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THE 
 
 CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 BY THE AUTHOR OF 
 
 >i I- ^' 
 
 "HEARTSEASE," "THE HEIR OF REDCLYFFE" 
 "SCENES AND CtlARACTERS," 
 
 EIGHT THOUSAND. 
 
 NEW YORK : 
 D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 
 
 443 & 445 BEOA.DWAT. 
 
 M.DCCC.LXIV. 
 
?E5 
 
 sqiz 
 
 C31 
 
 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 I would build a cloudy house 
 For my thoughts to live in, 
 
 "When for earth too fancy loose, 
 And too low for Heaven, 
 
 Hush ! I talk my dream alone : 
 
 I build it bright to see ; 
 I build it on the moon-lit cloud, 
 
 To which I looked with thee. 
 
 E. B. Beowning. 
 
 About two o'clock in the afternoon, the yellow foggy light 
 of a spring, or rather winter day in London, came, for it 
 could not be said to shine, through the two windows of a 
 large apartment, which the long table and the numerous 
 desks and books, distinguished as a school-room. Large 
 maps hung against the wall ; there was a piano, a pair of 
 globes, sundry drawing desks and easels^ in the midst of 
 which were nearly a score of girls from twelve years old 
 to seventeen, their gay chatter and bright looks proving 
 how little power the restraints of school had to check 
 their flow of spirits in this hour of relaxation. Yet there 
 was an air of thoughtfulness on the countenances of two 
 or three of the elder ones, who were seated at their desks, 
 either turning over papers or seeking earnestly in books 
 which seemed of a graver cast than those in which their 
 studies usually lay ; blushes, too, there were, and looks of 
 nervousness and embarrassment, as if something unusual 
 
 101832 
 
4 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 was impending. All started when the door opened, and 
 admitted two young ladies, evidently sisters, who came in, 
 one with a downcast pensive eye. the other with her cheek 
 glowing, but looking relieved. 
 
 ' Miss Enderby,' said the second, ' Mr. AValton is 
 ready for you.' 
 
 * Oh ! ' said Miss Enderby, slowly rising, ' how I wish 
 I had a sister or anybody to go with me ! Must I go 
 alone? I quite dread it ! Does he say much, Kate? ' 
 
 * 0, he is very kind,' was the answer. * You will find 
 it much better than you expect.' 
 
 ' That I promise you, without even knowing what he is 
 like. You see he has not quite eaten them up, so there 
 are hopes for you,' cried Miss Allen, a lively young girl, 
 as Miss Enderby left the room with a sigh and look of 
 reluctance. ' 0, let me see,' she added, arresting the hand 
 of Kathcrine, who was going to put a small folded piece 
 of paper into her desk. ' Let me look, pray,' and two or 
 three heads crowding together, their owners had the satis- 
 faction of reading ' Kathcrine Eleanor Berners, aged 16, 
 examined for Confirmation, and approved. J. Walton.' 
 
 ' And yours, let us see yours ! ' cried some others, 
 fastcuing on the other ticket, which ran thus : ' Emmeline 
 Mary Berners, aged 17, examined for Confirmation, and 
 approved. J. Walton.' 
 
 'Did he ask you very hard questions?' proceeded 
 Susan Allen. 
 
 ' No,' said Emmeline, ' he only said a few words to us.' 
 And as if to put an end to the subject, she sat down to 
 her desk, took up a book, and seemed to read, though a 
 sigh now and then might prove that she was thinking, 
 
 Kate waited a little longer to answer the interrogations 
 of her companions, until the return of Miss Enderby re- 
 moved the general attention from her, and she was able 
 to move close to her sister, and say, unheard by the others, 
 'Emmie, dear, what do you think about it?' 
 
 ' I liked what he said very much,' was Emmelinc's 
 reply. 
 
 ' Ah ! but about that I ' 
 
 ' ! I am sure I could never go now,' said Emmeline, 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 5 
 
 hastily. ' You know Miss Danby lets us do as wo plcaso 
 about it.' 
 
 ' Constance used to go,' said Kate. 
 
 ' Yes, but Constance alwajs was so different from us. 
 If we had her still, or if we had Herbert to talk to us, it 
 would do better ; but here, among all the others, and 
 thinking about all sorts of things, as we must do here, I 
 am sure we could never be fit.' 
 
 ' He said if we were fit for Confirmation we were fit 
 for the Sacrament,' said Kate ; ' but I can't quite see how 
 that can be. We promised all these things by our god- 
 fathers and godmothers, and are bound to do them now, 
 so it does not seem so much to promise them for ourselves; 
 but the other — it is a great deal too awful ! ' 
 
 ' yes 1 ' said Emmeline, raising her eyes, and sighing, 
 ' This is no place for preparation. When we have left 
 school and can manage as we please, it will be another 
 thing. When Herbert and Constance come home, they 
 will help us.' 
 
 ' If they were at home, I know what they would say,' 
 said Kate. 
 
 '■ Yes, and we should be fitter,' sighed Emmeline. ' I 
 shall write and tell Constance all that I feel, and I think 
 she will agree with me that we had better wait till we 
 have more time for thought. Yet I am always afraid of 
 teazing her by asking her deep questions in the midst of 
 her journey, and when she wants to attend to Herbert. 
 if he was better, and mamma in England, how happy 
 we should be ! ' 
 
 ' Happy, indeed,' said Kate ; ' we all living with 
 mamma and papa at Copseley, as you settled so long ago, 
 that nice plan of yours.' 
 
 ' Yes, then I think we could be quite good,' said 
 Emmeline. ' Think of walking into the little parsonage, 
 and reading with Constance as we used to do ! And then 
 how we would teach the children. I could soon learn 
 Latin enough for Alfred, and you should have Janet, and 
 we could be so useful. Going to the school, too. We 
 would get papa to build such a beauty, all gable ends, 
 and chimneys, with roses twining over them, and all the 
 
6 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 village children would be so fond of us, and bring Uh 
 nosegays.' 
 
 ' Yes, and we would have one for our own little maid,' 
 said Kate, ' hear her read every day ; and oh ! what a 
 garden we would have ! ' 
 
 ' Honeysuckle climbing up to our windows and per- 
 fuming our room,' said Emmeline, ' and a greenhouse like 
 the one at Rowthorpe, where we might sit and read in the 
 summer.' 
 
 ' And plenty of ponies and donkeys to go out riding 
 on,' said Kate. ' I do not think we have quite forgotten 
 all Lord Somerville's riding lessons, and we shall have 
 Alfred to go out with us, and Herbert and Constance too.' 
 
 ' Delightful ! ' said Emmeline. ' Oh ! but to have 
 mamma and the children, that would be happiness enough 
 anywhere ! I feel as if to nestle to her would be too 
 much. If one could but reach out with one's arms as one 
 does with one's heart, dear mamma, dear Constance, how 
 soon we would meet.' 
 
 At that moment a double knock re-echoed through 
 the house, and presently it was announced that Lady 
 Frances Somerville was come to call on the Miss Berners. 
 These were pleasant tidings, for Lady Frances was the 
 elder sister of the already-mentioned ' Herbert,' their 
 brother-in-law, and with great eagerness they descended 
 to the drawing-room. 
 
 There they found a lady of about thirty, not pretty, 
 but very pleasing, with a sweet placidity of expression, 
 and soft brown eyes, which smiled more than her lips ; 
 she was tall and slender, and her dress, plain, quiet, 
 delicate in colour and of handsome materials, had that 
 sort of wave and flow which might recall to mind the 
 forms which have occasioned the birch tree to be called 
 the ' Lady of Trees.' As soon as the girls had glanced 
 round to see that she was alone and that they need not be 
 on their good behaviour, they flew up to her, and joyously 
 received and returned her affectionate embrace. 
 
 ' Yes, you ought to be glad to see me,' said she, in a 
 cheerful, cordial tone, ' for I have excellent news for you. 
 Here is a letter from Somerville, with a capital account 
 of dear Herbert.' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' 0, that is delightful,' cried Kate. ' Thank you^ 
 thank you. Where are they ? At Rome yet ? ' 
 
 ' No, at Terni, hoping to get to Rome in two days' 
 time. Herbert was much less tired than they expectedj 
 though they have been taking longer days' journeys than 
 at first ; he coughs very little, and has had no pain in the 
 chest. He has really been able to enjoy the journey ever 
 since they came into Italy. Then you had not heard 
 from Constance ? ' 
 
 'No,' said Emmeline, 'not since they left Florence. 
 It was very kind in you to come and tell us.' 
 
 ' The news was too good to keep to myself,' said Lady 
 Frances, smiling, ' and it is such a treat to find some one 
 to tell it to besides papa. 0, and I must tell you that 
 Somerville says Constance is such a capital manager, and 
 makes the rooms at the inns look so pleasant and com- 
 fortable directly, that he can do nothing but stand and 
 admire, and think how different it was when he was there 
 alone. Is that one of the arts you learn here ? ' 
 
 ' It must have been inspiration that taught her,' said 
 Emmeline, laughing ; ' I never could make anything com- 
 fortable, not even a doll.' 
 
 ' You are looking white to-day, Emmie.' said Lady 
 Frances, kindl}^ 
 
 ' We have just had our last interview with Mr. Wal- 
 ton,' said Kate, ' and she is so nervous.' 
 
 ' Ah ! I wanted to know when the Confirmation is to 
 take place,' said Lady Frances. 
 
 ' On Monday, at eleven o'clock,' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' At St. George's, I suppose 1 I must try to be there, 
 Constance will wish to hear about it.' 
 
 ' 0, you are so kind,' -cried Kate, while Emmeline 
 looked down. ' It will be a great comfort to know you 
 are there, poor Emmie is so frightened.' 
 
 ' It is so awful,' said Emmeline, blushing. 
 
 ' Yes, indeed,' said Lady Frances, ' the vow would be 
 too fearful but for the blessing, and that to which it 
 admits us.' 
 
 ' There is what makes me uncomfortable,' said Em- 
 meline. 
 
 ' About the Sacrament,' added Kate. 
 
8 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 * I cannot bear tlie responsibility of going or of staying 
 away,' said Enimeline. ' 0, I am so far from being good 
 enough.' 
 
 ' It is the means, not the reward of goodness,' said 
 Lady Frances. 
 
 ' 0, Lady Frances, I do think one talk with you would 
 clear all up,' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' I should like very much to try to help you,' said 
 Lady Frances. ' Next time papa dines out without me, 
 I will send the carriage, and I dare say Miss Danby will 
 let me have you. But I do not think one talk would do, 
 especially with me, who am not the right person. Have 
 not you been able to tell your clergyman your difficulties ? 
 Does not he see you in private ? ' 
 
 ' Yes,' said Emmeline, smiling, as she looked down and 
 blushed ; ' but I do not know whether it was our fault or 
 not, we never could say one word for ourselves when we 
 were sitting up opposite to him, and he making a hesita- 
 ting sort of lecture, wishing it was over, I am sure, quite 
 as much as we did.' 
 
 Lady Frances could not help smiling, though rather 
 sadly, at the quiet grave humour of the manner in which 
 Emmeline represented the mutual embarrassment of the 
 young curate and his catechumens. 
 
 ' It was all very well,' added Kate, ' when we were 
 all together in a class, protected by numbers. It was not 
 much worse to confront him than Signor Piccini ; but 
 in that room, all by ourselves, without so much as an 
 exercise book to look at ! 0, the awkwardness was be- 
 yond description.' 
 
 ' If it had but been Herbert,' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' Yes, Herbert would be your right instructor,' said 
 Lady Frances, ' and why should you not write to him ? ' 
 
 ' I never could say what I mean in a letter,' said 
 Emmeline ; ' I am sure I could not to him, nor even to 
 Constance herself. Besides, it would worry him.' 
 
 ' No, that it would not,' said Lady Frances ; ' it would 
 give him more pleasure than anything to feel himself 
 still of use. I do hope you will write to him, it is just 
 what he would wish. By-the-by, where was Constance 
 confirmed ? ' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 9 
 
 ' At Albury,' said Kate, fist before we came here. 
 She was only fourteen ; but old Mr. Law. our clergyman 
 there, was very anxious it should be done. He was very 
 fond of her.' 
 
 ' Well,' said Lady Frances, ' when you come to me, 
 I will show you some of the papers that were given me 
 when I was confirmed.' 
 
 The girls eagerly thanked her, and next she asked if 
 they had heard lately from India. 
 
 ' Not by the last mail,' said Kate, ' I cannot think why, 
 for I am sorry to say the idea of coming home is given 
 up again for the present. They think now of staying 
 another year, and sending home little Alfred without 
 them.' 
 
 ' Oh ! that is a very great disappointment,' said Lady 
 Frances. * Where would the little boy go ? ' 
 
 ' To Mr. AVilloughby,' said Emmeline, ' the uncle 
 Frank Willoughby spends his holidays with. We shall 
 never see him at all. It is very vexatious after so many 
 hopes of mamma's return ; but everything does go wrong 
 now.' 
 
 ' No no, Emmie, not Herbert's getting well,' said 
 Kate cheerfully. 
 
 Lady Frances looked sorrowful, and did not make 
 any answer to this, only proceeding to tell them that 
 the old elm at Rowthrope had been blown down, and 
 other news of the same kind, and soon after she wished 
 them good-bye. 
 
 ' Poor things,' murmured she, leaning back in the 
 carriage, ' I wish I could do more for them ; I half 
 promised Constance to do what I could towards supply- 
 ing her place to them ; and yet what can I do ? I cannot 
 inflict two school-girls again upon papa, though he was 
 very good-natured, and these are such nice girls that I 
 believe we all enjoyed their visit last year very much, 
 even Somerville himself. Yes, we were very happy then ; 
 but then we were all in good spirits, and now — 0, is it 
 safe to let myself hope ? Is it not foolish to catch at this 
 first gleam when I have sufi'ered so much, and learnt how 
 vain such hopes were, by seeing them fade away in Anne's 
 1* 
 
10 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 case ? No, this is ingratitude. Did not they come to 
 cheer me, and support nic through all that followed, and 
 now why am not I more thankful that dear Herbert himself 
 is relieved from the present suffering, and his gentle little 
 w^ifo from anxiety ? Yet, let me dwell on this, and then 
 I shall be the better able to cheer papa up, wliile I leave 
 the future to Him who knows what is best for all of us, 
 ' I wonder what is best to be done,' continued Lady 
 Frances, in her meditations, ' to put these jioor girls into 
 the right way of thinking about their Confirmation. They 
 have knowledge enough, but it is all a school lesson, the 
 Clergyman a master ; it all wants reality, and to be 
 brought home to them — no wonder, I suppose, the only 
 marvel is that it should be so different with Constance, 
 Here Lady Frances' carriage stopped, and thus brought 
 her meditations to a sudden conclusion. 
 
 Constance, Emmelnie, and Katherine Berners, were 
 the daughters of an officer who had married in India. 
 They had been sent to England when Constance was six 
 years old and Katherine four, and placed by their uncle, 
 Mr. Berners, under the care of Mrs. Ellison, a Clergy- 
 man's widow, with whom they had scarcely spent a few 
 months before intelligence arrived that their father had 
 died, after a few hours suffering, frona one of the sudden 
 short illnesses of India. Their mother, accustomed to 
 an Indian life, with her father and mother and all her 
 family their resident, was in no haste to return to Eng 
 land, and after about eighteen months, she married Sir 
 Francis Willoughby, a General in the Company's service, 
 and a widower with one son, who was of course in Eng- 
 land for education. 
 
 When Constance was about fourteen, the three sisters 
 were removed from Mrs. Ellison's and placed at Miss 
 Danby's establishment, a school which proved to have 
 been better chosen than could have been expected from 
 the careless habits of their uncle, who lived chiefly 
 abroad, thought his little nieces a burthen, and only 
 tried to go as far as he could from the trouble of attend 
 ing to them, or to his property. It was a superior style 
 of school, well conducted, and where a good deal was 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 11 
 
 tauglit ; and if there was not the same carefu), afifcction' 
 ate, motherly training as they had experienced from 
 Mrs. Ellison, to whom they had been more like daughters 
 than scholars, there was much well-judging, successful 
 care, both of their bodies and minds, though it might 
 perhaps be that the care was more of their minds than of 
 their souls. 
 
 The Miss Berners had no near relations in England, 
 and were therefore obliged to spend the holidays at 
 school, unless any of their companions persuaded their 
 parents to take compassion on them. Constance was a 
 person of many friends, and for her sake they were almost 
 always in request, though Emmeline, more shy, and less 
 inclined to exert herself in behalf of acquaintance, clung 
 to her elder and younger sisters, and though generally 
 liked, did not form friendships, . At seventeen Constance 
 left school, and went to pay a round of visits to relations 
 and acquaintances, before rejoining her mother in India. 
 The first of these was to Miss Forester, a Clergyman's 
 daughter, who had long ago made Constance promise to 
 come to the Consecration of a new Church just completed 
 in her father's parish. 
 
 Lord Herbert Somerville had lately been ordained to 
 the curacy of the new church, and was likewise staying 
 at Mr. Forester's, waiting till his own abode at Copseley 
 Hamlet could be made habitable. Fresh from Oxford, 
 with a high reputation for talent, and with goodness, of 
 which the Forester family were never weary of talking — 
 with a fine intellectual countenance, set off by a pair of 
 thoughtful yet lustrous eyes, Constance looked up to him 
 as perfection in every respect, listened with delight to his 
 conversations with Mr. Forester, and thought it marvel- 
 lous condescension and good nature in him to explain to 
 her Church architecture, talk over books, wait kindly for 
 her answer, as if it could be worth hearing, and listen to 
 her singing. 
 
 Little did Constance guess at her own patent for 
 popularity ; to her an invitation for two days in the 
 holidays seemed a great undeserved piece of kindness, 
 for which she could never be sufficiently grateful; and 
 
12 THE CASTLE EUILDEIlS. 
 
 she was the only person who was not sensible of tha 
 charm of her sweet, modest countenance — her bright, 
 brisk helpfulness — her great refinement of tone and man- 
 ner — her simplicity and earnestness — her full conviction 
 of her own ignorance and insignificance, and her great 
 desire for improvement of every kind. She was more 
 surprised than any body else when, at the end of her six 
 weeks' visit, she found this first of human beings actually 
 asking her to marry him ! 
 
 Her wonder was only equalled by that which she ex- 
 perienced at the tall, gray-haired Marquis of Liddesdale, 
 at whom, at the dinner on the Consecration day, she had 
 looked from the other end of the table, on the principle 
 that a cat may look at a king ; when he, so far from set- 
 ting his face against this attachment of his son's, came 
 from Rowthorpe for the very purpose of seeing her again, 
 and showed her all the kindness and affection she could 
 have looked for in a father ; when Lord Somerville was 
 full of cordial good-nature, and when Lady Frances threw 
 her arm around her and whispered with tearful eyes that 
 now she should have a sister again. 
 
 Nothing was waited for but the needful correspond- 
 ence with Lady Willoughby ; and in the summer the wed- 
 ding took place, making Emmeline and Katherine, to say 
 nothing of other people, supremely happy, and filling the 
 heads of Miss Danby's young ladies to a greater extent 
 than usual with visions of lordly lovers. 
 
 Never were Emmeline and Katherine more happy than 
 during that summer. First there was the wedding, 
 which secured their sister to them as they thought, in- 
 stead of taking her away from them; then they spent 
 three weeks at Lord Liddesdale's, after which Lord and 
 Lady Herbert came, and at the end of another week took 
 them, for the remainder of the holidays, back to their 
 Copseley home, as they delighted in calling it. There 
 they looked forward to spending Christmas, but a great 
 disappointment was in store for them. Lord Herbert's 
 health had never been strong, and in the autumn symp- 
 toms of complaint in the lungs began to show themselves ; 
 he was ordered without loss of time to a warmer climate ; 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 13 
 
 and In the early part of December, he set off for Italy, 
 with his wife and his elder brother. 
 
 Instead of the joyous Christmas so eagerly expected, 
 Emmeline and Kate had to spend a winter of anxiety 
 and disappointment; the school more cheerless than 
 usual in its deserted state, and their evenings only now 
 and then enlivened by some treat devised by Miss Danby, 
 or by an invitation from some compassionating London 
 friend. Happily for them, they were a very fond pair 
 of sisters, enjoying a very little together more than a 
 great deal apart. Emmeline, though the more shy, 
 retiring and undemonstrative with strangers, was the 
 leader in every thing when alone with her sister, for 
 Kate thought her unequalled save by Constance, and 
 would scarcely have had such high buoyant spirits, 
 if she had not been always at her side. Moreover, 
 Emmeline was a most magnificent and unbounded 
 dreamer, and Kate had implicit faith in her castles, so 
 that as the two sisters sat over the fire, the comfortless 
 present was forgotten in a future so clearly defined, that 
 they might almost be said to live in it. They had built 
 a mansion for Sir Francis and Lady "Willoughby, where 
 they could almost have counted the rooms — they had 
 devised a plan of education for their little brothers and 
 sisters, with abundance of ready-made moral stories for 
 their benefit — they had restored Constance and her hus- 
 band to Copseley, and had very nearly heard the bells 
 ring for their return. Emmeline could have been almost 
 sorry when the return of their companions put an end to 
 these delightful romancings. 
 
14 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 
 We told o'er all that avc had done, 
 
 Our rambles by the swift brook's side ; 
 Far as the willow-skirted pool, 
 Where two fair swans tofrether glide. 
 
 WOEDSWOETD. 
 
 It was the day after Lady Frances Somerville's visit^ 
 and Emmeliue was almost lost to the cares of this world, 
 in the absorbing task of finding English for one of those 
 commencements of Kerman chapters, of which the author 
 once said, that Heaven doubtless kenw its meaning, but 
 he did not. Katherine was as earnestly, and less hope- 
 lessly intent on the intricacies of a circular temple in 
 perspective, and all the young ladies around were as 
 iDusily engaged, when the door opened and Miss Danby 
 made her appearance, stately and formal as usual, but 
 with a certain affability of countenance which reassured 
 the lesser girls, who had begun to tremble, lest she had 
 captured certain stray books and work-baskets. 
 
 ' Miss Berners, Miss Katherine Berners,' said this 
 dignified personage. Kate jumped up in hopes of an 
 invitation from Lady Frances. Emmeline was touched 
 by her neighbour and rose, still mazed by the German 
 mystification, 
 
 ' I am glad to be the bearer of intelligence which will 
 give you much pleasure,' said Miss Danby, measuring 
 out her words with precision, which ill suited the im- 
 patient Kate. You will be surprised to hear who your 
 visitor is.' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 15 
 
 ' Constance ? Impossible ! ' thought Kate. * O, it 
 must be little Alfred. If she woulu but speak faster.' 
 
 ' Sir Francis Willoughby is in the drawing-room' — ■ 
 came at last. Emmeline and Kate looked at each other, 
 one turned white and the other red, and Katherine 
 breathlessly asked, ' And mamma ? ' 
 
 ' Lady Willoughby is in London,' said Miss Danby ; 
 then seeing how Emmeline trembled with agitation, and 
 her colour varied fast, she added, ' Compose yourself, 
 my dear Miss Berners, pray do not be agitated. I am 
 sure Sir Francis has a countenance full of indulgence and 
 benignity.' 
 
 Emmeline drew two or three deep breaths, and 
 trembling all over, would nevertheless have run at full 
 speed to the drawdng-room, but that she was obliged to 
 follow the slow pacing steps of Miss Danby, which gave 
 time for all her thousand hopes and fears about her 
 mother and step-father to flit confusedly through her 
 brain. Her cheek altered so fast from red to white, 
 and the hand which clasped her sister's was so cold and 
 shaking, that Kate's attention was almost entirely 
 absorbed in watching her. At last they were at the top 
 of the broad stairs, at the door. Miss Danby opened it, 
 and waved them forward with her sweeping dignity. 
 ' Here are my pupils, Sir Francis. This, my dear girls, 
 is the moment you have so long desired.' 
 
 ' Ha ! my dears, how d'ye do? Surprised to see me? 
 Come, you must let me have a kiss — your papa, you know. 
 Your mamma is all impatience to see you.' 
 
 It was not the sort of voice for which Emmeline had 
 prepared herself, and Kate, the first to look up, beheld 
 something very unlike what they had expected — the 
 general, of whom they were so proud, and who had actu- 
 ally distinguished himself and earned his knighthood. 
 They had intended him to be, not perhaps quite as aristo- 
 cratic as Lord Liddesdale, but at any rate a fine old 
 soldier, with a grand military air, whereas they saw a lit- 
 tle man with a face that looked as if it had been dried 
 and baked to the colour and texture of a mummy's skin, 
 thick eyebrows, and whiskers of a grey, which did not 
 
16 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 agree with tlic black stiff curls of what Kate took to be 
 his hair, and small sharp black eyes full of good nature, 
 which was probably what Miss Danby intended by be- 
 nignity. Kate saw in a moment that there was nothing 
 to be afraid of, and spoke out boldly, '0, we are so glad ! 
 When did you arrive? ' 
 
 ' We landed at Southampton yesterday, came by rail- 
 road, drove to an hotel, and I set out directly after break- 
 fast to take you to mamma, she is thinking every minute 
 an hour — ' 
 
 ' Is she quite well, and the children ? ' asked Kate. 
 
 • Quite well — oh yes, very, only rather fatigued with 
 the bustle yesterday — Custom house — Railway — new place, 
 or she would have been here herself, and Janet is a lit- 
 tle upset too. Come, get your bonnets on, and a few 
 things put together, and I will take you to her, but we 
 must not lose time, for I have plenty of business on 
 my hands.' 
 
 The two girls hurried up-stairs, prepared almost with- 
 out speaking, for Erameline's heart was too full and 
 throbbing for words, and were quickly down stairs again. 
 They found Sir Francis consulting Miss Danby about a 
 governess for the children, saying he was in haste to find 
 one, as their Hindostanee nurse was to return by the 
 next ship, and they were quite too much for Lady Wil- 
 loughby. Emmeline thought of her cherished plan of 
 teaching them, but it was no time to put it forward, and 
 Miss Danby was recommending little Miss Townsend, 
 the small, timid under-tcacher, who, after being some 
 years a boarder, had been placed in that situation to 
 qualify herself for a governess. After settling that she 
 should come to be inspected the next day. Sir Francis 
 took his leave ; the Miss Berners made their adieus in 
 the most approved manner, and in a short space were 
 seated in the carriage with him. 
 
 * Well, my dears,' he began, taking hold of Emmeline's 
 still trembling hand, ' come, tell me what 3'ou think of 
 papa, now you have him at last? ' Neither had the least 
 idea what to answer, and he went on, ' quite surprised 
 to see such a sun-dried old fellow?' and as he peeped 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 17 
 
 under Kate's bonnet as she sat opposite to him, ho 
 laughed, and she was very glad to do so too, though in 
 a nervous embarrassed manner. ' Well, never mind,' 
 he continued, ' we shall understand each other very well 
 I am sure I did not expect to see two such fine hand- 
 some young women. I do not wonder now at your 
 sister's good luck. So you were quite taken by sur- 
 prise, were you ? I thought so ; but you see,' — and 
 on he went with an explanation of the motives of their 
 sudden return, and their adventures on the journey, 
 till the sound of his voice blended confusedly in Em- 
 meline's ears with the rattling of the carriage-wheels, 
 whilst her whole soul was absorbed in the memory of 
 days gone by, in the vision of the soft-caressing mother 
 in white muslin — in her fancy, the very impersonation 
 of grace, sweetness, and beauty, and in the still more 
 shadowy remembrance of her father. There were tears 
 ready to spring in her eyes, and she was glad to lean on 
 Kate's arm, when they left the carriage, and with consid- 
 erable bustle were conducted up stairs, and a door was 
 thrown open before them. 
 
 ' Here they are — here are Emmeline and Kate,' said 
 Sir Francis ; and Emmeline, for the first time speaking, 
 cried, ' Mamma, mamma,' and in perfect ecstasy, fell 
 into the outspread arms, and received the soft kisses 
 just as of old. Then it was Kate's turn, and then the 
 mother and daughters could gaze on each other, she 
 sitting between them on the sofa, holding a hand of 
 each, and looking at them alternately, while their eyes 
 were fixed on her half shyly, and half caressingly. There 
 was no disappointment in that gaze ; Lady Willoughby 
 had all the grace and softness so well remembered ; she 
 was indeed pale and faded, and her eyes at ordinary 
 moments were rather sleepy, but she was tall and grace- 
 ful, with the remains of considerable beauty, great gen- 
 tleness of expression, and a very soft musical, though 
 rather languid voice. With so many attractions, it was 
 no wonder that her daughters were delighted beyond 
 expression. 
 
 ' My own darlings ! ' said she, drawing them closer to 
 
16 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 her, and kissing them again, ' and which is Emmie, and 
 which Kate?' 
 
 ' Here — here is Emmie,' said Sir Francis. 
 
 ' No, I am Kate,' was the answer. 
 
 ' You do not mean it — you are Emmeline. Why, I 
 am sure the old lady, governess, mistress, what d'ye call 
 her ? told me as plain as she could speak, you were Miss 
 Berners, and you Miss Katherine.' 
 
 ' I can't help it,' said Kate, laughing, ' I only know I 
 cannot profess to be anything but Miss Katherine.' 
 
 ' Never mind,' said Lady Willoughby, ' I shall learn 
 you soon enough. You are my dearest girls, and that is 
 enough for me.' 
 
 ' But,' continued Sir Francis, ' surely now, was not it 
 Emmeline that talked so pleasantly in the carriage ? ' 
 
 The girls thought they might both safely have dis- 
 claimed the talking, but Emmeline said, ' It was Kate 
 that talked the most. You may always know her be- 
 cause she is the tallest, and has the most colour — in 
 general,' added Emmeline, as she felt her cheeks 
 burning. 
 
 ' Ah ! now,' said Lady Willoughby, * I see my little 
 Emmie's blue eyes, and Katie's own roguish smile. Ah ! 
 you were a sad little woman in those days, always too 
 much for poor mamma. Take off your bonnets, sweet 
 ones, and let me see if they are not the same dear little 
 faces.' 
 
 No one could be surprised at Sir Francis' mistake, for 
 Katherine, though eleven months younger than her sister, 
 was about an inch taller. Both were fair, slight, delicate 
 looking girls, with a beautifully fine and smooth texture 
 of skin, pretty little features, blue eyes and brown hair, 
 but Kate was always first remarked from being rather 
 more jnoiioncee in every way. The light rose-bud tinge 
 on Emmeline's cheek was almost a bloom on Kate's. 
 Emmeline's eyes were so light, that they wanted all the 
 length and darkness of her down-cast sweeping eye- 
 lashes to give them shade. Kate's were more widely 
 opened, of the same clear blue colour, but of much deeper 
 tint j her eyebrows were clearly defined dark brown lines, 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 19 
 
 wliile Emmclinc's were much lighter, and. on comparison, 
 it -was the same with their hair, though at first sight it 
 seemed of the same colour. If Emmeline was a little 
 flushed, or Kate looked pale, the difference between them 
 could hardly be perceived. 
 
 'And Constance, we only want her,' said Lady Wil- 
 loughby, ' I am afraid she is not in London.' 
 
 ' mamma, have you not heard ? ' said Kate. 
 
 ' No — what ? We have not heard since she was just 
 going to spend a day or two at Lord Liddesdale's place. 
 Where is she ? ' 
 
 ^ In Italy,' mamma, said Emmeline, sadly ; ' Herbert 
 caught a very bad cold coming home from Rowthorpe 
 one foggy evening ; he has been very ill, and obliged to 
 
 come to London for advice. Dr. ordered him abroad 
 
 for the winter, so 'they went on the 12th of December, and 
 Lord Somerville with them.' 
 
 • Hum ! ha ! Decline. I suppose. That is a bad hear- 
 ing,' said Sir Francis. ' Not in the family, I hope.' 
 
 Kate looked down, and answered sorrowfully, ' Lady 
 Anne died of decline two years ago, but I do assure you, 
 mamma,' and she raised her eyes and spoke confidently, 
 ' the doctors all said that in Herbert's case he only wanted 
 complete rest to his voice and a warmer climate to restore 
 him completely, and he is much better already.' 
 
 ' Poor dear Constance ! ' said Lady Willoughby. ' It 
 is a great shock to hear this when we so little thought it. 
 When did you see her last, poor dear ? ' 
 
 ' A little before they sailed,' said Emmeline, ' when 
 they were at Lord Liddesdale's house in London. We 
 spent one whole day with them, and Herbert did not 
 seem very ill ; indeed he was much better then ; he was 
 in the drawing-room, and I did not see but that he was 
 just the same as usual, except that his cough seemed to 
 hurt him; it made his colour come into his face, and 
 sometimes was very bad indeed, but he was as cheerful as 
 ever. And afterwards Constance came to Miss Danby's 
 to wish us good-bye. She is quite well, and likes her 
 journey very much ; indeed, now Herbert is better, the 
 tour will be quite a party of pleasure, only she will be so 
 sorry to miss you.' 
 
20 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' Poor dear ! ' said Lady Willougbby, and Kate went on 
 the more eagerly. ' But mamma, the accounts have been 
 excellent of late. Yesterday Lady Frances came to tell 
 us she had heard from Lord Somerville from Terni, with 
 such a very good report of Herbert.' 
 
 ' Is Lady Frances in town then ? ' said Sir Francis. 
 
 * Yes, she is very kind to us.' said Kate, warmly. 
 
 ' Did she ask you for the holidays again ? ' said Lady 
 Willougbby. 
 
 ' no,' said Kate. ' Constance told us she wished she 
 could, only she is so devoted to Lord Liddesdale's comfort, 
 and he is so anxious about Herbert, and altogether it 
 would not do.' 
 
 'And we did very well,' said Emmeline, 'she had us 
 twice to spend the evening wlien Lord Liddesdale was 
 dining out, and she took us out driving with her several 
 times, and once to a concert, and three days we spent with 
 Miss Enderby, and ' — 
 
 ' Well,' said Sir Francis, ' you will have long holidays 
 now. Good-bye to Mrs. Teach'em, mamma will never part 
 with you now she has once got you.' 
 
 'No, indeed,' said Lady Willougbby, softly pressing 
 their hands. 
 
 ' Dear mamma,' said Emmeline. 
 
 Their eyes had been roaming all this time, and at last 
 Kate broke forth—' The children ! ' 
 
 ' The children ? yes, to be sure — here they are,' 
 said Sir Francis opening a door, crossing another room and 
 calling out, ' come here, come along, you young rogues, 
 come and see your sisters.' 
 
 A great noise came first, and Lady Willougbby shrank 
 as if from an expected infliction, as in ran a fine tall fair 
 boy of seven, followed by a girl a little younger, while a 
 Bound of crying remained behind. 
 
 ' Where is brother Frank ? ' said the boy, standing 
 staring, but there was no time for answering, for in came 
 Sir Francis, carrying a little girl of two, whom he put 
 into Kate's arms, saying, ' There, look at your sister, 
 Emmeline.' The child, however, no sooner found her- 
 self in the possession of a stranger, than she began to 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 2i 
 
 scream, upon which her father, mucli to Kate's relief, 
 took her up again, and began to walk up and down the 
 room with her, aoothing her in Hindostanee, at present 
 Miss Cecilia's only language. Then appeared a dark 
 dignified lady in white muslin and golden ear-rings, 
 holding by the hand the four years' old Edwin, who no 
 sooner beheld the strangers than he wrenched away his 
 hand, and ran back again roaring louder than ever. 
 Sir Francis, on an imploring look from his wife, gave 
 Cecilia to the Ayah, and sent her away, leaving only 
 Alfred and Janet, who had the credit of being able, like 
 Dandie Dinmont's two eldest, to behave themselves 
 distinctly. That is to say, Alfred allowed himself to be 
 kissed by his sisters, and then finding that brother 
 Frank was not forthcoming, broke from them and ran to 
 gaze out at the window, while Janet, a white-faced, not 
 very happy looking child, stood staring with the full ex- 
 tent of her black eyes, and hiding her face if they tried to 
 touch or speak to her. 
 
 In the lull that succeeded, Sir Francis announced his 
 intention of immediately setting out again on his own 
 affairs. Lady Willoughby plaintively entreated him to 
 come back in time to go out with her ; he promised to 
 return to luncheon and departed. Emmeline sat on the 
 sofa by her mother, listening to her history of her jour- 
 ney, and its troubles and fatigues, while Kate joined 
 Alfred at the window, and there, by telling him the 
 names of the carriages, and pointing out all that could 
 amuse him, made him sociable, and presently Janet 
 hearing him laugh, ran up to Kate, pulling her frock, 
 and said, ' me too.' For some time Kate kept them 
 both happy and contented; but at last Alfred grew 
 riotous, made Janet cry, and caused such a turmoil, 
 that Lady Willoughby in despair rang the bell and 
 sent for the Ayah, who carried Janet off, but Alfred being 
 beyond the strength of any of the parties present, was 
 allowed to remain, and Kate kept him quiet by drawing 
 him a picture of a steamer, which seemed the most prom- 
 inent object in his imagination. Lady Willoughby sighed, 
 and wished the children were under a governess, they were 
 
22 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 SO troublesome and boisterous, and Sir Francis spoilt then) 
 so much. Emmolinc said encouragingly, that they would 
 soon get into better order, and Miss Townsend was a very 
 kind, good little person ; but after this specimen her desire 
 of volunteering the part of governess herself had much 
 abated. She did, however, say, that she and Kate hoped 
 to have the children with them a great deal, and to help 
 to teach them. 
 
 ' 0, my dears,' said Lady Willoughby, looking at 
 Alfred, who was eyeing them all the time, and lowering 
 her voice, ' you do not know what you would undertake ! 
 Such wear and tear as trying to teach must be ! no, I 
 would not have you undertake it on any account.' 
 
 ' Margaret Forester teaches her little brothers and 
 sisters, and likes it very much,' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' 0, some people are obliged ; yes, some people are, I 
 know, but there is no occasion for it here, my dear. And, 
 besides, you have no time : when we are settled, and a 
 little at home, you must be introduced, you know ; you are 
 quite seventeen, are you not 1 ' 
 
 * I was seventeen last week,' said Emmeline, ' but, 
 mamma, I had much rather not come out yet, not without 
 Kate, at least.' 
 
 ' Emmie, that is not fair,' said Kate. 
 
 ' Indeed it is,' said Emmeline, ' you know we have 
 always been exactly on a level in everything, and I am too 
 shy ever to enjoy myself where you are not. 0, I should 
 not like it at all without her ! ' 
 
 ' I am sure it is a pleasure to see my dear girls so 
 affectionate,' said Lady Willoughby, smoothing Emmeline's 
 hair. ' We will see about it, my dears, it shall be as you 
 please.' 
 
 Kate was going to offer some further remonstrance, 
 when they were interrupted by the return of Sir Francis ; 
 they had their luncheon and went out for a drive. The 
 sisters found themselves of some use, for their slight 
 knowledge of London went a great way with people, 
 one of whom had not been in England for twenty years, 
 and the other for thirty-five. Lady Willoughby seemed 
 ^|uite helpless in any choice of the most trifiing matters 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS, 23 
 
 of dress for the children, and Sir Francis, as active and 
 bustling as she was the contrary, asked numberless 
 questions, and was a quarter of an hour at least in 
 selecting each separate article. Lady Willoughby was 
 more alive than in any other T)art of her expedition when 
 they went to a dressmaker's, the only one whose direction 
 Emmeline and Kate knew, because she had made Con- 
 stance's wedding dresses. They did not much like, how- 
 ever, to hear Sir Francis tell the lady of the shop that that 
 lady was the mother of Lady Herbert Somerville, whom 
 perhaps she recollected, and then to see their mother look 
 pleased at what they thought vulgar praise of Constance's 
 beauty and elegance. Perhaps Kate at least was a little 
 mollified when Sir Francis made them each a present of a 
 new bonnet and a mantle, though they would have liked to 
 have had more exercise of their own taste allowed them in 
 the choice. 
 
 It was late when they came back to the hotel, and 
 they had only time to dress in haste without exchanging 
 many words. On re-entering the sitting-room they found 
 Sir Francis playing with the three eldest children, and 
 allowing them to make noises to their hearts' content, till 
 on hearing the sweeping of a silk gown, he suddenly 
 hushed them with, ' Here comes mamma ! ' There was 
 very little more time before dinner was announced, when 
 the children were kissed and dismissed to bed. Sir Francis 
 carrying Edwin on his back. 
 
 Dinner seemed a very important business to Sii 
 Francis, and occupied his conversation entirely till 
 dessert was brought in, when turning to Kate, whom 
 he had at last learned to call by her proper name, he 
 asked her if she had seen his son Frank. 
 
 ' yes,' said Kate, ' he spent two days with us at 
 Copseley, before we went back to school.' 
 
 * Ah ! yes, I knew Lord and Lady Herbert were so 
 kind as to have him — very good-natured.' 
 
 * He was there a week,' said Emmeline, ' but we were 
 obliged to go back to Miss Danby's, after he had been 
 there only two days. He was to have come for part of 
 the Christmas holidays — he would not for the whole of 
 them 
 
24 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 • Well, and what did you think of him, ch ? You know 
 I have not seen him since he was little Edwin's age. 
 Come, tell me how you like him ? ' 
 
 ' O, very much,' said Emmeline and Kate, both a little 
 disconcerted by the recollection that they had thought 
 him very much in their way on the last day of their visit, 
 rather awkward, and far from clever. 
 
 ' He is very good-natured,' added Emmeline, ' and 
 Constance wrote us word that he and Herbert got on 
 famously together.' 
 
 ' I think Edwin is very like him, only fairer,' said 
 Kate, glad to find something further to say. 
 
 ' Well, I hope we shall have him here to-morrow or 
 next day,' said Sir Francis. ' I have written to him and 
 to his master to ask for him.' 
 
 ' Yes, I wish much to see him, dear fellow,' said Lady 
 Willoughby, in her modulated voice. 
 
 ' I shall get Kate to introduce me,' said Sir Francis, 
 shaking his head at her. ' Here's a brown old shrivelled 
 object of a father for you, Master Frank.' 
 
 ' Do not you think we learn better manners at Miss 
 Danby's,' said Kate, who had found out by this time how 
 Sir Francis liked to be answered. 
 
 ' I am sure,' said Lady Willoughby, ' Miss Danby's 
 establishment was most highly recommended.' 
 
 ' And I am sure,' added Sir Francis, gallantly, ' she 
 needs no better recommendation than her pupils. As I 
 was telling them, I don't wonder at their sister's good 
 fortune,' 
 
 ' Poor Constance,' said Lady Willoughby. * Which of 
 you is most like her, my dears 1 ' 
 
 ' She is something between both,' said Kate, ' she is 
 not so tall as I am, and she has lighter hair than either of 
 us, and the same sort of pale colour as Emmeline.' 
 
 ' Her eyes and eyebrows are more like Kate's,' said 
 Emmeline, ' but she and I were often taken for each other. 
 Herbert was quite amused to see such a likeness.' 
 
 * She must have looked lovely at her wedding, poor 
 dear girl,' said Lady Willoughby. 
 
 ' Yes, that she did, mamma,' cried both girls eagerly, 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 25 
 
 and then simultaneously stopped, each ready to leave the 
 field to each other. 
 
 ' Come, now let us have the whole history,' said Lady 
 Willoughby, ' since I cannot see my poor Constan3e, let 
 me hear all I can of her.' 
 
 * 0, if you could but have seen her,' said Emmeline. 
 
 * She had that beautiful India muslin that you sent 
 her, and a little lace bonnet, and a beautiful Honiton 
 veil that Mrs. Forester gave her, and you never saw 
 anything look so beautiful or so liko a white lily. The 
 old clerk said they were the handsomest couple that he 
 had ever seen married, and he believed as they were the 
 best.' 
 
 ' Then Lord Herbert is handsome ! Indeed, I think 
 you said so in your letters,' said Lady Willoughby. 
 
 ' When you see Lady Frances, mamma, you will know 
 just what he is like ; he is rather tall, and very slender, 
 and his face — oh ! I don't know how to describe it, it is 
 so winning,' said Kate, 
 
 'He has beautiful brown eyes, that seem to look 
 through and through everything, and yet to be always 
 bright with their own thoughts,' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' Hey day ! ' said Sir Francis, ' the young ladies are 
 quite poetical' Whereat Emmeline coloured excessively 
 and held her tongue, while Lady Willoughby asked on, 
 ' And does he look delicate ? ' 
 
 * He has a good deal of bright pink colour.' said Kate, 
 and those beautiful transparent looking teeth that Mrs. 
 
 Forester says are very apt to belong to people with 
 delicate health. He never was very strong, but they say 
 that a winter abroad is likely to do him a great deal of 
 good.' 
 
 ' It was from Mr. Forester's that they were married 1 
 think,' said Sir Francis. 
 
 ' Yes,' said Kate, * the Foresters would have it so, 
 because the whole affair had taken place there.' 
 
 ' And they made quite a small party of it V ' said her 
 mother. 
 
 ' Yes, quite small, it was so much more pleasant and 
 jomfortable,' said Kate, ' there were Duly ourselves, and 
 
»D THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 uncle Berners, and Lord Liddesdale, and his son and 
 daughter, and Mr. Grey, the other Curate. There was 
 very little of a breakfast, for Constance and Herbert 
 ■would not hear of their making a great fuss. I am sure 
 it did excellently. Mrs. Forester said she had never 
 known a wedding-day go off so well ; she said they were 
 generally such long dismal days, but I am sure we only 
 wondered when we found how late it was, and Lord 
 Liddesdale's carriage came to take them to the train — 
 Herbert and Constance I mean.' 
 
 * Lord Liddesdale's carriage,' exclaimed Lady Wil- 
 loughby. ' Did they not go in a carriage of their own ? ' 
 
 ' No, they only had a little pony phaeton till they 
 were obliged to have a travelling carriage for their journey 
 abroad.' 
 
 ' What could poor Constance do ? ' said Lady Wil- 
 loughby. 
 
 ' O, she walks — she is a capital walker. She and 
 Herbert walk all over the parish together, and go to all 
 the cottages.' 
 
 ' And when they go out to dinner ? said Sir Francis. 
 
 ' They don't,' said Kate, 'because church time is at 
 seven in the evening.' 
 
 ' Church time — of course, as a Clergyman, he would 
 not dine out on Sunday,' 
 
 ' This is every day,' said Emmeline, ' we used to have 
 such delicious evening walks to and from Church through 
 the pretty wooded common after the heat of the day was 
 over.' 
 
 ' 0, ho ! ' said Sir Francis, * daily service, evening air, 
 no wonder poor Lord Herbert's lungs are out of order. 
 That is the way young Clergymen kill themselves now-a- 
 days.' 
 
 ' Poor Constance ! ' again said Lady Willoughby. 
 Emmeline and Kate having nothing to say to this 
 became silent, and Lady \Yilloughby returned to the 
 matter of the carriage, which seemed to distress her 
 more than anything else. ' People are so strange,' she 
 said, ' but it must look very odd to see a person of Lady 
 Herbert Somervillo's rank without her own carriage. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 27 
 
 And everything about his fortune was so satisfactory 
 too.' 
 
 ' Yes, Lord Liddesdale behaved in the handsomest 
 manner, and Lord Herbert too, about settlements,' said 
 Sir Francis. 
 
 ' I am sure I do not understand these things,' said 
 Lady Willoughby, ' but surely you told me, Sir Francis, 
 that his fortune was very good.' 
 
 ' yes,' said Emmeliue, ' I know they are well off, 
 for Margaret Forester told me they were so glad the 
 Curate of Copseley should be a rich man, because the 
 place is so poor.' 
 
 ' It wants schools, and all sorts of things,' said Kate. 
 
 ' Poor Constance ! ' repeated Lady Willoughby. 
 
 * And how does Lord Liddesdale like all these notions? ' 
 said Sir Francis. 
 
 ' Very much,' said Kate ; * he gave a great deal to 
 Copseley Church, and he is a great friend of Mr. For- 
 ester's. Indeed it is all managed just like his own parish 
 at Rowthorpe. mamma, you cannot think how we en- 
 joyed our visit there.' 
 
 ' Ah ! I should like to hear about it,' said Lady Wil- 
 loughby. 
 
 Nothing loath, Kate began. * You know we were to 
 go home with them after the wedding, and you can't 
 think how we dreaded it — especially poor Emmie ; we 
 thought it would all be so awful and so grand ; and Miss 
 Dani)y gave us such a lecture as to how we were to 
 behave that she made it ten times worse. We did not 
 care so much about Lady Frances, for we had seen her 
 once or twice when Constance was in London, and we got 
 on famously with her at Margaret Forester's great school- 
 feast on the wedding-day. But as to Lord Liddesdale 
 and Lord Somerville, how we dreaded their speaking to 
 us, and how poor Emmie coloured with fright if they 
 did but look at her ! And what do you think the end 
 of it was? Why, that I am sure I felt a great deal 
 less on my good behaviour than ever I did with Miss 
 Danby.' 
 
 * Does Lord Somerville live with his father ? ' said 
 Lady Willoughby. 
 
28 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 * Yes, he was at home all the time we were there, 
 said Emmeline, ' and he was very good-natured. It is 
 such a comfort that he is gone with Herbert and Con- 
 stance, for he promised us so kindly that he would take 
 care of her.' 
 
 At this period of the conversation Lady Willoughby 
 rose, and the girls followed her to the drawing-room, 
 where she lay down on the sofa, and with one of them at 
 her feet, and the other on a footstool close to her, she 
 said, ' Go on, my dears, I like to hear you talk Where 
 were you. 0, at Rowthorpe.' 
 
 ' how happy we were there,' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' And is Lord Somerville as handsome as his poor 
 brother ? ' said Lady Willoughby. 
 
 ' He is a fine looking man,' said Emmeline, ' but he 
 can't be as handsome as Herbert — he is so old.' 
 
 ' How old, my dear ? ' said Lady Willoughby, sur- 
 prised. 
 
 ' Older than Lady Frances,' said Emmeline, * and he 
 has been in Parliament ever so long. He cannot be 
 much under thirty-five.' 
 
 ' Ah ! Emmie,' said Kate, ' what a tremendous scrape 
 you did get into with thinking people so very old. I 
 must tell how it was, if you don't mind it,' 
 
 ' 0, not a bit,' said Emmeline, ' mamma is not Miss 
 Danby.' 
 
 ' No, indeed, thank heaven, my dear, but I hope you 
 were not rude — impossible' — 
 
 ' Quite the contrary, mamma,' said Kate, ' it was all 
 her great politeness. Lady Frances found we knew very 
 little of Shakespeare, so she began to read some of it 
 with us, and Emmie was reading " As you like it," 
 aloud, when the two gentlemen came in from the dining- 
 room. She was going to leave off, but Lord Liddesdale 
 begged her to go on, and they sat down and listened. 
 Presently, Lord Liddesdale said, " Why, have I forgotten 
 the order of the play, or what has become of the Seven 
 Ages of Man? " Poor Emmie, her face lighted up like 
 a red hot coal, and she hung down her head as if she 
 would never look up again. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 29 
 
 ' I am sure I never thought he would have missed it,' 
 said Emmeline. ' 0, it was dreadful ! ' 
 
 ' Lady Frances said it must be there, and came to 
 look over to see if anything was the matter with the 
 book, and there it was sure enough. So poor Emmie 
 was obliged to confess why she had missed it, and she 
 whispered it into Lady Frances' ear, " she thought Lord 
 Liddesdale would not like it ! " "Well, Lady Frances 
 tried to stop herself from laughing, but she could not, 
 and, at last, she was obliged to tell, for they looked 
 and wondered.' 
 
 ' I cannot think how she could do it so little disagree- 
 ably,' said Emmeline, ' considering that it was rather 
 absurd of me. "Papa," she said, "you ought to be 
 very much obliged to her, it was out of her great 
 consideration for your feelings ! " " For my old age 
 and infirmity," said Lord Liddesdale, and then he did 
 laugh, I thought he would never have stopped ; but the 
 great beauty of it was, that they could make so much fun 
 of it without annoying us in the least. Lord Liddes- 
 dale wanted to know whether I thought him the lean and 
 slippered pantaloon, or if he had arrived at second child- 
 ishness and mere oblivion.' 
 
 ' Yes,' and then Emmie roused herself up to answer. 
 ^ Certainly not mere oblivion, when he knew so exactly 
 where the Seven Ages ought to be,' said Kate, ' and then 
 he bowed in the most magnificent way, and said that he 
 had never heard a more prettily turned compliment, and 
 Emmie blushed up to the ears again ! ' 
 
 ' It was lucky it was so very absurd ! ' said Emme- 
 line, smiling, ' so that one could laugh heartily at it, for 
 to see that tall, splendid old man, such a picture of a 
 real nobleman, and to hear him talk of the lean and slip- 
 pered pantaloon — I could not help laughing at myself 
 for having been so silly as to think it possible the passage 
 could hurt his feelings. How we did laugh ! we were 
 quite tired when we went up to bed at night, and in the 
 middle of the night Kate waked me with laughing again 
 in her sleep. there was no end to the merriment we 
 had there.' 
 
30 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' Our delightful long scrambling walks,' said Kate. 
 
 * And better than all, the going to the ruin,' said 
 Emmeline. ' 0, that was of all things delightful.' 
 
 * What, a pic-nic party 1 ' asked the mother. 
 
 'Not exactly; but some little way from Rowthorpe 
 there is a beautiful bit of an old castle which was pulled 
 down in the wars of the Ptoses. It belonged to Earl 
 Warwick, the King Maker, and Edward IV. once slept 
 there. So Lady Frances made a scheme to go and see 
 it ; it was to be one day when Lord Liddesdale was 
 obliged to go to a county meeting, because he said no 
 slippered pantaloon ever dined on damp grass, and that 
 Emmeline would think the owls and bats so affecting to 
 his spirits, that her sympathy would not allow her to 
 enjoy herself. Besides, how did we know that he had not 
 been at Edward lY.'s levee there 7 So the party was 
 only Lady Frances, and Lord Somerville, and ourselves ; 
 we went down the river in a boat. Lord Somerville 
 and one of the gardeners rowed us.' 
 
 ' How very nice that was,' said Emmeline, ' do you 
 remember how the birds sang, and the weeping willows 
 that hung so gracefully into the dark pools, and the king- 
 fisher that darted out of the bank ? ' 
 
 ' And how Lord Somerville laughed at us for being sen- 
 timental about the limekiln, which he managed to make 
 us think was the castle itself? ' 
 
 * And Lady Frances sitting by, smiling in her quiet 
 way at our grand fit of enthusiasm,' said Emmeline. 
 ' 0, but I can never forget what they ended by saying, 
 about being enthusiastic for the wrong thing instead of 
 the right.' 
 
 ' That strong enthusiasm is a noble feeling when it is 
 right, only it is spoilt and worn out by being thrown away 
 — on limekilns instead of castles, as Lord Somerville 
 finished,' said Kate. 
 
 ' And when we came there,' said Emmeline, ' oh ! 
 what a pretty picture it was — the bit of arch with the 
 feathery birch growing out of its side, and the little 
 country children playing with their dog on the slope. 
 We tried to sketch it, but Lady Frances was the only 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 31 
 
 Dnc wlio could draw the children at all, and tiresome 
 jiittle things, they all left off play, and stood staring at 
 us. Lord Somerville pretended to call oufc to them, 
 " sixpence a piece if you'll be natural," and his sister 
 told him he was encouraging the worst sort of affec- 
 tation.' 
 
 ' O, and the fun of all,' said Kate, ^ the riding, 
 Emmie, though I doubt if it was much fun to you at the 
 time. We ladies were to ride home on a donkey and two 
 ponies, but neither of us had ever been on the back of 
 any thing before, and I do not know where Emmie would 
 be now if Lord Somerville had not led her donkey almost 
 all the way. 0, how merry we were.' 
 
 * I was much happier when they let me walk,' said 
 Emmeline. ' Do you remember the round red August 
 moon, rising like a globe of fire in the east, and the 
 darkness sinking on the harvest field full of sheaves ? 
 And that cottage with the deep eaves, and the porch and 
 windows glistening white in the moonlight, and the long 
 shadows of the trees across the smooth turf in the glades 
 of the park 7 ' 
 
 ' And the luxury of feeling tired and fresh both at 
 once, as we drank our tea round the open window in the 
 drawing-room,' said Kate. ' O, that was a day to be re- 
 membered ! ' 
 
 ' Then, there was the school-feast,' said Emmeline. 
 
 'And the little children's strawberry-feast,' said Kate. 
 
 * And the mornings when we worked, and drew, and 
 read,' said Emmeline, • and the sitting among the gera- 
 niums on the hot afternoons.' 
 
 ' And the grand expedition altogether, after Herbert 
 and Constance came, when Herbert said he must go and 
 show his wife to his old nurse, and we took the pony and 
 donkey, and you rode so much better — I think that was 
 the merriest of all our walks. The old woman was so 
 pleased ; she told Herbert he had brought home as bonnie 
 a bride as had ever been seen in those parts, and she 
 would pray night and day that she might be as good as 
 she was bonnie. Constance blushed, and thanked her 
 with all her heart, and the old nurse said, " Aye and you 
 
32 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 are, I can see. You are not of tlie kind I feared, that 
 would only be sorted up with finding yourself my Lady. 
 You know what Lord Herbert is for his own sake, and I 
 can tell you " — and then she looked at Herbert over her 
 spectacles and laughed, " you might search far enough and 
 never find a better bargain than you have of him, and I 
 should know him as well as most folks." 
 
 ' Oh ! and the best of all was her lecturing Lord So- 
 merville about bringing home a wife too.' 
 
 As Kate was finishing her sentence, Sir Francis came 
 in from the dining-room, and behind him came the waiter 
 with the candles. The light revealed what the sisters 
 had little suspected, that their mother was very comfort- 
 ably asleep. However, she awoke at the sound of the 
 opening of the door, and told her husband that the girls 
 had been entertaining her so pleasantly with an account 
 of their pic-nic party from Lord Liddesdale's. 
 
 She was not very wide-awake all the rest of the even- 
 ing, but to make up for it Sir Francis talked much, and 
 told them a great deal about the children, chiefly about 
 Alfred and Cecilia. 
 
 And now the day was over, and the two sisters shut 
 into their own room, Emmeline threw her arms round 
 Kate and exclaimed, ' Well and it is come ! Kate, 
 can you fully believe it ? That we have had our mother's 
 kiss and good night at last, after all our weary wishes. 
 If Constance did but know how happy we are ! ' 
 
 ' Mamma is so exactly what we always fancied,' said 
 Kate, ' only we should not have talked so long when she 
 was tired.' 
 
 ' So like her letters, and so like Constance,' said Em- 
 meline. ' 0, what joy it is ! I could sit and look at her 
 for hours, and feel that I really have a mother. I wonder 
 if people are as happy who have never known what it is to 
 be without.' 
 
 ' It does seem very odd,' said Kate, ' that we, poor 
 isolated things as we are, should suddenly have jumped 
 into a ready-made family. Mamma and papa, and chil- 
 dren and all.' 
 
 ' "What a noble fellow Alfred is,' said Emmeline, and 
 Cecilia is quite a beauty. And sweet little Janet, how 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 33 
 
 fond wc shall be of her, only I am afraid Miss Townscnd 
 will get into our way.' 
 
 ' It is rather a bore,' said Kate, 'wc shall have to be 
 so civil to her. I did not want her at all ; we could have 
 taught the children so nicely, and they are to have a 
 nurse when this Ayah is gone.' 
 
 ' Kate, did not her dark face and her mixture of 
 Hindostanee and English bring back strange memories ? 
 Our Bungalow and the palm trees, and the tree with 
 the pink flowers, and the bottle-nested sparrows — I al- 
 most thought I could hear the sound of the gong and see 
 the broad sunshiny river. And papa, our own dear father 
 I mean, I saw him in my memory dearer than ever be- 
 fore ; while I was looking at mamma, his bright hair and 
 pale face, and his dress all white, as he used to sit under 
 the verandah, and hold out his arms to us. Ah ! you 
 cannot remember, you were so little. How I wish Con- 
 stance could have seen that Ayah ! ' 
 
 ' We must write to Constance the first thing to-mor- 
 row,' said Kate, ' and how she will wish herself at home. 
 But do you really think, Emmie, it could be the daily 
 service that did Herbert harm ? ' 
 
 * I don't know,' said Emmeline, ' it never seemed to 
 tire him, and you know Mr. Forester and Mr. Grey 
 often came to help him.' '■ Oh no, it was that foggy 
 evening drive from Rowthorpe ; you remember that Mr. 
 Forester was alarmed at the cold he caught then from 
 the first, and hardly allowed him to do anything after it 
 began ! ' 
 
 ' Perhaps mamma will be more hopeful when she has 
 seen Lady Francis,' said Kate. ' How good-natured Sir 
 Francis is, I will never be afraid of any one again before 
 hand.' 
 
 ' And how fond of his children,' said Emmeline. ' He 
 is not at all what we expected, and yet I am very glad of 
 it; it is a great relief to have no one to be afraid of.' 
 
 * Yes, this time that we have looked forward to so 
 long, is as delightful as possible ! ' said Kate 
 
 ' All I am afraid of now,' said Emmeline, ' is Frank ; 
 to have a great, tall, clumsy school boy like that, all the 
 holidays, will be very tiresome ! ' 
 
34 THE CASTLE BUILDEES. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Now, tliouglit he, I see the danger that Mistrust and Timorous were driven 
 Dack by. The Lions were chained, but he saw not the chains. 
 
 PiLGKIM'S PlOGKESS. 
 
 The girls were very busy the next morning writing let- 
 ters, one to Lady Frances and the other to Constance, 
 when they were interrupted by the announcement of ' Mr. 
 Frank Willoughby ! ' and in walked a youth of seventeen, 
 rather short for that age, with hair of unnecessary length 
 and shagginess, and a round rosy face, so like little Ed- 
 win's, that it would have suited better at the top of his 
 white frock and broad sash, than surmounting a tail coat. 
 He looked rather disappointed, and a little doubtful 
 whether he had come to the right place, when he only saw 
 two young ladies ; but Kate, rising, and holding out her 
 hand, said cordially, ' How d'ye do, Frank ? ' 
 
 ' 0,' said he, as if suddenly recollecting her, ' how 
 d'ye do?' shook hands with her and Emmeline, and abruptly 
 asked, ' Where's my father ? ' 
 
 ' Gone into the City,' said Kate ; ' he will be back 
 again by half-past one.' 
 
 ' I will go and call mamma,' said Emmeline. 
 
 She found Lady Willoughby sitting by the fire in her 
 own room, wrapped up in a great shawl, and with writing 
 materials on the table before her. 
 
 ' Here is Frank, mamma,' said she. 
 
 Lady Willoughby's face did not express much alacrity 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 35 
 
 or i«fatisf action. ' Dear mc ! Is lie, indeed 1 I had no 
 idea he could come so soon.' 
 
 ^ "Railroads bring people very fast,' said Emmeline. 
 And I was in the midst of a letter to your aunt in 
 India, and I wanted to have my dresses taken out, for I 
 am sure I have nothing fit to be seen. What can have 
 brought ^im so early ? What shall we do with him, my 
 dear? And Sir Francis will not be at home until one 
 o'clock. I wish he would not go away. And what is this 
 boy like, dear Emmie ? ' 
 
 ' A nke good-natured fellow,' said Emmeline, ' honest 
 and downright, not very polished, perhaps, but Herbert 
 and Constance liked him very much.' 
 
 ' A great rough school boy ! Oh ! dear me ! ' sighed 
 Lady Willoughby, ' I wish his father was at home.' 
 
 * He is very good-natured,' said Emmeline, almost as 
 if she was persuading her to confront some strange dog. 
 ' Won't you come down, mamma? ' 
 
 ' I suppose I must, presently. Think what we can do 
 with him, my dear, until Sir Francis comes home.' 
 
 'Perhaps he has not breakfasted,' said Emmeline, 
 ' he must have come away very early.' 
 
 ' Ah ! yes, order some breakfast, and say I will come 
 presently ; but you know I am not at all strong, my dear, 
 and it always hurts me to be hurried ; but tell him I will 
 come presently, and take good care of him ; I will be there 
 before Sir Francis comes in.' 
 
 ' Yery well, mamma,' said Emmeline, thinking this 
 scarcely a requital of the kindness Sir Francis had shown 
 them. 
 
 ' What a comfort it is to have a daughter,' said Lady 
 Willoughby, kissing her with fondness that drove away 
 the uncomfortable sensation. 
 
 Conversation had not gone on fast in her absence ; 
 Kate wanted to be civil and sisterly, but did not know 
 exactly how to begin. ' Did you set off early ? ' said she, 
 after a moment or two of uneasy silence. 
 
 ' At half-past six,' was the answer. ' I have only got 
 leave out for the day.' 
 
 ' Sir Francis will be very sorry not to be at home,' 
 
36 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 said Kate. And then there was a pause, while Frank 
 looked anxiously at the door. He rose eagerly when 
 tlie lock turned, but the blank expression returned when 
 Emmeline entered alone. 
 
 " Mamma will come down in a few minutes,' said she ; 
 * but she has been rather tired with all her journeyings, 
 and cannot well be hurried. Have you breakfasted ? ' 
 
 ' No.' 
 
 Glad to be doing something, though shy of giving 
 orders, Emmeline rang the bell, and hastened to clear 
 the table. Breakfast was sent for, and then came another 
 silence. The girls guessed how Frank must be wishing 
 to hear about his ready-made family, and yet it was quite 
 impossible to begin about the heads. 
 
 ' Should you like to see the children ? ' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' O yes.' 
 
 ' Then I will call Alfred and Janet, the two little ones 
 are so shy, that I don't think we could get them into the 
 room without their papa; but Alfred will be delighted, 
 he could hardly speak to ns, he was so disappointed that 
 we were not brother Frank.' 
 
 Emmeline went to fetch them, and so great was the 
 curiosity and eagerness excited by the news of brother 
 Frank's arrival, that even Edwin ventured down under 
 the protection of his new sister. 
 
 Frank kissed them, but still seemed rather shy of 
 them, and let Alfred stand by him for some moments 
 without speaking, while Edwin sat on Emmeline's lap 
 and stared, and Janet took refuge with Kate. However, 
 when the girls began to play with Alfred, Frank joined 
 them, and had become tolerable friends with them before 
 it was time to send Edwin away for his siesta. 
 
 Then Frank asked abruptly, ' How is Lord Herbert ? ' 
 listened with much interest to the answer ; and looking 
 at the writing case on the table, said, ' I suppose you are 
 writing to them.' 
 
 ' Yes.' 
 
 ' Then I wish you would say, I thank them for their 
 letter. Site wrote me a very nice letter about the not 
 being able to have me at Christmas, and he put in a note 
 at the end.' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS, 37 
 
 * Here is room if you like to write a note yourself.' 
 
 * No, thank you,' said Frank. ' I have got nothing to 
 say, only thanks, and I am glad he is better.' 
 
 ' Very well, I will certainly tell them,' said Kate. ' It 
 would have been very nice to be there all together last 
 winter.' 
 
 ' Yes. What became of you ? ' 
 
 ' We staid at school most of the time.' 
 
 Frank fairly started with horror. * Why, that is 
 awful ! What could you do ? Be like the Domum boy, 
 I should think. ' 
 
 ' That we could hardly be,' said Kate, laughing, ' con- 
 sidering that we have scarcely acquired a Dulce Domum.' 
 
 ' Well, I never heard of such a thing. Stay at school 
 all the holidays ! ' 
 
 ' You see we have survived it,' said Emmeline, * so 
 you need not bestow so very much pity on us. Where 
 did you go ? ' 
 
 ' Home to be sure ! ' said Frank, surprised at the 
 question. 
 
 ' To Mr Willoughby's? ' said Kate. 
 
 ' Yes, to Humble thwayte. That has been my home 
 ever since I came from India.' 
 
 ' How long ago was that 2 ' asked Kate. 
 
 ' Thirteen years ; ' Frank was growing quite confi- 
 dential. ' I don't remember my father the least in the 
 world,' and he looked inquiringly at Kate. She would 
 have told him how Sir Francis had told her to introduce 
 him, but she thought it would not do before the children. 
 
 ' Is Lady Willoughby ill 1 ' asked Frank, presently. 
 
 * Mamma always stays in her room in the morning, and 
 goes to sleep just like the little ones,' said Alfred. And 
 then he went on, • I love papa best, because mamma won't 
 let us make a noise.' 
 
 ' As if anybody could like such a noise as you can 
 make,' said Frank ; but Alfred, finding no one else willing 
 to give his brother the desired information, took it upon 
 himself, whispering, and looking slyly at his sisters, as if 
 he suspected he was doing something wrong. ' I'll tell 
 you what, mamma is much the prettiest ; papa is almost 
 
38 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 as Ugly as the old man in the steamer, but papa is mucb 
 the most good-natured.' 
 
 * I'll tell you what,' said Frank, overpowering these 
 awkward communications with his strong voice, ' you 
 are an undutiful young dog, master Alfred, and if you 
 say another word, I will — I will — I will put you up the 
 chimney.' 
 
 A great struggling, laughing, and screaming sac- 
 ceeded, much to the relief of the girls. It was past ono 
 o'clock, and in the midst of the uproar they did not hear 
 the approach of Lady Willoughby, who opened the door 
 while the noise was at its full height. For a moment all 
 stood silent and surprised, then, Lady Willoughby ad- 
 vancing with all her grace and prepossessing manner, said, 
 ' My dear Frank, what pleasure this is ! ' then, kissing 
 him, she looked at him, saying, ' You see, my dear boy, 
 I knew I need not make a stranger of you, and so I did 
 not hurry myself, though I was anxious to see you, but I 
 had so much on my hands, and I am so much an invalid. 
 Besides, I know young people always get on better by 
 themselves, and you have made acquaintance with Alfred 
 and Janet already.' 
 
 ' Yes, and Edwin has been here, mamma,' said Kate, 
 triumphantly. 
 
 ' Well, Alfred,' said his mother, ' you are a happy 
 boy at last, now you have got your brother Frank.' 
 
 Nothing could be more gentle and caressing than Lady 
 Willoughby's manner, yet Frank was stiff and awkward, 
 and in a great cloud of bashfulness, giving short embar- 
 rassed answers to her soft questions about his journey, 
 and the time he had set off, and heartily did Emmelino 
 wish that her mother had come sooner, or that Alfred had 
 held his tongue. Yet, when she looked at Frank's 
 chubby childish face, she could not think that he had any 
 acuteness of feeling or perception, and was willing to at- 
 tribute his embarrassment to dulness and stolidity, as 
 Lady Willoughby went on perseveringly asking questions, 
 and being affectionate without effect ; and Kate escaped 
 from the awkward group under plea of finishing her letter 
 to her sister. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 39 
 
 Many a time had Frank started up hopefully before 
 Sir Francis actually entered the room. 
 
 ' See,' said his wife, rising, and taking Frank's hand, 
 as if to lead him forward, ' see who has been waiting for 
 you all this time.' 
 
 ' Ha ! Eh ? Who ? Why, 'tis Frank himself, I believe ! 
 How d'ye do, my dear boy ? Well, I am glad to see you, 
 Frank ; I should have known you anywhere ! How long 
 have you been here ? ' 
 
 * About two hours, sir,' said Frank. 
 
