^^.1 - / 1^^ P^ / r,^a^ /PrP- THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE HEIR OF REDCLYFFE." 6iv^4clC. Hia^^ FOURTH EDITION. MACMILLAIT AKD CO. 1875. LONDON : R. CLAY, SONS, AND TAYLOR, PRINTEKS, BREAD STREET HILL. HENRY MORSE STEPHENS CONTENTS. CSS CHAPTER I. m SEARCH OF A MISSION i CHAPTER II. Rachel's discipline 28 CHAPTER III. MACKAREL LANE -.«.«. 88 CHAPTER IV. THE HERO 62 CHAPTER V. • military SOCIETY 71 CHAPTER VI. ermine's resolution 88 CHAPTER VII. waiting for rose 106 CHAPTER VIII. woman's mission discovered .... ; . . , 188 514194 CONTENTS. CHAPTER IX. FAOK THX NEAV SPORT 160 CHAPTER X. THE PHILANTHROPIST 160 CHAPTER XI. LADY temple's TROUBLES 178 CHAPTER XII. ▲ CHANGE AT THE PARSONAGE 188 CHAPTER XIII. THE FOX AND THE CROW 198 CHAPTER XIV. THE GOWANBEAE BALL 208 CHAPTER XV. 220 CHAPTER XVI. 227 CHAPTER XVII. 241 CHAPTER XYIII. 255 60 AND PSAY AN APPARITION THE SIEGE THE FORLORN HOPE CONTENTS. vii CHAPTER XIX. PAQB THE BEEWST SHE BllEVVED 268 CHAPTER XX. THE SAEACEN's HEAD 276 CHAPTER XXI. THE QUAETEE SESSIONS 297 CHAPTER XXII. THE AFTEE CLAP , 312 CHAPTER XXIII. DEAE ALEXANDEE 324 CHAPTER XXiy. THE HONEYMOON 341 CHAPTER XXV. THE HUNTSFOED CROQUET 358 CHAPTER XXVI. THE END OF CLEVEENESS QQf CHAPTER XXVII. THE POST BAG ...... dS6 V'ill COKTENTS. CHAPTER XXVIII. VANITY OF VANITIES CHAPTER XXIX. AT TAST r 412 CHAPTER XXX. WHO IS THB CLEVER WOMAKV .,..*... 480 i THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. CHAPTEE I. IN SEARCH OP A MISSION. " Thou didst refuse the daily round Of useful, patient love, And longedst for some great emprise Thy spirit high to prove." — C. M. K. " Che mi sedea con I'antica Eachele." — Dante. " It is very kind in the dear mother." " But what, Eachel ? Don't you lilie it ? She so enjoyed choosing it for you." : " Oh yes, it is a perfect thing in its way. Don't say a word to her ; but if you are consulted for my next birthday present, Grace, couldn't you suggest that one does cease to be a girl." " Only try it on, Eachel dear, she will be pleased to see you in it." " Oh yes, I will bedizen myself to oblige her. I do assure you I am not ungrateful. It is beautiful in itself, and showa how well nature can be imitated ; but it is meant for a mere girl, and this is the very day I had fixed for hauling down the flag of youth." "Oh, Eachel." ' " Ah, ha ! If Eachel be an old maid, what is Grace 'l Come, my dear, resign yourself! There is nothing more unbecoming than want of perception of the close of young- ladyhood." **0f course I know we are not quite young girls now," said Grace, half perplexed, half annoyed. " Exactly. From this moment we are established as the maiden sisters of Avonmouth, husband and wife to one another, as maiden pairs always are." B 2 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. . ' " Then thus let me crown our bridal," quoth. Grace, placing on her sis^teii's head the wreath of white roses. " Treacherous child ! " cried Eachel, putting up her hands and tossing her "head, hat her sister held her still. "You Imow brides always take hberties. Please, dear, let it stay till the mother has been in, and pray don't talk before her of being so very old." " 'No, I'll not bo a sliock to her. We will silently assume our immunities, and she will acquiesce if they come upon hei gradually." Grace looked somewhat alarmed, being perhaps in some dread of immunities, and aware that Eachel's silence would in any one else have been talkativeness. "Ah, mother dear, good morning," as a pleasant placid- looking lady entered, dressed in black, with an air of feeble health, but of comely middle age. Birthday greetings, congratulations, and thanks followed, and the mother looked critically at the position of the wreath, and Eachel for the first time tui'ned to the glass and met a set of features of an irregular, characteristic cast, brow low and broad, nose retrousse, with large, singularly sensitive nostrils quivering like those of a high-bred horse at any emotion, full pouting lips, round cheeks glowing with the freshest red, eyes widely opened, dark deep grey and decidedly prominent, though curtained Avith thick black lashes. The glossy chestnut hair partook of the redundance and vigour of the whole being, and the roses hung on it gracefully though not in congruity "with the thick winter dress of blue and black tartan, still looped up over the dark petticoat and hose, and stout high-heeled boots, that like the grey cloak and felt hat bore witness to the early walk. Grace's countenance and figure were in the same style, though without so much of mark or animation ; and her dlress was of like description, but less severely plain. "Yes, my dear, it looks very well; and now you will oblige me by not wearing that black lace tiling, that loolcs fit for your grandmother." " Poor Lovedy Kelland's auct made it, mother, and it was very expensive, and wouldn't sell." "No wonder, I am sure, and it was very kind in you to take it off their hands ; but now it is paid for, it can't make much difference whether you disfigure yourself with it or not." " Oh yes, dear mother, I'll bind my hair when you bid nie IN SEARCH OF A MISSION. 3 do it, and really these buds do credit to the makers. I wonder whether they cost them as dear in health as lace does," she added, taking off the flowers and examining them with a grave sad look. "I chose white roses," proceeded tire well-pleased mother, " because I thought they would suit either of the sillis you have now, though I own I should like to see you in another white muslin.'" "I have done with white muslin," said Eachel, rousing from her reverie. "It is an affectation of girlish simplicity not becoming at our age." " Oh Eachel ! " thought Grace in despair ; but to her great relief in at that moment filed the five maids, the coachman, and butler; and the mother began to read prayers. Breakfast over, Eachel gathered up her various gifts, and betook herseK to a room on the ground floor with all the appliances of an ancient schoolroom. Eather dreamily she took out a number of copy-books, and began to write copies in them in large text hand. " And tliis is all I am doing for my fellow-creatures," she muttered half aloud. " One class of haK-grown lads, and those grudged to me ! Here is the world around one mass of misery and evil ! !N"ot a paper do I take up but I see some- thing about wretchedness and crime, and here I sit with health, strength, and knowledge, and able to do nothing, nothing — at the risk of breaking my mother's heart ! J have pottered about cottages and taught at schools in the dilettante way of the young lady who thinlvs it her duty t'a be charitable ; and I am told that it is my duty, and that I may be satisfied. Satisfied, when I see chLLdren cramped in soul, destroyed in body, that fine ladies may wear lace trimmings ! Satisfied with the blight of the most promising buds ! Satisfied, when I laiow that every alley and lane of town or country reeks with vice aiid corruption, and that there is one cry for workers with brains and with purses ! And here am I, able and willing, only longing to task myself to the uttermost, yet tethered down to the merest mockery of usefulness by conventionalities. I am a young lady forsooth ! — I must not be out late ; I must not put forth my views ; I must not choose my acquaintance; I must be a mere helpless, useless being, growing old in a ridiculous fiction of prolonged childhood, affecting those graces of so-called sweet seventeen that I never had — because, because v/hy 1 Is it for b2 4r THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. any better reason than because no mother can bear to believe her daughter no longer on the lists for matrimony'? Our dear mother does not tell herself that this is the reason, but she is unconsciously actuated by it. And I have hitherto given way to her wish. I mean to give way still in a measure ; but I am five and twenty, and I will no longer be withheld from some path of usefulness ! I will judge for myself, and when my mission has declared itself, I will not be withheld from it by any scruple that does not approve itself to my reason and conscience. If it be only a domestic mission — say the care of Fanny, poor dear helpless Fanny ; I would that I knew she was safe, — I would not despise it, I would throw myself into it, and regard the training her and forming her boys as a most sacred office. It would not be too homely for me. But I had far rather become the founder of some establishment that might relieve women from the oppressive task-work thrown on them in all their branches of labour. Oh, what a worthy ambition ! " " Eachel !" called Grace. " Come, there's a letter, a letter from Fanny herself for you. Make haste, mamma is so nervous till you read it." 'No exhortation was needed to make Eachel hurry to the drawing-room, and tear open the black-edged letter with the Australian stamp. " All is right, mamma. She has been very ill, but is fast recovering, and was to sail by the Voluta. Why, she may be here any day." " Any day ! My dear Grace, see that the nurseries are well aired." " No J mother, she says her party is too large, and wants us to take a furnished house for her to come into at once — Myrtlewood if possible. Is it let. Graced' " I think I saw the notice in the window yesterday." "Then, I'll go and see about it at once." '' But, my dear, you don't really mean that poor dear Fanny thinks of coming anywhere but to us 1 " said her mother, anxiously. "It is very considerate of her," said Grace, " with so many little children. You would find them too much for you, dear mother. It is just like Fanny to have thought of it. How many are there, Eachel ? " "Oh! I can't tell. They got past my reckoning long ago. I only know they are all boys, and that this babv is a girl." IN SEARCH OF A MISSION. ' " Baby ! Ah, poor Fanny, I feared that was the reason eho did not come sooner. " Yes, and she has been very ill ; she always is, I believe, but there is very little about it. Fanny never could write letters ; she only just says : ' I have not been able to attempt a letter sooner, though my dear little girl is five weeks old to-day. Think of the daughter coming at last, too late for her dear father, who had so wished for one. She is very healthy, I am thankful to say ; and I am now so much better, that the doctor says I may sail next week. Major Keith has taken our cabins, in the Valuta, and soon after you receive this, I hope to be showing you my dear boys. They are such good, aifectionate fellows ; but I am afraid they would be too much for my dear aunt, and our party is so large ; so the Major and I both think it will be the best way for you to take a house for me for six months. I should like Myrtlewood best, if it is to be had. I have told Con- rade all about it, and how pretty it is ; and it is so near you that I think there I can be happy as ever I can be again in this world, and have your advice for the dear children.' " " Poor darling ! she seems but a child herself." " My age — five and twenty," returned Eachel. " Well I shall go and ask about the house. Eemember, mother, this influx is to bring no trouble or care on you ; Fanny Temple is my charge from henceforth. My mission has come to seek me," she added as she quitted the room, in eager excitement of afi'ection, emotion, and importance, for Fanny had been more like a sister than a cousin. Grace and Eachel Curtis were the daughters of the squire of the Homestead ; Fanny, of his brother, an officer in the army. Left at home for education, the little girl had spent her life, from her seventh to her sixteenth year, as absolutely one with her cousins, until she was summoned to meet her father at the Cape, under the escort of his old friend, General Sir Stephen Temple. She found Colonel Curtis sinking under fatal disease, and while his relations were preparing to receive, almost to maintain, his widow and daughter, they were electrified by the tidings that the gentle little Fanny, at sixteen, had become the wife of Sir Stephen Temple, at sixty. From that time little had been known about her ; her mother had continued with her, but the two Mrs. Curtises had never been congenial or intimate ; and Fanny was never a full nor willing correspondent, feeling perhaps the difficulty 6 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. of writing under changed circumstances. Her husband had been in various commands in the colonies, without returning to England ; and all that was known of her was a general impression that she had much ill-healtH and numerous chil- dren, and was tended like an infant by her bustling mother and doting husband. More than haK a year back, tidings had come of the almost sudden death of her mother; and about three months subsequently, one of the officers of Sir Stephen's staff had written to announce that the good old general had been killed by a fall from his horse, while on a round of inspection at a distance from home. The widow was then completely prostrated by the shock, but promised to write as soon as she wa^ able ; and this was the fulfilment of that promise, bringing the assurance that Eanny was coming back -with her little ones to the home of her childhood. Of that home, Grace and Eachel were the joint-heiresses, though it was owned by the mother for her life. It was an estate of farm and moorland, worth some three or four thousand a year, and the house was perched on a beautiful promontory, running out into the sea, and inclosing one side of a bay, where a small fishing-village had recently expanded into a quiet watering-place, esteemed by some for its remoteness from railways, and for the calm and simplicity that were yearly diminished by its increasing popularity. It was the family fashion to look down from their crag at the new esplanade with pity and contempt for the ruined loneliness of the pebbly beach ; and as Mrs. Curtis had not health to go often into society, she had been the more careful where she trusted her daughters. They belonged to the county by birth and tradition, and were not to be mixed up with the fleeting residents of the watering-place, on whom they never called, unless by special recommendation from a mutual friend ; and the few permanent inhabitants chanced to be such, that a visit to them was in some degree a condescension. Perhaps there was more of timidity and caution than of pride in the mother's exclusiveness, and Grace had always acquiesced in it as the natural and established state of affairs, without any sense of superiority, but rather of being protected. She had a £iw alarms as to the results of Kachel's new immunities of age, and though never questioning the wisdom of her clever sister's conclusions, dreaded the effect on the mother, whom she had been forbidden to caU mamma. *' At their ago it was affecting an interesting childishness." Eachel had had the palm of cleverness conceded to hai IN SEARCH OP A MISSION. 7 ever since she could recollect, when she read better at three years old than her sister at five, and ever after, through the days of education, had enjoyed, and excelled in, the studies that were a toil to Grace. Subsequen-tly, while Grace had contented herself with the ordinary course of unambitious feminine life, Eachel had thrown herself into the process of self-education with all her natural energy, and carried on her favourite studies by every means within her reach, until she considerably surpassed in acquirements and reflection all the persons with whom she came in frequent contact. It was a homely neighbourhood, a society well born, but of circum- scribed interests and habits, and little connected with the great progressive world, where, however, Eachel's sympathies all lay, necessarily fed, however, by periodical literature, instead of by conversation or commerce with living minds. She began by being stranded on the ignorance of those who surrounded her, and found herself isolated as a sort of pedant ; and as time went on, the narrowness of interests chafed her, and in like manner left her alone. As she grew past girlhood, the cid bono question had come to interfere with her ardour in study for its own sake, and she felt the influence of an age eminently practical and sifting, but with small powers of acting. The quiet Lady Bountiful duties that had sufficed her mother and sister were too small and easy to satisfy a soul burning at the report of the great cry going up to heaven from a world of sin and woe. The examples of successful workers stimulated her longings to be up and doing, and yet the ever difficult question between charitable works and filial deference necessarily detained her, and perhaps all the more because it was not so much the fear of her mother's authority as of her horror and despair, that withheld her from the decisive and eccentric steps that she was always feeling impelled to take. Gentle Mrs. Curtis iiad never been a visible power in her house, and it was through their desire to avoid paining her that her govern- ment had been exercised over her two daughters ever since their father's death, which had taken place in Grace's seven- teenth year. Both she and Grace implicitly accepted Eachel's superiority as an unquestionable fact, and the mother, when traversing any of her clever daughter's schemes, never dis- puted either her opinions or principles, only entreated that these particular developments might be conceded to her own weakness ; and Eachel generally did concede. She could not act ; but she could talk uncontradicted, and she hated 8 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. herself for the enforced submission to a state of things that she despised. This twenty-fifth birthday had long been anticipated as the turning-point when this submissive girlhood ought to close, and the privileges of acting as well as thinking for herself ought to be assumed. Something to do was her cry, and on this very day that something seemed to be cast in her way. It was not ameliorating the condition of the masses, but it was educating those who might ameliorate them ; and Eachel gladly hailed the prospect of a vocation that might be conducted without pain to her mother. Young children of her own class were not exactly what her dream of usefulness had devised ; but she had already a decided theory of education, and began to read up with all her might, whilst taking the lead in all the details of house taking, servant hiring, &c. ; to which her regular occupations of night school in the evening and reading to the lacemakers by day, became almost secondary. In due time the arrival of the ship was telegraphed, a hurried and affectionate note followed, and, on a bright east-windy afternoon, Eachel Curtis set forth to take up her mission. A telegram had announced the arrival of the Valuta, and the train which would bring the travellers to Avonchester. The Homestead carriage was sent to meet them, and Eachel in it, to give her helpless cousin assistance in this beginning of English habits. A roomy fly had been engaged for nurses and children, and Mrs. Curtis had put under the coachman's charge a parcel of sandwiches, and instructed him to offer all the appliances for making her own into an invalid carriage. Full of warm tenderness to those who were to be depen- dent on her exertions, led by her good sense, Eachel paced the platform till the engine rushed up, and she looked along the line of windows, suddenly bewildered. Doors opened, but gentlemen alone met her disappointed eye, until close to her a soft voice said, "Eachel !" and she saw a figure in deep black close to her; but her hand had been hardly clasped before the face was turned eagerly to a tall, bearded man, who was lifting out little boy after little boy, apparently in an endless stream, till at last a sleeping baby was brought out in the arms of a nurse. " Good-bye. Thank you, oh, thank you. You will come soon. Oh, do come on now." *' Do come on now," was echoed by many voices. ** I leave you in good hands. Good-bye." IN SEARCH OP A MISSION. 9 •* Good-bye. Conrade dear, see what Cyril is doing; never mind, "Wilfred, the Major will come and see us ; run on with Coombe." This last was a respectable military- looking servant, who picked np a small child in one hand and a dressing-case in the other, and awaited orders. There was a clinging to the Major by all the children, only ended by his finally precipitating himself into the carriage, and being borne off. Then came a chorus — " Mamma, let me go with you ; " " I'll go with mamma ; " " Me go with mamma ; " according to the gradations of age. ■' While Coombe and mamma decided the question by lift- ing the lesser ones into the fly, Eachel counted heads. Her mission exceeded her expectations. Hero was a pair of boys in knickerbockers, a pair in petticoats, a pair in pelisses, besides the thing in arms. When the fly had been nearly crammed, the two knickerbockers and one pelisse remained for the carriage, quite against Eachel's opinion ; but " Little Wilfred can sit on my lap, he has not been well, poor little man," was quite conclusive ; and when Eachel suggested lying back to rest, there was a sweet, low laugh, and, " Oh, no thank you, Wilfred never tires me." -^ Eachel's first satisfaction was in seeing the veil disclose the face of eight years back ; the same soft, clear, olive skin ; delicate, oval face, and pretty deep-brown eyes, with the same imploring, earnest sweetness; no signs of having grown older ; no sign of wear and tear, climate, or exertion ; only the widow's dress and the presence of the great boys enhancing her soft youthfulness./^The smile was certainly changed ; it was graver, sadderf tenderer, and only conjured up by- maternal affection or in grateful reply ; and the blitheness of the young brow had changed to quiet pensiveness, but more than ever there was an air of dependence almost beseeching protection; and Eachel's heart throbbed with Britomart's devotion to her Amoret. " Why wouldn't the Major come, mamma ? " ** He will soon come, I hope, my dear." Those few words gave Eachel a strong antipathy to the Major. Then began a conversation under difiiculties, Fanny trying to inquire after her aunt, and Eachel to detail the arrange- ments made for her at Myrtlewood, while the two boys were each accommodated with a window ; but each moment they were claiming their mother's attention, or rushing across the ladies' feet to each other's window, treating Eachel's knees 10 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. as a pivot, and vouclisafmg not the slightest heed to her attempts at intelligent pointing out of the new scenes. And Fanny made no apology, but seemed pleased, ready with answers and with eyes, apparently ignorant that Eachel's toes were less insensible than her own, and her heavy three- years-old Wilfred asleep on her lap all the time. " She feeble, helpless, sickly ! " thought Eachel, " I should have been less tired had I walked the twenty miles I " She gave up talking in despair, and by the time tbe young gentlemen had tired themselves into quiescence, and began to cat the provisions, both, ladies were glad to be allowed a little silence. Coming over the last bill, Conrade roused at bis mother's summons to look out at "bome," and every word between them showed bow fondly Avonmoutb had been remembered far away. " The sea ! " said Fanny, leaning forwards to catcb sigbt of the long grey line ; " it is hard to beKeve we bave been on it so long, this seems so mucb more my own." " Yes," cried Eachel, " you are come to your own home, for us to take care of you." " I take care of manuna ! Major Keith said so," indig- nantly exclaimed Conrade. " There's plenty of care for you botb to take," said Fanny, half-smiling, half-sobbing. " The Major says I need not be a poor creature, and I will try. But I am afraid I shaU bo on all your hands." Both boys drummed on ber knee in "vvratb at her presuming to call herself a poor creature — Conrade glaring at Eachel as if to accuse her of the calumny. " See the church," said Lady Temple, glad to divert the storm, and eagerly looking at the slender spire surmounting the bell-tuiTct of a small building in early-decorated style, new, but somewhat stained by sea-witid, without having as yet acquired the tender tints of time. " How beautiful ! " was ber cry. " You were beginning the collection for it when I went away ! How we used to wisb for it." " Yes, we did," said Eachel, witb a significant sigb ; but ber cousin bad no time to attend, for tbey were turning in a pepper-box lodge. The boys were told that they were arrived, and they were at the door of a sort of overgro^vii Swiss cottage, where ]\Irs. Curtis and Grace stood ready to receive them. IN SEARCH OP A MISSION. 11 Tliere was a confusion of embraces, fondlings, and tears, as Fanny clung to the aunt who had been a mother to her — perhaps a more tender one than the ruling, managing spirit, whom she had hardly known in her childhood ; but it was only for a moment, for Wilfred shrieked out in an access of shyness at Grace's attempt to make acqiiaintance with him ; Francis was demanding, " Wliere's the orderly ?" and Conrade looking brimful of wrath at any one who made his mother cry. Moreover, the fly had arrived, and. the remainder had to be produced, named, and kissed — Conrade and Francis, Leoline and Hubert, Wilfred and Cyril, and little Stephana the baby. Eeally the names were a study in themselves, and the cousins felt as if it would be hopeie^ to endeavour to apply them. Servants had been engaged conditionally, and the house was fully ready, but the young mother could hardly listen to her aunt's explanations in her anxiety that the little ones should be rested and fed, and she responded with semi-com- prehending thanks, while moving on with her youngest in her arms, and as many hanging to her dress as could get hold 01 it. Her thanks grew more emphatic at the sight of cribs in inviting order, and all things ready for a meal. "I don't drink tea with nurse," was Conrade's cry, the signal for another general outcry, untranquillized by soothings and persuasions, tOl the door was shut on the younger half of the family, and those who could not open it remained to be comforted by nurse, a soldier's widow, who had been with them from the birth of Conrade. The Temple form of shyness seemed to consist in ignoring strangers, but being neither abashed nor silenced, only resent- ing or avoiding all attempts at intercourse ; and as the boys rushed in and out of the rooms, exploring, exclaiming, and calling mamma, to the interruption of all that was going on, only checked for a few minutes by her uplifted hand and gentle hush, Grace saw her mother so stunned and bewil- dered that she rejoiced in the fear of cold that had decided that Kachel alone should spend the evening there. Fanny made some excuses ; she longed to see more of her aunt, but when they were a little more Gottlcd, — and as a fresh shout broke out, she was afraid they were rather unruly, — she must come and talk to her at the dear Homestead. So kind of Eachel to stay — not that the boys seemed to think so, as they went racing in and out, stretching their ship-bound legs, and taking possession of ihe minute shrubbery, which they scorned for the want of gum-trees and parrots. 12 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. "You won't mind, Eacliel dear, I must first see about baby ; " and Eacbel was left to reflect on her mission, while the boys' feet cantered up and down the house, and one or other of them would look in, and burst away in search of mamma. Little more satisfactory was the rest of the evening, for the boys took a great deal of waiting on at tea, and then some of the party would not go to sleep in strange beds without long persuasions and comfortings, till Fanny looked so weary that it was plain that no conversation could have been hoped from her, even if the baby had been less vociferous. All that could be done for her was to wish her good-night, and promise to come down early. Come early ! Yes, Eachel might come, but what was the use of that when Panny was at the mercy of so many claimants? She looked much better than the day before, and her sweet, soft welcome was most cordial and clinging. "Dear Eachel, it is like a dream to have you so near. I felt like the old life come back again to hear the surge of the sea all night, and know I should see you all so soon again." " Yes, it is a great satisfaction to have you back in your old home, under our wing. I have a great deal to tell you about the arrangements." " Oh yes ; thank you " " Mamma ! " roared two or three voices. "I wanted to explain to you ^" But Fanny's eye was roaming, and just then in burst two boys. " Mamma, nurse won't undo the tin box, and my ship is in it that the Major gave me." " Yes, and my stuffed duck-bill, and I want it, mamma." " My dear Con, the Major would not let you shout so loud about it, and you have not spoken to Aunt Eachel." The boys did present their hands, and then returned to the charge. " Please order nurse to unpack it, mamma, and then Coombe will heljD us to sail it." "Excuse me, dear Eachel," said Fanny, "I will first see about this." And a very long seeing it was, probably meaning that she unpacked the box herself, whilst Eachel was deciding on the terrible spoiling of the children, and preparing a remon- strance. " Dear Eachel, you have been left a long time." " Oh, never mind that ; but, Fanny, you must not give IN SEARCH OF A MISSION. 13 way to those children too much ; they will be always Hark ! was that the door-bell ? " It waSj and the visitor was announced as "Mr. Touchett j" a small, dark, thin young clergyman he was, of a nervous manner, which, growing more nervous as he shook hands with Eachel, became abrupt and hesitating. " My call is— is early, Lady Temple ; but I always pay my respects at once to any new parishioner — resident, I mean — in case I can be of any service." " Thank you, I am very much obliged," said Fanny, with a sweet, gracious smile and manner that would have made him more at ease at once, if Eachel had not added, " My cousin is quite at home here, Mr. Touchett." " Oh yes," he said, '' so — so I understood." " I know no place in England so well ; it is quite a home to me, so beautiful it is," continued Fanny. " And you see great changes here." " Changes so much for the better," said Fanny, smiling her winning smile again. " One always expects more from improvements than they effect," put in Eachel, severely. " You have a large young party," said Mr. Touchett, look- ing uneasily towards Lady Temple. " Yes, I have half a dozen boys and one little girl." • " Seven ! " Mr. Touchett looked up half incredulous at the girlish contour of the gentle face, then cast down his eyes as if afraid he had been rude. " Seven ! It is — it is a great charge." " Yes, indeed it is," she said earnestly ; " and I am sure you will be kind enough to give your influence to help me with them — poor boys." " Oh ! oh ! " he exclaimed, " anything I can do " in such a transport of ' eager helpfulness that Eachel coldly said, " We are aU anxious to assist in the care of the children." He coloured up, and with a sort of effort at self-assertion, blurted out, " As the clergyman of the parish ," and there halted, and was beginning to look foolish, when Lady Temple took him up in her soft, persuasive way. *' Of course we shall look to you so much, and you will be so kind as to let me know if there is any one I can send any broth to at any time." " Thank you ; you are very good ; " and he was quite himself again. "I shall have the pleasure of sending you down a few names." 14 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. *' I never did approve tlie broken victual system," began Eacliel ; " it creates dependence." " Come here, Hubert," said Fanny, beckoning a boy sbo saw at a distance, " come and stake bands witb Mr. Toucbett." It was from instinct ratber tban reason ; tbere was a fencing between Eacbel and tbe curate tbat made ber uncomfortable, and led ber to break it off by any means m ber power ; and tbougb Mr. Toucbett was not mucb at liis ease witb tbe little boy, tbis discussion was staved off. But again Mr. Toucbett made bold to say tbat in case Lady Temple wisbed for a daily governess, be knew of a very desirable young person, a most admirable pair of sisters, wbo bad met witb great reverses j but Eacbel snapped bim off sborter tbaji ever. ""We can decide notbing yet; I bave made up my mind to teacb tbe little boys at present." " Ob, indeed ! " " It is very kind," said tbe perplexed Lady Temple. "I beg your pardon; I only tbougbt, in case you were wisbing for some one, tbat Miss Williams will be at liberty sbortly." " I do not imagine Miss Williams is tbe person to deal witb little boys," said Eacbel. " In fact, I tbink tbat borne teacb- ing is always better tban bired." "I am so mucb obliged," said Fanny, as Mr. Toucbett, after tbis defeat, rose up to take leave, and sbe beld out bez band, sndled, tbanked, and sent bim away so mucb sweetened, and gratified, tbat Eacbel would bave instantly begun dissect- ing bim, but tbat a wbole rusb of boys broke in, and again engrossed tbeir motber ; and in tbe next lull, tbe uppermost necessity was of explaining about tbe servants who bad been bired for tbe time, one of whom was a young woman wbose bealtb bad given way over ber lace pillow, and Eacbel was eloquent over tbe crying evils of tbe system (everytbing was a system witb Eacbel) tbat chained girls to an unhealthy occupation in their early childhood, and made an overstocked market and underpaid workers — holding Fanny fast to listen by a sort of fascination in her overpowering earnestness, and great fixed eyes, which, when once their grasp was taken, would not release the victim; and tbis Avas a matter of daily occurrence on which Eacbel felt keenly and spoke strongly. " It is very sad. If you want to help the poor things, I yill give anything I can." *^ Ob, yes, thank you ; but it is doloful merely to help IN SEARCH OF A MISSION. 15 them, to linger out the remnant of a life consumed upon these cobwebs of vanity. It is the fountainhead that must be reached — the root of the system ! " Fanny saw, or rather felt, a boy making signs at the win- dow, but durst not withdraw her eyes from the fascination of those eager ones. " Lace and lacemakers are facts," continued Bachel; "but if the middle men were exploded, and the excess of workers drafted off by some wholesome outlet, the price would rise, so that the remainder would be at leisure to fulfil the domestic offices of womanhood.^' :. There was a great uproar above. : " I beg your pardon, dear Eachel," and away went Fanny. ' "I do declare," cried Eachel, when Grace, having de- spatched her home-cares, entered the room a quarter of an hour after ; " poor Fanny's a perfect slave. One can't get in a word edgeways." Fanny at last returned, but with her baby ; and there was no chance for even Eachel to assert herself Avhile this small queen was in presence. Grace was devoted to infants, and there was a whole court of brothers vying with one another in picking up her constantly dropped toys, and in performing antics for her amusement. Eachel, desirous to be gracious and resigned, attempted conversation with one of the eldest pair, but the baby had but to look towards him, and he was at her feet. On her departure, Eachel resumed the needful details of the arrangements respecting the house and servants, and found Lady Temple as grateful and submissive as ever, except that, when advised to take Myrtlewood for a term of seven years, she replied, that the Major had advised her not to bind herseK down at once. " Did you let him think we should quarrel 1 " " Oh, no, my dear ; but it might not agree with the children." " Avonmouth ! Grace, do you hear what heresy Fanny has been learning? Why, the proportion of ozone in the air here has been calculated to be five times that of even Aveton!" " Yes, dearest," said poor Fanny, very humbly, and rather scared, " there is no place like Avonmouth, and I am sure the Major will think so when he has seen it." " But what has he to do with your movements ?" " Sir Stephen wished — " murmured Fanny. ''' The Major is military secretary, and always settles oui 16 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. head-quarters, and no one interferes with him," shouted Conrade. Rachel, suspicious and jealous of her rival, was obliged to let Fanny pass on to the next item, where her eager acceptance of all that was prescribed to her was evidently- meant as compensation for her refractoriness about the house. Grace had meanwhile applied herself to keeping off the boys, and was making some progress in their good graces, and in distinguishing between their sallow faces, dark eyes, and crisp, black heads. Conrade was individualized, not only by superior height, but by soldierly bearing, bright pride glancing in his eyes, his quick gestures, bold, decided words, and imperious tone towards all, save his mother — and what- ever he was doing, his keen, black eye was always turning in search of her, he was ever ready to spring to her side to wait on her, to maintain her cause in rough championship, or to claim her attention to himself Francis was thick-set, round- shouldered, bullet-headed and dull-eyed, in comparison, not aggressive, but holding his own, and not very approachable ; Leoline, thin, white-cheeked, large-eyed and fretful-lipped, was ready to whine at Conrade's tyranny and Francis's appro- priations, but was grateful for Grace's protection, and more easy of access than his elders ; and Hubert was a handsome, placid child, the good boy, as well as the beauty of the family. The pair in the nursery hardly came on the stage, and the two elders would be quite sufficient for Mrs. Curtis, with whom the afternoon was to be spent. The mother, evidently, considered it a very long absence, but she was anxious to see both her aunt and her own home, and set out, leaning on Eachel's arm, and smiling pleased though sad recognition of the esplanade, the pebbly beach, bathing machines and fishing boats, and pointing them out to her sons, who, on their side, would only talk of the much greater extent of Melbourne. Within the gates of the Homestead, there was a steep, sharp bit of road, cut out in the red sandstone rock, and after a few paces she paused to rest with a sigh that brought Conrade to her side, when she put her arm round his neck, and leant on his shoulder ; but even her two supporters could not prevent her from looking pale and exhausted. "Never mind," she said, "this salt wind is delightful. How like old times it is ! " and she stood gazing across the little steep lawn at the grey sea,, the line of houses following IN SEARCH OP A MISSION. 17 the curve of the bay, and straggling up the valley in the rear, and the purple headlands projecting point beyond point, showing them to her boys, and telling their names. " It is all ugly and cold," said Francis, with an ungracious shiver. " I shall go home to Melbourne when I'm a man." " And you will come, mamma 1 " added Conrade. He had no answer, for Eanny was in her aunt's arms j and, like mother and daughter, they clung to each other — more able to sympathize, more truly one together, than the young widow could be with either of the girls. • As soon as Fanny had rested and enjoyed the home atmo- sphere downstairs, she begged to visit the dear old rooms, and carried Conrade through a course of recognitions through the scarcely altered apartments. Only one had been much changed, namely, the schoolroom, which had been stripped of the kindly old shabby furniture that Fanny tenderly recol- lected, and was decidedly bare ; but a mahogany box stood on a stand on one side ; there was a great accession of books, and writing implements occupied the plain deal table in the centre. " What have you done to the dear old room — do you not use it still ? " asked Fanny. " Yes, I work here," said Eachel. * Vainly did Lady Temple look for that which women call work. "I have hitherto ground on at after- education and self- improvement," said Eachel ; *' now I trust to make my pre- paration available for others. I will undertake any of your boys if you wish it." I " Thank you ; but what is that box 1 " — in obedience to a curious push and pull from Conrade. j " It is her dispensary," said Grace. " Yes," said Eachel, " you are weak and nervous, and I have just the thing for you," " Is it homoeopathy 1 " " Yes, here is my book. I have done great things in my district, and should do more but for prejudice. There, this globule is the very thing for your case ; I made it out last night in my book. That is right, and I wanted to ask you some questions about little Wilfred." Fanny had obediently swallowed her own globule, but little Wilfred was a different matter, and she retreated from the large eyes and open book, saying that he was better, and that Mr. Frampton should look at him ; but Eachel was not c 18 THE OLIVER WOMAN. OF THE FAMILY. to be eluded, and was in full career of elucidation to the meanest capacity, when a sharp skirmish between the boys ended the conversation, and it appeared that Conrade had caught Francis just commencing an onslaught on the globules, taking them for English sweetmeats of a minute description. The afternoon passed with the strange heaviness well known to those who find it hard to resume broken threads after long parting. There was much affection, but not full certainty what to talk about, and the presence of the boys would have hindered confidence, even had they not inces- santly occupied their mother. Conrade, indeed, betook him- self to a book, but Francis was only kept out of mischief by his constantly turning over pictures with him ; however, at dark, Coombe came to convey them home, and the ladies of the Homestead experienced a sense of relief. Eachel imme- diately began to talk of an excellent preparatory school. " I was thinking of asking you," said Fanny, " if there is any one here who would come as a daily governess." " Oh ! " cried Eachel, " these two would be much better at school, and I would form the little ones, who are still manageable." " Conrade is not eight years old yet," said his mother in an imploring tone, " and the Major said I need not part with bim till he has grown a little more used to English ways." " He can read, I see," said Grace, " and he told me he had done some Latin with the Major." " Yes, he has picked up a vast deal of information, and on the voyage the Major used to teach him out of a little pocket Virgil. The Major said it w^ould not be of much use at school, as there was no dictionary; but that the discipline and occupation would be useful, and so they were. Conrado will do anything for the Major, and indeed so will they alL" Three Majors in one speech, thought Eachel ; and by way of counteraction she enunciated, " I could undertake the next pair of boys easily, but these two are evidently wanting school discipline." Lady Temple feathered up like a mother dove over her nest. "You do not know Conrade. He is so trustworthy and affectionate, dear boy, and they are both always good with me. The Major said it often hurts boys to send them too young." " They are very young, poor little fellows," said Mrs. Cuitis. IN SEARCH OF A MISSION. 19 " And if they are forward in some things they are back- ward in others," said Fanny. "What Major Keith recom- mended was a governess, who would know what is generally expected of little boys." '' I. don't like half measures," muttered Rachel. " I do not approve of encouraging young women to crowd the over- stocked profession of governesses." Fanny opened her brown eyes, and awaited the words of wisdom. "Is it not a flagrant abuse," continued Eachel, "that whether she have a vocation or not, every woman of a certain rank, who wishes to gain her own livelihood, must needs become a governess 1 A nursery maid must have a vocation, but an educated or half-educated woman has no choice ; and educator she must become, to her own detriment, and that of her victims." " I always did think governesses often much to be pitied," said Fanny, finding something was expected of her. " ^What's the use of pity if one runs on in the old groove 1 We must prevent the market from being drugged, by divert- ing the supply into new lines." " Are there any new lines 1 " asked Fanny, surprised at the progress of society in her absence. " Homoeopathic doctresses," whispered Grace ; who, dutiful as she was, sometimes indulged in a little fun, which Eachel would affably receive unless she took it in earnest, as in the present instance. " Why not — I ask why not ^ Some women have broken through prejudice, and why should not others 1 Do you not agree with me, Fanny, that female medical men — I mean medical women — would be an infinite boon 1 " " It would be very nice if they would never be nervous." " K'erves are merely a matter of training. Think of the numbers that might be removed from the responsibility of incompetently educating ! I declare that to tempt a person into the office of governess, instead of opening a new field to her, is the most short-sighted indolence." " I don't want to tempt any one," said Fanny. " Sho ought to have been out before and be experienced, only she must be land to the poor boys. I wanted the Major to inquire in London, but he said perhaps I might hear of some one here." " That was right, my dear," returned her aunt. " A gentlo- man, an officer, could not do much in such a matter," c 2 20 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. "He always does manage whatever one wants." At which speech Rachel cast a glance towards her mother, and saw her look questioning and perplexed. " I was thinking," said Grace, " that I believe the people at the Cliff Cottages are going away, and that Miss Williams might be at liberty." "Didn't I know that Grace would come out with Miss Williams 1 " exclaimed Eachel. " A regular eruption of the Touchettomania. We have had him already advertising her." " Miss Williams ! " said Mrs. Curtis. " Yes, she might suit you very well. I believe they are very respectable young women, poor things ! I have always wished that we could do more for them." , " Who 1 " asked Fanny. ' "Certain pets of Mr. Touchett's," said Eachel; "some of the numerous ladies whose mission is that curatolatry into which Grace would lapse but for my strenuous efforts." ■ " I don't quite know why you call them his pets," said Grace, " except that he knew their antecedents, and told us about them." " Exactly, that was enough for me. I perfectly understand the meaning of Mr. Touchett's recommendations ; and if what Fanny wants is a commonplace sort of upper nurse- maid, I dare say it would do." And Rachel leant back, applied herself to her wood carving, and virtually retired from the discussion. "One sister is a great invalid," said Grace, " quite a cripple, and the other goes out as a daily governess. They are a clergyman's daughters, and once were very well off, but they lost everything through some speculation of their brother. I believe he fled the country under some terrible suspicion of dishonesty ; and though no one thought they had anything to do with it, their friends dropped them because they would not give him up, nor believe him guilty, and a little girl of his lives with them. " Poor things ! " exclaimed Lady Temple. " I should very much like to employ this one. How very sad." "Mrs. Grey told me that her children had never done so well vdth any one," said Mrs. Curtis. " She wanted to engage Miss Williams permanently, but could not induce her to leave her sister, or even to remove her to London, on account of her health." IN SBAROH OP A MISSION. 21 '* Do you know her, Grace 1 " asked Fanny. ** I have called once or twice, and have been very much pleased with the sick sister ; but Eachel does not fancy that set, you see. I meet the other at the Sunday school ; I like her looks and manner very much, and she is always at the early service before her work." " Just like a little mauve book ! " muttered Rachel. Fanny absolutely stared. "You go, don't you, Rachel? How we used to wish for it ! " " You have wished and we have tried," said Rachel, with a sigh. " Yes, Rachel," said Grace ; " but with all drawbacks, all disappointments in ourselves, it is a great blessing. We would not be without it." " I could not be satisfied in relinquishing it voluntarily," said Rachel, " but I am necessarily one of the idle. Were I one of the occupied, laborare est orare would satisfy me, and that poor governess ought to feel the same. Think of the physical reaction of body on mind, and tell me if you could have the barbarity of depriving that poor jaded thing of an hour's sleep, giving her an additional walk, fasting, in all weathers, and preparing her to be savage with the children." "Perhaps it refreshes her, and hinders her from being cross." "Maybe she thinks so; but if she have either sense or ear, nothing would so predispose her to be cross as the squeaking of Mr. Touchett's penny- whistle choir." " Poor Mr. Touchett," sighed Mrs. Curtis ; " I wish iie would not make such ambitious attempts." " But you like the choral service," said. Fanny, feeling as if everything had turned round. "When all the men of a regiment chant together you cannot think how grand it is, almost finer than the cathedral." " Yes, where you can do it," said Rachel, " but not where you can't." '' I wish you would not talk about it," said Grace. " I must, or Fanny will not understand the state of parties at Avonmouth." " Parties ! Oh, I hope not." " My dear child, party spirit is another word for vitality. So you thought the church we sighed for had made .the place all we sighed to see it, and ourselves too. Oh ! Fanny, \z this what you have been across the world for % " " What is wrong ? " asked Fanoy, alarmed. 22 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. " Do you remember our axiom 1 Build your church, and the rest will take care of itself. You remember our scraping and begging, and how that good Mr. Davison helped us out and brought the endowment up to the needful point for con- secration, on condition the incumbency was given to him. He held it just a year, and was rich, and could help out his bad health with a curate. But first he went to Madeira, and then he died, and there we are, a perpetual curacy of .£70 a year, no resident gentry but ourselves, a fluctuating popula- tion mostly sick, our poor demoralized by them, and either crazed by dissent, or heathenized by their former distance from church. Who would take us? No more Mr. Davi- sons ! There was no more novelty, and too much smartness to invite self-devotion. So we were driven from pillar to post till we settled down into this Mr. Touchett, as good a being as ever lived, working as hard as any two, and sparing neither himseK nor any one else." Fanny looked up prepared to admire. " But he has two misfortunes. He was not born a gentle- man, and Ms mind does not measure an inch across." " Eachel, my dear, it is not fair to prejudice Fanny ; I am sure the poor man is very well-behaved." " Mother 1 would you be calling the ideal Anglican priest, poor man 1 " " I thought he was quite gentlemanlike," added Fanny. " Gentlemanlike ! ay, that's it," said Eachel, "just so like as to delight the born curatolatress, like Grace and Miss Williams." "Would it hurt the children?" asked Fanny, hardly comprehending the tremendous term. "Yes, if it infected you," said Eachel, intending some playfulness. " A mother of contracted mind forfeits the allegiance of her sons." " Oh, Eachel, I know I am weak and sUly," said the gentle young widow, terrified, " but the Major said if I only tried to do my duty by them I should be helped." " And I -will help you, Fanny," said Eachel. " All that is requisite is good sense and firmness, and a thorough sense of responsibility." "That is what is so dreadful. The responsibility of all those dear fatherless boys, and if — if I should do wrong by them." Poor Fanny fell into an imcontrollable fit of weeping at the sense of her own desolation and helplessness, and Mrs. IN SEARCH OP A MISSION. 23 Curtis came to comfort her, and tell her affectionately of having gone through the like feelings, and of the repeated but most comfortable words of promise to the fatherless and the widow — words that had constantly come before the sufferer, but which had by no means lost their -virtue by repetition, and Fanny was soothed with hearing instances of the special Providence over orphaned sons, and their love and deference for their mother. Eachel, shocked and dis- tressed at the effect of her sense, retired out of the conversa- tion, till at the announcement of the carriage for Lady Temple, her gentle cousin cheered up, and feeling herself to blame for having grieved one who only meant aid and kindness, came to her and fondly kissed her forehead, saying, " I am not vexed, dear Eachel, I know you are right. I am not clever enough to bring them up properly, but if I try hard, and pray for them, it may be made up to them. And you will help me, Eachel dear," she added, as her readiest peace-offering for her tears, and it was the most effectual, for Eachel was perfectly contented as long as Fanny was de- pendent on her, and allowed her to assume her mission, provided only that the counter influence could be averted, and this Major, this universal referee, be eradicated from her foolish clinging habits of reliance before her spirits were enough recovered to lay her heart open to danger. But the more Eachel saw of her cousin, the more she realized this peril. When she went down on Monday morning to complete the matters of business that had been slurred over on the Saturday, she found that Fanny had not the slightest notion what her o"\vn income was to be. All she knew was that her General had left everything un- reservedly to herself, except .£100 and one of his swords to Major Keith, who was executor to the will, and had gone to London to " see about it," by which word poor Fanny expressed all the business that her maintenance depended on. If an old general wished to put a major in temptation, could he have found a better means of doing so ? Eachel even thought that Fanny's incapacity to understand business had made her mistake the terms of the bequest, and that Sir Stephen must have secured his property to his children ; but Fanny was absolutely certain that this was not the case, for she said the Major had made her at once sign a will dividing the property among them, and appointing himself and her Aunt Curtis their guardians. " I did not like putting such a charge on my dear aunt," said Fanny, " but the Major said I 24 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. ought to appoint a relation, and I had no one else ! And I knew you w^ould all be good to them, if they had lost me too, when baby was born." "We would have tried," said Rachel, a little humbly, " but oh ! I am glad you are here, Fanny ! " Nothing could of course be fixed till the Major had " seen about it." After which he was to come to let Lady Temple know the result; but she believed he would first go to Scotland to see his brother. He and his brother were the only survivors of a large family, and he had been on foreign service for twelve years, so that it would be very selfish to wish him not to take full time at home. " Selfish," thought Eachel ; " if he will only stay away long enough, you shall learn, my dear, how well you can do without him ! " The boys had interrupted the conversation less than the previous one, because the lesser ones were asleep, or walking out, and the elder ones having learnt that a new week was to be begun steadily with lessons, thought it advisable to bring themselves as little into notice as possible ; but fate was sure to pursue them sooner or later, for Eachel had come down resolved on testing their acquirements, and deciding on the method to be pursued with them ; and though their mamma, with a certain instinctive shrinking both for them and for herself, had put off the ordeal to the utmost by listening to all the counsel about her affairs, it was not to be averted. " Now, Fanny, since it seems that more cannot be done at present, let us see about the children's education. Where are their books 1 " " We have very few books," said Fanny, hesitating; " we had not much choice where we were." " You should have written to me for a selection." "Why — so we would, but there was always a talk of sending Conrade and Francis home. I am afraid you wiU think them very backward, dear Eachel, especially Francie ; but it is not their fault, dear children, and they are not used to strangers," added Fanny, nervously. " I do not mean to be a stranger," said Eachel. And while Fanny, in confusion, made loving protestations about not meaning that, Eachel stepped out upon the lawn, and in her clear voice called " Conrade, Francis ! " No answer. She called *'Con-rade" again, and louder, theu turned round with " where can they be — not gone down on the beach ? " IN SEARCH OF A MISSION. 25 "Oh, dear no, I trust not," said the mother, flurried, and coming to the window with a call that seemed to Eachel's ears like the roar of a sucking dove. But from behind the bushes forth came the two young gentlemen, their black garments considerably streaked with the green marks of laurel climbing. *' Oh, my dears, what figures you are ! Go to Coombe and get yourselves brushed, and wash your hands, and then come down, and bring your lesson books." Eachel prognosticated that these preparations would be made the occasion of much waste of time; but she was answered, and with rather surprised eyes, that they had never been allowed to come into the drawing-room without looking like little gentlemen. " But you are not living in state here," said Eachel ; "I never could enter into the cult some people, mamma especially, pay to their drawing-room." "The Major used to be very particular about their not coming to sifc down untidy," said Fanny. " He said it was not good for anybody." Martinet ! thought Eachel, nearly ready to advocate the boys making no toilette at any time ; and the present was made to consume so much time that, urged by her, Fanny once more was obliged to summon her boys and their books. It was not an extensive school library — a Latin grammar, an extremely dilapidated spelling-book, and the fourth volume of Mrs. Marcet's " Little Willie." The other three— one was unaccounted for^ but CyrO. had torn up the second, and Francis had thrown the first overboard in a passioii. Eachel looked in dismay. " I don't know what can be done with these ! " she said. *' Oh, then we'll have holidays till we have got books, mamma," said Conrade, putting his hands on the sofa, and imitating a kicking horse. " It is very necessary to see what kind of books you ought to have," returned Eachel. " How far have you gone in this 1 " " I say, mamma," reiterated Conrade, " we can't do lessons without books." " Attend to what your Aunt Eachel says, my dear j she wants to find out what books you should have." " Yes, let me examine you." Conrade came most inconveniently close to her ; she pushed her chair back ; he came after her. His mother uttered a remonstrating, " My dear 1 " 26 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. " I tliouglit she wanted to examine me," quoth Conrade. " When Dr. M'Vicar examines a thing, he puts it under a microscope." It was said gravely, and whether it were malice or sim- plicity, Rachel was perfectly unable to divine, but she thought anyway that Fanny had no business to laugh, and explaining the species of examination that she intended, she went to work. In her younger days she had worked much at schools, and was really an able and spirited teacher, liking the occu- pation; and laying hold of the first book in her way, she requested Conrade to read. He obeyed, but in such a detest- able gabble that she looked up appealingly to Fanny, who suggested, " My dear, you can read better than that." He read four lines, not badly, but then broke off, " Mamma, are not we to have ponies? Coombe heard of a pony this morning ; it is to be seen at the * Jolly Mariner,' and he will take us to look at it." "The ' Jolly Mariner ! ' It is a dreadful place, Fanny; you never wilL let them go there 1 " " My dear, the Major will see about your ponies when he comes." "We will send the coachman down to inquire," added Rachel. " He is only a civilian, and the Major always chooses our horses," said Conrade. "And I am to have one too, mamma," added Francis. " You know I have been out four times with the staff, and the Major said I could ride as well as Con ! " " Eeading is what is wanted now, my dear, go on." Five lines more ; but Francis and his mother were whis- pering together, and of coui'se Conrade stopped to listen. Eachel saw there was no hope but in getting him alone, and at his mother's reluctant desire, he followed her to the dining-room; but there he turned dogged and indifferent, made a sort of feint of doing what he was told, but whether she tried him in arithmetic, Latin, or dictation, he made such ludicrous blunders as to leave her in perplexity whether they arose from ignorance or impertinence. His spelling was phonetic to the highest degree, and though he owned to having done sums, he would not, or did not answer the simplest question in mental arithmetic. " Five apples and eight apples, come, Conrade, what will they make ? '' "A pie." That was the hopeful way in which the examination pro- IN SEARCH OF A MISSION. 37 ceeded, and when Eachel attempted to say that his mother ■would he much displeased, he proceeded to tumhle head over heels aU round the room, as if he knew hotter ; which per- formance hroke up the seance^ with a resolve on her part that when she had the hooks she would not he so heaten. She tried Francis, hut he really did know next to nothing, and Avlicnever he came to a word ahove five letters long stopped short, and when told to spell it, said, " Mamma never made him speU ; " also muttering something depreciating ahoui civilians. Eachel was a woman of perseverance. She went to the bookseller's, and obtained a fair amount of books, which she ordered to be sent to Lady Temple's. Eut when she came down the next morning, the parcel was nowhere to be found. There .was a grand interrogation, and at last it turned out to have been safely deposited in an empty dog-kennel in the back yard. It was very hard on Eachel that Fanny giggled like a school-girl, and even though ashamed of herseK and her sons, could not find voice to scold them respectably. No wonder, after such encouragement, that Eachel found her mission no sinecure, and felt at the end of her morning's work much as if she had been driving pigs to market, though the repetition was imposing on the boys a sort of sense of fate and obedience, and there was less active resistance, though learning it was not, only letting teaching be thrown at them. All the rest of the day, except those two hours, they ran wild about the house, garden, and beach — the latter place under the inspection of Coombe, whom, since the " Jolly Mariner " proposal, Eachel did not in the least trust ; all the less when she heard that Major Keith, whose soldier-servant he had originally been, thought very highly of him. A call at Myrtlewood was formidable from the bear-garden sounds, and delicate as Lady Temple was considered to be, unable to walk or bear fatigue, she never appeared to be incommoded by the uproar in which she lived, and had even been seen careering about the nursery, or running about the garden, in a way that Grace and Eachel thought would tire a strong woman. As to a tete-cb-tete with her, it was never secured by anything short of Eachel' s strong will, for the children were always with her, and she went to bed, or at any rate to her own room, when they did, and she was so perfectly able to play and laugh with them that her cousins scarcely thought her sufficiently depressed, and comparing her with what their own mother had been after ten months' widowhood, agreed 28 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. that after all "she had been very young, and Sir Stephen very old, and perhaps too much must not be expected of her." " The grand passion of her life is yet to come," said Kachel. " I hope not," said Grace. " You may be certain of that," said Eachel. " Feminine women always have it one time or other in their lives ; only superior ones are exempt. But I hope I may have influence enough to carry her past it, and prevent her taking any step that might be injurious to the children." CHAPTEK II. Rachel's discipline. " Thought is free, as sages tells us — Free to rove, and free to soar j But affection lives in bondage, That enthrals her more and more," Jean Ingelow. An old friend lived in the neighbourhood who remembered Fanny's father, and was very anxious to see her again, though not able to leave the house. So the first day that it was fine enough for Mrs. Curtis to venture out, she undertook to convey Fanny to call upon her, and was off with a wonder- fully moderate allowance of children, only the two youngest boys outside with their maid. This drive brought more to light about Fanny's past way of life and feelings than had ever yet appeared. Eachel had never elicited nearly so much as seemed to have come forth spontaneously to the aunt, who had never in old times been Fanny's confidante. Fanny's life had been almost a prolonged childhood. From the moment of her marriage with the kind old General, he and her mother had conspired to make much of her ; all the more that she was almost constantly disabled by her state of health, and was kept additionally languid and helpless by the effects of climate. Her mother had managed her iiouse- hold, and she had absolutely had no care, no duty at all but to be affectionate and grateful, and to be pretty and gracious at the dinner parties. Even in her mother's short and raohel's discipline. 29 sudden illness, the one thought of both the patient and the General had been to spare Panny, and she had been scarcely made aware of the danger, and not allowed to witness the suffering. The chivalrous old man who had taken on himself the charge of her, still regarded the young mother of his children as almost as much of a baby herself, and devoted himself all the more to sparing her trouble, and preventing her from feeling more thrown upon her by her mother "s death. The notion of training her to act alone never even occurred to him, and when he was thrown from his horse, and carried into a wayside-hut to die, his first orders were that no hurried message might be sent to her, lest she might be startled and injured by the attempt to come to him. All he could do for her was to leave her in the charge of his military secretary, who had long been as a son to him. Fanny told her aunt with loving detail all that she had heard from Major Keith of the brave old man's calm and resigned end' — too full of trust even to be distressed with alarms for the helpless young wife and children, but committing them in full reliance to the care of their Father in heaven, and to the present kindness of the friend who stood by his pillow. The will, which not only Eachel but her mother thought strangely unguarded, had been drawn up in haste, because Sir Stephen's family had outgrown the provisions of a former one, which had besides designated her mother, and a friend since dead, as guardians. Haste, and the conscious want of legal knowledge, had led to its being made as simple as possible, and as it was, Sir Stephen had scarcely had the power to sign it. It was Major Keith who had borne the tidings to the poor little widow, and had taken the sole care of the boys during the sad weeks of utter prostration and illness. Female friends were with her, and tended her affectionately, but if exertion or thought were required, of her, the Major had to be called to her sofa to awaken her faculties, and she always awoke to attend to his wishes, as though he were the channel of her husband's. This state of things ended with the birth of the little girl, the daughter that Sir Stephen had so much wished for, coming too late to be welcomed hj him, but awakening her mother to tearful joy and renewed powers of life. The nine months of little Stephana's life had been a time of continual change and variety, of new interests and occupations, and of the resumption of a feeling of health which had scarcely been tasted since the first plunge into 30 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. warm climates. Perhaps it was unreasonable to expect to find Fanny broken down ; and she talked in her own simple way with abundant overflowing affection of her husband j but even Mrs. Curtis thought it was to her more lilie the loss of her own father than of the father of her children; and though not in the least afraid of anything unbecoming in her gentle, retiring Fanny, still felt that it was more the charge of a girl than of a widow, dreaded the boys, dreaded their fate, and dreaded the Major more. During this drive, Grace and Eachel had the care of the elder boys, whom Eachel thought safer in her keeping than in Coombe's. A walk along the cliffs was one resource for their amusement, but it resulted in Conrade's climbing into the most break-neck places, by preference selecting those that Eachel called him out of, and as all the others thought it necessary to go after him, the jeopardy of Leoline and Hubert became greater than it was possible to permit; so Grace took them by the hands, and lured them home with promises of an introduction to certain white rabbits at the lodge. After their departure, their brothers became infinitely more obstreperous. Whether it were that Conrade had some slight amount of consideration for the limbs of his lesser followers, or whether the fact were — what Eachel did not remotely imagine — that he was less utterly unmanageable with her sister than with herself, certain it is that the brothers went into still more intolerable places, and treated their guardian as ducklings treat an old hen. At last they quite disappeared from the view round a projecting point of rock, and when she turned it, she found a battle royal going on over an old lobster-pot — Conrade hand to hand with a. stout fisher-boy, and Francis and sundry amphibious creatures of both sexes exchanging a hail of stones, water-smoothed brick-bats, cockle-shells, fishes' backbones, and other un- savoury missiles. Abstractedly, Eachel had her theory that young gentlemen had better scramble their way among their poor neighbours, and become used to all ranks ; but when it came to witnessing an actual skirmish when she was respon- sible for Fanny's sons, it was needful to interfere, and in equal dismay and indignation she came round the point. The light artillery fled at her aspect, and she had to catch Francis's arm in the act of discharging after them a cuttle- fish's white spine, with a sharp "For shame; they are running away ! Conrade, Zack, have done ! " Zack was one of he? own scholars, and held her in respect. RACHEL'S DISCIPLINEi 31 He desisted at once, and with a touch of his rough forelock, looked sheepish, and said, "Please ma'am, he was meddling with our lobster-pot." "I wasn't doing any harm," said Conrade. "Iwas jusi looking in, and they all came and shied stones at us." " I don't cai-e how the quarrel began," said Eachel. "You would not have run into it if you had been behaving properly. Zack was quite right to protect his father's property, but he might have been more civil. Xow shake hands, and have done with it." '* IsTot shake hands with a low boy," growled Francis. But happily Conrade was of a freer spirit, and in spite of Kachel's interference, had sense enough to know himself in the wrong. He held out his hand, and when the ceremony had been gone through, put his hands in his pockets, produced a shilling, and said, " There, that's in case I did the thing any harm." Rachel would have preferred Zachary's being above its acceptance, but he was not, and she was thankful that a wood path offered itself, leading through the Homestead plantations away from the temptations and perils of the shore. That the two boys, instead of listening to her remon- strance, took to punching and kicking one another, was a mitigated form of evil for which she willingly compounded, having gone through so much useless interference already, that she felt as if she had no spirit left to keep the peace, and that they must settle their little affairs between them- selves. It was the most innocent diversion in which she could hope to see them indulgQ. She only desired that it might last them past a thrush's nest, in the hedge between the park and plantation, a somewhat treasured discovery of Grace's, l^o such good luck. Either the thrush's impru- dence or Grace's visits had made the nest dangerously visible, and it was proclaimed with a shout. Eachel, in hot haste, warned them against taking birds'-nests in general, and that in particular. " I^ests are made to be taken," said Francis. " I've got an egg of all the Australian birds the Major could get me," said Conrade, " and I mean to have all the Enghsh ones." " Oh, one egg ; there's no harm in taking that ; but this nest has young birds." , • , The young birds must of course be seen, and Eachel stood by with despairing frowns, commands, and assurances of 32 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. their mother's displeasure, while they peeped in, tantalized the gaping yellow throats, by holding up their fingers, and laid hands on the side of the nest, peeping at her with laughing, mischievous eyes, enjoying her distress. She was glad at last to find them coming away without the nest, and after crossing the park, arrived at the house, tired out, but with two hours of the boys still on her hands. They, how- ever, were a little tired, too ; and, further, Grace had hunted out the old bowls, much to the delight of the younger ones. This sport lasted a good while, but at last the sisters, who had relaxed their attention a little, perceived that Conrade and Hubert were both missing, and on Eachel's inquiry where they were, she received from Francis that elegant stock answer, " in their skins." However, they came to light in process of time, the two mothors returned home, and Mrs. Curtis and Grace had the conversation almost in their own hands. Eachel was too much tired to do anything but read the new number of her favourite "Traveller's Magazine," listening to her mother with one ear, and gathering additional impressions of Sir Stephen Temple's imprudence, and the need of their own vigilance. To make Fanny feel that she could lean upon some one besides the military secretary, Beemed to be the great object, and she was so confiding and affectionate with her own kin, that there were greafc hopes. Those boys were an infliction, no doubt, but, thought Eachel, ^ there is always an ordeal at the beginning of one's mission. I am mastering them by degrees, and should do so sooner if I had them in my own hands, and no more worthy task can be done than training human bemgs for their work in this world; so I must be willing to go through a little while I bring them into order, and fit their mother for managing them." She spent the time before breakfast the next morning in a search among the back numbers of the '' Traveller's Magazine " for a paper upon "Educational Laws," which she thought would be very good reading for Fanny. Her search had been just completed when Grace returned home from church, looking a good deal distressed. " My poor thrushes have not escaped, Eachel," she said ; " I came home that way to see how they were going on, and the nest is torn out, one poor little fellow lying dead below it." " "Well, that is much worse than I expected ! " burst out EacheL " I did think that boy Conrade would at least keep his promises." And she detailed the adventure of the 33 previous day, wlieiice the conclusion was but too evident. Grace, however, said in her own sweet manner that she believed boys could not resist a nest, and thought it mere womanhood to intercede for such lawful game. She thought it would be best to take no notice, it would only distress Fanny, and make " the mother " more afraid of the boys than she was already, and she doubted the possibility of briuging it home to the puerile conscience, " That is weak ! " said Eachel. " I received the boy's word, and it is my business to deal with the breach of promise." So down went Eachel, and finding the boys rushing about the garden, accordiug to their practice, before her arrival, she summoned Conrade, and addressed him with, " Well, Conrade, I knew that you were violent and disobedient, but I never expected you to fail ia your honour as a gentleman." " I'U thrash any one who says I have," hotly exclaimed Conrade. " Then you must thrash me. You gave your word to me not to take your Aunt Grace's thrush's nest." " And I didn't," said Conrade, boldly. But Eachel, used to flat denials at the village-school, was not to be thus set aside. " I am shocked at you, Conrade," she said. " I know your mamma will be exceedingly grieved. You must have fallen iuto very sad ways to be able to utter such a bold untruth. You had better confess at once, and then I shall have something to tell her that will comfort her." Conrade's dark face looked set as iron. " Come ; tell me you are sorry you took the nest, and have broken your word, and told a falsehood." Eed colour flushed into the brown cheek, and the hands were clenched. " There is not the smallest use in denying it. I know you took it when you and Hubert ^vent away together. Your Aunt Grace found it gone this morniug, and one of the poor little birds dead below. What have you done with the others r' ISTot a word. ** Then I grieve to say I must tell all to your mother." There was a sort of smile of defiance, and he followed her. Fox a moment she thought of preventing this, and preparing Eanny in private, but recollecting that this would give him the opportunity of preparing Hubert to support his false- D 54 THE CLEVER WOJlfiAN OP THE FAMILY. liood, she let liim. enter witli lier, and souglit Lady Tempio in the nursery. " Dear Fanny, I am very sorry to "bring you so niucli vexation. I am afraid it will be a bitter grief to you, but it is only for Conrade's own sake tliat I do it. It was a cruel thing to take a bird's-nest at all, but worse when he knew that his Aunt Grace was particularly fond of it ; and, he- sides, he had promised not to touch it, and now, saddest of all, he denies having done so." " Oh, Conrade, Conrade !" cried Fanny, quite confounded, " You can't have done like this !" " ]S[o, I have not," said Conrade, coming up to her, as she held out her hand, positively encouraging him, as Eachel thought, to ])ersist in the untruth. " Listen, Fanny," said Rachel. " I do not wonder that you are unwilling to believe anything so shocking, but I do not come without being only too certain," And slie gave the facts, to which Fanny listened with jiale cheeks and tearful eyes, then turned to the boy, whose liand she liad held all the time, and said, " Dear Con, do pray tell me if you did it." " I did not," said Conrade, -wrenching his liand av.'ay, and putting it behind his back. ''Where's Hubert?" asked Rachel, looking round, and much vexed when she perceived that Hubert ]iad been within hearing all the time, though to be sure there "was some little hope to be founded upon the simplicity of live years old. " Come here, Hubert dear," said his mother ; " don't be frightened ; only come and tell me where you and Con went yesterday, wlien the others were playing at bowls." Hubert hung his head, and looked at his brother. " Tell," quoth Conrade. " [N"ever mind her, she's only a civilian." " Where did you go, Hubert ?" " Con showed me the little birds in their nest." " That is right, Hubert, good little boy. Did you or ho touch the nest?" *' Yes." Then, as Conrade started, and looked fiercely at him, " Yes you did. Con, you touched the inside to see what it was made of." *' LuL what did you do with it?" asked Rachel. *' Left it there, up in the tree," said the little boy. " There, Rachel ! " said the mother, triumphantly. Rachel's discipline. 35 *' I don't know what you mean," said Kachel, angrily, * only that Conrndc is a worse boy than I had thought him, and has been teaching his little brother falsehood." The angry voice set Hubert crying, and little Cyril, who was very soft-hearted, joined in chorus, followed by the baby, Avho was conscious of something very disagreeable going on in her nursery. Thereupon, after the apparently most important business of comforting Miss Temple had been gone through, the court of justice adjourned, Eachel opening the door of Conrade's little room, and recommending solitary imprisonment there till he should be brought to confession. She did not at all reckon on his mother going in with him, and shutting the door after her. It was not the popular notion of solitary confinement, and Rachel was obliged to retire, and wait in the drawing-room for a quarter of an hour before Fanny came down ; and then it was to say — "Do you know, Rachel dear, I am convinced that it must bo a mistake. Conrade assures me he never touched the nest." " So he persists in it?" " And indeed, Rachel dear, I cannot help believing him. If it had been Francie, now ; but I never knew Conrade tell an untruth in his life." " You never knew, because you always believe him." " And it is not only me, but I have often heard the Major say he could always depend on Conrade's word." Rachel's next endeavour was at gentle argument. " It must be dreadful to make such a discovery, but it was far worse to let deceit go on undetected ; and if only they were firm " At that moment she beheld two knickerbocker boys prancing on the lawn. " Didn't you lock the door 1 Has he broken out ? How audacious !" " I let him come out," said Fanny ; " there was nothing to shut him up for. I beg your pardon, dear Rachel ; I am very sorry for the poor little birds and for Grace, but I am sure Conrade did not take it." " How can you be so unreasonable, Fanny ? — the evidence," and Rachel went over it all again. " Don't you think," said Fanny, " that some boy may have got into the pai'k ?" " My dear Fanny, I am sorry for yon ; it is quite out of the question to think so ; the place is not a stone's-throw from Randall's lodge. It will be the most fatal thing in the world to let your v/eakncc3 bo imposed on in this way. JTotv D ii 36 THE CliE VEU WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. that the case is clear, the hoy must he forced to confession, and severely punished." Fanny hurst into tears. " I am very sorry for you, Tanny, I know it is very painful ; I assure you it is so to me. Perhaps it would he hest if I %vere to lock him up, and go from time to time to see if he is come to a hetter mind." She rose up. *' No, no, Kachel ! " ahsolutely screamed Fanny, starting up, " my hoy hasn't done anything wrong, and I won't have hirn locked up ! Go away ! If anything is to he done to my hoys, I'll do it myself : they haven't got any one hut me. Oh, I wish the Major would come !" " Fanny, how can you he so foolish ? — as if I would hui't your hoys ! " " But you won't helieve Conrade — my Conrade, that never told a falsehood in his life ! " cried the mother, with a flush in her cheeks and a hright glance in her soft eyes. *' You want me to punish him for what he hasn't done." *' How much alike mothers are in all classes of life," thought Eachel, and much in the way in which she would have hrought Zack's mother to reason hy threats of expulsion from the shoe-cluh, she ohserved, " Well Fanny, one thing is clear, while you are so weak as to let that hoy go on in his deceit, imrepentant and unpunished, I can have no more to do with liis education." " Indeed," softly said Fanny, " I am afraid so, EacheL Yoa have taken a great deal of trouhle, hut Conrade declares he will never say a lesson to you again, and I don't quite see how to make him after this." " Oh, very well ; then there's an end of it. I am sorry f^r you, Fanny." And away walked Rachel, and as she w^ent towards the gate two artificial jdifi- d'eau, making a considcrahle cui've in the air, alighted, the one just hcfore her, the other, hetter aimed, in the hack of her neck. She had too much dignity to charge hack upon the offenders, hut she went home full of the story of Fanny's lamentahle weakness, and prognos- tications of the misery she was cntaHing on herself. Her mother and sister were hoth much concerned, and thought Fanny extremely foolish ; Mrs. Curtis consoling herseK with the hope that the hoys would he cured and tamed at school, and hogging that they might never he let loose in the park again. Kachel conoid not dwell much longer on the matter, 37 for she had to ride to Upper Avon Park to hoil council on the books to be ordered for the book-club ; for if she did not go herself, whatever she wanted especially was always set aside as too something or other for the rest of the sub- scribers. Mrs. Curtis was tired, and stayed at home ; and Grace spent the afternoon in investigations about the harrying of the thmshes, but, alas ! without coming a bit nearer the truth. N"othing was seen or heard of Lady Temple till, at half-past nine, one of the midges, or diminutive flies used at Avonmonth, came to the door, and Fanny came into the drawing-room — ^wan, tearful, agitated. "Dear Eachel, I am so afraid I was hasty ; I could not sleep without coming to tell you how sorry I am." " Then you are convinced ? I knew you would be." " Oh, yes, I have just been sitting by him after he was gone to bed. He never goes to sleep till I have done that, and he always tells me if anything is on his mind. I could not ask him again, it would have been insulting him ; but he went over it all of himself, and owned he ought not to have put a finger on the edge of the nest, but he wanted so to see what it was lined with ; otherwise he never touched it. He says, poor boy, that it was only your being a civilian that made you not able to believe him. I am sure you must believe him now." Mrs. Curtis began, in her gentle way, about the difficulty of believing one's children in fault, but Lady Temple was entirely past accepting the possibility of Conrade's being to blame in this particular instance. It made her bristle up again, so that even Eachel saw the impossibility of pressing it, and trusted to some signal confutation to cure her of her infatuation. Eut she was as affectionate as ever, only wanting to be forgiven for the morning's warmth, and to assure dear Aunt Curtis, dear Grace, and dearest Eachel in particular, that there was no doing without them, and it was the greatest blessing to bo near them. " Oh ! and the squirting, dear Eachel ! I was so sorry when I found it out ; it was only Erancie and Leo. I was very angry with them for it, and I should like to make them ask pardon, only I don't think Francie would. I'm afraid they are very rude boys. I must write to the Major to find me a governess that won't be very strict with them, and if she could be an officer's daughter, the boys would respect hex so much more." oC THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAI\riLT. CHAPTEE III. T\I A C K A R E L LANE. •* For I would lonely stand Uplifting my white hand, On a mission, on a mission, To declare the coming vision. " Elizabeth Barrett Browkino. "Well, Grace, all things considered, perhaps I had "better walk down with you to Mackarel Lane, and then I can form a judgment on these "Williamses without committing Fanny." " Then you do not intend to go on teaching ? " " N'ot while Conrade continues to brave me, and is hacked up by poor Fanny." " I might speak to Miss Williams after church, and bring her in to Myrtlewood for Fanny to see." " Yes, that might do in time ; but I shall make up my mind first. Poor Fanny is so easily led that we must take care what influences fall in her way." " I always wished you would call." " Yes, and I would not by way of patronage to please Mr. Touchett, but this is for a purpose ; and I hope we shall find both sisters at home." Mackarel Lane was at right angles to the shore, running up the valley of the Avon ; but it soon ceased to be fishy, and became agricultural, owning a few cottages of very humble gentility, which were wont to hang out boards to attract lodgers of small means. At one of these Grace rang, and obtained admittance to a parlour with crazy French windows opening on a little strip of garden. In a large wljeeled chair, between the fire and the window, surrounded by numerous little appliances for comfort and occupation, sat the invahd Miss Williams, holding out her hand -in welcome to the guests. " A fine countenance ! what one calls a fine countenance ! " ^.bought Eachel. "Is it a delusion of insipidity as usual ? The brow is good, massive, too much for the features, but perhaps they were fuller once; eyes bright and vigorous, hazel, the colour for thought ; complexion meant to be brilliant brunette, a pleasant glow stiU ; hair with threads of grey. I hope she does not afifect youth ; she can't be less MACKAREL LAXE. 39 liliaii 0110 or Uvo and thirty ! Many people set up for beauties with far less claim. What is the matter with her] It is not the countenance of deformity — accident, I should say. Yes, it is all favourable except the dress. What a material ! what a pattern ! Did she get it second-hand from a lady's-maid 1 Will there be an incongruity in her conversa- tion to match 1 Let us see. Grace making inquiries — Quito at my best — Ah ! she is not one of the morbid sort, never thinking themselves better." " I was afraid, I had not seen you out for some time." " ^0 ; going out is a troublesome business, and sitting in the garden ansAvers the same purpose." " Of air, perhaps, but hardly of change or of view." " Oh ! I assure you there is a wonderful variety," she answered, with an eager and brilliant smile. " Clouds and sunsets " asked Eachel, beginning to be interested. " Yes, differing every day. Then I have the tamarisk and its inhabitants. There has been a tom-tit's nest every year since we came, and thai? provides us with infinite amusement. Besides the sea-gidls are often so good as to float high enougli for me to sec them. There is a wonderful charm in a circum- scribed view, because one is obliged to look well into it all." " Yes ; eyes and no eyes apply there," said Rachel. " We found a great prize, too, the other day. Eosie ! " At the call a brown-haired, brown-eyed child of seven, look- ing like a little fawn, sprang to the window from the outside. " My dear, will you show the sph3riix to Miss Curtis T' The little girl daintily brought a box covered with net, in which a huge apple-gTeen caterpillar, with dashes of bright colour on his sides, and a horny spike on his tail, was feasting upon tamarisk leaves. Grace aslced if she v/as going to keep it. " Yes, till it buries itself," said the child. " Aunt Ermine thinks it is the elephant sphynx." " I cannot be sure," said the aunt ; " my sister tried to find a figure of it at Villars', but he had no book that gave the caterpillars. Do you care for those creatures 1 " " I like to watch them," said Grace, " but I know nothing about them scientifically ; Eachel does that." " Then can you help us to the history of our sphynx 1 " asked Miss Williams, v^ith her pleasant look. " I will see if I have his portrait," said Eachel, " but I doubt it. I prefer general principles to details." 