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diff --git a/23131.txt b/23131.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..149eb1a --- /dev/null +++ b/23131.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4066 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Principle and Practice, by Harriet Martineau + +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: Principle and Practice + The Orphan Family + +Author: Harriet Martineau + +Release Date: October 20, 2007 [EBook #23131] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCIPLE AND PRACTICE *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Principle and Practice, the Orphan Family, by Harriet Martineau. + +________________________________________________________________________ +This book was written in the earliest part of the nineteenth century, +and its author was only in her twenties when she wrote it. Basically +the story illustrates how at that time an ordinary decent family, +perhaps with its finances already a bit stretched with the effort of +educating several children, would be completely ruined if the +wage-earner were to die. If there was any income at all it might be +reckoned in tens of pounds a year, and the greatest economy would have +to be exercised to make this go round. Anyone in the family group who +was able to earn a little did their best to do so. For instance one of +the girls might be able to draw attractively, and could sell some of her +pictures; another might be able to create nice useful items; another +might be able to teach the younger children, thus avoiding the expense +of sending them to school. It was lucky if there was a wealthy friend +or relative who was prepared to pay for the education of one of the +boys, to the stage where he could in turn become a wage-earner. + +Miss Martineau followed this book up with several more on such +politico-economic themes, and indeed made her name in this way by the +time she was thirty. + +As so often with Miss Martineau there is a large cast: family members, +friends, relations; and unless you spend some time listing them you may +well not get the full impact of this book. + +________________________________________________________________________ +PRINCIPLE AND PRACTICE, THE ORPHAN FAMILY, BY HARRIET MARTINEAU. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +Let none sit down to read this little tale, whose interest can only be +excited by the relation of uncommon circumstances, of romantic +adventures, of poetical perplexities, or of picturesque difficulties. +No beauties of this kind will be here found. I propose to give a plain, +unaffected narrative of the exertions made by a family of young persons, +to render themselves and each other happy and useful in the world. The +circumstances in which they are placed are so common, that we see +persons similarly situated every day: they meet with no adventures, and +their difficulties, and the remedies they procure for them, are of so +homely a description, as to exclude every exertion of poetical talent in +their illustration, and to promise to excite interest in those readers +only, who can sympathise with the earnest desires of well-disposed and +industrious young persons striving after usefulness, honourable +independence, and individual and mutual improvement, amidst real, and +not imaginary, discouragements, and substantial, not sentimental, +difficulties. I proceed at once to my narrative. + +Mr Forsyth was a merchant, who lived in the city of Exeter. He had +been a widower for a few years, and had endeavoured to discharge +faithfully a parent's duty to five young children, when he too was taken +away from those who depended upon him, and whose very existence seemed +bound up in his. He was taken from them, and no one knew what would +become of these young helpless creatures, who, it was thought, would +inherit from their father nothing but his good name, and who possessed +nothing but the good principles and industrious habits which his care +and affection had imparted to them. They had no near relations, and the +friends whom their parents' respectability had gained for them, had +families of their own to support, and could offer little but advice and +friendly offices: large pecuniary assistance they had it not in their +power to impart. One of these friends, who was also Mr Forsyth's +executor, took the children into his house till the funeral should be +over, and some plans arranged for the future disposal of each of them. + +The eldest girl, Jane, was of an age to understand and feel the +difficulties which surrounded them. She was sixteen, and from having +been her father's _friend_ as well as housekeeper, she had a remarkably +matured judgment; she was of a thoughtful, perhaps an anxious, +disposition, and the loss of her father, together with the anxiety she +felt as being now the head of his helpless family, were almost too much +for her. Though she was supported by her religious principles, it was +with difficulty that she could rouse her mind from dwelling on her +perplexities, to form plans, and looking round to see what could be +done, and in what way she was to exert her powers for the benefit of her +brothers and sisters. She was sometimes oppressed by the thought that +the only prospect before her, was a melancholy one of long years of +struggles against poverty, and all the grievous evils of dependence. +Her brother Charles, who was a year younger than herself, tried with +some success to cheer her; he was of an active, enterprising +disposition, full of hope and cheerfulness. This disposition subjected +him to frequent disappointments, but his father had wisely guarded +against their bad effects by forming in him strong habits of +perseverance. Charles had been intended by his father for the same +business as himself, and he had therefore never been removed from under +his parent's eye. It was well now for the whole family that Charles had +been so carefully trained. His natural disposition, his acquired +habits, and his sense of responsibility, joined to his strong affection +for his sisters, made him the object on which Jane fixed her best hopes +for the future prosperity of the family. Charles encouraged her hopes, +and expressed confidence in his ability to maintain himself at present, +and to assist the younger ones when a few years should have matured his +powers of usefulness. Jane and Charles anxiously desired some +conversation with Mr Barker, the kind friend who had taken them into +his house; and were very glad when he invited them, the day after the +funeral, to a consultation on the state of their affairs. He told them +that it was his intention always to treat them with perfect openness, as +it had been their father's custom to do. He was the more inclined to do +so, from the knowledge that they were worthy of his confidence, that +they possessed prudence beyond their years, and that whatever exertions +they might make, would be more efficient if they knew perfectly what +they had to do, what objects were to be accomplished, and on what +sources they were to depend. + +Mr Barker told them that when the affairs were all settled, their +income, he feared, would not exceed eighty or ninety pounds a year. +That he thought the first object ought to be to give the younger +children such an education as would fit them for supporting themselves +when they were old enough: that for this purpose the assistance of +friends would be required for a few years, and that he knew of some who +were willing to assist, believing, from the good principles of the +children, that their assistance would be well bestowed, and that their +endeavours would be in time rewarded by the usefulness and happiness of +those who now required their care. + +Jane acquiesced in Mr Barker's proposal, but expressed her hope that +they might not be separated. The one thing that she desired more than +any other, was, to remain with, and watch over the little ones, and be +as far as possible a mother to them. If they were separated, the +children would forget her, she said, and that she was sure she could not +bear. She did not mind any labour, any privation, any anxieties, if +they could but keep together. + +"I knew you would think so, my dear," said Mr Barker. "You are +perfectly right. You must not be separated, if it can possibly be +avoided. I have been consulting with my wife about it, and we have +devised a plan for you: but it is yet only a scheme; it is very doubtful +whether we can carry it through. I am afraid, however, that Charles +must leave you." + +"I have been telling Jane, Sir," said Charles, "that I should most +likely have to go to some situation where I may maintain myself. I +hope, Sir, that that is what you mean." + +"And do you think, Charles, that at your age you can work for your own +support?" + +"Yes, Sir, I do, because others have done it before me. My father +taught me enough of business to qualify me for a situation in a +merchant's warehouse. At least, he said, only a few weeks ago, that if +I was but industrious, I need never be dependent, and that therefore he +was easy about me. I hope you think so too, Sir." + +"I do, my boy," replied Mr Barker: "as far as skill and industry go, +you are to be trusted. But you have not considered, you do not know, +the difficulties and dangers which are met with when young men leave +their father's house, and go by themselves into the world, especially +into the London world, to which you may be destined." + +"If you mean temptations to do wrong, Sir," said Charles, "I have been +warned by my father about them. But, O, Sir, is it possible, do you +think, with all the advantages I have had, with my father's example +always before me, with all that is now depending upon me, being, as I +am, the brother on whom three sisters rely for support and assistance, +is it possible that I should neglect them? that I should disgrace them? +that I should forget all my father has done for me? Jane will trust me, +I am sure." + +He looked towards his sister, and a few proud tears swelled into his +eyes. + +"No doubt, Charles, your sister feels that she can trust you; and, young +as you are, I believe that I can too. But there are many difficulties +to be encountered besides direct temptations to crime." + +"If I am made fairly to understand, Sir, what is to be required of me, +the extent of my trust, I hope I shall meet with no difficulties which +honourable principle, industry, and perseverance cannot overcome." + +"We will talk more of this, my dear boy, when we have some situation in +prospect for you. I hope it may not be difficult to procure one. Your +father's name will be a good passport. Then, I hope, I understand that +you both approve this first scheme of ours?" + +Charles assented at once: Jane, with some exertion to repress her tears. + +"And now, my dear Jane, what do you think yourself capable of doing?" + +Jane very modestly doubted whether she could do any thing but take care +of the children. If they were to live together, she could keep house, +she thought, carefully and economically, so as to spend no more than +could not possibly be avoided. She thought she could also teach her +sisters a little more than she had yet imparted to them: but she hoped, +from what Mr Barker had said, that they were to have better teaching +than she could give them. + +"We have certainly been planning, my dear," said he, "to send Isabella +to school, as she is now too old to learn of you only. She is twelve +years old, I think?" + +"Yes," said Jane; "and Harriet is nine." + +"Very well. If Isabella goes to school, Harriet may as well do so too, +as the additional expense will not be very great, and may be met by your +exertions, if you think as I do about the matter. Your sisters have +given you experience in teaching young children, suppose you try your +skill again as a daily governess." + +Jane was quite willing, if she did but think herself capable of it. Mr +Barker thought she had already proved her capability, and advised her, +at least, to try the plan. + +He told her that a very small house in the outskirts of the town was her +father's property. A very little expense would make it habitable for +them: furniture was ready, and he could see no objection to their all +living in it together. Jane was certainly rather young to become a +housekeeper, but the nursemaid, who had lived in the family for some +years, was much attached to the children, and had declared her wish to +"stay by them," if possible; and Mr Barker had little doubt that she +would do all the servant's work of the house, and make their friends +tolerably easy with respect to their domestic safety and comfort. + +Jane was pleased with the plan, and accordingly it was put in execution +with as little delay as possible. In two months' time the house was +ready for them. The little furniture and house-linen which was required +was put into it, and all the family, except Charles, removed to their +new abode. Jane was awfully impressed with the sense of responsibility, +when she took her place as mistress of the house, and when she looked +upon the three children who depended on her for their domestic comfort, +and for much more than this; for guidance in the formation of their +habits and characters. But she also felt the great relief of being +alone with her brother and sisters, and of having once more a home. The +house was tolerably comfortable, though very small. The parlour and +kitchen were on the ground floor; over them were two bed-rooms, one of +which was occupied by Jane, the other by Isabella and Harriet. Over +these were two attics, occupied by little Alfred and the servant. The +furniture was scanty, but good of its kind, and likely to last for some +years. The only luxurious article in the whole house was a small set of +book-shelves, filled with books, which Mr Barker would not allow to be +sold off with the other effects. They were not many, but well chosen, +and therefore valuable to Jane at present, and likely to be so to her +sisters when they should be old enough to make use of them. + +Mrs Barker wished that Jane should set out on her new plan of life, as +little oppressed by domestic cares as possible, and had therefore +assisted her before the removal, in overlooking her own and the +children's wardrobe. They were all comfortably supplied with every +thing necessary. Their mourning of course was new: perfectly plain, but +substantially good, it was intended to last a long time, and that for +many months their clothing should be very little expense to them. Jane +was an excellent workwoman, and her sister Isabella had been in the +habit of assisting her, by keeping her own clothes in very good order. +With respect to the little cares of housekeeping, Jane was easy: she had +been so well taught, and so long experienced, that she felt herself +quite capable of discharging this part of her duty. It was the +responsibility of her new office of daily governess which made her most +anxious. A situation had been obtained for her, which answered in all +respects to Mr Barker's wishes. Jane was to devote six hours a day to +the care of her young pupils, who were children of Mr Everett, a +surgeon. Mrs Everett was so occupied with the cares of a large family, +that she needed assistance, and Jane was to have under her charge four +children from the ages of three to twelve: she was to teach them, to +superintend in their play hours, and to walk with them. She was to +attend from nine till three, and her salary was to be twenty-five pounds +a year at first, and afterwards more, if her services were found +satisfactory. She stipulated for a fortnight's holiday at Christmas, +and also at Midsummer: not for the sake of her own pleasure, but from +the fear that her home business would accumulate faster than she could +discharge it, so as to render it necessary to devote a short time +occasionally to clear it away, and set things straight again. Before +she entered on her new engagement, she laid down a plan for the +employment of her days, to which she determined to adhere as strictly as +possible. It was as follows: for the summer season, which was now +approaching, she rose before six o'clock, and set apart two hours for +study. Study was absolutely necessary, if she was to keep up, or +improve, her ability to teach; and she found that the hours before +breakfast were the most quiet and undisturbed that she could devote to +this purpose. At eight o'clock the little family assembled in the +parlour, to join in prayer, and in reading a short portion of Scripture; +after which, they breakfasted. Jane then saw her sisters and little +brother off to school, and went into her kitchen to give her household +directions before she went out. It was some inconvenience that she +could not dine at the same time with the rest of the family; but it +could not be helped. The children were obliged to be back at school by +two o'clock, and she did not leave Mrs Everett's till three. After +dinner, she sat down to her work, of which it may be supposed there was +always plenty to be done. The children learned their lessons before +tea-time, and after tea they went out to walk all together, whenever the +weather would allow of it. They generally returned in time to read a +little before nine o'clock, when the younger ones went to bed. The duty +of evening, as well as morning prayer was never omitted. Jane sat down +to her work again till ten, when she put every thing away, locked up her +closets, and went round the house with the servant, to see that all was +safe, and as it should be, and then retired to her own room, to enjoy +the rest which was fairly earned by the previous hours of activity and +usefulness. She was very careful to adhere as closely as possible to +the whole of this plan, especially to the hours of walking and going to +bed. She was sometimes tempted to think that the children could walk as +well without her, and that she was too busy to accompany them: but she +never would give way to her inclination to stay at home; for her reason +told her that it would be injurious both to herself and her sisters, to +give up her accustomed walk. She could not expect to keep up her vigour +of mind and body without exercise and relaxation, and it would be wrong +to deprive the children of her society in their rambles. A greater +temptation still was to sit up late: the quiet hour at night was +precious to her; it was the only time she could give to the formation of +her plans, and to reflection on her present circumstances and +anticipation of the future. The previous exercise of prayer, left her +mind in a soothed and tranquil state; and however oppressed, at other +times, with fears and cares, this was to her an hour of hope and +cheerfulness. She rejoiced that it came at the close of the day, as it +enabled her to lay her head on her pillow in that frame of mind which is +the best preparation for peaceful sleep and for a cheerful waking. +Often was she tempted to prolong this happy hour, but she never did. +She was aware of the duty of early rising, and also of taking sufficient +rest, and that in order to do both she must keep to the right time of +retiring to rest; and accordingly, the moment the clock struck ten, the +work was put away, and the train of thought, whatever it might be, was +broken off. + +The school at which Isabella and Harriet were placed, was one of the +best of its kind, and it was not long before a rapid improvement was +observed in them both. Isabella's talents were remarkable, but neither +herself nor her family were sufficiently aware of this while they +received only an irregular and imperfect cultivation. She was +remarkably modest, and inclined to be indolent when she had no +particular object in view; but set one before her, and her perseverance +was unconquerable. She had always been a great reader, and had +therefore an excellent stock of general information; but till she went +to school, she never could give her attention to any of the drudgery of +learning. She wished to learn French and Italian as she had learned her +mother-tongue, by _picking up_, instead of beginning at the beginning, +and learning grammar. She did _pick up_ wonderfully well, to be sure, +but she found that would not answer at school. When once convinced of +this, she set to work at the grammar with all diligence, and conquered +difficulties every day, till she was surprised at her own progress. Her +great ambition now was, to make herself a companion for Charles and +Jane; not merely to be their friend, but to help them in earning money +and obtaining independence, instead of being, as she now was, the most +expensive of the family. Jane urged her to be patient, and to think at +present of her own improvement only: but she could not help forming many +plans for future doings, some reasonable, some much too grand. She had +no taste for music, and, by her own desire, therefore, the great expense +of musical teaching was not incurred: but drawing was her delight, and +she soon made such progress in the art, that Jane was really inspired +with her sister's hope that this talent might be turned to good account. + +Isabella's very judicious instructress exercised her pupils in +composition, and also in translation, much more than is the custom in +most schools. To Isabella this was particularly useful; first, in +shewing the necessity of accurate knowledge, and her own deficiency in +it, and afterwards in serving as a test of her improvement, and, +consequently, as an encouragement. She liked this employment much, and +soon excelled in it. Her general knowledge was brought into play; and +her compositions were, at sixteen, what many at six-and-twenty need not +be ashamed of. Her translations were also remarkably spirited and +elegant; and a hint from Jane, that this talent might prove useful in +the same way as her drawing, was quite sufficient to insure Isabella's +particular exertions in its improvement. + +Mr and Mrs Barker called frequently to see their young friends, and +they never quitted the door without leaving happy and grateful hearts +behind them. They rewarded Jane's exertions with something better than +praise--with their friendship and confidence. Mr Barker talked to her +about her affairs without any reserve, and the gratitude this excited in +her was great. Her kind friend told her, one day, that Mr Rathbone, an +old friend of her father's, who lived in London, had been enquiring +about the family of Mr Forsyth, and, on hearing of their circumstances; +had expressed his desire of being useful to them. "I told him, my +dear," said Mr Barker, "that his kind offices would be more acceptable +by and by than at present. We now see our way clear for two years, I +hope; and it is well to keep a stock of kindness in reserve, to be drawn +upon in case of need." + +Jane expressed her gratitude for the kindness which had assisted them +thus far, and said she feared she must make up her mind to be a burden +to her friends for some time to come; but she could answer for her +brothers and sisters, as well as herself, that no exertion on their part +should be wanting. + +"So we see already, my dear," said Mr Barker. "Mr Rathbone made +enquiry about each of you; and I sent him, in return, a full description +of you all. I think it most likely that he will keep his eye upon +Alfred, and that whatever he may do hereafter will be for him." + +"I am sure," said Jane, "Mr Rathbone's kindness is most unlooked for; +for it must be many years since he has known our family. I have heard +my father speak of him, but I do not remember ever to have seen him." + +"It is only two years," replied Mr Barker, "since he returned from +India, where he passed twenty years, losing his health, and growing +immensely rich. He tells me that he was under considerable obligations +to your good father for some exertions on his behalf during his absence; +but of what nature these exertions were he does not say. Well, my dear, +I must be going. Have you any thing more to say to me? Is all +comfortable here, and as you like it?" + +"Quite, Sir, thank you: we are only too comfortable for our +circumstances, I am afraid." + +"No, no, my dear; I hope Hannah and you go on comfortably together. +Your house looks very neat and orderly," said he, looking round him. +"Is that her doing or yours?" + +"All Hannah's doing. We could not be better or more respectfully +served, if we were as rich as Mr Rathbone. But I grieve to think that +such a servant should make such sacrifices for us; she would be prized +in any house." + +"Depend upon it, Jane, she will find her reward in time. I am much +mistaken if she does not find it now, day by day. You will be +prosperous one day, and then she will share your prosperity, you know." + +"We will hope so," said Jane. "Will you thank Mr Rathbone, Sir, for +us, or shall I write myself?" + +"No occasion at all, my dear, I am obliged to write to him to-morrow on +business. Good-bye to you." + +About a week after this, as the young people were busily employed, as +usual, before tea, Jane mending stockings, Isabella translating French, +Harriet learning geography, and Alfred frowning over his Latin grammar, +Hannah brought in a large box, which had just arrived from London by the +carrier, carriage paid. It must be a mistake, Jane thought; but no, it +was not a mistake, the direction was plain and full: "Miss Forsyth, +Number 21, South Bridge Street, Exeter." The stockings and books were +thrown aside, and the whole family adjourned to the kitchen, to open the +wonderful box. After the removal of several sheets of paper, a letter +appeared at the top, addressed to Jane. She hastily opened it, and read +as follows: + + "My dear young Friend,-- + + "You must allow me thus to address you, though you have never seen me, + and probably have never heard of me. My husband's old friendship with + your father is, however, a sufficient ground for the establishment of + an intercourse between