THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 BY 
 
 MRS GREY, 
 
 AUTHOR OP 
 
 THE gambler's WIFE," " COUSIN HARRY,' 
 
 &c. &c. 
 
 " AVhat is beauty f Not the show 
 Of shapely limbs and features. No, 
 
 These are but flowers, 
 
 That have their dated hours, 
 ' To breathe their momentary sweets, then go. 
 
 'T is the stainless soul fl-ithin 
 
 That outshines the fairest skin." 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 
 y o L.' I. 
 
 LONDON : 
 HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS, 
 
 SUCCESSORS TO HENRY COLBURN, 
 ^13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 
 1860. 
 
 Tlie right of Translation it restned. 
 
 riT
 
 JOHN CIIILDS AND SOX. nUNTERS.
 
 
 
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 " So oiu' blacksmitli's fine lady has brought 
 him a girl ! " said a village gossip to her 
 neighbour, an elderly matron, who was in 
 the act of passing through the little garden 
 which led to her adjoining cottage. 
 
 "Yes, Mrs Higgins," the woman conse- 
 quentially rephed, "and a more beautifuUer 
 babby I never dressed." 
 
 " And how fares that set-up thing, Mis- 
 tress Miller ? Did she bear up pretty bravely, 
 or did she suppose that the hke of her 
 ought to be spared all labom- and sorrow?" 
 Mrs Higgins continued, with a malicious grin. 
 
 VOL. I. f f" i'-' ^■i^^ J" ,r^ 
 
 RESERVl
 
 2 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 " She fared much the same as all Eve's 
 daughters," returned the village midwife 
 with increased pomposity ; " and I makes 
 it a law, you know, neighhour, never to 
 tell tales out of school about my patients." 
 
 " No one wants you to tell tales, Mother 
 Jenks ; but, like a good woman, just tell 
 me what does Frank Miller say to his 
 daughter? I have heard that he was all for 
 a lad." 
 
 " Oh, lack-a-day ! " the good w^oman ex- 
 claimed, really too uncomfortably brimful 
 of the subject to be able to resist a little 
 information oozing out, " Frank Miller Avas 
 indeed in a pretty way when he heard it 
 was a girl. ' A girl ! ' he shouted, with — 
 lor me ! such an oatli, ' a troublesome bag- 
 gage, just come into the world to be made 
 into a lazy, useless piece of trumpery ; no 
 good will ever come of a girl to me — a 
 boy might have been made something of — 
 a girl never!' He did not even look at 
 the pretty babby, but strode away, much as 
 he was wanted, foi- his wife has been pre- 
 cious bad since, I can tell you, and he did 
 not come back for hours." 
 
 "Precious bad, was she?" eagerly in-
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 quired Mrs Higgins. "What was the matter? 
 Now there's a good woman, tell us all about 
 it?" 
 
 But Mrs Jenks's momentary epanchement 
 was over. She pursed up her mouth, and 
 in a dignified manner said : 
 
 " I have nothing more to tell, neigh- 
 bour, so good-night. I have had a good 
 long time of it, that I can tell you, and am 
 dead beat ; so a cup of tea and to bed." 
 
 " Yes, and a drop of something in it," mut- 
 tered Mrs Higgins, as she reentered her 
 kitchen, not at all satisfied with the result 
 of her late gossip. 
 
 " Stupid old sold ! " she exclaimed ; " but 
 I'll step in again after the black bottle has 
 done its work; her tongue always runs the 
 freer after a good pull at it, and if I can- 
 not get anything out of her, I'll be in at 
 the Millers', and see all about it myself be- 
 fore night; that is to say, if I can get this 
 plaguy ironing done. Heigho ! it's a queer 
 business, this stupid marriage of handsome 
 Erank Miller's with that grand nurse, who 
 always looked as much a lady as the Mar- 
 chioness herself, and far more proud like. 
 Poor Prank ! and do not I pity him? No
 
 4 THE LITTLK BKAUTY. 
 
 wonder he was vexed it was a girl, poor 
 fellow ! lie was thinkinp^, I warrant, of the 
 bad barf^ain he had made in the niotlicr, who 
 certainly is fit for nothing but to sit in the 
 fine inirsery at the Court, and to be waited 
 upon by understrappers of all kinds and 
 sorts ; dressing up young lords and ladies 
 in purple and fine liiuni, as the Bible says. 
 Well, I must just bustle on and get finished; 
 I am wild to sec this young lady black- 
 smith, decked out in all the fid-fads and 
 cast-off finery of the top nobs of yonder 
 grand house." 
 
 Frank Miller Avas, as we \\a\c heard, in 
 reality the village blacksmith, although he 
 did not nominally work at the forge ; a good 
 thriving trade it had always been at Brook- 
 lands, the forge standing close to one of 
 the gates of Lyle Court, with its stables fidl 
 of horses of every description. 
 
 Miller had been head groom to the Marquis 
 of Glenmoi'e for many years, and had saved a 
 good sum of money. 
 
 People wondered at his going into l)usiness 
 of such a sort, but Frank's father had been a 
 thriving ])lacksmitli before him ; he had been 
 bred up in the forge, had ab\ ays a fancy for
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 5 
 
 the craft, and having a firm will of his own, 
 in spite of the entreaties, and even tears and 
 threats of his affianced bride, he determined 
 to secure the business as soon as an oppor- 
 tunity offered. 
 
 His intended wife was then head nurse of 
 the Lyle family, having worked her way to the 
 top of the tree, from being at first only a 
 nm'sery girl, by fortunate and unforeseen cir- 
 cumstances. The young heir had been dan- 
 gerously ill with scarlet fever ; his nurse took 
 the complaint ; the contagion spread through 
 the nursery; only Ellen, the under-nursery- 
 maid, escaped it, and into her young hands did 
 the task devolve of nm^sing the precious little 
 lord, then the only child. Well did she per- 
 form this office, and when it was all over, and 
 the child restored to health, the doctor gave 
 the fullest meed of praise to Ellen for her 
 skill and tender care. 
 
 Such attention and judicious management 
 he had never before seen equalled, 
 
 " Indeed, my Lady," he added, "you need 
 not go further to find a nm^se ; far and A^dde, 
 it would be impossible to meet with a better 
 or cleverer than this young woman." 
 
 So Nelly Rose, at a wonderfully early age
 
 6 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 for such an important post, ])ccanic head and 
 chief of tlie Lylc nursery. And soon more 
 charges were added to swell her dignity and 
 responsibihty. Three httle ladies successively 
 made their appearance, and then another son 
 was born ; the importance of the head nurse 
 increasing with every addition to the nm-sery 
 party. 
 
 Who so great a personage in the house as 
 Mrs Rose ? 
 
 Certainly, not the Marchioness — a gentle, 
 unpretending woman, dehcatc in health, and 
 unostentatious in habits — dotingly fond of 
 her children, and only too glad to over- 
 whelm with hidulgence and kindness one 
 who certainl}' devoted herself to the well- 
 being of her little darlings. 
 
 So Mrs Rose was spoilt to her heart's con- 
 tent. Rut notwithstanding the dailv incrcas- 
 ing pride and self-conceit of this woman, she 
 remained constant to her first love, and no 
 doubt would have continued so, even had she 
 not been "quite aware that he was also work- 
 ing up his way, knowing well Avhat he was 
 about, aiul making a heavy purse against the 
 day when he shoukl be enabled to set up in 
 business as a blacksmith (that was the extent
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 7 
 
 of his ambition), and marry his love, the pretty 
 Ellen Rose. Frank iMiller had always been 
 considered a miracle of perfection by the 
 female sen- ants at the Court ; and there was 
 really much in his face and figure desen'- 
 ing admiration ; a handsomer man was rarely 
 to be seen. 
 
 There is \^^thout doubt "a tide in the 
 affairs of men." Tom Giles, the blacksmith, 
 at last died ; Frank Miller bought the concern, 
 house, garden, and all ; and, as a matter of 
 course, claimed the hand of his long promised 
 wife. 
 
 The Marquis of Glenmore, after a very long 
 illness in London, was brought down to Lyle 
 Court, to be buried in the tomb of his an- 
 cestors, his successor being then quite a 
 youth, and a complete break-up at the Court 
 ensued. 
 
 The Marchioness, truly mourning for her 
 lord, could not endure the idea of remaining at 
 a place where she had lived so many years of 
 happiness with one whom she truly loved, and 
 therefore removed with all her family to another 
 place, in a county not far distant from London. 
 
 The whole establishment left the Court, 
 which was shut up ; the housekeeper, and
 
 8 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 attendants sufficient to keep it in order, 
 alone remaining, and tliere appeared little 
 probability of the old ])lace being occupied 
 again for many a long day. 
 
 It was really a very hard struggle to Mrs 
 Rose to make up her mind to give up her 
 place ; to leave the beautiful youngest child, 
 and all the luxury and indulgences which 
 habit had made second nature to her. But 
 Frank ]\Iiller was peremptory ; indeed he hint- 
 ed that if she made any further hesitation, he 
 was ready to be off the bargain at once. 
 If she Avould not have him, he knew who 
 would. 
 
 And the ^'^sion of a much younger, and 
 in every way more suitable, partner for this 
 lover of hers — of whom she had for some 
 time felt many a sickly qualm of jealousy — 
 arose before her jaundiced eye ; yes, she must 
 make no more ado, she saw plainly ; the deed 
 must be done ; so, with many tears, and the 
 sincerest son-ow, she was obliged to resign her 
 bc(nitiful nursling to a new attendant, towards 
 whom she felt many a jealous grudge, and then 
 she married Frank Milk;r. Poor Frank ! far bet- 
 ter for you had it been Anne Coles, the second 
 housemaid, that hard-working, industrious girl,
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 9 
 
 who would indeed have been a suitable helpmate 
 for yon — considering her fate as your wife 
 indeed a prize in Hfe's lottery — and have looked 
 upon the forge as a scene of glory, not a dis- 
 grace, an eye-sore ! 
 
 The folloT^dng is a sketch of the conversa- 
 tion which, however, brought the matter to a 
 final conclusion : — 
 
 " With all the money you have saved, and 
 my few pounds in the bank, to say nothing of 
 the fifty pounds a year I am to have till the 
 day of my death, — an annuity from the late 
 Marquis, — I am sure, Frank, we could go 
 into sop-ie more genteel line than that dread- 
 fid blacksmith's business ; and, oh dear ! to live 
 here after they have all gone, will be enough to 
 break my heart. How I do hate the thoughts 
 of seeing you always with a black face and 
 dirty hands from morning till night, I, who 
 have been used to such difierent thins-s." 
 
 Frank's eyes scanned with a peculiar ex- 
 pression the person of his affianced bride, 
 now no longer in her '''' 2^Temihre jeimesse," 
 but just at the ripe age of forty, her still very 
 pretty, though faded, face spoilt by a cross, 
 supercihous expression, and her dress so like 
 that of a lady, her hands looking as if they
 
 10 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 had never done anything approaching to a 
 day's Avork; in sliort, a degree of refinement 
 pervaded her wliole appearance, wln'cli sent 
 a feehng of dismay to his mind. And then, 
 unfortnnately, the recollection of bnxom Anne 
 Coles flai^hed across his fancy, with her fresh 
 complexion, her twenty -five snnnners, her 
 smiling good-hnmoured, thongh not handsome, 
 face, and her strength and will to clean a house 
 down in no time. 
 
 " Why, yes, Nelly," he replied, with grave 
 determination, " perhaps you had better think 
 well of it before you take the leap, for although 
 it will not be necessary for me to have a black 
 face and hands from morning till night, after 
 all, may be, I am not the best man for you ; 
 it will be rather another thing for you, indeed, 
 to be the wife, as you say, of such as I — 
 Frank Miller, the smith — to what you have 
 been used to up yonder — and so i)efore you 
 give up your place, tiu'u it w ell over in your 
 mind, and do not think I shall owe you a 
 grudge for it." 
 
 Mrs Nellv, at these words, burst into a 
 vioUnt fit of weeping. 
 
 "And is this what it has come to, after 
 eighteen long years of patient waiting? — owe
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 11 
 
 me a grudge for it ? — no, you would tliank 
 me instead. Oh, Frank ! and is it really come 
 to this ? But I know how it is ; you are a 
 faithless, hard-hearted monster ; don't think 
 I'm blind or deaf; I've seen and heard 
 plenty ; yes," she continued, her sobs and 
 tears increasins;, to the dismav of her listener, 
 who really was very soft-hearted at the sight 
 of a woman's tears ; " yes, sir, go and marry 
 that coarse-looking, vulgar Anne Coles, and 
 break the heart of one who has been always 
 true to you." 
 
 Trank had loved the pretty XeUy very sin- 
 cerelv, and it was onlv of late that he had 
 begun to think she had grown above him, 
 and that his good plain sense had pointed out 
 that a wife of less pretension was more fitted 
 for his grade of life. Perhaps he thought 
 with Ovid, that " if you want to marry suit- 
 ably, marry your equal." Still he had no 
 intention of playing false to his old love, 
 and now her tears and genuine grief soft- 
 ened his heart aijain toAvards her, and not a 
 little flattered his self-love. 
 
 Nothing a man loves so dearly, let him 
 be wise or let him be simple, as feeling him- 
 self the object of a Avoman's entire devotion.
 
 12 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 and liow few can withstand the tears whicli 
 are slied alone for him ! Much is said about 
 the vanity of the weaker sex ; in our o})in- 
 ion it is quite equalled by that of man — 
 ])articularly wliere women are concerned. I'he 
 strongest become weak in their liands, if the 
 light chord is only judiciously touched. Do 
 we not daily hear and see instances of those 
 we had imagined Samsons in strength of mind, 
 succumbing without the slightest resistance to 
 the ^\iles of a Delilah ? and our Samson was 
 vanquished, strong man as he was ; whether 
 for weal or woe, he uuist abide by his love, 
 and only think of her as the Nelly of old, 
 not as the stately Mrs Hose, who had hardly 
 vouchsafed a look his way, latterly, if she 
 chanced to meet him whilst surromided by 
 gi'and company ; little imagining, when stung 
 to the qidck by her api)arent coldness, that, 
 with all her airs and graces, he always held 
 the warmest place in her vain heart. 
 
 Never for a moment had she really wavered. 
 Though many were the high-flown visions of 
 licr married life, of genteel competency and 
 ease, some occupation not materially interfer- 
 ing with her acquired ideas of what was the 
 right thing, under every circumstance Frank
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 13 
 
 Miller's wife she was to be, and to give him 
 up, even red hot from the forge, oh, that would 
 never do ! 
 
 So no more insinuations against his -pro- 
 fession, for thus she qualified the rough trade 
 of her intended ; at any rate, she could write 
 to her absent friends, and designate her hus- 
 band a veterinary surgeon; and perhaps it 
 might come to that at last.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The wedding was to take place before the 
 family left the Court. 
 
 The future abode of the bride was well 
 plenished by the jMarchioness, who tliouglit 
 she could not do enough for a nurse who had 
 seiTcd her so long and faithfully. Well woidd 
 it have been for the future, if the amiable lady 
 had been loss lavish, or more judicious, in 
 the choice of her mnnerous gifts, which, Ion- 
 be it spoken, our Frank designated as " useless 
 trumpery." 
 
 " AVell, I su})pose it cannot be helped," he 
 mentally ejaculated with a groan-like sigh, a 
 few days before the wedding, when he looked
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 15 
 
 around him, after the departure of his Nelly, 
 who had been spending some hours at the 
 cottage, unpacking the numerous boxes which 
 had been brought from the Court — hoards of 
 years — such a heterogeneous collection of 
 treasures ! " But don't I feel, for all the world, 
 like a bull in a china shop ? " he continued, as 
 he moved, as cautiously as he could, his brawny 
 figiu'e across the small room, so scattered wdth 
 brittle articles. " What in the world can be 
 the use of this, I wonder ? " as he picked up 
 from the floor, and held disdainfully between 
 his fi.ngers, a scented sachet, a present from 
 some pretty lady to the favoui^ed nurse. 
 "Faugh ! how it smells ; worse than a pole cat ! 
 A pretty present for a blacksmith's wife ; far 
 better a gridiron, or a good bottle spit, which, 
 by the by, I must just go and buy. Heigho ! 
 I wonder whether she ^^-ill know how to use it 
 when it is here? Precious bad dinners I 
 expect I shall have ! " 
 
 The marriage, however, came off at last, and 
 a gay concern it was. 
 
 The young Marquis gave away the bride, 
 and the little ladies officiated as bridesmaids. 
 
 Fi'ank Mifler hated the parade of the business, 
 and looked sulky and out of his element ; but
 
 10 TJIK LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 he could not liclp liinisulf, and tliaidvcd his 
 stars tliis would be the lust of all such folly 
 and nonsense. 
 
 The bride and bridegroom went off for a 
 week's holiday, and also that Frank Miller 
 might do a little necessary business at a 
 neighbouring town ; when they returned, the 
 Com-t was deserted, and the hitherto pleasant 
 home of the Glcnmore family no longer re- 
 sounded with the chee]-ful sound of a large 
 establishment. 
 
 Marriage is a desperate thing. The frogs in 
 Esop's foble were extremely wise. They had a 
 gi-eat mind to some water, but they would not 
 leap into the well, because they could not leap 
 out again. 
 
 AVell for Frank Miller had he studied this 
 wholesome adacje. 
 
 Never was therc so complete a case of 
 " paired, not matched." A good and kind 
 husband Frank Miller might have; made from 
 the very first, had he married a wife in any 
 way suitable to him ; but he found out, as he 
 had before suspected, that he had made a 
 dii-eful blunder. And Mrs Miller! what 
 thought she of the change from the Court to 
 the smithy ?
 
 THE LITTLE BEATTY. 17 
 
 She was, poor Avoinan, imfeignedly miser- 
 able ; years of luxury, of unbounded ease and 
 indulgence, had completely incapacitated her 
 for anything like Avork or common fare. 
 
 The nursery dinners and suppers had ever 
 created more ado than any of the other various 
 tables in the establishment of Lyle Court. 
 
 " That worrying Mvs Rose is so particular 
 and fussy ; mind, Eliza, that SAveet pastry and 
 some of that vol ate vent are kept for the 
 nursery. My Lady told me this morning 
 that Mrs Rose had been complaining that her 
 meals are sent up shockingly neglected ; she 
 makes more row about her eating than even 
 the governesses in the school-room ; and that's 
 saying a good deal." 
 
 Thus spoke the housekeeper. 
 
 " Susan, for gracious sake ! take care how you 
 iron those collars and sleeves ; a fine fuss that 
 set-up Madam in the nursery made last week 
 about her finerv. She declares her beautiful 
 Walanciennes was all torn. I wonder how it 
 will be after the first getting up in the back 
 kitchen of the blacksmith's cottasre ? " 
 
 Thus spoke the head laundry-maid, and such- 
 like exclamations Avere resounding constantly 
 through the Avhole establishment. 
 
 VOL. I. 2
 
 18 THK LITTLE BKAUTV. 
 
 Madam Nurse lorded it over all. No one 
 ever dared to dispute her ascendancy. This 
 is no uncouinion case. No servant ever gains 
 such coni})lete sway over the mind of her 
 employer as the nurse — and no wonder ! 
 Has she not in her hands the care, the welfare, 
 nay, often the lives of our treasures— our 
 dearest ones for the time being wholly in her 
 keeping ? And the nurse, with a degree of self- 
 devotion and cheerfulness which has always in 
 us excited no small sm-pnse as well as admir- 
 ation, gives up her whole time, her health, 
 and strength to her nurslings — regardless of 
 sleepless nights and days of never-ceasing 
 fatigue— self-sacrificing indeed is the devotion 
 of a really good nurse— wonderful to witness. 
 Then is it not excusable that we load these 
 valuable creatures with indulgences? Could 
 we refrain from doing likewise? Nevertheless, 
 that the perfect nurse of a nobleman's family 
 could ever be likely to make a perfect wife to 
 a blacksmith, is equally anomalous. 
 
 Although Venus wedded with Vulcan, that is 
 no precedent for a happy marriage. It was not 
 the best-assorted union ; and though our 
 Vulcan's bride did not err in the same manner 
 as the beautiful heathen goddess— she was
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 19 
 
 quite as unequally yoked to her stalwart 
 mate. 
 
 It is easy to imagine the consequences of 
 this mesalliance. Mrs IMiller was wholly unfit 
 for the plain, humble life her husband woidd 
 fain have had her lead. After miserable 
 wrangling and utter discomfort, a woman of 
 the village was hired to do the work of the 
 cottage, and Mrs Miller, growing thinner and 
 paler every day, had no comfort left but to sit 
 alone in her smart parlour w^hen her husband 
 was out of the way, to arrange and rearrange 
 the pretty things on the round table, gaze 
 with blinding tears upon many little pictures 
 and sketches of her dear children, as she called 
 them, particularly upon one — the portrait of 
 her darling pet, the little Lord Victor. . 
 
 " And to have left them all — and for 
 what ? " she would sob forth ; " to marry a man 
 who would like me to be a drudge, who cares 
 not a straw for me ; perhaps," she would add 
 despondingly, " no wonder ; I am not fit for 
 him ; he had better have married Anne Coles." 
 
 Her vocation was ended, and she could turn 
 to no other. And so time passed heavily away ; 
 but there came a change. There was the 
 prospect of an event which at once brightened
 
 '10 THE LITTLr BEAUTY. 
 
 the aspect of nil tilings to the ci-devant head 
 nurse. 
 
 She was about to become a mother. Oh, 
 what joy ! another baby to nurse, and her 
 very own ! And then she thou<»;lit, could she 
 ever love a child better than those she liad 
 left ? She scarcely imagined that possible. 
 
 However, for the first time since she had left 
 tlie Court, she felt some interest in life. It 
 would be a pleasant anniscnient and occupa- 
 tion to prepare for the arrival of the expected 
 babe — and many were tlie splendid hoards 
 she had laid up for such an emergency. Better 
 had they been consigned to the flames than to 
 Ellen Rose's boxes ! 
 
 Those costly cand)rics, laces, and embroid- 
 eries, hardly a day the worse for wearing, what 
 had they to do in a blacksmith's cottage? And 
 the smart ha^sinetU, with its muslin draperies, 
 how unfit a couch for honest, rough Frank 
 Miller's child ! Would not all this vanity and 
 false pretension be laying the foundation-stone 
 to a bringing-up of folly which could not 
 possibly lead to good ? 
 
 With many a groan the blacksmith watched 
 the oj)erations of his wife. Poor man ! the 
 idea of becominfr a father was mhifi;led with
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 21 
 
 many troubled feelings. He did not want for 
 sound good sense, and lie had already learnt 
 a hard lesson dunng the period of his manied 
 life. His wife was essentially a very sillv 
 woman, there was no mistake in that ; her Hfe 
 of luxury liad implanted faults in her character 
 AAhich in a rougher life might not have sprung 
 up. 
 
 " How would she bring up his child?" 
 
 This was the question. 
 
 " Well," he sohloquized, " if it is a lad, it 
 will do, I'll see after him ; but the Lord pre- 
 serxe us from a a;irl." 
 
 "A^liere is vour missus?" Frank ano-rily 
 inquired of the servant -girl one evening on 
 coming into the house, tired and hungry, and 
 finding the fire low, and no signs of supper. 
 
 " Oh, missus is in the parlour, and told me 
 not to come in there plaguing her ; she is about 
 her babby-clothes," the girl added, significantly, 
 " and such httle loves they be !" 
 
 Frank ]\ tiller pushed open the door, and 
 stood darkly contemplating the scene. His 
 wife sat at a little table, upon which the most 
 conspicuous object was a tiny infant's cap, 
 thickly trinnned with lace, while i\lrs ]\Iiller 
 was ruthlessly snipping up yards of narrow
 
 •22 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 rib])on into lengths of about two inclics long. 
 Most useless and destructive did this operation 
 appear to the uninitiated eyes of the disgusted 
 blacksmith. His ire waxed hot, he had been 
 put out with sonietliinu; which had gone wrong 
 at the forge, and was all ready for an ex- 
 plosion. 
 
 " AA'hat the devil are you about, missus, sit- 
 ting there losing your time, and making all 
 that Avaste with that tnnn])ery? Have you 
 nothing bettcn- to do with your fingers than 
 that there cutting up of goods?" 
 
 " You are only showing your ignorance, Mr 
 Miller. I am not wasting trum})ery, as you call 
 it ; those bits of ribbon are to trim this cap." 
 
 " That cap, and pray who is that tomlbolery 
 meant for ? Not for my child, Nelly Miller ; 
 no cliild of mine shall be made such a Merry 
 Andrew of. No," he continued, his wrath 
 ])ecominir more and more vehement as he 
 cautrht sifjht of the i)rettv bassinette, with its 
 pink-lined curtains, pi'eping from beneath the 
 cover which had been tiirown over it — " I'll 
 just tell voii what. 1 shall go to-morrow and 
 buy a wicker cradle, and ask Mrs Evans at the 
 Court for a suit of baby-clothes such as are 
 given to the people hereabouts ; and then, if
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 23 
 
 you do not choose to make them, I'll find some 
 one who will ; I must put an end to all this 
 cursed folly and nonsense." 
 
 And with his large hands, Frank Miller 
 gathered up all the deHcate little articles scat- 
 tered around upon the tables and chairs, and 
 recklessly threw them all into the — fortunately 
 — fireless grate. 
 
 Oh, the commotion Avhich ensued ! 
 
 Poor Frank, it had been better for you to 
 have been blind to every folly ! That day you 
 forged for yourself, by this impatient outbreak, 
 a chain which fettered vou for life. ]\Irs Miller 
 fell into violent hysterics ; shriek after shriek 
 might have been heard issuing from the black- 
 smith's house ; nothing could check the violence 
 of the attack. 
 
 Frank ]\Iiller was filled with repentant hor- 
 ror. What had he done ? — perhaps killed his 
 wife. He sent in all directions for assistance, 
 and the cottaije was soon filled with the neigh- 
 boming matrons. 
 
 " It will be a mercy if she gets over it," 
 croaked one. 
 
 " And the poor baby — that will be lost for 
 sure !" whined another. 
 
 " Ah ! yes, the poor, unborn, innocent little
 
 :24 THK little beauty. 
 
 cretiir!" was the chonis; niul looks of anger 
 and dis^nst were directed towards Frank, w lio, 
 nearly distracted, now sobl)ed tbrtli : 
 
 " Oh, Nellv, Ncllv, what a born brnte I have 
 been! Only l)e qniet and dont [;-o on in that 
 way, and I pledge my word to yon that for 
 the time to come I will never tliwart yon by 
 deed or word ; von shall do as von like — dress 
 the child as a puppet if you choose — do any- 
 thing." 
 
 But j\Irs Miller Avas in reality, thongh 
 dreadfully upset and hysterical, far from losing 
 the faculty of hearing or seeing, and her 
 (juiek eye soon perceived, even in the midst of 
 the storm, the advantage she was on the ])oint 
 of gainhig. 
 
 This was the moment for victory. Now or 
 never. So she kicked and screamed on, and 
 was at length carried to bed by her compas- 
 sionate neighbcnu's in a most alarming state of 
 mind and body. And Frank was then almost 
 beside himself with horror. Mrs ^liller was 
 in tiiitli far too good a j)olitieian to allow her- 
 self to be well immediately. By the slowest 
 degrees the most violent svmptoms were sub- 
 dued, and before night she Avas comparatively 
 calm, but feeling verv ill indeed.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 25 
 
 " Yes, Frank," she murmured in an awful 
 tone of voice, which filled the poor man's heart 
 with the utmost contrition, " I am indeed very 
 had, hut if the worst comes to the worst — and 
 I feel as if I could not get over it — I forgive 
 vou. 
 
 " But, Nellv, I shall never for2;ive mvself, 
 not if I lived a thousand years ; get well, do, 
 old girl, and see if Frank Miller wont be the 
 kindest husband that ever stepped. You shall 
 never be thwarted ; all I ask, I say, is that a'ou 
 will get well." 
 
 The hattle ivas won, Frank Miller's reign 
 was over from that moment. Mrs Miller was 
 dl for manv davs after this business. She 
 really suffered from the agitation caused by the 
 commotion, and was sufficiently wide awake to 
 manage her convalescence with skilful tact and 
 generalship. It would not do to get well all of 
 a sudden ; it must be kept up to the very last. 
 Frank nnist not think his behavioiu- a mere 
 trifle ; it must ever be a rod to be resei-ved to 
 hold over his head in terrorem, in case of his 
 chancing to forget what had happened. At 
 length, after many days of seclusion and pefife 
 sante, ]\Irs Miller emerged from the seclusion
 
 •2C) THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 <)t" her own room, a tar luorc important woman 
 tlin!i before she had entered it on that moment- 
 ous evenin;::. Tn short, to use a metaj)hor in 
 the true bhicksmith styk', — 
 
 " The <i;rev mare had become the best horse."
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The gossip of a small village is proverbial, 
 particularly when there is such rich food pro- 
 vided for it as that afforded at Brooklands by 
 the ill-assorted pair. Many were the nods and 
 w^inks, whisperings and shakings of heads, 
 whenever the subject was mentioned, or the 
 couple chanced to be seen, either together or 
 separate. 
 
 " Poor Frank, he has a clo^ii-look lately, 
 hasn't he?" said Mrs Hifj^ins, the under- 
 gardener's wife, one of the first perfonners in 
 the scandal line, to a neighbour, as they walked 
 behind him one Simday afternoon to church.
 
 28 THE I.ITTLE BEAL'TY. 
 
 " Where's his fine hidv, I wonder?" was the 
 other woman's remark. 
 
 " Oil, she's too delicate to walk to ehnreh, 
 she told me t'other dav ; she was Ivinfj her 
 l(mo-th on a sofa, forsooth, and drawled ont : 
 * The dear Marehioness never seareely ])ut her 
 feet to the gronnd the last three months ;' j\ist 
 as if that had anything in the world to do with 
 her." 
 
 " Well, Mrs Iliggins, they are both the same 
 flesh and blood." 
 
 " Yes, may be ; bnt that's neither here nor 
 there ; vou mav as lief talk of some hardv 
 wild-flower, and them stove-jdants my hus- 
 band is always making sueh a work ;d)ont ; 
 the one has been born and bred u]) hardy, used 
 to shiU"p winds — rough sod — nothing hurts 
 them ; th(^ others reared in hot-houses — not a 
 blast of heaven's air allowed to rest upon their 
 heads — having eonstant care and nursing. 
 This is all the same {is respects women in our 
 line and great ladies." 
 
 " We have the advantage of them there, at 
 any rate," remarked Mrs Higgins's compa- 
 nion. 
 
 " Yes, sure, and Nelly Rose that was ought 
 to have it too, for wasn't her mother a washer-
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 29 
 
 woman, and her grandmother before her ; and 
 did not she stand at the wash-tub till she went 
 to be nursery girl at the Court ? She ought to 
 have some good hard-working blood in her 
 veins, I think. Oh ! the conceit of that woman, 
 does it not sicken me ? And I am vexed for 
 poor Frank, who used to be an honest, jolly 
 fellow, — he looks anything but that now — 
 quite chap-fallen." 
 
 " And they say," rejoined the other, " there 
 is such a sight of baby-clothes and presents 
 arriving every day from the Coui't people — such 
 stupid things they send, I hear ; so unsuitable 
 like — just puffing up more and more that fool- 
 ish body, — and Frank ]\Iiller, I understand, 
 dare not sav one word, since he made such a 
 flare up, when he burnt up every stitch of 
 baby-clothes he could lay his hands on, in the 
 house, on the forge fire." 
 
 " He did not burn them, ]\lrs Brown, only 
 made believe." 
 
 " Oh yes, Sally Smith declares ever}' rag 
 was burnt ; and dreadfully he went on, beat 
 and ill-used his vrife, and nearly killed her." 
 
 "No scull thing!" inteiposed Mrs Higgins, 
 pompously. " I ought to know, having been 
 sent for when Mrs IMiller was took in the
 
 30 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 ' stcrics ; ' they had words, that's all, and he 
 did throw sonic little things within the empty 
 grate, which were all picked out and got no 
 harm ; mayhap it woidd have been just as 
 well had they all ht-cu burnt to cinders, for 
 the good they will do; such things are not fit 
 for the like of them ; no luck will come of them, 
 thinks I. However, Frank had time enough to 
 make up his mind, many a year of courting ; 
 and so, as he has brewed, so he must bake." 
 
 And the grand event came off in time. The 
 blacksmith's daughter entered this weary 
 world one summer's afternoon . Poor babe ! she 
 received but n cold welcome from her father. 
 It was with a look of disgust that he listened 
 to the announcement made by one of the at- 
 tendants, that a girl was born. 
 
 He left the house, and did not return till the 
 evenino;, and then he found evervbodv in great 
 confusion, and the doctor, who had been hast- 
 ily sununoned, about to leave the house. 
 
 "Your wife is very ill, Miller; how is it 
 you are away at such a time ? It is fortunate 
 I happened to be in the village, for there was 
 no one to fetch me." 
 
 " AVhat now ? " intpiired Prank :\Iiller. 
 
 " Mrs Miller has been in great danger ; she
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 31 
 
 is better, but still in a precarious state. I shall 
 be back again presently ; in the mean time I 
 have sent for the curate ; your wife wished it." 
 
 Poor Frank turned deadly white ; he felt he 
 had again been a great brute to have left his 
 wife at such a moment. He tm-ned to go up- 
 stairs, but his eyes encountered a little fairy 
 bed, which had been placed upon a table ; no 
 one was now in the room ; he looked round 
 stealthily, and then approached it softly. 
 
 AVhat a tide of new-born feelings rushed 
 with a gush of oyerwhelming yiolence into the 
 large heart of this honest man ! He was siu"- 
 prised at what he felt, wondered at the loud 
 beatings of his heart, and the moisture which 
 dinmied his eyes, as he lifted up the nuishn 
 curtain, and gazed into the little couch. There 
 lay his child, and what father ever looked un- 
 moved upon the face of his first-born ? 
 
 •Certainly not such a one as Frank Miller. 
 Tears, yes, bond fide tears, ran down his 
 cheeks as he stooped and kissed, first the little 
 hand above the coverlid, and then ventured to 
 press his lips upon the velvet cheek. 
 
 "My child, my httle child !" he munuured, 
 " how I could love you, and how happy I 
 shoidd be, if only I could think youi"s woidd
 
 32 THE LITTLE UEAUTV. 
 
 1)0 a yoocl 1111(1 liap})y lii'u ; and you, pretty 
 littlu one, it" Frank Miller, your lather," ami 
 his heart swelled at the thought of this new 
 tie, " ves, vour father, had his own wav, he 
 would try to make you both good and happy ; 
 hut, poor Nelly, I sadly doubt your bringing 
 up of this tender little kid. Ah me ! already 
 you look far more like a young lady than a 
 blacksmith's daughter, in this tine basket-like 
 erib, and with this soft satin laee of yours; 
 and this daintv-lookinu; hand, will it ever be 
 able to do a day's work, I wonder ? " 
 
 And with increasing pride and admiration 
 the blacksmith lingered, watching over his 
 child, until the entrance of one of the women 
 from above roused him from this contempla- 
 tion, and he was ushered into his wife's sick 
 I'oom. 
 
 Mrs Miller was considerably better, but still 
 seemed impatient for the arrival of the clergy- 
 man. When he came, she eagerly requested 
 that the infant might be immediately baptized. 
 The clergyman, imagining that there was some 
 necessity, owing to the state of the child's 
 health, that this ceremony should be })erform- 
 ed, prepared without delay to administer the 
 rite, ajid the infant was brought into the room.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 33 
 
 A finer or more healthy-looking babe could 
 not have been beheld. 
 
 Frank ]\Iiller could scarcely contain his 
 feelings when he had a fuller view of his 
 beautiful little daughter. This giant of a man ! 
 a baby's touch had indeed unlocked his fast- 
 closed heart ; a stream of gentle feelings, be- 
 fore unknown, swept into his stem nature. 
 " Nelly," he said, " thank you for giving me 
 such a babv, it must be another Xellv, — shall 
 I tell the mmister ? " 
 
 " No ! " gasped the sick woman, " not for 
 the world— let it be ' Violetta.' Lady Violet, 
 you know, promised to be gochuother." 
 
 "Nay, Nelly woiUd be so much more 
 natural like." 
 
 Mrs Miller became flushed from agitation. 
 " Violetta !" she feebly persisted ; and the doc- 
 tor at this moment entering, and seeing how 
 matters stood, said: " For heaven's sake. Miller, 
 don't dispute the point ; what does it signify ? 
 It is as good as your Avife's life is worth to 
 argue the matter with her just now." 
 
 So the blacksmith's dauohter was christened 
 "Violetta," with the addition of "Rose," 
 which her father insisted on adding. It had 
 always been his wish, to call the child by that 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 34 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 latter name, should it he a girl, and he liad tVc- 
 (jiicullv tlu'own out hints that he would have? 
 no outlandish appellations. Ellen, ho said, 
 would l)e the most proper, but he should not 
 object to " Rose." But Mrs Millei- had ar- 
 ranged her plans quite differently, which she 
 determined to carry with a coup de main \\\ 
 some munner or other, and her illness provided 
 a glorious opportunity. There could be no 
 arguing the pouit at such a moment, and so 
 again the woman gained the victory over the 
 man. 
 
 80 it was ill tlic l)eginning, and so it will be, 
 more or less, to the end. 
 
 Mrs Miller w^as soon " as w-ell as could be 
 expected," and able to enjoy most fully lici- 
 pretty babe and its tine clothes, aiul poor 
 Frank was permitted to he a looker-on upon 
 the scene ; scarcely could he be called an 
 actor. Only on Sundays, — those blessed 
 days, he had now moi'c than ever reason to 
 call them, — wIkmi dressed in all his ])v>{, was he 
 allowed llir liberty to enjoy with an\ thing 
 like comfort his little child. The ])oor father! 
 his love for that child became stronger, as day 
 liy day some new pciicction dawned in the 
 little person of his daughter.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 35 
 
 What exquisite delight thrilled through his 
 whole being when lirst he saw her smile, 
 and her sweet face beamed with intelhgence ! 
 It was a marvel in his eyes, a regular phe- 
 nomenon of nature. And then, when she 
 began to notice objects, and the tiny hand was 
 stretched forth to grasp what was held be- 
 fore her, his admiration and exultation knew 
 no bounds. " No baby was ever like his baby." 
 
 It was truly wonderful to see Frank Miller 
 tamed. 
 
 " And while an infant smiles in sleep. 
 
 Keeps guard lest it should wail and weep : 
 On tip-toe glides along the floor, 
 In dread to ope or close the door." 
 
 Our blacksmith became a totally altered man. 
 There are few human beings who have not 
 one soft, weak point in their natures, which, 
 when once discovered, lu'ought forth, warmed 
 and matured, will probably influence their 
 whole future bearing, nay, even their destiny. 
 The roughest specimens of mankind have their 
 tender chord in hearts seemingly cast in stone. 
 The chord may never have been touched, but 
 there it is. The bump of philoprogenitiveness 
 must have been the leading characteristic in 
 Frank Miller's phrenological development,
 
 36 Till' T.ITTLK BEAUTY. 
 
 for it scciiicd to preponderate now, even over 
 combat iveness ; at least, in one sense of the 
 word, tliat of combating against the wliims 
 and will of his wife. 
 
 Mrs Miller ruled supreme ; not a word did 
 he dare to say when things went wrong, which 
 they constantly did. If he ventured to com- 
 plain, poor man ! in a moment his mouth was 
 stopi)cd by, " The child, oh Frank, the child ! 
 remend)er, if vou vex me and make me ill, 
 what will become of the ])oor darling ?" 
 
 " Well, I suppose 1 must wait a bit," he 
 thought. 
 
 Yes, Frank Miller, you will have to wait, 
 
 and that — for ever ! 
 
 The only point to which he would not give 
 way was the name. He would not call the 
 child bv that outlandish one — so he designat- 
 ed the romantic a])i)ellation of " Violetta," — 
 the ^lissus might, if she pleased ; nothing would 
 make him do so ; the baby should be " Rose." 
 " And like a rose sure she is, my own little 
 ])ink-cheeked Rosy," and Rosy she always was 
 to him. 
 
 " We nuist really settle about the christen- 
 ing, Frank," said Mrs Miller to her husband, 
 a few weeks after the birth of the child.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 37 
 
 " I thoTiglit it was done," answered the 
 blacksmith. 
 
 ''' Done I no snch thing, the baby was only 
 baptized — not christened." 
 
 " So much the better ; then we can change 
 her name, I snppose?" 
 
 " How very ignorant you are," indignantly 
 his wife responded ; " the child was named, and 
 nothing whatever can alter it." 
 
 "So much the worse. Well, I suppose next 
 Sunday will do." 
 
 " That quite depends upon circumstances. 
 I am not going to allow my child to be mixed 
 up at the font with a swarm of little clod- 
 hoppers — labourers' children ; no, I shall watch 
 my opportunity. I must say I think it is 
 rather ridiculous of jNIr Vernon not choosins; 
 to open the church for a christening any day 
 but Sunday." 
 
 " I think he is all riirht there," returned 
 Frank ; " and pray what harm can it do our 
 cliild to be made a Christian of along with 
 many another honest child?" 
 
 " Well, Mr Miller,"— she always thus de- 
 signated her mate when she wished to put the 
 finishing stroke to any of her final decrees, — 
 " that is ?)!?/ opinion, and my determination, so
 
 38 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 do not irritate nic hv aro-ufvin"; ; it is vorv bad 
 tor me. I am anvtliiiij]!; but strou":, and this 
 dear baby," &c. &c. 
 
 So Mrs Miller again had her own way, 
 and she did watch her opportunity, and at 
 length, one Saturday afternoon, informed her 
 husband " tliat Violetta was to be christened 
 next day." 
 
 " T have ascertained," she added, " that only 
 ■Mrs Hope's baby is to be christened to-morrow. 
 I have not the slightest objection to my sweet 
 darhng standing side by side ^vith her sickly 
 baby, poor body! " 
 
 " I think not, indeed," (pioth Frank Miller, 
 " but I say, ^lissus, are we not to have a joUi- 
 tication afterwards?" 
 
 " No, Frank, certainly not ; 1 am not strong 
 enough for any such vulgar doings ; all I shall 
 do, will be to give some cake and wine to a 
 favoured few ; that, I can assure you, is the 
 only way to do the thing genteelly." 
 
 " Genteelly, and be hanged !" muttered 
 Frank, as he banged out of the liouse. " Fll 
 go to the Glenmore Arms and give a supper, 
 to (liink her health. I'll have nothing to do 
 with the Missus's cake and wine."
 
 CHAPTER lY. 
 
 That same evening, in a small, very plainly 
 and scantily furnislied parlour belonging to a 
 farm-house witliin a short distance of the 
 village of Brooklands, a pale-faced young 
 woman was seated, dressed in that saddest of 
 ah garbs, a widow's weeds. 
 
 She rocked with her foot a wicker cradle, 
 whilst her hands were busied in putting in 
 order an unostentatious baby's robe. 
 
 The poor young mother sighed often and 
 hea\ily whilst she pursued this occupation. 
 The babe for whom it was intended was 
 evidently fatherless, and careworn and sorrow-
 
 -10 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 liii was till' fat'c of tlic widow. Slic workeil 
 on, and wliilst so doin^, tears tell iVoni her 
 meek eves. " Mv i)ooi' little child, ' she iiiiir- 
 mured, " what a melaiiclioly chnsteniiii»; for yoii 
 — no one to pray for, or to care for you ; no 
 one but God — and your poor mother" — 
 
 " Don't say that, motlicr, })ray don't say that ; 
 there is some one besides vou w ho will care for 
 her, who will love her, and pray for her, and 
 do everythin<^- for her — oh, never, never say 
 that again, mother ! " 
 
 And two little arms were thrown round her 
 neck, and a little fair head nestled upon her 
 bosom. 
 
 "My darling boy, my own Julian," the 
 mother said soothingly ;"yes, I know you will 
 care for her, and love her, and yon will always 
 be a kind brother to your little sister. It is 
 my only condort to remend)er this ; so do not 
 cry, my precious child ; I wish you had not 
 heard uiy idle words ; I did not even kncnv you 
 were in the room ; at the moment 1 foi-got 
 myself. T was thinking of your father, Julian, 
 and the dav before you were christened, darlinn;, 
 when we were so ])roud, so happy, and when 
 this little dress was new, brought home as a 
 surprise to me by my huslmnd."
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 41 
 
 And bitter tears again rained down from tlie 
 mourner's eyes. 
 
 " Poor dear father!" was the httle boy's mur- 
 nmred ejacnlation. " Oh, motlier, I don't 
 wonder that you cry when you think of him ; 
 but I will indeed be a comfort to you ; some o-f 
 these days vou will see what a useful bov I 
 shall be to you, and what a good brother to 
 this little darlino;." 
 
 And the bov knelt down by the side of the 
 cradle, and kissed the face of its little occupant 
 so fervently, that the little infant was awak- 
 ened. 
 
