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diff --git a/20525-h/20525-h.htm b/20525-h/20525-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d6612a9 --- /dev/null +++ b/20525-h/20525-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8477 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>Isabel Leicester</title> + +<meta http-equiv = "Content-Type" content = "text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> + +<style type = "text/css"> + +body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + +hr {width: 80%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +hr.mid {width: 30%;} +hr.small {width: 8em;} +hr.tiny {width: 20%;} + +div.title {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 12em; +padding-top: 3em; padding-bottom: 3em;} + +a.tag {text-decoration: none; vertical-align: .3em; font-size: 80%; +line-height: 0em;} + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; +font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 0em; +margin-bottom: 0em;} + +h1 {font-size: 200%;} +h2 {font-size: 175%;} +h3 {font-size: 150%;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h4.chapter {letter-spacing: .2em; margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 1.5em;} +h5 {font-size: 100%;} +h6 {font-size: 85%;} + +p, blockquote {margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: 0em; line-height: 1.2;} + +p.illustration {text-align: center; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +p.verse {margin-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em; line-height: normal; +font-size: 88%;} +p.center {font-size: 92%; text-align: center;} +p.asterisk {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 2.5em;} +p.letter {font-size: 88%; margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 1em;} + +blockquote {font-size: 88%; margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 1em;} + +/* indented text for poetry */ + +/* tables */ + +table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 1em; +margin-bottom: 1em;} +table.errors {margin-left: 2em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +td {vertical-align: top; text-align: left; padding: 0em .5em;} +td.number {text-align: right;} +td.inset {padding-left: 1.5em; padding-bottom: .5em;} + + +/* conditional */ +table.errors td {font-size: 85%;} +table.errors p {margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em; margin-top: 0em; +line-height: normal;} +table.errors td.number {vertical-align: bottom;} + +p.verse + p.verse {margin-top: 0em;} + + +/* text formatting */ + +.firstword {text-transform: uppercase;} + +.smallroman {font-size: 0.8em;} +.smallcaps {font-variant: small-caps;} +.extended {letter-spacing: 0.2em;} + + +.pagenum {position: absolute; right: 3%; font-size: 88%; +font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: right; +text-indent: 0em;} + +.mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; +margin: 1em 5%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 90%;} + +</style> +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Isabel Leicester, by Clotilda Jennings + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Isabel Leicester + A Romance + +Author: Clotilda Jennings + +Release Date: February 6, 2007 [EBook #20525] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ISABEL LEICESTER *** + + + + +Produced by Louise Hope, Robert Cicconetti and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions +(www.canadiana.org)) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p class = "mynote"> +The form of this e-text is predicated upon an assumption about the +editorial practices that obtained in Canadian publishing around the +year 1874. It is presumed that the authoress had the opportunity to +review pre-publication galley proofs and make any changes or +corrections she deemed appropriate, and that the published book is +therefore an accurate reflection of her wishes and intentions. +</p> + + +<p> </p> + +<h1>ISABEL LEICESTER,</h1> + +<p> </p> + +<h4>A ROMANCE,</h4> + +<p> </p> + +<h6>BY</h6> + +<h3 class = "extended">MAUDE ALMA.</h3> + +<div class = "title"> + +<hr class = "small"> + +<p class = "verse"> +"Twist ye, twine ye, even so,</p> +<p class = "verse"> +Mingled threads of joy and woe,</p> +<p class = "verse"> +Hope and fear, peace and strife,</p> +<p class = "verse"> +In the cord of human life."</p> + +<hr class = "small"> + +</div> + +<h6>HAMILTON:<br> +<span class = "extended">SPECTATOR PRINTING HOUS</span>E.<br> +1874.</h6> +<hr> + +<p> <br> </p> + +<span class = "pagenum">3</span> + +<h3 class = "extended">ISABEL LEICESTER.</h3> + +<hr class = "mid"> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER I.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capI.png" width = "30" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "I" title = "I (In)">n</span> a spacious apartment +superbly furnished, and surrounded by every luxury that could please the +most fastidious taste, sat Isabel Leicester, attired in deep mourning, +with her head resting upon her hand, her face almost as white as the +handkerchief she held. Isabel's Father had failed in business, and the +misfortune had so preyed upon his mind, that he sank under it and died. +The funeral had taken place that day, and she was to leave the house on +the day following—the house where she was born and had always +lived, except when at school. The servants had all been discharged but +two, who were to leave next day. A friend had offered Isabel a home +until she could procure a situation as a governess, which that friend +Mrs. Arnold was endeavouring to obtain for her, in the family of a lady +who had been one of Mrs. Arnold's school-fellows. Mrs. Arnold was the +widow of a clergyman, with a very limited income, and Isabel was +unwilling to trespass upon the kindness of one whose means she knew to +be so small. But she had no alternative at the time and trusted that it +would not be long before she would be able to procure the situation she +had in view, or some other. The tea remained untasted on the table, for +Isabel was absorbed by the melancholy thoughts that filled her heart. +She tried to feel resigned, but her pride was wounded at the idea of +becoming a 'governess.' She had been the spoiled petted daughter of a +wealthy merchant of the city of New York, whose chief delight had been +to indulge her in every way. But still Mr. Leicester had been a truly +good and christian man, and had taught his daughter not to set her +affections on earthly things, and to remember that wealth was given to +us for the benefit of others, as well as for our own enjoyment. And he +was rewarded as she grew up to find that her chief aim was to do good to +the many poor families whose necessities came to her knowledge. Great +also was his satisfaction to find that after two +<span class = "pagenum">4</span> +seasons in New York, where she had been the Belle, she was still the +same loving, unassuming, pure-minded girl she had ever been, tho' the +admiration and attention her beauty and accomplishments had excited, had +she been less carefully trained, might have rendered her haughty and +vain.</p> + +<p>During her Father's illness, when her time and thoughts were occupied +with attending upon him, and in anxiety for his recovery she had thought +and felt that the loss of property was an evil of little moment, and +tried to persuade her Father not to think so much about the reverse, +urging that he could get some employment, and they would still live very +happily together in a cottage.</p> + +<p>But now that he was gone, and she had no one left to look too, her +lonely and self-dependant position was felt severely, and the tears she +could not restrain, fell unheeded. The fire sank low, and finally went +out, and still Isabel sat thinking of the miserable prospect the future +presented. At last she rose with a shudder, and rang for the tea-things +to be removed, then retiring to her own room, she threw herself upon the +bed in an agony of grief.</p> + +<p>She had remained there some time, when she felt a kind hand laid upon +her shoulder, and turning her head she saw the old housekeeper, Mrs. +Stewart, with a cup of hot tea. "Come my dear young lady," said she, +while the tears streamed down her aged cheeks, "You must take this, it +will never do for you to go without your tea."</p> + +<p>"I know you attach great virtue to a cup of tea" replied Isabel, "so +to please you I will take it."</p> + +<p>"Oh dear, dear," muttered the old woman as she descended the stairs, +"how pale and ill she looks, and no wonder poor lamb, if she goes on +like this she will be laid up. Oh, how I wish Mrs. Mornington had not +gone to Europe. Poor child, poor child."</p> + +<p>After Mrs. Stewart had left her, Isabel knelt down and prayed for +strength to do her duty, however trying she might find it, and for the +holy spirit to comfort her in affliction, after which she retired to +rest, and was soon in a calm sleep.</p> + +<p>Next morning she arose much refreshed, and having sought divine aid +and protection, she commenced to arrange for her departure. Her Father's +creditors knowing him to be a man of strict integrity, and that his +failure was not attributable to any want of prudence on his part, had +kindly arranged that she should +<span class = "pagenum">5</span> +retain whatever she particularly wished. This was a great gratification +to Isabel, tho' she was too honorable to take an undue advantage of this +benevolent intention, indeed she was almost too conscientious upon this +point.</p> + +<p>The task before her was a sad one, and although she strove very hard +she could not restrain her tears as she made her selections. She was +soon joined by Mrs. Arnold, who told her she had come to help her to +pack, and that she should not leave until Isabel accompanied her. "Come" +she said, kissing her affectionately, "the sooner this painful task is +over my love the better. I have good news for you. I have +heard from Mrs. Arlington, and she says that she shall be most happy to +obtain the services of any one recommended by me. The salary I find is +only two hundred dollars a year, it is indeed less than I expected, but +you must remember that this is your first engagement, no doubt if you +remain there a year or two, you will be able to obtain a much more +remunerative one."</p> + +<p>This announcement of Mrs. Arnold's brought to Isabel's mind in full +force all the annoyances to which she would be subjected in her new +position, and clasping her hands, she gave way to uncontrollable +emotion.</p> + +<p>"I do not wonder, dear, at your being disappointed, after what you +have been used to, two hundred dollars must seem a very paltry sum. +I dare say you gave nearly as much to your maid Harris, but my +dear, as a governess your requirements will be less, so with the +wardrobe you now possess, you will be able to manage very nicely."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mrs. Arnold, I was not thinking about the salary, I am sure +I can make that do very well," sobbed Isabel. "You are very kind indeed +to trouble yourself so much about me."</p> + +<p>"You need not go to Elm Grove at present, my love, you are quite +welcome to stay with me until you get over your loss a little, and feel +better able to conform to circumstances," said Mrs. Arnold kindly.</p> + +<p>Isabel made an effort to respond gratefully to her kind friend, and +expressed a hope that she would shortly be able to undertake the duties +of her new situation.</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt you will be very comfortable at Elm Grove, it is a +lovely place. Of course it will seem strange at first, but +<span class = "pagenum">6</span> +people soon get used to a place you know if they only try. I am +very happy now, but I am sure at one time, I thought I never should +be again," continued Mrs. Arnold, "but we will say no more on that +subject now, we must get on with our work." And she began to give advice +about what Isabel should take, and said that whatever she did not like +to take with her to her new home, she could leave at her house.</p> + +<p>Fortunately the housekeeper then came to ask if she should pack.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," exclaimed Mrs. Arnold, "the very person I wanted," and +off they went to Isabel's great relief.</p> + +<p>Being left to herself, Isabel soon concluded her selection, and +ordering Mary to take them to be packed, she went into the library to +get a little rest, and time to think, tho' the latter she could scarcely +do, as her temples throbbed violently. Laying her head on the old +familiar couch, she endeavoured to calm the tumult of her feelings, the +bright sunshine, and the merry sound of the sleigh bells outside, only +made her feel her desolation more acutely.</p> + +<p>"Luncheon is ready dear, and the packing all done," said Mrs. Arnold, +throwing herself in an easy chair.</p> + +<p>"You have indeed been quick," replied Isabel, heartily wishing they +had been longer.</p> + +<p>"It is all due to Mrs. Stewart, she is really the most clever person +at packing I ever saw, tho' poor soul she was nearly blinded with tears. +Come love, we must have luncheon now, and after that we will send for a +sleigh."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, dear Mrs. Arnold, I cannot go until evening, I am sure +Mr. Macdermott will be here presently, for he knows that I am going +to-day."</p> + +<p>"Ah, I know, you want to be alone to muse of things in your dreamy +way, but my love, it is better not to do so, it only makes things harder +to bear. Try to banish disagreeable subjects as much as possible, that +is my maxim. But I cannot refuse you anything just now, so after +luncheon I will go home, and will come back for you in the evening."</p> + +<p>Soon after Mrs. Arnold's departure, Mr. Macdermott the clergyman, +called as Isabel had expected, and his sympathy, and advice, tended +greatly to soothe the pain she felt at leaving the home she +<span class = "pagenum">7</span> +loved so well. He said that Mrs. Macdermott was still too ill to visit +her, but that if she felt able she would try to see her at Mrs. +Arnold's. He told her also that he had that morning received a letter +from Louis, in which he desired to be kindly remembered. Mr. Macdermott +remarked the rich crimson that suffused her cheeks, at the mention of +his nephew's name, but the remotest idea of their engagement never +entered his mind. He remained with her about an hour, then after +enquiring if he could be of any service to her, he took his leave.</p> + +<p>At last the dreaded hour arrived, and Mrs. Arnold with it. After +bidding the housekeeper and Mary a kind farewell, (they had both been +with her a great many years,) Isabel accompanied her friend to Rose +Cottage.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">8</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER II.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capT.png" width = "44" height = "42" +align = "left" alt = "T" title = "T (The)">he</span></span> setting sun +shed its bright tints over the snow which lay thick upon the ground, +making it glisten like diamonds, the cold was intense, and a bitter wind +howled through the leafless trees, when the train arrived at +M——, and Isabel almost benumbed with cold, procured a +conveyance from the station to the Rock Hotel, where Mrs. Arlington had +promised to send for her.</p> + +<p>On arriving at the hotel, she found the sleigh waiting punctual to +the time appointed. Isabel would gladly have partaken of some +refreshment, but Mrs. Arnold had informed her, that Mrs. Arlington was +very particular, and to have kept the horses standing, Isabel felt would +have offended her, which she was very anxious to avoid although she was +shivering with cold.</p> + +<p>It was a long drive of twelve miles to Elm Grove, but the horses went +at a great speed, and in less than an hour they arrived at their +destination. As they drew up at the door, it was opened by a footman, +and a woman who seemed to be an upper servant met her in the hall, and +conducted her to her room.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you would like some tea Miss," she said "I will order it +while you are taking off your things, and then I will show you the +school-room. Mrs. Arlington and the young ladies are dressing for a +ball, so they cannot see you to-night."</p> + +<p>When Norris had left the room, Isabel sat down with a sigh, and +looked about to see what kind of accommodation she was to have. It was a +nice sized room, with a bay window having an eastern aspect, at which +the wind was now howling with great violence. It was neatly, but plainly +furnished, the fire had burnt low, and the room was cold. She took off +her things as quickly as possible, and sincerely hoped that the +school-room would be more comfortable.</p> + +<p>Norris soon returned, and Isabel desiring her to have more fuel put +upon the fire descended to the school-room, which she found +<span class = "pagenum">9</span> +very bright and pleasant looking, the large fire and lamp making it look +quite attractive.</p> + +<p>The tea was on the table, and Norris after saying "if you want +anything Miss, please ring for Susan," left the room. Isabel was very +glad to have some refreshment after her cold drive, and when she rang to +have the things removed, the bell was answered by a neat, pleasant +looking girl, who had such a sunny face that it did one good to look at +her, and presently a sweet little girl of about seven years old came +running into the room, and going up to Isabel, said "you are our new +governess are you not. I think I shall like you very much, but I +can't stay now, for Eliza is waiting to put me to bed, but I did so want +to see you to-night. Good night!" and throwing her arms round Isabel's +neck, she gave her a hearty kiss, and disappeared as quickly as she +came. When Isabel returned to her room she had no cause to complain of +the fire which was piled to the top of the grate.</p> + +<p>When she awoke next morning it seemed very strange to be where she +had not the least idea what any of the family were like. After dressing +and arranging some of her things, she sat down to contemplate her +situation, which she found anything but pleasant, so she determined to +descend to the school-room.</p> + +<p>The door was open, and as she approached she overheard little Amy +saying "she is the prettiest lady I ever saw, only she looks so pale and +sad." Isabel found three little girls in the room, of whom Amy was the +youngest. Amy greeted her in the same cordial manner she had done on the +preceding evening, the other two rose saying "good morning Miss +Leicester," but when she stooped to kiss them, Alice sulkily put up her +face, and Rose laughed. "Fancy, Miss Manning kissing us" she whispered +to her sister. "Hush!" returned Alice, "she will hear."</p> + +<p>Isabel spoke kindly to them, but Alice only returned unwilling, and +Rose pert answers, so the breakfast was a dull unpleasant affair, and +Isabel perceived they regarded the governess in the light of an enemy; +even little Amy became shy and uneasy.</p> + +<p>After breakfast Rose informed her that they always had half an hour +before school for a run out of doors. As they were departing little Amy +ran back, and coming close up to Isabel whispered "don't cry Miss +Leicester, I love you, indeed I do," for Amy had noticed the tears +that would come in spite of her +<span class = "pagenum">10</span> +efforts to repress them. Isabel drew the child to her, and kissing her +pretty upturned face, told her to go with the others.</p> + +<p>Amy had scarcely gone, when Mrs. Arlington entered. She was tall and +stately, rather cold and haughty, and very dignified and patronizing in +her manner. She hoped Miss Leicester had been made comfortable, and was +sure that she would like the children. She then informed her that the +school hours were from nine until four, with an hour for dinner, then +she would have to take them for a walk, after that her time was her own. +She would take her meals with the children, but she would be happy to +have her come into the drawing-room occasionally in the evening. She +said that her own time was so much occupied with her elder daughters, +that she was forced to leave the children entirely to the governess, +but, that as Mrs. Arnold had so strongly recommended her she felt sure +she should be satisfied, then bidding Miss Leicester a polite good +morning, she swept majestically from the room.</p> + +<p>Poor Isabel, she had not expected quite so much dignity, and was +excessively annoyed. "Take the children for walks," that was a thing she +had not thought of, and she did not relish the idea and as to going into +the drawing-room, she could very well dispense with that. She was not +aware that Mrs. Arlington intended her accomplished young governess to +help to amuse her guests. Excessively annoyed, Isabel repaired to her +own room to calm her ruffled feelings.</p> + +<p>At nine o'clock she went to the school-room and found her pupils +there already, also a very pretty girl of about seventeen, whom they +were coaxing to tell them about the ball. As Isabel entered the room, +Amy exclaimed, "Miss Leicester this is Emily!" Then Emily laughed +merrily, and held out her hand saying, "I hope we shall be good +friends Miss Leicester, I'm sorry we were out last night."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Emily, I'm sure you wanted very much to go to the ball, and you +just now said that you enjoyed yourself exceedingly," said Alice +gravely.</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean that you silly child, <!-- missing " --> returned +Emily, <!-- missing " --> but I am intruding upon school hours I fear, +so if you will allow me Miss Leicester I will come for a chat before +dinner."</p> + +<p>Isabel bowed assent and Emily retired, rather annoyed that her +<span class = "pagenum">11</span> +advances had not met with a warmer reception. Shortly after Emily's +departure, a tall and very elegant looking girl of about twenty +entered the room, and bowing condescendingly to Isabel, said, "have the +goodness to try these songs Miss Leicester, I wish to know if there +are any pretty ones among them, I would not trouble you only I am +so excessively tired" she added, taking the most comfortable seat the +room afforded; this was done in the most easy manner possible, +precluding of course the idea that it was by design. Miss Arlington upon +entering any room, immediately perceived the nicest place, and having +seen, at once took possession with an easy indifference, as if totally +unconscious that she was monopolizing the best place. Isabel complied +with her request, tho' not best pleased with the interruption.</p> + +<p>"You sing very nicely Miss Leicester," Miss Arlington said +patronizingly.</p> + +<p>Isabel's lip curled contemptuously, she presumed so when the crowded +room had been hushed to perfect silence whenever she approached the +piano, and when she ceased singing, the murmured praise and applause on +all sides had sent the hot blood to her cheeks, and this not once or +twice, but scores of times—she needed not to be told that she sang +nicely.</p> + +<p>"She sings much better than you do Grace," said Rose pertly.</p> + +<p>"Don't be rude, Rose," replied Grace, haughtily, "Miss Leicester will +have some trouble with you I imagine," then thanking Isabel, she left +the room excessively annoyed with Rose.</p> + +<p>The lessons proceeded, and Isabel thought that Alice and Rose must +alter their manners greatly before she could take any interest in +teaching them. It was evident that they had not been treated kindly by +their last governess. Alice sulked so much, and Rose was so pert, that +Isabel found it difficult to keep her temper, and when tea was over, her +head ached so severely, and she felt so tired and miserable, that she +retired to her room, and locking herself in gave way to irrepressible +emotion, while she thought that she should indeed be unhappy in her new +position.</p> + +<p>Presently some one knocked at the door, but vexed at the +interruption, and not wishing to be seen giving way to her feelings, +Isabel took no notice. As the knocking continued unanswered, a soft +voice pleaded for admittance. On opening the door, she found it was +Emily, and not Amy, as she expected.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">12</span> +"I hope you will excuse me," she said, "but not finding you in the +school-room I came after you, as I knew that I should not have any other +opportunity this evening."</p> + +<p>Isabel was very much confused, but Emily sat down by her side, +telling her how very much she felt for her, and how she hoped she would +consider her a friend. "Mrs. Arnold wrote and told me all about you" she +said, "and dear Isabel I will do all in my power to make you happy."</p> + +<p>But Isabel only sobbed, "I can never be happy again—never."</p> + +<p>"You must not say that, you must not think so," exclaimed Emily. "You +must come into the drawing-room with us, and that will cheer you up a +bit. I know you will like papa. Elm Grove looks dreary now, but in +summer it is delightful. Then, I always get up early and go for a +ramble before breakfast, if I can only get any one to go with me, and I +feel sure you will go with me next summer. I think I shall +breakfast with you, I can't wait for mama's late breakfast, but I +would sooner have gone without altogether, than have taken it with Miss +Manning. I only left school you know a few weeks ago, and I like a +little fun. I know I make the children very outrageous sometimes, +but then, you know I could not behave at all like a fashionable young +lady in the evening, if I did not get rid of some of my wild spirits +before hand. By-the-bye," she cried, laughing, "I believe you will +have to teach me manners, Miss Massie pronounced me quite incorrigible, +my sister is a perfect model according to her idea, but I could never be +like Grace, I think mamma has given up all thought of it."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about teaching you manners, but I must try what I can +do with Alice and Rose, they are sadly deficient even in +politeness."</p> + +<p>"Ah, you have found that out already have you," cried Emily +laughing.</p> + +<p>Isabel colored, and murmured something about forgetting who she was +speaking to. "O you needn't mind, I like people who say what +they think" said Emily, "besides that is just what papa says about them, +but you must own that Amy is a nice little thing, I don't think she +could be rude or unkind."</p> + +<p>"Yes Amy is a sweet child."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">13</span> +"It will not be quite so dull here next week, for Everard is coming +home. I do wish so much for you to see him, he is my idea of +perfection as far as attainable in human nature. Oh! he's so handsome, +and such a dear nice fellow, I'm sure you will like him."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are not an impartial judge, I may not be able to +see his perfections so clearly."</p> + +<p>"You can't help seeing them, they are as clear as daylight," returned +Emily, warmly. "What do you think he asked me in his last +letter—to tell him what sort of a gorgon the new governess was, so +as I wrote to-day, I said she was beyond all description, and not +to be compared with Miss Manning, so if he does not imagine something +awful its very strange, (Isabel did not look well pleased) I hope you +wont <!-- won't --> mind; it was such a nice opportunity for a trick, +but it is time I dressed for dinner, dear me how tiresome, and away she +bounded. What a funny girl, thought Isabel, I wonder if I shall +like her, at all events she means to be kind. <!-- missing " --></p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">14</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER III.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capI.png" width = "30" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "I" title = "I (Isabel)">sabel</span> was not happy +in her new home, it was no easy task to teach such unruly girls as Alice +and Rose, whose chief object was to get as much fun as possible at the +expense of their governess, but she trusted in time to be able to bring +them to better order by the exercise of firmness and kindness combined. +With Amy, however it was quite different, she seemed never so happy as +when with Isabel.</p> + +<p>It was Sunday afternoon, the children did not seem to know how to +employ themselves, but sat sullenly each with a book, tho' it was very +evident that they were not reading. Indeed, Isabel had seen by their +manners all day, that they had not been accustomed to have Sunday made +pleasant.</p> + +<p>"Come here Amy dear," said Isabel, "would you like me to read to +you."</p> + +<p>"Yes please, for it makes my head ache to read all the +afternoon."</p> + +<p>So Isabel read a portion of scripture and several nice little hymns. +Very soon as she had expected, Alice and Rose, drew near. Then she read +them part of the 'chief's daughter,' and after that she played several +sacred pieces and sang a hymn to the tune tranquility. The children all +gathered round her asking her to teach them to sing it. She promised to +do so if they would learn the words, which they immediately commenced to +do.</p> + +<p>After tea they had a most unexpected and very welcome visitor. "Oh! +Everard, when did you come home," they all exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"While you were at church," he returned.</p> + +<p>"What a shame you didn't come to see us before," said Alice +reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"O then, I suppose it was you who shut the door when we were singing +this afternoon," interposed Rose, "why didn't you come in."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">15</span> +"I did not wish to disturb you" he answered, "but why don't some of you +have the politeness to introduce me to your new governess."</p> + +<p>Isabel colored deeply as he used the distasteful appellation, and +bent lower over her book, and when Rose said, <!-- missing " --> Mr. +Everard Arlington, Miss Leicester," her bow was more haughty and +dignified than she was aware of. He seated himself at the window with +Amy on his knee, while the others stood one on either side. Isabel heard +a great deal being said about Miss Leicester in an under tone, and was +about to leave the room, when Everard interposed, saying "I shall go, +unless you stay Miss Leicester, I'm not going to turn you out of the +room."</p> + +<p>"Indeed I would rather go," said Isabel.</p> + +<p>"Indeed I would rather you stayed." <!-- . for , --> returned +Everard.</p> + +<p>"I do not wish to be any restraint on the children, it would be +better for me to go."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Everard putting his hand on the door, "I may as +well have it out with you at once, as I did with Miss Manning, I am +very fond of my little sisters, and often come to see them here."</p> + +<p>"I have no objection, only let me go."</p> + +<p>"But that is just what I don't want you to do, and I always have my +own way at Elm Grove. You must not run away whenever I come, or I shall +think you consider me an intruder."</p> + +<p>"Never mind what I think," said Isabel looking up, about to insist +upon going, for she was very indignant at his behaviour, but the face +she beheld quite disarmed her wrath. Such a calm, kind, earnest +expression in the mild blue eyes, such a winning smile played round the +handsome mouth, a more prepossessing countenance Isabel had never +seen, there was something about it irresistibly attractive. "What is it +you wish me to do," she asked as her eyes met his.</p> + +<p>"Stay where you are, and do just the same as if I was not here he +said, and not run off as if I was going to eat you."</p> + +<p>"Then don't talk about me," she returned stiffly.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure. <!-- extra . --> I never said a word about you."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">16</span> +"But the children did," she replied coloring deeply as she returned to +her seat.</p> + +<p>"Please Everard wont <!-- won't --> you read to us?" asked Amy.</p> + +<p>When he had finished, Amy asked Isabel if she would play the hymn she +promised.</p> + +<p>"Not to-night dear," replied Isabel.</p> + +<p>"Oh please, Miss Leicester," coaxed Rose.</p> + +<p>"If I am the cause of their disappointment I will go, but indeed I +should like to join," said Everard.</p> + +<p>"As you please" said Isabel, ashamed of being so much out of +temper.</p> + +<p>"You know you promised, Miss Leicester," interposed Alice, +gravely.</p> + +<p>"So I did, dear," returned Isabel, going to the piano: and she was +quite repaid, as they all sang very sweetly, and quite correctly.</p> + +<p>"Good night," said Everard, when the hymn was ended.<br> +<!-- indented but not spaced --> "Forgive me, Miss Leicester if I seemed +rude, I did not intend to be."</p> + +<p>Isabel was distressed to find how much the children had been +neglected; true they were tolerably proficient in their studies, but in +all religious instruction they were miserably deficient.</p> + +<p>Left entirely to the care of Miss Manning, who was a very frivolous, +worldly minded woman, they were led, (tho' perhaps unintentionally) to +regard all religious subjects as dry and tedious, and to be avoided as +much as possible. Isabel determined to try and remedy this evil by the +exercise of patient gentleness, and by striving to make religious +instruction a pleasure and a privilege. No easy task did this appear +considering the dispositions she had to deal with, nor was it without a +struggle that she put aside her own wishes and devoted her Sunday +afternoons to this purpose. She certainly did not meet with much +encouragement at first; again and again did the question recur to her +mind, what good am I doing, why should I deprive myself of so many +pleasant hours for the benefit of these thankless children; but the +selfish thought was conquered, and she persevered. On week days also, +she had morning prayer and read a portion of scripture, then they sung a +hymn, always taking for the week the one they learnt on the Sunday +<span class = "pagenum">17</span> +afternoon. Nor was her perseverance unavailing, for the children became +interested, and requested her to have evening service as they termed it, +which of course Isabel was only too glad to do. After a while their +morning numbers were increased, as Emily and her papa joined them, and +so on until at last without any special arrangement they all assembled +in the school-room every morning as a matter of course.</p> + +<p>Isabel was very different from what Mrs. Arlington had expected, so +refined in her manners and tastes, so totally unfitted to combat with +all the mortifications of a governess's career. True, she had expected a +rather superior person, when Mrs. Arnold wrote that Miss Leicester was +the indulged daughter of a wealthy merchant, who on account of her +father's losses and subsequent death, was forced to gain her living by +teaching. Still, she was not prepared to find her new governess such a +lovely and sweet tempered girl, and Isabel had not been long at Elm +Grove, before Mrs. Arlington found that she was becoming quite attached +to her. And as Mr. Arlington found that her father was the same Mr. +Leicester from whom he had formerly experienced great kindness, they +decided Isabel should teach the children, and receive her salary, but +that in all other respects she should be as one of the family, and +Isabel was very glad of the change.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">18</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER IV.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capT.png" width = "44" height = "42" +align = "left" alt = "T" title = "T (The)">he</span> winter was past, +and it was now June—bright, sunny June—and Elm Grove was +decked in its richest hues. Down from the house sloped a beautiful lawn, +studded with shrubs, and adorned with flower-beds of different sizes and +shapes; while in the centre there was a pond and fountain, with a +weeping willow shading the sunny side, which gave an appearance of +coolness quite refreshing. Beyond was the shrubbery and fruit garden; +and to the left the meadow, bounded by a coppice.</p> + +<p>The house was of the gothic order: on the right side of it was a +beautiful conservatory, filled with the choicest plants; on the left a +colonnade and terrace, shaded by a group of acacia trees. In front a +piazza and large portico, around which honeysuckle, clematis and roses, +shed their sweet perfume. The grounds were tastefully laid out, with due +regard to shade; and a grove of elm trees completely hid the house from +the avenue: so that in approaching it from the main road, the house +seemed still in the distance—even out of sight—until, on +taking a half turn round a thick clump of elms, one would unexpectedly +come out right in front of the house, almost at the door. It was, as +Emily had said, a delightful place.</p> + +<p>The children had greatly improved under Isabel's care. Emily was +quite like a sister, and even Miss Arlington treated her as an equal. +Isabel knew that governesses were not usually so fortunate as to meet +with such nice people, and appreciated their kindness accordingly. The +walks, too, that she had so much dreaded, had become a +pleasure,—not a disagreeable duty. Emily usually joined them, and +not unfrequently Everard also. He performed almost impossibilities to +get Isabel wild-flowers, of which, Rose had informed him, she was +exceedingly fond. These, to his great annoyance, were always carefully +deposited in a glass on the dining-room table; for Isabel had remarked +in his manner toward her more than mere politeness, and endeavored as +much as possible to check his growing attentions. But all his acts of +kindness were +<span class = "pagenum">19</span> +done with so much tact and consideration, as to leave her no +alternative, and oblige her to receive them. Neither was there anything +in his behaviour or conversation that she could complain of, or that +others would remark. All this made it very difficult for her to know how +to act, as she did not wish to hurt his feelings by unnecessary +particularity, or by the assumption of unusual formality lead him to +suspect the true cause; and thus perhaps lay herself open to the +possibility of being supposed to have imagined him to be in love with +her, without due cause. Isabel knew that she was not deceived; she knew +also that she must be very careful to conceal that she was so well aware +of the state of his feelings towards her.</p> + +<p>"The Morningtons are coming to stay at Ashton Park: are you not glad, +Emmy?" said Everard, as he joined Isabel, Emily, and the children, in +their ramble, one bright day in the midsummer holidays. "Glad, +I should think so!" returned Emily; "but when do they come?"</p> + +<p>"Very soon, I believe; and I expect we shall have jolly times. +Harry's so full of life, and that merry little Lucy is the spirit of +fun. May will be here shortly. And the Harringtons have friends with +them, so we shall be able to get up some nice picnics."</p> + +<p>"But is not Ada coming?" asked Emily.</p> + +<p>"Why, of course she is," returned Everard; "but if you have not heard +the 'latest,' I shall not enlighten you sister mine."</p> + +<p>"O Everard! I'm all curiosity," cried Emily, opening her blue eyes +very wide.</p> + +<p>"You mean that Ada is engaged to Mr. Ashton," said Isabel.</p> + +<p>"Yes; but how on earth did you know it?" he returned.</p> + +<p>"Do you know the Morningtons?" asked Emily. "Have you known them +long?"</p> + +<p>"Longer than you have, I fancy," replied Isabel. "I have known +them as long as I can remember. Ada and I had the same room at school. +She is my dearest and most intimate friend."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you know Harry and the rest very well?"</p> + +<p>"O yes, we were quite like brothers and sisters," <!-- , for . +--></p> + +<p>"When are they expected?" asked Emily.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">20</span> +"They may be there already, for all I know. It was last Sunday Sir John +told papa they were coming."</p> + +<p>At this moment Charles Ashton, with Ada and Lucy Mornington, emerged +from a bridle path through the woods that separated Elm Grove from +Ashton Park. Greetings were warmly exchanged, and then amid a cross-fire +of questions and small talk, they proceeded to the house, where they +found Mrs. Mornington and Lady Ashton. The latter insisted upon the +young ladies and Everard returning with them to spend a few days at the +Park.</p> + +<p>Isabel declined to accompany them. At which, Lucy fairly shed tears, +and every one seemed so much annoyed, that she finally consented.</p> + +<p>Her position of friend and governess combined, when alone, was +pleasant enough; but with strangers, of course, she was still only Mrs. +Arlington's governess, and was treated accordingly. That is, when it was +known; as people at first did not usually suppose that the beautiful and +attractive Miss Leicester was only the governess. And Isabel was +sometimes amused, as well as annoyed, to find people who had been very +friendly, cool off perceptibly. This she attributed to the circumstance +that she was 'only the governess.' Lady Ashton, especially, had been +very anxious to be introduced to that "charming Miss Leicester;" and +Isabel had afterwards heard her saying to a friend: "Well! you surprise +me! So she is 'only the governess,' and yet has the air of a princess. +I'm sure I thought she was 'somebody.' But then, you know, there are +persons who don't seem to know their proper place." All this had made +Isabel cold and reserved in company; for her high spirit could ill brook +the slights and patronising airs of those who in other days would have +been glad of her acquaintance.</p> + +<p>Thus Isabel was deemed haughty and cold; few, if any, perceiving that +this cold reserve was assumed to hide how deeply these things wounded +her too sensitive feelings. So it was with more pain than pleasure that +she made one of the party to Ashton Park, having a presentiment that +vexation and annoyance would be the result; as she was quite sure that +it was only to please Ada, that Lady Ashton had included her in the +invitation.</p> + +<p>Nor did it tend to disperse these gloomy apprehensions, when Isabel +found that the room assigned her was at the extreme end +<span class = "pagenum">21</span> +of the corridor, scantily, even meanly furnished, and had apparently +been long unoccupied, as, although it was now June, there was something +damp, chilly, and uncomfortable about it. During the whole of this +visit, she was destined to suffer from annoyances of one kind or +another. If there was a spooney, or country cousin, among the guests, +Lady Ashton would be sure to bring him to Miss Leicester, and whisper +her to amuse him if possible, and she would greatly oblige. So that +Isabel scarcely ever enjoyed herself. Or just as some expedition was +being arranged, Lady Ashton would, by employing Isabel about her +flowers, or some other trivial thing, contrive to keep her from making +one of the party. Isabel, though intensely disgusted, was too proud to +remonstrate. And even when Charles, once or twice, interfered to prevent +her being kept at home, she felt almost inclined to refuse, so annoyed +and angry did Lady Ashton appear.</p> + +<p>True, she might have had some enjoyment from the society of Harry and +Everard. But so surely as Lady Ashton observed either of them in +conversation with her, she invariably wanted to introduce them to some +'charming young ladies.' And she took good care that Isabel should not +join any of the riding parties. Once Arthur Barrington had particularly +requested her to do so, and even offered his own horse (as Lady Ashton +had assured them that every horse that could carry a lady had already +been appropriated), but his aunt interposed: "O my dear Arthur, if +you would only be so good as to lend it to poor little Mary Cleavers! Of +course I would not have ventured to suggest your giving up your horse; +but as you are willing to do so, I must put in a claim for poor +little Mary, who is almost breaking her heart at the idea of staying at +home. And Miss Leicester is so good-natured, that I am sure she will not +object."</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, aunt, but"—began Arthur.</p> + +<p>"Here! Mary, dear," cried Lady Ashton; and before Arthur could finish +the sentence, his aunt had informed Mary that he had kindly promised his +horse. Mary turned, and overwhelmed the astonished Arthur with her +profuse thanks.</p> + +<p>"Confound it," muttered Arthur (who was too much a gentleman to +contradict his aunt and make a scene); then bowing politely to Miss +Cleaver, he turned to Isabel, saying, "Will you come for a row on the +lake, Miss Leicester, as our riding to-day is now out of the question, +as my aunt has monopolized 'Archer' +<span class = "pagenum">22</span> +so unceremoniously. I feel assured that Miss Lucy will join us, as +she is not one of the riding party."</p> + +<p>Isabel assented, and Arthur went in search of Lucy.</p> + +<p>Lady Ashton followed him, and remonstrated: "You know you were to be +one of the riding party, Arthur."</p> + +<p>"Impossible, my dear aunt. After what has passed, I can't do +less than devote my time this morning to the service of Miss +Leicester."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense; she is 'only a governess.'"</p> + +<p>"So much the more would she feel any slight."</p> + +<p>"You talk absurdly," she returned with a sneer. "You can't take her +alone, Arthur. I will not allow it."</p> + +<p>"My dear aunt, I am much too prudent for that. Lucy Mornington goes +with us."</p> + +<p>"But who will ride with Mary?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you must get her a cavalier, as you did a horse, +I suppose," he returned carelessly. <!-- missing " --> At all +events, I am not at her service, even though no other be found;" +and he passed on toward Lucy, regardless of his aunt's displeasure. And +he carried the day in spite of her, for she put in practice several +little schemes to prevent Isabel going. But Lady Ashton was defeated; +and Isabel remembered this morning as the only really pleasant time +during her stay at the Park.</p> + +<p>Lady Ashton was greatly perplexed as to how to procure a beau for +Mary, and, as a last resource, pressed Sir John into service; but as he +was a very quiet, stately old gentleman, the ride, to poor Mary's great +chagrin, was a very formal affair.</p> + +<p>On the last evening of her stay at Ashton Park, Isabel was admiring +the beautiful sunset from her window, and as she stood lost in reverie, +someone entered hastily and fastened the door. Turning to see who the +intruder might be, she beheld a very beautiful girl, apparently about +fourteen years of age, her large eyes flashing with anger, while her +short, quick breathing, told of excitement and disquietude. "I have +had such a dance to get here without observation," she panted forth. +"Please let me stay a little while." And before Isabel could recover +from her momentary surprise, Louisa had thrown herself into her arms, +<span class = "pagenum">23</span> +exclaiming, "I knew that you were kind and good, or I would not +have come, and I felt sure that you would pity me." All anger was now +gone from the eager, earnest face, raised imploringly, and Isabel's +sympathy was aroused by the weary, sad expression of her +countenance.</p> + +<p>"Who are you; what makes you unhappy; and why do you seek my +sympathy?" asked Isabel.</p> + +<p>"I am Lady Ashton's grand-daughter, Louisa Aubray," she replied. "You +don't know what a life I lead, boxed up with old Grumps, and strictly +forbidden all other parts of the house. I have been here two years, +and during all that time I have not had any pleasure or liberty, except +once or twice when I took French leave, when I was sure of not being +found out. Ah, you don't know how miserable I am! no one cares for poor +Louisa;" and burying her face in her hands, she cried bitterly. +"I sometimes watch the company going to dinner, and that was how I +came to see you; and I liked you the best of them all, and I wished so +much to speak to you. So I managed to find out which was your room; but +it was only to-day that I could get here, unknown to Miss Crosse. Won't +you please tell me which of those young ladies Uncle Charles is going to +marry. I want so much to know; because Uncle Charles is nice, and I +like him. He is the only one here that ever was the least bit kind to +me. As for grandpapa and grandmamma, I know they hate me; and Eliza +says, that the reason grandpapa can't bear the sight of me, is because I +am like papa. Oh, I know that dear mamma would not have been so +glad when they promised to take care of me, if she had known how unkind +they would be."