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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/21432-8.txt b/21432-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d976eb2 --- /dev/null +++ b/21432-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5490 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Aunt Judith, by Grace Beaumont + +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: Aunt Judith + The Story of a Loving Life + +Author: Grace Beaumont + +Release Date: May 14, 2007 [EBook #21432] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT JUDITH *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Started off through the first figure.] + + + + + + +AUNT JUDITH + +The Story of a Loving Life + + +BY + +GRACE BEAUMONT + + + + +THOMAS NELSON AND SONS + +LONDON, EDINBURGH, + +DUBLIN, AND NEW YORK + + + + +Published 1888, 1910 + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + I. A School-girl Quarrel + II. Aunt Judith + III. Will You have Me for a Friend? + IV. A Talk with Aunt Judith + V. A Fallen Queen + VI. Winnie's Home + VII. An Afternoon at Dingle Cottage + VIII. Forging the First Link + IX. The Christmas Party + X. Gathering Clouds + XI. It is so hard to say Good-bye + XII. I always speak as I think + XIII. Our Sailor Boy + XIV. The Prize Essay + XV. How shall I live through the long, long years? + XVI. Light in Darkness + XVII. I shall learn to be good now + XVIII. Conclusion + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +Started off through the first figure . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ + +"Will you have me for a friend?" + +A prostrate figure with white, upturned face + +The eyes, wide open, were fixed on the sheets of + manuscript before her + + + + +AUNT JUDITH. + + +CHAPTER I. + +A SCHOOL-GIRL QUARREL. + +"Girls, girls, I've news for you!" cried Winnifred Blake, entering the +school-room and surveying the faces of her school-mates with great +eagerness. + +Luncheon hour was almost over, and the pupils belonging to Mrs. Elder's +Select Establishment for Young Ladies were gathered together in the +large school-room, some enjoying a merry chat, others, more studiously +inclined, conning over a forthcoming lesson. + +"Give us the benefit of your news quickly, Winnie," said Ada Irvine, +looking round from her snug seat on the broad window-ledge; "surely we +must be going to hear something wonderful when _you_ are so excited;" +and the girl eyed her animated school-fellow half scornfully. + +"A new pupil is coming," announced Winnie with an air of great +solemnity. "Be patient, my friends, and I'll tell you how I know. +Dinner being earlier to-day, I managed to get back to school sooner +than usual, and was just crossing the hall to join you all in the +school-room, when the drawing-room door opened, and Mrs. Elder +appeared, accompanied by a lady in a long loose cloak and huge +bonnet--regular coal-scuttle affair, girls; so large, in fact, that it +was quite impossible to get a glimpse of her face. Mrs. Elder was +saying as I passed, 'I shall expect your niece to-morrow morning, Miss +Latimer, at nine o'clock; and trust she will prosecute her studies with +all diligence, and prove a credit to the school.'" Winnie mimicked the +lady-principal's soft, plausible voice as she spoke. + +"A new pupil!" remarked Ada once more, her voice raised in supreme +contempt; "really, Winnie, I fail to understand your excitement over +such a trifle. Why, she may be a green-grocer's daughter for all you +know to the contrary;" and the speaker's dainty nose was turned up with +a gesture of infinite scorn. + +"Well, and what then, Miss Conceit?" retorted Winnie, flushing angrily +at her school-mate's contemptuous tone; "I presume a green-grocer's +daughter is not exempted from possessing the same talented abilities +which characterize your charming self." + +"Certainly not," replied the other with the same quiet ring of scorn in +her voice; "but, pray, who would associate with a green-grocer's +daughter? Most assuredly not I. My mother is very particular with +regard to the circle in which I move." + +Winnie swept a graceful courtesy. + +"Allow me to express my deep sense of obligation," she said mockingly, +"at the honour conferred on my unworthy self by your attempted +patronage and esteem." Then, changing her tone and raising her little +head proudly--"Ada Irvine, I am ashamed of you--your pride is +insufferable; and my heartiest wish is that some day you may be looked +down upon and viewed with the supreme contempt you now bestow on those +lower (most unfortunately) in the social scale than yourself." + +"Thanks for your amiable wish," was the answer, given in that easy, +tranquil voice which the owner well knew irritated her adversary more +than the fiercest burst of passion would have done; "but I am afraid +there is little likelihood of its ever being realized." + +Winnie elevated her eyebrows. "Is that your opinion?" she said in +affected surprise, while the other school-girls gathered round, +tittering at the caustic little tongue. "I suppose you study the +poets, Miss Irvine; and if so, doubtless you will remember who it is +that says:-- + + 'Oh wad some power the giftie gie us + To see oursels as ithers see us!'" + + +The mischievous child stopped for a second, and then continued: "I am +afraid you look at yourself and your various charms through +rose-coloured spectacles, certainly not with 'a jaundiced eye;'--but I +beg your pardon; were you about to speak?" and Winnie looked innocently +into the fair face of her antagonist, which was now white and set with +passion. + +The blue eyes were flashing with an angry light, the pretty lips +trembling, and the smooth brow knit in a heavy frown; but only for a +few moments. By-and-by the features relaxed their fixed and stony +gaze; the countenance resumed its usual haughty expression; and, +lifting up the book which was lying on her lap, Ada opened it at the +required page, and ended the discussion by saying, "I shall consider it +my duty to inform Mrs. Elder of your charming sentiments; in the +meantime, kindly excuse me from continuing such highly edifying +conversation." With that she bent her head over the French grammar, +and soon appeared thoroughly engrossed in the conjugation of the verb +_avoir_, to have, while her mischievous school-mate turned away with a +light shrug of her pretty shoulders. + +Winnifred Blake, the youngest daughter of a wealthy, influential +gentleman, was a bright, happy girl of about fourteen years, with a +kind, generous heart, and warm, impulsive nature. Being small and +slight in stature, she seemed to all appearance a mere child; and the +quaint, gipsy face peeping from beneath a mass of shaggy, tangled curls +showed a pair of large laughter-loving eyes and a mischievous little +mouth. + +Was she clever? + +Well, that still remained to be seen. Certainly, the bright, +intelligent countenance gave no indication of a slow understanding and +feeble brain; but Winnie hated study, and consequently was usually to +be found adorning the foot of the class. "It is deliciously +comfortable here, girls," she would say to her school-mates when even +they protested against such continual indolence; "you see I am near the +fire, and that is a consideration in the cold, wintry days, I assure +you. Don't annoy yourselves over my shortcomings. Lazy, selfish +people always get on in the world;" and speaking thus, the incorrigible +child would nestle back in her lowly seat with an air of the utmost +satisfaction. + +Ada Irvine smiled in supreme contempt over what she termed Winnie's +stupidity, and would repeat her own perfectly-learned lesson with +additional triumph in her tone; but the faultless repetition by no +means disconcerted her lazy school-mate, who was often heard to say, +with seeming simplicity, "I could do just as well if I chose; but then +I don't choose, and that, you see, makes all the difference." + +Ada Irvine was an only child, and her parents having gone abroad in the +(alas, how often vain!) search after health, had left her with Mrs. +Elder, to whose care she was intrusted with every charge for her +comfort and advantage--a charge which that young lady took great care +should be amply fulfilled. She was only six months older than Winnie, +but very tall, and already giving the promise of great beauty in after +years. Talented and brilliant also, she held a powerful sway over the +minds and actions of her schoolmates, and queened in the school right +royally; but the cold, haughty pride which marred her nature failed to +make her such a general favourite as her fiery, little adversary. + +In the afternoon, when the school was being dismissed for the day, Ada +sought the presence of the lady-principal; and consequently, just as +Winnie was strapping up her books preparatory to going home, a servant +appeared in the dressing-room summoning Miss Blake to Mrs. Elder's +sanctum. + +"Now you're in for it, Winnie," said the girls pityingly; "Ada has kept +to her word and told. How mean!" But the child only tossed her curly +head, and with slightly heightened colour followed the maid to the +comfortable parlour where the lady-principal was usually to be found. + +Mrs. Elder, seated by a small fire which burned brightly in the shining +grate, turned a face expressive of the most severe displeasure on the +defiant little culprit as she entered; while Ada, standing slightly in +the shadow of the window-curtain, looked at the victim haughtily, and +shaped her lips in a malicious smile at the lady-principal's opening +words. + +"I presume you are aware of my reason for requesting your presence +here, Miss Blake," she began in icy tones; "and I trust you have come +before me sincerely penitent for your fault. I cannot express in +sufficiently strong terms the displeasure I feel at your shameful +conduct this afternoon. I never thought a pupil of this establishment +could be guilty of such unlady-like language as fell from your lips, +and it grieves me to know that I have in my school a young girl capable +of cherishing the evil spirit of animosity against a fellow-creature. +What have you to say in defence of your conduct? Can you vindicate it +in any way, or shall I take your silence as full confession of your +guilt?" + +Winnie pressed her lips tightly together, but did not speak. "I need +not attempt to clear myself," she mentally decided. "Ada will have +coloured our quarrel to suit herself, and being Mrs. Elder's favourite, +her word will be relied on before mine; that has been the case before, +and will be so again." + +The lady-principal, however, mistook the continued silence for +conscious guilt. + +"Then I demand that an ample apology be made to Miss Irvine now, in my +presence," she said once more in frigid tones. "Come, Miss Blake; my +time is too precious to be trifled with." + +Winnie's eyes sparkled, and raising her small head defiantly, she +replied, "I decline to apologize, Mrs. Elder. I only spoke as I +thought, and am quite prepared to say the same again if occasion +offers. Miss Irvine knows my words, if distasteful, were but too true." + +The lady-principal gasped. "Miss Blake," she cried at length, +horrified at the bold assertion, and endeavouring to quail her +audacious pupil with one stern, withering glance, "this is dreadful!" +But the angry child only pouted, and repeated doggedly, "It is quite +true." + +Then Mrs. Elder rose, and laying her hand firmly on Winnie's shoulder, +said quietly, but with an awful meaning underlying her words, +"Apologize at once, Miss Blake, or I shall resort to stronger measures, +and also complain to your parents"--a threat which terrified the +unwilling girl into submission. + +Going forward with flushed cheeks and mutinous mouth, she stood before +the triumphant Ada, and said sullenly, "Please accept my apology for +unlady-like language, Miss Irvine. I am sorry I should have degraded +myself and spoken as I did, but" (and here a mischievous light swept +the gloomy cloud from the piquant face and lit it up with an elfish +smile) "you provoked me, and I am very outspoken." + +Ada coloured with anger and vexation; and in spite of her displeasure, +Mrs. Elder found it difficult to repress a smile. + +"That will do," she pronounced coldly; "such an apology is only adding +insult to injury. You will kindly write out twenty times four pages of +French vocabulary, and also remain at the foot of all your classes +during the next fortnight. Go! I am greatly displeased with you, Miss +Blake;" and as the lady-principal waved her hand in token of dismissal, +she frowned angrily, and looked both mortified and indignant. + +Winnie required no second bidding. She drew her slight figure up to +its full height, made her exit with all the dignity of an offended +queen, entered the now deserted dressing-room, and seizing her books, +hurried from the school, and was soon running rapidly down the busy +street. + +"Hallo, Win! what's the row? One would think you had stolen the +giant's seven-league boots," cried a voice from behind. "Did ever I +see a girl dashing along at such a rate!" And turning round, Winnie +saw before her a tall, strapping boy, whose honest, freckled face, +illumined by a broad, friendly grin, shone brightly on her from under a +shock of fiery red hair. + +"I'll bet I know without your telling me," he continued, coming to her +side and removing his heavy load of books from one shoulder to the +other. "Been quarrelling with the lovely Ada, eh?" and he glanced +kindly at the little figure by his side. + +Winnie laughed slightly. "You're about right, Dick," she replied. +"There has been a cat-and-dog fight; only this time the cat's velvety +paws scratched the poor little dog and wounded it sorely." + +"Ah! you went at it tooth and nail, I suppose," Dick said +philosophically; "pity you girls can't indulge in a regular stand-up +fight." And the wild boy began to brandish his arms about as if he +would thoroughly enjoy commencing there and then. + +The quick flush of temper was over now, and the girl's eyes gleamed +mischievously as she replied, "I've a weapon of my own, Dick, fully as +powerful as yours. I'll use my tongue;" and the audacious little minx +smiled saucily into her brother's honest face. + +A hearty roar greeted her words, and Dick almost choked before he +managed to say, "Go it, Win; I'll back you up. Commend me to a woman's +tongue!" And the boy, unable to control his risible faculties, burst +into a hearty laugh, which died away in a chuckle of genuine merriment. + +Richard Blake, or Dick (the name by which he was generally called) was +Winnie's favourite brother, and she almost idolized the big, kindly +fellow, on whom the other members of the family showered ridicule and +contempt. He was a bluff, outspoken lad, with a brave, true heart as +tender and pitiful as a woman's; but, lacking both the capacity for and +inclination to study, he by no means proved a brilliant scholar, and +thus brought down on himself the censure of his masters and the heavy +displeasure of his father. "Hard words break no bones. I daresay I +shall manage through the world somehow," he would say after having +received some cutting remark from an elder brother or sister; and +Winnie, always his stanch friend and advocate, would nod her sunny head +and prophesy confidently, "We shall be proud of you yet, Dick." + +In the meantime they sauntered along, swinging their books and chatting +gaily, till a turn in the road brought them to a quiet square where +handsome dwelling-houses faced each other in sombre grandeur. + +"No. 3 Victoria Square--this way, miss," said Dick, mounting the steps +and ringing the bell violently. + +"What a boy you are!" laughed Winnie, following, and giving her +brother's rough coat a mischievous pull. "Whenever will you learn +sense, Dick?" Then the door opened, and with glad young hearts brother +and sister entered their comfortable home. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +AUNT JUDITH. + +The October night closed in dark and wild. The wind, rising in fierce +gusts, swept along the streets with relentless fury, whirling the cans +on the roofs of the houses, and whistling down the chimneys with +relentless roar; passers-by drew up the collars of their coats and bent +their faces under the pitiless blast; while the rain, falling with its +monotonous splash, splash, added to the gloom and rawness of the night. + +Up and down the platform of one of the principal stations in the town a +lady paced, every now and then peering into the murky darkness, or +waylaying a passing porter to ask when the down-train was due. She was +tall and slender, but the huge bonnet and thick veil which she wore so +effectually concealed her face that it was impossible to make out +whether she was young or old. + +At last a whistle and the loud ringing of the bell proclaimed that the +train was close at hand, and in all the glory of its powerful mechanism +the great locomotive swept into the busy station. The lady, stepping +nearer the edge of the platform, gazed into the windows of the +carriages as the train passed, slackening speed; then with a quick +gesture of recognition went forward and turned the handle of one of the +doors at which a young girl was standing looking wistfully on the many +faces hurrying by. "Nellie Latimer, I am sure," she said in a kind +voice; "'tis a dreary night to bid you welcome. I am your Aunt Judith, +dear," and assisting the girl out of the carriage, she lifted her veil +for a single moment and laid a kiss on the fresh, young cheek. "What +have you in the way of luggage? One trunk. Well, stand here while I +go and find it," saying which she glided away and was lost to view in +the bustling crowd. In a few moments she returned, followed by a +porter bearing the modest, black box; and bidding the young traveller +come with her, left the platform, hailed a cab, and was soon driving +with her tired charge along the wet streets. + +Aunt Judith gazed at the lonely little figure sitting so quietly facing +her, and mentally deciding that, wearied out and home-sick, the child +would naturally be disinclined for conversation, she leaned back on the +carriage cushion and fell into a long train of thought. + +Nellie Latimer was thankful for the silence. She had left her home +early that morning for the purpose of wintering in town with her aunts, +and, as it was the first flight from the parental nest, her heart was +sore with grief and longing. She was the eldest daughter of Dr. +Latimer, a poor country practitioner, whose practice brought him too +limited an income with which to meet the expenses of the large family +of hardy boys and girls growing up around him. He had sent Nellie to +the village school, and when she had mastered all the knowledge to be +gleaned there, endeavoured to instruct her himself; but he could ill +spare the time, and so hailed with feelings of the deepest gratitude a +letter from his eldest sister offering to take Nellie and give her all +the advantages of a town education, "Let the child come, John," she +wrote in her simple, kindly style; "she will help to brighten the +hearts of three old maids, and a young face will be a cheery sight in +our quiet cottage home. She will have a thorough education, and we +shall endeavour to bring her up so that she may be a fitting helpmate +to her mother on her return home." Dr. Latimer showed the letter to +his wife, who read it thankfully. "Your sister is a noble woman, +John," she said brokenly; "let us accept her offer, and may God bless +her." + +Thus it was that Nellie had left the home nest and come to live her +life in the busy town. She knew almost nothing about her aunts, and +had never seen them; for Dr. Latimer dwelt in a far-off country +village, and the distance from it to the city was very great. The +postman would occasionally bring a letter, book, or paper to the +doctor; and every Christmas a hamper filled with choice meats and other +dainties would find its way to the house, showing that the young +nephews and nieces were not forgotten by the aunts they had never seen. +Those "good fairies," as the little children styled them, were three in +number: Aunt Judith, the bread-winner--though how, Nellie as yet did +not know; Aunt Debby, the Martha of the household, hard-working and +practical; and Aunt Margaret, an invalid, seldom able to leave her +couch. + +"I cannot tell you much about them, dear," Mrs. Latimer had said one +night when talking with her eldest daughter over the coming parting. +"They (meaning the aunts) were abroad on account of Aunt Margaret's +health when I first met your father, and did not return home till some +time after our marriage. Aunt Margaret was not any better, and had +settled down into invalid habits, requiring the constant attention and +care of both sisters. Aunt Judith spoke at one time of coming to spend +a few days with us; but Aunt Margaret could not spare her, and so she +never came. Your father says Aunt Judith is a brave, true woman, and +keeps the little household together, besides the many kindnesses she +bestows on us. I trust you will like your aunts, my child, and be +happy with them, even though you are away from us all." + +Nellie had been thinking all this over while the cab was quickly +whirling her along the now deserted thoroughfares, and so deeply had +her mind been occupied with these thoughts that she started in +amazement when the driver drew up before the entrance of a small +cottage, and she saw a bright flood of light streaming out from the +hastily opened door. + +"Here we are, dear," said Aunt Judith's kind voice breaking in on her +reverie; "this is your new home, and there is Aunt Debby waiting to bid +you welcome. Run! I shall follow you immediately." + +Nellie, obeying, hurried up the little gravelled path, and reaching the +door, found herself folded in Aunt Debby's motherly embrace, with Aunt +Debby's arms round her, and Aunt Debby's round, rosy face pressed close +to her own. + +"Dear, dear! to think I should be holding one of John's children to my +heart," said the good lady, wiping away an imaginary tear from her +soft, plump cheek. "There, come in, child, you are thrice welcome. +How strange it all seems, to be sure;" and chatting away, Aunt Debby +led her weary niece into the cosy parlour, where the bright fire and +daintily spread table seemed to whisper of warmth and home comforts. + +"There, sit down, dear, and let me unfasten your cloak," she continued, +placing Nellie on a chair and proceeding to take off her hat with its +well soaked plume. "Dear heart! how the child resembles her father! +John's very eyes and nose, I declare. Well, well, I'm getting an old +woman, and the sight of this fresh, young face warns me of the passing +years." + +"I think, Debby, you should show Nellie her room and let her refresh +herself; there will be ample opportunity for talking to her later on, +and the child is wearied with travelling." + +Aunt Judith, who had just entered, said this in such a kind voice that +it was impossible to take offence, and Miss Deborah, raising her +little, twinkling eyes to her sister's face, replied, "Ah! Judith, I +need you to look after me still.--I have a sad tongue, my dear (to +Nellie), and am apt to chatter when I ought to be silent; come, let me +take you to your room now," and off trotted Aunt Debby with an air of +the utmost importance. + +Nellie followed wearily up the tiny stair with its white matting, and +then paused in glad delight as her guide, throwing open a door on one +side of the landing, ushered her into a small room. It was simply and +plainly furnished, as indeed was everything else in the house; but oh! +the spotless purity of the snowy counterpane and pretty toilets. The +curtains, looped back with crimson ribbon, fell to the ground in +graceful folds. Light sketches and illuminated texts adorned the +delicately tinted walls, and on a small table stood an antique vase +filled with fairest autumn flowers. + +"Are you pleased with your little bedroom, Nellie?" asked Aunt Debby, +noting the girl's look of genuine admiration; "there's not much to be +seen in the way of grandeur, but it's clean," and practical Miss +Deborah emphasized her words by nodding her head vigorously. + +"Pleased, Aunt Debby! Why, everything is beautiful. I never had a +room all to myself before, and this one is simply lovely. How can I +thank you sufficiently for being so good to me?" and there were tears +in Nellie's eyes as she spoke. + +"Nonsense, my dear," replied the kind woman in her brisk, cheery way; +"we are only too pleased to have you with us, and trust you will be +happy here;--now, if my tongue is not off again. There--not another +word; wash your face and hands, child, then come down to the parlour," +and Aunt Debby hurried from the room. + +Nellie found the cold water very refreshing, and made her appearance +downstairs with a much brighter, cleaner countenance. She found Miss +Deborah already seated before the urn, sugaring the cups and adding +cream with a very liberal hand; while Aunt Judith lay back on a low +rocking-chair looking dreamily into the glowing embers. Both started +as the girl entered, and Miss Latimer, rising, placed a chair before +the table and bade Nellie be seated, patting her niece's head gently in +her slow, kindly fashion, ere she sat down herself and prepared to +attend to the young traveller's wants. + +Nellie, though tired and home-sick, felt very hungry, and did ample +justice to the savoury meal, greatly to Aunt Debby's delight; for that +good lady had spared no pains, and had burnt her merry, plump face over +the fire, in order to make the supper a success. + +Neither aunt troubled her niece with questions, but each talked quietly +to the other; and thus left alone, as it were, Nellie found sufficient +time to study both faces, and jot down mentally her opinion of each at +first sight. One glance at Miss Deborah's rounded contour and +twinkling eyes was quite enough; but Miss Latimer's peaceful +countenance fascinated the young girl, and seemed to hold her +spell-bound. Yet, from a critical point of view, Aunt Judith's was not +a pretty face. It was defective in colouring and outline, and there +were lines on the quiet brow and round the patient lips; but the look +in the eyes--Nellie never forgot that look all her life--it seemed as +if Miss Latimer's very soul shone through those dark blue orbs, and +revealed the pure, spiritual nature of the woman. A keen physiognomist +might have traced the words "I have lived and suffered" in the calm, +hushed face with its crown of silver-streaked hair; but Nellie, only a +simple child, merely gazed and wondered what it was that made her think +Aunt Judith's the most beautiful face she had ever seen. + +"Now, dear," said the object of her thoughts, smiling kindly and +turning towards her when the dainty repast was over, "I think we shall +send you to bed, and after a good night's rest you will be refreshed +and ready for school-work to-morrow. Don't trouble removing the +plates, Debby; we shall have worship first, and that will free Nellie." + +Aunt Debby rose from her chair, handed Miss Latimer the old family +Bible, and placing a smaller one in Nellie's lap, reseated herself and +waited for Aunt Judith to begin. + +A chapter slowly and reverently read, a prayer perfect in its childlike +simplicity, then Miss Latimer laid a hand on her niece's shoulder and +bade her "Good-night;" whilst Miss Deborah, lighting a candle, led the +way as before, and after seeing she required no further service, +treated the girl to a hearty embrace, and prepared to depart. + +"A good sleep, child. You'll see Aunt Meg tomorrow; this has been one +of her bad days, but I expect she will be much better in the morning." +These were Aunt Debby's last words, and she bustled away as if fearing +to what extent her tongue might lead her. + +Nellie undressed, jumped into bed, and then, safely muffled under the +warm blankets, cried her homesickness out in the darkness. "O mother, +mother," she sobbed, "how I miss you! it is all so strange and lonely. +What shall I do?" But even as she wailed in her young heart's anguish, +the blankets were gently drawn aside, and a stream of light shining +down revealed the flushed tear-stained face on the pillow, and showed +Aunt Judith's gentle form bending over the sobbing figure. + +"Nellie," she said in that kind voice so peculiarly her own--"Nellie, +my child, I was afraid of this;" and putting her arms round the +trembling girl, she drew the weary head to her breast, and smoothed the +tangled hair with soothing touch. By-and-by the sobs became less +violent, and when they had finally ceased Miss Latimer spoke, and her +kind words were to the lonely heart as dew to the thirsty flowers. + +In after years Nellie found what a precious privilege it was to have a +talk with Aunt Judith; and long after, when the brave, true heart had +ceased to beat, and the quietly-folded hands spoke of a finished work, +she drew from her treasured storehouse the blessed memory of wise, +loving counsels, of grand, beautiful thoughts; and carrying them into +her daily life, endeavoured to make that life "one grand, sweet song." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +WILL YOU HAVE ME FOR A FRIEND? + +"Late again! Winnifred Blake, I am ashamed of you; come, run as fast +as you can;" and scolding herself vigorously, Winnie changed her +leisurely step to a brisk trot which brought her to the schoolhouse +door exactly fifteen minutes after the hour. "Punishment exercise +yesterday, and fine to-day--how horrible!" she broke out again, +entering the empty dressing-room and surveying the array of hats on the +various pegs, all of which seemed to rebuke her tardiness. "Miss Smith +will purse up her lips, and utter some cutting sarcasm of course, but I +don't care," and Winnie, kicking off her boots, pitched them--well, I +don't think she herself knew where. The jacket being next unfastened, +she proceeded to divest herself of her hat, and pulled with such +violence that the elastic snapped and struck her face severely. +Winnie's temper (so Dick declared) resembled nothing so much as a +pop-gun, going off, as it were, with a great bang on the least +provocation. Flinging the offending article to the other side of the +room, and addressing it in anything but complimentary terms, she picked +up her books, shook her shaggy mane over her face, and marched straight +to the large class-room, where the girls were already busy over their +Bible lesson. + +"Half-an-hour late, Miss Blake. You really are improving. Allow me to +remind you of the fine, also of Mrs. Elder's instructions to take the +lowest seat;" and Miss Smith, the senior governess, uttered the words +with withering scorn. + +"Good-morning," replied the culprit, hiding an angry little heart under +a smiling exterior, and slipping her penny into the box on the +teacher's desk; "my sleep was slightly broken last night, and that made +me late." + +Here the girls tittered, and Miss Smith frowned. "Indeed," she +commented haughtily; "pray, does your constitution require a stated +interval of so many hours for sleep _every_ night?" and the governess +laid special stress on the word "every." + +"Well, perhaps not," replied Winnie, coolly sitting down and proceeding +to unfasten her books; "but I always indulge in an extra half hour if I +am disturbed in my slumbers. Broken rest tells sorely on my nervous +system, and renders both myself and others miserable." + +At this point some of the pupils laughed outright, and Miss Smith's +anger rose. + +"Silence!" she said, rising and tapping rapidly on the desk. "Miss +Blake, you are a disgrace to the school. Attend to your lesson, and +let me hear no more rude, impertinent language, or I shall punish you +severely," and the governess treated Winnie to one glance of supreme +contempt as she spoke. + +The child ground her little white teeth together as she gazed on the +teacher's sour-faced visage and listened to the tones of her +high-pitched voice. "Regular crab-apple, and as cross as two sticks," +she muttered, knitting her brow in an angry frown, but smoothing it +hastily and calling up the necessary look of attention as Miss Smith +cast a swift glance in her direction; "how I should like to tell her +every horrid thought in my heart concerning herself. She would be +edified," and at the bare idea Winnie shook so much with suppressed +merriment that the girl next her opened a pair of bright, hazel eyes +and stared in amazement at the audacious child. + +The little mischief caught the look, and returning it with interest +found she was seated beside the new pupil whose advent had occasioned +yesterday's quarrel. There was something very engaging in the frank, +open countenance, and Winnie smiled pleasantly as she met the +astonished gaze. + +"Am I very rude and disobedient?" she asked, or rather whispered +roguishly; "you look so shocked and amazed. Please, don't judge by +first impressions; my bark is worse than my bite, and I can be a very +good girl when I choose. Self-praise is no honour, of course, and I +ought to be silent with regard to my various perfections and +imperfections; but if you wait patiently you will find out that +Winnifred Blake is a most eccentric character, and says and does what +no other person would say or do." + +Nellie Latimer's astonishment increased as she gazed on this (to her) +new specimen of humanity. What a dainty, fairy-like creature she +seemed, and what a mischievous gleam was lurking in the depths of those +great, shining eyes! Nellie felt quite awkward and commonplace in her +presence; however, she managed to say shyly, "I am afraid it is I who +have been rude staring at you so; but I did not mean any harm, only you +are so different from the other girls." + +Winnie gave her an admonishing touch. + +"Hush!" she whispered, "the raven is watching us. I mean Miss Smith," +as Nellie looked bewildered. "We call her that because she is +everlastingly croaking;" and here Winnie, leaning back on her seat, +assumed an expression of childlike innocence and solemnity, and +appeared to be thoroughly interested in the teacher's explanations. + +The lesson proceeded; slowly but surely the hands of the clock moved +steadily forward, and at last pointed to the hour, on which Miss Smith, +rising, closed her book and dismissed the class with evident feelings +of relief. + +"Ten minutes' respite, then heigh-ho for a long spell of grammar, +etc.," cried Winnie, addressing Nellie as they passed into the hall. +"You don't know your lessons to-day of course, and I am so well up in +mine that I shall not be able to answer a single word; so come away +with me to this quiet nook at the end of the passage and let us enjoy a +cosy talk." + +The "quiet nook" referred to was a recess at the hall window, +partitioned off by a drapery of tapestried curtains. It was a +favourite resort of Winnie's, and here the wonderful thoughts, the +outbursts of passion, the mischievous plots and schemes, all found free +course, and many a childish secret could those heavy folds of curtain +have told had they been gifted with tongues wherewith to speak. + +Dismissing the other school-fellows who were gathering round, and +shooting a triumphant glance at Ada Irvine's haughty face, she half +dragged her amused but by no means unwilling companion to the sacred +spot; and when both were comfortably perched on the window niche, she +began eagerly, "Won't you tell me your name and where you live? I am +called Winnifred Mary Blake. I have three big brothers, and a little +one; two sisters older than myself; a cross papa and proud step-mamma. +We live about a mile from here--No. 3 Victoria Square--and I go home to +dinner every day during recess." Having delivered this wonderful +announcement in one breath, Winnie paused and waited for her companion +to speak. + +Nellie smiled as she replied,-- + +"My name is Helen Latimer, and my home is far away in a country +village. I am staying, however, in town with my aunts at present, they +live in a small cottage in Broomhill Road." + +"Broomhill Road!" echoed Winnie doubtfully; "that is not west, I fancy." + +"Oh no, east; I have to take the 'bus, as it is too great a distance to +walk daily." + +"Not an aristocratic locality," Winnie decided mentally, "and Ada +Irvine getting hold of that little fact would use it as a means of +exquisite torture to this new girl's sensitive heart. Poor thing! she +looks so happy and blithe too." Thinking such thoughts, the +mischievous child turned to her companion with a soft, pitying light in +her eyes, and holding out a small flake of a hand, said gently,-- + +"We have not much time at our disposal just now, and I cannot say all I +would wish; but you won't find it all plain sailing at school, Nellie, +and you will be none the worse of having some one to stand by you, so +will you have me for a friend?" + +[Illustration: "Will you have me for a friend?"] + +The quaint gipsy face with its framework of wavy hair; the bright, +sunny countenance and laughing lips; above all, the soft, childish +voice, charmed simple-hearted Nellie, who willingly grasped the hand +extended, with these words, "I shall be only too pleased indeed." So +the compact was sealed--a compact which remained unbroken through the +long months and years that followed. Time and adversity only served to +strengthen the bond, and the gray twilight of life found the friends of +childhood's days friends still. + +"Hark to the bell! are you ready?" asked Winnie, stretching her lazy +little form and rising reluctantly from the cosy corner; "now for a +long, long lecture on subject and predicate, ugh! How I do hate +lessons, to be sure;" and Miss Blake, parting the tapestried curtains, +stepped along the hall with a very mutinous face. + +Nellie having come to school with the fixed determination to make the +most of her time, prepared to listen to the master's instructions with +all due attention; but Winnie's incessant fidgeting and yawning baffled +every attempt, and the ludicrous answers, given with tantalizing +readiness, almost upset her gravity, despite Mr. King's unconcealed +vexation. + +"This is one of her provoking days," whispered a girl, noting Nellie's +puzzled face; "she will tease and annoy each teacher as much as +possible all this afternoon---she always does so when in these moods. +Do not think her stupid, Miss Latimer; as the French master often says, +'It is not lack of ability, but lack of application.' She won't +learn," and Agnes Drummond, one of Winnie's stanchest allies, shook her +head admonishingly at the little dunce as she spoke; but a defiant pout +of the rosy lips was the only answer vouchsafed to the friendly +warning, and the next moment an absurdly glaring error brought down on +Winnie the righteous indignation of her irritated teacher, and resulted +in solitary confinement during recess. + +Sitting alone in the large empty class-room, the poor child burst into +a flood of passionate tears. "It's too bad," she cried rebelliously, +wiping her wet eyes and flinging her book aside with contemptuous +touch. "There, I can't go home now, and we are to have jam pudding to +dinner. Dick will chuckle--horrid boy! and eat my share as well as his +own. I know he will, and I do so love those kind of puddings, +especially when they are made with strawberry jam. Oh dear, how I envy +Alexander Selkirk on his desert island! I am sure he never had any +nasty old lessons to learn, and I think he was very stupid to grumble +over his solitude when he could do every day simply what he pleased. +Well, if I must study, I must; so, here goes," and, drawing the +despised grammar towards her once more, Winnie set herself steadily to +master part of the contents. + +Meanwhile, Nellie, deprived of the companionship of her new friend, was +being sharply catechised by Ada Irvine as to her antecedents and +general history. The girl at first innocently replied to each +question; but after a time she resented the queries, and thereby +incurred that young lady's haughty displeasure, and brought down on +herself the sharp edge of Ada's sarcastic tongue. + +"Not much of a pedigree to boast about, girls," was the final verdict, +given with a slight curl of the lip, signifying unbounded +contempt,--"the grandfather on the one side a farmer, on the other a +draper; the father a poor country doctor; three old maiden aunts living +in one of our commonest localities, keeping no servant, doing their own +work, and dressing like Quakers. It's a wonder to hear Miss Latimer +speak without dropping her h's, or otherwise murdering the Queen's +English, ha, ha!" and Miss Irvine shrugged her elegant shoulders +scornfully. + +"Oh, come, Ada, that is going too far," protested some of the girls, +shocked at the rude words and the cool deliberate manner in which they +were said; but their insolent school-fellow silenced them with an +impatient gesture, as she surveyed the flushed face of her victim and +awaited a reply. + +Nellie felt both hurt and indignant. She had grown up in her quiet, +country home, totally ignorant of the arrogancy and pride so much +abroad in the busy world; and coming to school with the expectancy of +finding pleasant companions and friends, the words struck home to her +heart with a chill. + +"How unkind you are!" she murmured, struggling to suppress the angry +tears; "you have no right to speak so to me. My aunts are not rich, it +is true, and cannot afford to dress so extravagantly as many; but that +does not prevent them from being perfect gentlewomen, does it? Your +own mother cannot be a more thorough lady than my Aunt Judith, I am +sure." + +"Is that so?" said Ada with mocking sarcasm, and the contempt in her +voice was indescribable. "What presumption! the lower classes are +beginning to look up, sure enough." + +"Shame!" cried some of the girls standing near; "you are cruel, Ada." +But at that moment a slim hand touched Nellie's arm, and a merry voice +said soothingly, "Never mind her, Nellie; we all know she is not +responsible for her statements at times. Her brain is a little +defective on one point," and Winnie's great eyes shot a mischievous +glance at Miss Irvine's haughty face. + +"May I ask the reason of your special interference just now?" inquired +Ada, an angry flush deepening the rose-tint on her cheek; "possibly you +wish yesterday's scene to be repeated over again." + +"Oh dear, no," answered Winnie brightly, "home-truths seldom need +repetition; they are not so easily forgotten. But Nellie is my friend, +and I intend to fight her battles as well as my own. Please understand +that once for all, and remember at the same time with what metal you +have to deal.--Come, Nellie, I am free at last," and the spirited +little creature led her weeping school-mate from the room. + +"Didn't I warn you not to expect plain sailing?" she continued with a +knowing look; "and Ada Irvine is a perfect hurricane. She will swoop +down on you at every opportunity, and bluster and blow; but let her +alone and never mind." + +"I wish I had never left home," replied Nellie, dashing her hand across +her eyes and winking away the tear-drops vigorously. "How can girls +say such dreadful things? I can't bear them;" and a fresh burst of +grief followed. + +"Phew!" cried Winnie, giving her an energetic shake, and knitting her +brow in a childish frown, "that's babyish. You'll strike on every rock +and bend before each gale if you talk in such a fashion. Don't be a +fool, Nellie; pluck up some spirit, and show Ada Irvine you're above +her contempt." Winnie spoke as if possessed with all the wisdom of the +ancients, and gave due emphasis to every word. "She and I are always +at what Dick calls 'loggerheads,' and I enjoy an occasional passage of +arms amazingly; only, sometimes I come off second on the field, and +that is not so pleasant. Now," with a pretty coaxing air, "dry your +tears; the hour is almost up, and the bell will be ringing shortly. I +hate to see people crying, I do indeed, so please stop;" and Winnie +eyed the tear-stained countenance of her friend with mingled sympathy +and impatience. + +"I daresay I am very silly," replied Nellie, wiping her eyes and +scrubbing her wet cheeks with startling vehemence; "anyhow I'll stop +now. And thank you for taking my part, Winnie; you'll be a friend +worth having, I am sure of that." + +"Yes," answered the young girl, a strange dreamy smile playing on her +lips, and a soft look gleaming in the mischievous eyes, "I shall be +true as steel;" and Nellie never forgot the earnest light on the +childish face as Winnie made her simple vow. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +A TALK WITH AUNT JUDITH. + +It was evening; the daily routine of work was over, and the time come +for resting and social enjoyment. The ruby curtains were closely drawn +in the cosy parlour at Dingle Cottage; the flames leapt and danced in +the polished grate, and the soft lamplight fell with mellowing gleam +around. Click, click, went Aunt Debby's needles as she sat by the warm +glow, knitting industriously; tick, tick, said the little clock, its +pendulum swinging steadily to and fro. The cat purred in sleepy +content on the rug; and Aunt Judith's gentle voice fell soothingly on +the ear as she read some book aloud from her low seat by Aunt Meg's +couch. + +Nellie, curled up in the rocking-chair opposite Aunt Debby, rocked +herself in lazy comfort, and gazed on her invalid relative with rather +a doubtful expression of countenance. Her first impression of Miss +Margaret was certainly not favourable; for the girl, though not very +keen-sighted, saw how the pale pretty face was marred by lines of +peevish discontent, and the brow continually puckered in a fretful +frown. She was not old, Nellie decided--not much over thirty, at the +very most; but oh, how unlike Aunt Judith! What a contrast there was +betwixt that listless, languid form on the sofa, and the quiet figure +on the low chair near! Nellie turned with a positive sigh of relief to +rest her eyes on Miss Latimer's peaceful countenance and wonder at the +marvellous calm that always brooded there. + +Every now and then some frivolous demand or complaint would come from +the invalid--her pillows required shaking; the fire was too warm; the +lamplight not sufficiently shaded; what a noise Aunt Debby's pins were +making, and could Aunt Judith not read in a lower tone? Nellie was +surprised at Miss Latimer's good-humoured patience, and thoroughly +enjoyed Miss Deborah's occasional tart remarks, thrown out in sheer +desperation. + +"Well, Meg, you would provoke the temper of a saint," she cried, +twitching her wool so violently that the thread snapped, and the ball +rolled under the table; "there you go grumbling from morning till +night, in spite of every endeavour to make you comfortable. Your +nurses have a hard time, I assure you, and are to be pitied sincerely." + +Miss Margaret's eyes filled, and a flood of tears being imminent, Miss +Latimer strove to avert the torrent by saying, "Come, come, Debby; that +is strong language to use. You and I great healthy creatures do not +know what it is to be confined to a couch day after day, and suffer +almost constant pain. I should feel it very hard to be unable to go +about and walk in God's beautiful sunshine, and I think one cannot be +sufficiently tender and patient towards the sick and helpless." + +"Mental pain is harder to bear than physical," quoth practical Miss +Deborah, in no way convinced of her harshness by the gentle speech. +"If one were to have one's choice, I reckon," with strong Yankeeism, "a +headache would be chosen in preference to a heartache," and Aunt Debby +nodded her head knowingly. + +A white, set look crossed Aunt Judith's face, and a shadow crept into +the dark eyes; but they were gone in a moment, and Miss Latimer's lips +wore their own sweet smile as she replied, "God grant you may +experience little of either, Debby; but if you do, trust me you will +find that both bring the richest blessings in their train;" and Aunt +Judith's patient face shone with a glad light as she spoke. + +"Meg has failed to seize her blessings, then," said Miss Deborah +composedly. "No, no, Judith, you are a good woman, but you won't +convince me that Margaret is justified in whining and grumbling to the +extent she does." + +"I need never look for sympathy from you, Debby," broke in the invalid +with a low sob; "you are very hard-hearted, but the day will come when +all those cruel speeches will rise up and condemn you." + +"When?" with provoking gravity. + +"When I am no longer here" (low sobs), "and the cold earth hides me for +ever from your sight." + +"So let it be," retaliated Miss Deborah, coolly proceeding to turn the +heel of her stocking, and speaking quite placidly. "I shall remember +the amount of exasperation I received when that day comes, and be able +to meet the condemnation with becoming fortitude." + +"Debby, Debby," said Miss Latimer's voice reprovingly; but the warning +came too late. A violent fit of hysterics ensued, and Miss Margaret +was borne to her room by the much-enduring sisters, whose services were +both required to quell the outburst and settle her comfortably for the +night. + +Nellie, left alone in the snug parlour, drew her chair closer to the +fire, and lifting the cat from its cosy bed on the rug, allowed it to +curl up comfortably on her lap. "What a fuss," said the girl, +shrugging her shoulders and gazing into the bright, glowing fire. "If +I were Aunt Meg, I should be positively ashamed of myself--peevish, +cross thing that she is. What a contrast to Aunt Judith;" and here +Nellie fell into a fit of musing, which lasted till Miss Deborah came +in with the cloth for supper. + +"How is Aunt Meg now?" she inquired, watching Aunt Debby bustling about +on hospitable thoughts intent. "Is she better?" + +"Well, yes," was the reply, given with a little twinkle of the eye; +"and a good night's rest will work wonders. You must excuse your aunt +this evening, Nellie; she is not always so fretful, and an invalid's +life has its hard times." + +Miss Deborah spoke earnestly, for although she felt justified in saying +a sharp word herself, she could ill brook the idea of any one +disparaging or thinking lightly of her invalid sister. Nellie gave a +slight nod of assent, which seemed to signify approval of Aunt Debby's +words. Nevertheless she retained her own opinion, and mentally +condemned poor Miss Margaret as being both weak and silly. + +Supper over, Miss Deborah retired to the kitchen, where her reign as +queen was undisputed, and Miss Latimer, bidding Nellie bring a small +stool and sit down at her feet, began to stroke the soft hair gently, +and ask questions as to the day's proceedings. + +"Tell me your first impressions, dear child," said the kind voice +pleasantly; and the young girl, whose heart still ached at the +remembrance of Ada Irvine's stinging words, poured forth the whole +story with a force and passion which astonished even herself. + +Aunt Judith listened quietly--so quietly, indeed, that Nellie felt half +ashamed of her vehemence, and imagined she had been making "much ado +about nothing;" but in a few minutes Miss Latimer spoke, and her tones +were very tender as she said:--"So my little Nellie has learned that +school is not the sunny place she fancied it was. Dear child, I think +your new friend gave you very good advice. Don't be a coward, Nellie, +and allow your happiness to be marred by the insolent tongue of a +spoilt girl. Show her a true lady is characterized, not by outward +dress and appearance, but by the innate beauty of heart and soul, and +leave your quiet endurance and pleasant courtesy to speak for +themselves. Dear, it seems to me as if you were just beginning life +now--as if you had but newly entered the lists, and were preparing for +that battle which we have all to fight in this world. The warfare is +seldom, if ever, an easy one, and the little stings of everyday life +are harder to bear than many a heavy trial; but you must determine to +be a brave, true soldier, Nellie, and make your life a grand, noble +one. You may say to me it is easy to speak, but difficult to act, +which I readily grant; but, my child, although the acting may seem +almost impossible, we have one Friend ever able and willing to help us. +If we choose Him in all sincerity of heart for our Captain, we need not +fear to engage in the very thick of the fight." + +Aunt Judith paused; and Nellie, seizing the gentle hand which was +stroking her head with tender touch, said, "You make me think of my +father, auntie; he speaks so often to us just as you are doing now. +Every Sabbath evening, when the little ones are in bed, he gathers us +round him; and after reading a portion of the Bible, he closes the book +and talks in the same way. Oh, I feel so strong and brave while I +listen--I feel as if I could face the heaviest sorrow with all courage; +but when Monday comes my good resolutions vanish, and I find myself +yielding and sinning as before." + +The girl gazed straight at her aunt as she spoke, fearing to see a look +of disapprobation over her weakness; but Miss Latimer's face was as +calm as ever, only the eyes seemed softer and full of such a tender, +loving light as she replied,-- + +"We have most of us the same story to tell, child,--a story of bravery +so long as the battle is far off, but of cowardly shrinking when the +time for hand-to-hand conflict comes. Whilst the sunshine is all +around us and our hearts full of great gladness, we look up and thank +the good Father for his precious blessings, feeling nerved for the +fiercest fight; but when the storm-clouds gather and the golden +brightness is withdrawn, we bow before the blinding tempest and writhe +under our pain, unless--and the kind voice spoke very softly--the +Master has our hearts in his own safe keeping, unless we have learned +to love his will. Then we can discern the bright stars of his love +shining through the darkness, and find that the apparently pitiless +storm has left diamond drops of blessing behind it. Never despair, +Nellie; strive and pray for grace to follow in the Master's footsteps, +and you will learn what a grand, noble thing the consecrated life is, +and how truly worth living. You know those lines of Kingsley's, do you +not?-- + + 'Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever; + _Do_ noble things, not _dream_ them all day long; + And so make life, death, and the vast forever, + One grand sweet song.'" + + +There was a long silence after this, during which Nellie thought +deeply, and Aunt Judith lay back in her chair with quietly-folded hands +and a far-seeing look in her patient eyes. Then the girl said +earnestly, "Aunt Judith, I will try very hard to do my best, I will +indeed; and oh, may I come to you when things go wrong, and I can't or +won't see the right way? It does me good to have a talk with you, and +takes half the home-sickness away. Say yes; please do, dear, dear, +dear auntie;" and Nellie's voice sounded very earnest. + +"I shall be only too glad, my child," replied Miss Latimer with her +rare sweet smile. "Treat me as you would your own mother, dear, and +let me help you so far as I am able; only, Nellie, don't depend on your +own strength or my aid, but go straight to the Fountain-head, and find +the never-failing strength and grace for the needs of every day." + +"Thank you, Aunt Judith," was the fervent response; then Aunt Debby +entered, and the conversation ceased. + +Bedtime came. Nellie retired for the night; Miss Deborah 'followed +suit;' and Miss Latimer, extinguishing the light, crossed the tiny +hall, and opening a door to the left, entered, and closed it softly +behind her. + +This, her private sanctum, was like the other apartments--small and +plainly furnished, but with the same air of neatness and comfort. A +book-case lined one side of the room entirely; a small round table +stood close to the window, bright with autumn flowers; a larger one in +the centre of the room held a desk, and was strown with papers, +magazines, etc.; while soft chairs inviting one to luxurious ease faced +the ruddy hearth, and various little nick-nacks scattered here and +there showed the graceful touch of a woman's hand. + +Going to the centre table, Aunt Judith seated herself before the open +desk, looked over several closely-written sheets of manuscript, and +then furnishing herself with fresh paper, began to write rapidly. + +The fire burned slowly out, and the midnight hour had long sounded ere +Miss Latimer dried her pen and laid aside her work with a tired sigh. +Crossing to the window, she raised the blind, and leaning against the +casement, looked away up at the quiet night sky. There was no moon; +but the happy stars, shining with frosty brightness, kept their silent +watch over the sleeping world. Oh, how still, how very hushed it was! +what a great infinite peace seemed brooding over all--a peace such as +millions of weary souls were longing to possess; not a sound to be +heard, not a ripple of unrest--only that wondrous calm. For a long +time Miss Latimer stood drinking in the sweetness and beauty of the +nature-world, and letting her thoughts soar up, upwards to the great +Father of all, who neither slumbers nor sleeps. What those thoughts +were we do not know; but surely some of that vast peace must have +stolen softly, silently, into her patient heart, for when she turned +away and entered a tiny bedroom leading off from her sanctum, Aunt +Judith's face seemed as it were the face of an angel. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +A FALLEN QUEEN. + +Next morning Nellie set out for school in apparently the best of +spirits, returning Aunt Judith's encouraging smile with one as bright +and hopeful, and shouting a merry farewell as she ran lightly down the +garden path and closed the little gate behind her. + +Arriving fully ten minutes before the hour, she found several of the +girls already assembled in the large class-room, gathered as usual in +knots, and talking gaily to one another. + +"Good-morning," said Agnes Drummond, coming forward and holding out her +hand in a friendly manner. "You are going to be a punctual pupil, Miss +Latimer." And the other scholars, not being overpowered as yet by +Ada's presence, nodded blithely and allowed their new school-mate to +join in the general conversation. + +While girlish tongues were busy and the room was filled with the hum of +merry voices, the great bell rang loudly, and at the same moment Winnie +came rushing in, crying half breathlessly as she did so, "Just in time, +girls; not a minute too soon. Good-morning, everybody. Do I look as +if I had been having a good race?" and she turned her piquant face +round for a general survey. + +"A species of milk-maid bloom," said Ada Irvine, catching the words as +she leisurely entered the room, "which makes you appear more suited to +your friend of the dairy-maid type;" and Miss Irvine looked insolently +at Nellie's fresh bright face as she spoke. The soft tints on the +smooth, rounded cheek deepened, and the girl bit her lip hard to keep +back the angry words. + +Not so Winnie, however. Turning a pair of great, serious eyes on her +haughty school-mate's fair, placid countenance, she said with an air of +prophetic solemnity,-- + +"Ada Irvine, you will yet be rewarded for all your contemptuous +speeches. Mark my words, and see if you don't get smashed up in a +railway accident, or fall a victim to that delightfully disfiguring +disease--small-pox. Serve you right too. Every dog has its day: you +are enjoying yours at present, and can say and do as you please; +but--ugh! I'm disgusted at you," and Winnie "tip-tilted" her little +nose with the most charming grace imaginable. + +Ada smiled loftily. + +"I would not be vulgar, if I were you," she remarked calmly. "I +suppose you learn all those choice proverbs from your aristocratic +brother. Ah, there is Mrs. Elder coming to open the school. Do alter +your expression, my dear; you are regarding me with such loving eyes, I +am sure she will think you are too affectionate," and Ada swept to her +seat with a mocking laugh. + +The lessons commenced, and Nellie, thoroughly prepared, almost forgot +the morning's annoyance in the joy at finding herself slowly rising to +the head of the class, where Miss Irvine sat with all the dignity of an +enthroned queen. + +Ten minutes' respite; then came the English, conducted by Mr. King, the +most thorough and rigid master in the school. A question was asked--a +question calculated to tax severely the skill and ingenuity of the +active brain. Ada hesitated for one moment, then made a fatal blunder; +and Nellie, answering correctly, slipped quietly into the seat of the +deposed sovereign. Winnie's delight was indescribable. One triumphant +glance after another flashed upwards to the fallen queen's angry face, +and her bright eyes fairly danced with wicked joy when, at the close of +the class, Mr. King said a few words of commendation on Miss Latimer's +abilities. + +"Nellie, Nellie! I'm proud of my friend to-day, She's a regular brick, +and deserves any amount of hugging and petting. Oh joy, joy! how did +you manage it, dear? You have taken the wind out of Ada's sails and +gained a feather in your cap, I can assure you. It all seems too good +to be true. The queen dethroned at last!" and Winnie catching Nellie +round the waist, danced her up and down the schoolroom in a regular +madcap whirl. + +"You'll be late for dinner if you don't hurry home at once, Win," said +one of the elder girls, crossing over to the fire and seating herself +by its cheery blaze with a tempting book and box of caramels. "There, +run away and don't waste your precious time in speaking uncharitable +words, dear. Recess will soon be over;" and Elsie Drummond looked +kindly down on the little figure dancing before her with such evident +delight. + +"I'm just going," replied Winnie, stopping to bestow a smile on the +elder girl's pleasant face. "But you can't understand why I am so +happy. You don't belong to our set, and therefore know very little +about Ada's conceit and--yes, I shall say it--priggish ways. She's +just as horrid as can be, and I hate her," wound up the malicious +monkey, quite reckless of the character of her language. + +"Agnes owns rather a sharp tongue, dear, and I hear many a tale from +her," replied Elsie, referring to her younger sister; "but I think, +Win, if you wish to be a true friend to Nellie, you will refrain from +expressing your joy at her success too openly, at least in Ada's +presence. Such unconcealed delight will, believe me, dear, do more +harm than good." + +"Oh, nonsense, Elsie," was the impetuous reply. "I must sing and dance +my joy, it's such a splendid opportunity. Why shouldn't I crow over +the nasty proud thing? She needs somebody to ruffle her, and I can do +that part better than any one else in the school.--You don't mind my +having a little fun, do you, Nellie? she's such a cross-patch, you +know." + +Now, as was quite natural under the circumstances, Nellie did feel not +a little elated over her success. It was a triumph certainly, and +girl-like she found it both palatable and pleasant to rejoice over a +fallen enemy. At the same time, however, she saw the force of Miss +Drummond's caution, and the wisdom of yielding to her advice, so +turning to Winnie she answered gently,-- + +"Please say no more about it; it was all chance, and Ada may gain her +old seat to-morrow again, though I mean to try to prevent her from +doing so." + +But the words were simply wasted on the incorrigible child, who resumed +her fantastic war-dance as she replied,-- + +"No, no; I shall not make any false promise. I mean to be a true, +loyal friend, Nell; but if a nice little malicious speech comes gliding +softly to the very tip of my tongue, I must let the words out, +otherwise there will be choking. Prepare then for sudden squalls," and +with a mischievous laugh Winnie vanished from the room, and was soon +running along the road in the direction of home. + +"The old story--late again," said Dick, looking up from his well-filled +plate as she entered and sat down opposite him at the table. "You'll +never have time to cram down cabinet pudding and tart to-day, I'll be +bound;" and the boy grinned teasingly on the bright face before him. + +"Won't I, though?" answered Winnie, nodding her head blithely, and +eying the contents of the plate brought to her by Jane the parlour-maid +with decided relish. "Don't imagine you'll get my share to-day, Dicky +boy, for I'm as hungry as a hawk. I have something to tell you, +however, so please listen;" and between mouthfuls she told in a +rambling style the story of Nellie's triumph and Ada's defeat, ending +with the following words, "Do you know, Dick, when I saw Ada sitting +below Nellie and looking so crestfallen, I could have risen there and +then and danced for joy before her. Will you believe me, I felt so +glad I could hardly restrain my feet till the hour was up, and whenever +liberty was proclaimed, didn't they go well at the Irish jig! Oh +dear!" and Winnie's face was all aglow as she waited her brother's +commendatory remarks on such behaviour. + +Dick coughed, blew his nose violently, filled out some water into his +glass, quaffed the draught, cleared his throat, and then said gravely, +"I'll tell you what to do, Win. This evening, after we have finished +studying, I'll teach you a splendid double-shuffle which you will +rehearse to-morrow (with added grace, of course,) in front of the +lovely Ada, and before all the class--Mr. King included. My eye, what +glorious fun!" and vulgar Dick looked across at his sister with beaming +face. + +"I dare hardly attempt that," she replied dolefully, "though I should +dearly love doing so. But you see, Dick" (with energy), "Mrs. Elder +detests me so much, and I have been caught in so many faults lately, +that such an awful one as you propose would prove fatal. Your +delightful plan must be abandoned, I am sorry to say." + +"Well, perhaps after all you are right," replied the boy, changing his +teasing tone into a serious one. "I daresay Miss Ada's rage would only +increase in fury if she saw you performing a triumph-dance and +rejoicing so extravagantly over her defeat. I remember a few years ago +something of the same kind occurring in our school, and wasn't there a +blow-up at the end! I was one of the little chaps then, but I managed +to keep my eyes and ears open, and knew more about the whole affair +than any one guessed." + +"Tell me the story, Dick," interrupted Winnie, holding a spoonful of +tart suspended betwixt her mouth and plate, and speaking eagerly; "do, +there's a dear boy." But Dick shook his shaggy head, and answered,-- + +"Not just now, Win. Our time is almost up. Finish your pudding, old +girl, and let us away. By-the-by, don't expect me home till after five +this afternoon;" and the boy's bright face clouded as he made this +statement. + +"Why not?" was the inquiry. "We were going to have such splendid fun +together. Is there anything wrong?" + +"Kept in," uttered in a growling tone. "Lessons as usual badly +prepared--denounced for my stupidity, and ordered to remain after hours +and work up. See what it is to have a dunce of a brother, Win," and +Dick, curling his lip sneeringly, endeavoured to hide his wounded +feelings by putting his hands in his pockets and trying to look +perfectly indifferent. + +Winnie, on her part, burst forth indignantly,-- + +"Not another word against yourself, Richard Blake. I won't listen." +Then coming to her brother's side and slipping two soft arms round his +neck, she raised her eyes with the love-light shining so softly in +them, and murmured tenderly, "Don't be downcast, dear old boy--all will +come right some day; and I am just as stupid as you are." + +"No, no," cried Dick quickly. "Indolence is your fault, Win, not +stupidity. But I--I can't learn, and that's the simple truth. I've +tried over and over again, but it's no good; and, of course," +(doggedly) "no one believes that fact." + +"I do," said the soft little voice. "But, Dick, people don't know you. +There you go," (with quaint gravity) "hiding that great, kind heart of +yours, and showing only a rough exterior. Our father and mother never +guess bow brave and good and true you are. They'll find all that out +some day, however;" and Winnie looked into her brother's honest +freckled face with all the affection of her loyal, little heart. + +"You're a decided goose, Win," was all the answer vouchsafed to her +cheering words, as the boy rose from his chair and prepared to leave +the room; but the twinkle in his eye, and kind, firm pressure of his +hand, when they parted at the street corner, spoke volumes to little +Winnie, and sent her back to school with a happy heart. + +She was very thoughtful all that afternoon, however, and so quiet that +when school was over and the two girls stood on the steps of Mrs. +Elder's Select Establishment, Nellie inquired anxiously if her friend +were ill. + +"Ill!" repeated Winnie with a light laugh; "not I--only, I've been +a-thinking," and a long-drawn sigh accompanied the words. + +"What about?" asked her companion, descending the steps and viewing the +little figure with the great, serious look on its face. "What a +doleful expression, Winnie! You look as if you had, like Atlas, the +whole world on your shoulders." + +"Nellie," interrupted the child--for indeed she seemed little more than +such--with the faintest quiver in her voice, "did you ever think, and +think, and think, till your head seemed bursting, and all your thoughts +got whirled together? No? Ah, well, I have; and somehow when I get +into these moods everything becomes muddled, and I find myself all in a +maze. Oh!" and Winnie spoke with passionate vehemence, "often I would +give I don't know how much to find some one who could understand and +explain away my thoughts." + +"Why not speak to your mother?" asked Nellie, rather surprised at this +new phase in her friend's character; "surely she should be able to help +you." + +But the little girl shook her head despondingly. "No, no, Nellie; my +stepmother is very kind and pretty, but I don't see much of her, and +she would only laugh at me." + +They were strolling leisurely along the street now, and the child's +voice had a plaintive ring in it as she continued: "I was very ill +about a year ago--so ill, Nellie, that I had to lie in bed day after +day for a long time. I can't tell what was wrong with me, but I know +the doctor used to look very grave when he saw me; and one day, after +he had gone away, nurse went about my room crying softly to herself. I +was too weak to care or think, and only wondered dreamily what she was +crying for, till my stepmother entered, and I noticed that her eyes +were red too. They imagined I was sleeping, I suppose, for nurse quite +loudly asked, 'Is there no hope?' O Nellie! I shall never forget that +moment, never so long as I live. I seemed to realize that I was +dying--really, truly dying--and the thought was awful. What would +happen to me after death? I could not, I dared not die. Springing +with sudden strength from the bed, I tried to rush anywhere, screaming, +'Save me! don't let me die!' in the most awful agony. Then came a long +blank. I never forgot that time, but I never spoke of it to any one. +Where was the use? I should only have been laughed at, and told to +think about living, not dying." + +There was something so pathetic in the way all this was told, there was +such an amount of pathos in the quivering voice, that Nellie's heart +ached and the tears rushed to her eyes. + +"Winnie," she began gently, "I know what would do you all the good in +the world--a talk with Aunt Judith. I am sure she would never laugh +away your thoughts or refuse to listen, she is so good and kind; and +when she speaks, one feels as if all one's wicked passions were hushed +away." + +Winnie brightened visibly. + +"Is that so?" she inquired; "then I should dearly like to see her. +Won't you invite me to spend some afternoon with you, Nellie, and allow +me to see Aunt Judith and your cosy wee home?" + +"I shall be only too pleased, Winnie," replied her companion. Then the +two friends parted and went their respective roads--one to a +fashionable home where gaiety reigned supreme and pleasure filled up +every hour; the other to a lowly cottage-dwelling where God's holy name +was hallowed, and the Christ-life showed itself clear and bright in +Aunt Judith's daily walk. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +WINNIE'S HOME. + +That same evening Winnie and Dick were alone together in the oak +parlour; a room sacred to themselves, where they ate, studied, played, +and lived, as it were, a life quite apart from that of the other +inmates of the family, who, occupied with business or domestic duties +through the day, spent evening after evening in a round of gaiety and +amusement. Brother and sister enjoyed little of the society of their +elders during the week, but on Saturdays and Sabbaths they were usually +expected to lunch with their parents--an honour which, I am sorry to +say, neither appreciated; for somehow Dick seldom failed to commit a +gross blunder or make some absurd speech at a critical moment, and +Winnie, though a general favourite, refused to be happy when he was +sternly upbraided for his fault. + +The father, a man of wide culture and refinement, had no patience with +his son's clumsy movements and slow brain, refusing to look under the +surface and see the great loving heart which beat there with its wealth +of warm true affection; while Mrs. Blake and the elder brothers and +sisters regarded him in the light of a good-for-nothing or general +scapegrace. The result was that Dick hid the many sterling qualities +of his nature under a gruff, forbidding exterior, and only +tender-hearted Winnie guessed how he winced and writhed under the +mocking word or light laugh indulged in at his expense. Resenting them +bitterly, she gathered up all the love of her passionate little heart +and showered it on him, idolizing this big brother of hers to such an +extent that even his faults seemed gilded with a halo; and her +affection being equally returned, both found their greatest happiness +in each other's society. + +Oh, what fun they had together in the oak parlour! Oh, the shouts of +ringing laughter and the merry jest of words! Now and then Dick would +bring home with him his special friend, Archie Trollope, and what a +night would follow,--Winnie entering into their games with all the zest +of her tomboy nature. + +She never felt solitary or out of place in the company of these two +boys; and they--why, they looked upon her as one of themselves: Dick +describing her to his numerous companions as being a "tip-top" girl, +and Archie singing her praises loudly to his own sisters who never knew +what it was to join in a madcap frolic, and whose voices were strictly +modulated to society pitch. + +Sometimes, in the long winter evenings, the trio, tired with play, +would lower the gas, and gathering round the large, blazing fire, tell +ghost stories with such thrilling earnestness that often the ghastly +phantoms seemed to merge almost into reality, and they found themselves +starting at a falling cinder or the sound of a footstep in the passage +outside. On those occasions the window-blind was usually drawn up to +the top, that the pale, glimmering moonlight might stream in; and as +the soft silvery beams stole silently into the room and laid their +tremulous light on the young forms and awestruck faces, the flames +leaping and crackling joined in enhancing the effect of the story by +throwing on the walls weird shadows of a moving spectral band. + +But the winter days were yet to come, though the cold autumn winds and +falling leaves heralded their sure approach; and this evening Winnie +and Dick were engaged--not in wandering hand in hand into wonderland, +but in the prosaic occupation of making toffy. + +Winnie, enveloped in one of nurse's huge bib-aprons, stood at a little +distance from the fire, busily studying a book of recipes; while Dick, +his honest face burnt to the colour of a lobster, was bending over a +saucepan and stirring manfully the tempting contents. + +"Yes," said the young lady, laying aside the well-thumbed volume and +taking a step forward, "the quantities are correct. I am sure this +will be excellent toffy, but--Dick, you shocking boy! whatever are you +doing? Licking the spoon, I declare. How very vulgar!" and Winnie +opened her eyes in horrified amazement at her brother's lack of +good-breeding. + +"Well, you see, Win," replied the culprit meekly, "you so often make +mistakes and put in some awful compound that I am obliged to guard +against being poisoned. Having a sincere affection for life, and not +being like Portia 'aweary of this great world,' I consider it my duty +to take all due precautions, and therefore _pardonnez-moi_ for tasting +the toffy." + +The young cook drew her slight figure up and said with an air of +offended dignity, "I flatter myself that I am quite capable of making +excellent toffy, Richard Blake, and am well aware as to the proper +ingredients." + +"Doubtless," with a sweeping bow, "but 'accidents will happen in the +best-regulated families;' and I remember how you substituted salt for +sugar the last time, and apparently never discovered your mistake till +you had dosed me with some of the vile concoction. It was cracking +stuff, I can assure you." Here Dick became thoroughly convulsed at the +remembrance of that disastrous night, and laughed so heartily that +Winnie fled to the rescue of her beloved toffy, and seized the spoon +from her brother's swaying hand. + +"What an object you look!" she said scornfully, stirring the clear +brown liquid and inhaling its savoury odour with intense satisfaction. +"I don't see anything to laugh at;" and she began to hum the tune of an +old nursery rhyme, as if utterly indifferent to both Dick and his +laughter. + +"Don't ape Madame Dignity, Win," gasped the awful boy in an almost +strangled condition; "lofty airs are not becoming to such a little +creature. You know perfectly well what a 'go' it was, and thought I +was about to 'shuffle off this mortal coil.'" Dick had a weakness for +Shakespeare. "Oh dear! when I reflect upon it all and remember the +taste--" but here Winnie was obliged to give in and join in his +merriment, for the boy's face of pretended disgust was too comical to +resist. + +"Dick, you are dreadful!" she said at length, the tears streaming down +her cheeks and her voice still trembling with a lurking suspicion of +laughter. "Will you never forget that eventful night!" + +"Never," replied her brother with mock gravity; "the remembrance is +printed indelibly on the records of my memory, and the taste remains +for ever fresh to my palate. Let us change the conversation, Win; the +subject is too much for my delicate constitution." + +"I am quite agreeable," quoth the young lady composedly, "and in that +case allow your hands to be active and your tongue silent. I want the +tin buttered, and the bottle of vanilla essence brought from the +pantry. Now, do hurry, for the toffy is almost ready." + +Dick obeyed orders, and in a short time the candy was cooling outside +on the window ledge, while brother and sister, comfortably settled in +their respective chairs, were preparing to enjoy a "quiet read." + +"This is a splendid book, Dick," said the little chatterbox, toying +with the leaves of her dainty volume, and glancing at the tasteful +engravings. "All the school-girls are raving about it, and saying how +delightfully interesting the story is." + +"What's the name and who's the author?" inquired Dick, too much +engrossed in his own book of wonderful adventures to give much heed to +his sister's words. "Quick, Win; I'm just killing a whale. Ah! now +they've got him. Bravo!" and the boy shouted his appreciation of the +stirring tale. + +"Oh, the title of the book is 'A Summer's Pleasure;' and the +author--let me see--why--" and Winnie stopped short, her eyes opened to +their widest extent and her rosy lips slightly parted. + +"What's up with the girl?" queried Dick, roused by the little sister's +surprised tone and bewildered expression. "Lot's wife could not have +looked more petrified, I'll be bound. Do satisfy a fellow's curiosity, +Win, and don't sit there mute as a fish." + +Thus admonished, Winnie gave herself a little shake and laughed lightly. + +"No wonder," she said excusingly. "Only think, Dick,--the author of +this book calls herself 'Aunt Judith,' and that is the name of one of +Nellie Latimer's aunts." + +The boy gave a prolonged whistle. + +"Well, you are a little fool," he said politely, "to make such a fuss +about nothing. Dear me, Win, you don't imagine surely that Nellie +Latimer's aunt is the author of that book, simply because her name +happens to be Judith. Why, there are hundreds of Aunt Judiths in the +world;" and philosopher Dick went back to his whales and icebergs in +lofty contempt of his sister's excitement. + +"I daresay I am a goose," laughed Winnie apologetically; "but somehow +it seemed so strange to see 'Aunt Judith' staring at me from the +title-page. Aunt Judith--" and the little girl repeated the name +softly, as if those two words held for her some subtle charm. + +The minutes passed slowly one by one. Dick was away in the far north +fighting the whales, and having wonderful adventures with polar bears; +while Winnie, curled up cosy fashion in the depths of a huge easychair, +was also absorbed in the contents of her book; when the soft +swish-swish of garments was heard coming along the passage, and the +door opened to admit a fair, stately lady, whose silken robe fell in +graceful folds to her feet, and whose arms, neck, and hair glittered +with sparkling jewels. She was followed by two younger ladies, as +richly but more youthfully dressed; and as they entered the room a +delicious perfume distilled itself and wafted all around the sweetest +fragrance. + +"Mamma!" cried Winnie, springing up and gazing admiringly on the +beautiful figure before her; "how pretty you look! Are you going out +to-night again, and Clare and Edith also?" + +"Yes, dear," replied Mrs. Blake in a softly-modulated voice; "we are +all going to the opera, and the carriage is already at the door. I +wished to know, however, why Dick was so late in getting home this +afternoon, and so looked in on you as I was passing." + +Dick, who had barely glanced up at his stepmother's entrance, and then +continued reading, now knit his brow in an angry frown, and seemed +unwilling to answer; while Clare, the elder of the two young ladies, +laughed carelessly as she said, "Our invasion for that purpose was +hardly necessary, I fancy. It is simply the old story over +again--badly-prepared lessons." + +"You're about right there," replied the boy sullenly, never raising his +eyes from the volume before him. "What else could you expect of the +dunce?" and a bitter sneer curled the corners of his lips as he spoke, +while Winnie's warm little heart was all aglow with love and sympathy. + +Mrs. Blake's face assumed an expression of peevish distress. "I am +sure, Dick," she began plaintively, "I do not know what the end of all +this will be. Your father is perfectly disgusted at your indolence and +ashamed of your stupidity." The boy's eyes flashed. "Yes, it is quite +true. I am tired listening to his continual complaints;" and the lady +drew her fleecy wrap round her with an injured air. + +"O mamma," interrupted Winnie eagerly, "you are wronging Dick. He may +not be so clever as Algy and Tom, but he is such a dear, good boy, and +does try ever so hard to learn his lessons. He does indeed; and I +should know best, when I study beside him every night." + +"That's enough, Win," answered her brother doggedly. "I don't care +what they believe;" and the boy, drawing his chair closer to the fire, +gazed angrily into the burning embers. + +"What a respectful speech, and what charming manners!" said Edith +scornfully. "You would grace any drawing-room, Dick.--Come away, +mamma; we shall be late. Papa will soon bring his dutiful son to his +proper senses." + +"Well spoken, Edith," said Mrs. Blake, sweeping indignantly from the +room; "the boy is a perfect boor. I trust he may show more honour to +his father than he has accorded to me." + +The door closed softly behind the unwelcome guests, the light footsteps +died away in the distance, and Winnie and Dick were once more alone in +the little oak parlour, with the dancing firelight playing on their +faces and roguishly deepening the tint on their youthful cheeks. + +Dick's book had dropped from his knees, and was lying with crumpled +leaves on the rug, while the boy, his hands tightly clenched, sat in +moody silence; and Winnie's tender heart ached as she watched him. +Slipping from her chair, she crossed over to his side, and nestling +down, laid her pretty head on his arm, saying with a quiver in her +voice, "Dick, my dear, good boy, don't look like that; I can't bear it. +Oh, why do they say such things to you?" Here the tears forced +themselves into the bright eyes as she spoke. + +Dick gave the fender a vicious kick ere he replied: "I tell you what it +is, Win: one of these days I'll run away. No, no; don't strangle me +and say I won't, for I tell you I _will_. A fellow can't be expected +to stand this sort of thing all his life. I'm sick of it. Hallo! +what's up?" for Winnie's arms were clasped tightly round his neck and +the great tears were running silently down her cheeks. + +"Don't go, Dick, oh, don't go!" she pleaded frantically, half choking +the boy with her violent embraces. "Whatever should I do without you? +Dick, you must not go; only wait, and all will come right in the end. +Promise, promise!" and the little gipsy face looked pitiful in its wild +terror. + +Dick's heart melted. + +"There, there, dry your eyes, you wee goose; I was only teasing you. +Why, what a disconsolate-looking object somebody is!" and laughing his +sister out of her fright, the two sat chatting merrily till bed-time, +when Winnie went away to her own dainty room, and Dick also sought his +den. + +Then, when alone in the darkness, the merriment died out of his face, +and as he lay thinking over his wrongs, real and imaginary, bitter +feelings swept over his heart, and the idle threat began to form itself +into fixed determination. "I would go right off to-night were it not +for Win," he muttered, tossing restlessly on his pillows; "but I guess +she would fret sorely, and--'there's the rub.'" Another Shakespearian +quotation. "Well, well, I'll sleep over it;" and then Dick wandered +into the land of dreams, to be haunted by the vision of a quaint gipsy +face and great pleading eyes--a vision which rose up before him again +and again in after years, when he was out on the great waste of waters, +and the soft moon and shining stars seemed to whisper of home and +loving hearts. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +AN AFTERNOON AT DINGLE COTTAGE. + +One Saturday afternoon, about a week after the events recorded in the +last chapter, Miss Latimer stood at the window of her cosy parlour +looking out into the quiet street with its small semi-detached villas +and cottages, the tiny gardens of which were now strown with the +falling autumn leaves. There was a slight look of expectancy in her +eyes and pleased expression on her face calculated to give any beholder +the idea that Aunt Judith was watching for something or somebody. And +so she was; for Winnifred Blake had gladly accepted the invitation to +spend that afternoon and evening at Dingle Cottage, much to Nellie's +delight; and that young lady, too impatient to await her guest's +arrival, had gone part of the way to meet the expected visitor. + +Aunt Judith, after giving a quick glance round the room to see that +everything had a comfortable, inviting look, resumed her quiet watch, +and for some time the silence of the house was unbroken, save by a +slight sound now and then proceeding from the kitchen, where Aunt +Debby, Martha-like as usual, was busy with domestic work. At last two +figures appeared coming swiftly along the street, and Miss Latimer, +hastening to the door, opened it with words of kindly welcome as Winnie +and Nellie danced (I can use no better word) up the tiny garden path. + +"Come in, dear; I am pleased to see you," she said in her gentle voice, +leading the young guest to Nellie's bedroom, and assisting her to take +off her hat and jacket. "Nellie has spoken so often about you that you +seem no stranger to me, and I am glad to think my niece has gained such +a true, warm-hearted little friend." + +Winnie, surveying the kind face bending over her, smiled at the words, +but seemed to be too much overwhelmed by an unaccountable fit of +shyness to vouchsafe any reply. She kept her usually busy tongue +silent till the three were seated in the snug parlour, when, under the +influence of Miss Latimer's simple, homely manner, she began, as Nellie +expressed it, to thaw, and the fountain once set free produced a play +of bright, sparkling conversation. + +Aunt Judith's nimble fingers plied the needle industriously, and though +she herself said little at first, her thorough enjoyment of the young +people's society was evident from the quiet, amused smile which lurked +round the corners of her lips, and the close attention she gave to the +merry flow of talk. School and school-mates were the two chief themes +of conversation, and if now and again a remark savouring rather +strongly of girlish malice or jealousy fell from either lips, Miss +Latimer wisely made no comment; for she knew what, alas! many pay so +little heed to--that for everything there is a season, and that a word +of admonition thrown in at a wrong time serves rather to harden than +soften the heart. + +"Nellie is getting on splendidly at school, Miss Latimer," announced +Winnie after a long pause. "Ada Irvine cannot call herself the dux any +longer; and I am so glad. It is quite delightful to see her angry, +crestfallen look each time Nellie makes a correct answer;" and Winnie's +face glowed in thorough appreciation of the present state of affairs. +"As for revenge," she continued, "there will be a terrible climax some +day, I am sure. Even now, and this is only the beginning, she cannot +find anything too horrible for herself or the other girls to say about +Nellie." + +"I am sorry to hear that," replied Aunt Judith quietly; "but Nellie +must try to win Ada's love, and not provoke her by any appearance of +triumph or self-esteem. Draw your chairs nearer me, dears, and I will +tell you what happened to me long, long ago when I was a girl;" and +here Miss Latimer smiled on the upturned young faces and commenced her +story. + +There was nothing very exciting in the tale--nothing certainly +bordering on the wonderful--and yet one might have heard a pin fall, so +great was the silence while she spoke. + +Winnie sat quite still, her eyes shining like twin stars, and the whole +expression of her face denoting the most intense interest; while +Nellie, her lips slightly parted as if in expectation, also seemed to +have her attention completely absorbed: for Aunt Judith was a splendid +story-teller, and entered heart and soul into the spirit of her tale. + +Miss Deborah's little bright orbs twinkled when she entered the parlour +with the tea-tray and found how the three were occupied. There was +little heed given to her entrance, and not even a glimpse of pretty +china or a daintily-spread table could tempt the listeners' eyes or +attention from Miss Latimer and her story till the last word was +spoken, when both roused themselves with a sigh of the utmost +satisfaction. + +"Oh, that was splendid!" cried Winnie eagerly. "What a nice +story-teller you make, Miss Latimer; you talk just like a book." Here +Aunt Debby, accidentally, of course, choked slightly. "I could sit and +listen to you for ever,--couldn't you, Nellie?" and Winnie appealed to +her companion for an enforcement of her statement. + +"Scarcely, dear, scarcely," interrupted Aunt Judith, rising from her +chair and advancing to the tea-table; "if you were to hear my stories +often, the novelty would by-and-by wear away. But here is Aunt Debby +with the urn. Let us see what a successful tea-maker she is, and we +can talk more about stories and story-telling afterwards." + +Both girls jumped up obediently, and gathering round the tempting table +the happy party proceeded to enjoy the many goodly things displayed +thereon, and kept up such a merry strain of conversation that the room +rang with laughter; and Aunt Meg, lying in her darkened chamber, +bitterly bewailed her infirmities and the seeming lack of sympathy +vouchsafed to her in her affliction. + +Tea was followed by games and other interesting amusements, all of +which Winnie enjoyed immensely; and then Aunt Judith inquired if she +would like to see an old maid's den. "Nellie has never as yet been +privileged to cross its threshold," she finished laughingly, "so it +will be something new for both of you to inspect." + +With that she led the way and ushered the two girls into her study. + +Both stood for a few minutes silent, glancing round the pretty room so +simply and tastefully furnished; then with a little cry of delight they +sprang towards the bookcase and began to scan the contents eagerly. + +"Why, I declare," cried Winnie excitedly, "here are ever so many books +like the one I have at home just now. They are all by the same author +too.--Miss Latimer," she continued, turning and speaking rapidly, "she +must be a good lady who writes those books. I have only read one of +them, entitled 'A Summer's Pleasure;' but it was beautiful, and I felt +as if I should like, oh _so much_, to talk with the author, and tell +her how earnestly I long to be good, and how I can't." + +Nellie, who had taken one of the pretty volumes into her hand and was +scanning the title-page, looked up at Miss Latimer's face with a +half-incredulous light in her eyes; but Aunt Judith, gazing down on the +little figure before her, failed to catch the puzzled gleam. + +"My child," she said, oh so gently, taking the small white hands and +drawing the young girl to the warm fireside, "your words do my heart +good, and help to repay me for hours of weary labour. You wish to know +the author of those books, dear. You feel you could tell her some of +your deepest longings. What will you say when I confess that she +stands before you--that it is in very truth Aunt Judith who loves +children and sends them through print her best heart-thoughts?" + +Nellie's face at this point was a study; but Winnie cried joyfully,-- + +"I knew it, I knew it! something whispered to me it was you. Oh, Miss +Latimer, I am so glad! Will you lend me one of your dear little books, +and may I love you because you are so good? I wish you were my aunt; I +do indeed," and there was a lonely ache in the girlish voice as she +spoke. + +Miss Latimer laid her hand on the rough curly head. + +"Little Winnie," she said tenderly, "don't you know that love is a +treasure to me? I shall prize your warm, true affection very dearly. +Call me Aunt Judith, my child; and when you read my little books, to +which you are heartily welcome, remember I am speaking simply from my +heart, with the earnest wish to raise your thoughts to the good Father +who made this beautiful world and gave us all things richly to enjoy." + +Words like these had a strange sound to Winnie, and filled her with an +awe-stricken feeling; but she made no reply, only raising herself on +tip-toe she kissed Miss Latimer warmly, and turned her attention to the +bookcase again. At that moment the door-bell rang, and Miss Deborah +announced the arrival of Dick with the carriage to take his sister +home. So once more they re-entered the little parlour where Aunt +Debby, with kind thoughtfulness, had prepared a repast of fruit and +cake, and where Master Blake sat looking decidedly awkward and out of +place in the dainty little room. + +He acknowledged Miss Latimer's greeting with a few unintelligible +words, and seemed altogether to be labouring under some restraint, till +Winnie said with a light laugh,-- + +"For the first time in my life, Dick, I am sorry to see you. Whatever +made you come so soon?" and at the plain-spoken words there was such a +general laugh that the boy's reserve vanished, and--"Richard was +himself again." + +Nellie and he became fast friends, and chatted away pleasantly; while +Winnie, after having partaken plentifully of fruit and cake, went to +put on her hat and jacket under Miss Latimer's escort. + +"May I come again soon?" she inquired naively, looking round the tiny +room with loving eyes; "this is such a dear little house, and you are +all so kind, I should like to spend an afternoon often here." Winnie +seemed very earnest as she spoke. + +"We shall be only too pleased to see you," replied Aunt Judith, smiling +down on the upturned face, and neatly adjusting the tie round the +girl's soft neck. "I love to have young people about me, and it is +good to hear the sound of a blithe young voice." + +Those words amply satisfied Winnie, and after many good-nights had been +exchanged, she and Dick drove homewards, bearing with them two of Aunt +Judith's precious volumes. + +"I say, Win, that's a jolly little house," said the boy as they rolled +along in the darkness. "What a funny, brisk old lady Aunt Debby is! +Did you notice the way she dodged about, and how her front curls shook +and bobbed a regular jig every time she spoke? She puts me in mind of +a little bird peeping out at you from those small twinkling eyes. +She's a rum old customer, sure enough;" and Dick chuckled at the +remembrance of Miss Deborah's round chubby face and crisp chirping +voice. + +"Yes, she is rather queer," assented Winnie musingly; "but I like Miss +Latimer dearly. She is awfully good, Dick; and fancy her being the +author of those books after all. Is it not strange?" + +"Slightly, perhaps; but 'truth is stranger than fiction,' my dear +sister.--By-the-by, I did not notice any Quaker fashion in their dress +to-night. Miss Latimer wore some lace fal-lal about her neck, and Aunt +Debby's cap was a regular flower-garden." Dick was a severe critic on +female attire. + +"That's quite true," replied Winnie; "but if you saw them in the +street, with their long loose cloaks and huge bonnets, you would speak +differently. O Dick, how happy they all seem! don't they? and how cosy +everything looks! Such a contrast to our great big rooms, where you +feel like a--a--" Winnie stopped short for lack of a simile, and her +brother supplied the missing word,-- + +"Pelican in the wilderness. That's it, Win; and you're about right. +Love won't make the pot boil; but money can't buy everything, and I +reckon there's a screw loose somewhere in our home." + +With that there followed a long silence, and Winnie was almost in the +land of dreams when the carriage stopped at No. 3 Victoria Square, and +Dick shouted roguishly in her ear the one word--"Awake!" + +The windows were ablaze with light, and there were sounds of music and +singing as brother and sister, entering the house, wended their way to +the oak parlour and warmed their hands at the cheerful blaze. The gas +was lit, the curtains drawn, the room tidy and inviting-looking; but no +kind motherly face was there to welcome them and ask if the evening had +been a pleasant one. At other times Winnie would not, most probably, +have felt the blank, having been accustomed to such neglect; but coming +straight from Aunt Judith's gentle presence, and with the remembrance +of her loving words and kind voice stirring the lonely little heart, it +struck home to her with a chill. Leaving Dick to his own meditations +she slipped away to the large nursery, where old nurse sat quietly +watching the slumbers of her young charge, Winnie's little step-brother. + +Here at least there was no lack of sympathy or welcome, for dearly did +the faithful servant love her first mistress's children, and bitterly +did she bewail the neglect with which the two youngest were treated. +Kneeling down by her side, Winnie rehearsed the whole history of the +afternoon and evening at Dingle Cottage; and old nurse, listening +intently, did not fail to raise her hands and express due astonishment +at the knowledge of Aunt Judith's authorship. So the young girl was +comforted, and after kissing her little brother lovingly, she rejoined +Dick in the oak parlour, and passed the rest of the evening contentedly +in his society. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +FORGING THE FIRST LINK. + +Autumn, with its sobbing winds and falling leaves, was over now, and +cold, sterile winter reigned supreme all around. Day after day the +chill northern blasts swept over the busy town, bringing with them now +a tempest of blinding sleet, and again showers of softly-falling snow: +rich people wrapped themselves warmly in their furs and velvet; and the +poor, gathering their tattered garments more closely round them, +shivered under the touch of the icy king. But if winter days brought +cold, bleak winds and murky skies, they also brought many pleasures in +their train; and young hearts beat joyfully as the Christmas-tide drew +near, and bright visions of the festive season filled each youthful +mind. + +Winnie especially was in a state of great excitement, for Mrs. Blake +had promised her a party with a real Christmas tree, to which she was +at liberty to invite as many of her school-mates as she chose. One +little trifle alone damped her happiness--namely, the command to +include Ada Irvine in the list of her invitations; and although Winnie +pouted and pleaded her dislike of that young lady, Mrs. Blake remained +firm, and insisted that her injunction should be carried out. "Your +father was formerly on very intimate terms with Mr. Irvine, Winnie, and +I will have no slight or disrespect shown to his daughter; so, either +post her an invitation or abandon the idea of a party altogether." And +when her step-mother spoke in that decided manner, Winnie knew she had +no alternative save to yield. + +"I sincerely trust Ada Irvine will have the good sense to refuse," she +confided to Nellie the day on which the invitations were about to be +issued. "She'll spoil the whole affair it she comes, horrid old thing; +and I did mean it all to be so nice. Ugh! she will surely never +accept," and Winnie's face wore anything but an amiable expression. + +School had not been such a very pleasant place those last few weeks, +and many of the scenes which occurred there were certainly neither +seemly nor instructive. Open warfare reigned between Ada and Winnie, +and the skirmishes were becoming serious as well as disagreeable; for +Winnie, scouting all Nellie's proposals of being patient and winning by +love, made a fiery little adversary, and Ada Irvine's dislike of both +was rapidly deepening into the bitterest hatred--the more so when she +saw Nellie rising gradually in the esteem of both teachers and +scholars: the former being won by her steady attention and modest +behaviour; the latter by the simple, kindly spirit which characterized +all her actions. There was much still to call for patient forbearance +and quiet endurance; but Nellie could see the golden sunlight streaming +through the clouds, and hopefully trusted that by-and-by every dark +shadow would vanish and leave never a trace behind. + +This state of matters was as gall and wormwood to Ada. Nellie's +gradual triumph, and Winnie's malicious delight thereat, roused every +evil passion in her nature; and out of her deadly hatred she meditated +a sure revenge when the opportunity came in her way. What form it +would take she hardly knew; events would shape themselves somehow; and +then--the cold blue eyes glittered ominously at the thought of what she +termed her reckoning-day. + +Many a tender, wistful thought Winnie sent to Miss Latimer, though she +had never managed to visit Dingle Cottage a second time. Her precious +volumes were read and re-read over and over again; and it seemed as it +Aunt Judith's quiet, peaceful face shone forth from every page, and the +soft, kindly voice uttered each loving word and noble thought. Dick +used to protest his utter weariness of Aunt Judith and her books, for +day after day she was quoted to him with never-failing enthusiasm; but +on those occasions when he did give expression to such sentiments, +Winnie merely treated him to a hearty embrace, and pursued the +interesting subject with increased earnestness. In the meantime, +however, her mind was so fully occupied with the forthcoming party that +nothing else was on her lips from morn till eve; and with regard to +Miss Latimer, Dick had peace for a season. + +Oh, what discussions took place in the old oak parlour over the +approaching festivity! How was it to be conducted? What was to be the +programme for the evening? and who were to be included in the list of +invitations? + +"I suppose your friends will be able to dance, Dick?" inquired Winnie +one night when they were sitting together talking as usual about the +great event in prospect. "Mamma says we cannot play games all the +evening." + +"Well, I daresay they can do a hop or two when it's necessary," +answered the boy lazily. "Just you get hold of Archie Trollope and +he'll spin you round and round the room in a twinkle; not very +gracefully, perhaps, but with no lack of energy. He's the boy to do +it;" and Dick laughed as he pictured the charming spectacle with his +mental eye. + +Winnie looked dignified. + +"If he cannot dance properly," she said, with a touch of contempt in +her voice, "most assuredly he will not have the honour of dancing with +me. I have no desire to figure ridiculously in a ball-room," and the +little lady drew herself up proudly as she spoke. + +Dick collapsed. + +"The honour!" he gasped spasmodically--"the honour! My eye! listen to +the princess!" and rolling himself about in convulsions of laughter, +the vulgar boy ended his merriment by tilting over his chair and +landing himself gracefully on the floor. + +"Why not an honour, pray?" inquired Winnie, looking loftily on the +sprawling form at her feet. "Is it not a _great_ privilege for any +gentleman to dance with a lady?" and the indignant child laid special +stress on the word "great." + +Dick rose, and treating her to a sweeping Sir Charles Grandison bow, +replied, "You are right, madam; the honour is inestimable." At this +both laughed, and continued the interrupted conversation. + +"Ada Irvine has accepted her invitation, Dick," was Winnie's next +announcement, given with ominous gravity. "No one ever imagined she +would do so, and all the school-girls are talking about it." + +Dick gave a low whistle. + +"Depend upon it, Win," he said solemnly, "there's something in the +wind. Ada Irvine's not the girl to take such a step without having a +reason for so doing. I guess you and Nellie had better look out for +squalls, for if Miss Ada's not up to some low dodge, my name's not +Richard Blake." + +And even while they were speaking, the subject of their conversation +sat up in her comfortable bedroom at Mrs. Elder's, thinking over the +first link she was about to forge in the long chain of bitter malice +and deceit. She was seated in a low basket-chair before the fire, +making a pretty picture with her long fair hair floating down her back, +and her dainty figure nestling cosily amongst the soft cushions. Her +blue eyes had an absent, far-away look, and the small white hands lying +on her lap were nervously interlaced one with the other. + +"Yes," she muttered in a low, hushed voice, "I shall have my revenge, +though I cannot as yet see the way clearly before me. I hardly know +towards which I bear the greater hatred, but anyhow both will +suffer--Winnifred Blake for her malicious triumph and delight; Nellie +Latimer for her upsetting behaviour and quiet contempt. Oh, how I +detest them both!" and the girl's eyes gleamed angrily. There was a +moment's silence; then she continued, knitting her white brow in a +perplexed frown,--"I wonder how I shall manage? One thing is certain: +I must do my best on Friday night--make a good impression on the Blake +family, and cautiously poison their minds with respect to Nellie +Latimer. People are so credulous in this world, it is wonderful what a +word skilfully thrown in will do, and how very easily it is credited; +but I must be careful, and lay my plans with the greatest caution." + +She spoke all this in a low undertone, as if fearful of being +overheard, and her eyes wandered round the room with an uneasy light +shining in their depths. The fire-flames leaped and crackled, the +pretty room was full of warmth and comfort; yet the girl shivered +violently, and gave a scared glance towards the window as the wind went +wailing round the house like a sobbing child. What gave her that +strange, restless feeling--that weariness of heart? She could hardly +tell; only somehow the world seemed all changed of late, and the +Christmas-tide so close at hand failed to afford the same joy and +gladness it had done heretofore. A great black cloud seemed to be +hiding all the sunshine from her sight; a heavy weight would keep +dragging at her heart-strings, and a continual thirst after revenge +persisted in haunting her every footstep. + +Yet this time was a season of peace and holy joy--a time when hand +should clasp hand with the fervour of warm friendship, and all past +slights and wrongs be blotted out for ever, leaving room for naught in +the heart save the pure Christ-like love which makes this world a +heaven on earth. Night after night, as the Christmas-tide drew near, +the sky spread itself over all--one curtain, of misty blue, studded +with the bright, scintillating twinkle of myriads of happy stars. +Every evening the quiet, peaceful moon shone forth rounder and +mellower; the north wind tempered its cutting blasts and touched the +sleeping earth gently, gently with its icy fingers; and the +frost-sparkles, glistering from lofty steeple and sloping roof, changed +the dingy town to a veritable fairyland. + +At first Nellie had often wondered why Miss Latimer took such an +interest in the outside world, and what beauty she could see in the +busy city with its constant din and bustle. But that was over now, for +she had learned that the nature-world was as an open book to Aunt +Judith--a treasury from which she brought forth gold, silver, and +precious stones, and scattered them throughout the world in the shape +of grand, beautiful thoughts. + +Nellie found life very pleasant just now at the little cottage in +Broomhill Road. Miss Latimer and Aunt Debby vied with each other in +every endeavour to add to her comfort and happiness; while even Aunt +Meg roused herself occasionally from her selfish torpor and tried to +brighten the tiny home. She could gladden it wonderfully when she +chose, for Miss Margaret possessed many pleasing traits of character; +but, alas! she seldom did choose, and, as Miss Deborah quaintly +expressed it, "one had to endure innumerable showers of rain for one +gleam of sunshine." Nellie had become so accustomed, however, to the +invalid's whims and caprices, that she thought little, if at all, about +them, and in the meantime her whole attention was engrossed with +Winnie's party. Miss Latimer had bought her a soft white muslin for +the occasion, and Miss Deborah was busy converting it into the +prettiest party-dress imaginable. The young girl had been at first +slightly dubious about Aunt Debby's dress-making capabilities; but her +doubts were fast disappearing as she watched the gradual progress made +under that lady's skilful fingers, and noted how beautifully and +tastefully the work was done. + +"I am sure no one will have such a pretty dress, Aunt Debby," she said +one afternoon, coming into the parlour and finding Miss Deborah busy +over the dainty garment. "It is so good of you to put yourself to all +this trouble for me, and I shall never be able to thank you as I +ought." Nellie's eyes glistened as she spoke. + +"You will soon find out your mistake, my dear," said Aunt Meg from her +couch by the fire. "I question if one of your friends will be dressed +in so simple and cheap a material. Why, you will be a regular dowdy, +and I told Judith so when she showed me her purchase. She could hardly +have bought a less expensive fabric." + +"Nonsense, Meg," put in Miss Deborah with a displeased frown and rapid +glance at Nellie's amazed countenance; "don't place absurd ideas in the +child's head. You know perfectly well muslin makes a most appropriate +dress for a young girl. I wonder what Judith would say were she to +hear you speak in that manner?" + +"Look like a saint, and preach to Nellie on the vanity and vexation of +the human heart," replied the invalid, who seemed to be decidedly out +of humour. "I am well aware of Judith's style, Debby: that is how she +covers her stinginess," and Miss Margaret gave a little sarcastic laugh +at this point. + +"Hush!" almost shouted Miss Deborah, turning a pair of bright, angry +eyes in the direction of the couch. "How dare you utter such an +untruth? Simply because one of your endless wishes was thwarted. Meg, +I am ashamed of you!" and Aunt Debby resumed her sewing with an air of +heavy displeasure, while the invalid relapsed into sulky silence, the +cause of her ill-humour being Aunt Judith's refusal that morning to +grant her a new dressing-gown. "Wait a little longer, Meg; I can +hardly afford it just now, and your old one still looks pretty and +fresh," had been the quiet answer to the proffered request; but that +was sufficient to upset the invalid's equanimity for the rest of the +day, and no amount of kindness could soothe her wounded feelings. + +Of course Nellie was ignorant of all this. Still, although she did not +believe Miss Margaret's statement in reference to Miss Latimer's +meanness, the words left a sting, and the pretty dress seemed divested +of half its beauty. "Aunt Judith might have purchased something just a +trifle more expensive," was the unuttered thought ever rising to her +lips; but, oh! how her heart reproached her when, on the evening of the +party, Miss Latimer called her into the little sanctum, and, shutting +the door, lifted a small box from the table and proceeded to unfasten +the lock. + +"Aunt Debby has just been showing me your dress, Nellie," she said in +her soft gentle voice, "and now that it is finished I think it very +pretty indeed. I hardly know why, but I have an idea _you_ consider it +too simple for evening wear; and although I am sorry should such be the +case, I cannot agree with you. The dress seems to me quite suitable, +and its charm lies in its very simplicity. A little trinket round the +neck, however, might be an improvement, and so, dear, I am going to +forestall my Christmas present and give it to you now. I suppose you +will value it none the less because I used to wear it long ago in my +girlhood days;" and Miss Latimer, lifting a string of fairest pearls +from the box, clasped them round her niece's neck as she spoke. + +Nellie's breath came quick and fast. + +"O auntie! they are never for me," she gasped excitedly. "They are so +beautiful, and I have been thinking such horrid things." + +Aunt Judith smiled. "I do not blame you, child. It is only natural +such thoughts should crop up; but, Nellie, I am not so very rich, and +cannot afford to be lavish with my money. One never knows what may +happen, and I must needs guard against a rainy day. No, no; not +another reproachful word. I like to see my child look fair and sweet. +Good-night, dear." And kissing her softly. Miss Latimer pushed the +repentant girl from the room with gentle hands. Then closing the door, +she drew a low chair close to the fire, and, as she sat quietly +thinking, the white, set look Nellie had noticed before settled over +the patient face, while the lips quivered and drooped like those of one +in pain. + +What was the mystery in Aunt Judith's life? What suffering had stamped +its refining image on that noble, true face, and bore witness to the +fiery trial through which she had passed? + +Few knew of the life of complete self-renunciation lived out in that +little home--the quiet acceptance and patient bearing of a life-long +sorrow, and the earnest endeavour day after day to follow closely the +Master's footsteps, and live his holy, blameless life. But some day in +the great hereafter, she knew the mystery of suffering would be +explained, and that there what was here sown weeping would be reaped in +joy and gladness; and knowing this, Aunt Judith was content to wait. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE CHRISTMAS PARTY. + +It was the evening of the party. The bustle and confusion which had +reigned throughout the day were now over, and the whole house blazed +with light; while the hall-door, standing hospitably open, seemed to +offer a gracious welcome to the approaching guests. + +"How do I look, Win?" inquired Dick of his sister as they stood +together in the large drawing-room a little apart from the other +members of the family. "This get-up is awful," and the boy looked down +with a gesture of disgust on his elegant evening suit. + +"You'll do beautifully," pronounced Win, pirouetting in front of him, a +blithe little fairy, with soft cloudy dress of glistening fabric. +"Don't look so fierce, dear boy, however, or you will frighten all the +young ladies from your side." + +Dick struggled into his gloves. "Much I care so far as that goes," he +grumbled. "What I wish to know is, why one needs all this war-paint +and tomfoolery. Can a fellow not be allowed to enjoy himself without +dressing up a perfect guy? I feel every seam in my coat splitting, and +I tell you there will be a tremendous explosion soon. Just listen!" +and bending forward, the boy proved the truth of his words as an +ominous crack sounded, and Winnie's dismayed eye caught the glimpse of +a tiny hole in one of the back seams. + +"Be careful," she cried in an awestricken voice; "there is a split, and +you'll make it worse if you wriggle about so. Be a good boy, Dickie, +and try to prove agreeable to every one." + +Saying this, Winnie treated her brother to a charming smile, and then +tripped forward as the first bevy of guests were ushered into the room. + +Dick made a grimace, twisted his neck, and vehemently denounced high +collars and white ties as being decided nuisances; then remembering his +sister's parting injunction, he attempted to call up an angelic smile +to his face, and to make his most polite bow on every necessary +occasion. + +The room began gradually to fill. One after another carriages came and +went, depositing their happy burdens of laughing boys and girls before +the great hall-door, near which some little ragged children were +standing, gazing on the fairy figures and joyous faces, and wondering, +as the wind fluttered their tattered rags, why the world was so +unequally divided--why some should have so much of the good things of +this life, and others apparently so little. Poor, weary, aching +hearts, on whom the burden and heat of the day had already fallen, they +knew not as they watched the carriages come and go, and peeped into the +warm hall all ablaze with light, how assuredly "compensation is twined +with the lot of high and low," and that the loving eye of the Almighty +Father was regarding them with the same tender care he bestowed on +their happier brothers and sisters. They only realized, as the door +closed at last with a loud clang, and they turned away to their +miserable homes, that within that large house there were warmth, light, +and gladness, and that they were shut out from them all. The calm +hushed sky had for them no lessons of faith and peaceful waiting; the +bright stars no tale of an Eye that neither slumbers nor sleeps. They +only knew it was cold, cold, and that life had for them no brightness. +So the little naked figures crept shivering away; and the happy boys +and girls gathered together in the beautiful holly-decked drawing-room +never thought of the dark places of the earth, where the sunshine +rarely penetrates, and young hearts know not what it is to laugh the +glad joyous laugh of happy childhood. + +Dick, who had gathered five of his special friends around him, was +evidently holding a consultation in which he himself played the most +prominent part. The subject under consideration was that of showing +special attention throughout the entire evening to Nellie Latimer, and +of completely ignoring Ada Irvine's presence. + +"Now, comrades," concluded the young orator, as a loud burst of music +warned him that the night's entertainment was about to commence, "I +presume you thoroughly understand me. Not a single hop, remember, with +Miss Irvine, and any amount of polkas and waltzes with Miss Latimer. +The former is one of your stuck-up young ladies, who grow old before +their time; the latter, a tip-top girl like Win. I have told you what +I know concerning both of them; go ahead and prosper, brethren, with my +humble blessing following you." Dick, as he spoke, changed the tragic +attitude he had struck, and assumed one of staid demeanour, which +contrasted comically with his shock of fiery hair, now standing all on +end, as people say, and laughter lurking in his eyes. + +The boys, however, entered heartily into the spirit of his scheme, and +replied, "You are our leader. Forward then; light the first match, and +we will follow the train,"--whereat they all shook hands and indulged +in a low chuckle of glee. + +At that moment a pretty, gloved hand touched Dick's arm, and Edith +Blake's clear, flute-like voice said, "We are forming sets for the +lancers, Dick, and you must dance. Mamma requests you to choose Miss +Irvine for your partner, so please go and ask her at once." + +The boy's eyes flashed mischievously. "You bet I shall," he replied +with alacrity; and crossing the room, he stood before Nellie, saying in +his most genial tones, "May I have the pleasure, Miss Latimer?" + +The young girl looked up with a happy smile. "Certainly," she said, +rising and slipping her hand within his arm; "the music is splendid, +and I am so fond of dancing." + +"That's right," answered Dick, leading her into the centre of the room, +and vastly enjoying the indignant glances of his step-mother and Edith. +"I like a hop myself at times, so I guess we'll get on well +together.--Now then, gentlemen, bow to your partners;" and as he +concluded, the wild boy swept Nellie the most profound bow, and started +off through the first figure with more energy than grace. + +His friends, true to their promise, had all chosen partners, the sets +were formed, the music floating through the room, and still Ada Irvine +remained in her seat, fair, sweet, and smiling to the outward view, but +with a world of angry passion surging in her heart. As she sat +watching the merry boys and girls winding joyously through the mazy +dance, Mrs. Blake came forward, and, sitting down by her side, +proceeded to question her about her parents and their movements abroad; +and Ada answered each query in a pretty, graceful manner infinitely +charming. Then school and school-life were touched upon. Had Miss +Irvine many friends in town? Did she not often feel very lonely? and +why could she never come and spend an afternoon with Winnie? These and +other questions being asked, the first drop of poison was instilled +with the skill and caution of an adept hand. + +"Winnie and she had been very good friends once, before Nellie +Latimer's appearance on the scene, but since then a misunderstanding +had arisen and the friendship had been broken up. Was Miss Latimer an +amiable girl? Winnie seemed very much attached to her. Ada would +rather not commit herself, but certainly Nellie's position was not such +as to justify her in being Winnie's chosen friend. Her family were +poor, very poor indeed; her aunts eccentric, winning their own bread, +doing their own work, and living in a common locality." + +All this, however, was told with much reluctance (at least apparently +so) and the earnest endeavour to tone down disagreeable parts. Mrs. +Blake was charmed, and wondered how Winnie could prefer a fresh, +countrified-looking girl to the sweet, amiable creature Miss Irvine +appeared to be. As she sat pondering over these things in her heart, +Ada's low voice broke again on her ear. + +"Mrs. Blake," she pleaded, "kindly do not betray my confidence. I +never meant to tell you anything about myself, and Winnie would hate me +were she to discover that I had prejudiced you against her friend; +indeed I am very sorry I spoke." + +A true, noble woman would have scorned to condemn any one on account of +lowly origin and humble rank in life; but Mrs. Blake was a woman of the +world--proud, arrogant, and haughty. She took little interest in her +younger step-children; they were allowed to live pretty much their own +lives and follow their own desires; but still there were some things +that must be checked, and this friendship with a low-born girl was one +of them. + +Turning to her young guest with a swift, bright smile, she replied +sweetly, "Do not apologize, my dear; I am only too glad to have +received your information in time. I had no idea Miss Latimer's +friends were in the position you speak of. Had that been the case, +certainly she would not have been here to-night. Winnie is allowed no +small amount of liberty, but close companionship with a girl so much +her inferior will not be countenanced for a moment. You need not fear, +however, my betraying your confidence; and I trust soon to see you and +my wilful little step-daughter fast friends once more." + +As she spoke Mrs. Blake rose and moved gracefully away, leaving Ada +with a bevy of laughing girls, who came flocking towards her as the +music ceased. + +"Did you enjoy our dance, Nellie?" inquired Dick, wiping his warm +forehead and glancing with ludicrous dismay at the rents in his once +spotless gloves. "I thought it all tip-top." + +"Splendid," replied Nellie decidedly; "and you really managed to get +through the figures wonderfully well." + +The boy's amazed countenance was amusing. + +"I managed to get through the figures wonderfully well!" he reiterated +in astonishment. "Why, Nellie, I am an accomplished dancer" (with mock +solemnity), "and have been so since the days when I was a little thing. +You should see me at the Highland fling and sword-dance. My eye! I go +at them well," and Dick's legs began to shuffle about as if they +desired to commence the performance. + +Nellie laughed. "Forgive me," she said pleasantly. "I did not mean +any disparagement; only boys, as a rule, do not care about dancing, and +you seemed somehow to enjoy it all so thoroughly." + +"That I did" (with emphasis), "but--hallo, Archie! is it really you?" +as a boy passed his side at that moment. "Allow me to introduce you to +Miss Latimer.--Here, Nellie, is the very partner for you; he will dance +you off your feet in a few minutes," and Dick, hurrying away, left the +two young people regarding each other with looks of rather comical +dismay. + +After that, the evening fled by all too quickly for Nellie, to whom +every moment was fraught with the purest pleasure. Dick saw she had no +lack of partners, and constituted himself her guardian for the night, +greatly to Mrs. Blake's annoyance and Winnie's satisfaction. The +former could find no means of laying any more commands on him, for the +boy mischievously eluded her every attempt to cross his path, and +failed most provokingly to catch her eye when a convenient season +presented itself for so doing. Nellie, with true appreciation of his +kindness, thanked him warmly in her innocent heart, and thought she had +never spent such a pleasant evening. There was never a cloud to darken +her enjoyment or dim the brightness of her happy face. Mrs. Blake's +studied avoidance passed by unnoticed, as also the haughty looks of +Winnie's elder sisters; and even Ada Irvine's calm, contemptuous face +failed to ruffle her joyous spirit. + +Long years afterwards she liked to look back on that evening of +thorough, uninterrupted enjoyment, when she could say in all sincerity +and truth, "I was happy;" when she danced with what seemed to be winged +feet, and the smile of gladness was ever on her lips. Closing her eyes +softly, she could see it all again--the large holly-decked +drawing-room, with its blazing lights and bevy of merry boys and girls; +Winnie's little figure flitting here and there--her flushed cheeks and +great starry eyes; Dick's honest freckled face and kindly smile; and +the beautiful, stately hostess, who moved in the midst of them all with +the dignity of a queen. + +The Christmas tree was a great success, the presents being pretty and +appropriate. Winnie smiled her delight over a dainty long-wished-for +work-box; Dick chuckled at the splendid pair of skates now in his +possession; Ada looked gratified when a lovely fan was handed down to +her; and Nellie was speechless over a pretty morocco purse. + +"It has been all so splendid, Winnie dear," she whispered when +good-nights were being exchanged; "just like fairyland. I have enjoyed +myself wonderfully. And now be sure and come soon to Dingle Cottage; +you will have plenty of time during the holidays, and Aunt Judith is +wearying to see you." + +"I'll be only too glad, Nell," replied her friend, kissing her warmly; +"but I must get mamma's permission first.--Dick, see Nellie safely into +the cab." Then the carriage rolled away, and the wonderful Christmas +party was over. + +"I think," said Winnie, coming into the large diningroom after the last +guest had departed, and finding her brother (alas that I should have to +confess it!) prowling round the table and surreptitiously pocketing +something from every tempting dish he saw thereon, "we have had a +beautiful night, and I am sure the party has been a decided success." + +"So far as the food is concerned it has," answered the boy, regarding +the good things heaped before him with a loving eye. "I say, Win, do +let us have a tuck in at this soufflé here; we shall never see it after +to-night, and it is such prime stuff." + +Winnie laughed. "You'll require to hurry then, Dick," she replied; +"the servants will be here in a few minutes." So the two young +gourmands sat down and commenced a second supper ere the lights were +put out and the mandate issued--"Go to bed." + +For a few seconds nothing was said, both being too busily engaged with +the contents of their plates to join in any conversation; but at last +Dick poised his spoon in the air and commenced in a serio-comic tone,-- + +"I guess we shall have to pay for our evil deeds this evening. I saw +the storm-warning hoisted on our step-mother's face all night, so look +out for squalls." + +"Whatever do you mean?" inquired Winnie, glancing up from her plate +with an innocent look. "I do not understand you, my dear boy." + +"Oh, do you not?" replied the dear boy, mimicking her tones, and +twisting his amiable countenance into an altogether indescribable +expression. "Do you imagine your conduct towards the lovely Ada was +not observed and commented upon by our mother and stuck-up sisters? If +so, pray rid yourself at once of such a delusion, for I tell you, Win, +there's a storm looming in the distance for you and for me." + +Winnie pouted. + +"So be it!" she cried defiantly; "I don't care. I am no hypocrite, +Dick, and must act as I feel. I did not wish Ada to come to our party. +I hate her with my whole heart, and I believe in just letting her see +such is the case." + +Dick ran his hand through his shock of hair, and opened his eyes as +widely as he possibly could. "My word, we're waxing eloquent," he +observed approvingly. "Go it, little sister; you're doing first-rate;" +and he helped himself liberally to another supply of soufflé as he +spoke. + +"What a tease you are!" said Winnie, pushing aside her plate with a +gesture of petulance; "you know I am in earnest, not in fun." + +"True, my queen" (with a mock bow), "therefore I shall no longer +descend to vulgar jesting. But seriously, Win, I tell you frankly the +mother is awfully angry at us. You did not study her face, perhaps, +but I watched closely, and saw a regular thunder-cloud on her brow all +night. How could it be otherwise, when she noticed your steady +avoidance of her favourite and my open rudeness?" + +"I enjoyed your open rudeness vastly, Dick," interrupted the girl, with +a twinkle sparkling in her eye and a mischievous smile on her lip. "I +could have hugged you every time you danced with Nellie, and when I saw +you trooping your boys up to her. Why, she was quite a belle amongst +you all." + +"Yes; I flatter myself we trotted her out very well, and the fellows +all agree she is good fun. But oh, what a dodging I had to manage my +point! Every few minutes I descried the mother bearing down upon me, +and was obliged to skeedaddle." Dick's language never was remarkable +for elegance. + +"Well, I am not the least wee bit sorry for my behaviour," said Winnie, +rising as she heard the sound of approaching footsteps; "and if I am to +get a scolding I must just get it. You'll be able to console me when +it is over, will you not? Meantime I intend to forget it all in sleep, +so--good-night, Dick;" and the little fairy, in her soft, airy +garments, waved him a tiny kiss as she vanished from the room and +hurried to her own pretty apartment. + +Dick, with his well-filled pockets, retired also; the servants +entering, closed the shutters and put out the lights; the feeble fire +flickered for a little, then died slowly, and deep, unbroken slumber +settled over all. + +Meanwhile, outside in the quiet night the snow was falling softly, +silently--wrapping the sleeping earth in a pure, unsullied +winding-sheet, and covering the church steeples with its feathery +flakes. Hush! hush! how silently, yet how quickly, the snow showers +fell. Slowly the hours passed by. Morning stealing in swept back the +clouds of night and darkness, and the sun, peeping through with his +warm, genial ray, shone down with a light which grew brighter and +brighter as the world wakened up and the merry Christmas bells sent +their happy chimes pealing through the frosty air. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +GATHERING CLOUDS. + +Rough, rumpled hair, two soft eyes drowned in tears, flushed, angry +cheeks and pouting lips, was the picture which met Dick's view one +morning when he entered the oak parlour two days after the eventful +party. Christmas had passed by pleasantly and tranquilly for both +children. They had had the regular Christmas dinner--turkey, +mince-pies, plum-pudding, etc.--and the afternoon and evening had been +filled with youthful pleasure and amusement. Sabbath also was calm and +peaceful, so calm, indeed, that Winnie began to think their fears were +groundless, and Mrs. Blake's annoyance a mere myth; but Dick, more +suspicious, decided it was only the lull before the storm, and on the +Monday he found his suspicions verified. The hurricane burst, and +resulted in a forlorn little maiden bathed in tears, and a boy whose +heart burned within him at the remembrance of cruel words and unjust +accusations. + +"I say, Win," he cried, coming forward into the room and leaning his +elbows on the table with careless disregard to elegance of attitude, +"what a miserable object you look! for all the world like a drowned +rat. Can't you dry those weeping eyes and speak to a fellow for a few +minutes? It is dreadful being treated to a regular shower-bath in this +cold weather," and Dick tried to conjure up the faintest glimmer of a +smile to the dolorous countenance. + +Winnie wailed: "O Dick, I was so happy; and now everything is wrong. +Mamma says she is very much displeased with me, and--" but here sobs +choked the little plaintive voice, and rendered the latter part of the +sentence quite unintelligible. + +Her brother's lips curled. + +"Win," he said impressively, "you're a good little creature, and the +mother is fond of you. In a few days she will forget all this +annoyance, and things will go on with you as smoothly as before; but I +am different. I shall never be able to blot out of my heart the words +the governor" (Dick's usual name for his father) "said to me this +morning,--never so long as I live. It was not only about this +affair--that I could have stood--but he raked up all my sins and +shortcomings from the days when I was a little boy, and heaped them, +one after the other, on the top of my devoted head. I was bad, stupid, +and awkward--the disgrace of the school, and the butt of my companions. +He was perfectly ashamed of me, and so on." Dick's eyes were flaming. +"But I tell you, Win, what it is: the crisis has come, and I'll do +something desperate." + +His sister's tears overflowed again. "I hate crying, I do indeed," she +said, scrubbing her cheeks viciously at every fresh outburst; "but the +nasty little trickly drops will come. Dick, dear old boy, I'm sorry +for you; will you not be sorry for me too? Just listen: I am never to +have Nellie for my friend again. She must never come here, and I must +never go and see Aunt Judith any more." + +Dick looked up in amazement. "Why not, Win? What has all that to do +with your conduct towards Ada?" + +"I don't know," with another quiver of the lips. "Mamma spoke about +Nellie first, asking where she lived, and if her aunts worked in any +way. Of course I told her simply what I knew, and then she said all +our friendship must end now; she would never have allowed Nellie to be +invited to our party had she known so much about her before." + +"But dear me, Win," interrupted the boy impatiently, "the mother +consented when you asked to spend that afternoon at Dingle Cottage some +time ago. Why should she turn round and condemn the friendship now?" + +"Oh, I can explain that easily. Mamma was hurrying to go out with +Clare and Edith when I begged permission, and said yes without making +any inquiries; but she scarcely spoke to Nellie on Friday evening, and +I cannot understand what has made her so angry all at once." + +"Did she say anything against Nellie personally?" + +"No; but she is not in my position in life, and I must not make a +friend and confidante of her. We may speak at school of course, but +that is all," and Winnie's grief burst out afresh at this point. + +Dick meditated. + +"I wonder," he said at length, a slow light dawning in his eyes, "if +Ada Irvine can have been putting the mother up to this? It would be +quite in keeping with some of her low dodges." + +Winnie shook her head. "I thought so myself at first, but mamma led me +to believe otherwise. She says Ada is such a sweet, amiable girl, and +much more suitable in every way than Nellie for a friend. I fired up +at that, however, and declared I hated Ada, adding she was a sneak, and +did horrible things at school." + +"Oh, you would give her true character to the mother, I have no doubt," +put in Dick with twinkling eyes; "but the question is, 'What was the +effect?'" + +"'I was prejudiced--and no one is faultless in this world.'" + +A short period of silence followed, during which Winnie wept copiously, +and Dick sat beating a tattoo on the table. + +"You'll soon have no eyes left," he observed practically, as the little +drenched handkerchief was again brought into use to wipe away the +flowing tears. "Cheer up, Win, old girl, and don't look as if your +grandmother had died half an hour ago." + +"But you do not know the worst of it yet, Dick," cried the girl, +raising her tear-stained face and speaking in heart-breaking tones. "I +promised Nellie I would come and spend one afternoon with her during +the holidays, and now I can't get. Oh! I wish so much to go." + +"Then do so," replied Dick doggedly. "There's no great harm in that; +and after all, what reward does one receive for being conscientious and +obedient?" + +His sister looked aghast. "I dare not," she whispered; "mamma would be +so angry. And yet--if I might go only this once." + +Dick being in anything but a filial mood said decidedly, "There's no +use in whining and moaning, Win. You can spend Wednesday afternoon at +Dingle Cottage if you wish, without any one in the house finding that +out. Edith and Clare are away from home; Algy and Tom never trouble +about us; and both the mother and governor will be spending that entire +day with the Harveys at Springfield. As for nurse and the servants, +I'll manage them." + +"Let me think," replied Winnie. She leaned forward towards the table, +drooped her head slowly on her little white hands, and then the +struggle began--the struggle between good and evil, between the paths +of right and wrong. + +"Just this once," she murmured yearningly--"only this once;" and as she +strove and wrestled inwardly, it seemed as if two figures stole +silently to her side and stood with earnest eyes watching the weary +battle. "I'll never do it again," she muttered, "but--only to say +good-bye;" and at this the dark figure smiled triumphantly, while the +white, spotless one listened with saddening eyes. + +This was no mean struggle in which Winnie was engaged. Many a one had +fallen under a lesser temptation; for a visit to Aunt Judith meant +much, oh so much, to her. There was something in the atmosphere of +Dingle Cottage that raised the young girl to a loftier, purer standard; +something that made her yearn after what was good and holy, and stirred +up the childish heart to reach after the things which belong unto our +peace. She would never feel so again. How could she, when there was +none to guide her in the paths of right--none to tell how she might +weave a golden sunshine into her life, and leave lingering tracks of +light behind her? All these thoughts passed through her childish brain +as she sat with low bowed head and aching heart, thinking and +struggling, oh so wearily. At length the contest was ended; and +turning to Dick with a look of firm determination on her face, Winnie +said briefly, "I will go." So the struggle was over, and the dark +figure reigned triumphant, while the white-robed one stole weeping away. + +"Write and let Nellie know then," replied Dick, preparing to leave the +room. "I am going off to skate with Archie Trollope, and can post your +letter on my way to the pond if you choose." + +Winnie opened her desk--a birthday gift--and her heart smote her as she +wrote in a crude, girlish hand:-- + + +"_December 27th, 18--_. + +"MY DEAR NELLIE,--I shall come and spend Wednesday afternoon with you +all at Dingle Cottage. If suitable, do not trouble replying to this +scribble.-- + +Your loving friend, + WINNIE M. BLAKE." + + +"There," she said, sealing the envelope and handing it to her brother, +"I have written; and you--you will come for me at night, Dick." + +"Of course I shall, Win," answered the boy, looking down with wistful, +loving eyes on his favourite sister, "and we shall have a jolly time +for once. Put all gloomy thoughts aside, old girl, and let us be happy +while we may." With that he treated her to a rough, hearty embrace, +making teasing remarks at the same time about boiled gooseberry eyes +and swollen lids; then giving one parting hug, marched out of the room, +and a few minutes after the loud clanging of the hall-door intimated +that Master Richard Blake had gone out for the day. + +The afternoon was spent by Winnie in driving with her step-mother, who +tried in many pleasant ways to atone for the morning's harshness; and +so well did she succeed that the little girl's heart ached sorely and +quailed at the remembrance of the deceit she was practising. But, she +would never do it again, no, never again, and only this once could not +be such a very great sin. + +So the time passed, and Wednesday came at last, a true winter's day, +with snow-mantled earth and keen, hard frost. + +"Don't be late in coming for me, Dick," was Winnie's parting +injunction, as he saw her safely into the 'bus. "I shall expect you +soon after tea." And the boy promised. + +The little sister looked after him as he strode briskly away. "What a +dear, kind brother he is!" she murmured lovingly. "How should I manage +without him? Good old Dick. He is all the world to me." And the boy, +tramping along the slippery streets with giant steps, was +muttering--"Poor Win! she will fret very much at first, and I shall +miss her sorely; but it can't be helped--I must run away." + +Meanwhile the 'bus, whirling rapidly through the busy streets, stopped +in due time at Broomhill Road, and Winnie, alighting with flushed, +expectant face, found Nellie awaiting her eagerly. + +"How good of you to come, dear! and how pretty you look!" she said, +kissing her little guest affectionately. "I was so pleased to get your +note on Monday evening." + +"You cannot guess how glad I am to be here, Nellie," replied Winnie +simply, slipping her hand through her friend's arm as they walked +rapidly along the quiet road. "Your home seems like an Eden to me, and +spending a few hours with you all there one of my greatest pleasures." + +After this both tongues went merrily till Dingle Cottage was reached, +and Winnie stood once more in the snug parlour, listening to the hearty +welcomes which fell so pleasantly on her ears. The tiny home wore its +usual air of cosy comfort, and the faces of its inmates seemed +positively to shine with happiness and content. Aunt Debby's chubby +countenance was all aglow, and Aunt Meg's peevish visage, having +apparently caught the reflex of her smile, looked very fair and sweet +as the invalid turned it brightly towards the youthful visitor. + +"A thousand welcomes, child!" cried Miss Deborah delightedly, drawing +Winnie to her ample bosom, and treating the girl to a hearty hug (the +word, though not eloquent, is singularly expressive); "it is good to +see your pretty face again. This is Aunt Meg," pointing to the +invalid. "I do not think you have ever met her before." Then Winnie +was obliged to cross over to the sofa and shake the thin white hand +that looked so small and fragile. + +"Is your brother coming for you at night, dear?" inquired Miss Latimer, +turning from her seat by the window and giving the young guest a +tender, loving glance in answer to a certain wistful look cast in her +direction. + +"Oh yes; he promised," replied Winnie assuredly. Then with a little +burst of vehemence--"Dear Aunt Judith, I wish to enjoy myself so very, +very much to-day, and be ever so happy." + +All looked startled at the passion in the girl's voice, with the +exception of Aunt Debby, who viewed everything in a practical light. + +"So, so! very good indeed," she said, knitting industriously, and with +added vigour. "We'll do our best to gratify your wish, child; and one +ought to be specially happy at this season of the year, I suppose." + +The talk then became general, and Aunt Meg, laying aside her fretful +voice for the time being, wakened up and became the life of the small +party, chatting in such a pretty, graceful manner, and seeming +altogether so full of animation, that Winnie wondered if this could +really be the cross, peevish invalid Nellie had so often described. +Ere long, however, she learned that appearances are sometimes +deceitful, and that a gentle face and plaintive air can often be +assumed as occasion warrants. It so happened that just as Miss Deborah +was preparing to see about the tea the postman's knock sounded at the +door, and one of the dear home-letters was handed to Nellie. + +"Please excuse me," she said to Winnie, breaking the seal and +commencing to read; "the children have been ill with scarlet fever, and +I am anxious to know if they are better." + +The sheets were large and closely written, consequently some little +time was spent over them; but at length the last word was read, and +then Nellie, replacing the letter in its envelope, said with a happy +smile, "Mother writes the little ones are improving daily, and she +thinks they will soon be quite well. She sends you all her love, and +is glad to hear Aunt Meg is feeling so much stronger. She hopes, if +the improvement continues, to see either you, Aunt Judith, or Aunt +Debby home with me in the summer-time." + +The invalid's face darkened, and Miss Deborah's merry orbs twinkled +ominously. Nothing suited Miss Margaret better than to pose as a +saintly sufferer, burdened day by day with a weary load of +never-ceasing pain. It was wonderfully pleasant at times to assume the +_rôle_ of the patient martyr, and talk of lonely days and nights borne +without murmuring. But once hint at any visible improvement, once +mention an increase of colour on the pallid cheeks or a clearer light +in the dimmed eyes, and Aunt Meg's wrath knew no bounds. Having +fathomed this secret in the invalid's nature, we can readily understand +the twinkle lurking in Aunt Debby's orbs as she scented the coming +storm. + +"Who told you I was feeling better, Nellie?" demanded Miss Margaret; +and Winnie started at the anger in the voice, only a few minutes since +so soft and gentle. "Who gave you authority to utter--to write such a +falsehood? Better!" (with infinite scorn), "and my poor frame racked +with such excruciating pain. Do you imagine, because a load is borne +with unmurmuring patience, that the weight is gradually lessening and +the burden will soon be lifted? Answer me at once. Who dared to tell +you I was much stronger?" + +Nellie's amazement was extreme, but she replied quietly, while Winnie +sat by Miss Latimer's side, every fibre of her mischievous nature +quivering with thorough enjoyment. "I only said what I believed to be +true, Aunt Meg. You have been looking better, and I heard Aunt Judith +telling a lady the other week that there was a very marked improvement +lately, and that she was thankful to be able to say so." + +Miss Margaret cast a withering glance at Miss Latimer's quiet face. + +"That is all in a piece with the rest of Judith's stinginess," she +observed sneeringly. "I know only too well why she speaks of being +thankful. Were I to regain my wonted strength, there would naturally +be less nourishing food required and fewer doctor's bills. Oh! I only +wish I could honestly say I feel a daily increase of health; but, alas! +the very thought of being a heavy burden and viewed in the light of a +constant nuisance helps to weaken and keep me low." + +At this point Nellie drew Winnie towards the window and tried to engage +her in conversation; while Aunt Debby, lowering her voice, muttered, +audibly enough, however, for the girls to hear, "Don't make a fool of +yourself, Meg, and talk such utter rubbish." + +The invalid's rage increased, and she was about to make some rejoinder, +when Miss Latimer interposed. "Hush, Margaret," said the quiet, gentle +voice; "for my sake do not speak so before the children. You know +perfectly well, dear, you are wilfully misinterpreting my words. I am +only too happy to be able to gladden your life in any way." + +But the invalid refused to be pacified. + +"Ah! I understand you, Judith. You do not wish to have your true +character exposed to the public. It suits you to pose as the saint +abroad, I suppose, and--" but here Miss Latimer interrupted her. + +"Margaret," she replied firmly, "you must either be silent or leave the +room. I cannot listen to such conversation in the presence of our +guest; and if you refuse to comply one way or the other, I shall be +obliged to send the girls into my study." + +"Oh no! not at all," returned Aunt Meg, her voice suddenly assuming the +most plaintive, martyr-like tone; "the house does not belong to +me.--Debby, will you assist me to my bedroom? and--no, Judith, I could +not think of troubling you; but perhaps Nellie would help her poor aunt +for once." + +Now all this time Winnie had been enjoying the tragic scene immensely, +and shaking inwardly with suppressed laughter, greatly to Nellie's +distress. + +"Oh, be quiet, Win; she will hear you," whispered the girl hurriedly, +as a low ripple of laughter was hastily smothered by a mock cough. But +the warning came too late. Aunt Meg caught the choking sound and in a +moment the saintly expression on her face gave place to one of intense +rage and indignation. This sudden transformation was too much for +Winnie's risible faculties. The whole affair struck her in such a +comical light that she lost all control over herself, and, with a wild +burst of stifled laughter fled hastily from the parlour to Nellie's +bedroom, where that young lady quickly followed. + +"Close the door--close the door, Nell!" gasped Winnie, holding her +handkerchief to her mouth and vainly endeavouring to suppress the +laughter. "I know it's dreadfully wicked to behave in this manner, but +I can't help myself," and off the child went again; while Nellie, +unable to resist, joined in the merry peal. When both stopped at +length, the tears were running down their cheeks, at the sight of which +Winnie nearly repeated the performance. "This is awful," she panted, +wiping her eyes and fanning her hot cheeks violently; "but when I begin +to laugh I must just continue till I have emptied all the laughter out +of me: then I am all right. No, Nellie, do not go away yet; wait till +I am quite calm." + +Before Nellie could reply, Aunt Debby opened the door, and looking in +shook her head admonishingly. "I should like to know if you are not +both ashamed of yourselves," she said severely; but there was laughter +lurking in her eyes and playing about the corners of her lips which +belied the severity of her words. Winnie jumped up, and throwing her +arms round the good lady's neck, replied, "I have been very rude and +naughty, dear Miss Deborah; but indeed I did not mean any harm," and +she held up her rosy mouth for a kiss of pardon. + +"There, there, it's all right, child. I understand. Come down to the +parlour now; tea is ready." And with that, active, cheery Aunt Debby +trotted away, leaving the two culprits to follow at their leisure. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +"IT IS SO HARD TO SAY GOOD-BYE." + +When Nellie and Winnie re-entered the parlour they found the table +spread, Aunt Debby seated as usual before the urn, and Miss Latimer +standing by the window gazing up at the murky sky, where the leaden +clouds predicted a gathering snowstorm. Winnie ran up to her. "Aunt +Judith," she said humbly, "I am very much ashamed of myself; please +forgive me." + +Miss Latimer patted the upraised face, and the pained look died out of +her eyes. "Never mind, child," she replied pleasantly; "it is all +right. I understand" (as the girl still looked anxious); "I know you +had no thought of grieving us." + +So the subject was dropped, and once more they gathered round the +simple board whereon every dainty was displayed with such charming +taste. There, tongues loosened and the merry chatting recommenced, +while Winnie's spirits rose wonderfully. Putting from her with a +strong determined will every sad thought and the burden of grief so new +for her to bear, she laughed and talked, the gayest of the +gay--speaking in her own quaint style, and laughing her own clear +ripple of silvery laughter. + +After tea Miss Latimer called her into the cosy study, and bidding her +seat herself snugly, she said: "Aunt Debby requires Nellie's assistance +for a short time at present, so you will have to endure an old maid's +company meanwhile; but before we settle ourselves to enjoy a nice, cosy +chat, I wish you to accept a Christmas gift from me. It is my latest +work, and I only received the first copies yesterday. I have written +your name on the title-page, and I think, dear, you will value the +little volume for my sake." As she spoke Aunt Judith handed a small +book, beautifully bound in blue and gold, to her young visitor, who +received it at first in speechless silence. She looked at the pretty +volume--the elegant binding and clear, bold type; then with a great cry +flung herself down by Miss Latimer's side and sobbed out, "Oh, I love +you so, you are so kind to me; and it is so hard to say good-bye." + +Aunt Judith seemed amazed. "I do not understand you, child," she said +simply. "What do you mean? Try to calm yourself and explain, dear." + +Then between sobs the story of a child's grief was laid before Miss +Latimer, and told with such a depth of pathos that the listener's soft +womanly heart ached in response to the plaintive tale. + +"And your mother does not know you are here to-day, Winnie?" she +inquired when the sad little voice had ceased. "You had no permission +from her to come?" + +The girl shook her head. "I suppose I am very disobedient," was the +simple answer; "but, Aunt Judith, the temptation was too hard to +resist. I felt I must see you all again, even though it was only to +say good-bye." + +Miss Latimer sighed. "You must not come any more, dear, never after +to-night--at least not until your mother gives her full, free consent. +You think all this very hard, little Winnie, but you do not know how +deeply I feel about it also. You had stolen into my heart, child, and +I was beginning to find your love very sweet and precious--not that I +shall love you less or cease to care for you, but all this pleasant +social intercourse must end now. Nay, do not grieve so, darling. It +is all very dark and perplexing to you at present perhaps; but rest +assured God has some beautiful lessons for us to learn--lessons that +will give us a glimpse of, and may yet prove as stepping-stones to, +that higher life which is the only life worth living." + +Winnie sighed despairingly. "Aunt Judith," she said, raising a pair of +wet eyes full of a child's agony to the listener's face, "I shall never +be good now. You do not know the pleasure it has been to me to come +here, or the strange thoughts that fill my heart when I see how happy +you all are in this dear little home. Somehow God seems very near +here, Aunt Judith, and the Christ-life you talk about so beautiful, I +go away determined to try to lead it too--to be good, brave, and true. +But that is all over now; for oh! no one in my home speaks of God and +heaven, or talks softly of Jesus and his love, and I can't be good if +none will stretch out a helping hand and show me the way." + +Miss Latimer drew the little quivering figure closer in her embrace as +she answered, "Don't say that, child, don't say that. A human friend +often leads astray--God never. We must not rest our entire confidence +on human guides, or lean altogether on earthly props, but, holding out +our hands to the great Father above, with all the simplicity of little +children, leave ourselves unreservedly in his keeping. Sometimes the +way is dark--so dark, dear" (and the gentle voice faltered for a +moment), "sometimes the path proves rugged and steep; but, little +Winnie,-- + + 'The easy path in the lowlands hath little of grand or new, + But a toilsome ascent leads on to a wide and glorious view; + Peopled and warm is the valley, lonely and chill the height, + But the peak that is nearer the storm cloud is nearer + the stars of light.' + +And so, dear, in the time of shadow rest in the hollow of God's hand, +and Christ himself will help you to lead his own perfect life." + +The conversation at this point being interrupted by the arrival of +Dick, Miss Latimer found no opportunity of renewing it that evening; +but while Winnie, who had once more dashed the tears from her eyes with +a child's abandonment of grief, was busily engaged with Miss Deborah +and Nellie, she drew the boy aside, and with his aid was able to gather +together the scattered threads of his sister's disconnected story. + +Dick could not very well understand how, but there was something about +Aunt Judith which seemed to inspire confidence; and although Miss +Latimer with delicate tact retrained from asking more than was +absolutely necessary, the boy found himself laying bare his heart quite +unintentionally, and ended by confessing his determination to run away +to sea. "I must go," he finished doggedly; "I can't stand this kind of +life any longer, and--I won't." + +Miss Latimer looked very grave. + +"I have no right to interfere, Dick," she said quietly, "and perhaps I +should scarcely have listened to your story; but from what has been +told me and my own eyes have seen, I thought Winnie's brother one who +would scorn to do a cowardly, dishonourable action." + +The boy looked amazed at the strong, emphatic language; while Aunt +Judith, nothing daunted, continued,-- + +"Yes, it is perfectly true, Dick. You see I do not fear to speak as I +think, and such a course as you purpose pursuing seems to me both mean +and sinful. Running away--stealing out of your father's house like a +thief in the night; try to picture it fully, clearly to yourself, and +then let me hear your verdict once again. You talk of always having +longed for a sailor's life; you speak about the great attraction of the +sea. Well, that in itself is good; but why go forth to it in the way +you are contemplating? Have you ever spoken to your father on the +subject?" + +"Never," replied Dick; "but my step-mother and sisters knew all about +it." + +"And what was their verdict?" + +"Laughter, and the information that I was too great a stupid to be a +sailor." The boy's tones were very bitter. + +Miss Latimer scanned the honest, open face, and replied,-- + +"Well, Dick, we hardly know each other yet, and it may be you will +denounce me as an interfering old maid; but if I may proffer my advice, +I would say, Lay your heart bare before your father, tell him simply +what your desire is; and if after that he says 'Go,' then God's +blessing follow you, my dear boy." + +She rose as she spoke, and crossing the room joined the group chatting +so pleasantly together, while Dick remained quietly in his seat. But +there sprang up in the boy's heart that night a pure, holy feeling of +respect, almost amounting to veneration, for all women who, like Miss +Latimer, kept their garments white and unsullied in this evil world, +and stood up so bravely in the cause of truth and right. He never +forgot the soft, tender voice or the warm pressure of the hand as she +reasoned with him; but thinking it all over in the still night-hush, he +determined to win her approbation, and carve out for himself a noble +life. + +The evening passed by very rapidly for both Winnie and Dick, and at +length it was time to say good-bye. + +Nellie and Miss Deborah, being still in ignorance as to the course +events had taken, wondered at the child's low sob when Miss Latimer +kissed her, and marvelled even more at her strange conduct in running +down the garden path immediately after, without pausing to bid one and +all her usual merry good-night. But the explanation was soon made; and +then Aunt Debby's indignation blazed forth, while Nellie listened in +simple amazement to the strange tale. + +"The very idea, Judith!" gasped the good lady, shaking her head with +such vehemence that all the little curls in front danced and coquetted +with one another; "just as if we would contaminate the child, or were +so very much her inferiors. Dear heart! I declare the news has given +me quite a turn--it is so absurd." + +"I think we had better drop the subject altogether, Debby," replied +Miss Latimer. "Nellie, I know, will respect her aunts' wishes, and act +as we think best.--Will you not, my child?" + +"Of course, auntie," murmured Nellie faintly; "but I don't quite +understand. Why could Winnie come here with full permission one day +and be forbidden the next? I know," she continued bitterly--"at least +it is not Ada Irvine's fault if I do not--that I am very much Winnie's +inferior in many ways; but still Mrs. Blake knew all that before." +Here Nellie burst into tears, for she was only human, and wounded pride +and vanity mingled with genuine grief at the loss of her friend. + +"Comfort her yourself, Judith," muttered Aunt Debby, meditating a rapid +exit to the kitchen. "If I begin, I shall be sure to be saying +something spiteful and wicked, for my temper is at boiling-point just +now," and with that the good lady disappeared to the humbler regions, +there to vent her indignation in violent washing up of unoffending cups +and saucers. + +Meanwhile Nellie had her evening talk, but for once it failed to soothe +her wounded feelings; and when she lay down on her soft warm bed, she +carried with her bitter, angry thoughts which chased the slumber from +her eyes and the rest from her heart. She could not understand why +Mrs. Blake should put an end so suddenly to her intimacy with Winnie; +and Aunt Judith either could not or would not throw one single ray of +light on the subject. The whole story would leak out at school, and +what a time would follow! Nellie writhed inwardly at the awful +prospect, and wept bitterly, till at length, thoroughly worn out, she +fell fast asleep, and the silent passing hours ushered in the dawn of +another new day. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +"I ALWAYS SPEAK AS I THINK." + +The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and +pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's +Select Establishment for Young Ladies. A few scholars still remained +absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' +ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of +Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of +sunlight in the dingy school-room. "Confined to the house through +indisposition," Mrs. Elder explained to each anxious inquirer after the +tiny favourite. "Nothing serious; only a cold caught during +holiday-time." But the days passed by, and still no Winnie appeared. + +Nellie had never seen or heard of her since that night at Dingle +Cottage when they had laughed so heartily together over poor Aunt Meg +and her infirmities; and she felt the separation keenly. At first the +other school-mates plied her with questions regarding Winnie's absence, +all of which she was unable to answer or parry successfully; and so by +degrees, and the help of Ada's sarcastic tongue, the secret oozed out, +and Nellie's star paled accordingly. The poisoned shaft of +carefully-veiled words struck home with new power: there was no Winnie +to whom to turn for sympathy, and so the old cross had to be taken up +again and carried day after day. Some of the girls sided sensibly with +Nellie, and tried to make school-life pleasant to her; but they were +unfortunately in the minority, and often got snubbed and censured by +the others for their kindness. + +One afternoon, however, as Nellie was wending her way home from school, +a hand was laid on her shoulder, while an honest, kindly voice said +suddenly in her ear, "Well, it is good to get a peep at you again, +Nell. How are you?" and Dick's freckled face shone down on the rosy +one by his side. + +The girl looked up with a happy smile. "O Dick!" she gasped; and then +it seemed as if words failed her, and she stood simply holding his +hand, and gazing with such genuine happiness into his eyes that the boy +laughed outright. + +"What's up, Nell?" he inquired teasingly. "I declare such evident +admiration makes me feel quite bashful." + +Nellie gave a little soft smile. "Don't be a tease, Dick," she said; +"I am only so pleased to see you and hear about Winnie." + +Dick placed his hand on his heart and bowed. "The pleasure is mutual," +he began; but receiving an energetic shake of the arm he continued, +"Oh, Win will soon be all right. She's been croaking like a raven for +the last fortnight or so, but is almost well now." + +"When did she catch cold?" + +Dick lowered his voice. "Coming home that night from Dingle Cottage. +We missed the 'bus--walked--and Win caught a chill." + +"Was she very ill?" + +"Oh no; but the doctor would not allow her to go out or even run from +one room to the other, so she has been cooped up in the oak parlour all +this time." + +"Tell her I am very sorry, and she is to accept my dear love. Will +you, Dick?" and Nellie looked pleadingly up in the boy's kindly face. + +"That I shall" (with emphasis). "And, here, I may as well give you a +piece of information, Nell. This is Wednesday--on Saturday afternoon I +sail for Calcutta." + +Nellie stared. "What do you mean?" she cried in bewilderment. + +"Precisely what I say, my dear girl," replied the wild boy, vastly +enjoying her amazement. "Perhaps you'll never see me any more, so do a +little weep--no, not here," as Nellie out of mischief slipped her hand +into her pocket; "we should have a crowd round us in no time if you +did, but in the--ahem!--privacy of your own room;" and Dick's eyes +sparkled. + +"Calcutta! Does that mean you are going to be a sailor after all? O +Dick, have you gained your wish at last? I am so glad for your sake." + +Human sympathy is very sweet. Dick's face beamed as he answered, "Yes, +Nell; the governor has given his consent. It was not so very difficult +to obtain after all" (a trifle sarcastically), "therefore I'm off on +Saturday." + +"What is Winnie saying to all this?" + +The boy's face saddened a little. + +"Win's a brick," he replied enthusiastically; "she never says anything +about herself, but talks of all the different countries I shall see, +and hopes no harm will befall me. Dear little Win!" Dick's voice was +very tender as he spoke. + +A silence followed, then the boy held out his hand. "Well, Nell, I +must say good-bye now. I'm on an errand of importance, and dare not +delay. Don't quite forget me, and be good to Winnie. There--ta-ta!" +and away sped Dick before Nellie had time to utter a single word. + +About two hours afterwards he re-entered his own home, and made +straight for the oak parlour, chuckling to himself at the thought of +Winnie's delight when he told her his conversation with Nellie. But +disappointments sometimes accompany our enjoyments, and Dick's bright +anticipations of a quiet hour with his favourite sister received a +decided check; for on nearing the door, which was slightly ajar, he +heard the murmur of voices, and peering in cautiously saw, to his great +dismay, Mrs. Blake and Winnie entertaining no less honourable a visitor +than Miss Irvine. Dick smiled derisively at the tones of the +carefully-modulated voice, and ground his strong, white teeth on +detecting the malicious spite lurking under pretty sentences full of +apparent kindliness. + +"I must apologize, Winnie, for not calling and inquiring after your +health before this," Ada was saying as Dick approached; "but I have +been assuming the _rôle_ of an invalid myself lately, and Mrs. Elder +would not allow me to venture out of doors till I was thoroughly +convalescent." + +Mrs. Blake looked affectionately at her young visitor. "I did not know +you were unwell, my dear. Are you quite recovered now?" + +"Yes, thank you; but there was not very much wrong with me, dear Mrs. +Blake, only a slight touch of cold in the throat. Mrs. Elder is so +careful, however, I am sure I owe her a debt of gratitude I shall never +be able to repay." Then turning to Winnie, Ada continued with a pretty +show of anxiety, "I was very sorry to hear of your illness, Win. How +did you manage to catch such a severe cold?" + +"That is what I cannot tell," interrupted Mrs. Blake, feeling inclined +to shake her naughty little step-daughter for her sullen behaviour +towards this amiable young visitor. "I happened to be from home one +day during the Christmas holidays, and on my return found Winnie +coughing dreadfully and quite fevered with cold." + +Ada meditated a few seconds. "I wonder," she said at length, in slow, +deliberate tones, "if your illness dated from that afternoon you spent +at Dingle Cottage almost a month ago? I was visiting an old woman, a +former _nurse_ of mine, who lives in the house opposite, that same day, +and remember perfectly seeing you and Miss Latimer standing together at +one of the windows." + +"Surely you must have been mistaken, my dear. Winnie never visits at +Dingle Cottage now," Mrs. Blake interposed unconsciously. + +"Perhaps, but I hardly think so. However" (with a look of the utmost +innocence), "Winnie will be able to solve that riddle," and the +spiteful girl turned towards her sick friend and awaited the reply. + +Winnie's cheeks were burning, and the great eyes full of a withering +contempt. Raising them calmly to her visitor's placid face, and +without a trembling of the proud young lips, she answered +quietly,--"Your surmise was correct, Ada. I did spend an afternoon +lately at Dingle Cottage; and I am afraid, as you so kindly hinted +before, that my cold dated from that night." + +Mrs. Blake was angry, very angry indeed, but too well bred to show her +annoyance before her visitor. She changed the subject with ready tact, +and made a most fascinating hostess; while Winnie sat in dead silence, +with a great scowl disfiguring her pretty face, and Dick danced his +displeasure on the door-mat. + +After a short time Ada rose to leave, and holding out a daintily-gloved +hand to her sullen companion, said sweetly, "Good-bye, Winnie. I trust +you will soon be better; and if I can possibly find leisure for another +visit, rest assured I shall drop in on you some day soon." + +"Pray, don't," replied Winnie, wilfully disregarding her step-mother's +look of heavy displeasure. "Your visit has not afforded me such a vast +amount of pleasure that I could wish its repetition at an early date. +We never were friends, Ada" (with ungoverned passion), "never so long +as I can remember. You hate me, and I--I detest you; why, then, will +you persist in assuming a friendship that has no foundation?" + +Dick's war-dance continued with greater vigour at this point, while +Mrs. Blake in haughtiest tones said to Winnie, "How dare you insult +Miss Irvine in this manner? Apologize at once, I command you." + +Ada's face, as she turned it towards her hostess, wore a sweet, patient +look, with just the tiniest flicker of pain about the curves of the +perfect lips. "Please, do not blame Winnie too severely, Mrs. Blake," +she pleaded mildly; "her words are to some extent true, but I--" and +the lids drooped slowly over the lovely eyes, while a faint flush +tinged the delicate cheeks--"I was trying to turn over a new leaf and +gain Winnie's love." + +"My eye, what a cram!" muttered Dick from behind the door. "Oh, but +she acts the hypocrite capitally. Now then for Win's happy reply. It +will be both sweet and original, I prophesy, for the little monkey is +bristling all over like an insulted hedgehog. Here goes!" and the +boy's ear was once more applied cautiously to the keyhole. + +Winnie had risen by this time, and was confronting her adversary with a +look almost capable of annihilating a less daring foe than Ada Irvine. +Quite undaunted by the fear of future punishment, and recognizing only +the great wrong this girl was doing her, she said, "I think you are a +female Judas, Ada, and your true character will come to light some day. +I know--" but Winnie got frightened at the awful look in Mrs. Blake's +eyes, and stopped short, while Ada took refuge in tears. + +"Come away, my dear," said her hostess, leading her gently from the +room; "Winnie is not herself today. When the child is in a passion her +language is uncontrollable; but I shall see she sends you a proper +apology for her rudeness." + +Dick heard no more, having to slip away at that moment and hide behind +one of the statues in the passage during the exit of his step-mother +with the weeping Niobe; but when the sound of their footsteps had died +away in the distance, he rushed into the oak parlour, and seizing +Winnie round the waist, treated her to several convulsive hugs and +various exclamations of supreme delight. + +"Well, old girl, you did the thing first-rate," he panted, throwing +himself into a chair and rubbing his hands vigorously together. "You +deserve to be commended, Win. Dear heart, as Aunt Debby says, what a +tongue somebody has!" + +"I don't care," pouted Winnie, endeavouring to straighten her sash, +which Dick had been using as a handle during the hugging process; "I +only said what was true, and would repeat it all over again if she +cared to listen." + +"Bravo! what a hard heart the girl possesses! Cold as an icicle, too, +not to melt under the influence of such dewy tears shed +from--ahem!--'sweetest eyes were ever seen.'" + +"Crocodile tears!" (with scorn.) "I don't know how she managed to +squeeze them up. I never saw Ada Irvine weep before. As for +apologizing, I won't, no matter what happens." + +"Perhaps your gentle friend had an onion hidden within the folds of +her--_mouchoir_. See how nicely I can speak French. You remember, in +the story of Beauty and the Beast, how the wicked sisters rubbed their +eyes with onions to 'pretend' they were weeping." Dick's eyes were +dancing as he spoke. + +Winnie's indignation, however, would admit of no reply, and she sat +silently, like a little bird with its plumage all ruffled; while her +brother, stretched lazily opposite, gazed on the angry face and +soliloquized accordingly. + + "Alas for the rarity + Of Christian charity," + +quoth the incorrigible boy. "Come, Win, be magnanimous for once and +forgive. Think what it would be to bask continually in the sunshine of +the lovely Ada's smiles. But there--poor little bird! did I stroke its +pretty feathers all the wrong way, and make it very cross?" + +How much more Dick would have said remains a mystery, for Mrs. Blake +interrupted the interesting conversation by her entrance, and commanded +him to leave the room. + +"I'll take possession of the door-mat once again," he decided, giving +Winnie an encouraging look as he passed out. "Eavesdropping is a low, +mean thing, I know; but Win may require my assistance, and altogether +it's as well I should be on the spot." + +There is no need to describe the conversation that ensued between Mrs. +Blake and her troublesome step-daughter. The good lady was justified +in her displeasure at Winnie's daring disobedience; but her words were +cold, cruel words, little calculated to inspire the love and confidence +of a warm, tender-hearted child. She would listen to no +expostulations, she refused to reason; her commands must be obeyed; +Winnie would never dare to set her laws at defiance again; and at the +close of the session she would be transferred to another school. As +regarded Ada, she must write a humble apology, and in the future show +that sweet, amiable girl every respect. + +Winnie stoutly refused (Dick chuckled with delight), and Mrs. Blake's +anger waxed stronger at the little rebel. She meditated for a few +seconds on the best method of punishment, and then said coldly,--"I +shall say nothing further in the meantime, Winnie, concerning your +flagrant act of disobedience in connection with Miss Latimer. When you +feel truly penitent, and confess your sorrow, I shall be pleased to +accept your apology; but I insist on a letter being written to Miss +Irvine now. One hour is at your disposal, and if at the end of that +period I return and find you still obdurate, then to-morrow's pleasure +is cancelled,--you will not be allowed, as promised, to see over Dick's +ship." With that Mrs. Blake left the room, and Winnie was left to +solitude and reflection. + +For a long time she sat firmly determined to suffer anything rather +than yield. Her young heart burned with anger and pride--she hated +everybody and everything; but in the end love for Dick conquered, and +the required note was written. + +"I don't mean one single word of all that scribble," she cried, +pitching the letter to the other end of the room. "I hate to humble +myself, so I do, and I should like to say all sorts of horrid things to +Ada Irvine; but I can't give up to-morrow's treat, and I wish to see as +much of my dear old Dick as possible. Wait till I get back to school, +however, and there will be fun." Winnie's face brightened at the +thought, and the old mischievous smile came back to her lips. After +all there was a good amount of wicked enjoyment to be derived from +having an enemy. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +OUR SAILOR BOY. + +If one had peeped into the oak parlour on Thursday evening, one would +naturally have imagined the room to be untenanted, save for the +presence of a little white dog curled in peaceful slumber on the rug; +but had the heavy folds of curtain been withdrawn, they would have +disclosed to view the form of a young lady nestling back in the window +embrasure, with two soft white hands folded wearily on her lap. The +night was cold, but bright with moonlight; and the stars peeping in at +the window, the blind of which was drawn up to the top, whispered +together of the fairy picture she made with the moonbeams straying over +her quiet, thoughtful face, and playing hide-and-seek amongst the +meshes of her dark glossy hair. + +"How pretty she looks!" they murmured softly, sparkling down their +twinkling lights on the frost-gemmed city below. But the little stars +failed to notice the weary look of discontent and dissatisfaction on +that fair face, which marred all the beauty of the fairy picture. + +She had left the gay drawing-room and fashionable company under plea of +a headache, and finding the oak parlour untenanted, had hidden herself +snugly behind the curtains. But Edith Blake's headache had evidently +merged into a heartache; for it was a weary, weary face that turned +from the window as approaching footsteps warned her of some one's +intrusion. Drawing aside the ruby folds and peering out cautiously, +the girl saw Winnie enter and go straight towards the fire, where she +proceeded to ensconce herself snugly on the rug, and lift the little +white dog into her lap. + +"Poor little doggie!" she said, stroking the affectionate animal, which +was licking its mistress's gentle hand; "poor Puck! you'll have to love +me very much after Dick goes away. I like to be loved, doggie; but no +one in this house believes in love except my dear boy, and it is lonely +when not a single creature cares, for you. I should like to enjoy a +good cry, Puck; but I must not make Dick sad, and it is a baby-fashion +to cry when things go wrong and you can't get what you wish. But, oh +dear! whatever shall I do after my dear good boy is gone away?" + +"Write long letters and think of him every day," put in a blithe, merry +voice at the door; and Winnie sprang up with a cry of delight as Dick +strode into the room attired in all the splendour of his new uniform. + +"How do I look, Win?" he cried, touching his cap, and standing in all +the pride of his young, bright strength, ready to be admired. "Am I +respectable?" + +But he need hardly have asked that question, for the little sister's +face was all aglow, and her rosy lips laughing a glad, proud smile. + +"Respectable!" (with scorn); "why, Richard, you're simply _splendid_! +And oh! you do look every inch a sailor." + +"I thought I would let you see me in full uniform before packing up my +baggage," said Dick, by way of apology for his childish display. "Look +at the brass buttons, Win, and the badge on my cap; they make me feel +as if I were a sailor already." + +Winnie duly admired. + +"I hope you'll have a good voyage, and not find the work too hard," she +whispered afterwards, and the boy answered. + +"Win," he began impressively, "I intend putting my whole 'shoulder to +the wheel.' If I cannot work with the brain, I will strive my very +best with hand and heart, and do my duty come what may. I mean to be a +true man, and live an honest, upright life, not in order to gain every +one's good opinion (though of course I should dearly like that too), +but because it is right." + +Winnie's eyes were shining. "I told you so," she said, clapping her +hands joyously. "You'll be a king amongst men yet. And oh, how +proudly our father will some day talk of 'my sailor son!'" The boy's +face flushed with pleasure. "But, Dick, you won't care less for me +when you become both good and great; will you?" and the pretty voice +had a wistful ring in it as Winnie neared the close of her sentence. + +"Good! why, you're an angel compared with me, Win," said the boy +lovingly; "but we'll both try our best, dear. I'm a great, rough boor +of a lad, Win, and you're such a dainty, fairy creature. But think how +grand it would be to know that every day you at home and I out on the +ocean were striving to do our duty and live as we ought to live. I've +been all wrong in the past, I know, and it is little wonder the others +don't care much about me; but I mean to strike out afresh and begin all +over again. See here, Winnie; this is my farewell gift to you. I +thought you would prize it more than anything else," and Dick placed a +beautiful pocket Bible in his sister's hands. + +Winnie touched the little volume reverently, and the eyes of the +listener behind the curtains grew dim as the child's soft voice +replied, "I cannot thank you as I would, Dick, for your lovely present; +but I love you dearly, dearly. I shall keep it always close beside me, +and read a portion every day. Bow down your head, dear boy, and let me +kiss you for your goodness." + +Dick submitted to the caress, and then invited Winnie up to his room in +order to inspect a few presents he had received from some of his +school-fellows; and when brother and sister had disappeared, Edith +stole softly from her place of concealment, and the dancing fire-flames +saw that her eyes were wet with tears. + +"I have caught a glimpse of true life to-night," she said, smiling +wistfully; "and it has shown me how hollow, hollow is the false one I +daily lead. Poor Dick! I am afraid we have misjudged him after all, +and may yet find out, as Winnie so confidently prophesies, that he is +worthy of all honour and admiration. As for her, she will learn, so +far as lies in my power, that love is to be found in the house, +although her sailor boy has left the parent nest." Then seating +herself in the cosiest-looking chair, she lay back and waited quietly +for the return of the owners of the oak parlour. + +In the course of half-an-hour they re-appeared, and gazed with +wide-open eyes on the fair intruder; but Edith, laughing lazily, bade +them come forward and welcome the unexpected guest. + +Winnie sprang to her side. "We are both awfully pleased to see you, +Edith," she said; "only you surprised us so. Whatever brings you here +when there are guests in the drawing-room?" + +"I had a headache," replied the elder sister, drawing the little girl +close to her side and beginning to toy with the tangled hair; +"besides"--looking up at the big, stalwart youth standing near--"I +wished to enjoy a little of Dick's society before he goes away." + +Dick's face relaxed into a broad grin of unbelief, and Winnie cried out +"Oh!" then caught herself and stopped short; but Edith's equanimity +remained undisturbed. + +"It is quite true," she said with a charming smile. "I see you are in +full uniform, Dick. Stand back, and let me admire my sailor brother." + +Edith could be very lovable and winning when she liked, and to-night +she seemed thoroughly bent on doing her utmost to please. The boy, +though mystified at this sudden change in his fashionable sister, +obeyed her command, and stood erect before her, feeling perhaps a +little bashful, but never flinching under the steady scrutiny. + +"You look very well," she said after a little pause. "Sit down, Dick; +I wish to speak to you. I know perfectly Winnie is wondering why the +cross elder sister is sitting here taking such an interest in you both +to-night. But don't ask an explanation for such conduct; only believe +that her heart is not so hard as you deem it, and that she has begun to +look under the surface for some one's true character." + +Winnie gave the speaker's hand a little squeeze of approbation, while a +pleased smile lit up Dick's face. As neither spoke, however, Edith +continued: "And now, may I crave of you, Dick, a very great favour? +Winnie is to be driven down to-morrow afternoon to see through your +ship. May I come too? or is she to be the only privileged young lady?" + +The boy looked incredulously at his pretty sister. "Are you really in +earnest, Edith?" he inquired, "or are you laughing at me?" + +"I mean what I say, Dick," was the grave reply; "but if you would +rather I remained at home, I shall not trouble you." + +"Oh, come! do come!" whispered Winnie delightedly. "Dick will be only +too pleased;--will you not, dear old boy?" So it was settled; and +Edith rose to leave the cosy room, which seemed to her at that moment +like a haven of rest. + +"It was very, very good of you to come and spend a wee quiet time with +us," said Winnie, as she watched her beautiful sister shaking out her +crumpled skirts and pushing back little stray locks of hair from her +white forehead. "Do you know we are going to have a great treat +to-morrow night? Archie Trollope is coming in; and cook has promised +us a delicious supper in honour of Dick's last evening at home." + +"I think you ought to give me an invitation," replied Edith, pausing at +the doorway. "I should like to enjoy the feast too.--No, no," as Dick +and Winnie exchanged doubtful glances; "I was only teasing you both. +Accept my best wishes for a happy evening, dears. Good-night;" and +then the soft silken figure glided quietly away. + +"I'm glad she really did not mean what she said," announced Dick, +giving a sigh of relief as he threw himself down on the rug beside Puck +and commenced to tease that worthy little animal; "but I think, Win, if +we had pressed her she would have come." + +"I am sure of it," replied Winnie. "She looked so disappointed when we +did not speak. But, Dick, was she not ever so nice to-night? and is +she not beautiful?" + +"Yes," replied her brother, pulling Puck's tail mischievously; "but +we're a good-looking family, Win, with the exception of myself." + +The little girl's reply was thoroughly characteristic: "Every house has +its ugly duckling, dear boy," she observed quaintly, "and they seldom +turn out swans except in story-books. However, it does not matter very +much about a man's personal appearance; and you--why, you might have +been a great deal worse." + +Dick roared at the attempted consolation. "What a Job's comforter you +are, Win!" he said with a broad grin; "but as you say, little sister, a +man's personal appearance, though it sometimes goes a long way, is not +the main thing, and I reckon Dick Blake will manage through the world +well enough in spite of freckled skin and fiery hair." + +"Of course he will," replied Winnie; "there's no doubt about that." + +Then the two began to talk seriously and lovingly their own +heart-thoughts, and the minutes passed all too rapidly. Both started +when the clock struck the hour for retiring, and there was a little +quiver in Winnie's voice as she wished her brother good-night, and +thought that only another evening, then the kind face bending over her +would be looking out on the wide waste of waters, and she would have to +whisper her loving good-nights to the stars instead. "Oh, my dear, my +dear," she sobbed to herself in the darkness, "how sorely, sorely I +shall miss you! But I am so glad there is a great, good Father in +heaven who will guide and keep you wherever you are. Oh! if Aunt +Judith were only here to say something comforting to me--something that +would ease this ache of sorrow at my heart and help me to feel strong +and brave." + +Then, as she lay weeping out her loneliness in the quiet night, some +words she had read in one of Aunt Judith's books stole softly into her +mind, like a ray of golden sunlight penetrating through the chinks of a +darkened room: "Whatever is grieving you, however burdensome or trivial +the trouble may be, tell it to Jesus." + +Winnie's eyes flashed, and springing out of bed with sudden +determination she knelt down, a little, fragile figure, by the window +ledge, and prayed reverently and trustingly her first heart-prayer. It +was a very simple petition, uttered in Winnie's own quaint style, at +the language of which some people might have smiled; but I think that +in heaven there would be a great hush amongst the white-robed throng as +they bent their heads to catch the first breathings of a child's soul +upwards. And oh, the bursts of hallelujahs as the trusting words +floated to the throne of grace, and told of a young heart groping in +the darkness for the strong, firm clasp of a Father's hand! + +Next afternoon, when the carriage drove round to the door as appointed, +the little girl, running downstairs warmly muffled up, found Edith +wrapped in soft velvets and furs, thoroughly equipped for the drive. +There was the faintest suspicion of a smile wreathing the corners of +her lips as she stood tapping impatiently the tesselated floor of the +hall with her tiny high-heeled boot, and running the gauntlet of a few +teasing remarks from her two brothers, who were loitering near; but on +Winnie's approach she turned round, and waving a careless farewell, +accompanied her little sister down the broad stone steps to the +carriage, where Mr. Blake was awaiting them. + +The drive proved to be a pleasant one, and in a short time they found +themselves at the docks, and saw the great ships ranging far and near, +with their tapering masts pointing upwards to the cloudy sky. The +_Maid of Astolat_ lay close at hand, and as they went on board Dick +appeared, his face black and grimy, but all aglow with a welcoming +smile. + +"You come along with me," he said, drawing Winnie aside, as the +captain, a tall, gentlemanly-looking man, stepped forward and addressed +Mr. Blake. "I'll do the honours of the ship tip-top, Win, and show you +all round in first-rate style;" and the little sister delivered herself +over to his guidance. + +How they peered about, to be sure--here, there, everywhere; and how +proudly Dick aired the small amount of nautical language he had managed +to pick up! Rough men turned and smiled half unconsciously as the two +blithe figures flitted past and their merry laughter rang out in the +frosty air. They seemed so happy, and the hearts hardened by sin and +adversity sighed over their bygone childhood's days, and thought what a +blessed thing it was to be young. + +Returning from their exploration, brother and sister found Mr. Blake +and Edith still talking to the captain, whose grave, stern face was +rapidly relaxing under the influence of that young lady's winning +manner and bright, sparkling conversation. Dick eyed the group as he +drew near, and then a comical thought seemed to strike him, for he was +heard to mutter, "Jemima! what a lark!" and he twitched his face into a +decided grimace of amusement. + +There was scant time in which to make remarks, however, for Mr. Blake +required to be back in the city at a certain hour, and Winnie must not +be exposed to the night air. So good-byes were courteously exchanged. +The Blakes, re-entering their carriage, drove rapidly away, and soon +the high, tapering masts appeared like specks in the distance. + +Next day the _Maid of Astolat_ sailed from the harbour, bearing on +board the strong, stalwart figure and honest, true face of Richard +Blake. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE PRIZE ESSAY. + +One day, towards the close of the school, great excitement prevailed in +Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies, the cause being a +communication made through the lady-principal to her pupils from a +gentleman and relative of hers lately returned from India. He had +visited the school several times within the last few months, and seemed +to take an interest in it; but still there was no lack of astonishment +when Mrs. Elder announced one morning that her friend, Mr. Corbett, had +intimated his intention of awarding a special prize to the pupil who +would write the best essay on any of the three following +subjects--namely, Christmas joys, a short account of the French +Revolution, and a brief review of one of Sir Walter Scott's novels. +The babble of tongues that ensued after this intimation was wonderful. +Mrs. Elder laughingly beat a hasty retreat, and Miss Smith lay +resignedly back in her chair, and waited till peace and order were +restored. + +"Of course Ada will win the prize," was the general comment, "she is so +clever, and Mr. King always praises her essays. Nellie can't come near +her in the way of composition; but we must all try to do our best, for +the honour of the school." + +The elder girls, who were not included in the list of competitors, felt +inclined to second these remarks, and Ada smiled triumphantly when she +heard them whispered abroad. There was little doubt in her own mind as +to who was likely to be the successful candidate, and she only wondered +which subject would best show forth her brilliancy of style and +composition. + +Winnie and Nellie, firm friends still in spite of all restraints, +consulted together, and spoke of the utter uselessness of their most +strenuous endeavours. "We've no chance against Ada," they said +disconsolately, "but like the others we'll have to attempt something." + +"What will you try, Winnie?" inquired Nellie. "I think I'll tackle +'the French Revolution.'" + +Winnie's brow was wrinkled in perplexity. "Do you know, Nell," she +said at length, looking up with a curious gleam in her eyes, "I never +tried very hard in all my life to write a really good essay. I just +mixed anything together and popped it down higgledy-piggledy style, as +Dick would say. Yet sometimes I have beautiful thoughts, and they run +together in such beautiful words that I think I may manage to produce a +respectable paper after all. I know nothing about the French +Revolution, simply nothing. I have never read any of Sir Walter +Scott's novels, and could not criticise or review one to save my life. +But Christmas joys--ah, yes, I might attempt that;" and Winnie looked +hopeful at this point. + +"Very well, Win, we've decided," responded Nellie; then, Agnes Drummond +coming forward and addressing them, their conversation was interrupted +for the present. + +Ada Irvine's triumph was by no means so complete as she fancied it +would be, though there was still much to cause her satisfaction. +Almost every day she had the pleasure of seeing Winnie grow furious and +Nellie wince under some cutting sarcasm thrown out with well-directed +aim by some of the most fashionable girls in the school, and not even +the former's reappearance and championship could allay to any extent +the open insults which beset the defenceless girl during school hours. + +"Go! you are not my friends," the stanch little ally had said when she +found how matters stood on her return after her illness. "I hate and +despise every one of you from the bottom of my heart. You call +yourselves ladies, but I tell you no true lady would lower herself to +utter such words as fall from your lips. I know who your ringleader +is, and if the heartiest hatred will do her any good, she has mine. +But act as you please; only remember Nellie is now, and ever will be, +the one true friend of my life. And as for her aunts, let me tell you +you are not worthy to touch the hem of their garments." + +"Oh, nonsense, Winnie!" one of the girls had replied, in a +half-condescending manner; "I am sure you can't forget your mother's +opinion on the subject." + +"And who informed you about my mother's opinion? It must have been +Ada; and that throws light on what has puzzled me lately. I think I +may thank her for all this trouble I have been and am still +experiencing. No, do not try to defend her; one day we shall be quits." + +"But Ada is never rude or disagreeable to you now, Win," pleaded +another girl. "There has been a marked change in her manner lately. +She is very gentle and kind to you. As for blaming her about telling +tales, that is hardly fair. She really said very little concerning +Mrs. Blake and her opinion of Nellie. Where she got her information we +do not know, but she told us decidedly it was not from your +step-mother." + +Winnie looked incredulous. "That is quite sufficient," she replied +with dignity; "I would rather hear no more. But you may tell Ada from +me that I am not to be deceived by her new tactics, and have no desire +to possess such a treasure as a serpent-friend." + +The subject had then been dropped, and from that time Winnie would have +nothing to do with any girl who uttered a single word against her +friend. Ada she treated with supreme indifference, and disdained to +accept a proffered friendship vouchsafed to suit that young lady's +amiable plans. As regarded Nellie, she never walked with her after +school hours, or sought her society so frequently as she had done in +the happy bygone days (Miss Latimer had strictly forbidden that); but +still the love betwixt the two was warm and true, and Ada felt her +hatred deepen as she saw how all her endeavours failed to break the +strong bond of friendship binding the one to the other. A certain +circumstance, however, caused her immense satisfaction--namely, Mrs. +Elder's growing dislike of Nellie Latimer. The lady-principal was, +unfortunately, guilty of favouritism, and ever since Ada had been +placed under her charge she had shown a marked preference for and +indulgence towards her. Such being the case, one can readily imagine +how a woman of such a weak, selfish nature would resent the quiet +dethronement of her young favourite, and see the honours she had been +accustomed to take now won by an insignificant girl of no particular +birth or station in society. Ada, not slow to find all this out, +viewed it with supreme delight, and was careful to fan the flame by +various hints and insinuations thrown out with becoming modesty. + +Nellie marked the change, but bore it uncomplainingly, striving to live +it down and let the discipline accomplish its own sharp yet beneficial +work. "I shall withdraw you from the school should you choose, +Nellie," Miss Latimer had said once when the girl broke down and wept +over the heavy burden laid upon her. "But I would like you to fight it +out, and grow better, braver, and nobler under the conflict." That was +sufficient for Nellie, who, meekly relifting the old cross, strove to +carry it cheerfully, feeling amply rewarded for her quiet endurance +when she daily realized the rare love and tenderness that surrounded +her in the peaceful home at Broomhill Road. + +The examination day was fast approaching, and the prize essays, which +had to be given in a week beforehand, were delivered over to the +lady-principal's charge--neat rolls of paper prettily tied up with +gaily-coloured knots of ribbon. Then followed more excitement, till +the hour arrived when guests and pupils met together in the large +school-room, and the usual performance took place before the eyes of +smiling mothers and friends. At length it was over, and the clergyman +stepping forward to award the prizes, Winnie found some leisure to gaze +around and scan the sea of faces in front of her. + +There was Mrs. Drummond, calm and placid as usual; her own step-mother +and Edith, both looking so fresh and fair in their bright summer +attire, and--but here Winnie caught a glimpse of a noble, true face +looking at her from under the brim of a quiet Quaker bonnet, and in a +moment her little face was all aglow with a great throb of love. + +What occurred after that seemed a blank. She never heard Nellie's name +called repeatedly, or noted Mrs. Blake's haughty look as the young girl +modestly received her prizes and blushed under the words of +commendation uttered by the clergyman. Her thoughts were far away in +the past, and she was living those two happy days over again at Dingle +Cottage, when the world appeared so wondrously fair, and life full of +bright laughing sunshine. + +But now came a pause in the proceedings. The prizes were all +distributed, and pupils and friends wakened to a state of great +expectancy as old Mr. Corbett stood up by the minister's side and +nervously prepared to make his oration. After a few preliminary +remarks customary on the occasion, he spoke of the surprise and +pleasure he had experienced in reading over the essays delivered to him +by Mrs. Elder, his old and esteemed friend. They displayed much talent +and brilliancy of style, and reflected great credit on the school. One +especially amazed him (here Ada's head drooped modestly) by the rich, +beautiful thoughts, set, as it were, in such quaint, original language. +He was almost startled by the amount of genius shining forth from every +sentence; and although the essay was written in a crude girlish style, +it was worthy of the highest commendation, and he had great pleasure in +awarding the prize to--Miss Winnifred Blake. + +There was a long silence, followed by murmurs of amazement and +congratulation. But Winnie did not seem to hear them; she only sat +gazing dreamily, with dim, dazed eyes, as if hardly capable of +realizing the good fortune which had befallen her. + +"Rise, dear," whispered Elsie Drummond, who was standing close by; +"every one is waiting to see you receive the prize. We are all so glad +over your success. Now go;" and she gave the child a gentle push in +the clergyman's direction. The words wakened Winnie, and then, with a +great flash, came the realization that she, and not Nellie, had +triumphed over Ada; and as the knowledge came home with full power to +her heart, her great eyes sparkled their mischievous joy, and she +stepped forward, a glad, triumphant gleam shining in their depths. + +Few of the onlookers that day ever forgot the scene before them: the +little fairy figure clad in daintiest summer attire; the flushed gipsy +face and dark, lustrous eyes peeping from under the mass of curly hair; +and the wondrously joyous smile which broke over her lips as she bent +her pretty head on receiving the glittering medal from the minister's +hand. I think Mrs. Blake was proud of her step-daughter for once in +her life. + +A short time afterwards, just as she was preparing to start homeward, +Winnie remembered that her music was lying in one of the school-rooms, +and bidding some of the girls wait her return she bounded up the steep +flight of stairs to go in search of it. + +On reaching the top step, however, Ada met her, and the pale, angry +face and haughty mien roused every malicious feeling in Winnie's +nature. Looking up with a face in which wicked triumph and delight +were plainly depicted, she said sweetly, "O Ada, would you care to +inspect my medal? You have been so kind to me lately I am sure you +will rejoice at my wonderful success." + +Ada returned her gaze with one of steady, contemptuous disdain, and +dropping the mask of friendship which had been so hard for her to wear, +she replied haughtily, "Wonderful indeed! so wonderful, in fact, that I +may be pardoned for refusing to credit the essay as being your own +composition. Do you think it is natural for a dunce (I repeat the +word), who has been in the habit of writing the most childish nonsense, +to break on the world suddenly as a genius, and startle every one with +her wonderful thoughts? It stands to reason that some underhand work +has been going on; and such being the case, I prefer to hold myself +aloof from one who could be guilty of any mean, despicable action." + +Strong language to use. Winnie's anger rose to a white heat as she +listened. "Explain yourself!" cried the enraged child; "I fail to +understand your words." + +Ada's lip curled. "You are an admirable actress," she said calmly; +"you would make your fortune on the stage. Unfortunately, however, I +am not easily deceived. You know perfectly well the prize essay is no +work of yours." + +"Whose then?" in a voice of suppressed passion; and the quiet, mocking +tones answered,-- + +"Suspicions are easily roused, and when one can disobey a parent once, +one can easily do so again." + +Winnie looked bewildered. "You are speaking in riddles," she cried +angrily; "I demand a proper explanation." + +"Then you shall have it," replied Ada, spitefully enjoying her +momentary triumph. "Mrs. Elder, Miss Smith, and ever so many of the +girls believe that your wonderful Miss Latimer assisted with your +essay. Nay, do not interrupt: we give you credit for the bare outline, +but the originality and quaint rich thoughts are decidedly beyond the +powers of a dunce." + +Winnie listened in amazement, and as the last words fell slowly from +the lips of the cold, haughty girl, she cried out in her bitter anger,-- + +"It is false! false! and you know that too; but, Ada Irvine, I can +almost excuse your insulting words. It must be humiliating to see a +dunce, and one towards whom you bear so much affection, win a prize of +which you deemed yourself secure. I forgive you when I think how hard +it must be to feel yourself the laughing-stock of the school; and I +would remind you in the future to value your talents at their true +worth." + +Winnie paused, and it seemed, to use a common-place phrase, as if the +tables were turned; for the little girl looked cool and calm now, while +her adversary's face was white and set with passion. Springing forward +she raised her hand, and Winnie, in order to avert the blow, stepped +back, forgetful of her dangerous position. Then rang through the house +a wild scream followed by the sound of a heavy fall; and the startled +inmates, gathering from various quarters, found lying at the foot of +the steep stairs a prostrate figure with white upturned face and +firmly-closed eyes. + +[Illustration: A prostrate figure with white, upturned face.] + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +HOW SHALL I LIVE THROUGH THE LONG, LONG YEARS? + +A balmy summer morning in the month of July. Outside, and far up +overhead, a dappled sky shining down on a world of light and beauty; +green verdant slopes and wide sweeps of meadowland glistening still +with the early dew; flowers blossoming everywhere, from the modest +daisy and golden buttercup to the queenliest rose and fairest lily; +birds singing from every bush and tree their morning trill of +flute-like melody; bees humming busily hither and thither; butterflies +flitting idly by or resting snugly in the heart of a flower; in short, +the world of nature all awake and joying with a pure, glad joy in the +golden summer sunshine. + +Inside a darkened room, with softly-shaded blinds and peaceful hush +brooding over all, a girl--one might almost say a child--lying quietly +on a dainty bed with white, weary face and closed eyes, round which +dark lines of pain and suffering are plainly circled; and lastly, a +young lady nestling back in a low basket-chair and keeping tender watch +over the slight figure stretched so motionless before her. Suddenly +the heavy lids unclose, and a pair of tired eyes are raised, with a +sad, pathetic look, to the watcher's face. + +"Is that you, Edith?" asks the weak voice in low, feeble tones; and the +young lady, bending down to press a kiss on the white brow, answers,-- + +"Yes, dear; and I am so glad you have enjoyed such a nice long sleep." + +The child raised one thin, fragile hand, and pushing back the hair from +her damp forehead, spoke once more. "I was dreaming, Edith,--dreaming +the old days were back again, and that Dick and I were having such fun +in the oak parlour. Archie Trollope was there too, and we were chasing +each other round and round the room; but neither Dick nor Archie could +catch me, my feet seemed so nimble. I thought it was true, Edith, and +a great weight rolled from my heart; but oh"--and the low wail +accompanying the words pained the listener sorely--"I awoke and found +it was all a dream." + +"My poor little Winnie!" replied the young lady, smoothing the pained +lines from the invalid's brow with soft, gentle touch. But the child +had not yet finished. + +"Edith," she continued, a wild, haunting look of unrest stealing into +her eyes, "I am so tired lying here day after day. I want to be out in +the sunshine with the birds and the flowers. Tell me, when shall I be +able to walk in the sunlight once more?" + +Edith's face was wet with tears. "Try to be patient, dear," she said +in a somewhat broken voice; "one does not recover very quickly from an +illness such as yours." + +Winnie seemed dissatisfied. "You don't look me straight in the face +when you speak, Edith, and your voice has a little tremble in it. +Hush! hear how the birds are singing! They know I dearly love the +sunshine, and are calling me out into the midst of it; I hear them +every day warbling so happily. Do you think they ever wonder why I +never come--why I never dance up and down the garden walks and spend +hours with them and the flowers as I did last year? And the sea, +Edith--some nights, when the wind is sleeping and not a leaf stirring +on the trees, I can hear the waves crooning a low, sweet song as they +wash along the wide beach of sand. They also seem to be calling me out +into their midst; and I--O Edith, I cannot come." + +There was a passionate ring of pain in the voice, and the look of +unrest had given place to one of intense yearning. Edith's tears fell +fast as she laid her head down on the pillow beside her little sister +and pressed warm kisses on the quivering lips. + +"Little Winnie," she whispered, "don't you think it is hard, hard for +us to see you lying suffering here? Oh, my dear, can't you guess how +we miss your little dancing figure, and your bright, merry chatter? +Our hearts are sore for you, dearest, in your pain and weariness, and +we would sacrifice anything to be able to raise you up strong and well +soon. But we cannot; and, oh, little sister, try to wait patiently a +little longer." + +"You say that every day, Edith," answered the child pettishly. "It is +always the old, old story--wait a little longer; and when you speak in +that strain a great fear creeps into my heart and won't be shut out. I +try not to listen; I think upon other things; I tell it to go away, but +it still remains. Edith, O Edith! tell me that some day I shall stand +up strong and well; tell me quick, quick, for something whispers that +will never be." + +"Nonsense, dear!" faltered the elder sister; "you must not become +fanciful. In a short time I hope to see you quite better." + +"You don't say you are perfectly certain, Edith," cried Winnie, still +suspicious, "and you look at anything rather than me. I believe my +fear is too true; and if so, how shall I live through the long, long +years?" + +Edith hardly knew how to reply. "Hush, Winnie, hush!" she began +pleadingly; "you are rushing to rash conclusions. And only think, +dear, we have you, though weak and helpless, spared to us still. What +if you had died?" + +"I wish I had," replied the girl wildly; "I would far rather lie +quietly under the daisies than live a long, long crippled life. Oh, to +think I shall never again run races on the sandy shore, and laugh when +the little waves splash my feet; never pluck the wild flowers and make +sweet, fragrant posies; never climb the forest trees or sit under the +great pines I love so well! I can't bear it, Edith; indeed I can't. I +wish I were dead." + +Her sister was about to speak, but she pushed her aside, saying feebly, +"Oh, if I could only get my strength back again! I never knew what a +blessing health was till I lost it." There was such a depth of pathos +in the weak voice, such an undertone of sadness, that Edith almost +broke down again. + +"Winnie," she said softly, "I wonder how Aunt Judith would answer you +just now?" + +Winnie looked up through her tears. "I don't know," she replied +wistfully; "but she can't understand how awful it is to lose health for +life in one day." + +"No," responded Edith; "but I think, Winnie, Miss Latimer must have had +some exceeding bitter sorrow--some terrible trial to bear in her own +time." + +"How?" with a gesture of surprise. + +"Because, dear, those books of hers which I have been reading to you +lately are full of grand, loving thoughts, and strong, helpful words, +such as could only come from a heart torn and bleeding through +suffering. I never saw Miss Latimer, as you know, Winnie, but I am +ready to say with you she must be a good, noble woman." + +The little girl's eyes were brimming over again. "Don't speak of her, +Edith; it makes me wish so much to see her, and mamma has forbidden +that." + +"Not now, Winnie, not now!" said Edith eagerly; "she would be only too +pleased to see your friend. At first, when you were so ill, you called +continually for Aunt Judith, and Algy was sent to Dingle Cottage in +search of her. He found, however, only a fast-closed door, and could +gain no information as to where she had gone from any of the +neighbours. It seems the whole family left town for the summer on the +afternoon of the examination day, so that I am sure Miss Latimer does +not even know you are ill. She and Nellie were not in the school at +the time of your accident." Edith's voice faltered at this point: but +rapidly recovering herself, she continued: "Then we bought all Aunt +Judith's books, dear, to try to cheer you a little. It was the only +thing we could do. Some day, when we return to town, you will see Miss +Latimer again." + +Winnie lay weeping quietly. At last she said, "Please leave me alone +for a short time, Edith; I wish to think it all out myself," and the +elder sister obeyed. + +Slipping on her hat, she passed out of the house into the sunshine and +wended her way slowly towards the shore, the words ringing in her ears +with that low wail of intense pain--"How shall I live through the long, +long years?" + +Poor Winnie! her fears were but too well grounded. No hope was +entertained of her ever being able to leave her couch again. + +When the kind-hearted doctor had broken the news to the sorrowing +family, almost the first thought of each was, How would she bear it? +How would she, the little restless sprite, always flitting about here +and there, endure perhaps a long life of crippled helplessness? And +oh! how were they to tell her of the sad future, stretching far into +the coming years? It was all very well to waive her questions in the +meantime, but that could not be done much longer. Already the child +seemed listening to each word with a haunting sense of fear; and now +that they had taken her from the busy town to their quiet sea-side +home, where summer after summer she had danced about in innocent glee, +the dread deepened as the days went by and she felt no sign of +returning strength to her feeble frame. There was no need to tell the +sad tidings after all, however--she had found out for herself; and the +necessary part now was to teach her how to live bravely and cheerfully +through the long, long years. + +Edith's thoughts were very dreary as she walked quietly through the +little sea-side village, and saw the happy, sun-kissed children, full +of health and strength, playing on the sandy shore, and shouting their +lusty laughter to each other, while one who would have joined so +heartily in their merriment was lying pale and weary on a lonely couch +of pain. The little wistful face and tired eyes kept ever rising up +before her, while the words rang continually in her ears,--"How shall I +live through the long, long years?" + +With a quick impatient movement she drew out her watch, and noting the +hour, saw that the mail had been due some little time ago, and letters +would be lying at the small post-office. Entering the little shop, she +found another occupant besides herself preparing to receive a small +budget of papers from the shopwoman's hands. + +"No letters to-day, Miss Latimer; only these papers," the girl was +saying as Edith stepped towards the counter.--"Good-morning, Miss +Blake; we are glad to see you amongst us again." + +The lady started at Edith's name, and turning, looked earnestly at the +graceful figure from under the brim of a shady hat--a gaze which Edith, +busy with her own thoughts, failed to observe. + +"Three letters for you to-day, miss," the shopwoman continued, "and one +with a foreign post-mark on it. I'm thinking it'll be from Master +Dick." + +Edith lifted the letters. "Yes," she said with a bright smile, "you +are quite right, Janet. It is addressed to my little sister; how +pleased she will be!" + +The girl's eyes saddened. "Is Miss Winnie keeping stronger?" she +inquired in a subdued voice; "we were all so sorry to hear about her +illness, dear lamb." + +The young lady shook her head. "Not much, Janet; but of course we have +only been here a week as yet. We are hoping she will reap the benefit +of the sea-air by-and-by. Good-morning." And Edith, gathering her +letters together, left the shop and turned slowly in the direction of +home. In a few minutes she heard rapid footsteps behind her, and a +low, sweet voice said gently, "May I be pardoned for addressing Miss +Blake?" + +Raising her eyes in surprise, Edith saw the stranger lady close at her +side, looking very much agitated. + +"Certainly!" she replied courteously. "Can I assist you in any way?" +And the stranger replied-- + +"I do not know whether you will ever have heard Winnie speak of me or +not. My name is Latimer, and your little sister was a great friend of +my niece. They were always together at school, and Winnie spent two +afternoons with us when we were in town, I--" + +But she was allowed to proceed no further, for Edith stood holding out +her hands, and saying with shining countenance, "You are Aunt Judith, +are you not? I am so pleased to have met you, Miss Latimer. My little +sister is very ill. Will you come and see her now?" + +Miss Latimer looked perplexed. "I am staying here at present," she +said simply, "and intend remaining till the end of August; this air +seems so beneficial to my invalid sister. I hardly know how to reply +to your invitation, Miss Blake. I never knew till the other day about +Winnie's accident, and I should dearly like to see the child; but +still--" + +"Please do not finish your sentence, Miss Latimer," replied Edith, +blushing with confusion. "We owe you an ample apology for our +rudeness, and both my father and mother will be only too delighted to +see you. Winnie has been calling for you continually, and my brother +went to Dingle Cottage, but found you out of town." + +"Yes," said Miss Latimer; "the doctor advised us to come here on +account of my youngest sister. Nellie was with us during the month of +June, but has gone home till we return to town. I thank you for your +kindness, Miss Blake, and will call at your house to-morrow. I am +sorry I cannot accompany you this afternoon." + +Edith looked up at the true, noble face, shaded by the simple summer +hat; and as she did so, a slow, sweet smile broke over Aunt Judith's +lips and lighted up her whole countenance. + +"No wonder Winnie loved her!" thought the gay, fashionable girl. "I +feel as if I could kneel in all reverence at her feet, she looks so +good and pure." But she only said aloud,--"Then I shall expect you +to-morrow afternoon, Miss Latimer. Our house is easily found. You +will see the name, Maple Bank, on the gate. Please do not disappoint +us; and oh! I am so glad I have met you at last." + +So they parted, and Edith stepped homewards with a lightened heart. + +Mr. and Mrs. Blake received her news quietly. They would rather the +intimacy had not been renewed, but for Winnie's sake no opposition +would be made now. They would find out Miss Latimer's present home, +and call on her that evening. As for telling Winnie, it might be +better, perhaps, to keep her still in ignorance till the following day. + +Clare alone turned up her haughty nose when Edith related the morning's +adventure, and inquired if she too were becoming infected with the +Latimer mania. "For my part," concluded the proud girl, "I think our +parents very foolish--encouraging Winnie in all her whims and fancies. +There will be no end to them soon. I am very sorry for the child, but +I still decidedly disapprove of giving in to her continually. I should +not be surprised if this wonderful Aunt Judith becomes a daily visitor +before long. However, I wash my hands of the whole affair." And +lifting a book, Clare passed out through the window into the garden; +while Edith, disgusted at the cruel words, went slowly upstairs, and +placed Dick's precious letter in Winnie's hands. + +It was a wonderful epistle, spiced with grand nautical phrases, and +brimful of the truly marvellous and incredible in nature. Winnie +laughed heartily over the absurd yarns, described with sailor-like +veracity, and then gave a little cry of joy when Edith, who was reading +the letter aloud, ended with the following words:--"And now, my dear +little Win, if we have favourable weather you may expect to see your +dear old Dick home about the end of September; and won't we have a +jolly time of it then! No end of larks and mischief. I suppose you +will still be at Maple Bank when my ship comes in, so" (here Edith +stopped, but the child bade her read every single word) "see and keep +well and strong, that you may be able to enjoy all sorts of capers +with--Your loving sailor brother, DICK." + +"Don't look at me like that, Edith," said Winnie, when the long letter +was carefully folded up and returned to its envelope. "I am not going +to cry or even think; my heart is too sore. No one must tell Dick till +he comes home. Let him remain in ignorance as long as possible." Then +she closed her eyes wearily and remained silent. But Edith was not to +be deceived by any apparent calmness or resignation, and knew only too +well that the child's whole soul was crying out in rebellion at the sad +trial which had befallen her. + +Daylight stole softly, silently away; the summer breeze sighing a +dreamy even-song through the forest trees, lulled the singing birds to +rest; the little flowers drooped their pretty heads, and closed their +dewy petals in slumber; the busy whirr and hum of insects ceased,--and +the nature-world was hushed in sleep. Only the restless sea broke on +the peaceful calm with its ceaseless swish-swish of waves. And far, +far out on the ocean breast, leaning over the bulwark of a gallant +ship, homeward bound, was a young sailor, gazing across the moonlit +waters, and thinking of the bright fairy sister waiting to give him a +joyous welcome back. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +LIGHT IN DARKNESS. + +"How pretty my room is to-day, Edith! You have made it all bright and +fairy-like with flowers. Yes, open the blinds, please, and let the +sunshine in; my head is really better this morning, and I wish all the +light I can possibly get." So spoke Winnie, as she watched her sister +scattering sweet posies of flowers throughout the entire room, and felt +the sweet, subtle perfume of "the flowers that in earth's firmament do +shine." + +"Why are you so particular to-day, Edith?" she continued, as that young +lady flitted about, looping and relooping the soft lace curtains, +pouncing on every stray speck of dust, and sweeping every +medicine-bottle out of sight. "Jane tidied the room as usual this +morning, and yet here you are, poking into every corner, and arranging +and rearranging everything. One would think the Queen was coming to +see me. What is the reason of it all?" and Winnie looked decidedly +curious. + +"So you are going to have a visitor, dear," replied Edith, bringing a +fragrant nosegay over to the bedside and laying it on the snowy pillow. +"Now don't ask me any questions, for I dare not tell. Only wait +patiently and you will see for yourself." + +The child did not seem particularly charmed. "I hate visitors, Edith," +she said, the sunshine dying out of her face, and the restless, weary +look stealing into her eyes; "they make my heart full of wicked, +rebellious thoughts when I see them coming into the room so well and +strong. I detest their long faces and sympathetic remarks. Ugh! I +suppose they mean to be kind, but when they speak I feel as if I hated +everything and everybody." + +"I don't think you will tell me all that this afternoon," replied Edith +with a knowing smile. "It is always the unexpected that happens, and I +shall be very much surprised if you do not count this day as one of the +bright spots in your life.--Ah, there is the bell. Give me a kiss, +Win, and keep a pretty smile for the unwelcome visitor." So saying +Edith tripped away, and Winnie waited in gloomy silence the advent of +the hated guest. Why could people not leave her alone? Why did they +require to come and flaunt all their bright, strong health before her? +She wished none of their sympathy and condolences--only leave her alone +to her grief and misery. + +These being her thoughts, it was a very cross, peevish face which met +Miss Latimer's gaze as she entered the sick chamber in company with +Mrs. Blake and confronted the little invalid. + +"I have brought a friend to see you, dear," said the step-mother, +smiling down on the quiet figure with its weary, pain-stricken face. +"You will be pleased to welcome her, I know, and have so much to talk +about that my presence can be easily dispensed with for a little time." +As she spoke, Mrs. Blake smoothed the sick girl's brow lovingly, and +then withdrew, leaving the two friends together once more. + +There was no need to ask, "Are you glad to see me, Winnie?" for the +great eyes, shining with a wonderfully joyous light, told the tale the +lips refused to utter. Forgetting her helplessness, the child +stretched out her arms and tried to rise, but sank back with a low cry +of pain, and those piteous words, "O Aunt Judith, come to me quickly, +for I cannot go to you." + +Miss Latimer was greatly moved, and could do nothing at first but kiss +the little face once so fresh and sweet, now pinched and wan with +suffering. + +"Dear child," she said at length, "my heart is bleeding for you. Tell +me, Winnie, how did all this happen?" and with Aunt Judith's arms round +her, and a sense of peaceful rest stealing over her weary frame, the +sick girl told all that there was to tell, simply, truthfully, with no +attempt to screen herself from blame. + +"I was wrong to speak as I did," she finished sadly, "but I had +provocation. O Aunt Judith, I cannot express the awful feeling of +hatred I bear towards Ada, when I think that if it had not been for her +I should be running about in the sunshine now." + +"Hush, Winnie! do not say that," replied Miss Latimer softly; "her +heart will be heavy enough now, I fancy, and--" But here Winnie broke +in:-- + +"No, Aunt Judith. I don't believe she feels the least little particle +of sorrow. She ran away when I fell, and never even came to ask for me +after the accident. No one knows she had anything to do with my fall +except my own family, and they decided to leave her alone and make no +remark. Mamma was awfully good. She said she had formed a wrong +estimate of Ada's character, and told me I had been right." + +There was a few minutes' pause, then Winnie continued: "I know, Aunt +Judith, you think I am very wicked for hating Ada so bitterly; but, oh! +look what she has done to me. My life is spoilt" (with the old wail of +an infinite pain); "I shall never be able to walk again." + +Miss Latimer's eyes grew misty, and Winnie continued:--- + +"You are good and true, Aunt Judith. You sit there looking at me with +such a kind, loving face, and don't say like the others, 'Wait a little +longer, Winnie; some day you will be all right again.'" Then repeating +the words, with a weary depth of woe in her voice--"I shall never be +able to walk again; and, O Aunt Judith, can you guess what that means +to me?" + +"Yea, my darling, I can," whispered the patient listener, "and your +cross is a heavy one to carry." + +"Heavy!" muttered the sick girl; "so heavy that I shall not be able to +carry it patiently. It is bad enough just now, Aunt Judith, but think +what it will be when the months go rolling by and find me still weak +and helpless. How shall I bear my life, such a weary, weary life, week +after week, and year after year? I loved the world so much--the +bright, beautiful world with all its sunshine and flowers; and now I +feel as if I were withdrawn from it altogether. What will Dick say +when he comes home, and I cannot go with him here and there as in the +dear old days? Aunt Judith, I can see no light anywhere. Teach me, +you who are so brave and strong, how to bear my life now." + +Miss Latimer kissed the little quivering face with its sad, mournful +eyes; then drawing her chair closer to the bedside, she kept her loving +arms round the sobbing child and tried to comfort her. + +"My darling," said the kind, gentle voice, the voice Winnie had so +longed and thirsted for, "I do not think you know how deep the pain is, +how warm the sympathy, I feel for you. You say the broad, flowery way +along which you have hitherto travelled has ended now, and nothing lies +stretched before save an interminable waste of blackness through which +you imagine it impossible to journey. Yet, will you believe me, dear +child, when I tell you that in the blackened tract of moorland you will +find a joy, a peace passing all understanding, and learn that the life +you now deem too hard to live is a grand, beautiful life, and your +weary couch of pain but the school where the Master teaches some of his +purest, holiest lessons! The darkness may be very thick and dense for +a time, Winnie, but by-and-by light will begin to break through, and +night give place to day; and if the flowery way should never again open +up before you, you will find in the rugged upland path the sunshine of +God's favour, while his presence shall go with you, and he will give +you rest. My child, my little Winnie, this grievous stroke may yet +prove the greatest blessing to yourself and others. Do not say your +life is spoilt; perhaps the true life is only now beginning." + +The young girl looked up earnestly into the gentle face. "Speak on, +Aunt Judith," she pleaded. "It makes me feel good to hear you talk +like that; but then" (with sad despair) "when you go away I know I +shall be as wicked and rebellious as ever. Your words lull all the +evil passions to sleep; but in the long, dark night they will waken up, +and I shall be wishing I were dead again. Say something more, Aunt +Judith. Tell me how I am to keep the good feelings always in my heart, +and be willing to live through the long, long years." + +Then Miss Latimer's soft voice spoke again; and, cradled lovingly in +those tender arms, the sick girl learned where to find the daily +strength and grace for every need; and how to gather up the scattered +threads of her life together, and weave them into a golden web shining +with the lustre of simple faith and holy resignation. + +Some time afterwards Mrs. Blake entered, and Miss Latimer rose to +depart; but Winnie would not let her go just yet. She had so many +questions to ask, and there was so much she wished to know. How were +Miss Deborah, Aunt Margaret, and Nellie? When would they all return to +town? Had Aunt Judith written a new book lately? and if so, what was +it called? Miss Latimer had a busy time answering all those queries, +but at last the young invalid was satisfied; and promising to come +again soon, Aunt Judith said good-bye, and left the room with a heavy +heart. + +Mrs. Blake following, thanked her for her visit, and hoped she would +repeat it at an early date. The young step-mother saw the error she +had made in the past, and with graceful tact tried to atone for her +open rudeness to this grave, noble woman, who seemed like a queen in +spite of the simplicity of her garments. + +Miss Latimer's sweet, true nature harboured no feeling of umbrage or +malice, and her smile was frank and friendly as she willingly accepted +the invitation. Then Edith, appearing at that moment, offered to +accompany her part of the way home, and Mrs. Blake returned to the +sick-room and Winnie. + +The child's face looked flushed and animated. "Mamma dear," she said +sweetly, "thank you for allowing me to see Aunt Judith again. I shall +not be so cross and troublesome now. She has been telling me what a +beautiful life I may yet lead in spite of my pain and helplessness, and +her words have hushed the bad thoughts to rest." + +The fair, frivolous lady seemed bewildered, but replied, "I am willing +to confess my error, Winnie: Miss Latimer is no longer an unwelcome +visitor here," then she changed the subject. + +Meanwhile the days passed on, and Miss Latimer became a frequent guest +at Maple Bank, winning all due respect and honour by the true dignity +of her nature and sweet womanly heart. Edith hailed those visits with +pleasure; and Winnie--ah! they were like great spots of sunshine to the +sick girl fretting sorely under her load of pain. + +She was by no means a patient invalid this restless child, and the +constant lying day after day and the monotony of sick-room life tried +her exceedingly. It was only natural that such should be the case; +that the wild tomboy nature, with its bright flow of animal spirits, +should chafe and rebel at this heavy discipline. But one becomes +wearied of constant murmuring, and sometimes those around her waxed +impatient. Then it was that Miss Latimer's soothing words came into +use, and the strong hand was stretched out to help the failing feet; +and by-and-by, slowly yet surely, the discipline began to show its +fruit, and Winnie to learn the first lesson in the school of pain. + +August at length drew near to a close. Miss Latimer and her little +household returned to town. The days began rapidly to creep in, and +the beautiful harvest moon "grew like a white flower in the sky." + +"Let us go home, mamma," pleaded Winnie. "I should like to be back in +town when Dick's ship comes in; and it is so lonely here. I shall not +feel so much at meeting him where we have not the same opportunity to +romp about; and oh! although it is very wrong and selfish of me to +trouble you, I cannot bear to meet him here." + +The child's words were very pathetic, and so, yielding to her wish, the +Blakes returned to town. + +Winnie sighed her satisfaction when safely deposited in the oak parlour +once more. Then the old life began again--the same, yet not the same; +for although everything around was as it had been in the bygone days, +Winnie herself was changed, and the busy, active life over for ever. +But she had her happy times too; for the oak parlour was rapidly +becoming the room of the household, and Winnie seldom knew what it was +to be left alone. Thither came Aunt Judith with her soft, gentle +words; Nellie, fresh from the dear home circle, her troubles all blown +away by the happy home atmosphere; Edith and Clare, with their gay +young voices and dainty ways; and all the members of the family, +slipping in every now and then to see how the little invalid was +progressing. Her quiet submission was daily becoming more patent; and +as those around noted the efforts at cheerfulness and patience, their +love gradually increased, and Winnie the invalid was tenfold dearer to +the hearts of her family than Winnie the little tomboy had been. Her +days were not idle ones by any means; for as her health in some +respects improved, a daily governess was engaged to come and instruct +her, and under Miss Montgomery's mild tuition Winnie laid aside her +former indolence and began to show an interest in her studies. + +The papers were eagerly scanned now for news of the expected ship, but +the days sped on and still nothing was heard of the longed-for vessel. +At length, however, one evening in the beginning of October, when the +gray twilight was creeping silently over the busy town, Edith and +Winnie were together in the oak parlour--the one sitting toasting +herself cosily at the fire, the other lying on her invalid couch +half-asleep. Downstairs in the large drawing-room a few guests were +assembled, and the sound of voices singing floated sweetly upwards and +fell soothingly on the sick girl's ear. + +"Edith!" she said, opening her sleepy eyes for a moment, "I wish you +would go down beside the others and enjoy yourself. I feel in a +deliciously comfortable mood just now, and will not miss you at all. +Do obey me!" and she looked fondly over at the pretty figure basking +lazily in the firelight glow. + +Edith roused herself. "I should like to join them for a short time, +Win; but it seems selfish leaving you all alone, and nurse is too busy +to come and sit beside you just now." + +"Oh, I shall not weary," was the bright reply; "besides, the music will +lull me to sleep in a few minutes. Run away, and think of me as +enjoying my forty winks." + +The elder sister rose, and kissing Winnie's little face, went slowly +from the room, along the passage, and down the broad carpeted stair. +She had hardly entered the drawing-room and returned the greetings of +the merry guests, when a loud ringing at the door bell was followed by +the heavy tread of a man's foot in the hall, and the next minute +Richard Blake strode into the gaily-lighted room and confronted the +assembled company. + +"Just like the old Dick," thought his brothers and sisters, rising to +welcome the young sailor, whose sun-tanned face was shining with honest +delight. "Fancy stalking into a drawing-room in rough sea-faring +clothes, and startling every one with his sudden appearance." But in +spite of such condemnation their welcome was hearty and genuine; for +the boy looked so happy and overjoyed himself, it was impossible not to +be infected with his gladness of heart. + +"Straight from the ship," he explained to his step-mother, standing +like a young hero in the midst of the gay company, with a great joy +rippling over his kindly face. "Got into dock only this afternoon; and +here I am, turned up again like the old sixpence.--Any yarns to spin? +you ask. Why, any amount. But in the meantime I am desperately +hungry, and could relish a hearty meal." Then turning to Edith: "Where +is Winnie? Up in the oak parlour, I suppose. Well, I'm off to her at +once. She ought to have been the very first to bid me welcome." + +A silence fell on all, and looks were exchanged of mingled sorrow and +perplexity. + +"What is to be done?" questioned Mrs. Blake inwardly. "Some one must +break the news to him before he enters the oak parlour." + +Dick, in complete ignorance of the effect his words were causing, +wheeled round towards the door and prepared to leave the room, when +Edith stepped forward saying, "Yes; Winnie is in her own sanctum as +usual. Come; I will accompany you there." + +The boy stopped in amazement. "What for?" he inquired bluntly; "I +would much rather go alone first." + +"Yes, I know," was the confused reply; "but please humour me this +once;" and Edith slipped past him as she spoke. + +Dick followed, a little mystified and annoyed; but his amazement +increased when Edith, opening the library door, drew him into that room +and closed the door swiftly behind him. + +"Bless my boots! is the girl mad?" ejaculated the boy, turning to the +tables and chairs for sympathy. "I am beginning to wonder if I have +fallen into the clutches of some escaped lunatic. I say, Edith, old +girl, do you take those fits often?" + +His sister, however, had no answering smile on her lips, and her voice +shook slightly as she replied, "Dick, please prepare yourself to hear +bad news. You ought to have been told before, but we kept the evil day +as far off as possible. Dear little--" Then she stopped short, +terrified at the expression on her brother's face. + +"Don't beat about the bush, Edith," he cried in a voice hoarse with +emotion; "I can bear anything better than suspense. Tell me, is Winnie +dead? But no,"--glancing at his sister's shining garments--"it cannot +be that, thank God;" and he drew a long sigh of relief at this point. + +"No, Dick," responded Edith, giving him a glance of warm sympathy, +"but--" and very simply and tenderly she broke the sad tidings to the +agitated boy. + +Then there tell on the silence and stillness of the room the sound of a +strong heart's sobs, as Dick, in spite of all his manliness, laid his +head on the table and wept like a little child. + +Oh, how often, often in his lonely night-watches had he pictured this +home-coming--dwelling on and gloating over each little detail as a +miser does over his gold, till the whole dream-picture became beautiful +with a golden glory. He saw the tiny, fairy figure flying to meet him, +the quaint gipsy face glowing its joyous welcome, and the great dark +eyes shining their wondrous gladness. He felt the clasp of two soft +arms round his neck, the touch of warm kisses on his lips, and heard +the bright, merry voice melting into sweetest tones, as words of love +and tenderness were poured into his hungering ear. And this was the +end of it all--his dream-picture shattered, and a young life blasted +through a haughty girl's thirst for revenge. + +Dick's heart was full of rage and hatred. "If Ada Irvine were within +my reach just now," he muttered, "she would live to regret this day." +Then raising his head, he looked, and found Edith had slipped away and +left him alone with his grief. + +The boy rose, sighing heavily. "I am hardly myself yet," he said, +dashing his rough, sun-burnt hand across his eyes, and moving slowly +towards the door. "What a fool I am, giving way like this! But these +things unman a fellow, and I need not be ashamed of my tears. Where +did they say she was? In the oak parlour. Well, here goes;" and off +strode Dick, swinging along the lighted hall and up the broad stairs at +what he afterwards described as the rate of knots. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +"I SHALL LEARN TO BE GOOD NOW." + +"Dick, Dick! is it really you? O my dear boy, I can hardly believe +it!" and Winnie clasped her feeble arms tighter round the young +sailor's neck, as if fearful of waking and finding it all a dream. + +"Yes, it's the same old fellow turned up again, Win," was the reply, +given half chokingly. "Nip me, and you will find I am neither ghost +nor spirit, but real flesh and blood." And the boy, kneeling by the +invalid's couch, felt his eyes growing dim and misty again at the sound +of the weak young voice lingering so lovingly over his name. + +"I am so glad," said the child, lying back amongst her soft cushions, +and looking at the big stalwart form before her. "I have been longing +and longing to see you, Dick, through each weary day and night; +yearning for the touch of your hand and sound of your voice: and now, +to think you are really, truly here, alive and well! God is very good, +dear," and the low voice uttered the last words solemnly and reverently. + +The boy looked at his little sister wonderingly. "Have you learned to +say that from the heart, Win?" he asked with greater earnestness in his +tones. "Looking at your life as it is now, as it is likely to be all +through the future years, can you still repeat the words, 'God is very +good'!" + +The child's lips drooped, and a sad look brooded over the pale white +face; but the meek voice continued, perhaps somewhat tremulously, "Not +always, Dick; but that is in the wicked hours, when I am full of +sinful, rebellious thoughts. Some days like just now, however, his +goodness seems to stand out in a bright, clear light, and a great hush +of peace falling on me, I find myself whispering over and over again, +'God is very good.' Aunt Judith says it may be a long time, but sooner +or later I shall be able to repeat those words, not only now and then, +but every day of my life, even in the darkest hours; and that will be +splendid. You must not be too sorry for me, dear old boy. Do you +remember asking me before you went away to try to live as I ought to +live, and do my duty nobly and well? I could not keep my promise, +Dick. When I was able to go about in the bright, beautiful world, I +did wicked, wrong things whenever I felt inclined. I enjoyed every +pleasure to the very full, no matter who suffered; but now--I shall +learn to be good now." + +Dick was almost overcome again. "Win," he said huskily, "you're an +angel! When you speak like that you cause all my sins and shortcomings +to rise up before me, and I feel as if I were not worthy of your love +and tenderness. Ah, little sister, it is little pure souls like yours +that help to keep men right in this world, and guard them in the hours +of temptation and danger. God bless you, Winnie darling. I thank him +for giving me such a precious sister." + +And this was the boy laughed at and mocked by the other members of the +family; spoken of as a dunce and scapegrace, and who would never make +his mark in the world. Ah, well! what did it matter? The true, honest +life now beginning to declare itself would soon tell its own tale, and +prove that there are more Sir Galahads walking on the earth than people +dream of, whose "strength is the strength of ten, because their hearts +are pure." + +For a long time the two, brother and sister, sat talking +together--talking over past, present, and future, and feeling that the +long separation had only served to deepen and intensify the love they +bore each other. And now a new link was knitting the twain more firmly +together,--the link of pain and helplessness on the one side, and +strong protecting strength on the other. + +After that the days fled all too rapidly. Sailor Dick made a great +difference in the house. It was something new to hear the fresh, +hearty voice trolling out wild sea-songs, and to listen to yarn after +yarn told with infinite gravity, and yet brimful of the ridiculous and +impossible. The rough, hardy sea-faring life had improved the boy +wondrously, bringing out the noblest traits in his character, making +him less sensitive and more self-reliant. Captain Inglis, who had +called on Mr. Blake, and was now a welcome visitor at the house in +Victoria Square, stated his thorough satisfaction at Dick's conduct +during the whole voyage, and spoke of him in the most praise-worthy +terms. Altogether there was great cause for commendation; and the boy +awoke to the delightful knowledge that he was no longer being +down-trodden and treated with disrespect, and that some day Winnie's +prophecy might be verified of his father being proud of him yet. + +"Blessings on the skipper's head," he said one afternoon to Winnie, +when she told of Captain Inglis's genuine satisfaction. "He's a +thoroughly good old chap, and not one of the crew could say a word +against him. But I say, Win, what makes him come poking about here so +often? Why should he not give his old mother the benefit of his spare +time? Poor body! it's rather hard lines being left so much alone." + +"She's coming to see me," put in Winnie laughingly. "Captain Inglis +had been telling her about the cross invalid sister you possessed, and +she asked if she might be allowed to call some day." + +Dick whistled. + +"So that's the way the wind is blowing?" he muttered under his breath. +"Well, this is a truly wonderful world in which we live." Then aloud +to Winnie: "You'll like her, Win; she's a first-rate old lady, brimming +over with kindness. Shouldn't wonder if she invites you to stay with +her later on; and, my eye! if she does, just you go. She'll pet and +molly-coddle you till you won't know whether you're standing on your +head or feet; and I'll bet you'll be as snug as a bird in its nest." + +Winnie looked interested. "Has she a nice house?" + +"Tip-top, and nobody in it save herself and the servants. The skipper +has plenty of money, and goes to sea from choice, not necessity.--Why, +I declare, Win, here he is again, coming along the street. He gave me +a half-holiday, but I did not think he was going to take one himself as +well. If this kind of thing continues much longer, you may +congratulate yourself on having another brother soon;" and Dick winked +knowingly. + +"What do you mean?" asked Winnie, staring open-eyed; but the +mischievous boy had vanished and left her alone in her bewilderment. + +All good things come to an end, and every day has its close. The _Maid +of Astolat_ was ready to set sail again, and once more the time drew +near to say good-bye. + +"Farewell, Win, my little angel sister," whispered Dick, kissing the +sweet face with dimmed, misty eyes. "God keep you for ever and ever, +and bring me safe home to you again." Then followed a long, lingering +embrace; and Winnie was left to wait and hope till the long months and +days would pass and her sailor boy return once more. + +"Yes, I miss him sorely, Aunt Judith," she said one evening to Miss +Latimer about a fortnight after the ship had sailed; "but I have so +much to be thankful for, that I feel as it I dared not grumble. You +have no idea how greatly he is improved, and how much more highly he is +thought of now by every one in the house. I wish you had been able to +see him, Aunt Judith." + +"So do I, Winnie; but I was too ill the day he called, and this is only +my second walk out of doors." + +"Were you very unwell?" questioned Winnie, again scrutinizing her +friend's face anxiously. "Aunt Judith, I don't believe you are nearly +better. There are great hollows round your eyes, and your face looks +haggard and worn." + +"Nonsense, dear," answered the kind voice, and Miss Latimer's smile was +very bright. "Remember I am an old woman, and pain leaves traces on an +aged face.--What about yourself, Winnie? is the darkness brightening +yet?" + +"I think so, Aunt Judith; and Dick helped me so much. Perhaps the +beautiful life is within my reach after all." + +"There's no 'perhaps' in the matter, dear," said Miss Latimer softly; +"but my little Winnie must be patient, for the grand, sweet song of +life has its beginning, and the opening chords may be tremulous and +low. Child," she continued passionately, "the grandest songs--the +songs that echo and re-echo through eternity's limitless bounds--are +wrung from hearts crushed and bleeding with anguish, and the infinite +peace and calm come only after long strife and pain. Darling, my +earnest prayer for you is that God would perfect in you his own image, +and that you may come forth from the furnace of affliction with +Christ's own brightness shining in your face." + +That was the last talk Miss Latimer ever had with Winnie. She had been +far from well lately, and after reaching home that night complained of +feeling very tired. + +"Go to bed, auntie," pleaded Nellie; "I am sure you are fit for no work +to-night;" and Aunt Debby seconded the words. But Miss Latimer shook +her head with a slow, sweet smile. + +"My last chapter must be finished this evening, child," she said, +gently yet firmly; "after that I shall please you all by taking a long, +long rest." + +Persuasion seemed useless; and the midnight hour found Aunt Judith busy +at her desk, filling up page after page with those wonderful thoughts +of hers. + +Aunt Debby could not rest that night. Something in Miss Latimer's +manner and appearance had awed and frightened her, driving the sleep +from her little bright eyes and chilling her heart with a vague, +undefined sense of fear. At length, in the middle of the night, she +rose, unable to quell the uneasy thoughts which haunted her, and +stealing softly downstairs, opened the door of her sister's sanctum and +looked in. The lamp had burned low in the socket, and was casting a +sickly gleam over all; the fire had died out, and the gray-white ashes +gave a dreary, deserted appearance to the room. A great hush brooded +around; and yet not so awful was that intense stillness as the solemn +calm which seemed to infold the quiet figure sitting so silently in the +midst. + +Aunt Judith sat before her desk, her head bent slightly forward on her +hands. There was nothing unnatural or alarming in the position, but an +awful dread stole into Miss Deborah's heart and caused it to beat with +a wild fear. + +"Judith!" she called tremblingly; but the quiet figure never stirred, +and no response came from the pallid lips. Aunt Debby flashed the +light of her candle full on Miss Latimer, and then started back with an +exceeding bitter cry, for the face on which the light shone so clearly +was white and rigid in death. The eyes, wide-open, were fixed on the +sheets of manuscript before her, as if she had been earnestly studying +the closing words; and the face, though white with the pallor of the +dead, still retained its own sweet expression. Looking down at the +written sheets, Aunt Debby noticed the last chapter was finished, and +knew Aunt Judith's life-work had ended with it. + +[Illustration: The eyes, wide open, were fixed on the sheets of +manuscript before her.] + +"My last chapter must be written to-night, child; after that I shall +please you all by taking a long, long rest." How those words rung in +Miss Deborah's ears as she stood gazing on that silent figure, sitting +so quietly in that awful death-hush! Not the quiver of an eyelid; not +a tremble of the lip; only that great, solemn calm. It was all over +now. The pain and weariness; the constant striving after the true and +beautiful; the daily self-renunciation; the life so completely devoted +to the service of others; and the last lingering notes of the grand, +sweet song had been sung in silence and alone. "Goodness and mercy +have followed me all the days of my life," she had remarked to Aunt +Debby not so long ago, "and, thank God, even in the darkest night I +have never failed to find a star brightening through the gloom." Now +the earthly shadows were done with for ever; the bleeding feet had trod +the last steps of the thorny way, and entered by the gate into the holy +Jerusalem, where "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have +entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for +them that love him." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +CONCLUSION. + +Six summers has the green grass waved and sweet flowers bloomed over +Aunt Judith's grave; six long, long years have come and gone since Miss +Deborah entered that silent room and found the death-angel casting his +dread shadow there. And what have the seasons brought? Ease to the +sorrowing heart and laughter to the weeping eyes. "Time heals all +wounds; one cannot mourn for ever," say the wise people, and in nine +cases out of ten their words hold good, though I think there are some +sorrows which no lapse of time can cure--sorrows which deepen and +intensify as the years roll on; only the wound, bleeding inwardly, is +hid with a sacred reverence from the gaze of the outside world, and is +known to the sore-stricken heart alone. + +Be that as it may, however, Miss Latimer's friends could afford to +laugh and smile now, and joy as she had done in God's beautiful +sunshine. The earth is still as fair, the skies as blue as they were +in the bygone days when her quiet voice drew the thoughts of those +around her to the nature-world with all its wondrous beauty, and each +can say with glad accord,-- + + "Daisies are white upon the churchyard sod, + Sweet tears the clouds lean down and give; + The world is very lovely. Oh, my God, + I thank thee that I live." + +Let us take one more look at them ere we close the book and lay it +aside reverently and tenderly as we would the folded page in a closing +life. + +It is a cold, wintry evening. Outside the wind is sweeping up and down +the streets, wailing like a soul in pain. The rain is dashing against +the windowpanes, and beating with wild, ungovernable fury on those +exposed to the disturbing elements. But inside warmth and comfort +reign supreme. The oak parlour is all ablaze with light, and the +laughter and merriment filling the whole room betoken the happy, genial +spirits of the occupants. Let us see if we still recognize one and +all--if six years have wrought no ravages or particular change on those +we knew in their happy childhood days. + +Close by the fire, lying on a luxuriously-cushioned couch, is a young +lady, whose pale, thin face bears traces of weary pain. Yet the dark +eyes are bright and smiling, and the voice has still its own merry +ring, which plainly betrays the old Winnie of bygone days. Surely Aunt +Judith's words are coming true, and she is learning beautiful lessons +in the school of pain; for the pale face shines with a peaceful calm, +and the words which fall from her lips are the words of one who has +been in the furnace of affliction and come forth tried as silver. + +Seated near on a low stool, with legs stretched forth in lazy comfort, +is Dick, newly home from a long, perilous voyage. He is very much +improved and changed, but in the gallant young officer one can still +discover traces of the bluff sailor boy whose kind, honest heart won +for him the love and friendship of all with whom he associated. He has +continued to rise steadily in his profession, and Mr. Blake is proud of +his scapegrace son at last. + +A little further away, at the other side of the fire, sits Edith, +smiling and light-hearted as ever, and with the same fair, sweet face; +but a plain golden band, circling one white finger, proclaims that the +gay, laughing girl has found a woman's true place in the world, and +that the grave, gentlemanly captain has won his suit in the end. + +And now we have come to the last occupant of the room--a young lady, +seated in very unladylike fashion on the rug, and so little changed +that in the fresh bright countenance we have no difficulty in +recognizing our old friend Nellie Latimer. She is spending a few weeks +in town with Winnie, and if report speaks true, there is a possibility +that in the dim future Winnie may find a sister in her old school-mate +of past years. + +"How nice and cosy we all look!" she is saying in her blithe young +voice; "one values light and warmth on a night like this. Hush! do you +hear the wind? I pity those on the sea to-night." + +Dick looks grave. "Ah, Nellie," he replies quietly, "pity hearts that +are watching and praying in their lonely homes." + +"The wind," says Winnie in a low whisper, "always makes me think of +Aunt Judith in her quiet grave. I suppose it is a stupid feeling, but +I hate the thought of the rain dripping and making a wet, wet sod above +her. I should like the sunshine to be always lingering on her quiet +resting-place." + +The laughter has died out of each face, and eyes become a little misty, +showing the dead friend is still near and dear to the hearts of those +who loved her. + +"Dear Aunt Judith," murmurs Nellie sadly, "we never realized how good +she was till we lost her. Every one with whom she came in contact +seems to have felt the benefit of her influence; and I--why, I owe her +more than I can ever tell." + +"I think we may all say that, Nell," adds Dick. "It was she who first +inspired me with a reverence for all women, and helped to make me what +I am now." + +"As for me," says Winnie with a sad, sweet smile, "she showed me the +way wherein I should walk, and taught me the great beauty of the +Christ-life." + +Then Edith's clear voice broke in: "And I--I have learned from Miss +Latimer lessons that will help me throughout all my life. She has +been, I think, as an angel of light to us all, and I shall never forget +what we owe to her goodness and love." + +"I have always been going to ask some of you girls," says Dick, "if +Aunt Judith knew she was likely to die in such a sudden manner. Every +time I came home I had that question on my mind, and yet never managed +to ask it." + +Nellie replied: "Oh yes! and Aunt Debby knew also. That was why Aunt +Judith lived so humbly and simply. She felt she was the mainstay of +the family,--that both Aunt Debby and Aunt Meg looked to her for their +livelihood; and so she strove hard to win and lay aside money, with the +hope that if she were called away suddenly there would be sufficient to +keep them snugly and comfortably after her death. She suffered from +severe paroxysms of pain at intervals, and each attack left her weaker +and feebler. Then, besides, she seemed to have had some great sorrow, +though Aunt Debby never told me what it was. Oh! they missed her +dreadfully at first; but since they left Dingle Cottage and came to +settle down beside my father, they have been more cheerful." + +"Do you like having them so near you?" inquires Edith; and Nellie +answers truthfully,-- + +"I like being beside Aunt Debby, she helps us so much; but Aunt Meg is +very trying at times." + +At that moment Captain Inglis, who has been closeted with Mr. Blake in +the library, enters, and then the conversation changes. The old +school-days are talked over, pranks and punishments described amidst +shouts of laughter; and by-and-by the talk drifts on to Ada Irvine and +the prize essay. + +"Have you ever heard of or seen Ada lately?" asks Dick curiously. "I +suppose she is quite a young lady and a great beauty now." + +"Agnes Drummond called the other day," replies Winnie quietly, "and +said she had met Ada last week at a friend's house. It seems she is +just as haughty and proud as ever; but, O Dick, I am sure you will be +sorry when I tell you that all her beauty is gone. The whole face is +completely marred by small-pox, which she caught when abroad with her +father." + +"Serves her jolly well right," cries Dick, the old man in his nature +coming to the front. "A girl who can act as she acted deserves a +righteous punishment. I don't suppose she has ever eaten humble pie to +you girls yet?" + +"No, and never will," puts in Nellie. "She persists to this day in +saying Win gained Mr. Corbett's medal through Aunt Judith's help, and +that I never learned a single lesson without assistance." + +"Hark!" says Captain Inglis, "there is the carriage.--Edith, my dear, +it is time we were going home." So the merry party breaks up, and soon +the silence of midnight settles over the city. + +Slowly the wind lulls itself to rest; the storm is over; the +rain-clouds sweep back from the sky, and the stars gleam forth with +softened brilliancy over the sleeping world; while the fair, placid +moon, rising from a mist of vapours, shines down on the sodden earth, +and lingering near a quiet churchyard lays her tearful beams, fondly, +tenderly, on a peaceful grave marked only by a marble cross and the +simple words,--"Aunt Judith." + + + + +THE END. + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Aunt Judith, by Grace Beaumont + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT JUDITH *** + +***** This file should be named 21432-8.txt or 21432-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/4/3/21432/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +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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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: Aunt Judith + The Story of a Loving Life + +Author: Grace Beaumont + +Release Date: May 14, 2007 [EBook #21432] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT JUDITH *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + +</pre> + + +<A NAME="img-front"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-front.jpg" ALT="Started off through the first figure." BORDER="2" WIDTH="413" HEIGHT="623"> +<H3 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 413px"> +Started off through the first figure. +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +AUNT JUDITH +</H1> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of a Loving Life +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BY +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +GRACE BEAUMONT +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THOMAS NELSON AND SONS +<BR> +LONDON, EDINBURGH, +<BR> +DUBLIN, AND NEW YORK +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +Published 1888, 1910 +</H5> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS. +</H2> + +<BR> + +<CENTER> + +<TABLE WIDTH="100%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">A School-girl Quarrel</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">Aunt Judith</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">Will You have Me for a Friend?</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">A Talk with Aunt Judith</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">A Fallen Queen</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">Winnie's Home</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">An Afternoon at Dingle Cottage</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">Forging the First Link</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">The Christmas Party</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">Gathering Clouds</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">It is so hard to say Good-bye</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">I always speak as I think</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">Our Sailor Boy</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">The Prize Essay</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">How shall I live through the long, long years?</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">Light in Darkness</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">I shall learn to be good now</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">Conclusion</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-front"> +Started off through the first figure . . . . . . <I>Frontispiece</I> +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-018"> +"Will you have me for a friend?" +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-179"> +A prostrate figure with white, upturned face +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-194"> +The eyes, wide open, were fixed on the sheets of<BR> +manuscript before her +</A> +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +AUNT JUDITH. +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A SCHOOL-GIRL QUARREL. +</H3> + +<P> +"Girls, girls, I've news for you!" cried Winnifred Blake, entering the +school-room and surveying the faces of her school-mates with great +eagerness. +</P> + +<P> +Luncheon hour was almost over, and the pupils belonging to Mrs. Elder's +Select Establishment for Young Ladies were gathered together in the +large school-room, some enjoying a merry chat, others, more studiously +inclined, conning over a forthcoming lesson. +</P> + +<P> +"Give us the benefit of your news quickly, Winnie," said Ada Irvine, +looking round from her snug seat on the broad window-ledge; "surely we +must be going to hear something wonderful when <I>you</I> are so excited;" +and the girl eyed her animated school-fellow half scornfully. +</P> + +<P> +"A new pupil is coming," announced Winnie with an air of great +solemnity. "Be patient, my friends, and I'll tell you how I know. +Dinner being earlier to-day, I managed to get back to school sooner +than usual, and was just crossing the hall to join you all in the +school-room, when the drawing-room door opened, and Mrs. Elder +appeared, accompanied by a lady in a long loose cloak and huge +bonnet—regular coal-scuttle affair, girls; so large, in fact, that it +was quite impossible to get a glimpse of her face. Mrs. Elder was +saying as I passed, 'I shall expect your niece to-morrow morning, Miss +Latimer, at nine o'clock; and trust she will prosecute her studies with +all diligence, and prove a credit to the school.'" Winnie mimicked the +lady-principal's soft, plausible voice as she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"A new pupil!" remarked Ada once more, her voice raised in supreme +contempt; "really, Winnie, I fail to understand your excitement over +such a trifle. Why, she may be a green-grocer's daughter for all you +know to the contrary;" and the speaker's dainty nose was turned up with +a gesture of infinite scorn. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, and what then, Miss Conceit?" retorted Winnie, flushing angrily +at her school-mate's contemptuous tone; "I presume a green-grocer's +daughter is not exempted from possessing the same talented abilities +which characterize your charming self." +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly not," replied the other with the same quiet ring of scorn in +her voice; "but, pray, who would associate with a green-grocer's +daughter? Most assuredly not I. My mother is very particular with +regard to the circle in which I move." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie swept a graceful courtesy. +</P> + +<P> +"Allow me to express my deep sense of obligation," she said mockingly, +"at the honour conferred on my unworthy self by your attempted +patronage and esteem." Then, changing her tone and raising her little +head proudly—"Ada Irvine, I am ashamed of you—your pride is +insufferable; and my heartiest wish is that some day you may be looked +down upon and viewed with the supreme contempt you now bestow on those +lower (most unfortunately) in the social scale than yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks for your amiable wish," was the answer, given in that easy, +tranquil voice which the owner well knew irritated her adversary more +than the fiercest burst of passion would have done; "but I am afraid +there is little likelihood of its ever being realized." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie elevated her eyebrows. "Is that your opinion?" she said in +affected surprise, while the other school-girls gathered round, +tittering at the caustic little tongue. "I suppose you study the +poets, Miss Irvine; and if so, doubtless you will remember who it is +that says:— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +'Oh wad some power the giftie gie us<BR> +To see oursels as ithers see us!'"<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +The mischievous child stopped for a second, and then continued: "I am +afraid you look at yourself and your various charms through +rose-coloured spectacles, certainly not with 'a jaundiced eye;'—but I +beg your pardon; were you about to speak?" and Winnie looked innocently +into the fair face of her antagonist, which was now white and set with +passion. +</P> + +<P> +The blue eyes were flashing with an angry light, the pretty lips +trembling, and the smooth brow knit in a heavy frown; but only for a +few moments. By-and-by the features relaxed their fixed and stony +gaze; the countenance resumed its usual haughty expression; and, +lifting up the book which was lying on her lap, Ada opened it at the +required page, and ended the discussion by saying, "I shall consider it +my duty to inform Mrs. Elder of your charming sentiments; in the +meantime, kindly excuse me from continuing such highly edifying +conversation." With that she bent her head over the French grammar, +and soon appeared thoroughly engrossed in the conjugation of the verb +<I>avoir</I>, to have, while her mischievous school-mate turned away with a +light shrug of her pretty shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +Winnifred Blake, the youngest daughter of a wealthy, influential +gentleman, was a bright, happy girl of about fourteen years, with a +kind, generous heart, and warm, impulsive nature. Being small and +slight in stature, she seemed to all appearance a mere child; and the +quaint, gipsy face peeping from beneath a mass of shaggy, tangled curls +showed a pair of large laughter-loving eyes and a mischievous little +mouth. +</P> + +<P> +Was she clever? +</P> + +<P> +Well, that still remained to be seen. Certainly, the bright, +intelligent countenance gave no indication of a slow understanding and +feeble brain; but Winnie hated study, and consequently was usually to +be found adorning the foot of the class. "It is deliciously +comfortable here, girls," she would say to her school-mates when even +they protested against such continual indolence; "you see I am near the +fire, and that is a consideration in the cold, wintry days, I assure +you. Don't annoy yourselves over my shortcomings. Lazy, selfish +people always get on in the world;" and speaking thus, the incorrigible +child would nestle back in her lowly seat with an air of the utmost +satisfaction. +</P> + +<P> +Ada Irvine smiled in supreme contempt over what she termed Winnie's +stupidity, and would repeat her own perfectly-learned lesson with +additional triumph in her tone; but the faultless repetition by no +means disconcerted her lazy school-mate, who was often heard to say, +with seeming simplicity, "I could do just as well if I chose; but then +I don't choose, and that, you see, makes all the difference." +</P> + +<P> +Ada Irvine was an only child, and her parents having gone abroad in the +(alas, how often vain!) search after health, had left her with Mrs. +Elder, to whose care she was intrusted with every charge for her +comfort and advantage—a charge which that young lady took great care +should be amply fulfilled. She was only six months older than Winnie, +but very tall, and already giving the promise of great beauty in after +years. Talented and brilliant also, she held a powerful sway over the +minds and actions of her schoolmates, and queened in the school right +royally; but the cold, haughty pride which marred her nature failed to +make her such a general favourite as her fiery, little adversary. +</P> + +<P> +In the afternoon, when the school was being dismissed for the day, Ada +sought the presence of the lady-principal; and consequently, just as +Winnie was strapping up her books preparatory to going home, a servant +appeared in the dressing-room summoning Miss Blake to Mrs. Elder's +sanctum. +</P> + +<P> +"Now you're in for it, Winnie," said the girls pityingly; "Ada has kept +to her word and told. How mean!" But the child only tossed her curly +head, and with slightly heightened colour followed the maid to the +comfortable parlour where the lady-principal was usually to be found. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Elder, seated by a small fire which burned brightly in the shining +grate, turned a face expressive of the most severe displeasure on the +defiant little culprit as she entered; while Ada, standing slightly in +the shadow of the window-curtain, looked at the victim haughtily, and +shaped her lips in a malicious smile at the lady-principal's opening +words. +</P> + +<P> +"I presume you are aware of my reason for requesting your presence +here, Miss Blake," she began in icy tones; "and I trust you have come +before me sincerely penitent for your fault. I cannot express in +sufficiently strong terms the displeasure I feel at your shameful +conduct this afternoon. I never thought a pupil of this establishment +could be guilty of such unlady-like language as fell from your lips, +and it grieves me to know that I have in my school a young girl capable +of cherishing the evil spirit of animosity against a fellow-creature. +What have you to say in defence of your conduct? Can you vindicate it +in any way, or shall I take your silence as full confession of your +guilt?" +</P> + +<P> +Winnie pressed her lips tightly together, but did not speak. "I need +not attempt to clear myself," she mentally decided. "Ada will have +coloured our quarrel to suit herself, and being Mrs. Elder's favourite, +her word will be relied on before mine; that has been the case before, +and will be so again." +</P> + +<P> +The lady-principal, however, mistook the continued silence for +conscious guilt. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I demand that an ample apology be made to Miss Irvine now, in my +presence," she said once more in frigid tones. "Come, Miss Blake; my +time is too precious to be trifled with." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie's eyes sparkled, and raising her small head defiantly, she +replied, "I decline to apologize, Mrs. Elder. I only spoke as I +thought, and am quite prepared to say the same again if occasion +offers. Miss Irvine knows my words, if distasteful, were but too true." +</P> + +<P> +The lady-principal gasped. "Miss Blake," she cried at length, +horrified at the bold assertion, and endeavouring to quail her +audacious pupil with one stern, withering glance, "this is dreadful!" +But the angry child only pouted, and repeated doggedly, "It is quite +true." +</P> + +<P> +Then Mrs. Elder rose, and laying her hand firmly on Winnie's shoulder, +said quietly, but with an awful meaning underlying her words, +"Apologize at once, Miss Blake, or I shall resort to stronger measures, +and also complain to your parents"—a threat which terrified the +unwilling girl into submission. +</P> + +<P> +Going forward with flushed cheeks and mutinous mouth, she stood before +the triumphant Ada, and said sullenly, "Please accept my apology for +unlady-like language, Miss Irvine. I am sorry I should have degraded +myself and spoken as I did, but" (and here a mischievous light swept +the gloomy cloud from the piquant face and lit it up with an elfish +smile) "you provoked me, and I am very outspoken." +</P> + +<P> +Ada coloured with anger and vexation; and in spite of her displeasure, +Mrs. Elder found it difficult to repress a smile. +</P> + +<P> +"That will do," she pronounced coldly; "such an apology is only adding +insult to injury. You will kindly write out twenty times four pages of +French vocabulary, and also remain at the foot of all your classes +during the next fortnight. Go! I am greatly displeased with you, Miss +Blake;" and as the lady-principal waved her hand in token of dismissal, +she frowned angrily, and looked both mortified and indignant. +</P> + +<P> +Winnie required no second bidding. She drew her slight figure up to +its full height, made her exit with all the dignity of an offended +queen, entered the now deserted dressing-room, and seizing her books, +hurried from the school, and was soon running rapidly down the busy +street. +</P> + +<P> +"Hallo, Win! what's the row? One would think you had stolen the +giant's seven-league boots," cried a voice from behind. "Did ever I +see a girl dashing along at such a rate!" And turning round, Winnie +saw before her a tall, strapping boy, whose honest, freckled face, +illumined by a broad, friendly grin, shone brightly on her from under a +shock of fiery red hair. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll bet I know without your telling me," he continued, coming to her +side and removing his heavy load of books from one shoulder to the +other. "Been quarrelling with the lovely Ada, eh?" and he glanced +kindly at the little figure by his side. +</P> + +<P> +Winnie laughed slightly. "You're about right, Dick," she replied. +"There has been a cat-and-dog fight; only this time the cat's velvety +paws scratched the poor little dog and wounded it sorely." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! you went at it tooth and nail, I suppose," Dick said +philosophically; "pity you girls can't indulge in a regular stand-up +fight." And the wild boy began to brandish his arms about as if he +would thoroughly enjoy commencing there and then. +</P> + +<P> +The quick flush of temper was over now, and the girl's eyes gleamed +mischievously as she replied, "I've a weapon of my own, Dick, fully as +powerful as yours. I'll use my tongue;" and the audacious little minx +smiled saucily into her brother's honest face. +</P> + +<P> +A hearty roar greeted her words, and Dick almost choked before he +managed to say, "Go it, Win; I'll back you up. Commend me to a woman's +tongue!" And the boy, unable to control his risible faculties, burst +into a hearty laugh, which died away in a chuckle of genuine merriment. +</P> + +<P> +Richard Blake, or Dick (the name by which he was generally called) was +Winnie's favourite brother, and she almost idolized the big, kindly +fellow, on whom the other members of the family showered ridicule and +contempt. He was a bluff, outspoken lad, with a brave, true heart as +tender and pitiful as a woman's; but, lacking both the capacity for and +inclination to study, he by no means proved a brilliant scholar, and +thus brought down on himself the censure of his masters and the heavy +displeasure of his father. "Hard words break no bones. I daresay I +shall manage through the world somehow," he would say after having +received some cutting remark from an elder brother or sister; and +Winnie, always his stanch friend and advocate, would nod her sunny head +and prophesy confidently, "We shall be proud of you yet, Dick." +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime they sauntered along, swinging their books and chatting +gaily, till a turn in the road brought them to a quiet square where +handsome dwelling-houses faced each other in sombre grandeur. +</P> + +<P> +"No. 3 Victoria Square—this way, miss," said Dick, mounting the steps +and ringing the bell violently. +</P> + +<P> +"What a boy you are!" laughed Winnie, following, and giving her +brother's rough coat a mischievous pull. "Whenever will you learn +sense, Dick?" Then the door opened, and with glad young hearts brother +and sister entered their comfortable home. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +AUNT JUDITH. +</H3> + +<P> +The October night closed in dark and wild. The wind, rising in fierce +gusts, swept along the streets with relentless fury, whirling the cans +on the roofs of the houses, and whistling down the chimneys with +relentless roar; passers-by drew up the collars of their coats and bent +their faces under the pitiless blast; while the rain, falling with its +monotonous splash, splash, added to the gloom and rawness of the night. +</P> + +<P> +Up and down the platform of one of the principal stations in the town a +lady paced, every now and then peering into the murky darkness, or +waylaying a passing porter to ask when the down-train was due. She was +tall and slender, but the huge bonnet and thick veil which she wore so +effectually concealed her face that it was impossible to make out +whether she was young or old. +</P> + +<P> +At last a whistle and the loud ringing of the bell proclaimed that the +train was close at hand, and in all the glory of its powerful mechanism +the great locomotive swept into the busy station. The lady, stepping +nearer the edge of the platform, gazed into the windows of the +carriages as the train passed, slackening speed; then with a quick +gesture of recognition went forward and turned the handle of one of the +doors at which a young girl was standing looking wistfully on the many +faces hurrying by. "Nellie Latimer, I am sure," she said in a kind +voice; "'tis a dreary night to bid you welcome. I am your Aunt Judith, +dear," and assisting the girl out of the carriage, she lifted her veil +for a single moment and laid a kiss on the fresh, young cheek. "What +have you in the way of luggage? One trunk. Well, stand here while I +go and find it," saying which she glided away and was lost to view in +the bustling crowd. In a few moments she returned, followed by a +porter bearing the modest, black box; and bidding the young traveller +come with her, left the platform, hailed a cab, and was soon driving +with her tired charge along the wet streets. +</P> + +<P> +Aunt Judith gazed at the lonely little figure sitting so quietly facing +her, and mentally deciding that, wearied out and home-sick, the child +would naturally be disinclined for conversation, she leaned back on the +carriage cushion and fell into a long train of thought. +</P> + +<P> +Nellie Latimer was thankful for the silence. She had left her home +early that morning for the purpose of wintering in town with her aunts, +and, as it was the first flight from the parental nest, her heart was +sore with grief and longing. She was the eldest daughter of Dr. +Latimer, a poor country practitioner, whose practice brought him too +limited an income with which to meet the expenses of the large family +of hardy boys and girls growing up around him. He had sent Nellie to +the village school, and when she had mastered all the knowledge to be +gleaned there, endeavoured to instruct her himself; but he could ill +spare the time, and so hailed with feelings of the deepest gratitude a +letter from his eldest sister offering to take Nellie and give her all +the advantages of a town education, "Let the child come, John," she +wrote in her simple, kindly style; "she will help to brighten the +hearts of three old maids, and a young face will be a cheery sight in +our quiet cottage home. She will have a thorough education, and we +shall endeavour to bring her up so that she may be a fitting helpmate +to her mother on her return home." Dr. Latimer showed the letter to +his wife, who read it thankfully. "Your sister is a noble woman, +John," she said brokenly; "let us accept her offer, and may God bless +her." +</P> + +<P> +Thus it was that Nellie had left the home nest and come to live her +life in the busy town. She knew almost nothing about her aunts, and +had never seen them; for Dr. Latimer dwelt in a far-off country +village, and the distance from it to the city was very great. The +postman would occasionally bring a letter, book, or paper to the +doctor; and every Christmas a hamper filled with choice meats and other +dainties would find its way to the house, showing that the young +nephews and nieces were not forgotten by the aunts they had never seen. +Those "good fairies," as the little children styled them, were three in +number: Aunt Judith, the bread-winner—though how, Nellie as yet did +not know; Aunt Debby, the Martha of the household, hard-working and +practical; and Aunt Margaret, an invalid, seldom able to leave her +couch. +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot tell you much about them, dear," Mrs. Latimer had said one +night when talking with her eldest daughter over the coming parting. +"They (meaning the aunts) were abroad on account of Aunt Margaret's +health when I first met your father, and did not return home till some +time after our marriage. Aunt Margaret was not any better, and had +settled down into invalid habits, requiring the constant attention and +care of both sisters. Aunt Judith spoke at one time of coming to spend +a few days with us; but Aunt Margaret could not spare her, and so she +never came. Your father says Aunt Judith is a brave, true woman, and +keeps the little household together, besides the many kindnesses she +bestows on us. I trust you will like your aunts, my child, and be +happy with them, even though you are away from us all." +</P> + +<P> +Nellie had been thinking all this over while the cab was quickly +whirling her along the now deserted thoroughfares, and so deeply had +her mind been occupied with these thoughts that she started in +amazement when the driver drew up before the entrance of a small +cottage, and she saw a bright flood of light streaming out from the +hastily opened door. +</P> + +<P> +"Here we are, dear," said Aunt Judith's kind voice breaking in on her +reverie; "this is your new home, and there is Aunt Debby waiting to bid +you welcome. Run! I shall follow you immediately." +</P> + +<P> +Nellie, obeying, hurried up the little gravelled path, and reaching the +door, found herself folded in Aunt Debby's motherly embrace, with Aunt +Debby's arms round her, and Aunt Debby's round, rosy face pressed close +to her own. +</P> + +<P> +"Dear, dear! to think I should be holding one of John's children to my +heart," said the good lady, wiping away an imaginary tear from her +soft, plump cheek. "There, come in, child, you are thrice welcome. +How strange it all seems, to be sure;" and chatting away, Aunt Debby +led her weary niece into the cosy parlour, where the bright fire and +daintily spread table seemed to whisper of warmth and home comforts. +</P> + +<P> +"There, sit down, dear, and let me unfasten your cloak," she continued, +placing Nellie on a chair and proceeding to take off her hat with its +well soaked plume. "Dear heart! how the child resembles her father! +John's very eyes and nose, I declare. Well, well, I'm getting an old +woman, and the sight of this fresh, young face warns me of the passing +years." +</P> + +<P> +"I think, Debby, you should show Nellie her room and let her refresh +herself; there will be ample opportunity for talking to her later on, +and the child is wearied with travelling." +</P> + +<P> +Aunt Judith, who had just entered, said this in such a kind voice that +it was impossible to take offence, and Miss Deborah, raising her +little, twinkling eyes to her sister's face, replied, "Ah! Judith, I +need you to look after me still.—I have a sad tongue, my dear (to +Nellie), and am apt to chatter when I ought to be silent; come, let me +take you to your room now," and off trotted Aunt Debby with an air of +the utmost importance. +</P> + +<P> +Nellie followed wearily up the tiny stair with its white matting, and +then paused in glad delight as her guide, throwing open a door on one +side of the landing, ushered her into a small room. It was simply and +plainly furnished, as indeed was everything else in the house; but oh! +the spotless purity of the snowy counterpane and pretty toilets. The +curtains, looped back with crimson ribbon, fell to the ground in +graceful folds. Light sketches and illuminated texts adorned the +delicately tinted walls, and on a small table stood an antique vase +filled with fairest autumn flowers. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you pleased with your little bedroom, Nellie?" asked Aunt Debby, +noting the girl's look of genuine admiration; "there's not much to be +seen in the way of grandeur, but it's clean," and practical Miss +Deborah emphasized her words by nodding her head vigorously. +</P> + +<P> +"Pleased, Aunt Debby! Why, everything is beautiful. I never had a +room all to myself before, and this one is simply lovely. How can I +thank you sufficiently for being so good to me?" and there were tears +in Nellie's eyes as she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense, my dear," replied the kind woman in her brisk, cheery way; +"we are only too pleased to have you with us, and trust you will be +happy here;—now, if my tongue is not off again. There—not another +word; wash your face and hands, child, then come down to the parlour," +and Aunt Debby hurried from the room. +</P> + +<P> +Nellie found the cold water very refreshing, and made her appearance +downstairs with a much brighter, cleaner countenance. She found Miss +Deborah already seated before the urn, sugaring the cups and adding +cream with a very liberal hand; while Aunt Judith lay back on a low +rocking-chair looking dreamily into the glowing embers. Both started +as the girl entered, and Miss Latimer, rising, placed a chair before +the table and bade Nellie be seated, patting her niece's head gently in +her slow, kindly fashion, ere she sat down herself and prepared to +attend to the young traveller's wants. +</P> + +<P> +Nellie, though tired and home-sick, felt very hungry, and did ample +justice to the savoury meal, greatly to Aunt Debby's delight; for that +good lady had spared no pains, and had burnt her merry, plump face over +the fire, in order to make the supper a success. +</P> + +<P> +Neither aunt troubled her niece with questions, but each talked quietly +to the other; and thus left alone, as it were, Nellie found sufficient +time to study both faces, and jot down mentally her opinion of each at +first sight. One glance at Miss Deborah's rounded contour and +twinkling eyes was quite enough; but Miss Latimer's peaceful +countenance fascinated the young girl, and seemed to hold her +spell-bound. Yet, from a critical point of view, Aunt Judith's was not +a pretty face. It was defective in colouring and outline, and there +were lines on the quiet brow and round the patient lips; but the look +in the eyes—Nellie never forgot that look all her life—it seemed as +if Miss Latimer's very soul shone through those dark blue orbs, and +revealed the pure, spiritual nature of the woman. A keen physiognomist +might have traced the words "I have lived and suffered" in the calm, +hushed face with its crown of silver-streaked hair; but Nellie, only a +simple child, merely gazed and wondered what it was that made her think +Aunt Judith's the most beautiful face she had ever seen. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, dear," said the object of her thoughts, smiling kindly and +turning towards her when the dainty repast was over, "I think we shall +send you to bed, and after a good night's rest you will be refreshed +and ready for school-work to-morrow. Don't trouble removing the +plates, Debby; we shall have worship first, and that will free Nellie." +</P> + +<P> +Aunt Debby rose from her chair, handed Miss Latimer the old family +Bible, and placing a smaller one in Nellie's lap, reseated herself and +waited for Aunt Judith to begin. +</P> + +<P> +A chapter slowly and reverently read, a prayer perfect in its childlike +simplicity, then Miss Latimer laid a hand on her niece's shoulder and +bade her "Good-night;" whilst Miss Deborah, lighting a candle, led the +way as before, and after seeing she required no further service, +treated the girl to a hearty embrace, and prepared to depart. +</P> + +<P> +"A good sleep, child. You'll see Aunt Meg tomorrow; this has been one +of her bad days, but I expect she will be much better in the morning." +These were Aunt Debby's last words, and she bustled away as if fearing +to what extent her tongue might lead her. +</P> + +<P> +Nellie undressed, jumped into bed, and then, safely muffled under the +warm blankets, cried her homesickness out in the darkness. "O mother, +mother," she sobbed, "how I miss you! it is all so strange and lonely. +What shall I do?" But even as she wailed in her young heart's anguish, +the blankets were gently drawn aside, and a stream of light shining +down revealed the flushed tear-stained face on the pillow, and showed +Aunt Judith's gentle form bending over the sobbing figure. +</P> + +<P> +"Nellie," she said in that kind voice so peculiarly her own—"Nellie, +my child, I was afraid of this;" and putting her arms round the +trembling girl, she drew the weary head to her breast, and smoothed the +tangled hair with soothing touch. By-and-by the sobs became less +violent, and when they had finally ceased Miss Latimer spoke, and her +kind words were to the lonely heart as dew to the thirsty flowers. +</P> + +<P> +In after years Nellie found what a precious privilege it was to have a +talk with Aunt Judith; and long after, when the brave, true heart had +ceased to beat, and the quietly-folded hands spoke of a finished work, +she drew from her treasured storehouse the blessed memory of wise, +loving counsels, of grand, beautiful thoughts; and carrying them into +her daily life, endeavoured to make that life "one grand, sweet song." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +WILL YOU HAVE ME FOR A FRIEND? +</H3> + +<P> +"Late again! Winnifred Blake, I am ashamed of you; come, run as fast +as you can;" and scolding herself vigorously, Winnie changed her +leisurely step to a brisk trot which brought her to the schoolhouse +door exactly fifteen minutes after the hour. "Punishment exercise +yesterday, and fine to-day—how horrible!" she broke out again, +entering the empty dressing-room and surveying the array of hats on the +various pegs, all of which seemed to rebuke her tardiness. "Miss Smith +will purse up her lips, and utter some cutting sarcasm of course, but I +don't care," and Winnie, kicking off her boots, pitched them—well, I +don't think she herself knew where. The jacket being next unfastened, +she proceeded to divest herself of her hat, and pulled with such +violence that the elastic snapped and struck her face severely. +Winnie's temper (so Dick declared) resembled nothing so much as a +pop-gun, going off, as it were, with a great bang on the least +provocation. Flinging the offending article to the other side of the +room, and addressing it in anything but complimentary terms, she picked +up her books, shook her shaggy mane over her face, and marched straight +to the large class-room, where the girls were already busy over their +Bible lesson. +</P> + +<P> +"Half-an-hour late, Miss Blake. You really are improving. Allow me to +remind you of the fine, also of Mrs. Elder's instructions to take the +lowest seat;" and Miss Smith, the senior governess, uttered the words +with withering scorn. +</P> + +<P> +"Good-morning," replied the culprit, hiding an angry little heart under +a smiling exterior, and slipping her penny into the box on the +teacher's desk; "my sleep was slightly broken last night, and that made +me late." +</P> + +<P> +Here the girls tittered, and Miss Smith frowned. "Indeed," she +commented haughtily; "pray, does your constitution require a stated +interval of so many hours for sleep <I>every</I> night?" and the governess +laid special stress on the word "every." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, perhaps not," replied Winnie, coolly sitting down and proceeding +to unfasten her books; "but I always indulge in an extra half hour if I +am disturbed in my slumbers. Broken rest tells sorely on my nervous +system, and renders both myself and others miserable." +</P> + +<P> +At this point some of the pupils laughed outright, and Miss Smith's +anger rose. +</P> + +<P> +"Silence!" she said, rising and tapping rapidly on the desk. "Miss +Blake, you are a disgrace to the school. Attend to your lesson, and +let me hear no more rude, impertinent language, or I shall punish you +severely," and the governess treated Winnie to one glance of supreme +contempt as she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +The child ground her little white teeth together as she gazed on the +teacher's sour-faced visage and listened to the tones of her +high-pitched voice. "Regular crab-apple, and as cross as two sticks," +she muttered, knitting her brow in an angry frown, but smoothing it +hastily and calling up the necessary look of attention as Miss Smith +cast a swift glance in her direction; "how I should like to tell her +every horrid thought in my heart concerning herself. She would be +edified," and at the bare idea Winnie shook so much with suppressed +merriment that the girl next her opened a pair of bright, hazel eyes +and stared in amazement at the audacious child. +</P> + +<P> +The little mischief caught the look, and returning it with interest +found she was seated beside the new pupil whose advent had occasioned +yesterday's quarrel. There was something very engaging in the frank, +open countenance, and Winnie smiled pleasantly as she met the +astonished gaze. +</P> + +<P> +"Am I very rude and disobedient?" she asked, or rather whispered +roguishly; "you look so shocked and amazed. Please, don't judge by +first impressions; my bark is worse than my bite, and I can be a very +good girl when I choose. Self-praise is no honour, of course, and I +ought to be silent with regard to my various perfections and +imperfections; but if you wait patiently you will find out that +Winnifred Blake is a most eccentric character, and says and does what +no other person would say or do." +</P> + +<P> +Nellie Latimer's astonishment increased as she gazed on this (to her) +new specimen of humanity. What a dainty, fairy-like creature she +seemed, and what a mischievous gleam was lurking in the depths of those +great, shining eyes! Nellie felt quite awkward and commonplace in her +presence; however, she managed to say shyly, "I am afraid it is I who +have been rude staring at you so; but I did not mean any harm, only you +are so different from the other girls." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie gave her an admonishing touch. +</P> + +<P> +"Hush!" she whispered, "the raven is watching us. I mean Miss Smith," +as Nellie looked bewildered. "We call her that because she is +everlastingly croaking;" and here Winnie, leaning back on her seat, +assumed an expression of childlike innocence and solemnity, and +appeared to be thoroughly interested in the teacher's explanations. +</P> + +<P> +The lesson proceeded; slowly but surely the hands of the clock moved +steadily forward, and at last pointed to the hour, on which Miss Smith, +rising, closed her book and dismissed the class with evident feelings +of relief. +</P> + +<P> +"Ten minutes' respite, then heigh-ho for a long spell of grammar, +etc.," cried Winnie, addressing Nellie as they passed into the hall. +"You don't know your lessons to-day of course, and I am so well up in +mine that I shall not be able to answer a single word; so come away +with me to this quiet nook at the end of the passage and let us enjoy a +cosy talk." +</P> + +<P> +The "quiet nook" referred to was a recess at the hall window, +partitioned off by a drapery of tapestried curtains. It was a +favourite resort of Winnie's, and here the wonderful thoughts, the +outbursts of passion, the mischievous plots and schemes, all found free +course, and many a childish secret could those heavy folds of curtain +have told had they been gifted with tongues wherewith to speak. +</P> + +<P> +Dismissing the other school-fellows who were gathering round, and +shooting a triumphant glance at Ada Irvine's haughty face, she half +dragged her amused but by no means unwilling companion to the sacred +spot; and when both were comfortably perched on the window niche, she +began eagerly, "Won't you tell me your name and where you live? I am +called Winnifred Mary Blake. I have three big brothers, and a little +one; two sisters older than myself; a cross papa and proud step-mamma. +We live about a mile from here—No. 3 Victoria Square—and I go home to +dinner every day during recess." Having delivered this wonderful +announcement in one breath, Winnie paused and waited for her companion +to speak. +</P> + +<P> +Nellie smiled as she replied,— +</P> + +<P> +"My name is Helen Latimer, and my home is far away in a country +village. I am staying, however, in town with my aunts at present, they +live in a small cottage in Broomhill Road." +</P> + +<P> +"Broomhill Road!" echoed Winnie doubtfully; "that is not west, I fancy." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no, east; I have to take the 'bus, as it is too great a distance to +walk daily." +</P> + +<P> +"Not an aristocratic locality," Winnie decided mentally, "and Ada +Irvine getting hold of that little fact would use it as a means of +exquisite torture to this new girl's sensitive heart. Poor thing! she +looks so happy and blithe too." Thinking such thoughts, the +mischievous child turned to her companion with a soft, pitying light in +her eyes, and holding out a small flake of a hand, said gently,— +</P> + +<P> +"We have not much time at our disposal just now, and I cannot say all I +would wish; but you won't find it all plain sailing at school, Nellie, +and you will be none the worse of having some one to stand by you, so +will you have me for a friend?" +</P> + +<A NAME="img-018"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-018.jpg" ALT=""Will you have me for a friend?"" BORDER="2" WIDTH="402" HEIGHT="617"> +<H3 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 402px"> +"Will you have me for a friend?" +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +The quaint gipsy face with its framework of wavy hair; the bright, +sunny countenance and laughing lips; above all, the soft, childish +voice, charmed simple-hearted Nellie, who willingly grasped the hand +extended, with these words, "I shall be only too pleased indeed." So +the compact was sealed—a compact which remained unbroken through the +long months and years that followed. Time and adversity only served to +strengthen the bond, and the gray twilight of life found the friends of +childhood's days friends still. +</P> + +<P> +"Hark to the bell! are you ready?" asked Winnie, stretching her lazy +little form and rising reluctantly from the cosy corner; "now for a +long, long lecture on subject and predicate, ugh! How I do hate +lessons, to be sure;" and Miss Blake, parting the tapestried curtains, +stepped along the hall with a very mutinous face. +</P> + +<P> +Nellie having come to school with the fixed determination to make the +most of her time, prepared to listen to the master's instructions with +all due attention; but Winnie's incessant fidgeting and yawning baffled +every attempt, and the ludicrous answers, given with tantalizing +readiness, almost upset her gravity, despite Mr. King's unconcealed +vexation. +</P> + +<P> +"This is one of her provoking days," whispered a girl, noting Nellie's +puzzled face; "she will tease and annoy each teacher as much as +possible all this afternoon—-she always does so when in these moods. +Do not think her stupid, Miss Latimer; as the French master often says, +'It is not lack of ability, but lack of application.' She won't +learn," and Agnes Drummond, one of Winnie's stanchest allies, shook her +head admonishingly at the little dunce as she spoke; but a defiant pout +of the rosy lips was the only answer vouchsafed to the friendly +warning, and the next moment an absurdly glaring error brought down on +Winnie the righteous indignation of her irritated teacher, and resulted +in solitary confinement during recess. +</P> + +<P> +Sitting alone in the large empty class-room, the poor child burst into +a flood of passionate tears. "It's too bad," she cried rebelliously, +wiping her wet eyes and flinging her book aside with contemptuous +touch. "There, I can't go home now, and we are to have jam pudding to +dinner. Dick will chuckle—horrid boy! and eat my share as well as his +own. I know he will, and I do so love those kind of puddings, +especially when they are made with strawberry jam. Oh dear, how I envy +Alexander Selkirk on his desert island! I am sure he never had any +nasty old lessons to learn, and I think he was very stupid to grumble +over his solitude when he could do every day simply what he pleased. +Well, if I must study, I must; so, here goes," and, drawing the +despised grammar towards her once more, Winnie set herself steadily to +master part of the contents. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile, Nellie, deprived of the companionship of her new friend, was +being sharply catechised by Ada Irvine as to her antecedents and +general history. The girl at first innocently replied to each +question; but after a time she resented the queries, and thereby +incurred that young lady's haughty displeasure, and brought down on +herself the sharp edge of Ada's sarcastic tongue. +</P> + +<P> +"Not much of a pedigree to boast about, girls," was the final verdict, +given with a slight curl of the lip, signifying unbounded +contempt,—"the grandfather on the one side a farmer, on the other a +draper; the father a poor country doctor; three old maiden aunts living +in one of our commonest localities, keeping no servant, doing their own +work, and dressing like Quakers. It's a wonder to hear Miss Latimer +speak without dropping her h's, or otherwise murdering the Queen's +English, ha, ha!" and Miss Irvine shrugged her elegant shoulders +scornfully. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, come, Ada, that is going too far," protested some of the girls, +shocked at the rude words and the cool deliberate manner in which they +were said; but their insolent school-fellow silenced them with an +impatient gesture, as she surveyed the flushed face of her victim and +awaited a reply. +</P> + +<P> +Nellie felt both hurt and indignant. She had grown up in her quiet, +country home, totally ignorant of the arrogancy and pride so much +abroad in the busy world; and coming to school with the expectancy of +finding pleasant companions and friends, the words struck home to her +heart with a chill. +</P> + +<P> +"How unkind you are!" she murmured, struggling to suppress the angry +tears; "you have no right to speak so to me. My aunts are not rich, it +is true, and cannot afford to dress so extravagantly as many; but that +does not prevent them from being perfect gentlewomen, does it? Your +own mother cannot be a more thorough lady than my Aunt Judith, I am +sure." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that so?" said Ada with mocking sarcasm, and the contempt in her +voice was indescribable. "What presumption! the lower classes are +beginning to look up, sure enough." +</P> + +<P> +"Shame!" cried some of the girls standing near; "you are cruel, Ada." +But at that moment a slim hand touched Nellie's arm, and a merry voice +said soothingly, "Never mind her, Nellie; we all know she is not +responsible for her statements at times. Her brain is a little +defective on one point," and Winnie's great eyes shot a mischievous +glance at Miss Irvine's haughty face. +</P> + +<P> +"May I ask the reason of your special interference just now?" inquired +Ada, an angry flush deepening the rose-tint on her cheek; "possibly you +wish yesterday's scene to be repeated over again." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh dear, no," answered Winnie brightly, "home-truths seldom need +repetition; they are not so easily forgotten. But Nellie is my friend, +and I intend to fight her battles as well as my own. Please understand +that once for all, and remember at the same time with what metal you +have to deal.—Come, Nellie, I am free at last," and the spirited +little creature led her weeping school-mate from the room. +</P> + +<P> +"Didn't I warn you not to expect plain sailing?" she continued with a +knowing look; "and Ada Irvine is a perfect hurricane. She will swoop +down on you at every opportunity, and bluster and blow; but let her +alone and never mind." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I had never left home," replied Nellie, dashing her hand across +her eyes and winking away the tear-drops vigorously. "How can girls +say such dreadful things? I can't bear them;" and a fresh burst of +grief followed. +</P> + +<P> +"Phew!" cried Winnie, giving her an energetic shake, and knitting her +brow in a childish frown, "that's babyish. You'll strike on every rock +and bend before each gale if you talk in such a fashion. Don't be a +fool, Nellie; pluck up some spirit, and show Ada Irvine you're above +her contempt." Winnie spoke as if possessed with all the wisdom of the +ancients, and gave due emphasis to every word. "She and I are always +at what Dick calls 'loggerheads,' and I enjoy an occasional passage of +arms amazingly; only, sometimes I come off second on the field, and +that is not so pleasant. Now," with a pretty coaxing air, "dry your +tears; the hour is almost up, and the bell will be ringing shortly. I +hate to see people crying, I do indeed, so please stop;" and Winnie +eyed the tear-stained countenance of her friend with mingled sympathy +and impatience. +</P> + +<P> +"I daresay I am very silly," replied Nellie, wiping her eyes and +scrubbing her wet cheeks with startling vehemence; "anyhow I'll stop +now. And thank you for taking my part, Winnie; you'll be a friend +worth having, I am sure of that." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered the young girl, a strange dreamy smile playing on her +lips, and a soft look gleaming in the mischievous eyes, "I shall be +true as steel;" and Nellie never forgot the earnest light on the +childish face as Winnie made her simple vow. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A TALK WITH AUNT JUDITH. +</H3> + +<P> +It was evening; the daily routine of work was over, and the time come +for resting and social enjoyment. The ruby curtains were closely drawn +in the cosy parlour at Dingle Cottage; the flames leapt and danced in +the polished grate, and the soft lamplight fell with mellowing gleam +around. Click, click, went Aunt Debby's needles as she sat by the warm +glow, knitting industriously; tick, tick, said the little clock, its +pendulum swinging steadily to and fro. The cat purred in sleepy +content on the rug; and Aunt Judith's gentle voice fell soothingly on +the ear as she read some book aloud from her low seat by Aunt Meg's +couch. +</P> + +<P> +Nellie, curled up in the rocking-chair opposite Aunt Debby, rocked +herself in lazy comfort, and gazed on her invalid relative with rather +a doubtful expression of countenance. Her first impression of Miss +Margaret was certainly not favourable; for the girl, though not very +keen-sighted, saw how the pale pretty face was marred by lines of +peevish discontent, and the brow continually puckered in a fretful +frown. She was not old, Nellie decided—not much over thirty, at the +very most; but oh, how unlike Aunt Judith! What a contrast there was +betwixt that listless, languid form on the sofa, and the quiet figure +on the low chair near! Nellie turned with a positive sigh of relief to +rest her eyes on Miss Latimer's peaceful countenance and wonder at the +marvellous calm that always brooded there. +</P> + +<P> +Every now and then some frivolous demand or complaint would come from +the invalid—her pillows required shaking; the fire was too warm; the +lamplight not sufficiently shaded; what a noise Aunt Debby's pins were +making, and could Aunt Judith not read in a lower tone? Nellie was +surprised at Miss Latimer's good-humoured patience, and thoroughly +enjoyed Miss Deborah's occasional tart remarks, thrown out in sheer +desperation. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Meg, you would provoke the temper of a saint," she cried, +twitching her wool so violently that the thread snapped, and the ball +rolled under the table; "there you go grumbling from morning till +night, in spite of every endeavour to make you comfortable. Your +nurses have a hard time, I assure you, and are to be pitied sincerely." +</P> + +<P> +Miss Margaret's eyes filled, and a flood of tears being imminent, Miss +Latimer strove to avert the torrent by saying, "Come, come, Debby; that +is strong language to use. You and I great healthy creatures do not +know what it is to be confined to a couch day after day, and suffer +almost constant pain. I should feel it very hard to be unable to go +about and walk in God's beautiful sunshine, and I think one cannot be +sufficiently tender and patient towards the sick and helpless." +</P> + +<P> +"Mental pain is harder to bear than physical," quoth practical Miss +Deborah, in no way convinced of her harshness by the gentle speech. +"If one were to have one's choice, I reckon," with strong Yankeeism, "a +headache would be chosen in preference to a heartache," and Aunt Debby +nodded her head knowingly. +</P> + +<P> +A white, set look crossed Aunt Judith's face, and a shadow crept into +the dark eyes; but they were gone in a moment, and Miss Latimer's lips +wore their own sweet smile as she replied, "God grant you may +experience little of either, Debby; but if you do, trust me you will +find that both bring the richest blessings in their train;" and Aunt +Judith's patient face shone with a glad light as she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"Meg has failed to seize her blessings, then," said Miss Deborah +composedly. "No, no, Judith, you are a good woman, but you won't +convince me that Margaret is justified in whining and grumbling to the +extent she does." +</P> + +<P> +"I need never look for sympathy from you, Debby," broke in the invalid +with a low sob; "you are very hard-hearted, but the day will come when +all those cruel speeches will rise up and condemn you." +</P> + +<P> +"When?" with provoking gravity. +</P> + +<P> +"When I am no longer here" (low sobs), "and the cold earth hides me for +ever from your sight." +</P> + +<P> +"So let it be," retaliated Miss Deborah, coolly proceeding to turn the +heel of her stocking, and speaking quite placidly. "I shall remember +the amount of exasperation I received when that day comes, and be able +to meet the condemnation with becoming fortitude." +</P> + +<P> +"Debby, Debby," said Miss Latimer's voice reprovingly; but the warning +came too late. A violent fit of hysterics ensued, and Miss Margaret +was borne to her room by the much-enduring sisters, whose services were +both required to quell the outburst and settle her comfortably for the +night. +</P> + +<P> +Nellie, left alone in the snug parlour, drew her chair closer to the +fire, and lifting the cat from its cosy bed on the rug, allowed it to +curl up comfortably on her lap. "What a fuss," said the girl, +shrugging her shoulders and gazing into the bright, glowing fire. "If +I were Aunt Meg, I should be positively ashamed of myself—peevish, +cross thing that she is. What a contrast to Aunt Judith;" and here +Nellie fell into a fit of musing, which lasted till Miss Deborah came +in with the cloth for supper. +</P> + +<P> +"How is Aunt Meg now?" she inquired, watching Aunt Debby bustling about +on hospitable thoughts intent. "Is she better?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, yes," was the reply, given with a little twinkle of the eye; +"and a good night's rest will work wonders. You must excuse your aunt +this evening, Nellie; she is not always so fretful, and an invalid's +life has its hard times." +</P> + +<P> +Miss Deborah spoke earnestly, for although she felt justified in saying +a sharp word herself, she could ill brook the idea of any one +disparaging or thinking lightly of her invalid sister. Nellie gave a +slight nod of assent, which seemed to signify approval of Aunt Debby's +words. Nevertheless she retained her own opinion, and mentally +condemned poor Miss Margaret as being both weak and silly. +</P> + +<P> +Supper over, Miss Deborah retired to the kitchen, where her reign as +queen was undisputed, and Miss Latimer, bidding Nellie bring a small +stool and sit down at her feet, began to stroke the soft hair gently, +and ask questions as to the day's proceedings. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell me your first impressions, dear child," said the kind voice +pleasantly; and the young girl, whose heart still ached at the +remembrance of Ada Irvine's stinging words, poured forth the whole +story with a force and passion which astonished even herself. +</P> + +<P> +Aunt Judith listened quietly—so quietly, indeed, that Nellie felt half +ashamed of her vehemence, and imagined she had been making "much ado +about nothing;" but in a few minutes Miss Latimer spoke, and her tones +were very tender as she said:—"So my little Nellie has learned that +school is not the sunny place she fancied it was. Dear child, I think +your new friend gave you very good advice. Don't be a coward, Nellie, +and allow your happiness to be marred by the insolent tongue of a +spoilt girl. Show her a true lady is characterized, not by outward +dress and appearance, but by the innate beauty of heart and soul, and +leave your quiet endurance and pleasant courtesy to speak for +themselves. Dear, it seems to me as if you were just beginning life +now—as if you had but newly entered the lists, and were preparing for +that battle which we have all to fight in this world. The warfare is +seldom, if ever, an easy one, and the little stings of everyday life +are harder to bear than many a heavy trial; but you must determine to +be a brave, true soldier, Nellie, and make your life a grand, noble +one. You may say to me it is easy to speak, but difficult to act, +which I readily grant; but, my child, although the acting may seem +almost impossible, we have one Friend ever able and willing to help us. +If we choose Him in all sincerity of heart for our Captain, we need not +fear to engage in the very thick of the fight." +</P> + +<P> +Aunt Judith paused; and Nellie, seizing the gentle hand which was +stroking her head with tender touch, said, "You make me think of my +father, auntie; he speaks so often to us just as you are doing now. +Every Sabbath evening, when the little ones are in bed, he gathers us +round him; and after reading a portion of the Bible, he closes the book +and talks in the same way. Oh, I feel so strong and brave while I +listen—I feel as if I could face the heaviest sorrow with all courage; +but when Monday comes my good resolutions vanish, and I find myself +yielding and sinning as before." +</P> + +<P> +The girl gazed straight at her aunt as she spoke, fearing to see a look +of disapprobation over her weakness; but Miss Latimer's face was as +calm as ever, only the eyes seemed softer and full of such a tender, +loving light as she replied,— +</P> + +<P> +"We have most of us the same story to tell, child,—a story of bravery +so long as the battle is far off, but of cowardly shrinking when the +time for hand-to-hand conflict comes. Whilst the sunshine is all +around us and our hearts full of great gladness, we look up and thank +the good Father for his precious blessings, feeling nerved for the +fiercest fight; but when the storm-clouds gather and the golden +brightness is withdrawn, we bow before the blinding tempest and writhe +under our pain, unless—and the kind voice spoke very softly—the +Master has our hearts in his own safe keeping, unless we have learned +to love his will. Then we can discern the bright stars of his love +shining through the darkness, and find that the apparently pitiless +storm has left diamond drops of blessing behind it. Never despair, +Nellie; strive and pray for grace to follow in the Master's footsteps, +and you will learn what a grand, noble thing the consecrated life is, +and how truly worth living. You know those lines of Kingsley's, do you +not?— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +'Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever;<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em"><I>Do</I> noble things, not <I>dream</I> them all day long;</SPAN><BR> +And so make life, death, and the vast forever,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">One grand sweet song.'"</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +There was a long silence after this, during which Nellie thought +deeply, and Aunt Judith lay back in her chair with quietly-folded hands +and a far-seeing look in her patient eyes. Then the girl said +earnestly, "Aunt Judith, I will try very hard to do my best, I will +indeed; and oh, may I come to you when things go wrong, and I can't or +won't see the right way? It does me good to have a talk with you, and +takes half the home-sickness away. Say yes; please do, dear, dear, +dear auntie;" and Nellie's voice sounded very earnest. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall be only too glad, my child," replied Miss Latimer with her +rare sweet smile. "Treat me as you would your own mother, dear, and +let me help you so far as I am able; only, Nellie, don't depend on your +own strength or my aid, but go straight to the Fountain-head, and find +the never-failing strength and grace for the needs of every day." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, Aunt Judith," was the fervent response; then Aunt Debby +entered, and the conversation ceased. +</P> + +<P> +Bedtime came. Nellie retired for the night; Miss Deborah 'followed +suit;' and Miss Latimer, extinguishing the light, crossed the tiny +hall, and opening a door to the left, entered, and closed it softly +behind her. +</P> + +<P> +This, her private sanctum, was like the other apartments—small and +plainly furnished, but with the same air of neatness and comfort. A +book-case lined one side of the room entirely; a small round table +stood close to the window, bright with autumn flowers; a larger one in +the centre of the room held a desk, and was strown with papers, +magazines, etc.; while soft chairs inviting one to luxurious ease faced +the ruddy hearth, and various little nick-nacks scattered here and +there showed the graceful touch of a woman's hand. +</P> + +<P> +Going to the centre table, Aunt Judith seated herself before the open +desk, looked over several closely-written sheets of manuscript, and +then furnishing herself with fresh paper, began to write rapidly. +</P> + +<P> +The fire burned slowly out, and the midnight hour had long sounded ere +Miss Latimer dried her pen and laid aside her work with a tired sigh. +Crossing to the window, she raised the blind, and leaning against the +casement, looked away up at the quiet night sky. There was no moon; +but the happy stars, shining with frosty brightness, kept their silent +watch over the sleeping world. Oh, how still, how very hushed it was! +what a great infinite peace seemed brooding over all—a peace such as +millions of weary souls were longing to possess; not a sound to be +heard, not a ripple of unrest—only that wondrous calm. For a long +time Miss Latimer stood drinking in the sweetness and beauty of the +nature-world, and letting her thoughts soar up, upwards to the great +Father of all, who neither slumbers nor sleeps. What those thoughts +were we do not know; but surely some of that vast peace must have +stolen softly, silently, into her patient heart, for when she turned +away and entered a tiny bedroom leading off from her sanctum, Aunt +Judith's face seemed as it were the face of an angel. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A FALLEN QUEEN. +</H3> + +<P> +Next morning Nellie set out for school in apparently the best of +spirits, returning Aunt Judith's encouraging smile with one as bright +and hopeful, and shouting a merry farewell as she ran lightly down the +garden path and closed the little gate behind her. +</P> + +<P> +Arriving fully ten minutes before the hour, she found several of the +girls already assembled in the large class-room, gathered as usual in +knots, and talking gaily to one another. +</P> + +<P> +"Good-morning," said Agnes Drummond, coming forward and holding out her +hand in a friendly manner. "You are going to be a punctual pupil, Miss +Latimer." And the other scholars, not being overpowered as yet by +Ada's presence, nodded blithely and allowed their new school-mate to +join in the general conversation. +</P> + +<P> +While girlish tongues were busy and the room was filled with the hum of +merry voices, the great bell rang loudly, and at the same moment Winnie +came rushing in, crying half breathlessly as she did so, "Just in time, +girls; not a minute too soon. Good-morning, everybody. Do I look as +if I had been having a good race?" and she turned her piquant face +round for a general survey. +</P> + +<P> +"A species of milk-maid bloom," said Ada Irvine, catching the words as +she leisurely entered the room, "which makes you appear more suited to +your friend of the dairy-maid type;" and Miss Irvine looked insolently +at Nellie's fresh bright face as she spoke. The soft tints on the +smooth, rounded cheek deepened, and the girl bit her lip hard to keep +back the angry words. +</P> + +<P> +Not so Winnie, however. Turning a pair of great, serious eyes on her +haughty school-mate's fair, placid countenance, she said with an air of +prophetic solemnity,— +</P> + +<P> +"Ada Irvine, you will yet be rewarded for all your contemptuous +speeches. Mark my words, and see if you don't get smashed up in a +railway accident, or fall a victim to that delightfully disfiguring +disease—small-pox. Serve you right too. Every dog has its day: you +are enjoying yours at present, and can say and do as you please; +but—ugh! I'm disgusted at you," and Winnie "tip-tilted" her little +nose with the most charming grace imaginable. +</P> + +<P> +Ada smiled loftily. +</P> + +<P> +"I would not be vulgar, if I were you," she remarked calmly. "I +suppose you learn all those choice proverbs from your aristocratic +brother. Ah, there is Mrs. Elder coming to open the school. Do alter +your expression, my dear; you are regarding me with such loving eyes, I +am sure she will think you are too affectionate," and Ada swept to her +seat with a mocking laugh. +</P> + +<P> +The lessons commenced, and Nellie, thoroughly prepared, almost forgot +the morning's annoyance in the joy at finding herself slowly rising to +the head of the class, where Miss Irvine sat with all the dignity of an +enthroned queen. +</P> + +<P> +Ten minutes' respite; then came the English, conducted by Mr. King, the +most thorough and rigid master in the school. A question was asked—a +question calculated to tax severely the skill and ingenuity of the +active brain. Ada hesitated for one moment, then made a fatal blunder; +and Nellie, answering correctly, slipped quietly into the seat of the +deposed sovereign. Winnie's delight was indescribable. One triumphant +glance after another flashed upwards to the fallen queen's angry face, +and her bright eyes fairly danced with wicked joy when, at the close of +the class, Mr. King said a few words of commendation on Miss Latimer's +abilities. +</P> + +<P> +"Nellie, Nellie! I'm proud of my friend to-day, She's a regular brick, +and deserves any amount of hugging and petting. Oh joy, joy! how did +you manage it, dear? You have taken the wind out of Ada's sails and +gained a feather in your cap, I can assure you. It all seems too good +to be true. The queen dethroned at last!" and Winnie catching Nellie +round the waist, danced her up and down the schoolroom in a regular +madcap whirl. +</P> + +<P> +"You'll be late for dinner if you don't hurry home at once, Win," said +one of the elder girls, crossing over to the fire and seating herself +by its cheery blaze with a tempting book and box of caramels. "There, +run away and don't waste your precious time in speaking uncharitable +words, dear. Recess will soon be over;" and Elsie Drummond looked +kindly down on the little figure dancing before her with such evident +delight. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm just going," replied Winnie, stopping to bestow a smile on the +elder girl's pleasant face. "But you can't understand why I am so +happy. You don't belong to our set, and therefore know very little +about Ada's conceit and—yes, I shall say it—priggish ways. She's +just as horrid as can be, and I hate her," wound up the malicious +monkey, quite reckless of the character of her language. +</P> + +<P> +"Agnes owns rather a sharp tongue, dear, and I hear many a tale from +her," replied Elsie, referring to her younger sister; "but I think, +Win, if you wish to be a true friend to Nellie, you will refrain from +expressing your joy at her success too openly, at least in Ada's +presence. Such unconcealed delight will, believe me, dear, do more +harm than good." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, nonsense, Elsie," was the impetuous reply. "I must sing and dance +my joy, it's such a splendid opportunity. Why shouldn't I crow over +the nasty proud thing? She needs somebody to ruffle her, and I can do +that part better than any one else in the school.—You don't mind my +having a little fun, do you, Nellie? she's such a cross-patch, you +know." +</P> + +<P> +Now, as was quite natural under the circumstances, Nellie did feel not +a little elated over her success. It was a triumph certainly, and +girl-like she found it both palatable and pleasant to rejoice over a +fallen enemy. At the same time, however, she saw the force of Miss +Drummond's caution, and the wisdom of yielding to her advice, so +turning to Winnie she answered gently,— +</P> + +<P> +"Please say no more about it; it was all chance, and Ada may gain her +old seat to-morrow again, though I mean to try to prevent her from +doing so." +</P> + +<P> +But the words were simply wasted on the incorrigible child, who resumed +her fantastic war-dance as she replied,— +</P> + +<P> +"No, no; I shall not make any false promise. I mean to be a true, +loyal friend, Nell; but if a nice little malicious speech comes gliding +softly to the very tip of my tongue, I must let the words out, +otherwise there will be choking. Prepare then for sudden squalls," and +with a mischievous laugh Winnie vanished from the room, and was soon +running along the road in the direction of home. +</P> + +<P> +"The old story—late again," said Dick, looking up from his well-filled +plate as she entered and sat down opposite him at the table. "You'll +never have time to cram down cabinet pudding and tart to-day, I'll be +bound;" and the boy grinned teasingly on the bright face before him. +</P> + +<P> +"Won't I, though?" answered Winnie, nodding her head blithely, and +eying the contents of the plate brought to her by Jane the parlour-maid +with decided relish. "Don't imagine you'll get my share to-day, Dicky +boy, for I'm as hungry as a hawk. I have something to tell you, +however, so please listen;" and between mouthfuls she told in a +rambling style the story of Nellie's triumph and Ada's defeat, ending +with the following words, "Do you know, Dick, when I saw Ada sitting +below Nellie and looking so crestfallen, I could have risen there and +then and danced for joy before her. Will you believe me, I felt so +glad I could hardly restrain my feet till the hour was up, and whenever +liberty was proclaimed, didn't they go well at the Irish jig! Oh +dear!" and Winnie's face was all aglow as she waited her brother's +commendatory remarks on such behaviour. +</P> + +<P> +Dick coughed, blew his nose violently, filled out some water into his +glass, quaffed the draught, cleared his throat, and then said gravely, +"I'll tell you what to do, Win. This evening, after we have finished +studying, I'll teach you a splendid double-shuffle which you will +rehearse to-morrow (with added grace, of course,) in front of the +lovely Ada, and before all the class—Mr. King included. My eye, what +glorious fun!" and vulgar Dick looked across at his sister with beaming +face. +</P> + +<P> +"I dare hardly attempt that," she replied dolefully, "though I should +dearly love doing so. But you see, Dick" (with energy), "Mrs. Elder +detests me so much, and I have been caught in so many faults lately, +that such an awful one as you propose would prove fatal. Your +delightful plan must be abandoned, I am sorry to say." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, perhaps after all you are right," replied the boy, changing his +teasing tone into a serious one. "I daresay Miss Ada's rage would only +increase in fury if she saw you performing a triumph-dance and +rejoicing so extravagantly over her defeat. I remember a few years ago +something of the same kind occurring in our school, and wasn't there a +blow-up at the end! I was one of the little chaps then, but I managed +to keep my eyes and ears open, and knew more about the whole affair +than any one guessed." +</P> + +<P> +"Tell me the story, Dick," interrupted Winnie, holding a spoonful of +tart suspended betwixt her mouth and plate, and speaking eagerly; "do, +there's a dear boy." But Dick shook his shaggy head, and answered,— +</P> + +<P> +"Not just now, Win. Our time is almost up. Finish your pudding, old +girl, and let us away. By-the-by, don't expect me home till after five +this afternoon;" and the boy's bright face clouded as he made this +statement. +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" was the inquiry. "We were going to have such splendid fun +together. Is there anything wrong?" +</P> + +<P> +"Kept in," uttered in a growling tone. "Lessons as usual badly +prepared—denounced for my stupidity, and ordered to remain after hours +and work up. See what it is to have a dunce of a brother, Win," and +Dick, curling his lip sneeringly, endeavoured to hide his wounded +feelings by putting his hands in his pockets and trying to look +perfectly indifferent. +</P> + +<P> +Winnie, on her part, burst forth indignantly,— +</P> + +<P> +"Not another word against yourself, Richard Blake. I won't listen." +Then coming to her brother's side and slipping two soft arms round his +neck, she raised her eyes with the love-light shining so softly in +them, and murmured tenderly, "Don't be downcast, dear old boy—all will +come right some day; and I am just as stupid as you are." +</P> + +<P> +"No, no," cried Dick quickly. "Indolence is your fault, Win, not +stupidity. But I—I can't learn, and that's the simple truth. I've +tried over and over again, but it's no good; and, of course," +(doggedly) "no one believes that fact." +</P> + +<P> +"I do," said the soft little voice. "But, Dick, people don't know you. +There you go," (with quaint gravity) "hiding that great, kind heart of +yours, and showing only a rough exterior. Our father and mother never +guess bow brave and good and true you are. They'll find all that out +some day, however;" and Winnie looked into her brother's honest +freckled face with all the affection of her loyal, little heart. +</P> + +<P> +"You're a decided goose, Win," was all the answer vouchsafed to her +cheering words, as the boy rose from his chair and prepared to leave +the room; but the twinkle in his eye, and kind, firm pressure of his +hand, when they parted at the street corner, spoke volumes to little +Winnie, and sent her back to school with a happy heart. +</P> + +<P> +She was very thoughtful all that afternoon, however, and so quiet that +when school was over and the two girls stood on the steps of Mrs. +Elder's Select Establishment, Nellie inquired anxiously if her friend +were ill. +</P> + +<P> +"Ill!" repeated Winnie with a light laugh; "not I—only, I've been +a-thinking," and a long-drawn sigh accompanied the words. +</P> + +<P> +"What about?" asked her companion, descending the steps and viewing the +little figure with the great, serious look on its face. "What a +doleful expression, Winnie! You look as if you had, like Atlas, the +whole world on your shoulders." +</P> + +<P> +"Nellie," interrupted the child—for indeed she seemed little more than +such—with the faintest quiver in her voice, "did you ever think, and +think, and think, till your head seemed bursting, and all your thoughts +got whirled together? No? Ah, well, I have; and somehow when I get +into these moods everything becomes muddled, and I find myself all in a +maze. Oh!" and Winnie spoke with passionate vehemence, "often I would +give I don't know how much to find some one who could understand and +explain away my thoughts." +</P> + +<P> +"Why not speak to your mother?" asked Nellie, rather surprised at this +new phase in her friend's character; "surely she should be able to help +you." +</P> + +<P> +But the little girl shook her head despondingly. "No, no, Nellie; my +stepmother is very kind and pretty, but I don't see much of her, and +she would only laugh at me." +</P> + +<P> +They were strolling leisurely along the street now, and the child's +voice had a plaintive ring in it as she continued: "I was very ill +about a year ago—so ill, Nellie, that I had to lie in bed day after +day for a long time. I can't tell what was wrong with me, but I know +the doctor used to look very grave when he saw me; and one day, after +he had gone away, nurse went about my room crying softly to herself. I +was too weak to care or think, and only wondered dreamily what she was +crying for, till my stepmother entered, and I noticed that her eyes +were red too. They imagined I was sleeping, I suppose, for nurse quite +loudly asked, 'Is there no hope?' O Nellie! I shall never forget that +moment, never so long as I live. I seemed to realize that I was +dying—really, truly dying—and the thought was awful. What would +happen to me after death? I could not, I dared not die. Springing +with sudden strength from the bed, I tried to rush anywhere, screaming, +'Save me! don't let me die!' in the most awful agony. Then came a long +blank. I never forgot that time, but I never spoke of it to any one. +Where was the use? I should only have been laughed at, and told to +think about living, not dying." +</P> + +<P> +There was something so pathetic in the way all this was told, there was +such an amount of pathos in the quivering voice, that Nellie's heart +ached and the tears rushed to her eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"Winnie," she began gently, "I know what would do you all the good in +the world—a talk with Aunt Judith. I am sure she would never laugh +away your thoughts or refuse to listen, she is so good and kind; and +when she speaks, one feels as if all one's wicked passions were hushed +away." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie brightened visibly. +</P> + +<P> +"Is that so?" she inquired; "then I should dearly like to see her. +Won't you invite me to spend some afternoon with you, Nellie, and allow +me to see Aunt Judith and your cosy wee home?" +</P> + +<P> +"I shall be only too pleased, Winnie," replied her companion. Then the +two friends parted and went their respective roads—one to a +fashionable home where gaiety reigned supreme and pleasure filled up +every hour; the other to a lowly cottage-dwelling where God's holy name +was hallowed, and the Christ-life showed itself clear and bright in +Aunt Judith's daily walk. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +WINNIE'S HOME. +</H3> + +<P> +That same evening Winnie and Dick were alone together in the oak +parlour; a room sacred to themselves, where they ate, studied, played, +and lived, as it were, a life quite apart from that of the other +inmates of the family, who, occupied with business or domestic duties +through the day, spent evening after evening in a round of gaiety and +amusement. Brother and sister enjoyed little of the society of their +elders during the week, but on Saturdays and Sabbaths they were usually +expected to lunch with their parents—an honour which, I am sorry to +say, neither appreciated; for somehow Dick seldom failed to commit a +gross blunder or make some absurd speech at a critical moment, and +Winnie, though a general favourite, refused to be happy when he was +sternly upbraided for his fault. +</P> + +<P> +The father, a man of wide culture and refinement, had no patience with +his son's clumsy movements and slow brain, refusing to look under the +surface and see the great loving heart which beat there with its wealth +of warm true affection; while Mrs. Blake and the elder brothers and +sisters regarded him in the light of a good-for-nothing or general +scapegrace. The result was that Dick hid the many sterling qualities +of his nature under a gruff, forbidding exterior, and only +tender-hearted Winnie guessed how he winced and writhed under the +mocking word or light laugh indulged in at his expense. Resenting them +bitterly, she gathered up all the love of her passionate little heart +and showered it on him, idolizing this big brother of hers to such an +extent that even his faults seemed gilded with a halo; and her +affection being equally returned, both found their greatest happiness +in each other's society. +</P> + +<P> +Oh, what fun they had together in the oak parlour! Oh, the shouts of +ringing laughter and the merry jest of words! Now and then Dick would +bring home with him his special friend, Archie Trollope, and what a +night would follow,—Winnie entering into their games with all the zest +of her tomboy nature. +</P> + +<P> +She never felt solitary or out of place in the company of these two +boys; and they—why, they looked upon her as one of themselves: Dick +describing her to his numerous companions as being a "tip-top" girl, +and Archie singing her praises loudly to his own sisters who never knew +what it was to join in a madcap frolic, and whose voices were strictly +modulated to society pitch. +</P> + +<P> +Sometimes, in the long winter evenings, the trio, tired with play, +would lower the gas, and gathering round the large, blazing fire, tell +ghost stories with such thrilling earnestness that often the ghastly +phantoms seemed to merge almost into reality, and they found themselves +starting at a falling cinder or the sound of a footstep in the passage +outside. On those occasions the window-blind was usually drawn up to +the top, that the pale, glimmering moonlight might stream in; and as +the soft silvery beams stole silently into the room and laid their +tremulous light on the young forms and awestruck faces, the flames +leaping and crackling joined in enhancing the effect of the story by +throwing on the walls weird shadows of a moving spectral band. +</P> + +<P> +But the winter days were yet to come, though the cold autumn winds and +falling leaves heralded their sure approach; and this evening Winnie +and Dick were engaged—not in wandering hand in hand into wonderland, +but in the prosaic occupation of making toffy. +</P> + +<P> +Winnie, enveloped in one of nurse's huge bib-aprons, stood at a little +distance from the fire, busily studying a book of recipes; while Dick, +his honest face burnt to the colour of a lobster, was bending over a +saucepan and stirring manfully the tempting contents. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said the young lady, laying aside the well-thumbed volume and +taking a step forward, "the quantities are correct. I am sure this +will be excellent toffy, but—Dick, you shocking boy! whatever are you +doing? Licking the spoon, I declare. How very vulgar!" and Winnie +opened her eyes in horrified amazement at her brother's lack of +good-breeding. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you see, Win," replied the culprit meekly, "you so often make +mistakes and put in some awful compound that I am obliged to guard +against being poisoned. Having a sincere affection for life, and not +being like Portia 'aweary of this great world,' I consider it my duty +to take all due precautions, and therefore <I>pardonnez-moi</I> for tasting +the toffy." +</P> + +<P> +The young cook drew her slight figure up and said with an air of +offended dignity, "I flatter myself that I am quite capable of making +excellent toffy, Richard Blake, and am well aware as to the proper +ingredients." +</P> + +<P> +"Doubtless," with a sweeping bow, "but 'accidents will happen in the +best-regulated families;' and I remember how you substituted salt for +sugar the last time, and apparently never discovered your mistake till +you had dosed me with some of the vile concoction. It was cracking +stuff, I can assure you." Here Dick became thoroughly convulsed at the +remembrance of that disastrous night, and laughed so heartily that +Winnie fled to the rescue of her beloved toffy, and seized the spoon +from her brother's swaying hand. +</P> + +<P> +"What an object you look!" she said scornfully, stirring the clear +brown liquid and inhaling its savoury odour with intense satisfaction. +"I don't see anything to laugh at;" and she began to hum the tune of an +old nursery rhyme, as if utterly indifferent to both Dick and his +laughter. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't ape Madame Dignity, Win," gasped the awful boy in an almost +strangled condition; "lofty airs are not becoming to such a little +creature. You know perfectly well what a 'go' it was, and thought I +was about to 'shuffle off this mortal coil.'" Dick had a weakness for +Shakespeare. "Oh dear! when I reflect upon it all and remember the +taste—" but here Winnie was obliged to give in and join in his +merriment, for the boy's face of pretended disgust was too comical to +resist. +</P> + +<P> +"Dick, you are dreadful!" she said at length, the tears streaming down +her cheeks and her voice still trembling with a lurking suspicion of +laughter. "Will you never forget that eventful night!" +</P> + +<P> +"Never," replied her brother with mock gravity; "the remembrance is +printed indelibly on the records of my memory, and the taste remains +for ever fresh to my palate. Let us change the conversation, Win; the +subject is too much for my delicate constitution." +</P> + +<P> +"I am quite agreeable," quoth the young lady composedly, "and in that +case allow your hands to be active and your tongue silent. I want the +tin buttered, and the bottle of vanilla essence brought from the +pantry. Now, do hurry, for the toffy is almost ready." +</P> + +<P> +Dick obeyed orders, and in a short time the candy was cooling outside +on the window ledge, while brother and sister, comfortably settled in +their respective chairs, were preparing to enjoy a "quiet read." +</P> + +<P> +"This is a splendid book, Dick," said the little chatterbox, toying +with the leaves of her dainty volume, and glancing at the tasteful +engravings. "All the school-girls are raving about it, and saying how +delightfully interesting the story is." +</P> + +<P> +"What's the name and who's the author?" inquired Dick, too much +engrossed in his own book of wonderful adventures to give much heed to +his sister's words. "Quick, Win; I'm just killing a whale. Ah! now +they've got him. Bravo!" and the boy shouted his appreciation of the +stirring tale. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, the title of the book is 'A Summer's Pleasure;' and the +author—let me see—why—" and Winnie stopped short, her eyes opened to +their widest extent and her rosy lips slightly parted. +</P> + +<P> +"What's up with the girl?" queried Dick, roused by the little sister's +surprised tone and bewildered expression. "Lot's wife could not have +looked more petrified, I'll be bound. Do satisfy a fellow's curiosity, +Win, and don't sit there mute as a fish." +</P> + +<P> +Thus admonished, Winnie gave herself a little shake and laughed lightly. +</P> + +<P> +"No wonder," she said excusingly. "Only think, Dick,—the author of +this book calls herself 'Aunt Judith,' and that is the name of one of +Nellie Latimer's aunts." +</P> + +<P> +The boy gave a prolonged whistle. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you are a little fool," he said politely, "to make such a fuss +about nothing. Dear me, Win, you don't imagine surely that Nellie +Latimer's aunt is the author of that book, simply because her name +happens to be Judith. Why, there are hundreds of Aunt Judiths in the +world;" and philosopher Dick went back to his whales and icebergs in +lofty contempt of his sister's excitement. +</P> + +<P> +"I daresay I am a goose," laughed Winnie apologetically; "but somehow +it seemed so strange to see 'Aunt Judith' staring at me from the +title-page. Aunt Judith—" and the little girl repeated the name +softly, as if those two words held for her some subtle charm. +</P> + +<P> +The minutes passed slowly one by one. Dick was away in the far north +fighting the whales, and having wonderful adventures with polar bears; +while Winnie, curled up cosy fashion in the depths of a huge easychair, +was also absorbed in the contents of her book; when the soft +swish-swish of garments was heard coming along the passage, and the +door opened to admit a fair, stately lady, whose silken robe fell in +graceful folds to her feet, and whose arms, neck, and hair glittered +with sparkling jewels. She was followed by two younger ladies, as +richly but more youthfully dressed; and as they entered the room a +delicious perfume distilled itself and wafted all around the sweetest +fragrance. +</P> + +<P> +"Mamma!" cried Winnie, springing up and gazing admiringly on the +beautiful figure before her; "how pretty you look! Are you going out +to-night again, and Clare and Edith also?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, dear," replied Mrs. Blake in a softly-modulated voice; "we are +all going to the opera, and the carriage is already at the door. I +wished to know, however, why Dick was so late in getting home this +afternoon, and so looked in on you as I was passing." +</P> + +<P> +Dick, who had barely glanced up at his stepmother's entrance, and then +continued reading, now knit his brow in an angry frown, and seemed +unwilling to answer; while Clare, the elder of the two young ladies, +laughed carelessly as she said, "Our invasion for that purpose was +hardly necessary, I fancy. It is simply the old story over +again—badly-prepared lessons." +</P> + +<P> +"You're about right there," replied the boy sullenly, never raising his +eyes from the volume before him. "What else could you expect of the +dunce?" and a bitter sneer curled the corners of his lips as he spoke, +while Winnie's warm little heart was all aglow with love and sympathy. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Blake's face assumed an expression of peevish distress. "I am +sure, Dick," she began plaintively, "I do not know what the end of all +this will be. Your father is perfectly disgusted at your indolence and +ashamed of your stupidity." The boy's eyes flashed. "Yes, it is quite +true. I am tired listening to his continual complaints;" and the lady +drew her fleecy wrap round her with an injured air. +</P> + +<P> +"O mamma," interrupted Winnie eagerly, "you are wronging Dick. He may +not be so clever as Algy and Tom, but he is such a dear, good boy, and +does try ever so hard to learn his lessons. He does indeed; and I +should know best, when I study beside him every night." +</P> + +<P> +"That's enough, Win," answered her brother doggedly. "I don't care +what they believe;" and the boy, drawing his chair closer to the fire, +gazed angrily into the burning embers. +</P> + +<P> +"What a respectful speech, and what charming manners!" said Edith +scornfully. "You would grace any drawing-room, Dick.—Come away, +mamma; we shall be late. Papa will soon bring his dutiful son to his +proper senses." +</P> + +<P> +"Well spoken, Edith," said Mrs. Blake, sweeping indignantly from the +room; "the boy is a perfect boor. I trust he may show more honour to +his father than he has accorded to me." +</P> + +<P> +The door closed softly behind the unwelcome guests, the light footsteps +died away in the distance, and Winnie and Dick were once more alone in +the little oak parlour, with the dancing firelight playing on their +faces and roguishly deepening the tint on their youthful cheeks. +</P> + +<P> +Dick's book had dropped from his knees, and was lying with crumpled +leaves on the rug, while the boy, his hands tightly clenched, sat in +moody silence; and Winnie's tender heart ached as she watched him. +Slipping from her chair, she crossed over to his side, and nestling +down, laid her pretty head on his arm, saying with a quiver in her +voice, "Dick, my dear, good boy, don't look like that; I can't bear it. +Oh, why do they say such things to you?" Here the tears forced +themselves into the bright eyes as she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +Dick gave the fender a vicious kick ere he replied: "I tell you what it +is, Win: one of these days I'll run away. No, no; don't strangle me +and say I won't, for I tell you I <I>will</I>. A fellow can't be expected +to stand this sort of thing all his life. I'm sick of it. Hallo! +what's up?" for Winnie's arms were clasped tightly round his neck and +the great tears were running silently down her cheeks. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't go, Dick, oh, don't go!" she pleaded frantically, half choking +the boy with her violent embraces. "Whatever should I do without you? +Dick, you must not go; only wait, and all will come right in the end. +Promise, promise!" and the little gipsy face looked pitiful in its wild +terror. +</P> + +<P> +Dick's heart melted. +</P> + +<P> +"There, there, dry your eyes, you wee goose; I was only teasing you. +Why, what a disconsolate-looking object somebody is!" and laughing his +sister out of her fright, the two sat chatting merrily till bed-time, +when Winnie went away to her own dainty room, and Dick also sought his +den. +</P> + +<P> +Then, when alone in the darkness, the merriment died out of his face, +and as he lay thinking over his wrongs, real and imaginary, bitter +feelings swept over his heart, and the idle threat began to form itself +into fixed determination. "I would go right off to-night were it not +for Win," he muttered, tossing restlessly on his pillows; "but I guess +she would fret sorely, and—'there's the rub.'" Another Shakespearian +quotation. "Well, well, I'll sleep over it;" and then Dick wandered +into the land of dreams, to be haunted by the vision of a quaint gipsy +face and great pleading eyes—a vision which rose up before him again +and again in after years, when he was out on the great waste of waters, +and the soft moon and shining stars seemed to whisper of home and +loving hearts. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +AN AFTERNOON AT DINGLE COTTAGE. +</H3> + +<P> +One Saturday afternoon, about a week after the events recorded in the +last chapter, Miss Latimer stood at the window of her cosy parlour +looking out into the quiet street with its small semi-detached villas +and cottages, the tiny gardens of which were now strown with the +falling autumn leaves. There was a slight look of expectancy in her +eyes and pleased expression on her face calculated to give any beholder +the idea that Aunt Judith was watching for something or somebody. And +so she was; for Winnifred Blake had gladly accepted the invitation to +spend that afternoon and evening at Dingle Cottage, much to Nellie's +delight; and that young lady, too impatient to await her guest's +arrival, had gone part of the way to meet the expected visitor. +</P> + +<P> +Aunt Judith, after giving a quick glance round the room to see that +everything had a comfortable, inviting look, resumed her quiet watch, +and for some time the silence of the house was unbroken, save by a +slight sound now and then proceeding from the kitchen, where Aunt +Debby, Martha-like as usual, was busy with domestic work. At last two +figures appeared coming swiftly along the street, and Miss Latimer, +hastening to the door, opened it with words of kindly welcome as Winnie +and Nellie danced (I can use no better word) up the tiny garden path. +</P> + +<P> +"Come in, dear; I am pleased to see you," she said in her gentle voice, +leading the young guest to Nellie's bedroom, and assisting her to take +off her hat and jacket. "Nellie has spoken so often about you that you +seem no stranger to me, and I am glad to think my niece has gained such +a true, warm-hearted little friend." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie, surveying the kind face bending over her, smiled at the words, +but seemed to be too much overwhelmed by an unaccountable fit of +shyness to vouchsafe any reply. She kept her usually busy tongue +silent till the three were seated in the snug parlour, when, under the +influence of Miss Latimer's simple, homely manner, she began, as Nellie +expressed it, to thaw, and the fountain once set free produced a play +of bright, sparkling conversation. +</P> + +<P> +Aunt Judith's nimble fingers plied the needle industriously, and though +she herself said little at first, her thorough enjoyment of the young +people's society was evident from the quiet, amused smile which lurked +round the corners of her lips, and the close attention she gave to the +merry flow of talk. School and school-mates were the two chief themes +of conversation, and if now and again a remark savouring rather +strongly of girlish malice or jealousy fell from either lips, Miss +Latimer wisely made no comment; for she knew what, alas! many pay so +little heed to—that for everything there is a season, and that a word +of admonition thrown in at a wrong time serves rather to harden than +soften the heart. +</P> + +<P> +"Nellie is getting on splendidly at school, Miss Latimer," announced +Winnie after a long pause. "Ada Irvine cannot call herself the dux any +longer; and I am so glad. It is quite delightful to see her angry, +crestfallen look each time Nellie makes a correct answer;" and Winnie's +face glowed in thorough appreciation of the present state of affairs. +"As for revenge," she continued, "there will be a terrible climax some +day, I am sure. Even now, and this is only the beginning, she cannot +find anything too horrible for herself or the other girls to say about +Nellie." +</P> + +<P> +"I am sorry to hear that," replied Aunt Judith quietly; "but Nellie +must try to win Ada's love, and not provoke her by any appearance of +triumph or self-esteem. Draw your chairs nearer me, dears, and I will +tell you what happened to me long, long ago when I was a girl;" and +here Miss Latimer smiled on the upturned young faces and commenced her +story. +</P> + +<P> +There was nothing very exciting in the tale—nothing certainly +bordering on the wonderful—and yet one might have heard a pin fall, so +great was the silence while she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +Winnie sat quite still, her eyes shining like twin stars, and the whole +expression of her face denoting the most intense interest; while +Nellie, her lips slightly parted as if in expectation, also seemed to +have her attention completely absorbed: for Aunt Judith was a splendid +story-teller, and entered heart and soul into the spirit of her tale. +</P> + +<P> +Miss Deborah's little bright orbs twinkled when she entered the parlour +with the tea-tray and found how the three were occupied. There was +little heed given to her entrance, and not even a glimpse of pretty +china or a daintily-spread table could tempt the listeners' eyes or +attention from Miss Latimer and her story till the last word was +spoken, when both roused themselves with a sigh of the utmost +satisfaction. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that was splendid!" cried Winnie eagerly. "What a nice +story-teller you make, Miss Latimer; you talk just like a book." Here +Aunt Debby, accidentally, of course, choked slightly. "I could sit and +listen to you for ever,—couldn't you, Nellie?" and Winnie appealed to +her companion for an enforcement of her statement. +</P> + +<P> +"Scarcely, dear, scarcely," interrupted Aunt Judith, rising from her +chair and advancing to the tea-table; "if you were to hear my stories +often, the novelty would by-and-by wear away. But here is Aunt Debby +with the urn. Let us see what a successful tea-maker she is, and we +can talk more about stories and story-telling afterwards." +</P> + +<P> +Both girls jumped up obediently, and gathering round the tempting table +the happy party proceeded to enjoy the many goodly things displayed +thereon, and kept up such a merry strain of conversation that the room +rang with laughter; and Aunt Meg, lying in her darkened chamber, +bitterly bewailed her infirmities and the seeming lack of sympathy +vouchsafed to her in her affliction. +</P> + +<P> +Tea was followed by games and other interesting amusements, all of +which Winnie enjoyed immensely; and then Aunt Judith inquired if she +would like to see an old maid's den. "Nellie has never as yet been +privileged to cross its threshold," she finished laughingly, "so it +will be something new for both of you to inspect." +</P> + +<P> +With that she led the way and ushered the two girls into her study. +</P> + +<P> +Both stood for a few minutes silent, glancing round the pretty room so +simply and tastefully furnished; then with a little cry of delight they +sprang towards the bookcase and began to scan the contents eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I declare," cried Winnie excitedly, "here are ever so many books +like the one I have at home just now. They are all by the same author +too.—Miss Latimer," she continued, turning and speaking rapidly, "she +must be a good lady who writes those books. I have only read one of +them, entitled 'A Summer's Pleasure;' but it was beautiful, and I felt +as if I should like, oh <I>so much</I>, to talk with the author, and tell +her how earnestly I long to be good, and how I can't." +</P> + +<P> +Nellie, who had taken one of the pretty volumes into her hand and was +scanning the title-page, looked up at Miss Latimer's face with a +half-incredulous light in her eyes; but Aunt Judith, gazing down on the +little figure before her, failed to catch the puzzled gleam. +</P> + +<P> +"My child," she said, oh so gently, taking the small white hands and +drawing the young girl to the warm fireside, "your words do my heart +good, and help to repay me for hours of weary labour. You wish to know +the author of those books, dear. You feel you could tell her some of +your deepest longings. What will you say when I confess that she +stands before you—that it is in very truth Aunt Judith who loves +children and sends them through print her best heart-thoughts?" +</P> + +<P> +Nellie's face at this point was a study; but Winnie cried joyfully,— +</P> + +<P> +"I knew it, I knew it! something whispered to me it was you. Oh, Miss +Latimer, I am so glad! Will you lend me one of your dear little books, +and may I love you because you are so good? I wish you were my aunt; I +do indeed," and there was a lonely ache in the girlish voice as she +spoke. +</P> + +<P> +Miss Latimer laid her hand on the rough curly head. +</P> + +<P> +"Little Winnie," she said tenderly, "don't you know that love is a +treasure to me? I shall prize your warm, true affection very dearly. +Call me Aunt Judith, my child; and when you read my little books, to +which you are heartily welcome, remember I am speaking simply from my +heart, with the earnest wish to raise your thoughts to the good Father +who made this beautiful world and gave us all things richly to enjoy." +</P> + +<P> +Words like these had a strange sound to Winnie, and filled her with an +awe-stricken feeling; but she made no reply, only raising herself on +tip-toe she kissed Miss Latimer warmly, and turned her attention to the +bookcase again. At that moment the door-bell rang, and Miss Deborah +announced the arrival of Dick with the carriage to take his sister +home. So once more they re-entered the little parlour where Aunt +Debby, with kind thoughtfulness, had prepared a repast of fruit and +cake, and where Master Blake sat looking decidedly awkward and out of +place in the dainty little room. +</P> + +<P> +He acknowledged Miss Latimer's greeting with a few unintelligible +words, and seemed altogether to be labouring under some restraint, till +Winnie said with a light laugh,— +</P> + +<P> +"For the first time in my life, Dick, I am sorry to see you. Whatever +made you come so soon?" and at the plain-spoken words there was such a +general laugh that the boy's reserve vanished, and—"Richard was +himself again." +</P> + +<P> +Nellie and he became fast friends, and chatted away pleasantly; while +Winnie, after having partaken plentifully of fruit and cake, went to +put on her hat and jacket under Miss Latimer's escort. +</P> + +<P> +"May I come again soon?" she inquired naively, looking round the tiny +room with loving eyes; "this is such a dear little house, and you are +all so kind, I should like to spend an afternoon often here." Winnie +seemed very earnest as she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"We shall be only too pleased to see you," replied Aunt Judith, smiling +down on the upturned face, and neatly adjusting the tie round the +girl's soft neck. "I love to have young people about me, and it is +good to hear the sound of a blithe young voice." +</P> + +<P> +Those words amply satisfied Winnie, and after many good-nights had been +exchanged, she and Dick drove homewards, bearing with them two of Aunt +Judith's precious volumes. +</P> + +<P> +"I say, Win, that's a jolly little house," said the boy as they rolled +along in the darkness. "What a funny, brisk old lady Aunt Debby is! +Did you notice the way she dodged about, and how her front curls shook +and bobbed a regular jig every time she spoke? She puts me in mind of +a little bird peeping out at you from those small twinkling eyes. +She's a rum old customer, sure enough;" and Dick chuckled at the +remembrance of Miss Deborah's round chubby face and crisp chirping +voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, she is rather queer," assented Winnie musingly; "but I like Miss +Latimer dearly. She is awfully good, Dick; and fancy her being the +author of those books after all. Is it not strange?" +</P> + +<P> +"Slightly, perhaps; but 'truth is stranger than fiction,' my dear +sister.—By-the-by, I did not notice any Quaker fashion in their dress +to-night. Miss Latimer wore some lace fal-lal about her neck, and Aunt +Debby's cap was a regular flower-garden." Dick was a severe critic on +female attire. +</P> + +<P> +"That's quite true," replied Winnie; "but if you saw them in the +street, with their long loose cloaks and huge bonnets, you would speak +differently. O Dick, how happy they all seem! don't they? and how cosy +everything looks! Such a contrast to our great big rooms, where you +feel like a—a—" Winnie stopped short for lack of a simile, and her +brother supplied the missing word,— +</P> + +<P> +"Pelican in the wilderness. That's it, Win; and you're about right. +Love won't make the pot boil; but money can't buy everything, and I +reckon there's a screw loose somewhere in our home." +</P> + +<P> +With that there followed a long silence, and Winnie was almost in the +land of dreams when the carriage stopped at No. 3 Victoria Square, and +Dick shouted roguishly in her ear the one word—"Awake!" +</P> + +<P> +The windows were ablaze with light, and there were sounds of music and +singing as brother and sister, entering the house, wended their way to +the oak parlour and warmed their hands at the cheerful blaze. The gas +was lit, the curtains drawn, the room tidy and inviting-looking; but no +kind motherly face was there to welcome them and ask if the evening had +been a pleasant one. At other times Winnie would not, most probably, +have felt the blank, having been accustomed to such neglect; but coming +straight from Aunt Judith's gentle presence, and with the remembrance +of her loving words and kind voice stirring the lonely little heart, it +struck home to her with a chill. Leaving Dick to his own meditations +she slipped away to the large nursery, where old nurse sat quietly +watching the slumbers of her young charge, Winnie's little step-brother. +</P> + +<P> +Here at least there was no lack of sympathy or welcome, for dearly did +the faithful servant love her first mistress's children, and bitterly +did she bewail the neglect with which the two youngest were treated. +Kneeling down by her side, Winnie rehearsed the whole history of the +afternoon and evening at Dingle Cottage; and old nurse, listening +intently, did not fail to raise her hands and express due astonishment +at the knowledge of Aunt Judith's authorship. So the young girl was +comforted, and after kissing her little brother lovingly, she rejoined +Dick in the oak parlour, and passed the rest of the evening contentedly +in his society. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +FORGING THE FIRST LINK. +</H3> + +<P> +Autumn, with its sobbing winds and falling leaves, was over now, and +cold, sterile winter reigned supreme all around. Day after day the +chill northern blasts swept over the busy town, bringing with them now +a tempest of blinding sleet, and again showers of softly-falling snow: +rich people wrapped themselves warmly in their furs and velvet; and the +poor, gathering their tattered garments more closely round them, +shivered under the touch of the icy king. But if winter days brought +cold, bleak winds and murky skies, they also brought many pleasures in +their train; and young hearts beat joyfully as the Christmas-tide drew +near, and bright visions of the festive season filled each youthful +mind. +</P> + +<P> +Winnie especially was in a state of great excitement, for Mrs. Blake +had promised her a party with a real Christmas tree, to which she was +at liberty to invite as many of her school-mates as she chose. One +little trifle alone damped her happiness—namely, the command to +include Ada Irvine in the list of her invitations; and although Winnie +pouted and pleaded her dislike of that young lady, Mrs. Blake remained +firm, and insisted that her injunction should be carried out. "Your +father was formerly on very intimate terms with Mr. Irvine, Winnie, and +I will have no slight or disrespect shown to his daughter; so, either +post her an invitation or abandon the idea of a party altogether." And +when her step-mother spoke in that decided manner, Winnie knew she had +no alternative save to yield. +</P> + +<P> +"I sincerely trust Ada Irvine will have the good sense to refuse," she +confided to Nellie the day on which the invitations were about to be +issued. "She'll spoil the whole affair it she comes, horrid old thing; +and I did mean it all to be so nice. Ugh! she will surely never +accept," and Winnie's face wore anything but an amiable expression. +</P> + +<P> +School had not been such a very pleasant place those last few weeks, +and many of the scenes which occurred there were certainly neither +seemly nor instructive. Open warfare reigned between Ada and Winnie, +and the skirmishes were becoming serious as well as disagreeable; for +Winnie, scouting all Nellie's proposals of being patient and winning by +love, made a fiery little adversary, and Ada Irvine's dislike of both +was rapidly deepening into the bitterest hatred—the more so when she +saw Nellie rising gradually in the esteem of both teachers and +scholars: the former being won by her steady attention and modest +behaviour; the latter by the simple, kindly spirit which characterized +all her actions. There was much still to call for patient forbearance +and quiet endurance; but Nellie could see the golden sunlight streaming +through the clouds, and hopefully trusted that by-and-by every dark +shadow would vanish and leave never a trace behind. +</P> + +<P> +This state of matters was as gall and wormwood to Ada. Nellie's +gradual triumph, and Winnie's malicious delight thereat, roused every +evil passion in her nature; and out of her deadly hatred she meditated +a sure revenge when the opportunity came in her way. What form it +would take she hardly knew; events would shape themselves somehow; and +then—the cold blue eyes glittered ominously at the thought of what she +termed her reckoning-day. +</P> + +<P> +Many a tender, wistful thought Winnie sent to Miss Latimer, though she +had never managed to visit Dingle Cottage a second time. Her precious +volumes were read and re-read over and over again; and it seemed as it +Aunt Judith's quiet, peaceful face shone forth from every page, and the +soft, kindly voice uttered each loving word and noble thought. Dick +used to protest his utter weariness of Aunt Judith and her books, for +day after day she was quoted to him with never-failing enthusiasm; but +on those occasions when he did give expression to such sentiments, +Winnie merely treated him to a hearty embrace, and pursued the +interesting subject with increased earnestness. In the meantime, +however, her mind was so fully occupied with the forthcoming party that +nothing else was on her lips from morn till eve; and with regard to +Miss Latimer, Dick had peace for a season. +</P> + +<P> +Oh, what discussions took place in the old oak parlour over the +approaching festivity! How was it to be conducted? What was to be the +programme for the evening? and who were to be included in the list of +invitations? +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose your friends will be able to dance, Dick?" inquired Winnie +one night when they were sitting together talking as usual about the +great event in prospect. "Mamma says we cannot play games all the +evening." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I daresay they can do a hop or two when it's necessary," +answered the boy lazily. "Just you get hold of Archie Trollope and +he'll spin you round and round the room in a twinkle; not very +gracefully, perhaps, but with no lack of energy. He's the boy to do +it;" and Dick laughed as he pictured the charming spectacle with his +mental eye. +</P> + +<P> +Winnie looked dignified. +</P> + +<P> +"If he cannot dance properly," she said, with a touch of contempt in +her voice, "most assuredly he will not have the honour of dancing with +me. I have no desire to figure ridiculously in a ball-room," and the +little lady drew herself up proudly as she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +Dick collapsed. +</P> + +<P> +"The honour!" he gasped spasmodically—"the honour! My eye! listen to +the princess!" and rolling himself about in convulsions of laughter, +the vulgar boy ended his merriment by tilting over his chair and +landing himself gracefully on the floor. +</P> + +<P> +"Why not an honour, pray?" inquired Winnie, looking loftily on the +sprawling form at her feet. "Is it not a <I>great</I> privilege for any +gentleman to dance with a lady?" and the indignant child laid special +stress on the word "great." +</P> + +<P> +Dick rose, and treating her to a sweeping Sir Charles Grandison bow, +replied, "You are right, madam; the honour is inestimable." At this +both laughed, and continued the interrupted conversation. +</P> + +<P> +"Ada Irvine has accepted her invitation, Dick," was Winnie's next +announcement, given with ominous gravity. "No one ever imagined she +would do so, and all the school-girls are talking about it." +</P> + +<P> +Dick gave a low whistle. +</P> + +<P> +"Depend upon it, Win," he said solemnly, "there's something in the +wind. Ada Irvine's not the girl to take such a step without having a +reason for so doing. I guess you and Nellie had better look out for +squalls, for if Miss Ada's not up to some low dodge, my name's not +Richard Blake." +</P> + +<P> +And even while they were speaking, the subject of their conversation +sat up in her comfortable bedroom at Mrs. Elder's, thinking over the +first link she was about to forge in the long chain of bitter malice +and deceit. She was seated in a low basket-chair before the fire, +making a pretty picture with her long fair hair floating down her back, +and her dainty figure nestling cosily amongst the soft cushions. Her +blue eyes had an absent, far-away look, and the small white hands lying +on her lap were nervously interlaced one with the other. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," she muttered in a low, hushed voice, "I shall have my revenge, +though I cannot as yet see the way clearly before me. I hardly know +towards which I bear the greater hatred, but anyhow both will +suffer—Winnifred Blake for her malicious triumph and delight; Nellie +Latimer for her upsetting behaviour and quiet contempt. Oh, how I +detest them both!" and the girl's eyes gleamed angrily. There was a +moment's silence; then she continued, knitting her white brow in a +perplexed frown,—"I wonder how I shall manage? One thing is certain: +I must do my best on Friday night—make a good impression on the Blake +family, and cautiously poison their minds with respect to Nellie +Latimer. People are so credulous in this world, it is wonderful what a +word skilfully thrown in will do, and how very easily it is credited; +but I must be careful, and lay my plans with the greatest caution." +</P> + +<P> +She spoke all this in a low undertone, as if fearful of being +overheard, and her eyes wandered round the room with an uneasy light +shining in their depths. The fire-flames leaped and crackled, the +pretty room was full of warmth and comfort; yet the girl shivered +violently, and gave a scared glance towards the window as the wind went +wailing round the house like a sobbing child. What gave her that +strange, restless feeling—that weariness of heart? She could hardly +tell; only somehow the world seemed all changed of late, and the +Christmas-tide so close at hand failed to afford the same joy and +gladness it had done heretofore. A great black cloud seemed to be +hiding all the sunshine from her sight; a heavy weight would keep +dragging at her heart-strings, and a continual thirst after revenge +persisted in haunting her every footstep. +</P> + +<P> +Yet this time was a season of peace and holy joy—a time when hand +should clasp hand with the fervour of warm friendship, and all past +slights and wrongs be blotted out for ever, leaving room for naught in +the heart save the pure Christ-like love which makes this world a +heaven on earth. Night after night, as the Christmas-tide drew near, +the sky spread itself over all—one curtain, of misty blue, studded +with the bright, scintillating twinkle of myriads of happy stars. +Every evening the quiet, peaceful moon shone forth rounder and +mellower; the north wind tempered its cutting blasts and touched the +sleeping earth gently, gently with its icy fingers; and the +frost-sparkles, glistering from lofty steeple and sloping roof, changed +the dingy town to a veritable fairyland. +</P> + +<P> +At first Nellie had often wondered why Miss Latimer took such an +interest in the outside world, and what beauty she could see in the +busy city with its constant din and bustle. But that was over now, for +she had learned that the nature-world was as an open book to Aunt +Judith—a treasury from which she brought forth gold, silver, and +precious stones, and scattered them throughout the world in the shape +of grand, beautiful thoughts. +</P> + +<P> +Nellie found life very pleasant just now at the little cottage in +Broomhill Road. Miss Latimer and Aunt Debby vied with each other in +every endeavour to add to her comfort and happiness; while even Aunt +Meg roused herself occasionally from her selfish torpor and tried to +brighten the tiny home. She could gladden it wonderfully when she +chose, for Miss Margaret possessed many pleasing traits of character; +but, alas! she seldom did choose, and, as Miss Deborah quaintly +expressed it, "one had to endure innumerable showers of rain for one +gleam of sunshine." Nellie had become so accustomed, however, to the +invalid's whims and caprices, that she thought little, if at all, about +them, and in the meantime her whole attention was engrossed with +Winnie's party. Miss Latimer had bought her a soft white muslin for +the occasion, and Miss Deborah was busy converting it into the +prettiest party-dress imaginable. The young girl had been at first +slightly dubious about Aunt Debby's dress-making capabilities; but her +doubts were fast disappearing as she watched the gradual progress made +under that lady's skilful fingers, and noted how beautifully and +tastefully the work was done. +</P> + +<P> +"I am sure no one will have such a pretty dress, Aunt Debby," she said +one afternoon, coming into the parlour and finding Miss Deborah busy +over the dainty garment. "It is so good of you to put yourself to all +this trouble for me, and I shall never be able to thank you as I +ought." Nellie's eyes glistened as she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"You will soon find out your mistake, my dear," said Aunt Meg from her +couch by the fire. "I question if one of your friends will be dressed +in so simple and cheap a material. Why, you will be a regular dowdy, +and I told Judith so when she showed me her purchase. She could hardly +have bought a less expensive fabric." +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense, Meg," put in Miss Deborah with a displeased frown and rapid +glance at Nellie's amazed countenance; "don't place absurd ideas in the +child's head. You know perfectly well muslin makes a most appropriate +dress for a young girl. I wonder what Judith would say were she to +hear you speak in that manner?" +</P> + +<P> +"Look like a saint, and preach to Nellie on the vanity and vexation of +the human heart," replied the invalid, who seemed to be decidedly out +of humour. "I am well aware of Judith's style, Debby: that is how she +covers her stinginess," and Miss Margaret gave a little sarcastic laugh +at this point. +</P> + +<P> +"Hush!" almost shouted Miss Deborah, turning a pair of bright, angry +eyes in the direction of the couch. "How dare you utter such an +untruth? Simply because one of your endless wishes was thwarted. Meg, +I am ashamed of you!" and Aunt Debby resumed her sewing with an air of +heavy displeasure, while the invalid relapsed into sulky silence, the +cause of her ill-humour being Aunt Judith's refusal that morning to +grant her a new dressing-gown. "Wait a little longer, Meg; I can +hardly afford it just now, and your old one still looks pretty and +fresh," had been the quiet answer to the proffered request; but that +was sufficient to upset the invalid's equanimity for the rest of the +day, and no amount of kindness could soothe her wounded feelings. +</P> + +<P> +Of course Nellie was ignorant of all this. Still, although she did not +believe Miss Margaret's statement in reference to Miss Latimer's +meanness, the words left a sting, and the pretty dress seemed divested +of half its beauty. "Aunt Judith might have purchased something just a +trifle more expensive," was the unuttered thought ever rising to her +lips; but, oh! how her heart reproached her when, on the evening of the +party, Miss Latimer called her into the little sanctum, and, shutting +the door, lifted a small box from the table and proceeded to unfasten +the lock. +</P> + +<P> +"Aunt Debby has just been showing me your dress, Nellie," she said in +her soft gentle voice, "and now that it is finished I think it very +pretty indeed. I hardly know why, but I have an idea <I>you</I> consider it +too simple for evening wear; and although I am sorry should such be the +case, I cannot agree with you. The dress seems to me quite suitable, +and its charm lies in its very simplicity. A little trinket round the +neck, however, might be an improvement, and so, dear, I am going to +forestall my Christmas present and give it to you now. I suppose you +will value it none the less because I used to wear it long ago in my +girlhood days;" and Miss Latimer, lifting a string of fairest pearls +from the box, clasped them round her niece's neck as she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +Nellie's breath came quick and fast. +</P> + +<P> +"O auntie! they are never for me," she gasped excitedly. "They are so +beautiful, and I have been thinking such horrid things." +</P> + +<P> +Aunt Judith smiled. "I do not blame you, child. It is only natural +such thoughts should crop up; but, Nellie, I am not so very rich, and +cannot afford to be lavish with my money. One never knows what may +happen, and I must needs guard against a rainy day. No, no; not +another reproachful word. I like to see my child look fair and sweet. +Good-night, dear." And kissing her softly. Miss Latimer pushed the +repentant girl from the room with gentle hands. Then closing the door, +she drew a low chair close to the fire, and, as she sat quietly +thinking, the white, set look Nellie had noticed before settled over +the patient face, while the lips quivered and drooped like those of one +in pain. +</P> + +<P> +What was the mystery in Aunt Judith's life? What suffering had stamped +its refining image on that noble, true face, and bore witness to the +fiery trial through which she had passed? +</P> + +<P> +Few knew of the life of complete self-renunciation lived out in that +little home—the quiet acceptance and patient bearing of a life-long +sorrow, and the earnest endeavour day after day to follow closely the +Master's footsteps, and live his holy, blameless life. But some day in +the great hereafter, she knew the mystery of suffering would be +explained, and that there what was here sown weeping would be reaped in +joy and gladness; and knowing this, Aunt Judith was content to wait. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE CHRISTMAS PARTY. +</H3> + +<P> +It was the evening of the party. The bustle and confusion which had +reigned throughout the day were now over, and the whole house blazed +with light; while the hall-door, standing hospitably open, seemed to +offer a gracious welcome to the approaching guests. +</P> + +<P> +"How do I look, Win?" inquired Dick of his sister as they stood +together in the large drawing-room a little apart from the other +members of the family. "This get-up is awful," and the boy looked down +with a gesture of disgust on his elegant evening suit. +</P> + +<P> +"You'll do beautifully," pronounced Win, pirouetting in front of him, a +blithe little fairy, with soft cloudy dress of glistening fabric. +"Don't look so fierce, dear boy, however, or you will frighten all the +young ladies from your side." +</P> + +<P> +Dick struggled into his gloves. "Much I care so far as that goes," he +grumbled. "What I wish to know is, why one needs all this war-paint +and tomfoolery. Can a fellow not be allowed to enjoy himself without +dressing up a perfect guy? I feel every seam in my coat splitting, and +I tell you there will be a tremendous explosion soon. Just listen!" +and bending forward, the boy proved the truth of his words as an +ominous crack sounded, and Winnie's dismayed eye caught the glimpse of +a tiny hole in one of the back seams. +</P> + +<P> +"Be careful," she cried in an awestricken voice; "there is a split, and +you'll make it worse if you wriggle about so. Be a good boy, Dickie, +and try to prove agreeable to every one." +</P> + +<P> +Saying this, Winnie treated her brother to a charming smile, and then +tripped forward as the first bevy of guests were ushered into the room. +</P> + +<P> +Dick made a grimace, twisted his neck, and vehemently denounced high +collars and white ties as being decided nuisances; then remembering his +sister's parting injunction, he attempted to call up an angelic smile +to his face, and to make his most polite bow on every necessary +occasion. +</P> + +<P> +The room began gradually to fill. One after another carriages came and +went, depositing their happy burdens of laughing boys and girls before +the great hall-door, near which some little ragged children were +standing, gazing on the fairy figures and joyous faces, and wondering, +as the wind fluttered their tattered rags, why the world was so +unequally divided—why some should have so much of the good things of +this life, and others apparently so little. Poor, weary, aching +hearts, on whom the burden and heat of the day had already fallen, they +knew not as they watched the carriages come and go, and peeped into the +warm hall all ablaze with light, how assuredly "compensation is twined +with the lot of high and low," and that the loving eye of the Almighty +Father was regarding them with the same tender care he bestowed on +their happier brothers and sisters. They only realized, as the door +closed at last with a loud clang, and they turned away to their +miserable homes, that within that large house there were warmth, light, +and gladness, and that they were shut out from them all. The calm +hushed sky had for them no lessons of faith and peaceful waiting; the +bright stars no tale of an Eye that neither slumbers nor sleeps. They +only knew it was cold, cold, and that life had for them no brightness. +So the little naked figures crept shivering away; and the happy boys +and girls gathered together in the beautiful holly-decked drawing-room +never thought of the dark places of the earth, where the sunshine +rarely penetrates, and young hearts know not what it is to laugh the +glad joyous laugh of happy childhood. +</P> + +<P> +Dick, who had gathered five of his special friends around him, was +evidently holding a consultation in which he himself played the most +prominent part. The subject under consideration was that of showing +special attention throughout the entire evening to Nellie Latimer, and +of completely ignoring Ada Irvine's presence. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, comrades," concluded the young orator, as a loud burst of music +warned him that the night's entertainment was about to commence, "I +presume you thoroughly understand me. Not a single hop, remember, with +Miss Irvine, and any amount of polkas and waltzes with Miss Latimer. +The former is one of your stuck-up young ladies, who grow old before +their time; the latter, a tip-top girl like Win. I have told you what +I know concerning both of them; go ahead and prosper, brethren, with my +humble blessing following you." Dick, as he spoke, changed the tragic +attitude he had struck, and assumed one of staid demeanour, which +contrasted comically with his shock of fiery hair, now standing all on +end, as people say, and laughter lurking in his eyes. +</P> + +<P> +The boys, however, entered heartily into the spirit of his scheme, and +replied, "You are our leader. Forward then; light the first match, and +we will follow the train,"—whereat they all shook hands and indulged +in a low chuckle of glee. +</P> + +<P> +At that moment a pretty, gloved hand touched Dick's arm, and Edith +Blake's clear, flute-like voice said, "We are forming sets for the +lancers, Dick, and you must dance. Mamma requests you to choose Miss +Irvine for your partner, so please go and ask her at once." +</P> + +<P> +The boy's eyes flashed mischievously. "You bet I shall," he replied +with alacrity; and crossing the room, he stood before Nellie, saying in +his most genial tones, "May I have the pleasure, Miss Latimer?" +</P> + +<P> +The young girl looked up with a happy smile. "Certainly," she said, +rising and slipping her hand within his arm; "the music is splendid, +and I am so fond of dancing." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right," answered Dick, leading her into the centre of the room, +and vastly enjoying the indignant glances of his step-mother and Edith. +"I like a hop myself at times, so I guess we'll get on well +together.—Now then, gentlemen, bow to your partners;" and as he +concluded, the wild boy swept Nellie the most profound bow, and started +off through the first figure with more energy than grace. +</P> + +<P> +His friends, true to their promise, had all chosen partners, the sets +were formed, the music floating through the room, and still Ada Irvine +remained in her seat, fair, sweet, and smiling to the outward view, but +with a world of angry passion surging in her heart. As she sat +watching the merry boys and girls winding joyously through the mazy +dance, Mrs. Blake came forward, and, sitting down by her side, +proceeded to question her about her parents and their movements abroad; +and Ada answered each query in a pretty, graceful manner infinitely +charming. Then school and school-life were touched upon. Had Miss +Irvine many friends in town? Did she not often feel very lonely? and +why could she never come and spend an afternoon with Winnie? These and +other questions being asked, the first drop of poison was instilled +with the skill and caution of an adept hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Winnie and she had been very good friends once, before Nellie +Latimer's appearance on the scene, but since then a misunderstanding +had arisen and the friendship had been broken up. Was Miss Latimer an +amiable girl? Winnie seemed very much attached to her. Ada would +rather not commit herself, but certainly Nellie's position was not such +as to justify her in being Winnie's chosen friend. Her family were +poor, very poor indeed; her aunts eccentric, winning their own bread, +doing their own work, and living in a common locality." +</P> + +<P> +All this, however, was told with much reluctance (at least apparently +so) and the earnest endeavour to tone down disagreeable parts. Mrs. +Blake was charmed, and wondered how Winnie could prefer a fresh, +countrified-looking girl to the sweet, amiable creature Miss Irvine +appeared to be. As she sat pondering over these things in her heart, +Ada's low voice broke again on her ear. +</P> + +<P> +"Mrs. Blake," she pleaded, "kindly do not betray my confidence. I +never meant to tell you anything about myself, and Winnie would hate me +were she to discover that I had prejudiced you against her friend; +indeed I am very sorry I spoke." +</P> + +<P> +A true, noble woman would have scorned to condemn any one on account of +lowly origin and humble rank in life; but Mrs. Blake was a woman of the +world—proud, arrogant, and haughty. She took little interest in her +younger step-children; they were allowed to live pretty much their own +lives and follow their own desires; but still there were some things +that must be checked, and this friendship with a low-born girl was one +of them. +</P> + +<P> +Turning to her young guest with a swift, bright smile, she replied +sweetly, "Do not apologize, my dear; I am only too glad to have +received your information in time. I had no idea Miss Latimer's +friends were in the position you speak of. Had that been the case, +certainly she would not have been here to-night. Winnie is allowed no +small amount of liberty, but close companionship with a girl so much +her inferior will not be countenanced for a moment. You need not fear, +however, my betraying your confidence; and I trust soon to see you and +my wilful little step-daughter fast friends once more." +</P> + +<P> +As she spoke Mrs. Blake rose and moved gracefully away, leaving Ada +with a bevy of laughing girls, who came flocking towards her as the +music ceased. +</P> + +<P> +"Did you enjoy our dance, Nellie?" inquired Dick, wiping his warm +forehead and glancing with ludicrous dismay at the rents in his once +spotless gloves. "I thought it all tip-top." +</P> + +<P> +"Splendid," replied Nellie decidedly; "and you really managed to get +through the figures wonderfully well." +</P> + +<P> +The boy's amazed countenance was amusing. +</P> + +<P> +"I managed to get through the figures wonderfully well!" he reiterated +in astonishment. "Why, Nellie, I am an accomplished dancer" (with mock +solemnity), "and have been so since the days when I was a little thing. +You should see me at the Highland fling and sword-dance. My eye! I go +at them well," and Dick's legs began to shuffle about as if they +desired to commence the performance. +</P> + +<P> +Nellie laughed. "Forgive me," she said pleasantly. "I did not mean +any disparagement; only boys, as a rule, do not care about dancing, and +you seemed somehow to enjoy it all so thoroughly." +</P> + +<P> +"That I did" (with emphasis), "but—hallo, Archie! is it really you?" +as a boy passed his side at that moment. "Allow me to introduce you to +Miss Latimer.—Here, Nellie, is the very partner for you; he will dance +you off your feet in a few minutes," and Dick, hurrying away, left the +two young people regarding each other with looks of rather comical +dismay. +</P> + +<P> +After that, the evening fled by all too quickly for Nellie, to whom +every moment was fraught with the purest pleasure. Dick saw she had no +lack of partners, and constituted himself her guardian for the night, +greatly to Mrs. Blake's annoyance and Winnie's satisfaction. The +former could find no means of laying any more commands on him, for the +boy mischievously eluded her every attempt to cross his path, and +failed most provokingly to catch her eye when a convenient season +presented itself for so doing. Nellie, with true appreciation of his +kindness, thanked him warmly in her innocent heart, and thought she had +never spent such a pleasant evening. There was never a cloud to darken +her enjoyment or dim the brightness of her happy face. Mrs. Blake's +studied avoidance passed by unnoticed, as also the haughty looks of +Winnie's elder sisters; and even Ada Irvine's calm, contemptuous face +failed to ruffle her joyous spirit. +</P> + +<P> +Long years afterwards she liked to look back on that evening of +thorough, uninterrupted enjoyment, when she could say in all sincerity +and truth, "I was happy;" when she danced with what seemed to be winged +feet, and the smile of gladness was ever on her lips. Closing her eyes +softly, she could see it all again—the large holly-decked +drawing-room, with its blazing lights and bevy of merry boys and girls; +Winnie's little figure flitting here and there—her flushed cheeks and +great starry eyes; Dick's honest freckled face and kindly smile; and +the beautiful, stately hostess, who moved in the midst of them all with +the dignity of a queen. +</P> + +<P> +The Christmas tree was a great success, the presents being pretty and +appropriate. Winnie smiled her delight over a dainty long-wished-for +work-box; Dick chuckled at the splendid pair of skates now in his +possession; Ada looked gratified when a lovely fan was handed down to +her; and Nellie was speechless over a pretty morocco purse. +</P> + +<P> +"It has been all so splendid, Winnie dear," she whispered when +good-nights were being exchanged; "just like fairyland. I have enjoyed +myself wonderfully. And now be sure and come soon to Dingle Cottage; +you will have plenty of time during the holidays, and Aunt Judith is +wearying to see you." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll be only too glad, Nell," replied her friend, kissing her warmly; +"but I must get mamma's permission first.—Dick, see Nellie safely into +the cab." Then the carriage rolled away, and the wonderful Christmas +party was over. +</P> + +<P> +"I think," said Winnie, coming into the large diningroom after the last +guest had departed, and finding her brother (alas that I should have to +confess it!) prowling round the table and surreptitiously pocketing +something from every tempting dish he saw thereon, "we have had a +beautiful night, and I am sure the party has been a decided success." +</P> + +<P> +"So far as the food is concerned it has," answered the boy, regarding +the good things heaped before him with a loving eye. "I say, Win, do +let us have a tuck in at this soufflé here; we shall never see it after +to-night, and it is such prime stuff." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie laughed. "You'll require to hurry then, Dick," she replied; +"the servants will be here in a few minutes." So the two young +gourmands sat down and commenced a second supper ere the lights were +put out and the mandate issued—"Go to bed." +</P> + +<P> +For a few seconds nothing was said, both being too busily engaged with +the contents of their plates to join in any conversation; but at last +Dick poised his spoon in the air and commenced in a serio-comic tone,— +</P> + +<P> +"I guess we shall have to pay for our evil deeds this evening. I saw +the storm-warning hoisted on our step-mother's face all night, so look +out for squalls." +</P> + +<P> +"Whatever do you mean?" inquired Winnie, glancing up from her plate +with an innocent look. "I do not understand you, my dear boy." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, do you not?" replied the dear boy, mimicking her tones, and +twisting his amiable countenance into an altogether indescribable +expression. "Do you imagine your conduct towards the lovely Ada was +not observed and commented upon by our mother and stuck-up sisters? If +so, pray rid yourself at once of such a delusion, for I tell you, Win, +there's a storm looming in the distance for you and for me." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie pouted. +</P> + +<P> +"So be it!" she cried defiantly; "I don't care. I am no hypocrite, +Dick, and must act as I feel. I did not wish Ada to come to our party. +I hate her with my whole heart, and I believe in just letting her see +such is the case." +</P> + +<P> +Dick ran his hand through his shock of hair, and opened his eyes as +widely as he possibly could. "My word, we're waxing eloquent," he +observed approvingly. "Go it, little sister; you're doing first-rate;" +and he helped himself liberally to another supply of soufflé as he +spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"What a tease you are!" said Winnie, pushing aside her plate with a +gesture of petulance; "you know I am in earnest, not in fun." +</P> + +<P> +"True, my queen" (with a mock bow), "therefore I shall no longer +descend to vulgar jesting. But seriously, Win, I tell you frankly the +mother is awfully angry at us. You did not study her face, perhaps, +but I watched closely, and saw a regular thunder-cloud on her brow all +night. How could it be otherwise, when she noticed your steady +avoidance of her favourite and my open rudeness?" +</P> + +<P> +"I enjoyed your open rudeness vastly, Dick," interrupted the girl, with +a twinkle sparkling in her eye and a mischievous smile on her lip. "I +could have hugged you every time you danced with Nellie, and when I saw +you trooping your boys up to her. Why, she was quite a belle amongst +you all." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I flatter myself we trotted her out very well, and the fellows +all agree she is good fun. But oh, what a dodging I had to manage my +point! Every few minutes I descried the mother bearing down upon me, +and was obliged to skeedaddle." Dick's language never was remarkable +for elegance. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I am not the least wee bit sorry for my behaviour," said Winnie, +rising as she heard the sound of approaching footsteps; "and if I am to +get a scolding I must just get it. You'll be able to console me when +it is over, will you not? Meantime I intend to forget it all in sleep, +so—good-night, Dick;" and the little fairy, in her soft, airy +garments, waved him a tiny kiss as she vanished from the room and +hurried to her own pretty apartment. +</P> + +<P> +Dick, with his well-filled pockets, retired also; the servants +entering, closed the shutters and put out the lights; the feeble fire +flickered for a little, then died slowly, and deep, unbroken slumber +settled over all. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile, outside in the quiet night the snow was falling softly, +silently—wrapping the sleeping earth in a pure, unsullied +winding-sheet, and covering the church steeples with its feathery +flakes. Hush! hush! how silently, yet how quickly, the snow showers +fell. Slowly the hours passed by. Morning stealing in swept back the +clouds of night and darkness, and the sun, peeping through with his +warm, genial ray, shone down with a light which grew brighter and +brighter as the world wakened up and the merry Christmas bells sent +their happy chimes pealing through the frosty air. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +GATHERING CLOUDS. +</H3> + +<P> +Rough, rumpled hair, two soft eyes drowned in tears, flushed, angry +cheeks and pouting lips, was the picture which met Dick's view one +morning when he entered the oak parlour two days after the eventful +party. Christmas had passed by pleasantly and tranquilly for both +children. They had had the regular Christmas dinner—turkey, +mince-pies, plum-pudding, etc.—and the afternoon and evening had been +filled with youthful pleasure and amusement. Sabbath also was calm and +peaceful, so calm, indeed, that Winnie began to think their fears were +groundless, and Mrs. Blake's annoyance a mere myth; but Dick, more +suspicious, decided it was only the lull before the storm, and on the +Monday he found his suspicions verified. The hurricane burst, and +resulted in a forlorn little maiden bathed in tears, and a boy whose +heart burned within him at the remembrance of cruel words and unjust +accusations. +</P> + +<P> +"I say, Win," he cried, coming forward into the room and leaning his +elbows on the table with careless disregard to elegance of attitude, +"what a miserable object you look! for all the world like a drowned +rat. Can't you dry those weeping eyes and speak to a fellow for a few +minutes? It is dreadful being treated to a regular shower-bath in this +cold weather," and Dick tried to conjure up the faintest glimmer of a +smile to the dolorous countenance. +</P> + +<P> +Winnie wailed: "O Dick, I was so happy; and now everything is wrong. +Mamma says she is very much displeased with me, and—" but here sobs +choked the little plaintive voice, and rendered the latter part of the +sentence quite unintelligible. +</P> + +<P> +Her brother's lips curled. +</P> + +<P> +"Win," he said impressively, "you're a good little creature, and the +mother is fond of you. In a few days she will forget all this +annoyance, and things will go on with you as smoothly as before; but I +am different. I shall never be able to blot out of my heart the words +the governor" (Dick's usual name for his father) "said to me this +morning,—never so long as I live. It was not only about this +affair—that I could have stood—but he raked up all my sins and +shortcomings from the days when I was a little boy, and heaped them, +one after the other, on the top of my devoted head. I was bad, stupid, +and awkward—the disgrace of the school, and the butt of my companions. +He was perfectly ashamed of me, and so on." Dick's eyes were flaming. +"But I tell you, Win, what it is: the crisis has come, and I'll do +something desperate." +</P> + +<P> +His sister's tears overflowed again. "I hate crying, I do indeed," she +said, scrubbing her cheeks viciously at every fresh outburst; "but the +nasty little trickly drops will come. Dick, dear old boy, I'm sorry +for you; will you not be sorry for me too? Just listen: I am never to +have Nellie for my friend again. She must never come here, and I must +never go and see Aunt Judith any more." +</P> + +<P> +Dick looked up in amazement. "Why not, Win? What has all that to do +with your conduct towards Ada?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," with another quiver of the lips. "Mamma spoke about +Nellie first, asking where she lived, and if her aunts worked in any +way. Of course I told her simply what I knew, and then she said all +our friendship must end now; she would never have allowed Nellie to be +invited to our party had she known so much about her before." +</P> + +<P> +"But dear me, Win," interrupted the boy impatiently, "the mother +consented when you asked to spend that afternoon at Dingle Cottage some +time ago. Why should she turn round and condemn the friendship now?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I can explain that easily. Mamma was hurrying to go out with +Clare and Edith when I begged permission, and said yes without making +any inquiries; but she scarcely spoke to Nellie on Friday evening, and +I cannot understand what has made her so angry all at once." +</P> + +<P> +"Did she say anything against Nellie personally?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; but she is not in my position in life, and I must not make a +friend and confidante of her. We may speak at school of course, but +that is all," and Winnie's grief burst out afresh at this point. +</P> + +<P> +Dick meditated. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder," he said at length, a slow light dawning in his eyes, "if +Ada Irvine can have been putting the mother up to this? It would be +quite in keeping with some of her low dodges." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie shook her head. "I thought so myself at first, but mamma led me +to believe otherwise. She says Ada is such a sweet, amiable girl, and +much more suitable in every way than Nellie for a friend. I fired up +at that, however, and declared I hated Ada, adding she was a sneak, and +did horrible things at school." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you would give her true character to the mother, I have no doubt," +put in Dick with twinkling eyes; "but the question is, 'What was the +effect?'" +</P> + +<P> +"'I was prejudiced—and no one is faultless in this world.'" +</P> + +<P> +A short period of silence followed, during which Winnie wept copiously, +and Dick sat beating a tattoo on the table. +</P> + +<P> +"You'll soon have no eyes left," he observed practically, as the little +drenched handkerchief was again brought into use to wipe away the +flowing tears. "Cheer up, Win, old girl, and don't look as if your +grandmother had died half an hour ago." +</P> + +<P> +"But you do not know the worst of it yet, Dick," cried the girl, +raising her tear-stained face and speaking in heart-breaking tones. "I +promised Nellie I would come and spend one afternoon with her during +the holidays, and now I can't get. Oh! I wish so much to go." +</P> + +<P> +"Then do so," replied Dick doggedly. "There's no great harm in that; +and after all, what reward does one receive for being conscientious and +obedient?" +</P> + +<P> +His sister looked aghast. "I dare not," she whispered; "mamma would be +so angry. And yet—if I might go only this once." +</P> + +<P> +Dick being in anything but a filial mood said decidedly, "There's no +use in whining and moaning, Win. You can spend Wednesday afternoon at +Dingle Cottage if you wish, without any one in the house finding that +out. Edith and Clare are away from home; Algy and Tom never trouble +about us; and both the mother and governor will be spending that entire +day with the Harveys at Springfield. As for nurse and the servants, +I'll manage them." +</P> + +<P> +"Let me think," replied Winnie. She leaned forward towards the table, +drooped her head slowly on her little white hands, and then the +struggle began—the struggle between good and evil, between the paths +of right and wrong. +</P> + +<P> +"Just this once," she murmured yearningly—"only this once;" and as she +strove and wrestled inwardly, it seemed as if two figures stole +silently to her side and stood with earnest eyes watching the weary +battle. "I'll never do it again," she muttered, "but—only to say +good-bye;" and at this the dark figure smiled triumphantly, while the +white, spotless one listened with saddening eyes. +</P> + +<P> +This was no mean struggle in which Winnie was engaged. Many a one had +fallen under a lesser temptation; for a visit to Aunt Judith meant +much, oh so much, to her. There was something in the atmosphere of +Dingle Cottage that raised the young girl to a loftier, purer standard; +something that made her yearn after what was good and holy, and stirred +up the childish heart to reach after the things which belong unto our +peace. She would never feel so again. How could she, when there was +none to guide her in the paths of right—none to tell how she might +weave a golden sunshine into her life, and leave lingering tracks of +light behind her? All these thoughts passed through her childish brain +as she sat with low bowed head and aching heart, thinking and +struggling, oh so wearily. At length the contest was ended; and +turning to Dick with a look of firm determination on her face, Winnie +said briefly, "I will go." So the struggle was over, and the dark +figure reigned triumphant, while the white-robed one stole weeping away. +</P> + +<P> +"Write and let Nellie know then," replied Dick, preparing to leave the +room. "I am going off to skate with Archie Trollope, and can post your +letter on my way to the pond if you choose." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie opened her desk—a birthday gift—and her heart smote her as she +wrote in a crude, girlish hand:— +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"<I>December 27th, 18—</I>. +</P> + +<P> +"MY DEAR NELLIE,—I shall come and spend Wednesday afternoon with you +all at Dingle Cottage. If suitable, do not trouble replying to this +scribble.— +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Your loving friend,<BR> +WINNIE M. BLAKE." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"There," she said, sealing the envelope and handing it to her brother, +"I have written; and you—you will come for me at night, Dick." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course I shall, Win," answered the boy, looking down with wistful, +loving eyes on his favourite sister, "and we shall have a jolly time +for once. Put all gloomy thoughts aside, old girl, and let us be happy +while we may." With that he treated her to a rough, hearty embrace, +making teasing remarks at the same time about boiled gooseberry eyes +and swollen lids; then giving one parting hug, marched out of the room, +and a few minutes after the loud clanging of the hall-door intimated +that Master Richard Blake had gone out for the day. +</P> + +<P> +The afternoon was spent by Winnie in driving with her step-mother, who +tried in many pleasant ways to atone for the morning's harshness; and +so well did she succeed that the little girl's heart ached sorely and +quailed at the remembrance of the deceit she was practising. But, she +would never do it again, no, never again, and only this once could not +be such a very great sin. +</P> + +<P> +So the time passed, and Wednesday came at last, a true winter's day, +with snow-mantled earth and keen, hard frost. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't be late in coming for me, Dick," was Winnie's parting +injunction, as he saw her safely into the 'bus. "I shall expect you +soon after tea." And the boy promised. +</P> + +<P> +The little sister looked after him as he strode briskly away. "What a +dear, kind brother he is!" she murmured lovingly. "How should I manage +without him? Good old Dick. He is all the world to me." And the boy, +tramping along the slippery streets with giant steps, was +muttering—"Poor Win! she will fret very much at first, and I shall +miss her sorely; but it can't be helped—I must run away." +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile the 'bus, whirling rapidly through the busy streets, stopped +in due time at Broomhill Road, and Winnie, alighting with flushed, +expectant face, found Nellie awaiting her eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +"How good of you to come, dear! and how pretty you look!" she said, +kissing her little guest affectionately. "I was so pleased to get your +note on Monday evening." +</P> + +<P> +"You cannot guess how glad I am to be here, Nellie," replied Winnie +simply, slipping her hand through her friend's arm as they walked +rapidly along the quiet road. "Your home seems like an Eden to me, and +spending a few hours with you all there one of my greatest pleasures." +</P> + +<P> +After this both tongues went merrily till Dingle Cottage was reached, +and Winnie stood once more in the snug parlour, listening to the hearty +welcomes which fell so pleasantly on her ears. The tiny home wore its +usual air of cosy comfort, and the faces of its inmates seemed +positively to shine with happiness and content. Aunt Debby's chubby +countenance was all aglow, and Aunt Meg's peevish visage, having +apparently caught the reflex of her smile, looked very fair and sweet +as the invalid turned it brightly towards the youthful visitor. +</P> + +<P> +"A thousand welcomes, child!" cried Miss Deborah delightedly, drawing +Winnie to her ample bosom, and treating the girl to a hearty hug (the +word, though not eloquent, is singularly expressive); "it is good to +see your pretty face again. This is Aunt Meg," pointing to the +invalid. "I do not think you have ever met her before." Then Winnie +was obliged to cross over to the sofa and shake the thin white hand +that looked so small and fragile. +</P> + +<P> +"Is your brother coming for you at night, dear?" inquired Miss Latimer, +turning from her seat by the window and giving the young guest a +tender, loving glance in answer to a certain wistful look cast in her +direction. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh yes; he promised," replied Winnie assuredly. Then with a little +burst of vehemence—"Dear Aunt Judith, I wish to enjoy myself so very, +very much to-day, and be ever so happy." +</P> + +<P> +All looked startled at the passion in the girl's voice, with the +exception of Aunt Debby, who viewed everything in a practical light. +</P> + +<P> +"So, so! very good indeed," she said, knitting industriously, and with +added vigour. "We'll do our best to gratify your wish, child; and one +ought to be specially happy at this season of the year, I suppose." +</P> + +<P> +The talk then became general, and Aunt Meg, laying aside her fretful +voice for the time being, wakened up and became the life of the small +party, chatting in such a pretty, graceful manner, and seeming +altogether so full of animation, that Winnie wondered if this could +really be the cross, peevish invalid Nellie had so often described. +Ere long, however, she learned that appearances are sometimes +deceitful, and that a gentle face and plaintive air can often be +assumed as occasion warrants. It so happened that just as Miss Deborah +was preparing to see about the tea the postman's knock sounded at the +door, and one of the dear home-letters was handed to Nellie. +</P> + +<P> +"Please excuse me," she said to Winnie, breaking the seal and +commencing to read; "the children have been ill with scarlet fever, and +I am anxious to know if they are better." +</P> + +<P> +The sheets were large and closely written, consequently some little +time was spent over them; but at length the last word was read, and +then Nellie, replacing the letter in its envelope, said with a happy +smile, "Mother writes the little ones are improving daily, and she +thinks they will soon be quite well. She sends you all her love, and +is glad to hear Aunt Meg is feeling so much stronger. She hopes, if +the improvement continues, to see either you, Aunt Judith, or Aunt +Debby home with me in the summer-time." +</P> + +<P> +The invalid's face darkened, and Miss Deborah's merry orbs twinkled +ominously. Nothing suited Miss Margaret better than to pose as a +saintly sufferer, burdened day by day with a weary load of +never-ceasing pain. It was wonderfully pleasant at times to assume the +<I>rôle</I> of the patient martyr, and talk of lonely days and nights borne +without murmuring. But once hint at any visible improvement, once +mention an increase of colour on the pallid cheeks or a clearer light +in the dimmed eyes, and Aunt Meg's wrath knew no bounds. Having +fathomed this secret in the invalid's nature, we can readily understand +the twinkle lurking in Aunt Debby's orbs as she scented the coming +storm. +</P> + +<P> +"Who told you I was feeling better, Nellie?" demanded Miss Margaret; +and Winnie started at the anger in the voice, only a few minutes since +so soft and gentle. "Who gave you authority to utter—to write such a +falsehood? Better!" (with infinite scorn), "and my poor frame racked +with such excruciating pain. Do you imagine, because a load is borne +with unmurmuring patience, that the weight is gradually lessening and +the burden will soon be lifted? Answer me at once. Who dared to tell +you I was much stronger?" +</P> + +<P> +Nellie's amazement was extreme, but she replied quietly, while Winnie +sat by Miss Latimer's side, every fibre of her mischievous nature +quivering with thorough enjoyment. "I only said what I believed to be +true, Aunt Meg. You have been looking better, and I heard Aunt Judith +telling a lady the other week that there was a very marked improvement +lately, and that she was thankful to be able to say so." +</P> + +<P> +Miss Margaret cast a withering glance at Miss Latimer's quiet face. +</P> + +<P> +"That is all in a piece with the rest of Judith's stinginess," she +observed sneeringly. "I know only too well why she speaks of being +thankful. Were I to regain my wonted strength, there would naturally +be less nourishing food required and fewer doctor's bills. Oh! I only +wish I could honestly say I feel a daily increase of health; but, alas! +the very thought of being a heavy burden and viewed in the light of a +constant nuisance helps to weaken and keep me low." +</P> + +<P> +At this point Nellie drew Winnie towards the window and tried to engage +her in conversation; while Aunt Debby, lowering her voice, muttered, +audibly enough, however, for the girls to hear, "Don't make a fool of +yourself, Meg, and talk such utter rubbish." +</P> + +<P> +The invalid's rage increased, and she was about to make some rejoinder, +when Miss Latimer interposed. "Hush, Margaret," said the quiet, gentle +voice; "for my sake do not speak so before the children. You know +perfectly well, dear, you are wilfully misinterpreting my words. I am +only too happy to be able to gladden your life in any way." +</P> + +<P> +But the invalid refused to be pacified. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! I understand you, Judith. You do not wish to have your true +character exposed to the public. It suits you to pose as the saint +abroad, I suppose, and—" but here Miss Latimer interrupted her. +</P> + +<P> +"Margaret," she replied firmly, "you must either be silent or leave the +room. I cannot listen to such conversation in the presence of our +guest; and if you refuse to comply one way or the other, I shall be +obliged to send the girls into my study." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no! not at all," returned Aunt Meg, her voice suddenly assuming the +most plaintive, martyr-like tone; "the house does not belong to +me.—Debby, will you assist me to my bedroom? and—no, Judith, I could +not think of troubling you; but perhaps Nellie would help her poor aunt +for once." +</P> + +<P> +Now all this time Winnie had been enjoying the tragic scene immensely, +and shaking inwardly with suppressed laughter, greatly to Nellie's +distress. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, be quiet, Win; she will hear you," whispered the girl hurriedly, +as a low ripple of laughter was hastily smothered by a mock cough. But +the warning came too late. Aunt Meg caught the choking sound and in a +moment the saintly expression on her face gave place to one of intense +rage and indignation. This sudden transformation was too much for +Winnie's risible faculties. The whole affair struck her in such a +comical light that she lost all control over herself, and, with a wild +burst of stifled laughter fled hastily from the parlour to Nellie's +bedroom, where that young lady quickly followed. +</P> + +<P> +"Close the door—close the door, Nell!" gasped Winnie, holding her +handkerchief to her mouth and vainly endeavouring to suppress the +laughter. "I know it's dreadfully wicked to behave in this manner, but +I can't help myself," and off the child went again; while Nellie, +unable to resist, joined in the merry peal. When both stopped at +length, the tears were running down their cheeks, at the sight of which +Winnie nearly repeated the performance. "This is awful," she panted, +wiping her eyes and fanning her hot cheeks violently; "but when I begin +to laugh I must just continue till I have emptied all the laughter out +of me: then I am all right. No, Nellie, do not go away yet; wait till +I am quite calm." +</P> + +<P> +Before Nellie could reply, Aunt Debby opened the door, and looking in +shook her head admonishingly. "I should like to know if you are not +both ashamed of yourselves," she said severely; but there was laughter +lurking in her eyes and playing about the corners of her lips which +belied the severity of her words. Winnie jumped up, and throwing her +arms round the good lady's neck, replied, "I have been very rude and +naughty, dear Miss Deborah; but indeed I did not mean any harm," and +she held up her rosy mouth for a kiss of pardon. +</P> + +<P> +"There, there, it's all right, child. I understand. Come down to the +parlour now; tea is ready." And with that, active, cheery Aunt Debby +trotted away, leaving the two culprits to follow at their leisure. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +"IT IS SO HARD TO SAY GOOD-BYE." +</H3> + +<P> +When Nellie and Winnie re-entered the parlour they found the table +spread, Aunt Debby seated as usual before the urn, and Miss Latimer +standing by the window gazing up at the murky sky, where the leaden +clouds predicted a gathering snowstorm. Winnie ran up to her. "Aunt +Judith," she said humbly, "I am very much ashamed of myself; please +forgive me." +</P> + +<P> +Miss Latimer patted the upraised face, and the pained look died out of +her eyes. "Never mind, child," she replied pleasantly; "it is all +right. I understand" (as the girl still looked anxious); "I know you +had no thought of grieving us." +</P> + +<P> +So the subject was dropped, and once more they gathered round the +simple board whereon every dainty was displayed with such charming +taste. There, tongues loosened and the merry chatting recommenced, +while Winnie's spirits rose wonderfully. Putting from her with a +strong determined will every sad thought and the burden of grief so new +for her to bear, she laughed and talked, the gayest of the +gay—speaking in her own quaint style, and laughing her own clear +ripple of silvery laughter. +</P> + +<P> +After tea Miss Latimer called her into the cosy study, and bidding her +seat herself snugly, she said: "Aunt Debby requires Nellie's assistance +for a short time at present, so you will have to endure an old maid's +company meanwhile; but before we settle ourselves to enjoy a nice, cosy +chat, I wish you to accept a Christmas gift from me. It is my latest +work, and I only received the first copies yesterday. I have written +your name on the title-page, and I think, dear, you will value the +little volume for my sake." As she spoke Aunt Judith handed a small +book, beautifully bound in blue and gold, to her young visitor, who +received it at first in speechless silence. She looked at the pretty +volume—the elegant binding and clear, bold type; then with a great cry +flung herself down by Miss Latimer's side and sobbed out, "Oh, I love +you so, you are so kind to me; and it is so hard to say good-bye." +</P> + +<P> +Aunt Judith seemed amazed. "I do not understand you, child," she said +simply. "What do you mean? Try to calm yourself and explain, dear." +</P> + +<P> +Then between sobs the story of a child's grief was laid before Miss +Latimer, and told with such a depth of pathos that the listener's soft +womanly heart ached in response to the plaintive tale. +</P> + +<P> +"And your mother does not know you are here to-day, Winnie?" she +inquired when the sad little voice had ceased. "You had no permission +from her to come?" +</P> + +<P> +The girl shook her head. "I suppose I am very disobedient," was the +simple answer; "but, Aunt Judith, the temptation was too hard to +resist. I felt I must see you all again, even though it was only to +say good-bye." +</P> + +<P> +Miss Latimer sighed. "You must not come any more, dear, never after +to-night—at least not until your mother gives her full, free consent. +You think all this very hard, little Winnie, but you do not know how +deeply I feel about it also. You had stolen into my heart, child, and +I was beginning to find your love very sweet and precious—not that I +shall love you less or cease to care for you, but all this pleasant +social intercourse must end now. Nay, do not grieve so, darling. It +is all very dark and perplexing to you at present perhaps; but rest +assured God has some beautiful lessons for us to learn—lessons that +will give us a glimpse of, and may yet prove as stepping-stones to, +that higher life which is the only life worth living." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie sighed despairingly. "Aunt Judith," she said, raising a pair of +wet eyes full of a child's agony to the listener's face, "I shall never +be good now. You do not know the pleasure it has been to me to come +here, or the strange thoughts that fill my heart when I see how happy +you all are in this dear little home. Somehow God seems very near +here, Aunt Judith, and the Christ-life you talk about so beautiful, I +go away determined to try to lead it too—to be good, brave, and true. +But that is all over now; for oh! no one in my home speaks of God and +heaven, or talks softly of Jesus and his love, and I can't be good if +none will stretch out a helping hand and show me the way." +</P> + +<P> +Miss Latimer drew the little quivering figure closer in her embrace as +she answered, "Don't say that, child, don't say that. A human friend +often leads astray—God never. We must not rest our entire confidence +on human guides, or lean altogether on earthly props, but, holding out +our hands to the great Father above, with all the simplicity of little +children, leave ourselves unreservedly in his keeping. Sometimes the +way is dark—so dark, dear" (and the gentle voice faltered for a +moment), "sometimes the path proves rugged and steep; but, little +Winnie,— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +'The easy path in the lowlands hath little of grand or new,<BR> +But a toilsome ascent leads on to a wide and glorious view;<BR> +Peopled and warm is the valley, lonely and chill the height,<BR> +But the peak that is nearer the storm cloud is nearer<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">the stars of light.'</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +And so, dear, in the time of shadow rest in the hollow of God's hand, +and Christ himself will help you to lead his own perfect life." +</P> + +<P> +The conversation at this point being interrupted by the arrival of +Dick, Miss Latimer found no opportunity of renewing it that evening; +but while Winnie, who had once more dashed the tears from her eyes with +a child's abandonment of grief, was busily engaged with Miss Deborah +and Nellie, she drew the boy aside, and with his aid was able to gather +together the scattered threads of his sister's disconnected story. +</P> + +<P> +Dick could not very well understand how, but there was something about +Aunt Judith which seemed to inspire confidence; and although Miss +Latimer with delicate tact retrained from asking more than was +absolutely necessary, the boy found himself laying bare his heart quite +unintentionally, and ended by confessing his determination to run away +to sea. "I must go," he finished doggedly; "I can't stand this kind of +life any longer, and—I won't." +</P> + +<P> +Miss Latimer looked very grave. +</P> + +<P> +"I have no right to interfere, Dick," she said quietly, "and perhaps I +should scarcely have listened to your story; but from what has been +told me and my own eyes have seen, I thought Winnie's brother one who +would scorn to do a cowardly, dishonourable action." +</P> + +<P> +The boy looked amazed at the strong, emphatic language; while Aunt +Judith, nothing daunted, continued,— +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it is perfectly true, Dick. You see I do not fear to speak as I +think, and such a course as you purpose pursuing seems to me both mean +and sinful. Running away—stealing out of your father's house like a +thief in the night; try to picture it fully, clearly to yourself, and +then let me hear your verdict once again. You talk of always having +longed for a sailor's life; you speak about the great attraction of the +sea. Well, that in itself is good; but why go forth to it in the way +you are contemplating? Have you ever spoken to your father on the +subject?" +</P> + +<P> +"Never," replied Dick; "but my step-mother and sisters knew all about +it." +</P> + +<P> +"And what was their verdict?" +</P> + +<P> +"Laughter, and the information that I was too great a stupid to be a +sailor." The boy's tones were very bitter. +</P> + +<P> +Miss Latimer scanned the honest, open face, and replied,— +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Dick, we hardly know each other yet, and it may be you will +denounce me as an interfering old maid; but if I may proffer my advice, +I would say, Lay your heart bare before your father, tell him simply +what your desire is; and if after that he says 'Go,' then God's +blessing follow you, my dear boy." +</P> + +<P> +She rose as she spoke, and crossing the room joined the group chatting +so pleasantly together, while Dick remained quietly in his seat. But +there sprang up in the boy's heart that night a pure, holy feeling of +respect, almost amounting to veneration, for all women who, like Miss +Latimer, kept their garments white and unsullied in this evil world, +and stood up so bravely in the cause of truth and right. He never +forgot the soft, tender voice or the warm pressure of the hand as she +reasoned with him; but thinking it all over in the still night-hush, he +determined to win her approbation, and carve out for himself a noble +life. +</P> + +<P> +The evening passed by very rapidly for both Winnie and Dick, and at +length it was time to say good-bye. +</P> + +<P> +Nellie and Miss Deborah, being still in ignorance as to the course +events had taken, wondered at the child's low sob when Miss Latimer +kissed her, and marvelled even more at her strange conduct in running +down the garden path immediately after, without pausing to bid one and +all her usual merry good-night. But the explanation was soon made; and +then Aunt Debby's indignation blazed forth, while Nellie listened in +simple amazement to the strange tale. +</P> + +<P> +"The very idea, Judith!" gasped the good lady, shaking her head with +such vehemence that all the little curls in front danced and coquetted +with one another; "just as if we would contaminate the child, or were +so very much her inferiors. Dear heart! I declare the news has given +me quite a turn—it is so absurd." +</P> + +<P> +"I think we had better drop the subject altogether, Debby," replied +Miss Latimer. "Nellie, I know, will respect her aunts' wishes, and act +as we think best.—Will you not, my child?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course, auntie," murmured Nellie faintly; "but I don't quite +understand. Why could Winnie come here with full permission one day +and be forbidden the next? I know," she continued bitterly—"at least +it is not Ada Irvine's fault if I do not—that I am very much Winnie's +inferior in many ways; but still Mrs. Blake knew all that before." +Here Nellie burst into tears, for she was only human, and wounded pride +and vanity mingled with genuine grief at the loss of her friend. +</P> + +<P> +"Comfort her yourself, Judith," muttered Aunt Debby, meditating a rapid +exit to the kitchen. "If I begin, I shall be sure to be saying +something spiteful and wicked, for my temper is at boiling-point just +now," and with that the good lady disappeared to the humbler regions, +there to vent her indignation in violent washing up of unoffending cups +and saucers. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile Nellie had her evening talk, but for once it failed to soothe +her wounded feelings; and when she lay down on her soft warm bed, she +carried with her bitter, angry thoughts which chased the slumber from +her eyes and the rest from her heart. She could not understand why +Mrs. Blake should put an end so suddenly to her intimacy with Winnie; +and Aunt Judith either could not or would not throw one single ray of +light on the subject. The whole story would leak out at school, and +what a time would follow! Nellie writhed inwardly at the awful +prospect, and wept bitterly, till at length, thoroughly worn out, she +fell fast asleep, and the silent passing hours ushered in the dawn of +another new day. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +"I ALWAYS SPEAK AS I THINK." +</H3> + +<P> +The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and +pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's +Select Establishment for Young Ladies. A few scholars still remained +absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' +ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of +Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of +sunlight in the dingy school-room. "Confined to the house through +indisposition," Mrs. Elder explained to each anxious inquirer after the +tiny favourite. "Nothing serious; only a cold caught during +holiday-time." But the days passed by, and still no Winnie appeared. +</P> + +<P> +Nellie had never seen or heard of her since that night at Dingle +Cottage when they had laughed so heartily together over poor Aunt Meg +and her infirmities; and she felt the separation keenly. At first the +other school-mates plied her with questions regarding Winnie's absence, +all of which she was unable to answer or parry successfully; and so by +degrees, and the help of Ada's sarcastic tongue, the secret oozed out, +and Nellie's star paled accordingly. The poisoned shaft of +carefully-veiled words struck home with new power: there was no Winnie +to whom to turn for sympathy, and so the old cross had to be taken up +again and carried day after day. Some of the girls sided sensibly with +Nellie, and tried to make school-life pleasant to her; but they were +unfortunately in the minority, and often got snubbed and censured by +the others for their kindness. +</P> + +<P> +One afternoon, however, as Nellie was wending her way home from school, +a hand was laid on her shoulder, while an honest, kindly voice said +suddenly in her ear, "Well, it is good to get a peep at you again, +Nell. How are you?" and Dick's freckled face shone down on the rosy +one by his side. +</P> + +<P> +The girl looked up with a happy smile. "O Dick!" she gasped; and then +it seemed as if words failed her, and she stood simply holding his +hand, and gazing with such genuine happiness into his eyes that the boy +laughed outright. +</P> + +<P> +"What's up, Nell?" he inquired teasingly. "I declare such evident +admiration makes me feel quite bashful." +</P> + +<P> +Nellie gave a little soft smile. "Don't be a tease, Dick," she said; +"I am only so pleased to see you and hear about Winnie." +</P> + +<P> +Dick placed his hand on his heart and bowed. "The pleasure is mutual," +he began; but receiving an energetic shake of the arm he continued, +"Oh, Win will soon be all right. She's been croaking like a raven for +the last fortnight or so, but is almost well now." +</P> + +<P> +"When did she catch cold?" +</P> + +<P> +Dick lowered his voice. "Coming home that night from Dingle Cottage. +We missed the 'bus—walked—and Win caught a chill." +</P> + +<P> +"Was she very ill?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no; but the doctor would not allow her to go out or even run from +one room to the other, so she has been cooped up in the oak parlour all +this time." +</P> + +<P> +"Tell her I am very sorry, and she is to accept my dear love. Will +you, Dick?" and Nellie looked pleadingly up in the boy's kindly face. +</P> + +<P> +"That I shall" (with emphasis). "And, here, I may as well give you a +piece of information, Nell. This is Wednesday—on Saturday afternoon I +sail for Calcutta." +</P> + +<P> +Nellie stared. "What do you mean?" she cried in bewilderment. +</P> + +<P> +"Precisely what I say, my dear girl," replied the wild boy, vastly +enjoying her amazement. "Perhaps you'll never see me any more, so do a +little weep—no, not here," as Nellie out of mischief slipped her hand +into her pocket; "we should have a crowd round us in no time if you +did, but in the—ahem!—privacy of your own room;" and Dick's eyes +sparkled. +</P> + +<P> +"Calcutta! Does that mean you are going to be a sailor after all? O +Dick, have you gained your wish at last? I am so glad for your sake." +</P> + +<P> +Human sympathy is very sweet. Dick's face beamed as he answered, "Yes, +Nell; the governor has given his consent. It was not so very difficult +to obtain after all" (a trifle sarcastically), "therefore I'm off on +Saturday." +</P> + +<P> +"What is Winnie saying to all this?" +</P> + +<P> +The boy's face saddened a little. +</P> + +<P> +"Win's a brick," he replied enthusiastically; "she never says anything +about herself, but talks of all the different countries I shall see, +and hopes no harm will befall me. Dear little Win!" Dick's voice was +very tender as he spoke. +</P> + +<P> +A silence followed, then the boy held out his hand. "Well, Nell, I +must say good-bye now. I'm on an errand of importance, and dare not +delay. Don't quite forget me, and be good to Winnie. There—ta-ta!" +and away sped Dick before Nellie had time to utter a single word. +</P> + +<P> +About two hours afterwards he re-entered his own home, and made +straight for the oak parlour, chuckling to himself at the thought of +Winnie's delight when he told her his conversation with Nellie. But +disappointments sometimes accompany our enjoyments, and Dick's bright +anticipations of a quiet hour with his favourite sister received a +decided check; for on nearing the door, which was slightly ajar, he +heard the murmur of voices, and peering in cautiously saw, to his great +dismay, Mrs. Blake and Winnie entertaining no less honourable a visitor +than Miss Irvine. Dick smiled derisively at the tones of the +carefully-modulated voice, and ground his strong, white teeth on +detecting the malicious spite lurking under pretty sentences full of +apparent kindliness. +</P> + +<P> +"I must apologize, Winnie, for not calling and inquiring after your +health before this," Ada was saying as Dick approached; "but I have +been assuming the <I>rôle</I> of an invalid myself lately, and Mrs. Elder +would not allow me to venture out of doors till I was thoroughly +convalescent." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Blake looked affectionately at her young visitor. "I did not know +you were unwell, my dear. Are you quite recovered now?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, thank you; but there was not very much wrong with me, dear Mrs. +Blake, only a slight touch of cold in the throat. Mrs. Elder is so +careful, however, I am sure I owe her a debt of gratitude I shall never +be able to repay." Then turning to Winnie, Ada continued with a pretty +show of anxiety, "I was very sorry to hear of your illness, Win. How +did you manage to catch such a severe cold?" +</P> + +<P> +"That is what I cannot tell," interrupted Mrs. Blake, feeling inclined +to shake her naughty little step-daughter for her sullen behaviour +towards this amiable young visitor. "I happened to be from home one +day during the Christmas holidays, and on my return found Winnie +coughing dreadfully and quite fevered with cold." +</P> + +<P> +Ada meditated a few seconds. "I wonder," she said at length, in slow, +deliberate tones, "if your illness dated from that afternoon you spent +at Dingle Cottage almost a month ago? I was visiting an old woman, a +former <I>nurse</I> of mine, who lives in the house opposite, that same day, +and remember perfectly seeing you and Miss Latimer standing together at +one of the windows." +</P> + +<P> +"Surely you must have been mistaken, my dear. Winnie never visits at +Dingle Cottage now," Mrs. Blake interposed unconsciously. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps, but I hardly think so. However" (with a look of the utmost +innocence), "Winnie will be able to solve that riddle," and the +spiteful girl turned towards her sick friend and awaited the reply. +</P> + +<P> +Winnie's cheeks were burning, and the great eyes full of a withering +contempt. Raising them calmly to her visitor's placid face, and +without a trembling of the proud young lips, she answered +quietly,—"Your surmise was correct, Ada. I did spend an afternoon +lately at Dingle Cottage; and I am afraid, as you so kindly hinted +before, that my cold dated from that night." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Blake was angry, very angry indeed, but too well bred to show her +annoyance before her visitor. She changed the subject with ready tact, +and made a most fascinating hostess; while Winnie sat in dead silence, +with a great scowl disfiguring her pretty face, and Dick danced his +displeasure on the door-mat. +</P> + +<P> +After a short time Ada rose to leave, and holding out a daintily-gloved +hand to her sullen companion, said sweetly, "Good-bye, Winnie. I trust +you will soon be better; and if I can possibly find leisure for another +visit, rest assured I shall drop in on you some day soon." +</P> + +<P> +"Pray, don't," replied Winnie, wilfully disregarding her step-mother's +look of heavy displeasure. "Your visit has not afforded me such a vast +amount of pleasure that I could wish its repetition at an early date. +We never were friends, Ada" (with ungoverned passion), "never so long +as I can remember. You hate me, and I—I detest you; why, then, will +you persist in assuming a friendship that has no foundation?" +</P> + +<P> +Dick's war-dance continued with greater vigour at this point, while +Mrs. Blake in haughtiest tones said to Winnie, "How dare you insult +Miss Irvine in this manner? Apologize at once, I command you." +</P> + +<P> +Ada's face, as she turned it towards her hostess, wore a sweet, patient +look, with just the tiniest flicker of pain about the curves of the +perfect lips. "Please, do not blame Winnie too severely, Mrs. Blake," +she pleaded mildly; "her words are to some extent true, but I—" and +the lids drooped slowly over the lovely eyes, while a faint flush +tinged the delicate cheeks—"I was trying to turn over a new leaf and +gain Winnie's love." +</P> + +<P> +"My eye, what a cram!" muttered Dick from behind the door. "Oh, but +she acts the hypocrite capitally. Now then for Win's happy reply. It +will be both sweet and original, I prophesy, for the little monkey is +bristling all over like an insulted hedgehog. Here goes!" and the +boy's ear was once more applied cautiously to the keyhole. +</P> + +<P> +Winnie had risen by this time, and was confronting her adversary with a +look almost capable of annihilating a less daring foe than Ada Irvine. +Quite undaunted by the fear of future punishment, and recognizing only +the great wrong this girl was doing her, she said, "I think you are a +female Judas, Ada, and your true character will come to light some day. +I know—" but Winnie got frightened at the awful look in Mrs. Blake's +eyes, and stopped short, while Ada took refuge in tears. +</P> + +<P> +"Come away, my dear," said her hostess, leading her gently from the +room; "Winnie is not herself today. When the child is in a passion her +language is uncontrollable; but I shall see she sends you a proper +apology for her rudeness." +</P> + +<P> +Dick heard no more, having to slip away at that moment and hide behind +one of the statues in the passage during the exit of his step-mother +with the weeping Niobe; but when the sound of their footsteps had died +away in the distance, he rushed into the oak parlour, and seizing +Winnie round the waist, treated her to several convulsive hugs and +various exclamations of supreme delight. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, old girl, you did the thing first-rate," he panted, throwing +himself into a chair and rubbing his hands vigorously together. "You +deserve to be commended, Win. Dear heart, as Aunt Debby says, what a +tongue somebody has!" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't care," pouted Winnie, endeavouring to straighten her sash, +which Dick had been using as a handle during the hugging process; "I +only said what was true, and would repeat it all over again if she +cared to listen." +</P> + +<P> +"Bravo! what a hard heart the girl possesses! Cold as an icicle, too, +not to melt under the influence of such dewy tears shed +from—ahem!—'sweetest eyes were ever seen.'" +</P> + +<P> +"Crocodile tears!" (with scorn.) "I don't know how she managed to +squeeze them up. I never saw Ada Irvine weep before. As for +apologizing, I won't, no matter what happens." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps your gentle friend had an onion hidden within the folds of +her—<I>mouchoir</I>. See how nicely I can speak French. You remember, in +the story of Beauty and the Beast, how the wicked sisters rubbed their +eyes with onions to 'pretend' they were weeping." Dick's eyes were +dancing as he spoke. +</P> + +<P> +Winnie's indignation, however, would admit of no reply, and she sat +silently, like a little bird with its plumage all ruffled; while her +brother, stretched lazily opposite, gazed on the angry face and +soliloquized accordingly. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Alas for the rarity<BR> +Of Christian charity,"<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +quoth the incorrigible boy. "Come, Win, be magnanimous for once and +forgive. Think what it would be to bask continually in the sunshine of +the lovely Ada's smiles. But there—poor little bird! did I stroke its +pretty feathers all the wrong way, and make it very cross?" +</P> + +<P> +How much more Dick would have said remains a mystery, for Mrs. Blake +interrupted the interesting conversation by her entrance, and commanded +him to leave the room. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll take possession of the door-mat once again," he decided, giving +Winnie an encouraging look as he passed out. "Eavesdropping is a low, +mean thing, I know; but Win may require my assistance, and altogether +it's as well I should be on the spot." +</P> + +<P> +There is no need to describe the conversation that ensued between Mrs. +Blake and her troublesome step-daughter. The good lady was justified +in her displeasure at Winnie's daring disobedience; but her words were +cold, cruel words, little calculated to inspire the love and confidence +of a warm, tender-hearted child. She would listen to no +expostulations, she refused to reason; her commands must be obeyed; +Winnie would never dare to set her laws at defiance again; and at the +close of the session she would be transferred to another school. As +regarded Ada, she must write a humble apology, and in the future show +that sweet, amiable girl every respect. +</P> + +<P> +Winnie stoutly refused (Dick chuckled with delight), and Mrs. Blake's +anger waxed stronger at the little rebel. She meditated for a few +seconds on the best method of punishment, and then said coldly,—"I +shall say nothing further in the meantime, Winnie, concerning your +flagrant act of disobedience in connection with Miss Latimer. When you +feel truly penitent, and confess your sorrow, I shall be pleased to +accept your apology; but I insist on a letter being written to Miss +Irvine now. One hour is at your disposal, and if at the end of that +period I return and find you still obdurate, then to-morrow's pleasure +is cancelled,—you will not be allowed, as promised, to see over Dick's +ship." With that Mrs. Blake left the room, and Winnie was left to +solitude and reflection. +</P> + +<P> +For a long time she sat firmly determined to suffer anything rather +than yield. Her young heart burned with anger and pride—she hated +everybody and everything; but in the end love for Dick conquered, and +the required note was written. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't mean one single word of all that scribble," she cried, +pitching the letter to the other end of the room. "I hate to humble +myself, so I do, and I should like to say all sorts of horrid things to +Ada Irvine; but I can't give up to-morrow's treat, and I wish to see as +much of my dear old Dick as possible. Wait till I get back to school, +however, and there will be fun." Winnie's face brightened at the +thought, and the old mischievous smile came back to her lips. After +all there was a good amount of wicked enjoyment to be derived from +having an enemy. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +OUR SAILOR BOY. +</H3> + +<P> +If one had peeped into the oak parlour on Thursday evening, one would +naturally have imagined the room to be untenanted, save for the +presence of a little white dog curled in peaceful slumber on the rug; +but had the heavy folds of curtain been withdrawn, they would have +disclosed to view the form of a young lady nestling back in the window +embrasure, with two soft white hands folded wearily on her lap. The +night was cold, but bright with moonlight; and the stars peeping in at +the window, the blind of which was drawn up to the top, whispered +together of the fairy picture she made with the moonbeams straying over +her quiet, thoughtful face, and playing hide-and-seek amongst the +meshes of her dark glossy hair. +</P> + +<P> +"How pretty she looks!" they murmured softly, sparkling down their +twinkling lights on the frost-gemmed city below. But the little stars +failed to notice the weary look of discontent and dissatisfaction on +that fair face, which marred all the beauty of the fairy picture. +</P> + +<P> +She had left the gay drawing-room and fashionable company under plea of +a headache, and finding the oak parlour untenanted, had hidden herself +snugly behind the curtains. But Edith Blake's headache had evidently +merged into a heartache; for it was a weary, weary face that turned +from the window as approaching footsteps warned her of some one's +intrusion. Drawing aside the ruby folds and peering out cautiously, +the girl saw Winnie enter and go straight towards the fire, where she +proceeded to ensconce herself snugly on the rug, and lift the little +white dog into her lap. +</P> + +<P> +"Poor little doggie!" she said, stroking the affectionate animal, which +was licking its mistress's gentle hand; "poor Puck! you'll have to love +me very much after Dick goes away. I like to be loved, doggie; but no +one in this house believes in love except my dear boy, and it is lonely +when not a single creature cares, for you. I should like to enjoy a +good cry, Puck; but I must not make Dick sad, and it is a baby-fashion +to cry when things go wrong and you can't get what you wish. But, oh +dear! whatever shall I do after my dear good boy is gone away?" +</P> + +<P> +"Write long letters and think of him every day," put in a blithe, merry +voice at the door; and Winnie sprang up with a cry of delight as Dick +strode into the room attired in all the splendour of his new uniform. +</P> + +<P> +"How do I look, Win?" he cried, touching his cap, and standing in all +the pride of his young, bright strength, ready to be admired. "Am I +respectable?" +</P> + +<P> +But he need hardly have asked that question, for the little sister's +face was all aglow, and her rosy lips laughing a glad, proud smile. +</P> + +<P> +"Respectable!" (with scorn); "why, Richard, you're simply <I>splendid</I>! +And oh! you do look every inch a sailor." +</P> + +<P> +"I thought I would let you see me in full uniform before packing up my +baggage," said Dick, by way of apology for his childish display. "Look +at the brass buttons, Win, and the badge on my cap; they make me feel +as if I were a sailor already." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie duly admired. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope you'll have a good voyage, and not find the work too hard," she +whispered afterwards, and the boy answered. +</P> + +<P> +"Win," he began impressively, "I intend putting my whole 'shoulder to +the wheel.' If I cannot work with the brain, I will strive my very +best with hand and heart, and do my duty come what may. I mean to be a +true man, and live an honest, upright life, not in order to gain every +one's good opinion (though of course I should dearly like that too), +but because it is right." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie's eyes were shining. "I told you so," she said, clapping her +hands joyously. "You'll be a king amongst men yet. And oh, how +proudly our father will some day talk of 'my sailor son!'" The boy's +face flushed with pleasure. "But, Dick, you won't care less for me +when you become both good and great; will you?" and the pretty voice +had a wistful ring in it as Winnie neared the close of her sentence. +</P> + +<P> +"Good! why, you're an angel compared with me, Win," said the boy +lovingly; "but we'll both try our best, dear. I'm a great, rough boor +of a lad, Win, and you're such a dainty, fairy creature. But think how +grand it would be to know that every day you at home and I out on the +ocean were striving to do our duty and live as we ought to live. I've +been all wrong in the past, I know, and it is little wonder the others +don't care much about me; but I mean to strike out afresh and begin all +over again. See here, Winnie; this is my farewell gift to you. I +thought you would prize it more than anything else," and Dick placed a +beautiful pocket Bible in his sister's hands. +</P> + +<P> +Winnie touched the little volume reverently, and the eyes of the +listener behind the curtains grew dim as the child's soft voice +replied, "I cannot thank you as I would, Dick, for your lovely present; +but I love you dearly, dearly. I shall keep it always close beside me, +and read a portion every day. Bow down your head, dear boy, and let me +kiss you for your goodness." +</P> + +<P> +Dick submitted to the caress, and then invited Winnie up to his room in +order to inspect a few presents he had received from some of his +school-fellows; and when brother and sister had disappeared, Edith +stole softly from her place of concealment, and the dancing fire-flames +saw that her eyes were wet with tears. +</P> + +<P> +"I have caught a glimpse of true life to-night," she said, smiling +wistfully; "and it has shown me how hollow, hollow is the false one I +daily lead. Poor Dick! I am afraid we have misjudged him after all, +and may yet find out, as Winnie so confidently prophesies, that he is +worthy of all honour and admiration. As for her, she will learn, so +far as lies in my power, that love is to be found in the house, +although her sailor boy has left the parent nest." Then seating +herself in the cosiest-looking chair, she lay back and waited quietly +for the return of the owners of the oak parlour. +</P> + +<P> +In the course of half-an-hour they re-appeared, and gazed with +wide-open eyes on the fair intruder; but Edith, laughing lazily, bade +them come forward and welcome the unexpected guest. +</P> + +<P> +Winnie sprang to her side. "We are both awfully pleased to see you, +Edith," she said; "only you surprised us so. Whatever brings you here +when there are guests in the drawing-room?" +</P> + +<P> +"I had a headache," replied the elder sister, drawing the little girl +close to her side and beginning to toy with the tangled hair; +"besides"—looking up at the big, stalwart youth standing near—"I +wished to enjoy a little of Dick's society before he goes away." +</P> + +<P> +Dick's face relaxed into a broad grin of unbelief, and Winnie cried out +"Oh!" then caught herself and stopped short; but Edith's equanimity +remained undisturbed. +</P> + +<P> +"It is quite true," she said with a charming smile. "I see you are in +full uniform, Dick. Stand back, and let me admire my sailor brother." +</P> + +<P> +Edith could be very lovable and winning when she liked, and to-night +she seemed thoroughly bent on doing her utmost to please. The boy, +though mystified at this sudden change in his fashionable sister, +obeyed her command, and stood erect before her, feeling perhaps a +little bashful, but never flinching under the steady scrutiny. +</P> + +<P> +"You look very well," she said after a little pause. "Sit down, Dick; +I wish to speak to you. I know perfectly Winnie is wondering why the +cross elder sister is sitting here taking such an interest in you both +to-night. But don't ask an explanation for such conduct; only believe +that her heart is not so hard as you deem it, and that she has begun to +look under the surface for some one's true character." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie gave the speaker's hand a little squeeze of approbation, while a +pleased smile lit up Dick's face. As neither spoke, however, Edith +continued: "And now, may I crave of you, Dick, a very great favour? +Winnie is to be driven down to-morrow afternoon to see through your +ship. May I come too? or is she to be the only privileged young lady?" +</P> + +<P> +The boy looked incredulously at his pretty sister. "Are you really in +earnest, Edith?" he inquired, "or are you laughing at me?" +</P> + +<P> +"I mean what I say, Dick," was the grave reply; "but if you would +rather I remained at home, I shall not trouble you." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, come! do come!" whispered Winnie delightedly. "Dick will be only +too pleased;—will you not, dear old boy?" So it was settled; and +Edith rose to leave the cosy room, which seemed to her at that moment +like a haven of rest. +</P> + +<P> +"It was very, very good of you to come and spend a wee quiet time with +us," said Winnie, as she watched her beautiful sister shaking out her +crumpled skirts and pushing back little stray locks of hair from her +white forehead. "Do you know we are going to have a great treat +to-morrow night? Archie Trollope is coming in; and cook has promised +us a delicious supper in honour of Dick's last evening at home." +</P> + +<P> +"I think you ought to give me an invitation," replied Edith, pausing at +the doorway. "I should like to enjoy the feast too.—No, no," as Dick +and Winnie exchanged doubtful glances; "I was only teasing you both. +Accept my best wishes for a happy evening, dears. Good-night;" and +then the soft silken figure glided quietly away. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm glad she really did not mean what she said," announced Dick, +giving a sigh of relief as he threw himself down on the rug beside Puck +and commenced to tease that worthy little animal; "but I think, Win, if +we had pressed her she would have come." +</P> + +<P> +"I am sure of it," replied Winnie. "She looked so disappointed when we +did not speak. But, Dick, was she not ever so nice to-night? and is +she not beautiful?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied her brother, pulling Puck's tail mischievously; "but +we're a good-looking family, Win, with the exception of myself." +</P> + +<P> +The little girl's reply was thoroughly characteristic: "Every house has +its ugly duckling, dear boy," she observed quaintly, "and they seldom +turn out swans except in story-books. However, it does not matter very +much about a man's personal appearance; and you—why, you might have +been a great deal worse." +</P> + +<P> +Dick roared at the attempted consolation. "What a Job's comforter you +are, Win!" he said with a broad grin; "but as you say, little sister, a +man's personal appearance, though it sometimes goes a long way, is not +the main thing, and I reckon Dick Blake will manage through the world +well enough in spite of freckled skin and fiery hair." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course he will," replied Winnie; "there's no doubt about that." +</P> + +<P> +Then the two began to talk seriously and lovingly their own +heart-thoughts, and the minutes passed all too rapidly. Both started +when the clock struck the hour for retiring, and there was a little +quiver in Winnie's voice as she wished her brother good-night, and +thought that only another evening, then the kind face bending over her +would be looking out on the wide waste of waters, and she would have to +whisper her loving good-nights to the stars instead. "Oh, my dear, my +dear," she sobbed to herself in the darkness, "how sorely, sorely I +shall miss you! But I am so glad there is a great, good Father in +heaven who will guide and keep you wherever you are. Oh! if Aunt +Judith were only here to say something comforting to me—something that +would ease this ache of sorrow at my heart and help me to feel strong +and brave." +</P> + +<P> +Then, as she lay weeping out her loneliness in the quiet night, some +words she had read in one of Aunt Judith's books stole softly into her +mind, like a ray of golden sunlight penetrating through the chinks of a +darkened room: "Whatever is grieving you, however burdensome or trivial +the trouble may be, tell it to Jesus." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie's eyes flashed, and springing out of bed with sudden +determination she knelt down, a little, fragile figure, by the window +ledge, and prayed reverently and trustingly her first heart-prayer. It +was a very simple petition, uttered in Winnie's own quaint style, at +the language of which some people might have smiled; but I think that +in heaven there would be a great hush amongst the white-robed throng as +they bent their heads to catch the first breathings of a child's soul +upwards. And oh, the bursts of hallelujahs as the trusting words +floated to the throne of grace, and told of a young heart groping in +the darkness for the strong, firm clasp of a Father's hand! +</P> + +<P> +Next afternoon, when the carriage drove round to the door as appointed, +the little girl, running downstairs warmly muffled up, found Edith +wrapped in soft velvets and furs, thoroughly equipped for the drive. +There was the faintest suspicion of a smile wreathing the corners of +her lips as she stood tapping impatiently the tesselated floor of the +hall with her tiny high-heeled boot, and running the gauntlet of a few +teasing remarks from her two brothers, who were loitering near; but on +Winnie's approach she turned round, and waving a careless farewell, +accompanied her little sister down the broad stone steps to the +carriage, where Mr. Blake was awaiting them. +</P> + +<P> +The drive proved to be a pleasant one, and in a short time they found +themselves at the docks, and saw the great ships ranging far and near, +with their tapering masts pointing upwards to the cloudy sky. The +<I>Maid of Astolat</I> lay close at hand, and as they went on board Dick +appeared, his face black and grimy, but all aglow with a welcoming +smile. +</P> + +<P> +"You come along with me," he said, drawing Winnie aside, as the +captain, a tall, gentlemanly-looking man, stepped forward and addressed +Mr. Blake. "I'll do the honours of the ship tip-top, Win, and show you +all round in first-rate style;" and the little sister delivered herself +over to his guidance. +</P> + +<P> +How they peered about, to be sure—here, there, everywhere; and how +proudly Dick aired the small amount of nautical language he had managed +to pick up! Rough men turned and smiled half unconsciously as the two +blithe figures flitted past and their merry laughter rang out in the +frosty air. They seemed so happy, and the hearts hardened by sin and +adversity sighed over their bygone childhood's days, and thought what a +blessed thing it was to be young. +</P> + +<P> +Returning from their exploration, brother and sister found Mr. Blake +and Edith still talking to the captain, whose grave, stern face was +rapidly relaxing under the influence of that young lady's winning +manner and bright, sparkling conversation. Dick eyed the group as he +drew near, and then a comical thought seemed to strike him, for he was +heard to mutter, "Jemima! what a lark!" and he twitched his face into a +decided grimace of amusement. +</P> + +<P> +There was scant time in which to make remarks, however, for Mr. Blake +required to be back in the city at a certain hour, and Winnie must not +be exposed to the night air. So good-byes were courteously exchanged. +The Blakes, re-entering their carriage, drove rapidly away, and soon +the high, tapering masts appeared like specks in the distance. +</P> + +<P> +Next day the <I>Maid of Astolat</I> sailed from the harbour, bearing on +board the strong, stalwart figure and honest, true face of Richard +Blake. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE PRIZE ESSAY. +</H3> + +<P> +One day, towards the close of the school, great excitement prevailed in +Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies, the cause being a +communication made through the lady-principal to her pupils from a +gentleman and relative of hers lately returned from India. He had +visited the school several times within the last few months, and seemed +to take an interest in it; but still there was no lack of astonishment +when Mrs. Elder announced one morning that her friend, Mr. Corbett, had +intimated his intention of awarding a special prize to the pupil who +would write the best essay on any of the three following +subjects—namely, Christmas joys, a short account of the French +Revolution, and a brief review of one of Sir Walter Scott's novels. +The babble of tongues that ensued after this intimation was wonderful. +Mrs. Elder laughingly beat a hasty retreat, and Miss Smith lay +resignedly back in her chair, and waited till peace and order were +restored. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course Ada will win the prize," was the general comment, "she is so +clever, and Mr. King always praises her essays. Nellie can't come near +her in the way of composition; but we must all try to do our best, for +the honour of the school." +</P> + +<P> +The elder girls, who were not included in the list of competitors, felt +inclined to second these remarks, and Ada smiled triumphantly when she +heard them whispered abroad. There was little doubt in her own mind as +to who was likely to be the successful candidate, and she only wondered +which subject would best show forth her brilliancy of style and +composition. +</P> + +<P> +Winnie and Nellie, firm friends still in spite of all restraints, +consulted together, and spoke of the utter uselessness of their most +strenuous endeavours. "We've no chance against Ada," they said +disconsolately, "but like the others we'll have to attempt something." +</P> + +<P> +"What will you try, Winnie?" inquired Nellie. "I think I'll tackle +'the French Revolution.'" +</P> + +<P> +Winnie's brow was wrinkled in perplexity. "Do you know, Nell," she +said at length, looking up with a curious gleam in her eyes, "I never +tried very hard in all my life to write a really good essay. I just +mixed anything together and popped it down higgledy-piggledy style, as +Dick would say. Yet sometimes I have beautiful thoughts, and they run +together in such beautiful words that I think I may manage to produce a +respectable paper after all. I know nothing about the French +Revolution, simply nothing. I have never read any of Sir Walter +Scott's novels, and could not criticise or review one to save my life. +But Christmas joys—ah, yes, I might attempt that;" and Winnie looked +hopeful at this point. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, Win, we've decided," responded Nellie; then, Agnes Drummond +coming forward and addressing them, their conversation was interrupted +for the present. +</P> + +<P> +Ada Irvine's triumph was by no means so complete as she fancied it +would be, though there was still much to cause her satisfaction. +Almost every day she had the pleasure of seeing Winnie grow furious and +Nellie wince under some cutting sarcasm thrown out with well-directed +aim by some of the most fashionable girls in the school, and not even +the former's reappearance and championship could allay to any extent +the open insults which beset the defenceless girl during school hours. +</P> + +<P> +"Go! you are not my friends," the stanch little ally had said when she +found how matters stood on her return after her illness. "I hate and +despise every one of you from the bottom of my heart. You call +yourselves ladies, but I tell you no true lady would lower herself to +utter such words as fall from your lips. I know who your ringleader +is, and if the heartiest hatred will do her any good, she has mine. +But act as you please; only remember Nellie is now, and ever will be, +the one true friend of my life. And as for her aunts, let me tell you +you are not worthy to touch the hem of their garments." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, nonsense, Winnie!" one of the girls had replied, in a +half-condescending manner; "I am sure you can't forget your mother's +opinion on the subject." +</P> + +<P> +"And who informed you about my mother's opinion? It must have been +Ada; and that throws light on what has puzzled me lately. I think I +may thank her for all this trouble I have been and am still +experiencing. No, do not try to defend her; one day we shall be quits." +</P> + +<P> +"But Ada is never rude or disagreeable to you now, Win," pleaded +another girl. "There has been a marked change in her manner lately. +She is very gentle and kind to you. As for blaming her about telling +tales, that is hardly fair. She really said very little concerning +Mrs. Blake and her opinion of Nellie. Where she got her information we +do not know, but she told us decidedly it was not from your +step-mother." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie looked incredulous. "That is quite sufficient," she replied +with dignity; "I would rather hear no more. But you may tell Ada from +me that I am not to be deceived by her new tactics, and have no desire +to possess such a treasure as a serpent-friend." +</P> + +<P> +The subject had then been dropped, and from that time Winnie would have +nothing to do with any girl who uttered a single word against her +friend. Ada she treated with supreme indifference, and disdained to +accept a proffered friendship vouchsafed to suit that young lady's +amiable plans. As regarded Nellie, she never walked with her after +school hours, or sought her society so frequently as she had done in +the happy bygone days (Miss Latimer had strictly forbidden that); but +still the love betwixt the two was warm and true, and Ada felt her +hatred deepen as she saw how all her endeavours failed to break the +strong bond of friendship binding the one to the other. A certain +circumstance, however, caused her immense satisfaction—namely, Mrs. +Elder's growing dislike of Nellie Latimer. The lady-principal was, +unfortunately, guilty of favouritism, and ever since Ada had been +placed under her charge she had shown a marked preference for and +indulgence towards her. Such being the case, one can readily imagine +how a woman of such a weak, selfish nature would resent the quiet +dethronement of her young favourite, and see the honours she had been +accustomed to take now won by an insignificant girl of no particular +birth or station in society. Ada, not slow to find all this out, +viewed it with supreme delight, and was careful to fan the flame by +various hints and insinuations thrown out with becoming modesty. +</P> + +<P> +Nellie marked the change, but bore it uncomplainingly, striving to live +it down and let the discipline accomplish its own sharp yet beneficial +work. "I shall withdraw you from the school should you choose, +Nellie," Miss Latimer had said once when the girl broke down and wept +over the heavy burden laid upon her. "But I would like you to fight it +out, and grow better, braver, and nobler under the conflict." That was +sufficient for Nellie, who, meekly relifting the old cross, strove to +carry it cheerfully, feeling amply rewarded for her quiet endurance +when she daily realized the rare love and tenderness that surrounded +her in the peaceful home at Broomhill Road. +</P> + +<P> +The examination day was fast approaching, and the prize essays, which +had to be given in a week beforehand, were delivered over to the +lady-principal's charge—neat rolls of paper prettily tied up with +gaily-coloured knots of ribbon. Then followed more excitement, till +the hour arrived when guests and pupils met together in the large +school-room, and the usual performance took place before the eyes of +smiling mothers and friends. At length it was over, and the clergyman +stepping forward to award the prizes, Winnie found some leisure to gaze +around and scan the sea of faces in front of her. +</P> + +<P> +There was Mrs. Drummond, calm and placid as usual; her own step-mother +and Edith, both looking so fresh and fair in their bright summer +attire, and—but here Winnie caught a glimpse of a noble, true face +looking at her from under the brim of a quiet Quaker bonnet, and in a +moment her little face was all aglow with a great throb of love. +</P> + +<P> +What occurred after that seemed a blank. She never heard Nellie's name +called repeatedly, or noted Mrs. Blake's haughty look as the young girl +modestly received her prizes and blushed under the words of +commendation uttered by the clergyman. Her thoughts were far away in +the past, and she was living those two happy days over again at Dingle +Cottage, when the world appeared so wondrously fair, and life full of +bright laughing sunshine. +</P> + +<P> +But now came a pause in the proceedings. The prizes were all +distributed, and pupils and friends wakened to a state of great +expectancy as old Mr. Corbett stood up by the minister's side and +nervously prepared to make his oration. After a few preliminary +remarks customary on the occasion, he spoke of the surprise and +pleasure he had experienced in reading over the essays delivered to him +by Mrs. Elder, his old and esteemed friend. They displayed much talent +and brilliancy of style, and reflected great credit on the school. One +especially amazed him (here Ada's head drooped modestly) by the rich, +beautiful thoughts, set, as it were, in such quaint, original language. +He was almost startled by the amount of genius shining forth from every +sentence; and although the essay was written in a crude girlish style, +it was worthy of the highest commendation, and he had great pleasure in +awarding the prize to—Miss Winnifred Blake. +</P> + +<P> +There was a long silence, followed by murmurs of amazement and +congratulation. But Winnie did not seem to hear them; she only sat +gazing dreamily, with dim, dazed eyes, as if hardly capable of +realizing the good fortune which had befallen her. +</P> + +<P> +"Rise, dear," whispered Elsie Drummond, who was standing close by; +"every one is waiting to see you receive the prize. We are all so glad +over your success. Now go;" and she gave the child a gentle push in +the clergyman's direction. The words wakened Winnie, and then, with a +great flash, came the realization that she, and not Nellie, had +triumphed over Ada; and as the knowledge came home with full power to +her heart, her great eyes sparkled their mischievous joy, and she +stepped forward, a glad, triumphant gleam shining in their depths. +</P> + +<P> +Few of the onlookers that day ever forgot the scene before them: the +little fairy figure clad in daintiest summer attire; the flushed gipsy +face and dark, lustrous eyes peeping from under the mass of curly hair; +and the wondrously joyous smile which broke over her lips as she bent +her pretty head on receiving the glittering medal from the minister's +hand. I think Mrs. Blake was proud of her step-daughter for once in +her life. +</P> + +<P> +A short time afterwards, just as she was preparing to start homeward, +Winnie remembered that her music was lying in one of the school-rooms, +and bidding some of the girls wait her return she bounded up the steep +flight of stairs to go in search of it. +</P> + +<P> +On reaching the top step, however, Ada met her, and the pale, angry +face and haughty mien roused every malicious feeling in Winnie's +nature. Looking up with a face in which wicked triumph and delight +were plainly depicted, she said sweetly, "O Ada, would you care to +inspect my medal? You have been so kind to me lately I am sure you +will rejoice at my wonderful success." +</P> + +<P> +Ada returned her gaze with one of steady, contemptuous disdain, and +dropping the mask of friendship which had been so hard for her to wear, +she replied haughtily, "Wonderful indeed! so wonderful, in fact, that I +may be pardoned for refusing to credit the essay as being your own +composition. Do you think it is natural for a dunce (I repeat the +word), who has been in the habit of writing the most childish nonsense, +to break on the world suddenly as a genius, and startle every one with +her wonderful thoughts? It stands to reason that some underhand work +has been going on; and such being the case, I prefer to hold myself +aloof from one who could be guilty of any mean, despicable action." +</P> + +<P> +Strong language to use. Winnie's anger rose to a white heat as she +listened. "Explain yourself!" cried the enraged child; "I fail to +understand your words." +</P> + +<P> +Ada's lip curled. "You are an admirable actress," she said calmly; +"you would make your fortune on the stage. Unfortunately, however, I +am not easily deceived. You know perfectly well the prize essay is no +work of yours." +</P> + +<P> +"Whose then?" in a voice of suppressed passion; and the quiet, mocking +tones answered,— +</P> + +<P> +"Suspicions are easily roused, and when one can disobey a parent once, +one can easily do so again." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie looked bewildered. "You are speaking in riddles," she cried +angrily; "I demand a proper explanation." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you shall have it," replied Ada, spitefully enjoying her +momentary triumph. "Mrs. Elder, Miss Smith, and ever so many of the +girls believe that your wonderful Miss Latimer assisted with your +essay. Nay, do not interrupt: we give you credit for the bare outline, +but the originality and quaint rich thoughts are decidedly beyond the +powers of a dunce." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie listened in amazement, and as the last words fell slowly from +the lips of the cold, haughty girl, she cried out in her bitter anger,— +</P> + +<P> +"It is false! false! and you know that too; but, Ada Irvine, I can +almost excuse your insulting words. It must be humiliating to see a +dunce, and one towards whom you bear so much affection, win a prize of +which you deemed yourself secure. I forgive you when I think how hard +it must be to feel yourself the laughing-stock of the school; and I +would remind you in the future to value your talents at their true +worth." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie paused, and it seemed, to use a common-place phrase, as if the +tables were turned; for the little girl looked cool and calm now, while +her adversary's face was white and set with passion. Springing forward +she raised her hand, and Winnie, in order to avert the blow, stepped +back, forgetful of her dangerous position. Then rang through the house +a wild scream followed by the sound of a heavy fall; and the startled +inmates, gathering from various quarters, found lying at the foot of +the steep stairs a prostrate figure with white upturned face and +firmly-closed eyes. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-179"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-179.jpg" ALT="A prostrate figure with white, upturned face." BORDER="2" WIDTH="403" HEIGHT="611"> +<H3 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 403px"> +A prostrate figure with white, upturned face. +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +HOW SHALL I LIVE THROUGH THE LONG, LONG YEARS? +</H3> + +<P> +A balmy summer morning in the month of July. Outside, and far up +overhead, a dappled sky shining down on a world of light and beauty; +green verdant slopes and wide sweeps of meadowland glistening still +with the early dew; flowers blossoming everywhere, from the modest +daisy and golden buttercup to the queenliest rose and fairest lily; +birds singing from every bush and tree their morning trill of +flute-like melody; bees humming busily hither and thither; butterflies +flitting idly by or resting snugly in the heart of a flower; in short, +the world of nature all awake and joying with a pure, glad joy in the +golden summer sunshine. +</P> + +<P> +Inside a darkened room, with softly-shaded blinds and peaceful hush +brooding over all, a girl—one might almost say a child—lying quietly +on a dainty bed with white, weary face and closed eyes, round which +dark lines of pain and suffering are plainly circled; and lastly, a +young lady nestling back in a low basket-chair and keeping tender watch +over the slight figure stretched so motionless before her. Suddenly +the heavy lids unclose, and a pair of tired eyes are raised, with a +sad, pathetic look, to the watcher's face. +</P> + +<P> +"Is that you, Edith?" asks the weak voice in low, feeble tones; and the +young lady, bending down to press a kiss on the white brow, answers,— +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, dear; and I am so glad you have enjoyed such a nice long sleep." +</P> + +<P> +The child raised one thin, fragile hand, and pushing back the hair from +her damp forehead, spoke once more. "I was dreaming, Edith,—dreaming +the old days were back again, and that Dick and I were having such fun +in the oak parlour. Archie Trollope was there too, and we were chasing +each other round and round the room; but neither Dick nor Archie could +catch me, my feet seemed so nimble. I thought it was true, Edith, and +a great weight rolled from my heart; but oh"—and the low wail +accompanying the words pained the listener sorely—"I awoke and found +it was all a dream." +</P> + +<P> +"My poor little Winnie!" replied the young lady, smoothing the pained +lines from the invalid's brow with soft, gentle touch. But the child +had not yet finished. +</P> + +<P> +"Edith," she continued, a wild, haunting look of unrest stealing into +her eyes, "I am so tired lying here day after day. I want to be out in +the sunshine with the birds and the flowers. Tell me, when shall I be +able to walk in the sunlight once more?" +</P> + +<P> +Edith's face was wet with tears. "Try to be patient, dear," she said +in a somewhat broken voice; "one does not recover very quickly from an +illness such as yours." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie seemed dissatisfied. "You don't look me straight in the face +when you speak, Edith, and your voice has a little tremble in it. +Hush! hear how the birds are singing! They know I dearly love the +sunshine, and are calling me out into the midst of it; I hear them +every day warbling so happily. Do you think they ever wonder why I +never come—why I never dance up and down the garden walks and spend +hours with them and the flowers as I did last year? And the sea, +Edith—some nights, when the wind is sleeping and not a leaf stirring +on the trees, I can hear the waves crooning a low, sweet song as they +wash along the wide beach of sand. They also seem to be calling me out +into their midst; and I—O Edith, I cannot come." +</P> + +<P> +There was a passionate ring of pain in the voice, and the look of +unrest had given place to one of intense yearning. Edith's tears fell +fast as she laid her head down on the pillow beside her little sister +and pressed warm kisses on the quivering lips. +</P> + +<P> +"Little Winnie," she whispered, "don't you think it is hard, hard for +us to see you lying suffering here? Oh, my dear, can't you guess how +we miss your little dancing figure, and your bright, merry chatter? +Our hearts are sore for you, dearest, in your pain and weariness, and +we would sacrifice anything to be able to raise you up strong and well +soon. But we cannot; and, oh, little sister, try to wait patiently a +little longer." +</P> + +<P> +"You say that every day, Edith," answered the child pettishly. "It is +always the old, old story—wait a little longer; and when you speak in +that strain a great fear creeps into my heart and won't be shut out. I +try not to listen; I think upon other things; I tell it to go away, but +it still remains. Edith, O Edith! tell me that some day I shall stand +up strong and well; tell me quick, quick, for something whispers that +will never be." +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense, dear!" faltered the elder sister; "you must not become +fanciful. In a short time I hope to see you quite better." +</P> + +<P> +"You don't say you are perfectly certain, Edith," cried Winnie, still +suspicious, "and you look at anything rather than me. I believe my +fear is too true; and if so, how shall I live through the long, long +years?" +</P> + +<P> +Edith hardly knew how to reply. "Hush, Winnie, hush!" she began +pleadingly; "you are rushing to rash conclusions. And only think, +dear, we have you, though weak and helpless, spared to us still. What +if you had died?" +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I had," replied the girl wildly; "I would far rather lie +quietly under the daisies than live a long, long crippled life. Oh, to +think I shall never again run races on the sandy shore, and laugh when +the little waves splash my feet; never pluck the wild flowers and make +sweet, fragrant posies; never climb the forest trees or sit under the +great pines I love so well! I can't bear it, Edith; indeed I can't. I +wish I were dead." +</P> + +<P> +Her sister was about to speak, but she pushed her aside, saying feebly, +"Oh, if I could only get my strength back again! I never knew what a +blessing health was till I lost it." There was such a depth of pathos +in the weak voice, such an undertone of sadness, that Edith almost +broke down again. +</P> + +<P> +"Winnie," she said softly, "I wonder how Aunt Judith would answer you +just now?" +</P> + +<P> +Winnie looked up through her tears. "I don't know," she replied +wistfully; "but she can't understand how awful it is to lose health for +life in one day." +</P> + +<P> +"No," responded Edith; "but I think, Winnie, Miss Latimer must have had +some exceeding bitter sorrow—some terrible trial to bear in her own +time." +</P> + +<P> +"How?" with a gesture of surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Because, dear, those books of hers which I have been reading to you +lately are full of grand, loving thoughts, and strong, helpful words, +such as could only come from a heart torn and bleeding through +suffering. I never saw Miss Latimer, as you know, Winnie, but I am +ready to say with you she must be a good, noble woman." +</P> + +<P> +The little girl's eyes were brimming over again. "Don't speak of her, +Edith; it makes me wish so much to see her, and mamma has forbidden +that." +</P> + +<P> +"Not now, Winnie, not now!" said Edith eagerly; "she would be only too +pleased to see your friend. At first, when you were so ill, you called +continually for Aunt Judith, and Algy was sent to Dingle Cottage in +search of her. He found, however, only a fast-closed door, and could +gain no information as to where she had gone from any of the +neighbours. It seems the whole family left town for the summer on the +afternoon of the examination day, so that I am sure Miss Latimer does +not even know you are ill. She and Nellie were not in the school at +the time of your accident." Edith's voice faltered at this point: but +rapidly recovering herself, she continued: "Then we bought all Aunt +Judith's books, dear, to try to cheer you a little. It was the only +thing we could do. Some day, when we return to town, you will see Miss +Latimer again." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie lay weeping quietly. At last she said, "Please leave me alone +for a short time, Edith; I wish to think it all out myself," and the +elder sister obeyed. +</P> + +<P> +Slipping on her hat, she passed out of the house into the sunshine and +wended her way slowly towards the shore, the words ringing in her ears +with that low wail of intense pain—"How shall I live through the long, +long years?" +</P> + +<P> +Poor Winnie! her fears were but too well grounded. No hope was +entertained of her ever being able to leave her couch again. +</P> + +<P> +When the kind-hearted doctor had broken the news to the sorrowing +family, almost the first thought of each was, How would she bear it? +How would she, the little restless sprite, always flitting about here +and there, endure perhaps a long life of crippled helplessness? And +oh! how were they to tell her of the sad future, stretching far into +the coming years? It was all very well to waive her questions in the +meantime, but that could not be done much longer. Already the child +seemed listening to each word with a haunting sense of fear; and now +that they had taken her from the busy town to their quiet sea-side +home, where summer after summer she had danced about in innocent glee, +the dread deepened as the days went by and she felt no sign of +returning strength to her feeble frame. There was no need to tell the +sad tidings after all, however—she had found out for herself; and the +necessary part now was to teach her how to live bravely and cheerfully +through the long, long years. +</P> + +<P> +Edith's thoughts were very dreary as she walked quietly through the +little sea-side village, and saw the happy, sun-kissed children, full +of health and strength, playing on the sandy shore, and shouting their +lusty laughter to each other, while one who would have joined so +heartily in their merriment was lying pale and weary on a lonely couch +of pain. The little wistful face and tired eyes kept ever rising up +before her, while the words rang continually in her ears,—"How shall I +live through the long, long years?" +</P> + +<P> +With a quick impatient movement she drew out her watch, and noting the +hour, saw that the mail had been due some little time ago, and letters +would be lying at the small post-office. Entering the little shop, she +found another occupant besides herself preparing to receive a small +budget of papers from the shopwoman's hands. +</P> + +<P> +"No letters to-day, Miss Latimer; only these papers," the girl was +saying as Edith stepped towards the counter.—"Good-morning, Miss +Blake; we are glad to see you amongst us again." +</P> + +<P> +The lady started at Edith's name, and turning, looked earnestly at the +graceful figure from under the brim of a shady hat—a gaze which Edith, +busy with her own thoughts, failed to observe. +</P> + +<P> +"Three letters for you to-day, miss," the shopwoman continued, "and one +with a foreign post-mark on it. I'm thinking it'll be from Master +Dick." +</P> + +<P> +Edith lifted the letters. "Yes," she said with a bright smile, "you +are quite right, Janet. It is addressed to my little sister; how +pleased she will be!" +</P> + +<P> +The girl's eyes saddened. "Is Miss Winnie keeping stronger?" she +inquired in a subdued voice; "we were all so sorry to hear about her +illness, dear lamb." +</P> + +<P> +The young lady shook her head. "Not much, Janet; but of course we have +only been here a week as yet. We are hoping she will reap the benefit +of the sea-air by-and-by. Good-morning." And Edith, gathering her +letters together, left the shop and turned slowly in the direction of +home. In a few minutes she heard rapid footsteps behind her, and a +low, sweet voice said gently, "May I be pardoned for addressing Miss +Blake?" +</P> + +<P> +Raising her eyes in surprise, Edith saw the stranger lady close at her +side, looking very much agitated. +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly!" she replied courteously. "Can I assist you in any way?" +And the stranger replied— +</P> + +<P> +"I do not know whether you will ever have heard Winnie speak of me or +not. My name is Latimer, and your little sister was a great friend of +my niece. They were always together at school, and Winnie spent two +afternoons with us when we were in town, I—" +</P> + +<P> +But she was allowed to proceed no further, for Edith stood holding out +her hands, and saying with shining countenance, "You are Aunt Judith, +are you not? I am so pleased to have met you, Miss Latimer. My little +sister is very ill. Will you come and see her now?" +</P> + +<P> +Miss Latimer looked perplexed. "I am staying here at present," she +said simply, "and intend remaining till the end of August; this air +seems so beneficial to my invalid sister. I hardly know how to reply +to your invitation, Miss Blake. I never knew till the other day about +Winnie's accident, and I should dearly like to see the child; but +still—" +</P> + +<P> +"Please do not finish your sentence, Miss Latimer," replied Edith, +blushing with confusion. "We owe you an ample apology for our +rudeness, and both my father and mother will be only too delighted to +see you. Winnie has been calling for you continually, and my brother +went to Dingle Cottage, but found you out of town." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Miss Latimer; "the doctor advised us to come here on +account of my youngest sister. Nellie was with us during the month of +June, but has gone home till we return to town. I thank you for your +kindness, Miss Blake, and will call at your house to-morrow. I am +sorry I cannot accompany you this afternoon." +</P> + +<P> +Edith looked up at the true, noble face, shaded by the simple summer +hat; and as she did so, a slow, sweet smile broke over Aunt Judith's +lips and lighted up her whole countenance. +</P> + +<P> +"No wonder Winnie loved her!" thought the gay, fashionable girl. "I +feel as if I could kneel in all reverence at her feet, she looks so +good and pure." But she only said aloud,—"Then I shall expect you +to-morrow afternoon, Miss Latimer. Our house is easily found. You +will see the name, Maple Bank, on the gate. Please do not disappoint +us; and oh! I am so glad I have met you at last." +</P> + +<P> +So they parted, and Edith stepped homewards with a lightened heart. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. and Mrs. Blake received her news quietly. They would rather the +intimacy had not been renewed, but for Winnie's sake no opposition +would be made now. They would find out Miss Latimer's present home, +and call on her that evening. As for telling Winnie, it might be +better, perhaps, to keep her still in ignorance till the following day. +</P> + +<P> +Clare alone turned up her haughty nose when Edith related the morning's +adventure, and inquired if she too were becoming infected with the +Latimer mania. "For my part," concluded the proud girl, "I think our +parents very foolish—encouraging Winnie in all her whims and fancies. +There will be no end to them soon. I am very sorry for the child, but +I still decidedly disapprove of giving in to her continually. I should +not be surprised if this wonderful Aunt Judith becomes a daily visitor +before long. However, I wash my hands of the whole affair." And +lifting a book, Clare passed out through the window into the garden; +while Edith, disgusted at the cruel words, went slowly upstairs, and +placed Dick's precious letter in Winnie's hands. +</P> + +<P> +It was a wonderful epistle, spiced with grand nautical phrases, and +brimful of the truly marvellous and incredible in nature. Winnie +laughed heartily over the absurd yarns, described with sailor-like +veracity, and then gave a little cry of joy when Edith, who was reading +the letter aloud, ended with the following words:—"And now, my dear +little Win, if we have favourable weather you may expect to see your +dear old Dick home about the end of September; and won't we have a +jolly time of it then! No end of larks and mischief. I suppose you +will still be at Maple Bank when my ship comes in, so" (here Edith +stopped, but the child bade her read every single word) "see and keep +well and strong, that you may be able to enjoy all sorts of capers +with—Your loving sailor brother, DICK." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't look at me like that, Edith," said Winnie, when the long letter +was carefully folded up and returned to its envelope. "I am not going +to cry or even think; my heart is too sore. No one must tell Dick till +he comes home. Let him remain in ignorance as long as possible." Then +she closed her eyes wearily and remained silent. But Edith was not to +be deceived by any apparent calmness or resignation, and knew only too +well that the child's whole soul was crying out in rebellion at the sad +trial which had befallen her. +</P> + +<P> +Daylight stole softly, silently away; the summer breeze sighing a +dreamy even-song through the forest trees, lulled the singing birds to +rest; the little flowers drooped their pretty heads, and closed their +dewy petals in slumber; the busy whirr and hum of insects ceased,—and +the nature-world was hushed in sleep. Only the restless sea broke on +the peaceful calm with its ceaseless swish-swish of waves. And far, +far out on the ocean breast, leaning over the bulwark of a gallant +ship, homeward bound, was a young sailor, gazing across the moonlit +waters, and thinking of the bright fairy sister waiting to give him a +joyous welcome back. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +LIGHT IN DARKNESS. +</H3> + +<P> +"How pretty my room is to-day, Edith! You have made it all bright and +fairy-like with flowers. Yes, open the blinds, please, and let the +sunshine in; my head is really better this morning, and I wish all the +light I can possibly get." So spoke Winnie, as she watched her sister +scattering sweet posies of flowers throughout the entire room, and felt +the sweet, subtle perfume of "the flowers that in earth's firmament do +shine." +</P> + +<P> +"Why are you so particular to-day, Edith?" she continued, as that young +lady flitted about, looping and relooping the soft lace curtains, +pouncing on every stray speck of dust, and sweeping every +medicine-bottle out of sight. "Jane tidied the room as usual this +morning, and yet here you are, poking into every corner, and arranging +and rearranging everything. One would think the Queen was coming to +see me. What is the reason of it all?" and Winnie looked decidedly +curious. +</P> + +<P> +"So you are going to have a visitor, dear," replied Edith, bringing a +fragrant nosegay over to the bedside and laying it on the snowy pillow. +"Now don't ask me any questions, for I dare not tell. Only wait +patiently and you will see for yourself." +</P> + +<P> +The child did not seem particularly charmed. "I hate visitors, Edith," +she said, the sunshine dying out of her face, and the restless, weary +look stealing into her eyes; "they make my heart full of wicked, +rebellious thoughts when I see them coming into the room so well and +strong. I detest their long faces and sympathetic remarks. Ugh! I +suppose they mean to be kind, but when they speak I feel as if I hated +everything and everybody." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think you will tell me all that this afternoon," replied Edith +with a knowing smile. "It is always the unexpected that happens, and I +shall be very much surprised if you do not count this day as one of the +bright spots in your life.