40 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. "Don't you find working out details the "best way of entering into general principles 1 " It was new to Racliel to find the mention of a general principle received neither with a stare nor a laugh ; and she gathered herself up to answer, " Naming and collecting is not science." "And masonry is not architecture, but you can't have architecture without it." " One can have broad ideas without all the petty work of' flower botanists and butterfly naturalists." " Don't you think the broad ideas would be rather of the hearsay order, at least to most people, unless their application were worked out in the trifle that came first to hand ? " " Experimental philosophy," said Eachel, in rather a con- sidering tone, as if the notion, when presented to her in plain English, required translation into the language of her thoughts. " If you like to call it so," said Miss Williams, with a look of arch fun. " Eor instance, the great art of mud pie taught us the porous nature of clay, the expansive power of steam, etc. etc." " You had some one to improve it to you 1 " " Oh dear no. Only afterwards, when we read of such things we remembered how our clay manufactures always burst in the baking unless they were well dried first." "Then you had the rare power of elucidating a prin- ciple?" " No, not I. My brother had ; but I could only perceive the confirmation." " This reminds me of an interesting article on the Edge- worth system of education in the 'Traveller's Eeview.' I will send it down to you." " Thank you, but I have it here." "Indeed; and do you not think it excellent, and quite agree with it 1 " " Yes, I quite agree with it," and there was an odd look in her bright transparent eyes that made Grace speculate whether she coidd have heard that agreement with the Invalid in the " Traveller's Eeview " was one of the primary articles of faith acquired by Eachel. But Grace, though rather proud of Eachel's falling under the spell of Miss Williams' conversation, deemed an exami- nation rather hard on her, and took the opportunity of asking for her sister. MACKAREL LANE. 41 " She is generally at home by this time ; but this is her last day at Cliff Cottages, and she was to stay late to help in the packing np." " Will she be at home for the present 1 " asked Grace. ''Yes, Eose and I are looking forward to a festival of her." Grace was not at all surprised to hear Eachcl at once commit herself with " My cousin. Lady Temple," and rush into the matter in hand as if secure that the other Miss Williams would educate on the principles of the Invalid ; but fuU in the midst there was a sound of wheels and a ring at the bell. Miss Williams quietly signed to her little at- tendant to put a chair in an accessible place, and in walked Lady Temple, Mrs. Curtis, and the middle brace of boys. "The room will be too full," was Grace's aside to her sister, chiefly thinking of her mother, but also of their hostess ; but Eachel returned for answer, " I must see about it ; " and Grace could only remove herself into the verandah, and try to attract Leoline and Hubert after her, but failing in this, she talked to the far more conversible Eose about the bullfinch that hung at the window, which loved no one but Aunt Ermine, and scolded and pecked at every one else; and Augustus, the beloved tame toad, that lived in a hole under a tree in the garden. ^Irs. Curtis,- considerate and tender-hearted, startled to find her daughter in the field, and wishing her niece to begin about her own afiairs, talked common-place by way of filling up the time; and Eachel had her eyes free for a range of the apartment. The founda- tion was the dull, third-rate lodging-house, the superstructure told of other scenes. One end of the room was almost filled by the frameless portrait of a dignified clergyman, who would have had far more justice done to him by greater distance ; a beautifuUy-painted miniature of a lady with short Avaist and small crisp curls, was the centre of a system of pliotogTaphs over the mantel-piece ; a large crayon sketch showed three sisters between the ages of six and sixteen, sentimentalizing over a flower-basket ; a pair of water-colour drawings represented a handsome church and comfortable parsonage ; and the domestic gallery was completed by two prints — one of a middle-aged county-member, the other one of Chalon's ladylike matrons in watered-silk aprons. With some difficulty Eachel read on the one the autograph, J. T. Beau- champ, and on the other the inscription, the Lady Alison Eeau- champ. The table-cover was of tasteful silk patchwork, the vase in tne centre was of led earthenware, but was encii'cled 42 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. with real ivy leaves gummed on in tlieir freslmess, and was filled with, wild flowers j hooks filled every corner ; and Eachel felt herseK ont of the mnch-loathed region of common-place, hut she coidd not recover from her surprise at the audacity of such an independent measure on the part of her cousin; and under cover of her mother's civil talk, said to Fanny, '*I never expected to see you here." " My aunt thought of it," said Fanny, " and as she seems to find the children too much " She hroke off, for Mrs. Curtis had paused to let her in- troduce the suhject, hut poor Fanny had never taken the initiative, and Eachel did it for her by explaining that all had come on the same errand, to ask if Miss Williams would undertake the lessons of her nephews ; Lady Temple softly murmured under her veil something about hopes and too much trouble ; an appointment was made for the following morning, and Mrs. Curtis, with a general sensation of an oppressive multitude in a small room, took her leave, and the company departed, Fanny, all the way home, hoping that the other Miss Williams would be like her sister, pitying the cripple, wishing that the sisters were in tlie remotest degTce military, so as to obtain the respect of the boys, and won- dering what would be the Major's opinion. " So many ladies ! " exclaimed little Rose. " Aunt Ermine, have they made your head ache ? " " ]^o, my dear, thank you, I am only tired. If you will pull out the rest for my feet, I will be quiet a little, and be ready for tea when Aunt Ailie comes." The child handily converted the chair into a couch, ar- ranging the dress and coverings with the familiarity of long use, and by no means shocked by the contraction and help- lessness of the lower limbs, to which she had been so much accustomed aU her life that it never even occurred to her to pity Aunt Ermine, who never treated herself as an object of compassion. She was thanked by a tender pressure on her hair, and then saying — " !Now I shall wish Augustus good night ; bring Yioletta home from her play in the garden, and let her drink tea, and go to bed." Ah, Yioletta, purchased with a silver groat, what was not your value in Mackarel Lane 1 Were you not one of its most considered inhabitants, scarcely less a child of Aunt Ermine and Aunt Alison than their Eosebud herself 1 Murmur, murmur, rippled the child's happy low-tonod MACKAEEL LANE. 4d monologue directed to her silent but sufficient playmate, and so far from disturbing the aunt, that more than one smile played on her lips at the quaint fancies, and at the well of gladness in the young spirit, which made day after day of the society of a cripple and an old doll, one constant song of bliss, one dream of bright imaginings. Surely it was an equalization of blessings that rendered little lonely Eose, motherless and well nigh fatherless, poor, with no companion but a crippled aunt, a bird and a toad, with scarcely a toy, and never a party of pleasure, one of the most joyous beings under the sun, free from occasions of childish troubles, with- out collisions of temper, with few contradictions, and with lessons rather pleasure than toil. Perhaps Ermine did not take into account the sunshiny content and cheerfulness that made herself a delightful companion and playfellow, able to accept the child as her solace, not her burthen. Presently Eose looked up, and meeting the bright pleasant eyes, observed — " Violetta has been very good, and said all her lessons quite perfect, and she would like to sit up tiU her Aunt Ailie comes home. Do you think she may 1 " " Will she not be tired to-morrow V " Oh, then she will be lazy, and not get up when she is called, till I pull all the clothes off, and that will be fun." " Or she may be fretful now 1 " A series of little squeaks ensued, followed by " Now, my love ; that is taking a very unfair advantage of my promise. You will make your poor Aunt Ermine's head ache, and I shall have to send you to bed." " Would not a story pass away the time 1 " "You tell it. Aunt Ermine; your stories are always the best. And let there be a fairy in it ! " The fairy had nearly performed her part, when the arrival took place, and Eose darted forward to receive Aunt Ailie's greeting kiss. " Yes, Eosie — yes, Violetta ; what do you think I have got for you 1 " And out came a doU's chair with a broken leg, condemned by the departing pupils, and granted with a laugh to the governess's request to take it to her little niece ; but never in its best days had the chair been so prized. It was introduced to Yioletta as the reward of virtue for having controlled her fretfulness, and the repair of its infirmity was the first con- sideration that occupied all the three. After all, Yioletta's sitting posture was, as Alison observed, an example of the 44 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. inclined plane, but that was nothing to Eose, and the seance would have been indefinitely prolonged, but for considera- tions for Yioletta's health. The sisters were alike, and Alison had, like her elder, what is emphatically called countenance, but her features were less chiselled, and her dark straight brows so nearly met that, as Rose had once remarked, they made a bridge of one arch instead of two. Six years younger, in full health, and daily battling with the world, Alison had a remarkable look of concentration and vigour, her upright bearing, clear decided speech, and glance of kindness won instant respect and reliance, but her face missed the radiant beamy bright- ness of her sister's ; her face was sweet and winning, but it was not habitual with her, and there was about her a look as if some terrible wave of grief or suffering had swept over her ere yet the features were fully fixed, and had thus moulded her expression for life. But playfulness was the tone that reigned around Ermine's couch at ordinary mo- ments, and beside her the grave Alison was lively, not with eff'ort, but by infection. " There," she said, holding up a cheque ; " now we'll have a jubilee, and take you down under the East cliff, and we'll invest a shilling in * Ivanhoe,' and Eose and Yioletta shall open their ears ! " " And you shall have a respectable Sunday mantle." " Oh, I dare say Julia will send us a box." " Then you will have to put a label on your back, * Second- hand ! ' or her velvet will be a scandal. I can't wear out that at home like this flagrant, flowery thing, that I saw Miss Curtis looking at as rather a disreputable article. There's preferment for you, Ailie ! What do you think of a general's widow with six boys ? She is come after you. "We had a great invasion — three Curtises and this pretty little widow, and various sons ! " "Will she stay?" "Most likely, for she is a relation of Mrs. Curtis, and comes to be near her. You are to call for inspection at eleven o'clock to-morrow, so I fear your holiday will be short.'' " Well, the less play the less anxiety. How many drives will the six young gentlemen be worth to you 1 " " I am afraid it will be at the cost of tough work to you ; she looked to me too sweet a creature to have broken her sons in, but I should think she would be pleasant to deal with." MACKAREL LANE. 45 " If she be lilve Miss Curtis, I am smo slie will." " Miss Cuxtis ? My old friend you mean. She was rather suppressed to-day, and I began to comprehend the reason of the shudder with which Mr. Touchett speaks of the dog- matical young lady." " I hope she did not overwhelm you ! " "Oh, no! I rather liked her; she was so earnest and spirited, I could fancy enjoying a good passage at arms with her if these were old times. But I hope she will not take the direction of your school-room, though she is an admirer of the educational papers in the ' Traveller.' " And here the discussion was ended by the entrance of little Eose with the preliminaries of the evening meal, after which she went to bed, and the aunts took out books, work, and writing materials. Alison's report the next day was — "Well, she is a very sweet creature. There is something indescribably touching in her voice and eyes, so soft and wistful, especially when she implores one not to be hard on those great scrambling boys of hers." "So she is your fate 1 " " Oh, yes ; if there had been ten more engagements offered, I could not have helped accepting hers, even if it had not been on the best terms I have ever had." " Whdt V " Seventy — for the hours between nine and five. Pretty well for a journeyman hack, is it not? Indeed, the pretty thing's only fear seemed to be that she was requiring too much, and offering too little. JSTo, not her onli/ fear, for there is some major in the distance to whose approval every- thing must be subject — uncle or guardian, I suppose ; but he seemed to be rather an object of jealousy to the younger Miss Curtis, for every hint of wishing to wait for the Major made her press on the negotiations." " Seventy ! I hope you will make it do, Ailie. It would be a great relief." " And spare your brains not a little. Yes, I do trust to keeping it, for Lady Temple is delightful ; and as to the boys, I fancy it is only taming they want. The danger is, as Miss Eachel told me, whether she can bear the sight of the process. I imagine Miss Eachel herself has tried it, and failed." " Past amateur work," said Ermiue, smiling. " It really is lucky you had to turn governess, Ailie, or there would have been a talent thi'own awaA^" 46 TUB CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. " Stay till I liave tried," said Alison, wlio liad, liowevcr, had experience enougli not to be mnch. alarmed at the pro- spect. Order was wont to come with her presence, and she hardly knew the aspect of tumultuous idleness or insubor- dination to unenforced authority ; for her eye and voice in themselves brought cheerful discipline without constraint, and upheld by few punishments, for the strong influenoe took away the spirit of rebellion. After her first morning's work she came home full of good aug-uries ; the boys had been very pleasant with her after the first ten minutes, and Conrade had gained her heart by his attention to his mother. He had, however, examined her minutely whether she had any connexion with the army, and looked grave on her disavowal of any relationship with soldiers ; Hubert adding, " You see. Aunt Eachel is only a civilian, and she hasn't any sense at all." And when Francis had been reduced to the much disliked process of spelling unknown words, he had muttered under his breath, "She was only a civilian." To which she had rejoined that " At least she knew thus much, that the first military duty was obedience," and Francis's instant submission proved that she had made a good shot. Of the Major she had heard much more. Everything was referred to him, both by mother and children, and Alison was the more puzzled as to his exact connexion with them. "I sometimes suspect," she said, " that he may have felt the influence of those winsome brown eyes and caressing manner, as I know I should if I were a man. I wonder how long the old general has been dead? 1^0, Ermine, you need not shake your head at me. I don't mean even to let Miss Curtis tell me if she would. I know confidences from partizan relations are the most mischief- making things in the world." In pursuance of this principle Alison, or Miss Williams, as she was called in her vocation, was always reserved and dis- creet, and though ready to talk in due measure, Eachel always felt that it Avas the upper, not the under current that was proff'ered. The brow and eyes, the whole spirit of the face, betokened reflection and acuteness, and Eachel wanted to attain to her opinions ; but beyond a certain depth there was no reaching. Her ways of thinking, her views of the chil- dren's characters, her estimate of Mr. Touchett — nay, even her tastes as to the Invalid's letters in the "Traveller's Eeview," remained only partially revealed, in spite of Eachel'a best efforts at fichiiig, i;:.J iiLicmptirg to set the example. MACKAREL LANE. 47 '* It really seemed," as she observed to Grace, " as if the more I talk, the less she says." At which Grace gave way to a small short laugh, though she owned the force of Eachel's maxim, that to bestow confidence was the way to provoke it ; and forbore to refer to a certain delightful afternoon that Eachel, in her childhood, had spent alone with a little girl whom she had never discovered to be deaf and dumb. Still Eachel had never been able to make out why Grace, with no theories at all, got so many more confidences than she did. She was fully aware of her sister's superior attractiveness to common-place people, and made her welcome to stand first with the chief of their kindred, and most of the clergy and young ladies around. But it was hard that where Eachel really liked and met half-way, the intimate confidence should always be bestowed upon Grace, or even the mother. She had yet to learn that the way to draw out a snail is not to grasp its horns, and that halfway meeting is not to launch one's self to the opposite starting point. Either her inquiries were too point blank to invite detailed replies, or her own communications absorbed her too much to leave room for a return. Thus she told Miss Williams the whole story of the thrush's nest, and all her own reflections upon the character- istics it betokened ; and only afterwards, on thinking over the conversation, perceived that she had elicited nothing but that it was very difficult to judge in such cases, not even any decided assent to her own demonstrations. It was true that riots and breaches of the peace ceased Avhile Miss "Williams was in the house, and learning and good manners were being fast acquired ; but until Conrade's duplicity should be detected, or the whole disposition of the family discussed with herself, Eachel doubted the powers of the instructress. It was true that Fanny was very happy with her, and only regretted that the uncertainty of the Major's whereabouts pre- cluded his being informed of the newly-found treasure ; but Eanny was sure to be satisfied as long as her boys were happy and not very naughty, and she cared very little about people's minds. If any one did " get on " with the governess it was Grace, who had been the first acquaintance in the family, and met her often in the service of the parish, as Avell as in her official character at the Homestead. It so chanced that one Sunday afternoon they found themselves simultaneously at the door of the school-liouse, whence issued not the customary hum. but loud sounds of sii!;:rin5X. iB THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. " All ! " said Grace, " Mr. Toucliett was talking of getting the choir master from Avoncester, and giving up an afternoon to practice for Easter, but lie never told me it was to be to-day." On inquiry, it appeared that notice bad been given in the morning, but not tlE after Miss Williams had gone home to fetch her little niece, and while Eachel was teaching hei boys in the class-room out of hearing. It was one of the little bits of bad management that were sure to happen wherever poor Mr. Touchett was concerned ; and both ladies feeling it easy to overlook for themselves, were thankful that it had not befallen Eachel. Alison Williams, thinking it far to walk either to the Homestead or Myrtlewood before church, proposed to Grace to come home with her, an offer that was thankfully accepted, with merely the scruple whether she should disturb the invalid. " Oh, no, it would be a great pleasure ; I always wish we could get more change and variety for her on Sunday." " She is very self-denying to spare you to the school." " I have often wished to give it up, but she never will let me. She says it is one of the few things we can do, and I see besides that it brings her fresh interests. She knows about all my class, and works for them, and has them to see her ; and I am sui*e it is better for her, though it leaves her more hours alone with Eose." " And the Sunday services are too long for her ? " " [N'ot so much that, as that she cannot sit on those narrow benches unless two are put close together so that she can almost lie, and there is not room for her chair in the aisle on a Sunday. It is the greatest deprivation of all." " It is so sad, and she is so patient and so energetic," said Grace, using her favourite monosyllable in peace, out of Eachel's hearing. " You would say so, indeed, if you really knew her, or how she has found strength and courage for me through aU. the terrible suffering." " Then does she suffer so much V " Oh, no, not now ! That was in the first years." " It was not always so." " ISTo, indeed ! You thought it deformity ! Oh, no, no ! she was so beautiful." " That she is still. I never saw my sister so much struck with any one. There is something so striking in her bright glance out of those clear eyes." " Ah ! if you had only sceil her bloom before " MACKAREL LANE. 49 " Tte accident 1 " " I "burnt her," said Alison, almost inaudibly. " You ! you, poor dear ! How dreadful for you." " Yes, I burnt her," said Alison, more steadily. " You ought not to be kind to me without knowing about it. It was an accident of course, but it was a fit of petulance. I threw a match without looking where it was going." " It must have been when you were very young." " Fourteen. I was in a naughty fit at her refusing to go to the great musical meeting with us. We always used to go to stay at one of the canon's houses for it, a house where one was dull and shy ; and I could not bear going without her, nor understand the reason." " And was there a reason ? " " Yes, poor dear Ermine. She knew he meant to come there to meet her, and she thought it would not be right ; because his father had objected so strongly, and made him exchange into a regiment on foreign service." " And you did not know this 1 " " ^0, I was away all the time it was going on, with my eldest sister, having masters in London. I did not come home till it was all over, and then I could not understand what was the matter with the house, or why Ermine was unlike herself, and papa restless and anxious about her. They thought me too young to be told, and the atmosphere made me cross and fretful, and papa was displeased with me, and Ermine tried in vain to make me good; poor patient Ermine, even then the chief sufferer ! " "I can quite imagine the discomfort and fret of beiug w ignorance all the time." " Dear Ermine says she longed to tell me, but she had been forbidden, and she went on blaming herself and trying to make me enjoy my holidays as usual, till this dreadful day, when I had worried her intolerably about going to this music meeting, and she found reasoning only made me worse. She stni wrote her note of refusal, and asked me to light the taper ; I dashed down the match in a frenzy of temper and " She paused for breath, and Grace squeezed her hand. "We did not see it at first, and then she threw herself down and ordered me not to come near. Every one was there directly, I believe, but it burst out again and again, and was not put out till they all thought she had not an hour to live. There was no pain, and there she lay, all calmness, comforting us aU, and making papa and Edward promise to 50 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAISIILY. forgive me — me, who only wislied they would kill me ! And the next day he came; he was just going to sail, and they thought nothing would hurt her then. I saw him while ho was waiting, and never did I see such a fixed deathly face. But they said she found words to cheer and soothe him." " And what hecame of him ? " " "We do not know. As long as Lady Alison lived (his aunt) she let us hear ahout him, and we knew he was re- covering from his wound. Then came her death, and then my father's, and all the rest, and we lost sight of the Beau- champs. We saw the name in the Gazette as killed at Luck- now, but not the right Christian name nor the same rank ; but then, though the regiment is come home, we have heard nothing of him, and though she has never spoken of him to me, I am sure Ermine believes he is dead, and thinks of him as part of the sunshine of the old Beauchamp days — the sunshine whose reflection lasts one's life." " He ought to be dead," said Grace. " Yes, it would be better for her than to hear anything else of him ! He had nothing of his own, so there would have been a long waiting ; but his father and brother would not hear of it, and accused us of entrapping him, and that angered my father. For our family is quite good, and we were very well off then. My father had a good private fortune besides the Eectory at Beauchamp ; and Lady Alison, who had been like a mother to us ever since our own died, quite thought that the prospect was good enough, and 1 believe got into a great scrape with her family for having promoted the affair." " Your squire's wife 1 " " Yes, and Julia and Ermine had come every day to learn lessons with her daughters. I was too young ; but as long as she lived we were all like one family. How kind she was ! How she helped us through those frightful weeks ! " " Of your sister's illness 1 It must have lasted long 1 " " Long ? Oh longer than long ! No one thought of her living. The doctors said the injury was too extensive to leave any power of rallying ; but she was young and strong, and did not die in the torture, though people said that such an existence as remained to her was not worth the anguish of struggling back to it. I think my father only prayed that she might suffer less, and Julia stayed on and on, thinking each day would be the last, till Dr. Long could not spare her any longer; and then Lady Alison nursed her night after MACKAREL LANE. 51 night and day after day, till she had worn herself into an illness, and when the doctors spoke of improvement, we only perceived worse agony. It was eight months before she was even lifted up in bed, and it was years before the burns ceased to be painful or the constitution at all recovered the shock ; and even now weather teUs on her, though since we have lived here she has been far better than I ever dared to hope." " Then you consider her still recovering ? " " In general health she is certainly greatly restored, and has strength to attempt more, but the actual injury, the con- traction, can never be better than now. When we lived at Eichmond she had constantly the best advice, and we were told that nothing more could be hoped for." " I wonder more and more at her high spirits. I suppose that was what chiefly helped to carry her through ? " " I have seen a good many people," said Alison, pausing, " but I never did see any one so happy ! Others are always wanting something ; she never is. Every enjoyment seems to be tenfold to her what it is to other people ; she sees the hopeful side of every sorrow. No burthen is a liurthen when one has carried it to her." As Alison spoke, she pushed open the narrow green door of the little lodging-house, and there issued a weak, sweet sound of voices : "The strain upraise of joy and praise." It was the same that had met their ears at the school-door, but the want of body in the voices was fully compensated by the heartfelt ring, as if here indeed was praise, not practice. " Aunt Ailie ! Aunt Ailie ! " cried the child, as the room-door opened and showed the little choir, consisting of herself, her aunt, and the small maid of the house, " you should not have come ; you were not to hear us till Trinity Sunday." Explanations were given, and Miss Curtis was welcomed, but Alison, still too much moved for ordinary conversation, slipped into the bedroom adjoining, followed by her sister's quick and anxious eye, and half-uttered inquiry. " I am afraid it is my fault," said Grace ; " she has been telling me about your accident." " Poor Ailie," said Ermine, " she never will receive kind- ness without having that unlucky story out ! It is just one of the things that get so cruelly exaggerated by consequences. It was one moment's petulance that might have caused a fright and been forgotten ever after, but for those chemicals. Ah ! I see, she said nothing about them, because they were Edward's. They were some parcels for his experiments, gun 52 THE CLEVER ?rOMAN OF THE FAMILY. cotton and the like, wMch. were lying in the window tiU he had time to take them upstairs. We had all been so long threatened with heing blown np by his experiments that we had grown callous and careless, and it served us right ! " she added, stroking the child's face as it looked at her, earnest to glean fresh fragments of the terrible haK-known tale of the past. " Yes, Eosie, when you go and keep house for papa on the top of the Oural Mountains, or wherever it may be, you are to remember that if Aunt Ermine had not been in a foolish, inattentive mood, and had taken his dangerous goods out of the way, she might have been trotting to church now like other people. But poor Ailie has always helped herself to the whole blame, and if every childish fit of temper were the root of such qualities, what a world we should have here ! " " Ah ! no wonder she is devoted to you." " The child was not fifteen, had never known cross or care, but from that moment she never was out of my room if it was possible to be in j and when nurse after nurse was fairly worn out, because I could nob help being so distressing, there was always that poor child, always handy and helpful, grow- ing to be the chief dependence, and looking so piteously imploring whatever was tried, that it really helped me to go through with it. Poor Ailie," she added with an odd turn of playfulness, "I always fancied those frowns of anxiety made her eyebrows grow together. And ever since we came here, we know how she has worked away for her old cinder and her small Eosebud, don't we?" she added, playfully squeezing the child's cheeks up into a more buddmg look, hiding deeper and more overcoming feelings by the sportive action. And as her sister came back, she looked up and shook her head at her, saying, — " You gossiping Ailie, to go ripping up old grievances. I am going to ask Miss Curtis not to let the story go any further, now you have relieved your mind of it." " I. did tell Lady Temple," said Alison ; " I never think it right not to let people know what sort of person they have to teach their children." And Grace, on feeling her way, discovered that Lady Temple had been told the bare fact in Miss Williams's reserved and business-like manner, but with nothing of the afiair that had led to it. She merely looked on it in the manner fully expressed by — " Ah, poor thing ; how sad for her ! " as a shocking secret, never to be talked of or thought about. And that voluntary detailed relation from Alison MACKAREL LANE. 53 cotild only be regarded as drawn forth by Grace's own in- dividual power of winning confidence, and the friendliness that had so long subsisted between them. JSTor indeed was the reserve regarding the cause of the present reduced cir- cumstances of the sisters at all lessened ; it was only known that their brother had ruined them by a fraudulent specu- lation, and had then fled to the Continent, leaving them burthened with the maintenance of his child, but that they refused to believe in his guilt, and had thus incurred the displeasure of other relatives and friends. Alison was utterly silent about him. Ermine seemed to have a tender pleasure in bringing in a reference to his ways as if all were well, and it were a matter of course to speak of "Edward;" but it was plain that Ermine's was an outspoken nature. This might, however, be only because the one had been a guarded, sheltered invalid, while the other had gone forth among strangers to battle for a livelihood, and moreover, the elder sister had been fully grown and developed before the shock which had come on the stiU unformed Alison. At any rate, nobody but Grace " got on " with the governess, while the invalid made friends with aU who visited her, and most signally with Eachel, who, ere long, esteemed her enliven- ment a good work, worthy of herself. The charity of sitting with a twaddling, muffatee-knitting old lady was indisputable, but it was perfectly within Grace's capacity ; and Eachel be- lieved herself to be far more capable of entertaining the sick Miss Williams, nor was she mistaken. When excited or interested, most people thought her oppressive ; but Ermine Williams, except when unwell, did not find her so, and even then a sharp debate was sometimes a cure for the nervous ailments induced by the monotony of her life. They seemed to have a sort of natural desire to rub their minds one against the other, and Eachel could not rest without Miss Williams's opinion of all that interested her — ^paper, essay, book, or event ; but often, when expecting to confer a favour by the loan, she found that what was new to her was already well known in that little parlour, and even the authorsMp no mystery. Ermine explained this by her correspondence with literary friends of her brother's, and country-bred Eachel, to whom literature was still an oracle unconnected with living agencies, listened, yes, absolutely listened to her anecdotes of sayings and doings, far more like clever memoirs than the experiences of the banks of the Avon. Perhaps there was this immediate disadvantage, that hearing of a more intellectual 54 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. tone of society tended to make Eacliel less tolerant of that whicli surrounded her, and especially of Mr. Toucliett-. It was droll that, having so long shunned the two sisters under the impression that they were his protegees and worshippers, she found that Ermine's point of view was quite the rectorial one, and that to venerate the man for his office sake was nearly as hard to Ermine as to herself, though the office was more esteemed. Alison, the reserved, had held her tongue on his antecedents; but Ermine was drawn into explaining that his father had been a minor canon, who had eked out his means with a combination of chaplaincies and parts of curacies, and by teaching at the school where his son was educated. Indignant at the hack estimation in which his father had been held, the son, far more justly viewing both the dignity and duty of his office, was resolved to be respected ; but bred up in second- rate society, had neither weight, talent, nor manners to veil his aggressive seK-assertion, and he was at this time especially trying to the Curtises. Cathedral music had been too natural to him for the endurance of an unchoral service, and the prime labour of his life was to work up his choir ; but he was musical by education rather than nature, and having begun his career with such mortal offence to the native fiddlers and singers as to impel them into the arms of dissent, he could only supply the loss from the school by his own voice, of which he was not chary, though using it with, better will than taste. The staple of his choir were Eachel's scholars. Her turn had always been for boys, and her class on Sunday mornings and two evenings in the week had long been in operation before the reign of Mr. Touchett. Then two lads, whose paternal fiddles had seceded to the Plymouth Brethren, were suspended from all advantages by the curate, and Eachel was with difficulty withheld from an explosion ; but even this was less annoying than the summons at the class-room door every Sunday morning, that, in the midst of her lesson, carried off the chief of her scholars to practise their chants. Moreovei*, the blame of all imperfect lessons was laid on the " singing for the parson," and all faults in the singing by the tasks for Miss Eachel ; and one night, the excellent Zack excused his failure in geography by saying that Mr. Touchett had thrown away his book, and said that it was no better than sacrilege, omitting, however, to mention that he had been caught studying it under his surplice during the lessons. MACKABEL LANE. ■ OC At last, with. Ids usual fatality, the curate fixed the grand practice for the Saturday evenings that were Eachel's great days for instruction in the three E's, and for a sort of popular lecture. Cricket was to succeed the singing, and novelty carried the day; but only by the desertion of her scholars did Eachel learn the new arrangement, and she could hardly credit the assertion that the curate was not aware that it was her day. In fact, it was the only one wben the fisher lads were sure not to be at sea, and neither party would yield it. Mr. Touchett was determined not to truckle to dictation from the great house; so when Eachel declared she would have nothing to do with the boys unless the Saturdays were con- ceded to her, he owned that he thought the clergyman had the first right to his lads, and had only not claimed them before out of deference for the feelings of a well-meaning parishioner. Both, parties poured out their grievances to the same auditor, for Mr. Touchett regarded Ermine Williams as partiy clerical, and Eachel could never be easy without her sympathy. To hear was not, however, to make peace, while eacb side was so sore, so conscious of the merits of its own case, so blind to tbose of the other. One deemed praise in its highest form the prime object of his ministry ; the other found the performance indevotional, and raved that education sbould be sacrificed to wretched music. But that the dis- sension was sad and mischievous, it would have been very diverting ; they were both, so young in their incapacity of making allowances, their certainty that theirs was the theory to bring in tbe golden age, and even in their magnanimity of forgiveness ; and all the time they thougbt themselves so very old. " I am resigned to disappointments ; I have seen something of life." — " You forget. Miss Williams, that my ministerial experience is not very recent." There was one wh.o would have smoothed matters far better than any, who, like Ermine, took her weapons from the armoury of good sense ; but that person was entirely unconscious how the incumbent regarded her soft eyes, meek pensiveness, motherly sweetness, and, above all, the refined graceful dignity that remained to her from the leading station she had occupied. Her gracious respect towards her clergy- man was a contrast as much to the deferential coquetry of his admirers as to the abruptness of his foe, and her indif- ference to parish details had even its charm in a world of fussiness ; he did not know himseK how far a wish of hera 56 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAT^IILY. would have led him, and she was the last person to guess. She viewed him, like all else outside her nursery, as some- thing out of the focus of her eye; her instinct regarded her clergyman as necessarily good and worthy, and her ear heard Eachel railing at him; it sounded hard, hut it was a pity Eachel should he vexed and interfered with. In fact, she never thought of the matter at all; it was only part of that outer kind of dreamy stage-play at Avonmouth, in which she let herseK he moved ahout at her cousin's hidding. One part of her life had passed away from her, and what remained to her 'was among her children; her interests and intelligence seemed contracted to Conrade's horizon, and as to every- thing else, she was suhdued, gentle, ohedient, hut slow and ohtuse. Yet, little as he knew it, Mr. Touchett might have even asserted his authority in a still more trying manner. If the gentle little widow had not cast a halo round her relatives, he could have preached that sermon upon the home-keeping duties of women, or have heen too much offended to accept any service from the Curtis family; and he could have done without them, for he had a wide middle-class popularity; his manners with the second-rate society, in which he had heen hred, were just sufficiently superior and flattering to recom- mend all his hest points, and he ohtained plenty of suhscrip- tions from visitors, and of co-operation from inhahitantS. Many a young lady was in a flutter at the approach of the spruce little figure in hlack, and so many volunteers were there for parish work, that districts and classes were divided and suhdivided, till it sometimes seemed as if the only difficulty was to find poor people enough who would suhmit to serve as the corpus vile for their charitahle treatment. For it was not a really poor population. The men were seafaring, the women lacemaking, and just well enough off to make dissent douhly attractive as an escape from some of the interfering almsgiving of the place. Over-visiting, criticism of dress, and inquisitorial examinations had made more than one Primitive Methodist, and no severe distress had heen so recent as to render the women tolerant of trouhlesome weekly inspections. The Curtis sisters were, however, regarded as an exception ; they were viewed as real gentlefolks, not only hy their own tenants, hut hy all who were conscious of their hereditary claims to respect; they did not care whether hair were long or short, and their henefits were more suhstantial and reliable than could he looked for from the casual visitors MACKAREL LANR. 57 and petty gentry around, so that sundry houses that were forbidden ground to district visitors, were ready to grant them a welcome. One of these belonged to the most able lacemaker in the place, a hard-working woman, who kept seven little pupils in a sort of cupboard imder the staircase, with a window into the back garden, " because," said she, " they did no work if they looked out into the front, there were so many gapsies ;" these gapsies consisting of the very scanty traffic of the further end of Mackarel Lane. For ten hours a day did these children work in a space just wide enough for them to sit, with the two least under the slope of the stairs, permitted no distraction from their bobbins, but invaded by their mistress on the faintest sound of tongues. Into this hotbed of sprigs was admitted a child who had been a special favourite at school, an orphan niece of the head of the establishment. The two brothers had been lost together at sea; and while the one widow became noted for her lace, the other, a stranger to the art, had main- tained herself by small millinery, and had not sacrificed her little girl to the Moloch of lace, but had kept her at school to a later age than usual in the place. But the mothei died, and the orphan was at once adopted by the aunt, with the resolve to act the truly kind part by her, and break her in to lacemaking. That determination was a great blow to the school visitors ; the girls were in general so young, or so stupefied with their work, that an intelligent girl like Lovedy Kelland was no small treasure to them ; there were designs of making her a pupil teacher in a few years, and offers and remonstrances rained in upon her aunt. P)ut they had no effect ; Mrs. Kelland was persuaded that the child had been spoilt by learning, and in truth poor Lovedy was a refractory scholar ; she was too lively to bear the confine- ment patiently ; her mind was too much awake not to rebel against the diolness, and her fingers had not been brought into training early enough. Her incessant tears spoilt her thread, and Mrs. Kelland decided that " she'd never get her bread till she was broke of her buke;" which breaking was attempted by a summary pawning of all poor Lovedy's reward books. The poor child confided her loss to her young lady teacher at the Sunday school ; the young lady, being new, young, and inflammable, reproached Mrs. Kelland with dis- honesty and 'tyranny to the orphan, and in return was nearly frightened out of her wits by such a scolding as oidy such 58 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. a woman as the lace mistress could deliver. Then Mr. Touchett tried his hand, and though he did not meet with quite so much violence, all he heard was that she had " given Lovedy the stick for heing such a little tod as to complain, when she knew the money for the bukes was put safe away in her money-box. She was not going to the Sunday schule again, not she, to tell stories against her best friends ! " And when the next district visitor came that way, the door was shut in her face, with the tract thrown out at the opening, and an intimation in Mrs. Kelland's shrill voice, that no more bukes were wanted ; she got plenty from Miss Curtis. These bukes from Miss Curtis were sanatory tracts, which Eachel was constantly bestowing, and which on Sundays Mrs. Kelland spelt through, with her finger under the line, in happy ignorance whether the subject were temporal or spiritual, and feeling herself in the exemplary discharge of a Sunday duty. Moreover, old feudal feeling made Eachel be unmolested when she came down tvdce a week, opened the door of the blackhole under the stairs, and read aloud something religious, something improvi-ng, and a bit of a story, following it up by mental arithmetic and a lesson on objects, which seemed to Mrs. Kelland the most arrant non- sense in the world, and to her well-broken scholars was about as interesting as the humming of a blue-bottle fly; but it was poor Lovedy's one enjoyment, though making such havoc of her work that it was always expiated by extra hours, not on her pillow, but at it. These visits of Rachel were considered to encourage the Kelland refractoriness, and it was officially intimated that it woidd be wise to discontinue them, and that " it was thought better" to withdraw from Mrs. Kelland all that direct patron- age of her trade, by which the ladies had enabled her to be in some degree independent of the middle-men, who absorbed so much of the profit from the workers. Grace and Eachel, sufficiently old inhabitants to remember the terrible wreck that had left her a struggling widow, felt this a hard, not to say a -vindictive decision. They had long been a kind of agents for disposing of her wares at a distance ; and, feeling that the woman had received provocation, Grace was not disposed to give her up, while Eachel loudly averred that neither Mr. Touchett nor any of his ladies had any right to interfere, and she should take no notice. " But," said Grace, " can we run counter to our clergy- man's direct wishes 1 " MACKAEEL LANE. 59 "Yes, when lie steps out of his province. My deai Grace, you grew up in the days of curatolatry, but it won't do ; men are fallible even when they preach in a surpKee, and you may be thankful to me that you and Fanny are not both led along in a string in the train of Mr. Touchett's devotees ! " *'I wish I knew what was right to do," said Grace, quietly ; and she remained wishing it after Eachel had said a great deal more ; but the upshot of it was, that one day when Grace and Fanny were walking together on the espla- nade, they met Mr. Touchett, and Grace said to him, " We have been thinking it over, and we thought, perhaps, you would not wish us not to give any orders to Mrs. Kelland. I know she has behaved very ill ; but I don't' see how she is to get on, and she has this child on her hands." " I know," said Mr. Touchett; " but really it was flagrant." " Oh," said Lady Temple, gently, " I dare say she didn't mean it, and you could not be hard on a widow." " Well," said Mr. Touchett, " Miss Brown was very much put out, and— and — it is a great "pity about the child; but I never thought myself that such strong measures would do any good." " Then you will not object to her being employed ? " " No, not at all. From a distance, it is not the same thing as close at home ; it won't be an example." " Thank you," said Grace ; and " I am so glad," said Lady Temple; and Mr. Touchett went on his way, lightened of his fear of having let his zealous coadjutors oppress the hard-working, and far more brightened by the sweet smile of requital, but all the time doubtful whether he had been weak. As to the victory, Eachel only laughed, and said, " K it made Grace more comfortable, it was well, except for that acknowledgment of Mr. Touchett's jurisdiction." A few days after, Eachel made her appearance in Mackarel Lane, and announced her intention of consulting Ermine Williams under seal of secresy. " I have an essay that I wish you to judge of before I send it to the ' Traveller.' " " Indeed ! " said Ermine, her colour rising. " Would it not be better " " Oh, I know what you mean, but don't scruple on that score. At my age, with a mother like mine, it is simply to avoid teasing and excitement that I am silent." " I was going to say I was hardly a fair ^" "Because of your different opinions? But those go foi 60 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. nothing. You are a worthy antagonist, and enter into my views as my mother and sister cannot do, even while you oppose them." " But I don't think I can help you, even if " " I don't want help ; I only want you to judge of the composition. In fact, I read it to you that I may hear it myseK." Ermine resigned herself. " ' Curatolatry is a species ' " " I beg your pardon." " Curatolatry. Ah ! I thought that would attract attention." " But I am afraid the scholars would fall foul of it." " Why, have not they just made Mariolatry 1 " " Yes ; but they are very severe on hybrids between Latin and Greek." "It is not worth while to boggle at trifles when one has an expressive term," said Rachel j "if it turns into English, that is all that is wanted." " Would it not be rather a pity if it should turn into English? Might it not be hard to brand with a contemp- tuous name what does more good than harm 1 " " That sickly mixture of flirtation and hero worship, with a religious daub as a salve to the conscience." " Laugh it down, and what do you leave ? In Miss Austen's time siUy girls ran to balls after militiamen ; now, if they run to schools and charities more for the curate's sake than they quite know, is not the alternative better ? " " It is greater humbug," said Rachel. " But I knew you would not agree, at least beforehand; it is appreciation that I want." Never did Madame de GenHs make a cleverer hit than in the reading of the Genius Phanor's tragedy in the Palace of Truth. Comically absurd as the inconsistency is of trans- porting the lecture of a Parisian academician into an en- chanted palace, full of genii and fairies of the remotest possible connexion with the Arab jinn, the whole is redeemed by the truth to nature of the sole dupe in the Palace of Truth being the author reading his own works. Ermine was thinking of him aU the time. She was imder none of the constraint of Phanor's auditors, though she carried a per- petual palace of truth about with her ; she would not have had either fears or compunctions in criticising, if she could. The paper was in the essay style, between argument and sarcasm, something after the model of the Invalid's Letters ; MACKAREL LANE. 61 but it was scarcely ligMly touclied enough, the irony was wormwood, the gravity heavy and sententious, and where there was a just thought or happy hit, it seemed to travel in a road-waggon, and he lost in the rumhling of the wheels. Ermine did not restrain a smile, haK of amusement, half of relief, at the self -antidote the paper contained^ hut the smild passed with the authoress as a trihute to her satire. "In this age," she said, "we must use those lighter weapons of wit, or no one will attend." " Perhaps," said Ermine, "if I approve your ohject, I should teU you you don't use them lightly." " Ah ! but I know you don't approve it. You are not lay woman enough to be impartial, and you belong to the age that was trying the experiment of the hierarchy modified ; I to that which has found it will not do. But at least you understand my view; I have made out my case." ^' Yes, I understand your view ; but " " You don't sympathize. Of course not ; but when it receives its fuU weight from the printer's hands, you will see that it will tell. That bit about the weak tea fumes I thought of afterwards, and I am afraid I did not read it weU." " I remember it ; but forgive me if I say first I think the whole is rather too — too lengthy to take." " Oh, that is only because manuscript takes long to read aloud. I counted the words, so I can't be mistaken; at least I counted twenty lines, and multiplied ; and it is not so long as the Invalid's last letter about systematic reading." "And then comes my question again, Is good to come of it?" " That I can't expect you to see at this time ; but it is to be the beginning of a series, exposing the fallacies of woman's life as at present conducted; and out of these I mean to poiat the way to more consistent, more iudependent, better combined exertion. If I can make myself useful with my pen, it will compensate for the being debarred from so many more obvious outlets. I should like to have as much influence over people's minds as that Invahd for instance, and by earnest effort I know I shall attain it." " I — I — " half-laughing and blushing, " I hope you will, for I know you would wish to use it for good ; but, to speak plainly, I doubt about the success of this effort, or — or if it ought to succeed." " Yes, I know you do," said Eachel. " ^o one ever can 62 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. judge of a manuscript. You have done all I wished you to do, and I value your sincerity. Of course I did not expect praise, since the nwre telling it is on the opposite side, the less you could like it. I saw you appreciated it." And Eachel departed, while Eose crept up to her aunt, asking, "Aunt Ermine, why do you look so very funny It was very tiresome. Are not you glad it is over ? " " I was thinking, Eose, what a difficult language plain 'English is sometimes." " What, Miss Eachel's ? I couldn't understand one "t^it of her long story, except that she did not like weak tea." " It was my own that I meant," said Ermine. " Eut, Eose, always remember that a person who stands plain speaking from one like me has something very noble and generous in her. Were you here aU the time, Eosie? I don't wonder you were tired." " 1^0, Aunt Ermine, I went and told Violetta and Augustus a fairy tale out of my own head." " Indeed ; and how did they like it ? " " Violetta looked at me all the time, and Augustus gave three winks, so I think he liked it." " Appreciated it ! " said Aunt Ermine. CHAPTEE IV. THE HEBO. ** Aud which is Lucy's ? Can it be That puny fop, armed cap-d-pie, Who loves in the saloon to show The arms that never knew a foe." — Scott. " My lady's compliments, ma'am, and she would be much obliged if you would remain till she comes home," was Coombe's reception of Alison. " She is gone to Avoncester with Master Temple and Master Francis." " Gone to Avoncester ! " exclaimed Eachel, who had walked from church to Myrtlewood with Alison. " Mamma is gone to meet the Major ! " cried three of the lesser boys, rushing upon them in full cry; then Leoline, facing round, " Not the major, he is lieutenant-colonel now — Colonel Keith, hurrah ! " THE HERO. 63 " What — what do you mean? Speak rationaUy, Leoline, if you can." " My lady sent a note to the Homestead this morning," explained Coombe. " She heard this morning that Colonel Keith intended to arrive to-day, and took the young gentle- men with her to meet him." Eachel could hardly refrain from manifesting her dis- pleasure, and bluntly asked what time Lady Temple was likely to be at home. " It depended," Coombe said, " upon the train j it was not certain whether Colonel Keith would come by the twelve or fche two o'clock train." And Eachel was going to turn sharply round, and dash home with the tidings, when Alison arrested her with the question — "And who is Colonel Keith?" Eachel was too much wrapped up in her own view to hear the trembling of the voice, and answered, " Colonel Keith ! why, the Major ! You have not been here so long without hearing of the Major 1 " " Yes ; but I did not know. Who is he 1 " And a more observant person would have seen the governess's gasping effort to veil her eagerness under her wonted self-control. " Don't you know who the Major is ? " shouted Leoline. " He is our military secretary." " That's the sum total of my knowledge," said Eachel. " I don't understand his influence, nor know where he was picked up." " l!^or his regiment ? " "He is not a regimental officer ; he is on our staff," said Leoline, whose imagination could not attain to an earlier con- dition than " on our staff." " I shall go home, then," said Eachel, " and see if there is any explanation there." " I shall ask the Major not to let Aunt Eachel come here," observed Hubert, as she departed; it was well it was not before. " Leoline," anxiously asked Alison, " can you tell me the Major's name 1 " " Colonel Keith — Lieutenant-Colonel Keith," was all the answer. "I meant his Christian name, my dear." " Only little boys have Christian names ! " they returned, and Alison was forced to do her best to tame herself and 64 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. them to the duties of the long day of anticipation so joyous on their part, so full of confusion and bewildered anxiety on her own. She looked in vain, haK stealthily, as often before, for a recent Army List or Peerage. Long ago she had lost the Honourable Colin A. Keith from among the officers of the — th Highlanders, and though in the last Peerage she had laid hands on he was still among the surviving sons of the late Lord Keith, of Gowanbrae, the date had not gone back far enough to estabKsh that he had not died in the Lidian war. It was fear that predominated with her ; there were many moments when she would have given worlds to be secure that the new comer was not the man she thought of, who, whether constant or inconstant, could bring nothing but pain and disturbance to the calm tenour of her sister's life. Everything was an oppression to her; the children, in their wild, joyous spirits and gladsome inatten- tion, tried her patience almost beyond her powers; the charge of the younger ones in their mother's absence was burthen- some, and the delay in returning to her sister became well- nigh intolerable, when she figured to herself Rachel Curtis going down to Ermine with the tidings of Colonel Keith's arrival, and her own discontent at his influence with her cousin. Would that she had spoken a word of warning ; yet that might have been merely mischievous, for the subject was surely too delicate for Rachel to broach with so recent a friend. But Rachel had bad taste for anything ! That the little boys did not find Miss Williams very cross that day was an effect of the long habit of seK-control, and she could Hardly sit still under the additional fret, when, just as tea was spread for the school-room party, in walked Miss Rachel, and sat herseK down, in spite of Hubert, who made up a most coaxing, entreating face, as he said, "Please, Aunt Rachel, doesn't Aunt Grace want you very much 1 " " ISTot at aU. Why, Hubert 1 " " Oh, if you would only go away, and not spoil our fun when the Major comes." Eor once Rachel did laugh, but she did not take the hint, and Alison obtained only the satisfaction of hearing that she had at least not been in Mackarel Lane. The wheels sounded on the gravel, out rushed the boys ; Alison and Rachel sat in strange, absolute silence, each forgetful of the other, neither guarding her own looks, nor remarking her companion's. Alison's lips were parted by intense listening ; Rachel's teeth were set to receive her enemy. There was a chorus of voices THE HERO. r»5 in the hall, and something about tea and coming in warned both to gather up their looks before Lady Temple had opened the door, and brought in upon them not one foe, but two ! Was Eachel seeing double 1 Hardly that, for one was tall, bald, and bearded, not dangerously young, but on that very account the more dangerously good-looking; and the other was almost a boy, slim and light, just of the empty young officer type. Here, too, was Fanny, flushed, excited, prettier and brighter than Eachel had seen her at all, waving an introduction with head and hand ; and the boys hanging round the Major with deafening exclamations of welcome, in which they were speedily joined by the nursery detachment. Those greetings, those observations on growth and looks, those glad, eager questions and answers, were like the wel- come of an integral part of the family; it was far more intimate and familiar than had been possible with the Cur- tises after the long separation, and it was enough to have made the two spectators feel out of place, if such a sensation had been within Eachel's capacity, or if Alison had not been engaged with the tea. Lady Temple made a few explana- tions, sotto wee, to Alison, whom she always treated as though in dread of not being sufficiently considerate. " I do hope the children have been good ; I knew you would not mind ; I could not wait to see you, or I should have been too late to meet the train, and then he would have come by the coach; and it is such a raw east wind. He must be careful in this climate." '* How warm and sunshiny it has been all day," said Eachel, by way of opposition to some distant echo of this whisper. "Sunshiny, but treacherous," answered Colonel Keith; " there are cold gusts round corners. This must be a very sheltered nook of the coast." " Quite a different zone from Avoncester," said the youth. " Yes, delightful. I told you it was just what would suit you," added Fanny, to the colonel. " Some winds are very cold here," interposed Eachel. " I always pity people who are imposed upon to think it a Mentone near home. They are choking our churchyard." " Very inconsiderate of them," muttered the young man. " But what made you come home so late, Fanny 1 " said EacheL Alison suspected a slight look of wonder on the part of both the officers at hearing their general's wife thus called to account; but Fanny, taking it as a matter of course, F 66 THE OLEVBR WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. answered, " We found that the — ^th was at Avoncester. I had no idea of it, and they did not know I was here ; so I went to call upon Mrs. Hammond, and Colonel Keith went to look for Alick, and we have brought him home to dine." Fanny took it for granted that Eachel must know who Alick was, hut she was far from doing so, though she remem- bered that the — th had been her uncle's regiment, and had been under Sir Stephen Temple's command in India at the time of the mutiny. The thought of Fanny's lapsing into military society was shocking to her. The boys were vocife- rating about boats, ponies, and aU that had been deferred till the Major's arrival, and he was answering them kindly, but hushing the extra outcry less by word than sign; and his own lowered voice and polished manner — a manner that excessively chafed her as a sort of insult to the blunt, rapid ways that she considered as sincere and unaffected, a silkiness that no doubt had worked on the honest, simple general, as it was now working on the weak young widow. Anything was better than leaving her to such influence, and in pur- suance of the intention that Eachel had already announced at home, she invited herself to stay to dinner; and Fanny eagerly thanked her, for making it a little less dull for Colonel Keith and Alick. It was so good to come down and help. Certainly Fanny was an innocent creature, provided she was not spoilt, and it was a duty to guard her innocence. Alison WiQiams escaped to her home, sure of nothing but that her sister must not be allowed to share her uncertainties ; and Lady Temple and her guests sat down to dinner. Eachel meant to have sat at the bottom and carved, as belonging to the house ; but Fanny motioned the Colonel to the place, observing, " It is so natural to see you there ! One only wants poor Captain Dent at the other end. Do you know whether he has his leave ? " Wherewith commenced a discussion of military friends — who had been heard of from Australia, who had been met in England, who was promoted, who married, who retired, &c., and aU the quarters of the — th since its return from India two years ago ; Fanny eagerly asking questions and making remarks, quite at home and all animation, absolutely a different being from the subdued, meek little creature that Eachel had hitherto seen. Attempts were made to include Miss Curtis in the conversation by addressing anecdotes to her, and asking if she knew the places named ; but she had been to none, and the three old friends quicldy fell int : the THE HERO. 67 swing of talk about what interested them. Once, however, she came down on them with, " What conclusion have you formed upon female emigration 1 " " ' His sister she went beyond the seas, And died an old maid among black savagees.' That's the most remarkable instance of female emigration on record, isn't it ? " observed Alick. "What; her dying an old maidi" said Colonel Keith. " I am not sure. Wholesale exportations of wives are spoiling the market." " I did not mean marriage," said Eachel, stoutly. " I am particularly anxious to know whether there is a field open to independent female labour." " All the superior young women seemed to turn nursery- maids," said the Colonel. " Oh," interposed Fanny, " do you remember that nice girl of ours who would marry that Orderly-Sergeant O'Donoghoe ? I have had a letter from her in such distress." " Of course, the natural termination," said Alick, in his lazy voice. " And I thought you would tell me how to manage sending her some help," proceeded Fanny. " I could have helped you, Fanny. Won't an order do it 1 " " Not quite," said Fanny, a shade of a smile playing on her lip. "It is whether to send it through one of the officers or not. If Captain Lee is with the regiment, I know he would take care of it for her." So they plunged into another regiment, and Eachel decided that nothing was so wearisome as to hear triflers talk shop. There was no opportunity of calling Fanny to order after dinner, for she went off on her progress to all the seven cribs, and was only just returning from them when the gentlemen came in, and then she made room for the younger beside her on the sofa, saying, " l^ow, Alick, I do so want to hear about poor, dear little Bessie ; " and they began so low and con- fidentially, that Eachel wondered if her alarms were to be transferred from the bearded colonel to the dapper boy, or if, in very truth, she must deem poor Fanny a general coquette. Besides, a man must be contemptible who wore gloves at so small a party, when she did not. She had been whiling away the time of Fanny's absence by looking over the books on the table, and she did not regard the present company sufficiently to desist on their account. f2 ^8 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. Colonel Keith, began to turn over some numbers of the *' Traveller " that lay near him, and presently looked up, and said, " Do you know who is the writer of this 1 " " What is it ? Ah ! one of the Invalid's essays. They strike every one; but I fancy the authorship is a great gecret." " You do not know it 1" "JSTo, I wish I did. Which of them are you reading? * Country Walks.' That is not one that I care about, it is a mere hash of old recollections j but there are some very sensible and superior ones, so that I have heard it sometimes doubted whether they are man's or woman's writing. For my part, I think them too earnest to be a man's ; men always play with their subject." "Oh, yes," said Fanny, "I am sure only a lady could have vn^itten anythiug so sweet as that about flowers in a sick-room ; it so put me in mind of the lovely flowers you used to bring me one at a time, when I was ill at Cape Town." There was no more sense to be had after those three once feU upon their reminiscences. That night, after having betrayed her wakefulness by a movement in her bed, Alison Williams heard her sister's voice, low and steady, saying, "Ailie, dear, be it what it may, guessing is worse than certainty." " Oh, Ermine, I hoped — I know nothing — ^I have nothing to tell." "You dread something," said Ermine; "you have been striving for unconcern all the evening, my poor dear; but surely you know, Ailie, that nothing is so bad while we share it." " And I have frightened you about nothing." " l!^othing ! nothing about Edward 9 " "Oh, no, no!" " And no one has made you uncomfortable ? " "Ko." " Then there is only one thing that it can be, Ailie, and you need not fear to tell me that. I always knew that if he lived I must be prepared for it, and you would not have hesitated to tell me of his death." ** It is not that, indeed it is -not. Ermine, it is only this — that I found to-day that Lady Temple's major has the same name." " But you said she was come home. You must have seen him." THW HERO. 69 " Yes, but I should not know him. I had only seen him once, remember, twelve years ago, and when I durst not look at him." " At least," said Ermine, quickly, " you can tell mo what you saw to-day." "A Scotch face, bald head, dark beard, grizzled hair." " Yes I am grey, and he was five years older ; but he used not to have a Scotch face. Can you teU me about his eyes ?" " Dark," I think. " They were very dark blue, almost black. Time and climate must have left them alone. You may know him by those eyes, Ailie. And you could not make out anything about him?" " No, not even his Christian name nor his regiment. I had only the little ones and Miss Eachel to ask, and they knew nothing. I wanted to keep this from you till I wag sure, but you always find me out." " Do you think I couldn't see the misery you were in all the evening, poor child'? But now you have had it out, sleep, and don't be distressed." " But, Ermine, if you " " My dear, I am thankful that nothing is amiss with you or Edward. Eor the rest, there is nothing but patience. ]S"ow, not another word ; you must not lose your sleep, nor take away my chance of any." How much the sisters slept they did not confide to one another ; but when they rose, Alison shook her head at her sister's heavy eyelids, and Ermine retorted with a reproachful smile at certain dark tokens of sleeplessness under Alison's eyes. "No, not the flowered flimsiness, please," she said, in the course of her toilette, " let me have the respectable grey silk." And next she asked for a drawer, whence she chose a little Nuremberg horn brooch for her neck. " I know it is very silly," she said, " but I can't quite help it. Only one question, Ailie, that I thought of too late. Did he hear your name?" " I think not, Lady Temple named nobody. But why did you not ask me last night 1" " I thought beginning to talk again would destroy your chance of sleep, and we had resolved to stop." " And, Ermine, if it be, what shaU I do ?" " Do as you feel right at the moment," said Ermine, after a moment's pause. " I cannot tell how it may be. I ha^e 70 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. "been thinking over what you told me about * the Major and Lady Temple." " Oh, Ermine, what a reproof this is for that bit of gossip.'* " ^N'ot at all, my dear, the warning may be all the better for me," said Ermine, with a voice less steady than her words. " It is not what, under the circumstances, I could think likely in the Colin whom I knew ; but were it indeed so. then, Ailie, you had better say nothing about me, unless lie found you out. We would get employment elsewhere." " And I must leave you to the suspense all day." " Much better so. The worst thing we could do would be to go on talking about it. It is far better for me to be left with my dear little unconscious companion." Alison tried to comfort herseK with this belief through the long hours of the morning, during which she only heard that mamma and Colonel Keith were gone to the Homestead, and she saw no one tiU she came forth with her troop to the midday meal. And there, at sight of Lady Temple's content and calm, satisfied look, as though she were once more in an accustomed atmosphere, and felt herself and the boys protected, and of the Colonel's courteous attention to her and affectionate authority towards her sons, it was an absolute pang to recog- nise the hue of eye described by Ermine ; but still Alison tried to think them generic Keith eyes, till at length, amid the merry chatter of her pupils, came an appeal to " Miss Williams," and then came a look that thrilled through her, the same glance that she had met for one terrible moment twelve years before, and renewing the same longing to slirink from all sight or sound. How she kept her seat and con- tinued to attend to the children she never knew, but the voices sounded Uke a distant Babel ; and she did not know whether she were most relieved, disappointed, or indignant when she left the dining-room to take the boys for their walk. Oh, that Ermine could be hid from all knowledge of what would be so much harder to bear than the death in which she had long believed ! Harder to bear? Yes, Ermine had already been passing through a heart sickness that made the morning like an age. Her resolute will had struggled hard for composure, cheer- fulness, and occupation ; but the little watchful niece had seen through the endeavour, and had made her own to the sleepless night and the headache. Tlie usual remedy was a drive in a wheeled chair, and Rose was so urgent to ba MILITARY SOCIETY. 71 allowed to go and order one, that Ermine at last yielded, partly Ibecause she had hardly energy enough to turn her refusal graciously, partly because she would not feel herself staying at home for the vague hope ; and when the child was out of sight, she had the comfort of clasping her hands, and ceasing to restrain her countenance, while she mur- mured, " Oh, Colin, Colin, are you what you were twelve years hack ? Is this all dream, all delusion, and waste of feeling, while you are lying in your Indian grave, more mine than you can ever he living ! Be as it may,--- " ' Calm me, my God, and keep me calm While these liot breezes blow ; Be like the night dew's cooling balm Upon earth's fevered brow. Calm me, my God, and keep me calm, Soft resting on Thy breast ; Soothe me with holy hymn and psalm, And bid my spirit rest. ' " CHAPTEE V. MILITARY SOCIETY. " My trust Like a good parent did beget of him A falsehood in its contrary as great As my trust was, which had indeed no Hmit." — Tempest. EosE found the wheeled chair, to which her aunt gave the preference, was engaged, and shaking her little discreet head at "the shakey chair" and "the stuffy chair," she turned pensively homeward, and was speeding down Mackarel Lane, when she was stayed by the words, " My Little girl ! " and the grandest and most bearded gentleman she had ever seen, demanded, " Can you teU me if Miss Williams lives here ?" "My aunt*?" exclaimed Eose, gazing up with her pretty, frightened-fawn look. " Indeed ! " he exclaimed, looking eagerly at her, " then you are the child of a very old friend of mine ! Did you never hear him speak of his old school-fellow, Colin Keith ?" " Papa is away," said Eose, turning back her neck to get a full view of his face from under the brim of her hat. 72 THE OLEVEE WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. ** Will you run on and ask your aunt if slie would like to see me?" lie added. Thus it was tliat Ermine heard the quick patter of the child's steps, followed by the manly tread, and the words sounded in her ears, "Aunt Ermine, there's a gentleman, and he has a great beard, and he says he is papa's old friend ! And here he is." Ermine's beaming eyes as absolutely met the new comer as though she had sprung forward. " I thought you would come," she said, in a voice serene with exceeding bliss. " I have found you at last," as their hands clasped ; and they gazed into each other's faces in the untroubled repose of the meeting, exclusive of all else. Ermine was the first to break silence. " Oh, Colin, you look worn and altered." "You don't; you have kept your sunbeam face for me with the dear brown glow I never thought to have seen again. Why did they tell me you were an invalid. Ermine V "Have you not seen Alison?" she asked, supposing he would have known all. " I saw her, but did not hear her name, till just now at luncheon, when our looks met, and I saw it was not another disappointment. " " And she knows you are come to me ?" " It was not in me to speak to her till I had recovered you ! One can forgive, but not forget." " You will do more when you know her, and how she has only lived and worked forme, dear Ailie, and suffered far more than I " " While I was suffering from being unable to do anything but live for you," he repeated, taking up her words ; " but that is ended now " and as she made a negative motion of her head, "have you not trusted tome ?" "I have thought you not Uving," she said j "the last I know was your letter to dear Lady Alison, written from the hospital at Cape Town, after your wound. She was ill even when it came, and she could only give it to Ailie for me." "Dear good aunt, she got into trouble with all the family for our sake ; and when she was gone no one would give me any tidings of you." " It was her last disappointment that you were not sent home on sick leave. Did you get well too fast ? '* " !N"ot exactly ; but my father, or rather, I believe, my brother, intimated that I should be welcome only if I had MILITARY SOCIETY. 73 laid aside a certain foolish, fancy, and as lying on my back had not conduced to that end, I could only say I would stay where I was." "And was it worse for you? I am sure, in spite of aU that tanned skin, that your health. h.as suffered. Ought you to have come home 1 " " ]S"o, I do not know that London surgeons could have got at the hall," he said, putting his hand on his chest, " and it gives me no trouble in general. I was such a spectacle when I returned to duty, that good old Sir Stephen Temple, always a proverb for making his staff a refuge for the infirm, made me his aide-de-camp, and was like a father to me." " l!^ow I see why I never could find your name in any list of the officers in the moves of the regiment ! I gave you quite up when I saw no Keith among those that came home from India. I did believe then that you were the Colonel Alexander Keith whose death I had seen mentioned, though I had long trusted to his not being honourable, nor having your first name." " Ah ! he succeeded to the command after Lady Temple's father. A kind friend to me he was, and he left me in charge of his son and daughter. A very good and gaUant fellow is that young Alick. I must bring him to see you some day " " Oh ! I saw his name ; I remember ! I gloried in the doings of a Keith; but I was afraid he had died, as there was no such name with the regiment when it came home." " 1^0, he was almost shattered to pieces ; but Sir Stephen sent him up the hills to be nursed by Lady Temple and her mother, and he was sent home as soon as he could be moved. I was astonished to see how entirely he had recovered." " Then you went through all that Lidian war 1 " "Yes; with Sir Stephen." " You must show me all your medals ! How much you have to tell me ! And then 1 " " Just when the regiment was coming home, my dear old chief was appointed to the command in Australia, and insisted on my coming with him as military secretary. He had come to depend on me so much that I could not well leave him ; and in five years there was the way to promotion and to claiming you at once. We were just settled there, when what I heard made me long to have decided otherwise, but I could not break with him then. I wrote to Edward, but had my letter returned to me." 74 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. " Kg wonder; Edward was abroad, all connexion broken." " I wrote to Beauchamp, and lie knew notMng, and I could only wait till my chief's time sbonld be up. You know bow it was cut short, and how the care of the poor little widow detaiaed me till she was fit for the voyage. I came and sought you in vain in town. I went home, and found my brother lonely and dispirited. He has lost his son, his daughters are married, and he and I are all the brothers left out of the six ! He was urgent that I should come and live with him and marry. I told him I would, with all my heart, when I had found you, and he saw I was too much in earnest to be opposed. Then I went to Beauchamp, but Harry knew nothing about any one. I tried to find out your sister and Dr. Long, but heard they were gone to Belfast." " Yes, they lost a good deal in the crash, and did not likft retrenching among their neighbours ; so they went to Ireland, and there they have a flourishing practice." " I thought myseK on my way there," he said, smiling j " only I had first to settle Lady Temple, little guessing who was her treasure of a governess ! Last night I had nearly opened on another false scent ; I feU. in with a description that I could have sworn was yours, of the heather behind the parsonage. I made a note of the publisher in case all else had failed." " I'm glad you knew the scent of the thyme ! " " Then it was no false scent 1 " " One must live, and I was thankful to do anything to lighten AiHe's burthen. I wrote down that description that I might live in the place in fancy ; and one day, when the contribution was wanted and I was hard up for ideas, I sent it, though I was loth to lay open that bit of home and heart." " "Well it might give me the sense of meeting you ! And in other papers of the series I traced your old seK more ripened." " The editor was a friend of Edward's, and in our London days he asked me to write letters on things in general, and when I said I saw the world through a key-hole, he answered that a circumscribed view gained in distinctness. Most kind and helpful he has been, and what began between sport and need to say out one's mind has come to be a resource for which we are very thankful. He sends us books for review^al, and that is pleasant and improving, not to say profitable." " Little did I think you were in such straits ! " he said, MILITARY SOCIETY. 75 stroking the child's head, and waiting as though her presence were a restraint on inquiries, but she eagerly availed herself of the pause. " Aunt Ermine, please what shaU I say about the chairs? Will you have the nice one and Billy when they come home 1 I was to take the answer, only you did talk so that I could not ask ! " " Thank you, my dear ; I don't want chairs nor anything else while I can talk so," she answered, smiling. " You had better take a run in the garden when you come back ; " and Eose replied with a nod of assent that made the colonel smile and say, " Good-bye then, my sweet Lady Discretion, some day we will be better acquainted." " Dear child," said Ermine, " she is our great blessing, and some day I trust will be the same to her dear father. Oh, Colin! it is too much to hope that you have not believed what you must have heard ! And yet you wrote to him." " l^ay, I could not but feel great distrust of what I heard, since I was also told that his sisters were unconvinced ; and besides, I had continually seen him at school the victim of other people's faults." " This is best of aU," exclaimed Ermine, with glistening eyes, and hand laid upon his ; " it is the most comfortable word I have heard since it happened. Yes, indeed, many a time before I saw you, had I heard of ' Keith ' as the friend who saw him righted. Oh, Colin! thanks, thanks for believing in him more than for all ! ' " ITot believing, but knowing," he answered — " knowing both you and Edward. Besides, is it not almost invariable that the inventor is ruined by his invention — a Prospero by nature?" " It was not the invention," she answered ; " that throve as long as my father lived." " Yes, he was an excellent man of business." *' And he thought the concern so secure that there was no danger in embarlong all the available capital of the family in it ; and it did bring us in a very good income. " I remember that it struck me that the people at home would find that they had made a mistake after all, and missed a fortune for me ! It was an invention for diminishing the fragility of glass under heat ; was it not ? " " Yes, and the manufacture was very prosperous, so that my father was quite at ease about us. After his death we made a home for Edward in London, and looked after him when ho used to be smitten with some new idea and forgot 76 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. all sublunary matters. When lie married we went to live at Eichmond, and had Ms dear little wife very much with us, for she was a delicate tender creature, half killed by London. In process of time he fell in with a man named Maddox, plausible and clever, who became a sort of manager, especially while Edward was in his trances of invention ; and at all times knew more about his accounts than he did himself. iN'othing but my father's authority had ever made him really look into them, and this man took them all off his hands. There was a matter about the glass that Edward was bent on ascertaining, and he went to study the manufacture in Bohemia, taking his "vvife with him, and leaving Eose with us. Shortly after. Dr. Long and Harry Beauchamp received letters asking for a considerable advance, to be laid out on the materials that this improvement would require. Imme- diately afterwards came the crash." " Exactly what I heard. Of course the letters were written in ignorance of what was impending." " Colin, they were never written at all by Edward ! He denied aU knowledge of them. Alison saw Dr. Long's, most ingeniously managed — ^foreign paper and all — ^but she could swear to the forgery " " You suspect this Maddox 1 " " Most strongly ! He knew the state of the business ; Edward did not. And he had a correspondence that would have enabled so ingenious a person easily to imitate Edward's letters. I do not wonder at their having been taken in ; but how Julia — ^how Harry Beauchamp could believe — what they do believe. Oh, Colin ! it will not do to think about it ! " " Oh, that I had been at home ! "Were no measures taken?" " Alas ! alas ! we urged Edward to come home and clear himseK ; but that poor little wife of his was terrified beyond measure, imagined prisons and trials. She was unable to move, and he could not leave her ; she took from him an unhappy promise not to put himself in what she fancied danger from the law, and then died, leaving him a baby that did not Hve a day. He was too broken-hearted to care for vin- dicating himself, and no one — ^no one would do it for him ! " Colonel Keith frowned and clenched the hand that lay in his grasp till it was absolute pain, but pain that was a rehef to feel. " Madness, madness ! " he said. " Miserable ! But how was it at home 1 Did this Maddox stand his ground ? " MILITARY SOCIETY. 77 " Yefi, if he had fled, all would have been clear, but he doctored the accounts his own way, and quite satisfied Dr. Long and Harry. He showed Edward's receipt for the 600^. that had been advanced, and besides, there was a large sum not accounted for, which was, of course, supposed to have been invested abroad by Edward — some said gambled away — as if he had not had a regular hatred of all sorts of games." " Edward with his head in the clouds ! One notion is as likely as the other. — Then absolutely nothing was done ! " " I^othing ! The bankruptcy was declared, the whole afiatr broken up ; and certainly if every one had not known Edward to be the most heedless of men, the confusion would have justified them in thinking him a dishonest one. Things had been done in his name by Maddox that might have made a stranger think him guilty of the rest, but to those who had ever known his abstraction, and far more his real honour and uprightness, nothing could have been plainer." " It all turned upon his absence." " Yes, he must have borne the brunt of what had been done in his name, I know ; that would have been bad enough ; but in a court of justice, his whole character would have been shown, and besides, a prosecution for forgery of his receipt would have shown what Maddox was, sufficiently to exculpate him." "And you say the losers by the deception would not believe in it ] " " No, they only shook their heads at our weak sisterly afiection." " I wish I could see one of those letters. Where is Maddox now 1 " " I cannot tell. He certainly did not go away immediately after the settlement of accounts, but it has not been possible to us to keep up a knowledge of his movements, or something might have turned up to justify Edward. Oh, what it is to be helpless women ! You are the very first person, Colin, who has not looked at me pityingly, like a creature to be forborne with an undeniable delusion ! " " They must be very insolent people, then, to look at that brow and eyes, and think even sisterly love could blind them," he said. "Yes, Ermine, I was certain that unless Edward were more changed than I could believe, there must be some such explanation. You have never seen him since 1 " " No j he was too utterly broken by the loss of his wife to 78 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. feel anything else. For a long time we heard nothing, and that was the most dreadful time of all ! Then he wrote from a little German town, where he was getting his bread as a photographer's assistant. And siaoe that he has cast about the world, till just now he has some rather interesting employment at the mines in the Oural Mountains, the first thing he has reaUy seemed to like or care for." "The Oural Mountains! that is out of reach. I wish I could see him. One might find some means of clearing him. What directed your suspicion to Maddox?" " Chiefly that the letters professed to have been sent in a parcel to him to be posted from the office. If it had been so, Edward and Lucy would certainly have written to us at the same time. I could have shown, too, that Maddox had written to me the day before to ascertain where Edward was, so as to be sure of .the date. It was a little country village, and I made a blunder in copying the spelling from Lucy's writing. Ailie found that very blunder repeated in Dr. Long's letter, and we showed him that Edward did not write it so. Besides, before going abroad, Edward had lost' the seal-ring with his crest, which you gave him. You remember the Saxon's head ?" " I remember ! You aU took it much to heart that the engraver had made it a Saracen's head, and not a long-haired Saxon." " Well, Edward had renewed the ring, and taken care to make it a Saxon. N'ow Ailie could get no one to believe her, but she is certain that the letter was sealed with the old Saracen not the new Saxon. But — but — if you had but been there " " TeU me you wished for me. Ermine." " I durst not wish anything about you," she said, looking up through a mist of tears. " And you, what fixed you here 1 " " An old servant of ours had married and settled here, and had written to us of her satisfaction in finding that the clergjrman was from Hereford. We thought he would recom- mend Anie as daily governess to visitors, and that Sarah would be a comfortable landlady. It has answered very well; Eose deserves her name far more than when we brought her here, and it is wonderful how much better I have been since doctors have become a mere luxury." " Do you, can you really mean that you are supporting yourselves ?" " AU but twentjy-five pounds a year, from a legacy to us, MILITARY SOCIETY. 79 that Mr. Beauchamp would not let them touch. But it has been most remarkable, Colin," she said, with the dew in her eyes, " how we have never wanted our daily bread, and how happy we have been ! If it had not been for Edward, this would in many ways have been our happiest time. Since the old days the little frets have told less, and Ailie has been infinitely happier and brighter since she has had to work instead of only to watch me. Ah, Colin, must I not own to having been happy? Indeed it was very much because peace had come when the suspense had sunk into belief that I might think of you as , where you would not be grieved by the sight of what I am now " As she spoke, a knock, not at the house, but at the room- door, made them both start, and impel their chairs to a more ordinary distance, just as Eachel Curtis made her entrance, extremely amazed to find, not Mr. Touchett, but a much greater foe and rival in that unexpected quarter. Ermine, the least disconcerted, was the first to speak. "You are surprised to find a visitor here," she said, " and indeed only now, did we find out that ' our military secretary,' as your little cousins say, was our dear old squire's nephew." There was a ring of gladness in the usually patient voice that struck even Eachel, though she was usually too eager to be observant, but she was still unready with talk for the occasion, and Ermine continued : " We had heard so much of the Major before-hand, that we had a sort of Jupiter-like expectation of the coming man. I am not sure that I shall not go on expecting a mythic major ! " Eachel, never understanding playfulness, thought this both audacious and unnecessary, and if it had come from any one else, would have administered a snub, but she felt the invalid sacred from her weapons. " Have you ever seen the boys V asked Colonel Keith. " I am rather proud of Conrade, my pupil j he is so chivabous towards his mother." " Alison has brought down a division or two to show me. How much alike they are." " Exactly alike, and excessively unruly and unmanageable," said Eachel. " I pity your sister." " More unmanageable in appearance than in reality," said the colonel : " there's always a little trial of strength against the hand over them, and they yield when they find it is reaUy a hand. They were wonderfully good and considerate when it was an object to keep the house quiet." 80 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. Racliel would not encourage liini to talk of Lady Temple, so slie turned to Ermine on the business that had brought her, collecting and adapting old clothes for emigrants. — It was not exactly gentlemen's pastime, and Ermine tried to put it aside and converse, but Eachel never permitted any petty consideration to interfere with a useful design, and as there was a press of time for the things, she felt herself justified in driving the intruder off the field and out- staying him. She succeeded ; he recollected the desire of the boys that he should take them to inspect the pony at the " tfolly Mariner," and took leave with — " I shall see you to-morrow." " You knew him aU the time ! " exclaimed Eachel, pausing in her unfolding of the Master Temples' ship wardrobe. " Why did you not say so ?" "We did not know his name. He was always the 'Major.'" " Who, and what is he 1 " demanded Eachel, as she knelt before her victim, fixing those great prominent eyes, so like those of Eed Eiding Hood's grandmother, that Ermine involuntarily gave a backward impulse to her wheeled chair, as she answered the readiest thing that occurred to her, — " He is brother to Lord Keith of Gowan-brae." " Oh," said Eachel, kneeling on meditatively, " that accounts for it. So much the worse. The staff is made up of idle honourables." " Quoth the ' Times !' " replied Ermine ; " but his appoint- ment began on account of a wound, and went on because of his usefulness " " Wounded ! I don't Hke wounded heroes," said Eachel ; "people make such a fuss with them that they always get spoilt." " This was nine years ago, so you may forget it if you like," said Ermine, diversion suppressing displeasure. " And what is your opinion of him 1 " said Eachel, edging forward on her knees, so as to bring her inquisitorial eyes to bear more fully. " I had not seen him for twelve years," said Ermine, rather faintly, " He must have had a formed character when you saw him last. The twelve years before five-and-forty don't alter the nature." " Eive-and-forty ! Illness and climate have told; but I did not think it was so much. He is only thirty-six " MILITARY SOCIETY. 