</p> + +<p>"But how can I help you, dear?" inquired Isabel.</p> + +<p>"Why, I thought if I told you, you would be sorry for me, and +persuade grandmamma to send me to school; for then, at least, +I should have someone to speak to. I don't mind +study,—only old Miss Crosse is so unkind. I think perhaps she +might, if you were to coax her very much—do please," said Louisa, +warmly.</p> + +<p>Isabel smiled at the idea that she should be thought to have any +influence with Lady Ashton. "You err greatly, dear child, in thinking +that I have any power to help you. I can only advise you to try and +bear your present trials, and wait patiently for better times," she +said.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">24</span> +"Ah, it's all very well for you to tell me this. You have all you can +wish, and everything nice, so it is easy to give advice; but you +wouldn't like it, I can tell you."</p> + +<p>"I don't expect you to like it, Louisa. I only want you to make +the best of what can't be helped."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but it might be helped, if you would only try," urged +Louisa.</p> + +<p>"It is getting late," returned Isabel, "and I must now dress for +dinner; but if you like you may remain here while I do so, and I will +tell you about a young lady that I know, and then perhaps you will not +be so annoyed with me for giving you the advice I have."</p> + +<p>"Thanks," returned Louisa, "I should like it very much."</p> + +<p>"This young lady's parents were very rich, and indulged her in every +way. Her mother died when she was only eight years old. Her father had +her taught every accomplishment, and instructed in almost every branch +of learning. And she lived in a beautiful house, surrounded by every +luxury, until the age of nineteen, when her father died; and as he lost +all his property shortly before, she was forced to gain her living as a +governess. Think what she must have suffered, who never in her life had +had a harsh or unkind word, and scarcely ever had a wish ungratified; +but had been spoilt and petted at home, and courted and flattered +abroad. Think what it must have been to go alone and friendless among +strangers; to earn, by the irksome task of teaching, no more a year than +she had been accustomed to receive in a birthday present or Xmas gift. +She was fortunate enough to meet with very kind people, who made her as +comfortable as it was possible for her to be under the circumstances. +But still she found her position a very trying one, and was often placed +in very unpleasant circumstances, and sometimes met with great +mortifications. And that young lady, Louisa,—is myself."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I'm sorry, so sorry," exclaimed Louisa. "And I thought you so +happy, and so much to be envied. And I'm sorry also for what I said +about it being so easy to give advice. But why don't you marry some rich +gentleman? and then, you know, you needn't be a governess any more. +I would."</p> + +<p>"I didn't say that I was unhappy, Louisa, and I try not to let +<span class = "pagenum">25</span> +these things trouble me so much, for I know it is wrong to care so much +about them, but I can't help it. I have not told you this to excite +your pity; but that you may know that others have their daily trials as +well as yourself. Do not think, dear child, that I do not compassionate +your sad lot; only try to remember the comforts which you do enjoy, +notwithstanding the ills you are called upon to endure. Think how much +worse your fate might have been, if your grandparents had refused to +provide for you; and be sure if you have patience, and do what is right, +in due time you will have your reward."</p> + +<p>Louisa was now weeping violently. "Ah, you don't, you can't know, +what it is to live as I do. And I felt so sure +that—you—could help me; but you can't, I know now, for +grandmamma wouldn't listen to 'a governess.' She is so bitter against +anyone that teaches, because of papa. But I can't, and won't, stand this +miserable life much longer—I will not!" she continued +passionately, as with compressed lips and clenched hands she started to +her feet, while the angry flashing eyes and determined countenance told +of strong will and firm resolution. "If I was a boy," she said, +"I would run away and go to sea; but I am only a girl, and there is +so little that a girl can do. But I will find some way to escape before +long, if things continue like this—that I will!" and she stamped +her foot impatiently upon the ground. Isabel could scarcely believe that +the passionate girl before her was indeed the same child who had sat at +her side so meekly not a moment before. She no longer paid any attention +to Louisa's complaints. Her thoughts were far away with the only one in +whom she had ever seen this sudden transition from persuasive gentleness +to stormy anger; for the proud, passionate girl brought him vividly to +her mind, though the wide ocean rolled between them. She saw again the +proud curling lip, and the dark expressive eyes, which one moment would +beam on her in love, and the next flash with angry light and stern +displeasure; the haughty mien and proud defiance, blended with a strange +fascinating gentleness, that had won her heart. The time was present to +her imagination, when with passionate entreaty he had urged upon her the +necessity for a secret marriage, and in fondest accents implored her not +to refuse, as he was positive that her father would never consent to +their union; and his fearful burst of passion when she most entirely, +though tearfully, refused to accede to his request. Even now she +trembled as she recalled +<span class = "pagenum">26</span> +the angry terms in which he reproached her, and the indignant manner in +which he had expressed his conviction that she did not love him; and +that all henceforth was at an end between them. How he left her in great +wrath; but soon after returned, and in the most humble manner deplored +his cruelty and hateful temper, and in gentlest strains implored her +forgiveness. But her musings were rather abruptly terminated by Louisa +exclaiming: "Oh! tell me what is the matter. Your hand is quite cold, +and you are trembling all over. What have I done? what shall I do?" she +continued, wringing her hands in despair.</p> + +<p>"I cannot talk to you any more now, Louisa dear," replied Isabel, +"but I will tell Ada about you, and perhaps she may be able to help you; +but you really must not get into such dreadful passions. I can't +have you stay any longer, as I wish to be alone."</p> + +<p>"But why do you tremble and look so pale?" asked Louisa, mournfully. +"Is it so dreadful to be a governess?"</p> + +<p>"I was not thinking of that dear," answered Isabel, kissing her +"good-night. <!-- misplaced quote --> Mind you try to be a good +girl."</p> + +<p>So Louisa was dismissed, fully persuaded in her own mind that she had +nearly frightened Isabel to death by her passionate behaviour.</p> + +<p>After waiting a moderate time to recover herself, Isabel joined the +others in the drawing-room. Fortunately, they went to dinner almost +immediately, as she felt anything but inclined to make herself +agreeable; and as Lady Ashton, as usual, was kind enough to furnish her +with a companion who appeared to be a quiet, inoffensive individual, she +treated him with polite indifference. She was deceived, however, in her +opinion regarding Mr. Lascelles. The man was an 'ass,' and a 'magpie,' +and appeared to like nothing better than to hear his own voice. However, +this suited Isabel tolerably on this occasion, as an 'indeed,' or +'really,' was all that was needed by way of reply; and he was forced +sometimes to stop to enable him to eat, and this kept him from being +oppressive. But as he found her so good a listener, there was no getting +rid of him; for when the gentlemen joined the ladies in the +drawing-room, he devoted himself entirely to Miss Leicester—to +Lucy's intense amusement. At last Ada grew compassionate, and got +Charles to ask Isabel to sing, and to introduce Mr. Lascelles to Miss +Cleaver. It was a tedious evening, and Isabel +<span class = "pagenum">27</span> +was heartily glad that they were to return to Elm Grove. Life there was +at all events endurable, which the life she had spent for the last week +was certainly not. She was sick and tired of hearing the oft-repeated +question and answer, "Who is that young lady?"—"Oh, the governess +at Elm Grove;" and most emphatically determined that she would never +stay at the Park again, let who might be offended.</p> + +<p>Neither could she help drawing comparisons between this and her +former life, nor deny that she felt it severely. But the warm welcome +she received from the children on her return to the Grove, went far +towards dispersing these gloomy thoughts.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">28</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER V.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capA.png" width = "36" height = "42" +align = "left" alt = "A" title = "A (A pic-nic)"> pic-nic</span> was +decided upon for Emily's birthday—the fourth of August. It was a +lovely day, and every thing seemed propitious. And a merrier party +seldom started on a pleasure excursion, than the one which now was +assembled under the trees at Elm Grove. The guests were Sir John and +Lady Ashton, Charles, and the Morningtons, Lilly and Peter Rosecrain, +May Arlington (a cousin), the Harringtons and the Hon. Arthur +Barrington, the latter had not arrived, but had promised to meet them at +their destination. Emily was in ecstasy, and the children quite wild +with delight. All Isabel's endeavors to keep them in order were useless, +and Lucy announced, that every one must be allowed to do just as he or +she pleased, or there would be no fun. Lucy volunteered to go with the +children if they could procure a driver. "Any one would do, excepting +Mr. Everard Arlington, as of course the children would be too much in +awe of him, as he could be awefully <!-- awfully --> grave."</p> + +<p>Peter immediately offered his services, unless he was too stern and +sedate. This caused a laugh, as Peter was renowned for fun.</p> + +<p>The place chosen for the pic-nic was a delightful spot, (quite +romantic Emily declared) situated at the bottom of a beautiful ravine, +within a short distance of a splendid water fall yclept the "old roar," +the dashing spray of its gurgling waters making quite refreshing +music.</p> + +<p>"Now Emily, you are queen to-day, and all that you say is law," cried +the laughing Lucy, when they arrived at their destination. "Now master +Bob, be on your P's and Q's, and find a nice place to spread the royal +feast."</p> + +<p>"I think that you are making yourself queen on this occasion and no +mistake," returned the saucy Bob.</p> + +<p>"Well, I am prime minister you know, so make haste and obey my +commands."</p> + +<p>"Self constituted I fancy," returned Bob with a shrug.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">29</span> +"May I ask what important office is to be assigned me on this festive +occasion," asked Peter.</p> + +<p>"That of queen's jester, of course," replied Lucy gravely.</p> + +<p>"You do me too much honor Miss Lucy," he said, bowing with mock +humility.</p> + +<p>"I'm quite aware of that," answered Lucy demurely.</p> + +<p>A desirable place was soon found in a shady nook, and the repast was +spread, to which it is almost needless to add they all did ample +justice.</p> + +<p>Just as they sat down, Arthur made his appearance, bringing Louisa +Aubray with him. If a look could have done it Lady Ashton would have +annihilated him, so fearfully angry was she at his daring to bring her +grand daughter in this manner, upon his own responsibility.</p> + +<p>"I found Louisa very disconsolate and unhappy, and I thought a little +recreation would be good for her, Aunty. I feel sure that Mrs. +Arlington will excuse the liberty I have taken," he added with a smile +and bow.</p> + +<p>"Pray don't mention it, <!-- missing " --> replied Mrs. Arlington +thus appealed to, <!-- missing " --> I am only too happy to have Miss +Aubray join us. Alice my dear, make room for Miss Aubray."</p> + +<p>Louisa sat with her large mournful eyes cast down, tho' occasionally +she threw furtive glances at her grandmother's darkened countenance, and +seemed to be doing anything but enjoying herself. And no wonder poor +child, for she was sure of a terrible scolding sooner or later. Arthur +paid attention to the ladies generally, with whom he was a great +favorite.</p> + +<p>Louisa ate her dinner almost in silence, tho' Alice did her best to +draw her out. But poor girl, she was calculating the chances of being +left alone with her angry grandmother when they dispersed after dinner, +and almost wished she had not yielded to Arthur's persuasions, as he had +apparently deserted her. But he was much too considerate and kind +hearted for that, he had brought her there to enjoy herself, and it +would not be his fault if she didn't. They began dispersing by twos and +threes to explore the beauties of the place, and Louisa's heart sank +within her, as she saw their numbers diminishing fast, and that Arthur +too had disappeared.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">30</span> +The children asked Isabel to come and see Rose's bower, and after a +short consultation, Alice invited Louisa to join them, but Lady Ashton +interposed.</p> + +<p>"I had much rather you remained with me my dear," she said curtly. +And Louisa reseated herself with a great sigh as the others started on +their ramble. For the children had much too great an awe of Lady Ashton, +to attempt to intercede on Louisa's behalf, and if the truth must be +told, they didn't much care for her company. So Louisa was left alone +with the elders, who were not in such haste to move after their repast +as the young people.</p> + +<p>"Come Louisa, let us follow the example of the rest," said Arthur +reappearing.</p> + +<p>"I have ordered Louisa to remain here, interposed Lady Ashton +sternly." <!-- misplaced quote --></p> + +<p>"Oh! Aunt," remonstrated Arthur.</p> + +<p>"I don't approve of her coming at all, but as she is here +she—"</p> + +<p>"May as well enjoy herself," put in Arthur.</p> + +<p>"Arthur," ejaculated Lady Ashton, in her most freezing tone.</p> + +<p>"But Aunt," <!-- extra " --> you see that she is the only young lady +left, and you wouldn't be so cruel as to condemn me to wander alone +through these picturesque ravines."</p> + +<p>"You can stay here, and amuse us old people," returned Lady Ashton +grimly.</p> + +<p>Arthur shrugged his shoulders and elevated his eye-brows, by way of +reply.</p> + +<p>"Oh! that is too much to expect," interposed Mrs. Arlington kindly, +"I think you should relent Josephine."</p> + +<p>"But you know that I refused to let her go with Miss Leicester and +the children."</p> + +<p>"Oh! did you," interrupted Arthur, "that was too bad."</p> + +<p>"Come Louisa, we will try and find them," and off he marched her from +under Lady Ashton's very nose, as Louisa felt bold with Arthur to back +her, and she knew that she could not increase the weight of censure +already incured<!-- incurred -->—she also longed to get out of her +grandmother's presence on any terms.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">31</span> +Rose's bower (so called from Rose having been the first to discover it) +was some distance up the winding path. It was a nice little nook, +thickly shaded on all sides, having a small aperture in the west, and +was completely covered with wild flowers of every description. The +ascent was very difficult, for they had quite to force their way through +the underwood. They arrived at last, tired and breathless, but the wild +secluded beauty of the spot quite repaid them for their trouble. Isabel +was in raptures, and expressed her admiration in no measured terms to +the delighted children.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Everard, how did you find us," exclaimed Alice, as that +gentleman made his appearance, "I thought no one knew of this place +but ourselves."</p> + +<p>"Oh I followed just to see to what unheard of spot you were taking +Miss Leicester," replied Everard good-naturedly.</p> + +<p>"Then you might have joined us, and not have crept after us in that +mean way." <!-- . for , --> said Rose angrily.</p> + +<p>"Rose, my dear Rose, you must not speak in that way." <!-- . for , +--> interposed Isabel authoritatively.</p> + +<p>"Oh Rose, don't you like Everard to come," asked Amy +reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"I don't like him to come in that way." <!-- . for , --> returned +Rose.</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't you like to gather some of those black berries," asked +Everard, after they had rested a while.</p> + +<p>"O yes," they all exclaimed, "what beauties," and off they scampered. +Isabel was about to follow, but Everard interposed, "Stay, Miss +Leicester, I have long sought an opportunity to address you, and +can no longer delay—I must speak—"</p> + +<p>Isabel would have made her escape, but that Everard stood between her +and the only available opening. She knew that he was about to propose, +and would gladly have prevented it if possible, but as it was, there was +no reprieve—he would do it.</p> + +<p>How signally had she failed, notwithstanding all her efforts, for she +could not but feel, that she had not succeeded in making clear to him, +her own ideas on the subject, or this would not have been. How sorry she +was now, that she had allowed the fear of being unnecessarily cool to +influence her conduct,—yet at the same time, +<span class = "pagenum">32</span> +she could not accuse herself of having given him any encouragement. Yet, +how far was he from anticipating a refusal, and how unprepared to +receive it. She saw it, there was no doubt manifested in the eager +expressive eyes, in the warm impulsive manner blended with a gentle +earnestness that might have won the heart of a girl whose affections +were disengaged. He looked so handsome, so loveable, that Isabel felt +she might indeed have been content to take him, had not her affections +been given to another, and she grieved to think of the pain she must +inflict.</p> + +<p>It might have been easier if he had not looked so bright and hopeful +about it, or if she could have told him of her engagement, but that was +out of the question, he seemed so certain of success, so utterly +unconscious of the fate that awaited him, that she could have wept, but +resolutely repressing her tears, she waited with heightening color to +hear the words that were to be so kindly, yet so vainly spoken.</p> + +<p>"Dearest Isabel," he said in accents soft and winning. "I have +loved you ever since I first saw you on that Sunday afternoon, and all +that I have seen of you since, has only increased my esteem. But of late +you have been more retiring than formerly, and I have even thought that +you avoided me sometimes, thinking I fear, that my attentions (to use a +common phrase) meant nothing, but that is not the case, I am not +one of those, who merely to gratify their own vanity, would endeavor to +win affection, which they do not,—cannot return. No dearest, +I love you truly, unalterably,—will you then accept my love, +and give me the right and the inexpressibly pleasure to share all your +joys and sorrows. Tell me dear Isabel, will you be my wife."</p> + +<p>She was trembling—almost gasping, and he would have aided her +with his supporting arm, but she sank away from him sobbing "It can +never, never be."</p> + +<p>"Why do you say that Isabel," he asked reproachfully, while the +expression of his countenance became that of unmitigated sorrow.</p> + +<p>"Even could I return your affection," she answered more calmly, "It +would not be right to accept you under the circumstances. Your parents +would consider, that as their governess, I ought to know my duty +better."</p> + +<p>"What difference could your being the governess make," he asked.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">33</span> +"Every difference in their opinion."</p> + +<p>"But as I am the only son, of course they would raise no +objection."</p> + +<p>"That makes it the more certain that they would do so," she +replied.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Isabel" he exclaimed passionately, "do not reason in this cool +way, when my whole life will be happy or miserable as you make it. +I am not changeable, I shall not cease to love you while I +live."</p> + +<p>"Oh! do not say that I have so much influence upon your happiness Mr. +Arlington," returned Isabel much affected. "You must not think of me +otherwise than as a friend, a kind friend—a dear friend +if you will, but I can never be anything more."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Isabel, dear Isabel, do not refuse me thus, you do not know, +indeed you do not, how true a heart you are crushing, what fervent love +you are rejecting. Only let me hope that time may change your +feelings."</p> + +<p>"Do not think that I undervalue the love you offer, but it is +impossible—quite impossible that we can ever be more to each other +than at present. I would not raise false hopes or allow you to +indulge them. I do not, cannot return your affections, I can +never be your wife, it is utterly impossible."</p> + +<p>"You love another Isabel, else why impossible. Perhaps, even now you +are the promised bride of another, tell me if this is the case," he said +tho' his voice faltered.</p> + +<p>"You are presuming Mr. Arlington, you have no right to ask this +question," she replied with glowing cheeks.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me if I have offended," he said.</p> + +<p>"I think that this interview has lasted long enough—too long in +fact. I will now join the children if you please."</p> + +<p>"One moment more, say that we do not part in anger."</p> + +<p>"In anger, no, we are good friends I trust," she answered, smiling +very sweetly.</p> + +<p>"My dream of happiness is over," he said sadly, almost tearfully as +he took her offered hand.</p> + +<p>Isabel had some difficulty in finding the children on such a wild +<span class = "pagenum">34</span> +place. When she did so, she found Arthur and Louisa with them. Louisa +was looking bright and animated, very different to what she had done +during dinner, and was laughing and joining in the general +conversation.</p> + +<p>"We are taking Mr. Barrington and Louisa to the bower," cried Rose as +they drew near.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid we shall be rather late," answered Isabel.</p> + +<p>"But you surely wouldn't have us return without seeing this wonderful +bower, after undergoing all this fatigue," inquired Arthur.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not, but I would rather be excused climbing up there again +to-day. I will wait here until you come back." <!-- . for , --> +returned Isabel.</p> + +<p>"Where is Everard." <!-- . for , or ? --> asked Alice.</p> + +<p>"I left him at the bower," <!-- , for . --></p> + +<p>"I think I will wait with Miss Leicester," said Amy, "I'm so very +tired."</p> + +<p>"Yes do," cried Rose, "for then we shall not be half so long +gone."</p> + +<p>Isabel sat down on the lovely green sward, and the tired child +reclined beside her. Amy was so thoroughly worn out that she lay +perfectly quiet, and Isabel was left to her own reflections, and these +were by no means pleasant. Her conversation with Everard had cast a +gloom over her spirits, she no longer took pleasure in the ramble or in +the beautiful scenery around her, all the brightness of the day was +gone, and why, he was not the first rejected suitor, but she had never +felt like this with regard to the others. But then she had been the rich +Miss Leicester, and it was so easy to imagine that she was courted for +her wealth, but in the present instance it was different. Nothing but +true disinterested love could have prompted him, and she felt hurt and +grieved to think that she was the object of such warm affection to one +who she esteemed so highly, when her affections were already engaged. +She had seen how deeply her answer pained him, yet had not dared to +answer his question. Could she tell him what she had not dared to reveal +to her dying father? No; tho' could she have done so, it might have made +it easier for Everard to forget her. When they reached the place of +rendezvous, they found the rest +<span class = "pagenum">35</span> +of the party including Everard, already assembled, and Peter was +declaring that it was utterly impossible to return without having some +refreshments, after the immense fatigue they had all undergone in +exploring the beauties of the surrounding country. Most of the party +were of the same opinion, so forthwith he and Bob Mornington proceeded +to ransack the hampers, and distributed the contents in the most +primitive manner imaginable, to the amusement of the company generally, +and to the extreme disgust of Grace Arlington in particular. And then +there was a general move to the carriages. After they arrived at Elm +Grove, Lady Ashton insisted upon Louisa returning to the park at once. +Several voices were raised in her behalf, but in vain, Lady Ashton was +inexorable, and telling Louisa to say good bye to Mrs. Arlington, she +hurried her away, and desired Sunmers <!-- sic --> the coachman to drive +Miss Aubray home and return for her at twelve.</p> + +<p>Arthur followed and remonstrated.</p> + +<p>"Arthur, say no more," returned Lady Ashton decisively. +"I consider you took a great liberty in bringing her, and I will +not allow her to remain."</p> + +<p>"Since you are quite sure that it is best for her to go, I will +drive her home, she need not go alone in the great carriage, like a +naughty child sent home in disgrace," he answered laughing.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, Arthur, don't be so absurd," said Lady Ashton tartly.</p> + +<p>"Indeed my dear Aunt, as I persuaded her to come I positively could +not have her treated so unceremoniously," he replied. "Here Thomson," he +called to the man who was about to take Archer to the stable, and the +next moment he had handed the mistified <!-- mystified --> Louisa into +the chaise, leaving the astonished Lady Ashton crimson with rage.</p> + +<p>"Adieu Aunty" he cried, gathering up the ribbons, "I must trust +to you to make my apologies to Mrs. Arlington, <!-- missing " --> and +off he drove. Lady Ashton re-entered the house, inwardly vowing +vengeance against the unlucky Louisa, tho' she met Mrs. Arlington with a +smile, saying, "that Arthur had begged her to apologize, as he had +thought it incumbent upon him to drive his cousin home, as it was +entirely his fault that she had come, and you know," she added with a +little laugh, "how scrupulously polite he is to every one—."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">36</span> +To Lady Ashton's great chagrin, this was the last that was seen of +Arthur at Elm Grove that night, and she would have been still more +annoyed had she known how thoroughly he and Louisa were enjoying +themselves over their game of chess, notwithstanding Miss Crosse's +exemplary vigilance.</p> + +<p>The evening was spent in various amusements, and the company +dispersed at a late hour, all highly satisfied, and voting the pic-nic a +complete success.</p> + +<p>After the guests had departed, Isabel had occasion to go into the +school-room for a book, and as the beautiful harvest moon was shining so +brightly, she stood a moment at the open window to enjoy the lovely +prospect. Hearing some one enter the room, she turned and encountered +Everard. She would have retreated, but Everard gently detained her, +"promise me Miss Leicester," he said, "that what passed between us this +afternoon shall make no difference to your arrangements, you will not +think of leaving, for I should never forgive myself for having deprived +my sisters of the benefit of your society if you do."</p> + +<p>"I could scarcely do so if I wished," she replied with a sigh.</p> + +<p>"Only say that you do not wish it," returned Everard earnestly.</p> + +<p>"I do not, you have all been so kind, so very kind to me, that I +should be very sorry to leave, nor could I do so very easily as I have +no home."</p> + +<p>"Dear Isabel, why not accept the home I offer you?"</p> + +<p>"Stay Mr. Arlington, say no more. You must promise not to recur to +that subject again, or however unpleasant it may be to do so, +I shall have no alternative, but must seek another situation."</p> + +<p>"I will make it a forbidden subject while you remain at Elm Grove if +you wish it," he said doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"It must be so Mr. Arlington; good night."</p> + +<p>When Isabel entered her own room she found Emily there.</p> + +<p>"Dear Isabel," she said, after seating herself on a low stool at +Isabel's feet, "what a delightful day this has been, O I'm so +happy," and she hid her face in Isabel's lap. "I cannot go to +Grace, so I come to you," she continued, "You are more sympathetic and +seem to understand me better. Not but what Grace has always been kind +enough, but I always am rather in +<span class = "pagenum">37</span> +awe of her, and you have just been the friend I always wanted. Oh! +Isabel, you don't know how much good you have done me. You have taught +me to think more of right and wrong, and to consider duty as well as +pleasure, and to think of others as well as myself. I know now, +that Miss Massie was right when she said that I was wilful and selfish, +and had no consideration for others, tho' at the time she said it I +thought her severe and unjust. Before you came here, I made up my +mind to be kind to you, and to try to like you, (tho' I own that I +thought it very improbable that I should do so in reality) but you know, +my Godmother Mrs. Arnold had written me, that I must be kind to you and +love you, under pain of her displeasure, but when I saw how pretty you +were, I thought it would not be a difficult task. Now I have +learned to love you for yourself, because you are good as well as +beautiful."</p> + +<p>"Oh! stop, you little flatterer, you will make me vain," said Isabel +kissing her. "If I have done you any good, I am very glad indeed," +she added in a more serious tone, "I have endeavored to do my duty, +but I am afraid that I have not succeeded very well."</p> + +<p>"O yes, indeed you have, but what do you think that I came here to +tell you dear."</p> + +<p>Isabel confessed that it was useless to attempt to guess as the day +had been such an eventful one, and offered so large a scope for the +imagination.</p> + +<p>"Well if you won't guess I must tell you deary, I'm engaged to Harry +Mornington."</p> + +<p>"May you be very, very happy dear Emily," said Isabel returning her +embrace. Then, unable any longer to sustain the composure she had forced +herself to assume, she laid her head upon Emily's shoulder and wept +passionately.</p> + +<p>"What can make this affect you thus," asked the amazed and astonished +Emily, greatly distressed, "Oh! Isabel is it possible that you love him, +how unfortunate that I should have chosen you for my confidant, but I +didn't know, I never thought, or believe me I would not have pained +you thus. You said that he had always been like a brother to you, how +could I know that you ever thought he would be anything more. Indeed, +<!-- missing " --> she added as if to vindicate Harry, "I never saw +anything in his manner to lead you to suppose so."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">38</span> +"You are quite mistaken dear Emily," interposed Isabel, as soon as she +could control her sobs sufficiently to give utterance to the words "I +never thought or wished that Harry should ever be more to me than the +dear friend he has ever been. But I have many sources of trouble that +you are not aware of dear Emily, and to-day, while others laughed, +I could have wept, and would gladly have exchanged that gay scene, +for the quiet of my own room. But this could not be, and I was forced to +assume a serenity of feeling I was far from experiencing. Had you not +been here, I should have given vent to my grief in solitude, and +none would have been the wiser. As it is I must entreat that you will +forgive me for (tho' unintentionally) making you suppose I do not +sympathize in your happiness, but I do indeed, for I know that Harry is +all that is good, and is worthy of your best affections."</p> + +<p>"Dear Isabel, will you not tell me your troubles," inquired Emily, +"for ills lose half their weight by being shared with another."</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell you dear, but for the present I will forget my +uneasiness in sharing your happiness."</p> + +<p>Then after a long and pleasant conversation they parted, both amazed +at the late, or rather early hour which at that moment struck.</p> + +<p>"By-the-bye," said Emily, coming back after a few minutes "papa gave +me this letter for you two days ago, but I quite forgot it until I saw +it just now."</p> + +<p>"O you naughty, naughty girl," cried Isabel, looking very bright as +she beheld the familiar epistle.</p> + +<p>"No more tears to-night I fancy, eh Isabel," said Emily saucily. +"Don't sit up to read it to-night, it is so very late," she added +wickedly, her eyes sparkling with mischief.</p> + +<p>All else was soon forgotten as Isabel eagerly perused the welcome +letter from her own Louis, whose silence had been one source of her +disquietude. But Louis accounted for his silence to her entire +satisfaction, and promised to send an extra one at an early date.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">39</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER VI.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capI.png" width = "30" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "I" title = "I (Isabel)">sabel</span> was to spend +this Xmas with the Morningtons, who with with the exception of Harry, +were to return to Europe in February. It was very rough weather, and +Isabel had much such a journey as that to Elm Grove, and was in a very +similar condition to what she had been on that occasion. On her arrival +at Eastwood, Ada embracing her exclaimed "Oh! here you are at last my +own darling Isabel, I have been watching for you all day, papa was +sadly afraid of accidents this stormy weather, and Bob kept bringing +such dreadful accounts of trains being snowed up, that he nearly +frightened me to death. Papa has been to the depot three times, and +Harry twice, and missed you after all. But do come and warm yourself +dearest, for you seem half frozen," she continued as she hurried Isabel +into the cosy little breakfast-room, where the bright fire was indeed a +pleasant sight on such a bitterly cold day.</p> + +<p>"We met with several disagreeable stoppages, but nothing worse" +replied Isabel, her teeth chattering with cold. "I am sadly chilled +with this piercing wind, Oh! this is nice" she added going to the fire, +"and it is so very pleasant to be at 'Eastwood' once more."</p> + +<p>"Why here is Isabel I declare," cried the impulsive Lucy, as she +bounded into the room, "how delightful, you will help me to arrange the +gim-cracks on the Xmas tree, won't you my pet," said the merry girl as +she threw her arms round her friend, and hugged her unmercifully.</p> + +<p>"To be sure I will, when I recover the use of my fingers," returned +Isabel laughing.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't want you to come now, for if I am a little madcap as +papa says, I'm not quite so unreasonable as that," Lucy answered, +seating herself upon an ottoman. "Here I am your humble servant to +command what orders for your slave, most noble Isabel of Leicester. You +have but to speak and I obey."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">40</span> +"Do be sensible Lucy and let mamma know that Isabel has come," said Ada +reprovingly.</p> + +<p>"I go," answered Lucy with mock gravity, "to usher my illustrious +mother to the presence of the noble Isabel of Leicester."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Lucy, just the same nonsensical," laughed Isabel.</p> + +<p>"Alas, I fear that it will be the same to the end of the chapter," +sighed the incorrigible Lucy as she left the room. She soon returned +bringing the other members of the family with her, and Isabel received a +very warm welcome. She could not help shedding tears of happiness and +gratitude, when Mrs. Mornington embracing her said, "ever look upon this +as your home dear child, whenever you like to come you will always find +us glad to see you," and Mr. Mornington added in his kindly tone "yes, +yes, always remember Isabel my dear, that while I have a roof over my +head, you have still a home, and kind friends to welcome you."</p> + +<p>On being conducted to her room, she found the best was given her as +of old; it was evident that her altered circumstances made no difference +at Eastwood.</p> + +<p>Happy days were these which Isabel spent with her dearest friends. +Bob's party went off with great <i>eclat</i>, <!-- no accent --> and the +perfect success of the Xmas trees was owing to Isabel's tasteful +arrangement.</p> + +<p>The Ashtons arrived on New Year's Eve, for Ada was to be married on +twelfth day. Lady Ashton was very much surprised to find how very +partial the Morningtons were to Isabel, they consulted her on all +occasions, and her advice was almost invariably taken. This annoyed Lady +Ashton extremely, and she often succeeded in vexing her, and making her +feel very uncomfortable. But Lady Ashton's disagreeable behaviour did +not annoy Isabel so much as at Ashton Park. Here among her best friends, +she could even think of herself as a governess without experiencing the +same degree of mortification as formerly, but she was still very +sensitive upon that point.</p> + +<p>Lady Ashton had noticed that her nephew, The Honorable Arthur +Barrington was very attentive to Miss Leicester, this raised her ire, +and she was determined to prevent it—she resolved to put a stop to +it, so seeing him seated next Isabel at dinner, she asked her across the +table how her little pupils were when she left them, and if Mrs. +Arlington had granted extra holidays, as she could scarcely get back by +the end of the usual Xmas vacation." <!-- extra " --></p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">41</span> +Isabel grew scarlet as she replied "that they were quite well when she +left them, and that she did not return until the first of February."</p> + +<p>Lady Ashton was gratified to see that she was successful so far. +Isabel was no longer the same attentive listener to all Arthur's stories +of marvellous adventures, (for she was both hurt and angry, as the +question was evidently intended to annoy—for as Emily had come to +Eastwood with the Ashtons, Lady Ashton had later intelligence from Elm +Grove than she could possibly give) and Arthur finding her pre-occupied, +transferred his attention to Mabel Ainsley, so that Isabel was left to +the mercy of a queer old gentleman who sat next her on the other side, +who was exceedingly deaf, and stuttered dreadfully. Nor did Lady +Ashton's evident satisfaction tend to make her feel more at ease, so +that she was heartily glad when this to her most tedious dinner was +over. But she had a worse attack to endure, for when the ladies reached +the drawing-room, Lady Ashton said in the most annoying tone, +"I should not have mentioned your pupils if I had had any idea that +you would have been so painfully affected by my doing so, at the same +time rest assured my dear Miss Leicester——."</p> + +<p>"Pray don't mention it Lady Ashton," replied Isabel coldly, "any +apology is quite unnecessary."</p> + +<p>"You mistake my meaning Miss Leicester," replied Lady Ashton stiffly, +"I am not aware of having anything to apologize for," she added +with a contemptuous little laugh, "I was about to say" she +continued, "that the sooner you overcome this feeling the better. You +ought not to be ashamed of earning an honest living——."</p> + +<p>"Nor am I ashamed of it," replied Isabel with dignity, "at least I +hope not."</p> + +<p>"I am glad that you qualify your denial, as your crimson cheeks both +now and during dinner are ample proof that I am right. But (as I was +about to say, when you interrupted me so rudely) from my observations, +I thought it high time that Mr. Barrington should be reminded of +your position, as I know that his father would never allow him to marry +a governess, of course it is no disgrace to be a governess, still, it is +not from that class of persons that Arthur should choose a wife."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid that you have taken unnecessary trouble, Lady +<span class = "pagenum">42</span> +Ashton," returned Isabel, "I am convinced that my position is of no +consequence to Mr. Barrington, any more than his is to me. I assure +you that you have made a great mistake."</p> + +<p>"It is nonsense for a girl in your circumstances to pretend such +indifference, I am not deceived, I know that you would be only +too glad to make such a match, and he is just foolish enough to take a +fancy to a pretty face. But I warn you not to encourage him, as it will +only end in misery to you both, as Lord Barrington would never +consent."</p> + +<p>"Really, Lady Ashton, I do not know what right you have to insult me +in this manner, I cannot permit it," said Isabel, and then with +dignified composure she crossed the room to Ada, who was scarcely less +annoyed than herself, at Lady Ashton's unprovoked attack.</p> + +<p>This little scene had afforded no little amusement to the party +generally, tho' all agreed that it was too bad of Lady Ashton, and very +ill-natured.</p> + +<p>Lady Ashton, however, had miscalculated the effect of the course she +had pursued, for Arthur Barrington was annoyed at her interference, and +being really good-natured he was even more than ever attentive to +Isabel, and endeavored as much as possible to atone for his aunt's +disagreeable behaviour, while Isabel (being convinced that Lady Ashton +had nothing to warrant her conjecture, but her own surmises,) made no +alteration in her manners. She found him a very agreeable companion, and +imagined that he too found her society pleasant, as indeed he did, +beautiful, accomplished, and good-natured, how could she be otherwise +than attractive. But Lady Ashton's chagrin knew no bounds, and she told +Isabel that she should certainly let Mrs. Arlington know how very unfit +a person she was to have the care of her daughters. She had always been +surprised at her having such a very young person, but she had heard that +it was out of charity, but there was such a thing as carrying that much +abused virtue too far.</p> + +<p>Stooping lower over her tatting, Isabel only smiled at the harmless +threat, for whatever her failings might be, Mrs. Arlington was not over +ready to believe evil of any one, and seldom did so without due cause. +Moreover, she was not easily influenced by others, and her decisions +were usually just. But the hot blood suffused her cheeks as Lady Ashton +concluded. Fortunately Lucy entered the room, and then her ladyship was +or appeared to be +<span class = "pagenum">43</span> +deeply engaged with her book, as having before been worsted in a combat +of sharp speeches with that young lady, she by no means wished for a +renewal of hostilities.</p> + +<p>Isabel was invariably made low spirited by one of Lady Ashton's +ill-natured attacks, especially so to-day, as the insults she had +received were particularly painful, being both unfeeling and uncalled +for. However, upon retiring to her own room at night, she found upon the +dressing table a letter, the contents of which soon dispersed all gloomy +thoughts, and Lady Ashton's rudeness was quite forgotten.</p> + +<p>Louis, her own dear Louis, wrote that he would return in the early +spring. My uncle he said, has or is about to purchase for me a practice +in H——, so that I trust dearest, the period of your teaching +will not be of long duration, as there will then be no cause to delay +our union. I already in perspective, seem to see you my own +dearest, presiding over my bright fireside in H——, the joy +of my heart, and the good angel of my home.</p> + +<p>I trust that you have made no arrangement with Mrs. Arlington but +such as can easily terminate upon a short notice. I would not +advise your taking any steps at present, as my uncle does not say +positively that the purchase is absolutely made. But at all events you +may depend upon seeing me in the early spring, as I have his orders to +return.</p> + +<p>The darkest hour is just before dawn. She had been so truly wretched +an hour ago, and now how radiantly happy she was. Ah, with what sweet +visions of a bright unclouded future did she fall asleep, to dream of +her loved one far away, soon to be distant no longer.</p> + +<p>When Isabel descended to the breakfast-room next morning, she looked +so bright and happy, that Lady Ashton could account for it in no other +way than that Arthur had proposed, and that she had accepted him, so she +taxed him with it accordingly. Arthur was excessively amused, and so +archly evaded giving a direct answer, that she became the more convinced +of the truth of her own surmises, and grew so wrathy that Arthur fearing +that in her anger she might annoy Miss Leicester, at length assured her +that she need be under no apprehension, as nothing was farther from his +thoughts.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">44</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER VII.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capOq.png" width = "68" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "O" title = "O (Oh)">h</span>, Isabel, mama says I +may stay until the first, and then we can return together, won't that be +charming," said Emily, as she came into Isabel's room on the following +day, holding an open letter in her hand. "You can't think how glad I am +to escape the escort of that tiresome Lady Ashton."</p> + +<p>"I certainly should not imagine that she would make a very pleasant +travelling companion," returned Isabel, laughing. "Don't mention it +pray," exclaimed Emily, "you have no idea what I endured coming down. +Poor Charles, he must have been almost worried to death, she is such a +horrid tease, and the old gentleman too, is an awful fidget. +I think Arthur Barrington knew what he was about, when he refused +to be of our party, and went on by express. Talking of Lady Ashton, how +abominably she behaves to you. I was saying so to Harry the other +day, and he really seemed quite hurt about it. He said that he saw what +she was at the other day at dinner, and was very much annoyed. Then I +told him that was nothing to what took place afterwards, and related +what she said to you in the drawing room."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Emily, how could you," exclaimed Isabel.</p> + +<p>"Ah now don't be cross with me, Isabel, darling. I really +couldn't resist, it was so supremely absurd. Do you know, that that +little goose, Ada, cried her eyes out about it that night, and then in +again next morning." "I know that Ada was very much hurt at Lady +Ashton's rudeness," replied Isabel.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure that I was as angry and annoyed as any of them, but for the +life of me I can't help laughing whenever I think of it. But confess +now, Isabel, are you not desperately in love with Arthur +Barrington—come tell the truth."</p> + +<p>"Well, the truth is, no, most decidedly not," Isabel answered, +laughing.</p> + +<p>"Ah, now, I'm quite disappointed, for I had made up my mind to that +match, if only to aggravate Lady Ashton. She has no +<span class = "pagenum">45</span> +influence in that quarter, as anyone may see; and he is so decidedly +'smitten."' <!-- switched sgl/dbl quo --></p> + +<p>"What nonsense you talk, Emily."</p> + +<p>"It is not nonsense. I assure you that I mean what I say. Ah, my +dear, you had better consider the matter. Second thoughts, you know, are +sometimes best. He is a very nice fellow, and his father is immensely +rich. You can have him if you choose: I am sharp enough to see +that."