—Ah, there is the bell. Give me a kiss, +Win, and keep a pretty smile for the unwelcome visitor." So saying +Edith tripped away, and Winnie waited in gloomy silence the advent of +the hated guest. Why could people not leave her alone? Why did they +require to come and flaunt all their bright, strong health before her? +She wished none of their sympathy and condolences—only leave her alone +to her grief and misery. +</P> + +<P> +These being her thoughts, it was a very cross, peevish face which met +Miss Latimer's gaze as she entered the sick chamber in company with +Mrs. Blake and confronted the little invalid. +</P> + +<P> +"I have brought a friend to see you, dear," said the step-mother, +smiling down on the quiet figure with its weary, pain-stricken face. +"You will be pleased to welcome her, I know, and have so much to talk +about that my presence can be easily dispensed with for a little time." +As she spoke, Mrs. Blake smoothed the sick girl's brow lovingly, and +then withdrew, leaving the two friends together once more. +</P> + +<P> +There was no need to ask, "Are you glad to see me, Winnie?" for the +great eyes, shining with a wonderfully joyous light, told the tale the +lips refused to utter. Forgetting her helplessness, the child +stretched out her arms and tried to rise, but sank back with a low cry +of pain, and those piteous words, "O Aunt Judith, come to me quickly, +for I cannot go to you." +</P> + +<P> +Miss Latimer was greatly moved, and could do nothing at first but kiss +the little face once so fresh and sweet, now pinched and wan with +suffering. +</P> + +<P> +"Dear child," she said at length, "my heart is bleeding for you. Tell +me, Winnie, how did all this happen?" and with Aunt Judith's arms round +her, and a sense of peaceful rest stealing over her weary frame, the +sick girl told all that there was to tell, simply, truthfully, with no +attempt to screen herself from blame. +</P> + +<P> +"I was wrong to speak as I did," she finished sadly, "but I had +provocation. O Aunt Judith, I cannot express the awful feeling of +hatred I bear towards Ada, when I think that if it had not been for her +I should be running about in the sunshine now." +</P> + +<P> +"Hush, Winnie! do not say that," replied Miss Latimer softly; "her +heart will be heavy enough now, I fancy, and—" But here Winnie broke +in:— +</P> + +<P> +"No, Aunt Judith. I don't believe she feels the least little particle +of sorrow. She ran away when I fell, and never even came to ask for me +after the accident. No one knows she had anything to do with my fall +except my own family, and they decided to leave her alone and make no +remark. Mamma was awfully good. She said she had formed a wrong +estimate of Ada's character, and told me I had been right." +</P> + +<P> +There was a few minutes' pause, then Winnie continued: "I know, Aunt +Judith, you think I am very wicked for hating Ada so bitterly; but, oh! +look what she has done to me. My life is spoilt" (with the old wail of +an infinite pain); "I shall never be able to walk again." +</P> + +<P> +Miss Latimer's eyes grew misty, and Winnie continued:—- +</P> + +<P> +"You are good and true, Aunt Judith. You sit there looking at me with +such a kind, loving face, and don't say like the others, 'Wait a little +longer, Winnie; some day you will be all right again.'" Then repeating +the words, with a weary depth of woe in her voice—"I shall never be +able to walk again; and, O Aunt Judith, can you guess what that means +to me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yea, my darling, I can," whispered the patient listener, "and your +cross is a heavy one to carry." +</P> + +<P> +"Heavy!" muttered the sick girl; "so heavy that I shall not be able to +carry it patiently. It is bad enough just now, Aunt Judith, but think +what it will be when the months go rolling by and find me still weak +and helpless. How shall I bear my life, such a weary, weary life, week +after week, and year after year? I loved the world so much—the +bright, beautiful world with all its sunshine and flowers; and now I +feel as if I were withdrawn from it altogether. What will Dick say +when he comes home, and I cannot go with him here and there as in the +dear old days? Aunt Judith, I can see no light anywhere. Teach me, +you who are so brave and strong, how to bear my life now." +</P> + +<P> +Miss Latimer kissed the little quivering face with its sad, mournful +eyes; then drawing her chair closer to the bedside, she kept her loving +arms round the sobbing child and tried to comfort her. +</P> + +<P> +"My darling," said the kind, gentle voice, the voice Winnie had so +longed and thirsted for, "I do not think you know how deep the pain is, +how warm the sympathy, I feel for you. You say the broad, flowery way +along which you have hitherto travelled has ended now, and nothing lies +stretched before save an interminable waste of blackness through which +you imagine it impossible to journey. Yet, will you believe me, dear +child, when I tell you that in the blackened tract of moorland you will +find a joy, a peace passing all understanding, and learn that the life +you now deem too hard to live is a grand, beautiful life, and your +weary couch of pain but the school where the Master teaches some of his +purest, holiest lessons! The darkness may be very thick and dense for +a time, Winnie, but by-and-by light will begin to break through, and +night give place to day; and if the flowery way should never again open +up before you, you will find in the rugged upland path the sunshine of +God's favour, while his presence shall go with you, and he will give +you rest. My child, my little Winnie, this grievous stroke may yet +prove the greatest blessing to yourself and others. Do not say your +life is spoilt; perhaps the true life is only now beginning." +</P> + +<P> +The young girl looked up earnestly into the gentle face. "Speak on, +Aunt Judith," she pleaded. "It makes me feel good to hear you talk +like that; but then" (with sad despair) "when you go away I know I +shall be as wicked and rebellious as ever. Your words lull all the +evil passions to sleep; but in the long, dark night they will waken up, +and I shall be wishing I were dead again. Say something more, Aunt +Judith. Tell me how I am to keep the good feelings always in my heart, +and be willing to live through the long, long years." +</P> + +<P> +Then Miss Latimer's soft voice spoke again; and, cradled lovingly in +those tender arms, the sick girl learned where to find the daily +strength and grace for every need; and how to gather up the scattered +threads of her life together, and weave them into a golden web shining +with the lustre of simple faith and holy resignation. +</P> + +<P> +Some time afterwards Mrs. Blake entered, and Miss Latimer rose to +depart; but Winnie would not let her go just yet. She had so many +questions to ask, and there was so much she wished to know. How were +Miss Deborah, Aunt Margaret, and Nellie? When would they all return to +town? Had Aunt Judith written a new book lately? and if so, what was +it called? Miss Latimer had a busy time answering all those queries, +but at last the young invalid was satisfied; and promising to come +again soon, Aunt Judith said good-bye, and left the room with a heavy +heart. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Blake following, thanked her for her visit, and hoped she would +repeat it at an early date. The young step-mother saw the error she +had made in the past, and with graceful tact tried to atone for her +open rudeness to this grave, noble woman, who seemed like a queen in +spite of the simplicity of her garments. +</P> + +<P> +Miss Latimer's sweet, true nature harboured no feeling of umbrage or +malice, and her smile was frank and friendly as she willingly accepted +the invitation. Then Edith, appearing at that moment, offered to +accompany her part of the way home, and Mrs. Blake returned to the +sick-room and Winnie. +</P> + +<P> +The child's face looked flushed and animated. "Mamma dear," she said +sweetly, "thank you for allowing me to see Aunt Judith again. I shall +not be so cross and troublesome now. She has been telling me what a +beautiful life I may yet lead in spite of my pain and helplessness, and +her words have hushed the bad thoughts to rest." +</P> + +<P> +The fair, frivolous lady seemed bewildered, but replied, "I am willing +to confess my error, Winnie: Miss Latimer is no longer an unwelcome +visitor here," then she changed the subject. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile the days passed on, and Miss Latimer became a frequent guest +at Maple Bank, winning all due respect and honour by the true dignity +of her nature and sweet womanly heart. Edith hailed those visits with +pleasure; and Winnie—ah! they were like great spots of sunshine to the +sick girl fretting sorely under her load of pain. +</P> + +<P> +She was by no means a patient invalid this restless child, and the +constant lying day after day and the monotony of sick-room life tried +her exceedingly. It was only natural that such should be the case; +that the wild tomboy nature, with its bright flow of animal spirits, +should chafe and rebel at this heavy discipline. But one becomes +wearied of constant murmuring, and sometimes those around her waxed +impatient. Then it was that Miss Latimer's soothing words came into +use, and the strong hand was stretched out to help the failing feet; +and by-and-by, slowly yet surely, the discipline began to show its +fruit, and Winnie to learn the first lesson in the school of pain. +</P> + +<P> +August at length drew near to a close. Miss Latimer and her little +household returned to town. The days began rapidly to creep in, and +the beautiful harvest moon "grew like a white flower in the sky." +</P> + +<P> +"Let us go home, mamma," pleaded Winnie. "I should like to be back in +town when Dick's ship comes in; and it is so lonely here. I shall not +feel so much at meeting him where we have not the same opportunity to +romp about; and oh! although it is very wrong and selfish of me to +trouble you, I cannot bear to meet him here." +</P> + +<P> +The child's words were very pathetic, and so, yielding to her wish, the +Blakes returned to town. +</P> + +<P> +Winnie sighed her satisfaction when safely deposited in the oak parlour +once more. Then the old life began again—the same, yet not the same; +for although everything around was as it had been in the bygone days, +Winnie herself was changed, and the busy, active life over for ever. +But she had her happy times too; for the oak parlour was rapidly +becoming the room of the household, and Winnie seldom knew what it was +to be left alone. Thither came Aunt Judith with her soft, gentle +words; Nellie, fresh from the dear home circle, her troubles all blown +away by the happy home atmosphere; Edith and Clare, with their gay +young voices and dainty ways; and all the members of the family, +slipping in every now and then to see how the little invalid was +progressing. Her quiet submission was daily becoming more patent; and +as those around noted the efforts at cheerfulness and patience, their +love gradually increased, and Winnie the invalid was tenfold dearer to +the hearts of her family than Winnie the little tomboy had been. Her +days were not idle ones by any means; for as her health in some +respects improved, a daily governess was engaged to come and instruct +her, and under Miss Montgomery's mild tuition Winnie laid aside her +former indolence and began to show an interest in her studies. +</P> + +<P> +The papers were eagerly scanned now for news of the expected ship, but +the days sped on and still nothing was heard of the longed-for vessel. +At length, however, one evening in the beginning of October, when the +gray twilight was creeping silently over the busy town, Edith and +Winnie were together in the oak parlour—the one sitting toasting +herself cosily at the fire, the other lying on her invalid couch +half-asleep. Downstairs in the large drawing-room a few guests were +assembled, and the sound of voices singing floated sweetly upwards and +fell soothingly on the sick girl's ear. +</P> + +<P> +"Edith!" she said, opening her sleepy eyes for a moment, "I wish you +would go down beside the others and enjoy yourself. I feel in a +deliciously comfortable mood just now, and will not miss you at all. +Do obey me!" and she looked fondly over at the pretty figure basking +lazily in the firelight glow. +</P> + +<P> +Edith roused herself. "I should like to join them for a short time, +Win; but it seems selfish leaving you all alone, and nurse is too busy +to come and sit beside you just now." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I shall not weary," was the bright reply; "besides, the music will +lull me to sleep in a few minutes. Run away, and think of me as +enjoying my forty winks." +</P> + +<P> +The elder sister rose, and kissing Winnie's little face, went slowly +from the room, along the passage, and down the broad carpeted stair. +She had hardly entered the drawing-room and returned the greetings of +the merry guests, when a loud ringing at the door bell was followed by +the heavy tread of a man's foot in the hall, and the next minute +Richard Blake strode into the gaily-lighted room and confronted the +assembled company. +</P> + +<P> +"Just like the old Dick," thought his brothers and sisters, rising to +welcome the young sailor, whose sun-tanned face was shining with honest +delight. "Fancy stalking into a drawing-room in rough sea-faring +clothes, and startling every one with his sudden appearance." But in +spite of such condemnation their welcome was hearty and genuine; for +the boy looked so happy and overjoyed himself, it was impossible not to +be infected with his gladness of heart. +</P> + +<P> +"Straight from the ship," he explained to his step-mother, standing +like a young hero in the midst of the gay company, with a great joy +rippling over his kindly face. "Got into dock only this afternoon; and +here I am, turned up again like the old sixpence.—Any yarns to spin? +you ask. Why, any amount. But in the meantime I am desperately +hungry, and could relish a hearty meal." Then turning to Edith: "Where +is Winnie? Up in the oak parlour, I suppose. Well, I'm off to her at +once. She ought to have been the very first to bid me welcome." +</P> + +<P> +A silence fell on all, and looks were exchanged of mingled sorrow and +perplexity. +</P> + +<P> +"What is to be done?" questioned Mrs. Blake inwardly. "Some one must +break the news to him before he enters the oak parlour." +</P> + +<P> +Dick, in complete ignorance of the effect his words were causing, +wheeled round towards the door and prepared to leave the room, when +Edith stepped forward saying, "Yes; Winnie is in her own sanctum as +usual. Come; I will accompany you there." +</P> + +<P> +The boy stopped in amazement. "What for?" he inquired bluntly; "I +would much rather go alone first." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I know," was the confused reply; "but please humour me this +once;" and Edith slipped past him as she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +Dick followed, a little mystified and annoyed; but his amazement +increased when Edith, opening the library door, drew him into that room +and closed the door swiftly behind him. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my boots! is the girl mad?" ejaculated the boy, turning to the +tables and chairs for sympathy. "I am beginning to wonder if I have +fallen into the clutches of some escaped lunatic. I say, Edith, old +girl, do you take those fits often?" +</P> + +<P> +His sister, however, had no answering smile on her lips, and her voice +shook slightly as she replied, "Dick, please prepare yourself to hear +bad news. You ought to have been told before, but we kept the evil day +as far off as possible. Dear little—" Then she stopped short, +terrified at the expression on her brother's face. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't beat about the bush, Edith," he cried in a voice hoarse with +emotion; "I can bear anything better than suspense. Tell me, is Winnie +dead? But no,"—glancing at his sister's shining garments—"it cannot +be that, thank God;" and he drew a long sigh of relief at this point. +</P> + +<P> +"No, Dick," responded Edith, giving him a glance of warm sympathy, +"but—" and very simply and tenderly she broke the sad tidings to the +agitated boy. +</P> + +<P> +Then there tell on the silence and stillness of the room the sound of a +strong heart's sobs, as Dick, in spite of all his manliness, laid his +head on the table and wept like a little child. +</P> + +<P> +Oh, how often, often in his lonely night-watches had he pictured this +home-coming—dwelling on and gloating over each little detail as a +miser does over his gold, till the whole dream-picture became beautiful +with a golden glory. He saw the tiny, fairy figure flying to meet him, +the quaint gipsy face glowing its joyous welcome, and the great dark +eyes shining their wondrous gladness. He felt the clasp of two soft +arms round his neck, the touch of warm kisses on his lips, and heard +the bright, merry voice melting into sweetest tones, as words of love +and tenderness were poured into his hungering ear. And this was the +end of it all—his dream-picture shattered, and a young life blasted +through a haughty girl's thirst for revenge. +</P> + +<P> +Dick's heart was full of rage and hatred. "If Ada Irvine were within +my reach just now," he muttered, "she would live to regret this day." +Then raising his head, he looked, and found Edith had slipped away and +left him alone with his grief. +</P> + +<P> +The boy rose, sighing heavily. "I am hardly myself yet," he said, +dashing his rough, sun-burnt hand across his eyes, and moving slowly +towards the door. "What a fool I am, giving way like this! But these +things unman a fellow, and I need not be ashamed of my tears. Where +did they say she was? In the oak parlour. Well, here goes;" and off +strode Dick, swinging along the lighted hall and up the broad stairs at +what he afterwards described as the rate of knots. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +"I SHALL LEARN TO BE GOOD NOW." +</H3> + +<P> +"Dick, Dick! is it really you? O my dear boy, I can hardly believe +it!" and Winnie clasped her feeble arms tighter round the young +sailor's neck, as if fearful of waking and finding it all a dream. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it's the same old fellow turned up again, Win," was the reply, +given half chokingly. "Nip me, and you will find I am neither ghost +nor spirit, but real flesh and blood." And the boy, kneeling by the +invalid's couch, felt his eyes growing dim and misty again at the sound +of the weak young voice lingering so lovingly over his name. +</P> + +<P> +"I am so glad," said the child, lying back amongst her soft cushions, +and looking at the big stalwart form before her. "I have been longing +and longing to see you, Dick, through each weary day and night; +yearning for the touch of your hand and sound of your voice: and now, +to think you are really, truly here, alive and well! God is very good, +dear," and the low voice uttered the last words solemnly and reverently. +</P> + +<P> +The boy looked at his little sister wonderingly. "Have you learned to +say that from the heart, Win?" he asked with greater earnestness in his +tones. "Looking at your life as it is now, as it is likely to be all +through the future years, can you still repeat the words, 'God is very +good'!" +</P> + +<P> +The child's lips drooped, and a sad look brooded over the pale white +face; but the meek voice continued, perhaps somewhat tremulously, "Not +always, Dick; but that is in the wicked hours, when I am full of +sinful, rebellious thoughts. Some days like just now, however, his +goodness seems to stand out in a bright, clear light, and a great hush +of peace falling on me, I find myself whispering over and over again, +'God is very good.' Aunt Judith says it may be a long time, but sooner +or later I shall be able to repeat those words, not only now and then, +but every day of my life, even in the darkest hours; and that will be +splendid. You must not be too sorry for me, dear old boy. Do you +remember asking me before you went away to try to live as I ought to +live, and do my duty nobly and well? I could not keep my promise, +Dick. When I was able to go about in the bright, beautiful world, I +did wicked, wrong things whenever I felt inclined. I enjoyed every +pleasure to the very full, no matter who suffered; but now—I shall +learn to be good now." +</P> + +<P> +Dick was almost overcome again. "Win," he said huskily, "you're an +angel! When you speak like that you cause all my sins and shortcomings +to rise up before me, and I feel as if I were not worthy of your love +and tenderness. Ah, little sister, it is little pure souls like yours +that help to keep men right in this world, and guard them in the hours +of temptation and danger. God bless you, Winnie darling. I thank him +for giving me such a precious sister." +</P> + +<P> +And this was the boy laughed at and mocked by the other members of the +family; spoken of as a dunce and scapegrace, and who would never make +his mark in the world. Ah, well! what did it matter? The true, honest +life now beginning to declare itself would soon tell its own tale, and +prove that there are more Sir Galahads walking on the earth than people +dream of, whose "strength is the strength of ten, because their hearts +are pure." +</P> + +<P> +For a long time the two, brother and sister, sat talking +together—talking over past, present, and future, and feeling that the +long separation had only served to deepen and intensify the love they +bore each other. And now a new link was knitting the twain more firmly +together,—the link of pain and helplessness on the one side, and +strong protecting strength on the other. +</P> + +<P> +After that the days fled all too rapidly. Sailor Dick made a great +difference in the house. It was something new to hear the fresh, +hearty voice trolling out wild sea-songs, and to listen to yarn after +yarn told with infinite gravity, and yet brimful of the ridiculous and +impossible. The rough, hardy sea-faring life had improved the boy +wondrously, bringing out the noblest traits in his character, making +him less sensitive and more self-reliant. Captain Inglis, who had +called on Mr. Blake, and was now a welcome visitor at the house in +Victoria Square, stated his thorough satisfaction at Dick's conduct +during the whole voyage, and spoke of him in the most praise-worthy +terms. Altogether there was great cause for commendation; and the boy +awoke to the delightful knowledge that he was no longer being +down-trodden and treated with disrespect, and that some day Winnie's +prophecy might be verified of his father being proud of him yet. +</P> + +<P> +"Blessings on the skipper's head," he said one afternoon to Winnie, +when she told of Captain Inglis's genuine satisfaction. "He's a +thoroughly good old chap, and not one of the crew could say a word +against him. But I say, Win, what makes him come poking about here so +often? Why should he not give his old mother the benefit of his spare +time? Poor body! it's rather hard lines being left so much alone." +</P> + +<P> +"She's coming to see me," put in Winnie laughingly. "Captain Inglis +had been telling her about the cross invalid sister you possessed, and +she asked if she might be allowed to call some day." +</P> + +<P> +Dick whistled. +</P> + +<P> +"So that's the way the wind is blowing?" he muttered under his breath. +"Well, this is a truly wonderful world in which we live." Then aloud +to Winnie: "You'll like her, Win; she's a first-rate old lady, brimming +over with kindness. Shouldn't wonder if she invites you to stay with +her later on; and, my eye! if she does, just you go. She'll pet and +molly-coddle you till you won't know whether you're standing on your +head or feet; and I'll bet you'll be as snug as a bird in its nest." +</P> + +<P> +Winnie looked interested. "Has she a nice house?" +</P> + +<P> +"Tip-top, and nobody in it save herself and the servants. The skipper +has plenty of money, and goes to sea from choice, not necessity.—Why, +I declare, Win, here he is again, coming along the street. He gave me +a half-holiday, but I did not think he was going to take one himself as +well. If this kind of thing continues much longer, you may +congratulate yourself on having another brother soon;" and Dick winked +knowingly. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean?" asked Winnie, staring open-eyed; but the +mischievous boy had vanished and left her alone in her bewilderment. +</P> + +<P> +All good things come to an end, and every day has its close. The <I>Maid +of Astolat</I> was ready to set sail again, and once more the time drew +near to say good-bye. +</P> + +<P> +"Farewell, Win, my little angel sister," whispered Dick, kissing the +sweet face with dimmed, misty eyes. "God keep you for ever and ever, +and bring me safe home to you again." Then followed a long, lingering +embrace; and Winnie was left to wait and hope till the long months and +days would pass and her sailor boy return once more. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I miss him sorely, Aunt Judith," she said one evening to Miss +Latimer about a fortnight after the ship had sailed; "but I have so +much to be thankful for, that I feel as it I dared not grumble. You +have no idea how greatly he is improved, and how much more highly he is +thought of now by every one in the house. I wish you had been able to +see him, Aunt Judith." +</P> + +<P> +"So do I, Winnie; but I was too ill the day he called, and this is only +my second walk out of doors." +</P> + +<P> +"Were you very unwell?" questioned Winnie, again scrutinizing her +friend's face anxiously. "Aunt Judith, I don't believe you are nearly +better. There are great hollows round your eyes, and your face looks +haggard and worn." +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense, dear," answered the kind voice, and Miss Latimer's smile was +very bright. "Remember I am an old woman, and pain leaves traces on an +aged face.—What about yourself, Winnie? is the darkness brightening +yet?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think so, Aunt Judith; and Dick helped me so much. Perhaps the +beautiful life is within my reach after all." +</P> + +<P> +"There's no 'perhaps' in the matter, dear," said Miss Latimer softly; +"but my little Winnie must be patient, for the grand, sweet song of +life has its beginning, and the opening chords may be tremulous and +low. Child," she continued passionately, "the grandest songs—the +songs that echo and re-echo through eternity's limitless bounds—are +wrung from hearts crushed and bleeding with anguish, and the infinite +peace and calm come only after long strife and pain. Darling, my +earnest prayer for you is that God would perfect in you his own image, +and that you may come forth from the furnace of affliction with +Christ's own brightness shining in your face." +</P> + +<P> +That was the last talk Miss Latimer ever had with Winnie. She had been +far from well lately, and after reaching home that night complained of +feeling very tired. +</P> + +<P> +"Go to bed, auntie," pleaded Nellie; "I am sure you are fit for no work +to-night;" and Aunt Debby seconded the words. But Miss Latimer shook +her head with a slow, sweet smile. +</P> + +<P> +"My last chapter must be finished this evening, child," she said, +gently yet firmly; "after that I shall please you all by taking a long, +long rest." +</P> + +<P> +Persuasion seemed useless; and the midnight hour found Aunt Judith busy +at her desk, filling up page after page with those wonderful thoughts +of hers. +</P> + +<P> +Aunt Debby could not rest that night. Something in Miss Latimer's +manner and appearance had awed and frightened her, driving the sleep +from her little bright eyes and chilling her heart with a vague, +undefined sense of fear. At length, in the middle of the night, she +rose, unable to quell the uneasy thoughts which haunted her, and +stealing softly downstairs, opened the door of her sister's sanctum and +looked in. The lamp had burned low in the socket, and was casting a +sickly gleam over all; the fire had died out, and the gray-white ashes +gave a dreary, deserted appearance to the room. A great hush brooded +around; and yet not so awful was that intense stillness as the solemn +calm which seemed to infold the quiet figure sitting so silently in the +midst. +</P> + +<P> +Aunt Judith sat before her desk, her head bent slightly forward on her +hands. There was nothing unnatural or alarming in the position, but an +awful dread stole into Miss Deborah's heart and caused it to beat with +a wild fear. +</P> + +<P> +"Judith!" she called tremblingly; but the quiet figure never stirred, +and no response came from the pallid lips. Aunt Debby flashed the +light of her candle full on Miss Latimer, and then started back with an +exceeding bitter cry, for the face on which the light shone so clearly +was white and rigid in death. The eyes, wide-open, were fixed on the +sheets of manuscript before her, as if she had been earnestly studying +the closing words; and the face, though white with the pallor of the +dead, still retained its own sweet expression. Looking down at the +written sheets, Aunt Debby noticed the last chapter was finished, and +knew Aunt Judith's life-work had ended with it. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-194"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-194.jpg" ALT="The eyes, wide open, were fixed on the sheets of manuscript before her." BORDER="2" WIDTH="405" HEIGHT="622"> +<H3 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 405px"> +The eyes, wide open, were fixed on the sheets of manuscript before her. +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +"My last chapter must be written to-night, child; after that I shall +please you all by taking a long, long rest." How those words rung in +Miss Deborah's ears as she stood gazing on that silent figure, sitting +so quietly in that awful death-hush! Not the quiver of an eyelid; not +a tremble of the lip; only that great, solemn calm. It was all over +now. The pain and weariness; the constant striving after the true and +beautiful; the daily self-renunciation; the life so completely devoted +to the service of others; and the last lingering notes of the grand, +sweet song had been sung in silence and alone. "Goodness and mercy +have followed me all the days of my life," she had remarked to Aunt +Debby not so long ago, "and, thank God, even in the darkest night I +have never failed to find a star brightening through the gloom." Now +the earthly shadows were done with for ever; the bleeding feet had trod +the last steps of the thorny way, and entered by the gate into the holy +Jerusalem, where "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have +entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for +them that love him." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CONCLUSION. +</H3> + +<P> +Six summers has the green grass waved and sweet flowers bloomed over +Aunt Judith's grave; six long, long years have come and gone since Miss +Deborah entered that silent room and found the death-angel casting his +dread shadow there. And what have the seasons brought? Ease to the +sorrowing heart and laughter to the weeping eyes. "Time heals all +wounds; one cannot mourn for ever," say the wise people, and in nine +cases out of ten their words hold good, though I think there are some +sorrows which no lapse of time can cure—sorrows which deepen and +intensify as the years roll on; only the wound, bleeding inwardly, is +hid with a sacred reverence from the gaze of the outside world, and is +known to the sore-stricken heart alone. +</P> + +<P> +Be that as it may, however, Miss Latimer's friends could afford to +laugh and smile now, and joy as she had done in God's beautiful +sunshine. The earth is still as fair, the skies as blue as they were +in the bygone days when her quiet voice drew the thoughts of those +around her to the nature-world with all its wondrous beauty, and each +can say with glad accord,— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Daisies are white upon the churchyard sod,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Sweet tears the clouds lean down and give;</SPAN><BR> +The world is very lovely. Oh, my God,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">I thank thee that I live."</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Let us take one more look at them ere we close the book and lay it +aside reverently and tenderly as we would the folded page in a closing +life. +</P> + +<P> +It is a cold, wintry evening. Outside the wind is sweeping up and down +the streets, wailing like a soul in pain. The rain is dashing against +the windowpanes, and beating with wild, ungovernable fury on those +exposed to the disturbing elements. But inside warmth and comfort +reign supreme. The oak parlour is all ablaze with light, and the +laughter and merriment filling the whole room betoken the happy, genial +spirits of the occupants. Let us see if we still recognize one and +all—if six years have wrought no ravages or particular change on those +we knew in their happy childhood days. +</P> + +<P> +Close by the fire, lying on a luxuriously-cushioned couch, is a young +lady, whose pale, thin face bears traces of weary pain. Yet the dark +eyes are bright and smiling, and the voice has still its own merry +ring, which plainly betrays the old Winnie of bygone days. Surely Aunt +Judith's words are coming true, and she is learning beautiful lessons +in the school of pain; for the pale face shines with a peaceful calm, +and the words which fall from her lips are the words of one who has +been in the furnace of affliction and come forth tried as silver. +</P> + +<P> +Seated near on a low stool, with legs stretched forth in lazy comfort, +is Dick, newly home from a long, perilous voyage. He is very much +improved and changed, but in the gallant young officer one can still +discover traces of the bluff sailor boy whose kind, honest heart won +for him the love and friendship of all with whom he associated. He has +continued to rise steadily in his profession, and Mr. Blake is proud of +his scapegrace son at last. +</P> + +<P> +A little further away, at the other side of the fire, sits Edith, +smiling and light-hearted as ever, and with the same fair, sweet face; +but a plain golden band, circling one white finger, proclaims that the +gay, laughing girl has found a woman's true place in the world, and +that the grave, gentlemanly captain has won his suit in the end. +</P> + +<P> +And now we have come to the last occupant of the room—a young lady, +seated in very unladylike fashion on the rug, and so little changed +that in the fresh bright countenance we have no difficulty in +recognizing our old friend Nellie Latimer. She is spending a few weeks +in town with Winnie, and if report speaks true, there is a possibility +that in the dim future Winnie may find a sister in her old school-mate +of past years. +</P> + +<P> +"How nice and cosy we all look!" she is saying in her blithe young +voice; "one values light and warmth on a night like this. Hush! do you +hear the wind? I pity those on the sea to-night." +</P> + +<P> +Dick looks grave. "Ah, Nellie," he replies quietly, "pity hearts that +are watching and praying in their lonely homes." +</P> + +<P> +"The wind," says Winnie in a low whisper, "always makes me think of +Aunt Judith in her quiet grave. I suppose it is a stupid feeling, but +I hate the thought of the rain dripping and making a wet, wet sod above +her. I should like the sunshine to be always lingering on her quiet +resting-place." +</P> + +<P> +The laughter has died out of each face, and eyes become a little misty, +showing the dead friend is still near and dear to the hearts of those +who loved her. +</P> + +<P> +"Dear Aunt Judith," murmurs Nellie sadly, "we never realized how good +she was till we lost her. Every one with whom she came in contact +seems to have felt the benefit of her influence; and I—why, I owe her +more than I can ever tell." +</P> + +<P> +"I think we may all say that, Nell," adds Dick. "It was she who first +inspired me with a reverence for all women, and helped to make me what +I am now." +</P> + +<P> +"As for me," says Winnie with a sad, sweet smile, "she showed me the +way wherein I should walk, and taught me the great beauty of the +Christ-life." +</P> + +<P> +Then Edith's clear voice broke in: "And I—I have learned from Miss +Latimer lessons that will help me throughout all my life. She has +been, I think, as an angel of light to us all, and I shall never forget +what we owe to her goodness and love." +</P> + +<P> +"I have always been going to ask some of you girls," says Dick, "if +Aunt Judith knew she was likely to die in such a sudden manner. Every +time I came home I had that question on my mind, and yet never managed +to ask it." +</P> + +<P> +Nellie replied: "Oh yes! and Aunt Debby knew also. That was why Aunt +Judith lived so humbly and simply. She felt she was the mainstay of +the family,—that both Aunt Debby and Aunt Meg looked to her for their +livelihood; and so she strove hard to win and lay aside money, with the +hope that if she were called away suddenly there would be sufficient to +keep them snugly and comfortably after her death. She suffered from +severe paroxysms of pain at intervals, and each attack left her weaker +and feebler. Then, besides, she seemed to have had some great sorrow, +though Aunt Debby never told me what it was. Oh! they missed her +dreadfully at first; but since they left Dingle Cottage and came to +settle down beside my father, they have been more cheerful." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you like having them so near you?" inquires Edith; and Nellie +answers truthfully,— +</P> + +<P> +"I like being beside Aunt Debby, she helps us so much; but Aunt Meg is +very trying at times." +</P> + +<P> +At that moment Captain Inglis, who has been closeted with Mr. Blake in +the library, enters, and then the conversation changes. The old +school-days are talked over, pranks and punishments described amidst +shouts of laughter; and by-and-by the talk drifts on to Ada Irvine and +the prize essay. +</P> + +<P> +"Have you ever heard of or seen Ada lately?" asks Dick curiously. "I +suppose she is quite a young lady and a great beauty now." +</P> + +<P> +"Agnes Drummond called the other day," replies Winnie quietly, "and +said she had met Ada last week at a friend's house. It seems she is +just as haughty and proud as ever; but, O Dick, I am sure you will be +sorry when I tell you that all her beauty is gone. The whole face is +completely marred by small-pox, which she caught when abroad with her +father." +</P> + +<P> +"Serves her jolly well right," cries Dick, the old man in his nature +coming to the front. "A girl who can act as she acted deserves a +righteous punishment. I don't suppose she has ever eaten humble pie to +you girls yet?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, and never will," puts in Nellie. "She persists to this day in +saying Win gained Mr. Corbett's medal through Aunt Judith's help, and +that I never learned a single lesson without assistance." +</P> + +<P> +"Hark!" says Captain Inglis, "there is the carriage.—Edith, my dear, +it is time we were going home." So the merry party breaks up, and soon +the silence of midnight settles over the city. +</P> + +<P> +Slowly the wind lulls itself to rest; the storm is over; the +rain-clouds sweep back from the sky, and the stars gleam forth with +softened brilliancy over the sleeping world; while the fair, placid +moon, rising from a mist of vapours, shines down on the sodden earth, +and lingering near a quiet churchyard lays her tearful beams, fondly, +tenderly, on a peaceful grave marked only by a marble cross and the +simple words,—"Aunt Judith." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="finis"> +THE END. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Aunt Judith, by Grace Beaumont + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT JUDITH *** + +***** This file should be named 21432-h.htm or 21432-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/4/3/21432/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +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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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: Aunt Judith + The Story of a Loving Life + +Author: Grace Beaumont + +Release Date: May 14, 2007 [EBook #21432] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT JUDITH *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Started off through the first figure.] + + + + + + +AUNT JUDITH + +The Story of a Loving Life + + +BY + +GRACE BEAUMONT + + + + +THOMAS NELSON AND SONS + +LONDON, EDINBURGH, + +DUBLIN, AND NEW YORK + + + + +Published 1888, 1910 + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + I. A School-girl Quarrel + II. Aunt Judith + III. Will You have Me for a Friend? + IV. A Talk with Aunt Judith + V. A Fallen Queen + VI. Winnie's Home + VII. An Afternoon at Dingle Cottage + VIII. Forging the First Link + IX. The Christmas Party + X. Gathering Clouds + XI. It is so hard to say Good-bye + XII. I always speak as I think + XIII. Our Sailor Boy + XIV. The Prize Essay + XV. How shall I live through the long, long years? + XVI. Light in Darkness + XVII. I shall learn to be good now + XVIII. Conclusion + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +Started off through the first figure . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ + +"Will you have me for a friend?" + +A prostrate figure with white, upturned face + +The eyes, wide open, were fixed on the sheets of + manuscript before her + + + + +AUNT JUDITH. + + +CHAPTER I. + +A SCHOOL-GIRL QUARREL. + +"Girls, girls, I've news for you!" cried Winnifred Blake, entering the +school-room and surveying the faces of her school-mates with great +eagerness. + +Luncheon hour was almost over, and the pupils belonging to Mrs. Elder's +Select Establishment for Young Ladies were gathered together in the +large school-room, some enjoying a merry chat, others, more studiously +inclined, conning over a forthcoming lesson. + +"Give us the benefit of your news quickly, Winnie," said Ada Irvine, +looking round from her snug seat on the broad window-ledge; "surely we +must be going to hear something wonderful when _you_ are so excited;" +and the girl eyed her animated school-fellow half scornfully. + +"A new pupil is coming," announced Winnie with an air of great +solemnity. "Be patient, my friends, and I'll tell you how I know. +Dinner being earlier to-day, I managed to get back to school sooner +than usual, and was just crossing the hall to join you all in the +school-room, when the drawing-room door opened, and Mrs. Elder +appeared, accompanied by a lady in a long loose cloak and huge +bonnet--regular coal-scuttle affair, girls; so large, in fact, that it +was quite impossible to get a glimpse of her face. Mrs. Elder was +saying as I passed, 'I shall expect your niece to-morrow morning, Miss +Latimer, at nine o'clock; and trust she will prosecute her studies with +all diligence, and prove a credit to the school.'" Winnie mimicked the +lady-principal's soft, plausible voice as she spoke. + +"A new pupil!" remarked Ada once more, her voice raised in supreme +contempt; "really, Winnie, I fail to understand your excitement over +such a trifle. Why, she may be a green-grocer's daughter for all you +know to the contrary;" and the speaker's dainty nose was turned up with +a gesture of infinite scorn. + +"Well, and what then, Miss Conceit?" retorted Winnie, flushing angrily +at her school-mate's contemptuous tone; "I presume a green-grocer's +daughter is not exempted from possessing the same talented abilities +which characterize your charming self." + +"Certainly not," replied the other with the same quiet ring of scorn in +her voice; "but, pray, who would associate with a green-grocer's +daughter? Most assuredly not I. My mother is very particular with +regard to the circle in which I move." + +Winnie swept a graceful courtesy. + +"Allow me to express my deep sense of obligation," she said mockingly, +"at the honour conferred on my unworthy self by your attempted +patronage and esteem." Then, changing her tone and raising her little +head proudly--"Ada Irvine, I am ashamed of you--your pride is +insufferable; and my heartiest wish is that some day you may be looked +down upon and viewed with the supreme contempt you now bestow on those +lower (most unfortunately) in the social scale than yourself." + +"Thanks for your amiable wish," was the answer, given in that easy, +tranquil voice which the owner well knew irritated her adversary more +than the fiercest burst of passion would have done; "but I am afraid +there is little likelihood of its ever being realized." + +Winnie elevated her eyebrows. "Is that your opinion?" she said in +affected surprise, while the other school-girls gathered round, +tittering at the caustic little tongue. "I suppose you study the +poets, Miss Irvine; and if so, doubtless you will remember who it is +that says:-- + + 'Oh wad some power the giftie gie us + To see oursels as ithers see us!'" + + +The mischievous child stopped for a second, and then continued: "I am +afraid you look at yourself and your various charms through +rose-coloured spectacles, certainly not with 'a jaundiced eye;'--but I +beg your pardon; were you about to speak?" and Winnie looked innocently +into the fair face of her antagonist, which was now white and set with +passion. + +The blue eyes were flashing with an angry light, the pretty lips +trembling, and the smooth brow knit in a heavy frown; but only for a +few moments. By-and-by the features relaxed their fixed and stony +gaze; the countenance resumed its usual haughty expression; and, +lifting up the book which was lying on her lap, Ada opened it at the +required page, and ended the discussion by saying, "I shall consider it +my duty to inform Mrs. Elder of your charming sentiments; in the +meantime, kindly excuse me from continuing such highly edifying +conversation." With that she bent her head over the French grammar, +and soon appeared thoroughly engrossed in the conjugation of the verb +_avoir_, to have, while her mischievous school-mate turned away with a +light shrug of her pretty shoulders. + +Winnifred Blake, the youngest daughter of a wealthy, influential +gentleman, was a bright, happy girl of about fourteen years, with a +kind, generous heart, and warm, impulsive nature. Being small and +slight in stature, she seemed to all appearance a mere child; and the +quaint, gipsy face peeping from beneath a mass of shaggy, tangled curls +showed a pair of large laughter-loving eyes and a mischievous little +mouth. + +Was she clever? + +Well, that still remained to be seen. Certainly, the bright, +intelligent countenance gave no indication of a slow understanding and +feeble brain; but Winnie hated study, and consequently was usually to +be found adorning the foot of the class. "It is deliciously +comfortable here, girls," she would say to her school-mates when even +they protested against such continual indolence; "you see I am near the +fire, and that is a consideration in the cold, wintry days, I assure +you. Don't annoy yourselves over my shortcomings. Lazy, selfish +people always get on in the world;" and speaking thus, the incorrigible +child would nestle back in her lowly seat with an air of the utmost +satisfaction. + +Ada Irvine smiled in supreme contempt over what she termed Winnie's +stupidity, and would repeat her own perfectly-learned lesson with +additional triumph in her tone; but the faultless repetition by no +means disconcerted her lazy school-mate, who was often heard to say, +with seeming simplicity, "I could do just as well if I chose; but then +I don't choose, and that, you see, makes all the difference." + +Ada Irvine was an only child, and her parents having gone abroad in the +(alas, how often vain!) search after health, had left her with Mrs. +Elder, to whose care she was intrusted with every charge for her +comfort and advantage--a charge which that young lady took great care +should be amply fulfilled. She was only six months older than Winnie, +but very tall, and already giving the promise of great beauty in after +years. Talented and brilliant also, she held a powerful sway over the +minds and actions of her schoolmates, and queened in the school right +royally; but the cold, haughty pride which marred her nature failed to +make her such a general favourite as her fiery, little adversary. + +In the afternoon, when the school was being dismissed for the day, Ada +sought the presence of the lady-principal; and consequently, just as +Winnie was strapping up her books preparatory to going home, a servant +appeared in the dressing-room summoning Miss Blake to Mrs. Elder's +sanctum. + +"Now you're in for it, Winnie," said the girls pityingly; "Ada has kept +to her word and told. How mean!" But the child only tossed her curly +head, and with slightly heightened colour followed the maid to the +comfortable parlour where the lady-principal was usually to be found. + +Mrs. Elder, seated by a small fire which burned brightly in the shining +grate, turned a face expressive of the most severe displeasure on the +defiant little culprit as she entered; while Ada, standing slightly in +the shadow of the window-curtain, looked at the victim haughtily, and +shaped her lips in a malicious smile at the lady-principal's opening +words. + +"I presume you are aware of my reason for requesting your presence +here, Miss Blake," she began in icy tones; "and I trust you have come +before me sincerely penitent for your fault. I cannot express in +sufficiently strong terms the displeasure I feel at your shameful +conduct this afternoon. I never thought a pupil of this establishment +could be guilty of such unlady-like language as fell from your lips, +and it grieves me to know that I have in my school a young girl capable +of cherishing the evil spirit of animosity against a fellow-creature. +What have you to say in defence of your conduct? Can you vindicate it +in any way, or shall I take your silence as full confession of your +guilt?" + +Winnie pressed her lips tightly together, but did not speak. "I need +not attempt to clear myself," she mentally decided. "Ada will have +coloured our quarrel to suit herself, and being Mrs. Elder's favourite, +her word will be relied on before mine; that has been the case before, +and will be so again." + +The lady-principal, however, mistook the continued silence for +conscious guilt. + +"Then I demand that an ample apology be made to Miss Irvine now, in my +presence," she said once more in frigid tones. "Come, Miss Blake; my +time is too precious to be trifled with." + +Winnie's eyes sparkled, and raising her small head defiantly, she +replied, "I decline to apologize, Mrs. Elder. I only spoke as I +thought, and am quite prepared to say the same again if occasion +offers. Miss Irvine knows my words, if distasteful, were but too true." + +The lady-principal gasped. "Miss Blake," she cried at length, +horrified at the bold assertion, and endeavouring to quail her +audacious pupil with one stern, withering glance, "this is dreadful!" +But the angry child only pouted, and repeated doggedly, "It is quite +true." + +Then Mrs. Elder rose, and laying her hand firmly on Winnie's shoulder, +said quietly, but with an awful meaning underlying her words, +"Apologize at once, Miss Blake, or I shall resort to stronger measures, +and also complain to your parents"--a threat which terrified the +unwilling girl into submission. + +Going forward with flushed cheeks and mutinous mouth, she stood before +the triumphant Ada, and said sullenly, "Please accept my apology for +unlady-like language, Miss Irvine. I am sorry I should have degraded +myself and spoken as I did, but" (and here a mischievous light swept +the gloomy cloud from the piquant face and lit it up with an elfish +smile) "you provoked me, and I am very outspoken." + +Ada coloured with anger and vexation; and in spite of her displeasure, +Mrs. Elder found it difficult to repress a smile. + +"That will do," she pronounced coldly; "such an apology is only adding +insult to injury. You will kindly write out twenty times four pages of +French vocabulary, and also remain at the foot of all your classes +during the next fortnight. Go! I am greatly displeased with you, Miss +Blake;" and as the lady-principal waved her hand in token of dismissal, +she frowned angrily, and looked both mortified and indignant. + +Winnie required no second bidding. She drew her slight figure up to +its full height, made her exit with all the dignity of an offended +queen, entered the now deserted dressing-room, and seizing her books, +hurried from the school, and was soon running rapidly down the busy +street. + +"Hallo, Win! what's the row? One would think you had stolen the +giant's seven-league boots," cried a voice from behind. "Did ever I +see a girl dashing along at such a rate!" And turning round, Winnie +saw before her a tall, strapping boy, whose honest, freckled face, +illumined by a broad, friendly grin, shone brightly on her from under a +shock of fiery red hair. + +"I'll bet I know without your telling me," he continued, coming to her +side and removing his heavy load of books from one shoulder to the +other. "Been quarrelling with the lovely Ada, eh?" and he glanced +kindly at the little figure by his side. + +Winnie laughed slightly. "You're about right, Dick," she replied. +"There has been a cat-and-dog fight; only this time the cat's velvety +paws scratched the poor little dog and wounded it sorely." + +"Ah! you went at it tooth and nail, I suppose," Dick said +philosophically; "pity you girls can't indulge in a regular stand-up +fight." And the wild boy began to brandish his arms about as if he +would thoroughly enjoy commencing there and then. + +The quick flush of temper was over now, and the girl's eyes gleamed +mischievously as she replied, "I've a weapon of my own, Dick, fully as +powerful as yours. I'll use my tongue;" and the audacious little minx +smiled saucily into her brother's honest face. + +A hearty roar greeted her words, and Dick almost choked before he +managed to say, "Go it, Win; I'll back you up. Commend me to a woman's +tongue!" And the boy, unable to control his risible faculties, burst +into a hearty laugh, which died away in a chuckle of genuine merriment. + +Richard Blake, or Dick (the name by which he was generally called) was +Winnie's favourite brother, and she almost idolized the big, kindly +fellow, on whom the other members of the family showered ridicule and +contempt. He was a bluff, outspoken lad, with a brave, true heart as +tender and pitiful as a woman's; but, lacking both the capacity for and +inclination to study, he by no means proved a brilliant scholar, and +thus brought down on himself the censure of his masters and the heavy +displeasure of his father. "Hard words break no bones. I daresay I +shall manage through the world somehow," he would say after having +received some cutting remark from an elder brother or sister; and +Winnie, always his stanch friend and advocate, would nod her sunny head +and prophesy confidently, "We shall be proud of you yet, Dick." + +In the meantime they sauntered along, swinging their books and chatting +gaily, till a turn in the road brought them to a quiet square where +handsome dwelling-houses faced each other in sombre grandeur. + +"No. 3 Victoria Square--this way, miss," said Dick, mounting the steps +and ringing the bell violently. + +"What a boy you are!" laughed Winnie, following, and giving her +brother's rough coat a mischievous pull. "Whenever will you learn +sense, Dick?" Then the door opened, and with glad young hearts brother +and sister entered their comfortable home. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +AUNT JUDITH. + +The October night closed in dark and wild. The wind, rising in fierce +gusts, swept along the streets with relentless fury, whirling the cans +on the roofs of the houses, and whistling down the chimneys with +relentless roar; passers-by drew up the collars of their coats and bent +their faces under the pitiless blast; while the rain, falling with its +monotonous splash, splash, added to the gloom and rawness of the night. + +Up and down the platform of one of the principal stations in the town a +lady paced, every now and then peering into the murky darkness, or +waylaying a passing porter to ask when the down-train was due. She was +tall and slender, but the huge bonnet and thick veil which she wore so +effectually concealed her face that it was impossible to make out +whether she was young or old. + +At last a whistle and the loud ringing of the bell proclaimed that the +train was close at hand, and in all the glory of its powerful mechanism +the great locomotive swept into the busy station. The lady, stepping +nearer the edge of the platform, gazed into the windows of the +carriages as the train passed, slackening speed; then with a quick +gesture of recognition went forward and turned the handle of one of the +doors at which a young girl was standing looking wistfully on the many +faces hurrying by. "Nellie Latimer, I am sure," she said in a kind +voice; "'tis a dreary night to bid you welcome. I am your Aunt Judith, +dear," and assisting the girl out of the carriage, she lifted her veil +for a single moment and laid a kiss on the fresh, young cheek. "What +have you in the way of luggage? One trunk. Well, stand here while I +go and find it," saying which she glided away and was lost to view in +the bustling crowd. In a few moments she returned, followed by a +porter bearing the modest, black box; and bidding the young traveller +come with her, left the platform, hailed a cab, and was soon driving +with her tired charge along the wet streets. + +Aunt Judith gazed at the lonely little figure sitting so quietly facing +her, and mentally deciding that, wearied out and home-sick, the child +would naturally be disinclined for conversation, she leaned back on the +carriage cushion and fell into a long train of thought. + +Nellie Latimer was thankful for the silence. She had left her home +early that morning for the purpose of wintering in town with her aunts, +and, as it was the first flight from the parental nest, her heart was +sore with grief and longing. She was the eldest daughter of Dr. +Latimer, a poor country practitioner, whose practice brought him too +limited an income with which to meet the expenses of the large family +of hardy boys and girls growing up around him. He had sent Nellie to +the village school, and when she had mastered all the knowledge to be +gleaned there, endeavoured to instruct her himself; but he could ill +spare the time, and so hailed with feelings of the deepest gratitude a +letter from his eldest sister offering to take Nellie and give her all +the advantages of a town education, "Let the child come, John," she +wrote in her simple, kindly style; "she will help to brighten the +hearts of three old maids, and a young face will be a cheery sight in +our quiet cottage home. She will have a thorough education, and we +shall endeavour to bring her up so that she may be a fitting helpmate +to her mother on her return home." Dr. Latimer showed the letter to +his wife, who read it thankfully. "Your sister is a noble woman, +John," she said brokenly; "let us accept her offer, and may God bless +her." + +Thus it was that Nellie had left the home nest and come to live her +life in the busy town. She knew almost nothing about her aunts, and +had never seen them; for Dr. Latimer dwelt in a far-off country +village, and the distance from it to the city was very great. The +postman would occasionally bring a letter, book, or paper to the +doctor; and every Christmas a hamper filled with choice meats and other +dainties would find its way to the house, showing that the young +nephews and nieces were not forgotten by the aunts they had never seen. +Those "good fairies," as the little children styled them, were three in +number: Aunt Judith, the bread-winner--though how, Nellie as yet did +not know; Aunt Debby, the Martha of the household, hard-working and +practical; and Aunt Margaret, an invalid, seldom able to leave her +couch. + +"I cannot tell you much about them, dear," Mrs. Latimer had said one +night when talking with her eldest daughter over the coming parting. +"They (meaning the aunts) were abroad on account of Aunt Margaret's +health when I first met your father, and did not return home till some +time after our marriage. Aunt Margaret was not any better, and had +settled down into invalid habits, requiring the constant attention and +care of both sisters. Aunt Judith spoke at one time of coming to spend +a few days with us; but Aunt Margaret could not spare her, and so she +never came. Your father says Aunt Judith is a brave, true woman, and +keeps the little household together, besides the many kindnesses she +bestows on us. I trust you will like your aunts, my child, and be +happy with them, even though you are away from us all." + +Nellie had been thinking all this over while the cab was quickly +whirling her along the now deserted thoroughfares, and so deeply had +her mind been occupied with these thoughts that she started in +amazement when the driver drew up before the entrance of a small +cottage, and she saw a bright flood of light streaming out from the +hastily opened door. + +"Here we are, dear," said Aunt Judith's kind voice breaking in on her +reverie; "this is your new home, and there is Aunt Debby waiting to bid +you welcome. Run! I shall follow you immediately." + +Nellie, obeying, hurried up the little gravelled path, and reaching the +door, found herself folded in Aunt Debby's motherly embrace, with Aunt +Debby's arms round her, and Aunt Debby's round, rosy face pressed close +to her own. + +"Dear, dear! to think I should be holding one of John's children to my +heart," said the good lady, wiping away an imaginary tear from her +soft, plump cheek. "There, come in, child, you are thrice welcome. +How strange it all seems, to be sure;" and chatting away, Aunt Debby +led her weary niece into the cosy parlour, where the bright fire and +daintily spread table seemed to whisper of warmth and home comforts. + +"There, sit down, dear, and let me unfasten your cloak," she continued, +placing Nellie on a chair and proceeding to take off her hat with its +well soaked plume. "Dear heart! how the child resembles her father! +John's very eyes and nose, I declare. Well, well, I'm getting an old +woman, and the sight of this fresh, young face warns me of the passing +years." + +"I think, Debby, you should show Nellie her room and let her refresh +herself; there will be ample opportunity for talking to her later on, +and the child is wearied with travelling." + +Aunt Judith, who had just entered, said this in such a kind voice that +it was impossible to take offence, and Miss Deborah, raising her +little, twinkling eyes to her sister's face, replied, "Ah! Judith, I +need you to look after me still.--I have a sad tongue, my dear (to +Nellie), and am apt to chatter when I ought to be silent; come, let me +take you to your room now," and off trotted Aunt Debby with an air of +the utmost importance. + +Nellie followed wearily up the tiny stair with its white matting, and +then paused in glad delight as her guide, throwing open a door on one +side of the landing, ushered her into a small room. It was simply and +plainly furnished, as indeed was everything else in the house; but oh! +the spotless purity of the snowy counterpane and pretty toilets. The +curtains, looped back with crimson ribbon, fell to the ground in +graceful folds. Light sketches and illuminated texts adorned the +delicately tinted walls, and on a small table stood an antique vase +filled with fairest autumn flowers. + +"Are you pleased with your little bedroom, Nellie?" asked Aunt Debby, +noting the girl's look of genuine admiration; "there's not much to be +seen in the way of grandeur, but it's clean," and practical Miss +Deborah emphasized her words by nodding her head vigorously. + +"Pleased, Aunt Debby! Why, everything is beautiful. I never had a +room all to myself before, and this one is simply lovely. How can I +thank you sufficiently for being so good to me?" and there were tears +in Nellie's eyes as she spoke. + +"Nonsense, my dear," replied the kind woman in her brisk, cheery way; +"we are only too pleased to have you with us, and trust you will be +happy here;--now, if my tongue is not off again. There--not another +word; wash your face and hands, child, then come down to the parlour," +and Aunt Debby hurried from the room. + +Nellie found the cold water very refreshing, and made her appearance +downstairs with a much brighter, cleaner countenance. She found Miss +Deborah already seated before the urn, sugaring the cups and adding +cream with a very liberal hand; while Aunt Judith lay back on a low +rocking-chair looking dreamily into the glowing embers. Both started +as the girl entered, and Miss Latimer, rising, placed a chair before +the table and bade Nellie be seated, patting her niece's head gently in +her slow, kindly fashion, ere she sat down herself and prepared to +attend to the young traveller's wants. + +Nellie, though tired and home-sick, felt very hungry, and did ample +justice to the savoury meal, greatly to Aunt Debby's delight; for that +good lady had spared no pains, and had burnt her merry, plump face over +the fire, in order to make the supper a success. + +Neither aunt troubled her niece with questions, but each talked quietly +to the other; and thus left alone, as it were, Nellie found sufficient +time to study both faces, and jot down mentally her opinion of each at +first sight. One glance at Miss Deborah's rounded contour and +twinkling eyes was quite enough; but Miss Latimer's peaceful +countenance fascinated the young girl, and seemed to hold her +spell-bound. Yet, from a critical point of view, Aunt Judith's was not +a pretty face. It was defective in colouring and outline, and there +were lines on the quiet brow and round the patient lips; but the look +in the eyes--Nellie never forgot that look all her life--it seemed as +if Miss Latimer's very soul shone through those dark blue orbs, and +revealed the pure, spiritual nature of the woman. A keen physiognomist +might have traced the words "I have lived and suffered" in the calm, +hushed face with its crown of silver-streaked hair; but Nellie, only a +simple child, merely gazed and wondered what it was that made her think +Aunt Judith's the most beautiful face she had ever seen. + +"Now, dear," said the object of her thoughts, smiling kindly and +turning towards her when the dainty repast was over, "I think we shall +send you to bed, and after a good night's rest you will be refreshed +and ready for school-work to-morrow. Don't trouble removing the +plates, Debby; we shall have worship first, and that will free Nellie." + +Aunt Debby rose from her chair, handed Miss Latimer the old family +Bible, and placing a smaller one in Nellie's lap, reseated herself and +waited for Aunt Judith to begin. + +A chapter slowly and reverently read, a prayer perfect in its childlike +simplicity, then Miss Latimer laid a hand on her niece's shoulder and +bade her "Good-night;" whilst Miss Deborah, lighting a candle, led the +way as before, and after seeing she required no further service, +treated the girl to a hearty embrace, and prepared to depart. + +"A good sleep, child. You'll see Aunt Meg tomorrow; this has been one +of her bad days, but I expect she will be much better in the morning." +These were Aunt Debby's last words, and she bustled away as if fearing +to what extent her tongue might lead her. + +Nellie undressed, jumped into bed, and then, safely muffled under the +warm blankets, cried her homesickness out in the darkness. "O mother, +mother," she sobbed, "how I miss you! it is all so strange and lonely. +What shall I do?" But even as she wailed in her young heart's anguish, +the blankets were gently drawn aside, and a stream of light shining +down revealed the flushed tear-stained face on the pillow, and showed +Aunt Judith's gentle form bending over the sobbing figure. + +"Nellie," she said in that kind voice so peculiarly her own--"Nellie, +my child, I was afraid of this;" and putting her arms round the +trembling girl, she drew the weary head to her breast, and smoothed the +tangled hair with soothing touch. By-and-by the sobs became less +violent, and when they had finally ceased Miss Latimer spoke, and her +kind words were to the lonely heart as dew to the thirsty flowers. + +In after years Nellie found what a precious privilege it was to have a +talk with Aunt Judith; and long after, when the brave, true heart had +ceased to beat, and the quietly-folded hands spoke of a finished work, +she drew from her treasured storehouse the blessed memory of wise, +loving counsels, of grand, beautiful thoughts; and carrying them into +her daily life, endeavoured to make that life "one grand, sweet song." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +WILL YOU HAVE ME FOR A FRIEND? + +"Late again! Winnifred Blake, I am ashamed of you; come, run as fast +as you can;" and scolding herself vigorously, Winnie changed her +leisurely step to a brisk trot which brought her to the schoolhouse +door exactly fifteen minutes after the hour. "Punishment exercise +yesterday, and fine to-day--how horrible!" she broke out again, +entering the empty dressing-room and surveying the array of hats on the +various pegs, all of which seemed to rebuke her tardiness. "Miss Smith +will purse up her lips, and utter some cutting sarcasm of course, but I +don't care," and Winnie, kicking off her boots, pitched them--well, I +don't think she herself knew where. The jacket being next unfastened, +she proceeded to divest herself of her hat, and pulled with such +violence that the elastic snapped and struck her face severely. +Winnie's temper (so Dick declared) resembled nothing so much as a +pop-gun, going off, as it were, with a great bang on the least +provocation. Flinging the offending article to the other side of the +room, and addressing it in anything but complimentary terms, she picked +up her books, shook her shaggy mane over her face, and marched straight +to the large class-room, where the girls were already busy over their +Bible lesson. + +"Half-an-hour late, Miss Blake. You really are improving. Allow me to +remind you of the fine, also of Mrs. Elder's instructions to take the +lowest seat;" and Miss Smith, the senior governess, uttered the words +with withering scorn. + +"Good-morning," replied the culprit, hiding an angry little heart under +a smiling exterior, and slipping her penny into the box on the +teacher's desk; "my sleep was slightly broken last night, and that made +me late." + +Here the girls tittered, and Miss Smith frowned. "Indeed," she +commented haughtily; "pray, does your constitution require a stated +interval of so many hours for sleep _every_ night?" and the governess +laid special stress on the word "every." + +"Well, perhaps not," replied Winnie, coolly sitting down and proceeding +to unfasten her books; "but I always indulge in an extra half hour if I +am disturbed in my slumbers. Broken rest tells sorely on my nervous +system, and renders both myself and others miserable." + +At this point some of the pupils laughed outright, and Miss Smith's +anger rose. + +"Silence!" she said, rising and tapping rapidly on the desk. "Miss +Blake, you are a disgrace to the school. Attend to your lesson, and +let me hear no more rude, impertinent language, or I shall punish you +severely," and the governess treated Winnie to one glance of supreme +contempt as she spoke. + +The child ground her little white teeth together as she gazed on the +teacher's sour-faced visage and listened to the tones of her +high-pitched voice. "Regular crab-apple, and as cross as two sticks," +she muttered, knitting her brow in an angry frown, but smoothing it +hastily and calling up the necessary look of attention as Miss Smith +cast a swift glance in her direction; "how I should like to tell her +every horrid thought in my heart concerning herself. She would be +edified," and at the bare idea Winnie shook so much with suppressed +merriment that the girl next her opened a pair of bright, hazel eyes +and stared in amazement at the audacious child. + +The little mischief caught the look, and returning it with interest +found she was seated beside the new pupil whose advent had occasioned +yesterday's quarrel. There was something very engaging in the frank, +open countenance, and Winnie smiled pleasantly as she met the +astonished gaze. + +"Am I very rude and disobedient?" she asked, or rather whispered +roguishly; "you look so shocked and amazed. Please, don't judge by +first impressions; my bark is worse than my bite, and I can be a very +good girl when I choose. Self-praise is no honour, of course, and I +ought to be silent with regard to my various perfections and +imperfections; but if you wait patiently you will find out that +Winnifred Blake is a most eccentric character, and says and does what +no other person would say or do." + +Nellie Latimer's astonishment increased as she gazed on this (to her) +new specimen of humanity. What a dainty, fairy-like creature she +seemed, and what a mischievous gleam was lurking in the depths of those +great, shining eyes! Nellie felt quite awkward and commonplace in her +presence; however, she managed to say shyly, "I am afraid it is I who +have been rude staring at you so; but I did not mean any harm, only you +are so different from the other girls." + +Winnie gave her an admonishing touch. + +"Hush!" she whispered, "the raven is watching us. I mean Miss Smith," +as Nellie looked bewildered. "We call her that because she is +everlastingly croaking;" and here Winnie, leaning back on her seat, +assumed an expression of childlike innocence and solemnity, and +appeared to be thoroughly interested in the teacher's explanations. + +The lesson proceeded; slowly but surely the hands of the clock moved +steadily forward, and at last pointed to the hour, on which Miss Smith, +rising, closed her book and dismissed the class with evident feelings +of relief. + +"Ten minutes' respite, then heigh-ho for a long spell of grammar, +etc.," cried Winnie, addressing Nellie as they passed into the hall. +"You don't know your lessons to-day of course, and I am so well up in +mine that I shall not be able to answer a single word; so come away +with me to this quiet nook at the end of the passage and let us enjoy a +cosy talk." + +The "quiet nook" referred to was a recess at the hall window, +partitioned off by a drapery of tapestried curtains. It was a +favourite resort of Winnie's, and here the wonderful thoughts, the +outbursts of passion, the mischievous plots and schemes, all found free +course, and many a childish secret could those heavy folds of curtain +have told had they been gifted with tongues wherewith to speak. + +Dismissing the other school-fellows who were gathering round, and +shooting a triumphant glance at Ada Irvine's haughty face, she half +dragged her amused but by no means unwilling companion to the sacred +spot; and when both were comfortably perched on the window niche, she +began eagerly, "Won't you tell me your name and where you live? I am +called Winnifred Mary Blake. I have three big brothers, and a little +one; two sisters older than myself; a cross papa and proud step-mamma. +We live about a mile from here--No. 3 Victoria Square--and I go home to +dinner every day during recess." Having delivered this wonderful +announcement in one breath, Winnie paused and waited for her companion +to speak. + +Nellie smiled as she replied,-- + +"My name is Helen Latimer, and my home is far away in a country +village. I am staying, however, in town with my aunts at present, they +live in a small cottage in Broomhill Road." + +"Broomhill Road!" echoed Winnie doubtfully; "that is not west, I fancy." + +"Oh no, east; I have to take the 'bus, as it is too great a distance to +walk daily." + +"Not an aristocratic locality," Winnie decided mentally, "and Ada +Irvine getting hold of that little fact would use it as a means of +exquisite torture to this new girl's sensitive heart. Poor thing! she +looks so happy and blithe too." Thinking such thoughts, the +mischievous child turned to her companion with a soft, pitying light in +her eyes, and holding out a small flake of a hand, said gently,-- + +"We have not much time at our disposal just now, and I cannot say all I +would wish; but you won't find it all plain sailing at school, Nellie, +and you will be none the worse of having some one to stand by you, so +will you have me for a friend?" + +[Illustration: "Will you have me for a friend?"] + +The quaint gipsy face with its framework of wavy hair; the bright, +sunny countenance and laughing lips; above all, the soft, childish +voice, charmed simple-hearted Nellie, who willingly grasped the hand +extended, with these words, "I shall be only too pleased indeed." So +the compact was sealed--a compact which remained unbroken through the +long months and years that followed. Time and adversity only served to +strengthen the bond, and the gray twilight of life found the friends of +childhood's days friends still. + +"Hark to the bell! are you ready?" asked Winnie, stretching her lazy +little form and rising reluctantly from the cosy corner; "now for a +long, long lecture on subject and predicate, ugh! How I do hate +lessons, to be sure;" and Miss Blake, parting the tapestried curtains, +stepped along the hall with a very mutinous face. + +Nellie having come to school with the fixed determination to make the +most of her time, prepared to listen to the master's instructions with +all due attention; but Winnie's incessant fidgeting and yawning baffled +every attempt, and the ludicrous answers, given with tantalizing +readiness, almost upset her gravity, despite Mr. King's unconcealed +vexation. + +"This is one of her provoking days," whispered a girl, noting Nellie's +puzzled face; "she will tease and annoy each teacher as much as +possible all this afternoon---she always does so when in these moods. +Do not think her stupid, Miss Latimer; as the French master often says, +'It is not lack of ability, but lack of application.' She won't +learn," and Agnes Drummond, one of Winnie's stanchest allies, shook her +head admonishingly at the little dunce as she spoke; but a defiant pout +of the rosy lips was the only answer vouchsafed to the friendly +warning, and the next moment an absurdly glaring error brought down on +Winnie the righteous indignation of her irritated teacher, and resulted +in solitary confinement during recess. + +Sitting alone in the large empty class-room, the poor child burst into +a flood of passionate tears. "It's too bad," she cried rebelliously, +wiping her wet eyes and flinging her book aside with contemptuous +touch. "There, I can't go home now, and we are to have jam pudding to +dinner. Dick will chuckle--horrid boy! and eat my share as well as his +own. I know he will, and I do so love those kind of puddings, +especially when they are made with strawberry jam. Oh dear, how I envy +Alexander Selkirk on his desert island! I am sure he never had any +nasty old lessons to learn, and I think he was very stupid to grumble +over his solitude when he could do every day simply what he pleased. +Well, if I must study, I must; so, here goes," and, drawing the +despised grammar towards her once more, Winnie set herself steadily to +master part of the contents. + +Meanwhile, Nellie, deprived of the companionship of her new friend, was +being sharply catechised by Ada Irvine as to her antecedents and +general history. The girl at first innocently replied to each +question; but after a time she resented the queries, and thereby +incurred that young lady's haughty displeasure, and brought down on +herself the sharp edge of Ada's sarcastic tongue. + +"Not much of a pedigree to boast about, girls," was the final verdict, +given with a slight curl of the lip, signifying unbounded +contempt,--"the grandfather on the one side a farmer, on the other a +draper; the father a poor country doctor; three old maiden aunts living +in one of our commonest localities, keeping no servant, doing their own +work, and dressing like Quakers. It's a wonder to hear Miss Latimer +speak without dropping her h's, or otherwise murdering the Queen's +English, ha, ha!" and Miss Irvine shrugged her elegant shoulders +scornfully. + +"Oh, come, Ada, that is going too far," protested some of the girls, +shocked at the rude words and the cool deliberate manner in which they +were said; but their insolent school-fellow silenced them with an +impatient gesture, as she surveyed the flushed face of her victim and +awaited a reply. + +Nellie felt both hurt and indignant. She had grown up in her quiet, +country home, totally ignorant of the arrogancy and pride so much +abroad in the busy world; and coming to school with the expectancy of +finding pleasant companions and friends, the words struck home to her +heart with a chill. + +"How unkind you are!" she murmured, struggling to suppress the angry +tears; "you have no right to speak so to me. My aunts are not rich, it +is true, and cannot afford to dress so extravagantly as many; but that +does not prevent them from being perfect gentlewomen, does it? Your +own mother cannot be a more thorough lady than my Aunt Judith, I am +sure." + +"Is that so?" said Ada with mocking sarcasm, and the contempt in her +voice was indescribable. "What presumption! the lower classes are +beginning to look up, sure enough." + +"Shame!" cried some of the girls standing near; "you are cruel, Ada." +But at that moment a slim hand touched Nellie's arm, and a merry voice +said soothingly, "Never mind her, Nellie; we all know she is not +responsible for her statements at times. Her brain is a little +defective on one point," and Winnie's great eyes shot a mischievous +glance at Miss Irvine's haughty face. + +"May I ask the reason of your special interference just now?" inquired +Ada, an angry flush deepening the rose-tint on her cheek; "possibly you +wish yesterday's scene to be repeated over again." + +"Oh dear, no," answered Winnie brightly, "home-truths seldom need +repetition; they are not so easily forgotten. But Nellie is my friend, +and I intend to fight her battles as well as my own. Please understand +that once for all, and remember at the same time with what metal you +have to deal.--Come, Nellie, I am free at last," and the spirited +little creature led her weeping school-mate from the room. + +"Didn't I warn you not to expect plain sailing?" she continued with a +knowing look; "and Ada Irvine is a perfect hurricane. She will swoop +down on you at every opportunity, and bluster and blow; but let her +alone and never mind." + +"I wish I had never left home," replied Nellie, dashing her hand across +her eyes and winking away the tear-drops vigorously. "How can girls +say such dreadful things? I can't bear them;" and a fresh burst of +grief followed. + +"Phew!" cried Winnie, giving her an energetic shake, and knitting her +brow in a childish frown, "that's babyish. You'll strike on every rock +and bend before each gale if you talk in such a fashion. Don't be a +fool, Nellie; pluck up some spirit, and show Ada Irvine you're above +her contempt." Winnie spoke as if possessed with all the wisdom of the +ancients, and gave due emphasis to every word. "She and I are always +at what Dick calls 'loggerheads,' and I enjoy an occasional passage of +arms amazingly; only, sometimes I come off second on the field, and +that is not so pleasant. Now," with a pretty coaxing air, "dry your +tears; the hour is almost up, and the bell will be ringing shortly. I +hate to see people crying, I do indeed, so please stop;" and Winnie +eyed the tear-stained countenance of her friend with mingled sympathy +and impatience. + +"I daresay I am very silly," replied Nellie, wiping her eyes and +scrubbing her wet cheeks with startling vehemence; "anyhow I'll stop +now. And thank you for taking my part, Winnie; you'll be a friend +worth having, I am sure of that." + +"Yes," answered the young girl, a strange dreamy smile playing on her +lips, and a soft look gleaming in the mischievous eyes, "I shall be +true as steel;" and Nellie never forgot the earnest light on the +childish face as Winnie made her simple vow. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +A TALK WITH AUNT JUDITH. + +It was evening; the daily routine of work was over, and the time come +for resting and social enjoyment. The ruby curtains were closely drawn +in the cosy parlour at Dingle Cottage; the flames leapt and danced in +the polished grate, and the soft lamplight fell with mellowing gleam +around. Click, click, went Aunt Debby's needles as she sat by the warm +glow, knitting industriously; tick, tick, said the little clock, its +pendulum swinging steadily to and fro. The cat purred in sleepy +content on the rug; and Aunt Judith's gentle voice fell soothingly on +the ear as she read some book aloud from her low seat by Aunt Meg's +couch. + +Nellie, curled up in the rocking-chair opposite Aunt Debby, rocked +herself in lazy comfort, and gazed on her invalid relative with rather +a doubtful expression of countenance. Her first impression of Miss +Margaret was certainly not favourable; for the girl, though not very +keen-sighted, saw how the pale pretty face was marred by lines of +peevish discontent, and the brow continually puckered in a fretful +frown. She was not old, Nellie decided--not much over thirty, at the +very most; but oh, how unlike Aunt Judith! What a contrast there was +betwixt that listless, languid form on the sofa, and the quiet figure +on the low chair near! Nellie turned with a positive sigh of relief to +rest her eyes on Miss Latimer's peaceful countenance and wonder at the +marvellous calm that always brooded there. + +Every now and then some frivolous demand or complaint would come from +the invalid--her pillows required shaking; the fire was too warm; the +lamplight not sufficiently shaded; what a noise Aunt Debby's pins were +making, and could Aunt Judith not read in a lower tone? Nellie was +surprised at Miss Latimer's good-humoured patience, and thoroughly +enjoyed Miss Deborah's occasional tart remarks, thrown out in sheer +desperation. + +"Well, Meg, you would provoke the temper of a saint," she cried, +twitching her wool so violently that the thread snapped, and the ball +rolled under the table; "there you go grumbling from morning till +night, in spite of every endeavour to make you comfortable. Your +nurses have a hard time, I assure you, and are to be pitied sincerely." + +Miss Margaret's eyes filled, and a flood of tears being imminent, Miss +Latimer strove to avert the torrent by saying, "Come, come, Debby; that +is strong language to use. You and I great healthy creatures do not +know what it is to be confined to a couch day after day, and suffer +almost constant pain. I should feel it very hard to be unable to go +about and walk in God's beautiful sunshine, and I think one cannot be +sufficiently tender and patient towards the sick and helpless." + +"Mental pain is harder to bear than physical," quoth practical Miss +Deborah, in no way convinced of her harshness by the gentle speech. +"If one were to have one's choice, I reckon," with strong Yankeeism, "a +headache would be chosen in preference to a heartache," and Aunt Debby +nodded her head knowingly. + +A white, set look crossed Aunt Judith's face, and a shadow crept into +the dark eyes; but they were gone in a moment, and Miss Latimer's lips +wore their own sweet smile as she replied, "God grant you may +experience little of either, Debby; but if you do, trust me you will +find that both bring the richest blessings in their train;" and Aunt +Judith's patient face shone with a glad light as she spoke. + +"Meg has failed to seize her blessings, then," said Miss Deborah +composedly. "No, no, Judith, you are a good woman, but you won't +convince me that Margaret is justified in whining and grumbling to the +extent she does." + +"I need never look for sympathy from you, Debby," broke in the invalid +with a low sob; "you are very hard-hearted, but the day will come when +all those cruel speeches will rise up and condemn you." + +"When?" with provoking gravity. + +"When I am no longer here" (low sobs), "and the cold earth hides me for +ever from your sight." + +"So let it be," retaliated Miss Deborah, coolly proceeding to turn the +heel of her stocking, and speaking quite placidly. "I shall remember +the amount of exasperation I received when that day comes, and be able +to meet the condemnation with becoming fortitude." + +"Debby, Debby," said Miss Latimer's voice reprovingly; but the warning +came too late. A violent fit of hysterics ensued, and Miss Margaret +was borne to her room by the much-enduring sisters, whose services were +both required to quell the outburst and settle her comfortably for the +night. + +Nellie, left alone in the snug parlour, drew her chair closer to the +fire, and lifting the cat from its cosy bed on the rug, allowed it to +curl up comfortably on her lap. "What a fuss," said the girl, +shrugging her shoulders and gazing into the bright, glowing fire. "If +I were Aunt Meg, I should be positively ashamed of myself--peevish, +cross thing that she is. What a contrast to Aunt Judith;" and here +Nellie fell into a fit of musing, which lasted till Miss Deborah came +in with the cloth for supper. + +"How is Aunt Meg now?" she inquired, watching Aunt Debby bustling about +on hospitable thoughts intent. "Is she better?" + +"Well, yes," was the reply, given with a little twinkle of the eye; +"and a good night's rest will work wonders. You must excuse your aunt +this evening, Nellie; she is not always so fretful, and an invalid's +life has its hard times." + +Miss Deborah spoke earnestly, for although she felt justified in saying +a sharp word herself, she could ill brook the idea of any one +disparaging or thinking lightly of her invalid sister. Nellie gave a +slight nod of assent, which seemed to signify approval of Aunt Debby's +words. Nevertheless she retained her own opinion, and mentally +condemned poor Miss Margaret as being both weak and silly. + +Supper over, Miss Deborah retired to the kitchen, where her reign as +queen was undisputed, and Miss Latimer, bidding Nellie bring a small +stool and sit down at her feet, began to stroke the soft hair gently, +and ask questions as to the day's proceedings. + +"Tell me your first impressions, dear child," said the kind voice +pleasantly; and the young girl, whose heart still ached at the +remembrance of Ada Irvine's stinging words, poured forth the whole +story with a force and passion which astonished even herself. + +Aunt Judith listened quietly--so quietly, indeed, that Nellie felt half +ashamed of her vehemence, and imagined she had been making "much ado +about nothing;" but in a few minutes Miss Latimer spoke, and her tones +were very tender as she said:--"So my little Nellie has learned that +school is not the sunny place she fancied it was. Dear child, I think +your new friend gave you very good advice. Don't be a coward, Nellie, +and allow your happiness to be marred by the insolent tongue of a +spoilt girl. Show her a true lady is characterized, not by outward +dress and appearance, but by the innate beauty of heart and soul, and +leave your quiet endurance and pleasant courtesy to speak for +themselves. Dear, it seems to me as if you were just beginning life +now--as if you had but newly entered the lists, and were preparing for +that battle which we have all to fight in this world. The warfare is +seldom, if ever, an easy one, and the little stings of everyday life +are harder to bear than many a heavy trial; but you must determine to +be a brave, true soldier, Nellie, and make your life a grand, noble +one. You may say to me it is easy to speak, but difficult to act, +which I readily grant; but, my child, although the acting may seem +almost impossible, we have one Friend ever able and willing to help us. +If we choose Him in all sincerity of heart for our Captain, we need not +fear to engage in the very thick of the fight." + +Aunt Judith paused; and Nellie, seizing the gentle hand which was +stroking her head with tender touch, said, "You make me think of my +father, auntie; he speaks so often to us just as you are doing now. +Every Sabbath evening, when the little ones are in bed, he gathers us +round him; and after reading a portion of the Bible, he closes the book +and talks in the same way. Oh, I feel so strong and brave while I +listen--I feel as if I could face the heaviest sorrow with all courage; +but when Monday comes my good resolutions vanish, and I find myself +yielding and sinning as before." + +The girl gazed straight at her aunt as she spoke, fearing to see a look +of disapprobation over her weakness; but Miss Latimer's face was as +calm as ever, only the eyes seemed softer and full of such a tender, +loving light as she replied,-- + +"We have most of us the same story to tell, child,--a story of bravery +so long as the battle is far off, but of cowardly shrinking when the +time for hand-to-hand conflict comes. Whilst the sunshine is all +around us and our hearts full of great gladness, we look up and thank +the good Father for his precious blessings, feeling nerved for the +fiercest fight; but when the storm-clouds gather and the golden +brightness is withdrawn, we bow before the blinding tempest and writhe +under our pain, unless--and the kind voice spoke very softly--the +Master has our hearts in his own safe keeping, unless we have learned +to love his will. Then we can discern the bright stars of his love +shining through the darkness, and find that the apparently pitiless +storm has left diamond drops of blessing behind it. Never despair, +Nellie; strive and pray for grace to follow in the Master's footsteps, +and you will learn what a grand, noble thing the consecrated life is, +and how truly worth living. You know those lines of Kingsley's, do you +not?-- + + 'Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever; + _Do_ noble things, not _dream_ them all day long; + And so make life, death, and the vast forever, + One grand sweet song.'" + + +There was a long silence after this, during which Nellie thought +deeply, and Aunt Judith lay back in her chair with quietly-folded hands +and a far-seeing look in her patient eyes. Then the girl said +earnestly, "Aunt Judith, I will try very hard to do my best, I will +indeed; and oh, may I come to you when things go wrong, and I can't or +won't see the right way? It does me good to have a talk with you, and +takes half the home-sickness away. Say yes; please do, dear, dear, +dear auntie;" and Nellie's voice sounded very earnest. + +"I shall be only too glad, my child," replied Miss Latimer with her +rare sweet smile. "Treat me as you would your own mother, dear, and +let me help you so far as I am able; only, Nellie, don't depend on your +own strength or my aid, but go straight to the Fountain-head, and find +the never-failing strength and grace for the needs of every day." + +"Thank you, Aunt Judith," was the fervent response; then Aunt Debby +entered, and the conversation ceased. + +Bedtime came. Nellie retired for the night; Miss Deborah 'followed +suit;' and Miss Latimer, extinguishing the light, crossed the tiny +hall, and opening a door to the left, entered, and closed it softly +behind her. + +This, her private sanctum, was like the other apartments--small and +plainly furnished, but with the same air of neatness and comfort. A +book-case lined one side of the room entirely; a small round table +stood close to the window, bright with autumn flowers; a larger one in +the centre of the room held a desk, and was strown with papers, +magazines, etc.; while soft chairs inviting one to luxurious ease faced +the ruddy hearth, and various little nick-nacks scattered here and +there showed the graceful touch of a woman's hand. + +Going to the centre table, Aunt Judith seated herself before the open +desk, looked over several closely-written sheets of manuscript, and +then furnishing herself with fresh paper, began to write rapidly. + +The fire burned slowly out, and the midnight hour had long sounded ere +Miss Latimer dried her pen and laid aside her work with a tired sigh. +Crossing to the window, she raised the blind, and leaning against the +casement, looked away up at the quiet night sky. There was no moon; +but the happy stars, shining with frosty brightness, kept their silent +watch over the sleeping world. Oh, how still, how very hushed it was! +what a great infinite peace seemed brooding over all--a peace such as +millions of weary souls were longing to possess; not a sound to be +heard, not a ripple of unrest--only that wondrous calm. For a long +time Miss Latimer stood drinking in the sweetness and beauty of the +nature-world, and letting her thoughts soar up, upwards to the great +Father of all, who neither slumbers nor sleeps. What those thoughts +were we do not know; but surely some of that vast peace must have +stolen softly, silently, into her patient heart, for when she turned +away and entered a tiny bedroom leading off from her sanctum, Aunt +Judith's face seemed as it were the face of an angel. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +A FALLEN QUEEN. + +Next morning Nellie set out for school in apparently the best of +spirits, returning Aunt Judith's encouraging smile with one as bright +and hopeful, and shouting a merry farewell as she ran lightly down the +garden path and closed the little gate behind her. + +Arriving fully ten minutes before the hour, she found several of the +girls already assembled in the large class-room, gathered as usual in +knots, and talking gaily to one another. + +"Good-morning," said Agnes Drummond, coming forward and holding out her +hand in a friendly manner. "You are going to be a punctual pupil, Miss +Latimer." And the other scholars, not being overpowered as yet by +Ada's presence, nodded blithely and allowed their new school-mate to +join in the general conversation. + +While girlish tongues were busy and the room was filled with the hum of +merry voices, the great bell rang loudly, and at the same moment Winnie +came rushing in, crying half breathlessly as she did so, "Just in time, +girls; not a minute too soon. Good-morning, everybody. Do I look as +if I had been having a good race?" and she turned her piquant face +round for a general survey. + +"A species of milk-maid bloom," said Ada Irvine, catching the words as +she leisurely entered the room, "which makes you appear more suited to +your friend of the dairy-maid type;" and Miss Irvine looked insolently +at Nellie's fresh bright face as she spoke. The soft tints on the +smooth, rounded cheek deepened, and the girl bit her lip hard to keep +back the angry words. + +Not so Winnie, however. Turning a pair of great, serious eyes on her +haughty school-mate's fair, placid countenance, she said with an air of +prophetic solemnity,-- + +"Ada Irvine, you will yet be rewarded for all your contemptuous +speeches. Mark my words, and see if you don't get smashed up in a +railway accident, or fall a victim to that delightfully disfiguring +disease--small-pox. Serve you right too. Every dog has its day: you +are enjoying yours at present, and can say and do as you please; +but--ugh! I'm disgusted at you," and Winnie "tip-tilted" her little +nose with the most charming grace imaginable. + +Ada smiled loftily. + +"I would not be vulgar, if I were you," she remarked calmly. "I +suppose you learn all those choice proverbs from your aristocratic +brother. Ah, there is Mrs. Elder coming to open the school. Do alter +your expression, my dear; you are regarding me with such loving eyes, I +am sure she will think you are too affectionate," and Ada swept to her +seat with a mocking laugh. + +The lessons commenced, and Nellie, thoroughly prepared, almost forgot +the morning's annoyance in the joy at finding herself slowly rising to +the head of the class, where Miss Irvine sat with all the dignity of an +enthroned queen. + +Ten minutes' respite; then came the English, conducted by Mr. King, the +most thorough and rigid master in the school. A question was asked--a +question calculated to tax severely the skill and ingenuity of the +active brain. Ada hesitated for one moment, then made a fatal blunder; +and Nellie, answering correctly, slipped quietly into the seat of the +deposed sovereign. Winnie's delight was indescribable. One triumphant +glance after another flashed upwards to the fallen queen's angry face, +and her bright eyes fairly danced with wicked joy when, at the close of +the class, Mr. King said a few words of commendation on Miss Latimer's +abilities. + +"Nellie, Nellie! I'm proud of my friend to-day, She's a regular brick, +and deserves any amount of hugging and petting. Oh joy, joy! how did +you manage it, dear? You have taken the wind out of Ada's sails and +gained a feather in your cap, I can assure you. It all seems too good +to be true. The queen dethroned at last!" and Winnie catching Nellie +round the waist, danced her up and down the schoolroom in a regular +madcap whirl. + +"You'll be late for dinner if you don't hurry home at once, Win," said +one of the elder girls, crossing over to the fire and seating herself +by its cheery blaze with a tempting book and box of caramels. "There, +run away and don't waste your precious time in speaking uncharitable +words, dear. Recess will soon be over;" and Elsie Drummond looked +kindly down on the little figure dancing before her with such evident +delight. + +"I'm just going," replied Winnie, stopping to bestow a smile on the +elder girl's pleasant face. "But you can't understand why I am so +happy. You don't belong to our set, and therefore know very little +about Ada's conceit and--yes, I shall say it--priggish ways. She's +just as horrid as can be, and I hate her," wound up the malicious +monkey, quite reckless of the character of her language. + +"Agnes owns rather a sharp tongue, dear, and I hear many a tale from +her," replied Elsie, referring to her younger sister; "but I think, +Win, if you wish to be a true friend to Nellie, you will refrain from +expressing your joy at her success too openly, at least in Ada's +presence. Such unconcealed delight will, believe me, dear, do more +harm than good." + +"Oh, nonsense, Elsie," was the impetuous reply. "I must sing and dance +my joy, it's such a splendid opportunity. Why shouldn't I crow over +the nasty proud thing? She needs somebody to ruffle her, and I can do +that part better than any one else in the school.