ll. Davies, J. M. Capes, Harry Jones, Brooke Lambert, A. J. 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