Ex Libris 
 C. K. OGDEN


 
 :-:.._... 
 
 ' 
 
 /'./ J '///'//''/'/. I
 
 A LOSS GAINED 
 
 BY PHILIP CEESSWELL. 
 
 " 1 shall tell you 
 
 A pretty tale ; it may be, you have heard it ; 
 But, since it serves my purpose; I will venture 
 To scale *t a little more" 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 SMITH, ELDER AND CO., 65, CORNHILL. 
 
 M.DCCC.LXII. 
 
 [ The right of Translation is reserved.]
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. m AOT 
 
 I. ORMISTON FOBD . f - 1 
 
 II. REMONSTRANCE . . . 10 
 
 III. AMENDMENT . 20 
 
 IV. CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE . 30 
 V. CONFIRMED . . . - 39 
 VL FIRST BEGINNINGS . . & 
 
 VII. DIFFICULTIES . .59 
 
 VIII. RENEWED ACQUAINTANCE 68 
 
 IX. ANTICIPATIONS 77 
 X. QUICK PROMOTION 
 
 XL A DISAPPOINTMENT . 99 
 
 XIL SET FAIR .... "0 
 
 Xm. EVERLEY HALL ; H5 
 
 XIV. FORESHADOWINGS - 13 4 * 
 
 XV. UNDER THE YEWS ... - 140 
 
 XVL PRESENTIMENTS . . . 152 
 
 XVII. A MUTUAL SURPRISE . 167 
 
 2017746
 
 iv CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. PAGB 
 
 XVIL DEFIANCE . . . . 179 
 
 XVIII. AN INSINUATION . , . . .189 
 
 XIX. DISSOLVING VIEWS . . . . 196 
 
 XX. ON THE TERRACE ... .203 
 
 XXI. A UNLUCKY CHANCE . . . . 211 
 XXII. ON THE BALCONY . . . . .223 
 
 XXHI. MEBITS CANVASSED . . . . 242 
 
 XXIV. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING . . . 249 
 
 XXV. VAGUE CONJECTUBISGS . v . . .261 
 
 XXVI. A MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE . . .268 
 
 XXVII. A NEARER VIEW . . . . 285 
 
 XXVIII. A PROLONGED VIGIL . . ... .294 
 
 CONCLUSION . 303
 
 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 ORMISTON FORD. 
 
 COMPARED with cities of the Manchester class, the great 
 industrial hives of the north and west, Ormiston Ford 
 was but an average commercial town, with industry 
 merely sufficient to circulate its current of life fairly, 
 and save it from being utterly distanced, like a number 
 of mouldering old-world places of similar standing. 
 But, like many such places, Ormiston had other than 
 mere trading pretensions a rather contemptuous 
 consideration for absolute manufacturing eminence, as 
 well became a city of its pure lineage and long descent: 
 whose name dated from the Heptarchy, and whose 
 cathedral bells had rung for centuries before cotton- 
 spinning was invented ; when the grouse and black- 
 cock whirred over the northern metropolis of smoke. 
 

 
 2 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 The absence of manufactories was, indeed, a chief 
 peculiarity, and a great attraction of residence in 
 Ormiston ; the picturesque beauty of the neighbour- 
 hood was thereby unimpaired, and the town itself 
 allowed a rare gift of blue and sunshine, besides, a 
 London black was utterly unknown there ; so what 
 with its fair climate and planted environs, proximity 
 to the sea coast completed every advantage. But 
 this was not all ; other than mere material favours 
 combined in the opinion of many to render Ormiston, 
 perhaps, the most desirable provincial dwelling-place 
 in England, for its social seductions were great ; the 
 inhabitants, characteristically lively and pleasure- 
 loving, were so devoted to amusement that occu- 
 pation for those who had nothing else to do was ever 
 at hand; there were fetes in progress, stories and news 
 to gather, pleasant people to idle with, and, for the 
 ambitious, fine sets to flatter and cultivate in a 
 word, all the appliances and aids of civilized modern 
 life. 
 
 In a neighbourhood so desirable, where people 
 were rather engaged in spending fortunes than in 
 acquiring them, many families of influence and note 
 had, from time to time, built mansions and settled. 
 Such traders as had risen to opulence never fancied 
 to emigrate in search of enjoyment On the con-
 
 ORMISTON FORD. 3 
 
 trary, individuals, whom circumstances had driven 
 from home, ever sighed for a return, and across the 
 broad Atlantic, dreamed of the green valley of the 
 Orme. In fact, the provincial refinement of the town 
 was by no means inconsiderable, nor as a consequence 
 was either the self-appreciation of its inhabitants. 
 
 Amidst the elite of Ormiston, one family was 
 pre-eminent distinguished both by merit and im- 
 portance, though neither of ancient nor of very noble 
 race ; for the mists of only two generations clouded 
 over its descent, and its founder was still remembered 
 by a few very elderly people : a hard-brained tanner, 
 factor, usurer, schemer, piling up his gold in a greasy 
 shop of the back slums. Nevertheless, the prestige 
 of its name was considerable, for the Bradels had 
 made such use of their bare century of existence, as 
 easily to hold at last a forward rank amidst a most 
 aristocratic society. 
 
 When in good time this vigorous founder under- 
 took to dJcrasser himself he succeeded in it also, as 
 well as in everything else which he put his hand to. 
 Although at first his attempts were ridiculed, his 
 ambition was a presumption, his pretensions absurd ; 
 his purchases of property, and the footing of his esta- 
 blishment, equally so ; the meal and tan bark in fact 
 were thrown at him freely ; and bitter stories of his 
 
 12
 
 4 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 social misadventures and coarse manners circulated. 
 But he did not mind. Continuing to entertain gor- 
 geously, to keep his counsel and pursue his end, at last 
 he reached it; and died in the zenith cf glory, a wor- 
 shipped magnate of the land. His successor pursued 
 the same tactics so well, that by degrees people's 
 memories clotted with the good cheer of Everley 
 Hall, and it became excessively bad taste to recall the 
 obscurity of a family which commenced to be distin- 
 guished as much by merit as by wealth, for at the 
 time of our story, it had attained considerable im- 
 portance. The Bradels were the centre of movement 
 and of civilization then, the promoters of all that 
 was useful and progressive, leaders of taste and 
 fashion in a word, the Medici of Ormiston. 
 
 Such at least had been the acquired character of 
 the house, which some latter years of comparative 
 retirement had in no degree lessened. That retire- 
 ment indeed was sufficiently explained by the state 
 of health of the actual Mr. Bradel, who was now a 
 broken and declining invalid : with him we have but 
 little to do. But his son, heir to the honours of the 
 house, Edwin Traverse Bradel, captain in the Mocton 
 Yeomanry Hussars, is a personage of much import- 
 ance to the reader. 
 
 The array of family portraits gilding the dining-
 
 ORMISTON FORD. 5 
 
 room walls at Everley was at first sight decidedly 
 imposing ; for, with a far-seeing eye to the interests 
 of posterity, the first founder had taken care to pro- 
 cure the portrait of every collateral relative and con- 
 nection who could possibly be recognized. It was a pro- 
 vident and wise arrangement: for how else are people 
 to acquire ancestors, if their forefathers won't get 
 themselves painted? Ralph or Reginald might have 
 been a sad scamp through life and a trouble to his 
 family; but when the originals are mouldered and 
 forgotten, the painted copies may smile on us very 
 respectably in their laced hats and ruffles. 
 
 On entering the dining-room at Everley, the 
 first object which struck the visitor was Captain 
 Bradel's full-length, in the gorgeous uniform of his 
 corps, enlivening the whole side of the vast apart- 
 ment, for it was a flaming masterpiece, arrogant in 
 composition, brilliant in colour and execution, even 
 sanguinary in tone : the profusion of plumes and 
 red paint, the defiant bearing, and fierce battle glare 
 on the countenance, the grizzly war horse plunging 
 on a background of cannonading and carnage, were 
 in keeping, and a wild, windy sunset of lurid torch- 
 light, altogether completed the truculent effect. 
 But, on lengthened view, it would be felt tha the 
 insidious craft of the painter went for something in
 
 6 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 that great work of art : subtracting the splendid 
 frenzy of detail, the vermilion and warlike trappings ; 
 passing the successful entourage to pause in calm 
 criticism on the simple individual, nothing remained 
 in the portrait to justify that blazing canvas. Ob- 
 viously then, the character of the man appeared out 
 of harmony with the character of the scene. His was 
 a mere girlish face, white and insignificant ; with 
 straight hair, of dull blond, parting on a compressed 
 temple; sloping eyelids; and short, straight nose, with 
 singularly feeble nostril ; every feature pretty and 
 small, if not mean : it was simply a narrow common- 
 place face that few would look at a second time. 
 
 Few gentlemen, be it understood, for with the 
 ladies it was, of course, different, at least, with the 
 ladies of Ormiston : they had views concerning the 
 unmarried Mr. Bradel, which the ruder sex could 
 not share, and naturally considered him accordingly. 
 In their eyes, not only his appearance, but the 
 endowments of his mind, the qualities of his disposi- 
 tion, deserved fullest commendation ; not only was 
 he handsome, but far better than handsome. The 
 virtues usually possessed by pretenders to ample 
 estates ^were decreed to him largely. Indeed, a 
 something of less perfection might have increased 
 his popularity with them ; for as he actually stood,
 
 ORMISTON FORD. 7 
 
 without a drawback to his list of advantages, he 
 seemed rather placed too high for the most aspiring 
 to attain. It seemed almost unwarrantable presump- 
 tion in any girl seriously to hope for such a prize. 
 He was to be dreamt of, not hoped for, and many 
 a foolish dream had been about him : because of such 
 dreams many an eligible offer had been declined, 
 an offer which perhaps offered no more, and was 
 secretly wept over at the bitter waking. 
 
 Popularity of this nature, no doubt, considerably 
 helped to reconcile Mr. Bradel to his retirement in 
 "so dull and insignificant a place," as in lofty moments 
 he chose to designate the town. In addition, also, the 
 hunting was famous ; so what with his horses, and 
 the distractions of society during winter, and his 
 fine cutter down at the port for a yearly summer 
 cruise, he managed to live and pass the time. 
 
 To flatter good folk by eating their dinners and 
 dancing with their daughters awhile, to trifle with such 
 amusements as came easily to hand, was not altogether 
 unprofitable dalliance either, as thought Edwin's father; 
 interest might be useful by-and-by, and when the 
 county became vacant, might turn to good account. 
 
 Although the Bradels were a pushing race, and 
 had originally acquired social eminence only by active 
 struggle, as We have said, still that was long ago ; for
 
 8 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 at the period our tale opens their position was 
 securely reached, and retained without effort. Of 
 late the family had lived in great retirement, if in 
 undiminished state : and although repeated domestic 
 bereavements had reduced its members to this only 
 son ; yet the footing of the establishment at Everley 
 was in no degree lessened. The retinue of servants, 
 and style of equipages, were maintained as usual on a 
 scale suitable to the pretensions of the place, and in- 
 door or out, in every detail those pretensions were 
 scrupulously considered. 
 
 It was a perfect residence, possessed a chapel and 
 ball-room, a picture-gallery recruited from yearly ex- 
 hibitions, conservatories, and pineries. And though 
 the fine valley of the Orme, renowned for its wood- 
 land scenery, was rich in beautiful seats, no mansion 
 in the shire round could boast a broader sweep of 
 park and demesne or nobler timber. Extensive 
 plantations were indeed the noted characteristic of 
 the entire district : on the north bank of the river 
 the remnant of a royal forest still remained, old 
 family seats abounded, and viewed from neighbouring 
 heights Ormiston appeared to be closely hemmed in 
 by trees ; the country then seemed to invade the town 
 and intersect it at all points, as if the clusters of fair 
 white houses had dropt suddenly on a virgin turf
 
 ORMISTON FORD. 9 
 
 amidst shrubs and blossoming trees standing un- 
 changed. Even on entering the streets one did not 
 always lose this fancy, as in the early summer 
 glimpses of flowers and verdure were caught at 
 every turn : frequent garden walls, trellised with 
 brilliant creepers, topped with fringes of evergreens ; 
 waving lines of violet and gold, hedges of laburnum 
 and lilac, pleasantly breaking up the brick and gray 
 of the irregular streets.
 
 10 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 REMONSTRANCE. 
 
 THE Orme, from which the town derived its name, 
 was a river of importance, whose broad waters issued 
 clear, as crystal and untainted from the eastern 
 suburb as they had entered at the western. Eastward 
 it flowed for about a mile, when an arm of Hamley 
 Wood, crossing at right angles, shut out the view at 
 that point; and also the village of Mocton some- 
 what farther on. About half-way between Ormiston 
 and this village, on the white limestone road running 
 parallel to the river, and within the skirt of Hamley 
 wood, was a plain two-storied house of the simplest 
 kind, standing within a modest enclosure of garden 
 and pleasure ground. This was Mocton Cottage ; 
 and on a moming in spring, a young lady opened 
 the rusty entrance gate ending the straight, ugly 
 avenue which led directly from the high road to the 
 house. If insignificant from the road, the cottage did 
 not gain on nearer view ; for little sign of either care 
 or comfort was evident : here and there the plaster
 
 REMONSTRANCE. 11 
 
 had crumbled away ; black oozy stains disfigured the 
 front, at the angles of the windows, and at intervals 
 along the eaves, marked the joinings of the hanging 
 shoot. Linen lay bleaching on the laurels at one end; 
 and on the corresponding side was a patched conser- 
 vatory, the wood-work of which, green and mouldy 
 with age, seemed fast advancing to decrepitude. A 
 few trim flower-beds of the grass-plot alone con- 
 trasted with the general appearance of neglect, and 
 even they were not strictly watched, for a hardy 
 marauding hen scampered from a bed of seedlings at 
 the sight of the stranger. 
 
 The visitor was a graceful, lady-like person, in her 
 first youth, and of considerable personal attractions. 
 
 " Clearly Jane is not in the garden, as the fowls 
 are loose," she said. "Poor Jane! how does she 
 manage with such difficulties at every turn 
 where find perseverance? In such a case I know 
 I should give up trying; it were indeed far easier 
 simply to let anything that liked happen, than ever 
 to strive against unconquerable obstacles. Only last 
 winter the roof of the greenhouse blew in, and every- 
 thing in it perished; a frosty spring blighted what 
 flowers remained; and even now at every opportunity 
 the fowls are among her seedlings. Yet in spite of 
 discouragement, she recommences again, patient as
 
 12 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 ever. Perhaps it is because she is no longer young," 
 added the young lady, with grave reflection : " that 
 may be the reason. It may be easy to bend to the 
 humble drudgery of life after the great happiness of 
 all has gone by, when the view is behind and there is 
 no longer much to expect But does one cease to ex- 
 pect ? above all, has Jane had her happiness ? How 
 after such a life can she be content to seek for nothing 
 more, and endure a lot of utter dreariness as blank 
 of recollections as of hope, submitting to the con- 
 ditions of daily routine, and the duties and dulness of 
 home ; and that quietly, with complete self-denial ? 
 Prompt at the call of others, at the service of any 
 idler like me, who comes to spoil a morning." 
 
 So busily revolving the problem, by what strange 
 process people were eventually brought to like staying 
 at home and absolutely abjure balls and dancing 
 parties, Caroline Middleton, one of the recognized 
 belles of Ormiston, went up to the house to seek her 
 friend. 
 
 Jane Troye, bending over a table strewn with litter 
 of work and paper, looked up laughing as she entered 
 the breakfast parlour. 
 
 " What ! Caroline ! and at this hour ! It is only 
 eleven o'clock, and you are up, dressed, and half a 
 mile from home already. There must be an unusual
 
 REMONSTRANCE. 13 
 
 difficulty of disposing of your time to account for 
 it, or else you happen to want me very badly. On 
 Tuesday you were to have come, remember; and 
 on the Saturday previous made an appointment at 
 Miss Fletcher's, which of course you did not keep, as, 
 in truth, I fully expected. 'Tis well, however, to have 
 you on any terms; so sit down and let me hear about 
 you. Give a full account of yourself, and make it as 
 long a story as you please ; papa and mamma are gone 
 to bring Nora home, I have the whole day to myself, 
 and no one shall interrupt us." 
 
 " Jane, don't talk about it. You have been haunting 
 me like an unfulfilled good resolution, and regularly 
 every day for the fortnight have I been going to 
 see you ; but some hindrance always turned up. I 
 seriously believe 'tis because I have so much to do ; 
 for on Saturday mamma must take me to the band 
 on the long crescent, and on Tuesday Mrs. Drake 
 called; and the day after, a sudden difficulty arose 
 about my dress for the Lytton's ball : then followed 
 the ball itself, and for two days afterwards I had 
 such a headache." 
 
 " Then I suppose you lay in bed till noon." 
 " No matter ; I want to show I had the intention to 
 come, if possible. What a lovely drawing, how fast 
 it is getting on ! if I could only draw like you, or
 
 14 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 do anything' like that How do you manage to plod 
 on so patiently bit by bit, and then keep the colours 
 distinct and in order? There I fail now with only 
 one tint. Suppose at ships in a storm in sepia, or 
 skies where there are no definite forms, I do pretty 
 well; but colour and drawing upset me altogether. 
 What shall we do this morning ? I propose Hamley 
 Wood and a walk. The sight of your littered table, 
 paints, glue, worsted, and work, makes me dizzy 
 already. . I want fresh air." 
 
 " Try the garden, then," said Jane, rising, " that 
 is all I can do for you. My hands are so full on 
 account of Nora's return, that I must not leave the 
 house; there are so many things to be done, that 
 if you cannot sit quietly while at my work, I must 
 send you away soon." 
 
 " After coming expressly to give myself in charge 
 for the day ! Very well ! Do you know there is ex- 
 cessive pride in your continual affectation of business, 
 Jane ? What right have you to make me feel ever so 
 idle and frivolous ? It is not fair : nor kind, nor true 
 either : for I am not as bad as you force me to seem 
 by contrast. In my own way I do good, without 
 blazoning it like others .... You will come up to 
 us this evening at all events ; there is no objection to 
 that?"
 
 REMONSTRANCE. 15 
 
 " I have the entire evening engaged " 
 
 " But mamma sent me on purpose to make you 
 come," urged Caroline, " and I want you, besides : 
 that is the truth. I have been this age left to 
 my own guidance and devices, and you know what 
 that means. Seriously, I want your advice, and 
 perhaps have secrets to tell " 
 
 " If wanting advice you would be the last to seek 
 it ; and as for secrets," returned Jane, smiling, " no 
 doubt the town shares them, as usual." 
 
 " It would not be difficult to slander me in your 
 ears, I know; but have you heard anything of 
 me lately ? is the world talking ? and of what 
 nature was the topic ? I have some reasons for 
 asking." 
 
 " And good reasons for thinking, I suspect How 
 have you passed your time, Caroline ? At what 
 amusements have you been engaged since ? Examine 
 your conscience, and see what I might have heard. 
 It is too bad ; will you really never learn prudence ? 
 Can't you fritter your time and life away as well, 
 without becoming town's talk also ? Remember, that 
 malice has eyes and tongues, always on the watch, 
 and that you have made yourself a host of enemies. 
 If you only knew what things are said of you ! " 
 " If I did, you know I would not care."
 
 16 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 " But you ought : indeed you ought to care." 
 
 "Because some spiteful old maids, or jealous 
 young ones, choose to chatter," said Caroline ; " not 
 I, indeed. Besides, why expect sense from me ? you 
 always say I'll never have any." 
 
 " And I now begin to hope that you never may." 
 
 "Why, pray?" 
 
 " Because I fear sorrow and suffering only will 
 teach it to you." 
 
 " Come ; I may as well understand you at once : 
 then this is all about Mr. Bradel," Caroline said 
 abruptly, after a pause, colouring slightly. " What 
 have you heard ? " 
 
 11 That after having failed once, you are both trying 
 again to make fools of each other, then," replied Jane. 
 
 'And who is likely to succeed? Not much fear on 
 my account, I should think. But you were surprised 
 to hear it ? " 
 
 " I certainly thought, that if neither sense nor 
 pride preserved you from relapse into that absurdity, 
 at least recollections of past events would. However, 
 if you persist in not minding experience, you will 
 never learn ; but must remain a child to the end of 
 the chapter." 
 
 " Really ! What do they say ? " 
 
 " That he pays you attention again."
 
 REMONSTRANCE. 17 
 
 " Is that all ? He pays every one attention ; of 
 whom might not that be said ? " 
 
 " Also that you permit him, you accept his 
 advances," continued Jane. 
 
 "Is it Mr. Bradel of Everley? what girl in 
 Ormiston wouldn't ? " 
 
 "If there be one in Ormiston who knows what 
 Mr. Bradel's attentions are worth, you ought," retorted 
 Jane, " so I have little fear on that score." 
 
 " But you have, nevertheless. Let us hear on what 
 account, and if possible, without beginning by a lec- 
 ture ; for that you know is not the least use, I have 
 heard all about myself a hundred times over. But a 
 sketch of public opinion, if you like. What does the 
 world say, and who was the last busybody you 
 met? .... Here is your cousin, Mr. Penrose, 
 though, positively coming in at the gate," added 
 Caroline, turning and interrupting herself; "how 
 excessively provoking." 
 
 Jane was not pleased either : " He will go at once : 
 I will send him away," she added, advancing to meet 
 the fresh -looking, handsome young man who came 
 smiling up the walk. 
 
 " Good-morrow, Jane. I have had a famous walk ; 
 heard the cuckoo east of Hamley the first time this 
 year. By-the-by, they are cutting the timber there, 
 
 2
 
 18 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 spoiling the entire glen. The woods, you remember, 
 were sublet last year, but now the Bradels have got 
 possession, and very likely they are doing it. I hope 
 our side will escape." 
 
 Luke Penrose paused: the obvious coldness of both 
 ladies chilled him ; he became immediately therefore 
 conscious of intrusion, and in a calmer tone, pro- 
 ceeded to account for his presence. " Here is the 
 music I promised; Lumney sent it last night, and 
 it was as well to bring it at once. Such a fine 
 morning, I was glad of the excuse, you may be- 
 lieve." 
 
 "The music was not of the least consequence, 
 it might have waited ; I did not expect, nor want it 
 either. However, as you have taken the trouble, I 
 am of course obliged," said Jane calmly, receiving the 
 roll of paper. 
 
 Miss Middleton merely bowed, then continued to 
 converse with her friend without further notice of his 
 presence. At length, however, perceiving that he 
 neglected the intended hint, and exhibited no intention 
 of going away, she herself felt it necessary to leave ; 
 and accordingly, drawing Jane aside, pressed her again 
 to give promise of a visit in the evening. She wanted 
 her; mamma wanted her likewise. It would be a 
 disappointment if she refused ; some friends were to
 
 REMONSTRANCE. 19 
 
 dine, and her presence was counted on. So declar- 
 ing the affair arranged, Miss Middleton shook hands, 
 and without a word or look to the gentleman, turned 
 down the walk. 
 
 He had expected to be taken leave of; and as the 
 entrance gate closed on her exit, his face reddened up 
 as if a whip were drawn across it. 
 
 2-2
 
 20 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 AMENDMENT. 
 
 "I APPEAR to disturb you; my visit seems ill- 
 timed," Luke Penrose said, a moment afterwards 
 to his cousin : " I shall leave if you desire it : shall I 
 request the lady to return ? " 
 
 " I am not responsible, Luke, for her indifference. 
 If she prefers another engagement to the enjoyment 
 of your society, it is not my fault." 
 
 " An engagement of what nature ? " 
 
 " I cannot tell." 
 
 " So pressing that she cannot afford a moment's 
 passing politeness not even take leave of me with 
 courtesy. Do you know why that is ? " 
 
 " I really do not." 
 
 "Then I will tell you. It is because I am poor, only 
 that. Even civility to a pauper is superfluous ; and 
 she merely re-echoes an established truth in repeating 
 the lesson practically. A pauper is not a sentient 
 thing; ill-treatment is his birth-right, his inheritance: 
 charity itself cannot recognize him, even his very
 
 AMENDMENT. 21 
 
 wrongs are sneered at; and you have yourself made 
 me feel so." 
 
 " And that in a degree may be justified," answered 
 Jane, calmly: "when poverty arises solely from 
 selfish neglect; when through wilful fault, it presses 
 most on those who least deserve it, it has no claim to 
 indulgence that I can see. But are you so spoiled, 
 Luke, as to lose temper at a fancied slight because 
 Caroline chooses not to waste the morning as you are 
 doing? What absurd vanity." 
 
 " As usual, exaggerate every trifle. I am accus- 
 tomed to misconstruction." 
 
 " Unfortunately, it is impossible to misconstrue," 
 Jane answered ; " your conduct, if not your motive, 
 appears unhappily plain. Passing gratitude or honour, 
 Luke; but is it simply honest to waste time and 
 opportunities, to violate your engagements to the 
 extent of bringing on the present crisis ? What is to 
 console your mother ? On what future promise shall 
 she venture the hope so sadly wrecked on your 
 career, for her long life of anxiety the sum of trials 
 patiently endured for your sake where is your 
 
 return ? You understand to what I allude," added 
 
 Jane, pausing : " she has just written to me." 
 
 His eyes fell ere he answered. 
 
 "This is unkind of you," he said "you who
 
 22 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 understand what the struggle has been. IJave I 
 been wanting in full purpose ? is it will, or is it the 
 mere execution which has failed me ; have I not 
 persevered in the face of continued failure if per- 
 severance to the end of success has proved impos- 
 sible ? But being unfortunate, I must needs be judged 
 blameable ; you are like the rest, who see virtue only 
 in result, and cannot appreciate the effort which has 
 striven, but failed. However, it is as well : I neither 
 seek sympathy from you nor from others. I do not 
 want it" 
 
 " I cannot understand, being in earnest, that your 
 will does not create its own strength," Jane answered; 
 "like the body, the muscle of the mind gains by 
 exercise. It is possible to acquire any natural quality 
 necessary to the fulfilment of plain duty ; possible to 
 exert the will, and by perseverance make it so strong 
 that it must conquer at .last. Perhaps your error 
 lies even there : you may rely on yourself, on mere 
 human effort ; the very strongest indeed are feeble if 
 left wholly unaided. Do you never seek help from a 
 higher source?" 
 
 " As usual," he said bitterly, turning aside ; " always 
 the same : harping on the miseries of my actual condi- 
 tion, which already are too clearly present to my mind; 
 but when it comes to doing, when I seek assistance,
 
 AMENDMENT. 23 
 
 or applicable advice as if your object were only to 
 torment, you parry me with a platitude." 
 
 " And is that my object? " 
 
 <f It is, nevertheless, what occurs." 
 
 " Could I but inspire you with a share of the inte- 
 rest I take in your welfare, Luke ! But really it is 
 getting late ; you are become a man without man's 
 work or a man's aim in life : it is time now to have 
 care of your own affairs," she added with warmth. 
 
 " Care : it seems I have had my share." 
 
 " Care, in the sense of anxiety, no doubt ; but in 
 prudent forethought, in the steady action which would 
 certainly proceed from it, you have been hitherto 
 wholly deficient. I repeat, but not to torment, that 
 you will never acquire the necessary steadiness, while 
 rejecting as secondary and trivial what is of all impor- 
 tance serious moral as well as mental discipline, 
 
 the very principle and groundwork of all character. 
 That is a truth, Luke, which sooner or later you will 
 have to acknowledge and apply ; and because now is 
 the time to do so, I would press it by every motive 
 most capable of influencing your feelings as well as 
 your mind. The case is far from hopeless ; yet it is 
 far from being too late. Consider a moment. Your 
 prospects, your mother's happiness and your own are 
 at stake. Your only chance in life to gain or miss,
 
 24 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 depends on an effort of your will ; and if yon cannot 
 make it, if you do let the chance escape, I really can- 
 not see what is to become of you. Come, you will 
 try again ; you will promise me so much. I must 
 have another attempt: not a mere passionate freak; 
 but a resolute and steady trial." 
 
 " I have done my best : have tried at least to do 
 so; yet the result has been failure upon failure," 
 answered Luke, in a faltering tone. " After a past of 
 such miserable attempts, how can one hope longer?" 
 
 " The obstacles in your path grow with dwelling 
 on," continued his cousin ; " your imagination ex- 
 aggerates them : you look too far in advance, there is 
 the fault, and are already half vanquished before 
 entering the lists: you spend yourself in interjections, 
 and waste half your energy in resolutions. Let us 
 have no more of it. Begin at once, at last, immediate 
 practice is worth a world of good purposes for you. 
 Put your arm to the work: the direction of your will 
 is clear, but its execution is feeble, and experiment 
 only can strengthen it." 
 
 " It is exactly of that I came to speak," Luke replied, 
 more hopefully, " for Mr. Dacer has again consented 
 to allow me another chance, and if I should succeed 
 at last, he promises all the past shall be condoned and 
 forgotten."
 
 AMENDMENT. 25 
 
 " When was that ? " 
 
 " Yesterday : only yesterday afternoon we had a 
 long interview, and he spoke on the whole kindly." 
 
 " Why do you waste the day loitering here, then ? 
 Are you in your senses ? " 
 
 " I came but to tell you of it." 
 
 " To tell me ? I wish to hear nothing of you until 
 your conduct speaks differently," answered Jane, with 
 some bitterness. " The worst preparation for action is 
 to talk of it. So you have wantonly sacrificed another 
 entire day as usual I Listen, Luke: you complain 
 that I never have practical, applicable advice to offer; 
 now, here is some, and, moreover, I insist on your 
 adopting it immediately. You will return to Ormiston 
 at once ; less than an hour will see you back at the 
 office, and then the entire afternoon remains. You 
 would not think of wasting it; I think better than 
 that of you : at all events you surely are not about 
 to procrastinate again ? So good-by ; I have much 
 occupation myself for the day, and may have to pass 
 the evening at Middleton Lodge." 
 
 Jane immediately went up towards the porch, and 
 her cousin was alone. 
 
 Such a parting, however, was too abrupt and un- 
 expected for his pride easily to brook. His temper, 
 a moment lulled, reawakened in consequence, and
 
 26 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 in renewed vexation he went slowly towards the 
 gate, thoroughly undecided as to his immediate 
 movements. "Return to town! not at all; this 
 perpetual lecturing was at length intolerable : and he 
 would not submit to it. As well retire from the 
 conflict, and give up at once: for he was tired of 
 the struggle. Every one was against him : it was 
 his fate to be wronged, and he would accept it: 
 no use in resisting fate." With the fermentation 
 of his mind gaining rapid intensity in this manner, 
 Luke was soon in a very inflammable state, prepared 
 to explode at the merest provocation; and the pro- 
 vocation consequently did not delay. 
 
 On nearing Middleton Lodge gate, a showy equipage 
 came round a turn of the road at such speed, that 
 for an instant he was in slight danger of being driven 
 over, and actually became spattered from head to 
 foot. The driver called out at first in an angry tone, 
 then drove along the road laughing and looking 
 behind with evident enjoyment. 
 
 " As if it were the best of jokes, just to escape 
 grinding under his hoofs," Luke muttered. "But 
 why not? I was in the way in his way: what matter 
 for a worm more or less, if Mr. Bradel of Everley 
 only enjoys his freak ? It would surely have amused 
 the gentleman, and this very mud from his wheels is
 
 AMENDMENT. 27 
 
 a sort of favour to such as me. Why did I suffer it? 
 In what does he excel, that our lots should be so 
 widely opposite ? If I had him here by the throat 
 upon the road I should be as good as he then, and 
 where is the difference. Have I not the same wants 
 and longings, the same capacity for enjoyment, need, 
 and right to it ; yet to him every form of happiness 
 and the best gifts of fortune are not good enough : 
 flatterers fawn on him ; his vices are frolics to smile at, 
 while my hardest striving fails to win a bare beggar's 
 pittance of even charity. Why is this this profu- 
 sion at the bloated rich man's feast, while the very 
 crusts of the table are stingily denied to me ? because 
 I am poor, only because I am poor poor," Luke 
 repeated with bitter energy. 
 
 " God help the poor ! for the sake of my starving 
 child, young gentleman, help I " 
 
 A want-stricken face met him with the words ; a 
 squalid infant whimpered amidst the rags, and a 
 skeleton arm was extended in supplication. Luke 
 flung a coin to the beggar-woman and passed on. 
 
 Our fallen nature is so prone to slide backward of 
 itself that it is well the good principle should occa- 
 sionally stir within us, and compel our course in the 
 right direction. 
 
 So scarcely had Luke complied, however grace-
 
 28 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 lessly with this simple appeal, than at once the cur- 
 rent of his thoughts reversed mysteriously. The 
 tension of his brain relaxed its balance was restored, 
 for a broad question of common humanity came im- 
 mediately to scatter the gnawing jealousy and envious 
 vexation of his mind ; a question his nature was too 
 loyal and upright to disavow. 
 
 " Why are you not shivering on the roadside in 
 hunger and nakedness ? " asked a voice. " How 
 different is your position from your fellow mortal 
 there ; yet you complain. If your intelligence, your 
 capacity, all the higher faculties of your nature were 
 absorbed in want, numbed to dulness, or extinguished 
 utterly in the bare, humble struggle for life, for nothing 
 but bare life, that numbers as good as you toil, and 
 toil vainly, to supply with the coarsest requisites how 
 different then?" Such was the argument of combined 
 conscience and reason which Luke would in vain 
 resist : it was in vain that he shuffled from the point 
 self-conviction was unavoidable. 
 
 When a while afterwards he humbly repassed in 
 the direction of the town, the traces of anger had 
 already left his calm, thoughtful countenance: his 
 mind was filled with sober projects then, busy re- 
 volving the plain duties, the many difficulties of his 
 position. And though in themselves easy, those
 
 AMENDMENT. 29 
 
 duties were serious to him : it might have been pre- 
 cisely because of their being ordinary and of easy 
 attainment. How frequently those who have all but 
 weathered the surf and buffetings of life, gravel and 
 go down in the end on the dull sunken shoal of per- 
 severance. So pleasant it is to yawn again, although 
 the hour may have rung ; to make evident short 
 cuts when no eye observes : yet perseverance to the 
 end only has the promise given of reward. Neither 
 dash nor daring; no transcendental chivalry, nor 
 assault of windmills, no mere moon-snuffing will 
 serve : the wise virgin's trimmed lamp only wins the 
 great Bridegroom's smile. Not that Luke's light 
 shone faint or dim, far from it. He was a man of 
 principle and honour, generous in heart and mind, 
 slave to no vulgar habit or mean desire, although 
 his course had hitherto been trammelled, and its end 
 missed. But because the vices of the world had not 
 overset him, he might yet go to pieces upon its 
 vanities ; and this was what Jane feared for her 
 cousin a danger daily becoming imminent.
 
 I 
 
 30 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. 
 
 ORMISTON was too pleasant a place not to be fraught 
 with various temptations to one of Luke's disposition. 
 Society was open to him there, and he loved it. 
 Young men of fortune liked and noticed him so 
 intimately that it was not always easy to avoid 
 going too far ; tasting too freely of enjoyments, 
 innocent of themselves, innocent also as he took them 
 singly, but most hurtful in result. For he had 
 work to do, and bread to earn ; a life of serious toil 
 to face. To which he was pledged, and admitted the 
 pledge by the strongest ties : by circumstance ; for 
 he was poor: by the highest force of gratitude, and of 
 honour ; for a mother who had pinched and striven 
 through many weary widowed years, to educate and 
 give him a start in life, was dependent on him: a 
 mother who, even to the very last, had sacrificed 
 on his account. For when Luke got appointed to the 
 office of her relative, Mr. Dacer, the rich Ormiston 
 merchant, she accepted the post of companion to a
 
 CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. 31 
 
 lady in London, in order to free the whole of her 
 slender income for his use. So there was in his case 
 every urgent motive which could fix a man to his 
 work, and force him through with it, and Luke ac- 
 cordingly entered on his career full of promise and 
 of fair hopes ; but gradually the pleasures and social 
 seductions of Ormiston began to blunt his industrial 
 energies, and became in a fair way of ultimately 
 doing for him what old Dotter, the book-keeper in 
 Mr. Dacer's office, always said they would. 
 
 "For it don't surprise me to see it," peevishly 
 observed that jealous personage, looking over some 
 neglected accounts of Luke's : " I met a many of 
 them fine 'prentices in my day, and never one that 
 was good for aught. I saw from the first how 
 't would be, when he came to the office with his hat 
 brushed and his gloves: mind you, gloves on, and 
 his shoes creaking, as proud as if he had a thousand 
 pounds at the bank. I said, the lad's uppish, he 
 won't last ; there will be an end of him soon : and 
 wasn't I right wasn't I right ? " 
 
 There was likelihood at least that Dotter's pre- 
 diction might be verified, yet Jane Troye did not 
 fear it the least. She had therefore often serious 
 interviews with her cousin, scenes of remonstrance 
 such as that recorded; and on this occasion after
 
 32 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 Luke had left, she remained a prey to serious and 
 prolonged anxiety concerning him. Partly in conse- 
 quence also, she became so little disposed for society 
 then, as to decide on putting off the visit to Middleton 
 Lodge until the morning; Caroline, indeed, might 
 expect her, but to-morrow would do quite as well : 
 and it was no case for ceremony, so Jane decided to 
 enliven the solitude of the evening by employment 
 amidst her flowers. 
 
 The neatness of the small grass garden before the 
 windows contrasted with the overgrown shrubbery 
 and neglected condition of other parts of the pleasure 
 ground; an advantage entirely due to Jane's own care. 
 For although a gardener came occasionally from the 
 town to prune the shrubs and keep the walks in a sort 
 of order, yet the flowers were her own work, and 
 almost her only pastime. She had often occasion also 
 to bless the narrow circumstances that first led her to 
 cultivate a taste which had become a valuable and 
 cherished resource: not only were her flowers brighter 
 for the care they cost, but an hour in the garden was 
 a grand receipt for lightening the mind and spirits. 
 So it proved on this occasion ; the oppression of her 
 mind gradually lightened under her favourite work, 
 and by the time the sun sank, when the gathering 
 dusk forced her to desist, she was in the happiest
 
 CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. 33 
 
 mood. Besides the influence of her occupation, 
 however, just then a deep source of anticipated 
 pleasure assisted to raise her spirits ; something long 
 looked forward to, and just on the point of being 
 realized : the return from school of her younger and 
 only sister. That was to be an epoch in her life ; 
 the date from which a golden age of domestic happi- 
 ness should flow : and it was so long expected ; her 
 imagination had endowed it so richly with all advan- 
 tages, that it seemed impossibly near at last. She 
 would have a companion then; her past loneliness 
 would cease at last. Her father's indifference could 
 not resist the new interests which would render family 
 life attractive once more ; and her mother would be- 
 come kind and genial again, under the influence of 
 renewed hopes. 
 
 Jane had reached the period when youth, awaking 
 from its illusions, tires of hope, and of looking 
 ever indefinitely forward, but humbly accepts the 
 present as an average of the best that is yet to 
 come ; and acknowledging such a plain condition, 
 seeks peace in the hour actually passing, in fulfil- 
 ment of its duties, in its reasonable and positive enjoy- 
 ments. But though satisfied that her temper was too 
 calm now ; that she was far too sensible to permit 
 further delusions, and dream of better in prospect 
 
 3
 
 34 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 than the everyday middling of daily life ; yet she 
 did look forward: unconsciously sKe desired still, 
 and hoped, as we all do. Whether it be fair or foul 
 weather, whether in the dawn or on the stroke of 
 midnight, we always want something to come, or are 
 waiting for something to go, in this fickle world of 
 light and shadow. 
 
 As her anticipations were now actually approaching 
 consummation, Jane's slender means were taxed to 
 make the house look cheerful ; above all to have the 
 garden in its best order in honour of the event. The 
 monthly rosebuds of the trellis were arranged to 
 cluster by the window of the room destined for Nora ; 
 the prettiest trinkets the house afforded were employed 
 to decorate this room ; her most successful drawings 
 hung on its walls, and the embroidered table-cover 
 was her own design, which she had industriously 
 worked at all through the long winter, for the 
 occasion. 
 
 On this evening, therefore, in the contemplation of 
 her immediate happiness, Jane found the hours pass 
 too quickly, and was well pleased to be undisturbed. 
 But the next morning she felt dissatisfied at disap- 
 pointing Caroline, and by way of reparation thought 
 it well to set out for Middleton Lodge at once after 
 breakfast.
 
 CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. 35 
 
 It had rained during the night, and the ground was 
 wet; nevertheless she selected a path that from imme- 
 diately behind the cottage led up the wooded ascent 
 on the other side of which was Middleton Lodge. It 
 was shorter than by the road, and much pleasanter ; 
 running above the wood through open pastures, now 
 gray with rising exhalations. The lark was rippling 
 high into the white light, and the startled rabbits fled 
 like brown shadows over the ragged boundary fence, 
 as she went on through the silent morning, stopping 
 to catch the sonorous breath of the greedy cattle crop- 
 ping the deep pasture, or to watch the huge vapours 
 roll off from the face of the rising sun. Each familiar 
 feature of the old walk seemed new, and worth 
 observing on that misty morning; so that it was 
 long before Jane reached the shrubbery bounding the 
 gardens of Middleton Lodge. The descent of wood 
 recommenced from thence, and over the blue pine 
 tops were views of the Orme, far underneath; its 
 course tracking through the great elms of the meadow 
 away to the Everley plantations in middle distance. 
 The dreamy murmur of the salmon weir shoaling 
 far away, the cooing of the wild pigeon along 
 the wooded slopes, and the soft echoes of country 
 sounds, mingled as Jane rested on the wicket leading 
 into the shrubbery. Gradually a host of memories
 
 36 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 came upon her then, and forced a glance backwards to 
 the past : that forbidden past, long ago sealed up and 
 set aside for ever ; for sympathies were linked with 
 Middleton Close which awakened of themselves, 
 bringing a train of melancholy and regret. It had 
 been the haunt of her earlier years, in the happy 
 time when the future unfolded an untarnished vision, 
 and life seemed but a long summer holiday ; when 
 the deep inner life of the great woods was keenly felt: 
 when often on this very spot she had come to enjoy 
 their mysterious treasures to see the acorn drinking 
 cups that the elves had cast away, the fairy mounds 
 and giant toad-stools, and to gather gleaming coral 
 bracelets from the pale mountain ash. 
 
 Yonder, in the holly, was the linnet's nest, and here 
 the brightest wild flowers grew, as they grew still, 
 at her feet. Alas ! those bunches of flaming crocus, 
 bursting through the damp leaves and rotting fungi, 
 how bitterly they looked up through the blank of 
 wasted years, recalling her blighted youth and the 
 rich sum of its fair chances which had come to 
 nothing. 
 
 The rising clouds gathered and settled in upon 
 her mind by degrees, blotting out the peaceful beauty 
 of the actual scene ; Jane was thus fast losing her- 
 self in thought, wh?n accidentally, a raven came
 
 CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. 37 
 
 flapping through the fir branches so close overhead 
 as almost to scatter the falling cones upon her, and 
 immediately the noise recalled her. " So unwise 
 yet," she murmured, rising and resuming her walk ; 
 then " so heedless as to suffer vain retrospection to 
 disturb the balance of a mind no longer excused even 
 by youth or inexperience. Why should I escape the 
 common burden, when the very happiest must repine 
 on looking behind? Vanity is a condition of all 
 earthly promises, and mine is only the common lot. 
 Even were it otherwise, were mine a peculiar case, 
 I possess extraordinary reasons for greater resolu- 
 tion." So entirely engaged was her mind in this 
 way, that inadvertently she had crossed the pleasure- 
 ground, and before perceiving her mistake, went 
 slightly astray by entering the main avenue from an 
 outlet in the shrubbery lower than the direct path to 
 the house. On turning up the ascent, however, to 
 repair the error, she met a mounted servant coming 
 towards her. 
 
 This circumstance immediately caused an end of 
 all interior conflict, and at once ; the impetus of her 
 feelings ceased. She stood looking after the man in 
 sober surprise, for at the first view she had recog- 
 nized the livery : not one in Ormiston but would 
 have likewise recognized that livery. What could
 
 38 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 the meaning of it be? Jane wondered, remem- 
 bering the reports concerning Caroline, what busi- 
 ness could a servant of Mr. Bradel's have at Mid- 
 dleton Lodge ?
 
 39 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 CONFIRMED. 
 