--You don't mind my +having a little fun, do you, Nellie? she's such a cross-patch, you +know." + +Now, as was quite natural under the circumstances, Nellie did feel not +a little elated over her success. It was a triumph certainly, and +girl-like she found it both palatable and pleasant to rejoice over a +fallen enemy. At the same time, however, she saw the force of Miss +Drummond's caution, and the wisdom of yielding to her advice, so +turning to Winnie she answered gently,-- + +"Please say no more about it; it was all chance, and Ada may gain her +old seat to-morrow again, though I mean to try to prevent her from +doing so." + +But the words were simply wasted on the incorrigible child, who resumed +her fantastic war-dance as she replied,-- + +"No, no; I shall not make any false promise. I mean to be a true, +loyal friend, Nell; but if a nice little malicious speech comes gliding +softly to the very tip of my tongue, I must let the words out, +otherwise there will be choking. Prepare then for sudden squalls," and +with a mischievous laugh Winnie vanished from the room, and was soon +running along the road in the direction of home. + +"The old story--late again," said Dick, looking up from his well-filled +plate as she entered and sat down opposite him at the table. "You'll +never have time to cram down cabinet pudding and tart to-day, I'll be +bound;" and the boy grinned teasingly on the bright face before him. + +"Won't I, though?" answered Winnie, nodding her head blithely, and +eying the contents of the plate brought to her by Jane the parlour-maid +with decided relish. "Don't imagine you'll get my share to-day, Dicky +boy, for I'm as hungry as a hawk. I have something to tell you, +however, so please listen;" and between mouthfuls she told in a +rambling style the story of Nellie's triumph and Ada's defeat, ending +with the following words, "Do you know, Dick, when I saw Ada sitting +below Nellie and looking so crestfallen, I could have risen there and +then and danced for joy before her. Will you believe me, I felt so +glad I could hardly restrain my feet till the hour was up, and whenever +liberty was proclaimed, didn't they go well at the Irish jig! Oh +dear!" and Winnie's face was all aglow as she waited her brother's +commendatory remarks on such behaviour. + +Dick coughed, blew his nose violently, filled out some water into his +glass, quaffed the draught, cleared his throat, and then said gravely, +"I'll tell you what to do, Win. This evening, after we have finished +studying, I'll teach you a splendid double-shuffle which you will +rehearse to-morrow (with added grace, of course,) in front of the +lovely Ada, and before all the class--Mr. King included. My eye, what +glorious fun!" and vulgar Dick looked across at his sister with beaming +face. + +"I dare hardly attempt that," she replied dolefully, "though I should +dearly love doing so. But you see, Dick" (with energy), "Mrs. Elder +detests me so much, and I have been caught in so many faults lately, +that such an awful one as you propose would prove fatal. Your +delightful plan must be abandoned, I am sorry to say." + +"Well, perhaps after all you are right," replied the boy, changing his +teasing tone into a serious one. "I daresay Miss Ada's rage would only +increase in fury if she saw you performing a triumph-dance and +rejoicing so extravagantly over her defeat. I remember a few years ago +something of the same kind occurring in our school, and wasn't there a +blow-up at the end! I was one of the little chaps then, but I managed +to keep my eyes and ears open, and knew more about the whole affair +than any one guessed." + +"Tell me the story, Dick," interrupted Winnie, holding a spoonful of +tart suspended betwixt her mouth and plate, and speaking eagerly; "do, +there's a dear boy." But Dick shook his shaggy head, and answered,-- + +"Not just now, Win. Our time is almost up. Finish your pudding, old +girl, and let us away. By-the-by, don't expect me home till after five +this afternoon;" and the boy's bright face clouded as he made this +statement. + +"Why not?" was the inquiry. "We were going to have such splendid fun +together. Is there anything wrong?" + +"Kept in," uttered in a growling tone. "Lessons as usual badly +prepared--denounced for my stupidity, and ordered to remain after hours +and work up. See what it is to have a dunce of a brother, Win," and +Dick, curling his lip sneeringly, endeavoured to hide his wounded +feelings by putting his hands in his pockets and trying to look +perfectly indifferent. + +Winnie, on her part, burst forth indignantly,-- + +"Not another word against yourself, Richard Blake. I won't listen." +Then coming to her brother's side and slipping two soft arms round his +neck, she raised her eyes with the love-light shining so softly in +them, and murmured tenderly, "Don't be downcast, dear old boy--all will +come right some day; and I am just as stupid as you are." + +"No, no," cried Dick quickly. "Indolence is your fault, Win, not +stupidity. But I--I can't learn, and that's the simple truth. I've +tried over and over again, but it's no good; and, of course," +(doggedly) "no one believes that fact." + +"I do," said the soft little voice. "But, Dick, people don't know you. +There you go," (with quaint gravity) "hiding that great, kind heart of +yours, and showing only a rough exterior. Our father and mother never +guess bow brave and good and true you are. They'll find all that out +some day, however;" and Winnie looked into her brother's honest +freckled face with all the affection of her loyal, little heart. + +"You're a decided goose, Win," was all the answer vouchsafed to her +cheering words, as the boy rose from his chair and prepared to leave +the room; but the twinkle in his eye, and kind, firm pressure of his +hand, when they parted at the street corner, spoke volumes to little +Winnie, and sent her back to school with a happy heart. + +She was very thoughtful all that afternoon, however, and so quiet that +when school was over and the two girls stood on the steps of Mrs. +Elder's Select Establishment, Nellie inquired anxiously if her friend +were ill. + +"Ill!" repeated Winnie with a light laugh; "not I--only, I've been +a-thinking," and a long-drawn sigh accompanied the words. + +"What about?" asked her companion, descending the steps and viewing the +little figure with the great, serious look on its face. "What a +doleful expression, Winnie! You look as if you had, like Atlas, the +whole world on your shoulders." + +"Nellie," interrupted the child--for indeed she seemed little more than +such--with the faintest quiver in her voice, "did you ever think, and +think, and think, till your head seemed bursting, and all your thoughts +got whirled together? No? Ah, well, I have; and somehow when I get +into these moods everything becomes muddled, and I find myself all in a +maze. Oh!" and Winnie spoke with passionate vehemence, "often I would +give I don't know how much to find some one who could understand and +explain away my thoughts." + +"Why not speak to your mother?" asked Nellie, rather surprised at this +new phase in her friend's character; "surely she should be able to help +you." + +But the little girl shook her head despondingly. "No, no, Nellie; my +stepmother is very kind and pretty, but I don't see much of her, and +she would only laugh at me." + +They were strolling leisurely along the street now, and the child's +voice had a plaintive ring in it as she continued: "I was very ill +about a year ago--so ill, Nellie, that I had to lie in bed day after +day for a long time. I can't tell what was wrong with me, but I know +the doctor used to look very grave when he saw me; and one day, after +he had gone away, nurse went about my room crying softly to herself. I +was too weak to care or think, and only wondered dreamily what she was +crying for, till my stepmother entered, and I noticed that her eyes +were red too. They imagined I was sleeping, I suppose, for nurse quite +loudly asked, 'Is there no hope?' O Nellie! I shall never forget that +moment, never so long as I live. I seemed to realize that I was +dying--really, truly dying--and the thought was awful. What would +happen to me after death? I could not, I dared not die. Springing +with sudden strength from the bed, I tried to rush anywhere, screaming, +'Save me! don't let me die!' in the most awful agony. Then came a long +blank. I never forgot that time, but I never spoke of it to any one. +Where was the use? I should only have been laughed at, and told to +think about living, not dying." + +There was something so pathetic in the way all this was told, there was +such an amount of pathos in the quivering voice, that Nellie's heart +ached and the tears rushed to her eyes. + +"Winnie," she began gently, "I know what would do you all the good in +the world--a talk with Aunt Judith. I am sure she would never laugh +away your thoughts or refuse to listen, she is so good and kind; and +when she speaks, one feels as if all one's wicked passions were hushed +away." + +Winnie brightened visibly. + +"Is that so?" she inquired; "then I should dearly like to see her. +Won't you invite me to spend some afternoon with you, Nellie, and allow +me to see Aunt Judith and your cosy wee home?" + +"I shall be only too pleased, Winnie," replied her companion. Then the +two friends parted and went their respective roads--one to a +fashionable home where gaiety reigned supreme and pleasure filled up +every hour; the other to a lowly cottage-dwelling where God's holy name +was hallowed, and the Christ-life showed itself clear and bright in +Aunt Judith's daily walk. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +WINNIE'S HOME. + +That same evening Winnie and Dick were alone together in the oak +parlour; a room sacred to themselves, where they ate, studied, played, +and lived, as it were, a life quite apart from that of the other +inmates of the family, who, occupied with business or domestic duties +through the day, spent evening after evening in a round of gaiety and +amusement. Brother and sister enjoyed little of the society of their +elders during the week, but on Saturdays and Sabbaths they were usually +expected to lunch with their parents--an honour which, I am sorry to +say, neither appreciated; for somehow Dick seldom failed to commit a +gross blunder or make some absurd speech at a critical moment, and +Winnie, though a general favourite, refused to be happy when he was +sternly upbraided for his fault. + +The father, a man of wide culture and refinement, had no patience with +his son's clumsy movements and slow brain, refusing to look under the +surface and see the great loving heart which beat there with its wealth +of warm true affection; while Mrs. Blake and the elder brothers and +sisters regarded him in the light of a good-for-nothing or general +scapegrace. The result was that Dick hid the many sterling qualities +of his nature under a gruff, forbidding exterior, and only +tender-hearted Winnie guessed how he winced and writhed under the +mocking word or light laugh indulged in at his expense. Resenting them +bitterly, she gathered up all the love of her passionate little heart +and showered it on him, idolizing this big brother of hers to such an +extent that even his faults seemed gilded with a halo; and her +affection being equally returned, both found their greatest happiness +in each other's society. + +Oh, what fun they had together in the oak parlour! Oh, the shouts of +ringing laughter and the merry jest of words! Now and then Dick would +bring home with him his special friend, Archie Trollope, and what a +night would follow,--Winnie entering into their games with all the zest +of her tomboy nature. + +She never felt solitary or out of place in the company of these two +boys; and they--why, they looked upon her as one of themselves: Dick +describing her to his numerous companions as being a "tip-top" girl, +and Archie singing her praises loudly to his own sisters who never knew +what it was to join in a madcap frolic, and whose voices were strictly +modulated to society pitch. + +Sometimes, in the long winter evenings, the trio, tired with play, +would lower the gas, and gathering round the large, blazing fire, tell +ghost stories with such thrilling earnestness that often the ghastly +phantoms seemed to merge almost into reality, and they found themselves +starting at a falling cinder or the sound of a footstep in the passage +outside. On those occasions the window-blind was usually drawn up to +the top, that the pale, glimmering moonlight might stream in; and as +the soft silvery beams stole silently into the room and laid their +tremulous light on the young forms and awestruck faces, the flames +leaping and crackling joined in enhancing the effect of the story by +throwing on the walls weird shadows of a moving spectral band. + +But the winter days were yet to come, though the cold autumn winds and +falling leaves heralded their sure approach; and this evening Winnie +and Dick were engaged--not in wandering hand in hand into wonderland, +but in the prosaic occupation of making toffy. + +Winnie, enveloped in one of nurse's huge bib-aprons, stood at a little +distance from the fire, busily studying a book of recipes; while Dick, +his honest face burnt to the colour of a lobster, was bending over a +saucepan and stirring manfully the tempting contents. + +"Yes," said the young lady, laying aside the well-thumbed volume and +taking a step forward, "the quantities are correct. I am sure this +will be excellent toffy, but--Dick, you shocking boy! whatever are you +doing? Licking the spoon, I declare. How very vulgar!" and Winnie +opened her eyes in horrified amazement at her brother's lack of +good-breeding. + +"Well, you see, Win," replied the culprit meekly, "you so often make +mistakes and put in some awful compound that I am obliged to guard +against being poisoned. Having a sincere affection for life, and not +being like Portia 'aweary of this great world,' I consider it my duty +to take all due precautions, and therefore _pardonnez-moi_ for tasting +the toffy." + +The young cook drew her slight figure up and said with an air of +offended dignity, "I flatter myself that I am quite capable of making +excellent toffy, Richard Blake, and am well aware as to the proper +ingredients." + +"Doubtless," with a sweeping bow, "but 'accidents will happen in the +best-regulated families;' and I remember how you substituted salt for +sugar the last time, and apparently never discovered your mistake till +you had dosed me with some of the vile concoction. It was cracking +stuff, I can assure you." Here Dick became thoroughly convulsed at the +remembrance of that disastrous night, and laughed so heartily that +Winnie fled to the rescue of her beloved toffy, and seized the spoon +from her brother's swaying hand. + +"What an object you look!" she said scornfully, stirring the clear +brown liquid and inhaling its savoury odour with intense satisfaction. +"I don't see anything to laugh at;" and she began to hum the tune of an +old nursery rhyme, as if utterly indifferent to both Dick and his +laughter. + +"Don't ape Madame Dignity, Win," gasped the awful boy in an almost +strangled condition; "lofty airs are not becoming to such a little +creature. You know perfectly well what a 'go' it was, and thought I +was about to 'shuffle off this mortal coil.'" Dick had a weakness for +Shakespeare. "Oh dear! when I reflect upon it all and remember the +taste--" but here Winnie was obliged to give in and join in his +merriment, for the boy's face of pretended disgust was too comical to +resist. + +"Dick, you are dreadful!" she said at length, the tears streaming down +her cheeks and her voice still trembling with a lurking suspicion of +laughter. "Will you never forget that eventful night!" + +"Never," replied her brother with mock gravity; "the remembrance is +printed indelibly on the records of my memory, and the taste remains +for ever fresh to my palate. Let us change the conversation, Win; the +subject is too much for my delicate constitution." + +"I am quite agreeable," quoth the young lady composedly, "and in that +case allow your hands to be active and your tongue silent. I want the +tin buttered, and the bottle of vanilla essence brought from the +pantry. Now, do hurry, for the toffy is almost ready." + +Dick obeyed orders, and in a short time the candy was cooling outside +on the window ledge, while brother and sister, comfortably settled in +their respective chairs, were preparing to enjoy a "quiet read." + +"This is a splendid book, Dick," said the little chatterbox, toying +with the leaves of her dainty volume, and glancing at the tasteful +engravings. "All the school-girls are raving about it, and saying how +delightfully interesting the story is." + +"What's the name and who's the author?" inquired Dick, too much +engrossed in his own book of wonderful adventures to give much heed to +his sister's words. "Quick, Win; I'm just killing a whale. Ah! now +they've got him. Bravo!" and the boy shouted his appreciation of the +stirring tale. + +"Oh, the title of the book is 'A Summer's Pleasure;' and the +author--let me see--why--" and Winnie stopped short, her eyes opened to +their widest extent and her rosy lips slightly parted. + +"What's up with the girl?" queried Dick, roused by the little sister's +surprised tone and bewildered expression. "Lot's wife could not have +looked more petrified, I'll be bound. Do satisfy a fellow's curiosity, +Win, and don't sit there mute as a fish." + +Thus admonished, Winnie gave herself a little shake and laughed lightly. + +"No wonder," she said excusingly. "Only think, Dick,--the author of +this book calls herself 'Aunt Judith,' and that is the name of one of +Nellie Latimer's aunts." + +The boy gave a prolonged whistle. + +"Well, you are a little fool," he said politely, "to make such a fuss +about nothing. Dear me, Win, you don't imagine surely that Nellie +Latimer's aunt is the author of that book, simply because her name +happens to be Judith. Why, there are hundreds of Aunt Judiths in the +world;" and philosopher Dick went back to his whales and icebergs in +lofty contempt of his sister's excitement. + +"I daresay I am a goose," laughed Winnie apologetically; "but somehow +it seemed so strange to see 'Aunt Judith' staring at me from the +title-page. Aunt Judith--" and the little girl repeated the name +softly, as if those two words held for her some subtle charm. + +The minutes passed slowly one by one. Dick was away in the far north +fighting the whales, and having wonderful adventures with polar bears; +while Winnie, curled up cosy fashion in the depths of a huge easychair, +was also absorbed in the contents of her book; when the soft +swish-swish of garments was heard coming along the passage, and the +door opened to admit a fair, stately lady, whose silken robe fell in +graceful folds to her feet, and whose arms, neck, and hair glittered +with sparkling jewels. She was followed by two younger ladies, as +richly but more youthfully dressed; and as they entered the room a +delicious perfume distilled itself and wafted all around the sweetest +fragrance. + +"Mamma!" cried Winnie, springing up and gazing admiringly on the +beautiful figure before her; "how pretty you look! Are you going out +to-night again, and Clare and Edith also?" + +"Yes, dear," replied Mrs. Blake in a softly-modulated voice; "we are +all going to the opera, and the carriage is already at the door. I +wished to know, however, why Dick was so late in getting home this +afternoon, and so looked in on you as I was passing." + +Dick, who had barely glanced up at his stepmother's entrance, and then +continued reading, now knit his brow in an angry frown, and seemed +unwilling to answer; while Clare, the elder of the two young ladies, +laughed carelessly as she said, "Our invasion for that purpose was +hardly necessary, I fancy. It is simply the old story over +again--badly-prepared lessons." + +"You're about right there," replied the boy sullenly, never raising his +eyes from the volume before him. "What else could you expect of the +dunce?" and a bitter sneer curled the corners of his lips as he spoke, +while Winnie's warm little heart was all aglow with love and sympathy. + +Mrs. Blake's face assumed an expression of peevish distress. "I am +sure, Dick," she began plaintively, "I do not know what the end of all +this will be. Your father is perfectly disgusted at your indolence and +ashamed of your stupidity." The boy's eyes flashed. "Yes, it is quite +true. I am tired listening to his continual complaints;" and the lady +drew her fleecy wrap round her with an injured air. + +"O mamma," interrupted Winnie eagerly, "you are wronging Dick. He may +not be so clever as Algy and Tom, but he is such a dear, good boy, and +does try ever so hard to learn his lessons. He does indeed; and I +should know best, when I study beside him every night." + +"That's enough, Win," answered her brother doggedly. "I don't care +what they believe;" and the boy, drawing his chair closer to the fire, +gazed angrily into the burning embers. + +"What a respectful speech, and what charming manners!" said Edith +scornfully. "You would grace any drawing-room, Dick.--Come away, +mamma; we shall be late. Papa will soon bring his dutiful son to his +proper senses." + +"Well spoken, Edith," said Mrs. Blake, sweeping indignantly from the +room; "the boy is a perfect boor. I trust he may show more honour to +his father than he has accorded to me." + +The door closed softly behind the unwelcome guests, the light footsteps +died away in the distance, and Winnie and Dick were once more alone in +the little oak parlour, with the dancing firelight playing on their +faces and roguishly deepening the tint on their youthful cheeks. + +Dick's book had dropped from his knees, and was lying with crumpled +leaves on the rug, while the boy, his hands tightly clenched, sat in +moody silence; and Winnie's tender heart ached as she watched him. +Slipping from her chair, she crossed over to his side, and nestling +down, laid her pretty head on his arm, saying with a quiver in her +voice, "Dick, my dear, good boy, don't look like that; I can't bear it. +Oh, why do they say such things to you?" Here the tears forced +themselves into the bright eyes as she spoke. + +Dick gave the fender a vicious kick ere he replied: "I tell you what it +is, Win: one of these days I'll run away. No, no; don't strangle me +and say I won't, for I tell you I _will_. A fellow can't be expected +to stand this sort of thing all his life. I'm sick of it. Hallo! +what's up?" for Winnie's arms were clasped tightly round his neck and +the great tears were running silently down her cheeks. + +"Don't go, Dick, oh, don't go!" she pleaded frantically, half choking +the boy with her violent embraces. "Whatever should I do without you? +Dick, you must not go; only wait, and all will come right in the end. +Promise, promise!" and the little gipsy face looked pitiful in its wild +terror. + +Dick's heart melted. + +"There, there, dry your eyes, you wee goose; I was only teasing you. +Why, what a disconsolate-looking object somebody is!" and laughing his +sister out of her fright, the two sat chatting merrily till bed-time, +when Winnie went away to her own dainty room, and Dick also sought his +den. + +Then, when alone in the darkness, the merriment died out of his face, +and as he lay thinking over his wrongs, real and imaginary, bitter +feelings swept over his heart, and the idle threat began to form itself +into fixed determination. "I would go right off to-night were it not +for Win," he muttered, tossing restlessly on his pillows; "but I guess +she would fret sorely, and--'there's the rub.'" Another Shakespearian +quotation. "Well, well, I'll sleep over it;" and then Dick wandered +into the land of dreams, to be haunted by the vision of a quaint gipsy +face and great pleading eyes--a vision which rose up before him again +and again in after years, when he was out on the great waste of waters, +and the soft moon and shining stars seemed to whisper of home and +loving hearts. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +AN AFTERNOON AT DINGLE COTTAGE. + +One Saturday afternoon, about a week after the events recorded in the +last chapter, Miss Latimer stood at the window of her cosy parlour +looking out into the quiet street with its small semi-detached villas +and cottages, the tiny gardens of which were now strown with the +falling autumn leaves. There was a slight look of expectancy in her +eyes and pleased expression on her face calculated to give any beholder +the idea that Aunt Judith was watching for something or somebody. And +so she was; for Winnifred Blake had gladly accepted the invitation to +spend that afternoon and evening at Dingle Cottage, much to Nellie's +delight; and that young lady, too impatient to await her guest's +arrival, had gone part of the way to meet the expected visitor. + +Aunt Judith, after giving a quick glance round the room to see that +everything had a comfortable, inviting look, resumed her quiet watch, +and for some time the silence of the house was unbroken, save by a +slight sound now and then proceeding from the kitchen, where Aunt +Debby, Martha-like as usual, was busy with domestic work. At last two +figures appeared coming swiftly along the street, and Miss Latimer, +hastening to the door, opened it with words of kindly welcome as Winnie +and Nellie danced (I can use no better word) up the tiny garden path. + +"Come in, dear; I am pleased to see you," she said in her gentle voice, +leading the young guest to Nellie's bedroom, and assisting her to take +off her hat and jacket. "Nellie has spoken so often about you that you +seem no stranger to me, and I am glad to think my niece has gained such +a true, warm-hearted little friend." + +Winnie, surveying the kind face bending over her, smiled at the words, +but seemed to be too much overwhelmed by an unaccountable fit of +shyness to vouchsafe any reply. She kept her usually busy tongue +silent till the three were seated in the snug parlour, when, under the +influence of Miss Latimer's simple, homely manner, she began, as Nellie +expressed it, to thaw, and the fountain once set free produced a play +of bright, sparkling conversation. + +Aunt Judith's nimble fingers plied the needle industriously, and though +she herself said little at first, her thorough enjoyment of the young +people's society was evident from the quiet, amused smile which lurked +round the corners of her lips, and the close attention she gave to the +merry flow of talk. School and school-mates were the two chief themes +of conversation, and if now and again a remark savouring rather +strongly of girlish malice or jealousy fell from either lips, Miss +Latimer wisely made no comment; for she knew what, alas! many pay so +little heed to--that for everything there is a season, and that a word +of admonition thrown in at a wrong time serves rather to harden than +soften the heart. + +"Nellie is getting on splendidly at school, Miss Latimer," announced +Winnie after a long pause. "Ada Irvine cannot call herself the dux any +longer; and I am so glad. It is quite delightful to see her angry, +crestfallen look each time Nellie makes a correct answer;" and Winnie's +face glowed in thorough appreciation of the present state of affairs. +"As for revenge," she continued, "there will be a terrible climax some +day, I am sure. Even now, and this is only the beginning, she cannot +find anything too horrible for herself or the other girls to say about +Nellie." + +"I am sorry to hear that," replied Aunt Judith quietly; "but Nellie +must try to win Ada's love, and not provoke her by any appearance of +triumph or self-esteem. Draw your chairs nearer me, dears, and I will +tell you what happened to me long, long ago when I was a girl;" and +here Miss Latimer smiled on the upturned young faces and commenced her +story. + +There was nothing very exciting in the tale--nothing certainly +bordering on the wonderful--and yet one might have heard a pin fall, so +great was the silence while she spoke. + +Winnie sat quite still, her eyes shining like twin stars, and the whole +expression of her face denoting the most intense interest; while +Nellie, her lips slightly parted as if in expectation, also seemed to +have her attention completely absorbed: for Aunt Judith was a splendid +story-teller, and entered heart and soul into the spirit of her tale. + +Miss Deborah's little bright orbs twinkled when she entered the parlour +with the tea-tray and found how the three were occupied. There was +little heed given to her entrance, and not even a glimpse of pretty +china or a daintily-spread table could tempt the listeners' eyes or +attention from Miss Latimer and her story till the last word was +spoken, when both roused themselves with a sigh of the utmost +satisfaction. + +"Oh, that was splendid!" cried Winnie eagerly. "What a nice +story-teller you make, Miss Latimer; you talk just like a book." Here +Aunt Debby, accidentally, of course, choked slightly. "I could sit and +listen to you for ever,--couldn't you, Nellie?" and Winnie appealed to +her companion for an enforcement of her statement. + +"Scarcely, dear, scarcely," interrupted Aunt Judith, rising from her +chair and advancing to the tea-table; "if you were to hear my stories +often, the novelty would by-and-by wear away. But here is Aunt Debby +with the urn. Let us see what a successful tea-maker she is, and we +can talk more about stories and story-telling afterwards." + +Both girls jumped up obediently, and gathering round the tempting table +the happy party proceeded to enjoy the many goodly things displayed +thereon, and kept up such a merry strain of conversation that the room +rang with laughter; and Aunt Meg, lying in her darkened chamber, +bitterly bewailed her infirmities and the seeming lack of sympathy +vouchsafed to her in her affliction. + +Tea was followed by games and other interesting amusements, all of +which Winnie enjoyed immensely; and then Aunt Judith inquired if she +would like to see an old maid's den. "Nellie has never as yet been +privileged to cross its threshold," she finished laughingly, "so it +will be something new for both of you to inspect." + +With that she led the way and ushered the two girls into her study. + +Both stood for a few minutes silent, glancing round the pretty room so +simply and tastefully furnished; then with a little cry of delight they +sprang towards the bookcase and began to scan the contents eagerly. + +"Why, I declare," cried Winnie excitedly, "here are ever so many books +like the one I have at home just now. They are all by the same author +too.--Miss Latimer," she continued, turning and speaking rapidly, "she +must be a good lady who writes those books. I have only read one of +them, entitled 'A Summer's Pleasure;' but it was beautiful, and I felt +as if I should like, oh _so much_, to talk with the author, and tell +her how earnestly I long to be good, and how I can't." + +Nellie, who had taken one of the pretty volumes into her hand and was +scanning the title-page, looked up at Miss Latimer's face with a +half-incredulous light in her eyes; but Aunt Judith, gazing down on the +little figure before her, failed to catch the puzzled gleam. + +"My child," she said, oh so gently, taking the small white hands and +drawing the young girl to the warm fireside, "your words do my heart +good, and help to repay me for hours of weary labour. You wish to know +the author of those books, dear. You feel you could tell her some of +your deepest longings. What will you say when I confess that she +stands before you--that it is in very truth Aunt Judith who loves +children and sends them through print her best heart-thoughts?" + +Nellie's face at this point was a study; but Winnie cried joyfully,-- + +"I knew it, I knew it! something whispered to me it was you. Oh, Miss +Latimer, I am so glad! Will you lend me one of your dear little books, +and may I love you because you are so good? I wish you were my aunt; I +do indeed," and there was a lonely ache in the girlish voice as she +spoke. + +Miss Latimer laid her hand on the rough curly head. + +"Little Winnie," she said tenderly, "don't you know that love is a +treasure to me? I shall prize your warm, true affection very dearly. +Call me Aunt Judith, my child; and when you read my little books, to +which you are heartily welcome, remember I am speaking simply from my +heart, with the earnest wish to raise your thoughts to the good Father +who made this beautiful world and gave us all things richly to enjoy." + +Words like these had a strange sound to Winnie, and filled her with an +awe-stricken feeling; but she made no reply, only raising herself on +tip-toe she kissed Miss Latimer warmly, and turned her attention to the +bookcase again. At that moment the door-bell rang, and Miss Deborah +announced the arrival of Dick with the carriage to take his sister +home. So once more they re-entered the little parlour where Aunt +Debby, with kind thoughtfulness, had prepared a repast of fruit and +cake, and where Master Blake sat looking decidedly awkward and out of +place in the dainty little room. + +He acknowledged Miss Latimer's greeting with a few unintelligible +words, and seemed altogether to be labouring under some restraint, till +Winnie said with a light laugh,-- + +"For the first time in my life, Dick, I am sorry to see you. Whatever +made you come so soon?" and at the plain-spoken words there was such a +general laugh that the boy's reserve vanished, and--"Richard was +himself again." + +Nellie and he became fast friends, and chatted away pleasantly; while +Winnie, after having partaken plentifully of fruit and cake, went to +put on her hat and jacket under Miss Latimer's escort. + +"May I come again soon?" she inquired naively, looking round the tiny +room with loving eyes; "this is such a dear little house, and you are +all so kind, I should like to spend an afternoon often here." Winnie +seemed very earnest as she spoke. + +"We shall be only too pleased to see you," replied Aunt Judith, smiling +down on the upturned face, and neatly adjusting the tie round the +girl's soft neck. "I love to have young people about me, and it is +good to hear the sound of a blithe young voice." + +Those words amply satisfied Winnie, and after many good-nights had been +exchanged, she and Dick drove homewards, bearing with them two of Aunt +Judith's precious volumes. + +"I say, Win, that's a jolly little house," said the boy as they rolled +along in the darkness. "What a funny, brisk old lady Aunt Debby is! +Did you notice the way she dodged about, and how her front curls shook +and bobbed a regular jig every time she spoke? She puts me in mind of +a little bird peeping out at you from those small twinkling eyes. +She's a rum old customer, sure enough;" and Dick chuckled at the +remembrance of Miss Deborah's round chubby face and crisp chirping +voice. + +"Yes, she is rather queer," assented Winnie musingly; "but I like Miss +Latimer dearly. She is awfully good, Dick; and fancy her being the +author of those books after all. Is it not strange?" + +"Slightly, perhaps; but 'truth is stranger than fiction,' my dear +sister.--By-the-by, I did not notice any Quaker fashion in their dress +to-night. Miss Latimer wore some lace fal-lal about her neck, and Aunt +Debby's cap was a regular flower-garden." Dick was a severe critic on +female attire. + +"That's quite true," replied Winnie; "but if you saw them in the +street, with their long loose cloaks and huge bonnets, you would speak +differently. O Dick, how happy they all seem! don't they? and how cosy +everything looks! Such a contrast to our great big rooms, where you +feel like a--a--" Winnie stopped short for lack of a simile, and her +brother supplied the missing word,-- + +"Pelican in the wilderness. That's it, Win; and you're about right. +Love won't make the pot boil; but money can't buy everything, and I +reckon there's a screw loose somewhere in our home." + +With that there followed a long silence, and Winnie was almost in the +land of dreams when the carriage stopped at No. 3 Victoria Square, and +Dick shouted roguishly in her ear the one word--"Awake!" + +The windows were ablaze with light, and there were sounds of music and +singing as brother and sister, entering the house, wended their way to +the oak parlour and warmed their hands at the cheerful blaze. The gas +was lit, the curtains drawn, the room tidy and inviting-looking; but no +kind motherly face was there to welcome them and ask if the evening had +been a pleasant one. At other times Winnie would not, most probably, +have felt the blank, having been accustomed to such neglect; but coming +straight from Aunt Judith's gentle presence, and with the remembrance +of her loving words and kind voice stirring the lonely little heart, it +struck home to her with a chill. Leaving Dick to his own meditations +she slipped away to the large nursery, where old nurse sat quietly +watching the slumbers of her young charge, Winnie's little step-brother. + +Here at least there was no lack of sympathy or welcome, for dearly did +the faithful servant love her first mistress's children, and bitterly +did she bewail the neglect with which the two youngest were treated. +Kneeling down by her side, Winnie rehearsed the whole history of the +afternoon and evening at Dingle Cottage; and old nurse, listening +intently, did not fail to raise her hands and express due astonishment +at the knowledge of Aunt Judith's authorship. So the young girl was +comforted, and after kissing her little brother lovingly, she rejoined +Dick in the oak parlour, and passed the rest of the evening contentedly +in his society. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +FORGING THE FIRST LINK. + +Autumn, with its sobbing winds and falling leaves, was over now, and +cold, sterile winter reigned supreme all around. Day after day the +chill northern blasts swept over the busy town, bringing with them now +a tempest of blinding sleet, and again showers of softly-falling snow: +rich people wrapped themselves warmly in their furs and velvet; and the +poor, gathering their tattered garments more closely round them, +shivered under the touch of the icy king. But if winter days brought +cold, bleak winds and murky skies, they also brought many pleasures in +their train; and young hearts beat joyfully as the Christmas-tide drew +near, and bright visions of the festive season filled each youthful +mind. + +Winnie especially was in a state of great excitement, for Mrs. Blake +had promised her a party with a real Christmas tree, to which she was +at liberty to invite as many of her school-mates as she chose. One +little trifle alone damped her happiness--namely, the command to +include Ada Irvine in the list of her invitations; and although Winnie +pouted and pleaded her dislike of that young lady, Mrs. Blake remained +firm, and insisted that her injunction should be carried out. "Your +father was formerly on very intimate terms with Mr. Irvine, Winnie, and +I will have no slight or disrespect shown to his daughter; so, either +post her an invitation or abandon the idea of a party altogether." And +when her step-mother spoke in that decided manner, Winnie knew she had +no alternative save to yield. + +"I sincerely trust Ada Irvine will have the good sense to refuse," she +confided to Nellie the day on which the invitations were about to be +issued. "She'll spoil the whole affair it she comes, horrid old thing; +and I did mean it all to be so nice. Ugh! she will surely never +accept," and Winnie's face wore anything but an amiable expression. + +School had not been such a very pleasant place those last few weeks, +and many of the scenes which occurred there were certainly neither +seemly nor instructive. Open warfare reigned between Ada and Winnie, +and the skirmishes were becoming serious as well as disagreeable; for +Winnie, scouting all Nellie's proposals of being patient and winning by +love, made a fiery little adversary, and Ada Irvine's dislike of both +was rapidly deepening into the bitterest hatred--the more so when she +saw Nellie rising gradually in the esteem of both teachers and +scholars: the former being won by her steady attention and modest +behaviour; the latter by the simple, kindly spirit which characterized +all her actions. There was much still to call for patient forbearance +and quiet endurance; but Nellie could see the golden sunlight streaming +through the clouds, and hopefully trusted that by-and-by every dark +shadow would vanish and leave never a trace behind. + +This state of matters was as gall and wormwood to Ada. Nellie's +gradual triumph, and Winnie's malicious delight thereat, roused every +evil passion in her nature; and out of her deadly hatred she meditated +a sure revenge when the opportunity came in her way. What form it +would take she hardly knew; events would shape themselves somehow; and +then--the cold blue eyes glittered ominously at the thought of what she +termed her reckoning-day. + +Many a tender, wistful thought Winnie sent to Miss Latimer, though she +had never managed to visit Dingle Cottage a second time. Her precious +volumes were read and re-read over and over again; and it seemed as it +Aunt Judith's quiet, peaceful face shone forth from every page, and the +soft, kindly voice uttered each loving word and noble thought. Dick +used to protest his utter weariness of Aunt Judith and her books, for +day after day she was quoted to him with never-failing enthusiasm; but +on those occasions when he did give expression to such sentiments, +Winnie merely treated him to a hearty embrace, and pursued the +interesting subject with increased earnestness. In the meantime, +however, her mind was so fully occupied with the forthcoming party that +nothing else was on her lips from morn till eve; and with regard to +Miss Latimer, Dick had peace for a season. + +Oh, what discussions took place in the old oak parlour over the +approaching festivity! How was it to be conducted? What was to be the +programme for the evening? and who were to be included in the list of +invitations? + +"I suppose your friends will be able to dance, Dick?" inquired Winnie +one night when they were sitting together talking as usual about the +great event in prospect. "Mamma says we cannot play games all the +evening." + +"Well, I daresay they can do a hop or two when it's necessary," +answered the boy lazily. "Just you get hold of Archie Trollope and +he'll spin you round and round the room in a twinkle; not very +gracefully, perhaps, but with no lack of energy. He's the boy to do +it;" and Dick laughed as he pictured the charming spectacle with his +mental eye. + +Winnie looked dignified. + +"If he cannot dance properly," she said, with a touch of contempt in +her voice, "most assuredly he will not have the honour of dancing with +me. I have no desire to figure ridiculously in a ball-room," and the +little lady drew herself up proudly as she spoke. + +Dick collapsed. + +"The honour!" he gasped spasmodically--"the honour! My eye! listen to +the princess!" and rolling himself about in convulsions of laughter, +the vulgar boy ended his merriment by tilting over his chair and +landing himself gracefully on the floor. + +"Why not an honour, pray?" inquired Winnie, looking loftily on the +sprawling form at her feet. "Is it not a _great_ privilege for any +gentleman to dance with a lady?" and the indignant child laid special +stress on the word "great." + +Dick rose, and treating her to a sweeping Sir Charles Grandison bow, +replied, "You are right, madam; the honour is inestimable." At this +both laughed, and continued the interrupted conversation. + +"Ada Irvine has accepted her invitation, Dick," was Winnie's next +announcement, given with ominous gravity. "No one ever imagined she +would do so, and all the school-girls are talking about it." + +Dick gave a low whistle. + +"Depend upon it, Win," he said solemnly, "there's something in the +wind. Ada Irvine's not the girl to take such a step without having a +reason for so doing. I guess you and Nellie had better look out for +squalls, for if Miss Ada's not up to some low dodge, my name's not +Richard Blake." + +And even while they were speaking, the subject of their conversation +sat up in her comfortable bedroom at Mrs. Elder's, thinking over the +first link she was about to forge in the long chain of bitter malice +and deceit. She was seated in a low basket-chair before the fire, +making a pretty picture with her long fair hair floating down her back, +and her dainty figure nestling cosily amongst the soft cushions. Her +blue eyes had an absent, far-away look, and the small white hands lying +on her lap were nervously interlaced one with the other. + +"Yes," she muttered in a low, hushed voice, "I shall have my revenge, +though I cannot as yet see the way clearly before me. I hardly know +towards which I bear the greater hatred, but anyhow both will +suffer--Winnifred Blake for her malicious triumph and delight; Nellie +Latimer for her upsetting behaviour and quiet contempt. Oh, how I +detest them both!" and the girl's eyes gleamed angrily. There was a +moment's silence; then she continued, knitting her white brow in a +perplexed frown,--"I wonder how I shall manage? One thing is certain: +I must do my best on Friday night--make a good impression on the Blake +family, and cautiously poison their minds with respect to Nellie +Latimer. People are so credulous in this world, it is wonderful what a +word skilfully thrown in will do, and how very easily it is credited; +but I must be careful, and lay my plans with the greatest caution." + +She spoke all this in a low undertone, as if fearful of being +overheard, and her eyes wandered round the room with an uneasy light +shining in their depths. The fire-flames leaped and crackled, the +pretty room was full of warmth and comfort; yet the girl shivered +violently, and gave a scared glance towards the window as the wind went +wailing round the house like a sobbing child. What gave her that +strange, restless feeling--that weariness of heart? She could hardly +tell; only somehow the world seemed all changed of late, and the +Christmas-tide so close at hand failed to afford the same joy and +gladness it had done heretofore. A great black cloud seemed to be +hiding all the sunshine from her sight; a heavy weight would keep +dragging at her heart-strings, and a continual thirst after revenge +persisted in haunting her every footstep. + +Yet this time was a season of peace and holy joy--a time when hand +should clasp hand with the fervour of warm friendship, and all past +slights and wrongs be blotted out for ever, leaving room for naught in +the heart save the pure Christ-like love which makes this world a +heaven on earth. Night after night, as the Christmas-tide drew near, +the sky spread itself over all--one curtain, of misty blue, studded +with the bright, scintillating twinkle of myriads of happy stars. +Every evening the quiet, peaceful moon shone forth rounder and +mellower; the north wind tempered its cutting blasts and touched the +sleeping earth gently, gently with its icy fingers; and the +frost-sparkles, glistering from lofty steeple and sloping roof, changed +the dingy town to a veritable fairyland. + +At first Nellie had often wondered why Miss Latimer took such an +interest in the outside world, and what beauty she could see in the +busy city with its constant din and bustle. But that was over now, for +she had learned that the nature-world was as an open book to Aunt +Judith--a treasury from which she brought forth gold, silver, and +precious stones, and scattered them throughout the world in the shape +of grand, beautiful thoughts. + +Nellie found life very pleasant just now at the little cottage in +Broomhill Road. Miss Latimer and Aunt Debby vied with each other in +every endeavour to add to her comfort and happiness; while even Aunt +Meg roused herself occasionally from her selfish torpor and tried to +brighten the tiny home. She could gladden it wonderfully when she +chose, for Miss Margaret possessed many pleasing traits of character; +but, alas! she seldom did choose, and, as Miss Deborah quaintly +expressed it, "one had to endure innumerable showers of rain for one +gleam of sunshine." Nellie had become so accustomed, however, to the +invalid's whims and caprices, that she thought little, if at all, about +them, and in the meantime her whole attention was engrossed with +Winnie's party. Miss Latimer had bought her a soft white muslin for +the occasion, and Miss Deborah was busy converting it into the +prettiest party-dress imaginable. The young girl had been at first +slightly dubious about Aunt Debby's dress-making capabilities; but her +doubts were fast disappearing as she watched the gradual progress made +under that lady's skilful fingers, and noted how beautifully and +tastefully the work was done. + +"I am sure no one will have such a pretty dress, Aunt Debby," she said +one afternoon, coming into the parlour and finding Miss Deborah busy +over the dainty garment. "It is so good of you to put yourself to all +this trouble for me, and I shall never be able to thank you as I +ought." Nellie's eyes glistened as she spoke. + +"You will soon find out your mistake, my dear," said Aunt Meg from her +couch by the fire. "I question if one of your friends will be dressed +in so simple and cheap a material. Why, you will be a regular dowdy, +and I told Judith so when she showed me her purchase. She could hardly +have bought a less expensive fabric." + +"Nonsense, Meg," put in Miss Deborah with a displeased frown and rapid +glance at Nellie's amazed countenance; "don't place absurd ideas in the +child's head. You know perfectly well muslin makes a most appropriate +dress for a young girl. I wonder what Judith would say were she to +hear you speak in that manner?" + +"Look like a saint, and preach to Nellie on the vanity and vexation of +the human heart," replied the invalid, who seemed to be decidedly out +of humour. "I am well aware of Judith's style, Debby: that is how she +covers her stinginess," and Miss Margaret gave a little sarcastic laugh +at this point. + +"Hush!" almost shouted Miss Deborah, turning a pair of bright, angry +eyes in the direction of the couch. "How dare you utter such an +untruth? Simply because one of your endless wishes was thwarted. Meg, +I am ashamed of you!" and Aunt Debby resumed her sewing with an air of +heavy displeasure, while the invalid relapsed into sulky silence, the +cause of her ill-humour being Aunt Judith's refusal that morning to +grant her a new dressing-gown. "Wait a little longer, Meg; I can +hardly afford it just now, and your old one still looks pretty and +fresh," had been the quiet answer to the proffered request; but that +was sufficient to upset the invalid's equanimity for the rest of the +day, and no amount of kindness could soothe her wounded feelings. + +Of course Nellie was ignorant of all this. Still, although she did not +believe Miss Margaret's statement in reference to Miss Latimer's +meanness, the words left a sting, and the pretty dress seemed divested +of half its beauty. "Aunt Judith might have purchased something just a +trifle more expensive," was the unuttered thought ever rising to her +lips; but, oh! how her heart reproached her when, on the evening of the +party, Miss Latimer called her into the little sanctum, and, shutting +the door, lifted a small box from the table and proceeded to unfasten +the lock. + +"Aunt Debby has just been showing me your dress, Nellie," she said in +her soft gentle voice, "and now that it is finished I think it very +pretty indeed. I hardly know why, but I have an idea _you_ consider it +too simple for evening wear; and although I am sorry should such be the +case, I cannot agree with you. The dress seems to me quite suitable, +and its charm lies in its very simplicity. A little trinket round the +neck, however, might be an improvement, and so, dear, I am going to +forestall my Christmas present and give it to you now. I suppose you +will value it none the less because I used to wear it long ago in my +girlhood days;" and Miss Latimer, lifting a string of fairest pearls +from the box, clasped them round her niece's neck as she spoke. + +Nellie's breath came quick and fast. + +"O auntie! they are never for me," she gasped excitedly. "They are so +beautiful, and I have been thinking such horrid things." + +Aunt Judith smiled. "I do not blame you, child. It is only natural +such thoughts should crop up; but, Nellie, I am not so very rich, and +cannot afford to be lavish with my money. One never knows what may +happen, and I must needs guard against a rainy day. No, no; not +another reproachful word. I like to see my child look fair and sweet. +Good-night, dear." And kissing her softly. Miss Latimer pushed the +repentant girl from the room with gentle hands. Then closing the door, +she drew a low chair close to the fire, and, as she sat quietly +thinking, the white, set look Nellie had noticed before settled over +the patient face, while the lips quivered and drooped like those of one +in pain. + +What was the mystery in Aunt Judith's life? What suffering had stamped +its refining image on that noble, true face, and bore witness to the +fiery trial through which she had passed? + +Few knew of the life of complete self-renunciation lived out in that +little home--the quiet acceptance and patient bearing of a life-long +sorrow, and the earnest endeavour day after day to follow closely the +Master's footsteps, and live his holy, blameless life. But some day in +the great hereafter, she knew the mystery of suffering would be +explained, and that there what was here sown weeping would be reaped in +joy and gladness; and knowing this, Aunt Judith was content to wait. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE CHRISTMAS PARTY. + +It was the evening of the party. The bustle and confusion which had +reigned throughout the day were now over, and the whole house blazed +with light; while the hall-door, standing hospitably open, seemed to +offer a gracious welcome to the approaching guests. + +"How do I look, Win?" inquired Dick of his sister as they stood +together in the large drawing-room a little apart from the other +members of the family. "This get-up is awful," and the boy looked down +with a gesture of disgust on his elegant evening suit. + +"You'll do beautifully," pronounced Win, pirouetting in front of him, a +blithe little fairy, with soft cloudy dress of glistening fabric. +"Don't look so fierce, dear boy, however, or you will frighten all the +young ladies from your side." + +Dick struggled into his gloves. "Much I care so far as that goes," he +grumbled. "What I wish to know is, why one needs all this war-paint +and tomfoolery. Can a fellow not be allowed to enjoy himself without +dressing up a perfect guy? I feel every seam in my coat splitting, and +I tell you there will be a tremendous explosion soon. Just listen!" +and bending forward, the boy proved the truth of his words as an +ominous crack sounded, and Winnie's dismayed eye caught the glimpse of +a tiny hole in one of the back seams. + +"Be careful," she cried in an awestricken voice; "there is a split, and +you'll make it worse if you wriggle about so. Be a good boy, Dickie, +and try to prove agreeable to every one." + +Saying this, Winnie treated her brother to a charming smile, and then +tripped forward as the first bevy of guests were ushered into the room. + +Dick made a grimace, twisted his neck, and vehemently denounced high +collars and white ties as being decided nuisances; then remembering his +sister's parting injunction, he attempted to call up an angelic smile +to his face, and to make his most polite bow on every necessary +occasion. + +The room began gradually to fill. One after another carriages came and +went, depositing their happy burdens of laughing boys and girls before +the great hall-door, near which some little ragged children were +standing, gazing on the fairy figures and joyous faces, and wondering, +as the wind fluttered their tattered rags, why the world was so +unequally divided--why some should have so much of the good things of +this life, and others apparently so little. Poor, weary, aching +hearts, on whom the burden and heat of the day had already fallen, they +knew not as they watched the carriages come and go, and peeped into the +warm hall all ablaze with light, how assuredly "compensation is twined +with the lot of high and low," and that the loving eye of the Almighty +Father was regarding them with the same tender care he bestowed on +their happier brothers and sisters. They only realized, as the door +closed at last with a loud clang, and they turned away to their +miserable homes, that within that large house there were warmth, light, +and gladness, and that they were shut out from them all. The calm +hushed sky had for them no lessons of faith and peaceful waiting; the +bright stars no tale of an Eye that neither slumbers nor sleeps. They +only knew it was cold, cold, and that life had for them no brightness. +So the little naked figures crept shivering away; and the happy boys +and girls gathered together in the beautiful holly-decked drawing-room +never thought of the dark places of the earth, where the sunshine +rarely penetrates, and young hearts know not what it is to laugh the +glad joyous laugh of happy childhood. + +Dick, who had gathered five of his special friends around him, was +evidently holding a consultation in which he himself played the most +prominent part. The subject under consideration was that of showing +special attention throughout the entire evening to Nellie Latimer, and +of completely ignoring Ada Irvine's presence. + +"Now, comrades," concluded the young orator, as a loud burst of music +warned him that the night's entertainment was about to commence, "I +presume you thoroughly understand me. Not a single hop, remember, with +Miss Irvine, and any amount of polkas and waltzes with Miss Latimer. +The former is one of your stuck-up young ladies, who grow old before +their time; the latter, a tip-top girl like Win. I have told you what +I know concerning both of them; go ahead and prosper, brethren, with my +humble blessing following you." Dick, as he spoke, changed the tragic +attitude he had struck, and assumed one of staid demeanour, which +contrasted comically with his shock of fiery hair, now standing all on +end, as people say, and laughter lurking in his eyes. + +The boys, however, entered heartily into the spirit of his scheme, and +replied, "You are our leader. Forward then; light the first match, and +we will follow the train,"--whereat they all shook hands and indulged +in a low chuckle of glee. + +At that moment a pretty, gloved hand touched Dick's arm, and Edith +Blake's clear, flute-like voice said, "We are forming sets for the +lancers, Dick, and you must dance. Mamma requests you to choose Miss +Irvine for your partner, so please go and ask her at once." + +The boy's eyes flashed mischievously. "You bet I shall," he replied +with alacrity; and crossing the room, he stood before Nellie, saying in +his most genial tones, "May I have the pleasure, Miss Latimer?" + +The young girl looked up with a happy smile. "Certainly," she said, +rising and slipping her hand within his arm; "the music is splendid, +and I am so fond of dancing." + +"That's right," answered Dick, leading her into the centre of the room, +and vastly enjoying the indignant glances of his step-mother and Edith. +"I like a hop myself at times, so I guess we'll get on well +together.--Now then, gentlemen, bow to your partners;" and as he +concluded, the wild boy swept Nellie the most profound bow, and started +off through the first figure with more energy than grace. + +His friends, true to their promise, had all chosen partners, the sets +were formed, the music floating through the room, and still Ada Irvine +remained in her seat, fair, sweet, and smiling to the outward view, but +with a world of angry passion surging in her heart. As she sat +watching the merry boys and girls winding joyously through the mazy +dance, Mrs. Blake came forward, and, sitting down by her side, +proceeded to question her about her parents and their movements abroad; +and Ada answered each query in a pretty, graceful manner infinitely +charming. Then school and school-life were touched upon. Had Miss +Irvine many friends in town? Did she not often feel very lonely? and +why could she never come and spend an afternoon with Winnie? These and +other questions being asked, the first drop of poison was instilled +with the skill and caution of an adept hand. + +"Winnie and she had been very good friends once, before Nellie +Latimer's appearance on the scene, but since then a misunderstanding +had arisen and the friendship had been broken up. Was Miss Latimer an +amiable girl? Winnie seemed very much attached to her. Ada would +rather not commit herself, but certainly Nellie's position was not such +as to justify her in being Winnie's chosen friend. Her family were +poor, very poor indeed; her aunts eccentric, winning their own bread, +doing their own work, and living in a common locality." + +All this, however, was told with much reluctance (at least apparently +so) and the earnest endeavour to tone down disagreeable parts. Mrs. +Blake was charmed, and wondered how Winnie could prefer a fresh, +countrified-looking girl to the sweet, amiable creature Miss Irvine +appeared to be. As she sat pondering over these things in her heart, +Ada's low voice broke again on her ear. + +"Mrs. Blake," she pleaded, "kindly do not betray my confidence. I +never meant to tell you anything about myself, and Winnie would hate me +were she to discover that I had prejudiced you against her friend; +indeed I am very sorry I spoke." + +A true, noble woman would have scorned to condemn any one on account of +lowly origin and humble rank in life; but Mrs. Blake was a woman of the +world--proud, arrogant, and haughty. She took little interest in her +younger step-children; they were allowed to live pretty much their own +lives and follow their own desires; but still there were some things +that must be checked, and this friendship with a low-born girl was one +of them. + +Turning to her young guest with a swift, bright smile, she replied +sweetly, "Do not apologize, my dear; I am only too glad to have +received your information in time. I had no idea Miss Latimer's +friends were in the position you speak of. Had that been the case, +certainly she would not have been here to-night. Winnie is allowed no +small amount of liberty, but close companionship with a girl so much +her inferior will not be countenanced for a moment. You need not fear, +however, my betraying your confidence; and I trust soon to see you and +my wilful little step-daughter fast friends once more." + +As she spoke Mrs. Blake rose and moved gracefully away, leaving Ada +with a bevy of laughing girls, who came flocking towards her as the +music ceased. + +"Did you enjoy our dance, Nellie?" inquired Dick, wiping his warm +forehead and glancing with ludicrous dismay at the rents in his once +spotless gloves. "I thought it all tip-top." + +"Splendid," replied Nellie decidedly; "and you really managed to get +through the figures wonderfully well." + +The boy's amazed countenance was amusing. + +"I managed to get through the figures wonderfully well!" he reiterated +in astonishment. "Why, Nellie, I am an accomplished dancer" (with mock +solemnity), "and have been so since the days when I was a little thing. +You should see me at the Highland fling and sword-dance. My eye! I go +at them well," and Dick's legs began to shuffle about as if they +desired to commence the performance. + +Nellie laughed. "Forgive me," she said pleasantly. "I did not mean +any disparagement; only boys, as a rule, do not care about dancing, and +you seemed somehow to enjoy it all so thoroughly." + +"That I did" (with emphasis), "but--hallo, Archie! is it really you?" +as a boy passed his side at that moment. "Allow me to introduce you to +Miss Latimer.--Here, Nellie, is the very partner for you; he will dance +you off your feet in a few minutes," and Dick, hurrying away, left the +two young people regarding each other with looks of rather comical +dismay. + +After that, the evening fled by all too quickly for Nellie, to whom +every moment was fraught with the purest pleasure. Dick saw she had no +lack of partners, and constituted himself her guardian for the night, +greatly to Mrs. Blake's annoyance and Winnie's satisfaction. The +former could find no means of laying any more commands on him, for the +boy mischievously eluded her every attempt to cross his path, and +failed most provokingly to catch her eye when a convenient season +presented itself for so doing. Nellie, with true appreciation of his +kindness, thanked him warmly in her innocent heart, and thought she had +never spent such a pleasant evening. There was never a cloud to darken +her enjoyment or dim the brightness of her happy face. Mrs. Blake's +studied avoidance passed by unnoticed, as also the haughty looks of +Winnie's elder sisters; and even Ada Irvine's calm, contemptuous face +failed to ruffle her joyous spirit. + +Long years afterwards she liked to look back on that evening of +thorough, uninterrupted enjoyment, when she could say in all sincerity +and truth, "I was happy;" when she danced with what seemed to be winged +feet, and the smile of gladness was ever on her lips. Closing her eyes +softly, she could see it all again--the large holly-decked +drawing-room, with its blazing lights and bevy of merry boys and girls; +Winnie's little figure flitting here and there--her flushed cheeks and +great starry eyes; Dick's honest freckled face and kindly smile; and +the beautiful, stately hostess, who moved in the midst of them all with +the dignity of a queen. + +The Christmas tree was a great success, the presents being pretty and +appropriate. Winnie smiled her delight over a dainty long-wished-for +work-box; Dick chuckled at the splendid pair of skates now in his +possession; Ada looked gratified when a lovely fan was handed down to +her; and Nellie was speechless over a pretty morocco purse. + +"It has been all so splendid, Winnie dear," she whispered when +good-nights were being exchanged; "just like fairyland. I have enjoyed +myself wonderfully. And now be sure and come soon to Dingle Cottage; +you will have plenty of time during the holidays, and Aunt Judith is +wearying to see you." + +"I'll be only too glad, Nell," replied her friend, kissing her warmly; +"but I must get mamma's permission first.--Dick, see Nellie safely into +the cab." Then the carriage rolled away, and the wonderful Christmas +party was over. + +"I think," said Winnie, coming into the large diningroom after the last +guest had departed, and finding her brother (alas that I should have to +confess it!) prowling round the table and surreptitiously pocketing +something from every tempting dish he saw thereon, "we have had a +beautiful night, and I am sure the party has been a decided success." + +"So far as the food is concerned it has," answered the boy, regarding +the good things heaped before him with a loving eye. "I say, Win, do +let us have a tuck in at this souffle here; we shall never see it after +to-night, and it is such prime stuff." + +Winnie laughed. "You'll require to hurry then, Dick," she replied; +"the servants will be here in a few minutes." So the two young +gourmands sat down and commenced a second supper ere the lights were +put out and the mandate issued--"Go to bed." + +For a few seconds nothing was said, both being too busily engaged with +the contents of their plates to join in any conversation; but at last +Dick poised his spoon in the air and commenced in a serio-comic tone,-- + +"I guess we shall have to pay for our evil deeds this evening. I saw +the storm-warning hoisted on our step-mother's face all night, so look +out for squalls." + +"Whatever do you mean?" inquired Winnie, glancing up from her plate +with an innocent look. "I do not understand you, my dear boy." + +"Oh, do you not?" replied the dear boy, mimicking her tones, and +twisting his amiable countenance into an altogether indescribable +expression. "Do you imagine your conduct towards the lovely Ada was +not observed and commented upon by our mother and stuck-up sisters? If +so, pray rid yourself at once of such a delusion, for I tell you, Win, +there's a storm looming in the distance for you and for me." + +Winnie pouted. + +"So be it!" she cried defiantly; "I don't care. I am no hypocrite, +Dick, and must act as I feel. I did not wish Ada to come to our party. +I hate her with my whole heart, and I believe in just letting her see +such is the case." + +Dick ran his hand through his shock of hair, and opened his eyes as +widely as he possibly could. "My word, we're waxing eloquent," he +observed approvingly. "Go it, little sister; you're doing first-rate;" +and he helped himself liberally to another supply of souffle as he +spoke. + +"What a tease you are!" said Winnie, pushing aside her plate with a +gesture of petulance; "you know I am in earnest, not in fun." + +"True, my queen" (with a mock bow), "therefore I shall no longer +descend to vulgar jesting. But seriously, Win, I tell you frankly the +mother is awfully angry at us. You did not study her face, perhaps, +but I watched closely, and saw a regular thunder-cloud on her brow all +night. How could it be otherwise, when she noticed your steady +avoidance of her favourite and my open rudeness?" + +"I enjoyed your open rudeness vastly, Dick," interrupted the girl, with +a twinkle sparkling in her eye and a mischievous smile on her lip. "I +could have hugged you every time you danced with Nellie, and when I saw +you trooping your boys up to her. Why, she was quite a belle amongst +you all." + +"Yes; I flatter myself we trotted her out very well, and the fellows +all agree she is good fun. But oh, what a dodging I had to manage my +point! Every few minutes I descried the mother bearing down upon me, +and was obliged to skeedaddle." Dick's language never was remarkable +for elegance. + +"Well, I am not the least wee bit sorry for my behaviour," said Winnie, +rising as she heard the sound of approaching footsteps; "and if I am to +get a scolding I must just get it. You'll be able to console me when +it is over, will you not? Meantime I intend to forget it all in sleep, +so--good-night, Dick;" and the little fairy, in her soft, airy +garments, waved him a tiny kiss as she vanished from the room and +hurried to her own pretty apartment. + +Dick, with his well-filled pockets, retired also; the servants +entering, closed the shutters and put out the lights; the feeble fire +flickered for a little, then died slowly, and deep, unbroken slumber +settled over all. + +Meanwhile, outside in the quiet night the snow was falling softly, +silently--wrapping the sleeping earth in a pure, unsullied +winding-sheet, and covering the church steeples with its feathery +flakes. Hush! hush! how silently, yet how quickly, the snow showers +fell. Slowly the hours passed by. Morning stealing in swept back the +clouds of night and darkness, and the sun, peeping through with his +warm, genial ray, shone down with a light which grew brighter and +brighter as the world wakened up and the merry Christmas bells sent +their happy chimes pealing through the frosty air. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +GATHERING CLOUDS. + +Rough, rumpled hair, two soft eyes drowned in tears, flushed, angry +cheeks and pouting lips, was the picture which met Dick's view one +morning when he entered the oak parlour two days after the eventful +party. Christmas had passed by pleasantly and tranquilly for both +children. They had had the regular Christmas dinner--turkey, +mince-pies, plum-pudding, etc.--and the afternoon and evening had been +filled with youthful pleasure and amusement. Sabbath also was calm and +peaceful, so calm, indeed, that Winnie began to think their fears were +groundless, and Mrs. Blake's annoyance a mere myth; but Dick, more +suspicious, decided it was only the lull before the storm, and on the +Monday he found his suspicions verified. The hurricane burst, and +resulted in a forlorn little maiden bathed in tears, and a boy whose +heart burned within him at the remembrance of cruel words and unjust +accusations. + +"I say, Win," he cried, coming forward into the room and leaning his +elbows on the table with careless disregard to elegance of attitude, +"what a miserable object you look! for all the world like a drowned +rat. Can't you dry those weeping eyes and speak to a fellow for a few +minutes? It is dreadful being treated to a regular shower-bath in this +cold weather," and Dick tried to conjure up the faintest glimmer of a +smile to the dolorous countenance. + +Winnie wailed: "O Dick, I was so happy; and now everything is wrong. +Mamma says she is very much displeased with me, and--" but here sobs +choked the little plaintive voice, and rendered the latter part of the +sentence quite unintelligible. + +Her brother's lips curled. + +"Win," he said impressively, "you're a good little creature, and the +mother is fond of you. In a few days she will forget all this +annoyance, and things will go on with you as smoothly as before; but I +am different. I shall never be able to blot out of my heart the words +the governor" (Dick's usual name for his father) "said to me this +morning,--never so long as I live. It was not only about this +affair--that I could have stood--but he raked up all my sins and +shortcomings from the days when I was a little boy, and heaped them, +one after the other, on the top of my devoted head. I was bad, stupid, +and awkward--the disgrace of the school, and the butt of my companions. +He was perfectly ashamed of me, and so on." Dick's eyes were flaming. +"But I tell you, Win, what it is: the crisis has come, and I'll do +something desperate." + +His sister's tears overflowed again. "I hate crying, I do indeed," she +said, scrubbing her cheeks viciously at every fresh outburst; "but the +nasty little trickly drops will come. Dick, dear old boy, I'm sorry +for you; will you not be sorry for me too? Just listen: I am never to +have Nellie for my friend again. She must never come here, and I must +never go and see Aunt Judith any more." + +Dick looked up in amazement. "Why not, Win? What has all that to do +with your conduct towards Ada?" + +"I don't know," with another quiver of the lips. "Mamma spoke about +Nellie first, asking where she lived, and if her aunts worked in any +way. Of course I told her simply what I knew, and then she said all +our friendship must end now; she would never have allowed Nellie to be +invited to our party had she known so much about her before." + +"But dear me, Win," interrupted the boy impatiently, "the mother +consented when you asked to spend that afternoon at Dingle Cottage some +time ago. Why should she turn round and condemn the friendship now?" + +"Oh, I can explain that easily. Mamma was hurrying to go out with +Clare and Edith when I begged permission, and said yes without making +any inquiries; but she scarcely spoke to Nellie on Friday evening, and +I cannot understand what has made her so angry all at once." + +"Did she say anything against Nellie personally?" + +"No; but she is not in my position in life, and I must not make a +friend and confidante of her. We may speak at school of course, but +that is all," and Winnie's grief burst out afresh at this point. + +Dick meditated. + +"I wonder," he said at length, a slow light dawning in his eyes, "if +Ada Irvine can have been putting the mother up to this? It would be +quite in keeping with some of her low dodges." + +Winnie shook her head. "I thought so myself at first, but mamma led me +to believe otherwise. She says Ada is such a sweet, amiable girl, and +much more suitable in every way than Nellie for a friend. I fired up +at that, however, and declared I hated Ada, adding she was a sneak, and +did horrible things at school." + +"Oh, you would give her true character to the mother, I have no doubt," +put in Dick with twinkling eyes; "but the question is, 'What was the +effect?'" + +"'I was prejudiced--and no one is faultless in this world.'" + +A short period of silence followed, during which Winnie wept copiously, +and Dick sat beating a tattoo on the table. + +"You'll soon have no eyes left," he observed practically, as the little +drenched handkerchief was again brought into use to wipe away the +flowing tears. "Cheer up, Win, old girl, and don't look as if your +grandmother had died half an hour ago." + +"But you do not know the worst of it yet, Dick," cried the girl, +raising her tear-stained face and speaking in heart-breaking tones. "I +promised Nellie I would come and spend one afternoon with her during +the holidays, and now I can't get. Oh! I wish so much to go." + +"Then do so," replied Dick doggedly. "There's no great harm in that; +and after all, what reward does one receive for being conscientious and +obedient?" + +His sister looked aghast. "I dare not," she whispered; "mamma would be +so angry. And yet--if I might go only this once." + +Dick being in anything but a filial mood said decidedly, "There's no +use in whining and moaning, Win. You can spend Wednesday afternoon at +Dingle Cottage if you wish, without any one in the house finding that +out. Edith and Clare are away from home; Algy and Tom never trouble +about us; and both the mother and governor will be spending that entire +day with the Harveys at Springfield. As for nurse and the servants, +I'll manage them." + +"Let me think," replied Winnie. She leaned forward towards the table, +drooped her head slowly on her little white hands, and then the +struggle began--the struggle between good and evil, between the paths +of right and wrong. + +"Just this once," she murmured yearningly--"only this once;" and as she +strove and wrestled inwardly, it seemed as if two figures stole +silently to her side and stood with earnest eyes watching the weary +battle. "I'll never do it again," she muttered, "but--only to say +good-bye;" and at this the dark figure smiled triumphantly, while the +white, spotless one listened with saddening eyes. + +This was no mean struggle in which Winnie was engaged. Many a one had +fallen under a lesser temptation; for a visit to Aunt Judith meant +much, oh so much, to her. There was something in the atmosphere of +Dingle Cottage that raised the young girl to a loftier, purer standard; +something that made her yearn after what was good and holy, and stirred +up the childish heart to reach after the things which belong unto our +peace. She would never feel so again. How could she, when there was +none to guide her in the paths of right--none to tell how she might +weave a golden sunshine into her life, and leave lingering tracks of +light behind her? All these thoughts passed through her childish brain +as she sat with low bowed head and aching heart, thinking and +struggling, oh so wearily. At length the contest was ended; and +turning to Dick with a look of firm determination on her face, Winnie +said briefly, "I will go." So the struggle was over, and the dark +figure reigned triumphant, while the white-robed one stole weeping away. + +"Write and let Nellie know then," replied Dick, preparing to leave the +room. "I am going off to skate with Archie Trollope, and can post your +letter on my way to the pond if you choose." + +Winnie opened her desk--a birthday gift--and her heart smote her as she +wrote in a crude, girlish hand:-- + + +"_December 27th, 18--_. + +"MY DEAR NELLIE,--I shall come and spend Wednesday afternoon with you +all at Dingle Cottage. If suitable, do not trouble replying to this +scribble.-- + +Your loving friend, + WINNIE M. BLAKE." + + +"There," she said, sealing the envelope and handing it to her brother, +"I have written; and you--you will come for me at night, Dick." + +"Of course I shall, Win," answered the boy, looking down with wistful, +loving eyes on his favourite sister, "and we shall have a jolly time +for once. Put all gloomy thoughts aside, old girl, and let us be happy +while we may." With that he treated her to a rough, hearty embrace, +making teasing remarks at the same time about boiled gooseberry eyes +and swollen lids; then giving one parting hug, marched out of the room, +and a few minutes after the loud clanging of the hall-door intimated +that Master Richard Blake had gone out for the day. + +The afternoon was spent by Winnie in driving with her step-mother, who +tried in many pleasant ways to atone for the morning's harshness; and +so well did she succeed that the little girl's heart ached sorely and +quailed at the remembrance of the deceit she was practising. But, she +would never do it again, no, never again, and only this once could not +be such a very great sin. + +So the time passed, and Wednesday came at last, a true winter's day, +with snow-mantled earth and keen, hard frost. + +"Don't be late in coming for me, Dick," was Winnie's parting +injunction, as he saw her safely into the 'bus. "I shall expect you +soon after tea." And the boy promised. + +The little sister looked after him as he strode briskly away. "What a +dear, kind brother he is!" she murmured lovingly. "How should I manage +without him? Good old Dick. He is all the world to me." And the boy, +tramping along the slippery streets with giant steps, was +muttering--"Poor Win! she will fret very much at first, and I shall +miss her sorely; but it can't be helped--I must run away." + +Meanwhile the 'bus, whirling rapidly through the busy streets, stopped +in due time at Broomhill Road, and Winnie, alighting with flushed, +expectant face, found Nellie awaiting her eagerly. + +"How good of you to come, dear! and how pretty you look!" she said, +kissing her little guest affectionately. "I was so pleased to get your +note on Monday evening." + +"You cannot guess how glad I am to be here, Nellie," replied Winnie +simply, slipping her hand through her friend's arm as they walked +rapidly along the quiet road. "Your home seems like an Eden to me, and +spending a few hours with you all there one of my greatest pleasures." + +After this both tongues went merrily till Dingle Cottage was reached, +and Winnie stood once more in the snug parlour, listening to the hearty +welcomes which fell so pleasantly on her ears. The tiny home wore its +usual air of cosy comfort, and the faces of its inmates seemed +positively to shine with happiness and content. Aunt Debby's chubby +countenance was all aglow, and Aunt Meg's peevish visage, having +apparently caught the reflex of her smile, looked very fair and sweet +as the invalid turned it brightly towards the youthful visitor. + +"A thousand welcomes, child!" cried Miss Deborah delightedly, drawing +Winnie to her ample bosom, and treating the girl to a hearty hug (the +word, though not eloquent, is singularly expressive); "it is good to +see your pretty face again. This is Aunt Meg," pointing to the +invalid. "I do not think you have ever met her before." Then Winnie +was obliged to cross over to the sofa and shake the thin white hand +that looked so small and fragile. + +"Is your brother coming for you at night, dear?" inquired Miss Latimer, +turning from her seat by the window and giving the young guest a +tender, loving glance in answer to a certain wistful look cast in her +direction. + +"Oh yes; he promised," replied Winnie assuredly. Then with a little +burst of vehemence--"Dear Aunt Judith, I wish to enjoy myself so very, +very much to-day, and be ever so happy." + +All looked startled at the passion in the girl's voice, with the +exception of Aunt Debby, who viewed everything in a practical light. + +"So, so! very good indeed," she said, knitting industriously, and with +added vigour. "We'll do our best to gratify your wish, child; and one +ought to be specially happy at this season of the year, I suppose." + +The talk then became general, and Aunt Meg, laying aside her fretful +voice for the time being, wakened up and became the life of the small +party, chatting in such a pretty, graceful manner, and seeming +altogether so full of animation, that Winnie wondered if this could +really be the cross, peevish invalid Nellie had so often described. +Ere long, however, she learned that appearances are sometimes +deceitful, and that a gentle face and plaintive air can often be +assumed as occasion warrants. It so happened that just as Miss Deborah +was preparing to see about the tea the postman's knock sounded at the +door, and one of the dear home-letters was handed to Nellie. + +"Please excuse me," she said to Winnie, breaking the seal and +commencing to read; "the children have been ill with scarlet fever, and +I am anxious to know if they are better." + +The sheets were large and closely written, consequently some little +time was spent over them; but at length the last word was read, and +then Nellie, replacing the letter in its envelope, said with a happy +smile, "Mother writes the little ones are improving daily, and she +thinks they will soon be quite well. She sends you all her love, and +is glad to hear Aunt Meg is feeling so much stronger. She hopes, if +the improvement continues, to see either you, Aunt Judith, or Aunt +Debby home with me in the summer-time." + +The invalid's face darkened, and Miss Deborah's merry orbs twinkled +ominously. Nothing suited Miss Margaret better than to pose as a +saintly sufferer, burdened day by day with a weary load of +never-ceasing pain. It was wonderfully pleasant at times to assume the +_role_ of the patient martyr, and talk of lonely days and nights borne +without murmuring. But once hint at any visible improvement, once +mention an increase of colour on the pallid cheeks or a clearer light +in the dimmed eyes, and Aunt Meg's wrath knew no bounds. Having +fathomed this secret in the invalid's nature, we can readily understand +the twinkle lurking in Aunt Debby's orbs as she scented the coming +storm. + +"Who told you I was feeling better, Nellie?" demanded Miss Margaret; +and Winnie started at the anger in the voice, only a few minutes since +so soft and gentle. "Who gave you authority to utter--to write such a +falsehood? Better!" (with infinite scorn), "and my poor frame racked +with such excruciating pain. Do you imagine, because a load is borne +with unmurmuring patience, that the weight is gradually lessening and +the burden will soon be lifted? Answer me at once. Who dared to tell +you I was much stronger?" + +Nellie's amazement was extreme, but she replied quietly, while Winnie +sat by Miss Latimer's side, every fibre of her mischievous nature +quivering with thorough enjoyment. "I only said what I believed to be +true, Aunt Meg. You have been looking better, and I heard Aunt Judith +telling a lady the other week that there was a very marked improvement +lately, and that she was thankful to be able to say so." + +Miss Margaret cast a withering glance at Miss Latimer's quiet face. + +"That is all in a piece with the rest of Judith's stinginess," she +observed sneeringly. "I know only too well why she speaks of being +thankful. Were I to regain my wonted strength, there would naturally +be less nourishing food required and fewer doctor's bills. Oh! I only +wish I could honestly say I feel a daily increase of health; but, alas! +the very thought of being a heavy burden and viewed in the light of a +constant nuisance helps to weaken and keep me low." + +At this point Nellie drew Winnie towards the window and tried to engage +her in conversation; while Aunt Debby, lowering her voice, muttered, +audibly enough, however, for the girls to hear, "Don't make a fool of +yourself, Meg, and talk such utter rubbish." + +The invalid's rage increased, and she was about to make some rejoinder, +when Miss Latimer interposed. "Hush, Margaret," said the quiet, gentle +voice; "for my sake do not speak so before the children. You know +perfectly well, dear, you are wilfully misinterpreting my words. I am +only too happy to be able to gladden your life in any way." + +But the invalid refused to be pacified. + +"Ah! I understand you, Judith. You do not wish to have your true +character exposed to the public. It suits you to pose as the saint +abroad, I suppose, and--" but here Miss Latimer interrupted her. + +"Margaret," she replied firmly, "you must either be silent or leave the +room. I cannot listen to such conversation in the presence of our +guest; and if you refuse to comply one way or the other, I shall be +obliged to send the girls into my study." + +"Oh no! not at all," returned Aunt Meg, her voice suddenly assuming the +most plaintive, martyr-like tone; "the house does not belong to +me.--Debby, will you assist me to my bedroom? and--no, Judith, I could +not think of troubling you; but perhaps Nellie would help her poor aunt +for once." + +Now all this time Winnie had been enjoying the tragic scene immensely, +and shaking inwardly with suppressed laughter, greatly to Nellie's +distress. + +"Oh, be quiet, Win; she will hear you," whispered the girl hurriedly, +as a low ripple of laughter was hastily smothered by a mock cough. But +the warning came too late. Aunt Meg caught the choking sound and in a +moment the saintly expression on her face gave place to one of intense +rage and indignation. This sudden transformation was too much for +Winnie's risible faculties. The whole affair struck her in such a +comical light that she lost all control over herself, and, with a wild +burst of stifled laughter fled hastily from the parlour to Nellie's +bedroom, where that young lady quickly followed. + +"Close the door--close the door, Nell!" gasped Winnie, holding her +handkerchief to her mouth and vainly endeavouring to suppress the +laughter. "I know it's dreadfully wicked to behave in this manner, but +I can't help myself," and off the child went again; while Nellie, +unable to resist, joined in the merry peal. When both stopped at +length, the tears were running down their cheeks, at the sight of which +Winnie nearly repeated the performance. "This is awful," she panted, +wiping her eyes and fanning her hot cheeks violently; "but when I begin +to laugh I must just continue till I have emptied all the laughter out +of me: then I am all right. No, Nellie, do not go away yet; wait till +I am quite calm." + +Before Nellie could reply, Aunt Debby opened the door, and looking in +shook her head admonishingly. "I should like to know if you are not +both ashamed of yourselves," she said severely; but there was laughter +lurking in her eyes and playing about the corners of her lips which +belied the severity of her words. Winnie jumped up, and throwing her +arms round the good lady's neck, replied, "I have been very rude and +naughty, dear Miss Deborah; but indeed I did not mean any harm," and +she held up her rosy mouth for a kiss of pardon. + +"There, there, it's all right, child. I understand. Come down to the +parlour now; tea is ready." And with that, active, cheery Aunt Debby +trotted away, leaving the two culprits to follow at their leisure. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +"IT IS SO HARD TO SAY GOOD-BYE." + +When Nellie and Winnie re-entered the parlour they found the table +spread, Aunt Debby seated as usual before the urn, and Miss Latimer +standing by the window gazing up at the murky sky, where the leaden +clouds predicted a gathering snowstorm. Winnie ran up to her. "Aunt +Judith," she said humbly, "I am very much ashamed of myself; please +forgive me." + +Miss Latimer patted the upraised face, and the pained look died out of +her eyes. "Never mind, child," she replied pleasantly; "it is all +right. I understand" (as the girl still looked anxious); "I know you +had no thought of grieving us." + +So the subject was dropped, and once more they gathered round the +simple board whereon every dainty was displayed with such charming +taste. There, tongues loosened and the merry chatting recommenced, +while Winnie's spirits rose wonderfully. Putting from her with a +strong determined will every sad thought and the burden of grief so new +for her to bear, she laughed and talked, the gayest of the +gay--speaking in her own quaint style, and laughing her own clear +ripple of silvery laughter. + +After tea Miss Latimer called her into the cosy study, and bidding her +seat herself snugly, she said: "Aunt Debby requires Nellie's assistance +for a short time at present, so you will have to endure an old maid's +company meanwhile; but before we settle ourselves to enjoy a nice, cosy +chat, I wish you to accept a Christmas gift from me. It is my latest +work, and I only received the first copies yesterday. I have written +your name on the title-page, and I think, dear, you will value the +little volume for my sake." As she spoke Aunt Judith handed a small +book, beautifully bound in blue and gold, to her young visitor, who +received it at first in speechless silence. She looked at the pretty +volume--the elegant binding and clear, bold type; then with a great cry +flung herself down by Miss Latimer's side and sobbed out, "Oh, I love +you so, you are so kind to me; and it is so hard to say good-bye." + +Aunt Judith seemed amazed. "I do not understand you, child," she said +simply. "What do you mean? Try to calm yourself and explain, dear." + +Then between sobs the story of a child's grief was laid before Miss +Latimer, and told with such a depth of pathos that the listener's soft +womanly heart ached in response to the plaintive tale. + +"And your mother does not know you are here to-day, Winnie?" she +inquired when the sad little voice had ceased. "You had no permission +from her to come?" + +The girl shook her head. "I suppose I am very disobedient," was the +simple answer; "but, Aunt Judith, the temptation was too hard to +resist. I felt I must see you all again, even though it was only to +say good-bye." + +Miss Latimer sighed. "You must not come any more, dear, never after +to-night--at least not until your mother gives her full, free consent. +You think all this very hard, little Winnie, but you do not know how +deeply I feel about it also. You had stolen into my heart, child, and +I was beginning to find your love very sweet and precious--not that I +shall love you less or cease to care for you, but all this pleasant +social intercourse must end now. Nay, do not grieve so, darling. It +is all very dark and perplexing to you at present perhaps; but rest +assured God has some beautiful lessons for us to learn--lessons that +will give us a glimpse of, and may yet prove as stepping-stones to, +that higher life which is the only life worth living." + +Winnie sighed despairingly. "Aunt Judith," she said, raising a pair of +wet eyes full of a child's agony to the listener's face, "I shall never +be good now. You do not know the pleasure it has been to me to come +here, or the strange thoughts that fill my heart when I see how happy +you all are in this dear little home. Somehow God seems very near +here, Aunt Judith, and the Christ-life you talk about so beautiful, I +go away determined to try to lead it too--to be good, brave, and true. +But that is all over now; for oh! no one in my home speaks of God and +heaven, or talks softly of Jesus and his love, and I can't be good if +none will stretch out a helping hand and show me the way." + +Miss Latimer drew the little quivering figure closer in her embrace as +she answered, "Don't say that, child, don't say that. A human friend +often leads astray--God never. We must not rest our entire confidence +on human guides, or lean altogether on earthly props, but, holding out +our hands to the great Father above, with all the simplicity of little +children, leave ourselves unreservedly in his keeping. Sometimes the +way is dark--so dark, dear" (and the gentle voice faltered for a +moment), "sometimes the path proves rugged and steep; but, little +Winnie,-- + + 'The easy path in the lowlands hath little of grand or new, + But a toilsome ascent leads on to a wide and glorious view; + Peopled and warm is the valley, lonely and chill the height, + But the peak that is nearer the storm cloud is nearer + the stars of light.' + +And so, dear, in the time of shadow rest in the hollow of God's hand, +and Christ himself will help you to lead his own perfect life." + +The conversation at this point being interrupted by the arrival of +Dick, Miss Latimer found no opportunity of renewing it that evening; +but while Winnie, who had once more dashed the tears from her eyes with +a child's abandonment of grief, was busily engaged with Miss Deborah +and Nellie, she drew the boy aside, and with his aid was able to gather +together the scattered threads of his sister's disconnected story. + +Dick could not very well understand how, but there was something about +Aunt Judith which seemed to inspire confidence; and although Miss +Latimer with delicate tact retrained from asking more than was +absolutely necessary, the boy found himself laying bare his heart quite +unintentionally, and ended by confessing his determination to run away +to sea. "I must go," he finished doggedly; "I can't stand this kind of +life any longer, and--I won't." + +Miss Latimer looked very grave. + +"I have no right to interfere, Dick," she said quietly, "and perhaps I +should scarcely have listened to your story; but from what has been +told me and my own eyes have seen, I thought Winnie's brother one who +would scorn to do a cowardly, dishonourable action." + +The boy looked amazed at the strong, emphatic language; while Aunt +Judith, nothing daunted, continued,-- + +"Yes, it is perfectly true, Dick. You see I do not fear to speak as I +think, and such a course as you purpose pursuing seems to me both mean +and sinful. Running away--stealing out of your father's house like a +thief in the night; try to picture it fully, clearly to yourself, and +then let me hear your verdict once again. You talk of always having +longed for a sailor's life; you speak about the great attraction of the +sea. Well, that in itself is good; but why go forth to it in the way +you are contemplating? Have you ever spoken to your father on the +subject?" + +"Never," replied Dick; "but my step-mother and sisters knew all about +it." + +"And what was their verdict?" + +"Laughter, and the information that I was too great a stupid to be a +sailor." The boy's tones were very bitter. + +Miss Latimer scanned the honest, open face, and replied,-- + +"Well, Dick, we hardly know each other yet, and it may be you will +denounce me as an interfering old maid; but if I may proffer my advice, +I would say, Lay your heart bare before your father, tell him simply +what your desire is; and if after that he says 'Go,' then God's +blessing follow you, my dear boy." + +She rose as she spoke, and crossing the room joined the group chatting +so pleasantly together, while Dick remained quietly in his seat. But +there sprang up in the boy's heart that night a pure, holy feeling of +respect, almost amounting to veneration, for all women who, like Miss +Latimer, kept their garments white and unsullied in this evil world, +and stood up so bravely in the cause of truth and right. He never +forgot the soft, tender voice or the warm pressure of the hand as she +reasoned with him; but thinking it all over in the still night-hush, he +determined to win her approbation, and carve out for himself a noble +life. + +The evening passed by very rapidly for both Winnie and Dick, and at +length it was time to say good-bye. + +Nellie and Miss Deborah, being still in ignorance as to the course +events had taken, wondered at the child's low sob when Miss Latimer +kissed her, and marvelled even more at her strange conduct in running +down the garden path immediately after, without pausing to bid one and +all her usual merry good-night. But the explanation was soon made; and +then Aunt Debby's indignation blazed forth, while Nellie listened in +simple amazement to the strange tale. + +"The very idea, Judith!" gasped the good lady, shaking her head with +such vehemence that all the little curls in front danced and coquetted +with one another; "just as if we would contaminate the child, or were +so very much her inferiors. Dear heart! I declare the news has given +me quite a turn--it is so absurd." + +"I think we had better drop the subject altogether, Debby," replied +Miss Latimer. "Nellie, I know, will respect her aunts' wishes, and act +as we think best.--Will you not, my child?" + +"Of course, auntie," murmured Nellie faintly; "but I don't quite +understand. Why could Winnie come here with full permission one day +and be forbidden the next? I know," she continued bitterly--"at least +it is not Ada Irvine's fault if I do not--that I am very much Winnie's +inferior in many ways; but still Mrs. Blake knew all that before." +Here Nellie burst into tears, for she was only human, and wounded pride +and vanity mingled with genuine grief at the loss of her friend. + +"Comfort her yourself, Judith," muttered Aunt Debby, meditating a rapid +exit to the kitchen. "If I begin, I shall be sure to be saying +something spiteful and wicked, for my temper is at boiling-point just +now," and with that the good lady disappeared to the humbler regions, +there to vent her indignation in violent washing up of unoffending cups +and saucers. + +Meanwhile Nellie had her evening talk, but for once it failed to soothe +her wounded feelings; and when she lay down on her soft warm bed, she +carried with her bitter, angry thoughts which chased the slumber from +her eyes and the rest from her heart. She could not understand why +Mrs. Blake should put an end so suddenly to her intimacy with Winnie; +and Aunt Judith either could not or would not throw one single ray of +light on the subject. The whole story would leak out at school, and +what a time would follow! Nellie writhed inwardly at the awful +prospect, and wept bitterly, till at length, thoroughly worn out, she +fell fast asleep, and the silent passing hours ushered in the dawn of +another new day. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +"I ALWAYS SPEAK AS I THINK." + +The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses and +pupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder's +Select Establishment for Young Ladies. A few scholars still remained +absent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks' +ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name of +Winnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray of +sunlight in the dingy school-room. "Confined to the house through +indisposition," Mrs. Elder explained to each anxious inquirer after the +tiny favourite. "Nothing serious; only a cold caught during +holiday-time." But the days passed by, and still no Winnie appeared. + +Nellie had never seen or heard of her since that night at Dingle +Cottage when they had laughed so heartily together over poor Aunt Meg +and her infirmities; and she felt the separation keenly. At first the +other school-mates plied her with questions regarding Winnie's absence, +all of which she was unable to answer or parry successfully; and so by +degrees, and the help of Ada's sarcastic tongue, the secret oozed out, +and Nellie's star paled accordingly. The poisoned shaft of +carefully-veiled words struck home with new power: there was no Winnie +to whom to turn for sympathy, and so the old cross had to be taken up +again and carried day after day. Some of the girls sided sensibly with +Nellie, and tried to make school-life pleasant to her; but they were +unfortunately in the minority, and often got snubbed and censured by +the others for their kindness. + +One afternoon, however, as Nellie was wending her way home from school, +a hand was laid on her shoulder, while an honest, kindly voice said +suddenly in her ear, "Well, it is good to get a peep at you again, +Nell. How are you?" and Dick's freckled face shone down on the rosy +one by his side. + +The girl looked up with a happy smile. "O Dick!" she gasped; and then +it seemed as if words failed her, and she stood simply holding his +hand, and gazing with such genuine happiness into his eyes that the boy +laughed outright. + +"What's up, Nell?" he inquired teasingly. "I declare such evident +admiration makes me feel quite bashful." + +Nellie gave a little soft smile. "Don't be a tease, Dick," she said; +"I am only so pleased to see you and hear about Winnie." + +Dick placed his hand on his heart and bowed. "The pleasure is mutual," +he began; but receiving an energetic shake of the arm he continued, +"Oh, Win will soon be all right. She's been croaking like a raven for +the last fortnight or so, but is almost well now." + +"When did she catch cold?" + +Dick lowered his voice. "Coming home that night from Dingle Cottage. +We missed the 'bus--walked--and Win caught a chill." + +"Was she very ill?" + +"Oh no; but the doctor would not allow her to go out or even run from +one room to the other, so she has been cooped up in the oak parlour all +this time." + +"Tell her I am very sorry, and she is to accept my dear love. Will +you, Dick?" and Nellie looked pleadingly up in the boy's kindly face. + +"That I shall" (with emphasis). "And, here, I may as well give you a +piece of information, Nell. This is Wednesday--on Saturday afternoon I +sail for Calcutta." + +Nellie stared. "What do you mean?" she cried in bewilderment. + +"Precisely what I say, my dear girl," replied the wild boy, vastly +enjoying her amazement. "Perhaps you'll never see me any more, so do a +little weep--no, not here," as Nellie out of mischief slipped her hand +into her pocket; "we should have a crowd round us in no time if you +did, but in the--ahem!--privacy of your own room;" and Dick's eyes +sparkled. + +"Calcutta! Does that mean you are going to be a sailor after all? O +Dick, have you gained your wish at last? I am so glad for your sake." + +Human sympathy is very sweet. Dick's face beamed as he answered, "Yes, +Nell; the governor has given his consent. It was not so very difficult +to obtain after all" (a trifle sarcastically), "therefore I'm off on +Saturday." + +"What is Winnie saying to all this?" + +The boy's face saddened a little. + +"Win's a brick," he replied enthusiastically; "she never says anything +about herself, but talks of all the different countries I shall see, +and hopes no harm will befall me. Dear little Win!" Dick's voice was +very tender as he spoke. + +A silence followed, then the boy held out his hand. "Well, Nell, I +must say good-bye now. I'm on an errand of importance, and dare not +delay. Don't quite forget me, and be good to Winnie. There--ta-ta!" +and away sped Dick before Nellie had time to utter a single word. + +About two hours afterwards he re-entered his own home, and made +straight for the oak parlour, chuckling to himself at the thought of +Winnie's delight when he told her his conversation with Nellie. But +disappointments sometimes accompany our enjoyments, and Dick's bright +anticipations of a quiet hour with his favourite sister received a +decided check; for on nearing the door, which was slightly ajar, he +heard the murmur of voices, and peering in cautiously saw, to his great +dismay, Mrs. Blake and Winnie entertaining no less honourable a visitor +than Miss Irvine. Dick smiled derisively at the tones of the +carefully-modulated voice, and ground his strong, white teeth on +detecting the malicious spite lurking under pretty sentences full of +apparent kindliness. + +"I must apologize, Winnie, for not calling and inquiring after your +health before this," Ada was saying as Dick approached; "but I have +been assuming the _role_ of an invalid myself lately, and Mrs. Elder +would not allow me to venture out of doors till I was thoroughly +convalescent." + +Mrs. Blake looked affectionately at her young visitor. "I did not know +you were unwell, my dear. Are you quite recovered now?" + +"Yes, thank you; but there was not very much wrong with me, dear Mrs. +Blake, only a slight touch of cold in the throat. Mrs. Elder is so +careful, however, I am sure I owe her a debt of gratitude I shall never +be able to repay." Then turning to Winnie, Ada continued with a pretty +show of anxiety, "I was very sorry to hear of your illness, Win. How +did you manage to catch such a severe cold?" + +"That is what I cannot tell," interrupted Mrs. Blake, feeling inclined +to shake her naughty little step-daughter for her sullen behaviour +towards this amiable young visitor. "I happened to be from home one +day during the Christmas holidays, and on my return found Winnie +coughing dreadfully and quite fevered with cold." + +Ada meditated a few seconds. "I wonder," she said at length, in slow, +deliberate tones, "if your illness dated from that afternoon you spent +at Dingle Cottage almost a month ago? I was visiting an old woman, a +former _nurse_ of mine, who lives in the house opposite, that same day, +and remember perfectly seeing you and Miss Latimer standing together at +one of the windows." + +"Surely you must have been mistaken, my dear. Winnie never visits at +Dingle Cottage now," Mrs. Blake interposed unconsciously. + +"Perhaps, but I hardly think so. However" (with a look of the utmost +innocence), "Winnie will be able to solve that riddle," and the +spiteful girl turned towards her sick friend and awaited the reply. + +Winnie's cheeks were burning, and the great eyes full of a withering +contempt. Raising them calmly to her visitor's placid face, and +without a trembling of the proud young lips, she answered +quietly,--"Your surmise was correct, Ada. I did spend an afternoon +lately at Dingle Cottage; and I am afraid, as you so kindly hinted +before, that my cold dated from that night." + +Mrs. Blake was angry, very angry indeed, but too well bred to show her +annoyance before her visitor. She changed the subject with ready tact, +and made a most fascinating hostess; while Winnie sat in dead silence, +with a great scowl disfiguring her pretty face, and Dick danced his +displeasure on the door-mat. + +After a short time Ada rose to leave, and holding out a daintily-gloved +hand to her sullen companion, said sweetly, "Good-bye, Winnie. I trust +you will soon be better; and if I can possibly find leisure for another +visit, rest assured I shall drop in on you some day soon." + +"Pray, don't," replied Winnie, wilfully disregarding her step-mother's +look of heavy displeasure. "Your visit has not afforded me such a vast +amount of pleasure that I could wish its repetition at an early date. +We never were friends, Ada" (with ungoverned passion), "never so long +as I can remember. You hate me, and I--I detest you; why, then, will +you persist in assuming a friendship that has no foundation?" + +Dick's war-dance continued with greater vigour at this point, while +Mrs. Blake in haughtiest tones said to Winnie, "How dare you insult +Miss Irvine in this manner? Apologize at once, I command you." + +Ada's face, as she turned it towards her hostess, wore a sweet, patient +look, with just the tiniest flicker of pain about the curves of the +perfect lips. "Please, do not blame Winnie too severely, Mrs. Blake," +she pleaded mildly; "her words are to some extent true, but I--" and +the lids drooped slowly over the lovely eyes, while a faint flush +tinged the delicate cheeks--"I was trying to turn over a new leaf and +gain Winnie's love." + +"My eye, what a cram!" muttered Dick from behind the door. "Oh, but +she acts the hypocrite capitally. Now then for Win's happy reply. It +will be both sweet and original, I prophesy, for the little monkey is +bristling all over like an insulted hedgehog. Here goes!" and the +boy's ear was once more applied cautiously to the keyhole. + +Winnie had risen by this time, and was confronting her adversary with a +look almost capable of annihilating a less daring foe than Ada Irvine. +Quite undaunted by the fear of future punishment, and recognizing only +the great wrong this girl was doing her, she said, "I think you are a +female Judas, Ada, and your true character will come to light some day. +I know--" but Winnie got frightened at the awful look in Mrs. Blake's +eyes, and stopped short, while Ada took refuge in tears. + +"Come away, my dear," said her hostess, leading her gently from the +room; "Winnie is not herself today. When the child is in a passion her +language is uncontrollable; but I shall see she sends you a proper +apology for her rudeness." + +Dick heard no more, having to slip away at that moment and hide behind +one of the statues in the passage during the exit of his step-mother +with the weeping Niobe; but when the sound of their footsteps had died +away in the distance, he rushed into the oak parlour, and seizing +Winnie round the waist, treated her to several convulsive hugs and +various exclamations of supreme delight. + +"Well, old girl, you did the thing first-rate," he panted, throwing +himself into a chair and rubbing his hands vigorously together. "You +deserve to be commended, Win. Dear heart, as Aunt Debby says, what a +tongue somebody has!" + +"I don't care," pouted Winnie, endeavouring to straighten her sash, +which Dick had been using as a handle during the hugging process; "I +only said what was true, and would repeat it all over again if she +cared to listen." + +"Bravo! what a hard heart the girl possesses! Cold as an icicle, too, +not to melt under the influence of such dewy tears shed +from--ahem!--'sweetest eyes were ever seen.'" + +"Crocodile tears!" (with scorn.) "I don't know how she managed to +squeeze them up. I never saw Ada Irvine weep before. As for +apologizing, I won't, no matter what happens." + +"Perhaps your gentle friend had an onion hidden within the folds of +her--_mouchoir_. See how nicely I can speak French. You remember, in +the story of Beauty and the Beast, how the wicked sisters rubbed their +eyes with onions to 'pretend' they were weeping." Dick's eyes were +dancing as he spoke. + +Winnie's indignation, however, would admit of no reply, and she sat +silently, like a little bird with its plumage all ruffled; while her +brother, stretched lazily opposite, gazed on the angry face and +soliloquized accordingly. + + "Alas for the rarity + Of Christian charity," + +quoth the incorrigible boy. "Come, Win, be magnanimous for once and +forgive. Think what it would be to bask continually in the sunshine of +the lovely Ada's smiles. But there--poor little bird! did I stroke its +pretty feathers all the wrong way, and make it very cross?" + +How much more Dick would have said remains a mystery, for Mrs. Blake +interrupted the interesting conversation by her entrance, and commanded +him to leave the room. + +"I'll take possession of the door-mat once again," he decided, giving +Winnie an encouraging look as he passed out. "Eavesdropping is a low, +mean thing, I know; but Win may require my assistance, and altogether +it's as well I should be on the spot." + +There is no need to describe the conversation that ensued between Mrs. +Blake and her troublesome step-daughter. The good lady was justified +in her displeasure at Winnie's daring disobedience; but her words were +cold, cruel words, little calculated to inspire the love and confidence +of a warm, tender-hearted child. She would listen to no +expostulations, she refused to reason; her commands must be obeyed; +Winnie would never dare to set her laws at defiance again; and at the +close of the session she would be transferred to another school. As +regarded Ada, she must write a humble apology, and in the future show +that sweet, amiable girl every respect. + +Winnie stoutly refused (Dick chuckled with delight), and Mrs. Blake's +anger waxed stronger at the little rebel. She meditated for a few +seconds on the best method of punishment, and then said coldly,--"I +shall say nothing further in the meantime, Winnie, concerning your +flagrant act of disobedience in connection with Miss Latimer. When you +feel truly penitent, and confess your sorrow, I shall be pleased to +accept your apology; but I insist on a letter being written to Miss +Irvine now. One hour is at your disposal, and if at the end of that +period I return and find you still obdurate, then to-morrow's pleasure +is cancelled,--you will not be allowed, as promised, to see over Dick's +ship." With that Mrs. Blake left the room, and Winnie was left to +solitude and reflection. + +For a long time she sat firmly determined to suffer anything rather +than yield. Her young heart burned with anger and pride--she hated +everybody and everything; but in the end love for Dick conquered, and +the required note was written. + +"I don't mean one single word of all that scribble," she cried, +pitching the letter to the other end of the room. "I hate to humble +myself, so I do, and I should like to say all sorts of horrid things to +Ada Irvine; but I can't give up to-morrow's treat, and I wish to see as +much of my dear old Dick as possible. Wait till I get back to school, +however, and there will be fun." Winnie's face brightened at the +thought, and the old mischievous smile came back to her lips. After +all there was a good amount of wicked enjoyment to be derived from +having an enemy. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +OUR SAILOR BOY. + +If one had peeped into the oak parlour on Thursday evening, one would +naturally have imagined the room to be untenanted, save for the +presence of a little white dog curled in peaceful slumber on the rug; +but had the heavy folds of curtain been withdrawn, they would have +disclosed to view the form of a young lady nestling back in the window +embrasure, with two soft white hands folded wearily on her lap. The +night was cold, but bright with moonlight; and the stars peeping in at +the window, the blind of which was drawn up to the top, whispered +together of the fairy picture she made with the moonbeams straying over +her quiet, thoughtful face, and playing hide-and-seek amongst the +meshes of her dark glossy hair. + +"How pretty she looks!" they murmured softly, sparkling down their +twinkling lights on the frost-gemmed city below. But the little stars +failed to notice the weary look of discontent and dissatisfaction on +that fair face, which marred all the beauty of the fairy picture. + +She had left the gay drawing-room and fashionable company under plea of +a headache, and finding the oak parlour untenanted, had hidden herself +snugly behind the curtains. But Edith Blake's headache had evidently +merged into a heartache; for it was a weary, weary face that turned +from the window as approaching footsteps warned her of some one's +intrusion. Drawing aside the ruby folds and peering out cautiously, +the girl saw Winnie enter and go straight towards the fire, where she +proceeded to ensconce herself snugly on the rug, and lift the little +white dog into her lap. + +"Poor little doggie!" she said, stroking the affectionate animal, which +was licking its mistress's gentle hand; "poor Puck! you'll have to love +me very much after Dick goes away. I like to be loved, doggie; but no +one in this house believes in love except my dear boy, and it is lonely +when not a single creature cares, for you. I should like to enjoy a +good cry, Puck; but I must not make Dick sad, and it is a baby-fashion +to cry when things go wrong and you can't get what you wish. But, oh +dear! whatever shall I do after my dear good boy is gone away?" + +"Write long letters and think of him every day," put in a blithe, merry +voice at the door; and Winnie sprang up with a cry of delight as Dick +strode into the room attired in all the splendour of his new uniform. + +"How do I look, Win?" he cried, touching his cap, and standing in all +the pride of his young, bright strength, ready to be admired. "Am I +respectable?" + +But he need hardly have asked that question, for the little sister's +face was all aglow, and her rosy lips laughing a glad, proud smile. + +"Respectable!" (with scorn); "why, Richard, you're simply _splendid_! +And oh! you do look every inch a sailor." + +"I thought I would let you see me in full uniform before packing up my +baggage," said Dick, by way of apology for his childish display. "Look +at the brass buttons, Win, and the badge on my cap; they make me feel +as if I were a sailor already." + +Winnie duly admired. + +"I hope you'll have a good voyage, and not find the work too hard," she +whispered afterwards, and the boy answered. + +"Win," he began impressively, "I intend putting my whole 'shoulder to +the wheel.' If I cannot work with the brain, I will strive my very +best with hand and heart, and do my duty come what may. I mean to be a +true man, and live an honest, upright life, not in order to gain every +one's good opinion (though of course I should dearly like that too), +but because it is right." + +Winnie's eyes were shining. "I told you so," she said, clapping her +hands joyously. "You'll be a king amongst men yet. And oh, how +proudly our father will some day talk of 'my sailor son!'" The boy's +face flushed with pleasure. "But, Dick, you won't care less for me +when you become both good and great; will you?" and the pretty voice +had a wistful ring in it as Winnie neared the close of her sentence. + +"Good! why, you're an angel compared with me, Win," said the boy +lovingly; "but we'll both try our best, dear. I'm a great, rough boor +of a lad, Win, and you're such a dainty, fairy creature. But think how +grand it would be to know that every day you at home and I out on the +ocean were striving to do our duty and live as we ought to live. I've +been all wrong in the past, I know, and it is little wonder the others +don't care much about me; but I mean to strike out afresh and begin all +over again. See here, Winnie; this is my farewell gift to you. I +thought you would prize it more than anything else," and Dick placed a +beautiful pocket Bible in his sister's hands. + +Winnie touched the little volume reverently, and the eyes of the +listener behind the curtains grew dim as the child's soft voice +replied, "I cannot thank you as I would, Dick, for your lovely present; +but I love you dearly, dearly. I shall keep it always close beside me, +and read a portion every day. Bow down your head, dear boy, and let me +kiss you for your goodness." + +Dick submitted to the caress, and then invited Winnie up to his room in +order to inspect a few presents he had received from some of his +school-fellows; and when brother and sister had disappeared, Edith +stole softly from her place of concealment, and the dancing fire-flames +saw that her eyes were wet with tears. + +"I have caught a glimpse of true life to-night," she said, smiling +wistfully; "and it has shown me how hollow, hollow is the false one I +daily lead. Poor Dick! I am afraid we have misjudged him after all, +and may yet find out, as Winnie so confidently prophesies, that he is +worthy of all honour and admiration. As for her, she will learn, so +far as lies in my power, that love is to be found in the house, +although her sailor boy has left the parent nest." Then seating +herself in the cosiest-looking chair, she lay back and waited quietly +for the return of the owners of the oak parlour. + +In the course of half-an-hour they re-appeared, and gazed with +wide-open eyes on the fair intruder; but Edith, laughing lazily, bade +them come forward and welcome the unexpected guest. + +Winnie sprang to her side. "We are both awfully pleased to see you, +Edith," she said; "only you surprised us so. Whatever brings you here +when there are guests in the drawing-room?" + +"I had a headache," replied the elder sister, drawing the little girl +close to her side and beginning to toy with the tangled hair; +"besides"--looking up at the big, stalwart youth standing near--"I +wished to enjoy a little of Dick's society before he goes away." + +Dick's face relaxed into a broad grin of unbelief, and Winnie cried out +"Oh!" then caught herself and stopped short; but Edith's equanimity +remained undisturbed. + +"It is quite true," she said with a charming smile. "I see you are in +full uniform, Dick. Stand back, and let me admire my sailor brother." + +Edith could be very lovable and winning when she liked, and to-night +she seemed thoroughly bent on doing her utmost to please. The boy, +though mystified at this sudden change in his fashionable sister, +obeyed her command, and stood erect before her, feeling perhaps a +little bashful, but never flinching under the steady scrutiny. + +"You look very well," she said after a little pause. "Sit down, Dick; +I wish to speak to you. I know perfectly Winnie is wondering why the +cross elder sister is sitting here taking such an interest in you both +to-night. But don't ask an explanation for such conduct; only believe +that her heart is not so hard as you deem it, and that she has begun to +look under the surface for some one's true character." + +Winnie gave the speaker's hand a little squeeze of approbation, while a +pleased smile lit up Dick's face. As neither spoke, however, Edith +continued: "And now, may I crave of you, Dick, a very great favour? +Winnie is to be driven down to-morrow afternoon to see through your +ship. May I come too? or is she to be the only privileged young lady?" + +The boy looked incredulously at his pretty sister. "Are you really in +earnest, Edith?" he inquired, "or are you laughing at me?" + +"I mean what I say, Dick," was the grave reply; "but if you would +rather I remained at home, I shall not trouble you." + +"Oh, come! do come!" whispered Winnie delightedly. "Dick will be only +too pleased;--will you not, dear old boy?" So it was settled; and +Edith rose to leave the cosy room, which seemed to her at that moment +like a haven of rest. + +"It was very, very good of you to come and spend a wee quiet time with +us," said Winnie, as she watched her beautiful sister shaking out her +crumpled skirts and pushing back little stray locks of hair from her +white forehead. "Do you know we are going to have a great treat +to-morrow night? Archie Trollope is coming in; and cook has promised +us a delicious supper in honour of Dick's last evening at home." + +"I think you ought to give me an invitation," replied Edith, pausing at +the doorway. "I should like to enjoy the feast too.--No, no," as Dick +and Winnie exchanged doubtful glances; "I was only teasing you both. +Accept my best wishes for a happy evening, dears. Good-night;" and +then the soft silken figure glided quietly away. + +"I'm glad she really did not mean what she said," announced Dick, +giving a sigh of relief as he threw himself down on the rug beside Puck +and commenced to tease that worthy little animal; "but I think, Win, if +we had pressed her she would have come." + +"I am sure of it," replied Winnie. "She looked so disappointed when we +did not speak. But, Dick, was she not ever so nice to-night? and is +she not beautiful?" + +"Yes," replied her brother, pulling Puck's tail mischievously; "but +we're a good-looking family, Win, with the exception of myself." + +The little girl's reply was thoroughly characteristic: "Every house has +its ugly duckling, dear boy," she observed quaintly, "and they seldom +turn out swans except in story-books. However, it does not matter very +much about a man's personal appearance; and you--why, you might have +been a great deal worse." + +Dick roared at the attempted consolation. "What a Job's comforter you +are, Win!" he said with a broad grin; "but as you say, little sister, a +man's personal appearance, though it sometimes goes a long way, is not +the main thing, and I reckon Dick Blake will manage through the world +well enough in spite of freckled skin and fiery hair." + +"Of course he will," replied Winnie; "there's no doubt about that." + +Then the two began to talk seriously and lovingly their own +heart-thoughts, and the minutes passed all too rapidly. Both started +when the clock struck the hour for retiring, and there was a little +quiver in Winnie's voice as she wished her brother good-night, and +thought that only another evening, then the kind face bending over her +would be looking out on the wide waste of waters, and she would have to +whisper her loving good-nights to the stars instead. "Oh, my dear, my +dear," she sobbed to herself in the darkness, "how sorely, sorely I +shall miss you! But I am so glad there is a great, good Father in +heaven who will guide and keep you wherever you are. Oh! if Aunt +Judith were only here to say something comforting to me--something that +would ease this ache of sorrow at my heart and help me to feel strong +and brave." + +Then, as she lay weeping out her loneliness in the quiet night, some +words she had read in one of Aunt Judith's books stole softly into her +mind, like a ray of golden sunlight penetrating through the chinks of a +darkened room: "Whatever is grieving you, however burdensome or trivial +the trouble may be, tell it to Jesus." + +Winnie's eyes flashed, and springing out of bed with sudden +determination she knelt down, a little, fragile figure, by the window +ledge, and prayed reverently and trustingly her first heart-prayer. It +was a very simple petition, uttered in Winnie's own quaint style, at +the language of which some people might have smiled; but I think that +in heaven there would be a great hush amongst the white-robed throng as +they bent their heads to catch the first breathings of a child's soul +upwards. And oh, the bursts of hallelujahs as the trusting words +floated to the throne of grace, and told of a young heart groping in +the darkness for the strong, firm clasp of a Father's hand! + +Next afternoon, when the carriage drove round to the door as appointed, +the little girl, running downstairs warmly muffled up, found Edith +wrapped in soft velvets and furs, thoroughly equipped for the drive. +There was the faintest suspicion of a smile wreathing the corners of +her lips as she stood tapping impatiently the tesselated floor of the +hall with her tiny high-heeled boot, and running the gauntlet of a few +teasing remarks from her two brothers, who were loitering near; but on +Winnie's approach she turned round, and waving a careless farewell, +accompanied her little sister down the broad stone steps to the +carriage, where Mr. Blake was awaiting them. + +The drive proved to be a pleasant one, and in a short time they found +themselves at the docks, and saw the great ships ranging far and near, +with their tapering masts pointing upwards to the cloudy sky. The +_Maid of Astolat_ lay close at hand, and as they went on board Dick +appeared, his face black and grimy, but all aglow with a welcoming +smile. + +"You come along with me," he said, drawing Winnie aside, as the +captain, a tall, gentlemanly-looking man, stepped forward and addressed +Mr. Blake. "I'll do the honours of the ship tip-top, Win, and show you +all round in first-rate style;" and the little sister delivered herself +over to his guidance. + +How they peered about, to be sure--here, there, everywhere; and how +proudly Dick aired the small amount of nautical language he had managed +to pick up! Rough men turned and smiled half unconsciously as the two +blithe figures flitted past and their merry laughter rang out in the +frosty air. They seemed so happy, and the hearts hardened by sin and +adversity sighed over their bygone childhood's days, and thought what a +blessed thing it was to be young. + +Returning from their exploration, brother and sister found Mr. Blake +and Edith still talking to the captain, whose grave, stern face was +rapidly relaxing under the influence of that young lady's winning +manner and bright, sparkling conversation. Dick eyed the group as he +drew near, and then a comical thought seemed to strike him, for he was +heard to mutter, "Jemima! what a lark!" and he twitched his face into a +decided grimace of amusement. + +There was scant time in which to make remarks, however, for Mr. Blake +required to be back in the city at a certain hour, and Winnie must not +be exposed to the night air. So good-byes were courteously exchanged. +The Blakes, re-entering their carriage, drove rapidly away, and soon +the high, tapering masts appeared like specks in the distance. + +Next day the _Maid of Astolat_ sailed from the harbour, bearing on +board the strong, stalwart figure and honest, true face of Richard +Blake. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE PRIZE ESSAY. + +One day, towards the close of the school, great excitement prevailed in +Mrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies, the cause being a +communication made through the lady-principal to her pupils from a +gentleman and relative of hers lately returned from India. He had +visited the school several times within the last few months, and seemed +to take an interest in it; but still there was no lack of astonishment +when Mrs. Elder announced one morning that her friend, Mr. Corbett, had +intimated his intention of awarding a special prize to the pupil who +would write the best essay on any of the three following +subjects--namely, Christmas joys, a short account of the French +Revolution, and a brief review of one of Sir Walter Scott's novels. +The babble of tongues that ensued after this intimation was wonderful. +Mrs. Elder laughingly beat a hasty retreat, and Miss Smith lay +resignedly back in her chair, and waited till peace and order were +restored. + +"Of course Ada will win the prize," was the general comment, "she is so +clever, and Mr. King always praises her essays. Nellie can't come near +her in the way of composition; but we must all try to do our best, for +the honour of the school." + +The elder girls, who were not included in the list of competitors, felt +inclined to second these remarks, and Ada smiled triumphantly when she +heard them whispered abroad. There was little doubt in her own mind as +to who was likely to be the successful candidate, and she only wondered +which subject would best show forth her brilliancy of style and +composition. + +Winnie and Nellie, firm friends still in spite of all restraints, +consulted together, and spoke of the utter uselessness of their most +strenuous endeavours. "We've no chance against Ada," they said +disconsolately, "but like the others we'll have to attempt something." + +"What will you try, Winnie?" inquired Nellie. "I think I'll tackle +'the French Revolution.'" + +Winnie's brow was wrinkled in perplexity. "Do you know, Nell," she +said at length, looking up with a curious gleam in her eyes, "I never +tried very hard in all my life to write a really good essay. I just +mixed anything together and popped it down higgledy-piggledy style, as +Dick would say. Yet sometimes I have beautiful thoughts, and they run +together in such beautiful words that I think I may manage to produce a +respectable paper after all. I know nothing about the French +Revolution, simply nothing. I have never read any of Sir Walter +Scott's novels, and could not criticise or review one to save my life. +But Christmas joys--ah, yes, I might attempt that;" and Winnie looked +hopeful at this point. + +"Very well, Win, we've decided," responded Nellie; then, Agnes Drummond +coming forward and addressing them, their conversation was interrupted +for the present. + +Ada Irvine's triumph was by no means so complete as she fancied it +would be, though there was still much to cause her satisfaction. +Almost every day she had the pleasure of seeing Winnie grow furious and +Nellie wince under some cutting sarcasm thrown out with well-directed +aim by some of the most fashionable girls in the school, and not even +the former's reappearance and championship could allay to any extent +the open insults which beset the defenceless girl during school hours. + +"Go! you are not my friends," the stanch little ally had said when she +found how matters stood on her return after her illness. "I hate and +despise every one of you from the bottom of my heart. You call +yourselves ladies, but I tell you no true lady would lower herself to +utter such words as fall from your lips. I know who your ringleader +is, and if the heartiest hatred will do her any good, she has mine. +But act as you please; only remember Nellie is now, and ever will be, +the one true friend of my life. And as for her aunts, let me tell you +you are not worthy to touch the hem of their garments." + +"Oh, nonsense, Winnie!" one of the girls had replied, in a +half-condescending manner; "I am sure you can't forget your mother's +opinion on the subject." + +"And who informed you about my mother's opinion? It must have been +Ada; and that throws light on what has puzzled me lately. I think I +may thank her for all this trouble I have been and am still +experiencing. No, do not try to defend her; one day we shall be quits." + +"But Ada is never rude or disagreeable to you now, Win," pleaded +another girl. "There has been a marked change in her manner lately. +She is very gentle and kind to you. As for blaming her about telling +tales, that is hardly fair. She really said very little concerning +Mrs. Blake and her opinion of Nellie. Where she got her information we +do not know, but she told us decidedly it was not from your +step-mother." + +Winnie looked incredulous. "That is quite sufficient," she replied +with dignity; "I would rather hear no more. But you may tell Ada from +me that I am not to be deceived by her new tactics, and have no desire +to possess such a treasure as a serpent-friend." + +The subject had then been dropped, and from that time Winnie would have +nothing to do with any girl who uttered a single word against her +friend. Ada she treated with supreme indifference, and disdained to +accept a proffered friendship vouchsafed to suit that young lady's +amiable plans. As regarded Nellie, she never walked with her after +school hours, or sought her society so frequently as she had done in +the happy bygone days (Miss Latimer had strictly forbidden that); but +still the love betwixt the two was warm and true, and Ada felt her +hatred deepen as she saw how all her endeavours failed to break the +strong bond of friendship binding the one to the other. A certain +circumstance, however, caused her immense satisfaction--namely, Mrs. +Elder's growing dislike of Nellie Latimer. The lady-principal was, +unfortunately, guilty of favouritism, and ever since Ada had been +placed under her charge she had shown a marked preference for and +indulgence towards her. Such being the case, one can readily imagine +how a woman of such a weak, selfish nature would resent the quiet +dethronement of her young favourite, and see the honours she had been +accustomed to take now won by an insignificant girl of no particular +birth or station in society. Ada, not slow to find all this out, +viewed it with supreme delight, and was careful to fan the flame by +various hints and insinuations thrown out with becoming modesty. + +Nellie marked the change, but bore it uncomplainingly, striving to live +it down and let the discipline accomplish its own sharp yet beneficial +work. "I shall withdraw you from the school should you choose, +Nellie," Miss Latimer had said once when the girl broke down and wept +over the heavy burden laid upon her. "But I would like you to fight it +out, and grow better, braver, and nobler under the conflict." That was +sufficient for Nellie, who, meekly relifting the old cross, strove to +carry it cheerfully, feeling amply rewarded for her quiet endurance +when she daily realized the rare love and tenderness that surrounded +her in the peaceful home at Broomhill Road. + +The examination day was fast approaching, and the prize essays, which +had to be given in a week beforehand, were delivered over to the +lady-principal's charge--neat rolls of paper prettily tied up with +gaily-coloured knots of ribbon. Then followed more excitement, till +the hour arrived when guests and pupils met together in the large +school-room, and the usual performance took place before the eyes of +smiling mothers and friends. At length it was over, and the clergyman +stepping forward to award the prizes, Winnie found some leisure to gaze +around and scan the sea of faces in front of her. + +There was Mrs. Drummond, calm and placid as usual; her own step-mother +and Edith, both looking so fresh and fair in their bright summer +attire, and--but here Winnie caught a glimpse of a noble, true face +looking at her from under the brim of a quiet Quaker bonnet, and in a +moment her little face was all aglow with a great throb of love. + +What occurred after that seemed a blank. She never heard Nellie's name +called repeatedly, or noted Mrs. Blake's haughty look as the young girl +modestly received her prizes and blushed under the words of +commendation uttered by the clergyman. Her thoughts were far away in +the past, and she was living those two happy days over again at Dingle +Cottage, when the world appeared so wondrously fair, and life full of +bright laughing sunshine. + +But now came a pause in the proceedings. The prizes were all +distributed, and pupils and friends wakened to a state of great +expectancy as old Mr. Corbett stood up by the minister's side and +nervously prepared to make his oration. After a few preliminary +remarks customary on the occasion, he spoke of the surprise and +pleasure he had experienced in reading over the essays delivered to him +by Mrs. Elder, his old and esteemed friend. They displayed much talent +and brilliancy of style, and reflected great credit on the school. One +especially amazed him (here Ada's head drooped modestly) by the rich, +beautiful thoughts, set, as it were, in such quaint, original language. +He was almost startled by the amount of genius shining forth from every +sentence; and although the essay was written in a crude girlish style, +it was worthy of the highest commendation, and he had great pleasure in +awarding the prize to--Miss Winnifred Blake. + +There was a long silence, followed by murmurs of amazement and +congratulation. But Winnie did not seem to hear them; she only sat +gazing dreamily, with dim, dazed eyes, as if hardly capable of +realizing the good fortune which had befallen her. + +"Rise, dear," whispered Elsie Drummond, who was standing close by; +"every one is waiting to see you receive the prize. We are all so glad +over your success. Now go;" and she gave the child a gentle push in +the clergyman's direction. The words wakened Winnie, and then, with a +great flash, came the realization that she, and not Nellie, had +triumphed over Ada; and as the knowledge came home with full power to +her heart, her great eyes sparkled their mischievous joy, and she +stepped forward, a glad, triumphant gleam shining in their depths. + +Few of the onlookers that day ever forgot the scene before them: the +little fairy figure clad in daintiest summer attire; the flushed gipsy +face and dark, lustrous eyes peeping from under the mass of curly hair; +and the wondrously joyous smile which broke over her lips as she bent +her pretty head on receiving the glittering medal from the minister's +hand. I think Mrs. Blake was proud of her step-daughter for once in +her life. + +A short time afterwards, just as she was preparing to start homeward, +Winnie remembered that her music was lying in one of the school-rooms, +and bidding some of the girls wait her return she bounded up the steep +flight of stairs to go in search of it. + +On reaching the top step, however, Ada met her, and the pale, angry +face and haughty mien roused every malicious feeling in Winnie's +nature. Looking up with a face in which wicked triumph and delight +were plainly depicted, she said sweetly, "O Ada, would you care to +inspect my medal? You have been so kind to me lately I am sure you +will rejoice at my wonderful success." + +Ada returned her gaze with one of steady, contemptuous disdain, and +dropping the mask of friendship which had been so hard for her to wear, +she replied haughtily, "Wonderful indeed! so wonderful, in fact, that I +may be pardoned for refusing to credit the essay as being your own +composition. Do you think it is natural for a dunce (I repeat the +word), who has been in the habit of writing the most childish nonsense, +to break on the world suddenly as a genius, and startle every one with +her wonderful thoughts? It stands to reason that some underhand work +has been going on; and such being the case, I prefer to hold myself +aloof from one who could be guilty of any mean, despicable action." + +Strong language to use. Winnie's anger rose to a white heat as she +listened. "Explain yourself!" cried the enraged child; "I fail to +understand your words." + +Ada's lip curled. "You are an admirable actress," she said calmly; +"you would make your fortune on the stage. Unfortunately, however, I +am not easily deceived. You know perfectly well the prize essay is no +work of yours." + +"Whose then?" in a voice of suppressed passion; and the quiet, mocking +tones answered,-- + +"Suspicions are easily roused, and when one can disobey a parent once, +one can easily do so again." + +Winnie looked bewildered. "You are speaking in riddles," she cried +angrily; "I demand a proper explanation." + +"Then you shall have it," replied Ada, spitefully enjoying her +momentary triumph. "Mrs. Elder, Miss Smith, and ever so many of the +girls believe that your wonderful Miss Latimer assisted with your +essay. Nay, do not interrupt: we give you credit for the bare outline, +but the originality and quaint rich thoughts are decidedly beyond the +powers of a dunce." + +Winnie listened in amazement, and as the last words fell slowly from +the lips of the cold, haughty girl, she cried out in her bitter anger,-- + +"It is false! false! and you know that too; but, Ada Irvine, I can +almost excuse your insulting words. It must be humiliating to see a +dunce, and one towards whom you bear so much affection, win a prize of +which you deemed yourself secure. I forgive you when I think how hard +it must be to feel yourself the laughing-stock of the school; and I +would remind you in the future to value your talents at their true +worth." + +Winnie paused, and it seemed, to use a common-place phrase, as if the +tables were turned; for the little girl looked cool and calm now, while +her adversary's face was white and set with passion. Springing forward +she raised her hand, and Winnie, in order to avert the blow, stepped +back, forgetful of her dangerous position. Then rang through the house +a wild scream followed by the sound of a heavy fall; and the startled +inmates, gathering from various quarters, found lying at the foot of +the steep stairs a prostrate figure with white upturned face and +firmly-closed eyes. + +[Illustration: A prostrate figure with white, upturned face.] + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +HOW SHALL I LIVE THROUGH THE LONG, LONG YEARS? + +A balmy summer morning in the month of July. Outside, and far up +overhead, a dappled sky shining down on a world of light and beauty; +green verdant slopes and wide sweeps of meadowland glistening still +with the early dew; flowers blossoming everywhere, from the modest +daisy and golden buttercup to the queenliest rose and fairest lily; +birds singing from every bush and tree their morning trill of +flute-like melody; bees humming busily hither and thither; butterflies +flitting idly by or resting snugly in the heart of a flower; in short, +the world of nature all awake and joying with a pure, glad joy in the +golden summer sunshine. + +Inside a darkened room, with softly-shaded blinds and peaceful hush +brooding over all, a girl--one might almost say a child--lying quietly +on a dainty bed with white, weary face and closed eyes, round which +dark lines of pain and suffering are plainly circled; and lastly, a +young lady nestling back in a low basket-chair and keeping tender watch +over the slight figure stretched so motionless before her. Suddenly +the heavy lids unclose, and a pair of tired eyes are raised, with a +sad, pathetic look, to the watcher's face. + +"Is that you, Edith?" asks the weak voice in low, feeble tones; and the +young lady, bending down to press a kiss on the white brow, answers,-- + +"Yes, dear; and I am so glad you have enjoyed such a nice long sleep." + +The child raised one thin, fragile hand, and pushing back the hair from +her damp forehead, spoke once more. "I was dreaming, Edith,--dreaming +the old days were back again, and that Dick and I were having such fun +in the oak parlour. Archie Trollope was there too, and we were chasing +each other round and round the room; but neither Dick nor Archie could +catch me, my feet seemed so nimble. I thought it was true, Edith, and +a great weight rolled from my heart; but oh"--and the low wail +accompanying the words pained the listener sorely--"I awoke and found +it was all a dream." + +"My poor little Winnie!" replied the young lady, smoothing the pained +lines from the invalid's brow with soft, gentle touch. But the child +had not yet finished. + +"Edith," she continued, a wild, haunting look of unrest stealing into +her eyes, "I am so tired lying here day after day. I want to be out in +the sunshine with the birds and the flowers. Tell me, when shall I be +able to walk in the sunlight once more?" + +Edith's face was wet with tears. "Try to be patient, dear," she said +in a somewhat broken voice; "one does not recover very quickly from an +illness such as yours." + +Winnie seemed dissatisfied. "You don't look me straight in the face +when you speak, Edith, and your voice has a little tremble in it. +Hush! hear how the birds are singing! They know I dearly love the +sunshine, and are calling me out into the midst of it; I hear them +every day warbling so happily. Do you think they ever wonder why I +never come--why I never dance up and down the garden walks and spend +hours with them and the flowers as I did last year? And the sea, +Edith--some nights, when the wind is sleeping and not a leaf stirring +on the trees, I can hear the waves crooning a low, sweet song as they +wash along the wide beach of sand. They also seem to be calling me out +into their midst; and I--O Edith, I cannot come." + +There was a passionate ring of pain in the voice, and the look of +unrest had given place to one of intense yearning. Edith's tears fell +fast as she laid her head down on the pillow beside her little sister +and pressed warm kisses on the quivering lips. + +"Little Winnie," she whispered, "don't you think it is hard, hard for +us to see you lying suffering here? Oh, my dear, can't you guess how +we miss your little dancing figure, and your bright, merry chatter? +Our hearts are sore for you, dearest, in your pain and weariness, and +we would sacrifice anything to be able to raise you up strong and well +soon. But we cannot; and, oh, little sister, try to wait patiently a +little longer." + +"You say that every day, Edith," answered the child pettishly. "It is +always the old, old story--wait a little longer; and when you speak in +that strain a great fear creeps into my heart and won't be shut out. I +try not to listen; I think upon other things; I tell it to go away, but +it still remains. Edith, O Edith! tell me that some day I shall stand +up strong and well; tell me quick, quick, for something whispers that +will never be." + +"Nonsense, dear!" faltered the elder sister; "you must not become +fanciful. In a short time I hope to see you quite better." + +"You don't say you are perfectly certain, Edith," cried Winnie, still +suspicious, "and you look at anything rather than me. I believe my +fear is too true; and if so, how shall I live through the long, long +years?" + +Edith hardly knew how to reply. "Hush, Winnie, hush!" she began +pleadingly; "you are rushing to rash conclusions. And only think, +dear, we have you, though weak and helpless, spared to us still. What +if you had died?" + +"I wish I had," replied the girl wildly; "I would far rather lie +quietly under the daisies than live a long, long crippled life. Oh, to +think I shall never again run races on the sandy shore, and laugh when +the little waves splash my feet; never pluck the wild flowers and make +sweet, fragrant posies; never climb the forest trees or sit under the +great pines I love so well! I can't bear it, Edith; indeed I can't. I +wish I were dead." + +Her sister was about to speak, but she pushed her aside, saying feebly, +"Oh, if I could only get my strength back again! I never knew what a +blessing health was till I lost it." There was such a depth of pathos +in the weak voice, such an undertone of sadness, that Edith almost +broke down again. + +"Winnie," she said softly, "I wonder how Aunt Judith would answer you +just now?" + +Winnie looked up through her tears. "I don't know," she replied +wistfully; "but she can't understand how awful it is to lose health for +life in one day." + +"No," responded Edith; "but I think, Winnie, Miss Latimer must have had +some exceeding bitter sorrow--some terrible trial to bear in her own +time." + +"How?" with a gesture of surprise. + +"Because, dear, those books of hers which I have been reading to you +lately are full of grand, loving thoughts, and strong, helpful words, +such as could only come from a heart torn and bleeding through +suffering. I never saw Miss Latimer, as you know, Winnie, but I am +ready to say with you she must be a good, noble woman." + +The little girl's eyes were brimming over again. "Don't speak of her, +Edith; it makes me wish so much to see her, and mamma has forbidden +that." + +"Not now, Winnie, not now!" said Edith eagerly; "she would be only too +pleased to see your friend. At first, when you were so ill, you called +continually for Aunt Judith, and Algy was sent to Dingle Cottage in +search of her. He found, however, only a fast-closed door, and could +gain no information as to where she had gone from any of the +neighbours. It seems the whole family left town for the summer on the +afternoon of the examination day, so that I am sure Miss Latimer does +not even know you are ill. She and Nellie were not in the school at +the time of your accident." Edith's voice faltered at this point: but +rapidly recovering herself, she continued: "Then we bought all Aunt +Judith's books, dear, to try to cheer you a little. It was the only +thing we could do. Some day, when we return to town, you will see Miss +Latimer again." + +Winnie lay weeping quietly. At last she said, "Please leave me alone +for a short time, Edith; I wish to think it all out myself," and the +elder sister obeyed. + +Slipping on her hat, she passed out of the house into the sunshine and +wended her way slowly towards the shore, the words ringing in her ears +with that low wail of intense pain--"How shall I live through the long, +long years?" + +Poor Winnie! her fears were but too well grounded. No hope was +entertained of her ever being able to leave her couch again. + +When the kind-hearted doctor had broken the news to the sorrowing +family, almost the first thought of each was, How would she bear it? +How would she, the little restless sprite, always flitting about here +and there, endure perhaps a long life of crippled helplessness? And +oh! how were they to tell her of the sad future, stretching far into +the coming years? It was all very well to waive her questions in the +meantime, but that could not be done much longer. Already the child +seemed listening to each word with a haunting sense of fear; and now +that they had taken her from the busy town to their quiet sea-side +home, where summer after summer she had danced about in innocent glee, +the dread deepened as the days went by and she felt no sign of +returning strength to her feeble frame. There was no need to tell the +sad tidings after all, however--she had found out for herself; and the +necessary part now was to teach her how to live bravely and cheerfully +through the long, long years. + +Edith's thoughts were very dreary as she walked quietly through the +little sea-side village, and saw the happy, sun-kissed children, full +of health and strength, playing on the sandy shore, and shouting their +lusty laughter to each other, while one who would have joined so +heartily in their merriment was lying pale and weary on a lonely couch +of pain. The little wistful face and tired eyes kept ever rising up +before her, while the words rang continually in her ears,--"How shall I +live through the long, long years?" + +With a quick impatient movement she drew out her watch, and noting the +hour, saw that the mail had been due some little time ago, and letters +would be lying at the small post-office. Entering the little shop, she +found another occupant besides herself preparing to receive a small +budget of papers from the shopwoman's hands. + +"No letters to-day, Miss Latimer; only these papers," the girl was +saying as Edith stepped towards the counter.--"Good-morning, Miss +Blake; we are glad to see you amongst us again." + +The lady started at Edith's name, and turning, looked earnestly at the +graceful figure from under the brim of a shady hat--a gaze which Edith, +busy with her own thoughts, failed to observe. + +"Three letters for you to-day, miss," the shopwoman continued, "and one +with a foreign post-mark on it. I'm thinking it'll be from Master +Dick." + +Edith lifted the letters. "Yes," she said with a bright smile, "you +are quite right, Janet. It is addressed to my little sister; how +pleased she will be!" + +The girl's eyes saddened. "Is Miss Winnie keeping stronger?" she +inquired in a subdued voice; "we were all so sorry to hear about her +illness, dear lamb." + +The young lady shook her head. "Not much, Janet; but of course we have +only been here a week as yet. We are hoping she will reap the benefit +of the sea-air by-and-by. Good-morning." And Edith, gathering her +letters together, left the shop and turned slowly in the direction of +home. In a few minutes she heard rapid footsteps behind her, and a +low, sweet voice said gently, "May I be pardoned for addressing Miss +Blake?" + +Raising her eyes in surprise, Edith saw the stranger lady close at her +side, looking very much agitated. + +"Certainly!" she replied courteously. "Can I assist you in any way?" +And the stranger replied-- + +"I do not know whether you will ever have heard Winnie speak of me or +not. My name is Latimer, and your little sister was a great friend of +my niece. They were always together at school, and Winnie spent two +afternoons with us when we were in town, I--" + +But she was allowed to proceed no further, for Edith stood holding out +her hands, and saying with shining countenance, "You are Aunt Judith, +are you not? I am so pleased to have met you, Miss Latimer. My little +sister is very ill. Will you come and see her now?" + +Miss Latimer looked perplexed. "I am staying here at present," she +said simply, "and intend remaining till the end of August; this air +seems so beneficial to my invalid sister. I hardly know how to reply +to your invitation, Miss Blake. I never knew till the other day about +Winnie's accident, and I should dearly like to see the child; but +still--" + +"Please do not finish your sentence, Miss Latimer," replied Edith, +blushing with confusion. "We owe you an ample apology for our +rudeness, and both my father and mother will be only too delighted to +see you. Winnie has been calling for you continually, and my brother +went to Dingle Cottage, but found you out of town." + +"Yes," said Miss Latimer; "the doctor advised us to come here on +account of my youngest sister. Nellie was with us during the month of +June, but has gone home till we return to town. I thank you for your +kindness, Miss Blake, and will call at your house to-morrow. I am +sorry I cannot accompany you this afternoon." + +Edith looked up at the true, noble face, shaded by the simple summer +hat; and as she did so, a slow, sweet smile broke over Aunt Judith's +lips and lighted up her whole countenance. + +"No wonder Winnie loved her!" thought the gay, fashionable girl. "I +feel as if I could kneel in all reverence at her feet, she looks so +good and pure." But she only said aloud,--"Then I shall expect you +to-morrow afternoon, Miss Latimer. Our house is easily found. You +will see the name, Maple Bank, on the gate. Please do not disappoint +us; and oh! I am so glad I have met you at last." + +So they parted, and Edith stepped homewards with a lightened heart. + +Mr. and Mrs. Blake received her news quietly. They would rather the +intimacy had not been renewed, but for Winnie's sake no opposition +would be made now. They would find out Miss Latimer's present home, +and call on her that evening. As for telling Winnie, it might be +better, perhaps, to keep her still in ignorance till the following day. + +Clare alone turned up her haughty nose when Edith related the morning's +adventure, and inquired if she too were becoming infected with the +Latimer mania. "For my part," concluded the proud girl, "I think our +parents very foolish--encouraging Winnie in all her whims and fancies. +There will be no end to them soon. I am very sorry for the child, but +I still decidedly disapprove of giving in to her continually. I should +not be surprised if this wonderful Aunt Judith becomes a daily visitor +before long. However, I wash my hands of the whole affair." And +lifting a book, Clare passed out through the window into the garden; +while Edith, disgusted at the cruel words, went slowly upstairs, and +placed Dick's precious letter in Winnie's hands. + +It was a wonderful epistle, spiced with grand nautical phrases, and +brimful of the truly marvellous and incredible in nature. Winnie +laughed heartily over the absurd yarns, described with sailor-like +veracity, and then gave a little cry of joy when Edith, who was reading +the letter aloud, ended with the following words:--"And now, my dear +little Win, if we have favourable weather you may expect to see your +dear old Dick home about the end of September; and won't we have a +jolly time of it then! No end of larks and mischief. I suppose you +will still be at Maple Bank when my ship comes in, so" (here Edith +stopped, but the child bade her read every single word) "see and keep +well and strong, that you may be able to enjoy all sorts of capers +with--Your loving sailor brother, DICK." + +"Don't look at me like that, Edith," said Winnie, when the long letter +was carefully folded up and returned to its envelope. "I am not going +to cry or even think; my heart is too sore. No one must tell Dick till +he comes home. Let him remain in ignorance as long as possible." Then +she closed her eyes wearily and remained silent. But Edith was not to +be deceived by any apparent calmness or resignation, and knew only too +well that the child's whole soul was crying out in rebellion at the sad +trial which had befallen her. + +Daylight stole softly, silently away; the summer breeze sighing a +dreamy even-song through the forest trees, lulled the singing birds to +rest; the little flowers drooped their pretty heads, and closed their +dewy petals in slumber; the busy whirr and hum of insects ceased,--and +the nature-world was hushed in sleep. Only the restless sea broke on +the peaceful calm with its ceaseless swish-swish of waves. And far, +far out on the ocean breast, leaning over the bulwark of a gallant +ship, homeward bound, was a young sailor, gazing across the moonlit +waters, and thinking of the bright fairy sister waiting to give him a +joyous welcome back. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +LIGHT IN DARKNESS. + +"How pretty my room is to-day, Edith! You have made it all bright and +fairy-like with flowers. Yes, open the blinds, please, and let the +sunshine in; my head is really better this morning, and I wish all the +light I can possibly get." So spoke Winnie, as she watched her sister +scattering sweet posies of flowers throughout the entire room, and felt +the sweet, subtle perfume of "the flowers that in earth's firmament do +shine." + +"Why are you so particular to-day, Edith?" she continued, as that young +lady flitted about, looping and relooping the soft lace curtains, +pouncing on every stray speck of dust, and sweeping every +medicine-bottle out of sight. "Jane tidied the room as usual this +morning, and yet here you are, poking into every corner, and arranging +and rearranging everything. One would think the Queen was coming to +see me. What is the reason of it all?" and Winnie looked decidedly +curious. + +"So you are going to have a visitor, dear," replied Edith, bringing a +fragrant nosegay over to the bedside and laying it on the snowy pillow. +"Now don't ask me any questions, for I dare not tell. Only wait +patiently and you will see for yourself." + +The child did not seem particularly charmed. "I hate visitors, Edith," +she said, the sunshine dying out of her face, and the restless, weary +look stealing into her eyes; "they make my heart full of wicked, +rebellious thoughts when I see them coming into the room so well and +strong. I detest their long faces and sympathetic remarks. Ugh! I +suppose they mean to be kind, but when they speak I feel as if I hated +everything and everybody." + +"I don't think you will tell me all that this afternoon," replied Edith +with a knowing smile. "It is always the unexpected that happens, and I +shall be very much surprised if you do not count this day as one of the +bright spots in your life.--Ah, there is the bell. Give me a kiss, +Win, and keep a pretty smile for the unwelcome visitor." So saying +Edith tripped away, and Winnie waited in gloomy silence the advent of +the hated guest. Why could people not leave her alone? Why did they +require to come and flaunt all their bright, strong health before her? +She wished none of their sympathy and condolences--only leave her alone +to her grief and misery. + +These being her thoughts, it was a very cross, peevish face which met +Miss Latimer's gaze as she entered the sick chamber in company with +Mrs. Blake and confronted the little invalid. + +"I have brought a friend to see you, dear," said the step-mother, +smiling down on the quiet figure with its weary, pain-stricken face. +"You will be pleased to welcome her, I know, and have so much to talk +about that my presence can be easily dispensed with for a little time." +As she spoke, Mrs. Blake smoothed the sick girl's brow lovingly, and +then withdrew, leaving the two friends together once more. + +There was no need to ask, "Are you glad to see me, Winnie?" for the +great eyes, shining with a wonderfully joyous light, told the tale the +lips refused to utter. Forgetting her helplessness, the child +stretched out her arms and tried to rise, but sank back with a low cry +of pain, and those piteous words, "O Aunt Judith, come to me quickly, +for I cannot go to you." + +Miss Latimer was greatly moved, and could do nothing at first but kiss +the little face once so fresh and sweet, now pinched and wan with +suffering. + +"Dear child," she said at length, "my heart is bleeding for you. Tell +me, Winnie, how did all this happen?" and with Aunt Judith's arms round +her, and a sense of peaceful rest stealing over her weary frame, the +sick girl told all that there was to tell, simply, truthfully, with no +attempt to screen herself from blame. + +"I was wrong to speak as I did," she finished sadly, "but I had +provocation. O Aunt Judith, I cannot express the awful feeling of +hatred I bear towards Ada, when I think that if it had not been for her +I should be running about in the sunshine now." + +"Hush, Winnie! do not say that," replied Miss Latimer softly; "her +heart will be heavy enough now, I fancy, and--" But here Winnie broke +in:-- + +"No, Aunt Judith. I don't believe she feels the least little particle +of sorrow. She ran away when I fell, and never even came to ask for me +after the accident. No one knows she had anything to do with my fall +except my own family, and they decided to leave her alone and make no +remark. Mamma was awfully good. She said she had formed a wrong +estimate of Ada's character, and told me I had been right." + +There was a few minutes' pause, then Winnie continued: "I know, Aunt +Judith, you think I am very wicked for hating Ada so bitterly; but, oh! +look what she has done to me. My life is spoilt" (with the old wail of +an infinite pain); "I shall never be able to walk again." + +Miss Latimer's eyes grew misty, and Winnie continued:--- + +"You are good and true, Aunt Judith. You sit there looking at me with +such a kind, loving face, and don't say like the others, 'Wait a little +longer, Winnie; some day you will be all right again.'" Then repeating +the words, with a weary depth of woe in her voice--"I shall never be +able to walk again; and, O Aunt Judith, can you guess what that means +to me?" + +"Yea, my darling, I can," whispered the patient listener, "and your +cross is a heavy one to carry." + +"Heavy!" muttered the sick girl; "so heavy that I shall not be able to +carry it patiently. It is bad enough just now, Aunt Judith, but think +what it will be when the months go rolling by and find me still weak +and helpless. How shall I bear my life, such a weary, weary life, week +after week, and year after year? I loved the world so much--the +bright, beautiful world with all its sunshine and flowers; and now I +feel as if I were withdrawn from it altogether. What will Dick say +when he comes home, and I cannot go with him here and there as in the +dear old days? Aunt Judith, I can see no light anywhere. Teach me, +you who are so brave and strong, how to bear my life now." + +Miss Latimer kissed the little quivering face with its sad, mournful +eyes; then drawing her chair closer to the bedside, she kept her loving +arms round the sobbing child and tried to comfort her. + +"My darling," said the kind, gentle voice, the voice Winnie had so +longed and thirsted for, "I do not think you know how deep the pain is, +how warm the sympathy, I feel for you. You say the broad, flowery way +along which you have hitherto travelled has ended now, and nothing lies +stretched before save an interminable waste of blackness through which +you imagine it impossible to journey. Yet, will you believe me, dear +child, when I tell you that in the blackened tract of moorland you will +find a joy, a peace passing all understanding, and learn that the life +you now deem too hard to live is a grand, beautiful life, and your +weary couch of pain but the school where the Master teaches some of his +purest, holiest lessons! The darkness may be very thick and dense for +a time, Winnie, but by-and-by light will begin to break through, and +night give place to day; and if the flowery way should never again open +up before you, you will find in the rugged upland path the sunshine of +God's favour, while his presence shall go with you, and he will give +you rest. My child, my little Winnie, this grievous stroke may yet +prove the greatest blessing to yourself and others. Do not say your +life is spoilt; perhaps the true life is only now beginning." + +The young girl looked up earnestly into the gentle face. "Speak on, +Aunt Judith," she pleaded. "It makes me feel good to hear you talk +like that; but then" (with sad despair) "when you go away I know I +shall be as wicked and rebellious as ever. Your words lull all the +evil passions to sleep; but in the long, dark night they will waken up, +and I shall be wishing I were dead again. Say something more, Aunt +Judith. Tell me how I am to keep the good feelings always in my heart, +and be willing to live through the long, long years." + +Then Miss Latimer's soft voice spoke again; and, cradled lovingly in +those tender arms, the sick girl learned where to find the daily +strength and grace for every need; and how to gather up the scattered +threads of her life together, and weave them into a golden web shining +with the lustre of simple faith and holy resignation. + +Some time afterwards Mrs. Blake entered, and Miss Latimer rose to +depart; but Winnie would not let her go just yet. She had so many +questions to ask, and there was so much she wished to know. How were +Miss Deborah, Aunt Margaret, and Nellie? When would they all return to +town? Had Aunt Judith written a new book lately? and if so, what was +it called? Miss Latimer had a busy time answering all those queries, +but at last the young invalid was satisfied; and promising to come +again soon, Aunt Judith said good-bye, and left the room with a heavy +heart. + +Mrs. Blake following, thanked her for her visit, and hoped she would +repeat it at an early date. The young step-mother saw the error she +had made in the past, and with graceful tact tried to atone for her +open rudeness to this grave, noble woman, who seemed like a queen in +spite of the simplicity of her garments. + +Miss Latimer's sweet, true nature harboured no feeling of umbrage or +malice, and her smile was frank and friendly as she willingly accepted +the invitation. Then Edith, appearing at that moment, offered to +accompany her part of the way home, and Mrs. Blake returned to the +sick-room and Winnie. + +The child's face looked flushed and animated. "Mamma dear," she said +sweetly, "thank you for allowing me to see Aunt Judith again. I shall +not be so cross and troublesome now. She has been telling me what a +beautiful life I may yet lead in spite of my pain and helplessness, and +her words have hushed the bad thoughts to rest." + +The fair, frivolous lady seemed bewildered, but replied, "I am willing +to confess my error, Winnie: Miss Latimer is no longer an unwelcome +visitor here," then she changed the subject. + +Meanwhile the days passed on, and Miss Latimer became a frequent guest +at Maple Bank, winning all due respect and honour by the true dignity +of her nature and sweet womanly heart. Edith hailed those visits with +pleasure; and Winnie--ah! they were like great spots of sunshine to the +sick girl fretting sorely under her load of pain. + +She was by no means a patient invalid this restless child, and the +constant lying day after day and the monotony of sick-room life tried +her exceedingly. It was only natural that such should be the case; +that the wild tomboy nature, with its bright flow of animal spirits, +should chafe and rebel at this heavy discipline. But one becomes +wearied of constant murmuring, and sometimes those around her waxed +impatient. Then it was that Miss Latimer's soothing words came into +use, and the strong hand was stretched out to help the failing feet; +and by-and-by, slowly yet surely, the discipline began to show its +fruit, and Winnie to learn the first lesson in the school of pain. + +August at length drew near to a close. Miss Latimer and her little +household returned to town. The days began rapidly to creep in, and +the beautiful harvest moon "grew like a white flower in the sky." + +"Let us go home, mamma," pleaded Winnie. "I should like to be back in +town when Dick's ship comes in; and it is so lonely here. I shall not +feel so much at meeting him where we have not the same opportunity to +romp about; and oh! although it is very wrong and selfish of me to +trouble you, I cannot bear to meet him here." + +The child's words were very pathetic, and so, yielding to her wish, the +Blakes returned to town. + +Winnie sighed her satisfaction when safely deposited in the oak parlour +once more. Then the old life began again--the same, yet not the same; +for although everything around was as it had been in the bygone days, +Winnie herself was changed, and the busy, active life over for ever. +But she had her happy times too; for the oak parlour was rapidly +becoming the room of the household, and Winnie seldom knew what it was +to be left alone. Thither came Aunt Judith with her soft, gentle +words; Nellie, fresh from the dear home circle, her troubles all blown +away by the happy home atmosphere; Edith and Clare, with their gay +young voices and dainty ways; and all the members of the family, +slipping in every now and then to see how the little invalid was +progressing. Her quiet submission was daily becoming more patent; and +as those around noted the efforts at cheerfulness and patience, their +love gradually increased, and Winnie the invalid was tenfold dearer to +the hearts of her family than Winnie the little tomboy had been. Her +days were not idle ones by any means; for as her health in some +respects improved, a daily governess was engaged to come and instruct +her, and under Miss Montgomery's mild tuition Winnie laid aside her +former indolence and began to show an interest in her studies. + +The papers were eagerly scanned now for news of the expected ship, but +the days sped on and still nothing was heard of the longed-for vessel. +At length, however, one evening in the beginning of October, when the +gray twilight was creeping silently over the busy town, Edith and +Winnie were together in the oak parlour--the one sitting toasting +herself cosily at the fire, the other lying on her invalid couch +half-asleep. Downstairs in the large drawing-room a few guests were +assembled, and the sound of voices singing floated sweetly upwards and +fell soothingly on the sick girl's ear. + +"Edith!" she said, opening her sleepy eyes for a moment, "I wish you +would go down beside the others and enjoy yourself. I feel in a +deliciously comfortable mood just now, and will not miss you at all. +Do obey me!" and she looked fondly over at the pretty figure basking +lazily in the firelight glow. + +Edith roused herself. "I should like to join them for a short time, +Win; but it seems selfish leaving you all alone, and nurse is too busy +to come and sit beside you just now." + +"Oh, I shall not weary," was the bright reply; "besides, the music will +lull me to sleep in a few minutes. Run away, and think of me as +enjoying my forty winks." + +The elder sister rose, and kissing Winnie's little face, went slowly +from the room, along the passage, and down the broad carpeted stair. +She had hardly entered the drawing-room and returned the greetings of +the merry guests, when a loud ringing at the door bell was followed by +the heavy tread of a man's foot in the hall, and the next minute +Richard Blake strode into the gaily-lighted room and confronted the +assembled company. + +"Just like the old Dick," thought his brothers and sisters, rising to +welcome the young sailor, whose sun-tanned face was shining with honest +delight. "Fancy stalking into a drawing-room in rough sea-faring +clothes, and startling every one with his sudden appearance." But in +spite of such condemnation their welcome was hearty and genuine; for +the boy looked so happy and overjoyed himself, it was impossible not to +be infected with his gladness of heart. + +"Straight from the ship," he explained to his step-mother, standing +like a young hero in the midst of the gay company, with a great joy +rippling over his kindly face. "Got into dock only this afternoon; and +here I am, turned up again like the old sixpence.--Any yarns to spin? +you ask. Why, any amount. But in the meantime I am desperately +hungry, and could relish a hearty meal." Then turning to Edith: "Where +is Winnie? Up in the oak parlour, I suppose. Well, I'm off to her at +once. She ought to have been the very first to bid me welcome." + +A silence fell on all, and looks were exchanged of mingled sorrow and +perplexity. + +"What is to be done?" questioned Mrs. Blake inwardly. "Some one must +break the news to him before he enters the oak parlour." + +Dick, in complete ignorance of the effect his words were causing, +wheeled round towards the door and prepared to leave the room, when +Edith stepped forward saying, "Yes; Winnie is in her own sanctum as +usual. Come; I will accompany you there." + +The boy stopped in amazement. "What for?" he inquired bluntly; "I +would much rather go alone first." + +"Yes, I know," was the confused reply; "but please humour me this +once;" and Edith slipped past him as she spoke. + +Dick followed, a little mystified and annoyed; but his amazement +increased when Edith, opening the library door, drew him into that room +and closed the door swiftly behind him. + +"Bless my boots! is the girl mad?" ejaculated the boy, turning to the +tables and chairs for sympathy. "I am beginning to wonder if I have +fallen into the clutches of some escaped lunatic. I say, Edith, old +girl, do you take those fits often?" + +His sister, however, had no answering smile on her lips, and her voice +shook slightly as she replied, "Dick, please prepare yourself to hear +bad news. You ought to have been told before, but we kept the evil day +as far off as possible. Dear little--" Then she stopped short, +terrified at the expression on her brother's face. + +"Don't beat about the bush, Edith," he cried in a voice hoarse with +emotion; "I can bear anything better than suspense. Tell me, is Winnie +dead? But no,"--glancing at his sister's shining garments--"it cannot +be that, thank God;" and he drew a long sigh of relief at this point. + +"No, Dick," responded Edith, giving him a glance of warm sympathy, +"but--" and very simply and tenderly she broke the sad tidings to the +agitated boy. + +Then there tell on the silence and stillness of the room the sound of a +strong heart's sobs, as Dick, in spite of all his manliness, laid his +head on the table and wept like a little child. + +Oh, how often, often in his lonely night-watches had he pictured this +home-coming--dwelling on and gloating over each little detail as a +miser does over his gold, till the whole dream-picture became beautiful +with a golden glory. He saw the tiny, fairy figure flying to meet him, +the quaint gipsy face glowing its joyous welcome, and the great dark +eyes shining their wondrous gladness. He felt the clasp of two soft +arms round his neck, the touch of warm kisses on his lips, and heard +the bright, merry voice melting into sweetest tones, as words of love +and tenderness were poured into his hungering ear. And this was the +end of it all--his dream-picture shattered, and a young life blasted +through a haughty girl's thirst for revenge. + +Dick's heart was full of rage and hatred. "If Ada Irvine were within +my reach just now," he muttered, "she would live to regret this day." +Then raising his head, he looked, and found Edith had slipped away and +left him alone with his grief. + +The boy rose, sighing heavily. "I am hardly myself yet," he said, +dashing his rough, sun-burnt hand across his eyes, and moving slowly +towards the door. "What a fool I am, giving way like this! But these +things unman a fellow, and I need not be ashamed of my tears. Where +did they say she was? In the oak parlour. Well, here goes;" and off +strode Dick, swinging along the lighted hall and up the broad stairs at +what he afterwards described as the rate of knots. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +"I SHALL LEARN TO BE GOOD NOW." + +"Dick, Dick! is it really you? O my dear boy, I can hardly believe +it!" and Winnie clasped her feeble arms tighter round the young +sailor's neck, as if fearful of waking and finding it all a dream. + +"Yes, it's the same old fellow turned up again, Win," was the reply, +given half chokingly. "Nip me, and you will find I am neither ghost +nor spirit, but real flesh and blood." And the boy, kneeling by the +invalid's couch, felt his eyes growing dim and misty again at the sound +of the weak young voice lingering so lovingly over his name. + +"I am so glad," said the child, lying back amongst her soft cushions, +and looking at the big stalwart form before her. "I have been longing +and longing to see you, Dick, through each weary day and night; +yearning for the touch of your hand and sound of your voice: and now, +to think you are really, truly here, alive and well! God is very good, +dear," and the low voice uttered the last words solemnly and reverently. + +The boy looked at his little sister wonderingly. "Have you learned to +say that from the heart, Win?" he asked with greater earnestness in his +tones. "Looking at your life as it is now, as it is likely to be all +through the future years, can you still repeat the words, 'God is very +good'!" + +The child's lips drooped, and a sad look brooded over the pale white +face; but the meek voice continued, perhaps somewhat tremulously, "Not +always, Dick; but that is in the wicked hours, when I am full of +sinful, rebellious thoughts. Some days like just now, however, his +goodness seems to stand out in a bright, clear light, and a great hush +of peace falling on me, I find myself whispering over and over again, +'God is very good.' Aunt Judith says it may be a long time, but sooner +or later I shall be able to repeat those words, not only now and then, +but every day of my life, even in the darkest hours; and that will be +splendid. You must not be too sorry for me, dear old boy. Do you +remember asking me before you went away to try to live as I ought to +live, and do my duty nobly and well? I could not keep my promise, +Dick. When I was able to go about in the bright, beautiful world, I +did wicked, wrong things whenever I felt inclined. I enjoyed every +pleasure to the very full, no matter who suffered; but now--I shall +learn to be good now." + +Dick was almost overcome again. "Win," he said huskily, "you're an +angel! When you speak like that you cause all my sins and shortcomings +to rise up before me, and I feel as if I were not worthy of your love +and tenderness. Ah, little sister, it is little pure souls like yours +that help to keep men right in this world, and guard them in the hours +of temptation and danger. God bless you, Winnie darling. I thank him +for giving me such a precious sister." + +And this was the boy laughed at and mocked by the other members of the +family; spoken of as a dunce and scapegrace, and who would never make +his mark in the world. Ah, well! what did it matter? The true, honest +life now beginning to declare itself would soon tell its own tale, and +prove that there are more Sir Galahads walking on the earth than people +dream of, whose "strength is the strength of ten, because their hearts +are pure." + +For a long time the two, brother and sister, sat talking +together--talking over past, present, and future, and feeling that the +long separation had only served to deepen and intensify the love they +bore each other. And now a new link was knitting the twain more firmly +together,--the link of pain and helplessness on the one side, and +strong protecting strength on the other. + +After that the days fled all too rapidly. Sailor Dick made a great +difference in the house. It was something new to hear the fresh, +hearty voice trolling out wild sea-songs, and to listen to yarn after +yarn told with infinite gravity, and yet brimful of the ridiculous and +impossible. The rough, hardy sea-faring life had improved the boy +wondrously, bringing out the noblest traits in his character, making +him less sensitive and more self-reliant. Captain Inglis, who had +called on Mr. Blake, and was now a welcome visitor at the house in +Victoria Square, stated his thorough satisfaction at Dick's conduct +during the whole voyage, and spoke of him in the most praise-worthy +terms. Altogether there was great cause for commendation; and the boy +awoke to the delightful knowledge that he was no longer being +down-trodden and treated with disrespect, and that some day Winnie's +prophecy might be verified of his father being proud of him yet. + +"Blessings on the skipper's head," he said one afternoon to Winnie, +when she told of Captain Inglis's genuine satisfaction. "He's a +thoroughly good old chap, and not one of the crew could say a word +against him. But I say, Win, what makes him come poking about here so +often? Why should he not give his old mother the benefit of his spare +time? Poor body! it's rather hard lines being left so much alone." + +"She's coming to see me," put in Winnie laughingly. "Captain Inglis +had been telling her about the cross invalid sister you possessed, and +she asked if she might be allowed to call some day." + +Dick whistled. + +"So that's the way the wind is blowing?" he muttered under his breath. +"Well, this is a truly wonderful world in which we live." Then aloud +to Winnie: "You'll like her, Win; she's a first-rate old lady, brimming +over with kindness. Shouldn't wonder if she invites you to stay with +her later on; and, my eye! if she does, just you go. She'll pet and +molly-coddle you till you won't know whether you're standing on your +head or feet; and I'll bet you'll be as snug as a bird in its nest." + +Winnie looked interested. "Has she a nice house?" + +"Tip-top, and nobody in it save herself and the servants. The skipper +has plenty of money, and goes to sea from choice, not necessity.--Why, +I declare, Win, here he is again, coming along the street. He gave me +a half-holiday, but I did not think he was going to take one himself as +well. If this kind of thing continues much longer, you may +congratulate yourself on having another brother soon;" and Dick winked +knowingly. + +"What do you mean?" asked Winnie, staring open-eyed; but the +mischievous boy had vanished and left her alone in her bewilderment. + +All good things come to an end, and every day has its close. The _Maid +of Astolat_ was ready to set sail again, and once more the time drew +near to say good-bye. + +"Farewell, Win, my little angel sister," whispered Dick, kissing the +sweet face with dimmed, misty eyes. "God keep you for ever and ever, +and bring me safe home to you again." Then followed a long, lingering +embrace; and Winnie was left to wait and hope till the long months and +days would pass and her sailor boy return once more. + +"Yes, I miss him sorely, Aunt Judith," she said one evening to Miss +Latimer about a fortnight after the ship had sailed; "but I have so +much to be thankful for, that I feel as it I dared not grumble. You +have no idea how greatly he is improved, and how much more highly he is +thought of now by every one in the house. I wish you had been able to +see him, Aunt Judith." + +"So do I, Winnie; but I was too ill the day he called, and this is only +my second walk out of doors." + +"Were you very unwell?" questioned Winnie, again scrutinizing her +friend's face anxiously. "Aunt Judith, I don't believe you are nearly +better. There are great hollows round your eyes, and your face looks +haggard and worn." + +"Nonsense, dear," answered the kind voice, and Miss Latimer's smile was +very bright. "Remember I am an old woman, and pain leaves traces on an +aged face.--What about yourself, Winnie? is the darkness brightening +yet?" + +"I think so, Aunt Judith; and Dick helped me so much. Perhaps the +beautiful life is within my reach after all." + +"There's no 'perhaps' in the matter, dear," said Miss Latimer softly; +"but my little Winnie must be patient, for the grand, sweet song of +life has its beginning, and the opening chords may be tremulous and +low. Child," she continued passionately, "the grandest songs--the +songs that echo and re-echo through eternity's limitless bounds--are +wrung from hearts crushed and bleeding with anguish, and the infinite +peace and calm come only after long strife and pain. Darling, my +earnest prayer for you is that God would perfect in you his own image, +and that you may come forth from the furnace of affliction with +Christ's own brightness shining in your face." + +That was the last talk Miss Latimer ever had with Winnie. She had been +far from well lately, and after reaching home that night complained of +feeling very tired. + +"Go to bed, auntie," pleaded Nellie; "I am sure you are fit for no work +to-night;" and Aunt Debby seconded the words. But Miss Latimer shook +her head with a slow, sweet smile. + +"My last chapter must be finished this evening, child," she said, +gently yet firmly; "after that I shall please you all by taking a long, +long rest." + +Persuasion seemed useless; and the midnight hour found Aunt Judith busy +at her desk, filling up page after page with those wonderful thoughts +of hers. + +Aunt Debby could not rest that night. Something in Miss Latimer's +manner and appearance had awed and frightened her, driving the sleep +from her little bright eyes and chilling her heart with a vague, +undefined sense of fear. At length, in the middle of the night, she +rose, unable to quell the uneasy thoughts which haunted her, and +stealing softly downstairs, opened the door of her sister's sanctum and +looked in. The lamp had burned low in the socket, and was casting a +sickly gleam over all; the fire had died out, and the gray-white ashes +gave a dreary, deserted appearance to the room. A great hush brooded +around; and yet not so awful was that intense stillness as the solemn +calm which seemed to infold the quiet figure sitting so silently in the +midst. + +Aunt Judith sat before her desk, her head bent slightly forward on her +hands. There was nothing unnatural or alarming in the position, but an +awful dread stole into Miss Deborah's heart and caused it to beat with +a wild fear. + +"Judith!" she called tremblingly; but the quiet figure never stirred, +and no response came from the pallid lips. Aunt Debby flashed the +light of her candle full on Miss Latimer, and then started back with an +exceeding bitter cry, for the face on which the light shone so clearly +was white and rigid in death. The eyes, wide-open, were fixed on the +sheets of manuscript before her, as if she had been earnestly studying +the closing words; and the face, though white with the pallor of the +dead, still retained its own sweet expression. Looking down at the +written sheets, Aunt Debby noticed the last chapter was finished, and +knew Aunt Judith's life-work had ended with it. + +[Illustration: The eyes, wide open, were fixed on the sheets of +manuscript before her.] + +"My last chapter must be written to-night, child; after that I shall +please you all by taking a long, long rest." How those words rung in +Miss Deborah's ears as she stood gazing on that silent figure, sitting +so quietly in that awful death-hush! Not the quiver of an eyelid; not +a tremble of the lip; only that great, solemn calm. It was all over +now. The pain and weariness; the constant striving after the true and +beautiful; the daily self-renunciation; the life so completely devoted +to the service of others; and the last lingering notes of the grand, +sweet song had been sung in silence and alone. "Goodness and mercy +have followed me all the days of my life," she had remarked to Aunt +Debby not so long ago, "and, thank God, even in the darkest night I +have never failed to find a star brightening through the gloom." Now +the earthly shadows were done with for ever; the bleeding feet had trod +the last steps of the thorny way, and entered by the gate into the holy +Jerusalem, where "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have +entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for +them that love him." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +CONCLUSION. + +Six summers has the green grass waved and sweet flowers bloomed over +Aunt Judith's grave; six long, long years have come and gone since Miss +Deborah entered that silent room and found the death-angel casting his +dread shadow there. And what have the seasons brought? Ease to the +sorrowing heart and laughter to the weeping eyes. "Time heals all +wounds; one cannot mourn for ever," say the wise people, and in nine +cases out of ten their words hold good, though I think there are some +sorrows which no lapse of time can cure--sorrows which deepen and +intensify as the years roll on; only the wound, bleeding inwardly, is +hid with a sacred reverence from the gaze of the outside world, and is +known to the sore-stricken heart alone. + +Be that as it may, however, Miss Latimer's friends could afford to +laugh and smile now, and joy as she had done in God's beautiful +sunshine. The earth is still as fair, the skies as blue as they were +in the bygone days when her quiet voice drew the thoughts of those +around her to the nature-world with all its wondrous beauty, and each +can say with glad accord,-- + + "Daisies are white upon the churchyard sod, + Sweet tears the clouds lean down and give; + The world is very lovely. Oh, my God, + I thank thee that I live." + +Let us take one more look at them ere we close the book and lay it +aside reverently and tenderly as we would the folded page in a closing +life. + +It is a cold, wintry evening. Outside the wind is sweeping up and down +the streets, wailing like a soul in pain. The rain is dashing against +the windowpanes, and beating with wild, ungovernable fury on those +exposed to the disturbing elements. But inside warmth and comfort +reign supreme. The oak parlour is all ablaze with light, and the +laughter and merriment filling the whole room betoken the happy, genial +spirits of the occupants. Let us see if we still recognize one and +all--if six years have wrought no ravages or particular change on those +we knew in their happy childhood days. + +Close by the fire, lying on a luxuriously-cushioned couch, is a young +lady, whose pale, thin face bears traces of weary pain. Yet the dark +eyes are bright and smiling, and the voice has still its own merry +ring, which plainly betrays the old Winnie of bygone days. Surely Aunt +Judith's words are coming true, and she is learning beautiful lessons +in the school of pain; for the pale face shines with a peaceful calm, +and the words which fall from her lips are the words of one who has +been in the furnace of affliction and come forth tried as silver. + +Seated near on a low stool, with legs stretched forth in lazy comfort, +is Dick, newly home from a long, perilous voyage. He is very much +improved and changed, but in the gallant young officer one can still +discover traces of the bluff sailor boy whose kind, honest heart won +for him the love and friendship of all with whom he associated. He has +continued to rise steadily in his profession, and Mr. Blake is proud of +his scapegrace son at last. + +A little further away, at the other side of the fire, sits Edith, +smiling and light-hearted as ever, and with the same fair, sweet face; +but a plain golden band, circling one white finger, proclaims that the +gay, laughing girl has found a woman's true place in the world, and +that the grave, gentlemanly captain has won his suit in the end. + +And now we have come to the last occupant of the room--a young lady, +seated in very unladylike fashion on the rug, and so little changed +that in the fresh bright countenance we have no difficulty in +recognizing our old friend Nellie Latimer. She is spending a few weeks +in town with Winnie, and if report speaks true, there is a possibility +that in the dim future Winnie may find a sister in her old school-mate +of past years. + +"How nice and cosy we all look!" she is saying in her blithe young +voice; "one values light and warmth on a night like this. Hush! do you +hear the wind? I pity those on the sea to-night." + +Dick looks grave. "Ah, Nellie," he replies quietly, "pity hearts that +are watching and praying in their lonely homes." + +"The wind," says Winnie in a low whisper, "always makes me think of +Aunt Judith in her quiet grave. I suppose it is a stupid feeling, but +I hate the thought of the rain dripping and making a wet, wet sod above +her. I should like the sunshine to be always lingering on her quiet +resting-place." + +The laughter has died out of each face, and eyes become a little misty, +showing the dead friend is still near and dear to the hearts of those +who loved her. + +"Dear Aunt Judith," murmurs Nellie sadly, "we never realized how good +she was till we lost her. Every one with whom she came in contact +seems to have felt the benefit of her influence; and I--why, I owe her +more than I can ever tell." + +"I think we may all say that, Nell," adds Dick. "It was she who first +inspired me with a reverence for all women, and helped to make me what +I am now." + +"As for me," says Winnie with a sad, sweet smile, "she showed me the +way wherein I should walk, and taught me the great beauty of the +Christ-life." + +Then Edith's clear voice broke in: "And I--I have learned from Miss +Latimer lessons that will help me throughout all my life. She has +been, I think, as an angel of light to us all, and I shall never forget +what we owe to her goodness and love." + +"I have always been going to ask some of you girls," says Dick, "if +Aunt Judith knew she was likely to die in such a sudden manner. Every +time I came home I had that question on my mind, and yet never managed +to ask it." + +Nellie replied: "Oh yes! and Aunt Debby knew also. That was why Aunt +Judith lived so humbly and simply. She felt she was the mainstay of +the family,--that both Aunt Debby and Aunt Meg looked to her for their +livelihood; and so she strove hard to win and lay aside money, with the +hope that if she were called away suddenly there would be sufficient to +keep them snugly and comfortably after her death. She suffered from +severe paroxysms of pain at intervals, and each attack left her weaker +and feebler. Then, besides, she seemed to have had some great sorrow, +though Aunt Debby never told me what it was. Oh! they missed her +dreadfully at first; but since they left Dingle Cottage and came to +settle down beside my father, they have been more cheerful." + +"Do you like having them so near you?" inquires Edith; and Nellie +answers truthfully,-- + +"I like being beside Aunt Debby, she helps us so much; but Aunt Meg is +very trying at times." + +At that moment Captain Inglis, who has been closeted with Mr. Blake in +the library, enters, and then the conversation changes. The old +school-days are talked over, pranks and punishments described amidst +shouts of laughter; and by-and-by the talk drifts on to Ada Irvine and +the prize essay. + +"Have you ever heard of or seen Ada lately?" asks Dick curiously. "I +suppose she is quite a young lady and a great beauty now." + +"Agnes Drummond called the other day," replies Winnie quietly, "and +said she had met Ada last week at a friend's house. It seems she is +just as haughty and proud as ever; but, O Dick, I am sure you will be +sorry when I tell you that all her beauty is gone. The whole face is +completely marred by small-pox, which she caught when abroad with her +father." + +"Serves her jolly well right," cries Dick, the old man in his nature +coming to the front. "A girl who can act as she acted deserves a +righteous punishment. I don't suppose she has ever eaten humble pie to +you girls yet?" + +"No, and never will," puts in Nellie. "She persists to this day in +saying Win gained Mr. Corbett's medal through Aunt Judith's help, and +that I never learned a single lesson without assistance." + +"Hark!" says Captain Inglis, "there is the carriage.--Edith, my dear, +it is time we were going home." So the merry party breaks up, and soon +the silence of midnight settles over the city. + +Slowly the wind lulls itself to rest; the storm is over; the +rain-clouds sweep back from the sky, and the stars gleam forth with +softened brilliancy over the sleeping world; while the fair, placid +moon, rising from a mist of vapours, shines down on the sodden earth, +and lingering near a quiet churchyard lays her tearful beams, fondly, +tenderly, on a peaceful grave marked only by a marble cross and the +simple words,--"Aunt Judith." + + + + +THE END. + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Aunt Judith, by Grace Beaumont + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT JUDITH *** + +***** This file should be named 21432.txt or 21432.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/4/3/21432/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +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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