</p> + +<p>"But then you see I don't choose," returned Isabel, much amused. +"Besides, I think that you are quite mistaken."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you silly Isabel, how can you be so provokingly stupid? By the +bye, what a little namby-pamby thing that Mabel Ainsley is. What Lucy +can see in her to like, passes my comprehension."</p> + +<p>"I presume it must be because Lucy is so different, and then Mabel is +so pliant, which no doubt suits, as Lucy is fond of taking the +lead."</p> + +<p>"They say that likes go by contraries; but as far as my observations +go, it is seldom the case," observed Emily.</p> + +<p>"A similarity of tastes and ideas is usually more attractive; but +then, 'novelty's charming,' you know," responded Isabel.</p> + +<p>"I do wish that we could get up a fancy ball—a private +masquerade, you know. I was speaking to Ada and Lucy about it last +night. I said that I would be night, and Lucy thought you ought to +be morning."</p> + +<p>"I hope they will give up the idea, as I really could not take part +in it," interrupted Isabel.</p> + +<p>"Why not—what harm could there be? What makes you so +fastidious, Isabel?"</p> + +<p>"It is not that, dear Emily;" <!-- extra " --> but I have very +painful associations connected with a private masquerade, the only one +that I ever went to. That night poor papa received the sad news of his +failure; and in the midst of that gay scene, I received a summons +to return, as my papa was alarmingly ill, and scarcely expected to live +through the night. He never recovered, though he lingered for some weeks +afterwards. Can you wonder then, dear Emily, that even the idea of such +a thing is painful in the extreme?"</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">46</span> +"I'm very sorry that I proposed it," returned Emily, much concerned. +"I will tell Ada what you say, and we will get up some other +amusement: so don't think any more about it, dear;" and giving Isabel a +hasty kiss, she left her.</p> + +<p>The sixth was a bright, cloudless day—the dazzling whiteness of +the frozen snow, and the deep blue of the sky, forming a beautiful +contrast. The weather was cold, not intensely so, and the trees looked +splendid, as their ice-covered boughs glistened and sparkled in the +sunlight; and the merry jingle of the sleigh-bells was quite enlivening. +The wedding was quite a grand affair, and passed off with great +<i>eclat</i>.</p> + +<p>Charles and Ada were to travel for three weeks, and then join the +Ashtons and Morningtons at Boston, and proceed to the old country +together.</p> + +<p>The Ashtons left Eastwood shortly after the wedding, to prepare for a +long absence from the Park; and from the time of Lady Ashton's +departure, Isabel's visit was one of uninterrupted enjoyment. She became +so cheerful and animated, that Emily declared they positively wouldn't +know her again at Elm Grove.</p> + +<p>Harry was to remain at W——, to read up for the +examination. He had tried very hard to prevail upon his father to let +him enter Mr. Arlington's office, as in that way he could get on much +better, he said, as he would see a great deal of law business, and he +could easily read up in the evenings.</p> + +<p>But his father only laughed. "Love-making would play the dickens with +the studies. You would be poring over your book, without knowing that it +was upside down. No, no. After you have 'passed,' you shall travel for a +year; and then I believe that I shall be able to get you a partnership +in H—— with my old school-fellow, Harding, who is a very +clever lawyer, and stands very high in his profession."</p> + +<p>"But will you allow me sufficient to enable me to marry and take my +wife with me?" asked Harry.</p> + +<p>"Upon my word! that is a modest request," replied his father.</p> + +<p>Harry laughed.</p> + +<p>"When I was young, young men expected to make their way in the world +a little before they talked of marrying," continued Mr. Mornington; <!-- +missing " --> but you ask me as coolly as possible to give you +<span class = "pagenum">47</span> +enough to enable you and your wife to travel, before you go into +business at all, which I think is pretty brassy. I wonder what my +father would have thought if I had made such a request. I honestly +believe he would have thrashed me. But as I said, things are different +now-a-days." Harry grew very red during this harangue, but wisely kept +silent.</p> + +<p>"Now, I'll tell you what my father did. He called me into his study +one morning. 'How old are you?' he asked. 'Fifteen, sir,' I replied +proudly. 'Old enough to be better,' he retorted. 'Well, sir, as you are +fifteen, I consider that you are old enough to earn your own +living. I have procured you a situation in a wholesale grocery, +where you will get a hundred dollars a year. Now, as you will be away +from home (for the firm is in Washington), I will pay your board +for the first year. After that, you will get a rise in your salary; and +from that time, you will have to depend upon your own exertions, as I +shall not help you any more. If you are honest and steady, you get on. +But if you will get into scrapes, don't expect me to help you out. <!-- +missing single quote -->" "Yes, sir," resumed Mr. Mornington, "that was +the way I began the world; and by the time I was twenty-three (your age, +Harry), I had acquired a good position in the firm, and a promise +of a future partnership. What do you think of that?"</p> + +<p>"I think that if you had started me in the same manner, when I was +fifteen, that I should have done the same," replied Harry, with +spirit.</p> + +<p>"Then you think that you can't be blamed justly?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," returned Harry, respectfully.</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose that it has been all my own doing," resumed Mr. +Mornington. "But seriously, Harry, do you wish to give up law and become +one of the firm? Speak out, boy, there is no good in taking up a thing +if you have no heart for it."</p> + +<p>"You mistake me altogether," interposed Harry, hastily. "I have +not the least wish to give up the law."</p> + +<p>"So let it be then. And I agree to your request—provided that +you 'pass' within a year."</p> + +<p>"All right—thanks," returned Harry, thinking that he had made a +capital arrangement.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," added his father, "that you will have to take the girls +to Elm Grove."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">48</span> +"Unless it interferes with the bargain," Harry began—</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha!" laughed Mr. Mornington. "You will make a good lawyer yet, +I believe."</p> + +<p>"I hope so," responded Harry, lighting his cigar.</p> + +<p>On the first of February, they all set out for Boston, according to +the previous arrangement. On their arrival in that city, they found that +Charles and Ada had been there some days. Charles had received a +telegram, saying that the elder Ashtons would only get there an hour or +so before the steamer left.</p> + +<p>The girls were delighted at this intelligence, as now there was +nothing to mar the happiness of the party during the few days that they +would spend together. Ada and Isabel were inseparable, and it was +astonishing how much Lucy and Emily had to say. Charles and Harry +discussed their future plans. Mr. Mornington had a great many people to +see, and a great deal of business to attend to, so that he was closely +occupied, and had scarcely a word for any one during meals, which was +the only time he was with them. And Mrs. Mornington's happiness seemed +to consist in seeing the young people enjoy themselves.</p> + +<p>After the arrival of Sir John and Lady Ashton, with Miss Crosse and +Louisa, they all went on board the steamer; and when they had seen them +comfortably settled, Emily, Harry and Isabel, returned to the hotel, and +the next morning continued their journey to Elm Grove, where Mr. +Mornington had stipulated that Harry should stay no more than three +weeks—or it would interfere with the bargain.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">49</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER VIII.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capT.png" width = "44" height = "42" +align = "left" alt = "T" title = "T (The)">he</span> Arlingtons had a +grand ball in honor of Miss Arlington's twenty-first birthday, which +Rose said wasn't fair, as Everard didn't have one on his. Mrs. +Arlington, always celebrated for the taste and elegance displayed at her +parties, has almost surpassed all former occasions in the magnificent +arrangement of everything.</p> + +<p>Isabel wore a plain white dress, and jet ornaments. A single +flower adorned her hair; and the usual, rather sad expression of her +countenance, was exchanged for one of greater animation. The excitement +of the occasion had given an unwonted glow to her cheeks. She did, +indeed, look lovely, as she stood engaged in lively conversation with +Emily, while they were waiting in the drawing-room to receive the +guests; and so Everard thought, who stood talking with his father, while +his eyes rested admiringly upon Isabel's sweet face.</p> + +<p>After the greater part of the guests had arrived, and the dancing +fairly commenced, Isabel, who had been waltzing, returned to the +drawing-room. She was scarcely seated, when, to her utter amazement, she +saw Louis Taschereau enter. Oh, how her heart throbbed at the unexpected +meeting! Here was Louis, her own Louis, actually in the room. It was +annoying, that after being parted so long, they should first meet in a +crowded ball-room.—Never mind; she was only too glad to have him +there. He looked so well, so bright and happy, as he made his way +through the crowd, with the proud bearing and haughty mien in which she +delighted. How long would it be before he reached her?—Oh, that +the room were smaller, or that she had been nearer the door. It seemed +an age while he was shaking hands with Mrs. Arlington. But who is that +pretty girl on his arm? Could it be his cousin Marie? He has taken her +to a seat, and is moving down the room. The hot blood rushed to her +cheeks. Someone asked her to dance. "Oh, not yet," she replied, scarcely +heeding who it was that asked her. Louis sees her, and is coming towards +her. +<span class = "pagenum">50</span> +How her heart bounded, her joy and happiness was so great. She hid her +glowing face behind her fan, to conceal her confusion. Another moment +and he was by her side, greeting her cordially. "Oh, Louis," and she +smiled upon him, O so sweetly. "You did not expect to see me +to-night," he said, looking very contented and triumphant. But there was +something in the expression of his face which she did not +like—something that seemed to freeze up all the warmth of her +feelings in an instant. Was it that he thought she was too ready to show +what she felt, with so many present who might observe any unusual degree +of pleasure on her part. Oh, surely not, for she had been so +careful—as careful as it was in human nature to be.</p> + +<p>"Was that your cousin," she asked, "that you brought with you?"</p> + +<p>"No! that—is—my wife—" he said, with a look of +triumph.</p> + +<p>"Your wife! Why, what do you mean?" she inquired, thinking he was +jesting.</p> + +<p>"Just what I say," he replied. Then, with insufferable insolence, he +hissed in her ear, "Louis Taschereau never forgives."</p> + +<p>"Indeed," she answered, assuming an air of indifference that +surprised even herself; for she had felt the hot, indignant blood, +coursing through her veins.</p> + +<p>"Really," he said, with cool effrontery, "that assumption of +indifference is sublime. But I am not deceived," he continued, with a +scornful laugh; "my revenge is most complete, my plans have been +entirely successful," and making her a low bow, he retired. And Isabel +was left to her own thoughts. But this would not do; she must +not—dare not—think; she must have excitement until she could +be quite alone. Fortunately, Harry now claimed her as his partner. "Oh, +Harry," she said, "I am so tired of sitting here."</p> + +<p>"Why, I asked you for the last dance, and you wouldn't come," +answered Harry, laughing.</p> + +<p>"I didn't think it would have lasted so long," she returned.</p> + +<p>"Do you know that Louis is here?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Don't you think his wife pretty?"</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">51</span> +"Very."</p> + +<p>Harry knew that Louis had always been a favorite with Isabel, but the +remotest idea of the real state of the case never for a moment occured +<!-- occurred --> to him.</p> + +<p>When the dance was over, they went out on the glass extension room. +Presently Harry said abruptly:</p> + +<p>"Isabel, I really thought that you would have been Mrs. +Taschereau."</p> + +<p>"Harry!"</p> + +<p>"I did, indeed."</p> + +<p>"Harry, don't," she said imploringly.</p> + +<p>Just then Everard and Emily came in, and at the next dance they +exchanged partners. As they passed under the hall lamp, Everard remarked +the extreme palor <!-- pallor --> of her countenance. "You are ill, Miss +Leicester," he said. <!-- missing " --> You should not have remained so +long in that cold place. Let me get you a glass of wine."</p> + +<p>"Oh no, thanks. I shall soon get warm with dancing."</p> + +<p>"I don't think that you should attempt this galop. You look too ill; +indeed you do."</p> + +<p>"I intend to dance it, Mr. Arlington; but if you do not wish too, +I can have another partner." Everard looked so sad and reproachful +as she said this, that she felt sorry for the hasty words. She knew they +had been harsh, and he had said nothing but what was kind—nothing +to deserve anything so severe. But then she dare not sit during a single +dance; she could not, would not, rest a moment. She was making a great +effort to 'keep up,' and it was only by a continual struggle that she +could succeed. However, Everard had no more cause for uneasiness on +account of her looking ill, as they had scarcely entered the ball-room +before her brilliant color had returned. Isabel was decidedly the belle +of the evening; and for this, Grace Arlington never forgave her. Everard +saw that Isabel's gaiety was assumed, and he would have given much to +know the cause. Harry was not so keen an observer, and only thought how +much she was enjoying herself, and how much he had been mistaken in +thinking that she cared anything about Louis.</p> + +<p>Oh the weary, weary length of that dreadful evening. Isabel thought +that it would never end. But she kept up splendidly. +<span class = "pagenum">52</span> +Once she unexpectedly found Louis her <i>vis a vis</i>—then came +the master-piece of the evening. She looked superb, as with graceful +dignity she glided through the quadrille. She avoided touching his hand, +except when it was inevitable; but she did it so naturally, that to +others it did not appear premeditated. He spoke to her, but she passed +on as though she did not hear. Once again, before the dance was ended, +he ventured to address her; but she replied with grave dignity, "We must +meet as strangers: henceforth I shall not know you, Dr. Taschereau."</p> + +<p>Louis foamed with rage at the cool contempt conveyed in these words. +He ground his teeth, and swore to be revenged. At last the guests all +departed, and Harry too had taken leave (for as this was his last day at +Elm Grove, he was going by the three o'clock train to keep his promise, +for Harry was very strict, and would not have remained another day on +any pretext). Then Isabel had to listen to the praises bestowed on her +by all the Arlington family, who complimented her upon the sensation she +had made, and to force herself to join in an animated conversation +regarding the events of the evening; so that she was truly glad when Mr. +Arlington dismissed the 'conclave,' saying that they could discuss the +party next day.</p> + +<p>When Isabel gained her own room, and sat down to think of her +trouble, she began to realize the full extent of her misery. She had +scarcely known 'till now, how much his love had supported her through +all her trials; or how the thought of one day being his, had softened +the ills she had been called upon to endure since her father's death. +Now she must think of him no more—he was hers no longer. But worse +than this, was the pain and grief of knowing that he was unworthy of the +love and admiration that she had bestowed upon him. She knew that he was +proud, passionate and exacting, yet she loved him; for these very +characteristics, mingled as they were with more endearing qualities, had +a peculiar charm for her. How happy she had been to feel that he loved +her; and oh! the pain, the agony, of knowing that he did so no longer. +Why, why had he written that letter? Oh it was cruel, cruel. And then to +think that it had all been planned, premeditated, with the express +design of making her suffer more acutely, was bitter in the extreme. To +lose his love was misery; but to know that he was deceitful, cruel and +revengeful, was agony beyond endurance. She did not weep: her grief was +too stony for tears. "Oh, Louis, Louis," she moaned in her +<span class = "pagenum">53</span> +agony, "what have I done, to deserve such cruel treatment?" She leaned +her head upon her arm, and pressed her hand upon her throbbing temples, +for the tumult of her thoughts became intolerable. She pictured to +herself Louis, as she loved to see him; old scenes recurred to her mind, +and the days when she had been so happy in his love—nor had a wish +beyond. Even this very night, how inexpressibly happy had it made her to +see him in the room. And oh, to have all her dreams of happiness crushed +in a moment. Again she thought how different it might have been had he +been faithful and true; but he was false—he did not love her, and +what had she to live for now? A sense of oppression, which almost +amounted to suffocation, distressed her, until at length a fearful +sensation of choking forced her to rise to get some water; but ere she +could do so, a crimson stream flowed from her mouth, down her white +dress, and she fell upon the floor.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">54</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER IX.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capT.png" width = "44" height = "42" +align = "left" alt = "T" title = "T (The)">he</span> daylight was +streaming in at the window when Emily awoke, and lay thinking of the +party, and rejoicing in her kind little heart that Isabel had been so +happy, and had enjoyed herself so much. Then she sighed as she thought +Harry was gone, but smiled again at the bright prospect she had in view, +for Harry had imparted to her the nice arrangement that he had made with +his father, and she did so love the idea of travelling for a year. Then +again she heaved a little sigh, and hoped he would not overwork himself; +but there was no cause for uneasiness on that score, for Harry was too +much accustomed to take things easy, and too wise to work himself to +death: and Emmy was content to believe this.</p> + +<p>But she was that sociable disposition, that she could not half enjoy +anything unless she could get some one to sympathise with her. She did +so long to tell her news. Late as was the hour when the party broke up, +she wanted to tell Isabel; but Isabel had refused their accustomed chat, +saying that it was too late, and that Mrs. Arlington would be vexed.</p> + +<p>Then she wondered if Isabel was awake, she did so long to tell her +about the year's travelling. She thought she would go and see. So she +got up very quietly, partially dressed, and then threw on her dressing +gown, and ran up to Isabel's room; but finding the door locked, she +rattled the handle slightly, and called through the key-hole, "Isabel! +Isabel! are you awake? open the door." Then as she drew back, something +attracted her sight, and impelled her to apply her eye to the said +key-hole. She did so; and horrified beyond description at what she +beheld, she shrieked aloud with terror. Her frantic cries brought her +father, mother, Everard, and several of the servants, to the rescue.</p> + +<p>"Open the door! oh, open the door!" was all that she could say, +wringing her hands in anguish, and pointing to it.</p> + +<p>"Speak, child," said her father, "what is the matter?"</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">55</span> +But she only cried more wildly, "open the door! open the door!" without +attempting to explain. But Everard, with his firm, quiet manner, and +reassuring tone, calmed her almost instantly.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Arlington did as Emily had done before her. "There is something +wrong," she exclaimed, "we must get the door open."</p> + +<p>The united efforts of Everard and his father forced the door, and a +more distressing sight can scarcely be imagined than that they beheld. +Stretched on the floor lay Isabel, in her ball dress, the blood pouring +from her mouth in a crimson stream. As soon as Everard saw this, he +waited for no more, but hastened to the stable, and was soon on the +road, dashing at a reckless pace, towards Dr. Heathfield's. Mrs. +Arlington quietly desired Norris to remove the children, who, alarmed by +Emily's cries, had crowded into the room, along with the servants. Emily +also was dismissed; and ordering two of the servants to remain, she told +the rest to retire, and to send Norris back again. She then turned her +attention to the suffering girl, whose face wore an expression of +ineffable agony; but she was at a loss how to proceed, not knowing what +ought to be done, and fearing that she might do harm by injudicious +treatment. In less time than could have been imagined, Everard returned +with the doctor, who had great difficulty in stopping the bleeding. She +had broken a blood vessel, he said, and was in a very dangerous state. +He ordered perfect quiet, as the least excitement would cause a return +of the bleeding, and then nothing could save her. He questioned very +sharply as to what had happened, and gave as his opinion that it had +been caused by some great shock, and violent emotion struggled with and +suppressed, by undue excitement.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Arlington repudiated the notion, and protested against such an +assumption, saying "that Miss Leicester appeared quite well when she +retired to rest."</p> + +<p>"These things do not happen without cause, madam," returned the +doctor; "therefore in all probability something has occurred of which +you know nothing."</p> + +<p>"I am convinced that you are mistaken, Dr. Heathfield; but I will +take care that your orders are strictly attended to. No one but myself +and Norris shall be allowed in the room. You have no doubt of her +ultimate recovery, I trust," she added.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">56</span> +"I couldn't pretend to give an opinion at present; I can only tell +you that she is in a most precarious state," he replied gravely. +"Everything depends upon the prevention of the hemorrhage, a return +of which would be certain death. At the same time, that is not all that +we have to fear."</p> + +<p>For a long time Isabel hovered between life and death, scarcely +conscious of what was passing around her. Day after day the children +would linger on the stairs, whenever the doctor came, to hear his +account of Miss Leicester. But he only shook his head, and said "he +could not have them there. Their governess was very ill, and they must +be very good children." Then they would return to the school-room, and +spend, as best they might, these joyless holidays.</p> + +<p>At last the longed for answer came—"She was certainly better," +and they were delighted beyond measure; but their joy was considerably +damped, when he told them that they could not be permitted to see her +for some time yet.</p> + +<p>Isabel's recovery was very slow, though every care and attention was +bestowed upon her, and each vied with the other in showing kindness to +the orphan girl. Still Isabel felt her lonely, dependent condition, +acutely. Life seemed a dreary, cheerless existence; and she experienced +a shrinking from the future which seemed to be before her, which was at +times almost insupportable. She longed to be at rest. The prostration +and langour, <!-- languo(u)r --> both mental and bodily, that +accompanied this depression, was so great as to seriously retard her +recovery, and almost baffled the doctor's skill. She would lie for hours +without speaking or moving, apparently asleep, but only in a sort of +waking dream. She took no interest in anything, and appeared quite +incapable of making any effort to overcome this apathy. Emily tried her +best to amuse her; but after taking pains to relate everything that she +thought of interest that had occurred, Isabel would smile and thank her, +in a way that proved she had not been listening. Thus week after week of +her convalescence passed, while, to the doctor's surprise and +disappointment, she made no further progress. After visiting his patient +one afternoon, he requested a few moments' conversation with Mrs. +Arlington. "My dear madam," he said, when that lady had led the way into +the morning-room, "has Miss Leicester no friends, with whom she could +spend a few weeks? for if she is allowed to remain in this lethargic +state, she will inevitably sink. +<span class = "pagenum">57</span> +An entire change of air and scene is absolutely necessary. She requires +something to rouse her in a gentle way, without excitement."</p> + +<p>"She has friends, I believe; but really, I know so little about +them, that any arrangement of that sort is out of the question. All +those I do know, are at present in Europe," returned Mrs. Arlington. +"But we are anxious to do everything in our power to promote her +recovery. If you can suggest anything, I shall be most happy to +carry out your plans. I proposed her going to the sea-side, but she +wouldn't hear of it, and said that she hoped she should not trouble us +much longer. I remonstrated, but to no purpose—she persisted +that it was utterly impossible."</p> + +<p>"That was the very thing I was going to suggest," returned the +doctor; "but I trusted that the proposal would have met with a better +reception. But if you will allow me, I think I might persuade her +to accompany the children, as if on their account. Have I your +permission to do so?"</p> + +<p>"Full permission to make any arrangements that you think beneficial, +doctor," replied Mrs. Arlington.</p> + +<p>Doctor Heathfield went back to his patient. He found her alone. "What +do you think of making a start to the sea-side? I think it would do +you good."</p> + +<p>"Oh, indeed I could not," returned Isabel languidly. "Mrs. Arlington +is very kind, but it is quite impossible."</p> + +<p>"Don't decide so hastily," replied Dr. Heathfield, taking a seat by +her side.</p> + +<p>"A thing which is impossible, requires no consideration."</p> + +<p>"But I am convinced that it is not impossible," he urged, "and by +obliging others, you will also benefit yourself; it is such a very small +thing that is required of you, just to accompany the children to +D—— for a few weeks. Indeed I think that you can scarcely +refuse after all the kindness that you have received during your long +illness."</p> + +<p>"I am extremely sorry to have caused so much trouble, but I assure +you that I am not ungrateful."</p> + +<p>"It don't seem like it when you won't do what little you might to +please," returned the doctor.</p> + +<p>"Don't say will not," Dr. Heathfield. <!-- misplaced quote --></p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">58</span> +"Ay but I must say will not, and excuse me when I add, that you greatly +mistake your duty to give way to this apathy, and thus retard your +recovery," he said kindly. "I do not seek to fathom your trouble, +but I do know that it was excessive mental anguish that caused you to +break a blood-vessel, and I would remind you that this is not the right +way to brood over and nurse your grief, refusing to make any effort to +do your duty. <!-- missing " --></p> + +<p>"I know it is wrong <!-- missing " --> faltered Isabel with quivering +lips, <!-- missing " --> but I cannot take an interest in anything or +find comfort, save in the thought of early death."</p> + +<p>"But that is from the morbid state of mind induced by weakness."</p> + +<p>Isabel shook her head.</p> + +<p>"And will pass off as you get stronger," he continued.</p> + +<p>"I shall never be strong again," she said.</p> + +<p>"Pooh, nonsense, I can't have you talk in that way, if you only make +an effort and go with the children to D——, I think you +will soon alter your opinion."</p> + +<p>"Please don't say any more, my head aches dreadfully," pleaded +Isabel.</p> + +<p>"One moment and I have done," he said, "I fear that you forget +your position here, the family have behaved to you with the greatest +generosity, but still you must be aware that they would not continue to +keep an invalid governess, and as I understand that you are entirely +dependant <!-- dependent --> upon your own exertions, you must see the +necessity of trying the benefit of sea air, when you have the +opportunity, do not take it unkindly that I have used such freedom in +pressing this matter, think over it quietly, and to-morrow let me know +what answer I am to give Mrs. Arlington." Then he took his leave, and +his kind heart smote him, for he heard the smothered sobs of his fair +patient.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">59</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER X.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capM.png" width = "45" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "M" title = "M (Mrs)">rs</span>. Arlington never +for a moment suspected the way in which Dr. Heathfield would induce +Isabel to accede to his plans. In justice to her it must be said, that +had she known it, she would if possible have prevented it. But in the +end perhaps it was better for Isabel that she did not, though the +reflections to which his remarks gave rise, were extremely painful. It +needed not these cruel hints to remind her of that which had scarcely +ever been absent from her thoughts since her father's death, and she +shed very bitter tears, even after she retired to rest she could but +weep over her unhappy lot far into the night, until at length the bright +moonlight streaming in at the window, reminded her of one above, who +doeth all things well, and she resolved to try and do her duty according +to His appointment, however trying she might find it, trusting that as +her need was, so would strength be given.</p> + +<p>She saw now why she had not been allowed to die according to her +wish, even because her work was not yet accomplished. How willingly and +with what pleasure had the children received what she had taught them +regarding religion; how eagerly had they listened when she had explained +the scriptures; with what different feelings did they now regard the +sabbath as a day of holy rest, and prayer, and praise, instead of a day +of weariness, dreaded and hated. Did she not remember how shocked she +had been, when Amy said, that she liked all the days except sundays, and +the others had expressed the same. And oh, how glad and thankful she +felt when Amy not long since, one sunday afternoon had clasped her arms +round her neck, and exclaimed that she liked Miss Leicester's sundays +very much. All this she had been able to do through divine blessing upon +her endeavors to benefit the children, and would she leave them when her +work had only just begun? No, no, how wrong and selfish had she been, if +all joy and happiness had fled, she still had her work before +her—her duty to perform. With such thoughts as these, her tears +became less bitter. Soft tear <!-- tears --> of quiet resignation +followed the bitter +<span class = "pagenum">60</span> +rebellious ones she had shed so abundantly, and she resolved by steady +abnegation of self, to forget the past (as much as might be) in the +business and duties of the present. Then with a prayer for strength to +keep this resolution, and patience to wait, and work until such time as +rest should be vouchsafed her, she fell asleep.</p> + +<p>With a severe headache, and extremely weak from the trying night she +had past, Isabel waited for the doctor next day, though she had +determined to give him a favorable answer, she wondered much how she +could go, when she felt almost unable to raise her hand to her head. She +was feverish and restless, very anxious for his arrival, yet dreading +it, for it seemed as though she were about by her own act, to put an end +to these quiet days of rest, and dreamy reverie, which she fain would +prolong.</p> + +<p>However, when Dr. Heathfield came, she managed to return his greeting +with some degree of cheerfulness.</p> + +<p>"I trust you feel better to-day," he said.</p> + +<p>"No, rather worse, the dose you administered was anti-narcotic I +assure you, but I have decided to accede to Mrs. Arlington's wishes. +I will do my utmost for the children, but I fear that will be very +little," and she smiled faintly from her pillow.</p> + +<p>"Pooh, nonsense, you are not to teach at present, we all know you +can't do that," returned the doctor cheerfully, "what good would the +poor children get if they were cooped up in a school-room all day, time +enough for that when they come home again." Dr. Heathfield began to fear +that the dose had been too strong, when he felt the feverish pulse. "You +must be very quiet to-day, promise me that you will not worry yourself," +he said, "I shall tell Mrs. Arlington not to let the girls tease +you."</p> + +<p>"They never tease me." <!-- . for , --> replied Isabel hastily.</p> + +<p>"Oh they don't, well that is fortunate," he answered, preparing some +mysterious compound that he had taken from his pocket, "now if you take +this" he continued, presenting the mixture, "and then take a nice little +sleep, you will feel much better by the afternoon, and then if Miss +Emily would read to you, it would be better than talking."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid your patient is not so well to-day doctor," said Mrs. +Arlington coming in, "she seems feverish this morning."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">61</span> +"Oh, she has been tormenting herself, thinking that she had to teach +while at D——, but I think if you keep her quiet, this +feverishness will soon subside, and she is going with the children to +D—— like a good sensible girl," replied the doctor.</p> + +<p>"I am very glad that you have come to that decision Isabel, as I +should not think of sending the children without you," (no more she +would) said Mrs. Arlington, keeping up the farce that she was the +obliged party. "Emily and Norris go with you, so that you have no cause +for anxiety, dear," she added, laying her cool hand upon Isabel's hot +forehead.</p> + +<p>"Is your head very bad," inquired the doctor, pulling down the blind. +Then as Isabel assented, he went on, "if you were to send the quiet one, +(Alice I think you call her) to bathe her temples with a little lotion +it would be as well."</p> + +<p>"I think it should be Norris, I don't like to trust the children," +Mrs. Arlington began.</p> + +<p>"You may trust Alice," interrupted Isabel.</p> + +<p>"Very well," returned Mrs. Arlington smiling, "then Alice it shall +be."</p> + +<p>Within a week, everything was arranged for their departure, Everard +was to escort them to D—— and see them comfortably settled, +and then proceed to H—— College. The morning they were to +start, Isabel joined them at the early school-room breakfast. This was +the first time that Everard had seen her since her illness, and he was +inexpressibly shocked at her appearance, and remonstrated with his +mother, saying, that Miss Leicester was not in a fit state to +travel.</p> + +<p>"My dear Everard, I am acting entirely under the the <!-- duplication +at midline --> doctor's orders."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless it is cruel," he replied gravely.</p> + +<p>"My dear son what can I do, Dr. Heathfield says that it is absolutely +necessary."</p> + +<p>"It will kill her, that is my opinion of the matter." <!-- . for , +--> he answered "why she can scarcely stand, I had no idea she was +so awfully weak."</p> + +<p>"But what can I do," persisted Mrs. Arlington.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">62</span> +"Wait until she gets a little stronger," urged Everard.</p> + +<p>"But the doctor assures me, that she will inevitable <!-- inevitably +--> sink, if allowed to remain in the same low spirited state."</p> + +<p>"Why did you not have her among the rest, and then probably she might +not have got so low. It is dreadful to see any one so fearfully weak," +he added in a tone of grave commiseration.</p> + +<p>"I don't wonder at your being shocked at her altered appearance, but +you should not blame those who have had the care of her, without due +consideration. I assure you that she has had every attention," said +Mrs. Arlington reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"I don't wish to blame any one," returned Everard coloring, "surely +not you dear mother."</p> + +<p>"I am glad to hear it," she answered, in a somewhat injured tone. +"I was sure that it only required a moment's thought to convince +you, that however painful a state Miss Leicester may be in, it has been +brought about by circumstances over which we have no control."</p> + +<p>Everard looked perseveringly out of the window. And his mother +continued "it was at her own request that she remained so secluded. But +it must not be, we have listened to her entreaties too long already, now +others must act for her in the way they think best."</p> + +<p>"Then it is not her wish to go," observed Everard.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not, but the doctor almost insists upon it."</p> + +<p>"Kill or cure as I take it," he returned.</p> + +<p>"I fear that is too near the truth, unfortunately," replied his +mother." <!-- extra " --></p> + +<p><!-- extra " --> "Everard remained silent, and Mrs. Arlington saying +that the carriage would be round shortly, quitted the room. Then he +returned to the school-room, to find Isabel fainting upon the sofa and +Emily bending over her in helpless despair, Amy crying, and Alice +emptying the contents of a scent bottle over Isabel, and Rose spilling +the smelling salts almost into her mouth, in her anxiety to cram it to +her nose. This quaint mode of treatment had the desired effect, for +Isabel with a great sigh opened her eyes, and asked what was the matter. +Dr. Heathfield arrived soon after +<span class = "pagenum">63</span> +this, and ordered Miss Leicester back to her room for a few hours rest, +so that they were forced to wait for the next train.</p> + +<p>"She ought not to have come down to breakfast," he said, "let her +have lunch in her own room, and remain there until everything is quite +ready, then let her go straight to the carriage after the rest are +seated, it must be managed quietly or it cannot be done." Then he called +Everard aside, and cautioned him, "it is a hazardous thing to move her +at all, and requires very nice management," he said.</p> + +<p>"It should not be attempted," returned Everard coldly, "she is only +fit to be in bed."</p> + +<p>"The doctor smiled incredulously, <!-- misplaced quote --> keep her +there and you would soon finish her, and she would be only too content +to do it."</p> + +<p>"You are severe Dr. Heathfield," said Everard stiffly.</p> + +<p>"Come, Come, Everard don't get angry, you think me a brute no doubt. +But if she remains here she will die, if she goes away she may recover. +Now you have my honest opinion."</p> + +<p>"It seems to me little short of murder, to start her off in this +state," returned Everard." <!-- extra " --></p> + +<p>"Upon my word, who is severe now Mr. Everard," retorted the doctor. +<!-- missing " --> I don't attempt to deny that moving her may be fatal, +if not judiciously managed <!-- missing . --> But if carefully and +properly done, I am very sanguine as to the result. <!-- missing " +--></p> + +<p>"That is a nice way of getting out of a scrape, I must say," "Oh +a very nice way indeed," said Dr. Heathfield laughing. "I will come +in again about one," he added addressing Mrs. Arlington, "and if I have +time, I will go down to the station and see them off."</p> + +<p>"Oh, if you could doctor, it would be such a satisfaction to know +that you were with them," Mrs. Arlington answered.</p> + +<p>Everard could not bring himself to see it in the same light as the +doctor, but as her going seemed inevitable, he was glad that he was to +have the charge of her. A little before one the doctor returned, +but only to see that all was right. "He was so very busy," he said, "but +had no doubt that Mr. Everard would manage very well. He could not +possibly go down to the station, he had to set a man's leg two miles off +in quite another direction. <!-- missing " --> Everard's face was a +picture, as the doctor so kindly expressed the +<span class = "pagenum">64</span> +belief that he would manage very well. Emily was so convulsed with +laughter at the sight, that she was forced to stuff her handkerchief +into her mouth to conceal her mirth. Everard managed everything so +nicely during the journey, that Isabel never knew that he made special +alteration on her account, and he assisted her on all occasions in a +nice kindly matter of course manner, quite like an elder brother, that +prevented any embarrassment on her part. He was also very successful in +concealing the anxiety he felt on her behalf. Isabel appeared quite worn +out the night they arrived at D——, Norris insisted upon +perfect rest and quiet next day, saying that she should join them at tea +if she seemed sufficiently rested, but Everard rebelled, and made Emily +amuse her during the morning. Norris submitted without much fuss, as he +was a great favorite.</p> + +<p>"I know as well as you Master Everard, that she needs to be kept more +cheerful than she has been, but after all the worry and fatigue of the +journey, a little quietness is good for her," said Norris, +endeavoring to justify herself.</p> + +<p>"I don't deny that Norris, I only object to her being quite +alone."</p> + +<p>"And you know sir, that you always get your own way," replied Norris +laughing.</p> + +<p>"Usually," returned Everard, "but Norris, understand that I wish her +kept quiet."</p> + +<p>"As if anyone could be quiet where Miss Emily is," said Norris +reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"I'll trust Emmy," he answered laughing.</p> + +<p>"That is more nor I would Mr. Everard," she returned with the +familiarity that old domestics who have been a long time in a family +often acquire. For Norris had been with Mrs. Arlington ever since she +was married, now some twenty-six years.</p> + +<p>After dinner, Everard, Emily and the children, went out for a ramble. +On their return, Everard left them near the town, as he had to make some +inquiries as to the time the train left, as he was to leave next +morning, for they had been so much longer on the way than had been +anticipated, consequently his stay at D—— had to be +curtailed.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">65</span> +When he returned to the cottage, he found Isabel in the old arm chair in +the sitting-room, the others had not yet arrived. Isabel was looking +wretchedly ill, but pronounced herself much rested. Everard gave her an +animated account of their ramble, and an excellent description of the +place, but she appeared to take little interest in either.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you would rather I didn't talk, <!-- missing " --> he said, +as she leaned her head wearily upon her hand.</p> + +<p>"O, I don't mind," she replied in a tone of such utter indifference +that Everard took a book. He did not read however, but sat shading his +face with his hand, so as to enable him to contemplate the poor worn +face and fragile form of her whom he loved better than life. He pictured +her, as she appeared when waiting the arrival of the guests on Grace's +birthday, and the contrast was painful in the extreme, neither could he +account for the utter hopelessness depicted on her countenance.</p> + +<p>"Are you aware that I leave in the morning," he said, after some time +had elapsed.</p> + +<p>"So soon," she inquired in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Yes, by the early train," he replied.</p> + +<p><!-- missing " --> Then I must not miss this opportunity of thanking +you, for all the trouble you have taken, and for all the kindness you +have shown me. Indeed I am very much obliged to you."</p> + +<p>"I am only too glad to have been of any service to you," he returned +with something of the old manner. "Will you not write when you are able, +if only a line, just a line, I shall be so anxious to hear."</p> + +<p>"Emily will write," she answered quietly.</p> + +<p>Everard bit his lip, he was silenced but not satisfied,—an +awkward pause ensued, then the others came in full of glee to find +Isabel down.</p> + +<p>The tea was a very cheerful one, and Isabel strove to appear +interested, and to join in the general conversation, but the effort was +too much for her, for when she rose to retire for the night, she all but +fainted and alarmed them very much.</p> + +<p>When Everard came into the sitting-room next morning, he found a +cheerful fire burning (for the morning was raw and misty) +<span class = "pagenum">66</span> +and breakfast on the table, although it was only half-past five o'clock, +and shortly after Emily came in.</p> + +<p>"Why Emmy, this is better luck than I expected," exclaimed Everard in +surprise.</p> + +<p>"You didn't think that I would let you breakfast alone did you," +returned Emily proceeding to pour out the tea, "but oh, Everard, I'm so +sorry that you are going away so soon, I really am quite afraid to +be left alone with Isabel so weak, whatever shall I do if she gets +worse."</p> + +<p>"As to being alone, why Norris is a host in herself. Besides, you +must take it for granted that she will soon get all right. If there +really should be cause you must not hesitate to call in the doctor, but +remember Dr. Heathfield said you were not to do so, if it could be +avoided, and Emmy, if there should be anything serious, mind you +telegraph mamma, and if you get very much alarmed, you know that I could +get here in a few hours, and I shall not mind the trouble, so make +yourself easy. But at all events, I intend to run down in two or +three weeks, just to see how you all get on—mind you write often +Emmy." This Emmy promised to do, and bid him good bye with a bright +face.</p> + +<p>D—— was a pretty little town on the sea-coast, which was +much frequented in summer, but during the winter it was almost deserted. +It was very quiet just now as it was so very early in the season. The +house in which our party had taken up their abode, was beautifully +situated upon some rising ground, about half a mile from the beach. On +the right, as far as eye could reach, stretched the broad expanse of +deep blue sea, with its ever varying succession of white sails and gay +steamers. To the left lay verdant meadows, picturesque villas, and +sloping hills, stretching far into the distance until bounded by a belt +of forest, beyond which the ground rose again, capped by a rugged crag. +Belonging to the house, were pretty grounds tastefully laid out, and a +nice shrubbery, also a maze in which the children delighted to lose +themselves.</p> + +<p>After the first few days, Isabel mended rapidly, and before long was +able to join the children and Emily in their rambles, and even got down +to the beach after the second week, so that Emily sent charming accounts +of Isabel's progress to her mother and Everard.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">67</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XI.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capLq.png" width = "60" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "L" title = "L (Look)">ook</span> Louis, what a +nice packet has come by express, I wonder what it can be. Oh, open +it now dear Louis," she added, laying her hand coaxingly upon his +shoulder, as he was about to pocket the wonderful packet. "I am +dying with curiosity, to see what it contains."