 IMMEDIATELY rounding the wing of the building, 
 Jane gained the front of the house, and found 
 Caroline standing in the raised drawing-room win- 
 dow, so wholly engaged with a bunch of beautiful 
 flowers as not immediately to perceive her arrival. 
 
 Framed by the large window, her graceful figure 
 made a pretty picture ; but the head looked small 
 for her slenderness and height, and her features, 
 though regular and finely modelled, were wanting 
 in the thoughtful repose inseparable from the highest 
 type of beauty; still the expression was less feeble 
 than gentle, and on the whole it was an attractive 
 and decidedly an agreeable face. 
 
 Seeing her friend she was out at once, and in a 
 breath commenced to complain of yesterday's disap- 
 pointment. 
 
 " I suspect, nevertheless, that my absence was 
 very fortunate," Jane said in reply. " See the hoi-
 
 40 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 land is off the drawing-room, and that means fine 
 company. Clearly, then, you intended to entrap me 
 into meeting strangers, and I have had a lucky 
 escape. Why did you keep that a secret? and 
 whose servant passed me just now in the avenue?" 
 
 "The messenger with the flowers, perhaps; for 
 they have only just arrived : see ! such wonderful 
 flowers ! " said Caroline, colouring slightly, and 
 speaking with rapidity. "It all happened in this 
 way : I chanced to refer to the gardens at Farren 
 Court, and then Mr. Bradel said he could show 
 flowers to beat Farren Court; and indeed it is a 
 fact: they are most beautiful. But did I not say 
 Mr. Bradel was to be here ? I thought I told you, 
 I certainly intended doing so. Indeed we had quite 
 a party an impromptu party Miss Fletcher, Mr. 
 Pennet, the Drakes : you had a decided loss." 
 
 "Are you serious that Mr. Bradel was here 
 yesterday ? " asked Jane, with grave surprise. 
 
 "Come! I'm sure you knew of it all along. 
 Besides I wanted to tell you yesterday, but you 
 would not allow it. Remember I said there were 
 secrets you would learn if you came ; and you 
 would have had a most agreeable evening also : just 
 a pleasant sort of thing, games, and the cotillon. 
 Mr. Pennet held the forfeits, and was so really smart
 
 CONFIRMED. 41 
 
 at giving the answers ; he asked for you also, why 
 you were not present : you were greatly missed. In- 
 deed, Miss Fletcher wants you to learn Italian, as 
 she has just begun, and spoke to me about it; she 
 says it is such fun and so easy, and I agreed to learn 
 it if you did, so we must see about it : though if it is 
 any trouble I won't, of course." 
 
 Jane did not reply ; and the seriousness of her face 
 made Caroline feel ill at ease, though she laughed 
 it aside, saying, 
 
 "It is well at all events, to have you on any terms, 
 and I am determined you shall be good-humoured 
 for once. So how shall we pass the morning ? Sup- 
 pose we go in to the drawing-room to inspect my 
 pole screen ; I have made great progress with it, and 
 you can assist to select the worsteds, about which 
 there is a difficulty at present; or if you prefer 
 visiting the garden first, you may scold me for 
 neglecting the flowers : it will amuse you, I suppose, 
 to lecture me, and indeed I have neglected them of 
 late, and am getting heartily tired of our wilderness 
 of a garden. But come round to the coach-house, 
 now, and I'll show you the young pigeons, and the 
 little poodle puppy Mr. Pennet sent out to mamma." 
 
 " I must know seriously, Caroline, why you wanted 
 me here yesterday ? "
 
 42 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 " Perhaps because I knew that you would not 
 come." 
 
 " Plainly, what is jzoing on at present ?" persisted 
 Jane, " and why is the very last person you should 
 know at all familiarly introduced into your house? 
 You do not forget the past ; you are neither, I pre- 
 sume, so blind, nor so careless of self-respect as to 
 seek to renew it ; yet, coupled with what is said of 
 you already, the fact of his being one evening here, 
 particularly in such an unceremonious way, is enough 
 to send your name all over the town. Where is your 
 mother's prudence, your own pride? Would you 
 like to be pointed at? to have the gentleman bored 
 by the girl who was dying for him, and yawning that 
 some one might come to marry her out of his way, as 
 he said of poor Lucy Swanton ? You would like that, 
 no doubt." 
 
 " It is well to be on one's guard," replied Caroline, 
 in a tone of pique. " I had no idea there was any- 
 thing very serious in mamma's happening to ask a 
 gentleman to dine, and I am much obliged for the 
 caution, though I think you make a rout about 
 nothing: just as if a gentleman can make a girl 
 ridiculous unless she first let him ; and if so it is 
 her own fault: she deserves to suffer for it then. 
 Should such ever be my fate, let my own words con-
 
 CONFIRMED. 43 
 
 deinn me ; be sure I shan't shirk the consequences. 
 But fortunately here comes mamma to interrupt your 
 humour, and to scold you in your turn." 
 
 In truth Caroline was not displeased to have her 
 mother arrive just then. 
 
 " Jane, I am so glad to see you : why didn't you 
 come last night? we waited till the last moment," said 
 Mrs. Middleton, a short dressy woman, bristling with 
 ribbons, who emerged from a pantry as they entered 
 the hall. " I counted on having you ; and indeed we 
 were badly off just one girl too little for a quadrille. 
 However, we enjoyed ourselves amazingly, and it 
 was your own loss. Caroline, take these things up 
 to the long room " (placing a tray of china upon the 
 hall table), " and see Julia about the table linen ; count 
 over the dessert service also, it will save me trouble. 
 There ! go at once, Jane won't mind waiting ; and 
 look for my keys in the dressing-room, somewhere 
 under the cabinet. Above all, take care not, to leave 
 the drawers open in the long room : Jane shan't go 
 till you return. It was to get rid of her," she added, 
 entering the drawing-room as Caroline went. "' I 
 want to have a talk with you, to tell you of our luck 
 last night : you will scarcely believe it, I know, and 
 no wonder; but it happened in this way. First, 
 Mr. Bradel arrived the other day to look at a horse
 
 44 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 which Middleton had to sell, and afterwards came 
 in to lunch; Mr. Pennet was with him they are 
 always together now and I asked Mr. Pennet to 
 dine : as I intended to do all along, we having Sarah 
 Fletcher and others engaged for yesterday; but I 
 had scarcely done so, than it felt awkward not to 
 include Mr. Bradel in the invitation, he being by ; 
 so the next moment I asked him also to make one of 
 the party, and he accepted. Caroline has told you of 
 that already, I suppose." 
 
 Jane answered quietly that she had. 
 
 " And what do you think for how many people 
 in Ormiston would Mr. Bradel do as much, quite 
 unceremoniously mind, and declare he had passed a 
 pleasant evening also, as I overheard him say myself 
 to Sarah Fletcher? To Mr. Pennet indeed, I can 
 never feel sufficiently grateful ; such an acquisition ! 
 a most accomplished young man ; what a pity he has 
 chosen the church the church without connection 
 he is quite thrown away in it. Mr. Bradel, how- 
 ever, may do something for him by-and-by: they 
 are inseparable. But congratulate me : have I not 
 reason for pride? Though you are such an icicle, 
 nothing ever sends you up," Mrs. Middleton added 
 impatiently. " It is a distinction, I say, and if people 
 will talk of it, let them : it is something to talk of.
 
 CONFIRMED. 45 
 
 Some in Ormiston would cut their tongues out to 
 Lave so much to say. And the Bradels are much 
 maligned ; I for one could never discover the Bradel 
 pride : it is just because they are not hand and glove 
 with every one, and it would be most unreasonable 
 to expect that There is not on the whole a kinder 
 family in the county one which gives so much in 
 charity, much to my own knowledge that they never 
 get credit for. And the young man surely does his 
 best to be agreeable : if you had seen him last night ! 
 though he is, to be sure, lively and careless ; just the 
 sort of open character that jealousy might easily 
 slander ; but those stories one hears are all exagge- 
 rated, and half untrue: even concerning Caroline, 
 there was not at all as much in that as people said 
 at the time; and if there were, he is greatly im- 
 proved since, and has seen more of the world. Two 
 years make a difference at his age, and as far as my 
 own experience goes I will say, that a politer and 
 a better mannered young man I never met. For 
 instance, only last night, because Caroline happened 
 to talk about flowers, he makes the conversation an 
 excuse for sending us a most beautiful bouquet this 
 morning. Was not that polite ? Not a word before 
 her, however," Mrs. Middleton added, interrupting 
 ^herself, as here the door opened and Caroline entered.
 
 46 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 "Jane has had a scolding for disappointing us," she 
 continued, addressing her daughter, " and I am deter- 
 mined to keep her here now : it is the least she can 
 consent to in atonement. I don't see either what she 
 wants at home at all : that she shan't return this day, 
 at all events, is settled." 
 
 If only consulting her own desires, Jane would 
 have resisted this arrangement ; but it involved more 
 than mere inclination. She saw that her presence 
 was necessary, that it was important to have a talk 
 with Caroline immediately, and therefore she con- 
 sented to remain at the lodge.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 FIRST BEGINNINGS. 
 
 LUKE PENROSE kept faith with himself at last, and 
 returned to attempt his career again, if not success- 
 fully ; he determined to make an effort that would 
 secure self-approval, at least, and be worthy in some 
 degree of his own honest purpose. Success, indeed, 
 seemed beyond hope at first; the difficulties before 
 him had grown so formidable, and were exaggerated 
 tenfold by his high temper and over-sensitive dispo- 
 sition. There were for instance his companions in 
 the office, the sneering junior clerks, to face ; he had 
 to bear their stinging and scarcely covert smiles 
 when first he bent to the desk and began the weary 
 work of feigning business all through the long office 
 hours, with nothing whatever to do the while: for 
 the books of which he once had charge had been 
 some time handed over to others. Then the fussy 
 industry affected on purpose to deepen the contrast 
 of his own unemployed condition ; not only the osten-
 
 48 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 tatious application of the scribbling clerks, but the 
 chilling stare of old Dotter's horn spectacles talking 
 at him as plainly as glasses could speak: "Hey? 
 young sir, with your gold ring on your finger, and 
 hair curled proud as ever, what do you want here ? 
 what business have we for such a very fine gentle- 
 man as yourself?" they seemed to say. 
 
 If Dotter had but recognized his existence, and 
 put forth his hand in mere common brotherhood 
 with an offer of the morning paper, or of his old 
 greasy snuff-box, it would have been an act of price- 
 less courtesy to Luke then. A civil look or smile, 
 some small show of sympathy in his beggared con- 
 dition, a few crumbs of bare charity, was all he 
 pleaded for; but it was too much, he was spotted 
 with disgrace : from him nothing could be expected 
 in return ; he was down, and Dotter accordingly 
 preferred lifting his shoe at him, as people (and not 
 the very worst either) are seen to do occasionally : 
 it being, we fear, established but too well, that a good 
 man may be very good indeed, without of necessity 
 being altogether a good Samaritan. 
 
 " It was his own doing : surely he was idle and 
 foolish ; and if temptation crushed him, it was no 
 doubt his own fault. Why be so frail and human ? 
 Look at me ! had I his advantages ? Had he been
 
 FIRST BEGINNINGS. 49 
 
 but diligent like me, worked like me, with credit and 
 honour, with fidelity and honesty like me. Com- 
 pare my condition now with that helpless, broken 
 bankrupt there, and see the difference. Come, let us 
 spit upon him ! forgiveness is not nominated in the 
 bond : and, beggar, let him pay the forfeiture." 
 
 The Pharisees, therefore, with whom Luke had to 
 do, were confirmed in self-righteous malice, and left 
 him to extricate himself as he might : indeed, if the 
 assistants in the office had expressly banded them- 
 selves for the purpose, they could not have annoyed 
 him with more success at first. But in the end even 
 his very helplessness brought a kind of aid, for the 
 very pride that exposed him to the most trifling im- 
 pertinence, roused his manliness at last, and called 
 out the full vigour of his nature, and a dogged 
 strength of purpose grew out of it : a resolution not 
 to be beaten that neither persons nor circumstances 
 should bend him from the path he had chosen, or 
 from the successful execution of his own predeter- 
 mined will. In this way it resulted that even the 
 very difficulties which opposed him turned at last in 
 his favour, and became a powerful leverage in help- 
 ing him onward. 
 
 One morning it happened, as Luke hurried 
 through the' streets on his way to the office, that a 
 
 4
 
 50 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 tall, dark man emerged from a shop, and laid his 
 hand on his shoulder. This was Lumney, a distant 
 connection of the Troyes, and his oldest friend. 
 
 " Though 1 have not seen you for some time, I 
 have heard enough about you," said Lumney, 
 walking on with him, " you can understand, there- 
 fore, what a satisfaction it must be to my intelligence 
 to perceive you at last turn out as great a fool as 1 
 always maintained you were. The complicated inge- 
 nuity of man, and the diversity of human ambitions, 
 sometimes defy analysis. You may remember the 
 alderman in f Don Quixote,' who practised the act 
 of braying with such distinction as ultimately to 
 surpass even an original ass in proficiency ? And 
 there is a sublime inconsistency in all you under- 
 take ; quite a brilliancy in the excess of your suc- 
 cessive failures, that not only defies investigation 
 but even challenges a kind of respect makes one 
 hope for you a very high place as a genius for folly 
 of the first rank, and that is something. Your last 
 quarrel with old Dacer is all over the town : some 
 say that you have got notice to quit, and of course it 
 must come to that at last; but what your object 
 was in bringing the old gentleman to bay why you 
 were not satisfied with digging the mine under your 
 feet without springing it too must be unintelligible
 
 FIRST BEGINNINGS. 51 
 
 to any one less versed than I in the amazing incon- 
 gruity of everything you do. Though what you 
 mean to arrange after the blow up, when the curtain 
 closes on the grand finale, beats even me to deter- 
 mine ; and I should thank you to instruct me on the 
 point forthwith." 
 
 Luke laughed. 
 
 " If your ears had been as ready to receive good 
 news as malicious gossip," he said, " you might have 
 learned that our quarrel has since been made up, and 
 that Mr. Dacer and I were never better friends. 
 You will smile if I talk about turning over a new 
 leaf; but it is the truth this time: not that I am 
 going to begin as usual, but positively that I have 
 actually done it." 
 
 "Done what?" 
 
 " Done with playing the fool, and mean to mind 
 my business now." 
 
 "Capital! ' mean to mind:' the phrase is Luke 
 Penrose to a shade: always big with some new 
 project that extinguishes in splutter. However, 
 don't mean minding anything for another week or 
 so," added Lumney, " as I happen just now to want 
 you specially. It will make no difference of course ; 
 one week is as good as another to begin anything 
 one doesn't like in, and at the end of a year, a week 
 
 42
 
 52 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 more or less won't be missed. We have a party 
 going up to Milton Crags for a few days, Boyce and 
 Slingsby, in my drag ; so put off your amendment 
 and come with us : we leave on Thursday." 
 
 By this they had reached Mr. Dacer's office, and 
 Luke turned up the steps. 
 
 " I have resisted a worse devil in the shape of an 
 invitation to the Marlfield pic-nic, already, and, fiend, 
 I defy you," he replied. "There are old Dotter's 
 glasses eyeing me from behind the wire blind ; so, 
 good morning, at once. I must go, and, if possible, 
 will look down to you this evening." He disappeared 
 through the baize doors of the office. 
 
 " That boy will certainly come to good, though he 
 has done nothing but make mistakes yet," Lumney 
 muttered, continuing his walk slowly towards the more 
 crowded end of the town. " And all the better ; nothing 
 comes of those fellows who never go wrong, like that 
 confounded Thresham Councillor Thresham that is 
 now, who, they say, by-the-by, has maligned Luke 
 to old Dacer. If I could but convict him of it once, 
 the double-tongued interjectional rogue ! His mother 
 had a snuff shop in Bridge Alley. A fellow of old 
 saws and mouldy logic ; a lisping fantastico ; an em- 
 phatic shaveling, who, at school, brushed his clothes 
 and saved his pocket money ; a mouthing nothing,
 
 FIRST BEGINNINGS. 53 
 
 clad in cast quotations; a village virtuoso, nice in 
 trade, pictures, and cheap crockery ; a whig, a bigot, 
 a teetotaler. He will very likely be mayor next year, 
 and if I don't lampoon him in the Argus, 'tis because 
 I formerly hunted with his uncle, old Rhoddy : and 
 a very good fellow, though rather a bad boy he 
 was, not at all akin to this faded example of diluted 
 methodism." 
 
 As communing with himself thus, Lumney passed 
 along the street, a stranger would at once have ob- 
 served his appearance ; but it was not so much the 
 remarkable muscular figure, the broad clear brow, 
 with angular set features, conveying an impression 
 of equal power both of intellect and frame, which 
 he would have noticed at -first; for there was an 
 expression more attractive far than mere power in 
 that masculine, swarthy face ; something in the deep 
 gray, quiet eye, most strange to find there ; a soft- 
 ness, not kindly only, but gentle, even femininely 
 delicate. Altogether, it was a striking face, which 
 would have challenged attention anywhere; yet, as 
 he loitered along now, with his usual listless air, no 
 one heeded nor gave him a second glance, for who 
 was there in town or neighbourhood that did not 
 know Lumney? He was a recognized institution, 
 an appurtenance, a well-known household feature of
 
 54 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 Ormiston ; one of those remarkable men who never 
 have done, nor never will do anything : not at all for 
 want of qualities either of intellect or character, but 
 precisely on account of their very range and compass ; 
 for even it was admitted that, if Lumney applied 
 exclusively to any one pursuit, he would certainly 
 attain an easy success therein ; but the difficulty lay 
 in exactly hitting on the one thing for which he 
 was to abandon his other tastes : and he had 
 already turned forty, without deciding that necessary 
 point. Indeed, the broad cultivation and capacity of 
 his mind stood most seriously in his way ;- for the 
 multitude of things he could put his hand to on a 
 moment's notice was amazing : if the Argus wanted 
 a pungent article, or Sacrum, of the academy, an 
 idea for a picture, or Quartette, the singer, selections 
 for his annual concert, Lumney's aid was surely 
 looked for ; it was he that picked a barbarism in the 
 Greek ode published by the great Cambridge Fellow, 
 the mighty Blunderbole, and the phrenologist, Miss 
 Bas, Miss Blue, the geologist, had both of them con- 
 stant smiles for Lumney. " My brain is an old garret," 
 he used to say, " where all sorts of odds and ends and 
 useless lumber are tumbled out of the way a 
 musty store-room that no one goes near until some- 
 tiling is lost; and until one does open a shutter and
 
 FIRST BEGINNINGS. 55 
 
 let in the daylight, I can never half tell what is in 
 there myself." 
 
 A man of his capacity and leisure thrown amidst 
 an active, intelligent society, necessarily acquired 
 extensive power of a certain class, and in con- 
 sequence, though nominally popular, he was secretly 
 disliked and feared by many ; for he was in the way 
 of all irregular and tortuous careers, and by an 
 opportune " mot " had more than once crushed the 
 fortunes of an unlucky social aspirant. At a glance 
 one saw that he was a man of significance in his 
 generation ; and when on this occasion, after leaving 
 Luke, he appeared in the drawing-room of his club, 
 his advent was a popular fact interesting to the 
 entire room: the occupant of his favourite seat by 
 the window took the first decent pretext to vacate it, 
 and the men whom he addressed in passing looked 
 up pleasantly and answered with smiling cordiality. 
 
 The room was greatly crowded this forenoon, and 
 the noise unusual ; parties constantly entered, talking 
 with a loudness hostile to general comfort ; so that 
 the sanctity of the place was gradually invaded, and 
 Lumney, to whom a lounge over the morning papers 
 was a necessity of existence, became accordingly 
 annoyed. But in a while, when secure of his paper, 
 of his easy chair, and of his window when in pos-
 
 56 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 session of all which at the moment he desired his 
 temper easily cooled again, and he finally settled in 
 his berth, moralizing on the folly of letting anything 
 upset one in this world. For " there is always a fair 
 side to the worst of things :" he added, " even my 
 own condition, unenviable and isolated as it may 
 seem, is on the whole little to complain of: if pos- 
 sessing little, I have then the less to lose, and time has 
 at least been negatively kind ; for if not adding much 
 it has not greatly subtracted from my account either, 
 but leaves me still in the club window of twenty 
 years ago, in view of the same sunny pavement full 
 of life and youth, and holiday feathers, as if life 
 were but a joke, and the only task were to enjoy it 
 freely, and there were no burdens to carry, webs to 
 weave, or work to do." 
 
 Here, however, a renewal of disturbance, caused 
 Jby the noisy entry of a party of young men, abruptly 
 interrupted his soliloquy. "Mr. Bradel was wanted 
 immediately: where was he? A difficulty had arisen 
 about the race ball : the assembly rooms were en- 
 gaged for the night. Had any one seen Bradel ? " 
 
 " The house must stand on end of course, because 
 you boys choose to give a ball ; we old fellows are 
 not to be considered," Lumney said to Captain 
 Seaton, who then came near the window, directing
 
 FIRST BEGINNINGS. 57 
 
 attention to Edwin Bradel, at the moment seen oppo- 
 site, coming in the direction of the club. A circum- 
 stance, however, arose at the moment to alter his 
 evident intention ; Mrs. Middleton and her daughter 
 suddenly appeared up a cross street in his way, when 
 Bradel stopped, joined them, and ultimately turned 
 back again with them. 
 
 " Bagged ! " cried Captain Seaton : Mother Mid- 
 dleton has the bird. An end of him now for the day, 
 though we are here by appointment. A man so 
 rich lets the world wait. It ruins one's manners to 
 have a bank at your back." 
 
 "A snare some of us will escape then," said 
 Slingsby; "I'll skim that reef: my politeness remains 
 green to the last." 
 
 " There is a sort of man that can't be spoiled, 
 you know," retorted Lumney. 
 
 " If good fortune would only try, however," 
 returned Slingsby, " I'd lend it every assistance." 
 
 " Easier to mend your purse than your manners, 
 decidedly." 
 
 " I'll owe you for that, at all events." 
 
 " Then you won't pay, Harry ? " 
 
 " Blot out the score with a double or quit," 
 suggested Seaton ; " or offer him a check." 
 
 " The way of the army, I believe," answered
 
 58 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 Slingsby : " and one must sometimes do like 
 others." 
 
 " Which is an excuse always for doing wrong," 
 pronounced Lumney. 
 
 " An excuse thrown away on me, then ; for I do 
 that without any. But concerning Bradel ; you have 
 heard the report, no doubt ? " 
 
 "Heard as the cuckoo is in June, Harry, but 
 not regarded," replied Lumney. 
 
 "The Bradels are people of to-day," sneered 
 Seaton, yawning. 
 
 " To be as rich, we'd all of us willingly be people 
 of even to-morrow," retorted Lumney. 
 
 " I lay at all events to any figure that he has not 
 a notion of her ; what do you think ? " 
 
 <e Perhaps that human nature is pretty much the 
 same everywhere, especially at Everley Hall." 
 
 " Then he won't marry her." 
 
 " There is for and against it" 
 
 "Which are you for?" 
 
 "Decidedly for the comfortable perusal of the 
 morning papers," answered Lumney ; " for you boys 
 to adjourn to your pleasures, and leave a desolate old 
 gentleman to the sole enjoyment of his solitary 
 existence. I wish you good-morning-"'
 
 59 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 DIFFICULTIES. 
 
 JANE TROYE was at first disappointed about her sister's 
 return, for her father (a retired naval officer who 
 passed his life in experiments on gunnery, more inter- 
 esting to himself than productive of advantage to his 
 family) had become fascinated by the testing of some 
 new projectiles then going on in London, and remained 
 there longer than was intended. It was many days 
 later therefore before their departure from town was 
 finally announced; a delay which gave Jane full 
 leisure to observe the extent of mischief that Caroline 
 Middleton had already done herself. 
 
 For meanwhile the progress reports had made 
 concerning her, was considerable. She had been 
 seen walking with Mr. Bradel in the street. It was 
 known that Mr. Bradel had dined at Middleton 
 Lodge. Miss Fletcher told friends in strict confi- 
 dence that she had seen things she would not speak 
 of for the world. So the eager public had for awhile
 
 60 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 an agreeable topic, a shrewd woman like Mrs. Mid- 
 leton to talk about; one who was always the first 
 to remark on others : and that she should have fallen 
 into so egregious an error gave unmixed general 
 delight an error which perhaps nothing but the 
 absurd inconsistency of her subsequent conduct could 
 equal in extent. The motives of that, indeed, were 
 impossible to appreciate: either she had recognized 
 her mistake, was tired of having her daughter's name 
 on every tongue, and, remembering the previous 
 attentions of the gentleman, resolved he should not 
 play fast and loose again ; or else it was as a matter 
 of policy only, that she seemed to discourage 
 Mr. Bradel's advances in the hope, perhaps, of 
 having them thereby more decidedly offered. People 
 are frequently hottest for what is least easy of attain- 
 ment, and that might have been her intention ; it 
 was certain, at all events, that she at once appeared 
 as decidedly cold to his attentions as before she had 
 seemed to court them ; for she suddenly took every 
 opportunity of avoiding him, even of preventing 
 Caroline from meeting him, and when he called at 
 the lodge she deliberately and repeatedly denied 
 herself. 
 
 To Caroline this change was of all least intelligible, 
 and she bitterly complained to Jane of her mother's
 
 DIFFICULTIES. 61 
 
 inconsistency : "If mamma," she said, "prefers that I 
 should not meet Mr. Bradel, why persist in forcing me 
 to every public place where I am sure of seeing him?" 
 
 It needed, indeed, but little observation to become 
 aware that, if Caroline's affections were not engaged, 
 her vanity at least was strongly touched by Mr. 
 Bradel's attentions, and that she suffered from their 
 withdrawal. 
 
 But to this Jane said nothing ; she abstained as far 
 as possible from the topic, and further than expressing 
 sincere sympathy and affection for Caroline, declined 
 to meddle. She had done all that was possible to 
 warn her friend ere it was too late ; and satisfied that 
 she had, she abandoned herself freely to the more 
 agreeable interests which were now approaching at- 
 tainment : to the anticipated pleasure of having Nora 
 home. 
 
 It was on the day immediately before her sister's 
 return, Jane was later than usual in the garden, when 
 Lumney's appearance at the gate interrupted her 
 work. He had come from the range of hills above 
 Middleton Lodge, and brought in his hand a branch 
 of oak encrusted with a sort of red fungus, to which 
 after a few words of greeting he called attention : he 
 had found it in the south plantation, and had hopes 
 of its furnishing a paper at the next meeting of the
 
 62 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 scientific society. "For anything so simple must 
 surely puzzle the local savants," he added ; then, pro- 
 ceeding to animadvert on the condition of Jane's 
 flowers, "This garden," he said, "appeared always in 
 fallow : there is evident perseverance, but no result : 
 constant weeding and raking, abundant leaves, and 
 beds of hopeful seedlings, that, like fine promises come 
 to nothing. Certainly it does more credit to your 
 industry than to your skill. How is it you never 
 have anything to show ? " 
 
 "One reason is, that our old gardener has been 
 laid up with rheumatism this month," said Jane. 
 
 " So much the better : you will never do good till 
 you get rid of him. How those laurels overcrowd 
 and there ! another arbutus clipped at the top, in flat 
 contempt of my instructions," added Lumney, pushing 
 aside with his cane a mass of straggling branches : 
 " hacked like a quince in autumn : it will never 
 recover, and I expressly forbade him to put a knife 
 near that shrub : the barbarous old dotard ! " 
 
 " Mr. Farren's gardener the other day recom- 
 mended that all the shrubs in that square should be 
 thinned for air : that is the reason of it," answered 
 Jane ; " and as for the flowers, the season is late 
 this year : besides there are so many broken panes in 
 i.he greenhouse that half our plants perished during
 
 DIFFICULTIES. 63 
 
 the frost ; and moreover, so many things were to be 
 done for Nora's return that I had not time of late to 
 mind the garden. However, in another month I 
 shan't be ashamed to have you see it" 
 
 "I shall perhaps come to dine some time during the 
 week ; very likely on Wednesday," Lumney answered. 
 "I found a curious manuscript at a book -stall the other 
 day, filled with legends of the old town and cathedral; 
 and must have a night with your father over it: let 
 him send me word when he is in the vein. So Nora is 
 to leave school already ; what an age we must be ! it 
 seems only the other day she was running about this 
 very walk ; a little imp the height of my knee, with 
 glowing cheeks and eyes like a ripe blackberry. Do 
 you remember her spirit, the day she drove her hand 
 through the glass door of the greenhouse only because 
 I defied her to do it; and how she laughed in my face 
 when I told her stories that would have frightened 
 another child into fits ? That girl will make a noise 
 in the world, depend upon it : there is something 
 in her." 
 
 "She is very^clever indeed," assented Jane; "such 
 letters as we get from her. Last month she sent an 
 account in verse of their distribution of prizes; a 
 squib full of spirit, and perhaps a little malicious, 
 because none of the prizes came to her share: though
 
 64 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 it is her own fault. Mrs. Griffin says if she studied 
 she would be first in everything. I am afraid she is 
 very idle." 
 
 " So much the better ; a woman is never quite so 
 foolish as when she happens to know something," 
 answered Lumney. " By the way, however, have 
 you seen Luke lately ? he rather avoids me." 
 
 " Not for many days. I have, indeed, but little 
 hope of him now : I fear he never will succeed." 
 
 " Why not ? " Lumney nipped a long water-shoot 
 from a standard rose near. " A man who tries again 
 in spite of continual failure not succeed I what is life 
 but a tissue of such trials, a perpetual recommence- 
 ment ? whoever has courage to last to the end must 
 win and Luke will. I hope for him everything 
 that his best friends can wish, and have good grounds 
 for doing so, as I also lately had an interview with Mr. 
 Dacer on his account, and the old gentleman spoke with 
 such kindness of him that I changed my opinion of 
 Dacer on the instant. It is easy, you know, to see 
 people in another light when they respect our prejudices 
 and adopt our views ; and from a coarse, purse-proud, 
 over-bearing trader, Dacer has suddenly become in 
 my eyes an estimable citizen and a credit to the 
 town, deserving of civic honours and general respect : 
 indeed from the beginning, Luke and he would have
 
 DIFFICULTIES. 65 
 
 done very well but for the venomous treachery of 
 Thresham. The mishaps of others are ' judgments,' 
 according to that self-righteous pharisee, whose sour 
 intolerance would have every one attend vapid tea- 
 meetings and forgather with his own peculiar 
 clique." 
 
 " Luke keeps his word, then, at last? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Is Mr. Dacer satisfied with him? Tell me 
 everything : I will write to his mother to-night." 
 
 " He is doing his duty like a man of principle and 
 honour," affirmed Lumney, "as well as I always 
 knew he would ; he is giving satisfaction to every one, 
 and likely to prove a credit to his relatives and 
 friends." 
 
 " This is good news indeed : will he come to see 
 us soon ? " 
 
 "I think not; he even keeps away from me at 
 present, and very properly. When a man feels 
 resources sufficient in himself to achieve a difficult 
 task, he had better fasten into it at once, without 
 consulting anybody." 
 
 And here the conversation changed ; Lumney dis- 
 covered other things to notice in the garden, and 
 continued to inspect and find fault until the six 
 o'clock bells of the town warned him of the hour. 
 
 5
 
 66 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 He then went, promising to make Luke come to the 
 cottage at the first opportunity a promise that some 
 days afterwards he proceeded to fulfil, and found his 
 friend most resolutely opposed to. " I won't see Jane 
 again of my own accord," Luke said, " until she can 
 find another topic than the rehearsal of my own 
 enormities to entertain me with ; for flesh and blood 
 can't bear it for ever. Her remonstrance has often 
 brought me to the point of committing some ex- 
 tremity of folly out of pure experiment, just to 
 convince her that I was not half as bad as 
 might be." 
 
 " She does not like you worse for your faults, 
 depend upon it. Jane is a most excellent person, but 
 remember only a woman after all ; and it is the way 
 of these poor women, they are ever for leading or 
 bending us one way or the other : nothing upsets them 
 like perfection. If you had no vices, no weakling frost- 
 bitten virtue-buds just perishing for want of feminine 
 care, she would not care about you. But you are 
 a kind of garden to her, now, and she has a right to 
 keep you in order, to rake up the beds, and root the 
 weeds out : there is pleasure in the act of rooting out, 
 that only a woman can understand." 
 
 " But is it fair to hack and hoe merely for the 
 sport of handling the instruments ? " returned Luke.
 
 DIFFICULTIES. 67 
 
 " I'll keep out of her reach certainly until she finds 
 some other soil to work upon." 
 
 " She might find a more grateful soil, indeed," 
 answered Lumney. "However, like all good-for- 
 nothing fellows, you have the best of luck ; fancy, 
 with regular daily work to do, how it must shorten 
 the day and make you sleep : the dolce far niente, 
 believe me, is much overrated ; I have tried it myself, 
 as fairly as any one, yet it has nothing in it. There 
 is a certain amount of dishonour in admitting so 
 much, in secret even ; but, between friends, if some- 
 body were to find me something to do and moreover, 
 make me do it I should not be very sorry." 
 
 " That would be easier said than done, I suspect," said 
 Luke, smiling; "but it is true that the long hours 
 and office stool come quite easy now: custom has 
 overcome custom, and I amble smoothly in my har- 
 ness at last Shall I dine with you on Sunday ? " 
 
 " No, for you go out to the Troyes you will : I 
 have settled it," repeated Lumney, "for I intend 
 sending my manuscript by you, as I have changed 
 my mind and don't intend going myself. Besides, 
 Nora is come back, and you must see her it is right 
 you should: they will expect it of you, so out you go. 
 I will send my parcel to-morrow evening." 
 
 52
 
 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 RENEWED ACQUAINTANCE. 
 
 WHETHER or not influenced by Lumney, on that 
 Sunday Luke did go to the cottage. This time he 
 had not to complain of his reception, and on her 
 return from Mocton church he was presented to his 
 cousin Nora. 
 
 " Do you think her altered ? " Jane asked. " Ex- 
 cept for her height and dress, I find her the same, 
 and scarcely older : her expression is quite un- 
 changed." 
 
 " Not a trace of her remains to my mind : I should 
 not have recognized her," was the reply. " Is it the 
 original, or a substitute? If the latter, indeed we 
 have gained by the exchange ; for Nora was not much 
 to boast of, and this fine lady will prove an advan- 
 tageous, a highly creditable connection : she certainly 
 might have been taller, but on the whole it is a fair 
 height, and everything considered, is in appearance 
 at least a satisfactory person. Welcome, Nora ! I re-
 
 RENEWED ACQUAINTANCE. 69 
 
 joice to have you home again, and trust we may 
 agree better than long ago : you recollect the days of 
 our youth and its innocent pastimes. Can you for- 
 give my cruelty to your dolls ? and is your dread of 
 black-beetles as lively as formerly ? " As he spoke, 
 Mrs. Troye appeared, and they all entered the house; 
 for on Sundays the dinner hour was early. 
 
 Nora Troye interested one at once ; if not strictly 
 beautiful, hers was certainly an attractive face, that 
 attracted still ; but with diminished interest on closer 
 examination, for one felt then somewhat disappointed 
 at finding not less but more than was expected there. 
 Like a fine engraving, which at a distance appears of 
 the highest finish, but the broad handling of which, 
 on closer view, gives an impression of power rather 
 than of softness ; so her features, though perfect in 
 outline and texture, were of too full proportions to be 
 truly feminine, and a depth of light in the large round 
 liquid eyes was brilliant and beautiful rather than 
 pleasing. Yet the intensity of the expression did not 
 at all approach to coarseness ; her lips, if something 
 full, were perfectly modelled, of the most delicate 
 colour, and the pure even white of her complexion 
 harmonized well with the splendid hair which folded 
 down in bands of brilliant black over her round 
 throat and perfect shoulders.
 
 70 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 She was not, perhaps, as beautiful as Caroline 
 Middleton ; certainly not at all as pretty, at least so 
 it seemed to Luke on that first meeting ; but other- 
 wise there was no comparison : for in every higher 
 quality, in readiness of wit, fertility and cultivation 
 of mind, she, in his opinion, far excelled any one he 
 had ever seen. 
 
 The calmness of the evening, and Nora's im- 
 patience to see the old features of the country again, 
 induced Jane to propose a walk to Mocton Cross 
 after dinner : it would be light enough to get views 
 of the river from the Cross point, and even to make 
 out the outline of the distant Everley woods. So 
 the cousins set out along the pleasant Mocton road, 
 with its tall hedgerows of budding hawthorn shed- 
 ding fragrance through the moist April twilight. In 
 high spirits, their voices and laughter ringing far out 
 into the quiet fields, they went as fast as Luke's 
 repeated interruptions would permit; at every turn 
 he found out something new, a change or feature 
 of the landscape to notice, an incident of social life 
 to relate to Nora. For news of the world she was 
 about to enter was interesting to her ; and he had 
 full scope to exercise his wit and harmless sarcasm 
 in portraiture of the various celebrities and leading 
 features of Ormiston circles.
 
 RENEWED ACQUAINTANCE. 71 
 
 " Not that I care to know anything of the world in 
 a wider sense, anything beyond our own limits here," 
 she said; "as such knowledge I believe to be the 
 greatest ignorance, no less than the abjuration of every 
 high impulse, descent to the mean level of general 
 frivolity and emptiness. No! my aim shall be small 
 happiness and modest hopes; which rightly understood 
 are great things: an obscure, quiet life is exactly 
 what suits me, and to that I look forward just what 
 home offers: the garden, a few books, a dance now and 
 then for change, and Jane to take care of me ; that is 
 all. The less one looks away I believe the better ; 
 for happiness stands in the centre, and a narrow 
 circle must approach it closest. As for the rest I am 
 very ignorant of the world now, and hope to remain 
 so always." 
 
 " It is exactly," Luke answered, " because of 
 ignorance itself that you hold that opinion ; although 
 I admit that ignorance is the best of all safeguards 
 to a strong impression. It is certainly not wise to 
 examine too closely into the merits of a cherished 
 prejudice; knowledge often puzzles and puts one 
 out, as some of the old landscape painters said of 
 nature: and ignorance and inexperience materially 
 strengthen conviction. Life to me, however, wears 
 any but a gloomy aspect as yet, and I should
 
 72 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 be well satisfied with it under certain conditions, 
 which the longer I live appear the more attainable; 
 so, ' until they can find me some happier planet, more 
 social and bright,' I am for the world, and the pro- 
 fuse variety of all its countless vanities to boot." 
 
 " The longer he lives, Jane ! This piece of ex- 
 perience even I can remember when plundering 
 jam crocks, and trembling at Dr. Blunderbole's 
 rod." 
 
 " To be remembered at all was more than I 
 counted on, it is evidence of interest at least." 
 
 " But you took care to make a lasting impression : 
 one does not easily forget the sort of torment you 
 were." 
 
 "All the better: an unfavourable impression rather 
 than none." 
 
 " Right," said Nora at once, and her eyes leaped up 
 like steel from the scabbard, "very right: better even 
 be bad than insipid. But here is old Mocton Bridge 
 again," she added, gently ; " yonder the church spire 
 shoots above the beeches of Farren Court, as in fits 
 of home sickness at school I used to see it, when the 
 thought of this quiet country came like a cool breeze 
 over the hot flint sand of our melancholy play- 
 ground. How the dreary hours lingered out there 
 amidst the dust and glare of a confined court, where
 
 RENEWED ACQUAINTANCE. 73 
 
 the very shadows were of brick, and burnt one. 
 Four pallid limes flagging away a thirsty life, formed 
 the only green for the eye to rest upon ; and outside 
 it was worse still: the square Dutch town with its clipt 
 gardens, and the miles of paved road, with dingy 
 hissing factories on every side dotting the country 
 slopes. It is pleasant to remember all that now, as the 
 hooded evening folds over the old hamlet. Listen ! 
 There are the calves lowing on Button's croft ? " 
 
 "Yes! and this is the Baling Baling Ford," 
 said Luke : " do you recollect your dread of the 
 stepping-stones ? " 
 
 " The Baling indeed keeps its old tone yet," Nora 
 answered, speaking as if to herself; "there it tinkles 
 away to the smooth reach of the deep Orme yonder, 
 where a fading gleam of sunset is mirrored still ; and 
 as they meet, see the brook pours all its little life 
 away into the broad breast of the amber river, in 
 ripples of pale gold, like the sunny ringlets of a 
 laughing child hiding in its parent's bosom." 
 
 "But the light is going," said Jane: "see, how 
 quickly the change comes ? " 
 
 " Yes, already the last fan-like shafts of colour glint 
 up into the sky ; and the world is many tones more 
 gray at once," Nora continued rapidly : " the fallows 
 begin to seethe, and the denser air feels frosty ; for
 
 74 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 winter is but a short way off, and little would tempt 
 him back again. Hush ! now it is the gloaming ; 
 hear the brook shoal more sharply, the leaves move 
 with the coming dew, and along the sloping marsh, 
 see the timid water-fowl steal out. What a pity 
 we must return : suppose we go round by the com- 
 mon to see the alterations in the rectory that you 
 wrote about last year ? " 
 
 " It would be too far," answered Jane, " besides 
 there is nothing to see, as owing to Mr. Wilson's 
 health nothing has been done yet. The commis- 
 sioners will not interfere until after his death : poor 
 old man, he can't last very long.** 
 
 " He has been lingering for the past year," said 
 Luke, " and Mr. Pennet expects to get the living 
 when it falls. They say the Bradels have given him 
 a promise ; though that is doubtful : he has no more 
 than a very good chance, and if he did not himself 
 think so he would never remain so long in Ormiston. 
 But it is really getting damp and cold, and we had 
 better make haste back ; Nora's shawl is a light 
 one." 
 
 It was full dusk when they got home, and 
 Mrs. Troye, vexed for Nora's absence, peevish also 
 that Jane should have left her alone the whole even- 
 ing, kept every one uncomfortable until it was time
 
 RENEWED ACQUAINTANCE. 75 
 
 for Luke to set out for the town. But he did not 
 mind ; it was not in the power of things to damp 
 his spirits then: he had that within to make the 
 road seem short, and in spite of the warning town 
 clock, he strolled up and down the city quays in the 
 moonlight to work out his crowding thoughts. For 
 imperial youth will have his wilful dreams, and will 
 pile fair castles upon the hollowest shingle, with a 
 smile at fate and adversity. Luke at once looked 
 far onward, and saw a host of bright possibilities 
 all glowing in the warm rose tint of his fancy. No 
 wonder that he trusted the fair illusive vision: for 
 he was too young to know of failure in hope; and 
 the sad knowledge that sees but mocking shadows in 
 all the fine promises of this world, had not come to 
 him yet. 
 
 From thenceforth a new era of happiness began 
 for him, and almost his entire leisure was passed 
 at the cottage. Each Sunday there were walks 
 through Hamley wood almost alone with Nora ; for 
 Jane and Caroline being engaged with matters of 
 their own, left the cousins much to themselves, and 
 this new hope, daily growing more definite, and 
 coming closer, also brought fresh strength to Luke ; 
 by giving him a still dearer object to struggle for. 
 Everything at the time seemed so bright that it was
 
 76 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 hard to doubt : the enchanter fancy worked so busily 
 rearing up minaret after minaret of crystal and 
 amethyst, until at length a glowing palace stood forth 
 with towering crests glittering as the morning, with 
 fountains of light dancing for ever in its fair white 
 courts all filled with flowers and humming birds. 
 
 And why should he not also have his glittering 
 day-dream? Wasn't it fit ting and in due season? Does 
 not every child believe them to be real kings and 
 queens at the play? Let him enjoy the short act 
 while it lasts. Wait until the curtain falls, and 
 the lights are out, and the cold night settles down ; 
 then never doubt he will soon enough find it to be 
 but glass and pasteboard: but poor make-believe 
 frippery after all.
 
 77 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 ANTICIPATIONS. 
 
 ON a morning before the race ball, Mrs. Middleton 
 drove to the cottage on business no less important 
 than arrangements of dresses and selection of festal 
 finery ; she had offered to take Nora to the ball, and 
 no time was to be lost : they were all to go into the 
 milliner's together. 
 
 Ormiston as a matter of course was in the height 
 of flutter just then, the hotels crowded with people 
 from the ends of the county, for the Marquis of 
 Delcomer, with the Marchioness, Lady Maria, and 
 Lord Selwin, the heir, had come to stay at Everley 
 for the races a visit much talked of and long ex- 
 pected; moreover, one that caused great excite- 
 ment and jealousy in the town amidst individuals 
 of the class who by rank were entitled to hope 
 for invitations to the state entertainments which fol- 
 lowed. 
 