 " What a little pet she is ! " said the brother, 
 as he hung over the baby, as it lay upon the 
 mother's knee. 
 
 " She is a poor delicate little creature," Mrs 
 Hope replied, " not like you, my Julian, at her 
 age — you were such a fine stout baby." 
 
 " Oh, but I was a boy ; I ought to have been 
 larger," he said proudly. 
 
 Mrs Hope sighed and thought : 
 
 " Yes, and you were born under very differ- 
 ent circumstances. All around was health and 
 joy, our hearts brim-full of hope ; it was before 
 our trials really began. Julian," she continued, 
 after a melancholy pause, " I have been think-
 
 42 THR LTTTLK BEAUTY. 
 
 iiig that you shall naiin' the bain' in chureli ; 
 you are the only one left to care for lior." 
 
 The boy gave an exclamation of dcliglit. 
 
 "Oh, mamma, 1 am so ghul," he said; "little 
 darling I have you fixed upon her name? " 
 
 " Yes, Julian, it shall he Mary ; he loved that 
 name, he wished it to be so, and I love it so ; 
 it sounded so sweetly from his lips, ' My 
 Mary ! ' and they were his last words." 
 
 The history of Mrs Hope is one of no un- 
 common nature, and can be related verv brielh. 
 She had been the humble relative of a proud 
 lady, brought up in a gr(>at house, as a soil of 
 j)layfellow to the children of the family. The 
 poor girl possessed that unfortunate gift to the 
 dependent — much personal beauty. The edu- 
 cation she had received was first-rate, she 
 havinu; alwavs made one of the school-room 
 party, and it was decided that Mary Ellis was 
 to study, in ortler to 4ualily herself tor being 
 a governess. 
 
 But Tjhmnmo propose, Dicu dispose. Tiie 
 youngest son, during a long Oxford vacation, 
 fell in love witli pretty Mary Ellis. He was 
 intended for the church, but long before he 
 was ordained, he actually married this girl, to 
 the horror and dismav of his aristocratic
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 43 
 
 family. It was an act never to be forgiven, 
 a blot in the escutcheon never to be effaced. 
 Two thousand pounds were forwarded to hmi 
 by Mrs Hope's solicitor, the only provision to 
 which he could bv rio;ht of settlement lav claim : 
 and he was given to understand that it was 
 the last and only remittance he would ever 
 receive from his mother. And so it was the 
 last ! 
 
 She died soon after this unfortunate mar- 
 riage. Juhan's name did not appear in her 
 will, and . his brother and sisters, attributing 
 the prematm-e death of a mother they all much 
 respected to the shock she had received when 
 the news of her son's marriage was conveyed 
 to her, continued to consider the unfortunate 
 young man a complete alien from his race ; 
 his name was never mentioned ; his verv re- 
 membrance they endeavoured to blot out from 
 their minds. 
 
 And bitterly did ]\Iary Ellis repent the course 
 she had pursued ; not on her own account, 
 poor girl ! but soon, too soon, did she discover 
 how utterly she had been the means of de- 
 stroying her husband's prospects for ever. His 
 man-iage with her had taken him out of his 
 position in hfe, entailing upon him an existence
 
 44 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 V\t\\c ill ;i('('oi-(laiiri' witli liis l)irth, cMliicatioii, 
 or previous liahits. Julian Mope was only 
 twenty-one wlicn lie married, consetpiently, 
 two years nnist ela})se l)eforc he could enter 
 into holv orders ; and when lie was ordained, 
 it was w^ith some diiticulty that he obtained a 
 ineap;re curacy. Inexjjcricnced in inattei-s of 
 expenditure as they both Averc, it is not won- 
 deriul that they were obliged to dij) largely 
 into their small fund, and soon began, with 
 reason, to look foi-ward to the future with 
 sickening dread. It was with penitent sub- 
 mission that Julian Hope now looked his fate 
 steadily in the face ; he felt that he had bixmght 
 all its evils upon himself, and with Christian 
 meekness he took up the cross he himself had 
 created. As a clergyman, he was ncwr-failin"- 
 in his duties, working hard and with unrelax- 
 ing zeal, although increasing delicacy of health, 
 combined with restricted means, rendered his 
 lal)()urs oftentimes most depressing. 
 
 Their boy was the joy and solace of their 
 lives, the bright spot in their weary pilgrimage. 
 A child he was indeed to ])rize. The parents' 
 whole care and attention had been devoted to 
 him. And so unsellish a nature, so affectionate 
 and true a heart, even at so early an age, rarely
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 45 
 
 beat ill human breast, as in that of their httle 
 son. 
 
 About a tAvelvemonth before the time when 
 this story commences, Juhan Hope had succeed- 
 ed to the curacy of Brooklands. The emolument 
 Avas rather Larger than he had hitherto received, 
 therefore, he deemed himself most fortunate. 
 Poor young man, it was with revived hope that 
 he looked forward to the change, although the 
 expense attending the move to that far-distant 
 county he knew^ would be considerable and 
 most inconvenient ; and the long journey, taken 
 in the midst of an inclement winter, and a damp 
 cold lodging in which they were at first located, 
 laid the seeds of disease which terminated at 
 last fatally, — an inflammatory attack on the 
 chest, bringing on a cough which induced ra- 
 pid consumption and death, leaving his young 
 widow, with already a boy to provide for, 
 the prospect of another child soon to be born, 
 and only the scanty sum of the interest of the 
 remaining money of his small portion. 
 
 Dreary indeed was the prospect opening be- 
 fore the forlorn young woman and her child, 
 with not a friend on earth to whom she could 
 turn for comfort or assistance. As she gazed 
 upon that face in death— so changed with the
 
 •irj TH1-; LITTLK HKAITY. 
 
 lilies of ("ii'c and sorrow, as well as sickness — 
 she tlioiii;lit iij)uii iiis inutlier, who once so 
 loved tliis son. 
 
 C'ouhl she have 1ool-:{>d upon him now, ini<);ht 
 slie not have exclaimed : 
 
 " Oh, grief has changed thee since I saw thee last, 
 And careful hours, with time's deformed Ifind, 
 Have written strange defections in thy face." 
 
 Mrs Hope well knew the deep, never-ceasing 
 wretchedness lier hushand had endured at the 
 idea ot" his mother, whom he really so tenderly 
 loved, having left this world without forgiving 
 him, and lier death having been attributed to 
 his misconduct. 
 
 These terrible thouG;hts had haiuited the 
 unfortunate vouiiu" man on his ])ed of death; 
 and now that he was gone, nothing left to sus- 
 tain her, she felt, and perhaps with truth, that 
 siie had been the cause of all the ills of her 
 husbands sad career. 
 
 " Leave thy fatherless childien, I will j)i'e- 
 sen^e them alive, and let thv children trust in 
 me. 
 
 These words she murmured over and over 
 again, as she lay powerless for many weeks aftiT 
 her husband's death ; and by the time her poor 
 feeble little girl came into this world of sorrow,
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 47 
 
 she had gained years in strength of mind and 
 pm-pose. She had vowed to God to consecrate 
 her hfe to the Avell-being of her husband's chil- 
 dren. If she ever rose from the bed of sickness, 
 it would be with her loins girded to fulfil her 
 duty by them in every sense of the word ; and 
 by degrees these heaven-directed thoughts 
 brought peace to her soul. 
 
 In this rough world, with all its irregularities, 
 its coldness, and oftentimes total indifference to 
 the wants, the sorrows of others, our hearts 
 are warmed and cheered by finding some traces 
 of the Master's footsteps. Good Samaritans 
 are to be met with even in this selfish genera- 
 tion, and poor Mrs Hope, in her extremity of 
 affliction, found the kindliest, the most delicate 
 consolation and assistance from the benevolence 
 and sympathy of some good honest neighbours. 
 Farmer Giles, a brother of the ci-devant black- 
 smith of Brooklands, had become well known 
 to poor Julian Hope. A daughter had lately 
 died of lingering illness, and her last days had 
 been made peaceful and happy by the constant 
 and never-failing attentions of the young curate. 
 His own declining health and strength never 
 kept him away from the sick-bed of the dying 
 young woman ; and she at length departed.
 
 48 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 blessing God that she liiitl imlccil learnt from 
 hiiu that " To die is gain." 
 
 Nothhig eould exceed the attention of the 
 fai-nior's family during Mr Hope's last illness; 
 and before he died, the good man promised the 
 })oor young clergyman — whose anxiety for his 
 wife was rendering more than usually bitter the 
 parting hour — that she and her children shoidd 
 have a shelter beneath his roof — a home as long 
 us they should require it. 
 
 This assurance soothed the pangs of death ; 
 and to Woodleigh Farm was Mrs Hope and 
 her boy conveyed, as soon as her husband's 
 remains had been consio-ned to the tond). Tt 
 was truly a sight which touch(;d the most cal- 
 lous by-stander, to watch the hundde procession. 
 The chief mourner, the little son — that fair, 
 gentle boy — his face so prenuUurely broken- 
 hearted in its expression, sobbing so piteously 
 as he leant his head against the arm of the kind 
 I'arnier, whilst standing by the side of the grave 
 rapidly filling, and shutting out for ever every 
 remaining earthly vestige of a father he had 
 loved so tenderly. And poor Mrs Hope at 
 length in sorrow and weakness gave birth to a 
 little girl ; a babe so small and delicate that 
 but slender hopes were entertained of its being
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 49 
 
 reared. But both mother and child were 
 tended with the most devoted care by Mrs 
 Giles and her daughter. And soon the interest 
 of a mother towards her new-born babe, which 
 even in ordinary cases fills a woman's heart — 
 and how much more in such a one as this ! — 
 absorbed all feelings of selfish consideration, 
 and gave a new impulse to her every action. 
 
 VOL I.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 It was a beautiful autumn afternoon, the 
 Sunday on which the christening of the two 
 little girls we have ushered into tlie world 
 was to take ])lace. In the blacksmith's cottage 
 the note of preparation was going busily 
 forward. Such a grand ])araphernalia was 
 laid out on the bed, in which to deck the 
 blacksmith's most lovely little daughter. Poor 
 infant ! it might indeiMl, by a fanciful imagin- 
 ation, have been suggested that a fairy god- 
 m,other had been there, blinking with her as 
 her present the gift of [)erfect beauty, a gift 
 so full of peril, and at best " a doubtful 
 good."
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 51 
 
 Nothing could exceed the loveliness of 
 this infant ; one might with truth have said 
 whilst gazing at her : 
 
 " She looks as clear 
 As morning roses newly washed with dew." 
 
 She had the fairest of skins, with already a 
 peach blossom tint upon her round cheek, 
 and then those wonderful larije lustrous blue 
 eyes, and every other feature giving promise of 
 future beauty. 
 
 "Yes, you are indeed my beautiful daugh- 
 ter," ejacidated the proud mother, as she 
 dressed with artistic skill her splendid baby 
 in its handsome robe, and placed upon the 
 little head a cap heavily trimmed with lace 
 and ribbon. 
 
 " She is indeed a bonnv bird," murmured 
 the proud father, when permitted to hold the 
 sleeping child on his knee, whilst " the missus," 
 after putting the final stroke to her daughter's 
 toilette, was equipping herself in a suit worthy 
 of the mother of the smart baby she ha^i^just 
 attired, namely, a Ught silk dress, which could 
 " stand by itself," a bonnet and shawl to match 
 — a costume altoo:ether suitable, in Mrs Miller's 
 opinion, to the ci-devant head-nurse of the 
 Glen more family.
 
 :")2 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 And soon the cliristeiiiiijjj corU'ijc bcp;;in 
 to asseiiiblc, licadcd by Mrs Jciiks, who was 
 to personate tlu; mirse for the occasiou, and 
 eariT tlie ehihl. It Avas to be done all en 
 nu/lj\ according to tlie christenings Mrs Milh-r 
 had been accustomed to attend. Mrs Evans, 
 tlie liousekeeper at the Court, and the steward, 
 A\ere to stand proxy for Ladv Violet Lvle 
 and the young Marcpiis, who had offered to 
 i)e god-f{ither to the nurse's (huighter. A 
 chosen few completed the party ; not one of 
 Frank Miller's chums was allowed to be in- 
 cluded, and he dai'ed not insist upon his 
 claim to invite a guest. Poor man ! he was 
 b(\ginning to knock under in all ways, with- 
 out venturing a word of remonstrance. Cake 
 and wine, and an elegant tea, were laid out 
 for the guests on their return from church ; 
 everything was arningcd after Mrs Millers 
 most approved rules of gentility ; and it was 
 with no small degree of ])r()ud exultation that 
 she bustled out of her house, looking rather red 
 and hot, and grown much more portly since 
 she had gloried in the name of " mother ; " her 
 silk rustling, and iier veil flying — endeavour- 
 uig with all her miu;ht and main to look the
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 53 
 
 jVIarchioness ; — Mrs Jenks following witli the 
 baby in its long white mantle, trying to play 
 her part, but if the truth were told, with a 
 supercilious grin on her face, shrewdly enter- 
 ing mto the absurdity of the pageant, although 
 it was her interest to enact her character with 
 due decorum. 
 
 Mrs Miller, according to what she con- 
 sidered proper etiquette, condescended to lean 
 upon her husband's arm during the short 
 walk to the church ; and honest Frank, dressed 
 in his very best, his extremely handsome face 
 beaming with the happy feehngs of parental 
 tenderness, with which his heart wa-^ that day 
 brimful, Avas no despicable support, even to 
 the hauo;htiness of the would-be great ladv. 
 
 A different scene was enactino- at the Wood- 
 leighParm. It was a house of mourning, not 
 of feastino;. 
 
 "Now, dear lady, do try to take heart,'" 
 were the kind Avords of the o-ood farmer's 
 wife, whilst she was taking upon herself 
 the office of equipping the poor sickly-look- 
 ing little infant for its christening. The 
 mother was really unequal to perform this 
 office for it that morning.
 
 54 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 It u as a piteous sight to look upon the poor 
 yoimg widow, as she sat niotioiikss, in tear- 
 less abstraction. .Mrs (Jiles was doin<; her 
 best, but her ex])erience in adorniiijj; a babe 
 was very limited ; it was nianv a dav since 
 she had handled so young an infant, and her 
 present attempt was rather awkward. Julian 
 stood by, divided between the })leasant teeHng 
 which swelled at his heart, at the idea of 
 the important part he was about to take m 
 that (lav's event, and sorrow at witnessinjic 
 the deep misery of his mother. 
 
 Hut all is now completed, and the farmer 
 announces that the light covered cart is 
 ready ; the melancholy l)arty are soon at 
 the church door, where they encounter the 
 gay cavalcade from the cottage. Farmer 
 (iiles lifts the slender foiiii of Mrs Hope 
 from the vehicle, her long crape veil cover- 
 ing her 'ix\{^\', and is followed by his Avife 
 and daughter, the former bearinc: in her 
 arms the little infant. Last of all came the 
 child Jnlian ; his deep suit of moiuning 
 rendering the? ])ak'ness of his face only the 
 more conspicnous. lie hastened immediately 
 to his mother's side, taking her hand between 
 both of his, which he tenderly pressed, look-
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 55 
 
 ing up at the same time in lier face with an 
 expression which melted the hearts of all who 
 observed it. 
 
 " AMiat a dismal-looking set ! " remarked 
 jNIrs Miller to Mrs Jenks, " quite a damper, 
 I declare, to us ! I v.onder what the baby 
 is like, that Mrs Giles is smothering up under 
 that great shawl ; upon' my word, considering 
 they are in the genteel line, I never saw a 
 more shabby turn out." 
 
 " No, certainly, Madame Miller, rather 
 different from the grand flare-up we are mak- 
 ing," remarked Mrs Jenks, perhaps a little 
 ironically; and then, as Mrs Miller moved away 
 to speak to some one, she whispered to one of 
 the by-standers : 
 
 " No, not so grand, indeed, and yet one, 
 after ail, is real, and the other false. Look 
 at that poor dear boy ; is he not a gentleman 
 every inch of him, and with as good blood in 
 his veins as any in the land ? And his mother 
 is a real lady in all her ways, poor lady ! 
 and," she continued, as she looked contemptu- 
 ously at the blacksmith's wife, "with all her fine 
 clothes, ivJtaf, I should like to know, is she ? " 
 
 We have alwavs noticed that there is a 
 clear perception in the minds of the lower
 
 ;■)(> TIIK T.TTTLE BF.AUTY. 
 
 orders ^vitll rc'u;anl to the real iiiid eoiuiterfeit 
 claims of (litFcreut classes to their considera- 
 tion, and that they feel an inherent respect for 
 gentle hirth and pjentle ]>recding, sehlom giving 
 place to any other adventitious circumstance. 
 
 'Pile two christening: paiiics were now as- 
 sembled round the lont ; the church was 
 crowded with spectators, who had remained 
 after the evening senice in order to witness 
 the ceremony. Juhan still ke])t close to his 
 mother's side, hohhng tight by her dress. He 
 was beginning to lose all his courage, pool- 
 boy, seeing hoAV her agitation increased, how 
 she trend)led, and what heavy tears fell from 
 her eyes. The fanner, his Avife, and daughter, 
 were to be sponsors for the baby. I\Ir Ycrnon, 
 the rector, had only lately succeeded to the 
 living of Brooklands, and this was almost the 
 first christening at which he had otHciated in 
 the parish, lie was a tall, [)ale man, of abont 
 thirty-five years old, with a peculiarly benign ex- 
 pression of countenance. IVforc commencing 
 the sei-vice his eye made a survey of the group, 
 and irresistibly his gaze was attracted, and 
 lii^ heart touched, by the a])pearance of the 
 Avidow and her son, forming, as they did, so 
 strong a conti'ast to the opposite assend)lage.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 57 
 
 Every eve had been attracted towards the bov, 
 and the general attention seemed to fasten 
 alone on him as the service proceeded, for in- 
 deed it was a beautiful and wonderful sight to 
 look upon the countenance of that young 
 child, as he knelt in his black dress with clasp- 
 ed hands and up-turned face — his light locks 
 falling back from his forehead, his lips follow- 
 ing with such heartfelt devotion every word 
 spoken by the clergyman. An artist might 
 indeed have gloried in such a study for an in- 
 fant Samuel, and we have seen a statue of that 
 saintly child which reminds us greatly of the 
 countenance and attitude of Julian Hope, as 
 he knelt that day in the little church of Brook - 
 lands, although no mar])lc statuary could ever 
 convey an adecpiate idea of the expression of 
 his face at that moment. 
 
 And now the service had arrived at that 
 part when Mr Vernon takes the infant into 
 his arms and says, " Name this child." Then 
 Julian steps ea2;erly forward, but suddenly his 
 look of inspiration seems to vanish, his cheek 
 grows paler than ever, his voice trembles, his 
 tongue refuses to speak. Again the clergy- 
 man says, " Name this child," and Julian 
 falters forth :
 
 58 TIIK LITTLK HKAirY. 
 
 " Mary." 
 
 A throng ol' rt'iuciiilji-aiu'cs luslicd into his 
 l)al)y mind as he prououncccl the name, — his 
 lather's dying accents — his mother's agony — 
 his own great sorrow, — and bursting into a 
 violent tit of weejiing, lie threw himself into 
 liis mother's arms. 
 
 .M(jst contagious was the emotion throuu;h- 
 out this large assembly ; tears were shed by 
 not a few of the spectators, and Mr Vernon 
 was obliged to pause and clear his voice se- 
 veral times before he could proceed witii the 
 service. Even the sturdy blacksmith was seen 
 to pass his hand several times across his eyes, 
 and not till admonished by tin impressive 
 nudge from his wife, accompanied by a frown- 
 ing glance, was he roused, from contem])lating 
 the boy, to the ])roj)er degree of interest it was 
 expected of him to evince as the clergyman 
 proceeded in his administration of the rite 
 whicli was to confirm his own child as a Chris- 
 tian. DiffercTit, indeed, was the lovely, healthy, 
 well-dressed infant which was now placed in 
 his arms, to the poor, feeble, wailing babe he 
 had just relincpiished. 
 
 Mr Vernon could scarcely believe that it 
 coidd be the village blacksmith's progeny, thus
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 59 
 
 decked in all the pomp of chiistening finery, 
 and whom he was about to endow with the ro- 
 mantic names of " Violetta Rose." 
 
 ^Ir Vernon possessed a natural love for 
 young children, and, moreover, could not fail 
 to be struck by the wonderful beauty of this 
 little one, who, when the Avater was thrown into 
 her face, instead of the usual crv \vhich o-ener- 
 ally follows after that process, only opened 
 wide a pair of magnificent blue eyes and smiled. 
 
 There is, we beheve, a superstitious idea 
 connected with the circumstance of a child not 
 crying when it is christened ; old nurses con- 
 sider it. so unlucky if they remain passive when 
 the water is splashed upon the face, that we 
 have heard tell of their infiictino; sOme triflino; 
 bodily pain to elicit the desired ebullition. 
 
 " And what will be the future fate of those 
 two childi'en ? " might have been the suggestive 
 idea of some inquiring spectator. Peace and 
 prosperity were the present characteristics of 
 the blooming little Violetta ; sickness, sorrow, 
 and misery, those of the widow's unpromising 
 Mary. But these beautiful words of consola- 
 tion and hope might also be the thought of 
 some ffood Christians, as thev watched the 
 mother press the poor infant tenderly to her
 
 (')•') THK LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 heart, iind turn her meek eyes uj)\vards, to in- 
 vite a blessin{^ from tlic Fntlier of the fntlier- 
 less upon lier siVkly chiUl : 
 
 "God tempers the wind to the shorn humh." 
 
 " Young sir, if you })k^asc, my missus is 
 
 agreeable that your mother slioukl come to 
 
 *.-* t.' 
 
 our liousc and have a [j,iass of wine; it is 
 close by, and I'm sure, poor soul, she stands 
 in need of it." 
 
 These kind words were spoken, and a 
 friendly hand was laid upon little Julian's 
 shoulder, as he was followinix his mother out 
 of the church, just after the christening cere- 
 monv was concluded. 
 
 Mrs ]\liller — seeinu; at once that jMrs Hope 
 had created a sensation, and that, notwith- 
 standing her un])r( tending exterior, she was 
 certainly not a nobody, iuid whose heart besides, 
 with all its folly, was not without its softness, 
 and was particulaily vulnerable when children 
 were concerned — without hesitation seconded 
 her husband's earnest recpiest that the party 
 from the farm might be invited to their house 
 before they returned home. The invitation 
 was gently declined; A[rs Hope said she Avas 
 anxious to return home on the bal)y's accomit. 
 ami Mrs Miller, with real good-will, then offer-
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 61 
 
 ed to be of use, could her advice and experience 
 be of any service to Mrs Hope in the manage- 
 ment of her aihng infant. In fact, the clever 
 nurse longed to take in hand and exercise her 
 skill upon the child, seeing at one glance that 
 it simply wanted such good tending as only 
 herself could achieve. 
 
 ^Irs Hope gratefully accepted the offer, too 
 glad of assistance in a science in which she 
 felt she was deficient, that of rearing so tender 
 a plant as a delicate babe. ]\lrs Miller 
 ])romised to call at the farm the next day, and 
 thus commenced an acquaintance between the 
 two famihes. ]\Irs ^filler really proved of the 
 greatest use to the poor young widow, enlarg- 
 ing her limited knowledge of nursery manage- 
 ment . The clever, experienced practitioner soon 
 wrought wonders upon the health and appear- 
 ance of little Mary, and though she could, 
 neither in beauty nor size, ever bear any com- 
 parison with the beautiful Violet, she grew 
 plump and calm, and her small pale face lost 
 the expression of pain which she seemed to 
 have brought into the world with her. And 
 Julian was proud and happy, dividing his love 
 between the two babies. He was often at the 
 forge, having established a wonderfully good
 
 ()2 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 understanding ])ct\vecn liinisclf and Frank 
 Miller, whose admiration for the boy was some- 
 thing marvellous ; and indeed Mrs Miller, who 
 seldom sympathized in her husband's tastes, 
 fully entered into this. Julian was in eveiy 
 way " genteel." Comme il faut, she would 
 have liked to have said, but could not quite 
 venture. 7 
 
 But inde})endent of her knowledge that the 
 boy's father and connections were in a supe- 
 rior grade of life, she was naturally fond of 
 children ; that was her one redeeming point ; 
 and Jidian's sweet dis])osition and winning 
 ways soon won her heart, particularly when 
 the little Violet began to know him, and to 
 hold out her arms to him, never being known 
 to weep so bitterly as when he was obliged 
 to leave her. Frank Miller was a man of cjood 
 capacity, and by no means vulgar mind. 
 ile was getting on in the world ; made 
 the su])erintendent of the Glenmore stables, 
 with a lar";e salarv, where a noble stud was 
 always ke])t ; not that the young Marquis 
 cared for horses, — his tastes were studious 
 and sedentarv, but he considered it his dutv 
 to keep up what aj)peared an heir-loom, and 
 left the arrangements of the large concern en-
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 63 
 
 tirely to Frank ^Miller, in whom he placed the 
 most imphcit confidence. The business of the 
 forge thrived well under his management, 
 and he was also much employed in the 
 neighbourhood as a horse doctor, so that his 
 pecuniary affairs were most flourishing, and 
 even ]\lrs jMillcr was beginning to be rather 
 proud of her handsome spouse, when she saAv 
 him dressed in trim attire, riding off on a right 
 good nag, on veterinary business intent ; and 
 so several years passed away. 
 
 * -s *- * * 
 
 " A letter for Mistress Miller ! " the post- 
 man was heard to say, as he delivered one at 
 the blacksmith's door one summer's morning, 
 — and joyful were its contents, " Dear nurse," 
 wrote Lady Violet, " I am sure you will be 
 glad to hear that we are to spend the summer 
 at the Court. In a fortnight we are to be at 
 our dear old home, and there you must be to 
 meet us. How deUghted we shall be to see 
 you, dear Rose, and my little god-daughter, 
 no words can describe ! " 
 
 And joyful indeed was Mrs Miller, when, 
 with all a mother's pride, she adorned her 
 beautiful daughter to meet her noble patrons. 
 No wonder the vain woman exulted in the
 
 64 THE LITTLK BEAUTY. 
 
 sui^ifissing lovi'liness of the child— loveliness 
 which, ill fact, could scarcely be surpassed, 
 if equalled. Mrs Miller Avas at her post, 
 waiting in the hall of the Couit to receive 
 the family the day of their arrival, little 
 Violet by her side, dressed to perfection. She 
 was not disappointed with the meed of praise 
 which was so enthusiastically bestowed upon 
 the little creature, and sincerely happy was the 
 mirse, her heart warming towards all her be- 
 loved nurslings, particularly towards the young 
 Lord Victor, her last petted charge ; and the 
 boy, a fine dark-haired child, seemed at once 
 to take to his former friend, and delighted her 
 bv his entire admiration of her child. Indeed, 
 Violet seemed to stand a good chance of being 
 pulled to ])ieces by her new friends, but she 
 bore it well, and most condescendingly dis- 
 tributed her smiles and kisses, and accepted 
 with wonderful ease of manner the presents 
 which were showered upon her. Nurse Rose 
 was atrain in her clement.
 
 CHAPTER VI, 
 
 Happy times were these, when the young 
 ladies were for ever running in and out of the 
 cottage, and Lord Victor was never happy but 
 when either there liimself, or he had httle 
 Violet at the Court. 
 
 " And who is that boy I met in the garden, 
 leading by the hand a pale little girl ? " 
 asked Lady Violet of Mrs Miller one morning, 
 during one of her visits. " I have several times 
 seen him, and been struck by his appearance ; 
 there is something so very peculiar about him." 
 
 " Oh, I suppose you mean young Julian 
 Hope," replied Mrs Miller. 
 
 " Yes, now I remember Mr Vernon talking 
 
 VOL. I. 5
 
 06 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 of the Hopes ; tell me sonietlung more about 
 tlicin, dear Rose; that boy has interested me 
 more than T can describe." 
 
 " Well, he is a good boy, that I must con- 
 fess," answered ^Irs Miller ; " and, my dear, do 
 you know, he is a gentleman all over." 
 
 And then she proceeded to tell the story of 
 the family, of course brinijino; herself forward 
 as the most impoi-tant performer in the last 
 years of the narrative; saying how she had 
 saved the puny girl's life by her wonderful 
 management ; how she had assisted the poor 
 miserable mother, and put her into the way of 
 getting on. " "ion know, my dear, she is above 
 the connnon line, has had a good education, 
 ])ut, poor thing ! a more ignorant creature in 
 the ways of the world never did I see ; and as 
 tor liaudling a baby, such bungling work! it 
 was cruel to behold tlic [)oor child left to her 
 tender mercy ; it made my blot)d boil." 
 
 " Rut, dear Rose," interposed Lady Violet, 
 anuised at the nurse's vehemence in the cause 
 of her vocation, " you ought to have remember- 
 t^d that vou stood alone as the (piecii of all 
 nurses — no one was ever like you ; 1 dare say 
 poor Mrs Hope did her best." 
 
 " Well, yes, poor body, I suppose she did ;
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. G7 
 
 and it was the first time slie had had to nurse 
 a baby all by herself." 
 
 "Are they very poor ? " inquired Lady Violet. 
 
 " Why, as to that, I believe they have little 
 enough, but J\Irs Hope brings up that boy very 
 well, keeps him aloof from every one in the 
 village but ourselves ; and as for ]\Ir Vernon," 
 she added, with a slight toss of her head, " he 
 makes fuss enough, and to spare, about the boy ; 
 I wonder it does not turn his head. I believe 
 he would keep him from us if he could — no- 
 thing good enough for him but his own spoilt 
 child ; but, no, Julian loves my darling as 
 much,if not more, than he does that little white- 
 faced sister of his. As for Frank, he is as great 
 a fool as any one about the boy, and makes as 
 much ado about him as if he were one of mv 
 Lady's own sons. He teaches him to ride, and 
 is never so happy as when they are doing some- 
 thinor too;ether." 
 
 " I like to hear that, nurse," exclaimed the 
 young lady with great feeling ; " I am so glad 
 to find you have such a kind, good husband." 
 
 " Yes, kind enough, I will say, but I can 
 assure you. Lady Violet" — and Mrs Miller 
 pursed up her mouth, and put on a consequen- 
 tial air — " he has required a good deal of school-
 
 6S THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 ing ; you little know Avlint T have had to 
 go through — so uiiserable 1 was wlieu 1 first 
 married." 
 
 "Were you, iudeed?" said Lady Violet, af- 
 fectionately embracing her nurse as she pre- 
 ])ared to take her departure. " I am sorry to 
 hear that, but I am sure you are happy enough 
 now, dear Rose : I think you are much to 
 be envied with such a good husband, such a 
 sweet child, and such a pretty cottage as this." 
 
 That evening at the Coui-t, during dinner, 
 Julian Hope was the subject of conversation. 
 The Manpiis was a young man of a serious 
 turn of mind, fond of grave literary pursuits, 
 amiable and kindly disposed, though reserved 
 ill his deportment towards strangers, and 
 retiring in his habits. He had that morning 
 called upon the rector, and had been shown 
 into the study. 
 
 Mr Vernon was not in the room, but Lord 
 Glenmore found it occuj)ied by a boy reading 
 at a table covered with lesson books, who rose 
 inunediately on his entrance, and was about to 
 leave the room, when the young lord, attracted 
 by that indescribable expression in his face 
 which seemed to draw everv one towaixls him, 
 laid his hand upon his shoulder and asked him
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 09 
 
 what he was studying ? It was a Greek author. 
 Lord Glenmore continued to converse with 
 him, pleased and sm-prised by his sensible re- 
 plies given in so gentleman-like a manner, 
 until Mr A-'ernon entered, and Julian took up 
 his books and left the room. "What a de- 
 hojhtfid bov that is of vours, ]\Ir Yernon!" 
 was Lord Glenmore's exclamation when thev 
 were alone. 
 
 " I wish indeed he was mine," said Mr 
 Vernon ; " he is a boy any father might be 
 proud of. Poor fellow, and his fate is a most 
 sad and apparently unjust one ; could you 
 believe that this boy's uncle is the rich and 
 influential Mr Hope of Lilford Towers, and 
 yet that he is left for support and education 
 to the sole care of his mother, who has not 
 more than a pittance to maintain him and 
 his little sister? " 
 
 " I know something of ]\Ir Hope of Lilford 
 Towers," replied the Marquis ; " he is a neigh- 
 bour of ours in — shire ; he makes himself very 
 conspicuous in the political world ; our views 
 do not agree, and I cannot say I am prepos- 
 sessed in his favour. He certainly looks a 
 hard man, but I have heard that he has do- 
 mestic afflictions, which may account for his
 
 70 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 gloomy appciiraiife : one son a confiriucd crip- 
 ple ; the otlitT hopelessly wild." 
 
 " A hard man he must assuredly be," re- 
 joined Mr Vernon, " dead to all good feelings, 
 to allow his brother's children to be brought 
 up in ])overty, when he is overwhelmed with 
 wealth." 
 
 The Marquis, as he left the rectory, again 
 encountered Julian, who was helping the cler- 
 gyman's little daughter in some gardening 
 employment. He renew(Ml his kindly notice 
 of the bov, asking; him to the Court the en- 
 suing day, to join the young i)arty who dined 
 at luncheon time, and to which little Sylvia 
 Vernon, who was a gi-eat pet of the Ladies 
 Lvle, had been invited. 
 
 A delightful time, indeed, this was to the 
 children, not only of the ('ourt, but those 
 surrounding it. A universal holiday seemed 
 to be held, nothing but pleasure the order of 
 the day. The Marchioness, a most indidgent 
 mother, held the reins of government with the 
 gentlest hand ; and with no father to interpose 
 prudence, order, and those necessary restraints 
 which a man's clear judgment at once sees 
 necessary and enforces, the younc; family had 
 their own way as much as it was possible. They
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 71 
 
 were, however, an amiable party, tlie three girls 
 promismg well ; the eldest nearly reaching the 
 age of womanhood, in all ways " lovelv, and 
 of good report ;" the young ]\Iarqnis truly ex- 
 cellent in all essential points, only wanting 
 more confidence in himself — more ability to 
 play the part assigned to him in the great 
 drama of life, — a conspicuous part, for which he 
 did not seem quite fitted ; a quiet sphere — a 
 life of contemplation and study appearing bet- 
 ter adapted to him. But it was ordered other- 
 wise, and he was willino; and desirous to fulfil 
 his destiny well and conscientiously. 
 
 Lord Victor was so vouno; that it would, 
 
 I/O 
 
 perhaps, have been premature to judge of his 
 future character at that period. Certainly, all 
 that coidd then be said might be summed up 
 in the remark that he was a most beautifid 
 boy, labouring under the disadvantage of being 
 the youngest child of a widowed mother, and 
 most perniciously indulged from his earhest 
 years. All the family seemed spell-bound by 
 the little despot, and vied with each other 
 in succumbing to his tyrannical and, too often, 
 most unamiable Avill. 
 
 Sylvia Vernon was another juvenile dramatis 
 persona, whom, as a futm-e character of in-
 
 72 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 terest in \h\ii story, we must here present to 
 our readers. The liigli-s])iritcd, vivacious little 
 daut;liter of the rector drank her fill of en- 
 joynient, grew wilder, more excital)le every 
 hour under the influence of the never-failiuij 
 anmsement which prevailed, much to the 
 horror of a most strait-laced governess her 
 father had provided for her; fondly hoping, 
 good man, that her strict views and careful 
 management might, in a measure, counteract 
 the indulgence he felt he was pouring with too 
 unsparing a hand unon his child.
 
 CHAPTEE VII. 
 
 From this time might be dated a new era 
 in the existence of Jiihan and his mother. 
 
 The ^Marchioness and her daii<2;hters \dsited 
 Mrs Hope, and were at once attracted by the 
 superior bearing of the ^^ddow, and dehglited 
 with her young son. 
 
 How soothingly their attentions fell upon 
 the heart of the forlorn yomig woman can only 
 be uuaoined h\ those who have suffered, as she 
 had done, the loneliness of bereavement and 
 desertion. Julian, as well as his mother and 
 little sister, were now very often at the Court ; 
 Lady Glenmore thought that Jidian's society 
 would be advantageous to the over-indulged
 
 74 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 Lord Victor, and fain would li(\ l)oth from 
 respect and gratitude towards those wlio were 
 so good to liini, and the natural att'cctionate 
 (juidity of his heart, have attached liiniself to 
 and endeavoured to conciliate the unrulv bov. 
 
 But, strange to say, thougli so beloved and 
 admired ))y all the other members of the family, 
 Lord Victor seemed from the fii-st to conceive 
 a dislike to him. Tt was, doubtless, in its com- 
 mencement a feeling (jf chihlish envy and 
 jealousy at hearing Julian's praises, perha])s a 
 little injudiciously, poured into his ears by his 
 sisters, who, wearied out sometimes by the 
 tyrannical exigeancc of the spoilt child, would 
 hold up the other boy as an object for his 
 imitation. 
 
 Human nature unaided by fixed principle 
 can rarely bear rivalry. 
 
 Rochefoucauld says : " The truest mark of 
 being born with great (|ualities is to be born 
 without envy;" and this dark spot, which 
 showed itself so early, and in so conspicuous a 
 manner, in the character of the boy, was no 
 earnest of future excellence. 
 
 Lord Victor had, from the moment he first 
 ])eheld her, taken a violent fancy to the little 
 Violet, and until Julian's introduction to the
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 75 
 
 Court, had reigned supreme in her baby-smiles 
 and caresses ; she was his complete plaything. 
 But now she had become a bone of contention. 
 
 He never coidd forget that the little girl, 
 however happy she might have been before his 
 arrival, immediately on Jidian's entrance 
 rushed from him into Julian's arms, the proud 
 httle Lord becoming from that moment quite 
 a secondary object to the small beauty. 
 
 " I hate and detest that Julian Hope," he 
 said one day whilst ricHng on his pony with 
 a young groom, his special escort on those 
 occasions, and a great favourite with the boy. 
 
 "Do you, my Lord ? I shoidd not think that 
 worth your while ; what is such a one as him 
 to you; that poor-looking, paled-faced lad?" 
 was the rejoinder only to l^e expected from 
 such a confidant. 
 
 " Yes, but it is not pleasant to hear my 
 sisters from morning till night saying how 
 good he is, so much better than I am ; even 
 mamma says so, and tells me to be like him ; 
 she never spoke so before. And that baby 
 Violet, too, does she not push me away, and 
 behave quite rudely if I try to make her come 
 to me when he is near ? " 
 
 The groom grinned.
 
 76 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 " Never mind, my Lord, stop a 1)it ; she 
 won't do tliat a few years honee ; wait till yon 
 are both men, and tlien see whicli she will like 
 best ; whether she will not snap her fingers at 
 that beggarly lad." 
 
 " I wish that time was come then ; Avonld 
 not I like to vex and plague him? Don't you 
 hate people who are thought better than you, 
 Tom? I dor 
 
 " Why, as to the matter of that, Lord Victor, 
 I am so used to that there. I never was 
 thoui>-ht much of a good 'un, so it is nothing; 
 to me to be abused whilst others are praised. 
 If I were vou, I shouldn't care about the 
 spooney fellow ; you'll soon be a rare 'un my 
 little Lord." 
 
 And this was the companion the little Lord 
 most delighted in ; one of the most ill-condition- 
 ed lads in the Marquis's stable department ; 
 but clever and sharpwitted, he had made him- 
 self a great favourite with the bov, beirinnino; 
 by running by the side of his dimiiuitive Shet- 
 land pony, and entering into all his out-door 
 amusements, thus recommending himself to tlie 
 Marchioness, who extended her favonr to all 
 those who added to the enjoyment of her 
 s])oilt dailing.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 77 
 
 How little do mothers estimate tlie direful 
 effects, the pernicious consequences of the 
 early association of their sons with low minds 
 and persons of vicious habits ; it is poison to 
 the mental health, which is seldom ever 
 eradicated. We know that the impressions of 
 early youth are ever the most indelible, either 
 for good or for ill ; the seeds of evil once sown 
 will spring up some time or other, unless de- 
 stroyed by means superhuman. 
 
 Tom, the groom, had his own reasons for 
 his spite against Julian Hope, and for widening 
 the breach between him and the young Lord 
 Victor. Frank Miller had taken gi"eat pains 
 to make Julian a fearless rider. Lord Glen- 
 more sent all his horses to Brooklands that 
 they might be broke under the auspices of the 
 experienced ex-head groom. Frank had free 
 liberty to use any of the ^Marquis's stud, and 
 he used to mount Julian at an earh^ age con- 
 stantly upon horses which had been sent down 
 to be trained for the special use of the young 
 ladies. 
 
 Tom Jones never forgave the boy Jidian 
 for being able to sit a mare which had thrown 
 him over her head several times, and for hav- 
 ing, by his hght hand and good seat, made
 
 78 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 the animal so inaiiagcabk', that it j>roved a safe 
 and ])lc'asant liorse for Lady Violet. Frank 
 j\lilicr was apt to boast a little too loudly of 
 his favourite's feats in that line, hringhig upon 
 Julian the jealousy and spite of many a youth- 
 ful stable menial. 
 
 Nothing ottends so keenly the self-love of 
 men, particularly in early youth, as any supe- 
 ri(jrity in others, on such })()ints as touch upon 
 their personal pro\vess. Learning, nay, even 
 any degree of perfection in the cardinal virtues 
 obsei-ved in others, weighs lightly in the bal- 
 ance, in conij)arison with jthose superficial ad- 
 vantages which touch upon the pride of man- 
 hood. How generally, in oin- great schools, is 
 the hero of the day, not the scholar — the bov 
 distinguished by conduct worthy of a Christian 
 — but the one who has pi-oved himself the 
 mightiest in the fight — in the cricket field ; 
 who can beat all in the race, and every athletic 
 sport ; whose escapades have filled the masters' 
 hearts with indignation and dismay, and his 
 coni|)ani()ns with a morbid species of intense ad- 
 miration. And in the case of our vouui? Julian, 
 — no one in the Glenmore stables would have 
 gru(lg(Ml tile pale, unj)retending boy his good- 
 ness, his knowledge, and his manifest supe-
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 79 
 
 riority of biitli and education, bnt when his 
 sHght form was seen placed triumphantly by 
 Frank ]\Iiller on horses Tom Jones's rough 
 hands could never guide ; when Frank Miller, 
 who was considered infallible, — as the most 
 knowing man in that line in England, — was 
 always singing his praises, telling every 
 stranger that he could showthem a sight — a boy 
 who looked as dehcate as a vouna; ladv, but 
 who had the heart of a lion — such pluck — such 
 courage — such a hand — such a seat — coidd sit 
 an}1:hing, manage the most vicious, the most 
 unbroken animal, then chd the stable-men, 
 like their young lord, " hate Jidian Hope." 
 
 " I have thought of a plan for Julian Hope," 
 said Lord Glenmore, at breakfast one morning. 
 " Our uncle. Lord Littledale, is one of the 
 Governors of Burleigh House ; I shall write 
 and ask him, as a special favour, either to 
 give or procm-e for me a nomination for the 
 boy." 
 
 This idea was received with much applause 
 by the assembled party ; and Lord Glenmore 
 \^Tote to his uncle by that day's post. Before 
 the family again deserted the Comt, at the end 
 of summer, the request was granted, and Lord 
 Littledale informed his nephew that a noniin-
 
 80 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 ation was at his disposal for the ensuing 
 spring. 
 
 Mrs Hope received the intelhgence from 
 Lord Glenmore's own- Ups, and her gratitude 
 was in proportion to the boon that was con- 
 ferred. The Marquis further promised that 
 he, as well as his mother, should continue to 
 watch over the welfare of her son when in 
 London ; and proposed that he should go to his 
 house in the first instance, so that he might 
 himself be enabled to accompany him to Bur- 
 leigh House. On taking leave of the widow, Avho 
 was already overwhelmed by his kindness, the 
 considerate young man, in the most delicate 
 manner, begged her acceptance of a note of 
 some value. 
 
 " My dear Mrs Hope," he said, " I consider 
 Julian henceforth quite my charge ; therefore 
 I must request you will accept this gift for his 
 sake ; you will have some extra expenses on his 
 accoimt before he leaves you ; and believe me, 
 that I rejoice to be able in any way to lighten 
 vour cares." 
 
 Kind, good man ! the bread cast upon the 
 waters will return to you — it will be yoiu- com- 
 fort in after days, should sickness or sorrow be 
 your lot, to remember how you befriended the
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 81 
 
 fatherless and the widow. It was a melan- 
 choly time at Brooklands, those few months 
 which preceded Juhan's departure,'^ and, as 
 the day drew near, many hearts besides the 
 mother's were very heavy. The boy had en- 
 deared himself to all who knew him well. Mr 
 Vernon had redoubled his exertions in forward- 
 ing his studies, in order that he might at once 
 take a high place in the school, and he felt that 
 his departure would create a void in his exist- 
 ence not easy to endure. 
 