us, which may be advantageous to you, and I am + sure will be very pleasant to us. We owe too much to your excellent + father, not to desire to be of use, if possible, to his children. I + cannot tell you now, but if we ever meet, you shall know how deep is + the debt of gratitude due to the friend who incurred difficulty and + hazard for the sake of our interests, and who, for many weeks and + months, was subjected to anxiety and fatigue on our account, when we + were in India, not aware of our obligations to him, and therefore + unable to express or to testify our gratitude. That friend was your + father. You must accept our good offices, my dear young friend, and + tell us how we can be useful to you. Mr Barker tells us that our + assistance will be more acceptable hereafter than at present. + Remember, then, if you please, that we expect to be applied to + whenever you can give us the pleasure of serving you, or any of your + family. In the mean time, we hope that the contents of this box will + be useful to you, and that its arrival will afford as much pleasure to + your young brother and sisters, as I remember experiencing in my + childhood from similar accidents. + + "I am not one, Miss Forsyth, who can reconcile it to myself to gain + the affections of young people by flattery; but I cannot withhold the + encouragement of an expression of approbation, when I really feel it + to be deserved by the exercise of self-denial and honourable industry. + I am told that you are now earning such approbation from all who feel + an interest in you. Believe, therefore, that it is with as much + sincerity as good-will, that Mr Rathbone and myself add the word + _respect_ to the affection with which we subscribe ourselves,-- + + "Your friends,-- + + "F. and S. Rathbone." + +Jane had escaped to the parlour almost as soon as she began this letter, +and her eyes were so dimmed by tears that she could scarcely proceed. +Isabella, who was far more anxious about Jane and the letter, than about +the box, immediately followed her, and they finished it together. +Isabella was almost as much pleased, quite as much touched, with the +part which concerned Jane, as with that which respected her father. She +kissed her affectionately, and rejoiced that others were aware of her +merit; others who could encourage it as it deserved, and reward it +better than those in whose behalf her self-denial and industry were +exerted. + +In the mean time Alfred and Harriet were extremely impatient to proceed +with the examination of the box, but Hannah would not allow it till Jane +and Isabella were present. They soon returned to the kitchen, and it +would be difficult to say whose countenance exhibited the most +astonishment as the various presents were brought forth to view. A +little card-paper box, well stuffed with cotton-wool, contained a +handsome plain gold watch, which, with its seal and key, were intended +for Jane. A drawing-box, well fitted up with colours and pencils of all +kinds, and accompanied with a large quantity of drawing-papers, and two +sketch-books, was directed to Isabella. A pretty writing-desk, filled +with all the comforts and luxuries which can appertain to that pretty +article of furniture, bore Harriet's name; as did also a large quantity +of music, which astonished her not a little, as, though she much wished +it, she had not yet begun to learn, and had no prospect of such an +indulgence for a long time to come. Her sisters thought it a very +likely mistake for Mrs Rathbone to make: as one sister drew, she might +easily imagine that another played. But Harriet could not help hoping +that, _some how or other_, it was to come to pass, that she should learn +music directly. And she was right, as we shall see. Imagination came +nearer the truth than reason, for once. + +By this time Alfred began to be dismayed lest there should be no present +for him; but Hannah had not yet got to the bottom of the box. When she +had, she took out several packages of books, two of them directed to +Alfred, and the others to the Miss Forsyths. Alfred's present consisted +of some beautiful editions of the classics, so valuable that the owner +of them was likely to be long before he understood how rich he was in +their possession. There was also a large cake directed to him, to which +he was disposed to pay a more immediate attention than to his books. +The girls found that their library was to be enriched by the best +foreign editions of Tasso and Alfieri, and of Racine, and by a beautiful +edition of Shakspeare. They were bewildered by the splendour of these +presents, so far exceeding in value any thing they had before possessed. +Their usual tea hour was long past before they thought of any thing but +the wonderful box. At length, however, they determined to finish their +meal as quickly as possible, and to go and tell their kind friends, the +Barkers, of their good fortune. It was vain to think of putting their +riches out of sight, so the watch was hung over the chimney-piece, the +desk, drawing-box, and books, stuck up wherever room could be made for +them. While they were at tea, however, Mr and Mrs Barker called, +probably with some suspicion of what they were to see, for Mr Barker +glanced round the room as he entered it. "Why, young ladies," said he, +"you are so splendid I dare not come in, I am afraid. My dear, we have +nothing like this to shew at home. What good fairy can have done all +this?" + +"Two good fairies from India have sent us these beautiful things, Sir," +said Isabella. + +"From India! I did not know you had any such acquaintance in India." + +"From India, by way of London, Sir," said Jane, "now you can guess." + +"Yes, yes, my dear, I know well enough. I had some idea of finding an +exhibition when I came to-night, but not such a one as this, I own. +Alfred, my boy, how comes your cake to be on this chair, instead of on +the tea-table?" + +"We are not going to cut it to-night, Sir." + +"I hardly know when we shall," said Jane. "It is too large to eat it +all ourselves." + +"It does look very good, to be sure," said Mr Barker. "My mouth waters +when I look at it." + +Isabella ran for a knife to cut it directly, but Mr Barker stopped her. +"Not now, my dear; but I hoped you would have asked us to tea, to taste +your cake." + +"And will you really come, Sir?" asked Jane. "Mrs Barker, will you +come to-morrow, and drink tea with us? And the children too. We have +no amusement to offer but the cake: but we shall be quite delighted if +you will come." + +"With all my heart, Jane. We and two of the children will come, and we +will take a long walk afterwards if you please. We shall have more time +to look at your presents than we have now; we cannot stay longer +to-night." + +Jane put Mrs Rathbone's letter into Mr Barker's hand, and he went +aside to read it. He returned it to her in silence. She obtained Mr +Rathbone's address, that she might, this very evening, write her thanks +for his munificent kindness. + +When their friends were gone, the young people found it was too late to +take their usual walk; besides, their lessons were not finished, and +they resolutely sat down to their business: Alfred, with the fear of the +bottom of the class before his eyes; Harriet, with the mixed motive of +this fear, and the wish to do right; Isabella, influenced by the wish +alone. Alfred asked Jane to hear him his lesson, and the two words, +"quite perfect," at length repaid his labours. + +"But, Jane," said Alfred, "you have two watches now; you will not want +them both." + +"Certainly," said Jane. "Isabella shall have the old one; she will +value it as having been my mother's; though it is not a very serviceable +one." + +"O! thank you, Jane," said Isabella. "I had not thought of such a +thing, I am sure. I had no idea of having a watch for many years to +come." + +"If you will undertake to get Harriet and Alfred off to bed, Isabella, I +will. And a watch-pocket for you. Or you can make one in an hour. Sit +up with me for this one evening, and we will consult what to do with our +books; and I will write my letter before breakfast to-morrow: my head +will be clearer then." + +No sooner said than done. The girls found room in a closet for their +shabbiest books, and in the morning the new ones were installed in their +places on the shelves, much to the satisfaction of their owners. Jane's +letter was written and dispatched, and she was more comfortable when she +had attempted to express her gratitude to her father's faithful friends, +though she felt that nothing she could say could do justice to her +feelings. When she had put her letter into the post-office, she turned +her attention from the subject, that her head might not be running on +other things when she ought to be attending to her pupils. + +They all got forward with their business this day, that they might be +ready with a clear conscience to receive their friends on the first +occasion when they had to exercise hospitality. Isabella found her +watch a prodigious assistance, she declared. + +The Barkers enjoyed the evening as much as their young host and +hostesses. The weather was charming, the country looked beautiful, the +children were merry, and, "though last, not least," the cake was +delicious. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +"But where is Charles all this time?" my readers will ask. Charles is +in London, endeavouring to discharge, to the best of his ability, the +duties of a situation which had been procured for him in the warehouse +of a general merchant, who had had dealings with Mr Forsyth, had always +esteemed him for his integrity, and was, therefore, willing to make +trial of the services of the youth who had been brought up under the eye +of such a father. + +Charles found his situation a laborious one; and his salary was so small +that he could only by great frugality subsist upon it himself. He found +that he must wait till his character had been tried, and till he grew +older, before he could afford any substantial assistance to his family. +His state of mind and circumstances will be better understood from his +letters to Jane, than from any account we could give. Here, therefore, +are some of them, with Jane's answers. + + "My dearest Jane,-- + + "I am glad that the day appointed for writing has arrived: you cannot + conceive the comfort your letters are to me, and the pleasure I have + in answering them. I suppose that in time I shall get accustomed to + the silence I am now obliged to observe with respect to the subjects I + love most to talk upon; but I sigh sometimes for some one to whom I + can speak of my father, and of times past; or of you, and time + present, and to come. My companions here are good-tempered enough, + and we go on smoothly and easily together, and I know that this is a + great thing to be able to say; and that many in my situation would be + glad to say as much: but yet I cannot help feeling the want of some + friend to whom I can speak of what is nearest to my heart, and there + is not one person in this wide city who knows you, or who could + possibly feel much interest in hearing me talk of you. Consequently I + hold my tongue, and your name has never passed my lips since we + parted. But, dearest Jane, my thoughts of you are all the more + frequent and the more dear, on this account; and on this account, I + feel the more deeply, the privilege of opening my heart to the One + friend who loves you better than any mortal can, who cares for your + interests, more than any earthly friend can care, and who can provide + for them when I can do nothing but love you, and pray for you. I + continually determine that I will not be anxious about you; that we + will all trust and be cheerful; and I generally keep my resolution. I + hope you do the same. Whatever anxious thoughts you may have, must be + for yourselves: you may be quite easy about me. I am well, very busy, + and of course very cheerful; my comfort is attended to, and I have + nothing to complain of in any body near me. I enjoy many privileges, + and shall be able to make more for myself, when I become better + acquainted with my situation. In short, the present is very tolerably + comfortable, I have the prospect of increasing comforts, and may in + time do grand things for you, as well as for myself. You shake your + head as you read this, I dare say: but I do not see why, by industry, + I may not do as grand things as others have done before me; especially + as I am blessed with good friends at my setting out, which is an + immense advantage to begin with. To shew you that I am not dreaming + about any _luck_ happening to me, and that I only mean to depend on + skill and industry for my prosperity, if I ever am to be prosperous, I + will tell you how I spend my three hours in the evening--I am actually + hard at work at the French and Spanish grammar. Yes, at grammar! + though, I dare say, that is the last thing you would have thought of + my applying to. I want to rise, as fast as possible, from trust to + trust, in this house, and it can only be done by duly qualifying + myself: so I mean to learn first every thing requisite for the proper + discharge of the most responsible situation of all; and then, if I + have time left, I will learn other things, to which my wishes begin to + tend, for the sake of general cultivation and enlargement of mind; + which, I am convinced, is as great an advantage to the man of + business, as to the professional man, or the private gentleman. I + will tell you always how far I am able to carry my plans into + execution, and you will give me what encouragement and assistance you + can. I wonder whether you like Mrs Everett as well as I like Mr + Gardiner. He is a most kind friend to me on the whole: I say `on the + whole,' because there is the drawback of a fault of temper, which will + occasionally try my patience; but this is all. I should not have + mentioned it, except that I wish you to know every particular of my + situation, and that, I am sure, what I say goes no further, at least + where _character_ is concerned. Mr Gardiner makes a point of + speaking to me every day, and seems to like to call me by my surname, + doubtless because it was my father's. One day he called me Alfred + Forsyth: he begged my pardon, and said he had been used to that name. + He has asked me to dine with him next Sunday. This is very kind of + him, I am sure. + + "Now, Jane, be sure you tell me every thing about yourself, and the + other dear girls, and Alfred. Every little trifling particular is + pleasant to read about. I am very glad that Isabella's drawing + prospers so well: I wish she may be able to send me a drawing soon; it + would be quite a treasure to me. May I not see some of her + hand-writing in the next letter? There is only one thing more I wish + particularly to say. I entreat you, my dearest sister, not to work + too hard or too anxiously. Take care of your health and spirits as + you value ours. Give my best love to all at home, and my affectionate + respects to Mr and Mrs Barker, if they will accept them. I am, + dearest Jane,-- + + "Your most affectionate,-- + + "Charles Forsyth. + + "Remember me kindly to Hannah." + +_From Jane to Charles_. + + "Exeter, September 5th. + + "Dear Charles,-- + + "We all thank you for your long letter. It has made us, on the whole, + easy and comfortable about you. As long as you are as active and + enterprising as you are now, you will be happy, for I believe that the + grand secret of happiness consists in having a good pursuit, which can + be followed with some success. To ensure this success, the pursuit + must be rational; and I assure you, that so far from shaking my head + at your hopes of doing `grand things,' I think your hopes are very + rational, provided that by `grand things,' you and I mean the same. I + suppose you mean no more than that, by qualifying yourself for higher + situations than the one which you now hold, you hope to rise in rank + and riches high enough to assist your family, and to enable them to + work in the same manner for their own independence hereafter. This + prospect is quite grand enough for us at present. We must never dream + of being very rich; I am afraid that we must not even hope to + discharge our very heavy obligations to our friends in any other way + than by our gratitude, and by making the best use of their kindness. + The weight of obligation sits heavy on me: I am afraid I am proud, and + therefore it may be well for me that I am obliged to submit to + dependence; but I will never rest till I can relieve our friends from + a charge which extreme kindness has induced them to take upon + themselves, but which must in time become burdensome. How happy + should I be to do any kind of service to any of them! Amidst the + chances and changes of the world, who knows but we may? But I must + not think and write in this way. We must cheerfully and willingly, as + well as most gratefully, accept the kindness which they so cheerfully + and willingly offer. We go on very comfortably on the whole. We work + very hard, but not more so than is good for body and mind, as you + would be convinced if you could see how well we look and how happy we + are together. The only unpleasant circumstance which has occurred + lately, is a misunderstanding between Mrs Everett and myself. I + really cannot tell you, for I do not know myself, what it was about; + but she was, for two or three days, so dissatisfied with me, that I + was afraid of being obliged to give up my charge. I told no one of + it, but determined to bear it quietly for a few days, and to do my + best for the children, and see whether matters would not come round + again. My plan answered: we go on tolerably smoothly again, though + not so very comfortably as before. I must recollect, however, that in + my inexperience I may commit errors in my management of the children, + and that Mrs Everett may justly feel that she has something to bear + with in me. I wish, however, that she would tell me the causes of her + discontent, and then the evil might be remedied without any ill-will + on either side. Before this time, she was as kind as possible, and + will be so again, I hope. I cannot help seeing that the children + improve, and I have the satisfaction of knowing that Mr Everett + thinks so too. He told Mr Barker so, and I think I could have + guessed it from his manner towards me. + + "Isabella desires her best love to you, and she will send you a + drawing by the first opportunity that offers. She has sketched your + favourite Bubbling Spring for the purpose, thinking you would like it + better than any other subject. I am sure you would think it + beautiful, independently of the sweet associations which endear that + spot peculiarly to us. I am really astonished at Isabella's progress + in drawing: her pencil sketches are beautiful, and she succeeds as + well or better in water-colours. She finishes very highly in the + latter, and yet she is quick. If she spent as much time as many girls + do on her drawing, I should not think it right to let her sacrifice + other things to this accomplishment, though it is useful and + beautiful, and may, she hopes, be turned to some good account. + Harriet and Alfred are as good as children can be. Their affection is + delightful to me. It is quite sufficient to repay all my cares for + them. They get on very well at school, though at their age their + progress cannot be so remarkable as Isabella's. + + "Isabella is now come into the room, and she begs to fill the little + that remains of this sheet. She has a very fine subject to write + about, which I kept to the last, as being the most remarkable event + which has happened to us for a very long time. Farewell, my dearest + brother, we think of you hourly, and one of our greatest delights is + to talk over the probabilities of our meeting. O, when will it be? + + "Ever your affectionate,-- + + "Jane Forsyth." + +The subject on which Isabella wrote to her brother, was that of Mr and +Mrs Rathbone's noble present. As my readers are already acquainted +with the circumstances, there is no occasion to weary them with a +repetition. We also omit three or four of Charles's letters, which +contain no detail of new events, and proceed to one which he wrote on +Christmas-day. + + "Dear Jane,-- + + "I address this letter to you, merely because I can express myself + better when writing to one person than to several; but the contents of + this are wholly, or in part, as you may see fit, for the public good: + by the public, meaning the inhabitants of Number 21, South Bridge + Street. In the first place, I offer you all my love, and best wishes + for a cheerful Christmas, and much enjoyment of your holidays. I am + afraid, dear Jane, that your holidays will be somewhat busy ones; but + you have Isabella to help you to make `a clearance of business,' as + you say. I do not know what you will say to me for providing more + work for you. I will explain presently what I mean by this. I hope + the beautiful bright sun of this happy day brings as much cheerfulness + to your hearts as it does to mine. There is no day of the year which + so forcibly reminds us of the great number and magnitude of our + blessings as this; and consequently there is no day on which we can + feel so happy. I am more impressed than ever with this feeling + to-day. It is the first Christmas-Day that I have ever passed away + from home; but so far from this making me melancholy, I am most happy + in the full tide of affection which is flowing towards you all, and + not less so, in the overflowing gratitude which I feel toward that + Parent who has blessed us in each other, in the love which is our + happiness here, and which, we hope, will make our joy hereafter. God + bless you all, and make you as happy as I wish you to be; as happy as + I am at this moment. + + "I can quite imagine how you will spend this day. You will take a + long walk, and enjoy a long talk, in which I hope to come in for a + share; though, alas! too far off to have the benefit of what you are + saying. You will go to church, and I think I know what your feelings + will be there. The rest of the day will be spent at Mr Barker's, I + conjecture: but will good Hannah be at home alone? I am going to dine + at Mr Rathbone's, but as they dine late, I shall have time for a long + walk after church. You cannot imagine, no one who has not lived in + London can imagine, the delight of a country walk to me. I rejoice + that the day is so fine. Mr Gardiner was so kind as to ask me to + dine with him to-day: so you see there was no danger of my being + solitary, much less, melancholy. + + "But now to my business, for even to-day I have business to write + about. You know when I arrived here, at Midsummer, Mr Gardiner paid + me my first quarter's salary in advance: he bid me not mention the + circumstance, for fear of others expecting the same favour. He said + at the same time, that he hoped I would make a friend of him in case + of any difficulty which might occur in money matters, as I was, he + thought, very young to manage for myself on a small salary. Knowing + that I was necessarily at some unusual expense on my first arrival, he + has frequently asked whether I wanted any assistance. I have always + said, no; for I have been really well off. Mr Barker sent me up with + ten pounds in my pocket, after my travelling expenses were paid, and + this, with my quarter's salary, has been more than sufficient for me. + Besides this I have the ten pound note that Mr Rathbone gave me still + unchanged, so that I have every reason to hope that I shall get on + till Midsummer, without taking any more money of Mr Gardiner; and + from that time, I shall take my salary half-yearly. Now, I think, I + have found a very good occasion for changing my note: I hope you and + Isabella will approve of my plan; as it is intended for your + advantage, I am anxious that it should succeed. I had occasion to go + last week, on some business of Mr Gardiner's, to a large toy-shop in + Holborn, and while I was waiting to speak to the owner, I saw the + shopman unpack a basket, which seemed to have arrived from the + country. It contained a great variety of work-bags and boxes, + card-racks, and such things, ornamented in various ways; many of them + with drawings. When I had finished my business, I enquired whether a + ready sale could be found for such articles, and what would be the + probable success, if some friends of mine, who could draw very well, + were to send up some specimens of their talents, like those on the + counter. The owner of the shop, Mr Blyth, said, that he found it + easy to obtain a supply of such articles, but that the best and + prettiest would always command the best sale. He told me I might, if + I chose, shew him what my friends could do, and that if their work was + approved he might employ them occasionally; but of course could + promise nothing at present. Now, my dear girls, I think you might + make a little money these holidays by trying your hand on these + things: you, Isabella, can draw all kinds of pretty things; and you, + Jane, can make up the bags, etcetera, very neatly. Let me know, by + the next post, whether you are inclined to try, and I will send you a + few patterns and materials. I have the opportunity of getting + remnants of coloured silk and ribbon cheap; so cheap that you need not + grudge the carriage of them. Suppose you make at first, with all your + skill and care, about a dozen bags, and netting-cases, and card-racks; + and pray, Isabella, let one of your card-racks have a sketch of the + Bubbling Spring on it, and another the cottage at the foot of Elston + Hill. Do not scruple, my dear girls, on account of the risk, the very + little risk to be incurred. If our scheme answers, I promise you that + you shall repay me; if not, I can spare the small sum needed. Let me + know exactly how your accounts stand this Christmas, and be easy and + hopeful, whatever may happen. I wanted to say a great deal about Mr + and Mrs Rathbone, but it is just time for church, and I must close my + letter. I can write again by the parcel, if you authorise me to send + it.