81 " That is not wliat I care about," said Eacliel ; " you are botli of you so cautious that you tell me what amounts to nothing ! You should consider how important it is to me to know something about the person in whose power my cousin's affairs are left." " Have you not sufficient guarantee in the very fact of her husband's confidence 1 " " I don't know. A simple-hearted old soldier always means a very foolish old man." " "Witness the ISTewcomes," said Ermine, who, besides her usual amusement in tracing Eachel's dicta to their source, could only keep in her indignation by laughing. " General observation," said Eachel, not to be turned from her purpose. " I am not foolishly suspicious, but it is not pleasant to see great influence and intimacy without some knowledge of the person exercising it." " I think," said Ermine, bringing herself with difficulty to answer quietly, " that you can hardly understand the terms they are on without having seen how much a staff officer becomes one of the family." " I suppose much must be allowed for the frivolity and narrowness of a military set in a colony. Imagine my one attempt at rational conversation last night. Asking his views on female emigration, absolutely he had none at all ; he and Eanny only went off upon a nursemaid married to a sergeant !" " Perhaps the bearings of the question would hardly suit mixed company." " To be sure there was a conceited young officer there ; for as ill luck will have it, my uncle's old regiment is quartered at Avoncester, and I suppose they will all be coming after Fanny. It is well they are no nearer, and as this colonel says he is going to Belfast in a day or two, there will not be much provocation to them to come here. Now this great event of the Major's coming is over, we will try to put Fanny upon a definite system, and I look to you and your sister as a great assistance to me, in counteracting the follies and nonsenses that her situation naturally exposes her to. I have been writing a little sketch of the dangers of indecision, that I thought of sending to the 'Traveller.' It would strike Fanny to see there what I so often teU her ; but I can't get an answer about my paper on ' Curatocult,' as you made me calllt.'' "Did I?" 52 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. • " You said the other word was of two languages. I can't think why they don't insert it ; but in the meantime I will bring down my * Human Eeeds,' and show them to you. I have only an hour's work on them ; so I'll come to-morrow afternoon." " I think Colonel Keith talked of calling again — thank you," suggested Ermine in despair. " Ah, yes ; one does not want to be liable to interrup- tions in the most interesting part. Wh.en he is gone to Belfast " "Yes, when he is gone to Belfast!" repeated Ermine, with an uresistible gleam of mirth about her lips and eyes, and at that moment Alison made her appearance^ The looks of the sisters met, and read one another so far as ■ to know that the meeting was over, and for the rest they endured, while Eachel remained, little imagining the trial her presence had been to Alison's burning heart-sick anxiety and doubt. How could it be well? Let him be loveable, let him be constant, that only rendered Ermine's condition the more pitiable; and the shining glance of her eyes was almost more than Alison could bear. So happy as the sisters had been together, so absolutely united, it did seem hard to dis- turb that calm life with hopes and agitations that must needs be futUe ; and Alison, whose whole life and soul were in her sister, could not without a pang see that sister's heart belong- ing to another, and not for hopeful joy, but pain and grief. The yearning of jealousy was sternly reproved and forced down, and told that Ermine had long been Colin Keith's, that the perpetrator of the evil had the least right of any one to murmur that her own monopoly of her sister was interfered with ; that she was selfish, unkind, envious ; that she had only to hate herseK and pray for strength to bear the punishment, without alloying Ermine's happiness while it lasted. How it could be so bright Alison knew not, but so it was she recognised by every tone of the voice, by every smile on the lip, by even the upright vigour with which Ermine sat in her chair and undertook Eachel's tasks of needlework. And yet, when the visitor rose at last to go, Alison was almost unwilling to be alone with hei sister, and have that power of sympathy put to the test by those clear eyes that were wont to see her through and through. She went with Eachel to the door, and stood taking a last instruction, hear- ing it not at all, but answering, and relieved by the delay, hardly knowing whether to be glad or not that when she MILITARY SOCIETY. 83 returned Rose was leaning on the arm of her aunt's chair with he. most eager face. But Eose was to be no protec« tion, for what was passing between her and her aunt ? " auntie, I am so glad he is coming back. He is just like the ^picture you drew of Eobert Bruce for me. And he is so kind. I never saw any gentleman speak to you in such a nice soft voice." Alison had no difficulty in smiling as Ermine stroked the child's hair, kissed her, and looked up with an arch, blushing, glittering face that could not have been brighter those long twelve years ago. And then Eose turned round, impatient to tell her other aunt her story. " aunt Ailie, we have had such a gentle- man here, with a great brown beard like a picture. And he is papa's old friend, and kissed me because I am papa's little girl, and I do like him so very much. I went where I could look at him in the garden, when you sent me out, aunt Ermine." "You did, you monkey?" said Ermine, laughing, and blushing again. " What will you do if I send you out next time ? 'No, I won't then, my dear, for all the time, I should like you to see him and know him." " Only, if you want to talk of anything very particular," observed Eose. " I don't think I need ask many questions," said Alison, smiling being happily made very easy to her. " Dear Ermine, I see you are perfectly satisfied " " Ailie, that is no word for it ! Not only himself, but to find him loving Eose for her father's sake, undoubting of him through all. AiKe, the thankfulness of it is more than one can bear." " And he is the same !" said Alison. " The same — no, not the same. It is more, better, or I am able to feel it more. It was just like the morrow of the day he walked down the lane with me and gathered honey- suckles, only the night between has been a very, very strange time." ** I hope the interruption did not come very soon." " I thought it was directly, but it could not have been so soon, since you are come home. We had just had time to tell what we most wanted to know, and I know a little more of what he is. I feel as if it were not only Colin again, but ten times Colin. '0 Ailie, it must be a Littie bit Hke the meetings in heaven !" g2 84 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. " I "believe it is so witli you," said Alison, scarcely able to keep the tears from her eyes, " After sometimes not daring to dwell on him, and then only venturing because I thought he must be dead, to have him back again with the same looks, only deeper — to find that he clung' to those weeks so long ago, and, above all, that there was not one cloud, one doubt about the troubles — Oh, it is too, too much." Ermine lent back with clasped hands. She was like on© weary with happiness, and fain to rest in the sense of newly- won peace. She said little more that evening, and if spoken to, seemed like one wakened out of a dream, so that more than once she laughed at herself, begged her sister's pardon, and said that it seemed to her that she could not hear any- thing for the one glad voice that rang in her ear, " Colin is come home." That was sufficient for her, no need for any other sympathy, felt Alison, with another of those pangs crushed down. Then wonder came — ^whether Ermine could really contemplate the future, or if it were absolutely lost in the present 1 Colonel Keith went back to be seized by Conrade and Erancis, and walked off to the pony inspection, the two boys, on either side of him, communicating to him the great grievance of living in a poky place Kke this, where nobody had ever been in the army, nor had a bit of sense, and Aunt Eachel was always bothering, and trying to make mamma think that Con told stories. " I don't mind that," said Conrade, stoutly ; " let her try !" " Oh, but she wanted mamma to shut you up," added Francis. " Well, and mamma knows better," said Conrade, " and it made her leave off teaching me, so it was lucky. But I don't mind that; only don't you see. Colonel, they don't know how to treat mamma ! They go and bully her, and treat her like — ^lilve a subaltern, till I hate the very sight of it." " My boy," said the Colonel, who had been giving only half attention ; " you must make up your mind to your mother not being at the head of everything, as she used to be in your father's time. She will always be respected, but you must look to youi^self as you grow up to make a position for her!" " I wish I was gro^vn up ! " sighed Conrade j " how I would give it to Aunt Eachel ! But why must we live here to have her plaguing us ?" MILITARY SOCIETY. 85 Questions that tlie Colonel was glad to turn aside by- means of tlie ponies, and by a suggestion that, if a very quiet one were found, and if Conrade would be very care- ful, mamma might, perhaps, go out riding with them. The motion was so transcendant that, no sooner had the ponies been seen, than the boys raced home, and had communicated it at the top of their voices to mamma long before their friend made his appearance. Lady Temple was quite startled at the idea. " Dear papa," as she always called her husband, " had wished her to ride, but she had seldom done so, and now " The tears came into her eyes. " I think you might," said the Colonel, gently ; " I could find you a quiet animal, and to have you with Conrade would be such a protection to him," he added, as the boys !aad rushed out of the room. " Yes ; perhaps, dear boy. But I could not begin alone ; it is so long since I rode. Perhaps when you come back from Ireland." " I am not going to Ireland." "I thought you said " said Fanny looking up sur- prised ; " I am very glad ! But if you wished to go, pray don't think about us ! I shall learn to manage in time, and I cannot bear to detain you." " You do not detain me," he said, sitting down by her \ " I have found what I was going in search of, and through your means." "What — ^what do you mean? You were going to see Miss Williams this afternoon, I thought ! " "Yes, and it was she whom I was seeking." He paused, and added slowly, as if merely for the sake of dwelling on the words, " I have found her ! " " Miss Williams ! " said Fanny, with perplexed looks. " Miss Williams ! — my Ermine whom I had not seen since the day after her accident, when we parted as on her death- bed ! " " That sister ! Oh, poor thing, I am so glad ! But I am sorry ! " cried the much confused Fanny, in a breath ; " were not you very much shocked ? " " I had never hoped to see her face in all its brightness again," he said. "Twelve years ! It is twelve years that she has suffered, and of late she has been brought to this grievous state of poverty, and yet the spirit is as brave and cheerful as ever ! It looks out of the beautiful eyes — ^more beautiful than when I first saw them, — I could see and think of nothing else ! " 86 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. " Twelve years ! " repeated Fanny ; " is it so long since you saw her 1 " " Almost since I heard of her ! She was like a daughter to my aunt at Beauchamp, and her brother was my school- fellow. For one summer, when I was quartered at Hertford, I was with her constantly, but my family would not even hear of the indefinite engagement that was all we could have looked to, and made me exchange into the — th." " Ah ! that was the way we came to have you ! I must tell you, dear Sir Stephen always guessed. Once when he had quite vexed poor mamma by preventing her from joking you in her way about young ladies, he told me that once, when he was young, he had liked some one who died or was married, I don't quite know which, and he thought it was the same with you, from something that happened when you withdrew your application for leave after your wound." " Yes ! it was a letter from home, implying that my return would be accepted as a sign that I gave her up. So that was an additional instance of the exceeding kindness that I always received." And there was a pause, both much affected by the thought of the good old man's ever ready consideration. At last Fanny said, " I am sure it was well for us ! What would he have done without you ? — and," she added, " do you really mean that you never heard of her all these years 1 " " Never after my aunt's death, except just after we went to Melbourne, when I heard in general terms of the ruin of the family and the false imputation on their brother." " Ah ! I remember that you did say something about going home, and Sir Stephen was distressed, and mamma and I persuaded you because we saw he would have missed you so much, and mamma was quite hurt at your thinking of going. But if you had only told him your reason, he would never have thought of standing in your way." " I know he would not, but I saw he could hardly find any one else just then who knew his ways so weU. Besides, there was little use in going home till I had my promotion, and could offer her a home ; and I had no notion how utter the ruin was, or that she had lost so much. So little did I imagine their straits that, but for Alison's look, I should hardly have inquired even on hearing her name." " How very curious — how strangely things come round ! '* said Fanny ; then with a start of dismay, " but what shall I do 1 Pray, tell me what you would like. If I might only MILITARY SOCIETY. 87 keep her a little while till I can find some one else, though no one will ever he so nice ; hut indeed I would not for a moment, if you had rather not." " Why so ? Alison is very happy with you, and there can be no reason against her going on." " Oh ! " cried Lady Temple, with an odd sound of satis- faction, doubt, and surprise. " but I thought you would not like it." " I should like, of course, to set them all at ease ; but as I can do no more than make a home for Ermine and her niece, I can only rejoice that Alison is with you." " But your brother ! " "If he does not like it, he must take the consequence of the atter separation he made my father insist on," said the Colonel sternly. " For my own part, I only esteem both sisters the more, if that were possible, for what they have done for themselves." " Oh ! that is what Eachel would like ! She is so fond of the sick — I mean of your — Miss "Williams. I suppose I may not tell her yet" " I^ot yet, if you please. I have scarcely had time as yet to know what Ermine wishes ; but I could not help telling you." " Thank you — I am so glad," she said, with sweet earnest- ness, holding out her hand in congratulation. " When may I go to her ] I should like for her to come and stay here. Do you think she would ?" " Thank you, I will see. I know how kind you would be — ^indeed, have already been to her." " And I am so thaiikful that I may keep Miss Williams ! The dear boys never were so good. And perhaps she may stay tin. baby is grown up. Oh ! how long it will be first ! " " She could not have a kinder friend," said the Colonel, smiling, and looking at his watch. " Oh, is it time to dress ? It is very kind of my dear aunt ; but I do wish we could have stayed at home to-nigh u. It is so dull for the boys when I dine out, and I had so much to ask you. One thing was about that poor little Bessie Keith. Don't you tlunk I might ask her down here, to be near her brother ^ " " It would be a very kind thing in you, and very good for her, but you must be prepared for rather a gay young lady." " Oh, but she would not mind my not going out. She would ha re Alick, you know, and all the boys to amuse her ; 88 THJi CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. but, if you think it would be tiresome for her, and that she would not be happy, I should be very sorry to have her, poor chnd." " I was not afraid for her," said Colonel Keith, smiling, " but of her being rather too much for you." " Eachel is not too much* for me," said Fanny, " and she and Grace will entertain Bessie, and take her out. But I will talk to Alick. He spoke of coming to-morrow. And don't you think I might ask Colonel and Mrs. Hammond to spend a day 1 They would so like the sea for the children." " Certainly." " Then perhaps you would write — oh, I forgot," colouring up, " I never can forget the old days ; it seems as if you were on the staff still." " I always am on yours, and always hope to be," he said, smiling, " though I am afraid I can't write your note to the Hammonds for you." " But you won't go away," she said. " I know your time will be taken up, and you must not let me or the boys be troublesome ; but to have you here makes me so much less lost and lonely. And I shall have such a friend in your Erminia. Is that her name 1 "Ermine, an old Welsh name, the softest I ever heard. Indeed it is dressing time," added Colonel Keith, and both moved away with the startled precision of members of a punctual military household, still feeling themselves account- able to somebody. CHAPTEE VI. ermine's resolution. *• For as his hand the weather steers, So thrive I best 'twixt joys and tears, And all the year have some green ears." — H. Vafghan. Alison had not been wrong in her presentiment that the second interview would be more tr3dng than the first. The exceeding brightness and animation of Ermine's countenance, her speaking eyes, unchanged complexion, and lively manner ' — above all, the restoration of her real substantial self-— had 80 sufficed and engrossed Colin Keith in the gladness of their * ermine's resolution. 89 first meeting that he had failed to comprehend her helpless state ; and already knowing her to he an invalid, not entirely recovered from her accident, he was only agreeably surprised to see the beauty of face he had loved so long, retaining all its vivacity of expression. And when he met Alison the next morning with a cordial brotherly greeting and inquiry for her sister, her " Very well," and " not at all the worse for the excitement," were so hearty and ready that he could not have guessed that " weU with Ermine meant something rather relative than positive. Alison brought him a playful message from her, that since he was not going to Belfast, she should meet him -vvith a freer conscience if he would first give her time for Eose's lessons, and, as he said, he had lived long enough with Messrs. Conrade and Co. to acknowledge the wisdom of the message. But Eose had not long been at leisure to look out for him before he rtiade his appearance, and walked in by right, as one at home ; and sitting down in his yesterday's place, took the little maiden on his knee, and began to talk to her about the lessons he had been told to wait for. What would she have done without them ? He knew some people who never could leave the house quiet enough to hear one's-self speak if they were deprived of lessons. Was that the way with her 1 Eose laughed like a creature, her aunt said, " to whom the notion of noise at play was something strange and ridiculous ; necessity has reduced her to Jacqueline Pascal's system with her pensiomiairesj who were allowed to play one by one without any noise." "But I don't play aU alone," said Eose; "I play -with you. Aunt Ermine, and with Yioletta." And Yioletta speedily had the honour of an introduction, very solemnly gone through, ia due form ; Ermine, in the languid sportiveness of enjoyment of his presence and his kindness to the child, inciting Eose to present Miss Violetta Williams to Colonel Keith, an tatroduction that he returned with a grand military salute, at the same time as he shook the doU's inseparable fingers. J' Well, Miss Yioletta, and Miss Eose, when you come to live with me, I shall hope for the pleasure of teaching you to make a noise." " What does he mean ? " said Eose, turning round amazed upon her aunt. " I am afraid he does not quite know," said Ermine, sadly. "iN'ay, Ermine," said he, turning from the child, and bending over her, " you are the last who should say that. Have I not told you that there is nothing now in our way — 90 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. no one with a rigM to object, and means enough, for all we should wish, including her 1 What is the matter ? " he added, startled by her look. " Ah, CoHn ! I thought you knew " " Knew what, Ermine 1 " with his hrows drawn together. " Knew — ^what I am," she said ; " knew the impossihihty. What, they have not told you ? I thought I was the invalid, the cripple, with every one." "I knew you had suffered cruelly; I knew you were lame," he said, breathlessly ; " but — ^what " " It is more than lame," she said. " I should be better off if the fiction of the Queens of Spain were truth with me. I could not move from this chair without help. Oh, Colin ! poor Cohn ! it was very cruel not to have prepared you for this ! " she added, as he gazed at her in grief and dismay, and made a vain attempt to find the voice that would not come. "Yes, indeed it is so," she said; "the explosion, rather than the fire, did mischief below the knee that poor nature could not repair, and I can but just stand, and cannot walk at all. " Has anything been done — advice 1 " he managed to utter. " Advice upon advice, so that I felt it at last almost a compensation to be out of the way of the doctors. No, nothing more can be done ; and now that one is used to it, the snail is very comfortable in its shell. But I wish you could have known it sooner ! " she added, seeing him shade his brow with his hand, overwhelmed. " What you must have suffered ! " he murmured. " That is all over long ago ; every year has left that further behind, and made me more content. Dear Colin, for me there is nothing to grieve." He could not control himself, rose up, made a long stride, and passed through the open window into the garden. " Oh, if I could only follow him," gasped Ermine, joining her hands and looking up. " Is it because you can't walk 1 " said Rose, somewhat frightened, and for the first time beginning to comprehend that her joyous-tempered aunt could be a subject for pity. " Oh ! this was what I feared ! " sighed Ermine. " Oh, give us strength to go through with it." Then becoming awake to the child's presence — " A little water, if you please, my dear." Then, more composedly, " Don't be frightened, my Eose ; you did not know it was such a shock to find me so laid by " ermine's resolution. 91 " He is in the garden walking up and down," said Eose. " May I go and tell him how much merrier you always are than Aunt Ailie ? " Poor Ermine felt anything but merry just then, hut she had some experience of Eose's powers of soothing, and signed assent. So in another second Colonel Keith was met in the hasty, agonized walk hy which he was endeavouring to work off his agitation, and the slender child looked wistfully up at him from dark depths of haK understanding eyes — " Please, please don't he so very sorry," she said. " Aunt Ermine does not like it. She never is sorry for herself " " Have I shaken her — distressed her?" he asked, anxiously. " She doesn't like you to he sorry," said Eose, looking up. " And, indeed, she does not mind it j she is such a merry aunt ! Please, come in again, and see how happy we always are—" The last words were spoken so near the window that Ermine caught them, and said, "Yes, come in, Colin, and learn not to grieve for me, or you will make me repent of my selfish gladness yesterday." " ITot grieve ! " he exclaimed, " when I think of the beautiful vigorous being that used to be the life of the place " and he would have said more but for a deprecating sign of the hand. " WeU," she said, half smiling, " it is a pity to think even of a crushed butterfly ; but indeed, Colin, if you can bear to listen to me, I think I can show you that it all has been a blessing even by sight, as well as, of course, by faith. Only remember the unsatisfactoriness of our condition — ^the never seeing or hearing from one another after that day when Mr. Beauchamp came down on us. Did not the accident win for us a parting that was much better to remember than that state of things ? Oh, the pining, weary feel as if all the world had closed on me ! I do assure you it was much worse than anything that came after the burn. Yes, if I had been well and doing like others, I know I should have fretted and wearied, pined myself ill perhaps, whereas I could always tell myself that every year of your absence might be a step towards your finding me well ; and when I was forced to give up that hope for myself, why. then, Colin, the never seeing your name made me think you would never be disap- pointed and grieved as you are now. It is very merciful the way that physical trials help one through those of the mind." B9i THE CLEVEB WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. " I never knew," said tlie Colonel ; " aU my aunt's latter letters spoke of your slow improvement beyond hope." " True, in lier time, I had not reached the point where I stopped. The last time I saw her I was stiU upstairs ; and, indeed, I did not haK know what I could do till I tried." "Yes," said he, brightened by that buoyant look so re- markable in her face ; " and you wiU yet do more, Ermine. You have convinced me that we shall be all the happier together- " But that was not what I meant to^convince you of '* she said, faintly. " Not what you meant, perhaps ; but what it did convince me was, that you — as you are, my Ermine — are ten thousand times more to me than even as the beautiful girl, and that there never can be a happier pair than we sh^ be when I am your hands and feet." Ermine sat up, and rallied all her forces, choked back the sweUing of her throat, and said, " Dear Colin, it cannot be ! I trusted you were understanding that when I told you how it was with me." He could not speak from consternation. " ITo," she said ; " it would be wrong in me to think of it for an instant. That you should have done so, shows Colin, I cannot talk of it ; but it would be as ungenerous in me to consent, as it is noble of you to propose it." " It is no such thing," he answered ; "it has been the one object and thought of my Hfe, the only hope I have had aU these years." " Exactly so," she said, struggling again to speak firmly ; " and that is the very thing. You kept your allegiance to the bright, tall, walking, active girl, and it would be a shame in the scorched cripple to claim it." "Don't call yourself names. Have I not told you that you are more than the same ? " " You do not know. You are pleased because my face is not burnt, nor gTown much older, and becavise I can talk and laugh in the same voice stiU." (Oh, how it quivered !) " But it would be a wicked mockery in me to pretend to be the wife you want. Yes, I know you think you do, but that is just because my looks are so deceitful, and you have kept on thinking about me ; but you must make a fresh beginning." " You can tell me that," he said, indignantly. " Because it is not new to me," she said ; " the quarter of an hour you stood by me, with that deadly cahn in your ermine's resolution. 93 wHte face, was the real farewell to tlie young liopeful dream of that bright suminer. I wish it was as calm now." " I believed you dying then," answered he. " Do not make me thmk it would have been better for you if I had been," she said, imploringly. " It was as much the end, and I knew it from the time my recovery stopped short. I would have let you know if I could, and then you would not have been so much shocked." " So as to cut me off from you entirely 1 " " No, indeed. The thought of seeing you again was too — too overwhelming to be indulged in j knowing, as I did, that if you were the same to me, it must be at this sad cost to you," and her eyes filled with tears. " It is you who make it so, Ermine." " No ; it is the providence that has set me aside from the active work of life. Pray do not go on, Colin, it is only giving us both useless pain. You do not know what it costs me to deny you, and I feel that I must. I know you are only acting on the impulse of generosity. Yes, I will say so, though you think it is to please yourself," she added, mth.one of those smiles that nothing could drive far from her lips, and which made it infinitely harder to acquiesce in her denial. " I wiU make you thiak so in time," he said. " Then I might tell you, you had no right to please your- self," she answered, still with the same air of playfulness ; "you have got a brother, you know — and — ^yes, I hear you growl ; but if he is a poor old broken man out of health, it is the more reason you should not vex him, nor hamper yourself with a helpless commodity." " You are not taking the way to make me forget what my brother has done for us." " How do you know that he did not save me from being a strong-minded military lady 1 After aU, it was absui-d to expect people to look favourably on our lUiing for one another, and you know they could not be expected to know that there was real stuff in the affair. If there had not been, we should have thought so all the same, you know, and been quite as furious." He could not help smiling, recollecting fury that, in the course of these twelve years, he had seen evinced under eimilar circumstances by persons who had consoled them- selves before he had done pitying them. " Still," he said< gravely, "I think there was harshness." 94 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. " So do I, but not so mucL. as I thouglit at that time, and — oil, surely tliat is not Kachel Curtis !" I told lier I thought you would call." " Intolerable ! " he muttered between his teeth. " Is she always coming to bore you 1 " " She has been very kind, and my great enlivenment," said Ermine, " and she can't be expected to know how little we want her. Oh, there, the danger is averted ! She must have asked if you were here." " I was just thinking that she was the chief objection to Lady Temple's kind wish of having you at Myrtlewood." "Does Lady Temple know?" asked Ermine, blushing. " I could not keep it from one who has been so uniformly kind to me ; but I desired her not to let it go further till I should hear your wishes." " Yes, she has a right to know," said Ermine; "but please, not a word elsewhere." " And will you not come to stay with her 1 " " I ? Oh, no ; I am fit for no place but this. You don't half know how bad I am. When you have seen a little more of us, you will be quite convinced." " Well, at least, you give me leave to come here." "Leave? When it is a greater pleasure than I ever thought to have again; that is, while you understand that you said good-bye to the Ermine of Beauchamp Parsonage twelve years ago, and that the thing here is only a sort of ghost, most glad and grateful to be a friend — a sister." " So," he said, " those are to be the terms of my admis- sion." " The only possible ones." " I will consider them. I have not accepted them." " You wiU," she said. But she met a smile in return, implying that there might be a will as steadfast as her own, although the question might be waived for a time. Meantime, Kachel was as nearly hating Colonel Eeith as principle would allow, with " Human Eeeds," newly finished, burning in her pocket, " Military Society " fermenting in her brain, and " Curatocult " still unacknowledged. Had he not had quite time for any rational visit? Was he to devour Mackarel Lane as well as Myrtlewood 1 She was on her way to the latter house, meeting Grace as she went, and con- gratulatiag herself that he could not be in two places at once, whilst Grace secretly wondered how far she might ermine's resolution. 95 venture to build on Alison Williams's half confidence, and regretted tlie anxiety wasted by Eacbel and the mother; though, to be sure, that of Mrs. Curtis was less uncalled for than her daughter's, since it was only the fear of Fanny's not being sufficiently guarded against misconstructions. Eachel held up her hands in despair in the halL " Six officers' cards ! " she exclaimed. " !N'o, only six cards," said Grace ; " there are two of each." " That's enough," sighed Eachel ; " and look there," gazing tlirough the garden-door. " She is walking with the young puppy that dined here on Thursday, and they called Alick." "Do you remember," said Grace, " how she used to chatter about Alick, when she first came to us, at six years old. He was the child of one of the officers. Can this be the same 1 " " That's one of your ideas, Grace. Look, this youth could have been hardly bom when Fanny came to us. l^o ; he is only one of the idlers that military life has accustomed her to." Eather against Grace's feeling, Eachel drew her on, so as to come up with Lady Temple and her friend in the midst of their conversation, and they heard the last words — " Then you will give me dear Bessie's direction 1 " " Thank you, it wiU be the greatest kindness " " Oh, Grace, Eachel, is it you ? " exclaimed Fanny. " You have not met before, I think. Mr. Keith — Miss Curtis." Very young indeed were both face and figure, fair and pale, and though there was a moustache, it was so light and silky as to be scarcely visible ; the hair, too, was almost flaxen, and the whole complexion had a washed-out appear- ance. The eyes, indeed, were of the same peculiar deep blue as the Colonel's, but even, these were little seen under their heavy sleepy lids, and the long limbs had in every movement something of weight and slowness, the very sight of which fretted Eachel, and made her long to shake him. It appeared that he was come to spend the Sunday at Avonmouth, and Grace tried to extract the comfort for her mother that two gentlemen were better than one, and Fanny need not be on their minds for chaperonage for that day. A party of garden-chairs on the lawn invited repose, and there the ladies seated themselves ; Fanny laying down her heavy crape bonnet, and showing her pretty little delicate face, now much fresher and more roseate than when she arrived, though her wide-spreading black draperies gave a certain dignity to her slight figure, contrasting with the 96 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY, summer miislins of lier two cousins ; as did lier hot-houso plant fairness, witL. their firm, healthy glow of complexion ; her tender shrinking grace, with their upright vigour. The gentleman of the party leant back in a languid, easy posture, as though only half awake, and the whole was so quiet that Grace, missing the usual tumult of children, asked after them. " The boys have gone to their favourite cove under the plantation. They have a fort there, and Hubert told me he was to be a hero, and Miss WilKams a she-ro." " I would not encourage that description of sport," said Eachel, willing to fight a battle in order to avert maternal anecdotes of bojdsh sayings. " They like it so much," said Fanny, " and they learn so much now that they act all the battles they read about." " That is what I object to," said Eachel ; " it is accustom- ing them to confound heroism with pugnacity." " No, but Eachel dear, they do quarrel and fight among themselves much less now that this is all in play and good humour," pleaded Fanny. " Yes, that may be, but you are cultivating the dangerous instinct, although for a moment giving it a better direction." " Dangerous 1 Oh, Alick ! do you think it can be "? " said Fanny, less easily borne down with a supporter beside her. " According to the Peace Society," he answered, with a quiet air of courteous deference ; " perhaps you belong to it 1 " " No, indeed," answered Eachel, rather indignantly, " I think war the great purifier and ennobler of nations, when it is for a good and great cause ; but I think education ought to protest against confounding mere love of combat with heroism." " Query, the true meaning of the word 1 " he said, leaning back. " Reros, yes from the same root as the German herr" readily responded Eachel, " meaning no more than lord and master ; but there can be no doubt that the progress of ideas has linked with it a much nobler association." " Progress ! What, since the heroes were half divine ! " " Half divine in the esteem of a people who thought brute courage godlike. To us the word maintains its semi-divinity, and it should be our effort to associate it only Avith that which veritably has the god-like stamp." ; "And that is V "Doing more than one's duty," exclaimed Eachel, vdth a glistening eye. ermine's resolution. 97 " Very nncomforta'ble and superfluous, and not at all easy," he said, half shutting his already heavy eyes. *' Easy, no, that's the beauty and the glory " "Major Sherborne and Captain Lester in the drawing room, my lady," announced Coombe, who had looked infi- nitely cheered since this military influx. " You will come with me, Grace," said Fanny, rising. " I dare say you had rather not, Rachel, and it would be a pity to disturb you, Alick." " Thank you ; it would be decidedly more than my duty." *' I am quite sorry to go, you are so amusing," said Fanny ; " but I suppose you will have settled about heroism by the time we come out again, and will tell me what the boys ought to play at." Kachel's age was quite past the need of troubling herself at being left tete-ci-tete with a mere lad like this ; and, besides, it was an opportunity not to be neglected of giving a young carpet knight a lesson in true heroism. There was a pause after the other two had moved off. Eachel reflected for a few moments, and then, precipitated by the fear of her audience falling asleep, she exclaimed — " No words have been more basely misused than hero and heroine. The one is the mere fighting animal whose strength or fortune have borne him through some more than ordinary danger, the other is only the subject of an adventure, per- fectly irrespective of her conduct in it." *' Bathos attends all high words," he said, as she paused, chiefly to see whether he was awake, and not like her dumb playfellow of old. *' This is not their natural bathos but their misuse. They ought to be reserved for those who in any department have passed the limits to which the necessity of their position constrained them, and done acts of self-devotion for the good of others. I will give you an instance, and from your own profession, that you may see I am not prejudiced; besides, the hero of it is past praise or blame." Encouraged by seeing a little more of his eyes, she went on. "It was in the course of the siege of Delhi, a shell came into a tent where some sick and wounded were lying. There was one young officer among them who could move enough to have had a chance of escaping the explosion, but instead of that he took the shell up, its fuse burning as it was, and ran with it out of the tent, then hurled it to a distance. It exploded, and of course was his death, but the H 98 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. rest were saved, and I call that a deed of heroism far greater than monnting a hreach or leading a forlorn hope." " Killed, you say ] " inquired Mr. Keith, still in the same lethargic manner. " Oh yes, mortally wounded : carried hack to die among the men he had saved." "Jessie Cameron singing his dirge," mumhled this pro- voking individual, with something ahout the form of his cheek that heing taken hy Eachel for a derisive smile, made her exclaim vehemently, " You do not mean to undervalue an action like that in comparison with mere animal pugnacity in an advance." "More than one's duty was your test," he said. " And was not this more than duty 1 Ah ! I see yours is a spirit of depreciation, and I can only say I pity you." He took the trouble to lift himself up and make a little how of acknowledgment. Certainly he was worse than the Colonel ; hut Eachel, while mustering her powers for anni- hilating him, was annoyed hy all the party in the drawing- room coming forth to join them, the other officers rallying young Keith upon his luxurious station, and making it evi- dent that he was a proverb in the regiment for taking his ease. Chairs were brought out, and afternoon tea, and the callers sat down to wait lor Colonel Keith to come in ; Grace feeling obliged to stay to help Eanny entertain her visitors, and Eachel to protect her from their follies. One thing Grace began to perceive, that Lady Temple had in her'former world been a person of much more consideration than she was made here, and seeing the polite and deferential manner of these officers to her, could only wonder at her gentle content and submission in meeting with no particular attention from any- body, and meeldy allowing herself to be browbeaten by Rachel and lectured by her aunt. A lecture was brewing up for her indeed. Poor Mis. Curtis was very much concerned at the necessity, and only spurred up by a strong sense of duty to gi\?. . a hint — ^the study of which hint cost her a whole sleepless night and a very weary Sunday morning. She decided that her best course would be to drive to Myrtlewood rather early on her way to church, and take up Fanny, gaining a previous conference with her alone, if possible. " Yes, my dear," she said to Grace, " I must get it over before church, or it will make me so nervous all through the service." ^ And Grace, loving her mother beet, (Jw^i not suggest what ermine's resolution. 90 it might do to Fanny, hoping that the service might help her to digest the hint. IVIrs. Curtis's regular hahits were a good deal shocked to find Fanny still at the hreakfast table. The children had indeed long finished, and were scattered about the room, one of them standing between Colonel Keith's knees, repeat- ing a hymn ; but the younger guest was still in the midst of his meal, and o^'.vned in his usual cool manner that ho was to blame for the lateness, there was no resisting the charms of no morning parade. Her aunt's appearance made Fanny imagine it much later than it really was, and she hurried off the children to be dressed, and proceeded herself to her room, Mrs. Curtis following, and by way of preliminary, asking when Colonel Keith was going to Ireland. " Oh ! " said Fanny, blushing most suspiciously under her secret, " he is not going to Ireland now." " Indeed ! I quite understood he intended it." " Yes," faltered Fanny, " but he found that he need not." " Indeed ! " again ejaculated poor perplexed Mrs. Curtis j " but then, at least, he is going away soon." " He must go to Scotland by-and-by, but for the present he is going into lodgings. Do you know of any nice ones, dear aunt?" " TVeU, I suppose you can't help that ; you know, my dear, it would never do for him to stay in this house." " I never thought of that," said Fanny simply, the colour coming in a fresh glow. " 'NOf my dear, but you see you are very young and inex- perienced. I do not say you have done anything the least amiss, or that you ever would mean it, only you will forgive your old aunt for putting you on your guard." Fanny kissed her, but with eyes full of tears, and cheeks burning, then her candour drew from her — " It was he that thought of getting a lodging. I am glad I did not persuade him not ; but you know he always did live with us." " "With us. Yes, my poor dear, that is the difference, and you see he feels it. But, indeed, my dear child, though ho is a very good man, I dare say, and quite a g'^ntleman all but his beard, you had better not encourage You know people are so apt to make remarks." " I have no fear," said Fanny, turning away licr head, con- scious of the impossibility of showing her aunt her mistake. " Ah ! my dear, you don't guess how ready people are to h2 100 THE CLEVER WOSrAN OP THE FAMILY. talk ; and you woiild not like — ^for your cMldren's sake, for your husband's sake — tkat — that " "Pray, pray aunt," cried Fanny, ■ much, pained; "indeed yon don't know. My husband had confidence in him more than in any one. He told him to take care of me and look after the boys. I couldn't hold aloof from him without trajisgressing those wishes" — and the words were lost in a sob. " My dear, indeed I did not mean to distress you. You know, I dare say — I mean " hesitated poor Mrs. Curtis. " I know you must see a great deal of him. I only want you to take care — appearances are appearances, and if it was sa^'d you had aU these young ofiicers always coming about " " I don't think they will come. It was only just to call, and they have known me so long. It is all out of respect to my father and Sir Stephen," said Fanny, meekly as evei. " Indeed, I would not for the world do anything you did not like, dear aunt ; but there can't be any objection to my having Mrs. Hammond and the children to spend the day to-morrow." Mrs. Curtis did not like it ; she had an idea that all military ladies were dashing and vulgar, but she could not say there was any objection, so she went on to the head of poor Fanny's offending. " This young man, my dear, he seems to make himself very intimate." " Alick Keith ? Oh aunt ! " said Fanny, more surprised than by all the rest ; " don't you know about him ? His father and mother were our greatest friends always ; I used to play with him every day tUl I came to you. And then just as I married, poor Mrs. Keith died, and we had dear little Bessie with us till her father could send her home. And when poor Alick was so dreadfully wounded before Delhi, Sir Stephen sent him up in a litter to the hills for mamma and me to nurse. Mamma was so fond of him, she used to call him her son." " Yes, my dear, I dare say you have been very intimate ; but you see you are very young ; and his staying here " " I thought he would be so glad to come and be with the Colonel, who was his guardian and Bessie's," said Fanny ; " and I have promised to have Bessie to stay with me, she was such a dear little thing " " Well, my dear, it may be a good thing for you to have a young lady with you, and if he is to come over, her presence will explain it. Understand me, my dear, I am not at aU afraid of your — ^j'^our doing anything foolish, only to get ermine's resolution. lOT talked of is so dreadful in your situation, Ifia^ you can't Iiq too careful." " Yes, yes, thank you, dear aunt," murmared tiie drooping and subdued Fanny, aware how much the remonstrance must cost her aunt, and sure that she must be in fault in some way, if she could only see how. " Please, dear aunt, help me, for indeed I don't know how to manage — tell me how to be civil and kind to my dear husband's friends without — without " Her voice broke down, though she kept from tears as an unkindness to her aunt. In very fact, little as she knew it, she could not have defended herself better than by this humble question, throw- ing the whole guidance of her conduct upon her aunt. If she had been affronted, Mrs. Curtis could have been dis- pleased j but to be thus set to prescribe the right conduct, was at once mollifying and perplexing. " Well, well, my dear child, we all know you wish to do right ; you can judge best. I would not have you ungrateful or uncivil, only you know you are living very quietly, and intimacy — oh I my dear, I know your own feeling will direct you. Dear child ! you have taken what I said so kindly. And now let me see that dear little ^1." Eachel had not anticipated that the upshot of a remon- strance, even from her mother, would be that Fanny was to be directed by her own feeling ! That same feeling took Lady Temple to Mackarel Lane later in the day. She had told the Colonel her intention, and obtained Alison's assurance that Ermine's stay at Myrtlewood need not be impracticable, and armed with their consent, she made her timid tap at Miss Williams' door, and showed her sweet face within it. " May I come in ? Your sister and your little niece are gone for a walk. I told them I would come ! I did want to see you!" " Thank you," said Ermine, with a sweet smile, colouring cheek, yet grave eyes, and much taken by surprise at being seized by both hands, and kissed on each cheek. " Yes, you must let me," said her visitor, looking up with her pretty imploring gesture ; " you know I have known him so long, and he has been so good to me 1 " " Indeed it is very kind in you," said Ermine, fuUy feeling the force of the plea expressed in the winning young face and gentle eyes full of tears. 102 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. " Oh, no, 1 coiild not help it. I am only so sorry we kept hijii avay from -j^u when you wanted him so much ; but we did not kflo v\ , and he was Sir Stephen's right hand, and we none of us kuew what to do without him ; but if he had only told " " Thank you, oh, thank you ! " said Ermine, " but indeed it was better for him to be away." Even her wish to console that pleading little widow could not make her say that his coming would not have been good for her. " It has been such a pleasure to liear he had so kind and happy a home aU these years." " Oh, you cannot think how Sir Stephen loved and valued him. The one thing I always did wish was, that Conrade should grow up to be as much help and comfort to his father, and now he never can ! But," driving back a tear, " it wa& so hard that you should not have known how distinguished and useful and good he was all those years. Only now I shall have the pleasure of telling you," and she smiled. She was quite a different being when free from the unsynjpathizing influence which, without her understanding it, had kept her from dwelling on her dearest associations. " It wiU be a pleasure of pleasures," said Ermine, eagerly. " Then you will do me a favour, a very great favour," said Lady Temple, laying hold of her hand again, " if you and your sister and niece wiU come and stay with me." And as Ermine commenced her refusal, she went on in the same coaxing way, with a description of her plaas for Ermine's comfort, giving her two rooms on the ground floor, and assuring her of the absence of steps, the immunity from all teasing by the chil- dren, of the fidl consent of her sister, and the wishes of the Colonel; nay, when Ermine was still unpersuaded of the exceeding kindness it would be to herself. " You see I am terribly young, really,''' she said, *' though I have so many boys, and -my aunt thinks it awkward for me to have so many officers caUing, and I can't keep them away because they are my father's and Sir Stephen's old friends ; so pleasft do come and make it aU right ! " Ermine was driven so hard, and so entirely deprived of all excuse, that she had no alternative left but to come to the real motive. " I ought not," she said, "it is not good for him, so you must not press me, dear Lady Temple. You see it is best for him that nobody should ever know of what has been be- tween us." ermine's resolution. 103 ** What ! don't you mean 1 " exclaimed Fanny, break ing short off. " I cannot ! " said Ermine. " But he would like it. He wishes it as much as ever." "I know he does," said Ermine, with a troubled voice "but you see that is because he did not know what a wretched remnant I am, and he never has had time to think about any one else." " Oh no, no." " And it would be very unfair of me to take advantage of that, and give him such a thing as I am." " Oh dear, but that is very sad ! " cried Fanny, looking much startled. " But I am sure you must see that it is right." "It may be right," and out burst Fanny's ready tears; "but it is very, very hard and disagreeable, if you don't mind my saying so, when I know it is so good of you. And don't you mean to let him even see you, when he has been constant so long ? " " JSTo ; I see no reason for denying myself that ; indeed I believe it is better for him to grow used to me as I am, and be convinced of the impossibiLity." " Well then, why will you not come to me 1 " " Do you not see, in all your kindness, that my coming to you would make every one know the terms between us, while no one remarks his just coming to me here as an old friend 1 And if he were ever to turn his mind to any one else " "He will never do that, I am sure." " There is no knowing. He has never been, in his own estimation, disengaged from me," said Ermine ; " his brother is bent on his marrying, and he ought to be perfectly free to do so, and not under the disadvantage that any report of tliis affair would be to him." "Well, I am sure he never will," said Fanny, almost petulantly ; " I know I shall hate her, that's all." Ermine thought her own charity towards Mrs. Colin Keith much more dubious than Lady Temple's, but she continued — " At any rate you will be so very kind as not to let any one know of it. I am glad you do. I should not feel it right that you should not, but it is different with others." " Thank you. And if you will not come to me, you wiU let me come to you, won't you ? It will be so nice to come and talk him over with you. Perhaps I shaU. persuade you some of these days after aU. Only I must go now, for I 104 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. always give tlie cMldren their tea on Sunday.^ But please let your dear little niece come up to-morrow and play with tliem ; the Kttle Hammonds will be there, she is just their age." Ermine felt obliged to grant this at least, though she wa&' as doubtful of her shy Eose's happiness as of the expedience of the intimacy ; but there was no being ungracious to the gentle visitor, and no doubt Ermine felt rejoiced and elevated. She did not need fresh assurances of CoHn's constancy, but the affectionate sister-Kke congratulations of this loving, winning creature, showed how real and in eai'nest his inten- tions were. And then Lady Temple's grateful esteem for him being, as it was, the reflection of her husband's, was no small testimony to his merits. "Pretty creature!" said Ermine to herself; "really if it did come to that, I could spare him to her better than to any one else. She has some notion how to value him." Alison and Eose had, in the meantime, been joined by Colonel Keith and the boys, whom Alick had early deserted in favour of a sunny sandy nook. The Colonel's purpose was hard on poor Alison ; it was to obtain her opinion of her sister's decision, and the likelihood of persistence in it. It was not, perhaps, bad for either that they conversed under difficulties, the boys continually coming back to them from excursions on the rocks, and Kose holding her aunt's hand aU the time ; but to be sure Eose had heard nearly aU the Colonel's affairs, and somehow mixed him up with Henry of Cranstoun. Very tenderly towards Alison herself did Colia Keith speak. It was the first time they had ever been brought into close contact, and she had quite to learn to know him. She had regarded his return as probably a misfortune, but it was no longer possible to do so when she heard his warm and con- siderate way of speaking of her sister, and saw him only de- sirous of learning what was most for her real happiness. Nay, he even made a convert of Alison herself ! She did believe that would Ermine but think it right to (^>onsent, she would be happy and safe in the care of one who knew so well how to love her. Terrible as the wrench would be to Alison herself, she thought he deserved her sister, and that she would be as happy with him as earth could make her. But she did not believe Ermine would ever accept him. She knew the strong, unvarying resolution by which her sister had always held td . what she thought right, and did not conceive that it would waver. The acquiescence in his visits, and the undisguised ermine's resolution. - 105 exultant pleasure in Ms society, were evidences to Alison not of wavering or relenting, but of confidence in Ermine's own sense of impossibility. She durst not give him any hope, though she owned that he merited success. " Did she think his visits bad for her sister 1 " he then asked in the unselfish- ness that pleaded so strongly for him. "No, certainly not," she answered eagerly, then made a little hesitation that made liim ask further. "My only fear," she said candidly, "is, that if this is pressed much on her, and she has to struggle with you and herself too, it may hurt her health. Trouble teUs not on her cheerfulness, but on her nerves." " Thank you," he said, " I will refrain." Alison was much happier than she had been since the first apprehension of his return. The first pang at seeing Ermine's heart another's property had been subdued ; the present state of affairs was indefinitely prolonged, and she not only felt trust in Colin Keith's consideration for her sister, but she knew, that an act of oblivion was past on her perpetration of the injury. She was right. His original pitying repugnance to a mere unknown child could not be carried on to the grave, saddened woman devoted to her sister; and in the friendly brotherly tone of that interview, each understood the- other. And when Alison came home and said, "I have been walking with Colin," her look made Ermine very happy. '* And learning to know him." " Learning to sympathize with him. Ermine," with steady eyes and voice. " You are hard on him." " Kow, Ailie," said Ermine, " once for all, he is not to set you on me, as he has done with Lady Temple. The more he persuades me, the bettei I know that to listen would be an abuse of his constancy. It would set him wrong with his brother, and, as dear Edward's affairs stand, we have no right to carry the supposed disgrace into a family that would believe it, though he does not. If I were ever so well, I should not think it right to marry. I shall not shun the sight of him ; it is delightful to me, and a less painful cure to him than sending him away would be. It is in the nature of things that he should cool into a friendly kindly feeling, and I shall try to bear it. Or if he does marry, it will be all right I suppose — " but her voice faltered, and she gave a sort of broken laugh. " There," she said, with a recovered flash of liveliness, "there's my resolution, to do what I Hke more 106 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. than anything in the world as long as I can ; and when it is over I shall be helped to do without it ! " " I can't believe " broke out Alison. " Kot in your heart, but in your reason," said Ermine, endeavouring to smile. "He will hover about here, and always be kind, loving, considerate; but a time will come that he will want the home happiness I cannot give. Then he will not wear out his affection on the impossible literary cripple, but begin over again, and be happy. And, Alison, if your love for me is of the sound, strong sort I know it is, you will help me through with it, and never say one word to make all this less easy and obvious to him." CHAPTEE VII. WAITING FOR ROSE. •* Not envy, sure ! for if you gave me Leave to take or to refuse In earnest, do you think I'd choose That sort of new love to enslave me? "—K. Browning. So, instead of going to Belfast, here was Colonel Keith actually taking a lodging and settling himself into it ; nay, even going over to Avoncester on a horse-buying expedition, not merely for the Temples, but for himseK. This time Eachel did think herself sure of Miss Williams' ear in peace, and came down on her with two fat manuscripts upon Human Eeeds and Military Society, preluding, however, by bitter complaints of the " Traveller " for never having vouchsafed her an answer, nor having even restored " Cura- tocult," though she had written three times, and sent . a directed envelope and stamps for the purpose. The paper must be ruined by so discourteous an editor, indeed she had not been nearly so much interested as usual by the last few numbers. If only she could get her paper back, she should try the " Englishwoman's Hobby-horse," or some other paper of more progress than that " Traveller." " Is it not very hard to feel one's seK shut out from the main stream of the work of the world when one's heart is burning ?•" " I think you overrate the satisfaction." WAITING FOR HOSE. 107 " You can't tell ! You are contented with that sort of home peaceful sunshine that I know suffices many. Even intellectual as you are, you can't tell what it is to feel power \vithin, to strain at the leash, and see others in tho race." " I was thinking whether you could not make an accept- ahle paper on the lace system, which you really know so thoroughly." " The fact is," said Eachel, " it is much more difficult to describe from one's own observation than from other sources." " But rather more original," said Ermine, quite overcome by the naivete of the confession. " I don't see that," said Rachel. " It is abstract reasoning from given facts that I aim at, as you will understand when you have heard my * Human Eeeds,' and my other — dear me, there's your door bell. I thought that Colonel was gone for the day." ** There are other people in the world besides the Colonel," Ermine began to say, though she hardly felt as if there were, and at any rate a sense of rescue crossed her. The persons admitted took them equally by surprise, being Conrad© Temple and Mr. Keith. " I thought," said Eachel, as she gave her unwilling hand to the latter, " that you would have been at Avoncester to-day." " I always get out of the w^ay of horse-dealing. I know no greater bore," he answered. ** Mamma sent me down," Conrade was explaining; "Mr. Keith's uncle found out that he knew Miss Williams — ^no, that's not it, Miss Williams' uncle found out that Mr. Keith preached a sermon, or something of that sort, so mamma sent me down to show him the way to call upon her ; but I need not stay now, need 11" "After that elegant introduction and lucid explanation, I thiuk you may be excused," returned Alick Keith. The boy shook Ermine's hand with his soldierly grace, but rather spoilt the effect thereof by his aside, " I wanted tG see the toad and the pictures our Miss Williams told me about, but I'll come another time;" and the wink of his black eyes, and significant shrug of his shoulders at Eachel, were irresistible. They aU laughed, even Eachel herself, as Ermine, seeing it would be worse to ignore the demonstration, said, " The elements of aunt and boy do not always work together." 108 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. " No," said JRachel ; " I have never been forgiven for being the first 'person who tried to keep those boys iu order." "And now," said Ermine, turning to her other visitor, "perhaps I may discover which of us, or of our uncles, preached a sermon." " Mine, I suspect," returned Mr. Keith. " Your sister and I mado out at luncheon that you had laiown my uncle, Mr. Clare, of Eishopsworthy." " Mr. Clare ! Oh yes," cried Ermine eagerly ; " he took the duty for one of our curates once for a long vacation. Did you ever hear him speak of Beauchamp 1 " " Yes, often ; and of Dr. WiUiams. He will be very much interested to hear of you." " It was a time I well remember," said Ermine. " He was an Oxford tutor then, and I was about fourteen, just old enough to be deHghted to hear clever talk. And. his sermons were memorable ; they were the first I ever listened to." " There are few sermons that it is not an infliction to listen to," began Eachel, but she was not heard or noticed. " I assure you they are even more striking now in his blindness." " Blindness ! Indeed, I had not heard of that." Even Eachel listened with interest as the young officer explained that his uncle, whom both he and Miss Williams talked of as a man of note, of whom every one must have heard, had for the last four years been totally blind, but continued to be an active parish priest, visiting regularly, preaching, and taking a share in the service, which he knew by heart. He had, of course, a curate, who lived with him, and took very good care of him. " 1^0 one else 'i " said Eachel. " I thought your sister lived at Bishopsworthy." " No, my sister lives, or has lived, at Little Worthy, the next parish, and as unlike it as possible. It has a railroad in it, and the cockneys have come down on it and * vOlafied ' it. My aunt, Mrs. Lacy Clare, has lived there ever since my sister has been with her ; but now her last daughter is to be married, she wishes to give up housekeeping." " And your sister is coming to Lady Temple," said Eachel, in her peculiar affirmative way of asking questions. " She will find it very duU here." " With all the advantages of Avoncester at hand 1 " inquired Alick, with a certain gleam under his flaxen ey&- WAITING FCR ROSE. 109 lashes that couvinced Ermine that he said it in niischie£ But Eachel drew herself np gravely, and answered — " In Lady Temple's situation any snch thing would he most inconsistent with good feeling." " Such as the cathedral 1 " calmly, not to say sleepily, inquired Alick, to the excessive diversion of Ermine, who saw that Eachel had never been laughed at in her life, and was utterly at a loss what to make of it. " K you meant the cathedral," she said, a little uncertainly, recollecting the tone in which Mr. Clare had just been spoken of, and thinking that perhaps Miss Keith might be a curato- latress, " I am afraid it is not of much benefit to people li\dng at this distance, and there is not much to be said for the imitation here." " You will see what my sister says to it. She only wants training to be the main strength of the Bishops worthy choir, and perhaps she may find it here." Rachel was evidently undecided whether chants or marches were Miss Keith's passion, and, perhaps, which propensity would render the young lady the most distasteful to herself. Ermine thought it merciful to divert the attack by mentioning Mr. Clare's love of music, and hoping his curate could gratify it. "jNTo," Mr. Keith said, "it was very imlucky that Mr. Lifford did not know one note from another; so that his vicar could not delude himself into hoping that his playing on his \dolin was anything but a nuisance to his companion, and in spite of all the curate's persuasions, he only indulged himself therewith on rare occasions." But as Ermine showed surprise at the retention of a companion devoid of this sixth sense, so valuable to the blind, he added — " ITo one would suit him so well. Mr. Lifford has been with him ever since his sight began to fail, and understands all his ways." " Yes, that makes a great difference." *' And," pursued the young man, coming to something like life as he talked of his uncle, " though he is not quite all that a companion might be, my uncle says there would be no keeping the living without him, and I do not believe there would, unless my uncle would have me instead." Ermine laughed and looked interested, not quite kno'wing what other answer to make. Eachel lifted up her eyebrows in amazement. " Another advantage," added Alick, who somehow seemed tc accept Ermine as one of the family, " is, that he is no 110 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. unpediment to Bessie's living there, for, poor man, lie has a wife, bnt insane." " Then yonr sister will live there 1 " said EacheL " What an enviable position, to have the control of means of doing good that always falls to the women of a clerical family." " Tell her so," said the brother, with his odd, suppressed smile. " What, she does not think so 1 " " 'Now" said Mr. Keith, leaning back, " on my answer depends whether Bessie enters this place with a character for chanting, croquet, or crochet. Which should you Hke worst. Miss Curtis 'i " " I hke evasions worst of aU," said Eachel, with a flash of something like playful spirit, though there was too much asperity in it. " But you see, unfortunately, I don't know," said Alick Keith, slowly. " I have never been able to find out, nor she either. I don't know what may be the effect of example," he added. Ermine wondered whether he were in mischief or earnest, and suspected a little of both. " I shall be very happy to show Miss Keith any of my ways," said Rachel, with no doubts at aU ; " but she wiU find me terribly impeded here. When does she come 'i " " Not for a month or six weeks, when the wedding will be over. It is high time she saw something of her respected guardian." "The Colonel r' " Yes;" then to Ermine, " Every one turns to him with re- liance and confidence. I believe no one in the army received so many last charges as he has done, or executes them more fully." "And," said Ermine, feeling pleasure colour her cheek more deeply than was convenient, " you are relations." " So far away that only a Scotsman would acknowledge the cousiaship." " But do not you call yourself Scotch 1 " said Ermine, who had for years thought it glorious to do so. " My great grandfather came from Gowan-brae," said Alick ; " but our branch of the family has lived and died in the — tli Highlanders for so many generations that we don't know what a home is out of it. Our birthplaces — ^yes, and our graves — are in aU parts of the world." " Were you ever in Scotland 1 " " Never ; and I dread nothing so much as being quartered there. Just imagine the trouble it would be to go over the WATTING FOR ROSE. Ill pedigree of every Keith I met, and to dine with them al] upon haggis and sheeps' head ! " " There's no place I want to see as much as Scotland," said Eachel. " Oh, yes ! young ladies always do.'* " It is not for a young lady reason," said Eachel, hluntly. " I want to understand the principle of diffused education, as there practised. The only other places I should really care to ?ee are the Grand Eeformatory for the Destitute in HoUand, and the Hospital for Cretins in Switzerland." " Scotch pedants, Dutch thieves, Swiss goitres — I will hear your tastes in mind," said Mr. Keith, rising to take leave. " Eeally," said Eachel, when he was gone, " if he had not that siUy military tone of joking, there might he something tolerahle ahout him if he got into good hands. He seems to have some good notions ahout his sister. She must he just out of the school-room, at the very turn of life, and I will try to get her into my training and show her a little of the real heauty and usefulness of the career she has hefore her. Hov/ late he has stayed ! I am afraid there is no time for the manuscripts." And though Ermine was too honest to say she was sorrj^, Eachel did not miss the regret. Colonel Keith came the next day, and under his arm was a parcel, which was laid in little Eose's arms, and, when unrolled, proved to contain a magnificent wax doll, no doubt long the object of unrequited attachment to many a little Avoncestrian, a creature of beauteous and unmeaning face, limpid eyes, hair that could be brushed, and aU her mem- bers waxen, as far as could be seen below the provisional habiliment of pink paper that enveloped her. Little Eose's complexion became crimson, and she did not utter a word, while her arunt, colouring almost as much, laughed and asked where were her thanks. " Oh ! " with a long gasp, " it can't be for me ! " \ "Do you think it is for your aunt % " said the Colonel. " Oh, thank you ! But such a beautiful creature for me ! " said Eose, with another gasp, quite oppressed. "Aunt Ermine, how shall I ever make her clothes nice enough ? " " We will see about that, my dear. !N'ow take her into the verandah and introduce her to Yioletta." "Yes;" then pausing and looking into the fixed eyes, " Aunt Ermine, I never saw such a beauty, except that one the little girl left behind on the bench on the esplanade, 112 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. wlien Aunt Ailie said I should be coveting if I went on wisliing Yioletta was like her." " I remember," said Ermine, " I have heard enough of that neplus ultra of doll ! Indeed, Cohn, you have given a great deal of pleasure, where the materials of pleasure are few. '^0 one can guess the delight a doU is to a solitary imagina- tive child." " Thank you," he said, smiling. "I believe I shall enjoy it as much as Eose," added Ermine, "both for play and as a study. Please turn my chair a little this way, I want to see the introduction to Yioletta. Here comes the beauty, in Eose's own cloak." Colonel Keith leant over the back of her chair and silently watched, but the scene was not quite what they expected. Yioletta was sitting in her " slantingdicular " position on her chair placed on a bench, and her little mistress knelt down before her, took her in her arms, and began to hug her. " Yioletta, darling, you need not be afraid ! There is a new beautiful creature come, and I shall call her Colinette, and we must be very kind to her, because Colonel Keith is so good, and knows your grandpapa ; and to tell you a great secret, Yioletta, that you must not tell Colinette or anybody, I think he is Aunt Ermine's own true knight." "Hush!" whispered the Colonel, over Ermine's head, as he perceived her about to speak. " So you must be very good to her, Yioletta, and you shall help me make her clothes ; but you need not be afraid I ever could love any one half or one quarter as much as you, my own dear child, not if she were ten times as beautiful, and so come and show her to Augustus. She'll never be like you, dear old darling," " It is a study," said the Colonel, as Eose moved off with a doll in either hand ; " a moral that you should take home." Ermine shook her head, but smiled, saying, "TeU me, does your young cousin know " "Alick Keith] Not from me, and Lady Temple is. perfectly to be trusted ; but I believe his father knew it was for no worse reason that I was made to exchange. But never mind. Ermine, he is a very good feUoW, and what is the use of making a secret of what even Yioletta knows f There was no debating the point, for her desire of secrecy was prompted by the resolution to leave him unbound, whereas his msh for publicity was with the purpose of bindinjr himself, and Ermine was determined that discussion WAITING FOR ROSE. 113 X7as above all to be avoided, and that sbe would, after the first explanation, keep the conversation upon other subjects. So she only answered with another reproving look and smile, and said, " And now I am going to make you useful. The editor of the * Traveller ' is travelling, and has left his work to me. I have been keeping some letters for him to answer in his own hand, because mine betrays womanhood ; but T have just heard that he is to stay about six weeks more, and people must be put out of their misery before that. "Will you copy a few for me 1 Here is some paper with the ofB.ce stamp." " What an important woman you are. Ermine." " If you had been in England all this time, you would see how easy the step is into literary work ; but you must not betray this for the * Traveller's ' sake or Ailie's." " Your writing is not very womanish," said the colonel, as she gave him his task. " Or is this yours ? It is not like that of those verses on Malvern hills that you copied out for me, the only thing you ever gave me." " I hope it is more to the purpose than it was then, and it has had to learn to write in all sorts of attitudes." "What's this?" as he went on with the paper; "your manuscript entitled ' Curatocult.' Is that the word ? I had taken it for the produce of Miss Curtis's unassisted genius." "Have you heard her use it?" said Ermine, disconcerted, having by no means intended to betray Eachel. ^^...^^t' Oh yes ! I heard her declaiming on Sunday about what she knows no more about than Conrade ! A detestable, pragmatical, domineering girl ! I am, thankful that I advised *~T]ady Temple only to take the house for a year. It was right she should see her relations, but she must not be tyrannized over." " I don't believe she dislikes it." " She dislikes no one ! She used to profess a liking for a huge Irishwoman, whose husband had risen from the ranks ; the most tremendous woman I ever saw, except Miss Curtis." " You know they were brought up together like sisters." " All the worse, for she has the habit of passive submis- sion. If it were the mother it would be all right, and I should be thankful to see her in good keeping, but the mother and sister go for nothing, and down comes this girl to battle every suggestion with principles picked up fi^om every catchpenny periodical, things she does not half understand, and enunciates as if no one had even heard of them befora" 114 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. " I believe she seldom meets any one wlio has. I mean to whom they are matters of thought. I really do like her vigour and earnestness." " Don't say so, Ermine ! One reason why she is so intolerable to me is that she is a grotesque caricature of what you used to be." " You have hit it ! I see why I always liked her, besides that it is pleasant to have any sort of visit, and a good scrimmage is refreshing; she is just what I should have been without papa and Edward to keep me down, and without the civilizing atmosphere at the park." " J^ever." " No, I was not her equal in energy and beneficence ; and I was younger when you came. But I feel for her longing to be up and doing, and her puzzled chafing against constraint and conventionality, though it breaks out in very odd effer- vescences." " Extremely generous of you when you must be bored to death with her interminable talk." — " You don't appreciate the pleasure of variety ! Besides, she really interests me, she is so full of vigorous crudities. I believe all that is unpleasing in her arises from her being considered as the clever woman of the family; having no man nearly connected enough to keep her in check, and living in society that does not fairly meet her. I want you to talk to her, and take her in hand." ""■ " Me ! Thank you, Ermine ! Why, I could not even stand her talking about you, though she has the one grace of valuing you." " Then you ought, in common gratitude, for there is no little greatness of soul in patiently coming down to MackareJ Lane to be snubbed by one's cousin's governess's sister." " If you will come up to Myrtlewood, you don't know what you may do." " No, you are to set no more people upon me, though Lad'^ Temple's eyes are very wistful." "I did not think you would have held out against her." ' "Not when I had against youl No, indeed, though I never did see anybody more winning than she is in that meek, submissive gentleness 1 Alison says she has cheered up and grown like another creature since your arrival." "And Alexander Keith's. Yes, poor thing, we have brought something of her own old world, where she was a sort of little queen in her way. It is too much to ask me WAITING FOR ROSE. 115 to have patience with these relations, Ermine. If you could see the change from the petted creature she was with her mother and husband, almost always the first lady in the place, and latterly with a colonial court of her own, and now, ordered about, advised, domineered over, made nobody of, and taking it as meekly and sweetly as if she were grateful for it ! I verily believe she is ! But she certainly ought to come away." " I am not so sure of that. It seems to me rather a dan- gerous responsibility to take her away from her own relations, unless there were any with equal claims." " They are her only relations, and her husband had none. Still to be under the constant yoke of an overpowering woman with unfixed opinions seems to be an unmitigated ■ evil for her and her boys ; and no one's feelings need be hurt by her fixing herself near some public school for her sons' education. However, she is settled for this year, and at the end we may decide." With which words he again applied himseK to Ermine's correspondence, and presently completed the letter, offering to direct the envelope, which she refused, as having one already directed by the author. He rather mischievously begged to see it that he might judge of the character of the writing, but this she resisted. However, in four days' time there was a very comical twinkle in his eye, as he informed her that the new nimiber of the "Traveller" was in no favour at the Homestead, " there was such a want of original thought in it." Ermine felt her imprudence in having risked the betrayal, but all she did was to look at him with her full, steady eyes, and a little twist in each corner of her mouth, as she said, " Indeed ! Then we had better enliven it with the recollections of a military secretary," and he was both convinced of what he guessed, and also that she did not think it right to tell him ; " But," he said, " there is something in that girl, I perceive, Ermine ; she does think for herself, and if she were not so dreadfully earnest that she can't smile, she would be the best company of any of the party." " I am so glad you think so ! I shall be deKghted if you will really talk to her, and help her to argue out some of her crudities. Indeed she is worth it. But, I suppose you will hardly stay here ]ong enough to do her any good." _ "What, are you going to order me awayf " I thought your brother wanted you at home," I 2 il6 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. " It is all very weU to talk of an ancestral lioine, but when it consists of a tall, slim house, with, blank walls and pepper- box turrets, set down on a bleak hill side, and every one gone that made it once a happy place, it is not attractive. More- over, my only use there would be to be kept as a tame heir, the person whose interference would be most resented, and I don't recognise that duty." "You are a gentleman at large, with no obvious duty," said Ermine, meditatively. "What, none?" bending his head, and looking earnestly at her. " Oh, if you come here out of duty — " she said archly, and with her merry laugh. " There, is not that a nice occasion for picking a quarrel ] And seriously," she continued, " per- haps it might be good for you if we did. I am beginning to fear that I ought not to keep you hngering here without purpose or occupation." " Fulfil my purpose, and I will find occupation." "Don't say that." "This once. Ermine. Eor one year I shall wait in the hope of convincing you. If you do not change your mind in that time, I shaU look for another staff appointment, to last till Rose is ready for me." The gravity of this conclusion made Ermine laugh, " That's what you learnt of your chief," she said. " There would be less difference in age," he said. " Though I own I should like my widow to be less helpless than poor little Lady Temple. So," he added, with the same face of ridiculous earnest, " if you continue to reject me yourself, you will at least rear her with an especial view to her efficiency in that capacity." And as Eose at that critical moment looked in at the window, eager to be encouraged to come and show Golin- ette's successful toilette, he drew her to him with the smile that had won her whole heart, and listening to every little bit of honesty about "my work" and "Aunt Ermine's work," he told her that he knew she was a very managing domestic character, perfectly equal to the charge of both young ladies. " Aunt Ermine says I must learn to manage, because some day I shaU have to take care of papa." " Yes," with his eyes on Ermine all the while, " learn to b& a useful woman ; who knows if we shan't all depend on you by-and-by 1 " WAITING FOR ROSE. 11 V " Oil do let me be useful to you," cried Eose ; " I could hem all your handkerchiefs, and make you a kettle-holder." Ermine had never esteemed him more highly than when he refrained from all hut a droll look, and uttered not one word of the sportive courtship that is so peculiarly unwhole- some and undesirable with children. Perhaps she thought her colonel more a gentleman than she had done before, if that were possible ; and she took an odd, quaint pleasure in the idea of this match, often when talking to Alison of hei views of life and education, putting them in the form of what would become of Eose as Lady Keith ; and Colin kept his promise of making no more references to the future. On moving into his lodgings, the hour for his visits was changed, and unless he went out to dinner, he usually came in the evening, thus attracting less notice, and moreover rendering it less easy to lapse into the tender subject, as Alison was then at home, and the conversation was necessarily more general. The afternoons were spent in Lady Temple's service. In- stead of the orthodox dowager britchska and pair, ruled over by a tyrannical coachman,«he had provided her with a herd of little animals for harness or saddle, and a young groom, for whom Coombe was answerable. Mrs. Curtis groaned and feared the establishment would look flighty ; but for the first time Eachel became the colonel's ally. "The worst despot- ism practised in England," she said, " is that of coachmen, and it is well that Fanny should be spared ! The coachman who lived here when mamma was married, answered her request to go a little faster, * I shall drive my horses as I plazes,' and I really think the present one is rather worse in deed, though not in word." Moreover, Eachel smoothed down a little of Mrs. Curtis's uneasiness at Fanny's change of costume at tbe end of her first year of widowhood, on the ground that Colonel Keith advised her to ride with her sons, and that this was incom- patible with weeds. « And dear Sir Stephen did so dislike the sight of them," she added, in her simple, innocent way, as if she were still dressing to please him. " On the whole, mother," said Eachel, " unless there is more heart-break than Fanny professes, there's more coquetry in a pretty young thing wearing a cap that says, * come pity me,' than in going about like other people." " I only wish she could help looking like a girl of seven- teen," sighed Mrs. Curtis. ** If that colonel were but mar- ried j or the other young man ! I'm sure she will fall into 118 THE CLEVEB WOMAN OP THE VAMILY. some scrape; she does not know how, out of sheer inn(v cence." " Well, mother, you know I always mean to ride with her, and that will be a protection." "But, my dear, I am not sure ahout your riding with these gay officers ; you never used to do such things." " At my age, mother, and to take care of Eanny." And Mrs. Curtis, in her uncertainty whether to sanction the proceedings and qualify them, or to make a protest- dreadful to herself, and more dreadful to Fanny, — ^yielded the point when she found herself not backed up by her energetic daughter, and the cavalcade almost daily set forth from Myrtlewood, and was watched with eyes of the greatest vexation, if not by kind Mrs. Curtis, by poor Mr. Touchett, to whom Lady Temple's change of dress had been a grievous shock. He thought her so lovely, so interesting, at first; and now, though it was sacrilege to believe it of so gentle and pensive a face, was not this a return to the world "i What had she to do with these officers'? How could her aunt permit it 1 No doubt it was all the work of his great foe. Miss Eachel. It was true that Eachel heartily enjoyed these rides. Hitherto she had been only allowed to go out under the escort of her tyrant the coachman, who kept her in very strict discipline. She had not anticipated anything much more lively with Fanny, her boys, and ponies ; but Colonel Keith had impressed on Conrade and Francis that they were their mother's prime protectors, and they regarded her bridle- rein as there post, keeping watch over her as if her safety depended on them, and ready to quarrel with each other if the roads were too narrow for all three to go abreast. And as soon as the colonel had ascertained that she and they were quite sufficient to themselves, and well guarded by Coombe in the rear, he ceased to regard himself as bound to their company, but he and Eachel extended their rides in search of objects of interest. She liked doing the honours of the county, and achieved expeditions which her coachman had hitherto never permitted to her, in search of ruins, camps, churches, and towers. The colonel had a turn for geology, though a wandering life even with an Indian baggage-train had saved him from incurring her contempt for collectors; but he knew by sight the character of the conformations of rocks, and when they had mounted one of the hills that Burrounded Avonmouth, discerned by the outline whether WAITING FOR ROSE. Il9 granite, gneiss, limestone, or slate formed the grander heiglit beyond, tlius leading to schemes of more distant rides to verify the conjectures, which Eachel accepted with the less argument, because sententious dogmatism was not always possible on the back of a skittish black mare. There was no concealing from herself that she was more interested by this frivolous military society than by any she had ever previously met. The want of comprehension of her pursuits in her mother's limited range of acquaintance had greatly conduced both to her over-weening manner and to her general dissatisfaction with the world, and for the first time she was neither succumbed to, giggled at, avoided, nor put down with a grave, prosy reproof. Certainly Alick Keith, as every one called him, nettled her extremely by his murmured irony, but the acuteness of it was diverting in such a mere lad, and showed that if he could only once be roused, he might be capable of better things. There was an excitement in his unexpected manner of seeing things that was engaging as well as provoking j and Eachel never felt content if he were at Myrtlewood without her seeing him, if only because she began to consider him as more dangerous than his elder namesake, and so assured of his position that he did not take any pains to assert it, or to cultivate Lady Temple's good graces ; he was simply at home and perfectly at ease with her. Colonel Keith's tone was different. He was argumentative where his young cousin was sarcastic. He was reading some of the books over which Eachel had strained her capacities without finding any one with whom to discuss them, since all her friends regarded them as poisonous ; and even Ermine Williams, without being shaken in her steadfast trust, was so haunted and distressed in her lonely and unvaried life by the echo of these shocks to the faith of others, that absolutely as a medical precaution she abstained from dwelling on them. On the other hand Colin Keith lil?:ed to talk and argue out his impressions, and found in Eachel the only person with whom the subject could be safely broached, and thus she for the first time heard the subjects fairly handled. Hitherto she had never thought that justice was done to the argument except by a portion of the press, that drew conclusions which terrified while they allured her, whereas she appreciated the candour that weighed each argument, distinguishing principle from prejudice, and religious faith from conventional con- struction, and in this measurement of minds she felt the 120 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. strength and acuteness of powers superior to lier own. He was not one of tlie men wlio prefer unintellectual women. Perhaps clever men, of a profession not necessarily requmng constant brain work, are not so much inclined to rest the mind with feminine empty chatter, as are those whose intellect is more on the strain. At any rate, though Colonel Keith was attentive and courteous to every one, and always treated Lady Temple as a prime minister might treat a queen, his tendency to conversation with Eachel was becoming marked, and she grew increasingly prone to consult him. The interest of this new intercourse quite took out the sting of disappoint- ment, when again Curatocult came back, "dechned with thanks." Nay, before making a third attempt she hazarded a question on his opinion of female authorship, and much to her gratification, and somewhat to her surprise, heard that he thought it often highly useful and valuable. "That is great candour. Men generally grudge whatever they think their own privilege." " Many things can often be felt and expressed by an able woman better than by a man, and there is no reason that the utterance of anything worthy to be said should be denied, provided it is worthy to be said." " Ah ! there comes the hit. I wondered if you would get through without it." " It was not meant as a hit. Men are as apt to publish what is not worth saying as women can be, and some women are so conscientious as only to put forth what is of weight and value." " And you are above wanting to silence them by palaver about unfeminine publicity 1 " " There is no need of publicity. Much of the best and most wide-spread writing emanates from the most quiet, unsuspected quarters." " That is the benefit of an anonymous press." " Yes. The withholding of the name prevents well-man- nered people from treating a woman as an authoress, if she d esplanade. That is wliy I can't bear going out without you or Aunt Ailie. Indeed, it is not disliking Tibbie." "I see it is not, my dear, and we will say no more about it till you have conquered your alarm ; but remember, that ho is. not likely to know you again. You must be more changed in these three years than he is." This consideration seemed to reassure Kose greatly, and her next inquiry was, " Please, are my eyes very red for going home ? " "Somewhat mottled — something of the York and Lan- caster rose. Shall I leave you under Tibbie's care tUl the maiden blush complexion returns, and come back and fetch you when you have had a grand exhibition of my Indian curiosities ? " " Have you Indian curiosities ? I thought they were only for ladies?" " Perhaps they are. Is Tibbie guard enough ? You know there's an Irish sergeant in the house taller than I am, if you want a garrison 1 " " Oh, I am not afraid, only these eyes." " I will ten her you have been fiightened, and she shall take no notice." Tibbie was an admirer of Rose and gladly made her wel- come, while the Colonel repaired to Ermine, and greatly startled her by the disclosure of the miseries that had been inflicted on the sensitive child. It had indeed been known that there had been tyranny in the nursery, and to this cause the aunts imputed the startled wistful expression in Eose's ...yes ; but they had never ques- tioned her, thinking that silence would best wear out the recollection. The only wonder was that her senses had not been permanently injured by that night of terror, which accounted for her unconquerable dread of sleeping in the dark ; and a still more inexplicable horror of the Zoological Grardens, together with many a nervous misery that Ermine had found it vain to combat. The Colonel asked if the nurse's cruelty had been the cause of her dismissal 1 " 1^0, it was not discovered till after her departure. Her fate has always been a great grief to us, though we little thought her capable of using Rose in this way. She was one of the Hathertons. You must remember the name, and the pretty picturesque hovel on the Heath." " The squatters that were such a grievance to my uncla Always suspected of poaching, and never caught." 