 And Mr Vernon's little daughter Sylvia en- 
 tered most warmly into her father's feelings of 
 regret at the idea of parting with one who had 
 for so long been her friend and play-fellow 
 — always kind and ready to do the bidding 
 of the indulo:ed onlv child of the Avidowed 
 rector. 
 
 " What shall I do without Julian ?" she said 
 in a mournful tone of voice to her governess, 
 as she walked in the pretty garden surround- 
 ing the rectory, a few days previous to his de- 
 parture. " AVlio will help me this spring to 
 sow allmy seeds? — and so much we were going 
 to do — such improvements ! Now I shall never 
 care for mv garden a^ain. I shall tell old 
 Rolierts he mav do what he likes with it. I'll 
 
 VOL. I. 6
 
 82 TiiK j.iTTLK iu:autv. 
 
 not dig or water it any more. Oh, that horrid 
 Burlt'igh House ! I wish there was no such 
 phice in tlie worhl." 
 
 " I am very sorry to liear you talk so fool- 
 ishly, Miss Vernon," replied her grave-looking 
 instructress ; " it is no proof of your regard for 
 Julian ll()i)e, wishing to deprive him of so 
 valuable a boon as a good education ; had he 
 been vour brother, vou Avould still have had to 
 part \\ ith him in order that he nught go to 
 some school or collco:e." 
 
 " Brother ! I like Julian Hope better than 
 twenty brothers !" exclaimed the impetuous 
 little lady. " I don't think brothers, in general, 
 are half so kind to their sisters as ho has been 
 to me. Look at Lord Victor, that nauo'htv 
 bov, how he fic-hts Avith his sisters : how little 
 he cares whether they are pleased oi- not, so 
 that he has it all his OAvn way : and the boys 
 at Ashton Hall, when they are at home for the 
 holidavs, I am sure thev are rude and rou2;li 
 enough to the jMiss Somenilles, who are all 
 glad when they go off to school again. How 
 different from Jvdian I" 
 
 " I quite agree with you, my dear, that he 
 is a Acry superior boy, and for that veiy reason
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 83 
 
 you ought more than ever to rejoice that he is 
 about to receive a good education, which may 
 assist his career through hfe. Poor boy, I fear 
 his case is a very forlorn one." 
 
 "Well, I am sm^e," now sobbed forth the 
 httle girl, " I hope this hoiTid school may do 
 him good, but I know it will make me very 
 unhappy to lose him, and so it will Mrs Hope 
 and little Mary." 
 
 " Yes, I can feel for his mother, whose only 
 comfort he has been ; but I am quite ashamed 
 of you, Miss Vernon, for giving way in this 
 most childish manner upon a subject which 
 ought to be of such minor importance to 
 you." 
 
 "Ashamed of me. Miss Wilkinson?" the 
 httle lady exclaimed, indignant sparks now 
 flashing from her before tearful eyes ; " you are 
 very cruel, you ought to be very sorry for me 
 when you see how miserable I am. I shall go 
 to papa — he will pity me." And the impulsive 
 child rushed off, and never slackened her pace 
 until she had reached the study. There she 
 paused, for she heard voices within ; one she 
 distinguished as Julian's. 
 
 She opened the door, then entered so gently.
 
 84 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 that at first she was not perceived. The boy 
 was kneehng before Mr Vernon, his liead bent 
 down upon the rector's knees -, he was evidently 
 weeping, and ]Mr A'^ernon's countenance bore 
 traces of emotion, but he was now saying with 
 attempted cheerfulness, "Come, you must cheer 
 lip, dear boy ; we nmst not look sad when your 
 mother and little j\larv arrive to dimier, and 
 voii know we have a ijreat deal to do this even- 
 ing. Sylvia has a grand plan of amusement 
 in store for us." 
 
 " But Sylvia does not care for anything now, 
 she never will be happy again !" she exclaimed ; 
 and once more her tears burst forth as she ran 
 forward and threw her arms round her dear 
 playmate's neck, and wept upon his bosom. 
 
 Poor Sylvia, it makes one tremble for her 
 future fate, to see her so excitable in her feel- 
 ings at her age ! What a promise does it give 
 of a life of exags;erated trouble and unrest ! 
 
 ' " Life is a sea where storms must rise, 
 
 'Tib folly talks of cloudless skies." 
 
 She will, no doubt, have nuich to encomiter, 
 but we must lK)])e that she possesses within 
 her the genus of counteracting f[ualities ; that 
 amidst the keen susceptibility of her nature
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 85 
 
 she has been blessed with reason sufficient to 
 control her feelings, and when more matured 
 in age and experience, will be able to view 
 more calmly the path of life appointed for her, 
 and say, when her passion strives for mastery, 
 " Thus far shalt thou go, and no further."
 
 CHAPTER YIII. 
 
 Julian left Brooklands in company with 
 Mrs ^liller and licr little daughter, who 
 had also been invited to spend a few weeks 
 with the Glemnore family at Whitehall Gar- 
 dens. This was a most kind arrangement, 
 and very much softened the pain of separation 
 to the boy. It was, however, a melancholy 
 party that stood on the railway platfomi, 
 watching the departure of the train : none, 
 however, so demonstrative in their grief as 
 Sylvia Vernon, who made no endeavour to 
 conceal her impatient sorrow. 
 
 " Oh ! Julian, Julian, what shall I do with- 
 out you ? " were the last words he heard, as
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 87 
 
 he was Imrriecl into the carriage, and his 
 young heart responded warmly to all the 
 affectionate regret evinced on his account ; 
 tnily sorrowing for his mother, who, he well 
 knew, must miss his society so bitterly. Por 
 had he not been everythino; to her for so 
 long ? 
 
 We neyer could agree with Juliet — " That 
 parting is such siveet sorrow;" rather substitute 
 the word hitter ! 
 
 All was change and novelty to the uninitiated 
 Julian. They were travelling in great comfort, 
 accordino; to the directions received from Lord 
 Glenmore, in a first-class carriage, Madam 
 Miller as grand as a Duchess, 
 
 " I always make it a rule," she said, " to 
 d^ess well on a journey ; it is wonderful how 
 it raises people ; none of your scrub dresses 
 fo" me on such occasions ; and a pair of new 
 g.oves is quite indispensable." 
 
 Violet also sported the most becoming of 
 trivelling costumes. 
 
 The good woman had forgotten nothing that 
 c(uld administer to the comfort of herself and 
 tie children ; a basket, a dear friend of former 
 jaimeys, was filled with the most tempting 
 sfndwiches, cakes, and fiTiits, ready to be pro-
 
 88 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 chiced at tlic first approach of liuiigcr. Julian's 
 tears, whicli fell at first in abundance, were 
 soon kissed away by the pretty Violet, who 
 had iunnediately established herself on his 
 knee — her favourite seat. She had also shed 
 a few tears on leaving Frank Miller's arms, 
 when he placed her in the carriage, for she 
 was a loving little soid, and doted on her 
 father. 
 
 The poor man was very loath to part with 
 his little darling, but she would soon retuni. 
 His sorrow at Jidian's departure was his great- 
 est troid)le just then. 
 
 " I fear he will never be the same to me; 
 they will make a fine gentleman of him, and 
 I love him as my own. Yes, Madam," lie 
 said, addressing himself to ]\Irs Hope, after 
 brushing his hand hastily across his eyes, "I 
 pity you to have lost such a lad; but I sup- 
 pose it's all right, and best for him, so try 1o 
 bear up." And the poor mother did try 1o 
 bear up, as she walked back to her desola:c 
 lionie ; hers had always been a life of tryirg 
 " to bear up." i 
 
 The travellers sped on cheerily enough. At 
 first they had the carriage to themselves, bit 
 soon other passengers got in. Mrs Milhr
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 89 
 
 was in lier glory ; she felt that she had re- 
 turned to her original element — the most im- 
 portant person in the travelling suite of the 
 Marchioness of Glenmore. At this moment, 
 however, she was herself the great ladv in her 
 owi\ right. Violet soon fell fast asleep in 
 Juhan's arms; her hat removed, her splendid 
 hair fallinsr in such beautiful rindets over her 
 face and neck, her cheeks flushed with the 
 brightest peach-blossom tint, she certainly 
 looked the perfection of beauty. Proudly 
 swelled the mother's heart as she listened to 
 all the rapturous admiration bestowed on the 
 lovely child by her fellow-passengers. How 
 surprised would the fine ladies have been, 
 who travelled with them for a short distance, 
 had thev kno\Mi the real circumstances of the 
 fairy beauty whose aristocratic featiu-es, finely 
 moulded limbs, and general beaiing stamped 
 her in their consideration as a child of condi- 
 tion, something quite above the common line, 
 travelling, as they supposed, with her brother 
 and nursery governess ; for, notwithstanding 
 her silk dress, handsome shawl, and floating 
 veil, to say nothing of a pair of bright lilac 
 gloves draAMi tightly over her plump hands, 
 Mrs Miller did not look unmistakably a lady.
 
 DO THE LITTLE BEAITV. 
 
 And, for the consolutiou oi' those hidies whose 
 servants dress far smarter than themselves, we 
 would remark that thonorh " Eine feathers 
 make fine birds," they rarely disguise the real 
 j)()sition of the wearer. 
 
 A lady seldom looks anything hut a lady, 
 even in a dress of the shabbiest description ; 
 A\hereas, ape her betters as she may, heap on 
 iiowers and ribbons, liounres and furbeloAvs, 
 there is alwavs a certain indescribable some- 
 thing which draws a decided line of demarca- 
 tion between the two classes, which, we should 
 say, rarely fails to note their distinctive posi- 
 tions. How wonder-struck would have been 
 Violet's fellow-passengers, — great ladies, who 
 got out at Slough and entered a royal carriage 
 which was in attendance for them — ladies in 
 waiting to her Majesty, we suppose, — if some 
 little bird had Avhispered in their ear that the 
 sleeping beauty Avas a " village blacksmith's 
 daughter ! " 
 
 Tliere was another passenger in the railway 
 carriage whose gaze seemed to be attracted, 
 not to the contcm])lation of the charms of 
 the little girl, but to the countenance of the 
 boy, on whose bosom she reclined in so pic- 
 turesque an attitude.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 91 
 
 He was an elderly man, upon whose stern 
 features were impressed the Imes of grave 
 thought and care ; care which had not softened, 
 but rather hardened, his natural character. 
 
 Julian was far too engrossed with his darling 
 little charge to remark the fartive glances the 
 stranger cast ever and anon upon him ; and 
 w^hose brow darkened and contracted from 
 the influence of some inward feeling, either of 
 displeasure or pain, whilst he gazed upon him ; 
 and who then turned away with a groan-like 
 sigh, and busied himself again mth his book, 
 as if provoked with himself for dwelling upon 
 some idea which might have crossed his brain, 
 Avith a seeming determination not to look again, 
 but Avho soon, as if forgetting this resolve, 
 ap;ain fixed his eves unconsciouslv, as it were, 
 upon the boy. 
 
 Mrs Miller, however, who Avas wide awake 
 to what passed, saw it all. At first she thought 
 it was her beautiful child who had attracted 
 the gentleman's notice, and, flattered as she 
 always was by such demonstrations, with a 
 simper addressed him, mincing her words, as 
 was her custom when wishing particularly to 
 play the lady. 
 
 "A pretty child, is she not, sir?" she said.
 
 9:2 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 The stranger looked round upon her with a 
 sort of amazed disdain. It seemed that he 
 considered tliat a sufHcient answer, but the 
 simper continuing, awaiting his reply, he said, 
 in the shortest manner possible, " No doubt. 
 Madam I " and turned his eyes resolutely upon 
 his book, and his back upon her. 
 
 " A nide unmannerly brute ! " was the in- 
 ward ejaculation oi" the outraged mother. " I 
 suppose it was Julian, then, that he was staring 
 at in that fierce manner ; well, I wonder what 
 he thought of him; he certainly looks very 
 Avell to-day, with his cheeks so flushed and 
 dressed so nicely, and I should like to know 
 who is to be thanked for that ; a pretty figure 
 his mother would have sent him off", if I had 
 not gone twice with him to the tailor's 
 and given directions about his clothes, and 
 seen them tried on. After all, there is no- 
 thing particular to stare at in the boy ; he is 
 a good child and looks pleasant, that's all." 
 At this moment Violet awoke, and Julian 
 gladly consigned her to her mother. 
 
 He had been for some time hmging to go to 
 the other window, from whence he had been 
 told that he could obtain a passing glini})se of 
 Windsor Castle ; and no sooner was he released
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 93 
 
 from his burden, than he darted head-long 
 towards it, unmindful of the gentleman's legs, 
 over which he nearly tumbled. AVith a " beg 
 yom- pardon, sir," and a smiling glance at the 
 stem face, he fearlessly took his seat opposite 
 to him, looking anxiously out of the window, 
 saying, "Please, Mrs Miller, tell me exactly 
 w^hen I ought to look out for it." 
 
 After a few minutes had elapsed, Julian, 
 whose head had continued pertinaciously lean- 
 ing out of the window, was almost startled by 
 a deep voice close to him, which said : 
 
 " What do you want to see ? " 
 
 " Windsor Castle, sir," the boy replied. 
 
 " Then there it is." 
 
 Far too swiftly for Julian sped the train, 
 giving him but a transient view of the proud 
 old pile so full of storied and poetical interest, 
 rearing its irregular walls and massive towers 
 like a mural crown round the brow of a lofty 
 ridge, and waving its royal banner in the air 
 upon the surrounding world. The boy was 
 breathless, speechless, from the intensity of his 
 feelings ; he remained silent for a few minutes, 
 and then said : 
 
 " I am so glad I have seen it ; how I have 
 longed to do so ! "
 
 94 THE LITTLE BEAUTY, 
 
 " And you are not disappointed in your ex- 
 pectations ? " the gentlenuni inquired. 
 
 " Oh, 110, not at all ; it is tine, it is beautiful, 
 just what I had pictured to niyseli" from what 
 I have read, and seen in prints. But, sir, have 
 you ever been there ? " 
 
 " Frequently." 
 
 " Inside tlie Castle ? " 
 
 " Yes, very often." 
 
 " And vou have seen the Queen and Roval 
 family ? " 
 
 " I have." 
 
 Julian's eves seemed to o;i-o\v larger and 
 larger as his wonder and curiosity increased. 
 The stranger's covmtenance almost relaxed into 
 something resembling a smile, as he watched 
 the genuine simplicity and freshness of the 
 hoy's incpiiring mind. 
 
 "Oh, sir," Julian 'persisted, " do tell me some- 
 thing about them. I do so wish to see the 
 Queen, and the Princes and Princesses." 
 
 " You seem to be a very loyal subject, youiig 
 gentleman," the stranger remarked. 
 
 " Yes, that I am, enthusiastically so," he re- 
 plied. " I cannot tell you how I love the Queen, 
 which is perhaps extraordinary, as I never saw 
 her; but I hear of her, and all that I hear
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 95 
 
 makes me love and admire her more and more 
 every day. I do so long to serve lier in some 
 way or another ; bnt what can I do ? Mr Ver- 
 non says the time may come." 
 
 The gentleman smiled again, but now Avith 
 a sarcastic expression. 
 
 "Are we not near London?" exclaimed 
 Juhan, a new interest chasing the last, and he 
 pidled out with some degree of ostentation a 
 little watch with which his mother had that 
 day presented hhn. It had been his father's. 
 
 " Five o'clock ! we shall soon be there," he 
 said joyfully. 
 
 He did not look at his opposite neighbonr, 
 so engaged was he with his pleasant thonghts 
 and the readjustment of his newly-acquired 
 treasm-e, or he might ha^' e been struck, nay, even 
 startled, by the singular manner with which the 
 stranger fixed his eyes upon the little, rather 
 shabby, watch, one which had been presented 
 to his father on going first to school, when he 
 was about the age of Julian. It was not, how- 
 ever, of a common description, but rather 
 peculiar from being evidently of foreign manu- 
 facture, curiouslv chased on the outside, and a 
 small chain and two little seals were suspended
 
 96 Tin: litti-k beauty. 
 
 from it. At that inomcnt Violet, who had 
 seen some object wliicli attracted her wonder, 
 called out in a loud voice : 
 
 " Julian, Julian, come here!" and the Ijoy 
 quickly obeyed. 
 
 And noAV the train has reached the Pad- 
 dington Station, and all is bustle and deliu;lit- 
 i'ld confusion to the children. Julian does not 
 bestow another glance upon the un])re])Ossess- 
 ing stranger, who, nevertheless, watches him 
 with, one might almost say, an anxious and 
 pertm'bed expression. A tall, ])owdered foot- 
 man speedily puts his head into the carriage. 
 Mrs Miller says, " Yes, here we are, Thomas ! " 
 the door is opened, and they find themselves 
 on the platform, jostled about in a manner 
 which makes Violet cling to her 3'oung com- 
 l)anion with rather a frightened air. However, 
 soon, with Thomas's assistance, Mrs ]\Iiller 
 hnds her boxes, which are all put into a cab, 
 and the exiiMiu^ ci-dcvcmt head-nurse, swelling 
 with importance, is handed with her young 
 com])anions into a carriage, upon whose panels 
 is emblazoned a ^larquis's coronet. " All 
 riirht ! " cries Thomas, and awav they whirl. 
 The strange gentleman stands and watches
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 97 
 
 all this. " Wonderful ! " lie ejaculated, as he 
 also entered his carriage, which Avas in waiting 
 for him ; and, to judge by his countenance, he 
 seemed to carry away "with him an additional 
 " thorn in the flesh." 
 
 TOL. I.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 It was indeed a Aveek of eniovmcnt to 
 Jidiaii, tlio one he spent in Whitehall Gardens ; 
 and tliis period over, Lord Glcnmore took upon 
 himself the office of introducing; his young 
 2yrotcgc to the new life which was before him. 
 It was not a very bright day, in any sense of 
 the word, that on which Julian first entered 
 Burleigh House, but the excitement of driving 
 through th(! bustling streets of tlie city in 
 some degree dispelled his sorrow at parting 
 from his kind friends ; the sun, too, began to 
 biighten the hitherto gloomy day, and his 
 spirits revived with the usual elasticity of his 
 age. But again his heart sank as the gates
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 99 
 
 opened, and, passing the porter's lodge, he 
 looked for the first time on the gloomy pile ; 
 whilst, as the carriage drew up before the 
 masters' house, he saw numbers of boys who 
 were loitering about and staring at the new 
 " gown boy " wth scrutinizing, and perhaps 
 supercilious, glances, for school boys have an 
 inherent inclination to quiz all fresh comers. 
 
 He was courteously received by the head- 
 master, and the short examination which 
 was necessary soon ended in a most satis- 
 factory manner ; for so pleased was the 
 Doctor with Julian's proficiency, that he said 
 he should be placed at once in the second form 
 — a great triumph for one just entering the 
 school. 
 
 " You have been well prepared, young gen- 
 tleman. At what school have you been edu- 
 cated ? " 
 
 " I never was at school," Julian answered, 
 tears rising in his eyes when he thought of 
 the kind friend who had done so much for 
 him. 
 
 " Well," continued the Doctor, "whoever 
 has taught you deserves the greatest credit." 
 
 And Julian went forth with a lightened 
 heart and brightened eye.
 
 100 THE LITTLE BEAITV. 
 
 How many have reason to bless the iiiinii- 
 ficcnt foniukM", wliosc recumbent effi2cy, tliongh 
 })laced in a dark corner, is the principal object 
 of attraction in tlie cliajiel of l^nrk'iii;li House ! 
 
 Jidian's interest and curiosity rose to the 
 highest pitch the further he explored the 
 wonders of the old place. After examining 
 for a lengthened period every object of inter- 
 est, Lord Glenmore, who had fully entered 
 into all his pleasure in inspecting the ancient 
 structure, was forced to remind him that the 
 moment of ])arting was at hand. 
 
 They had, however, one other introduction 
 to go through ; to the goAvn boys' matron, 
 into whose hands Julian was finally to be 
 delivered. 
 
 Those were the days when Mother K. — so 
 she was generally and allowedly designated by 
 the boys — held her genial sway over this por- 
 tion of the establishment. And a mother 
 truly might the good woman have been called, 
 for maternal was she in her never-failing care 
 towards every boy who was so fortunate as to 
 be the object of her unwearying attention. 
 
 Lord Glenmore and -lulian were nshered 
 into a snug low room, not particularly bright- 
 looking, with its only ];)rospect from the
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 101 
 
 windows, the burial ground of the pensioners, 
 but which soon Uglited up into cheerfuhiess 
 beneath the cheery influence of its occupant. 
 
 There sat the worthy woman, surrounded by 
 heaps of worsted stockings, looking almost as 
 round and soft as the balls of lambs-wool from 
 which she was mending fractures innumer- 
 able. 
 
 "Well, my dear boy, so you are come at 
 last ! — we have been expecting you this week 
 past," was the cordial greeting given in a voice 
 so truly kind that Julian's heart felt imme- 
 diately cheered. 
 
 " Now you must keep up yoiu* spirits," she 
 continued to say, as with experienced eye she 
 soon read the expression of the l)oy's counte- 
 nance. " It will be a little strange and rough 
 at first, but take my word for it, and I think I 
 ought to know, you'll be as merry as any of 
 them this day fortnight ; and if you are, as 
 yom^ kind friend there tells me, a good and 
 studious boy, why, you'll get on, and your life 
 will he pleasant enough, I promise you." 
 
 But even these kind words did not avail to 
 check the tears Avhich would start from Jidian's 
 eyes as he bade farewell to the kind yomig 
 Marquis.
 
 102 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 It was, indeed, a very novel position for a 
 boy never before separated from his home, and 
 left witli strangers ; therefore we must excuse 
 what the present insouciant race of scliool- 
 boys might deem a s})ooney proceeding. 
 
 Lord Glenmore promised an early visit, and 
 left his young friend, whom he really loved, 
 with sincere regret. 
 
 " You shall drink tea with me this evening, 
 dear boy," Mrs K. said, " but now be off with 
 Loftus, that tall man who has just put his 
 head in at the door (this was meant for a 
 small gown boy, who had half entered the 
 room) ; he will take you about a little, he is a 
 sharp one, I know ; and then come ])ack, and 
 we will have a cozy cup of tea together." 
 
 And soon Julian found himself in the midst 
 of his future companions, enduring, as hero- 
 ically as he might, the curious, and often im- 
 pertinent, modes of reception to which a new 
 boy is always subjected. 
 
 He did not, however, meet with anything 
 peculiarly offensive to his feelings ; there Avas 
 something in his countenance and manners 
 which disarmed the most ready to sting 
 the sensitive heart of the uninitiated, and 
 Julian returned to Mrs K. with brightened
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 103 
 
 spirits, and sat ([o\va to tea Avitli good 
 appetite. 
 
 Dear good woman ! how many there must 
 be who remember her with immixed feehngs 
 of gratitude and affection, whom her kindness 
 has solaced, not only in sickness, but in 
 sori'ow and heaviness of heart ; how many a 
 mother just parted from a beloved child has 
 been comforted by the idea of her watchful 
 care; she was, indeed, the friend of all — ■ 
 masters, boys, all succumbed to her strong 
 sense and clear views of everything ; all were 
 strengthened to walk in the way they should 
 go by the judicious advice of Mother K. 
 
 She _had a soothing word for all — for the 
 wayward boy, for the irritated master ; a hard 
 rule was made gentler by her milder suggestion, 
 and a hard heart softened by her persuasion. 
 The epitaph which is to be found on an unos- 
 tentatious tablet, erected by the scholars in 
 the chapel of Burleigh House, is sunply and 
 beautifidlv illustrative of her character, when 
 it says : 
 
 "She gave constant proof of the power which motherly 
 kindness, combined with prudence, and directed by Christian 
 principle, possesses, to wia the love and respect of the young, 
 and to prepare them to give ear to affectionate warning and 
 earnest advice.
 
 Uji TIIK LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 This tal)lct is erected, 
 
 As well in grateful rciiicnibrance 
 
 Of benefits conferred and kindness shown 
 
 To all luuler her care. 
 
 As for tlic sake of perpetuating 
 
 The name of 
 
 In the place which she most loved, 
 And in which she did so much good." 
 
 We think tliis genuine tribute of respect 
 and affection to the memory of departed worth 
 does credit to the hearts of those who dictated 
 
 it. 
 
 Just a few words more, and we shall have 
 done with Burleigh House for the ])resent. 
 
 Julian's eyes, in wandering round the strange 
 apartment, were attracted by a clock, of rather 
 an unusual form, which stood on the chinuiey 
 piece. 
 
 " Oh, you are looking at that ! " Mrs K. 
 exclaimed ; " do you know it is one of the great- 
 est treasm-es I possess, — shall T tell }()U why?" 
 Julian was aU attention. 
 
 " Well, once upon a time — many years ago — 
 there was a boy here of the name of G. He 
 was good and clever, and a universal favourite ; 
 but he was not strong, and this j)lace was 
 rather trying to him, for it was harder than it 
 is now, when everything is what I call upon
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 105 
 
 cotton wool, in comparison. He was often very 
 ill, poor boy, and very sorry, for he wanted to 
 get on with his learning, and these fits of 
 sickness kept him back sadly. 
 
 " I must say I loved G. dearly, he was a 
 noble-hearted fellow ; but to cut a long story 
 short — and I could go on for ever tfilking about 
 him — he had a long illness just before he left 
 Bmieigh House, and I nursed him, as I am 
 in duty bound to do (and that you will see, 
 if you require it, young gentleman). Poor 
 fellow, how he suffered, and how near death he 
 was ! and, my dear boy, I can truly say, how 
 fit he was to die. However, it was not so 
 to be ; God willed that he shoidd be spared. 
 He recovered, and shortly after left us. When 
 we parted, he said : 
 
 " ' Mother K., I shall remember you to the 
 last hour of my life.' 
 
 " But many years passed, and we saw and 
 heard very little of him. 
 
 " One day, it was a very foggy one, I re- 
 member, in December, I was sitting, as usual, 
 in the midst of my stockings, thinking 
 that there was scarcely light enough to see 
 even those great big holes which you young 
 gentlemen are so good as to make, in order to
 
 lOG THE LITTLE BEAL'TY. 
 
 keep mc in full work fmin Monday till Satur- 
 day, when there was a loud knoek at the 
 door. 
 
 "Who can this be? thought I, and I 
 stirred the fire, to throw a little light upon 
 the subject. I soon heard a (piick step, and 
 the door opened, and there stood two persons, 
 one a tall young man, anil the other a young 
 lady, so beautiful, it struck me she was like a 
 ray of sunshine on tliat dark, gloomy day. 
 The'gentleman came straight up to me. 
 
 " ' Mother K.,' he exclaimed, ' have you for- 
 gotten me ? ' 
 
 " I stared, all confused at the handsome 
 face which looked so anxiously and in(|uir- 
 ingly into mine. 
 
 " ' Bless us, and save us ! ' I soon cried, ' is 
 it not G. ?' And then followed such a greet- 
 ing ; had he been my own son he could 
 not have been more affectionate ; I can never 
 forget how glad I was to see the dear boy 
 once more, who had twined himself round my 
 heart in so imaccountable a manner. 
 
 " And then he turned to the lady, and taking 
 her hand, said : 
 
 " ' And, mother K., you nuist let me intro- 
 duce you to my wife.'
 
 THE LITTLE BEAL'TY. lO? 
 
 " ' Your wife ! ' I said, and I laughed ; it 
 seemed so strange to hear the lad, for as such 
 I had always thought of him, talking of his 
 wife. 
 
 " * Yes, my wife!' he said, as he put his 
 arm lovingly round the young creature, ' and 
 a good one she is, I can assure you.' 
 
 " ' And a very pretty one, that I can see,' 
 said I. We soon got into most pleasant chat, 
 and I began to think the wife was even worthy 
 of her husband — the best praise I could give 
 her ! 
 
 " And then G. got up and went out of the 
 room, and returned, carrying rather a heavy 
 case, which he put upon the table, and said to 
 his wife : 
 
 " ' Now, darling, show Mother K. what you 
 have brought for her.' 
 
 " They opened the box between them, and 
 placed that very clock upon the mantel-piece, 
 from whence it has never been removed ; nor 
 ever will be, until I am dead. 
 
 " ' This is to remind you, dear Mother K., 
 of the many hours you watched so patiently, 
 so tenderly, by my side, when, had it not been 
 for yom' great goodness, I should have been 
 forlorn as well as suffering. Believe me when
 
 108 THE LITTI.K UKAUTV. 
 
 I tell you, that the ivuu'iiihrance of all you 
 have done for iiu; has ncvei' (luiltcd mv mind. 
 I have thought of it on many a sick bed, 
 when I have had no one with me, in distant 
 lands, and have longed for the kind hand and 
 cheering voice which had so often strengthened 
 and refreshed me in the midst of pain.' 
 
 " He said a great dciil more ; and so did 
 his sweet young wife; but it would seem like 
 glorifying myself if I repeated any [more, al- 
 though 1 have not forgotten one word , and 
 God knows that anything I was able to do. 
 for the dear young man was not only my duty 
 to perform," added Mrs K. wiping her eyes, 
 " but the greatest ])leasure I ever had in all 
 my work here. And it is so pleasant to be 
 able to tell of this one proof of his grateful 
 heart. Seldom, my dear, in this world do 
 people remember kindnesses when they a;re 
 done aiul over. It is all^very well at the time, 
 but the ih;iukful feeling lasts only as long as 
 the hoar frost under the influence of the sun — 
 soon gone, and no trace left ; but that ought 
 to make no difference to us. We nuist never' 
 wciuy in our work, however little encourage- 
 ment we find; and if, as in the story I have 
 just told you, the bread cast upon the waters
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 109 
 
 does once perhaps in a life-time retnrn to us, 
 we oiiglit only with grateful hearts to become 
 the more diligent in om' path of duty, how- 
 ever hard and troublesome it may sometimes 
 be."* 
 
 * This story is not fiction.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 The Marchioness of Glenmore seldom inter- 
 fered in any of the amusements or fancies of 
 her chihken; tlierefore it Mas fortunate that the 
 Ladies Lylc were all naturally ij;ood and gentle, 
 or with such miclipi)ed wings there is no say- 
 ing what flights they might have taken. 
 
 The present rage with them was little Violet. 
 Her extreme beauty inspired the young ladies 
 with sucli unbnundrd admiration, that they 
 were never weary of loading lier, not only with 
 caresses, but dress of every description, and 
 their great delight was showing her off in every 
 possible manner. Every day she was efpii])ped 
 in some fanciful costmnc, to be displayed in
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. Ill 
 
 the Park, Kensington Gardens, or some public 
 resort. No little princess could be more splen- 
 didly got up in all these fine clothes, so artist- 
 ically arranged upon the beautiful little person 
 by the hands of her scientific mother, every 
 curl of that golden hair hanging just where it 
 ought. 
 
 These were halcyon days to jMrs Miller; 
 yes, halcyon days then, but oh, memory, what 
 a stinging evil art thou too often ! Yes, 
 the memory not only of Avhat we have done, 
 but what we might at one time so easily have 
 avoided, the memory of all the sorrow into 
 which our own selfish folly has plunged another 1 
 This poor foolish mother — how gladly, proudly, 
 she lent her assistance, by folly and vanity, to 
 mar the happiness of a young life. 
 
 " Now, my pet," she would say, " my 
 beautiful darling," when the finishing stroke 
 had just been put to some elaborate toilette, "re- 
 member you behave yourself like a young lady." 
 
 " But I'm not a young lady," the child 
 would pettishly exclaim, wearied by having to 
 endure what was irksome to her — the long 
 operation which her mother made of her dress- 
 ing; " I'd much rather be with father at home." 
 
 " You are a very naughty girl, and I have a
 
 112 THE LITTLK BKAUTY. 
 
 good mind to whij) you," cxcliiiiuud the irritated 
 Mrs Miller ; " father, indeed ! how vulgar that 
 word sounds from } ou, with that lovely hat, 
 that beautiful frock : never sav that word ajTjain 
 whilst you are in this house." 
 
 And then, seeing- tliat the child was begin- 
 ning to cry, Violet was })etted and flattered, 
 and coaxed into composure, and finally de- 
 livered over into the hands of her admiring 
 young friends, who received her as if she were 
 a beautiful doll, only created for their present 
 amusement ; and the poor little thing drank in, 
 from all quarters, draughts of praise and adu- 
 lation, which, for a Avonder, made little im- 
 pression upon her innocent mind. 
 
 Lord Victor returned from Brighton, looking 
 so well, and in such good humour — no one to 
 interfere with him now. He was most de- 
 lighted to see Mrs ]\Iiller aiul Violet, who Avas 
 ordered in the most ])erem])tory manner by her 
 mother never, on pain of a whipping, to men- 
 tion Julian's name. The Marchioness had con- 
 fided to Ihe niu'se the horror with which Victor 
 remembered the boy, and thus connncnced 
 one of the first lessons of dissinnilation which 
 the mother thought fit to endeavour to teach 
 her daughter.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 113 
 
 " Now, darling, mind, you are to say you 
 hate Jidian, if Lord Victor asks you the 
 question." 
 
 "But I love him very much, Mimmie," 
 was the tearful reply. 
 
 "You provoldng child!" was the answer. 
 " Well, suppose you do, you need not say so." 
 
 " But I should tell a story, and father says 
 that is wicked," persisted Violet. 
 
 " What can he know about it, I should hke 
 to know ? I can teU you this, you naughty 
 little thing, that if you vex Lord Victor I'll 
 shut you up in a dark closet all night ; — now 
 don't you begin to cry and make a noise ; be 
 a good girl and do what I desire you, and aU 
 will be right." 
 
 Poor little wretched Violet ! this is a speci- 
 men of the training she will have. 
 
 " Pray, young ladies," said Lord Glenmore 
 one day to his sisters, after having been for 
 some time silently watching Violet, who, di-essed 
 out with sashes and flounces, and every possi- 
 ble decoration, was giving herself the pretty 
 little airs and graces of an embryo duchess, ^ 
 looking certayily most beautiful and refined — 
 anything but like a blacksmith's daughter, 
 *'pray tell me, does it ever strike you that 
 
 VOL. I, S
 
 114 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 yoii are acting very unwisely by that poor little 
 child?" 
 
 " What do you mean?" asked Lady Violet, 
 colouring sliglitly. 
 
 " Don't you think that it is very injudicious 
 to bring her so completely out of her sphere, 
 to dress her in this manner, and thus fill her 
 head brim full with vanity? " 
 
 " That is so like you, Glenmore," said Lady 
 Sophia, the second sister; " what an old-fashion- 
 ed young man you are ! Just as if it coidd hurt 
 a child like that to have a pretty frock and 
 sash — poor little thing, her fun will soon be 
 over." 
 
 " The sooner the better, I think," replied 
 the Marquis, seriously ; " and I hope, for her 
 sake, it will never be renewed. I have a great 
 regard for Rose, and can never forget what I 
 owe her for her attention to me when I was an 
 ailing boy ; but, dear woman, I don't think 
 nuieh of her sense, in any matters but those 
 connected with the nursery department." 
 
 The young man had to undergo a regular 
 attack frf)tn his three fair sisters, who were all 
 up in arms to defend their favourite nurse, and 
 to advocate the expediency of spoiling the child. 
 As for Lord Victor, he had promised over and
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 115 
 
 over again to marry the pretty Violet as soon 
 as lie was a man ; and she, with some reluct- 
 ance, had 2;iven her consent. This was onlv 
 done in terror of her mother's threat of the 
 dark closet ; for the httle beauty never fancied 
 the handsome boy lord, although he over- 
 whelmed her with presents and attentions, and 
 was her devoted slave. 
 
 It was many days before the child could re- 
 concile] herself to Julian's departure. She was 
 really an affectionate little creature, loving with 
 all her heart where she placed her affections. 
 Upon her father she doted, and Julian shared 
 equally in this love. Poor little girl, how 
 Sony we are for her ! Would, indeed, that 
 she had been a rough l^oy, the good, honest 
 blacksmith's son, and .not this fairy-like crea- 
 ture, this fatally beautifid daughter, whose 
 story we have engaged to relate ! 
 
 AVe may well imagine that Mrs Miller's 
 journey homcAvards was not as triumphant as 
 that which brought her on her holiday trip. 
 She was in a very bad humour when Frank 
 met her at the station to convey her home. 
 He had done his best, poor man, to make 
 eveiything comfortable for the " missus " on her 
 retm-n, but he and the maid had to bear not
 
 116 THE LITTLK BEAUTY. 
 
 a few ebullitions of ill temper, until time, which 
 generally does its work, came to their relief, 
 and she began to subside into her usual state 
 of uncertain equanimity.
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Mrs Hope felt more inclined to despond 
 than slie had done for years at the present 
 moment ; all seemed so dull and void without 
 Julian. 
 
 Little Mary was a delicate child, quiet and 
 undemonstrative in comparison with her viva- 
 cious brother, and not of an age to be much of 
 a companion to her mother. 
 
 " This will never do ! '^ mentally exclaimed 
 Mrs Hope one morning, when, listless and pre- 
 occupied, she endeavom^ed in vain to busy 
 herself with her usual associations. " Come, 
 Mary, let us go out; we shall both be the
 
 lis TIIK LITTLE BKAUTY. 
 
 l)etter for a long wulk this morning ; it will do 
 you good, my pale darling." 
 
 But as she spoke the door burst open, and 
 Sylvia rushed into the room, impatiently throw- 
 ing herself into Mrs Hope's arms, sobbing and 
 crying with veheuient agitation. 
 
 " What is the matter, my dear child ? " was 
 the alarmed cpiestion. 
 
 " Oh I am so miserable, Mrs Hope, I could 
 not l)ear it any longer ; so when Miss Wilkin- 
 son, who is so cross and unfeeUng, left the 
 room just now, I ran off, and never stopped 
 till I found myself here ; I could not help it, 
 I am so unhappy, I should like to die." 
 
 " My dear Sylvia, don't say such naughty 
 things ! " Mrs Hope exclaimed, but in a sooth- 
 ing tone of voice, as affectionately she encircled 
 the panting, weeping girl with her arm, and 
 made her sit by her side ; " we arc all very sorry 
 to part Avitli Julian, but you know it is for his 
 good, dear child, and if we love him, we nnist 
 try to rejoice i-ather than lament." 
 
 " Rejoice ! don't talk so, Mrs Hope, I never 
 could rejoice at losing Julian. Before he v.'cnt, 
 when I W71S in that didl school-room w ith that 
 disagreeable Miss ^^'ilkinson,wdlom nothing can
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 119 
 
 ever make me like, I used to think — Avell, soon 
 I shall hear his step on the gravel walk, and I 
 sat listening with my book on my knee, quite 
 happy ; but now, no step, no voice," and here 
 her tears bm-st forth again ; " and papa looks 
 so dull, and you, too, Mrs Hope, and even Httle 
 Mary ; oh, what are we to do ? " 
 
 Mrs Hope would fain have mingled her 
 tears Avith those of her little girl ; she could 
 well have echoed those words, " What are we to 
 do?" — but she endeavoured to subdue her 
 emotion ; and to comfort Sylvia she spoke of 
 the future. 
 
 Oh, A\ hat should we do without the hope of 
 the future ? so true are those hacknied words : 
 
 " Mau never is, but always to be blest." 
 
 Sylvia's future was bright with youth and 
 undimmed hopes ; so, soon the distant scene of 
 happiness, pictm-ed in so alluring a manner by 
 her friend, dawned upon her imagination, the 
 tears came less heavily from her eyes, whilst 
 Mrs Hope talked of August, that blessed 
 month when they might expect to see their 
 dear boy again ; and Sylvia lifted up her head, 
 which had been laid so wearily on her kind 
 friend's knee, and now, with smiles instead of 
 tears, she was telling of plans for many a
 
 120 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 scheme of enjoyment for the holidays, when 
 again the door opened, and Miss Wilkinson 
 appeared. 
 
 " Oh, you are here. Miss Vernon ; it was 
 what I expected ; however, yon will return with 
 me immediately," were the words she uttered, 
 in a voice of great sternness. 
 
 Sylvia threw her arms again round Mrs 
 Hope, exclaiming : 
 
 "Oh, don't send me away, dear Mrs Hope ; 
 let me only remain this one day, and I mil 
 try to be good." 
 
 But Mrs Hope saw by Miss Wilkinson's 
 countenance that there was nothing to be done 
 but to obey. She would have been too glad to 
 have kept the little girl until she had soothed 
 her irritable feelinu; into a frame more calcu- 
 lated to enabh; her to bear the rule of her 
 governess, which, Mrs Hope was quite aw^are, 
 was not the most judicious for a child of 
 Sylvia's peculiar temperament. 
 
 After much painful altercation, the rector's 
 little daughter was taken away, and good Mrs 
 Hope left to ponder with much concern over 
 Sylvia's disposition ; vsomcthing she ])lainly saw 
 must be done for the child at this tiu'ning 
 point of her character. She really loved her
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 121 
 
 dearly, this warm-hearted, impressible little 
 creatm^e ! There was so much in her that was 
 endearing, so much also.to cause deep anxiety 
 for the future ; yet well pleased she felt, and 
 half amused, when she thought of Sylvia's de- 
 votion to the boy Julian. 
 
 So do we often smile at the first appearance 
 of some event, " no bigger than a man's hand, 
 rising from the sea," and in this manner do we 
 welcome circimistances trivial in appearance, 
 but which are soon found to carry tempest in 
 their hands. 
 
 Mr Vernon appeared at the farm the next 
 morning with a troubled brow. Miss Wil- 
 kinson had given up her situation ; Sylvia had 
 been most unmanageable and naughty, and 
 nothing would induce the governess to continue 
 in a situation of which she declared she had long 
 been weary, seeing plainly that she could be of 
 no use to Miss Vernon. 
 
 What was now to be done ? 
 
 Long was the conference held in Mrs Hope's 
 sitting-room ; little Mary had been sent out to 
 take a long walk with the maid, and Mr Ver- 
 non requested that she might be left at the 
 rectory to dine with Sylvia ; so they were un- 
 disturbed.
 
 l'2'2 TilK LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 When at length the rector departed, and the 
 fanner's dangliter stepped into the room to 
 ask some questions, she found its usually calm 
 occupant looking very much flushed, and 
 evidently agitated ; and little Mary, entering at 
 the same time, was greeted Avith even more 
 than usual tenderness by her mother, who, 
 bending over her, whilst she drew the child 
 upon her knee, endeavoured to conceal the 
 tears which she evidently could not control. 
 
 *' I wonder what is the matter with Mrs 
 Hope," said Lucy Giles to her mother, when 
 she rejoined her in the kitchen ; " she looks so 
 queer and sad." 
 
 " Oh, I suppose they have been talking over 
 Master Julian ; the rector is as soft about him 
 as his mother, I think," returned Mrs Giles. 
 
 No wonder that Mrs Hope looked flushed 
 and agitated, after the starthng disclosure that 
 had been made to her of the Ions-standing 
 attachment of Mr Vernon, and the oflcr of his 
 hand and heart. 
 
 " It is some years since I became aware of 
 my love for }ou, dear Mrs Hope, but I have 
 not dared to tell you this before," were the 
 words with which Mr Vernon commenced the 
 connnunication. " I knew well that the wounds
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 123 
 
 of your heart were long in healing, and I loved 
 you the better for your constancy to the me- 
 nioiy of the departed ; but now that years 
 have gone by, I venture to ask you to look 
 around, and see how many you will benefit by 
 becoming my wife. As for myself, I need not 
 dwell upon my feehngs of rejoicing ; indeed, 
 they would be too great for expression. But 
 our childi-en ; would they not all be the hap- 
 pier if we made one family ? — you, the mother 
 of my little daughter, and I, the father of your 
 dear children — of Julian, whom already I love 
 so truly ; yes, dear Mrs Hope, only say you 
 w^ll make my home a blessed nest of peace 
 and love, and how grateful I shall feel." 
 
 Poor Mrs Hope ! how could she answer this 
 appeal ? It was so wholly unexpected ; never 
 for a moment had she contemplated the pos- 
 sibility of such an event as a second marriage. 
 She, the hmnble widow, despised, and utterly 
 rejected by the relations of her first husband ; 
 esteeming herself so lowly, never thinking to 
 raise her eyes but wdth feehngs of gratitude 
 and respectful admiration towards one she 
 deemed so superior. And then again, the me- 
 mory of her husl)and ! was it not as vivid as 
 ever upon her heart ? Man's nature is so dif-
 
 124 TIIK LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 ferent to Avomaii's ; his feelings lead him forth 
 to the battle and struggle of the world ; 
 and though he may sorrow for a time, sm- 
 cerely, painfully, yet still he is an active being; 
 he can dissipate his thoughts by business and 
 amusement ; he can shift the scene at will, 
 and thus blunt the edge of grief. But woman, 
 she nurses her sorrow, considers it profanation 
 not to keep alive its remembrance. Mrs Hope's 
 first impulse was to reject the idea with re- 
 pugnance. 
 