--Farewell, my very dear sisters and brother. + + "I am your most affectionate,-- + + "Charles Forsyth." + +"What a comfortable letter!" exclaimed Jane, as she finished it. "Dear +Charles is as happy as we are!" + +"And just as kind as ever," said Isabella: "he will never be spoiled by +living in London. He will never forget, or be ashamed of us. How ready +he is to set his head and hands to work in our service! But we are to +write by this day's post our answer to this proposal: what shall we do, +Jane?" + +"Try, by all means, I think," said Jane. "What do you say, Isabella?" + +"Try, by all means, I say too, and I have very little doubt of success. +The sooner we begin the better, so we will write immediately. I think +Mr Barker will not disapprove of it." + +"Certainly not," said Jane. "But, if you please, we will tell no one +about it till we see whether the plan answers or not. I am not fond of +a hasty communication of plans; and besides, I wish that our friends, +instead of considering us as schemers, should see, that, while we form +plans, we have patience and industry to carry them through, or that they +should know nothing of the matter. When we can go with earned money in +our hands to Mr Barker, we will tell him how we got it: in the mean +while, we will not trouble him, or run the risk of interruption +ourselves." + +"Very right," said Isabella. "What shall we do about Harriet and +Alfred? May we tell them?" + +"I think they must know," replied Jane. "You must make use of the +day-light for your drawing, and they must see what you are doing. We +must trust them. It will be a good lesson in keeping a secret." + +The whole plan was soon settled. The letter was dispatched to Charles, +and, by the earliest possible hour, the parcel with its pretty contents +arrived. Charles had most completely supplied all the necessary +materials, so that there were no purchases to be made, and nothing +hindered their setting immediately to work. During the first evening +Jane and Isabella very carefully cut paper patterns from the articles +which were sent as patterns, and marked them very exactly on the +pasteboard before they cut it. When the different sides of the bags, +etcetera, were cut out they were found to fit exactly; so that so far +all was right. This was all that they could do by candle-light, and +Isabella longed for the morning that she might begin her drawing. She +was pleased to see that the drawings on the pattern bags did not nearly +equal what she was capable of doing, though Charles had said that he +purposely picked out those which appeared to him the best done. + +The next morning breakfast was soon over, and the table placed in the +best light by the window. Isabella was seated at her drawing, Jane at +work beside her, and the children at their amusements, very carefully +avoiding the table, lest they should shake it and spoil Isabella's +drawing. They were proud of their secret, and it was to be part of +their business to watch and give notice of the approach of any +uninitiated person, from whose sight all tale-telling materials were to +be quickly swept away. + +By two hours before dinner one beautiful little drawing was finished. +It was duly admired, and Jane congratulated her sister on the success of +her first day's exertion; but she was surprised to see Isabella sitting +down to begin another. "My dear Isabella, you have done for to-day, +surely?" + +"No, Jane; I must outline another. I can finish the outline and the +first shades before dinner." + +"But when do you mean to walk? You do not, surely, mean to stay at home +this beautiful day?" + +"Only this one day: you can do without me this one day. I cannot leave +off now, indeed." + +"O, Isabella, how often have I gone with you when I had much more +necessary things than these trifles to do at home! Depend upon it, you +will not do the second so well as the first, if you sit so long at it; +you will bring on a headache, too, and make me sorry that Charles ever +devised this plan for us." + +"Do put it by, Isabella," said Harriet, "and go with us." + +"I will, directly," said Isabella. "I beg your pardon, Jane; I was +selfish, and you never are. There, they are locked up till to-morrow, +and now let us make haste, and go for our walk." + +When Isabella had done a few drawings, and became more accustomed to the +employment, she found that she need not be so absorbed in it, as to be +unable to attend to her sisters while they read aloud. This added great +pleasantness to their morning employment, and both Jane's work, and +Isabella's drawing, got on fast while they listened to Harriet and +Alfred, who took it in turn to read. But when the pasting together of +their work began, there was an end of reading. It was too anxious a +business to admit of any division of attention. The gilt edges must be +exactly even, the sides must go exactly together, the bottoms must be +exactly flat; or they would be deformed and unsteady. Jane was the only +one careful enough to undertake this most difficult part of the +business, and she bestowed great pains upon it. In general, she +completely succeeded; but it was a work of time, and the fortnight of +her holidays was over before their task was more than two-thirds done. +Eight articles out of the dozen were finished, and she longed to see +them completed. It was with a sigh that she left the busy and happy +party at home, on the morning when she resumed her charge at Mrs +Everett's, and she could not help fancying that Mrs Everett was less +kind than usual, that the children were far from improved by their +release from her authority, that they had never been so troublesome, and +her task never so irksome. This was in part true; the children were +nearly as unwilling to be managed, as Jane was to manage them, and they +were fully as sorry as she, that the days of lessons and work, of +authority and obedience, were come again, after the romping hours of +their Christmas revellings. + +A strong effort at patience on Jane's part, and something like an +endeavour to be good on the children's, soon restored things to their +usual state, and teacher and learners were on their old terms again. +When Jane returned home, she found that Isabella had put away her +drawing in time to take Harriet and Alfred a walk before dinner. The +evening was passed busily and happily, and the finishing stroke was put +to two more of the bags and baskets. In a week more all were completed. +Jane was glad of it. The last two or three drawings had not been quite +so well done, and it was easy to see that Isabella began to be tired. +She owned that she was a little, a very little; but said, that, after a +week's rest, she should be able to begin again with as much relish as +ever. Jane was sorry that she had worked so hard, and recommended her +to think no more of drawing for the rest of the holidays. Ten days only +now remained before school should begin again; and Isabella passed the +time very happily between books, walking, and work. We must not forget, +also, a long letter which she wrote to Charles, by the box which carried +their work. It will be in vain to guess at the hopes and fears, the +alternate confidence and anxiety which these industrious girls felt +about the probable reward of their labours. They calculated the number +of days which must pass before a letter from Charles could arrive, to +bid them rejoice or be patient yet longer. They told each other +continually that they were looking for a letter too soon; that it was +not likely they should have an answer till the things were sold. Their +kind brother could imagine their anxiety, and the very first moment that +he could send them intelligence of their success he did so, in the +following letter. + + "My dear Girls,-- + + "I hope I have not disappointed you by delaying my letter for a few + days, but I thought it would be quite a pity to write till I could + give you Mr Blyth's opinion, and that of the public, about your + works. I have just been to the shop, and though it is late at night, + I cannot go to bed till I have offered you my congratulations. I have + in my pocket three guineas, which Mr Blyth thinks a fair price for + your work. I hope you will think so too, and be as well satisfied + with your gains as I am. Mr Blyth gave me an order for as many more + as you like to send up, for he has eyes to see that your things are + prettier, and better made, than any articles of the kind in his shop. + I hope you will be encouraged by your deserved success, and that the + next parcel you send will keep up your credit. I know you cannot get + on so fast when the holidays are over. Indeed I scarcely know how you + will find time at all; but as you desire me to send you more work, I + conclude you will make time for it some how or other. Your leisure + hours can hardly be better spent, I think; and I have no fear but that + you should overwork yourselves. That you will neglect your duties of + teaching and learning, I never, for a moment, supposed; so your + assurances on that head, my dear girls, are quite unnecessary. Now, + pray take care of your health and spirits: take exercise and + amusement, and remember that there is not the least hurry in the world + for these things. If they are not finished till Midsummer, it will be + of much less consequence than your over-working yourselves. I do not + send you the money. I can get your materials so very cheap that the + carriage of them will answer again. I have, according to your desire, + paid myself: so now you stand on your own ground, and are, in this + matter, under no obligations to any body, not even to your own + brother; so I hope my proud sisters will be satisfied. I laid out + only eighteen shillings. I have taken that sum from your three + guineas, and will lay out the remainder in silk, ribbon, paper, + etcetera. It is pleasanter, I know, to see money at once, than + materials for further work; but I think your present success, and + especially your darling independence, will afford you pleasure enough + for this time, and that you will be willing to wait awhile for more + substantial gains. You deserve all you can get, my dear girls, and I + am sure you cannot desire success so earnestly, or rejoice in it so + heartily, as I do for you. My concerns prosper: that is, I am busy, + well, and cheerful, and independent. Some little rubs I meet with, + like any body else; but I wonder sometimes to think how happy I am. + Anxious thoughts for you sadden me now and then; but I try to + remember, that the same kind Parent who has hitherto protected us, is + still about our path, and that we have nothing to do but to labour and + trust. We are doing now what we can, and therefore we ought to be + satisfied with the present and hopeful for the future, and grateful, + day by day, hour by hour. + + "Your last letter was written in such a spirit of cheerfulness, that + if I had been miserable, I could not have shut my heart against its + influence: but I was not miserable. I was sitting alone, my thoughts + far from myself, from you, from every body; for I was absorbed in a + Spanish book which I was translating. You may imagine how readily it + was thrown aside when the postman knocked at the door, and how + joyously the full tide of my thoughts turned towards home, and how my + affection rested on each of you in turn, and blessed each of your + names as it rose, accompanied with a thousand sweet recollections, to + my remembrance. I hope you will give me the pleasure of such another + evening soon. I met Mr Rathbone in the street the other day. He + enquired how you all were, and said I must go and dine with him soon, + as he has something to say to me. He says that he has requested Mr + Barker to allow Harriet to learn music, as he hears she has a taste + for it. He hopes that dear Harriet will come to London some time or + other and play to him, as music is his passion. I cannot describe to + you how kind his manner is, nor how dearly I love the very sight of + this good man. And yet even he does not escape slander. I have heard + it said, often and often, that he is a perfect tyrant to his + inferiors, that as long as he is treated with deference, he is + unwearied in kindness, but that the least opposition enrages him, and + that once displeased he is an irreconcilable enemy. Of course I + believe nothing of all this, and have shewn no little indignation when + I have heard such things said. What a world it must be, when such a + man as Mr Rathbone is slandered! I do not intend to be curious about + what he has to say to me till the time comes. Perhaps he will tell me + what was the nature of the service which my dear father rendered him. + But I will not think more of the matter: it may be only a trifle after + all. + + "I am very sorry to conclude, but I must be off to bed; it is very + late, and I must be at the warehouse two hours sooner than usual + to-morrow. I hope you will be satisfied with what I send you, and + that Harriet will be pleased at her musical prospects. Farewell, all + of you; let me hear soon, and believe me,-- + + "Your very affectionate brother,-- + + "Charles Forsyth. + + "P.S. I have now received a note from Mr Rathbone, in which he says + that he and Mrs R. are obliged to leave town for some weeks: and that + therefore they must defer seeing me at present. He asks whether + Alfred has ever shewn any taste for mathematics, and expresses his + hope that his attention will be directed that way without delay. What + can this mean? You had better ask Mr Barker." + +Mr Barker was no better able to guess Mr Rathbone's designs than +Charles himself; so they were all obliged to wait in patience till their +kind friend should return to town, which did not take place till the +following autumn. In the mean time, however, his directions were +observed, and Alfred began to learn mathematics. + +Jane and Isabella had so little time now for the employment which their +brother had provided for them, that March was past before another box +was prepared for Mr Blyth. Their brother had the pleasure of +transmitting five guineas to them, as the reward of their industry; and +we may imagine the complacency and satisfaction with which they revealed +the history of their labours and earnings to their friend Mr Barker. +He was as much pleased as they expected, and even more surprised. He +asked them how they intended to apply the money. They replied without +hesitation, to the children's school expenses; for their only object was +to make themselves less burdensome to their friends. Mr Barker would +not allow of this. He recommended them to lay by their earnings as a +separate fund, to be applied when any extraordinary occasion should +arise. He kindly added, that money so earned should bring some pleasure +in its expenditure to those who had obtained it by industry, and that he +did not see why their parlour should not in time be graced by a pair of +globes, or even a piano, honourably obtained by their own exertions. +This was a splendid prospect, and an animating one for these good girls, +and they determined to set to work again, as soon as the holidays should +afford them leisure. It was now necessary, however, to try their hands +at something else, as Mr Blyth had given notice that it would be some +months before he should want a further supply of the articles on which +they had hitherto so profitably employed their ingenuity. + +What should they next attempt? This was a difficult question to answer, +and the girls determined to look about them, and observe, and wait for +the present, and not expect to earn more money before the holidays. So +they spent their leisure time through April and May in reading and +drawing for improvement, and in work, of which their hands were always +full. + +When Midsummer came, and Jane made up her accounts at the close of her +first year of housekeeping, she thought she had every reason to be +satisfied and grateful. She had the encouragement also of Mr Barker's +warm approbation of her self-denying industry, and of her excellent +management. He gave her encouragement of another kind also. He told +her that Mr Everett had expressed his entire satisfaction in her +conduct to the children under her care, and his intention of either +raising her salary, or doing something equivalent to this, at the end of +the next year. The lady whose school Isabella and Harriet attended, +also spoke in praise of the girls to Mr Barker, and told him that their +good principles, their influential sense of religion, which was evinced +by their uniform good conduct, afforded a certain proof of excellent +management at home. She made many enquiries concerning Jane, and +determined to keep her eye on her, and to find some opportunity of doing +service to one who so well merited kindness and assistance. Mr Barker +did not tell Jane all this; but he told her enough to cause tears of +pleasure to swell into her eyes, and emotions of unspeakable gratitude +to arise in her heart. She reserved the expression of this gratitude +till, alone in her chamber, she could pour out her whole soul before Him +who had directed and upheld her steps on the narrow path of duty, and +who was now showering rich blessings upon her, and filling her heart +with peace and hope. She thanked him that he had preserved them to each +other, and yet more, that their family peace was unbroken: that they +were closely united in the love of Him and of each other. She felt that +as long as this love subsisted she could bear any trials that came from +without; and though she looked forward to probable anxieties and +difficulties, the prospect did not dismay her, so strong did she now +feel in an Almighty support, and in perfect reliance on the goodness and +mercy which was now about her, and which, she trusted, would follow her +all the days of her life. It was not indeed to be expected that every +year should pass away so smoothly. They had all enjoyed health and +comfort at home, improvement and pleasure abroad. They had gained new +friends, and so far from suffering want, their affairs bore a more +cheering aspect than they could have hoped. Their income amounted, as I +have said, to eighty pounds a year, and they had besides a house of +their own. They had been at scarcely any expense for clothes, and their +good servant Hannah had very low wages. Their expenditure this year, +under Jane's excellent management, was only fifty-six pounds: the rest +of their income, with Jane's salary of twenty-five pounds, went +therefore towards the fund which their friends had raised for the +education of the three younger ones. Charles managed to be independent, +as we know, and Isabella hoped that in four or five years she might be +so too. Jane never expected to spend so little again. She could not +hope that their house would be always so free from sickness, or that +their wants would always be so few. + +Mr Barker, after examining her accounts, and praising the accuracy with +which they were kept, congratulated her on the result. "I am glad, my +dear," said he, "that the first year has been so smooth an one. I hope +you find it an encouragement, and that you will not be dismayed if you +should meet with a few rubs before long. We all meet with rubs, and you +must expect your share." + +"Certainly," replied Jane. "I am only surprised that we have done well +so far. We owe it to your help, Sir. We could have done nothing +without you." + +"You can do some things without me, though, Jane. Remember you earned +five guineas, without my knowing any thing of the matter. I cannot tell +you how glad I am that Isabella is likely to prove a good help to you. +She is a sweet girl, and will do us honour, when a few years have +brought out her talents. But, my dear, she works very hard, and she is +too young to work all day long. My wife is going to take the children +to the sea, in July: if you will spare Isabella, a fortnight's run by +the sea will bring more colour into her cheeks, and make her ready to +begin school with new spirit." + +Jane was beyond measure gratified by the indulgence offered to Isabella. +She most thankfully accepted the kindness; and we cannot better close +this part of our little history than by leaving our readers to imagine +the actual happiness and hopeful anticipations of Jane, her sisters and +brother, at the close of the first year, which had bound them together +in those ties, the tenderness and strength of which only the fatherless +can understand. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +Few events worth recording happened during the next summer, autumn, and +winter. The return of Mr Rathbone to London, which did not take place +till the month of May, was the first remarkable circumstance which I +have to relate. He asked Charles to dine at his house the Sunday after +his arrival at home, and various and most kind were the enquiries he +made about the whole family. He saw some specimens of Isabella's +drawings, which pleased him much, and he expressed great satisfaction +when he heard that Harriet was making excellent progress in music. He +listened with benevolent interest when Charles spoke of Jane's +exertions, of the mother's care which she bestowed on those who stood +almost in the place of children to her. This was a subject on which +Charles loved to speak, when he could find an auditor who could +comprehend and would sympathise with his feelings. Such a listener he +was aware that he now had, and his heart warmed more and more towards +his benefactor with each moment in which he was allowed to dwell on a +sister's praises. At length Mr Rathbone enquired how he who was so +ready to make known the exertions of others, was himself going on in the +world. "If you do not object to give me your confidence, Charles," said +he, "I am as much interested in your concerns, as in your sisters." + +Charles thanked him, and said there was but little to tell; and that +little he communicated at once. He told Mr Rathbone the amount of his +salary, and that of his expenditure. He told him how he was +endeavouring to qualify himself for a higher situation, and what were +the hopes which he ventured to indulge of affording his sisters some +substantial assistance in time. At present he could do but little: the +first year he had by great self-denial saved three pounds. This year he +hoped to send Jane a five pound note on Midsummer Day, and in a year or +two he had the prospect of a large salary. + +Mr Rathbone questioned him closely as to his manner of living, and his +plans of economy. Accustomed as he was to a very lavish expenditure, +such economy as Charles's struck him with wonder; and he was surprised +to find that so far from being despised by the young men among whom he +was thrown, Charles was regarded with respect by all, with affection by +some. He did not live in close, grudging solitude: he had lost none of +the spirit of generous sociality which he brought with him to London, +and preserved there, in spite of its chilling and counteracting +influences. He was benevolent; he was generous. His purse he could in +conscience open to none but his sisters; but his heart was open, his +head was busy, and his hands were ready, whenever an opportunity of +doing good occurred. Some of the young men with whom his situation +connected him, gave entertainments to their friends, or made parties to +go to places of public amusement. Charles could not do this; nor did he +wish to offer, or accept, obligations of this kind; but all his +companions readily acknowledged, from their own experience, that Charles +had both the power and the inclination to do good. One had been ill, +and had been nursed by Charles night and day, or as much of the day as +he could call his own, so carefully and tenderly, that he owed his +recovery in part, and the whole of what alleviation his disease +admitted, to his benevolent care. Another had displeased Mr Gardiner, +it was feared irremediably; and the young man would have gone to ruin, +if Charles had not with indefatigable patience brought down his high and +perverse spirit to the tone of apology and due humiliation; and, +moreover, ventured to moderate his master's somewhat unreasonable anger. +He got no thanks from either of them at the time: but he did not want +thanks, and gained his end, which was, to see the youth re-established +in his respectable situation. The hour of gratitude came at last, and +Charles now knew that he might command every possible service from the +youth whom he had obliged, and who was now proud to call him friend. He +had rendered Mr Gardiner an essential service by informing him of the +malpractices of some of the inferior people on the premises, which no +one else had the courage to expose; and the widow with whom he lodged +was obliged to him for her release from the oppression of a tyrannical +landlord, who dared not trouble her, when he found that a spirited youth +was her friend, who would not sit still and see her ill treated, while +courage and activity could procure a remedy. + +When we think that to these important services were added hourly +kindnesses, most acceptable in the intercourses of social life; when we +remember that where Charles was, there was cheerfulness, kindness, an +open heart, a quick eye, and a ready hand to do good; we shall not +wonder that he was beloved, though poor, and respected, though humble. +Mr Rathbone was not, could not be, aware of all these things, but he +heard Charles speak of the kindness that he experienced, and then it was +easy to guess that it was earned by kindness shewn. + +"I forget," said he, "how long it is exactly, since you came to London." + +"Two years next month, Sir." + +"And have you not seen your sisters in all that time?" + +"No, Sir; nor have I