 ' Two hours ; well, that is unlucky, you must have 
 come just as I went out. But never mind, you have been 
 making acquaintance with all the others here.' 
 
 ' Yes, he is on excellent terms with Alfred already,' 
 said Lady Willoughby. * You little thought what was in 
 store for you.' 
 
 ' Not I, or I should have been at home long ago. 
 Why, Frank, you are the very picture of what you were 
 when I saw you last ; I should have known you among a 
 hundred in the street, but I suppose you hardly remem- 
 bered me ? ' 
 
 * Not in the least, sir,' said Frank, in an open way that 
 made the words sound far more cordial than his replies to 
 Lady Willoughby. 
 
 Sir Francis laughed, shook hands with him again, and 
 then asked, ' Well, and how is your uncle ? ' 
 
 ' 0, very well, thank you, sir,' said Frank. 
 
 ' Grown a thorough country parson, I suppose ; but 
 that he always was. And how does he wear ? Pretty 
 well, I suppose ; he has got an easy life of it there.' 
 
 ' He has a great deal to do,' said Frank ; ' but he is 
 very well, and very active.' 
 
 ' I wonder whether Dumblethwayte looks as it did 
 six-and-thirty years ago — yes, six-and-thirty years ago, 
 when I was a young shaver with a round face just like 
 yours, Frank, and went there to wish my brother good- 
 bye, just before I went out to India. Pretty banish*liient 
 I thought it then, and how I envied George, set down 
 there in his pretty parsonage, with nothing to do but to 
 enjoy himself.' 
 
40 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' I should not think it had altered much,' said Frank 
 
 ' Not quite as much as your uncle and I, no doubt 
 I wonder if George and I should know each other again * 
 I dare say he is the youngest looking of the two now.' 
 
 ' Perhaps he is, sir.' 
 
 ' Ah, well ! ' said Sir Francis, laughing, ' one meets 
 with it everywhere ; there was Kate yesterday, now, could 
 not recover from her surprise at meeting such a sun-dried 
 old object in a wig. Well, and so you have got your aunt 
 Willoughby for a neighbour ? ' 
 
 ' Yes, they live about two miles off, just on the other 
 side of the hill.' 
 
 ' I must make acquaintance with her, I suppose. I 
 think of going to see l)umblethwayte as soon as I can get 
 things a little settled. There is only one daughter un- 
 married now, is there ? ' 
 
 ' Only Juliet.' 
 
 All through luncheon time such inquiries as these 
 went on, and afterwards Sir Francis and his son went out 
 walking together, and the girls, with their mother, had a 
 drive in the park. The arrangement did not please Lady 
 Willoughby, and as they drove from the door she did not 
 conceal her annoyance from the girls, saying, that Sir 
 Francis had promised to go somewhere with her, but she 
 supposed everything was to give way to this boy. How- 
 ever, the park revived her spirits by the novelty of the 
 scene, and she entertained her daughters with a descrip- 
 tion of the course by the river, the evening airing of the 
 gay world of Calcutta, and of her own grand equipage 
 there. As they were returning, Kate, who was sitting 
 forward, exclaimed, as she eagerly acknowledged a bow, 
 and her face lighted up wdth a delighted smile of recog- 
 nition : ' Lord Liddesdale and Lady Frances ! How 
 surprised she looked ! I wonder if she guesses. 
 mamma, look at her pretty horse Fairy, the bright bay, 
 I had one little ride on it.' 
 
 This encounter put Lady Willoughby into great good 
 humour, she talked with more animation than she had 
 yet shown, and, on coming in, told Sir Francis she had 
 enjoyed herself very much. The dinner was earlier 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 41 
 
 than usual, because Frank's time was short, and as soon 
 as it was over, he wished them good-bye and departed, 
 looking very happy. Sir Francis seemed quite as happy, 
 and talked in praise of Frank half the evening, in which 
 his wife joined so heartily as to surprise her daughters, 
 who had not fancied her very favourably impressed with 
 the young gentleman. However, they thought Sir Fran- 
 cis was easily pleased, when he showed them, with great 
 satisfaction, a letter from the head master of Frank's 
 school, speaking strongly of his application and good 
 conduct, but saying that his abilities were not of the 
 highest order. 
 
 * I am heartily glad of it,' said his father. ' Your first- 
 rate men never get on in the world, thev always have 
 some absurd quirk or crotchet of their own, that nobody 
 else can understand.' 
 
 ' They never can be contented,' said Lady Wil- 
 loughby. 
 
 ' They never know what is to their own advantage or 
 other people's,' continued Sir Francis ; ' they won't do 
 this, and they can't bear that, and they have some notion 
 or some pursuit of their own, and do everything except 
 their own business. I declare I should have been quite 
 vexed if I had had a letter to say that Frank was up to 
 the ears in Latin and Grreek, and carrying all before him. 
 Now, I dare say,' turning suddenly on Emmeline, ' your 
 brother-in-law. Lord Herbert, is one of your first-rate, 
 high-flying men.' 
 
 ' One of mine, at least,' said Emmeline, drily. 
 
 ' He distinguished himself at school and college,' said 
 Kate, ' and would have done much more but for his health.' 
 
 ' Yes, of course, and with his connections he might 
 have been anything. And what does he do with all 
 these abilities? Why, he settles down into a country 
 curacy, which is a dead loss to him, and wears out his 
 lungs with daily service, or some rubbish or other. No, 
 no, give me good practical sense, such as knows how to 
 take care of itself, and that is what you will find in 
 Frank.' 
 
 Emmeline looked at Kate, and felt contemptuous, but 
 
42 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 their attention was required to a story of a clever young 
 man, who had made a great sensation in India by his 
 eccentric conduct. 
 
 As soon as the two sisters were alone in their room, 
 Emmeline burst into indignation : * First-rate talents to 
 be disdained, as if nothing was precious but money! 
 Better be a Californian gold-digger, then, than Milton or 
 Goethe.' 
 
 • As if mind and its powers were not a thousand times 
 more precious than all that gold can purchase ! ' cried 
 Kate. 
 
 ' Get on in the world, indeed ! ' proceeded Emmeline. 
 ' That is all our mind was given us for, then. Money 
 hunting and consequence hunting, and the more you have 
 the more you must strive for. Slavery, indeed ! What do 
 such people know of the purposes of being ? ' 
 
 What did Emmeline herself know of them? 
 
 The next day was Sunday, and Lady Willoughby 
 not feeling equal to going to the morning service, Em- 
 meline and Kate went with Sir Francis, At Church 
 they were, for the first time, reminded of the Confir- 
 mation, which had slipped entirely out of their heads 
 with the other interests and occupations of their 
 school life, and they went home, each intending to 
 speak to the other about it. After luncheon sundry 
 old Indian acquaintance of Sir Francis and Lady Wil- 
 loughby came to call, and the two sisters were obliged 
 to sit up demure and formal, without the power of 
 escaping to the afternoon service, and the evening 
 service was at the very hour of dinner. They felt 
 that this was not a right state of things, and as they 
 went to bed they speculated on the possibility of finding 
 their way to Church by themselves another time. 
 
 ' And, Emmie, the Confirmation is to-morrow.' 
 
 ' Yes,' said Emmeline, doubtfully, '■ but I don't see 
 how we can go. Mamma would never go out so early, 
 and our tickets are in our desks at Miss Danby's.' 
 
 ' Yes, I suppose it could hardly be managed,' said 
 Kate. 
 
 * To be sure,' said Emmeline, * we could get Sir Fran- 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 43 
 
 CIS to set us down at Miss Danby's, and wc could go with 
 the others there. But yet I don't know; it is not tho 
 sort of thing to ask him about.' 
 
 ' If we could see Lady Frances, and go with her.' 
 
 < If — yes, if — I wonder if she will be really there, 
 looking out for us.' 
 
 ' She said she would go, but, perhaps, she will change 
 her mind now she knows where we are,' said Kate. 
 
 * I don't know what to do,' said Emmeline. ' I am 
 very much inclined to let it alone until a quieter time. 
 All that I learnt seems gone entirely out of my head, 
 and all our books and papers are at Miss Danby's.' 
 
 ' I am sure I am too sleepy to think it all up again 
 now,' said Kate. 
 
 ' It is so great and awful a vow that I am sure it ought 
 not to be taken lightly and without due preparation,' said 
 Emmeline. 
 
 ' We never seemed half good enough for it before,' 
 said Kate. 
 
 ' And all the little preparation we had seems driven 
 quite out of our heads,' said Emmeline. ' No, it would 
 be awkward, and a hurry, and a bustle, and a fuss, to have 
 it now, and that, such a sacred thing should never be, so 
 we will let it wait for a quieter time.' 
 
 ' Then we shall not have that other great responsibility,' 
 said Kate, sighing, as if her sister's decision relieved her 
 from a weight. 
 
 ' But we will take care we do not miss Church next 
 Sunday,' said Emmeline, as if to atone for the rest by 
 this one good resolution. 
 
 ' And we will get our books from Miss Danby's, and 
 read our Christian Year every Sunday, as we promised 
 Constance,' said Kate. ' I like to do that, because it 
 puts us in mind of those shady Sunday evenings at 
 Copseley.' 
 
 ' And I see beautiful poetry in those hymns, here and 
 there,' said Emmeline ; ' I wish I could enter into them 
 as Constance does.' 
 
 They put the thought of Confirmation out of their 
 heads and went to sleep. On Tuesday, on returning 
 
44 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 from their afternoon drive, tbey found the cards of Lady 
 Frances and her father, accompanied by a little note from 
 her to Emmeline, congratulating them on their mother's 
 arrival, and ending thus — * "Was it the fault of my eyes 
 that I did not see you at St. George's ? I watched in' 
 vain, for one white dress and white cap was so like another 
 that I could not make you out. However I was very 
 glad to be there, it brought so many pleasant thoughts, 
 and I am sure you must be rejoiced at being thus able 
 to begin this fresh start in life ; indeed, it seems as if 
 the Confirmation had been timed on purpose for you.' 
 
 ' Lady Frances does not know,' said Emmeline, as she 
 folded up the note ; not, however, without some feeling 
 of self-reproach, though not exactly directed the right 
 way. She was sorry that she had not been able to wind 
 up her feelings to the point which she considered fit for 
 receiving the sacred ordinance. She did not perceive how 
 the grace therein received might have strengthened her on 
 her entrance into the new sphere of trial and duty in 
 which she had been placed. Emmeline and Kate did 
 indeed know that life is a time of trial, but they did not 
 so feel it; they were drifting quietly on the stream, with- 
 out much thought of the course, and though they acknow- 
 ledged the necessity of attending to Church ordinances, 
 these were to them duties in themselves which stood alone, 
 unconnected with practical life, and without influence over 
 it. So, as Confirmation was to come but once in their 
 lives, why not at one time as well as at another ? and the 
 thought of the Holy Communion made them still more 
 inclined to defer it, since they would be afraid to stay 
 away, and yet dreaded to go without due preparation. 
 They did not feel with their hearts, though in some degree 
 they knew with their understandings that prayers, Church 
 services, Confirmation, Communions, were all steps to 
 lead them on in the track of daily life, the waymarks set 
 about their path; nay, further, the wings which might bear 
 onwards their steps. 
 
 They had not much time for thought at present, for 
 there was much to occupy them. They had to go and 
 finish packing up their goods at Miss Danby's, to take 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERB. 45 
 
 leave of their school-fellows, and receive the adieus ot 
 the ci'cat lady herself. 
 
 They were not without feelino;s of gratitude and kind- 
 liness towards Miss Danby. They had not been un- 
 happy at school ; indeed, from their homelessncss, they 
 had more affection for it than is usual; and although their 
 complete reliance in, and devotedness to, each other had 
 prevented them from forming close friendships with other 
 girls, they were people universally to like and to be liked. 
 Their standing and importance in the school had caused 
 them to be missed, and on their reappearance they were 
 greeted with such eagerness and affection, as gave them 
 very pleasant impressions to carry away. It was odd to 
 find how all was going on just as usual, and how short the 
 week had seemed to their companions, which to them had 
 been so very long. 
 
 * Though we have not been without our event,' said 
 Susan Allen ; ' by the bye, you were not at the Confir- 
 mation ? ' 
 
 * No,' said Kate, ' we thought it best to put it off to a 
 quieter time ? ' 
 
 ' What ? when you are leaving school and all, and 
 Emmeline will be coming out too,' said Susan. * Who 
 would think of coming out without being Confirmed ? ' 
 
 ' She is not coming out,' said Kate ; ' she means to 
 wait for me.' 
 
 ' AVhat edifying devotion ! ' cried Miss Allen. ' Really, 
 you two do deserve to be proposed as models of sisterly 
 affection as much as Jane and Susan Woodbine in my old 
 spelling-book. And so you won't be women after all, 
 neither Confirmed nor come out ! ' 
 
 ' Must they go together ? ' said Emmeline, smiling. 
 
 ' I know I wish they did in my case,' said Susan, yawn- 
 ing. ' You are lucky girls, you two ; I wish you could 
 give me a bit of your good fortune. I should not 
 mind giving you all the additional womanliness derived 
 from my Confirmation, for the liberty you have got at 
 home.' 
 
 Kate shook her head at the rattling Susan, Emmeline 
 looked at Anne Forester, her chief friend at school, and 
 
46 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ■who had, like Susan, been recently Confirmed. Anne 
 looked grave, and as if she did not like this light way of 
 talking, but she said nothing, it Avas not her way. Em- 
 meline watched her face and movements, and wondered if 
 Confirmation had made any difi'erence in her ; but there 
 was a certain peevish tone, in which Anne used to talk of 
 lessons and restraints, which recurred again during this 
 visit, and did not suit with the idea of a person fresh from 
 this solemn rite, and feeling this solemnity as deeply as 
 Emmeline knew she did. 
 
 It was time to go, and after many kisses, promises of 
 correspondence, and hopes of future meetings, the Miss 
 Berners went down to the drawing-room, to Miss Danby 
 and all her assistants. The knowledge that Miss Danby 
 had sent a very high character of them to Lady Wil- 
 loughby, and the remembrance of her many condescend- 
 ing attempts for their amusement during their solitary 
 holidays, made them feel a sort of affection for her, and 
 perhaps not one of her scholars had listened with a bet- 
 ter grace to her parting discourse, or heard less impa- 
 tiently her benignant conclusion, instructing them to 
 remember that the most important part of education had 
 yet to be completed. Now her last farewell had been 
 spoken, and their school life was among the things that 
 bad been. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 47 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 I will have a lover, 
 Eiding on a steed of steeds ; 
 He shall love me without guile ; 
 And to him I will discover 
 The Swan's nest among the reeds. 
 
 E. Baeeett Beownino. 
 
 The Ayah was sent back to India, and her place supplied 
 by a stately English nurse and a pretty young nursery- 
 maid, of both of whom little Cecilia testified strong 
 disapproval, spent a considerable part of her time in 
 squalling, and for three nights refused to go to sleep, 
 till she had victimized her father by making him walk 
 up and down the room with her for a^ hour and a 
 half 
 
 One day intervened between the departure of the 
 Ayah and the arrival of the nursery governess, Miss 
 Townsend, and by the end of it, Emmeline and Kate 
 were by no means disposed to lament her coming. 
 Alfred, now familiar, was riotous and overpowering, 
 Edwin almost as bad, Janet fretful and exacting — none 
 of them had any principle of obedience, or any power of 
 finding amusement for themselves, nor had the sisters 
 much notion of managing them ; they had no experi- 
 ence of children, and no command. They knew it was 
 only for one day, and as three children could not be 
 spoilt in that space, they hardly contested anything, 
 but allowed themselves to be nearly pulled to pieces, 
 permitted the destruction of numerous toys of the 
 
48 . THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 children, and knick-knacks of their own, and never 
 were more tired than when at last they had wished 
 Alfred good night, and sat down to tea as peaceably as 
 they could, while Cecilia's screams were still heard in 
 the distance. 
 
 Miss Townsend came early, by especial desire, and 
 was very kindly greeted. She was about twenty — one of 
 the smallest and most timid of womankind, and with a 
 voice that it was not easy to hear. She had been popu- 
 lar among the younger girls at Miss Danby's, but always 
 looked almost frightened out of her senses, if addressed 
 by the elder ones. The Miss Berners had for the last 
 twelve months been at the head of the school, and their 
 sister's marriage had given them a sort of eclat, which 
 occasioned the poor little woman to look at them as still 
 more awfully remote than the rest, though not perhaps 
 personally as formidable as the lively and satirical Miss 
 Allen. 
 
 All that was further known of her was, that she was 
 the eldest of a very large family, and that her father was 
 ' in reduced circumstances.' Persons who are themselves 
 bashful, suffer the most from the shyness of others, and 
 Emmeline felt it a dreadful infliction to have to introduce 
 the children to her, and take her to her room, and hear 
 her ' yes — yeSj Miss Berners — thank you — very kind ' — 
 so often repeated under her breath. 
 
 ' Poor thing,' said she, when she had left her alone 
 with the children, ' I feel as if I was committing a cruelty, 
 shutting a dove up with two or three young eagles.' 
 
 About an hour after, Kate said ' I shall go and see 
 if there is anything left of her.' 
 
 Presently Kate came back in surprise : ' Well, Em- 
 mie, it is really marvellous. There they are, all three, as 
 happy and good as possible. She is mending that un- 
 happy cart that the boys broke yesterday, and they sit 
 watching as if their lives depended on it, and Alfred ask- 
 ing scientific questions about wheels and steam engines.' 
 
 ' Some people have the art of managing children,' said 
 Emmeline, ' and at any rate they are off our hands. If 
 they had been reasonable, well-trained children, like the 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 49 
 
 little Foresters, it would be a different thing, but these 
 are only fresh caught ! Well, I hope her power will last, 
 and that she will work wonders ; but how she is to get on 
 when it comes to lessons I cannot think.' 
 
 ' With that great Alfred, and sturdy Edwin,' said 
 Kate, ' who look enough to demolish her in a moment, 
 and, worst of all, Janet to whine the life out of her.' 
 
 ' I could bear with the rest,' said Emmeline, ' but 
 Janet's whining is dreadful.' 
 
 Miss Townsend's power did last ; the children were 
 contented with her, and if she had any difficulties with 
 them, these did not transpire. Indeed, but for the quiet- 
 ness, no one would have discovered her presence, for she 
 kept out of the way as much as she could, spoke as little 
 and as low as possible, and never said more than ' yes, sir,' 
 in reply to Sir Francis's harangues. Emmeline and Kate 
 pitied her very much, and meant to be very kind to her. 
 
 The next great event was dining at Lord Liddesdale's. 
 
 On the morning of the day on which they were to go, 
 Emmeline received a letter from Lady Herbert Somer- 
 ville, full of kind Confirmation wishes, and speaking of 
 that ordinance as the great step in life from which all the 
 rest may take its colour. Constance had reckoned that 
 her letter would reach her sisters on the day after their 
 first Communion, and her husband had written at the end 
 a few words of affectionate exhortation, warning them not 
 to think that present warm feelings would last for ever, 
 and reminding them, that steady prayer and consistent 
 practice, were more than ever required of them now they 
 had taken their place as grown-up members of the Church 
 — admitted to its full privileges, and permitted to approach 
 and offer themselves ' a reasonable, holy, and lively sacri- 
 fice.' What holiness did not such a privilege require of 
 them ! 
 
 The sisters looked at each other in doubt, whether 
 they should consider themselves to have missed a great 
 blessing, or to be as yet free from a great peril. 
 
 ' We will keep the letter till we are Confirmed,' said 
 Emmeline. 
 
 ' Herbert will be at home by that time and able to 
 3 
 
50 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 speak to us himself,' replied Kate ; * but keep tlie letter 
 by all means. How glad I am to have such a good ac- 
 count to take this evening ! ' 
 
 So they laid aside tlie subject, and settled into an 
 impression, that their conduct was not of so much impor- 
 tance, while they were still unconfirmed. 
 
 It was a very pleasant evening for the girls, their 
 friends were as kind to them as ever, and both Sir Francis 
 and" Lady Willoughby seemed exceedingly pleased. The 
 former kept Lady Frances half dinner-time listening to a 
 story which Kate had already heard twice before, and 
 perceived she might probably hear many times again ; and 
 Lady Willoughby looked unusually animated whilst Lord 
 Liddesdale was talking to her about Constance. 
 
 The only disappointment was, that their mother took 
 up Lady Frances's attention all the evening, so that 
 though they had quite their share in the general conver- 
 sation, they could have none with her in particular, and 
 could not convince her that they had acted for the best 
 in delaying their Confirmation. 
 
 Could it have been because they had been seeing as 
 they thought Lady Frances would see, that there were 
 no such expressions of strong admiration of their mother 
 that evening, when they were together, as one or other of 
 them had hitherto been always uttering ; and that Kate 
 actually complained of Sir Francis's continual prosing, 
 and fidgetting ? The first rose-colored light in which they 
 had viewed everything, was wearing ofi", and, in fact, there 
 were many difficulties in their situation. A family grown 
 up together has become so accustomed to the different 
 peculiarities of its members, as scarcely either to feel 
 them or to view them in a strong light, whereas Emmeline 
 and Kate came into the midst of their home as strangers, 
 with no old recollections, with eyes that could scarcely 
 avoid seeing foibles, and without being, as it were, uncon- 
 sciously moulded to fit into the ins and outs of their 
 family. Strong principles of duty and forbearance were 
 doubly needed in their case, but of this they were not 
 aware, and no friend was near to warn them. Their sis- 
 ter was at a distance, and was too much of a girl herself 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 51 
 
 to have thought of the possibility of these difficulties, and, 
 indeed, she was happy in the full belief that all was right 
 with them, that they were under the best guidance, and 
 that there was now no reason to regret her absence. 
 
 From the strength, support, and aid that was offered 
 to them by the Spirit of Counsel and Might, they had, in 
 their ignorance and faint-heartedness, turned aside, and 
 now they stood in their weakness, exposed to temptations 
 of which they had not even thought. 
 
 Sir Francis's brother, the uncle with whom Frank had 
 hitherto spent his holidays, came to London for a few days, 
 to see the brother whom he had not met for five-and-thirtj 
 years. He was by several years the elder, and it wai 
 curious to see how much the two brothers had grown aparl 
 during their separation. 
 
 Mr. Willoughby was a small old man, though not quite 
 as brown and shrivelled as his brother, and with thin iron 
 grey hair instead of wig, with the same activity of manner, 
 and quickness of speech ; perhaps, a little inclined t(> 
 prosiness, especially about his nephew Frank ; but in ad- 
 dition to this, Mr. Willoughby was the very model of an 
 old-fashioned clergyman, in look, dress, and manner ; and 
 there was a beaming kindliness, almost a sunniness about 
 him, that did every one's heart good, down from Lady 
 Willoughby, who always called him ' Poor, dear, good old 
 gentleman,' to little Cecilia, who, instead of her usual 
 screams, stretched out her arms to go to him on his very 
 first introduction. 
 
 His parish was far away in the north, and it was iialf 
 a lifetime since he had left it. One day he begged as an 
 especial favour, that the young ladies would come out with 
 him, and help him with their advice in the presents he 
 must take home. They were much amused by the expedi- 
 tion, which was a whole long day's work. First there was 
 the gown for Grace, his old housekeeper, which was not to 
 be too gay nor too dingy, neither common-looking nor 
 smart, neither too dark nor too li^hc ; and then came an 
 infinity of other articles, needle-books, pin- cushions, 
 bodkin oases of all varieties, for the old woman or little 
 girls, of each of whom he spoke by name as a particular 
 
52 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 friend, and, with reference to her tastes or wants, held 
 grave council as to what she would like best, thanking the 
 girls earnestly for any suggestion. 
 
 They smiled to each other at hi« simplicity, and were 
 almost ready to think him lost in trifles, till, entering a 
 book shop, he met with a great black-looking dusty quarto, 
 on which he seized in transport, and was soon so deep in 
 its contents, as to quite forget where he was. Kate grow- 
 ing weary, peeped over, saw it was Greek, and drew back 
 in awful respect, and they waited long, til], suddenly re- 
 collecting himself, Mr. Willoughby closed the book, and 
 asked the price. It was thirty shillings. ' Ah ! I feared 
 so,' said he, sighing, looking lovingly at the title-page, 
 and laying it down in despair, though his gifts had already 
 cost twice the sum, and he was proceeding to spend as 
 much more. Then turning to the sisters, he apologized so 
 earnestly and humbly for having forgotten them, and kept 
 them waiting, that they hardly knew which way to look. 
 
 Almost every mention of his parishioners was con- 
 nected with his nephew. Frank had done this for one 
 person, had given that to another, had reformed one 
 naughty boy, had won the hearts of the whole parish. He 
 was his right hand, almost his curate ; he mended his 
 clock, and made his man keep the garden in order — nay, 
 the walking stick in his hand was Frank's cutting and 
 curing for him, there was nothing which Frank had not 
 done, and to which he was not apropos ; and little Edwin 
 was soon brought to think that it would be the summit of 
 human felicity to go to Dumblethwayte with brother 
 Frank and uncle Willoughby. 
 
 Every one was sorry when uncle Willoughby bade 
 them good-bye on Saturday morning, and the girls wished 
 very much that Lord Herbert could have known him, they 
 would have liked each other so much. And that a person 
 would be very mucJi liked by Herbert, was the highest 
 praise which they could give him. 
 
 When the amusement of his visit was over, Emmeline 
 and Kate began to grow very tired of London, their few 
 books, their daily drive, and their mother's evening nap. 
 They sometimes talked of commencing some regular eni- 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 53 
 
 ployment for the morning, when their time was apt to hang 
 on hand ; but while they were expecting a change, it did 
 not seem worth while, nor had they been long enough re- 
 leased from school to cease from feeling loitering a luxury. 
 So they idled, read a little, worked a little, played with 
 Cecilia, the beauty, and the most engaging of the family, 
 and looked in now and then on the school-room, when they 
 could do so without too much alarming Miss Townsend. 
 
 Alfred and Edwin were fast becoming civilized, and 
 the former could amuse himself so well and quietly, that 
 it was no penance to have him in the same room with his 
 mamma ; but poor little Janet was whiter than ever, and 
 whenever she was taken from under Miss Townsend's 
 wing, something was sure to happen, which caused her to 
 cry, and to be banished. She was by no means a popular 
 child, and her sisters troubled themselves very little 
 about her. 
 
 They were obliged to entertain themselves extensively 
 with day-dreams, and, in addition to the cottage, all 
 chimneys, gable-ends, and roses, and to the grand plans 
 of charity and usefulness in which Emmeline delighted to 
 indulge, she had another, which no one but Kate should 
 have heard for worlds, about a perfect hero, 'just like 
 Herbert,' as Kate said at first. 
 
 ' no, not like Herbert,' said Emmeline, ' at least not 
 quite like him. He must be taller, and darker, and more 
 stately.' 
 
 ' And not a Clergyman,' said Kate. 
 
 ' Nor a Lord,' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' But he must be of noble family. 0, surely, Emmie,' 
 said Kate, as eagerly as if she was pleading for some 
 real person on whom her sister's happiness depended. 
 
 ' Of noble family — yes, but poor, very poor, and the 
 architect of his own fortunes, with nothing but his good 
 sword to aid him.' 
 
 ' And very haughty and reserved,' said Kate, without 
 observing the awkwardness of this architectural imple- 
 ment. 
 
 ' yes, tall and stiff, as if he had a poker in his 
 
54 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 back,' said Emmeline, not sorry to laugh at herself, so as 
 to make all this like a jest. ' Very dark too, and stern, 
 and silent to all the world, AYho are nevertheless obliged to 
 applaud and admire him with extorted praise.' 
 
 ' Should he not have committed some great crime ? ' 
 said Kate. 
 
 ' AV^hy, no, I think I had rather he had not,' was Em- 
 mcline's answer, ' but he might be suspected of it, and I, 
 only I, should know his secret, his perfect innocence. He 
 should bear all the suspicion and the cold looks of the 
 world, rather than betray some unhappy friend, and it 
 should be only in one that he should repose with perfect 
 confidence.' 
 
 ' Yes, you would trust him through everything,' said 
 Kate. ' You would understand him without one mis- 
 giving ! ' 
 
 ' That I would. 0, how beautiful is the perfect trust 
 of perfect love ! ' cried Emmeline, looking up, a light in 
 her eye and a colour on her cheek ; but soon there followed 
 a sigh at the thought that what had for a moment filled 
 up her heart and soul, was but an imagination. For a 
 dreary feeling, a sort of void, a want of something had 
 haunted her at intervals ever since she could remember. 
 It used to be the longing for her mother, but here she 
 was au sem desafamillc, and now, that the first joy was 
 over, she was again visited by that sense of dissatisfaction, 
 and her heart went seeking out on all sides, sometimes 
 trying to fill itself with enthusiasm for beautiful scenery, 
 sometimes attempting to repose in dreams of the devoted 
 affection of which she had read, or desiring the occupation 
 in works of charity, which, looked at from a distance, ap- 
 peared both attractive and sublime. 
 
 Katherine was no visionary on her own account, 
 though she opened the gates of her fancy, and lived in the 
 light of her sister's day-dreams. Emmeline was to her 
 even more than the visions were to Emmeline, and except 
 when it pleased her sister to weave for her a bower of 
 bliss, Kate never supposed herself other than Emmie's 
 companion, living alone with her in a cottage, or else her 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 55 
 
 bridesmaid at her marriage with her gloomy and mysteri- 
 ous hero. As to present tastes, amusements, and employ- 
 ments, nothing could be better agreed than the two sis- 
 ters ; what one approved or disapproved was regarded in 
 the same light by the other, and they seemed made to go 
 through the world hand in hand. 
 
56 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Surely, thought I, 
 This is the lace of Peace's coat 
 
 6. Ukkbeet. 
 
 Sir, Francis now, very mucli to his wife's disccmfiture, set 
 oif on an expedition by himself, to look for a house. He 
 talked of buying an estate, but as he had all the world 
 before him, he was not likely soon to settled- 
 Lady Willoughby never liked to be left, she had such 
 a dislike of having to speak to people or to settle any- 
 thing by herself, that she was very unwilling to let him 
 go ; but she was, on the whole, less dependent on him now 
 that she had her daughters to take care of her ; she was 
 growing a little more accustomed to England, and she 
 could not find any absolute reason to prevent Sir Francis 
 from taking a holiday. 
 
 He talked of only staying one week, but he was absent 
 for three, during which he went to see Frank, made a visit 
 to his brother, and looked at several houses, ending by 
 taking by the j^ear, what called itself, Bellevue, a Marine 
 Villa, on the outskirts of Herringsby, a small new water- 
 ing place on the coast of Lancashire. 
 
 He came home in high spirits, and nothing remained 
 to be done but to pack up their property and set ofi". It 
 seemed so tremendous an alfair to Lady Willoughby, 
 that her daughters wondered how she had ever been car- 
 ried away from India ; but at last, by very little personal 
 interference on her part, and a great deal on her husband's, 
 '.t was effected and off they set. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 57 
 
 Perhaps the impressions of the heroines of this story 
 "will be best conveyed by a letter to Lady Herbert Som- 
 crville, written about a week after their arrival. 
 
 * My dearest Constance, 
 
 'Here we are settled at last, and here is a full account 
 for yon, which, as I venture to hope, will convey more ideas 
 than Emmie's half-asleep letter the first day. Our house, which 
 rejoices in the elegant name of Bellevue, does very well deserve 
 it, for it stands high, and we have a very pretty, irregular sort 
 of lawn, from the top of which we can look over certain trees, 
 houses and hedges, and obtain a very respectable peep of blue 
 sea, most delicious to look upon; while in the other direction 
 we can see the grey, cloudy heads of some of the Cumberland 
 mountains, neighbours which we regard with awful reverence. 
 In sight of mountains and sea, it makes us feel quite grand, 
 and I expect Emmie will soon begin to write verses in such an 
 atmosphere. Moreover we have a species of modern Gothic 
 battlemented tower, regarded by Janet with the utmost dread, 
 as the abode of some giant who consumes naughty children, 
 but whence the adventurous climbers may behold a beautiful 
 view of the coast, with capes rnnning far out into the sea, one 
 stretching behind the other, and little white-sailed boats gliding 
 over the waves. "We are at about a quarter of a mile distant 
 from the beach, which is a very satisfactory one, with nice 
 smooth sand, where we can stand and lose ourselves in wonder at 
 the mysterious tide, coming in with all its curling, breaking waves ; 
 and there are fine, bold, dai-k rocks, standing far out into the sea, 
 and making promontories for tlie waves to dash and foam against ; 
 little narrow coves and bays, too, shut in by rocks, where one may 
 get away quite alone, and read or sketch. The children are down 
 there half their time, dabbling after sea-weed and shells, and build- 
 ing sand-castles, and they are all looking much more blooming 
 already. 
 
 ' As to the garden, that is not much ; there is a greenhouse, 
 but very little in it, and we do not think we shall have time to 
 take to it much. There is plenty of room in the house ; two draw- 
 ing-rooms, and a library, besides the school-room, and a great many 
 bed-rooms. Ours is a very pleasant one, with a view of the mount- 
 ains, and also a little bit of the old Church spire, rising up among 
 the slated roofs of the town. 
 
 * The town is a mixture of new and old ; there is a High street, 
 with alternate shabby little old houses and great plate-glass shop 
 windows, and there are terraces and crescents, and marine villas 
 without end, all staring at the sea, and the great smooth Marine 
 Promenade, as they call it, where mamma goes and drives v p and 
 down. 
 
 3* 
 
58 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 'The churches are Uvo, a new and an old one. Our pew is 
 in the old one, which is not very pretty, though a great deal has 
 been done of late with very good cflect to embellish the cast end. 
 The vicar is a Mr. Brent, a middle-aged sort of man, with two 
 curates, whose names I have not learnt yet; he has choristers to 
 chant the hymns, which we like very much because of pleas- 
 ant old Copseley recollections, but our elders are not at all 
 inclined to like him. He has called, but he does not go out 
 in the evening, so I suppose we shall not see much of him. 
 lie has schools, &c., but he is said never to allow ladies to 
 have anything to do with them; very strange, is it not? indeed, 
 he has done other very odd things, which I have not room to 
 tell you. 
 
 'There are some schools connected with the other Church, 
 however, where they will be very glad of our help; there are 
 two dear, funny, old, good little sisters, the Miss Shaws, who 
 have undertaken to get us a time fixed for going to teach iu 
 the week, and a district appointed for us to visit. They are 
 connexions, in some roundabout way, of Frank's mother, and so 
 we are obliged to be very civil to them, though I do not think 
 yir Francis was very much gratified by the discovery of the 
 relationship. 
 
 'There are great numbers of such houses as ours all through 
 the neighbourhood; quantities of people have called and are 
 still calling, and there are two invitations to dinner arrived al- 
 ready. Miss Berners was included in one, but she keeps reso- 
 lutely to her vow of not coming out before me, which is so very 
 kind of her, that I ought to be marvellously entertaining during 
 the evenings we shall spend together. 
 
 'Perhaps mamma is telling you all that I have been writing, 
 but never mind, I dare say 3'ou will not mind reading it twice 
 over. We took great delight in your description of the Bay of 
 Naples, and one pleasure in it is, that your enjoying it so much 
 was an excellent proof of Herbert's being better. We are longing 
 for the account of Pompeii you have promised us; it will make 
 us know ten times more about it than all the grand book de- 
 scriptions. How I wish Mount Vesuvius would be so kind as 
 to make an eruption while you are so near him ; but I am 
 come to the end of my paper, and have only room for Emmie's 
 message, that she thanks you for j^our letter, and hopes soon 
 to write. 
 
 ' Your most affectionate sister, 
 
 'K. E. Berxep^.' 
 
 Such were tlie intentions with whicli Emmeline and 
 Kate began their residence at Herringsby. They seemed 
 likely to have a good deal of leisure to themselves, as Lady 
 Willoughby always spent the time between breakfast and 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 59 
 
 luncheon in her own room, writing letters, or looking 
 over dresses ; and when Sir Francis was ready, as was 
 usually the case, to drive out with her in the afternoon, 
 there was no room for either of the girls, who were thus 
 left quite at liberty to pursue what occupations they 
 pleased. 
 
 The example of their sister and of Lady Frances made 
 them think school-teaching the most dignified and delight- 
 ful of tasks, and into it therefore they rushed with all pos- 
 sible speed and eagerness. 
 
 The first of their visitors whom they could consult 
 were Miss Shaw, and her sister. Miss Penelope, two good, 
 bustling, active old ladies, both talking very fast, and 
 seeming very much in earnest. Mr. Brent, the vicar, 
 would not allow any interference with his schools, they 
 said, but kept them entirely under the management of 
 himself and his curates : and though they did not like, they 
 said, to speak against any body, they knew he had been 
 very uncivil to several excellent persons who had attempted 
 visiting and instructing the poor in his district. Indeed, 
 some tracts which they had themselves given, had been 
 returned to them by Mr. Brent. 
 
 ' It was with a very civil note I must say,' said Miss 
 Shaw. 
 
 ' Yes, that we must allow, civil to us personally, but 
 nothing could excuse the thing itself. Ah ! to see to 
 what lengths party spirit will go,' said Miss Penelope. 
 
 ' And then,' added Miss Shaw, ' he positively turned 
 good Mr. Denham out of poor John Andrew's house ; he 
 had been reading to him, and talking to him, and had 
 brought him to the most desirable state of mind, when 
 Mr. Brent interfered, caused a scene, which I am told, was 
 actually violent, in the poor man's own house, and finally 
 induced the wife to prevent his ever gaining access to him 
 again.' 
 
 ' 0, my dears, pray have nothing to do with it,' said 
 Lady Willoughby ; ' I would not have you expose your- 
 selves to anything unpleasant, on any account.' 
 
 ' Very strange, indeed,' said Emmeline ; ' I wish we 
 were not in his district.' 
 
60 THE CASTLE BUILDEPwS. 
 
 ' Then we really shall not be able to do anything,' said 
 Kate, with a deep sigh. 
 
 ' 0, I assure you,' cried Miss Penelope, ' wo cannot 
 aiford to lose you, my dear Miss Katherine, your assist- 
 ance will be most valuable to us, in our district. How 
 delighted Mr. Hunter will be to see what excellent re- 
 cruits we have brought to his work.' 
 
 ' Delighted indeed,' said Miss Shaw, ' there is some- 
 thing so charming in this energetic spirit ! ' 
 
 This looks very like flattery, when written down, but 
 it was all perfectly genuine, and came from the hearts of 
 the good old ladies, as every feature of their little aqui- 
 line faces testified ; there were dimples fixed into lines of 
 a perpetual smile on the permanently red and rather yel- 
 low cheeks, and their heads seemed used to no occupation 
 so much as nodding in acquiescence with each other. 
 
 * We will be just like them, when we are two cosy old 
 maids,' said Emmeline to her sister, as they were setting 
 off to the Miss Shaws' house, by appointment, thence to be 
 conducted to the school. They felt very good and 
 very useful, as they walked along, in the cheerful early 
 summer sunshine, quite sure of their own good intentions, 
 and without one doubt either of their own fitness for 
 teaching, or whether they were setting about the work in 
 the right way. 
 
 Mr. Brent met, bowed to them, and passed on. 
 
 *I do not like his looks,' said Kate; 'I am sure he 
 cannot have a good temper.' 
 
 ' I should be sorry to think a man ill-tempered who 
 preached a sermon like that one on last Sunday,' said 
 Emmeline ; ' but perhaps people are not always conscious 
 of their own defects.' 
 
 *Well,' said Kate, ' I think I should preach most of 
 all against a fault I was conscious of, in hopes to frighten 
 it out of myself. But did you call that such a very good 
 sermon, Emmie ? it did not seem to be a very remarkable 
 one, and it put mamma to sleep.' 
 
 * I will say it is a remarkable sermon that keeps her 
 awake,' said Emmeline drily. Kate laughed, and there 
 was a little silence, after which Emmeline went on : 'I 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. &1 
 
 have remembered something out of each sermon of Mr. 
 Brent's that I have heard, and that is not usual with me, 
 but I agree with you, Kate, that he has nothing pre- 
 possessing about him.' 
 
 * People ought either to have Herbert's high-bred 
 courtesy, or else good old Mr. Willoughby's sunny, open- 
 hearted benevolence,' said Kate ; ' there is no medium. 
 And I am sure, by all accounts, Mr. Brent has been 
 neither courteous, gentlemanlike, nor kind-hearted in his 
 dealings.' 
 
 ' Yet they all talk of his excellence,' said Emmeline ; 
 ' but I must say I cannot understand how it is possible 
 for a man who pretends to charity, to be a stickler for 
 etiquettes of boundaries of parishes and districts.' 
 
 ' His charity must have a very narrow boundary in- 
 deed,' said Kate. ' and most decidedly begin at home.' 
 
 Considering the inexperience of the sisters, and the 
 information they had received, this impression was more 
 to be lamented than wondered at ; but if they had 
 talked less about it, its effects would have been less mis- 
 chievous. 
 
 It was about three quarters of a mile to Miss Shaws' 
 house, and the walk led them partly through pleasant 
 path-fields, and partly through the town, on the broad 
 flags in front of the new houses, the fresh sea-breeze 
 blowing upon them, and the broad expanse of waves 
 sparkling far away in the distance ; and Emmeline, with 
 her head full of the good and great things she was going 
 to do, had never felt more joyous or more fully satisfied. 
 It was the very moment when ' Virtue is its own 
 reward.' 
 
 Soon the ladies were pouring their affectionate greet- 
 ings into their ears, and shaking them by both hands. 
 
 It would be in vain to repeat how much they said of 
 kindness and pleasure, and the advantage to the chil- 
 dren, and of Mr. and Mrs. Hunter's satisfaction, and Mr. 
 Denham's, and Mrs. Anderson's. Emmeline and Kate 
 felt themselves conferring a great favour, and were 
 proportionably happy. They looked round the room 
 and admired. It was like a penny club office ; there were 
 
62 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 business-likc-looking large parchment books, and small 
 red leather ones ; there was a great lending library 
 book-case, with the top shelf covered with bundles of 
 little tracts, in covers of all the colours of the rainbow; 
 there were long lists of names and numbers upon cards ; 
 the corner was filled up with bundles of poor people's 
 clothes and rolls of list ; the chimney-piece ornamented 
 with missionary boxes and cards for shilling and penny 
 subscriptions, and each good lady had a great basket full 
 of poor-work. 
 
 * You seem to have an immense quantity of occupa- 
 tion,' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' Why, yes, my dear,' said Miss Shaw, * you see we 
 have nothing else to do, and we are very glad of it,' 
 ' And how very useful it must be,' added Kate. 
 ' Why, my dear,' said Miss Penelope, with her usual 
 laugh and nod at her sister, ' every one must give what 
 they can, and as we have got no money and plenty of time 
 — ^you see we give what we have.' 
 
 ' And to give time is much more and better than 
 money,' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' Quite true, my dear Miss Emmeline, quite right,' 
 said both the sisters together, as pleased with ' the sweet 
 girl's' views, as if her truism had proceeded from the pro- 
 foundest wisdom. 
 
 ' Ah ! we shall never be like you,' said Kate, ' but — ' 
 There came a confused chorus of sincere disclaimers 
 of any real merit in what they did, of which ' 0, don't 
 say so ! ' was the most prominent expression. 
 k Then Kate returned to beg to hear what she and Em- 
 meline could do. 
 
 ' We have very little money,' said she, hesitatingly, 
 ' but Emmeline and I can give a sovereign a year between 
 us, to any thing you would tell us of. We don't like 
 to promise more,' she added, smiling and colouring ' for 
 though Sir Francis is very kind, and makes us quantities 
 of presents, we have not much of an allowance of our own, 
 because we are to be rather poor, I believe.' 
 
 It had been agreed upon before-hand that Kate, as 
 the boldest, should make this speech, but they need not 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 63 
 
 Lave questioned how it was to be done, for the Miss 
 Shaws were delighted both with their generosity and 
 candour. The pound was divided into various small 
 subscriptions ; and the girls received a bundle of chil- 
 dren's clothes to be made up, and some little books to 
 give away, after which they all set out together for the 
 school. 
 
 It was a very large room, airy and fresh, with a great 
 number of children ranged in squares, and at present at 
 work. Emmeline and Kate were to come, if they could, 
 every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, and each take a 
 class, but it was now too late to do anything but look 
 round, inspect the work a little, and observe which of the 
 children had pretty faces. What were they to teach 
 the children was Kate's question, and certainly an 
 expedient one. They were to hear them repeat their 
 texts or hymns, give them others to learn, or let them read 
 a chapter in the Bible and explain it. 
 
 ' In fact,' said Miss Penelope, as they left the school, 
 ' we allow great latitude to our kind afternoon assistants. 
 So many have been lost by too rigidly insisting on rules, 
 and every one is not so willing to be guided as you and 
 3^our sister, my dear Miss Katherine.'. 
 
 ' I do assure you,' said Kate, ' that you must not 
 think we know much about it. All that we have ever had 
 to do with school-keeping, was in that short visit to my 
 sister at Copseley.' 
 
 ' Ah ! but that was everything ! Everything, I am 
 sure. Besides, it is the desire, the will, more than any- 
 thing else. Dear me ! I often think what a happiness it 
 is, that it is the wish and the heart — or what should we 
 be good for 7 ' 
 
 ' What, indeed ! ' responded Miss Shaw, smiling and 
 nodding her head in unison with a little laugh of 
 humility. 
 
 The next thing was to show them ' their district,' a 
 countrified street, comparatively clean, and without the 
 fishy smell of the lower part of the town. They went 
 to one house, where the girls, who had heard of such 
 things as reading and praying with the poor, and were 
 
64 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 afraid it was incumbent upon them, were very glad to find 
 that all the Miss Sbaws did, was to hold a good-natured 
 gossipping colloquy with the woman about her husband's 
 work, and other matters of the same description. 
 
 They then wished the little ladies good-bye, and re- 
 turned home in high spirits as well they might, at dis- 
 covering such an excellent receipt for obtaining a good 
 opinion of themselves. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 65 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Go, the rich chariot instantly prepare, 
 The Queen, my Muse, will take the air. 
 
 Cowley. 
 
 *I THINK, my dears,' said Lady Willoughby, as she 
 finished dressing to go out to dinner, ' I think it would 
 be a good thing if you were to ask Miss Townsend to 
 come and sit in the drawing-room with you this even- 
 ing. It would be a pleasant thing for you, and she 
 would like it, poor thing; I am sure she must be moped 
 with spending all her time in the school-room.' 
 
 ' Yes. mamma, we will,' answered Emmeline, recol- 
 lecting with a little compunction, her intentions of 
 taking great pains to be kind to Miss Townsend, where- 
 as all that she had done was to speak civilly to her 
 whenever she came in her way, and, once or twice, to 
 carry her the newspaper or some flowers. 
 
 ' We certainly will,' added Kate. * As you say, 
 mamma, she must be getting moped. Did you not see 
 how she cried almost all last Sunday ? ' 
 
 'What could be the matter ? Poor thing ! ' said 
 Lady Willoughby. 
 
 ' I had a great mind to ask her,' said Emmeline, ' but 
 we knew she would only say it was nothing, and shrink 
 away. But did you not see, mamma, all through after- 
 noon service ? ' 
 
 ' Dear me ! ' said Lady Willoughby, ' I hope she is 
 not going to get low-spirited, hysterical, or anything of 
 
66 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 that sort, for she is a real treasure, and manages the 
 children to perfection ! ' 
 
 ' 0, I dare say it is only being so lonely here by her- 
 self, poor thing ! ' said Emmeline. ' I am sure I could, 
 often have cried when I was at school, and what must it 
 be to be away from every one, without even a sister ? ' 
 
 ' It will never do ! ' continued Lady Willoughby. 
 ' Sir Francis would be much vexed. So bad for the 
 children to have a low-spirited person about them. ' 
 
 * No, no, don't be uneasy, mamma,' said Kate, ' she 
 is always cheeful with them, I assure you she is, and 
 we will cheer her up, and do all we can to brighten her. 
 I will go this minute and ask her to come down.' 
 
 Kate ran quickly to the school- room, where Miss 
 Townsend, with a book in her hand, was watching the 
 three children building a tall lantern-tower with wooden 
 bricks. Alfred, as the steadiest hand, was raising the 
 edifice, which began to reach a giddy height, Janet 
 supplying him with materials, and looking at his pro- 
 gress with breathless interest, and little Edwin sitting 
 by, also holding out bricks, but when Alfred did not 
 take them quickly enough, secretly making threatening 
 thrusts with them at the walls, with a droll sly face of 
 mischievous glee, as if trying how near he could go, with- 
 out being found out. 
 
 Suddenly, just as Kate was saying, ' Well done, 
 Alfred, that is a beauty, indeed ! ' Edwin's hand glided 
 along on a slippery brick, his weapon penetrated the frail 
 wall, and down came the tower, almost covering him with 
 the ruins. 
 
 There was a start of consternation ; then Alfred 
 angrily exclaimed, ' Edwin did it ! ' and Janet put out 
 her lip, and drew up her face for a cry. Kate had 
 designs of rctreatiug from the quarrel and scolding that 
 she saw impending, but she was curious to see how it 
 would turn out. 
 
 ' You did it on purpose, you naughty child ! ' cried 
 Alfred. 
 
 ' 'Twas very cross of you ! ' sobbed Janet. 
 
 ' I didn't ! ' cried Edwin, fiercely. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 67 
 
 'Hiisli! hush! my dears,' said Miss Townsend, com- 
 ing forward, and taking Edwin by the hand. ' Edwin, 
 you must come away if you spoil the others' play. I 
 hope you were not an ill-natured little boy, and that you 
 did not mean to do it.' 
 
 ' No,' said Edwin, ' my hand slipped.' 
 
 ' Well, then, kiss Alfred, and tell him you are sorry. 
 Alfred, you recollect what you told me this morning ? ' 
 
 Alfred stood as if he was trying to gulp something 
 down, then, suddenly turning round, he readily received 
 and returned Edwin's kiss, himself kicked away the 
 foundations of his tower, and said cheerfully, ' Never 
 mind, Janet, don't cry, we will build it up again in no 
 time. Come, Edwin, you be mason's man.' 
 
 ' It will never be so tall again ! ' whined Janet, de- 
 plorably. 
 
 'Yes, it shall,' said Alfred. 'Why, don't be silly, 
 Janet — crying will never build it up.' 
 
 Still Janet cried, or rather fretted, for it was not ab- 
 solutely crying. 
 
 ' Come, Janet,' said Miss Townsend, cheerfully. ' I 
 thought you were going to be a brave little woman. 
 There is your sister Kate, you must not treat her to a 
 trying fit now she is come to visit you.' 
 
 ' AVe have never made it so high before ! ' Janet went 
 on. 
 
 ' Yes, it was a great pity, said Miss Townsend ; ' but 
 you know we must try and be brave when we are sorry — 
 try and have self-command.' 
 
 ' Have I self-command, now ? ' said Janet, trying to 
 bring her crying face out of its puckers, in such a droll 
 way that Kate could hardly help laughing; but she 
 wondered, as she said to herself, ' Are these the same 
 children that teazed us two months ago ? "What fine 
 fellows the boys are, and how beautifully they made it 
 up ! ' Wherewith she sat down on the ground among 
 them, and gave her counsel and active assistance in the 
 re-construction of the tower, talking merrily to the chil- 
 dren, and making her visit a regular treat. She asked 
 Miss Townsend's leave to take Alfred down to drink tea 
 
68 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 with her and Emmcline, to reward him for his good be- 
 liaviour ; and then said, in her bright, courteous way, ' Wo 
 hope you will always come to sit with us, in our solitude, 
 when they are gone out.' 
 
 Miss Townsond looked up with something of pleasure 
 and something of surprise. ' Thank you,' said she ; ' if 
 you are so kind, I shall be very glad.' 
 
 ' Then we shall see you this evening,' said Kate. 
 ' Come Alfred.' 
 
 ' Thank you,' again said Miss Townsend. ' As soon 
 as the children are gone to bed.' 
 
 * Provoking woman,' said Kate to herself, as she left 
 the room, * why will she not let us put her on an equality, 
 it would be so much more convenient ! ' 
 
 Little Janet stood amongst her bricks, looking after 
 her sister, in her eyes, one of the most beautiful, happy, 
 and privileged creatures in the world, one who never 
 cried, who had no lessons to learn, dined down stairs 
 with papa and mamma, who might go where she pleased, 
 who could talk about that great bright mystery to 
 Janet's imagination, sister Constance, and whose notice 
 was in itself a sort of happiness. Poor little Janet, 
 there was a sore, undefined sense of injustice, when 
 she saw Alfred praised and led off in triumph, while 
 she, conscious of a grand struggle and victory, was 
 scarcely even spoken to. She turned her large dark 
 eyes upon her governess with a sort of piteous appealing 
 look, and in another moment would have found some- 
 thing to fret about, had not Miss Townsend come 
 cheerfully forward, and diverted the course of her 
 thoughts by calling on her and Edwin to put away their 
 bricks, and promising them a story afterwards. * Who 
 could shovel up the most bricks in one handful?' ' 0, 
 Edwin, those fat hands are over-loaded ! Down they 
 go ! ' ' That is right, careful Janet, slow and sure ! 
 Your basket will be full first, after all ! ' ' Take care, 
 Edwin, don't be rude.' ' Did you ever hear of the Hare 
 and the Tortoise ? ' 
 
 ' no, tell me that story,' said Edwin. 
 
 * When you have finished putting the bricks away. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 69 
 
 Don'fc leave Janet to do them all alone. There, well done. 
 Drag the basket away between you. That's right.' 
 
 And soon there were the children leaning against her 
 on each side, looking up in her face, while in the most 
 circumstantial way she told the story of the celebrated 
 race, dwelling very nearly on every step of the tortoise's 
 progress, so that the children seemed to have their 
 w^hole hearts engrossed in the story. Janet clapped 
 her hands when the tortoise at last reached the goal, 
 but Edwin held that if he had been the hare, he would 
 have gone to sleep with one eye open, and have yet 
 overtaken the tortoise. Miss Townsend did not attempt 
 to reason with the varlet, whose opinion, as she saw, 
 was taken up for the sake of argument ; she was con- 
 tented with the story having occupied and encouraged 
 Janet. 
 
 Miss Townsend felt brightened that evening; there 
 was something in the Miss Berners' notice almost as 
 pleasant to her as it was to Janet, and though a little 
 afraid of them, it was a treat to spend an evening else- 
 where than in that one room, and with other companions 
 than her own thoughts. There was also a prospect of 
 more pleasant hours to be spent with them, to invigorate 
 her for the spirit-wearing work of the day ; and might 
 not this lead to more intimacy ? sufficient to over- 
 come her own foolish shyness, and encourage her to 
 talk about the children to them, so as to convince them 
 that poor little Janet would well repay a little more 
 notice, and that they did harm by always preferring 
 her brothers. 
 
 And, above all, did not this invitation open a way to 
 her to make a request which would relieve her of a 
 heavy burthen ? There was weekly Communion at Mr. 
 Brent's Church, and Miss Townsend had been used to 
 know the benefits of that great privilege ; she looked 
 to it as the means of strength and of grace, and dreaded 
 to turn away, and neglect the calL She had had no 
 opportunity since she entered upon her present situation, 
 until they came to Herringsby ; but there she had the 
 charge of the two elder children at Church in the 
 
70 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 morning, and knew not how to dispose of them. The 
 servants sat in a distant part of the Church, and, besides, 
 were not inclined to be very courteous to the poor little 
 governess ; and though Sir Francis never remained on 
 ordinary Sundays, and she knew the Miss Berncrs were 
 unconfirmed, her invincible timidity added to her natural 
 reluctance to enter on the subject with them. It was 
 this that had been the occasion of her tears on Sunday, 
 feeling herself debarred from the great blessing of which 
 she longed to partake, blaming herself for not acting a 
 bolder part, and conscious, more than she had ever before 
 been, of loneliness and friendlessness. But now she had 
 hopes of being able to venture to beg the Miss Berners 
 to take the little ones home, or even what would be too 
 delightful almost to be hoped for, they might make the 
 offer unasked. 
 
 Miss Townsend's spirits rose with the hope, which 
 began to increase when Alfred came to bed in high glee 
 at the various delights he had enjoyed with his sisters ; 
 and when she had heard him repeat his evening prayer, 
 and bidden him good-night, she looked out her comjDany- 
 work, her little bit of crochet, and prepared to descend 
 without even sighing, as she looked at her bag, the part- 
 ing gift of a sickly sister. 
 
 In the meantime, as soon as Alfred had wished them 
 good-night, the sisters had taken out their bundles of 
 garments, and their needles. Perhaps it was from not 
 liaving been used to it at school, that they had rather an 
 affection for plain work, and liked the bright polished 
 needle, the long white thread, and neat stitches, so that 
 the small pink and blue frocks with which Miss Shaw 
 had provided them, were more attractive to them than 
 their purse netting and Berlin work. 
 
 Just then came in the late post, and a long letter, from 
 Constance, was given to Kate. Much did it say of the 
 sights of Naples, which all the travellers, including 
 Lord Herbert, were enjoying greatly ; and Constance 
 spoke much of the pleasure of hearing them talked over 
 by her fellow-travellers. At the end came an answer to 
 what Kate had said of her present designs — ' It is very 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. Vl 
 
 good of you to send us so many particulars about 
 Herringsby ; I should like to be able to fancy the room 
 where you are all sitting, and what you are doing every 
 hour of the day, but I must just tell you what Herbert 
 said to the latter part of your letter. When I read to 
 him about your plans for district visiting, &c., he said, 
 " Ah ! that will not cZo," and he thinks it would be safer, 
 at your age especially, not to engage in such matters 
 without the full sanction of the Clergyman of the parish. 
 Another thing that he says, is, that he hopes you are 
 not listening to all the stories that are sure to float about 
 a place like Herringsby, respecting the Clergyman, and 
 he thinks that if he were in Mr. Brent's place he might 
 probably do things which you would consider quite as 
 odd, even perhaps not allowing his school-children to be 
 taught by chance visitors, whom he could not vnry well 
 examine, to see if their doctrine was safe.' 
 
 This was rather a chill to the girls for a momont, but 
 Erameline quickly recovered it, saying, ' 0, you know we 
 have Mr. Hunter's sanction, and he is the Clergyman of 
 the parish in which we visit; I must tell Constance so, 
 and that must be what Herbert means.' 
 
 * Of course,' said Kate, ' no reasonable person could 
 mean otherwise.' 
 
 ' Oh! yes,' said Emmeline, 'the full particulars must 
 satisfy him completely, and I will write and give them. 
 Ah ! and as to doing things as odd as Mr. Brent, Herbert 
 little knows what his ways are. He would not have done 
 anything so discourteous as sending back the tracts to the 
 good old Miss Shaws.' 
 
 ' And just fancy Herbert turning the kind gentleman 
 out of the poor man's house ! ' said Kate ; ' or refusing 
 that whole starving family the least assistance because 
 the woman went in the evening sometimes to a prayer- 
 meeting.' 
 
 ' Or turning out that poor boy from his choir because 
 he did not turn to the East one day,' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' Yes,' said Kate, ' we must tell Herbert all this, and 
 then he would think us justified.' 
 
 ' I tell you what he would think,' said Emmeline — 
 
72 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' that we have been listening to more stories. The truth 
 is, Kate, that it is quite impossible for any one to judge 
 without being on the spot and knowing all the circum- 
 stances. Just fancy letting that sweet-looking little girl, 
 that Alice, grow up in ignorance, and half clothed, only 
 because Mr. Brent chooses to set his face against any one 
 but himself doing anything.' 
 
 * Certainly, that child has one of the loveliest faces I 
 ever saw,' said Kate, ' and the north country dialect 
 sounded so very pretty in her mouth.' 
 
 ' And her simplicity was so nice when she said she 
 used to go to school, but she could not now because father 
 had had words with Mr. Brent,' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' Ah, that was no vague floating story,' said Kate, 
 ' when we had it from the very child's own mouth. How 
 delightful the teaching her will be ! ' 
 
 ' We will have her once a week for two or three 
 years,' said Emmeline, ' and that will raise and refine 
 her ; she has a great deal of natural refinement already : 
 don't you observe it, Kate, in her manner of addressing 
 one ? We will bring her on, and see her mind grow, and 
 then we will get mamma to let us have her for our own 
 little maid, and she will be almost a friend. And then, 
 O Kate, when we settle and build our beautiful Eliza- 
 bethan school, she shall be the mistress, and she shall — ' 
 
 As Emmeline was in the full swing of her animated 
 description, a slow timid step crossed the outer draw- 
 ing-room, and Miss Townsend stood at the door. The 
 eager voices were instantly stilled, and there was a 
 sort of momentary blank, of which no one was so pain- 
 fully conscious as the poor little author of the inter- 
 ruption. 
 
 There was no want of civility on the part of the 
 girls, however ; Emmeline hastened to set a chair near 
 the table, and Kate asked if she liked having the window 
 open. 
 
 ' yes — yes — thank you — 0, thank you,' said the 
 low, frightened voice, and then followed a dead calm. 
 
 ' How hot it has been all day !' presently said Emme- 
 line, in the formal tone with which she used to address 
 visitors in the presence of Miss Danby. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 73 
 
 ' Yes, very. 
 
 ' I suppose you did not walk far to-day,' said Kate. 
 
 ' Only on the beach ; it is always cool there.' 
 
 ' And the children enjoy it so much,' said Kate. 
 
 ' Yes, very much, indeed.' 
 
 Then came another silence ; Emmeline began to grow 
 restless under it, walked to the window, leant out, won- 
 dered if it was much warmer at Naples, drew in her head 
 again, and returned to her work. 
 
 Kate, glad of the mention of Naples, spoke of her 
 letter ; Miss Townsend hoped Lord Herbert was better, 
 and Lady Herbert quite well; and Kate having begun 
 on the subject, read aloud what she called ' the traveller's 
 wonder' part of her letter. Miss Townsend was inte- 
 rested and very much pleased, but she took it for granted 
 that the Miss Berners knew so much more about Pompeii 
 than herself, that they grew ashamed of seeming to lay 
 down the law about antiquities, and let the conversation 
 drop once more. 
 
 Kate tried to revive it again after a little interval, by 
 saying how very well Alfred and Edwin had behaved 
 about their little quarrel. Miss Townsend, anxious to 
 say a good word for poor little Janet, ventured to observe 
 that she had made a great effort to be good, 
 
 ' Poor child, I dare say she did,' said Kate, ' but 
 ehe is not presentable till her efforts are rather less 
 apparent.' 
 
 This was cold water, indeed, upon Miss Townsend, 
 who stifled a sigh of disappointment, hooked away with 
 her crotchet needle, and wished she could dare to say 
 a word to controvert the speech, which, given as it was, 
 with a gay jesting air, by the light-hearted Kate, had 
 something in it which to her seemed hard and almost 
 unfeeling. 
 
 Emmeline did not mend the matter by saying, in a 
 tone of commiseration, that she wished Janet was more 
 engaging, but she began to think, with the old school-mis- 
 tress at Copseley, that boys had always better tempers 
 than girls. 
 
 Now they had arrived at Copseley, there was plenty 
 4 
 
74 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 to say between the two sisters, and on they talked 
 about Margaret Forester, and her house, and her school, 
 and Lord Herbert's arrangements in his curacy, and 
 their regrets that he had been obliged to give it up. 
 They talked, and Miss Townsend listened, a plan which 
 suited both parties very well, and the wheels of time 
 did not move quite so heavily between nine and ten as 
 they had between half-past eight and nine. Neverthe- 
 less, Emmeline and Kate agreed that if all their evenings 
 at home were to be like this one, the sooner they came 
 out the better ; and as Miss Townsend returned to her 
 own room, there was at least as much disappointment as 
 gratification in her feelings. 
 
 She knew that the two sisters were very happy alone, 
 and though grateful to them for wishing to be kind to 
 her, she could not bear to come down and be an en- 
 cumbrance to them, so she resolved not to join ^hera 
 a2;ain in the evenino; without another invitation. Kate 
 thought she had asked once for all, and the next eve- 
 ning that Sir Francis and Lady Willoughby dined out, 
 the two sisters began doubly to enjoy the time which 
 they looked upon as their own, expecting it to be very 
 short. They fetched their work, and Emmeline placed a 
 paper before her, on which was a half-composed poem, 
 about ' a fisherman's child,' — a ballad in numerous stan 
 zas, which were now just ready for Kate's advice and 
 admiration. Kate was a most delightful critic, for she 
 never failed to see what Emmeline meant — admired with 
 her whole heart — was a capital finder of rhymes, and 
 remodeller of lines, and could even, on occasion, insert 
 a whole stanza, which no one would have known from 
 Emnieline's own. 
 
 No less than four times had ' the blue-eyed fisherman's 
 daughter' been made to look forth upon the stormy water; 
 and as many times had the sea-fowl's cry, so loud and 
 dreary, replied to her fainting call and weary, when the 
 clock struck nine, and Kate, looking up, wondered at the 
 lateness, and supposed Miss Townsend would not come 
 down that night. 
 
 ' You gave her a general invitation,' said Emmeline. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 75 
 
 ' yes, that I did ; I wonder she does not come.' 
 ' I suppose she finds it as great a penance as we did,' 
 said Emmeline. 
 
 ' I suppose so,' said Kate. ' Well — 
 
 "And o'er the raging waters swell."' 
 
 The raging waters had by no means been satisfactorily 
 lulled, when the clock struck ten, unregarded ; and the 
 ' broken bark, and dripping crew,' had not yet reached 
 their home in safety, when Sir Francis and Lady Wil- 
 loughby reached theirs, and wondered at finding their 
 daughters up so late. 
 
 The teaching at school was to begin on the next 
 Thursday, and Emmeline and Kate set off together, 
 refusing an invitation of their mamma's to take a drive 
 with* her. Soon they were at the school, the mistress 
 receiving them very politely, and the monitors setting 
 chairs for them. 
 
 Emmeline, eagerly as she had undertaken the work, 
 began to wish herself anywhere else, when she found 
 herself sitting up in the midst of a square of girls, who 
 seemed all eyes, staring at her, and that not in the shy 
 unsophisticated way in which village children gaze at 
 the unusual apparition of a stranger, but with the bold, 
 searching looks of town children, used to a variety of 
 teachers, and with no awful reverence for the name of 
 lady. And what in the world could she, or should she, 
 say to them ? She recollected how at Copseley, Lord 
 Herbert had put the book into her hand, shown her the 
 portion she was to hear, and told the children that he 
 hoped she would be able to tell him they had been very 
 ttentive. That was teaching under authority, and what 
 was this ? Though she did not quite ask herself this 
 question, she could not but be sensible of the dif- 
 ference. 
 
 All she could do was to reverse the usual order of 
 things, and ask the head girl what they had to say to 
 her. 
 
 ' Our texts, teacher,' was the answer, in a pert ready 
 
76 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 tone, and out came a card, containing a number of texts, 
 each framed in a scolloped border, which the girls pro- 
 ceeded to repeat, one after the other, very fast, and 
 dwelling on the references to chapter and verse, Corin 
 thians, Ephesians, twenty-third chapter, sixth verse, 
 &c., as if these were by far the most important and 
 remarkable parts of the lesson, while the most sacred 
 names were slurred over without any of those outward 
 tokens of reverence, which Emmeline had learnt to 
 think their necessary adjunct ; nay, she even thought 
 there was an inclination on the part of the girls to look 
 at one another, and smile, when she herself bowed her 
 head. 
 
 The repetition was over, and she wondered what was 
 to come next, or whether the texts were chosen with 
 reference to any particular subject, for they seemed to 
 her to be all gathered by chance, and to have little or no 
 connexion. Seeing her at a loss, the head girl looked 
 at the others, some of whom seemed ready to titter, and 
 said, ' Teacher expounds.' 
 
 Teacher had not the least idea how to expound, but 
 being obliged to do something, she looked at the first 
 text, which was, ' Let me die the death of the righteous, 
 and let my last end be like his,' and asked if they knew 
 who said it ? 
 
 ' Numbers, twenty-third chapter, tenth verse,' was the 
 first answer she received. 
 
 Here was something to begin upon, and she proceeded 
 to ask whether they thought Numbers was a man. The 
 upper ones laughed, and said no, it was a book ; some 
 of them knew who wrote the book, and what it was 
 about, and then she came to the history of Balaam, 
 with which it was possible to get on very well, and it 
 occupied her very tolerably till she saw Kate standing 
 up in the midst of her class, looking ready for her to 
 make a move to come away. Kate had had some 
 hymns to hear, and these had taken up so much time 
 that she had no leisure to feel as awkward as her sister 
 had done, and was pleased on the whole, with her day's 
 work. Emmeline was, however, resolved to go next 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 77 
 
 time witli some plan in her head, and not to be left to 
 the mercy of the class, or to be called upon to discourse 
 on texts at a moment's warning, a work, which she was 
 quite sure. Lord Herbert would never have set her 
 to do. 
 
 She resolved, but not very fully, for, after talking 
 over half a dozen plans with Kate, she went to school the 
 next Tuesday without having settled upon any, and the 
 texts were again brought out. The first was, this time, 
 from one of the Epistles, and there was, therefore, none 
 of that history belonging to it, which had served her so 
 well on the former occasion, so she decided, in haste, on 
 the first of her plans that came into her head, and asked 
 if they had said the Catechism that day? 
 
 * No.' And the girls stared. 
 
 Emmeline took out her prayer-book, meaning to go 
 straight through, and then question them upon it ; but 
 she found that these, though the head girls, were very 
 far from having anything like a proper knowledge of it ; 
 they made numerous mistakes, and when she seemed 
 surprised, the foremost girl said that they only repeated 
 it once a week, and not always the whole of it then. 
 
 Emmeline was quite glad to find a line she could 
 take, and something positive to be done ; she told the 
 girls she should hear them again next time, and hoped 
 they would be more perfect, and then, to stimulate them 
 more, told them what little children she had seen at 
 Copseley, saying it without missing a word. They smiled, 
 and seemed to like to hear her, for the great gentleness 
 and refinement of Emmeline's manners were exactly cal- 
 culated to win the attention of even these girls, who had 
 been used to little like them. 
 
 ' Yes,' said Emmeline to Kate, as they went home, 
 * it is just the thing for us to do, since no one else takes 
 any pains about the Catechism.' 
 
 'I wonder how they can teach without it,' said Kate, 
 4t is not at all like Copseley.' 
 
 ' No, I suppose it is from their having so many 
 teachers and allowing them such great latitude, as Miss 
 Penelope calls it; every one teaches what she pleases, 
 
78 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 and we will take the Catechism on our hands. I have 
 got a little book about it somewhere, I am sure, which we 
 used to learn when we were at Mrs. Ellison's.' 
 
 * And we may learn plenty of questions to ask them, 
 by listening to Mr. Brent's catechizing in the afternoon 
 service,' said Kate. 
 
 * Yes, that he certainly does well,' said Emmeline. 
 * I am sure that I see nothing to object to in his ways in 
 Church, whatever other people may say. But come, 
 shall we go to any of our poor people, or is it too late ? ' 
 
 The sisters liked to say ' our poor people,' and they 
 really did like one old man, one woman, and three chil- 
 dren, in their district. The old man was half blind, very 
 thankful to them for reading to him, and more fond of tell- 
 ing them how the place had altered within his recollection ; 
 the woman was a cheerful, thankful, contented body, who 
 liked a chat with any one, gentle or simple ; and of the 
 children, one was the Alice whom they designed for a 
 heroine, another was a fat laughing baby, and the third a 
 poor little gentle blind child. 
 