 The variety of detailed information indeed which
 
 78 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 circulated about everything in progress at Everley 
 during this time was remarkable. 
 
 What fine clothes Mrs. Bradel had ordered, what 
 fine airs put on; how much the candlesticks, sent 
 from Paris for the state chambers, had cost : fabulous 
 candlesticks of inlaid malachite; how Lady Maria, 
 who was thirty-four, and inclined to take Edwin, was 
 accordingly all smiles and good humour: yet that 
 her noble mother had with difficulty been talked into 
 the visit, and made it distinctly felt that she was a 
 descendant of a great North British house of sixteen 
 quarterings. 
 
 This visit to Everley came just at the wrong 
 moment, and interfered sadly with Mrs. Middleton's 
 designs, for it was then exactly that everything was 
 in the scales, and the merest trifle might influence 
 Edwin Bradel's fancy, possibly altogether divert the 
 marked attentions he had certainly commenced to 
 pay Caroline ; besides, a fear that she had overdone 
 the thing herself by feigned coldness, which was just 
 possible : indeed, and even appeared likely, for since 
 the arrival of the Delcomers, neither Edwin himself 
 nor even his friend Mr. Pennet had called once at 
 the lodge : an important circumstance, when things 
 were at such a delicate crisis that a slight movement 
 either way of the index needle might indicate settled,
 
 ANTICIPATIONS. 79 
 
 fair, or foul weather. The reports regarding Edwin 
 and Lady Maria were also gaining strength every 
 day, and besides, the Middletons had not been asked 
 even to one of the state dinners given at Everley, 
 though expecting it till the last moment. Certainly 
 if one reckoned the signs of the times, prospects were 
 so far gloomy ; but Mrs. Middleton resolved not to 
 do so until after the ball, which she secretly decided 
 should settle everything. Caroline should be dressed 
 for this ball as she was never dressed before; no 
 telling what influence the dress of even one successful 
 night might have ; and as Mr. Bradel behaved to her 
 daughter, there would she estimate the likelihood of 
 her future chances. 
 
 It was certainly doubtful why Mrs. Middleton had 
 volunteered to take Nora to this ball, as of course she 
 shared, and in no small degree shared the natural 
 matronly aversion to chaperon the daughters of 
 others ; but it might have been from mixed motives 
 to compliment the Troyes, or please Jane per- 
 sonally; or else as Nora was a novelty, if not a 
 beauty, she might have thought it advantageous to 
 have the bringing out of her at first. At all events 
 Mrs. Middleton never acted without motive of some 
 sort ; so, no doubt, she had one in this, as in every 
 other apparently disinterested action of her life.
 
 80 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 She was not in the best of humours as they drove 
 into town ; for many trifles combined materially to 
 ruffle her temper just then : the day was hot ; and 
 Nora, glowing with the excitement of anticipated 
 pleasure, rather outshone Caroline, not only in 
 spirits, but even in appearance, although her bonnet 
 was unbecoming, besides Mr. Pennet had called yes- 
 terday at the cottage, and she (Mrs. Middleton) had 
 not seen him for some time. 
 
 " Mr. Pennet was rather giving her up of late," 
 she said ; " he had so much finer acquaintance to 
 occupy him at present. It was the fashion : what old 
 people must expect" Nora's habit of incessantly 
 looking out of the window was also a further provo- 
 cation. "Just as if she had never had a drive 
 before: what was the attraction? she passed that 
 road every day without thinking of looking out of 
 the window?" Nora's spirits were, indeed, at the 
 moment incompressible ; her delight concerning this 
 ball could not be contained ; and the most ordinary 
 circumstances connected with it became topics of 
 intense interest and value the music, the hour of 
 arrival, the number of people anticipated. 
 
 " Your calmness is provoking," she whispered to 
 Caroline on the stairs at Madame Tuille's ; " I have 
 never seen myself dressed yet, and am dying of
 
 ANTICIPATIONS. 81 
 
 curiosity. Jane was all night employed trying 
 colours in my hair, and it is decided I am not to 
 wear any at last ; don't you think it best ? some- 
 how everything looks large and awkward, otherwise 
 I should choose a complete wreath of orange or 
 scarlet, certainly some strong colour." 
 
 " You will think less of these things by-and-by," 
 Caroline answered gravely : " I could once feel so 
 myself, but now your excitement is nearly unintel- 
 ligible. Never doubt but experience will dispose of 
 your illusions likewise ; and, as in my own case, I 
 fear much happiness attached to them which must 
 vanish also." 
 
 " I am not afraid : the world cannot deceive me ; 
 for I don't set a high value on its favours, or expect 
 more than it may easily bestow," was the reply. " I 
 shall take it in my finger tips just awhile, and let 
 go when the humour changes, or something better 
 offers. But there is your dress: what a perfect 
 orange : amber, rather primrose than amber ! and it is 
 of so soft a tone ; exactly the delicate tint for your 
 subdued half light what perfect harmony. How 
 beautiful you will look, Caroline: like a spirit of 
 morning, a Peri in the folds of a saffron cloud, you 
 will be the queen of the room beyond any doubt" 
 Caroline laughed.
 
 82 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 " Sovereignty has its drawbacks question is it 
 worth having ; the weight of the jewel, perhaps, 
 exceeds its brilliancy," she said. 
 
 " You think le jeu ne vaut pas la chandelle I 
 don't." 
 
 Here Mrs. Middleton introduced Nora to Madame 
 Tuille, and after a few sentences, added confiden- 
 tially, " Smart enough : will pass for good-looking 
 also, as girls go ; but she is short and has no figure. 
 If properly dressed, however, she may have a chance, 
 as any novelty succeeds at first ; but without a figure 
 what can you do ? what is a pretty face without 
 something to s"et it on ? only a blossom on a broom- 
 stick." 
 
 Presently, when their business was over, Mrs. 
 Middleton hastened back to the carriage, and was 
 handed into it by Lumney. His appearance there 
 was indeed a matter of pre-arranged accident; for 
 having seen them arrive, he waited on purpose to 
 meet Nora, and she was all radiant with smiles when 
 he came up. 
 
 "I remember you very well, Mr. Lumney, she 
 said ; you were much with us long ago : and are an 
 old friend or an old enemy, I forget which ; though 
 I never on any account forget either." She thought 
 him at the same time dreadfully dark and ol( and
 
 ANTICIPATIONS. 83 
 
 privately wondered that he could have ever been 
 called good-looking. 
 
 " Anything but years, if you please ; we old beaux 
 dislike the topic of all things," Lumney answered, 
 making a silent inventory of her person: "lips, brow, 
 eyes, very good indeed; hair, polished ebony; de- 
 cidedly a handsome woman ; some pride, some 
 temper : so much the better. But this hand, which 
 although small appears large strange! I like the 
 hand least of all," and he let go her fingers. 
 
 " A gentleman need not care about age, in my 
 opinion," Nora rejoined, briskly; "boys are for in- 
 stance my horror; and I don't intend to dance with 
 one of them at the ball. If his wisdom increase 
 with years, a gentleman can't be old enough for my 
 taste." 
 
 "I am sorry for you, then," returned Lumney, "as 
 I have escaped the most decided attempts of my own 
 time and beyond it You will certainly but lose 
 your time on me, as I am artful as well as aged, and 
 have had, moreover, considerable experience." 
 
 " Nevertheless, you are in love even at this moment, 
 I am sure," replied Nora : " and I will prove it : you 
 confess to being an old bachelor." 
 
 " Unless for sake of argument, otherwise certainly 
 not an old one." 
 
 62
 
 84 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 " If old bachelor, then an idler, it follows as a 
 matter of course ; because without proper incentives 
 to activity ; and if an idler means a person with 
 nothing to do, how can any one with nothing to do 
 help falling in love, Mr. Lumney ? " 
 
 " Apt, certainly." 
 
 " She has made good use of her time, you see," 
 put in Mrs. Middleton, tartly: "our girls here are 
 so reserved, so over-bred, that a novelty of any sort 
 must be desirable; and you gentlemen have such 
 range of taste, that Nora may at length prove a 
 variety to your fancy. She may possibly have a 
 short day of it, until something newer turns up." 
 
 "If only a short one it will be her own fault then," 
 answered Lumney. " For when once a young lady 
 acquires popularity of any sort, she has only not to 
 meddle to retain it easily; it is generally in trying 
 to equal the standard of her reputation that she 
 betrays herself, and gets found out. It is amazing 
 how easily every quality is conceded to one who con- 
 fines herself merely to looking pretty and not saying 
 too much: for really the first duty of a young woman 
 is to be good-looking." 
 
 " Is to be married, Mr. Lumney," added Mrs. Mid- 
 dleton, laughing : " beauty may be an accessory after 
 the fact ; though it is a question, when you see the
 
 ANTICIPATIONS. 85 
 
 matches that are made. On the whole, plain girls seem 
 to do just as well, and certainly don't make such fools 
 of themselves: perhaps because they don't get the 
 chance; or if they do throw themselves away, no- 
 body cares : 'tis not a sacrifice of the same value ; 
 but when a really handsome girl takes a beggarly 
 half-pay Scotch captain, like poor Lucy McTaggart, 
 it vexes every one : 'tis exactly like throwing so 
 much money's worth into the river. But, it is noon 
 already ; we have a thousand things to do, and must 
 settle the point some other time : besides, I am never 
 sure what to make of you, Mr. Lumney; I always 
 determine never to speak my mind before you, yet 
 you have a sly, treacherous way of getting one to do 
 it : nevertheless, you are a decidedly dangerous per- 
 son," and with a smile she drove away. 
 
 Lumney stood alone on the pavement. " She is 
 attractive, certainly not unladylike, perhaps clever, 
 and decidedly a remarkable girl," he mused; "yet 
 somehow I don't like her : she is not my kind not 
 what Luke wants, not what I want for him : she has 
 too much power, too much will, and is something 
 too strong for my taste well to look at, to trifle 
 with, but not to live with ; not to marry. In what- 
 ever mould her character first casts, there it will 
 fix and settle : and if ill, it will be very ill indeed ;
 
 86 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 she will follow to the end the path chosen, whether to 
 the right or left, and the risk is great : much danger 
 in the chance. Look well about you, Luke ! take 
 plenty of time, and take care while there is time." 
 
 Though Luke had not spoken a word of his 
 feelings regarding Nora, Lumney had too great in- 
 terest in him not to divine them already, and perhaps 
 had secret projects of his own grounded on them ; 
 for he had long considered himself Luke's natural 
 friend and protector, and in everything that con- 
 cerned him took an interest his own affairs could 
 never inspire him with.
 
 87 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 QUICK PEOMOTION. 
 
 AT the race ball Nora Troye had unquestionably a 
 striking success; if her dress, manners, airs, and 
 affectation, were freely criticized by the rest of her 
 sex, it was as freely admitted that she danced well and 
 had handsome arms, and it was undeniable that a more 
 brilliant ddbut had never been made in Ormiston. "A 
 circumstance, indeed, which proved nothing beyond 
 the ascertained irrationality of mankind, and which m 
 the end might turn out a dear distinction to the young 
 person herself; perhaps give her notions to embitter 
 the remainder of her days, and turn her head. Such 
 being the natural and ordinary effect of a coup-de- 
 soleil on an inexperienced brain." Maidens of un- 
 doubted experience in consequence compassionated 
 her excessively, although at the same time assert- 
 ing that her head had been already turned 
 as evidence of it, they averred that after refusing 
 Mr. Bradel himself for a dance, Nora had stood
 
 88 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 up with her penniless cousin, with whom she had 
 been quite remarkable. Such an improbability, how- 
 ever, was esteemed an insult to the general under- 
 standing, and did not gain credit ; as in truth it ought 
 not, for Mr. Bradel did not ask her : he was far too 
 occupied with his own affairs to bestow a thought 
 upon her, too disappointed at finding that Caroline 
 was not present. For the fact was, Caroline did 
 not appear at the ball. 
 
 Although Mrs. Middleton had expected it to 
 form a period in her speculations, to decide her 
 future course of action by furnishing a key to appre- 
 ciate Mr. Bradel's intentions ; though it was the date 
 whence the definite probability of her hopes was to be 
 assumed or denied ; nevertheless the ball arrived and 
 passed without fulfilling even an item of its important 
 promises, for on the day previous it was obviously 
 quite impossible that Caroline could go to it, as she 
 became seriously unwell, and the attack subsequently 
 proved sufficient to confine her for many days. Mrs. 
 Middleton was therefore excessively provoked, and 
 additionally aggravated by hearing of Nora's complete 
 success ; who necessarily must have missed the ball 
 also, if Jane had not at the last moment prevailed on 
 an acquaintance to take charge of her sister. 
 
 But though the ball was a failure as far as her
 
 QUICK PROMOTION. 89 
 
 expectations were concerned, though it did not of 
 itself incline her nearer to certitude on either 
 side, or diminish a scruple of suspense, still the dis- 
 appointment was in fact perhaps the most fortunate 
 accident in Mrs. Middleton's favour. Nothing so 
 edges inclination as finding its object unexpectedly 
 moved out of reach : a disappointment in the dinner- 
 hour is a wonderful sharpener to the appetite; and no 
 doubt Caroline's indisposition contributed much to 
 consummate the ultimate fact which shortly followed. 
 For Edwin Bradel had looked forward to meeting 
 her at the ball, had counted on that opportunity, 
 even had almost decided what to say to her then ; 
 consequently, his mind was fittest prepared to receive 
 the entire shock of the disappointment of her absence, 
 even though he learned afterwards the reason of it: the 
 effect had been already produced, his feelings and his 
 will being wrought by the delay to such a definite point 
 as must insure positive action and result. So, in 
 scarcely a week after the race ball, it was publicly 
 known that Mr. Bradel had made a morning call at 
 Middleton Lodge ; that he spent the day, and dined 
 there. Presently it was over Or mis ton that he had 
 proposed for Caroline Middleton. 
 
 Not that he admired, paid attention, was in love, 
 or was thinking of the lady only such tilings were of
 
 90 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 insignificant daily occurrence ; but that he formally 
 declared, had made a tangible offer of himself and his 
 possessions, and "was of course snapped at:" such 
 was the news that rolled like a ball of fire through 
 the town, and at every turn caused fresh consterna- 
 tion and commotion. Only to hear the pleasant 
 things which were said when, the shock over, minds 
 were calm enough for discussion: the clearness 
 with which it was evident what Mrs. Middleton had 
 been aiming at all along, " before he went to school, 
 or was out of his jacket, every one saw that the old 
 spider had her web out for him:" the universal 
 commiseration for Mr. Bradel, the father, who, it was 
 asserted, would not survive the cruel shock : the 
 insignificant personal pretensions of Caroline, who 
 was not to compare with Miss Darrel ; nor was she as 
 young either as they pretended. It was a secret blow 
 to many a giddy brain that till the last moment had 
 gone on quietly nursing its brood of silent longings, 
 and at once found the nest rifled and its fond hope 
 flown; and many turbaned brows, wrinkled with 
 matronly care, clouded at the news. 
 
 At the club it was the common topic. The young 
 gentlemen of the place were in no way inclined to 
 grieve that the Colossus which had long overshadowed 
 them and kept down their marketable value, "had at
 
 QUICK PROMOTION. 91 
 
 last made up his mind and made away with himself," 
 as Slingsby said ; " there will be some enjoyment in 
 going out once more." 
 
 " But there won't be any places to go to now," 
 answered Lumney ; " who cares for snap-apple 
 when the apple is won, or only to catch such fry as 
 you. Poor disappointed and forsaken maidens ! For 
 you, life has henceforth lost its bloom, and the 
 world is dumb: resume again your weary sewing 
 and your Berlin-work ; practise industry and resig- 
 nation, the homely virtues befitting your aban- 
 doned state ; for your resource is gone. No more a 
 fine young prince shall come prancing down the 
 mall, no more watching or expectation, no further 
 need to dress or look better than anybody else, to go 
 to balls or to church any more. Go ! all of you, be 
 nuns at once ; you may as well : this foolish globe is 
 but stuffed with sawdust; the ball has stopped 
 rolling, the game is played out, and over, and you 
 have lost it. Women have but a few short years 
 to win in the grand handicap of life, Slingsby, and 
 can't afford to draw such blanks as you out of 
 the lottery. If you've no money in your purse, 
 Roderigo, then let Desdemona alone : it will save both 
 time and trouble." 
 
 " Any girl worth having doesn't care about
 
 92 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 money," answered Slingsby, languidly drawing off 
 his gloves. 
 
 " Try to have that girl worth having, and you'll be 
 wiser ; if her own dainty fingers don't measure your 
 purse, depend upon it she'll find a proxy to do it. 
 Time was, perhaps, when any long-haired lotos-eater 
 with a full baritone voice might have made his 
 own terms ; but the day is gone by for that, and 
 you won't live long enough to see the fashion in 
 again. 
 
 " It is a point to have done with Bradel, at all 
 events," answered Slingsby. " Boyce calls him 
 Basilisk, because when once he looks, no girl sees 
 anybody else : he puts out her eyes. 
 
 " Dog in the manger ! a lucky dog though," said 
 Lumney. 
 
 " A spoil-sport." 
 
 " * Spoil five ' is a fascinating and dexterous game. 
 'Tis pleasant to hinder others from the trick you 
 don't want yourself. But, you silly person, to waste 
 your happy spring, dangling after farthingales! 
 wait, Harry : wait for your turn when you have 
 position and the gout, your uncle's Norfolk estate, a 
 dyed whisker, and a red nose, then is the time to 
 unstring your guitar and take to philandering, like 
 old Toper there. See, yonder he goes with a rose in
 
 QUICK PROMOTION. 93 
 
 his bosom. The very daughters of those sightless 
 beauties you complain of now, will then find glances 
 of melting tenderness for the absurd, besotted old 
 rickety Silenus I expect you to become. Poor 
 varnished Toper," Lumney continued, addressing the 
 embroidered person of the colonel, riding down the 
 street, " lumbago to-morrow, and a week's groaning 
 for this fleeting hour of vanity. At the end of the 
 circle, can you think to live it round again. You no 
 more resemble your intention than a milliner's bou- 
 quet does the dewy buds of the parterre. Alas ! for 
 mortal pain, for the sighs of youth, and the regrets 
 of age ; the poisoned longing, the pitiful trying to 
 pilfer back from time and tread over the old path 
 again ; shooting out devouring morning rays from 
 the impatient East, yet at setting sadly shedding all 
 the fairest light behind, lingering still in impotent 
 resistance, to decline over the loved world which a 
 cold destiny darkens. What is it? what would we 
 have, Slingsby? We motes in the sunbeam, giddy 
 ephemera, circling without purpose, ever restless, 
 ever weary ; what do we seek ? " 
 
 " Seaton soars to a wife with a fortune, but he is 
 ambitious and greedy," was the reply; "if Provi- 
 dence would but send me some flat of an ensign to 
 buy my old bay whistler, I should be content, and
 
 94 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 joyfully turning to the passing moment exclaim, with 
 Dr. Faustus, ' Stay, thou art so fair.' " 
 
 " Want ! there it is ; whether of ensign or of wife, 
 what matter, that is the pinch ; and to slake this 
 wolfish want the great world spins, and has already 
 spun through weary centuries of failure. But you 
 happy youths, are only laughing and I am a prosing 
 dotard. There goes Luke Penrose, over the way." 
 Lumney took his hat and went out. 
 
 Luke pushing rapidly through the crowded street 
 turned evidently with surprise rather than welcome 
 when Lumney joined; an unusual elegance in his 
 dress was noticed immediately by the latter. 
 
 " Shining like a gaudy salmon-fly, curled like the 
 Grecian Apollo, ambrosial and perfumed positively to 
 raise the people, what is the meaning of it ? " asked 
 Lumney ; " where are you going, and what is that 
 about ?^' pointing to the valise he carried. 
 
 " Good-morrow ; only to Mocton to the Troyes. 
 You heard the news about Bradel, of course ; and 
 what do you think of it ? " 
 
 "Fortunately it is only to Mocton, then," said 
 Lumney, reflectively, without answering. You will 
 not therefore object to return with me to the picture 
 sale at Hallam's, to see the whole Dutch school 
 knocked down at so much a foot, and Thresham
 
 QUICK PROMOTION. 95 
 
 moreover in his glory? It is a thing not to be 
 missed, believe me. Flanders Aurora; and Frau 
 knitting; respectively Peter Paul and Van Ryu; a 
 broad cream-cheesy Cuyp, unquestionable gem ; 
 Verschunring's old Hobby Horse, and Paul Potter's 
 original Bull ; besides, Thresham himself, also un- 
 doubtedly original ; white waistcoat, double eye-glass, 
 and all : he was at Drake's last night talking politics 
 to the ladies, and art to Dr. Blunderbole. Do you 
 agree ? " Lumrtey added with a sort of smile. " We 
 can afterwards ride down to the port in the evening 
 
 to see the Orion, she came in yesterday what ! 
 
 you won't ? you are sure that you won't ? If so, then," 
 quickly taking Luke's arm, and drawing him close, 
 " tell me decidedly whether you have any chance : 
 how you are getting on with her yes ! how you 
 are getting on with her ? " 
 
 Luke started, coloured, then withdrew his arm, 
 met Lumney's look, and redder still, said with a 
 laugh, 
 
 " A man might go farther and fare worse." 
 " And how much farther, pray ? How many times 
 over the round earth must she go before finding a 
 greater coxcomb than yourself. Have you any 
 chance ? does she accept service from you ? may you 
 follow in her train, kneel in her shadow, eat the dust
 
 96 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 she treads upon; stand in her presence like the 
 patient Pleiads in humble supplication ; as sorrowful 
 Ariadne stood longing on the beach of Naxos ? May 
 you?" 
 
 " It is true indeed, I am not worthy to think of 
 her." 
 
 " As the reflection in the pool beneath its object to 
 follow every movement ? " 
 
 " There is no one like her." 
 
 " As the fluttering dawn awaits the coming day ; 
 as the reed stands in the summer wind bending at 
 every sigh ? " 
 
 " Have you seen her, Lumney ? " 
 
 " What, up to your neck, so deep already ? and one 
 may yet remember you in the whooping-cough. Alas ! 
 for the history of man, the ultimate destiny of his 
 species. Will none learn of experience? must this 
 maudlin disease await our entry into manhood as 
 surely as the affections of infancy usher into youth ? 
 Oh, the time thrown away on this empty passion, the 
 force of mind it consumes, the nothing that comes of 
 it, the regrets it entails, the brains it has turned, 
 the bad verses engendered ! Come, you are not with- 
 out sense, and it is not quite too late to save you. 
 Don't rush madly into the fire, and I won't despair 
 of your cooling out of this yet ; Slingsby and I will do
 
 QUICK PROMOTION. 97 
 
 our best for you : suppose you dine with us to- 
 morrow." 
 
 " I promised the Troyes." 
 
 " True ; I forgot that you promised : of course you 
 did humph ! we will scarcely find a willow green 
 enough to hang you on." 
 
 They were now at the turn of the Mocton Road, and 
 Luke stopped. But Lumney, pointing to the nearest 
 lamp-post, urged him farther, then added in a gentler 
 tone, 
 
 " You love this girl : she is handsome, clever, per- 
 haps amiable and suitable in every way; but at all 
 events, you love her, or are inclined to do so, and 
 that in your position is supreme madness or folly, 
 or even something worse than both, as the world will 
 tell you: and the world will be right according to its 
 light. But I tell you, there is no wisdom to match 
 such folly ; that to pursue an honest passion, madly 
 to pursue it, is the best thing you can do : and by 
 all means do so, in spite of maxims, or remon- 
 strance, or of reason even; take your sincere pur- 
 pose only for guide, conscience and your own brains 
 for sole arm, and act freely then as your courage shall 
 direct: have but the handling of yourself, and the 
 difficulties of life turn to cobwebs. Fortune is a 
 cowardly jade, that ever yields to the hottest spur, 
 
 7
 
 98 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 and the strong sinews of a pure will command her 
 easily. Only keep the light bright within ; your arm 
 true at the oar, and the boat must swim alike through 
 shoal and tempest. Such is the advice of one who 
 has tried what life is, and who is more competent to 
 judge on this matter than perhaps you suspect ; who is 
 at all events your true friend, incapable of misdirect- 
 ing you wilfully. We are at the lamp-post now ; so 
 be off to Mocton," said Lumney, withdrawing his 
 arm and turning rapidly down a street : " I wish 
 you a pleasant evening."
 
 99 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 A DISAPPOINTMENT. 
 
 LUKE arrived at Mocton, glowing with pleasure and 
 filled with sanguine hope ; equally impelled in one 
 direction by two great mental currents, gratitude to 
 his friend, confidence in himself, and both uniting 
 in a new force of will, capable of conceiving the most 
 glorious excesses of liberal devotion and generous 
 action. When in good humour, we feel so very 
 kindly, good resolutions come so easily then, that it 
 is a pity sunshine is not quite permanent ; suffering 
 or disappointment appears as often the cause as 
 the consequence of wrong-doing; so that if we only 
 always had our own way, our behaviour would very 
 likely be the better for it. 
 
 With his mind clearer by Lumney's encourage- 
 ment, his intentions more definitely expressed than 
 ever, and with a prospect of meeting Nora before a 
 returning of cold prudence came to damp his re- 
 awakened ardour, Luke was in such a state of exulta- 
 tion, that immediate disappointment of some sort was 
 
 72
 
 100 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 almost inevitable ; and on arriving at the cottage it 
 came : a disappointment that was least expected, and 
 which ultimately upset all his calculations of enjoy- 
 ment for the afternoon. Nora was not at home. 
 
 " Miss Middleton had called, and the two ladies 
 went out with her about an hour since," was all that 
 the servant could tell him. " Did he try the summer- 
 house?" 
 
 He went to see; for there were voices in the summer- 
 house certainly ; but they proved to be those of Jane 
 and Caroline Middleton only; and as Caroline was 
 too important a personage just then to be intruded 
 upon, Luke did not need Jane's signal immediately to 
 withdraw. 
 
 Neither at the house nor in the garden! where 
 then could she have gone ? or w hy be away at all, 
 knowing that he would have come? Luke at first 
 sought the garden eager and expectant, but in a while 
 retraced his steps, gloomy and crest-fallen, frowning 
 as he went at the jewelled beds of pansies, enamelled 
 wi*h spangled lights of topaz and turquoise ; too pre- 
 occupied, as it proved, to escape in time from a meet- 
 ing at the moment highly inconvenient and vexatious ; 
 for though Nora was absent, her father was unfortu- 
 nately at home, and came out in his dressing-gown 
 and slippers to hail him as he approached the house.
 
 A DISAPPOINTMENT. 101 
 
 Mr. Troye, it happened, was just at the moment in 
 want of some one to talk to, for there had not been 
 a man about the place for the week, and he had been 
 too busy with his paper on Scythian projectiles to 
 leave the house since his return: Lumney had disap- 
 pointed him sadly, promising to come out every day ; 
 and at this juncture, too, when consulting the Liber 
 Ignium of Graccus for reference, it was not fair. Only 
 another instance, however, of the difficulties which 
 men of science and patient research had to encounter 
 on every hand. It was, for instance, sheer folly 
 trying to work in a world, much less in a house 
 infested by women as his was ; a man who aspired 
 to benefit his species by the advancement of science, 
 should renounce the idea of augmenting it too : one 
 thing was quite enough for him. He should not 
 marry, he should not at all events have daughters to 
 marry, it was a sad mistake : were he but beginning 
 the world again ! 
 
 " I wish to find one of those daughters now," said 
 Luke, interrupting ; " can you tell me where Nora is?" 
 
 " Where most mischief is going, no doubt. I never 
 have any difficulty in finding her : they are always 
 in the way, those women, the whole of them. If I 
 had money I would certainly build my harem at the 
 end of the maze, and put the breadth of the kitchen-
 
 102 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 garden between us. However, to talk seriously, do 
 you know, Luke, that in spite of the noise about 
 breech-loaders now, I will be able to prove that 
 they were known from the earliest times ; that there 
 were jingals loading at the breech, as well as patera- 
 roes, in Asia." 
 
 "Yes; but " 
 
 " Never mind, she'll turn up soon enough. And not 
 only breech-loaders, but rifled tubes were also used, 
 and wrongfully used. I'll maintain it against a battery 
 of artillery, that it is as opposed to the first mathe- 
 matical principles and to every known law of projection 
 as to common sense, to employ excessive friction on 
 the arrow, bolt, or missile ; for friction is not an agent, 
 it can never be used as such : 'tis rather a hindrance, 
 a necessity to be dispensed with ; and depend upon it 
 sooner or later they will find that out, and come back 
 to smooth bores and light metal again." 
 
 " I think it very likely." 
 
 " Not a doubt ; but it won't be until they go 
 more wrong first: that is always the way when 
 mechanics and mere practicals meddle with what is 
 properly the domain of science ; they must blunder 
 considerably before finding out their own ignorance. 
 Stupidity and prejudice are the real difficulties we 
 have to contend with; and it is only in our own
 
 A DISAPPOINTMENT. 103 
 
 time those difficulties begin to yield. For the engines 
 of the middle ages, the hacquebutte, culverine, 
 arquebuse, were they anything if at all beyond the 
 barbarous instruments of the rudest times, the balista, 
 catapulta, espringal, trebuchet, mangonel, for instance? 
 By-the-by, as you have nothing else to do, come 
 round to the laboratory, and I'll show you my new 
 idea of a petard on the Chinese principle." 
 
 " With much pleasure ; but I want to see Nora for 
 a moment." 
 
 " Oh ! if that's all," taking his arm. " I say, on the 
 Chinese principle, for though the invention is original, 
 still Du Halde refers to something decidedly similar. 
 If I were but to enumerate the errors in this single 
 department of science!" he added, leading Luke 
 round the corner of the house to the back premises. 
 " No absurdity seems to have been escaped. Gus- 
 tavus Adolphus fought a battle near Leipzig with 
 cannons of neats' leather, and won it too ; what do 
 you say to that, cannons of boiled leather ? " 
 
 It was needless to attempt further resistance. 
 Mr. Troye was too engrossed by his pursuits to doubt 
 that they interested every one equally ; and Luke was 
 too anxious to stand well with Nora's father to 
 exhibit other than pleasure at the experiments of the 
 most peaceable man of the kingdom, who passed his
 
 104 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 life devising engines for the better destruction of his 
 species. 
 
 Considerably more than an hour elapsed, there- 
 fore, before Luke could get back to the garden ; and 
 even then the delay brought no amendment to his 
 disappointment, for there was no account of Nora. 
 The gardener had seen her in the morning, but had 
 not seen her go out ; and if she had gone out, how 
 decide in which direction ? 
 
 Only such a little thing kept a great happiness 
 away, that Luke absolutely became quite miserable 
 in consequence. It is so hard to miss a thing when 
 you almost have it not to be quite as well off as 
 clearly one might easily be. In the midst of his 
 perplexity, however, Caroline and Jane suddenly left 
 the summer-house, and came up the walk, but not 
 towards him ; and there was a flushed expression in 
 Caroline's face that prevented him from going to seek 
 information : it would have been indelicate to join 
 them, as evidently they kept on the lower path and 
 out of the way on purpose. But no sooner had they 
 passed the stile on the way towards Hamley Wood, 
 than he understood at once that Nora must be at 
 Middleton Lodge, and that Jane was going up there 
 to bring her down: it must be so, otherwise she 
 would not leave the house at so advanced an hour.
 
 A DISAPPOINTMENT. 105 
 
 Vexed at his own dulness in not before guessing 
 a tiling so probable, Luke waited in the garden as 
 patiently as he could to give Jane a good start, and 
 then followed slowly after, intending to join her 
 on the return. 
 
 But at the first wind of the wood he came face to 
 face with Jane returning alone : alone ! It was but 
 another item in the sum of the day's disappointment. 
 
 Jane immediately explained, 
 
 " Nora had gone to Mocton with some things for 
 Mrs. Middleton's school, intending you to follow and 
 bring her home : she was to wait until you did. And 
 I was to have given you the message," added Jane ; 
 " but when Caroline called it quite went out of my 
 head ; so you must blame me : it was my fault." 
 
 "To Mocton! I should never have thought of 
 seeking her there on Saturday," answered Luke ; " I 
 hope she has not waited the whole afternoon on my 
 account But have you made arrangements for to- 
 morrow? and where shall we go? Nora has never 
 been to Winderpool ; what would you think of it ? 
 we might leave in the phaeton immediately after 
 morning church; it might be possible to get there 
 and return before dark." 
 
 "Not at all. Winderpool would take an entire 
 day at least; besides, I made an appointment with
 
 106 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 Caroline to-morrow ; she is to come home with us 
 after church : however, we shall go before the season 
 is over, perhaps in the autumn ; there is so much 
 wood that the autumn would be the best time." 
 
 " Then what about to-morrow ? we have done all 
 the places in the neighbourhood." 
 
 " Try elsewhere, if you please ; you may return 
 to town if you are tired of us," said Jane, smiling, 
 and passing through the stile. " There is Nora down 
 by the gate ; she will be late for dinner as usual ; go 
 down and bring her up." 
 
 Nora was looking away, busy with the gardener, as 
 Luke came down the walk ; her hair had slipped 
 loose in glossy twists upon her neck and shoulders, 
 and by its intense contrast gave delicacy and relief to 
 her half-seen profile : she turned at once as he ap- 
 peared, saying 
 
 u The next time I wait half the day for you, I 
 shan't lose my temper for the disappointment; and if 
 it were not a matter of perfect indifference, I would 
 forbid you on the spot ever to speak to me again." 
 
 " Really it was not my fault" 
 
 " I am more vexed with myself for being out of 
 humour than with you for making me so, it is paying 
 you such a compliment," she added ; " but I am 
 annoyed, and everything has gone wrong with me in
 
 A DISAPPOINTMENT. 107 
 
 consequence. For instance, I lost a pair of gloves to 
 Mr. Pennet on Caroline's proposal, besides break- 
 ing my new parasol, and spoiling my dress with the 
 watering-pot, all because you did not come in time; 
 and besides there is to be a dance at Mrs. Drake's 
 on Wednesday, to which I am sure we shan't be 
 invited : but you don't care ; you don't care whether 
 we are or not, just because it would give me 
 pleasure." 
 
 " You said you did not enjoy balls." 
 
 " I might have said so when tired after the race 
 ball ; but if I did, I change my mind. Mrs. Drake's, 
 too, is far the pleasantest house in town ; the last 
 time I met her she kept me laughing the whole time: 
 it is what you never do : you are getting almost as 
 bad as Jane : as serious and dull. Only think, she 
 knew all about Caroline this long time, and never 
 told me a word ! Is it true ? did you believe it at first? 
 What could Mr. Bradel fancy in a girl like Caroline 
 Middleton?" 
 
 " She is far too good for him ; it reflects on the 
 whole sex that a man like him should have such 
 power of choice : you should be ashamed of it." 
 
 " Should I ? How do you know ? " 
 
 " You would not yourself marry a prince of the 
 blood merely for his rank," said Luke.
 
 108 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 " I would like him to ask me, though ; just for the 
 name of it, Luke. Why didn't you go down to 
 Mocton for me ? " 
 
 " I was here all the afternoon, and miserably 
 lonely," he answered, then explaining the mis- 
 take. 
 
 In reply Nora slowly took his arm and looked up, 
 her fine eyes growing softly liquid with tender light 
 and truth. There is a sublime falsehood of the 
 eyes, which at first looks as true as the deep azure of 
 heaven itself: have you ever seen it, reader? seen 
 fine eyes with nothing in them, or known those bright 
 birds of Paradise, angels of seeming light, descend 
 sometimes to clever trickery and cheat ? 
 
 " You were miserable, I suppose," she said ; " but 
 what kind of day did I pass at Mocton, all alone, 
 and expecting you every moment ? No matter, 
 though, it will be fine to-morrow, and we'll make 
 amends ; Jane and I have made discoveries beyond 
 Hamley that you shall visit" 
 
 " Miss Middleton will also come?" suggested Luke. 
 
 " Yes, she haunts Jane now ; but you must not 
 pretend to be aware of anything, for though he has 
 proposed, still there is nothing settled, and no one 
 can yet tell how his father may take it. I would not, 
 for my part, have a proposal at all on such terms, if
 
 A DISAPPOINTMENT. 109 
 
 one might not talk of it But they are calling from 
 the window ; you have made me late for dinner again : 
 I shall get scolded, as usual, on your account." And 
 they both hurried up to the house.
 
 110 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 SET FAIK. 
 
 POSSESSED of considerable property in his own right, 
 and the landed estates being strictly entailed, Edwin 
 Bradel had but comparative results to dread from 
 even the utmost displeasure of his father ; but that his 
 anger would be thoroughly provoked he did not 
 doubt a connection with a family of mere second- 
 rate rank like the Middletons would to the ambitious 
 old man appear an unpardonable mesalliance, to which 
 neither influence nor time would ever reconcile him. 
 Edwin, therefore, regarded a rupture as inevitable ; 
 but, as it proved, he was altogether mistaken. The 
 announcement was received by his father with asto- 
 nishing cordiality and kindness of manner. 
 
 "I had in truth other hopes for you," he said; 
 "but it is too late to discuss them at present. As 
 you have thought fit to decide for yourself on the 
 matter, you are undoubtedly the best judge ; and a 
 man of your position must marry before he can do
 
 SET FAIR. Ill 
 
 any good ; you are the more likely to settle seriously 
 to your career afterwards." 
 
 "I had been prepared for a scene," Edwin said, 
 giving details of the interview afterwards to Caroline ; 
 " when, if not exactly the thing to please him most, it 
 seemed I had done what he was inclined at least to 
 suffer with excellent grace; he spoke of you also 
 with sincere appreciation, and trusted you would not 
 prove disinclined to reside at Everley : he would do 
 everything to make the house agreeable and facili- 
 tate such an arrangement. I should have my own 
 establishment in the west wing, and be in every way 
 independent ; for such, you know, is the custom in our 
 family : the eldest son takes possession of the west 
 wing on his marriage." 
 
 " I am so very grateful ; I hope he won't be dis- 
 appointed in me," said Caroline with joyful surprise. 
 
 " Certainly no fear of that" 
 
 " I shall not, however, be afraid to meet him now. 
 How wonderfully kind of him ! " 
 
 " And no wonder. It is but natural that every one 
 should like you ; even your very presence makes me 
 feel better better for being near you." 
 
 " And happier, I hope ? " 
 
 " If to judge by what hitherto composed my happi- 
 ness, not at all; as my old pursuits have at once
 
 112 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 become insupportably frivolous and tiresome ; and as 
 you don't like sailing, I shall have the yacht unrigged, 
 shall sell my hunters : nothing for me now that you 
 don't share ; my only pleasure shall be your enjoy- 
 ment." 
 
 " For my part, I can't understand greater happiness 
 than at present, Edwin, to find the first great difficulty 
 of all fall down flat before us. It makes me nervous 
 that everything should settle smoothly ; it would be a 
 better omen if some trifling obstacles yet remained : 
 a few pebbles on the way, something to annoy a 
 little." 
 
 " Well, I am not so superstitious ; but what about 
 residence at Everley ? " 
 
 " I have no other wish than to please every one. 
 How truly kind of him ! What are his tastes, Edwin ? 
 Is he fond of lively people? I am dull, especially 
 dull when anxious to succeed with others; it is a 
 chance, however, that as he is an invalid, he will 
 perhaps on that account prefer quiet. I shan't 
 despair, nevertheless, although I should fail at first ; 
 it is possible even so, that we may get on very well 
 by-and-by." 
 
 " We shall get on very well, now, by-and-by, and 
 
 My joy, Edwin, fills and overflows around me.
 
 SET FAIR. 113 
 
 I look through a saffron glass and see nothing but 
 gold everywhere, so when your mind changes you 
 must give me distinct notice of it, or I shan't guess 
 it." 
 
 Caroline was much improved by happiness; the 
 air of mutinous pretension, an appendage hitherto of 
 her position as a recognized personage, had, now that 
 her feelings were touched, quite faded into them ; 
 her expression accordingly grew more subdued, and 
 the face sometimes wore a gentle kind of melan- 
 choly not unbecoming, and not at all akin to sadness : 
 her joy was not less real that it ran in an under- 
 current, not less deep for its pure noiseless flow. 
 And her happiness, it will be supposed, was shared 
 to exaggeration by her mother. Mrs. Middleton was 
 now at the pinnacle of actual gladness and noisy 
 jubilation ; everything had come about so rapidly and 
 so well: such a sudden tide of prosperity had set 
 in, that this last fact of Mr. Bradel's consent and 
 approval well-nigh turned her brain ; so it was full 
 noon at Middleton Lodge: the rusts which had 
 been gathering through many corroding years of 
 bickering and disappointment at once rubbed away; 
 and, in the genial glow of household happiness, dis- 
 positions became tolerant and even submissive once 
 
 8
 
 114 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 more; a lost buoyancy of spirits was mysteriously 
 re-captured, and Mrs. Middleton had further in- 
 tensely voluptuous delight in the feigned and envious 
 congratulations of her numerous acquaintance.
 
 115 
 
 CHAPTER XIIL 
 
 EVERLEY HALL. 
 
 THE Rev. Mr. Pennet, whom we have mentioned 
 before, was not slightly hurt at the present con- 
 juncture of affairs. Intimate as he was with both 
 houses, Edwin's friend, almost a weekly guest at 
 Everley, and honoured with the entire confidence of 
 the family, it did not seem quite fair that he should 
 be denied special communication concerning so 
 momentous a fact as his friend's engagement: that 
 the news should come to him through the ordinary 
 channels of mere general report ; when questioned 
 by strangers concerning it, he accordingly felt ashamed 
 at having no private information either to offer or 
 retain. If Mrs. Middleton .were in difficulty or 
 harassed by doubt, that would not be the case : he 
 would be then consulted readily and confidentially ; 
 or if Edwin wanted him to appease his father, or 
 undertake some equally unpleasant office, he would 
 certainly have been trusted; but now things went 
 
 82
 
 116 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 well with all parties, universal prosperity and happi- 
 ness rendered people independent of his services, and 
 he was not wanted. It is not an unusual fate of con- 
 fidants ; and with his experience of life, Mr. Pennet 
 ought to have been wiser than to notice it : as he was 
 indeed wiser than to exhibit symptoms of pique. It 
 was in order precisely not to give suspicion of per- 
 ceiving the slight, that he one day made a point of 
 going especially to Everley Hall to offer his share 
 of congratulations also ; and it happened then that in 
 the avenue he met the Troyes going to make a 
 morning visit with the same intention. Mrs. Troye 
 was full of the great topic. 
 
 " Though all over the town, until Saturday they 
 had not heard a word of it ; Jane might have learned 
 it secretly from Caroline indeed, but she (Mrs. 
 Troye), until Saturday did not dream of it : and 
 it was by the merest chance even then, for Miss 
 Fletcher sent in the morning to say she had business 
 in town, and would give me a seat ; and as I would 
 have to go on Tuesday, and that one day was as 
 good as another," continued Mrs. Troye, " it was 
 better not to miss the offer, so it was agreed. I had 
 to call at Tuille's also about Nora's dress, as it was 
 provoking to have her disappointed again ; and Jane 
 was giving me some ribbon to match, just fingering
 
 EVERLEY HALL. 117 
 
 out the length, when the carriage drove up before I 
 was half ready; so I had to rush away, and then 
 Miss Fletcher told me everything." 
 
 Mr. Pennet, protesting that he was not sorry to find 
 other friends in his own predicament, advanced to 
 shake hands with Nora, who was some paces for- 
 ward. 
 
 "Is this your first visit to Everley?" he asked, 
 smiling. 
 
 " Since my return, yes ; though I was often here 
 long ago, before I went to school, and remember the 
 place perfectly," she answered. " The avenue has been 
 altered since; they have added another bend, and 
 improved it decidedly. Where is the short way? 
 oh I here, by the laburnum, I remember now," 
 turning round. " Shall we go up by the short way, 
 mamma ? " 
 
 Mr. Pennet led the way into the footpath, under 
 the laburnum. 
 
 " You were not sorry to return, I suppose ? I can 
 fancy you sick enough of school." 
 