236 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. " Exactly. Most of the girls turned out ill, but this one, the youngest, was remarkably intelligent and attractive at school. I remember making an excuse for calling her into the garden for you to see and confess that EngKsh beauty exceeded Scottish, and you called her a gipsy and said we had no right to her." "So it was those big black eyes that had that fiendish malice in them ! " " Ah ! if she fell into Maddox's hands, I wonder the less. She showed an amount of feeling about my illness that won Ailie's heart, and we had her for a little handmaid to help my nurse. Then, when we broke up from home, we still kept her, and every one used to be struck with her looks and manner. She went on as well as possible, and Lucy set her heart on having her in the nursery. And when the upper nurse went away, she had the whole care of Eose. We heard only of her praises till, to our horror, we found she had been sent away in disgrace at a moment's warning. Poor Lucy was young, and so much shocked as only to think of getting her out of the house, not of what was to become of her, and all we could learn was that she never went home." " How long was this before the crash 'i " " It was only a few weeks before the going abroad, but they had been absent nearly a year. No doubt Maddox must have made her aid in his schemes. You say Eose saw liim?" " So she declares, and there is an accuracy of memory about her that I should trust to. Should you or Alison Know him ? " " 1^0, we used to think it a bad sign that Edward never showed him to us. I remember Alison being disappointed that he was not at the factory the only time she saw it." " I do not like going away while he may be lurking about. I could send a note to-night, explaining my absence." " No, no," exclaimed Ermine, " that would be making me as bad as poor little Eose. If he be here ever so much he has done his worst, and Edward is out of his reach. What could he do to US'? The affairs were wound up long ago, and we have literally nothing to be bullied out of. No, I don't think he could make me believe in lions in any shape." " You strong-minded woman ! You want to emulate the Kachel." AN APPARITION. 237 " You liave brouglit her," laughed Ermine at the sound of the well-known knock, and Eachel entered bag in hand. " I was in hopes of meeting you," she said to the Colonel. "I wanted to ask you to take charge of some of these ;" and she produced a packet of prospectuses of a " Journal of Female Industry," an illustrated monthly magazine, destined to contain essays, correspondence, reviews, history, tales, etc., to be printed and illustrated in the E. U. E. E. " I hoped," said Eachel, " to have begun with the year, but we are not forward enough, and indeed some of the expenses require a subscription in advance. A subscriber in advance will have the year's numbers for ten shillings, instead of twelve ; and I should be much obliged if -you would dis- tribute a few of these at Bath, and ask Bessie to do tht same. I shall set her name down at the head of the list, an soon as she has qualified it for a decoy." " Are these printed at the E. U. E. E. 1" "iffo, we have not funds as yet. Mr. Mauleverer had them done at Bristol, where he has a large connexion as a lecturer, and expects to get many subscribers. I brought these down as soon as he had left them with me, in hopes that you would kindly distribute them at the wedding. And I wished," added she to Ermine, "to ask you to contribute to our first number." " Thank you," and the doubtful tone induced Eachel to encourage her diffidence. " I know you write a great deal, and I am sure you must produce something worthy to see the light. I have nc scruple in making the request, as I know Colonel Keitli agrees with me that womanhood need not be an extinguisher for talent." " I am not afraid of him," Ermine managed to say without more smile than Eachel took for gratification. " Then if you would only entrust me with some of your fugitive reflections, I have no doubt that something might be made of them. A practised hand," she added with a certain editorial dignity, " can always polish away any little rough- nesses from inexperience." Ermine was choking with laughter at the savage pulls that Colin was inflicting on his moustache, and feeling silence no longer honest, she answered in an odd under tone, " I can't plead inexperience." " No I" cried Eachel. " You have written ; you have not published!" 238 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. " I was forced to do whatever brouglit grist to tlie mill," said Ermiae. " Indeed," slie added, with, a look as if to ask pardon ; " our secrets have been hardly fair towards you, but we made it a rule not to spoil our breadwinner's trade by confessing my enormities." "I assure you," said the Colonel, touched by Eachel's appalled look, " I don't know how long this cautious person would have kept me in the dark if she had not betrayed herself in the paper we discussed the first day I met you." " The * Traveller,' " said Eachel, her eyes widening like those of a child. " She is the ' Invalid ' ! " " There, I am glad to have made a clean breast of it," said Ermine. *' The ' Invalid' I " repeated Eachel. " It is as bad as the Victoria Cross." "There is a compHment, Ermine, for which you should make your bow," said Colin. " Oh, I did not mean that," said Eachel ; " but that it was as great a mistake as I made about Captaia Keith, when I told him his own story, and denied his being the hero, till I actually saw his cross ;" and she spoke with a genuine simplicity that almost looked like humour, ending with, " I wonder why I am fated to make such mistakes ! " " Preconceived notions," said Ermine, smiling ; " your theory suffices you, and you don't see small indications." " There may be something in that," said Eachel, thought- fully, " it accounts for Grace always seeing things faster than I did." " Did Mr. , your philanthropist, bring you this to- day?" said the Colonel, taking ujd the paj)er again, as if to point a practical moral to her confession of misjudgments. " Mr. Mauleverer 1 Yes ; I came down as soon as he had left me, only calling first upon Eanny. I am very anxious for contributions. If you would only give me a paper signed by the ' Invalid,' it would be a fortune to the institution." Ermine made a vague answer that she doubted whether the ' Invalid' was separable from the * Traveller,' and Eachel presently departed with her prospectus, but without having elicited a promise. " Intolerable ! " exclaimed the Colonel. " She was im- proving under Bessie's influence, but she has broken out worse than ever. ' Journal of Eemale Industry ! ' * Journal of a Knight of Industry,' might be a bettor title. You will have nothing to do with it, Ermine 1 " AN APPARITION. 239 " Certainly not as tlie ' Invalid/ but I owe lier sometliing for having let her run into this scrape "before you." " As if you could have hindered her ! Come, don't wast© time and brains on a companion for Curatocult." "You make me so idle and frivolous that I shaU. bo expelled from the * Traveller,' and obliged to take refuge in the * Female Industry Journal.* ShaE you distribute the prospectuses ? " " I shall give one to Bessie ! That is if I go at all." " ^NTo, no ; there is no valid reason for staying away. Even, if we were sure that Rose was right, nothmg could well come of it, and your absence would be most invidious." " I beheve I am wanted to keep Master Alick in order, but if you have the least feeling that you would be more at ease with me at home ^" " That is not a fair question," said Ermine, smiling. " You know very well that you ought to go." " And I shall try to bring back Harry Beauchamp," added the Colonel. " He would be able to identify the feUow." " I do not know what would be gained by that." " I should know whom to watch." Ermine had seen so much of Eose's nervous timidity, and had known so many phantoms raised by it, that she attached little importance to the recognition, and when she went over the matter with her little niece, it was with far more thought of the effect of the terror, and of the long suppressed secret, upon the child's moral and physical nature, than with any curiosity as to the subject of her last alarm. She was sur- prised to observe that Alison was evidently in a state of much 'more restlessness and suspense than she was conscious of in herseK, during Colin's absence, and attributed this to her. sister's fear of Maddox's making some inroad upon her in her long soHtary hours, in which case she tried to reassure her by promises to send at once for Mx. Mitchell or for Coombe. Alison let these assurances be given to her, and felt hypocritical for receiving them in silence. Her grave set features had tutored themselves to conceal for ever one page in the life that Ermine thought was entirely revealed to her. Never had Ermine known that brotherly companionship had once suddenly assumed the unwelcome aspect of an affection against which Alison's heart had been steeled by devotion to the sister whose life she had blighted. Her resolution had been miswerving, but its full cost had been unknown to her, till her adherence to it had slackened the old tie of hereditary 240 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. fpiendsliip towards others of her family ; and even when mar- riage should have obliterated the past, she still traced resent- ment in the hard judgment of her brother's conduct, and even in the one act of consideration that it galled her to accept. There had been no meeting since the one decisive inter- view just before she had left her original home, and there were many more bitter feelings than could be easily assuaged in looking forward to a renewal of intercourse, when all too lajte, she knew that she should soon be no longer needed by her sister. She tried to feel it all just retribution; she tried to rejoice in Ermine's coming happiness ; she tried to believe that the sight of Harry Beauchamp, as a married man, would be the best cure for her; she blamed and struggled with herseK : and after all, her distress was wasted, Harry Beauchamp had not chosen to come home with his cousin, who took his unwillingness to miss a hunt- ing-day rather angrily and scornfully. Alison put her private interpretation on the refusal, and held aloof, while Colin owned to Ermine his vexation and surprise at the displeasure that Harry Beauchamp maintained against his old school- fellow, and his absolute refusal to listen to any arguments as to his innocence. This seemed to have been Colin's prominent interest in his expedition to Bath ; the particulars of the wedding were less easily drawn from him. The bride had indeed been perfec- tion, all was charming wherever she brought her ready grace and sweetness, and she had gratified the Colonel by her affectionate messages to Ermine, and her evident intention to make all straight between Lord Keith and his daughter Mary. But the Clare relations had not made a favourable impression ; the favourite blind uncle had not been present, in spite of Bessie's boast, and it was suspected that Alick had not chosen to forward his coming. Alick had devolved the office of giving his sister away upon the Colonel, as her guardian, and had altogether comported himself with more than his usual la2y irony, especially towards the Clare cousin- hood, who constantly buzzed round him, and received his rebuffs as delightful jests and compliments, making the Colonel wonder all the more at the perfect good taste and good breediug of his new sister-in-law, who had spent among them all the most critical years of her life. She had been much amused with the prospectus of the " Journal of Eemale Industry," but she sent word to Eachel that she advised her not to publish any list of subscribers— THE SIEGE. 241 the vague was far more impressive than the certain. The first number must he sent to her at Paris, and trust her for spreading its fame ! The Colonel did not add to his message her recommenda- tion that the frontispiece should represent the Spinster's I^eedles, with the rescue of Don as the type of female heroism. !N"or did he teU how carefiiUy he had questioned Loth her and Eachel as to the date of that interesting adventure. CHAPTER XVII. THE SIEGE. "The counterfeit presentment." — Hamlet. Christmas came, and Eachel agreed with Mr. Mauleverer that it was better not to unsettle the children at the F.U.E.E. by permittiug them to come home for holidays, a decision which produced much discontent in their respective families. AHson, goiug to Mrs. Morris mth her pupils, to take her a share of Christmas good cheer, was made the receptacle of a great lamentation over the child's absence; and, moreover, that the mother had not been allowed to see her alone, when taken by Mi^s Eachel to the F.U.E.E. " Some johe ought to take it up," said Alison, as she came home,jinrner indignation. " Who knows what may be done to Those poor children ? Can't Mr. Mitchell do something 1 " But Mr. Mitchell was not sufficiently at home to -interfere. Ho was indeed negotiating an exchange with Mr. Touchett, but until this was effected he could hardly meddle in the matter, and he wae besides a reserved, prudent man, slow to commit himself, so that his own impression of the asylum could not be extracted from him. Here, however, Colonel Keith put himseK forward. He had often been asked by Eachel to visit the E.U.E.E., and he surprised and relieved AHson by announcing his intention of going over to St. Norbert's alone and without notice, so as to satisfy himself as far as might be as to the treatment of the inmates, and the genuineness of Mauleverer's pretensions. He had, however, to wait for weather that would not make R 242 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. tho adventure one of danger to him, and he regai'ded the cold and rain with unusual impatience, until, near the end of January, he was able to undertake his expedition. After much knocking and riugiug the door was opened to him by a rude, slatternly, haK-witted looking charwoman, or rather girl, who said " Master was not in," and nearly shut the door in his face. However, he succeeded in sending in his card, backed by the mention of Lady Temple and Miss Curtis ; and this brought out Mrs. Eawlins, her whit© streamers floating stiff behind her, fuU of curtsies and regrets at having to refuse any friend of Miss Curtis, but Mr. Maule- verer's orders were precise and could not be infringed. Ho was gone to lecture at Bristol, but if the gentleman would call at any hour he would fix to morrow or next day, Mr. Mauleverer would be proud to wait on him. When he came at the appointed time, all was in the normal state of the institution. The two little girls iu white pinafores sat upon their bench with their books before them, and their matron presiding over them ; Mr. Mauleverer stood near, benignantly attentive to the children and obligingly so to the visitor, volunteering information and answering all questions. Colonel Keith tried to talk to the children, but when he asked one of them whether she liked drawing better than lace-making her Hps quivered, and Mrs. Eawlins replied for her, that she was never happy except with a pencil iu her hand. " Show the gentleman, my dear," and out came a book of studies of cubes, globes, posts, etc., while Mr. Maule- verer talked artistically of drawing from models. Next, he observed on a certain suspicious blackness of little Mary's eye, and asked her what she had done to herself. But the child hung her head, and Mrs. Eawhns answered for her, " Ah ! Mary is ashamed to tell : but the gentleman will think nothing of it, my dear. He knows that childi-en will be children, and I cannot bear to check them, the dears." More briefly Mr. Mauleverer explained that Mary had fallen while playing on the stairs ; and with this superficial inspec- tion he must needs content himself, though on making inquiry at the principal shops, he convinced himself that neither Mr. Mauleverer nor the F.U.E.E. were as well known at St. Norbert's as at Avonmouth. He told Eachel of his expe- dition, and his interest in her work gratified her, though she would have preferred being his cicerone. She assured him that he must have been very much pleased, especially with the matron. THE SIEGE. 243 " She is a handsome woman, and reminds me strongly of a face I saw in India." " There are some classes of beauty and character that have a remarkable sameness of feature," began Eachel. "Don't push that theory, for your matron's likeness was a very handsome Sepoy havildar whom we took at Lucknow; a capital soldier before the mutiny, and then an ineffable ruffian." "The mutiny was an infectious frenzy; so that you establish nothing against that cast of countenance." Never, indeed, was there more occasion for perseverance in Rachel's championship. Hitherto Mrs. KeUand had been nailed to her pillow by the exigencies of Lady Keith's outfit, and she and her minions had toiled unremittingly, without a thought beyond their bobbins, but as soon as the postponed orders were in train, and the cash for the wedding veil and flounces had been transmitted, the good woman treated her- self and her daughters to a holiday at St. iN'orbert's, without intimating her intention to her patronesses ; and the conse- quence was a formal complaint of her ungrateful and violent fe,nguage to Mrs. EawKns on being refused admission to the asy- lum without authority from Mr. Mauleverer or Miss Curtis. Eachel, much displeased, went down charged with reproof and representation, but failed to produce the desired effect upon the aunt. " It was not right," Mrs. Kelland reiterated, " that the poor lone orphan should not see her that was as good as a mother, when she had no one else to look to. They that kept her from her didn't do it for no good end." " But, Mrs. Kelland, rules are rules." " Don't tell me of no rules. Miss Eachel, as would cut a poor child off from her friends as her mother gave her to on her death-bed. ' Sally,' says she, ' I know you will do a mother's part by that poor Uttle maid ; ' and so I did till I was over persuaded to let her go to that there place." " Indeed you have nothing to regret there, Mis. Kelland ; yon know, that with the kindest intentions, you could not make the child happy." " And why was that, ma'am, but because her mother was a poor creature from town, that had never broke her to her work. I never had the trouble with a giil of my own I had with her. * It's all for your good, Lovedy,' I says to her, and poor child, maybe .she wishes herself back again." " I assui'e yuu, I always find the cliildren well and happy 11 2 244 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. and it is very unfair on the matron to be angry with her for being bound by rules, to which she must submit, or she would trangress the regulations under which we have laid her ! It is not her choice to exclude you, but her duty." " Please, ma'am, was it her duty to be coming out of the house in a 'genta coloured silk dress, and a drab bonnet with a pink feather in it ? " said Mrs. Kelland, with a certain air of simplicity, that provoked Eachel to answer sharply — "You don't know what you are talking about, Mrs. KeUand." " WeU, ma'am, it was a very decent woman as told me, an old lady of the name of Drinkwater, as keeps a baker's shop on the other side of the way, and she never sees bread enough go in for a cat to make use of, let alone three poor hungry children. She says all is not right there, ma'am." " Oh, that must be mere gossip and spite at not having the custom. It quite accounts for what she may say, and indeed you brought it aU on yourself by not having asked me for a note. You must restrain yourself. What you may say to me is of no importance, but you must not go and attack those who are doing the very best for your niece." Eachel made a dignified exit, but before she had gone many steps, she was assailed by tearful Mrs. Morris : " OIi, Miss Eachel, if it would not be displeasing to you, would you give me an order for my child to come home. Ours is a pooi })lace, but I would rather make any shift for us to live than that she should be sent away to some place beyond sea." " Some place beyond sea ! " " Yes, ma'am. I beg your pardon, ma'am, but they do say that Mr. Maw-and-liver is a kidnapper, ma'am, and that he gets them poor children to send out to Botany Bay to be wives to the convicts as are transported. Miss Eachel, if you'll excuse it. They say there's a whole shipload of them at Plymouth, and I'd rather my poor Mary came to the Union at home than to the like of that. Miss Eachel." This alarm, being less reasonable, was even more difficult to talk down than Mrs. Kelland's, and Eachel felt as if there were a general conspiracy to drive her distracted, wLen on going home she found the drawing-room occupied by a pair of plump, paddy-looking old friends, who had evidently talked her mother into a state of nervous alarm. On her entrance, Mrs. Curtis begged the gentleman to tell dear Eachel what he had been saying, but this he contrived to avoid, and only on his doT)arture was Eachel made aware that lie and his wifa THE SIEGE. 245 had come, jfraught witli tidings that she was fostering a Jesuit in disguise, that Mrs. Eawlins was a lady abbess of a new order, Eachel herself in danger of being entrapped, and the whole family likely to be entangled in the mysterious meshes, which, as good Mrs. Curtis more than once repeated, would be- " such a dreadful thing for poor Fanny and the boys." Her daughters, by soothing and argument, allayed the alarm, though the impression was not easily done away with, and they feared that it might yet cost her a night's rest. These attacks — absurd as they were — induced Eachel to take measures for their confutation, by writing to Mr. Mauleverer, that she thought it would be well to allow the pupil^ to pay a short visit to their homes, so as to satisfy their friends. She did not receive an immediate answer, and was begin- ning to feel vexed and anxious, though not doubtful, when Mr. Mauleverer arrived, bringing two beautiful little wood- cuts, as illustrations for the "Journal of Eemale Industry." They were entitled " The free maids that weave their thread with bones," and one called " the Ideal," represented a latticed cottage window, with roses, honeysuckles, cat, beehives, and all conventional rural delights, around a pretty maiden sing- ing at her lace-pillow ; while the other yclept the " Eeal," showed a den of thin, wizened, half-starved girls, cramped over their cushions in a lace-school. The design was Mr. Mauleverer's, the execution the children's ; and neatly mounted on cards, the performance did them great credit ; and there was great justice in Mr. Mauleverer's view that while they were making such progress, it would be a great pity to inter- rupt the preparation of the fii'st number by sending the chil- dren home even for a few hours. Eachel consented the more readily to the postponement of the holiday, as she had now something to show in evidence of the reality of their doings, and she laid hands upon the cuts, in spite of Mr. Mauleverer's unwillingness that such mere essays should be displayed as specimens of the art of the F. U. E. E. When the twenty pounds which she advanced should have been laid out in blocks, ink, and paper, there was little doubt that the illus- trations of the journal would be a triimiphant instance of female energy well directed. Meantime she repaired to Ermine Williams to persuade her to write an article upon the two pictures, a paper in the lively style in which Eachel herself could not excel, pointing out the selfishness of wilfully sentimental illusions. She found Ermine alone, but her usual fate pursued her in the shape of, 246 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. first, Lady Temple, then both Colonel and Captain Keith, and little Eose, who all came in before she had had time to do more than explain her intentions. Eose had had another fright, and again the Colonel had been vainly trying to dis- tinguish the bugbear of her fancy, and she was cHnging all the more closely to him because he was the only person of her acquaintance who did not treat her alarms as absolutely imaginary. Eachel held her ground, well pleased to have so many spectators of this triumphant specimen of the skill of her asylum, and Lady Temple gave much admiration, declaring that no one ought to wear lace again without being sure that no one was tortured in making it, and that when she ordered her new black lace shawl of Mrs. Kelland, it should be on con- dition that the poor girls were not kept so very hard at work. " You will think me looking for another Sepoy likeness," said the Colonel, " but I am sure I have met this young lady or her twin sister somewhere in my travels." " It is a satire on conventional pictures," said Eachel. " Now, I remember," he continued. " It was when I was laid up with my wound at a Dutch boer's till I could get to Cape Town. My sole reading was one number of the * Illustrated News,' and I made too good acquaintance with that lady's head, to forget her easily." "Of course," said Eachel, "it is a reminiscence of the painting there represented. "What was the date 1 " asked Alick Keith. The Colonel was able to give it with some precision. " You are all against me," said Eachel ; "I see you are perfectly determined that there shall be something wrong about every performance of the F. U. E. E." " No, don't say so," began Fanny, with gentle argument, but Alick Keith put in with a smile, " It is a satisfaction to Miss Curtis." " Athanasius against the world," she answered. " Athanasius should take care that his own foot is firm, his position incontrovertible," said Ermine. "WeU!" " Then," said Ermine, " will you allow these little pictures to be examined into 1 " " I don't know what you mean." " Look here," and the Colonel lifted on the table a scrap- book that Eose had been quietly opening on his knee, and which contained an etching of a child playing with a dog^ THE SIEGE. 247 much resembling th:- "bylo of the drawing. ^'Wlio did that, my dear ? " he asked. " Mamma had it," "was Eose's reply ; " it was always in my old n^3-r=:ery scrap-hook." "Every one knows," sa'd Eachel, " that a woodcut is often like an etching, and an etching like a woodcut. I do not know what you are driA'uig at." " The little dogs and all," muttered Alick, as Eachel glanced rather indignantly at Eose and her hook so attentively ex amined hy the Colonel. "i know," repeated Eachel, "that there is a strong pre- judice against Mr. Mauleverer, and that it is entertained by many whom I should have hoped to see above such weakness . but when .i brougl'.t these tangible productions of his system, as evidences of iiis success, I did not expect to see them received with a covert distrust, which I own I do not under- stand. I perceive now why good works find so much diffi- culty m prospering." "I t«evfeve," said Alick Keith, "that I am to have the honour of dining at the Homestead on Monday ? " " Yes. The Greys spend the day with us, and it is Emily's due to have a good sight of you." "Then will you let me in the meantime take my own measures with regard to these designs. I wiU not hurt or injure them in any way ; they shaU. be deposited here in Miss Williams's hands, and I promise you that if I have been able to satisfy myself as to the means of their production, Simon Skinllint shall become a subscriber to the F. U. E. E. Is it a bargain i " " I never made such a bargain," said Eachel, puzzled. " Is that a reason for not doing so ? " " I don't know what you mean to do. jN"ot to molest that poor Mrs. Eawlins. I will not have that done." " Certainly not. AU I ask of you is that these works of art should remain here with Miss Williams, as a safe neutral, and that you should meet me here on Monday, when I will undertake to convince myseK." " :N"ot me 1 " cried Eachel. "Who would make it part of his terms to convince a lady?" " You mean to say," exclaimed Eachel, considerably nettled, " that as a woman, I am incapable of being rationally con- vinced ! " " The proverb does not only apply to women," said Ermine, 248 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. coming to her rescue j but Eachel, stung by the arcli smile and slight bow of Captain Keith, continued — "Let the proof be convincing, and I will meet it as candidly as it is the duty of all reasonable beimgs to do. Only let me first know what you mean to prove." " The terms are these then, are they not. Miss Williams ? I am to come on Monday, February the 5th, prepared to test whether these designs are what they profess to be, and Miss Curtis undertakes to be convinced by that proof, provided it be one that should carry conviction to a clear, unbiassed mind. I undertake, on the other hand, that if the said proof should be effectual, a mythical personage called Simon Skinflint shall become a supporter of the Female Union for Englishwomen's Employment." He spoke with his own peculiar slowness and gravity, and Eachel, uncertain whether he were making game of her or not, looked perplexed, half on the defence, half grati£.ed. The others were greatly amused, and a great deal surprised at AKck's unwonted willingness to take trouble in the matter. After a few moment's deliberation, Eachel said, "Well, I consent, provided that my candour be met by equal candour on the other side, and you will promise that if this ordeal suc- ceeds, you will lay aside aU prejudice against Mauleverer." A Kttle demur as to the reasonableness of this stipulation followed, but the terms finally were established. Mr. and Mrs. Grey, old family friends, had long bee]i engaged to spend the ensuing Monday at the Homestead. Tlie elder daughter, an old intimate of Grace's, had married an Indian civil servant, whom Colonel Keith was invited to meet at luncheon, and Captain Keith at dinner, and Ahck was further to sleep at Gowanbrae. Lady Temple, who was to have been of the party, was called away, much to her own regret, by an appointment with the dentist of St. Norbert's, who was very popular, and proportionately despotic, being only visible at his own times, after long appointment. She would therefore be obliged to miss Alick's ordeal, though as she said, when Rachel — finding it vain to try to outstay so many — ^had- taken her leave, " I should much like to see how it will turn out. I do believe that there is some difference in the colour of the ink in the middle and at the edge, and if those people are deceiving Eachel, who knows what they may be doing to the poor children ! " It was exactly what every one was thinking, but it seemed to have fresh force when it struck the milder and slower THE SIEGE. 249 Imagination, and Lady Temple, seeing that her observation told upon those around her, became more impressed with its weight. " It reaUy is dreadful to have sent those little girls there without any one knowing what anybody does to them," she repeated. " It makes even Alick come out in a new character," said the Colonel, turning round on him. "Why," returned AHck, "my sister had so much to do with letting the young lady in for the scrape, that it is just as well to try to get her out of it. In fact, I think we have all sat with our hands before us in a shamefully cool manner, tni we are all accountable for the humbuggery." "When it comes to your reproaching us with coolness. Captain Keith, the matter becomes serious," returned Colin. " It does become serious," was the answer ; "it is hard that a person without any natural adviser should have been allowed to run headlong, by force of her own best qualities, into the hands of a sharper. I do not see how a man of any proper feeling, can stand by without doing something to prevent the predicament from becoming any worse." " If you can," said Colonel Keith. " I verily believe," said Alick, turning round upon him, * that the worse it is for her, the more you enjoy it ! " " Quite true," said Ermine in her mischievous way ; " it is a true case of man's detestation of clever women ! Look here, Alick, we will not have him here at the great ordeal of the woodcuts. You and I are much more candid and un- prejudiced people, and shall manage her much better." " I have no desire to be present," returned the Colonel ; " I have no satisfaction in seeing my friend AHck baffled. I shall see how they both appear at luncheon afterwards." " How will that be 1 " asked Fanny, anxiously. "The lady will be sententious and glorious, and will lecommend the F. U. E. E. more than ever, and Alick will cover the downfall of his crest by double-edged assents to all her propositions." " You mil not have that pleasure," said Alick. " I only go to dinner there." "At any rate," said the Colonel, "supposing your test takes effect by some extraordinary chance, don't take any further steps without letting me know." The inference was drawn that he expected great results, but he continued to laugh at Alick's expectations of pro- 250 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. ducing any effect on the Clever Woman, and the debate of the woodcuts -was adjourned to the Monday. In good time, Eachel made her appearance in Miss Williams's little sitting-room. "I am ready to submit to any test that Captain Keith may require to confute himself," she said to Ermine ; " and I do so the more readily that with all his mocking language, there is a genuine candour and honesty beneath that would be quite worth convincing. I believe that if once persuaded of the injustice of his suspicions he would in the reaction become a fervent supporter of Mr. Mauleverer and of the institution; and though I should prefer carrying on our work entirely through women, yet this interest would be so good a thing for Mm, that I should by no means reject his assistance." Eachel had, however, long to wait. As she said. Captain Keith was one of those inborn loiterers who, made punctual by military duty, revenge themselves by double tardiness in the common affairs of life. Impatience had nearly made her revoke her good opinion of him, and augur that, knowing himself vanquished, he had left the field to her, when at last a sound of wheels was heard, a dog-cart stopped at the door, and Captain Keith entered with an enormous blue and gold volume under his arm. " I am sorry to be so late," he said, " but I have only now succeeded in procuring my aUy." " An aUy ! " " Yes, in this book. I had to make interest at the Avon- cester Library, before I could take it away with me." As he spoke he placed the book desk-fashion on a chair, and turned it so that Ermine might see it ; and she perceived that it was a bound-up volume of the "Illustrated London News." Two marks were in it, and he silently parted the leaves at th.^ first. It revealed the lace-making beauty in all her rural charms. " I see," said Eachel ; " it is the same figure, but not the same shaped picture." Without another word, Alick Keith opened the pages at the lace-school; and here again the figures were identical, though the margin had been differently finished off. " I perceive a great resemblance," again said Eachel; "but none that is not fully explained by Mr. Mauleverer's accurate resemblance and desire to satirize fooKsh sentiment." Alick Keith took up the woodcut. " I should say," he THE SIEGE. 251 observed, holding it up to the light, " that it was unusual to mount a proof engraving so elaborately on a card." " Oh, I see what your distrust is driving at ; you suspect the designs of being pasted on." " There is such a test as water," suggested Alick. *' I should be ashamed to return the proof to its master, bearing traces of unjust suspicion." " If the suspicion you impute to me be unjust, the water will produce no effect at all." " And you engage to retract all your distrust and contempt, if you are convinced that this engraving is genuine ? " " I do," he answered steadily. With irritated magnanimity Eachel dipped her finger into the vase of flowers on the table, and let a heavy drop of water fall upon the cottage scene. The centre remained unaltered, and she looked round in exultation, saying, " There, now I suppose I may wipe it off." Neither spoke, and she applied her pocket handkerchief. What came peeling away under her pressure 1 It was the soft paper, and as she was passing the edge of the figure of the girl, she found a large smear following her finger. The peculiar brown of Indian ink was seen upon her handker- chief, and when she took it up a narrow hem of white had become apparent between the girl's head and its surround- ings. Neither spectator spoke, they scarcely looked at her, when she took another drop from the vase, and using it more boldly found the pasted figure curling up and rending under her hand, lines of newspaper type becoming apparent, and the dark cloud spreading around. " AVTiat does it mean 1 " was her first exclamation ; then suddenly turning on Ermine, " Well, do you triumph ? " " I am very, very sorry," said Ermine. " I do not know that it is come to that yet," said Rachel, trying to collect herself. " I may have been pressing too hard for results." Then looking at the mangled picture again as they wisely left her to herself, " But it is a decep- tion ! A deception ! Oh ! he need not have done it ! Or," with a lightened look and tone of relief, " suppose he did it to see whether I should find it out 1 " " He is hardly on terms with you for that," said Ermine ; while Alick could not refrain from saying, " Then he would bo a more insolent scoundrel than he has shown himself yet." *' I know he is not quite a gentleman," said Eachel, " and nothing else gives the instinct of the becoming. You have 252 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. conquered, Captain Keith, if it T3e any pleasure to yon to have given my trust and hope a crnel shock." " With little satisfaction to myself," he hegan to say ; hut she continued, " A shock, a shock I say, no more ; I do not know what conclusion I ought to draw, I do not expect you to helieve in this person till he has cleared up the deceit. If it he only a joke in had taste, he deserves the distrust that is the penalty for it. If you have heen opening my eyes to a deception, perhaps I shall thank you for it some day. I must think it over." She rose, gathered her papers together, and took her leave gravely, while Alick, much to Ermine's satisfaction, showed no elation in his victory. All he said was, " There is a great deal of dignity in the strict justice of a mind slow to con- demn, or to withdraw the trust once given." "There is," said Ermine, much pleased with his whole part in the affair ; " there has heen fuU and real candour, not flying into the other extreme. I am afraid she has a great deal to suffer." " It was very wrong to have stood so still when the rascal hegan his machinations," repeated Alick, " Bessie ahsolutely helping it on ! But for her, the fellow would have had no chance even of acquaintance with her." " Your sister hardly deserves hlame for that." " Not exactly hlame ; hut the responsihihty remains," he replied gravely, and indeed he was altogether much graver than his wont, entirely free from irony, and evidently too sorry for Eachel, and feeling himseK, through his sister, too guilty of her entanglement, to have any of that amused satisfaction that even Colin evidently felt in her discomfiture. In fact Ermine did not fully enter into Colin's present tactics ; she saw that he was more than usually excited and interested ahout the F. U. E. E., hut he had not explained his views to her, and she could only attribute his desire, to defer the investigation, to a wish that Mr. Mitchell should have time to return from London, whither he had gone to conclude his arrangements with Mr. Touchett, leaving the duty in com- mission between three delicate winter visitors. Rachel walked home in a kind of dreamy bewilderment. The first stone in her castle had been loosened, and her heart was beginning to fail her, though the tenacity of her will produced a certain incapacity of believing that she had been absolutely deceived. Her whole fabric was so compact, and had been so much solidified by her own intensity of purpose^ THE SIEGE. 253 that any. liollowiiess of foundation was utterly beyond present credence. She was ready to be affronted with. Maudeverer for perilling all for a bad joke, but wildly impossible as this explanation would have seemed to others, she preferred taking refuge in it to accepting the fuU brunt of the blow upon her cherished hopes. She had just re-entered the house on her return, when Grace met her, saying, " Oh, Eachel dear, Mrs. Eossitur is here." " I think old servants have a peculiar propensity for turn- ing up when the house is in a state of turmoil," returned Rachel. " I have been walking round the garden with her, and doing my best to suffice for her entertainment," said Grace, good-naturedly, " but she really wants to see you on business. She has a biU for the F.U.E.E. which she wants you to pay." "AbiUfortheF.U.E.E.?" "Yes; she makes many apologies for troubling you, but Tom is to be apprenticed to a grocer, and they want this fifteen pounds to make up the fee." "But I tell you, Grace, there can't have been fifteen pounds' worth of things had in this month, and they were paid on the 1st." " She says they have never been paid at all since the 1st oi December." " I assure you, Grace, it is in the books. I made a point of having all the accounts brought to me on the 1st of every month, and giving out the money. I gave out 31. 10s. for the Eossiturs last Friday, the 1st of February, when Mr. Mauleverer was over here. He said coals were dearer, and they had to keep more fires." " There must be some mistake," said Grace. "I'll show you the books. Mr. Mauleverer keeps one himseK, and leaves one with me. Oh, botheration, there's the Grey carriage ! Well, you go and receive them, and I'll try to pacify IVbs. Eossitur, and then come down." Neatly kept were these account books of the F. U. E. E., and sure enough for every month were entered the sums for coals, wood, and potatoes, tallying exactly with Mrs. Eos- situr's account, and each month Mr. Mauleverer's signature attested the receipt of the sum paid over to hJTn by Eachel for household expenses. Eachel carried them down to Mrs. Eossitur, but this evidence utterly failed to convince that worthy personage that she had ever received a farthing aftei 254 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. the 1st of December. She was profuse in her apologies for troubling Miss Eachel, and had only been led to do so by the exigencies of her son's apprentice fee, and she reposed full confidence in Eachel's eager assurance that she should not be a loser, and that in another day the matter should be inves- tigated. "And, Miss Eachel," added the old servant, "you'll excuse me, but they do say very odd things of the matron at that place, and I doubt you are deceived in her. Our lads went to the the-a-ter the other night, and I checked them well for it ; but mother, says they, we had more call to be there than the governess up to Miss Rachel's schule in Nichol Street, dressed out in pink feathers." " Well, Mrs. Rossitur, I will make every inquiry, and I do not think you will find anything wrong. There must be some one about very like Mrs. Rawlins. I have heard of those pink feathers before, but I know who the matron is, and all about her ! Good-bye. I'll see you again before you go ; I (Suppose it won't be till the seven o'clock train." Mrs. Rossitur remained expressing her opinion to the butler that dear Miss Rachel was too innocent, and then proceeded to lose all past cares in a happy return to " melting day," in the regions of her past glories as cook and housekeeper. Rachel repaired to her room to cool her glowing cheeks, and repeat to herself, " A mistake, an error. It must be a blunder ! That boy that went to the theatre may have cheated them ! Mrs. Rawlins may have deceived Mr. Mauleverer. Anything must be true rather than ^o, no ! such a tissue of de- ception is impossible in a man of such sentiments ! Perse- cuted as he has been, shall appearances make me — ^me, his only friend — turn against him ? Oh, me ! here come the whole posse purring upstairs to take off their things ! I shall be invaded in a moment." And in came Grace and the two younger ladies, and Rachel was no more her own from that moment. THE FORLORN HOPE. 255 CHAPTER XVIII. THE FORLORN HOPE. ** She whipped two female 'prentices to death, And hid them in the coal-hole. For her mind Shaped strictest plans of discipline, sage schemes, Such as Lycurgus taught." — Canning and Frere. The favourite dentist of the iieighbourliood dwelt in a grand mansion at St. Norbert's, and thither were conducted Conrade and Francis, as victims to the symmetry of their mouths. Their mother accompanied th.em to supply the element of tenderness, Alison that of firmness ; and, in fact. Lady Temple was in a state of much, greater trepidation than either of her sons, who had been promised five shillings each, as the reward of fortitude, and did nothing but discuss what they should buy with it. They escaped with, a reprieve to Conrade, and the loss of one tooth of Francis's, and when the rewards bad been laid out, and presents chosen for all the stay-at-home children, including Eose, Lady Temple became able to think about other matters. The whole party were in a little den at the pastrycook's ; the boys consuming mutton pies, and the ladies ox-tail soup, wbile waiting to be taken up by the waggonette which had of late been added to the Myrtlewood establish- ment, when tbe little lady thus spoke — " If you don't object, Miss Williams, we wiU go to Eachel's asylum on our way bome." Miss Williams asked if she had made the appointment. " JSTo," said Lady Temple, " but you see I can't be satisfied about those woodcuts ; and that poor woman, Mrs. Kelland, came to me yesterday about my lace shawl, and she is sadly distressed about the little girl. She was not allowed to see her, you know, and she heard such odd things about the place that I told her that I did not wonder she was in trouble, and that I would try to bring the child home, or at any rate see and talk to her." " I hope we may be able to see her, but you know Colonel Keith could not get in without makuig an appointment.'* " I pay for her," said Lady Temple, " and I cannot bear its going on in this way without some one seeing about it. The Colonel was quite suie those woodcuts were mere fabrications 256 THE CLEYEB WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. to deceive Eacliel ; and tliere must "be soinetliing very wrong about those people." " Did slie know that you were going ? " " No ; I did not see her before we went. I do not think she will mind it much; and I promised." Lady Temple faltered a little, but gathered courage the next moment. " Aiid indeed, after what Mrs. Kelland said, I could not sleep while I thought I had been the means of putting any poor child into such hands." " Yes," said Alison, " it is very shocking to leave them there without inquiry, and it is an excellent thing to make the attempt." And so the order was given to drive to the asylum, Alison marvelling at the courage which prompted this most unex- pected assault upon the fortress that had repulsed two such warriors as Colonel Keith and Mrs. KeUand. But timid and tender as she might be, it was not for nothing that Fanny Temple had been a vice-queen, so much accustomed to be welcomed wherever she penetrated, that the notion of a rebuff never suggested itself. Coombe rang, and his lady made him let herself and Miss "Williams out, so that she was on the step when the rough charwoman opened the door, and made the usual reply that Mr. Mauleverer was not within. Lady Temple answered that it was Mrs. Eawhns, the matron, that she wished to see, and with more audacity than Alison thought her capable of, inserted herself within the doorway, so as to prevent herself from being shut out as the girl took her message. The next moment the girl came back saying, " This way, ma'am," opened the door of a small dreary, dusty, cold parlour, where she shut them in, and disappeared before a word could be said. There they remained so long, that in spite of Isuch encour- agement as could be derived from peeping over the blinds at Coombe standing sentinel over his two young masters at the carriage window, Lady Temple began to feel some dismay, though no repentance, and with anxious iteration conjured Miss Williams to guess what could be the cause of delay. " Making ready for our reception," was Alison's answer in various forms ; and Lady Temple repeated by turns, " I do not like it," and " it is very unsatisfactory. 'No, I don't like it at all," the at all always growing more emphatic. The climax was, " Thiiigs must be very sad, or they woulc never take so much preparation. I'll tell you, Miss Wil- liams," she added ia a low confidential tone ; " there are two THE FORLORW HOPE. 257 of US, and the woman cannot be in two places at once. Now, if you go up and see tlie rooms and all, which. I saw long ago, I could stay and talk to the poor children." Alison was the more surprised at the simple statecraft of the General's widow, but it was prompted by the pitiful heart yearning over the mysterious wrongs of the poor little ones. At last Mrs. Eawlins sailed in, crape, streamers, and all, with the lowest of curtsies and fullest of apologies for having detained her Ladyship, but she had been sending out in pur- suit of Mr. Mauleverer, he would be so disappointed ! Lady Temple begged to see the children, and especially Lovedy, whom she said she should like to take home for a hoMay. " Why, my lady, you see Mr. Mauleverer is very particular. I hardly know that I could answer it to him to have one of his little darlings out of his sight. It unsettles a child so to be going home, and Lovedy has a bad cold, my lady, and I am afraid it will run through the house. My little AJice is beginning of it." However, Lady Temple kept to her desire of seeing Lovedy, and of letting her companion see the rest of the establish- ment, and they were at last ushered into the room already known to the visitors of the F. U. E. E., where the two children sat as usual in white pinafores, but it struck the ladies that all looked ill, and Lovedy was wrapped in a shawl, and sat cowering in a dull, stupified way, unlike the bright responsive manner for which she had been noted even in her lace-school days. Mary Morris gazed for a moment at Alison with a wistful appealing glance; then, with a start as of fright, put on a sullen stolid look, and kept her eyes on her book. The little Alice, looking very heavy and feverish, leant against her, and Mrs. Rawlins went on talking of the colds, the gruel she had made, and her care for her pupils' ailments, and Lady Temple listened so graciously that Alison feared she was succumbing to the palaver ; and by way of reminder, asked to see the dormitory. " Oh, yes, ma'am, certainly, though we are rather in confu- sion," and she tried to make both ladies precede her, but Lady Temple, for once assuming the uncomprehending non- chalance of a fine lady, seated herself languidly and motioned Alison on. The matron was evidently perplexed, she looked daggers at the children, or Ailie fancied so, but she was forced to foUow the governess. Lady Temple breathed more freely, and rose. "My poor child," she said to Lovedy 258 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. "you seem very poorly. Have you any message to youi aunt 1 " " Please, please ! " began Lovedy, witli a hoarse sob. "Lovedy, don't, don't be a bad girl, or you know " interposed tbe little one, in a warning whisper. " She is not naughty," said Lady Temple gently, " only not weU." " Please, my lady, look," eagerly, though with a fugitivs action of terror, Lovedy cried, unpinning the thin coarse shawl on her neck, and revealing the terrible stripes and weals of recent beating, such as nearly sickened Lady Temple. " Oh, Lovedy," entreated Alice, " sheTL take the big stick." " She could not do her work," interposed Mary vrith fur- tive eagerness, " she is so poorly, and Missus said she would have the twenty sprigs if she sat up all night." "Sprigs!" " Yes, ma'am, we makes lace more than ever we did to home, day and night ; and if we don't she takes the stick." " Oh, Mary," implored the child, " she said if you said one word." " Mary," said Lady Temple, trembling all over, " where are your bonnets 1 " " We haven't none, ma'am," returned Maiy, " she pawned them. Put, oh, ma'am, please take us away. We are used dreadful bad, and no one knows it." Lady Temple took Lovedy in one hand, and Mary in the other ; then looked at the other little girl, who stood as if petrified. She handed the pair to the astonished Coombe, bidding bim put them into the carriage, and let Master Temple go outside, and then faced about to defend the rear, her rustling black silk and velvet filling up the passage, just as Alison and the matron were coming down stairs. " Mrs. Kawlins," she said, in her gentle dignity, " I think Lovedy is so poorly that she ought to go home to her aunt to be nursed, and I have taken little Mary that she may not be left behind alone. Please to tell Mr. Mauleverer that I take it all upon myself. The other little girl is not at all to blame, and I hope you will take care of her, for she looks very ill." So much for being a Governor's widow ! A woman of thrice Fanny's energy and capacity would not have effected her purpose so simply, and made the virago in the matron so" entirely quaH. She swept forth with such a consciousness of power and ease that few could have had assurance enough to THE FORLORN HOPE. 259 gainsay her, "but no sooner was slie in the carriage than she seized Mary's hand, exclaiming, " My poor, poor little dear ! Francis, dear hoy, the wicked people have heen heating her ! Oh, Miss Williams, look at her poor neck ! " Alison lifting Lovedy on her knee, glanced under the shawl, and saw indeed a sad spectacle, and she felt such a sharpness of hone as proved that there was far from heing the proper amount of clothing or of flesh to protect them. Lady Temple looked at Mary's attenuated hand, and fairly sohhed, " Oh, you have heen cruelly treated ! " " Please don't let her get us," cried the frightened Mary. "N"ever, never, my dear. We are taking you home to your mother." Mary Moms was the spokeswoman, and volunteered the exhihition of hruises rather older, hut no less severe than those of her companion. All had heen inflicted hy the woman ; Mr. Mauleverer had seldom or never heen seen hy the children, except Alice, who used often to he called into Mrs. Eawlins's parlour when he was there, to he played with and petted. A charwoman was occasionally caUed in, hut otherwise the entire work of the house was exacted from the two girls, and they had heen hesides kept perpetually to their lace pillows, and severely heaten if they failed in the required amount of work ; the ample wardrohe with which their patronesses had provided them had heen gradually taken from them ; and their fare had latterly hecome ex- ceedingly coarse, and very scanty. It was a sad story, and this last clause evoked from Francis's pocket a large currant hun, which Mary devoured with a famished appetite, hut Lovedy held her portion untasted in her hand, and presently gave it to Mary, saying that her throat was so had that she could not make use of anything. She had already heen wrapped in Lady Temple's cloak, and Francis was desired to watch for a chemist's shop that something might he done for her reHef, hut the region of shops was already left hehind, and even the villas were hecoming scantier, so that nothing was to he done hut to drive on, ohtaining from time to time further doleful narratives from Mary, and perceiving more and more how ill and suffering was the other poor cliild. Moreover, Lady Temple's mind hecame extremely uneasy as to the manner in which Eachel might accept her exploit. All her valour departed as she figured to herself that young lady discrediting the alarm, and resenting her interference. SliG did not repent, she knew she could not have helped it. 2 CO THE CLEVER WOMAN OF TEE FAMILY. and slie had rather have been tortured h.y Eachel than have left the victims another hour to the F. U. E. E., but she was full of nervous anxiety, little as she yet guessed at the full price of her courage ; and she uttered more than once the fervent wish that the Colonel had been there, for he would have known what to do. And Alison each time replied, " I wish it with all my heart ! " Wrought up at last to the pitch of nervousness that must rush on the crisis at once, and take the bull by the horns, this valiant piece of cowardice declared that she could not even return the girls to their homes till Eachel knew all about it, and gave the word to drive to the Homestead, further cheered by the recollection that Colonel Keith would probably be there, having been asked to luncheon, as he could not dine out, to meet Mr. Grey. Moreover, Mr. Grey was a magistrate and would know what was to be done. Thus the whole party at the Homestead were assembled near the door, when, discerning them too late to avoid them. Lady Temple's equipage drew up in the peculiarly ungrace- ful fashion of waggonettes, when they prepare to shoot their passengers out behind. Conrade, the only person who had the advantage of a previous view, stood up on the box, and before making his; descent, shouted out, " Oh, Aunt Rachel, your F. U. tlung is as bad as the Sepoys. But we have saved the two little girls that they were whipping to death, and have got them in the carriage." While this announcement was being dehvered, Alison Williams, the nearest to the door, had emerged. She lifted out the little muffled figure of Lovedy, set her on her feet, and then looking neither to the right nor left, as if she saw and thought of no one else, made but one bound towards Colonel Keith, clasped both hands round his arm, turned him away from the rest, and with her black brows drawn close together, gasped under her breath, " 0, Colin, Colin, it is Maria Hatherton." "What! the matron?" " Yes, the woman that has used these poor children like a savage. 0, Colin, it is frightful." " You should sit down, you are almost ready to faint." " Nothing ! notliing ! But the poor girls are in such a state. And that Maria whom we taught, and " Alison stopped. " Did she know you ? " THE FORLORN HOPE. 261 " I can't tell. Perhaps ; but I did not know her till the last moment." " I have long believed that the man that Eose recognised was Mauleverer, but I thought the uncertainty would be bad for Ermine. What is all this ? " " You will hear. There ! Listen, I can't teU you ; Lady Temple did it aU," said Alison, trying to draw away her arm from him, and to assume the staid governess. But he felt her trembling, and did not release her from his support as they turned back to the astonished group, to which, while these few words were passing, Francis, the little bareheaded white- aproned Mary Morris, and lastly Lady Temple, had by this time been added; and Fanny, with quick but courteous acknowledgment of all, was singling out her cousin. " Oh, Eachel, dear, I did not mean it to have been so sudden or before them all, but indeed I could not help it," she said in her gentle, imploring voice ; "if you only saw that poor dear child's neck." Eachel had little choice what she should say or do. What Fanny was saying tenderly and privately, the two boys were communicating open-mouthed, and Mrs. Curtis came at once with her nervous, " What is it, my dear ; is it something very sad ] Those poor children look very cold, and half starved." " Indeed," said Fanny, " they have been starved, and beaten, and cruelly used. I am very sorry, Eachel, but in- deed that was a dreadful woman, and I thought Colonel Keith and Mr. Grey would tell us what ought to be done." "Mr. Grey !" and Mrs. Curtis turned round eagerly, with the comfort, of having some one to support her, "will you tell us what is to be done ? Here has poor dear Eachel been taken in by tliis wicked scheme, and these poor " " Mother, mother," muttered Eachel, lashed up to despera- tion ; " please not out here, before the servants and every one." This appeal and Grace's opening of the door had the effect of directing every one into the hall, Mr. Grey asking Mrs. Curtis by the way, " Eh ? Then this is Eachel' s new female asylum, is it 1 " " Yes, I always feared there was something odd about it. I never liked that man, and now Fanny, my love, what is the matter 1 " In a few simple words Fanny answered that she had con- trived to be left alone with the children, and had then found signs of such shocking iU-treatment of them, that she had thought it right to bring them away at once. 2G2 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. "And you will commit those wretclies. You wiU send them to prison at once, Mr. Grey. They have been deceiv- ing my poor Eachel ever so long, and getting sums upon sums of money out of her," said Mrs. Curtis, becoming quite blood-thirsty. " If there is sufficient occasion I will summon the persons concerned to the Bench on Wednesday," said Mr. Grey, a practical, active squire. " Not till Wednesday ! " said Mrs. Curtis, as if she thought the course of justice very tardy. But the remembrance of Mr. Curtis's magisterial days came to her aid, and she con- tinued, " but you can take all the examinations here at once, you know ; and Grace can find you a summons paper, if you will just go into the study." " It might save the having the children over to-morrow, certainly," said Mr. Grey, and he was inducted almost pas- sively into the leathern chair before the library table, where Mr. Curtis had been wont to administer justice, and Grace was diving deep into a bureau for the printed forms long treasured there, her mother directing her, though Mr. Grey vainly protested that any foolscap would do as well. It was a curious scene. Mrs. Grey with her daughters had the discretion to remove themselves ; but every one else was in a state of excitement, and pressed into the room, the two boys disputing under their breath whether the civilians called it a court martial, and, with some confusion between mutineers and Englishwomen, hoping the woman would be blown from the mouth of a cannon, for hadn't she gone and worn a cap like mamma's 1 They would have referred the question to Miss Williams, but she had been deposited by the Colonel on one of the chairs in the furthest corner of the room, and he stood sheltering ,her agitation and watching the proceed- ings. Lady Temple still held a hand of each of her rescued victims, as if she feared they were still in danger, and all the time Rachel stood and looked like a statue, unable to collect her convictions in the hubbub, and the trust, that would have enabled her to defy all this, swept away from her by the morning's transactions. Yet stiU there was a hope that ap- pearances might be delusive, and an habitual low estimate of Mr. Grey's powers that made her set on looking with her own eyes, not with his. His first question was about the children's names and their friends, and this led to the despatching of a message to the mother and aunt. He then inquired about the terms THE FORLORN HOPE. 263 Oil, wHcli they had been placed at St. Norbert's, and Eacbel, wbo was obliged to reply, felt under Ms clear, stringent ques- tions, keeping close to tbe point, a good deal more respect for his powers than she had hitherto entertained. That dry way of his was rather overwhelming. "When it came to the chil- dren themselves, Eachel watched, not without a hope that the clear masculine intellect would detect Fanny in a mere frightened woman's fancy, and bring the F. U. E. E. off with flying colours. Little Mary Morris stood forth valiant and excited. She was eleven years old, and intelligent enough to make it evident that she knew what she was about. The replies were full. The blows were described, with terrible detail of the occasions and implements. Still Rachel remembered the accusation of Mary's truth. She tried to doubt. "I saw her with a bruised eye," said the Colonel's un- expected voice in a pause. " How was that 1 " " Please, sir, Mrs. Eawlins hit me with her fist because I had only done seven sprigs. She knocked me down, and I did not come to for ever so long." And not only this, and the like sad narratives, but each child bore the marks in corroboration of the words, which were more reluctant and more hoarse from Lovedy, but even more effective. Eachel doubted no more after the piteous sight of those scarred shoulders, and the pinched feeble face ; but one thing was plain, namely, that Mr. Mauleverer had no share in the cruelties. Even such severities as had been per- petrated while he was iu the house, had, Mary thought, been protested against by him ; but she had seldom seen him ; he paid all his visits in the little parlour, and took no notice of the children except to prepare the tableau for public in- spection. Mr. Grey, looking at his notes, said that there was full evidence to justify issuing a sunnnons against the woman for assaulting the children, and proceeded to ask her name. Then while there was a question whether her christian name was known, the Colonel again said, " I believe her name to be Maria Hatherton. Miss Williams has recognised her as a servant who once lived in her fanuly, and who came from her father's parish at Beauchamp." Alison on inquiry corroborated the statement, and the charge was made against Maria Eawlins, alias Hatherton. The deposi- tions were read over to the children, and signed by them ; with very trembling fingers by poor little Lovedy, and Mr. Grey said he would send a policeman with the summons early next day. 264 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. " But, Mr. Grey," burst out Mrs. Curtis, " you don't mean that you are not going to do anything to that man ! Wliy he has heen worse than the woman! It was he that entrapped the poor children, and my poor Eachel here, with his stories of magazines and illustrations, and I don't know whataU!" " Yery true, Mrs. Curtis," said the magistrate, " hut where's the charge against him 1 " It may be conceived how pleasant it was to the clever woman of the family to hear her mother declaiming on the arts by which she had been duped by this adventurer, appealing continually to Grace and Eanny, and sometimes to herself, and aU before Mr. Grey, on whose old-world prejudices she had bestowed much more antagonism than he had thought it worth while to bestow on her new lights. Yet, at the moment, this operation of being written down an ass, was less acutely painful to her than the perception that was simultaneously growing on her of the miserable condition of poor little Lovedy, whose burning hand she held, and whose gasping breath she heard, as the child rested feebly in the chair in which she had been placed. Rachel had nothing vindictive or selfish in her mood, and her longing was, above all, to get away, aiad minister to the poor child's present sufferings ; but she found herself hemmed in, and pinned down by the investigation pushed on by her mother, in- volving answers and explanations that she alone could make. Mr. Grey rubbed his forehead, and looked freshly annoyed at each revelation of the state of things. It had not been Mauleverer, but Eachel, who had asked subscriptions for the education of the children, he had but acted as her servant ; the counterfeit of the woodcuts, which Lady Temple suggested, could not be construed into an offence ; and it looked very much as if, thanks to his cleverness, and Eachel's incaution, there was really no case to be made out against him, as if the fox had carried off the bait without even leaving his brush behind him. Sooth to say, the failure was a relief to Eachel ; she had thrown so much of her will and entire self into the upholding him, that she could not yet detach herself or sympathize with those gentle souls, the mother and Fanny, in keenly hunting him down. Might he not have been as much deceived in Mrs. Eawlins as herself 1 At any rate she hoped for time to face the subject, and kneeling on the ground so as to support little Lovedy 's sinking head on her shoulder, made the briefest replies in her power when referred to. At THE FORLORN HOPE. 265 last, Grace recollected the morning's affair of Mrs. Rossitiir's tills. Mr. Grey looked as if ha saw daylight, Grace volun- teered to fetch both the account-book and Mrs. Eossitur, and Rachel found the statement being extracted from her of the monthly production of the bills, with the entries in the book, and of her having given the money for their payment. Mr. Grey began to write, and she perceived that he was taking down her deposition. She beckoned Mary to support her poor little companion, and rising to her feet, said, to the horror and consternation of her mother, " Mr. Grey, pray let me speak to you ! " He rose at once, and followed her to the hall, where he looked prepared to be kind but firm. " Must this be done to-day 1 " she said. " Why not ? " he answered. " I want time to think about it. The woman has acted like a fiend, and I have not a word to say for her ; but I cannot feel that it is fair, after such long and entire trust of this man, to turn on him suddenly without notice." " Do you mean that you will not prosecute ? " said Mr. Grey, with a dozen notes of interjection in his voice. " I have not said so. I want time to make up my mind, and to hear what he has to say for himself." " You will hear that at the Bench on Wednesday." " It will not be the same thing." " I should hope not ! " " You see," said Rachel, perplexed and grievously wanting time to rally her forces, " I cannot but feel that I have trusted too easily, and perhaps been to blame myself for my implicit confidence, and after that it revolts me to throw the whole blame on another." " If you have been a simpleton, does that make him an honest man 1 " said Mr. Grey, impatiently. " No," said Rachel, " but " "Whatr' " My credulity may have caused his dishonesty," she said, bringing, at last, the words to serve the idea. " Look you here, Rachel," said Mr. Grey, constraining himself to argue patiently with his old friend's daughter ; " it does not simply lie between you and him — a silly girl who has let herself be taken in by a sharper. That would be no more than giving a sixpence to a fellow that tells me he lost his arm at Sebastopol when he has got it sewn up in a bag. But you have been getting subscriptions from all the world, 266 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. making yourseK answerable to tliem for having these children educated, and then, for want of proper superintendence, or the merest rational precaution, leaving them to this barbarous usage. I don't want to be hard upon you, but you are accountable for all this ; you have made yourself so ; and unless you wish to be regarded as a sharer in the iniquity, the least you can do by way of compensation, is not to make yourself an obstruction to the course of justice." " I don't much care how I am regarded," said Eachel, with subdued tone and sunken head ; " I only want to do right, and not act spitefully and vindictively before he has had warning to defend himself." "Or to set off to delude as many equal foo — ^mistaken people as he can find elsewhere? Eh, Rachel? Don't you see, if this friend of yours be innocent, a summons will not hurt him, it will only give him the opportunity of clearing himself." " Yes, I see," owned Rachel, and overpowered, though far from satisfied, she allowed herself to be brought back, and did what was required of her, to the intense relief of her mother. During her three minutes' conference no one in the study had ventured on speaking or stirring, and Mrs. Curtis would not thank her biographer for recording the wild alarms that careered through her brain, as to the object of her daughter's t6te-a-t^te with the magistrate. It was over at last, and the hall of justice broke up. Mary Morris was at once in her mother's arms, and in a few minutes more making up for all past privations by a substantial meal in the kitchen. But Mrs. Kelland had gone to Avoncester to purchase thread, and only her daughter Susan had come up, the girl who was supposed to be a sort of spider, with no capacities beyond her web. ^Nor did Rachel think Lovedy capable of walking down to Mackarel Lane, nor well enough for the comfortless chairs and the third part of a bed. JN"o, Mr. Grey's words that Rachel was accountable for the children's sufferings had gone to her heart. Pity was there and indignation, but these had brought such an anguish of self-accusation as she could only appease by lavishing personal care upon the chief sufferer. She carried the child to her own sitting-room and made a couch for her before the fire, sending Susan away with the assurance that Lovedy should stay at the Homestead, and be nursed and fed till she was well and strong again. Fanny, who had accompanied her, thought the child very ill, and was urgent that the doctor THE FORLORN HOPE. 2G7 should be sent for ; but between Eacbel and tbe faculty of Avonmouth. there was a deadly feud, and the proposal was scouted. Hunger and a bad cold were easily treated, and maybe there was a spark of consolation in having a patient all to herself and her homoeopathic book. So Fanny and her two boys walked down the hill together in the dark. Colonel Keith and Alison Williams had a&eady taken the same road, anxiously discussing the future. Alison asked why Colin had not given Mauleverer's alias. " I had no proof," he said. " You were sure of the woman, but so far it is only guess work with him ; though each time Eose spoke of seeing Maddox coincided with one of Mauleverer's visits. Besides, Alison, on the back of that etching in Eose's book is written, ' Mrs. WiUiams, from her humble and obliged servant, E. Maddox.' " " And you said nothing about it? " " JS[o, I wished to make myself secure, and to see my way before speaking out." " What shall you do ? Can you trust to Eose's identifying him?" " I shall ride in to-morrow to see what is going on, and judge if it wiU be weU to let her see this man, if he have not gone off, as I should fear was only too likely. Poor little Lady Temple, her exploit has precipitated matters." " And you will let every one, Dr. Long and aU, know what a wretch they have believed. And then " " Stay, Alison, I am afraid they, will not take Maddox's subsequent guilt as a proof of Edward's ianocence." " It is a proof that his stories were not worth credit." " To you and me it is, who do not need such proof. It is possible that among his papers something may be found that may implicate him and clear Edward, but we can only hold off and watch. And I greatly fear both man and woman will have slipped through our fingers, especially if she knew you." " Poor Maria, who could have thought of such frightful barbarity 1 " sighed Alison. " I knew she was a passionate girl, but this is worse than one can bear to believe." She ceased, for she had been iaexpressibly shocked, and her heart still yearned towards every Beauchamp school child, " I suppose we must teU Ermine," she added ; " indeed, I know I could not help it." "Nor I," he said, smiluig, "though there is only too much fear that nothing will come of it but disappointment. At least, she wiU teU us how to meet that." 2G8 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. CHAPTEE XIX. THE BREWST SHE BREWED. " Unwisely, not ignobly, have I given." Timon of Athens. Under tlie circumstancGS of the Curtis family, no greater penance could liave been devised than the solemn dinner party which had to take place only an hour after the investi- gation was closed. Grace in especial was nearly distracted between her desire to calm her mother and to comfort her sister, and the necessity of attending to the Grey family, who repaid themselves for their absence from the scene of action by a torrent of condolences and questions, whence poor Grace gathered to her horror and consternation that the neighbourhood already believed that a tenderer sentiment than philanthropy had begun to mingle in Eachel's relations with the secretary of the F. U. E. E. Feeling it incumbent on the whole family to be as lively and indifferent as possible, Grace, having shut her friends into their rooms to perform their toilette, hurried to her sister, to find her so entirely engrossed with her patient as absolutely to have forgotten the droner party. No wonder ! She had had to hunt up a housemaid to make up a bed for Lovedy in a little room within her own, and the undressing and bathing of the poor child had revealed injuries even in a more painful state than those which had been shown to Mr. Grey, shocking emacia- tion, and most scanty garments. The child was almost torpid, and spoke very little. She was most unwilling to attempt to swallow ; however, Eachel thought that some of her globules had gone down, and put much faith in them, and in warmth and sleep ; but incessantly occupied, and absolutely sickened by the sigb.'i of the child's hurts, she looked up with loathing at Grace's entreaty that she would dress for the diuner. " Impossible," she said. " You must, Eachel dear ; indeed, you must." " As if I could leave her^ " Nay, Eachel, but if you would only send " " Nonsense, Grace ; if I can stay with her I can restore her far better than could an aliopathist, who would not leave THE BREWST SHE BREWED. 269 iiature to herself. Grace, wliy can't you leave me in peace ] Is it not bad enougli without this ? " " Dear Eachel, I am very sorry ; but if you did not come down to dinner, think of the talk it would make." " Let them talk." " Ah, Eachel, hut the mother ! Think how dreadful the day's work has been to her ; and how can she ever get through the evening if she is in a fright at your not coming down ? " " Dinner parties are one of the most barbarous institutions of past stupidity," said Eachel, and Grace was reassured. She hovered over Eachel while Eachel hovered over the sick child, and between her own exertions and those of two maids, had put her sister into an evening dress by the time the first carriage arrived. She then rushed to her own room, made her own toilette, and returned to find Eachel in con- ference with Mrs. Kelland, who had come home at last, and was to sit with her niece during the dinner. Perhaps it was as well for all parties that this first interview was cut very short, but Eachel's burning cheeks did not promise much for the impression of ease and indifference she was to make, as Grace's whispered reminders of " the mother's " distress dragged her down stairs among the all too curious glances oi the assembled party. A]l had been bustle. Not one moment for recollection had yet been Eachel's. Mr. Grey's words, " Accountable for all," throbbed in her ears and echoed in her brain — the purple bruises, the red stripes, verging upon sores, were before her eyes, and the lights, the flowers, the people and their greet- ings, were like a dazzj mist. The space before dinner was happily but brief, and then, as last lady, she came in as a supernumerary on the other arm of Grace's cavalier, and taking the only vacant chair, found herseK between a squire and Captain Keith, who had duly been bestowed on Emily Grey. Here there was a moment's interval of quiet, for the squire was slightly deaf, and, moreover, regarded her as a little pert girl, not to be encouraged, while Captain Keith was resigned to the implied homage of the adorer of his cross j so that, though the buzz of talk and the clatter of knives and forks roared louder than it had ever seemed to do since she had been a child, listening from the outside, the immediate sense of hurry and confusion, and the impossibility of seeing or hearing anything plainly, began to diminish. She could not tliiiik, but she began to wonder whether aDy one knew what 270 THJi] CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. had happeued; and, above all, she perfectly dreaded the quiet sting of her neighbour's word and eye, in this consum- mation of his victory. If he glanced at her, she knew she could not bear it ; and if he never spoke to her at all, it would be marked reprehension, which would be far better than sarcasm. He was evidently conscious of her presence •, for when, in her insatiable thirst, she had drained her own supply of water, she found the little bottle quietly exchanged for that before him. It was far on in the dinner before Emily's attention was claimed by the gentleman on her other hand, and then there was a space of silence before Captain Keith almost made Eachel start, by saying — " This has come about far more painfully than could have been expected." " I thought you would have triumphed," she said. " ]N"o, indeed. I feel accountable for the introduction that my sister brought upon you." " It was no fault of hers," said Eachel, sadly. " I wish I could feel it so." " That was a mere chance. The rest was my own doing." " Aided and abetted by more than one looker-on." " No. It is I who am accountable," she said, repeating Mr. Grey's words. " You accept the whole 1 " It was his usual, cool, dry tone ; but as she replied, " I must," she involuntarily looked up, with a glance of entreaty to be spared, and she met those dark, grey, heavy- lidded eyes fixed on her with so much concern as almost to unnerve her. " You cannot," he answered ; " every bystander must rue the apathy that let you be so cruelly deceived, for want of exertion on their part." " I^ay," she said ; " you tried to open my eyes. I think this would have come worse, but for this morning's stroke." " Thank you," he said, earnestly. "I daresay you know more than I have been able to understand," she presently added ; " it is like being in the middle of an explosion, without knowing what stands or faUs." " And lobster-salad as an aggravation ! " said he, as the dish successively persecuted them. "This dinner is hard on you." " Very ; but my mother would have been unhappy if I had stayed away. It is the leaving the poor cMld that THE BREWST SHE BIIEWED. 271 grieves me. She is in a fearful state, between sore tkroat, starvation, and blows." The picture of the effect of the blows coming before Eachel at that moment, perilled her ability even to sit through the dinner ; but her companion saw the suddening whitening of her cheek, and by a dexterous signal at once caused her glass to be filled. Habit was framing her lips to say something about never drinking wine ; but somehow she felt a certain compulsion in his look, and her compliance restored her. She returned to the subject, saying, "But it was only the woman that was cruel." " She had not her Sepoy face for nothing." " Did I hear that Miss Williams knew her 1 " "Yes j it seems she was a maid who had once been very cruel to little Rose Williams. The Colonel seems to think the discovery may have important consequences. I hardly know how." This conversation sent Eachel out of the dining-room more like herself than she had entered it ; but she ran upstairs at once to Lovedy, and remained with her till disinterred by the desperate Grace, who could not see three people talking together without blushing with indignation at the construc- tion they were certainly putting on her sister's scarlet cheeks and absence from the drawing-room. With all Grace's efforts, however, she could not bring her truant back before the gentle- men had come in. Captain Keith had seen their entrance, and soon came up to Rachel. " How is your patient 1 " he asked. " She is very ill ; and the worst of it is, that it seems such agony to her to attempt to swallow." " Have you had advice for her ? " "No; I have often treated colds, and I thought this a case, aggravated by that wicked treatment." " Have you looked into her mouth 1 " " Yes ; the skin is frightfully brown and dry." He leant towards her, and asked, in an under tone — " Did you ever see diphtheria?" " No ! " — ^her brow contracting — " did you 1 " " Yes ; we had it through all the children of the regiment at Woolwich." "You think this is it?" He asked a few more questions, and his impression was evidently confirmed. " I must send for Mr. Frampton," said Rachel, homoeopathy 272 THE CLSVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY, succmnbing to lier terror; but then, with a despairing glance, she beheld aU the male part of the establishment handing tea. " Where does he live 1 I'll send him up." " Thank you, oh I thank you. The house with the rails, under the east cUff." He was gone, and Eachel endured the reeling of the lights, and the surges of talk, and the musical performances that seemed to burst the drum of her ear; and, after all, people went away, saying to each other that there was something very much amiss, and that poor dear Mrs. Curtis was very much to blame for not having controlled her daughters. They departed at last, and Grace, without uttering the terrible word, was explaining to the worn-out mother that little Lovedy was more unwell, and that Captain Keith had kindly offered to fetch the doctor, when the Captain himseK returned. " I am sorry to say that Mr. Frampton is out, not Ukely to be at home till morning, and his partner is with a bad acci- dent at Avonford. The best plan will be for me to ride back to Avoncester, and send out Macvicar, our doctor. He is a kind-hearted man, of much experience in this kind of thing." " But you are not going back," said polite Mrs. Curtis, far from taking in the urgency of the case. " You were to sleep at Colonel Keith's. I could not think of your taking the trouble." "I have settled that with the Colonel, thank you. My dog-cart will be here directly." "I can only say, thank you," said Eachel, earnestly. "But is there nothtrig to be done in the meantime] Do you know the treatment 1 " He knew enough to give a few directions, which revealed to poor Mrs. Curtis the character of the disease. " That horrible new sore throat ! Oh, Rachel, and you have been hanging over her all this time ! " " Indeed," said Alick Keith, comiQg to her. " I think you need not be alarmed. The complaint seems to me to depend on the air and locality. I have been often with people who had it." "And not caught it r' " No ; though one poor little fellow, our piper's son, would not try to take food from any one else, and died at last on my knee. I do not beheve it is infectious in that way." And hearing his carriage at the door, he shook hands, and hurried off^ Mrs. Curtis observing — THE BREWST SHE BREWED. 273 " He really is a very good young man. B.ut oh, Eachel, my dear, how could you bring her here 1 " " I did not know, mother. Any way it is better than her being in Mrs. Kelland's hive of children." " You are not going back to her, Eachel, I entreat ! " " Mother, I must. You heard what Captain Keith said. Let that comfort you. It would be brutal cruelty and cowardice to stay away from her to-night. Good night, Grace, make mother see that it must be so." She went, for poor Mrs. Curtis could not withstand her ; and only turned with tearful eyes to her elder daughter to say, " You do not go into the room again Grace, I insist." Grace could not bear to leave Eachel to the misery of such a vigil, and greatly reproached herself for the hurry that had prevented her from paying any heed to the condition of the child in her anxiety to make her sister presentable ; but Mrs. Curtis was in a state of agitation that demanded all the care and tenderness of this " mother's child," and the sharing her room and bed made it impossible to elude the watchfulness that nervously guarded the remaining daughter. It was eleven o'clock when Alexander Keith drove from the door. It was a moonlight night, and he was sure to spare no speed, but he could hardly be at Avoncester within an hour and a half, and the doctor would take at least two in coming out. Mrs. Kelland was the companion of Eachel's watch. The woman was a good deal subdued. The strange- ness of the great house tamed her, and she was shocked and frightened by the little girl's state as well as by the young lady's grave, awe-struck, and silent manner. They tried all that Captain Keith had suggested, but the child was too weak and spent to inhale the steam of vinegar, and the attempts to make her swallow produced fruitless anguish. They could not discover how long it was since she had taken any nourishment, and they abeady knew 'what a miserable pittance hers had been at the best. Mrs. Kelland gave her up at once, and protested that she was following her toother, and that there was death in her face. Eachel made an imperious gesture of silence, and was obeyed so far as voice went, but long-drawn sighs and shakes of the head continued to impress on her the aunt's hopelessness, through- out the endeavours to change the position, the moistening of the Ups, the attempts at relief in answer to the choked effort to cough, the weary, faint moan, the increasing faintness and exhaustion. 274 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. One o'clock struck, and Mrs. Kelland said, in a low, ominous voice, "It is tlie turn of the night. Miss Racliel. You had best leave her to me." " I will never leave her," said Rachel impatiently. " You are a young lady, Miss Eachel, you ain't used to the like of this." " Hark ! " Eachel held up her finger. Wheels were crashing up the hill. The horrible respon- sibility was over, the immediate terror gone, help seemed to be coming at the utmost need, and tears of relief rushed into Eachel's eyes, tears that Lovedy must have perceived, for she spoke the first articulate words she had uttered since the night- watch had begun, "Please, ma'am, don't fret, I'm going to poor mother." "You will be better now, Lovedy, here is the doctor," said Eachel, though conscious that this was not the right thing, and then she hastened out on the stairs to meet the gaunt old Scotsman and bring him in. He made Mrs. Kelland raise the child, examined her mouth, felt her feet and hands, which were fast becoming chiU, and desired the warm flannels still to be applied to them. " Cannot her throat be operated on 1 " said Eachel, a tremor within her heart. " I think we could both be depended on if you wanted us." " She is too far gone, poor lassie," was the answer, " it would be mere cruelty to torment her. You had better go and lie down. Miss Curtis ; her mother and I can do all she is like to need." " Is she dying 1 " " I doubt if she can last an hour longer. The disease is in an advanced state, and she was in too reduced a state to have battled with it, even had it been met earlier." " As it should have been ! Twice her destroyer ! " sighed Eachel, with a bursting heart, and again the kind doctor would have persuaded her to leave the room, but she turned from him and came back to Lovedy, who had been roused by what had been passing, and had been murmuring something which had set her aunt off into sobs. "She's saying she've been a bad girl to me, poor lamb, and I tell her not to think of it ! She knows it was for her good, if she had not been set against her work." Dr. Macvicar authoritatively hushed the woman, but 'Lovedy looked up with flushed cheeks, and the blue eyes THE BREWST SHE BREWED. 