 These they went often to visit, but the others they did 
 not like ; there was a woman who smoked a pipe ; there 
 was a discourteous woman who always seemed to wish 
 them out of her house ; there was an untidy woman, out 
 of whcse house they always wished themselves ; there was 
 a woman who, as Mr. Ilunter had warned them, did not 
 tell truth ; there was a whining woman, who tried to ex- 
 tract shillings from them by deplorable stories ; there was 
 a woman who always fancied her children were ill-used at 
 school; and there was a scolding woman, of whom they 
 were positively afraid, she used so to rail against every 
 one concerned in any of the charities of the place, who, 
 according to her, were always combined to do her injus- 
 tice. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 79 
 
 CHAPTEH yil. 
 
 No, cast by fortune on a frowning coast, 
 Which neither groves nor happy valleys boast, 
 Where other cares than those the Muse relates, 
 And other shepherds dwell with other mates, 
 By such examples taught, I paint the cot 
 As truth will paint it, and as bards will not, 
 
 Oeabbb. 
 
 In the meantime the family had settled down into the way 
 of life which seemed likely to be usual with it. Break- 
 fast-time was called nine, but the meal was seldom over 
 till past ten ; for though Sir Francis was always punctual, 
 would have the urn in exactly at the right moment, and 
 always himself began breakfast with the girls, Lady Wil- 
 loughby was seldom down stairs till considerably later, 
 and as she was very deliberate in her proceedings, it lasted 
 an unbearable time. 
 
 Emmeline and Kate could not bear it, and used to 
 make their escape, tea-maker though the former was, and 
 though they knew that their absence was not liked. 
 
 Their stroll generally lasted till they had reason to 
 think Sir Francis would soon be coming out, to look at a 
 certain ornamental fence which he was having made, and 
 which he would be sure to ask them to come and visit ; 
 and then there was no end to what they would have to 
 hear about wood, paint, railings, and patterns. 
 
 From his fence, he walked into the town to choose the 
 fish for dinner, and look at the newspapers at the reading- 
 room. Lady Willoughby was in her own room, and the 
 
so THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 girls were free to draw, read, or practice their music as 
 they pleased. 
 
 When Sir Francis came home, but before luncheon, 
 he was sure to be ^ j^'^^^ '^''^' ^^ there were more books or 
 papers about the room than he approved, and it was a 
 time too when he used to see ways of improving the ar- 
 rangement of the furniture, so that the little quiet com- 
 fortable nooks of the sisters were continually liable to be 
 demolished, and they used to congratulate themselves 
 when the piano was allowed to remain in the same place 
 for a week together. 
 
 Luncheon was another long affair, and it was a ' white 
 day' when there was no fault found with the cookery, 
 Kate and Emmeline very seldom saw the end of it, for 
 they had a horror of being caught and kept in by a suc- 
 cession of visitors, and hastened out of doors as fast as 
 they could, to their school, their poor people, to take their 
 work to the Miss Shaws, or to enjoy a little idleness by 
 the sea shore.. 
 
 The children were always in the drawing-room before 
 dinner, and Alfred and Janet came in at dessert. When 
 they went to bed, Lady Willoughby liked to be read to, 
 out of some circulating library book, and this was very 
 pleasant in itself, only that there was so little time in the 
 evening, that they proceeded very slowly, and Emmeline 
 and Kate generally knew the whole story to the end be- 
 fore she had heard half through the first volume. 
 
 Then came tea, and Sir Francis. Emmeline and Kate 
 tried to make reading compatible with hearing him talk, 
 but were generally obliged to give it up in despair. Now 
 and then he told something entertaining, but more often 
 he went prosing on interminably about what he had read 
 in the newspaper, or his plans of buying an estate, or his 
 fence, till sometimes even Kate, the most enduring, could 
 bear it no longer, and used, at the first pause, to ask her 
 mamma, if she would not like some music. 
 
 Emmeline could not help feeling, with a soreness of 
 heart, that she and her sister were as much alone together, 
 and as entirely dependent on each other, as they had been 
 at school. There was no real companionship from any 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 81 
 
 one else ; and though they were very happy and sufficient 
 for one another, it was disappointing to recollect her hope. 
 Without her sister, Kate would have been more generally 
 obliging, and less faultfinding; but then, on the other 
 hand, she would have grown entirely into the tone of the 
 people with whom she lived, and never have known any 
 of those aspirations for the true, the good, the great, the 
 beautiful, which she shared with Emmeline, and which, 
 though fitful, failing, and often misdirected, were never- 
 theless a straining after the course which alone could lift 
 them above the things of this present life. 
 
 The middle of the summer came, and brought with 
 it Frank Willoughby's holidays. He arrived on a Satur- 
 day afternoon, looking very bluff, rosy, and good-natured, 
 with his child's face on his great boy's person, and seemed 
 very happy and joyous, and ready to treat them all, as if 
 he had known them all his life. Every one, excepting 
 Lady Willoughby ; but though he was always remarkably 
 polite and attentive to her, the more softly and affection- 
 ately she addressed him, the more shy and embarrassed 
 he grew. 
 
 On Sunday morning, on the way to Church, Frank 
 was walking with Emmeline and Alfred. 
 
 ' Who is that behind with Janet ? ' said Frank. 
 
 ' Miss Townsend,' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' I thought so, only you seemed to have sent her to 
 Coventry.' 
 
 ' She is so shy, poor thing, it only is a pain to her to 
 be spoken to.' 
 
 ' I suppose I must put her to that pain some time or 
 other. Shall I now? The sooner the better. Come, 
 introduce me, Emmeline ; do it genteelly.' 
 
 ' I assure you, Frank, there is no occasion for it ; it 
 would make her think we were laughing at her.' 
 
 ' Why, I thought you went to school to ' larn manners,' 
 or were they an extra ? ' 
 
 Emmeline laughed. ' I tell you we never do introduce 
 people to her, it would only distress her.' 
 
 ' I don't want you to introduce people ; I want jou only 
 to introduce me. So you don't know how ! Well, I should 
 4* 
 
82 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 have thought you would have done your fine school more 
 credit ! I must take myself in my hand and introduce 
 myself.' 
 
 ' Emmeline was really alarmed lest he might intend 
 to make game of the poor little governess, and began 
 anxiously, ' But, Frank, I beg you won't do anything to 
 annoy her. You don't know what a frightened creature 
 it is.' 
 
 ' Frank shruir^ed his shoulders, as if in disre;;ard, and 
 Emmeline began to think what dreadful things school- 
 boys were, so reckless of any one's feelings, when, as they 
 stood still. Miss Towusend and Janet came up. 
 
 All Frank did was, however, to hold out his hand, 
 and say, ' Good morning ! ' Miss Townsend certainly did 
 look very much surprised, and answered in her breathless 
 way ; and with this Frank seemed satisfied, let Janet take 
 his hand, and went on with her and Alfred, while 
 Emmeline found herself obliged to walk a little way by 
 Miss Townsend, and observe upon the fineness of the da}^, 
 &c. She was obliged to perceive that Frank had acted 
 from a sense of the courtesy due to Miss Townsend, and 
 very much surprised she was ; but she was to find more 
 subjects of surprise in her step-brother before she in any 
 degree guessed at his real character. 
 
 They missed him when they had all left the Church, 
 and returned home, the walking party having supposed 
 he was with the carriage, and Lady Willoughby and 
 Emmeline, who had driven back together, being surprised 
 that he did not appear with the walkers. Sir Francis 
 fidgetted about him, fancied he had found some acquaint- 
 ance, or else had missed them and lost his way ; but, at 
 last, just as luncheon was half over, in walked Frank, 
 looking as brisk and happy as possible. 
 
 ' Where have you been ? ' was Sir Francis's instant 
 inquiry. 
 
 * At Church, sir,' answered Frank. 
 
 ' — what— staying ? ' said Sir Francis. ' Ah, Frank, 
 your uncle has made you his own nephew.' 
 
 To which Frank made no answer. 
 
 It was a pleasautcr Sunday evening than usual. The 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 83 
 
 children were down stairs, and Frank helped Edwin and 
 Cecilia to set up their Noah's Ark, making absurd 
 speeches about the birds and beasts ; and when they were 
 gone to bed, Lady Willoughby to sleep, and Sir Francis 
 into the ' Times,' the girls went out to stroll in the garden, 
 whither Frank soon followed them, and began asking 
 questions about the two Churches, the name of the Vicar, 
 &c. 
 
 It was not to be supposed that such an opportunity 
 of telling the stories against Mr. Brent could be missed, 
 and they were fast poured out ; but there must have been 
 a strong spirit of contradiction in Frank, for all he said 
 to the turning out of Mr. Denham, which was always the 
 head and front of his offences, was, ' Served him right.' 
 
 ' 0, Frank ! when he was reading so kindly to the 
 poor sick man.' 
 
 ' Poor sick man, indeed ; why, I am sure I should be 
 o-bliged to any one for keeping Mr. I don't know who, 
 from marching up into my bedroom at all manner of times, 
 and reading me to death.' 
 
 ' But this was a poor man,' said Kate. 
 
 ' Well, and do you think poor men have not their feel- 
 ings as well as rich men ? ' 
 
 Kate found that she was not getting the best of it in 
 this argument, so she shifted her ground, and proceeded 
 to the tract story. 
 
 ' I dare say the people were glad to be saved the 
 trouble of reading them,' said unreasonable Frank. 
 
 ' It is of no use to talk to him, Kate,' said Emmeline, 
 ' he is bent on defending Mr. Brent through thick and 
 thin.' 
 
 * Of course,' said Frank. ' What else should I do ? ' 
 
 ' If you knew anything about it,' said Kate. 
 
 ' How much do you know ? ' said Frank, turning his 
 round blue eyes upon her with a roguish look. 
 
 ' There is no answer to that,' said Emmeline, ' for 
 " every one " is an authority which, of course, it is not 
 worth while to quote.' 
 
 ' Can one get to the top of that tower ? ' exclaimed 
 Frank, suddenly quitting the subject. 
 
84 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 * Yes, to be sure,' said Kate, ' the door is open, and 
 there are the stairs, only it is very dusty work.' 
 
 Frank ran towards it, and in another minute was hail- 
 ing them from the top of the tower. Making a fantastic 
 bow, he cut a caper in the middle, gazed all round, then 
 disappeared again, and presently, with a great effort, com- 
 pelled the rusty hinges of a small, pointed arched 
 window to open, called out, ' Here is such a famous lot) 
 of bats ! ' / 
 
 ' I should think so ! ' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' It is a very nice room,' said Frank. ' Why don't 
 you have it cleaned up, and sit in it ? ' 
 
 * I do think it would be a capital plan ! ' cried Kate. 
 
 ' So it would,' said Emmeline, adding, in a half whisper 
 to her sister, ' we should be out of the way of company, 
 and Sir Francis too.' 
 
 Frank presently came forth again, with something 
 under his handkerchief, which proved to be a bat — a 
 creature of which the sisters had never before had so near 
 a view — and they were delighted to look at its velvet 
 ears, sharp eyes, clever-looking face, and strange wings. 
 Emmeline said it put her in mind of some unearthly 
 monster, and she thought nothing could be more appro- 
 priate to ruins and twilight hours, than this wierd-like 
 thing ; and then lines began to float through her mind of 
 some wild ' song of the bat,' when the awkward recollec- 
 tion occurred to her that bats are not in the habit of 
 singing. 
 
 ' What are you going to do with it?' said Kate, in 
 some dread of school-boy cruelties. 
 
 ' Do you want any more of it ? ' said Frank. ' Then 
 there — ' and he threw the bat up high in the air, where 
 they could see its dark form flitting about with its rapid 
 and silent flight, now visible against the still bright blue 
 sky, now lost against the darker trees. 
 
 They were sorry when Sir Francis put his head out of 
 the window and ordered them all to come in out of the 
 dew. 
 
 Frank attended his father's inspection of the fence the 
 next morning, but as soon as he was released from it ho 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. M 
 
 was off to the tower. Emmeline and Kate could not help 
 leaving their avocations to come and see what he was 
 about. He was in all the glory of an immense rummaging, 
 poking out rubbish of all sorts, of which the unfortunate 
 place had been made the depository — broken bottles, di- 
 lapidated brooms, old garden tools, and scraps of carpet, 
 nearly choked with dust, and yet declaring, and they con 
 curred with him, that nothing could be more ' nice ' than 
 the place was. 
 
 Miss Townsend had a real holiday that afternoon, 
 while her three charges were in the extreme of happiness, 
 helping their brother and sisters at the tower carrying off 
 the rubbish, the more charming because it was so very 
 dusty, wheeling it off, and discovering strange treasures in 
 it. There were Emmeline and Kate pulling out the hoards 
 of dirty rubbish with their dainty little hands, and there 
 was Frank busiest of all, contriving schemes for the re- 
 newal of the apartment. Never were people happier than 
 those six, more especially when Kate was sent on an em- 
 bassy to the housemaid, to borrow a broom, and all in 
 turn essayed sweeping. Nor was the sport less the next 
 day, when Frank set himself to repair the deficiencies in 
 the wood-work, and the tower was the great delight of all 
 the holidays, for there never failed to be something to con- 
 trive there, or something to admire. 
 
 The girls sometimes wondered what Frank would have 
 done without it, for he was not much of a reader, seldom 
 opened even the books which they accounted most enter- 
 taining, and did not seem to have many pursuits of his 
 own. They were surprised that he was so pleasant a 
 companion, and perhaps they would have been still more 
 surprised to find that often as they thought him very odd 
 and very unreasonable, there was no one whose opinion 
 they held in such esteem. 
 
 The next Sunday, Frank asked Kate if she had not 
 been Confirmed. She explained. He gave a whistle of 
 disapproval, and then said, ' Why don't you take the 
 children off the hands of those who have been ? ' 
 
 ' Miss Townsend ? ' said Kate ; ' 0, do you mean so 
 that she might stay to the Sacrament ? Well, so we 
 might, but surely she might have asked us.' 
 
86 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' Surely you mifrht have asked her,' said Frank. 
 
 ' Why, so we would,' said Kate, ' if it had been Easter 
 or Christmas, or any other time like those ; but I never 
 thouo;ht of a person's wishing to stay every Sunday.' 
 
 To this Frank made no answer, and Kate went on, 
 ' It was monthly at Copseley, and I thought it was only 
 every week here, because this is such a populous place ; 
 but do you really think it necessary to stay always ? ' 
 
 Frank suddenly called to Alfred to look at a white- 
 winged sea-gull. 
 
 Kate did not think much without Emmeline to help 
 her, but she could not help perceiving that Frank had 
 much higher ideas of the privileges he enjoyed than she 
 had of those which she had as yet missed. The ofifer was 
 made that same evening to Miss Townsend of taking charge 
 of the children whenever she wished them to leave Church 
 without her. 
 
 ' 0, thank you, thank you,' she answered earnestly. 
 ' And since you are so kind, I may as well say it at once : 
 would you think it too much if it was as often — as often 
 as once a fortnight ? ' 
 
 ' Every Sunday, if you like,' said Kate. 
 
 ' 0, thank you, thank you,' exclaimed Miss Townsend, 
 * you do not know how happy you have made me.' 
 
 Kate was struck by the great joy and gratitude ex- 
 pressed in her countenance. 
 
 ' I am very glad you mentioned it,' said she to Frank the 
 next evening when the three were sitting at tea together, 
 their elders being gone to a dinner party, ' the poor little 
 woman could not have been more grateful if I had re- 
 lieved her of governesship for life.' 
 
 Frank put on one of his odd faces, and said, ' I should 
 think so ! ' 
 
 ' I would not be a governess ! ' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' You may earn a good livelihood at papering,' said 
 Frank, looking towards the tower, where they had all day 
 been papering the walls with Punch and the Pictorial 
 Times. 
 
 ' Well, when you set up to be builder and upholsterer 
 we will come to you for work,' said Kate. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 87 
 
 ' Bargaining that you don't upset tlic paste over mo 
 again,' said Emmcline. ' But by-thc-bye, Frank, what are 
 you really to be ? ' 
 
 ' 0, a clergyman,' said Frank. 
 
 ' I should think you were just made for it,' said Em- 
 meline. ' You must be Herbert's curate.' 
 
 ' No ; I am to be uncle Willoughby's,' said Frank. 
 
 ' I suppose you will like that very much.' 
 
 ' To be sure,' said Frank. ' Ho has almost more than 
 he can well do now, and I should be very glad to help 
 him.' 
 
 ' How very fond of him you must be ! You cannot 
 think hov/ we enjoyed his visit to us in London, and the 
 day we went shopping with him.' 
 
 ' I wonder if you will ever go to Dumblethway te ! ' 
 said Frank, ' I should like you to see it ! Emmie would 
 soon be for making her fine descriptions.' 
 
 ' 0, do tell us about it ! Is it such a beautiful 
 country ? ' 
 
 ' 0, very well for that. There is such a walnut-tree 
 in the garden as you never did see, and the kidney pota- 
 toes are the best in all the country round.' 
 
 ' Well, but are there mountains, and water, and 
 scenery I ' 
 
 ' There is a famous great horse-pond just as you come 
 into the village.' 
 
 'Horse-pond!' cried Emmeline in horror, at which 
 Fjank delighted to laugh. 
 
 ' A very good thing too,' said Frank. 
 
 ' How foolish of me to think you knew what scenery 
 meant, you wretch,' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' I know what it means,' answered Frank, his eyes 
 fixed on a framed water-coloured drawing, ' it means a 
 black crooked tree, with dirt-coloured cablDages growing 
 all over it, and two or three powdered wigs up in the air, 
 and a blue thing like a snake running up hill, and a red 
 sack with a cat's face and a pair of horns in front. I am 
 afraid, Emmie, there is no scenery at Dumblethwayte ! ' 
 
 ' That is for you, Kate, you must answer,' said Emme- 
 line. 
 
88 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 '0 dear! is it Kato's doing?' said Frank, putting 
 up his hands before his face, and pretending to shrink 
 away with shame, in the most ludicrous manner. ' What 
 shall I do ! I ask pardon with all my heart ! ' 
 
 ' Just as if you did not do it on purpose,' said Kate, 
 laughing, ' Well, when I do a picture for you, there 
 shall be a horse-pond in the middle, ' a round pond, and a 
 pretty pond too,' a walnut-tree on one side, and our tower 
 on the other.' 
 
 ' And all the leaves on the trees shall be as green as 
 grass,' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' Well, so you shall,' said Frank ; * I hold you to your 
 bargain, Katie, and mind you make plenty of walnuts on 
 the tree. I'll tell you what is fun : to pelt the children 
 with the walnuts when they come out of school, and sec 
 them scramble for them ! Well, I wonder when I shall 
 go there again. It is just getting to harvest time now, 
 and old Jem Churcher rings the harvest service bell at 
 half-past five, and all the people come to Church before 
 they go out to the fields ! That would be what you would 
 call like a picture, Emmie, seeing them all come out from 
 under the Church gateway with their reap hooks, and 
 their little wooden kegs of beer. Yes, and just this very 
 time — 'tis eight, is not it ? — he will be ringing the cur- 
 few, and nobody stops a bit in the field after that, but in 
 they come almost all of them, at least to Church, and you 
 can't think how pretty it is coming out, to see the porch 
 and the Church-yard all heaped up with their sheaves of 
 gleaning. My uncle always likes to look at 4hem so 
 much, and it is a famous time to hear what they think of 
 the weather, and how the crops are.' 
 
 'How beautiful!' said Emmeline, and Frank looked 
 much pleased. 
 
 * But,' said Kate, ' is the having service your uncle's 
 doing, or was it always so ? ' 
 
 ' 0, always !' said Frank. ' The Dumblethwayte peo 
 pie would as soon think of a year without harvest, as of a 
 harvest without Church. ! and then the best of all is 
 the harvest supper. We have only one farmer, Mr. Dorey, 
 and as soon as the last load is carried, he always gives a 
 supper to nearly all the parish, men and women and all ! ' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 89 
 
 ' And so you go to see it?' said Kate. 
 
 * See ! we do more than see, I assure you,' said Frank, 
 
 * uncle Willoughby has got to say Grace for them all, and 
 then we have to cat ! I can assure you that Mrs, Dorey's 
 cold beef, and her cheese, and home-brewed, are not to be 
 despised. And then they drink the Queen's health, and 
 uncle Willoughby's and the farmer's, and then comes the 
 singing.' 
 
 He entertained them with imitations of some of the 
 harvest songs, which made them almost weary with laugh- 
 ing, and Emmeline suggested that Miss Townsend would 
 wonder. 
 
 ' Ah ! ' said Frank, ' that poor little Suburb ; by- 
 the-bye, does she never appear, or is she imprisoned up 
 stairs ? ' 
 
 ' We have asked her to come down, when we are alone 
 in the evening, but she has only done it once,' said Kate. 
 
 ' And I suppose you only asked her once,' said Frank. 
 
 ' He means to make us ask her again,' said Emmeline. 
 
 * Bring her down, Kate, there is a good girl,' said 
 Frank. ' I want to see if I can see her without a magni- 
 fying glass when she is in the same room. I took her for 
 a Tom-tit the other day in the garden, and very nearly 
 walked over her, expecting she would have flown away.' 
 
 ' She is not pert enough for a tom-tit,' said Kate. 
 
 ' But she is just the colour of one,' said Emmeline. 
 
 * All pale, grey, and black, and straw colour.' 
 
 ' Come ! half-a-crown to fetch her down ! ' said Frank. 
 
 ' Will you really give me one if I do ? ' said Kate. 
 
 ' That I will,' said Frank, ' provided you fetch her 
 down diligently every time they dine out to the end of 
 the holidays. Ah ! and I have not done yet, provided 
 the half-crown does not go in tracts from my long-nosed 
 cousins, the Miss Shaws, and that it does not go to that 
 humbugging child that tells you long stories about Mr. 
 Brent being the hard-heartedest of men, and that it does 
 not go to Mr. Hunter's school, where they let you teach 
 — what did you call it — great latitude 1 ' 
 
 ' Then I think it is not worth having on those condi 
 tions,' said Kate. 
 
90 THE CASTLE BUILDERS, 
 
 ' See, here 'tis,' said Frank, balancing it on his finger. 
 ' Look, Kate, 'tis not to be despised, a bran new shining 
 Victoria half-crown, just as bright as when it came out of 
 the mint, save that her Majesty has got a little dent or 
 dulness, or something, under her ear. I'll let you off one 
 minute in consideration of that dent, Kate. There, 'tis 
 a fair offer, and such as you won't get many more like it, 
 I assure you.' 
 
 ' Half-crowns ? ' said Kate. ' I could get plenty just 
 like it any day.' 
 
 ' Any day that you happened to have a sovereign in 
 your purse,' said Frank ; * but, no, Kate, no, you forget the 
 dent. That is unrivalled, unequalled, unsurpassed, mod- 
 elled from an original beauty-spot on her Majesty's own 
 face ! Think what you throw away, Kate, by rejecting 
 the original dent ! a thing for which you might search 
 three hundred half-crowns without finding the like, three- 
 sixteenths of an inch from the tip of the nose. Consider 
 it well, Kate, three-sixteenths of an inch from the tip of 
 her nose ! ' he concluded, impressively. 
 
 ' You very absurd boy,' said Kate. * Well, I must 
 try and earn it if only for the sake of laughing at you, so 
 here I go in search of the Suburb.' 
 
 It was not long before Kate ushered Miss Townsond 
 into the room, whereupon the former was greeted by Frank 
 with a patronizing nod, and the glancing of a little rim of 
 silver above his waistcoat pocket. 
 
 After settling Miss Townsond comfortably, Emmeline 
 and Frank pursued the subject they had been talking of 
 when the others entered. 
 
 ' They are coming to stay with us, you know,' said 
 Emmeline. 
 
 ' Who are ? ' said Kate. 
 
 ' Mrs. and Miss Willoughby, Frank's cousins,' said 
 Emmeline. 
 
 'Are they?' said Frank. 'Is Juliet AVilloughby 
 coming ? Dear me, Emmeline and Kate, I hope you can 
 talk Hebrew?' 
 
 ' Why ? Is she so very learned 1 ' 
 
 ' I tell you, Emmeline, if learning can set the Thames 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 91 . 
 
 on fire, Juliet Willoughby is the woman to do it. Sho 
 talks Hebrew and Arabic with Eastern professors — half 
 her books begin at the wrong end, and are all in squares, 
 and dashes, and ridiculous-looking letters. I expect every 
 day to hear she is off to Nineveh to help them to read 
 Nimrod's private account-book and diary.' 
 
 ' Come, now, are you talking sense or nonsense ?' 
 
 ' Never was anything in this world more true ! Ask 
 uncle Willoughby, if you won't believe me, if he did not 
 give her his Hebrew liible. And, as to Greek, she could 
 hold a conversation with old Homer himself, it is my be- 
 lief, and set him right if he spoke bad grammar.' 
 
 ' dear ! ' cried Emmeline, ' what a formidable per- 
 son ! AVliat shall we do with her ? Only I hope it is 
 only one of Frank's figments.' 
 
 ' Ah ! you will see,' said Frank. ' I suppose you know 
 at least a little German, or some Latin.' 
 
 ' German, yes ; though we have not touched it since 
 we left school.' 
 
 * Ah, well ! then perhaps she may notice you a little. 
 But really, Emmie, have you never seen any of Juliet's 
 things, books, writings — ' 
 
 ' Has she really published anything ? ' cried both 
 girls, in awe. 
 
 ' yes, she would as soon publish as you would sew 
 up a seam ! Why, there was a German story she trans- 
 lated, that they gave her ever so much money for, and she 
 has put no end of verses and stories in magazines. Ah ! 
 you may well look at each other, Juliet is not a sight to 
 be seen every day.' 
 
 ' I should like very much to see her,' said Emmeline, 
 m a tone of consternation, ' just to see her as a sight, but 
 to have to entertain her ! What shall we do, Kate ? ' 
 
 ' 0, she will make allowances,' said Frank. 
 
 ' But do tell me,' continued Emmeline, ' where are all 
 these things that she has written, and why did we never 
 hear of them before ? ' 
 
 Frank named the magazines, and one or two of the 
 stories, and the sisters found to their delight and sur- 
 Ijrise, that they already knew and liked them. 
 
92 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' She is very mysterious about them,' said he, ' she 
 signs them with only a J, for fear any one should guess 
 them to be hers ; so you must not tell any living crea- 
 ture ; I only gave you a friendly hint, that you might 
 m5>fc expose yourselves\ 
 
 On they talked, much after this fashion, and Miss 
 Townsend, meanwhile, sat by, and often smiled at the 
 jokes. She did not wish to be addressed, and was 
 happier thus looking on. The change and refreshment, 
 enabled her to resume her work next morning far more 
 cheerfully. 
 
TBF CASTLE BUILDERS, 93 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Thus dost thou hear the Nomcan lion roar 
 'Gainst thee, poor lamb, that standest as his prey. 
 Love's Labouk Lost. 
 
 Frank was tolerably civil to the Miss Shaws, and they 
 admired him vastly, but he always got out of their way 
 as far as he could, and used to make great fun of their 
 complimentary sjDeeches as soon as he was alone with 
 the girls. Emmeline used to grow angry, and contend 
 that they were perfectly sincere in their flattery. 
 
 ' So much the worse for you,' said Frank. 
 
 ' Why ? ' 
 
 ' Of course you are not so stupid but that you would 
 find them out if they did not really mean it, let them 
 do it ever so naturally but as they think it all true, you 
 can't help believing it.' 
 
 ' I am sure, whoever flatters, Frank does not,' said 
 Kate, laughing. ' He might walk into the palace of truth 
 any day, and never be diflerent for one moment.' 
 
 ' No,' said Emmeline, ' I almost think he would begin 
 to pay compliments.' 
 
 Frank turned an old face upon Emmeline, as if she 
 had detected him. 
 
 About this time, Frank, while going down among the 
 fishermen to try to get some shells, sea-eggs, &c., for 
 the decoration of the tower, met with a sad case of dis- 
 tress — a sick man, and a number of wretched-looking 
 small children, without a mother. 
 
94 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' The girls' feelings were excited, and they were eager 
 to apply immediately to all the various funds managed by 
 the Miss Shaws, for the garments which they had to make 
 up were not theirs to give ; moreover, they had none fin- 
 ished, not having worked with nearly as much alacrity as 
 at first. 
 
 But as soon as Frank found that the house stood in 
 Mr. Brent's district he announced his intention of speak- 
 ing to him about it. 
 
 ' Speaking to him ! Why, you don't know him,' said 
 Emmeline. 
 
 ' Yes, I do, my father introduced me one day when we 
 met him in the street, and I have had a few words with 
 him several times since.' 
 
 ' How can that be ? I have never seen you meet him, 
 and you are not out often alone.' 
 
 ' He has spoken to me two or three times,' said 
 Frank. 
 
 ' But I assure you it will be of no use,' said Kate. 
 ' Miss Penelope — now don't laugh, Frank — Miss Pene- 
 lope says all the good they can do in this district is by 
 stealth.' 
 
 * We shall only be prevented from doing anything,' 
 said Emmeline. 
 
 ' Yes, Frank, now don't,' said Kate. ' The committee 
 will never give them anything if they find we have been 
 in communication with Mr. Brent about them.' 
 
 ' And then Miss Penelope says what a sad thing party 
 spirit is,' said Frank. 
 
 ' Hush, now,' said Kate, ' here comes Sir Francis.' 
 
 Emmeline, however, took Frank in hand, and really 
 thought she had persuaded him that an application to Mr. 
 Brent would be followed by a rebuke for having dared to 
 look into a cottage. 
 
 Next morning, however, when she came down to 
 breakfast, she found Frank in the dining-room before her, 
 looking triumphant. 
 
 ' Well, Emmie, Mr. Brent is writing an order for the 
 man to be taken to the hospital, and a cart will come for 
 him in an hour's time.' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 95 
 
 ' Mr. -Brent ! ' Emmeliuc stood aghast ; ' wlicn could 
 you have seen him ? ' 
 
 ' This morning,' said Frank. ' I waited for him when 
 he came out of Church.' 
 
 ' Have you been to Church this morning ? Surely 
 not. It is at seven o'clock ! ' 
 
 ' To be sure,' said Frank, ' why should not I ? What 
 is the good of lying in bed on such fine summer mornings 
 as these ? ' 
 
 ' You don't mean to say that you generally go ! ' 
 
 ' Of course I do. If I have got to go at half-past six 
 at school, I think I may go at seven at home.' 
 
 ' But about the poor man ? ' said Kate ; ' and what 
 did you say to move Mr. Brent ? ' 
 
 ' I told him the state in which I found him, and it 
 seems that he knew all about him before. He had tried 
 to make the man send the children to school in vain, for 
 he is a hardened, heathenish sort of fellow ; but the ill- 
 ness came on suddenly, and the poor children are too 
 young to know who to apply to.' 
 
 ' What did he do ? ' 
 
 ' He walked with me to the place, and saw the state 
 of things ; he settled it all in a minute ; the man is to go 
 to the hospital, and he knows of a good old woman 
 who will take care of the children. Then I told him' — 
 Frank looked archly at the girls as if he doubted how 
 they would approve, ' that I had two sisters with a great 
 deal of energy running to waste, who would be very glad 
 to make little coats and things for the children, and ho 
 said it would be doing a great kindness, and he should be 
 very much obliged to you.' 
 
 ' You did not really give that account of us ! ' 
 
 ' Is not it true ? ' said Frank, and they were obliged 
 to take this reply for want of a better answer. 
 
 In the space of a week they completed sundy gar- 
 ments, the interest which Frank took in their progress 
 keeping them steadily to it, though their ardour for the 
 poor was on the wane. It had been a fancy and not a 
 principle, and as the disagreeables made themselves more 
 felt, it ceased to engross Emmeline's mind, and her old 
 weariness be2;an to ensue. 
 
96 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 Still they went to the school, where they had for some 
 time been making a point of the Church Catechism. By 
 rewards and praises, Emmeline had obtained of her class 
 its perfect repetition, and now, with the help of questions 
 caught from Mr. Brent's catechizings in Church, and with 
 recollections of the teachings of her own earlier days, she 
 was endeavouring to instruct the children in its meaning. 
 It brought out various thoughts with regard to her Con- 
 firmation ; she began to learn that the life of a child is its 
 preparation for that solemn vow and blessing, and while 
 she taught her scholars to look forward to it, she more 
 than once felt sincere regret for her own neglect. 
 
 A good many people used to walk in and out of the 
 school ; all the committee were privileged ; and there were 
 many teachers on the same terms as our heroines, besides 
 visitors, and people who came to speak to the school- 
 mistress about work. They generally went to the mis- 
 tress's throne of office, or else to some unemployed class, 
 and Emmeline had learnt not to heed them, and to 
 have no eyes for anything beyond her own square of 
 girls. 
 
 One day, however, when she was in the midst of ques- 
 tioning on the Catechism, she was startled by a short dry 
 cough of disapprobation close behind her, and looking up, 
 saw a tall thin gentleman in black, with rather grey curl- 
 ing hair, a long narrow face, and a solemn expression, 
 standing near her chair. 
 
 Annoyed and confused, she found it impossible to go 
 on. She waited a moment, expecting the stranger to 
 apologize and depart, but as he did no such thing, she 
 shut up her book, and, with Kate, left the school very in- 
 dignant, though they did not divulge the adventure for 
 fear Frank should triumph over them. 
 
 A day or two after the Miss Shaws called upon them, 
 and ]\^ss Penelope, in rather a mysterious manner, asked 
 Emmeline to take a walk in the garden with her. 
 
 ' My dear Miss Berners, you will forgive me,' said 
 she. ' You know how grateful we are for your assistance 
 in the school, but you must allow me just to make one 
 little suggestion. I am sure you mean it all most rightly, 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 97 
 
 but people talk about it. Could you not dwell rather less 
 on the Church Catechism ? ' 
 
 Emmeline started. ' I thought,' said she, ' that it was 
 one of the chief things to be taught.' 
 
 ' My dear, I say nothing against the Catechism itself, 
 it is a most admirable compilation, but you know it has 
 been made so much a badge of party, and people 
 talk—' 
 
 ' But what do they say ? ' asked Emmeline, in a maze 
 of surprise, perplexity and displeasure. 
 
 ' 0, my dear Miss Emmeline, people will say things ; 
 they remark on your dwelling so much on that and noth- 
 ing else, and some of the children's parents are Dissenters, 
 and have scruples about their learning it. Indeed, I 
 think you had better adopt some other line. 
 
 G-entle as Emmeline was, she never felt less persuada- 
 ble, perhaps from a secret conviction that this must be a 
 result of the spying of last Thursday's visitor. ' What 
 can people have to remark ? ' said she. ' We taught the 
 Catechism because no one else seemed to do so, and you 
 told us we might teach what we pleased.' 
 
 ' Yes, yes, my dear, I am sure it is a good thing, only 
 it has become a badge of party, and — and — there is your 
 connexion with Lord Herbert Somerville, whose views 
 are so well known. I hope you will not be vexed with 
 me, my dear, but I thought it would be as well just to 
 give you a hint ; I do so dread anything of party spirit.' 
 
 ' If you would but tell me what Lord Herbert Somer- 
 ville can possibly have to do with it.' said Emmeline, 
 growing very angry and very formal. 
 
 ' Ah ! my dear girl, how I envy your sweet innocence 
 of party. I would not say a word against Lord Herbert 
 for the world, only every one knows what a high Church, 
 intolerant part, his family have always taken.' 
 
 ' I know where the intolerance is now,' thought 
 Emmeline to herself; but she let Miss Penelope go on 
 as far as ' Mr. Denham — ' before her schooled manners 
 gave way, and she interrupted her by saying, 'Was 
 that Mr. Denham that came and listened to me last 
 Thursday ? ' 
 
 5 
 
98 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 * My dear, you must not bo annoyed — 1 am sure you 
 have too much good sense — ' 
 
 ' I disliked it very much indeed,' said Eiameline. ' I 
 cannot think how he could do such a thing.' 
 
 ' Ah ! your retiring nature, which would shrink from 
 observation, my dear ; I can quite sympathize with you ; 
 but you must consider what an interest good Mr. Denham 
 takes in the school.' 
 
 Emmeline's cheeks were tingling all over, and the 
 more smoothly Miss Penelope spoke, the more agitated 
 and irritated she grew. Yet her former life had been a 
 good discipline in exterior politeness, and she spoke with 
 more calmness and civility towards Miss Penelope than 
 many other girls would have done, whose self-command 
 was more the effect of principle and less of habit. Her 
 voice scarcely altered from its usual rather constrained 
 company tones, as she said, ' I am afraid I cannot look 
 upon it as you do. It was exceedingly unpleasant to me 
 to find myself overlooked the other day ; and I cannot 
 think it is treating me properly to spy me out and then 
 complain of me. If Mr. Denham was the Clergyman of 
 the parish, he would have some right to inquire into my 
 teaching, and I should not complain, but I do not con- 
 sider that he has any authority.' 
 
 ' You forget he is on the committee,' said Miss Penel- 
 ope, hastily interposing. 
 
 This was Emmeline's weak point ; she had sought 
 sanction from the committee instead of from the Church, 
 and, sensibly as she had spoken, her argument failed ; 
 but in the heat of the moment she did not feel it, and 
 took up another point. ' Surely, he has not been com- 
 plaining of me to the committee.' 
 
 ' no, no,' said Miss Penelope ; ' you do not know 
 how much consideration good Mr. Denham has. Indeed, 
 you do not do him justice.' 
 
 ' Certainly,' said Emmeline, ' I should like to know 
 what he could complain of ! I don't know how long ho 
 thought proper to listen to me, but I am quite certain he 
 heard nothing that was not the right teaching, in which I 
 have always been brought up. But it is of no use to 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 99 
 
 talk over it any longer ; I shall never be able to teach 
 at all, unless I may do so freely, and without being 
 listened to and remarked upon ; and I cannot believe but 
 that the Church Catechism ought to be taught and 
 explained.' 
 
 ' dear ! dear ! how badly I have managed,' ex- 
 claimed poor good little Miss Penelope ; ' how I do wish 
 Maria had been here to help me ! Now I have vexed 
 you, and made you angry with poor Mr. Denham, when I 
 meant to have set it all straight ! Oh dear ! how silly of 
 me to try to do anything alone ! If Maria had but been 
 here, it would have been all right ! ' 
 
 It was impossible to be angry with Miss Penelope, at 
 any rate, and Emmeline could not help smiling, as she 
 said, cordially, ' I am sure you meant every thing kind, 
 and I am very much obliged to you, indeed I am.' 
 
 ' Are you sure, quite sure ? ' said the good lady. ' Yes, 
 I see that sweet face quite forgives my silly mismanage- 
 ment ; I was sure your good sense would see it so. And 
 you will not take it amiss of poor Mr. Denham ; he would 
 be quite grieved, I am sure, to know that you felt an- 
 noyed ; it would hurt him very much. And you will not 
 dwell so much on the Catechism ? It does you harm with 
 several people ; I do assure you it does, my dear, though 
 you might not imagine it.' 
 
 Emmeline had been much softened at first, but she 
 could not forgive Mr. Denham, and grew harder at the 
 mention of his name. She heartily wished the conversa- 
 tion at an end, and happily she had only time to say, * I 
 cannot think Mr. Denham has used me well,' before Sir 
 Francis and his eldest son appeared at the other end of 
 the walk. The Miss Shaws soon after took their leave, 
 Miss Penelope saying, as she shook hands with Emmeline, 
 ' I have more to say to you, my dear ; I am sure I shall 
 bring you round.' Then, nodding at her, at the door, she 
 disappeared. 
 
 Then, out it all came. Emmeline was much too ex- 
 cited and angry not to impart her indignation, and Sir 
 Francis and Lady Willoughby fully shared it, to say noth- 
 ing of Kate, her other self As to Frank, he sat by in a 
 
100 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 state of the most provokingly mischievous delight and 
 triumph, making indications of clapping his hands at the 
 relation of each affront that Emmeline had received ; and 
 whenever she told of any particularly silly speech of Miss 
 Penelope, exclaiming, in a low voice, ' Bravo ! ' 
 
 ' I am sure,' said Lady Willoughby, ' I can't guess 
 what they can mean. I am sure when I was last in Eng- 
 land, I used to hear of nothing but teaching poor children 
 the Catechism. I was quite sick of it.' 
 
 ' It is that Denham, a low, Methodistical sort of a 
 fellow,' said Sir Francis, * only too glad to be impertinent 
 to a lady when he has the opportunity ; 'tis he that is at 
 the bottom of it. I should only be glad to kick him down 
 stairs this minute.' 
 
 ' Poor, dear Mr. Denham ! ' softly murmured Frank, 
 ' how ill Mr. Brent used him ! ' 
 
 * You won't go to school again after this, my dears,' 
 said Lady Willoughby. 
 
 ' No, surely ; not if they give you no more thanks than 
 this,' said Sir Francis. 
 
 ' Why, mamma,' said Emmeline, ' I should not much 
 like to fly off upon an affront, as if we were angry with 
 every one.' 
 
 ' no, certainly not,' added Kate, ' we must show we 
 are not displeased with the Shaws, or Mr. Hunter, or any 
 of the others.' 
 
 ' Besides, as I told Miss Penelope,' said Emmeline, 
 ' I don't see what right Mr. Denham has to interfere ! I 
 should like to go on teaching the Catechism in spite of 
 him.' 
 
 ' Well done, Emmie, there spoke a girl of spirit ! ' 
 said Sir Francis. 'But I must say, I would have no 
 more to do with them ; let them settle their affairs their 
 own way ; you have plenty of better things to do ; and it 
 is my maxim, never to do what there is nothiPxg to be 
 gained by, not even thanks.' 
 
 * But the poor children,' said Kate, ' no one will teach 
 it to them at all if we do not.' 
 
 ' 0, they will learn it somehow,' said Lady Willoughby. 
 ' Indeed, my dear, it will only be exposing yourself to 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 101 
 
 more of this man's impertinence, and I can't bear you 
 should shut yourself up all the afternoon in the hot room 
 with those dirty children. Emmie looks quite pale after 
 
 ' The room is not at all hot, mamma,' exclaimed both 
 girls ; and the more they were persuaded to give up their 
 attendance at school, the more resolute they grew in 
 pleading for its continuance. 
 
 ' Give it up ! No, never ! ' said Emmelinc, with a sort 
 of would-be martyr look, as soon as she had Kate to her- 
 self. 
 
 ' Never,' echoed Kate, ' it would be giving up our 
 principles.' 
 
 ' Yes ; and think of the influence it must have upon 
 all the school, to see how important we think it, and how 
 steadily we keep to it.' 
 
 ' It is not like some trumpery question-book, to be 
 taken up one week, and thrown aside the next,' said Kate; 
 ' it is something to hold fast and value.' 
 
 ' Yes ; and we will show them our value for it,' said 
 Emmeline. ' Committee, and children, and all, shall see 
 that we think the Catechism no badge of party, but the 
 watch-word of the English Church. I dare say this con- 
 troversy about it will make the children value it all the 
 more.' 
 
 ' The children are so fond of you, they will love it for 
 your sake,' said Kate ; ' that little Mary Parsons, her 
 mother told Miss Shaw the other day, she would do any- 
 thing for her dear teacher. Miss Emma Line.' 
 
 ' Sweet child,' said Emmeline, smiling. ' Yes, Kate, 
 our names shall go on in their imaginations coupled with 
 the Catechism ; and how do we know ? perhaps it may 
 bring back some of these Dissenters to the Church, if they 
 really do love us.' 
 
 ' Frank would laugh at us, if we gave it up,' said 
 Kate. 
 
 ' Frank laughs at whatever we 'do,' said Emmeline. 
 ' Though, certainly after this, it is impossible not to allow 
 that Mr. Brent was justified in turning Mr. Denham out. 
 Kate, the enmity of such a man is an honor ! ' 
 
102 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 And Emracline's happiness was extreme all that even 
 ing, and the next morning, in the belief that she was per- 
 secuted ; and she treated Frank's raillery about Mr. 
 Brent, and poor dear Mr. Dcnham, with a magnificent 
 superiority that was quite edifying. 
 
 In the middle of the day she received a note, four 
 sheets of small, closely written note paper, from Miss 
 Penelope Shaw. 
 
 The first page was taken up in lamentations on the 
 little lady's part that she had not managed matters better 
 in their interview; then followed a warm panegyric on 
 Mr. Denham, declaring that no one could have been fur- 
 ther from any thought of annoying her ; next came a dis- 
 sertation on party spirit and the Catechism, so mixed 
 together in a double parenthesis, that it would have re- 
 quired numerous commentaries before it could be guessed 
 what was the meaning ; and after they had both read it 
 separately, besides going over it together, the sisters really 
 could not tell, whether Miss Penelope would have them 
 continue the Catechism or not. The sting was, however, 
 in the tail, and that was an assurance that rather than be 
 supposed to have any thought of annoying Miss Berners, 
 Miss Penelope would induce Mr. Denham to tell her so 
 in person, and make the fullest apology. Indeed, she had 
 not a doubt that he would, of his own accord, take the 
 earliest opportunity of so doing. 
 
 The scream of dismay with which Emmeline beheld 
 the sentence betrayed her to Frank, who had been watch- 
 ing her face, and he immediately proceeded to act both 
 Mr. Denham's apology and her manner of receiving it, so 
 absurdly, that, vexed as she was, it was beyond her powers 
 not to laugh. He was urgent to be allowed to see the 
 note, but she would not have it laughed at, and carried 
 it up stairs to meditate upon the answer, and to try to 
 make out the meaning, a task at least as difl&cult as the 
 translation of the German sentence, and possibly for the 
 same reason. 
 
 To face Mr. Denham and endure his apology was 
 above all, not to be thought of, and therefore she must 
 express her forgiveness ; but still there was no certainty 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 103 
 
 that lie miglit Dot cliooso to apologize after all, and, as 
 Emmeline and Kate agreed, nothing could put them in a 
 more unpleasant predicament. It was wonderful, now 
 that the opposition seemed to have died away, how their 
 vehement desire for going to school was fading. Mr. Den- 
 ham's apology frightened them a hundred times more than 
 Lis ' enmity, and all Emmeline felt was a desire to find 
 an excuse for keeping out of both his and Miss Penelope's 
 way till it was all forgotten. 
 
 Fortune favoured her, for before many hours had 
 passed, a letter arrived fixing next Wednesday for Mrs. 
 and Miss Willoughby's visit ; and as they were expected 
 to stay a fortnight, this was exactly the break which Em- 
 meline wanted, and she almost forgot to tremble at Miss 
 Willoughby's acquirements, in the relief at the oppor- 
 tuneness of her coming. 
 
 It was much easier now to write her note, which Kate 
 thought an excellent piece of diplomacy, as it ignored the 
 Catechism altogether, and only expressed great thanks to 
 Miss Penelope, hopes that attendance at school would 
 only be interrupted for a very short time, and a very 
 strong and repeated entreaty that not a word might be 
 said to Mr. Denham that would lead him to think an 
 apology would be otherwise than very unpleasant. And 
 so she sent school affairs entirely out of her mind for the 
 present ; and, whenever she was not amused by Frank, 
 was a prey to her old yawning dissatisfied fits. 
 
104 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Hast thou seen that lordly castle — 
 
 That castle by the sea ? 
 Golden and red above it, 
 The clouds float gorgeously. 
 
 Uhland, (Longfellow.) 
 
 Reports of Juliet Willoughby's learning and clever- 
 ness preceded her, alarming Lady Willougbby even more 
 than her daughters. 
 
 She summoned her ' dear boy,' Frank, and asked a 
 description of these much-feared powers. He was much 
 more sober in his delineations than when with the young 
 ladies ; and it only appeared that Juliet was very clever, 
 understood more modern and ancient tongues than most 
 young ladies, dabbled in one or two more, and had made 
 and published sundry translations, as well as original 
 verses, and stories. 
 
 This was so far satisfactory, that the girls were sure 
 they knew the worst. Lady Willougbby thanked Heaven 
 that she had daughters to take the brunt of entertaining 
 the stranger, and Sir Francis laughed, and said he had no 
 doubt but that his little Katie would be a match for any 
 one ; whereupon Kate felt much and sincerely distressed 
 that he would always take her for the clever one. 
 
 By way of further preparations, the magazines con- 
 taining Juliet's contributions were brought out. Sir 
 Francis looked at their names, while Lady Willougbby 
 desired to have them read to her, and she had slept through 
 three-quarters of the first, before the day which was to 
 bring the visitors. Then came a difference of opinion ; 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS, 105 
 
 she was for letting tlie said magazines lie on the table to 
 receive their author, while Emmeline could not bear tliat 
 they should have the air of being set out on purpose ; and 
 Kate at last proposed that all should be put away except 
 the last number, which would look just as if they were 
 only taking it in regularly. 
 
 At length the young lady and her mother arrived, 
 neither of them looking in the least distinguished or re- 
 markable. And the eyes of the sisters only beheld a 
 quiet-looking person, well-featured, but of a muddy com- 
 plexion, and with eyes and lips which had a good deal 
 of expression in them, though surface observers did not 
 readily find it out. She was just above twenty, but looked 
 younger, for her figure was girlish, and she had the air of 
 depending on her mother for protection. 
 
 She and Frank seemed very glad to meet, and he was 
 the only person who looked perfectly at his ease as they 
 all sat round in the formal circle of the newly arrived ' 
 and though he did not say much, he now and then rubbed 
 his hands together with a certain mischievous glance of 
 triumphant fun. At last Lady Willoughby proceeded to 
 conduct Mrs. Willoughby to her room ; Juliet's was up 
 another flight of stairs, and therefore she was consigned 
 to the care of Emmeline and Kate. 
 
 Up they went, Emmeline first, very well behaved, very 
 polite, and very nervous ; she ushered Miss Willoughby 
 into the room, but the next moment company-manners 
 were suddenly disconcerted, as all three, with one voice 
 exclaimed, ' What is that ? ' 
 
 On the state pincushion upon the toilet-table waved a 
 huge piece of orange-coloured paper, of the form and tint 
 of a hand-bill, covered with enormous letters, setting forth, 
 in all the varieties of type, ridiculously thick, and ridicu- 
 lously thin, that, on the fourth instant, at 8 p. m., a Lec- 
 ture would be given at the Town Hall, Herringsby, on the 
 Sanscrit, illustrated by the Ramjonnybunveda, by the cel- 
 ebrated professor, Miss Juliet VVilloughby, F. 8. B. S. 
 
 It would be hard to say which predominated with the 
 two sisters, diversion or consternation. Emmeline could 
 not speak at all ; Kate made various exclamations ; Julict'a 
 
106 THE CASTLE BUILDERS, 
 
 colour rose, but she laughed heartily, crying out, ' Oh ! 
 that wretch, Frank ! ' 
 
 ' Indeed, we had not an idea what he was doing,' said 
 Kate. 
 
 ' Indeed, wo are very sorry,' said Emmeline, feeling 
 very guilty. 
 
 ' I don't know what you have to be sorry for,' said 
 Juliet. ' I know Mr. Frank of old, and don't mind his 
 tricks. What a boy he is, to be sure ! ' added she, exam- 
 ining the elaborate lettering. 
 
 ' Now I know what he borrowed the Indian ink for,' 
 said Emmeline. ' I could not think what he was doing in 
 his own room the last two days ! ' 
 
 ' I saw some mischief was in his head,' said Juliet. 
 ' Certainly it is lucky that all his jokes are good-natured, 
 for there is no end of them.' 
 
 ' Does he often practise them on you ? ' said Kate, with 
 an intonation of respect, and at the same time of great sur- 
 prise, for Frank had somehow made them fancy that he 
 was as much afraid of Juliet as they were. 
 
 ' Play me tricks ? yes, the rogue, that he does, for ever,' 
 said Juliet. * Does he not with you? ' 
 
 ' 0, yes,' said Emmeline, smiling at the recollection, 
 and perceiving that Miss Willoughby would think it rather 
 a dishonour that Frank should not think her worth play- 
 ing tricks on. ' But come, Kate, we are hindering Miss 
 Willoughby's dressing.' 
 
 So, after due politeness, the sisters withdrew. Juliet 
 and her mother were full early in coming down, and only 
 Sir Francis and Frank were in the drawing-room. 
 
 ' 0, Frank ! I have such a scolding for you ! ' said 
 Juliet, fastening on him, and drawing him, nothing loth, 
 into a window, out of hearing. 
 
 ' What, did not I make the letters big enough ? ' said 
 Frank. 
 
 ' But what absurd accounts have you been giving of 
 m« ? Oh ! Frank, I see, you have been saying all sorts of 
 monstrous things ! ' 
 
 ' Never mind, Juliet, your presence will undeceive 
 every body.' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 107 
 
 ' Yes, especially when you take delight in making me 
 look foolish. And now, Frank, do be obliging, and tell mo 
 a little about them — your — I mean those girls, the Miss 
 Berners.' 
 
 ' My opinion goes for nothing, when you have made up 
 your own already,' said Frank. 
 
 ' Have I — how do you know I have ? ' 
 
 ' By the way you said those girls.' 
 
 ' "Well, I will tell you what I think, and you shall say 
 if I am right. They are school-girls.' 
 
 ' Did you know that before, or find it out now ? ' 
 
 ' I saw it from the way in which they carry their 
 elbows. Favourable specimens, though, are not they? but 
 drilled, like Russian soldiers, out of all individuality of 
 mind or manner. Eh, Frank ? ' 
 
 ' That's very grand,' said Frank. 
 
 ' Don't pretend not to understand, 'tis an answer 
 I want ; I want to know what to talk to them about ; 
 must I stop short at — do you ride ? and do you draw ? or 
 may I go on to books ? ' 
 
 ' Ask them how they like the Knight of the Silver 
 Crescent,' said Frank. 
 
 ' Now, Frank, you have not told them about that, I 
 hope ! ' exclaimed Juliet, colouring, in very decided un- 
 feigned annoyance ; then relieved, ' 0, no, I see you have 
 not, you only tried to frighten me.' 
 
 Emmeline and Kate at this moment came in^ dressed 
 alike, their hair sitting exactly in the same manner, and 
 their arms held in precisely the same position. Emmeline, 
 thinking the mother the least formidable, placed herself 
 where she might be talked to by her. Kate went towards 
 Miss Willoughby and Frank, and with more manner than Ju- 
 liet possessed, began to make talk about the pretty country. 
 
 Juliet answered readily, and they began to get on well 
 together ; in fact, before they went in to dinner, Juliet had 
 made up her mind that Kate had some information and 
 some originality. But after dinner it so chanced that 
 Emmeline fell to Juliet's share, and in the course of the 
 talk, she made three or four of the very same remarks that 
 had previously been made by Kate, and Juliet went to bed 
 
108 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ■wondering whether Emmeline borrowed from Kate, or 
 Kate from Emmeline. 
 
 The girls, on their side, began to find their fear of Miss 
 Willoughby wearing off. She appeared so much less ha- 
 bituated to society than they were, that it seemed to 
 diminish the distance between them. It was not awkward- 
 ness, nor was it any deficiency in good breeding, but there 
 was a bashfulness about her, and a reliance on her mother 
 for taking the lead, that made her seem to be younger than 
 her real age, and struck them as very strange in a person 
 of such undeniable cleverness; a little abruptness, too, 
 when she did speak, which was so unlike the demeanour to 
 which they had been trained at Miss Danby's, or had seen 
 in the manners of Lady Frances Somerville, that it sur- 
 prised and almost confused them. 
 
 The demure good behaviour of all parties continued 
 for the space of breakfast-time next morning, after which 
 Emmeline rather timidly proposed a stroll in the garden. 
 They were parading together, when Frank suddenly burst 
 upon them in this manner, ' Upon my word, I am delighted 
 to see a meeting of — what is it — what is the word ? help 
 me, Emmie, or you, Mrs. Romeo — a meeting of kindred 
 spirits, I believe it is — ' 
 
 ' Frank, Frank, how can you? ' said Emmeline, colour- 
 ing scarlet with shame, and fear that Miss Willoughby 
 might dislike having ignorance itself likened to her 
 knowledge. Kate did not mind it in the least, so sure was 
 she that it was not meant for her. 
 
 ' Where have you been learning such elegant senti- 
 ments, Frank ? ' said Miss Willoughby. 
 
 ' Where — why, where should I, but in such good com- 
 pany as I keep. Did I not tell you they were kindred 
 spirits ? ' 
 
 * I wish you would not say such things, Frank,' said 
 Emmeline. 
 
 ' What, not when it is quite true ? Deny it if you can, 
 that I found a whole foolscap sheet full of verses, all about 
 a river gliding and gliding on for ever.' 
 
 Here Emmeline's desperate attempt to stop his mouth 
 succeeded for a moment, she looking very piteous and im- 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 109 
 
 ploring; Kate half-proud that Miss Willoughby should 
 bear all, half-vexed at her sister's annoyance, but scolding 
 Frank all the time ; Juliet, partly curious, partly sympa- 
 thizing and sorry for Emmellne. 
 
 ' Never mind,' said Juliet, good-naturedly, ' Frank is 
 a great rogue ; but as we can't keep him in order, we must 
 submit to his bad behaviour.' 
 
 ' Now, if ever I heard ! ' cried Frank. ' When this 
 cousin of mine, this Mrs. Romeo, was coming to me last 
 evening to ask me for a hint how to talk to you — and I 
 not only gave her a hint, but a full broad explanation — • 
 nay, and set you down to talk German and poetry from 
 morning till night ! here are all the thanks I get.' 
 
 ' Did you really ? ' said Kate, innocently. 
 
 ' Of course,' said Juliet, laughing, ' what else should 
 I do but ask what two stranger young ladies were like ? 
 Would not you have done the same ? And so this is the 
 way Mr. Frank chooses to answer me. A broad hint, 
 indeed, it may be called.' 
 
 ' Indeed, I am very much ashamed,' said Emmeline. 
 * As to my being compared with you, Miss Willoughby, 
 you, know Frank's nonsense too well to mind that, and 
 indeed, indeed — ' 
 
 ' Indeed what ? ' said Juliet, rather maliciously. 
 
 ' Yes,' said Kate, coming to her sister's aid, in her 
 quandary, though not quite as Emmeline had intended, 
 ' Emmie does know a great deal — nothing compared with 
 you, to be sure — but more than anybody at Miss Danby's. 
 And as to the verses, she does write a great many, only 
 no one ever saw any but Constance and me, except some 
 that I got leave to give Lady Frances. So, though a 
 great deal is Frank's nonsense, some of it is true.' 
 
 In the meantime Frank had disappeared. 
 
 ' Indeed,' said Miss AVilloughby, turning to the blush- 
 ing Emmeline, I do feel for you very much, it is very 
 disagreeable; but I suppose Frank did it on the principle 
 that we should get much better acquainted if he broke' 
 the ice for us.^ 
 
 ' He has broken it with a good hard plunge,' said 
 Emmeline. 
 
110 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' So he Las; but now we have all tumbled in, and all 
 scrambled out together, we must be the better friends 
 from our companionship in disaster. Don't be afraid, I 
 won't ask to see one line of your verses till you feel that 
 you know me well enough to like to show them to me.' 
 
 ' Thank you,' said Emmeline, sincerely, feeling it 
 possible that the time might not be distant. 
 
 ' And don't be afraid of dear good Frank,' said Juliet, 
 earnestly ; ' you have not known him as long as I have, 
 and he does teaze sometimes, but you may trust him with 
 all your heart, he will never do anything that is really 
 and fairly disagreeable, and he will never betray you to 
 any but safe people. 0, I do hope you all understand 
 Frank.' 
 
 ' Understand him ? that we hardly do,' said Emmeline 
 ' but we do like him very much ; I should not have 
 thought that so short a time could have made us so like 
 brother and sisters.' 
 
 ' Yes, yes, I am glad to hear it,' said Juliet, eagerly. 
 ' You see Frank has been used to be so happy at Dumble- 
 thwayte, he and uncle Willoughby fit so well together, 
 and he is so fond of the place, and garden, and poor 
 people, and so useful there, that I was afraid he would be 
 out of his element almost anywhere else. And then 
 Frank has such quick perceptions in some things, and 
 such strong feelings, too, in spite of that round merry 
 face of his, that I was very much afraid he might not be 
 happy.' 
 
 ' I am sure I hope he is,' said Kate, while Emmeline 
 recollected what had always dwelt on her mind with 
 regard to him and her mother, and she did full justice in 
 secret to his quick perception. 
 
 ' Yes, I think he is,' said Juliet, ' by his ways with 
 you ; I can see that he is. And Frank is so good, I 
 know nobody like him. But what does he find to do 
 here ? ' 
 
 This question led to an introduction to the Tower, 
 but they found the door fastened against them, and it 
 presently appeared that Frank and Alfred were there 
 putting things to rights to receive Juliet. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. Ill 
 
 Then into the Tower she went, looked, laughed, 
 admired, and finally aided, hand, heart, and soul, in the 
 half-finished papering, and before the luncheon bell rang, 
 had won the heart of Alfred, and caused Edwin to run 
 incessantly after her, calling her his dear Mrs. Komeo. 
 
 For the rest, Emmeline and Kate were perfectly at 
 ease with her ; and as her sliyness also wore off, and she 
 talked as she thought, without repressing quotations or 
 illustrations for fear of display, her talent began more 
 and more to impress, and almost enchant Emmeline, 
 
 She did not either play or draw herself, but she took 
 intense delight in good music, and had much scientific 
 knowledge of the merit of drawings or prints, as well as 
 delight in fine scenery. Two or three excursions were 
 made to the beauties around ; Sir Francis managed them 
 all in as formal and inconvenient a guide-book way as 
 man could well do, but he could not spoil the mountains, 
 the lakes, or the rivers ; and, besides, he had to do the 
 honours to Mrs Willoughby, so the four young people 
 had a good deal of liberty to be hapi3y together. If it 
 had been for nothing else, the long rivers would have 
 been a great delight to Emmeline, for she generally sat 
 alone with Juliet, and such talks as they had about 
 abstruse German ! about historical personages, and meta- 
 physical questions, as Frank declared enough to frighten 
 the horses. It gave Emmeline a much better opinion of 
 herself, and made Kate very proud of her, that she should 
 find herself on any thing like equal terms with Juliet 
 "Willoughby ; and the occupation, the engrossing of her 
 mind, was most delightful to her. 
 
 All the German in the world would she read — 
 Spanish, Latin, Greek, would she learn — be as clever as 
 Juliet ; that, perhaps, was impossible, but at any rate she 
 must reach towards her knowledge, she must taste of the 
 wells which Juliet found so delightful. 
 
 Book after book did Juliet promise to lend, and she 
 promise to read ; and her letters, instead of simple records 
 of facts and of feelings, were grand in descriptions and 
 criticism of books ; and Kate's were just the same, for 
 Kate's head had gone into literature as far and as deep 
 
112 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 as her sister's, though she thought it was all on her own 
 account. 
 
 Emmcline, before the close of the fortnight, had heard 
 the plot of Juliet's next story, and read two or three 
 manuscript poems ; and it can scarcely be doubted, that 
 in return her own verses were shown. 
 
 They were smooth and regular for the most part, 
 much in earnest, and sometimes with a good deal of quiet 
 pathos ; for Emmeline, like most young things, liked best 
 to dwell on sadness. Juliet admired them, but she showed 
 her sense, and disappointed Kate, who wanted her very 
 much to propose to ^^ut them in the magazine. 
 
 * I see what you wish, Kate,' said she, in her usual 
 abrupt way, ' but I do not advise it.' 
 
 ' 0, I am glad you don't,- said Emmeline. 
 
 ' It would be poor praise to say that I have seen worse 
 published ; and as to the nonsense about literary ladies, 
 that is all stuff"; but Emmeline is so young, and I dare 
 say will do so much better, that she would look down upon 
 these, and get ashamed of them, and of having begun the 
 world with what was not her best. And then another 
 thing, Emmeline, one's first fresh young ideas are the 
 best of all ; they spring and grow with one, but the man- 
 ner of them is apt to be imitated from something, and 
 they want the judgment that one gets in growing older ; 
 either to modify or strengthen them, and so they are 
 wasted by being put forth too soon, like early buds. I 
 dare say Waverley was much the better for being put 
 away and forgotten all that long time. I do think it is a 
 very bad thing to get so easily into print as one may do 
 now.' 
 
 Emmeline fully agreed to this, for her notion was to 
 let authorship be a very grand future vision, and she saw 
 the faults in her verses, the weaknesses rather, sufficiently 
 to know they would look worse some time or other. There 
 was enough to engross her for the present in the desire of 
 study. 
 
 Juliet's visit was a very bright spot. She was in the 
 midst of all their sports, laughed at by Frank, and laugh- 
 ing with him, playing with the children, and going deep 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 113 
 
 into the confidence of the sisters, who told her a good deal 
 about Constance, and more than was advisable about Sir 
 Francis ; which, besides being wrong, was unnecessary, as 
 she found it all out for herself. 
 
 The crowning delight was the last evening of her stay, 
 when Frank and Kate, by a great exertion of influence, 
 obtained permission from the elders for all the ' old young 
 ones,' as Alfred called them, to secede from the dinner- 
 table, and have a great inauguration tea-drinking in the 
 Tower — children, Miss Townsend, and all. 
 
 Janet, with considerable aid from Miss Townsend, 
 made a flag for the top of the tower ; Emmeline composed 
 a mock heroic ode, which Juliet, rather against her will, 
 was obliged by Frank to translate into all the languages 
 she knew, and more too ; Frank mended the table and 
 chairs ; Kate, unassisted' except by Edwin, who brought 
 the sticks, made and lighted the fire to boil the kettle ; 
 and all, down to little Cecilia, assembled round the table, 
 in the highest spirits. 
 
 How they did eat bread and butter and drink tea I 
 how they talked and laughed ; and what slight jokes or 
 little blunders sufficed to set all, wise and foolish, alike 
 into perfect paroxysms of mirth ! 
 
 When Frank proposed having toasts, only that they 
 were to be eaten instead of drunk, what a laugh ensued ; 
 and forthwith Kate and Juliet went down on their knees 
 before the fire to toast sundry pieces of bread. Then 
 began the healths ; Frank proposed ' Romeo, and all the 
 Montagues.' Juliet in her turn proposed, ' The Fair 
 Emmeline. and might all her Castles, modern Gothic ones 
 especially, prove as substantial and produce as much hap- 
 piness as the Tower.' But it would take too long to tell 
 all the speeches made on the occasion, bad, good, and in- 
 different, they all alike answered their purpose, and that 
 was enough. Frank treated them to one of the harvest 
 songs of Dumblethwayte, and then, as the children had 
 by this time grown tired, Miss Townsend carried them off, ' 
 while the others took a turn in the garden, and talked of 
 uncle Willoughby and Dumblethwayte, every stick and 
 stone of which seemed to have an interest for Frank 
 
Il4 THE CASTLE BUILDEliS. 
 
 and Juliet. It seemed so simple and homely, so happy 
 and so good, that to Emmeline it was like a sort of vision, 
 and she did not wonder at Frank's intense aflfection for it. 
 
 ' Yes,' said Jidiet, ' it is remote enough to have missed 
 a great deal of modern corruption, and then forty years of 
 such a *' Idndlkh " man as uncle Willoughhy has not been 
 lost upon it.' 
 
 ' What's that about my uncle ? ' said Frank ; ' some- 
 thing you arc ashamed to put in plain English to meet 
 my ears, Mrs. Romeo. Come, out with it.' 
 
 ' I meant it as high praise, you suspicious mortal,' 
 said Juliet. * I don't think you would understand me if 
 I said in English, such an old child as uncle Willoughby, 
 and yet it is just what he is.' 
 
 ' I suppose you would have me think that is meta- 
 physics or some such tomfoolery,' said Frank, * but it 
 sounds to me very like impertinence.' 
 
 ' Moreover,' continued Juliet, ' you will be just such 
 another, and that is my delight in thinking of Dumblc- 
 thwayte.' 
 
 ' Nonsense,' said Frank, not however looking abso- 
 lutely displeased. 
 
 ' Let me see, you are seventeen and a half, Frank, 
 are not you ? In six years' time, then ! How choice 
 a thing it will be to see you settled for good in the 
 parsonage with my uncle, and old Lawrence, with the 
 actual presence, instead of only the fear of Master Frank 
 before his eyes, to make him cut the lettuces before they 
 run to seed. And 'then, Frank, when you are really there 
 for good, we won't trouble you more than once a week to 
 walk over the hill and see us. And you will invite us to 
 all your school tea-drinkings, won't you? ' 
 
 ' To be sure I will,' said Frank. ' Don't you know, if 
 I had been at home — there I mean — these holidays, I 
 meant to have made you such an arbour in the laurel- 
 hedge as you never saw, to sit in between the services on 
 Sunday. I meant you to have taught that great Peggy 
 Graves and those other girls there.' 
 
 ' So I will, Frank, I promise you ; I will offer uncle 
 Willoughby as soon as ever I get home, and tell him I 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 115 
 
 have got leave to be his ciirute's curate. Emmcline and 
 Kate, won't 3^ou come and stay with me, just to see Frank's 
 house?' 
 
 ' They must come when I am at home,' said Frank, 
 ' or you won't show them about half well enough. Be- 
 sides, Kate has promised to do me the picture of the wal- 
 nut tree and the pond, for my rooms at Oxford, and she 
 can't do it properly without my looking over her.' 
 
 ' Sir Francis here tapped the drawing-room window : 
 * Come in, come in, you giddy young things, we have 
 spared you quite long enough, and now you are catching 
 colds, and will have no voices at all this evening.' 
 
 ' So our holiday is over,' sighed Emmeline, as they 
 entered the house. 
 
 Mrs. and Miss AYilloughby were to depart the next 
 day, and at breakfast in the morning much was said of 
 future meetings ; Sir Francis opined that they should 
 remain at Bellevue some little time longer, as he wished 
 to have time to look about for the estate he intended to 
 purchase. But he said he should go to London in the 
 course of the winter, for he wanted to make inquiries 
 about some person who prepared young men for the army ; 
 he thought it would be a good thing for Frank to leave 
 his present school some little time before going into the 
 Gruards. 
 
 It was like an electric shock, to at least three of the 
 company. Juliet, Emmeline, and Kate, cast glances of 
 dismay at each other, and then looked at Frank ; his red 
 cheeks might be a shade redder than usual ; but he pro- 
 ceeded with his breakfast in a business-like way, and 
 neither raised his eyes, nor spoke. Mrs. Willoughby, 
 being a prudent woman, simply talked on about hopes 
 that they would make it convenient to come and stay with 
 her, &c., and so the breakfast concluded. 
 
 Emmeline and Kate went up with Juliet to help her 
 to put on her things, and as soon as she was in her own 
 room, she exclaimed, ' Well ! I am sorry ! Poor Frank, 
 what will he do ? ' 
 
 ' I never heard anything that surprised me more,' said 
 Kate. 
 