any near prospect of seeing them. I do not venture +to wish it, for fear of growing discontented. The girls are happy, and +so am I; and we do not repine because we cannot reach an unattainable +pleasure." + +"I will try, Charles, whether it be unattainable. Two years of industry +and self-denial deserve a reward. I will call on Mr Gardiner +to-morrow, and beg for a fortnight's holiday for you. If I can obtain +it, we will send you down to Exeter in a trice." + +Charles's gratitude was inexpressible. In spite of his struggles, the +tears started from his eyes. In a moment, his home and its beloved +inmates rose up to his memory, and awakened his affections with an +energy and vividness which he had never experienced before, in the +deepest of the many reveries in which they had been presented to his +fancy. Mr Rathbone understood his feelings, and so little doubted of +being able to obtain this favour, that he tried to work up still more +the ecstasy of hope which he had excited. "I have no doubt Mr Gardiner +will spare you, Charles: you can be off by to-morrow night's coach." + +But Charles had not so far forgotten common things in his joy, as to be +unmindful that Jane would lose half the pleasure of his visit, if it was +paid while she was engaged for the greater part of the day with her +pupils. He knew that she was to have a fortnight's holiday at +Midsummer, and he felt that it would be but justice to her, and the best +economy of pleasure for himself, to defer his visit till that time, if +possible. He did long, to be sure, to be off at once, and to take them +by surprise, and he was afraid the intervening month would appear +dreadfully long; but he felt that this was childish. He stated the case +to Mr Rathbone, and begged that the request might be for the last week +of June and the first of July. + +He was much surprised to see a dark cloud pass over Mr Rathbone's brow +while this explanation was being made: he could not believe it caused by +any thing he had said, and therefore took no notice of it. The reply +was, "It is not likely, _Sir_, that Mr Gardiner should let you choose +your own time. I will mention it, however, and see what he says. I +suppose you will not refuse to go now, if you cannot be spared +afterwards?" + +Poor Charles said what he thought best; but he was so astonished and +grieved to have given offence, that his words did not come very readily. +He tried in vain to forget Mr Rathbone's look and words; but, in spite +of himself, he could not help endeavouring to account for what was +unaccountable, and watching his benefactor's looks with intense anxiety. + +The coldness passed off, and Mr Rathbone dismissed Charles with his +usual kindness. Mrs Rathbone desired him not to trouble himself to +call, if he should go the next night; but that, if his departure should +be delayed for a month, she should wish to see him again. He would find +her at home any morning before one o'clock. + +The next day, about noon, Charles received a note, the contents of which +were as follows. + + "Dear Charles,-- + + "I have called on Mr Gardiner this morning, and he grants you leave + of absence from the moment you read this till Wednesday fortnight; so + that you have two clear weeks' holiday, and two days for going and + coming. Mr G. can better spare you now than afterwards; so I hope + you and your sister will find or make time for what you have to say to + each other. I do not intend that this journey should break your five + pound note. Let your sister have it, as you intended, and pay your + expenses with that which is inclosed. I hope you will get a place in + this night's coach, and that all will go well with you till we meet + again. + + "Mrs Rathbone wishes you much pleasure, and requests you to take + charge of the accompanying letter to Jane. + + "I am yours very sincerely,-- + + "Francis Rathbone." + +The inclosure was a ten pound note. Charles stood bewildered. The +pressure of the time, however, made him collect his thoughts, and +determine what was to be done. He first ran to the counting-house to +thank Mr Gardiner briefly, but gratefully, for his indulgence. He next +wrote a note, warmly expressive of his feelings, to Mr Rathbone: one of +his friends in the warehouse engaged to leave it at the door that +evening. Then Charles ran as fast as possible to secure a place in the +coach. After some doubt and anxiety, he succeeded. He then bid his +companions good-bye, and went to his lodgings to pack his little trunk +and pay his bill. He then dined at a chop-house, and found that he had +a clear hour left before it was time to depart. He did not hesitate how +to employ it. There was a poor, a very poor family, who lived a little +way from his lodgings, whose misery had caused Charles many a +heart-ache. The mother was a daughter of the widow who was Charles's +landlady, and it was through her that he knew any thing of them. Some +trifling services he had been able to render these poor people, but with +money he had not been able to assist them. Now, however, he felt +himself so rich, from Mr Rathbone's bounty, that he thought he might +indulge himself by bestowing a small present before his departure. He +knew that one of the children was ill, and required better nourishment +than their poverty could afford. He went to them, saw the child, sat +with it while the mother went out to buy food with the half-crown which +he had put into her hand, and left them with a light heart, followed by +their blessings. + +Who was ever happier than Charles at this moment? Whichever way his +mind turned, it met only thoughts of peace and hope. The novelty of a +journey, the freshness and beauty of the country in the brightness of a +sweet evening in spring, the thought of two whole weeks of leisure, and +of the sweet family intercourse which was to endear it, gratitude for +benefits received, the sweet consciousness of benefits bestowed, all +conspired to make him inexpressibly happy. His imagination represented +to him all the possible situations in which the meeting with his family +might take place. He was well enough acquainted with the house to fancy +what the interior looked like; and he planned, in his fancy, where each +of the family would be sitting, what each would be doing, and how each +would express the astonishment and pleasure which his arrival must +excite. + +At length he fell asleep, and continued so, except for the occasional +intervention of some pleasant dreamy thoughts, till the sunrise again +roused him to the observation of the exquisite beauties of the fresh +morning. The hours now passed less rapidly away, and he found his +emotions becoming so tumultuous, that he tried to turn his thoughts upon +indifferent subjects, and to enter into conversation with his +fellow-passengers. As the day advanced, he became impatient of being +shut in, so that he could catch only a confined view of the beautiful +country through which he was passing, and he therefore took his seat on +the roof of the coach. He sat next to a young man, who soon made +acquaintance with him, and whom he found a very agreeable companion. +His name Charles could not ascertain, but he found that he lived at +Exeter, and it was interesting to them both to talk of persons and +places with which both were familiar. In the afternoon, when they were +still busy talking, and reckoning that four hours more would bring them +to their journey's end, the coach stopped at a public-house by the road +side, which the coachman entered, leaving a man at the horses' heads to +take care of them. Some one called the man, and he left his charge, and +the passengers did not for some moments perceive that he had done so, +till something passed which caused the horses to start. Several men ran +at once to catch the reins: this frightened the leaders yet more, and +they set off at full gallop. Charles was sitting in front, and his +companion, with much presence of mind, got over and seated himself on +the box, and caught the reins. He attempted to pull in, but the screams +of some of the passengers were enough of themselves to terrify any +horses, and the young man's strength began to fail before they relaxed +their speed at all. Still there was a wide road before them, with no +apparent obstruction, and Charles, who tried to keep himself calm, hoped +that the horses would soon be tired, and slacken their pace. He saw his +companion's strength failing, and he leaned over and said, "Keep on one +minute more and we shall do," when, most unfortunately, a waggon turned +out of a field by the road side. The leaders turned sharp round, and +upset the coach close by the hedge. Charles's fall was broken by the +hedge, and he rose in a moment, with no other hurt than a few scratches +from the briars; but such a dreadful scene of confusion met his view, +that, though his first thought was to give help, he knew not where to +turn. He looked for his companion, but could not see him, and hearing +the most dismal screams from the inside of the coach, he entreated one +or two persons, who were standing shaking their limbs, and apparently +unhurt, to help him to get out the passengers. It was some time before +they comprehended what he meant, and longer still before they could +collect their senses sufficiently to be of any use. At length, however, +Charles and another man climbed on the body of the coach, and pushed +down the window. Two young ladies and a Quaker gentleman were inside. +The latter said to Charles, "Lend me thy hand, for I am uppermost, and +then we will rescue the others: there is not much harm done, I hope." + +One of the ladies continued to scream so loud, that it was difficult to +make her understand that she must use her own limbs in getting out. By +main force, however, she was hauled through the window, and set on her +feet. The Quaker gentleman said to her, "I recommend thee to be more +quiet, if thou canst; if not, thou hadst better go a little out of the +way, that we may know what we are doing. There is a stile yonder: sit +there, and I will bring thy friend to thee." + +The lady was able to comprehend this, and she accordingly moved away. +There was more difficulty in rescuing her companion, who was really +hurt: her arm was injured, and she was in great pain. She was quiet, +however, and exerted what strength she had. Charles led her to some +grass at a little distance: he hastily spread her cloak, and laid her +down, and called her companion to her. When he reached the scene of +disaster again, he was shocked to find that an outside passenger was +killed. He was a dreadful object, and nothing was to be done, but to +move him out of sight as quickly as possible. Still Charles looked +round in vain for his companion; but when the noise had a little +subsided, he thought he heard a faint groan from beneath the huge +box-coat which was lying close by. Charles lifted it, and saw his +companion lying with a large trunk upon one leg. He seemed in great +agony, and unable to move. Charles called the Quaker gentleman. They +gently lifted the trunk, and saw a sickening sight. The leg was +dreadfully crushed. Charles for a moment turned away, but, ashamed of +his weakness, he, with the Quaker's approbation, loosened the shawl +which he wore round his neck, and wrapped it about the injured leg. +They then raised the poor youth, and seated him on the trunk, and tried +to ascertain whether he had received any other injury. They could not +detect any, but the sufferer was in so much pain, that they could not be +sure. Charles beckoned to the waggoner, who was assisting the other +passengers, and enquired whether there was any house nearer than the +public-house which they had left, where the wounded passengers could be +taken in for the present. + +The man answered that there was none, and that they were three miles +distant even from that. + +Charles engaged him to convey the ladies and the young man in his +waggon, which was filled with straw, and the people from the +public-house having by this time reached the scene of disaster, the +Quaker gentleman was able to accompany them. They therefore looked out +their luggage, deposited the young man and the two ladies in the waggon, +and returned to the public-house on foot. By the way they agreed what +was further to be done. The Quaker thought the two ladies would be able +to reach Exeter that night, and would prefer doing so to remaining in +the inconvenient and crowded public-house. If the coach was able to +proceed, so much the better; if not, a chaise could probably be +procured. As for the young man, he must certainly remain; he was in no +condition for travelling. + +"I do not know," said Charles, "how you are circumstanced. We must not +leave this poor youth; one of us must take charge of the ladies, and the +other remain with him. Will you take your choice?" + +"My wife is ill," replied the Quaker, "and I fear would be in terror, if +she should hear of the accident, and not see me, even if I assured her +of my welfare by my own hand. I should therefore prefer returning. But +perhaps thou hast calls equally pressing?" + +"No, I have not," replied Charles. "No one expects me: my family do not +know that I am on my way to them: the matter therefore is decided." + +"Not quite," said the Quaker. "The one who remains will have some +painful scenes to go through. Thou art young: canst thou bear them?" + +"I will _try_ to bear them," replied Charles. "My heart aches for this +young man, but it will be a comfort to be of service to him. We must +learn his name, and you will call at his house as soon as you arrive, +and inform his family; and some of them had better return in the chaise +with a surgeon; for I suppose there is no medical advice to be had +hereabouts." + +"Probably not," replied the Quaker. "It is now nearly six: if we can +procure a chaise without delay, in nine or ten hours hence his friends +may be with him, and thou wilt be in part relieved from thy charge." + +"He will be able to command himself," said Charles, "at least, if I may +judge from his presence of mind at the time of the accident; and I shall +therefore know better what to do, than if he were as unmanageable as +that young lady." + +"Her agony was so great," replied the Quaker, "that it would make one +think that fear is, for the time, a greater evil than actual pain. Her +sister (for I conclude they are sisters) was quiet enough; but it was +beyond my power to stop her screams. Tell me how thy companion acted, +for, being inside, I do not know." + +Charles related how the youth had endeavoured to stop the horses. + +"He indeed shewed self-command," said the good man, "and I am afraid he +will have occasion to exercise all his resolution. I have no hope that +that leg can be cured; but I hope his life is not in danger!" + +"Can you," said Charles, "give me any directions respecting his +treatment? Is there any thing to be done besides making him as easy as +I can?" + +"Nothing, that I am aware of," replied the Quaker. "I think thou wilt +not have much need of thy purse for these few hours, or I would ask thee +whether it is well filled?" + +Charles thanked him, and assured him that no assistance of that kind was +wanted. + +By this time they had reached the public-house, and the young man was +soon laid on a bed, in a decent though not very quiet apartment. On +enquiry being made, it was found that no chaises were to be had there, +but that a return chaise would probably pass very soon. The ladies were +so incapable, one from pain, the other from terror, of judging what was +best to be done, that the Quaker gentleman decided every thing for them. +He directed the lady's arm to be bathed and hung in a sling, and +advised them to accompany him in the chaise to Exeter, as soon as it +should pass. Charles meanwhile was sitting by the bedside of the +injured man, trying to ascertain the necessary particulars of his name, +place of residence, etcetera. He was now able to speak, and said his +name was Monteath, that his father and mother lived in -- Street, +Exeter, and that Mr Everett was the surgeon whom he wished to attend +him. He said, "Are you going directly? must you leave me now?" + +"I shall not leave you till your friends arrive," replied Charles. +"Some of our fellow-passengers will carry our message to Exeter." + +"Thank you! God bless you!" were the only words in answer. Presently +he said, "Who are you? You have not told me your name." + +Charles told his name. + +"Forsyth!" exclaimed Mr Monteath; "surely you are the brother of Miss +Forsyth, whom I have seen at Mr Everett's!" + +"I am," said Charles. + +"Then do not stay with me," said the youth; "your sister will be +terrified when she hears of the accident." + +Charles explained that his sisters did not expect him. He then enquired +whether he did not suffer less than at first. + +"Yes, I am rather easier," replied Monteath, "but still it is dreadful +pain. However, I shall have worse to go through before I am better. I +see what is before me: I do not wish to be blind to it." + +"I am glad you are not blind to it," replied Charles. "You have +strength of mind and self-command, and if you can keep up for a few +hours, the worst will be over. Your present calmness assures me that +you will keep up." + +"I know not," replied Monteath. "Thoughts come crowding upon me faster +than I can bear. This pain is not the worst: yet Oh! how it weakens me! +I ought to feel, even at this moment, that all is right, that this +suffering is for my good." + +"It is," said Charles; "and it is this thought which has comforted me +for you. In a few hours you will, I trust, be at ease, and, after that, +all will come easy to you. In the mean time, think whose hand has +brought this evil upon you, and remember that he is pitying your pain. +He also gives strength and courage to those who ask for them." + +"I will seek for them," replied Monteath. "Leave me for a while: I will +try to compose my mind, and strengthen myself for these hours of pain." + +Charles drew the curtains round the bed, and sat down in the +window-seat. He did feel sick at heart. His head throbbed, and his +heart beat thick, when he thought of the agony he had witnessed, of what +was yet to be undergone by his companion, and of the dreadful disclosure +which must be made to the father and mother, who were now probably +counting the minutes as they flew, in the hope of a joyous meeting with +their son. By degrees, he became aware that he was looking only at the +dark side of the picture. He reproached himself for overlooking the +mercies which had attended this dispensation. His own preservation, +that of many besides, that only one life was lost among so many, that +the suffering had fallen upon those who were apparently the best able to +bear it; and he was not forgetful that the warning which was afforded +them all of the uncertainty of life, and health, and peace, was of +itself a great mercy. He now remarked the sun disappearing behind the +hills, and remembered how he had watched it declining in the heavens, +with the confident expectation that the hours of succeeding darkness +would be spent in the home of his sisters; that, before the sun should +rise again, he would have embraced them, have looked on their faces, and +heard their voices, and exchanged affectionate greetings with them. Now +the night was to be passed beside the bed of pain, and the sunrise would +find him, probably, exhausted and spiritless, and still far from those +he loved. "What a little way can we see!" thought Charles: "how +uncertain should we ever feel of the future! how prepared for whatever +may happen! how grateful for every exemption from suffering! I am not +happy now; I cannot be happy while one is near me who is suffering +severely: but let me be grateful: let me remember my preservation from +personal injury, and let me trust that those who suffer will find +strength and comfort from Him who has blessed and preserved me." + +While these thoughts passed through his mind, tears coursed each other +down his cheeks. He did not check them, for he found relief from these +quiet tears. He was, meantime, not forgetful of his charge: he listened +to his breathing; it was, at first, loud and irregular, as of one in +pain, and now and then a deep sob could be heard. Still Charles sat +quiet, for he judged rightly that Monteath would be better able to +compose himself, if left undisturbed. By degrees, his breathing became +more regular, and all was so quiet, that Charles hoped he was at ease, +if not asleep. Meanwhile it was becoming dark, and as night advanced, +the public-house was more quiet, and Charles entertained the hope that +his friend might be strengthened for his approaching suffering, by a few +hours of repose. When the last tinge of brightness had faded from the +clouds, and was succeeded by total darkness, Charles still remained in +the window-seat: he would not procure a light for fear of noise; and he +continued to look out, though nothing was to be seen, but a servant +occasionally crossing the yard with a lantern, which cast a dim gleam +through the room. The ticking of his watch was the only sound that he +heard. It was too dark to see what time it was, but when he imagined he +had been sitting about two hours, the loud ringing of a bell broke the +silence, and disturbed poor Monteath, who had really been asleep. He +attempted to move, but the attempt extorted a deep groan. Charles +sprang to the bedside, and spoke to him. "You are in pain again," said +he, "but you have been easier, and will be so again soon." + +Monteath could not answer him. + +Charles rang for a light. It was brought, and Monteath asked what +o'clock it was. It was near eleven. "No more!" said he, and he +enquired how soon his father and mother could be with him. Charles +thought in four or five hours, and he told his friend that if he would +be prevailed on to take a little refreshment, he thought he might sleep +again. + +"O, no, do not ask me to move," replied Monteath. + +"You need not move," replied Charles. "I will give it you, while you +lie still: but indeed you need it." + +"I will," said Monteath. "But have you been beside me all this time, +without any refreshment? You must be quite exhausted. Pray go down and +have some supper: I shall not want you just now: why did you not leave +me?" + +Charles, though little inclined to eat, consented to have some supper +brought up, but he would not leave his friend. He asked Monteath if he +had not enjoyed his repose. + +"It was a great rest," was the reply; "but I believe I have had my poor +mother in my mind almost all the time. I am afraid she is more unhappy +than I am at this moment." + +"But when she hears that you have slept, and when she sees you able to +speak, and even to comfort her, as I think you will, she will be +relieved." + +"They will have Mr Everett with them," said Monteath, "and he is a kind +and judicious friend. It is he who must free me from this pain," added +he. "I hope I shall not hate him for the office, as I have heard that +some people hate their surgeons, in spite of themselves." + +"No fear of that," said Charles. + +"I hope they will not delay it," said Monteath. "I would fain hope that +in twelve hours, it will be over. I almost think it cannot be worse +than what I suffered when I was lying on the road, before you found me." + +"Probably not so bad, and most probably much sooner over. Some people +would think me wrong in letting you speak of this, but I think it will +do you no harm. You would think about it at all events, and it makes +anticipated evils less, to talk rationally about them." + +"You are right," said Monteath. "I have been looking steadily at the +whole matter, and I want to ask you one thing. Mr Everett will perhaps +bring no assistant. If he does not, will you, can you, stand by, and +prevent my father from being present? I know he will insist on it, if +no friend is at hand but Mr Everett." + +"I can, and I certainly will," replied Charles. "I have never attempted +any thing of the kind, but I think I can make my resolution equal to the +occasion. If I can be of use, I shall not think of myself." + +"Thank you, thank you," replied Monteath. "Things might have been worse +with me yet. There might have been no one who would have had compassion +on me, no friend who would have comforted me as you are doing." + +"I can do little," said Charles. "There is a better friend with you, +who can yield support when earthly friends are far away, or too feeble +to give comfort. I hope you feel this." + +"I do now, more than ever in my life before. Just now, I was in too +much pain to think of any thing: but I am easy enough to think, and +speak, and listen, at present. Have you a Bible with you?" + +Charles instantly produced his Bible, and asked his friend what he +should read. + +"The forty-second and forty-third Psalms first," said Monteath. + +Charles read them, and afterwards chose a chapter in the New Testament, +and with pleasure he perceived that Monteath appeared more and more +tranquil, and in a little time he enjoyed the repose which his exhausted +frame required. + +He slept till three o'clock, and was then too anxious for the arrival of +his father and mother to rest again. Charles attempted to interest him +in conversation, and he was interested; but he started at every little +noise, and to say the truth, Charles was little less nervous than +himself. At length, almost before they could reasonably expect it, they +distinctly heard a chaise drive up. + +"O, go, go!" cried Monteath. "Go and bring them to me!" + +"Not yet," said Charles, firmly. "I will go to them, but they must not +see you till I can tell them that you are more calm. Compose yourself, +and remember that the best comfort you can give them is to see you +tranquil. I will tell them that you have slept, and in a few minutes +you shall see them; in the mean time compose yourself." + +Charles went down stairs, and the first meeting with Mr and Mrs +Monteath was very