275 that had been so often noticed for their beauty. The last flush of fever had come to finish the work. " Don't fret," she said, " there's no one to beat me up there ! Please, the verse about the tears." Dr. Macvicar and the child both looked towards Eachel, but her whole memory seemed scared away, and it was the old Scotch army surgeon that repeated — " ' The Lord God shall wipe off tears from aU eyes.' Ah ! poor little one, you are going from a world that has been full of woe to you." " Oh, forgive me, forgive me, my poor child," said Eachel, kneeling by her, the tears streaming down silently. *' Please, ma'am, don't cry," said the Kttle girl feebly ; " you were very good to me. Please teU me of my Saviour," she added to Eachel. It sounded like set phraseology, and she knew not how to begin j but Dr. Macvicar's answer made the lightened look come back, and the child was again heard to whisper — " Ah ! I knew they scourged Him — ^for me." This was the last they did hear, except the sobbing breaths, ever more convulsive. Eachel had never before been present with death, and awe and dismay seemed to paralyse her whole frame. Even the words of hope and prayer for which the child's eyes craved from both her fellow-watchers seemed to her a strange tongue, inefficient to reach the misery of this untimely mortal agony, this work of neglect and cruelty — and she the cause. Three o'clock had struck before the last painful gasp had been drawn, and Mrs. KeUand's sobbing cry broke forth. Dr. Macvicar told Eachel that the child was at rest. She shivered from head to foot, her teeth chattered, and she murmured, " Accountable for all." Dr. Macvicar at once made her swaUow some of the cordial brought for the poor child, and then summoning the maid whom Grace had stationed in the outer room, he desired her to put her young mistress to bed without loss of time. The sole remaining desire of which she was conscious was to be alone and in the dark, and she passively submitted. f 2 27 G THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. CHAPTER XX. THE SARACEX'S HEAD. " Alas, lie thought, how changed that mien, How changed those timid looks have been, Since years of guilt and of disguise Have steeled her brow and armed her eyes." Marmion. " Are you sleepy, Eose ? What a yawn !" " Not sleepy, Aunt Ailie ; only it is sncli a tiresome long day when the Colonel does not come in." " Take care, Rosie j I don't know what we shall "be good for at this rate." " "We % Aunt Ermine, then you think it tiresome too. I know you do ^" "What's that, Rose?" " It is ! it is ! I'll open the door for him." The next moment Rose led her Colonel in triumph into the lamp-light. There was a bright light in his eye, and yet he looked pale, grave, and worn ; and Ermine's first observation was — " How came Tibbie to let you out at this time of night?" " I have not ventured to encounter Tibbie at all. I drove up to your door." " You have been at St. !N'orbert's all this time," exclaimed Alison. " Do you think no one can carry on a campaign at St. Norbert's but yourself and your generalissima, Miss Ailie ? " he said, stroking down Rose's brown hair. " Then, if you have not gone home, you have had nothing to eat, and that is the reason you look so tired," said Ermine. " Yes ; I had some luncheon at the Abbey." " Then, at any rate, you shall have some tea. Rosie, run and fetch the little kettle." " And the Beauchamp cup and saucer," added Rose, proudly producing the single relic of a well-remembered set of olden times. " And please, please, Aunt Ermine, let me sit up to make it for him. I have not seen him all day, you know ; and it is the first time he ever drank tea in our house, except make-believe with Violetta and Colinette." THE SAKACEN'S HEAD. 277 " No, Rose. Your aunt says I spoil that child, and I am going to have my revenge upon you. You must see the wild beast at his meals another time ; for it just happens that I have a good deal to say to your aunts, and it is not intended for your ears.'* Rose showed no signs of being spoilt, for she only entreated to be allowed "just to put the tea-things in order," and then, winking very hard, she said she would go. "Here, Rose, if you please," said Ermine, clearing the space of table before her. " Why, Aunt Ermine, I did not know you could make tea ! ' * " There are such things as extraordinary occasions. Rose. Now, good night, my sweet one." " Good night, my Lady Discretion. We will make up for it one of these days. Don't stay away, pray, Ailie," as Alison was following the child. " I have nothing to say till you corae back." " I know it is good news," said Ermine ; " but it has cost you something, Colin." Instead of answering, he received his cup from her, filled up her tea-pot, and said — " How long is it since you poured out tea for me, Ermine 1 " " Thirteen years next June, when you and Harry used to come in from the cricket field, so late and hot that you were ashamed to present yourself in civilized society at the Great House." " As if nobody from the Parsonage ever came down to look on at the cricket." " Yes ; being summoned by all the boys to see that nothing would teach a Scotchman cricket." " Ah 1 you have got the last word, for here comes Ailie." " Of course," said Alison, coming in ; "Ermine has had the pith of the story, so I had better ask at once what it is." " That the Reauchamp Eleven beat Her Majesty's — ^th Foot on Midsummer Day, 1846, is the pith of what I have as yet heard," said Ermine. " And that Beauchamp ladies are every whit as full of mischief as they used to be in those days, is the sum of what I have told," added Colin. " Yes," said Ermine, " he has most loyally kept his word of reserving all for you. He has not even said whether Mau- leverer is taken." " My story is grave and sad enough," said Colin, laying 278 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. aside all his playfulness, and a serious expression coming over his features ; but, at the same time, the landlady's sandy cat, which, like all other animals, was very fond of him, and had established herself on his knee as soon as Rose had left it vacant, was receiving a certain firm, hard, caressing stroking, which resulted in vehement purrs on her part, and was evi- dently an outlet of suppressed exultation. " Is he the same ? " asked Alison. ** All in due time ; unless, like Miss Rachel, you wish to tell me my story yourselves. By-the-bye, how is that poor girl to-day ? " *' Thoroughly knocked down. There is a sort of feverish lassitude about her that makes them very anxious. They were hoping to persuade her to see Mr. Frampton when Lady Temple heard last." " Poor thing ! it has been a sad affair for her. Well, I told you I should go over this morning and see Mr. Grey, and judge if anything could be done. I got to the Abbey at about eleven o'clock, and found the policeman had just come back after serving the summons, with the news that Mauleverer was gone." "Gone!" " Clean gone ! Absconded from his lodgings, and left no traces behind him. Rut, as to the poor woman, the poKce- man reported that she had been left in terrible distress, with the child extremely ill, and not a penny, not a thing to eat in the house. He came back to ask Mr. Grey what was to be done ; and as the suspicion of diphtheria made every one inclined to fight shy of the house, I thought I had better go down and see what was to be done. I knocked a good while in vain ; but at last she looked out of window, and I told her I only wanted to know what could be done for her child, and would send a doctor. Then she told me how to open the door. Poor thing ! I found her the picture of desolation, in the midst of the dreary kitchen, with the child gasping on her lap ; all the pretence of widowhood gone, and hei hair hanging loose about her face, which was quite white with hunger, and her great eyes looked wild, like the glare of a wild beast's in a den. I spoke to her by her own name, and she started and trembled, and said, ' Did Miss Alison tell you ?' I said, ' Yes,' and explained who I was, and she caught me up half way : ' yes, yes, my lady's nephew, that was engaged to Miss Ermine ! ' And she looked me full and searchingly in the face. Ermine, when I answered ' Yes.' THE Saracen's head. 279 Then she almost sobbed, < And you are true to her ? ' and put her hands over her face in an agony. It was a very strange examination on one's constancy, and I put an end to it by asking if she had any friends at home that I could write to for her ; but she cast that notion from her fiercely, and said she had no friend, no one. He had left her to her fate, because the child was too ill to be moved. And indeed the poor child was in such a state that there was no thinking of anything else, and I went at once to find a doctor and a nurse." " Diphtheria again ? " " Yes ; and she, poor thing, was in no state to give it the resolute care that is the only chance. Doctors could be easily found, but I was at my wit's end for a nurse, tUl I remem- bered that Mr. Mitchell had told me of a Sisterhood that have a Home at St. ISTorbert's, with a nursing establishment attached to it. So, in despair, I went there, and begged to see the Superior, and a most kind and sensible lady I found her, ready to do anything helpful. She lent me a nice little Sister, rather young, I thought; but who turned out thoroughly efficient, nearly as good as a doctor. Still, whether the child lives is very doubtful, though the mother was full of hope when I went in last. She insisted that I had saved it, when both she and it had been deserted by Maddox, for whom she had given up everything." " Then she owned that he was Maddox 1 " " She called him so, without my even putting the question to her. She had played his game long enough; and now his desertion has evidently put an end to all her regard foi him. It was confusedly and shortly told ; the child was in a state that prevented attention being given to anything else ; but she knows that she had been made a tool of to ruin her master and you ; and the sight of you, Ailie, had evidently stirred up much old affection, and remembrance of better days." ".Is she his wife?" " No ; or the evidence she promises could not be used against him. Do you know this, Ermine ? " as he gave her a cover, with a seal upon it. "The Saracen! the Saracen's head, CoKn; it was made with the lost seal-ring ! " " The ring was ^taken from Edward's dressing-room the night when Eose was frightened with the phosphorus. Maria declares that she did not suspect the theft, or Maddox's 280 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. purpose, till long after she had left her place. He effected Ms practices under pretence of attachment to her, and then could not shake her off. She went abroad with him after the settlement of affairs ; but he could not keep out of gambling speculation, and lost everything. Then he seems to have larked about, obtaining means she knows not how — as artist, lecturer, and what not — till the notable F. U. E. E. was started. Most likely he would have collected the sub- scriptions and made off with them, if Eachel Curtis had not had just sense enough to trust him with nothing without seeing some result ; so that he was forced to set the affair going with Maria at its head, as the only person who could co-operate with him. They kept themselves ready for a start whenever there should be symptoms of a discovery ; but, in the meantime, he gambled away aU that he got into his hands, and never gave her enough to feed the children. Thus she was absolutely driven to force work from them for subsistence ; and she is a passionate creature, whom jealousy embittered more and more, so that she became more savage than she knew. Poor thing ! she has her punishment. Maddox only came home, yesterday, too late for any train before the mail, and by that time the child was too ill to be moved. He must have thought it aU up -with, him, and wished to be rid of both, for they quarrelled, and he left her to her misery." "What, gone?". "Yes; but she told us of his haunts — ^haunts that he thought she did not know — a fancy shop, kept by a Mrs. Dench at Bristol, where, it seems, that he plays the philan- thropical lecturer ; and probably has been trying to secure a snug berth for himself unknown, as he thought, to Maria ; but she pried into his letters, and kept a keen watch upon him. He was to be inquired for there by his Mauleverer name, and, I have little doubt, will be captured." "And then?" " He will be committed for trial at the sessions ; and, in the meantime, I must see Beauchamp and Dr. Long, and arrange that he should be prosecuted for the forgery, even though he should slip through our lingers at the sessions." "Oh, could that be?" "This Clever Woman has managed matters so sweetly, that they might just as well try her as him for obtaining money on false pretences ; and the man seems to have been wonderfully sharp in avoiding committing himself. Mrs. THE aAIlACEN'b HEAD. 281 Curtis's man of business lias been trying all day to get up tbe case, but be bas made out notbing but a few more debts such as tbat wbicb turned up yesterday; and it is very- doubtful bow far a case can be made out against bim." " And tben we sbould lose bim." " Tbat is exactly wbat I wisb to avoid. I want to bring up my forces at once, and bave bim laid bold of at once for tbe forgery of tbose letters of Edward's. How long would it take to bear from Ekaterinburg 1 I suppose Edward could travel as fast as a letter." Alison fairly sprang to ber feet. " 0, CoHn, CoUn ! you do not tbink tbat Edward would be bere by tbe next sessions." " He ougbt," said Colin. " I bope to induce Dr. Long and Harry to write him sucb letters as to bring bim bome at once." Self-restrained Alison was fairly overcome. Sbe stretcbed out botb bands, pressed Colin's convulsively, tben turned away ber face, and, bursting into tears, ran out of tbe room. " Poor dear Aibe," said Ermine; " sbe bas suffered terribly. Her beart is full of Edward. Ob, I bope be will come." " He must. He cannot be so senseless as to stay away." " Tbere is tbat unfortunate promise to bis wife; and I fear tbat be is become so much estranged from Englisb ways, tbat be will bardly care to set bimseK straight bere, after tbe pain tbat tbe universal suspicion gave bim." " He cannot but care. Eor tbe sake of all be must care," vehemently repeated Cohn, with the punctilious honour of the nobly-born soldier. "Eor his child's sake, this would be enough to bring him from his grave. H he refused to return to the investigation, it would be almost enough to make me doubt him." " I am glad you said almost,'* said Ermine, trying to smile; but he had absolutely brought tears into her eyes. " Dear Ermine," he said, gently, " you need not fear my not trusting him to the utmost. I know that he has been too much crushed to revive easily, and that it may not be easy to make him appreciate our hopes from such a distance ; but I think such a summons as this must bring him." " I hope it will," said Ermine. " Otherwise we should not deserve that you should have any more to do with us." " Ermine, Ermine, do you not know that nothing can make any difference between us ? " El-mine had collected herself while he spoke. 282 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. "I know," she said, "that all you are doing makes me thank and hless you — oh ! more than I can spea£" He looked wistfully at her ; but, tearful as were her eyes, there was a resolution about her face that impressed upon him that she trusted to his promise of recurring no more within the year to the subject so near his heart; and he could say no more than, "You forgive me, Ermine; you know I trust him as you do." "I look to your setting him above being only triusted,'* said Ermine, trying to smile. " Oh ! if you knew what this ray of hope is in the dreary darkness that has lasted so long ! " Therewith he was obliged to leave her, and she only saw him for a few minutes in the morning, when he hurried in to take leave, since, if matters went right at the magistrates' bench, he intended to proceed at once to make such represen- tations in person to Mr. Beauchamp and Dr. Long, as might induce them to send an urgent recall to Edward in time for the spring sessions, and for this no time must be lost. Ermine remained then alone with Eose, feeling the day strangely long and lonely, and that, perhaps, its flatness might be a preparation for the extinction of all the bright- ness that had of late come into her life. Colin had said he would trust as she did, but those words had made her aware that she must trust as he did. If he, with his clear sense and kindly insight into Edward's character, became con- vinced that his absence proceeded from anything worse than the mere fainthearted indifference that would not wipe off a blot, then Ermine felt that his judgment would carry her own along with it, and that she should lose her undoubting faith in her brother's perfect innocence, and in that case her mind was made up ; Colin might say and do what he would, but she would never connect him through herself with deserved disgrace. The parting, after these months of intercourse and increased knowlege of one another, would be infinitely more wretched than the first; but, cost her what it would — ^her life perhaps — the break should be made rather than let his untainted name be linked with one where dishonour justly rested. But with her constant principle of abstinence from dwelling on contingencies, she strove to turn away her mind, and to exert herself; though this was no easy task, especially on so sohtary a. day as this, while Alison was in charge at Myrtlewood in Lady Temple's absence, and Eachel Curtis was reported far too ill to leave her room, so that Ermine saw no one all day except her constant little companion ; nor was THE SAEACEN'S HEAD. 283 it till towards evening that Alison at length mado her appearance, bringing a note which Colin had sent home by Lady Temple. All had so far gone well. Maria Hatherton had been committed to take her trial at the quarter sessions for the assault upon the children ; but, as her own little girl was still living, though in extreme danger, and the Sisters promised to take charge of both for the present. Colonel Keith had thought it only common humanity to offer bail, and this had been accepted. Later in the day Mauleverer himself had been brought down, having been taken up at a grand meeting of his Bristol friends, who had all rallied round him, ex- pressing strong indignation at the accusation, and offering evidence as to character. He denied any knowledge of the name of Maddox, and declared that he was able to prove that his own account of himself as a popular, philanthropical lecturer was perfectly correct ; and he professed to be much amazed at the charges brought against him, which could only have arisen from some sudden alarm in the young lady's miiid, excited by her friends, whom he had always observed to be prejudiced against him. He appealed strongly against the hardship of being imprisoned on so slight a charge ; but, as lie could find no one to take his part, he reserved his defence for the quarter sessions, for which he was fully committed. Colin thought, however, that it was so doubtful whether the charges against him could be substantiated, that it was highly necessary to be fully prepared to press the former forgery against him, and had therefore decided upon sleeping at St. JN'orbert's and going on by an early train to obtain legal advice in London, and then to see Harry Beau- champ. Meantime, Ermine must write to her brother as urgently as possible, backing up Colin's own representations of the necessity of nis return. Ermine read eagerly, but Alison seemed hardly able to command her attention to listen, and scarcely waited for the end of the letter before her own disclosure was made. Francis was sickening with diphtheria ; he had been left behind in the morning on account of some outbreak of peevishness, and Alison, soon becoming eonvinced that tem- per was not solely in fault, had kept him apart from his brothers, and at last had sent for the doctor, who had at once pronounced it to be the same deadly complaint which had already declared itseK in Eachel Curtis. Alison had of course devoted herself to the little boy till his mother's return frora 284: THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. St. Norbert's, when she had been obliged to give the first intimation of what the price of the loving little widow's exploit might be. " I don't think she realizes the extent of the illness," said Alison ; " say what I would, she would keep on thanking me breathlessly, and only wanting to escape to him. I asked if we should send to let Colin know, and she answered in her dear, unselfish way, ' By no means, it would be safer for him to be out of the way ; ' and, besides, she knew how much depended on his going." " She is right," said Ermine ; *' I am thankful that he is out of reach of trying to take a share in the nursing ; it is bad enough to have one in the midst ! " "Yes," said Alison. "Lady Temple cannot be left to bear this grievous trouble alone, and when the Homestead cannot help her. Yet, Ermine, what can be done ? Is it safe for you and Eose 'i " " Certainly not safe that you should come backwards and forwards," said Ermine. " Rose must not be put in danger ; so, dear, dear Ailie, you had better take your things up, and only look in on us now and then at the window." Alison entirely broke down. " Oh, Ermine, Ermine, since you began to mend, not one night have we been apart ! " " Silly child," said Ermine, straining her quivering voice to be cheerful, " I am strong, and Eose is my best little handmaid." " I know it is right," said Alison ; " I could not keep from my boys, and, indeed, now Colin is gone, I do not think any one at Myrtlewood will have the heart to carry out the treatment. It will almost kiU that dear young mother to see it. No, they cannot be left ; but oh, Ernune, it is like choosing between you and them." " "Not at all, it is choosing between right and wrong." " And Ermine, if — ^if I should be ill, you must not think of coming near me. Eose must not be left alone." " There is no use in talking of such things," said Ermine, resolutely ; "let us think of what must be thought of, not of what is in the only Wise Hands. What has been done about the other children ? " " I have kept them away from the first ; I am afraid for aone of them but Conrade." " It would be the wisest way to send them, nurses and all, to Gowanbrae." " Wise, but cool," said Alison. "I will settle that," returned Ermine. "Tibbie shall THE Saracen's head. 285 3ome and invite them, and you must make Tiady Temple consent." The sisters durst not emhrace, but gazed at one another, feeling that it might be their last look, their hearts swelling "with unspoken prayer, but their features so restrained that neither might unnerve the other. Then it was that Alison, for the first time, felt absolute relief in the knowledge, once so bitter, that she had ceased to be the whole world to her sister. And Ermine, for one moment, felt as if it would be a way out of all troubles and perplexities if the two sisters coidd die together, and leave little Rose to be moulded by Colin to be all he wished ; but she resolutely put aside the future, and roused herself to send a few words in pencil, requesting Tibbie to step in and speak to her. That worthy personage had fully adopted her, and enter- ing, tall and stately, in her evening black silk and white apron, began by professing her anxiety to be any assistance in her power, saying, "she'd be won'erfu' proud to serve Miss "Williams, while her sister was sae thrang waitin' on her young scholar in his sair trouble." Erniine thanked her, and rejoiced that the Colonel was out of harm's way. " Deed, aye, ma'am, he's weel awa'. He has sic a wark wi' thae laddies an' their bit bairn o' a mither, I'll no say he'd been easy keepit out o' the thick o' the distress, an' it's may be no surprisin', after a' that's come and gane, that he seeks to take siccan a lift of the concern. I've mony a time heard tell that the auld General, Sir Stephen, was as good as a faither to him, when he was sick an' lonesome, puir lad, in yon far awa' land o' wild beasts an' savages." "Would it not be what he might like, to take in the children out of the way of infection ? " " 'Deed, Miss Ermine," with a significant curtsey, " I'm thinkin' ye ken my maister Colin amaist as weel as I do. He's the true son of his forbears, an' Gowanbrae used to be always open in the auld lord's time, that's his grandfather. Eoreby, that he owes so much kindness to the General." Ermine further suggested that it was a pity to wait for a letter from the Colonel, and Tibbie quite agreed. She " liked the nurse as an extraordinar' douce woman, not like the fine English madams that Miss Isabel — that's Mrs. Comyn Men- teith — ^put about her bairns; and as to room, the sergeant and the tailor bodie did not need much, and the masons were only busy in the front parlour." 286 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. " Masons 1 " asked Ermine. " Ou, aye 1 didna ye ken it's for the new room, tliat is to be built out frae the further parlour, and what they ca' the bay to the drawin'-room, just to mak' the house more con- formable like wi' his name and forbears. I never thocht but that ye'd surely seen the plans and a', Miss Ermine ; an' if so be it was Maister Colin's pleasure the thing suld be private, I'm real vext to hae said a word ; but ye'll may be no let on to him, ma'am, that ye ken onything about it." "Those down-stairs rooms so silently begun," thought Ermine. " How fixed his intention must be ? Oh, how will it end 1 What would be best for him 'i And how can I think of myself, while all, even my Ailie, are in distress and danger 1 " Ermine had, however, a good deal to think of j for not only had she Colin's daily letter to answer, but she had Conrade, Leoline, and Hubert with her for several hours every day, and could not help being amused by Eose's ways with them, little grown-up lady as she was compared to them. Luckily girls were such uncommon beings with them as to be rather courted than despised ; and Eose, having nothing of the tom-boy, did not forfeit the privileges of her sex. She did not think they compensated for her Colonel's absence, and never durst introduce Violetta to them ; but she onjoyed and profited by the contact with childhood, and was a very nice little comforter to Conrade when he was taken with a fit of anxiety for the brother whom he missed every moment. Quarantine weighed, however, most heavily upon poor Grace Curtis. Eachel had from the first insisted that she should be kept out of her room ; and the mother's piteous entreaty always implied that saddest argument, "Why should I be deprived of you both in one day ? " So Grace found herseK condemned to uselessness almost as complete as Ermine's. She could only answer notes, respond to inquiries, without even venturing far enough from the house to see Ermine, or take out the Temple children for a walk. For indeed Eachel's state was extremely critical. The feverish misery that succeeded Lovedy's death had been utterly crushing, the one load of self-accusation had prostrated her, but with a restlessness of agony, that kept her writhing as it were in her wretchedness ; and then came the gradual increase of physical suffering, bearing in upon her that she had caught the fatal disorder. To her sense of justice, and her desire to wreak vengeance on herself, the notion THE Saracen's head. 287 might be grateful ; but the instinct of self-preservation was far stronger. She could not die. The world here, the world to come, were all too dark, too confused, to enable her to bear such a doom. She saw her peril in her mother's face ; in the reiterated visits of the medical man, whom she no longer spurned; in the calling in of the Avoncester phy- sician ; in the introduction of a professional nurse, and the strong and agonizing measures to which she had to submit, every time with the sensation that the suiFering could not pos- sibly be greater without exceeding the powers of endurance. Then arose the thought that with weakness she should lose all chance of expressing a wish, and, obtaining pencil and paper, she began to write a charge to her mother and sister to provide for Mary Monis ; but in the midst there came over her the remembrance of the papers that she had placed in Mauleverer's hands — ^the title-deeds of the Bumaby Bargain ; an estate that perhaps ought to be bringing in as much as half the rental of the property. It must be made good to the poor. If the title-deeds had been sold to any one who could claim the property, what would be the conse- quence 1 She felt herself in a mist of ignorance and per- plexity ; dreading the consequences, yet feeling as if her own removal might leave her fortune free to make up for them. She tried to scrawl an explanation; but mind and fingers were alike unequal to the task, and she desisted just as fresh torture began at the doctor's hands — torture from which they sent her mother away, and that left her exhausted, and despairing of holding out through a repetition. And then — and then! "Tell me of my Saviour," the dying child had said ; and the drawn face had lightened at the, words to which Eachel's oracles declared that people attached crude or arbitrary meanings ; and now she hardly knew what they conveyed to her, and longed, as for some- thing far away, for the reahty of those simple teachings — • once realities, now all by rote ! Saved by faith ! What was faith ? Could all depend on a last sensation ? And as to her Hfe. Failure, failure through headstrong blindness and self-will, resulting in the agony of the innocent. Was this ground of hope ] She tried to think of progress and purifi- cation beyond the grave ; but this was the most speculative, insecure fabric of alL There was no habit of trust to it — no inward conviction, no outward testimony. And even when the extreme danger subsided, and Francis Temple was known to be better, Kachel found that her sorrow was not yet ended; 288 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. for Conrade liad teen 'broiiglit liome witli tlie symptoms of tlie complaint — Conrade, the most beloved and loving of Fanny's little ones, the only one vrho reaUy remembered his father, was in exceeding, almost hopeless, peril, vratched day and night by his mother and Miss Williams. The little Alice, Maria Hatherton's own child, had lingered and struggled long, but all the care and kindness of the good Sisters at St. Norbert's had been unavailing, she had sunk at last, and the mother remained in a dull, silent tearless misery, quietly doing all that was required of her, but never speaking nor giving the ladies any opening to try to make an impres- sion upon her. Eachel gleaned more intelligence than her mother meant her to obtain, and brooded over it in her weakness and her silence. Eecovery is often more trying than illness, and Eachel suffered greatly. Indeed, she was not sure that she ought to have recovered at all, and perhaps the shock to her nerves and spirits was more serious than the effect of the sharp passing disorder, which had, however, so much weakened her that she succumbed entirely to the blow. " Accountable for all," the words still rang in her ears, and the all for which she was accountable continually magnified itself. She had tied a dreadful knot, which Fanny, meek contemned Fanny had cut, but at the cost of grievous suffering and danger to her boys, and too late to prevent that death which continually haunted Eachel; those looks of convulsive agony came before her in all her waking and sleeping intervals. I^othing put them aside, occupation in her weakness only bewildered and distracted her, and even though she was advancing daily towards convalescence, leaving her room, and being again restored to her sister, she still continued listless, dejected, cast down, and unable to turn her mind from this one dreary contemplation. Of Fanny and her sons it was hardly possible to think, and one of the strange perturbations of the mind in illness caused her to dwell far less on them than on the minor misery of the fate of the title- deeds of the Bumaby Bargain, which she had put into Mauleverer's hand. She fancied their falling into the hands of some speculator, who, if he did not break the mother's heart by putting up a gasometer, would certainly wring it by building hideous cottages, or desirable marine residences. The value would be enhanced so as to be equal to more than half that of the Homestead, the poor would have been cheated THE Saracen's heab. 289 of it, and wliat compensation conld be made? Give up all her own share? Nay, she had nothing ahsolutely her own while her mother lived, only 5,000^. was settled on her if she married, and she tortured herself with devising plans that (she knew to be impracticable, of stripping herself, and going forth to suffer the poverty she merited. Yes, but how would she have lived, i^ot like the "Williamses ! She had tried teaching like the one, and writing like the other, but had failed in both. The Clever Woman had no marketable or available talent. She knew very well that nothing would induce her mother and sister to let her despoil herself, but to have injured them would be even more intolerable ; and more than all was the sickening uncertainty, whether any harm had been done, or what would be its extent. Ignorant of such subjects at the best, her brain was devoid of force even to reason out her own conjectures, or to decide what must be impossible. She felt compelled to keep all to herself; to alarm her mother was out of the question, when Mrs. Curtis was distressed and shaken enough already, and to have told Grace would only have brought her soothing promises of sharing the burthen — exactly what she did not want — ^and would have led to the fact being known to the family man of business, Mr. Cox, the very last person to whom Eachel wished to confess the proceeding. It was not so much the humiliation of owning to him such a fatal act of piracy upon his province, as because she believed him to have been the cause that the poor had all this time been cheated of the full value of the estate. He had complacently consulted the welfare of the Curtis family, by charging them with the rent of the fields as ordinary grass land, and it had never dawned on him that it would be only just to increase the rent. Eachel had found him an antagonist to every scheme she had hatched, ever since she was fifteen years old ; her mother obeyed him with implicit faith, and it was certain that if the question were once in his hands, he would regard it as his duty to save the Curtis funds, and let the charity sink or swim. And he was the only person out of the ^ouso whom Eachel had seen. As soon as — or rather before — she could bear it, the first day that her presence was supposed not to be perilous to others, she was obliged to have an interview with him, to enable him to prepare the case for the quarter sessions. Nothing could be much worse for her nerves and spirits, but even the mother was absolutely convinced of the neces* u 1^90 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMIT.Y. shy, and Kachel was forced to tax her enfeebled powers to enable her to give accurate details of her relations with Manleverer, and enable him to judge of the form /f the indictment. Once or twice she almost sunk back from the exceeding distastefulness of the task, but she found herself urged on, and when she even asked what would happen if she were not well enough to appear, she was gravely told that she must be — it would be very serious if she did not make a great effort, and even her mother shook her head, looked unhappy, but confirmed the admonition. A little revenge or hatred would have been a great help to her, but she could not feel them as impulses. If it had been the woman, she could have gladly aided in visiting such cruelty upon her, but this had not been directly chargeable upon Mauleverer ; and though Eachel felt acutely that he had bitterly abused her confidence, she drooped too much to feel the spirit of retort. The notion of being confronted with him before all the world at Avoncester, and being made to bring about his punishment, was simply dreadful to her, but when she murmured some word of this to her mother, Mrs. Curtis fairly started, and said quite fiercely, " My dear, don't let me hear you say any such thing. He is a very wicked man, and you ought to be glad to have him punished ! " She really spoke as if she had been rebuking some infringe- ment of decorum, and Eachel was quite startled. She asked Grace why the mother was so bent on making her vindictive, but Grace only answered that every one must be very much shocked, and turned away the subject. Prudent Grace ! Her whole soul was in a tumult of wrath and shame at what she knew to be the county gossip, but she was aware that Rachel's total ignorance of it was the only chance of her so comporting herself in court as to silence the rumour, and she and her mother were resolutely discreet. Mrs. Curtis, between nursing, anxiety, and worry, looked lamentably knocked up, and at last Grace and Rachel pre- vailed on her to take a drive, leaving Rachel on a sofa in he\ sitting-room, to what was no small luxury to her just at present — that of being miserable alone — vrithout meeting any one's anxious eyes, or knowing that her listlessjiess was wounding the mother's heart. Yet the privilege only resulted in a fresh preturbation about the title-deeds, and longing to consult some one who could advise and sympathize. Ermine Williams would have understood and made her Colonel givo THE Saracen's head. 291 help, but Ermine seemed as unattainable as ]N"ova Zembla, and she only heard that the Colonel was absent. Her head was aching with the weary load of doubt, and she tried to cheat her woe by a restless movement to the windows. She saw Captain Keith riding to the door. It suddenly darted into her mind that here was one who could and would help her. He could see Mauleverer and ascertain what had become of the deeds ; he could guess at the amount of danger ! She could not forget his kindness on the night of Lovedy's illness, or the gentleness of his manner about the woodcuts, and with a sudden impulse she rang the bell and desired that Captain Keith might be shown in. She was still standing leaning on the table when he entered. " This is very good in you," he said ; " I met your mother and sister on my way up, and they asked me to leave word of Conrade being better, but they did not tell me I should see you." " Conrade is better ? " said Rachel, sitting down, unable to stand longer. "Yes, his throat is better. Miss Williams's firmness saved him. They think him quite out of danger." " Thank Heaven ! Oh, I could never have seen his mothoi again ! Oh, she has been the heroine ! " " In the truest sense of the word," he answered. And Eachel looked up with one moment's brightening at the old allusion, but her oppression was too great for cheerfulness, and she answered — "Dear Fanny, yes, she will be a rebuke to me for ever ! But," she added, before he had time to inquire for her health, " I wanted — I wanted to beg you to do me a service. You were so kind the other night." His reply was to lean earnestly forward, awaiting her words, and she told him briefly of her grievous perplexity about the title-deeds. " Then," he said, " you would wish for me to see the man and ascertain how he has disposed of them." " I should be most grateful ! " " I will do my utmost. Perhaps I may not succeed imme- diately, as I believe visitors are not admitted every day, and he is said to be busy preparing his defence, but I will try, and let you know." " Thanks, thanks ! The doubt is terrible, for T know worry about it would distract my mother." " I do not imagine," he said, •' that much worse conse- u 2 292 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE PAilTLT. quences than worry could ensue. But there are none more trying." " Oh not none I'^ "Do not lot worry ahout this increase other ills," he said, kindly ; " do not think about this again till you hear from me." " Is that possible 1 " " I should not have thought so, if I had not watched my uncle cast off troubles about his eye-sight and the keeping his living." " Ah ! but those were not of his own making." " ' There is a sparkle even in the darkest water.' That was a saying of his," said Alick, looking anxiously at her pale cheek and down-cast eye. " Not when they are turbid." " They will clear," he said, and smiled with a look of encouraging hope that again cheered her iu spite of herself. " Meantime remember that in any way I can help you, it will be the greatest favour " he checked himself as he observed the exceeding languor and lassitude apparent in hey whole person, and only said, " My sister is too much at the bottom of it for me not to feel it the greatest, loudness to me to let me try to be of the slightest use. I believe I had better go now," as he rose and looked at her wistfully ; " you are too much tired to talk." "I believe I am," she said, almost reluctantly ; "but thank you, this has done me good." " And you are really getting better 1 " "Yes, I believe so. Perhaps I may feel it when this terrible day is over." What a comfort it would be, she said to herself, when he was gone, if we had but a near relation like him, who would act for the mother, instead of our being delivered up, bound hand and foot, to Mr. Cox. It would have been refreshing to have kept him now, if I could have done it without talking; it really seemed to keep the horrible thoughts in abeyance, to hear that wonderfully gentle tone ! And how kind and soft the look was ! I do feel stronger for it ! Will it reaUy be better after next week ? Alas I that will have undone nothing. Yet even this perception of a possibility of hope that there would be relief after the ordeal, was new to Eachel ; and it soon gave way to that trying feature of illness, the insurmountable dread of the mere physical fatigue. The THE SAJtiACEN 8 HEAD. 29.'! Dean of Avoncester, a kind old friend of Mrs. Curtis, had insisted on the mother and daughters coming to sleep at tlie Deanery, on the Tuesday night, and remaining till the day after the trial j but Rachel's imagination was not even as yet equal to the endurance of the long drive, far less of the formality of a visit. Lady Temple was likewise asked to the Deanery, but Conrade was still too ill for her to think of leaving him for more than the few needful hours of the trial ; nor had Alison been able to do more than pay an occasional visit at her sister's window to exchange reports, and so absorbed was she in her boys and their mother, that it was quite an effort of recollection to keep up to Ermine's accounts of Colonel Keith's doings. It was on the Monday afternoon, the first time she had ventured into the room, taking advantage of Eose having condescended to go out with the Temple nursery establish- ment, when she found Ermine's transparent face aU ahve with expectation. " He may come any time now," she said ; "his coming to-day or to-morrow was to depend on his getting his business done on Saturday or not." And in a few minutes' time the well-known knock was heard, and Ermine, with a look half arch half gay, surprised her sister by rising with the aid of the arm of her chair, and adjusting a crutch that had been leaning against it. " Why Ermine ! you could not bear the jarring of that crutch " " Five or six years ago, AiHe, when I was a much poorer creature ; " then as the door opened, " I would make you a curtsey, Colonel Keith, but I am afraid I can't quite do that," though still she moved nearer to meet him, but perhaps there was a look of helplessness which made her exultation piteous, for he responded with an exclamation of alarm, put out his arm to support her, and did not relax a frown of anxiety till he had placed her safe in her chair again, while she laughed perhaps a little less freely, and said, " See what it is to have had to shift for oneself ! " " You met me with your eyes the first time. Ermine, and I never missed anything." " Well, I think it is hard not to have been more con- gratulated on my great achievement! I thought I shoubi have had at least as much credit as Widdrington, my favourite hero and model." " When you have an arm to support you it may be al 1 vftrv well, and T 8hall never stand it without." Then, a.s 29 i THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. Ermine subsided, unprepared with a reply, "Well, AiUe, how are your boys 1 " " Both much better, Francis nearly well." " You have had a terrible time ! And their mother 1 " " Dearer and sweeter than ever," said Alison, with her voice trembling ; " no one who has not seen her now can guess half what she is ! " " I hope she has not missed me. If this matter had not been so pressing, I could not have stayed away." " The one message she always gave me was, that you were not to think of coming home ; and, indeed, those dear boys were so good, that we managed very well without you." " Yes, I had faith in your discipline, and I think that matters are in train against Edward comes. Of course there is no letter, or you would have told me." " He will be coming himself," said Ermine, resolved against again expressing a doubt ; while Alison added that he hated letter-writing. " IlsTothing could be more satisfactory than Eeauchamp's letter," added Colin. " He was so thoroughly convinced, that lie immediately began to believe that he had trusted Edward all along, and had only been overruled." " I dare say," said Ermine, laughing ; " I can quite fancy honest Harry completely persuaded that he was Edward's •champion, while Maddox was turning him round his linger." " And such is his good faith, that I hope he will make Edward believe the same ! I told you of his sending his love to you, and of his hopes that you would some day come and see the old place. He made his wife quite cordial." Alison did not feel herself obliged to accept the message, and Ermine could freely say, " Poor Harry ! I should like to see him again ! He would be exactly the same, I dare say. And how does the old place look?" *' Just what I do not want you to see. They have found out that the Rectory is unhealthy, and stuck up a new bald house on the top of the hill ] and the Hall is new furnished in colours that set one's teeth on edge. JSTothing is like itself but Harry, and he only when you get him off duty — without his wife ! I was glad to get away to Belfast." " And there, judgiug from Julia's letter, they must have nearly devoured you." " They were very hospitable. Your sister is not so very imlike you, Ermiue ? " THE Saracen's head. 2j95 " Oh, Coliii !" exclaimed Alison, with an indignation of wMch she became ashamed, and added, by way of making it better, " Perhaps not so very." " She was very gracious to me," said Colin, smiling, " and we had much pleasant talk of you." " Yes," said Ermine, " it will be a great pleasure to poor Julia to be allowed to take us up again, and you thought the doctor sufficiently convinced." " More satisfactorily so than Harry, for he reasoned out the matter, and seems to me to have gone more by his impression that a man could not be so imprudent as Edward in good faith than by Maddox's representation." " That is true," said Alison, " he held out till Edward refused to come home, and then nothing would make him listen to a word on liis behalf." " And it will be so again," thought Ermiue, with a throb at her heart. Then she asked, " Did you see whether there was a letter for you at home ? " " Yes, I looked in, and found only this, which I have only glanced at, from Bessie." "From Paris?" " Yes, they come home immediately after Easter. * Your brother is resolved I shoidd be presented, and submit to the whole season in style ; after which he says I may judge for myself.' Wliat people will do for pretty young wives ! Poor Mary's most brilliant season was a winter at Edinburgh; And it must be his doing more than hers, for she goes on ; 'Is it not very hard to be precluded all this time from playing the chieftaiuess in the halls of my forefathers] I shall have to run down to your Gowanbrae to refresh myself, and see what you are all about, for I cannot get the fragment of a letter from Alick ; and I met an Avon- cestrian the other day, who told me that the whole county was in a state of excitement about the E. U. etc.; that every one believed that the fasciuating landscape-painter was on the high road to wirming one of the joint-heiresses ; but that Lady Temple — the most incredible part of the story — ^had blown up the whole alfair, made her way into the penetralia of the asylum, and rescued two female 'prentices, so nearly whipped to death that it took an infi- nitesimal quantity of Eachel's homoeopathy to demolish one entirely, and that the virtuous public was higlily indignant that there was no inquest nor trial for manslaughter; but that it was certain that Eachel had been extremely ill ever 296 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. bince. Poor Eacliel, there must be some grain of truth in all this ; but one would like to be able to contradict it. I wrote to ask Alick the rights of the story, but he has not vouchsafed me a line of reply ; and I should take it as very kind in you to let me know whether he is in the land of the living or gone to Edinburgh — as I hear is to be the lot of the Highlanders — or pirdng for the uncroquetable lawn, to which I always told him he had an eye.' " " She may think herseK lucky he has not answered,'* said Ermine; "he has always been rather unreasonably angry with her for making the introduction." *' That is the reason he has not," added .Alison, " for he is certainly not far off. He has been over almost every day to inquire, and played German tactics all Saturday afternoon with Erancis to our great relief. But I have stayed away long enough." " I will walk back with you, Ailie. I must see the good little heroine of the most incredible part of the story." Lady Temple looked a good deal paler than when he had last seen her, and her eyelids still showed that they had long arrears of sleep to make up ; but she came down with out- steetched hands and a sunny snule. " They are so much better, and I am so glad you were not at home in the worst of it." " And I am sorry to have deserted you." " Oh, no, no, it was much better that you should be away. We should all have wanted you, and that would have been dangerous ; and dear, dear Miss Williams did all that could be done. Do you know, it taught me that you were right when you told me I ought never to rest tin the boys learnt to obey, for obedience' sake, at a word. It showed what a bad mother 1 am ; for I am sure if dear Conrade had been like what he was last year, even she could not have saved him," said Fanny, her eyes full of tears. Then came her details, to which he listened, as ever, like the brotherly friend he was, and there was a good deal said about restoring the little ones, who were still at Gowanbrae, to which he would by no means as yet consent, though Fanny owned herself to have time now to i)iiie for her Stephana, and to "hear how dismal it is to have a silent nursery." " Yes, it has been a fearful time. We little guessed how much risk you ran when you went to the rescue." " Dear Con, when he tlioudit — when we thmic^ht he could THE QUARTER SESSIONS. 297 jiot get better, said 1 was not to mind that, and I don't," said Fanny. " I thought it was right j and though I did not know this would come of it, yet you see God has heen very merciful, and brought both of my boys out of this dreadful illness, and I dare say it will do them good all their lives now it is over. I am sure it will to me, for I shall always be more thankful." " Everything does you good," he said. " And another thing," she added, eagerly, " it ha3 made me know that dear Miss WiUiams so much better. She was so good, so wonderfully good, to come away from her sister to us. I thought she was quite gone the first day, and that I was alone with my poor Francie, and presently there she was by my side, giving me strength and hope by her very look. I want to have her for good ; I want to make her my sister ! She would teach the boys still, for nobody else could make them good ; but if ever her sister could spare her, she must never go away again." " You had better see what she says," replied the Colonel, with suppressed emotion. That night, when Comrade and^Francis were both fast asleep, their mother and their governess sat over the fire together, languid but happy, and told out their hearts to one another — ^told out more than Alison had ever put into words even to Ermine, for her heart was softer and more unreserved now than ever it had been siuce her sister's accident had crushed her youth. There was thenceforth a bond between her and Lady Temple that gave the young widow the strong- hearted, sympathizing, sisterly friend she had looked for in Eachel, and that filled up those yearnings of the affection that had at first made Alison feel that Colin's return made the world dreary to her. Her life had a purpose, though that purpose was not Ermine ! But where were Edward and his letter ? CHAPTER XXI. THE QUARTER SESSIONS. ** Is it SO nominated in the bond ? " —Merchant of Venice. Malgrb her disinclination, Eachel had reached the point of itcoverv in which the fresh air and chancje of scene of the 298 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. drive to Avoncester could not fail to act as restoratives, and the first evening with, the Dean and his gentle old sister was refreshing and comfortable to her spirits. It was in the afternoon of the ensuing day that Mr. Grey- came to tell her that her presence would soon be required, and both her mother and sister drove to the court with her. Poor Mrs. Curtis, too anxious to go away, yet too nervous to go into court, chose, in spite of all Mr. Grey's advice, to remain in the carriage with the blinds closed, far too miserable for Grace to leave her. Eachel, though very white, called up a heroic smile, and declared that she should get on very well. Her spirit had risen to the occasion, so as to brace her nerves to go be- comingly through what was inevitable ; and she replied with a ready " yes," to Mr. Grey's repetition of the advice for ever dinned into her ears, not to say a word more than needful, feeling indeed little disposed to utter anything that she could avoid. She emerged from the dark passage into full view of faces which were far more familiar than she could have wished. She would have greatly preferred appearing before a judge, robed, wigged, and a stranger, to coming thus before a country gentleman, slightly known to herself, but an old friend of her father, and looking only like his ordinary seK. All the world indeed was curious to see the encounter between Eachel Curtis and her impostor, and every one w^ho had contributed so much as a dozen stamps to the F. U. E. E. felt as if under a personal wrong and grievance, while many hoped to detect other elements of excitement, so that though all did not overtly stare at the witness, not even the most considerate could resist the impulse to glance at her reception of the bow with which he greeted her entrance. She bent her head instiuctively, but there was no change of colour on her cheek. Her faculties were concentrated, and her resolute mE. had closed all avenues to sensations that might impair her powers ; she would not give way either to shame and remorse for herself, or to pity or indignation against the prisoner ; she would attend only to the accuracy of the testimony that was required of her as an expiation of her credulous incaution ; but such was the tension of her nerves, that, impassive as she looked, she heard every cough, every rustle of paper ; each voice that addressed her seemed to cut her ears like a knife ; and the chair that was given to her after the administration of the oath was indeed much needed. THE QUARTER SESSIONS. 299 She was examined upon her arrangement that the prisoner should provide for the asylum at St. JsTorbert's, and on her monthly payment to him of the sums entered in the account- book. In some cases she knew he had shown her the billa unreceipted; in others, he had simply made the charge in the book, and she had given to him the amount that he estimated as requisite for the materials for wood-engraving. So far she felt satisfied that she was making herself distinctly understood ; but the prisoner, acting as his own counsel, now turned to her and asked the question she had expected and was prepared for, whether she could refer to any written agreement. "1^0 ; it was a viva voce agreement." Could she mention what passed at the time of making the arrangement that she had stated as existing between himself and her ] * " I described my plans, and you consented." An answer at which some of the audience could have smiled, so well did it accord with her habits. The prisoner again insisted on her defining the mode of his becoming bound to the agreement. Eachel took time for consideration ; and Alison Williams, sitting between Lady Temple and Colonel Keith, felt dizzy with anxiety for the answer. It came at last. " I do not remember the exact words ; but you acquiesced in the appearance of your name as secretary and treasurer." The prospectus was here brought forward, and Mauleverer asked her to define the duties he had been supposed to under- take in the character in which he had there figured. It of course came out that she had been her own treasurer, only entrusting the nominal one with the amount required for current expenses ; and again, in reply to his deferential questions, she was obliged to acknowledge that he had never in so many words declared the sums entered in the book to have been actually paid, and not merely estimates for monthly expenditure to be paid to the tradesmen at the usual seasons. "I understood that they were paid," said Eachel, with some resentment. " Will you obHge me by mentioning on what that under- standing was founded ^ " said the prisoner, blandly. There was a pause. Eachel knew she must say something ; but memory utterly failed to recall any definite assurance that these debts had been discharged. Time passed, all eyes were ]ipoi) her, there was a dire necessity of reply ; and though 300 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. perfectly conscious of the weakness and folly of her utter- ance, she could only falter forth, " I thought so." The being the Clever Woman of the family, only rendered her the more sensible both of the utter futility of her answer, and of the effect it must be producing. Alison hung her head, and frowned in absolute shame and despair, already perceiving how matters must go, and feeling as if the hope of her brother's vindication were slipping away — ^reft from her by Eachel's folly. Colin gave an in- dignant sigh, and w^hispering to her, " Come out when Lady Temple does, x will meet you," he made his way out of court. There had been a moment's pause after Eachel's " I thought so," and then the chairman spoke to the counsel for the prosecution. "Mr. Murray, can you carry the case any further by other witnesses ? At present I see no case to go to the jury. You will see that the witness not only does not set up any case of embezzlement, but rather leads to an inference in the contrary direction." " l!^o, sir," was the answer ; " I am afraid that I can add nothing to the case already presented to you." Upon this, the chairman said, " Gentlemen of the Jury, — ^The case for the prosecution does not sustain the indictment or require me to call on the prisoner for his defence, and it is your duty to find him not guilty. You will observe that we are not trying a civil action, in respect of the large sum which he has received from the young lady, and for which he is still accountable to her ; nor by acquitting him are you pronouncing that he has not shown himself a man of very questionable honesty, but only that the evidence will not bring him within the grasp of the criminal law, as guilty of embezzlement under the statute, and this because of the looseness of the arrange- ments, that had been impUed instead of expressed. It is exceedingly to be regretted that with the best intentions and kindest purposes, want of caution and experience on her part should have enabled the prisoner thus to secure himself from the possibility of a conviction ; but there can be no doubt that the evidence before us is such as to leave no alternative but a verdict of not guilty." The very tenderness and consideration of the grey-haired Sir Edward Morden's tone were more crushing to Eachel tlian severe animadversions on her folly would have been ti-oni a stranger. Here was she, the Clever Woman of the THE QUARTER SESSIONS. 301 family, sliown in open court to have been so egregious a dupe that the deceiver could not even he punished, hut must go scot-free, leaving all her wrongs unredressed ! To her excited, morbid apprehension, magnified by past self- sufficiency, it was as though all eyes were looking in triumph at that object of general scorn and aversion, a woman who had stepped out of her place. She turned with a longing to rush into darkness and retirement when she was called to return to her mother; and even had she still been present, little would she have recked that when the jury had, without many moments' delay, returned a verdict of " Not Guilty," the prisoner received a strong, stern reprimand from Sir Edward, to whom he replied with a bow that had in it more of triumph than of acceptance. Burning tears of disappointment were upon Alison's cheek, the old hopeless blank was returning, and her brother might come back in vain, to find his enemy beyond his reach. Here was an end alike of his restoration and of Ermine's happiness ! " Oh ! " whispered Lady Temple, " is it not horrid 1 Is nothing to be done to that dreadful man ? I always thought people came here to do justice. I shall never like Sir Edward Morden again ! But, oh ! what can that be 1 Where ia the ColoneU" It was a loud, frightful roar and yell, a sound of con- centrated fury that, once heard, could never be forgotten. It was from the crowd outside, many of them from Avon- mouth, and all frantic with indignation at the cruelty that had been perpetrated upon the helpless children. Their groans and execrations were pursuing the prison van, from which Maria Hatherton was at that moment making her exit; and so fearful was the outcry that penetrated the court, that Fanny trembled with recollections of Indian horrors, looked wistfully for her protector the Colonel, and murmured fears that her aunt must have been very much terrified. At that moment, however, a summons came for Lady Temple, as this was the case in which she was to bear witness. Alison followed, and was no sooner past the spectators, who gladly made way, than she found her arm drawn into Colonel Keith's. "Is he come?" she asked. " No," was rather signed than spoken. " Oh, Colin I " she sighed, but still there was no reply, only she was dragged on, downstairs and along dark passages, into a room furnished 302 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. with a table, chairs, pens, ink, and paper, and lighted with gas, which revealed to her not only Mr. Grey, hut one who, though eight years had made him stouter, redder, and rougher, had one of the most familiar faces of her youthful days. Her senses almost reeled with her as he held out his hand, saying heartily, " Well, Ailie, how are you ? and how is Ennine 1 Where can this brother of yours be ? " " Harry ! Mr. Beauchamp ! You here ! " she exclaimed, in the extremity of amazement. " Here is Colin seeming to think that something may be done towards nailing this scoundrel for the present, so 1 am come at his call. We shall have the fellow in a moment." And then, by way of getting rid of embarrassment, he began talking to Mr. Grey about the County Hall, and the room, which Mr. Grey explained to be that of the clerk of the peace, lent for this occasion while the usual justice room was occupied. Alison heard all as in a dream, and presently Mauleverer entered, as usual spruce, artist-like, and sell- possessed, and was accosted by Harry Beauchamp, " Good evening, Mr. Maddox, I am sorry to trouble you." " I hope there is no misunderstanding, sir," was the reply. " I have not the pleasure of knowing for whom you take me." Without regarding this reply, however, Mr. Beauchamp requested Mr. Grey to take his deposition, stating his own belief in the identity of the person before him with Eichard Maddox, whom he charged with having delivered to him a letter falsely purporting to come from Edward WiUiams, demanding three hundred pounds, which upon this he had dehvered to the accused, to be forwarded to the said Mr. Williams. Alison's heart beat violently at the ordeal before her of speaking to the genuineness of the letter. She had seen and suspected that to her brother-in-law, but she could not guess whether the flaws in that to Mr. Beauchamp would be equally palpable, and doubt and anxiety made her scarcely able to look at it steadily. To her great relief, however, she was able to detect sufficient variations to justify her assertion that it was not authentic, and she was able to confirm her state- ment by comparison of the writing with that of a short, indignant denial of all knowledge of the transaction, which Harry Beauchamp had happily preserved, though little re- garding it at the time. She also showed the wrong direction, with the name of the place misspelt, according to her own copy of her sister-in-law's address, at the request of Maddox THE QUARTER SESSIONS. 303 tiiinself, and pointed out tliat a letter to Ermine from lier brother bore the right form. The seal upon that to Mr. Beauchamp she likewise asserted to be the impression of one which her brother had lost more than a year before the date of the letter. " Indeed, sir," said the accused, turning to Mr. Grey, " this is an exceedingly hard case. Here am I, newly acquitted, after nearly six weeks* imprisonment, on so frivo- lous a charge that it has been dismissed without my even having occasion to defend myself, or to call my own most respectable witnesses as to character, when another charge ia brought forward against me in a name that there has been an unaccountable desire to impose on me. Even if I were the person that this gentleman supposes, there is nothing proved. He may very possibly have received a forged letter, but I perceive nothing to fix the charge upon the party he calls Maddox. Let me call in my own witnesses, who had volun- teered to come down from Bristol, and you will be convinced how completely mistaken the gentleman is." To this Mr. Grey replied that the case against him was not yet closed, and cautioning him to keep his own witnesses back ; but he was urgent to be allowed to call them at once, as it was already late, and they were to go by the six o'clock train. Mr. Grey consented, and a messenger was sent in. search of them. Mr. Beauchamp looked disturbed. " What say you to this, Colin?" he asked, uneasily. "That man's audacity is enough to stagger one, and I only saw him thre© times at the utmost." " IsTever fear," said Colin, " delay is all in our favour." At the same time Colin left them, and with him went some hope and confidence, leaving all to feel awkward and distressed during the delay that ensued, the accused expatiating all the time on the unreasonableness of bringing up an offence com- mitted so many years ago, in the absence of the only witness who could prove the whole story, insisting, moreover, on his entire ignorance of the names of either Maddox or WilKams. The sight of his witnesses was almost welcome. They were a dissenting minister, and a neat, portly, respectable widow, the owner of a fancy shop, and both knew Mr. Mauleverer as a popular lecturer upon philanthropical sub- jects, who came periodically to Bristol, and made himself very acceptable. Their faith in him was genuine, and he had even interested them in the E. U.E.E. and the ladies that patronized it. The widow was tearfully indignant about the "04 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. persecution that had been got up against him, and evidently intended to return with him in triumph, and endow him with the fancy shop if he would condescend so far. The minister, too, spoke highly of his gifts and graces, but neither of them could carry back their testimony to his character for more than three years. Mr. Grey looked at his watch, Harry Beauchamp was rest- less, and Alison felt almost faint with suspense ; but at last the tramp of feet was heard in the passage. Colonel Keith came first, and leaning over Alison's chair, said, *' Lady Temple will wait for us at the inn. It will soon be all right." At that moment a tall figure in mourning entered, attended by a policeman. For the first time, Mauleverer's coolness gave way, though not his readiness, and, turning to Mr. Grey, he exclaimed, " Sir, you do not intend to be misled by the malignity of a person of this description." " Worse than a murderess ! " gasped the scandalized widow Dench. " Well, I never ! " Mr. Grey was obliged to be peremptory, in order to obtain silence, and enforce that, let the new witness be what she might, her evidence must be heard. She had come in with the habitual village curtsey to Mr. Beauchamp, and putting back her veil, disclosed to Alison the piteous sight of the well-remembered features, once so bright with intelligence and innocence, and now sunk and haggard with the worst sorrows of womanhood. Her large glittering eyes did not seem to recognise Alison, but they glared upon Mauleverer with a strange terrible fixedness, as if unable to see any one else. To Alison the sight was inex- pressibly painful, and she shrank back, as it were, in dread of meeting the eyes once so responsive to her own. Mr. Grey asked the woman the name of the person before her, and looking at him with the same fearful steadiness, she pronounced it to be Eichard Maddox, though he had of late called himseK Mauleverer. The man quailed for a moment, then collecting himself, said, " I now understand the incredible ingratitude and malignity that have pointed out against me these hitherto unaccountable slanders. It is a punishment for insufficient inquiry into character. But you, sir, in common justice, will protect me from the aspersions of one who wishes to drag me down in her justly merited fall. ** Sentenced for three years ! To take her examination ! " muttered Mrs. Dench, and with some difficulty these excla- THE QUARTER SESSIONS. 305 Illations wero silenced, and Maria Hatherton ciillcd on for her evidence. Concise, but. terrible in its clear brevity, was the story of tbQ agent tampering with her, tbe nursemaid, nntil she bad given bim access to tbo private rooms, vrbere be bad turned over the papers. On tbe following day, Mr. Willianis bad been inquiring for bis seal-ring, but sbe berself bad not seen it again till some montbs after, wben sbe bad left ber place, and was living in lodgings provided for ber by Maddox, wben sbe bad found tbe ring in tbe drawer of bis desk ; ber suspicion bad tben been first excited by bis displeasure at ber proposing to bim to return it, tbinking it merely tbere by accident, and sbe bad afterwards observed bim endeavouring to copy fragments of Mr. Williams's writing. Tbese be bad crusbed up and tbrown aside, but sbe bad preserved tbem, owning tbat sbe did not know wbat migbt come of tbem, and tbe family bad been very kind to ber. Tbe seal and tbe scraps of paper were bere produced by tbe policeman wbo bad tbem in cbarge. Tbe seal perfectly coincided witb tbat wbicb bad closed tbe letter to Harry Beaucbamp, and was, moreover, identified by botb Alison and Colonel Keitb. It was noticeable, too, tbat one of tbese fragments was tbe beginning of a note to Mr. Beaucbamp, as "Dear H." and tbis, tbougb not Edward's most usual style of addressing bis friend, was repeated in tbe demand for tbe £300. " Sir," said tbe accused, " of course I bave no intention of intimating 'tbat a gentleman like tbe Honourable Colonel Keitb bas been in any collusion witb tbis unbappy woman, but it. must be obvious to you tbat bis wisb to exonerate bis friend bas induced bim to give too easy credence to tliis person's malignant attempts to fasten upon one wbom she migbt bave bad reason to regard as a benefactor the odium of tbe transactions tbat ^ sbe acknowledges to bave taken place between berself and tbis Maddox, thereto incited, no doubt, by some resemblance wbicb must be strong, since it bas likewise deceived Mr. Beaucbamp." Mr. Grey looked perplexed and vexed, and asked Mr. Beaucbamp if be could suggest any other person able to identify Maddox. He downed, said there must bave been workmen at tbo factory, but knew not where they were, looked at Colin Keith, asked Alison if sbe or ber sister bad ever seen Maddox, then declared he could lay his bands on no one bu^ Dr. Long at Belfast. X 306 THE GLEVPJli WOMAN OF THE FAI^IILY. Mauleverer vehemently exclaimed agamst the injustice ol detaining Mm till a witness could be summoned from that distance. Mr. Grey evidently had his doubts, and began to think of calKng in some fresh opinion whether he had sufficient grounds for committal, and Alison's hopes were only sustained by Colin's undaunted looks, when there came a knock at the door, and, as much to the surprise of AKson as of every one else, there entered an elderly maid-servant, leading a little girl by the hand, and Colonel Keith going to meet the latter, said, "Do not be frightened, my dear, you have only to answer a few questions as plainly and clearly as you can." Awed, silent, and dazzled by the sudden gas-light, she clung to his hand, but evidently distinguished no one else ; and he placed her close to the magistrate saying, " This is Mr. Grey, Eose, tell him your name." And Mr. Grey taking her hand and repeating the question, the clear little silvery voice answered, " I aax Rose Ermine Williams." " And how old are you, my dear 1 " " I was eight on the last of June." " She knows the nature of an oath 1 " asked Mr. Grey of the Colonel. " Certainly, you can soon satisfy yourself of that." " My dear," then said Mr. Grey, taking her by the hand again, and looking into the brown intelligent eyes, "I am sure you have been well taught. Can you tell me what is meant by taking an oath before a magistrate 1 " "Yes," said Eose, colour flushing into her face, "it is calling upon Almighty God to hear one speak tlie truth." She spoke so low that she could hardly be heard, and she looked full of startled fear and distress, turning her face up to Colonel Keith with a terrified exclamation, " Oh please, why am I here, what am I to say 1 " He was sorry for her; but her manifest want of pre- paration was all in favour of the cause, and he soothed her by saying, " Only answer just what you are asked as clearly as you can, and Mr. Grey will soon let you go. He knows you would try any way to speak the truth, but as he is going to examine you as a magistrate, he must ask you to take the oath iirst." Eose repeated the oath in her innocent tones, and perhaps their solemnity or the fatherly gentleness of Mr. Grey re- assured lier, for lier voice trembled much less ^^•hen she answered liis next inquiry, who her parents were. THE QUARTER SESSIONS. 307 " My mother is dead," she said ; "my father is Mr. WilKams ; he is away at Ekaterinhurg." " Do you remem*ber any time before he was at Ekaterin- burg?" " Oh yes ; when we lived at Kensington, and he had tlie patent glass works." " l!Tow, turn round and say if there is any one here whom you know 1 " Eose, who had hitherto stood facing Mr. Grey, with her back to the rest of the room, obeyed, and at once exclaimed, "Aunt Alison," then suddenly recoiled, and grasped at the Colonel. "Whatisit, my dear?" "It is — ^it is Mr. Maddox;" and with another > gasp of fright, " and Maria ! Oh, let me go." But Mr. Grey put his arm rounct Ler, and assured her that no one could harm her. Colonel Keith let his fingers be very hard pinched, and her aunt came nearer, all telling her that she had only to make her answers distinctly ; and though still shrinking, she could reply to Mr. Grey's question whom she meant by Mr. Maddox. " The agent for the glass — ^my fat^ier's agent." " And who is Maria 1 " " She was my nurse." " When did you last see the person you call Mr. Maddox ? " " Last time, I was sure of it, was when I was walking on the esplanade at Avoncester with Colonel Keith," said Eose, very anxious to turn aside and render her words inaudible. " I suppose you can hardly tell when that was 1 " " Yes, it was the day before you went away to Lord Keith's wedding," said Eose, looking to the Colonel. " Had you seen him before 1 " " Twice when I was out by myself, but it frightened mo so that I never looked again." "Can you give mo any guide to the time ? " She was clear that it had been after Colonel Keith's first stay at Avonmouth, but that was all ; and being asked if she had ever mentioned these meetings, "Only when Colonel Keith saw how frightened I was, and asked me." " "Why were you frightened ? " asked Mr. Grey, on a hint from the Colonel. " Because I could not quite leave off believing the dreadful tluiigs Mr. Maddox and Maria said they would do to me if I told." X 2 308 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. "Told what?" " About Mr. Maddox coming and waUiing with. Maria when she was ont with me," gasped Eose, trying to avert her head, and not comforted by hearing Mr. Grey repeat her words to these tormentors of her infancy. A little encouragement, however, brought out the story of the phosphoric letters, the Hens, and the vision of Maddox growling in the dressing-room. The date of the apparition could hardly be hoped for, but fortunately Eose remembered that it was two days before her mamma's birth-day ; because she had felt it so hard to be eaten up before the fete, and this date tallied with that given by Maria of her admitting her treacherous admirer into the private rooms. " The young lady may be precocious, no doubt, sir," hero said the accused, " but I hardly see why she has been brought here. You can attach no weight to the confused recollections of so young a child, of matters that took place so long ago." " The question will be what weight the jury will attach to them at the assizes," said Mr. Grey. " You will permit me to make one inquiry of the young lady, sir. Who told her whom she might expect to see here 1 " Mr. Grey repeated the query, and Eose answered, " l^o- body ; I knew my aunt and the Colonel and Lady Temple were gone in to Avoncester, and Aunt Ermine got a note from the Colonel to say that I was to come in to bim with Tibbie in a fly." "Did you know what you were wanted for 1 " " No, I could not think. I only knew they came to get the woman punished for being so cruel to the poor little girls." " Dp you know who that person was ? " " Mrs. Eawlins," was the ready answer. " I think," said Mr. Grey to the accused, " that you must perceive that, with such coincidence of testimony as I have here, I have no alternative but to commit you for the summer assizes." Mauleverer murmured something about an action for false imprisonment, but he did not make it clear, and he was evi- dently greatly crestfallen. He had no doubt hoped to brazen out his assumed character sufficiently to disconcert Mr. Beauchamp's fciith in his own memory, and though he had carried on the eame game after being confronted with Maria, it was already becoming desperate. He had not reckoned upon her deserting his cause even for her own sake, and the last chance of employing her antecedents to discredit her testi- THE QUARTER SESSIONS. JUi) mony, liad been overthrown by Eose's innocent witness to their mutual relations, a remembrance which had been burnt in on her childish memory by the very means taken to secure her siLence. Wh.en the depositions were read over, their re- markable and independent accordance was most striking ; Mrs. Dcnch had already been led away by the minister, in time to catch her train, just when her sobs of indignation at the deception were growing too demonstrative, and the policeman resumed the charge of Maria Hatherton. Little Kose looked up to her, saying, " Please, Aunt AJlie, may I speak to her ? " Alison had been sitting restless and perplexed between impulses of pity and repulsion, and doubts about the etiquette of the justice room ; but her heart yearned over the girl she had cherished, and she signed permission to Eose, whose timidity had given way amid excitement and encouragement. " Please, Maria," she said, " don't be angry with me for telUng ; I never did till Colonel Keith asked me, and I could not help it. Will you kiss me and forgive me as you used?" The hard fierce eyes, that had not wept over the child's coffin, filled with tears. " Oh, Miss Eose, Miss Eose, do not come near mo. Oh, if I had minded you — and your aunts " And the pent-up misery of the life that had fallen lower and lower since the first step in evil, found its course in a convulsive sob and shriek, so grievous that Alison was thankful for Colin' s promptitude in laying hold of Eose, and leading her out of the room before him. Alison felt obliged to follow, yet could not bear to leave Maria to policemen and prison warders. " Maria, poor Maria, I am so sorry for you, I will try to come and see you " But her hand was seized with an imperative, " Ailie, you must come, they are all waiting for you." How little had she thought her arm would ever be drawn into that arm, so unheeded by both. " So that is Edward's little girl ! Why, she is the sweetest little clear-headed thing I have seen a long time. She was the saving of us." " It was well thought of by Colin." " Colin is a lawyer spoilt — that's a fact. A first-rato get- up of a case ! " " And you think it safe now 1 " 310 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FABIILY. " !N"ot]iing safer, so Edward turns up. How lie can keep away from such, a cMld as that, I can't imagine. Where is she 't Oh, here — " aij they came into the porch in fuller light, where the Colonel and Eose waited for them. "Ha, my little Ailie, I must make Letter friends with you." " My name is Eose, not Ailie," replied the little girl. " Oh, aye ! Well, it ought to have been, what d'ye call her — that was a Daniel come to judgment 1 " '' Portia," returned Eose j " but I don't thiak that is pretty at aU." " And where is Lady Temple ? " anxiously asked Alison. " She must be grieved to be detained so long." " Oh ! Lady Temple is well provided for," said the Colonel, " all the magistrates and half the bar are at her feet. They say the gTace and simplicity of her manner of giving her evidence were the greatest contrast to poor Eachel's." " But where is she ? " still persisted Alison. " At the hotel ; Maria's was the last case of the day, and she went away directly after it, Avitli such a choice of escorts that I only just spoke to her." And at the hotel they found the waggonette at the gate- way, and Lady Temple in the parlour with Sir Edward Morden, who, late as it was, would not leave her till he had seen her with the rest of the party. She sprang up to meet them, and was much relieved to hear that Mauleverer was again secured. " Othervnse," she said, " it would have been all my fault for having acted without asking advice. I hope I shall never do so again." She insisted that all should go home together in the waggonette, and Eose found herself upon ]\ir. Beauchamp's knee, serving as usual as a safety valve for the feeliags of her aunt's admirers. There was no inconstancy on her part, she would much have preferred falling to the lot of her o^vn Colonel, but the open carriage drive Avas rather a risk for him in the night air ; and though he had undertaken it in the excitement, he soon found it requisite to muffle himself up, and speak as little as possible. Harry Beauchamp talked enough for both. He v/as in high spirits, partly, as Colin suspected, with the escape from a dull formal home, and partly with the undoing of a wi'ong that liad roiikled in his conscience more than he had allowed to himself. Lady Temple, her heart light at the convalescence of her sons, was pleased with everything, liked him extremely, and an- swered gaily ; and Alison enjoyed the resumption of pleasant THE QUARTER SESSIONS. 311 habits of days gone by. Yet, deliglitful as it all was, tliero was a sense of disenchantment : she was marvelling all the time how she could have suffered so much on Harry Eeau- champ's account. The rejection of him had weighed like a stone upon her heart, but now it seemed li]{:e freedom to have escaped his companionship for a lifetime. Presently a horse's feet were heard on the road before them ; there was a meeting and a halt, and Alick Keith's voice called out — " How has it gone 1 " " Why, were you not in court 1 " " What ! I go to hear my friends baited 1 " " WTiere were you then ? " " At Avonmouth." " Oh, then you have seen the boys," cried Lady Temple. " How is Conrade ? " " Quite himself. Up to a prodigious amount of indoor croquet. But how has it gone 1 " " Such a shame ! " returned Lady Temple. " They acquitted the dreadful man, and the poor woman, whom he drove to it, has a year's imprisonment and hard labour ! " " Acquitted ! What, is he off ? " " Oh, no, no ! he is safe, and waiting for the Assizes ; all owing to the Colonel and Little Eose." " He is committed for the former offence," said Colonel Keith j " the important one." " That's right ! Good night ! And how," he added, rein- ing back his horse, " did your cousin get through it ? " " Oh, they were so hard on her ! " cried Lady Temple. " I could hardly bring myself to speak to Sir Edward tifter it ! It was as if he thought it all her fault ! " " Her evidence broke down completely," said Colonel Keith. " Sir Edward spared her as much as he could ; but the absurdity of her whole conduct was palpable. I hope she has had a lesson." Alick's impatient horse flew on with him, and Colin muttered to Alison under his mufflers, — " I never could make out whether that is the coolest or the most sensitive fellow livm^ I " 312 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. CHAPTEE XXII. THE AFTER CLAP *' I have read in the marvellous heart oi Jiian, That strange and mystic scroll, That an army of phantoms vast and wan, Beleaguer the human soul. " Encamped beside life's rushing stream, In Fancy's misty light, Gigantic shapes and shadows gleam Portentous through the night." The Beleaguered City, Longfellow, A DINNER party at the Deaaery in the sessions week was an institution, but Eachel, lying on the sofa in a cool room, liad thought herself exempt from it, and was conscious for the time of but one wish, namely, to be let alone, and to be able to shut her eyes, without finding the lids, as it were, lined wdth tiers of gazing faces, and curious looks turned on licr, and her ears from the ecbo of the roar of fury that had dreadfully terrified both her and her mother, and she felt herself to have merited ! The crush of public censure was not at the moment so overwhelming as the strange morbid effect of having been the focus of those many, many glances, and if she reflected at all, it was with a weary speculating "wonder whether one pair of dark grey eyes bad been among those levelled at her. She thought that if they had^ she could not have missed either their ironical sting, or per- chance some kindly gleam of sympathy, such as had some- times surprised her from under the flaxen lashes. There she had lain, unmolested and conscious of a certain relief in the exceeding calm ; the grey pinnacle of the cathe- dral, and a few branches of an elm-tree alone meeting her eye through the open window, and the sole sound the cawing of the rooks, whose sailing flight amused and attracted her glance from time to time with dreamy interest. Grace had gone into court to hear Maria Hatberton's trial, and all was stilL The first break was when ber mother and Miss Wellwood came in, after having wandered gently together round the warm, walled Deanery garden, comparing notes about their myrtles and geraniums. Then it was that amid all their THE AFTER CLAP. 313 tender inquiries after her headache, and their administration of afternoon tea, it first broke upon Eachel that they ex- pected her to go down to dinner. "Pray excuse me," she said imploringly, looking at her mother for support ; " indeed, I don't know that I could sit out a dinner ! A numher of people together make mc so dizzy and confused." " Poor child ! " said Miss Wellwood, kiudly, hut looking to INIrs. Curtis \m her turn. " Perhaps, as she has been so ill, the evening might be enough." " Oh," exclaimed Eachel, " I hope to be in bed before you have finished dinner. Indeed I am not good company for any one." " Don't say that, my dear ; " and Miss WeUwood looked puzzled. " Indeed, my dear," said Mrs. Curtis, evidently distressed, " I think the exertion would be good for you, if you could only think so." "Yes, indeed, said Miss Wellwood, catching at tho notion ; "it is your miud that needs the distraction, my dear." " I am distracted enough already," poor Eachel said, put- ting her hand up. " Indeed, I do not want to be disoblig- ing," she said, interpreting her mother's anxious gestures to mean that she was wanting in civility ; "it is very kind in you. Miss Wellwood, but this has been a very trying day, and I am sure I can give no pleasure to anybody, so if I might only be let off." "It is not so much " began Miss Wellwood, getting into a puzzle, and starting afresh. " Indeed, my dear, my brother and I could not bear that you should do anything you did not like, only you see it would never do for you to seem to want to shut yourself up." " I should think all the world must feel as if I ought to be shut up for life," said Eachel, dejectedly. "Ah! but that is the very thing. If you do not show yourself it wiU make such a talk." Eachel had nearly said, " Let Uiem talk ;" but though she felt tormented to death, habitual respect to these two gentle, nervous, elderly women made her try to be courteous, and she said, " Indeed, I cannot much care, provided I don't hear them." " Ah ! but you don't know, my dear," said Mrs. Curtis, seeing her friend looked dismayed at this indifTcrence. " In ■ .J 14 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. deed, dear Miss Wellwood, she does not know ; we thouglit it would be so awkward for lier in court." " Know what V exclaimed Eachel, sitting upright, and putting down her feet. " What have you been keeping from me?" "Only — only, my dear, people will say such things, and nobody could thiiik it that knew you." " Wliat V demanded Eachel. " Yes," said IMrs. Cui-tis, perhaps, since her daughter was to have the shock, rather glad to have a vsdtness to the surprise it caused her : " you know people will gossip, and some one has put it about that — that this horrid man was " Mis. Curtis paused, Ivliss Wellwood was as pink as her cap strings. Eachel grasped the meaning at last. "Oh!" she said, with less reticence than her elders, " there must needs be a spice of flirtation to give piquancy to the mess of gossip ! I don't wonder, there are plenty of people vfho judge others by themselves, and think that motive must underlie everything ! I wonder who imagines that I am fallen so low V' " There, I knew she would take it in that way," said Mrs. Curtis. "And so you understand us, my dear, we could not bear to ask you to do anything so distressing except for your own sake." " I am far past caring for my own sake," said Eachel, " but for yours and Grace's, mother, I will give as much ocular demonstration as I can, that I am not pining for this hero with a Norman name. I own I should have thought none of the Dean's friends would have needed to be convinced." " Oh, no ! no ! but " Miss Wellwood made a great confusion of noes, huts, and my dears, and ]\irs. Curtis came to the rescue. "After aU, my love, one can't so much wonder ! You have always been very peculiar, you know, and so clever, and you took up this so eagerly. And then the Greys saw you so imwilling to prosecute. And — and I have always allowed you too much liberty — ever since your poor dear papa was taken — and now it has come upon you, my poor child ! Oh, I hope dear Panny will take warn- ing by me," and off went poor Mrs. Cm-tis into a fit of sobs. "Mother — mother! this is worse than anything," ex- claimed Eachel in an agony, springing to her feet, and flying after sal volatile, but feeling frightfully helpless without Grace, the manager of all INIrs. Cui'tis's ailments and troubles. Grace would have let her quietly cry it out. Eachel's remo- THE AFTER CLAP. 315 dies and incoherent protestations of all being her own fault only made tMngs worse, and perhaps those ten minutes were the most overwhelming of all the griefe that Eachel had brought on herself. However, what with Miss WeUwood's soothing, and her o^yn sense of the becoming, Mrs. Curtis struggled herself into composure again by the time the maid came to dress them for dinner ; Eachel all the while longing for Grace's return, not so much for the sake of hearing the verdict, as of knowing whether the mother ought to be allowed to go down to dinner, so shaken did she look ; for indeed, besides her distress for her daughter, no smaU ingre- dient in her agitation was this recurrence to a stated custom of her husband's magisterial days. Persuasion was unavailing. At any cost the Curtis family must present an unassailable front to the public eye, and if Mrs. Curtis had forced forward her much tried and suffering daughter, far more would she persist in devoting herself to gaiety and indifference, but her nervousness was exceeding, and betrayed itself in a continual wearying for Grace, without whom neither her own dress nor Kachel's could be arranged to her satisfaction, and she was absolutely incapable of not worrying Eachel about every fold, every plait, every bow, in a manner that from any one else would have been unbearable ; but those tears had frightened Eachel into a penitent sub- mission that endured with an absolute semblance of cheerful- ness each of these torments. The languor and exhaustion had been driven away, and feverish excitement had set in, not so much from the spirit of defiance that the two elder ladies had expected to excite, as from the having been goaded into a reckless determination to sustain her part. No matter for the rest. It often happened in these parties that the ladies would come in from the country in reasonable time, while their lords would be detained much later in court ; so when the cathedral clock had given notice of the half-hour, Mrs. Curtis began to pick up fan and handkerchief, and prepare to descend. Eachel suggested there would be no occasion so to do till Grace's return, since it was plain that no one could yet be released. " Yes, my dear, but perhaps — don't you think it might be remarked as if you chose to keep out of sight V " Oh, very well." Eachel followed her mother down, sustained by one hope, that Captain Keith would bo there. JS'o ; the Deanery did 316 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. not greatly patronize tlie barracks; there was not much, chance of any gentleman under forty, except, perhaps, in the even- ing. And at present the dean himself and one canon were the entire gentleman element among some dozen ladies. Every- body knew that the cause of delay was the trial of the cruel matron, and added to the account of Eachel's iniquities their famished and weary state of expectation, the good Dean gyrating among the groups, trying to make conversation, which every one felt too fretful and too hungry to sustain with spirit. Eachel sat it out, trying to taUi whenever she saw her mother's anxious eyes upon her, but failing in finding anything to say, and much doubting whether her neighbours liked talking to her. At last gentlemen began to appear in twos and threes, and each made some confidence to the womankind that first absorbed him, but no one came in Eachel's way, and the girl beside her became too unfeignedly curious to support even the semblance of conversation, but listened for scraps of intel- ligence. Something was flying about respecting " a gentleman who came down by the train," and something about " Lady Temple " and " adniirable," and the young lady seised the first opportunity of deserting Eachel, and plunging into the melee. Eachel sat on, sick with suspense, feeling utterly unable to quit her seat. Still they waited, the whole of the party were not arrived, and here was the curfew ringing, and that at the Deanery, which always felt injured if it were seven o'clock before people were in the dioing-room ! Grace must be upstairs dressing, but to reach her was impossible ! At last Mr. Grey was announced, and he had mercy upon Eachel ; he came up to her as soon as he could without making her remarkable, and told her the cause of his delay had been the necessity of committing Mauleverer upon an accusation by a relation of Colonel Keith, of very extensive frauds.upon Miss WiUiams's brother. Eachel's illness and the caution of the WiUiamses had prevented her from being fully aware of the complication of their afiairs with her own, and she became paler and paler, as she listened to the partial ex- planation, though she was hardly able as yet to understand it. " The woman ? " she asked. " Sentenced to a year's imprisonment mth hard labour ; and let me tell you, Eachel, you had a most narrow escape there ! If that army doctor had not come in time to see the child alive, they could not have chosen but have an inquest, and no mortal can tell what might have been the decision THE AFTER CLxVr. 