110 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' 0, I don't wonder, Sir Francis wants to make an 
 eldest son of him — but Frank to be uprooted from Dum- 
 blethwayte — Frank in the Guards — Oh ! how can it be ? 
 and how disappointed uncle Willoughby will be ! Frank 
 is the very light of his eyes ! ' 
 
 ' Surely Sir Francis will not persist if Frank dislikes 
 it,' said Emmeline. 
 
 * Depend upon it Sir Francis will not be thwarted,' 
 said Juliet. ' Frank will be victimized among you, he 
 will get among a set of people who will laugh at him, he 
 will have nothing to do, nothing to care for, he will be 
 utterly thrown away ! ' 
 
 ' I should think Frank had a great spring within him 
 wherever he was,' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' Yes, that is right, Emmeline,' said Juliet, eagerly. 
 ' Frank is too good ever to be really thrown away ; but 
 his whole being and life are so at Dumblethwayte, and he 
 is so made for it ! 0. it will be a cruel thing if Sir Francis 
 should ! - Well, I can't bear to think of it, and besides, 
 tliere is our carriage, I must run down. Write to me, 
 Emmeline, and tell me how it goes on. I will send you 
 the books as soon as ever I can, and tell me what you 
 think of those verses of Chamisso's. I hope you will 
 come to us, though — oh, dear ! poor Frank spoils it 
 all—' 
 
 Alfred came running up with a message to ask if 
 she was ready, and she ran down stairs. They were all 
 standing in the hall wishing good-bye. Juliet looked 
 inquiringly in Frank's face as she shook hands, but the 
 features expressed absolutely nothing. She asked if he 
 had any message for their uncle. No, he would write ; 
 and they went, with a parting injunction from Juliet to 
 Emmeline to write soon. 
 
 Lady Willoughby went to her room, Sir Francis to 
 his fence, and Frank followed him ; the girls, after talking 
 over his prospects and Juliet's perfections, sat down to 
 some German. Kate wanted to ask Frank what he 
 thought of his father's designs, but Emmeline deemed it 
 better not. He was just like himself; and, when called 
 on to teach the Greek alphabet, put on his most teazing 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 117 
 
 manner, and would only make nonsense and fun, much to 
 the annoyance of Emmeline, who was quite in earnest. 
 
 Sir Francis was evidently out of sorts. He found 
 fault with the weather and the dinner, was displeased with 
 the girls for leaving their books about, and was even testy 
 with the children. 
 
lis THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 If in pure aims, and deeds, and prayers. 
 His path mount liigh, and far from theirs. 
 
 LyBA iNNOCENTItTM, 
 
 There was a silence and constraint over all the party at 
 breakfast the next morning, and Emmeline was sure that 
 her mother had been desired to do something which she 
 thought very troublesome, but did not know how to resist, 
 for she sighed two or three times, and sent her cup for 
 more coffee with a sort of plaintive air of importance, 
 which Emmeline had learnt to understand full well. 
 
 Nothing transpired till Sir Francis finished his last 
 cup of tea, and rose from his chair, sayiug, ' Well, then, 
 I leave him to you, Lady Willoughby — or stay, here's 
 Emmie too, and my little Kate, sensible girls both. They 
 have plenty of influence with him, I'll be bound, and will 
 bring him to hear reason. Look here, then, look at that 
 boy : you heard the offer I made him yesterday, to get 
 him a commission in the Guards, make him heir to a landed 
 estate, and now what do you think he goes and tells me ? 
 Why that he has set his mind on going into the Church — 
 sitting down as a country curate, where no one will ever 
 hear of him. I declare it is enough to provoke a saint, 
 when there are youths enough in the world who would 
 give their ears for such an offer.' 
 
 There was a pause; Emmeline had been watching 
 Frank ; she thought she saw his forehead once contract a 
 little, but it passed off, and he sat with his face as un- 
 
THE'OASTLE BUILDERS. 119 
 
 moved as ever, and liis eyes fixed on his plate, whore he 
 was making some ungainly movements with his knife. 
 
 ' But there,' said Sir Francis, ' I have set all the ad- 
 vantages before him, talked to him till I am sick of it, and 
 not an inch does he move.' 
 
 ' I told you, sir,' said Frank, looking up, ' that I must 
 do as you chose, only my wishes were the other way.' 
 
 ' As I chose ; what care I for that, if it is all against 
 the grain? No, it shall not be must — I am no tyrant, 
 as you would make me out — I must have you willing, or 
 not at all' 
 
 Frank was silent again. 
 
 ' 0, he will be persuaded,' said Lady Willoughby ; 
 ' he must see the advantages, and not grieve us all by op- 
 posing all our wishes — so amiable a youth as he is, too, 
 and when we only wish his own good.' 
 
 ' Well, I am tired of talking of it. I wash my hands 
 of it, and leave it to you,' said Sir Francis. ' Talk him 
 out of his folly, there is a good little Kate, now.' 
 
 Away went Sir Francis, and poor Frank remained 
 with a look upon his face which, interested as she was, 
 made Emmeline think, for a moment, that now she knew 
 what was meant when a man was said to look as if he was 
 going to be hanged. 
 
 Lady Willoughby began by looking very soft and gen- 
 tle, as she took Frank's reluctant hand, and said, ' My 
 dear boy, I feel sure that you consider me as a mother, 
 and will have full confidence in my earnest wishes for 
 your welfare.' 
 
 ' Thank you,' said Frank, when she paused, finding he 
 must say something, and speaking in a subdued voice. 
 
 * Ah, I am sure of it, and I am sure you will listen to 
 me when I beg you to oblige your dear father, and give 
 pleasure to all of us, sincere pleasure, by consenting to 
 what is so much to your own advantage.' 
 
 ' I have told my father that of course he must dispose 
 of me as he likes,' said Frank. 
 
 'Yes, but that is not all; Sir Francis is so kind, so 
 indulgent, that the last thing he would wish would be to 
 force your inclinations.' 
 
120 
 
 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' Then I can't help it,' said Frank, ' I can't help what 
 I wish.' 
 
 ' But I can't understand it at all, my dear. "What is 
 this great charm in the Church as a profession ? ' 
 
 She waited for an answer, but none was forthcoming, 
 and she went on triumphantly, ' I know you are very much 
 attached to your uncle, poor dear good old man, and to 
 his parish, what is its name ? A sweet place, and so ro- 
 mantic, as Mrs. Willoughby said ; of course, you must be 
 attached to it, and it does you great credit, but then you 
 will know, when you have seen a little more of the world, 
 how different it is ; a country curate is a mere nobody, 
 and unless you have connexions in that line, there is no 
 rising, and in such a remote place, no bringing yourself 
 into notice. Your uncle, dear good man — ' 
 
 ' I don't want notice, ma'am,' said Frank, who had 
 been looking even more resigned and uneasy under this 
 speech than before. 
 
 ' Ah! this. is the way people talk when they are young 
 and romantic ; I can quite sympathize with you, my dear ; 
 but then you know — ' Here she could not get on, but 
 she began on another tack : ' Have you thought of the ad- 
 vantages, my dear; just remember, an officer in the Guards, 
 is in the very best, the very highest circles of society, 
 without anything to fatigue you, a London life, introduc- 
 tions everywhere. And then the estate that Sir Francis 
 is going to buy, some fine place, no doubt. Dear me, 
 think of such a position, eldest son, and heir to a fine 
 property, and an officer in the Guards, with a handsome 
 allowance, such as dear liberal Sir Francis would be sure 
 to make to his eldest son ! ' 
 
 ' Then I wish he would make an eldest son of Alfred ! ' 
 said Frank, despondingly. 
 
 Lady Willoughby looked bright for a moment, but 
 then shook her head : ' Ah ! that is so generous — ' 
 
 ' Not at all,' said Frank, with a little more hope. 
 
 ' 0, but it is, my dear boy, it is very noble, and you 
 shall not say otherwise ; and if anything could add to my 
 affection for you — but you see it would never do, it is 
 quite impossible, your father would never consent, and I 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 121 
 
 am the last person in the world who could make such a 
 proposal — you must see that. No, you must yield to all 
 our wishes, make us all happy. Let me have the pleasure 
 of telling your father that I have prevailed.' 
 
 Frank returned rather doggedly to his old formulary. 
 ' My father must do as he pleases, but I cannot speak the 
 truth, if I am required to say I like it.' 
 
 'Ah! well, you will come round in time, I know you 
 will, you are only taken by surprise, just now ; but you 
 will yield, you will see what is so much to your benefit. 
 And now I shall leave you to talk it over with your sisters.' 
 
 She sailed away, and they all felt it a relief to go out 
 into the garden. Kate was the first to speak. 
 
 ' 0, Frank, is not it horrid ?' 
 
 ' When you have never thought of anything but going 
 into the Church all your life ! ' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' I am in the (Church,' said Frank, bluntly. * 
 
 ' 0, yes, of course, in that sense,' said Emmeline ; 
 ' but you know what I mean. And you and uncle Wil- 
 loughby suit so beautifully, as Juliet says. 0, I do hope 
 you will persuade Sir Francis.' 
 
 'A very honest person you are, Miss Berners,' said 
 Frank, suddenly turning round on her. ' Prettily you are 
 doing the work you were set to do ! ' 
 
 ' But Frank, Frank, you surely did not think we should 
 be unkind enough to tease you about these foolish Guards,' 
 said Emmeline. 
 
 ' Then you had better say nothing about it,' said Frank. 
 He tried to speak in his bantering way, but not succeed- 
 ing, he next put on his churlishness. ' I can manage my 
 afiairs with my father my own way ; ' then again he failed, 
 and there was a suppressed sob in his voice as he finished. 
 * Thank you, but let me alone ; you will either be double- 
 faced or get into^a scrape if you meddle, so have nothing 
 to do with it. I can write to my uncle.' So saying, he 
 resolutely walked away from them. 
 
 They looked at each other : * Is he angry ? Is he sul- 
 len?' said Kate. 
 
 ' Oh ! no, no,' said Emmeline, whose eyes were full of 
 tears, ' it is all his goodness, poor fellow ; but I wish he 
 6 
 
122 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 would not be so cautious for us, I should like of all things 
 to get into a scrape for his sake. Come, Kate, we will 
 try if it is possible to get some comprehension of the state 
 of things into mamma's head.' 
 
 They accordingly did the very unusual thing of mak- 
 ing an inroad upon Lady Willoughby in her own room, 
 and they were thus received : ' Well, my dear Emmie, are 
 you come to pity me? I suppose I need not ask whether 
 you could do anything with him ; but I am sure you can 
 bear me witness that I said everything to him that could 
 be said.' 
 
 ' Yes, mamma,' began Emmeline. 
 
 ' Sir Francis would have me try what I could do,' con- 
 tinued Lady Willoughby, ' though I was quite certain it 
 would be of no use ; the boy knew no more what I was 
 saying than a block. You saw how it was, did not you ? ' 
 * ' i assure you, mamma, I think there_ is a great deal 
 more in Frank than you suppose.' 
 
 ' My dear Emmie, how can you say so? you see with 
 Miss Willoughby's partial eyes, I suppose ; but I assure 
 you I never saw a more clumsy, dull, heavy youth in my 
 life. I know you won't repeat this of course. But though 
 I heartily wish it was settled, because, till it is, his father 
 will let us have no peace ; it is really vexatious to think 
 what advantages will be thrown away upon him. Make 
 them over to poor little Alfred, to be sure ! the boy could 
 not have said a wiser thing, only it -is quite impossible ; 
 all the world would be thinking it was my doing.' 
 
 'I wish it could be so settled,' said Emmeline, 'for I 
 know very well Frank will never be so useful or so happy 
 anywhere as at Dumblethwayte ; he has grown up all his 
 life with the hope of being his uncle's curate, and it is 
 what he is just fit for. Indeed, mamma, he is neither 
 dull nor without feeling, and this project is giving him 
 more pain, I am sure, than you or Sir Francis can guess ; 
 so if you can do anything for him to put Sir Francis off 
 the scheme — ' 
 
 * Impossible, impossible, my dear. You don't know 
 how his mind is set on it. For my own part, as I say, the 
 boy should be welcome to do as he pleases, but it would 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 123 
 
 never do to say so to Sir Francis; and don't you, by any 
 means either, my dears. If he thought you were backing 
 up his son against him, I really can't tell what would be 
 the consequence ; we should never have any peace again.' 
 
 ' I am very sorry for Frank,' said Emmeline, with a 
 very sincere, long sigh ; and they were both leaving the 
 room, when Lady Willoughby said, ' 0, my dears, are you 
 going? I wanted you to help me to look over these collars 
 and things, to see which to have made up again.' 
 
 ' Yes, mamma,' said Kate, and stayed ; but Emmeline 
 could not bear it, and went to the drawing-room. She 
 leant out of the window, and saw Frank with his arms 
 folded, pacing slowly up and down the walks, and much 
 did she long to go and comfort him, and tell him that h<? 
 had two sisters who loved and felt with him ; and then 
 when she thought of his rejection of their sympathy, foi 
 their sake, not for his own, she saw a nobleness in it, 
 which for a moment made her heart swell as if he had been 
 a hero of romance. ' Double-faced, he said,' thought she, 
 '■ I know who is double-faced! 0, it makes my heart sick. 
 that I could still think of her as I did before her re- 
 turn ; but it is rather as if I had lost than found my 
 mother! she putting everything before Frank indeed, as 
 if Frank's was a mind to be satisfied with finery, and so- 
 ciety and London life, and the world ; what have they to 
 do with happiness ?' 
 
 What have they indeed ! but Emmeline was not right 
 in the highest sense. She viewed them only as contrasted 
 with the quiet pleasant life of Dumblethwaite parsonage, 
 and she thought she sympathized with Frank ; but deeper, 
 far deeper, was the tide of feeling that filled his heart. 
 Words, or formed thoughts, he had not, but his temper 
 was that of the young brother of St. Bernard, who, find- 
 ing himself left heir of his father's estate, when his 
 brethren entered the convent, exclaimed, ' What ! earth 
 for me, and heaven for you ? that is not fair.' When or 
 how the idea that he was to be a clergyman had first risen 
 in his mind, Frank knew not, for he could not remember 
 when he had been without it; it had grown up with him; 
 and to be worthy of the sacred calling had ever been his 
 
124 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 fondest, thoiiglit and care. His temper and tastes were in 
 themselves such as to render his father's pLans far less 
 inviting than they would have been to most other boys of 
 his age, and coming in contrast as they did with such 
 hopes as he had hitherto entertained, there was something 
 most painful in them. Then, too, came the unreasonable 
 requirement to take pleasure in the project: to submit 
 might have been possible, but of professing to like it, he 
 was incapable, and at the same time there were doubts 
 respecting what was his duty, and a dread of a certain 
 dogged suUenness of temper under contradiction, which 
 Frank well knew to be his besetting sin, though it had 
 long been so well subdued, that, heavy as his heart was, and 
 irritating as Lady Willoughby's persuasions were, not one 
 of the party could ever have made it an accusation against 
 him. 
 
 Lady Willoughby, however, in her desire for her own 
 peace, did him an important service, for when her husband 
 was beginning on the subject again in the evenings she 
 looked very winning, and said she had a proposal to make, 
 namely, that since at any rate Frank would remain till 
 Christmas at his present school, no more should be said 
 about it till that time, when Frank would have had full 
 opportunity to think about it, and make up his mind. 
 
 It was a truce which every one was willing to accept, 
 for all were tired of the question, so the next day began 
 just as usual. Frank got up his spirits again, and in grat- 
 itude to the girls for their willingness to sympathize with 
 him, did actually teach them the Grreek alphabet, laughed 
 at them more than ever, but forebore to teaze them, any 
 more about the Miss Shaws. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 125 
 
 CHAPTEK XL 
 
 The day is cold, and dark, and dreary. 
 It rains, and the wind is never weary ] 
 The vine still clings to the mouldering wall, 
 But at every gnst the dead leaves fall, 
 And the day is dark and dreary. 
 
 Longfellow. 
 
 Emmeline and Kate wore as sorry as their mother was; 
 glad when the holidays came to a conclusion ; and 
 Frank, after giving considerable praise to Kate for her 
 good behaviour to Miss Townsend, bestowed on her the 
 half-crown, and conducted her into the town to spend 
 it on the poor children whom he patronized. Moreover, 
 he left his love for Mr. Denham, finished the last 
 touches to the Tower, and put it under their charge, 
 and left them a legacy of an old Grreek Testament, 
 which by the help of an English one, Emmeline could 
 make out very well. 
 
 Thereupon Emmeline and Kate went without much 
 interruption into their strong fit of learning. It was 
 particularly convenient just at this time, for there were 
 things which they could wish to have driven out of 
 their heads. There had been less favourable accounts 
 of Lord Herbert of late, not so much that he was worse, 
 as that he was not better ; and though Constance's 
 letters were still cheerful, Lady Frances who had her 
 elder brother's report, wrote of the climate of Italy not 
 having had the hoped-for effect. The shadow of a 
 coming grief seemed to be darkening upon them from 
 
126 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 that quarter ; and nearer at hand were poor Frank's 
 perplexities, which Sir Francis would not let them 
 forget ; and the unsatisfactory light, in which they had 
 seen their mother, made Emmeline more than ever 
 willing to throw herself out of present things, and to 
 make a world for herself. 
 
 Her world of poor people had passed away ; Miss 
 Willoughby's visit had made an interruption, and the 
 sisters were unwilling to begin again, just as every one 
 is reluctant to resume a piece of work put away with a 
 mistake in it. 
 
 The Miss Shaws, Mr. Denham, the battle of the 
 Catechism, had passed out of Emmeline's thoughts, 
 and did not recur to them pleasantly; the opposition 
 had not been strong enough to make her feel herself 
 heroic and persecuted ; and Frank had left an im- 
 pression on her mind that it would have been wiser 
 not to have meddled with Mr. Hunter's parish at all. 
 Therefore they both managed to forget or miss their 
 visiting days ; they avoided the Miss Shaws, did not 
 go to school, did no poor work, and, in fact, neglected 
 all that they had imdertaken. 
 
 Very poor and tame did the ideas of teaching idle 
 children, and reading to blind old men, appear beside 
 those with which Emmeline had at present filled 
 her own head and her sister's. First came their 
 Greek, good hard satisfying work ; next, their G-erman, 
 wherein they bewildered themselves in metaphysics more 
 than ever. They translated verses and sent them to Ju- 
 liet, and delighted in Fouque's beautiful romances ; 
 thirdly, there was poetry, Tennyson's especially, to 
 which they had been introduced by Miss Willoughby ; 
 and as to the ' Princess,' it so embodied an ancient vision 
 of their own, that it perfectly enchanted them. They 
 might be said to rave about it for at least a fortnight, 
 and Kate wrote such a letter of rapture to Constance, 
 that in return she received a good natured message 
 from Lord Somerville, to ask if she had got into a 
 lime-kiln. 
 
 But above all, that was Emmeline's romance, which 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 127 
 
 she comnmnicated to Kate in full order, as far as it was 
 composed, one evening when their elders were dining out. 
 Kate, indeed, knew each idea as it had occurred, but 
 she had yet to hear them altogether and judge of their 
 effect. 
 
 It was to be a romance of the League ; the hero, 
 Olivier de Montmorency, was to be fighting in the cause 
 of Henri Quatre ; and the battle of Ivry, and the white 
 plume, were to be in some way connected with the 
 denouement, but how, was not, at present, very clear. 
 All that was as yet settled, was that a certain lovely 
 Rosalie, a great friend, and a maid of honour of Henri's 
 sister, Catherine of Navarre, was to be in the hands 
 of the Duke of Guise, imprisoned in a castle, and in 
 great danger of being married to some bloody-minded 
 individual of the house of Gruise. The Princess 
 Catherine, in despair about her, entreated in vain the 
 adventurous gallants of her brother's army to attempt 
 her rescue, but no one would be persuaded till Olivier de 
 Montmorency rose, and promised that if the princess 
 would send the Lady Rosalie a token by his hands that 
 he might be trusted, he would undertake to bring her in 
 safety. 
 
 Thereupon Olivier set off, disguised as a minstrel, 
 sung a song under the Lady Rosalie's window, unfolding 
 his purpose, gave her the token, in return for the guerdon 
 which she bestowed on him, and, in a few words, ap- 
 pointed the place, whence he undertook to carry her off. 
 In the middle of the night, Olivier was at the postern-gate 
 with two horses ; Rosalie kept her appointment, and safely 
 mounted ; but, just as they emerged from the shade of the 
 walls, and rode across a broad strip of moonlight, several 
 shots were fired from the battlements. Olivier hastened 
 the lady forward ; they rode through the wood, rode all 
 night, the knight cheering the lady, and expressing his 
 devotion to her all the time. At last they arrived, just 
 as the morning meal was commencing in all solemnity in 
 the hall ; Rosalie was aided to dismount, Olivier gave her 
 his hand, she wondered it was his left, to lead her into 
 the hall ; he led her to the princess's feet, and there 
 
128 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 sunk down and fainted, his right arm having been broken 
 by the shot from the battlements. 
 
 It was at that moment that Miss Townsend walked 
 in, having been taught to do so fearlessly, whilst 
 Frank was at home. The sisters looked blank, she 
 could see that she was not wanted ; she thought it 
 very amiable in the Miss Berners to be so perfectly hap- 
 py alone together, and resolved to disturb them no 
 more. 
 
 They did not even miss her, or know that it was past 
 her hour for coming down, the next evening, when 
 Emmeline made the first attempt at writing out the be- 
 ginning of her romance, a thing she found much more 
 easily said than done. Her fine beginnings with ' It was,' 
 would get into a tangle ; her sentences were so intermina- 
 ble, that even Kate could not find breath to get through 
 them; and her thoughts went so much faster than her 
 pen, that she had not even arrived at the commencement 
 of the conversation in which the princess was to propose 
 the adventure. 
 
 The Greek, the German, the poetry, the romance, al- 
 together absorbed Emmeline and Kate. 
 
 They used to sit in the Tower all the morning, and 
 often all the afternoon too, reading, writing, romancing, 
 impatient of interruption, and unwilling to give a minute's 
 thought or time to the despised world of life. 
 
 Their mother might reasonably speak in her plaintive 
 notes when she said they were always so engaged, that she 
 could never get them for a moment ; Sir Francis grum- 
 bled in vain, and said that he never had any music, or 
 that*he did not wish to see them learned ladies ; and as to 
 the children, who had always been used to a ready wel- 
 come and plenty of amusement in the Tower, they were 
 told to run away, for their sisters were busy. How it 
 fared with the Miss Shaws, and with the poor, has already 
 been shown ; and it was a deeper, graver, and sadder 
 question, liow it fared with Emmeline's and Kate's own 
 Bouls. 
 
 The Confirmation, with its attendant fears and hopes 
 had slipped out of their minds ; and had they interro- 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 129 
 
 gated themselves, tliey would have thought they were 
 just the same as they were last year, at school; but 
 that could scarcely be, for an opportunity had been 
 neglected, and duties were being left undone every day. 
 Last summer they were in a state of more humility and 
 obedience, and though many of their present errors 
 were owing to the want of guidance in their own family, 
 yet they were so far their own fault, as they had 
 neglected the means of grace which might have been a 
 safeguard. 
 
 This seems like harsh treatment of slight faults, but 
 the question is, not whether the faults are slight in them- 
 selves, but whether they are not the greatest that can be 
 committed under the circumstances. Emmeline and Kate 
 could hardly have done anything very bad, but they did the 
 worst they could. 
 
 For instance, Emmeline would come down to break- 
 fast in a brown study, and pay no attention to Sir 
 Francis's particular likings as to the mixture of green 
 and black in his tea ; Lady Willoughby would appear 
 towards the end of the breakfast, thinking herself nervous 
 and unwell, and wanting to be petted and made much of; 
 but Emmeline being sure it was only a fancy, would rise 
 and look restless till Kate joined her ; Miss Townscnd 
 might have a headache, or a distressing letter from home, 
 and sit in her room exerting every faculty for the chil- 
 dren, not relieved from them for one quarter of an hour, 
 not refreshed by one word of sympathizing inquiry. They 
 knew it not, but whose fault was that ? Or she was harassed 
 by some injudicious petty regulation or interference from 
 Sir Francis, which a hint might have turned aside. 
 Alfred might look in vain for the sisters who once 
 used to tell him stories ; Janet pined in secret for love 
 and notice ; Edwin was boisterous ; and Cecilia was an in- 
 terruption. Then, again. Lady Willoughby was left to 
 take her drive in solitude, while her daughters were roam- 
 ing on the sands, arranging the adventures of Olivier's 
 midnight ride ; they had no ears, when she came home, 
 to hear whom she had met, and who had bowed to her ; 
 they had settled that it was of no use to read to a person 
 6* 
 
130 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 who only went to sleep ; and as to conversation, when Sir 
 Francis came in, he found one with a book, and the other 
 with a dictionary ; and if he said, ' Now, let us be socia- 
 ble,' he was met by ' Do let us finish this.' 
 
 All these neglects would not, perhaps, happen in one 
 day ; it was sometimes their own pleasure to be at- 
 tentive to conversation ; sometimes it was agreeable to 
 play with the little boys ; and in their demeanour towards 
 their parents, gentle dispositions and good-breeding con- 
 cealed want of respect ; but none who regard this long 
 list of omissions, and recollects the pride of intellect and 
 disdain of aught but her own romantic dreams, which 
 Emmeline was fostering, can think her otherwise than in a 
 perilous state of mind. It could not go on long ; and the 
 first check was from the inconvenience of having a fire in 
 the Tower, when the mornings became cold. The house- 
 maid was cross, the chimney was crosser : the damp was 
 said to be brought out by the fire ; and what in the days 
 of Frank and Juliet was an excellent joke, was now un- 
 bearable. Emmeline and Kate were smoked out of the 
 Tower ; and Sir Olivier de Montmorency and the Lady 
 Rosalie were smoked out of existence. To do them in the 
 morning, with the chance of Sir Francis coming in, was 
 impossible. They gradually occupied less of Emmeline's 
 imagination; she ceased her researches into French his- 
 tory, and there was once more a void in her mind. 
 
 One autumn day, when the withered leaves were whirl- 
 ing in the eddying gusts of wind, Kate came into the room 
 where Emmeline was standing, pensively watching them, 
 with a book hanging from her hand. 
 
 ' Have you been waiting for me, Emmie, dear ? ' said 
 she. ' I was kept by Sir Francis. He is in a fuss about 
 the rattling of the staircase window, and he would keep 
 me to grumble to about it, till I called the housemaid to 
 stop it.' 
 
 'It is not worth while,' said Emmeline; ' it will do 
 just as well to worry about as anything else ! Oh ! dear ! ' 
 
 ' I really am afraid I have kept you too long waiting,' 
 said Kate. 
 
 * 0, no ! it is not that ; I don't know whether watching 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 131 
 
 the sere and withered leaf does not suit me better than 
 reading. I am tired of German, Kate ; I don't see the 
 use of it ; I can't care for it as Juliet does.' 
 
 ' It is a disagreeable dreary day, when one does not 
 care for anything,' said Kate, coming to the window, and 
 throwing her arm round Emmeline's waist. 
 
 ' I've been thinking of all sorts of things ! ' said Emme- 
 line. ' People might say I am too young for such thoughts 
 as those brown leaves bring, about dreariness, and loneli- 
 ness, and fading, but it seems to me that we go floating 
 and eddying about on all sorts of blasts, just like those 
 poor leaves.' 
 
 * Together at least ! ' said Kate, ' like those,' as the 
 wind brought a twig bearing twin leaves, which dashed 
 against the glass, and then were whirled off again. 
 
 * Together, oh ! yes, together,' said Emmeline, kissing 
 her. ' Yes, I must not speak of loneliness, while I am so 
 rich in my own Katie. But oh ! Kate, it is well for us 
 that we have sister's love to support us, for how forlorn 
 all would be to us but for each other.' 
 
 * Forlorn, indeed ! ' said Kate. ' 0, yes, Emmie, we 
 are all in all to each other, and these disappointments — ' 
 she sunk her voice, and looked timidly round, — ' do but 
 make us more precious to each other ! ' 
 
 Emmeline returned the caress, and was silent, while 
 Kate's head rested fondly on her shoulder. Just then, 
 she felt as Kate did, that she wanted no more, but it was 
 a passing feeling; deeply as she loved her sister, there 
 was a craving in her heart for something more, something 
 satisfying. So, when she was in good spirits, she dwelt 
 upon her original vision of that love which she thought 
 would satisfy her ; and the hero, suspected of a great 
 crime, received some very important embellishments. 
 
 Next came an unsatisfactory account of Lord Herbert ; 
 a return of cough, and of oppression on the breath, which, 
 though Constance accounted for it as ' a fresh cold,' could 
 not but be considered as very alarming. The party were 
 to spend the winter at Malta, and Emmeline's weary wish- 
 ings took the form of longing to be with them, so as to be 
 a comfort to Constance, and to see her brother-in-law's 
 kind face and bright eyes once again. 
 
132 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 She and Kate settled that Lord Liddesdale and Lad^ 
 Frances would certainly go to see Herbert, and would 
 offer to take tbciu, and they would get there just as he 
 was recovering, and enjoy themselves. But as they heard 
 of Lord Liddesdale being laid up at Rowthorpe, with a fit 
 of the gout, this charming scheme soon passed away. 
 
 The next vision was suggested by reading Miss Kava- 
 nagh's beautiful history of ' ]Madelcine.' Home cares, home 
 annoyancMjs, should all fleet away, and Emmeline and 
 Kate should be the foundresses of such an institution as 
 Madeleine's ; they would receive the sick and poor, and 
 devote themselves with their whole hearts and souls. 
 Constance, too — it was finding such a home, such an occu- 
 pation for her, as would be a sort of happiness, if their 
 fears for her husband were accomplished — they would 
 make her a sort of Lady Abbess, and cling to her, as they 
 used to do in old days. It somehow satisfied them for 
 their neglect of the poor of Herringsby, to lodge the most 
 deserving of them, in imagination, in their hospital ; and 
 it should be upon a mountain, in the free breezy air, in a 
 beautiful style of architecture, with a little chapel close to 
 it, a school for their orphans, and no Mr. Dcnham. It 
 became so real, that Emmeline and Kate counted the 
 years that had to elapse before they should both be of age, 
 and able to devote their fortunes to the purpose ; but all 
 the time they were very comfortably pleasing themselves, 
 while they were talking and dreaming of self-devotion. 
 
 It was pleasant to receive Frank from school, and the 
 fortnight before Christmas passed away without a return 
 to the dreaded subject. Sir Francis chose to give a grand 
 children's party, though his lady, in secret, disliked and 
 dreaded it so much, that she would have made Lord Her- 
 bert's illness an excuse for getting rid of it, but for an in- 
 vitation to a dinner-party the next day. 
 
 It would probably have been as great a nuisance to the 
 sisters as to her, had not Frank warmly taken up the prep- 
 aration, worked very hard, and made helping agreeable to 
 them. He managed that the Miss Shaws, who never went 
 to regular parties, should be asked to this one, and took 
 the two girls and little Alfred with him to give the invita- 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 133 
 
 tion. The good ladies were highly pleased, and as kind 
 as ever ; but not a word was said about the school. 
 
 The party went olF well, and there was a certain seren- 
 ity about that Christmas-tide, of which Emmeline was 
 conscious when it was over. Frank made her and Kate, 
 and sometimes Alfred, go with him to the Saint's-day ser- 
 vices, at eleven o'clock, and afterwards they had some de- 
 lightful frosty walks. He could not help talking, more 
 than once, of the Christmas delights of Dumblethwayte, 
 where his heart evidently was, as much as ever ; and but 
 for his always changing the subject if ever the girls tried 
 to learn his plans, it would have seemed that the question 
 of the last holidays were entirely forgotten. 
 
 It was not however long to remain so. One morning, 
 Frank came into the drawing-room, and as Kate made 
 some observation, replied with a churlish grunt, which 
 caused Emmeline to look up, and observe a cloud on his 
 face. He threw himself down in an arm-chair, and held 
 up the newspaper before him, but only continued in this 
 manner for a couple of moments, then springing up, said, 
 ' Don't you want me for some of your Greek nonsense ? ' 
 
 They were too glad of the opportunity, and he had 
 never been a pleasanter master than on that day. Homer 
 proceeded more prosperously than he had ever yet done, 
 and they were all laughing together when Sir Francis 
 came in, and in the very sound of his shutting the door, 
 Emmeline perceived that he was in a fume. 
 
 * Very merry you all seem here ! ' said he, with an 
 angry look at his son, and certainly the merriment did 
 not continue. Frank bit his lip, his forehead contracted 
 for an instant, and then expanded, and he went on looking 
 out a word in the lexicon. 
 
 ' So you are resolved to go poring on with your 
 learning ! ' said Sir Francis to Kate, in a tone that was 
 meant to be civil, but which was full of annoyance, 
 ' nothing but books all day long for any of you. Why, 
 the room is full of books,' said he, glancing at the sofa, 
 where grammars and dictionaries were lying heaped 
 together. 
 
 Frank saying in a low voice to Emmeline, ' Do you 
 want any more of these ? ' began to gather them up. 
 
134 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' I don't want to be treated like a tyrant, sir,' said his 
 father. ' I want none of this submission, as if I was not 
 to be spoken to — I don't want to interfere with your 
 sister's pursuits — it is submission I want. Where is your 
 mother, Emmeline ? ' 
 
 ' In her room,' answered Emmeline, who thought he 
 might have known this without coming to disturb them, 
 and away he went. 
 
 For her life, Kate could not have helped saying, 
 * Oh ! Frank, has he begun about it again ? ' 
 
 ' Yes,' said or rather sighed Frank, and a silence 
 ensued. 
 
 ' You said the same as before ? ' asked Kate at last. 
 
 ' I don't know what else to say,' said Frank, with a 
 deep sigh. ' I can't say what is not true, and I can't 
 help it.' 
 
 ' I wish I knew what was to be done ! ' said Emmeline, 
 sorrowfully. 
 
 ' But do you dislike it so very much, Frank ? ' said 
 Kate. 
 
 ' I — what should I do — stuck up in London like an 
 ape in a scarlet coat, with nothing to do but to be a fine 
 gentleman ? But, however, that's not the point,' said 
 Frank, recalling himself; 'if that was all, I suppose I 
 could bring my mind to find something tolerable in it — at 
 any rate I should be quit of an awful lot of Latin and 
 Greek — but 'tis the being obliged to say one likes it 
 better than the other. But it is of no use to talk about 
 it. I shall go and see if Alfred has done his lessons, and 
 take him out for a walk.' 
 
 From this time, if the argument itself was not per- 
 petually going on, the efi"ect on Sir Francis's temper 
 was. Frank could say or do nothing but what was 
 displeasing ; cheerfulness provoked him, silence was 
 supposed to be sullenness, obligingness was hypocrisy. 
 He was called perverse, obstinate, ungrateful, and, worse 
 than all. Sir Francis took to calling himself a fool for 
 having allowed him to spend his holidays at Dumble- 
 thwayte, and, in unmeasured terms, found fault with 
 those views which he believed to be at the bottom of 
 Frank's opposition. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 135 
 
 Emraeline and Kate used to grow very a,ngry, and 
 long to say something — for all this was almost as much 
 against Lord Herbert as against Mr. Willoughby — but 
 they never dared ; they could only watch Frank anxiously, 
 and sympathize with him in their hearts, though he would 
 not let them do so outwardly. 
 
 How he bore it was to them a perfect marvel, worried 
 as he was about whatever he did, and whatever he did 
 not do ; and they did not guess at half of the pain which 
 this occasioned him — how much more his deeper sense of 
 reverence suffered from these sayings of his father, how 
 much more strong his feeling was for the blame cast upon 
 his uncle, how grievous were the doubts whether he was 
 failing in duty, or which was the superior duty. Besides, 
 Frank had not naturally the sweet buoyant temper that 
 can throw off vexation, and scarce feel it, except at the 
 moment, and had he given way to his impulse, he would 
 hardly have done anything but sit brooding over his 
 provocations, or repaying unkindness with sullen silence ; 
 but so carefully did he guard against this disposition, that 
 it never appeared except in a sort of constraint in his 
 voice, when forced to speak in answer to some soft 
 persuasion of Lady "Willoughby, or to some annoying 
 reproach of his father. 
 
 He was always ready to interest himself in their 
 pursuits ; he played with the children, told Alfred what 
 he would have to do at school, kept Kate up to her good 
 behaviour to Miss Townsend, and though he did not make 
 fun on his own account as usual, he was always ready 
 with some quaint answer. 
 
 It was one Sunday afternoon, towards the beginning 
 of February, that an almost forgotten subject was recalled 
 to Emmeline and Kate, by hearing Mr. Brent give notice 
 of a Confirmation, to be held soon after Easter, desiring 
 the candidates to come to him in the intermediate time 
 for preparation. 
 
 ' Well, I am glad of that,' said Frank, as he walked 
 home with Emmeline. ' I was getting ashamed of you 
 two.' 
 
 ' Should you be more ashamed if I told you I was 
 rather sorry ? ' said Emmeline. 
 
136 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' I am ashamed that you don't know any better,' said 
 Frank. 
 
 * I don't think it is so much knowing as feeling,' said 
 Erameline, sadly. 
 
 ' Feeling goes for nothing,' said Frank. 
 
 * So people say,' answered Emmeline ; ' but all I can 
 feel is that I am very much afraid, more so now than last 
 year.' 
 
 ' And so you will go on getting more afraid every year 
 of your life, the longer you put it off. But luckily you 
 can't do that.' 
 
 ' No, because no one else does, but that makes it 
 worse. I can't bear the thought of doing such a thing 
 only because it is the fashion.' 
 
 ' If it does other people good, why should it not do it 
 to you ? ' 
 
 ' It is a foolish question, perhaps a wrong one,' said 
 Emmeline, ' but I should really like to hear some one say 
 they knew it had done them good individually.' 
 
 ' One must believe it, not only feel,' said Frank. 
 
 ' Take it on trust ? I don't like that always.' 
 
 ' You ought, then,' said Frank, and there was a silence, 
 as if he had done with the subject. But presently, while 
 Emmeline was feeling discontented, and wondering if he 
 thought very ill of her, he said, in an odd blunt way, ' I 
 want to make you see it and wish it, Emmie, and I don't 
 know how. Will it do you any good, I wonder, to tell 
 you what I think of it myself ? ' 
 
 ' 0, pray do,' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' Well, then, I don't know or remember how much I 
 felt or cared about my Confirmation at the time, a great 
 deal too little, considering all the pains that were taken 
 with me, but this I do know, that I should be a dozen 
 times worse than I am now without it — and as to getting 
 through all this — this fuss, this affair — I — I am quite 
 sure I could not do it at all.' 
 
 ' Only being confirmed ! ' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' No ; you know what more I mean. You can't get 
 on without that — in or out of trouble, so I only hope you 
 won't dawdle out of Confirmation again. If you are 
 afraid now, you will be ashamed another time.' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 137 
 
 ' But Frank, is not that — I beg your pardon, for I am 
 sure you are right — but is not that putting one's trust in 
 forms and ordinances ? ' 
 
 ' Stuff, Emmie, you learnt that of the Miss Shaws, I 
 suppose. No more than it is for the beggar to ring the 
 bell at the gate. I should not have expected that of a 
 person who stands up for the Catechism. It is not all, 
 but if it can't be without it, it is the means, as the 
 Catechism says, and that's it.' 
 
 Emmeline thought, and the confused words penetrated 
 her understanding. She was silent for soma time, and 
 tlien said, ' It certainly will be a great pity if you are not 
 a Clergyman.' 
 
 ' Never mind,' said Frank. 
 
 She told Kate what had passed, adding that Frank 
 seemed so much in earnest, that she thought his blundering 
 way would go further than many more clear and lucid 
 statements ; but they agreed in a great dread of going to 
 Mr. Brent, and hoped that he would allow their old 
 Confirmation- tickets to serve without a second examina- 
 tion. 
 
 On Monday morning the girls were surprised by the 
 entrance of Sir Francis, looking more amiable than for a 
 long time past. 
 
 ' Well, my dears,' said he, ' you must give me joy — 
 you must give the young guardsman joy — he has come to 
 his senses at last — given up his nonsense, and now all is 
 right ! ' 
 
 Emmeline opened her eyes wide in consternation, she 
 was very sorry that Frank should have yielded to per- 
 secution. Kate's first idea was on the contrary, that the 
 torment was over, and her ' Indeed ! ' was therefore a 
 pleased one. 
 
 ' Yes, he has yielded, and with a good grace at last,' 
 said Sir Francis. ' I was sure when he had seen a little 
 more of the world, and knew what my proposal was, he 
 never could stick to that boyish fancy ; all very well for 
 a boy who had never looked beyond the hills of Dumble- 
 thwayte, but we know better what is worth having now. 
 don't we, Katie ? ' 
 
138 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 Lady Willougliby here came down, and she kissed 
 Frank as she told him that she was so rejoiced, but that 
 she had been sure from the first that his affectionate 
 nature would yield to their united wishes. 
 
 To which Frank answered. ' Thank you, ma'am,' and 
 then Sir Francis proceeded to orate on the steps he was 
 going to take. 
 
 Emmeline was decidedly vexed, and as soon as she left 
 the breakfast-room, throwing herself down on the sofa in 
 the drawing-room, began to exclaim to herself that con- 
 stancy was; not in man. 
 
 Kate came in about ten minutes after, and with her 
 came Frank. Had the conversation depended on Frank 
 or Emmeline, not one word would have been said, but 
 Kate, more curious and venturesome in her sympathy, 
 was the first to say, ' 0, Frank ! ' and there stopped. 
 
 ' 0, Frank ! ' said Emmeline, and she, too, stopped. 
 
 'Well,' said Frank, as if he would fain have smiled 
 
 ' You have given it up ! ' said Kate. 
 
 * Yes, I suppose — ' he leant against the window, and 
 spoke low — ' I suppose I was not good enough.' 
 
 ' But what did you say ?' continued Kate. 
 
 ' I said I would try to like it, and 1 had no doubt I 
 should in time.' 
 
 Emmeline watched him intently, but as his face was 
 against the window, she could see nothing but part of a 
 very red cheek and ear. 
 
 ' We shall be comfortable now,' said Kate. 
 
 ' That was not your reason, though,' cried Emmeline, 
 springing up, ' was it, Frank ? You would never have 
 yielded to persecution.' 
 
 ' Nonsense about persecution,' said Frank, gruffly. 
 
 ' But you yielded because you thought it right.' 
 
 ' I've no business to hold out against my father,' said 
 he, and walked off. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS, 139 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 At sultry evening's fall, 
 The gorgeous lines be duly shewn, 
 
 That weave Heaven's wondrous pall ; 
 Calm be his sleep whose eyelids close 
 
 Upon so fair a sight. 
 
 LyKA iNNOCENTniM. 
 
 For the first few days after Frank bad come to his de- 
 cision, there was universal satisfaction, and even Emme- 
 line could not help being sensible of the great relief from 
 Sir Francis'"s ill humor. 
 
 There was a good deal of occupation too, of another 
 kind ; Alfred was going to school, and preparations made 
 them all very busy. 
 
 His father took him to school, and afterwards went on 
 with Frank to London, to make his proposed arrangements, 
 and it was not till then, that Emmeline had leisure for a 
 great fit of weariness and craving ; she rather believed at 
 present that it was for Constance. There was good reason 
 for thinking much of Constance, for the accounts of Lord 
 Herbert were unfavorable, and there seemed to be so much 
 present suffering, that willing as the sisters were to close 
 their eyes to the danger, they could not but be much 
 grieved. 
 
 The gloom did not disperse when Sir Francis and his 
 son returned ; Frank was graver and more at a loss for 
 occupation, as if the interest of his life had been taken 
 uway. He wrote often to his uncle, but Emmeline and 
 Kate soon found that he could not speak of Dumble* 
 
»^tO THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 tliwayte, and though he walked with them as good- 
 naturedly as ever, he would sometimes go three parts of 
 the way in absolute silence, or sit with the newspaper be- 
 fore him half the morning without speaking ; and as on 
 these occasions he seemed best pleased when the girls 
 were practising their music, they played much more than 
 they had done for some time. 
 
 Pie, however, was doing his best to give his mind to 
 his destined profession ; he listened and answered cheer- 
 fully when his father discoursed about it, and of his own 
 accord, asked Kate if she should dislike the trouble of 
 teaching him French. She was delighted to consent, and 
 a very slow scholar she found him ; and the marvellous 
 attempts he made to pronounce the French words, which 
 he began by reading just like Latin, were the cause of 
 laughter, which did them all good. Also he brought out 
 his mathematics, of which Emmeline and Kate, whose 
 school had taught everything, just understood so much 
 that they, being clever girls, could soon surpass a boy who 
 was far from clever ; and as they took it up keenly, all 
 three launched into Euclid together, with great satisfac- 
 tion, Emmeline rushing on from proposition to proposition, 
 fancying she understood all, but often ' brought up,' as 
 Frank called it, when obliged to make things clear to 
 him. Those were by no means unpleasant hours that 
 they spent together over triangles, circles, and parallel 
 lines, though they generally ended in extensive yawns. 
 
 All might have done very well, and Frank's own ener- 
 getic spirit would surely have soon made him happy, but it 
 soon appeared that even his sacrifice had not contented 
 his father. It has already been said, that Sir Francis 
 fancied those religious views which he found so much 
 more prevalent in England than previously, had been the 
 cause of his son's reluctance to fulfil his wishes ; and, 
 instead of being indifferent to them, or treating them with 
 a sort of dignified superiority, as before, in the case of 
 Lord Herbert, he began to rail against them, as exempli- 
 fied in the masters of Frank's school, and in Mr. Brent. 
 Very painful things did he both say and do, and to hear 
 him approach the subject was dreaded by all the threo 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 141 
 
 young people ; Mr. Brent's manner of conducting the 
 service, his daily prayers, and weekly Communions, were 
 all matters of reprobation, especially when Lent began, 
 and the services were more frequent. 
 
 Worse than all, he began to regard Frank's constant 
 attendance on these ordinances as a perverse clinging to 
 his former intentions ; and Emmeline saw, Sunday after 
 Sunday, with a sort of terror, how his face darkened when 
 Frank and Miss Townsend were left in Church. The 
 daily morning service was so early, as to remove Frank's 
 attendance from his notice ; but on several occasions, 
 when it was later, he had shown considerable annoyance. 
 Once he said to him, ' Remember, you are not a parson 
 now, Frank ! ' another time, ' Sticking to the old shop 
 still ! ' or, ' Always at it ! ' 
 
 Emmeline was sure a storm was gathering, and won- 
 dered whether Frank, whom she considered as having 
 once given away, would still be firm. One fine bright 
 Wednesday towards the latter part of March, Kate and 
 Frank were gone to Church, when Sir Francis came into 
 the drawing-room hastily asking for Frank. 
 
 ' He is gone out with Kate,' she said, 
 
 ' You need not try to mince matters,' said: Sir Fran- 
 cis; ' to Church, I suppose? ' 
 
 Then followed what sounded to Emmeline so like 
 what school-children call a bad word, that she felt her 
 colour flush and go away again, in horror. 
 
 ' It shall not go on ! it shall not ! ' proceeded Sir 
 Francis, as he hastily opened the drawers of the table, 
 and shut them up again with a violent noise. ' I'll make 
 him know that I am to be obeyed, heart and soul, as well 
 as outwardly. Did you ever see anything more perverse, 
 more ungrateful, than that boy, after all I have done for 
 him, after pretending to give up this absurd notion, after 
 I have talked to him till I am sick of it, to be going after 
 that Church — that Church for ever — and that Brent, with 
 his new-fangled fancies — when he knows my opinion ? I 
 tell you, Emmeline, it is perverseness, pure perverseness, 
 and that is the reason I have no patience with it ! Just 
 tell me, did you ever hear of the boy in your life that 
 
142 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 would go to Church when ho could help it ? No, no ; 'tis 
 nothing on earth but obstinacy, and he shall see if I will 
 suffer it. I am sure the plague, the disappointment that 
 young fellow has been to me — ' 
 
 Emmeline, though not venturing to say a word, was 
 rejoiced to be the receiver of his wrath, since she knew 
 that it was often exhausted in this manner before the 
 actual subject came in his way, nor was she on this oc- 
 casion mistaken ; a visitor luckily came, and stayed to 
 luncheon, and his displeasure had passed away before the 
 family were alone together. 
 
 This was, however, only the first clap of thunder ; the 
 next followed on Lady-Day, when the service being longer 
 than they had expected, they did not return till the 
 luncheon bell had actually rung. 
 
 The girls ran up in haste, threw off their bonnets, and 
 came down again, but before they reached the foot of the 
 stairs they heard Sir Francis's voice. Emmeline would 
 almost have turned back, but Kate pressed on, and they 
 entered the dining-room. Frank stood by the fire, his 
 elbow on the mantel-piece, and resting his forehead on his 
 hand, while his father, leaning back in his chair, and 
 almost stammering with passion, was pouring out a whole 
 torrent of reproaches against his brother, Mr. Brent and 
 his whole system, as well as against Frank. 
 
 Frank stood the whole time in the same attitude, till 
 his father, having stormed on for a considerable time, at 
 last began to find fault with his silence, and called on him 
 to answer. 
 
 Then he looked up, and said, ' I don't know how.' 
 
 ' Don't pretend not to know what I expect,' said his 
 father. ' Obedience is what I require.' 
 
 ' Then, sir, I am sorry to say I cannot obey you in 
 this.' 
 
 * Frank, my dear boy ! ' said Lady AVilloughby ; ' now, 
 Sir Francis, I do beg you will let us have a little con- 
 versation together.' 
 
 ' Not a bit of use,' said Sir Francis, ' he is as obstinate 
 as a mule ; feels no more what I have done for him 
 than—' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 143 
 
 ' I am sure,' said Lady Willoughby, actually taking the 
 trouble to rise, ai:)proacb Frank, and take bis band, ' I am 
 sure be is actuated by tbe best of motives, and tbat on 
 reflection, a little over-scrupulousness must give way to 
 your wishes. These scenes are so very trying to one's 
 feelings ! ' added she, with tears in her eyes, ' and we 
 know already how dear Frank can sacrifice bis own wishes 
 to ours.' 
 
 Frank drew bis hand from hers, and raised his head ; 
 ' I gave up my wishes then,' said he, 'because they were 
 only wishes ; I cannot give up my duty.' 
 
 ' Your duty ! ' e^Lclaimed Sir Francis ; ' and do you 
 pretend to stand there and tell me I am no judge of your 
 duty ? I should think your uncle at least might have 
 taught you to obey your father ; but I suppose that is not 
 a part of your new-fashioned doctrine ! ' 
 
 All Kate's fears could not keep her from exclaiming, 
 O, Sir Francis ! recollect what he has given up.' 
 
 ' Given up ! As if a curacy of sixty pounds a-year 
 was a sacrifice to be thrown in my face in the place of 
 what I would do for him ! I hate such hypocrisy and 
 ingratitude ! Hankering after it all the time, as if it was 
 on purpose to provoke me.' 
 
 ' I have done my best, as you know, to do as you wish,' 
 said Frank, ' and honestly, I am much obliged to you, 
 and can look forward to the plan with some pleasure 
 now.' 
 
 * You hear him ! There are all the thanks he gives me 
 for what any other youth would have gone down on his 
 knees to his father to do for him ! It makes me sick to 
 bear it ! ' 
 
 ' I am very sorry, Sir,' said Frank, ' that you — ' 
 
 ' Sorry ; well then, show it. Deeds, not words ! ' 
 
 ' Then, Sir, I must say again, and once for all,' said 
 Frank, speaking more readily than Emmeline thought he 
 could have done, ' that you do not know what you are 
 doing in requiring me to give these things up. I have 
 been brought up to know that if I yielded this to you, I 
 should be doing wrong, and soon should do worse. If I 
 have said what was wrong ; if I have given you reason to 
 
144 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 think mc ungrateful, or obstinate, I beg your pardon ; I 
 do not mean to be so, and I am very sorry for any suUen- 
 ness I may have sho^Yn, but this I cannot give up.' 
 
 There was a silence when Frank had ceased speaking ; 
 even Sir Francis did not reply for some moments, and 
 Frank was emboldened to step nearer to him, and hold- 
 ing out his hand, to say, ' Then you forgive me ? ' 
 
 ' Foolery, sir ! ' said Sir Francis, pushing away his 
 hand indignantly. ' You think to stop my mouth with 
 sermons and hypocrisy, do you ? but I'll have none of it. 
 I wash my hands of you. You may go off to your uncle, 
 and have done with it, if you have no better submission 
 than this.' 
 
 Angrily shoving his chair back from the table, Sir 
 Francis left the room by one door ; Frank turned, and 
 with equal precipitation, departed by the other ; Lady 
 Willoughby sat and cried, and said these scenes were so 
 distressing to her feelings, and she wished Sir Francis 
 and his son would settle their disputes by themselves. 
 There never would be any peace while Frank was in the 
 house, and her nerves would never recover it. Emmeline, 
 who knew it was useless to attempt to talk reason to her, 
 soothed her as well as she could. Kate consoled her for 
 the coldness of the untasted luncheon, and after persuad- 
 ing her to eat and drink as usual, saw her go to dress for 
 her drive, and promised to send the nurse, with little 
 Cecilia, to go out with her. 
 
 * And now, what shall we do ? ' asked Kate of her 
 sister. 
 
 '0, I don't know, I don't feel much in tune for 
 anything; I wonder what poor Frank has done with 
 himself.' 
 
 ' Miss Townsend asked me,' said Kate, ' whether we 
 should dislike taking Edwin out with us this afternoon. 
 She said Janet was so uncomfortable with her cold, which 
 means fretful, I suppose, that she did not like to leave 
 her.' 
 
 ' Yes, very well,' said Emmeline. ' It will be rather a 
 comfort, for there is no pleasure in talking or thinking of 
 anything.' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. l45 
 
 Accordingly Edwin was called, and delighted by hear- 
 ing that he was to go down to the beach with his sisters. 
 Just as they were setting off, he saw Frank, with his arms 
 folded, pacing up and down the garden walks. 
 
 ' May not Frank come too ? ' asked the little fellow. 
 
 ' yes, if he likes,' said Emmeline, ' only take care, 
 Edwin dear, perhaps he had rather not be interrupted.' 
 
 But though Edwin had long since learnt that sister 
 Emmie did not like interruption, it was a lesson which he 
 had never been taught by brother Frank, so he bounded 
 across the green to him, pulled down his hand, and told 
 him, ' Sisters and I are going down to the sea, and you 
 must come too.' 
 
 ' Must I,' said Frank, letting himself be pulled on. 
 * "Why, Eddy, you go at me like a wild horse.' 
 
 Edwin took up the idea, and instantly became an 
 imaginary wild horse, with great tossings of the head and 
 kickings of the heels. 
 
 Frank joined them, without one word on his troubles , 
 and by general consent they all gave themselves up to 
 amuse little Edwin. They raced, they skipped, they ran 
 on for Edwin to catch them, they were his horses, his 
 hounds, his elephants or his camels. 
 
 None of them, ftnd Frank least of all, had quite left 
 childhood behind them, and the glory of the sunny spring 
 day shed itself over them, as it did over their little com- 
 panion, or over the birds and flowers, in free, careless, un- 
 thinking glee. There was the blue sky overhead, the sun 
 sliining as if it would set everything in enamel, the broad 
 white sands spread out, the blue capes, clearer than ever 
 they had seen them before, stretching far away in the dis- 
 tance ; the glorious sea, with its tracts of different-tinted 
 lights, the little rippling waves each tipped with gold, the 
 white line of breaking waves on the coast — how could any 
 one be sad in such a scene ? Edwin stretched out both 
 his arms and fairly laughed aloud, and either at him, or 
 from the same feeling, the others laughed too — Frank and 
 Kate first, and then Emmeline, though she wondered more 
 at them and at herself, and while she gave herself up like 
 them to the ' abando?i^ of complete enjoyment, it was with 
 
146 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 the feeling ' I will be a silly child for once in my life ! ' 
 They found a cove some way on, quite shut in with rocks, 
 and which they had all to themselves, and there they 
 looked for shells ; they found sea-anemones in the pools 
 under the rocks, and made them shut and expand ; they 
 played each other tricks with long pieces of wet sea-weed, 
 they ran after the waves, and, finally, united their efforts 
 to raise a grand castle of sand, as earnestly as if it was 
 the one great purpose of their lives. 
 
 Too happy were they to take any note of time, till just 
 as a tall flag was planted on the summit of the castle, and 
 Edwin was clapping his hands in delight, Emmeline looked 
 up, and exclaimed, ' How fast the tide is coming in.' 
 
 ' "We shall have a race with it,' said Frank. ' Come, 
 Edwin, that must do.' 
 
 The waves were, in fact, advancing very fast, and 
 there was but a narrow space left between them and the 
 projecting promontory of rock which formed the boundary 
 of the little bay. 
 
 ' Frank,' said the little boy, 'just let me see that 
 great wave knock down the tower.' 
 
 * No, no, Eddy,' said Emmeline, beginning to get into 
 a fright, * we shan't get home to-night, if we stop now. 
 Come along — ' • 
 
 'Here, give me your hand,' said Frank; 'lot Katie 
 and Frank swing you along fast — there ! ' 
 
 They drew him on fast — faster ; Emmeline could 
 scarcely keep up with them, for her breath grew tight 
 under a sensation of terror, at the thought that this was 
 but the first of a series of such coves, which must be 
 passed, ere they could reach the place where the path led 
 upwards from the beach. The space which had appeared 
 so short when they had trodden it just before, now spread 
 itself out into an interminable length ; and there were 
 the waves rolling nearer and nearer, and spreading out a 
 whole field of water in front, as if in eagerness to take 
 possession of the fast lessening sand. They reached the 
 rocks, the sand before them had already been once cov- 
 ered, and tliey were obliged to run fast while the wave 
 was retreating. Kate gasped with fear and want of breath 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 147 
 
 Edwin said he was tired, and Frank took him in his arms, 
 while the sisters in silence locked their hands fast together. 
 
 On they went without a word — the rocks which they 
 were next to pass, did not project equally far ; but before 
 they could reach them, the sea had won the race, and a 
 wave had already broken against the farthest advanced. 
 
 Now there was an interval, while the third, the most 
 resolute wave, was gathering its force — Frank looked at 
 the girls ; ' There is time,' he said ; ' don't hurry too 
 much.' And he hastened on through the shallow water 
 steadily — they followed closely, feeling the danger a real- 
 ity indeed as the waters rose above their shoes. 
 
 They were on dry sand again, within another such 
 little bay; but here Frank first stood still, then faced 
 about, and looked at them, and they perceived, with a 
 thrill such as they could never forget, that it was bound- 
 ed on the other side by a very far projecting wall of rock, 
 against the outer end of which the waves were already 
 dashing and rebounding in white spray. 
 
 ' 0, Frank, Frank ! ' exclaimed Kate. 
 
 ' Hush ! ' said Frank. ' Perhaps there is some way 
 of climbing up.' 
 
 And -setting his little brother down, he was running 
 to what ajDpeared the most practicable part, when Edwin 
 screamed out, ' 0, Frank, don't go away.' 
 
 Frank stepped back, ' No, Edwin, I won't ; I want to 
 try if we can get home over that great rock,' said he, in 
 the same quiet, good-natured tone he always used with 
 the children, and Edwin seemed satisfied to remain, hold- 
 ing Kate's hand. They breathlessly watched, as Frank, 
 raising himself, clambering, twisting, and seeming some- 
 times to hang upon but one hand, mounted the slippery 
 rock. It did not last long, he soon swung himself down 
 again, and tried another place, and another, but with 
 equally ill success, and at last he came back to them, 
 shaking his head, and looking at his watch. They had 
 been obliged, while watching him, to retreat some space 
 from the waves, giving ground almost unconsciously ; and 
 now that they looked back, it was fearful to see how much 
 smaller was the space of sand behind them, than when 
 they had first entered their ever-narrowing prison. 
 
148 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 'Where is high-water mark?' said Emmelinc, speak- 
 ing for the first time. 
 
 They looked round, but there was no portion of the 
 sand that did not appear to have been recently covered, 
 and there was a fringe of sea-weeds at the very foot of the 
 rocks. 
 
 ' I am sure I have seen this cove full of water ! ' said 
 Kate. 
 
 There came a silence upon them all. Emmeline looked, 
 as if fascinated, at the curling waves, which rolled over 
 and dashed into foam with a monotonous sound, advancing 
 steadily and surely. Kate was even obliged to draw her 
 out of the way, when the sand on which she had been 
 standing was overflowed. 
 
 ' I want to go home,' said Edwin, breaking the silence. 
 
 ' I am afraid we cannot just yet,' said Frank. * We 
 must wait till the water will let us go.' 
 
 'Are you frightened?' said Edwin, looking up at 
 Kate's face. • ' I am not,' and then he suddenly threw his 
 arm around her waist, and hid his face in her dress. 
 
 Kate put her arm round his neck, and embraced him 
 fast; Emmeline then spoke — ' When will it be full tide ?' 
 
 ' Not for two hours — it has to rise a great deal higher 
 yet,' said Frank. 
 
 ' Can nothing be done 1 ' said Emmeline. ' Will no- 
 body hear us ? ' 
 
 ' I had not thought of that,' said Frank, and he shouted 
 as loud as he could several times ; but no sound was heard 
 in answer, except the dull dash of the ruthless sea. 
 
 ' Could not we climb a little way at least?' said Em- 
 meline ; ' we might be out of — ' Her voice failed, and 
 she could not say of the waves. 
 
 ' A little way,' said Frank; ' there is nothing else to 
 be done.' 
 
 They looked round for the best spot. At the inner- 
 most part of the bay, the rocks rose not only in a perfect 
 wall, but slightly inclining forward, so that that side was 
 perfectly hopeless ; but where Frank had made his pre- 
 vious attempts on the projecting boundary of the cove, the 
 rocks were more broken, and here they resolved to make 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 149 
 
 the attempt. It was high time, for the water was already 
 at their feet ; but such was the steepness of the rocks, 
 that the girls would have thought it at any other time 
 perfectly impossible to mount them. Frank first showed 
 Kate how to raise herself, and pushed her up, till she 
 found herself on the top of the first rock ; next he lifted 
 Edwin up, she received him in her arms, and placed him 
 securely; and then Emmeline, lifted by Frank, and drag- 
 ged by Kate, was lodged by her side on the narrow slip- 
 pery ledge, where she could hardly stand. Lastly, Frank 
 mounted, and by grappling with his hands, and dragging 
 himself up with his knees, managed to gain another eleva- 
 tion, up which he again succeeded in pulling them, and 
 then by another giddy feat of climbing, and by writhing 
 round a sharp projecting rock, they gained the summit of 
 a tolerably large flat stone, where there was standing-room 
 for all. It was hardly five yards above the beach, and a 
 sheer precipice rose straight above them, which even a 
 fowler could scarce dream of scaling. The hue of the 
 rock, and the little pools that remained in the crevices, 
 showed that they were not yet out of reach of their enemy. 
 
 ' Here we come to a stand still,' said Frank. 
 
 ' Is there no more to be done ? ' said Emmeline. 
 
 He shook his head in silence, then raised his voice and 
 shouted again ; but the cry of the sea-gull was the only 
 reply. 
 
 ' We must sit down here and wait,' said he, calmly. 
 
 Emmeline was not sorry to sit down, chilly as it was, 
 for her breath was gone, her heart throbbing, and her 
 limbs trembling. She and Kate crouched down, half sit- 
 ting, half reclining, leaning against each other, with their 
 arms interlaced, and they drew Edwin to rest between 
 them and the rock, in what was almost a comfortable cor- 
 ner. Frank was further out, nearer the edge of the preci- 
 pice beneath them. 
 
 Not a word had passed between them as to the danger, 
 yet they felt what was in each other's mind, and no one 
 broke the silence till little Edwin spoke : ' Miss Townsend 
 and Janet don't think where I am.' 
 
 It made Emmeline shiver, so unconsciously dii it echo 
 
150 THE CASTLG BUILDERS. 
 
 her feeling how little their danger was suspected at home, 
 how their mother was probably returning from her drive, 
 and Sir Francis reading the paper, without guessing that 
 their children were watching death slowly advancing on 
 them, without a hand stretched out to help them. 
 
 Kate bent down and kissed the little fellow's forehead, 
 and wondered how far he understood his situation ; then 
 a thought like his came across her. and she murmured, '0, 
 mamma ! 0, poor Constance ! ' 
 
 Frank had all this time been looking out intently on 
 the sea ; but on hearing this exclamation, he turned and 
 looked at his sisters, and marking their trembling lips and 
 frightened eyes, he said, ' Shall I read something ? ' He 
 took his little Prayer-Book from his waistcoat pocket, and 
 uncovering his head, read, in a low solemn tone, strangely 
 accompanied by the surging rush of the waves, the prayer 
 to be used at Sea, beginning with, ' most glorious and 
 gracious Grod — ' 
 
 The girls clasped their hands more tightly together. 
 In their lives never had they so followed any prayer. 
 
 When it was over, Emmeline repeated, ' The living — 
 the living — oh ! if I do but live — ' and there she stopped. 
 
 ' You will not put off the Confirmation any longer,' 
 said Frank, eagerly. 
 
 ' no, no,' said Emmeline, * if — if — ' 
 
 ' Call again, Frank,' said Kate. 
 
 Frank hallooed again, but all in vain. 
 
 ' But Frank,' said little Edwin, leaning forward to look 
 at him, ' tell me, Frank, are we going to be drowned ? ' 
 
 A silence of horror came over the sisters at that word ; 
 but Frank's answer was not long in coming. 
 
 ' I cannot tell, Edwin ; it is as God pleases.' 
 
 ' I saw a little dog drowned,' said Edwin, with a sort 
 of composure that nearly set Kate off in a hysterical 
 laugh ; ' its hair was all wet, and out long — I don't want 
 to be like that.' 
 
 Emmeline was not wrong, in thinking that Frank did 
 actually smile as he said, ' Edwin, you are not like the 
 little dog.' 
 
 * I've got a soul ! ' said Edwin. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 151 
 
 ' Yes, and only think wliat your soul will go and see. 
 Don't you remember ? ' 
 
 Edwin tumbled and scrambled across his sisters at the 
 imminent danger of upsetting them, and said, ' Tell me 
 about it ! ' And Frank in a low half-whispering voice, 
 scarcely audible, gave partly in his own words, partly in 
 those of Scripture, some of the glorious descriptions in the 
 Book of Revelations, whilst little Edwin listened intently. 
 
 Suddenly he broke upon Frank's speech with the ex- 
 clamation, ' Look, there is a path of glory ! ' and Emme- 
 line, raising her eyes, saw the declining sun reflected in the 
 water in a long line of dazzling light. 
 
 Frank saw it too, and the sunlight seemed to have 
 bathed his countenance and hair, as he sat with his face 
 turned westward, looking intently, as he had done all 
 along, as if he saw something far beyond the horizon-line 
 of pale shimmering light. His answer was to begin the 
 ninety-third Psalm : ' The Lord is King, and hath put on 
 glorious apparel ! ' 
 
 ' But I don't like to go,' said Edwin, when the Psalm 
 was finished, * without Alfred, or Janet, or papa, or Miss 
 Townsend.' 
 
 Frank put his arm round him, and whispered some- 
 thing that Emmeline could not hear, then Edwin knelt, 
 with his little hands clasped, while Frank rested his cheek 
 on his shoulder, so as to whisper in his ear. 
 
 Thus they remained for some little time, the sisters 
 holding each other fast, and still silent, a sort of torpor 
 over their minds, their teeth chattering from the cold wind, 
 that almost numbed their senses, unable to keep them- 
 selves from watching how rock disappeared after rock, and 
 yet scarcely awake to what was about to befall them. At 
 intervals Frank still shouted for help, but still in vain. 
 The Church bell began to ring. It was bitterly cold. 
 The waves came rippling closer, the pointed rock up 
 which they had scrambled began to reject the water in 
 spray. Frank called once, twice, again. Oh, joy ! there 
 was an answer — another shout — the answer came nearer — 
 Emmeline and Kate pressed each other fast, and listened 
 breathlessly. There was a distinct sound of a word, 
 < Where ? ' 
 
152 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' Here ! ' cried Frank, ' on a rock. AVe want a boat — 
 a boat — in haste ! ' 
 
 ' A boat — in haste — as fast as possible,' repeated the 
 voice above, and it was gone. 
 
 The girls kissed Edwin and each other, shook hands 
 with Frank, and exclaimed in ecstacy. But the foam 
 tossed higher, and presently Kate said, ' Oh ! if it should 
 not be in time ! ' 
 
 * It will not, if you don't sit still,' said Frank, for they 
 were moving about in a violent agitated manner in their 
 reviving hopes. 
 
 ' 0, don't ! don't say so, Frank ! Oh ! what shall we 
 do ? Oh ! it is coming nearer ! Oh ! to be drowned now 
 with help so near ! ' cried Kate, while Emmeline burst 
 into tears, and grasped at Frank's arm. 
 
 ' Be still,' said Frank, sternly, ' be still, as you wish to 
 be saved — don't cling to me — I am the least safe of all 
 here. There, Edwin, go between your sisters and the 
 rock, as you were before.' 
 
 Emmeline trembled, gasped, and sobbed, ' Oh ! if he 
 would but come — he never will come in time — oh ! Frank, 
 Frank—' 
 
 Frank laid his hand on her : ' Hush ! hear what I have 
 to say. If you are saved and I not — ' 
 
 ' Frank, don't — we must all be together — ' 
 
 ' Emmie — Kate — you have been very kind to me 
 always, be kind now, and listen, for there is but little 
 time. Give them all my love ; don't let my poor father 
 distress himself about what passed to-day ; tell my uncle 
 that I am sure it is best as it is, I had rather it was so ; 
 and my love to your mother, and the little ones, and 
 Juliet ; and my uncle will give it to old Grace, and all at 
 Dumblethwaytc. Emmie, Emmie, don't cry so — I tell 
 you I had rather — it is much brighter out there — . 
 There's an end of trouble and temptation. And, Emmie 
 and Kate, you promise me — the Confirmation and Com- 
 munion — ' 
 
 ' 0, we promise,' said Kate. 
 
 ' Look in my room, and you will see two volumes of 
 sermons. I would have given them to you to read, only 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 153 
 
 I thouglit my father — but that is all over now. 0, I hope 
 — I pray it may turn out best for all' 
 
 A wave dashed high and completely drenched them 
 with spray, which struck like sharp blo^s ; Kate screamed, 
 and grasped with her hands on each side; Edwin cried 
 out too, ' 0, Frank, Frank ! ' 
 
 * Lift him up higher — let me lift him upon that rock ! ' 
 cried Frank, raising himself on his insecure and slippery 
 seat on the rock. Emmeliuc did what she was told, she 
 hardly knew how, and Edwin was placed on a narrow 
 ledge on a level with their heads. ' Hold fast, Eddy, dear, 
 you will soon be safe,' said Frank. ' Now, then, Kate, 
 Emmie, remember what I have said — kiss me — for you 
 have been my own kind sisters, and — ' 
 
 As they silently and tremblingly kissed him, the dash 
 of another wave beat over them, blinding and deafening 
 them. In the pause that followed, Emmeline and Kate 
 heard a voice, ' Into Thy hands I commend — ' Then 
 came a shout from another quarter, ' The boat, the boat ! ' 
 screamed Edwin from above. Kate caught a glimpse of 
 it rounding the opposite point, but she saw it only for an 
 instant. The waves would not be disappointed of their 
 prey, another was rolling upwards, and the next moment 
 she was conscious of nothing, save that Emmeline and she 
 were clutching each other in a convulsive grasp, and the 
 support of the rock was no longer beneath them, the rush- 
 ing waters were in her ears — sight, sound, sense failed in 
 one agony, as if her head were crushing and bursting. 
 