painful. He was glad, however, to give them some +comfort, and he spoke as cheerfully as he could of the night which his +friend had passed. Presently he conducted them to their son's chamber, +and left them at the door. Mr Everett enquired the particulars of the +accident, and the extent of the injury, as far as Charles could judge of +it. He shook his head, when he had heard the particulars, and said he +feared there was no help for it, but that the leg must be amputated. + +"Thinking this would be necessary," he said, "I brought an assistant +with me; and I am glad I did, for delay would be dangerous; and I +suppose there is no surgeon near. Is your friend prepared for it?" + +"Perfectly," replied Charles: "and he thinks the sooner it is done, the +better. How soon will it be, Sir?" + +"Directly, if it has to be done," replied Mr Everett, "but you know I +have not seen him yet, and therefore cannot be sure that it will be +necessary." + +Mr and Mrs Monteath came down presently, and told Mr Everett that +their son wished to see him. Before he went, he told them that he +should recommend their trying to get some rest. + +"Now that your son has seen you, he will sleep again," said he, "and I +wish to remain alone with him for two or three hours. He will not rest +if you are beside him, so you must trust him with me, and our young +friend will bring you news of him from time to time." + +The father and mother were obliged to consent: they retired, and Charles +took his station in the next room to his friend. In a few minutes Mr +Everett's assistant came out of the chamber, and soon after returned +with a servant, and there were signs of preparation which were sickening +to poor Charles. He made a great effort to forget himself, however, and +gently opening the chamber door, asked if he could be of use. + +"You can, Sir, if you think yourself able," replied Mr Everett. "I +believe we may trust you, for you are aware of the importance of +self-command just now. I advise you to take a glass of wine, and then +go and speak to your friend, and we will call you when we want you." + +Charles did so. + +"Your mother has gone to lie down," he whispered; "by the time she +wakes, we shall have comfort to give her, and you will be better able to +see her." + +Monteath pressed his hand. "I am better than I was," said he; "stronger +in mind, too. I do believe I dreaded seeing my mother more than any +thing else." + +Mr Everett now approached the bed, and in a short time, which, however, +appeared to Charles as if it never would be over, the painful thing was +done, and Monteath was in bed again. Charles remained beside him, and +in an hour the patient was once more in a sound sleep. Mr Everett went +then to tell his father and mother what had been done. They were +dreadfully agitated at first, but the sight of their son in deep repose +calmed them, and every thing was soon so comfortably arranged, that +Charles thought his assistance was no longer needed. He went to bed, +rested till the middle of the day, and in the afternoon proceeded with +Mr Everett to Exeter, the assistant being left behind with the patient, +and Mr Everett promising to return the next day but one. Monteath did +not | know how to express his gratitude, and his parents' +acknowledgments were painful to Charles, who felt that in common +humanity he could not have done less than he had done. They however +thought differently, and were grateful, not only for what he had done, +but for the manner of doing it; and felt very sure, that, painful as +that night had been to Charles, every recollection of it would bring +pleasure as long as he lived. He promised his friend that he would not +return to London without seeing him, and then set off, wondering when he +thought that his acquaintance with Monteath had been of only twenty-four +hours' standing, and that, in that time, he had been called on to +perform more painful offices of kindness, than generally devolve upon +intimate friends during a connexion of many years. + +"At this hour yesterday," thought Charles, "we met for the first time, +and now we are perhaps friends for life. It has been proved, by a fiery +trial, that Monteath has many virtues. I know, beyond a doubt, that he +is religious, that he is attached to his family, that he is considerate +to others, that he is courageous and patient. This is a great deal to +have learned in twenty-four hours. If I were to consider myself alone, +I might rejoice in this accident. I have gained a valuable friend, and +received a lesson which I shall never forget, at the expense of only a +few hours of salutary pain. But I am the last person to be considered. +Better fruits even than these may spring from this calamity, to those +who have at present suffered more from it." + +The journey with Mr Everett was cheerful and pleasant. Charles had now +the opportunity of learning a great deal about his sister Jane; and all +that he heard gave him pleasure. His home and its inmates had been +forgotten for some hours, but now he began again to anticipate the +pleasures of meeting, though with much less confidence than before. At +first he felt almost sure that something would yet happen to delay their +meeting; but when they were within five miles of the city, he began to +recognise some well-known object at every step, and to feel a quieter +hope that at length he should reach his journey's end in peace. He +started up at the first sight of the Cathedral towers, and gazed at them +till he actually passed them. Then he looked for familiar faces, and as +the chaise turned the corner into the market-place, a boy looked up from +the foot pavement, who, tall as he was, could, Charles was sure, be no +other than Alfred. "It _is_ Alfred," said Mr Everett, "going home to +tea, I guess. You will find them just sitting down to tea, the lessons +all learned, the business all done, and nothing to do but to talk and +listen." + +The chaise stopped, and Charles was soon on his way home, with his +little trunk under his arm. When Hannah answered his knock, she knew +him instantly, and started back, calling, "Miss Jane, Miss Jane!" + +Miss Jane rose from the tea-table, and she and Charles met at the +parlour door. "Charles! my dear, dear Charles! What can have brought +you? What are you here for?" + +"I am come to see you, my dearest; and you, and you," added he, turning +to the others, as they pressed round him. "I am come for a whole +fortnight. Now, dearest, I have taken you too much by surprise," for +Jane's tears flowed fast. "Come, come, compose yourself. Look up, and +smile at me." + +Jane hung on his shoulder. He led her to a chair, Isabella seated +herself on the other side, and Harriet sprung on his knee. "I should +not have startled you so," said Charles, "but I had no time to write, +and give you notice. I did not know myself, till a few hours before I +left town, that I was coming." + +"But _how_ did you come?" asked Isabella. "This is not the time when +any of the coaches arrive." + +"My dear, I must explain all that by and by: there is a long and sad +story connected with that." + +"I am glad we knew nothing about your coming," said Alfred; "for the +London coach was overturned yesterday, and we should have been afraid +that you were in it." + +"It _was_ overturned, and there was a man killed," said Charles; but he +said no more about it, for he did not feel inclined to enter at once +upon that sad subject. + +"I am afraid, Jane, I am not come at the pleasantest time for you: your +mornings are, I suppose, fully engaged, but we must make long evenings." + +"And here is one to begin with," said Jane. "We have you all to +ourselves for this evening at least. But how very tired you look! Are +you quite well?" + +"Perfectly," replied Charles, "I am only tired." + +"Come and have some tea," said Isabella. "Let me make tea to-night, +Jane, and do you sit beside Charles." + +So the happy party gathered round the table, and it would be in vain for +us to attempt to follow them through the variety of subjects which they +touched upon, or to record half that was said. After tea, Charles went +into the kitchen to speak to Hannah, and to delight her by his +affectionate remembrance. Then Jane and Harriet had to settle the +important affair of where Alfred was to sleep. He was to give up his +bed to Charles, and a little bed was made up for him, in a corner of the +same room. He declared that he would sleep on the floor rather than +that Charles should seek a lodging out of the house. + +Late in the evening a note arrived from Mrs Everett: an unusually +gracious one for her. It said that, as Miss Forsyth and her brother had +not met for so long, Mrs Everett would be sorry to keep them asunder, +for the few first days of his stay, especially as Mr C. Forsyth must +require cheering and relaxation, after the melancholy circumstances of +his journey. Mrs Everett therefore would not require Miss Forsyth to +resume her daily charge till the next Monday, and in the mean time +wished her much enjoyment of her brother's society. + +"How very kind!" exclaimed Jane. + +"How perfectly delightful!" said Charles. + +"But how should Mrs Everett know that you are here, Charles?" said +Isabella. "News must fly faster than I thought it did, if any body has +told her that you are come." + +"I will explain it all in the morning," said Charles, "it is too long a +story to tell now." + +"I wish," said Harriet, "_we_ had a holiday till Monday. If the news +has got to Mrs Everett's, it might as well spread a little further: +just as far as Mrs --'s ears." + +"I should like a holiday very well," said Isabella, "but Charles and +Jane had rather be alone, I suppose; and I had rather they should, for +part of the time." + +Charles thanked her by a kiss, for her consideration. + +It was with a deep feeling of gratitude and delight that he this evening +joined in family worship for the first time for two years. Jane read +the Psalm and chapter with a somewhat tremulous voice this evening, and +sweet and touching was that voice to her brother's ear, and he deeply +felt the words of thanksgiving which were uttered by it. "_Bless the +Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless +the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all +thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life +from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender +mercies_." + +What words could be so apt as these to express thankfulness for the +preservation of life, and for the subsequent bestowment of the sweetest +blessings which endear it to the pure and uncorrupted heart? Sweet was +it also to join with his best friends in a prayer for the continuance of +these mercies, and for the blessing of their Giver upon their enjoyment. +The weight of sadness which had still pressed upon Charles's mind, and +which nothing else had availed to lighten, was now removed by the +exercise of prayer, and with a light as well as thankful heart he +retired to rest. He awoke from refreshing sleep when Alfred rose the +next morning; and when they were assembled at breakfast, he told his +promised tale of the extraordinary events of his journey. The name of +Monteath was not unknown to the Forsyths, and Jane had seen this very +youth at the Everetts' more than once, and knew that he was a great +favourite in their family. Charles expressed his intention of calling +on his Quaker friend, if he could find him, and also at Mr Monteath's +house, to learn if any further account of his friend had arrived. Mr +Barker also was to be seen, and plans were to be laid for the employment +of the precious days of Charles's stay. Before these were half +arranged, it was time for the younger ones to be off to school; and when +the brother and sister found themselves really alone, Charles produced +Mrs Rathbone's letter, which he rightly judged must be partly on +business. It was indeed of considerable importance. + +Mrs Rathbone wrote in her husband's name, as well as her own. She said +that Jane had probably heard through Mr Barker that they hoped to be of +use to Alfred whenever it should be time to think of placing him out: +that it was time the boy should have some idea of his future +destination, and that his family should know what to look forward to. +She went on to say,-- + + "Mr Rathbone has influence in India, and if Alfred's talents are what + we understand them to be, there can be no doubt of his distinguishing + himself in the Company's service, and of procuring solid advantages to + his family. Our views for him are these. We shall take the charge of + his education at the Company's military schools, where he will be + qualified for being a military engineer in the forces in India. In + five years he will be sent out, and then he will only have to exert + himself to get forward, to distinguish himself, and probably to enrich + his family, for there are perhaps no other means by which wealth can + be so easily acquired. It appears to us that there is no other way in + which we can so effectually assist you as this; and few things can + give us more pleasure than the anticipation of the time when you will + be easy and prosperous, and look back on your present labours and + cares as on a long past dream. Alfred will rejoice to promote the + prosperity of that kind sister who devoted herself to his welfare when + he was too young to repay her cares, and that sister will rejoice in + the honour and wealth which his well directed exertions will be the + means of conferring on his family. + + "As you are all bound together by even closer ties of affection than + usually unite those of the same family, it is natural that you should + grieve at the prospect of a separation from Alfred of many years. + These separations are certainly sad things; but I have too good an + opinion of your sense and your self-command to suppose that you will + set the gratification of even your dearest and most cherished feelings + against the solid interests of the family who depend upon you, and of + whom you are the head. This is the only objection to our plan which + we anticipate from you, unless it be the consideration of health. But + this is a thing so entirely uncertain, so many die at home, and so + many sustain the trial of a foreign climate, and live to old age in + it, that we cannot foresee and calculate, and therefore should not + suffer our plans to be deranged by too much regard to this + consideration, but should trust, that, whether at home or abroad, all + will be well with those whom we love. You will let us know soon what + you think of our plan, and you will make up your mind to part with + Alfred at the end of a year from next Midsummer. In the mean time, he + had better continue at the school where he now is, and the only + direction we have to give is, that he will continue to devote his + attention to mathematics. If tolerably advanced in this branch of + study, he will set out with the more advantage in his new studies next + year. + + "We should like to see Alfred, and form our own judgment of him; and + for this purpose, and also to afford him some pleasure, we hope you + will not object to his spending a fortnight with us in the approaching + holidays. Charles will let us know when to expect him, and we will + make him as happy as we can. We have chosen the present opportunity + of developing our plan to you, as we thought you would like to have + Charles by your side to talk to concerning it. Wishing you much + enjoyment together, and assuring you of our interest in all your + concerns, I am, my dear young friend,-- + + "Most truly yours,-- + + "Sarah Rathbone." + +Charles and Jane looked at each other when they had finished reading +this letter. "Well, Jane," said Charles, "what is your opinion of it?" + +"O, Charles, I do not at all like it. But we cannot judge till we have +thought about it." + +"Let us think about it then," said Charles.--"In the first place, could +you part with Alfred for many years, if you were thoroughly convinced +that it would be for his good and ours?" + +"I could, I hope, _if_ I were convinced of that. But what good could +counterbalance all the evils of such a separation to him and us?" + +"Let us consider the good first, Jane, and then we will weigh the evil +against it. This is not a new idea to me; I had some suspicion of Mr +Rathbone's plans, and so I have thought a little about the matter. If +Alfred goes, we may have it in our power to repay our friends here the +obligations we are under to them now; (I mean, of course, the pecuniary +part of the obligation;) and we may be able to place Isabella and +Harriet in a situation in society where their talents and virtues may be +exercised with as much benefit to others, and without such painful +labour and care as will probably be their lot, if, as we have hitherto +expected, they have to work for their own subsistence. Are not these +real, solid advantages?" + +"I believe they are," replied Jane. "And you too--" + +"O, I am out of the question just now, and so are you, Jane. We must +now forget ourselves, and even each other, if we mean to decide coolly +for the good of those who depend on us. Are there any other advantages? +Is honour, fame, or whatever else we call it, a good?" + +"What kind of honour will it be?" asked Jane. "The honour of bravery, I +suppose--a soldier's glory." + +"More than that," said Charles. "He may have the reputation of talent, +of industry, and of general honourable principle." + +"This kind of reputation is valuable in many respects," said Jane; "but +it may be had at home as well as in India, better perhaps: for I do not +know how to reconcile the rapid acquisition of wealth with honourable +principle." + +"Nor I," said Charles. "Well, do you reckon this honour an advantage?" + +"I think not," said Jane. "I do not desire a mere soldier's glory for +any one I love, since it is bought by violence, and must therefore +harden the heart: and honour of a better kind may be had, as far as it +is desirable, at home." + +"I quite agree with you," said Charles. "Then again, the increase of +knowledge, and enlargement of mind, which is obtained by travelling, and +intercourse with foreign nations, is, in my opinion, a real advantage, +though Mrs Rathbone does not mention it. We are not considering how it +is counterbalanced; but is it not in itself a good?" + +"It is," said Jane; "and now I fancy we have come to the end of the +list. For power, influence, high connexions, the ability to exercise +beneficence, all come under the heads of wealth and honour: and as to +the benefit to Alfred of exerting himself for his family, that also may +be had at home, and may be all the more beneficial for the wealth not +being got so easily as in India. But _health_ is the grand objection. +I do wonder at the way in which Mrs Rathbone speaks of this. She +speaks of many who die in England as well as in India: but who does not +know the difference in the proportions? And she speaks of _trust_ too, +as if foresight and precaution were inconsistent with it." + +"And of those who live," said Charles, "how few, if any, return in +health! Mr Rathbone himself is rich: but who would take his riches in +exchange for the health he has sacrificed?" + +"Have we any right to consent to such a probable sacrifice for Alfred?" +said Jane. + +"Certainly not, in my opinion," said Charles. "But there is another +question of greater importance still--Alfred's moral welfare. His early +separation from his family would be a sad thing; but not half so fearful +as the risk of sending him into the society of the dissolute, or, at +best, the careless, where his duty will lie in scenes of bloodshed and +devastation, where his employment will be to contrive and execute plans +for spreading ruin and wasting life. Can we devote him to an employment +like this? Some may represent the matter in a different light, and say +that he is promoting the prosperity of his country and the extension of +commerce by his services. But I say, let him, if he serves his country, +serve it by innocent means; by means reconcileable to the law of God, +and to the duty which man owes to man: let him do this, even if he live +and die in hardship and poverty, rather than corrupt his mind, and +harden his heart, and become such a one as we could not love, though he +were to make himself and us as rich and powerful as the most worldly +could desire." + +"Oh, Charles, if this is all true, who could doubt for a moment? How +could Mr Rathbone think of such a plan for a moment?" + +"Different people," said Charles, "see things in a different light. Mr +Rathbone has not experienced these dangers, because he has made his +fortune by commerce, not by war. Besides, I must think Mr Rathbone a +very rare instance of the power of principle against temptation. There +are few indeed who spend their Indian wealth so generously for others, +though every one who goes out with any principle to direct him, hopes +that _he_ shall be able to hold a straight course, though almost all +others have gone astray. I could not, neither, I am sure, could you, +encourage this confidence with respect to Alfred. If he were to be +separated from us for five years before he left England, and were to +have no prospect of seeing us again for twenty or thirty years, how weak +would be the family ties, and how easily chilled the family affection on +which we should wish to depend as a safeguard to higher principles! And +as to those higher principles, _we_ could have little influence in +forming or strengthening them: we must, at the end of one other year, +commit them to the care of strangers. How little knowledge we could +have of them; how little confidence that they could be firm enough to +resist the attacks of temptations, renewed from day to day, under which +the strong have sunk, and before which the fortified have given way." + +"But Charles, my dear Charles, is this all true? Are you sure there is +no mistake? If but one hundredth part were true, I would not hesitate +for a moment." + +"Ask those who know, dear Jane: let us ask Mr Barker. Let us tell our +thoughts to Mr Rathbone himself. This is too important a matter to be +decided on our own judgments, without further knowledge; but Mr +Barker's knowledge of the fate of many youths who have been sent out to +India, will, I believe, lead him to encourage us in declining Mr +Rathbone's offer. Whatever we may think of the offer itself, Jane, we +must not forget the generosity which has been shewn in making it." + +"Certainly," said Jane, "it will be very difficult to express our sense +of such kindness; and more so still to decline it: but I hope they will +understand and even approve our feeling about it." + +The brother and sister then talked over other circumstances connected +with their affairs. Charles asked whether any new plan was in view for +the girls to earn a little more money. Jane smiled, and said that +Isabella had not been idle, but that what she had attempted was yet +unfinished, and that if Charles had not visited them, he would have +known nothing of the matter till the work was completed. The thing was +this: a French lady who had been staying at Mr Everett's in the autumn, +had shewn Jane an elegant little French work on plants. A variety of +flowers were arranged according to various peculiarities, which had +caused them to be adopted as emblems, some of royalty, others of natural +or moral qualities, etcetera. There were plates of many of the flowers, +some well executed, others very indifferently. It struck Jane at once +that Isabella might translate this work, and she borrowed it of the +French lady, that they might examine it at home. They thought, on close +examination, that the work might be improved in the translation: that +various floral emblems might be added, and that drawings, very superior +to the plates of the work, might increase its value. When Jane returned +the book, she asked its owner whether it had been translated into +English. The reply was, that the original work had only been published +a few weeks, and could not yet be well known in England. This +determined Isabella at once to make the trial. The drawings were the +most important and the most difficult part; but by the interest and +assistance of a few friends, Isabella obtained access to some excellent +botanical works and plates. Many, indeed most of the flowers, she was +able to draw from nature during the eight months that the work was in +progress; and where the flowers were so rare as to be out of her reach +altogether, there was nothing to be done but to copy from the plates of +the original work. With the translation she took great pains, and here +Jane helped her. Jane had an excellent and well-cultivated taste, and +she was therefore well fitted to judge of style, and she assisted +Isabella to re-write and polish her translation, till no foreign idiom +could be detected, and till there was no trace of the stiffness or +poverty which characterises most versions from the French. When this +was done, Jane, who wrote a much better hand than Isabella, transcribed +it, by degrees, as the drawings were finished, one by one, so that the +work was complete as far as it went. At this time, only four drawings +and about twelve pages of copying remained to be done, and then it was +to try its fate in the hands of a London bookseller. + +Charles was delighted with the plan, as Jane described it; but she would +not let him see the work till Isabella was present. She said that if it +did not answer she should be quite grieved, for that it had been the +object of chief interest to Isabella for many months, and she had been +unwearied in her application to it during all her leisure hours in that +time. They could form no idea of the sum it ought to bring them; but +Jane said she would not take less than ten guineas, and she hoped for +more. Charles shook his head, and was afraid she expected too much; but +he promised to take charge of it when he returned, if it could