 " Oh, dear sir, you don't really mean what 
 you say ! " she exclaimed, pale and agitated. 
 "You forget how far I am beneath you in 
 every way ; that I have already brought dis- 
 grace and misery into one family ; that — " 
 
 But she was interrupted by ]\Ir Vernon : 
 " I repeat what I have before said, dear Mrs 
 Hope, that I shall feel proud, as well as bless- 
 ed beyond expression, if you will accept me as 
 your husband. You have formed a very false 
 estimate of your merits, if you consider your- 
 self beneath me, or any one in this world ; you 
 little know with what admiration your conduct 
 is viewed bv cverv one — how vou are loved 
 and respected by all who know you." 
 
 Mrs Hope was silently shedding the tears
 
 THE LITTLE BEAI'TT. 125 
 
 she could not restrain ; she saw before her this 
 excellent man, this friend, who, in her bitterest 
 days of adversity, had been her consolation, 
 her support, whom she so truly revered and 
 loved as her enlightened pastor, the kind 
 strengthener of her sinking faith, in the dark 
 hour of mental and bodily prostration ; and 
 then, what had he not done for Julian, her 
 darling boy ? Oh ! with what gratitude this 
 thought filled her heart. 
 
 " And now he asks me to be his wife — asks it, 
 too, as a favour from me — oh, what can T do ?" 
 
 She sat leaning her head on her hand in 
 agonizing deliberation. 
 
 " If Julian were here he would plead my 
 cause, I am sure," j\Ir Vernon said with 
 gentle, persuasive earnestness. 
 
 These words seemed to vibrate upon the 
 right chord. 
 
 "Would he?" she exclaimed, and looked 
 up through her tears. 
 
 " I am quite sm-e he would." 
 
 Still no answer from Mrs Hope, who again 
 covered her face Avith her hands, and sat in the 
 most desponding attitude. 
 
 Mr Vernon looked at her anxiously for a 
 few moments, and then spoke :
 
 126 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 "I do not wisli to hurry you, my dear 
 lady ; I know -well what is passing in your 
 mind, and I onlv the more admire and rever- 
 ence you for the feehngs wliich are struggling 
 there; but I have something to propose. I know 
 you have ever made Julian your friend, your 
 counsellor ; -vmte to him, tell him all, and see 
 \vhat he says, before you give me a decisive 
 answer." 
 
 " Oh, ever kind and good ! " exclaimed Mrs 
 Hope, gratefidly. 
 
 " Will you do this, my beloved Mrs Hope ? " 
 was the rector's earnest demand. 
 
 And the promise was given. The next day she 
 would write to Julian ; and after a sleepless night 
 of deliberation, she penned these few lines : 
 
 " Woodlcigh Farm, 
 " April, — 
 ^'My own dear boy, 
 
 " Mr Vernon has asked me to be his 
 wife ; he Avishcs me to be a mother to Sylvia, and 
 himself to become a father to you and little 
 Mary. I could not give him an answer till I had 
 heard from vou. You have ever been Ji friend to 
 me, dear Julian, as avcU as an affectionate son ; 
 I can rely upon yom' good sense and discretion.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 127 
 
 Tell me exactly what you think and feel upon 
 this all-import ant sub j ect . Your b elo ve d father, 
 Julian, his memory is as fresh and dear to me 
 as ever ! The idea of a second marriage has 
 agitated me dreadfidly, though I am quite 
 aware of the goodness of our most kind friend, 
 Mr Vernon, and feel overwhelmed with grati- 
 tude for this last proof of his consideration for 
 me. AVrite immediately, and believe me 
 
 " Your most affectionate mother, 
 
 " Maky Hope." 
 
 It was, fortunately, a half-holiday, and Julian 
 received this letter by the second delivery, or 
 his studies might have been but imperfectly 
 performed. Brightly flashed his eyes, and he 
 seemed treading upon air as he rushed across 
 the court-vard to seat himself at his desk to 
 write his reply. It ran as follows : 
 
 " Dearest, darling mother, 
 
 " I am so very happy — what a fortunate 
 boy I am ! Everything turns out for my good, 
 and now my only sorrow will be gone, that of 
 thinking of you forlorn and alone. Mr Vernon 
 my second father ! I cannot beUeve in such
 
 128 THK LITTLE HKAUTY. 
 
 liapi)iness ! You ask iiic what 1 think and feel 
 upon the subject ; 1 w ill tell you at once. I am 
 sure if my own dear father could send } ou a 
 message from heaven, he would say, 'My 
 darling i\Iary, marry that good man ; I rejoice 
 that you should have such a iViend and pro- 
 tector to assist you in all Aom* troubles, and to 
 hel[) you to take care of my children.' There 
 is not such another man in the world as Mr 
 Vernon. Tell him that I will be his most dutiful 
 and affectionate son, and do you also tell him, 
 darling mother, that you will be his most 
 dutiful and affectionate wdfe. Excuse this 
 scrawl and all mistakes ; I am wild with joy, 
 I hardly know how to contain myself. How 
 delightful ! Sylvia my sister ! tell her that we 
 will betcin the new flower-garden as soon as I 
 come home ; oh, we shall be so happy ! 
 "From, darling mother, 
 
 " Your aftectionate son, 
 
 "Julian Hope." 
 
 " Papa \\ants to know if you have heard from 
 Julian to-day, Mrs Hope," said Sylvia, as she 
 flew into the room the morning this letter had 
 arrived at the farm. 
 
 Mrs Hope, looking very pale and grave, im-
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 129 
 
 mediately put the letter into an envelope, wliicli, 
 having sealed, she handed to Miss Wilkinson 
 to deliver to Mr Vernon. 
 
 Her answer was thus given in Julian's words. 
 
 VOL. I. 9
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 A SPLENDID (Iniiinin is tliat of Lilford 
 Towers. The mansion is a true specimen of 
 tlie Elizabethan style, — grand and gloomy ; 
 the projection in the centre forming at once 
 porch and tower, and the two wings, supported 
 l)y pillars, giving great decision of effect to 
 its ap])earance. There is a fine entrance hall 
 and splendid hljrary, extending nearly the 
 whole length of one wing, commanding views 
 of the gardens, Avhich arc veiy beautiful. 
 
 Altogether, it is a most interesting old pile; 
 the hand of wealth presen'ing every part in 
 right good keejnng, the exterior corresponding 
 beautifiillv with the interior.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 131 
 
 Lilford Towers "was, in fact, a real speci- 
 men of one of the lordly homes of England, 
 telling of a long line of ancestry, and abnnd- 
 ance of means to maintain the family honours. 
 And yet the possessor of this truly baronial 
 mansion was but a private individual of no 
 rank, save that of gentleman. It had been 
 whispered that had he been on the nght side 
 of politics, a peerage woidd long since have 
 been offered him : and then ao;ain it was 
 said that the proud owner of Lilford Towers 
 had declared that on no consideration would 
 he ever accept a seat in the House of Lords. 
 
 It is on a beautiful summer's day that we 
 take a survey of the interior, of one of the 
 finest Hbraries in England. 
 
 In the embrasure of one of the oriel 
 windows a young man is extended upon a 
 peculiarly constructed sofa. His countenance 
 indicates settled ill health, and a ray of bright 
 sunshine falling upon his figure plainly reveals 
 the person of a defonned cripple. 
 
 He has a low table by his side, on which 
 are placed books, papers, and writing materials. 
 At this moment he has a Times newspaper in 
 his hands. 
 
 " Father ! " a low voice exclaimed, address-
 
 132 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 ing a gentleman who was writing in a distant 
 part of tlie next room, " who can this be, I 
 wonder? can it be the widow of my uncle 
 Julian ? " 
 
 The ijrentleman tluis addressed raised a 
 stern countenance at the speech, and said : 
 
 " To what do you allude, Jerrold ? " 
 
 " I will read it to you," was the answer. 
 
 " 'On the 12thinst. at Brooklands, — shire, 
 
 * the Rev. Arthur Vernon, rector of Brooklands, 
 
 to Mary, relict of the late Ucv. Julian Hope.'" 
 
 " I had no idea till lately tliat my uncle's 
 widow was alive ; are there anv children, and 
 why, my dear sir, have you so completely 
 lost sight of the family ? " the young man 
 persisted. 
 
 Mr Hope evidently winced at these in- 
 quiiies, and his face became still more 
 gloomy in its expression. lie did not im- 
 mediately reply. A young, fair face, the living 
 image of a brother, not only dead, but who he 
 felt had been most severely treated, had come 
 liaimtingly before his vision, and left a troubled 
 impression on his mind, which he had in vain 
 tried to shake off. 
 
 " Yes," he nmsed, " tlicre can l)e no doubt 
 that boy must have been Julian's."
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 133 
 
 This lie liacl thouglit and wondered over 
 veiy often. 
 
 " But the boy looked so well to do, so care- 
 fully dressed, so free and gentleman-like in 
 his bearing; no sign of poverty or neglect 
 about him." 
 
 Perhaps this might have been a relief to 
 the conscience of this hard man, or to his 
 family pride ; and then that coroneted carriage 
 in which he took his seat, certainly as no 
 servile intruder, but with the perfect ease 
 of a well-born, well-bred vouth. 
 
 Oh, human nature, how ignoble are thy 
 innate tendencies ; how generally do we see 
 even the ^^ise, the exalted, influenced in 
 their feelings by the pride of circumstances, 
 the trappings of exterior adornment, the omni- 
 potence of good looks — yes, how heavily do 
 they weigh on the balance of opinion 1 
 
 Had that proud man seen his nephew issue 
 from a third-class carriage, with coarse ill" 
 made clothes ; accompanied by vulgar associ- 
 ates, taking his place in an omnibus, instead 
 of entering that aristocratic conveyance — what 
 place in his micle's memory would the poor 
 boy have obtained ? 
 
 " You have not answered my question," re-
 
 13 t Tin: LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 peated the cripple, ratlier fiiierulously. " Do 
 you lliink tliis is my uiiclc Julian's widow, and 
 how iiiaiiv childron did lie leave? " 
 
 " I believe there was a boy and a posthum- 
 ous child," Mr ITope answered, with evident 
 reluctance in his tone ; " but perhaps you arc 
 not aware of the circumstances of the case, and 
 what a painful subject the whole affair has been 
 to the family?" 
 
 " Oh ! yes, I know all about it, but my 
 imcle is dead, and there is an end of him and 
 his sins. What have his children to do with 
 them ? Certainly they are visited u})on them 
 with a vengeance in this case, if what I lieard is 
 true." 
 
 "And may I ask what you have heard?" 
 his father fearlessly replied. 
 
 " It is this — that my uncle married beneath 
 him certainly, but his wife was a most lovely, 
 accomplished person : this strikes me as scarcely 
 a sufficient crime to authorize the family cast- 
 ing him off for ever, and leaving him to die in 
 poverty." 
 
 ** Jerrold, you are speaking in a most im- 
 proper manner to your father," ]\Ir Hope 
 answered, but Mith far less sternness than 
 he would liave assumed in speaking to
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 135 
 
 any one else, for liis crippled son was the only 
 being who had ever touched a chord of softness 
 in his heart. " Perhaps you do not know that 
 your uncle's conduct broke my mother's heart." 
 
 " My poor uncle, how I pity him ! " was 
 Jerrold's answer. "What he must have 
 suffered, and his wife, who I hear was so gentle 
 and o;ood. j\Iv o-randmother had been ill for 
 years, I know, Avith a heart complaint ; surely it 
 is more than cruel to lay all the blame of her 
 death upon her unfortunate son." 
 
 " Pray, where have you gained all this in- 
 formation, which seems so greatl}" to have 
 excited your interest?" Mr Hope inquired, 
 
 Jerrold Hope was silent, but on his father 
 repeating the question, he said : 
 
 " Well, the truth is, you know I am amus- 
 ing myself, now this picture cleaner is here, by 
 looking over all the pictures and portraits 
 stowed away in different parts of the house. 
 I made them wheel my chair into the north 
 turret, where I heard there was a room full of 
 various portraits, and spent a whole morning 
 looking over its contents. jMartha was with me, 
 and assisted me much by telling me the names 
 of the different subjects." 
 
 " And she, I suppose, was yoiu" informant
 
 130 TTIK TJTTTJ'. BK.VUTY. 
 
 concerning the family history, .wliicli woiikl 
 have been as well allowed to rest for ever." 
 
 " Pardon nic, sir," exclaimed the youiip; man, 
 indimiantlv, " I think voii are wronpj in saving 
 this." 
 
 The father's hau";litv brow contracted Avitli 
 a still sterner frown ; he was abont to speak, Init 
 controlled himself; his eyes fell npon the form 
 of his son, the only creatnre he had ever lo\cd, 
 and he checked the bitter words which had 
 risen to his lips. 
 
 " Shall I a;o on, and tell von how I came to 
 feel all this interest abont mv uncle?" Jerrold 
 inquired. 
 
 " Oh ! yes, say on ! " was his Other's answer, 
 in a cold, constrained tone of voice. And 
 Jerrold proceeded : 
 
 " Well, amongst the })ictnrcs there were two 
 at the very extremity of the large room, placed 
 seemingly (piite out of the way, with their faces 
 turned acrainst the Avail. T had looked at all 
 the others, and was just about to be wheeled 
 out, when my eye fell u])on them ; I desired the 
 ser\'ant to brine; one of them to me. The 
 evening sun was streaming ])righlly into the 
 apartment, and it was with a sensation T can- 
 not describe that I looked upon a face I could
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 137 
 
 never forget, although it was years since I had 
 last seen it, and then I must have been quite a 
 child. A beam from the setting sun lighted up 
 the whole countenance, and a smile so serene, 
 so heavenly, greeted my sight ; I felt the tears 
 start to my eyes whilst I looked upon it, and 
 my emotion seemed contagious, for soon I 
 heard a sob, and turning round, I saw that 
 Martha was weeping bitterly. 
 
 " ' Poor dear Mr Jidian 1 ' she said. ' Yes, 
 I remember well when that was painted, just 
 before he went to college for the first time, and 
 so pleased and happy he was ; so determined to 
 do well and distinguish himself. I recollect 
 his every word, dear boy, the morning he left 
 this house for Oxford, whilst he was packing 
 up his clothes ; so hopefully he spoke — such 
 bright and happy prospects in view — so loved 
 and petted — ancj then in so short a time so 
 completely cut off and forgotten.' 
 
 " We were both silent for some moments, 
 mournfully gazing upon this interesting picture; 
 the face so speaking in its expression, one might 
 have imagined that it said : ' Weep not for me, 
 I am happy now, far beyond the reach of 
 human sorrow.' The other — " 
 
 " I have had enough of this, Jerrold," his
 
 138 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 i'atlicr said, at the same time vising to leave the 
 room; "you arc (jiiite aware that I allow more 
 from you than any other living creature, but 
 even you can strain a ]H)int too far; remember, 
 let me hear no more iij)on the subject — I de- 
 
 SU'C.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 "So I hear the Marquis is at the Court," said 
 Mrs Higgins, who had bustled into Mrs Miller's 
 parlour to communicate the news, with which 
 she was brim-full. " Mrs Evans is in a pretty 
 fuss ; she only knew by this morning's post 
 my Lord was to be there in a few hours. He 
 onlv stays a dav or two, I hear." 
 
 "Oh," said Mrs Miller, looking offended, 
 " it is a strano;e thino; they did not let me know. 
 Violet, come here, let me do yoiu' hair. 
 JWhat a figure you look ! His Lordship is 
 sure to come here before any other place." 
 
 But Mrs Miller was disappointed. Lord 
 Glenmore, she soon heard, by means of her
 
 140 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 maid-scrvaiit, liad gone to the rectory, and 
 there he seemed to remain, for nothing more 
 was lieard of him that day. Mrs jNliller was 
 in a terrible state of fume and fuss. " Very 
 odd ! " she cogitated, " no message, no present 
 from the young ladies. Lady Violet never for- 
 gets me ; and she had half promised to send 
 me a new sunnner dress, and the light silk she 
 had worn so little, and which woidd cut up so 
 well for Violet; and no little present from Lord 
 Victor for the child ! Things are coming to a 
 pretty pass!" she at length ejaculated, " if any 
 of the family are to come here without remem- 
 bering 7ne, and after all I have done for the 
 children, early and late, up and down," &c. &c. 
 
 This was not to be borne — she must go to 
 the Court and see how matters stood — whethei" 
 there was any parcel for her in his Lordship's 
 portmanteau, and that she might cross-ques- 
 tion the valet ; but no valet had accompanied 
 his Lordship. Lord Glenmore had absolutely 
 come down alone, with a single carpet-bag 
 containing shirts, indicating the shortest possi- 
 sible stay. Something surely nuist be in the 
 wind — but wliat ? Poor Mrs Miller, what a 
 day she spent ! 
 
 With Violet dressed in her best, she salUed
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 141 
 
 forth and skirted the rectory, hoping, at least, 
 to see something of j\liss Syhda ; bnt no Sylvia 
 was in sight. She thought she would try the 
 farm ; but there she heard that Mrs Hope 
 was particularly engaged, and could see no 
 one that day. ]\lrs Giles and her daughter, 
 she was quite sure, had a sort of queer look 
 upon theu' countenances when they talked to 
 her. 
 
 " Just as if anybody could hmnbug me ! " 
 she murmured. " Well," at last she thought, 
 " I dare say Jidian has got into some scrape, 
 and mv Lord has come down to tell his 
 mother;" and quite relieved in mind, Mrs 
 Miller trudged homewards. 
 
 Not that she wished anv harm to the bov — 
 and yet^the human mind is such a queer piece 
 of mechanism, that often do we obseiTC a cer- 
 tain degree of morbid satisfaction in people — 
 which nothing would, however, tempt them to 
 confess — on hearing of some astounding mis- 
 fortune having happened to their friend 
 or neighbour. This does not always arise 
 out of hard-heartechiess or want of sympathy ; 
 the kindest and most compassionate are alike 
 subject to this contradictory feeling ; and we 
 can only ascribe it to that craving for excite-
 
 142 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 ment which is, more or less, iiilR'rciit in all oiu* 
 natures. 
 
 "Well, this is a pretty business a])0ut 
 Juhan ! " Mrs Miller said to lier husband when 
 he came Iionie to his tea. 
 
 "What's the matter?" Frank asked. 
 
 " Oh, of course, he is cither ill, or has got 
 into some hobble. You kno^v the ]\[arquis has 
 arrived, and been closeted with the rector all 
 day; the Gileses look dumb-founded, and it 
 can be nothing but that. I am really very 
 sorry ; however, I supjjose Julian is just like 
 all ])oys, not such a saint after all." 
 
 Frank Miller looked very grave. 
 
 " Well, I hope it's not that, missus ; I tnist 
 he is not ill ; as for getting into a scrape, 
 he will never do anything to disgrace himself, 
 that ril warrant." 
 
 " Yes, I know you are very wise ; your ex- 
 perience of the world in general is so nuich 
 greater than mine," remarked ^Mrs Miller, 
 sneeringly. 
 
 "^^'e^I, at any rate, I knoAv that Master 
 Julian is every inch a gentleman ; and no one 
 need be afraid of his doing anything to forfeit 
 that character." 
 
 And honest Frank, feeling he was waxing
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 143 
 
 wrotli, and would have to bear a volley of provo- 
 cations, drank up his tea, and left the house. 
 
 The blacksmith's family were assembled at 
 breakfast the next morning ; Mrs Miller still 
 not in the best of tempers — this visit of the 
 Marquis rankling in her mind — when they 
 were startled by the unexpected sound of 
 the church-bells ringing out a merry peal. 
 " What's all this ? " was the exclamation of 
 Mrs Miller; "who's married, I wonder? 
 Upon my word they make uproar enough ; do 
 step out, Frank, and inquire ; or, Susan, do 
 you go," to the servant girl. 
 
 But they were saved all further suspense ; 
 two women burst into the house, one, our 
 favomite gossip, Mrs Higgins. 
 
 " Well, Mrs Miller, and who do you think 
 is married ? " they exclaimed, breathless ^vitli 
 excitement. 
 
 " How should I know ? " 
 
 Well, guess ; the most miaccountable thing 
 in the world." 
 
 " What, the ]\larquis, is it ? " 
 ' " No, guess again." 
 
 " I can't, so don't be so aggravating, but 
 tell at once," exclaimed Mrs Miller.
 
 144 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 " AVliat do you tbiuk of its l)eiiig our rector 
 and Mrs Hope ? " 
 
 Mrs jNlillcr sat' down, and really turned so 
 white she looked as if she were going to faint. 
 
 " Well, wliat do you think of this news? " 
 the women incpiired. 
 
 Mrs Miller could not speak, the surprise 
 had rcallv aofitated her ; but Frank Miller ex- 
 claimed, " Hurrah ! I have not heard a bit of 
 news that has pleased me so much for many a 
 day ; Mrs Hope is a good lady, and the rector 
 will be a hap})y man. This is why the Mar- 
 quis came down, not to tell them any ill of 
 Master Julian." 
 
 And Frank jMiller hastily made his exit to 
 hear more of the news. 
 
 " Well," said Mrs ^liller, as soon as she 
 could connuand herself to speak, " I think 
 this beats anything I ever heard ; if there ever 
 was a sly proceeding, here it is ; never to tell 
 me a word about it — I who have been like a 
 mother, or rather a sister, to that senseless 
 thing. A pretty rise for her indeed ! and line 
 airs she'll give herself. I have seen a change 
 coming on for the last year or two, a sort of 
 condescending mannei-, as if she was nnich 
 better than I, forsooth ! "
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 145 
 
 " Well, Mrs Miller, she was always a lady, 
 you know, tliougli a poor one ; her first hus- 
 band was a clergyman, and his family mighty 
 grand, I hear." 
 
 " Mrs Higgins," said the ci-devant nurse 
 with offended dignity, " you will allow me, if 
 you please, to know what constitutes a lady. 
 I, who have Hved mth ladies all my life — never 
 associated with any other." 
 
 " Well, you'll never make out, notwithstand- 
 ing, that Mrs Hope, or rather Mrs Vernon, is 
 not a lady ; at least, she has always behaved 
 as sick ; and manners make the woman as well 
 as the man." 
 
 And Mrs Higgins was about to depart in 
 dudgeon, when Mrs jMiller, having not half sa- 
 tisfied her curiosity, said, changing her voice 
 into a friendly tone : 
 
 " Come, nelghbom-, though it is so early, we 
 may as well drink the health of the new mar- 
 ried couple." 
 
 Then a tempting-looking bottle was brought 
 forth, and Violet having been ordered to go in- 
 to the garden, the two gossip-loving souls sat 
 down comfortably to enjoy the delights of an 
 unrestrained chat whilst discussing something 
 good. 
 
 VOL. I. 10
 
 140 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 "Well now, Mrs lliggiiis, tell nic all about 
 tliis singular affair." 
 
 " The \yi\y I came to know about it was this," 
 
 coninicnced the narrative. " My husband, com- 
 
 ing home to lireakfast rather earlier than usual, 
 
 it was not later than lialf-past seven, met the 
 
 Marquis ; my Lord stopped and spoke a few 
 
 words to him, giving him a message concerning 
 
 some plants the ladies had told him to send. 
 
 He seemed in a hurry, and soon walked on. 
 
 My luisband followed him at a distance, his 
 
 Avay being the same as that my Lord was 
 
 taking. When he got to the church, there the 
 
 IMarcpiis stopped, and opened the gate and 
 
 walked straight in. My husband, good, simple 
 
 soul that he is, says he should not have thought 
 
 much of that, had he not at the same time 
 
 seen om' rector issue from the church holding 
 
 Miss Sylvia, dressed as pretty as possible, by the 
 
 hand. Joe began to think things looked queer, 
 
 and, instead of Avalking on, stopped a bit, 
 
 looking over the churchyard wall, hidden from 
 
 sight by the big yew tree. AVell, there was a 
 
 great deal of shaking of hands ; the rector 
 
 looking very smiling and pleased, and Miss 
 
 Sylvia juui})ing about and laugliing so merrily. 
 
 They all walked up and down the path lead-
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 147 
 
 ing to the gate, several times, looking out 
 anxiously as if they were expecting something. 
 Mv old man beo;an to feel all in a flutter — 'some- 
 lio\Y as vou would have been, Sallv, had vou been 
 in my place,' he said, grinning from ear to ear. 
 
 " ' No wonder,' says I. 
 
 " Well, presently he saw a carriage coming. 
 It was a fly from A — . It stopped at the 
 chm'ch gate. The Marquis opened the door 
 at once, before Panner Giles, who was on the 
 box, coidd assist him, and handed out a lady. 
 
 " At first Joe did not know who it was, 
 never having seen ^Irs Hope dressed in any- 
 thing but black ; but he guessed it was she, as 
 little Miss Mary was lifted out, and then came 
 Mrs Giles and her daughter. The Marquis 
 took ]\Irs Hope under his arm, Miss Sylvia ran 
 up to j\Iiss Mary and led her by the hand, first 
 ha\dng kissed her very lovingly, and the whole 
 party walked to the church, into which Mr 
 Vernon had before gone, followed by ]\Ir 
 Smith, the curate. 
 
 " AVell, now, I always says it, and will say 
 it to the end of my life, Joe Higgins is the 
 best and kindest husband that ever stepped. 
 I was just a-boiling the coffee when in he 
 rushed.
 
 148 THE T-ITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 " ' Sally ! ' says he, ' coiiio along and sec a 
 sight Avhifh Avill make yonr eyes start out of 
 yonr head ; come qnick, or you Avill lose it.' 
 
 " ' Are you out of your mind, Joe? ' says I. 
 
 " ' Come along,' he cried, and he pulls me 
 out, and drags me along, till we reaches the 
 wall of the churchyard. 
 
 " ' What in the world is all this ? ' I said. 
 
 " * Stop a bit and you will see,' he answered ; 
 and sure enough I did see. 
 
 " First came i\Ir Vernon's carriage, driving 
 up to the gate with post-horses, all ready 
 packed for a journey. Thomas all gaitered 
 and great-coated, as if it was the depth of 
 winter. 
 
 " ' AA^ell, Joe, what next ? ' says I. 
 
 " ' Wait a hit,' was again his answer. 
 
 " And I had not long to wait. Out of the 
 cluu'ch soon came oiu* rector, Mrs Hope leaning 
 on his arm, followed hy my Lord, leading by 
 each hand Miss Sylvia and Miss Mary ; then 
 Mrs Giles and hvv daughter, then ^Ir Giles 
 and the curate." 
 
 " AVell, and how did ]\[rs Hope look, and 
 what A\as her dress ? " ]\Irs ]\Iiller, with much 
 inquisitive interest, inquired. 
 
 " I can hardly tell } ou ; 1 was so taken all
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 149 
 
 of a heap ; but she looked the lady all over, in 
 her grey silk, and straw bonnet. She was not 
 at all fine, but just as a lady ought to be when 
 she is going a journey. When they came to 
 the gate, IMrs Vernon crying sadly, I heard 
 her say to Mrs Giles, ' You will take care of 
 Mary till I return ; ' and ]\Irs Giles cried too, 
 and so did her daughter, silly bodies ! — but 
 Miss Sylvia tripped about like a little bird, 
 and kissing her new mother, said, ' I shall 
 soon see you again, dear, dear mamma ! ' and the 
 Marquis smiled, and looked so pleased. 
 
 " In no time Mrs Vernon was helped into the 
 carriage, the rector jumped in jifter her, and 
 they were off; and at that moment the church 
 clock struck eight o'clock. I call this doing 
 things snug, don't you, Mrs Miller ? " 
 
 " I call it a sly, shamefaced proceeding," 
 remarked ]\Irs iMiller, indignantly. 
 
 " No one knew a Avord about it," continued 
 Mrs Higgins, " not even the clerk, till just as 
 he was going to bed last night, and then he 
 only heard that there was to be a wedding at 
 half-past seven the next morning. I hear 
 Miss Sylvia and her maid are to go off with 
 my Lord to London by the twelve o'clock train, 
 and Mr and Mrs Vernon meet them there ii;
 
 1 .')0 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 a week, wlieii tluy are to go to visit tlic Mar- 
 cliioness." 
 
 Poor Mrs ]\liller ! slic really was an object 
 of pity that day ; she was suffering from that 
 painful sensation of uneasiness, that most gnaw- 
 ino; of diseases, envv ! 
 
 Before long, however, the ruffled feathers 
 were smoothed, hy a visit from Lord Glenmore, 
 bringing with him a hurried note from Lady 
 Violet ; in which she said her brother had set 
 off so suddenlv for the Court, that she had not 
 time to send what she intended to her dear 
 nurse, but that a l)ox would soon arrive for 
 her. Thus mollified, j\Irs Miller softened the 
 frigidity of the manner she had assmned on first 
 seeing the young Marquis, who, perfectly un- 
 derstanding how matters stood, began good-na- 
 turedly to explain the state of the case, and to say 
 how anxious Mrs Hope had been that her mar- 
 ria";e should not be talked about in the villaore. 
 
 " You may imagine, Rose, how completely it 
 has been kept a secret from every one, when I 
 tell you that even my sisters were not informed 
 of it till after I left London. Only to my mother 
 was it conuuunicated. Wc arc all much 
 pleased; ^Ir Vernon will have a delightful wife, 
 and an excellent mother for that madcap Sylvia."
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 151 
 
 " A grand tiling, certainly, for her! " was Mrs 
 MiUer's rather scornful answer. 
 
 But again a soother arrived in the shape of 
 a large piece of wedding-cake, accompanied by 
 a letter from Mrs Hope, in which she expressed 
 herself most kindiv, savino; that she should 
 never forget all the friendly attention she and 
 her children had received from Mrs Miller, and 
 begging her acceptance of a pretty brooch, in 
 which was a lock of Julian's and j\Iarv's hair. 
 
 " She certainly is a lady, and no mistake, 
 and I am glad the rector has married her," 
 was noAv the burden of the nurse's song. 
 What trifles serve to heal some self-inflicted 
 wounds ! A judicious word, a kind look, a little 
 forethouo;ht and trouble, will often disarm even 
 envy of its most painful sting ! 
 
 Afa. ilt .Ili ^ Jii 
 
 Julian's letter to his mother had decided 
 her to accept Mr Vernon's most flattering 
 proposal. She saw, plainly, the life of happi- 
 ness and usefidness opened before her ; still, 
 had it not been for those words in her boy's 
 letter, she thought she could scarcely have 
 made up her mind to a step which appeared 
 so formidable ; she, who had been accustomed 
 to years of seclusion, how coidd she take her
 
 152 THK LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 place as tlic wife of Mr Vernon, and fultil the 
 duties of the station of life in which he 
 moved? But, as we have said, Juhan's letter 
 decided her. " If my own dear father could 
 send you a message from Heaven, lie would 
 say, 'My darling -Mary, marry that good 
 man ; I rejoice that you should have such a 
 friend, such a protector to assist you in all 
 your troubles, and to help to take care of my 
 children.' " It "was courage that she lacked to 
 encounter so new a position, and her son 
 strengthened and determined her by the view 
 he had taken of the case. 
 
 Mr Vernon quite entered into her wishes 
 that the affair should be kept perfectly seci'et, 
 and every preparation was made in the most 
 private manner ; Lady Glenmore, to whom 
 the event wns confided, assisting most kindly 
 in choosing a suitable Irousseau for the bride 
 elect. 
 
 Mr Vernon was a man of good family and 
 fortune, independent in every way, w'ith no 
 one to consult as to tlu; ex])ediency of any of 
 his proceedings. Mrs llo})c, the Avidow^ of a 
 man of \\\<i\\ familv, thoroucrhlv ladv-like hi 
 manners and appearance, he felt he could in- 
 troduce w^ith much satisfaction to his family.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 153 
 
 Sylvia's mother was the daughter of Lady 
 Sylvia Trelawny. She had a fortime of her 
 own, which had been settled on her children 
 after the death of their father ; and besides this 
 portion, secured to the only child of the mar- 
 riage, Sylvia had been left by her grand- 
 mother the smn of twenty thousand pounds ; 
 so the little lady was quite an heiress. We 
 may imagine the feelings Avhich agitated the 
 widow when, on the wedding day, she found 
 herself in the churchyard which contained the 
 remains of her husband, whose memory she 
 must ever love so well. It was a bright, beau- 
 tiful morning ; all nature seemed to be rejoicing 
 in calm, happy repose ; there was a cheerfid 
 light on every object, a genial feeling in every 
 breeze of summer air, reviving to the most 
 drooping spirit. 
 
 " If my OAvn dear father could send you a 
 message from Heaven," Mrs Hope kept repeat- 
 ing to herself over and over again ; but she 
 dared not lift her eyes, lest they should en- 
 counter one object — which she knew must 
 shake her fortitude ; so, resolutely, she looked 
 neither to the right nor left till all was over, 
 and she was seated by Mr Vernon's side in the 
 caniage, and then she leaned out of the win-
 
 154 Tin; ijttlk beauty. 
 
 clow, and her gaze sought a Avell-kuown spot, 
 a grave railed round, on wliicli a bright ray of 
 sunshine was resting. There was an inward 
 prayer ascending from licr heart to T leaven; 
 and then she turned and phiced her hand in 
 that of her hus]:)and.
 
 CHAPTER XIY. 
 
 Little Maey was left under the care oi 
 Mrs Giles, but Sylvia had been invited by 
 Lady Glenmore to pay a visit in Whitehall 
 Gardens. Mr Vernon had not ventured to 
 communicate this delightful prospect to the 
 little girl until the morning of his marriage, 
 when he disclosed the two events ; and the 
 imbounded raptures she evinced at hearing 
 that Mrs Hope was to become her mother at 
 first quite superseded the happiness, which 
 soon she allowed herself to feel, at the idea 
 of the London expedition. 
 
 " Oh, Mary, my own little sister ! " she 
 said, as she dragged the child after her to
 
 15G THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 the roctorv, " ^vc shall have such fun, — 
 you are coming to hve here with your — I 
 mean our uiauuna, and Julian Avill always 
 spend his holidays with us ; are you not very, 
 I'cr// happy to have my papa for yoiu's also ? " 
 
 But Mary was anything but happy at that 
 moment. She had never been separated from 
 her mother for a day ; and the idea of her 
 absence for a few weeks was ap})alliHg to 
 her. She did nothing but weep and lament, 
 whilst the vivacious Sylvia rushed about in a 
 state of great excitement and joy, longing 
 for the moment when Lord Glenmore would 
 call for her and her attendant. 
 
 Miss Wilkinson had left the rectory only 
 a few days previous to these events ; and it 
 was Mr Vernon's intention to hv'uvf back 
 Avith thcni a good foreign governess, as ]\Irs 
 Vernon had insisted on undertaking the Eng- 
 lish part of the education of her two little 
 daughters. 
 
 Sylvia was received most kindlv bv her 
 friends in AVhitchall flardens, and was soon 
 perfectly at home in her new cpiarters. 
 
 She was an attractive-looking little girl, 
 with a countenance whose animation woidd 
 have been sufficient, even without beauty.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 157 
 
 But she promised to be very pretty, as well 
 as esjnegle in her appearance. At the present 
 time there was a want of repose in her ex- 
 pression, at her age signifying veiy httle ; 
 but a thonditful observer would have felt 
 inclined to hope, while observing the lively 
 child, that her character would soften and 
 calm down as age and reflection advanced. 
 
 Syhia's only wish left ungratified by her 
 indulgent friends was that she might im- 
 mediately visit Julian. 
 
 " A^liv mav I not 2:0 and see him, mv dear 
 Lady Glenmore ? " she coaxingly asked. " To 
 be so near iwj hrother" she added, with proud 
 emphasis, " and not to go to him is so cruel ; 
 do, do let me set off. I can go in a cab ; 
 now pray let me, good, kind Lady Glen- 
 more. 
 
 Lady Glenmore was obliged to say, no. 
 Indulgent as she was, she longed to gratify 
 the child. But she had promised Mr and Mrs 
 Vernon that the visit shoidd be deferred 
 imtil thev arrived ; she did not like to dis- 
 obey orders, and was therefore obliged to with- 
 stand the entreaties and even tears of Sylvia. 
 
 "' AVliat a fuss you make about that stupid 
 JuUan ! " said Lord Victor one morning when
 
 15S T\1E LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 Sylvia Avas iiulultriiiu; in lamentations at not 
 being allowed to visit liini. 
 
 Sylvia's eyes flashed fire, and the colour 
 mounted violently to her face. 
 
 " How dare you talk in that manner of my 
 brother?" exclaimed the enraged little lady, 
 "That stupid Julian indeed! Pray what do 
 you think you are then, I should like to 
 know ? " 
 
 " I," the boy answered, with haughty sconi, 
 " what am I ? I can soon tell you ; / am Lord 
 Victor Lyle." 
 
 "And does that make you one bit better 
 than Julian ? Does it make you as clever, as 
 good, as noble ? — you, a poor ignorant, naughty 
 boy — you — " 
 
 But here Sylvia was interrupted by the 
 governess, who came forward and said : 
 
 " Miss Vernon, I cannot allo\v this quar- 
 relling; and, Lord Victor, I am quite ashamed 
 of you; you ought to remember this young 
 lady is your sisters' friend, a guest in this 
 house; and you ought not to insult her by 
 sa}ang rude things of her brother." 
 
 " ]3ut T do hate him, and T hate her now, 
 and always shall. Her brother indeed! a 
 })retty brother — a beggar boy the other day ! "
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 159 
 
 Sylvia's wrath now rose to so violent a 
 pitch it was fortunate that a burst of tears 
 in a degree relieved her; we cannot an- 
 swer for what might have been the conse- 
 quence, for she looked ready to spring upon 
 her foe, and use without relenting all those 
 weapons with which Nature had supplied her, 
 in defence of her beloved Julian. But at that 
 moment, most fortunately, Lord Glenmore ap- 
 peared. He had come to propose some party 
 of amusement to the young people. He was 
 surprised to see the perturbed state of the 
 school-room ; and on hearing the cause of it, 
 immediately took Lord Victor by the hand and 
 led him out of the room. 
 
 And then Sylvia was overwhelmed with the 
 $;ympathy of the young ladies, who were almost 
 as angry as she was, at the spiteful words which 
 the disagreeable boy had levelled against their 
 favourite Julian. Sylvia Avas not easily paci- 
 fied ; she had been wounded in the most vul- 
 nerable part, and had never learnt to govern 
 either her fancies or her temper. Mr Vernon, 
 excellent and good as he was, had not been 
 wise or judicious in his treatment of his child. 
 He had indulged her in all her baby wants 
 and wishes, and was aided in this course of
 
 IGO THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 spoiling by a nurse who rciiiaiiicd with Sylvia 
 until within the last few years, when, fortun- 
 ately, she Avas obliged to leave her, and her 
 place w\as supplied by a more judicious attend- 
 ant. She required gentle but firm guidance, 
 association with refined minds, to make her 
 the delightful character which hers might 
 well be wdien the ignorance and presumption 
 of a spoilt child Avere annihilated. 
 
 '^S fl* ^^ ^P ^P 
 
 Lord Victor was taken by his brother to his 
 own a])artm('nt. He had a foreign nursery- 
 governess, partly his attendant, and, in a 
 degree, his instructress. 
 
 Lord Glenmore informed ]\Lademoiselle that 
 the boy had ])ehaved so ill that he desired he 
 might not leave his room that day. Lady 
 Gleiunore was much distressed wdien her son 
 conuuunicated to her Victor's disgrace. 
 
 " The fact is, mother, that boy ought to have 
 been sent to school long ago." 
 
 " Really, Glenmore, you are too severe upon 
 that darling ; you know that he is to go next 
 year to the juvenile school at Eton." 
 
 " Yes, and in the mean time he will be past 
 enduring. My sisters are always complaining 
 of his self-will and insolence j Miss Lennard
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 161 
 
 will scarcely allow him to enter lier scliool- 
 room. I am sure I don't know what is to 
 be done with him, he destroys all the pleasnre 
 of the house." 
 
 Poor Lady Glenmore ! she well knew how 
 true all this was ; yet still her heart bled for her 
 darling ; she was sadly weak where he was con- 
 cerned, but she never ventured to oppose the 
 will of her eldest son, on whose good sense and 
 discretion she fully relied. 
 
 In the mean time, Victor was in durance 
 vile, all his worst feelings rising Avith violence 
 in his young heart. 
 
 Mademoiselle had left her charge for a 
 short time, to receive a visit from a friend in 
 some room down -stairs, when Tom Jones, the 
 trusty confidant of the little Lord, having dis- 
 covered by the countermanding of the ponies 
 that something was wrong, and hearing 
 from one of the housemaids that Lord A^ic- 
 tor was alone, made his way to the captive's 
 door. 
 
 " I say, my little Lord, what's in the v.ind ? " 
 was his familiar o;reetino;. 
 
 And then the history of his woes was poured 
 into the ears of the young groom, no words 
 too strong to testify his detestation of Julian 
 
 VOL. I. 11
 
 1(32 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 aiul all l)clon<i;in'T; to him; Svlvia comiuii; in 
 for a {"nil sliarc of his denunciations. 
 
 " I tell you wliat, T liavc a l)it of advice to 
 give you — let us cut our sticks and run," said 
 Toni."^ 
 
 " AVhat do you mean ? " asked Victor. 
 
 "Wliy haven't you told me over and over 
 again that ^Irs ^Miller wants you to come to 
 the Court, that you might be with her from 
 morning to night. Just ask your mamma to 
 let you and I go down there, ponies and all, for 
 a l)it ; we can pop them into the railway as 
 snug as anything, and then what fun we sliould 
 liave ! Your Mamselle here we could easily 
 manage, she's not a strict one, and how jolly 
 you would be with Madame Miller and pretty 
 Violet ! lley, my Lord?" 
 
 And here the vulgar groom winked his eye 
 most knowinjiilv. 
 
 " Oh, how I should Hke it ! " exclaimed the 
 boy. 
 
 " Yes," and you woidd get away from those 
 stiff ])eople who are coming, the })arson 
 and his wife. Lawks, it makes me shudder to 
 think of it ! and nothing; Groins down but that 
 Juhan." 
 
 " I will go, Tom, tliat I am determined,"
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 163 
 
 shouted Victor, clenching his lists with an ex- 
 pression terrible on the countenance of a child. 
 
 And he did go. Victor assailed his mother 
 with coaxings, entreaties, and at length, tears ; 
 and Lord Glenmore, who really saw the 
 expediency of getting rid of the boy at the 
 present juncture, at length consented. 
 
 So the little Lord and his suite, consisting 
 of Mademoiselle, Tom Jones, and the ponies, 
 were despatched \Adthout loss of time to the 
 Court ; Mrs Miller having received orders to 
 watch over the precious boy, to make him as 
 happy as possible, and Mrs Evans, the house- 
 keeper, bemg enjoined to administer to his 
 temporal wants, by pampering his appetite, 
 and givinor him evervthino- he fancied. Poor 
 boy, and then it is wondered that he should 
 grow up selfish and self-willed !
 
 CHAPTER Xy. 
 
 It was certainly a great relief to the young 
 people in Whitehall Gardens when Victor had 
 departed. He made himself so thoroughly 
 disagreeable, that every pleasure was tinctured 
 with some annoyance occasioned l)y the way- 
 wardness of this boy. With his departm-e 
 came sunshine and happiness in the arrival of 
 Mr and Mrs Venion. 
 
 AVith what joy was the new manuna received 
 by her little daughter ! 
 
 Sylvia's aflPection for j\lrs Hope had been 
 one of the strongest feelings she had ever 
 evinced. With her, she was always docile, 
 always gentle ; a Avord from her lips wrought
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 165 
 
 wonders. " Mamma, mamma," she mm-mm-ed, 
 " how glad I am ! — how I shall love you, and I 
 will be such a good daughter to you." 
 
 " I know you will, my darling Sylvia," said 
 Mrs Vernon : " God o-rant that we niav be 
 mutual blessings to each other." 
 
 And thus commenced the relationship of 
 mother and dauditer between j\Irs Vernon 
 and Sylvia. 
 
 Glorious days of happiness now followed. 
 The next day was Saturday, and they were to 
 go earl}" to Burleigh House to bring back Ju- 
 lian, to remain till Sunday evening. 
 
 Sylvia scarcely could contain her feelings of 
 impatience dming the drive tlu'ough the bust- 
 ling streets of the city, and the constant stop- 
 pages in the crowded thoroughfares almost 
 made her frantic. But at leno-th thev arrived 
 at the gates of the grim old place, and were 
 deposited at the matron's house, and then 
 ushered into her presence. 
 
 " Oh! Mrs K.," Sylvia cried, flying up to her, 
 and takino; hold of both her hands, " I know 
 you well; — dear old woman ! I must give you 
 a kiss." And without frn'ther ceremony, she 
 gave a most affectionate accolade to the
 
 166 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 astonished, l)iit inucli amused, matron, who ex- 
 claimed : 
 
 " AVell, you arc a funny little lady ! And 
 pray who may you be P" 
 
 "Don't you know? Why, T am Julian 
 Hope's sister." 
 
 " Oh, that's it, is it ?" Mrs K. replied ; tlien 
 added, " and I suppose I am now speaking to 
 his father and mother?" 
 
 The usual greetings having taken place, 
 Sylvia's impatience could be no longer con- 
 tained. 
 