 " Well, it is a change to be lifted from one's pina- 
 fore into a ball dress, certainly ; the idea of turning 
 into a young lady was not itself unpleasant, although 
 I was very well off at school, and very contented : 
 they let me have entirely my own way, and then I
 
 118 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 don't complain. There is the front ; now isn't it a 
 noble place ? such breadth and repose, such splend- 
 our of proportion ; and how beautifully kept ! Look 
 at the painted grass-plot, with bunches of glowing 
 scarlet and orange, cast down upon it; how intensely 
 vivid ! Doesn't the view of a place like this fill up 
 the spirit and ennoble one ? on me it has always that 
 effect, awakens all sorts of undefined and ambitious 
 longings: and the row of marble urns along the 
 basement ; see, in and out the whole line of building, 
 what a finished and courtly effect they give ! " 
 
 While still admiring the details of the place, 
 Mrs. Bradel came out to meet them, for Mrs. Troye 
 was an old friend; so with greeting and smiles of 
 familiar welcome they all went into the house to- 
 gether. On entering the drawing-room, however, 
 old Mr. Bradel was seen on his cushions by the 
 fireplace ; and it was not a very joyful surprise, for 
 Mr. Bradel was understood to have ways that no one 
 should intrude upon : there was a vague kind of 
 mystery about him, that every one acknowledged ; so 
 Jane, who was first of the party, hesitated to enter, 
 until promptly looking up from his pamphlet, he called 
 out, 
 
 " Ladies, come in, ladies ; delighted to see you ; is 
 that Mr. Pennet ? I am very glad ; just the very
 
 EVERLEY HALL. 119 
 
 one I wanted. What do you think they say here 
 about the poor-law ? a monstrous statement ; " and 
 motioning Mr. Pennet to a sofa by the chimney- 
 piece, with a nod to the group of ladies and a curt 
 answer to Mrs. Troye, who came forward to inquire 
 about his foot, he turned his back to discuss the 
 pamphlet. 
 
 " He won't mind us," whispered Mrs. Bradel ; " he 
 is better to-day, and it will amuse him to have people 
 in the room. I suppose you will be glad to get away 
 from the fire," leading the way to the upper end, 
 where the daylight entered ; for except there all the 
 blinds were down, and though broad noon the fire- 
 light was quite ruddy on the faces of the gentlemen 
 by the hearth. 
 
 The room was quite spacious enough to allow 
 various groups to converse together without incon- 
 venience ; so after Mrs. Bradel had done wondering 
 at the change in Nora's appearance, and her size, 
 complexion, figure, hair, &c., Mrs. Troye began in 
 her way to probe for news of the great event* 
 
 " It could be no secret now ; it was all about the 
 town ; and as a neighbour, an old friend, she had, she 
 thought, as good a right to be told as anybody." 
 
 But, at the first word, Mrs. Bradel put a finger to 
 her lips, and pointed nervously to her husband.
 
 120 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 "He hates to have it spoken of," she said. "I 
 don't know why exactly ; but allusion to it makes him 
 very angry : by-and-by, outside, I will tell you all I 
 know." 
 
 So the conversation had necessarily to flow on more 
 ordinary topics, and Mrs. Troye to control herself. 
 They were soon at the latest about the Sunday 
 and industrial schools at Mocton ; how the new 
 mistress behaved, what Lady Delcomer had done, 
 and how differently things were managed at Dela- 
 mere village : a multitude of details to which Nora 
 was quite a stranger, and indifferent ; so finding her- 
 self by degrees altogether out of the conversation, 
 she went into the wide embrasure of the window, 
 and sat there alone behind the curtain. 
 
 Awhile the voices mingled pleasantly; it was 
 curious to hear them weave and tangle into each 
 other. The broken discussion of the poor-laws going 
 on in the distance, interrupted by a quiet assent from 
 Mr. Pennet now and then, or by the eager jealousies 
 and interests of village patronage which occupied 
 the ladies. 
 
 But from thence Nora gradually, and half uncon- 
 sciously, passed to a scrutiny of the objects near her in 
 the embrasure. Mr. Bradel had a marked propensity 
 for art, and was a considerable collector. There were
 
 EVERLEY HALL. 121 
 
 stands and brackets, a profusion of ornaments, and 
 many objects of interest and taste, strewn about; 
 the splendour of the luxurious and perfect appoint- 
 ments also by degrees overpowered the imagination, 
 and induced a lethargic state of dreamy admiration : for 
 all was magnificence, tempered by fastidious elegance, 
 from groined ceiling and gilded panelling, to the 
 carpet soft as eider down, with its deep velvet hues, 
 and shades of flickering colour sombre, yet clear 
 as painted glass melting into each other. On a 
 massy pedestal the sinewy limbs of a bronze 
 Gladiator struggled, and beneath the silken window- 
 hangings opposite a too voluptuous Aphrodite* un- 
 veiled her alabaster beauty in a warm atmosphere of 
 rich reflected tints and broken roseate shadows. 
 
 Within, it was the shrine of luxury and repose, 
 and without, the view was in accord. The terrace, 
 bright with its varied groups of flowers, the marble 
 fountain plashing solemnly in the calm noon, and 
 beyond the massive carving of the porch, the hand- 
 some west wing crossed at an angle, with its tall 
 mullioned windows and fair Doric outline. A 
 grandeur of subdued rest and a harmony pervaded 
 all ; occasionally a servant passed by gravely : even the 
 white spaniel yawning on the terrace had a peculiar 
 silken look, a certain air of the place upon him.
 
 122 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 Fully under the indistinct but penetrating in- 
 fluence of all this, Nora fast lost herself in vague 
 reflections : perhaps she was thinking of the narrow 
 poverty of the imperfect establishment at home; 
 feeling the serenity of mind which flows from the 
 perfection of mere material things; if not exactly 
 envying Caroline, thinking much of her perhaps, 
 and of the great happiness which her good fortune 
 promised ; when at once she was roused by becoming 
 dimly conscious of the conversation between the 
 ladies at the other side of the curtain. No doubt of 
 it ; Mrs. Bradel, in a sort of conversational whisper, 
 was directly talking of herself. 
 
 " Well, I think her beautiful, nothing less : a most 
 interesting face ; such mind, so much in it. How 
 proud you must be of her, Mrs. Troye; what a 
 comfort for you. If I only had such a daughter " 
 
 Nora's ear strained farther, but only a word now 
 and then came from her mother in a lower tone. 
 
 "I am so glad you like her: Jane said you 
 would. So kind of you, Mrs. Bradel, though I 
 should not say it perhaps; she certainly is much 
 improved, and looks well by night ; really very well ; 
 dresses with such taste : clever indeed ; I wish 
 you saw her by night, I would very much : 
 
 " She went to an evening party last Wednesday,
 
 EVERLEY HALL. 123 
 
 and looked to me nothing short of beautiful, though 
 perhaps I am not an honest judge ; you know she is 
 my only sister." 
 
 " I can well believe it ; and if you would bring 
 her here some day and stay the evening, it would 
 amuse us old people very much. You would not 
 mind, Mrs. Troye, lending her for a day or two? 
 she is one to know more of, I am sure ; and to her 
 it would also be a variety, as we have many things 
 about the house interesting to a girl fresh from 
 school. Mrs. Middleton and Caroline are coming on 
 Tuesday ; what if the girls joined them ? Mr. Bradel 
 would like it, I am sure, now that he is better ; it 
 amuses him to see new faces." 
 
 And with a sense of vague pleasure, Nora heard 
 Mrs. Bradel continue to urge, until Jane finally left 
 her seat and came over to her window, saying, 
 
 " Mrs, Bradel kindly asks us to dine on Tuesday, 
 Nora ! What do you say to it ? " 
 
 As Nora had nothing to oppose, it was settled, 
 and presently they all rose. 
 
 " You have made a conquest of me," Mrs. Bradel 
 said to Nora, as together they went down the room 
 towards the gentlemen, "and I have just declared 
 my passion to your mother." 
 
 " It would be wiser, then, not to come on Tuesday
 
 124 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 perhaps, lest on better knowledge you find me out 
 and change your mind," was the smiling answer. 
 " But what beautiful engravings, so clear, such 
 strength and delicacy ; I suppose these are all 
 proofs, Mrs. Bradel: I never saw anything like 
 them before?" added Nora, bending into the large 
 cedar-wood portfolio, at Mr. Bradel's elbow. 
 
 " I don't think you have seen much finer," said 
 Mr. Bradel, catching the observations, and at once 
 transferring his attention from Mr. Pennet on the 
 sofa. " Many of these are rare artists' proofs pro- 
 cured with considerable trouble. Are you an ad- 
 mirer of engravings, Miss you must excuse 
 
 me," and he looked doubtingly at his wife. 
 
 " Troye ! that is Miss Troye, sir ! " said Mr. Pen- 
 net, " Miss Nora Troye." 
 
 " Oh, to be sure, I have no memory for names ; 
 you have not been much here before, I think. Miss 
 Troye, sister to Miss Jane, I presume ? " offering his 
 hand and adding, " good engravings are a hobby 
 of mine, I'm glad you like them. In engravings there 
 is no middle place; good even will not do, they must 
 be excellent : a used, woolly impression is the last of 
 horrors, infinitely worse to my mind than a bad 
 picture ; I could not sit in the room with one." 
 
 " My praise is of no value, I am so ignorant ;
 
 EVERLEY HALL. 125 
 
 only I am sure those are very, very, beautiful," said 
 Nora, with a glow, of real admiration, under the 
 consciousness of having pleased and attracted Mr. 
 Bradel. 
 
 "Indeed you have taste, I'm sure, my dear. 
 Though I don't know anything about these things," 
 said her mother, " Mr. Farren said so, when your 
 father showed him your sketches ; he said they showed 
 wonderful taste : you remember, Jane, he did." 
 
 " A taste in art, a mere taste, is I believe 
 only one of Miss Nora Troye's perfections," inter- 
 rupted Mr. Pennet with a smile. " I have heard of 
 other things shall I say of actual performances even 
 in a higher art absolutely than art itself." 
 
 " Cookery, maybe," replied Nora. 
 
 " Of that, my dear, I'll answer for it, you are 
 shamefully ignorant, as Jane knows," said her 
 mother. 
 
 " Nor do I mean coquetry either," said Mr. 
 Pennet 
 
 Nora laughed. "Have you been telling?" she 
 asked, looking close at her sister : " please hold your 
 tongue, Mr. Pennet, until I find out from Jane 
 whether, and in what form, she has been treacherous. 
 If there is a spy in the camp 'tis as well to know it ; 
 and though you cannot in fact have anything to tell,
 
 126 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 yet it is better to be cautious, for you might invent, 
 and people might believe you." 
 
 " If you really care for engravings, there is a set 
 of rare Barry's in my study, that I should like 
 you to see," said Mr. Bradel, addressing her again. 
 " I was two years on the look-out for them : 
 Sutton, of Nassau Street, had a commission to 
 procure them at any price; and, by mere chance, 
 Sir Henry Prince, of the Royal Academy, heard of 
 a gentleman who had part of a set As he wanted 
 money, I fortunately got them ; the remainder came 
 up afterwards one by one. I should like you to see 
 them." 
 
 " Miss Troye promised to dine with us on Tues- 
 day," said Mrs. Bradel ; " she can see everything 
 then." 
 
 t( Very good on Tuesday : I am very glad." 
 
 " You will come, of course, Mr. Pennet," continued 
 Mrs. Bradel ; " there is Caroline, Mrs. Middleton 
 Mr. Middleton will not come, he is not well. Edwin 
 will bring one or two gentlemen more." 
 
 "Oh, the Middletons are coming. Tuesday: I 
 forgot it was Tuesday," said Mr. Bradel, sinking 
 back in his chair, and presently pushing round 
 towards the fire. Except to complain of his foot, he 
 did not open his lips again a significant circum-
 
 EVERLEY HALL. 127 
 
 stance and which forthwith- caused the conversation 
 rapidly to decline. It was a relief when presently 
 Jane spoke of flowers, and an adjournment to the 
 garden was proposed, to every one's satisfaction. 
 After they had gone, Mr. Bradel sat awhile in 
 silence, looking at the fire over his folded hands; 
 then Mr. Pennet took up his hat, but he was 
 simultaneously motioned to lay it down gain. 
 
 "You have just heard," Mr. Bradel said, then 
 waking up and addressing him directly, " you have 
 heard that the Middletons dine here on Tuesday; 
 there is no use in a mystery about it now, nor will 
 I conceal the truth from you: you know, of course, 
 why they dine here ? " 
 
 Mr. Pennet had heard the report ; it was every- 
 where. 
 
 "You know, also, that I consented that I gave 
 my son leave to make a fool of himself," he added. 
 
 Mr. Pennet was also aware of Mr. Bradel's con- 
 sent to the marriage. 
 
 " But do you know why that was ? why I con- 
 sented that my son should scatter his fortunes do 
 almost tlie only thing I desired he should not do? 
 agreed to sacrifice the fruit of two useful and thrifty 
 lives, have the progress of our blood checked and name 
 obscured ? Because I could not help it, then," said
 
 128 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 Mr. Bradel, bitterly ; " because he expected opposi- 
 tion and had shaped his course accordingly. He was 
 quite ready to do without my permission if I with- 
 held it." 
 
 Mr. Pennet opened his eyes : he was not prepared 
 for so startling an announcement, and added, doubt- 
 fully, " that Miss Middleton was said to be an 
 amiable and accomplished person." 
 
 " Accomplished, certainly ; not a doubt of it ; they 
 appear to have managed it well very well : going 
 on this long time, and not a word of it came to my 
 ears. I thought he had passed by that sort of folly 
 long ago, and looked on his marriage with Lady 
 Maria as settled : the marquis and I have understood 
 each other for some time." 
 
 Mr. Pennet confessed that he had heard of the 
 rumour, but supposed it a freak that would die of 
 itself, and end in nothing, as usual ; it was a surprise 
 to him to see the direction things were taking. " No 
 doubt, sir, an alliance with the Delcomer family were 
 more suitable to your son's position, and would accord 
 better with his future interests." 
 
 As Mr. Bradel did not reply immediately, the 
 curate had a moment's leisure to turn the matter in 
 his mind, and that moment was amply sufficient to 
 convince him that a marriage with Lady Maria would
 
 EVERLEY HALL. 129 
 
 not only be the most suitable for Edwin himself, but 
 also decidedly the most advantageous for some of 
 Edwin's friends. Mr. Pennet was at once clear upon 
 the point If the marquis became Edwin's father- 
 in-law, not only would it insure his return for the 
 county, but moreover there were some stout livings 
 in the Delcomer family, in the future presentation to 
 which Edwin might probably have a voice. Besides, 
 and also quite independently of the advantages of 
 that prospect, Mr. Pennet had before convinced him- 
 self that a connection with the Middletons would be 
 the most unfit thing possible for his friend; if for 
 no other reason than because Mrs. Middleton had a 
 nephew named Wade preparing for the church, who 
 might should Mr. Wilson inconsiderately live too 
 long come to throw an eye on Mocton preferment 
 himself, the reversion of which Mr. Pennet had grown 
 for some while to consider almost his own legitimate 
 property. Without doubt, then, it was absurd of 
 Edwin to sacrifice a fine position to this passing whim ; 
 the disappointment of his father was in every way 
 reasonable : and after expressing himself to that effect, 
 he added, 
 
 " That it might have been easy to end the matter 
 if taken in time, and that he regretted Mr. Bradel 
 had not openly explained his views before." 
 
 9
 
 130 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 " Regret ! there is enough in the business certainly 
 to regret," was the peevish answer. 
 
 Mr. Pennet slowly walked a few paces through 
 the room, then sat again, and taking a penknife from 
 the table, closely examined the blades one after the 
 other. 
 
 Is it too late yet, sir ? " 
 
 Mr. Bradel looked up. 
 
 " You hear that they are to come here almost as 
 members of my family already. I must receive her 
 as a daughter ; the news is blown over the shire. I 
 don't know that the wedding-day is fixed, that the 
 lawyers are set to work, that your new cassock is not 
 put in hand, though it might without my knowledge 
 for that matter ; but, otherwise, there seems no 
 arrangement incomplete: very likely it is you will 
 marry them." 
 
 "I have known Edwin cool of as hot fancies 
 before now ; in fact, he was as much in love with 
 Lucy Swanton, and he did not marry her." Mr. 
 Pennet shut up the blades of the penknife, and ran 
 his fingers through the fine Jove-like curls that 
 tumbled about his face. " I don't think it confirms 
 anything to have the lady in the house : on the con- 
 trary ; nor do I think that the public announcement 
 gives consistency or greater likelihood to the fact;
 
 EVERLEY HALL. 131 
 
 or that your son, when he reflects, will be likely to 
 persist in what some time or other must appear to him 
 a senseless project. Therefore was it in my opinion 
 most wise not to prevent, not to attempt opposition, 
 which might have provoked rashness, retaliation, and 
 imprudent action, for which there is at present no 
 need, and of which there is, I presume, no danger. 
 The important point of delay may be gained by mode- 
 ration : it may now be possible to defer the accom- 
 plishment of this design for some reasonable, term ; 
 and if that should be, why then? ruptures, even 
 in an affair of this nature, have occurred ere now : 
 more unlikely things have happened than that your 
 son should tire of his fancy, and change his mind. 
 There are, besides, matters connected with it which, 
 to my knowledge, he will not ultimately approve ; 
 for instance, Middleton was formerly involved in 
 mining speculations, and never thoroughly recovered 
 from them : his daughter, I suspect, won't have much 
 fortune, perhaps not any." 
 
 " If so, could they hope to gain my consent ? " 
 
 * Edwin is independent ; they might have thought 
 to do without it" 
 
 " The more impudent of them ; but even that he'll 
 scarcely mind." 
 
 " I don't know ; although reckless enough some- 
 
 92
 
 132 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 times, he pretty well understands the value of money. 
 Then his father-in-law he won't like when he knows 
 him better, nor the mother-in-law either." 
 
 " He'll count on shaking them off." 
 
 " Or else he may change his mind after all, and 
 discover that he is too young to marry : fond of liberty 
 and pleasure, he may perceive that there is an 
 amount of slavery in marriage at the best. How if he 
 were induced to put it off, perhaps for a year or so ? " 
 
 " The Middletons wouldn't let him." 
 
 " If they attempt coercion, he will certainly move in 
 a contrary direction. Or lastly," Mr. Pennet added, 
 " it is not impossible, even in the narrowest compass 
 of time, it is not quite impossible he may yet meet 
 some one he would like better." 
 
 There was sudden noise and laughter in the hall ; 
 the ladies had come in from the garden, and Mr. 
 Pennet just got back into his seat as the door burst 
 open and Nora appeared, with a start. " She begged 
 pardon, but she had lost her glove ; it had dropped 
 in the room, perhaps : she was always losing her 
 gloves. Mr. Pennet need not trouble himself, she 
 would find it directly. They were all so enchanted 
 with the garden, that she never minded until the 
 moment of going away ; and the gardener had been 
 so kind to Jane, given her such a mass of cuttings.
 
 EVERELY HALL. 133 
 
 There, in the portfolio! she knew she should find 
 it." Her clear cheek wore a full light of pleasure, 
 and a strong reflection from her red ribbons deepened 
 on it as she stooped near Mr. Bradel for the glove. 
 He looked closely at her, and held out his hand, 
 as she assured him again of " the pleasure the visit 
 had given, and hoped he would soon be well; she 
 reminded him of his promise about the Barry s: of all 
 tilings he wasn't to forget that ; she should think of 
 nothing else," and was off. 
 
 When the hall door closed, Mr. Pennet, then taking 
 up again the thread of his observation, repeated, 
 
 " He may yet see some one he would like better."
 
 134 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 FOKESHADOWINGS. 
 
 THE Tuesday on which Nora was first invited to 
 Everley was the date of considerable intimacy and 
 friendship between her family and the Bradels. As 
 neighbours and friends of Caroline, the Troyes were 
 henceforth frequently asked to share in the visitings 
 and familiar intercourse that arose naturally from the 
 projected marriage; and this acquaintance began 
 already to influence Nora in many ways, giving a 
 new direction and rapid development to her character : 
 and with which other causes also at this time materially 
 co-operated. For instance, her mother, not a very 
 sensible person, or remarkable for discretion, saw in 
 the notice of the Bradels a source of social advance- 
 ment for her daughters or rather daughter, as Jane 
 was scarcely included and began early to tell her 
 friends " how much Nora was thought of at Everley ; 
 how fond Mrs. Bradel was of her ; how much Mr. 
 Bradel admired her singing, and how it pleased him. to
 
 FORESHADOWINGS. 135 
 
 have her in the house ; " talk which might not have 
 done harm if she had not at the same time commenced 
 to treat Nora at home in accordance with the in- 
 creased notion of her importance : to surround her in 
 the family circle with something of the adulation she 
 met with in society, and which was then offered to 
 Nora in a degree capable of misleading a cooler brain 
 than hers. She had a facility for making herself 
 liked, without directly appearing to seek the good 
 opinion of the world ; for in public her manners were 
 quiet and rather retiring ; it was only in the intimacy 
 of a conversation that the distinct power of her mind 
 was discerned, and such intimacy had to be sought 
 with a diligence that added to its value : even the 
 jealousy of her own sex, that most sincere tribute, was 
 not wanting to complete in leading her vanity astray. 
 When to the dangers of such a position was added 
 the deficiency of counteracting influence at home, 
 it will not be wondered at that Nora began early 
 to acquire exaggerated notions about herself, and by 
 degrees to depreciate the ordinary circumstances and 
 conditions of her position. Thence it gradually fol- 
 lowed that her manners became slightly pretentious 
 and arrogant even sometimes to Jane, and were often 
 positively disrespectful to her mother ; indulgences 
 imperceptibly became rights and necessities that she
 
 136 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 could not dispense with, until at last the regularity 
 of the household, and the comfort of it, were freely 
 sacrificed to her convenience. On the morning before 
 a ball, the parlour was impassable with litter ; on the 
 morning after it, Nora breakfasted in bed. From 
 late hours came headaches and nervous attacks, which 
 commanded every one's attention and sympathy; if 
 she were ill, or fancied herself so, it was enough to 
 convulse the household : a noise, an excess of light 
 in the room, the clumsiness of a servant, made her 
 irritable then ; and the occupation of her day at last 
 became limited to sitting well dressed in the drawing- 
 room, where Vrs. Troye would keep talking inces- 
 santly about her, her dress, her looks, the things 
 that were said of her, the wreaths and colours which 
 became her. 
 
 In spite of the blindest affection, Jane was soon 
 clear-sighted enough to foresee the evil effects of 
 such training ; but she did not equally perceive that 
 Nora underwent, even from herself, a course of spoil- 
 ing far more dangerous than the indiscreet and frivo- 
 lous idolatry of her mother. For Jane's own pride in 
 her sister took a higher ground, and was expressed in 
 much more flattering forms ; she was constantly urging 
 her to practise her voice, to read, to cultivate the 
 many capacities of her mind, and develope her taste.
 
 FORESHADOWINGS. 137 
 
 Of her aptitude for poetry she was most vain, and 
 had always at hand some original attempt in that 
 way to exhibit secretly to acquaintances, and challenge 
 their admiration : it was Jane who first induced her 
 to try the composition of her own songs. 
 
 If such a state of things did not react on her 
 character, and in some degree bring out its defects, 
 it would have been miraculous; Nora's nature was 
 of too delicate and sensitive a texture not to be 
 highly influenced by surrounding circumstances, and 
 from the commencement, warning symptoms began to 
 exhibit themselves : symptoms that persons less blinded 
 by interest or attachment must have readily perceived. 
 Not only had she become, as we have said, self- 
 indulgent, and difficult at home, but on occasions 
 her character was marked even in stronger shades; 
 and often when her mother as happened sometimes 
 under the pressure of a household difficulty sought 
 to degrade her for the moment into some act of useful 
 service, she encountered a temper and resistance not 
 to be trifled with. Even also in society certain airs 
 were beginning to grow upon her ; things more easily 
 understood than defined, a fastidious elegance, an 
 affected refinement of manners, that deeply wounded 
 where it was practised, and exposed her to consider- 
 able sarcasm. It was unfortunate for her that she
 
 138 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 had quitted school exactly when the season at Ormiston 
 was in its height, and entered the world at precisely 
 the most dangerous period, before having time to 
 acclimatize with its atmosphere. At once she was 
 transferred from the class-room to the ball-room, and 
 immediately chanced to acquire such considerable 
 social reputation, and became so distinctly the fashion, 
 that Mrs. Middleton secretly considered it fortunate 
 Caroline had settled herself in time. 
 
 For everything was the same as settled, although 
 the marriage was not fixed to be until the end of 
 autumn. All difficulties were smoothed away, and 
 Mr. Bradel was so unexpectedly satisfied about it 
 that Mrs. Middleton scarcely regretted the long post- 
 ponement, when agreed to solely in accordance with 
 his wishes and at his request Indeed, Mr. Bradel's 
 reasons for proposing delay, though first felt to be a 
 disappointment, were so excellent in themselves as 
 scarcely to admit of question. The heir to Everley 
 Hall was a personage in the county ; should marry 
 as became his rank, and it would require time to 
 arrange matters properly. During the summer some 
 principal families would be travelling, whose presence 
 at the wedding was of absolute necessity, as there 
 were people to compliment and interests to bind with 
 political views Edwin being intended to represent
 
 FOKESHADOWINGS. 139 
 
 the county. Even the mere marriage ceremony 
 might itself be made much use of for that end : and 
 besides, alterations and improvements were necessary 
 at Everley in connection with it ; so, everything con- 
 sidered, it was as well perhaps to adopt Mr. Bradel's 
 expressed views : the marriage was accordingly de- 
 ferred until the end of autumn an arrangement 
 that, but for the annoyance it seemed to cause Edwin, 
 Caroline could see nothing to find fault with. She 
 was so sure of Edwin's affection, every one received 
 her so well, even Mr. Bradel himself was so kind 
 to her, the time passed so pleasantly, and she was 
 so very happy, that there was no space in her mind 
 for dissatisfaction of any sort. Hers was a genial 
 nature, that put forth its tender buds and blossomed 
 freely in warmth and sunshine; prosperity suited her 
 best, and she improved under its influence. Her 
 character became more simple and loving from the 
 fact that everything around her was calm, and the 
 promise of the future so fair, without even a crump- 
 ling rose-leaf, or crystal of summer hoar-frost, to 
 hint at a possible future change of season.
 
 140 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 UNDER THE YEWS. 
 
 THE season of festivities at Ormiston came gradually 
 to a close as the summer advanced ; people thinned 
 off to watering places, to the country, to the Continent, 
 causing a cessation of social life in the town, which had 
 rather the effect of drawing more closely together 
 the three families with whom we have principally to 
 do. Edwin Bradel spent the time constantly organ- 
 izing excursions and riding parties in the neighbour- 
 hood; every week were meetings at Everley or at 
 Middleton Lodge, in which the Troyes usually shared, 
 and when they did not, the party was observed to be 
 deficient in interest ; for, at this time, Nora was an 
 established acquisition, and in the almost family inti- 
 macy of those occasions her natural brilliancy and wit 
 became a remarkable feature. It was then she first 
 began " to make an exhibition of herself," as she called 
 it, by singing her own songs ; which, both for music 
 and rhythm, elicited high commendation from Mr. 
 Pennet, then a literary and musical critic of consi-
 
 UNDER THE YEWS. 141 
 
 derable local eminence. Luke and she were, never- 
 theless, all through on the best of terms: he saw 
 nothing to be desired, no change in her whatever, 
 and, beyond envy of the greater opportunities others 
 had of approaching her, was content with his position 
 and prospects. Even the admiration of the world 
 was itself rather gratifying to his vanity than a cause 
 of jealous anxiety. When the attentions offered 
 brought no sense of insecurity, they became merely 
 an acknowledgment of her merit, an indirect tribute 
 to his own excellent taste and even Edwin Bradel 
 himself he began to consider in a more amiable 
 light on account of the politeness of his family to 
 Nora. Jane, however, was becoming daily more 
 uneasy : the evidences of change in the character and 
 temper of her sister were obviously increasing ; and 
 she regretted it much, but it was not quite from the 
 highest motives that she regretted it most Pride in 
 Nora being her weakness, she had in as much account 
 the interests of hef reputation before the world as the 
 more moral view of the injury thereby to her personal 
 character ; and if at home, bearing fits of inexcusable 
 caprice without complaint, still, the moment it was 
 likely these defects might exhibit themselves to 
 strangers, her energies awoke, and she was quick to 
 take alarm.
 
 142 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 This was strikingly felt on the day of the visit to 
 the lake of Winderpool. 
 
 The excursion to Winderpool had been long antici- 
 pated as a pleasure; but on the morning before 
 setting out, a misunderstanding had arisen between 
 the sisters; the matter of which, though in itself 
 trifling, was nevertheless sufficient to ruffle Nora's 
 temper for the remainder of the day, and during the 
 drive to the lake she would not condescend to look at 
 her sister, would not hear the most direct remark from 
 her ; though, to the others, she was pointedly and it 
 seemed purposely courteous. 
 
 Jane was accordingly the whole time in agony lest 
 Mr. Pennet or Captain Seaton should observe any- 
 thing ; and they must have been blind indeed if they 
 did not, for Nora had never annoyed her more than 
 on this occasion : the marked coldness to herself she 
 would not have noticed but for the presence of 
 others ; but, besides that, the tone of her manners 
 all through the day was positively hateful her 
 talkativeness, her flippancy, the eager effort to absorb 
 the principal interest and attention ; and with much 
 alarm Jane once surprised a strange meditative ex- 
 pression in the fixed, grey glance of Mr. Pennet 
 
 This continued even when they were on the 
 water, and at length Jane grew to hate the sound of
 
 UNDER THE YEWS. 143 
 
 Nora's voice so much that, turning away altogether, 
 she sought forgetfulness and relief in the beauty of 
 the landscape: but it was not easy to forget. As 
 the boat glided lazily in by the base of the red granite 
 cliffs on one side bounding the lake, she could think 
 of nothing but her sister. Now the features of the 
 broken shore passed her by in moving panorama ; 
 rugged scalps and broken headlands, the blue water 
 aglow with glancing mirrored tints from alternate 
 tufts of broom and showers of golden furze; great 
 slabs of pink and brown reflections dipping from the 
 mighty rocks, myriad berries and wild-flowers lighting 
 the unbroken surface of the silent eddies ; sometimes 
 a festoon of hanging creeper came skimming by, or 
 a wreath of wild convolvulus breathing on the cur- 
 rent, crisp as a collaret of foam, its white bells float- 
 ing double like " swan and shadow." 
 
 Disappointment was still to be her portion then, 
 Jane thought, as her eyes filled with tears uncon- 
 sciously the same bitter fate to attend the decline 
 of her lonely life, the last hope to end like all the 
 rest. The sister to whom she had looked forward for 
 companionship and consolation was to make but 
 another link in the system of consistent failure 
 which had hitherto been her destiny. Jane's nature 
 had been, however, far too long exercised to allow
 
 144 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 indulgence in mere helpless despondency, and pre- 
 sently, when they landed on the island, she had come 
 to a fixed resolution, and decided henceforth to pursue 
 an entire alteration of conduct with regard to Nora ; 
 determined that neither indiscretion nor flattery, nor 
 even affection, should further obscure a nature that of 
 itself she esteemed so high and gifted. 
 
 There were many things to be seen on the island : 
 fresh views of the water, a Druid's stone, some 
 curious old timber, and Jane had leisure to think 
 over the matter without interruption, as the party 
 passed from one point to another through the narrow 
 lanes of brushwood. In the midst of her plans, how- 
 ever, she was at once attracted and considerably 
 amused by in part overhearing a conversation be- 
 tween Edwin and Caroline a little behind her ; his 
 own fortunate position, combined with the time and 
 circumstances, seemed at the moment to inspire him 
 with a sort of poetry, and he was just becoming 
 whimsically eloquent, when Nora's voice at a high 
 pitch came to interrupt and annoy Jane again. 
 
 "Did you see the gipsy at the landing-place, 
 Mr. Bradel ? Why not have your fortune told ? seeing 
 Caroline, however, that would not be difficult ; she 
 ought rather seek to learn hers: supposing, at the 
 same time, it is wise to know it, which is doubtful ;
 
 UNDER THE YEWS. 145 
 
 for I believe we had much better not know what is 
 in store for us. If there were only Protestant con- 
 vents, Caroline, where we might go and live at peace ! 
 I remember visiting a convent at Ripton once, and 
 they seemed the happiest creatures I ever met." 
 
 " There are other ways of being happy besides 
 in convents," answered Bradel, who then continued in 
 a low voice to address Caroline on his arm. " Here 
 we shall have a cottage if you like, perhaps on yonder 
 beach, sheltered by that holly grove ; fancy the long 
 summer days passed there, solitary as the coot and 
 waterfowl, listening to the sighing water breeze and 
 lapping wavelets at our feet. How the long hours 
 will then dissolve in loving more and more 1 " 
 
 "But what a charming spot for a dance, of all 
 places in the world 1 " broke in Nora, again. " Look, 
 Caroline, Mr. Bradel must give us a dance here 
 some night : 'tis really a sylvan ball-room ; the turf 
 is already spread. Fancy music and torchlight 
 under those funereal yews." Caroline, looking up 
 dreamily, saw they had reached a sort of plateau 
 on the summit of the path, a smooth inclosure shorn 
 out from the thicket around and held in deep shadow 
 by the joining branches of two patriarchal yews some 
 dozen yards apart. 
 
 " This is called Lacy's slope," said Bradel ; " a 
 
 10
 
 146 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 legend is connected with the place, which has a bad 
 reputation after nightfall. It is said that Herve de 
 Lacy, one of the former lords of this country, got 
 tired of his wife and brought her down here one 
 night in her coffin ; I remember when a boy seeing 
 the remains of a stone cross supposed to mark the 
 spot. The peasants tell of white ladies, of shrieks 
 and noises of all sorts to be heard and seen at night ; 
 so, Miss Troye, it would not do for your sylvan ball : 
 would you like a damp sprawling ghost to come 
 asking you to waltz ? " 
 
 " By all means a delightful ghost I never saw 
 one yet ; you must bring us down here some night 
 on purpose, Mr. Bradel." 
 
 " Very well, and we'll ask Seaton to give a hand 
 at the oar, for no boatmen in the country would land 
 on the island after dark," said Bradel, sitting on the 
 root of one of the trees. " You would not be afraid 
 to row Miss Troye here by moonlight, would you, 
 Seaton ? We can bring Mr. Pennet, too, for protec- 
 tion ; the man of peace to engage the fiend in case 
 the courage of our man of war should fail. Pennet 
 would be a very devil at a mere lady devil ; no 
 lady living or dead could resist our fascinating 
 pastor." 
 
 "An irresistible gentleman," said Nora, with a
 
 UNDER THE YEWS. 147 
 
 movement of her shoulders, "the most worthless 
 thing on earth. I don't think Mr. Pennet has any 
 claim to be so depreciated." 
 
 " Certainly experience gives me none such, for I 
 have ever been an outcast from the favour of your 
 sex," replied Mr. Peniiet. 
 
 " Perhaps because you never sought it, and 
 I would not think any worse of you for that," she 
 replied. " The meanest sight in the world is to my 
 mind a great grown man frittering his time away 
 in maudlin sentiment or vapid politeness, like the 
 many ladylike gentlemen we meet with ; I could not 
 help despising such a one." 
 
 " You would not have a man fall in love then ? 
 you would consider it a weakness beneath his 
 dignity," put in Bradel : " what do you say to that, 
 Caroline?" 
 
 " Oh ! if you appeal to Caroline, I am silent ; of 
 course she knows best," answered Nora. " I would 
 recommend her, however, to keep her own mind, 
 whatever it be : as nothing is to be gained by answer- 
 ing a question of that nature directly, and declaring 
 one's entire opinion on so delicate a subject, there is 
 an advantage in keeping something back: a little 
 mystery is always useful, even though about no- 
 thing." 
 
 102
 
 148 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 " And mere love is such a nothing," said Mr. Pennet. 
 
 " Some of us hold there is nothing like it/' answered 
 Bradel. 
 
 " But not for any time : few are of that opinion 
 very long," replied Mr. Pennet ; " as it is arrived at 
 without logical process, it is generally got rid of 
 also without much trouble; caprice generally dis- 
 poses of the question." 
 
 " No wonder you complain of ill-treatment at our 
 hands if such is your opinion," added Nora, laughing; 
 " however, Mr. Bradel will not be likely to coincide 
 with you there." This was said with a playful em- 
 phasis which momentarily caused universal silence, 
 and which Jane immediately interfered to break. 
 The tone of the conversation all through was most 
 displeasing to her, and she was glad to have at hand 
 a ready mode of changing it, even though it should 
 be by adding further to Nora's vanity. 
 
 " The peculiar character, even the atmosphere of 
 this place," she said, looking up into the dark trees, 
 reminds me of a description of the yew-tree in Sutton 
 Forest, seen by the writer when on a visit there; 
 although but the attempt of a very young poetess, it is 
 really so very appropriate that I will trespass on your 
 patience and read it," added Jane, with a smile, 
 unfolding an envelope.
 
 UNDER THE YEWS. 149 
 
 Nora attempted to snatch the paper ; then turned 
 crimson, and looked imploringly at her sister, who 
 
 Nigh yon monld'ring tower, there stands a tree; 
 
 An old yew-tree, that silently 
 
 Winnows its branches to and fro 
 
 In the August noontides' hottest glow, 
 
 When the heart of the forest is hushed and lone, 
 
 And only the beetle's sonorous drone, 
 
 Or the tinkling drop from its poise on high, 
 
 Of the autumn leaf as it falls to die, 
 
 Breaks. Yet still, howe'er it be, 
 
 Though the wind die o'er wold and lea, 
 
 At morn or noon, or twilight gray, 
 
 Whether by night, or whether by day, 
 
 Those sad green boughs do wave alway 
 
 With a silent motion hushed and low 
 
 Like changing shadows which come and go 
 
 On grassy lawns when soft winds blow. 
 
 And ever the fair light shrinks away 
 From the massy frown and silent sway 
 Of those waving boughs of haunted yew 
 Where never glimmers a sun-ray thro' 
 To gild the dusk of the palmy leaves 
 There the budding Spring no beauty weaves, 
 No drooping wild flower's lonely bloom 
 Lightens within the chilly gloom, 
 Which deep'ning downward, flings around 
 A wide, wide, ring upon the ground- 
 No bird on the homeward wing shall dare 
 To muffle its weary pinion there; 
 And wild deer hot with the summer fly, 
 Tho' apant for rest, shall pass it by.
 
 150 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 Shunning that turf so damp and cold, 
 So scant and bare of mossy mould, 
 Reddened, like blood-drops newly shed, 
 With the crimson berries the old tree bled. 
 
 A burst of noisy approbation from Edwin Bradel, 
 and a few apt, but flattering remarks from Mr. Pennet 
 followed, making Jane glow with pleasure. 
 
 " It is really not so bad ; and such an exact portrait 
 of this place," she said, smiling. " Nora, dear, you 
 will soil your dress leaning against that tree ; already 
 you are covered with mould." 
 
 But with folded arms, Nora sat quietly, without 
 reply or movement, except that her long wavy lashes 
 raised a moment towards her sister, and then drooped 
 again. 
 
 " Come, this is very pretty," said Mrs. Middleton, 
 interrupting ; " poetry would do very well, if the 
 grass were not damp, with chill and fever lurking 
 under the trees. Gary, I don't want to be nursing 
 you ; nor will Mrs. Troye thank me either for bring- 
 ing her girls back with colds which is the way to 
 the boat? which is ,the way, Mr. Pennet ? " 
 
 " If you please I will take your arm, Mr. Pennet," 
 said Nora, rising, and heading the party. " I am so 
 very angry with my sister now, that I must keep 
 away from her pray, walk quickly."
 
 UNDER THE YEWS. 151 
 
 She did indeed appear seriously annoyed ; and it 
 was some time before she spoke to any one but 
 Mr. Pennet again; a shadow remained afterwards 
 upon her for the rest of the day, and her eyes had 
 now and then an angry light in them when they 
 rested upon her sister. 
 
 Ill, however, as this day at Winderpool commenced, 
 unsuccessful a pleasure excursion as it proved to 
 some of the party, its ending was destined to be still 
 more unfortunate ; for while at dinner on the grass, 
 the excessively sultry weather broke suddenly, and 
 distant peals of thunder were followed by the rain 
 with such French and downpour, that in spite of the 
 best shelter many of the ladies were wet before the 
 carriages came up, and Caroline especially, who wore 
 no shawl over her thin muslin, felt her shoulder get 
 quite cold, and was much out of spirits and tired. 
 Somehow the day had not been a very pleasant one 
 to her either ; the most agreeable circumstance of it 
 was, perhaps, the first sight of the carriage which 
 was to take them all home again.
 
 152 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 PRESENTIMENTS. 
 
 ON the following morning, Mrs. Troye was in imme- 
 diate want of some indispensable household matters, 
 for which the girls must go into Ormiston, " although 
 the weather was unsettled still, and they might get a 
 wetting, and be laid up all the winter in consequence ;" 
 probabilities about which there was so much fuss and 
 clatter that at last Nora got impatient and walked 
 off, leaving her mother and Jane to arrange the 
 various objections about mud-boots, shawls, and 
 umbrellas, as they would. 
 
 The coldness of yesterday was still between the 
 sisters a sense of estrangement that Jane had re- 
 solved to refer to on this walk into town, as she had 
 arranged previously in her mind; and she even decided 
 on the manner of remonstrance, when this fact of 
 Nora's impatient departure, coupled with her marked 
 coldness afterwards when she came up with her on 
 the road, quite checked any attempt at friendliness
 
 PRESENTIMENTS. 153 
 
 or even conversation : for Nora did not once stop or 
 turn to see whether Jane followed, but with her 
 dress tidily gathered together, and her trim boots 
 splashing through the puddles, kept on in silence an 
 order of march not changed, or scarcely disturbed 
 by a word, until, on entering the suburb of Ormiston, 
 Luke Penrose at the turning of a street almost ran 
 against them. 
 
 He was going to the Cottage, and in a state of 
 much distress about a letter just received, telling of 
 the sudden illness of his mother : he must leave for 
 London in the morning, and he put the letter into 
 Jane's hand. 
 
 ^From the doctor ! it must be serious," she answered; 
 " and she has no one to attend her. I will ask mamma 
 to let me go with you : you leave early, I suppose ? 
 return with us and I will ask her." 
 
 It was, however, ultimately arranged that Luke 
 would write immediately on his arrival, if Jane's pre- 
 sence was required. So, as soon as their commissions 
 were executed, he returned with his cousins to an- 
 nounce his departure at the Cottage. As they 
 walked out, for awhile the conversation kept exclu- 
 sively on the doctor's letter and the nature of Mrs. 
 Penrose's attack ; but when approaching the neigh- 
 bourhood of Mocton, Jane became busy with her
 
 154 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 account-book in the rear, and Luke and Nora were 
 left by themselves in advance. 
 
 " I feel as if going to the end of the world, and not 
 on a few hours' journey," he said then ; " for inde- 
 pendently of the cause, and the anxiety attached to 
 it, the mere fact of parting just now has a melan- 
 choly of itself, that I cannot account for: even 
 this very road looks at me like an old friend that I 
 shall never see the same again. Do you believe in 
 presentiments ? It is, absurd, no doubt, to make so 
 much of going away only for a day or two ; but I 
 would give much to be gone and back here again." 
 
 " Are you so fond of this place ? " asked Nora. 
 
 " I don't know whether it is the place, but I 
 merely cannot bear to go now." 
 
 " And you think you shall be long away ? " she 
 continued, primly looking down at her own very 
 pretty feet: "it is indeed provoking you should 
 go just now ; I shall be very lonely." 
 
 " I did not think it would matter to you ; be 
 sure I'll lose no time in getting back," he replied, 
 taking a long step that brought his face close up to her 
 bonnet-strings ; for her head was turned a little aside. 
 
 She turned to look at him then ; that is, she would 
 have looked at him if her soft lids had not fallen the 
 very moment their eyes met.
 
 PRESENTIMENTS. 155 
 
 " Of course I shall miss you, and 'tis only natural 
 I should, as I have no brother to take me out to 
 dancing parties, and you do very well instead," 
 slowly moulding out her syllables with precision: 
 " it is necessary, you know, to have a relative to 
 save one from being tormented in a ball-room. 
 Mr. Dacer, I suppose, will let you stay away as long 
 as you please ? " 
 
 " But one single hour out of Ormiston is longer 
 than I please," he answered in a kind of whisper. 
 