be +finished by that time, and to do all in his power to dispose of it +advantageously. He then enquired whether the five guineas which they +had already earned remained untouched; and on being told that it was to +lie by till they were rich enough to purchase a piano, or till some +unforeseen emergency should call it into use, he presented his own five +pound note to Jane to add to the little fund. + +Jane was most unwilling to receive the fruits of his labour and +self-denial; but she knew that he spoke the truth when he said that no +other use to which he could apply it would give him half so much +pleasure. It gave him pleasure, he said, to think that they had a +little sum of their own to go to, instead of having to apply to their +friends in case of sickness, family mourning, or any other incidental +expense likely to occur in a family consisting of several members, and +widely, though distantly, connected with many more. "It is not being +over-prudent, Jane; it is not being worldly-minded, I hope, to think in +this way, is it?" + +"I think not," replied Jane. "I am often afraid of becoming so, I +assure you, and I try to keep this fear in mind from day to day. At +present, however, we have been led on so easily, our path has been so +smoothed for us, that it seems hardly possible that we should be +unmindful _who_ it is that has disposed all things for us. _Now_ I am +reminded, day by day, how grateful I ought to be: if I become worldly, +it will more probably be when I have greater labours and anxieties to +undergo. If we can meet in this way, dear Charles, from time to time, +it will be as strong a safeguard against worldliness as we can have." + +In the course of the morning Charles called on his Quaker travelling +companion, and gave him an account of the night which he had passed with +poor Monteath, and of the circumstances under which he had left his +charge. The excellent man was much interested, and said he wished that +he could himself have remained, and saved Charles the pain of these +anxious hours. + +"My wife," said he, "was saved much fear by my speedy arrival, I hope +thy friends had no fear for thee?" + +"My sisters," replied Charles, "were not aware of my journey, as it +fortunately happened." + +"And thy father and mother: hadst thou not a father and mother to await +thy arrival?" + +Charles shortly explained his family circumstances. + +"Thy sister must have a strong mind, like thine, to conduct a household, +and to employ herself in another responsible situation also; considering +that she is yet young. Thou wilt come again?" said he, seeing that +Charles was preparing to depart, "thou wilt come again? Uncommon +circumstances have made us acquainted, and I should be unwilling to +discontinue our acquaintance, as it may be pleasant to both of us." + +Charles promised to call again. + +"My wife, as I told thee, is ill," said Mr Franklin, (for that was his +name,) "and therefore cannot go to see thy sister; but if thou wilt take +thy tea with us to-morrow, and if thy sister will disregard ceremony, +and come with thee, we shall be glad." + +Charles accepted the invitation with great pleasure, as he thought that +this respectable family might prove pleasant and valuable friends to +Jane. + +He next called on Mr Barker, who was not a little astonished at the +sight of him. Charles told him that Jane and he were anxious to have +his advice on the important subject of Mrs Rathbone's letter. Mr +Barker promised to devote the first leisure time he had to them. +Charles next called at Mr Monteath's door, to enquire concerning his +friend; but no account had arrived, or was expected before the evening. + +When the messenger arrived, he brought a favourable report. The patient +was easy, and all was going on right. He sent, by his mother's letter, +an affectionate message to Charles, and said, he hoped by the time his +father returned to Exeter to be able to write a note himself to his +friend. + +Mr Barker called in the evening to see Mrs Rathbone's letter +respecting Alfred, and to consult with Jane and her brother on the +subject. They plainly told him their feelings upon it, their dislike to +the military profession, especially. + +Mr Barker was silent, and looked thoughtful. + +"Are we wrong, Sir?" asked Charles. "Have we got high-flown or mistaken +notions about this? or is it presumptuous in us, who are so poor, and +under great obligations, to affect a choice for our brother?" + +"No, my dear boy; none of these. I was silent because I was thinking of +a sad story, and wondering whether I should tell it you. Have you quite +made up your minds to reject Mr Rathbone's offer?" + +"That depends on your opinion," said Jane. "If you shew us that +Charles's ideas of the hazard and probable misery of such a destination, +are mistaken, we must deliberate further: but if what I have heard be +true, I would as soon see Alfred in his coffin as incur so fearful a +responsibility." + +"I think what Charles has said is all true: but, my dears, you must +prepare yourselves for something which will be to you very terrible." + +"Mr Rathbone's displeasure," said Charles. "I feared that: but +grateful as we are and ought to be for his most disinterested generosity +to us, we ought to look on his gifts as curses, if they take from us the +liberty of unbiassed choice, where the moral welfare of a brother is in +question." + +"Say so in your reply to him, Charles." + +"But it may be," said Jane, "that he will not be displeased. We take +for granted much too readily, I think, that he will misunderstand us." + +"Mr Rathbone's temper is peculiar," replied Mr Barker. "A somewhat +haughty spirit was rendered imperious by the power and rank he possessed +in India. Considering this, it is wonderful that he should retain so +generous a disposition as his is; but every one knows, and Charles +himself must have observed, that he cannot bear to be opposed, +especially in any scheme of benevolence." + +Jane sighed. "At any rate," said she, "he cannot prevent our being +grateful for what he has done, and for his present kind intentions. It +is hard to be obliged to estrange such a friend, but it would be harder +still to devote Alfred to danger, and to temptations stronger than we +dare encounter ourselves." + +"The estrangement will not be your work, but his own, Jane: that is, if +you write such a letter as I expect you will. Do not let your fear of +offending cramp your expression. Speak your gratitude freely, and also +your resolution of independence. Write as freely as you have been +speaking to me." + +"May I shew you my letter, Sir, and have your opinion of it?" asked +Jane. + +"By all means," replied Mr Barker, "and the sooner it is done the +better." + +"We have been saved much pain," said Charles, "by your entire agreement +with us. I thought you would think as we did; but yet it is generally +believed a very fine thing to get a young man out to India." + +"It is," said Mr Barker: "and in my young days a brother of my own was +sacrificed to this mistaken belief. So you will not wonder that I view +the matter in the same light as you do. It is a very common story. He +left home as good and promising a youth as could be, but too young. +Fine visions of wealth and grandeur floated before him: poor fellow! he +desired them more for his family than for himself when he set out on his +career; but his affections gradually cooled as time rolled on, and the +prospect of seeing his home again was still very distant. As he thought +less of his family he thought more of himself, and gave more and more +into habits of self-indulgence. He got money very fast, and +occasionally sent some home, but squandered much more on his own +pleasures. Then, as might be expected, his health failed: he dragged on +a miserable existence for many months, till an attack of illness, which +would formerly have been overcome in two days' time, carried him off, a +feeble and unresisting prey. He was thought to have left a large +property, but it could never be got at; and I have heard my poor father +say that he was glad we never had a farthing of it, for it would have +seemed to him the price of blood. It was a mistake, however, and only a +mistake; for his welfare was the object of his parents: but it was a +mistake whose consequences weighed them down with sorrow to their dying +days." + +After Mr Barker was gone, this little family gathered together to close +the day with an hour of pleasant intercourse. Isabella's work was +produced, and extremely did Charles admire it. "Will it bring her ten +guineas?" asked Jane. + +"Twenty, or nothing," said Charles. "Only, I am no judge of these +things. You must get it done for me to take back with me, Isabella." + +Isabella thought it was impossible she could have earned twenty guineas +so easily. Not very easily, Charles thought: the leisure hours of eight +months had been spent upon this, and great efforts of perseverance and +resolution had been required. Add to this, the uncertainty and delay +and hazard which she yet had to encounter, and he thought that twenty +guineas was no more than a sufficient recompense. He told her that all +would not be over when the work was finished, but that she might have to +wait many months before she knew its fate, and it was even very possible +that it might remain on her hands. Isabella, however, had made up her +mind to be patient and to hope for the best. + +When they separated for the night, Jane whispered to her brother,--"Yes, +we will keep together and be happy. Better is poverty in this house, +than wealth in India." Charles kissed her in sign of agreement. + +The next morning Jane sat down to write her letter, with her brother by +her side. He approved the simple account which she gave of their +feelings and opinions upon the important matter, and made her add, that +she and her brother had the sanction of Mr Barker's experienced +judgment. Mr Barker had given her permission to say this, and when +Charles shewed him the letter, he approved the whole of it, and it was +therefore sealed and dispatched. Jane endeavoured to forget her fears +about the answer, and determined to bear it patiently, whatever it might +be, knowing that she had acted to the best of her judgment. During the +walk which she afterwards took with her brother she forget this subject +and every other, for he told her over again, and more completely, the +history of the night he had passed with poor Monteath. On their return +home they made enquiry again at Mr Monteath's door, and heard that the +young man was going on so well, that his father would return to Exeter +in two days. + +Charles heard from Mr Franklin that evening some further particulars +respecting Monteath's family, and respecting himself. He was in +business with his father, and had lately become a partner. They were +not supposed to be rich, but were universally esteemed for their +integrity. There were several sisters, one older, and the rest younger +than their brother; but he was the only brother, and the pride and +delight of the family. The good Quaker was evidently affected when he +spoke of the sorrow which this sad accident had brought among them, and +yet more when he spoke of an attachment which was supposed to exist +between Monteath and a young lady who was at present staying with his +sisters. Mr Franklin had been at the house that morning, and the young +ladies had expressed in strong terms their gratitude to Charles, and the +desire they had to see this friend of their brother. When their father +returned they hoped to be able to shew that they were not insensible and +ungrateful. Mr Franklin told them that Charles was to be at his house +that evening, and he promised to take him to call, if he would be +induced to go. Charles only thought himself too much honoured for what +he believed any one of common humanity would have done in his +circumstances, and he accordingly left Jane with Mrs Franklin, and +accompanied his friend to Mr Monteath's. He saw the two eldest ladies, +but not their friend, which he was glad of, for he would have found +himself tongue-tied before her. + +The wish of the young ladies was to learn, as distinctly as possible, +every thing that passed on that terrible night; and Charles related, +with perfect simplicity, every circumstance, except one or two, which he +thought would affect their feelings too deeply. He could not help +expressing his admiration of the rational and manly courage with which +his friend had met so sudden a misfortune. + +"We were not surprised at this," said his sister: "we always believed +that our brother's strength of mind would prove equal to any occasion, +however he might be tried." + +"And now," replied Charles, "it has been proved that you were right; and +you have the comfort of knowing that he is equal to any trial, for none +can now befall him more sudden and more terrible." + +"No, indeed," replied Miss Monteath; and she passed her hand over her +eyes, as if the thoughts of her brother's misfortune were too painful to +be borne. + +"I mean," continued Charles, "more terrible _at the time_: for though +you will not now be inclined to agree with me perhaps, I do not think it +will prove a very great lasting misfortune. I have known many instances +of similar deprivations, where usefulness and activity have been very +little if at all impaired." + +Miss Monteath shook her head. + +"I incline to think that my young friend is right," said Mr Franklin. +"I believe that the worst is over with thy brother and with his friends. +When he becomes accustomed to his new feelings, when he finds that art +affords valuable helps to repair an accident like this, when he finds +that he can pursue his usual employments without impediment, and that +the affection of his friends, especially of the nearest and dearest, is +enhanced by sympathy and approbation, I will even say admiration, dost +thou not think that he will be happy? I think he may be quite as happy +as he has ever been." + +"There is one thing more that you have not mentioned," said Miss +Monteath, "the acquisition of a new friend." + +"True," said the Quaker, "of a friend whose faithfulness was singularly +proved during the first hours of intercourse." + +Charles became anxious to change the subject, and asked Miss Monteath +whether she had any idea how soon her brother would be able to return +home. + +"Not for five or six weeks at the soonest," she said; and, after a few +more enquiries, Charles rose to take his leave. + +Meantime, Jane had enjoyed a very pleasant hour with Mrs Franklin. +This good lady expressed some fear lest Jane should think her +impertinent; but she was really so much interested in her situation and +circumstances, that she could not help informing herself, as fully as +her young friend would allow, of their manner of living. Jane made no +mysteries, for she was well enough acquainted with Mrs Franklin's +character to be very sure that it was not idle curiosity which made her +take so deep an interest in herself and her brothers and sisters. Mrs +Franklin ended by saying, "When I am well, I will come and see thee; but +in the mean time, thou wilt bring thy sisters here, I hope. I wish to +see them, and we have some fine prints, which will perhaps please +Isabella, as she likes such things." + +Charles and Jane congratulated each other, as soon as they were alone, +on the acquisition of such friends as the Franklins appeared inclined to +be. + +The following week passed away happily and quietly. The only remarkable +circumstance which occurred was a call from Mr Monteath and his +daughter. Jane was gratified by this mark of attention from Miss +Monteath, and Charles was no less pleased by receiving a short note from +his friend. It was as follows. + + "My dear Friend,-- + + "It is with some difficulty that I have obtained permission to write a + few lines to you. The purpose of them is to entreat you to spend a + day or two with me on your return to London, if you can spare the time + to one who has so slight a claim in comparison with your family. On + many accounts I wish to see you; but especially that I may express + something of the gratitude and friendship which I feel, but cannot + write, and which will remain a weight on my mind, unless you will come + to me. Do give me the greatest pleasure I can now enjoy. I hope I am + not selfish in urging it. Farewell. + + "Ever your grateful friend,-- + + "Henry Monteath." + +Charles had pledged himself to be in London by Wednesday; and he +therefore determined to leave Exeter on the Monday morning, and to spend +the half of Monday and Tuesday with his friend. His sisters were +grieved to lose a whole day of his society, but they made no opposition +to his plan, ready, as they always were, to give up their own wishes +when the sacrifice was required. Isabella worked hard to finish her +little book; too hard, Jane feared, for she did not look well, and was +obliged to acknowledge frequently that her head ached. On the Saturday +she set to work as soon as she returned from school, and was busy at the +last drawing all the afternoon. She completed it just before dark, and +her brother and sisters heartily congratulated her on having put the +finishing stroke to her work: but she seemed to feel little pleasure; +and as she was putting away her pencils, Jane observed that her hand +shook violently, and that her face was flushed. Charles gently +reproached her for her too anxious diligence; and she owned that she +felt very unwell, but she did not think it owing to her laborious +application. Jane urged her to go to bed; but she would not consent to +lose so many hours of Charles's society, and she persisted in sitting up +to tea. She was however unable to eat, and her headache became so +violent, and was accompanied with so overpowering a sickness, that she +could hold up no longer, and was conveyed to her bed. Jane was very +uneasy, but Isabella and Hannah both thought it might be a common sick +headache, and persuaded Jane not to send for Mr Everett that night. + +At bed-time she was very feverish, and passed a miserable night, and +when Jane went to her bedside at four o'clock the next morning, she was +terrified to find her slightly delirious. Of course she remained with +Isabella, and before breakfast-time she sent to request Mr Everett's +attendance, as soon as convenient. At six o'clock she gave her patient +some tea, and then Isabella spoke sensibly again; but she was restless, +and suffering much from headache. + +This was sad news for Charles when he came down to breakfast; and this +last day with his sisters promised to be but a melancholy one. Mr +Everett came early, and he was most anxiously questioned about his +patient. He said that she was extremely unwell certainly; but whether +it would prove a short and sharp attack of fever, or an illness of more +serious consequence, he could not at present tell. He advised that no +one should go into her room except Jane and Hannah, till they could be +quite sure that there was no fear of infection. He desired Jane not to +think of resuming her employments at his house for a week at least, both +because it would be too painful to her to leave her sister, and because +he had rather ascertain the nature of the disorder, before he exposed +his children to the least risk of infection. This did not serve to make +poor Jane less anxious. She sat by Isabella's bedside, trying to keep +down melancholy thoughts, while Charles took Harriet and Alfred to +church. The whole of the day was spent with them, and he scarcely saw +Jane at all. In the dusk of the evening, he was sitting by the parlour +window, talking to his little brother and sister, when he saw the +postman come up to the door. The arrival of a letter was a rare +occurrence, and the first idea which entered Charles's mind was that +perhaps a further leave of absence had come to cheer him and Jane, when +certainly such a comfort would be most welcome. But his heart sunk when +he saw Mr Rathbone's hand-writing on the letter which Hannah brought +in. He reproached himself for his ill-bodings as they arose, and he +asked himself why he dreaded a communication from one who had been the +kindest of friends to him, and he anticipated the shame he should feel +if, as was very likely, the letter should contain nothing but kindness. +He requested Hannah to bring candles, and then to sit with Isabella, +while Jane came down to read her letter, for it was addressed to her. +Jane opened it with a trembling hand, and Charles at once guessed its +contents when he saw it consisted of only a few lines. He caught it as +it fell from his sister's hand, and read as follows: + + "Mr Rathbone is sorry that he was prevented by an unavoidable + accident from opening Miss Forsyth's letter till yesterday. Mr R. + would have rejoiced to afford substantial assistance to the children + of an old friend; but they who can set the romantic whims of unformed + judgments against the knowledge and experience of a friend who has + passed a long life in the world, prove themselves incapable of being + guided by advice, and of profiting by well-meant and willing kindness. + Mr R. has therefore only to regret that he can be of no further + service, and to hope that Mr and Miss Forsyth will meet with other + friends, and will know better how to value and retain them." + +Jane had hid her face in her hands, and was sobbing violently, while +Charles read the letter. + +He was almost choked with emotion. + +"My poor Jane," he exclaimed, as he hung over her, "that this cruel +letter should have come just now, of all times. What a heart must that +man have who could write to you in such a way. I wish he could see you +now, that he might repent it as he ought to do." + +"O Charles!" said Jane, "remember all his kindness to us." + +"Remember it!" cried he, "it will stick in my throat as long as I live. +O that I could send him back his bank-notes and his presents, and be +free of all obligation!" + +"Nay, dear Charles, do not let us be ungrateful because he is hasty. +His former kindness is not the less noble because of the present +misunderstanding. We must be neither ungrateful nor proud." + +"It is plain enough that he never saw you, Jane, or he would have +blushed to insult such a nature as yours. I wish he could hear you +speaking of his kindness just when it is most painful to remember it: he +would feel how little he understands you." + +"Never mind what he thinks of me," said Jane, raising her head and +attempting to smile. She saw that poor Harriet was in tears, and that +Alfred was standing beside her chair with a look of deep concern. They +both felt that all seemed to go wrong with them this day, though they +knew not the cause of their sister's unaccustomed tears. + +Jane threw her arm round Alfred's neck and kissed him again and again. +"Never mind," she said again, "what Mr Rathbone thinks of us: we have +Alfred safe; we have not sacrificed him; we have done what we think is +best for our happiness; and shall we not willingly abide by our choice?" + +"Surely we will," replied her brother, "and willingly pay the price of +our independence, though it be a heavy one." + +"It is a heavy one, indeed," said Jane. "I grieve for you the most, +Charles. We can go on living as we have lived, and be only reminded +that we once had such a friend by the proofs of his kindness which we +see every day. But it is hard upon you, separated from your family as +you are, to lose your only friend in London." + +"Do not think about that, Jane; I have friends, and can make more. If +you are able to get over this pretty easily, we need only be sorry for +Mr Rathbone: it must give him great pain to think us really ungrateful. +Harriet, dear, come and tell me what is the matter. What makes you cry +so?" + +"Because you are going away, Charles; and Isabella is ill; and Jane +cried so; I am sure something is the matter." + +"But Isabella will be better to-morrow perhaps, and Jane is not unhappy +now; look at her, she is not crying now. Go and kiss her." + +"All will come right again soon, I dare say," said Jane. "Charles will +come again some time when we are all well." + +"And I shall not go to-morrow now," said Charles. "I cannot leave you +so full of care." + +"O, Charles! you will, you must go," said Jane. "You have promised, and +you must go." + +"I could not tell when I promised, that Isabella would be ill, and you +so anxious. I cannot turn my back on you at such a time." + +"You can do us no good, if you stay, indeed. I must be with Isabella, +and Harriet and Alfred will be at school; so you would be of no use, and +it would make me uncomfortable to think you were breaking your promise. +O, indeed, Charles, this is mistaken kindness." + +Charles did not know what to think: he proposed to consult Mr Barker. + +"Do," said Jane, "he will tell us what is right." + +Charles put on his hat. + +"I wonder whether we shall see you again?" said Alfred. "Harriet and I +are going to bed presently." + +Charles kissed them tenderly. "I dare say I shall see you at breakfast +to-morrow," said he: "if not, you will remember all the better what I +have been saying to you this evening. You will be grown and altered +much before I see you again. I hope I shall be able to love you then as +well as I do now, or even better." + +Mr Barker was much concerned to hear Charles's little tale of +anxieties. He advised him, however, to adhere to his promise respecting +his return to London. Charles acquiesced at once in the decision of his +friend, and was relieved by the kind promises he received that his +sisters should be watched over with as much care as if their brother +were beside them; especially that Jane should not be allowed to try her +strength too much, in case of Isabella's illness proving long or +dangerous. Charles with much emotion bid farewell to his good friend, +who said, "I cannot do for you what Mr Rathbone would have done: but +you may depend on me as a _sure_ friend at least. I