</p> + +<p>"It is only a business affair, nothing to interest you, little +curiosity," he answered playfully.</p> + +<p>But she was not so easily satisfied, for the start of recognition as +he glanced at the writing, had not escaped his wife's quick eyes.</p> + +<p>"But I do so want to know what is in it, I felt something hard +like a little box, and it is such pretty writing," she said.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps the drugs I wrote for," he returned carelessly.</p> + +<p>"Drugs from a lady, Louis," she said archly.</p> + +<p>"Oh I forgot, no it can't be the drugs, but it will keep," he +replied, thrusting it into his pocket. "I must teach you not to be +so curious Natalie. <!-- missing " --></p> + +<p>Then laughing, she endeavored to withdraw it from his pocket, but he +took the little hand in an iron grasp, saying "don't be silly +Natalie."</p> + +<p>"Oh Louis, you hurt me," she pouted.</p> + +<p>"I didn't intend to do so," he returned, loosening his hold, but +there was a stern, determined look in his face as he did so, which +prevented her making any further attempts to satisfy her curiosity, and +the large tears welled up into her eyes as he hastily left the room.</p> + +<p>That night, after Natalie had retired to rest, Louis stood leaning +against the chimney-piece, gazing thoughtfully into the fire. Upon the +table lay the packet, he knew well enough the moment he saw it what it +contained, the letters and presents that Isabel had received from +himself. Yes there they were, and he would not +<span class = "pagenum">68</span> +for worlds have Natalie see them. There they were, the letters, the +trinkets, but he had expected something more—an angry note, +upbraiding him for his mean conduct and requesting the return of her +letters. Over this he would have rejoiced, but no, here were the letters +and trinkets without note or comment, just enclosed in a blank cover, +and this cool contempt annoyed him more than the bitterest expressions +of angry reproach would have done. She had returned all that he had ever +given her, well, what else had he expected, did he think she would have +kept them? No, of course not, but then he had not thought about it, he +knew now that his revenge had had a very different effect to what he had +intended, she would cast off all further regard for him, perhaps she +hated him, while he, trusting to her sweet disposition and deep +affection for himself, had expected that she, unable to overcome her +wondrous love, would pine and grieve over her great, her irreparable +loss. Ah Louis, if this was your object you did not manage the affair +skilfully. You also forgot that by marrying another, you were taking +perhaps, the only step that could effectually prevent the object you had +in view, (for this, together with the offensive manner in which it was +done, supplied her with a motive which aided essentially to enable her +to carry out her determination to stifle all feelings of love towards +him, in fact to forget him.) He now saw the folly of the course he had +adopted, she would soon forget him altogether, perhaps find another more +patient and gentle, who could make her happier than he would have done, +such thoughts as these were madness—perhaps she might marry +another, no, he clinched his fist and vowed she should not. How had his +so called revenge recoiled upon himself, he had not been aware how madly +he loved her, until she was lost to him forever, and he almost cursed +the filthy lucre that had lured him on until it had been his ruin. For +what had he gained—he new <!-- knew --> what he had lost, the only +woman that he had ever loved or could love, but what had he gained, not +the satisfaction which he had expected, only a few thousand dollars and +a pretty childish little wife of whom he already tired.</p> + +<p>With an angry exclamation he threw the whole packet into the fire, +and then leaning his face upon his hand, before an open book, sat still +and pale through the long long night, until in the gray dawn, +a soft little hand upon his shoulder, and a warm kiss upon his +cheek, aroused him from his reverie.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">69</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XII.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capT.png" width = "44" height = "42" +align = "left" alt = "T" title = "T (There)">here</span> was a large +rock, about a mile to the left of the town of D——, which was +surrounded by numerous small ones. This place was called the wrecker's +reef, and was covered at high water, but when the tide was low, Isabel +and the others often went there to get shells. They had to be careful to +watch the rise of the tide, as, long before the rock was covered the +retreat was cut off by the water surrounding the largest rock, like an +island, this island gradually diminished, until, when the tide was in it +was several feet under water, this part of the coast was very little +frequented. One afternoon when they had been at D—— about +three weeks or a month, having obtained the shells they wished for, they +sat down on the rocks to rest, Isabel began relating a tale she had +lately read, and they were all so much interested, that they had not +observed that the tide was fast coming in, nor was it until the rock was +quite surrounded that they did so. The terrified children clung around +Isabel entreating her to save them, while Emily scarcely less alarmed, +screamed aloud for help, but it was not very likely that her cries for +assistance would be heard in that lonely place, and their danger became +more imminent, as a stiff breeze had sprung up, and the surge round the +reef was becoming very heavy, and even should they be observed, the +passage from the beach to the reef was so dangerous, that only a skilful +and experienced hand could possibly succeed in rescuing them from their +perilous situation, so that although there was a small boat moored on +the beach it did not afford them much consolation. They were constantly +drenched with spray, and were quite aware that the reef would be covered +with water ere long.</p> + +<p>"Oh dearest Isabel, what shall we do," asked Emily, looking ghastly +white, and shaking like an aspen.</p> + +<p>"The water will wash us all away, and then we shall all be drowned," +cried little Amy.</p> + +<p>"And we shall never see papa and mamma any more,' <!-- single for +double quote --> added +<span class = "pagenum">70</span> +Rose. Alice stood perfectly quiet, (after the first moment of their +surprise when she had clung to Isabel with the rest) her large eyes +fixed upon Isabel with an expression that spoke volumes.</p> + +<p>"I fear there is no escape," said Isabel, in as calm a tone as she +could command, "we can only commend ourselves to the care of our +heavenly Father, and patiently await his will. This they did, and then +Isabel endeavored to calm litttle <!-- little --> Amy, who was crying +most piteously, but a shout of joy from Rose, drew her attention once +more to the shore. "Here is Everard, oh here is Everard," cried Rose, +clapping her hands and dancing with joy, and sure enough, there was +Everard scrambling down the cliff. This was Saturday afternoon, and he +had come to spend Sunday with them, but finding they were out he came in +search of them, Norris, fortunately being able to tell him where they +had gone.</p> + +<p>As the reef was such a short distance from land, and as a boat was +moored on the beach, the children naturally concluded that they were now +safe. It was not so however with Isabel, she knew the dangerous nature +of this shallow water, with innumerable rocks only just beneath the +surface, but still sufficiently covered to hide them from view, which +made it very difficult to take a boat safely through them, even when the +water was smooth, but how much more so, now that a rough swell was +foaming over them. Indeed it was only by taking a zig-zag course, that +any boat could be guided in safety through the labyrinth of rocks. As +Everard was quite unacquainted with the perilous nature of the reef, it +was well that Isabel had taken particular notice of the only passage and +its curious windings, so that they were enabled to direct him how to +steer, or the boat would assuredly have been knocked to pieces, and they +all would inevitably have perished. But fortunately Everard was the +crack oar of the college club, and the owner of the champion medal, and +in spite of all difficulties managed to make his way to the reef.</p> + +<p>Isabel had watched the progress of the boat with intense anxiety, her +heart beat fast, for she expected every moment that it would come to +grief, and she experienced an indescribable sensation of apprehension +when it grated on the rock on which they stood.</p> + +<p>"Oh, this boat won't hold us all," exclaimed Emily in dismay.</p> + +<p>"Don't leave me," entreated little Amy, "please don't."</p> + +<p>"No darling, you shall not be left," said Isabel kissing her and +<span class = "pagenum">71</span> +then lifting her into the boat. Quickly as this was done, Rose was +already in; Isabel insisted upon both Emily and Alice going, though the +boat was by this means very heavily laden—Alice would have +remained with her, but Isabel would not allow it, as there was every +prospect of the reef being entirely covered before the boat could +possibly return.</p> + +<p>"But it seems so mean to leave you here alone." <!-- . for , --> +urged Alice.</p> + +<p>"It will not mend matters, if two are washed off instead of one," +whispered Isabel, "go dear Alice while you can."</p> + +<p>"But it seems so mean," she repeated.</p> + +<p>"Come Alice," said Everard in a tone that settled the question at +once, "every minute is of the greatest importance." It was agony to him +to leave Isabel, but there was no help for it, the boat was now loaded +down to the water's edge. He would gladly have let Alice remain, had +there appeared any chance of returning in time, for he would have gained +several minutes by so doing, for if the boat had been lighter he could +have made better time. As it was he did not dare to risk it, for it +seemed like dooming Alice to destruction needlessly. But oh, the horror +of leaving Isabel when perhaps she would be washed away by the fast +rising tide before he could return. This thought had also decided him to +take Alice, for should Isabel be washed off he might be able to save +her, but how could he hope to save two in such untoward +circumstances.</p> + +<p>"Courage Miss Leicester," and the boat seemed to fly through the +water with each vigorous stroke; his face wore an expression of intense +anxiety as he bent to his oars. No words passed his firmly compressed +lips after they left the reef, but his contracted brow and heavy +breathing revealed how deeply he was suffering. In an incredibly short +time they reached the beach, and Everard landed them in a very +unceremonies <!-- unceremonious --> manner, and then started once more +for the rock. Notwithstanding all the exertion he had undergone, his +face was as pale as death, and the cold damp stood upon his brow. There +was an air of determination about him as he sprang back into the boat, +that convinced Emily that he would save Isabel or perish in the attempt, +and from that day she was master of his secret, but like a dear good +sister as she was, she kept it in her kind little heart, though she +sometimes built castles in the air.</p> + +<p>Knowing now the proper course to take, Everard propelled the +<span class = "pagenum">72</span> +boat with marvellous rapidity, it skimmed over the water like an ocean +bird, at least so Rose said; yet when he reached the reef, every part on +which it was possible to stand was covered with water, and it was with +the greatest difficulty that Isabel contrived to cling to a pointed +piece of rock which still remained above water, nor could she have done +so much longer, as her strength was fast failing. It seemed to Isabel +wondrous strange, that she should feel so anxious to be rescued from her +perilous situation, when not so long ago she had been so desirous of +death, but so it was.</p> + +<p>It was no easy matter to get the boat to this point, and had it +required any more water to float it, it would have been impossible. As +soon as Isabel was in the boat a joyful shout was raised by the party on +shore. The return to land was slow, as the great exertion he had been +forced to use was beginning to tell upon Everard. Of course Isabel was +soaking wet, but fortunately a large plaid that Norris had made them +take with them had been left on the beach; this they wrapt round her, +and then went home as quickly as might be.</p> + +<p>"Mercy on us," exclaimed Norris, as they made their appearance, "what +in the name of wonder have you been doing."</p> + +<p>"Why getting a soaking don't you see," returned Isabel, much amused +at Norris's manner.</p> + +<p>"Then you will just get to bed right away Miss Leicester, for I would +like to know how I am to answer to my Misses and Dr. Heathfield, if you +get the consumption through your nonsense, dear me, and you were looking +so well."</p> + +<p>"But Norris, if I change these wet things surely that will do."</p> + +<p>"You just get to bed, I say, for you are in my charge."</p> + +<p>Everard laughed.</p> + +<p>"Now Mr. Everard don't you be a interfering."</p> + +<p>"Oh, certainly not."</p> + +<p>"Now come along at once Miss Leicester, and I will get you some hot +gruel." Isabel did as she was bid, not wishing to vex Norris who had +been very kind, but she protested against the gruel, but in vain, Norris +made her swallow a large basin full, which to Isabel's intense disgust +had a plentiful supply of brandy +<span class = "pagenum">73</span> +in it. After this Norris consented to hear the history of their +adventures, which was told by the whole five at once.</p> + +<p>"The air of D—— seems to have done wonders," said Everard +when Isabel made her appearance at breakfast next morning looking quite +her former self.</p> + +<p>"Yes indeed," returned Isabel with a pleasant smile, "how very stupid +you must have thought us yesterday, I can't imagine how we could +have been so foolish."</p> + +<p>"I suppose that you were not aware that the reef would be covered as +the tide rose."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, we knew quite well."</p> + +<p>"Well then, you were all awfully stupid, if you will excuse my saying +so," returned Everard, "I gave you credit Miss Leicester for more +prudence."</p> + +<p>"You may well be surprised," Isabel answered coloring, "I am +afraid when Mrs. Arlington hears of it she will be of Lady Ashton's +opinion, that I am not fit to have charge of her daughters."</p> + +<p>Emily laughed.</p> + +<p>"Did she say that," said Everard, "it was very impertinent of +her."</p> + +<p>"She thinks herself a privileged person, you would be astonished I +can tell you if you heard all that she said."</p> + +<p>"Do be quiet Emily," interrupted Isabel.</p> + +<p>But Emily kept giving provoking little hints all breakfast time, and +even as they walked to church she let out little bits, until Isabel grew +almost angry. Everard admired the church exceedingly, "that is just such +a church as I would like," he said as they went home.</p> + +<p>"Oh Everard," exclaimed Emily, "a little bit of a church like +that."</p> + +<p>"It is not so small," he returned.</p> + +<p>"Oh well, I thought you were more ambitious, if I were a clergyman I +should wish to preach to a crowded assembly in a very large city church, +and make a sensation."</p> + +<p>"Emily!"</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">74</span> +"Oh don't look so grave."</p> + +<p>"A man that would care about making a sensation, would not be fit to +be a clergyman."</p> + +<p>"Oh Everard, I am sure it is only good clergymen that do make a +sensation."</p> + +<p>"What do you call making a sensation?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"Why, to have every body saying what a splendid preacher, and +praising you up to the skies."</p> + +<p>"Of course every clergyman should aim to be a good preacher, but his +sermon should be composed with the object of doing as much good as +possible, the idea of getting praise by it should never enter his +head."</p> + +<p>"Of course I know I never should have done for a parson, if I had +been a man I should have been a——."</p> + +<p>"Lawyer," the children all shouted in a breath.</p> + +<p>"Or a midshipman," said Emily.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what Miss Leicester would have been," observed Rose.</p> + +<p>"A doctor," said Emily, "I know she would have been a doctor, +wouldn't you Isabel."</p> + +<p>Isabel became scarlet, this was only a random suggestion, but it +seemed so like the answer the children had given Emily, that it made her +color painfully.</p> + +<p>"Oh what is the use of talking such nonsense," she replied, but her +vivid color had given Emily a new idea; Isabel she whispered "do those +pet letters come from a doctor," a shade passed over Isabel's face +like a cloud over the sun, as the thought occured <!-- occurred --> that +she should get no more pet letters, as Emily chose to call them, for +though she had so firmly resolved not to allow her thoughts to dwell +upon the past, there were still times when she was painfully reminded of +the happy days that would never return, not that she grieved for the +loss of Louis, as he now stood revealed in his true character. She knew +that it had been her own ideal Louis that she had loved, she had clothed +him with virtue that he did not possess, and ascribed to him a nobleness +of nature to which he was a stranger, and her bitter sorrow was that he +should have +<span class = "pagenum">75</span> +proved so different to what she had believed him. She had already begun +to think that, as he was what he was, it was all for the best, and even +now she felt more of contempt than love regarding him, though nothing +short of the offensive and aggravated circumstances that had taken +place, could have served to quench such love as her's. <!-- hers --></p> + +<p>Isabel avoided giving an answer to Emily's question, by drawing +attention to a beautiful yacht that was now making the harbor, this did +for the time, but Emily had made enough by her venture to plague Isabel +sufficiently about the doctor, so much so, that Everard took occasion +when they two were walking in the shrubbery to remonstrate with his +sister, "Emily," he said, "can't you see that Miss Leicester is really +annoyed at your nonsense, and I think that it amounts to rudeness in +such a case."</p> + +<p>"Oh she don't care about it."</p> + +<p>"You are mistaken Emily."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but it is such fun, I do so like to make her color up, she looks +so pretty."</p> + +<p>"But when you see that it really annoys——."</p> + +<p>"When I get into the spirit of the thing, I can't stop." <!-- . +for , --> interrupted Emily.</p> + +<p>"I know it," replied Everard gently, "and that is the reason that I +mention it, otherwise the matter is too trivial to comment upon."</p> + +<p>The tears stood in Emily's eyes, "I did not mean any harm," she said +softly, for Everard had great influence, and the secret of this +influence which he had acquired over all the family was, that he was +gentle yet very firm.</p> + +<p>"I did not say that there was any harm, only you should learn to stop +when you see that it annoys, and surely you might abstain from such +nonsense on a Sunday, it is setting the children a bad example to say +the least of it."</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">76</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XIII.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capI.png" width = "30" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "I" title = "I (Isabel)">sabel</span> and the +children remained the greater part of the summer at D——, but +Emily returned home to join her mamma and sister, who had consented to +join an expedition that had been got up among a few select friends. Upon +the last afternoon of their stay at D—— they went for a +ramble into a pretty little copse wood, the children were looking for +berries, and Isabel sat upon a mossy bank reading.</p> + +<p>"Come Isabel, let us at least be friends," said a voice close beside +her.</p> + +<p>Surprised and startled, Isabel beheld Louis Taschereau.</p> + +<p>"Let us be friends," he repeated taking a seat on the bank.</p> + +<p>"Impossible, Dr. Taschereau," said Isabel rising, "had you broken off +your engagement in a straightforward manner, it might have been +different, as your feelings had undergone a change, I should have +been quite content to release you, but to have corresponded with me up +to the very day of your marriage, and allow me by a chance meeting at an +evening party to become aware of the fact for the first time, together +with the effrontery with which you behaved on that occasion, are insults +which I should be wanting in self respect not to resent."</p> + +<p>"My feelings have undergone no change, they cannot change, it is you +alone that I have ever loved or shall love, my wife I never did, never +can. Oh pity me Isabel for I am most miserably unhappy."</p> + +<p>"From my heart I pity her who is so unfortunate as to have Dr. +Taschereau for a husband," she replied, "I cannot pity you, for if +anything could make your conduct more contemptible, it is the fact that +you have just acknowledged, that you do not love the girl that you have +made your wife, though having seen the way in which you treat those you +profess to love it is no great loss, and your happiness must ever be a +matter of indifference to me."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">77</span> +"Oh cruel girl, I am not so heartless, what grieves me more than even my +own misery is the thought of your suffering."</p> + +<p>"Then pray do not distress yourself on my account Dr. Taschereau, +whatever I may have felt it is past, for when Isabel Leicester could no +longer esteem, she must cease to love."</p> + +<p>"I will not believe that you find it so easy to forget me, for that +you did love me you dare not deny, it was no passing fancy, you must +feel more than you are willing to own," he said angrily.</p> + +<p>"I do not wish to deny it," returned Isabel firmly, "but you out <!-- +ought --> to have known me better than to think that I should continue +to do so. After you were married it became my duty to forget that I had +ever loved you, and to banish every thought of you. You have made your +choice and now regrets are useless, even wrong, whatever she may be, she +is your wife, and it is your duty and should be your pleasure to make +her happy, and as you value happiness, never give her cause to doubt +your love."</p> + +<p>"As you say, regrets are useless, but that thought only adds to my +torture, I can only compare my present wretchedness with the happy +lot which might have been mine, but for my own folly," he said sadly, +"but you must help me."</p> + +<p>"How can I help you," exclaimed Isabel.</p> + +<p>"It is you alone who can, for you are the only person who ever had +any influence over me, you must help to keep me right. Will you not +forgive me Isabel, and let me be a friend—a brother."</p> + +<p>"Thank heaven I have no such brother," exclaimed Isabel fervently, +"for I should feel very much inclined to disown him if I had. Friends we +can never be Dr. Taschereau, as I told you before, whenever and wherever +we meet, it must be as strangers."</p> + +<p>"As you will," he said bitterly, "but since you will not have me for +your friend, you shall have me for a foe."</p> + +<p>"Think not to intimidate me with idle threats," she answered +haughtily, "you have no power to harm me, and I feel assured that as +your love is worthless, so in the end your hatred will prove +harmless."</p> + +<p>"That is as it may be, but still I had much rather that we were +friends."</p> + +<p>"If an enemy, I defy you, my friend you can never be."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">78</span> +"As you will," he returned fiercely, "but remember if I go to the bad, +with you will rest the blame," and then he disappeared through the +wood.</p> + +<p><!-- extra " --> "And what is his wife about during this +conversation, writing to her cousin. Let us take a peep at the +letter.</p> + +<blockquote> +<span class = "smallcaps">Dearest Marie</span>.—I am +happy—very happy, how could I be otherwise with my noble Louis, he +is so kind, so thoughtful and considerate, he would not let me accompany +him to-day, because I was so tired with the journey yesterday, so I take +the opportunity thus afforded me to write to you. Oh Marie, how could +you ever suppose that he married me for my money, how could you form so +mean an opinion of my generous, noble, high minded Louis, you wrong him +Marie, indeed you do. True, he is more reserved than is pleasant, but I +presume that is because I am so childish as papa used to say. Would you +believe I had a jealous fit about a packet that he received from a lady, +which he refused to open when I asked him. Well he sat up very very late +that night, and I took it into my stupid little head that his sitting up +had something to do with the packet, and the thought so possessed me, +that I got up and went softly into the library, and there he was in a +brown study over some medical work. Oh Marie I felt so ashamed of my +foolish fancies. +</blockquote> + +<span class = "pagenum">79</span> + + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XIV.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capU.png" width = "39" height = "44" +align = "left" alt = "U" title = "U (Upon)">pon</span> the morning after +their return to Elm Grove, Isabel requested a few moments conversation +with Mrs. Arlington. Desiring Isabel to follow, Mrs. Arlington led the +way into the morning-room, and after expressing her great satisfaction +at the beneficial results of the sea air, she said "that she hoped Miss +Leicester's health was sufficiently restored to enable the children to +resume their studies upon the following Monday." Isabel replied "that +she was quite well, and was as anxious as Mrs. Arlington could be, that +they should lose no more time." Indeed for some weeks past she had been +teaching during the morning, <!-- missing " --> but it was not of them +that I was about to speak," she continued, "it was of myself, and I +trust that you will not blame me for not doing so before I went away, as +indeed it was impossible. Dr. Heathelfid <!-- Heathfield --> was right +in thinking that my illness was caused by mental suffering, it was +indeed a severe shock," she added, covering her face with her hands, for +it was a trial to Isabel, and it cost her a great deal this self imposed +task.</p> + +<p>"Defer this communication if it distresses you," said Mrs. Arlington +kindly.</p> + +<p>"Oh no, I would rather tell you," but it was not without some +difficulty that Isabel continued, "sometime before my father's death, +I was though, unknown to him, engaged to a medical student, +I always regretted concealing our engagement from him in the first +instance. I knew it was very wrong, but Louis made me promise not +to tell my father, or breathe a word about our engagement to any living +soul. I asked him why, but he would give no reason except that he +wished it. I promised, but had I known that it was for more than a +short period, I think that I should not have done so. About six +months afterwards, when his uncle was about to send him to France to a +relation who was a celebrated physician, he wanted me to be married +privately, this I positively refused, I said that whilst my father +lived I would never marry without his consent, and urged him to let me +acquaint my father of our engagement. This he refused, I told him +that I was sure +<span class = "pagenum">80</span> +my father would not object, but he would not listen to me, it was absurd +he said, to suppose that he would let us marry if he knew of it, for he +was entirely dependent upon his uncle, and had positively nothing of his +own as yet, but hoped soon to rise in his profession; if we were once +married he argued, my father would storm a little at first, but would +soon give in, and make some arrangement that would prevent his going +away, in vain I entreated to be allowed to plead our cause with my +father. Louis was inexorable upon that point, he dare not he said, and +used every argument to induce me to accede to his wishes and agree to +his propositions; but when I resisted all entreaties he was mortally +offended, and got into a terrible passion, it seems he never forgave me +for thwarting him, but I was not aware of it, for after his anger had +cooled down our parting was most kind. During my father's illness, my +secret became an intolerable burden, oh, how bitterly I suffered for +deceiving so indulgent a parent, and yet my conscience would not allow +me to break my promise. I wrote to Louis imploring him to give the +desired permission, and received a very kind letter, assuring me that my +altered circumstances would make no difference to him, that in fact the +only barrier between us was now removed, but the longed for permission +was withheld, Louis did not notice that part of my letter in anyway. +Shortly after this, my poor father died—died without ever having +heard of our engagement, his greatest pain in parting from his darling +child, being the grief he felt at leaving her so unprotected, <!-- , for +. --> Imagine if you can my grief and misery," said Isabel shedding +bitter tears of agony and remorse at the remembrance of that dreadful +time, and what it must have been to witness his anguish, as over and +over again he would say "oh my child, could I but have left you to the +tender care of a beloved husband, or even could I know that you were the +promised wife of one who truly loved you, I could die in peace, +even though he were not rich in this world's goods, but to leave you +thus my darling child, to make your own way in this wicked world is +almost more than I can bear." "What good" continued Isabel "could I +expect after such a return for all dear papa's fond indulgence and +unvaried kindness. After my father's death, I received a letter +from Louis full of love and sympathy, and approving of my plans, as it +would be some time before he would be in a position to marry. We +continued to correspond until the night of the ball, at which Dr. and +Mrs. Taschereau were among the guests, then I learned for the first time +that he was faithless and unworthy. You do not +<span class = "pagenum">81</span> +know what I suffered, nor his cruel triumph, or you would not wonder +that it should end as it did. I have told you all this Mrs. +Arlington because I thought it my duty, and also, that should Dr. +Taschereau again be your guest, you might kindly spare me the pain of +meeting him."</p> + +<p>"Poor child you have suffered greatly," said Mrs. Arlington kindly. +She had listened very patiently and very attentively to all Isabel had +to say, but she had not said how that she already knew something of this +from her own delirious talk during her illness, but she thought that it +would make Isabel uncomfortable, therefore she remained silent upon that +point. "You may depend that I shall not abuse your confidence" she +continued, "I do not promise secrecy, but you may trust to my +discretion without fear. Whenever you need advice, do not scruple to +come to me, as I shall always be glad to give it," no doubt, but Isabel +was the last person to ask advice, though she had the highest opinion of +Mrs. Arlington.</p> + +<p>"I think you would do well Isabel, to re-consider the offer I made +you to visit with my daughters."</p> + +<p>"You are very kind; but, indeed, I would rather not."</p> + +<p>"As you please, Miss Leicester; but I think you are wrong to refuse. +You may be sure that the offer is disinterested on my part." +(Disinterested it certainly was, as neither of the Arlington girls could +compare favorably with Isabel as to beauty or accomplishments.)</p> + +<p>"I fully appreciate your kindness, Mrs. Arlington, but indeed it +would be extremely unpleasant to do so," returned Isabel.</p> + +<p>"I cannot let this opportunity pass without expressing my gratitude +for your great kindness during my illness, for I can never, never repay +you. But I will use my best endeavors to make your children all that you +can wish."</p> + +<p>"And that will quite repay me," replied Mrs. Arlington, kindly.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">82</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XV.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capU.png" width = "39" height = "44" +align = "left" alt = "U" title = "U (Upon)">pon</span> a beautiful +moonlight night, under the trees in the garden of Madame Bourges' +boarding-school, near Versailles, quite secure from observation stood +Arthur Barrington and Louisa Aubray, engaged in earnest +conversation.</p> + +<p>"Are you happy here, dearest Louisa?" he inquired, in accents of +deepest tenderness.</p> + +<p>"Happy! Ah, no, Louisa is never happy," she answered, "but lonely and +unhappy—so unhappy and miserable!"</p> + +<p>"But you are not lonely now that I am here, dear Louisa."</p> + +<p>"No; but, when you are gone, it is so dreary—oh, so +dreary!"</p> + +<p>"You used to think that you would be so happy at school."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes! but I'm not. Madame is harsh, the teachers cruel, and the +girls so strange: they do not love me," she cried, in a burst of +passionate weeping; "nobody loves Louisa!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Louisa, dearest Louisa, do not say so!" he exclaimed +passionately; "do not say that nobody loves you, when I have come so far +expressly to see if you are happy. I love you, Louisa, with all the +warmth of my ardent nature, with undying affection. I want you to +be mine—<span class = "smallroman">MINE</span>! that I may guard +you from every ill but such as I can share."</p> + +<p>"Oh! can you—will you—do this, Arthur? Will you, indeed, +share all my troubles and sorrows, nor deem them, when the first full +joy of love is past, unworthy of your attention—your cares, too +great to admit of such trifles, claiming your consideration? If you +will, and also let me share all your joys and griefs in perfect sympathy +and love, then—then my dream of happiness will be fulfilled; but +if, in years to come," she continued, with suppressed emotion, "you +should change, and a harshness or indifference take the place of +sympathy and love, Oh I would wish to die before that day!"</p> + +<p>"Dearest Louisa, can you doubt me?"</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">83</span> +"I will trust you, Arthur, but I have seen that which makes me almost +doubt the existence of love and happiness. I can picture to myself +the home of love and peace that I would have. Is it an impossibility; is +it but an ideal dream?"</p> + +<p>"May it be a blessed reality, my darling Louisa!" he exclaimed, with +ardor, as he clasped her passionately in his arms. She made no +resistance, but, with her head resting upon his breast, she said, in a +tone of deep earnestness:</p> + +<p>"If you loved me always, and were always kind, oh Arthur, I I +<!-- duplication at line break --> could do anything—suffer +anything—for your sake, and care for naught beyond our home. But, +my nature is not one" she continued impetuously, "that can be slighted, +crushed, and treated with unkindness or indifference, and endure it +patiently. No!" she added, with suppressed passion, "a fierce flame +of resentment, bitterness, perchance even hatred, would spring up and +sweep all kindly feelings far away!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Louisa, Louisa!" interrupted Arthur in a tone of tender +remonstrance, "why do you speak in this dreadful manner—why do you +doubt my love and constancy?"</p> + +<p>The impetuous mood was gone, and a trusting confidence succeeded it. +She fixed her eyes upon his face with an expression of unutterable +tenderness, as she answered, in a sweet, soft voice, "I love you, +Arthur; I cannot doubt you; you are all the world to me."</p> + +<p>"Then you will leave here as soon as I can make arrangements for our +marriage."</p> + +<p>"How gladly, how joyfully, I cannot tell!" she replied, smiling +sweetly through her tears. "Tell me again that you love me; I do so +want some one to love me! Is it true that you do, indeed, or is it only +a beautiful dream? I have lived so desolate and alone that I can +scarcely believe my happiness."</p> + +<p>"You may believe it, Louisa, it is no dream; my love for you is no +passing fancy—it is true and sincere, and will last till life +shall end," he said, kissing her tenderly.</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha!" laughed Lucy Mornington, as she came full upon the lovers, +"Now I have found you out, Miss Aubray; I wondered what was up. Oh, +if Madame could only see you, what a scene there would be!" she cried, +dancing about and laughing immoderately." <!-- extra " --></p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">84</span> +"How dare you come here?" exclaimed Louisa, her large eyes flashing +angrily, while her whole frame trembled with passion. "How dare you +follow and watch me, how dare you?" she repeated.</p> + +<p>"Hush, Louisa!" said Arthur, soothingly, "Lucy is never ill-natured. +You have nothing to fear, for I am sure she would not be unkind; and we +must not mind her laughing, as I'm afraid that either of us would have +done the same if placed in the same unexpected position."</p> + +<p>Louisa now clung to Lucy, weeping violently, and imploring her in the +most winning manner not to betray them to Madame.</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid, Louisa; Lucy and I were always good friends, and, +now I come to think of it, she will be a most valuable assistant. +I am sure we may trust her," and he looked inquiringly at Lucy.</p> + +<p>"That, you may," answered Lucy; "but there is no earthly use in +trying to keep a secret from me, as that is utterly impossible; but +whatever you may have to say, you must defer to a more auspicious +moment, for Mademoiselle Mondelet has missed Louisa, and she is hunting +everywhere for her. So make yourself scarce, Mr. Arthur; we will enter +the chapel by a secret door that I discovered in some of my marauding +expeditions, and they will never imagine that we came from the garden. +Come along, Louisa."</p> + +<p>"Adieu! Lucy, and many thanks for your warning, for I certainly don't +want Mademoiselle to find me here. Farewell, dearest Louisa; I will +be here at this time to-morrow evening," said Arthur, and then he +quickly disappeared.</p> + +<p>Lucy and Louisa went into the chapel, and the former commenced +playing the organ, which she often did. So that when Mademoiselle came +into the chapel, by-and-bye, fuming about Louisa, Lucy replied, with the +greatest coolness, "Oh, we have been here ever so long."</p> + +<p>Shortly after this, Isabel received the following epistle from +Lucy:</p> + +<p class = "letter"> +<span class = "smallcaps">Dearest Isabel</span>,—I am at +school again, instead of being in London enjoying myself as I expected. +I am cooped up in this abominable place. I suppose Mamma +thinks me too wild. Heigho! But, never mind; Ada and Charles are going +to remain three years in London, so you see I still have a chance. Ah, +me! I think I should die of <i>ennui</i> in this dismal place +(which was once an abbey, or a convent, or something of the sort, +I believe,) but, fortunately for me, an event has occurred +<span class = "pagenum">85</span> +which has just put new life in my drooping spirits. We have<a class = +"tag" name = "tagA" id = "tagA" href = "#noteA">A</a>, who in the name +of wonder do you think the parties were? Arthur Barrington and Louisa +Aubray. Oh, what a rage Lady Ashton will be in! Don't be shocked, my +pet, when I tell you that I went into the affair with all my heart and +soul, and was bridesmaid at the interesting ceremony. Oh, Isabel, Arthur +is so thoroughly nice that I almost envied Louisa her husband. We +managed everything so beautifully that they were married and off upon +their travels before Madame found out that there was anything in the +wind. And the best of the fun was that Arthur brought a clergyman friend +with him, and they were married in the school chapel at four o'clock in +the morning. Of course this sweet little piece of fun is not known, and +is never likely to be. I enjoyed the whole thing immensely. Of +course they don't know that I had anything to do with the affair. Woe +betide me if they did! If Louisa had had a father and mother, +I would not have had anything to do with it; but, under present +circumstances, I thought it was the best thing she could do. So I +helped them all I could—in fact I contrived it all for +them—when I once found out what they were up to.</p> + +<p class = "letter" align = "center"> +Yours, at present, in the most exuberant spirits,</p> + +<p class = "letter" align = "right"> +LUCY MORNINGTON.</p> + +<p class = "letter"> +P.S.—The happy pair have gone to Switzerland or Italy. +</p> + +<p>"Here, Emily," said Isabel, when Emily came in, "I think this +will amuse you."</p> + +<p>"I think Arthur and Louisa did very wrong," she resumed, when Emily +had finished reading.</p> + +<p>"Ah, well, I have not much fancy for secret marriages, but in this +case it was unavoidable, if they were to marry at all," said Emily, +laughing.</p> + +<p>"But I thought that second cousins couldn't marry."</p> + +<p>"They can't, I believe; but then Arthur and Louisa are no +relation—for though he always calls Lady Ashton 'Aunt,' she is not +his aunt in reality. Don't you know Lord Barrington's first wife was +Lady Ashton's sister, and Arthur's mother was the second wife; so you +see they are no relations," replied Emily. "Oh, what a rage Lady Ashton +will be in!" she resumed. <!-- missing " --> Don't you know that +Louisa's father was Arthur's tutor. There was a dreadful quarrel between +the two families about that marriage; they wouldn't speak for years, and +the old folks are barely civil to each other when they meet even now. +But she likes Arthur. What a good thing it is that she is going to stay +away so long. But I'm sorry about Lucy; we shall miss her at +Christmas."</p> + +<p>"So we shall, but May and Peter will be here, and they are a host in +themselves."</p> + +<p>"But May can't be compared to Lucy; I will have her come; I will +tell Harry so. She can come out with her papa and mamma, and go back in +the spring. And now, my dear, guess what I came to tell you."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">86</span> +"Rose told me your brother was to come to-day."</p> + +<p>"What a sieve Rose is," exclaimed Emily. "But I have more than that +to tell. I have a letter from Harry; he is coming soon, and has +passed his examination already. What do you think of that?" and she +looked so triumphant and delighted.</p> + +<p>"Why, Emily, how ever could you read my letter, and discuss the news +it contained, when you came on purpose to tell me? I declare, +wonders never will cease."</p> + +<p>"The fact is that I was so astonished to hear about the elopement, +that I almost forgot about my own letter for the time."</p> + +<p>"I suppose Harry will make a long stay now? that <!-- That --> will +be very nice."</p> + +<p>"No, he says he can only stay a week, or perhaps a fortnight. He has +promised a friend to go to the Blue Mountains," pouted Emily; +"I wish his friend was at Jericho."</p> + +<p>Isabel laughed. "Suppose in that case Harry had gone with him."</p> + +<p>"Don't be provoking, Isabel. But, to turn the table, how is it you +never get any of those 'nice letters' now-a-days."</p> + +<p>"Don't be provoking, Emily!" said Isabel, growing very hot.</p> + +<p>"Ah, you see I always get the best of it," returned Emily, laughing. +"I must go and dress, for I have to make some calls with Mamma and +Grace."</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">87</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XVI.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capJq.png" width = "58" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "I" title = "I (I do)"> do</span> not know what on +earth they will do," cried Emily, tossing her hat and gloves on the +sofa. "Everard is in a terrible stew about the anthem; Mary Cleaver is +laid up with a bad cold and sore throat, so that there is no chance of +her being able to sing to-morrow, and there is not another in the choir +that could make anything of the solo—at least not anything worth +listening to. Is it not provoking?—just at the last minute. Grace, +now won't you take Miss Cleaver's place just for once? Do, please."</p> + +<p>"Thanks! But the idea is too absurd. Fancy my singing at a +'missionary meeting.'"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps Isabel would," interposed Rose.</p> + +<p>"The idea is too absurd," returned Emily, affectedly.</p> + +<p>"Don't be impertinent, Emily," said Grace, haughtily. "It is useless +to talk of Isabel, <!-- missing " --> she added, addressing Rose, "she +refused before, and Everard would not be so absurd as to ask her again; +he was quite pressing enough—far too much so for my taste."</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure he won't; he will not easily give up his 'pet +anthem,'" replied Emily.</p> + +<p>"Well, Isabel will not do it, you will see," answered Grace.</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure of that, either; he usually gets his own way somehow +or other."</p> + +<p>"Then how was it he did not succeed at first?" said Grace, +tartly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, because Isabel made him believe that it would not be fair to +Miss Cleaver."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Emily, that was not why Isabel would not, and she never said it +was," exclaimed Alice; "she told Everard she had several reasons for not +singing, and, she added, it would not be fair to Miss Cleaver after +being in the choir so long."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">88</span> +"And pray what might these weighty reasons be?" asked Grace.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," returned Alice.</p> + +<p>"Nor Isabel, either, I imagine," Grace answered.</p> + +<p>"What are you so perturbed about, Emily?" asked Isabel, who now +joined them." <!-- extra " --></p> + +<p>"The choir are in trouble about the anthem."</p> + +<p>"How is that?" inquired Isabel.</p> + +<p>"Mary Cleaver is sick," returned Emily, "and Everard is awfully put +out about it."</p> + +<p>Everard entered with a roll of music in his hand.</p> + +<p>"Where is Miss Leicester?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"She is here," Grace answered, languidly.</p> + +<p>"You will not now refuse to take the soprano in the anthem to-morrow, +<!-- missing " --> he said, <!-- missing " --> when I tell you that it +is utterly impossible for Miss Cleaver to do so, and that the anthem +must be omitted unless you will sing."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry that the anthem should be a failure, but I really +cannot," replied Isabel, evidently annoyed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes you can—just this once," he pleaded.</p> + +<p>But Isabel only shook her head.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean, Miss Leicester, that you positively will not?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>"Seriously, Mr. Arlington, I do not intend to sing in the choir +to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"That is your final decision?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>He sat beating his foot impatiently on the ground.</p> + +<p>"Is there no one else? Everard" asked Rose.</p> + +<p>"No one!" he answered, in a very decided tone.</p> + +<p>He tossed the music idly in his hand, though his brow contracted, and +the veins in his forehead swelled like cords. They were very quiet; no +one spoke. Emily enjoyed this little scene immensely, but Grace was +highly disgusted that her brother +<span class = "pagenum">89</span> +should deign to urge a request which had already been denied, and that, +too, by the governess; while Isabel sat, thinking how very kind Everard +had always been, and how ill-natured it seemed to refuse—how much +she wished to oblige—but the thing was so distasteful that she +felt very averse to comply. She remembered, too, the beautiful flowers +with which Alice had kept her vases constantly supplied when she was +recovering from her illness; she knew full well to whom she was indebted +for them, as but one person in the house dare cull the choicest flowers +with such a lavish hand, <!