 " You like Ormiston, and I so hate it," she rejoined, 
 firmly shutting the clasp of her reticule. 
 
 " You hate Ormiston?" 
 
 V* But will find it none the pleasanter when you 
 have left," she immediately added, with a little sigh. 
 "I suppose when your mother recovers, you will 
 remain in London amusing yourself. How I wish I 
 were going too. Dear London ! " 
 
 " Why should you envy me, Nora ? when it feels 
 like leaving half myself to go away. A time was, 
 indeed, when the thought of getting to London, or 
 anywhere away for a season, would have been plea- 
 sant ; but then I was dissatisfied and unhappy, had 
 no object to live for, no end to gain : before I began 
 to have hope, Nora ; that is it : for I have hopes 
 now dearer far than life, and they are all, all of them 
 centred here." *-
 
 156 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 -" Then if contentment be a blessing, you are cer- 
 tainly very well off. I have hopes of my own too ; 
 but I fear none of so domestic a turn." 
 
 "Is it that you are ambitious? no wonder indeed 
 if you were ; for there is nothing, Nora, nothing that 
 you do not deserve, that you may not attain, that 
 surely, if in my power, I would not give you. If 
 you have aspirations, I am not the one to reproach 
 them, for I am myself most ambitious ; though seek- 
 ing but one object, it is yet one of priceless value 
 infinitely beyond my deserts, if not perhaps altogether 
 out of reach. There is indeed but one light in my 
 heavens, but that light is the sun, and turning from 
 it, darkness is everywhere : that object is here, Nora, 
 in Ormiston, so you can understand why I hate to 
 leave it" 
 
 " Can you remember if mamma said anything 
 about cord for the window blinds ? " here asked Jane, 
 coming up at the moment, too exclusively occupied 
 with her items to observe the faces of her compa- 
 nions. " She wanted some the other day, yet it is 
 not mentioned in the list. But who is this ? Mrs. 
 Middleton's coachman. How extraordinary! Can 
 anything have happened ? " 
 
 And they stopped to look after a man who rode 
 by at a remarkable speed. Agreeing, however, that
 
 PRESENTIMENTS. 157 
 
 if anything had occurred, he would have stopped 
 to tell it, they continued their way, and presently 
 arrived at the cottage gate; so that Luke was, 
 by the accident, effectually interrupted, and had no 
 further opportunity of being alone with Nora, or of 
 renewing the tone of their conversation. 
 
 It was a disappointment to be so near saying all 
 he wanted to say ; to feel that a chance of doing so 
 with success had been offered offered, and been 
 missed. Even the chance itself developed his own 
 vague longings and hopes : instantaneously gave them 
 shape and definition. His brain began to ferment in 
 consequence, and under the process of exciting 
 thought that naturally followed, rest for the moment 
 became impossible. At the first opportunity, there- 
 fore, he gained the garden and slipped up the path 
 leading to Middleton Lodge, then turned straight up 
 hill through the plantation above it with doubled 
 speed, as the footing through the trees became more 
 irregular and difficult. Movement only was what 
 he wanted then, and the violent exercise rendered his 
 mind gradually more tranquil and composed, so that 
 as he crossed the upper boundary fence of the wood 
 into the open pasture he was presently calm enough 
 to endure a thought that had indeed come before 
 a thought numbing the pulse, and cooling the brain,
 
 158 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 and that always moved something farther away the 
 illusion and dreams of self-willed, youthful passion. 
 
 It was a thought of Nora, not a doubt of her, 
 although the very shape it took in his mind directly 
 implied doubt. She was very beautiful, very good ; 
 unquestionably of talent and remarkable power ; but 
 was she of the kind to mate with one whose life 
 must be a patient struggle ? If by nature a jewel 
 fitted for rich and gorgeous setting, would she be 
 likely, therefore, to suit a homelier frame ? Would 
 there be no risk in asking her to descend even a 
 little ? was it wise of him, or fair to her, wilfully to 
 incur that risk ? 
 
 This was what his judgment would oppose, and its 
 importance was undeniable ; though in the fresh 
 omnipotence of youth he often set the question aside, 
 deciding that by-and-by it would be different, or more 
 easily answered. The future seemed such illimitable 
 space for all good things to happen in, that very likely 
 he would get rich some way ; or at the worst might 
 work to the bone, and by the strength of his own 
 right arm win for her all that she deserved. But 
 occasionally, also, the bare facts of the case would 
 press upon him with a clearness and force that fancy 
 could not cope with ; and, at the same time, an uncer- 
 tainty as to the opinions which Nora might herself
 
 PRESENTIMENTS. 159 
 
 hold upon the important point would render him 
 utterly diffident and desponding. 
 
 It was into such latter mood he gradually drifted 
 now, leaning upon the outward fence and looking 
 down over the sloping Middleton woods. 
 
 At his feet were the shrubberies of the Lodge, 
 their dark green making a powerful foreground to 
 the open view of clear tints and dazzling light lower 
 down, through which the Orme wound a silver ser- 
 pent now flashing steel white through clumps of 
 stately oak and elm, in froth and snowy sparkle 
 tumbling over the sounding falls, awhile lost in stretch 
 of wood or wind of sombre glen, and then found 
 again miles away with a farewell sheen plunging into 
 a range of farthest hills, that in the soft shadowless 
 haze of extreme distance seemed as light and fragile 
 as the white sun-cloud resting over them. 
 
 His brain slowly settled under the sober action 
 of maturer thoughts, and the influence of the quiet 
 country, of the clear cheerful view beneath, soothed 
 his temper so well that in awhile he began calmly to 
 descend the hill again, but now in the direction of the 
 Lodge. 
 
 The gray of evening was fast falling on the irre- 
 gular lines of masonry muffled in their dense back- 
 ground of forest shrubs; all was so quiet, that a
 
 160 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 lagging summer blackbird flew out with a creaking 
 chirp from the flower knot as he approached the 
 house, and a flight of small birds were twittering on 
 the threshold of the half-open hall door ; but when 
 more in front Luke saw that a carriage was in 
 waiting at the side door by the conservatory, and 
 he learned presently from the gardener who passed 
 " that Miss Caroline had taken cold after the wetting 
 of yesterday, that there was some fear of its turning 
 to fever, and that Dr. Calent had been suddenly sent 
 for." 
 
 Caroline Middleton, in the bloom of her youth and 
 beauty, on the eve of a brilliant marriage, was the 
 last person associated in Luke's mind with illness 
 or misfortune, and the announcement shocked him. 
 The position awaiting her was so like what he would 
 have himself desired for Nora, that it seemed incredible 
 a shadow should come upon it. When the doctor 
 re-appeared, however, it was to confirm the report 
 to the fullest and worst Caroline was very ill 
 indeed. 
 
 At the Cottage the news created such alarm that 
 Jane proposed going to the Lodge at once after 
 dinner which in spite of remonstrance, and the 
 heavy rain that began, she insisted upon doing, and 
 doing in her own way too ; for she would not even
 
 PRESENTIMENTS. 161 
 
 allow Luke to go with her, as in the confusion of a 
 sick house his presence might be an inconvenience. 
 Eventually, therefore, she set off with the housemaid 
 for sole protection, and then Mrs. Troye began to 
 contrive her best to make every one uncomfortable 
 for the rest of the evening ; there was no end to her 
 complaints, misgivings, and surmises. " The certainty 
 of rain, the certainty also that Caroline had nothing 
 whatever the matter with her ; she was just the sort 
 of over-petted child to think the world must come 
 to an end if her finger ached. And of all nights 
 in the year on this one she particularly wanted Jane 
 at home. There were accounts to settle that could 
 not wait ; and as for Nora, it was out of the 
 question : after all the care she cost she could not add 
 four and four together, and was of no use whatever." 
 The direct result of this fretfulness was to cause 
 Nora's temper to give way; indeed, the ordinary 
 trials of domestic life required no assistance to 
 absorb whatever degree of patient endurance her 
 nature possessed, and the least addition easily over- 
 turned the balance. So she took up a book, and 
 remained buried in it, while her father dozed on the 
 sofa, and Mrs. Troye kept talking on peevishly to 
 Luke over her rapid knitting-needles. The inevi- 
 table internal gratings of the family were so much 
 
 11
 
 162 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 to Nora, that it was growing a habit every evening 
 to become absorbed this way in some one occupation 
 as the only means of escaping their effect ; her con- 
 firmed silence, therefore, and sustained indifference of 
 manner, meant really less in itself than it disap- 
 pointed and distressed Luke, who was unaware of 
 her practice, and who, going away in the morning, 
 had naturally expected a far different and more agree- 
 able leave-taking. But in awhile he became more 
 satisfied, for Nora put her book carelessly aside, and 
 passed into the drawing-room to the piano. The 
 piano was a resource, a convenience, often an 
 excuse for going away when the parlour became 
 intolerable. 
 
 And shortly after her departure, Luke also went 
 out to look at the night, as he said ; adding that he 
 would saunter up to meet Jane. It was a fine night 
 now, the clouds had passed off, and the moon looked 
 out full and clear. 
 
 But as he delayed a moment in the hall, the piano 
 came softly through the half open drawing-room 
 door, and at last he pushed it quietly open, feeling 
 the moonlight as he entered pour full upon his face 
 from the window opposite; the room otherwise was 
 in darkness, and over at the piano Nora's muslin dress 
 made a whitish patch in the gloom.
 
 PRESENTIMENTS. 163 
 
 "Is that you, Luke? are you not going up for 
 Jane?" 
 
 "Yes! but there is time enough; before eleven 
 will do. If Miss Middleton should be ill, she may 
 want to remain at the Lodge. What a fine night." 
 He crossed the room to the window. 
 
 How many gyrations of varied changing thoughts 
 swept over the chords of his mind as he stood 
 there in silence: a sudden fading of all distrust 
 and doubt, a mysterious revival of confidence 
 and hope grew up then, caused was it indeed only 
 caused? by a delicate, almost imperceptible soften- 
 ing of her voice. Was the mere inflection of a tone 
 already sufficient to move him from pole to pole? 
 She spoke gently of the melody she was playing, 
 skilfully changing the air now and then to catch 
 his taste, and while that dreamy music continued, 
 the rights of youth only strengthened and grew 
 paramount within his breast, overpowering all sense 
 of caution, all lesser suggestions of a narrow pru- 
 dence. Presently she left the piano and stood by 
 him, looking out. 
 
 "How full the light falls," she said; "see how 
 distinct are the white leaves of the polished laurels ; 
 one could almost reckon them. I like this lovely 
 light, travelling over the silent earth, when men and 
 
 112
 
 164 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 their small cares have left it for awhile: moonlight 
 excites my fancy, Luke." 
 
 " A time may be when you won't like anything 
 on that account, Nora; fancy is a poisonous indul- 
 gence, and entails a harsh penalty, as I know from 
 experience. Nevertheless, even I could dream again 
 after all, so seductive and irresistible is the habit, after 
 a bitter, bitter past. I have indeed dreamt again ; 
 don't you know I have ? " 
 
 Still with her broad beautiful brow bending 
 towards the light, Nora did not move ; her fingers 
 only were busy with the steel clasp of her waist; 
 and when the deep eyes looked up softly and met 
 his, he gently took the hand from her waist: it 
 was not withdrawn. 
 
 " Can you doubt what my dream is, Nora, though 
 I have kept it close, close until this instant ? You 
 cannot doubt it, and you will give me hope now, 
 or else an answer which must end suspense at once 
 and also end my dream for ever ? " 
 
 " I cannot misunderstand you, Luke," she answered, 
 pausing gravely, " yet what am I to do ? If I listen 
 only to my own feelings, what of the difficulties and 
 obstacles of which you are aware, and which must 
 prevent me still ? What am I to say ? " 
 
 " Only say this say if you can return the love of
 
 PRESENTIMENTS. 165 
 
 one to whom you are the only interest of life, the 
 source of every high inspiration and generous thought 
 whose dream is to sacrifice himself for you, to 
 endow you with all that hand and will can achieve 
 and lavish ; who loves you, and by the essence and 
 force of love itself, of love only, has even the bold 
 hope of becoming in some degree less unworthy of 
 you." 
 
 " And why do you love me so much, Luke ? " 
 
 " I cannot tell ; you may be beautiful and accom- 
 plished, but I cannot feel that you are so now. I do 
 not see your beauty ; were you to lose it, were your 
 intellect to fail, it would make no difference to me 
 I should not perceive it" 
 
 " Did you never love anybody else so well ? " she 
 asked, smiling. 
 
 "No comparison whatever is possible; for if I 
 have seen equal beauty, the same attractions, per- 
 haps, in others like you, I have met no one, no one 
 with the same mysterious and deep influence upon 
 my nature. I have thought of you till my brain 
 whirled with alternate hope and pain thought of the 
 obstacles which divide us; and, though I do not 
 under-estimate or deny their importance, still I have 
 a force within which prompts me to face them all 
 for your sake, to undertake the great responsibility
 
 166 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 of your happiness and to ask you to trust me 
 with it." 
 
 " If I only dared could I but see what to do," 
 Nora thought aloud ; but, as the words passed her 
 lips, a shadow came between her and the moon, and 
 she had barely time to recover herself before Jane's 
 footsteps were heard already in the porch. 
 
 "I am going away in the morning; who knows 
 when I may see you again?" Luke murmured softly: 
 " give me something to take with me, if only one 
 parting word something that will give me hope ; or 
 say at once that I must renounce all thought of you 
 for ever." 
 
 There was not an instant for reflection, so quickly 
 plucking something from her sleeve, she left it in his 
 hand, and the next moment was taking off Jane's 
 tilings, and talking loudly to her in the hall. 
 
 Luke's face had a happy light upon it, when, 
 shortly after, he followed into the parlour, also to 
 inquire after Miss Middleton and make excuses to 
 Jane for not going up in time. And the next morn- 
 ing he was off at sunrise, with the silk tassel of 
 Nora's sleeve folded within his breast.
 
 167 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 A MUTUAL SURPKISE. 
 
 THE parting interview with Luke left no pleasant 
 impressions on Nora's mind, when she came to reflect 
 over it at leisure ; and not only that, but after a few 
 days the consideration of the results which might 
 possibly flow from it became a source of grave and 
 sore anxiety. She had yielded, she thought, only to an 
 unfair union of opportunity and circumstance ; Luke 
 had surprised her in a moment of passing weakness, 
 and led her decidedly to commit herself, while as yet 
 her own mind was unsettled and vague. But what 
 was worse, he had been also confirmed, perhaps, in 
 the most extravagant fancies ; and it did not seem 
 that an opportunity would soon occur of easily dis- 
 abusing him, as the accounts from his mother were 
 daily growing most unfavourable. 
 
 Indeed, Mrs. Penrose showed so little sign of 
 improvement, that it was at length decided Jane 
 should go up to London to attend her. The case
 
 168 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 was one in which a more selfish person could not 
 refuse : so a day or two before her departure, Jane 
 went with Nora to pay a farewell visit to Caroline ; 
 who, though over her attack, had not yet quitted 
 her chamber. 
 
 When the Troyes arrived at the Lodge, Edwin 
 Bradel, considerably out of humour with Mrs. Middle- 
 ton, met them there. " He had been disappointed 
 of seeing Caroline again; they were shutting her 
 up when air and exercise would decidedly hasten 
 her recovery ; such a fine day she had much better 
 go out ; he had sent over the phaeton on purpose 
 to tempt her." 
 
 Jane was quite of his opinion, and Nora suggested 
 that it might be precisely on account of his anxiety 
 that he was not gratified. " For no one could forego 
 the pleasure of tormenting a little when the chance 
 offered ; it was only unwise of him to exhibit exces- 
 sive desire when he wanted to obtain an object : it 
 was the worst way of gaining anything." Nor'a was 
 already beginning to address Edwin with great free- 
 dom ; sometimes in a tone which even Caroline would 
 scarcely venture upon. " I suppose you have been 
 very anxious all this time ? " she added. 
 
 " Since Caroline's attack, I have not had an easy 
 moment."
 
 A MUTUAL SURPRISE. 169 
 
 " I did not suppose that gentlemen, even in love, 
 were so sensitive. And when uneasy, how do you 
 pass the time? probably scold the servants, and make 
 the house tremble ? I always draw down the blinds, 
 and go to sleep : it is the quietest and best way." 
 
 " But it would not do for one engaged : love, you 
 know, being sleepless." 
 
 "Blind, certainly: but if sleepless, how then do 
 you dream ? for dreaming is essential to the matter, 
 we read." 
 
 " Whether or not, whether awake or asleep, I am 
 quite satisfied." 
 
 " Well ! contentment is itself a blessing." 
 
 " No doubt, when one desires nothing beyond per- 
 fect happiness, and moreover thinks to have found it." 
 
 " As others have thought before you, Mr. Bradel. 
 However pleasant, 'tis by no means an original con- 
 ceit ; fine promise and short performance has been 
 the roll of the world since the first turn." 
 
 " I have at all events no reason to mistrust my 
 promise yet ; so far it progresses according to seeming 
 fulfils every expectation: in action, gentle and 
 true." 
 
 " But steady and sure, like slow poison," added 
 Nora. "Perhaps it is but feeding you like the 
 ogres in the fairy tales, to make you fit to gobble up."
 
 170 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 " What matter ? it is pleasant while it lasts. 
 What matter if it be a lingering illusion ? " 
 
 Delusion, Mr. Bradel." 
 
 " Don't provoke me to wish that in your turn you 
 may find it so." 
 
 " That I should find it at all would be as bad a 
 wish ; but, indeed, I have never been tempted, nor 
 am I likely to be: no one wants me, fortunately; 
 except Jane, no one else professes to care for me, and 
 she lectures me from morning till night." 
 
 " I am not surprised. I think you incorrigible." 
 
 " Or unmanageable." 
 
 "Either." 
 
 " I might be tamed very easily, nevertheless." 
 
 " You might like some one to try it ; but the 
 venture would be too daring for my taste." 
 
 " Your discretion is wise, for I admit it would be 
 pleasant to have a follower to tyrannize over some- 
 thing to bear one's change of humour; a human 
 spaniel trained to one's smile, to the change of an 
 eyelid ; ready for cuff or caress with the same grate- 
 ful whine." 
 
 " Nora is fond of saying what she does not think," 
 Jane here interrupted: "it is her habit to express 
 principles and feelings that she neither believes nor 
 shares ; and even well as I know her I am sometimes 
 deceived by it."
 
 A MUTUAL SURPRISE. 171 
 
 "Clear-sighted people are sometimes dull about 
 what occurs even before them,*' answered Nora, 
 coldly ; " sometimes trip over the pebbles under foot. 
 There may be overlooking as there is overdoing, and 
 I have known you overdo before now : are you sure 
 you do know her so very well ? ** 
 
 Here Mrs. Middleton's opportune entrance pre- 
 vented reply. Mrs. Middleton was happy to see them, 
 but she feared Caroline must disappoint again ; as she 
 was not at all well to-day, her night had been rest- 
 less : indeed, it might be too much if both Miss Troyes 
 went upstairs together much talk or noise would be 
 injurious. If Jane would come up first alone, they 
 would be the better judge. So Jane and Mrs. Middle- 
 ton went accordingly, leaving Nora alone with Mr. 
 Bradel, who was at first too much provoked at the 
 disappointment of not seeing Caroline to do other 
 than relieve himself by vague complaints; but of 
 these Nora took no apparent notice, so presently 
 he turned to her, saying 
 
 " It appears that you are not the favourite, or are 
 not to be trusted ; evidently Mrs. Middleton has no 
 great confidence in you. She looks upon you as an 
 irresistible distraction: rather an indefinite descrip- 
 tion ; maybe, complimentary, or not, as you like to 
 take it.'*
 
 172 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 Nora replied shortly, then went to the window and 
 sat down. Either she was hurt at the trifling reproof 
 from Jane, or at not being asked upstairs first, or else 
 had changed her humour without any reason at all, 
 as was not uncommon. She had a strange power 
 of commanding the deportment of others, of regu- 
 lating their behaviour according to the arbitrary 
 disposition of her own temporary mood. If in good 
 spirits, the conversation around her naturally became 
 lively of itself, but if otherwise inclined, it died out, 
 or was sustained only with palpable effort ; and such 
 was the case now. Edwin Bra del suddenly found 
 that he had nothing more to say, and Nora opened 
 a book with as much apparent unconcern as if 
 Mr. Bradel of Everley were a league away ; as in- 
 different to his presence as if he were merely the 
 ornamental china clock upon the mantel-piece, ticking 
 loud in the continued silence. 
 
 This was a sort of treatment quite new to him, and 
 had complete effect in immediately disordering his 
 habitually easy confidence so much, that he had no 
 resource but to approach the other window and pre- 
 tend to admire the view; in fact, the view from 
 Middleton Lodge was of recognized beauty, and fur- 
 nished excellent capital for talk, as he presently 
 discovered.
 
 A MUTUAL SURPRISE. 173 
 
 "For you can see as far as Farren Court from your 
 window, I should think," he said, addressing her for- 
 mally; "I never noticed how capitally these windows 
 are placed before: indeed a fine sweep, a grand 
 view ; but it is better from the hill behind. Have 
 you been there, at the larch screen? that is the 
 place for a house ; have you ever been to the larch 
 screen ? " 
 
 " Very often." 
 
 " Still this room is well, very comfortable ; what is 
 lost in view it gains in comfort, no disadvantage I 
 consider. It is due south, almost the warmest room 
 I was ever in ; the coldest day in winter it is warm 
 here." In awhile he added further, " I hope you are 
 not tired from your walk, Miss Troye." 
 
 "What walk?" 
 
 " Up here I I hope it did not fatigue you ? " 
 
 " It is not half-a-mile ; why should it ? " 
 
 " Very true indeed, yet some ladies would faint at 
 half-a-mile : ay, and gentlemen too, I assure you : 
 I know one would not walk half-a-mile to save his 
 life ; yet there is nothing like a walk, a walk in the 
 forenoon a ride is nothing to it. Your sister is a great 
 walker, so was also Caroline before her illness : a pity 
 they won't let her out, there would not be the least
 
 174 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 risk ; you may believe I would be the last to propose 
 it if there were." 
 
 Moving to and fro the leaves of her book, Nora 
 quietly agreed with him and went on reading. 
 
 " That book seems very interesting; I daresay it is 
 more poetry," he said, smiling, after a longer pause. 
 " Very likely Mrs. Middleton will lend it to you ; 
 would shall I ask her?" 
 
 " If you please ; it is really so very nice. See, a 
 * lady's companion,'" she answered, holding up the 
 page illustrated with diagrams of crochet and thread 
 work; " but as it is Caroline's favourite, I would not 
 like to borrow it just now until she quite recovers ; it 
 would be depriving her of an enjoyment" 
 
 " You are very considerate." 
 
 "Well, I deserve no praise for it; it is natural to 
 us : ladies are all so" 
 
 "So what?" 
 
 " No matter ; so inferior to dear Caroline, at all 
 events, and that is all you want to know : there are 
 very few of us like her indeed ; perhaps you have not 
 yourself met with such another : at least not lately, 
 and they say you have had some experience." 
 
 He laughed carelessly, though the bright colour 
 came upon his cheek : from the position of Nora's
 
 A MUTUAL SURPRISE. 175 
 
 head it was impossible to define the expression of her 
 face exactly, but he felt nevertheless that she smiled 
 also. Nora had the eye of a trout set well back upon 
 her cheek, and could see well around her, and 
 observe him undetected. 
 
 "There is a flock of sparrows upon the walk 
 fighting over some corn seeds," he said again, pre- 
 sently, essaying a neutral subject ; " how they push 
 at each other the weak ones beaten off every mo- 
 ment by fresh battalions from the laurestinum. This 
 is an extraordinary place for birds; Caroline has 
 robins in the garden which perch upon her shoulder, 
 feed from her hand, and the wood-pigeons here are 
 the tamest ever I saw: there is one now gravely 
 pacing the gravel, waiting for his mate in the top 
 of the horse chesnut yonder, as much at his ease as 
 if on the tallest pine on Middleton scalp ; they never 
 light so near the house at Everley." 
 
 But here a sudden noise and a sharp exclamation 
 from Nora interrupted, and brought him round to 
 her window at once ; and in the next moment they 
 were both laughing in concert at the start, caused 
 by the Venetian blind which had fallen close to 
 her cheek, frightening her to death, as she said, 
 laughing still, as he came nearer to draw up the 
 blind to its place. He had to lean quite over to
 
 176 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 reach the cord behind her shoulder ; then to search 
 for her book and gloves, which had dropped so far in 
 behind the chair and the folds of her dress that he 
 must kneel on her foot-stool to reach them, which at 
 last achieved, still on one knee, he presented them 
 to her. 
 
 " Thank you, Mr. Bradel," a slight change in 
 the voice, "thank you; what did you want me to 
 look at I was so startled ? " 
 
 Now raising her veil and smiling up at him with 
 her splendid eyes, he was face to face, on the same plane 
 close, very close to those eyes which for a space 
 lay in calm lustre before him with the light striking 
 full in, bringing out their varied shadowy agate tints 
 in a soft warmth of united blaze. It was the full 
 force of merely perfect beauty, and he met the look 
 with a prolonged confident hardihood which gradually 
 brought a spreading transparent glow over her neck 
 and throat. 
 
 But here at once, and without the least premoni- 
 tory symptoms, the door suddenly opened, and Mrs. 
 Middleton entered before Edwin had quite finished 
 rising. She came up the room in full talk : " Caroline 
 was not to go out, Jane did not think her well 
 enough, and there was besides, a breeze ; it would be 
 foolish to incur risk merely for the sake of a day,
 
 A MUTUAL SURPRISE. 177 
 
 when one day would do as well as another would do 
 as well as another," Mrs. Middleton repeated, as 
 her quick glance changed from one blushing face to 
 the other. What was this this confusion? What 
 mystery, what stinging, guilty secret, had she come 
 upon ? that tell-tale rustling of Nora's skirt, the con- 
 victed guilt plain in his face, as he advanced to ad- 
 dress her with attempted ease and struggled through 
 with a conscious sense of awkward failure ! 
 
 It was as well that Jane should follow the next 
 moment, repeating also that Caroline was harassed 
 after a restless night, and disinclined to leave her 
 room. " But if not in better spirits than at my last 
 visit, she is certainly improved in appearance," she 
 added, smiling at Edwin; "a little languor is not 
 unbecoming to her, though I know Mrs. Middleton 
 does not agree with me there." 
 
 " Nor do I either," Nora answered firmly, with a 
 daring calmness, considering that the matron's gleam- 
 ing eyes were searching into her face, " for delicacy, 
 even when becoming, is to me always disagreeable. 
 I think it false taste not to admire warmth and colour, 
 and would rather see Caroline ruddy with vulgar 
 health than droop with the pale beauty of the 
 loveliest primrose that ever languished. Don't you 
 
 12
 
 178 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 think I am right? I am quite sure Mrs. Middleton 
 does : that she agrees with me." 
 
 Mrs. Middleton, however, made no reply; her 
 mind was too uncertain and anxious then : troubled 
 with vague suspicions ; and she remained very silent 
 while the remainder of the visit lasted.
 
 179 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 DEFIANCE. 
 
 SOME considerable time went by during which impor- 
 tant changes occurred to many individuals of the 
 reader's acquaintance. The summer was deepening 
 into autumn, bringing near the time fixed for the 
 marriage ; but before the autumn arrived, a serious 
 calamity fell on Luke Penrose : a circumstance which 
 materially influenced his future character, and marked 
 a sad epoch in his existence. In spite of all that skill 
 or affection could do, Mrs. Penrose's illness proved 
 fatal ; and he experienced a shock, which had its 
 effect not only on his spirits and disposition, but 
 in no slight degree upon his destiny also. For im- 
 mediately after the catastrophe, Lumney insisted on 
 taking him to his shooting lodge in Scotland, in the 
 hope by change of scene to mitigate his grief; 
 and consequently Luke was prevented, as well by 
 absence as by disordered feelings, from interference in 
 or prosecution of those interests which had hitherto 
 
 122
 
 180 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 been dearest to him. This occurred also at an 
 important crisis precisely at a period when every 
 Circumstance was pregnant with consequences. For 
 owing to Jane's absence in London during the time 
 of Mrs. Pen rose's illness, Nora was left in a great 
 measure either to her own devices at home, or to the 
 sole guidance of her mother ; who was not fit to 
 direct, and was daily growing less of a restraint to 
 her. She had meanwhile become a frequent visitor 
 at Everley, and the intimacy with each member of 
 the family there had ripened into close familiarity, so 
 that gradually the thought of Luke, the remembrance 
 of their past life together, and the impressions remain- 
 ing of it, faded more and more from her mind. 
 Above all, the recollection of his declaration at 
 parting ceased to give her much further uneasiness ; 
 it seemed either so long ago, or was itself such a 
 trifling matter after all, when looked at from the 
 distance which sometimes change of mind or, if pre- 
 ferred, increase of sense places between actions 
 which we choose to forget or deprecate. It is so 
 pleasant to assume that past subjects of discontent 
 were but the product of some unfair influence, or 
 venial immaturity of disposition, from which the 
 sober, dignified self of the present moment may 
 well be absolved.
 
 DEFIANCE. 181 
 
 The effect of this greater liberty, it may be judged, 
 was not to improve Nora in endurance of the petty 
 vexations of life, or draw nearer the relations with 
 her parents. When Jane was by to talk her down to 
 submission to daily annoyances, her impatience kept 
 within bounds; but that wholesome restraint once 
 withdrawn, home became more than ever intolerable 
 to her : a place where hope stifled in ungeuial 
 atmosphere ; a purgatory of constant complaints and 
 grating peevishness, like the action of water, day 
 after day filing in upon the spirits. Those hours in 
 other families consecrated to peaceful reunion, were 
 to her especially a season of interior combat and 
 trial ; so in awhile she gave up trying to make the 
 best of things, and scarcely noticed her mother's con- 
 stant remonstrance and captious fretfulness. Mrs. 
 Troye had commenced by spoiling Nora, and when 
 the fruits of her mischievous training became apparent, 
 she thought, with characteristic want of judgment, to 
 repair everything by tyrannical intolerance of faults 
 for which she was herself mainly responsible. 
 
 To one of Nora's quick temper and indulged 
 self-will, such treatment could only end in failure, 
 and immediately produce results as lamentable as 
 obvious. The breach between mother and daughter 
 widened therefore to an alarming extent ; and when
 
 182 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 Jane returned, she was appalled at the change. She 
 came back in uncertain health and depressed spirits, 
 with the tenderest sympathies of her nature deve- 
 loped by the melancholy event she had assisted 
 at, and more than ever determined to seek happiness 
 in secluded home life, in the exclusive exercise of 
 domestic affections. Accordingly her mind was un- 
 braced, most unprepared, for the new state of things ; 
 and even her energetic good sense shrank at first 
 from the trouble and jarring discord that awaited her 
 immediately on arriving. For even on the very night 
 of her return her mother began already to complain 
 of Nora ; of her inertness, temper, wilfulness, ingrati- 
 tude. And Jane soon perceived that it was a constant 
 scene of covert sarcasm or direct quarrel between 
 them. Mrs. Troye was incessantly talking at or of 
 Nora to her face; and on the other hand could 
 scarcely ever address her the simplest observation with 
 anything like a certainty of getting a civil reply. 
 
 Scarcely had Jane been a week at home, when 
 her mother's intemperate language provoked a more 
 serious quarrel. 
 
 " We have a fine lady in the house, who can't get 
 up to breakfast, and must have the day to yawn over 
 her novel," Mrs. Troye said harslily one morning to 
 Jane, as Nora came down later than usual. "What
 
 DEFIANCE. 183 
 
 a pity she has not got her own maid, or that you and 
 I have not time to wait upon her ; there is eleven 
 o'clock positively striking, and all the morning work 
 put back on her account : it is intolerable." 
 
 "I am very sorry indeed, mamma, that for your 
 sake I cannot help my headache," said Nora, turning 
 pale. 
 
 " And as for my part, I am sick of that head of 
 yours ; I wish you would send for the doctor, and have 
 done with it once for all : we are for ever hearing of 
 it," answered her mother. " If you got up at a proper 
 hour and looked after the dairy, the eggs, butter and 
 breakfast things, as I am obliged to do every morning, 
 and to steal downstairs too, for fear of disturbing that 
 precious head of yours, with the morning sun shining 
 in upon it. However, next time you shall break- 
 fast in bed. I am determined to put an end to this, 
 and will not have the table littered till noon." 
 
 In order to check the discussion, Jane rose to pre- 
 pare tea ; but Nora prevented her. 
 
 " It is no use ; I shan't breakfast : I have no 
 appetite this morning," she said quietly, taking up 
 a book and going to the window, at the other end of 
 the room. 
 
 " Her ladyship sulks now : there's more of it," said 
 Mrs. Troye.
 
 184 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 " Indeed, mamma, I do not ! I have far too much 
 sense for that," said Nora with frozen coldness ; " I 
 am too accustomed to this to mind what can happen 
 here. One gets familiar with anything at last, and 
 experience has at length taught me so much. Jane, 
 it is no use : send away the tray : I certainly will 
 not breakfast." 
 
 " To please me you will," said Jane. 
 
 "I should do much to please you, Jane, to be 
 sure," Nora answered in the same cold way : " no 
 doubt you deserve it; but can I help my stingy 
 nature if it refuses to be generous? indeed, it is your 
 fault to expect it from me, for you know that I am 
 ungrateful : mamma says every day that I am." 
 
 "You are always disrespectful, and I will not 
 suffer it to my face," said Mrs. Troye, dropping the 
 fold of house-linen which she was hemming. " As 
 you will be a child, then expect to be treated as one. 
 Leave the room, if you please." 
 
 Nora marked the place in her book and rose at 
 once. 
 
 " If it were * leave the house,' mamma," she said, 
 stopping on the way to the door, " I should have gone 
 down upon my knees to thank you ; but though you 
 do not say so, this must finish some time, certainly : I 
 will make sure of that, at least. The pain is intense,
 
 DEFIANCE. 185 
 
 and deliverance may linger, but it will come at last : 
 it will surely come," she added, gently closing the 
 door. 
 
 Once safe away in the bottom of the garden, a 
 torrent of tears followed : a burst of grief and violent 
 complaining, which flowed on unmeasured and un- 
 checked, until even its very excess caused reaction 
 and insensibly lifted up the choking sensation from 
 her heart ; for her spirits were of themselves elastic 
 and quick, distinguished for that rapidly varying 
 temperature common to impulsive natures : and 
 besides, at nineteen 'tis so easy to forget and renew 
 there is such abundant assurance in the long future to 
 compensate for any disorder of the passing moment. 
 With hope looking on and fancy mixing the colours, 
 it is easy to take the vermilion, the blue, and the 
 gilding, and smear out a fine gaudy picture, until the 
 senses reel and grow dazzled over it. 
 
 So, while the tears were still wet upon her cheek, 
 Nora began to brighten up again, and look forward as 
 eagerly and as actively as if hope had never known 
 failure before. She saw so many beautiful things, far 
 away indeed from her actual position, but quite possible 
 and within reach of her productive imagination, that 
 she began rapidly to lose herself in unreal combi- 
 nations and vague projects of indefinite ambition. The
 
 186 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 pomp and pride of life, the pleasures and prizes of the 
 world, one by one flickered up in a mirage of rainbow 
 pageantry to seduce and tempt her; even the very 
 darkness of the present clouds served but to intensify 
 the flickering, uncertain light in which she saw promise 
 of every happiness in prospect : herself emancipated, 
 delivered from incompatible circumstances, and reign- 
 ing, no matter how ; but reigning certainly, and by the 
 supreme title of all too through the grand divine 
 right of beauty only, the perfection and pride of self. 
 What a contrast, then, to her life hitherto ; how it 
 would indemnify for the narrowness of her present lot ! 
 a vast power to be exercised only for the highest 
 motives and noblest interests; her influence all for 
 good, to exert her own tastes upon society, to re- 
 model and correct it, to diffuse universal happiness, 
 and be loved, admired, and worshipped accordingly. 
 
 Nora had already thought herself high into the third 
 heaven of terrestrial bliss, when the false Icarian 
 plumage dissolved treacherously, and in an instant she 
 was level with the mere earth again ; for an accident 
 came rudely to scatter the tinsel and spangles of her 
 glittering dream, and thrust upon her not only the 
 consciousness of her actual condition, but even bring 
 back the bitterest sense of poignant envy it could 
 foster. Attracted by a noise of coming carriage-
 
 DEFIANCE. 187 
 
 wheels, she had mounted on a seat by the hedge, just 
 in time to see the Everley state equipage move 
 solemnly by in gorgeous magnificence of plush and 
 of powder, with every attribute of dignity and 
 imposing splendour. Caroline only was with Mrs. 
 Bradel : Caroline, with a new tinge of health upon 
 her cheek, dressed in pretty light things, and looking 
 so fresh in the sunny interior of the carriage, with a 
 quiet smile upon her soft, fair face, that Nora felt 
 herself at once grow dark and ugly by contrast. She 
 watched still behind the laurel leaves after the car- 
 riage had passed, throbbing with increasing envy, 
 and her mind fast narrowing inward upon itself. 
 
 " She is to have it all she has it already," at 
 length she murmured, with a sense of pain ; " and I 
 must still wait on in my misery while she enjoys 
 every happiness! Why is there such difference? 
 She is fair, very fair indeed, and I am dark ; yet, 
 otherwise, in what am I surpassed by her? what 
 other advantage has she beyond me to justify this 
 immense, cruel difference ? " 
 
 At the words a voice behind interrupted her. 
 
 " Nora, where are you ? what are you doing there, 
 child ? " asked Mrs. Troye. " Here are some things 
 want mending, do you hear? Look over these 
 stockings, and then I want you in the nursery to see
 
 188 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 about your father's shirts: once for all, you must 
 learn to do something," and she placed on the seat a 
 wicker basket filled with stockings and muslin. 
 
 " See, Davis I " she added, advancing to the gardener 
 at work farther on ; " that rhubarb is all overgrown ; 
 why don't you dig it up ? and the beds by the lodge 
 are as hard as the road : unless one watches you 
 from morning till night you do nothing ; and there ! 
 the rose celeste broken across : the beautiful rose 
 Mr. Lumney gave us ; how provoking. Nora ! how 
 was this, who did it the rose celeste, Nora ? " 
 
 But no voice came in reply ; and when Mrs. Troye 
 turned impatiently to seek her daughter, she found 
 the seat empty, and the basket of stockings over- 
 turned, with its contents strewn upon the walk.
 
 189 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 AN INSINUATION. 
 
 TBE ungenial atmosphere of home began at length 
 to produce a further result, and to affect not only 
 Nora's disposition, but even her appearance : the 
 shadows of her eyes had deepened, her rounded 
 cheek was losing finish, its grain and colour fading ; 
 she grew thinner, and it did not become her ; the 
 remarkable clearness of her voice was also missed 
 sometimes, and in the end Jane became really 
 alarmed for her health. 
 
 " The one thought of my life, Nora, is but to make 
 you happy, if you would only let me try," she said, 
 one day that there was an unusual return of con- 
 fidence between them. " Why look at the worst side, 
 and always persist in not giving things a chance? 
 Even the darkest moment has some little consolation 
 and light, if one will but be wise and seek it; and 
 as proof of that," she added with a smile, putting a 
 letter into Nora's hand, " here, I was only waiting 
 for an opportunity yesterday of giving this to you."
 
 190 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 "From Luke?" Nora turned very pale. "I 
 thought they intended remaining some time in the 
 north. Did you expect him so soon ? " she asked. 
 
 " But the plan has been changed. Mr. Lumney 
 writes, that as Luke is anxious to return to his work, 
 he thinks it the best thing for him ; and I am of the 
 same opinion," answered Jane: occupation will be 
 the best and readiest distraction. He must stay here, 
 and we will do our best to make the house pleasant 
 for him ; it may be possible insensibly to dispel, or 
 else considerably to mitigate his grief, and I am very 
 glad he is coming." 
 
 Nora felt a sudden sinking down within at this 
 unexpected news, as if some cherished contingency 
 were at once destroyed by it : it was so strange that 
 he should return precisely at the moment when she 
 was quite occupied with other thoughts and far 
 different impressions ; and surprise sometimes affects 
 so oddly. But, however, " she was very glad also," 
 she said, and looked up blankly into her sister's 
 anxious face. 
 
 There was no further allusion to the subject be- 
 tween them again ; and the confidence between the 
 sisters seemed henceforth to lessen daily. Remarks 
 referring to Luke's interests and prospects were 
 listened to with mysterious silence by Nora, and in
 
 AN INSINUATION. 191 
 
 the midst of a state of extreme domestic disunion 
 at the cottage, when her capricious temper was at 
 its height, Luke suddenly returned. 
 
 So much had passed over him since, a period of 
 such utter darkness, that it seemed all after time 
 must remain tinctured by it that the shadow of 
 death must hereafter lie between the light of his past 
 youth, and move it back for ever. Perhaps it is an 
 instinct of our spiritual origin, yearning for the end- 
 less, that leads us so easily to forget the terms of our 
 changing existence, and to assume that deep im- 
 pressions, because deep, must necessarily be also 
 permanent and ineffaceable. We forget that all 
 things have their season to fade and renew; and 
 besides that mere lowly human nature has its own 
 implanted instincts, which will, under certain circum- 
 stances, be as surely obeyed as those of higher 
 origin: that youth, for instance, must enjoy its 
 essential rights, no matter what influence essay to 
 check or depress it for a time ; that it must rise again 
 and again triumphant through all barriers, and claim 
 at last the divine land of promise as its own fair 
 birthright. 
 
 And so at once it felt like returning from a distant 
 voyage to Luke, when he placed his hand on the old 
 entrance gate again like coming out of darkness into
 
 192 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 unexpected light so mightily at sight of the old 
 places did the quick life re-invest him again ; for 
 each tree, and stone, and feature of the familiar land- 
 scape had vivid memories attached, that wakened of 
 themselves ; and a sense of returning happiness came 
 with them, too strong for even his grief to resist. 
 
 " We must do without the Troves henceforth," 
 Mr. Pennet said, in dialogue with his friend Edwin, 
 referring to Luke's re-appearance : " the cousin has 
 returned, you know ; so our pretty friend will now 
 have more interesting business to engage her at home 
 by all accounts. Her absence will be a loss, and I 
 regret it, for with all deference to the taste of my 
 friend Mrs. Middleton, I think her one of the nicest 
 girls I ever met." 
 
 " Doesn't Mrs. Middleton like her ? I was not 
 aware of that." 
 
 " Well, it is a jealous world, and you rarely 
 find the mother of a good-looking girl ready to 
 praise another who might possibly class as a rival : 
 a natural weakness, though I cannot in this case see 
 any ground of rivalry whatever ; for the two ladies 
 are of different types, opposite as the poles: so 
 opposite in complexion and in character, that there is 
 no resemblance at all. Besides, if comparison were 
 possible, it must be so much in Miss Middleton's
 
 AN INSINUATION. 193 
 
 favour, that Mrs. Middleton's dislike to her is unin- 
 telligible ; it is only near her that even Miss Troye 
 looks sometimes plain." 
 
 " Plain 1 not at all." 
 
 " Well, if you examine, you will find quite as good 
 features in any other tolerable face ; though, to be 
 sure, she is admired : that is undeniable. It is a fact 
 also that many men in town would be glad to stand 
 in Penrose's place : she has certainly good eyes, and 
 ladylike manners." 
 
 " I never believed that story about the cousin ; it 
 is mere Ormiston talk ! " answered Bradel. "Do you 
 think it likely she would marry a pauper like him ? 
 On the face of it, now, is it likely ? " 
 
 "There is for and against it, certainly," replied 
 Mr. Pennet, with decision ; " yet she appears to me to 
 be just the one for a freak of that kind ; those highly 
 gifted natures are sometimes uncertain and unac- 
 countable : and have you not observed about her of 
 late a strange thoughtfulness, at times, an absence of 
 interest in society, that looks like a confirmation of 
 the matter ; evidence of something akin to a youth- 
 ful entanglement ? How do you explain her indif- 
 ference otherwise? for it is certain that of all who 
 admire her, not one can reasonably boast the least 
 encouragement. Even Seaton, who has property, 
 
 13
 
 194 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 and stands well for the baronetcy against his con- 
 sumptive cousin, the present heir even he, I am con- 
 vinced, has no chance whatever." 
 