317 about your homoeopathy. You might have hccn looldng forward to a worse business than this at the next assizes." Mr. Grey had done his work at last ! The long waiting, the weary constraint, and at last the recurrence of Lovedy's sufferings and her own share in them, entirely overcame her. Mists danced before her eyes, and the very sensation that had been so studiously avoided was produced by her fainting helplessly away in her chair, whUo Mr. Grey was talking to her. To be sure it brought deliverance from the multitude, and she awoke in the quiet of her room, upon her bed, in the midst of the despairing compunction of the mother, and the tender cares of Grace, but she was too utterly overdone for even this to be much relief to her ; and downstairs poor Miss Wellwood's one desire was to liinder the spread of the report that her swoon had been caused by the tidings of Mauleverer's apprehension. It seemed as if nothing else had been want- ing to make the humiliation and exposure complete. Rachel had despised fainting ladies, and had really hitherto been so superabundant in strength that she had no experience of the symptoms, or she might have escaped ia time. But there she lay, publicly censured before the dignitaries of her county for moral folly, and entirely conquered before the rest of the world by the physical weakness she had most contemned. Then the mother was so terrified and distressed that all sorts of comforting reassurances were required, and the chief object soon became to persuade her to go downstairs and leave Rachel to her bed. ibid at last the thought of civility and of the many Mrs. Grundys prevailed, and sent her downstairs, but there was little more comfort for Rachel oA'-on in being left to herself — that for which she had a few minutes before most ardently longed. That night was perhaps the most painful one of her whole life. The earnest desire to keep her mother from uneasiness, and the longing to be unmolested, made her play her part well when the mother and Grace came up to see her before going to bed, and they thought she would sleep off her over- fatigue and excitement, and yielded to her desire that they should bid her good night, and leave her to rest. But what sort of rest was it 1 Sometimes even her own personal identity was gone, and she would live over again in the poor children, the hunger and the blows, or she would become Mrs. Rawlins, and hear herself sentenced for the savage cruelty, or she would actually stand in court under 318 THE CLEVEll WOMAN OF Tlil^ i'AMlLY. sentenee for manslaughter. Her pulses throbbed up to fevci pitch, head and cheeks burnt, the very power to lie stiU was gone, and whether she commanded her thoughts or lapsed into the land of dreams, they worked her equal woe. Now it was the world of gazing faces, feverishly magnified, multiplied, and pressing closer and closer on her, till she could have screamed to dispel them ; now it was her mother weeping over the reports to which she had given occasion, and ac- cusing herself of her daughter's errors ; and now it was Lovedy Kelland's mortal agony ; now the mob, thirsting for vengeance, were shouting for justice on her, as the child's murderer, and she was shrieking to Alick Keith to leave her to hei fate, and only save her mother. It would hardly be too much to say that the positive wretchedness of actually witnessing the child's death was doubled in these its imaginary repetitions on that still more suffering night of waking dreams, when every solemn note of the cathedral clock, every resolute proclamation from its fellow in the town hall, every sharp reply from the domestic timepiece in the Deanery fell on her ears, generally recalling her at least to full consciousness of her identity and where- abouts, and dispelling the delusion. But, then, what comfort was there? Verital-ly she had caused suffering and death ; she had led to the peril of Fanny's children ; she had covered her mother with shame and grief ! Nay, in her exaggerated tone of feeling, she imagined that dis- tress and poverty might have been entailed on that beloved mother. Those title-deeds — no intelligence. Captain Keith had taken no notice. Perhaps he heard and believed those degrading reports ! He had soul enough to pity and sjTnpa- thize with the failure of extended views of beneficence ; he despised the hypocrisy that had made charity a cloak for a credulous debasing attachment, and to such an object ! He might well avoid her ! His sister had always bantered her on what had seemed too absui'd to be rebutted, and, at any rate, tliis fainting fit would clench his belief. Ko doubt he be- lieved it. And if he did, why shoiild not every one else whoso opinion she cared for: Ermine, her Colonel, even gentle Fanny — ^no, she would never believe any harm ; she had suf- fered too much in her cause. Oh, for simple genuine charity like Fanny's, with e3''es> clear with innocence and humility? And now what was before her 1 should she ever be allowed to hide her head, or should she be forced again to brave that many-eyed world ? TUE AFTER CLAF. oil) Perhaps tho title-deed business would prove utter ruin. It would have been acceptable to herself, but her mother and sister ! Chastisement ! Yes, it was just chastisement for head- strong folly and conceit. She had heard of bending to the rod and finding it a cross, but here came tho dreadful confusion of unreality, and of the broken habit of religious meditation except as matter of debate. She did not know till her time of need how deeply sneers had eaten into her heart. The only text that would come to her mind was, " And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea ; and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof" Every effort at prayer or at calm recall of old thoughts still ended in that desolate verse. The first relief to these miserable dreams was the cool clear morning light, and by-and-by the early cathedral bells, then Grace's kind greeting made her quite herself; no longer feverish, but full of lassitude and depression. She would not listen to Grace's entreaties that she would remain in bed. " 'No place was so hateful to her," she said, and she came down apparently not more unwell than had been the case for many days past, so that after breakfast her mother saw no reason against leaving her on the sofa, while going out to perform some commissions in the town, attended, of course, by Grace. Miss Wellwood promised that she should not be disturbed, and she found that she must have been asleep, for she was taken by surprise by the opening of the door, and the apologetic face of the butler, who told her that a gentleman had asked if she would see him, and presented the card of " Captain Alexander Keith." Eagerly she desired that he should be admitted, tremu- lously she awaited liis sentence upon her mother's peace; and, as she thought of all he must have heard, all he must believe, she felt as if she must flee; or, if that were im- possible, cower in shrinking dread of the glance of his satirical eye! Here he was, and she could not look or speak, nor did ho ; she only felt that his clasp of greeting was kind, was anxious, and he put forward the easy-chair, into which she sank, unable to stand. He said, " I saw your mother and sister going into tho town. I thought you would lilvC to hear of this business at once." " Oh yes, thank you." " I could not sec the man till the day before yesterday," 320 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. he said, " and I could get notliiiig satisfactory from him. He said ho had taken the papers to a legal friend, hut was not authorized to give his name. Perhaps his views may he changed hy his present condition. I will try him agaia if you like." " Thank you, thank you I Do you think this is true 1 " "He is too cunning a scoundrel to tell unnecessary lies, and very likely he may have disposed of them to some Jew attorney; hut I think nothing is to he feared but some annoyance." "And annoyance to my mother is the one thing I most fear," sighed Eachel, helplessly. " There might he a mode of much lessening it to her," he said. " Oh, what? Tell me, and I would do it at any cost." " Will you 1 " and he came nearer. " At the cost of your- seK?" She thriUed all over, and convulsively grasped the arm of her chair. " Would not a son he the hest person to shield her from annoyance," he added, trying for lus usual tone ; hut failing, he exclaimed, " Eachel, Eachel, let me ! " She put her hands over her face, and cried, " Oh ! oh ! I never thought of this." " No," he said, " and I know what you do think of it, hut indeed you need not he wasted. Our women and children want so much done for them, and none of our ladies are ahlo or willing. Will you not come and help me 1 " " Don't talk to me of helping ! I do nothing hut spoil and ruin." " Not now 1 That is all gone and past. Come and begin afresh." "No, no, I am too disagreeable." "May not I judge for myself?" he said, drawing nearer, and his voice falling into tremulous tenderness. " Headstrong — overbearing." ; " Try," and his smile overbore her. " Oh no, no, nobody can beax me ! This is more than you — ^you ought to do — than any one should," she faltered, not knowing what she said. " Than any one to whom you were not most dear ! " was the answer, and he was now standing over her, with the dew upon his eyelashes. " Oh, that can't be. Bessie said you always took up what- ever other people hated, and I know it is only that " THE AFTER CLAP. 321 " Don't let Bessie's sayings come between us now, Eachel. This goes too deep," and he had almost taken her hand, when with a start she drew it back, saying, " But you know what they say ! " " Have they been stupid enough to teU you 1 " he exclaimed. " Confute them then, Eachel — dolts that can't believe in self- devotion ! Laugh at their beards. This is the way to put an end to it ! " "Oh no, they would only detest you for my sake. I can't," she said again, bowed down again with shame and dejection. " I'll take care of that ! " he said with the dry tone that perhaps was above all reassurance, and conquered her far enough to enable him to take possession of the thin and still listless hand. " Then," he said, " you will let me take this whole matter in hand ; and if the worst comes to the worst, we will make up to the charity out of the Indian money, without vexing the mother." " I can't let you suffer for my ndserable folly." " Too late to say that ! " he answered ; and as her eyes were raised to him in startled inquiry, he said gravely, " These last weeks have shown me that your troubles must be mine." A hand was on the door, and Eachel fled, in time to screen her flight from Miss Wellwood, whom AHck met with his usual undisturbed front, and inquiries for Mrs. Curtis. That good lady was in the town more worried than flattered by the numerous inquiries after Eachel's health, and conscious of having gone rather near the wind in making the best of it. She had begun to dread being accosted by any acquaintance, and Captain Keith, sauntering near the archway of the close, was no welcome spectacle. She would have passed him with a curt salutation, but he grasped her hand, saying, " May I have a few words with you ? " " Not Fanny — ^not the children ! " cried Mrs. Curtis in dismay. " !No indeed. Only myself," and a gleam of intelligence imder his eyelashes and judicious pressure of his hand con- veyed volumes to Grace, who had seen him often during Eachel's illness, and was not unprepared. She merely said that she would see how her sister was, substituted Captain Keith's arm for her own as her mother's support, and hurried away, to encounter Miss Wellwood's regrets that, in spite of all her precautions, dear Eachel had been disturbed by "a young Y 3122 THE OLEVEU WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. officer, I believe. We see him often at the cathedral, and some- body said it was his sister whom Lord Keith married/' " Yes, we know him well, and he is a Victoria Cross man," said Grace, beginning to assume his reflected glory. " So some one said, but the Dean never calls on the officers unless there is some introduction, or there w^ould be no end to it. It Vr"as a mistake letting him in to disturb Eachel. Is your mother gone up to her, my dear 1 " " N^o, I thmk she is in the cathedral yard. I just came in to see about Eachel," said Grace, escaping. Miss Wellwood intended going out to join her old fiiend ; but, on going to put on her bonnet, she saw fcom the window Mrs. Curtis, leaning on the intruder's arm, conversing so confidentially that the Dean's sister flushed with amazement, and only hoped she had mentioned him with due respect. And under that southern cathedral wall good Mrs. Curtis took the longest walk she had indulged in for the last twenty years ; so that Grace, and even Rachel, beholding from the window, began to fear that the mother would be walked to death. But then she had that supporting arm, and the moral support, that was infinitely more ! That daughter, the spoilt pet of her husband, the subject of her pride, even when an enigma and an anxiety, whom she had lately been forced to think of as "A maid whom there were few to praise And very few to love," she now found loved by one at least, and praised in tenns that thrilled through and tlrrough the mother's heart in their truth and simplicity, for that sincerity, generosity, and un- selfishness. It was her own daughter, her real Eachel, no illusion, that she heard described in those grave earnest words ; only while the whole world saw the errors and ex- aggerated them, here was one who sank them all in the sterling worth that so few would recognise. The dear old lady forgot all her prudence, and would hardly let him speak of his means ; but she soon saw that Eachel's present portion would be more than met on his side, and that no one coultl find fault with her on the score of inequality of fortune. He would have been quite able to retire, and live at ease ; but this he said at once and with decision he did not intend. His regiment was his hereditary home, and his father had expressed sucli strong wishes that he should not li,u fitly desert his profession, that he felt bound to it by filial duty as well THK AFTER CLAP. o2'6 as hy other motives. Moreover, he thought the change of life and occupation would he the hest thing for Eachel, and Mrs. Curtis could not hut acquiesce, little as she had even dreamt that a daughter of hers would marry into a marching regiment ! Her surrender of judgment was curiously com- plete. " Dear Alexander," as thenceforth she called him, had assumed the mastery over her from the first turn they took under the cathedral; and when at length he reminded her that the clock was on the stroke of one, she accepted it on his • infalHhle judgment, for her own sensations would have made her believe it not a quarter of an hour since the inter- view had begun. l!^ot a word had been granted on either side to the conven- tional vows of secrecy, always made to be broken, and per- haps each . tacitly felt that the less secrecy the better for i^achel. Certain it. is that Mrs. Curtis went into the Deanery with her head considerably higher, kissed Eachel vehemently, and, assuring her she knew all about it, and was happier than she had ever thought to be again, excused her from appearing at luncheon, and hurried down thereto, without giving any attention to a feeble entreaty that she would not go so fast. And when at three o'clock Eachel crept down- stairs to get into the carriage for her return home, the good old Dean lay in wait for her, told her she must allow him an old friend's privilege, kissed her, congratulated her, and said he would beg to perform the ceremony. " Oh, Mr. Dean, it is nothing like that." He laughed, and handed her in. " Mother, jnother, how could you 1 " sighed Eachel, as they drove on. "My dear, they were so kind; they could not help knowing !" " But it can't be." " Eachel, my child, you like him ! " "'He does not know half about me yet. Mother, don't tell If'anny or any one till ' I have seen him again.' " And the voice was so imperious with the wayward vehemence of illness that Mrs. Curtis durst not gainsay it. She did not know how Alick Keith was already silencing those who asked if he had heard of the great event at the Dean's party. Still less did she guess at the letter at that moment in writing : — " My dear Bessie, — ^Wish me joy. I have gone in for the uncroquetable lawn, and won it. — Your affectionate brother, " A. C. Keith." y2 324 THE OJiEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. CHAPTEK XXIII. DEAE ALEXANDER. "I pray thee now tell me, for which of my bad parts didst thou first fall in love with me ? " — MtccJi Ado about Nothing. " Aliok, is this all chivaby % " inquired Colonel Keith, sitting by his fire, suffering considerably from his late drive, and hearing reports that troubled him. "Very chivalrous, indeed? when there's an old county property to the fore." " For that matter, you have all been canny enough to have means enough to balance all that barren moorland. You are a richer man than I shall ever be." "Without heiress-hunting ? " said Alick, as though weigh- ing his words. " Come, Alick, you need not put on a mask that does not fit you ! If it is not too late, take the risk into consideration, for I own I think the price of your championship somewhat severe." " Ask Miss WiUiams." "Ermine is grateful for much kindness, and is — yes — really fond of her." " Then, Colonel, you ought to know that a sensible woman's favourable estimate of one of her own sex out- weighs the opinion men can form of her." " I grant that there are fine qualities ; but, Alick, regard- ing you, as I must necessarily do, from our former relations, you must let me speak if there is still time to warn you, lest your pity and sense of injustice should be entangling you in a connexion that would hardly conduce to make you happy or popular." "Popularity is not my line," said Alick, looking com- posedly into the fire. " Tell me first," said the puzzled Colonel, "are you com- mitted?" " 1^0 one can be more so." ; " Engaged ! ! ! " " I thought you would have iknown it from themselves ; but I find she has forbidden hei* mother to mention it till she has seer me again. And thiey talk of quiet, and shut me out ! " gloonuly added Alick. DEAR ALEXANDER. 325 The Colonel conceived a hope' that the lady would abjure matrimony, and release this devoted knight, but in a few moments Alick burst out — " Absurd ! She cannot mend with anything on her mind ! If I could have seen Mrs. Curtis or Grace alone, they might have heard reason; but that old woman of a doctor was prosing about quiet and strain on the nerves. I know that sort of quiet, the best receipt for distraction ! " " Well, Alick," said his friend, smiling, " you have at least convinced me that your heart is in the matter." " How should it not be 1 " returned Alick. " I was afraid it was only with the object of unjust vitu- peration." " No such thing. Let me tell you. Colonel, my heart has been in it ever since I felt the relief of meeting real truth and unselfishness ! I liked her that first evening, when she was manfully chasing us off for frivolous danglers round her cousin? I liked her for having no conventionalities, fast or slow, and especially for hating heroes ! And when my sister had helped to let her get into this intolerable web, how could I look on without feeling the nobleness that has never shifted blame from herself, but bowed, owned all, suffered — suffered — oh, how grievously ! " The Colonel was moved. " With such genuine affection you should surely lead her and work upon her ! I trust you will be able." " It is less that," said Alick, rather resentfully, " than sympathy that she wants. jS'obody ever gave her that except your Ermine ! By-the-bye, is there any news of the brother 1 " Colonel Keith shook his head. " I believe I shall have to go to Russia," he said with some dejection. "After that, reproach one with chivalry," said Alick, lightly. "Nay, I beg your pardon. Shall I take any message down to Mackarel Lane 1 " " Are you going 1 " " Well, yes, though I hardly ought to venture there till this embargo is taken off; for she is the one person there will be some pleasure in talking to. Perhaps I may reckon you as the same in effect." The Colonel responded with a less cheerful look than usual, adding, " I don't know whether to congratulate you, Alick, on having to ask no one's consent but your own at your age." " Especially not my guardian's ! " said Alick, with the desired effect of making him laugh. 326 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. "No, if you were my son, I -would not interfere," lie added gravely. " I only feared your not knowing what you were about. I see you do know it, and it merely becomes a question of every man to his taste — except for one point, Alick. I am afraid there may have been much disturbance of her opinions." " Surface work," said Alick, " some of the effects of the literature that paints contradiction as truth. It is only skin deep, and makes me wish all the more to have her with my uncle for a time. I wonder whether Grace would let me in if I went back agaia ! " JSTo, Grace was obdurate. Mr. Frampton had spoken of a nervous fever, and commanded perfect quiescence ; and Grace was the less tempted to transgress the order, because she really thought her mother was more ia love with " dear Alexander" than Rachel was. Eachel was exceedingly do pressed, restless, and feverish, and shrank from her mother'^ rejoicing, declaring that she was mistaken, and that nothiug more must be said. She had never consented, and he must not ma^ve such a sacrifice; he would not when he knew better. iSTay, in some moods, Eachel seemed to think even the undefined result of the interview an additional humilia- tion, and to feel herself falling, if not fallen, from her supreme contempt of love and marriage. The hurry, and the consent taken for granted, had certainly been no small elements in her present disturbed and overwhelmed state ; and Grace, though understanding the motive, was disposed to resent the over-haste. Calm and time to think were promised to Eachel, but the more she had of both the more they hurt her. She tossed restlessly all night, and was depressed to the lowest ebb by day ; but on the second day, ill as she evidently was, she insisted on seeing Captain Keith, declaring that she should never be better till she had made him understand her. Her nurses saw that she was right ; and, besides, Mrs. Curtis's pity was greatly touched by dear Alexander's entreaties. So, as a desperate experiment, he was at last allowed to go into the dressing-room, where she was lying on the sofa. He begged to enter alone, only announced by a soft knock, to which she repKed with a list- less " Come in," and did not look up till she suddenly became conscious of a footfall firmer though softer than those she was used to. She turned, and saw who it was who stood at a window opposite to her feet, drawing up the \^enetian blind, from whose teasing divisions of glare ami DEAR ALEXANDER. 327 shade she had been hiding her eyes from the time she had come in, fretted by the low continuous tap of its laths upon the shutters. Her first involuntary exclamation was a sigh of relief. " Oh, thank you. I did not know what it was that was such a nuisance." " This is too much glare. Let me turn your sofa a little way round from it." And as he did so, and she raised herself, he shook out her cushions, and substituted a cool chintz covered one for the hot crimson damask on which her head had been resting. " Thank you ! How do you know so well ? " she said with a long breath of satisfaction. "By long trial," he said, very quietly seating himself beside her couch, with a stillness of manner that strangely hushed all her throbbings; and the very pleasure of lying really still was such that she did not at once break it. The lull of these few moments was inexpressibly sweet, but the pang that had crossed her so many times in the last two days and nights could not but return. She moved restlessly, and- he leant towards her with a soft-toned inquiry what it was. she wanted. " Don't," she said, raising herself. " No, don't ! I have thought more over what you said," she continued, as if repeating the sentence she had conned over to herself. " You have been most generous, most noble ; but — but," with an effort of memory, "it would be wrong in me to accept such — oh ! such a sacrifice ; and when I tell you all, you will think it a duty to turn from me," she added, pressing her hands to her temples. " And mind, you are not com- mitted — ^you are free." " Tell me," he said, bending towards her. " I know you cannot overlook it ! My faith — ^it is all confusion," she said in a low awe-struck voice. "I do believe — I do wish to believe ; but my grasp seems gone. I cannot rest or trust for thinking of the questions that have been raised ! There," she added in a strange interrogative tone. "It is a cruel thing to represent doubt as the sign of intellect," Alick said sadly ; " but you will shake off the tormentors when the power of thinking and reasoning is come back." " Oh, if I could think so ! The mlHory of darkness here — there — everywhere — the old implicit reliance gone, and all S28 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. observance seeming like hypocrisy and unreality. There is no thinking, no enduring the intolerable maze." ' Do not try to think now. You cannot bear it. We will try to face what difficulties remain when you are stronger." She turned her eyes full on him. "You do not turn away ! You know you are free." " Turn from the sincerity that I prize ? " "You don't? I thought your views were exactly what would make you hate and loathe such bewilderment, and call it wilful ; " there was something piteous in the way her eye sought his face. " It was not wilful," he said j " it came of honest truth- seeking. And, Kachel, I think the one thing is now gone that kept that honesty from finding its way." " Self-sufficiency 1 " she said with a groan ; but with a sudden turn she exclaimed, "You don't trust to my sur- rendering my judgment. I don't think I am that kind of woman." " "Not I that kind of man," he answered in his natural tone ; tlien affectionately, " No, indeed I want you to aid mine." She lay back, wearied with the effort, and disinclined to break the stillness. There was a move at the door ; Mrs. Curtis, in an agony of restless anxiety, could not help coming to see that the interview was doing no harm. " Don't go ! " exclaimed Rachel, holding out her hand as he turned at the opening of the door. " Oh, mother ! " and there was an evident sound of disappointment. Mrs. Curtis was infinitely rejoiced to find her entrance thus inopportune. " I only wished just to be sure it was not too much," she said. " Oh, mother, it is the first peace I have known for weeks ! Can't you stay 1 " looking up to him, as her mother retreated to teU Grace that it was indeed all right. This brought him to a footstool close beside her. " Thank you," he murmured. " I was wondering just then if it would hurt you or agitate you to give me some little satisfaction in going on with this. I know you are too true not to have told me at once if your objections were more personal than those you have made j but, Eachel, it is true, as you say, that you have never consented ! " The tone of these words made Eachel raise herself, turn towards him, and hold out both her hands. " Oh," she said, as he took them into his own, " it was — ^it could be only that I cannot bear so much more than I deserve." DEAR ALEXANDER 329 " Wliat ! such an infliction ? " in Ids own dry way. " Such rest, such kindness, such generosity ! " "^0, Eachel, there is something that makes it neither kindness nor generosity. You know what I mean." "And that is what overpowers me more than all," she sighed, in the full surrender of herself. " I ought not to be so very happy." " That is all I want to hear," he said, as he replaced her on her cushions, and sat by her, holding her hand, but not speaking tiU the next interruption, by one of the numerous convalescent meals, brought in by Grace, who looked doubtful whether she would be allowed to come in, and then was edified by the little arrangements he made, quietly taking all into his own hands, and wonderfully lessening a sort of fidget that Mrs. Curtis's anxiety had attached to all that was done for Eachel. It was not for nothing that he had spent a year upon the sofa in. the irritably sensitive state of nerves that Bessie had described; and when he could speak to Grace alone, he gave her a lecture on those little refinements of unobtrusive care, that more demonstrative ailments had not availed to inculcate, and which Mrs. Curtis's present restless anxiety rendered almost impossible. To hinder her from constantly aggravating the fever on the nerves by her fidgeting solicitude was beyond all power save his own, and that when he was actually in the house. Morning after morning he rode to the Homestead to heat that Eachel had had a very bad night, and was very low, then was admitted to find Mrs. Curtis's fluttering, flurried attentions exasperating every wearied fibre with the very eff'ort to force down fretfulness and impatience; till, when she was left to him, a long space of the lull impressed on her by his presence was needfal before he could attempt any of the quiet talk, or brief readings of poetry, by which he tried further to soothe and rest her spirits. He would leave her so calm and full of repose as to make him augur well for the next day ; but the moment his back was turned, some- thing would always happen that set all the pulses in agitation again, and consigned her to a fresh night of feverish phantoms of the past. He even grew distracted enough to scold Gracfj fraternally as the only person he could scold. " You seem to nurse her on the principle of old Morris, the biggest ofiicer among us, who kindly insisted on sitting up with me, and began by taking his seat upon my Hand as it was lying spread out upon a pillow." 330 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. " Indeed, Alick," said Grace, with tears in her eyes, " I hardly know what to do. When you are not in the house^ the mother is almost as much in a nervous fever as Eachel, and it is hardly in her power to keep from fretting her. It is all well when you are here." " Then, Grace, there is only one thing to be done. The sooner I take Eachel away the better for both her and the mother." " Oh, Alick, you will drive them both wild if you hurry it on." " Look here. I believe I can get leave from Saturday till Tuesday. If I can get a hearing in those two days, I shall try ; and depend upon it, Grace, this place is the worst that Eachel can be in." " Can you come out here for three whole days 1 Oh, what a comfort ! " And what a comfort ' was re-echoed by Mrs. Curtis, who had erected dear Alexander to a pedestal of infallibility, and was always treated by him with a considerate kindness that made her pity Fanny for the number of years that must pass before Stephana could give her the supreme blessing of a son-in-law. Fanny, on her side, had sufficient present bles- sing in collecting her brood around her, after the long famines she had suffered, and regretted only that this month had rendered Stephana's babyhood more perceptibly a matter of the past ; and that, in the distance, school days were advanc- ing towards Conrade, though it was at least a comfort that his diphtheria had secured him at home for another half year, and the Colonel had so much to think about that he had not begun his promised researches into schools. The long-looked-for letters came after a weary interval of expectation, the more trying to Ermine because the weather had been so bitter that CoKn could not shake off his cold, nor venture beyond his own fireside, where Eose daily visited him, and brought home accounts that did not cheer her aunt. Edward wrote shortly to his sister, as if almost annoyed at the shower of letters that had by every post begun to recall his attention from some new invention on the means of assay- ing metals : — " I am sorry you have stirred up Keith to the renewal of this painful subject. You know I considered that page in my life as closed for ever ; and I see nothing that would compensate for what it costs me even to think of it. To redeem my name before the world would be of no avail to DEAR ALEXANDER. 331 me now, for all my English habits are broken, and all that made life valuable to me is gone. If Long and Beauchamp could reject my solemn affirmation three years ago, what would a retractation slowly wrung from them be worth to me now ? It might once have been, but that is all over now. Even the desire to take care of you would no longer actuate me since you have Keith again ; and in a few years I hope to make my child independent in money matters — indepen- dent of your love and care you would not wish her to be. Eorget the troubles of your life. Ermine, and be happy with your faithful Keith, without further efforts on behalf of one whom they only harass and grieve," Ermine shed some bitter tears over this letter, the more sorrowful because the refusal was a shock to her own reliance on his honour, and she felt lilce a traitress to his cause. And Colin would give him up after this ungTateful indifference, if nothing worse. Surely it betrayed a consciousness that the whole of his conduct would not bear inquiry, and she thought of the representations that she had so indignantly rejected, that the accounts, even without the last fatal demand, were in a state that it required an excess of charity to ascribe to mere carelessness on the part of the principal. She was glad that Alison was absent, and Eose in the garden. She laid her head on her little table, and drew long sobs of keen suffering, the reaction from the enjoyment and hope of the last few months. And so little knew she what she ought to ask, that she could only strive to say, " Thy will be done." " Ermine ! my Ermine, this is not a thing to be so much taken to heart. This foolish philosopher has not even read his letters. I never saw any one more consistently like himself." Ermine looked up, and Colin was standing over her, muffled up to the eyes, and a letter of his own in his hand. Her first impulse was to cry out against his imprudence, glad as she was to see him. " My cough is nearly gone," he said, unwinding his wrappings, " and I could not stay at home after this wonderful letter — three pages about chemical analysis, which he does me the honour to think I can under- stand, two of commissions for villanous compounds, and one of protestations that ' I will be drowned ; nobody shall help me.' " Ermine's laugh had come, even amid her tears, his tone was so great -^ relief to her. She did not know that he had 332 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. spent some minutes in cooling down his vexation, lest he should speak ungently of her brother's indifiference. " Poor Edward," she said, "you don't mean that this is aU the reply you have ! " " See for yourself," and he pointed to the divisions of the letter he had described. " There is all he vouchsafes to his own proper affairs. You. see he misapprehends the whole j indeed, I don't believe he has even read our letters." " We often thought he did not attend to all we wrote," said Ermine. " It is very disheartening !" " Nay, Ermine, you disheartened with the end in view !" " There are certainly the letters about Maddox's committal still to reach him, but who knows if they will have more effect ! Oh, Colin, this was such a hope that— perhaps I have dwelt too much upon it!" " It is such a hope," he repeated. " There is no reason for laying it aside, because Edward is his old self." " Colin ! you still think so ?" " I think so more than ever. If he will not read reason, he must hear it ; and if he takes no notice of the letters we sent after the sessions, I shall go and bring him back in time for the assizes." " Oh, Colin ! it cannot be. Think of the risk ! You who are still looking so thin and ill. I cannot let you." " It will be warm enough by the time I get there." " The distance ! You are doing too much- for us." " !N'o, Ermine," with a smile, " that I will never do." She tried to answer his smile, but leant back and shed tears, not like the first, full of pain, but of affectionate gratitude, and yet of reluctance at his going. She had ever been the strength and stay of the family, but there seemed to be a source of weakness in his nearness, and this period of his indisposition and of suspense had been a strain on her spirits that told in this gentle weeping. " This is a poor welcome after you have been laid up so long," she said when she could speak again. " If I behave so ill, you will only want to run from the sight of me." " It wiU be July when I come back." " I do not think you ought to go." " Nor I, if Edward deigns to read the account of Rose's examination." In that calm smiling resolution Ermine read the needless- ness of present argument, and spoke again of his health and his solitary hours. DEAR ALEXANDER. 333 " Mitchel has been very kind in coming to sit with me, and we have indulged in two or three castles in the air — hospitals in the air, perhaps, I should say. I told him he might bring me down another guest instead of the tailor, and he has brought a poor young pupil teacher, whom Tibbie calls a winsome callant, but I am afraid she won't save him. Did you ever read the ' Lady of La Garaye' ?" " Not the poem, but I know her story." " As soon as that parcel comes in, which Villars is always expecting, I propose to myself to read that poem with you. What's that ? It can't be Eachel as usual." If it was not Rachel, it was the next thing to her, namely, Alick Keith. This was the last day of those that he had spent at the Homestead, and he was leaving Rachel certaiuly better. She had not fallen back on any evening that he had been there, but to his great regret he would not be able to come out the next day. Regimental duty would take him up nearly all the day, and then he was invited to a party at the Deanery, " which the mother would never have forgiven me for refusing," he said ; just as if the mother's desires had the very same power over hitn as over her daughters. " I came to make a desperate request, Miss Williams," he said. " Would it be any way possible for you to be so kind as to go up and see Rachel 1 She comes downstairs now, and there are no steps if you go in by the glass doors. Do you thinlv you could manage it?" " She wishes it 1 " said Ermine. " Very much. There are thorns in her mind that no ono knows how to deal with so well as you do, and she told me yesterday how she longed to get to you." "It is very good in her. I have sometimes feared she might think we had dealt unfairly by her if she did not know how very late in the business we suspected that our impostors were the same," said Ermine. " It is not her way to blame any one but herself," said Alick, " and, in fact, our showing her the woodcut deception was a preparation for the rest of it. But I have said very little to her about all that matter. She required to be led away rather than back to it. Brooding over it is fatal work., and yet her spirits are too much weakened and shattered to bear over-amusement. That is the reason that I thought you would be so very welcome to-morrow. She has seen no one yet but Lady Temple, and shrinks from the very idea." " I do not see why I should not manage it very well," said 334 THE CLEVEli WOMAN OF THE I'AMIEV, Ermine, cheerfully, "if Miss Curtis will let me know in time whether she is equal to seeing me. You know I can walk into the house now." Alick thanked her earnestly. His listless manner was greatly enlivened by his anxiety, and Colonel Keith was ohHged to own that marriage would he a good thing for him ; but such a marriage ! If from sheer indolence he should leave the government to his wife, then — Colin could only shrug his shoulders in dismay. E"evertheless, when Ermine's wheeled chair came to the door the next afternoon, he came with it, and walked by her side up the hill, talking of what had been absolutely the last call she had made — a visit when they had both been riding Avith the young Beauchamps. " Suppose any one had told me then I should make my next visit with you to take care of me, how pleased I should have been," said Ermine, laughing, and taking as usual an invalid's pleasure in all the little novelties only remarked after long seclusion.' That steep, winding, pebbly road, with the ferns and creeping plants on its rocky sides, was a wonderful panorama to her, and she entreated for a stop at the summit to look down on the sea and the town ; but here Grace came out to them full of thanks and hopes, little knowing that to them the event was a very great one. When at the glass doors of the garden entrance, Ermine trusted her- self to the Colonel's arm, and between him and , her crutch crossed the short space to the morning room, where Eachel rose from her sofa, but wisely did not come forward till her guest was safely placed in a large easy chair. Eachel then held out her hand to the Colonel, and quietly said, " Thank you," in a subdued manner that really touched him, as he retreated quickly and left them together. Then Eachel sat down on a footstool close to Ermine, and looked up to her. "Oh, it is so good of you to come to me ! I would not have dared to think of it, but I just said I wished to get out for nothing but to go to you ; and then he — Captain Keith — ^would go and fetch you." " As the nearest approach to fetching the moon, I suppose," said Ermine, brightly. " It was very kind to me, for I was longing to see you, and I am glad to find you looking better than I expected." For in truth Eachel's complexion had been little altered by her illness ; and the subdued dejected exp ~3ssion was the chief change visible, except in the feebleness and tremulous- DEAR ALEXANDER. 335 uess of all lier movements. " Yes, I am better," she said. " I ought to be, for he is so good to me." " Dear Eachel, I was so very glad to hear of this," said Ermine, bending down to kiss her. " Were you 1 I thought no one could be that cared for him," said Eachel. " I cared more for him the week that you were ill than ever I had done before." '' Grace tells me of that," said Eachel, " and when he is here I believe it. But, Miss Williams, please look full at me, and tell me whether everybody would not think — I don't say that I could do it — ^but if every one would not think it a great escape for him if I gave him up." " ISTo one that could really judge." "Because, listen," said Eachel, quickly, "the regiment is going to Scotland, and he and the mother have taken it into their heads that I shall get well faster somewhere away from home. And — and they want to have the wedding as soon as I am better ; and they are going to write about settlements and all that. I have never said I would, and I don't feel as if — as if I ought to let him do it ; and if ever the thing is to be stopped at all, this is the only time." " But why 1 You do not wish " " Don't talk of what I wish," said Eachel. " Talk of what is good for him." Ermine was struck with the still resolute determination of judging for herself — the seK-sufi&ciency, almost redeemed by the unselfishness, and the face was most piteously in earnest. " My dear, surely he can be trusted to judge. He is no boy, in spite of his looks. The Colonel always says that he is as much older than his age in character as he is younger in appearance." " I know that," said Eachel, " but I don't think he ought to be trusted here ; for you see," and she looked down, " all the blindness of — of his affection is enhanced by his noble- ness and generosity, and he has nobody to check or stop him ; and it does seem to me a shame for us all to catch at such compassion, and encumber him with me, just because I am marked for scorn and dislike. I can't get any one to help me look at it so. My own people would fancy it was only that I did not care for him ; and he — I can't even think about it when he is here, but I get quite distracted with doubts if it can be right whenever he goes away. And you are llie only person who can help me ! Bessie wrote very 336 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. kindly to me, and I asked to see what slie said to him. I thought I might guess her feeling from it. And he said he knew I should fancy it worse than it was if he did not let me see. It was droll, and just like her — not unkind ; but I could see it is the property that makes her like it. And his uncle is blind, you know, and could only send a blessing, and kind hopes, and all that. Oh, if I could guess whethe . that uncle thinks he ought ! What does Colonel Keith think? I know you wUl. tell me truly." "He thinks," said Ermine, with a shaken voice, "that real trustworthy affection outweighs all the world could say." " But he thinks it is a strange, misplaced liking, exaggerated by pity for one sunk so low ? " said Eachel, in ■ an excited manner. " Eachel," said Ermine, " you must take my beginning as a pledge of my speaking the whole truth. Colonel Keith is certainly not fond of you personally, and rather wonders at Alick, but he has never doubted that this is the genuine, feeling that is for life, and that it is capable of making you both better and happier. Indeed, Eachel, we do both feel that you suit Alick much more than many people who have been far better liked." Eachel looked cheered. "Yet you," she faltered, "you have been an instance of resolute withstanding." " I don't think I shall be long," murmured Ermine, a vivid colour flashing forth upon her cheek, and leading the question from herself. " Just suppose you did carry out this fierce act of self-abnegation, what do you think could come next ? " " I don't know ! I would not break down or die if I could help it," added Eachel, faintly after her brave beginning. " And for him ? Do you think being cast off woidd be so very pleasant to him 1 " Eachel hung her head, and her lips made a half murmur of, " Would not it be good for him 1 " " No, Eachel, it is the very sorest trial there can be when, even in the course of providence, kind intentions are coldly requited ; and it would be incalculably harder when there- with there would be rejection of love." " Ah ! I never said I could do it. I could not tell him I did not care for him, and short of that nothing would stop it," sobbed Eachel, " only I wished to feel it was not very mean — very wrong." She laid her weary head on Ermine's lap, and Ermine bent down and kissed her. DKAR ALEXANDEU. 337 " So happy, so bright and free, and capable, his lile seems flow," proceeded Eachel. " I can't understand his joining it to mine; and if people shunned and disliked him for my sake ! " " Sui'ely that will depend on yourself. I have never seen you in society, but if you have the fear of making him unpopular or remarkable before your eyes, you will avoid it." " Oh, yes ; I know," said Eachel, impatiently. '• I did think I should not have been a commonplace woman," and she shed a few tears. Ermine was provoked with her, and began to think that she had been arguing on a wrong tack, and that it would be better after all for Alick to be free. Eachel looked up presently. " It must be very odd to you to hear me say so, but I can't help feeling the difference. I used to think it so poor and weak to be in love, or to want any one to take care of one. I thought marriage such ordinary drudgery, and ordinary opinions so contemptible, and had such schemes for myself. And tliis — and this is such a break down, my blunders and their consequences have been so unspeakably dreadfid, and now instead of suffering, dying — as I felt I ought — it has only made me just like other women, for I know I could not live without him, and then all the rest of it must come for his sake." " And will moke you much more really useful and effective than ever you could have been alone," said Ermine. " He does talk of doing things together, but, oh ! I feel as if I could never dare put out my hand again ! " " !N'ot alone perhaps." " I like to hear him tell me about the soldiers' children, and what he wants to have done for them." " You and I little thought what Lady Temple was to bring us," said Ermine, cheerfully, "but you see wo are not the strongest creatures in the world, so we must resign ourselves to our fate, and make the best of it. They must judge how many imperfections they choose to endure, and we can only make the said drawbacks as little troublesome as may be. !N^ow, I think I see Miss Curtis watching in fear that I am over- talking you." " Oh, must you go % You have really comforted me ! I wanted an external opinion very much, and I do trust yours ! Only tell me," she added, holding Ermine's hand, " is this indeed so with you ? " z 338 THE OLEVEE WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. " !N'ot yet," said Ermine, softly, " do not speak about it, but I tliiiik you will be comforted to hear that this matter of yours, by leading to the matron's confession, may have removed an obstacle that was far more serious in my eyes than even my own helplessness, willing as Colin was to cast both aside. Oh, Eachel, there is a great deal to be thank- ful for." Eachel lay down on her sofa, and fell asleep, nor did Alick find any occasion for blaming Grace when he returned the next day. The effect of the conversation had been to bring Eachel to a meek submission, very touching in its passiveness and weary peacefulness. She was growing stronger, walked out leaning on AKck's arm, and was even taken out by him in a boat, a wonderful innovation, for a dangerous accident to Mr. Curtis had given the mother such a horror of the sea that no boating excursions had ever taken place during her solitary reign, and the present were only achieved by a wonderful stretch of dear Alexander's influence. Perhaps she trusted him the more, because his maimed hand pre- vented him from being himself an oarsman, though he had once been devoted to romng. At any rate, with an old fisherman at the oar, many hours 'were spent upon the waters of the bay, in a tranquillity that was balm to the harassed spirit, with very little talking, now and then some reading aloud, but often nothing but a dreamy repose. The novelty and absence of old association was one secret of the benefit that Eachel thus derived. Any bustle or resumption of former habits was a trial to her shattered nerves, and brought back the dreadful haunted nights. The first sight of Conrade, still looking thin and delicate, quite overset her ; a drive on the Avoncester road renewed all she had felt on the way thither ; three or four morning visitors coming in on lier unexpectedly, made the whole morbid sense of eyes staritig at her recur all night, and when the London solicitor came doTVTi about the settlements, she shrank in such a painful though stni submissive way, from the sight of a stranger, far more from the semblance of a dinner party, that the mother yielded, and let her remain in her sitting-room. "May I come in?" said Alick, knocking at the door. " I have something to tell you." " What, Alick ! Not Mr. Williams come ? " " Nothing so good. In fact I doubt if you will tliiuk it good at all. I have been consulting this same solicitor about the title-deeds; that cheese you let fall, you know," he added, DEAR ALEXANDER. 331) stroking her hand, and speaking so gently that the very irony was rather pleasant. " Oh, it is very bad." "I^ow wouldn't you like to hear it was so bad that I should have to sell out, and go to the diggings to make it up?" " Now, Alick, if it were not for your sake, you know I should like " " I know you would ; but you see, unfortunately, it was not a cheese at all, only a wooden block that the fox ran away with. Lawyers don't put people's title-deeds into such dangerous keeping; the true cheese is safe locked up in a tin -box in Mr. Martin's chambers in London." " Then what did I give Mauleverer ] " " A copy kept for reference down here." Eachel hid her face. " There, I knew you would think it no good news, and it is just a thunder-clap to me. All you wanted me for was to defend the mother and make up to the charity, and now there's no use in me," he said in a disconsolate tone. " Oh, Alick, Alick, why am I so foolish 1 " " Never mind ; I took care Martin should not know it. JSTobody is aware of the little affair but our two selves ; and I will take care the fox learns the worth of his prize. Only now, Eachel, answer me, is there any use left for mo still 1 " " You should not ask me such things, Alick, you know it all too well." " Not so well that I don't want to hear it. But I had more to say. This Martin is a man of very different calibre from old Cox, with a head and heart in London charities and churches, and it had struck him as it did you, that the Homestead had an easier bargain of it than that good name- sake of yours had ever contemplated. If it paid treble or quadruple rent, the dear mother would never find it out, nor grow a geranium the less." " No, she would not ! But after all, the lace apprentice- ships are poor work." " So they are, but Martin says there would be very little difficulty in getting a private bill to enable the trustees to apply the sum otherwise for the benefit of the Avonmouth girls." " Then if I had written to him, it would have been all right ! Oh, my perverseness ! " "And, Eachel, now that money has been once so in- z2 31:0 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY, tended ; suppose it kept its destination. About £500 would put up a tidy little industrial school, and jou might not object to have a scholarship or two for some of our little — ^th Highlander lassies whose fathers won't make orphans of them for the regular military charities. What, crying, Eachel ! Don't you like it 1 " " It is my dream. The very thing I wished and managed so vilely. If Lovedy were alive ! Though perhaps that is not the thing to wish. But I can't bear taking your " " Hush ! You can't do worse than separate your own from mine. This is no part of the means I laid before Mr. Martin by way of proving myself a responsible indi vidual. I took care of that. Part of this is prize-money, and the rest was a legacy that a rich old merchant put me down for in a transport of gratitude because his son was one of the sick in the bungalow where the shell came. I have had it these thi*ee or four months, and wondered what to do with it." " This will be very beautiful, very excellent. And we can give the ground." " I have thought of another thing. I never heard of an industrial school where the great want was not food for industry. l!^ow I know the Colonel and Mr. Mitchell have some notion floating in their minds about getting a house for convalescents down here, and it strikes me that this might supply the work in cooking, washing, and so on. I think I might try what they thought of it." Rachel could only weep out her shame and thankfulness ; and when Ahck reverently added that it was a scheme that would require much thought and much prayer, the pang struck her to the heart — how little she had prayed over the r. U. E. E. The prayer of her life had been for action and usefulness, but when she had seen the shadow in the stream, her hot and eager haste, her unconscious detachment from all that was not visible and material had made her adhere too literally to that misinterpreted motto, lahorare est orare. How should then her eyes be cleai' to discern between vjib- stancc and shadow? CHAPTER XXIV. THE HONEYMOON. ** Around the very place doth brood A calm and holy quietude." — Rev. Isaac Williams. The level beams of a summer sun, ending one of Ms longest careers, were tipping a mountain peak with an ineffable rosy purple, contrasting with the deep shades of narrow ravines that cleft the rugged sides, and gradually expanded into valleys, sloping with green pasture, or clothed with wood. The whole picture, with its clear, soft sky, was retraced on the waters of the little lake set in emerald meadows, which lay before the eyes of Rachel Keith, as she reclined in a garden chair before the windows of a pretty rustic-looking hotel ; but there was no admiration, no peaceful contem- plation on her countenance, only the same weary air of depression, too wistful and startled even to be melancholy repose, and the same bewildered distressed look that had been as it were stamped on her by the gaze of the many unfriendly eyes at the Quarter Sessions, and by her two unfortunate dinner parties. The wedding was to have been quietness itself, but though the bridegroom had refused to contribute sister, brother-in- law, or even uncle to the numbers, conventionalities had been too strong for Mrs. Curtis, and "just one more" had been added to the guests till a sufficient multitude had been collected to renew all Eachel's morbid sensations of distress and bewilderment with their accompanying feverish symp- toms, and she had been only able to proceed on her journey by very short stages, taken late in the day. Alick had not forgotten her original views as to travelling, and as they were eventually to go to Scotland, had proposed beginning with Dutch reformatories and Swiss cretins ; but she was so plainly unfit for extra fatigue and bustle, that the first few weeks were to be spent in Wales, where the enjoy- ment of fine scenery might, it was hoped, be beneficial to the jaded spirits, and they had been going through a course of passes and glens as thoroughly as Eachel's powers would permit, for any over-fatigue renewed feverishness and its delusive miseries, and the slightest alarm told upon the shattered nerves. 342 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. She did not easily give way at the moment, but the shock always took revenge in subsequent suffering, which all Alick's care could not prevent, though the exceeding charm of his ten- derness rendered even the indisposition almost precious to her. " What a lovely sunset ! " he said, coming to lean over the back of her chair. " Have you been watching it ? " " I don't know." " Are you very much tired ? " " No, it is very quiet here." " Very ; but I must take you in before that curling mist mounts into your throat." " This is a very nice place, Alick, the only really quiet one we have found." " I am afraid that it will be so no longer. The landlord tells me he has letters from three parties to order rooms." " Oh, then, pray let us go on," said Rachel, looking alarmed. "To-morrow afternoon then, for I find there's another waterfall." " Very well," said Rachel, resignedly. " Or shall we cut the waterfall, and get on to Llan — something 1 " " If you don't think we ought to see it." " Ought 1 " he said, smiling. " What is the ought in the case ? Why are we going through all this ? Is it a duty to society or to ourselves 1 " " A little of both, I suppose," said Rachel. " And, Rachel, from the bottom of your heart, is it not a trying duty ? " " I want to like what you are showing me," said Rachel. " And you are more worried than delighted, ehV " I — I don't know ! I see it is grand and beautiful I I did love my OAvn moors, and the Spinsters' JSTeedles, but Don't think me very ungrateful, but I can't enter into all this ! All I really do care for is your kindness, and helping me about," and she was really crying like a child unable to learn a lesson. " Well," he said, with his own languor of acquiescence, " w^e are perfectly agi-eed. Waterfalls are an uncommon bore, if one is not in a concatenation accordingly." Rachel was beguiled into a smile. " Come," he said, " let us be strong minded ! If life should ever become painful to us because of our neglect of THE HONEYMOON. 343 tho waterfalls, we will sot out and fulfil our tale of them. Meantime, let me take you wliere you shall be really quiet, home to Eishopsworthy." " But your uncle does not expect you so soon." " My uncle is always ready for me, and a week or two of real rest there would make you ready for the further journey." Rachel made no opposition. She was glad to have her mind relieved from the waterfalls, but she had rather have been quite alone with her husband. She knew that Lord and Lady Keith had taken a house at Littleworthy, while Gowanbrae was under repair, and she dreaded the return to the bewildering world, before even the first month was over ; but Alick made the proposal so eagerly that she could not help assenting with all the cordiality she could muster, thinking that it must be a wretched, disappointing wedding tour for him, and she would at least not prevent his being happy with his uncle ; as happy as he could be with a person tied to him, of whom all his kindred must disapprove, and especially that paragon of an uncle, whom she heard of like an intensification of all that class of clergy who had of late been most alien to her. Alick did not press for her real wishes, but wrote his letter, and followed it as fast as she could bear to travel. So when the train, a succession of ovens for living bodies disguised, in dust, drew up at the Littleworthy Station, there was a ready response to the smart footman's inquiry, "Captain and Mrs. Keith T' This personage by no means accorded with Rachel's preconceived notions of the Rectory istablishment, but she next heard the peculiar clatter by which a grand equipage announces its importance, and saw the coronetted blinkers tossing on the other side of the railing. A kind little note of welcome was put into Rachel's hand as she was seated in the luxurious open carriage, and Alick had never felt better pleased with his sister than when he found his wife thus spared the closeness of the cramping fly, or the dusty old rectory phaeton. Hospitality is never more welcome than at the station, and Bessie's letter was complacently accepted. Rachel would, she knew, be too much tired to see her on that day, and on the next she much regretted having an engagement in London, but on the Sunday they would not fail to meet, and she begged that Rachel would send word by the servant what time Meg should be sent to the Rectory for her to Mi THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. I'ide ; it would be a kindness to exercise her, for it was long since slie had been used. Eachel could not help colouring with pleasure at the notion of riding her own Meg again, and Alick freely owned that it was well thought of. He already had a horse at his uncle's, and was delighted to see Eachel at last looking forward to something. But as she lay back in the carriage, revelling in the fresh wind, she became dismayed at the succession of cottages of gentihty, with lawns and hedges of various pretensions. " There must be a terrible number of people here ! " " This is only Littleworthy." "]^ot very little." " !N"o ; I told you it was villafied and cockneyfied. There," as the horses tried to stop at a lodge leading to a prettily built house, " that's Timber End, the crack i)lace here, where Bessie has always said it was her ambition to live." " How far is it from the Parsonage 1 " " Four miles." "Which was a comfort to Eachel, not that she wished to be distant from Bessie, but the population appalled her imagination. " Bishopsworthy is happily defended by a Dukery," ex- plained Alick, as coming to the end of the villas they passed woods and fields, a bit of heathy common, and a scattering of cottages. Labourers going home from work looked up, and as their eyes met Alick's there was a mutual smile and touch of the hat. He evidently felt himself coming home. The trees of a park were beginning to rise in front, when the carriage turned suddenly down a sharp steep hill ; the right side of the road bounded by a park paling; the left, by cottages, reached by picturesque flights of brick stairs, then came a garden wall, and a halt. Alick called out, "Thanks," and we will get out here," adding, " They will take in the goods the back way. I don't like careering into the churchyard." Eachel, ahghting, saw that the lane proceeded downwards to a river crossed by a wooden bridge, with an expanse of meadows beyond. To her left was a stable-yard, and below it a white gate and white raihngs enclosing a graveyard, with a very beautiful church standing behind a mushroom yew- tree. The upper boundary of the churchyard was the clipped yew hedge of the rectory garden, whose front entrance was through the churcliyard. There was a lovely cool tranquillity > THE HONEYMOON. 345 of aspect as the shadows lay sleeping on the grass ; and Eachel could have stood and gazed, but Alick opened the gate, and there was a movement at the seat that enclosed the gnarled trunk of the yew tree. A couple of village lads touched their caps and departed the opposite way ; a white setter dog bounded forward, and, closely attended by a still snowier cat, a gentleman came to meet them, so fearlessly treading the pathway between the graves, and so youthful in figure, that it was only the " Well, uncle, here she is," and, "Alick, my dear boy," that convinced her that this was indeed Mr. Clare. The next moment he had taken her hand, kissed her brow, and spoken a few words of fatherly blessing, then, while Alick exchanged greetings with the cat and dog, he led her to the arched yew-tree entrance to his garden, up two stone steps, along a flagged path across the narrow grass- plat in front of the old two-storied house, with a tiled verandah like an eyebrow to the lower front windows. Instead of entering by the door in the centre, he turned the corner of the house, where the eastern gable disclosed a window opening on a sloping lawn full of bright flower-beds. The room withm was lined with books and stored with signs of parish work, but with a refined orderliness reigning over the various little ornaments, and almost betokening feminine habitation ; and Alick exclaimed with admiration of a large bowl of fresh roses, beautifully arranged. " Traces of Bessie," said Mr. Clare ; " she brought them this morning, and spent nearly an hour in arranging them and entertaining me with her bright talk. I have hardly been able to keep out of the room since, they make it so delicious." " Do you often see her 1 " asked Alick. "Yes ; dear child, she is most good-natured and attentive, and I take it most kindly of her, so courted as she is." " How do you get on with his lordship 1 " " I don't come much in his way ; he has been a good deal laid up with sciatica, but he seems very fond of her ; and it was all her doing that they have been all this time at Little- worthy, instead of being in town for the season. She thought it better for him." " And where is Mr. Lifford 1 " asked Alick. " Gone to M till Saturday." " Unable to face the bride." " I fear Ranger is not equally shy," said Mr. Clare, under- standing a certain rustle and snort to import that the dog was pressing his chin hard upon Rachel's knee, while she 346 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. declared her content with the handsome creature's hlack depth of eye ; and the cat executed a promenade of tender- ness upon Ahck. " How are the peacocks, Alick ? " added Mr. Clare ; "they, at least, are inoffensive pets. I dreaded the shears without your superintendence, but Joe insisted that they were getting lop-sided." Alick put his head out at the window. " All right, sir ; Joe has been a little hard on the crest of the left-hand one, but it is recovering." "Whereupon, Eachel discovered that the peacocks were creatures of yew-tree, perched at either end of the garden fence. Mr. Clare had found them there, and preserved them with solicitous fidelity. Nothing could be less like than he was to the grave, thin, stooping ascetic in a long coat, that she had expected. He was a tall, well-made man, of the same youthful cast of figure as iiis nephew, and a far lighter and more springy step, with features and colouring recalling those of his niece, as did vtho bright sunny playful sweetness of his manner ; his dark liandsome eyes only betraying their want of sight by a certain glassy immobility that contrasted with the play of the ex- pressive mouth. It was hard to guess why Bessie should have shunned such an uncle. Alick took Eachel to the bed- room above the library, and, like it, with two windows — one overlooking churchyard, river, and hay-fields, the other com- manding, over the peacock hedge, a view of the playground, where Mr. Clare was seen surrounded by boys, appealing to him on some disputed matter of cricket. There was a wonderful sense of serenity, freshness, and fragrance, inex- pressibly grateful to Eachel's wearied feelings, and far more comfortable than the fine scenery through which she had been carried, because no effort to look and admire was incum- bent on her — ^nay, not even an effort to talk all the evening. Mr. Clare seemed to have perfectly imbibed the idea that rest was what she wanted, and did not try to make small talk with her, though she sat listening with pleased interest to the conversation between him and his nephew — so home like, so full of perfect understanding of -one another. " Is there anything to be read aloud ? " presently asked Alick. " You have not by chance got ' Framley Parsonage ? ' " " I wish I had. I did pick up ' Silas Marner,' at a station, thinking you might lilco it ; " and he glanced at THE HONEYMOON. 347 Eachel, who had, ho suspected, thought his purchase an act of weaJkness. " Have you met with it 1 " " I have met with nothing of the sort since you were here last;" then turning to Eachel, "Alick indulges me with novels, for my good curate had rather read the catalogue of a sale any day than meddle with one, and I can't set on my pupil teacher in a book where I don't know what is coming." " We will get * Framley,' " said Alick. " Bessie has it. She read me a very clever scene about a weak young parson bent on pleasing himself ; and offered to lend me the book, but I thought it would not edify "Will Walker. But, no doubt, you have read it long ago." " 1^0," said Eachel ; and something withheld her from dis- claiming such empty employments. Indeed, she was presently much interested in the admirable portraiture of " Silas Mamer," and still more by the keen, vivid enjoyment, critical, droll, and moralizing, displayed by a man who heard works of fiction so rarely that they were always fresh to him, and who looked on them as studies of life. His hands were busy aU the time carving a boss for the roof of one of the side aisles of his church — the last step in its gradual restoration. That night there was no excitement of nerve, no morbid fancy to trouble Eachel's slumbers ; she only awoke as the eight o'clock bell sounded through the open window, and for the first time for months rose less weary than she had gone to rest. Week-day though it were, the description " sweet day, so calm, so cool, so bright," constantly recurred to her mind as she. watched the quiet course of occupation. Alick, after escorting his uncle to a cottage, found her searching among the stores in the music stand. " You unmusical female," he said, " what is that for ! " " Your uncle spoke of music last night, and I thought he would like it." " I thought you had no such propensity." " I learnt like other people, but it was the only thing I could not do as well as Grace, and I thought it wasted time, and was a young ladyism ; but if' I can recover music enough to please him, I should be glad." " Thank you," said Alick, earnestly. "He is very much pleased with your voice in speaking. Indeed, I believe I first heard it with his ears." " This is a thorough lady's collection of music," said Rachel, looking through it to hide her blush of pleasure. " Altogether the house has not a bachelor look." 348 THE CLEVEU WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. " Did you not know that he had been married 1 It was when he first had the living twelve years ago. She was a very lovely young thing, half Irish, and this was the happiest place in the world for two years, till her little brother was sent home here from school without proper warning of a fever that had begun there. "We all had it, but she and her baby were the only ones that did not recover ! There they lie, under the yew-tree, where my uncle likes to teach the children. He was terribly struck down for years, though he went manfully to his work, and it has been remarkable how his spirits and sociability have returned since he lost his sight ; indeed, he is more consistently bright than ever he was." " I never saw any one like him," said Eachel. " I have fallen in with clergy that some call holy, and with some that others call pious, but he is not a bit like either. He is not even grave, yet there is a calming, refreshing sense of reverence towards him that would be awe, only it is so happy." Alick's response .was to bend over her, and kiss her brow. She had never seen him so much gratified. " What a comfort your long stay with him must have been," she said presently, " in the beginning of his blindness ! " " I hope so. It was an ineffable comfort to me to come here out of Littleworthy croquet, and I think cheering me did him good. Eachel, you may do and say what you please," he added, earnestly, " since you have taken to him." " I could not help itj" said Eachel, though a slight embarrassment came over her at the recollection of Bessie, and at the thought of the narrow views on which she ex- pected to differ. Then, as Alick continued to search among the music, she asked, " Will he like the piano to be used 1" "Of all things. Bessie's singing is his delight. Look, could we get this up 1 " " You don't sing, Alick ! I mean, do you ? " " We need not betray our talents to worldlings base." Eachel found her accompaniment the least satisfactory part of the affair, and resolved on an hour's practice every day in Mr. Clare's absence, a wholesome purpose even as regarded her health and spirits. She had just sat down to write letters, feeling for the first time as if they would not be a toil, when Mr. Clare looked in to ask Alick to refer to a verse in the Psalms, quoting it in Greek as well as English, and after the research had been carried to the Hebrew, he told Eachel that he was going to write his sermon, and THE HONEYMOON. 349 repaked to the peacock path, where he paced along with Eanger and the cat, in faithful, tinobtmsive attendance. " What, you can read Hebrew, Alick 1 " " So can you." " Enough to appreciate the disputed passages. When did you study it ? " " I learnt enough, when I was laid up, to look out my uncle's texts for him." She felt a little abashed by the tone, but a message called him away, and before his return Mr. Clare came back to ask for a reference to St. Augustine. On her offer of her services, she was thanked, and directed with great precision to the right volume of the Library of the Fathers ; but spying a real St. Augustine, she could not be satisfied without a flight at the original. It was not, however, easy to find the place ; she was forced to account for her delay by confessing her attempt, and then to profit by Mr. Clare's directions ; and, after all, her false quantities, though most tenderly and apologetically corrected, must have been dreadful to the scholarly ear, for she was obliged to get Alick to read the passage over to him before he arrived at the sense, and Eachel felt her flight of clever womanhood had fallen short. It was quite new to her to be living with people who knew more of, and went deeper into, everything than she did, and her husband's powers especially amazed her. The afternoon was chiefly spent iu the hay-field under a willow-tree ; Mr. Clare tried to leave the young people to themselves, but they would not consent ; and, after a good deal of desultory talk and description of the minnows and water-spiders, in whom Mr. Clare seemed to take a deep interest, they went on with their book till the horses came, and Alick took Eachel for a ride in Earlsworthy Park, a private gate of which, just opposite to the Eectory, was free to its inhabitants. The Duke was an old college friend of Mr. Clare, and though much out of health, and hardly ever able to reside at the Park, all its advantages were at the Eector's service, and they were much appreciated when, on this sultry summer's day, Eachel found shade and coolness in the deep arcades of the beech woods, and freshness on the upland lawns, as she rode happily on the dear old mare, by whom she ToaUy thought herself fondly recognised. There was sometMng in the stillness of the whole, even in the absence of the roll and plash of the sea waves beside which she had grown up, that seemed to give her repose from the hurry and 350 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE EA.MILY. throb of sensations and thouglits that had so long preyed upon her ; and when the ride was over she was refreshed, not tired, and the evening bell drew her to the conclusion most befitting a day spent in that atmosphere of quietude. She felt grateful to her husband for making no remark, though the only time she had been within a church since her illness had been at their wedding ; he only gave her his arm, and said she should sit in the nook that used to be his in the time of his lameness ; and a most sheltered nook it was, between a pillar and the open chancel screen, where no eyes could haunt her, even if the congregation had been more than a Saturday summer evening one. She only saw the pure, clear, delicately-toned hues of the east window, and the reverent richness of the chancel, and she heard the blind pastor's deep musical voice, full of that expressive power always enhanced by the absence of a book. He led the Psalms with perfect security and a calm fervour that rendered the whole familiar service like something new and touching ; the Lessons were read by Alick, and Rachel, though under any other circumstances she would have been startled to see him standing behind the Eagle, could not but feel all appropriate, and went along with each word as he read it in a tone well worthy of his uncle's scholar. Whether few or many were present, Rachel knew not, thought not ; she was only sensible of the fulness of calm joy that made the Thanksgiving touch her heart and fill her eyes with unbidden tears, that came far more readily than of old. " Yet this can't be all," she said to herself, as she wandered among the tall white liKes in the twilight ; " is it a trance, or am I myself? I have not unthought or unfelt, yet I seem falling into a very sweet hypocrisy ! Alick says thought will come back with strength. I don't think I wish it ! " The curate did not return till after she had gone to bed, and in the morning he proved to be indeed a very dry and serious middle-aged man, extremely silent, and so grave that there was no knowing how much to allow for shyness. He looked much worn and had a wearied voice, and Mr. Clare and Alick were contriving all tliey could to give him the rest which he refused, Mr. Clare insisting on taking all the service that could be performed without eyes, and Alick volunteering school- work. This Rachel w^as not yet able to undertake, nor would Alick even let her go to church in the morning ; but the shady garden, and the echoes of the Amens, and sweet, clear tones of singing, seemed to lull her on in this same gentle, unthink- THE HONEYMOON. 351 ing state of dreamy rest ; and tlieiice, too, in the after part of the day, shf3 could watch the rector, with his Sunday class, on his favourite seat under the yew-tree, close to the cross that marked the resting-place of his wife and cliild. She went to church in the evening, sheltered from curious eyes in her nook, and there for a moment she heard the peculiar brush and sweep of rich silk upon pavement, and wondered at so sophisticated a sound in the little homely congregation, but forgot it again in the exulting, joyous beauty of the chants and hymns, led by the rector himself, and, oh, how different from poor Mr. Touchett's best elForts ! and forgot it still more in the unfettered eloquence of the preach- ing of a man of great natural power, and entirely accustomed to trust to his own inward stores. Like Ermine Williams, she could have said that this preaching was the first that won her attention. It certainly was the first that swept away all her spirit of criticising, and left her touched and impressed, not judging. On what north country follv call the loosing of the kirk, she, moving outwards after the tlirong, found her- self close behind a gauzy white cloak over a lilac silk, that filled the whole breadth of the central aisle, and by the dark curl descending beneath the tiny white bonnet, as well as by the turn of the graceful head, she knew her sister-in-law, Lady Keith, of Gowanbrae. In the porch she was met with outstretched hands and eager greetings — "At last ! Where did you hide yourself? I had begun to imagine dire mischances." " Only in the comer by the chancel." " Alick's old nook ! Keeping up honeymoon privileges ! I have kept your secret faithfully. !N"o one knows you are not on the top of Snowdon, or you would have had all the world to call on you." " There are always the Earlsworthy woods," said Alick. " Or better still, come to Timber End. J^o one penetrates to my morning room," laughed Bessie. " IsTow, Uncle George," she said, as the rector appeared, " you have had a full allow- ance of them for three days ; you must spare them to me to-morrow inorning." " So it is you, my lady," he answered, with a pleased smile ; " I heard a sort of hail-storm of dignity sailing in ! How is Lord Keith?" " Very stiff. I want him to have advice, but he hates doctors. What is the last Avonmoutli news 1 Is Ermine in good heart, and the boys well again 1 " 352 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. She was the same Bessie as ever — full of exalting animar tion, joined to a caressing manner that her uncle evidently dehghted in ; and to Eachel she was most kind and sisterly, welcoming her so as amply to please and gratify AHck. An arrangement was made that Eachel should be sent for early to spend the day at Timber End, and that Mr. Clare and Alick should walk over later. Then the two pretty ponies came with her little low carriage to the yew-tree gate, were felt and admired by Mr. Clare, and approved by Alick ; and she drove off gaily, leaving all pleased and amused, but still there was a sense that the perfect serenity had been ruffled. " Eachel," said Alick, as they wandered in the twilight garden, " I wonder if you would be greatly disappointed if our travels ended here." "I am only too glad of the quiet." " Because Lifford is in great need of thorough rest. He has not been away for more than a year, and now he is getting quite knocked up. All he does care to do, is to take lodgings near his wife's asylum, poor man, and see her occasionally : sad work, but it is rest, and winds him up again ; and there is no one but myself to whom he likes to leave my uncle. Strangers always do too little or too much ; and there is a young man at Littleworthy for the long vacation who can help on a Sunday." " Oh, pray let us stay as long as we can ! " " Giving up the Cretins ? " " It is no sacrifice. I am thankful not to be hunted about ; and if anything could make me better pleased to be here, it would be feeling that I was not hindering you." " Then I will hunt him away for six weeks or two months at least. It will be a great relief to my uncle's mind." It was so great a relief that Mr. Clare could hardly bring himself to accept the -sacrifice of the honeymoon, and though there could be little doubt which way the discussion would end, he had not yielded when the ponies bore off Eachel on Monday morning. Timber End was certainly a delightful place. Alick had called it a cockney villa, but it was in good taste, and very fair and sweet with flowers and shade. Bessie's own rooms, where she made Eachel charmiiigly at home, were wonderful in choiceness and elegance, exciting Eachel's surprise how it could be possible to be so sumptuously lodged in such a tem- porary abode, for the house was only hired for a few months, while Gowanbrae was under repair. It was within such easy reach of London that Bessie had been able from thence to gc THE HONEYMOON. 353 tkrough the more needful season gaieties; and site liad thought it wise, both for herself and Lord Keith, not to enter on their fuU course. It sounded very moderate and prudent, and Eachel felt vexed with herself and Alick for recollecting a certain hint of his, that Lady Keith felt herself more of a star in her own old neighbourhood than she could be in Lon- don, and wisely abstained from a full flight till she had tried her wings. It was much pleasanter to go along with Bessie's many far better and more affectionate reasons for prudence, and her miuutely personal confidences about her habits, hopes, and fears, given with a strong sense of her own importance and consideration, yet with a warm sisterly tone that made them tokens of adoption, and with an arch drollery that in- vested them with a sort of grace. The number of engagements that she mentioned in town and country did indeed seem inconsistent with the prudence she spoke of with regard to her own health, or with her attention to that of her husband ; but it appeared that all were quite necessary and according to his -wishes, and the London ones were usually for the sake of trying to detach Ms daughter, Mi-s. Gomyn Menteith, from the extravagant set among whom she had fallen. Bessie was excessively diverting in her accounts of her relations with this scatter-brained step-daughter of hers, and altogether showed in the most flattering manner how much more thoroughly she felt herseK belonging to her brother's wife. If she had ever been amazed or annoyed at Alick's choice, she had long ago surmounted the feeling, or put it out of sight, and she judiciously managed to leap over all that had passed since the beginning of the intimacy that had arisen at the station door at Avoncester. It was very flattering, and would have been perfectly delightful, if Eachel had not found her- self wearying for Alick, and wondering whether at the end of seven months she should be as contented as Bessie seemed, to know her husband to be in the sitting-room without one sight of him. At luncheon, however, when Lord Keith appeared, nothing could be prettier than his wife's manner to him — bright, sweet, and with a touch of graceful deference, at which he always smiled and showed himself pleased ; but Eachel thought bim looking much older than in the autumn — ^he had little appe- tite, stooped a good deal, and evidently moved with pain He would not go out of doors, and Bessie, after following him to the library, and spending a quarter of an hour in minister- ing to his comfort, took Eachel to sit by a cool dancing A A 354 THE OLEVEll WOMAK OF TUB FAMILY. fountain in the garden, and began -with some solicitude to consult her whether he could be really suffering from sciatica, or, as she had lately begun to suspect, from the effects of a blow from the end of a scaffold-pole that had been run against him when taking her through a crowded street. Rachel spoke of advice. " What you, Eachel ! you who despised allopathy ! " " I have learnt not to despise advice." And Bessie would not trench on Rachel's experiences. "There's some old Scotch doctor to whom his faith is given, and that I don't half believe in. K he would see our own Mr. Harvey here it would be quite another thing ; but it is of no use tolling him that Alick would never have liad an available knee but for ]\ir. Harvey's management. He persists in leaving me to my personal trust in hxni, but for himself he won't see him at any price ! Have you seen Mr. Harvey?" " I have seen no one." " Oh, I forgot, you are not arrived yet ; but " " There's some one," exclaimed Rachel, nervously ; and in fact a young man was sauntering towards them. Bessie rose with a sort of annoyance, and " ITever mind, my dear, he is quite inoffensive, we'll soon get rid of him." Then, as he greeted her with " Good morning, Lady Keith, I thought I should find you here," she quickly replied, " If you had been proper behaved and gone to the door, you would have known that I am not at home." He smiled, and came nearer. " 1^0, I am not at home, and, what is more, I do not mean to be. My uncle will be here directly," she added, in a fee- faw-fum tone. " Then it is not true that your brother and his bride are arrived 1 " " True in the same sense as that I am at home, lliere she is, you" see — only you are not to see her on any account," as a bow necessarily passed between him and Rachel. " iN'ow mind you have not been introduced to Mrs. Keith, and if you utter a breath that will bring the profane crowd in shoals upon the Rectory, I shall never forgive you." " Then I am afraid we must not hope to see you at the bazaar for the idiots." ^'' -N'o, indeed," Bessie answered, respecting Rachel's gesture of refusal ; " no one is to infringe her inco^. under penalty of never coming here again." THE HONEYMOON. 