164 THE CASTLE EUILDERS. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 " "What AYOuld we give to our beloved ? 
 
 He giveth llis beloved sleep." 
 
 E. B. Bkowniu^. 
 
 When Kate next awoke to consciousness, it was by can- 
 dlelight, and she was lying wrapped in warm blankets be- 
 fore the nursery jQre at home, and something burning was 
 being poured into her mouth. She heard a confused 
 sound of voices around her, and with some effort opened 
 her eyes. The children's nurse and one of the maids were 
 busy over her, and she heard them saying that she was 
 coming to herself 
 
 She struggled to speak. ' Emmie, Emmie,' said she, 
 ' where's Emmie ? ' 
 
 ' Oh ! Miss Katherine, I'm glad to hear you speak 
 again ! ' cried the nurse. ' Do you feel better, now ? ' 
 
 ' Where's Emmie? ' again said Kate, and this time in 
 a stronger voice, as she raised herself on her hand and 
 tried to look round. 
 
 * Miss Berners is in her own room,' said nurse. * Well, 
 I am so glad to see you doing so nicely. Kun, Anno, and 
 let my Lady know that Miss Katherine is so much better.' 
 
 ' What is the matter ? ' said Kate, laying down her 
 head again, for she felt very dizzy and confused. ' Why 
 am I not with Emmie ? ' 
 
 ' You shall go to her when you are better, Miss,' said 
 the nurse, soothingly, and giving her some more hot drink. 
 A few minutes' more repose, and it all came upon her in 
 
THE CASTLE BUILIERS. 155 
 
 one flash, she was on the rock again, the waves dashing 
 round her, and Emmeline strained in her embrace. But 
 no — Emmeline was not near, and she was in the warm 
 nursery, and footsteps were coming near. She looked up 
 and saw Miss Townsend. 
 
 ' My dear,' said Miss Townsend, and her voice was 
 tender, and trembling, * I am glad you are better — here is 
 Mr. Edwards come to see you.' 
 
 ' But the rock — the water — Emmie — Frank — Edwin 
 — I thought we were out there — where are they V asked 
 Kate. 
 
 ' Edwin is in his mamma's dressing-room, fast getting 
 better ; and the others are in their own rooms,' said Miss 
 Townsend, and Kate was satisfied for a minute, and al- 
 lowed the doctor who had followed Miss Townsend to feel 
 her pulse. He said she must be kept warm and quiet, 
 and that she was doing well ; and then came that very 
 grand person, her mamma's maid, with ' My lady's love to 
 her, and she was very glad she was better.' The next 
 minute some one was calling at the door, Mr. Edwards 
 went, it seemed to be a message to him, and Miss Town- 
 send sat down close to Kate. After lying still a little 
 while, her confused thoughts began to arrange themselves ; 
 she saw how it was now, she had been almost drowned, 
 and that was what was the matter with her, but then — the 
 others — her own Emmie — the doubt became agony. 
 
 'Miss Townsend,' said she, 'you are quite sure the 
 others are safe ?' 
 
 ' They are both in their rooms, my dear ; Mr. Brent 
 brought them home at the same time.' 
 
 ' But Emmie — why is she not here — why did you take 
 me from her?' Miss Townsend remembered how BIr. Brent, 
 in the few hurried words that passed as he came in, carrying 
 Kate in his arms, had said that the sisters had been linked 
 so fast in a death-like embrace, that it was with great dif- 
 ficulty they were parted. She could hardly keep back her 
 tears as she said, * My dear, we thought we could attend to 
 you better apart.' 
 
 ' Is Emmie ill ? Has she come to herself? Oh ! she 
 must want me,' said Kate, sitting upright, and looking 
 round for her clothes. ' I must go to her directly.' 
 
156 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 * I think you had better lie quiet a little longer, my 
 dear,' said Miss Townsend. ' You shall be sent for if 
 your sister asks for you, but in the meantime you had 
 better try to go to sleep.' 
 
 * 0, no, I can't sleep without Emmie, I am sure she 
 can't sleep without me. No, let me go to her directly, I 
 am quite well now, and perhaps she may want me and not 
 send for me if I don't go now. Dear Miss Townsend, do 
 be so kind as to get me my dressing-gown, or something, 
 and let me go.' 
 
 Miss Townsend paused a little, then said. 'Wait 
 quietly, my dear, and I will go and see about it.' 
 
 She went, and presently returned softly, looking a 
 little perplexed. Kate, who was still sitting up, was dis- 
 appointed to see no garments. 
 ' Well?' said she, impatiently. 
 
 ' My dear,' said Miss Townsend, ' you could be of no 
 use to your sister now, she would not know you, and you 
 had far better: — ' 
 
 Miss Townsend was checked by Kate's face of misery. 
 
 * Oh ! yes, yes,' cried she ; * I must go, Emmie will 
 know me if she knows no one else. Miss Townsend, dear 
 Miss Townsend, do not keep me, I cannot, cannot bear it!' 
 
 There was an energy in her manner of insisting, to 
 which it was impossible not to yield, as she sat up with 
 her hands clasped together imploringly, her eyes lifted up, 
 her face pale, and her damp hair hanging about her 
 shoulders. Be it as it might, Miss Townsend saw that it 
 would be actual cruelty to keep her apart from her sister. 
 
 Miss Townsend perhaps tried a little to delay, but 
 Kate's impatience was not to be baffled; hastily and with 
 trembling hands she dressed herself, folded her hair round 
 her head, and though her knees still shook so much that 
 she could hardly stand, it was at a running pace that she 
 hurried to her sister. Emmeline lay on the bed, white, 
 her eyes closed, without sense, without motion — some of 
 the maids were busy in applying means of restoration. 
 Kate pushed between them, and in a low, earnest voice^ 
 cried, ' Emmie, dear Emmie !' Then when there was no 
 answer, she looked about to gee what the others were 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 157 
 
 doing, and taking one of the powerless hands began to 
 rub it vigorously. Happily for her, the thought that this 
 might be death never once crossed her. 
 
 Mr. Edwards came in presently; Miss Townsend 
 looked at him inquiringly without speaking, and he shook 
 his head mournfully, but this Kate did not see, so entirely 
 was she absorbed in her sister. He was much surprised 
 to see his late patient not only on her feet, but one of the 
 most active and ready in following up the measures he 
 recommended. She knew where everything was, she flew 
 backwards and forwards between the fire and the bed, she 
 would hardly let any one but herself touch her sister ; the 
 only thing in which she failed was, that when a feather 
 was held before Emmeline's nostrils to see if there was 
 breath in them, her fingers shook so helplessly that she 
 was forced to give it up. 
 
 Again Mr. Edwards was called away, but still they 
 persevered, and at last there came a slight, a very slight 
 heaving of the chest — it moved. Kate hung over her, 
 and again called her by name. A gasp, a sort of moan, 
 answered. Miss Townsend sent for Mr. Edwards, and by 
 the time he came, the feeble spark of life had revived so 
 far, that, with a sort of instinct, Emmeline's hand had 
 clasped upon Kate's, though she had not yet opened her 
 eyes, while Kate was hanging over her and covering her 
 with kisses. 
 
 Perhaps Miss Townsend had never known a brighter 
 moment than when she saw that that sweet two-fold cord 
 of sisters' love had not been severed. Still there was 
 much cause for anxiety, for Emmeline's revival was by 
 no means as rapid or as complete as her sister's had been. 
 Mr. Edwards said that she wanted air, and would not let 
 Kate put her face so close to hers, though Emmeline re- 
 tained her hold of her hand, and at last, in reply to her 
 repeated calls, raised her eye-lids, saw her, and stretch^ed 
 out her other hand to cling fast to her. 
 
 Very gradually and cautiously stimulants were ad- 
 ministered, until Emmeline was able to gaze feebly round, 
 turn her head on the pillow, look affectionately at her 
 sister, and murmur something indistinct, then closed her 
 eyes again, and fell asleep. 
 
158 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 Watching licr all the time, Kate, who had grown thirsty 
 with anxiety, accepted a cup of hot tea, and while she was 
 drinking it, there was a rustling of silk in the passage, and 
 Lady Willoughby came in, looking frightened and partly 
 eager. She held out her arms to Kate, embraced her 
 tenderly, and wept over her, but in almost complete silence, 
 from regard to Emmeline's slumbers. 
 
 ' 0, my dearest — 0, what have I gone through ! ' whis- 
 pered she in broken sentences; '0, the horrors! Poor 
 little Edwin, he was so fearfully chilled and frightened ! 
 And then I was so nervous ; I knew I could be of no use 
 here, and IMiss Townsend was so much better a nurse than 
 I ; and I was obliged to soothe Edwin, I was half afraid 
 it would bring on a fever. He was perfectly stiff with 
 cold. My sweet Emmie,' how soundly she sleeps! but 
 you, Katie dear, you should be in bed ; you will be quite 
 ill, darling. You must tell me all to-morrow, my dear 
 girh I will not stay, for fear of waking dear Emmie. I 
 must go to poor little Edwin, or he will wake again, and 
 scream about the waves. 0, horrible ! I know I may 
 safely trust you to Miss Townsend's care. Good night, 
 Katie, you will go to bed now, promise me.' 
 
 ' Yes, mamma, if Emmie does not want me. Only 
 just tell me how Frank is ? ' 
 
 ' I have not heard just lately, my dear,' said her 
 mother; 'his father and Mr. Edwards are with him, and 
 I believe there is no fear but that he will do very well.' 
 
 ' 0, I am glad of it,' cried Kate, as if words would not 
 express her thought. ' Mamma, we should none of us 
 have been saved without Frank.' 
 
 ' 0, my love, you must not begin the whole frightful 
 history now ! Sleep, and forget it all till morning, and 
 then I must hear it all. Good night, sweet Katie ; 0, 
 what a day it has been.' 
 
 Kissing her again, Lady Willoughby departed, and 
 Kate, whose mind was now comparatively at rest, began 
 to be conscious of so much lassitude, that she offered little 
 or no opposition to Miss Townsend's entreaty that she 
 would go to bed directly, and was quite satisfied when the 
 governess said she would remain for the present to see 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 159 
 
 •whether Emmclinc wanted anything. Kate's senses were 
 not awake enough to perceive that this was really an an- 
 nouncement of an intention to sit up all night, and con- 
 sented to sleep on a mattress on the floor. , Though for a 
 little while the dashing of the sea was in her ears, and 
 when she shut her eyes, the waves seemed to be closing 
 in on her, these fancies soon gave way, and she was 
 soundly asleep. 
 
 Her first waking was caused by some restless move- 
 ments of her sister's. She started up in an instant, and 
 found Miss Townsend already at Emmeline's side. Em- 
 meline seemed but half awake, and scarcely conscious; 
 she knew her sister, and that was all ; she said she was 
 thirsty, and complained of pain in her limbs, and then, 
 when something had been given her to drink, she turned 
 round and went off into another doze. Kate, who was 
 quite stiff with sleepiness, laid down as Miss Townsend 
 desired, and was soon fast asleep again, more soundly than 
 ever, and when in early twilight of the morning she was 
 waked by Miss Townsend's holding a parley with some 
 one outside the door, she felt so fresh, and so much as 
 usual, that it was with some difficulty that she recalled 
 what was the reason of the uncommon condition of the 
 room, and why it was her first impulse to spring to Em- 
 meline's bed-side and look at her so anxiously, as she lay 
 there asleep, with her face slightly flushed. Her powers 
 of thought, feeling, and recollection, had all come back ; 
 she remembered all at once how it had been ; she felt 
 curious to know how they had come home, and, above all, 
 she had awakened again to anxiety for her brothers, 
 wondering that she had not thought more of them, and 
 then scarcely surprised at having forgotten, when she re- 
 collected the state in which she had seen Emmeline. 
 
 Uneasy at the length of Miss Townsend's conference, 
 she threw on her dressing-gown, and ran to the door. 
 Miss Townsend was returning, and they stood face to 
 face. Miss Townsend looked pale and unhajDpy, but 
 Kate did not stop to mark her countenance, she only 
 said in an eager hurried whisper, ' How are Frank and 
 Edwin?' 
 
160 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' Nurse lias just been giving me an excellent account 
 of dear little Edwin,' said Miss Towsend ; ' he does not 
 seem in the least the worse for it. And you are 
 better ? ' 
 
 ' O, I am quite well,' said Kate ; ' but Frank, why 
 don't you tell me about him ? ' 
 
 Miss Townsend glanced at Emmeline, who still lay 
 asleep, and breathing heavily, then taking Kate by the 
 hand, she led her into the spare room, which stood open, 
 and there still holding her hand, stood looking at her, 
 and trying to speak. 
 
 Kate stood silent, too, for some moments, afraid to 
 ask, afraid even to think ; at last she said, ' Did not 
 mamma say he was doing well ? ' 
 
 ' We — we hoped he might at first,' said Miss Towns- 
 end, and then there was another pause. 
 
 ' But is he ill ? ' exclaimed Kate. 
 
 ' Remember your sister, my dear ! ' said Miss Towns- 
 end, as she saw Kate's agitation increasing; then, while 
 the tears started from her eyes, her voice came in a low 
 choking whisper, ' It must be a very great grief to you 
 both. Dont't let her be waked and hear it suddenly. It 
 might be extremely dangerous.' 
 
 Kate stood, seeing nothing, hearing nothing, knowing 
 nothing — Frank — Frank dead — that was the one idea 
 which, indistinct, incredible itself, seemed to swallow up 
 all else ! But at that moment they heard Emmeline 
 move, and say, ' Kate ! ' and both, with the feeling of 
 having been off their post, hurried back to her. Miss 
 Townsend dashing away her tears, and Kate passing her 
 hand over her face, as if to drive away any traces of 
 emotion. 
 
 They need scarcely have feared, for poor Emmeline 
 was too unwell to observe them. She was suffering from 
 high fever and acute pains in her limbs, and the attempt 
 to relieve her occupied them entirely ; Kate could only 
 feel a general sort of impression of a heavy grief, without 
 being able to enter into what it actually was. She had 
 never seen illness, and was excessively frightened, more 
 60 indeed than she had appeared even during Emmeline's 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 161 
 
 unconsciousness. Miss Townsend, whose timidity seemed 
 to hare quite gone away, assumed the direction of affairs 
 quietly and naturally, told her what to do, quieted her 
 alarm, and not making the least bustle, nor putting her- 
 self forward, was in reality every thing to them 
 both. 
 
 Mr. Edwards was sent for again, and pronounced it to 
 be a rheumatic fever, at which Kate could not wonder, 
 when she remembered the dreadful cold from which they 
 had suffered the night before. Miss Townsend assured 
 her that she might quite believe what he said about its 
 not being dangerous, though it might be a long as well as 
 a painful illness. 
 
 There had been several messages from Lady Wil- 
 loughby during this time, and at about nine o'clock she 
 came up stairs herself. She spoke to Emmeline, who was 
 moving uneasily, and only gave a moaning uncomfortable 
 sort of answer, and then, after a few kind words to Miss 
 Townsend, she seemed to think her duty was done, and 
 asked Kate to come down with her to breakfast in her 
 dressing-room. 
 
 Kate was obliged to say, ' Yes, mamma, thank you,' 
 and to follow, though she felt a great dread of meeting 
 Sir Francis ; as she followed her, the sight of the blinds 
 drawn down, together with the silence of the house, 
 weighed heavily on her spirits. 
 
 The dressing-room, however, looked bright and cheer- 
 ful, with the fire burning clearly, and the breakfast-table 
 set out with all its luxurious appliances. No sooner were 
 they there than Lady Willoughby sank on the sofa, ex- 
 claiming, ' 0, my dear Kate ! was there every anything so 
 dreadful, so distressing as this? 0, I am sure I shall 
 never get over it — I suppose you have heard it ? ' 
 
 Kate leant her head against her mother, and burst 
 into a flood of tears. 
 
 ' Yes, my dear, you were very fond of him, and so 
 were we all. I am sure we can do ourselves the justice 
 to say he was always like one of ourselves, poor dear 
 fellow ; but, oh ! dear, who could have thought it — so 
 frightful ! poor fellow, I little thouirht — ' 
 
162 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 Lady Willoughby cried heartily, sincerely thinking 
 that she had been everything to Frank that his own 
 mother could have been, and honest-hearted Kate thought 
 so too, and ^Yas much comforted by crying with her. 
 
 ' He sent his love to you, mamma,' sobbed she. 
 
 ' Did he — did he — dear boy ! ' exclaimed Lady "Wil- 
 loughby. * Ah ! he knew — yes, no one can say that I did 
 not do all that could be expected of me — and it is such a 
 comfort now ! ' 
 
 ' And he made us kiss him, and told us we had — 
 always been — been kind sisters,' said Kate. ' 0, I 
 thought, as Emmie said, we must all be saved together! 0, 
 Frank, Frank ! ' 
 
 Lady Willoughby let Kate cry in peace, as long as 
 she felt inclined to cry herself, then she began to say, 
 ' But, my dear, you must control yourself; you will be 
 quite nervous and exhausted if you begin the day with 
 crying so much — after all you have gone through too — 
 come, look up, my dear, he was a very good youth, I am 
 sure, and he has gone to a better place.' 
 
 ' 0, yes, yes,' and Kate cried the more uncontrollably. 
 
 ' And after all, my dear, he was not your brother.' 
 
 ' ! don't say that — 0, mamma ! ' 
 
 ' It is a very amiable feeling, my dear,' said Lady 
 Willoughby, ' but, but — I do declare it is very distressing 
 — ' (this word was spoken much as if it had been ' pro- 
 voking'), ' there is poor Sir Francis in such a state now ! ' 
 
 ' How, mamma 1 ' said Kate, looking up, and feeling 
 rather ashamed of not having inquired before. 
 
 ' 0, he is almost distracted — that unlucky conversation 
 yesterday, you know — I am so glad I tried to make peace 
 between them ; it makes it so much worse.' 
 
 ' But he ought to know,' said Kate, springing up, 
 ' that dear Frank begged he would not distress himself 
 about that. Where is he ? ' 
 
 ' 0, my dear, you can't go to him ; don't think of it ! ho 
 is in the study, down stairs ; he has been walking up and 
 down in his dressing-room all night, ever since Mr. 
 Edwards gave up poor Frank, I could not sleep all 
 night, I assure you, Kate, for hearing him walk up and 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 163 
 
 down, yes, and groan out quite loud, and call Frank, and 
 talk to himself. And now be won't see any one. He 
 will not hear of my coming to him, and I am so nervous 
 that Mr. Edwards thinks it would be quite unadvisable. 
 My agitation would only grieve him more. I am sure 1 
 do not know what to do.' 
 
 ' I wish, I wish uncle Willoughby was here ! ' said 
 Kate. 
 
 ' Ah, yes, I must write to him. Well thought of, 
 my dear ; a Clergyman, and every thing.' 
 
 ' But he cannot come till to-morrow,' said Kate, 
 ' and surely something ought to be done ! I cannot bear 
 to leave poor Sir Francis in this way. Would it not do 
 good perhaps if — ' and Kate spoke with an effort, for she 
 did not much like the notion — ' if I was to take Edwin to 
 him ? ' 
 
 ' 0, my dear, poor little Eddy, after all he has gone 
 through, I could not think of it, poor dear little fellow. 
 And after such a shock, I am sure the utmost care 
 must be necessary for both of you. 0, no, on no ac- 
 count.' 
 
 Kate, afraid of the sight of violent grief, was easily 
 diverted from the design, and thought herself presump- 
 tuous in proposing it. Edwin, who had slept late, and 
 had since been sent to the nursery to be dressed, and 
 to have his breakfast, here came in, and his sister threw 
 her arms round him in a transport of affection. He did 
 not look as if anything was the matter with him, and 
 having probably been told in the nursery not to mention 
 Frank, he said not one word of him, but applied himself 
 with great good will to eat all the good things which his 
 mamma gave him. Kate, though feeling as if it was im- 
 possible, tried to eat at her mother's desire, and weak and 
 exhausted as she had been before, after her long fast and 
 all her agitation, she found that breakfast did her a great 
 deal of good. She wanted to go back to Emmeline, but she 
 and her mother had first to exchange histories of the dread- 
 ful evening. It was Mr. Brent who had at length heard 
 their cries as he was going to evening service ; he had 
 hastened to the nearest cottages to call the fishermen to 
 
164 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 put out their boats, and had himself gone with th l 
 Just as they turned the opposite corner of the lin'io 
 bay, and he could recognise those who were in danger, he 
 had seen the wave dash over Frank and the two sisters, 
 and wash them from the rock, and it had not been with- 
 out considerable danger and difficulty that they had been 
 dragged into the boat, the sisters first, and Frank, not till 
 some minutes after. It was thought that he had been 
 stunned by being dashed against a rock, for he had made 
 no attempt to keep afloat, and there was a bruise on his 
 temple. Life must have been extinct before he was taken 
 out of the water. Little Edwin was taken safely from 
 his nest on the rock, and, worn out with fear, cold, and 
 fatigue, was fast asleep before they reached the landing- 
 place. Kate had shown signs of life as she was lifted out 
 of the boat, and Mr. Brent had therefore himself carried 
 her to the house, brought her in at the back entrance, 
 and consigning her to the maids, had come to prepare the 
 parents for what they had to hear. They had already 
 become anxious at the lateness of the hour, and therefore 
 he had the less to tell. All the rest Kate knew. 
 
 At this moment a message was brought that Mr. 
 Brent had called to inquire ; Kate, in the full flow of 
 her gratitude, would have flown down to see and thank 
 him, but Lady Willoughby said it would be improper, 
 it would be impossible to see any one ; she was sure they 
 were exceedingly obliged to Mr. Brent, and she would 
 tell him so in a few days, but now — oh, no, it would not 
 do. 
 
 ' But, mamma, the man who saved us ! Only think 
 if he had not come ! 0, do, mamma ! if you are not equal 
 to it, let me ! ' 
 
 ' Well my dear, but won't it be odd ? My dear 
 Katie—' 
 
 But Kate, the energy of gratitude overcoming all 
 other considerations, caught hold of Edwin's hand, and 
 ran down with him to the drawing-room. How difi"erent 
 did his usually uninteresting face and dry manner now 
 appear, as she went up to him, held out her hand, and 
 said, ' Mamma does not feel equal to coming down, but 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 165 
 
 — but — ' and there her voice faltered, and, with an 
 eloquent look, she put Edwin forward. 
 
 Mr. Brent was a good deal touched with Kate's sweet 
 look and action of gratitude, but he was one of those 
 people who, the more they are affected, the more stiff and 
 cold they outwardly become, so he only kissed Edwin, 
 said he was very glad to see him and Kate herself so far 
 recovered, and inquired for their sister. It drove back 
 Kate's overflowings of feeling, and she made a mannerly 
 matter-of-fact answer. So also she did about Sir Francis 
 and her mother, and then came a pause. Mr. Brent rather 
 awkwardly said, ' I hope you will tell me if I can be of 
 any use ? ' and Kate hurriedly answered, ' No, we are 
 very much obliged to you, very much ; but I do not 
 know. No, we need not trouble you, Mr. Willoughby 
 will be here to-morrow. Indeed, we are very much 
 obliged.' 
 
 ' Well, I hope you will be sure to let me do anything 
 in my power,' said Mr. Brent. ' I will call to inquire 
 every day, and pray send to me if — ' 
 
 ' 0, thank you, thank you. 0, you are very kind,' 
 said Kate, hastily, and behold there was Mr. Brent shak- 
 ing hands with her ; and now he was gone. Should she 
 not have proposed his seeing Sir Francis? Would that 
 she had. And what had become of all her thanks ? 0, 
 why could she not thank him 1 ' Very much obliged ! ' 
 all that she could say to him who had saved her own 
 Emmie. She was greatly annoyed with herself as she 
 went up again, and leaving Edwin with his mamma, who 
 had devoted herself to petting him, she was on her way 
 to Emmeline, when she found Janet sitting on a step at 
 the top of the stairs, with her finger on her lip. 
 
 ' Janet, dear, I have not seen you before,' said Kate, 
 in her universal benevolence ; but at that moment the 
 voice of Clements, the ladies' maid, exclaimed, ' Miss 
 Willoughby is naughty. Miss Katherine ! ' 
 
 ' Oh,' said Kate, ' I am very sorry to hear it; I hope 
 you will soon be good, Janet, dear. Won't you try? ' 
 
 Janet sat down again with a dogged look, and put her 
 finger up as before. 
 
166 THE CASTLE BUILDERS, 
 
 ' O, that is very sad,' said Kate. ' I can't stop to talk 
 to sulky little girls; I must go on to Emmeline.' 
 
 Janet still sat as if she cared not a straw for any of 
 them, so Kate proceeded to her sister's room. Emmeline 
 was much the same, and as the nurse was now ready to 
 come and help in her room, Kate begged Miss Towns- 
 end to go and take a little rest. Miss Townsend thanked 
 her, and went, but there was another word to that matter. 
 Clements, the ladies' maid, did not at all like having the 
 charge at once of Janet and Cecilia, and Miss Townsend 
 had scarcely come to the end of the passage before she 
 was met with the renewed accusation of ' Miss Willoughby 
 being a very naughty child ; ' and there stood Janet lean- 
 ing against the wall, the very impersonation, apparently, 
 of sulkiuess. ' Yes, there she stands,' proceeded Clements; 
 ' not a word I can say will she mind. She does not care 
 for all the trouble in the house, not a bit ; I do believe it 
 is all jealousy of her poor little brother that has been 
 almost drowned.' 
 
 ' Come- with me, Janet,' said Miss Townsend, and 
 Janet followed her to the school-room without looking 
 up. ' What is this, Janet ? ' asked she. ' Have you been 
 disobedient ? ' 
 
 Janet raised her face, and murmured, ' I did not 
 mean it.' 
 
 The child did not understand her own feelings. She 
 had learnt that Frank was dead, through the gossipping 
 converse of the maids, and her natural reserve jirevented 
 her from asking or saying one word to such unsympa- 
 thizing people. There was a dead, aching, sorrowful, 
 wondering feeling, heavy at her childish heart, and she 
 tried to shake it off by playing with Cecilia. Then the 
 maids scolded her for having no feeling for her dear 
 brother, and that doubly wounded and hardened the poor 
 child. Next came the hero, Edwin, too triumphant in the 
 pride of the petting of his mamma and all the maids, to 
 care much for Janet's kisses. She hung back, and the 
 dark thought that all were loved save herself, over- 
 shadowed her again ; the maids told her she was jealous : 
 the name fitted the latent feeling of which she was con 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. ' 167 
 
 scious ; Janet put her finger up to lier lip, and there was 
 an end of aught but hardening, and bitterness, and self- 
 pity, Kate was like the rest of them, and poor Janet 
 was dull, dry, hard. 
 
 The first thing that broke on the heavy dream waa 
 when, as she stood before her governess. Miss Townsend 
 looked into her face, and said, ' My dear, have you 
 thanked God for his love in saving your dear brother 
 Edwin and your sisters ? ' 
 
 ' Let me,' said Janet, not warmly, for nothing chills a 
 child more than to be accused of being cold ; but Miss 
 Townsend would not notice this, and the little girl knelt 
 down by her while she dictated a few simple words of 
 thanksgiving. It was a softened face that Janet raised 
 up from her clasped hands, but all she said was a ques- 
 tion whether she was to do any lessons to-day ? 
 
 ' I am afraid, my dear,' said Miss Townsend, ' that I 
 can hardly hear you to-day. Your sister Emmeline is so 
 ill that I have been up all night with her, and now I am 
 afraid that if I do not rest, I shall be too tired to be of 
 any use to her by-and-bye.' 
 
 ' Are you so tired ? ' said Janet. 
 
 ' Yes, rather, my dear, and so I should like to make 
 you my useful little woman.' 
 
 ' 0, how ? ' and Janet's face lighted up and lost its 
 heavy, discontented look. , 
 
 ' First, I should like to lie down on the sofa, if you 
 will fetch my plaid shawl to cover me up.' Said and 
 done in a moment, and very pretty it was to sec the care- 
 fulness with which the little girl spread out the shawl and 
 turned down the folds. 
 
 ' Are you comfortable now ? ' she asked. 
 
 ' Yes, very ; this is very nice, my dear little nurse. 
 And now I think I might go to sleep if you would read 
 to me. Get one of your little books and read to me 
 nicely. And then, another thing, Janet dear, you must 
 keep the door open, and listen, and wake me as soon as 
 ever you hear your sister Kate or any one coming out of 
 Miss Berners' room. Thank you.' 
 
 Janet moved about on tiptoe, grave, subdued, but 
 
168 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 feeling herself important, and though sadness hung on 
 her. with a gentle and loving spirit stifling the jealousy 
 and sense of injustice that ached within her. She did 
 not read so that it was much pleasure to hear her ; and 
 without her, Miss Townsend could have rested much more 
 quietly and comfortably ; but when, after a half waking, 
 weary, dreamy sleep of two hours the governess awoke, 
 and saw that the little slight figure had not moved, and 
 the brown eyes were watching her intently, her own lonely 
 heart thrilled with fondness, and she sighed to think of 
 the depths of love unstirred, by those who ought to have 
 made them sunshine instead of gloom. 
 
 The day passed quietly and wearily, Emmeline was 
 restless and suffering, and Kate could do little but watch 
 her, do her best for her comfort, with little success, and 
 grow frightened at her moans and complaints, and at the 
 burning skin and flushing face 3 so frightened that she 
 would not even trust the assurances of Miss Townsend 
 and Mr. Edwards. She hung over the patient with 
 quivering lips and tearful eyes, as if she felt every pain 
 that her sister was enduring, unwilling to let any one 
 touch her or do any thing for her but herself, and unable 
 to bear the least attempt at consolation. 
 
 Towards night things grew better, the violence of the 
 rheumatic pains grew less, the fever abated, and Emme- 
 line, quite exhausted, fell asleep. Kate was persuaded to 
 go down to tea with her mother, who, she found, had 
 kept Edwin as her charge all day, and had still not been 
 near Sir Francis, who, report said, went continually back- 
 wards and forwards between his sitting-room and the 
 chamber of his son, like a man distracted. Kate would 
 have been very sorry for him, but Emmeline's suffering 
 and, as she thought, danger, was her only care now. 
 
 As she was leaving the room to return to Emmeline, 
 a letter was given to her. It was from Malta, and the 
 sight of Constance's hand-writing was a refreshment. It 
 was directed to Miss Berners, but Constance's letters 
 were always to both, so Kate had no scruples about open- 
 ing it, and as she found Emmeline still asleep, she sat 
 down to read it. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 169 
 
 Lord Herbert was not better, the cough was more 
 frequent and painful, the oppression on his chest had in- 
 creased, his strength was failing ; it was the worst account 
 that they had ever received, and what marked it espe- 
 cially was, that Constance expressed no hopes of amend- 
 ment, and did not try to account for the bad symptoms by 
 some casual circumstance, as she had always done hitherto. 
 Kate read on hastily, in hopes of some such cheering expres- 
 sion before the close of the letter, but there was none ; she 
 found, indeed, that Herbert was very cheerful, and sent 
 them his love, but he was not able to speak much, and 
 there Constance ended her letter ; but there were a few 
 more lines dated the next day. ' I could not bear to say 
 so yesterday, but it is right that you and dear mamma 
 should be prepared for what the next letter may tell you. 
 This last month has opened my eyes to see that I have 
 been deceiviog myself with hope all this time, and that it 
 is time to look at the reality. It cannot last much longer 
 now, and it is but rebellion and uokindness to wish that 
 it should. Though, thank Heaven, his cheerfulness never 
 fails, the sight of his worn face, and the sound of his pain- 
 ful breath reproaches me with not being willing that he 
 should enter into his rest ; but he thinks for me, and tells 
 me that the feeling will come, and so, dear sisters and 
 dear mamma, try to think of it as he would have me do, 
 and do not be afraid for us. I am very well, and nothing 
 can be kinder than our brother.' 
 
 Kate did her face in her hands. Constance, dear, 
 dear Constance ! and was it come to this ? Had that 
 bright, happy home fleeted away like one of Emmeline's 
 visions? What might not Constance be doing now? Kate 
 saw her bending over her dying husband, even as she 
 herself was hanging over Emmeline ; she pictured her 
 quiet, gentle face, and the little nervous movements by 
 which her mental agitation used to relieve itself And, 
 oh ! what a meeting might be in store for them ! 
 
170 THE CASTLE BUILDERS 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 The sea is past, tho desert near, 
 
 Where thou shalt walk with manna fed ; 
 
 Scarce trodden yet the path of fear, 
 Not yet for thee, the feast is spread. 
 
 C. F. A. 
 
 Another, morning had risen, and found Bellevue still in 
 the same condition. Kate was heavy-hearted and lonely, 
 weighed down with grief, without the comfort of sharing 
 it, like all her former troubles with her sister, and not 
 knowing where to turn. She knew that there was such a 
 thing as praying, and casting her care on her Father above, 
 and she thought she tried it ; but it did not seem to com- 
 fort her ; it could not bring back her dear, kind, bright- 
 faced Frank ; she could not realize that it was doing good 
 to Herbert or to Constance ; and now, since Emmeline 
 was rather better, and Mr. Edwards. did not think badly 
 of her, Kate had the fancy that it was treating her like 
 one in danger to pray for her. Kate's fears for her had 
 gone away, and now she was chiefly sorry for her present 
 suffering, and that she could not tell her these tidings, 
 which, while she knew them not, were a double burthen 
 to Kate. 
 
 Emmeline was much more able to take notice to-day ; 
 she thanked her nurses for each attention, liked what they 
 gave her to eat, and asked a few questions ; but Kate, 
 who was in fear and dread lest she might inquire for 
 Frank, was much relieved by her not saying one word of 
 him or of the adventure which had occasioned her illness. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 171 
 
 Miss Townsend thought that she had guessed how it was, 
 and Kate hoped so, for she felt sure she could never make 
 the evasive answer her mother advised. 
 
 Kate was with her mother when the tidings came that 
 Mr. Willoughby was arrived. Lady Willoughby desired 
 her to go down directly, promising to follow in a few min- 
 utes. 
 
 Kate trembled at the prospect of meeting the uncle 
 who had loved Frank as his own son, and lost his all in 
 him, but she could not do otherwise than hasten down, 
 thouo-h willino; to conceal the tears that would rush to her 
 eyes. 
 
 Thick, dazzling, blinding, did they rise, and at the 
 door, though she wiped them away, more followed. She 
 hung her head as she gave her hand to Mr. Willoughby's 
 and felt it pressed tight in both his. 
 
 ' Yes — yes,' said he, in a broken voice, ' yes, he was 
 very fond of you.' 
 
 Kate's tears came faster and faster, and she struggled 
 in vain with them, for she wanted much to speak. Still 
 Mr. Willoughby held her hand, and she knew he was 
 looking at her kindly, and that his tears were flowing too. 
 
 ' This is not right, my dear,' said he presently, but 
 rather as if he was rebuking himself than her ; ' this is 
 not what he would have us do.' 
 
 ' no,' said Kate recovering her voice, ' he desired 
 me to tell you that — that it is best as it is.' 
 
 ' It is, yes, I am sure it is,' said Mr. Willoughby , 
 ' but now tell me, are you quite well — and your sister ? ' 
 
 ' Much better to-daj' .' 
 
 ' I am very glad of it,' said he, with earnestness. 
 * And my poor brother — ah ! that is the worst of it.' 
 
 ' Yes,' said Kate sadly. 
 
 ' How does he bear it ? ' said Mr. Willoughby, anx- 
 iously. 
 
 ' 0, it is very dreadful,' said Kate. * I have not seen 
 him — he will not see any one — he is quite overwhelmed — 
 and after all that has happened, it is so very terrible for 
 him.' 
 
 Emmeline would not have said this, but Kate's straight- 
 
172 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 forward sympathy suited some people better than her shy 
 retreating ' reticence.' 
 
 ' I knew it, I feared it. Poor fellow,' said Mr. "Wil- 
 loughby. ' Yes, it is nonsense to talk of ourselves when 
 we think of him. Where is he ? Does he know that I 
 am here ? ' 
 
 ' I will ring and ask,' said Kate. ' I am very glad you 
 are going to him ; I do so long for some one to tell him 
 dear Frank's message, that he was not to distress himself 
 about what past that day.' 
 
 ' Eh ? what ? Ah ! I see you had rather not say. 
 Poor Francis. Well, there must be good in it for him,' 
 said Mr. Willoughby, as if talking to himself; and at this 
 moment the servant coming in, Kate asked if Sir Francis 
 knew that Mr. Willoughby was come. 
 
 ' I told him, ma'am, but he did not seem to take much 
 notice,' said the servant, hesitatingly. 
 
 ' Is he in the study ? ' said Kate. 
 
 * No, ma'am, he is in Mr. Frank's room.' Kate looked 
 sorrowfully and inquiringly at Mr. Willoughby. 
 
 ' Your mother is with him, of course,' said he. ' Ah ! 
 I should have inquired for her before. This must be very 
 trying for her.' 
 
 ' 0, she is very well — pretty well, I mean,' said Kate, 
 ' but she is not there — 0, no — she will come down pres- 
 ently.' 
 
 ' I will go to him at once, then,' said Mr. Willoughby. 
 ' Will you show me where the room is, my dear ? Your 
 mother will not wonder when she hears that I am gone to 
 him.' 
 
 ' 0, that I will,' said Kate, leading the way, and feel- 
 ing as if the house were already less dreary since Mr. 
 Willoughby had come into it. And yet as she led him 
 up the stairs, she could hardly bear the thought that she 
 was taking him to the room where he lay lifeless who was, 
 as Juliet had said, ' the very light of his eyes.' 
 
 ' 0, this is so sad for you ! ' said she, as she paused at 
 the head of the stairs to point to the right door, and her 
 tearful eyes spoke the rest. 
 
 ' My dear,' said he, as he pressed her hand to thank her, 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 173 
 
 ' I ought to bo too truly rejoiced for his sake, to grieve so 
 much for m j own. Don't waste your grief on an old man 
 who has not many years before him. Yes,' and as Kate 
 kept hold of his hand, and looked at him doubtfully, he 
 added, ' do you think I would not rather go and see my 
 dear boy ? ' 
 
 ' 0, you are so good ! Yes, it is so like Constance. 
 Every one can bear things better than I,' cried Kate, hid- 
 ing her face on her hands clasped on the banisters, and 
 bursting into tears. 
 
 ' Constance ! Surely Lord Herbert is not worse.' 
 
 ' Herbert is very ill, dying ! ' said Kate, in a low voice 
 of repressed sobbing. 
 
 ' My poor dear girl ! And we are bringing our trou- 
 bles to grieve you too. Indeed, I am very sorry,' said the 
 good old man. ' But you must tell me all another time,' 
 he added ; ' I must go to poor Francis now. The second 
 door to the right, you say.' 
 
 Kate watched him as he went along, and then sighing 
 deeply and wiping her tears, she went to tell her mother 
 where he was. 
 
 That conversation had done her a great deal of good ; 
 it had relieved the fulness of her heart, and she felt that 
 she had some one to depend on. There was great com- 
 fort in knowing that poor Sir Francis was attended to, for 
 the thought of his lonely grief had hung painfully and ac- 
 cusingly upon her. But what amazed her most was, how 
 Mr. Willoughby and Constance could bear their trouble. 
 Kate had not yet been able to make up her mind to write 
 to Constance ; she knew her mother had done so, and she 
 thought that must suffice ; she could say nothing consoling, 
 nothing that would not give her sister additional pain. 
 
 She found Emmeline awake and better, comfortable, 
 and alive to what was going on. ' You have been a long 
 time gone, Kate,' said she. ' Whom did I hear you talk- 
 ing to on the stairs ? ' 
 
 Kate looked doubtfully and inquiringly at Miss Towns- 
 end, and answered, ' To uncle Willoughby.' 
 
 Emmeline asked no more. Her senses and powers of 
 observation were awake ; she had recalled the danger they 
 
174 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 had past, and she knew but too -u-ell what was meant by 
 the silence. She had heard Edwin's voice, his name had 
 been mentioned before her, but Frank's had never been 
 spoken. It would be agony to think and know that he, 
 their one bright spot, he on whom their thoughts had cen- 
 tred, he who was doubly loved for his oddness, his strange 
 half-provoking ways, he who had taken so much care of 
 them, should have been swallowed by those surging waves. 
 She would not bring the conviction home while she could 
 help it. So there she lay, occupying her still feeble 
 thoughts on little things around, the pattern of the paper, 
 the flowers on the chintz bed-curtains, the lights and 
 shades from fire or sunshine, and if a word of grave or sad 
 import were spoken near her, she would not hear it. 
 Death had never come near the sisters before. Kate 
 could not even recollect the being told of her father's 
 death, and though Emmeline could just remember having 
 seen Constance cry and cling to Mrs. Ellison, she had 
 little personal feeling for the loss. One schoolfellow had 
 indeed died, but at her own home, at a distance, and, be- 
 yond the moment's shock, it had made no impression, 
 Now, for the first time, they knew what it was to miss one 
 from their own circle, and know he would never return 
 again ; for the first time they felt the cold heavy weight 
 of the knowledge that in one room close at hand there lay 
 that same bodily frame that had lately eaten, drank, and 
 talked with them, shared their pleasures and pursuits ; 
 but now how different ; the same, and yet how far from 
 the same. 
 
 Emmeline held her peace ; it would have broken her 
 heart to have heard it said in so many words, that Frank 
 was dead ! There was a vague belief that he w^as happy 
 in the other world, but she wanted him here ; home would 
 be too dreary without him. Poor Emmeline, she was 
 looking anywhere for peace but in the right place, and her 
 spirits were rufiled, and she was fretful and complaining, 
 with a heart too sad to be amused, and yet resolved to 
 drive away care and thought, and therefore vexed and dis- 
 contented with all around. 
 
 With Kate time passed less slowly, because she had 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 175 
 
 mucli to do, and much to think of. She did not see much 
 of Mr. Willoughby, for he was taken up with his brother, 
 whom he had roused with some difficulty from a stupefac- 
 tion of grief, alternating with violent bursts of anguish, for 
 he was like one distracted, and Mr. Willoughby could 
 scarcely quiet him ; but with the day of the funeral there 
 came a change. Sir Francis's grief was more violent than 
 ever in the morning ; he could not attempt to attend it, 
 and his brother scarcely knew how to leave him, but be- 
 hold, when he came back, Sir Francis seemed to have 
 driven away all thoughts of sorrow ; he was walking about 
 the house, giving orders in a shaking querulous voice, and 
 Kate, when she came down, was startled to find him in the 
 drawing-room, looking, indeed, ten years older, but read- 
 ing the newspaper, and talking about Indian news, just as 
 if nothing had happened. Her mamma looked quiet and 
 composed, Edwin had been coaxed and petted into very 
 high spirits, Janet's black dress seemed to make her look 
 more cold, white, and moody ; and up-stairs, even the 
 sight of their mourning had not induced Emmeline to say 
 one word. This absolute silence seemed to Kate more 
 painful than any lamentation ; it was truly his place 
 knowing him no more ; but there was no one to whom she 
 could speak, for Emmeline, though beginning to recover, 
 was still so weak that no one dared to press a painful sub- 
 ject on her. And then the daily fear of what the post 
 might bring from Malta ! 
 
 Kate resolved that she at any rate would not forget 
 him nor his last words, about Confirmation and Commu- 
 nion; and that she would certainly read that book of ser- 
 mons he had mentioned. At her first free moment, the 
 next morning, with trembling steps she walked towards 
 what had so lately been the chamber of death. There was 
 an awe-struck feeling on her, almost a terror, which 
 increased as she came nearer, and at last, but for very 
 shame, she would have retreated. She threw open the 
 door noiselessly, but hastily, and hurried forward. 
 
 ' Oh ! my dear ! ' How violent a start Kate gave, and 
 then how crimson she blushed as Mr. Willoughby rose 
 from the chair where he had been sitting. ' I am very 
 
176 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 sorry,' said he, in his kind, earnest, apologizing manner 
 ' I have frightened you sadly. There, sit down, don't 
 tremble so, I am very sorry, indeed.' 
 
 ' 0, it was very foolish,' said Kate, half smiling at her- 
 self, as she really was obliged to sit down ; ' I am very 
 sorry indeed to have interrupted you.' 
 
 ' Don't speak of it, pray don't,' said Mr. Willoughby, 
 * I am going.' 
 
 * No, pray don't,' said Kate. ' I was only come to look 
 for a book. It was a book of Sermons. One of the last 
 things that dear Frank told us, was to fetch it from here 
 and read it. I will go directly.' 
 
 * No, no, don't go,' said Mr. Willoughby, ' unless you 
 are in a hurry to return to your sister. I have been want- 
 ing to see you all this time, to thank you for all your kind- 
 ness to him.' 
 
 * uncle ! ' said Kate, her eyes filling with tears, ' I 
 did not know it. No one could help loving him, but — ' 
 
 ' You shall hear what he says himself,' said Mr. Wil- 
 loughby. ' In all his letters all through his troubles, poor 
 fellow, he has always said how kind you two were ; and he 
 did not know what he should have done without you and 
 your sister.' 
 
 ' 0, it is pleasant to hear ! ' said Kate ; ' but — but I 
 wonder, for he never would talk to us about them. 0, 
 was it not beautiful of him, Mr. Willoughby? he told us 
 we should either be double-faced, or get into a scrape, and 
 so he never said one word to us. 0, Frank, Frank, dear 
 Frank ! how good he was ! and how could any one make 
 him so unhappy? 0, and there is his Euclid, with the 
 parallel ruler sticking in it, just as he left it on Tuesday i 
 cried Kate, bursting into an ungovernable passion of 
 tears. 
 
 ' My dear, my dear, this should not be,' said Mr 
 Willoughby, laying his hand on her gently, and looking 
 much distressed ; ' but it is my fault ; her spirits are weak, 
 and I have overset her,' said he, talking to himself 
 
 ' 0, no,' said Kate, ' don't think so. It is every one's 
 forgetting him that I cannot bear ; it makes him seem 
 more gone.' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 177 
 
 ' They cannot forget him,' said Mr. "Willoughby, ' do 
 not fear that, my dear. But if you really like to talk of 
 him — ' 
 
 ' I had rather do that any thing ! ' 
 
 ' And if it is not too much for you — ' 
 
 ' No, it is the saying nothing that is dreadful' 
 
 * Well, then, it is the thing that I have been wishing 
 most of all, that you would tell me about him ; especially, 
 if you can bear to think of it, of that last hour. But don't 
 if you-^had rather not; don't if it would overcome you. 
 E,em«nber that, I beg, for it was a fearful thing for you.' 
 
 ' I should like to tell you all,' said Kate. 
 
 ' Very well, and thank you. I will not keep you from 
 your sister now, but by-and-by, when, as I think they 
 said, the others go out to drive, perhaps you could be 
 spared to walk with me. I think you must want a walk ; 
 you look sadly pale.' 
 
 ' Thank you,' said Kate ; ' I should like to come. I 
 suppose I must go away now ; ' but still she lingered, and 
 gazed round on all the familiar remembrances, the blotted 
 books over which they had so lately laughed, a few half- 
 finished contrivances for the amusement of the children, 
 his watch lying on the table. ' It seems hard to believe,' 
 said she, ' but the worst is that I cannot bear to think 
 how unhappy he was all these last months. 0, if any 
 one could have guessed — ' 
 
 ' Yes, that is what his poor father has been saying 
 continually,' said Mr Willoughby. ' He little knew what 
 he asked.' 
 
 ' Frank's heart and soul were so set on you and 
 Dumblethwayte,' said Kate. 
 
 ' Poor fellow. Yes it was but natural, for he had 
 never known any other home ; but it was more than that 
 'Twas a longing for no earthly work, no earthly home. 
 He has it now. Shame on us that we cannot be glad ! ' 
 
 ' He felt it very much when he gave it up,' said Kate. 
 
 ' He was more unhappy before he had made up his 
 mind,' said Mr. Willoughby, ' when he could not tell 
 which was the higher duty. It was sad work, but he has 
 stood the trial nobly, my dear boy has; and, my dear 
 
1 78 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 before you grieve at what ho had to go through, think 
 whether he would have missed it now.' 
 
 Kate did not understand. ' Missed all that great 
 unhappiness ! ' said she. 
 
 ' Thank God,' said Mr. Willoughby, ' dear Frank's 
 life had always been so smooth and so happy, goodness 
 seemed to come so naturally to him, as I may say, that 
 where would have been the trial but for this ? ' 
 
 ' Surely he would have been just as good,' said Kate. 
 
 * You forget,' said Mr. Willoughby. ' You know even 
 the Captain of our Salvation was made perfect through 
 suffering, and even when he felt it most severely, I am 
 sure Frank would not have done otherwise than bear his 
 cross to. 0, no, perhaps we did not see it, but assuredly 
 the dear boy needed the trial, to perfect him in some point 
 that was wanting. Poor Francis, when he was trying to 
 make his boy shine, as he thought, in the world, he did 
 not know that he was working to make him the readier 
 for heaven.' 
 
 Katherine looked up surprised, and knew not what to 
 answer, and at the same moment she heard herself called. 
 Her mother had sent Edwin to look for her, and was an- 
 noyed at her red eyes. ' My dear, you must not go on in 
 this way, you will make yourself ill, you will quite upset 
 me, and you will distress poor Sir Francis just as he is 
 beginning to recover his spirits again. Don't let me see 
 you melancholy, and recurring to distressing subjects. 
 It is over now, and you know he was not your brother, 
 after all.' (How angry this always made Kate) ; but she 
 had no occasion to answer, for her mother had sent for 
 her to consult about certain crape mantles that were to be 
 ordered for her and Emmeline, and which were to be the 
 object of Lady Willoughby 's drive to-day. 
 
 Strangely did Mr. Willoughby's words recur to Kate. 
 Her notion of life was, that people were to be as happy 
 and as good as they could ; they ought not to do wrong 
 at any cost; there were a great many misfortunes in the 
 world, and those were lucky people who got clear of them, 
 though sometimes they both punished and cured bad 
 people. Such was her practical view ; intellectually she 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 179 
 
 knew more ; in books and sermons slie heard of a Guiding 
 Hand, of an unseen world, and of being led through 
 aflSiction to the perfect day, but she was quite as little 
 able to apply it to actual life, as she would have been to 
 command in a battle after reading a book on military 
 tactics. She had thought more in the last few days than 
 ever before ; she was losing her childish shallowness. 
 The being forced to stand alone, without Emmeline's 
 guidance, was forming her ; for hitherto she had never 
 troubled herself to make an independent reflection, but 
 had thought on in her sister's channels, catching the idea 
 from look or eye, even when not spoken. For the first 
 time her mind began to acquire a mould of its own. And 
 now she was walking thoughtfully by Mr. Willoughby's 
 side, along the path trodden but a week ago with Frank. 
 She showed him the places where they had played with 
 Edwin, and repeated even the things that had been said. 
 Mr. Willoughby's wish was to go to the very spot where 
 the accident had happened, and as it was now nearly low 
 water, they walked down to the beach. 
 
 But Kate had not calculated on her own nerves. No 
 sooner were they in the first of the little coves than she 
 started, and trembled at the sound of the dash of the 
 waves, and though she knew they were retreating, instead 
 of advancing, she could not help looking back every 
 minute to measure the space between the water and the 
 rocks behind, stammering and forgetting what she was 
 saying. She did not express her fears, for she knew they 
 were vain, and school-discipline had taught her to hide, 
 and put down with a strong hand, all such secret terrors 
 and dislikes ; but Mr. Willoughby perceived them. 
 
 ' We won't go on,' said he, stopping ; ' I am sure you 
 had rather not.' 
 
 ' Thank you, I do not mind,' said Kate ; ' I can go on 
 very well ; there is nothing really to be afraid of. It is 
 all nonsense.' 
 
 ' No, no, we had much better go back,' said Mr. 
 Willoughby. ' It was thoughtless in me to bring you 
 here.' 
 
 ' You are very kind,' said Kate, gratefully, ' but it is 
 all nonsense, and I should like to conquer it.' 
 
180 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' That is right,' said Mr. Willoughby only you know 
 you have had a great shock, and you may not be fit to try 
 these experiments on yourself just at present. 
 
 ' How very kind you are,' said Kate; ' but indeed I 
 had rather. We shall never walk on these sands again 
 with any one able to take care of us, and Emmie will 
 mind it the less if I have been there before.' 
 
 * Then let us go on,' said Mr Willoughby, approvingly, 
 but keeping on the inner part of the beach, as much as 
 possible away from the sound of the waves, and giving 
 her time to collect herself. She wondered how such an 
 old bachelor could have learnt so well how to treat a 
 young lady's nerves ; she had yet to learn how exquisite 
 a tact is taught in the perfect rule of charity. She led 
 him to the place where they had taken refuge ; so high 
 and so steep did the ascent now look, that she could hardly 
 persuade herself it was the same ; she told him how care- 
 fully Frank had helped them, she repeated all his words, 
 which came back on her in the very scene. Who could 
 believe that the broad expanse of shining beach had been 
 lately covered to such a depth, by those waves that now 
 rolled themselves away with a feeble dull surge, far in the 
 distance ? 
 
 ' I can hardly believe it now,' said Kate. ' How long 
 ago it seems, and yet it is all just the same as when we 
 went down that day ! ' 
 
 ' You should bring little Edwin here,' said Mr. 
 Willoughby ; * let him learn it by heart, and don't let 
 him forget his brother ; he is so like him, so like what 
 Frank was when I brought him home to Dumblethwayte, 
 fourteen years ago. Yes, fourteen years, it seems no time 
 at all ! ' he added, musingly, ' and yet it was almost all 
 his life. You see I must learn the place exactly, my 
 dear,' said he, half-smiling, ' for there will be old Grace, 
 and Mrs. Dorey, and Lawrence, all wanting to hear all 
 about it.' 
 
 ' And shall you have to tell them all ? ' said Kate. 
 
 ' Yes, of course. You do not know how fond of him 
 they were. There is Grace, who had the care of him ever 
 Bince I had him first, she loves him like her own, I do 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 181 
 
 believe. Poor Grace, I did not know how to tell her 
 when your mother's letter came ; but I do not know how 
 it was, she saw something was amiss when she came in 
 with the breakfast, and soon had it all. She was in such 
 a state, poor thing, I was obliged to send for her niece to 
 take care of her before I came away. 0, yes, they all 
 loved him witli their whole hearts, and no wonder, for he 
 was always doing something kind for them, something 
 that no one else would have thought of. He walked all 
 the way to Kenderton one day to get Lawrence a new 
 pair of spectacles ; and if you could see the screen he 
 made for old Betty Glover, to keep oif the draught as she 
 sat at the door ! Yes, Frank has left many a sore heart 
 at Dumblethwayte, but they will like to know that he 
 thought of them then. It is a thing to make some of 
 them, at least, more thoughtful.' 
 
 ' Ah ! and Juliet, how fond she was of him,' said Kate. 
 ' I am trying to write to send his love, but I cannot bear 
 to begin, it must be such grief to her.' 
 
 ' Yes, they were very fond of each other. Poor Juliet, 
 it will be a great sorrow, for they used to be very happy 
 together. And so he thought of us all, did he, dear old 
 fellow ? ' said Mr. AVilloughby, leaning against the rock, 
 * his old uncle and all ! 0, Kate, you were a hapjjy girl 
 to hear it, I could almost grudge it to you.' 
 
 ' I would not have missed it for any thing ! ' said 
 Kate, earnestly. 
 
 ' And the early Communion on the Annunciation, and 
 the last thing to put his little brother in safety, and say 
 those words ! ' said Mr Willoughby. ' 0, my boy, could 
 I have sought any thing better for you ! ' 
 
 ' The early Ccmmunion,' said Kate ; '* I did not know 
 of that.' 
 
 ' It was Mr. Brent who told me — he never missed ; he 
 was one of the few that morning, when little did they 
 think it was to be his last here.' 
 
 'He told us,' said Kate, eagerly, 'he begged us so 
 much to think of our Confirmation and Communion ! ' 
 
 She was surprised at Mr. Willoughby's look of con 
 Bternation. 
 
182 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' My dear ! wliy, surely you have been Conlirmed ?' 
 * No,' said Kate, more ashamed of the omission than 
 bhe had ever been before, and frightened at seeing the 
 old man very much shocked. 
 
 'Nor your sister?' said he; then laying his hand on 
 her arm, he added, ' Then indeed 3'ou have double cause 
 to be thankful that you were spared ! ' and Kate was sure 
 he was giving thanks, though she did not realize what he 
 meant ; and neither at the hour of peril, nor subsequently, 
 had she considered the danger of her own death, and the 
 life after it. The thought that those green waves might 
 have closed over her also, that she and Emmeline might 
 have been in the unknown world of spirits, where Frank 
 was, yes, and that the good old kind man who stood by her 
 side, whose rejoicing almost swallowed up his mourning 
 for his nephew, would scarce have thought of her in the 
 same manner. The horrible remembrance of the rising 
 water and dashing spray came back again in all its vivid- 
 ness, the rock became to her imagination, what it might 
 have been in reality, the portal of two worlds, into one or 
 other of which she must have entered. iVnd which ? 
 
 ' 0, uncle Willoughby ! ' cried she, and the thought al- 
 most took away her breath ; and as if it was his part to 
 pronounce her doom, she added, ' Do you mean that all — 
 that our being saved depended upon that ? ' 
 
 He looked at her very kindly and compassionately as 
 he said, ' It is not for us to judge of particular cases, but 
 surely you know what the Catechism says.' 
 
 ' Generally necessary to salvation ! ' repeated Kate. 
 ' 0, 1 never thought of all that ! I did not know we were 
 doing any thing so dreadful ! I know we were not nearly 
 so good as Frank, nor nearly so fit to die ; I know we — I 
 mean I, have numbers of sins, but I thought — ! I don't 
 know what I thought. Mr. Willoughby,' she added, try- 
 ing to recover her voice, and speak coherently, ' will you 
 tell me all about it, for I believe I am all wrong and very 
 bad indeed, and nobody has ever said a word to us about 
 these things since Herbert went away ; ' and she burst 
 into tears. 
 
 Compose yourself, my dear, compose yourself,' said 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 183 
 
 Mr. Willougliby, making her sit down upon a rock. ' In^ 
 deed, I did not mean to distress you — I am sorry — no, I 
 am not sorry, if this is to be better for you. You shall 
 tell me any thing you please, ask me any thing ; you know ' 
 — and he kindly put his hand on her shoulder — ' you are 
 Frank's sister, so you must be like my child.' Kate laid 
 hold of his hand and held it tight. ' How can you be so 
 kind, when you think me so very bad.' 
 
 * You are Frank's sister, you know,' repeated the old 
 man, ' if I had no other reason for caring for you. Be- 
 sides, perhaps I do not think you so very bad.' 
 
 * 0, you cannot think me worse than I am,' said Kate. 
 ' I see how little I have cared really to do right, and that 
 I have thought hardly at all about holy things. Yes, I 
 know I am very bad, but I did not think that you would 
 think I should — I should not have been saved — if — if I 
 had been drowned that evening.' 
 
 ' My dear, my dear, do not think I said any such 
 thing.' 
 
 Kate looked at him and went on, ' I thought if I put 
 my trust in our Saviour's mercy — but perhaps I don't do 
 that right. I do not really understand it.' 
 
 ' Come with me now,' said Mr. Willoughby, ' let us 
 walk homewards, and I will try to answer you.' 
 
 Kate rose, and though the tide had begun to come in 
 again, she did not think of it as she heard only his voice. 
 
 ' My dear child, I did not say — Heaven forbid I 
 should — any thing so dreadful as what you imagined, 
 though it may fairly, and with all truth, be said that each 
 moment God spares us, it is in His mercy, and because 
 we need a longer time to fit us to go. And it is not what 
 I think, but what you are." 
 
 ' I can't feel that I was good enough, no, that nobody 
 ever could be ; but surely Emmie, who thinks so much 
 more, and makes such good schemes, surely you don't 
 think so of her. ! you don't half know how good she 
 is,' said Kate. 
 
 ' Yes, yes, my dear I believe it all ; but it is of your- 
 self that you are talking.' 
 
 ' I can't think of myself without Emmie,' said Kate 
 
184 THE CASTLE EUILDERS. 
 
 * but then she has so much more thoughtfulness, that it is 
 all a diflfercnt thing ; she does think about doing right, 
 and I think about I don't know what. But the Confir- 
 mation, that is the thing, how does that make such a great 
 diflference ? I know it is a great solemn vow that brings 
 all our baptismal promises home to us in an awful way, 
 and that is why we were afraid of it, it would be so much 
 worse to break it.' 
 
 ' But Confirmation is not only the vow.' 
 
 ' Yes, the blessing, the giving of the Holy Spirit,' said 
 Kate ; * but that we receive at our Baptism too. And so 
 many little children die before they can be Confirmed.' 
 
 ' Yes, but we know what the Church has decided in 
 their case. Besides, they have not had so many years to 
 sin away the grace received at Baptism.' 
 
 ' Then if I had been Confirmed, that grace might have 
 kept me more in earnest about doing right ? ' 
 
 ' Surely, but that is not all.' 
 
 * I have thought of something,' said Kate, looking 
 down, and flushing deeply, ' I know now why you were so 
 shocked. That text about, " Except ye eat the Flesh of 
 the Son of Man."' 
 
 She saw that it was what he meant, and after a pause 
 she said, ' They tell us to put our trust in our Saviour, 
 and that that is all.' 
 
 ' It is the root of all, the life of all,' said Mr. Wil- 
 loughby, earnestly, and there he stopped, but his silence 
 was suggestive. 
 
 ' But these are the means ? the means of profiting by 
 it,' said she, looking up at him. ' I see better now.' 
 
 ' I was sure you would,' said Mr. "Willoughby. 
 
 ' The means whereby we receive the same, and a pledge 
 to assure us thereof,' said Kate. ' Yes, it is very odd, I 
 knew it all the time, but I never thought — 0, I see, I see, 
 I remember ! was it in a book or in a sermon of Herbert's 
 that it said, that love and trust in our Saviour is the stair 
 up to Heaven, and that these things, these Church ordi- 
 nances, are the steps? yes, and you are so happy 
 about Frank, because you know so well that he had firm 
 hold of the steps.' 
 
 i 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 185 
 
 * As far as it is given to man to see, thank God,' said 
 Mr. Willougliby, fervently, ' he did indeed hold fast to 
 them inwardly as well as outwardly ; their grace was al- 
 ways round him, and he went on from strength to strength !' 
 ' They had a book at Copseley,' said Kate, ' where 
 there were emblematical pictures, and in one of them 
 there was a great ray of light reaching down from Heaven, 
 and good people were walking up it ; like the path of 
 glory, as Edwin called it, over the sea that evening. Was 
 not Frank's life like that?' 
 
 The half smile, and the tear in the old man's eye, 
 showed that she had given him great pleasure ; and earn- 
 est as Kate had been on her own behalf a minute before, 
 the thought of him, of Frank, of things present, were 
 overpowering the more personal ones, and she was begin- 
 ning to talk on about Frank, but Mr. Willoughby brought 
 her back. ' And let us try to make our lives as like it as 
 may be, by God's Grace.' 
 
 ' 0, I wish I could, I wish I could try ! ' said Kate. 
 ' But no, I never could be good enough for glory. I don't 
 want glory, I only want to be safe, and you see I have 
 not got hold of even one of the steps, and what is more, I 
 am afraid it is our own fault.' 
 ' How, my dear ? ' 
 
 ' We were to have been Confirmed at school,' said Kate, 
 * but it was to have been just at the time that mamma and 
 Sir Francis came home, and we were shy about speaking 
 to them about it, and I am afraid we did not think it im- 
 portant enough ; besides, we were afraid of it, and of the 
 Holy Communion, and so we missed it, though we had 
 been prepared, I mean as far as examination could prepare 
 us, and had even had our Confirmation tickets.' 
 
 Mr. Willoughby thought that this might not be en- 
 tirely Kate's own fault, so he would not dwell upon it, 
 but asked if there was not soon to be another Confirma- 
 tion. 'Yes,' said Kate, 'and dear Frank has been trying 
 to stir us up to it ever since he first heard of it. I am 
 sure we would not miss it now for anything, but I do not 
 know how to begin about it.' 
 
 ' Shall I speak to Mr. Brent ? ' said Mr. Willoughby. 
 
186 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 Kate caught at the proposal. I am sure Emmie and 
 I shall both be very glad if you will be so kind. But I 
 don't want to be ungrateful to Mr. Brent, and we do look 
 up to him very much, but we are very much afraid of 
 him ; I wish you could teach us yourself.' 
 
 ' I will answer any thing you like, I should like nothing 
 better than to try to help you,' said Mr. Willoughby, 
 ' but I shall not be here long, and Mr. Brent is your own 
 Clergyman.' 
 
 ' If you think it right,' said Kate. 
 
 ' Shy, shy,' said Mr. Willoughby, ' but that is soon 
 got over. Hark ! there is the bell. Do you wish to go 
 home to your sister, or will you come to Church this 
 evening 1 ' 
 
 ' Emmie will not expect me yet,' said Kate. ' I 
 should like to go.' 
 
 They crossed the fields which led towards the town, 
 and entered the Church. It was the first time Kate had 
 been there • since the morning before the accident, and 
 there was something strange in finding it so unchanged. 
 As she stood, knelt, and followed the Prayers and 
 Psalms, her thoughts often roamed away; a desultory 
 life like hers had been no training in devotion. She was 
 in earnest now ; her eyes had been open to perceive that 
 Frank had led a hidden life, that there was something 
 going on within him, of which his outward acts were the 
 tokens ; and for the first time she saw that that hidden 
 life was the real one, that she herself, while satisfied with 
 the material world, was living in a dream, and that it was 
 only they who look at the things that are not seen, whose 
 life had any realit3^ There was the abiding conscious- 
 ness that except her Baptism, she had missed the taking 
 hold of the pledges of salvation, and far and dark arose 
 behind her the long array of actions, faulty in themselves ; 
 and how few, if any, performed, because she stood in the 
 presence of God. 
 
 She had looked forward to joining in the thanksgiving 
 with especial thoughts of her preservation from danger, 
 but her attention had gone away, and she felt herself 
 humiliated by having thus missed it. She came out m9X(* 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS, 187 
 
 dissatisfied with herself, and yet hoping that this might 
 be the starting point for doing better. They lingered a 
 little, and Mr. AVilloughby looking across towards the 
 east end of the Church, said, in a low voice, ' There.' 
 Kate saw the new-made grave, but they could not go up 
 to it. She could not separate Frank from the body that, 
 as she shuddered to think, lay beneath the green turf. 
 Herbert, too, might it not be even now the same with 
 him ? And Kate herself, she had escaped death once, 
 but it must come some time or other, she was going on to 
 the grave. If she could but be safe. Mr. Willoughby 
 walked slowly, and stopped several times, till presently 
 Mr. Brent overtook them. He shook hands with Mr. 
 Willoughby, and inquired with much interest after Miss 
 Berners and the rest at home. ' Here is a catechumen 
 for you,' Mr. Willoughby said, ' who has only been pre- 
 vented by a little shyness, from applying to you be- 
 fore.' 
 
 Kate had been far from expecting this, and crimsoned 
 all over as Mr. Brent asked, rather as if pleased than 
 otherwise, ' You are not Confirmed then ? ' 
 
 ' No,' said she, looking down, 'nor my sister.' 
 
 ' I thought it must be so,' said Mr, Brent, ' and — ' 
 
 ' My brother's coming home took them from school, 
 and their Confirmation was prevented, unfortunately, last 
 year,' said the much quicker Mr. Willoughby, ' but they 
 are very anxious for it now. Perhaj)s, when Miss Kate 
 has seen her mamma and sister, and spoken about it, we 
 may be able to make some arrangements about your see- 
 ing them.' 
 
 ' Certainly,' said Mr. Brent. ' I suppose it will be 
 better for me to come to you ? ' 
 
 0, thank you, yes, pray — ' said Kate, hesitatingly, 
 and rather frightened, ' but my sister is not well enough 
 yet, thank you.' 
 
 ' Yes, yes, we will make further arrangements,' said 
 Mr. Willoughby, soothingly. 
 
 ' I shall be very glad to do whatever will suit you 
 best,' said Mr. Brent, who knew he might safely trust hia 
 arrangements to Mr. Willoughby. 
 
188 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' Thank you, you are very kind — good morning ; ' and 
 they went their diflferent ways. 
 
 ' Did I frighten you, did I hui'ry it on too much ? ' said 
 Mr. Willoughby, apologetically. 
 
 ' No ; oh no, thank you ; I am very glad to have it 
 done,' said Kate, sighing, and then they walked fast till 
 they came indoors. Kate ran eagerly up stairs, and into 
 the room where Emmeline sat wrapped up in shawls, in a 
 great chair by the fire. Miss Townsend was by the table, 
 reading aloud, but as soon as Kate entered, she rose and 
 went away. 
 
 ' Well, dear Emmie, how have you been ? Have you 
 wanted me ? ' 
 
 'No, not much; mamma came up before she went 
 out, and nurse brought in Cecilia for a little while, and 
 she was very pleasant and good. You must have had a 
 long walk.' 
 
 ' To the beach with Mr. Willoughby,' said Kate, 
 gravely. 
 
 ' You have not ? No, don't talk to me about it, Kate ; 
 I can't bear it,' and Emmeline shuddered. 
 
 ' And we have been to Church,' said Kate. ' And I 
 have had such a talk with uncle Willoughby.' 
 
 Emmeline turned her head away, she was afraid to 
 hear about it. 
 
 ' And Emmie, he has spoken to Mr. Brent about our 
 Confirmation.' 
 
 ' Has he, indeed ? ' said Emmeline, starting, and 
 speaking half reproachfully ; ' 0, Kate ! ' 
 
 ' I said you were not well enough for the examination,' 
 added Kate, * and you shall not be hurried ; they were 
 both very kind, and Mr. Brent will do everything to suit 
 us.' 
 
 ' I am sure I must be very well indeed, before I can 
 undergo another examination,' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' But you would not miss another opportunity on any 
 account,' said Kate. ' Remember — ' 
 
 ' No, indeed,' said Emmeline; 'but I am not well 
 enough to think yet. Kate, this little sitting up has 
 tired me very much.' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 189 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Prnne thon thy words, the thoughts control, 
 
 That o'er thee swell and throng; 
 They will condense within thy soul, 
 
 And turn to purpose strong. 
 
 LtraT Apostolioa. 
 
 In the evening, came another letter from Malta, very 
 short, for Constance could spare little time from her hus- 
 band, who still lived, though in sad suffering. 
 
 ' Poor young fellow ! ' said Sir Francis, pettishly, as 
 if angered at sorrow being brought before him again. 
 