 " Is Seaton positively serious about it ? He never 
 is about anything." 
 
 " Without doubt ; but it is no use whatever, for 
 she won't look at him : I have not noticed her as 
 familiar indeed with any one as with ourselves here ; 
 but that is explained by your engagement She, of 
 course, considers you a safe person, with whom free- 
 dom can have no meaning ; or else, may be, her pride 
 is touched at your habitual indifference and rather 
 nonchalant demeanour, and as a point of honour or of 
 vanity, she may try to win attention from you. You 
 have so decidedly the manners of a man whose 
 affections are disposed of: there is a sort of aggressive 
 carelessness about you, that no lady could be expected 
 to submit to. Certainly, of all the people in the house, 
 you seem to appreciate her the least." 
 
 " But I do appreciate her," said Bradel. " What 
 reason have you for supposing otherwise ? " 
 
 " Now your mother is absolutely in love with her," 
 Mr. Pennet continued, never heeding. " It was only 
 yesterday that Mrs. Bradel, after praising Miss Mid- 
 dleton, and rejoicing at your luck, said that were she 
 to select your wife herself, but one other person of
 
 AN INSINUATION. 195 
 
 her acquaintance would cause her a moment's hesi- 
 tation. ' Probably the young lady at present in the 
 house,' said I ; but when I mentioned that Miss Troye 
 was engaged to Penrose, she. was perfectly amazed, 
 and agreed it was just as well you had never thought 
 of her." 
 
 " But is she really engaged ? " asked Bradel, after 
 a reflective pause; " it is such an incredible absurdity." 
 
 " It is a sacrifice, no doubt ; but I really do believe 
 it," added Mr. Pennet, going away and leaving his 
 friend very thoughtful about a matter concerning 
 which he obviously could have no sort of interest 
 whatever. 
 
 132
 
 196 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 DISSOLVING VIEWS. 
 
 "ALL that glitters is not gold." Nothing in this 
 world is as pleasant as it looks, or realizes anticipations: 
 a trite truism, which Luke commenced personally 
 to appreciate promptly after his return. Although 
 apparently then in the most amiable position, in 
 closest companionship of an attractive and beautiful 
 person to whom he was sincerely attached, enjoying 
 unrestricted intercourse with her each day until the 
 ruddy autumn sun blazed down through the western 
 firs above the hill and under the circumstances one 
 can scarcely imagine a more desirable or agreeable 
 arrangement yet in fact it was far less pleasant than 
 it looked. 
 
 In the first place an important difference was caused 
 by a decided and obvious alteration of Nora's man- 
 ners to himself. A habit of increased reserve, an 
 absence of former familiarity was so evident, that not 
 only did Luke become conscious of less intimacy with
 
 DISSOLVING VIEWS. 197 
 
 her than before, but moreover was certain of becom- 
 ing less intimate every day. He seemed to retrograde 
 in the same measure as opportunities of advancing in 
 her favour were multiplied, and beyond question was 
 more constrained with Nora when absolutely alone 
 than at any other time. Her mind seemed to be 
 the under operation of some process to which he had 
 no cue. Not only did .he suspect her opinions to have 
 changed on points where change was of importance 
 to himself; but sometimes even she went the length 
 of declaring that they were, and this in a variety 
 of ways more or less direct. 
 
 Thus, for instance, when it became known that 
 Robert Boyce, with nothing but a place in the 
 Customs, had proposed for Miss Lytton, Nora did not 
 fail to improve the occasion by enlarging on the dis- 
 honour of such a course " When a gentleman was not 
 in position to make a girl happy he should not seek 
 to marry her." 
 
 " It is the first time I learn that happiness and 
 wealth are synonymous with you," Luke answered 
 gravely. 
 
 "I know you are all for the old-school sort of 
 thing," she replied, "long engagements and true 
 lovers' knots: Mr. and Mrs. Papillon must marry 
 on Valentine's day, and live upon comfits. It might
 
 198 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 do very well too if youth would only wait, and age 
 did not make one grow cross and ugly." 
 
 "There may be worse faults than either age or 
 ugliness," he added. 
 
 " To be sure, poverty, for instance. Look at Mrs. 
 Captain MacTaggart if you want a proof of that: 
 six children, and half-pay. I wish you had called with 
 us there the other day, to see the kitchen-maid, the 
 mended carpets, and faded furniture ; with children's 
 hands on the curtains, the door handles soiling one's 
 gloves, and dreadful flavours steaming through the 
 dingy house. It was your * love in a cottage,' Luke ; 
 which is very well, I don't deny, in its way; but 
 so, also, are carriages, jewels, fine company, and fine 
 feathers, believe me." 
 
 " Colonel Toper, at your service then, if you think 
 so. And, hi your place, I should certainly try it,'* 
 was the reply. 
 
 " And you shall have bride-cake, and dance at the 
 wedding, if I catch him ; but who knows, cousin, I'll 
 maybe do better." 
 
 " Pray, how much better would you like ? " asked 
 Luke, leaning back to get sight of her as she stood 
 something behind ; how much higher ? " 
 
 " Best, if possible, at your service ; tip -toe on the 
 topmost step, and then up farther, as far as ever my 
 fingers may reach."
 
 DISSOLVING VIEWS. 199 
 
 "Shall I hold the ladder for yon, Nora, lest it 
 slip ? A fall is rarely becoming, and if my arms 
 were ready to catch you it might be convenient." 
 
 "Indeed! your arms a fine thing, surely that 
 would be," but here she stopped, for at the moment 
 an object outside brought her quickly to the window. 
 Then, crying out that it was Mrs. Bradel's servant, 
 she went into the garden. As it happened, she re- 
 mained so long away, that losing patience at last, 
 Luke rose to ascertain the cause of delay, and then 
 saw that Jane was talking to Nora outside on the 
 walk ; he overheard them also quite distinctly. 
 
 " I shall go about my things directly ; this time it 
 will be a long visit, I am sure," said Nora. " You 
 may as well assist me, or else go and ask leave from 
 mamma at once ; for the carriage is to come in the 
 morning, and I shall have scarcely time to be ready. 
 How kind of Mrs. Bradel ! Look at the note ; she 
 wants you to come also, but I suppose there is little 
 chance of that?" 
 
 " You are going, then ? " enquired Jane, quietly, 
 handing back the note. 
 
 " Going ! I am going mad with joy." 
 
 " Only as Luke is here, I thought it might be as 
 well to wait," Jane added, with some hesitation. 
 " Any other week will do quite as well, and he pos-
 
 200 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 sibly may be disappointed if you go away just now. 
 Perhaps he won't remain if you do ? " 
 
 "Why not? won't mamma, you, every one else, 
 be here. Besides, what has he to say to it? he 
 would on the contrary feel much annoyed if, on his 
 account, I gave up a pleasure : at least so he ought ; 
 and this is a great pleasure, indeed. But it is a 
 drawback that we are in mourning," Nora added 
 quickly, " as I can't wear my blue silk ; and the other 
 dress, though not unbecoming, is too matronly, and 
 spoils my figure. However, as absolutely black, it 
 must be a bit of scarlet ; a ribbon or flower in my 
 hair will make things do very well. You know 
 black and red always become me ; they really are my 
 own colours." 
 
 " If you are determined to go then, I suppose you 
 had better see about it at once ; I have nothing 
 more to say," said Jane, coldly moving towards the 
 house. 
 
 And from behind the window blind Luke heard 
 every word of this. The light indifference of her 
 words hurt him sufficiently ; but the matter of her 
 conversation hurt him more. So the very mourning 
 which, out of respect to his mother, decency com- 
 pelled her to wear, was felt to be an inconvenience 
 and a grievance. Evidently she but wanted a
 
 DISSOLVING VIEWS. 201 
 
 tolerable excuse to escape from what her vanity with 
 difficulty accepted as a sort of disgrace. At that 
 moment the scales seemed to fall for an instant from 
 Luke's eyes, and let him see much that was inexplic- 
 able in her conduct hitherto. It was by no means 
 a pleasant discovery, and brought little contentment. 
 He leant his brow against the sash, and plainly asked 
 himself if Nora was entirely false or only fickle a 
 trifling person, excited at the prospect of visiting a 
 great house, and intoxicated with mere empty 
 giddiness ? 
 
 But while still debating the question in the same 
 abstracted attitude, Nora burst radiant into the room ; 
 she was quite happy now with the prospect of coming 
 pleasure ; her temper had amazingly improved, and 
 she was consequently ready to be on perfect terms 
 with her cousin and with all the world. She wished 
 indeed especially for peace with him, and already sin- 
 cerely regretted her previous smartness. But it was 
 late ; and her attempts at reconciliation or reparation 
 were out of season. He chose to be absurdly grave 
 during the last few hours they passed together, and so 
 decidedly resisted advances from her, that at length 
 she desisted, and pettishly left him to indulge his 
 mood. If he chose to be so unkind merely because 
 she took a little enjoyment, it was not surely her
 
 202 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 affair such tyranny as that was not to be endured ; 
 and it was also quite as unjust of Jane to affect a 
 serious face, and try to make her feel vaguely in 
 the wrong for merely accepting a friendly invitation. 
 So Nora went away, leaving things unsettled as they 
 were, and a few days afterwards Luke returned to 
 Ormiston.
 
 203 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 ON THE TEEKACE. 
 
 " You are back to the office, then ; going into harness 
 again ? and quite right," Lumney said to Luke, when 
 the latter came to announce that determination. 
 "A man should always work when he is able. I 
 would myself but for confirmed habits; and when 
 one has confirmed habits, I hold it as good an 
 excuse for idleness as any other. If in my youth 
 I had had your advantages such another * memento 
 mori ' as myself to put my hand upon, with something 
 to do, and also the mind to do it I might have been 
 on the whole perhaps a distinguished and respectable 
 person. But take warning by me, and beware of 
 indolent dilettanteism and the luxury of bachelor 
 bliss. The sweet far niente has ruined my career, 
 and truly made the happiness -of my existence. No 
 doubt there is nothing like it, but my life has been 
 for myself, and not for others to imitate. And do 
 you never mind, but hurry on fast through the world
 
 204 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 your own way. Life has many things worth having : 
 even if one should miss what is highest and best, 
 don't suppose when the gross lot is drawn, that the 
 remainder are all worthless blanks. There are other 
 tickets in the lottery; other interests on our own 
 level, and on easy range, worth having, believe me ; 
 even suppose you don't think so now, you will by- 
 and-by, so lose no time in getting your hands free, 
 and being master of yourself." 
 
 Luke went gravely back to his work ; and so far 
 from needing effort to approach it now, it was a 
 refuge and resource to him, a means of keeping 
 thought away, of preventing the anxiety and sinking 
 down of hope that came with reflection. For cer- 
 tainly hope was somewhat duller than formerly no 
 longer shone in colours of the old permanent hue. 
 Not that he cared less for Nora: desire does not 
 become more feeble because the object of it be moved 
 farther out of reach ; but he had a less present, less 
 impatient sense of longing regarding her ; perhaps 
 the sentiment was therefore all the deeper, because 
 more provident and mature. He resolved at all 
 events to forego every opportunity of meeting her for 
 awhile, because it seemed as if some impending crisis 
 would come itself to settle things without direct 
 interference on his part; so he buried himself in
 
 ON THE TERRACE. 205 
 
 employment, and shrank from any sort of confidence 
 even with Lumney. Indeed, his friend did not press 
 it. Lumney was already sufficiently well informed 
 on Luke's affairs to be independent of direct ex- 
 planation, and by this time had also seen enough of 
 Nora to have also strong opinions of his own regarding 
 her ; but these he kept private. He must find out 
 that for himself, he thought, with full confidence, 
 trusting likewise to the wisdom of time. 
 
 Though Luke faithfully abstained from meeting 
 Nora, he could not avoid hearing frequently of her ; 
 indeed the talk then rife of private theatricals in 
 contemplation at Everley interested him particularly, 
 as probably Nora would be prominently concerned in 
 them. And it happened further, late one afternoon, 
 on the way to Mr. Dacer's private residence, that 
 he met Mr. Pennet near the Everley gate, who 
 gave him the latest particulars thereupon. " Those 
 charades were so successful, that the next perform- 
 ance was to be on a grander scale ; a more extended 
 audience was to be sought amidst families of the 
 neighbourhood. It was even a question of send- 
 ing to London for dresses and scenery ; and, more- 
 over, exactly as Luke had suspected, Miss Nora 
 Troye held a prominent role in them. Her acting 
 was the leading feature of their success.''
 
 206 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 This intelligence did not exactly produce the lively 
 pleasure Mr. Pennet seemed to expect it should, and 
 Luke accordingly civilly declined his invitation to 
 pass up through the Everley grounds ; although that 
 would have considerably lessened the distance to 
 Mr. Dacer's, and, further, would have likewise 
 proved a pleasure as well as a convenience ; for he 
 must certainly have met his cousin then, as, together 
 with Caroline, she was found walking on the terrace 
 when Mr. Pennet reached the house. It was so very 
 warm, that Nora had come out in her evening 
 costume with uncovered shoulders, and Mr. Pennet 
 paused to look at her with new surprise ere he passed 
 up-stairs. She was really getting more decidedly 
 beautiful every day. 
 
 "You have been into town; did you call at the 
 club for my letters ? " Edwin Bradel asked, throwing 
 up the window of his dressing-room, and languidly 
 leaning out on the sill as Mr. Pennet entered. " How 
 is any one to be expected to dress this weather ; it is 
 as hot as midsummer, and Stephens actually came to 
 ask awhile ago if I would have the fire lighted. I 
 shall certainly discharge him. Was anything doing ? 
 any news in town ? I am now altogether out of the 
 world." 
 
 " Well, nothing that you care for, but what you
 
 ON THE TERRACE. 207 
 
 know of already : only the story about Penrose and 
 Miss Troye," replied Mr. Pennet, carelessly. "It 
 is said to be quite settled : and I should not wonder, 
 for I happened to meet him at the gate just now ; 
 and he has all the air of an engaged man. How- 
 ever, on account of his mother's death, nothing can 
 be immediate. By-the-by, Lynch wants to see you 
 about your boat : well I remembered it, w Mr. Pennet 
 added, for " there is some difficulty with the harbour- 
 master as to the new moorings, and he wants positive 
 and immediate directions. It appears she obstructs 
 the fair-way of the river at present, and must move 
 inside the east buoy. I am not clear on nautical 
 matters or on the merits of the question ; but the 
 upshot is that Lynch has got a week's notice to quit, 
 and wants to see you immediately : he will come 
 here in the morning ; I told him about ten." 
 
 "That boat has been a continued torment this 
 year," said Bradel, with ill-humour ; " and if she went 
 gently to the bottom some night, it would be a happy 
 riddance. Obstruct the fair-way? Nonsense. It 
 is mere spite of Thornton, because I would not sign 
 his memorial to the Admiralty last year. Why, the 
 Cynthia moored in the middle of the channel these 
 three seasons, and nothing was said of it" 
 
 " If you rich people had everything your own way,
 
 208 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 my dear fellow, -you know, we could never put up 
 with it. Those are the inevitable inconveniences of 
 property the only consolation our poverty has left. 
 But see, the ladies are dressed already," added 
 Mr. Pennet, coming to the window, leaning out 
 familiarly over Bradel's shoulder. " And how very 
 well Miss Middleton looks to-day! how becomingly 
 dressed ; near her the other seems plain, almost 
 vulgar even. Certainly it is no advantage to Miss 
 Troye to compare with your young lady; and 
 viewed thus together, it is not Penrose one would 
 envy, I should think ? " 
 
 As he spoke the ladies passed together on the 
 terrace, slowly walking to and fro ; and, indeed, 
 Caroline did look well, with a light shawl drawn over 
 her evening dress, that gave additional height and 
 elegance to her perfect figure. There were pretty 
 glittering things about her, also most becoming to 
 her graceful beauty ; fresh ribbons and laces, pearls 
 on her wrists, pearls woven in her soft fair hair, and 
 trinkets and bracelets that sparkled lightly and with 
 enhanced effect beside Nora's plain mourning and 
 simple toilet, For the latter was all in black : except 
 one vermilion spot, a blood-red geranium blossom in 
 the thick masses of her splendid hair, she wore no 
 ornament ; nor colour either, save when a ray from
 
 ON THE TERRACE. 209 
 
 the setting sun lit up behind, shedding a soft roseate 
 reflection on her uncovered perfect shoulders. 
 
 Not only was the character of Nora's beauty 
 heightened, but the expression even of her least 
 movement gained directly from contrast with Caro- 
 line. Her clear ringing voice rose distinctly above 
 the other's subdued and softer tones; the precise 
 rounded words came out, distinct and well chosen, 
 as she passed on with a confident ease, most opposite 
 to the feminine dependence and retiring mildness of 
 her companion's manner. There was an assumed 
 superiority on Nora's part that even Caroline herself 
 unconsciously acknowledged, as with a creeping pre- 
 sentiment she drew her shawl close as against some 
 dread mysterious chill. What was it of late that 
 brought sometimes this sense of undefined anxiety 
 and misery, taking the form of a vague, selfish fear 
 which quite absorbed the genial essence of her nature, 
 and filled it with unfriendliness? Why was she 
 sometimes impelled to like Nora less, and of all times 
 least when alone together thus ? 
 
 As in obedience to that troubled thought, she 
 now looked inquiringly into Nora's face, with strange 
 doubtful timidity, Edwin from the window above 
 had full leisure minutely to scan his mistress's features. 
 Perhaps he was not quite of Mr. Pennet's favourable 
 
 14
 
 210 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 opinion just then: it might not have appeared 
 that she was unusually beautiful, so strikingly 
 superior to Miss Troye. The lot in store for Luke 
 Penrose, perhaps, might have looked too nearly on 
 a level with his own to be quite agreeable ; for, rich 
 and great as he was, heir to acres and a name, what 
 right had the other to equality of happiness with 
 him ? Comparison between them was in itself a kind 
 of wrong ; yet even to his presumed partial eyes the 
 ladies on the terrace might well compare. 
 
 And yielding to the calm influence of the hour, 
 Edwin continued to watch them thoughtfully. The 
 stillness of the garden also inclined irresistibly to 
 reflection; it was so pleasant to hear the voices 
 mingle with the clear splashing of the wide marble 
 fountain, that alone disturbed the deep silence, as 
 the great sun sank gorgeously in grand calm, 
 leaving a furnace of glowing orange above the hill, 
 shooting out broad lurid lines of dying purple far 
 into the grey eastern sky. 
 
 " Allons ! you are man of the house, and may be 
 as late as you please, but I must conform to pre- 
 scribed rules and see about dressing," Mr. Pennet 
 said presently, moving away, and leaving his inat- 
 tentive friend still lounging thoughtfully at the 
 window.
 
 211 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 AN UNLUCKY CHANCE. 
 
 LATER on this evening the large cedar sash of the 
 drawing-room window was thrown up, and seen from 
 the garden the family grouped inside it made a pretty 
 picture. Nora prominently placed, the principal 
 foreground figure, with her white round arm resting 
 on the casing ; but more distinguished by a marked 
 vivacity of manner, as she sometimes laughingly 
 turned to address Mr. Pennet or Edwin on either 
 side. She was very beautiful, then ; a thrilling sense 
 of inward pleasure told her so ; she felt the admira- 
 tion of the eyes around her, and her spirit rose and 
 quickened with the sense of it. The crimson satin 
 hangings behind, lowered in hue by the soft tones 
 of twilight, harmonized well with her dark costume, 
 and gave a finish and rich effect to the picture. Now 
 and then, the drowsy twang of some roving beetle 
 hummed by, or a brushing of wings came quite 
 close, as a late crow glided northward to the rookery. 
 
 142
 
 212 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 And the deep stillness yet pervading the atmosphere 
 was also in agreeable keeping ; the great wide 
 heavens in grand repose, with a sinking melancholy 
 autumn tint yet lingering in tne west. 
 
 " Though calm at present, I do not trust it never- 
 theless," Mrs. Bradel said, presently. " This trea- 
 cherous quiet seems to foretell a storm, and we shall 
 certainly have rain to-night ; for already the birds 
 have disappeared, and a cloud gathers on Farrel Hill. 
 If the gardeners have gone without taking in the 
 plants, our petunias will suffer. I wish we had Jane 
 Troye awhile to superintend the garden ; for I am 
 myself too deficient in patience, in skill, and, indeed, 
 in perseverance, to be of much use : nor has Caroline 
 much the advantage of me either (with a smile), for 
 the garden at the lodge is certainly very inferior to 
 Jane's." 
 
 "Employ me for a season, Mrs. Bradel," said 
 Nora, promptly : " I never have exactly tried garden- 
 ing yet ; but as I don't find difficulty in doing any- 
 thing when others must do my bidding, I might 
 succeed in it, as it is only putting my own hand to 
 work which upsets me. Shall I to-morrow arrange 
 a list of the flowers intended for the show ? though 
 I cannot indeed to-morrow, on account of my part 
 my cdious part, I forgot that. It was you, Mr. Pen-
 
 AN UNLUCKY CHANCE. 213 
 
 net, proposed those elaborate charades, and thereby 
 changed our amusement to an irksome task ; inducing 
 us to undergo a world of trouble with only the 
 certainty of being ultimately laughed at for our 
 pains. However, it is certain I can't learn my part, 
 for I have tried my utmost, and find it altogether 
 out of the question ; so some one else must take my 
 place, or the whole affair will utterly fail. What if 
 we were to elude the difficulty by abandoning the 
 project altogether? What do you say, Caroline; 
 would it not be the easiest way? Suppose we set 
 the carpenters to pull the theatre down to-morrow, 
 and have done with it once for all ? " 
 
 Caroline at the moment was inattentive, and only 
 started at being directly addressed. 
 
 " But you are always for what every one likes," 
 Nora continued : " so different from me. I am never 
 without a way of my own, and seldom feel hesitation 
 either in expressing it freely : at least when a gentle- 
 man is in the case, when it is one that I do not like, 
 he is seldom left long in doubt about it." 
 
 " Under circumstances, that might be the truest 
 kindness," said Mr. Pennet. 
 
 "And the most disinterested also, as one can't 
 reasonably expect the least credit for it," answered 
 Nora, idly unclasping her fan. The hair parting with
 
 214 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 a fine sweep off her open brow, as she inclined towards 
 Edwin, displayed her forehead to the best advan- 
 tage ; but, the large lustrous eyes, although opening 
 in his direction, did not at the same time notice that 
 Caroline had risen erect upon the sofa, and that 
 Mrs. Bradel observed her now with a curiously 
 awakened interest. The vivid consciousness of 
 triumph, however, was too intense for prudence ; 
 her spirits were at the moment exalted far above 
 reflection, and as deeper shadows came over the 
 fading room, she sat in the lessened area of light by 
 the window, like a magic queen of night : like some 
 fascinating creation of a fantastic dream sweeping 
 her glittering fan to and fro, while rising darkness 
 seemed to obey the spell, and gathered denser around. 
 
 But as the ringing tones of her voice floated out 
 wide upon the garden, Nora little suspected to 
 whose watchful ears they reached what an eager 
 witness of every look and movement of hers then lay 
 concealed in the skirt of shrubbery below the flower- 
 knot 
 
 For so it was. Luke, returning late from Mr. 
 Dacer's, had taken the shorter way home through the 
 Everley grounds, and being accidentally attracted by 
 the sound of voices, had approached the house and 
 detected his cousin.
 
 AN UNLUCKY CHANCE. 215 
 
 " So there is an end of it all now, at last," he 
 muttered, in awhile rising from his concealment as 
 the dusk deepened, and across the garden the figures 
 in the window grew shadowy and indistinct. " I 
 have been blind and dull past belief; but now at 
 length I have done with her for ever. I shall never 
 meet her again : shall cast her aside, abjure and re- 
 nounce all thought of her at once." 
 
 He turned rapidly away as he spoke away down 
 the steep plantations. But it was not so easy as he 
 anticipated to abstain, at least, from thinking of his 
 cousin ; for on reaching the main road, he found that 
 at the moment it was impossible for him to think of 
 anything else, and immediately, therefore, he regretted 
 his precipitancy in quitting his position : something 
 in his own mind connected Nora with a thought 
 so extravagant and improbable, that it seemed but 
 right for him, for every one with an interest in her, 
 at once to ascertain if such a wild, improbable sus- 
 picion as that were supported by a shadow of evi- 
 dence. No scruples prevented him from playing the 
 spy in such a case ; the end seemed of importance 
 sufficient to authorize the use of any means. So 
 presently retracing his steps, he returned again to 
 the window. 
 
 It was now entirely dark, and the party having
 
 216 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 quitted their former position, were variously grouped 
 round the tea-table ; but as the room was brilliantly 
 lighted, Luke had a more perfect view than before. 
 
 In some time after his arrival, Mr. Pennet abruptly 
 rose and left the room, then stood awhile in the hall 
 door as if about to come into the garden ; but pre- 
 sently his light passed upstairs through the lobby 
 windows, then along the wing, until it stopped in one 
 room and remained there : Mr. Pennet had merely 
 snatched a moment to write his letters and see after 
 his affairs. Shortly afterwards old Mr. Bradel entered, 
 momentarily causing a visible effect, for chairs were 
 placed, and places changed. He shook hands with 
 Nora, and sat by her; but soon quitted his chair 
 again : then his son took it. 
 
 Nora was placed nearest to the window, and Edwin 
 sat beyond, farther into the room ; occasionally full 
 under the light, when in talking he accidentally bent 
 towards her now quiet profile. How delicate and fine 
 that profile looked in the streaming white light of the 
 chandelier ! Already it was changed in character ; had 
 lost the hard cold look of merely triumphant pride : 
 it was more gentle, more like Nora's face ; and her 
 fingers passed to and fro about the fine angles of her 
 mouth, also with an absent movement, quite in har- 
 mony with the mild, thoughtful expression. It was
 
 AN UNLUCKY CHANCE. 217 
 
 exactly as she ought to look, in Luke's opinion, and 
 he breathlessly drew nearer, afraid to lose a passing 
 change or movement of the features. " If she would 
 but turn something more ! Could I but once see 
 clearly into her eyes, I would know exactly what 
 to infer." Scarcely was the wish uttered, however, 
 than there was at once an absolute and total eclipse ; 
 for a servant went round the room drawing down 
 the window-blinds one after the other. 
 
 Luke had scarcely realized the effect of this vexation, 
 when he simultaneously perceived it to be the most 
 favourable accident which, under the circumstances, 
 could possibly have occurred ; for as the centre window 
 was still open on account of the heat, nothing evi- 
 dently would be easier than to slip close to the win- 
 dow and quietly push the blind aside. It was now 
 so dark that there would be no risk whatever, and 
 presently the piano was heard the first chords of an 
 accompaniment ; this at once decided him, for if he 
 could not see, he might certainly hear very well what 
 was going on in the room. 
 
 On trial the experiment answered admirably. A 
 friendly irregularity in the blind allowed him perfectly 
 to see one division of the room, and he got into 
 position exactly as the accompaniment merged into a 
 song. The performer was not in view; but as it
 
 218 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 was one of her own songs, he recognized it as readily 
 as the clear voice itself. 
 
 Oh ! come when mournful echoes ring, 
 And the last throstle pipes his catch ; 
 When the swift swallow's wanton wing 
 Dips close beneath the smoking thatch. 
 
 Or later, when the deep'ning sky 
 In dreamy twilight softens all; 
 When in the night-wind's broken sigh 
 The ivy whispers on the walL 
 
 Come, then, and let thy footsteps be 
 As hushed and soft as snow on snow, 
 And like a shadow o'er the lea, 
 Steal to the tryst of long ago. 
 
 I'll wait until the moon's pale light 
 Fades in the dawn until I see 
 The last stars glimmer cold and white, 
 I still will hope, and wait for thee. 
 
 Caroline happened to be near the window, directly 
 opposite to Luke ; and while the music continued, the 
 unusual expression of her features by degrees fixed 
 his attention there to the ultimate exclusion of other 
 objects ; for there was an eagerness a look of painful 
 excitement so foreign to the character of the face, 
 and so much at variance with its ordinary artless 
 simplicity, that the change was in her doubly impres- 
 sive. But when the song ended, during the hum of 
 compliment and laughter which ensued, Luke per-
 
 AN UNLUCKY CHANCE. 219 
 
 ceived her cheek suddenly blotch with a dark spot, 
 and her glance change quickly at some object farther 
 beyond his range. His curiosity as well as his inte- 
 rest was, therefore, so much engaged watching her, 
 that he was momentarily altogether forgetful even 
 of Nora; when his observation was violently inter- 
 rupted by feeling a tight grasp upon his collar, with 
 " So, my al -fresco friend, be good enough to account 
 for yourself," uttered in familiar tones; and Luke 
 found himself face to face with the last man he cared 
 to meet just then with Mr. Pennet. 
 
 After one moment of horrible agony, then the 
 natural excuses, as a matter of course, followed. 
 Mr. Pennet immediately recognized Luke, apologized, 
 and explained. " From his room he had observed a 
 figure traverse the garden, and naturally curious to 
 know what it meant, came down to see. He had 
 given him a start, he perceived ; but presumed Luke 
 would excuse the rudeness of the seizure, as it was 
 done altogether in error." 
 
 But far the worst followed immediately ; for the 
 noise outside had attracted attention in the room, and 
 at once the window filled with eager crowding faces. 
 
 " Why, positively it is Luke ! What does he 
 want ? Why did you give us such a fright ? Can 
 you tell the meaning of this, Mr. Pennet, why
 
 220 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 my cousin is here? and what the matter is?" asks 
 a familiar voice. 
 
 " The matter is," said Luke, with an effort to pre- 
 serve his identity amidst the overwhelming whirl and 
 confusion of all his senses, "that coming down 
 through the grounds from Mr. Dacer's, I was 
 attracted by the music, and thinking to recognize 
 my cousin's voice, stopped at the window to listen. 
 Then " 
 
 Here Mr. Pennet came to his relief, and good- 
 humouredly finished the awkward explanation to 
 every one's apparent satisfaction. 
 
 " You gave us a fright then, and it seems got 
 one yourself also in return; so 'tis all fair," said 
 Bradel, laughing: "decidedly you are as white as a 
 sheet but come in. That Moorish fashion of watch- 
 ing at balconies seems scarcely suitable for our climate, 
 and very likely gives one an appetite. Come, supper 
 will fortunately be ready immediately come in." 
 
 As may be supposed, however, Luke, only anxious 
 to escape quickly out of sight, made the best excuse 
 he could, and hurried away ; leaving his conduct and 
 its apparent motives to be further construed as it 
 might, and especially leaving his cousin Nora ex- 
 cessively provoked at the whole affair : for this time 
 Luke had not only surpassed himself in imprudence,
 
 AN UNLUCKY CHANCE. 221 
 
 but had, moreover, to a certain extent, compromised 
 her. It was, indeed, evident that his indiscretion in- 
 volved her ; for every one looked so unsparingly con- 
 scious afterwards, that if Mr. Pennet had not kindly 
 persevered in directing the conversation on other 
 topics, she could not have endured the very shame of 
 it. Mr. Pennet was always so full of consideration for 
 'others, and had ever such ready tact in doing things 
 at the proper moment : it was his speciality to be 
 always in time ; so that afterwards, on his way up- 
 stairs, it happened that his candle blew out while 
 just passing Edwin's dressing-room, and he went in 
 naturally to re-light it. 
 
 "What! not in bed yet," he said, finding his 
 friend in his dressing-gown, reflectively extended on 
 the sofa. " We must be late this evening, for I 
 can scarcely keep my eyes open ; besides, I have to 
 be in Mocton by eight o'clock to-morrow : at pre- 
 sent I can't understand how to manage it. Fortu- 
 nately, I am not well off; for if rich, I should be 
 so horribly lazy. Every sensible man must hate 
 work as sincerely as I do ; and does, I have no doubt, 
 only that really sensible men are generally too wise 
 to admit the entire truth." 
 
 "I have no fancy for sleep," answered Bradel, 
 indifferently ; " you may as well sit awhile and talk."
 
 222 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 " I suppose you are nervous after the adventure of 
 to-night that is it ; you had better see to have your 
 windows barred," added Mr. Pennet, smiling. " In 
 the darkness, I did not know what to make of it ; for, 
 of course, you may suppose, Penrose was the last 
 man in my mind. What do you think now of his 
 chances with Miss Troye ? To be so caught in the 
 fact ! Fancy his position, poor fellow ! I saw it all 
 in a moment, and was full of compassion for him." 
 
 " You think he came here on purpose, then ? " 
 
 " Oh ! not at all," said Mr. Pennet, smiling ; " how 
 could I fancy anything so absurd as that." 
 
 " That it was not then by accident he came?" 
 
 " Accident ! " 
 
 " But, really, what do you suppose ? " 
 
 " Oh, nothing ; not of course that he was madly 
 jealous of any one in this house. It would be so 
 very difficult to suppose that: that one may see so 
 far even without a candle, I presume," added Mr. 
 Pennet, calmly lighting his own, and going away 
 presently with a glow of suppressed mirth illumi- 
 nating his good-humoured handsome face.
 
 223 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 ON THE BALCONY. 
 
 THE Misses Wilmot, two second-rate belles of a 
 third-rate town, had recently come on a visit to 
 their aunt, Miss Fletcher, and out of compliment to 
 her were invited to Everley; Miss Fletcher being 
 a neighbour and old friend of Mrs. Bradel's. For 
 the amusement of young ladies, however, as gentle- 
 men are deemed indispensable, it was found necessary 
 to invite Captain Seaton and others from Ormiston, 
 and then ultimately more young ladies of the neigh- 
 bourhood; so that almost without intending it, on 
 the appointed evening there was quite a party at 
 Everley, or at least such a number of young people 
 as to make the proposition of an improvised dance 
 in the back drawing-room generally and highly 
 acceptable. 
 
 Miss Fletcher, fortunately also as renowned a 
 musician as remarkable for good nature, cheerfully 
 agreed to devote herself to the piano; so, amidst
 
 224 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 much genuine mirth, the dancing commenced as 
 soon as it was proposed, and continued with unabated 
 spirit The noisy enjoyment of the company atoned 
 for the deficiency of numbers, and prevented the 
 emptiness of the vast room from being noticed. So 
 the party was voted a decided success ; quite as agree- 
 able as unceremonious arrangements of the sort are 
 generally supposed, or, at least, said to be. 
 
 Yet underneath the surface of that enjoyment was 
 considerable clashing of interest and of motives ; a 
 sustained action of secret influences, moving, indeed, 
 in an under-tide, but not wanting therefore in 
 proverbial depth. Many of the company had secret 
 cause for grievous annoyance and vexation, and wore 
 galling sackcloth suits under their holiday finery and 
 smiling faces. Even Mr. Pennet himself, w r ith all 
 his suave exterior and courteous manners, was men- 
 tally ill at ease and much disturbed ; for a skeleton 
 came suddenly to sit with him at the board, and the 
 ruby goblet at his lips was in consequence filled with 
 bitterness. Caroline had come up from the lodge with 
 her cousin, Mr. Roger Wade, and had introduced 
 him to the house. He was the gentleman to whom 
 the marriage of his cousin promised no less than 
 possession of what Mr. Pennet had so long patiently 
 coveted, and latterly almost regarded as his own
 
 ON THE BALCONY. 225 
 
 presentation to Mocton preferment he was besides 
 personally in every way most likely to prove a 
 formidable rival ; being a young man of bland, 
 insinuating manners, of perfect good breeding, and 
 evidently quite disposed also to make the most of 
 his opportunities. 
 
 Then Miss Fletcher herself though labouring 
 with complete devotion, and apparently with artless 
 disengagement of mind at the piano was harassed 
 likewise by much private anxiety on her own account ; 
 for it was as derogatory to her mature experience as it 
 was deeply hurtful to her feelings both as chaperon 
 and as aunt, to perceive that Captain Seaton had 
 never once asked either of her nieces to dance, when 
 really there were the strongest apparent reasons for 
 him to do so, as they were novelties and even pretty 
 girls : and he was moreover an excellent match, had 
 never seen them before, and would suit either of them 
 admirably ; so his avoidance was quite as unintel- 
 ligible as it was provoking. 
 
 Mr. Slingsby indeed devoted himself with strict 
 impartiality to either of the two Miss Wilmots ; but 
 as he held no marketable rank, his attentions were 
 no sort of equivalent consolation whatever : quite the 
 contrary, and by many a manifest collateral frown, 
 Miss Fletcher endeavoured to curb his excessively 
 
 15
 
 226 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 forward and confident advances. She was not indeed 
 aware of the object of intense interest Captain Seaton 
 had himself in the presence of Nora Troye : an interest 
 that as a matter of course was excessively stimulated 
 by her almost impertinent treatment of him during 
 the entire evening ; for his attentions were scarcely 
 received by her with ordinary civility, and she per- 
 sistently refused him for every successive dance. 
 
 Perhaps of all present, Caroline only appeared 
 languid and out of spirits, and alone therefore ap- 
 peared exactly as she sincerely felt. An unac- 
 countable depression had been sometimes of late 
 gaining on her, and often most irresistibly when 
 there was least apparent ground for it: as certainly 
 there was none on this evening. Edwin had danced 
 with her ; only once indeed, but then it would have 
 been ridiculous to remain absolutely together all 
 night, and so recommending her to enjoy herself 
 freely, he had gone smiling away ostensibly, as he 
 announced, to see what the Misses Wilmot were 
 made of: it was the most natural thing in the world 
 for him to do, yet occasionally afterwards Caroline's 
 eyes might be surprised in anxious inquiry following 
 his movements through the room. 
 
 What the Miss Wilmots were made of was a 
 question that at a glance any one might easily resolve ;
 
 ON THE BALCONY. 227 
 
 as rosy cheeks of nearly identical hue, shape, and 
 texture, spotted muslin, and profusion of dimples, 
 were obviously the leading composites both of Miss 
 Wilmot and of Miss Lucy Anne Wilmot. 
 
 And if inclined to examine further, if curious 
 about their intellectual endowments, one had but to 
 sit awhile within hearing of their amiable prattle to 
 be fully enlightened with equal certainty: suppose, 
 during a pause in the dance, as they conversed on 
 either side of Mrs. Bradel, replying to her absent 
 questions concerning a late exhibition of pictures in 
 town. They had a graceful, ingenuous way of talking 
 at, and of themselves, that could not fail to captivate 
 the listener. 
 
 " You mean the one of last summer, Mrs. Bradel ; 
 oh, yes, it was very nice indeed, a very nice exhibi- 
 tion." 
 
 " But we could not stop long enough, you know, 
 because aunt Mary wanted to take Lucy to Scot- 
 land/' replied Miss Wilmot. "That waltz is from 
 the * Traviata,' I am so fond of Verdi's music. But, 
 dear me ! what a dreadful time we stopped in the 
 tunnel coming here ; I was so very nervous, for I am 
 naturally very nervous, and find it impossible to get 
 over it." 
 
 " Yes, but they stopped much longer when first I 
 
 152
 
 228 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 came do\vn to the hunt ball," answered Lucy Anne. 
 " It is not so long ago either, only two years ago ; 
 just after your return." 
 
 " Two years ! Oh, dear ! it must be, I'm sure." 
 
 " Well, the tunnel is not so long open, and one 
 may see, for the date is marked on a stone at the 
 station ; and some one in the train observed it also, as 
 we passed, but I forgot the figures the moment after. 
 I wonder which is Captain Seaton's uniform, scarlet 
 or blue don't you like scarlet ? " 
 
 " Do you mean for myself ? Certainly not, unless 
 it be modulated with white or black. You know my 
 new scarf ? Mamma calls it dingy, but I like it ; I 
 am so fond of quiet colours." 
 
 " Scarlet alone may be trying under most circum- 
 stances," added Mrs. Bradel, with a smile. " Caroline, 
 I am sure, would think so." 
 
 The young ladies had but time to reply that " Miss 
 Middleton, of course, might wear anything," when 
 they severally stood up with the gentlemen who 
 then advanced to claim the honour of their hands. 
 
 All through the evening, Nora had been remark- 
 ably composed and retiring. Her manner might at 
 first glance appear to indicate depression of spirits ; 
 but, on closer scrutiny, it was evidently the calmness 
 of pre-occupation rather than of dejection. If she took
 
 ON THE BALCONY. 229 
 
 every opportunity of refusing to dance, it was less from 
 disinclination for the amusement itself than because 
 it had not been offered to her in the most attractive 
 form. If the right person had asked her, she would 
 have liked nothing better. But, though the accident 
 of position had frequently placed them together 
 though on every occasion he had been sufficiently 
 agreeable and familiar Edwin Bradel had not, for 
 some unaccountable reason, even once asked her 
 
 yet 
 
 She had been sitting so long at last as to become 
 quite remarkable, as well as wearied; moreover 
 Edwin, after various moves in her direction, con- 
 cluded by sinking on the sofa beside Caroline, in a 
 state of lounging contentment that promised perma- 
 nence and greatly diminished the chances of his 
 standing up again for the evening. So her patience 
 being exhausted, Nora ended by accepting the arm of 
 Roger Wade, in not the very best of humours. 
 
 It was, no doubt, a pis alter ; but not absolutely 
 an entire sacrifice, as he was lithe, straight-limbed, 
 of an exact height and obliging disposition, likely to 
 show off her figure and performance to the best 
 advantage, and answer all the recognized ends for 
 which a male dancer was created. Very collected, 
 therefore, considering the nervous distinction, Wade
 
 230 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 swung her up and down the room with considerable 
 success and excellent effect, holding his tongue the 
 while with admirable discretion ; for he saw that it 
 was dancing and not talk was required of him, and 
 he had come out to make himself agreeable. Some- 
 times Nora's dress brushed so close as actually to 
 touch Edwin's feet as she circled round, and some- 
 times his attention was diverted from observing her 
 by overhearing the lively conversation of Slingsby and 
 his partner during the flitting pauses of the dance ; 
 for frequent were the opportunities good-naturedly 
 offered of noting their mutual wit and good taste. 
 
 " Oh ! vile," cried the lady, as Slingsby made an 
 offer of some sparkling refreshment from the butler's 
 tray : you will spoil my dress." 
 
 "At Sutton I am called the pink, Miss W." 
 
 " Pink, I presume, of perfection." 
 
 " Don't try compliments on me ; I know you are 
 a quiz, by your eyes." 
 
 " Isn't Captain Seaton very rich, and isn't his uncle 
 a baronet?" 
 
 " Yes : moreover, his mother is a major." * 
 
 "Fie! I shall sit down if you go on so. What 
 a lovely waltz. Do you like Fanny Brown ? " 
 
 Here they slid off into movement, after a few 
 turns, to come back to the same place again.
 
 ON THE BALCONY. 231 
 
 " I like her," interjectionally. 
 
 " I am sure you like her very much." 
 
 Indeed ! " 
 
 " A dreadful girl who wears two shades of blue. I 
 saw you dancing with her at Drake's." 
 
 " Only to vex Hudson Harvey." 
 
 " And who do you wish to provoke at present by 
 dancing with me ? n 
 
 " Yourself; merely by inflicting a disagreeable 
 partner." 
 
 " What shall I reply to that?" 
 
 " Simper, and say I'm shocking." 
 
 They were off again, and as Edwin's eyes followed 
 their movements, Nora's pale thoughtful features 
 floated up to him. Wrapt in lofty calm, as if her 
 mind were far away, and far above the passing scene, 
 she came up in measured grace as it were upon the 
 music ; the intensity of her poetic beauty contrasting 
 well with the vulgar comeliness, the dimples and 
 smiles of happy Lucy Wilmot She seemed all spirit 
 then, and a noble mournfulness in the face, a senti- 
 ment of suppressed interior suffering akin to that 
 " silent pain of the dark ladye," further interested, 
 further idealized the expression. Swiftly she moved, 
 but with such an evenness and grace of motion that 
 the whispering only of her glossy silks was heard :
 
 232 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 as now full into the light, then away like a passing 
 shadow, she glided into the remoter shadows of the 
 dusky room ; her figure mingling with its dim forms, 
 and the large lustrous eyes growing more brilliant in 
 the distance, lightened with a hard metallic glitter, 
 like the jet bracelets on her wrist. 
 