355 " You are going 1 " he added to Bessie ; " indeed, that was what brought me here. My sisters sent me to ask whether they may shelter themselves under your matronly protection, for my mother dreads the crush." " I suppose, as they put my name down, that I must go ; but you know I had much rather give the money outright. It is a farce to call a bazaar charity." " Call it what you will, it is one device for a little sen- sation." Eachel's only sensation at that moment was satisfaction at the sudden appearance of Eanger's white head, the sure harbinger of his master and Alick, and she sprang up to meet them in the shrubbery path — all her morbid shy- ness at the sight of a fresh face passing away when her hand was within Alick's arm. When they came forth upon the lawn, Alick's brow darkened for a moment, and there was a formal exchange of greetings as the guest retreated. " I am so sorry," began Bessie at once ; " I had taken pre- cautions against invasion, but he did not go to the front door. I do so hope Eachel has not been fluttered." " I thought he was at Eio," said Alick. "He could not stand the climate, and was sent home about a month ago — a regular case of bad shilling, I am afraid, poor fellow ! I am so sorry he came to startle Eachel, but I swore him over to secrecy. He is not to mention to any living creature that she is nearer than PHnlimmon till the incog, is laid aside ! I know how to stand up for bridal privileges, and not to abuse the confidence placed in me." Any one who was up to the game might have perceived that the sister was trying to attribute all the brother's tone of disapprobation to his anxiety lest his wife should have been startled, while both knew as well as possible that there was a deeper ground of annoyance which was implied in Alick's answer. " He seems extremely tame about the garden." " Or he would not have fallen on Eachel. It was only a chance ; he just brought over a message about that tiresome bazaar that has been dinned into our ears for the last three months. A bazaar for idiots they may well call it ! They wanted a carving of yours, Uncle George ! " " I am afraid I gave little Alice Bertie one in a weak moment, Bessie," said Mr. Clare, " but I hardly durst show my face to Liiford afterwards." " After all, it is better than some bazaars," said Bessie ; " it A A :2 356 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. is only for the idiot asylum, and I could not well refuse my name and countenance to my old neighbours, though I stood out against taking a stall. Lord Keith would not havo liked it." " Will he be able to go wjth you ? " asked Alick. " Oh, no ; it would be an intolerable bore, and his Scottish thrift would never stand the sight of people making such very bad bargains ! l^o, I am going to take the Carleton girls in, they are very accommodating, and I can get away whenever I please. I am much too forbearing to ask any of you to go with me, though I believe Uncle George is pining to go and see after his carving." " No, thank you ; after what I heard of the last bazaar I ^ade up my mind that they are no places for an old parson nor for his carvings either, so you are quite welcome to fall on me for my inconsistency." " IS'ot now, when you have a holiday from Mr. Lifford," retui'ned Eessie. " Now come and smell the roses." All the rest of the day Alick relapsed into the lazy frivo- lous young officer with whom Eachel had first been acquainted. As he was driving home in the cool fresh summer night, he began — " I think I must go to this idiotical bazaar ! " " You ! " exclaimed Eachel. " Yes ; I don't think Bessie ought to go by herself with ail this Carleton crew." "You don't wish me to go," said Eachel, gulping down the effort. " You ? My dear Eachel, I would not take you for fifty pounds, nor could I go myself without leaving you as vice deputy curate." " 'No need for that," said Mr. Clare, from the seat behind ; " young people must not talk secrets with a blind man's ears behind them." " I make no secret," said Alick. " I could not go without leaving my wife to take care of my uncle, or my uncle to take care of my wife." " And you think you ought to go ? " said Mr. Clare. " It is certainly better that Bessie should have a gentleman with her in the crowd ; but you know this is a gossiping neigh- bourhood, and you must be prepared for amazement at your coming into public alone not three weeks after youi wedding." " I can't help it ; she can't go, and I must." THE HONEYMOON. 3^17 " Aiid you will bring down all the morning visitors that you talk of dreading." "We will leave you to amuse them, sir. Mucli better that" he added between his teeth, "than to leave the very semblance of a secret trusted by her to that intolerable puppy "^ Eachel said no more, but when she was gone upstairs Mr. Clare detained his nephew to say, " I beg your pardon, Alick, but you should be quite sure that your wife likes this proposal." "That's the value of a strong-minded wife, sir," returned Alick; "she is not given to making a fuss about small matters." " Most ladies might not think this a small matter." " That is because they have no perspective in their brains. Rachel understands me a great deal too well to make me explain what is better unspoken." " You know what I think, Alick, that you are the strictest judge that ever a merry girl had." " I had rather you continued to think so, uncle ; I should like to think so myself. Good night." Alick was right, but whether or not Eachel entered into his motives, she made no objection to his going to the bazaar with his sister, being absolutely certain that he would not have done so if he could have helped it. Not was her day at all dreary ; Mr. Clare was most kind and attentive to her, without being oppressive, and she knew she was useful to him. She was indeed so full of admiration and reverence for him, that once or twice it crossed her whether she were not belying another of her principles by lapsing into Curatocult, but the idea passed away with scorn at the notion of comparing Mr. Clare with the objects of such devotion. He belonged to that generation which gave its choicest in intellectual, as well as in religious gifts to the ministry, when a fresh tide of enthusiasm was impelling men forward to build up, instead of breaking down, before disap- pointment and suspicion had thinned the ranks, and hurled back many a recruit, or doctrinal carpings had taught men to dread a search into their own tenets. He was a highly culti- vated, large-minded man, and the conversation between him and his nephew was a constant novelty to her, who had always yearned after depth and thought, and seldom met with them. Still here she was constantly feeling how shallow were her acquirements, how inaccurate her knowledge, how devoid of force and solidity her reasonings compared with 358 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. what here seemed to be old, well-beaten ground. Nay, the t^ery sparkle of fun and merriment surprised and puzzled her; and all the courtesy of the one gentleman, and the affection of the other, could not prevent her sometimes feeling herself the dullest and most ignorant person present. And yet the sense was never mortifying except when here and there a spark of the old conceit had lighted itself, and lured her inio pretensions where she thought herseK proficient. She was becoming more and more helpful to Mr. Clai-e, and his gratitude for her services made them most agreeable, nor did that atmosphere of peace and sincerity that reigned round the Eectory lose its charm. She was really happy all through the solitary "Wednesday, and much more contented with the results than was Alick. *' A sickening place," he said, " I am glad I went." " How glad Bessie must have been to have you ! " "I believe she was. She has too much good taste for much of what went on there." " I doubt," said Mr. Clare, laughing, " if you could have been an agreeable acquisition." "I don't know. Bessie fools one into thinking oneselt always doing her a favour. Oh, Eachel, I am thaiiful you have never taken to being agreeable." CHAPTEE XXy. THE HUNTSFORB CROQUET. *' Une fenime ^goiste, non seulement de coeur, mais d'esprit, ne pent pas sortir d'elle-meme. Le moi est indelible chez elle. Une veritable egoiste ne sait memo pas etre fausse. " — Mme. E. de GlllARDIN. " I AM come to prepare you," said Lady Keith, putting her arm into her brother's, and leading him into the peacock path. " Mrs. Huntsford is on her way to call and make a dead set to get you all to a garden party." " Then we are off to the Earlsworthy Woods." " Nay, listen, Alick. I have let you alone and defended you for a whole month, but if you persist m shutting up youT wife, people won't stand it." " Which of us is the Mahometan 1 " THE HUNTSFORD CROQUET. 359 " You are pitied ! But you see it was a strong tiling our appearing without our several incumbrances, and though an old married woman like me may do as she pleases, yet for n bridegroom of not three weeks' standing to resort to bazaars solvs argues some weighty cause." " And argues rightly." " Then you are content to be supposed to have an unpro- duceably eccentric melancholy bride 1 " " Better they should think so than that she should be so. She has been victimized enough abeady to her mother's desire to save appearances." " You do not half believe me, Alick, and this is really a very kind, thoughtful arrangement of Mrs. Huntsford's. She consulted me, saying there were such odd stories about you two that she was most anxious that Eachel should appear and confute them ; and she thought that an out-of-door party like this would suit best, because it would be early, and Eachel could get away if she found it too much for her." " After being walked out to satisfy a curious neigh- bourhood." " Now Alick, do consider it. This sort of thing could re- mind her of nothing painful ; Uncle George would enjoy it." " And fall over the croquet traps." " No ; if you wanted to attend to him, I could take care of Eachel." " I cannot tell, Bessie ; I believe it is pure goodnature on Mrs. Huntsford's part ; but if we go, it must be from Eachel's spontaneous movement. I will not press her on any account. I had rather the world said she was crazy at once than expose her to the risk of one of the dreadful nights that haunted us till we came here to perfect quiet." " But she is well now. She looks better and nicer than I ever saw her. Eeally, Alick, now her face is softer, and her eyes more veiled, and her chin not cocked up, I am quite proud of her. Every one will be struck with her good looks." " Flattery, Bessie," he said, not ill pleased. " Yes, she is much better, and more like herself; but I dread all this being overthrown. If she herself wishes to go, it may be a good beginning, but she must not be persuaded." "Then I must not even tell her that she won't be required to croquet, and that I'll guard her from all civil iches." No ; for indeed, Bessie, on your own account and 360 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. Lord Keitli's, you should hardly spend a long afternoon from home." " Here's the war in the enemy's quarters ! As to fatigue, dawdKng about Mrs. Huntsford's garden is mucli the same as dawdling about my own, and makes me far more enter- taining." " I cannot help thinking, Bessie, that Lord Keitb is more ill than you suppose. I am sure he is in constant pain." " So I fear," said Bessie, gravely ; " but what can be done? He will see no one but his old surgeon in Edinburgh." " Then take him there." "Take him? You must know what it is to be in the hands of a clever woman before you make such a proposal." " You are a cleverer woman than my wife in bringing about what you really wish." "Just consider, Alick, our own house is uninhabitable, and this one on our hands — n7y aunt coming to me in a month's time. You don't ask me to do what is reasonable." " I cannot tell, Bessie. You can be the only judge of what is regard of the right kind for your husband's health or for yourself; and see, there is Mrs. Huntsford actually arrived, and talking to my uncle." " One moment, Alick : I am not going to insult myself so far as to suppose that poor Charlie Carleton's being at home has anytbing to do with your desire to deport me, but I want you to know that he did not come home till after we were settled here." "I do not wish to enter into details, Bessie," and he crossed the lawn towards the window where Mr. Clare and Eachel had just received Mrs. Huntsford, a goodnatured joyous-looking lady, a favoiu^ite with every one. Her invita- tion was dexterously given to meet a few friends at luncheon, and in the garden, where the guests would be free to come and go ; there might perhaps be a little dancing later, she had secured some good music which would, she knew, attract Mr. Clare, and she hoped be would bring Captain and Mrs. Keith. She knew Mrs. Keith had not been well, but she promised her a quiet room to rest in, and she wanted to show her a view of the Devon coast done by a notable artist in water-colours. Eachel readily accepted — ^in fact, this quiet month had been so full of restoration that she had almost forgotten ber morbid shrinking from visitors; and Bessie infused into her praise and congi'atulations a hint that a refasal would have been much against Alick's reputation, so THE HUNTSFORD CROQUET. 361 that sl.e resolved to keep up to the mark, even though he took care that she should know that she might yet retract. " You did not wish me to refuse, Alick," said she, struck by his grave countenance, when she found him lying on the slope of the lawn shortly after, in deep thought. " 1^0, not at all," he replied ; " it is likely to he a pleasant affair, and my uncle will be delighted to have us with him. Ko," he added, seeing that she still looked at him in quisitively, "it is the old story. My sister! Poor little thing ! I always feel as though I were more unkind and unjust to her than any one else, and yet we are never together with- out my feeling as if she was deceiving herseK and me ; and yet it is all so fair and well reasoned that one is always leJt in the wrong. I regretted this marriage extremely at first, and I am not the less disposed to regret it now." " Indeed ! Every one says how attentive she is to him, and how nicely they go on together." " Pshaw, Eachel ! that is just the way. A few words and pretty ways pass with her and all the world for attention, when she is wherever her fancy calls her, all for liis good. It is just the attention she showed my uncle. And now it is her will and pleasure to queen it here among her old friends, and she wiU not open her eyes to see the poor old man's precarious state." " Do you think him so very ill, Alick ? " " I was shocked when I saw him yesterday. As to sciatica, that is all nonsense ; the blow in his side has done some serious damage, and if it is not well looked-to, who knows what will be the end of it ! And then, a gay young widow with no control over her — I hate to think of it." " Indeed," said Eachel, " she is so warm and bright, and really earnest in her kindness, that she will be sure to see her own way right at home. I don't think we can guess how obstinate Lord Keith may be in refusing to take advice." " He cut me off pretty short," said Alick. " I am afraid he will see no one here ; and, as Bessie says, the move to Scotland would not be easy just now. As I said, she leave? one in the wrong, and I don't like the future. But it is of no use to talk of it ; so let us come and see if my uncle wants to go anywhere." It was Alick's fate never to meet with sympathy in his feeling of his sister's double-mindedness. Whether it were that he was mistaken, or that she really had the gift of sincerity for the moment in whatever she was saying, the 3G2 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. most candid and transparent people in the world — his uncle and his wife — ^never even succeeded in understanding his dissatisfaction with Bessie's doings, but always received them at her own valuation. Even while he had been looking forward, with hope deferred, to her residence with him as the greatest solace the world could yet aJBford him, Mr. Clare had always been convinced that her constant absence from his Kectory, except when his grand neighbours were at home, had been unavoidable, and had always credited the outward tokens of zealous devotion to his church and parish, and to iJl that was useful or good elsewhere. In effect there was a charm about her which no one but her brother ever resisted, and even he held out by an exertion that made him often appear ungracious. However, for the present the uneasiness was set aside, in the daily avocations of the Eectory, where Alick was always a very different person from what he appeared in Lady Temple's drawing-room, constantly engaged as he was by unobtrusive watchfulness over his uncle, and active and alert in this service in a manner that was a curious contrast to his ordinary sauntering ways. As to Rachel, the whole state of existence was still a happy dream. She floated on from day to day in the tranquil activity of the Eectory, without daring to look back on the past or to think out her present frame of mind ; it was only the languor and rest of recovery after suffering, and her husband was heedfully watching her, fearing the experiment of the croquet party, though on many accounts feeling the necessity of its being made. Ermine's hint, that with Eachel it rested to prevent her un- popularity from injuring her husband, had not been thrown away, and she never manifested any shrinkiQg from the party, and even took some interest in arraying herself for it. " That is what I call well turned out," exclaimed Alick, when she came down. "Describe her dress, if you please," said Mr. Clare, "I like to hear how my nieces look." Alick guided his hand. " There, stroke it down, a long white feather in a shady hat trimmed with dark green velvet; she is fresh and rosy, you know, sir, and looks well in green, and then, is it Grace's taste, Eachel? for it is the prettiest thing you have worn — a pale buff sort of silky thing, embroidered all over in the same colour ; " and he put a fold of the dress into his uncle's hand. THE HUNTSFORD CROQUET. 362 " Indian, surely," said Mr. Clare, feeling the pattern ; " it is too intricate and graceful for the West." ^* Yes," said Alick, " I remember now, Grace showed it to me. It was one that Lady Temple brought from India, and never had made up. Poor Grace could get no sympathy from Eachel about the wedding clothes, so she was obliged to come to me." " And I thought you did not know one of my things from another," said Eachel. "Do you really mean that you care 1 " " Depend upon it, he does, my dear," said Mr. Clare. " I have heard him severely critical on his cousins." " He has been very good in not tormenting me," said Rachel, nestling nearer to him. " I apprehended the consequences," said Alick ; " and besides, you never mounted that black lace pall, or curtain, or whatever you call it, upon your head, after your first attempt at frightening me away with it." " A cap set against, instead of at," said Mr. Clare, laugh- ing ; and therewith his old horse was heard clattering in the yard, and Alick proceeded to drive the well-used phaeton about three miles through Earlsworthy Park, to a pleasant- looking demesne in the village beyond. As they were turning in at the gate, up came Lady Keith with her two brisk little Shetlands. She was one mass of pretty, fi?esh, fluttering blue and white muslin, ribbon, and lace, and looked particularly well and briUiant. " Well met," she said ; " I called at the Eectory to take up Eachel, but you were flown before me." " Yes, we went through the Park." "I wish the Duke would come home. I can't go that way now till I have called. I have no end of things to say to you," she added, and her little lively ponies shot ahead of the old rectorial steed. However, she waited at the entrance. "Who do you think is come? Colin Keith made his appearance this morning. He has safely captured his Ouralian bear, though not without plenty of trouble, and he could not get him on to Avonmouth till he had been to some chemical institution about an invention. Colin thought hitn safe there, and rushed down by the train to see us. They go on to-morrow." " What did he think of Lord Keith?" said Alick, in the more haste because he feared something being said to remind Eachel that this was the assize week at Avoncester. " He has settled the matter about advice," said Bessie, 3Gi THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. seriously ; " you cannot think what a relief it is. I mean, as soon as I get home, to write and ask Mr. Harvey to come and talk to me to-morrow, and see if the journey to Edin- burgh is practicahle. I almost thought of sending, an apology, and driving over to consult him this afternoon, hut I did not like to disappoint Mrs. Huntsford, and I thought Eachel would feel herself lost." "Thank you," said Eachel, "hut could we not go away early, and go round by Mr. Harvey's ? " "IJnluckily I have sent the ponies home, and told the close carriage to come for me at nine. It was all settled, and I don't want to alarm Lord Keith by coming home too soon." Alick, who had hitherto listened with interest, here gave his arm to Eachel, as if recollecting that it was time to make their entree. Bessie took her uncle's, and they were soon warmly welcomed by their kind hostess, who placed them BO favourably at luncheon that Eachel was too much enter- tained to feel any recurrence of the old associations with "company." Afterwards, Eessie took her into the cool drawing-room, where were a few ladies, who preferred the sofa to croquet or archery, and Lady Keith accomplished a fraternization between Eachel and a plainly dressed lady, who knew all about the social science heroines of whom Eachel had longed to hear. After a time, however, a little girl darted in to call " Aunt Mary " to the aid of some play- fellow, who had met with a mishap, and Eachel then per- ceived herself to have been deserted by her sister-in-law. She knew none of the other ladies, and they made no approaches to her ; an access of self-consciousness came on, and feeling forlorn and uncomfortable, she wandered out to look for a friend. It was not long before she saw Alick walking along the terrace above the croquet players, evidently in quest of her. " How is it with you % " he anxiously asked ; " you know you can go home in a moment if you have had enough of this." " No, I want nothing, now I have found you. Where is your uncle % " "Fallen upon one of his oldest friends, who will take care of him, and weU out of the way of the croquet traps. Where's my Lady? I thought you were with her." " She disappeared while I was talking to that good Miss Penwell ! You must be pleased now, Alick, you see she is really going to see about going to Scotland." THE HUNTSFORD CROQUET. 365 ^' I should be better pleased if sbe had not left that poor old man alone till nine o'clock." " She says that when he has his man Saunders to read to him " " Don't teU me what she says ; I have enough of that at first hand." He broke off with a start. The terrace was prolonged into a walk beyond the screen of evergreens that shut in the main lawn, and, becoming a shrubbery path, led to a smooth glade, on whose turf preparations had been made for a second field of croquet, in case there should have been too many players for the priucipal arena. This, however, had not been wanted, and no one was visible except a lady and gentleman on a seat under a tree about half-way down on the opposite side of the glade. The lady was in blue and white; the gentleman woidd hardly have been recog- nised by Eachel but for the start and thrill of her husband's arm, and the flush of colour on his usually pale cheek ; but, ere he could speak or move, the lady sprang up, and camo hastening towards them diagonally across the grass. Eachel saw the danger, and made a warning outcry, "Bessie, the hoop ! " but it was too late, she had tripped over it, and fell prone, and entirely unable to save herself. She was much nearer to them than to her late companion, and was struggling to disengage herself when Alick reached her, lifted her up, and placed her on her feet, supporting her as she clung fast to him, while he asked if she were hurt. " lS[o, no," she cried. " Don't let him come ; don't let him call any one, don't," she reiterated, as Mr. Carleton hovered near, evidently much terrified, but not venturing to approach. Alick helped her to another garden chair that stood near. She had been entangled in her dress, which had been much torn by her attempt to rise, and hung in a festoon, impeding her, and she moved with difficulty, breathing heavily when she was first seated. " I don't know if I have not twisted myself a little," she said, in answer to their anxious questions, " but it will go off. Rachel, how scared you look ! " " Don't laugh," exclaimed Eachel, in dread of hysterics, and she plunged her hand into Alick's pocket for a scent- bottle, which he had put there by way of precaution for her, and, while applyiug it, said, in her full, sedate voice, keeping it as steady as she could, " Shall I drive you home ? Alick can walk home with his uncle when he is ready." 366 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. " Home ! Thank you, Eacliel, pray do. Not that I am hurt," she added in her natural voice, " only these rags would tell tales, and there would be an intolerable fuss." " Then I will bring the carriage round to the road there,"' said Alick. " I told Joe to be in readiness, and you need not go back to the house." " Thank you. But, oh, send him away ! " she added, with a gasping shudder. " Only don't let him tell any one. Tell him I desire he will not." After a few words with Mr. Carleton, Alick strode off to the stables, and Eachel asked anxiously after the twist. "I don't feel it; I don't believe in it. My dear, your strong mind is all humbug, or you would not l®ok so frightened," and again she was on the verge of hysterical laughing ; " it is only that I can't stand a chorus of old ladies in commotion. How happy Alick must be to have his prediction verified by some one tumbling over a hoop !" Just then, however, seeing Mr. Carleton stiU lingering near, she caught hold of Eachel with a little cry, " Don't let him come, dear Eachel ; go to him, tell him I am well, but keep him away, and mind he tells no one ! " Eachel's cold, repellent manner was in full force, and she went towards the poor little man, whose girlish face was blanched with fright. She told him that Lady Keith did not seem to be hurt, and only wished to be alone, and to go home without attracting notice. He stammered out something about quite under- standing, and retreated; while Eachel returned to find Bessie sitting upright, anxiously watching, and she was at once drawn down to sit beside her on the bench, to listen to the excited whisper. " The miserable simpleton ! Eachel, AJick was right. I thought, I little thought he would forget how things stand now ; but he got back to the old strain, as if — I shaJl make Lord Keith go to Scotland any way now. I was so thankful to see you and Alick." She proceeded with the agitated vehemence of one who, under a great shock, was saying more than she would have betrayed in a cooler and more guarded mood, " What could possess him i For years he had followed me about like a little dog, and never said more than I let him ; and now what folly was in his head, just because I could not walk as far as the ruin with the others. When I said I was going to Scotland, what business had ho to Oh ! the others will be coming back, Eachel ; could we not go to meet the carriage ? " THE END OF CLEVERNESS. 3GV The attempt to move, however, brought back the feeling of the strain of which she had complained, but she would not give way, and by the help of Eachel's arm, proceeded across the grass to the carriage-drive, where Alick was to meet them. It seemed very far and very hot, and her alternately excited and shame-stricken manner, and sobbing breath, much alarmed Eachel ; but when Alick met them, all this seemed to pass away — she controlled herself entirely, declaring her- self unhurt, and giving him cheerful messages and excuses for her hostess. Alick put the reins into Eachel's hands, and, after watching her drive off, returned to the party, and delivered the apologies of the ladies ; then went in search of his uncle. He did not, however, find him quickly, and then he was so happy with his old friend among a cluster of meiTy young people, that Alick would not say a word to hasten him liome, especially as Eachel would have driven Bessie to Timber End, so that it would only be returning to an empty house. And such was Mr. Clare's sociableness and disability of detaching himself from pleasant conversation, that the uncle and nephew scarcely started for their walk across the park in time for the seven o'clock service. Mr. Clare had never been so completely belated, and, as Alick's assistance was necessary, he could only augur from his wife's absence that she was still at Timber End with his sister. CHAPTEE XXVI. THE END OF CLEVERNESS. " AVherc am I ? vanity, We are not what wo deem, The sins that hold my heart in thrall, They are more real than all. " — Eev. I. Williams. As the uncle and nephew came out of church, and approached the yew-tree gate, Eachel came swiftly to meet them. " Oh, Alick ! oh, uncle ! " she said breathlessly. " Bessie says she is shocked to have turned your house upside down, but we could not go any further. And her baby is born ! " Then in answer to exclamations, half-dismayed, half-wondering, " Yes, it is all right, so I^urse Jones says. I could not send to you, 3G8 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. for we had to send everywhere at once. Mr. Harvey \ra.s not at home, and we telegraphed to London, but no one hais come yet, and now I have just written a note to Lord Keith with the news of his son and heir. And, uncle, she has set her heart on your baptizing him directly." There was some demur, for though the child had made so sudden a rush into the world, there seemed to be no ground for immediate alarm ; and Mr. Clare being always at hand, did not think it expedient to give the name without knowing the father's wishes with regard to that hereditary Alexander which had been borne by the dead son of the first marriage. A message, however, came down to hasten him, and when — as he had often before done in cottages — ^he demanded of ^N'urse Jones whether private baptism were immediately neces- sary, she allowed that she saw no pressing danger, but added, " that the lady was in a way about it," £,nd this both Eacliel and her maid strongly corroborated. Eachel's maid was an experienced person, whom Mrs. Curtis had selected with a view to Kachel's weak state at the time of her marriage, and she showed herself anxious for anything that might abate Lady Keith's excitement, to which they at length yielded, feeling that resistance might be dangerous to her. She further insisted that the rite should be performed in her presence ; nor was she satisfied when Eachel had brought in her uncle, but insisted on likewise calling in her brother, who vaguely anxious, and fully conscious of the small size of the room, had remained down-stairs. Mr. Clare always baptized his infant parishioners, and no one was anxious about his manner of handling the little one, the touch of whose garments might be familiar, as being no other than his own parish baby linen. He could do no otherwise than give the child the name reiterated by the mother, iu weak but impatient accents, " Alexander Clare," her brother's own name, and when the short service was con- cluded, she called out triumphantly, " Make Alick kiss him, Rachel, and do homage to his young chieftaiu." They obeyed her, as she lay watching them, and a veiy pretty sight she was with her dark hair lying round her, a rosy colour on her cheeks, and light in her eyes ; but Mr. Clare thought both her touch and voice feverish, and en- treated Eachel not to let her talk. Indeed Alick longed to take Eachel away, but this was not at present feasible, since her maid was occupied with the infant, and JS'urse Jones was so entirely a cottage practitioner that she was scarcely an THE END OP CLEVEENESS. 369 available attendant elsewhere. Eessie lierseK would by no means bave parted with ber sister-in-law, nor was it possible to reduce bar to silence. "Alexander ! " sbe said joyfully, " I always promised my cbild tbat be sbould not bave a stupid second son's name. I bad a rigbt to my own father's and brother's name, and now it can't be altered," then catching a shade of disapproval upon Eacbel's face, " not tbat I would have hurried it on if I had not thought it right, poor little fellow, but now I trust be will do nicely, and I do thinly we bave managed it all with less trouble than might bave been expected." Sure by this time that she was talking too much, Eachel was glad to bear that Mr. Harvey was come. He was a friendly, elderly man, who knew them all intimately, having attended Alick through his tedious recovery, and his first measure was to clear the room. Eachel thought that " at her age " be might have accepted her services, rather than her maid's, but she suspected AKck of instigating her exclusion, so eagerly did be pounce on her to make her eat, drink, and lie on the sofa, and so supremely scornful was be of her views of sitting up, -a measure which might be the more needful for want of a bed. On the whole, however, be was satisfied about her ; alarm and excitement had restrung her powers, and sbe knew her- self to have done her part, so that she was ready to be both cheerful and important over the evening meal. Mr. Clare was by no means annoyed at this vicissitude, but rather amused at it, and specially diverted at the thought of what would be Mr. Lifford's consternation. Lord Keith's servant bad como over, reporting his master to be a good deal worn out by the afternoon's anxiety, and recommending that he should not be again disturbed that night, so he was off their minds, and the only drawback to the pleasantness of the evening was surprise at seeing and hearing nothing from Mr. Harvey. The Lon- don doctor arrived, he met him and took him Tip-stairs at once ; and then ensued a long stillness, all attempts at con- versation died away, and Alick only now and then made attempts to send his companions to bed. Mr. Clare went out to the hall to Ksten, or Eachel stole up to the extemporary- nursery to consult JSTurse Jones, whom she foimd very gruff at having been turned out in favour of the stranger maid. It was a strange time of suspense. Alick made Eachel lie on the sofa, and she almost beard the beating of ber own heart ; be sat by her, trying to seem to read, and bis uncle B B 370 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. stood by the open window, where the tinkle of a sheep bell came softly in from the meadows, and now and then the hoot of the owl round the chnrch tower made the watchers start. To watch that calm and earnest face was their great help in that hour of alarm ; those sightless eyes, and broad, upraised spiritual brow seemed so replete with steadfast trust and peace, that the very sight was soothing and supporting to the young husband and vn,fe ; and when the long strokes of twelve re- sounded from the church tower, Mr. Clare, turning towards them, began in his full, musical voice to repeat Bishop Ken's noble midnight hymn — *' My God, now I from sleep awake, The sole possession of me take ; From midnight terrors me secure, And guard my soul from thoughts impure. " To Eachel, who had so often heard that hour strike amid a tumult of midnight miseries, there was something in these words inexpressibly gentle and soothing ; the tears sprang into her eyes, as if she had found the spell to chase the grisly phantoms, and she clasped her husband's hand, as though to communicate her comfort. " Oh may I always ready stand, With my lamp burning in my hand ; May I in sight of Heaven rejoice, "Whene'er I hear the Bridegroom's voice." Mr. Clare had just repeated this verse, when he paused, saying, " They are coming down," and moved quickly to meet them in the hall. Alick followed him to the door, but as they entered the dining-room, after a moment's hesitation, returned to Rachel, as she sat upright and eager. " After all, this may mean nothing," he said. " Oh, we don't make it better by fancying it nothing," said Rachel. " Let us try to meet it like your uncle. Oh, Alick, it seemed all this time as if I could pray again, as I never could since those sad times. He seemed so sure, such a rock to help and lean on." He drew her close to him. " You are praying for her ! " he murmured, his soul so much absorbed in his sister that he could not admit other thoughts, and still they waited and watched till other sounds were heard. The London doctor was going away. Alick sprang to the door, and opened it as his uncle's hand was on the lock. There was a mournful, solemn expres- sion on his face, as they gazed mutely up in expectation. THE END OF CLEVERNESS. 371 " CHldren," lie said, " ifc is aa we foared. This great sorrow is coming on us." " Then there is danger," said Alick with stunned calm , ness. " More than danger," said his uncle ; " they have tried all that skill can do." " "Was it the fall 1 " said AHck. " It was my bad management, it always is," said Eachel, ever affirmative. " No, dear child," said Mr. Clare, " there was fatal injury in the fall, and even absolute stillness for the last few hours could hardly have saved her. You have nothing to reproach yoursehf with." " And now 1 " asked Alick, hoarsely. " Much more exhausted than when we were with her ; sometimes faint, but still feverish. They think it may last many hours yet, poor dear child ; she has so much youth and strength." "Does she know?" " HaiTcy thought some of their measures alarmed her, but they soothed and encouraged her while they saw hope, and ho thinks she has no real fears." " And how is it to be 1 " said Alick. " She ought " "Yes j Harvey thinks she ought, she is fully herself, and it can make no difference now. He is gone to judge about coming up at once ; but Alick, my poor boy, you must speak to her. I have found that without seeing the face I cannot judge what my words may be doing." Eachel asked about poor Lord Keith, and was told that .he was to be left in quiet that night, unless his wife should be very anxious for him at once. Mr. Harvey came down, bringing word that his patient was asking urgently for Mrs. Keith. " You had better let me go in first," said Alick, Ms face changed by the firm but tender awe-struck look. " Not if she is asking for me," said Rachel, moving on, her heart feeling as if it would rend asunder, but her looks composed. Eessie's face was in shade, but her voice had the old ring of coaxing archness. " I thought you would stay to see the doctors off. They had their revenge for our stealing a march on them, and have prowled about me tiU I was quite faint ; and now I don't feel a bit like sleep, though I am so tired. Would Alick think me very wicked if I kept you a little BB 2 372 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. wMe 'i Don't I see Alick's shadow ? Dear old fellow, aro you come to wish, me good-night ? That is good of you. I am not going to plague you any more, Alick, I shall he so good now! But what?" as he held hack the curtain, and the light fell on his face, " Oh ! there is nothing wrong with thehahy?" " l^Oj dear Bessie, not with the hahT/" said Alick, with strong emphasis. " "What, myself ?" she said quickly, turning her eyes from one face to the other. AHck told her the state of the case. Hers was a resolute character, or perhaps the douhle nature that had perplexed and chafed her hrother was so integral that nothing could put it off. She fully comprehended, hut as if she and her- self were two separate persons. She asked how much time might he left to her, and hearing the doctor's opinion, said, " Then I think my poor old Lord Keith had hetter haye his night's rest in peace. But, oh ! I should like to speak to Cohn. Send for him, Alick ; telegraph, Alick ; he is at the Paddiugton Hotel. Send directly." She was only tranquillised hy her hrother heginning to write a telegraphic message. " Eachel," she said, presently, " Ermine must marry him now, and see to Lord Keith, and the little one — tell her so, please;" then with her unfailing courtesy, "he will seem like your own child, dear Eachel, and you should have him ; hut you'U have a wandering home with the dear old High- landers. Oh ! I wonder if he will ever go into them, there must always he a Keith there, and they say he is sure of the Victoria Cross, though papa will not send up his name because of heing his own son." Then passing her hand over her face, she exclaimed — " Wasn't I talking great nonsense, Eachel 1 I don't seem able to say what I mean." " It is weakness, dearest," said Eachel, " perhaps you might gain a little strength if you were quite still and listened to my uncle." " Presently. Eachel ! I like the sound of your voice ; I am glad AHck has got you. You suit hiTn hetter than his wicked little sister ever did. You have heen so kind to mo to-night, Eachel; I never thought I should have loved you so well, when I quizzed you. I did use you ill then, Eachel, but I think you won AHck by it just by force of contrast," — she was verging into the dreamy voice, and Eachel requested her to rest and be silent. THE END OP CLEVERNESS. '673 " It can't make any difference," said Bessie, " and 111 try to be quiet and do aU right, if you'U just let me have my child again. I d'O want to know who he is like. I am so glad it is not he that was hurt. Oh ! I did so want to have brought him up to be like Alick." The infant was brought, and she insisted on being lifted to see its face, which she declared to resemble her brother ; but here her real self seemed to gain the mastery, and calling it a poor little motherless thing, she fell into a fit of violent convulsive weeping, which ended in a fainting fit, and this was a fearfully perceptible stage on her way to the dark valley. She was, however, conscious when she revived, and sent for her uncle, whom she begged to let her be laid in his churchyard, " near the willow-tree ; not next to my aunt, I'm not good enough," she said, " but I could not bear that old ruined abbey, where all the Keiths go, and Alick always wanted me to be here — -Alick was right ! " The dreamy mist was coming on, nor was it ever wholly dispelled again. She listened, or seemed to listen, to her uncle's prayers, but whenever he ceased, she began to talk — perhaps sensibly at first, but soon losing the thread — some- times about her child or husband, sometimes going back to those expressions of Charles Carleton that had been so dire a shock to her. " He ought not ! I thought he knew better ! Alick was right ! Come away, Eachel, I'D. never see him again. I have done nothing that he should insult me. Alick was right !" Then would come the sobs, terrible in themselves, and ending in fainting, and the whole scene was especially grievous to Alick, even more than to either of the others ; for as her perception failed her, association carried her back to old arguments with him, and sometimes it was, "Alick, indeed you do like to attribute motives," sometimes " Indeed it is not all self-deception," or the recurring wail, " Alick is right, only don't let him be so angry ! " K he told her how far he was from anger, she would make him kiss her, or return to some playful rejoinder, more piteous to hear than all, or in the midst would come on the deadly swoon. Morning light was streaming into the room when one of these swoons had fallen on her, and no means of restoration availed to bring her back to anything but a gasping condition, in which she lay supported iu Eachel's arms. The doctor had his hand on her pulse, the only sounds outside were the twittering of the birds, and within, the ticking of the clock, 37-i THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. Alick's deep-drawn breaths, and Ms uncle's prayer. Eachel felt a thrill pass through the form she was supporting, she looked at Mr. Harvey, and understood his glance, but neither moved till Mr. Clare's voice finished, when the doctor said, " I feared she would have suffered much more. Thank God ! " He gently relieved Eachel from the now lifeless weight, and they knelt on for some moments in complete stillness, except that Alick's breath became more laboured, and his shuddering and shivering could no longer be repressed. Eachel was excessively terrified to perceive that his whole frame was trembHng like an aspen leaf. He rose, however, bent to kisa his sister's brow, and steadying himself by the furniture, made for the door. The others followed him, and in a few rapid words Eachel was assured that her fears were un- grounded, it was only an attack of his old Indian fever, which was apt to recur on any shock, but was by no means alarming, though for the present it must be given way to. Indeed, his teeth were chattering too much for him to speak intelligibly, when he tried to tell Eachel to rest and not think of hitn. This of course was impossible, and the sun had scarcely risen before he was placed in his old quarters, the bed in the little ioner study, and Eachel watched over him while Mr. Clare had driven off with the doctor to await the awakening of Lord Keith. Eachel had never so much needed strength. It was hard to beUeve the assurances of Alick, the doctor, and the whole house, that his condition was not critical, for he was exceed- ingly ill for some hours, the ailment haviag been coming on aU night, though it was forced back by the resolute will, and it was aggravated by the intensity of his grief, which on the other hand broke forth the more violently from the failure of the physical powers. The brother and sister had been so long alone in the world together, and with all her faults she had been so winning, that it was a grievous loss to him, coming too in the full bloom of her beauty and prosperity, when he was conscious of having dealt severely with her foibles. All was at an end — that double thread of brilliant good-nature and worldly selfishness, with the one strand of sound principle sometimes coming into sight. The life was gone from the earth in its incompleteness, without an un- raveUing of its complicated texture, and the wandering utterances that revealed how entirely the brother stood ikst with her, added poignancy to his regret for having been THE END OF CLEVERNESS. 375 harsh with her. It could hardly he otherwise than that his censures, however just, should now recoil upon him, and in vain did Rachel try to point out that every word of his sister's had proved that her better sense had aU along ac- quiesced — ^he only felt what it might have been if he had been more indulgent and less ironical, and gave himself infinitely harder measure than he ever could have shown to her. It was long before the suffering, either mental or bodily, by any means abated, and Eachel felt extremely lonely, de- serted, and doubtful whether she were in any way ministering to his rehef ; but at last a gleam of satisfaction came upon her. He evidently did like her attendance on him, and he began to say something about Bessie's real love and esteem for her — softer grief was setting in, and the ailment was The summer morning was advancing, and the knell rung out its two deep notes from the church tower. Eachel had been dreading the effect on him, but he lay still, as if he had been waiting for it, and was evidently counting the twenty- three strokes that told the age of the deceased. Then he said he was mending, and that he should fall asleep if Eachel would leave him, see after the poor child, and if his uncle should not come home within the next quarter of an houi', take measures to silence the bell for the morning service; after which, he laid his injunctions on her to rest, or what should he say to her mother 1 And the approach to a smile with which these last words were spoken, enabled Eachel to obey in some comfort. After satisfying herself that the child was doing well, Eachel was obliged to go into her former room, and there to stand face to face with the white, still countenance so lately beaming with life. She was glad to be alone. The marble calm above all counteracted and drove aside the painful phantom left by Lovedy's agony, and yet the words of that poor, persecuted, suffering child came surging into her mind full of peace and hope. Perhaps it was the first time she had entered into what it is for weak things to confound the wise, or how things hidden from the intellectual can be revealed tc babes ; and she hid her face in her hands, and was thankful for the familiar words of old, " That we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life." The continued clang of the bell warned her. She looked round at the still uncleared room, poor Bessie's rings and bracelets lying mingled with her own on the toilet table, and 376 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. her little clock, Bessie's own gift, standing ticking on as it had done at her peaceful rising only yesterday morning. She took out her hat, and was on her way to silence the bell- ringer, when Mr. Clare was driven up to the churchyard gate. Lord Keith had been greatly shocked, but not over- 2)0wered ; he had spoken calmly, and made minute inquiries, and Mr. Clare was e^ddently a little disappointed, repeating that age and health made a difference, and that people showed their feelings in various ways. Colonel Keith had been met at the station, and was with his brother, but would come ta make arrangements in the course of the day. Eachel begged to stop the beU, representing that the assembled congregation included no male person capable of reading the lessons ; but ]\Ir. Clare answered, " 'No, my dear, this is not a day to do without such a beginning. We must do what we can. Or st«y, it is the last chapter of St. John. I could hardly fail in that. Sit near me, and give me the word if I do, unless you want to be with Alick.'^ As Rachel knelt that day, the scales of self-conceit seemed to have gone. She had her childhood's heart again. Her bitter remorse, her afterthoughts of perplexity had been lulled in the long calm of the respite, and when roused again, even by this sudden sorrow, she woke to her old trust and hope. And when she listened to the expressive though calm rehearsal of that solemn sunrise-greeting to the weary darkling fishers on the shore of the mountain lake, it was to her as if the form so long hidden from her by mists of her own raising, once more shone forth, smoothing the vexed waters of her soul, and she could say with a new thrill of recognition, " It is the Lord." Once Mr. Clare missed a word, and paused for aid. She was crying too much to be ready, and, through her tears, could not recover the passage so as to prompt him before he had himself recalled the verse. Perhaps a sense of failure was always good for Eachel, but she was much concerned, and her apologies quite distressed Mr. Clare. " Dear child, no one could be expected to keep the place when there was so much to dwell on in the very comfort of the chapter. And now if you are not in haste, would you take me to the place that dear Bessie spoke of, by the wiUow- tree. I am almost afraid little Mary Lawrence's grave may have left too Httle space." Eachel guided him to a lovely spot, almost overhanging the stream, with the dark calm pools beneath the high bank, THE END OF CLEVERNESS. 377 and tlie willow casting a long morning shadow over it. Her mind went tack to the merry drive from Avoncester, when she had first seen Elizabeth Keith, and had little dreamt that in one short year she should be choosing the spot for her grave. Mr. Clare paced the green nook and was satisfied, asking if it were not a very pretty place. " Yes," said Eachel, " there is such a quiet freshness, and the willow-tree seems to guard it." " Is there not a white foxglove on the bank 1 " " Yes, but with only a bell or two left at the top of the side spikes." " Your aunt sowed the seed. It is strange that I was very near choosing this place nine years ago, but it could not be seen from my window, which was an object with me then." Just then his quick ear detected that some one was at the parsonage door, and Eachel, turning round, exclaimed with horror, " It is that unhappy Mr. Carleton." " Poor young fellow," said Mr. Clare, with more of pity than of anger, " I had better speak to him." But they were far from the path, and it was not possible to guide the blind steps rapidly between the graves and head stones; so that before the pathway was reached young Carleton must have received the sad reply to his inquiries, for hurrying from the door he threw hunseK on his horse, and rode off at full speed. By the afternoon, when Colonel Keith came to Bishops- worthy, Alick was lying on the sofa with such a headache that he could neither see nor spell, and Eachel was writing letters for him, both in the frame of mind in which the Colonel's genuine warm affection and admiration for Bessie was very comforting, assisting them in putting all past mis- givings out of sight. He had induced his brother to see Mr. Harvey, and the result had been that Lord Keith had consented to a consultation the next day with an eminent London surgeon, since it was clear that the blow, not the sciatica, was answerable for the suffering which was evidently becoming severe. The Colonel of course intended to remain with his brother, at least till after the funeral. " Can you 1 " exclaimed AHck. " Ought you not to be at Avoncester 1 " " I am not a witness, and the case is in excellent hands." "Could you not run down? I shall be available to- morrow, and I could be with Lord Keith." " Thank you, Alick, it is impossible for me to leave him," 378 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. said Colin, so quietly that no one could have guessed how keenly he felt the being deprived of bringing her brother to Ermine, and being present at the crisis to which all his thoughts and endeavours had so long been directed. That assize day had long been a dream of dread to Eachel, and perhaps even more so to her husband. Yet how remote its interest actually seemed ! They scarcely thought of it for the chief part of the day. Alick looking very pale, though calling himself well, went early to Timber End, and he had not long been gone before a card was brought in, with an urgent entreaty that Mrs. Keith would see Mrs. Carleton. Eachel longed to consult Mr. Clare, but he had gone out to a sick person, and she was obliged to decide that Alick could scarcely wish her to refuse, reluctant and indignant as she felt. But her wrath lessened as she saw the lady's tears and agitation, so great that for a moment no words were possible, and the first were broken apologies for intruding, " JS'othing should have induced her, but her poor son was in such a dreadful state." Eachel again became cold and stern, and did not relent at the description of Charlie's horror and agony; for she was wondering at the audacity of mentioning his grief to the wife of Lady Keith's brother, and thinking that this weak, indulgent mother was the very person to make a foolish, mischievous son, and it was on her tongue's end that she did not see to what she was indebted for the favour of such a visit. Perhaps Mrs. Carleton perceived her resentment, for she broke off, and urgently asked if poor dear Lady Keith had alluded to anything that had passed. "Yes," Eachel was forced to say ; and when again pressed as to the manner of alluding, replied, that "she was exceedingly distressed and displeased," with difficulty refraining from saying who had done all the mischief. Mrs. Carleton was in no need of hearing it. " Ah ! " she said, " it was right, quite right. It was very -wrong of my poor boy. Lideed I am not ex- cusing him, but if you only knew how he blames himself." " I am sure he ought," Eachel could not help saying. Mrs. Carleton here entreated her to listen, and seized her hand, so that there was no escape. The tale was broken and confused, but there could be little doubt of its correctness. Poor Bessie had been the bane of young Carleton's life. She had never either decidedly accepted or repelled his affection, but, as she had truly said, let him follow her Hke a little dog, and amused herself with him in the absence of better game. THE END OP CLEVERNESS. 379 He was in Ms father's office, but her charms distui-bed his application to busiaess and kept him trifling among the croquet lawns of Littleworthy, whence his mother never had the resolution to banish her spoilt child. At last Miss Keith's refusal of him, softened by a half-implied hope, sent him forth to his uncle at Eio, on the promise that if he did his utmost there, he should in three years be enabled to offer Miss Keith more than a competence. With this hope he had for the first time applied himself to business in earnest, when he received the tidings of her marriage, and like a true spoilt child broke down at once in resolution, capacity, and health, so that his uncle was only too glad to ship him off for England. And when Lady Keith made her temporary homo in her old neighbourhood, the companionship began again, permitted by her in good nature, and almost contempt, and allowed by his family in confidence of the rectitude of both parties ; and indeed nothing could be more true than that no harm had been intended. But it was perilous ground ; ladies, however highly principled, cannot leave off self- pleasing habits all at once, and the old terms returned suf- ficiently to render the barrier but slightly felt. When Lady Keith had spoken of her intention of leaving Timber End, the reply had been the old complaint of her brother's harsh- ness and jealousy of his ardent and lasting affection, and reproof had not at once silenced him. This it was that had so startled her as to make her hurry to her brother's side, unheeding of her steps. As far as Eachel could make out, the poor young man's grief and despair had been poured out to his mother, and she, unable to soothe, had come to try to extract some assu- rance that the catastrophe had been unconnected with his folly. A very slight foundation would have served her, but this Eachel would not give, honestly beheving him the cause of the accident, and also that the shock to the sense of duty higher than he could understand had occasioned the excite- ment which had destroyed the slender possibility of recovery. She pitied the unhappy man more than she had done at first, and she was much pained by his mother's endeavours to obtain a paUiative for him, but she could not be untrue. " Indeed," she said, '' I fear no one can say it was not so ; I don't think anything is made better by blinking the reality." " Oh, Mrs. Keith, it is so dreadful. I cannot tell my poor son. I don't know what might be the consequence." 380 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. Tears came into Eachers eyes. "Indeed," she said, "1 am very sorry for you. I beUeve every one knows that I have felt what it is to be guilty of fatal mischief j but, iu- deed, indeed I am sure that to realize it all is the only way to endure it, so as to be the better for it. Believe me, I am very sorry j but I don't think it would be any real comfort to your son to hear that poor Bessie had never been careful, or that I was inexperienced, or the nurse ignorant. It is better to look at it fairly. I hear Mr. Clare coming in. WiQ you see him ? " she added suddenly, much relieved. But Mrs. Carleton did not wish to see him, and departed, thinkiug Alick Keith's wife as bad as had ever been reported, and preparing an account of her mismanagement wherewith CO remove her son's remorse. She was scarcely gone, and Eachel had not had time to speak to Mr. Clare, before another visitor was upon her, no other than Lord Keith's daughter, Mrs. Comyn Menteith; or, as she introduced herself, " I'm Isabel. I came down from London to-day because it was so very shocking and deplorable, and I am dying to see my poor little brother and uncle Colin. I must keep away from poor papa till the doctors are gone, so I came here." She was a little woman in the delicately featured style of sandy prettiness, and exceedingly talkative and good-natured. The rapid tongue, though low and modulated, jarred painfully on Eachel's feelings in the shaded staircase, and she was glad to shut the door of the temporary nursery, when Mrs. Menteith pounced upon the poor Httle baby, pitying him with all her might, comparing him with her own children, and asking authoritative questions, coupled with demon- strations of her intention of carrying him off to her own nursery establishment, which had been left in Scotland with a head nurse, whose name came in with every fourth word — that is, if he lived at aU, which she seemed to think a hopeless matter. She spoke of "poor dear Bessie," with such affection as was implied in " Oh, she was such a darling ! I got on with her immensely. "Why didn't you send to me, though I don't know that Donald would have let me come;" and she in- sisted on learning the whole history, illustrating it profusely with personal experiences. Eachel was constantly hoping to be released from a subject so intensely painful ; but curiosity prevailed through the chatter, and kept hold of the thread cf the. story. Mrs. Menteith decidedly thought herself defrauded THE END OF OLBVERNESS. 381 of a summons. " It was very odd of them all not to telegraph for me. Those telegrams are snch a dreadful shock. Thern came one just as I set out from Timber End, and I made sure little Sandie was ill at home, for you know the child is very delicate, and there are so many things going ahout, and what with all this dreadful husiness, I was ready to faint, and after aU it was only a stupid thing for Uncle Colin from those people at Avoncester." " You do not know what it was ? " " Somebody was convicted or acquitted, I forget which, but I know it had something to do with Uncle Colin'a journey to Eussia ; so ridiculous of him at his age, when he ought to know better, and so unlucky for all the family, his engagement to that swindler's sister. By-the-bye, did he not cheat you out of ever so much money 1 " "Oh, that had nothing to do with it — it was not Miss WiUiams's brother — it was not he that was tried." "Wasn't he] I thought he was found guilty or some- thing ; but it is very unfortunate for the family, for Uncle Colin won't give her up, though she is a terrible cripple, too. And to teU you a secret, it was his obstinacy that made papa marry again ; and now it is of no use, this poor little fellow will never live, and this sharper's sister will be Lady Keith after all ! So unlucky ! Papa says she is very handsome, and poor Bessie declares she is quite ladylike." "The most superior person I ever knew," said Eachel, indignantly. " Ah, yes, of course she must be very clever and artful if her brother is a swindler." "But indeed he is not, he was cheated; the swindler was Maddox." "Oh, but he was a glass-blower, or something, I know, and her sister is a governess. I am. sure it is no fault of mine ! The parties I gave to get him and Jessie Douglas together! Donald was quite savage about the bills. And iifter all Uncle Colin went and caught cold, and would not come ! I would not have minded half so much if it had been Jessie Douglas ; but to have her at Gowanbrae — a glass- blower's daughter — ^isn't it too bad ? " " Her father was a clergyman of a good Welsh family." " Was he 1 Then her brother or somebody had something to do with glass." Attempts at explanation were vain, the good lady had an incapacity of attention, and was resolved on her grievance. 382 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. She went away at last because " those horrid doctors will be gone now, and I will be able to see poor papa, and tell him when I will take home the baby, though I don't believe he will live to be taken anywhere, poor dear little man." She handled him. so much more scientifically than Eachel could do, that it was quite humiliating, and yet to listen to her talk, and think of committing any child to her charge was sickening, and Eachel already felt a love and pity for her little charge that made her wretched at the thoughts of the prognostic about him. " You are tired with your visitors my deai*," said Mr. Clare, holding out his hand towards her, when she returned to him. " How do you know 1 " she asked. " By the sound of your move across the room, and the stream of talk I heard above must be enough to exhaust any one." "She thinks badly of that poor child," said Eachel, her voice trembling. " My dear, it would take a good deal to make me uneasy about anything I heard in that voice." " And if he lives, she is to have the charge of him," added Rachel. "That is another matter on which I would suspend my fears," said Mr. Clare. " Come out, and take a turn in the peacock path. You want air more than rest. So you have been talked to death." " And I am afraid she is gone to talk Alick to death ! I wonder when Alick will come home," she proceeded, as they entered on the path. " She says Colonel Keith had a telegram about the result of the trial, but she does not know what it was, nor indeed who was tried." " Alick vrill not keep you in doubt ionger than he can help," said Mr. Clare. " You know aU about it ; " said Eachel. " The facts every one must know, but I mean that which led to them." " Alick told me you had suffered very much." " I don't know whether it is a right question, but if it is, I should much like to know what Alick did say. I begged him to tell you aU, or it would not have been fair towards you to bring me here." " He told me that he knew you had been blind and wilful, but that your confidence had been crueUy abused, and you had been most unselfish throughout." THE END OF CLEVERNESS. 383 *' I did not mean so mucli what I had done as what I am — what I was." "The first time he mentioned you, it was as one of the reasons that he wished to take our dear Bessie to Avonmonth. He said there was a girl there of a strong spirit, independent and thorough-going, and thinking for herself. He said, * to be sure, she generally thinks wrong, but there's a candour and simplicity about her that make her wildest blunders better than parrot commonplace,' and he thought your reality might impress his sister. Even then I gathered what was coming." " And how wrong and foolish you must have thought it." " I hoped I might trust my boy's judgment." "Indeed, you could not think it worse for him than I did; but I was ill and weak, and could not help letting Alick do what he would ; but I have never understood it. I told him how unsettled my views were, and he did not seem to mind " " My dear, may I ask if this sense of being unsettled is with you still?" " I don't know ! I had no power to read or think for a long time ; and now, since I have been here, I hope it has not been hypocrisy, for going on in your way and his has been very sweet to me, and made me feel as I used when I was a young girl, with only an ugly dream between. I don't like to look at it, and yet that dream was my real life that I made for myself." " Dear child, I have little doubt that Alick knew it would come to this." Eachel paused. "What, you and he think a woman's doubts so vague and shallow as to be always mastered by a husband's influence ? " Mr. Clare was embarrassed. If he had thought so he had not expected her to make the inference. He asked her if she coiid venture to look back on her dream so as to mention what had chiefly distressed her. He could not see her frowning effort at recollection, but after a pause, she said, " Things will seem to you like trifles, indeed, individual criticisms appear so to me ; but the difficulty to my mind is that I don't see these objections fairly grappled with. There is either denunciation or weak argument ; but I can better recoUect the impression on iny own mind than what made it." " Yes, I know that feeling ; but are you sure you havo seen aU the arguments % " 384 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. ■*I cannot tell — ^perhaps not. "WTienever I get a "book vdth. anything in it, somebody says it is not sound." " And you therefore conclude that a sound book can have nothing ia it ? " he asked, smiling. " Well, most of the new ' sound ' books that I have met are just what my mother and sister like — either dull, or sentimental and trashy." "Perhaps those that get into popular circulation do deserve some of your terms for them. Illogical replies break down and carry off some who have pinned their faith to them j but are you sure that though you have read much, you have read deep 1 " " I have read more deeply than any one I know — ^women, I mean — or than any man ever showed me he had read. Indeed, I am trying not to say it in conceit, but Ermine Williams does not read argumentative books, and gentlemen almost always make as if they knew nothing about them." " I think you may be of great use to me, my dear, if you NiR help me. The bishop has desired me to preach the next visitation sermon, and he wishes it to be on some of these subjects. ISTow, if you will help me with the book work, it will be very kind in you, and might serve to clear your mind about some of the details, though you must be prepared for some questions being unanswered." " Best so," replied Eachel, " I don't like small answers to great questions." " Nor I. Only let us take care not to get absorbed *^a-k admiring the boldness that picks out stones to be stumbled over." "Do you object to my having read, and thought, and tried?" " Certainly not. Those who have the capability should, if they feel disturbed, work out the argument. I^othing is gained while it is felt that both sides have not been heard. I do not myself believe that a humble, patient, earnest spirit can go far wrong, though it may for a time be tried, and people often cry out at the first stumbling block, and then feel committed to the exclamations they have made." The conversation was here ended by the sight of Alick comiag slowly and wearily in from the churchyard, looking as if some fresh weight were upon him, and he soon told them that the doctors had pronounced that Lord Keith was in a critical state, and would probably have much to suffer THE END OF CLEVERNESS. 385 jfrom tlie formation that had hegun where he had received the neglected "bruise in the side. No word of censure of poor Bessie had heen breathed, nor did Alick mention her name, hut he deeply suffered under the fulfilment of his own predictions, and his subdued, dejected manner expressed far more than did his words. Eachel asked how Lord Keith seemed. " Oh, there's no getting at his feelings. He was very civil to me — asked after you, Eachel — told me to give you his thanks, but not a single word about anything nearer. Then I had to read the paper to him — all that dinner at Liverpool, and he made remari^, and expected me to know what it was about. I suppose he does feel ; the Colonel says he is ex- ceedingly cut up, and he looks like a man of eighty, infinitely worse than last time I saw him, but I don't know what to make of him." " And, Alick, did you hear the verdict? " " What verdict r' " That man at Avoncester. Mrs. Menteith said there had been a telegram." Alick looked startled. " This has put everything out of my head ! " he said. " What was the verdict ? " "That was just what she could not teU. She did not quite know who was tried." " And she came here and harassed you with it," he said, looking at her anxiously. " As if you had not gone through enough already." " Never mind that now. It seems so long ago now that I can hardly think much about it ; and I have had another visitor," she added, as Mr. Clare left them to themselves, " Mrs. Carleton — that poor son of hers is in such distress." " She has been palavering you over," he said, in a tone more like displeasure than he had ever used towards her. " Indeed, Alick, if you would listen, you would find him very much to be pitied." * I only wish never to hear of any of them again." He did not speak like himself, and Eachel was aghast. " I thought you would not object to my lotting her in," she began. " I never said I did," he answered ; " I can never think of him but as having caused her death, and it was no thanks to him that there was nothing worse." The sternness of his manner would have silenced Eachel but for her strong sense of truth and justice, which made her 386 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. persevere in saying, " There may have been more excuse than vou "believe." " Do yon suppose that is any satisfection to me ? " Hd walked decidedly away, and entered by the library window, and she stood grieved and wondering whether she had been vvrong in pitying, or whether he were too harsh in his indignation. It was a sign that her tone and spirit had recovered, that she did not succumb in judgment, though she felt utterly puzzled and miserable tiE she recollected how unwell, weary, and unhappy he was, and that every fresh perception of his sister's errors was like a poisoned arrow to him ; and then she felt shocked at having obtruded the subject on him at all, and when she found hun leaning back in his chair, spent and worn out, she waited on him in the quietest, gentlest way she could accomplish, and tried to show that she had put the subject entirely aside. However, when they were next alone together, he turned his face away and muttered, "What did that woman say to you?" " Oh, Alick, I am sorry I began ! It only gives you pain." « Go on " She did go on till she had told all, and he uttered no word of comment. She longed to ask whether he disapproved of her having permitted the interview ; but as he did not again recur to the topic, it was making a real and legitimate use of strength of mind to abstain from teazing him on the matter. Yet when she recollected what worldly honour would once have exacted of a military man, and the conflicts between religion and public opinion, she felt thankful indeed that half a century lay between her and that terrible code, and even as it was, perceiving the strong hold that just resent- ment had taken on her husband's silently determined nature, she could not think of the neighbourhood of the Carleton family without dread. CHAPTEE XXVII. THE POST BAG. " Thefts, like ivy on a ruin, make the rifts they seem to shade." — C. G. Duffy. " August Sd, 7 A.M. " My DEAR Colonel Keith, — Papa is come, and I have got up so early in the morning that I have nothing to do but to THE POST BAG. 387 write to you before we go in to Avoncester. Papa and Mr. Beechum came by tke six o'clock train, and Lady Temple sent me in the waggonette to meet them. Aunt Ailie would not go, because she was afraid Aunt Ermine would get anxious whilst she was waiting. I saw papa directly, and yet I did not think it could be papa, because you were not there, and he looked quite past me, and I do not think he would have found me or the carriage at all if Mr. Beechum had not known me. And then, I am afraid I was very naughty, but I could not help crying just a little when I found you had not come ; but perhaps Lady Keith may be better, and you may come before I go into court to-day, and then I shall tear up this letter. I am afraid papa thought I was unkind to cry when he was just come home, for he did not talk to me near so much as Mr. Beechum did, and his eyes kept looking out as if he did not see anything near, only quite far away. And I suppose Eussian coats must "be made of some sort of sheep that eats tobacco." *' August 3c?, 10 a.m. "Dearest Colin, — I have just lighted on poor little Eosie's before-breakfast composition, and I can't refrain from sending you her first impressions, poor child, though no doubt they will alter, as she sees more of her father. All are gone to Avoncester now, though with some doubts whether this be indeed the critical day ; I hope it may be, the sooner this is over the better ; but I am fiill of hope. I cannot believe but that the Providence that has done so much to discover Edward's innocence to the world, will finish the work ! I have little expectation though of your coming down in time to see it ; the copy of the telegraphic message, which you sent by Harry, looks as bad as possible, and even allowing something for inexperience and fright, things must be in a state in which you could hardly leave your brother, so unwell as he seems. " 2 p.m. I was interrupted by Lady Temple, who was Boon followed by Mrs. Curtis, burning to know whether I had any more intelligence than had floated to them. Pray, if you can say anything to exonerate poor Eachel from mis management, say it strongly ; her best friends are so engaged in wishing themselves there, and pitying poor Bessie for being in her charge, that I long to confute them, for I fully believe in her sense and spirit in any real emergency that she had not ridden out to encounter. **And I have written so far without a word on the great cc2 oSS THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. subject of all, the joy •untold for wMcli our hearts had ached so long, and which we owe entirely to you ; for Edward owns that nothing hut your personal representations would have brought him, and, as I suppose you already know — ^he so much hated the whole subject of Maddox's treachery that he had flung aside, unread, all that he saw related to it. Dear Coliu, whatever else you have done, you have filled a famished heart. Could you but have seen Ailie's face all last eveniug as she sat by his side, you would have felt your reward — it was as if the worn, anxious, almost stern mask had been taken away, and our Ailie's face was beaming out as of old when she was the family pet, before Julia took her away to be finished. She sees no change; she is in an ecstasy of glamour that makes her constantly repeat her rejoicings that Edward is so much himself, so unchanged, till I almost feel unsisterly for seeing in him the traces that these sad years have left, and that poor little Eose herself has detected. !N"o, he is not so much changed as exaggerated. The living to himself, and with so cruel a past, has greatly increased the old dreaminess that we always tried to combat, and he seems less able than before to turn his mind into any channel but the one immediately before him. He is most loving when roused, but infinitely more inclined to fall off iato a muse. I am afraid you must have had a troublesome charge in him, judging by the uproar Harry makes about the diffi- culty of getting him safe from Paddington. It is good to see him and Harry together — the old schoolboy ways are so renewed, all bitterness so entirely forgotten, only Harry rages a little that he is not more wrapped up in Eose. To say the truth, so do I ; but if it were not for Harry's feeling the same, I should beheve that you had taught me to bo exacting about my rosebud. Partly, it is that he is disap. pointed that she is not like her mother ; he had made up his mind to another Lucy, and her Williams face took him by surprise, and, partly, he is not a man to adapt himself to a child. She must be trained to help unobtrusively in his occupations ; the unknowing little plaything her mother was, she never can be. I am afraid he will never adapt himself to English life again — his soul seems to be in his mines, and if as you say he is happy and valued there — ^though it is folly to look forward to the wrench again, instead of rejoicing in the present gladness ; but often as I had fashioned that arrival in my fancy, it was never that Harry's voice, not yours, should say the ' Here he is.' THE POST BAG. 389 " They all went tMs morning in tlie waggonette, and the two boys with Miss Curtis in the carriage. Lady Temple is very kind in coming in and out to enliven me. I am afraid I must close and send this before their return. What a day it is ! And how are you passing it ? I fear, even at the best, in much anxiety. Lady Temple asks to put in a line. — Yours ever, E. W." *• August Zd, 5 p.m. " My dear Colonel, — This is just to tell you that dear Ermine is very well, and bearing the excitement and sus- pense wonderfully. We were all dreadfully shocked to hear about poor dear Bessie ; it is so sad her having no mother nor any one but Rachel to take care of her, though Eachel would do her best, I know. If she would like to have me, or if you think I could do any good, pray telegraph for me the instant you get this letter. I would have come this morning, only I thought, perhaps, she had her aunt. That stupid telegram never said whether her baby was alive, or what it was ; I do hope it is all right. I should like to send nurse up at once — I always thought she saved little Cyril when he was so ill. Pray send for nurse or me, or anything I can send : anyway, I know nobody can be such a comfort as you ; but the only thing there is to wish about you is, that you could be in two places at once. " The two boys are gone in to the trial, they were very eager about it ; and dear Grace promises to take care of Conrade's throat. Poor boys ! they had got up a triumphal arch for your return ; but I am afraid I am telling secrets. Dear Ermine is so good and resolutely composed — quite an example. — Yours affectionately, " F. G. Temple." " AvONCESTER, Augvst 3c?, 2 P.M. " My dear Colonel Keith, — I am just come out of court, and I am to wait at the inn, for Aunt Ailie does not like for me to hear the trial, but she says I may write to you to pass away the time. I am sorry I left my letter out to go this morning, for Aunt Ailie says it is very undutiful to say any- thing about the sheep's wool iu Eussia smelling of tobacco. Conrade says it is all smoking, and that every one does it who has seen the world. Papa never stops smokiug but when he is with Aunt Ermine ; he sat on the box and did it fdl the way to Avoncester, and Mr. Beechum said it was to 390 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY, compose his mind. After we got to Avoncester we had. a long, long time to wait, and first one was called, and then another, and then they wanted me. I was not nearly so frightened as I was that time when you sent for me, thougl there were so many more people ; hut it was daylight, and the judge looked so kind, and the lawyer spoke so gently to me, and Mr. Maddox did not look horrid like that first time. I think he must be sorry now he has seen how much he has hurt papa. The lawyer asked me aU about the noises, and the Kons, and the letters of light, just as Mr. Grey did ; and they showed me papa's old sed ring, and asked if I knew it, and a seal that was made with the new one that he got when the other was lost ! and I knew them because I used to make impressions on my arms with them when I was a little girl. There was another lawyer that asked how old I was, and why I had not told before ; and I thought he was going to laugh at me for a silly little girl, but the judge would not let him, and said I was a clear-headed little maiden ; and Mr. Beechum came with Aunt Ailie, and took me out of court, and told me to choose anything in the whole world he should give me, so I chose the little writing case I am writing with now, and ' The Heroes ' besides, so I shall be able to read till the others come back, and we go home. — ^Your affectionate little Mend, " EosE Ermine Williams." "The Homestead, August Zd, 9 p.m. " My dear Alexander, — ^You made me promise to send you the full account of this day's proceedings, or I do not think I should attempt it, when you may be so sadly engaged. Indeed, I should hardly have gone to Avoncester had the sad intelligence reached me before I had set out, when I thought my sudden return would be a greater alarm to my mother, and I knew that dear Fanny would do all she could for her. StiU she has had a very nervous day, thinking constantly of your dear sister, and of Eachel's alarm and inexperience ; but her unlimited confidence in your care of Eachel is some comfort, and I am hoping that the alarm may have subsided, and you may be aU rejoicing. I have always thought that, with dear Eachel, some new event or sensation would best efface the terrible memories of last spring. My mother is now taking her evening nap, and I am using the time for telling you of the day's doings. I took with me Fanny's two eldest, who were very good and manageable ; THE POST BAG. 391 and we met Mr. Grey, wlio put us in very good places, and told us tile case was just coming on. You will see tlie report in detail in the paper, so I will only try to give you what you would not find there. I should tell you that Maddox has entirely dropped his alias. Mr. Grey is convinced that was only a bold stroke to gain time and prevent the committal, so as to he able to escape, and that he * reckoned upon bully- ing a dense old country magistrate j ' but that he knew it was quite untenable before a body of unexceptionable witnesses. Altogether the man looked greatly altered and crest-fallen, and there was a meanness and vulgarity in his appearance that made me wonder at our ever having credited his account of himself. He had an abject look, very unlike his confident manner at the sessions, nor did he attempt his own defence. Mr. Grey kept on saying he must know that he had not a leg to stand upon. " The counsel for the prosecution told the whole story, and it was very touching. I had never known the whole before ; the sisters are so resolute and uncomplaining : but how they must have suffered when every one thought them ruined by their brother's fraud ! I grieve to think how we neglected them, and only noticed them when it suited our convenience. Then he called Mr. Beechum, and you will understand better than I can all about the concern in which they were embarked, and Maddox coming to him for an advance of 300^., giving him a note from Mr. WiQiams, asking for it to carry out an invention. The order for the sum was put into Maddox's hands, and the banker proved the paying it to him by an order on a German bank. " Then came Mr. Williams. I had seen him for a moment in setting out, and was struck with his strange, lost, dreamy look. There is something very haggard and mournful in his countenance; and, though he has naturally the same fine features as his eldest sister, his cheeks are hollow, his eyes almost glassy, and his beard, which is longer than the Colonel's, very grey. He gave me the notion of the wreck of a man, stunned and crushed, and never thoroughly alive again ; but when he stood in the witness-box, face to face with the traitor, he was very different ; he lifted up his head, his eyes brightened, his voice became clear, and his language terse and concentrated, so that I could believe in his having been the very able man he was described to be. I am sure Maddox must have quailed under his glance, there was some- thing so loftily innocent in it, yet so wistful, as much as to 392 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. say, ' how could you abuse my perfect confidence 1 ' Mr. Wil- liams denied having received the money, written the letter, or even thought of making the request. They showed him the impression of two seals. He said one was made with a seal-ring given him by Colonel Keith, and lost some time before he went abroad ; the other, with one with which he had replaced it, and which he produced, — ^he had always worn it on his finger. They matched exactly with the impressions ; and there was a little difference in the hair of the head upon the seal that was evident to every one. It amused the boys extremely to see some of the old jurymen peering .at them with their glasses. He was asked where he was on the 7th of September (the date of the letter), and he referred to some notes of his own, which enabled him to state that on the 5th he had come back to Prague from a village with a horrible Eohemian name — all cs and zs — ^which I will not attempt to write, though much depended on the number of the said letters. " The rest of the examination must have been very dis- tressing, for Maddox's counsel pushed him hard about his reasons for not returning to defend himself, and he was obKged to tell how iU his wife was, and how terrified ; and they endeavoured to make that into an admission that he thought himself liable. They tried him with bits of the handwriting, and he could not always tell which were his own ; — ^but I think every one must have been struck with his honourable scrupulosity in explaining every doubt he had. " Other people were called in about the writing, but Alison Williams was the clearest of aU. She was never puzzled by any scrap they showed her, and, moreover, she told of Maddox having sent for her brother's address, and her having copied it from a letter of Mrs. Williams's, which she produced, with the ^vrong spelling, just as it was in the forgery. The next day had come a letter from the brother, which she showed, saying that they were going to leave the place sooner than they had intended, and spelling it right. She gave the same account of the seals, and nothing ever seemed to disconcert her. My boys were so much excited about their * own Miss WiUiams,' that I was quite afraid they would explode into a cheer. " That poor woman whom we used to call Mrs. EawHns told her sad story next. She is much worn and subdued, and Mr. Grey was struck with the change from the fierce excite- ment she showed when she was first confronted with Maddox THE POST BAG. 393 after her own trial ; but slie lield fast to tlie same eYidence, giving it not resentfully, but sadly and firmly, as if she felt it to be her duty. She, as you know, explained how Maddox had obtained access to Mr. "Williams's private papers, and how she had, afterwards, found in his possession the seal ring, and the scraps of paper in his patron's writing. A policeman produced them, and the seal perfectly filled the wax upon the forged letter. The bits of paper showed that Maddox had been practising imitating Mr. Williams's writing. It all eeemed most distinct, but stiU there was some sharp cross- examination of her on her own part in the matter, and Mr. Grey said it was well that little Eose could so exactly confirm the facts she mentioned. " Poor, dear little Rose looked very sweet and innocent, and not so much frightened as at her first examination. She told her story of the savage way in which she -had been frightened iuto silence. Half the people in the court were crying, and I am sure it was a mercy that she was not driven out of her senses, or even murdered that night. It seems that she was sent to bed early, but the wretches knowing that she always woke and talked while her mother was going to bed, the phosphoric letters were prepared to frighten her, and detain her m her room, and then Maddox growled at her when she tried to pass the door. She was asked how she knew the growl to be Maddox's, and she answered that she heard him cough. Eachel will, I am sure, remember the sound of that little dry cough. ]N"othing could make it clearer than that the woman had spoken the truth. The child identified the two seals with great readiness, and then was sent back to the inn that she might not be perplexed with hearing the defence. This, of course, was very trying to us all, since the best the counsel could do for his client was to try to pick holes in the evidence, and make the most of the general acquiescence in Mr. Williams's guilt for all these years. He brought forward letters that showed that Mr. Williams had been very sanguine about the project, and had written about the possibility that an advance might be needed. Some of the letters, which both Mr. Williams and his sister owned to be in his own writing, spoke in most flourishing terms of his plans ; and it was proved by documents and witnesses that the affairs were in such 'a state that bankruptcy was inevitable, so that there was every motive for securing a sum to live upon. It was very miserable all the time this was going on ; the whole interpretation of Mr. Williams's 394 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. conduct seemed to be so cruelly twisted aside, and it w^aa what every one had ail along believed, his absence was made so much of, and all these little circumstances that had seemed so important were held so cheap — one knew it was only the counsel's representation, and yet Alison grew whiter and whiter under it. I vdsh you could have heard the reply : drawing the picture of the student's absorption and generous confidence, and his agent's treachery, creeping into his house- hold, and brutally playing on the terrors of his child. "Well, I cannot tell you all, but the judge summed up strongly for a conviction, though he said a good deal about culpable negligence almost inviting fraud, and I fear it must have been very distressing to the Williamses ; but the end was that Maddox was found guilty, and sentenced to fourteen years' penal servitude, though I am afraid they vrill not follow Conrade's suggestion, and chain up a lion by his bed every night of his life. " We were very happy when we met at the inn, and all shook hands. Dr. Long was, I think, the least at ease. He had come in case this indictment had in any way failed, to bring his own matter forward, so that Maddox should not get off. I do not like him very much, he seemed unable to be really hearty, and I think he must have once been harsh and now ashamed of it. Then he was displeased at Colonel Keith's absence, and could hardly conceal how much he was put out by the cause, as if he thought the Colonel had imposed himseK on the family as next heir. I hardly know how to send all this in the present state of things, but I believe you will wish to have it, and vrill judge how much Rachel will bear to hear. Good night.