-- , for . --></p> + +<p>"What are you waiting for, Everard?" Emily inquired, at length.</p> + +<p>"For Isabel to relent," said Grace, contemptuously.</p> + +<p>Everard rose, and stood for a moment irresolute; then, going to the +piano, set up the music, and, turning to Isabel, said in a tone of deep +earnestness: "Will you oblige me by just trying this, Miss +Leicester?"</p> + +<p>Grace's lip curled scornfully, and Isabel reluctantly seated herself +at the piano. Having once commenced, she thought of nothing but the +beauty of the anthem, and sung with her whole soul—her full, rich +voice filling the room with melody. Never had Isabel sung like this +since she had left her happy home. When she ceased they all crowded +round her, entreating her to take Miss Cleaver's place just this +once.</p> + +<p>"She will—she must!" exclaimed Everard, eagerly. "You +will—will you not, Isa— Miss Leicester?" he asked +persuasively.</p> + +<p>Isabel was silent.</p> + +<p>"A nice example of obliging manners you are setting your pupils," +said Emily, mischievously, at the same time hugging her affectionately. +"What makes my pet so naughty to-day?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose I must," said Isabel, in a tone of annoyance; "I see +that I shall have no peace if I don't."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Miss Leicester," said Everard, warmly; "I can't tell +you how much—how very much—obliged I am."</p> + +<p>"I should not imagine that such a very ungracious compliance called +for such excessive thanks," said Grace, sarcastically.</p> + +<p>"Don't be ill-natured, Gracie," returned her brother, laughing; "you +don't know how glad I am."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">90</span> +"But it is so very absurd, Everard, the way you rave about Isabel's +singing, any one would suppose that you had never heard good +singing."</p> + +<p>"Nor have I, before, ever heard such singing as Miss Leicester's," he +returned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, indeed, how very complimentary we are to-day!" retorted +Grace.</p> + +<p>"Such singing as Miss Leicester's!" echoed Isabel, with a gesture of +contempt which set Emily laughing excessively, while Everard beat a +hasty retreat.</p> + +<p>In the evening Emily and Isabel had their things on, and were +chatting and laughing with the children in the school-room, before going +down to the church for the practising, when Mrs. Arlington came in, +saying, "I am afraid that you will all be disappointed, but Dr. +Heathfield strictly prohibits Miss Leicester taking any part in the +singing to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mamma!" exclaimed Emily.</p> + +<p>"He says that it would be highly dangerous, and that she must not +attempt it."</p> + +<p>"But, Mamma, we cannot have the anthem without her."</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry, my dear, but it cannot be helped," replied her +mother, and having given them the unpleasant tidings to digest as best +they might, Mrs. Arlington returned to the drawing-room.</p> + +<p>"Now is not that too bad? Who in the world told Dr. Heathfield +anything about it, I should like to know?" cried Emily, +indignantly. "What possessed him to come here to-night, +I wonder—tiresome old fellow?"</p> + +<p>"But if it would really do Isabel harm, I think it was very +fortunate he came," said Alice, gravely.</p> + +<p>"Oh be quiet, Alice! you only provoke me," returned Emily.</p> + +<p>"Are you young ladies ready?" asked Everard.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Miss Leicester is not going to sing," cried Rose, saucily. "What +will you do now?"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" he asked, looking inquiringly from one to +another.</p> + +<p>"Why," said Emily, "Dr. Heathfield has forbidden anything of the +kind, and was quite peppery about it."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">91</span> +"Confound Dr. Heathfield!" he exclaimed angrily. "Is this true?" he +asked, turning to Isabel.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"It is all nonsense! I shall speak to Heathfield about it."</p> + +<p>"That will do no good, Everard," interposed Emily; "He told mamma +that Isabel ought not to think of doing so at present."</p> + +<p>"You did not think it would hurt you Miss Leicester," he asked.</p> + +<p>"Never for a moment."</p> + +<p>"I dare say he thinks you are going to join the choir altogether, +I shall tell him that it is only the anthem to-morrow, that you +intend taking part in, surely he cannot object to that." What passed +between them did not transpire, but when Everard returned he said to +Isabel in a tone of deep earnestness, "I should not have asked you +to sing, had I known the harm it might possibly do you, indeed I would +not, and though annoyed beyond measure at having to give up the anthem, +I am very glad that Dr. Heathfield's opportune visit prevented you +running such a risk, for had any serious consequences ensued, +I alone should have been to blame."</p> + +<p>"No one would have been to blame, all being unaware of any danger," +returned Isabel warmly, "but I am convinced that Dr. Heathfield is +considering possibilities, though not probabilities" she added coloring, +not well satisfied to be thought so badly of." <!-- extra " --></p> + +<p>"Tell us what he said, Everard," petitioned Emily.</p> + +<p>"He spoke very strongly and warned me not to urge her," Everard +replied evidently unwilling to say more.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe that it could harm me," said Isabel thoughtfully, +"but of course—."</p> + +<p>"You are jolly glad to get off," chimed in Rose saucily, and received +a reproof from Everard.</p> + +<p>"We cannot disregard what he says," continued Isabel finishing the +sentence.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," returned Everard, and so the anthem was omitted.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">92</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XVII.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capA.png" width = "36" height = "42" +align = "left" alt = "A" title = "A (Alone)">lone</span> in tears sits +Natalie, alas she has awakened from her dream of bliss, to the sad +reality that she is an unloved neglected wife, and bitter very bitter is +this dreadful truth to the poor little bird far far from all who love +her, for the wide ocean rolls between them, poor little humming bird +formed for sunshine and happiness, how cans't <!-- canst --> thou bear +this sad awakening. Ah cherished little one, with what bright hopes of +love and happiness dids't <!-- didst --> thou leave a sunny home, and +are they gone for ever, oh what depth of love in thy crushed and +bleeding heart, striving ever to hide beneath a sunny face thy aching +heart, lest it should grieve or vex the husband thou lovest so fondly, +while he heedlessly repelling the loving one whose happiness depends +upon his kindness, or impatiently receiving the fond caress, discerns +not the breaking heart nor the secret anguish this same indifference +causes; Ah Louis, Louis, should not one so bright and gentle, receive +something better than impatient gestures and harsh words, which send the +stream of love back with a thrilling pain to the heart, to consume it +with silent agony, and her hope has proved vain, her babe, her darling +babe has not accomplished what she fondly imagined, brought back her +Louis's love, if indeed she ever possessed it, and it is this thought +which wrings her gentle heart and causes those sobs of anguish, that +make her fragile form to quiver like an aspen, as the storm of grief +will have its course. If indeed he ever loved her, that he does not now +is clear enough; but did he ever, why should she doubt it, she has +accidentally heard the following remarks, and seen Louis pointed out as +the object of them:</p> + +<p>He was engaged to a beautiful girl, but she was poor, so meeting with +an heiress, he was dazzled by the prospect of wealth and married her; +but the marriage had proved an unhappy one, that Mr. T—— had +soon tired of his gay little wife, and now treated her with the greatest +indifference and neglect, and that having married her solely for her +money, he was as much as ever attached to Miss —— and +bitterly repented his folly. It may be true she +<span class = "pagenum">93</span> +sighed, for she knew in her heart that the part regarding his treatment +of herself was but alas too true; but could he indeed love another, no, +she would not believe it, she would dismiss the thought, but still the +words rung in her ears, having married her solely for her money. Could +Marie be right, but no, no, she would not, could not believe it, +O Louis, Louis, how have I loved you, how I love you still, and is +my love entirely unrequited? And now a new feeling springs up in her +heart, bitter hatred towards her unknown rival, with beating heart and +trembling lips she calls to mind the packet and Louis's embarrassment, +the beautiful miniature she had seen by accident, and his evasive +answers when questioned about the original, could she be the Isabel he +had named her darling after, in spite of all she could urge as to her +great dislike of the name. Oh that she could confide all her troubles to +him and tell him all her fears, and if possible have her mind set at +rest, but she dare not, for though she loved him so devotedly, she +feared him too, his fierce bursts of passion frightened her. Oh I will +win his love in spite of this hateful girl, I will be so gentle, so +careful to please him, so mindful of his comfort (as if poor thing she +had not always been so) that he shall forget her, and love his own +little wife, and wearied with conflicting emotions, she laid her head +upon the table and sobbed herself to sleep, and thus Louis found her at +two o'clock in the morning, when he returned from attending a patient. +"Good gracious! Natalie, what are you doing here," said he raising her +from her uncomfortable position, "why you are quite chilled," he +continued as a convulsive shudder shook her whole frame, "what ever +possessed you to sit up, and the fire out, how could you be so foolish." +She raised her large dark eyes to his with an expression intensely sad +and entreating, and whispered "O Louis, tell me do you love me!" he +could not bear the searching eagerness of that wistful gaze, and turning +from her answered "can you doubt it you silly little thing, come, take +the lamp and go to bed, while I get you something to stop this shivering +<!-- missing " --> —he turned to go.</p> + +<p>"Do not leave me, oh Louis, stay," she cried, and fell senseless on +the floor.</p> + +<p>Through that night and for many long days and nights, Natalie lay in +a burning fever, and in the delirium caused by it she would beseech him +to love her, and again and again in the most pathetic manner entreat him +not to leave her, and say, it was very wicked of him not to love her, +why was it, what had she done to displease +<span class = "pagenum">94</span> +him, then murmur incoherent words about a hateful girl, beautiful but +poor that he loved, but not his poor little Natalie, and then starting +up with outstretched arms she would implore him to be kind to her and +love her.</p> + +<p>Whether Louis felt any remorse at dooming a being so bright and fair +to such a miserable existence, or whether there was not more anger than +sorrow in that impenetrable calm none could tell; he was very attentive, +and tried to sooth with gentle words, but woe to any of the attendants +who dared to make any remark upon her in his hearing; all she said was +treated indifferently as the natural result of the disease, and the +nurse was commanded to be silent, when she presumed to say poor dear; +whatever passed amongst themselves, in his presence they maintained a +discreet silence. When Natalie recovered she was sweet and gentle as +ever, but a passive lasting melancholy took the place of her former +charming vivacity, henceforth life had lost its charm; with patient love +she bore with Louis's variable temper, and was never known to speak a +harsh word to little Isabel.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">95</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XVIII.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capS.png" width = "35" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "S" title = "S (Swiftly)">wiftly</span> passed the +happy days in the beautiful villa home to which Arthur Barrington had +taken his bride. But at length remorseful thoughts of his father's +loneliness would intrude themselves upon Arthur's happiest hours, until +he could bear it no longer; so he told Louisa the unkind way in which he +had left his father, and how unhappy he was on that account, proposing +that they should proceed to Barrington Park without delay. To this she +readily agreed, but unfortunately their route lay through a district +where a malignant fever was very prevalent, and while traversing a lone +and dreary portion of this district, Arthur was attacked with this +terrible disease. He strove bravely against it, and endeavored to push +on to the nearest town, but that was yet forty miles distant, when +Arthur became so alarmingly ill that they were forced to stop at a +little hamlet and put up with the best accommodation its miserable inn +afforded, which was poor indeed. There was no doctor to be had nearer +than Z——, but the driver promised to procure one from there +if possible. With this they were obliged to be content; but day after +day passed and none came, while Arthur hourly became worse, and Louisa +grew half wild with grief and fear.</p> + +<p>"If we could only get a doctor, I believe he would soon be well; but, +ah! it is so dreadful to see him die for want of proper advice," +murmured Louisa, glancing toward the bed where Arthur lay tossing in the +terrible malaria fever, so fatal to temperaments such as his; "but he +will not die, O no I cannot believe that my happiness will be of +such short duration that I shall again be left in such icy desolation. +Oh! Arthur, Arthur, do not leave me <!-- missing " --> she sobbed, +covering her face with her hands, but Arthur does not heed her, racked +with burning fever he cannot even recognize her, as with patient +gentleness she endeavors to alleviate his sufferings with cooling +drinks, or bathes his burning brow. In vain were all the remedies that +the simple people of the inn could suggest, or that Louisa's love could +devise. Day by day his life ebbed away consumed by the disease, the +prostration and langour <!-- languo(u)r --> following +<span class = "pagenum">96</span> +the fever being too much for his strength, thus Louisa saw that he who +alone in the wide world loved or cared for her, was fast passing away; +still though she could not but see it was so, she would not believe the +terrible truth, but clung to the hope that a doctor might yet arrive +before it was too late, and so her great bereavement came upon her with +overwhelming force, when after a day of more than usual langour, during +her midnight vigil, he ceased to breathe. Louisa had not known why he +had clasped her hand so tightly all that night as she sat beside his +couch, he was dead, and with a cry of anguish Louisa fell insensible +beside the lifeless body of her husband.</p> + +<p>The moonbeams fell alike upon the inanimate forms of the living and +the dead, and the morning sun rose brightly and she still lay there, +none heard the midnight cry of anguish, or if heard it was unheeded, and +the noisy lamentations of the girl who brought in the morning meal, +greeted her as consciousness returned. The master of the inn said the +funeral must take place at sunset, and Louisa shed bitter tears in the +little room which was given her, while the corpse was being prepared for +interment, for these precipitate funeral arrangements added greatly to +Louisa's grief. Composed but deadly pale she followed Arthur's remains +to the grave—his only mourner; there was no minister to be had, +but Louisa could not see him buried thus, so read herself a portion of +the beautiful burial service of the Episcopal Church, then amid tears +and sobs she watched them pile and smooth the earth above him, and when +they had finished, with a wail of agony she threw herself in a burst of +passionate grief upon the damp earth, and there she lay until darkness +enveloped all around, heedless of danger, of time, of everything but her +deep deep grief, her misery, and her irreparable loss. And there she +would have remained but for Francesca, the girl who had waited on them; +Francesca had some pity for the poor lady, and with a great effort +stifled her superstitious fears, and went down to the grave and led her +away, whispering you will get the fever here. So Louisa returned +desolate indeed to the miserable inn, not for a moment because of the +fear of fever, only dreamily, scarcely knowing where she was going.</p> + +<p>Those long hours with the dead had but too surely done their work, +Louisa was attacked with the same fever of which her husband died, but +carelessly tended and neglected as she was, she did not die.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">97</span> +When she was able to go out again, she would sit pensively for hours by +Arthur's grave, or in passionate grief throw herself upon it and wish +that she too might die. It was after one of these paroxysms of despair +that Louisa remembered her promise to Arthur, that she would take his +letter to his father at Barrington Park. Faithful to her word she +reluctantly prepared to depart, when to her dismay she found that a +cheque for a large amount had been abstracted from Arthur's desk, and +further search discovered that nearly every article of value had been +perloined <!-- purloined --> during her illness. Their charges were so +exorbitant, that it took nearly all the money she had to satisfy their +demands, and when she mentioned the cheque, &c., they held up their +hands in horror at the idea, that after all their kindness she should +suspect them of such villiany. <!-- villainy --></p> + +<p>Weary and broken-hearted, Louisa set out on her lonely journey, and +at length arrived sad and dejected at Barrington Park, having had to +part with nearly all she possessed in order to prosecute her journey. +After some difficulty she succeeded in gaining Lord Barrington's +presence.</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it you want?" asked his lordship impatiently, but +Louisa could not speak, she could only hold out Arthur's letter with a +mute gesture of entreaty.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to read any of that nonsense; just tell me what you +want, and be quick, as I am busy."</p> + +<p>Tell him what she wanted!—tell him that she wanted him to love +and receive her as a daughter—tell him that the love he bore his +son was henceforth to be transferred to the unhappy being before +him—how could she tell him this? how could she tell him what she +wanted?</p> + +<p>"Speak, girl, I say!" he cried, angrily.</p> + +<p>"Read this," she faltered, "it will tell you all."</p> + +<p>"I will not," he answered; "tell me, or begone!"</p> + +<p>Falling on her knees before him, she held out the letter, crying: "I +am Arthur's wife. He is dead, and this is his letter, and I am here +according to his wish—to his dying injuction <!-- injunction --> . +Take it—read it—it will tell you all."</p> + +<p>"Good gracious, the girl is mad!" he exclaimed, "mad as a March hare. +Come, come! get up and go about your business, or I shall have you put +in the asylum."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">98</span> +Louisa felt choking, she could not speak; she could only stretch out her +arms imploringly, still holding the letter.</p> + +<p>"There is some great mistake; my son is not dead, nor is he married, +so do not think to impose upon me."</p> + +<p>"There is no mistake; Arthur is dead, and you see his widow before +you," she managed to articulate.</p> + +<p>"No, no, Arthur is not dead, poor crazy girl; get up and go away," +and he threw her half a sovereign, saying, as he did so, "now go away +quickly, or I shall have you turned out; and mind, don't go about with +your tale about being my son's wife, or I shall send the police after +you. Now go."</p> + +<p>Crushed and humbled as she was by sorrow and suffering, this was more +than Louisa's fiery nature could endure passively. Springing to her +feet, her lips quivering with anger, while her large eyes flashed with +passion, she cried, as she threw the proffered alms upon the table, in +proud defiance, "Keep your alms for the first beggar you see, but do not +insult me. I ask but what is right—that, as your son's wife, +I should receive a home and the necessaries of life from you, his +father, as he promised me. This you refuse me; but, were I to starve, +I would not take your alms, thrown to me as a crazy +beggar—never, never!"</p> + +<p>"Go, go!" he cried, she by her burst of passionate indignation still +more confirming the idea that she was mad.</p> + +<p>"I will go," she answered, "and will never again trouble you; but +know that I am no impostor—no insane person."</p> + +<p>John, who answered his master's summons, stood wonderingly at the +door, and, as Louisa passed out, he opened the hall door, looking +terribly mystified. "Take this," she said to him, "and if you loved your +young master, give this to his father when he will receive it." Then +with a full heart Louisa hastened from the park.</p> + +<p>A short distance from the gate was a small copse wood, which Louisa +entered, and, throwing herself down on the grassy bank beside a stream, +gave way to a storm of passionate grief. "Oh, Arthur, Arthur!" she +sobbed, "how desolate is Louisa in this cold, cruel world." The storm of +grief would have its way, nor did she strive to check it, but continued +sobbing convulsively, and shivered with cold, though it was a balmy +autumn day; the icy +<span class = "pagenum">99</span> +chill at her heart seemed to affect her body also. When at length she +became more calm, she began to consider what course she should next +pursue. She turned out her scanty store of money—fifteen and +sixpence was the whole amount. She determined to return to the inn, +where she had left the small bag (the sole remnant of the numerous +trunks, etc., with which they had left ——), and remain there +that night, and start next day for Brierley, the present abode of her +grandfather, and try her luck in that quarter, but with small hope of +success. Not for herself would she have done this, for she trembled at +the thought of meeting him, but circumstances made it imperative.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">100</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XIX.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capPq.png" width = "60" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "P" title = "P (Please)">lease</span> maam, <!-- +ma'am --> is baby to go for her walk this morning," asked the nurse as +Louis and Natalie sat at breakfast, "Oh no Sarah," returned Natalie.</p> + +<p>"Why not, I should like to know," interposed Louis, "it is a +beautiful day and will do her good, I can't see how it is that you +always set your face against her going out."</p> + +<p>"Oh but Louis, you know she has a bad cold."</p> + +<p>"Well it will do her cold good, I can't think where you got the idea, +that going out is bad for a cold. Take her out Sarah."</p> + +<p>"But Louis I'm afraid it will rain."</p> + +<p>"Rain, nonsense, what are you dreaming of this bright morning, take +her out by all means Sarah, it will do her good."</p> + +<p>Natalie gazed uneasily at the dark storm cloud in the horizon and was +anything but satisfied.</p> + +<p>"Why Natie you look as sober as a judge" said Louis as he rose to go +on his morning calls, "looking out for rain eh, don't be alarmed baby is +not sugar nor salt."</p> + +<p>The careless gaiety of his tone jarred unpleasantly with her anxious +fears for her darling, and she sighed as she looked pensively out upon +the bright landscape, with another sigh she left the window and went +about her various duties, about an hour after this, Natalie was startled +by a vivid flash of lightning, and deafening peal of thunder; down came +the rain in torrents, oh where is baby? how <!-- How --> anxiously she +watched, peering down the street from the front door, but no sign of +Izzie, and how cold the air has turned. She orders a fire to be made in +the nursery, and waits impatiently for baby's return. She comes at last, +"oh my baby!" Natalie exclaims as she takes in her arms the dripping +child, wet to the skin, and white as a sheet, every bit of clothing +soaked, saturated. Natalie can not restrain her tears as she removes +them, and warms the child before the bright fire, "oh my baby, my baby, +my poor little Izzie," she murmured +<span class = "pagenum">101</span> +passionately, as she soothed and caressed her pet. Baby was happy now in +her fresh clothes, and nestled cosily to her mother. After the thunder +shower the weather cleared and all seemed bright and joyous without, but +Natalie's heart was heavy, she was still very uneasy about the child, +Louis was detained from home the entire day. At night baby became so +oppressed in her breathing that Natalie was quite alarmed, oh how +anxiously did she listen for Louis return, as she knelt by the child's +cot in agony watching her intently.</p> + +<p><!-- extra " --> "Oh if he would but come, why, why, did he send her +out. Oh the agony, waiting, watching, yes that is his step at last, she +sends message after message, but he comes not, he will come when he has +had his dinner she is told. It wrings her heart to leave her darling, +even for a moment, but it must be done. Softly she glides to where he +sits, and laying her trembling hand upon his arm, says in a husky voice +"Louis come now, do not wait a moment longer—baby has the croup" +in an instant he was at baby's side.</p> + +<p>Natalie's ashy face and the word croup, acted like a talisman.</p> + +<p>It was croup, and a very bad attack too, he speedily did what was +needful, but not without almost breaking his poor little wife's heart, +by his cruel remarks, "you should be more careful of her," he said +angrily "ten minutes more, and I could have done nothing for her."</p> + +<p>"Oh Louis," (he had been home now nearly a quarter of an hour.)</p> + +<p>"There must have been some gross mismanagement and fearful neglect, +to bring on such an attack as this, to a child that has never been +subject to croup, how she ever got into this state passes my +understanding, you have been trying some of you <!-- your --> foolish +schemes I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Oh Louis, you know she was out in all that rain to-day" interposed +Natalie meekly.</p> + +<p>"What was that for, I should like to know," he asked indignantly "are +you tired of her already that you don't take better care of her than +that?—Oh Natalie!" Natalie's pale cheek flushed at his injustice, +but she made no answer, she only watched little Izzie in fear and +trembling, and oh how glad and thankful she was when +<span class = "pagenum">102</span> +baby presently was sleeping quietly. But how often afterwards did she +dwell upon these cruel words, and shed many bitter tears beside her +sleeping darling's cot, <!-- missing " --> oh baby, <!-- missing " --> +she would murmur, <!-- missing " --> what more care could I take of you +than I always do. <!-- missing " --></p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">103</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XX.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capI.png" width = "30" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "I" title = "I (In)">n</span> his superbly +furnished library sat Lord Barrington. He had just finished reading a +letter that he had taken from his desk. "Strange," he murmured, "very +strange, that Arthur has not come yet, nor any letter from him; +I can't understand it," and he replaced the letter with a heavy +sigh. He then turned to the letters on the table, which he had before +cast aside, finding the wished-for one was not among them. "Ha, one from +George; perhaps he may have seen him." He reads for a while, then +starting from his seat exclaimed "Good Heavens! what is this?" Then +reads again:</p> + +<blockquote> +Judge my amazement when I came across a rude apology for a tombstone, in +a little out-of-the-way grave yard: "To the memory of Arthur, only son +of Lord Barrington of Barrington, who died August 8th, 1864." As I had +not the remotest idea that he was dead, but was almost daily expecting +to find him. I most heartily sympathize with you—— +</blockquote> + +<p>"What can he mean?" he said, putting down the letter. "But what is +this?" he cried, as his eye caught one he had overlooked before. <!-- +missing " --> 'Tis Arthur's hand!" With trembling hands he broke the +seal (taking no note, in his agitation, of the fact that it had not been +through the post), and read the almost unintelligible scrawl:</p> + +<p class = "letter"> +<span class = "smallcaps">Dear Father</span>:—I have charged +Louisa to bring this and give it into your own hand. She will not +believe that I am dying, and still clings to the hope that I will +recover. But it can not be; I feel—I know—that I +shall die. Oh, how I wish that I could see you again once more and ask +your forgiveness, but it may not be! With my dying breath I beseech you +to forgive your erring boy; it was the first, it is the last deception I +ever practiced toward you. To you I ever confided my hopes and plans, +and you always strove to gratify every wish. I feel now how much I +wronged your generous nature, when I feared to tell you of my intended +marriage. The tune seems ever before me when you asked me, even with +tears, why I wished to leave you again, after I returned from America, +and I answered, evasively, that I wanted to see the world. And when, in +the fullness of your love, you replied "Then I will go with you," +I answered angrily, "In that case I do not care to go," and pleaded +for just one year. And you granted my request, and sent me forth with +blessings. Oh, why did I not tell you all? I feel sure that you +would have replied, "Bring your wife home, Arthur, and I will love her +as a daughter, only do not leave me." Oh, father, forgive your boy! +Thoughts of your loneliness would intrude at all times and mar my +happiness, until I determined to return and bring my wife, trusting to +your love, and was on my way home when I was attacked with this dreadful +fever. Oh, how I repent that I did not mention my wife in my last letter +to you! It is but a few short months since I left you, but O how long +those lonely months must have been to you! Then let your sad hours be +cheered by Louisa, since the sight of your boy may never gladden your +heart in this world. Bestow upon her the same love and kindness you have +ever shown to me. Nothing can alleviate my pain in leaving her, but the +certainty I feel that you will love and cherish her for my sake. Oh make +not her +<span class = "pagenum">104</span> +coming alone harder by one word or action. But as you love me, so deal +with my wife. Farewell, dear father!—a last farewell! Before +you receive this, I shall be sleeping in my distant grave. And oh +when my poor Louisa presents it, treat her not harshly, as you hope that +we shall meet again.</p> + +<p class = "letter" align = "right"> +Your affectionate and repentant son,</p> + +<p class = "letter" align = "right"> +ARTHUR.</p> + +<p>As the old man ceased reading, his head fell upon the table, and +bitter tears coursed down his cheeks. "Oh, Arthur! Arthur! my boy! my +only child! why, why did you leave me? How gladly would I have received +your wife! But now how harshly have I treated her—how cruelly sent +her forth into this heartless world, friendless and alone! But I will +find her and bring her home—yes, yes, I will love her for his +sake. Oh if I had only taken this when she brought it! But I will lose +no time now. Oh, Arthur! Arthur!" he murmured, and he rang the bell +violently. "John! John!" he said to the faithful old man who answered +his summons, "stay, John, till I can speak," he cried, gasping for +breath and trembling from head to foot. "My boy, my Arthur is dead!" he +wailed, at length, <!-- missing " --> and that person—that +lady—was his widow, John. It was all true that she said, and I +treated her so badly, too."</p> + +<p>"Yes," old John replied, meekly, "I thought it wor true; she didn't +look like an himpostor, she didn't," and he shook his head gravely.</p> + +<p>"You must find her, John, and bring her back. Go, you have your +orders; you must find her. Arthur is dead, and he has sent his wife to +me, and I must take care of her—that is all I can do for him +now."</p> + +<p>"Ah, that's the way with them secret marriages," soliloquized old +John. "What in the world made Mr. Arthur act so, I wonder, and his +governor so indulgent?"</p> + +<p>"Yes we will find her, and she shall have the green room, not +Arthur's—no, not Arthur's. Love her for his sake, he says; aye +that I will," murmured his lordship, as he paced the room. "Too late, +old man, too late, too late."</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">105</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XXI.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capIq.png" width = "61" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "I" title = "I (I declare)"> declare</span> it's a +shame," cried Emily throwing a letter on the table. "I can't think +what Everard means, it's positively unkind, I shall write and tell +him so," she continued endeavoring in vain to repress the tears of +vexation that would not be restrained. "I would not have believed +it of him, indeed I would not—what will Harry think, I should +like to know."</p> + +<p>"What is the matter," asked Grace and Isabel at the same time.</p> + +<p>"Read this and you will see," she replied—Grace read—</p> + +<blockquote> +<span class = "smallcaps">Dear Emily</span>,—You will, +I know, be sorry to hear that I cannot be home for the Xmas. +festivities, nor for the wedding; I am as sorry as you can possibly +be, dear Emmy, but circumstances, over which I have no control, make it +imperitive <!-- imperative --> that I should remain away, therefore, +pray forgive my absence, nor think it unkind. +</blockquote> + +<p>"It is outrageous" said Grace folding the letter carefully. "Mamma +will not allow it I am certain, and I cannot imagine any reason that +could prevent him coming if he chose. You had better get mamma or papa +to write, people will think it so strange."</p> + +<p>"I don't care what people think, it's Harry and ourselves" replied +Emily hotly, "I will write and tell him that I won't be married +this Xmas. if he don't come—'there.' <!-- missing " --></p> + +<p>"How absurd" returned Grace contemptuously.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean it" inquired Isabel gravely.</p> + +<p>"Oh that is another thing" replied Emily coloring, <!-- missing " --> +but I shall say so, and try the effect."</p> + +<p>"It cannot be his wish to stay away" said Isabel thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"It is the strangest thing I ever knew," replied Grace.</p> + +<p><!-- extra " --> "Isabel felt very uncomfortable, for somehow she +could not help thinking that she might be the cause, (as, once, Everard +had been very near the forbidden subject, saying that it was quite a +punishment to be under the same roof, unless there was some change in +their position, toward each other. +<span class = "pagenum">106</span></p> + +<p><!-- extra " -->"She was sorry that he had not said so before Isabel +had replied, and that very day, told Mrs. Arlington that she wished to +leave, as soon as she could meet with another governess. Mrs. Arlington +asked her reasons. But Miss Leicester would give none. Then Mrs. +Arlington requested that Miss Leicester would reconsider the matter, but +Miss Leicester refused to do so. Then Mrs. Arlington insisted, saying +that she would except<!-- accept --> her resignation, if at the end of +the week she still wished it, though they would all be sorry to part +with her.</p> + +<p>Everard of course heard what had taken place, and immediately made it +his business to alter that young lady's determination, protesting that +he had said nothing to make her pursue such a course. He forced her to +admit that it was solely on his account that she was leaving, and then +talked her into consenting to withdraw her resignation at the end of the +week, promising to be more careful not to offend in future.)<!-- extra ) +--> She wished very much that she could spend this Xmas. with Mrs. +Arnold, but this was impossible, as she had promised Emily to be +bridesmaid.</p> + +<p>"Then you don't think it would do to say that," Emily said +inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"It would seem childish" returned Isabel.</p> + +<p>"And have no effect," added Grace.</p> + +<p>"Coaxing would be better you think."</p> + +<p>"Decidedly," said Isabel laughing.</p> + +<p>"The begging and praying style, might answer" returned Grace +scornfully, "he always likes to be made a fuss with, and all that +nonsense, if the children do but kiss him, and call him a dear kind +brother and such like rubbish, he will do almost anything."</p> + +<p><!-- missing " --> Now Grace don't say the children, when you mean +me, <!-- missing " --> interposed Emily, <!-- missing " --> I will not +hear a word against Evvie, so don't be cross. I know you always +were a little jealous of his partiality for me."</p> + +<p>"I am not cross, nor did I say anything against Everard," retorted +Grace haughtily "and as for partiality, where is the favouritism +now."</p> + +<p>"Oh well, I shall write such a letter that he can't but come."</p> + +<p>"I wish you success with all my heart," returned Grace more +<span class = "pagenum">107</span> +good naturedly, while Isabel gazed silently out of the window.</p> + +<p class = "asterisk"> + *******</p> + +<p>"No answer to my letter yet, is it not strange <!-- missing " --> +said Emily as she joined Isabel in her favourite retreat, the +conservatory, "what do you think about it, it makes me positively +unhappy."</p> + +<p>"Shall I tell you what I think" asked Isabel passing her arm round +Emily and continuing her walk.</p> + +<p>"Do please, for you can't think how disagreeable it is, when Harry +asks, when Everard is coming, to have to give the same stupid answer, +I expect to hear every day."</p> + +<p>"I don't think you will."</p> + +<p>"Oh Isabel."</p> + +<p>"No, I do not think he will write, but just quietly walk in one of +these days!"</p> + +<p>"Do you really think so," asked Emily, her face radiant.</p> + +<p>Isabel gave an affirmative nod.</p> + +<p>"What makes you think so, Isabel?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, but I feel sure he will," she replied, turning away +her face.</p> + +<p>"Isabel."</p> + +<p>"Well, dear," said Isabel, with heightening color, still keeping her +face turned away, "tell me, was it because of you that Everard would not +come home."</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>"Then you think, perhaps, it may be."</p> + +<p>"It is very foolish to think so."</p> + +<p>"Then you do think so," said Emily, archly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, miss, I have found you out at last. What a sly one you are. +I have been watching you a long time, and thought you all +unconscious how it was with a certain party who shall be nameless. Oh +I'm so glad."</p> + +<p>"Glad that your brother is so unhappy?" Oh, Emily! <!-- misplaced +quote --></p> + +<p>"No; glad that he need be so no longer."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">108</span> +"How do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"How do I mean! Why how obtuse you are, Isabel."</p> + +<p>"You run on too fast."</p> + +<p>"Oh, not much. I found out how it was on his part long ago, and I +shall not be long before I tell him the result of my observations +elsewhere."</p> + +<p>"Tell him what?" asked Isabel, aghast, <!-- , for . --></p> + +<p>"To go in and win," replied Emily, saucily.</p> + +<p>"Emily, Emily! what are you saying—what do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Mean?" replied Emily, with a saucy nod, "to help on my pet scheme a +little, that's all."</p> + +<p>"You never mean to say that you intend to—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, but I do, though."</p> + +<p>"Emily, if you dare!" cried Isabel, indignantly.</p> + +<p>"Ah, but I shall."</p> + +<p>"You shall not," said Isabel, grasping her arm, "you do not know what +you are about."</p> + +<p>"Yes I do, perfectly well, and you will both thank me hereafter."</p> + +<p>"Stop a moment; what is it you intend to tell him?"</p> + +<p>"Only what I have found out—that all is as he wishes, so he +need not be afraid."</p> + +<p>"You have not found out any such thing."</p> + +<p>"Oh, have I not though?"</p> + +<p>"Decidedly not. All you have discovered is, that I had some foolish +idea that it might possibly be on my account that he was not coming +home. That is all you could honestly tell him, and you will do more harm +than good if you do; depend upon it, you will only make matters worse by +interfering."</p> + +<p>"Well, if it is to do no good, I would rather that he did not know I +had found out his secret, but keep it as I have done."</p> + +<p>"Since when?" asked Isabel.</p> + +<p>"Last spring, when we had to leave you on the rock, but of course I +did not let him see it."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">109</span> +"Then do not enlighten him now, you will only make him +uncomfortable."</p> + +<p>"You are right, but come tell me since when did you know."</p> + +<p>"I have known a long time."</p> + +<p>"But does he think you know."</p> + +<p>Isabel was silent.</p> + +<p>"Come, miss, how did you find out?"</p> + +<p>"Don't, Emily," said Isabel, entreatingly.</p> + +<p>"How did you know—did he tell you?"</p> + +<p>"Is this generous?" asked Isabel, with burning cheeks." <!-- extra " +--></p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say that you refused him?" said Emily, turning her +blue eyes full upon Isabel, "that would be too cruel."</p> + +<p>"Be quiet, Emily," implored Isabel.</p> + +<p>"I see how it is now. Oh, Isabel, how could you?"</p> + +<p>"Remember, Emily, I have told you nothing; you have found out my +secret; keep it better than you did your brother's."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Isabel, I am sure I kept that well enough."</p> + +<p>"Not so well as you must keep this. I am very, very sorry, for I feel +that I have not been sufficiently watchful, or you would I not have +suspected it. And he would be justly angry if he knew."</p> + +<p>"Well, under the circumstances it would make no difference to you if +he was."</p> + +<p>Isabel bit her lip and was silent, then said, "Emily, dear Emily, +promise me that you will try to forget this conversation, and never +mention it to any one."</p> + +<p>"But Isabel when was it."</p> + +<p>"I will answer no questions on that subject" more than enough has +been said already. <!-- misplaced quote --></p> + +<p>"What a rage Grace would be in, if she knew, well, well, I have +my own ideas."</p> + +<p>"Have you indeed, and pray what would Grace be in a rage about if she +knew," asked a well known voice close to them.</p> + +<p>Both young ladies started and crimsoned. "You see Emmy I could not +resist that letter, so here I am for a few days."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">110</span> +"Isabel was right" cried Emily triumphantly, "she said you would come +quietly in, one of these days."</p> + +<p>"What made you think so," he asked.</p> + +<p>"I felt sure of it, I cannot tell why, but I had a presentiment that +you would."</p> + +<p>"May I hope that the wish was the origin of the thought," he said in +a low tone, as Emily turned to caress his dog, Hector.</p> + +<p>"Certainly" she answered laughing. "I would not have Emily +disappointed on any account."</p> + +<p>"Such a true prophet ought to be rewarded, don't you think so Emily," +said Everard presenting Isabel with the first and only flower of a rare +foreign plant.</p> + +<p>"I cannot accept it," replied Isabel, "the reward is more than the +prediction was worth."</p> + +<p>"Oh no, it is not, I am sure you earned it," cried Emily clapping her +hands, and running off with Hector for a romp.</p> + +<p>"Surely you will not refuse a flower" said Everard.</p> + +<p>"But why that flower."</p> + +<p>"Because it is the best."</p> + +<p>"For that very reason, I cannot accept it."</p> + +<p>"You are over scrupulous Miss Leicester."</p> + +<p>"No, only prudent."</p> + +<p>He looked hurt, "you will not refuse" he urged.</p> + +<p>"I dare not accept it."</p> + +<p>"Why."</p> + +<p>"What would they think."</p> + +<p>"If the truth,<!--no space-->——, that the flower I valued +most, I gave to the one I loved best."</p> + +<p>"Are you not venturing on forbidden grounds" asked Isabel with +glowing cheeks.</p> + +<p>"Isabel you are cruel."</p> + +<p>"I do not wish to pain you."</p> + +<p>"Then accept my flower."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">111</span> +"No, were I to do so, I could only take it to your mother saying that +you wished it preserved."</p> + +<p>"Would you do so Isabel," he exclaimed reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"I should be obliged to do so, if I took it."</p> + +<p>"Is it only this one you refuse."</p> + +<p>"Or any other equally valuable and scarce."</p> + +<p>Gathering a choice little bouquet he said "you will not refuse this +Isabel."</p> + +<p>"Miss Leicester if you please sir," she replied as she took the +flowers, and hastened to the schoolroom. While Everard stood for a +moment lost in thought, then went to pay his respects to his mother, and +present the rejected flower, to the bride elect.</p> + +<p>This was the last evening they would be alone, to-morrow the guests +were to arrive. Isabel did not always join them at dinner, and this +evening she intended to spend in the schoolroom to finish the reports, +which Mr. Arlington always liked to have when the holidays began, giving +the children leave to go in the drawing-room. But the best plans cannot +always be carried out. Isabel received a message from Mrs. Arlington +requesting her to join them at dinner, accompanied by a threat from +Harry, that if she did not they would all adjourn to the schoolroom, of +course she had to comply. However the evening passed off very +pleasantly, Everard was so much occupied with his mother and sisters, +that with the exception of making her sing all his favourite songs, he +paid even less than usual attention to Isabel.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">112</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XXII.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capT.png" width = "44" height = "42" +align = "left" alt = "T" title = "T (The)">he</span> children are on +tiptoe of expectation, anxiously waiting the arrival of the +Mornington's, and numerous other guest's. <!-- guests --> Now the wished +for moment has come, what a delightful stir and confusion it has +occasioned. Rose is in ecstasy, and Amy wild with glee, even the quiet +Alice seemed to have caught the infection. It was to be a regular old +fashioned Xmas. Eve. All sorts of games and odd things, snap dragon, +charades (for which Harry and Lucy were famous) magic music, dancing, +and even blindmans <!-- blindman's --> buff was proposed but was +over-ruled by the quieter members of the party. 'Santa Claus' sent a +bountiful supply of presents down the chimney that night, which caused +great merriment next day. For ladies got smoking caps, and cigar-cases; +while gentlemen received workboxes, thimbles, and tatting-needles. Peter +got a jester's cap and bells, which he vowed was a dunce's cap intended +for Rose, to that young lady's great indignation. Tom had a primer, and +a present for a good boy, and May received a plain gold ring at which +they all laughed very much, to May's excessive annoyance. After +breakfast they all went to church, and then all who chose went to see +the school children, who were enjoying themselves immensely over their +Xmas. fare. Then the sleighs were had out for a glorious drive over the +frozen snow, but Isabel refused to join the party, preferring to stay +quietly at home. To practise anthem's <!