 " But where is Julian ? " she said. " ^^'hy 
 does he not come ? " 
 
 " Now don't be so impatient, you little 
 pretty one," said ]\lrs K., laughing. '' Sally," 
 she called, " tell Master Hope to come imme- 
 diately. Hell be here in five minutes, don't 
 fear ; he is dressing himself to be off with 
 
 you." 
 
 And in the mean time, Avhile thus waiting, 
 Sylvia, with her usual restlessness, was casting 
 her glances in every direction ; and, fauta de 
 mieux, took up a worsted stocking Mrs K. had 
 been mending. 
 
 " HoAV badlv vou darn I " she exclaimed, 
 
 «r ••
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 167 
 
 " Miss Wilkinson would call it regular cob- 
 bling. I can do it twice as well : now I will 
 sliOAv von." 
 
 And slie darted her hand into the basket 
 containincT sundry heelless and toeless hose, 
 and seeing one with a great hole, on which 
 she thought she coidd show her ingenuity, she 
 said, " Now a needle and some worsted, and 
 I will give you a lesson." 
 
 Mrs K., bursting with laughter, yet rather 
 offended at the aspersions cast upon her powers, 
 which had for so many years been spent upon 
 the mending art, instantly handed over the 
 required implements ; and Sylvia sat down 
 and began gravely to darn a most complicated 
 fracture. 
 
 " I think I ought to be able to mend stock- 
 ings," she said, " if anybody can ; that hor- 
 rible i\Iiss Wilkinson, my governess, used 
 to cut holes in good stockings, just to plague 
 me, by making me darn them up again, 
 and if I did not go in and out, and all that 
 weary work, oh, what a rage she used to be 
 m ! 
 
 But at this moment Julian entered, and 
 the stocking was thrown to the other end of 
 the room, while such greetings went on as may
 
 16S THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 l)c iiuagiiicd IVoni tlic impulsive Sylvia and his 
 loving mother, and, wo may tmly add, father ; 
 whilst ^Irs K. stood shakino; her sides with the 
 laiiditer in which she had indulged at Sylvia's 
 queer ways. 
 
 " Well, he is a good hoy, and you may all he 
 proud of him," she said, as soon as she had in 
 a degree recovered her gravity ; " as good a one 
 as ever came here ; but oh ! you curious little 
 body ! " she said agaiu, laughing as she looked 
 at Sylvia performing all sorts of antics round 
 the room, one moment embracing Julian, the 
 next hugging Mrs Vernon, and ending by 
 tossing all the stockings out of the basket, and 
 throwing them up to the ceiling. In vahi Mr 
 and Mrs Vernon interfered ; the child Avas 
 half mad with happiness, and encouraged by 
 Mrs K.'s evident anuisement, she gave way to 
 all the fun and iov of her heart. 
 
 " Now, Sylvia," at last'Mr Vernon said, when 
 he was able to command his countenance, for 
 no one could help laughing heartily at the wild 
 capers of the girl, " I do insist upon your be- 
 having properly ;" and Mrs Vernon also endea- 
 voured to look grave and displeased. 
 
 " But, mannna, I will be sensible, if you will 
 just let me go on the terrace for a few moments
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 169 
 
 with Julian ; — the terrace, you know, we have 
 heard so much of ; we won't he long ; I know 
 we are not to see all the place till next week. 
 Now, clear Mrs K., may I not go?" 
 
 " To be sure, you funny little thing ; go, as 
 soon as your Julian has picked up all my poor 
 stockings," said Mrs K., wiping her eyes, which 
 were overflowing with tears of merriment. 
 " I never saw such a one as you in all my 
 days," she continued, as Sylvia danced before 
 her a sort of jig ; every moment darting at 
 the old lady and giving her a hug. 
 
 Julian, having performed his task, and dis- 
 posed of all the grey worsted stockings in the 
 basket, led the way, and the pair departed ; 
 Mr Vernon havino; desired that thev should 
 return in ten minutes ; and Mrs Vernon im- 
 ploring Sylvia to behave herself properly. 
 
 " Oh ! yes, mamma, ' soyez sage, soijez sage,' 
 that's what you would say," she repeated, as 
 she flew out into the quadrangle. 
 
 Juhan began really bitterly to repent having 
 allowed her to leave the matron's house ; he 
 Avas quite at his wits' end when he saw what 
 was the state of excitement of his companion. 
 She was a tall girl of her age, looking older 
 than she really was. Like a young antelope
 
 170 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 she bounded out on to the terrace, but scemg 
 a group of boys in the phiy-ground, in a 
 moment slie was in the midst of them, fol- 
 lowed ])y poor Jnhan, perfectly ashamed of his 
 position ; well knowing the impertinent re- 
 marks which are generally made on the sisters 
 of the Ijoys who ^ enture to show themselves 
 in these precincts. 
 
 But we must own in this instance there was 
 more of admiration than disapproval in the 
 looks which fell upon this young sister. A 
 little Spanish hat and feather was just poised 
 upon the top of her head, from which fell 
 the richest and softest of dark curls. Her 
 cheeks were the colour of vermilion, and her 
 eyes danced with glee. Her dress was alto- 
 gether picturesque and pretty, and lovely little 
 feet, well chaiisscs, were plainly displayed by 
 the shortness of her skirts. At this period of 
 her life we nuist confess that Sylvia ])ossessed 
 not one atom of shyness; — and as she fearlessly 
 eyed the boys, who were all staring at her as 
 if she had been some strange apparition which 
 had started up before their gaze, it was with 
 the very imiocence of boldness that she re- 
 turned their inspection. 
 
 " Are you one of Julian's friends ? " she
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 171 
 
 said, going up to a lianclsome boy, who Avas 
 smiling pleasantly at the fair intruder. 
 
 " Oh ! yes," he replied. 
 
 " Then come along with us ; I want to see 
 everything ; the school-room, and the place 
 Avhere you buy all those good things — come, 
 we have no't any time to lose." 
 
 And then turning quickly round, think- 
 ing, perhaps, she had been too exclusive in 
 her courtesy, she added, putting on quite a 
 queen-like air of condescension, " But I 
 shall be glad if you will all come with us." 
 
 The boys laughed, much amused ; but it 
 was wonderful how many followed in the steps 
 of the little enchantress, every one seeming to 
 be anxious to show her what might most in- 
 terest her. jN othing produced this effect more 
 completely than the spot designated as the one 
 Avhere the floggings took place. Her indig- 
 nation rose very high when she contemplated 
 the possibility of Julian ever being in that 
 dreadful situation, and she abused the head- 
 master, inwardly, for his wickedness in ever 
 resorting to such cruelties. 
 
 " Sylvia, we must make haste," Juhan said, 
 as he vainly endeavoured to get her out of the 
 school-room, so fascinated was she by the odd
 
 17:2 THE TJTTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 look of the " dirty old place," as she called it. 
 She insisted upon a tall youth lifting her into 
 the Doctor's scat, and certainly that awful 
 tribiuial had never been so filled before ; 
 Sylvia's pretty little face looking so sniiHngly 
 over the desk at her admiring spectators. 
 " Now then, Sylvia, we must not keep them 
 waiting any longer," said JuUan, impatiently ; 
 *' you will not have time to see our tuck room 
 to- day." 
 
 " But I will see it," she said imperiously. 
 " Show the way, young man," she added, to the 
 tall youth, whom she now felt inclined to pa- 
 tronize; and soon she was in T 's domain, 
 
 surrounded by boys, talking and laughing at 
 the very top of her pretty voice, and eating 
 tart after tart that was offered to her. 
 
 Julian was in agonies, but what conld lie 
 do ? lie did not like to leave her, and yet he 
 knew Mr Vernon had an engagement and was 
 anxious to dej)art. 
 
 And here at length Sylvia Avas discovered 
 by her father and Mrs Vernon, who, becoming 
 hnpatient, had set out to discover the fugi- 
 tives. 
 
 They were soon brought to the spot by 
 some boys who had not followed in the train
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 173 
 
 of Sylvia, and there the voimg lady was 
 caught, just in the act of finishing a delicious 
 tartlet, which had left its red marks in rather 
 an unladylike manner about her mouth. 
 
 " Oh ! good gracious, I shall get into a 
 scrape ! " she exclaimed, as her father's head 
 appeared over the others at the entrance ; and 
 forthwith she elbowed her way through the 
 crowd, savinsf : 
 
 " Good-bye, boys, good-bye ; I must go now ; 
 but I will come back to you next Satm-day." 
 
 With some little trepidation she looked from 
 one to the other of her parents. Her father's 
 comitenance expressed extreme annoyance ; 
 and Mrs Yernon was grave. 
 
 " You are not fit to be tnisted, Svlvia ; and 
 I am very angry," Mr Yernon said, when they 
 were seated in the carriage, after Sylvia had 
 made her adieux in a far more subdued man- 
 ner to ]\Irs K. 
 
 Poor Sylvia! — tears now followed; all the 
 excitement of the day mthered away ; and 
 throwing herself into her mamma's arms she 
 wept bitterly. 
 
 Wlien j\lr and Mrs Yernon went again to 
 Burleigh House to see Jidian, before they left 
 London, Sylvia did not accompany them. It
 
 174 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 M'as real pain to tlic motlicr to deprive her of 
 such exquisite deliglit, Ijut she felt that it was 
 right ; aiul that her first bcgiuuiug of re- 
 fonuatiou luust be Ibiuuled on lirmuess ; and 
 though to the poor little girl it was a terrible 
 blow, still, already had her gentle mother ac- 
 quired such an influence over her mind and 
 heart that it was witli wonder Mr Vernon 
 marked the submission with which his usually 
 unmanageable little daughter received this 
 severe sentence ; and he thanked God more 
 than ever for a fate which had brought so 
 inestimable a blessing into his house, as such 
 a mother -to his child. 
 
 Sylvia's non-appearance on the following 
 Saturday was no small disappointment to 
 many at Burleigh House. Julian could 
 scarcely enjoy even the presence of his mother 
 and father-in-law, so distressed was he not to 
 sec Sylvia, of Avhoni he was so fond, and now 
 not a little proud, for she had made such a 
 wondei-ful impression on " the fellows." 
 
 We believe there was a great deal of brush- 
 ing of hair and washing of hands that morn- 
 ing, in the expectation of the coming of the 
 little ladv, and the tall vouth, to wJioni the 
 juvenile coquette had shown such special favour,
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 175 
 
 was observed to be in rather low spirits for 
 several days after. 
 
 Mrs K. also was verv sorrv. 
 
 " I should like to have seen that ciu-ious 
 little creatui'e once more," she said ; " you 
 must take care of yoiu' young step -daughter, 
 madam," she added, to Mrs Vernon; " I think 
 she will o-ive vou more trouble than JuHan." 
 
 ]\Irs Vernon answered, "No, I feel sm^e she 
 will steadv down into a most delio-htful charac- 
 ter, Mrs K. The poor child has laboured 
 under disadvantages ever since she was born ; 
 has never had any one to direct her in 
 whom she had anv confidence — a man cannot 
 manage a very peculiar child like Sylvia. I 
 hope you wdll find her very much improved 
 the next time we bring her here." 
 
 " Well, perhaps so," said the old lady, "but 
 I fear I shall never have such a good laugh 
 asrain. I shall never forsret that merry little 
 fairy as long as I live. I am sure you T\'ill be, 
 my dear lady, a good and kind step-mother to 
 the pretty creature, and not curb her spirits too 
 tightly ; if I did not think so, I should be 
 quite miserable about the frisky lambkin." 
 
 Mr and I\Irs Vernon, with Syhda, left 
 London the following week ; en route to their
 
 176 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 home, tlicy were to pay some visits to relations 
 of Mr Vernon and his daugliter. After tive 
 weeks' absence the trio arrived at the rectory, 
 where Uttle Mary was ready to meet them ; 
 and they Mere in a few days joined by a most 
 excellent foreign governess.
 
 CHAPTER XYI. 
 
 Lord Victor was enjoying himself to the 
 utmost pitch of selfish gratification at the 
 Com't, No little bull in a china-shop had it 
 more his own way — everybody and every- 
 thing seemed to succumb to the will of the 
 over-indulged boy. 
 
 If it were with the view of any moral ad- 
 vantage that he had been sent to the Court, 
 his friends were mistaken as to the efficacy of 
 the plan ; for there, was to be found every 
 kind of accessory to foster in the young breast 
 the seeds of pride and self-indulgence which 
 had been sown in it' — adulation amounting to 
 servility following his every step. As for Mrs 
 
 VOL. I. 12
 
 178 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 Miller, she worshipped the young lurdhiig as 
 a species of demi-god, tohl him how beautiful 
 he was grown — how clever in id witty. Her 
 whole atmosphere was one of praise, and Victor 
 began to feel that he could exist in no other. 
 
 His governess Avas a PrcnchAvoman, of any- 
 thhig but soiuid views of right and wrong, 
 caring little but for her own amusement, and, 
 in her present quarters, very well satisfied for 
 the time being. Mrs Miller made up to her 
 considerably, and much elated by Mademoi- 
 selle's enthusiastic admiration of Violet, left 
 no means imtried to please her ; and this was 
 not very difficult, for her tastes were not the 
 most refined. As for her charge, she gave 
 him over without anv reluctance to the tender 
 mercies of Tom Jones, considerino- that she had 
 discharged every duty when she had said to 
 him: 
 
 "Now you, Tom Jones, you tak care of 
 milor, that he no hurt himself, or get mischief." 
 
 " Oh yes, Mamsellc, I'll ialc care," was the 
 pert answer, and away they went for hours. 
 
 Victor spent most of his time in the stables, 
 that was not devoti'd to riding and Violet. 
 
 Frank Miller had bought his little daughter 
 a diminutive pony, and had delighted in
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 179 
 
 teacliiiig lier to ride. And this slie did most 
 fearlessl}^ with a seat wonderfully graceful 
 and good. With her long dark blue petticoat 
 and most pictm-esque hat, her magnificent fair 
 hair floating over her shoulders, she was. 
 certainly a lovely thing to look upon — a study 
 which Landseer might have coveted — the pony 
 being in its way as perfect as its mistress. 
 
 Victor was enchanted to have her as his 
 companion, and never was devotion so entire 
 as that lavished on his baby idol. 
 
 " Oh ! Violet," Mrs Miller one day over- 
 heard him say to her, as they were amusing 
 themselves in the garden, " how beautiful 
 you are ! " 
 
 " Am I, Lord Victor ? " said the child, art- 
 lessly. 
 
 " Yes, indeed you are, you pretty httle wife 
 of mine," he added, hugging her most tenderly. 
 "You must give me one of these beautiful 
 ciuls to take away with me." 
 
 " Your A\dfe, am I to be ?" and the httle giil 
 looked thoughtful. 
 
 " Why, Violet," answered the boy, " I do 
 intend to maiTy you some of these days, what- 
 ever they may say." 
 
 " My father said, when I told him that you
 
 180 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 said you would inarry mc," replied Violet, 
 " that it was all nonsense, and that I was not a 
 young lady, and could never be your wife." 
 
 " But I will make you a young lady ! " ex- 
 claimed the boy, impatiently. " What business 
 have they all to talk ni tliat way ? Even Tom 
 Jones was so impertinent as to laugh when I 
 was talking of what we should do when we 
 were married, and said something vulgar about 
 counting chickens before they were hatched ; 
 but they will see," said the boy, ancKan expres- 
 sion of such precocious determination and un- 
 natural fierceness settled on his countenance 
 that the pretty Violet looked quite alarmed. 
 
 " You will marry mc, Violet, won't you ? " 
 he said, grasping her arm tightly. 
 
 The little girl hesitated. 
 
 " Why don't you answer? " Victor contimi- 
 ed, trend)ling with impatience, and quite hurt- 
 ing the small arm by his nervous pressure. 
 Violet began to cry. 
 
 " Let me go, Lord Victor," she whimpered; 
 *' I don't think 1 sliould like to marry you ; I 
 once told Julian I should like to be JiIh wife." 
 
 The storm now broke forth. The rage of 
 the boy was uncontrollable, niul frightful to 
 behold. Tn his wild anijer he would have
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 181 
 
 struck Violet, had not ]\Irs ]\Iillei*, who had 
 been seated workms; at the window of her 
 paiioLU', rushed out to mediate between the 
 contending parties. 
 
 " Violet, you naughty, silly child, what non- 
 sense are you talking ? How dare you tell such 
 stories ? You never said such a thing to Master 
 Julian ; now hold your tongue this moment," 
 seeing that the child was about to persist in 
 her assertion — " I have a great mind to whip 
 you. Miss. My darling, my beautifid boy ! " 
 she added, turning to Lord Victor, who, with 
 tears of anger, was stamping and tearing 
 about, "it is all an invention of Violet's ; she 
 never said such a thing — she is not at all fond 
 of Jidian, I can assm-e you ; she only said it to 
 tease you, my own dear one. Julian indeed ! 
 who is not worthy to Avipe the dust off your 
 shoes." 
 
 And all the time she was speaking and 
 fondling the spoilt boy, j\Irs Miller's eyes were 
 opened wide, in a way well understood by 
 poor Violet, and a menacing expression was 
 on her countenance. 
 
 " Come here immediately, and tell my Lord 
 you are very sorry for having vexed him, and 
 that what you said was only in joke," she
 
 182 THE LITTLK BEAUTY. 
 
 adclc'd ; and tlic cliild, perfectly aware that 
 there was no alternative, approached the an^ry 
 boy and was forced, we may say, thus regularly 
 to perjiu'e herself. 
 
 Various were the childish imprecations 
 showered upon Julian by the jealous and 
 vindictive boy ; much to the sorrow of Violet, 
 who, having received unceasing kindness from 
 her absent friend ever since she was born, 
 really loved him Avith all her childish heart. 
 Lord Victor's attentions and presents were of 
 course duly appreciated by her, l)ut the violent 
 temper that he often displayed, his jealous fits, 
 and exigcantes demands upon her attention and 
 love, sometimes wearied the poor child, and 
 young as she was, she could plainly discern 
 the great superiority of Julian over the little 
 Lord. He was always the same, always so good, 
 so tliouo;htful. Her father loved Master Julian 
 so well, and her father alwavs loved what w as 
 good. 
 
 At this moment the poor child felt in her heart 
 that she could hate the disagreeable boy who 
 was behaving in such a foolish manner towards 
 her ; she longed to tell him so, to give him 
 back all his ])resents. Didn't she love that 
 little work-box — Julian's parting gift — more
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 1S3 
 
 than all Lord Victor's fine tilings put together ? 
 But she dared not show her feelings. Ever 
 since she could distinguish right from wrong, 
 she might have been taught by her mother a 
 system of dissimulation — perhaps as much by 
 example as precept — to call eveiything by its 
 wrong name, and to place no value upon what 
 was truthful : but her father's straidit-for- 
 ward honestv, which she had inherited in the 
 strongest degree, counteracted that total want 
 of it in the mother's character, and showed the 
 child, by the contrast, its beauty, worth, and in- 
 trinsic value. 
 
 Violet trusted in her father — she knew she 
 might rely on what he said ; a kind look from 
 him, she felt, was love, real love, and his affec- 
 tion for her was ever the same, not dependent 
 upon circumstances, as was her mother's. She 
 had already learnt to discover that her mother's 
 favour rose and fell according to the de2;ree of 
 admiration her beautv commanded. She would 
 willingly ha^■e relinquished the beauty which 
 drew upon her so much annoyance, and all 
 that weary dressing and trouble. Poor Violet ! 
 if that wish had been granted, had the small- 
 pox seamed your face and disfigured those 
 beautiful features, does it not seem to the eye
 
 184 TJIi: J,ITTLK BEAUTY. 
 
 which cannot look into the things hichlcn to 
 mortal gaze that it would Juivc saved you 
 many a pang ? 
 
 * * * * 
 
 Victor Avas at length appeased. Mrs 
 Miller applied the most emollient of salves to 
 a Avounded self-esteem, — flattery of the most 
 exaggerated description, interspersed Avith com- 
 parisons as to the inferior merits and attractions 
 of his rival, Avhich fell like oil on his troubled 
 heart. On going to bed that night, Mrs Miller 
 said to Violet : 
 
 " You behaved pretty well altogether in that 
 quarrel you had with darling Victor, though it 
 was very silly of you to talk in that way about 
 Master Julian. You must never do it aiijain. 
 I like the boy very much, but it is as good as 
 your life is worth to offend our little Loi'd. 
 Y''ou don't know Avhat you are doing ; Julian 
 and he will not be much here together, I 
 dare say, and you ought to know better than 
 to \\orry him by speaking kindly of a boy he 
 cannot endure." 
 
 " And why does he not like him, Minunie ? " 
 asked Violet ; " Jidian, who is so good and kind, 
 much better, I am sure, than he is." 
 
 " I desire you will never say that again, and
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 185 
 
 whilst Lord Victor is here, if you don't behave 
 properly to him, you shall be well punished, 
 that I can tell you. Now go to sleep, and I 
 desire you will not tell your father anything 
 about this nonsensical quarrel when he returns 
 to-morrow."
 
 CHAPTER XYII. 
 
 Jerrold Hope never relaxed in liis ef- 
 forts to soften his father's heart towards tlie 
 son of his brother. That pictured face had 
 stirred up ineniories and feehngs in his soul 
 that he did not wish to subdue, lie had 
 caused the two portraits of his uncle to be 
 hung up in his own private sitting-room, 
 placing before each a green curtain, in case 
 the sight of these menioiials of i)oor Julian 
 Hope might offend his father's eye. 
 
 This unfortunate crippled young man seem- 
 ed to bear in that distorted form all that there 
 M-as of gentleness and amiability in that branch 
 of the family. His brother Alexander Avas
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 187 
 
 an irredeemable roue, wasting his substance 
 in riotous living, amongst associates most re- 
 pugnant to the pride and refined ideas of his 
 father. As years passed on, and he looked 
 upon the position of his sons, i\Ir Hope began 
 to feel convictions stealing into his mind, 
 and there at length fixing themselves, which 
 made him bv de2;rees incline more to Jerrold's 
 entreaties that he would seek to discover some 
 further particulars of Juhan Hope's children. 
 Jerrold also gained many particidars from Nurse 
 Martha, which strengthened the enthusiastic 
 feehng of admiration and compassion which 
 he felt towards the memory of his ill-used 
 uncle. She told him of the fair young Tilary, 
 who had been the petted favourite of her 
 mistress. " As sweet a flower she was," the old 
 woman continued, " as ever blossomed, and as 
 good as she was fair. It was wrong of her 
 to consent to that stolen marriage ; but young 
 people vidll be foolish sometimes ; and the 
 temptation was great. She was thrown so 
 much in his way, poor thing ! I saw it all 
 coming, and longed to speak, but what good 
 would it have done ? And oh, the dreadful 
 day when it was known that they had 
 eloped! Certainly, that was my mistress's
 
 ISS THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 (leatli-l)lo\v ; slic liad long suffered from ill- 
 hcaltli, and her heart was the affeeted part." 
 
 " Did she die inunediatclv after the mar- 
 riage ? " asked Jerrohl. 
 
 " No, .Mrs Hope lingered for several months; 
 perhaps had she been longer spared, a ehange 
 might have come over her heart, in which, 
 I grieve to say, anger and mortified ])i-ide were 
 the chief emotions. There was some degree 
 of softening in her mind a few days before her 
 death ; but it pleased God to let it not avail — 
 may be to punish the poor yoimg man for his 
 disobedience ; and punished, indeed, he was." 
 
 There was a panse. ]\Iartha's tears flowed 
 fast, and she could not speak ; Jerrold seemed 
 deeply meditating. 
 
 " Martha," he said, at length, " will you do 
 an errand lor me ? " 
 
 " What is it, INlr Jerrold? " she answered. 
 
 " I want you to go to Brooklands, and see 
 my uncle's widow, and in{piire about the 
 children." 
 
 " Oh ! dear sir, how can I do such a thing?" 
 the old woman replied, alarmed at a proposal 
 which, at the Hrst hearing, sounded awful. 
 " How could you do without n\e, Mr Jerrold? 
 And Miss Mary that was is no longer a widow,
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 189 
 
 poor and friendless, but married to an- 
 other, with every worldly comfort; if I did 
 not go to her when she was friendless, and 
 still mourning for the loss of that dear one, 
 whom I wonder she could ever forget — what 
 business have I with her now ? " 
 
 " But, iMartha, listen to me ;— it is for the 
 sake of the children I wish you to go ; you 
 see what I am, dear nurse, a poor, miserable 
 cripple, whose days are numbered ; and you 
 also know what my brother Alex, is ; what 
 two wretched representatives of all this wealth 
 are we! I beheve almost the whole of this 
 rich property is entailed on the male heirs ; 
 therefore, in defaidt of us, my uncle Juhan's 
 boy comes next. As siue as you are sitting 
 there, ]\Iartha, neither myself nor my brother 
 will ever live to inherit this wealth. Look at 
 poor Alex.! — has not a hfe of dissipation and 
 vice, even from boyhood, planted in his con- 
 stitution the seeds of disease, which foretell a 
 very short career ? — and as for me, every one 
 knows what my fate must be." 
 
 The attached nm-se only shook her head 
 sadly ; she coidd not deny the truth of these 
 words ; and Jerrold proceeded :
 
 190 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 " I w ant to sec tlicsu cousins, to lia\ c tliciii 
 here ; but, first of all, I should like to know 
 something about thcni. Now my father is 
 absent, I want you to go to Brooklands — it is 
 not more than fifty miles from hence ; and the 
 rail-road Avill take you as far as the town of 
 
 A , from whence you can proceed in a fly. 
 
 When there, I want you to go to the rectory 
 and see Mrs Vernon. You may tell her you 
 come from me, and make her understand how 
 earnestly I long to make acquaintance with 
 my cousins, and that I shall have no peace or 
 rest till I accomplish that end." 
 
 " l^ut, Mr Jerrold, my master, will he ever 
 consent, think you ? " 
 
 " Leave all that to me, nurse. I am sure 
 he will ; vou cannot imacrine how different he 
 has been for a long time, when I have ventured 
 to s])eak u])()n the subject ; so much less stern 
 and implacable. It seems that by sonu; means 
 ho has heard of the boy, for he said one day 
 that he believed he had been brought u]) avcU. 
 So you will go, Martha — the sooner the better." 
 
 The poor old nurse, sadly perplexed how to 
 make up her mind to such a formidable un- 
 dertaking, vet, not having the heart to refuse
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 191 
 
 any request of her poor yoimg master, at 
 length consented ; and it was with much 
 nervous trepidation that she set oif to Brook- 
 Ian els, the day but one after this conversation.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 It was a beautiful dav towards the end of 
 May Avlien Nurse Martha ahj^hted at a small 
 inn or public-house which attracted her no- 
 tice as she arrived M'ithin the jirecincts of 
 Brooklands. She saw the spire of the church 
 at no great distance, and judged correctly that 
 the rectory could not be far off. 
 
 She thought it would be better to walk to 
 it, a less nervous proceeding, she deemed it, 
 than that oft lie conmiotion she fancied to create 
 in that (piiet spot by a carriage stopping at 
 the gate, and the nnnsnal a]ipearance of a 
 sti'ange old woman issuing from it. 
 
 The village of Brooklands was most pictiir-
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 193 
 
 esqne in its aspect, the cottages all so strikingly 
 neat, with their gable ends painted black and 
 white, the little gardens before most of the 
 dwellings filled with bright spring flowers. 
 
 As Nurse Martha turned down a lane, indi- 
 cated to her as leading to the rectory, she 
 , heard a sound of gay young voices, and soon a 
 party, consisting of two girls and a youth, ap- 
 proached her, accompanied by an enormous 
 dog, who, seeing a stranger advancing, imme- 
 diately sprang, but with perfectly harmless in- 
 tent, toward her. 
 
 Old Martha was not fond of dogs at any 
 time, and when she saw this formidable-look- 
 ing animal, her nervous terror was great, and 
 she called out in great dismay for help. In a 
 moment the boy was by her side. 
 
 " Down, Lion ! " he said, and his words were 
 echoed by the girls, who peremptorily called the 
 dog to their side, and the fierce-looking animal 
 in a moment obeyed tlieii- youthful voices. The 
 youth then said : 
 
 " I am sorry our dog has frightened you, 
 madam ; he is really very good-natured, and 
 never intends to do mischief; but he is cer- 
 tainly rough in his appearance and manner." 
 Whilst' he thus kindly and smilingly spoke, the 
 
 VOL. I. 13
 
 194 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 old woman's eyes were fixed upon liini in a 
 manner ([uite calculated to surprise him, and 
 presently, with, a nervous grasp, she clutched 
 hold of his arm. 
 
 " Master Julian ! " she faltered. 
 
 *' Yes, that is my name ; have you ever seen 
 me before ? " he asked quietly. 
 
 " I have seen a face like yours," she said ; 
 and then she paused, her frame shaking with 
 agitation. " Oh my boy, my boy!" she con- 
 tinued, tears falling fast from her eyes, " I 
 never thought to look upon the like of you 
 again, never till T met you in heaven ; but here 
 is your living image in your son. Yes, dear 
 young gentleman," she added, addressing the 
 astonished -Julian, " I did not require you to 
 tell me who you were ; I should have known 
 you amongst ten thousand." The two girls 
 had by this tune joined the group, and stood 
 close to Julian, their eyes wide open with 
 astonishment, staring at the old woman. 
 
 "Yes," continued Martha, having steadily 
 surveyed them, " yes, I see who you are also," 
 and she gently drew Mary towards her, and 
 looked searchinu;lv in her face ; " you are like 
 the gentle Mary, but not (piite so bonny as 
 she was when I last saw her."
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 195 
 
 " My name is ]\Iarv," the girl said in a sil- 
 very voice, smiling so sweetly as she spoke, 
 that the stranger's heart again melted, and she 
 faltered forth : 
 
 ^ " Miss Mary, sweet Miss Mary ! you are 
 like her, my dear, dear child." 
 
 And then, after a short pause, she looked 
 inquisitively at Sylvia, and said : 
 
 " You don't belong to them ; no Hope ever 
 had such dazzhng dark eyes, and that carna- 
 tion on their cheeks ; they are all blue-eyed 
 and fair-haired ; for the most part pale, imless 
 some emotion brings the colour for a brief space 
 to their face ; and Miss Mary was very fair 
 also. Ah," she added, shaking her head 
 mournfullv. and in an under-tone, " too fair, 
 too fair, poor young creatm^el " 
 
 " But, ma'am," said Sylvia, looking rather 
 affi'onted, " I do belong to them, I can tell 
 vou : I am their sister." 
 
 " Oh, Miss Vernon, I presume," the old 
 woman said, very stiffly. 
 
 " Yes, my name is Vernon, but I am still 
 their sister ; their mamma is mine too, and my 
 papa is theirs also," persisted Sylvia, waxing 
 very impatient, and immediately conceiving a 
 dislike to the stranger. " Come along, Mary,
 
 lUl) THE LITTLH BEAUTY. 
 
 and Julian, wc have no time to lose : you know 
 jMadenioiselle said we were not to be late ; so 
 make haste. Lion, Lion, where arc vou? — we 
 must be oftV 
 
 But Nurse Martha laid a hand n])on Julian 
 and Marv, and said : 
 
 " My dear children, you must excuse my 
 freedom ; indeed I know by your faces you 
 will, when I tell you that I want you to take 
 me to vom* mother ; T think she will receive mc 
 kindly ; me Avhom she once loved — I knew her 
 when she was a very little girl ; and I was 
 your dear father's mirse." 
 
 " What, Nurse Martha? " was the exclama- 
 tion fi'oni both Julian and Mary, the latter 
 throwintjr her arms round the neck of the de- 
 lighted old woman. " A\'e have heard mannna 
 talk so very often of you." 
 
 " Yes," said Julian, and his lips quivered 
 with emotion, " and my dear father used often 
 to mention your name ; I even can remember 
 well his saying, when he was very ill and suf- 
 fering, " Mary, how sorrv Nurse Martha would 
 be for me ! " 
 
 " And Nui-se Martha was indeed sorry for 
 him, ])oor darling I she has never had a day of 
 happiness since he left his home. Oh, Master
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 197 
 
 Julian," she said, as, leaning on his arm, and 
 ]\Iary holding tenderly her other hand, she 
 walked towards the rectory, " if bitter tears 
 could have helped him, and never-ceasing 
 prayers, he had them from me. And your 
 mamma, how is she, and are you all happy ?" 
 
 "We are very happy now," said Juhan, 
 " for Mr Vernon is so kind and good to us all ; 
 but mamma had many years of such great sor- 
 row, dear Nurse ]\Iartlia. But where is Sylvia ? 
 he said, turning suddenly round to look for 
 her ; but no Svlvia was to be seen : she had 
 started off alone with Lion. 
 
 Jidian coloured with one of those emotions 
 which iSui-se Martha had designated as having 
 the power of bringing the colour into the cheek 
 of a Hope, but he took no further notice, and 
 they soon reached the rectory. The meeting 
 between ]\Irs Vernon and her old friend may 
 well be imagined ; such a tide of painful recol- 
 lections pressing upon both, on thus, after so 
 many years, Ijeing re-united, and Ijotli had so 
 much to sav. 
 
 How wonderful is the renewal of intercom^se 
 between those who have been early united by 
 bonds of real affection and confidence ! Far 
 different is it from the friendships we contract
 
 198 TiiK T.rrn.E ukau'I'v. 
 
 in al'tci' lil'r, valuable and dcliu'litful as thev 
 niav be, but laekiiiLi; the old associations whioli 
 cling to the heart, making one live again in 
 memoiy and in feeling on the past, and annihil- 
 ating the intervening space, with its years of 
 sorrow or of joy, which have passed since 
 last we met. 
 
 Julian and Mary soon felt their })resence 
 could be dispensed with, so left the re- 
 nnited friends' together, whilst they went in 
 search of Sylvia, \Nhom they knew they should 
 find somewhere in the grounds of Lyle Court. 
 * * * * 
 
 The conversation which ensued between 
 Mrs Vernon and Nurse Martha was indeed 
 intensely interestinn; to both. The history of 
 many years of sorrow was to be recorded 
 on both sides, and many bitter tears were to 
 be shed whilst the sad story was beinGr told. 
 Mr Vernon was away from liouie for a few 
 days, therefore there was nothing to interrupt 
 the discourse. A feeling almost of shame 
 seemed to fill Mrs Vernon's heart when she 
 had to alhuK; to her second marriaQ;e. 
 
 " Rut, dear nurse," she said, as she un- 
 locked a cabinet, from whence she took out a 
 letter, " this is whiit decided me to take a
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 199 
 
 step, the idea of which filled me with dismay, 
 but of which I have never since repented. 
 Indeed, I should be worse than ungrateful if 
 I did not love and respect that excellent man, 
 who has indeed been a father to my ever- 
 beloved Jidian's children." 
 
 Mrs Vernon placed young Julian's letter in 
 Mrs Martha's hands, that letter she had received 
 after telling him of Mr Vernon's proposal to 
 her. The old woman adjusted her spectacles, 
 and read the epistle vrith much attention, and 
 when it was finished, she laid her hand upon 
 that of Mrs Vernon, who sat nervously watch- 
 ing her, and said : 
 
 " My dear, I rejoice indeed that you did 
 marry ' the good man,' as the dear boy called 
 him. It must have been a whisper from 
 Heaven which inspired him to write that letter. 
 Dear, dear lad, I see at once, by every line in 
 his sweet face, that he is his father all over ; 
 only he has had advantages our dear Jidian 
 never possessed. Your son Avas not trained, 
 like his father, in indulgence unbounded ; he 
 has been brought up to look the world with all 
 its trials and difficulties steadily in the face. 
 My dear boy was never taught to view it but 
 as a scene of enjoyment and unlimited freedom."
 
 200 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 " But, mirsc," rejoined Mrs Vernon, elasj)- 
 inp; lier hands, whilst tears fell fast down her 
 cheeks, ''he was tried in the furnace of alHic- 
 tion, and came out of it rctined — as pure and 
 unspotted as mortal man can be ; you can 
 little imagine his goodness, his patience, and 
 perfect faith. If there was ever a saint on 
 earth, it was my beloved husband ; and oh, 
 few^ know Avhat were his sufferings of mind, 
 — his remorse." 
 
 " And he is hap})y now, dear lady," inter- 
 rupted Mrs ]\Iartha, seeing how deeph' agitat- 
 ing were these remembrances to j\Irs Vernon ; 
 " let US talk about that dear son of yours — 
 oh, what a sunbeam was his smile to my old 
 heart ! — and the sweet young lady." 
 
 " Yes, indeed, they are dear good children," 
 the mother replied ; and then she proceeded 
 to tell all that Julian had been to her ; dilat- 
 inj? on the delitihtful theme, till smiles of 
 gratitude and maternal ])ride succeeded the 
 tears which the i)ainful memory of his suffer- 
 
 V u 
 
 ing father had caused to flow. 
 
 " Julian Hope's son shall be no longer 
 indebted to the generosity of a stranger, 
 although that stranger is as good a man as 
 Mr Vernon," said the old woman, kindling
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 201 
 
 up, and looking indignant at the idea. " To 
 think," she continued, in a<2;itated accents, 
 " that a child of oiu" house should have ever 
 been behoven for education to any one but 
 the faniilv! But times are chano;ino;, thank 
 God, and all will be right at last ; yes, at 
 last, though it comes too late for some things, 
 for my poor dear boy that's gone." 
 
 After a pause, for both had to calm their 
 agitation, Mrs jMartha told Mrs Vernon her 
 errand — why she saw her there — how deter- 
 mined the poor cripple, Jerrold, was to place 
 his cousins in their places, as children belong- 
 ing to the family ; and how for many years 
 he had been endeavouring to bring about 
 the accomplishment of this purpose with his 
 austere father. 
 
 Mrs Vernon was, of course, much excited by 
 this communication ; but perhaps she scarcely 
 knew whether to feel pleasure or pain at the 
 idea of the change. 
 
 A sort of repugnance, a kind of jealous 
 pang, assailed the mother's heart when she 
 thouo;ht of others but herself and her kind 
 husband usurping any claim over her children 
 — children who had been so long disowned 
 and wronged by their rich relations ; who
 
 202 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 had been so wholly her own for sn many 
 years. 
 
 But now her dear old friend must be cared 
 for. A servant was despatched to dismiss the 
 fly, and order it not to retiu'n till the day 
 after the following. Mrs ^Martha's carpet-l^ag 
 was brought up to the rectory, and she was 
 iustalled in a most comfortable room, — Mrs 
 Vernon presiding over every arrangement with 
 pleased assiduity. 
 
 Whilst conducting her visitor to her apart- 
 ment, their progress was impeded by the 
 sound of a small voice, and a little figure 
 who ran towards Mrs A^ernon calling her 
 "Mamma!" 
 
 It was her little son ; the only child 
 she ever had who bore the name of Vernon. 
 As she stooped to caress the pn^tty boy, it 
 was Avith id most a shamefaced look that she 
 glanced at the old nurse. 
 
 IIow Avould she welcome a child of hers 
 who was not ;i I lope? 
 
 lint Martha liad no frown ui)ou her brow 
 as she laid hei' liand npon the lair head, and 
 nnirnmred : 
 
 " God bless von — you child of a p;ood 
 man 1
 
 CHAPTEil XIX. 
 
 We must remind om* readers that years 
 have rolled on, and our boys and girls are now in 
 a transition state, a state not, in general, either 
 becomino- or agreeable, but usually an awkward, 
 ungainly period — a crisis when the growth 
 seems too great for the strength, the dress 
 even seeming to be at a loss how to set off to 
 advantage the unformed figure. And the 
 mind, too, is in an unsettled state ; childish 
 associations still clinging to it, whilst older 
 thoughts, feelings, and associations mingle 
 with the pleasures and occupations of earlier 
 days. But on our young people the change 
 has fallen most kindly and gently ; we see
 
 ."204 THE LITTLK RKAUTV. 
 
 iiotliiiip; unplcasiiig in their present aspect, 
 altlioujj;li tliey are all greatly altered. J\'rliaps 
 their happ\, healthy country life, anil living so 
 conii)letely in the atmosphere of retinenient, 
 Avith those only calculated to improve their 
 minds and manners, may have had due effect in 
 preserving the freedom and grace of their out- 
 ward bearing ; and Dame Nature might also 
 claim her share of merit in the personal keep- 
 ing and appearance of the group. 
 
 Julian is a tall youth, })roniising much as to 
 the manliness and synunetry of his figure. His 
 face we never described as strictly handsome. 
 
 The Hopes Avere not what is called a hand- 
 some race, but we Avould not change his 
 countenance for the most regular stvle of 
 classic ])erfection. An observer might gaze 
 npon his face with feelings of ecpial pleasure 
 and interest. It was very easy to discern that 
 (he beauty of the expression shining from his 
 every look was the emanation of a spii-it which 
 might more justly be a])])reciated the more 
 intimatelv it was known. 
 
 Svlvia Vernon is less chancjed than the 
 brother and sister, suice we followed her 
 through those madcap escapades at Burleigh 
 House. She is very tall and slender, with a
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 205 
 
 small head, and a very voutliful little face, 
 lighted up by brilliant eyes, the carnation 
 colour of her cheeks blending softly with the 
 pure whiteness of her skin. Her dark hair 
 is still permitted to hang in rich curls about 
 her shoulders, although there is much talk at 
 the rectory of a change of coif lire for Miss 
 Vernon. 
 
 ]\Irs Vernon rather dreaded taking any steps 
 towards transforming Sylvia from a child to a 
 woman. She was anxious to prolong as much 
 as possible those happy careless days, that 
 period which was so rapidly drawing to a close 
 — a blissful childhood ! 
 
 Sylvia was dear to ]\Irs Vernon as her own 
 child. She felt sm-prised at her strong love 
 for her husband's daughter, sometimes almost 
 reproaching herself for the feeling, insomuch 
 that a conviction woidd strike her that she 
 ought not to love her cpiite as well as her 
 little Mary, yet so it was. And perhaps this 
 intensity of affection arose from the extreme 
 anxiety which was mingled with ]\Irs Venion's 
 ■ affection for her young daughter-in-law. 
 
 Her own gentle child was always docile, 
 always good — how different from Sylvia 1 
 
 There was so much to be done for her ; the
 
 206 TIIK LITTLK BEAUTY. 
 
 mother's eve must ever be upon In r; so much 
 to improve, and even to correct; but still, trou- 
 blesome as was the girl, often wearying and dis- 
 comforting Mrs Vernon, there was a fnsrination 
 even in her faults, and, what covered a nudti- 
 tude of sins, a heart so warm and really kind, 
 and a love so wonderful for her mother-in-law, 
 that Sylvia became dearer and dearer to her as 
 time sped on, and the girl Avas on the very 
 verge of womanhood. 
 
 She became peculiarly tenacious with re- 
 gard to her step-mother. She watched every 
 look and word which fell from ]\Irs Vernon's 
 lips ; could scarcely brook that her love should 
 even be divided with anv of the other mem- 
 bers of the family ; was amusingly jealous of 
 her father, of her little brother, even of IMary, 
 indeed of all save one, and to him she would 
 have relinquished everything, even this j)rcci- 
 ous share of the mother's love. 
 
 Yes, Sylvia's heart was given early to Julian, 
 and Mrs Vernon saw it clearly. With the 
 quick perco])tioii of a Avoman she soon dis- 
 covered how it was, and a sensation of dread 
 filkid her heart when she thought upon it. 
 
 What if, when time rolled on, bringing 
 about the anxious period when Sylvia's feel-
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 207 
 
 ings would be developed and disclosed, they 
 should not be returned ? As for Julian, his 
 niother felt sure that it had never entered into 
 his imagination to think of her but as a dear 
 sister whom he loved most fondly, and who he 
 was quite aware loved him with no common 
 aiFection — an affection, indeed, which some- 
 times might have almost wearied any one but 
 himself. For most exigeante was the young 
 lady, and tenacious of the slightest trifle 
 which she thought implied anything like 
 coldness or indifi'erence on his part. Yet so 
 affectionate and devoted did Julian know her 
 to be to those she loved, particularly to his 
 dearly loved mother, that he bore with patience 
 all her little ebullitions of temper, even the 
 pretty childish tyranny she would fain have 
 exercised over him, had not a something in- 
 describable in his demeanour towards the 
 softer sex exercised a desfree of restraint over 
 her, even in her most wayward moods, and 
 caused her to respect as well as love hiuL 
 
 Mrs Vernon's heart felt anxious when her 
 eyes rested upon tke girl she really doted 
 upon, and saw her eager, animated counten- 
 ance ; her eyes fixed upon Jidian, drinking in 
 every word that fell from his lips ; watching
 
 208 tin; little bkattv. 
 
 his every movement, her clieek varying to 
 every tint of the rose, as the feelings of her 
 heart infiueneed her either to pleasure or pain, 
 — a random word often causing the latter sens- 
 ation, Avhich Julian, in his ignorance, had not 
 tlie remotest idea could possibly touch any 
 chord of her susceptible heart. 
 