 ' My poor Constance ! ' softly murmured his wife ; ' it 
 will be enough to break one's heart to see her come home 
 a widow. Only nineteen, poor love ; I am sure I shall 
 never bear it! ' 
 
 Sir Francis was still too much subdued to impeach the 
 Daily Service as the origin of Lord Herbert's illness, but 
 he did what was almost as unpleasant — speculating on 
 what Lady Herbert's income would be. Kate turned her 
 eyes on him, and wondered if he could be the man who, 
 two evenings previously, had been so overwhelmed w^ith 
 grief The furrows on his face were more deeply ploughed, 
 his eyes were sunk, he looked more worn and old, but the 
 grief had been like a tornado, crushing, tearing, uprooting, 
 and passing away without any fertilizing effect on the soil.' 
 
 ' Don't you think,' said Kate, suddenly breaking into 
 the midst, ' that Emmie ought to hear this ? ' 
 
 ' Ah ! poor Emmie. My dear, you must be cautious. 
 Kememoer, sue is very weak.' 
 
190 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' Yes, but the shock will be so much worse when it 
 does come,' said Kate. 
 
 * Quite right, I should think,' said Mr. Willoughby, 
 looking up. 
 
 Lady Willoughby thought that she ought not to be 
 told till Mr. Edwards' sanction had been obtained, and 
 after both she and Sir Francis had brought several in- 
 stances to support their opinion, she desired Kate to ring 
 for the bed-room candles. 
 
 Mr. Willoughby's look and pressure of the hand gave 
 a soothing, refreshing sensation of sympathy and aflfection 
 to poor Kate ; though she did not know how he was pity- 
 ing her in his heart, and thinking how hard it was for her 
 good impressions to take root in such an atmosphere. 
 
 All the way up-stairs. Lady Willoughby was bewailing 
 this sad event, coming just as they might hope to be re- 
 covering their spirits; it was most untoward; and exactly 
 when she was kioking forward, too, to introducing Emme- 
 line and Kate. 
 
 ' I am sure it will be a long time before we will feel 
 gay enough to enjoy that ! thank you, mamma,' said Kate, 
 sorrowfully; ' and I had much rather be safe than gay.' 
 
 ' That is what I say,' continued her mother, without 
 much attending to the latter part of the speech — ' your 
 spirits are quite gone, and while this sad state of things 
 continues, we can do nothing to raise them. And to be 
 sure the poor good old man likes it, and he is not going 
 to stay long, and he is Sir Francis's brother, so that I 
 would not have you do anything at all like neglect of him; 
 but I think those long walks with him are very bad for 
 you. You come in with your eyes as red ! And what u 
 the use of dwelling on the poor boy for ever? ' 
 
 ' Mamma,' said Kate, aghast, ' those walks are my 
 greatest delight.' 
 
 'Well, they will not last long,' said Lady Willoughby. 
 ' It is very kind and attentive in you, and I certainly 
 would not prevent it, for I believe his nephew is a great 
 loss to him, poor old man.' 
 
 ' I wish I could be as good as he is,' said Kate. 
 
 ' You are quite good enough for me, my dearest,' said 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 191 
 
 Lady "Willoughby. ' I do not know what I should have 
 done without you at this sad time.' 
 
 If there had not been much on Kate's spirits, into 
 which Emmeline did not choose to inquire, she would as- 
 suredly have seen the bad news in her face, for she was 
 broad awake, and her sister was obliged to exert herself 
 to talk and read her to sleep. But when she was at length 
 asleep, and Kate knelt down and hid her face in her hands, 
 she did feel comfort; for now, for the first time, she truly 
 felt that her Baptism had made her a child of God, and 
 that He was the living Father of Constance and of Her- 
 bert too, and could send comfort upon them aU. And if 
 the thought so relieved her, wandering, erring, and un 
 thankful as she had hitherto been, what must it not be to 
 them, who, as she believed, had never gone astray? 
 
 She slept quietly, and her morning walk to Church 
 with Mr. Willoughby, far from depressing her, as her 
 mamma fancied, braced and cheered her. She had the 
 sad pleasure of telling him all about Lord Herbert, his 
 arrangements in his curacy, and how happy they had been 
 together, and of seeing that he thought it all admirable. 
 And the thorough reality of his faith in the unseen world, 
 and his conviction that all was ordered for the best, raised 
 her for the time, to something of the same tone. Kate 
 was very impressible, and now, for want of Emmeline's 
 guiding influence, her mind was fast winding itself round 
 him. \Yould this last when he was gone? 
 
 Mr. Edwards held that Miss Berners had better be 
 told of Lord Herbert's danger, since it might be difficult 
 to conceal the tidings of his death, when they should 
 actually arrive, and the shock would then come without 
 preparation, and might have * a serious effect on her 
 delicate frame.' 
 
 Lady Willoughby would never do anything painful^ 
 and of course the communication was left to Kate, who, 
 though generally ready to rush into saying anything at the 
 first moment, had been frightened by all that had been 
 said, and when at last she went up-stairs, she looked so 
 desperate and resolved, that her face alarmed her sister 
 into saying, ' My dear Kate, what is the matter ? ' 
 
192 . THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' Do I look as if there was anything the matter?' said 
 Kate in a rigidly calm voice. 
 
 ' You do, indeed, said Emmeline, growing frightened. 
 ' Come, tell me Kate.' 
 
 ' There is a bad account of Herbert,' said Kate, doling 
 out her words as Miss Danby used to do. 
 
 * Say it at once,' don't keep me in suspense,' said Em- 
 meline, ' he is dead ! ' 
 
 * 0, no, no, ^0,' cried Kate, ' do not think so.' 
 
 * I am sure of it,' said Emmeline, * and mamma has 
 ordered you not to tell. Come, Kate, say. 0, Constance !' 
 
 ' No, Emmie, he is alive — indeed he is — at least it was 
 so when Constance wrote. Here read for yourself; the 
 letter came last night.' 
 
 Kate threw both letters into her lap, and watched her 
 face eagerly. It was better than she expected, for even 
 they were a relief. Kate did not know whether to be glad 
 or sorry, when she saw the tears flowing fast down her 
 sister's cheeks, as she drew a vivid picture of what might 
 even now be passing at Malta. 
 
 ' 0, Kate, never to see him again, and when we have 
 been so happy together, and sweet, dear Constance, droop- 
 ing and saddened for life ; she will not live long, Kate, I 
 am sure she will not. She loves Herbert too much. O, 
 is it not cruel ? ' 
 
 ' Don't say such things, dear Emmie ; it only makes 
 us more unhappy, and you know we shall have to comfort 
 her when she comes home.' 
 
 ' Don't talk of her coming home,' cried Emmeline ; 
 ' it will be only to see her droop and fade. I know what 
 it will be like : 
 
 "Despair it was come, and she thought it was content, 
 She thought it was content, and yet her cheek grew pale, 
 And she drooped like a lily broke down by the hail.'" 
 
 ' Yes,' said Kate, crying bitterly ; ' but we must show 
 how we love her.' 
 
 ' Our love — yes, we love her with all our hearts,' said 
 Emmeline, with an expressive gesture, ' but what can we 
 do ? Don't you know, Kate, that the very utmost of sis- 
 ters' love is nothing to what she is losing?' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 193 
 
 ' Losing, oil ! no, never losing,' said Kate ; ' how often 
 you have said that love never dies. Mr. Willoughby does 
 not feel as if he had lost Frank's love.' 
 
 ' It may be there,' said Emmeline — ' yes, I believe 
 assuredly it is, but it is not warm about one's heart, as it 
 is here. 0, Kate, Kate, how dreary the world will be 
 now ! Every bit of our happiness is gone away for ever.' 
 
 * Not each other,' said Kate, and she whispered, * not 
 trying to be better !' 
 
 ' But think, think,' said Emmeline, impatiently, ' of 
 day after day, going on, trying to find something to care 
 for, and a stupid walk every day, and hearing nothing but 
 mamma and Sir Francis all the evening. And he for 
 whose sake there was some pleasure in exerting oneself, 
 he who made all bright that he touched, he whom I loved 
 like a brother — 0, Kate, Kate,' and again Emmeline hid 
 her face overpowered with weeping. 
 
 Kate would have taken this moment for telling her 
 how affectionately Frank had mentioned them to his uncle, 
 but Emmeline would only talk herself, of the notion that 
 all her happiness was over ; Frank had been their only 
 comfort in their own house, Herbert and Constance their 
 only hope beyond it, and she had not energy enough to 
 catch at the thought of comforting her sister ; the dread 
 of meeting grief only oppressed her as it did her mother. 
 
 Kate was called away, having caught all her sister's 
 despondency, and conscious that she had not said any- 
 thing that she ought. She did not get a walk with Mr. 
 Willoughby ; her mother made a point of taking her for a 
 drive, and she was obliged to endure the Marine Prome- 
 nade. 
 
 Weary, sad, heavy-hearted, her spring of hope in the 
 desire of goodness fast failing her, she slowly walked up 
 stairs, leaning on the balusters. That consciousness of 
 being the child of a loving Father, had left her — the 
 thought of Frank's path of glory was away — she only saw 
 that he was gone, that Herbert was going, that Emmeline 
 was ill and miserable, Constance probably broken-hearted, 
 the world all dreariness and sadness. She entered the 
 room. Miss Townsend was reading aloud, and Emmeline 
 9 
 
194 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 was sitting upright, leaning forward, her hands clasped, 
 her eyes glistening, her cheek touched with a * dawning 
 bloom.' 
 
 '0, Kate! it is so beautiful!' exclaimed she; and 
 Kate, taking off her bonnet, and sitting down, heard the 
 concluding page of a sermon; after which Miss Townscnd 
 closed the book, and, as Emmoliue eagerly said, ' 0, thank 
 you, is not it most beautiful V ' answered in her demure 
 voice, ' Yes, it is very striking,' then put some coals on 
 the fire, and left the room. 
 
 ' She has not one spark of enthusiasm in her,' cried 
 Emmeline, impatiently. ' Kate, I wish you would begin 
 again, and read it over to me. I want to drink it in, and 
 see if you do not delight in it.' 
 
 It was in one of those volumes which Frank had de- 
 sired them to read. Emmeline had begun by scarcely 
 attending, but the beauty of the language gradually had 
 attracted her, and she was now full of excitement. Kate 
 willingly complied, for she was rejoiced for her sister's 
 sake, and glad for her own, to be brought back to the 
 unseen realities of which she was beginning to lose her 
 grasp. The sermon seemed to have been sent as an 
 answer to their complaints of loneliness and dreariness. 
 It spoke of the glorious company to which they belonged; 
 of the Angels at their side; of the Saints made perfect, 
 who were their brethren; of the whole Catholic Church, 
 praying with them, and for them ; of the Comforter 
 within their hearts; of the Brother who is touched with 
 a feeling of our infirmities; of the Father whose hand is 
 ever over us. Dreary and dark the world around might 
 be, but the path of the righteous would only bo a shining 
 light, shining more and more unto the perfect day. 
 
 It was beautiful, and how doubly beautiful, because it 
 was true, less than the truth instead of more ! Peace re- 
 turned to Kate's rufiied breast, as the invisible unfolded 
 itself so refreshingly ; joy glanced in Emmeline's eyes, as 
 if it had been some new thing that she had heard. ' It 
 is a message from Heaven, sent us by our dear Frank,' 
 said she. ' 0, yes, Kate, the gloomier the night around, 
 the brighter shows the Christian's path.' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 195 
 
 'Indeed it does," said Kate; 'wc can see now the 
 bright thread like those in the Dark River. Don't you 
 remember, Emmie ? ' 
 
 ' Oh, yes !' exclaimed Emmeline, ' it is a different thing 
 now, for we all bear a charm within ; you and I, Kate, 
 may live in a world of our own.' 
 
 '■ The real world ? ' said Kate. 
 
 ' Yes, the only reality. Oh ! where have our hearts 
 been so long? That is the world, Kate, where we may 
 truly meet Dear Frank, and Herbert, and our own father 
 — yes, more truly than those with whom we have outward 
 intercourse.' 
 
 'When we really do come near, to the Altar, I mean,' 
 said Kate — ' 0, Emmie, don't you wish for the time ? ' 
 
 ' With all my heart,' said Emmeline ; ' then we shall 
 be full Christians, united to the better world, within and 
 above, and independent of the earthly world below and 
 around.' 
 
 ' Yes, I am very glad uncle Willoughby has made a 
 beginning, and spoken to Mr. Brent,' said Kate ; ' I hope 
 we shall soon be able to fix a day.' 
 
 ' Mr. Brent ! ' repeated Emmeline ; ' yes, he is a very 
 good man, and I am sure we have every ground of strong 
 gratitude, but I do not at all look forward to a meeting 
 with him. His dry, cold, matter-of-fact manner, is what 
 I could never bear on a subject like this ; it would drive 
 away all my feelings.' 
 
 Kate sighed, and disliked the notion of the interviews 
 more than she had done before. However, when she went 
 down stairs again, it was with a cheerful, trusting, hoping 
 heart. 
 
 These thoughts did not lose their force; Emmeline 
 found in them her only rest from her sorrows. Perhaps, 
 indeed, she liked to make the worst of her home for the 
 sake of feeling herself and her sister still more of bright 
 lights in a naughty world. Kate went along with, and 
 was guided by, all she said, and was the happier for it. 
 She still walked with Mr. Willoughby, while her mother 
 and Sir Francis drove out together, often taking Edwin 
 with them ; Miss Townsend read to Euameline, and Janet 
 walked with Cecilia and the nurse. 
 
196 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 Now nurse liked nothing so well as to parade Cecilia 
 up and down the Marine Promenade, or the terrace, where 
 people often used to stop her, to admire the pretty child, 
 and where other nursemaids were to be met, to whom she 
 could have the pleasure of telling the history of the acci- 
 dent, her master's grief, and her own exertions. Nurse, 
 in her new mourning, and with the two little girls in black, 
 felt herself a person of still more consequence, and paced 
 along with great dignity. Now, to Janet, this stately 
 orderly walk was no small punishment in itself; she was 
 told to play with the children who were with the other 
 nurses, but she was shy, and shrank from them ; while the 
 sweet-faced Cecilia laughed and looked delighted ; or she 
 hung back, and kept aloof from the talk of the maids, 
 with a repugnance to hearing the history of her brother's 
 death, and her father's grief gossipped over. Then nurse 
 pointed her out, and told the other maids that there never 
 was a more sullen, jealous-tempered child ; unlike the 
 others, how very unlike dear little Miss Cecilia; and poor 
 Janet saw the evil eyes of the nurses, and the wondering 
 curious glances of those happy little children, whom her 
 imagination pictured as calling her ' that naughty little 
 girl.' Her belief in her own jealousy grew, and with it 
 grew the temper itself, and bitterness against her brother 
 and sister ; for there was no concealment that Edwin was 
 the pet and the hero ; and he who had hitherto been her 
 companion in comparative neglect, was now set above her 
 everywhere but in the school-room. There, shall we say 
 that Miss Townsend's strong feeling for her poor little 
 neglected Janet, did not bias her a little too much in her 
 favor? or was it that Edwin was really ' set up,' and less 
 well behaved ? Certain it is, that Edwin was often in dis- 
 grace, and Janet was never sorry for it. Frightened a 
 her joy in his misfortunes, she hid it carefully from all 
 eyes, and went on in moodiness and reserve. 
 
 Saturday morning came, and Mr. Willoughby must 
 go back to the solitary home, from which the brightest 
 earthly hope was gone for ever. Kate walked by him to 
 Church that morning. 
 
 ' Would it, would it be too great a favour,' said Mr. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 197 
 
 Willougliby, as tlicy were going home, ' to ask you to 
 write to me sometimes?' 
 
 ' 0,' cried Kate, eagerly, ' may I ? Would you be so 
 kind ? ' 
 
 ' The kindness will be to me,' said Mr Willoughby, in 
 bis tboroughly-in-earnest manner. 
 
 'But to write silly young ladies' letters to you?' 
 said Kate. 
 
 ' Never mind,' said Mr. Willoughby, * if it only is not 
 taking up too much of your time. You see, my dear, I 
 hope it is not selfish of me, but I shall miss my boy's 
 letters, and I shall want to know about my brother, and 
 ,your mother and the children, and of Lord Herbert and 
 your sister.' 
 
 * 0, I do not want any persuading; it will be the 
 greatest pleasure, the greatest comfort to me,' said Kate. 
 
 ' Thank you. I am afraid you will not find me a 
 good correspondent in return,' added Mr. Willoughby. 
 ' An old stupid country parson has not much to say out 
 of his parish ; humdrum letters, I am afraid.' 
 
 '0, no, you know I have heard so much about 
 Dumblethwayte,' said Kate. ' I know almost all the 
 people : Grace, and Lawrence, and Mrs. Dory, and Betty; 
 you will tell me all about them. And perhaps some day 
 Sir Francis will bring us to see you ; how I should like 
 that.' 
 
 He smiled well pleased. ' Aye, aye,' said he, ' and 
 you will tell me about your Confirmation, and how you 
 get on with Mr. Brent.' 
 
 ' yes ; and may I ask you ? will you answer me 
 when we are in a difiiculty ? 0, how kind you are ! Now 
 I have some hope of keeping up the remembrance of wha*, 
 we cannot see.' 
 
 ' May you never lose it, my dear,' said he, and they 
 went into the house. 
 
 An hour after, Kate stood at the door with the rest 
 of the party, wishing Mr. Willoughby good-bye. She felt 
 as if the ' G-od bless you,' with which he shook hands with 
 her, was a holy charm. 
 
 Before he went, he had assisted in making an appoint- 
 
198 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 mcnt with Mr. Brent for the next week. Emmeline wa3 
 much better, able to drive out, and to be down stairs all 
 the evening. She was, however, still weak, nervous, and 
 excitable, sometimes rather feverish, and as Mr. Edwards 
 and Lady Willoughby used to say to each other, her con- 
 stitution had received a great shock, and the oppression 
 on her spirits prevented her from rallying. The truth 
 was, that she could talk to Kate, read, and work herself 
 up into great excitement, and be happier than in any of 
 her former visions, for there was more self-approval and 
 certainty that it was not a dream ; but this was only when 
 they were alone together ; when with the rest of the 
 family, she was abstracted and melancholy, and the va- 
 cancy which Frank had left, struck her more sensibly, 
 as the others were becomin<x in some de^rree accustomed 
 to it. 
 
 Both dreaded Mr. Brent, and looked forward to the 
 interview with reluctance, not lessened by their shame at 
 having such- feelings towards their rescuer. His stiff dry 
 manner disagreed with Emmeline's enthusiasm, and the 
 remembrance of the old awkwardness with the London 
 curate, served as a bugbear ; but it was inevitable, if 
 they were to go through with the Confirmation, and they 
 were thoroughly in earnest in meaning to do this, if it 
 were only for the sake of fulfilling Frank's dying request. 
 
 The day had come, and in the morning Emmeline re- 
 ceived a long letter from Juliet, describing her uncle's 
 first Sunday at home, and the strong tokens of affection 
 everywhere testified by his parishioners for him and for 
 his nephew. 
 
 The letter made Emmeline cry, and she looked very 
 languid when she came down to her mother's dressing- 
 room. She was restless and nervous about Mr. Brent's 
 coming, and was working herself up to a very unnecessary 
 and exaggerated degree of dread. If Frank had been 
 there to laugh at her, it would have been the best thing ; 
 but Kate was of the same mind, that it would be very 
 formal and unpleasant. And Lady Willoughby thought 
 it very awkward, very strange ; indeed, when she was at 
 school, people were Confirmed without any thing like such 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 199 
 
 preparation. It was all very right for poor people ; but 
 Mr. Brent could not doubt that they had been properly 
 instructed. Moreover, she was sure Emmie was not fit to 
 see him to-day. 
 
 ' 0, yes, mamma, I assure you I am ; I would not put 
 it off on any account,' said Emmeline, feebly. 
 
 * But there will be plenty of time, my dear, if you 
 are so anxious about it. The Confirmation is not for a 
 month.' 
 
 * Hark, there he is ! ' said Kate, as there was a ring 
 at the door bell. 
 
 Emmeline started up, looked nervously about, and 
 her colour went and came. 
 
 ' Indeed, my dearest, you must not go down,' said 
 Lady Willoughby ; ' pray, my dear, you had much better 
 not.' 
 
 Emmeline knew it would not do her any harm, but 
 the disinclination, which she had been nursing, was quite 
 strong enough to make her ready to seize any excuse. 
 
 ' See, she is quite in a flutter, poor child,' said Lady 
 Willoughby. ' Come, lie down on the sofa, and think no 
 more about it, my dear ; it is very bad for you.' 
 
 ' Mr. Brent in the drawing-room,' said a servant. 
 
 ' Tell him we are very much obliged to him, but Miss 
 Berners is not well enough this morning,' said Lady 
 Willoughby, looking doubtfully at Emmeline. 
 
 ' 0, stop, mamma,' said Kate, ' I had better go down.' 
 
 ' You, Kate,' said Emmeline, ' and alone ? No, if you 
 do, I must.' 
 
 ' It would be so odd, my dear,' said her mother. 
 
 ' No, I had rather speak to him at all events for a 
 moment,' said Kate, her colour coming into her face as if 
 it was a great effort. ' I will come presently.' 
 
 ' Well, then, I suppose I must come,' said Emmeline, 
 piteously. 
 
 ' I do not see any occasion for that,' said Kate, mus- 
 tering resolution as she had done about the waves ; ' you 
 had better stay quiet, dear Emmie.' 
 
 ' Yes, that she should, my dear,' said Lady Wil- 
 loughby ; ' see how much overcome she is ; and it will 
 
200 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 do just as well another time, and not be at all uncivil tc 
 Mr. Brent. I will write a note and send to him down 
 Btairs.' 
 
 ' That it will, Kate,' said Emmcline ; * what is the use 
 of your going — it will be only very disagreeable.' 
 
 ' I think I had better,' said Kate. ' It can't hurt tne; 
 and I should like to feel I had done something.' 
 
 ' Very well, my dear,' said Lady Willoughby, 'perhaps 
 it will be more civil if you do make our excuses to him, 
 but you need not stay long.' 
 
 It was nearly an hour before Kate came back, and 
 she returned with a bright though serious face. 
 
 ' "Well, Kate ! what an enormous time he has kept 
 you ! How did you get on ? ' 
 
 ' 0, pretty well,' said Kate, cheerfully ; ' he read with 
 me a little, and talked, and it was much better than might 
 have been expected. I do not think I shall be in the 
 least shy next time, when you are there. He was very 
 kind, and he. is to come again this day week.' 
 
 ' Then you got on pretty well,' said Emmeline, as if 
 the last part of the information was not the pleasantest. 
 
 ' Yes, very well,' said Kate. ' I assure you we need 
 not uiind it a bit next time. I am very glad it is over, 
 for it takes away all fears for the next meeting.' 
 
 ' And was he very dry and cold ? ' asked Emmeline. 
 
 * No — no, I do not think so ; he said many things I 
 liked, and seemed full of considerateness. And I will 
 tell you what he said, Emmie,' said Kate, leaning over 
 her, and speaking in a low voice : ' he said we felt strongly 
 now, and no wonder, and all this trial had stirred us up^ 
 but we must take care that the impression does not go 
 away. ' 
 
 ' That it never can,' said Emmeline. ' So he calls all 
 this mere feeling. That is just like Mr. Brent.' 
 
 ' But, Emmie, I thought he was right. Uncle Wil 
 loughby said something very like it. Mr. Brent said 
 new scenes, new people, or employments, might put these 
 things out of our heads ; but that we must try to have 
 root in ourselves, stability of character, and that that 
 was one great help in Church rites. Besides the grace, 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 201 
 
 which is the great thing, the associations will alwaj's be 
 revived.' 
 
 On that evening, when the post came in, there was a 
 letter for Emmeline. 
 
 * A letter for me ? ' said Emmeline, anxiously. 
 
 ' Yes, my dear ! ' said Sir Francis, ' a foreign letter ; 
 but not your sister's writing.' 
 
 A dead pause. 
 
 ' It is a red seal ! ' said Kate, in a would-be hopeful 
 voice, though she gasped for breath. 
 
 ' Let us hear, let us know the worst ! ' said Sir Fran- 
 cis, getting up and walking about the room. 
 
 ' Yes — Ah ! my poor Constance ! ' said Lady Wil- 
 loughby — ' My smelling-bottle, Kate, dear.' 
 
 ' Open it, Kate ; I can't,' said Emmeline, faintly. 
 
 Kate, with trembling hands, broke the seal, and 
 scanned the besrinnino; of the letter. 
 
 ' Speak, speak ! ' sighed Emmeline. 
 
 ' No better,' began Kate — ' a dreadful night — but — ' 
 she turned the page, and again became silent, looking 
 fixedly at the letter. 
 
 ' Don't, don't,' said Emmeline, grasping at the letter. 
 
 ' I could not, because I was choked,' said Kate. ' 0, 
 Emmie, he is better — they have hope,' and she hid her 
 face on her sister's shoulder and cried. 
 
 ' Hope ! hope, did you say. Let me hear ! 0, I 
 can't read,' said Emmeline. 
 
 Kate managed to clear her voice again. ' It is this 
 little bit,' said she, ' at the end. Constance breaks off 
 suddenly, and the rest is from Lord Somerville : — 
 
 "Constance cannot leave Herbex't, and I must finish and send 
 off her letter, with better tidings than I ever thought to have to 
 send again. It seems that the late terrible suffering has been 
 caused by abscess in the lungs, and we hope the worst may now 
 be over. For the present, at least, he is much relieved, and they 
 give us leave to hope, though he is so much exhausted, tliat there 
 is still great present danger ; and of course it is impossible as yet 
 to judge how it may be, or how far the original mischief is re- 
 moved. For the time, however, the relief is infinite. Constance 
 is very well ; it is wonderful to see how she has borne up through 
 the last few weeks." 
 
 9* 
 
202 
 
 TIIK CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' There,' said Kate, with a deep sigh. 
 
 * Dear Constance,' said Lady Willoughby, ^ I only 
 hope this may be a permanent improvement.' 
 
 ' I wish it may be so,' said Sir Francis ; ' but don't 
 raise your hopes too much. It is a deceitful complaint. 
 He spoke in the fretful manner that had, since the loss of 
 his son, become almost customary with him. 
 
 ' And Lord Somervillc writes himself,' said Lady 
 Willoughby ; ' how extremely kind ! How does he sign 
 himself ? ' 
 
 ' He has not much room to sign himself at all, mamma,' 
 said Kate ; ' it is squeezed up in the corner, '• Yrs. sin- 
 cerely, S." ' 
 
 ' And had they received my letter ? ' said Lady "Wil- 
 loughby. 
 
 * No,' said Kate, looking over Constance's part of the 
 letter, ' they could not have done so.' 
 
 ' But here is a bit in the envelope,' said Emmelinc : — 
 
 ' " A letter is just come for Constance, wliieli I have not yet 
 given her, from your mother, I think, and with a black seal. I 
 hope nothing amiss. I mention it lest you should think it had 
 gone astray." ' 
 
 In two days' time came another letter, from Lady 
 Herbert to her mother, and very short. No one could 
 imagine, said she, the comfort of seeing him able to lie 
 Hat, and breathe freely. She wrote in much anxiety on 
 Emmeline's account, and expressed strong sympathy with 
 their grief for Frank, whom she said she knew well enough 
 to see what a loss he must be, and what comfort there 
 still was in his death. She had not ventured as yet to 
 tell Herbert of the adventure, as he was to be carefully 
 guarded from all excitement. 
 
 After this, Emmeline and Kate laid aside their fears, 
 and talked themselves to sleep, with delightful anticipa- 
 tions of a home in the parsonage at Copseley, a peaceful 
 life, ' alms all around, and hymns within,' the moonlight 
 walks to evening service, and the morning teaching in the 
 pretty school, under the superintendence of Herbert's 
 bright lively eye, and Constance's active sisterly affection. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 203 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Those golden palaces, those gorgeous halls 
 
 With furniture superfluously fair; 
 Those stately courts, those sky-encountering walls, 
 
 Evanish all like vapours in the air. 
 
 Teagedy of Dakixts. 
 
 When Kate came down to breakfast the next morning, 
 and Edwin, acting charioteer at the top of a pile of chairs 
 — ' Kate, Kate,' shouted he, ' I am going to London ; we 
 are all going to London.' 
 
 ' What, in your coach, Edwin 2 ' said she, after paying 
 her morning greetings, obediently offering to sit down 
 wherever Edwin might choose to dispose of his passengers. 
 
 ' No, in the train, in the real train,' said Edwin, ' and 
 aext week.' 
 
 ' Yes, Kate,' said Sir Francis, laughing and looking as 
 good-natured as he used to do ; ' what do you think of our 
 plan?' 
 
 ' To go to London,' repeated Kate, ' to stay there ? ' 
 
 ' Yes, to go to London for the season,' said her 
 mother ; ' it is time for you both to be introduced, and we 
 shall soon have dear Emmie better, when her spirits arc 
 raised by the change.' 
 
 ' Nothing like society, nothing like society,' repeated 
 Sir Francis. 
 
 * And the hippopotamus,' roared Edwin. I shall see 
 'the hippopotamus.' 
 
 ' But do you really mean next week ? ' said Kate. 
 
 ' Yes,' said Sir Francis, rubbing his hands together, 
 
204 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' Thursday tlic 20th. Rather short notice perhaps but 1 
 hate take-leave visits ; two or three days will be enough 
 to leave our p. p. c. cards and pack up.' 
 
 Edwin roared them all down again with an announce- 
 ment that he should take all his shells, and pack them up 
 in the great box. Lady Willoughby put up her hand as 
 if deafened, but Edwin was privileged, and there was not 
 soon another lull At last Lady Willoughby turned 
 towards Kate, and said, ' Why, my dear, you seem as if 
 you would never recover from your surprise. Shall you 
 not like it? ' 
 
 ' Trust her for that,' said Sir Francis, laughing. ' I 
 suppose I ought not to say what a sensation two such 
 young ladies will make.' 
 
 ' I was thinking of the Confirmation,' said Kate. 
 
 ' 0, my dear,' said Lady Willoughby, '■ you will soon 
 have another opportunity. People will never know 
 whether you are Confirmed or not. It will not make any 
 difference whether it is now or a little while hence.' 
 
 ' We should be very sorry to miss it,' said Kate ; ' it 
 is only three weeks hence.' 
 
 Kate had never made a shadow of objection to other 
 people's plans before, and both Sir Francis and Lady 
 Willoughby I'doked surprised. 
 
 *'*iMy dear, it is a pity, but it cannot be helped,' said 
 her mother. 
 
 ' No, mamma, of course I don't wish to interfere.' but 
 she could not keep back a tear of disappointment. 
 
 ' In three weeks will it be ? ' said Sir Francis, touched 
 by his favourite Kate's quiet resignation, and perhaps so 
 far improved by his affliction and his broihcr's influence, 
 as not to choose again to oppose what was felt as a reli- 
 gious obligation. 
 
 ' Yes,' said Kate, ' the day is the 30th of April.' 
 
 ' Well, I don't know, if you are so anxious about it, if 
 it might not do better in this way : If I was to go on to 
 town and look at a house, and have all ready for you, and 
 then come back to fetch you ? Eh ? ' 
 
 Lady Willoughby did not look. * I am sure the girls 
 are very much obliged to you,' said she ; ' but they would 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 205 
 
 not wish by any means to interfere with your plans. And 
 really I should not like to put off the journey. I do not 
 like you to go alone, and not take care of yourself at an 
 hotel, and we to be left alone to have all the bustle of pay- 
 ing bills and packing up. With dear Emmie so unequal 
 to everything, too. 0, no, we cannot do without papa. I 
 am sure Emmie and Kate cannot wish it.' 
 
 ' I don't want them to be disappointed,' said Sir Fran- 
 cis, looking good-naturedly at Kate ; ' it is the concern of 
 you ladies, and you may settle it as you will, only don't 
 let it be said that I stopped this Confirmation business, in 
 the face of their wishes.' And Sir Francis, with a sigh, 
 pushed his chair from the table, called Edwin to come out 
 with him, and left the room, while his wife was saying, 'I 
 am sure you are very kind. We will see what Emmeline 
 says.' 
 
 ' And now, Katie, my dear,' said Lady Willoughby, 
 when the door was closed, ' let me beg of you not to make 
 a point of sta^^ing on here for this Confirmation.' 
 
 ' I would not, indeed I would not, dear mamma,' said 
 Kate, ' if — if I did not feel that it was the only hope of 
 being good, and one of the very last things that dear Frank 
 begged of us.' 
 
 ' You speak as if there was never to be another,' said 
 her mother, with more pique than Kate had ever heard 
 before in her gentle tones. ' Are not they always going 
 on in London ? ' 
 
 * I don't know,' said Kate ; ' but now we are in the 
 way of being prepared, I am sure Emmie would be very 
 sorry.' 
 
 'Ah ! there is the very thing,' said Lady Willoughby, 
 lowering her voice confidentially ; ' poor dear Emmie, she 
 is the principal reason I wish to leave this place. She 
 will never recover her spirits, nor Sir Francis either, 
 among all these melancholy associations ; and you see, 
 Katie, her health depends so much on her spirits.' 
 
 ' Yes,' said Kate, thoughtful]}^ 
 
 ' Then you see there is that Mr. Brent. ' After what 
 has happened, you know, it would be too uncivil, quite 
 impossible, in fact, to object to his seeing her ; but then 
 
206 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 you see liow nervous she is at the very prospect, and the 
 interview itself would be so bad for her. Mr. Edwards 
 tells me that he quite dreads the sight of Mr. Brent 
 going into a patient's house.' 
 
 ' 0, mamma,' said Kate, ' I thought we had resolved 
 never to believe any more of the stories against Mr. 
 Brent.' 
 
 ' Kate, ray love, I really cannot think what makes you 
 so extraordinary pertinacious this morning,' said her 
 mother, ' when there are so many reasons for making ug 
 desirous to leave this place, when, after all that has oc- 
 curred, we can never expect poor Sir Francis to recover 
 his loss here. And you are looking pale too — change is 
 quite necessary to us all.' 
 
 ' Indeed, mamma,' said Kate, distressed, ' I should be 
 very sorry to interfere, and if I was quite sure about what 
 is right — ' 
 
 ' Right, why that must be what is best for all,' said 
 Lady Willoughby ; ' and you must perceive yourself, my 
 dear, how much better it would be for Emmeline and for 
 all of us. I am sure I thought we were giving you 
 pleasure.' 
 
 ' Mamma, oh ! yes, dear mamma, we are very much 
 obliged to you ; don't think us ungrateful, but the thing 
 is, we are so afraid to stay unconfirmed any longer.' 
 
 ' Afraid, my dear 1 ' 
 
 * Yes, mamma, if we should miss it again — and die.' 
 
 ' What are you thinking of, my dear % Indeed, it is 
 true, as I always said, that nothing can be worse for your 
 spirits, all of you, than remaining here. It makes us all 
 so melancholy, that I really cannot tell what will be the 
 effect of it, and now that the present anxiety about poor 
 Lord Herbert is over, I am so desirous to bring out you 
 and Emmeline, so as to cheer you up again, my dears.' 
 
 ' Thank you, mamma,' said Kate, rather ruefully. 
 
 Instead of going up to Emmeline Kate walked out 
 into the garden. She had grown more scrupulous about 
 overruling h^r mother, who, as she perceived, was quite in 
 the power of Emmeline and herself. She could not bear 
 the thought of arraying themselves and their influence in 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 207 
 
 opposition to her. She did not know how far the remain- 
 ing at Herringsby might be prejudicial to Emmeline's 
 health ; and it certainly would be much more agreeable 
 not to ' make a fuss/ as well as to miss any more stiff con- 
 ferences with Mr. Brent. On the other hand, it could 
 not be right to delay the Confirmation — it was a safeguard 
 tor which she longed in the midst of the scenes which 
 awaited her — it would be too dreadful to neglect that en- 
 treaty of Frank's ; and how vexed Uncle Willoughby 
 would be. Moreover, a little persuasion would, as Kate 
 had little doubt, bring round her mamma to think they 
 had much better not be in such haste. She would let 
 Emmeline judge. 
 
 Therewith Kate ran up stairs. 
 
 ' Emmie ! only think, they are talking of going to 
 London, all of us, and we are to come out. They had 
 proposed next Thursday, but — ' 
 
 ' Then we shall not have any more of Mr. Brent,' said 
 Emmeline. 
 
 ' Yes, that is the things'' said Kate. ' But Sir Francis 
 has been so kind as to say they will wait for the Confir- 
 mation if we wish it.' Kate looked at her sister's face, 
 and saw that Emmeline did not know whether she wished 
 it or not. ' The worst of it is,' said Kate, ' that mamma 
 has set her heart upon going as soon as possible, just as 
 if it was for the sake of escaping from the place, and she 
 fancies all this preparation for the Confirmation is hurting 
 you.' 
 
 ' Well, then, Kate, we had better go if she is so anx- 
 ious about it,' said Emmeline. 
 
 * Another thing, I was thinking,' said Kate. ' Don't 
 you think it might be possible for us to stay behind, as it 
 is only for a fortnight? Miss Townserid might remain - 
 with us here and follow them, or perhajjis we might stay 
 with the Miss Shaws.' 
 
 Emmeline burst out laughing. ' The Miss Shaws and 
 Mr. Brent ! No, no, Kate. And mamma would never 
 consent to the other plan. No, we must give it up, and 
 it is not our fault, you know.' 
 
 ' I am afraid of its being our fault,' said Kate, ' since 
 Sir Francis put it into our power.' 
 
208 THE CASTLE BUtLDEHS. 
 
 ' No, Kate, recollect we owe more duty to mamma 
 than to him.' 
 
 ' Yes,' said Kate, sorrowfully, ' but isn't this our duty 
 to God ? ' 
 
 ' But, Kate, there will be another Confirmation,' said 
 Emmcline, impatiently. 
 
 ' Not to neglect it again, was what dear Frank said,' 
 replied Kate. 
 
 * Yes, but we are not neglecting it, we cannot help it ; 
 and I am sure dear Frank would not have had us set our- 
 selves up, and make everything give way to us, and make 
 mamma perfectly miserable.' 
 
 ' No, I suppose it would not do,' said Kate, with a 
 deep sigh ; ' but shall not you be sorry to come away ? ' 
 
 ' Sorry, to be sure I shall ! There is much here that 
 we can never forget. yes, we shall love the place for 
 ever ; but it is quite impossible to persuade them to stay 
 here now that they have got into this restless state, so we 
 must submit.' 
 
 Emmeliue did not ask herself how much of her sub- 
 mission was occasioned by her wish to avoid Mr. Brent ; 
 and Kate, deserted by her ally, became almost ashamed of 
 her strenuous opposition. So no more was said against an 
 immediate departure, and the day was fixed for Thursday. 
 
 In the meantime there was a great deal to be done, 
 and it chiefly fell upoji Kate, as Emmeline was not equal 
 to exertion. It was wonderful to find how many things 
 had accumulated in ten months, and how many recollec- 
 tions had bound themselves round the walls and in every 
 corner. 
 
 ' Look here,' said Kate, as she knelt before a chifi'o- 
 niere and explored its dark recesses, from which she drew 
 forth a bundle of half-made poor children's clothes. 
 
 ' How long is it since we have touched them ! ' said 
 Emmeline. ' Dear me, Kate, what a strange world of 
 recollections they do bring up ! It seems as if our war 
 with Mr, Denham and the poor Miss Shaws was a hundred 
 years ago ! ' 
 
 ' It does indeed,' said Kate, thoughtfully. 
 
 * As if we were not the same people,' said Emmeline 
 
 \ 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 209 
 
 * As we are not, Kate ; for the mind, the soul I mean, has 
 a more real and true genuine existence than the body. It 
 is that which is the self, and I am sure that is changed 
 in us.' 
 
 ' We ought to be daily renewed, as the blessing says,' 
 was Kate's answer, in rather a mournful tone. 
 
 Emmeline was always uneasy under any mention of 
 the Confirmation, and she came hastily to examine the 
 bundle. ' I should like to finish them,' said she, ' if it is 
 possible. I am ashamed to send them home unfinished.' 
 
 ' It would not be impossible if we worked hard,' said 
 Kate ; ' and perhaps we could get Miss Townsend and 
 Janet to help us.' 
 
 Emmeline fetched her work-box, and began to look for 
 the part where she should go on. There was the rusty 
 needle coiled up in the thread, and stuck in the hem ; how 
 well she remembered her laying it down when Frank's 
 merry voice summoned her to come and help to paper the 
 tower, and then how occupation, amusement, and whim, 
 had rapidly succeeded each other, and what had at first 
 been neglect had become repugnance, and the misunder- 
 standing with the Miss Shaws had arisen, and so the en- 
 gagement had been unfulfilled. 
 
 ' Well,' said she, suddenly, ' I am glad we are going 
 away. It is impossible to be really a Christian without 
 doing something for the poor, and that is impossible here. 
 I see we were wrong in going into Mr. Hunter's parish, 
 but Mr. Brent will let us do nothing.' 
 
 ' Perhaps he would do so when he knew our Church 
 principles, and saw us Communicants,' said Kate, sighing. 
 ' But it is of no use to talk about that, only there were 
 those children of the poor sick man.' 
 
 ' To be sure there were,' cried Emmeline. ' How 
 could we forget them ? Oh ! Kate, you must find out 
 about them, and let them have all the money we can pos- 
 sibly give.' 
 
 ' I will. We will ask Mr. Brent about them,' said 
 Kate. ' But what shall we do for the poor in Lon- 
 don ? ' 
 
 ' I don't know,' said Emmeline ; ' but we shall not 
 
210 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 stay ill London always. There will be Copselcy again^ 
 Kate, perhaps before the summer is over, and we shall go 
 about agaiu in the little paths of chequered shade, under 
 the oak trees, and talk to Herbert and Constance, as in 
 the dear olden time.' 
 
 ' Beautiful Copseley,' said Kate. ' And we shall see 
 the quiet little lawn, with its fuchsias and geraniums, and 
 sit at the open window and read to Constance.' 
 
 ' But there is a hot, restless world to come first,' said 
 Emmeline. ' Fineries, and gaieties, and balls, and hot 
 rooms, and mamma talking of her daughter, Lady Her- 
 bert, and this world will be everything — ' 
 
 ' And oh, what shall we do that it may not be so to 
 us ? ' said Kate. 
 
 ' Pray, and fix our faith steadfastly/ said Emmeline, 
 glancing up. ' These things are all pomps, and vanities, 
 and emptiness. We may be among them, but not of 
 them ; they cannot taint the charm within us.' 
 
 ' I should so hope more, if — ' 
 
 ' I know wha,t you would say, Kate ; but it is not our 
 fault this time at least.' 
 
 It was not Kate's, for she had done all she could. 
 
 Emmeline and Kate worked hard, and obtained the 
 aid of Miss Townsend and Janet, the latter of whom was 
 made very happy by being asked to do anything as a 
 favour to her sisters. She worked till her little forefinger 
 was quite sore with hemming, and her pale face flushed 
 with joy when she was kissed, and told that she had done 
 wonders. 
 
 Kate went to take leave of the two old ladies. They 
 were very kind, and would scarcely let her make any apol- 
 ogies. They said they knew how it was, and as they 
 nodded to each other as usual, Kate perceived that many 
 a young lady had taken up a fit of school-keeping and laid 
 it down again. 
 
 ' Good-bye, my dear,' said Miss Penelope, as Kate rose 
 to go. ' I am sure we shall never forget all your kind- 
 ness.' 
 
 ' Kindness ! I wish it had been so,' said Kate. 
 
 And bearing the old ladies' love to the whole family, 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 211 
 
 collectively and individually, she left the tall narrow 
 house for the last time, then turning, looked back and 
 sighed ; wondered whether she should ever be equal to 
 those two old ladies in earnest piety and self-devotion, 
 and yet wondered what was amiss in them. 
 
 The next farewell was to Mr. Brent. Lady Wil- 
 loughby had sent one of her politest notes, with all manner 
 of thanks, and saying what, if the girls had seen it, 
 they would scarcely have allowed her to send, that her 
 daughter Emmeline regretted exceedingly that she was 
 not allowed to thank him in person, but that her feelings 
 were so acute, and her whole nervous system had received 
 such a shock, that it was not thought advisable to expose 
 her to any agitation. 
 
 Kate was vexed when she heard that Mr. Brent had 
 been desired not to come again. She thought it was using 
 him ill ; and she had, besides, one or two things to say. 
 She was glad that he was of that sort of age that she 
 need not be afraid of putting herself in the way of speak- 
 ing — not indeed quite as old as Lord Liddesdale, but 
 much older than Lord Somerville. So on her last morn- 
 ing she waited for him to overtake her when she came 
 out of the Church. When he was sorry he generally 
 looked harsh, so that she scarcely knew how to begin. 
 
 ' Are you going to-day ? ' said he. 
 
 ' Yes, in a couple of hours,' said Kate. ' My sister is 
 not strong enough to take the whole journey in one day.' 
 
 ' I hope the change will be beneficial,' said Mr. Brent, 
 in his dry voice. 
 
 ' Thank you,' said Kate. ' "We are very sorry to go, 
 I wish we could have stayed.' 
 
 ' Yes, it is a great pity, for I hardly know when you 
 will have another opportunity, now that the Easter Con- 
 firmations are over in London.' 
 
 ' It is our own fault,' said Kate ; * it was very wrong 
 to miss the opportunity when we left school.' 
 
 ' It was greatly to be lamented,' said Mr. Brent. 
 
 ' And I wanted to ask you,' said Kate, looking down — 
 ' Is there any thing you would advise me to do now ? I 
 am afraid we shall be obliged to go a great deal into 
 
212 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 company, and what shall I do to keep from forgetting 
 everything ? ' 
 
 His tone was kinder, as he said, ' Remeaiber always 
 that you are in course of preparation for a great privilege ; 
 bring it back to your recollection on every occasion at 
 your prayers, at Church, whenever you are preparing for 
 any amusement.' 
 
 ' I will try,' said Kate, sighing. * My sister will help 
 me. And one thing more, Mr. Brent ; here is a little 
 money, if you could spend it for those poor children that 
 — that my brother was interested about. I wish we had 
 thought about them more.' 
 
 ' Thank you,' said Mr. Brent. ' It shall certainly be 
 done. We are hoping to get the eldest girl into a place, 
 and this will be a timely help.' 
 
 ' I wish — ' said Kate, but there she stopped, and as 
 they had now come to the spot where their roads parted, 
 she only held out her hand, and bade Mr. Brent good-bye. 
 He replied with a warm shake of the hand, and a look of 
 kind regret. 
 
 Kate lingered, and when she thought no one was 
 looking, she turned, and stole back to the churchyard, 
 and across the green turf, till, for the first time, she stood 
 by the side of the new cold-looking white stone, with its 
 strongly cut black letters. There was more upon it than 
 Kate's taste approved. Besides the ' Francis George 
 Willoughby,' which was all that was left of Frank upon 
 earth, there was ' eldest son of Sir Francis Willoughby, 
 Major General in the Honble. East India Company's ser- 
 vice, and Mary his wife. Born at Calcutta, April 12th, 
 1832. Drowned, March 25th, 1850. This stone was 
 erected by his afflicted father.' 
 
 ' And this was all that Sir Francis could give him,' 
 said Kate to herself ' Dear Frank, do you know that I 
 am come to wish you good-bye for myself and for Emmie, 
 your own sisters. 0, Frank, we shall never forget you — 
 never. Indeed, we will try to keep what I promised yoa, 
 and I hope that you are praying in Heaven that we may. 
 I wish I could tell you that we are happy about Herbert 
 again, and that uncle Willoughby is very kind to us. 
 Good-bye, dear Frank ! ' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 213 
 
 Kate gathered a daisy that grew on the new turf, and 
 holding it fast and tenderly, turned away, drying her 
 tears. As she came to the gate, she started at seeing 
 another figure lingering in the churchyard, as if to wait 
 till she was gone. In spite of his desire to shun observa- 
 tion, she saw that it was Sir Francis, but she did not 
 venture to go near him, and hastened back to the 
 house. 
 
214 IHE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 ■With me the Mnse shall sit and think 
 Hdw vain the ardour of the crowd, 
 How low, how little arc the proud, 
 How indigent the great. 
 
 Geay. 
 
 Before the end of another fortnight they were settled in 
 a house in Belgravia. Kate had found a Church with 
 Daily Service, near enough for her to go every morning 
 before breakfast, and Emmeline hoped to accompany her 
 as soon as her strength was fully restored. 
 
 Moreover, the-accounts of Lord Herbert continued to 
 improve so fast, that the hopes of his return were no 
 longer a day dream, and at last came a note from 
 himself, written on the first impulse of having been told 
 of the adventure at Herringsby. 
 
 *My dear Sisters, 
 
 ' Constance has only just told me of j^our danger, 
 Emmeline's illness, and the loss which you must feel so deeply. 
 It will not be long, I hope, before I see you again; and Con- 
 stance will scarcely allow me pen and ink, so that I must not say 
 half tliat is in my mind, only how thankful I am that we are to 
 meet here once more, and how great is the resj^onsibility of being 
 spared, as we have been. It is us if more were required. 
 ' Your afifectionate Brother, II. S.' 
 
 It was the first time that he had attempted to write, 
 and they thought it a great honour, but it made them 
 more melancholy than rejoiced. 'A pretty way for people 
 to live, who have been brought back from the gates of the 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 215 
 
 grave,' said Emmelino, pointing to the cards of invitation 
 wbicli lay on the table. ' How I hate it ! What are you 
 reading, Kate ? Is that from uncle Willoughby ? ' 
 
 ^Yes,' said Kate, ' hear what he says in answer to all 
 our dislikes and fears of gaiety : " I shall like to hear all 
 about your gay parties in London : perhaps you will hardly 
 believe how I enjoyed the ball, forty years ago, when my 
 dear sister Janet was the beauty of the evening, and the 
 only young lady who had learnt to dance a French Cotillon, 
 as we called them then, so she had to teach them all. It 
 is just as well to be afraid of all this ; but remember 
 what Frank said about things not being his own will; 
 don't think about yourself, and don't look out for admira- 
 tion, and you will do very well." ' 
 
 The first time that Emmeline and Kate were really 
 to be admitted into this formidable world of society, was 
 about a week after, when they were to dine at a grand 
 party given by some of the great East Indian people, to a 
 distinguished officer just returned home. There was great 
 preparation ; Emmeline and Kate were to be as hand- 
 somely dressed as their mourning would permit, and they 
 looked remarkably nice and lady-like, nay even elegant, 
 in their black gauzy dresses, which set off their very white, 
 well-turned necks and arms, and with their soft pretty 
 light brown hair, trained into some fanciful braids, exactly 
 alike. Kate, with her pink colour, which had grown 
 brighter under the influence of the Herringsby sea breezes, 
 and her deep blue eyes, was positively pretty ; and 
 Emmeline, though still pale and thin, was, from her 
 delicate fairness, not much less so. Their mother was 
 very proud of them, and so was Sir Francis ; but 
 Emmeline, with a mournful expression in her downcast 
 eyes, leant back in the carriage, wishing that she was far 
 away. 
 
 They were at the door — they were throwing off their 
 shawls — they were walking upstairs secretly holding each 
 other's hands, behind their mother. A door was thrown 
 open ; a blaze of lights, a buzz of talking, ' Sir Francis 
 and Lady Willoughby, and the Misses Berners' proclaimed 
 before them, and then the two sisters were anchored on 
 
216 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 the end of a sofa, not very far from their mother, and able 
 to look up and around them. 
 
 They were not much edified ; perhaps they were pre- 
 pared to disdain most of tlic people they saw, however, 
 people were not to be expected to be cut out after the 
 Kowthorpc fashion. Where was the great man ? Em- 
 meline had been rather inclined to dread the sight of great 
 generals after her disappointment with Sir Francis, but 
 he suited her ideas a good deal better than she expected. 
 And she thought better of Sir Francis when she saw him 
 shaking hands cordially with him like an old friend ; she 
 was more willing to belong to him than before. But, 
 behold, who was that who was being introduced to the 
 hero 7 Lord Liddesdale himself, with his red ribbon. 
 She had not known him to be in London, and how very 
 grand he did look ; how superior to every one else ! 
 Shaking hands with Sir Francis, too ! Now Emmeline 
 had a property in somebody of whom she might be proud. 
 
 Emmeline's neighbour at dinner seemed to enjoy the 
 turbot particularly, and not be able to talk of anything 
 else ; Kate's, when he had asked her if she liked riding, 
 had nothing more to say ; the dinner was very long ; there 
 was an immense quantity of talking, and none of it could 
 be heard distinctly enough to be entertaining, so that they 
 were very glad when the ladies rose, and they found 
 themselves in the drawing-room, able to sit together. 
 They knew scarcely anybody, and looked forlorn, while 
 Emmeline moralized upon the emptiness of the scene, and 
 its complete want of attraction for people whose minds 
 were fixed upon higher objects. 
 
 The gentlemen came up without making matters more 
 brilliant, excepting that the girls had the interest of 
 watching Lord Liddesdale. They saw him go and ex- 
 change a few words with their mother, and presently his 
 eyes met theirs ; he smiled, and they saw him making his 
 way towards them, lie was soon shaking hands with 
 them, and asking them when they had heard from Con- 
 stance. Lady Willoughby was serenely rejoiced when 
 she saw her daughters making room for Lord Liddesdale 
 to sit down between them, and Sir Francis heard it asked 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 217 
 
 who the two pretty girls were that Lord Liddesdale was 
 talking to. Quite unconscious of this reflected splendour, 
 and only delighted by his kind attentions, Emmeline and 
 Kate were comparing their latest intelligence from Malta 
 with that of their friend, who, tired of a stupid party, was 
 very glad to find out these two nice little girls, and to 
 have some one with whom to talk of his sou Herbert. 
 
 ^ They must not be in too great haste,' said he. ' We 
 must not look for them till May is over, at least. I would 
 not have him meet the cold wind of May on any account, 
 but before June, I should think they might safely set off 
 — allow a month for the journey; yes, they may surely be 
 here before the end of June.' 
 
 ' By the longest day,' said Emmeline, ' their wedding- 
 day.' ^ 
 
 ' Yes, I suppose it will be a hard matter to prevent 
 Herbert from setting off to Dearport forthwith.' 
 
 ' To Dearport ? ' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' Yes, what, have you not heard ? I thought Frances 
 or Constance would have told you, that a connexion of 
 mine has offered him the living of Dearport.' 
 
 ' Indeed, and will he take it ? ' said Kate, in conster- 
 nation, as she thought of Copseley. 
 
 ' He has accepted it,' said Lord Liddesdale, * on con 
 dition that if his health should fail again, it shall be given 
 to his friend Mr. Redlands.' 
 
 ' And they will never go back to dear old Copseley ! ' 
 said Emmeline. 
 
 ' Ah ! that is giving up a great deal, is it not ? You 
 see Dearport — I don't know whether you know the 
 place — ' 
 
 ' 0, no, not in the least. Only that it is on the south 
 coast.' 
 
 ' Yes, so far is it in his favour, it is a good climate " 
 for him, but it is a miserable place ; one of the minor 
 ports from which the trade has gone away, and a great 
 watering place has grown up round it, one half mud and 
 misery, and the other half finery. It has been sadly 
 neglected, and there is an immense quantity to be done 
 for it.' 
 
 10 
 
218 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' And docs Constance like such a horrid place ? ' 
 
 ' There is a Clergyman's wife for you ! Herbert had 
 this offered to him, and he had reason to think that it 
 would not be satisfactorily disposed of, if he did not take 
 it ; but he could not bear to bring Constance to such a 
 place, instead of their beloved Copseley, so the decision 
 was a good deal left to her.' 
 
 ' So she chose Dearport ! ' 
 
 ' Yes. she said nothing could make her so unhappy as 
 to think that consideration for her, should hold him back 
 from full usefulness.' 
 
 ' Very like Constance,' said Emmeline, ' but still I 
 cannot think how she could bear to give up Copseley.' 
 
 ' And will it not be too much for Herbert ? ' said 
 Kate. 
 
 ' That is the chief doubt,' said Lord Liddesdale, 'but 
 he is fitter to be head than voice. With such a staff of 
 Curates as he must have there, he will have less occasion 
 for exerting his voice than if he had to depend on himself 
 alone in a smaller parish.' 
 
 'Certainly,' said Emmeline, 'I do admire them very 
 much, but I cannot help being very sorry.' 
 
 Lord Liddesdale smiled, and confessed that it was 
 something his own case ; he was very sorry that they 
 should leave their pretty home at Copseley, in his own 
 neighbourhood, ' but considering how much they gave up, 
 w^e need not pity ourselves,' said he. ' We may be glad 
 enough to have them in old England, on any terms.' 
 
 ' Indeed we may,' said Kate earnestly. 
 
 Then came a brief pause, followed by an inquiry on 
 Lord Liddesdale's part, where their house in Loudon was 
 He said his daughter Frances had been staying with some 
 friends for the last three weeks, but he was going the next 
 day to fetch her ; and he talked again of the merry meet- 
 ing that he looked forward to with his two sons and 
 Constance, saying, he should insist on Herbert and his 
 wife coming to llowthorpe in the autumn ; and the two 
 girls should meet them there, and he would get Emmeline 
 to read Shakespeare to him. Then he surveyed her with 
 almost fatherly kindness, said she was looking unweU, 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 219 
 
 asked Kate if she was really better, and told her to take 
 care she did not knock herself up with gaieties, for she 
 must keep herself quite well to meet Constance. 
 
 He talked to them till people were going away, and 
 went down stairs with them, causing a considerable differ- 
 ence in their opinion of great parties. They were eager 
 to tell of Lord Herbert's living, though they knew with 
 how little sympathy it was likely to be received ; and of 
 course, Sir Francis wondered what it was worth, while 
 Lady Willoughby rejoiced that her poor Constance would 
 now be in the way of meeting good society. 
 
 Two days after, rather earlier than the usual time for 
 morning calls, as Emmeline and Kate were reading in the 
 drawing-room, they were interrupted by the arrival of 
 company, ' Mr., Mrs., and Miss Allen ; ' and in came a 
 little quick-looking well-dressed elderly lady, and — Em- 
 meline had time to see no more, for a damsel darted up 
 to her, caught hold of both hands, and kissed her eagerly. 
 'How do you do, dear Emmie?' then turning to Kate, 
 ' and Katie too,' embracing her too. ' Well, this is 
 delightful ! ' ' Here, mamma, this is Emmie — and here 
 is dear Kate.' 
 
 Mrs Allen held out her hand with almost equal eager- 
 ness. ' You must let me be like an old friend,' said she, 
 ' I have heard so much of you from Susan. She has been 
 quite wild ever since she heard you were in London, since 
 her brother mentioned that he had the pleasure of meet- 
 ing the Miss Berners the day before yesterday. You 
 must let me introduce him — my son Henry.' 
 
 Emmeline recognised in Mr Allen, the gentleman who 
 had been next to her at dinner, but who had been so 
 engrossed by a lively conversation with his other neigh- 
 bour, as to leave her entirely to the attention of the 
 admirer of the turbot. He was good looking, tall and 
 gentleman-like, and spoke pleasantly. ' I fell under 
 Susan's grievous displeasure for not having found you out 
 before,' said he ; ' but in the evening, when I had dis- 
 covered that you were the ladies whose names I had 
 heard so often, you were better engaged.' 
 
 ' 0, I was delighted to hear you were in London, 
 said Susan, ' and so provoked with Henry — ' 
 
220 THE CASTLE BUILDEPwS. 
 
 Sir Francis and Lady Willoughby now came in, and 
 all the civilities began again ; Mrs. Allen representing 
 that her daughter, and the Miss Berners had been the 
 closest friends in the world at school, and that Susan 
 talked of no one else ; and Lady "Willoughby, who had 
 reasons to think well of the fashionableness of Mrs. 
 Allen, on her side, politely making the utmost of having, 
 about twice, heard the name of Susan Allen. 
 
 Susan in the meantime sat between the two sisters, 
 talking eagerly and caressingly. ' 0. I was so delighted 
 when Henry told me ; I could not rest till we had found 
 out where to find you. And was it not tiresome of him ? 
 0, I did scold him so.' 
 
 ' What, for finding us out ? ' said Emmeline, smiling. 
 
 It is not perhaps necessary to inquire how much of all 
 this violent friendship would have existed, if Mr. Henry 
 Allen had not reported that he had met those school ac- 
 quaintances of hers, those daughters of Lady Willough- 
 by's, pretty looking girls enough, and that old Lord Lid- 
 desdale had talked to them all the evening. Her afi'ection 
 was not entirely acting; she had liked no one at Miss 
 Danby's better than Katherine Berners, and her kindly 
 recollections grew into extreme fondness, when she thought 
 of her as the sister of Lady Herbert Somerville, and inti- 
 mate with Lord Liddesdale and Lady Frances, who wero 
 far above the Aliens' own circle. Moreover, the history 
 of the Miss Berners being half drowned, had been in the 
 newspaper, which gave them a new charm. 
 
 Of this, however, Emmeline and Kate knew nothing; 
 they were surprised and i:)leased to find the black-eyed 
 Susan so fond of them, and fully responded, glad to talk 
 over old times, and inquire after old friends. The time 
 for taking leave came only too soon. Mrs. Allen apolo 
 gized for having made a visit of such unreasonable length ; 
 but said, she did not know how to separate the friends 
 sooner; and Mr. Allen said a few words^ half jesting, half 
 complimentary, about young ladies' friendships. 
 
 They soon met again ; the Aliens were at home when 
 the call was returned ; they were at a morning concert the 
 next day, and had much pleasant talk about music, in 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 221 
 
 which Mr. Allen seemed to excel as much as Susan had 
 always done at school. Susan recommended her singing- 
 master, and quantities of new music, and Emmeline began 
 to take it up more in earnest, than she had ever done be- 
 fore. Then came a dinner party at Mrs. Allen's, whereat, 
 in spite of the presence of Miss Winstone, Mr. Allen paid 
 Miss Berners a great deal of attention, talked, laughed 
 and sang with her. She did not hate dinner parties at all 
 now ; for though she thought Henry Allen not a superior 
 man, and certainly an idle pleasure-seeker, still it was not 
 disagreeable to know, that there would be one person, at 
 least, with whom she could have plenty of pleasant small 
 talk, and that she should not have- to sit forlorn, as at 
 first. 
 
 The first ball was now in expectation, but not with the 
 flutter of ecstacy with which young ladies of the olden 
 time used to look forward to a ball Emmeline and Kate 
 were immeasurably superior, in both the religious and in- 
 tellectual tone of their minds, to any mere pleasure in 
 dress, in dancing, or in display. Dancing was only con- 
 nected in their ideas, with dancing masters and constraint, 
 they were resolute against waltzes and polkas, they hated 
 nonsensical talk, and thought the sight of a flirtation too 
 shocking to be laughed at. 
 
 Kate tried to comfort herself with Mr. Willoughby's 
 consolation, that as long as they did not like it, it could 
 not be doing them harm ; but Emmeline did not seem to 
 wish for consolation, and with a sort of melancholy resig- 
 nation, prepared, as she said, to be dragged along, bound 
 to the chariot wheels of vanity. 
 
 Susan Allen laughed at them both, and told them, 
 that she did not promise that they would like their first 
 ball, or their second, but she was sure they would soon be 
 delighted, quite as fond of balls as herself. EmmelinO 
 thought this an insult, and could scarcely smile politely. 
 Kate went on answering Susan's advice about their dress, 
 but even she was soon reduced to look down, to hide the 
 pain it gave her, when Susan lamented their mourning, 
 and asked if they could not make it slighter ; it must bo 
 nearly six weeks since — 
 
222 THE CASTLE BUILDEFwS. 
 
 Susan had got on unsafe ground ; there was a pause, 
 a dead pause ; slie had been misled by the quiet soft way 
 in which Lady Willoughby talked of ' poor Frank.' 
 
 ' Indeed, I am very sorry,' said she, earnestly ; ' I had 
 no idea — you must have been very fond of him — indeed, 
 I beg your pardon ; it must have been an immense shock 
 to you — ' She stopped short, in hopes of a full account 
 of the accident, but both the sisters were incapable of giv- 
 ing it to lier^ and Kate presently said, calmly, ' Then you 
 think those white wreaths will look well.' 
 
 Susan Allen could never be their great friend, that 
 was felt by both. They had afterwards to dine at Lord 
 Liddesdale's, and see Lady Frances for the first time. 
 There was a large party, and all the beginning of the 
 evening they could have scarcely any thing of Lady 
 Frances but the warm shake of her hand on their arrival, 
 and, afterwards, the distant view of her calm quiet face 
 and soft brown eyes, full of an ineffable smile of happi- 
 ness. 
 
 Later, however, in the midst of the sounds of music 
 and talking, she came to them to exchange a few happy 
 questions about Herbert and Constance. ' How much I 
 have to say to you ! ' said she, ' but it won't do now. I 
 will come to you some morning, and try to have it all out. 
 Well, and how's all wi' you, as the people at Rowthorpe 
 say ? How do you like coming out ? ' 
 
 ' It is not so bad as we expected,' said Kate. 
 
 ' But the worst is to come,' said Emmeline, ' a horrible 
 ball to- morrow.' 
 
 Lady Frances laughed. 
 
 ' You don't like balls, you never go to them,' said 
 Kate. 
 
 * Very seldom,' said Lady Frances ; ' but you know I 
 am getting into years, and going in instead of coming 
 out.' 
 
 ' 0, Lady Frances ! ' cried Emmeline, shocked, while 
 Kate, with more of the simplicity of two years ago, said, 
 ' Did you like balls, when — when you were young % ' 
 
 * No, I do not think I did ; but then I did not like 
 dancing, nor late hours. I used to look at them witii 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDER*. 223 
 
 great indifference after tlie first. Yes, I only liked going 
 for two years,' and then her sweet soft grave look came 
 over her face. ' Dear Annie used to enjoy dancing very 
 much.' 
 
 * Did she ? ' said Kate, eagerly. 
 
 ' Yes, very much, dancing for the sake of dancing, and 
 she used to look so like a fairy — you would hardly fancy 
 this room one twilight evening, some seven years ago, 
 when Herbert and Annie, slim things of eighteen and six- 
 teen, were waltzing about it together, almost flying — and 
 Somerville standing there, by the fire, in a state of vir- 
 tuous comtempt and indignation, with papa laughing at 
 him.' 
 
 ' 0, the polka and waltz ! ' said Emmelino. ' Did you, 
 did *she dance them at balls ? ' 
 
 ' No,' said Lady Frances, ' she used to say that it was 
 a very good thing there were so many, to prevent balls 
 from being too delightful and bewitching, by keeping her 
 sitting down, with her feet longing to be moving.' 
 
 Lady Frances had never said so much of her sister 
 Annie before, but it seemed as if she could not be happy 
 without thinking of Annie as happy too ; and, besides, 
 perhaps she had a reason for it, she might not like to give 
 positive advice, but this was a hint, in case they might not 
 find balls quite as horrible as they expected. 
 
 The time came, and to the last minute Emmeline was 
 disconsolate. Even while her white wreath was being 
 settled on her head, to the entire satisfaction of Clements, 
 nurse, Kate, and the upper housemaid, she was, as well as 
 the necessity of holding up her head would permit, scrib- 
 bling in pencil, a poem about the chariot wheels of vanity, 
 and an aching heart. Their own chariot wheels did not 
 put the verses out of her head, but two beautiful stanzas 
 were composed to their accompaniment; and even the 
 sound of the music, and the brilliance of the crowded 
 room, did not drive them out. Nay, the bright dresses, 
 the graceful gliding figures, the animated smiling faces, 
 only gave additional ideas to be wrought into them. 
 There was little interruption ; they had not yet many ac- 
 quaintances, especially among the dancing part of the male 
 
224 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 community ; they were pretty and elegant, but far from 
 striking or distinguished enough to attract atttention ; and 
 there they stood, side by side, near their mother, Enime- 
 line lost in her poetry, and feeling herself immeasurably 
 superior to the people who seemed to delight in this crowd 
 of folly ; Kate trying to find amusement in watching the 
 dresses, and dances, and wondering if those bright-faced 
 young ladies enjoyed themselves in as wholesome a way as 
 Lady Anne Somerville had done. 
 
 Sir Francis got into a fuss, and asked them if they did 
 not want to dance ; they were magnanimous and indiflfer- 
 cnt, until at last, just as a quadrille was beginning, the 
 Aliens found then out, and Henry asked Miss Berners to 
 dance. Miss Berners danced well, and enjoyed it ; ^she 
 walked about with him afterwards, and was very merry. 
 He brought her back to her mother, and asked Miss 
 Katherine for the next dance ; it was a polka, and Kate, 
 colouring deeply, thanked him and refused. He stood a 
 little longer laughing and talking with them, and then, 
 seeing some other acquaintance, quitted them. 
 
 This was nearly the whole history of the evening. 
 Emmeline had one chance of a partner again, but it waa 
 for a waltz, and she refused. So ended their first ball. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 225 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 I sighed for something, what I could not say, 
 
 I fancied virtues, which were never seen, 
 
 And died for heroes, who have never been ; 
 
 I sickened with disgust at sober sense, 
 
 And loathed the pleasures worth and truth dispense, 
 
 Contemned the manners of the world I saw. 
 
 My guide v*'as fiction, and romance my law. 
 
 H. More. 
 
 It was not long before Emmeline and Kate again met 
 Miss Allen, and she forthwith attacked them about their 
 dancing. Not choose to dance the polka ! It was absurd, 
 it was ridiculous, it was like nobody else, it was prudish, 
 it was censorious. Emmeline had a liking for the idea of 
 being persecuted, but there was not the same kind of 
 vigour about her now as formerly. She fought a tolerable 
 battle ; said she did not blame waltzers, only she had 
 rather not herself; she knew many people who disliked it, 
 &c. Susan Allen answered that many girls thought so at 
 first, but Emmeline would find it would not do, and would 
 soon be like other people. 
 
 ' I don't want to be like other people,' said Emmeline, 
 as soon as Susan was gone, ' I had rather be unlike this 
 world.' 
 
 ' Unlike it when it does wrong,' said Kate, ' but not 
 to be unlike for the sake of unlikeness.' 
 
 ' That is the point,' said Emmeline. ' I would never 
 do anything for the sake of avoiding persecution ; never 
 bow my head to the god of this world, but — ' 
 10* 
 
226 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 What that * but ' meant must remain undecided. 
 
 An evening party, where there was dancing, followed 
 on the next day. The Aliens were there, and Henry, with 
 a look of meaning, asked Emmeline to be his partner. 
 His sister was near, and it seemed to her that a refusal to 
 waltz would entail a bantering, from which all her feelings 
 shrank. She had rather do the deed than hear it talked 
 about, so she accepted, and was soon in the midst of the 
 whirl. 
 
 ' Well, Kate,' said Susan, ' I hope soon to see you 
 follow your sister's good example.' 
 