 Sometimes Edwin surprised those eyes, caught from 
 them a bright momentary gleam ; or sometimes, in a 
 more lengthened meeting, was aware of a prolonged 
 conscious look that certainly did not appear to shun 
 detection : but this was chiefly when at the farther 
 limits of the room ; for on coming nearer, they became 
 calmly unconscious of his presence again. In conse- 
 quence of this Edwin, by degrees, found the conver- 
 sation with Caroline decline, and lose its interest then : 
 indeed, for some time previously, since his observation 
 had been diverted by the dancing, he had returned 
 but careless and abstracted replies to her frequent 
 leading interrogatories; and when, at length, Nora 
 stopped, out of breath and glowing, immediately 
 in front of him, he rose promptly and invited her ; 
 but he did so with an affected listlessness, in a depre- 
 cating, apologetic manner, which was a sort of com- 
 promise for apparent desertion of the sofa. 
 
 At last" 
 
 Nora proved not so very exhausted as to refuse
 
 ON THE BALCONY. 233 
 
 him one turn at least, and with a thrill of pleasure 
 she withdrew her arm from Mr. Wade, who was far 
 too well bred not to be delighted to give way, or do 
 anything else his superiors required. Caroline, per- 
 haps, moved as gracefully, and as lightly ; but she did 
 not dance like Nora ; for a ductility of movement, an 
 insinuating suppleness of the " lissome " form was a 
 peculiar fascination of the latter: a yielding some- 
 thing, which opposed a little even when least palpa- 
 ble, and which was felt only when music and feelings 
 blended, as they did now, in harmonious unity. It 
 was an art with her. Nora danced with expression, 
 as she did everything else when her heart was in it. 
 
 When they commenced to dance, Edwin had a 
 frequent smile or look in passing Caroline; many other 
 objects of interest in the room besides challenged his 
 attention. It was above all amusing to notice the 
 envy in Seaton's face, and feel his hungry eyes fixed 
 upon himself. But gradually his own deepening 
 sensations, and the growing interest in his partner, 
 became wholly engrossing ; as the movement and the 
 music affected him, the spirit of pleasure awakened 
 and filtered through him like an essence, until he 
 became careless of even further observing Caroline ; 
 and as the dancing continued without pause, his 
 enjoyment became plainly evident in his glowing
 
 234 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 countenance. This Caroline might easily have 
 noticed ; but probably did not, as Mr. Pennet acci- 
 dentally came to sit by her on the sofa, and had 
 so much to say, that her attention was necessarily 
 diverted. 
 
 When Nora and her partner rested at length, 
 nothing whatever remarkable had occurred in the 
 room. Other couples continued to enjoy the waltz; 
 indifferent common-places buzzed around, and with a 
 tired expression in his languid eyes Captain Seaton, 
 very pale, was hanging dejectedly over a music-book 
 in a distant corner. Yet something confused and wild 
 whirling in Edwin's brain, made it feel most strange 
 to see everything as usual then. He endeavoured to 
 converse with Nora in their ordinary manner, but 
 could not find a sustained or interesting topic. 
 She was evidently as disinclined or as incapable of 
 conversation, for the arm which he supported hung 
 languidly, and presently she complained of the exces- 
 sive heat ; he, therefore, ordered the end window to be 
 thrown up, and, by a tacitly mutual consent, they 
 together passed out upon the balcony. 
 
 The moon was wanting ; but the heavens were a 
 vault of deep blue enamel, richly warmed by a liquid 
 starlight It was softer, fresher, scarcely cooler, than 
 in the room ; and an odorous incense of honeysuckle
 
 ON THE BALCONY. 235 
 
 and thyme steamed upward from the perfumed beds 
 underneath, as Edwin leant upon the rail of the 
 balcony, looking down the park over the dark crowd- 
 ing masses of bosky foliage. Just opposite them, 
 through a break in the chesnuts, a single star 
 attracted his notice a large lucid star, so intensified 
 in colour by the surrounding blackness of the cold 
 shadowy boughs, that it burned bright and red, and 
 seemed as positive as a beacon light. Presently he 
 drew her attention also to it ; but Nora, turning aside 
 indifferently, and with a sigh sat down upon the 
 balcony. 
 
 " I have nothing to do with stars," she said : " they 
 are emblems of hope ; and for those without hope, 
 as I am, even the bright heavens themselves are dull 
 and silent." 
 
 The sigh was repeated more plainly, and by the 
 tinted light stealing behind through the silken hang- 
 ings, he also noticed her heaving bosom; he was 
 quick to be touched at the moment, for his own 
 impressions were in harmonious accord ; and her soft 
 and plaintive voice, her matchless beauty, sincerely 
 enlisted his sympathies : he felt vaguely for her. 
 
 "Are you indeed so unhappy?" Something 
 smothered up further utterance on his lips. Too 
 consciously vivid a sense of interest, perhaps a dread
 
 236 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 of yielding to such dangerous, overpowering com- 
 passion, checked the words for a moment; and 
 abruptly turning, he looked again over the sloping 
 lawn, now no longer calm, for the influences of the 
 moment, during the pause, quickly gathered in upon 
 him closer. 
 
 At length yielding, and yielding with a definite 
 sense of culpability, he bent low, very low, near her, 
 and said said, no matter what ; any common-place 
 was enough. It was the hesitating tone, the eager 
 manner, which addressed her, not the words. 
 
 "I never remember a more agreeable waltz. 
 How comes it we never danced together before?" 
 
 " I don't know, Mr. Bradel." And with the mur- 
 mured reply, a soft flame stole upward from those 
 eyes, where brilliancy now melted into a liquid, 
 dangerous depth. The sigh which accompanied was 
 also genuine and irresistible ; for many things at the 
 moment combined to affect Nora, and she was truly 
 moved. Edwin, ever kind to her, had for the past 
 days been more than courteous and attentive, so that 
 gratitude and friendliness, if no tenderer feelings, 
 were but natural. 
 
 But a bitter fancy also returned to move her; one 
 which, even if ill-grounded, had occasionally sufficed 
 before to disturb the too nicely balanced serenity of
 
 ON THE BALCONY. 237 
 
 her mind: it was a regret for an assumed possibility; 
 grief that her return from school had not been 
 hastened. For it was cruel to believe that such a 
 trifling cause as mere accidental delay should have 
 had such important effect ; that the space of a few 
 months only should make all the difference, and cause 
 such a permanently unhappy deviation in the whole 
 destiny of her life. 
 
 As these thoughts chased rapidly through her mind 
 Edwin meanwhile stood silently opposite that fixed 
 watchful star. It was neither the interest nor the 
 beauty of the night, nor the floating melody of the 
 music from inside, which engaged him ; still less was 
 it anything precisely allied to the operation of 
 thought. He was merely pausing on the brink of 
 guiltiest compliance; for that same voice and look 
 had met him once before in the drawing-room of 
 Middleton Lodge, and now identical and as imme- 
 diate results followed from it. The remainder of 
 his prudence quickly dissolved before the heated pulse 
 of flaming passion it awakened. 
 
 He moved close to her again closer still, and 
 was actually about to speak, when momentary sounds 
 of laughter from the window behind checked him ; 
 then a shadow came, as if some one stood intercepting 
 the light from the room, or was about to enter the
 
 238 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 balcony. But presently the shadow passed again; 
 the voices died away. Then he spoke, or at least 
 would have done so, if extreme surprise had not 
 checked him suddenly. 
 
 " Miss Troye, Miss Troye I " he repeated, then 
 bending nearer towards her averted face. " What 
 is the matter? what have I done? what has hap- 
 pened?" he added in a breath, with excessive warmth, 
 perceiving that Nora was in floods of tears. 
 
 " Nothing ! I have received nothing indeed from 
 you but kindness genuine kindness. Forgive me 
 if I cannot restrain myself ; for I am so wretched 
 so very wretched," and she leant again upon the 
 railing and wept continuously. 
 
 " If I can do anything, trust me. Only confide in 
 me as a friend. Is there anything in my power ? Is 
 there anything I may do for you?" he asked in a 
 whirl of extreme confusion and surprise. 
 
 " It is wrong of me ; you should not witness this : 
 you will forgive, you will forget it," she said. " But 
 when my feelings break out I cannot help them, and 
 you are the last person who should see me thus 
 affected. But you will not remember, nor speak of 
 it," she added eagerly ; " I trust to your kindness, to 
 your compassion, to your honour for that." 
 
 " Say if I may do anything for you : I cannot
 
 ON THE BALCONY. 239 
 
 bear to see you "unhappy, Miss Troye, indeed I 
 cannot." 
 
 " You are so good ; but go away now go away 
 at once : it is better you should leave me at once : 
 better for both of us. I cannot recover while you are 
 there. And you will go ; you are so considerate and 
 kind. Out of pity, out of good nature, I ask you 
 to leave me ! " 
 
 A moment afterwards Mr. Pennet's head looked 
 for an instant from the window draperies behind, 
 and withdrew again almost as quickly as the pass- 
 ing gleam faded from his handsome features ; while 
 he slid his hand absently across his shining auburn 
 curls, and still remained standing a few paces from 
 the window, inside of the room. 
 
 It would be so excessively inconvenient if one 
 less discreet were to pass on the balcony just then, 
 that merely as friend to Edwin he should endeavour 
 to prevent it. And well, indeed, it was that he re- 
 mained there ; for Captain Seaton at length crossed 
 the room towards the window. It was plain for 
 what purpose, and where he would certainly have 
 gone to, if Mr. Pennet had not skilfully contrived 
 to arrest his progress by a series of voluble and 
 important remarks of irresistible interest : " the 
 strength of the depot battalion, the latest regulations,
 
 240 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 and likelihood of orders for India, his own expressed 
 inclination for an Indian chaplaincy, even the price 
 of the horse he had to sell ; " and when at length 
 every topic, local, civil, and military, was exhausted, 
 and his companion began finally to move, even then 
 Mr. Pennet had still something to say in a very loud 
 tone, and while yet speaking passed out first on the 
 halcony himself. 
 
 No matter what was interrupted, Captain Seaton 
 could not possibly have observed anything suspicious, 
 as Nora was found upon the seat, agitating her fan 
 a little violently indeed, considering the freshness of 
 the night ; while Bradel, with striking carelessness, 
 had his back turned, gazing listlessly at the same 
 star again. They were so carefully placed away 
 from the range of light that whatever evidences 
 of trepidation their faces might have afforded could 
 not possibly be noticed. 
 
 " Come I supper is announced," Mr. Pennet said, 
 then offering his arm to Nora ; thus enabling her to 
 re-enter the room in the easiest manner: shortly 
 afterwards Bradel and Seaton followed, talking with 
 careless cheerfulness. Therefore, considering all the 
 circumstances and the difficulty of the case, the entry 
 was well and creditably achieved. But the fir^t thing 
 Edwin met on crossing the window was a strange,
 
 ON THE BALCONY. 241 
 
 nervous kind of look from Caroline, who stood up 
 to receive him. He did not, however, dwell upon that 
 expression, nor either go near her just then ; as Miss 
 Lucy Wilmot was fortunately next him, he gave her 
 his arm down to supper.
 
 242 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 MERITS CANVASSED. 
 
 WE are so prone to exaggerate the effect of our 
 actions, and to over-estimate our own importance in 
 the world, that Luke at first tormented himself very 
 successfully as to the amount of sensation his adven- 
 ture of the window might be likely to create and the 
 misunderstanding it might receive ; especially from 
 Nora, who was sure to misinterpret the act and hate 
 him for it : it must at all events, he was sure, expose 
 the secret of his life, and furnish a fund of sarcasm 
 at his cost- It might, however, have been something 
 hurtful to his vanity to learn what little noise it really 
 did make, and how very few thought or cared any- 
 thing about it : the world had its own daily business 
 to mind, and Luke was far too insignificant a per- 
 sonage to engage its busy attention. So after merely 
 being once or twice repeated as a tolerably good 
 story, the matter was quietly passed over and for- 
 gotten ; particularly as other topics arose at the time
 
 MERITS CANVASSED. 243 
 
 of extreme social interest further to curtail its exist- 
 ence topics affording much room for gossiping sur- 
 mise and exciting conjecture. 
 
 For it was at first vaguely rumoured, and then 
 established beyond any question or doubt, however 
 various the manifold additions grafted on the main 
 fact might have been, that a fracas of some serious 
 sort had recently occurred at Everley Hall a violent 
 misunderstanding, or even downright quarrel be- 
 tween the heads of each house, on questions arising 
 out of forms connected with the projected mar- 
 riage ; a quarrel which was sufficiently serious, some 
 asserted, to oblige Edwin, who appeared to take an 
 opposite side from his father, to quit Everley and 
 reside permanently at the club. An act so decided 
 as this, necessarily gave rise to a world of talk in 
 the town ; and accordingly, amidst a variety of sur- 
 mises, it was alleged that Mr. Middleton's proposals 
 of settlement on his daughter were not such as 
 Mr. Bradel affirmed he had been led all along to 
 expect, and that their mutual views on the subject were 
 urged with a warmth which rather widened the 
 difference, and ultimately led each party to retire, 
 leaving things unsettled. 
 
 " It was simply monstrous of a man like Middleton 
 to think of putting off his daughter with only a 
 
 162
 
 244 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 thousand pounds," Miss Fletcher said to her friend 
 Mrs. Drake. " What did the old miser mean to do 
 with his money ? Making a match, too, fit for a 
 princess! no wonder that Mr. Bradel felt it; for 
 Mr. Bradel, whatever they said, was a gentleman 
 every inch, and it was not so much the money as the 
 meanness of it that touched him. Middleton is such 
 a Jew that from the moment he saw the son bent 
 on the match, his only thought was to get out of 
 it cheaply ; and his wife is just as bad, perhaps the 
 worst of the two : very likely indeed that the shab- 
 biness is all on her side, as her grandfather was a 
 ship-chandler down at the port, and good blood 
 never yet took kindly to money-getting ; while the 
 Middletons, since time immemorial, have been gentle 
 both by lineage and kin." 
 
 "But some say the Bradels are altogether to 
 blame in the business," replied Mrs. Drake, " and I 
 have heard it said that, considering his present con- 
 dition, Middleton's offer was reasonable enough. It 
 appears his farming engagements are now on a scale 
 to absorb all his money, and that, consequently, 
 without great sacrifice, he could not immediately 
 withdraw a large sum ; so instead, he proposed an 
 annuity chargeable on his property a far better 
 thing, every one agrees, and you know what an
 
 MERITS CANVASSED. 245 
 
 9 
 
 estate it is. But Mr. Bradel unaccountably stands 
 out for money, absolutely for money, as if merely 
 to put difficulties in the way ; it is asserted even that 
 such is his only object, and that he is not half as 
 well pleased, nor was he from the beginning as 
 satisfied with the affair as he pretended. Now con- 
 sidering the kind of man he is, how high he always 
 carried his head, that does not seem so unlikely ; 
 although for my part, the Middletons are good enough 
 in every way, and, as you say, they were always 
 gentlemen ; while every one knows where the 
 Bradels came from." 
 
 "True; but the Bradels hold a high rank at 
 present, and may look to any alliance : besides, there 
 is something in present rank." 
 
 " Doubtless ; but as by wealth alone such rank 
 was attained, it follows that if the Middletons be also 
 rich, the match is equal." 
 
 " Even so : nevertheless, if equally wealthy, 
 the families are not of the same footing in the 
 county ; that you must allow : they don't both visit 
 at Delamere, for instance." 
 
 " A point directly, I maintained, in favour of the 
 Lodge people. The Bradels may hold actually a 
 higher place because they worked harder for it ; 
 there was need for them to push, and they have
 
 246 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 
 
 always been pushing, from father to son ; while the 
 Middletons are now where they always were, hold- 
 ing their own position easily, because entitled to it ; 
 and if to-morrow both families were to become poor, 
 the Middletons would scarcely fall lower, while the 
 Bradels must disappear altogether. That is ever the 
 difference between your parvenu and a true gentle- 
 man." 
 
 "A true gentleman Jacob Middleton a true 
 gentleman ! you have settled it now. However, it is 
 certain a coldness does exist between the families, 
 for even Mr. Pennet admits as much." 
 
 " I heard not : they say at Madame Tuille's that 
 he denies it positively, and it isn't likely he would 
 admit it Mr. Pennet is so very cautious." 
 
 " Well, I am certain of it, for I never saw a woman 
 so changed latterly as Mrs. Middleton. Depend, there 
 is something on her mind, and she will never be easy 
 until she has him tied and safe ; and I wish indeed 
 she had, poor woman. I saw Nora Troye driving 
 with Mrs. Bradel, yesterday: how well she is 
 looking ! " 
 
 " Yes, I wonder how she became so intimate there, 
 and especially as one never sees Jane with her : isn't 
 it odd ? Though Jane is such a stay at home, that 
 may be accounted for. Still I don't think it an ad-
 
 MERITS CANVASSED. 247 
 
 vantage to be ever seen with people who, as it were, 
 appear not to recognize her family : I know it is 
 not so in this instance, for Mrs. Bradel visits at the 
 Cottage ; only it has that appearance. It may be a 
 romantic notion of mine, but I don't think it quite 
 respectable : there is too much of patronage in it. 
 Just because a girl happens to be lively or pretty, 
 to lift her out of her family is not respectable ; it is 
 not at all events to my taste, and anything but fair 
 to her either. I should feel quite ashamed if any 
 mere acquaintance, like Mrs. Bradel, were to become 
 suddenly attached to my Kate, and take her away 
 from her home : I should feel it anything but a com- 
 pliment, I promise you." 
 
 " My dear, they are out of their senses at it ; and 
 Mrs. Troye does nothing but talk the Bradels at you 
 from morning till night : Nora this, Nora that ; and 
 Mrs. Bradel says 'tis disgusting. But what can you 
 expect from a vulgar woman like Mrs. Troye ? though 
 Jane certainly ought to know better. However, there 
 is an excuse for it ; an excellent reason for getting 
 her anywhere away from home at present : an en- 
 tanglement, or some such sort of school-girl affair 
 with young Penrose, I believe, that they want to put 
 an end to. Mrs. Darrel told me all about it the 
 other day ; and very likely it is Jane's reason for leav-
 
 248 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 ing her so much at Everley, which I should think 
 would be the fittest place to get nonsense of that sort 
 quickly out of one's head : and no doubt Jane thinks 
 so likewise," 
 
 "Do you know that young Penrose will not be 
 such a bad match at all ; as Mr. Lumney, they say, 
 intends doing something for him, and my girls like 
 him very well besides : he is an agreeable young man, 
 and his father was a gentleman. Though indeed 
 'twould be an unsuitable thing for Nora Troye un- 
 fortunate for both of them." 
 
 " Unsuitable, do you say, my dear ! Nora Troye 
 is really a pretty girl, and ought to do remarkably 
 well ; why should they throw her away ? Then as to 
 Mr. Lumney's doing for the young man " 
 
 Miss Fletcher leant back in her chair and threw 
 up her hands, at the absurd notion of Mr. Lumney 
 ever doing anything, either for himself or for anybody 
 else.
 
 249 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. 
 
 LUKE thoroughly applied the discipline of hard work 
 to his mind, in the hope of forcing it thereby from 
 the now painful consideration of the subject dearest 
 to him ; as it was all important to his peace to stifle 
 that source of anxiety, for a season at least. But 
 though his efforts to this end were certainly sincere 
 and consistent, his success therein was indifferent in 
 the extreme. To give up thinking of what hitherto 
 had been the great interest of his life, simply on the 
 inference that all chance of it was henceforth lost, 
 was not easy ; to give it up only because the best 
 and freshest sympathies of his nature had been 
 squandered on a venture which seemed to promise 
 no adequate return, was not logical. His will was 
 divided against itself in the effort, and the effort on 
 trial proved beyond his compass. Besides, those late 
 rumours concerning the Bradels interested and dis- 
 turbed him further : connected in his mind as Nora
 
 250 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 was now with the family, everything regarding it 
 was of importance to him. So between an irresistible 
 desire to ascertain the exact truth concerning these 
 reports, and a firm resolution of not wilfully in- 
 dulging any reflections or speculations at all relating 
 to his cousin, he was sometimes in the extremest 
 perplexity. 
 
 One day of leisure he resolutely decided to cut 
 this Gordian knot, by at once going out to talk freely 
 with Jane upon the matter. She was his friend, the 
 safest person he knew of; there had not been any- 
 thing of the nature of confidence between them now 
 for a considerable time, and as Nora he presumed 
 to be still at Everley, there was every likelihood of 
 having Jane uninterrupted and alone. 
 
 Passing through the town on his way to the Cot- 
 tage, with this intention, Luke had occasion to call at 
 a shop, at the door of which he accidentally en- 
 countered Caroline Middleton. It was impossible, as 
 it proved, to pass with out speaking to her then; as the 
 door of the shop was at the moment blocked up by 
 passers, and she was waiting for her mother, engaged 
 on business inside. The few words, however, which 
 first passed lengthened insensibly to a prolonged con- 
 versation; for they were then nearly in the same 
 position, in the same unacknowledged state of dis-
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. 251 
 
 satisfaction and trial, perfectly prepared to coincide 
 unconsciously with each other's mood, and therefore 
 to like each other: a sympathy of suffering united 
 them, and accordingly the impression which the 
 meeting left on the mind of each was identical, and 
 mutually favourable. Caroline noticed the subdued, 
 interesting expression of Luke's face, and he was 
 filled with a vague, deep compassion for her ; a com- 
 passion grounded on the rumoured rupture with the 
 Bradels, of which he supposed her to be the victim. 
 
 The interview was in every way of opposite cha- 
 racter from that which took place at the opening of 
 our tale; both were then exalted with the budding 
 pride of life ; a pride positively expressed in direct 
 scorn of their mutual pretensions. It was not so 
 long ago ; but each had, meanwhile, been taught in 
 different degrees and in different ways something of 
 the same lesson, had acquired some practical expe- 
 rience since of how far the performance of life agreed 
 with its fair promises. Caroline truly had no reason 
 yet to mistrust the full measure of extreme happi- 
 ness her destiny seemed to pledge. Only the shadow 
 of a dark wing had crossed over her and left a passing 
 blight behind it; a vapour had breathed upon the 
 mirror, and her nervous fancy at once saw all things 
 dimly and confused; for if an unforeseen difficulty
 
 252 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 had come at the last moment to disturb, how be sure 
 that some other unforeseen difficulties might not even 
 yet arise to destroy altogether? Oh! she was not 
 sure, perhaps, because her nature was itself deficient 
 in self-reliance and hope. She had vague presen- 
 timents of extreme contingencies, equal in their effect 
 upon herself, though not in themselves as strong and 
 certain, as the grinding conviction which already 
 foreran in Luke's mind the impending utter destruc- 
 tion of all his youthful hopes. 
 
 There had been a slight frost in the morning, and 
 for the season it was cold, so their concluding con- 
 versation had been chiefly concerning the weather. 
 But in how many ways one may talk of the weather: 
 under circumstances, it may become the most interest- 
 ing topic ; and it certainly was not a tiresome one to 
 Luke, who when he ended by ascribing the increased 
 cold to the effect of a thaw, little suspected what an 
 unintentional blow he thereby dealt Caroline. 
 
 " It must be so," he repeated, taking leave of her 
 with a kindly smile : " it must be so, for there is 
 nothing so cold as a thaw." 
 
 " Nothing so cold as a thaw." The words struck 
 with icy weight on Caroline : her mind retained them 
 afterwards with pain. How cruelly apt, how 
 bitterly suggestive, the cold consciousness of change
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. 253 
 
 which had of late crept upon her : of change in 
 another quarter, change in another sort of tempe- 
 rature. This, far more than the vexation arising 
 from mere obvious and material difficulties, was the 
 secret of the chill presentiment which was beginning 
 so rapidly to freeze up the very fountain of her spirits. 
 But Luke went heedlessly on his way, glowing 
 with kindly feelings towards her whom he had just 
 furnished with a text for bitterest reflection. It was, 
 perhaps, the first entirely civil interview which had 
 ever occurred between them, and the gracious feeling 
 it called forth on his side was all the more vivid and 
 impassioned for its novelty. He had hitherto con- 
 sidered Caroline Middleton as pretentious and con- 
 ceited, but at once he saw his mistake now ; she was 
 truly a simple, graceful, and exceedingly pretty girl ; 
 entirely different from Nora, indeed : yes, entirely ; 
 and with a sigh he thought how much better it would 
 be if the difference were something less; if Nora 
 could borrow a share of her winning tenderness and 
 simplicity. Hence it naturally became as plain as 
 possible to Luke now that Edwin Bradel was in 
 great luck, and that Caroline was vastly too good for 
 so entirely worthless an individual; but, since she 
 was satisfied with the affair, he decided that it was 
 as cruel as it was absurd on the face of it, that mere
 
 254 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 money differences should keep people so wealthy 
 asunder. He diversified the way on to the Cottage 
 by alternately lamenting the actually forlorn pro- 
 spects of his own affection, by praising Caroline, and 
 by muttering on her account many a secret and half 
 expressed anathema, alike against old Bradel and 
 old Middleton, with perfect impartiality. 
 
 Age errs so perversely in its dealings with youth, 
 that instead of accepting the honourable and highly 
 complimentary character of utter self-negation as- 
 signed to it by the latter, it is ever greedily covetous : 
 eager to prolong and retain, and pitifully reluctant to 
 make way and yield in turn. The blissful inexpe- 
 rience of youth cannot understand that the office of 
 coining years is surely to move farther away, instead 
 of bringing nearer, the seemingly ever imminent 
 happiness which we all pursue from the cradle to 
 the grave ; and which escapes but more rapidly, as the 
 span shortens and the cold night draws on, when no 
 man may further enjoy. 
 
 Determined still more, if only out of this newly 
 awakened interest in Caroline, to ascertain every pos- 
 sible detail concerning the rupture at Everley, Luke 
 arrived at the Cottage and pulled the bell. 
 
 The door opened, and Nora stood before him. 
 Each had come with the same object, for each had ex-
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. 255 
 
 pected to meet Jane, and each had also the same 
 private reasons for mutual avoidance just then ; yet 
 there they were standing face to face they were 
 face to face. 
 
 Luke spoke first, but awkwardly, and with much 
 hesitation. 
 
 " Good-morrow! when did you return? I did not 
 expect to see you back so soon. Can you say if 
 Jane be at home ? I have business with her ? " 
 
 "Jane is not at home at present," replied Nora, 
 without opening the door wider. 
 
 " Pray I when may I see her ? " 
 
 " I can't say." 
 
 " Where has she gone to ? " 
 
 " I don't know ; perhaps if you came into the house 
 and waited, she will soon return." 
 
 " Thank you, I prefer not." 
 
 " Please yourself then," and turning into the hall 
 she left him there. He saw her dress round the 
 turn of the staircase, and heard her on the lobby over- 
 head. Presently a door closed, and the sound of her 
 footsteps ceased altogether. 
 
 Luke loft the porch, intending to go away on the 
 very instant ; but as he passed down the garden his 
 mind changed : it would not do to let her suppose 
 she had power to retain or to dismiss him at will ;
 
 256 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 that her mood or temper was of the least conse- 
 quence to him. If he did go, it should be when it 
 suited himself only, at his own leisure and conve- 
 nience. It would compromise his dignity to leave with 
 indecent haste, as if he were ashamed to meet her ; 
 and he was not : he had no cause for shame whatever. 
 So he went up one of the side walks of the garden, 
 and became busy with the flowers and standard shrubs 
 before the house ; passing from one bed to another 
 with a loitering careless gait, which must, he flattered 
 himself (if any one were watching overhead), have 
 had a fine effect, and convinced such a one that he was 
 perfectly at his ease and wholly unconcerned. 
 
 In this way a considerable time went by ; until 
 the fat lap-dog Dido came wriggling up the walk, 
 furnishing Luke with a further opportunity of show- 
 ing how perfectly disengaged his mind was ; for he 
 had leisure to notice the dog, and moreover to put it 
 through an entire course of long neglected perform- 
 ances, apparently with much enjoyment and interest. 
 This happened quite close to the house ; and while so 
 engaged with the dog, making it stand up, balance 
 a pebble, &c., there came a step in the porch, and 
 Nora passed out, carrying a bird-cage. 
 
 Knowledge or thought of Luke was apparently 
 farthest from her mind, for she gave a little start on
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. 257 
 
 perceiving him, and then passed on with the most 
 unconcerned expression, though she passed quite 
 close to him. She was only going to hang her 
 canary in the sun, and went slowly along by the row 
 of windows, evidently looking out a suitable nail for 
 the purpose. Presently she found one, but on trial it 
 proved out of reach ; so setting down the cage she 
 retraced her steps for a garden stool at the end of 
 the walk : but even with the stool it would not do, 
 so she set down the cage again, and stood looking 
 puzzled at the nail. 
 
 " Perhaps," said Luke then he had his back 
 turned, hitherto not pretending to notice " per- 
 haps that is, if you want to hang that cage upon 
 that nail perhaps you would let me do it for 
 you?" 
 
 " If you think it would not be too much trouble, 
 perhaps you would try, then." 
 
 Luke got upon the stool, but found it accidentally 
 placed so much aside of the nail, that though tall 
 enough he could not quite reach it. Getting down 
 to alter its position, Nora stopped him. 
 
 "Put your foot on the window-stool," she said, 
 looking into his eyes. "Do! you are smart at 
 climbing window-stools, and this time Mr. Pennet 
 will not catch you." 
 
 17
 
 258 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 As Luke stood looking at her with the cage in 
 his hand, she burst out laughing. 
 
 "Oh, Luke! Luke! Luke! what a fine position 
 you placed yourself in that night ! " 
 
 He got off the stool, and put the cage deliberately 
 on the ground. 
 
 "Do you know, Nora, what it was I wanted at 
 Everley that night?" 
 
 " To see me, of course : and the object itself was 
 not blameable ; though you might have compassed it, 
 I presume, without making yourself as well as me 
 ridiculous." 
 
 " You are mistaken, then : it could not have been 
 only to see you," he answered quickly ; " I had been 
 watching you for hours that evening, and, believe me, 
 had soon seen quite enough of you." 
 
 "Then what did you want there? I was never 
 more provoked, vexed and amused all together. 
 First for the shame of it, because you were my 
 cousin ; then because it was such a joke to see you 
 white as a sheet caught in the fact, looking so 
 frightened and silly. On the whole, however, it was 
 paying too dear for a laugh, and it turned out exces- 
 sively annoying ; so the next time you choose to take 
 leave of your senses, I must decidedly beg that you 
 won't compromise me. It was not fair : if you had
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. 259 
 
 considered my feelings in any degree, you could not 
 have done it." 
 
 " If you had ever considered mine, Nora, it might 
 have been better for both of us now," answered Luke, 
 gravely ; " but in truth you were not bound to it : 
 if I trusted all to you without secrecy, placed all my 
 future on a cast, and lost the venture ; if I loved 
 you with an energy of passion that exalted you to 
 an impossible degree, that enriched you with every 
 noble quality of the highest natures, it was surely 
 my own fault : and, as I deserve, I expiate it bitterly 
 at present For there is a greater pain than to lose 
 the only object of one's life, Nora it is to feel such 
 loss to be a gain, as I do at present : to find that 
 what one has followed, exclusively, eagerly followed, 
 is not worth the having at last ; to see one like you, 
 so gifted and superior, with a mind like yours fitted 
 to choose a vocation, and achieve a noble end in 
 life to see such decline to the falsest tastes, to the 
 meanest things of the world, descend not only to 
 the track of its vulgar level, but even beneath it ; for 
 when high natures fall they degrade utterly, as you 
 are doing : that is, indeed, intolerable when one has 
 loved you, as unhappily I did. 
 
 "My affection was too easily won, perhaps too 
 poor a prize," he continued; "therefore I will not 
 
 172
 
 260 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 urge anything on that score. But for your own sake, 
 and for that only, do not let me believe that I at 
 present understand your motives ; that you will bring 
 such ruin upon yourself as to allow so detestable a 
 suspicion to retain even a momentary existence. It 
 is not necessary to allude to it more plainly, as I see 
 by your colour that I am perfectly understood ; let 
 me be satisfied, therefore, that I have lost the only 
 object of my life, without forcing me also to blush 
 for having ever coveted it. I had no thought of 
 you which was not pure ; leave me at least in 
 recompence an unstained remembrance: let me 
 think the past was nothing worse than wasted time, 
 that the idol of my foolish dreams was not utterly 
 so base and unworthy. Think ! that it is all I ask of 
 you : only think ! Use your own reason and con- 
 science, exercise only the lowest standard of com- 
 mon morality, and it will be enough to save you : at 
 least I hope it will, for I cannot see what other 
 chance remains." 
 
 Without another word Luke turned down the 
 walk, and left Nora standing there.
 
 261 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 VAGUE CONJECTURINGS. 
 
 ALMOST daily rumours and surmises were current 
 now concerning the Bradels; at one time it was a 
 misunderstanding, causing indefinite postponement of 
 the marriage; at another, the ceremony was an- 
 nounced for immediate consummation. Nevertheless, 
 beyond that Edwin had suddenly quitted home and 
 resided now permanently at the club, nothing what- 
 ever in the shape of fact was positively ascertained : 
 even the best intentioned could not advance beyond 
 conjecture as to the cause of his departure. And, 
 also, though Mr. Pennet was noticed to be decidedly 
 out of spirits, equal uncertainty as to the cause of his 
 depression prevailed. 
 
 Slingsby was of opinion that as Mr. Pennet looked 
 as if going to be hanged, it was proof positive he was 
 also going to be married (indeed rumour had before 
 coupled his name with Nora Troye), and assured his 
 friend, Captain Seaton, one day as they rodo together
 
 262 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 down to the port, that many of their mutual friends 
 seemed at present engaged in the most complicated 
 course of cross purposes. f( For instance," he added, 
 " there is Bradel going to be married on the twelfth ; 
 I had it from unquestionable authority, and here you 
 know nothing about it are not even invited : you 
 who are such friends. How do you explain the 
 omission ? Moreover, the affair should have a special 
 interest for you, as, I presume, a certain lady of our 
 acquaintance may be among the bridesmaids." 
 
 " On the twelfth ? I scarcely believe thai It was 
 not intended having it so soon, I understood; and I 
 dare say it will be quite private," was the reply, in a 
 formal tone, intended to check further discussion of 
 the subject. 
 
 But Slingsby was not to be checked. 
 
 " The Middletons are hastening it on," he added, 
 " as they want to make sure of him. 'Tis to be done, 
 done quickly, and, if quickly, will be well done for 
 them. But ever so hurried or private, I cannot see 
 why they left you out ; even if not Bradel's friend, it 
 would have been only mere humanity to have asked 
 you, for the reason just mentioned." 
 
 " I have not seen Bradel of late, and know nothing 
 of him," answered Captain Seaton, sharply. 
 
 " Naturally ! When a man marries he prunes his
 
 VAGUE CONJECTUEINGS. . 263 
 
 acquaintance, makes a holocaust of his friends at the 
 shrine of his affection : 'tis an initiatory ceremony, 
 an excuse for bringing the intimacy of years to an 
 untimely end, and the only advantage of the institu- 
 tion that I can see." 
 
 " Mr. Pennet, I dare say, will officiate then ? " 
 in awhile asked Seaton, again encouraging the topic 
 inadvertently. 
 
 "Mr. Pennet, I dare say, will. You know the 
 man?" 
 
 " Not in the least, and have as little desire." 
 
 " Two cherries on the one stem, I perceive," said 
 Slingsby, laughing. "Just as I suspected; but, in 
 your place, I would not have crossed him not openly. 
 You are but a fashionable soldier, and he a very art- 
 ful parson the odds were terribly against you." 
 
 " I never had any sort of intercourse with the 
 gentleman." 
 
 . " Rouge against noir, I need scarcely tell you, has 
 no chance whatever," continued Slingsby, not heed- 
 ing. " Your soldiering in itself is not bad : rouge is 
 a pretty colour ; with its swaggering long sword and 
 plumes it will answer in proper season, during times 
 of mirth and festivity, while the dance and music 
 last. But afterwards, when supper is over and the 
 lights out, then the bel air, the swagger, the plumes,
 
 264 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 and the prestige, go out too, like the snuff of the 
 extinguished chandelier; the hero dwindles speedily 
 to a spendthrift sub, who, when noir drops in sleek 
 and reputable next morning, will be altogether for- 
 gotten. The advantages of that colour must distance 
 everything, and does daily. My poor mother in her 
 wisdom wanted me to enter the Church, and I have 
 lived bitterly to appreciate her advice. If only a 
 tolerably good-looking curate, I'll back him against 
 a General of Division where a lady is to be won." 
 
 " Has Pennet indeed the influence with the Bradels 
 that he pretends that people give him ? n 
 
 " Of course. He is not the man to neglect the 
 chances of his position, the duties and emoluments 
 of his craft. They say but for him an open rupture 
 must have occurred this last time at Everley : and 
 more is the pity it did not ; we should have had 
 something to talk about : though people talk all the 
 same, and say, if the marriage were not to be at 
 once, and if it were not at present wholly impossible, 
 that the Bradels would be well pleased even yet 
 to have all intercourse with the Middletons at an 
 end." 
 
 " Considering the quickness of Ormiston tongues, 
 that is not saying so much, after all," answered Seaton. 
 " But here we are at the Ferry Point."
 
 VAGUE CONJECTURINGS. 265 
 
 And the road, as he spoke, broke from the line of 
 enclosures which had hitherto shut in the view on 
 either side, and opened on the wide beach. At 
 once the full breadth of the river lay in expanse 
 before them. 
 
 " The principal yachts are laid up since the first," 
 added Slingsby, as they continued their ride in the 
 direction of the port, " for the club finished early 
 this year : and so much the better ; yachting is a folly 
 I could never quite understand ; and besides, some- 
 times, in late years, becomes a serious nuisance by 
 breaking into the hunting season." 
 
 " That, however, is the Lesbia" continued Slingsby, 
 as on rounding the next headland, both gentlemen 
 were attracted by a large cutter standing across the 
 river, and both also recognized her at once. " Bradel 
 keeps her still afloat, though he has not been on board 
 half-a-dozen times since the spring. With plenty of 
 money, one must do something; so that boat costs 
 him at least ten pounds a-week to keep up, and 
 all for the glory of it. But it is like him : just his 
 way. In trifles, he pares as close to the rihd as any one, 
 and then takes fits of squandering by the handful ; as 
 for instance the present he made to Pennet the other 
 day. You know the cob, Hawker's cob : a stump- 
 legged, cat-hammed beauty, clean as a billiard ball,
 
 266 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 the very one he bought last Mocton Fair ; a picture 
 of the real old English hack, and worth a hundred 
 a-year if only to look at. Well, he has just given 
 him to Pennet the greatest sacrifice I ever knew of: 
 fancy, to Pennet, who does not know a curb from a 
 crupper! might as well have put him to a gig at 
 once. But, 'tis all luck : parson's luck ; and it would 
 not surprise me much either were he to get that 
 little Troye in the end also : not that, in my opinion, 
 it would be any great catch ; though, with all faults, 
 she has some good points fine eyes certainly : if a 
 man looks to eyes, I don't know where he might find 
 better, and she is besides as brisk as a racket-ball. 
 Some men like racket-balls, though I don't, and pos- 
 session of this prize is a happiness I'd wish for you or 
 Pennet rather than for myself. Apropos, you remem- 
 ber the cousin of whom, you were at one time so 
 jealous cousin Penrose? Well, she has thrown 
 him, I understand, and thrown him badly : scratched, 
 altogether ; walked off the course, and disqualified. 
 They say, also, that if entered in time, she'd have 
 probably posted the Middletons, and made a good run 
 for the Everley Stakes ; though that is not likely." 
 
 So the pair continued their ride, mixing facts and 
 falsehood together, speculating on topics of which 
 they had knowledge, as on those of which they had
 
 VAGUE CONJECTURINGS. 267 
 
 none whatever; discussing, amongst the latter, the 
 possible effect and merits of the recent disturbance at 
 Everley Hall : a subject on which they, equally with 
 the public of Ormiston, were at this time profoundly 
 ignorant.
 
 268 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 A MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE. 
 
 OF all not directly concerned, Jane Troye was most 
 pleased that Caroline's marriage should approach at 
 last : on her friend's account principally, as also for 
 other reasons more intimately important to her own 
 private happiness ; for she had decided this marriage 
 once over that things would henceforth certainly 
 take a more orderly and comfortable aspect at home. 
 Nora would soberly re-enter the line of her duties then, 
 and resume the routine of ordinary life, out of which 
 she had been awhile dazzled and so unhappily dis- 
 turbed. There would no longer remain an excuse for 
 those frequent visits to Everley, and that in itself was 
 an important point ; for in many ways, it was plain, 
 that she had not derived entire benefit from that inti- 
 macy. But even so it was scarcely her fault ; at her 
 age there were so many temptations to err, that Jane 
 was very rigorous in defending the character of her 
 sister, even from an occasional assault of her own
 
 A MYSTEEIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE. 269 
 
 partial judgment ; and if ever she appeared inferior 
 to the standard that earlier anticipations had raised 
 her to, it was only because some momentary perverse 
 influence, or pernicious circumstance, for awhile 
 obscured her true nature. An excusable irregularity 
 of youth, the capriciousness incidental to ardent 
 temperaments, or, more agreeably, it was alone the 
 flattery and folly of the world which had spoiled her : 
 the adulation she universally received was indeed 
 itself enough to set astray a person of a far wiser and 
 a colder disposition. 
 
 After Caroline's marriage, therefore, Jane decided 
 that everything would naturally right itself again, 
 and resettle into its own regular channel. It was 
 not necessary to probe the matter very deeply, as the 
 marriage, so immediate now, would itself speedily 
 resolve the question: accordingly, without exactly 
 examining what the grounds for this assumption 
 were, she accepted it with perfect reliance. 
 
 But the proverbial darkness of the hour before 
 dawn was illustrated in this case with unfortunate 
 exactitude. As if a forerunner of the happy change 
 which Jane anticipated, Nora's behaviour became at 
 the moment colder, more reserved, more unsisterly 
 than ever. Since her last return from Everley, not 
 only was there a greater withdrawal of confidence,
 
 270 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 but many signs of a radical change of character, as 
 obvious as they were alarming and unintelligible, 
 were observed. Nora was quieter at home, in ap- 
 pearance much improved, therefore in this there 
 was a marked and pleasing change ; she was more 
 patient, more enduring: but it was the sullen calm 
 of resolution rather than of chastened submission. 
 For as if steadily pursuing some pre-determined 
 course, which no effect of circumstances should be 
 allowed to divert, she suffered the most opposite 
 changes of domestic temperature with an endurance 
 sometimes approaching to fortitude : the most ex- 
 asperating interference on the part of her mother, 
 or the warmest, most sincere demonstrations of 
 affection from Jane, alike encountered the same 
 mechanical and unalterable repose. This behaviour, 
 as evidently opposed to her habits as to her natural 
 character, soon gave Jane just ground for anxiety. 
 Even the old outbreaks of temper were themselves 
 far preferable to such a studied reticence; as they 
 were at least from the heart out, and genuine. But 
 a course of action so clearly pre-arranged, and pur- 
 sued with such a formal consistency, could only 
 proceed from some lurking and deep-seated motive, 
 of which Jane was altogether ignorant Indeed, 
 many casual circumstances occurred at this time
 
 A MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE. 271 
 
 which also seemed quite unaccountable. First, her 
 mysterious silence concerning the disturbance at 
 Everley was at the least unkind ; as Jane's intimacy 
 and interest in Caroline gave her first right and 
 qualification to the fullest information regarding her : 
 yet Nora could not be induced to talk openly about 
 it, and on various other points her reserve was to the 
 full as inexplicable. Immediately after her return, 
 one circumstance particularly occurred, which above 
 all perplexed Jane, and gave her much cause for 
 anxiety it was on an occasion when endeavouring 
 to bring Nora to disclose further details of the 
 notorious disagreement at Everley. 
 