 Mrs Vernon could only pray, and that 
 she did with all the fervour of her trusting 
 nature, that all would end well for the happi- 
 ness of her two beloved children. 
 
 One source of great irritation to Sylvia 
 was the line of demarcation which denoted 
 the difference between the two families. She 
 chafed at the idea of their names not being 
 the same, that Mrs Vernon was not her own 
 real mother, and grieved over the striking un- 
 resemblance which, as Mrs Martha said, so 
 clearly revealed that she did not belong to 
 them ; lier dark eyes and hair, and i)rilliant 
 complexion, showing so plainly that she was 
 not indeed a " Hope." Her new little brother 
 — even he \\as lair-haired and blue-eyed — and 
 the girl would look fixedly at her face in the 
 glass till she could have wept with spite to 
 til ink how unlike she was to the rest of the 
 family ; little heeding or appreciating the
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 209 
 
 fact, tliat slie far excelled tliem all in real 
 beauty. 
 
 AVhen Julian and Mary conducted Nurse 
 Martlia to tlieir mother's presence, Sylvia, 
 her tenacious feeUngs all alive, and irritated 
 against the old woman who looked upon her 
 coldly, and the words, " She does not belong 
 to you ! " ringing harshly in her ears, flew 
 down the hill Avhich led from the vicarage, 
 followed by Lion. She would have made no 
 unfit representation of a youthful Atalanta — 
 that young girl, as she sped along with her 
 graceful figure and finely moulded limbs, her 
 small and beautifully formed nostrils dilated, 
 her sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks, her 
 hair floating down her neck and shoulders; 
 all bespeaking the impatience of her feelings. 
 Sylvia never paused until she reached the gate 
 of Mrs Miller's cottage. She was then at- 
 tracted probably by the notes of a guitar, and 
 a sweet childish voice accompanying it; so 
 leaning on the little vsicket, panting and 
 breathless, she stood for a moment or two 
 contemplating the songstress, and then ex- 
 claimed : 
 
 " Come, Violet, with me ; I am going to oirp 
 drawing-room in the wood ; bring your guitar, 
 
 VOL. I. 14
 
 210 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 ami cliarm away my evil mood, little one ; you 
 shall be to me what David was to Saul." 
 
 And she opened the gate, and walked to- 
 wai'ds Violet, who stared at her with hei- large 
 eyes of celestial blue. 
 
 " ]\Irs j\Iiller, may not Violet come with 
 me ? " she said, addressing this good lady, 
 wlio was, as usual, sitting working at some 
 fanciful dress for her daughter, at her parloui- 
 window. 
 
 " Oh ! of course, Miss V^'rnon," she re- 
 plied; " but how is it you are alone this after- 
 noon ? " 
 
 Sylvia tossed her head with a scornfid 
 gesture, and said, " Oh, they have found a 
 friend, and did not want my company." 
 " And who may that be, J\liss Vernon ? " 
 " Some old nurse of Julian's father, who 
 has cast up," replied the girl. 
 
 " Then it is quite proper, if it was their 
 father's nurse, that she should be attended to 
 with respect, Miss Vernon," said Mrs ]\Iiller, 
 in the very sententious tone, which she always 
 adopted wdicn going back in iinagination to 
 her capacity of head niu'se at Lyle Court. " T 
 am sure I know what it is to be the respected 
 nui'se of a familv U) ^^"hose service I have de-
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 211 
 
 voted my best days. Yes, to think of all tliat 
 I have done for those chikben ; the nights' 
 rest I have lost, the weary — " 
 
 But Sylvia, who had heard all this many 
 and many a time repeated, cut the speech, 
 which was, as usual, beginning to be pathetic, 
 very short, by saying : . ' 
 
 " Oh, yes, Mrs Miller, 1 dare say she may be 
 a very good old woman, 'out I think her a 
 great bore ; so just let Violet come with me. 
 I will carry the guitar." 
 
 And she seized the guitar with one hand, 
 Violet's with the other, and rapidly drew 
 her away, in spite of Mrs IMiller's entreaties 
 that she would wait a moment, that she might 
 make a few arrang-ements in her dauo;liter's 
 dress before she departed. 
 
 They passed through a small side gate 
 which led at once into the park, and then made 
 their way to a thick wood at no great distance. 
 This was a favourite resort of all the young- 
 people, and at this lovely season of the year 
 the whole wood was enamelled with the flowers 
 of spring ; those welcome blossoms telling of 
 the departure of gloomy winter, harl^ingers of 
 the approach of smiling verdant summer. 
 
 " Miss Vemon, do not walk quite so fast.
 
 212 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 please," said Violet, us tliey ascended with no 
 slow pace tlie steep winding walks which led 
 to the sunnnit of the wood. " I should so like 
 to pick some of those primroses and hlue-bells 
 to make a wreath for my hat." 
 
 " You vain little creature ! " was the answer ; 
 '' well, pick away, I'll help you, if you will only 
 promise to sing to me afterwards as long as I 
 please," 
 
 And with her characteristic energy, Sylvia 
 began plucking liandfuls of llowers, wliich she 
 flung into the straw hat Violet held out for 
 that purpose. Whilst thus employed, the girl, 
 who was always singing — to whom everything 
 suggested a song — began at once to warble 
 in her sweet, bird-like voice : 
 
 ' Gathering flowers from the break of mom, 
 Ours is no life for the workl to scorn ; 
 Roving the woods and the meadows green, 
 Seeking the nooks wlicre the elves have been, 
 CiiUing the ferns from each mossy bed. 
 Where the modest violet hides her head ; 
 Or plucking the bloom of the sweet hare-bell, 
 Down in the dells where the fairies dwell. 
 
 " Ho ! for the woods at the dawn of day, 
 Up with the sun and away, away ! 
 Oh ! what a joyous life is ours, 
 Siiaking the dew from the woodland flowers, 
 Seeking the spots where the cowsli|is lie 
 llidden afar from the world's dull eye,
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 213 
 
 Scenting the air with their rich perfume ; 
 Laden -we come with their golden bloom, 
 Grathering flowers from the break of mom." 
 
 And soon another voice joined in the duet, 
 a rich contraho blending most harmoniously 
 vriih Violet's high soprano notes, the woods re- 
 echoing with the clear, beautiful strain. They 
 had no audience save Lion, who, resting him- 
 self in luxurious ease on the mossy turf, seemed 
 to watch their every movement, and with his 
 eyes fixed complacently upon the fair song- 
 stresses, appeared thoroughly to enjoy the 
 sight and sounds. AVhen sufficient flowers 
 had been gathered, they proceeded to the spot 
 which they styled the rustic drawing-room. It 
 was a smooth piece of lawn, which had been 
 opened out in front, nearly at the edge of a 
 precipitous hill, and commanded a splendid 
 and extensive view of the surrounding country. 
 
 At this moment it was truly a most delicious 
 spot, fragrant and bright with the odour of 
 spring shrubs in fidl blossom. Lilacs of every 
 hue — the golden iDranches of the graceful 
 Laburnum, and the delicious scent of the May, 
 rendering the air " perfumed breath " indeed. 
 Rustic seats and tables were placed under the 
 spreading trees, and the young people of the
 
 214 Tin-: littlk beauty. 
 
 Court and rectory spent many a happy day in 
 this their sylvan rcceptiun-ruom, A pictur- 
 esque little cottage close by contained every 
 appliance for culinary ])urposes ; cpiite a hijou 
 miniature kitchen, in ^vhich many a dainty dish 
 was made or spoilt hy aristocratic young hands, 
 but which, nevertheless, was more enjoyed than 
 the most rechcrcM entrees of Monsieur Froissart, 
 the grand artiste of the Glenmore cuisine. This 
 paradise attained, Sylvia threw herself at once 
 upon one of the seats, a little exhausted after 
 the breathless excitement of her trajet — Violet 
 calmly seating herself on tlio turf, and be- 
 ginning A\ith much dexterity to construct her 
 wreath. 
 
 The guitar was still in Svlvia's hand, and 
 she swept a few chords upon it occasionally, as 
 she talked to Violet. 
 
 " Oh vanitv, vanitv ! " she exclaimed, as she 
 looked contemptuously at her companion, " 1 
 wonder what would tempt me to waste time 
 in trying to smarten up thus my old straw 
 hat." And as she spoke she took it off and 
 threw it on the ground. 
 
 " My mother says it is never wasting time, 
 tjying to make onesi'lf look ])retty," Violet 
 replied. Sylvia laughed heartily.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 215 
 
 " I dare say she thinks so/' she said, and 
 then looking silently at the young girl for a 
 brief space, she added, "But, Violet, you 
 know that you are already very pretty, do you 
 not ? " 
 
 Violet ans^vered without hesitation. 
 
 " Yes, I do ; at least I hear people say so 
 every day, but still I suppose I am not pretty 
 enough, for Minnnie is always trying to make 
 me more so ;' sometimes. Miss Vernon, do you 
 know?" she added, confidentially, "I almost 
 wish I had been ugly." 
 
 " Why ? " questioned Sylvia. 
 
 " Oh ! I am so teased and tormented from 
 morning till night. I must not do this, be- 
 cause it is bad for the complexion, nor some- 
 thing else, because it may spoil my figure. 
 My hair must always be so smooth. I must 
 never play at games that disturb my dress. If 
 I look pale, Mimniie is angry, and if I am 
 flushed, it is still worse. My mother never 
 really loves me but when I am in my best 
 looks, and then I am her beautiful daughter. 
 Oh, it is so tiresome to be beautiful ! " and 
 Violet sighed wearily. 
 
 " Poor Violet ! " said Sylvia, much anuised, 
 " you certainly seem to pay a heavy penalty
 
 '2[C) TIIK LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 for that ])retty face ; still I am siiro, after all, you 
 would not chaiiiic it for an uulv one." 
 
 " Why — uo ! " was the rather hesitating 
 answer; "sometmies I like very niiu-h being 
 admired, by some people, and sometimes I hate 
 it, and I know one whoso adminition makes 
 me quite shiver," 
 
 "And who may that be, little flower ? " 
 asked Sylvia. 
 
 " Don't tell, pray, if I say who it is," mys- 
 teriously Violet mmTuured. 
 
 " Say on, ma belle /" was the answer. 
 
 " Lord Victor ! — but my mother Avould kill 
 me if she knew I had told von ; she is so 
 angry if I do not let him do and say just what 
 he pleases, and I so //ate him." 
 
 And the little beauty's eyes filled with in- 
 dignant tears. 
 
 " How diff'crent," she continued, " he is to 
 Mr Julian ! " 
 
 "Yes, I should think so indeed!" Sylvia 
 exclaimed quickly. 
 
 " I like Mr Julian to admire me," Violet 
 continued. " A word — a look of kindness 
 from him is so delightful!" she exclaimed, her 
 eyes sparkling and her colour heightening. 
 " And he is always so kind, so good to me.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 217 
 
 When I was a baby lie used to play with me, 
 and ever since he has always been the same — 
 such a friend I — dear, dear Mr Juhan !" 
 The eirl was so absorbed in the interest 
 
 O 
 
 which the idea excited, that she did not per- 
 ceive the countenance of her companion until 
 she was attracted to it by the loud twanging 
 sounds which proceeded from the guitar Sylvia 
 still held in her hand. She had struck into a 
 Spanish march, and the manner in which she 
 drummed upon the instrument (a movement 
 in the time which, when executed skilfully, pro- 
 duces a very good effect) made Violet open 
 her eyes with astonishment, and rather terror^ 
 for the fate of her poor guitar. 
 
 "Miss Vernon, what is the matter?" she 
 said, as she now looked upon the face of Sylvia. 
 It was pale, and there was an expression in it 
 that almost frightened her. " Ai'e you ill ?" 
 she added, anxiously. 
 
 " No ! — you foolish little thing ! Now you 
 have finished your stupid wreath, put on that 
 hat ^vith its blue and yellow adornments, and 
 sing to me : did I not tell you that I had an 
 evil spirit in me this afternoon, and that you 
 were to chaiin it away ? " 
 
 " What shall I sing, Miss Sylvia ?"
 
 218 THE LITTLE BEAl'TV. 
 
 " Anvthinn;, only ])t'gin at once. Here, take 
 your guitar." 
 
 Viok't (lid siug ; ami it was with a voice 
 clear and sweet, as we niight iuiagine that of 
 a seraph, that she waihlcd forth the following 
 words : 
 
 " For mine is the lay that lightly floats, 
 And mine arc the murmuring dying notes, 
 That fall as soft as the snow on the sea, 
 And melt in the heart as instantly ! 
 And the passionate strain that deeply-going 
 Kcfines the bosom it trembles through. 
 As the musk wind over llie water flowing, 
 Ruffles the wave, but sweetens it too."
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 To digress a little. 
 
 Violet was fifteen. Our readers may fonii 
 a very true idea of tlie maimer in which she 
 had been hitherto trained by her mother. 
 Frank Miller earnestly wished better things 
 for this child upon whom he doted. He saw 
 looming in the distance evils which he fain 
 would have averted, in the terrific forms of 
 " the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and 
 the pride of life." And Avhat was there to 
 ward off" these dread enemies ? 
 
 Certainly not a mother's arm. 
 
 He felt all this as he glanced towards the 
 future destiny of his child, but he too became
 
 220 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 SO dazzled by her "wonderful beauty, and so led 
 captive by the extraordinary iiiiliience of its 
 fascination, that he began to .shut his eyes 
 against the suggestions of his better judgment; 
 and his wife, taking advantage of this softening 
 of his orio-inal character, soon ^f^ined the dav, 
 and exercised a complete influence over the 
 really excellent, honest Frank Miller, And 
 many a wiser man than our worthy Vulcan has 
 succumbed no less weakly to the will of a 
 Avoman far inferior in every admirable (piality 
 to himself. But Frank Miller was most de- 
 sirous that his daughter should have a good 
 wholesome education — one fitted for her line 
 of life. He did not mind the cost. He was a 
 thriving man, and had all the Acterinary business 
 of that country-side. Pie still kept up the 
 forge, but merely superintending the concern. 
 So he could afford to give Violet advantages, 
 and wished to send her to school, awav from 
 home — and lo ! be it spoken — away from her 
 mother's influences. But Mrs Miller would 
 not hear of such a plan : her daughter sent to 
 a vnl!j;ar ])lace to associate with farmers' and 
 shopkeepers' daughters, she wondered how 
 they would turn her out indeed ; and as for 
 learninii:, what did she want of that rubbish,
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 221 
 
 just to spoil her figure by stooping over books 
 and writino; ? " 
 
 " Now a governess, Frank ]\Iiller," she 
 added, coaxingly ; " some one Mhom I could 
 superintend — " 
 
 But in that instance he was finn. 
 
 " A governess, indeed, for the like of us ! A 
 pretty one it would be who would come to a 
 blacksmith's daughter, and even if we could 
 find one, a precious plague woidd she prove ! 
 No, Mrs ]\Iiller, you have your own way 
 nine times out of ten, but in this vou never 
 
 " Very well, ]Mr jMiller, pray have it your 
 own Avay, then ; I can only tell you that I can- 
 not nor will not teach her. I have tried a 
 hundred times, and a more tiresome, inattentive 
 child I never came across ; my nerves are not 
 strong enough for teaching, but to school 
 she shall never go." 
 
 Prank, as usual, put an end to the alterca- 
 tion by leaving the house ; but he formed his 
 own plans, called on the village schoolmaster, 
 and made an arrangement with him that he 
 should come everv e^enino; for an hour, and 
 teach Violet to read and write. And this 
 was the only education she received. With
 
 222 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 great difficulty she was taught to perform 
 these two acquirements, most indifferently. 
 
 One accomplishment, however, Nature had 
 bestowed gratuitously u})oii her, and that was 
 the power of singing. She possessed a voice 
 quite wonderful in its tone and liexibility. 
 She had sung from her cradle ; and this gift 
 she certainly dcriNed from her mother, who 
 was always famous for her fine voice, and the 
 songs which resounded through the spacious 
 nurseries of Lyle Court, as she rocked the 
 little lords and ladies to rest. 
 
 Mrs Vernon had always marked the great 
 talent for music the child possessed, and longed 
 to cultivate it, but had been withheld from 
 giving her regular instruction, fearing that it 
 would only foster more strongly the vanity 
 and love of admiration the foolish mother 
 seemed to strive so industriously to inculcate 
 in the natiu'e of the poor child. But as time 
 went on, Mrs Vernon began to take much 
 interest in the church choir, and Violet's voice 
 was too valuable to bo dispensed with ; she 
 was invited to join Avith her own children in 
 all the practising necessary for the Sunday 
 sei'vice ; and Mademoiselle Hoffmann, the 
 German governess, was so enchanted by the
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 223 
 
 genius, as well as the beautiful voice of Violet, 
 that she implored Mrs Vernon to allow her 
 to give the girl regular instruction in music. 
 It was, however, with the greatest difficulty 
 that the clever governess could contrive to 
 teach her the necessary rudiments of the 
 science ; though, with a kind of intuition, her 
 fingers soon became quite at home on the in- 
 strument, and guided by an ear of extra- 
 ordinary quickness, she soon defied all method 
 and teaching, surprising the German instruct- 
 ress by her extraordinary flights of natural 
 talent, bidding fair, coidd she be induced to 
 study with any degree of diligence, to render 
 her quite wonderfid as a musician. In German 
 and French, ]\Iademoiselle Hoffmann would 
 gladly have instructed Violet. But though her 
 fine ear soon enabled her to converse with 
 tolerable fluency in these languages, she was 
 incorrigibly idle. 
 
 Eate seemed propitious to the furtherance of 
 Violet's musical studies. 
 
 An itinerant Italian playing on a guitar, 
 who was travelling through the village, met 
 w^th a dreadful accident which kept him for 
 months laid up in a cottage at Brooklands.
 
 224 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 His case excited much syin]);itliy ; and he 
 received much kindness and assistance from 
 every one. 
 
 Mr and Mrs Vernon were constant in their 
 care of this unfortunate man, wlio seemed 
 inoffensive and amiable. Mrs Miller, who, to 
 do her justice, was never hohindhand in acts 
 of charity — ])articnlarly when they were the 
 fashion — was not at all backward in this case. 
 Mrs Vernon and the young ladies visited 
 poor Leonardo daily, carrying to him with 
 their own hands little dainties ; why might 
 she not do the same ? AYhcn he was recover- 
 ing, the Italian would lie on his bed, propped 
 up mth pillows, his beloved guitar his con- 
 stant companion and solace. And by his side 
 was Violet often to be found ; h'.'r great am- 
 bition was to learn to play upon that instru- 
 ment, and too glad was the poor man to gratify 
 her wish. 
 
 The genius of the girl fell like light and 
 refreshment on the heai-t of this native of a 
 nmsic-loving country. He looked upon her 
 as one whom he might have glorified in acknow- 
 ledging to have belonged to his hella Italia, 
 that sweet land of sona; : and it was to him
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 225 
 
 happiness indescribable to instruct tlie gifted 
 cliild, not only liow to play upon the guitar, 
 but to sing the songs he loved so well. 
 
 Some difficulty he certainly had in making 
 her English tongue pronounce the hquid ac- 
 cents of his melodious lanoruao-e : but even 
 this he accomplished by dint of perseverance ; 
 and soon his pride and exultation in his pupil 
 knew no bounds ; and no wonder. It woidd be 
 difficidt to imagine anything more dehcious than 
 the tones of that rich voice of Violet's. 
 
 We have, perhaps, once or twice in a hfe- 
 time been overpowered by the notes of a 
 chorister in some cathecbal — a voice which has 
 thrilled upon our senses with an indescribable 
 sensation of delight ; a soimd partaking of no- 
 thing earthly, elevating one's heart beyond the 
 world, causing one to look m imagination to 
 that kingdom where 
 
 " Cherubim aud SerapWm continually do cry." 
 
 And this was the quality of Violet's voice at 
 the age of eleven. 
 
 The Itahan, though he revelled in its present 
 beauty, used to implore ]\Irs Miller not to allow 
 la hella famiidla to use it so much at her 
 early age ; but how could Violet check her 
 Avarbling ? She was always singing and play- 
 
 VOL. I. 15
 
 226 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 ing on the guitar which a few hints from Mrs 
 Miller soon extracted from tlic Glcnmore 
 family ; and by the time she had reached her 
 fifteenth year, her proticiency in music, or 
 rather her wonderful taste and genius, stand- 
 ing in the j^lace of theoretical knowledge, were 
 truly surprising. 
 
 But whilst she thus ])rogressed in musical 
 attainments, the poor girl was deplorably ig- 
 norant in everything else. She coidd read no 
 better than a child (in these precocious days) of 
 five years old ; her writing would have shamed 
 cm* kitchen-maids, and as for her spelling ! ! ! 
 
 " Rosv," said her father, one Sundav even- 
 ing when she had been spelling over a cha])ter 
 of the Bible to him, " I wish you read a little 
 better. I really am (piite ashamed when I 
 think how old vou are, and how little vou can 
 do, save to sing and play upon the guitar; 
 and what good will all this nuisic be to you, 
 I wonder? " 
 
 Violet turned very red ; she rejdly was a 
 sweet-tempered child, and IovchI her father 
 most dearly. 
 
 " But, father," she said, tears starting to 
 her eyes, " you love to hear me sing." 
 
 "Yes, my child, 1 do — I love it rather too
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 227 
 
 much; I often think it quite a sin. Rosy, 
 when I am an okl man, and cannot see to read 
 my Bil)le, I shoukl Kke to think I had a 
 daughter who woukl do it for me, but I have 
 no pleasure in hearing you read in that man- 
 ner; and you never seem to try to get on. 
 Mr Jennings compkiins that you never will 
 attend, and that you contrive to be out of the 
 way most evenings Avhen he comes to teach 
 you ; you ought to remember, Violet, you will 
 soon be a woman." 
 
 " I will try to do better," Violet said, and 
 looked so sad and penitent, and withal 
 so lovely, as, seated on a foot-stool at his feet, 
 she leant her fairy head upon his knees and 
 gazed up into his face, that he could say nought 
 more in any way savoming of harshness. 
 
 " Well, well," he added, almost apologeti- 
 cally, " let me wipe away those two large tears, 
 and say no more about it." 
 
 This was the discipline exercised over Violet. 
 
 " Naught 'under heaven so strongly doth allure 
 The sense of man, and all his miude possesse, 
 As beauty's lovely bait that doth procure 
 Great vfarriors oft their rigor to represse, 
 And mighty hands forget their manlinesse. 
 DrawTie with the power of an heart-robbing eye, 
 And wrapt in fetters of a golden tresse.
 
 228 THE LITTLK BEAUTY. 
 
 Tliat cau with melting plcasauncc nuUifyo 
 
 Their hardened hearts emiured to blood and cruelty." 
 
 " Father," said Violet, still in a subdued 
 tone of voice, " I know I read very badly, hid 
 I can sing you a beautiful new liynui this Sun- 
 day evening, now we are all alone and no one 
 to interrupt us. ]\linnnie does not care for 
 hynnis much, I think, but I love them ; Mrs 
 Vernon taught it to me this week." 
 
 " And so do I love them, my child ! " Frank 
 Miller tenderly rephed, " and that good, kind 
 lady, you love her very much, Rosy, doyou not?" 
 
 " Love her !" exclaimed the girl, " I thhik I 
 do, indeed ! " and then turning her face towards 
 her father, her eyes glancing upwards, she 
 sang the hynui : 
 
 " Pass away, earthly joys, 
 Jesus is mine." 
 
 Poor girl ! as she carolled the holy words 
 with an cxpressi(m and pathos which almost 
 brought the moisture to Fi'ank's eyes — unac- 
 custonied as they were to such unmanly weak- 
 ness — not one word of their holy import, ])rob- 
 ably, made the slightest impression upon her 
 heart ; the beauty of the nnisic, and perhaps 
 the general solenni character of the sacred 
 song, alone she heeded.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 229 
 
 Seated so confidingly at her father's feet, 
 whom she dearly prized, with everything 
 pleasant around her, youth, health, beauty, 
 and hope so strong within her, how could she 
 wish for " earthly joys " to " pass away," as 
 the hymn expressed it ? or, with such a bright 
 world as she imagined before her, how 
 could she now realize the words " Dark is the 
 wilderness ! " 
 
 But the time might come when their im- 
 port would be fully understood, and the re- 
 membrance of the evening she first sung those 
 words, leaning so lovingly against the knee 
 of her kind, honest father, surrounded by so 
 many blessings, might chance to rise up in her 
 memory like a dream of happiness which 
 fades gradually away as day approaches. The 
 words of the hynm may be still engraven 
 there distinctly on her memory, and then, 
 perhaps, experience of the world may have 
 taught her their meaning, and with the teach- 
 ing, however hard it may have been, if from 
 the depths of her heart she can with con- 
 fidence repeat the burden of that holy song, 
 " Jesus is mine ! " then little will it matter 
 whether joy or sorrow has been her portion !
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 But wc have made a long digression from 
 the subject in question. 
 
 Lion, the liuge mastiff, Avho had hitherto 
 laid quietly at the feet of his young mistress, 
 now began to give signs that he heard a])- 
 proaching footsteps, and soon he bounded off, 
 returning very shortly, accompanied by Jidian 
 and his sister. 
 
 " So wo have found you at last ! — a pretty 
 dance you have given us, Miss Sylvia," were 
 Julian's words, as he emerged from the thick 
 plantation which served as a back-ground to 
 the sylvan reception-room.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 231 
 
 " Ah, pretty A^iolet, you here ? " he con- 
 tinued, " 1 thought I heard a nightingale sing- 
 ing, as I walked up the wood ; but it is some- 
 thing bonnier, I see, than the little brown 
 bird." 
 
 It was nothing new to Violet to have com- 
 pliments paid to her beauty ; ever since she 
 was born, she had seldom been addressed with- 
 out some note of admiration affixed to her 
 name. 
 
 "Pretty Violet" or "little beauty" was 
 her most common appellation. The girl was 
 far from vain. Perhaps, conscious beauty had 
 been her safe-guard — she was so perfectly 
 aware that she possessed it, and 
 
 "It so falls out 
 That what we have, we prize not to the worth 
 TYliiles we enjoy it." 
 
 Had not her beauty made her earlv con- 
 spicuous, poor child — the little wonder of the 
 country side, the lion of the village and neigh- 
 bom-hood? Many a visit was paid to the black- 
 smith's cottage, to catch a glimpse of the 
 Brooklands A''iolet. 
 
 But she blushed now rosy red at this 
 speech of Julian's, and rose, making him a sort 
 of little shy curtsey, saying, while she held out
 
 232 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 her hand, " I am very glad to see you, Mr Ju- 
 haii." 
 
 He took the little hand, shaking it affection- 
 ately, and said : 
 
 " I slioidd have called to see you and IMi-s 
 Miller yesterday, hut was obliged to ride to 
 Ashton Park, and was detained there till late ; 
 hut sit down, pray, you little (jueen of song 
 and beauty, and let nie hear the last verses of 
 the sweet ditty you were singing." 
 
 Violet obeved, and rcsumino- her 2;uitar, be- 
 gan immediately ; but her voice was not so 
 assured as usual ; at first it trembled a little, 
 although by degrees it recovered fimmess as 
 she proceeded. 
 
 Julian had not seen Violet for six months, 
 and in that time she had changed considerably; 
 she was beginning to lose her childish appear- 
 ance. 
 
 A more lovely picture than she presented at 
 this moment could not be imagined. Her 
 dress was picturesque in the extreme ; Mrs 
 Miller scorned the usual attire of girls of 
 Violet's grade of life ; indeed she looked even 
 with contempt on the dress of both Sylvia and 
 Mary, often declaring that if it Avere not that 
 the French maid had certainly a stylish way of
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 233 
 
 fitting the voimar ladies, and that Miss Vernon 
 was an aristocratic-looking girl, those ginghams 
 and muslins they wore in summer were the 
 most paltry, cheap things that could be bought. 
 The Ladies Lyle were always sending boxes 
 full of odds and ends to the cottage, well 
 knowing their nurse's taste for finery ; so Mrs 
 Miller had plenty of scope for the indulgence of 
 her fancy. 
 
 Kindly meant, but most injudicious, was the 
 plan of thus giving Violet many a dress quite 
 imfit for her to wear, to say nothing of bon- 
 nets, ribbons, and everv sort of etcetera. 
 Often when Sylvia and her step-sister walked 
 to chm-ch in their pretty unostentatious light 
 ' muslin dresses and straw bonnets, A^'iolet 
 rustled past them in a rich silk, and a bon- 
 net which had evidently been intended for and 
 worn at some public breakfast or at Kensington 
 Gardens ; and though she could not look other- 
 wise than lovely in any dress, she Avould, on 
 the principle of " beauty when unadorned being 
 adorned the most," have been much more 
 charming in simple attire. 
 
 But on this day her costume was very be- 
 coming ; she wore a rose-coloured skirt, a full 
 white mushn body, close up to her throat, and
 
 234 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 over it a little low hodice of black velvet, open 
 and laced in front, in the Swiss fashion ; the 
 sleeves of white nuislin, looped np with a 
 bnttoii, displaying, almost to the elbow, the 
 plump, small arm, a large straw hat com- 
 pleting the costume, round wdiich the girl had 
 tAvined a most beautiful wreath, composed of 
 blue-bells and primroses. She was particularly 
 handy with her fingers, and her mother gloried 
 in the talent she displayed in any fanciful work 
 of personal decoration, little heeding her use- 
 lessness in shirt-makini>;, or anv of the com- 
 moner, but more necessary, duties for a girl of 
 her grade. 
 
 Julian gazed upon this beautiful little 
 creature with a degree of Jidmiration quite 
 nev\' to him. This child, w tioiii lie had played 
 with as a toy, as long almost as he could re- 
 member, had suddenly changed entirely in her 
 aspect towards him ; no longer was she the 
 little Molet of Ibrmer days, but a girl — almost 
 a woman — and, oh, how lovely ! 
 
 " lier eyes, her lij)s, her cheeks, her shape, 
 her features, seem to be drawn bv Love's own 
 hand, ])y Love himself in love." 
 
 Our readers perhaps imagine we are de- 
 scril)in<>; a sort of ideal imase — some faultless
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY, :235 
 
 mortal wlio never could have existed — but it 
 is not so. Once or twice perhaps in the course 
 of a long life we have been startled by beauty 
 such as oiu' eves had never dreamt of behold- 
 ing, and probably never will behold again. 
 In our opinion, there is not in these times 
 as many wonders in the way of beauty, as in 
 the days when a lovely duchess or countess 
 attracted the attention of crowds of admiring 
 spectators, who accounted it a boon to catch 
 but a transient glance of her beautiful face as 
 she passed quickly through the streets, or to her 
 carriage. ^Moderate good looks are perhaps 
 more common than formerly ; the dress of the 
 present day is generally more becoming, — 
 young ladies with but a moderate share of 
 prettiness pass muster uncommonly well, — and 
 that is quite sufficient, we think, for every pur- " 
 pose ; indeed, extreme beauty may perhaps be 
 reckoned a misfortmie. Even in the highest 
 ranks it is, as the poet says : 
 
 • " but a vain and doubtful good, 
 
 A shining gloss that fadeth suddenly, 
 
 A flower that dies when first it 'gins to bud, 
 
 A brittle glass that 's broken presently : 
 
 A doubtful good, a glass, a flower. 
 
 Lost, broken, faded, dead within an hour." 
 
 And if it prove a snare to those who by edu-
 
 236 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 cation and position arc fenced aronnd Avith 
 every safeguard, what must it be to the less 
 favoiu"cd — to a ])()or girl like Violet, with 
 such a mother as she was so unfortunate as to 
 possess ? 
 
 Julian leant against a tree, lost in contem- 
 plation of the fair minstrel as she warbled forth 
 lier sono; — Marv, standinG; bv her brother's 
 side, listening with the pleased attention 
 Violet's beautiful voice alwavs elicited. 
 
 When she ceased sin''in"; thcv both turned 
 to look for Sylvia, but neither she nor Lion 
 were to be seen. 
 
 "Where is Svlvia?" Julian exclaimed, in 
 some consternation and much annoyance ; 
 " how tiresome she is ! Avliat can liave become 
 of her again, I wonder?" 
 
 " I don't think Miss Vernon is quite well 
 to-day," Violet interj)osed. 
 
 "Why, what's the matrer?" Julian in- 
 quired quickly. 
 
 " She said," replied Violet, looking rather 
 mystified, " that she had an evil spirit upon 
 her like Saul, and she Ijioudit me here to 
 charm it out of her, as David did out of the 
 wicked king." 
 
 Julian and Mary laughed.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 237 
 
 " And," she continued, "just now, when I 
 was talking to her, she looked so odd, sud- 
 denly, and — " But just then, remembering 
 what she had been saying at that moment, she 
 stopped abruptly, and blushed so painfully, 
 that Mary said : 
 
 " I hope you did not vex Sylvia, Violet." 
 
 " Indeed, I said nothing to vex her, ]\Iiss 
 Mary," she replied, eagerly. " I only said — " 
 
 But again she stopped, covered with con- 
 fusion. 
 
 " Never mind, pretty one ! what you said," 
 Julian interposed, hastily; "I suppose we 
 must go off in search of this runaway ; let me 
 carry away the guitar ; " and they all wended 
 their wav homewards. 
 
 Sylvia had, unobserved by the brother and 
 sister, left the wood. They had stood rather 
 turned from her, but still she could plainly 
 perceive every expression of their countenances. 
 She saw they were wholly absorbed by Violet, 
 and in Julian's face admiration was unmistake- 
 ably depicted. 
 
 With one of those ungovernable impulses 
 which she had never yet learned totally to re- 
 press, she had started up and fled rapidly 
 down the hill leading from the wood, accom-
 
 238 Tin: little beauty. 
 
 j)iinied by licr faitliful coni})aiH()n, Lion, and 
 scarcely slackotiecl her pace until she reached 
 the gates of the rectory. 
 
 "Ah, dear Ijion," she said, as, stopping for a 
 moment to recover breath, she patted the head 
 of tlie animal who kept so pertinaciously by her 
 side, " ]iou never desert me, nor care for any one 
 so well as your mistress ; " and tears fell from 
 her eyes. 
 
 "But what will mauuua say?" Sylvia con- 
 tinued to muse, as she now slowly ascended the 
 slight acclivity which led to the house. " How 
 foolish of mc to leave the wood ! I dare say 
 they will all be angry, or rather vexed, with 
 me, but I coidd not helj) it ; oh, that I were 
 more patient, more gentle ! What will Julian 
 think of me ? " 
 
 Aiul full of compunction for her intemperate 
 ebullition, she, with a hesitating hand, opened 
 the glass door leading into the hall, and there 
 at once encountered I\Irs Vernon, who had just 
 returned from seeing Mrs Martha comfortably 
 seated at tea in the housekeeper's roouL She 
 well knew that her old friend woidd enjoy this 
 sacred meal — ])rizc(l by nurses, we believe, be- 
 yond all others — nuich more without the ghne 
 of drawing-room society, and with those be-
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 239 
 
 fore wliom she might ha^ e her cup Mecl and 
 re-filled to her heart's content. 
 
 " Why, Sylvia, you are sooner home than I 
 expected; where are Julian and Mary?" were 
 Mrs Vernon's words on perceiving her. Sylvia 
 could not speak ; she only coloured and looked 
 confused. "Is anything the matter?" asked 
 Mrs Vernon, quite alarmed. 
 
 " No, mamma, nothing, but — " and she 
 threw her arms round Mrs Vernon's neck. 
 
 " Oh I I have been so foolish, so chikUsh, I 
 know you will be very angry, and despise me 
 for beino; so weak and violent." 
 
 " Pray don't agitate yourself in this manner, 
 Sylvia; come with me into my sitting-room, 
 and tell me what has happened." 
 
 And Mrs Vernon led her weeping daughter 
 to her own little sanctum, and seated by her 
 side on the sofa, Sylvia sobbed forth her 
 humiliating record of the last hom% leaning 
 confidingly her head upon the shoulder of 
 her gentle mother. 
 
 She told how she had been in the first in- 
 stance hurt by Mrs IMartha's words, "She 
 does not belong to you ! " and the cold 
 manner in Avhich they were spoken. " Veiy 
 absurd, mamma, I know you will think it, for
 
 240 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 no doubt the old woiniin did not mean to of- 
 fend nie, but I cannot bear to think I do not 
 (|uitc belong to you all; that I am so different, 
 with my dark eyes and hair, .standing alone in 
 the family, showing so plainly that I am not 
 your child — even little Arthur, my father's 
 own l)ov, seeming to scorn to show he is 
 my brother by his blue eyes and light 
 curls. Ah, I see you are laughing at me, 
 niannna ; in your heart how sorry you must 
 be that you have such a foolish daugliter ! 
 And you have not heard the worst part of my 
 stoiy." 
 
 " I hope I have, dear Sylvia. I quite agree 
 with you that what you have already told me 
 is a foolish, imamiable idea of yours ; but, at 
 the same time, I must confess that the love 
 it expresses for me is something so flattering 
 to my heart, that, though I am forced to con- 
 denm the feeling, and to implore you to get rid 
 of it as a weakness unworthy of so sensible a 
 girl, yet I nnist forgive it, my darling Sylvia; " 
 and Mrs Vernon tenderly kissed her. 
 
 "Oh, but, mamma, dearest mamma, you know 
 not all. Now you really will be thoroughly 
 vexed with me, for I will tell you everything — 
 my thoughts even, and then — "
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 241 
 
 Slie paused, and sighed heavily, 
 
 " I am ahnost too much ashamed to tell 
 you," she went on at length, turning aAvay 
 her head, "but I suppose it must be done. 
 AVell ! — I saw that Julian and Marv were so 
 occupied with the old nurse, that they took no 
 heed of me, so I set off as fast as I could with 
 Lion towards the wood. Whilst passing the 
 cottage, I saw Violet, as usual, sitting in the 
 porch twanging her guitar. I believe she 
 never does anvthino; else from morning till 
 night. I thought I would take her with me, 
 so Avent in for her, and that tiresome mother 
 allowed her to go, although she wanted me 
 to Avait — whilst she did out her hair, as she calls 
 it — what a horrid woman she is, mamma ! " 
 
 " There again, Sylvia, always in extremes, 
 exaggerated even in your epithets," interposed 
 Mrs Venion. 
 
 " Well, but you know she is horrid, mamma. 
 I only wonder Alolet is not more sillv than she 
 is ; however, I took her ofip, and we went to 
 the drawing-room in the wood, and I made 
 her sing to me ; but first of all she must make 
 a wreath of wild flowers for her straw hat, 
 conceited little creature ! But how beautiful, 
 certainly, she is ! " 
 
 VOL. I. 16
 
 242 Tin: MTTi.r, bkaitv. 
 
 And Sylviii sighed disicoiisolatcly. 
 
 " That mother of hers hud dressed her in a 
 new costume, a sort of Swiss peasant's dress, 
 which became her mightily. Seated as she 
 was, surrounded by those flowers, on a mossy 
 seat in tliat beautiful place, the sun shining 
 through the trees so brightly upon her, really 
 I could not help being struck by her wonderful 
 loveliness ; at last the wreath was finished, and 
 the lial put jauntily on, on one side, but not 
 l)efore she had talked a great deal of nonsense, 
 I can assure you ; and then she began to sing, 
 and oh ! mamma, what a voice she has ! " 
 
 " It is, indeed, a beautiful little pipe ; poor 
 child ! I sometimes think, in mv blindness no 
 doubt, that she would be better without a gift 
 which will, I fear, prove only an additional 
 incentive to vanitv." 
 
 "Yes, so I think," said Sylvia, nuich ex- 
 cited ; " what good can it do to a black- 
 smith's daughter to be so beautiful, or so 
 highly gifted with nuisical talents ? " 
 
 " ]-iut, Sylvia, we must recollect who made 
 her both in mind and body ; no talent or gift 
 is bcstoM'cd witliout a purpose." 
 
 " No, cei-tainly, I sn])posc not," continued 
 Sylvia, with a sigh. " ^^^ell, mannna, whilst she
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. r243 
 
 Avas in the middle of a song, Julian with Mary- 
 appeared. He scarcely noticed me, except to 
 say that I had led them a dance ; he seemed 
 struck with Violet, just as if he had seen her 
 for the first time. He was so kind and affec- 
 tionate to her — called her " pretty Violet," and 
 all sorts of pet names — made her sing, and 
 stood leaning against a tree, wdth his eyes fixed 
 immovably upon her. Oh, mamma, I cannot 
 describe the sensation which shot into my 
 heart ; it was, I fear, something very dreadful, 
 a mixture of anger, hatred, and despair. I 
 scarcely know why, for, poor Violet ! can she 
 help being so lovely, and how is it possible for 
 Julian or any one else not to admire her ? " 
 
 Whilst Sylvia thus rapidly spoke, had she 
 looked into Mrs Vernon's face, she would have 
 seen that it grew pale, and that an anxious ex- 
 pression usui-^^ed the generally placid character 
 of her countenance. A weight had indeed 
 fallen on her heart in the form of a care for 
 the future, which had never before suggested 
 itself. 
 
 Oh, it is a blissful time wdien our sons and 
 daughters are children, a period of peace- 
 fid enjoyment which, whilst it lasts, we seldom 
 estimate to its full extent. The scene changes
 
 244 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 •when cliildhood departs ; to tlie tender cares of 
 infancy succeed anxieties- ol" a lieavier nature. 
 It was an awakening to the mother, the dis- 
 agreeable thoughts with wliich Sylvia's words 
 had shaken her imagination — the first glimpse 
 of coming days, which caused a spasm of pain 
 to strike throuiih licr heart as Svlvia related 
 this little scene, and she contemplated her 
 darling son exposed to all the dangers of his 
 age, in a world into Avliich he was about to 
 launch, so inexperienced, so pure-minded. She 
 had never thought of him hitherto l)ut as the 
 solace and comfort of her life ; had never be- 
 fore had the idea that he was human, tliat he 
 would be a man indeed, Avith all the passions 
 of a man. 
 
 But Mrs Vernon's was a faithful, trusting 
 heart. She repressed her rising a])])rehensi()ns, 
 and talked long to her dearly loved yomig 
 daughter, endeavouring to impress upon her 
 mind how greatly it would increase her happi- 
 ness if she acquired more self-command, telling 
 her plainly that she felt certain that, although 
 Julian loved her already most sincerely, she 
 would gain more influence over his affection if 
 .she were more calm and equable in her ways. 
 
 " Men, in general," Mrs Vernon continued.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 245 
 
 and we must now begin to consider our Julian 
 in the light of a young man, " are most inclined 
 to admire all that is gentle and soft in woman ; 
 gentleness ought to be the personification of 
 our sex. Theii' presence ought to inspire a 
 feeling of peace and repose, not wrath ; and 
 remember, Sylvia, you are now almost a 
 woman." 
 
 When Julian and Mary returned to the 
 rectory, heated and discomfited by this wild- 
 goose search after her, they found Sylvia quietly 
 seated close to Mrs Martha, who was installed 
 in an arm-chair in the drawing-room, little 
 Arthur on her knee. She seemed to be making 
 herself very agreeable to the old nurse, who, 
 though she stroked with much tenderness the 
 fair head of the little ])oy, yet looked with 
 admiration upon the dark flowing locks and 
 brilliant eyes of the handsome daughter of the 
 good man she had already learnt to revere.
 
 CHAPTEr. XXII. 
 
 Nurse Martha spent the next day most 
 linppily. The affectionate attentions slie re- 
 ceived from every member of the family were 
 truly gratifying to her. 
 
 Mrs Vernon drove her out in her little pony 
 carriage into the grounds of Lyle Court., and on 
 their way tliither, on passing the cottage, they 
 saw Violet leaning, as she too -often did, against 
 the garden gate, idly looking out upon the road. 
 " I nuist show you our village beauty," said 
 Mrs Vernon, as she stopped and called Violet 
 to her side, and presently Mrs Miller, who was 
 in the garden, bustled up also, simpering and 
 mincuin: out her salutations. Mrs Martha's*
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 247 
 
 gaze fixed itself upon the beautiful foce of 
 Violet, and after tliey drove on slie said : 
 
 " Indeed, my dear lady, my eyes never light- 
 ed upon anything so lovely ; only one face have 
 I ever seen like it, and that is one I often look 
 at, in a picture which Mr Jerrold has in his room; 
 it is of an angel, painted by, I think he told me, 
 Raphael. I am quite learned in pictures now ; 
 poor Mr Jerrold thinks and talks so much 
 about them, they being his only anmsement. 
 The one I mean is certainly strikingly like that 
 young girl — just the same golden hair, the 
 same perfect features, those parted lips and 
 that beautifully formed mouth and hea^^enly 
 eyes, as hers looked when she turned them 
 up towards your face ; she is truly a sweet- 
 looking creature, and seems innocent and good." 
 
 " And so she is, poor child, at present ! " Mrs 
 Vernon answered, with a sigh. 
 
 " Yes," continued the old woman, " I know 
 why you sigh ; that beauty will be a hard trial 
 to her, and I don't much like the looks of the 
 mother — God forgive me for my bad thoughts.'" 
 