 Kate smiled, and Susan being at the same time asked 
 to dance, she was left to her own thoughts. It was not 
 wrong in Emmie ; no ; gentle Kate could never conceive 
 such an idea; it looked very pleasant, much more so than 
 standing in the hot crowd, close to Lady Willoughby's 
 chair. The lady of the house introduced a gentleman, 
 who asked her to join the waltzing, but, without thinking, 
 habit made her at once refuse. She wondered the next 
 moment whether she was sorry or not — she would have 
 enjoyed it ; it would have been doing like Emmie ; but 
 Kate recollected Mr. Willoughby, and the waltz seemed 
 incongruous, and then she thought of Lady Annie Somer- 
 ville, and thenceforward her mind was made up. 
 
 Now that Miss Berners had once begun, she could not 
 leave off; she could not refuse other people when she 
 danced with Mr. Allen, so she danced nearly all the even- 
 ing. As they went home Kate was pitied for having no 
 partners, and Lady Willoughby said, rather sleepily, that 
 she hoped she was not going to make herself talked about 
 by not waltzing. 
 
 Emmeline, as soon as they were in their own room, 
 began talking. ' I was obliged, you know, Kate, or Susan 
 would have made such a rout, and that would have been 
 dreadful. Besides — But don't you mean ever to do it ?' 
 
 ' Dear Emmie, you won't be vexed with me if I don't,' 
 said Kate, imploringly. 
 
 ' No, I can't be vexed with you at all, Katie, darling. 
 It is just as one feels.' 
 
 There it dropped, but Kate's feeling was more and 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 227 
 
 more that here was the one proof of sincerity, by which she 
 might try herself, whether she was still anchored to the 
 feelings with which the events of the spring had inspired 
 her. It would be, as Lady Anne had said, a bit of self- 
 denial to keep gaieties from being too delightful. 
 
 Susan Allen teazed her, but she got through it pretty 
 well, by laughing and owning herself silly. As to her 
 mother, her uneasiness on the matter was calmed by Mrs. 
 Allen, who said, ' It would all come right ; such things 
 would settle themselves in course of time ; girls always 
 said so, and changed their mind by the end of their first 
 season.' So ball after ball, Kate stood contentedly by her 
 mother, while Emmeline danced. Not a word more was 
 heard about the chariot wheels of vanity. 
 
 The sisters were now in the full sweep of that vortex 
 which whirls young ladies round during their first London 
 season. From morning to night their time was engrossed. 
 Masters, and the preparation for them, took up from 
 breakfast till late in the afternoon, then came the daily 
 drive, and then dressing for the evening's amusement, 
 which generally lasted till half way through the night. 
 There seemed to be no time to think, or to build castles, 
 or, if Emmeline built any, Kate was not summoned to 
 help her. Externally the girls led almost the same life, 
 excepting Kate's persistence in avoiding the Polka, and 
 in going to the early morning service. Of the latter, in- 
 deed, Emmeline was not capable, for her strength was not 
 yet fully restored, and the additional hour of rest in the 
 morning was absolutely necessary. Excitement seemed to 
 keep her up, for whenever there was a vacant interval she 
 grew extremely weary. If there was time between the 
 drive and dinner, she lay on her bed and drank tea, read- 
 ing some light book ; and on Sunday she was sure to be 
 very tired. 
 
 They saw very little of Lady Frances, who did not go 
 out much, and whose line of society was not the same as 
 theirs, and the Aliens were the persons with whom they 
 were most intimate. Susan Allen, by means of comport- 
 ing herself as if she was Emmeline's greatest friend, was 
 actually making her believe so, and establishing consider- 
 able influence over her; and, besides, there was the brother. 
 
228 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 Henry Allen was as far as possible from Emmeline'a 
 beau ideal of a hero with a poker in his back. He was 
 nothing but a fashionable young man, who ought to have 
 had something to do, and who could talk agreeably, but 
 very shallowly. Emmeline knew this, and from a distance 
 she would have heartily despised him, nay, she did so at 
 present, but he was the first person who ever paid her that 
 sort of attention which flatters a vanity of which she had 
 not yet been sensible. He meant nothing by it, nor did 
 Emmeline consider whether he did. If she had analyzed 
 her state of mind, she would have been taken by surprise 
 and shocked ; for she would not have found a particle of 
 attachment, but a great deal of gratified vanity. 
 
 It was a state of intoxication ; music, amusement, 
 dancing, admiration had got hold of Emmeline's mind, and 
 carried her along. It was all present, she had no space 
 for past or future ; if she had, her spirits flagged more 
 than her bodily strength. Future visions had lost their 
 zest ; she was tired of them ; a dreary grey had taken the 
 place of the rainbow tints of former days. For the past, 
 Emmeline could not look back to it, it only reminded her 
 of that sad loss — of disappointment ; and, worst of all, 
 of what she scarcely dared to remember, of vanished im- 
 pulses of good, of resolutions from which she had fallen. 
 On every unemployed hour was written, ' Yanity and vex- 
 ation of spirit,' and therefore Emmeline left none unoc- 
 cupied. She read, studied, played, danced, and gave 
 herself up more and more to the fascination of the Aliens, 
 chiefly because they served to banish thought. 
 
 So passed more than a month, when one Saturday the 
 Aliens and the Willoughby party went to the opera to- 
 gether. There was a great deal of talk about music, end- 
 ing in a proposal from Susan that Emmeline and Kate 
 should go with her on Sunday morning to hear the service 
 at a Koman Catholic Chapel — the most beautiful music, 
 as both she and her brother said, that could be imagined. 
 
 The sisters were shocked, but Susan seemed to think 
 nothing of it ; ' Henry went almost always,' she said, 'and 
 she and mamma very often. Every one did; there was 
 no danger of their being taken for Koman Catholics, if 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 229 
 
 that was what they were afraid of, and they, could go to 
 Church in the afternoon.' 
 
 ' Impossible, I cannot think of it, dear Susan,' was 
 Emmeline's ultimatum on Saturday night, and no more 
 passed at that time. As the girls were going to bed, 
 Emmeline added to Kate, that her whole mind revolted 
 at the idea of making a spectacle of a religious service. 
 
 On Monday, Henry Allen brought them a report of 
 the beauty of the service ; on Friday he showed them a 
 programme of the music which was to be heard at High 
 Mass on the next Sunday, and the name of a famous 
 preacher, who was in every one's mouth. ' Surely,' he 
 safvi, ' you will not persist in your refusal.' 
 
 Emmeline made no direct answer. Kate said, ' I don't 
 like to miss Church ; ' but Kate was not the person chiefly 
 sought, so her reply was not regarded. 
 
 On Saturday evening they again met Susan, who, with 
 her saucy wilful air, said, 'We mean to come for you to- 
 morrow morning, mind, Emmie.' 
 
 ' no, pray don't,' said Emmeline. 
 
 'Indeed I shall, and mind you don't^keep us waiting, 
 or we shall never get seats. There is such a rush always 
 
 when Dr. preaches. I would not miss hearing him 
 
 for the world. You cannot guess what beautiful language 
 it is — so powerful and metaphorical. It is perfect poetry, 
 I assure you, and you were always fond of poetry — in that 
 exquisite chapel too. 0, you are just the person to be 
 delighted. You will never forget it. Now then,' as her 
 mother was rising to go away, ' it is a settled thing. We 
 shall come in the carriage and call for you.' 
 
 ' 0, no, no, pray don't Susan, I had much rather not,' 
 said Emmeline; but Susan shook hands with her with an 
 arch look of meaning. 
 
 ' I hope they will not come for us !' was Emmeline's 
 heart-felt exclamation that night. 
 
 ' I hope not, I am sure,' echoed Kate ; ' it will be very 
 disagreeable to have to refuse.' 
 
 ' And I should like it after all,' said Emmeline, ' for 
 once in a way — it must be so gorgeous and impressive. It 
 must be the realization of what one has read of 
 
230 THE CASTLE EUILDEllS. 
 
 ' One would not know whether to join in it, or not, 
 said Kate ; ' it would not feel right to be merely looking 
 on, and yet — 0, I should not like it, uncle Willoughby 
 would not like it.' 
 
 ' Uncle Willoughby has old-world notions,' said Em- 
 meline. 
 
 ' 0, Emmie ! ' 
 
 * Well, I wish Susan would not be so pertinacious,' said 
 Emmeliue ; ' I don't half like going, and yet I do want 
 to see it, and to hear that music. It would be a thing to 
 dwell on. But I have told her it must not be, I hope we 
 shall hear no more of it.' 
 
 ' I hope so,' replied Kate. 
 
 Morning came, and the family were at breakfast, when 
 a carriage stopped at the door ; there was a double knock, 
 and Henry Allen was ushered into the breakfast-room. 
 
 ' My mother and sister are in the carriage,' he said ; 
 ' they have deputed me to summon the Miss Berners to 
 join us.' 
 
 ' 0, Mrs. Allen told me last night,' said Lady Wil- 
 loughby ; ' she has been kind enough to offer to take them 
 to hear the music at St. Bonaventura's this morning. We 
 are much obliged to her ; it will be such au advantage to 
 your music, my dears.' 
 
 ' I thought I told Susan,' faltered Emmeline, hesitat- 
 ingly. 
 
 ' Susan and I have ventured to judge for you,' said 
 Henry. ' You do not know what you would give up.' 
 
 ' There is nothing particular in going, I am told, my 
 dear,' said Lady Willoughby. * The most fashionable 
 people do so.' 
 
 ' May I be allowed to hasten you,' said Henry ; ' if we 
 are not early, we shall not secure a good place.' 
 
 ' Then thank you, do pray go without us,' said Emme- 
 line, beginning a hurried explanation to her mother ; but 
 Mr. Allen made a demonstration of obstinacy, as if he 
 would not move without her. 
 
 ' Come, young ladies,' said Sir Francis, ' 3^ou are keep- 
 ing Mrs. Allen waiting. You should have made up your 
 minds sooner.' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 23 , 
 
 ' Well, then, since — ' said Emmeline, slowly risings 
 and leaving the room. Kate followed her. 
 
 Emmeline began hastily to put on her things, with a 
 little petulance. Kate helped her, saying, ' Emmie, dear, 
 if you go, it will be civility enough to the Aliens, without 
 me.' 
 
 ' 0, Kate, won't you go ? It will be no pleasure with- 
 out you.' 
 
 ' I think I should be more comfortable if I did not 
 Don't be disappointed with me, dear Emmie. Somehow, 
 I can't make up my mind to it.' 
 
 ' Very well,' said Emmeline, ' I can't stop now. You 
 are getting quite determined, Kate.' 
 
 The first time she had ever been pettish with Kate ; 
 but there was no time to recall the expression, down she 
 ran, and with a few words of explanation, was setting off. 
 
 That Emmeline was eager and curious, cannot be de- 
 nied ; but at the same time she would have preferred 
 giving up the expedition. She knew it was wrong, though 
 without entering into all the reasons against it, and she 
 had not been used to act directly against her conscience, 
 so that it would not let her be at peace. 
 
 The Aliens were delighted, and greeted her eagerly, 
 without much caring for Kate's absence, though it was a 
 dart to Emmeline, unused as she was to do anything with- 
 out her sister. There was something uncomfortable in 
 their satisfaction at having captured her ; it had so much 
 of exultation that it seemed like a triumph ; and she, who 
 had such ideas of the magnificence of resistance and firm- 
 ness, could ill brook to feel that she had been persuaded, 
 against her better judgment. 
 
 Emmeline talk of firmness ! What had her whole life 
 been since she left school ? Had it not been one course 
 of fluctuating purpose, half-executed projects, vague 
 dreams ? Unstable ! was the history of all she did, and 
 wherefore? We read that a double-minded man is un- 
 stable in all his ways. Poor Emmeline, we cannot call 
 her double-minded in the sense of insincere ; but she was 
 not single-hearted, though she little knew it, and deceived 
 DO one but herself. She talked, she fancied great things, 
 
232 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 she had high designs of virtue, but little reality ; she left 
 untouched the practical duties that lay at once before her, 
 and stra-ined after high things of her own imagination, 
 while utterly neglecting the means she had always been 
 taught was the especial channel of grace. 
 
 As in the state of dissatisfaction above mentioned 
 Emmcline sat by Mrs. Allen's side, she happened to glance 
 from the window, and exclaimed at once, ' I do believe it 
 is Herbert ! ' 
 
 • Was it only a vision called up by conscience, imagin- 
 ing Lord Herbert in every Clergyman walking forth to 
 his Sunday School ? 
 
 The recognition, though it might be only a fancy, did 
 not tend to compose her spirits ; but she did not wish the 
 Aliens to think her alarmed at the thought of her brother- 
 in-law, and therefore talked gaily in order to appear un- 
 concerned. She had nearly succeeded by the time they 
 arrived at the place of their destination. 
 
 It was a most beautiful edifice, built according to the 
 rules of perfect architecture, and adorned within in ex- 
 quisite taste, with great richness and splendour, and with 
 attention to the emblematic signification of each ornament; 
 one of the places in which Komanism is displayed with 
 the greatest attractions to educated and imaginative minds, 
 keeping back as much as possible all that is offensive to a 
 truly Catholic principle, and putting foremost what is really 
 true and beautiful, what it possesses as being a Church, 
 and hiding much of what belongs to Komanism, as such. 
 
 Emmeline's admiration was won in a moment, the sur- 
 prise and delight almost taking away her breath. She had 
 feeling and taste enough to understand as well as admire ; 
 she saw the appropriateness where the Aliens simply won- 
 dered, and her mind was entranced. 
 
 It was the same with the service. She knew Latin 
 enough to follow in some degree, and with the ordinary 
 ignorance about the Roman Catholic services, she was very 
 much taken by surprise at finding so little that was ob- 
 jectionable, and so much that was extremely beautiful. 
 The music, the ceremonial, the appearance of reverential 
 awe, so much greater than what she was used to see — all 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS, 233 
 
 had their effect ; everything she saw and heard combined 
 to bring her into a state of enchantment such as she had 
 never known, and which made her feel more devout, or 
 perhaps, more properly, excited in her devotion than she 
 had ever been before. 
 
 Not that she was inclined to become a Koman Catho- 
 lic ; she knew that there were too many reasons against 
 that to be enumerated ; but a deep impression had been 
 made upon her. Had she a right to subject herself to 
 such impressions, when it is certain that the ivhole of the 
 system which conveys them is not the truth % Was it not 
 running after temptation ? Years after, Emmeline had 
 reason to lament that visit to St. Bonaventura's. 
 
 She had intended to go to Church in the afternoon, 
 but they were late in returning to Mrs. Allen's, and she 
 had to take luncheon there ; this occupied a long time, 
 and the bells were ringing before they had finished ; then 
 came callers, and the end of it was that she could not 
 leave her friends till nearly dinner time, when with her 
 ears full of the music, and her head of the vague dreamy 
 thoughts of exaltation that the talk of the afternoon had 
 confused, not driven away, she went homewards, almost 
 glad to have missed the afternoon service ; it would have 
 sounded, she thought, so cold and tame after what she had 
 just heard. 
 
 When Emmeline was gone, Kate felt somewhat discon- 
 solate. She did not like to be left behind, or to miss 
 what Emmie was doing, and was afraid that her sister 
 thought her particular and disagreeable. However, it 
 could not be helped, so she returned to the breakfast table. 
 Her mother, and Sir Francis, though surprised to see her, 
 agreed that she had judged wisely in not crowding Mrs. 
 Allen's carriage. 
 
 The breakfast party had just settled down again when 
 there was another knock at the door, and the next moment, 
 Kate could hardly believe her ears or eyes, for she heard 
 the announcement of ' Lord Herbert Somerville ; ' and 
 there stood, Constance's Herbert, tall and slight, dark- 
 haired, bright-eyed, and red and white, just as he went 
 away, and his hand was pressing fast her own, and his 
 
234 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 brotherly kiss on her foreliead, as she had so little hoped 
 would ever be again, and yet she could hardly rejoice, 
 while Emmeline was missing. 
 
 Lady Willoughby received him in her graceful way, 
 Sir Francis with cordiality, and then followed his anxious 
 inquiry for Emmeline, was she well ? 
 
 * Yes, very well,' said her mother, * she will be so sorry 
 — it is very unfortunate, but her friend Miss Allen has 
 taken possession of her for the day, and carried her off. 
 How annoyed she will be ! ' 
 
 He soon proposed to Kate to walk back with him, and 
 join Constance and the rest of his family at Church, pro- 
 mising to bring her back after the afternoon service, when 
 Constance could come with them. She was delighted to 
 accede to his plan, and, as it was getting late, he begged 
 her to put on her bonnet quickly. 
 
 While she was doing so, a thrill of consternation came 
 over her again, ' what would Herbert and Constance think 
 of Emmie's present occupation ? ' ' Oh,' she answered 
 herself, 'they have been in Roman Catholic countries;' 
 and therewith she was satisfied, and only pitied Emmie for 
 having lost this delightful meeting. When she came down, 
 she found that Lord Herbert had promised to come to 
 dinner that evening. 
 
 They were soon walking fast along the street arm in 
 arm. She would have been completely happy, if Emme- 
 line's loss had not been on her mind. 
 
 It was her first exclamation, ' Why, Herbert, how well 
 you are ! ' 
 
 He smiled, ' Yes, that Italian spring seemed to be made 
 of freshness and renovation. You can't think how beauti- 
 ful it was.' 
 
 ' And do you never cough at all now ? there, Her- 
 bert, unless you did so on purpose.' 
 
 ' No, I did not — it is only what Somerville calls my 
 unconstitutional cough.' 
 
 * I am sorry — I thought you were really going to be 
 thoroughly well.' 
 
 ' Why, lungs are not to be mended like tea-kettles, and 
 mine are never to be expected to be very sound affairs, 
 though they may be tinkered up for the time.' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 235 
 
 Then as she looked up at him anxiously, he added 
 cravely. ' We have seen how life and death are beyond our 
 guesses. Half a year ago, who would ha,ve foretold which 
 of us — Frank or myself, would be walking with you at 
 this moment ? ' 
 
 ' Oh Herbert ! — that dear Frank — I am so glad you 
 knew him a little.' 
 
 '■ It was very little, but enough to show that there was 
 something very deep about him. There was a truth of 
 character — I hardly know how to describe it, except as 
 the reverse of being double-minded — and originality too.' 
 
 ' you did understand him very well indeed ! ' said 
 Kate, holding tighter by her brother's arm, as if it was 
 an additional link, ' but there was so much more, I must 
 tell you all about it some day, all about his great trouble, 
 when Sir Francis would not let him follow the wish of his 
 heart and be a clergyman — Dear Frank, he has the wish 
 of his heart fulfilled now, as uncle Willoughby says.' 
 
 * I remember how we thought him cut out for parish 
 work. He had such a particularly pleasant way of speak- 
 ing to the poor people at Copseley — I was sure you would 
 be fond of him in time.' 
 
 ' Fond ! he was our one bright spot ! But don't speak 
 of him to Emmie, please Herbert, for she cannot bear the 
 sound of his name. It was different with me, for I was a 
 good deal with uncle Willoughby just after — but poor 
 Emmie was very ill at first, and has never been able to 
 begin talking about him.' -^ 
 
 ' Do you think her quite recovered ?' 
 
 ' Yes — no — she is not strong, poor dear, and gets so 
 tired.' 
 
 ' I am very sorry to have missed her, we reckoned on 
 being all together, as we were in those merry days at 
 Rowthorpe. Are you Confirmed, Kate ? ' he added pre- 
 sently. 
 
 ' No, we were so sorry, but we left Herringsby just 
 too soon. AA^hy ? ' 
 
 ' Shall you mind walking to St. James's Place alone 
 after Church ? ' 
 
 ' no, not at all.' 
 
 ' I think this first Sunday we must all be together 
 
236 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 there,' said Herbert in a low voice, as if apologizing to 
 her, as there was a tone of regret in her voice. 
 
 ' yes, I did not mean that — It is our own fault, I 
 know that we are shut out from — from you all and Frank.' 
 She whispered rather than spoke the last words, and tears 
 were in her eyes. 
 
 Lord Herbert spoke very kindly, ' I believe the Bishop 
 intends to Confirm at Dearport this autumn'; we must try 
 for you to come in for that.' 
 
 ' Then you will prepare us. it is what wc always 
 wished,' said Kate joyfully. 
 
 ' And where is Emmie gone. Whom is she with ? ' 
 
 * The Aliens ; Susan was an old school friend.' 
 
 ' Is she staying with them ? ' 
 
 ' no, only gone with them this morning.' A reluc- 
 tance to say where came over Kate, and she finished, ' she 
 will be so vexed to have missed you.' 
 
 ' Gone with them where ? ' said Lord Herbert, quite 
 unsuspiciously. 
 
 ' Why they took her to go with them to hear the ser- 
 vice at St. Bouaventura's ; they say the music is so very 
 fine, and Br. was to preach.' 
 
 'To a Roman Catholic Chapel?' said Lord Herbert. 
 
 ' Yes — the new one — it has been built since you went, 
 and is so very beautiful.' 
 
 ' Have you been there ? ' 
 
 ' Never, nor Emmie till to-day. She did not like 
 going, but they almost carried her off by force. Susan is 
 so determined.' 
 
 Lord Herbert made no answer, and turning the corner 
 of the next street, just as the bells were beginning, they 
 came in sight of the two pairs walking together, Constance 
 on her father-in-law's arm. Lady Frances with her brother. 
 They made all speed, and in another moment Lord Som- 
 crville had looked round, seen them, and they had met, 
 with a whole world of glad greetings sounding round Kate, 
 and an anxious inquiry from Constance for Emmcline. 
 'Well, but just gone out for the day when Herbert came 
 — such a pity ! ' 
 
 ' And mamma ? ' Constance joined company with her 
 sister, locking her arm into hers, as they walked on. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 237 
 
 ' yes, quite well, dear, dear Constance ! ' 
 
 *Is not Herbert looking well?' said Constance" tri« 
 umpliantlj. 
 
 ' Yes, indeed, how glad — ' 
 
 ' And let me just look at you, sweet Katie, that I 
 may know youY own face again.' 
 
 The sisters turned their faces to each other with a 
 bright sunny look of love, ending in the playful laugh 
 witli which of old they used to play at trying which could 
 look at the other longest without smiling. Constance 
 was scarcely altered, except that a wifely, ungirlish ex- 
 pression had come over her face. Kate was a little 
 ashamed of the difference between their dress ; her own, 
 hardly to be called mourning, a lilac muslin, flounced and 
 trimmed to the height of the fashion, with a black lace 
 polka and bonnet, with lilac flowers and ribbons, while 
 Constance wore a plain black silk, and a straw bonnet 
 trimmed with white. Kate had the uncomfortable feeling 
 of being smart^ one which is particularly disagreeable in 
 the company of persons of higher rank. 
 
 Only a few happy words had been exchanged before 
 they were at the Church. Lord Liddesdale put Kate 
 under the escort of a servant, for her solitary walk after 
 the service was over. She had never felt it so wrong to 
 be obliged to go away, nor wished so much to remain. 
 ' And the door was shut,' returned upon her several times, 
 and she felt as if Frank, as if everything good, were there, 
 and she herself shut out. She sat in Lady Frances's 
 little morning room, trying to distinguish in her own 
 mind between the real desire for what she had missed, and 
 the mere wish to do like the others. She had more hope 
 now that Herbert and Constance were come ; how pleasant 
 it would be to tell uncle Willoughby, and how dear Frank 
 would have rejoiced for her. Emmeline — Kate's thoughts 
 went to perplex themselves as to whether Herbert was 
 displeased with Emmeline, and there they wearied them- 
 selves. Her happiness that day was by no means un- 
 alloyed. 
 
 Clouds rolled off, however, when the party returned ; 
 how should they not among such happy people, so kind in 
 
238 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 their happiness, and making her so entirely one of them- 
 selves ? There was no sensation of being in the way, or 
 only admitted for Constance's sake; they all showed 
 themselves glad to have her to share in their gladness, and 
 old Lord Liddesdale was especially affectionate and 
 fatherly in manner. It would have been almost pleasure 
 enough to watch his deep heartfelt happiness in having his 
 sons back again ; the benevolence that seemed more than 
 ever to beam about him, and his air of not being able to 
 make enough of Herbert. 
 
 Constance and Kate were both silent in their glad- 
 ness; but Lord Somerville was in very high spirits, and 
 kept up a sort of boyish fun and bantering with sisters, 
 brother, and father, that Kate thought both delightful 
 and marvellous at his mature age. And she saw that 
 Constance, who used to be a little bewildered and fright- 
 ened at his unexpected speeches, now treated him with 
 perfect ease and familiarity, even calling him by his home 
 nickname of Jack, which had no connection with his 
 Christian name, but was the remnant of days when the 
 brothers and sisters used to act the adventure of James 
 III. of Scotland, in ' Tales of a Grrandfather,' and he had 
 acquired the appellation of ' Spears and Jacks,' since be- 
 come simply ' Jack.' 
 
 ' Well,' said Lord Somerville, as Kate stood waiting 
 in the drawing-room for a moment, while the others were 
 getting ready for evening Church, ' I hope you think that 
 Constance does credit to my care.' 
 
 Kate laughed, and tried to find something to say, 
 which resulted in ' She is looking very well.' 
 
 ' I have learnt a great deal from Constance,' said Lord 
 Somerville, and as Kate looked up eagerly, he added, 
 ' how to write a letter when there is nothing but brown 
 mud in the inkstand,' speaking with the same gravity as 
 he had begun the sentence, so that his jest or earnest was 
 as doubtful to Kate as it used to be two years ago. 
 
 With a little blush and hesitation she said, ' We ought 
 to thank you for what you wrote to us. It was such — 
 Buch a comfort.' 
 
 * You owe me thanks,' he said, smiling, ' for I grudged 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 239 
 
 very mucli the time I had to stay away from him, to 
 write, either to yoii or to my father, witli the fear that I 
 was raisii)^^ false hopes. We kept the letters to the last 
 moment, that we might be able to say something decisive; 
 but when I sent them, I little thought the next would be 
 hopeful.' 
 
 ' lie was so very ill then,' said Kate, in a low voice. 
 
 ' So much exhausted that — in fact, I don't think he 
 would ever have got through those two days — but for — 
 " he hesitated in his turn," for Constance. There — I 
 think it bu-t right you should know what a sister you have, 
 and as you'll never hear it from themselves, for Herbert 
 would think praising her praising himself, I may as well 
 tell you that nothing — ' 
 
 tJnluckily, as Kate thought, Constance and her hus- 
 band came in at tlie same moment, and Lord Somerville 
 ended his speech — ' I may as well tell you that nothing 
 can excel — not to say equal, Constance's talents for mak- 
 ing blinds draw up rightly.' 
 
 ' I was in hopes I should have heard of something less 
 common-place,' said Constance, ' some perfection better 
 worth lecturing Kate upon.' 
 
 ' On your humility, for instance,' said Lord Somer- 
 ville ; ' I shall begin lecturing on punctuality next if 
 Frances does not appear — unless she has become like the 
 lady — was not she at Copseley, Herbert, who thought it 
 was not genteel to come in time ? ' 
 
 ' No, I don't own to that lady,' said Lord Herbert, 
 ' I believe she is mythical, and fastened on to every one 
 who has a parish.' 
 
 ' No, we must not have Copseley abused now,' said 
 Constance. 
 
 ' We keep that for Dearport,' said Lord Somerville ; 
 Constance shook her head, and looked determined. 
 
 ' Aye ! ' said Lord Somerville, ' I know how it will 
 be. Every letter will represent Dearport as an earthly 
 paradise — ' 
 
 ' A maritime one,' suggested his brother. 
 
 ' Each letter will enhance its charms and beauties till 
 I positively am taken in to believe in them, and come 
 
240 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 and see you — I sliall find an atmospliere of mud and fish; 
 have to pick my way on tiptoe through a pavement of 
 hake's heads and scatc's tails, diversified with periwinkles 
 and cockle-shells ; find my Lord and my Lady Herbert 
 teaching eight sailors in a drawing-room, twelve feet 
 square, and go away persuaded by Constance's eloquence, 
 contrary to every one of my own senses, to believe and 
 pronounce it paradise complete.' 
 
 Kate looked from one to the other in a puzzle, whe- 
 ther it was really likely to be so very disagreeable at 
 Dearport, and whether Lord Somerville so very much 
 disapproved of their going there, but they only laughed, 
 and soon all set off to Church. 
 
 After service Lord Somerville and his sister walked 
 with the others to the Willoughbys' door. There, Lord 
 Herbert said he should go on with them to call upon^his 
 aunt, and return long before dinner. Constance and Kate 
 entered together, Kate wondering if her sister felt as she 
 did on the like introduction. 
 
 In a few seconds Constance was receiving such an em- 
 brace and affectionate greeting as had met her sisters 
 eighteen mouths ago. Sir Francis was a good deal more 
 ceremonious with Lady Herbert, but Edwin, the only one 
 of the children in the room, gave no space for talking. 
 His sister's sweet face enchanted him, as he proved by 
 thrusting his toys before her, and making them unmerci- 
 fully perform their several varieties of squeak. Emmeline 
 was not yet come home, and every one repeated how dis- 
 appointed she would be to have missed her sister. 
 
 After sitting for some little time, and exchanging 
 many affectionate words with her mother, Constance begged 
 to see the other children. ' I'll go and fetch Janet and 
 Cecilia,' said Kate. 
 
 * Do let me come too, I should like to visit little Janet 
 in her school-room ; I want to see Miss Townsend too,' 
 said Constance, springing up. 
 
 ' come, come, do, Cecilia is such a darling ! ' said 
 Kate. 
 
 ' Do you like to go, my dear ? ' said Lady "Willoughby. 
 * It is up so many stairs, and we can send for the children ; 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 241 
 
 Janet was here just now, but Edwin was making such a 
 noise that we sent her away.' 
 
 Constance was only the more bent on going ; and with 
 Edwin holding her hand, she skipped lightly up before 
 Kate, and was presently in the school-room, where Janet 
 sat by Miss Townsend, in a moody state. 
 
 ' How do you do, Miss Townsend ? ' began Constance 
 at once, shaking her hand with the cordiality of a renewal 
 of their old acquaintance, which brought a glow into the 
 little governess's cheeks. ' And Janet, little Janet ' — 
 she put her arms round her and kissed her — ' what, have 
 you not a word for sister Constance ? ' 
 
 Janet was certainly gratified, but jealousy, and the 
 feeling of injustice were upon her, and she stood, with 
 drooping head, in something between shyness and suUen- 
 ness, by no means mended by the triumphant exclamation 
 — ' Here is the dear little woman ! Here, come to sister 
 Constance ! ' with which Kate proudly brought the beau- 
 tiful little Cecilia into the room, and held her up for ad- 
 miration. 
 
 Constance was delighted with her, kissed her, and 
 fondled her, but soon turned again to talk to Miss Towns- 
 end and Janet, though without much success, for frank 
 and free as Constance was, there was no subduing the 
 governess's shy frightened manner, or making Janet look 
 up. Kate began to be impatient, ' Come, Janet, are you 
 cross ? Why can't you do like the others, when Con- 
 stance is so kind to you 1 See, Edwin and Cecilia are 
 not so silly.' 
 
 This was the very thing to make it worse, and Kate 
 next turned to Miss Townsend, saying, ' Is she naughty?' 
 
 Miss Townsend looked hurt, and shook her head. 
 
 ' We will not torment her any more,' said Constance. 
 ' We will be better acquainted one day, Janet, woman.' 
 
 Patting her on the head, Constance left them, and 
 begged to come and take off her bonnet in her sister's 
 room. ' It would be so natural,' she said merrily. 
 
 ' Oh ! do, dear Constance,' then, as soon as they were 
 out of the school-room. ' I never saw such a child as 
 11 
 
242 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 that Janet ! Sho is always sulky, and I do believe Miss 
 Townsend encourages her.' 
 
 ' I hope not,' said Constance. ' Poor child ! Well, 
 Cecilia is a beauty ! What curls ! So this is your room, 
 Katie. how glad I am to see that dear old sandal- 
 wood box again. It is so like old times ! And all your 
 old curiosities just the same. Now if Emmie would but 
 come back we should feel quite like ourselves, when we 
 three were alone in the world. Is not it strange to recol- 
 lect that time, Katie ? ' 
 
 * I do wish Emmie would come ! ' was Kate's answer. 
 ' I cannot think what she can be doing.' 
 
 ' Do you see much of the Aliens ? ' said Constance. 
 
 ' More than of any one else ; Susan is so fond of 
 Emmie.' 
 
 ' Is she ? That was not so at school. Is Susan 
 altered ? ' . 
 
 ' Not much,' said Kate. ' She seeks us out more than 
 we seek her. It sometimes seems to me quite unnatural 
 that Emmie should have a friend all to herself 
 
 Constance glanced a little anxiously at Kate, but 
 there was no time for more, for at that very moment the 
 door was slowly opened, and there entered, with the 
 languid step of one weary with an unsatisfactory day, 
 Emmeline herself One moment she stood transfixed, 
 then, with a little cry on each side, she and Constance 
 were in each other's arms, Kate laughing, and saying she 
 supposed Emmie had not been into the drawing-room to 
 hear the news. 
 
 ' No, indeed, I have not. Is Herbert there ? ' 
 
 ' No, he is coming to dinner. He came to fetch me 
 just as you were gone.' 
 
 ' Then it was he that I saw. I could not believe it. 
 And is he well ? ' 
 
 ' Quite, quite well,' said Constance, ' better than I ever 
 knew him. O, now it is so very nice ! We came last 
 night — -landed at eleven o'clock, and the first thing after 
 breakfast he went to look for you all.' 
 
 ' To think of my being out of the way ! ' said Emme- 
 line, ' I could not get away sooner ; wo came home late, 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 248- 
 
 then tLere was luncheon, and people coming in, but if I 
 had only known. — Dear, dear Constance, how like your- 
 self you look ! Well, it was most beautiful. such a 
 sermon ! And that magnificent service — how you must 
 have enjoyed it abroad, Constance ! ' 
 
 ' I never was there through the service,' said Con- 
 stance. 
 
 ' What ! ' exclaimed Emmeline, ' Susan has been say- 
 ing it is the only one thing she envies you for being at 
 Rome. Surely you did not think it wrong. So many good 
 people do it.' 
 
 ' No, I would not say it was wrong,' said Constance, 
 ' but we had a feeling against treating it as a sight. Be- 
 sides, when I was able to leave Herbert for a little while, 
 I could not have spared once missing our English service, 
 when I could have it to join in.' 
 
 ' You were not often at places without an English 
 congregation ? ' said Kate. 
 
 ' No, Herbert could not bear that we should. But 
 ought we to stay up any longer away from mamma ? ' 
 
 ' It is so comfortable ! ' said Kate. 
 
 But Emmeline was not so willing to stay. She had 
 an uncomfortable abashed feeling, and a dread of what 
 Constance might say next, which made her restlessly glad 
 to get down stairs. While Constance was engaged with 
 her mother, she drew Kate apart, and begged to know 
 what Herbert had said, and how he had looked, on hear- 
 ing where she was gone. ' He seemed surprised,' said 
 Kate, ' but he said nothing. But, Emmie dear, only 
 think, there is to be a Confirmation at Dearport, and he 
 will bring us in for it, and examine us himself after all.' 
 
 ' Oh ! ' said Emmeline, but without any tone of 
 lacrity. 
 
 Lord Herbert arrived, and Emmeline met him with 
 a shade of constraint. If he was displeased, he did not 
 by any means intend to manifest it, yet unconsciously 
 perhaps he talked less to her that evening than he did to 
 Kate, and certainly she did not address him with the 
 same ease and readiness, but this might be owing to her 
 not having spent the day with him in the free atmosphere 
 
244 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 of Lord Liddcsd ale's house. Few persons ever were more 
 agreeable than Lord Herbert. He had not the odd, sar- 
 castic, unexpected ways of his brother, and did not cause 
 his cleverness to be so much perceived ; his manner was 
 very simple, but had a stamp of high birth and breeding, 
 which gave every act of attention and good-nature an air 
 of refined courtesy. 
 
 Lady Willoughby was completely enchanted with her 
 son-in-law,, and when the ladies went up after dinner, she 
 made Constance listen to her raptures, which Constance 
 heard with very pretty gratified blushes, pleased, in her 
 turn, to talk over his wonderful recovery, and to say again 
 and again how very kind Lord Somerville had been. 
 
 The girls began to hope they should hear no more of 
 ' poor Constance.' Next Lady "Willoughby gave Con- 
 stance a long lecture on the necessity of his being pru- 
 dent, avoiding cold, and not exerting his voice, to which 
 she listened with ready acquiescence, saying they meant 
 to be very carefuh 
 
 But how was poor Lady Willoughby shocked when it 
 was disclosed that they meant to walk home ! Sir Francis 
 was for ringing the bell, and ordering the carriage, but 
 Constance earnestly begged him not to think of it. ' Lord 
 Liddesdale would have sent for us, but we thought we 
 should enjoy the walk, pray don't.' 
 
 Up-stairs she ran, to fetch her bonnet, followed by her 
 sisters, while her mother in dismay silently wondered 
 where was all the care she talked of, and Sir Francis 
 mentally despised Lord Liddesdale, for not sending out 
 his carriage on a Sunday. In a minute she came down, 
 with a great worsted comforter, which she held up to her 
 husband. 
 
 ' This ! ' exclaimed he. ' My dear Constance ! Waa 
 there ever woman born out of India who would have the 
 conscience to propose to an unfortunate man to mufifle 
 himself in such a thing in the heart of June ? AVhy how 
 did you bring it here ? ' 
 
 ' In my pocket,' said Constance. ' Now do, Herbert?' 
 
 ' That pocket of hers ! Do you know it, Kate ? 
 Everything comes out of that pocket, and we suspect it 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 245 
 
 of being uncanny. The last thing was a lucifer match- 
 box, candle and all. It was not lighted — I will say that 
 for her.' 
 
 ' Why, your brother left it behind him on the table at 
 Brussels, and I only saw it the last moment,' said Con- 
 stance. ' So what else could I "do with it ? But what are 
 you going to do with that poor thing, Herbert ? I wish 
 you would be a wise man, and put it on.' 
 
 He rolled it up in a ball, and pretended to throw it 
 away, he waved it high in air above her reach, but at last, 
 with various comical faces of resignation, he let her put it 
 round his neck, and only rebelled so far as not to let her 
 bury his chin in it, then arranging to meet early to-mor- 
 row, they wished good-night, and walked away, leaving 
 Lady Willoughby persuaded that he was the most im- 
 prudent man in the world, and Emmeline thinking that 
 there were more things in Lord and Lady Herbert Somer- 
 ville than were dreamt of in her mother's philosophy. 
 Kate was supremely happy, Emmeline trying to think 
 herself so. 
 
 Lord Herbert and his wife walked on in the gaslight. 
 a little while without speaking. It had been the first 
 sight of her family, and neither liked to own the impression, 
 or to ask the other's. He was the first to begin. * How 
 Kate is grown and improved ! ' 
 
 ' 0, is not she ? ' responded Constance with delight. 
 ' She has such a very sweet face — as she always had, but 
 now it is something more.' 
 
 'And Emmie?' 
 
 ' I could not make Emmie out. I did not see nearly 
 so much of her, but I thought she was not looking well.' 
 
 ' Yes, there was a fagged look, as if she was over- 
 doing every thing, and I fancied there was a constraint 
 about her.' 
 
 ' That I thought was from anxiety as to what you 
 might be thinking of her expedition this morning.' 
 
 * Did you hear what she thought of it ? ' 
 
 * Not much, she was in haste to go down stairs, but 
 I am afraid her imagination has been a good deal im- 
 pressed. She asked me whether I thought it wrong to 
 
246 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 have gone. I told her how we had felt on the matter, 
 and that silenced her. It was no plan of her own devis- 
 ing, you know.' 
 
 ' Kate was careful to tell me that.' 
 
 ' I don't understand it,' said Constance, ' those two 
 used to be so entirely one in every thing, and I doubt 
 whether it is quite the same now. I don't like to hear 
 of the intimacy with the Aliens. Susan was no favourite 
 of mine at school, and her family did not seem to be quite 
 what one would wish.' 
 
 * Well, we will try to have them with us.' said Lord 
 Herbert ; ' and, as to Kate, I am sure she is all right. I 
 should guess that she had been making a stand against 
 Emmie's expedition this morning.' 
 
 ' Kate make a stand against Emmie ! Things must 
 be changed indeed, for it to come *i that. But you did 
 not see the little ones, did you? ' 
 
 ' Only the boy. Sir Francis was relaying with him when 
 I came in. He is a fine fellow.' 
 
 ' I wish you had seen Janet, J wanted to know what 
 you would think of her.' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 24V 
 
 CHAPTEU XIX. 
 
 The hollowness of human things 
 
 The wear of feverish thought, 
 Each to the heart a shadow brings 
 
 From tombs of mem'ry brought ; 
 A broken cistern ev'ry where 
 
 Proves nature's purest joy ; 
 Though fresh the draught imagined there, 
 
 How soon we taste alloy. 
 
 E. MONTGOMEKY. 
 
 In the course of the next fortnigtit the sisters saw the 
 Somerville party every day, and Lady Willoughby was 
 completely bewildered by the ways of her daughter and 
 son-in-law. 
 
 They used to walk in almost every morning, and, after 
 a short stay, set off together on foot. And it would tran- 
 spire that their business was seeing Churches, orphan 
 asylums aud schools, visiting model lodging-houses, &c. 
 In the afternoon Constance and Lady Frances would call 
 to see if the girls could come with them in the carriage, 
 and in the evening it was generally contrived that the 
 three sisters should meet. 
 
 Kate was less involved in her mother's engagements 
 than Emmeline, and was able to be more with Constance. 
 She thus knew all the arrangements about Dearport ; how 
 it was said to have one pretty region, and one very 
 wretched, and how the beautiful grounds of Bayhurst al- 
 most bordered on the town, and they had permission from 
 the non- resident proprietor to use them as they pleased, 
 
248 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 which Lord Somerville said Constance would interpret 
 into giving routs for school children. The Parsonage was 
 in the worst part of the town, where it was said that ' no- 
 body could live; ' however, Lord Herbert meant to judge 
 for himself, for he was going to take possession of his liv- 
 ing, and stay there about ten days which time Constance 
 was to spend with her mother. 
 
 Erameline and Kate were enchanted ; all must be well 
 when they had Constance to themselves ; her, who had, 
 from the time the forlorn little girls were sent from their 
 Indian home, been at once motherly nurse, elder sister, 
 playfellow, and guide. 'Dearest Constance!' said Em- 
 meline, 'she has always been more to us than the whole 
 world besides. There is joy in her very presence.' 
 
 Constance arrived, but they were soon obliged to feel 
 that she was no longer their exclusive right. All the 
 evening she was taken up with Lady Willoughby's low, 
 sleepy murmurs, and afterwards by the whole series of 
 Sir Francis's Indian stories. Emmeline could have no 
 talk with her till bed-time, when she invited the two to 
 have a nice long coze in her room. They sat hearing the 
 history that they had but half entered into, from Con- 
 stance's letters, the whole account of Lord Herbert's ill- 
 ness, but Constance was still the careful ' old mother ' 
 that she used in former days to be called, and would not 
 let Emmeline's pale cheeks and heavy eyelids remain long 
 absent from the pillow, especially when the eyes and cheeks 
 both began to brighten with the eagerness of talking, and 
 in vain Emmeline declared that the only time she never 
 was tired was after midnight. 
 
 The hope of a morning over Constance's sketches made 
 Emmeline rise in good spirits, but here was fresh annoy- 
 ance. The breakfast became more interminable than ever, 
 for Sir Francis was so pleased with Lady Herbert's bright 
 attention that he did not spare her one of his political 
 comments over the newspaper. Afterwards Emmeline 
 was about to claim her sister, when Constance recollected 
 that she had not been to the school-room, and it would be 
 unkind not to visit poor Miss Townsend. 
 
 She found the little governess in an agitation of tears 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. J>49 
 
 and smiles, and as Lord Somerville used to say of her, 
 that no one could be ten minutes with lier, without 
 making her a confidant, she soon discovered that Miss 
 Townsend's sailor brother was just come home from a 
 five years' voyage, and that she was divided between 
 rejoicing at his safety, and despair at not being able to 
 go to see him. 
 
 Straightway Constance went to her mother, telling 
 the news so eagerly, and so much as if it concerned 
 herself, that Lady Willoughby lifted up her eyelids in 
 amazement. ' Well my dear ! ' 
 
 ' It is such an excellent time,' said Constance ; ' now 
 that I am here, you can spare her so much better.' 
 
 ' Spare her, my dear ? Sir Francis would not think of 
 it ; there are all the children ! ' 
 
 ' 0, we will take care of them, mamma; we can man- 
 age very well ; and it will be so pleasant to have them all 
 to ourselves. It is just what I wanted, to get acquainted 
 with Janet. And poor Miss Towusend is in such a 
 state.' 
 
 ' Well, my dear, poor thing, I don't know what Sir 
 Francis would think — but, my love, they will surely be 
 too much for you.' 
 
 ^ Nothing is too much for me, mamma,' said Constance, 
 laughingly. *Do, for a treat to me, let me have Janet 
 and Edwin for this one week ! ' 
 
 ' My dear, you are so energetic I But Sir Francis 
 must decide — I can't tell.' 
 
 ' He is at home, I think,' said Constance ; ' I'll run 
 and see if he is in the drawing-room.' 
 
 With consternation did Emmeline and Kate hear 
 Constance propounding her scheme. They were too 
 good-natured to start any objection, for they felt it would 
 be shameful to prevent the poor little woman from going 
 home to see her brother ; but Emmeline could not help 
 wishing that Sir Francis would say no ; and, when she 
 heard him acceding, she mentally declared that peace was 
 at an end, and it was folly to expect that anything would 
 turn out well with her — a being doomed to disappoint- 
 ment. 
 
 11* 
 
250 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 Another moment, and Constance was in the school 
 room; the permission was so far beyond all JMiss 
 Townsend's most daring hopes, that she burst into tears 
 of joy, and was unable to utter her usual ' so very 
 kind.' 
 
 ' I'm so glad,' said Constance, heartily. ' Now, can 
 we help you ? Shall Janet finish her reading to me ? it 
 would be a pity for you to lose any time.' 
 
 ' Thank you, oh ! thank you ! ' and Miss Townsend, 
 entirely overcome, retreated, while Janet read straight 
 on. Constance sat considering, and presently sprung 
 up, and knocked at Miss Townsend's door, to say that 
 she was going out with Lady Frances, and to offer to 
 set her down. The thanks were more nervous and 
 alarmed than ever, and it was hard to distinguish whether 
 she was more pleased or confused ; but the matter was 
 settled, and Constance again sat down, while Janet 
 went on reading her small history in a monotonous 
 voice ; until having finished the chapter, she left off 
 as if she had been a machine come to the end of its wind- 
 ing up, and sat looking straight before her in the same 
 position. 
 
 ' Well, Janet, what do you like to do next ? ' 
 
 ' I should like to go to Miss Townsend.' 
 
 ' Are you sure you would not interrupt her, when she 
 wants to pack up ? ' 
 
 Janet sat up rigidly without changing countenance. 
 
 ' You will miss her very much, shan't you dear ? ' 
 said Constance, kindly ; ' but you know it will only be 
 for a week, and we will see what sister can do for you.' 
 
 ' A week is a very long time ! ' said Janet. 
 
 When Kate came to bring notice that Lord Liddes- 
 dale was in the drawing-room, she found Janet on Con- 
 stance's knee, heli3ing her to write to brother Herbert, 
 that they were trying to make up to each other for his 
 absence and Miss Townsend's. 
 
 Constance thought the expedition would be no loss 
 to her sisters, but Emmeline was annoyed at losing her 
 for the afternoon, after the whole morning had been en- 
 grossed by other people. Lady Frances, when she came 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 251 
 
 to take Constance up, was of course glad to be of service 
 to the governess, and saying there was one place more, 
 asked who would come with them. 
 
 ' Suppose we take Janet,' said Constance. ' She 
 would have the pleasure of being with Miss Townsend to 
 the last.' 
 
 ' My dear,' Lady Willoughby interposed, ' you will 
 crowd Lady Frances to death ! ' 
 
 ' No thank you,' said Frances, laughing. ' She knows 
 how I pine alone in that great carriage. Pray let us have 
 the little one.' 
 
 Edwin could hardly believe that sister was going 
 to take Janet out with him, and Janet's tone of triumph 
 over him was not agreeable ; but Constance held her 
 opinion in suspense, especially when Miss Townsend 
 took courage to say, in reply to her inquiries as to 
 the management of the children, ' Pray do not think 
 Janet sullen. I know the Miss Berners think so ; 
 and to strangers, I believe, she is not an attractive child, 
 but she lives so much in her affections, poor little 
 thing.' 
 
 There was a brightening sympathy in Constance that 
 enlivened all she approached, and she and Frances had 
 made Janet so happy by the time they came to Miss 
 Townsend's home, that the meek governess was almost 
 hurt to find that her charge could part with her so easily, 
 not knowing that the secret of this happiness was that 
 she was to work her a bag to surprise her with on her 
 return, and was impatient to get rid of her that she might 
 set about it. ^ 
 
 Constance is at the beck of every one except 
 ourselves, who belong to her most,' sighed Emmeline, 
 as she saw the three children enjoying a game of genuine 
 active play with her. And after dinner again, Em-' 
 meline felt as if she was injured, when Constance sat 
 contentedly listening to her mother, who was trying to 
 make her very anxious and unhappy at trusting dear 
 Lord Herbert to take care of his own health, repeating 
 the assurance that he looked so very delicate, and 
 talking of damp beds, and new houses, and open win- 
 
252 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 dows on summer evenings. But Constance would not 
 be alarmed ; she said she did not think Herbert was 
 inclined to be imprudent; it was very warm weather, 
 and he was in no damp new house, but staying with the 
 Curate of the new Chapel in the upper part of the 
 town. 
 
 Then came some dreadful discoveries on poor Lady 
 Willoughby. They had decided on living in the old 
 Parsonage, which sh^ knew was in the vulgar part of the 
 town, though Constance mercifully spared her the de- 
 scription in Herbert's letter. ' The last occupants,' he 
 said, ' must have lived on nothing but apples, to judge 
 by the scent ; the two parlours are not much more than 
 Jack's twelve foot square, and I can touch the ceiling. 
 Nevertheless it is in the part of the parish where I should 
 most like to be, and I believe you will make it habitable, 
 so I have written to Mr. Forester to despatch our goods 
 from Copseley.' 
 
 Next Lady Willoughby was shocked by finding that 
 neither carriage, horse, nor man, were in their list 
 of necessaries, and she was roused to commiseration. 
 ' Surely, my dear, I thought you had a handsome 
 income.' 
 
 ' Yes, mamma, we are very well off.' 
 
 ' I should like, if it is not intruding, to know what 
 you call very well off, my dear.' 
 
 * Let me see ! ' said Constance. ' Yes, I know. 
 Herbert told me it was about £4,000 a year of our 
 own.' 
 
 ' My dear ! ' Lady Willoughby opened her eyes. 
 ' Why, with such a fortune you might live in the first 
 style ! you might do anything ! Something is due from 
 you, Constance, indeed it is.' 
 
 'Yes, indeed,' said Constance, ' it is such a sadly 
 destitute place, and wants so much to be done for it.' 
 
 ' I dare say, my dear,' said Lady Willoughby. ' I am 
 sure you will do a great deal of good, but you know your 
 position requires something.' 
 
 'Indeed it does,' said Constance, earnestly; 'you 
 can't think how deeply Herbert feels it. That is the 
 very thing.' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 253 
 
 ' But, my dear, with your rank and fortune, to live 
 in the way you propose ! You might as well liav6» 
 married a curate ! ' 
 
 ' Well, mamma, so I did,' said Constance, playfully , 
 ' indeed, you need not fear we are going to do anything 
 odd or strange ; we only want to live quietly and do our 
 work, and make our means go as far as they will.' 
 
 Lady Willoughby observed, while taking her other 
 daughters to a party that night, ' She was afraid dear 
 Lord Herbert was very odd and eccentric, and it was 
 very sad for poor Constance, though she bore it so sweetly. 
 She hoped Lord Liddesdale would interfere,' 
 
 Constance, in spite of persuasions, had chosen to stay 
 at home, to write to Herbert, and was glad she had done 
 so, for on going up stairs, she heard mournful sounds, 
 and found poor little Janet in bed, in Miss Townsend's 
 room, in an agony of terror at the loneliness and dark- 
 ness. To gather her up in her arms, and carry her off 
 to her own bed, was the work of a few moments ; and 
 the delight of sleeping in sister's room was almost too 
 great, when in the morning Janet found her ready to 
 wake at five, and tell her stories till it was time to 
 get up. 
 
 Emmeline was shocked at this discovery, and more 
 so when she encountered Janet's crib in progress into 
 her sister's room, telling her she would never have any 
 peace, and there was nothing so bad as losing her morn- 
 ing's sleep. 
 
 ' You owlet ! ' said Constance ; ' awake at midnight, 
 and now — 
 
 " It was about half after five, 
 Her usual time for sleeping I " ' 
 
 ' But, Constance, have you considered ? Telling that 
 child stories from five to six would kill me for the whole 
 day, and she will make you do it every morning.' 
 
 ' Oj I am used to early waking — Herbert's cough 
 always used to get worse in the morning, and now I can't 
 aleep after four or five.' 
 
 ' Where are you going now? ' said Emmeline, discon- 
 solately. 
 
254 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 I left Janet writing her copy, and I must go and 
 inspect it.' 
 
 ' We never speak to you in comfort ! ' sighed Em- 
 meline. 
 
 ' No, we are in such a houseful ; there is very little 
 time for our own talks, but I look forward to Dearport, 
 as soon as we are settled there. We will make up for 
 every thing then. How charming it will be, quite as nice 
 as Copseley ! ' 
 
 ' Not as Copseley without a garden.' 
 My garden,' said Constance ; ' that will be : — 
 
 " Silver bells 
 And cockle shells, 
 And pretty girls all in a row ;" ' 
 
 and she went away singing. 
 
 The castle of having Constance with them being as 
 much of a failure as the rest, Emmeline continued in her 
 habitual state, divided between languor and excitement. 
 She did not guess how anxiously her sister was watching 
 her, and revolving every mode of doing her good. 
 
 Constance much disliked the intimacy with the Aliens. 
 Of Susan they saw comparatively little, for she had never 
 at school liked Constance Berners, one of the steady 
 girls, who were almost authorities, and always discoun- 
 tananced pertness and giggling ; and now, after one visit 
 that enabled her to entertain her friends with a descrip- 
 tion of Constance Somerville (as she called her when out 
 of her hearing), she preferred keeping her distance. It 
 was the brother who was most in the way. He haunted 
 the drawing-room perpetually in the morning, and poor 
 Constance was sick of his conceited dilettante talk, but 
 she could not escape, for it was the time of day when 
 her mother never appeared, and she could not leave her 
 sisters unchaperoned. She made Janet and Edwin bring 
 their books down stairs, and sat trying to write her 
 letter, and attend to them, through all his self-corn 
 placencies '• about Raphaels, Corregios, and stuif.' by no 
 means consoled by the credit she was earning, when he 
 whispered to Emmeline that Lady Herbert Somerville 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 255 
 
 was sucli a cLarming superior person, witli so much tasto 
 for art. 
 
 Heartily glad was Constance wlien Lord Liddesdale 
 or Ills eldest son came in, as tliey did almost every morn- 
 ing. Their coming generally occasioned Henry Allen's 
 departure ; nothing else effected it, till Lady Willoughby 
 came down dressed for her drive. 
 
 One day Constance, while hearing who her sister's 
 partners at a dance had been, could not help exclaiming, 
 ' Mr. Allen ! there is no end of him ! ' 
 
 ' I am sure I don't care about him,' said Emmelinc, 
 petulantly ; ' I wish he would not be always coming here, I 
 don't want him.' 
 
 Thereupon Emmeline escaped, and craved no more 
 confidential conversations with her sister ; but Constance 
 took her own measures, and succeeded in making Lady 
 Willoughby take alarm ; ' it was very unlucky — Emmie 
 might do so much better — it was so bad for a girl to get 
 the name of a flirtation — did Constance think there was 
 really anything in it ? ' 
 
 'I dont know anything about such things,' said Con- 
 stance ; ' but I believe Emmeline is too superior to be 
 really attracted by such a man. She would never think 
 of him more if she was once out of sight of him.' 
 
 ' Very likely, my dear, and we shall soon be leaving 
 town. I have known many things go off in that way. 
 How fortunate that you are here, with nothing to do, but 
 to sit in the drawing-room and watch them. What a 
 comfort it is to have a married daughter ! ' 
 
 Next morning Mr. Allen stood over the piano where 
 Emmeline and Kate were practising; Sir Francis was im- 
 parting scraps of newspaper to all who would listen ; 
 Janet was inserting the white eyes of the pink stars on 
 her bag; Edwin appealing to 'sister' continually for as- 
 sistance in the puzzle he was putting up ; Janet always 
 answering for sister that she must not be interrupted, 
 and then applying to her on her own account the next 
 moment. In the midst of this, Constance was writing 
 as follows : — 
 
 * If twelve foot square can be made practicable fca* four people, 
 
256 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 I should like to take Emmie and Kate home with us at once ; I 
 want to have Emmie in a calmer region than this, and out of 
 the reach of the licro of the K C. chapel. The girls would 
 enjoy the fun of a scramble. I see how to manage, if you ap- 
 prove.' 
 
 Two days after slie heard in answer — 
 
 'By all means let us have the girls, I have hardly seen them 
 yet It will be great gain to have them to help you at the flitting. 
 I had thought of asking if you could dispose of Redlands, if I 
 told him to -come to us the first night, but I had rather have the 
 sisters.' 
 
 Constance immediately made it her entreaty that her 
 sisters might be spared to her, and the dread of Henry 
 Allen caused her mother to consent. They were both 
 pleased ; Kate always happy to be with Constance, and 
 anxious to feel herself actually commencing her course of 
 preparation, and Emmeline kissing her sister in a trans 
 port, and saying now they should leave the hot restless 
 glare of the world, and be happy together in peace, all in 
 all to each other, with no one to interrupt. 
 
 When, a couple of days after, Lord Herbert came 
 back, Emmeline found that they should not be absolutely 
 alone, for Constance had undertaken to manage for the 
 accommodation of Mr. Redlands, and he was to be at the 
 parsonage till he could choose a lodging ; but this she 
 could very well endure, as there was no fear of his being 
 much, or long in the way. 
 
 For the three days of their further stay in London. 
 Lord and Lady Herbert were at the Willoughbys' ; their 
 family coming, the last evening, to meet them there at 
 dinner. 
 
 Lady Willoughby took the opportunity of entering a 
 protest, against the proceedings at Dearport. She asked 
 Lord Liddesdale, in confidence, if he did not think these 
 dear young people of theirs were inclined to be a little 
 over enthusiastic. 
 
 He looked amazed, and answered, ' I think Constance 
 may be trusted. She has a sensible head of her own.' 
 
 ' I can^t tell, dear Constance is so sweet-tempered,' 
 said Lady Willoughby ; ' But surely you must agree 
 
THE CASTLF. PTIIJ,DFP», 257 
 
 with me, that it is a pity they should begin on the scale 
 they purpose.' 
 
 ' There they must be left to their own devices,' said 
 Lord Liddesdale ; ' they have plenty of solid good sense, 
 both of them, and as they think right, they must do. 
 Constance will take care he does not knock himself up ; ' 
 then, as Lady Willoughby still looked distressed, he 
 added, ' I shall soon go and see after them, and take 
 order if they do anything foolish.' 
 
 This was all the comfort she could obtain, though if 
 she had known Lord Liddesdale's real feeling towards his 
 son, she would have little trusted to him. 
 
 She did not prosper even so well with Frances, who 
 tried to listen demurely to her fears, and not succeeding, 
 laughed, and said, ' they were quite satisfied, papa and all, 
 Herbert would never do anything extravagant.' And 
 yet poor Lady Willoughby overheard Lord Somerville 
 warning Kate that some day he should find ' twelve foot 
 square' converted, one half into an asylum for orphan 
 gipseys, the other for pauper lunatics. 
 
 That evening was a sad one for Janet, who had such a 
 passionate attachment to sister Constance, that even Miss 
 Townsend's return did not comfort her. Her only satis- 
 faction was an invitation to come some day and stay at 
 Dearport, given by brother Herbert himself, as she sat 
 on his knee, undecided between liking him for his own 
 sake, and hating him for being tt e lawful owner of sister 
 Constance. 
 
258 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 The crocus hails her time to ccmc ; 
 For she is not tlie delicate 
 Who shrinks from aught may fit her state, 
 But wears a cheerful hardy brow — 
 Glad combatant of frost and snow ; 
 Yet prudent arc her ways the while 
 Both warmth and tempests to foresee. 
 
 S. N. ' 
 
 Seldom was there a livelier party than that which started 
 for Dearport, and as they left the London atmosphere, 
 and glided from amongst tall roofs and overgrown chim- 
 neys into the fresh dewy air of the country, fields spark- 
 ling under a silvery morning veil, and meadows newly cut, 
 or fragrant with piles of hay, even Emmeline's weary 
 spirit was exhilarated, and she joined with something of 
 her former animation in the gaiety of her companions. 
 
 Yet Emmeline could not entirely comprehend that 
 blitheness and light-heartedness that there was about the 
 Somervilles — that capacity for laughing, and that playful- 
 ness, which never seemed to fail them, especially Lord 
 Herbert, so serious, so reverent, and self-denying as they 
 were — it seemed to her a contradiction that they should 
 be so merry. She only knew gaiety as forgetfulness, a 
 moment's confusing away of her cravings and discontent. 
 
 ' Be silent, vain deluding mirth,' 
 
 was a line she could understand, but she did not see the 
 force of the next, 
 
 * Till in thine altered voice be known. 
 Somewhat of resignation's tone.' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 259 
 
 nor perceive that it was this very tone that made their 
 hearts so free and light, and their cheerfulness no vain 
 delusion. Of course, natural temperament has a good 
 deal to do with such things, and Emmeline was naturally 
 grave, while Lord Herbert was one of those whose buoyant 
 animal spirits seem almost a compensation for frail health ; 
 but it was the principle within that had sustained that 
 cheerfulness, and even gaiety of heart, through long and 
 severe suffering. 
 
 They were at the Dearport Station by twelve o'clock, 
 and Lord Herbert recommended their walking to their 
 new abode. ' There,' said he, ' let me introduce you to 
 the great maritime paradise of Dearport, forming, you 
 see, an amphitheatre above the mouth of the navigable 
 river.' 
 
 * How beautiful ! ' was the exclamation, as they looked 
 at the bay beneath them, scattered with many a white- 
 sailed vessel, and enclosed on two sides by curving wooded 
 banks, one of which was thickly studded by numerous 
 houses of the better class, while the other showed only 
 park-like glades of green embosomed in trees. 
 
 ' That is Bayhurst, I suppose,' said Constance. ' How 
 very pretty ! and this is our domain.' 
 
 ' Yes ; there you see the genteel regions,' said Lord 
 Herbert, ' with all their desirable summer residences, and 
 that is the spire of their Chapel.' 
 
 ' That lath and plaster affair,' said Constance ; ' but 
 where's our Church ? ' 
 
 ' You can't see it. It is behind that elated six-story 
 monster of a warehouse.' 
 
 ' But what a hill, Herbert ! you did not prepare mo 
 for that,' said Constance, dismayed at the sharpness of 
 the descent, for hills always betrayed the weakness of his 
 chest. 
 
 ' Better to have it at one's outset,' he said, as he con- 
 ducted them down a narrowing street, the pavement of 
 grey shingly stone, the gutters plentifully bestrewn with 
 remains of fish, and empty periwinkles and whelks ; the 
 shops, small and poor-looking, with a nautical air about 
 the goods, and a large proportion of slovenly women and 
 
260 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 idle meu of seafaring aspect, Emmeiino and Kate 
 looked at each other in consternation, and repeated to 
 themselves their mother's compassionate, ' Poor Con- 
 stance.' 
 
 They were near the wharf, when Lord Herbert guided 
 them into a side street, narrow, hut more quiet, as the 
 great warehouse of sea-stores occupied one side, and a 
 dead wall the other, and there was a wholesome odour of 
 new ropes. Beyond they came on the little old Church, 
 its yard thick with grave- stones, little children climbing 
 about them, and lines of clothes hung out to dry. Lord 
 Herbert led the way round the posts that permitted an 
 entrance for foot-passengers, and taking a paved path that 
 traversed the church-yard diagonally, led them to a 
 moderate sized elderly house, separated from it by a low 
 wall and narrow flagged court. The girls, as they walked 
 behind, saw him looking in his wife's face. They thought 
 everything so wretched that they could not bear to say a 
 word, Constance must be so disappointed, and he so vexed 
 for her. 
 
 ' How very nice ! ' was Constance's exclamation. ' You 
 did not tell me what a respectable old place it is. How 
 could you doubt about its being habitable ? ' 
 
 * I don't think I did about your making it so.' 
 
 ' It is capital to have the Church-yard to look into 
 instead of a street. The Church is very pretty ; that is a 
 beautiful window.' 
 
 ' You must get rid of all those festoons of linen,' said 
 Emmeline. 
 
 ' And the dirty children,' said Kate. ' "What little 
 grubs ! ' 
 
 ' Yes, when they are ordered off it may do,' said 
 Emmeline. 
 
 ' What a fine act of tyranny you want to begin with 1 ' 
 said Herbert. 
 
 ' Tyranny ! ' said Kate. 
 
 ' If you had one room, half a dozen children, and all 
 the garments of the family to be washed and dried, and 
 no open space but this' — said Constance. 
 
 ' But is it not teaching them irreverence ? ' said Em- 
 meline. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 261 
 
 * Another question,' said Lord Herbert, ' entirely dif- 
 ferent from the a3sthetic one at the commencement.' 
 
 ' Then you do mean to get rid of them ? ' 
 
 ' The present point is whether we are to get into our 
 house or not,' said Lord Herbert, for they had all this 
 time been waiting for the door to be opened. At last 
 Constance tried the handle ; it yielded, and they entered 
 the narrowest of all vestibules, choked with packed furni- 
 ture, while a voice was heard in the distance of some one 
 in despair. ' Bless us ! Come already ! I never thought 
 they would ever come before dinner-time ; and there's not 
 a place for them to sit down in, nor nothing for them to 
 eat.' 
 
 What would become of Constance, thought the sisters ; 
 but Constance laughed, and tripped on, guided by the 
 voice, and her kind tones were heard reassuring the 
 frightened maid, almost apologising for taking her by 
 surprise, and telling her she was sure they should be quite 
 comfortable by the evening ; it was all so very clean. 
 Coming back, as gay as ever, she took the lead in treating 
 the general confusion as a joke, and the personal exertions 
 they felt bound to make, a frolic. They would get it all 
 set to rights before Mr. Redlands came ; and what fun it 
 would be ! so much better than walking into a house in 
 apple-pie order, with nothing to do. Her only care was 
 lest Emmeline should be hungry or tired, and Lord Her- 
 bert undertook to go and cater for them. 
 
 Meantime Constance ran up and down, admiring and 
 praising every thing, and giving a helping and settling 
 hand wherever she went, decided on her line of operations, 
 and declared she was very glad to have come now, for she 
 could settle things right according to her own ideas from 
 the first. 
 
 Emmeline was forbidden to tire herself, and the only 
 chair that was forthcoming was applied to her use, in spite 
 of all her resistance, while, on Herbert's return, his pro- 
 vision of gingerbread and penny cakes was displayed on 
 the dining-room table, on which the party not only dined^ 
 but sat. They were all very hungry, and the irregularity 
 gave it the zest of a pic-nic. Lord Herbert exclaimed, 
 
262 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' Who would not bo rector of a town where the;y make 
 such penny cakes ! ' and the merriment rose to its height 
 when Constance, insisting on Emmeline's having her daily 
 dose of wine, Lord Herbert cut the cords of the hamper, 
 and then, bringing out a black bottle, held it up, shook 
 his head at it, and said in a quiet, matter-of-fact tone, 
 * You've not got a cork-screw in your pocket, Constance, 
 my dear.' 
 
 To his surprise, as much as that of any one, Con- 
 stance at once put her hand in her pocket and brought 
 out one. 
 
 They laughed till they were weary, Lord Herbert ex- 
 claiming that he wished ' Jack' was there, and Constance 
 pretending to see no cause for being derided, for she 
 knew Emmeline must have her wine, and she thought in 
 a new house there would be sure to be no cork-screw. 
 When at length Lord Herbert had been reduced to leaning 
 exhausted against the wall, sayiug it was a shame of her 
 to make them laugh so much that they could not stand 
 when there was nothing to sit upon, the wine was ad- 
 ministered to Emmeline in a tea-cup, and the rest, being 
 all decided water drinkers, were supplied from the pump. 
 Then, to work in earnest, though Constance obliged 
 Emmeline to sit still, insultingly giving her her travelling 
 book to finish ; and she was really tired enough not to 
 make much resistance. The other three carried the fur- 
 niture and settled its places with great alacrity, and so 
 much merriment and laughing, that the chief recollection 
 that Kate preserved of the hard-working flitting to Dear- 
 port was of a party of pleasure, unequalled, unless by the 
 llowthorpe expedition to the ruined Castle, or the tea- 
 drinking in the Tower at Herringsby. Constance was so 
 glad to see her CojDseley possessions once more, as they 
 emerged from their cases, and there were so many recol- 
 lections connected with them that they could hardly make 
 progress for talking over them, except Constance herself, 
 whose briskness and readiness could work effectively in 
 the midst of any amount of diversion and confusion. 
 
 At last they were interrupted by a message that the 
 clerk wanted to speak to his Lordship, and Herbert left 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 263 
 
 them. ' I am glad he is gone,' said Constance, ' we shall 
 get on all the faster now you and he are not hindering 
 each other with talking nonsense, Miss Kate. I expected 
 every moment he would make you laugh my fine buhl 
 clock to death.' 
 
 ' I don't think you would have cried if he had,' said 
 Kate. 
 
 ' I should not mind it so much if it would either go 
 right or go away,' said Constance ; ' but it will do no harm 
 up there on a bracket. Well, really '' twelve foot square" 
 is beginning to look decent. I think we may begin upon 
 the dining-room.' 
 
 Lord Herbert came in to say that the clerk had told 
 him of a sick man in need of being visited, and the ladies 
 continued their arrangements without him, till by half-past 
 five the two downstairs rooms looked quite pleasant and 
 comfortable. The apartments consisted of these two, 
 besides a little dark den, the centre of the apple smell, a 
 wall almost blocking the window. This Constance decided 
 would do for putting books into, and speaking to people, 
 and it was to be called the study, though as to Herbert's 
 sitting there it was out of the question. At the back 
 were some tolerable offices, and there were four rooms on 
 the second floor, two looking into the church-yard, and 
 two into a timber-yard with a high wall, far beyond which 
 rose the green wooded slope of Bayhurst. 
 
 Constance, thanking Kate for all her help, and tri- 
 umphing in their great deeds, shut her sisters into their 
 room, one of the front ones, telling them to rest and dress, 
 and they entreated her to do the same. She said, ' yes, 
 it was almost time,' and shut the door. 
 
 ' How tired she must be ! ' said Emmeline. ' Are not 
 you, Kate ? ' 
 
 ' 0, no, nothing to signify ! ' said Kate, ' only with 
 laughing.' 
 