-- anthems --> with Everard, +Grace said. Isabel had no such idea, but for all that they did sing some +anthems with the children, as Everard, who had taken a very active part +in the arrangements for the Sunday School feast, was not of course one +of the sleighing party, and returned some time before them. The children +sang very nicely, doing great credit to Isabel's teaching, for which she +was highly complimented by Everard.</p> + +<p>"They ought to be much obliged to you, as they bid fair to surpass +both Grace and Emily," he said.</p> + +<p>"Pray don't let Miss Arlington hear you say so, or she will never +forgive me."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">113</span> +"Oh never fear, she would not believe it, but I will be careful, as she +is already dreadfully jealous of you."</p> + +<p>"Of me, how can she be, why should she."</p> + +<p>"She has cause enough," he replied warmly, "but she should be more +magnanimous."</p> + +<p>"I don't think it possible, I cannot imagine she could be so +silly."</p> + +<p>"It is plain enough to me, that she is."</p> + +<p>"I don't see it, I confess."</p> + +<p>"'Where ignorance is bliss,' <!-- missing " --> he replied, with one +of his usual penetrating glances. "Yours must be a very happily +constituted mind to be so unconscious of all things disagreeable."</p> + +<p>"Not quite so unconscious as you imagine, but I advise you not to +fish into troubled waters."</p> + +<p>"Still waters run deep, you mean," he replied.</p> + +<p>"Unfathomable," she said, and followed the children to the +dining-room, for they had gone there to see if the decorations were +completed. A right merry party sat down to dinner, sixty in number, +all relations or old friends. Here is Tom's description of the wedding +nest day, which he sent his friend:</p> + +<p class = "letter"> +<span class = "smallcaps">Dear Dick</span>,—We are having jolly +times here—rare fun on Christmas-eve, I assure you. But the +best of all was my brother's wedding; eight bridesmaids, all as +beautiful as sunshine. (I was a best-man, of course.) The bride +looked magnificent—(between you and I, Dick, he has made a +very good choice)—the rain and sunshine style. I can't say I +understand that kind of thing, but on such occasions it tells immensely. +(I admire one of the bridesmaids amazingly, but mum's the word, +mind.) But to speak of the wedding. Governor Arlington is a liberal old +fellow. Champagne like water, and everything to match.</p> + +<p class = "letter" align = "right"> +Your's <!-- Yours --> truly, T. M.</p> + +<p>Elm Grove was scarcely the same place to Isabel when Emily was gone. +She toiled on diligently with the children, but she found teaching +anything but pleasant. Often after a tedious day, when tired and weary, +she would gladly have laid down to rest her aching head and throbbing +temples. Mrs. Arlington would request that she would join them in the +drawing-room. Isabel did not consider herself at liberty to refuse, +besides she did not wish to encounter Mrs. Arlington's frowns next day; +and even when they were out, and she congratulated herself upon being +left in peace, Mr. Arlington (who seldom accompanied hem <!-- them -->) +would ask her to +<span class = "pagenum">114</span> +sing some songs, or play a game of chess, and of course she had to +comply. This kind of life was very irksome to Isabel—so different +to what she had been accustomed to. She strove bravely with her fate, +but in spite of all her endeavors she often cried herself to sleep she +felt so desolate and alone. She had no home: there was no hearth where +she was missed, or her coming anxiously looked for. Then she would +grieve bitterly over the bright home she had lost, and the happy days +gone, it seemed, for ever; and then in the morning be angry with herself +for her ingratitude, remembering the blessings she still enjoyed, and +how much worse off she might be, and strive to be contented. +A fresh cause for disquietude arose, Grace evidently was jealous of +her. Grace was handsome, but she was aware that Isabel was more +attractive. Grace sang well, but she also knew that Isabel sang better, +her voice was richer, fuller, more melodious. She said that Isabel +always wanted to show off, and would look very incredulous and neutral +when Isabel's performances were praised. One gentleman in particular was +very enthusiastic in his praises. "But professional people are different +you know," returned Grace.</p> + +<p>"Oh indeed, I was not aware that Miss Leicester was a professional +singer," he replied.</p> + +<p>"Not a professional singer, she teaches singing," said Grace thinking +she was going a little too far.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, where did you make her acquaintance, may I ask, you seldom +hear such a splendid voice."</p> + +<p>"Oh she is our governess," replied Grace.</p> + +<p>Turning to Isabel he said "you have a very fine voice Miss Leicester, +if you were to make your debut at one of our best operas, you would make +your fortune."</p> + +<p>"I have no such idea," said Isabel, the indignant tears starting to +her eyes, "that is the last thing I should thing of doing, she added +with a reproachful look at Grace," <!-- misplaced quote --> but Grace +seemed to be enjoying the whole thing amazingly.</p> + +<p>"I do not suppose that you have thought of it or you certainly would +not be a governess, with such a career open to you; with very little +training you might command almost any salary." Isabel was excessively +annoyed. "I assure you my dear young lady that it is worth your +consideration <!-- missing " --> he continued.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">115</span> +"You mean well, no doubt, Mr. Bandolf, and I thank you for your kind +intentions; but the matter requires no consideration, I could not +entertain the idea for a moment" returned Isabel, and bowing coldly +opened a book of prints.</p> + +<p>"You should not let pride prevent your worldly advancement," he +added, which only made her more angry than ever. For all this I have to +thank Miss Arlington she thought, and her feelings toward that young +lady, at that moment, were not the most charitable.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">116</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XXIII.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capNq.png" width = "74" height = "42" +align = "left" alt = "N" title = "N (No)">o</span> I am sure it never +answers at least not in most cases and in ours it would not I am +convinced; but I had a pretty hard battle about it I assure you Ada." +<!-- goddammit, has this woman never heard of punctuation? --></p> + +<p>"I had no idea until now that they wished it" returned Ada. "but I am +very glad you did not agree to it."</p> + +<p>(The matter under consideration was, if it were desirable that young +couples should reside with the parents of either; but Charles Ashton +knew his mother's disposition too well, to subject his wife to it, +though he was a very good son and loved his mother. He had no wish, nor +did he consider himself at liberty to place his wife in a position that +he knew might make her very unhappy. Nor did he think that such an +arrangement would promote domestic bliss. He was a particularly quiet +easy going fellow, very averse to exertion of any kind and seldom +troubled himself to oppose any arrangements, usually agreeing to any +proposition for the sake of peace and quietness. But for all that he had +a will of his own, and when he had once made up his mind, nothing on +earth could move him. Before he married he gave the matter careful +considertion, <!-- consideration --> and came to the conclusion that it +must never be—never <!-- missing . --> Ada would be his wife, and +no mortal should breathe a word against her in his +hearing—therefore it must never be. Having come to this conclusion +he waited until the subject should be broached by either of his parents, +knowing very well that when that topic should be discussed, then would +come the tug of war, and he was not at all anxious for it. It soon came +however, his father proposed that he should bring his bride there, +saying, "there is plenty of room for all." But Charles was not so sure +of that, and feared that the house might possibly become too hot to hold +them, but merely stated quietly that he had decided otherwise. Then +arose a perfect storm, but he was firm. His mother asked with her +handkerchief to her eyes, if she was to lose her boy altogether. While +Lord Ashton requested to be informed what his plans might be.</p> + +<p>"To live in England" he answered.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">117</span> +"What might be his objection to Ashton Park."</p> + +<p>He had nothing to say against Ashton Park, but he wished to reside in +England.</p> + +<p>Very well, they would go to England, and all live together, that +would be charming Lady Ashton said.</p> + +<p>"He should like them to live in England, but as to living together, +that was out of the question," Charles replied.</p> + +<p><!-- extra " --> "Whereupon Lady Ashton was highly offended and very +angry. Charles was quiet, but firm, all they could urge was useless, he +would not hear of it.) "It might answer in Arthur's case" he returned, +<!-- missing " --> by the way Ada is it not strange we have never heard +anything of them, poor Louisa, I suppose boarding school did not +answer her expectations, as she left it so soon."</p> + +<p>"Can you wonder at it, situated as she was."</p> + +<p>"It was natural no doubt, and Arthur could be so winning, he always +was a favourite with the ladies."</p> + +<p>"Oh well, he is a nice fellow you must admit."</p> + +<p>"I don't deny it, I always liked him very much, but still I think +that sort of thing, is not right, but he always was impetuous, never +considered anything, but just acted on the spur of the moment, and he is +very soft hearted" he added laughing. "I wonder if the old +gentleman knows it."</p> + +<p>"Your mother was always ambitious for him, don't you remember how +afraid she was about Isabel" asked Ada.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and the daughter of his tutor does not come up to the +mark."</p> + +<p>"I should think her own daughter's child might at all events."</p> + +<p>"But she never regards her in that light, never will I fear."</p> + +<p>"Somebody wishes to see you Sir, very particularly please," said +Thomson.</p> + +<p>"Who is it? Thomson."</p> + +<p>"Don't know I'm sure Sir, she would not give any name, but is very +anxious to see you, I said you were engaged, but she replied I that +she must see you to-night, it was very important."</p> + +<p>"What sort of a person is she?" asked Ada.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">118</span> +"A lady madam, quite a lady I should say, only in trouble, she says she +knew master in America."</p> + +<p>"I must see her, I suppose, where is she."</p> + +<p>"In the study, sir."</p> + +<p>The stranger was standing by the fire-place, as he entered she made +an impatient gesture for him to close the door, then threw herself at +his feet passionately imploring him to help and protect her, and +throwing aside her thick vail, <!-- sic --> disclosed the features of +Louisa, but so altered that he was perfectly shocked and amazed. He +could scarcely believe that the haggered <!-- haggard --> emaciated +being before him, was indeed the pretty, impulsive, fiery, Louisa, but +such was the case, and anger, compassion and indignation filled his +heart, as he listened to the recital of her misfortunes.</p> + +<p>As the reader is already acquainted with a portion of Louisa's story, +we will not repeat it here, but only record such circumstances as have +not appeared in these pages. On arriving at her grandfather's she +encountered a storm of angry abuse, and was driven from the door with a +stern command never to return, as she had forfeited all claims upon him, +and might die in a ditch for all he cared. She managed to get about a +mile from the house, and then overcome with fatigue and misery she sank +down exhausted.</p> + +<p>How long she remained there she had no idea, when she recovered she +was among strangers, who were very kind. She had had a brain fever, and +was in the hospital <!-- missing . --> When asked for the address of her +friends, she replied that she had none. But afterward she remembered +that her Uncle Charles had always been kind to her, and had occasionally +procured her little indulgences from her stern, cold-hearted, +grand-mother, and that it had been mainly through his interference that +she had been sent to school. She therefore determined to seek his aid, +and accept a small loan from the doctor, to enable her to do so, long +and weary had the journey been, and she implored Charles not to send her +away. She knew she said that it would not be for long, and entreated him +to let her die in peace.</p> + +<p>Charles assured her that she should want for nothing, and commended +her for coming to him, and expressed in no measured terms his +disapprobation of his father's cruel conduct, but was abruptly silenced +by Louisa falling senseless on the floor. His violent ringing of the +bell, brought not only the servants, but Ada +<span class = "pagenum">119</span> +also, to his assistance; medical aid was quickly procured. That night +her child was born, and when morning dawned, Louisa lay still and cold +in that last long sleep from which no mortal could awake her. Sleep in +thy marble beauty, poor little Louisa, and perhaps that sad fate may +soften the hearts of thy cruel grandparent. Oh not as it has been +fulfilled did the dying Evangeline understand the promise made with +regard to the little Louisa. Oh how often was the stillness of the night +broken by the bitter sobs of the desolate little orphan whose aching +heart sought for love in vain. Then can we wonder that when this lonely +one, did find one to love, that she should willingly listen to his +persuasions in hopes of a happy future, rather than endure any longer +such a cheerless existence.</p> + +<p>In the early morning a violent knocking at the hall door brought +Thomson from his gossip with the other servants.</p> + +<p>"Is there not a lady—a widow lady, staying here?" inquired an +old gentleman in an agitated voice, while the cab driver beat his arms +on the pavement. "Is not this Mr. Ashton's?" he added, as Thomson +hesitated. Thomson answered in the affirmative, and the old gentleman +continued, "Is the lady here? Can I see your master? answer me quickly +don't be so stupid."</p> + +<p>"A lady came last night but, but," stammered Thomson "she," <!-- who +knows what the author intended here? if indeed intention isn't too +strong an expression --></p> + +<p>"Is she here now, I say," he cried angrily.</p> + +<p>"Yes sir, but— <!-- missing " --></p> + +<p>"Say no more, just tell your master I want to see him immediately, +stop, take my card, here, now be quick."</p> + +<p>Poor Thomas <!-- Thomson --> was quite bewildered by the old +gentleman's manner. <!-- missing " --> I'm blest <!-- missing " --> he +murmured <!-- missing " --> if I know what we're coming to next, Lord +Barrington, what does he want I should like to know. <!-- missing " +--></p> + +<p>"Why Ada, it is Lord Barrington," exclaimed Charles.</p> + +<p>"How very fortunate," returned Ada "of course he will take charge of +the baby, I confess I was in a quandary for I do not relish the +idea of having the care of it, poor little thing."</p> + +<p>"Nor I either, but I am not so sure that he will take it, it is much +more likely he has come to row me about the whole affair."</p> + +<p>"You! Why, what had you to do with it?"</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">120</span> +"No more than you had; but I must see him at once, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Shall I go, too?" asked Ada, timidly.</p> + +<p>"Not at present: if there is to be a storm, I do not see why you +should be in it."</p> + +<p>"He is such a dreadful old man, is he not?"</p> + +<p>"Not usually; he was always very, very kind to Arthur."</p> + +<p>"Not to his wife," she replied, vainly endeavoring to repress her +tears.</p> + +<p>"No, very cruel; but you must not grieve so much about it, dearest +Ada."</p> + +<p>"I cannot help it, it is so terribly shocking."</p> + +<p>"But it is past, now: she is at rest, she is happy; even her lifeless +remains look calm—the weary, weary look exchanged for one of +peace."</p> + +<p>"True, but it is so dreadful; if we had only known before," she +sobbed.</p> + +<p>"I wish we had, with all my soul," returned Charles, "but you really +must not distress yourself so, or I shall have to keep the poor old gent +waiting."</p> + +<p>"Go to him, Charley; I shall feel better presently."</p> + +<p>He found his Lordship impatiently pacing the room. "I am seeking +my daughter-in-law; she is here, I believe," he said, after the +first salutations were over.</p> + +<p>"She is here," Charles answered gravely, "at least her remains; she +died last night."</p> + +<p>"Dead! dead!" repeated Lord Barrington, putting his hand to his head. +"Then I have nothing left."</p> + +<p>"But the child," interposed Charles.</p> + +<p>"The child—what child?"</p> + +<p>"The babe born last night."</p> + +<p><!-- extra " --> "He did not heed the answer, but seemed overpowered +by the news of Louisa's death. "Let me see Arthur's wife," he said, +<span class = "pagenum">121</span> +after a few minutes had elapsed. Charles conducted him to the darkened +apartment, where he gazed in agony upon the worn, but calm features of +poor Louisa. And as he thought of his harshness, and Arthur's words, +"make not her coming alone harder by one word or look," his grief became +so violent and excessive that Charles was quite nonplussed, and went to +consult Ada as to what should be done. In accordance with their plan, +Ada took the frail little piece of humanity, and, approaching Lord +Barrington, as he bent in sorrow over the corpse, said softly, "You have +lost Arthur, and Arthur's wife, but you still have Arthur's child," and +she laid the babe in his arms.</p> + +<p>His tears fell on its tiny face, but the sight of it, and its +helplessness, did him good. "Oh, Arthur! Arthur!" he moaned, <!-- +missing " --> why did you doubt your old father? how would I have +welcomed your wife if you had brought her home at first! aye, as I now +welcome this child—Arthur's child," he added, looking at it +fondly.</p> + +<p>He had the corpse conveyed to Barrington, and placed in the family +vault, and erected a monument—very beautiful, indeed—beside +the one he had already placed there in memory of his son, inscribed:</p> + +<p class = "center"> +To<br> +LOUISA,<br> +the beloved wife of Arthur,<br> +only son of<br> +<span class = "smallcaps">Lord Barrington of Barrington</span>,<br> +Aged 16 years. +</p> + +<p>He also placed another in the little burying-place at +Z——:</p> + +<p class = "center"> +In memory of<br> +ARTHUR,<br> +only son of <span class = "smallcaps">Lord Barrington</span>, of +Barrington Park, England,<br> +aged 23 years,<br> +who was suddenly attacked with a fatal fever,<br> +in a foreign land,<br> +when on his way home. +</p> + +<p>When Lady Ashton arrived, shortly afterwards, and heard what had +taken place, she was in a terrible fume. "Oh! my dear, what a +misfortune. How unlucky for her to come here: why did you let her stay, +Charles?"</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">122</span> +"Why did I let her stay? Say, rather, why did you send her away?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, why did you let her stay?" she repeated, angrily. "Why did you +not let her go to the hospital?"</p> + +<p>"Or die in the street," added Charles, scarcely able to keep his +temper, for he was angry and hurt to think how Louisa had been +treated.</p> + +<p>"Goodness knows what people will say: no doubt all kinds of strange +stories will be circulated. I feel for you, Ada, my dear; +I do, indeed."</p> + +<p>"Don't be alarmed, my dear mother, as to rumors and strange stories," +said Charles, handing her a newspaper, and pointing out the +following:</p> + +<blockquote> +DIED.—At the residence of Charles Ashton, Esq. <span class = +"smallcaps">Louisa</span>, wife of the late Hon. Arthur Barrington, and +grand-daughter of Sir Edward Ashton of Brierley. +</blockquote> + +<p>"Charles, how dared you?" cried his mother, reddening with anger, +"your father will be excessively angry."</p> + +<p>"I cannot help that: it is the truth, is it not?"</p> + +<p>"True? of course you know it is; but, for all that, you need not have +published it in that absurd manner."</p> + +<p>"I thought it best."</p> + +<p>"And you are simple enough to think that that notice will prevent +absurd stories getting abroad."</p> + +<p>"As to who she might be, yes; and, as to the circumstances that +brought her here, I presume you would prefer any, rather than the +right ones, should be assigned."</p> + +<p>Lady Ashton was for once abashed, and her eye dropped beneath the +severity of her son's gaze; but, recovering quickly, she answered, "you, +at least, have nothing to do with that."</p> + +<p>"I am thankful to say I have not," he returned, "I cannot forget +it, it makes me perfectly wretched; and, but that I know that Ada has +her own home to go to, if anything happened to me I don't know what I +should do. I shall insure my life this very day, that she may be +independent. If a daughter's child could be so treated, why not a son's +wife." +<span class = "pagenum">123</span></p> + +<p><!-- missing " --> For goodness' sake stop, Charles!" cried his +mother, "don't talk so dreadfully."</p> + +<p>"I feel it bitterly, mother; indeed I do," he replied, and hastily +left the room. He would not have done so, however, had he known the +storm he had left Ada to be the unhappy recipient of. She was perfectly +terrified at the violence of Lady Ashton's wrath, and Lady Ashton was, +too, when she saw Ada lay back in her chair, pale as marble and panting +for breath. "What is the matter?—speak, child," she cried, shaking +her violently; but this only alarmed her the more, and she called loudly +for Charles, and then remained gazing at Lady Ashton in speechless +terror.</p> + +<p>"Ada! dearest Ada! what is the matter?" asked Charles, coming to the +rescue; but Ada had fainted.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">124</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XXIV.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capWq.png" width = "84" height = "42" +align = "left" alt = "W" title = "W (Well)">ell</span>, old fellow, how +are you?" said Louis, as he entered Everard's room at the college. +"I only just heard you were back." After they had conversed awhile, +Louis said, "Pretty girl that governess your sisters have at Elm Grove; +aye, only she is such a confounded flirt."</p> + +<p>"I esteem Miss Leicester very highly," returned Everard, coldly.</p> + +<p>"Take care, old fellow, for she is, without exception, the greatest +coquette I ever came across. She always had crowds of admirers, many of +whom she contrived to draw on until they came to 'the point,' and then +laughed at them. By Jove she will make a fool of you, Everard, if you +don't mind."</p> + +<p>"I assure you, Louis, that you are quite mistaken. Miss Leicester is +quite a different person to what you imagine."</p> + +<p>"Ha! ha! so you may think, but I knew her intimately, and I must say +that I was surprised that your mother should trust her young daughters +to her care."</p> + +<p>"Be quiet, Louis; I think her as near perfection as possible."</p> + +<p>"Well, they say that love is blind—stone blind, in this case, +I should say. She must have played her game well, to deceive you so +thoroughly."</p> + +<p>"I am not deceived, neither has she played any game," returned +Everard, with warmth. "She gives me no encouragement whatever—very +far from it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that is her new dodge, is it? Beware of her; she is a most +accomplished actress."</p> + +<p>"You are mistaken," replied Everard, indignantly, "you know some one +else of the same name."</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it, my dear fellow; I saw the young minx at Elm Grove, +and knew her directly. 'Beautiful, but dangerous.' I know her well."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">125</span> +Everard's cheek flushed with anger. "Louis," said he, "I will not +hear any one speak disrespectfully of Miss Leicester. I consider +any insult offered to her as a personal affront; therefore, if we are to +remain friends, you must say no more on that subject now or at any other +time."</p> + +<p>Louis saw by Everard's countenance that he was in earnest, so +answered, "as you will. I have satisfied my conscience by warning +you; of course I can do no more. Won't you dine with us to-day?"</p> + +<p>"No, really, I cannot possibly; I have no time to go +anywhere."</p> + +<p>"Take care you don't work too hard, and have to give up altogether. +You look as if you were overdoing it. Too much of a good thing is good +for nothing, you know. Come when you can—if not to-day, +I shall be always glad to see you."</p> + +<p>"What object can he have in speaking thus of Isabel?" Everard asked +himself when Louis was gone—his beautiful and beloved Isabel, the +charm of his existence, yet the torture of his life—(for was it +not torture to be forever dwelling on her perfections, only to come back +to the same undeniable fact that she had refused him—that she +either could not, or would not, be his)—and now to hear +<i>her</i>, the personification of his own ideal, spoken of as an +accomplished actress and deceitful coquette, was almost more than he +could endure. Then he asked himself what he had gained by his constant +and excessive study: had it caused him to forget her? no, he could not +forget she seemed ever with him in all her beauty, gentleness, and +truth. He would win her yet, he told himself, and then owned he was a +fool to indulge such thoughts, and determined to study harder still than +ever, to prevent the possibility of his thoughts recurring so often to +Isabel. Nevertheless, he would believe nothing against +her—nothing.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">126</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XXV.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capLq.png" width = "60" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "L" title = "L (Louis)">ouis</span>, I wish you +would look at baby before you go; I do not think she is well +to-night."</p> + +<p>"What is the matter now? You are always thinking she is ill: she +seemed well enough this morning."</p> + +<p>"I don't know. She is restless and uneasy; I wish you would +come."</p> + +<p>"Of course I will, but I am in a great hurry just now; Mrs. Headley +has sent for me, and old Mr. Growl has another attack. I must go to +the people in the office now, but I will come up to baby before I +start."</p> + +<p>"Had you not better see baby first? Perhaps you might forget, with so +many people to attend to."</p> + +<p>"Forget? Not I. Why, Natalie, how do you think I should ever get on +if I had no better memory than that?"</p> + +<p>But he did forget, and was gone when Natalie again sought him. +"I thought it would be so," she sighed. Baby became more and more +uneasy, and moaned and fretted in her sleep. Natalie knelt beside the +bed, and tried to soothe her darling, thinking sadly of the long hours +that would elapse before Louis's return, but all her efforts were in +vain. Izzie did not wake or cry, but this only alarmed Natalie the more. +The deadly palor <!-- pallor --> of her countenance was the only sign of +the anguish she suffered; outwardly, she was very calm. If she could +only have done anything for her pet! but to wait, and watch, not knowing +what to do, this was unendurable; and she was just debating in her own +mind if she ought not to send for another doctor, as Louis might be +detained all night, when she heard him come in. She pressed her cold +hands upon her brow, and ordered Sarah to bring him immediately; while +she rose from her knees, and breathlessly waited for his coming.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with popsy?" he asked, cheerfully, as he entered +the room, but his countenance became grave as his eye +<span class = "pagenum">127</span> +rested on the sick child. "What is this?," <!-- extra , --> he inquired, +"why was I not told before? Tut, tut, what have you been thinking about, +Natalie," he added, as he felt the child's pulse.</p> + +<p>"I asked you to come and see her before you went out," Natalie +answered, in an almost inaudible voice.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but you did not say that there was anything particularly the +matter." He stooped over the child and examined her more carefully. "She +is seriously ill," he said.</p> + +<p>And the words sent a thrill of pain to Natalie's aching heart.</p> + +<p>"Why do you treat me in this shameful manner?" he continued bitterly. +"Why let the child go on until it is almost past recovery, and then send +for me in the greatest haste?—just the same way when she had the +croup. I am surprised at you Natalie; it is really quite childish." +He ordered the bath to be brought immediately.</p> + +<p>Impatiently waving Natalie aside, he took the child in his arms and +put her into the bath; while Natalie stood by, in speechless agony, +Louis refusing to allow her to assist in any way. How cruel! To have +done anything for her darling would have been an unspeakable relief. As +it was, she could only stand by while he murmured, in a tone which +greatly distressed her "poor little popsy," "Did they neglect papa's +darling?" He would suffer no one to touch her but himself, and what +assistance he did accept was from Sarah, it being into her arms he put +baby while he went for the medicine she required. Poor Natalie, how this +grieved her; for though she took the child from Sarah, the slight was +the same. "Oh, baby, baby!" she murmured, as the burning tears fell on +little Isabel's face, "what should I have left if you were taken from +me?"</p> + +<p>When Louis returned, he took the child, administered the medicine, +and was about to lay her in the bed.</p> + +<p>"Let me take her," whispered Natalie, in a tone of tremulous +earnestness and passionate entreaty.</p> + +<p>"No, she is better here," he replied.</p> + +<p>"Oh, please, Louis!" she pleaded, but he was firm.</p> + +<p>She stood, with clasped hands, silently gazing on the babe with +<span class = "pagenum">128</span> +a strange sensation of awe and dread, and a yearning wish to do +something for her.</p> + +<p>"You are not required, Natalie," Louis said, "you had better go to +bed." With a gulp she restrained the rising sob, and stooped to kiss her +darling. "You will only disturb her," he said, putting out his arm to +prevent her doing so. Then Natalie could only steal away to her +dressing-room, and there, alone in the darkness, she crept to the sofa +and hid her face in the cushion, to hush the tumultuous sobs, while she +breathed fervent prayers for baby's recovery. But a horrible dread +surrounded her: she could not endure to be absent from her pet, and +noiselessly she stole back to the nursery. She was glad that Louis did +not observe her entrance, and retreated to the dimmest corner of the +room, and there, in the old arm-chair, listened to baby's uneasy +breathing, which caused her an agony of grief and pain. Yet she could do +nothing but sit and suffer—suffer, oh, how deeply! Thus the night +wore away, and Louis was not aware of her presence until, as the day +dawned, he beheld the wan, wretched face of his poor little wife. Going +to her side, he said, "this is wrong, Natalie; go and rest." She shook +her head. "You must, indeed: you know I have to leave her to you the +greater part of the day, and this is no preparation for the watchful +care she will need."</p> + +<p>"She cannot need more care than I will gladly give," returned +Natalie, with trembling lip. Her face wore an expression, so +sad—so suffering—that Louis must, indeed, have been adamant +if he had not been softened. Stroking her hair caressingly, he was about +to lead her from the room with gentle force, when, grasping his hand +convulsively, she said, in an almost inaudible voice, "I cannot, +cannot go; have pity, Louis," she added, raising her tearful eyes to +his.</p> + +<p>"For an hour or two, and then you shall take care of baby."</p> + +<p>"If—if—you would let me kiss her, I will lie down +here, but I cannot leave her," she answered, almost choking.</p> + +<p>"You may do that," he said, with a disagreeable sense of the fact +that he had been unkind, to use no harsher term. And he lifted a weight +from Natalie's heart, as he placed a shawl over her, saying, "try to +sleep, dear; you know how much depends upon you," in sweet, modulated +tones of thrilling tenderness, such as +<span class = "pagenum">129</span> +Louis knew well how to use—none better, when it suited him to do +so.</p> + +<p>It mattered not to little Izzie who tended her for many days; not so, +however, when she began to mend, for now she would suffer none but mamma +to touch her. She would scarcely bear to be put out of her arms. If +Natalie attempted to lay her in the cradle, thinking she slept, +instantly the tiny arms would be clasped round mamma's neck, and she +would take her up again. No more could papa usurp mamma's rights; no +coaxing or persuasion would induce her to allow him to take her. Only +from mamma's hand would she take her medicine. On more than one occasion +Natalie had to be aroused from the little sleep she allowed herself, to +administer it. All this annoyed Louis beyond measure, but he did not +again give way to his temper before the child, except on one occasion. +He had, in the strongest terms, urged upon Natalie the importance of +giving the medicine with regularity. The bottle was empty, and Natalie +sent it down to be filled, but by some means it got mixed with the other +medicines to be sent out, and was not returned to her. She suffered +tortures for the want of it during his absence. When he returned, coming +straight to baby as usual, he learned how it was, and found her worse +for want of it, his indignation was extreme, and he heaped upon Natalie +unjust and unmerited reproach, in harsh and bitter terms. His cruel +words cut her to the heart, but her only answer was a gentle request +that he would get it at once. Truly Isabel had not much to regret.</p> + + + +<span class = "pagenum">130</span> +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XXVI.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capWq.png" width = "84" height = "42" +align = "left" alt = "W" title = "W (What)">hat</span> do you think?" +cried Rose, bursting into the school-room. "Everard is coming home."</p> + +<p>"Oh, is he? I'm so glad," returned Alice.</p> + +<p>"Yes; mamma had a letter to-day. He is better, and is coming home for +change of air and mamma's good nursing. It was not Everard who wrote the +letter, but the doctor, who is coming with him as far as Markham, and +papa is to meet them there."</p> + +<p>"When?" inquired Alice.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow."</p> + +<p>"And papa is away."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he will be back to-night. Why, there is a carriage; +I wonder who it is," she exclaimed, running to the window.</p> + +<p>"How can you be so silly, Rose," interposed Isabel.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it is Everard," she shouted, without heeding Isabel's +remonstrance, "and that must be the Doctor. Oh, I'm so glad Everard has +come," and she danced about the room with glee.</p> + +<p>"Rose, what a noisy child you are!" exclaimed Isabel, going to the +window with the rest; but when she saw the Doctor, she became deadly +pale, and had to lean against the window frame for support, but she had +ample time to recover herself, as they were all too much occupied to +observe her.</p> + +<p>"How terribly ill he looks," said Rose.</p> + +<p>"And how dreadfully weak," returned Alice. "I'm sure that gentleman +was at Grace's party, only I forget his name."</p> + +<p>"Oh, mamma and Grace are both out; who is to do the honors, won't +you, Miss Leicester?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no."</p> + +<p>"Do, there's a good creature," pleaded Rose. But Isabel was firm. "It +will seem so queer," urged Rose.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">131</span> +"Alice, dear, <i>you</i> must go."</p> + +<p><!-- missing " --> Oh no, indeed, I can't; please excuse me, Miss +Leicester."</p> + +<p>"Oh let <i>me</i> go," pleaded Rose, "I shall manage far better than +Alice."</p> + +<p>"You!" exclaimed Isabel, "nonsense! Alice has more thought, besides +she has the advantage of two or three inches in height, at all +events."</p> + +<p>Alice remonstrated.</p> + +<p>"Not another word, Alice, you have to go," said Isabel; and Alice +thought she had never seen Miss Leicester so peremptory.</p> + +<p>Isabel was not afraid to trust Alice. Once fairly installed as +hostess she would do very well, though shy at first.</p> + +<p>"But he seems so very ill, and I shall not know what to do," said +Alice.</p> + +<p>"You must tell them they were not expected until to-morrow, to +explain your mamma's absence; and I will order up some refreshments, and +tell Norris to have your brother's room ready for him."</p> + +<p>Poor Alice looked quite scared at the ordeal that was before her.</p> + +<p>"Mind you manage nicely, Allie dear, and make your brother +comfortable," said Isabel, kissing her. And Alice, with a great sigh, +left the room.</p> + +<p>Isabel would have been content to have done "the honors," as Rose +termed it, had the Doctor been any other than Louis, but under the +circumstances she was determined not to do so. Though firmly resolved to +abide by this decision, she did not feel very comfortable, as she +thought it not improbable that Everard would send for her. Indeed, he +did tell Alice to bring her, but Alice, with her usual blunt manner, +answered that Miss Leicester had refused to come, and had sent her. As +Isabel had foreseen, Everard soon retired to rest after his journey, and +she would have been nicely in for a long <i>tete-a-tete</i> with Louis, +which she did not choose. As it was, she sent Rose to help her sister to +entertain the Doctor until her mamma came home; and, taking Amy with +her, Isabel retired to her own apartment, to prevent the possibility of +meeting him.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">132</span> +The absentees returned early, and Mrs. Arlington came herself to request +that Miss Leicester would endeavor to make the evening pass pleasantly +to the gentlemen, as she and Grace had an engagement that evening, and +as it was to be the ball of the season Grace did not wish to give it +up.</p> + +<p>"Pray, excuse me, Mrs. Arlington," Isabel began.</p> + +<p>"Stay, Isabel, I know what you would say. The Doctor goes with us. +Everard and his father will be alone, and I think you can find a song, +a book, or something to amuse them."</p> + +<p>"I will try," said Isabel, well content now that Louis was not to be +of the party.</p> + +<p>"One word more, Miss Leicester," said Mrs. Arlington, dismissing Amy. +"I disapprove very much of the children being sent to entertain +visitors, and I hope it will not occur again."</p> + +<p>Isabel felt hurt, but merely replied, "under the circumstances it +might be excused."</p> + +<p>"No, Isabel, no; I cannot see any justifiable reason. It is more than +two years since Dr. Taschereau was married, and if you have not got over +that affair you ought to have done so, that is all I can say."</p> + +<p>"I have, I have," exclaimed Isabel, warmly, "but still you could not +expect me to meet him."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why you should not; it would have been better to have +done so than, by acting as you have, lead him to suppose that you have +not overcome your former attachment."</p> + +<p>"It is utterly impossible, for him to think that," returned Isabel +hotly, "I told him differently long ago; no," she added +indignantly, "I have not the slightest shadow of affection for him; +but I cannot, will not, subject myself to his insufferable insolence. +You don't know him, or you would not expect me to do so," and the hot +tears welled up into her eyes.</p> + +<p>"I cannot hear my son's friend aspersed, Miss Leicester, especially +when he is my guest," said Mrs. Arlington, stiffly, "at the same time I +don't, of course, mean to justify his former conduct towards you; and +with regard to the children, do not let it occur again. You may make +yourself happy about the doctor, as he returns by the early train in the +morning, for he is anxious +<span class = "pagenum">133</span> +about his little girl, who is only now recovering from a serious +illness."</p> + +<p>On entering the drawing-room, Isabel found Everard on the sofa +looking very pale and rather sad. "I am sorry to see you so ill," +she said, "I came to give you a little music, but I'm afraid you +will not be able to bear it."</p> + +<p>"On the contrary I think it would do me good; but why would you not +come this afternoon?"</p> + +<p>"I am here now."</p> + +<p>"But why not before? Was it not unkind?"</p> + +<p>"It was not so intended."</p> + +<p>"Will you not give me the reason? <!-- missing " --></p> + +<p>"You must not ask me; believe that I had sufficient cause." The words +were not such as he would have, but the manner was so winning that he +could not choose but be satisfied. "I am here now, solely on your +account, to amuse you as you like best. You must have been very ill," +she said, regarding him kindly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am awfully weak," he returned, "it seems so strange to me, +I have usually been so strong."</p> + +<p>"You will soon get strong here," replied Isabel, cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"Not if you plague me as you did this afternoon," he said +reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"Don't be angry," she pleaded.</p> + +<p>"Not angry, but hurt," he said.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't help it," she answered, almost with a sob.</p> + +<p>"It did seem a chilling reception, a strange coming home, so cold, so +utterly without welcome, and I had longed so much to come. <!-- missing +" --></p> + +<p>"It was not my fault they were all out."</p> + +<p>"Yes, they were all out, and you wouldn't come."</p> + +<p>"You are angry," she was crying now, her face down on her hands.</p> + +<p>"I am a brute," he said.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">134</span> +"Oh, no; but I am a naughty girl," and seating herself at the piano, she +asked what he would have. She had not thought of the seeming neglect, +she had not thought what he would feel at finding Alice the only one to +receive him. She could not help it she told herself, perhaps so, but she +had been selfish, very selfish; she was sorry, sorry that Everard should +take it so hardly; but even so, did it occur again, she could not act +differently. "What will you have," she asked.</p> + +<p>"You know my favorites."</p> + +<p>"Ah, that is right; I was just going to send for you," said Mr. +Arlington, who now entered. "I see you know what will please him +most; I don't know what we should do without you," he added warmly. +"You don't know how good she has been to me, Everard, she is a good +substitute for my gay party-going daughter, but for her I don't know +what I should do now Emily is away." She is not good to me, thought +Everard, and then a ray of hope sprung up, as he thought of her very +kind manner, but no, had he not been led into thinking so before, but +whenever he had touched ever so lightly on the old topic, he had been +repelled.</p> + +<p>Isabel felt sad to-night, and could only sing plaintive melodies, and +then felt annoyed to think that she had failed to accomplish the purpose +for which she came. But she was mistaken, these songs harmonized better +with his present mood than more gay ones would have done.</p> + +<p>Everard did not seem to gain strength. Isabel did her best to relieve +the weariness of the long, long days: bringing the children into the +library in the afternoon in order that he might share their amusement as +she read aloud, and in various ways endeavored to lessen the monotony of +the time. She would, perhaps, have acted more wisely had she not done +so, for Isabel's was a very tender nature, and her gentle sympathy was +very pleasant to Everard, but it only served to keep up the conflict +between hope and fear, which was specially hurtful to him just now, when +he needed perfect repose. But she thought Grace and her mother +neglectful, and strove to make up for it. She often sent one of his +young sisters to sit with him, but Rose was not allowed this privilege +as often as the others, though on the whole she was best. Alice was too +quiet, and Amy too apt to dwell on the perfections of her dear Miss +Leicester, while Rose, her wild spirits subdued in the presence of her +sick brother, but only sufficiently so to prevent +<span class = "pagenum">135</span> +her being oppressive, was just the cheerful companion that was good for +him, her vigorous, healthy, happy-in-the-present style had a good +effect. She was never at a loss for a topic for conversation, and her +quick perception enabled her to detect at once when he grew tired, and +then she would immediately employ herself in some quiet manner. She +never sat contemplating him thoughtfully with eyes so like his own, as +Alice too often did, as if she would read his very soul.</p> + +<p>There did not appear to be much of "Mamma's good nursing" to which +Rose had alluded. True it was a very gay season, and Mrs. Arlington's +duties were very onerous. "You know, Everard," she said, "that Grace +cannot go out alone, so that my time is so much occupied, that I fear I +must appear very neglectful, but you understand it is not my wish to +leave you so much," and Everard assented. But when he had a relapse, +then she gave up society, and was all the attentive mother.</p> + +<p>Louis was very skilful and had got him through a very severe illness, +how severe they had not known till now. Mrs. Arlington sent the children +into the country to be out of the way, and Isabel of course went with +them.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">136</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XXVII.</h4> + +<p> +<img src = "images/capB.png" width = "35" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "B" title = "B (Baby)">aby is quite well and happy, +in fact all trace of her illness has passed away; but Natalie is worn +and weary with tending her pet and bearing with Louis's hasty temper; +she is pale and wan, but ever sweet tempered. "Hark, baby, there's +papa." Izzie ran to meet him. He raised her in his arms and caressed +her, scarcely noticing his fond little wife, who would have been made +happy by a kiss or kind word. Tired and weary, but with a heart ache +which was harder to bear, Natalie lay on the sofa, she was nothing to +him, that was clear.</p> + +<p>"Love papa, baby, love papa," he said. Little Izzie threw her arms +round his neck and kissed him, then struggled to get away, "What's the +matter," he asked. "Love mamma, Izzie want's <!-- wants --> to love +mamma." She ran to her mother and repeated the action. Natalie caught +the child in her arms, kissing her passionately. "Izzie, my darling +Izzie," she murmured, while large tears fell on the child's face. Taking +up her pinefore <!-- pinafore --> Izzie gravely wiped her own face, and +then tenderly endeavored to dry her mother's tears, whispering <!-- +missing " --> don't cry mamma, Izzie don't like to see mamma cry," and +she nestled to her mothers <!-- mother's --> side, stroking her hair and +kissing her repeatedly. Nothing would have induced Izzie to leave her +mother then, even had Louis attempted it, but he did not, he stood by +the mantlepiece <!