 " Indeed, I fear she is a very foolish woman ; 
 her father is an excellent, honest man, but I 
 believe has little influence over his household." 
 
 ^ y^ y^ ^
 
 248 Tin; J,1TT1,K IJEAL'TV, 
 
 Tliat cvcuinp; Julian had a little walk alone 
 with his father's nurse; lie led her into the 
 churehyard to look ii))on a uiave with a hand- 
 some niarl)le slab, surrouniled hy raihngs, 
 Avhich had been substituted for the Innnble 
 ccravestone that had before marked the resting'- 
 plaee of the last Julian Hope. 
 
 This had been done l)y Mr Vernon, his 
 step-son related to ^Ii's ^laitha, as one of the 
 many acts of kindness and consideration which 
 he never wearied in bestowing upon them idl. 
 Nurse Martha, before she left Ib'ooklands the 
 next dav, had the satisfaction of seeins; this ex- 
 cellent friend to those in whom she felt so 
 teudei' an int(M"est; Mr Vernon arrived by 
 an eailv train, and the welcome he received 
 from the whole taiiiily was a token of" how 
 nuich he was heloved. 
 
 Mr Vernon was a tall, slight man of about 
 fifty years old. From him il was j)laiidy 
 visible that Sylvia had derived her dark hair 
 and eves; indeed, she rescanbled Ucv fathei' 
 creatlv in features, but {hv expi'ession was vei'v 
 different. There was a peculiarly calm and 
 gentle air pei'\ a(liu|j: his countenance, a con- 
 trast to the \ivacious sparkle of his young 
 daughter's face. But time may have changed
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 249' 
 
 him, and a life devoted to the duties of his 
 caUiiig has softened the tire of those dark 
 eyes which never now fell but with the mild- 
 est radiance on any one. He was tridy be- 
 loved by his flock ; of him justly they might say: 
 
 "We venerate the mau whose heart is warm, 
 Whose hands are pure, whose doctrine and whose life, 
 Coincident, exhibit lucid proof 
 That he is honest in the sacred cause." 
 
 " Yes, Mr Jerrold," said the old nurse, as 
 she sat beside the invalid relating every little 
 incident of her dehghtful expedition, " it has, 
 indeed, been new life to me, these three last 
 days — something bright to think of for the re- 
 mainder of my old life. I sometimes fancy it 
 cannot all be true, but a beautiful dream, a 
 fairy story ! that pretty place, and such a par- 
 sonao-e I never before beheld. But I believe Mr 
 Vernon, Avho is well to do, has added a room 
 here and there, as it was required, so it is quite 
 a large house — rather irregular-looking — but 
 you, sir, would call it picturesque, with its 
 gable ends painted black and white, like the 
 cottages in the village, and the garden so pretty; 
 and then those children, Mr Jerrold, those 
 happy, beautiful children ! " 
 
 *' It is indeed pleasant, jMartha, to hear all
 
 250 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 this, but go on, you have not told mc half that 
 I want to hear." 
 
 "Oh, for that matter, 1 might go on for 
 ever," continued the nurse. " As for Julian, he 
 is exactly like his father, ])ut stronger-looking 
 in all Avays, has a firm look, more decision in 
 his eye, in the lines of his mouth ! — you see at 
 once that his has been a wholesome briuijin": 
 up, less soft than his dear lather's, no weak 
 indulgence or luxury to unfit him for strug- 
 gling through life and its temptations. No, 
 there is something in the expression (jf his 
 countenance that tehs the beholder that he has 
 that within him Avhich will enable him to fight 
 the good fight, and manfully con([uer even the 
 deceitfulness of his own heart. Yes, those 
 Avho live to see it will, I know, have cause to 
 be proud of that youth." 
 
 "And the girl, good Martha, what of her?" 
 " She is a dear little girl, mild inul gentle as 
 a dove; she has been delicate from her birth, 
 poor child ; — born, some months after her fa- 
 ther's death, in misery and sorrow ; but they 
 say she gains strength every year ; she will be 
 l)retty, I think, some of these days, when less 
 pale and thin. Ihit, j\Ir Jerrold, ]\Iiss Sylvia, 
 what a spleiulid creature she is !"
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 251 
 
 " Mr Vernon's daugliter ?" said Jerrold, witli 
 less eagerness. 
 
 "Yes, that dear, good man's daughter!" 
 contmiied IMartha with great enthusiasm; " that 
 man who has been a friend, a father to your 
 cousins and their mother, when all their blood- 
 relations forsook them; ^vho has been the means, 
 A^dth God's blessing, of making them what they 
 are now, good and happy : how they all love and 
 venerate him, and no wonder ! And that Sylvia, 
 to see her adoration of her step-mother, it is 
 something wonderfid. She is a droll young 
 lady," and Martha laughed ; "do you know, 
 she is so tenacious of being thought not to be 
 quite one of them, and was quite offended 
 even with me when I said, on first meeting 
 the young party, something about her not be- 
 ing a Hope. How could I think her one, with 
 those dark locks and eyes ? such eyes ! — why, 
 they sparkle hke the stars on a frosty night. 
 She is a pretty creatm-e, with her tall stature, 
 and graceful little head ; and she forgave me, 
 dear child, for my speech very soon, and was 
 as loving and kind to me as any one of them." 
 "And my aunt, how does she look?" in- 
 quired Jerrold.
 
 252 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 "Miss Mary? I beg her pardon, ]\Irs Ver- 
 non — I never saw any one less altered by 
 time ; fair-coin])lcxione(l people look young 
 longer than those who are darker skinned, 
 and after all she is only thirty-seven ; poor 
 V01U12; creature ! — she was barelv seventeen 
 when she took that imprudent step — eloped 
 with Mr -lulian ! Since her second uiarriao-e 
 she has led so calm and hap})y a life, that she 
 nuist have recovered her health and spirits. 
 Mr Vernon SL-ems to dote upon her, loving her 
 children (pnte as dearly as his own, and doing 
 everything kind and generous by them ; oh, 
 he is a man at whose feet I could have almost 
 fallen, to thank him foi- Avliat he has done for 
 those so dear to my lost darling!" 
 
 " I (|uite enter into your feelings, dear Martha, 
 and I also feel the deepest gratitude towards ]\Ir 
 Vernon, and long to tell him so," replied Jerrold. 
 
 It was now the great object of Jerrold's 
 life to see his cousins, to have them, as it were, 
 domesticated at Lillord Towers, and inmie- 
 diately on his father's return honu^ he com- 
 menced the subject. 
 
 fie told him, fearlessly, what he had done ; 
 how he had sent Nurse Martha to reconnoitre.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 253 
 
 and bring back some account of the family, 
 and then related all she had told him, and the 
 impression his uncle Julian's children had 
 made upon her. 
 
 Mr Hope listened attentively to his son's 
 recital, and Jerrold ^vas surprised at tlie man- 
 ner in wliich his father received a communi- 
 cation so hkelv, he imas-ined, to offend him. 
 His grave, stern countenance assumed no darker 
 looks ; he was silent for some time, and then 
 said, " This, certainly, is an extraordinary step 
 for you to have taken, Jerrold ; one that I should 
 not have sanctioned had I been consulted ; how- 
 ever, as it has been done, I shall say no more 
 about it." 
 
 " Oh, my dear father 1" exclaimed the poor 
 invalid, with extreme excitement, " I trust you 
 will say a great deal more about it ; oh, say that 
 you will allow me to see my cousins, to have 
 the only happiness I expect in this world. For 
 years now this has been the sole pleasm'e I 
 have had in anticipation ; my cousins require 
 nothing from }"ou — the excellent man my 
 uncle's widow mamed has taken your place, 
 and provides nobly for the boy, who, in all 
 probability, must be your heir — the future 
 owner of this property."
 
 254 Tin; LITTLE HE AIT V. 
 
 Mr Hope evidently winced at these words; 
 and a spasm, as of })ain, crossed his coun- 
 tenance. 
 
 "Yes, to a stranger's generosity a Hope 
 owes evervthin"-, whilst his uncle disowns 
 him," Jerrold rnntinued, becominp: much agi- 
 tated. "Oh, father, I beseech you, if you have 
 any regard for your unfortunate son, grant his 
 prayer; send for that boy, let me see some- 
 thing I can love, can be proud of, before I die ; 
 some one who is worthy to perpetuate our name. 
 Dear ftither, you have always been kind and 
 indidgent to your poor crippled son, so hear 
 me now, I implore you,'' and Jerrold clasped 
 his thin white hands in earnest entreaty. 
 
 A very few days after this conversation 
 between Jerrold Hope and his father, the post 
 brought a letter to Mrs Vernon, the contents 
 of which seemed to disturb her greatly. Mr 
 Vernon, busily employed in reading his own 
 desi)atches, did not observe his wife's agitated 
 countenance, nor did he make any remark 
 when she rose and left the breakfiist- 
 table. 
 
 "My motlicr has had some bad news, I 
 fear," said Julian, addressing his step- 
 father. 
 
 Sylvia started up with the intention of fly-
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 255 
 
 ing to Mrs Vernon; but her father inter- 
 posed. 
 
 " No, Sylvia, I will go to her," he said, and 
 immediately went to seek his wife. 
 
 He found her in her sitting-room, weeping 
 bitterly; much alarmed, he inquired into the 
 cause of this distress. 
 
 " You will think me very weak and foolish 
 to be thus affected by the contents of this 
 letter, but I cannot help it," she said, placing 
 it in his hands. 
 
 It ran as follows : 
 
 " Lilford Towers, 
 " May 1st, — 
 
 " Dear Madam, 
 
 " I wish in all sincerity to become ac- 
 quainted with your son, my nephew, Julian 
 Hope, and shall feel obliged by your allowing 
 him to visit me as soon as possible. His 
 cousin Jerrold is most anxious to make his 
 acquaintance. I must also request to be 
 allowed to fulfil all those pecuniary duties 
 henceforth for him, which have hitherto been 
 so generously performed by your husband, Mr 
 Vernon. I understand Julian is at Oxford. 
 Every expense of his education in future I
 
 o 
 
 56 Till-. laTTLK BEAUTY 
 
 must be permitted to defray. It is iny earnest 
 wish that tlie past slioiikl ])C l)uncd in ob- 
 livion. 
 
 " I remain, dear Madam, 
 
 " Very faithfully yours, 
 " Alexander Hope." 
 
 " I know I ought rather to rejoice," con- 
 tinued Mrs Vernon, whilst her husband was 
 perusing tlie letter ; " I ought to be thankful 
 that so great a load is taken from you; but I 
 cannot forget the past. At this moment, the 
 remend)rance of all that cruel man's cold un- 
 kindness to Julian's father tills my heart with 
 such bitter feelings that, God forgive me when 
 I say it, I cannot endure the ideaof my son re- 
 ceiving anything from his hands. Tt has been 
 so delightful to owe all to you, my generous, 
 kind, and beloved husl)and ! " 
 
 But Mr Vernon spoke, and his soothing 
 words, as they ever did, soon calmed the 
 tempest at her heart, and convinced her better 
 judgment on the subject. 
 
 The next day a letter was despatched to 
 Lilford Towers from Mr Vernon. It ran as 
 follows :
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 257 
 
 " Brooklands Rectory, 
 " May 12tli, — 
 " Sir, 
 
 " I am deputed by Mrs Vernon to in- 
 form you that her son Julian Hope will Avait 
 upon you on Monday, the 26tli instant, should 
 that day suit you to receive him. 
 
 " With regard to the pecuniary arrangement 
 to which you allude, I beg to say the dis- 
 cussion of the subject need not yet be defi- 
 nitely decided upon. I can only say that for 
 many years it has been one of the greatest 
 sources of satisfaction to me, the power I have 
 had of promoting the advantage of my much- 
 beloved step-son. 
 
 " I do not, however, hesitate to allow that 
 from your near relationship your claims to 
 assist your nephew are very great ; but I en- 
 treat you to understand that I am still quite 
 ready to go on to the end with the labour of 
 love I have so long and so joyfully undertaken. 
 " I remain, Sir, 
 
 " Your obedient servant, 
 
 "Arthur Vernon." 
 
 And so it was to be ; in a fortnight Juhan 
 was to depart for Lilford Towers. 
 
 VOL. I. 17
 
 258 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 He was rather startled at first wlieii he 
 heard of the arrangement, but soon, with the 
 fresh and hopefid feehngs of early youth, 
 looked forward with ])leasnre to the novelty 
 and complete change of scene which was pro- 
 mised him. But to the other inmates of the 
 rectory, the news of Julian's speedy departure 
 was a terrible blow : just at this time also, 
 when they were so happy and so free — • 
 Mademoiselle Hoffmann gone for her holiday 
 — and the Glenmore family all coming to the 
 Court. Poor Sylvia, it required all her lately 
 detennined self-control to support her under 
 this trying disappointment. However, duiing 
 the time which intervened, everything was 
 done to amuse the young people, and soon 
 the Glenmore party arrived at the Court.
 
 CHAPTER XXIII, 
 
 The Glenmores had not been at Lyle Court 
 for some time ; Lady Violet was mariied, and 
 the j\Iarquis on the continent, so the party 
 was reduced in number. 
 
 Lord Victor, however, accompanied his 
 mother. He had left Eton, under not very 
 favom-able auspices ; indeed, his friends had 
 been recommended to remove him at once, to 
 prevent the most unpleasant consequences ; 
 and from Oxford he was all but expelled. We 
 regret to say that both at school and at 
 college a repellent vice seemed to be habitual 
 to his natui-e, fortunately not at all usual in the
 
 2GU TIIK T.ITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 present day in the character of a scion of 
 nobiHty, which made it necessary that he 
 shonld be removed from the university. 
 
 Lord Victor was a most precocious youth 
 in every respect. His frame promised to be 
 gigantic in its proportions ; his face, with 
 his dark eyes and hair, pecuharly striking, 
 from its beauty of feature and colourinp:. 
 AVlien tirst the eye 1)chekl liini, uncpiahfied 
 admiration was tlie impression of every one ; 
 but the charm soon vanished when more in- 
 timate acquaintance ^vith the countenance, and 
 its impleasant varying expressions, showed 
 forth indications of a spirit within which it 
 made the beholder quail to think of. 
 
 How would it be with him Avhcn time 
 went on, and the boy became the man, 
 with all those passions, now so forcibly 
 delineated, matured by years into their full 
 intensity ? 
 
 Lady Glenmore, the most indulgent, and, 
 we arc obliged to confess, the weakest of 
 mothers, was conq)letely led captive by her 
 love for this her youngest child. On his ex- 
 pulsion from Oxford, she detennincd, until 
 Lord Glenmore's return, to keep him at home
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 261 
 
 under tlie charge of a tutor, and she was not 
 fortunate in her choice of one. 
 
 The Rev. Mr Fanshaw was a gentleman by 
 birth and education, but his small means ob- 
 liged him to work in some way. His tastes 
 were naturally luxurious and refined, and, as 
 he was obliged to be a tutor, his great aim was 
 to obtain a post of as little trouble as possible, 
 in an establishment where he could live 
 the life of a gentleman, and with the hope of 
 the position leading to future prefennent. It 
 mattered Httle to him what became of his pupil, 
 so that he could persuade him to accomplish, 
 each day, a very moderate amount of study ; 
 and he w^as lucky, he thought, in obtaining a 
 situation in which his views on these points 
 were so completely realized. 
 
 Victor Lyle wanted not quickness of parts, 
 and he was only too glad to strike a bargain 
 with his tutor, that if he studied two houi's 
 every morning, he woidd not bother him fui'- 
 ther dming the day. So everything went on 
 very smoothly with the supine Mr Fanshaw 
 and his independent pupil. 
 
 Lady Glenmore considered that it was her 
 most prudent course to leave London, and fix 
 herself at Lyle Coui't, hoping that, in that
 
 262 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 comparatively secluded liouie, her wild darling 
 would be secure from every temptation. Every 
 icmptation ! pooi* mistaken mother ! she never 
 remembered that it is the state of the heart 
 which determines the moral character. " Make 
 the tree good, and the fruit will be good also." 
 
 In vain could Lady Glenmore liope to 
 preseiTC her son from vice, whether in the 
 busy world, surrounded by all its allurements 
 to sin, or amidst the tranf[uil glories of the 
 country, unless she sought to cleanse and pu- 
 rify the fount from whence proceeds all evil. 
 
 He delighted in Lyle Court, where amuse- 
 ments of every kind abounded — such capital 
 fishing and shooting wheii the season com- 
 menced, and he could kec]) his hand well in 
 till Scptcnd)er, by destroying the ral)bits. Then 
 the stud, which was always kept under the 
 surveillance of Frank Miller, what a choice of 
 horses he should have, both for diiving and for 
 riding ! 
 
 " I shall have some fellows down, and make 
 them tolerably jolly, I think," he said to his 
 trusty confidant, Tom Jones, the morning 
 after his arrival. 
 
 " Oh, yes, you'll have rare fun, I am sure, my 
 Lord ; but Mr b'anshaw, your tutor, won't he be
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 263 
 
 always poking liis nose about, and interfering 
 in every tiling ? " 
 
 " Not he ; do you think I am such a fool as 
 not to be able to manage him, Tom?" was 
 the indignant ansAver. " We have come to an 
 understanding, and after twelve o'clock he is 
 never to cross my path." 
 
 " You are a first-rate clever young 'mi,'* 
 Tom admiringly remarked. " But, my Lord," 
 he added, " I should like to know, is ^Mr Juhan 
 Hope still to have the nm of our stables, and 
 ride and drive what horses he pleases ? Already 
 he has at the rectory the finest hack ever 
 broke in these stables, just such a one as you 
 would have liked — a present from the Marquis ; 
 but still he comes in and out, picks and chooses, 
 and rides anything he pleases, and thinks no- 
 thing of having the trap whenever it suits hnn 
 to drive to Selbourne. 
 
 Lord Victor crimsoned, and a very savage 
 look gleamed from his eyes. 
 
 " No ! — catch him at such work whilst I am 
 here." 
 
 " But his Lordship left positive orders that 
 Mr Jidian was to have what he pleased — do 
 what he liked in our stables ; and Mr Miller 
 would give him the skin off his back, if he
 
 264 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 asked for it, and Mr Millci- is master here, I 
 can tell vou." 
 
 ** We'll see ; Miller master here, Avhen I am 
 at Lyle Com-t? I'll soon teach him who is 
 master," and the young lord ended this speech 
 with an oath we should \)c sorry to record. 
 " I wish that fellow, whom I hate like poison, 
 was not here ; it takes away all my pleasure in 
 being at the Court," Victor continued, waxing 
 more and more indignant. " Have you seen 
 him since you came down ? " 
 
 " Oh yes, I saw him yesterday, leaning over 
 the cottage gate, talking to pretty Miss Violet. 
 Lawk ! how handsome she is grown ! " was 
 Tom's reply. 
 
 " He was, was he, talking to Violet?" and 
 Victor's eyes actually blazed. Even Tom Jones 
 rather quailed at the expression Avhich he had 
 striven to produce. The demon he had done 
 his best to conjure up was more terrific even 
 than he was prepared for, and rather appalled 
 him by its fierceness. 
 
 " But you need not mind ; I hear this won- 
 derful piece of perfection — this Paragon, I bc- 
 heve they calls it, — I know we once had a mare 
 by that name — is going off in a fortnight." 
 
 "lam glad to hear it," the youth replied
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 265 
 
 between his clenched teeth, " for perhaps I 
 may be able to keep my hands off him for that 
 time ; but as sure as I stand here, if I catch 
 him poaching in my concerns, whether in the 
 stables or elsewhere, I'll break every bone in 
 his skin." 
 
 " Better not dirty your fingers by touching 
 him, my Lord; and to tell you the truth, it 
 would be dangerous work meddling with him, 
 for though he has a pale face, and looks so tall 
 and slight-like, I have heard that he has plenty 
 of pluck in him, for all he looks so mild. What 
 a cricketer he seems to be ! In short, a clever 
 hand at everything," Tom added, looking 
 sideways at Lord A'ictor. " By the by, my 
 Lord, arn't we to have some matches ?" 
 
 "Not till that fellow is gone," was the 
 sulky answer. 
 
 "And, my Lord, have you heard how he 
 has lit upon his legs?" 
 
 "What do you mean?" 
 
 " Wliy, do you see — Mrs Vernon's maid, who 
 is a crony of Mrs Evans's it seems, picked 
 up at the rectory that Mr Julian had been 
 sent for by his uncle, who lives at that great 
 place, Lilford Towers ; and an old nurse that 
 was here told them he was to be the heir
 
 266 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 of that great fortune ; the still-room maid, 
 who is a swcctheai't of mine, overheard Mrs 
 Thompson telling of this to our housekeeper, 
 and in course told me." 
 
 " That fellow has the devil's own luck ; I 
 don't remember the time when I did not hate 
 him, and now I suppose he will be a greater 
 demi-god than ever, witli every one." 
 
 " He'll never beat you, my Lord, depend 
 upon that, and if I were you I would not pick 
 a quarrel with him ; let him be off in peace — it 
 will only make a row — a fortnight will soon be 
 over, and then you reign supreme, as they say. 
 And, there, I sees the very party in question, 
 with the young ladies, coming this way ; I say, 
 Lord Victor," nudging familiarly the young 
 Lord, " isn't that Miss Vernon a clipper ? " 
 
 " Then I shall be off," said Lord Victor ; " I 
 could not meet him at this moment with- 
 out knocking him down. I hate that girl 
 too." 
 
 " Now, remembci" what 1 told you, my Lord, 
 ' two can play at that game ; ' depend upon 
 it, he's dangerous, has the courage of a lion 
 and the science of a j^^^^- ^ ^^^^^ heard a 
 story or two of him fi-oui a chum of mine in 
 London, who was something or other about the
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 2G7 
 
 school he was at ; even there he was famous for 
 everythmg he had a mind to do." 
 
 Victor Lyle slunk away. That youth, so 
 highly gifted by nature and position, was ready 
 to exclaim, " Yet all this availeth me nothing, 
 as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at 
 the king's gate."
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 "Now, Violet, listen to what I say," said 
 Mrs Miller to her (laughter; "none of your 
 affected airs and graces, if you please, when 
 Lord Victor comes. Remember you ought to 
 be proud of his notice, so kind as he is, and to 
 think of all the beautiful presents he gives you!" 
 
 " I don't care for his presents," Violet said, 
 in a very dejected tone of voice ; " and I am too 
 old to be kissed by him, father says." 
 
 " I never heard such rubbish in the whole 
 course of my life ; a brat like you to talk so, 
 u})()ii my word. I don't know what the world 
 will come to at last ! " exclaimed the incensed 
 mother.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 269 
 
 " But Mr Julian never kisses me, never gives 
 me any fine presents, yet I am fonder of a 
 flower from him than " — 
 
 " Hold your tongue, you bad child, talking 
 in that manner about young gentlemen — Mr 
 Julian, indeed! I wonder what they would 
 say at the rectory if they were to hear you ; 
 they, who are a prouder set by far than the 
 Court people ; and Miss Sylvia, would she not 
 scratch yom* eyes out?" 
 
 Poor Violet began to cry most piteously. 
 
 "What are you crying about?" said Mrs 
 Miller, longing in her heart to give Violet a 
 good shaking ; but with an effort restraining 
 her hands and her temper, she added, coax- 
 ingly, wiping away the tears that were 
 streaming down her cheeks, "you silly little 
 beauty, I did not mean to scold you." 
 
 "Don't call me 'beauty,' I hate the name; — 
 oh, I wish I were not beautiful!" Violet ex- 
 claimed, petulantly. " I wish from my heart I 
 was ugly, and then " — 
 
 " What then ? " asked her mother. 
 
 " That odious boy would never speak to me 
 again." 
 
 Mrs Miller was thunder-struck. What 
 was she to do? Any moment Lord Victor
 
 270 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 iiiiii;]it l)c there, and to lind her in that 
 mood ! 
 
 " ]Mv darlhiu', mv ])i'ecious chikl ! " she said, 
 beseechingly, " I beg and entreat you not to 
 talk in this manner ; you know how kind Lady 
 Glcnmore and all the family have been to me. 
 What should I have done without them, and 
 what would her Ladyship say if you were to 
 be rude to her darling boy, and my darling 
 boy, whom I mused in these arms from the mo- 
 ment of his birth, whom I love as my own child, 
 he who ought to be considered by you quite 
 in the light of a dear brother ? " 
 
 And here Mrs Miller began whimpering. 
 
 " You cut me to the heart, my pet, to hear 
 you talk of him in this Avay ; he Avho will, I 
 dare say, soon be here, so liap])y at the 
 thoughts of seeing us all again ; and to meet 
 with a cold reception from you, to whom he 
 has always been so generous ! " — 
 
 " But my father says " — 
 
 " Don't tell me the nonsense your fiither 
 says," angrily broke in Mrs Miller, "just as if 
 I didn't know the world much better than he 
 does ; what does he understand about the ways 
 of the nobility ? I only tell you this, Violet," and 
 Mrs Miller waxed exceeding wroth, "that if
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 271 
 
 you don't behave yourself, it will be tlie vrorse 
 for both you and your precious father, the silly, 
 ignorant man! Now go up-stairs, and wash 
 your eyes ; — a pretty figui'e you look, after all 
 my pains in dressing you so nicely ! There, 
 go now, my own dearest, darling, sweetest pet," 
 the mother continued, changing her harsh tone 
 of displeasm-e into the most wheedling whine, 
 " my treasure and delight, who would not, I 
 know, vex her poor jMimmie. " 
 
 And Violet, with slow, heavy steps, ascend- 
 ed the stairs which led to her little bed-room, 
 her young heart very unasually oppressed, 
 while Mrs Miller sat do^vn deep in medi- 
 tation. 
 
 " Yes," she thought, " I have trouble enough 
 before me, I plainly see ; that gM will require 
 management ; Trank must have dust thrown 
 in his eyes by some means or other, or he will be 
 an eternal spoke in the wheel ; he, poor grovel- 
 ling creatm-e with no ambition, would gladly 
 see his beautifid daughter married to a coarse 
 famier, or forsooth, perhaps, to the son of the 
 
 A butcher, so that he was a ivortliy man ! 
 
 I look for better things for my child than a 
 Avorthy man ; — what else coidd be the good of 
 possessing a beautifid daughter? Have there
 
 272 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 not boon duclicsscs and countesses and mar- 
 chionesses elevated to the peerage far beneath 
 her in all ways? No, I have made; up my 
 niiiid, and when once that's done I gener- 
 allv gain my point. It ought to be so easy, but 
 I have such a set of fools to deal with. AVhat a 
 lovely creature that child is, so nnicli improved 
 since he last saw her ! I know one \\ ho thinks 
 so too ; one not so despicable either ; but, no, 
 the peerage for me, and I can do anything I 
 Hke with him, the dear boy ! I know the 
 length of his foot, as they say, handsome fel- 
 low ! But here he comes ; I A\onder whether 
 that stupid girl has made herself decent." 
 
 A hasty step was heard on the gravel walk, 
 the door burst open, and Victor stood before 
 his nurse, who, clasping him in her arms, com- 
 menced a volley of endearing and flattering 
 ejaculations. " You are not ohended with 
 your old nurse for receiving you with open 
 arms, yon darling of all darlings: but, oh! 
 when I look upon yon and see what a fine 
 creature you have become, I fear your Lordship 
 will think I am taking a great liberty : a man, 
 indeed, you are," she continued, surveying the 
 youth from head to foot, with a countenance 
 in which ecstatic admiration was expressed ;
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 273 
 
 " and sucli a man, the handsomest and finest 
 my eyes ever beheld." 
 
 " A\liere's Violet?" asked the youth, with- 
 out heedino; the honeved words of Mrs Miller. 
 
 " Oh, she is up-stairs : Violet 1 " she called, 
 going to the door, " Lord Victor is here, 
 make haste down ! " 
 
 " Well, Rose, and what's the news ? what 
 have you been about lately ? how is Violet 
 looking ?" 
 
 " Well, pretty well, I think ; and as to what 
 we have been about, not much ; we always go 
 on in the same jog-trot style ; Violet gets on 
 wonderfully ^^^tll her music, and as for her 
 voice, I think that will make her fortune." 
 
 "And she plays upon this, does she not ?" 
 he asked, taking up the guitar, and passing 
 his finger over the strings. " But why does 
 she not come ? " 
 
 " I'll go and see," Mrs Miller said, and 
 bustled up-stairs. 
 
 "Violet ! " she said in an undertone, as she 
 entered the girl's little chamber, with a look 
 upon her countenance very diflbrent to the 
 didcet one she wore down-stairs, " come down 
 this moment." 
 
 Violet had no choice but to obey. 
 
 ' VOL. I. IS
 
 274 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 " You'll hcliave properly, do you hear ?" the 
 mother said, in that sinister voice her daughter 
 well understood ; and after giving a few 
 touches to her dress and hair, Mrs Miller de- 
 sired the unwilling girl to follow her dowTi- 
 stairs.
 
 CHAPTER XXY. 
 
 Lady Helena and Lady Sophia Lyle were 
 the most unsophisticated, amiable girls, prizing 
 the comitry and its enjoyments far beygnd the 
 amusements and excitement of fashionable hfe. 
 Lyle Court had ever been their terrestrial 
 paradise, and they always hailed their return 
 there with unqualified delight. 
 
 They loved ]\Irs Vernon sincerely, and were 
 very fond of both Sylvia and Mary ; but JuHan 
 had always been their especial favourite, and the 
 constant intercourse thev had had "v^dth him 
 dming his school days in London made them 
 look upon him with the affection of sisters.
 
 270 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 They were perfectly aware of Victor's dislike 
 to Julian Hope, and much of the pleasure they 
 anticipated in their stay at the Court was spoil- 
 ed by this idea. 
 
 The young l)arty, whom Lord Victor had 
 avoided, were on their way to the Court to ask 
 Lady Glenmore, with her son and daughters, to 
 dine with tliem that day at the rectory. Mr 
 Fanshaw had not yet arrived, but was ex- 
 pected that evening. The invitation was 
 gladly accepted by the j\Iarchioness and the 
 young ladies. 
 
 " Victor, I am sure, will be most happy also, 
 tell ]\lrs Vernon, my dear Sylvia," Lady 
 Glenmore said as they were departing. But 
 she had reckoned "without her host. 
 
 " Catch me going ! " was the young loi-d's 
 reply, Avhen he came in to luncheon. " Tell 
 jb'roissart," turning to the butler, " to have 
 dinner for me and Mr Fanshaw at six o'clock, 
 no later, for I wish to so out earl v." 
 
 " Indeed, Victor, you really nuist go ; I have 
 accepted the invitation for you, and it will be 
 so very rude," j)k>adcd his mother. 
 
 " I cannot help that, and 1 must beg, Lady 
 Glenmore, that in future you will never accept 
 invitations for me without my sanction."
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 277 
 
 Tlie sisters looked at each other, and shriio-o-ed 
 
 ' CO 
 
 their shoulders. 
 
 "Well, but just this time, my dear boy, 
 Mrs Vernon will think it so strano-e." 
 
 " Hang Mrs Vernon ! " was the reply. 
 
 " Really, Victor, this will never do," said the 
 discomposed lady ; " I trust, at least, Mr Pan- 
 shaw will improve your manners, for they are 
 past enduring." 
 
 Victor went on eating his luncheon in dogged 
 silence. 
 
 " And we were to have spent such a pleasant 
 evening, — to have the pony carriages after 
 dinner, and drink tea in the wood." 
 
 "Oh, mamma, we can do very well without 
 him !" exclaimed Lady Helena, " and so, I dare 
 say, can Mrs Vernon. 
 
 Victor only sneered. 
 
 " Sylvia and I are going to the Cottage ; 
 have you any message, mamma ? " 
 
 " You can tell Mrs Miller to come up and 
 see me ; and Syhda and Mary talk so much 
 about Violet's singing, and playing on the 
 guitar, that perhaps we had better take her 
 with us to the wood this evening to play to us." 
 
 The young ladies departed, too glad to escape 
 from the presence of their young brother,
 
 278 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 •vvliosc disagreeable ways had rendered him 
 anything but an object of pleasure to them. 
 
 Lady Glenmore was left alone with her 
 hopeful son, he still lingering over his luncheon ; 
 but he now vouchsafed to raise his eyes from his 
 plate, and to say in a less morose tone of voice : 
 
 " You may tell those rectory people that I 
 will join them in the wood, and bring Fanshaw ; 
 I can endure that, with })lenty of elbow room 
 to set out of the wav of bores." 
 
 As Lady Helena had said, the Vernon party 
 were perfectly able to dispense with the society 
 of Lord Victor, who was certainly no favourite 
 with any one. As children, he and Sylvia had 
 ever been at war, and she could not forget, nor 
 I fear forgive, the manner in which he Avould 
 fain have treated and spoken of Julian. 
 
 As for Julian, he really despised the young 
 lord most thorou2;hlv, and thouo;ht of him 
 with no other feeling but indifference or con- 
 tempt ; but for the sake of those he loved so 
 well — Lady Glenmore, and the friend for whom 
 he felt so strong an attachment, the kind Mar- 
 quis — he made a firm resolve to bear to the very 
 extent of endurance the petty taunts and un- 
 gentlemanly bearing of Lord Victor towards 
 him.
 
 THE LITTLE BEA.UTY. 279 
 
 " You need not fear, dear mother," he said 
 to Mrs Vernon ; " I know that young scamp 
 thoroughly, and as I care as little for his words 
 as for the idle winds that blow, I shall turn a 
 deaf ear, as far as it is possible. I am not very 
 irritable, you know ; but of course I cannot let 
 him go too far." 
 
 " And I have been talking to Sylvia," Mrs 
 Vernon rejoined, " and begging her not to be 
 too demonstrative in showing her dishke to 
 him ; her I cannot trust quite so well as I can 
 you, my son." 
 
 " No, I should think not," answered Julian, 
 laughing ; "I wonder when she will learn to 
 keep her feelings to herself." 
 
 " Sylvia is certainly open as the day," 
 answered Mrs Vernon, " perhaps too much so 
 for the world she lives in. The interests of 
 society often render it expedient to repress the 
 utterance of the whole truth; but I must 
 confess that I think the most natural and at- 
 tractive beauty is honesty and moral truth; to 
 me her thoroughly ingenuous character is de- 
 licious; all her faults are on the surface, 
 and even they are interesting to me, springing, 
 as they do, from over much feeling." 
 
 " How fond you are of Sylvia, mother ' I
 
 2 so THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 sometimes feel inclined to be jealous, both for 
 myself and iMaiy," Julian responded. 
 
 " But are you not also very fond of her?" 
 inquired Mrs Venion. 
 
 "Oh, yes, mother, very fond; I love her 
 quite as much as if she were my own sister." 
 
 " And don't vou think her verv handsome ? " 
 
 I.' nj 
 
 " AVell, I suppose she is, but In-others never 
 sufficiently appreciate their sisters' looks, I 
 fancy." 
 
 ]\Irs Vernon's heart sunk. 
 
 " Why, mother, you look quite unhappy. I 
 really do think Sylvia very handsome; her 
 figure is, or will be, I suppose, very fine." 
 
 Mrs Vernon still did not look satisfied. 
 
 " Do you wish me to admire her so very 
 much ? " Julian asked, laughinp;ly. 
 
 " Yes, Julian, it is the dearest ?v/sh of my 
 heart" was the camest answer. 
 
 Julian looked surprised, and turned his eyes 
 upon his mother's face inquiringly. There 
 was something in the expression there that 
 startled him; he paused a moment, as if in 
 thought, and then the crimson blood that flew 
 to his temples showed at once that for the 
 first time a new idea had darted throuirh his 
 brain.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 281 
 
 At tliis moment a servant, entering to deliver 
 some message, broke off tlie conversation, and 
 Julian walked out of the open window on to 
 the \a\ni, and from thence into a httle sequest- 
 ered walk, where he paced up and down for 
 some time, meditating more gravely than he 
 had ever done before.
 
 CHAPTER XXYI. 
 
 It was a pleasant, cheerful little diiuicr-party 
 at the rectory. Lady Glcnniorc probably en- 
 joyed herself much more without the presence 
 of her wayward son, whose uncertain moods 
 always gave her some uneasiness ; keeping 
 her always on the watch, lest by word or deed 
 he should say or do something offensive to one 
 of the company. 
 
 *' I think Julian is changed," said Lady 
 Helena to her particular friend Sylvia, as they 
 walked together in the garden after dinner, 
 whilst waitino; for the carria":es which were to 
 convey some of the party to the wood.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 283 
 
 " How do you mean ? " inquired Sylvia, 
 quickly. 
 
 " He looks so grave and abstracted, as if 
 lie had something on his mind," returned 
 Lady Helena ; " perhaps he does not en- 
 joy the thoughts of his visit to his imcle; 
 and I am sure I do not wonder at it, for he 
 is a most formidalDle-looking man ; he was 
 once pointed out to me at a dinner-party in 
 London." 
 
 " Julian has not expressed any dislike to 
 the idea of going," Sylvia replied, " but I did 
 remark that he looked much graver than usual 
 at dinner ; " and Sylvia became herself ab- 
 stracted whilst ponderino; on Julian. She now 
 remembered that she had met him coming into 
 the house when the dressing bell rang, and 
 that on making some usual remark, instead 
 of waiting to speak a few words to her, he had 
 answered shortly, and ran up-stairs : and again, 
 during dinner, several times when she had 
 looked at him, she found that his eyes were 
 fixed upon her in quite a strange manner ; and 
 once she saw that when he met her glance 
 he coloured deeply. What could it mean — 
 what was the matter? That morning they
 
 284 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 liad been tlie best of friends — how conld she 
 have ofi'ended hiin ? 
 
 All her pleasure now vanished ; she longed 
 to fly to her mother, to consult with her as to 
 the cause of this strange conduct in Julian, 
 but that was impossible. 
 
 Should she ask him ? She saw him coming 
 out of the house, but her mind misgave her ; 
 there was something in the looks which she 
 had detected Julian fixing upon her during 
 dinner, so different from the careless, cheerful 
 significance of his usual aspect towards her, 
 which disturbed her woman's heart ; they were 
 looks of deep and thoufi;litful scrutiny — at one 
 moment an expression of severity on his 
 countenance, as if he were condemning her — 
 at another one gentler, more affectionate — 
 and once, oh ! it was folly in her, conceit, to 
 allow such an idea to enter her mind, and the 
 girl l)lus]ied at the presumptuous idea — she 
 thought he looked as if — he was admiring her ! 
 Perhaps he thought, " Sylvia looks better than 
 usual this evening in that new muslin dress, 
 and with her hair in braids instead of those 
 childish ringlets." 
 
 Well, however it miujht be, one thing is 
 certain, tliat Mrs Venion, wittingly or un-
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 285 
 
 wittingly, by those few words to her son had 
 destroyed for ever the brotherly and sisterly 
 intercourse which had before subsisted be- 
 tween Julian and Sylvia. For the first time, 
 perhaps, in his life, he had been made to 
 realize the idea that no tie of blood united 
 them, that she was only his sister by name. 
 
 And his mother's words — what could they 
 mean ? Was it possible — the light which now 
 began to break upon his mind, and which his 
 fancy rejected ? " Yes, I love her as a dear sister, 
 but no more !" he ejaculated, his boyish taste 
 reverting at that moment to the very different 
 beauty of another — one so perfect in budding 
 loveliness, that it would have been next to im- 
 possible that, at his susceptible age, he could 
 wholly have escaped the fascination of her 
 beauty. 
 
 Mrs Vernon, with the quick instinct of a 
 woman, had soon seen into the transparent 
 heart of her son. She did not fear ultimately 
 for him, but she felt the time was come to em- 
 ploy some counteracting spell to occupy his 
 thoughts, and carry them on to the future. 
 She could even now rejoice that his visit to 
 Lilford Towers would remove him for a time 
 from Brooklands. The fact was, as it generally
 
 286 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 lia])i)nis wlicii people are taken out of their 
 sphere, tliey become at some time or other a 
 matter of inconvenience, or often annoyance, 
 to those \\iio either thou^i-litlesslv, or self- 
 ishly, or even with no other motive than 
 good-nature, have thus elevated them. 
 
 Violet, from her great beauty and a certain 
 clinging, affectionate manner, had always ])een 
 a favourite with every one. And then she 
 was so much to be pitied, with such a mother! 
 so cruel to the child one moment ; so coaxing 
 and flattering the next ; bringing her u}) in 
 such vanity and folly, w^hile yet she retained 
 so Avonderfully her simplicity and guileless- 
 ness. ]\Ir and Mrs Venion had not the heart 
 to make a change, and order that Violet 
 should no longer be the constant companion 
 of their daughters, her wonderful voice mak- 
 ino; her more than ever interesting and agree- 
 able as an associate. 
 
 And the Glenmore familv, who had done so 
 nmch towards spoiling the mother, now they 
 were come to make matters worse. A'iolet 
 would be more than ever en evidence, and the 
 two youths. Lord Victor and Julian, both ad- 
 miring the little beauty, and with anything 
 but kindlv feelings towards each other.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 287 
 
 " Oh, it is a great blessing that JiiHan is 
 going away ! " was the feehng of the mother's 
 heart as these reflections filled her mind. 
 
 And besides all this, she saw plainly that 
 poor little Violet, in time also, might love 
 Julian with all the intensity of her young and 
 grateful heart. 
 
 And then again, her darling Sylvia, did she 
 not see that she was changed ? — no longer the 
 high-spiiited, impetuous creature, whose joy- 
 fid lauo;h was ever to be heard — whose voice, 
 so clear and sweet in its tone, made the house 
 ring w^ith its cheerfid music ; — she had be- 
 come much graver and quieter. She was 
 certainlv now no lono;er a child, but almost a 
 vouno; woman ; still the chan2:e had been so 
 sudden, that the parents missed her childish 
 fi'olics, and would in their hearts have pre- 
 ferred the governess's complaints of the play- 
 fid escapades of her pupil to the opinion she 
 now delivered, " that jNIademoiselle Syhda had 
 become most wonderfully studious et si sage." 
 Sylvia was really a beautiful girl, and this day, 
 for the first time, the Erench maid, who had 
 been sent to London to brush up her knowledge 
 of hair-dressing, which had lain rather dormant 
 lately, changed the infantine manner in which
 
 2SS THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 Sylvia's liair had always appeared hitherto, to 
 the present becoming style of a young lady's 
 coiffure. She wore a pretty muslin dress, 
 with cherry-coloured bows ; and, assuredly, 
 Mrs Vernon could not have chosen a more 
 opportune moment for whispering those few 
 niao;ic words into her son's ears, for Svlvia did 
 look beautiful, and as Jidian gazed at her, his 
 mind, full of the new ideas just forced upon 
 him, began to waver and to change. 
 
 She was not like the Sylvia of old ; — those 
 bright, restless eyes, how nuich softer w^ere 
 they now in their expression ! She smiles, and 
 very sweetly, but does not laugh as she used 
 to do, he thinks ; no, certainly, for some time 
 he has remarked that she has been orraver and 
 quieter; but now^ again she does laugh at 
 something Lady Sophia has said to her, and 
 Julian thinks he rather likes to see those pretty 
 pearly teeth — that mouth was formed, after 
 all, to laugh — not to wear'a solemn expression. 
 
 " I wonder wdiether I have been quite as 
 affectionate to Sylvia since I retm-ned home as 
 I used to be," he mused ; and then some 
 thoughts darted across his mind, which made 
 the coloiu- rush into his face. The remem- 
 brance of a face of exquisite beauty appeared
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 289 
 
 before liim, and it was with anger against 
 himself that he felt a discomfort, an unrest in 
 the idea, which he knew was not -as it should 
 he. 
 
 " I am glad I am going away," was his con- 
 cluding thought, as he rose to go to the stable, 
 to see if his mother's pony carriage was being 
 made ready. 
 
 Some of the party intended to walk ; indeed, 
 all the young party preferred so doing but 
 Mary, who was not so strong as the others. 
 
 "By the by," said Lady Helena, "we 
 must call at the Cottage for Violet ; we promised 
 to take her and her guitar with us. What a 
 beautiful creature she is ! don't you think so, 
 Julian ? " 
 
 " Of com'se I do," he replied. 
 
 Sylvia, who had her eyes fixed upon him, 
 saw that the colour mounted to his face. 
 
 " Do you see a great deal of her ? " Lady 
 Helena continued, addressing Sylvia. 
 
 " Yes, we do, and we are very fond of her," 
 Sylvia answered, her voice sounding a httle un- 
 steady ; " but mamma has told me lately that 
 she fears it is not for Violet's happiness, bring- 
 ing her so completely out of her Hue of hfe ; it is, 
 however, difficult to make any change towards 
 
 VOL. I. 19
 
 290 THE LITTLK nEAlTY. 
 
 one we have known so intimately fi'oni infancy, 
 and slie is such a sweet Httle creature." 
 
 Julian was looking stedfastly upon Sylvia 
 whilst she thus spoke, although she saw not 
 the direction of his Gjaze. It did her no iuiurv 
 in his eyes, the manner she spoke of Violet. 
 