 ' I wish she would have let me help,' said Emmeline, 
 languidly ; ' but it is all for nothing ; they never can stay 
 here. I never saw such a horrid place in my life.' 
 
 ' It looks much better for what we did to-day,' said 
 Kate, ' and I am sure they don't seem to mind it.' 
 
264 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' No, that is all Constance's sweetness ; but I am sure 
 she must feel the change from Copseley.' 
 
 ' A change, indeed,' said Kate, looking out at the 
 slatternly women who had come to take in their clothes. 
 
 ' Wretched,' said Emmeline. ' Poor Constance, I was 
 so sorry for her all the time, though she did carry it off so 
 well.' 
 
 ' Ah ! there is Herbert coming home. And, oh ! there 
 she is with her bonnet on. She is meeting him, and now 
 they are gone into the Church together. I hope mamma 
 will never see this place ! ' 
 
 ' It can't last,' said Emmeline, decidedly ; ' they must 
 go and live in the upper part of the parish. This house 
 is not even second-rate ; it is perfectly miserable, and this 
 dismal northern aspect.' 
 
 They found Mr. Redlands, the new Curate, in the 
 drawing-room. He was one of those brown, sallow, 
 shrivelled people, who look as if they never had been 
 youthful, and hardly could be aged. Lord Herbert had 
 been his pupil at Oxford, and had the greatest regard for 
 him. There were to be two other Curates, but one was 
 not yet ordained, and the other could not come for a 
 month ; and there was also Mr. Woodman, who belonged 
 to the Chapel in the new part of the town. 
 
 It was nearly eight when they left the dining-room ; 
 the sun was not set, for they saw its light on the top of 
 the Church tower, but it could not penetrate to them, and 
 the little northern drawing-room, literally rather more 
 than ' twelve foot square,' was already beginning to darken. 
 Constance seated Emmeline in the innermost recess of the 
 sofa, put herself next, and Kate on her other side, and 
 with her arm round one sister, and her hand playing with 
 the fingers of the other, she exclaimed, ' Now for a nice 
 comfortable talk in the dark ! The gentlemen won't be 
 in for an age ; they have all their plans to settle. How 
 snug we shall be ! ' 
 
 At that moment the knell began to ring a deep and 
 solemn toll. Constance felt how Emmeline shuddered. 
 
 ' That poor man ! ' said Constance. ' Herbert thought 
 it must soon be over. He left him quite insensible.' 
 
 ' It is very solemn,' said Kate. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 265 
 
 ' And we shall have to see the burial,' said Emmeline, 
 * O, Constance, ConstaLce, you can never bear to live 
 here ! ' 
 
 * My poor Emmie,' said Constance, tenderly, ' I have 
 brought you here too soon. I am sorry you have had 
 such a long tiring day.' 
 
 ' I am sure it is a bad omen,' said .Emmeline, hiding 
 her face on her sister's shoulder, and speaking in a gasp- 
 ing whisper, ' I should not have told you so — 0, Constance 
 — but I could not help it.' 
 
 ' Emmie, love,' said Constance, ' you would not think 
 so if you were not tired and out of spirits. It is a fancy 
 that will go off another time.' 
 
 '■ Oh, but it is so dismal ! ' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' Dismal ! No, I don't think so. Hark, how deep and 
 musical ; there is something soothing as well as solemn in 
 the sound.' 
 
 ' Do you like to live here, Constance ? ' said Kate, 
 presently. ' You are not disappointed ? ' 
 
 ' 0, no, it is much better than Herbert led me to 
 expect.' 
 
 ' What a description his must have been,' said Em- 
 meline. 
 
 ' But, Constance, do you really mean that you like 
 this as well as Copseley? ' said Kate. 
 
 .' My dear, how can you ask such a question % ' said 
 Constance, laughing ; ' Copseley was a delightful place to 
 begin with, but too delightful to last.' 
 
 ' Yes, nothing pleasant does last,' sighed Emmeline. 
 ' But I don't understand it, Constance. You can't really 
 be pleased with this dismal place, though you make the 
 best of it not to vex Herbert.' 
 
 ' No, no, Emmie, that is not it,' said Constance. ' 1 
 do honestly like being here ; why should you think me 
 acting a part ? ' 
 
 '0, no, Constance, not that, but — ' 
 
 '■ I'll tell you how it has been,' said Constance ; ' when 
 Herbert began to get well, he always had a feeling that 
 he ought to do something more than just go on in an 
 ordinary sort of way. And when the offer of this parish 
 
 19 
 
266 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 came, it seemed like a call. You know Copseley is safo 
 under Mr. Forester, but his taking this place seemed its 
 only chance ; so we could only make up our minds to come 
 and do our best, if his health will but hold out.' 
 
 * Yes, yes, but why live in this den ? ' 
 
 ' Why, Emmie, surely it is right for the parson to live 
 in the parsonage ; and if it has four walls and is weather- 
 tight, it would be a shame to be too fine for it. "We seem 
 to be most wanted in this poor forsaken crowded part of 
 the place, and I dare say we shall get on very well. 
 See what lots of luxuries we have, that we can't get rid 
 of. It is a very good house if you would only think 
 so.' 
 
 ' But Herbert — when one thinks what he has been 
 used to ? ' 
 
 ' 0, Emmie, that is not talking at all like your old 
 self?' said Constance, rather indignantly; then adding, 
 after a little thought, ' I do believe Herbert, from having 
 been brought up to grandeur, misses those kind of things 
 less. You know Copseley was a considerable come-down 
 from Rowthorpe, and there's not so much difference in 
 our style between this and Copseley. But that is not the 
 point. We have come here to be servants to our pa- 
 rishioners, and all we have belongs to them; so all we 
 have to look to, is what is best for them. I mean what 
 is right as becoming our station, and what will help them 
 most.' 
 
 * And you like it ! ' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' Can you ask, Emmie ! Is it not a great thing to be 
 allowed to have part with him ? — 0, Emmie — I can't 
 talk about it — but there is something in it so very 
 happy.' 
 
 Emmeline was struck. It was what she used to fancj 
 her own turn of mind, and in Constance it was genuine 
 and practical. But its being so practical was the very 
 reason Emmeline was unable to enter into it. ' I could 
 understand it — if — if it was Madeline — if it was a mis- 
 sionary — but it is self-devotion, it is very beautiful — only 
 this little poky house — ' 
 
 ' My dear,' said Constance, laughing, ' I believe the 
 
THE CASTl.E BUILDERS. 267 
 
 fact is, that with you it is like love in a cottage ; you can 
 believe in — such things — in a convent, or a sister of 
 charity — only you don't understand it in a modern Clergy- 
 man in a clolh coat, and a little common-place house. Is 
 not that it ? Indeed, you know we must take things as 
 we find them, and not sit still and amuse ourselves, though 
 we do happen to be born in the nineteenth century. Things 
 were common-place to those old peo23le that are romance 
 to us, you may be sure.' 
 
 Constance had spoken as she felt in her inmost heart, 
 and as she seldom had expressed herself; and with a sort 
 of reserve, she instantly changed the subject to some 
 playful discussion of the labours of the morrow. Kate 
 answered, Emmeline was silent, for even this free unin- 
 terrupted conversation, easy, open, and tender, was not 
 satisfying to that constant aching craving for something 
 more. 
 
 The place was forlorn and mean, and Constance was 
 provoking for being satisfied with what was merely dis- 
 agreeable, not striking. Emmeline wanted something to 
 please her imagination, and as this was not accomplished, 
 oho miseed the beauty of the unobtrusive self sacrifice, and 
 simply disliked its severity. 
 
 This dingy abode, it was too true, was Constance's 
 home, but it never could be the goal of her day-dreams, 
 and that active contentment of Constance herself, showed 
 that now that she was a wife, she was only a reflection of 
 her husband, and would no longer be what Emmeline had 
 figured to herself 
 
 All was a failure, and nothing was left but to sigh 
 over the truth of 
 
 'Man never is, hut always to be blest.' 
 
968 THE CASTLE BUILDERg- 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 How rarely boyhood loves to paint 
 
 In glowing tints his future bright! 
 A picture where no line is faint, 
 
 Whose very clouds are tipped with light 
 And girlhood hails a world unknown, 
 
 And reads it in her own glad dreams ; 
 As lilies see themselves alone 
 
 Eeflected in their azure streams. 
 
 C. F. A. 
 
 How busy Lord and Lady Herbert were, may be easily 
 guessed, aud how heartily Kate aided them. There was 
 much that was disagreeable, the Church arrangements 
 wretched, the attendance on the daily service almost no- 
 thing, the school such a stifling den, that till something 
 could be done, Constance begged Lord Herbert to hear 
 all his pupils in the dining-room ; the instruction at the 
 lowest ebb, and the greater part of the parish sending their 
 children to Dissenting schools. Dissent was rampant, and. 
 at the first view, it appeared as if the town was divided 
 between nonconformity and absolute irrcligion — ' heathen- 
 ism,' as Kate called it till Mr. Redlands said it was 
 worse, for it was Christianity forgotten. Poverty, and all 
 its accompanying evils of dirt, sickliness, and hard indif- 
 ferent recklessness, met them at every turn. Nor was all 
 satisfactory in the upper town, and Constance perceived 
 many difficulties awaiting her the first time she looked 
 over the books used at school. 
 
 It was cqnopos t;) this matter that Kate related tho 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 269 
 
 history of tlieir own troubles at t'ne school at Herringsby, 
 very much to Lord Herbert's diversion, and as Kate can- 
 didly allowed, it was just what they deserved for acting 
 against his warning. 
 
 * But Herbert,' said she, ' I do wish you would explain 
 to me the rights and wrongs.' 
 
 A serious undertaking, Kate.' 
 
 ' Emmie and I have talked it over, and we do not un- 
 derstand it — do we, Emmie ? ' 
 
 ' It is only a result of the uncomfortable disunion and 
 party spirit of the time we live in,' said Emmeline, as if 
 she wanted to bring the matter to an end. 
 
 ' Well, I know, so it is,' said Kate ; ' but I want 
 clearly to see what is to be done, and what we ought to 
 have done. It was a great pity to be of no use.' 
 
 ' So thought Titus Manlius when he killed the cham- 
 pion,' said Lord Herbert. 
 
 ' But it was a great shame of old Manlius to execute 
 him ! ' said Kate. 
 
 ' We ar'n't going to execute you, Katie,' said Con- 
 stance, ' but don't you see that it is not safe to break the 
 rules of discipline for any good 1 Besides, do you think 
 you were absolutely called on to begin teaching on your 
 own authority ? ' 
 
 ' No — perhaps not,' said Kate ; ' and I know we were 
 wrong in our notion of Mr. Brent ; he would have made 
 us useful in the right way if we had but put ourselves 
 under him.' 
 
 ' But if he had been really bad — what should you have 
 said then, Herbert ? ' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' There would probably have been something to guide 
 you — you would have been thrown in contact with some 
 one in need of help. Besides, if he had been bad, as you 
 call it. he would probably have been so indifferent to the 
 state of his parish, that your teaching would not have 
 been in opposition to him.' 
 
 ' Most likely,' said Kate; 'but suppose he held the 
 same opinions as that Mr. Denham — what should we do 
 then ? ' 
 
 ' I don't much like answering such cases of conscience/ 
 said Herbert. ' What do you say, Constance?' 
 
270 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' I don't know — I was thinking ; but I believe what 
 would strike me as the fairest thing, would be to tell the 
 Clergyman that if I taught at all, it would be according 
 to the strict sense of the words of the Prayer-book, and 
 then let him take his choice whether he would employ me 
 or not.' 
 
 ' Yes, I think you have settled that question,' said 
 Herbert, * and I suspect it would end in your being 
 allowed your own way.' 
 
 * How I should hate the settling it ! ' said Kate ; ' I 
 think it would end as it did at Herringsby.' 
 
 ' But those good little old Miss Shaws puzzle me much 
 more,' said Emmeline. ' They were so thoroughly good, 
 and kind, and self-denying, and humble, one could not 
 help loving and honouring them with all one's heart, and 
 
 yet—' 
 
 ' I do believe that Mrs, and Miss Charlton are going 
 to be just as bad,' broke in Kate. ' I saw one of the very 
 worst of the tracts the Miss Shaws used to give, in Miss 
 Charlton's basket, this very morning. Don't you remem- 
 ber, Emmie, it was one about a very religious man, who 
 had nothing to eat, and he prayed, and presently he came 
 to a pit with some bread and meat in it, wrapped up in a 
 handkerchief* 
 
 ' The sawyer's dinner, probably,' said Lord Herbert. 
 
 ' And pray,' said Constance, ' may I ask whether you 
 assisted in the distribution of this instruction in morality?' 
 
 ' No — luckily not,' said Kate, ' for dear Frank found 
 it out, and I thought he would never have ceased asking 
 us "what became of the handkerchief" ' 
 
 ' But what do you think about the old ladies ? ' said 
 Emmeline. 
 
 ' They must be too really and deeply good for us to 
 dare to censure them,' said Herbert. ' They probably 
 have grown up without guidance from the Church, as to 
 the right way of doing good ; they have done their best, 
 and if their doctrine is defective, and their practice irreg- 
 ular, it is not likely to be their fault.' 
 
 * It is a fact tliat this tract was left in a Bible, by scrnie visit- 
 ors to a new Church. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 271 
 
 * And that kindly visiting is not wrong, even in Mr. 
 Brent's parish ? ' 
 
 ' No, not when they don't leave tracts which they know 
 he disapproves, and even then it is a case of knowing no 
 better. The kind care of the bodily wants must be right.' 
 
 * I do believe the old ladies themselves would never 
 interfere or do anything you don't approve, if it was not 
 for their friends,' said Emmeline, ' they are all kindness 
 and goodness themselves.' 
 
 ' And simply believe what they are told by the persons 
 whem they have been used to respect,' said Herbert. ' It 
 is the spirit of obedience and teachableness that is in them, 
 depend upon it, though it may not always be directed the 
 right way. By-the-by, Constance, I think we had better 
 ask Mrs. and Miss Charlton to tea some evening, and per- 
 haps you may manage to come round them quietly about 
 the tracts.' 
 
 Emmeline and Kate were convinced that this was 
 likely to succeed, for poor Mr. Brent's want of manner 
 had always told against him, while Lord Herbert had 
 every natural gift of pleasing, and his delicate appearance 
 gave stronger interest in him, when gossips shook their 
 heads, and said, ' Ah ! poor young man, he won't be here 
 
 All this certainly was in his favour, and much more 
 was the general admiration of his sermons. He did not 
 often preach, for he was obliged to spare his chest, but the 
 chance of hearing him brought many to Church who 
 would otherwise have stayed away, and there was always 
 some excitement at the upper town, if he was likely to 
 come to the Chapel on one part of the Sunday. 
 
 This was telling in some degree on the rich, and at- 
 tracting such of the tradespeople as were half Dissenters, 
 only because they had been neglected by their Clergy; so 
 that there was less opposition than had at first seemed 
 probable, though there was a great deal of up-hill work, 
 and the prospect of more unpleasantness when the novelty 
 should have worn off, and his plans became more devel- 
 oped. Among the poor, there began to be some hopeful 
 signs ; though for each of these, there was opened some 
 fresh vista of want and sin. 
 
272 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 Well might work thicken upon Lord Herbert and his 
 wife, "who "were engaged almost from morning till night. 
 Breakfast, the early dinner, and late tea-drinking, were 
 the only times when they were sure to meet, though they 
 were in and out of the house half the day. Lord Herbert 
 was beginning to gather his Confirmation classes, and he 
 asked his sisters if they did not wish to begin their prep- 
 aration. Kate was ready and anxious, Emmeline quietly 
 acquiesced, so he gave them books to read, and questions 
 to answer on paper, but without at present seeking for 
 conversations on the subject. 
 
 Emmeline continued dispirited, languid, and reserved. 
 She did not appear unwell, but she was reluctant to exert 
 herself, and her best efforts at courtesy did not conceal 
 that she found Dearport dreary and uncomfortable. The 
 last of her visions, the return of Lord Herbert and Con- 
 stance, seemed as great a failure as all the rest, for here 
 was she in their house, as little contented as ever. Kate 
 went hither and thither, worked as hard as Constance, had 
 a class at school, knew numbers of the poor people, and 
 was in continual activity and enjoyment. She caught no 
 headache in the stifling school, or if she did, a sea-breeze 
 blew it away ; she did not mind the fishy smell of the 
 streets, and had something else to think of than its disagree- 
 ableness when she entered a house. She was keeping too 
 close to Constance to mind such things more than she did; 
 but Emmeline saw nothing but the disagreeables, did 
 nothing but what she was positively asked to do, always 
 had a letter to wi'ite, or a book to read, some occupation, 
 when she might have come to be useful in the morning, 
 though the results of her employment generally seemed to 
 be nothing but dreaming, and pining at the dismality of 
 their Churchyard aspect ; and in the afternoon, she would 
 always, if possible, make Kate come with her to walk in 
 the Bayhurst grounds, and expressed great disgust at the 
 streets, with much of her mother's tone and manner. 
 
 They were all uneasy on her account. They thought 
 she had never properly recovered either her illness or the 
 shock of Frank's death ; she had constantly been much 
 more tired than was good for her, when in London, and 
 continually excited, without having sufficient time for rest. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 273 
 
 either mental or bodily, and this was a reaction from the 
 long excitement she had been under. They must wait, 
 and let her be calmed and soothed, till her frame recovered 
 its full health, and her mind its tone and vigour ; so Con- 
 stance was patient and tender, did not try to rouse her by 
 exhortations, or force her confidence, but only gave her 
 every proof of affection, and devised means of finding her 
 beneficial occupation. 
 
 But weariness of spirit, and unformed longings of dis- 
 content hung on her day after day. Devotional employ- 
 ment simply gave her pain, from which she took refuge in 
 the dull coat of dreary formal indifference that was fast 
 growing over her. It made her unhappy to think, so she 
 did not try ; she did not care to do anything, slie was tired 
 of everything ; restless enough almost to wish the visit 
 was over, though there was nothing but dreariness in the 
 prospect of joining Sir Francis and Lady Willoughby at 
 Cheltenham. Her mind would sometimes even recur to 
 the chance of meeting the Aliens there ; they amused her, 
 and filled up the vacancy in her mind, and she continued 
 the correspondence which she had commenced with Susan, 
 always looking the first thing for some sentence beginning, 
 ' Henry desires me to tell you.' 
 
 It was a Sunday evening. The day had been one of 
 considerable toil ; Constance, Kate, and Mr. Redlands, 
 had been school-keeping whenever they were not at 
 Church ; Emmeline had been teaching a class at home, 
 and Lord Herbert, besides taking part in the early ser- 
 vice, had been to the Chapel in the morning, and had cat- 
 echized in the afternoon. This evening his sermon was 
 too often interrupted by the unwelcome sound of his old 
 short cough. It was chilly and wet, a small cold rain 
 drifting like a wall of mist from the sea, dense, grey, and 
 oppressive, and when they came out of Church, and saw 
 the glaze of wet on the tombstones and roofs, which there 
 was just light enough to distinguish, heard the plash from 
 the dripping eaves, and felt the damp to their feet, while 
 they breathed the unwholesome cold moist atmosphere, 
 Emmeline shivered, saying that it was wretched; she felt 
 it in all her bones. 
 12* 
 
274 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 Constance did not stay to hear licr, but hastened 
 across the flagged path into tlie house. The sisters fol- 
 lowed, and went up at once to take off their bonnets, Em- 
 meline sighing all the time at the forlorn place, and at 
 Herbert's cough, while Kate tried to console her, by put- 
 ting her in mind that before next Sunday the young Dea- 
 con would be arrived. ' 0, but it is the place ! ' said 
 Emmeline. ' Just think what it will be a little later in 
 the year. And this is only August ! ' 
 
 Emmeline was too disconsolate to put much alacrity 
 in her movements, and Kate waited to help her, so that it 
 was more than ten minutes before they came down stairs, 
 cold and forlorn, into ' twelve foot square,' which they ex- 
 pected to find more ding}'' than ever. 
 
 Behold it was glowing with brightness, which streamed 
 forth as they opened the door. It was not merely cold 
 candle light, but a fire was shining with the warm pleasant 
 smile peculiar to unexpected fires on ungenial summer 
 evenings, lighting up gaily the gilded bindings of the 
 books, wdiilc the tea-things were reflecting the red light, 
 each with its own polished glance, and Constance's blithe 
 face and glossy hair beamed over them. Herbert leant 
 back in the glistening chintz-covered arm-chair, in the lux- 
 ury of repose, his eyes and smile showing he had just been 
 saying something to cause the laugh that had not quite 
 passed from Constance's face, nor from that of Mr. lied- 
 lands, who stood on the other side of the fire, very glad to 
 be spending the evening in this pleasant room, instead of 
 walking home to his small lodging over the stationer's 
 shop, half way up the hill. 
 
 A chair on each side of Constance was ready for her 
 sisters, and the substantial meal looked most inviting to 
 people whose early dinner had been snatched in a hurry. 
 Even Emmeline was oblige to exclaim with pleasure, and 
 declare that the room looked delightful, and then how 
 comfortable and agreeable was the desultory talk that went 
 round about tlie affairs of the day ; that parish talk most 
 engrossing to those who have their hearts in such things. 
 
 An hour passed away in this pleasant manner, when a 
 message came in that a little boy had been taken very ill, 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 275 
 
 * Mrs. Sims's little boy, up in North Hill Street.' Mr. 
 Redlands exclaimed instantly that he would go ; it was in 
 his own especial part of the parish ; Lord Herbert must 
 not think of going out in this chilly damp night — all the 
 way up the hill too — and it was in his own way home. 
 Herbert was extremely reluctant, but was obliged to ac- 
 quiesce, when he had opened the front door, and the damp 
 had made him cough and shiver, and Mr. Ptedlands set 
 out at once, in great haste. In the mean time Constance 
 was inquiring of the messenger about the child's illness, 
 and presently coming back, she said, ' I think I had better 
 go and see about him. I think I know how to manage the 
 croup, and the doctor is so far off, in the upper town.' 
 
 ' "Very well ; it is too late to he out of town by your- 
 self,' said Lord Herbert, * I had better go with you — it is 
 all nonsense.' 
 
 ' Nonsense, indeed, for you to think of going ! ' said 
 Constance. * Besides, I shall have Lucy Sims to walk 
 there with, and Mr. Redlands will see me back. Come — ' 
 answering his look — ' never mind, Herbert, don't you re- 
 member, we settled not to mind such things ? ' 
 
 * If Redlands was not gone,' said Lord Herbert. 
 
 ' 0, but do let me go with you ! ' cried Kate. ' Do, 
 pray, Constance, I should so like to go to see that dear 
 little boy.' 
 
 ' You, Kate ! How would mamma like it ? ' said 
 Constance. 
 
 * 0, never mind, you know we can't help that. Do let 
 me go. Make her take me, Herbert ! ' 
 
 ' Well, if Katie goes with you, I don't so much mind.' 
 iVnd, seizing this consent, the two sisters hurried off, and 
 were next seen for a moment muffled in cloaks. 
 
 Lord Herbert and Emmeline remained, sitting in the 
 arm-chairs on the opposite sides of the lire. He was ap- 
 parently in deep thought ; Emmeline had taken a book,- 
 but was not reading. It was her first tete-a-tete with him 
 since his return, and she dreaded what he might be going 
 to say — a Confirmation lecture perhaps, searching into a 
 state of mind which she shunned to investigate. Each 
 minute that he kept silence was a relief, though he might 
 be only preparing his speech. 
 
276 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 The fall of a coal in the fire made lier start ; and Lord 
 Herbert, while he laughed, and arranged the fire, said, ' I 
 beg your pardon, Emmie, I had fallen into a brown study. 
 I was thinking of the wonderful castles Annie and I used 
 to build.' 
 
 ' Did you ever build castles ? ' said Emmeline, looking 
 p with eager interest. 
 
 ' That we did ! Sitting here, opposite to you, put me 
 in mind of the days when Annie and I were not arrived at 
 dining late — when we used to sit. while the old people 
 were at dinner, one on each side of the fire, and such 
 schemes as we used to make ! ' said he, smiling. 
 
 ' 0, I wish you would tell me what they were like ! ' 
 
 ' One was about the Knights of St. John. Annie was 
 reading Yertot, in the school-room, and used to tell me 
 the history every evening, and we used to compose beau- 
 tiful adventures. I was to be a Knight Hospitaller, and 
 Annie was to revive the Sisters, for her own benefit.' 
 
 ' That was delightful ! ' said Emmeline, * and too un- 
 real to be ever spoilt.' 
 
 ' I think it reigned a whole winter, at least till we set 
 up another vision, a missionary one, for being Bishop of a 
 desert island. I mean,' he added, laughing, 'not quite to 
 teach the coral worms, but we were to have a picked race 
 of amiable savages, and admirable settlers, besides which 
 Annie especially ' stipulated that there should be no 
 volcano.' 
 
 ' There I quite agree with her.' 
 
 * The Southern lona, that was its name. AYe even 
 drew a map of it, which Frances has still. It had all the 
 zest of a desert island story added to the rest. Cocoa- 
 nuts, and canoes, and coral reefs, and shipwrecked sailors 
 There were adventures enough to make a romance.' 
 
 ' 0, 1 do enjoy that. But I nevCr should have guessed 
 that you had made castles.' 
 
 ' It was more dear Annie's doing than mine.' 
 
 * Had you any more '? ' 
 
 ' One, which came when we were rather older, and 
 which was full in my mind this evening. I was to have a 
 living in some very miserable town, where one would have 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 277 
 
 to be almost a missionary ; Annie, of course, was to live 
 with me ; we were to have no more comforts than the poor 
 themselves, and to devote everything to them, doing im- 
 mense good, winning every one, carrying out every perfect 
 scheme, feeling and seeing our success.' 
 
 ' So then you are really living in your own castle ? ' 
 
 ' And just at the moment the coal fell down, I was 
 wondering what Annie would think of seeing her brother 
 dawdling by the side of the fire, while other people are 
 doing his wo-rk.' 
 
 ' Day-dreams had better not have any fulfilment at 
 all ! ' exclaimed Emmeline. 
 
 ' Well, Emmie, I don't at all agree with you there. I 
 can't think it grateful to lament that our wishes are ac- 
 complished. 
 
 ' If they were,' said Emmeline ; ' but they only pretend 
 to be, that they may mock us with their insufiiciency.' 
 
 ' You mean,' said Lord Herbert, smiling, ' that South 
 lona would have had a volcano in it.' 
 
 ' Or something worse,' said Emmeline. ' It would 
 have failed or palled, or turned to the disappointment that 
 everything is ! ' 
 
 ' Indeed ? ' said Lord Herbert, enquiringl3^ 
 
 ' Disappointment, yes, life is disappointment,' sighed 
 Emmeline, resting her forehead on her hand, speaking so 
 low that he could hardly hear, and murmuring to herself 
 the last lines of some verses she had lately been working 
 up:— 
 
 'Delusive pageantry, that masks 
 The hollowness of mortals' tasks.' 
 
 ' 0; if you are writing poetry about it, of course you 
 are bound to try to believe it,' said Lord Herbert. 
 
 Emmeline thought herself taking a very grave and 
 serious line, suited to a clerical auditor, and by no means 
 relished this reception. ' It is not fancy,' she replied ; • I 
 wish it was, but I have lived long enough to feel its truth.' 
 
 ' Are you sure that it is the fault of life ? ' said 
 Herbert. 
 
 * What can I think, Herbert ? I have felt, I have 
 seen, I have known. Indeed, indeed I do net speak with- 
 
278 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 out sad experience ; all the dreams of my youth have been 
 nothing but disappointment, and those that have been half 
 fuljBlled have been worse than the others.' 
 
 ' You have had vexations and griefs, I know,' he said, 
 kindly, and Emmeline was irrestibly impelled, by the 
 gentle interest of his manner, as well, perhaps, as by the 
 desire to justify her dejection, to go on. 
 
 ' Ever since I left childhood behind me it has been 
 disappointment. We were happy enough with you and 
 Constance ; then came your illness, to spoil everything.' 
 
 ' I am very sorry,' said Herbert, apologetically. 
 
 ' Well, then there was that dearest vision of our hearts 
 — mamma's coming home ; and oh ! Herbert, you have 
 seen enough of us to understand that our home is the dis- 
 appointment above all. There was but one whom with 
 our whole hearts' — the tears were gathering in her eyes — 
 ' we could love, and how we did love him ! We never 
 knew how much, while' — her words were mixed with 
 weeping. ' And he was made to suffer — he had to bear — 
 was persecuted — his darling vision taken from him — he 
 who was better than all. And because we loved him, he 
 was — he was taken from us.' 
 
 ' Yes. You might well have a great affection for 
 him,' said Lord Herbert ; ' but, Emmie, you are scarcely 
 looking on his life in the true way. Perhaps his trouble 
 was the one trial he needed, and his death assuredly 
 opened to him the fulfilment of his own scheme. It 
 brought him into the fulness of that service which he 
 sought; it spared him the secular life he shunned. I am 
 sure, from what Kate has told me, that his last feelings 
 were of this kind.' 
 
 ' Dearest, dearest Frank ! I dare say Kate knows 
 more of his last sayings than I do, for I was so chilled 
 and frightened at the time, and so confused with illness 
 afterwards ; but I have never been able to bear to ask 
 her.' 
 
 ' I am sure you would find great comfort in talking 
 them over with her.' 
 
 * I will, I will, when I can bear it, but I can't now. 
 0, Herbert, you have always had a happy lomc ! You 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 27S 
 
 lu-tle know ^dlat it is to lose the only bright spot. But, 
 don't j'Oii see, Herbert, I have tried everything, and it 
 has failed me; it all turns out to have no permanent 
 pleasure in it. Home, and caring for poor people, and 
 learning, and occupation. Yes, I see what you are 
 going to say — religion — but indeed, and indeed, Her- 
 bert, I have tried that too, and in earnest, and I don't 
 know how it may be with other people, but it does no 
 more than the rest for me. I always thought it would 
 be right, and I should be happy again if you and Con- 
 stance were but at home ; but here you are, and — oh 
 dear ! I don't feel a bit less like Mariana in the moated 
 grange.' 
 
 Herbert repeated the couplet about Mariana : 
 
 ' Said she, I am weary, weary ; 
 I would that I were dead.' 
 
 ' Is that what you mean, Emmie ? ' 
 
 Emmeline paused, and then spoke rather fretfully, 
 ' You will not understand me, Herbert, it is only poeti- 
 cally.' 
 
 ' Or, perhaps, yon agree with the young lady in Dick- 
 ens, who exclaims, " I hate everybody, and wish everybody 
 was dead.' " 
 
 ' Herbert, how can you ? ' 
 
 ' My dear Emmie, I only want you to get rid of what 
 is nonsense, and put on for the sake of poetry, and then 
 perhaps we may be able to see what is the matter. I 
 know you are unhappy and out of spirits, but at the same 
 time you think it is a very fine thing to be weary of the 
 world, and, till we get to your real self, I don't know how 
 to talk to you.' 
 
 ' You think all I have said affectation,' said Emme- 
 line, a good deal hurt. 
 
 ' No, by no means all, and quite unconsciously, but 
 when we come to Mariana — ' 
 
 ' Perhaps that was too strong,' said Emmeline, ' but 
 it 16 what is always coming into my head. I seem to 
 nave no hope, no purpose. I don't care where I am, or 
 what I do : one place is only more tiresome than another. 
 
280 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 Now, Herbert, you sLall believe at least that you have 
 got to the bottom of me ; for I'll tell you the very truth, 
 shock you as it may. The only things this summer that 
 have really made me alive relieved this vacancy and 
 weariness — I don't know how to express it — the only 
 things I can care for are, dancing and going to that 
 Roman Catholic Service. There ! now despise me as you 
 will, but be sure I have told you the truth.' 
 
 ' Yes, I see. Excitement,' said Herbert, quietly, 
 without looking as horrified as she expected, which would 
 perhaps have gratified her craving for this same excite- 
 ment. ' But, Emmeliue,' he added, turning from that 
 branch of the subject, ' should you dislike looking into 
 each of these matters, where you say your hopes of happi- 
 ness have failed you ? You might find out why — ' 
 
 ' Very well,' said Emmeline,' adding within herself 
 * I know what you are going to say, that we were not 
 religious enough.' 
 
 ' Well,' said Herbert, ' you began with — let me see — 
 your first vexation was the not being able to come to 
 Copscley that Christmas.' 
 
 ' no — no — don't put it in that way, Herbert, do you 
 think we were such wretches of selfishness ? ' 
 
 ' No, no, I was only thinking how far our excursion 
 had been personally a cause of vexation to you. How- 
 ever, that could not be helped.' 
 
 ' And, after all, we were much happier those holidays 
 than we expected,' said Emmeline. ' We had visions 
 then.' 
 
 ' So we need say nothing about that. Now for your 
 home. You say that you had but one to love there. 
 Why do you pass over all the children ? ' 
 
 ' Poor children, we are fond of them, of course, but 
 they are no companions. The boys are rude ; Janet is 
 fretful ; Cecilia a mere baby.' 
 
 ' I su2:)pose Annie and myself were no companions to 
 Frances, when she used to watch us with such motherly 
 care. I am sure that the habit we gained then of looking 
 to her for our pleasures was of advantage to us ever 
 after, and made us all the happier together when we were 
 on an equality.' 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 281 
 
 * I am sure you and Lady Anne must have been more 
 agreeable children than ours. It would be so tiresome to 
 be watching them all day.' 
 
 ' You s'eem to find other things tiresome,' said Lord 
 Herbert ; ' besides, you are rather adding to what I 
 said.' 
 
 ' You think we neglect them ? ' said Emmeline. ' Did 
 Constance tell you so ? ' 
 
 ' I spoke chiefly from your entire omission of them as 
 sources of interest. What Constance did tell me was, 
 that she regretted you did not take more notice of 
 Janet, who, she thinks, has a yery deep earnest char- 
 acter, likely to develope into something fine, but unde- 
 monstrative, and in danger of being soured for want of 
 affection.' 
 
 ' Did Constance see so much in little Janet ? ' said 
 Emmeline. ' I know she was very fond of her.' 
 
 * You had better talk to her about it,' said Herbert. 
 ' I only meant to show you that you might be passing 
 over one ingredient of happiness and interest at home, if 
 we only look on it as a means of happiness.' 
 
 ' As a duty ! ' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' True, and though I don't want you to answer me, 1 
 should like to put it into your head to ask yourself, 
 whether there are no more home duties that you have 
 avoided, for fear of their being tiresome? 
 
 * If things had been different, I should not have 
 avoided those duties,' faltered Emmeline. 
 
 ' Perhaps not ; but have you any right to complain of 
 home being disappointing while you neglect your part 
 there ? ' 
 
 ' I don't think it would be a bit better if we were 
 what you call attentive daughters,' said Emmeline sad- 
 ly. 
 
 ' Then you own that has not been the case. 
 
 ' If you knew — ' 
 
 ' I don't want to know ; I have to do with you^ not 
 with Kate, nor your home, but individually with you. 
 You own that you have not been an attentive daughter, 
 nor elder sister, because you found these duties irk- 
 some ? ' 
 
282 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 Tliere was a reluctant assent in her movement. 
 
 ' Then I can't wonder that home was a wearines.«, nor 
 much at anything else. Next, what did you try ? ' 
 
 ' Poor people,' said Emmeline ; ' but you will say that 
 failed because we set about it in the wrong way.' 
 
 ' That was an error in judgment,' said Lord Herbert, 
 ' and I don't think it was the whole cause of the failure,' 
 
 ' It was silly of us to give up teaching altogether for 
 fear of Mr. Denham,' said Emmeline. 
 
 ' It was not on principle you gave up ? ' 
 
 ' No, but because we dreaded Mr. Denham ; it would 
 have been so disagreeable. Besides, the poor people were 
 not what we liked.' 
 
 ' And you neglected them because you were tired of 
 them. You sought them out — why ? ' 
 
 ' Because we thought it would bo nice.' 
 
 ' There's the key again, Emmeline ; it became no long- 
 er nice and you gave it up. You had not begun because 
 you felt it a duty, so it was pnly another castle. Next, 
 you said learning.' 
 
 ' Yes, I wanted to know as much as Juliet Willough- 
 by, and I had liked learning so much at school. It was 
 very pleasant at first, but it grew stupid and unsatisfy- 
 ing.' 
 
 ' Because it had no object ? ' 
 
 ' Just so. It was not coming to anything. Yet one is 
 told to learn and cultivate one's mind, or is that worldly 
 nonsense ? ' 
 
 ' We are told to do so, because each faculty is one of 
 our talents, and we must improve, and brighten, and mul- 
 tiply it, in case a call should come for us to jDut it out 
 for our Master's use. Was this the reason you studied ? ' 
 
 ' I never thought of that. It seemed to me that 
 Juliet was happy and satisfied — we admired her. And 
 then poetry fills up one's mind.' 
 
 ' For bad or for good,' said Lord Herbert. ' Well, 
 learning failed you.' 
 
 ' And then it was dreariness. Your worst time came, 
 and Sir Francis tormented Frank. It was horrid every 
 way, I thought it could be no worse, till — Well, I did 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 283 
 
 feel then that religion might be a comfort, and I knew 
 W'hat it had been to Frank, so indeed I took it up. Yes, 
 I did, Herbert; I read and I thought, and now and then 
 I was quite lifted up out of myself, and felt things in such 
 a way ! But then you got better, and that very moment 
 we were all obliged to pack up and set off for Loudon, 
 and when I got into the whirl, everything grew disgusting 
 together ! I could not feel to care about religion — I grew 
 tired of all the good books and thoughts, and Church-go- 
 ing. Herbert, don't think me wicked for it, but Church- 
 going has such a sameness, not always as you manage the 
 service, but at that Church in London, it did not make 
 one a bit devout. Everything is weariness together, and 
 I shall feel so all my life.' 
 
 ' Stop, stop, Emmeline. You have not let me ask you 
 how it was that religion failed as you say.' 
 
 ' Because I must be too bad for anything to do me 
 any good, I suppose,' said Emmeline, despondently. 
 
 ' Hush, Emmeline. None of the chosen people of 
 Grod have a right to speak in that way. But, tell me, 
 what do you understand by religion ? ' 
 
 ' Oh ! thinking — caring about holy things ; stirring up 
 one's spirit — feeling love to God — those kind of things 
 — liking holy things — ' hesitated Emmeline, somewhat 
 puzzled. 
 
 ' There is the main-spring, but that is but half the 
 matter. You had the beginning, but what came of it ? 
 How was it evidenced ? You tried to feel, what did you 
 try to do ? ' 
 
 ' I was not well, I could not do much,' said Emme- 
 line. 
 
 ' But what did you try to do ? Did you try to be 
 more attentive to the home duties in which you had fal- 
 len short ? ' 
 
 ' I did not think that was it.' 
 
 ' Did you try to conquer your reluctance to letting 
 Mr. Brent enter into conversation with you ? ' 
 
 ' Mamma did not wish it.' 
 
 ' Did you try when you were taken to London to keap 
 from following the foolish undesirable ways of other peo- 
 
284 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 pie of your age, which you yourself thought wrong at first 
 sight ? ' 
 
 ' Do you mean the polka, Herbert ? ' 
 
 ' Or did you, in the new scene, allow yourself to relax 
 in the devotional exercises you had taken up ? Don't 
 answer me, but yourself 
 
 * I can't think how you know everything, Herbert. But 
 you see, religion won't do for me.' 
 
 ^ I don t see any such thing. You have had a fit of 
 excitement of feeling, which has passed off, but you are 
 not thinking that you have been without religion all the 
 years of your life.' 
 
 ' no, but that is what one means. That is too 
 shocking.' 
 
 ' You are a Christian. Each right action or feeling, 
 each act of faith or prayer, through your whole life, have 
 not they been fruits of your baptismal grace ? ' 
 
 ' I suppose so ; but there have been few enough of 
 them.' 
 
 '■ And do you think that is caused by any defect in the 
 grace then given you ? ' 
 
 ' no, no.' 
 
 ' But they have been passing, fleeting, unstable, of 
 late. You have had no rest in them, no comfort of mind, 
 no true wisdom, nor strength, no firmness, no abiding sen- 
 sation of love and fear of God ? ' 
 
 Emmeline gave a sort of groan that showed that his 
 words went home to her heart. 
 
 * And you say it is the fault of religion ? Emmeline, 
 our religion holds out to us a means of receiving the 
 strength of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, giving us the 
 Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel 
 and ghostly strength, the Spirit of knowledge and true 
 godliness, and the Spirit of God's holy fear.' 
 
 ' Confirmation ! ' said Emmeline, ' 0, Herbert, would 
 it do all that for me ? I do believe it would be peace 
 at last.' 
 
 ' Emmeline, I am sure it would. It is not I that tell 
 you so. It is the promise of God through His 
 Church.' 
 
 I 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 285 
 
 'Yes, but it is on a condition ! How am I ever to 
 fulfil that condition 1 I may make the vow, and intend 
 to keep it, and believe fully, but the feeling will go, I 
 shall be unsteady again.' 
 
 ' If you were to stand in your own strength, not in the 
 all-sufl&cient grace, you would ; but besides prayer, will 
 there not then be open to you the especial means of 
 strengthening and refreshing our souls ? 
 
 ' But how many there are no better for being Con- 
 firmed ! ' 
 
 ' How can we tell ? They may be better, or if they 
 fail, it may be that their hearts are not prepared. They 
 wanted prayer, or they wanted faith, or they were not in 
 earnest, or they fell away through some unresisted temp- 
 tation, not from any defect in the Confirmation grace, 
 which will yet restore many.' 
 
 ' Then you think if we had been Confirmed we should 
 have avoided our faults ? ' 
 
 ' No, I say no such thing. I cannot tell how you 
 would have kept your vow, but I know you would then 
 have been obedient to that summons of the Church ; the 
 grace would have been given to you, and if you had used 
 it rightly — ' 
 
 ' Ah ! I do believe that it would have made a difier- 
 ence. I know I should have been afraid to stay away 
 from that Holy Communion, after your letter, and then 
 I should have watched myself more, and perhaps been 
 saved from these faults, though I never thought they 
 were so bad before. I knew I was good for nothing, 
 but I could not make out that I did anything very 
 wrong. 0, I am very glad we are to be Confirmed 
 now ! ' 
 
 The little gate was heard to open, and Lord Herbert 
 hastened to undo the front door. Glancing drops fell from 
 the umbrella, as it was closed, and bright were the faces 
 that the lamp-light revealed. 
 
 ' Better, much better.' ' We put him in a hot bath.' 
 * The doctor thinks he will be much better to-morrow.' 
 ' He was so good.' ' He is such a dear little fellow,' 
 were the exclamations, while Lord Herbert and Emmeline 
 
286 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 helped them off with their cloaks and shawls, and the 
 muslin dresses were unfolded. 
 
 ' You are sure you are not wet ? ' 
 
 ' no, not in the least. We splashed home so merri- 
 ly. Mr. Redlands watched for us, and saw us at the 
 churchyard gate.' 
 
 * There now, take a good warm, and dry yourselves 
 thoroughly.' And Herbert put his wife into one great 
 chair, and Kate into the other, and turned them round 
 full before the fire, till they cried out that he wanted to 
 roast them. 
 
 Very early the next morning, Kate was waked by a 
 sudden flare in the empty grate of her bed-room. Em- 
 meline was kneeling beside it, and in reply to her 
 exclamation of inquiry said, ' Only burning some trumpery 
 papers.' 
 
 ' Not your verses, Emmie ? ' 
 
 ' Some of them.' 
 
 Five poems, namely, besides rough copies, on the emp- 
 tiness and ' hollowness of mortal tasks.' ' Kate,' she added, 
 ' Herbert has shown me all. I know now why everything 
 was unsatisfactory and hollow. We worked w^ithout a 
 foundation, we pleased ourselves, and shrank from duty, 
 and so it came to vanity and vexation. And now our 
 Confirmation time is coming, we will cease to be children, 
 and reeds at the will of every wind, but learn to have 
 some steadfastness of purpose.' 
 
 ' Yes, if we may only receive strength from heaven,' 
 said Kate ; * but we have erred so far, and neglected so 
 much already, that I am afraid to think of it.' 
 
 ' And it was my fault,' said Emmeline. ' You would 
 have done better alone. 0, Kate, I almost dread lest 
 something should happen to prevent the Confirmation 
 again.' 
 
T3IE CASTLE BUILDERS 287 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Bnt when our childhood's morn was ending, 
 And we, 'neath holy hands, were bending 
 Beside that altar's witness stone, 
 That prayer had caught an altered tone — 
 The cheek with shame and hope was burning 
 To a lost Father's house returning ; 
 It seemed to chide and yet to cheer, 
 And to that blending hope and fear 
 It brought our endless birth right near. 
 And from the rude world seemed to sever, 
 Binding us to that shrine for ever. 
 
 The CATnEDEAL. 
 
 Here's a mischance ! ' said Constance. 
 'What's the matter? ' 
 
 • The girls have a summons from my mother tu eome 
 back to London, to go to Paris with her and Sir Fiancis.' 
 
 ' To Paris ! How soon ? ' 
 
 ' In ten days' time ; as soon as Alfred's holidays are 
 over.' 
 
 * There is some business about my father's property to 
 be settled with my uncle Berners — some papers that he 
 and mamma must sign together. He has persuaded them 
 to come and meet him at Paris on the 20th of September, 
 and so they have written for the girls.' 
 
 ' Very unlucky indeed ! ' said Herbert musingly. ' Of 
 all the places that could be advised for taking Emmelinie 
 to, with her excitable temperament, such as even in our 
 quiet life we can hardly keep sober enough not to give 
 great fear of reaction — and what a reaction it will be at 
 Paris ! and missing the Confirmation again ! Constance, 
 it is impossible ! it must be put off. I'll write to your 
 mother — I'll go to London.' 
 
liti^ THE CASTLK BUILDEILflf. 
 
 ' The girls arc vehement against going before the Con- 
 firmation ! ' said Constance. ' Poor Emmie was nearly 
 frantic at first, saying, she knew it would be so, and she 
 had forfeited the cliance of ever being Confirmed. The 
 worst of it is, that I don't know how far we should be 
 justified in detaining them, if my mother wishes for them ; 
 and there has been a degree of neglect of her that makes 
 one afraid not to make her the first object. But I can't 
 judge in the least what is right; you must, Herbert.' 
 
 'I can't see what is to be done ! If it was only Kate, 
 and yet to make her give it up ! But why should not we 
 remonstrate? Why can't they put off the journey? ' 
 
 ' I should not think they could. You know uncle 
 Berners is not a very easy person to deal with, and it 
 would not do to miss an appointment with him.' 
 
 ' The Confirmation day is the 1st of October! I see 
 how it can be managed, Constance, if to Paris the girls 
 must go ; I would take them the next week ; I could go 
 there and back between two Sundays.' 
 
 ' And what a cold you would catch ! ' 
 
 * 0, I would take care ! It would be a holiday.' 
 
 ' If they would consent to that, it would be the very 
 thing, and Kate is really steadied ; I don't think London 
 hurt her in the least ; and, as to Emmie, she is made to 
 have ups-and-downs, and all the religious teaching we had 
 at school encouraged feeling rather than action ; but I do 
 believe she is learning a calmer tone under your manage- 
 ment. She would be on her guard, now she knows her 
 danger, and has had more definite teaching.' 
 
 ' So you think that might answer.' 
 
 * It ought,' said Constance, ' yet — if they are necessary 
 to mamma for the journey — I don't know how to judge — 
 I seem to have missed all experience of a daughter's 
 duty.' 
 
 ' It is a very difficult question,' said Herbert, ' and one 
 I don't like to decide. We might be teaching them that 
 to sacrifice is better than to obey ; we might, on our own 
 responsibility be bringing them to these higher privileges 
 at the cost of a sin, and before they are fit for them.' 
 
 They walked on in silence, till Lord Herbert ex- 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 289 
 
 claimed, ' I'll tell you what we will do, Constance ! Some 
 of us can go to London for a day, and settle it with Lady 
 Willoughby. We shall be able to perceive better how 
 much she really wants them, and what will be right for 
 them to do." 
 
 Emmeline was even more anxious about the Confirma- 
 tion than Kate, and her distress was extreme. She ex- 
 pected that Lord Herbert would absolutely oppose their 
 going, and intended to be very heroic in following his ad- 
 vice ; and she was disappointed to find that his views 
 were undecided between the two duties. She proceeded 
 to fall into an agony about its being her fate to miss 
 Confirmations ; she had once, twice thrown away her 
 chance, and Kate's too, and now she had forfeited these 
 privileges for ever, and there was no hope for her. 
 
 This was a strain Lord Herbert never allowed her to 
 continue, and he silenced it, saying, ' You threw the op- 
 portunity away then, but you do not know that you have 
 lost it now.' 
 
 ' 0, I am sure I have ! ' 
 
 ' And if you really have, which is not certain, it will 
 be not that you have forfeited it for ever, but that you re- 
 quire a further probation. It may be that more cJaasten* 
 ing of temper, more perseverance is required of you, be- 
 fore you are accepted, and that in order that you may the 
 more esteem the privileges you once did not rate highly 
 enough, you are kept from them for a time.' 
 
 Emmeline burst into tears, and said it had been her 
 fault, and she deserved to lose every thing. Kate took 
 far more than her share of the blame, and it was with 
 some difficulty that Constance soothed them, when Her- 
 bert had left them to her, saying that he would not speak 
 to them on the subject any more till they had brought 
 themselves to a more temperate frame. 
 
 They did not meet him again till just before the ser- 
 vice, when Kate contrived to walk with him across the 
 churchyard. ' One question, Herbert,' said she, hesi- 
 tating. ' If we were ill, or anything^ could we receive 
 the Holy Communion as we are now? ' 
 
 * Certainly, Kate,' said he, ' there never has been any 
 13 
 
290 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 doubt that those who are willing and desirous to be Con- 
 firmed, may be admitted in case of emergency.' 
 
 * That is a comfort,' said Kate. * Only we are going 
 to a foreign country, and after the only death we have 
 seen, I don't know how we can dare to reckon on time ! ' 
 
 It was settled that Lord Herbert should take Emme- 
 line to town on Monday morning, and return on Tuesday, 
 after arranging with Lady Willoughby. He talked of 
 taking both sisters, but they begged that one might be 
 left with Constance as a hostage. 
 
 By that time Emmeline was in a more rational state, 
 and liked the idea of being escorted to Paris by Herbert 
 after the Confirmation. Going abroad was an old castle 
 of hers, she was eager about the sights of Paris, and 
 meant to show her sincerity there, and it would be a great 
 deal pleasanter than Cheltenham. So with renewed 
 spirits, she -set off, bc^iring an ofi'er from Constance to take 
 charge of the children, if one was to be left behind, to 
 keep it at the Parsonage ; if more, to settle them in 
 lodgings with Miss Townsend, and especially inviting 
 Janet. 
 
 They arrived about noon, and found Lady Willoughby 
 alone. Their plan was eagerly told, and her consent wa& 
 more readily given than they expected ; she was so very 
 much obliged to Lord Herbert, and she only hoped that 
 dear Constance would accompany them, and then, perhaps, 
 they might all spend the winter together so agreeably at 
 Paris, quite a little society among themselves. Herbert 
 smiled, and went on to Constance's offer for the children. 
 Lady Willoughby was pleased, and said she thought that 
 Janet would be very troublesome on the journey, and dear 
 Constance was very kind. It was ver}'' annoying, but here 
 was that brother of Miss Townsend's going to sail again, 
 and Janet and Alfred had actually come down to ask leave 
 for her to go home apd see him — very improper of her to 
 let the children make such a request, when she must know 
 it could not be granted. 
 
 Lady Willoughby was interrupted, for in rushed both 
 the boys ; Alfred in the last half-year, having grown into 
 a fine independent school-boy. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 291 
 
 ' I say, Emmie,' said Alfred, pulling her into the 
 window, ' I am glad you are come, only it ought to be 
 Kate. It has been horrid without you — Edwin is such a 
 bore, and will be till he goes to school, Janet and I have 
 no peace for him. Get along, Eddy, Emmie and I are 
 speaking to each other — don't poke your nose into every 
 thing — now, Emmie, you must stay and look after the 
 children, for Miss Townseud's sailor brother is going to 
 sea, and papa and mamma won't let her go home to see 
 him, and what's worse, they will say she put us up to ask 
 leave, though I told them it was all Janet's doing of her 
 own head.' 
 
 Emmeline looked towards Lord Herbert, and heard 
 him proposing that Janet should go home with them, but 
 this was left to be determined till Sir Francis came back, 
 and in the meantime Herbert set out on an expedition to 
 order coppers and boilers, for the wash-houses that were to 
 free the Churchyard from its white drapery. 
 
 When he was gone, it appeared that Lady Willoughby 
 was in an unusually complacent mood ; she thought dear 
 Lord Herbert looking much better, and it was very kind 
 in him and dear Constance to wish to keep the girls 
 longer, and to take Janet. It would be a very comfort- 
 able arrangement, it was never pleasant to tra^-el with a 
 large party, especially abroad, so troublesome to find ac- 
 commodation, so liable to interruption, it would be much 
 better to get settled first, before dear Emmie ind dear 
 Kate joined them. 
 
 Presently Sir Francis came in, but it did not appear 
 that the proposal was equally agreeable to him. He was 
 so restless and fidgetty, that he could not bear to be tied 
 down to remain in one place; he said testily that they 
 should be leaving Paris by that time most likely ; they 
 might have left it already; it was nonsense to trouble 
 Lord Herbert ; only further nuisance and expense. The 
 girls might do as they pleased, but it must be Paris at 
 once, or not at all. Emmeline could not hesitate. 
 
 ' Very well,' Sir Francis said, ' 'tis your own loss. 
 You have had the ofi'er, remember that, and don't be beg- 
 ging us to wait for you after this Confirmation.' 
 
292 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' no, certainly not.' 
 
 ' I can't think what all the young people in these days 
 are after!' continued Sir Francis, 'but miod, you have 
 your free choice.' 
 
 ' Yes, entirely, thank you.' 
 
 ' And don't be in too great a hurry, my dear,' said 
 Lady Willougliby. ' Consult with Katie first.' 
 
 ' Kate's mind is made up, mamma, as well as mine. 
 Our only doubt was whether you wanted us.' 
 
 ' Thank you, my love,' said Lady Willoughby, influ- 
 enced, perhaps, by a recent discovery that Henry Allen 
 was at Paris. ' Of course I am always glad to have you 
 with me, but then there must be great advantages in being 
 at Lord Herbert's, and meeting his connexions. I don't 
 know whether that is not quite as well for you as being in 
 more society, and indeed I am always too much of an in- 
 valid to go about with you, as much as would be required 
 of me at Paris.' 
 
 ' We should not care about going out.' 
 
 ' but, my love, it would look so strange, if I did not 
 take you out. Of course nothing else could be expected, 
 and 3^ou know you must not let yourself be made religious 
 and melancholy. I am only afraid they are that kind of 
 people.' 
 
 ' It is the merriest house I ever was in, mamma,' said 
 Emmeline, smiling. 
 
 ' Well, it may be all right. I am glad you should be 
 there, and you are both full young for Paris gaieties, so 
 perhaps it will answer best. Don't you think so. Sir 
 Francis ? ' 
 
 ' As you please, only don't let them say it is my 
 doing.' 
 
 Emmeline had not expected to be given up so easily, 
 and was mortified at not being more wanted, but she be- 
 gan to speak of Janet. Free consent was given ; they 
 might take her home at once ; and Miss Townsend, after 
 staying till the departure of Alfred for school, should join 
 her at Dearport, whilst Edwin and Cecilia were placed 
 "jnder the charge of a French bonne. 
 
 Janet was much pleased to go to sister Constance, and 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 293 
 
 was even unselfisli enough to spare Miss Townsond. Her 
 chief care was for Florcntina Matilda, her immense wax- 
 doll, a birth-day present from her papa, and whom Janet 
 regarded in the light of a protegee persecuted by both the 
 brothers, and coveted by Cecilia, so as to be exposed to so 
 many perils that Janet's tender care for her welfare would 
 only allow her to enjoy her society in her refuge, Miss 
 Townsend's room. Emmeline's promise that Florcntina 
 should be welcome, was the only thing wanting to make 
 Janet's satisfaction complete. It was not till very late 
 that Lord Herbert came in, but Emmeline contrived to 
 speak to him, to tell him that she and Kate were to stay 
 at home altogether. 
 
 ' Well, Emmie, I am very sorry for your disappoint 
 ment.' 
 
 ' Sir Francis will not wait for us. He says now o 
 not at all ; I sujipose it is a punishment for our delaying 
 the Confirmation, for I should have liked it very much.' 
 
 ' And you are sure your mother does not want you ? ' 
 
 ' I am sure she does not care,' said Emmeline, sadly. 
 ' That is my fault too, I suppose.' 
 
 ' I am sorry,' said Lord Herbert again, ' that you 
 should miss the pleasure, but perhaps it might have un- 
 settled you again, and I am glad you should have the op- 
 portunity of testing your sincerity.' 
 
 ' Then I have none, Herbert, for when I found they 
 did not want me particularly, and heard how pleasant 
 their plans sounded, if it had not been for very shame, I 
 should have asked to go ! how can I be in earnest ? ' 
 
 ' Don't torment yourself with motive picking. It is 
 rightly settled, and that is enough. What about Janet ? 
 Does she come with us ? Ah ! there she is. Come here, 
 little woman, are you coming to pay sister Constance a 
 visit to-morrow ? ' 
 
 ' May I take Florcntina Matilda in the railroad with 
 me ? for she won't go into a box. I should like to come 
 very much, if she may.' 
 
 The Aliens dined with them, and in the evening 
 Susan came to her. ' My dear Emmie, what is the mean- 
 ing of this ? You don't mean that you are not coming 
 to Paris 1 ' 
 
294 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 ' Indeed I do.' 
 
 ' What, arc you afraid of revolutions ? ' 
 
 ' no, that is not it.' 
 
 ' Come, jou won't be so silly as to stay at homo. 
 How stupid you will think yourself all your life for hav- 
 ing missed such a chance ! ' 
 
 ^ I can't help it,' said Emmeline, as Susan began a 
 glowing description of the galleries of Versailles. 
 
 ' And we should have such a winter there. Did not 
 you know that we are all coming? Henry is there, find- 
 ing apartments for us. Mamma would take you to every 
 thing. Come, Emmeline, I assure you it is very silly 
 of you.' 
 
 * Mamma thinks us too young.' 
 
 ' Too young ! You are going on for nineteen, are not 
 you? Besides, Emmie, let me give you a little bit 
 of counsel. Don't you,' she whispered archly, ' don't 
 you let yourself be thrust into the background because 
 Lady Willoughby does not care to show two such tall 
 daughters.' 
 
 ' I am ^ot kept back,' returned Emmeline, gravely ; 
 ' we were quite at liberty to act as we pleased, and it is 
 our choice to stay with Constance.' 
 
 ' Henry will be so vexed,' said Susan. ' He was 
 reckoning so much on going over the Louvre with you.' 
 
 Emmeline was secretly vexed ; but since she had been 
 more occupied, Henry Allen's name had begun to lose 
 its attraction, and her vanity was only slightly, tickled. 
 
 ' I declare,' proceeded Susan, ' Henry will be quite 
 mortified ; he will so question me about you ! I say, 
 Emmie, I am sure Lord Herbert has got a handsome 
 curate.' 
 
 Emmeline was so disgusted at the vulgarity of the 
 question, that she hardly deigned to answer, and wondered 
 how she could ever have made a friend of Miss Allen. Susan 
 took her reluctance for confusion, and persecuted her all 
 the evening. SlrtThad at first been flattered, but soon 
 grew provoked, and sensible what she had brought on 
 herself by having allowed this pert, vulgar-minded girl 
 to assume so much power over her. Worse than all was 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. . 295 
 
 the being asked whether Lord Herbert was afraid to 
 trust her in a ' Catholic country,' and the last words, 
 as she bade her good-night were, a declaration that 
 the Dearport curates had better keep out of Henry's 
 way. 
 
 Susan little knew that she had forever disgusted 
 Emmeline with the very name of her brother, shocked 
 her with the idea of having given an opening for such 
 impertinent speeches, caused her to regard her incipient 
 flirtation with little short of loathing, and entirely con- 
 soled her for not going to Paris, by the reflection that 
 she should have to meet him there. 
 
 The next morning was spent by Lord Herbert in con- 
 ference with an architect, about the first of his proposed 
 Churches ; by Emmeline in collecting everything, she 
 ever wished to see again, from the house in London ; 
 and by Janet in a very aff"ectionate leave-taking of 
 Alfred, who had patronized her, and made her his com- 
 panion in such a way as to compensate for his boyish 
 tyranny. 
 
 Emmeline felt that she had much to atone for when 
 she perceived her entire uselessness in the family, and 
 knew that she would be missed by no one. When she 
 met them again she would try to make herself loved ; 
 in the meantime, there could be only repentance. 
 
 After luncheon they departed with many kisses from 
 Lady Willoughby, and messages of love to dear Con- 
 stance and dear Kate, and a repetition from Sir Francis 
 that it was all Emmeline's own doing. 
 
 Kate was honestly much disappointed. On no con- 
 sideration would she have missed the Confirmation : but 
 she would have much enjoyed the tour, and had fully 
 reckoned on going in October. However, she soon con- 
 soled herself by thinking that they would have so much 
 the more time with Constance, and should not miss 
 the visit to Eowthorpe in the autumn, which Lord Lid- 
 desdale and Lady Frances took care should not be for- 
 gotten. 
 
 Kate had better consolation in a letter from Mr. Wil- 
 ioughby, — such a letter as made her eyes overflow with 
 
296 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 the soft bright tears of gratification, humility, and tendei 
 afi"ection. 
 
 Constance must share the letter, for the three sisters 
 were again as united in sympathy as they used to be. 
 
 And Constance, when she had coaxed Kate into per- 
 mission to show it to Herbert, told him that she was 
 convinced that the secret desire of Katie's heart was to 
 have uncle Willoughby present at her Confirmation. 
 
 ' I should like to ask him here very much indeed,' 
 said Lord Herbert, ' but, my dear Constance, have you 
 reflected that '• twelve feet square" is not made of Indian 
 rubber, or do you happen to have a few portable bed- 
 rooms in your pocket? ' 
 
 ' 0, I can manage ! ' 
 
 ' After these magical words, I have no more to say.' 
 
 'Nothing, need be done but putting up a bed in the 
 study, and as to "twelve foot," we shall never have every 
 one in it at the same time.' 
 
 ' Very well, I don't want to be persuaded, for my 
 own sake almost as much as Kate's. Ever since Frank's 
 visit I have a great desire to know his uncle, and the 
 good ways that have come down unbroken through so 
 many years.' 
 
 Kate knew nothing of the invitation till Lord Herbert 
 put into her hand the answer, the beginning and end, 
 so formal and old-fashioned, and the middle so like 
 uncle Willoughby himself, full of simplicity and warmth 
 of heart, showing how entirely the old and the young 
 clergymen understood each other. 
 
 If ever Kate was happy in her life, it was when she 
 sat at work with her sisters, listening to him and her 
 brother-in-law, talking over their parish work, and Her- 
 bert's plans, in the full confidence and sympathy of 
 like-minded men, ' in fervent old age, and youth serene.' 
 She perceived that her brother and sister's kindness 
 to her had been the means of procuring for Herbert 
 such a friend and counsellor as he most valued and 
 esteemed, and of her placing her dear old uncle in 
 the way of a new friendship, and interest to lighten 
 up the latter jears of his secluded and now bereaved 
 life. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 297 
 
 Uncle AVillougliby told her that it was such a refresh- 
 ment as she would understand, when she was his age, 
 to meet such a young man as Lord Herbert ; and on 
 the other hand, Constance told her, that she had never 
 seen her husband more pleased with any one, and that 
 Mr. Willoughby had cheered him greatly respecting 
 his own discouragements and the prospects of the Church. 
 
 That uncle Willoughby much disliked his brother's 
 journey to Paris was evident, and he had a still greater 
 aversion to Edwin's being under a French honne ; but 
 he was much rejoiced to find Janet in such good quarters, 
 and indeed the sunshine of the Parsonage at Dearport 
 seemed to have gained such an influence over the little 
 maiden, as to make her almost an engaging child. She 
 was of such a disposition as to be more at ease when 
 with grown companions than with children, and in this 
 atmosphere of wise and tender kindness, her better quali- 
 ties expanded, her affections unfolded, and her spirits 
 mounted till she hardly seemed the same child. The only 
 playfellow she required, when her sisters could not at- 
 tend to her, was Florentina Matilda, though apparently 
 that important charge gave her much anxiety, judging 
 by her numerous lectures, in the finest words at com- 
 mand, respecting her behaviour to Mr. Kedlands and 
 Mr. West, who had taken so much notice of her, that in 
 the words Kate once overheard, 'it has completely 
 overbalanced your discretion, and worked a revolution 
 in your intellectual organs.' And when Kate looked at 
 the grave sallow face, and earnest shake of the head of 
 the little monitor, and the composed waxen countenance 
 and fixed staring blue eyes of the pupil, she could not 
 help laughing to such an extent, that she was obliged to 
 run away. And it was to be feared that the disorder of 
 Florentina's intellectual organs would be completed by 
 uncle Willoughby 1 
 
 A present of Juliet's last new work was sent to Em- 
 
 meline, by Mr. Willoughby, who said she had turned 
 
 her attention more than previously to the poor people 
 
 at Dumblethwayte, and often gave up a great deal of 
 
 13* 
 
298 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 time, and walked long distances to teach at the school, 
 or to attend to Frank's friends in the village. 
 
 Kate had almost finished knitting uncle "Willoughhy's 
 Grace a warm grey- worsted shawl for the winter, and 
 only waited to know whether the border must be black, 
 or might be scarlet. No one will doubt that uncle Wil- 
 loughhy's look of delight and gratitude, repaid Kate 
 for having continued it steadily when the double wool 
 was a great deal too hot to be pleasant. Janet was so 
 stimulated by it, as to forsake the knitted polka for Flo- 
 rentina, ia which no one's patience but Constance's would 
 have endured helping her so far, and to set about a pair 
 of scarlet muffatees for Grace, that there was a reason- 
 able hope of her completing in time, as she was a very 
 skilful little workwoman for her time of life. 
 
 The 1st of October had come, and the cards bearing 
 the words ' Examined and approved, Herbert Somerville,' 
 were given and received. How differently were they 
 looked upon, from the tickets that Emmeline and Kate 
 had kept in their desks for the last twenty months. 
 
 ' Examined and approved ! ' How many reflections 
 must pass through the mind of each thoughtful catechu- 
 men, as those words are presented. Approved by him 
 who watches for their souls ; approved — true — but he 
 can know but the outward appearance, and there is One 
 who looketh at the heart ! And, oh ! is that heart so 
 sincere, so faithful, and so humble, that it may indeed 
 trust that it may come near to the Hand stretched out to 
 bless? 
 
 Kepentance, trust, steadfast purpose, and loving hope, 
 these are all that we can bring, in the full consciousness 
 of our own weakness, and of the all-sufficient Grace. 
 
 Such dependence was, as Lord Herbert trusted, in 
 his sisters, and he was glad that Emmeline, though 
 evidently feeling deeply, showed no undue excitement. 
 There were many others to whom his attention must be 
 given, and the house was necessarily the scene of much 
 coming and going, and of considerable preparation for 
 the reception of the Bishop, and it was well that the 
 sisters could be placed under the charge of Mr. Wil- 
 loughby. 
 
THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 299 
 
 He took them to walk in the Bayhurst grounds, 
 among trees, yet unstripped by the wind, but their foliage 
 glowing with autumnal tints, the sun shining on them 
 with clear though sober brightness, and the sea gleam- 
 ing through their boughs. The stillness of the green lawns 
 was more noticeable after leaving the busy town. There 
 they walked, and spoke of Frank, dwelling on him with 
 peaceful tenderness, as Emmeline had never hitherto 
 been able to do, going through his happy, self-ruling 
 course, a pure bright stream through the school-boy life 
 that had been his world, of the trial so well used, and the 
 joy and peace that had been his to the end, even among 
 the surging waves, that were the means of his entering 
 into the haven where he would be. 
 
 In quietness they talked, with voices hushed, and 
 without tears, for the two sisters, as well as the old man, 
 felt that they must speak with reverence of that repose 
 where he now was, and in their present frame, close to 
 one of the moments when the things of the hidden world 
 have a perceptible effect on the outer life, there was not 
 room for one selfish longing for his presence. The whole 
 scene was gravely still in autumn beauty, the sea scarcely 
 heaved, and the 'path of glory' was shed along its sur- 
 face by the sun ; and solemn peaceful awe rested on the 
 hearts of the sisters, a frame of thought — 
 
 'Soft — for He drew nigh 
 
 Who moveth nil things quietly' 
 
 Yet grave and deep ; for to His sight 
 
 Heaven's secrets are undazzling light • 
 
 Content ; for He on healing wings 
 
 The promise of the Father brings : 
 
 And Comfort is His name ; yet so 
 
 That in His promptings here below 
 A wistful uncomplaining sadness still 
 Must deeply blend with joy's adoring thrill.' 
 
 In such silence they went home. The sisters went 
 to their own room, and still in silence knelt together. 
 Constance came in, and herself arranged their white veils, 
 kissing each of them. With her and their uncle they 
 walked to Church, and were placed among the many 
 maidens, with white covered heads, and grave, modest faces. 
 
300 THE CASTLE BUILDERS. 
 
 And now the time is come. The demand is made, 
 to be answered once and for ever, whether they renew 
 the vow of their Baptism, and take on themselves the 
 promise they never can unsay, engaging in their own 
 persons to fulfil the j^^'^'fict law. 
 
 'I do.' 
 
 Multitudes of clear young trembling voices make an- 
 swer in one note. ' I do.' Wavering unstable Emme- 
 line, unreflecting, easily-led Katherine, how can you dare 
 to bind yourselves to such an awful covenant with Him 
 who is Justice itself? 
 
 Hear the answer. 
 
 ' Our help is in the name of the Lord ; 
 
 Who hath made heaven and earth.' 
 
 And now their brother in his white robe stands at the 
 entrance of the Chancel, and signs to them, and his face 
 seems, in one look of love and earnest hope, to sum up 
 all that he has striven so long to infuse into them. 
 
 They kneel on that Altar step where they never have 
 before approached, and the Apostolic hand is on their 
 heads ; the blessing is spoken, that unspeakable Gift im- 
 parted, that, unless they fall away, will increase daily 
 more and more, till they come to the everlasting kingdom. 
 
 Sunday is come, and again Emmeline and Katherine 
 kneel on that step, and now it is beside their sister, while 
 their brother and uncle admit them to the partaking of 
 that Meat and Drink indeed, which can preserve their 
 souls to everlasting life. 
 
 Here, then, in the safest and holiest place on earth, 
 let us leave them, trusting that the grace now given and 
 ever renewed, may never be cast away by their own sin, 
 that it may stablish, strengthen, and settle them, guard 
 them, and be with them, wherever their future lot may 
 be cast. So might earthly visions rest in the sure homes 
 and peaceable habitations, which are but the portals to 
 the mansions above. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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