-- mantelpiece --> watching them, with an unpleasant +sensation, that baby had no power to dry those tears. He remained there +a long time, his head resting on his hand, while Natalie and baby fell +asleep together. From time to time a deep, deep sigh would escape from +Natalie, which was not pleasant for Louis to hear. Sarah came for baby, +but he desired her to leave her there. After a while, he thought it was +not best that she should be there, and went softly to the sofa and took +her away. As he did so, he remarked for the first time—aye, for +the first time—the worn unhappy expression of Natalie's sweet +face, which did not leave it even in sleep, and stooping over her gave +the kiss and kind words to his sleeping wife, which he had withheld when +she might have been made happy by them. He carried the child to its +nurse, then went to his surgery, busy among his drugs he could not but +<span class = "pagenum">137</span> +think of Natalie. How pale she looked, how fragile she had become, how +languid and listless she seemed of late, he had noticed that, and with +no pleasant feeling did he remember, that he had done so, only to chide +her for being lazy. How blind he had been, he saw plainly enough that +she needed change of air, she should have it, she should pay his uncle +Macdermott a visit, and take Izzie with her, but what should he do +without Izzie, he asked himself, but with surprising magnanimity, he +refused to consider that question. He had been a little inattentive +perhaps lately and owed her some amends, so Izzie should go with her. He +knew very well that Natalie would never go without her, and, truth to +tell, he had his misgivings as to how Izzie would behave without her +mother, so, as he really thought it needful, it was as much necessity as +kindness, that brought him to this decision.</p> + +<p>Natalie submitted passively to all their arrangements, but, on the +evening previous to their departure, when Louis was enjoying a cigar in +the library, after superintending all the preparations for the next +day's start, Natalie came fondly to his side, and laying her hand softly +upon his shoulder, said in a voice that trembled with emotion, +"I cannot go, do not ask me, Louis, I cannot, will not leave +you," and her head sank on her hand, as she again murmured "do not ask +me."</p> + +<p>"Pooh, Natie, what nonsense," he answered, laughing.</p> + +<p>"No Louis, I cant, <!-- can't --> you promised that you would come +for a week, so I will wait until you can take the week, and then we will +go together, but not now alone, O, not alone," and she sobbed out +on his shoulder the pent up anguish of her heart. He drew her to him +with more kindness than he had shown for a long time.</p> + +<p>"You will not send me away," she whispered.</p> + +<p>"Now, Nattie dear, be reasonable, you know you are not strong, and I +want you to get your roses back, and a week would be too short a time to +benefit you much, so in four weeks time I will come for two, that will +do, won't it."</p> + +<p>She shook her head, "I have a terrible dread of the journey, no +Louis, I will not go, I will wait till you can come with +me."</p> + +<p>Louis was not one to submit to opposition, his brow grew dark and the +fierce light was kindling in his eye. She should go, once +<span class = "pagenum">138</span> +for all he would not brook this resistance. After he had decided to let +Izzie go to please her, and save all fuss, was this to be the end of it? +no. "It is too late to say that now," he said, "a few weeks will +soon pass, and this idle fear is childish."</p> + +<p>"I should have spoken before, only I did so wish to please you if I +could."</p> + +<p>"No, Natalie," he said, sternly, "you do not care whether I am +pleased or not, you think of nothing but your own foolish fancies."</p> + +<p>"Don't be cross, Louis, it is because I love you so much that I want +to stay, don't send me away, O Louis, don't."</p> + +<p>"Now, Natalie, you are enough to provoke a saint," he said, angrily, +"cross, indeed, no wonder if I am, don't let me hear another word about +it, you go to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Natalie saw that any more opposition would inevitably cause one of +those fierce bursts of passion of which she ever stood in mortal dread; +she glanced at his darkened countenance and was silent, but her heart +was heavy.</p> + +<p>"Come, we will take a turn on the lawn the moon is so bright," he +said. They walked in the moonlight, those two, husband and wife not +three years, but the happy brightness had faded out of her face, and the +girl not twenty walked by his side with a weary step, as if life were +almost a burden. She resolutely checked her tears, and silently paced +the lawn, while her thoughts wandered back to the beautiful home in the +south of France, where she first met the man who had proved so different +a partner to what, in her love and trust, she had fondly imagined, and +then she wished so fervently that she might even yet be to him all that +she had hoped. But he did not want her with him, he would be glad when +she was away, oh, he did not love her, or he would not thus cruelly +insist upon her going. She had it in her heart even yet to throw herself +into his arms and entreat him to let her stay, but she felt that it +would be useless, besides she dare not offer further resistance to his +will. She looked up into his face and knew she dare not.</p> + +<p>His eyes were fixed upon her, "why Natalie," he said, laughing, +"anyone would think I was an ogre to see your countenance." But it was +not a pleasant laugh. Then the hardest thought that +<span class = "pagenum">139</span> +she ever had towards him, came to her mind, and she thought that he was +acting very like one. Louis paused as they were about to enter the house +saying, "You will not worry me any more, if you do it will be useless +and only make me harsh," his manner was stern, determined and chilling +in the extreme. Natalie shivered, "I will go," she replied in a +choking voice, then flew up the stairs and alone in the dark gave vent +to the grief that was breaking her heart. "Little fool," murmured Louis +between his firmly closed teeth, "what a plague she is."</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">140</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XXVIII.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capOq.png" width = "68" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "O" title = "O (O Isabel)"> Isabel</span>, it is +nearly time for the train to pass, do let us go and watch for it," said +Rose, and they went accordingly. "Here it comes, here it comes," she +shouted, and the iron horse came on snorting and panting; nearer, nearer +it approaches the bridge. 'Tis on the bridge. Crash—and in an +instant, it is gone; the train with its living freight is a mass of +broken ruins. The screams are appalling; the sight fearful in the +extreme. The children ran back to the house trembling and awed, and +huddled together in a frightened group. Among the first to be taken from +the <i>debris</i> was a lady, and a little girl about two years old. +Isabel offered her own room for the use of the sufferers, and some men +carried them to the cottage, where kind nurse Bruce did all in her power +until the doctor should arrive. Isabel took the beautiful child, who a +few moments before was all life and animation, and laid it upon Bruce's +bed; the poor little thing must have been killed instantly as there was +no sign of suffering upon its face, but a large bruise on its temple. +The doctor feared that the lady had received fatal injuries; all through +the night she continued insensible, and the morning brought no change. +Who she was they could not tell, but as Isabel sat watching her through +the long night, she felt that she had seen her before, but where she +could not recall. Late in the afternoon consciousness returned, and with +a feeble moan she opened her eyes. "Where am I," she asked, "Oh, where +is my little Izzie?" Isabel's only answer was a kiss. "Don't say it," +she cried, grasping Isabel's hand convulsively, "O, not that, not +that! but I see it is so—I see it in your face without you +saying so." "O, my baby, my baby, my little Izzie!" she moaned, +covering her face with her hands; and then she lay quite still, her lips +moving as if in prayer. The doctor, who came in shortly after, called +Isabel from the room. "Miss Leicester," he said, "she will not live many +hours, we had better find out who she is and summon her friends by +telegraph. We can do so by sending to W——; I tell you +candidly that she is past all human aid. Poor thing, she need not grieve +for her child, she +<span class = "pagenum">141</span> +will be with her soon." They returned to the room to gain the desired +information. "Send for Dr. Taschereau, at H——," she replied +to the doctor's question. Now Isabel knew where and when she had seen +her. But it grieved her to see what a change there was in the bright +sunny girl who had cast such a cloud over her path at the ball at Elm +Grove.</p> + +<p>"Am I dying?" Natalie asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>"I dare not give you false hope," the doctor replied.</p> + +<p>She covered her face with her hands for a few moments. "Do you think +I can live till Louis comes—Dr. Taschereau you know."</p> + +<p>"I hope so," he answered, evasively.</p> + +<p>"Make the telegram very strong; O, very strong. Say that I am dying, +but be sure you don't say that baby is—you know—I can't +say it," she said in a choking voice. "He will come, O, surely he +will come," she murmured to herself. The doctor left promising to send +immediately. "You are Isabel Leicester," Natalie said as soon as they +were alone. "I am sure you are, for I have seen your picture."</p> + +<p>"That is my name," replied Isabel, smiling, while she wondered how +much Natalie knew about her.</p> + +<p>"You loved Louis once?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"You love him still?"</p> + +<p>"No; that is past."</p> + +<p>A smile of satisfaction illumined Natalie's countenance for a moment, +but quickly left it. "I was always sorry for you, Natalie," Isabel +said kindly.</p> + +<p>"Sorry for me, why should you be sorry for me?" she asked quickly, +then pausing a moment she added, sadly, "I see you know how it +is."</p> + +<p>"Ah, I know too well, I hoped, I prayed it might be +otherwise."</p> + +<p>"He does not mean to be unkind," she said, "but it is a cruel thing +to know that your husband does not love you <!-- missing . --> When I +first found out that he did not, it almost killed me. He insisted +<span class = "pagenum">142</span> +on calling our little girl Isabel, in spite of all I could say as to my +dislike to the name; so I thought it was his mother's name, though he +would not say. But when I found out that it was yours, I was very +angry; O, you must forgive me, for I have had very hard thoughts +towards you, and now I know that you did not deserve them. +O, Isabel, you are too good; I could not nurse you so kindly, +had I been in your place. Let me see my little Izzie," she pleaded. +Isabel brought the child to its mother; it looked sweetly calm in its +marble beauty. "Bury us both together in one coffin," she said, while +her tears fell fast upon its icy face. Natalie complained of great pain, +nothing that the doctor could do seemed to give her any relief, and she +lay moaning through the night. About six o'clock in the morning there +was a quick step on the stairs which did not escape the ear of the +sufferer. "Oh, Louis, Louis come to me," she cried. In a moment he was +at her side, and her arms clasped round his neck. "I knew you would +come," she said, fondly, "I could not have died happily unless you +had."</p> + +<p>He pressed her closely to him, while the hot tears fell upon her +face, for he was now suffering bitterly for all his neglect and +unkindness to his gentle little wife.</p> + +<p>"O Louis, I have always loved you so much, so very much!" she said, +clinging more closely to him, and gazing into his face with an intensity +painful to witness, then smiling sweetly, she closed her eyes and all +was over. The others retired from the room, and Louis was left alone +with his dead wife, and had yet to learn the fate of his child.</p> + +<p>During the time that elapsed before the funeral, Isabel carefully +avoided meeting him, and hoped that he had not noticed her on the +morning of his arrival. But just as he was about to leave, after that +had taken place, and she was congratulating herself for having managed +so nicely, a message was brought her that Dr. Taschereau wished to +see her before he went. Though annoyed, Isabel did not see how she could +very well refuse, so complied with the best grace she could. She found +him in the sitting room, looking very pale. "I could not leave, +Miss Leicester," he said, "without thanking you for your kindness to my +wife. I had no right to expect it."</p> + +<p>"I merely did my duty, and do not require any thanks."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">143</span> +"I would ask one question," he continued, with a strong effort to be +calm. "Was my little girl dead when first taken up?"</p> + +<p>"Quite dead," she answered.</p> + +<p>"It is a bitter trial," he resumed, "I loved my child unutterably; +the blow seems to have crushed me, I have no longer any interest in +anything, I have nothing left, nothing!"</p> + +<p>Isabel was silent, she was thinking of the time when she had nothing +left but him, and he had deserted her. And now it was the child he +grieved for and not his dear little wife. His treatment of her, had +always appeared to Isabel as his greatest fault, and her indignation was +aroused as she saw, or thought she saw, that he did not feel her loss as +he ought to have done. "I cannot but think," she said, "that the +blow was sent in mercy to her, in whose future there could only be pain, +weariness and silent suffering, and had she alone been taken, I can +see that you would soon have got over it."</p> + +<p>"You have no idea of the agony and remorse I have endured or you +would not be so severe; you think because you know that I did not love +my wife as I should, that I do not feel her loss, but you are mistaken, +her angel gentleness and patience seem forever to upbraid me for my +neglect and unkindness." And unable any longer to control his feelings, +he laid his head on the table, while heavy sobs convulsed his frame. His +passions were strong, and it was something fearful to witness the +violence of his anguish. Isabel could not see his deep grief unmoved, +yet dared not attempt to comfort him. Oh how she had wronged him; how +keenly he felt his loss. She would not leave him, and yet she did not +wish to stay, and turned away to hide her emotion. When he grew more +composed, he advanced towards her saying, "It is getting late, Miss +Leicester, once more I thank you for all your kindness."</p> + +<p>"Do not think any more of my cruel words." <!-- . for , --> said +Isabel, the tears streaming from her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Then you do not withhold your sympathy, even from me," he returned, +offering his hand.</p> + +<p>"How can I," she replied, taking, though reluctantly, the offered +hand. "I am very sorry for you."</p> + +<p>"Good news, Isabel, good news!" cried Alice coming in +<span class = "pagenum">144</span> +shortly after with an open letter in her hand. "Everard is out of +danger, and is recovering rapidly, so we can soon come home, Mamma +says."</p> + +<p>"That is indeed good news," replied Isabel, who was really anxious to +get the children home, as the late events had cast a gloom over all. +Little Amy had more than once asked if Everard would die like the poor +lady, and all three had cried very bitterly about the pretty little girl +that was killed.</p> + +<p>In three weeks more they were back at Elm Grove.</p> + +<p>Everard was on the terrace to welcome them. He seemed very glad to +see them again, but his manner towards Isabel was changed, he was +cordial and kind, but still there was a difference. There was something +inexplicable, and shall we say that it pained her. Why did she on +retiring to her own room, shed bitter, bitter tears? She could scarcely +have told, had you asked her, but so it was.</p> + +<p>Now that Everard had resolved to turn his thoughts from Isabel more +resolutely than ever, as it was useless any longer to indulge the hope +of one day possessing her, and had determined upon becoming a divinity +student, and as soon as possible be ordained and go as a missionary to +some distant land, and there amid new scenes and duties forget his dream +of happiness. Isabel found that she was not indifferent regarding +Everard, and often drew comparisons between her old love and the +would-be missionary, much to the disparagement of the former, and +thought that he was unnecessarily strict with regard to the forbidden +subject. Confess now, Isabel, do you not fancy since your return, that +he has discovered the alteration in your feelings and is paying you in +your own coin? Believing this, and thinking also, that he has ceased to +care for you, is there not a coolness gradually springing up between +you? Oh, Isabel, why did you on the night before he returned to college, +throw his favorite song into the fire, saying that you were tired of +that old thing, and did not think that you would ever sing it again? +Were you not watching him when he took one step forward as if to save +it, then turned away, the color mounting to his cheek and the veins of +his forehead swelling? Oh, Isabel would you not gladly, gladly have sung +it all the time if he had only asked you in the old way? Ah, it will be +a long, long time before he will ask you again. You did more than you +intended when you burnt that song. When at his +<span class = "pagenum">145</span> +father's request you sang, did he not instantly leave the room? Yes; and +confess, Isabel, that you could with difficulty conceal your vexation. +Did you not long to sing it with all your heart, and bring him back +again? Oh, what a farce to burn that music; and yet, when he did return, +did you not show him more coolness than you had ever done before?</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">146</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XXIX.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capA.png" width = "36" height = "42" +align = "left" alt = "A" title = "A (A year)"> year</span> has passed +since the events recorded in the last chapter; things have gone on much +the same, Everard trying to appear indifferent, while in reality he was +not so, but succeeding so well that Isabel felt almost ashamed of her +preference for him, and was, also, only too successful in concealing her +true feelings. She is now paying Emily a visit, though it was seldom +that she could be persuaded to accept any invitation. But in justice to +her old friends, it must be said that they often endeavored to do so. +Ever since she came to Elm Grove she had always received abundant +invitations for the holidays; but, with the exception of the +Morningtons, Isabel had never been able to overcome her pride +sufficiently to visit, in her present position, those she had known when +in such different circumstances.</p> + +<p>Harry and Emily, after travelling about for some time, had settled in +H——, not far from the college, and had insisted upon Everard +spending a great deal of his time with them, as they had fitted up a +nice little study for his especial use.</p> + +<p>Emily was very anxious for the ordination, and had announced her +intentions to hear him preach his first sermon, let it be when and where +it might, in spite of his saying that he would go where he was quite +unknown.</p> + +<p>"Now, Everard, I'm going to have a party on the fifth," said Emily, +"and I want you to bring some of the students, and I should like very +much to have tall, handsome ones, and none of your little 'ugly mugs.' I +want particularly that nice Mr. Elliott you introduced to me the other +day."</p> + +<p>"I do not choose my friends merely for their appearance, and Elliott +is not one of the students," returned Everard.</p> + +<p>"Never mind who he is, I want him to come."</p> + +<p>"I will ask him if he is in town; but I can't come, I am +altogether too busy."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">147</span> +"Nonsense, Everard, you only say that to vex me. I mean you to +come, that's pos'. Isn't he provoking, Isabel?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps his business is as important as it was that Christmas," said +Isabel, quietly.</p> + +<p>Everard looked up quickly from his book, but Isabel was fully +employed with her tatting.</p> + +<p>"What do you know about my engagements at that time?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing; only, perhaps, you can as easily put aside your work as +you did then."</p> + +<p>"How do you know that it was so easy?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"Only from appearances."</p> + +<p>"Appearances are often deceitful."</p> + +<p>"Very."</p> + +<p>Again the rapid glance of inquiry, but he could make nothing of her +placid countenance; and the single word "very," it must have been his +own imagination that gave significance to the very decided manner in +which she had uttered it, or did she, indeed, see through his assumed +indifference?</p> + +<p>"You speak as though you had some experience," he said.</p> + +<p>Isabel crimsoned, for she felt very guilty.</p> + +<p>"Do you try to appear different to what you are in reality?" he +inquired.</p> + +<p>"Do you?"</p> + +<p>"Why do you ask?" he said.</p> + +<p>"Why do you?" she retorted.</p> + +<p>"Isabel, Isabel! the carriage will be here in five minutes," +interposed Emily, "make haste and put your things on."</p> + +<p>The fifth came in due course, and Mr. Elliott with it. "Let me +introduce to you a partner," said Emily, taking him up to Isabel.</p> + +<p>"We have known each other too long to need an introduction, have we +not, Isabel?" he said pleasantly. Then turning to Emily he added, +"Thanks, Mrs. Mornington, for an unexpected pleasure."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">148</span> +Everard, who was near by, heard him call her by her Christian name, and +saw the warm welcome accorded him, and the evident pleasure the meeting +caused Isabel. He was furiously jealous, and walked away intensely +disgusted.</p> + +<p>"You are a stranger here, are you not?" asked Emily.</p> + +<p>"Oh, quite."</p> + +<p>"Then I leave you in Isabel's hands."</p> + +<p>"Could not be in better," he said, smiling, and Charley Elliott's +smile was a very pleasant one. Emily was enchanted, and went to sing his +praises to Everard, much to his annoyance.</p> + +<p>"Upon my word, Emily, if I were Harry I should be positively +jealous."</p> + +<p>"Oh, jealousy is not Harry's <i>forte</i>; he leaves that to Mr. +Everard Arlington," she said saucily, with a low curtsey and a most +provokingly wise expression.</p> + +<p>"Emily!"</p> + +<p>"Don't be a goose, Evie."</p> + +<p>"Where have you been this long, long time, Isabel?" asked Elliott, +"I have missed you so much."</p> + +<p>"Have you, Charley? I'm glad to hear that some one has missed me. The +happy past seems almost like a dream, it seems so far away."</p> + +<p>"It was too bright to last; don't you think so, Isabel?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so."</p> + +<p>"Ah, those were days to remember, the excursions I had with you and +Harley. But I, too, have had my troubles," he added, gravely.</p> + +<p>"Who is exempt?" she returned. "But what of Harley, foolish Harley? +Whatever possessed him to go to India? But," she added, with a sigh, "it +would not have availed him much to have stayed, as it turned out."</p> + +<p>"I don't know; I think he would have done more wisely to have +remained."</p> + +<p>"Why he went, I never could fathom."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">149</span> +"You never knew?"</p> + +<p>"Never. He assured me that he had good and sufficient reason, and +that papa thought so, too."</p> + +<p>"I didn't think them good, or sufficient either, but he wouldn't take +my advice. It was our only quarrel, and I believe I have scarcely +forgiven him yet for going. It would, I am convinced, have been +better for all if he had not done so," and the tears stood in the young +lieutenant's eyes. Though brave as a lion, Charley Elliott had a kind +and loving heart. There was a soft, warm light in the deep-blue eyes; no +one could know Charley Elliott without loving him. Everard had no mean +rival, if Charley was one. But he was not. He loved Isabel, it is true, +with all the warmth of his ardent nature, but he loved her as he might a +beautiful sister. He thought her worthy of Harley—his +Harley—the pride of his boyhood, who in his eyes could do no +wrong, until one day when he told him that he was going to India. +Charley's grief was excessive, but his indignation arose when he learned +the cause.</p> + +<p>Harley Elliott was ten years his brother's senior. He was the +favorite clerk in the firm of Leicester & Co. Had Isabel to be met +anywhere, and her father was unable to go, Harley was invariably sent; +he was constantly at the house for one thing or another. As Isabel grew +up he was frequently called upon to escort her and her young friends to +places of amusement. As might be supposed, he became deeply in love with +her, until at last life was almost a burden, for Harley was sensitive +and high-minded to a degree: as a poor clerk, he was too proud to woo +the rich merchant's daughter. He determined, therefore, to try to amass +wealth in another land, and, if successful, to return and endeavor to +win her; if not, to remain forever away.</p> + +<p>But Charley, a boy of sixteen, could not appreciate this course. +"Stay and be brave-hearted, Harley," he said, "she will, she must, love +you, and the Governor will not refuse." But all he could obtain from +Harley was a promise that he would tell Mr. Leicester the true cause of +his going. Charley had great hopes as to the success of this course, but +Harley was not so sanguine, and Harley was right. Mr. Leicester quite +approved of his going, and offered him letters of introduction to +parties at Calcutta. True, he inquired if the attachment was mutual. But +when Harley confessed that he had not sought to know, considering +himself in +<span class = "pagenum">150</span> +honor bound not to do so in his present circumstances, he was well +satisfied that it was so. He took care, also, to find out if Isabel +really had a preference for Harley, lest by urging his departure he +might make her unhappy. And it must be admitted that he was glad to see +that she was heart whole as yet, for he wished her to make a more +brilliant match. So he wished Harley success, and did all in his power +to hasten his departure.</p> + +<p>Poor Charley had missed his brother sadly. He would have accompanied +him but for his mother, who was not strong, and certainly could not have +borne the climate.</p> + +<p>"But your troubles, Charley; you have not told me of them," said +Isabel. "Is not Harley doing well?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, now; but it was some time first. I am going to see him soon. +But it was my mother's death to which I alluded just now."</p> + +<p>"Oh, have you lost your mother? Poor Charley!"</p> + +<p>"Don't talk of her, Isabel, I can't bear it," and Charley brushed +away a tear.</p> + +<p>Dance succeeded dance, and Isabel was still Charley's partner. "There +are half-a-dozen gentlemen dying to be introduced to Miss Leicester, and +you give them no chance, Mr. Elliott," said Emily.</p> + +<p>"Very well, but remember, Isabel, that we are engaged for the +after-supper galop."</p> + +<p>"I'll not forget," she returned.</p> + +<p>Now it so chanced that Everard had so often been Isabel's partner for +that dance, that he began to consider it a matter of course, and was +highly offended when, after keeping away all the evening, he approached +her, saying, "This is our dance, is it not, Miss Leicester?" and she +replied, "You are too late, Mr. Arlington," and whirled off with Charley +Elliott.</p> + +<p>"Why did you do that?" he asked, when Isabel was again seated.</p> + +<p>"Was I to refuse a partner in case Mr. Arlington, after keeping away +all the evening, should condescend to ask me? I think you expect +too much."</p> + +<p>"You knew I should come."</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">151</span> +"How could I know?"</p> + +<p>"I always do."</p> + +<p>"And do you always keep away all the evening?"</p> + +<p>He bit his lip. "Will you dance this?"</p> + +<p>"I am engaged."</p> + +<p>"The next."</p> + +<p>"Impossible, my card is quite filled up."</p> + +<p>"Never mind, you can strike out one of the names."</p> + +<p>"Why should I do so? You had the best chance; you were here from the +first, but from some whim determined not to put down your name, and +looked glum whenever I passed you, and now you think that I will treat +one of these young men so unhandsomely. No, Mr. Arlington, I will +not."</p> + +<p>"You chide me for not coming sooner. I thought you so well amused +that I was not needed."</p> + +<p>"Needed, no; but still you have not been commonly civil +to-night."</p> + +<p>"You are very unforgiving."</p> + +<p>"No, but I will not encourage your whims; you chose to sulk, it was +no fault of mine."</p> + +<p>"As you will."</p> + +<p>"I think this dancing awfully stupid," he said to Emily, as Isabel +went off with her partner, "I shall be glad when it is over."</p> + +<p>"Of course," she replied, with a most provoking laugh.</p> + +<p>"Parsons don't usually care for dancing," added Harry, in a tone +equally irritating.</p> + +<p>But for Charley Elliott the evening would have been dull enough to +Isabel. She would far rather have had Everard for a partner than any of +those whose names were on her programme, but she believed that he had +purposely avoided her all the earlier part of the evening: besides, +Everard's manner towards her of late had become quite an +enigma—now cold, almost haughty, then again soft, even tender, +then indifferent—and Isabel resented its +<span class = "pagenum">152</span> +variableness. She was the more annoyed, as she knew that Emily was not +quite in the dark.</p> + +<p>"I think Mr. Elliott is a very nice young man, don't you, Isabel?" +said Emily at breakfast next morning.</p> + +<p>"Very," replied Isabel, coloring warmly as she caught Everard's +penetrating glance.</p> + +<p>"A done thing, I see," laughed Harry.</p> + +<p>"How can you be so absurd, Harry?"</p> + +<p><!-- missing " --> Are you fond of sea voyages?" he continued.</p> + +<p>"I think them delightful."</p> + +<p>"Capital. Did you know that he was going to India?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"You did? Well, really."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Harry, be quiet."</p> + +<p>"I thought you two seemed awfully good friends. Did you know him +before last night?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly."</p> + +<p>"I am sure you don't agree with Everard that the party was a +dreadfully slow affair?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; it was very pleasant."</p> + +<p>"I was very sure that Miss Leicester did not find it dull," said +Everard coldly, almost scornfully.</p> + +<p>"Goosey, goosey!" said Emily, later in the day, as she came upon +Everard in the music-room.</p> + +<p>"Why do you go on in this provoking way, Emily?" he said, +angrily.</p> + +<p>"Because I have no patience with this stupid jealousy. If you care +for her, why not try to win her in a straightforward manner; if not, why +be vexed that another should?"</p> + +<p>"Why do you strive to undo that which has cost me so much? She is +nothing to me; I have determined that she shall be nothing."</p> + +<p>"Then why so jealous?"</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">153</span> +"I cannot help it; you know that I cannot."</p> + +<p>"But why force yourself to give her up?"</p> + +<p>"Why, indeed," he echoed, "is it not worse than useless to cherish an +attachment for one who is so perfectly indifferent?"</p> + +<p>"I do not believe that she is as indifferent and inaccessible as you +imagine."</p> + +<p>"Why do you tempt me, Emily?" he returned, almost fiercely. "Let me +be; the ordination will be very shortly, and I am sure of an appointment +directly after."</p> + +<p>"Ah, goosey, goosey! 'Faint heart,' you know," she said, and left +him—more angry with his favorite sister than he had ever been +before.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">154</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XXX.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capIq.png" width = "61" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "I" title = "I (Isabel)">sabel</span>, you said +something about going home this week; now I have settled that for you. +I wrote to mamma, saying that you were going to stay until after +the ordination, and then we would all return together."</p> + +<p>"I declare those children will get quite unmanageable with such long +holidays. When will the ordination be?"</p> + +<p>"The beginning of next month."</p> + +<p>"Dreadful! I do not think that Mrs. Arlington will consent."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, she will. What a state Everard is getting into about that +ordination!" she continued, "and I am nearly as bad. I suppose we +shall all go to see it."</p> + +<p>"I shall not," said Isabel.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Emily.</p> + +<p>"I had rather not."</p> + +<p>"What a strange girl you are! I wouldn't miss it for the world. He +will be so vexed, too."</p> + +<p>"Why should he?"</p> + +<p>"Of course he will."</p> + +<p>Isabel protested that she would not go; but for all that, when the +time came, she could not resist the desire to be present, even at the +risk of being thought changeable. She went, after the rest, and from her +corner saw the whole. From where she sat she had a full view of his +face—grave, earnest, calm, evidently feeling how much was implied +in the ordination vows. As she returned before the others, they were +quite unaware that she had been there, and she, little hypocrite, +listened gravely to all Emily's descriptions.</p> + +<p>In the evening Isabel walked on the lawn in the pale moon's silvery +beams, musing of all that had taken place that day, and thinking how +very happy Everard must feel to-night. Suddenly that gentleman accosted +her: "Why did you refuse to be present +<span class = "pagenum">155</span> +at the ordination to-day?" he asked. Isabel was silent. "How is it," he +continued, "that while others were so anxious, you manifested no +interest at all? It is, to say the least, unkind."</p> + +<p>"You may be sure that I wish you all prosperity in your new +vocation," she said. "I would have said so before, had I thought +you wished or expected it."</p> + +<p>"I did not expect," he said, almost angrily, "such a calm expression +of a cold regard; I wished and expected kindly sympathy, if nothing +more."</p> + +<p>"As you think I should say more, accept my sincere wishes for your +happiness; and believe me when I say that the lot which you have chosen +is, in my estimation, the highest to which man can aspire, and may your +labors be blessed with abundant success."</p> + +<p>"Your kind wishes, though so reluctantly expressed, are not least +valued," he returned, warmly. "But, Isabel, you say that you wish my +happiness. My happiness, as I told you long ago, rests with you. Here I +can refer to the old subject without breaking my promise, and I cannot +leave for my distant mission without making one more appeal. Listen to +me patiently for a few minutes. You seemed to adhere so strictly to what +you said, that I considered it my duty to give you up; but it was a duty +that, with all my endeavors, I was unable to perform. I sought +relief in study—hard, excessive study—almost night and day. +You know how that ended. My mother left me much to you, and your +kindness only made matters worse. Afterwards, when you were away, +I determined on the course I am now pursuing, and I persuaded +myself that my heart was in the work, and so it is, but it is not yours +the less. What I endure is almost insupportable—it is too hard. +Often I have been obliged to appear cold and variable to conceal my real +feelings, and you have despised me for it. I have seen it, Isabel. +To-night I determined to seek you, and plead my cause once more; and +though you have received me with indifference, even coldly, I still +hope that beneath this reserve there may be some warmer feeling. <!-- +extra " --> "Tell me dearest," he continued, "will you not love me? Oh, +Isabel, must I go alone?" She was silent. Then for an instant her eyes +met his, and the love and happiness in that one glance fully satisfied +him, and he clasped her passionately in his arms. "You loved me all the +time, Isabel," he whispered, "only from a +<span class = "pagenum">156</span> +mistaken sense of your duty you refused me when I first spoke of my +love."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, I did not love you then; I esteemed you very much, but +I was engaged to another." Then she told what is already known to the +reader.</p> + +<p>"And his name?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Louis Taschereau."</p> + +<p>"Tell me: did the thought that I loved you tend to soften the blow, +when you found how unworthy he was?"</p> + +<p>Isabel was very truthful; she could not deceive him, even though +those beautiful eyes were fixed upon her in earnest expectation. As we +have said, she was very truthful, so answered, "I cannot flatter +you so much, Everard; it afforded me no comfort whatever. Indeed I never +thought of it, except when some kind attention on your part reminded me +of the fact, and then the thought only caused me pain."</p> + +<p>He looked disappointed. "No," she added, "it was not until long +after, that your worth and uniform kindness won my heart."</p> + +<p>They lingered on the lawn until the chill night air warned them not +to remain there any longer. Entering the music-room by the window, they +found Emily waiting for them. "Oh, here you are at last; Harry had to go +out, and I've been all alone this half hour." Then, starting up, she +seized a hand of each, exclaiming "You need not tell me, I see how +it is; I am so glad, so very glad."</p> + +<p>"I saw you at the ordination this morning," said Charley Elliott, who +came in during the evening, addressing Isabel, "only you were in such a +fearful hurry to get away that I did not get a chance to speak."</p> + +<p>"Then you must have very good eyes, Mr. Elliott, as Isabel was not +there," cried Emily, laughing.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," he returned.</p> + +<p>"I was there," said Isabel quietly, though she colored hotly.</p> + +<p>"You were?" exclaimed Everard, evidently well satisfied.</p> + +<p>"I declare you—are—a queer girl," said Emily, opening her +<span class = "pagenum">157</span> +blue eyes very wide, "I'm afraid you have not the bump of firmness."</p> + +<p>"I knew you would think me changeable, but after you had all gone I +began to think I should like to see it, so I followed. But I certainly +did not see you, Charley."</p> + +<p>"On, no, I was very sure that you saw no one but the candidates," +returned Charley, laughing. "Indeed you looked so solemn and earnest, +one would almost suppose that you were one of them."</p> + +<p>"Is it true," asked Harry, on his return, "that you have agreed to +start for Madagascar next month?"</p> + +<p>"Quite true," returned Everard, coolly.</p> + +<p>"I protest against it," said Harry. "And so do I," added Emily; while +Charley shrugged his shoulders, and Isabel laughed.</p> + +<p>Emily was terribly anxious for Charley to depart, as she longed to +tell Harry the news; which news, when Emily told it, Harry received with +unmistakable satisfaction, saying he couldn't see why Everard should not +settle down comfortably near home, instead of going to such an +out-of-the-way place.</p> + +<p>The following week they all started for Elm Grove, and when, on their +arrival Mrs. Arlington took both her hands and kissed her +affectionately, Isabel knew that the news of their engagement had +preceded them. They had a delightful evening, Mrs. Arlington being in a +most gracious humor. Mr. Arlington shook Isabel so heartily by the hand +that it ached for hours afterward. Emily was in the most exuberant +spirits; Everard's happiness, from its very depth, was of a more quiet +nature; while Harry was as merry and joyous as his wife; and Isabel, in +her own sweet way, had a kind look and word for all.</p> + +<p>On entering the school-room, next morning, Isabel found little Amy +sitting upon the floor, her head buried in the sofa cushion, sobbing as +if her heart would break, her little form quivering with the violence of +her emotion.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Amy dear?" asked Isabel, taking the trembling +child in her arms. But Amy could not speak; she only clung to Isabel, +and sobbed more bitterly than before. Isabel sat down with Amy on her +knee, stroking the shining hair until the child should be more composed. +After a time, when the violence +<span class = "pagenum">158</span> +of her grief had a little abated, Isabel kissed her and inquired the +cause of her tears.</p> + +<p>"Rose says that you are going to Madagascar with Everard, and perhaps +I shall never see you any more," she managed to blurt out amid her sobs. +"You ought not to go, for I am sure I love you more than he does. +I told him so this morning, but he only laughed and said I didn't; +but I do, and I think it is very unkind of him to take you away. We know +lots of young ladies; I'm sure he might marry some one else, and not +take my darling Isabel to nasty Madagascar. Oh, Isabel, you must not go. +Oh, please! please!" she said, coaxingly. "Oh, won't you please tell him +that you have changed your mind, and would rather stay with us?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, but you know I promised, Amy."</p> + +<p>"But you shan't go; tell him you won't; there's a dear, kind pet," +and she threw her arms round Isabel's neck.</p> + +<p>"But don't you think that it is very selfish of little Amy to wish +that her brother should go alone to that far country, when she will have +papa, mamma, and sisters?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! I wish you didn't love him one bit, and then you would stay with +us."</p> + +<p>"Hush! Amy dear, you mustn't talk so."</p> + +<p>"But I can't help wishing it, and I told Everard so, and that I hoped +you would change your mind. Then he said that it was very wicked of me +to wish that; and he put me off his knee so quick, and walked out of the +room looking so angry—no, not angry, exactly, but as if he +thought, perhaps, you might."</p> + +<p>"But, Amy, if you loved any one very much, would you like it if that +person didn't love you one bit?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Amy, thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Then is it doing as you would be done by to wish such unkind and +selfish things?"</p> + +<p>"I did not think of that," replied Amy, resting her head on Isabel's +shoulder, "but it seems as if you did not love me, to go away to +Madagascar," she added, sadly.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">159</span> +"Oh, Amy dear, I love you very much," said Isabel, the tears gathering +in her eyes, "and it grieves me to part from you."</p> + +<p>"And then we shall have another horrid governess, like Miss Manning, +and the days will all be long and miserable, like the long, long, weary +day that Emily used to sing about. And what will become of all our nice +Sundays?"</p> + +<p>"Poor little Amy!" said Isabel, parting back the shining curls from +the sorrowful little face, and looking into the violet eyes that were +fixed upon her so earnestly. "You must not think that I would leave you +without first trying to fill my place with one who would love you and +try to make you happy. Now, if you will stop crying, I will tell +you about the young lady who, I hope, will be your governess. She +is a very dear friend of mine, and I trust you will all be very kind to +her, and love her very much. Her name is Gertrude Hartley." Alice and +Rose now entered the school-room, and gave a very warm welcome to +Isabel. "Please go on about Gertrude Hartley," pleaded Amy. Then Isabel +told them how Gertrude had gone as a governess to a family who lived far +back in the country, miles away from any church, and how, by her +endeavors, a small but pretty one had been erected, where service +was held once a month. But Gertrude had grown tired of the country, and +was anxious to obtain another situation. "She will come to see you next +week, and I am sure you will like her. And you know you can often talk +about me, for she knows me very well. I shall write you nice long +letters about that strange country, and I shall often think of my dear +little sisters, for you will be my sisters then, you know."</p> + +<p>"I did not think of that," said Amy, smiling.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Isabel, I'm so sorry that you are going away. Don't you think +you could persuade Everard to give up being a missionary? I'm certain he +could have Attwood Church if he liked, because Dr. Herbert once asked +him if he would like it. Please do, because it would be so nice."</p> + +<p>"What! and leave those heathen people still in ignorance of God? My +little Rose does not think what she is wishing that Everard would give +up. No, I could not wish him to do so, much less persuade him."</p> + +<p>"But he might get some one else to go," replied Rose.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">160</span> +"No, Rose, we must each perform our own duties."</p> + +<p>"You mean that it would be like putting your hand to the plow and +looking back?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly so," replied Isabel.</p> + +<p>"I did not think of it in that way, so you must not be angry with +me."</p> + +<p>"I was not angry, dear, only I wanted to show you that your wish was +a wrong one. What does Alice think about it?"</p> + +<p>"I think," replied Alice, "that he ought to go, and I am very glad +that you are going with him, for you are so nice and so good that I am +sure the little heathen children will listen to what you say, because +you have such a nice way of telling things. Of course I am very sorry to +lose you, but I mean to think of the good your going will be for other +people, and how nice it is for Everard, and then I shall not care about +it so much."</p> + +<p>"It gives me great pleasure to hear you say this, and I think that +Alie <!-- Allie before --> can no longer be called selfish. Believe me, +dear children, that the surest way to forget our own troubles is to find +pleasure in the benefit and happiness of others."</p> + +<p>Everard Arlington was about to enter by the window, but paused a +moment to contemplate the group before him. On a large ottoman sat +Isabel, with Amy on her knee, one arm encircling Alice, who was standing +thoughtfully by her side, her head resting on Isabel's shoulder, while +behind was Rose, half smiles, half tears.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Everard!" cried Amy, "I won't say again that I hope Isabel will +not go with you. But she says that it is not naughty to be sorry. You +are not angry with me now?" she inquired, looking wistfully into his +face.</p> + +<p>"No, my little Amy," he replied, smoothing the glossy curls, as he +stooped as if to kiss her, but he didn't kiss Amy.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">161</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XXXI.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capM.png" width = "45" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "M" title = "M (Mrs)">rs</span>. Arlington was not +one to do things by halves, so that when she welcomed Isabel, on her +return, it was no longer as "the governess," but as her future +daughter-in-law—as the bride-elect of her darling son—indeed +as one of them, the Arlingtons. She was glad, as he was so determined +upon being a missionary, that he was to marry before he went, but she +would rather—far rather—that he should have chosen any other +than "the governess," though she had nothing against +Isabel—nothing. Still it was a trial to the haughty mother that +her only son—the hope and pride of the family—should marry a +governess. She knew that many would say she had been imprudent in having +so young and pretty a governess, knowing how fond Everard was of the +society of his young sisters. And, indeed, she did feel she had been +wrong when she got Everard's letter announcing the engagement, and it +was some little time before she could be at all satisfied with the +matter. Grace was excessively annoyed, and, by her anger, tended greatly +to stimulate her mother's displeasure, saying that it was quite a +disgrace to the family, and that she would never receive Isabel as a +sister. Fortunately her consent was never likely to be asked, as her +easy-going brother, the pet of the house, had a pretty determined will, +and her opinion would certainly not influence him in the matter. Indeed, +now that he had Isabel's consent, he would have married her even though +opposed by any number of relations; and it was with no thought of +obtaining their ideas on the subject that he had written, but simply to +inform them of the fact, little suspecting the commotion it would cause +at Elm Grove.