 "And you say, that without any explanation, 
 Mrs. Bradel entered in tears to say that you had 
 all better leave the house ? " asked Jane : (t how very 
 mysterious ! " 
 
 " Yes ! that we should leave at once." (The con- 
 versation took place in Nora's room while she 
 arranged her dress after a walk.) " It was a 
 disappointment to me in one way, for Mr. Pennet 
 was trying over the new duet, and we were beginning 
 to understand something about it," added Nora, 
 lightly, running off then into a laughing description 
 of Mr. Pennet's attempts in a musical direction of 
 their improvised concert of Miss Wilmot's contralto ;
 
 272 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 all in a light showy way, as if forcing for effect. It 
 gave Jane a singularly disagreeable impression at the 
 moment, for the tone of her sister's mirth was often 
 now false and unpleasant ; and she sat by in silence, 
 while Nora continued, half talking, sometimes half 
 singing to herself, to arrange her toilet. The strange 
 sense of constraint growing between the sisters made 
 it latterly often feel awkward, as it did now, to be 
 without some semblance of occupation when thus 
 alone together ; and in a while, when conversation was 
 exhausted, Nora began to sing aloud to pass the 
 silence and dispel this feeling, busy with her things 
 the while, and sometimes breaking off abruptly to 
 continue the conversation 
 
 " The purple peaches on the wall, the golden leaves among, 
 All thro' the lazy noontide lay a-kissing in the sun." 
 
 At all events, it served to settle the question of those 
 vexatious charades once for all ; so that much good 
 came of it. She interrupted laughing 
 " And winged gnats sang in the air, while painted garden bee*" 
 
 " Was it Mr. Bradel's doing ? " asked Jane, at 
 last 
 
 " Very likely. How that song runs in my^brain " 
 
 " Hung in the warm lavender, or droned adown the breeze; 
 When low upon the ground I sat, the garden wicket near, 
 For the creaking of its rusty hinge I only longed to hear."
 
 A MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE. 273 
 
 " How very strange. I wonder Caroline does not 
 tell me something about it," continued Jane. " Isn't 
 it odd, she never comes near us now ? " 
 
 " Naturally she has other things to think of, I 
 presume." 
 
 " No matter that the summer wind came breathing thro' the limes, 
 So softly bringing nearer the distant village chimes ; 
 No matter that the roses bloomed, and spent their fragrant sighs, 
 That saucy pansies stared at me with all their jewelled eyes ; 
 Tho' at my side a yellow bird poured out his carol clear, 
 Still the creaking of the wicket only did I long to hear. 
 
 It was so amusing the last day of the riding party, 
 for by some trick or accident I got a half wild pony 
 that was constantly trying to run away with me; and 
 I pretended to let it, in order to frighten them all, so 
 that Caroline was, or affected to be in the greatest 
 alarm : though I suspect she would not really have 
 greatly cared if I had been hurt. And do you know, 
 Jane, that my way of arranging real flowers in my 
 hair, met with a decided success ; for Miss Wilmot 
 spoke of it to my face, and wanted to be instructed 
 in the art. She also admired my new fan, and asked 
 what it cost vulgar little thing. There ! my hair 
 down again as usual ; this provoking hair is deter- 
 mined to shorten my life and destroy my temper," 
 Nora added, as the thick tresses she had just 
 
 18
 
 274 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 arranged tumbled in disorder down her neck. She 
 carefully re-adjusted her hair, then hastily push- 
 ing back the masses from her face, and slowly 
 winding the dark glossy coils, as with a confident 
 indifference to the observation of her sister sitting 
 silently by, she hummed the concluding verse : 
 
 " The musk of roses feyers me, I hate their scented blow ; 
 Those rows of gilded pansies but scorch me with their glow. 
 I'd rather catch his footsteps once come brushing 'neath the trees, 
 Than the music of those distant bells or perfume of the breeze ; 
 I'd rather than the linnet's note so gladly swelling near, 
 That the creaking of the wicket gate should break upon my ear." 
 
 But on a sudden, Jane's inadvertent wandering 
 gaze was forcibly attracted by a glittering movement 
 of the hand, marked in hard white relief on the dark 
 polished background of her hair ; for a vivid scintil- 
 lation, the sparkle of a diamond of extraordinary 
 brilliancy, shone or rather darted out from the un- 
 dulating masses of liquid black, and while the hand 
 continued to pass slowly down, smoothing the 
 glittering bands of hair, a moving ray of chromatic 
 crystalline tints dazzled outward from the ring. Jane 
 was amazed ; for Nora had no such jewel in her pos- 
 session, and no means of procuring it. She was imme- 
 diately about to notice it, naturally to inquire whence 
 it had come, when something checked the words in
 
 A MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE. 275 
 
 the act of utterance. Perhaps it was a momentary 
 alteration in Nora's face which prevented her from 
 speaking, for the instant she perceived the direction 
 of Jane's eyes she promptly withdrew her hand 
 from the light, and at once left the toilet table, 
 retiring on some pretext to the other end of the 
 room. 
 
 But what contributed above all to render this 
 accidental discovery more suspicious, was that when 
 Nora came down to dinner afterwards the ring had 
 disappeared and Jane never saw it again. This cir- 
 cumstance accordingly gave Jane ground for serious 
 reflection ; as in any way it was most mysterious, and 
 led to the most unpleasant presumptions. The only 
 definite supposition she could attempt to form re- 
 garding it was, that the ring was probably the 
 property of Mrs. Bradel; that it might have been 
 made use of for the charades, and that Nora had 
 accidentally retained and worn it since. But if that 
 were all, how explain the difficulty the actual im- 
 possibility as it proved, even of referring to the 
 subject ; for afterwards at the first inclination in that 
 direction Nora assumed such reserve, became so 
 abruptly cold, that to prosecute inquiry became out 
 of the question. Evidently therefore something was 
 to be concealed concerning it, and what that could 
 
 182
 
 276 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 possibly be, perplexed Jane sorely. Whether Nora 
 had still possession of the ring, or not, was also a 
 matter of doubt; but in the end, as she did not 
 see it again, in the interest of her own peace 
 of mind, Jane was obliged to assume that she had 
 given it to Edwin Bradel to return. This was 
 the more likely, as almost daily opportunities of 
 doing so arose: he was in the habit of calling 
 so frequently with a note or message from his 
 mother, or some flowers for herself, that scarcely 
 ever did he ride by without a word in passing ; and it 
 often happened that he saw Nora only, if she hap- 
 pened at the moment to be in the garden alone. So 
 in the end Jane became satisfied that the ring had, 
 as a matter of course, been returned. 
 
 Edwin himself was now much engaged. Since 
 the quarrel, the arrangement of residing at Everley 
 was of course cancelled ; so that he had to look out 
 for a suitable house, to confer with lawyers, and a 
 thousand other various things on hand, which kept 
 him so constantly occupied, that the time to visit at 
 the Lodge to devote himself to Caroline was neces- 
 sarily curtailed. Besides, it was whispered, that he 
 was not, either, on the best terms with the family 
 of his intended bride, and was consequently only 
 too glad of an excuse for avoiding any personal
 
 A MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE. 277 
 
 intercourse whatever :J with old Middleton especially. 
 He resided, therefore, of late altogether at the 
 club; where, amongst others, Slingsby had many 
 opportunities of meeting him, of observing him 
 closely, and of noticing a sensible change both in his 
 spirits and deportment about this time. 
 
 "The more I see of marrying, and of giving in 
 marriage," the latter said to Lumney one day, " the 
 less inclined I become to investigate further by per- 
 sonal experience in such a direction. It seems usually 
 a blank draw; or if you do find considering the 
 trouble of coming to the meet, the trouble coming 
 after it, and all one must give up meanwhile the 
 run proves rarely equivalent value. It may be that 
 some of us are getting wiser, perhaps older, Lumney ; 
 but I do suspect that a man who can keep a saddle 
 on his two hunters, while his riding-weight doesn't 
 grow very shady of, say, eleven stone, if his nerve 
 holds, I do suspect that such a man is right well 
 off, and if wise will let well enough alone. Instance 
 Bradel, at present, standing in his own right, as fine 
 a fellow as fine feathers can make him, having every- 
 thing his own way, and to complete all, about to 
 marry, too, and where he chooses; yet a man 
 actually in a more extreme state of mental decom- 
 position than the same I never witnessed : from a fresh,
 
 278 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 free, good-for-nothing sort of fellow he has suddenly 
 become a maudlin, meandering mope, with a fagged 
 strain in the eyes like the stare of a pumped coach- 
 horse. His very heart is hamstrung and lifts at 
 every step ; he is a roarer, and growls like a bass 
 fiddle string ; his figure has flattened : his round 
 florid face hopelessly flattened, even his hats have 
 the very flattest brims ; and he exhales nothing but 
 faded smiles and flat responses : absolutely a personi- 
 fied platitude." 
 
 " Pure distillation of mere fear," answered Lumney, 
 " natural effect of approaching catastrophe. A man 
 of stouter nerve might well blanch when the flaming 
 torch of Hymen stops at his own door." 
 
 " And Pennet, though equally fortunate, is scarcely 
 in better condition," added Slingsby : " it is a fair 
 choice between them ; though when he does get Miss 
 Troye, as they say he certainly will, your friend 
 Penrose I should think may be worse than either, 
 if all accounts be true. Seaton is already ever so 
 much so, to my own knowledge : though what they all 
 want, and why every one is after that girl, puzzles 
 me beyond measure ; unless indeed it be for the reason 
 which made us ride the bound fence into Omera 
 swamp on Thursday last because others led the 
 way, and that a fall was certain: I can't see the
 
 A MYSTEKIOUS CIECUMSTANCE. 279 
 
 attraction. However, Seaton and Bradel are alto- 
 gether asunder on the matter, as Seaton, for not 
 being latterly asked to the house, is very properly 
 vexed ; and I happened by good luck to be on the 
 staircase the other day, when he passed Bradel as 
 calmly as if he were a bronze of the balusters. I 
 maintained, at the time, that he was wrong, very 
 wrong; for, said I, 'If you think the little sloe 
 actually worth powder and shot, the parson is cer- 
 tainly your man : Bradel may have hidden the nest, 
 but the other fingered the prize and robbed it.' He 
 is very likely annoyed, also, at not being invited 
 to the wedding : but what of Penrose ? there are 
 various stories about him. How is he getting on ? " 
 On the day subsequent to the interview in the 
 garden, Luke received the following short note, so 
 the reader may suppose how he was : 
 
 "Strange as the words sound to myself, I was 
 truly very sorry that you should have left so sud- 
 denly yesterday; as I would have had you wait 
 awhile to learn from my own lips how thoroughly the 
 only object of your gross, premeditated and indeli- 
 cate outrage was attained : how certainly and fully 
 you have thereby secured my deep and lasting 
 hatred.
 
 280 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 "To have overlooked your position so far as 
 deliberately to insult me in my own house, argues 
 an insensibility, or rather a plain deficiency of sense, 
 so extreme that it rather perplexes me how to deal 
 with it : for it may be absurd to notice your beha- 
 viour of yesterday seriously ; as your fine talk about 
 your feelings and your fine self would certainly be 
 but merely ridiculous, if the language and manner 
 were not in themselves too impertinent, and if the 
 time were not also now past for you to claim an in- 
 dulgence for childish vanity, which you seem still 
 greatly to require. Considering all, it may be, there- 
 fore, flattering to you to learn that it was in your 
 power to touch me, and that I felt the indignity ; 
 but such compliment I acknowledge myself com- 
 pelled, however reluctantly, to pay you. You did 
 wound me deeply, and, accordingly, if I have a 
 further wish in connection with you at present, 'tis 
 but never to see your face again. 
 
 " Should you think to write to me, do not dare : 
 do not attempt it. Apology or explanation of any 
 nature from you shall not be received. Never shall 
 I speak to you again ; it is as if some rude stranger 
 had insulted me in the street ; and I shall pass on, 
 forgetting alike both the unworthy individual and the 
 unmannerly outrage. Further intercourse with you
 
 A MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE. 281 
 
 is, therefore, out of the question, henceforth and for 
 ever ; and a letter coming in your hand I shall most 
 certainly burn, unopened." 
 
 It often feels even almost virtuous to yield to mo- 
 mentary impulses of feeling; as undoubtedly, it is 
 always most pleasant to do so when under the acute 
 action of some plain, unmerited wrong. Yet an ex- 
 cited will is so immense an engine, that to work 
 directly with it within rational compass and control 
 is scarcely ever practicable. Such an excess of power 
 must invariably overdo in some measure ; and we are 
 so tenderly balanced, or of so delicate or such imper- 
 fect mechanism, that it is never safe to unmoor quite 
 in the full flood-tide of passion : a passing shock, or 
 trifling deviation right or left, then may lead us to 
 irreparable catastrophe and ruin. 
 
 And so it was with Luke. At first he sailed with 
 his temper so well that he had no leisure to reflect 
 whether it might not carry him too far or alto- 
 gether out of reckoning : he was triumphant, very 
 triumphant ; and happy, therefore, he assumed. For 
 once, his courage and will had not failed in the trial : 
 he had come out of at least one engagement with 
 his cousin without leaving his colours behind ; and he 
 gloried in the rare achievement
 
 282 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 Like a wayward child that breaks up a favourite 
 toy, he rejoiced in the novelty of a first sensation, 
 without suspicion of the damage also done to himself. 
 Bat the knowledge of that was not slow in coming, 
 or dull in expressing itself either: the mainspring 
 and purpose of his life was snapped, and the bitter 
 consequence, the intolerable blank and darkness of 
 the pain of loss, was not long in following likewise, 
 or in producing its full effect The tone and vigour 
 of his mind by degrees gave way, until it ultimately 
 sank in a crisis of irresistible and extreme reaction ; 
 and the pain and doubt arising from it became in the 
 end so intense, that, at length, with violent self-con- 
 demnation, he made an entire confession of the whole 
 affair to his friend. 
 
 " It was mere cruelty and madness of me, Lumney, 
 to have hurt one so fragile and delicate ; the shock 
 might have been fatal it might have broken her 
 heart. And now all hope of her is gone : see how she 
 writes to me." 
 
 After running the paper over, Lumney tossed it 
 with a smile upon the table. 
 
 " That girl is as false as a crocodile, and as worth- 
 less as from the first I suspected," he said, after a 
 grave silence. "Break her heart, indeed! first 
 catch your hare. There is nothing of the sort about
 
 A MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE. 233 
 
 her. It is clear you have exactly done the thing 
 she most wished and wanted given her an excuse 
 for ending with you. There is not a particle of 
 sincerity in that note. She is not even angry : for 
 a woman in the rage she affects would not write 
 snappishly nor write at all. It is well you have 
 escaped her : very well ; for now you are indeed done 
 with her at last. Whether you choose or not, she 
 shall go her own way and you yours ; and those ways 
 shall never cross again as far as I can prevent it. 
 What matter if she be beautiful ? can the rind retain 
 form and colour when the core is poisoned ? How long 
 will the mere outward veneering of her beauty resist 
 the corroding action of the bad heart within ? a 
 rotten orange, a rotten orange, Luke ! If you knew all 
 that I have learned about her since,, you would hate 
 her : as sincerely I do now. They are a bad set, those 
 women, in the main a bad set. A good one now 
 and then but proves the rule, and the less a sensible 
 man has to say to them the better. However, you 
 must brace yourself for great effort ; there is nothing 
 else for it : and indeed, the sacrifice is no light one. 
 But what matter ? We must all face something of 
 this sort some time of our lives, and the earlier it 
 comes, why, the sooner one is a man, and has it over. 
 No side paths and diverging compromise will answer
 
 284 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 in this world; rugged tracks and cresting summits 
 lie before every honest fellow, and the sooner he 
 puts his breast to the work the quicker and safer the 
 journey. But you cannot remain here now," added 
 Lumney, with energy ; " we must be off after this. I 
 will call at the office in the morning, and get leave 
 to keep you away as long as I please. We must have 
 change of scene and of habits before you can reason- 
 ably be expected to get over this." 
 
 At no time, however, had Luke felt greater 
 interest binding him to Ormiston, or was more 
 unwilling to quit it. A strange fascination held him 
 there, to prolong and nourish his misery by the daily 
 consideration of the cause and consequences of it ; and 
 it was directly against his will that Lumney at last 
 forced him away.
 
 285 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 A NEARER VIEW. 
 
 To the unmixed satisfaction of the eager public of 
 Ormiston, the period and circumstances of the im- 
 portant marriage were at length ultimately deter- 
 mined, and made public also so far at least as a 
 condition of the strictest privacy would allow. The 
 day appointed was not a fortnight off. The ceremony, 
 fixed for an early hour at Mocton Church, was to 
 be performed by Mr. Pennet in person; so that 
 Mrs. Middleton at last considered everything finally 
 settled, and allowed her mind to repose with undis- 
 turbed serenity. But Caroline, on the contrary, 
 suffering from various fears and vague, undefined 
 anxieties, had from the first admitted the very worst 
 forebodings ; for the quarrel between the families, of 
 itself sufficient to depress, was assisted by other cir- 
 cumstances, if in reality less distinct, to her never- 
 theless of infinitely greater significance. And as 
 time drew on, it was daily becoming more obvious
 
 286 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 that a decided, though to another perhaps imper- 
 ceptible, change had silently operated in the cha- 
 racter and manners of her future husband: where 
 it lay, or exactly to trace its origin, was not easy ; 
 but its effects were visible in many and various ways. 
 Her efforts to please him especially seemed gradually 
 to lose their former value ; and favourite airs, favourite 
 arrangements of dress, trifling artifices of affection 
 which it had been his habit to notice, were now un- 
 perceived or sullenly disregarded. His visits at the 
 Lodge, also, were not only becoming rarer, but were 
 latterly disturbed by a reserve, and an occasional want 
 of cordiality which often made sustained conversa- 
 tion difficult, and parting feel something like relief. 
 
 If this absence might be partially excused on 
 the plea of greater responsibility, or as a conse- 
 quence of the increased business thrown upon him 
 by the difference with his father ; or if the pre- 
 occupation of his mind might also in some measure 
 arise from the same cause ; still, there were other 
 things Caroline could in no way either explain or 
 excuse ; and in measure as the period of the consum- 
 mation of her happiness approached, her distress in 
 this direction increased. Her disposition had com- 
 menced to suffer from the condition of her spirits, 
 and a not inexcusable jealousy was further added to
 
 A NEARER VIEW. 287 
 
 other causes of extreme uneasiness. The influence 
 Nora had acquired at Everley, for instance, became 
 at length an assumption of her own most intimate 
 rights, and a personal wrong; she fancied herself 
 moved from her proper place thereby but as a foil, 
 a background, and gradually reduced to being merely 
 subordinate and complimentary to the other. Indeed 
 this was in some measure true ; for the subdued deli- 
 cacy of her softer nature quite faded beside Nora's 
 inherent brilliancy and stronger colour. It was in 
 vain that the calmer judgment of Caroline decided 
 against the fact of anything like the existence of com- 
 petition between them, when every moment brought 
 fresh proofs and made her sensitive perceptions more 
 conscious of growing rivalry. She was actually herself 
 never so dull as when the other was most prominent 
 and brilliantly attractive ; frequently shy and silent, 
 while Nora of all things was never at a loss for a 
 word and too often it was a shining, cutting word, 
 which left a distinct and permanent mark behind it. 
 
 The result of all this was to develop a personal 
 enmity to Nora, so strong and decided that it even 
 affected her intimacy with Jane at last an enmity 
 which if it did not absolutely owe its origin to, was kept 
 alive and fostered by, the constant surmises and sus- 
 picions of her mother ; who ever since the morning she
 
 288 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 had surprised Nora and Edwin in the drawing-room of 
 Middleton Lodge, freely gave the former credit alike 
 for the very worst principles and motives. But, now 
 that the period was approaching near when all doubt 
 and misgiving were certainly to end, Mrs. Middle- 
 ton was a happy and a thankful woman, and on 
 the Sunday week immediately before the appointed 
 Tuesday, she came down to breakfast radiant with 
 smiles and satisfaction. 
 
 Caroline desired to go to church on this Sunday, 
 of all days in the year; for impressed with the 
 solemnity of the great change now so imminent, 
 she felt a craving for interior support, and a greater 
 sensibility for spiritual things: she wished to pray 
 that the future might be as well as she timidly 
 hoped it would, as exteriorly everything seemed 
 to look and promise. Perhaps it was owing to the 
 vague unhappiness of her mind that she felt so 
 inclined ; but her mother, however, would not agree 
 to such a project on any terms. 
 
 " The impudent parish had said all sorts of mali- 
 cious things, since the quarrel at Everley," and she 
 would not expose herself to its remarks, or provoke 
 further its impertinent criticism. 
 
 So Caroline, then in no frame to oppose direct 
 contradiction, necessarily submitted and remained at
 
 A NEAEER VIEW. 289 
 
 home. But as the concession was against her own 
 judgment and better feelings, she was ill at ease 
 afterwards, and the Sunday passed in unwonted 
 dreariness; which, as the day wore on, increased 
 to such a degree that the merest ordinary incon- 
 veniences became altogether insupportable to her 
 morbidly excited and nervous temper. The vague 
 discomfort of the house, exaggerated by her mother's 
 demonstrative elation, and even the very dulness of 
 the weather, affected her so unreasonably that at 
 length she escaped to the garden for refuge: she 
 might at least be alone there, and have leisure to 
 think. Even the weather was less chilling than the 
 intolerable atmosphere within doors; so at random 
 she selected the path leading down to the Cottage 
 for her walk. 
 
 The vapours from the river crawled upward on 
 the hill sides, by degrees blotting out the plantations 
 and boldest features of the landscape, as she com- 
 menced her walk. The bleached autumn sun already 
 dwindled to a mere rent of light in the spreading 
 veil of mist, and the distant towers and gables of 
 Everley Hall were rapidly growing more shadowy 
 and indistinct ; while at every step fresh showers 
 of leaves came down on the moist wood path, already 
 carpeted with them. The prospect was gloomy in 
 
 19
 
 290 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 the extreme, the influence of the hour sad and cheer- 
 less, and Caroline well prepared to be affected by it, 
 as inadvertently the bitter text furnished her by 
 Luke Penrose again occurred to her mind. It was 
 very true indeed that " there was nothing so cold as 
 a thaw." 
 
 At the entry to the pastures, the Cottage garden 
 lay immediately beneath, and in perfect view. An 
 atmosphere of homely peace hung over the familiar 
 walks, and the old garden lay smiling invitingly to- 
 wards her, like the kind face of an old acquaintance. 
 The sight of it brought back remembrance of Jane 
 then, and a strong inclination returned at once to 
 Caroline to go down and embrace her early tried 
 friend again a longing which was fast overcoming 
 all meaner objections of prejudice and distrust. But, 
 while she still, half-decided, debated the question, a 
 figure suddenly moved in view from the shelter of 
 the thick shrubbery at the farthest end of the garden 
 beneath her, and a bolt of ice passed through Caroline 
 at the sight : she turned cold at once, very cold ; 
 the kindly sympathy froze within her eyes for it 
 was Edwin ! 
 
 Presently a second figure also became visible: 
 visible in part only, through an opening in the leaves ; 
 but Caroline's instinct divined too surely who it was.
 
 A NEARER VIEW. 291 
 
 Alone with her ! And for two days he had not been 
 at the Lodge, although expected there ; yet now he 
 stood in her sight alone with Nora Troye, visiting 
 her alone: what could it mean? What possible 
 interest could be between them to which she, his 
 plighted wife, was stranger ? of what nature a confi- 
 dence with one so beautiful, so attractive, and danger- 
 ous now likewise so obnoxious and hateful ? At once 
 the wildest suspicions returned, and together brought 
 a momentary energy equal to any extravagant or 
 daring enterprise. Of this she must would have 
 instant explanation ; and accordingly Caroline was 
 about at once to pass down through the wicket to 
 the garden, when Jane's sudden appearance at the 
 door of the Cottage evidently disturbed the pair, and 
 immediately caused a hurried parting. For Nora at 
 once went up the walk to meet her sister then, 
 while Edwin took a contrary direction across the 
 stile, and quickly gained the road by an opening 
 in the hedge. Caroline could see it all perfectly: 
 could see also that his horse was waiting some yards 
 farther down the road ; and he presently mounted, 
 rode slowly up the road in the direction of the 
 Lodge. 
 
 Why separate at Jane's approach? What could 
 it mean, this double mystery ? like some dark-faced 
 
 192
 
 292 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 shame, flying before the clear light of truth. Evi- 
 dently, then, Jane was unaware of their meeting; 
 and that discovery as evidently did not tend to 
 tranquillize or dispel Caroline's actual impressions. 
 
 But, at the moment, she had no further leisure 
 for reflection, as clearly Edwin was now going 
 up to the Lodge, and she must make the best 
 haste back to be in time to meet him; but when 
 she did meet him, then, her first words should be to 
 declare what she had seen, and demand an explana- 
 tion: on that she determined, returning homeward 
 with breathless speed. Whatever the consequences, 
 whatever it provoked, she would force an explana- 
 tion of that visit ; it was but a plain right, and she 
 would insist upon it. Urged alike by the force of 
 excited jealousy, and by a sense of burning wrong, 
 Caroline made such haste as to reach the terrace 
 before the house in time to see the object of her 
 feelings pass on the flat of road below the lawn ; at 
 the moment even as he came towards the entrance 
 gate, as he almost reached it, as he did reach it in 
 fact then, he passed passed quietly on his way 
 without stopping an instant ; without even one look 
 up to where she stood on the terrace, with her hands 
 tight on her bosom. She now became suddenly cold 
 again, and her large eyes followed him blankly,
 
 A NEARER VIEW. .'; 293 
 
 as lie rode on through the seething meadows ; until 
 his figure, growing more shadowy indistinct, spread 
 and mingled with the rising evening vapours of the 
 rolling Orme. 
 
 It was not the sinking sense of grief, nor the 
 weak tears she shed ; but the compressed agony 
 of combined jealousy, suspicion, and suspense, 
 absorbing those tears at their source, which made 
 the crisis in the sleepless bitter night which followed. 
 Caroline could not rest or bear up under it At 
 length she wrote wrote with forced, pointed, words, 
 directly to Edwin, plainly expressing the cause of 
 her state of mind: a state which the language of 
 the letter itself indicated clearly enough. She de- 
 manded an instant interview, and forwarded the 
 demand immediately.
 
 294 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 A PEOLONGED VIGIL. 
 
 THIS same Sunday was a memorable and melancholy 
 day to more than one of the reader's acquaintance. 
 Mr. Bradel had spent the afternoon alone in his 
 study ; at dinner -he was morose and gloomy ; and 
 Mr. Pennet knew that he intended to make his 
 will forthwith, and leave away from Edwin every 
 acre which the law allowed. He had various pro- 
 jects of disposal of his property, all wild and inco- 
 herent in their way the promptings alternately of 
 anger or of vanity ; but all equally determined. At 
 one time he would found an hospital, bequeath a 
 sum for the purchase of a park and town hall 
 in Ormiston ; at another, leave every disposable 
 acre to his nephew, Edwin Traverse, lieutenant in 
 an Indian regiment; then there was the possibility 
 of tying up the estates for fifty or a hundred years, 
 allowing the accumulation of wealth to revert to some 
 great grandson, another Hugh Bradel, who would
 
 A PROLONGED VIGIL. 295 
 
 transmit the name to future generations. The vain 
 old man hugged the hope of doing something which 
 would create a sensation and perpetuate his remem- 
 brance. 
 
 Mr. Pennet no doubt thought it odd that the 
 unprovided condition of some of his personal friends 
 seemed to give him no shadow of anxiety seemed 
 to have no share whatever in Mr. Bradel's eager 
 solicitude. 
 
 " But it is so hard to count on anything, or see 
 before one, in a world where the most improbable 
 accidents are constantly occurring in defiance of 
 maturest caution and foresight," Mr. Pennet re- 
 flected, sitting up late that night at his bed-room 
 window. " Only a year ago, for instance, what were 
 this Mr. Wade's chances of Mocton reversion; and 
 now, if his cousin became Mrs. Bradel, who would 
 stand with a better chance of it ? It was the most 
 outrageous and extraordinary freak of fortune." 
 Though weary with the fatigues and anxieties of the 
 day, it was not at all the weariness which inclines 
 to repose; and Mr. Pennet accordingly remained 
 long at the window, watching the moon shine calmly 
 down on the village of Mocton, bathing the church 
 spire, the distant parsonage, and the quiet landscape 
 in its pleasant light It was thus that an acute con-
 
 296 - A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 sciousness of his impending loss began to touch him 
 nearly: he had thus the first practical sensation of 
 how closely the hopes of this preferment were con- 
 nected and interwoven with every dream and 
 contingency of his future life, and he felt in conse- 
 quence a foreshadowed bitterness of the imposed 
 sacrifice. For, independent of the solid advantages 
 lost, and the irksomeness of the labour their loss 
 must necessarily entail, there were so many agree- 
 able accessories connected with a settlement at 
 Mocton, that it would be but mere self-flattery to 
 indulge the hope of ever meeting with anything as 
 fortunate again. The neighbourhood in every way 
 was so suitable, in vicinity to Ormiston, with its 
 social seductions ; he was on such excellent terms, 
 not only with the Bradels, but with all the prin- 
 cipal families; the duties of the living were so 
 light, and the rectory itself was so well situated, 
 and so easily capable of being converted into a most 
 desirable residence, that on the whole it would be 
 difficult to add further to its list of advantages. 
 
 Brooding in this way caused Mr. Pennet to pass 
 gradually from a contemplative to a highly indignant 
 state of mental distress. The more he examined 
 the effects of Edwin's conduct, the more blameable 
 in every light it appeared ; it became not only un-
 
 A PROLONGED VIGIL. ' 297 
 
 justifiable and selfish, but so thoroughly unfilial 
 likewise, that, even if unconcerned, he, Mr. Pennet, 
 must heartily reprobate it. " Poor Mr. Bradel would 
 take it so much to heart." Even yonder light, still 
 burning in the study window opposite, showed the 
 effect it had upon him : he evidently was still sitting 
 up, and such wreck to the ambition of his life 
 might prove too much for the now feeble old man. 
 He might sink under the blow : it would certainly 
 hasten his end ; and if it should if by an especially 
 malignant stroke of misfortune he were to die before 
 the living fell vacant there would go the last slender 
 possibility of it at once: it would secure every- 
 thing to this lucky and undeserving Wade. 
 
 It was a thankless theme : the more one examined 
 into it, the more bottomless and barren it became ; and 
 unable to draw anything but vexation therefrom, at 
 last Mr. Pennet turned from the window. He wished 
 that he could as easily turn from contemplation of 
 the subject ; and as there were writing materials on a 
 table, and some manuscripts of his own to overlook, he 
 undertook in a while to do so, however advanced the 
 hour ; and as sleep was now out of the question, he sat 
 down and bent steadily over them. But it was an 
 equally irksome task, and proved on trial nearly a 
 choice of evils between abstracted thought or positive
 
 298 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 occupation for him then. The very nature of the 
 employment itself forcibly brought back a keener 
 consciousness of the narrowness of his actual lot, by 
 directly linking to it the probable loss of his pro- 
 spects and failure of his career. It was no use 
 attempting it; the room was too hot, he could not 
 do anything: a restlessness of mind, increased by 
 the fever of repeated effort, deprived him of all 
 power of consecutive action; and as two o'clock 
 was striking, and he could neither sleep nor work, 
 his will had sunk away, leaving him helplessly at the 
 mercy of his distraught, fevered imagination. Inad- 
 vertently he went to the window again ; clouds were 
 gathering now, and came scudding athwart the veiled 
 face of the white moon : like weird things they 
 went, and so fast that he felt their shadows move 
 upon his face. A rising wind, with the howl of a 
 hungry wolf, was also gathering on the blue gleam- 
 ing slates of the opposite wing, and swept down 
 hissing amidst the yielding limes of the gloomy base 
 court : it was a raw creeping night. 
 
 And that light that light still burning in the 
 study window ; it grew quite red and large now in the 
 greater darkness : and suddenly a strange feeling of 
 alarm came over and took possession of Mr. Pennet's 
 mind. " What was the nature of the employment
 
 A PROLONGED VIGIL. 299 
 
 it assisted so continuously ? what could require such 
 attention ? and how could the strength of the hroken 
 old man last out such lengthened application ? " were 
 questions which he asked himself, involuntarily, as 
 he stood opposite that fixed ominous light. Then 
 followed a supposition that it might be merely acci- 
 dental, or worse than accidental ; which was not 
 improbable. "What if anything had happened: if 
 the old man were ill, or needed assistance ?" Scarcely, 
 therefore, did this suspicion cross his mind than 
 Mr. Pennet decided to go and see if Mr. Bradel's 
 servant were in bed. 
 
 The wind, now fast rising, shook the rows of 
 casements, as he passed along the galleries of the 
 silent house ; and as the servant's room was 
 in the opposite wing, he had to traverse the 
 corridors of the ground floor, along hollow echoing 
 passages filled with the low wail of the wind, that now 
 and then forced its way through the bolted shutters, 
 making the light which he carried flicker and throw 
 out great waving shadows before him. An invincible 
 sense of loneliness was favoured by the circum- 
 stances, and by the hour ; to such a degree that when 
 Mr. Pennet suddenly and distinctly heard some- 
 thing come close behind him with a sort of moan, 
 and at the same time felt a cold touch upon his
 
 300 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 hand, he almost let fall the light for very fear. How- 
 ever, it was only Fan, the white spaniel, which had 
 been crouching under the staircase, and slipped after 
 him down the passage. " What ailed the dog ? " 
 When he moved on again, she slunk close to his 
 heels with her limbs gathered together, as if fright- 
 ened or cowed. 
 
 Clearly, Mr. Bradel was not yet in bed, for his 
 servant was dozing before the fire. The man laughed 
 in a ghastly way in his sleep as Mr. Pennet entered 
 and shook him awake. 
 
 Ascertaining that he had not yet been summoned, 
 Mr. Pennet decided on going up to the study imme- 
 diately, even at the risk of intrusion. At the foot of 
 the great staircase however, the dog, which no efforts, 
 hitherto, could prevent from following, suddenly 
 stopped short, and, sitting up, broke into a succession 
 of low, short howls. 
 
 Their knocking at the study door brought no reply : 
 there was no signal of life or movement from within ; 
 and when at length the door was forced open, Mr. 
 Bradel lay with his face upon the table, amidst a 
 litter of legal papers, hideously stark and cold a 
 rigid, ghastly corpse ! 
 
 Over the galleries and halls a clinging gloom and 
 chill hung that long night, until the lights grew
 
 A PROLONGED VIGIL. 301 
 
 pale in the first faint streaks of day. With muffled 
 voices and stricken faces, the pale servants glided 
 noiselessly ; for the hour of arraignment and of doom 
 had fallen on the great house : a hush was laid upon 
 it. Its heir was gone away, no one knew whither ; 
 and its head had also gone to an unknown bourn : 
 but farther and faster than ever fleetest steam or 
 telegraph might follow. Another prisoner had been 
 freed from the close lock-up of life had been called 
 up to that great bar whence there is neither chance, 
 nor appeal, nor slippery trick of law to escape by, 
 nor able counsel for the defence. 
 
 With the first grey of dawn, Mr. Pennet rode 
 into Ormiston. He searched the clubs and hotels, 
 but could learn nothing anywhere of Edwin: how 
 he had passed the night, or where he was to be 
 found, no one could tell. He then retraced his 
 steps as far as Middleton Lodge, but they equally 
 knew nothing of him there. As he returned into 
 town, however, the second time, Mr. Pennet was 
 stopped by a servant at the Cottage gate. " Miss 
 Jane wanted to see him immediately." At that 
 hour, what could she want ? Accordingly, he entered 
 the gate, and Jane met him in the garden. 
 
 "Do you know anything of her of my sister?" 
 she cried ; " she is nowhere to be found : her bed was
 
 302 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 not slept in, and we are all in dreadful alarm and 
 anxiety. Has she gone to Everley ? Do you know 
 anything of her ? Do not keep me in suspense. But 
 something has certainly happened ; I see it in your 
 face : oh, tell me at once, where are you going at this 
 hour ? What is it has happened ? " 
 ' " Mr. Bradel died suddenly last night, and I am 
 looking for his son," replied Mr. Pennet ; " no one can 
 tell where to find him. Your sister has disappeared 
 also : what can that mean ? " And pale with a 
 strange, illuminating thought, Mr. Pennet hastened 
 back again to the town, intending to gain the port. 
 But the news meanwhile had already come into town, 
 and met him accidentally at once on his return. A 
 gentleman stopped him in the street, and Mr. Pennet 
 staggered back as if struck, to hear it. 
 
 Nora Troye was gone off gone off with Bradel 
 off in the yacht ; they were seen to go on board, and 
 had been sighted off the port at day -break. Already 
 the town was stunned and dizzy with the news ; and 
 the morning post brought full announcement and 
 confirmation of the fact at the Cottage, with a copy 
 of the marriage certificate. They had been married 
 at the port !
 
 303 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 SUCH was the final climax which closes the interest 
 of our story. 
 
 Of course there were people in Ormiston who had 
 foreseen it all along ; who knew from the beginning 
 what Nora Troye had in her mind, and had also 
 predicted that no good would come of such close inti- 
 macy with the Bradels. But that such a catastrophe 
 should have absolutely occurred to a clear-sighted 
 woman like Mrs. Middleton, admittedly astonished 
 every one ; and, indeed, rejoiced not a few, for Mrs. 
 Middleton was not popular. The misadventure to her 
 ambition was accordingly generally received as a 
 judgment on her worldly and manoeuvring life : an 
 assumption which was apparently sanctioned by her 
 subsequent conduct, as she gradually retired from 
 the world, and, now that years have passed away, 
 devotes her time greatly to charity-schools and 
 religion. 
 
 As for Caroline, it was feared at first that Mr. 
 Bradel's would not be the only grand funeral Mocton
 
 304 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 should witness at the time. The shock was extreme 
 to one of her delicate and sensitive nature; but, 
 fortunately, we are saved from committing such 
 an offence against recognized rule as to kill any 
 deserving young person at the close of a tale, when 
 the bad should be punished and everybody else 
 dismissed to perfect felicity as invariably happens 
 in real life, we suppose. But alas ! for the dignity 
 of passion, nothing is eternal under the sun; and 
 although it is a first acknowledged principle of 
 novelists to admit the human heart to be of the most 
 fragile organization, yet it is, nevertheless, amazing 
 what burdens so delicate a fabric is capable of en- 
 during when it sometimes, unhappily and absolutely, 
 must. 
 
 Perhaps it might have been more becoming in Caro- 
 line to have had a broken heart after all ; but, unfor- 
 tunately for sentimental interests, she had nothing of 
 the sort, and rallied completely. It might be mere 
 pride which came to her aid, for in a short while 
 afterwards she was aware of never having really cared 
 so much for Mr. Bradel at all ; and in about another 
 year she re-appeared in the world : in person not 
 much altered, and otherwise greatly improved 
 sobered in mind, and more settled in character and 
 disposition. She is now married and perfectly happy.
 
 CONCLUSION. 305 
 
 Married ! to whom ? Well, to Luke Penrose ; 
 and no people in Ormiston get on better together. It 
 was Lumney who made the match ; and to his death 
 he did not cease to congratulate himself thereupon. 
 Luke progressed steadily with his work, is now 
 one of the most prosperous of men, and in the 
 humble fulfilment of plain duties his wife finds true 
 happiness, and occupies the path for which nature 
 originally fitted her. 
 
 Many more years passed on, giving Ormiston time 
 to alter rapidly, both in external appearance and social 
 characteristics. The face of the town was no longer 
 the same ; old streets had been blotted out, intra- 
 mural gardens and greens utilized and built upon. 
 But more decidedly than in material features had 
 the tone of society there extended and developed ; 
 old fashions, and old customs, sometimes old people, 
 too, were being quietly set aside one by one ; and the 
 spirit of its fashion was getting higher, more civilized, 
 more progressive. If there were fewer entertain- 
 ments than formerly, they were now on a far grander 
 scale ; people might have fewer friends, but in revenge 
 had far finer acquaintances, and the taste, in accord- 
 ance, was becoming suitably ambitious. Improved 
 upholstery, and a better style of equipages, were voted 
 a decided advance on the homelier appointments of a
 
 306 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 former time. So the town was in the proper spirit, 
 and well prepared to welcome back Mrs. Bradel, when, 
 after the lapse of those years, she did at last return 
 to Ormiston, with all the airs and attributes of a per- 
 sonage of perfect ton ; with her greys, her town foot- 
 men, and her flaunting fashions ; corrupted in heart 
 and grain a mere empty, frivolous, worthless, 
 worldly woman. 
 
 It is hard to say who is best off in this world. 
 If prosperity be no test of merit, how shall we 
 estimate the value of things ? Or does it all come 
 to the same is everything merely equal in the end ? 
 do the ways of men tend invariably in a fixed direc- 
 tion, like the lines of perspective, unbiassed by the 
 casual deviation of accidental circumstances ? Nora 
 Troye had succeeded in life, and won all she coveted in 
 no common degree. She bartered with the world, and 
 it paid her honestly with its best gear ; yet where was 
 the gain of it? on which side was the balance of 
 profit at last ? In her marriage there was soon an 
 end of even pretension to happiness ; for the burden 
 she had chosen proved too great for her pride, and 
 her capricious temper could not continue to brook it. 
 If her husband at last wearied of its outbreaks and 
 sought distractions elsewhere, she abundantly repaid 
 his neglect with a contempt that scarcely minded if
 
 CONCLUSION. 307 
 
 he should gradually slip away into all sorts of shabby 
 vices. Afterwards, therefore, when a separation by 
 mutual consent was agreed to, it was an event for 
 which every one was prepared, and which excited 
 little surprise. Edwin Bradel then went on the 
 turf, and became distinguished in sporting circles. 
 His wife has since attained celebrity in the world : 
 she is now a great lady, indeed, a marked leader 
 of fashion; and the Ormiston folk have occa- 
 sionally distant glimpses of her glory: but only 
 distant ; their interest in her has never been fully 
 gratified, as she had her own reasons for never 
 repeating that visit to Ormiston. 
 
 Where thus was the profit of all she had reached ? 
 What was it in the end but A Loss Gained ? The 
 promise of her early life, the freshness and capacity 
 of her nature, had dwindled away in narrow selfish- 
 ness, and perished without fruit. The past and pre- 
 sent, both chances of her life, united to taunt her ; 
 the actual was a failure, the possible a mockery : for 
 Luke had long outlived the last embers of feeling 
 towards her, and could at last forgive sincerely ; 
 even meet her with a sort of intolerable pity. His 
 success was a burning scorn to her, and her own 
 heart revenged him well ; for something of her old 
 self remained to perpetuate regret. A reflection of
 
 308 A LOSS GAINED. 
 
 former light, hanging on her like a curse, prevented 
 her from degrading in peace to the level of her actual 
 condition. It was no wonder, therefore, Mrs. Bradel 
 should never repeat her only visit to Ormiston. 
 
 Owing to Bradel's losses on the turf afterwards, 
 Everlej eventually came to be sold ; so there exists 
 no longer a record of the name in the country : 
 unless it be Edwin's own flaming portrait, which was 
 purchased at the auction by the proprietor of the 
 Bonnie Hussar Casino, and now makes an excellent 
 sign for that thriving establishment by the barrack- 
 gate. 
 
 It only remains to give our last premium away, 
 and make one good man at least married and happy. 
 Fortune was kind to Mr. Pennet ; he ultimately suc- 
 ceeded in getting everything he wanted, as good 
 people always should in this world. Prosperity and 
 honours showered fast upon him. On Mr. Wilson's 
 death he was appointed to the Mocton living ; when 
 the deanery fell vacant he was also preferred, and Miss 
 Ormus, the rich Creole's daughter, who ultimately 
 became Mrs. Pennet, must have been a fortunate, 
 though, perhaps, an undeserving woman. In exte- 
 rior certainly she exhibited none of the joyful thank- 
 fulness natural from one on whom Providence had 
 bestowed so much Mr. Pennet's large heart, and
 
 CONCLUSION. 309 
 
 hand, and ample estate. If she wasted and grew 
 wan, people accordingly scoffed at her silent tears, 
 and the good dean was pitied for having thrown 
 himself and his fine position away upon a thankless 
 mope. So kind a husband, so affectionate a father 
 also, had he not always caresses and solemn pats on 
 the head, which felt like blessings, for the children 
 of the parish. What matter if the mere sound of 
 his voice at once lulled a tempest in the Mocton nur- 
 sery, or that papa's step on the garden walk was the 
 immediate signal for his own darlings to drop their 
 playthings, and move rapidly away; all that was 
 behind the scenes : nobody minded such things. The 
 peculiar temperature of his domestic life was not 
 greatly anybody's business, while it was generally 
 admitted that no man in Ormiston was more de- 
 servedly and deeply respected. 
 
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