 " Yes," said Lady Sophia, " it was my sister 
 Violet's fault in the first instance, and we have 
 all followed her example in dressing up 
 and pampering that pretty child. Glcnmore 
 always preached against it. I fear the mis- 
 chief is done, and cannot be remedied. What 
 would Nurse Rose say, if we were to present 
 her with broAvn stuff and cotton frocks for her 
 beautiful daughter, instead of our cast-off silks 
 and finery ? I quite agree that we have made 
 a mistake, but it cannot be helped now." 
 
 Thev had reached the Cottao-e, from Avliieh 
 Violet issued, radiant with smiles, looking fresh 
 and lovely as the rose — her triLest eml)lem. 
 
 Nothing could exceed the simple elegance 
 of her dress. She had evidently just escaped 
 from the hands of her mother, who accom- 
 panied her to the gate. 
 
 " AVell, you will take care of my darling 
 treasure, dear ladies, I am sure. Oh, ^liss 
 Vernon, how well you are looking, a great im-
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 291 
 
 provement, indeed, yoiu^ change of hair dress- 
 ing ! Mamselle has learnt something, I see, by 
 going to London ; I must coax her to give 
 me a fe^v lessons." 
 
 " Oh, ho^Y I do dislike that woman ! " said 
 Sylvia to Lady Helena, as they walked on, 
 Violet in advance. 
 
 " Oh, fie, don't abuse dear Nm-se." 
 *'WeU, Helena, I beg yom* pardon, but I 
 cannot like her."'
 
 CHAPTER XXYII. 
 
 What a G;lonous smniiier evening it was! 
 all nature rejuieiiig in the tranquil air, so soft, 
 yet so refreshing, which wafted its fragrant 
 breath around, laden with the scent of blossoms 
 and shrubs, which were tiowering in such pro- 
 fusion round the sylvan recc})tion-rooni. 
 
 The young people were glad to rest them- 
 selves on the mossy turf; the ascent through 
 the wood was fatiguing, and the day had been 
 sultry. They formed a very pictures(|ue group 
 as they thus appeared, their large hats removed, 
 their youthful faces and graceful forms unre- 
 strained by formality, all taking, unconciously, 
 those unstudied attitudes no art c;ni command ;
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 293 
 
 tlie large dog, reposing at his mistress's feet, 
 adding to the effect of the scene. 
 
 Lady Glenmore and Mr and Mrs Vernon 
 sat on rustic seats, looking Avitli much pleasm*e 
 and admiration on the pleasant sight before 
 them. 
 
 " How delicious this is, so calm and peace- 
 ful ! " Lady Glenmore exclaimed ; " I never see 
 anything so beautiful as this spot ; and it 
 brings me back to years gone by, when I was 
 young, free from care, and one with, me who 
 would gladly have averted a feather's weight 
 of trouble from resting upon me ; " and Lady 
 Glenmore's eyes tiUed with tears. " Yes," she 
 continued, " how little we estimate present 
 blessings, especially those which are generally 
 the portion of our early mariied years ; when 
 with a kind husband by one's side, our children 
 at that happy, careless age wanting only those 
 pleasant cares which to a mother it is so sweet 
 to bestow, we ought only to have pom'ed out 
 the song of thankfulness. Yes, I often tell 
 my Violet when she comes to me with her 
 trifling griefs and annoyances, ' My child, these 
 are your halcyon days ; your largest sorrow now 
 will appear but a speck in the horizon to
 
 2 9 J) THE LITTLi: BEAUTY. 
 
 the real sorrows wliich it is the fate of every 
 mortal to encounter, and which will amve in 
 due time.' Iiuleed, dear friends, I have much 
 to say to you on the subject of my present 
 troubles. Dear Victor, he is such an anxious 
 care to me, and I know not what to do for the 
 best. I luu'c written to implore Glenmore to 
 return to England, for I really cannot en- 
 comiter the responsibility imaided." 
 
 As she thus spoke the odour of a cigar be- 
 came i)lainly perceptible, and Lion, whose 
 quick ear had detected the sound of footsteps, 
 started up and rushed towards the spot from 
 whence it proceeded. 
 
 In another moment Lord Victor's voice was 
 heard in harsh and angry tones, saying : 
 
 "Down, you brute, or I shall knock you 
 on the head." 
 
 " Lion, Lion, come back this instant !" cried 
 Sylvia, who was on her feet in an instant, hei- 
 eyes flashing, her cheeks crimsoning. 
 
 Lion instantly obeyed his mistress's com- 
 mand, and bounded back to her side, looking, 
 however, not well pleased, for he was perfectly 
 accpiaintetl with the habits and heavy horse- 
 whip of the young lord, who now emerged
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 295 
 
 from amongst the trees, followed by a clapper 
 little man, whom we recognise as the Reverend 
 Edwin Fanshaw. 
 
 The yonth, who looked flushed and heated — 
 probably from wine — scanned the company 
 with a careless, supercilious glance, shook 
 hands with Mr and Mrs Vemon ungraciously, 
 and then swaggered, with his hands in his 
 pockets, towards the young people. 
 
 Julian came forward at once and held out 
 his hand, which was scarcely touched by Lord 
 Victor, who approached Sylvia, staring at her 
 with his usual ill-breeding. 
 
 " Well, Sylvia," he said, " you haven't taught 
 vour dog better manners ; he had better take 
 care what he is about, when I have my stick 
 in my hand with lead at the top ! " 
 
 Sylvia's blood was boiling over, and she was 
 on the point of answering him as he deserved, 
 when chancing to look at Julian's face, she 
 saw an expression upon it which at once told 
 her that there must be no recrimination which 
 might bring forth more insidting words from 
 the ill-conditioned youth ; so, with an effort 
 over herself, great, indeed, to one with her ex- 
 citable nature, she checked her incensed feel- 
 ings, and endeavoming to smile, said calmly :
 
 200 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 "I feel sure you would not hurt liiui, 
 Lord Victor; and you know lie never does any 
 liarni ; liis bark is worse tlian his ])ite." 
 
 Victor, wdio liad expected to be ])ai(l off in 
 his own coin, well knowing how small a s])ark 
 it re(|uired to kindle a blaze in the excitable 
 mind of Sylvia, whom he had quarrelled with 
 ever since he could remember, was quite thrown 
 back by her present diMueanour. Her (piiet 
 lady-like manner and gentle speech at once 
 acted as a s})ell, and whilst he continued to 
 stare at her, he was thinking, " What a devilish 
 handsome creature she has become ! " 
 
 " Well, Mr Lion," he said, more coiuieously, 
 " for your mistress's sake I'll spare you ; but, 
 Sylvia, what have von been doini>: with vour- 
 self? — you have grown amazingly handsome; 
 nothing like lirooklands for bringing forth 
 beauties. Where's my pretty Violet hiding 
 herself?" and he turned to the girl, who had 
 in part concealed herself behind one of the 
 Lady Lyles. 
 
 Svlvia's heart beat indic;nantlv. That odious 
 boy, for so she still considered him, presuming 
 to p;iy her those coarse compliments ! She 
 longed to give vent to her irritated feelings, and 
 tell him how she despised him ; but she looked
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 297 
 
 at Julian, who was talking to Mr Fansliaw, 
 and fancied the glance of his eye, and the 
 expression of his countenance, marked ap- 
 proval of her conduct, so she was detemiined 
 to bear all — everything, so that peace might 
 be preserved betAveen those two hostile parties. 
 
 The servants now began to prepare the table 
 for tea, which was supplied from the Cottage 
 kitchen. 
 
 " Come and sit by me, little beauty," Victor 
 said to Violet, who still kept very close to Lady 
 Sophia, " ' and eat sweet strawberries, sugar, 
 and cream.' I remember your mother singing 
 something about that, and ' curly locks, 
 curly locks, wilt thou be mine ? ' So now 
 come along, and he mine, or rather my neigh- 
 bour at the tea-table, ' and eat sweet strawber- 
 ries, sugar, and cream ' with me this evening." 
 So saying, he took her hand and dragged her 
 to the table, and during the repast entirely 
 'devoted himself to her, taking no notice of any 
 one else, scarcely deigning to answer any re- 
 mark his mother addressed to him — Violet 
 seeming anything but happy or flattered by 
 these assiduities, becoming very much flushed, 
 and scarcely raising her eyes, except to cast 
 furtive glances occasionally around her.
 
 298 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 Mr Fansliaw ])cc'anic immediately at home, 
 endeavouring; to make himself agreeable to the 
 youuiz; ladies, and assiduous in his polite atten- 
 tions to Lady Uleimiorc and Mrs Vernon. 
 His presence was rather a relief than otherwise, 
 for he was a well-bred man, and had nnich 
 small talk at his command. 
 
 Of his pu])il he took little heed; this was 
 not the hour to assume the tutor ; he threw off 
 that character at twelve o'clock each day, to(5 
 happy to forget, if possible, that he was obliged 
 to enact that rule at any season. 
 
 He was rapturous in his admiration of the 
 rustic drawing-room and splendid view beyond, 
 which certainly never ai)peared to more ad- 
 vantage than on this calm summer's evening, 
 the bright sunset illumining the horizon, and 
 casting a rose-coloured light on every object. 
 
 "A Paradise, indeed!" he exclaimed senti- 
 mcntall} , addressing himself to Mrs Vemon, 
 after having duly discussed the iced strawberries 
 and their attendant delicacies. " After the glare 
 and heat of London, the beauty, freshness, and 
 trancpiillity of this favoured spot, strikes, proba- 
 bly, upon my senses more vividly than on those 
 of persons living constantly under its channs, 
 everything around is so lovely and in character.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 299 
 
 AVhat a perfect little Hebe that is to whose 
 channs Lord Victor is always doing such hom- 
 age, and that stately young beauty ! " looking 
 towards Sylvia. 
 
 "My daughter," Mrs Vernon interrupted, 
 rather stiffly. 
 
 " Oh, I beg pardon," Mr Fanshaw added 
 apologetically ; and then continued in a soft 
 tone, which savoured not a little of a straining 
 after effect, " here one might imagine nothing 
 could exist but happiness and peace, that no 
 feelings, save those of purity and love, could 
 possibly find place in the hearts of those con- 
 gregated in a spot so preeminently favoured 
 both by art, nature, and its genial air, the — " 
 
 But Mrs Vernon at this part of the harangue 
 fell into so deep a reverie that she heard no 
 more, was only aw^are, perhaps, of a gentle 
 mumiuring which lasted for some time longer, 
 for she was looking abstractedly at the counte- 
 nances of those assembled round that luxurious 
 tea-table, laden with every dehcacy which the 
 refinement of our luxurious age could invent. 
 The surrounding scene was certainly ex- 
 quisitely lovely, and health, beauty, and pros- 
 perity, were truly the characteristics of the 
 young group before her. But even into the
 
 SOO TlIK LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 garden of Eden tlio serpent insinuated its 
 baneful way, and its trail is still to be found 
 in the fairest spots, in the most sequestered 
 and pL'aceful ix'treats. The curse rests still 
 upon every child of Eve. 
 
 That splendid-looking creature, Victor Lyle, 
 how fearful the expression of his countenance ! 
 — so young, and yet with vice so prematurely 
 develo})e(l in the very lines of that finely- 
 formed but proudly-sarcastic mouth, something 
 so repellent to the feelings ! — and Mrs Vernon's 
 heart recoiled wdien she saw him leanino; with 
 so rude a stare of his brilliant eyes over poor 
 little Violet, who, she perceived, was shrinking 
 and tr('nd)linQ; like a friG:htened bird about 
 to be pounced upon by some nuu'derous hawk. 
 And then her own dear children, her Julian ! 
 There was no peace or pleasure beaming from 
 that usually benevolent countenance. Its ex- 
 pression was flushed and anxious. Whilst he 
 endeavoured to exert himself as usual, aiul to 
 ])e attentive and agreeable to all around, his 
 mother detected ever and anon a spark flash- 
 ing from his eyes, as he looked towards Lord 
 Victor — denoting a look of intense impatience 
 and disgust — which lie had the greatest diffi- 
 culty to restrain from breaking forth into
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 301 
 
 words and actions. And Svlvia, where was 
 her bright smile and nmsical hnigh, her rest- 
 less spirits the first to suggest fun and ad- 
 venturous froHc, the first to be called to order 
 for her child-like exul)erant glee ? She seemed 
 to have changed at once into an anxious 
 woman, her eves constantlv scekina; Julian, 
 her whole care and attention concentrated on 
 liiuL 
 
 She saw at once that he was annoyed, how- 
 ever imperfectly guessing the real state of his 
 mind, and was aware how antagonistic the 
 feelings of the two youths were towards each 
 other. She must avert anything like colli- 
 sion, keep that odious Victor in good humour, 
 if possible, so she busied herself in endeavour- 
 ing to amuse the party — proposed to sing one 
 of the trios in which Violet took the sojwano 
 part. 
 
 And beautifully the three young voices 
 blended. Both Mary and Sylvia sang well; 
 their German governess was a first-rate mu- 
 sician, and they, too, had profited by the 
 itinerant Italian's instructions, and le'arnt to 
 play on the guitar, upon which Violet now 
 was made to perform, warbling also to its ac- 
 companiment some of her sweetest songs.
 
 302 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 Liuly Glcnniore and Ikt (lauf!;litors were de- 
 lighted, and the raptures of tlie enthusiastic 
 Mr Fanshaw luibounded. 
 
 " Yes, did you ever hear or see anything 
 like her?" asked Lord Victor of his- tutor ; 
 " is she not a perfect love ? " 
 
 " Indeed she is ; may I ask who the young 
 lady may be ? " 
 
 "What the devil does that simiifv?" was 
 the reply, and he turned rudely on his heels. 
 And Julian, where Avas he ? He leant against 
 a tree, his countenance grave and thoughtful, 
 his eyes, too, often lifted upon the fair song- 
 stress ; and his mother thought, as she looked 
 upon him, " I never imagined that the time 
 would come when I should rejoice that my 
 boy was so soon to leave me." 
 
 There was indeed nuich for both mothers to 
 ponder on this evening. 
 
 Lady (ilenmore, for the first time, looked 
 upon the poor little girl they had helped to 
 diag out of her sphere, as one who might be- 
 come but too dangerous from her singiJar 
 attractions. She saw Victor's undisfruised 
 looks of admiration, his never-ceasing assi- 
 duities, and they v;ere displeasing to the 
 mother's eyes. A^ hen the party broke up, it
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 303 
 
 was on his arm Violet was made to lean, Lord 
 Victor dragging lier off in advance of tlie rest 
 of the party, and when the others passed the 
 Cottage they saw that he was still there, and 
 heard again the sound of poor Violet's guitar. 
 
 He had made her sing again, that young 
 tyrant ! — and she was powerless to resist the 
 orders of her mother. Tired and weary, she 
 had to sit up whilst the young lord partook 
 of a dainty little supper prepared by Mrs 
 Miller, who well knew all the favomite dishes 
 of her " darling boy," as she continued to call 
 him. "When poor Violet was permitted at 
 last to retire to her bed, bitter were the tears 
 which bedewed, her pillow ; she had been so 
 harassed and bewildered by the unwelcome 
 attentions of Victor Lyle. 
 
 " And Mr Julian, not one word did he 
 speak to me ! " This idea was the crowning 
 distress of all.
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 Lady Glenmore returned home with lier 
 heart very ill at case. She felt terrified lest, 
 after all, her bringing Victor to Lyle Court 
 Avould not answer. Where, indeed, could he 
 be out of temptation ? But what was she 
 to do ? 
 
 The poor lady passed a sleepless night, sadly 
 ])erplexed ; but with the post-bag came some 
 comfort. 
 
 Lord Glenmore wrote to tell his mother to 
 despatch Lord Victor aiul his tutor inuue- 
 diately to a town he indicated in Italy, where 
 he would await them, and then proceed for a 
 more lengthened tour, lie thought it would
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 305 
 
 be better for liis brother to be under his own 
 surveillance^ and was desirous of sparing Lady 
 Glenmore so difficult a charge. Lord Glen- 
 more desired that Lord Victor and Mr Fan- 
 shaw should start at once for London, and set 
 off for Italy as soon as passports, etc., had 
 been procured. 
 
 This plan was indeed a relief to the mother's 
 mind. She always felt that Victor was safe 
 when in his brother's hands ; she could now 
 look forward with more hope to the future, 
 and had no idea but that the plan would be 
 hailed with pleasm^e by her young son. 
 
 But this was far from being the case : the 
 youth was furious ; he resolutely declared he 
 Avould not go. He was very well where he 
 was, and did not choose to go and be bullied 
 by Glenmore, and watched as if he were a baby 
 in leading-strings. Lady Glenmore was in 
 despair, and his sisters aghast. They had 
 been delighted at the idea of getting rid of 
 their troublesome brother, who was a constant 
 annoyance to themselves and their mother. 
 Go he must, and after much trouble and alter-' 
 cation, Mr Vernon being sent for to assist in 
 settling the point, Victor, chafing and fuming, 
 abusing his brother and every one else, was 
 
 VOL. I. 20
 
 30G THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 obliged to consent to depart two days after. 
 Thev were to take Avith tlunu a foreign valet ; 
 Lord Cilenniore particularly desired this, and 
 not Tom -Jones. 
 
 No abuse did Lord Victor spare to liurl 
 a2;ainst his kind brother, who thus burthened 
 himself to become bear-leader to the most un- 
 gracious and unsatisfactory of youths. 
 
 My Fanshaw did not citliei- at all a})prove 
 of the change. He thought he should be 
 extremely comfortable at Lyle Court. The cui- 
 sine was first-rate, the young ladies most agree- 
 able, little or nothing had he had to do ; but 
 under the eye of the grave and rather learned 
 Marquis he would be obliged to exert himself; 
 and he did not at all relish travelling, even in 
 the best of styles. He groaned in spirit w4ien 
 he looked round and noted the elegance and 
 beauty of everything, and thought of the 
 pleasant, tranquil, idle smnmer he had in- 
 tended to spend — a summer holiday indeed he 
 felt his situation under such circumstances 
 would have been; and ho rather won his 
 pu[)irs heart, by entering fully into his feel- 
 ings upon the subject ; and lii^ ally and con- 
 fidant, Tom -Jones, grumbled dolefully. 
 
 " So I am not to go with you, my Lord ! " he
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY, 307 
 
 said sulkily. " What's all this about ? I 
 thought I was alwavs to be about voui' 
 person ; so my Lady said." 
 
 "Yes, but neither my Lady nor any one 
 else, it seems, has any voice in the matter, but 
 that meddlesome brute, Glenmore ! and to 
 think that I am wholly in his power till I am 
 of age. Oh, that the time were come, and that 
 I could snap my fingers in his face — a formal 
 prig, an odious busybody ! I hate going, and 
 feel almost determined to say that I will not 
 stir — only I suppose it would end in my being 
 obhged to do so, my mother makes such a 
 fuss. I'm as down in the mouth as possible ; 
 and to leave that pretty Violet ! Do you know, 
 Tom, I'm more than ever head and ears over 
 in love with her." 
 
 "Are you, my Lord? what will Frank 
 MiUer say ? " 
 
 " Say ! — why what should he say ? " 
 "Why, you see, he's mighty particular 
 about his beautiful daughter. I hears a good 
 deal through my sweetheaj't at the Court, who 
 gossips with Mrs Miller's maid, who has good 
 ears of her own, and makes good use of them ; 
 and pretty rows there often are, but the 
 missus always gets the best of it. How queer
 
 303 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 it is : Frank Miller, the boldest and strongest 
 man going, wlio nilos all in those stables with 
 a rod of iron — even the most rampageous of 
 horses, why he's soon made as meek as a 
 mouse by that scolding Avoman ; but about his 
 daughter he'd stand no nonsense, I'm quite 
 certain sure." 
 
 " AVell, why should he ? he ought to be only 
 too proud ; for to tell you the truth, Tom — I 
 know you can keep a secret — as sure as that 
 I stand here, I shall many that girl. Oh, you 
 may grin and look as if you did not believe 
 me, — but I have always determined u])on that ; 
 long, long ago, when I Avas quite a child, T had 
 made up my mind, and see if I shall not keep 
 to it." 
 
 ^ " Lawk-a-deary me ! and won't that be a 
 pretty kettle of fish? I should like to know 
 what the Marquis would say, and my Lady, 
 and all the grand folk, your relations." 
 
 " And what care I for them ? T hate grand 
 folks; I think (hem a stu])id, stiff set, with 
 their airs and graces ; I was never intended 
 for the aristocracy ; I am nuich more at my 
 case out of their society ; and the girls of what 
 are called the higher classes are such formal 
 misses — nuistn't do this or that, no fun about
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 309 
 
 them. I only hope my pretty Violet won't 
 be spoilt amongst them, and made into a fine 
 lady. I don't think she's quite as jolly and 
 free as she used to be." 
 
 " Well, the rectory people do their best to 
 spoil her, I believe," answered Tom ; " at least 
 they teach her, and take great notice of her, 
 and, in course, she'll imitate their ways. Mr 
 Julian, I suppose, tells her what is genteel — " 
 
 "I'll tell you what, Tom," interrupted 
 Victor, foaming with rage, " I beg you will 
 keep an eye on that Hope ; and if you don't 
 tell me exactly hoAv he goes on with Violet, 
 I'll just send you at once to the dogs ; I'll have 
 nothing more to say to you." 
 
 " Oh, I'll look sharp, my Lord, depend on 
 me," said Tom, suppressing a broad grin at 
 the expense of the young lord, whose present 
 ebulhtion he only regarded as one of the child- 
 ish fancies for which he had always been famous. 
 
 Even this low-minded groom thought the 
 idea of his young lord marrying the black- 
 smith's daughter, just as likely, as that he him- 
 self should think of Avedding one of the Ladies 
 Lyle; it amused this vulgar friend to make 
 the youth " flare up " about his love, but as for 
 anything more serious than a boy's folly, that
 
 310 THE LTTTT.F, BEAUTY. 
 
 never entered liis calculations. He hated Ju- 
 lian, and had the same ravage pleasure in 
 setting; the two youths at loggerheads, as he 
 would have felt in witnessing a fight between 
 the young ladies' two pet Scotch terriers. 
 
 " Will you swear, Tom, that you'll write and 
 tell me all that happens here — that you'll 
 Avatch Violet ? " 
 
 " Yes, mv Lord, as a cat would watch a 
 mouse ; ' sharp ' will })e my word. I'll call 
 and ask Mrs Miller now and then whether she 
 has heard from you, and then I shall have a 
 look at pretty Violet. Lawk ! that is a dainty 
 sight, which makes my mouth water ; you need 
 not look so glum, my Lord, ' a cat may look 
 at a king,' you know — and all that I can ever 
 do is to look — she'll never look in return, that 
 you may be sure ; she who is so accustomed 
 to better things ! " 
 
 Victor talked with his contidant some time 
 longer, and then walked towards the Cottage ; 
 and when his back was turned, Tom was able 
 to indulge freely in the mirth which his young 
 lord had excited in him. 
 
 " That is a queer yoimg chap, surely, and 
 alwavs has been, but 1 dare sav he'll be channred 
 Avhen he comes from foreign parts."
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 t 
 
 Julian liad spent anything but a liappy 
 evening, liis mind was filled with strange, new, 
 and counteracting ideas. The more he pon- 
 dered over his mother's words, the more he 
 became aware of their significance. He had 
 looked upon Sylvia hi quite a new light, and 
 certainly never had he seen her under such 
 favom^able auspices. Her conduct towards 
 Lord Victor had been perfect, so different from 
 that wdiich he would have expected from her 
 impulsive self; so dignified and lady -like, so 
 self-possessed, none of the usual bursts of in- 
 dignant feelino;, which had been ever wont to 
 ignite at the least approach of provocation,
 
 312 TllK LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 slio seemed, in lact, as if l)y some spell of 
 magic, changed ! 
 
 And even her looks, she was not like the 
 Sylvia of old, so woman-like now in her appear- 
 ance, and really for the first time in her life he 
 thonght so " very handsome." 
 
 But, again he thought, and sighed. " What 
 a beauty is that poor little Violet ! " and then 
 his brow contracted, and an expression cloud- 
 ed his brow, very different from that which it 
 usurdlv wore. 
 
 " I could not bear," he then continued to 
 muse, " to see that unprincipled Lyie behave 
 as he did to her last uight ; it was with the 
 greatest difficulty I restrained myself from 
 taking her away from him, she looked so miser- 
 able. I know him well, and young as he is, the 
 account I heard of him from an Eton fellow is 
 dreadful. I really think I must speak to Prank 
 Miller about it ; as for the mother, I fear she 
 only encourages Lylc." This Avas the substance 
 of the thoughts which gave Julian a most un- 
 usually restless night, and Mr and Mrs Vernon 
 were also not without their anxious moments, 
 niid iiuich and anxiously did they talk over 
 the events of the previous evening. 
 
 The next niorniniir's breakfast was not so
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 313 
 
 cheerful a one as usual. Mary alone spoke 
 freely of the last night's party ; the rest had 
 each a thoughtful look upon then- counte- 
 nances. 
 
 "' IMamma," said Mary, " I think Victor Lyle 
 is more disagreeable than ever; how he tor- 
 mented poor Violet ! I don't think she liked 
 it at all. Why did you not help her, Jidian ? 
 I saAY her so often looking at you, as if she 
 wanted you to say or do something that would 
 keep that tiresome boy in order." 
 
 Juhan turned verv red, and then said with 
 flashing eyes : 
 
 " I should have liked verv much to have 
 punished him as he deserves, I can assure you, 
 Mary ; and perhaps if Lady Glenmore and his 
 sisters had not been there, I might not have 
 been able to resist." 
 
 "What, Julian, would not the presence of 
 your own mother and sisters have restrained 
 you ? " said Mr Vernon. 
 
 " Oh, of course — but, my dear father, I am 
 sure you quite understand what I mean ; and 
 I am confident you felt equally disgusted — 
 though in a different spirit, I am aware — with 
 
 Victor Lyle's conduct towards that defenceless 
 
 • 1 " 
 gn-1.
 
 314 THE JJTTLH BEAUTY. 
 
 " And I (juitc agree with Julian," exclaimed 
 Sylvia, with great cmjyrcsscmenl. " I just felt 
 the same. I couhl not enjoy anytliing. I 
 was so full of indignation and disgust towards 
 Victor, that I had to control mvself, I can assure 
 you, mamma, from going up to Violet and tell- 
 ing her to come and sit between me and Lady 
 Helena ; it Avas quite shocking to see that dread- 
 ful countenance." 
 
 Mrs Vernon onlysaid, "I am rejoiced that you 
 took no part in the business, Sylvia," and then 
 changed a subject she shuddered to hear 
 discussed in the presence of Sylvia and Mary, 
 nnich more that they should mix themselves 
 up in its details ; and soon a note was delivered 
 to the Rector from Lady Sophia, rccpiesting 
 that he would come to the Court as soon as 
 })ossible, to talk over some important business 
 Avith Ladv Glenmore. Mrs Vernon then 
 asked Julian if he Avouhl ride over to Asliton 
 Park with a note of invitation to the fiimily 
 there, requesting that he Avould go early, as 
 she wished for an answer. 
 
 On passing the Cottage gate, Julian stopped 
 his horse, as usual, to say a few passing words 
 to Violet, who was always either flitting about 
 the garden, or ready to fly out at the sound of
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 315 
 
 liis voice. To-day the Cottage door \Yas closed, 
 — a very unusual circumstance — and no one 
 visible. 
 
 He waited some moments, and then called 
 " Violet ! '■' and after a little more delay Mrs 
 Miller appeared, shutting the door after her, 
 and trying to put on her usual simper, but 
 looking evidently ruffled and confused. 
 
 " Good morning, Mr Julian," she said, 
 "you are taking an early ride." 
 
 " Yes ; I shall pass through A., can I do 
 anything for you ? " 
 
 "No thank you, sir, Frank will be coming 
 from thence to-dav : he has been there on 
 business ever since Monday." 
 
 " He is a very busy man now-a-days I 
 think, Mrs Miller ; but where is Violet ? I called 
 to ask if she was tired after her exertions 
 yesterday." 
 
 " Why, I really think she is, but I sent her 
 out to take a little walk, I thought it would 
 do her good." 
 
 " Wliich Y'ay did she go ? " inquired Julian. 
 
 " Well, I don't know ; perhaps she Avent 
 down to the villao;e, or somewhere in that 
 direction." 
 
 " Oh ! well, perhaps I shall meet her."
 
 310 THi: LITTLE BLAUTY. 
 
 " Good iiioniing, Mrs ^Miller/' and he trotted 
 off. 
 
 " You'll he precious clever if you do," mut- 
 tered the woman, and she returned into the 
 liouse. 
 
 Violet was in her own little room. Her 
 quick ear had immediately caught the sound 
 of elulian's horse's feet, and then his clear voice 
 ])i'onouncing her name. She sprang to the 
 door, l)ut her progress was impeded. 
 
 " I'll have none of this ! " Mrs Miller ex- 
 claimed, grasping the girl by the arm, and 
 dragging her back, " standing at the gate by 
 young gentlemen's horses is very improper 
 conduct; go to your room ihis moment; a 
 pretty i)iece of work there would be if Lord 
 Victor came u|) at the same moment. I 
 couldn't answer for the consequences ; they'll 
 quarrel as sure as I'm alive ; I shall go and 
 say to j\Ir Julian that you are out." 
 
 " Oh, Miumiie, Minmiie, don't, pray don't, 
 just let me go to-day, this once, pray do." 
 
 "I'll do no such thing; now go up-stairs 
 this moment, or you had better take care." 
 With a menacing look, and ])ushing the girl 
 towards the stairs, she forc(!d her to ascend 
 them, and following her closely, made all sure
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 317 
 
 by locking Violet into her own little apartment, 
 and then she proceeded to meet JuHan with 
 this deliberate lie on her tongue. 
 
 The fact was, Victor Lyle had inveighed in 
 no measured terms against Julian to Mrs 
 Miller the evening before, vowing eternal 
 hatred to him, and complaining bitterly of his 
 having superseded him in Violet's affections. 
 " I know this to be a fact," the vouth exclaim- 
 ed, " she is not the girl she was ; I am certain 
 she cares for that fellow." 
 
 In vain Mrs Miller tried to persuade him to 
 the contrary, and witli honied words endeavour- 
 ed to destroy the idea. 
 
 " No, I have seen her, and that is quite suffi- 
 cient ; and he, do I not knoAv what he is about? " 
 
 And the hopeful young lord worked himself 
 into a paroxysm of rage that alarmed the 
 woman. By dint of a private word of stern 
 import, Violet had been frightened into 
 behaving tolerably the evening before, and 
 Victor had left the Cottage in good hmnour, 
 promising to be there again early the next 
 morning. What if he should arrive whilst 
 Julian was at the gate, Violet by his side ? 
 
 Mrs Miller found it Avas no sinecure having 
 a " beautiful daughter."
 
 318 TIIK LITTLK BKAUTV. 
 
 " Those boys will drive me iiuul," she said, 
 as she retiinied to the house. " I wish Lord 
 Victor was a httle ohler, and I shoukl make 
 short work of that business, but Frank will be 
 soon at home, and we must mind our Ps and 
 Qs. I'm glad Mr Julian will soon be off, — 
 I shall be rid of one trouble at least. And now 
 I must get this plaguy girl right again. But, 
 goodness gracious, here he comes full tilt, like 
 a whirlwind ; he looks in a precious temper." 
 
 " Well, Mrs Miller, so that fellow has been 
 here again ! " 
 
 " lie only stopped a moment with a message 
 from Mrs Vernon to me." 
 
 " Where's Violet ? " 
 
 " Oh ! ])oor child, she's not at all well, she 
 caught cold last night, I think ; she is lying 
 down. I was quite alarmed, her eyes looked 
 so red and heavy." 
 
 " Oh ! then, she did not see him? " 
 
 " See him 1 why bless you, she's hardly 
 lit to see any one, she is so poorly ; but I dare 
 say if you call in the afternoon she will be 
 much better ; I gave her a little hot wine and 
 water, which is sure to do her good." 
 
 Victor sat in moody abstraction. " Well, 
 Rose, I'm in a pretty scrape," he at length said.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 319 
 
 " What is it, my dear ? " slie iuqiiired, 
 alarmed. 
 
 " That precious brother of mine has sent 
 for me to join him Avithout an hour's delay at 
 Naples, and I'm to be oif to-morrow." 
 
 " To-morrovv' ! and what shall we do ? how 
 miserable we shall be ! " and ejaculation after 
 ejaculation of dismay and distress Avere duly 
 intoned by Mrs Miller, ending by her pocket- 
 handkerchief being applied to her eyes, to wipe 
 away her well-enacted tears. 
 
 Victor looked very much inclined to follow 
 her example, and give way to a hearty cry 
 upon her compassionate' bosom, as in days of 
 yore, when he came to her for refuge and 
 assistance under any youthful calamity ; and, 
 really if there was a person he cared for in the 
 world but himself, it was his ci-devant nurse, 
 who had always possessed the art, or rather 
 tact, of managing the boy when every one else 
 totally failed. 
 
 " Well, my darling, never mind," she said at 
 last, in very pathetic tones, " it is for the best 
 after all ; the time will soon pass away, and a 
 few months will make you quite a man, and 
 then no one will presume, or have any right, 
 to control your Avill, whatever that may be."
 
 3:20 TIIF. LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 " But I iiiteii(U'(l to be so lia])})}' here ; and 
 Violet, liDW shall 1 live wilhoiit seeing lier ? 
 I tell you wiuit, Rose, why should I not marry 
 her now — at once ? " 
 
 " Why, niv dear hov, vou are both so 
 young, oh, it would never do I " 
 
 " There, now you are against me ! — 1 tell you 
 what, I shall just go and drown or shoot 
 mvself, for I am the most miserable of human 
 beings." And he walked about the small 
 apartment gesticulating and vowing vengeance 
 against every one. 
 
 Mrs Miller acted her part well ; she knew 
 the ways of lier patient perfectly, and ad- 
 ministered accordingly. She was quite aware 
 that the spoilt child's ebullition wonld soon 
 pass away, and she was not s})aring of tlie cor- 
 dials, hope and flattery, to soothe his ruffled 
 feehngs. " And Violet," she added, " won't 
 she be as beautiful a2;ain in a year's time? — I 
 shall keep her iu cotton for you, my Lord; but 
 perhaps by that time you will have forgotten 
 the poor little beauty." 
 
 " i'orgotten her ! that's not very likely ; — 
 have I ever liad her out of my head from the 
 time I could tell what was beautiful?"
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 321 
 
 " But, my dear Lord, you must remember 
 that it will not be all plain sailing ; I fear there 
 will be many a cross in your true love. What 
 would the Marquis say, and my Lady, to your 
 marrying my daughter? — and Frank, why 
 he'd be as much against it as any one." 
 
 " You will drive me mad, Rose, if you go on 
 talking in that manner. I care not for mothers, 
 fathers, or brothers, I have told you a thousand 
 times ; marry that girl I will, come what may ; 
 by fair means or foul, she shall be my wife. 
 Do you think I shall ask any one's leave? I 
 hope I know a little better the ways of the 
 world than that." 
 
 " Well, my dear, you must keep all this snug, 
 for if Frank gets an inkling of it, I beheve he'd 
 marry her off at once to one of the ' worthy, 
 honest ' men he talks about." 
 
 " Oh, never fear me ; I never make a con- 
 fidant; I don't trust any one on earth but you, 
 Rose ; and now, mind you keep that fellow 
 Hope from ever presuming to touch even the 
 hem of her garment. It is fortunate we did not 
 meet this morning ; I feel in such a state of 
 irritation, what with one thing and the other, 
 that if I had caught him at the gate, and 
 
 VOL. 1. 21
 
 '322 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 she hail been there too, 1 cannot answer foi' 
 what I might have done. AVell, as I cannot 
 see my beauty this morning, I will come again 
 after hiiiclicon, — I have loads to do and to 
 settle in the staV)les about my poor horses 
 with Tom." 
 
 * im nn * * 
 
 Mrs Miller felt in no small degree relieved. 
 
 " Thank gracious goodness he is going too ! 
 1 am not at all ready for the business ! the 
 longer it is put off the better, the nearer to his 
 being of age ; and, upon my word, if he had 
 staid here he would never have waited, such a 
 self-willed impetuous creature as he is ; it will 
 be a pretty job whenever it does happen, enough 
 to make the top of one's head fly oti", to think of 
 it, l)ut when once over, what a thing it will be 
 for Violet ! ' Lady Victor Lyle !' and, if the 
 Marquis does not marry, ' The Marchioness of 
 (jHciiniorc ! ' (juite worth all I shall have to 
 go through. And to think that the worst person 
 of all to manage will ])e her own father ! Won't 
 he stand in the way of his own child, with his 
 grovelling, vulgar, old-fashioned ideas of right 
 and wrong? and that girl, she'll be another 
 hindrance. However, I'll conijuer her, and
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 323 
 
 that's the main point. But I must go and 
 look after my captive beauty. Oh, dear, it is a 
 rehef to think that this boy is going to-morrow, 
 and the other next week. I shall have breath- 
 ing time, at least."
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 Victor took liis {lc})artiire tlie next day. 
 The youth was really most sclfishlv wretched 
 at having to relinquish everything which to 
 him constituted enjoyment, for what he 
 deemed a puiiance and a bore. Travelling, 
 seeing new countries, tine scenery, what cared 
 lie for such ])lagues ? and then to be under 
 coercion, to have that " fellow Glenniore," 
 more like another tutor than a companion — for 
 how could he enter into Ins dull scientific 
 pursuits ! — always at his heels, doiru'ing his 
 steps; and then what he should leave behind! 
 It was really })itiable to belujld the crest-fallen 
 litute of the proud \ outh.
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 325 
 
 His mother was miserable ; and now the 
 time had come that she must part with him, 
 her indulgent nature made her forget all the 
 pain and trouble he was hourly giving her, and 
 she would fain have kept him with her. 
 
 But Glenmore's orders were not to be dis- 
 obeyed. As the carriage passed the Cottage 
 door he stopped it, and springing out, rushed 
 into the house. 
 
 " Violet ! " he exclaimed, clasping her in his 
 arms, whilst lona fide tears rained from his 
 eyes, "when I come back will you love me, — 
 will you be my wife ? " 
 
 The girl was very pale, her weak young 
 heart was softened at the sight of his real dis- 
 tress. What could she say seeing the proud, 
 hard Victor thus humbled to tears ? tears, 
 too, shed for her. No tears ever did their 
 work more effectually, for they won for Victor 
 at least a sentiment of transient })ity in her 
 breast, and we all know how softening is that 
 emotion. And then he was going — going for 
 a long time, so she would not struggle from 
 his warm embrace, as she certainly must have 
 done at any other time. She would constrain 
 herself to be passive, and then the relief of
 
 :i:2(> Tiir. i.ittlk beaitv. 
 
 tliiiikiiif; that in a i'rw momciits \\v would be 
 ijjoiR', not to return I'oi- at least a year ! — her 
 mood was therefore unusually eompliant. 
 
 " But answer me, Violet, send me awav at 
 least with comfort at my heart. Do you love 
 me ? Will you be my wife ? " 
 
 "Of course, I outrht to love vou, Lord 
 A'ictor; how kind you have always been to 
 me ! " was the evasive answer. 
 
 A servant knocked at the door. 
 
 " If you please, my Lord, Mr ianshaw says 
 you'll be late for the train." 
 
 " Violet, will you be my wife when I return ? 
 I'll not stir till you tell me." 
 
 " Yes, yes," she cried, impatiently ; any 
 thing better than that he should stay. 
 
 Again he ])ressed her passionately to his 
 heart, and then — the picture of grief which he 
 cared not to conceal — he rushed into the car- 
 riage. And Violet, her neiTcs quite unstrung 
 by till' hariii^siiig t I'oubles of the hist days, and 
 now excited and overcome by the })arting in- 
 ter\iew, flew to her little room, and throwing 
 iierself upon Ik r bed, and burying her face in 
 the jjillow, wept unrest lainedly ; but they were 
 tears partaking of relief not of sorrow
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 3.27 
 
 Mrs Vernon, acting upon the principle that 
 
 " A little fire is quickly trodden out ; 
 Which, being sufFer'd, rivers cannot quench," 
 
 spoke a few Avords to her son that evening. 
 They were but few, they were quite enough. 
 His mother's words and wishes had been 
 always sacred to Julian. She now spoke 
 to him as a friend, as well as a mother, love 
 and confidence glowing in every syllable she 
 uttered. But she was firm and decided. 
 Juhan, deeply distressed, at first listened to 
 her with averted countenance, but turned at 
 last his clear open face upon her, and eyes 
 from which truth and honour seemed actually 
 to emanate. 
 
 How that look rejoiced his mother's heart, 
 and how fervently she afterw^ards thanked God 
 upon her kness, for this blessing of blessings 
 comprised in such a son ! 
 
 " Mother, you need say no more. I 
 see it all, and agree in every word you have 
 said," he munnured hurriedly, and then em- 
 bracing her with the most affectionate warmth, 
 and receiving from his beloved mother the most 
 tender and fen'ent return to these caresses.
 
 32S THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 Julian left licr, and Mrs Vernon felt a load 
 lifted from licr heart. All anxiety on that ae- 
 eount being over, Mrs Vernon eon.sidered it 
 would be an expedient moment to endeavour 
 gently and gradu.ally to break off, or rather to 
 alter, the character of the intimacv sub.sisting 
 between her daughters and Violet ; and the 
 family at the Court, having seen with dis- 
 may the threatening evil consequences of 
 tliis false position of the nurse's daughtei-, 
 quite entered into all Mrs Vernon's opinions 
 upon the subject. 
 
 But the mischief had been done. IIow dif- 
 ficult to repair the damage which had com- 
 menced from the hour of the poor girl's birth ! 
 Violet was quite s})oilt for any other society 
 than that in which she had hitherto mixed — for 
 any other life but that of relinement. Allien 
 she came to the Rectoiy for her music lesson, 
 which the German governess for her own 
 n;ratifiration continued to ffive her, she was 
 not so often asked to remain. In the riding 
 or walking excursions she was now seldom 
 included. She began to perceive the dif- 
 ference, and it smote her to the heart. 
 All was done in the kindest and most con-
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 329 
 
 siderate manner possible ; but she who had 
 tasted of the cup of hfe so sweetened, how 
 coukl she turn to the common routine of the 
 existence wliich one in her grade must lead, 
 and without a pursuit but music and fancy- 
 work ? 
 
 Mrs ]\Iiller soon began to perceive how 
 matters stood, and at first it was a sharp pang 
 to her pride and self esteem. 
 
 " However, after all it could not be well 
 helped, and it does not much signify ! " were 
 next her cogitations. " I have him secure, I 
 am pretty well certain ; and being put down 
 by those stuck-up Rectory people will bring 
 Violet to her senses. I know how it is, just 
 as well as if I heard them say it ; they see 
 that their Julian is in love with my beauty, 
 and I believe tliev have an inklinsr at the 
 Court of how matters stand with that dear 
 Ijoy, Victor. No wonder, poor fellow, wdien the 
 tears were running down his face w^hen he left 
 the Cottage, and the servants all staring at 
 him. AMien he comes back I shall have no 
 further trouble with my young lady ; she'll be 
 too glad to take her good fortune, when it is 
 offered ; and it is much better that she should
 
 330 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. 
 
 not have absurd things put into her head at 
 the Rectory — Mrs Vernon talking good to 
 her about duties and rehgion — all very well 
 in their way, but quite unnecessary to be 
 stuffed into Violet's head at her time of life ; 
 she, too, who thinks all they say gospel, 
 they 'd soon make her as pnm as an old maid ; 
 she is always quite different after a lecture 
 from the rector's lady." 
 
 Mrs Miller was fidl of thought as she sat at 
 work in her parlour window. She had much 
 to ponder uj)on. 
 
 " This picture of Violet, which that dear 
 boy says he must have, and which he will pay 
 any price for — how is it to be ever done ? I 
 think I must contrive to get up to London 
 somehow or other, perhaps ask my Lady to 
 let me go to Whitehall Gardens for a week or 
 two, and take A^iolet with me. I can humbug 
 Frank, by saying the girl wants a little change, 
 and really so she does, the poor thing looks so 
 pale and sad. Oh, won't I like to spite them 
 all some of these days ! And my Lady, for- 
 sootli, even she is rather cool and odd, but I'll 
 warrant when the deed is done, and can't be 
 undone she'll soon relent : and if she doesn't
 
 THE LITTLE BEAUTY. SSI 
 
 wlio cares ? He is independent of tlieni all : 
 that fine property, Cranlev Abbey, his own 
 when he conies of age — the Marquis, too, 
 thinking more of books and studies than of 
 ever taking a wife " — 
 
 " The ^larcliioness of Glenniore ! " 
 "That is what I want to live to see niv 
 beautiful daughter." 
 
 END OF VOL. 1. 
 
 JOKJi CHILDS AND SOX. PSINTEKS,
 
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