</p> + +<p>However, the course he pursued had the effect of reconciling his +mother to the match, and it was well that it was so, or Isabel would +have met with a sorry reception on her arrival.</p> + +<p>Very quickly after the letter we have mentioned, came another, such +as only Everard could write—written out of a full heart, telling +of his happiness, and also of his former despair, long probation, and +weary waiting; how his love for Isabel had dated from +<span class = "pagenum">162</span> +that Sunday evening when he first saw her in the school-room with the +children; and expressing the hope that his mother would give Isabel a +place in her heart equal to that of her own children.</p> + +<p>Tears of sympathy and love fell from the mother's eyes as she read, +and a happy smile played around her mouth as she refolded the letter +which would be read again and again. Henceforth she was won. So, then, +when Lady Ashton, who had now returned from England, came to condole +with dear Mrs. Arlington upon the ill luck that had befallen the family, +she found that lady quite satisfied, to her profound astonishment. +However, she gave a willing ear and ready sympathy to Grace, who was +quite disgusted at her mother's contentment, and returned with Lady +Ashton to the Park, saying, that she was far too angry to meet them at +present; and there she remained for weeks nursing her wrath against her +only brother, who would so shortly leave for a distant land, not heeding +the possibility, nay probability, that he might never return. Who could +foresee the dangers that might be in store for him? Read the dangers and +miseries to which the missionaries sent to foreign and heathen lands are +only too often subjected—dangers on sea and land, and fearful +cruelties at the hands of wild and savage creatures, more ferocious +sometimes in their implacable fury than the beasts of prey. But even +overlooking these more dreadful calamities, there is the climate, so +trying to the natives of cooler countries. Nor was she just to Isabel. +She would only see a beautiful, designing girl, who had succeeded in +catching her brother. She was angry with Isabel, with Everard, with her +mother, and, lastly, with herself, to think that she, too, had been for +a short time deluded like the rest. She felt now that she positively +hated Isabel.</p> + +<p>Lady Ashton did her best to fan the flame of resentment. What wonder, +then, that under that lady's able management it grew day by day, until +Grace really believed her silly anger to be just indignation at her +brother's blind infatuation. Ah, foolish Grace!</p> + +<p>To Emily's great satisfaction, Everard preached his first sermon in +the church they usually attended, and was very calm and self-possessed +considering the eight eager faces in the family pew, his heightened +color being the only evidence that this was the first time he had +addressed a congregation from the pulpit. It happened, strangely enough, +that a collection for the Missionary +<span class = "pagenum">163</span> +Society was to be taken up on this occasion, and the young deacon +delivered an exceedingly eloquent discourse advocating the cause of +missions, with a warmth and earnestness that carried his hearers along +with him, and showed that his heart was in the work. No one who heard +him could doubt his future success in the cause.</p> + +<p>Then what a happy group waited for him after service, and what +approving smiles beamed upon him from loved faces when he came!</p> + +<p>"Oh, Everard! I should never go to sleep at sermon time if you always +preached," cried little Amy. "It was so nice," added Rose, warmly; while +the proud father wrung his son's hand in silence more eloquent than +words.</p> + +<p>Then Everard disappointed a crowd of admiring friends by disappearing +through a side gate and going home across the fields, even waving back +his young sisters, who would have followed him. "I could not stand +it," he said, on reaching home half an hour after the others, though his +way had been much shorter, he having spent the interim in self-communion +beneath the shade of a friendly oak. Oh! that was a happy Sunday at Elm +Grove; but, like all earthly happiness, it had one cloud—Grace's +strange and unkind conduct.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">164</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XXXII.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capPq.png" width = "60" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "P" title = "P (Please)">lease</span>, Miss +Leicester, a gentleman wishes to see you," said Susan, putting her rosy +face in at the school-room door, as Isabel was giving the children their +last lesson.</p> + +<p>"To see <i>me</i>, Susan?" exclaimed Isabel.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Miss, he asked for you, but he would not give his name."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Susan. Who can it be?" she asked, turning to Alice.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure <i>I</i> don't know," answered Alice, laughing, "you had +better go and see."</p> + +<p>On entering the drawing-room, Isabel saw to her astonishment that it +was Louis Taschereau. "This is indeed a surprise," she said, extending +her hand, for in her present happiness she could not be ungracious or +unkind.</p> + +<p>Encouraged by her cordial greeting, Louis began: "I thought of +writing, but determined on seeking an interview, as a letter could but +inadequately convey what I wished to say. I have suffered much, as +you are aware, and my troubles have made me a very different man; but a +gleam of light seems once more to shine on my path, and I hope yet to +repair the error of my life. Can you—will you—overlook and +forgive the past, and be again to me all that you once were? I know +that I do not deserve it, but I will try to atone for the past if, dear +Isabel, you will be my wife."</p> + +<p>"Stay, Dr. Taschereau!" interposed Isabel, "I am just about to +marry a clergyman who is going abroad."</p> + +<p>Had a cannon-ball fallen at his feet, Louis could scarcely have been +more dumbfounded than he was at this intelligence. He became deadly +pale, and she thought he would faint.</p> + +<p>"You are ill, Dr. Taschereau. Let me ring for some wine."</p> + +<p>"Don't ring, I don't want any. Is this true?" he continued, "are you +really going to marry another?"</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">165</span> +"I am, and I do not see why you should be surprised."</p> + +<p>"Why do you make me love you so? Why must your image intrude itself +into every plan, and all be done as you would approve, if, after all, +you are to marry another? You would not wonder at the effect of what you +have told me, if you knew how the hope that you would forgive me and yet +be mine, has been my only comfort a long, dreary time."</p> + +<p>"You have no right to speak in this way, Dr. Taschereau; it was I who +had cause of complaint, not you. But I am very sorry that you should +feel so; very sorry that you should have suffered yourself to imagine +for a moment that we could ever be again to each other what we once +were. And do not think that my present engagement is the cause of my +saying this; for never, never, under any circumstances, could I have +been your wife after what has passed. I say not this in anger or +ill-will for the past, I do not regret it—I feel it was +best."</p> + +<p>"Will you not tell me the name of the fortunate clergyman?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, if you wish it; it is no secret. It is Everard +Arlington."</p> + +<p>"Everard Arlington!" he exclaimed in unfeigned astonishment. "It was +the knowledge of his hopeless attachment that made me hope—almost +make sure—that you had not entirely ceased to love me, and might +yet be mine; the more despairing he became, the higher my hopes +rose."</p> + +<p>"How could you, how dared you, indulge such thoughts after what I +said in the woods at D——?" exclaimed Isabel, indignantly. +"If Everard had so long to believe that his attachment was unavailing, +it was because Isabel Leicester would not give her hand unless her heart +went with it; because I respected his affection too much to trifle with +it, and not at all on your account. Believe me, that from the time I +first learned that you were married, every thought of you was rigidly +repelled, and it was arrant presumption in you to suppose anything +else," she continued, proudly, the angry tears suffusing her eyes.</p> + +<p>The conference was here ended, to Isabel's great relief, by the +entrance of Everard, who looked inquiringly at each.</p> + +<p>"How are you, old fellow?" he said (for Isabel's proud anger +<span class = "pagenum">166</span> +fled at his approach), "what brought you here so unexpectedly?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, a little private affair," he replied, looking rather +uncomfortable; but there was that in Louis's eye, as he said this, that +made Isabel distrust him; something that made her determined to put it +out of his power to misrepresent and make mischief. True, he had said +how changed he was, and spoken of the reformation his trials had made. +Certainly he had been more calm under disappointment than had been his +wont. But still she doubted him. She had seen that look before, and knew +that it was the same false Louis, not so changed as he imagined. The +dark side was only lying dormant; she could read his malicious enjoyment +in that cruel smile, and knew its meaning well. Meeting his glance with +one of proud defiance and quiet determination, which said, as plainly as +words, "I will thwart your fine plans, Mr. Louis," she said:</p> + +<p>"You are aware that I was formerly engaged to Dr. Taschereau. His +business here to-day was to endeavor to renew that engagement. +I need not say how very strange and absurd this appears, as you are +acquainted with the circumstances under which the former engagement +terminated."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that was the 'little private affair,' but I find that you have +already won the prize; allow me to congratulate you."</p> + +<p>Louis said this in a frank, pleasant manner, appearing to take his +own disappointment with so much good nature, at the same time blending a +certain degree of sadness in his tone as quite to deceive Everard and +win his sympathy. But the thundering black look which he cast at Isabel +fully convinced her that she was right.</p> + +<p>"You will dine with us, of course," said Everard, cordially.</p> + +<p>"I shall do so with pleasure," returned Louis.</p> + +<p>Isabel bit her lip. "Just to see how much he can annoy me," she +thought. But if this was his object he must have been disappointed, so +totally unconscious of his presence did Isabel appear, and when he +addressed her personally her manner was colder than even Everard thought +necessary.</p> + +<p>The heat of the rooms became very oppressive during the evening, and +Isabel stepped out on the lawn to enjoy the refreshing breeze, but was +soon surprized <!-- sic --> to find that Louis had followed her.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">167</span> +"Let us at least be friends," he said. "You will remember that it was +not in anger we last parted."</p> + +<p>But Isabel was silent.</p> + +<p>"You doubt me," he continued. "I do not blame you, but you are harsh, +Miss Leicester."</p> + +<p>"Not harsh, but just," returned Isabel. "Friends we can never be; +enemies I trust we never were."</p> + +<p>"You draw fine distinctions. May I ask what place in your estimation +I am permitted to occupy?" said Louis, sarcastically.</p> + +<p>"No place whatever, Dr. Taschereau; I must ever regard you with +indifference," returned Isabel, coldly.</p> + +<p>"Be it so," he replied, angrily. "You have obstinately refused all +offers of reconciliation, and must therefore take the consequences."</p> + +<p>"The consequences? You speak strangely, Dr. Taschereau."</p> + +<p><!-- missing " --> I repeat: the consequences. I determined long +since that you should never marry another, and my sentiments on that +subject have not changed. No; I vow you shall not!" he added, with +the old vindictive expression.</p> + +<p>"How dare you hold such language to me, sir?" cried Isabel, +indignantly.</p> + +<p>Without answering, he drew a pistol from his pocket and would have +shot her, but, changing his purpose, he turned upon Everard, who was +approaching. With a cry of horror, Isabel threw herself between them, +and prevented Louis from taking as good an aim as he might otherwise +have done; for though the ball, in passing, grazed her shoulder, it +passed Everard harmlessly and lodged in the acacia tree. With parted +lips, but without the power of speech, she clung to Everard in an agony +of terror for a moment, and then lay motionless in his arms. In terrible +apprehension he carried the senseless girl into the house, fearing that +she was seriously hurt, as the blood had saturated a large portion of +her dress, which was of very thin texture. Of course the consternation +into which the family was thrown by the shot, followed by the entrance +of Everard with Isabel in this alarming condition, was tremendous. But +happily Isabel was more terrified than hurt, Dr. Heathfield pronouncing +the wound of no consequence (to Everard's intense +<span class = "pagenum">168</span> +disgust), telling her to take a glass of wine and go to bed, and she +would be none the worse for her fright in the morning—in fact +treated the whole thing quite lightly, and laughed at Isabel for her +pale cheeks, saying that such an alabaster complexion was not at all +becoming. He promised to send her something to prevent the wine making +her sleep too soundly, meaning a composing draught to enable her to +sleep, as he saw very little chance of her doing so without. Everard +volunteered to go with him for it. On their way, Dr. Heathfield remarked +that he was afraid Everard thought him very rude and unfeeling. Everard, +who had been very silent, replied that he did.</p> + +<p>"Then do not think so any longer," said the Doctor, laying his hand +on his companion's shoulder. "I saw how scared she was, and treated +the case accordingly. You are both great favorites of mine, so I hope +you will not be offended. Do you know what became of the scoundrel?"</p> + +<p>"He made for parts unknown immediately after he fired," replied +Everard, sternly, while the heavy breathing showed how much it cost him +to speak calmly. "It is quite a Providence that one of us is not dead at +this moment, as he is a splendid marksman. I don't know which of +the two the shot was intended for; if for me, she must have thrown +herself between us."</p> + +<p>"She is just the girl to do it," cried the Doctor, grasping him +warmly by the hand. "I have always had a very high opinion of +her."</p> + +<p>"I should think so," said Everard, with a quiet smile of +satisfaction.</p> + +<p>Fortunately Isabel had no idea that Everard had gone with the Doctor, +or she would have been terribly anxious, for fear Louis should still be +near. But guilt makes cowards of all, so Louis was now in a fearful +state of mind: for he was passionate, hasty, violent and selfish, but +not really bad-hearted, and jealous anger and hatred had so gained the +mastery over him that he had been impelled to do that at which, in +cooler moments, he would have shuddered. So now he was enduring agony, +fearing lest his mad attempt at murder had been successful, yet not +daring to inquire. Ah, Louis! you are now, as ever, your own worst +enemy." <!-- extra " --></p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">169</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XXXIII.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capWq.png" width = "84" height = "42" +align = "left" alt = "W" title = "W (What)">hat</span> makes you look so +sad Everard; Isabel was not much hurt; not hurt at all I may say."</p> + +<p>"I was not thinking of her just now Emmy," he answered smiling, but +the smile passed away, and left his face very sad indeed.</p> + +<p>"What is it Evvie," she asked in the old coaxing way, seating herself +beside him on the seat round the old Elm tree.</p> + +<p>"I was thinking of Grace," he replied "you can't think how her +keeping away pains me."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't think of it, if I were you, it is very mean and +ill-natured of her, but she will get over her huff after a while."</p> + +<p>"That would be all very well, if I were going to remain here, but you +know how soon I go and——"</p> + +<p>"Oh Everard," (Emmy could not contemplate this event with composure) +"Oh Everard, I can't bear you to go, <!-- missing " --> and she +threw her arms round his neck, weeping passionately.</p> + +<p>His sisters were not much given to tears, this one in particular, the +brightest of them all, so that this genuine bust <!-- burst --> of grief +was the more perplexing.</p> + +<p>He was endeavouring in vain to soothe her, when little Emmy came upon +the scene, and seeing her mamma in trouble, she set up a terrific +howling, and running at Everard, she seized his coat to steady herself +and commenced to kick him with all the force she could muster, +exclaiming "naughty, naughty, to make my mamma cry."</p> + +<p>This warlike attack upon her brother set Emily laughing, while he +feigned to be desperately hurt by the tiny feet at which the round blue +eyes grew wonderfully well satisfied. Isabel now joined them alarmed by +the cries of her little playmate. Emmy looking very brave scrambled upon +mamma's knee, from whence she darted very defiant glances at her +uncle.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">170</span> +"I think I will go to Ashton Park" said Everard.</p> + +<p>"Do you think that it will do any good" asked Emily.</p> + +<p>"I hope so, Grace is not bad hearted, only vexed, besides, +I should wish to leave on good terms with the old lady."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt that she pities you immensely." Everard laughed "I +will go now" he said, "and we hope you may be successful" returned both +warmly.</p> + +<p>"Good evening Lady Ashton" said Everard when he arrived at the Park; +entering the drawing-room from the lawn.</p> + +<p>"Oh is that you, you poor unfortunate boy," returned her ladyship +compassionately.</p> + +<p>"Pray spare your pity, for some more deserving individual," answered +Everard laughing, "I think myself the most fortunate of +mortals."</p> + +<p>"Don't come to me with your nonsense, you are very silly, and have +behaved in a most dishonorable manner towards your family."</p> + +<p>"Will you be kind enough to state in what way," replied Everard +colouring, "I confess I can't see it."</p> + +<p>"Why, in offering to that governess girl."</p> + +<p>"You are severe."</p> + +<p>"Oh I haven't patience with you; my sympathy is all with poor Grace, +who feels quite disgraced by it."</p> + +<p>"She cannot think so, seriously, or if she does, she ought to be +ashamed. <!-- missing " --></p> + +<p>"Hoighty, toighty, how we are coming the parson to-night."</p> + +<p>"Pshaw," exclaimed Everard impatiently.</p> + +<p>"I think she is justly angry and aggrieved. Of course in receiving so +young and pretty a girl, as governess for your sisters, (for I allow +that she is pretty.) <!-- missing " --> "Oh you do," said Everard +sarcastically. "Your mother" continued Lady Ashton "relied upon your +honorable feelings, and good sense, but you have abused her confidence +in a most cruel manner."</p> + +<p>The swelling veins, and heavy breathing showed how annoyed he was, +and he answered warmly, "I deny having done anything +<span class = "pagenum">171</span> +wrong or dishonorable, I presume that I have a perfect right to +choose for myself."</p> + +<p>"To a certain extent I grant, but you owe something to the feelings +of your family."</p> + +<p>"They have no cause of complaint, Isabel is quite their equal if not +superior."</p> + +<p>"In your estimation," said Lady Ashton contemptuously.</p> + +<p>"I don't care to discuss the subject" returned Everard haughtily.</p> + +<p>"Reverse the matter, how would you like it, if Grace was going to +marry a tutor."</p> + +<p>"If he was a worthy person, and Grace was satisfied, I certainly +should not object."</p> + +<p>"I doubt it," cried Lady Ashton angrily. Then she commenced aspersing +Isabel in every way, and Everard hotly defended her. "Nasty, artful, +designing girl, you will live to repent your folly yet," she said. Then +Everard got in a terrible passion newly ordained though he was. But Lady +Ashton was a woman, and Everard Arlington never forgot when he was in +the presence of ladies, so though they most decidedly quarrelled, <!-- +sic --> Everard saying some pretty severe things, he managed to keep the +cooler of the two, Lady Ashton being as spiteful as only Lady Ashton +could be. So instead of conciliating Grace he had only made matters +worse; as he supposed; but Lady Ashton really loved her god-son, and in +her heart admired him for his spirit.</p> + +<p>Everard's anger once roused was not easily appeased, so that after he +left Ashton Park, he took a ten mile walk in the moonlight before he was +sufficiently calm to venture home. "What is the matter" asked his mother +when he did.</p> + +<p>"I have been in a tremendous passion, and am not quite cooled down +yet" he answered, "good night."</p> + +<p>The upshot of all this was, that on coming home one afternoon, +Everard found Lady Ashton, and Grace waiting for him. "Let bygones, be +bygones," said the former taking his hand, while Grace offered hers with +a dignified condescension that was truly amusing, Everard was only too +glad to have a cessation of hostilities, and responded cordially to the +overtures of peace.</p> + +<p>Then Lady Ashton insisted upon giving them a farewell party, +<span class = "pagenum">172</span> +<!-- printer seems to have run out of commas and tossed "" marks hither +and thither... -->she would take no denial, saying that if Everard did +not come, that she would not believe that he forgave her." <!-- extra " +--></p> + +<p>Grace and Emily were delighted, saying, it was the very thing, and +Alice was half wild with glee at being included in the invitation, and +also allowed to go.</p> + +<p>So Isabel had a new white dress for the occasion, and now that she +was no longer the governess, she arrayed herself with some of the +beautiful and costly jewels, which her fathers <!-- father's --> +creditors had refused to take, (though they were offered them by +Isabel,) which had not seen the light since she came to Elm Grove.</p> + +<p>"Oh Isabel, now you look like yourself" said Lucy, who had arrived +just in time to be of the party.</p> + +<p>"How sly of you Isabel, not to let us see them before" cried Emily +examining them "what beauties," and Mrs. Arlington looked very +approvingly at her future daughter-in-law. "I think that you are +the proudest girl I ever saw, Isabel," she said reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"Oh mamma, not proud, only sensitive," interposed Alice warmly.</p> + +<p>"I think you were wrong my dear" continued Mrs. Arlington without +heeding Alice.</p> + +<p>"Please don't' <!-- don't -->, <!-- missing " --> pleaded Isabel the +tears gathering in her eyes "I could not help feeling so, indeed I could +not."</p> + +<p>"Don't blame her mamma, it does not matter now," put in Emily.</p> + +<p>"She was a stupid little goose to care so much about it; and I always +said so," chimed in Lucy.</p> + +<p>"Pray who is a stupid little goose," asked Everard joining the group +in the drawing-room.</p> + +<p>"Ask no questions——you know the rest" returned Lucy +saucily.</p> + +<p>"Dear me, how late we shall be" cried Emily "what can make papa and +Harry so long."</p> + +<p><!-- extra " --> "On arriving at the Park, an unexpected pleasure +caused a great deal of excitement. On entering the dressing-room they +met Ada. "Oh, when did you come." <!-- missing " --> I'm so glad." "How +delightful." +<span class = "pagenum">173</span> +Burst from them simultaneously, as Ada was hugged in a manner that bid +fair to ruin the effect of her careful toilet.</p> + +<p>"Didn't Lucy tell you," asked Ada amazed.</p> + +<p>"Not I," cried Lucy triumphantly.</p> + +<p>"Oh Lucy."</p> + +<p>Then a thundering rap at the door from Harry, who was impatient to +see his sister; made them hasten down, all in high spirits at the +unlooked for meeting.</p> + +<p>Lady Ashton hardly seemed herself she was so pleasant, and even Grace +did the agreeable to perfection.</p> + +<p>Lucy, lectured Everard, and condemned severely his taking Isabel to +be eaten up by savages; as she persisted would be the case if he carried +out his preposterous intentions. But Everard only laughed. +"I cannot see how you can reconcile it to your conscience, to doom +such a girl as that, to so wretched an existence, look at her, is she +fit for such a hum-drum-knock-about life."</p> + +<p><!-- extra " --> "Everard cast a very admiring glance at his bride +elect, but his only answer was a rather sad smile.</p> + +<p>"Oh I see I am right," she cried, "I know you think that she is more +fitted for civilized society, confess now, confess, I used to think +you so considerate, but now I see you are very selfish. <!-- missing " +--></p> + +<p>"Perhaps I am," and he walked out on the lawn, leaving Lucy much +astonished and very indignant.</p> + +<p>"Be merciful Lucy," said Charles offering his arm.</p> + +<p>"Not I," returned Lucy, "I think it awfully cool."</p> + +<p>"Then it must be very refreshing this hot evening" said Charles +laughing.</p> + +<p>"Don't be provoking." <!-- extra " --> I'm awfully angry."</p> + +<p>"Lucy!"</p> + +<p>"Charles!"</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">174</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XXXIV.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capOq.png" width = "68" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "O" title = "O (Oh)">h</span>, here you are," said +Lucy when shortly after breakfast next morning she found Everard +enjoying a cigar in the piazza. "You needn't think to escape by going +off in that unceremonious manner last night, so you may as well listen +now, for I intend to express my sentiments some time or other."</p> + +<p>"I am all attention Miss Lucy, only I hope you don't object to my +cigar."</p> + +<p>"Not at all, it will make you more patient perhaps."</p> + +<p>"Shouldn't wonder, as I'm afraid from your preamble it is nothing I +care to hear."</p> + +<p>"Everard!" then with a shrug. "Of course you don't."</p> + +<p>Everard laughed. "You stupid fellow, won't you be quiet and hear what +I have to say."</p> + +<p>"Oh certainly."</p> + +<p>"I wish to remind you, that you need not go goodness knows how many +hundred miles to find people to convert, as there are plenty nearer +home."</p> + +<p>"No doubt, and also, others near home anxious to convert them."</p> + +<p>"And do you think, that no one but yourself would go to that +outlandish place."</p> + +<p>"Very few, comparatively; of course there are some."</p> + +<p>"Mighty few I expect."</p> + +<p>"Then you see an additional reason, why I should."</p> + +<p>"I have not seen any yet, so of course cant't <!-- can't --> see +additional ones" she answered saucily. "I tell you what you had +better do, stay and convert me, and that will take you a precious long +time I promise you."</p> + +<p>"Lucy!"</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">175</span> +"Oh, how grave you are, I wish you could see your face."</p> + +<p>"You forget what you are talking about, Lucy, or you would not speak +so" he said gravely, "I cannot believe that you are in +earnest."</p> + +<p>"Of course I don't mean half I say, I never do, I did not think +you would take it so seriously."</p> + +<p>"It is a bad way to get into, Lucy."</p> + +<p>"Don't be alarmed" cried Lucy laughing, "I'm not so awfully wicked as +you imagine. I know, that I am very wild, and thoughtless, and that +that school did not do me any good, but for all that, I'm not quite a +heathen."</p> + +<p>"Be merry and wise," he said kindly but gravely." <!-- extra " +--></p> + +<p>"That is not so easy" returned Lucy with a gulp, "you may think so, +you are so mild tempered; but with one, so impulsive, and high spirited +as I am, it is very hard, almost impossible; that's always the way with +you quiet, easy going people, you have no sympathy with us."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Lucy, how apt we are to form wrong opinions, you think me quiet, +easy, gentle, I may be so, but I am also passionate, determined, +and you say selfish; be that as it may, I cannot give up without a +very hard struggle, not even then usually. I am unyielding. +Persevering and firm, Emily would say, self-willed and obstinate, Grace +would call me."</p> + +<p>"I can't believe you."</p> + +<p>"It is true."</p> + +<p>"But to resume our discussion; it is really too provoking to take +Isabel off to that outlandish place."</p> + +<p>"It is settled, all the talking in the world can't make any +difference," he said with the quiet smile, and languid manner, that made +it so hard to believe that he was indeed what he had described.</p> + +<p>In the evening Susan brought a note to Isabel, as she and Everard +were walking on the terrace. Isabel turned deadly pale on observing the +handwriting, "it is from Dr. Tachereau" she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Let me open it" said Everard seeing her agitation.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">176</span> +"A poisoned letter perhaps."</p> + +<p>"Oh Everard, such things only happen in story books, but if you +really think so, it had better go at the back of the fire."</p> + +<p>"The fire is the right place for it no doubt, but I have a curiosity +to see the inside first, some impertinence you may be sure."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps to inform us, that he will bring his pistols to the church, +if we dare to venture there, <!-- missing " --> said Isabel breaking the +seal. She opened it, but a sickening faintness overpowered her, and she +was unable to read. He had now succeeded in making her fear him, while +his vindictiveness had been solely against herself, she had defied him, +but now, that another was menaced she trembled for his safety.</p> + +<p>"Let me see this madman's effusion" said Everard soothingly, "Why I +declare you are quite ill, take this seat and I will read for our mutual +edification."</p> + +<p>Casting an anxious glance towards Isabel occasionally to ascertain if +she was recovering from her agitation, he read a follow's <!-- should be +"as follows" --> :</p> + +<blockquote> +<span class = "smallcaps">Dear Isabel</span>,—(cool muttered +Everard). What a fool I was the other night, can you, will you, forgive +me. Could you know the remorse and misery I have suffered since, or the +feeling of thankfulness with which I heard that I had not seriously +injured either of you; I think you would. What a reward for your +kindness to my poor Natalie; what a return for your sympathy in my +trouble. When had you rejoiced at my misfortune, I could scarcely +have been surprised. But I loved myself, and my own way, and you +thwarted me twice; but enough of the past. I dare not contemplate +it. Let me however say a few words in extenuation of my folly. You can +never know what I endured that evening, to see the regard once bestowed +on me, transferred to another, to see that I was nothing,—that I +was entirely, unmistakeably <!-- unmistakably --> +forgotten,—perhaps detested; for you treated me with unnecessary +coldness. All this so worked upon my unhappy temperament until nearly +mad with anger and jealousy, I did that, for which I now beseech +you to forgive me. I shall never see you again, as the thought of +your marrying another is so hateful to me that I dare not trust myself +in your presence after the dark glimpse I have had of my evil nature. +I did not think I could be so wicked. Farewell, I still remain +your loving, though now unloved—LOUIS. +</blockquote> + +<p>Everard deliberately tore the note into fragments, with the same +expression that Dr. Heathfield had remarked, while an angry flush +suffused his countenance. But there was more of pity, than of anger, in +Isabel's mind, and she did not notice his displeasure. And as Rose at +this moment came to call them in, to see Mrs. Arnold, of course no +comment was passed on the letter; though Everard's unusual gloominess +that evening, proved that he had not forgotten it.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Arnold was very fussy as usual, and told many amusing anecdotes +regarding her journey, and also gave an immense amount +<span class = "pagenum">177</span> +of good advice to both Everard and Isabel, for which of course they were +duly grateful.</p> + +<p>"Really my dear Mabel" said Mrs. Arnold, "I never was more glad +in my life, than when I heard of this match, I was positively +delighted. But you must not suppose for a moment, that I had any such +idea; when I got her the situation."</p> + +<p>Isabel looked annoyed, "naughty girl" said Mrs. Arlington, and then +it came out, how foolishly sensitive, (as Mrs. Arlington termed it,) +Isabel had always been, regarding her position. "Never mind, dear," said +Mrs. Arnold kindly, "It is all over now, but still I should have thought +that you had been a governess long enough to get used to it."</p> + +<p>"Please don't <!-- missing " --> pleaded Isabel, resolutely forcing +back the tears which invariably came, at any allusion to the distasteful +subject. And Everard, who until now had been unaware of her extreme +dislike of being a governess admired her the more, that while hating her +position so much, she had so determinately refused him, as long as she +felt, that she did not return his affection.</p> + +<p>"How is it my dear" inquired Mrs. Arnold, who seemed destined +to-night to hit upon the wrong topic, "that you have never been to visit +any of your old friends, Mrs. Price, Mrs. Vernon, Miss Carding, and +hosts of others, told me repeatedly, that time after time, they have +sent you the most pressing invitations, all to no purpose."</p> + +<p>Isabel reddened painfully, Emily and Lucy laughed.</p> + +<p>"That is another of Isabel's 'weaknesses'." Everard looked annoyed. +"Sing some of your comic songs, Harry," he said, wishing to change the +subject. And Harry sung, to the great amusement of the party generally, +and of Mrs. Arnold in particular.</p> + +<p>Before they separated, a moonlight excursion to the romantic dell, +the scene of the memorable picnic four years ago, was arranged for the +next evening, and met with universal approbation. All agreeing that the +water-fall could only be seen to perfection by moonlight.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">178</span> + +<h4 class = "chapter">CHAPTER XXXV.</h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword"> +<img src = "images/capI.png" width = "30" height = "43" +align = "left" alt = "I" title = "I (It)">t</span> had been a dull day, +this last day, so that all were glad that the evening was not spent +quietly at home, giving time for sad thoughts of to-morrow's parting. +Thanks to Harry and Lucy, the excursion passed off more cheerfully than +might have been expected, all appearing to enjoy themselves. On their +return, Isabel did not join the others in the drawing-room, but went out +and lingered by the fountain, in the moonlight, musing on all that had +happened since she first came there, now nearly five years ago, and +wondering how long it might be, and what might happen, ere she would +again be there—or if, indeed, she would be there again. Ah! seek +not to look into futurity, Isabel. It is well for you that you know not +all that shall be ere you again sit there. Enjoy your happiness while +you may, and leave the future to unfold itself. She remained there a +long time thinking of many things, and was still lost in meditation when +Everard joined her.</p> + +<p>"A penny for your thoughts," he said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Everard, I want you to do something," she returned, laying her +hand on his arm.</p> + +<p>"What is it, dearest?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"I feel so unhappy about Louis. I wish so much that you would write +and say that we forgive him."</p> + +<p>Everard was silent, and his face became very stern.</p> + +<p>"If you would, I should be so glad."</p> + +<p>"You ask too much," he said.</p> + +<p>"Only what is right."</p> + +<p>"Right perhaps, but hard—very hard."</p> + +<p>"Oh, do," she pleaded, raising her blue eyes to his so earnestly. +"Oh, Everard, it is not the way for us to be happy, to be unforgiving. +I should be so miserable: day by day watching the blue waters, +knowing that I had left any one in anger or ill-feeling. Oh, Everard, +you will forgive him!"</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">179</span> +She looked so lovely there in the moonlight, pleading for one who so +little deserved it of her, that Everard found it hard to refuse her.</p> + +<p>"I cannot write a lie, Isabel, even to please you," he replied, in a +harsh, unnatural voice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, not that; but I want you really to forgive him."</p> + +<p>"I do not, I cannot," and his voice was hard and cold.</p> + +<p>Isabel shuddered. Was this the Everard usually so kind and +gentle?</p> + +<p>"Oh, Everard, and you a clergyman!"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I am not fit to be one," he answered. "I have thought +so sometimes lately, but I wished so much to be one that, in seeking to +fulfil the wish, I may have overlooked the +meetness."<!--meekness?--></p> + +<p>"If you are not, I do not know who is," she said, "but this is not +like yourself; I should be less surprised if I was unforgiving and +you forgave."</p> + +<p>"I hope that I do not often feel as I do now towards him. But you +forget how nearly he took you from me; he whom I trusted and regarded +with the warmest friendship."</p> + +<p>"It is not for his sake I ask it Everard; forgive as you would be +forgiven."</p> + +<p>They walked on in silence until they reached the house. Then Everard +said, "From my heart I wish I could, Isabel," and abruptly left her. +Then, alone in his own room, after all had retired to rest, far into the +night he fought the battle of good and evil. What was he about to +do—preach and teach meekness, self-denial, and forgiveness of +injuries, while he was still angry and unforgiving? What mockery! Ought +he not to practice what he taught? Was theory—mere +words—sufficient? No; he must, by example, give force to his +teaching, or how could he hope to succeed? All this he saw clearly +enough, but the difficulty still remained. He strove hard to conquer, +but evil prevailed. "Forgive as you would be forgiven" rang continually +in his ears, but he did not, could not, forgive. He laid down, but not +to sleep, and the pale moon shone calmly and peacefully in upon him, as +if mocking his disquietude. At length he threw the painful subject from +him, and sank into an uneasy slumber.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">180</span> +He awoke, next morning, with the sun beaming brightly in at the window. +But dark clouds gathered round him; gloomy doubts as to his fitness for +the office he had taken, and sorrow at the impossibility of his +forgiving Louis. "Forgive as you would be forgiven," and again the last +night's struggle was renewed, and even when they started for the church +he had not conquered.</p> + +<p>Isabel saw how it was, and this was the bitter drop in her cup of +happiness. Alas! in this world when is it unalloyed?</p> + +<p>A burst of music filled the church as the bridal party entered, and +very lovely looked the bride, surrounded by her three little +bridesmaids, while in the background stood a fourth, the merry Lucy. Bob +and three youthful Arlington cousins were groomsmen, and Everard, to use +Lucy's own words, was the very <i>beau ideal</i> of what a bridegroom +should be, in fact "perfect."</p> + +<p>The sun shone with almost dazzling splendor on the group, which Emily +pronounced "a good omen," and again the organ pealed forth its joyous +strains as they left the church, and gaily rang the marriage bells.</p> + +<p>"Everard," said Isabel, when they were in the library awaiting the +arrival of the others, "write that letter now; I know you can, for +you would not look so happy if you felt as you did last night."</p> + +<p>"I can write it truthfully now," he replied, smiling at her +earnestness. And then, with his bride bending over his shoulder, Everard +wrote such a note as only <i>he</i> could write, expressing their entire +forgiveness, and made Isabel take the pen and write "Isabel Arlington" +under his signature.</p> + +<p>The others, coming in, insisted upon knowing the subject of their +very important correspondence, but Everard pocketed the letter and +refused to satisfy their curiosity.</p> + +<p>The breakfast was but a dull affair, notwithstanding the exuberant +spirits of the young groomsmen. The parents knew that they were parting +with their only son, and that it would be years before they would see +him again; and the son, amid his happiness, remembered that he was +leaving father, mother, sisters, perhaps never to return. Isabel, also, +felt it hard to part so soon with her new sisters, who hung about her +with every demonstration of affection and regret.</p> + +<p> +<span class = "pagenum">181</span> +Then such a scene in the dressing-room (from which Mrs. Arlington had +mercifully contrived to keep Mrs. Arnold.) Emily, with her head buried +in a sofa cushion, weeping passionately at the thought of parting with +her brother, while the children all clung around Isabel in such a manner +as to make it utterly impossible for her to don her travelling dress; +Lucy trying to comfort Emily, and Grace scolding the children. Ada, +taking pity on Isabel, reminded them that Everard was going as well as +Isabel, suggesting that they should go down to him. To this they readily +agreed.</p> + +<p>"I ought to go, too, only I'm afraid Everard will be vexed to see me +in such a state," sobbed Emily.</p> + +<p>"I like to have you here, Emily dear," replied Isabel, "but you had +better go down; you will be sorry afterwards if you don't. He feels it +dreadfully, I know, poor fellow."</p> + +<p>"He looked fearfully pale during breakfast," added Ada, +feelingly.</p> + +<p>"I will go," returned Emily, vainly endeavoring to check her emotion. +And Grace went with her, leaving Isabel with Ada and Lucy.</p> + +<p>Isabel, who had managed to keep up tolerably well so far, now gave +way to uncontrollable emotion. This second scene with the children had +been quite too much for her.</p> + +<p>"Isabel! Isabel! you will never be dressed to-day," cried Ada, in +despair.</p> + +<p>"Oh, let her be," returned Lucy; "they will miss the train, and have +to wait for the next steamer. What a glorious stew Everard would be in! +for then, of course, they would be too late for that precious Indian +ship. Oh, I declare, I hope they will!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Lucy!" and Isabel made quick work with her dressing, to Lucy's +intense amusement.</p> + +<p>Everard, meanwhile, had been undergoing a terrible ordeal down +stairs, and was truly glad when Isabel made her appearance. She was met +now with a worse storm of grief than any previously encountered; as for +Amy, she flew into the carriage after her.</p> + +<p>So they drove off, amid thundering cheers from the young groomsmen. +Papa inquired if Amy intended to go to Madagascar, +<span class = "pagenum">182</span> +and on Everard's answering in the affirmative she was wild to get out, +protesting that she would not. "But you can't get out until we reach the +gate," said Everard. "Promise me, Isabel, dear Isabel, that you will let +me out at the gate," she cried, in an agony; "pray don't let me go to +nasty Madagascar; oh, please don't." So Everard, seeing that the child +was really terrified, stopped the carriage, and Amy instantly jumped out +in the greatest haste, without waiting for any more leave-taking, +getting several thumps from the old shoes which were sent in a continued +shower after the carriage until it had passed through the gate, when a +deafening "tiger" made the welkin ring.</p> + +<p class = "asterisk"> + *********</p> + +<p>Here we must bid adieu to those whose fortunes we have followed so +far, hoping at some future time to hear more about them. But as we do +not care to inquire particularly after Louis Taschereau, we may as well +mention here that he, some time after, married a fine high-spirited +girl, who was completely his match, the domineering being all on the +wife's side. No tears were shed by her during his absence, and a +scornful smile was the utmost that his anger or ill-temper ever +elicited. So they managed to get on tolerably well, the inquiring look +of the cold grey eye often checking a fit of passion. As Louis's +mercenary propensities have already shown themselves, it is almost +needless to add that she had what he valued more than anything +else—money—which, by the way, she took good care to have +settled on herself. But this he did not object to (albeit she would have +done so all the same if he had), provided there was plenty of it.</p> + +<p> <br> </p> + +<span class = "pagenum">183</span> + +<hr> + +<div class = "mynote"> +<h4><b>Errors in Text</b></h4> + +<p>Since a full list of errors would be almost as long as the novel +itself, most are given in tabular form only. Some counts may be +incomplete. Inquisitive readers may like to look at the HTML code, +where most errors are noted in <i><!--remark--></i> form.</p> + +<table class = "errors" summary = "types of errors in text"> +<tr> +<td><p>Missing quotation mark</p></td> +<td class = "number">58</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Extra quotation mark</p></td> +<td class = "number">23</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Misplaced quotation mark</p></td> +<td class = "number">7</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Single/double quote error</p></td> +<td class = "number">2</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "inset"><p><i>all quotation-mark errors</i></p></td> +<td class = "number inset">90</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Missing question mark</p></td> +<td class = "number">32</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Missing or incorrect period or comma</p></td> +<td class = "number">11</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Missing apostrophe</p></td> +<td class = "number">8</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Extra apostrophe</p></td> +<td class = "number">7</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Extra parenthesis</p></td> +<td class = "number">1</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "inset"><p><i>punctuation errors +(other than quotation marks)</i></p></td> +<td class = "number inset">59</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Typographical error or misspelling</p></td> +<td class = "number">35</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class = "mid"> + +<p> +<a name = "noteA" id = "noteA" href = "#tagA">A.</a> +At this point, one line of the text is lost:</p> + +<p class = "center"> +<img src = "images/page85thumb.png" width = "346" height = "55" +alt = "partial page image"> +<br> +<a href = "images/page85.png">Close-Up</a> +</p> + +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Isabel Leicester, by Clotilda Jennings + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ISABEL LEICESTER *** + +***** This file should be named 20525-h.htm or 20525-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/5/2/20525/ + +Produced by Louise Hope, Robert Cicconetti and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions +(www.canadiana.org)) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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