— Your affectionate Sister, "Grace Curtis." *'G0WANBEAE, AVONMOUTH, AugtlSt Zd, \1 P.M. " Dear Keith, — ^Before this day has ended you must have a few lines from the man whom your exertions have relieved from a stigma, the full misery of which I only know by the comfort of its removal. I told you there was much that could never be restored. I feel this all the more in the presence of all that now remains to me, but I did not know how much could stiU be given back. The oppression of the load of suspicion under which I laboured now seems to me to have been intolerable since I have been freed from it. I cannot describe how changed a man I have felt, since THE POST BAG. 395 Beeclium shook hands with me. The full blackness of Maddox's treachery I had not known, far less his cruelty to my child. Had I been aware of all I could not have refrained from trying to bring h\m to justice ; but there is no need to enter into the past. It is enough that I owe to you a fi-eed spirit, and new life, and that my gratitude is not lessened by the knowledge that something besides friendship urged you. Ermine is indeed as attractive as ever, and has improved in health far more than I durst expect. I suppose it is your all- powerful influence. You are first with all here, as you well deserve ; even my child, who is as lovely and intelligent as you told me, has every thought pervaded with ' the Colonel.' She is a sweet creature ; but there was one who will never be retraced, and forgive me, Keith, without her, even triumph must be bitterness. — Still ever most gratefully yours, "Edward Williams." " August M, 11 P.M. "Dearest Colin, — ^The one sound in my ears, the one song of my heart is, * Let them give thanks.' It is as if we had passed from a dungeon into sunshine. I suppose it would be too much if you were here to share it. They sent Eose in first to teU me, but I knew in the sound of their wheels that all was well. What an evening we have had, but I must not "write more. Ailie is watching me like a dragon, and will not rest till I am in bed ; but I can't teU how to lose one minute of gladness in sleep. Oh, Colin, Colin, truest of aU true knights, what an achievement yours has been ! " *^ August Uh. " That was a crazy bit that I wrote last night, but I will not make away with it. I don't care how crazy you think me. It would have been a pity not to have slept to wake to the knowledge that all was not a dream, but then came the con- trast with the sorrow you are watching. And I have just had your letter. What a sudden close to that joyous life ! She was one of the most winning beings, as you truly say, that ever flashed across one's course j and if she had faults, they were those of her day and her training. I suppose, by what you say, that she was too girlish to be all the companion youi brother required, and that this may account for his being more shocked than sorrow-stricken ; and his child, since he can dwell on the thought, is such a new beginning of hope, that I wonder less than you do at his bearing up so weU. 396 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. Besides, pain dulls the feelings, and is a great occupation. I wisli you could have seen that dear Bessie, but I gather that the end came on much more rapidly than had heen expected. It seemed as if she were one of those to whom even suffering was strangely lightened and shortened, as if she had met only the flowers of life, and even the thorns and stings were almost lost in their bright blossoms. And she could hardly have lived on without much either of temptation or sorrow. I am glad of your testimony to Rachel's effectiveness, I wrote it out and sent it up to the Homestead. There was a note this morning requesting Edward to come iu to see Maddox, and Ailie is gone with him, thinking she may get leave to see poor Maria. Think of writing ' Edward and Ailie ' again ! Dr. Long and Harry are gone with them, ^he broken thread is better pieced by Harry than by the Doctor ; but he wants Ailie and me to go and stay at Belfast. Now 1 must hear Eose read, in order to bring both her and myself to our reasonable senses." **5p.m. " They have been returned about an hour, and I must try to give you Edward's account of his interview. Maddox has quite dropped his mask, and seems to have been really touched by being brought into contact with Edward again, and, now it is all up with him, seemed to take a kind of pleasure iu explaining the whole web, almost, Edward said, with vanity at his own ingenuity. His earlier history was as he used to represent it to Edward. He was a respectable iron- monger's son, with a taste for art; he was not allowed to indulge it, and then came rebellion, and breaking away from home. He studied at the Academy for a few years, but wanted application, and fancied he had begun too late, tried many things and spent a shifty life, but never was con- sciously dishonest till after he had fallen_m with Edward ; and the large sums left uninquixed for in liis hands became a temptation to one already inclined' to gambling. His own difficulties drove him on, and before he ventured on the grand stroke, he had been in a course of using the sums in his hands for his own purposes. The finding poor Maria open to the admiration he gave her beauty, put it into his head to make a tool of her ; and this was not the first time he had used Edward's seal, or imitated his vnriting. No wonder there was such a confusion in the accounts as told so much against Edward. He told the particulars, Edward says, with the strangest mixture of remorse and exultation. At last THE POST BAG. 397 came the journey to Bohemia, and his frauds became the more easy, until he saw there must be a bankruptcy, and made the last bold stroke, investing the money abroad in his own name, so that he would have been ready to escape if Edward had come home again. He never expected but that Edward would have returned, and finding the affairs hopeless, did this deed in order to have a resource. As to regret, he seemed to feel some when he said the effects had gone farther than he anticipated; but 'I could not let him get into that subject,' Edward said, and he soon came back to his amused compla- cency in his complete hoodwinking of aU concerned at home, almost thanking Edward for the facilities his absence had given him. After this, he went abroad, taking Maria lest she should betray him on being cast off; and they lived in such style at German gambling places that destitution brought them back again to England, where he could better play the lecturer, and the artist in search of subscriptions. Edward could not help smiling over some of his good stories, rather as ' the lord ' may have ' commended the wisdom of his unjust steward.' "Well, here he came, and, as he said, he really could hardly have helped himself ; he had only to stand still and let poor Eachel deceive herself, and the whole concern was in a manner thrust upon him. He was always expecting to be able to get the main sum into his hands, as he obtained more confidence from Eachel, and the woodcuts were an over-bold stroke for the purpose ; he had not intended her to keep or show them, but her ready credulity tempted him too far ; and I cannot help laughing now at poor Edward's reproofs to us for having been all so easily cheated, now that he has been admitted behind the scenes. Maddox never suspected our neighbour- hood, he had imagined us to be stiU in London, and though he heard Alison's name, he did not connect it with us. After all, what you thought would have been fatal to your hopes of tracing him, was really what gave him into our hands — Lady Temple's sudden descent upon their F. U. E. E. If he had not been so hurried and distressed as to be forced to leave Maria and the poor child to her fate, Maria would have held by him to the last and without her testimony where should we have been 1 But with a summons out against him, and hearing that Maria had been recognised, he could only fly to the place at Bristol that he thought unknown to Maria. Even when seized by the police, he did not know it was she who directed them, and had not expected her evidence till he actually saw and heard her on the night of the sessions. It wan all Colonel 398 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. Keitli's doing, lie said ; every other adversary lie would have despised, but your array of forces met him at every corner where he hoped to escape, and the dear little Eosie gave him check-mate, like a gallant little knight's pawn as she is. ' Who could have guessed that child would have such a confounded memory?' he said, for Edward had listened with a sort of interest that had made him quite forget that he was Eose's father, and that this wicked cunning Colonel was working in his cause. So off he goes to penal servitude, and Edward" is so much impressed and touched with his sharpness as to predict that he will be the model prisoner before long, if he do not make his escape. As to poor Maria, that was a much more sad meeting, though perhaps less really melancholy, for there can be no doubt that she repents entirely ; she speaks of every one as being very good to her, and indeed the old influences only needed revival, they had never quite died out. Even that poor child's name was given for love of Ailie, and the perception of having been used to bring about her master's ruin had always preyed upon her, and further embittered her temper. The barbarity seemed like a dream in connexion with her, but, as she told Ailie, when she once began some- thing came over her, and she could not help striking harder. It reminded me of horrible stories of the Hathertons' usage of animals. Enough of this. I believe the Sisterhood will find a safe shelter for her when her imprisonment is over, and that temptation will not again be put in her way. We should never have trusted her in poor dear Lucy's household. Eose calls for the letters. Good bye, dearest Cohn and conqueror. I know aU this will cheer you, for it is your own doing. I can't stop saying so, it is such a pleasant sound — Your own, *VE. W." CHAPTEE XXYIII. VANITY OF VANITIES. " Unffiith ia aught is want of faith in all." Tennyson. The funeral was very quiet. By Colonel Keith's considerate arrangement the attendants met at Timber End, so that the stillness of the Parsonage was not invaded ; a measure the more expedient, as Alick was suffering from a return of his VANITY OP VANITIES. 399 old enemy, intermitting fever, and only was able to leave his room in time to join tlie procession. Many were present, for poor Bessie had been a general favourite, and her untimely fate had stirred up feelings that had created her into a saint upon earth ; hut there was no one whose token of respect she would have more esteemed than Colonel Hammond's, who in all the hustle of the remove to Edinburgh had found time to come to Bishops- worthy to do honour to the daughter of his old commanding officer. A flush of gratitude came over Alick's pale face when he became aware of his colonel's presence, and when the choristers' hymn had pealed low and sweetly over the tranquil meadows, and the mourners had turned away, Alick paused at the Parsonage gate to hold out his hand, and bring in this one guest to hear how near to Bessie's heart the father's Highland regiment had been in all the wanderings of her last moments. The visit was prolonged for nearly an hour, while recol- lections of Alick's parents were talked over, and Eachel thought him more cheered and gratified than by any other tribute that had been paid to his sister. He was promised an extension of leave, if it were required on account of Lord Keith's state, though under protest that he would have the aguish fever as long as he remained overlooking the water meadows, and did not put himself under Dr. M'Vicar. Through these meadows Colonel Hammond meant to walk back to the station, and AlLck and Eachel conducted him far enough to put him into the right path, and in going back again, they could not but go towards the stile leading to that corner of the churchyard where the sexton had finished his work, and smoothed the sods over that new grave. Some one was standing at the foot — not the sexton — ^but a young man bending as with an intolerable load of grief. Eachel saw him first, when Alick was helping her down the step, and her start of dismay made him turn and look round. His brow contracted, and she clutched his arm with an in- voluntary cry of, " Oh, don't," but he, with a gesture that at once awed and tranquillized her, unclasped her hold and put her back, while he stepped forward. She could hear every word, though his voice was low and deep with emotion. " Carleton, if I have ever been harsh or unjust in my dealings towards you, I am sorry for it. We have both had the saddest of aU lessons. May we both take it as we ought." 400 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY He ■wrung the surprised and unwilling hand, and before the youth, startled and overcome, had recovered enough to attempt a reply, he had come back to Eachel, resumed her ann, and crossed the churchyard, still shivering and trem- bling with the agitation, and the force he had put on himself. Eachel neither could nor durst speak ; she only squeezed his hand, and when he had shut himself up in his own room, she could not help repairing to his uncle, and telHng him the whole. Mr. Clare's " God bless you, my boy," had double meaning in it that night. l^ot long after, Alick told Eachel of his having met poor young Carleton in the meadows, pretending to occupy him- self with his fishing-rod, but too wretched to do anything. And in a short time Mrs. Carleton again called to pour out to Mrs. Keith her warm thanks to the Captain, for having roused her son from his moody, unmanageable despair, and made him consent to accept a situation in a new field of labour, in a spirit of manful duty that he had never evinced before. This was a grave and subdued, but not wholly mournful, period at Bishopsworthy — a time very precious to Eachel in the retrospect — though there was much to render it anxious. Alick continued to suffer from recurrences of the fever, not very severe in themselves after the first two or three, but laying him. prostrate with shivering and headache every third day, and telling heavily on his strength and looks when he called himself weU, On these good days he was always at Timber End, where his services were much needed. Lord Keith liked and esteemed him as a sensible prudent young man, and his qualities as a first-rate nurse were of great assistance to the Colonel. Lord Keith's illness was tedious and painful ; the necessity of a dangerous operation became increasingly manifest, but the progress towards such a crisis was slow and the pain and discomfort great; the patient never moved beyond his dressing-room, and needed incessant attention to support his spirits and assist his endeavours to occupy himself, It was impossible to leave him for long together, and Colonel Keith was never set at liberty for exercise or rest except when Alick came to his assistance, and fortunately this young brother-in-law was an especial favourite, partly from Lord Keith's esteem for his prudence partly from his experience in this especial species of suffering. At any rate the days of Alick's enforced absence were always times of greater restlessness and uneasiness at Timber End. VANITY OF VANITIES. 401 Meantime Racliel was constantly 'thrown with Mr. Clare, Bupplying Alick's place to him, and Hying in a round of duties that suited her well, details of parish work, walking with, writing for, and reading to Mr Clare, and reaping much henefit from intercourse with such a mind. Many of her errors had chiefly arisen from the want of some one whose superiority she could feel, and her old presumptions withered up to nothing when she measured her own powers with those of a highly educated man, while all the time he gave her thanks and credit for aU she had effected, hut such as taught Aer humility hy very force of infection. Working in earnest at his visitation sermon, she was drawn up into the real principles and hearings of the controversy, and Mr. Clare failed not to give full time and patience to pick out -all her difficulties, removing scruples at trouhling him, hy declaring that it was good for his own purpose to unwind every tangle even if he did not use every thread. It was wonderful how many puzzles were ahsolutely intangihle, not even tangled threads, but a sort of nebulous matter that dispersed itself on investigation. And after all, unwilling as she would have been to own it, a woman's tone of thought is commonly moulded by the masculine intellect, which, under one form or another, becomes the master of her soul. Those opinions, once made her own, may be acted and improved upon, often carried to lengths never thought of by their inspirer, or held with noble constancy and perseverance even when he himself may have fallen from them, but from some living medium they are almost always adopted, and thus, happily for herself, a woman's efforts at scepticism are but blind faith in her chosen leader, or, at the utmost, in the spirit of the age. And Rachel having been more than usually removed from the immediate influence of superior man, had been affected by the more feeble and distant power, a leading that appeared to her the light of her independent mind ; but' it was not in the nature of things that, from her husband and his uncle, her character should not receive that tincture for which it had so long waited, strong and thorough in proportion to her nature, not rapid in receiving impres- sions, but steadfast and uncompromising in retaining and working on them when once accepted, a nature that Alick Keith had discerned and valued amid its worst errors far more than mere attractiveness, of which his sister had perhaps made him weary and distrustful. Nor, indeed, under the force of the present influences, was attractiveness D D 402 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FASIILY. wanting, and slie suited Alick's peculiarities far better than many a more charming person would have done, and his uncle, knowing her only by her clear mellow voice, her con- sideration, helpfulness, and desire to think and do rightly, never understood the doubtful amazement now and then expressed in talking of Alick's choice. One great bond between Eachel and Mr. Clare was affection for the little babe, who continued to be Eachel's special charge, and was a great deal dearer to her already than all the seven Temples put together. She studied all the books on infant manage- ment that she could obtain, constantly listened for his voice, and filled her letters to her mother with questions and details on his health, and descriptions of his small person. Alick was amused whenever he glanced at his strong-minded woman's correspondence, and now and then used to divert himself with rousing her into emphatic declarations of her preference of this delicate little being to " great, stout, coarse creatures that people call fine children." In fact, Alick's sensitive tenderness towards his sister's motherless child took the form of avoiding the sight of it, and being ironical when it was discussed; but with Mr. Clare, Rachel was sure of sympathy, ever since the afternoon when he had said how the sounds upstairs reminded him of his own little daughter ; and sitting under the yew-tree, he had told Rachel all the long stored-up memories of the little life that had been closed a few days after he had first heard himself called papa by the baby lips. He had described all these events calmly, and not without smiles, and had said how his own blindness had made him feel thankful that he had safely laid his little Una on her mother's bosom under the church's shade ; but when Eachel spoke of this conversation to her husband, she learnt that it was the first time that he had ever talked of those buried hopes. He had often spoken of his wife, but though always fond of children, few who had not read little Una's name beneath her mother's cross, knew that he was a childless father. And yet it was beautiful to see the pleasure he took in the touch of Bessie's infant, and how skilfully and tenderly he would hold it, so that Eachel in full faith averred that the little Alexander was never so happy as with him. The chief alarms came from Mrs Comyn Menteith, who used to descend on the Eectory like a whirlwind, when the Colonel had politely expelled her from her father's room at Timber End. Possessed with the idea of Rachel's being very dull at Bishopsworthy, she VA^'iTvr OF VANiTiEa. 403 sedulously enlivened her with melancholy prognostics as to the life, limhs, and senses of the young heir, who would never live, poor little darling, even with the utmost care of herseK and her nurse, and it was very perverse of papa and the doctors still to keep him from her — ^poor little dar- ling — not that it mattered, for he was certain not to thrive, wherever he was, and the Gowanbrae family would end with Uncle Colin and the glassblower's daughter; a disaster on wliich she met with such condolence from Alick (N.B. the next heir) that Eachel was once reduced to the depths of genuine despair by the conviction that his opinion of his nephew's life was equally desponding ; and another time was very angry with hiin for not defending Ermine's gentility. She had not entirely learnt what Alick's assent might mean. Once, when Mrs. Menteith had been besetting her father with entreaties for the keys of Lady Keith's private posses- sions, she was decisively silenced, and the next day these same keys were given to Alick, with a request that his wife would as soon as possible look over and take to herseK all that had belonged to his sister, except a few heirloom jewels that must return to Scotland. Alick demurred greatly, but the old man would not brook contradiction, and Eachel was very unwillingly despatched upon the mission on one of Alick's days of prostration at home. His absence was the most consoling part of this sad day's work. Any way it could not be otherwise than piteous to dismantle what had been lately so bright and luxurious, and the contrast of the present state of things with that in which these dainty new wedding presents had been brought together, could not but give many a pang ; but beside this, there was a more than ordinary impression of "vanity of vanities, all is vanity," very painful to affection that was striving to lose the con- viction that it had been a seK-indulgent, plausible life. The accumulation of expensive trinkets and small luxuries, was as surprising as perplexing to a person of Eachel's severely simple and practical tastes. It was not only since the marriage ; for Bessie had always had at her disposal means rather ample, and had used them not exactly foolishly, but evidently for her own gratification. Everything had some intrinsic worth, and was tasteful or useful, but the multitude was perfectly amazing, and the constant echo in Eachel's ears was, " he heapeth up riches and cannot teU who shall gather them." Lord Keith could hardly have found an executrix for his poor young wife, to whom her properties DD 2 404 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. would have done so little harm. Rachel set many aside for the cousins, and for Mrs. Menteith, others she tried to per- suade the Colonel to call Go'vvanbrae belongings, and failing in this, she hoped through Grace, to smuggle some of them into Ids Govranhrae ; but when all was done, there was a mass of things that Lord Keith never wished to see again, and that seemed to Eachel to consist of more ornaments than she could ever wear, and more knick-knacks than a captain's wife could ever carry about with her. She was putting aside the various packets of letters and papers to be* looked over more at leisure, when the Colonel knocked at the momiug-room door, and told her that his brother would like to see her, when her work was done. " But first," he said, " I miist ask you to be kind enough to look over some of these papers, and try to find receipts for some of these bills." " Here they are," said Eachel ; "1 was going to look them over at home." " If you have time to examine them here with me," said Colonel Keith, gently, " I think it might save Alick some pain and vexation." Rachel was entirely unaware of his meaning, and supposed he only thought of the mere thriUing of the recent wound ; but when he sat down and took a long account out of a tradesman's envelope, a chiU of dismay came over her, followed by a glow of hope as she recollected a possible explanation : " Have these wretched tradesmen been sending in bills over again at such a time as this ?" she exclaimed. " I should be very glad to find their receipts," returned the Colonel. They opened the most business-like looking bundles, aU of them, though neatly kept, really in hopeless confusion. In vain was the search, and notes came forth which rendered it but too plain that there had been a considerable amount of debt even before the marriage, and that she had made partial payments and promises of clearing all off gradually, but that her new expenses were still growing upon her, and the few payments " on account," since she had been Lady Keith, by no means tallied with the amount of new purchases and orders. 'No one had suspected her money matters of being in disorder, and Rachel was very slow to comprehend ; her simple, country life had made her utterly unaware of the difficulties and ways and means of a young lady of fashion. Even the direct evidence before her eyes would not at first VANITY OF VANITIES. 405 persuade her that it was not " all those wicked tradesmen /' she had always heard that fashionable shops were not to be trusted. " I am afraid," said Colonel Keith, " that the whole can scarcely be shifted on the tradesmen. I fear poor Bessie was scarcely free from blame in this matter." " Not paying ! Going on in debt ! Oh she could net have meant it f said Eachel, stiU too much astonished to under- stand. "Of course one hears of gay, thoughtless people doing such things, but Bessie— who had so much thought and sense. It must be a mistake ! Can't you go and speak to the people ?" " It is very sad and painful to make such discoveries," said Colonel Keith; "but I am afraid such things are not uncommon in the set she was too much thrown amongst." " But she knew so weU. — she was so superior ; and with Alick and her uncle to keep her above them," said Eachel ', " I cannot think she could have done such things." " I could not thinlcy but I see it was so," said Colonel Keith, gravely. " As I am obliged to understand these things, she must have greatly exceeded lier means, and have used much cleverness and ingenuity in keeping the tradesmen quiet, and preventing all from coming to light." " How miserable ! I can't fancy living in such a predica- ment." " I am much afraid," added the Colonel, looking over the papers, "that it explains the marriage — ^and then Keith did not allow her as much as she expected." " Oh, Colonel Keith, don't ! " cried Eachel ; " it is just the one thing where I could not bear to believe Alick. She was so dear and beautiful, and spoke so rightly." " To believe Alick ! " repeated the Colonel, as Eachel's voice broke down. "I thought — I ought not to have thought — he was hard upon her — but he knew better," said Eachel ; " of course he did not know of all this dreadful business !" " Assuredly not," said the Colonel, " that is self-evident ; but as you say, I am afraid he did know his poor sister's character better than we did, when he came to warn me ftgainst the marriage." " Did he? Oh how much it must have cost him." " I am afraid I did not make it cost him less. I thought ne judged her harshly, and tliut his illness had made him magnify trifles, but though our iiiterference would have been 406 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. jjerfectly useless, lie was quite right in Ms warning. Now that, poor thing, she is no longer here to enchant us with her witcheries, I see that my brother greatly suffered from being kept away from home, and detained in this place, and that she left him far more alone than she ought to have done." " Yes, Alick thought so, but she had such good reasons ; I am sure she believed them herself." " If she had not believed them, she could not have had such perfect siucerity of manner," said the Colonel ; " she must have persuaded at least one half of herself that she was acting for every one's good except her own." " And Mr. Clare, whom Alick always thought she neglected, never felt it. Alick says he was too unselfish to claim attention." " / never doubted her for one moment till I came home, on that unhappy day, and found how ill Keith was. I did think then, that considering how much she had seen of Alick while the splinters were working out, she ought to have known better than to talk of sciatica ; but she made me quite believe in her extreme anxiety, and that she was only going out because it was necessary for her to take care of you on your first appearance. How bright she looked, and how little I thought I should never see her again ! " " Oh, she meant what she said ! She always was kind to me ! Most kind !" repeated Eachel ; "so considerate about all the dreadful spring — ^not one word did she say to vex me about the past ! I am sure she did go out on that day as much to shelter me as for anything else. I can't bear to think all this — ^here in this pretty room that she had such pleasure in ; where she made me so welcome, after all my disagreeableness and foolishness." The Colonel could almost have said, " Better such foolish- ness than such wisdom, such repulsion than such attraction." He was much struck by Eachel's distress, and the absence of all female spite and triumph, made him understand Ermine's defence of her as really large-minded and generous. "It is a very sad moment to be undeceived," he said ; " one would rather have one's faults come to light in one's Hfe than afterwards." They were simple words, so simple that the terrible truth with which they were connected, did not come upon Eachel at the first moment ; but as if to veil her agitation, she drew towards her a book, an ivory-bound Prayer-book, full of illuminations, of Bessie's own do^'ug, and her eye f&U upon the awful verse, VANITY OF VANITIES. 407 " So long as thou doest well unto thyself, men will speak good of thee." It was almost more than Eachel could bear, sitting in the midst of the hoards, for which poor Bessie had sold herself. She rose up, with a sob of oppressive grief, and broke out, " Oh ! at least it is a comfort that Alick was really the kindest and rightest ! Only too right ! but you can settle all this without him," she added imploringly ; " need he know of this 1 I can't beax that he should." " If or I," said Colonel Keith, " it was the reason that I am glad you are here alone." " Oh, thank you ! No one need ever know," added Eachel. " I fear my brother must see the accounts, as they have to be paid, but that need not be immediately." "Is there anything else that is dreadful?" said Eachel, looking at the remaining papers, as if they were a nest of adders. " I don't like to take them home now, if they will grieve Alick." " You need not be afraid of that packet," said the Colonel ; " I see his father's handwriting. They look like his letters from India." Eachel looked into one or two, and her face lighted up. " Oh ! " she exclaimed, " this is enough to make up for aU. This is his letter to tell about Alick's wound. Oh how beautifully he speaks of him," and Eachel, with no voice to read, handed the thin paper to her companion, that he might see the full commendation, that had been wrung from the re- served father's heart by his son's extremity. " You must be prepared to hear that all is over," wrote the father to his daughter ; " in fact, I doubt whether he can live tin morning, though M'Yicar declares that nothing vital has been touched. Be it as it may, the boy has been in all respects, even more than I dared to wish, and the comfort he has been ever since he came out to me has been unspeakable. We must not grudge him such a soldier's death after his joyous life. But for you, my poor girl, I could only wish the same for myself to-morrow. You will, at least, if you lose a brother's care, have a memory of him, to which to live up. The thought of such a dead brother will be more to you than many a living one can ever be to a sister." Eachel's heart beat high, and her eyes were full of tears of exultation. And the Colonel was well pleased to compensate for all the pain he had inflicted by giving her all the details he could recollect of her husband's short campaign. They had become excellent friends over their mournful work, and were 408 THE CLEVER WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. sorry to liave their tete-ct-tete interrupted when a message waa brought that his Lordship was ready, if Mrs. Keith would be so good as to come into his sitting-room. She wiped away the tears, and awe-struck and grave, fol- lowed the Colonel; a great contrast to Lord Keith's more freq^uent lady-visitor, as she silently received the polished greeting, its peculiar stateliness of courtesy, enhanced by the feeble state of the shattered old man, unable to rise from his pillowed chair, and his face deeply lined by suffering. He would not let her give him any account of her labours, nor refer any question to him, he only entreated that everything might be taken away, and that he might hear nothing about it. He spoke warmly of Ahck's kmdness and attention, and showed much solicitude about his indisposition, and at last he inquired for Eachel's " little charge," hoping he was not clamorous or obnoxious to her, or to Mr. Clare's house- hold. Her eager description of'/his charms provoked a look of interest and a sad smile, followed by a request, that weather and doctor permitting, she would bring the child to be seen for a few minutes. The next day there was an ap- pointment, at which both the Colonel and Alick were wanted, but on the following one, the carriage should be sent to bring her and the little one to Timber End. The effect of this invitation amused AKck. The first thing he heard in the morning was a decided announcement from Eachel that she must go up to London to procure equip- ments for the baby to be presented in ! " You know I can't go with you to-day." " Of course, but I must make him fit to be seen. You know he has been wearing little Una's things all this time, and that will not do out of the nursery." " A superior woman ought to know that his Lordship will never find out what his son has on." *' Then it is all the more reason that I should not let the poor dear little fellow go about wrapped up iu somebody's old shawl ! " " What will you do then — take your maid ? " " Certainly not. I can't have him left." " Then take him with you % " " What, Alick, a little unvaccinated baby ! Where have you ever lived 1 I don't see the least reason why I should not go alone." " You need not begin beatiug about the world yet, EachcL How many times did you say you had been in London ? " VANITY OF VANITIES. 409 " Three j once witli my father when I was a child, once in the time of the Great Exhibition, and passing through it now with you. But any one of common sense can manage." " K you will wait tiU five o'clock I wiU come vdth you," said Alick, wearily. " No, indeed, I had rather not go, than that you shoidd ; you aie quite tired out enough at the end of the day." " Then do not go." " Alick, why mil you have no proper feeling for that pooi dear child 1 " said Rachel with tears in her eyes. If he winced he did not show it. " My proper feeling takes the direction of my wife," he said. " You don't really mean to forhid me to go," she exclaimed. " I don't mean it, for I do so, unless you find some one to go with you." It was the first real collision that had taken place, hut Alick's quiet, almost languid tone had an absolute determina- tion in it from the very absence of argument ; and Eachel, though extremely annoyed, felt the uselessness of battling the point. She paused for a few moments, then said with an effort, " M.-dy i take the housekeeper ? " "Yes, certainly," and then he added some advice about taking a brougham, and thus lightened her heart; so that she presently said humbly, " Have I been self-willed and overbearing, Alick V He laughed. " 'Not at all ; you have persevered just where you ought. I dare say this is all more essential than shows on the surface. And," he added, vdth a shaken voice, " if you were not myself, Eachel, you know how I should thank you for caring for my poor Bessie's child." He was gone almost as he spoke the words, but Rachel still felt the kiss and the hot tears that had fallen on her face. Mr. Clare readily consented to spare his housekeeper, but the housekeeper was untoward, she was "busied in her housewife skep," and would not stir. Alick was gone to Timber End, and Rachel was just talking of i getting the schoolmaster's wife as an escort, when Mr. Clare said — " Pray are you above accepting my services 1 " " You ! Oh, uncle ; thank you, but " "What were your orders? Anybody with you, was it not? I flatter myseK that I have some hod?/, at least." " If AHck wiU' not think I ought not ! " " The boy will not presume to object to what I do with you." 410 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. * I do wish it very much," said candid Eachel. 'Of course you do, my dear. Alick is not cured of a young man's notion that babies are a sort of puppies. He is quite right not to let you run about London by yourself, but he will be quite satisfied if you find eyes and I find discretion." " But is it not very troublesome to you ? " " It is a capital lark ! " said Mr. Clare, with a zest that only the slang word could imply, removiag all Eachel's scruples ; and in eff'ect Mr. Clare did enjoy the spice of adventure ia a most amusing way. He knew perfectly well how to manage, laid out the plan of operations, gave orders to the driver, went into all the shops, and was an eff'ective assistant in the choice of material and even of embroidery. His touch and ear seemed to do more for him than many men's eyes do for them ; he heard odd scraps of conversation and retailed them with so much character ; he had such pleasant colloquies with all in whose way he fell, and so thoroughly enjoyed the flow and babble of the full stream of life, that Eachel marvelled that the seclusion of his parsonage was bearable to him. He took her to lunch with an old friend, a lady who had devoted herself to the care of poor girls to be trained as servants, and Eachel had the first real sight of one of the many great and good works set on foot by personal and direct labour. " If I had been sensible, I might have come to something Hke this ! " she said. " Do you wish to undo these last three months ? " y,./ '* 'No ; I am not fit to be anything but an ordinary married \ woman, with an Alick to take care of me ; but I am glad 1 ^ome people can be what I meant to be." " Ajid you need not regret not being useful now" said Mr. Clare. " Where should any of us be without you 1 " \ It had not occurred to Eachel, but she was certainly of far \ more positive use in the world at the present moment than j ever she had been in her most assuming maiden days. Little Alexander was arrayed in all that could enhance his baby dignity, and Eachel was more than ever resolved to assert his superiority over " great frightful fine children," resenting vehemently an innocent observation from Alick, that the small features and white skin promised sandiness of hair. Perhaps Alick delighted in saying such things for the sake of proving the " very womanhood " of his Clever Woman. Eachel hung back, afraid of the presentation, and would VANITY OF VANITIES. 411 have sent lier maid into tlie room with, the child if Colonel Keith had not taken her in himself. Even yet she was not dexterous in handling the baby ; her hands were both occu- pied, and her attention absorbed, and she could not speak, she felt it so mournful to show this frail motherless creature to a father more like its grandfather, and already almost on the verge of the grave. She came up to Lord Keith, and held the child to him in silence. He said, " Thank you," and kissed not only the little one, but her own brow, and she kept the tears back with dif&culty. Colonel Keith gave her a chair and footstool, and she sat with the baby on her lap, while very few words were spoken. It was the Colonel who asked her to take off the hood that hid the head and brow, and who chiefly hazarded opioions as to likeness and colour of eyes. Lord Keith looked earnestly and sadly, but hardly made any observation, except that it looked healthier than he had been led to expect. He was sure it owed much to Mrs. Keith's great care aad kind- ness. Eachel feared he would not be able to part with his little son, and began to mention the arrangements she had contem- plated in case he wished to keep the child at Timber End. On this, Lord Keith asked with some anxiety, if its presence were inconvenient to Mr. Clare; and beiug assured of the contrary, said, " Then while you are so kind as to watch over him, I much prefer that things should remain in their present state, than to bring him to a house like this. You do not object 'i " " Oh, no ; I am so glad. I was only dreading the losing him. I thought Mrs. Menteith wished for him when he is old enough to travel." " Colin ! " said Lord Keith, looking up sharply, " will nothing make the Menteiths understand that I would rather put out the child to nurse in a Highland hut than in that Babel of a nursery of theirs 1 " Colin smiled and said, " Isabel does not easily accept an answer she dislikes." "But remember, both of you," continued Lord Keith, " that happen what may, this poor child is not to be in her charge. I've seen enough of her children left alone in perambulators in the sun. You will be in Edinburgh 1 " he added, turning to Eachel. " Yes, when Alick's leave ends." " I shall return thither when tliis matter is over, I know 412 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. I sliall be better at borne in Scotland, and if I winter in Edinburgb, may be we could make some arrangement for bis being still under your eye." Eacbel went bome more elevated tban sbe bad been for montbs past. CHAPTEE XIXX. AT LAST. " I bid tbee bail, not as in former days, Not as my cliosen only, but my bride, My very bride, coming to make my house A glorious temple." A. H. Hallam. " Timder End, Littlevjorthy, Septemher lOtJi. " Dear Miss Willla^ms, — ^I must begin by entreating your forgiveness for addressing you in a maimer for wbicb perhaps you may be unprepared ; but I trust you bave always been aware, that any objections that I may bave offered to my brother Colin's attachment to yourself have never been per- sonal, or owing to anything but an unfortunate complication of circumstances. These difficulties are, as no doubt he will explain to you, in great measure removed by the present condition of my family, which will enable me to make such settlements as I could wish in the ease of one so nearly con- nected with me ; so that I am enabled to entreat of you at length to reward the persevering constancy so well deserved. I have a further, and a personal cause for wishing that the event should not be deferred, as regard for my feelings might have led you to propose. You are aware of the present state of my health, and that it has become expedient to make immediate arrangements for the future guardianship of my little boy. His uncles are of course his natural guardians, and I have unbounded confidence in both ; but Alexander Keith's profession renders it probable that he may not always be at hand, and I am therefore desirous of being able to nominate yourself, together with my brother, among the per- sonal guardians. Indeed, I understand from Alexander Keith, that such was the express wish of his sister. I mention this as an additional motive to induce you to consent. For my own part, even without so stringent a cause, all that I have AT LAST. 413 ever seen or known of yourself would inspiru me with the desire that you should take a mother's place towards my son. But you must be aware that such an appointment could only he made when you are already one of the family, and this it is that leads me to entreat you to overlook any appearance of precipitancy on my brother's part, and return a favourable reply to the request, which with my complete sanction, he is about to address to you. "Yes, Ermine Williams, forgive all that is past, and feel for an old, it may be, a dying man, and for a motherless infant. There is much to forget, but I trust to your over- coming any scruples, and giving me all the comfort in your power, in thinking of the poor child who has come into the world under such melancholy circumstances. " Yours most truly, "Keith op Gowanbrae." " Poor Keith, he has given me his letter open, his real anxiety has been too much at last for his dignity ; and now, my Ermine, what do you say to his entreaty ? The state of the case is this. How soon this abscess may be ready for the opera- tion is still uncertain, the surgeons think it will be in about three weeks, and in this interval he wishes to complete all his arrangements. In plain EngHsh, his strongest desire is to secure the poor little boy from falling iuto Menteith's hands. Now, mine is a precarious life, and Alick and Eachel may of course be at the ends of the earth, so the poiat is that you shaU be ' one of the family,' before the wiU is signed. Alick's leave has been extended to the 1st of October, no more is possible, and he undertakes to nurse poor Keith for a fortnight from to-morrow, if you will consent to fulfil this same request within that time. After the 1st, I should have to leave you, but as soon as Keith is well enough to bear the journey, he wishes to return to Ediuburgh, where he would be kiudly attended to by Alick and Eachel all the winter. There, Ermine, your victory is come, your consent has been entreated at last by my brother, not for my sake, but. as a personal favour to himself, because there is no woman in the world of whom he thinks so highly. Eor myseK I say little. I grieve that you should be thus hurried and fluttered, and if Ailie thinks it would harm you, she must telegraph back to me not to come down, and I will try to teach myself patience by preaching it to Keith, but otherwise you will see me by four o'clock to-moirow. Every time I hear Rachel's 414: THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. name, I think it ouglit to have been yours, and surely in this fourteenth year, lesser objections may give way. But persuasions are out of the question, you must be entirely led by your own feeling. If I could have seen you in July, this should not have come so suddenly at last. " Yours, more than ever, decide as you may, " Colin A. Keith. " P.S. — I am afraid Eose would hardly answer this purpose equally well." Colonel Keith followed his letter at four o'clock, and entering his own study, found it in a cloud of smoke, in the midst of which he dimly discerned a long beard and thin visage absorbed in calculation. " Edward ! How is Ermine ? " " Oh 1 " (inquiringly) " Keith ! " (as taken by surprise) " ah ! you were to come home to-day. How are you ? " " How is she 1 Has she had my letter 1 " " What letter ? You write every day, I thought." "The letter of yesterday. Have you heard nothing of it?" " JiTot that I know of. Look here, Keith, I told you I was sure the platinum " " Your brain is becoming platinum. I must go," and the chemist remained with merely a general impression of having been interrupted. Next the Colonel met Eose, watching at his own gate, and this time his answer was more explicit. "Yes, Aunt Ermine said you were coming, and that I might meet you, but that I must let you come in alone, for she had not seen you so long, that she wanted you all to herself." " And how is she ; how has she been 1 " " She is well now," said Eose, in the grave, grown-up way she always assumed when speaking of her aunt's health; " but she has been having a good deal of her nervous head- ache this summer, and Lady Temple wanted her to see Mr. Erampton, but Aunt Ailie said it was only excitement and wear of spirits. Oh, I am glad you have come back ! "We have so wearied after you." Nevertheless Eose duteously loosed the hand to which she had been clinging till they came to the door ; and as Colin Keith opened it, again he was met by the welcoming ^glances- of the bright eyes. This time he did not pause till he was AT LABT 415 close to her,. and Imeeling on one knee beside her, he put liis arm round her, and held her hands in his. The first words that passed were, "You had the letters?" " Colin, Colin, my one prayer has been, * Make Thy way plain before my face.' " " And now it is ? " "The suspicion is gone; the displeasure is gone; the doubts are gone; and now there is nothing — ^nothing but the lameness and the poverty; and if you like the old cinder, Colin, that is your concern ; " and she hid her face, with a sort of sobbing laugh. " And even the haste ; you consent to that ? " " I don't feel it like haste," she said, looking up with a smile, and then crimsoning. "And Ailie gives leave, and thinks the hurry will not harm you 1 " " Ailie ! Colin, did you think I could tell any one of your letter, before you had had your answer 1 " "Then Edward is not so moonstruck as I thought him ! And when shall it be, dearest 1 Give me as much time as you can. I must go back this day fortnight." " I suppose your expectations are not high in the matter of finery," said Ermine, with a certain archness of voice. " Those eyes are all the finery I ever see." "Then if you will not be scandalized at my natural Sunday dress, I don't see why this day week should not do as well as any other time." " Ermine, you are the only woman I ever met totally free from nonsense." " Take care, it is very unfeminine and disagreeable to be devoid of nonsense." " Yery, and therefore you are talking it now ! Ermine, how shall I thank you 1 i^ot only for the sake of the ease of mind to my poor brother ; but in the scenes we are goiQg through, a drop of happiness is wanted as a stimulant. When I looked at the young couple at Bishopsworthy, I often felt as if another half-year of suspense was more than I could bear, and that I must ask you to help me through with at least a definite hope." " Ah ! you have gone through a great deal. I am sure it has been a time of great trouble." " Indeed it has. The suffering has become unceasing and often most severe, and there is grievous depression of spirits ; 416 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. I could not have left him even for a day, if he had not been so fervently bent on this." " Is he feeling his loss more acutely than at first 1 " "ITot so much that, as for the -poor httle boy, who is a heavy burthen on his mind. He has lived in such a state of shrewd distrust that he has no power of confidence, and his comphcations for making all the boy's guardians check one another till we come to a dead lock, and to make pro- vision for Isabel out of Menteith's reach, ai'e enough to distract the brain of a man in health." « Is he fond of the cMld ?" "It is an oppressive care to him, and he only once has made up his mind to see it, though it is never off his mind, and it is very curious how from the first he has been resolved on your taking charge of it. It is the most real testimony he could give you." "It is very comfortable not to be brought in like an enemy in spite of him, as even a year ago I could have been proud to do." " And I to have brought you," he answered, " but it is far better as it is. He is very cordial, and wants to give up the Auchinvar estate to me ; indeed, he told me that he always meant me to have it as soon as I had washed my hands of you — ^you wicked syren — ^but I think you will agree with me that he had better leave it to his daughter Mary, who ■ has nothing. We never reckoned on it." " JS'or on anything else," said Ermine, smiling. "You have never heard my ways and means," he said, " and as a prudent woman you ought, you know. See," taking out his tablets, " here is my calculation." " AU that ! " " On the staff in India there were good opportunities of saving ; then out of that sum I bought the house, and with my half-pay, our income will be very fair, and there would be a pension afterwards for you. This seems to me all we can reasonably want." " Unless I became like die Ilsebill in the German tale. After four years of living from hand to mouth, this will be like untold gold. To wish to be above strict economy in wheeled chairs has seemed like perilous discontent in Eose and me." " I have ventured on the extravagance of taking the ponies and httle carriage off my brother's hands, it is low enough f©x you, and I shall teach Eose to ride one of the ponies with me " AT LAST. 417 * The dear little Rose ! But, Colin, there is a dreadful •whisper about her going with her father, and Ailie too ! You see now his character is cleared, he has been offered a reaUy lucrative post, so that he could have them with him." "Does he wish it?" *' I dare not ask. I must be passive or I shall be selfish. You are all my world, and Edward has no one. Make them settle it without me. Talk of something else ! Tell me how your brother is to be taken care of." " There cannot be a better nurse than Alick Keith ; and Ferguson, the agent, is there, getting directions from Keith whenever he can bear it. I am best out of the way of all that. I have said once for all that I will do anything for them except live at Gowanbrae, and I am sick of demon- strating that the poor child's existence is the greatest possible relief to me ; and I hope now not to go back tiU the whole is settled and done with." " You look regularly worn out with the discussions !" " It was an endless business ! The only refreshment was in now and then getting over to Bishopsworthy." '' What 1 to Eachel?" said Ermine archly. " Eachel is showing to great advantage. I did not think it was in her to be so devoted to the child, and it is beautiful to see her and Mr. Clare together." "There's a triumph," said Ermine, smiling. "Do you grant that the happy medium is reached, that Alick should learn to open his eyes and Eachel to shut hers 1 " "Well! Her eyes are better, but he, poor lad, has been in no spirits to open his very wide. The loss of his sister went very deep, and those aguish attacks, though they become much slighter, make him look wretchedly ill. I should have doubted about leaving him in charge in his present state, but that he was urgent on me, and he is spared all the night nursing. Any way, I must not leave him longer than I can help. I may have one week with you at home — at our home, Ermine." "And let us make the most of that," said Ermine, quickly. Meanwhile Alison, sore and sick at heart, wandered on the esplanade, foreboding that the blow was coming that she ought to rejoice at, if her love could only be more unselfish. At last the Colonel joined ner, and, as usual, his tone of consideration cheered and supported her when in actual con- ference with him, and as he explained his plans, he added ]■: E 418 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. that he hoped there would he scarcely any interruption to her intercourse with her sister. "You know," she said ahruptly, "that we could go to Ekaterinhurg." " And what is your feeling ahout it 1 Eememher, Ailie, that I am your brother too." And as she hesitated, " your feel- ings — no doubt you are in many minds !" " Ah, yes ; I never settled anything without Ermine, and she will not help me now. And she has been so worn with the excitement and anxiety of all this long detention of yours, that I don't dare to say a word that could prey on her." " In fact, you would chiefly be decided by Edward's own wishes." " If I were sure of them," sighed poor Alison ; " but he lives on experiments, and can hardly detach himself from them even to attend to Ermine herself. I don't know whether we should be a comfort or a burthen, and he would be afraid to hurt our feehngs by telling the truth. I have been longing to consult you who have seen him at that place in Russia;" " And indeed, Ailie, he is so wedded to smoke and calcu- lations, and so averse to this sublunary world, that though your being with him might be beneficial, still I greatly question whether the risk of carrying poor little Rose to so remote a place in such a climate, would be desirable. If he were pining to have a home made for him, it would be worth doing ; as it is, the sacrifice would be disproportioned." " It would be no sacrifice if he only wanted us." " Where you are wanted is here. Ermine wants you. I want you. The Temples want you." " Now, Colin, tell me truly. Edward feels as I do, and Br. Long spoke seriously of it. Will not my present posi- tion do you and Ermine harm among your friends ? " " With no friend we wish to make or keep ! " " If I do remain," continued Alison, " it must be as I am. I would not live upon you, even if you asked mo, which you have too much sense to do ; and though dear Lady Temple is everything to me, and wants me to forget that I am her governess, that would be a mere shuffle, but if it is best for you that I should give it up, and go out, say so at once." "Best for me to have eight Temples thrown on my hands, ail in despair ] To have you at IMjTtlewood is an infinite relief •jO me, both on their accoimt and Ermine's. You should not uspect a penniless Scotsman of such airs, Ailie." AT LAST. 411) " Not you, Colin, but your family." " Isabel Meiiteith thinks a glass-blower was your father, and Mauleverer your brother, so yours is by far the most respectable profession. No, indeed, my family might be thankful to have any one in it who could do as you have done." Alison's scruples were thus disposed of, and when Edward's brain cleared itself from platinum, he showed himseK satis- fied with the decision, though he insisted on henceforth sending home a sum sufficient for his daughter's expenses, and once said something that could be construed into a hope of spending a quiet old age with her and his sister ; but at present he was manifestly out of his element, and was bent on returning to Ekaterinburg immediately after the marriage. His presence was but a qualified pleasure. Naturally shy and absent, his broken spirits and removal from domestic life, and from society, had exaggerated his peculiarities ; and under the pressure of misfortune, caused in a great measure by his own negligence, he had completely given way, without a particle -.. of his sister's patience or buoyancy, and had merely striven to drown Ms troubles in engrossing problems of his favourite pursuit, till the habit of abstraction had become too confirmed \ i be shaken off. When the blot on his name was removed, he was indeed sensible that he was no longer an exile, but ho- could not resume his old standings friendships rudely severed could not be re-united ; his absorp- tion had grown by indulgence ; old interests had passed away ; needful conformity to social habits was irksome, and even his foreign manner and appearance testified to his entire unfitness for English life. Tibbie was in constant dread of his burning the house down, so incalculable and preposterous were his hours, and the Colonel, longing to render the house a perfect shrine for his bride, found it hard to tolerate the fumes with which her brother saturated it. If he had been sure that opium formed no portion of Edward's solace, his counsel to Alison would have been less decisive. To poor little Eose, her father was an abiding perplexity and distress ; she wanted to love him, and felt it absolute naughtiness to be constantly disappointed by his insensibility to her approaches, or else repelled and disgusted by that vice of the Eussian sheep. And a vague liint of being transported to the Ural mountains, away from Aimt Ermine, had haunted her of late more dreadfully than even the lions of old ; so that the relief was ineffable when E E 2 420 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. her dear Colonel confided to her that she was to be his niece and Aunt Ermine's handmaid, sent her to consult with Tibbie on her new apartment, and invited Augustus to the most eligible hole in the garden. The grotto that Eose, Comrade, and Francis proceeded to erect with pebbles and shells, was likely to prove as alarming to that respectable reptile as a model cottage to an Irish peasant. Ermine had dropped all scruples about Eose's intercourse with other children, and the feeling that she might associate with them on equal terms, perhaps, was the most complete assurance of Edward's restoration. She was glad that com- 23anionship should render the little maiden more active and childlike, for Edward's abstraction had made her believe that there might be danger in indulging the dreaminess of the imaginative child. 'No one welcomed the removal of tliese restraints more warmly than Lady Temple. She was perhaps the happiest of the happy, for with her there was no drawback, no sorrow, no parting to fear. Her first impulse, when Colonel Keith came to tell her his plans, was to seize on hat and shawl, and rush down to Mackarel Lane to kiss Ermine with all her heart, and tell her that " it was the most dehghtful thing of her to have consented at last, for nobody deserved so well to be happy as that dear Colonel ; " and then she clung to Alison, declaring that now she should have her all to herself, and if she would only come to Myrtlewood, she would do her very best to make her comfortable there, and it should be her home — her home always. "In fact," said Ermine, afterwards to the Colonel, "when you ^0 to Avoncester, I think you may as well get a licence for the wedding of Alison Williams and Eanny Temple at tlio same time. There has been quite a courtship on the lady's part." The courtship had been the more ardent from Eanny's alarm lest the brother should deprive her of Alison ; and when she found her fears groundless, she thanked liim with such fervour, and talked so eagerly of his sister's excellences that she roused liim into a lucid interval, in which he told Colonel Keith that Lady TemjDle might give him an idea of the style of woman that Lucy had been. Indeed, Colin began to think that it was as well that he was so well wrapped up in smoke and chemistry, otherwise another might have been added to the list of Lady Temple's hopeless adorers. The person least satisfied was Tibbie, Avho could not get AT LAST. 4:^1 over tliG speediness ut' the marriage, nor forgive the injury tc Miss Williams ; " of bringing her hame like any pleiighman's wife, wantin' a honeymoon trip, forbye providin' hersel' with weddin' braws conformable. Gin folk tak' sic daft notions aff the English, they'd be mair wise like to bide at hame, an' " that's my way o' thinkin'." Crusty as she was, there was no danger of her not giving her warmest welcome ; and thus the morning came. Tibbie had donned her cap, with white satin ribbons, and made of lace once belonging to the only heiress who had ever brought wealth to the Keiths. Edward "Williams, all his goods packed up, had gone to join his sisters, and the Colonel, only perceptibly differing from his daily aspect in having a hat free from crape, was opening all the windows in hopes that a thorough draft would remove the last of the tobacco, when the letters were brought in, and among them one of the black bordered bulletins from Littleworthy, which ordinarily arrived by the second post. It was a hurried note, evidently dashed off to catch the morning mail. My dear Colonel, — Alick tells me to write in haste to catch the morning post, and beg you to telegraph the instant your wedding is over. The doctors see cause to hasten their measures, but your brother will have nothing done till the will is signed. He and Alick both desire you will not come, but it is getting to be far too much for Alick. I would teD you more if there were time before the post goes. Love to dear Ermine. Very sincerely yours, R. Keith. There was so shocked and startled a look on Colin's face, that- Tibbie believed that his brother must be dead, and when in a few almost inaudible words he told her that he must start for Bishopsworthy by the afternoon train, she fairly began to scold, partly by way of working off the irritation left by her alarm. " The lad's clean demented ! Heard ye ever the like, to lin awa' frae his new-made wife afore the blessin'g been weel spoke ; an' a' for the whimsie of that daft English lassie that made siccan a piece of work wi' her cantrips." " I am afraid she is right now," said the Colonel, " and my brother must not be left any longer." " Hout awa, Maister Colin, his lordship has come between jou and your luve oft enough already, without partin' ye at 4:22 'rilE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. the very churcli door. Ye would iia have the English cast up to us, that one of your name did na ken better what was fittin by his bride ' " "My bride must be the judge, Tibbie. You shall see whether she bids me stay/' said Colin, a little restored by his amusement at her anxiety for his honour among the English. **]^ow desire Smith to meet me at the church door, and ride at once from thence to Avoncester ; and get your face ready to give a cheerful welcome, Tibbie. Let her have that, at least, whatever may come after." Tibbie looked after him, and shook her head, understand- ing from her ain laddie's pallid cheek, and resolute lip, nay, in the very sound of his footfall, how sore was his trial, and with one-sided compassion she muttered, " Telegrafted awa on his vera weddin' day. His Lordship '11 be the death o' them baith before he's done." As it was in every way desirable that the wedding should be unexpected by Avonmouth in general, it was to take place at the close of the ordinary morning service, and Ermine in her usual seat within the vestry, was screened from knowing how late was Colin.'s entrance, or seeing the determined com- posure that would to her eyes have betrayed how much shaken he was. He was completely himself again by the time the congregation dispersed, leaving only Grace Curtis, Lady Temple, and the little best man, Conrade, a -goodly sight in his grey suit and scarlet hose. Then came the slow move- ment from the vestry, the only really bridal-looking figure being Rose in white muslin and white ribbons ; walking timidly and somewhat in awe beside her younger aunt ; while her father upheld and guided the elder. Both were in quiet, soft, dark dresses, and straw bonnets, but over hers Ermine wore the small though exquisite Brussels lace veil that had first appeared at her mother's wedding ; and thankful joy and peaceful awe looked so lovely on her noble brow, deep, soft dark eyes, and the more finely moulded, because somewhat worn, features ; and so beauteously deepened was the carna^ tion on her cheek, that Mr. Mitchell ever after maintained that he had never married any one to compare with that thirty- three years' old bride upon crutches, and, as he reported to his wife, in no dress at all. Her brother, who supported her all the time she stood, was infinitely more nervous than she was. Her native grace and dignity, and absence of all false shame entirely covered her helplessness ; and in her earnestness, she had no room for AT LAST. 423 (K-nfusion ; her only quivering of voice was caught for one moment from the tremulous intensity of feeling that Colin Keith could not wholly keep from thrilling in his tones, as he at last proclaimed his right to love and to cherish her for whom he had so long persevered. Unohserved, he filled up the half-written despatch with the same pen with which he signed the register, and sent Conrade to the door with it to his already mounted messenger. Then assuming Edward's place as Ermine's supporter, he led her to the door, seated her in her wheeled chair, and silently hand- ing Eachel's note as his explanation to Alison, he turned away, and walked alone by Ermine's side to his own house. Still silent, he took her into the bright drawing-room he had 80 long planned for her, and seated her in her own peculiar chair. Then his first words were, " Thank God for this ! " She knew his face. " Colin, your brother is worse 1 " He bent his head, he could not speak. " And you have to go to him ! This very day 1 " " Ermine, you must decide. You are at last my first duty ! " " That means that you know you ought to go. Tell me what it is." He told the substance of the note, ending with, " If you could come with me ! " " I would if I should not be a tie and hindrance. No, I must not do that ; but here I am, Colin, here I am. And it is all true — ^it has all come right at last ! All we waited for. Nothing has ever been like this." She was the stronger. Tears, as much of loving thankful- ness as of overflowing disappointment, rushed into his eyes at such a fulfilment of the purpose that he had carried witn him by sea and land, in battle and sickness, through all the years of his manhood. And withal her one thought was to infuse in its strongest measure the drop of happiness that was to sustain him through the scenes that awaited him, to make him feel her indeed his wife, and to brighten him with the sunbeam face that she knew had power to cheer him. Eally- ing her playfulness, she took off her bonnet, and said as she settled her hair, " There, that is being at home ! Take my shawl, yes, and these white gloves, and put them out ot sight, that I may not feel like a visitor, and that you may see how I shall look when you come back. Do you know, I think your being out of the way will be rather a gain, for there will be a tremendous feminine bustle with the flitting of our possessions." 424 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. Her smile awoke a responsive look, and she began to gaze round and admire, feeling it safest to skim on the surface ; and he could not but be gratified by her appreciation of the pains spent upon this, her especial home. He had recovered himself again by the time these few sentences had passed ; they discussed the few needful arrangements required by his departure, and Tibbie presently found them so cheerful that she was quite scandalized, and when Ermine held out her hands, saying, " What Tibbie, won't you come and kiss me, and wish me joy 1 " she exclaimed — " Wish ye joy ! It's like me to wish ye joy an yer lad huiied awa frae yer side i' the blink o' an ee, by thae wild telegrams. I dinna see what joy's to come o't ; it's clean again the Scripture ! " " I told you I had left it to her to decide, Tibbie," said the Colonel. "Weel, an what wad ye hae the puir leddy say? She kens what sorts ye, when the head of yer name is sick an lyin' among thae English loons that hae brocht him to siccan a pass." " Eight, Tibbie," exclaimed Ermine, greatly amused at the unexpected turn, purely for the sake of putting Maister Colin in the wrong. " If a gentleman won't be content without a bride who can't walk, he must take the consequence, and take his wedding trip by himself ! It is my belief, Tibbie, as I have just been telling him, that you and I shall get the house in all the better order for having him off our hands, just at first," she added, with a look of intelligence. " Deed, an maybe we shall," responded Tibbie, with pro- found satisfaction. "He was aye a camsteary child when there was any wark on hand." Colin could not help laughing, and when once this had been effected, Ermine felt that his depression had been sufficiently met, and that she might venture on deeper, and more serious sympathy, befitting the chastened, thankful feelings with which they hailed the crowning of their youth- ful love, the fulfilment of the hopes and prayers that the one had persisted ia through doubt and change, the other had striven to resign into the AU-wise Hands. They had an early meal together, chiefly for the sake ol his wheeling her to the head of his table, and " seeing how she looked there," and then the inexorable hour was come, and he left her, with the echo of hei last words in his ear, " Goodbye, Colin, stay ai- long as you ought. It will make AT LAST. 425 fclie meeting all the sweeter, and you have your wife to come back to now. Give a sister's love to your brother, and thanks for having spared you ; " and his last look at the door was answered with her sunshiny smile. But when, a few minutes after, Edward came up with Alison for his farewell, they found her lying back iu her chair, half faiuting, and her startled look told almost too plainly that she had not thought of her brother. "I^ever mind," said Edward, affectionately, as much to console Alison as Ermine for this oblivion ; " of course it must be so, and I don't deserve otherwise. ISTothing brought me home but CoHn Keith's telling me that he saw you would not have him. tiU my character was cleared up ; and now he has repaired so much of the evil I did you, all I can do is to work to make it up to you in other ways. Goodbye, Ermine, I leave you all in much better hands than mine ever were, you are right enough in feeling that a week of his absence outweighs a year of mine. Bless you for aU that you and he have done for my child. She, at least, is a comfort to you." Ermine's powers were absolutely exhausted ; she could only answer him by embraces and tears ; and all the rest of the day she was, to use her own expression, " good for nothing but to be let alone." I^or, though she exerted her- self that she might with truth write that she was well and happy, was she good for much more on the next, and her jealous guardians allowed her to see no one but soft, fond- ling Lady Temple ; who insisted on a relationship (through Eachel), and whose tender pensive quietness could not fail to be refreshment to the strained spirits, and wearied physical powers, and who better than anybody could talk of the Colonel ; nay, who could understand, and even help Ermine herself to understand, that these ever-welling tears came from a source by no means akin to grief or repining. The whole aspect of the rooms was full of tokens of his love and thought for her. The ground-floor had been altered for her accommodation, the furniture chosen in accordance with her known tastes or with old memories, all undemon- stratively prepared while yet she had not decided on her consent. And what touched her above all, was the collection of treasures that he had year by year gathered together for her throughout the weary waiting, purchases at which Lady Temple remembered her mother's banter, with his quiet evasions of explanation. "No wonder Ermine laid her head on her hand, and could not retain her tears, as she recaUed 42G THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. the white, dismayed face of the youth, who had printed that one sad earnest kiss on her brow, as she lay fire-scathed and apparently dying ; and who had cherished the dream un- broken and unwaveringly, had denied himseK consistently, had garnered up these choice tokens when ignorant even whether she still lived ; had relied on her trust, and come back, heart-whole, to claim and win her, undaunted by her crippled state, her poverty, and her brother's blotted name " How can such love ever be met 1 Why am I favoured beyond all I could have dared to image to myself?" she thought, and wept again ; because, as she murmured to Fanny, " I do thank God for it with all my heart, and I do long to tell him all. I don't tliiak my married life ought to begin by being sillier than ever I was before, but I can't help it." "And I do love you so much the better for it," said Fanny; a better companion to-day than the grave, strong Alison, who woxdd have been kind, but would have had to suppress some marvel at the break-down, and some resent- ment that Edward had no greater share in it. The morning's post brought her the first letter from hei nusband, and in the midst of all her anxiety as to the con- tents, she could not but linger a moment on the aspect of the Honourable Mrs. Colin Keith in his handwriting ; there was a carefulness in the penmanship that assured her that, let him have to tell her what he would, the very inditing of that address had been enjoyment to him. That the border was black told nothing, but the intelligence was such as she had been fully prepared for. Cohn had arrived to find the surgeon's work over, but the patient fast sinking. Even his recognition of his brother had been uncertain, and within twenty-four hours of the morniug that had given Colin a home of his own, the last remnant of the home circle of his childhood had passed from liitn. Still Ermine had to continue a widowed bride for full a fortnight, whilst the funeral and subsequent arrangements necessitated Colin's presence in Scotland. It was on a crisp, beautiful October evening that Eose, her chesnut hair flying about her brow, stood, lighted up by the sunbeams in the porch, with upraised face and outstretched hands, and as the Colonel bent down to receive her joyous embrace, said, "Aunt Ermine gave me leave to bring you to the door. Then I am going to Myrtlewood till bed-time. And after that I shall always have you." The open door showed Ermine, too tremulous to trust to AT LAST. 427 her crutch, but leaning forward, her eyes liquid with tears of thankfulness. The patient spirits had reached their home and haven, the earthly haven of loving hearts, the likeness of the heavenly haven, and as lier head leant, at last, upon his shoulder, and his guardian arm encircled her, there was such a sense of rest and calm that even the utterance of their inward thanksgiving, or of a word of tenderness would have jarred upon them. It was not till a knock and message at the door interrupted them, that they could break the blessed stillness. " And there you are, my Ermine ! " said Colin, standing on the hearth-rug, and surveying her with satisfied eyes. " You are a queenly looking dame in your black draperies, and you look really well, much better than Eachel led me to expect." " Ah ! when she was here I had no fixed day to look for- ward to. And receiving our poor little orphan baby was not exactly like receiving his uncle, though Eachel seemed to think it ought to make up for anything." " She was thoroughly softened by that child ! It was a ^ipirited thing her bringing him down here on the Monday when we started for Scotland, and then coming all the way alone with her maid. I did not think Alick would have consented, but he said slie would always be the happier for having deposited her charge in your hands." "It was a great wrench to her. I felt it like robbery when she put the little fellow down on my lap and^ knelt over him, not able to get herself away, but saying that she was not fit to have him ; she could not bear it if she made him hate her as Conrade did ! I am glad she has had his first smile, she deserves it." " Is Tibbie in charity with him 1 " '' Oh, more than in charity ! She did not take the first announcement of his coming very amiably ; but when I told her she was to reign in the nursery, and take care the poor little chief knew the sound of a Scots' tongue, she began to thaw ; and when he came into the house, pity or loy^ty, or both, flamed up hotly, and have quite relieved me ; for at first she made a baby of "me, and was a perfect dragon of jealousy at poor Ailie's doing anything for me. It was a rich scene when Eachel began giving her directions out of ' Hints for the Management of Infants,' just in the old voice, and Tibbie swept round indignantly, ' His Lordship, Lord Keith of Gowanbrae, suld hae the best tendance she could gie him. She did na lippen to thae English bulks, as though she 428 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILV. couldna rear a wean without bulk learning.' Poor Rachel nearly cried, and was not half comforted by my promising to study the book as much as she pleased." " It will never do to interfere with Tibbie, and I own I am much of her opinion, I had rather trust to her than to Rachel, or the book ! " " Well, the more Rachel talked book, the more amiable surprise passed between her mother and Lady Temple that the poor little fellow should have lived at all, and I believe they were very angry with me for thinking her views ver^ sensible. Lady Temple is so happy with him. She says it is so melancholy to have a house without a baby, that she comes in twice or three times a day to console herself with this one." " Did you not tell me that she and the Curtises spent the evening with you? " " Yes, it was rather shocking to receive them without you, but it wa;s the only way of being altogether on Rachel's one evening here ; and it was very amusing, Mrs. Curtis so happy with her daughter looking well and bright, and Rachel with so much to tell about Bishopsworthy, till at last Grace, in her sly odd way, said she thought dear Alexander had even taught Rachel curatolatry; whereupon Rachel fired up at such an. idea being named in connexion with Mr. Clare ; then came suddenly, and very prettily, down, and added, ' Living with Alick and Mr. Clare has taught me what nonsense I talked in those days.' " " Well done, Rachel ! It proves what Alick always said, that her great characteristic is candour ! " " I hope she was not knocked up by the long night journey all at one stretch. Mrs. Curtis was very uneasy about it, but nothing would move her ; she owned that Alick did not expect her, for she had taken care he should not object, by saying nothing of her intention, but she was sure he would be ill on Wednesday morning, and then Mrs. Curtis not only gave in directly, but all we married women turned upon poor Grace for hinting that Alick might prefer a day's solitary illness to her being over-tired." " She was extremely welcome ! Alick was quite done for by all he had gone through ; he was miserably ill, and I hardly knew what to do with him, and he mended from the moment tiis face lightened up at the sight of her." " There's the use of strength of mind ! How is Alick ? " " Getting better under M'Yicar and Edinburjih A\'indd. It AT LAST. 429 was hard on liim to haA^e borne the brunt of all the nursing that terrible last week, and in fact I never knew how much he was going through rather than summon me. His saunter- ing manner always conceals how much he is doing, and poor Keith was so fond of him, and liked his care so much that almost the whole fell upon him at last. And I believe he said more that was good for Keith, and brought in Mr. Clare more than perhaps I should ever have been able to do. So though I must regret having been away, it may have been the best thing." " And it was by your brother's earnest wish," said Ermine ; " it was not as if you had stayed away for your. oa\ti pleasure." " No ! Poor Keith repeatedly said he could not die in peace till he had secured our having the sole charge of his son. It was a strong instinct that conquered inveterate pre- judice ! Did I tell you about the will 1 " " You said I should hear particulars when you came." " The personal guardianship is left to us first, then to Alick and Eachel, with .£300 a year for the expenses. Then we have Auchinvar. The estate is charged with an equivalent settlement upon Mary, a better plan, which I durst not pro- pose, but with so long a minority the estate will bear it. Alick has his sister's fortune back again, and the Menteith children a few hundreds ; but Menteith is rabid about the guardianship, and would hardly speak to Alick." "And you?" " They always keep the peace with me. Isabel even made us a wedding present — a pair oi miniatures of my father and mother, that I am very glad to rescue, though, as she politely told me, I was welcome to them, for they were hideously dressed, and she wanted the frames for two sweet photographs of Garibaldi and the Queen of Naples." Then looking up as if to find a place for them — " Why, Ermiue, what have you done to the room ? It is the old parsonage drawing-room ! " " Did not you mean it, when you took the very proportions of the bay window, and chose just such a carpet ? " " But what have you done to it ? " " AiHe and Eose, and Lady Temple and her boys, have done it. I have sat looking on, and suggesting. Old things that we kept packed up have seen the light, and your beautiful Indian curiosities have found their corners." " And the room has exactly the old geranium scent ! " " I think the Curtises must have brought half their green- 430 THE OLEVEU WOMAN OP THE FAMILY. house down. Do you rememlDer tlie old oak-leaf geranium that you used to gather a leaf of whenever you passed our old conservatory ? " " I have been wondering where the fragrance came from that made the likeness complete. I have smelt nothing like it since ! " " I said that I wished for one, and Grace set off without a word, and searched everyivhere at Avoncester till she found one in a corner of the Dean's greenhouse. There, now you have a leaf in your fingers, I think you do feel at home." " I^ot quite, Ermine. It still has the dizziness of a dream. I have so often conjured up all tliis as a vision, that now there is nothing to take me away from it, I can hardly feel it a reality." " Then I shall ring. Tibbie and the poor little Lord up- stairs are substantial witnesses to the cares and troubles of real life." CHAPTEE XXX. WHO IS THE CLEVER WOMAN ? " Half-grown as yet, a child and vain, She cannot fight the fight of death. What is she cut from love and faith ? " Knowledge and Wisdom^ Tennyson. It was long before the two Mrs. Keiths met again. Mrs. Curtis and Grace were persuaded to spend the spring and summer in Scotland, and Alick's leave of absence was felt to be due to Mr. Clare, and thus it was that the first real family gathering took place on occasion of the opening of the institution that had grown out of the Burnaby Bargain. This work had cost Colonel Keith and Mr. Mitchell an infinity of labour and perseverance before even the prelimi- naries could be arranged, but they contrived at length to carry it out, and by the fourth sprmg after the downfall of the E. U. E. E. a house had been erected for the con- valescents, whose wants were to be attended to by a matron, assisted by a dozen young girls in training for service. The male convalescents were under the discipline of Sergeant O'Brien, and the whole was to be superintended by Colonel and Mrs. Keith. Ermine undertook to hear a clasy WHO IS THE CLEVER WOMAN'? 431 of the girls two or three times a week, and lower rooms had been constructed with a special view to her being wheeled into them, so as to visit the convalescents, and give them her attention and sympathy. Mary Morris was head girl, most of the others were from Avonmouth, but two pale Londoners came from Mr. Touchett's district, and a little motherless lassie from the — th Highlanders was brought down with the nursery establishment, on which Mrs. Alexander Keith now practised the " Hints on the management of Infants." May was unusually propitious, and after an orthodox tea-drinking, the new pupils and all the Sunday-schools were turned out to play on the Homestead slopes, with aU the world to look on at them. It was a warm, brilliant day, of joyous blossom and lively green, and long laughing streaks of sujilight on the sea, and no one enjoyed it more than did Ermine, as she sat in her chair dehghtiug ia the fresh sweetness of the old thorns, laughing at the freaks of the scampering groups of children, gaily exchanging pleasant talk with one friend after another; and most of aU with Eachel, who seemed to gravitate back to her whenever any summons had for a time taterrupted their affluence of conversation. And all the time Ermine's footstool was serving as a table for the various flowers that two children were constantly gathering in the grass and presenting to her, to Eachel, or to each other, with a constant stream of not very comprehen- sible prattle, full of pretty gesticulation that seemed to make up for the want of distinctness. The yellow-haired, slenderly- made, delicately-featured boy, whose personal pronouns were just developing, and his consonants very scanty, though the elder of the two, dutifully and admiringly obeyed the more distinct, though less connected, utterances, of the little dark- eyed girl, eked out by pretty imperious gestures, that seemed already to enchain the little white-frocked cavalier to her service. All the time it was droll to see how the two ladies could pay full attention to the children, while going on with their own unbroken stream of talk. "I am not overwhelming you," suddenly exclaimed Eachel, checking herseK in mid-career about the mothers' meetings for the soldiers' wives. " Ear from it. Was I inattentive 1 " "Oh no — (Yes, Una dear, very pretty) — but I found myself talking in the voice that always makes Alick shut hia eyes." 432 THE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. " X should not think lie often had to do so," said Ermine, much amused by this gentle remedy — (" Mind, Keith, that is a nettle. It will sting — ") " Less often than before," said Eachel — (" Never mind the butterfly, Una) — I don't think I have had more than one thorough fit of what he calls leaping into the gulf. It was about the soldiers' wives married without leave, who, poor things, are the most miserable creatures in the world ; and when I first found out about them I was in the sort of mood I was in about the lace, and raved about the system, and was resolved to employ one poor woman, and Alick looked meeker and meeker, and assented to all I said, as if he was half asleep, and at last he quietly took up a sheet of paper, and said he must write and sell out, since I was bent on my gulf, and an officer's wife must be bound by the regulations of the service. I was nearly as bad as ever ; I could have written an article on the injustice of the army regulations, indeed I did begin, but what do you think the end was 1 I got a letter from a good lady, who is always looking after the poor, to thank Mrs. Alexander Keith for the help that had been sent for this poor woman, to be given as if from the general fund. After that I could not help listening to him, and then I found it was so impossible to know about character, or to be sure that one was not doing more harm than — What is it, boys?" as three or four Temples rushed up. " Aunt Eachel, Mr. Clare is going to teach us a new game, and he says you know it. Pray come." " Come, Una. What, Keith, will you come too ? I'Jt take care of him, Ermine." And with a child in each hand Eachel followed the deputation, and had scarcely disappeared before the light gracious figure of Eose glanced through the thorn trees. " Aunt Ermine, you must come nearer ; it is so wonderful to see Mr. Clare teaching this game." " Don't push my chair, my dear ; it is much too heavy for you uphill." "As if I could not drive you anywhere, and here is Conrade coming." Conrade was in search of the deserter, but he applied himself heartily to the propulsion of aunt Ermine, informing Eose that Mr. Clare was no end of a man, much better than if he could see, and aunt Eachel was gro-vvn quite, jolly. " I think she has left off her long words," said Eose. WHO IS THE CI.EVEI1 WOMAN 1 433 " Slie is not a civilian now," said Conrade, quite uncon- scious of Ermine's amusement at his confidences as he pushed behind her. "I did think it a most benighted thing to marry her, but that's what it is. Military discipline has made her conformable." Having placed the chair on a spot which commanded the scene, the boy and girl rushed olf to take their part in the sport, leaving Ermine looking down a steep bank at the huge ring of performers, with linked hands, advancing and receding to the measure of a chanted verse round a figure in the centre, who made gesticulations, pursued and caught different individuals in the ring, and put them through a formula which provoked shouts of mirth. Ermine much enjoyed the sight ; it was pretty to watch the prononce dresses of the parish children, interspersed with the more graceful forms 6f the little gentry, and here and there a taller lady. Then Ermine smiled to recognise Alison as usual among her boys, and Lady Temple's soft greys and whites, and gentle floating movements, as she advanced and receded with Stephana in one hand, and a shy infant-school child in jhe other. But Ermine's eye roamed anxiously ; for though Rachel's an. mated, characteristic gestures were fully dis- cernible, and her little Una's arch toss of the head marked her out, yet the companion whom she had beguiled away, and ^vho had become more to Ermine than any other of the frisking little ones of the flock, was neither with her noi with his chief protector, Rose. In a second or two, however, the step that to her had most "music in't" of all footfalls that ever were trodden, was sounding on the path that led circuitously up the path, and the Colonel appeared with the iittle runaway holding his hand. " Why, baby, you are soon come away !" " I did not like it, — sit on mamma's knee," said the little fellow, scrambling to his place then as one who felt it his own nest and tHrone. "'He was very soon frightened," said the Colonel ; "it ^vas only that little witch Una who could have deluded him into such a crowd, and, as soon as she saw a bigger boy to begude, she instantly deserted Keith, so I relieved Eachel of him." " See Rachel now ; Mr. Clare is interrogating her. How she is making them laugh ! I did not think she could ever liave so entered into fun." " Alick must have made it a part of her education. When the Invalid has time for another essay. Ermine, it should be on the Benefits of Ridicule." F P 434 THE Oi^EVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. '' Against Clever "Womanhood 1 Eut then the subject must have Eachel's perfect good humour." " And the weapon must be in the most delicately skilful hands," added the Colonel. " Properly wielded, it saves blunting the superior weapon by over-frequent use. Here the success is complete." " It has been irony rather than ridicule," said Ermine, '• though, when he taught her to laugh, he won half the battle. It is beautiful to see her holding herself back, and most forbearing where she feels most positive. I am glad to see him looking so much stronger and more substantial. Where is he r ' "On the further bank, supposed by Mrs. Curtis to be asleep, but watching uncle, wife, and child through his eye- lashes. Did you ever see any one so like his sister as that child r' " Much more so than this one. I am glad he may one day see such a shadow of his bright-faced mother." " You are mother ! " said the the little orphan, looking up into Ermine's face with a startled, wistful look, as having caught more of her meaning than she had intended, and she met his look with a kiss, the time was not yet come for gainsaying the belief more than in the words, " Yes, always a mother to you, my precious little man." " Nor could you have had a bonnier face to look into," added the Colonel. " There, the game breaks up. "We should collect our flock, and get them back to Les Invalides, as Alick calls it." " Take care no one else does so," said Ermine, laughing. " It has been a most happy day, and chief of all the pleasures has been the sight of Eachel just what I hoped, a thorough wife and mother, all the more so for her being awake to larger interests, and doing common things better for being the Clever Woman of the family. Where is she? I don't see her now." Where is she ? was asked by more than one of the party, but the next to see her was Alick, who found her standing at the window of her own room, with her long-robed, two- months' old baby in her arms. " Tired 1 " he asked. " No ; 1 only sent down nurse to drink tea with the other grandees. What a delightful day it has been ! I never hoped that such good fruit would rise out of my unhappy blunders." " The blunders thai brought so much