hope, for his own +sake, that he will come round again: in the mean time we must be more +sorry than angry." + +"I _was_ angry," said Charles, "but Jane made me ashamed of myself: she +is as grateful to him as ever, and I will try to remember only his past +generosity." + +"Jane is a good girl, and will be made all the better by these rubs," +said Mr Barker. "However, we will smooth things for her as well as we +can." + +Charles called at Mr Monteath's to say farewell, and to take a parcel +from the young ladies to their brother. He said nothing about his +sisters, as he knew Jane had rather be left in quietness, than have her +attention to her patient interrupted, even by the kind enquiries of +friends. Mr Monteath took down Charles's address, and said he hoped to +call on him in London before long; and he earnestly desired that any of +the family would apply to him in any case where his advice or assistance +could be of service. + +As Charles went home he thought with pleasure how his circle of friends +appeared to be widening. He who was poor, and could only do good by +seizing accidental occasions, he who had, in his own opinion, nothing to +recommend him to the notice of his superiors, had gained friends whose +present kindness was delightful to him, and on the steadiness of whose +regard there was every reason to rely. He and his sister agreed, before +they separated for the night, that, though they had some cares, they had +peculiar blessings; that, though one friend was unhappily estranged, new +and valuable supports were gained: and that valuable as these supports +were, there was One infinitely more precious, whose love no error can +overcloud, no repented sin alienate; who in sorrow draws yet nearer than +in gladness, and sheds his own peace over the hearts which humble +themselves under his chastening hand. + +It had been arranged that Hannah should sit up with Isabella for the +first half of the night, and that Jane should take her place at three +o'clock in the morning: as by this means she might see Charles before +his departure at five o'clock. + +Mr Everett had called again in the evening. He saw no signs of +improvement in his patient, and was sorry to observe the great reduction +of strength which had taken place within a few hours. He was now pretty +sure that the fever would prove a serious one. What he said had given +Jane no comfort; but she endeavoured to brace up her mind to meet her +cares, and she found, as most in her situation do find, that her +strength proved equal to her trial. In a melancholy, but not a restless +state of mind, she laid her head on her pillow, and having enjoyed the +relief of expressing her cares and fears to Him who alone could remove +them, she fell asleep, and continued so, till Hannah called her at four +o'clock, instead of three, as she had been desired. Jane afterwards +asked her the reason, and good Hannah declared that she could not find +in her heart to disturb so refreshing a repose, till it was time to call +Mr Charles also. + +"Thank you, Hannah," said Jane; "but the next time we divide the night, +I must take the first half, and you the last." + +Isabella had slept but little, and though not delirious, was restless +and uncomfortable. Her mind was full of Charles's departure, and of her +wish to see him again. She even wished to get up and meet him at the +room door, if Jane would not allow him to breathe the air of the sick +chamber. Jane was more prudent, however, than to expose Charles to the +risk of infection, and she brought Isabella to be content with a +cheerful message of love, which she knew Charles would send. Charles +was yet more grieved than his poor sister to depart without exchanging a +word or a kiss; for he could not keep off the thought that he might +perhaps see her no more. There was no knowing; she might perhaps be no +nearer death than the others; but it was a great grief to leave her so +ill, and without saying farewell. He sent her a note, however, and +promised to write frequently to her, and with this she was obliged to be +satisfied. + +Never had poor Jane felt the trial of separation so much: the trial +itself was greater, and she had no liberty to indulge her feelings. She +could not leave Isabella, and she could not give way to tears before +her, nor even speak to her of her sorrow. She smiled and spoke +cheerfully, though her heart was heavier than it had ever been. Charles +was not much happier; but they had both the consciousness of being +useful to cheer them, and Charles really expected much pleasure from +intercourse with Henry Monteath. He arrived at the well-known +public-house by breakfast-time: he had recognised the very spot on the +road where the coach was upset, and was himself surprised at the +involuntary shudder which the sight of it caused. + +Mrs Monteath met him on the stairs, and welcomed him kindly. She said +that her son was impatient to see him, and would be on his sofa, and +prepared for a long day of pleasure, by the time Charles had finished +his breakfast. In the mean time she conveyed to Henry the parcel which +Charles had brought from the young ladies. + +In answer to his very anxious enquiries, Mrs Monteath said that her +son's recovery had been as favourable as possible: this was partly owing +to the cheerful state of his mind, of which, she said, Charles would be +able to judge when he conversed with him. She said she was surprised +every day to find how easy she herself was: but she supposed that the +pleasure of witnessing his daily progress, made her unmindful of what +her son had gone through, and of the trials and deprivations he yet had +to encounter. Charles thought this a very natural and happy thing, and +he told Mrs Monteath, what he himself believed, that these deprivations +would be much less formidable in reality than in anticipation. Mrs +Monteath was an anxious mother, and she asked Charles many particulars +about her family: how they were in health and spirits; how they spoke +respecting their brother; and many other things. Charles told her all +that had passed the evening before, during his visit, and observed that +when he mentioned Miss Auchinvole, the friend of the young ladies, Mrs +Monteath's countenance expressed peculiar interest. Charles had not +much to say about her, for she had scarcely spoken, but he could not +help saying how much he had been struck by her appearance and manner. +She looked pale and anxious, but she smiled occasionally; and there was +a sweetness in that smile which Charles thought must make its way to any +heart. He freely told Mrs Monteath what he thought, and far as he was +from wishing to learn from her manner any family secrets, he could not +help believing from the tears which rose to her eyes, and the mournful +smile with which she listened to the praises of Margaret Auchinvole, +that the friendship between her and Henry Monteath was of a dearer +nature than that in which his sisters bore their part. Charles +earnestly hoped that this might be the case, and that when restored to +health, a happiness, to which this accident need, he thought, oppose no +impediment, might be in store for his friend. + +Charles observed that there was much more appearance of comfort in the +little parlour now than when he saw it before. Mrs Monteath told him +that the people of the house were willing and obliging, and that she had +contrived by various means to collect comforts round them, and to make +their two rooms fit for the accommodation of an invalid, in preference +to hazarding a removal, which might have been dangerous, and which her +son dreaded more than any thing. She hoped in another week to remove +him to lodgings in a farm-house, about four miles off, and in a month or +five weeks to take him home. + +When Charles entered Monteath's chamber, he saw him lying on his sofa, +looking very pale and weak, but with a cheerful countenance. He eagerly +held out his hand to Charles, and welcomed him with a smile and words of +great kindness. Mrs Monteath left them together. + +"I rejoice to see you so much better and happier than when I left you," +said Charles. + +"Much better and much happier," replied he. "I am glad that you have +seen me again; for I am sure all your thoughts of me must have been +melancholy thoughts; and I wish that my friend should see me in other +hours than those of weakness and misery." + +"So far from having none but melancholy thoughts about you," said +Charles, "I have been drawing a very fine picture of your future +usefulness and happiness, for your sisters' consolation." + +"And did they believe you?" + +"I hope so, for I am sure I said nothing unreasonable." + +"And did they all hear you?" + +"No, only two of them that evening. Last night, however, I saw the +whole party, and they were all well and happy, as I dare say they have +told you themselves." + +"They have. When we get to our lodgings in the country next week, some +of them will come to us. Much as I long to see them, I almost dread +stirring." + +"O you will recover much faster when you are in quiet, and when you can +go out every day. You can hardly feel here the delight of returning +health. I know from experience that the first sight of the face of +nature, in a season like this, after days and weeks of illness, is one +of the most exquisite pleasures that life can afford." + +"_I_ believe it," said Monteath. "I expect to enjoy it much; though, +with me, all cares will not be over when health returns. I have already +made up my mind to every thing, however, and am determined to make the +best of my lot. It is astonishing how soon one's mind becomes +reconciled to circumstances. At this hour, a fortnight ago, I should +have shuddered at the very thoughts of what I have yet to go through: +but I am pretty well reconciled to it now, and do not see why I should +not be tolerably happy. To be sure, this fortnight has seemed longer +than any year of my life before." + +"I do not see," said Charles, "why you should not be _very_ happy, when +you have once got into the round of your occupations again. In the mean +time you will meet with some painful circumstances no doubt; but then +you have consolations which have supported you in a far worse trial than +any you are likely to meet with again." + +"True; those consolations are worth any thing: it makes me quite ashamed +to set my fears and troubles in opposition to such comforts." + +"If it is not painful to you," said Charles, "I should like to know what +your fears and troubles are; and perhaps by bringing yourself to speak +frankly of them, you may find that your imagination has magnified them." + +"It is selfish to talk so much about myself," replied Monteath. + +"I came on purpose to hear you," said Charles, "and nothing can interest +me so much." + +"Well, then," said Monteath, "I have been thinking how far my usual +pursuits will be hindered by this accident. I am afraid that my father +will not allow me to take on myself, as I used to do, the most laborious +part of our business concerns. I have, to be sure, spent a great part +of my time in the counting-house; but there is a great deal of active +business to be done besides, and journeys to be performed; and I am +afraid that my father will take more upon him than at his age he can do +without fatigue." + +"I do not see," said Charles, "why you should not be almost as active as +you have ever been; and as to journeys, unless this accident has made a +coward of you, which I do not believe, you seem to me just as able to +take them as ever. If not, it is no difficult matter to procure a +traveller. Depend upon it, your father will spare himself for his +children's sake. So you see business may go on as well as ever. Now +for pleasure. Do you keep a horse?" + +"No, but I mean to do it now; that is no difficulty. There is one more, +which I am almost ashamed to mention; but I will. I never could bear to +be conspicuous, to be unlike other people, to attract notice; in short, +to be stared at." + +"Do not be ashamed of feeling that," said Charles: "in my opinion, this +is the worst evil of all." + +"Is it, really?" said Monteath. "Worse than having one's usefulness and +independence impaired?" + +"No," replied Charles. "But I see no reason why your usefulness and +independence should be impaired. If you had lost an arm, the case would +have been different: but art affords such helps in your case, that it is +only on occasions of extraordinary danger that you would not be able to +exert yourself as well as ever." + +"I hope you are right," replied Monteath. "You think, then, that I am +not wrong to dread being made an object of curiosity for the first time +in my life?" + +"I do not wonder at it, certainly," said Charles: "but, remember, it +will be only a temporary inconvenience: your acquaintance will soon get +accustomed to the sight of you; and, if you will condescend to take +pains at first with your manner of walking, there will be nothing +remarkable in your appearance. I conclude you will throw aside your +crutches as soon as you can?" + +"Of course," replied Monteath. "You will see me in London for that +purpose as soon as I am allowed to go. Now do you think me weak for +dwelling on these trifles, as some people call them?" + +"Trifles they are not," said Charles: "and therefore it is any thing but +weakness to bring them out, to face them, and make up your mind how they +are to be met. In my opinion, a great deal of mischief is done by +calling these things trifles, and putting them out of sight as fast as +possible, instead of affording that help to those who suffer under them +which is largely dispensed on occasions which have not nearly so great +an effect on happiness." + +"That is exactly what I have often thought lately," said Monteath. "In +how many books, where the loss of fortune is described, the minutest +difficulties which such a loss occasions are detailed at length! but if, +as seldom happens, the loss of a limb is mentioned, we never get beyond +the first part of the story, and the little daily difficulties and +privations, which are of more importance than the lesser evils of +poverty, are quite left out of sight. I imagine there are some ideas of +ridicule attached to them." + +"Perhaps so," replied Charles; "but such associations are false, and +ought to be broken through. Blindness is frequently made interesting in +books: deafness seldom or never. There are interesting and poetical +associations connected with blindness; ridiculous, low, or common ones +only with deafness. A blind heroine is charming; but would not all the +world laugh at the very idea of a deaf one? And yet this seems to me +unjust: for I question whether, in daily life, both would not have an +equal chance of appearing ridiculous on some occasions, and interesting +on others." + +"Do you mean partial or total blindness and deafness? A heroine totally +blind is certainly thought more interesting than one partially deaf: but +would not a deaf and dumb person make a better figure than one extremely +short-sighted?" + +Charles laughed. "They are both as far from picturesque as need be, +certainly," said he: "but still I think blindness has the advantage in +exciting interest." + +"Well," said Monteath, "nobody is likely to make a hero of me. I am in +no danger of finding my own likeness in a novel or on the stage." + +"No," replied Charles, "nor yet in books of any other kind. If you had +lost a friend or your fortune, you might find the most exact directions +how to comfort yourself, and plenty of medicine of the soul to suit your +particular case. As it is, you must look in books for general +consolation, and elsewhere for what more you may need." + +"This is no desperate condition to be in either," said Monteath. "I +think I could do without the general consolations you speak of. I have +been on my sofa here this fortnight, with only one book (which of course +you mean to except) and my own mind to draw consolation from, and I have +found enough for my need. I expect, however, to be in greater need +hereafter." + +"Surely not," said Charles. "Surely you have gone through the worst!" + +"I know not," said Monteath. "The colour of my whole future life has +perhaps been changed by this accident; and I must expect this conviction +to come upon me painfully from time to time." + +"What do you mean?" said Charles. "The whole colour of your future +life! You surely do not mean that you will not marry?" + +"That is what I was thinking of, certainly," said Henry, in a very low +voice. + +"My dear friend," said Charles, "this is the scruple of a sick man's +brain. Put it out of your head for the present, I advise you, and I +will answer for it that, six months hence, you will feel very +differently. The woman would but little deserve you who could raise +such an objection; and you have just as much power now as ever to make a +wife happy." + +Charles wished to turn the conversation, for he saw that his friend was +agitated; but he could think of nothing to say at the moment, except +about Miss Auchinvole, and that was the only subject which would not do. +At length he said, "You must not let me weary you with talking. You +know I cannot tell what you are equal to, and Mrs Monteath will never +forgive me if I set you back in the least. Had I not better leave you?" + +"O no! do not go!" said Monteath; "you do not know how strong I am. I +shall sleep in the afternoon, but I hope to have you with me all day +besides. I do not scruple saying so, for I cannot conceive that you +will find amusement elsewhere in a place like this." + +"If I could," said Charles, "I am not much inclined for it to-day. +Conversation with a friend is a great cordial in times of anxiety, and I +own that I am anxious now." + +He said this for the purpose of drawing his friend's attention from a +subject which appeared to agitate him too much. Charles was not wrong +in expecting his ready sympathy. Isabella's illness was mentioned, and +Monteath forgot himself in his anxiety for Charles. He asked many +questions about the girls and Alfred. + +"How old is Alfred?" + +"Nearly eleven." + +"What do you intend him for?" + +"We have no present intentions about his future destination," said +Charles. "He will remain at school till he is fifteen; so we need be in +no hurry about it." + +"Then your sister will continue on her present plan till that time?" + +"Yes," replied Charles; "for Harriet will not be old enough to go out +before five years from this time. Isabella wishes to be independent in +two years, and I think she will be well qualified; but it will be a +grievous thing to Jane to part with her." + +"It must, indeed," said Monteath. "You know I have seen your sister +Jane, more than once, and she fixed my attention immediately by the way +in which she managed those spoiled children of Mrs Everett's. Nobody +ever had any control over them but your sister; but they are in much +better order than they used to be." + +"It gives Jane much satisfaction to think so," said Charles. + +"But it must be very discouraging work," said Monteath, "to do her best +for them, for half of every day, and to be obliged to surrender them to +be spoiled for the other half." + +"I should find it so," replied Charles: "but Jane makes as little as +possible of discouragements. Her temper used to be an anxious one too: +but she has had so much to do and to bear, that she has learned not to +look from side to side in hope or fear, but to go on, straight forwards, +in the road of duty, whether an easy one or not." + +"She is an enviable person then," said Monteath. + +"All things are by comparison," said Charles, rather confused when he +recollected what he had said about his sister. "I do not mean that she +never flags: I was only speaking of her in comparison with myself, and +with her former self." + +"Nothing but religious principle could enable her to do this," said +Monteath. "This is the secret of her superiority, is it not? Without +this her trials would have produced depression, instead of renewed +energy." + +"Certainly," replied Charles. "There are many who pity her under her +weight of cares, and who are grieved when they think that she is an +orphan, and that she has more arduous duties to perform than many can +get through under the guidance and with the assistance of parents or +experienced friends. But Jane knows that she is guided, though +invisibly, by the best and wisest of Parents, and the Bible is to her as +His manifest presence: she has recourse to it on all occasions of +difficulty, and can never want confidence or feel forlorn, while such a +director is at hand." + +"Those whose reason is matured enough, and whose religious affections +are cultivated enough to attach their heart and soul to such a guide, +may well do without other support," said Monteath. "`The integrity of +the upright shall guide them!' But there are few of your sister's age +who are thus advanced in the ways of wisdom." + +"If so," said Charles, "her superiority is to be ascribed to the +peculiar circumstances in which the Father of her spirit has placed her. +And, surely, trials which produce such an effect should be endured with +submission and remembered with gratitude." + +"That comes home to my conscience," said Monteath: "_I_ am now under +trial, and such ought to be its effect upon me. But your sister's +circumstances have been such as to draw her attention from herself, to +carry out her affections and fix them on various objects: but I am +afraid the direct tendency of personal suffering is to produce +selfishness." + +"It may either do that or the reverse, I believe," said Charles: "I have +known instances of both. I have heard of a cousin of my mother's, who +was a cripple from disease. She passed through life very quietly. She +never complained of her deprivations: her temper was placid, and she +found employment for her cultivated intellect in studies of various +kinds: but nobody was ever the better for them. She did no good, though +she never did any harm: she never seemed to love any one person more +than another, and of course nobody was particularly attached to her. +She lived to the age of sixty, and went on with her own pursuits to the +very last, but she left no trace behind her of beneficent deeds, and she +lived in the memory and not in the affections of those around her. I +have always grieved over the wasted talents of this lady. Half her +learning communicated to those less informed than herself, half her time +(of which she had abundance) devoted to the assistance of her +neighbours, half her affections exchanged with those who were disposed +to love her, would have made her wise instead of learned, useful instead +of harmless, beloved rather than served, and mourned rather than merely +remembered." + +"But she could not have been a pious woman," said Monteath. "A life of +selfishness is inconsistent with piety." + +"Nobody can say that she was not religious," replied Charles; "because +nobody knew what she felt and thought: some say that she must have been +pious, or she could not have been placid and contented under her +deprivations. I should therefore suppose that she had just enough +reliance upon Providence to prevent a naturally cheerful mind from being +corroded by discontent: but it is easy to see that she had not those +comprehensive views, which teach that the very best of selfish +pleasures, those of intellectual cultivation, are to be pursued as a +means only, not as an end, and that the grand design for which we are +created is to diminish continually our concern for ourselves in an +increasing love of God and our neighbour." + +"I cannot help," said Monteath, "applying cases like these to myself, +just now. I want to place as many guides and as many warnings before me +as possible. I hope it is not selfish to think of these things with a +reference to myself, and to tell you that I do so." + +"By no means," replied Charles; "for I imagine that you feel the present +time as a kind of crisis in your character. I think you must enter the +world from a bed of pain, either better or worse than when you left it, +and you are right to make use of all the helps you can." + +"Then give me," said Monteath, "some instances of benevolence promoted, +of hearts and hands opened by personal suffering. It will do me good to +hear them." + +Just as Charles was beginning to speak, Mrs Monteath came into the +room, and the conversation was turned into a different channel. Charles +regretted this, but she had something quite different to ask her son +about. The greater part of the day was spent in cheerful chat, and in +reading aloud, which Mrs Monteath proposed, that Henry might not exert +himself too much in talking. In the evening the young men were again +left alone for awhile, and Monteath asked his friend to read a little to +him from the Bible. Charles did so with much satisfaction, and after he +had done, Henry tried to express to him what comfort and support their +religious exercises had afforded him on his night of suffering. Charles +rejoiced to hear him say so, but stopped him when he wished to speak of +his obligations and his gratitude. They parted for the night with as +warm feelings of interest and esteem as one day could produce, and +another confirm. + +In the morning they met only for a few moments. They agreed to +correspond occasionally, and to look forward to a time, not very far +distant, when Monteath's visit to London might give them an opportunity +of meeting again. Charles then mounted the coach, and sighed when he +thought of the friends he had left behind, and of the small number who +would greet him with pleasure on his return to London. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +When Charles returned to his usual employments, and mixed again with +companions who had no peculiar interest in his concerns, he could +scarcely for an instant keep his thoughts from dwelling on the home he +had left, and his anxiety to know more of Isabella became painful. + +He received a letter from Jane the day after his arrival, but the +tidings were not pleasant. Isabella was in great danger: her fever ran +high, and for many hours she had been delirious. Charles was to hear +again by the next post. The next post brought a letter from Mr Barker. +Isabella was not better, and Mr Everett thought that if a great change +for the better did not take place in forty-eight hours, she could not +live. After giving these particulars, the letter continued: + + "Do not be too anxious about Jane: she is surrounded by kind friends; + who are willing to help her, but she needs no assistance. She will + relinquish the care of her sister to none but Hannah, and never even + to her, except when a few hours of rest are absolutely necessary to + her. She seems strong in mind and body, quite aware of the danger, + and quite prepared for every thing. She has allowed her friends to + take charge of Harriet and Alfred: they are with us just now. Mr + Monteath and his daughters are much concerned at this illness, and so + are the Franklins. Mrs F. shews her kindness in a very acceptable + manner. She has sent a dinner ready cooked, every day, to your + sister's house, that Jane may have as much of Hannah's assistance as + possible. Mr Monteath sent some excellent Madeira, on hearing that + wine was ordered, and his daughters have procured foreign grapes and + various other luxuries for the invalid. I mention these things to + prove to you that your sisters will want no assistance that friends + can give, and even at this time it will be a great pleasure to you to + be convinced that their worth is appreciated, and that their claims to + esteem are allowed. + + "We are very sorry for you, Charles, that you must be away just now: + but you did right in going at the time you promised, and we will still + hope that you will be rewarded by hearing better tidings than I am + able to communicate to-day. You shall hear by every post. All your + friends here send their love to you, and so do I, my dear boy. + Farewell. + + "P.S. My wife has just been to your sister's. Mr Everett was there, + and he thought he perceived a slight improvement in the state of the + pulse and skin. May he be right!" + +Charles longed to write to Jane, and this postscript encouraged him to +do it. He wrote cheerfully, earnestly hoping that before his letter +should arrive, such an improvement might have taken place as should +render his expressions of hope not ill-timed. Mr Barker wrote again +the next day. Isabella was not worse, perhaps a little better, but in a +state of such extreme weakness, that there were yet but very slight +hopes that she could get through. After this, the accounts were better +for a day or two; the fever was gone, and she had gained a little +strength. In two days more, Jane wrote herself, as follows. + + "At length, dearest Charles, I can write to you again with my own + hand. I could not till yesterday leave Isabella's bedside for an + hour. Now, however, she sleeps a great deal, and therefore does not + require such constant watching. She is certainly better, much better; + but still so weak, that she cannot move a limb. O! I was so glad + when her delirium ceased. Weak as she was, she was incessantly + attempting to rise, and was never quiet for an instant. Now she lies + quite still, generally with her eyes closed, so that we can scarcely + tell when she is asleep; but I think she dozes for many hours in the + day. She takes very little nourishment yet, but we have got down more + to-day than yesterday. Our friends have sent all kinds of delicacies + to tempt her, but I do not think she knows one thing from another yet. + She opens her eyes: I must go to her. O, dear Charles, she has + spoken for the first time since her delirium ceased! I could scarcely + understand her. `Are you writing?' she said. `Yes, I am writing to + Charles, to tell him you are better.'--`My love to him: I _am_ + better.' `May I say you are comfortable now?'--`O yes!' + + "My hopes have risen much since yesterday; but we must beware of too + early hope: there is much to be done yet. I have _trusted_ + throughout. I have tried to be hopeful, even while I contemplated the + danger. Now that things look brighter, let us hope yet more; I need + not say, let us be grateful; I am sure you are, and my own heart is + now full of gratitude. Farewell. + + "Jane Forsyth. + + "P.S. You shall certainly hear, in a day or two: if not to-morrow, + you may conclude that we go on well." + +Slowly, very slowly, Isabella continued to gain strength, and in three +weeks from Jane's last letter, Charles allowed himself to dismiss all +apprehensions. At that time, Isabella added two lines to a letter of +Jane's, to shew that she _could_ write, though the almost illegible +character of the writing shewed how much even this exertion cost her. +This was the signal for Charles to write to her, but he wished first to +know the opinion of the bookseller to whom he had taken Isabella's +little volume. He called at the shop, accordingly, but could obtain no +decided answer. The bookseller approved it, on the whole, and thought +it might make a very pretty volume, if he could be certain that it would +answer the expense of printing handsomely, and so forth. Charles asked +him how soon he could make up his mind: he really could not tell, but +Charles might call again in a week. Charles agreed to do so, and said +that he should wish to have the manuscript back at that time, or a +decisive answer. He was sorry not to be able to give Isabella a more +satisfactory account of her book; but he had previously warned her that +she would probably have need of much patience. + +At the end of another week Charles went again. The bookseller had +thought no more of the matter; and Charles, not choosing to be any +longer put off in this way, insisted on the manuscript being restored to +him, and he could not help sighing as he pocketed it. It was not in the +most cheerful mood that he left the shop, and his eyes were bent on the +ground as he walked. On turning the corner of a street, however, he +looked up, and saw at a little distance, on the opposite pavement, a +gentleman approaching, who, he was pretty sure, could be no other than +Mr Rathbone. A second look convinced him that it was, and he could not +resist the impulse which the sight of his old friend inspired, to run +towards him. Mr Rathbone looked full at him, and then turned quickly +off the pavement, crossed the street, and pursued his way up another +street. Charles was quite certain that Mr Rathbone had seen and known +him, and had deliberately avoided him, and with this conviction a flood +of bitter feelings came over him which almost overwhelmed him. He +struggled against them, but tears would force their way, and his knees +even bent under him. There was a print-shop behind him, and he turned +round and leaned against the window, while he tried to recover himself. + +This was indeed bitter enmity in return for what he could not even allow +to be an offence. This thought--that there was, in reality, no offence, +helped to restore his courage, and he was just dashing away the last +tear that remained upon his cheek, and turning away from the +picture-shop, on the beauties of which he had not bestowed a single +glance, when a person at his elbow spoke to him. Charles looked up. It +was Mr Blyth, who had purchased Isabella's work-bags and boxes. + +"It is a curious thing, is it not?" said he to Charles, "that they +should have got that sketch up at a print-shop. You see it is the very +same as your sister's drawing, that group of people and all." + +Charles looked again, and saw a beautiful print of his favourite +landscape, the Bubbling Spring. It was the very same indeed, and the +figures exactly copied from Isabella's drawing. They could not be +mistaken: there were Jane and Harriet seated on the bank, and Alfred +kneeling on a stone, and looking into the basin which was formed a +little way below the fountain-head. + +Charles uttered an exclamation of surprise. + +"Why, did not you see it till I pointed it out?" said Mr Blyth. + +"No, indeed," replied Charles. + +"Where were your eyes, man? But are you sure that your sister did not +copy from this print? You told me it was her own sketch, but you might +be mistaken." + +Charles explained that the figures represented his sisters and brother. + +"Well, it is a singular thing: but if her sketches are thought so good, +it is a pity she should waste her drawings on workboxes, which hundreds +of people can make as well. I think she might turn her talents to +greater advantage. May I ask, whether she has been doing any thing of +the kind lately?" + +Charles hesitated for an instant whether he should confide to Mr Blyth +his anxieties about Isabella's little volume. A moment's thought +decided him to be open about it. He knew Mr Blyth very well: he +thought he might obtain directions and assistance from him better than +from any one else in London. He accordingly said, "I have some of my +sister's handiwork now in my pocket. I do not quite know what to do +with it. If we were not in the street, I would shew it you and consult +you." + +"Come in here, then," said Mr Blyth, and he entered the shop, and first +bought the print and gave it to Charles, and then was ready to hear what +his young friend had to say. When he had heard of the unsuccessful +application to a bookseller, he asked his name. + +"Is he the only one you have applied to?" + +"Yes, at present." + +"Then perhaps I can help you. You know Mr -- is a great publisher. +Well: he is a friend of mine, and, if you like it, we will ask his +opinion. He will not, at all events, neglect your business. If the +volume is not worth the expense of publication, he will tell you so at +once; if it is, he will give you a fair price for it." + +Charles was much pleased. + +"If you have time," said Mr Blyth, "we will go to him now, for he lives +near. I shall be very glad to help you," he added, kindly, "for you +look rather too anxious." + +Mr Blyth represented to the publisher that it was important to his +young friend to know soon the fate of his work. An answer was +accordingly promised in a week: and Charles, once more full of hope, +took leave of Mr Blyth with many thanks. + +The bookseller was as good as his word. When Charles called again, at +the end of a week, he received twenty guineas for the copyright of the +volume. He was quite satisfied, and it gave him much pleasure to +transmit the money to Isabella. Jane told him, in her answer, that she +had considered the money as disposed of before it arrived, as both she +and Isabella thought that the expenses of the latter's illness ought to +be defrayed out of their own little fund. But to her agreeable surprise +Mrs Everett had told her that her salary was increased to thirty-five +pounds a year. Such an increase as this was quite unexpected, and Jane +at first refused to receive it, as she had not attended her charge for +some weeks, while she was nursing Isabella. Mrs Everett would not +listen to her objection, and thus Jane was able to pay her very moderate +surgeon's account without breaking into Isabella's earnings. + +Jane also laid before her brother a very important plan which her +friends, the Everetts and Monteaths, had been forming for her, when they +found that Isabella was really likely to be restored to health. It was +proposed that Isabella should be sent to a London school for two years, +to perfect her in some accomplishments, and that, on her return to +Exeter, she and Jane should take a house in a better situation than +their own, where they should open a day-school, on an excellent plan. +Mrs Everett promised them three pupils from her own family to begin +with, and the Miss Monteaths doubted not that their influence would +procure more. Jane liked the plan very much, because she and Isabella +would not be separated, and they could still afford a home to Alfred for +some years. "I need not," said Jane, "tell you the delightful +anticipations which I have for the future, if this plan can really be +carried into effect. We two have always dreaded a separation, and +considered it as unavoidable; for Isabella only looked forward to going +out as a private governess, as soon as she felt she could +conscientiously engage to teach, and I always regretted having no +definite object in view for myself. Now I have, and I must work harder +than ever to make up the many deficiencies of which I am sensible, in my +qualifications for teaching. I have had a good deal of experience, and +I may in that way prove a help to Isabella, and I have tried to make the +most of the two hours which I have daily set apart for study. Still +much remains to be done; but two years of application may do much for my +improvement. I scarcely think at all about the separation from my +sister, so pleasant is the prospect of living together afterwards, and +in independence too. One thing, however, rather troubles me. I am +afraid Isabella's expenses will be considerable, and a new tax upon the +kindness of our friends. I think that our little fund, joined to what I +can save from our household expenditure in consequence of her absence, +may make up the difference for one year: how shall we manage to raise +the rest? Can you put me in any way of doing it? She is to go at +Christmas. What a pleasure it must be to you, to think of seeing her so +soon! You cannot possibly be much together, but a few happy hours you +may enjoy occasionally. If Mr Rathbone indeed--but it is wrong to +repine at that one sad circumstance when we are so surrounded with +blessings. Never, never let us forget to whom we owe them: never again +let us repine at the present, or fear for the future. I almost fancy +that I can see the time, dearest Charles, when you may begin to work for +yourself. If Isabella and I get forward as our friends hope we may, +Alfred will be the only remaining charge, for Harriet will be first our +pupil, and afterwards our partner, we hope. Tell me, without delay, +what you think of our plans." + +Charles was much pleased with the scheme, and, before Christmas arrived, +he was able to send his sisters the delightful intelligence, that he +could assist as well as approve it. Mr Gardiner had given him a +situation of greater trust, with an enlarged salary, so that he found he +should henceforth be able to spare twenty pounds a year to his sisters. +This removed Jane's anxiety with respect to the increased expense which +must be incurred by Isabella's London advantages. Still she was afraid +that Charles denied himself necessary comforts, and was not satisfied +till Isabella had seen his lodgings, and ascertained by close +examination that his self-denial was not too severe. His little parlour +was found to be the picture of comfort. His sisters had compelled him +to accept a share of the beautiful books with which Mr Rathbone had +presented them, and he had added a few from time to time, till his +little shelves made a very pretty figure. A few of Isabella's sketches +and the print which Mr Blyth had given him, ornamented the walls, and +his careful landlady was scrupulously neat, as to the furniture of his +parlour; so that he was by no means ashamed to let his sister see his +little dwelling. + +He had another visitor too, about the same time. Henry Monteath had +gone to London, according to his plan, and as he was detained three +weeks, he and Charles had many opportunities of meeting. Monteath had +quite recovered his health, and, what was better, his spirits. He +seemed quite happy, took pains to obviate, as far as he could, all +inconveniences which arose, and bore cheerfully those deprivations which +could not be avoided. He soon walked very well with his new leg, and +was so active and strong, that Charles asked him whether he expected to +be pitied any more, and if he did, on what account. Monteath replied, +that the misfortune was no great one, to be sure, but that no one but +himself knew how many and how various had been the little trials he had +had to go through since he had last parted with Charles. They were +over, however, and he hoped had produced their proper effect, as he +certainly felt the wiser for them. Charles was encouraged by his manner +of speaking to ask whether he still thought that this accident had +changed the colour of his whole future life. Monteath smiled, and said +that his fears had misled his judgment, in a case where his interest had +been too strong to let him judge impartially. Charles rejoiced at this, +and longed to hear something of Miss Auchinvole. Monteath did not +mention her at that time, but at another he asked Charles how much he +had seen of her during his visit to Exeter. She had returned to +Scotland in the autumn, and Monteath was to take two of his sisters to +spend some time with her the next summer. + +Charles afterwards expressed his obligations to the Miss Monteaths, for +the kind interest they had taken in his sisters' plans. Henry would +hear no thanks, but asked whether any thing was yet in view for Alfred, +and on learning that there was not, said that his father and he had been +thinking that they should like to secure the services of a youth so well +brought up, under their own eye, and that they proposed to take him, at +the age of fourteen, into their warehouse. They would require no +premium, but would qualify him for business, and accept his services for +five years, during which time he could live with his sisters, and they +would then take care to provide him with a responsible and profitable +situation in their own establishment. Charles's pleasure in this +prospect was inexpressible, and he more than ever rejoiced that he had +declined Mr Rathbone's offer. If he had given his wishes full scope, +he could not have framed a more delightful scheme. The prospects of his +family seemed brightening before them. In two years more they would +perhaps be independent, and if Charles had been in the habit of thinking +much of himself, he might have added that in seven years he might begin +to work for himself: but neither were his own interests important +objects with him, nor did he think it wise to look forward very far, +knowing as he did how many things might intervene to frustrate plans and +destroy hopes, in the course of seven years. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +In two years from the time that Isabella went to London, she returned +from school, improved in appearance and manners, well qualified for +assisting Jane in the management of their new establishment, and, though +aware of the importance of the situation she was to fill, as simple, +affectionate, and sweet-tempered as ever. All was in readiness for them +to set out on their new way of life after Christmas. Jane and Mr +Barker had fixed on a pleasant small house, in a good situation, in the +middle of the city. Jane was sorry to be obliged to take so important a +step as engaging a house, without either Charles's or Isabella's +sanction; but with such a friend as Mr Barker at hand, her choice could +not be much amiss. Happily, Charles was allowed the seasonable pleasure +of a week's holiday at Christmas, and he accordingly visited his sisters +after they had removed, and just before they opened their school. The +arrangement of the house pleased him much. The large school-room was +ornamented with their pretty little library, and with a very handsome +pair of globes, which Mr and Mrs Everett had presented to Jane as a +parting gift, when she quitted the situation in their family which she +had filled with so much credit to herself and satisfaction to them. The +little parlour was fitted up with plain new furniture, which had been +purchased with the remains of the funds which the friends of the young +people had raised for their education, on the death of their father. +One year's schooling for Alfred was all that remained to be defrayed, as +Harriet was to receive the rest of her education from her sisters, and +Mr Barker thought that what was left could not be better applied than +in the purchase of furniture for the parlour and school-room. The +twenty-five guineas which the girls had themselves earned was the means +of procuring them a good piano-forte; a thing which was quite necessary +in their new establishment, but which could not at present have been +afforded if their own industry had not given them the means. + +Their number of pupils was at first ten, and they wished to increase it +to twenty. The school hours were from nine till three; an hour being +allowed in the middle of the time for a walk in fine weather, and play +within doors when it rained. + +By this means, Jane and Isabella secured the whole afternoon and evening +to themselves, and their purpose was to devote a portion of it regularly +to their own improvement. If they could obtain the appointed number of +scholars, their income, though small, would be amply sufficient for +their wants, without any assistance from Charles. He would not hear of +this, but insisted on their accepting twenty pounds the first year, and +afterwards ten pounds a year for Alfred, till he too should become +independent. + +It may be imagined with what pleasure Charles saw his sisters thus +established, and with how much gratitude he looked on their present +situation and future prospects. These feelings were confirmed by a +letter which he received from Jane a few weeks after she had begun to +experience the toils and satisfactions of school keeping. + + "Our employments," she said, "afford just the anxieties and pleasures + which we expected from them. I find less fatigue in my present + duties, arduous as they are, than in my situation of daily governess, + and Isabella is indefatigable. The children are very fond of her. + She seems peculiarly fitted to engage their affections, and that is + the grand point of all. We have difficulty in establishing sufficient + order and quietness, without introducing formality, which, of all + things, we wish to avoid; but in time we hope to get over this, and + all our other little difficulties. Our difficulties are all _little_ + ones now, and the delightful consciousness of independence which + attends us, animates all our exertions, and makes every day pass + happily. + + "We feel as if a great weight were taken off our minds, now that we + are at liberty to use our powers for our own support, instead of being + burdensome to others. You have long known and enjoyed this feeling; + to us it is new and inexpressibly delightful. For the future we have + no fears, and no further desires than to go on living as we are living + now, only with the additional satisfaction of seeing that our + endeavours to be useful are not in vain. Think what it will be, dear + Charles, to send our pupils into the world with firm principles, + cultivated minds, and amiable manners, fitted to perform their duties, + and to do good in their turn. Is not this a satisfaction worth + working for? Is not this an end worthy of all our pains, of the + employment of all our powers in its accomplishment? Our heavenly + Father has blessed us in various ways, in so many that it makes my + heart swell with gratitude to think over the few years of our orphan + life, and our present situation: but surely, if He makes us the means + of administering religious and moral blessings to others of His + offspring, his _last_ will be his _best_ gift. If we can always feel + this, we shall be always happy; but we must not expect that it can be + so. We shall meet with much disappointment: we shall have to lament + the ill success of our labours in some instances, and, in all, shall + feel occasional humiliation that we have not done more, instead of + complacency that we have done so much: besides, there is a kind of + ardour and enthusiasm in us just at present, which will subside in + some degree after a time, and make us more painfully aware than we are + now, of the difficulties and labours of our employments. We are, + however, abundantly happy at present, and full of hope for the future. + + "One reason why I write to you to-day, instead of at the regular time, + is, that you may know, as soon as possible, that Alfred has gained + great honour at the school examinations this week. He has taken his + place pretty high in the next class, and when Mr Barker called on Mr + --, to settle the school-account, he was pleased to hear very high + praise of Alfred. Mr Monteath is very kind to him: he asked him to + dinner last week, and made him very happy. Alfred likes the idea of + being in the warehouse much, and I am glad he knows what he has to + look forward to. I have heard, through the Miss Monteaths, of two + more pupils who are to come to us at Midsummer, and Mrs Franklin has + told us that an application is about to be made for another, at the + same time, from a friend of hers: so we are likely to begin with + fifteen next half-year. + + "Mr and Mrs H. Monteath return from Scotland in a week or two. + Their house is very near ours, and they have frequently expressed a + wish that we may be good neighbours. This will be a great privilege + to us and to you in your occasional visits. I think you will + henceforth be able to come once a year, and it is possible, that if we + go on prosperously, you may see us in London some time or other. We + have no plan at present for any thing of the kind; but it would + certainly be a great advantage to Isabella to have lessons from London + masters occasionally. This, however, must be left to the future to + arrange. In the mean time, we are very happy that so many of us have + been allowed to live together. I once thought that we should be all + dispersed: you where you are; Isabella as a private governess; Alfred + in India; and myself--I did not know where. But now four out of five + of us are living under one roof, and with no fear of being separated. + O what a privilege! But I must stop my pen. I sat down intending to + shew you how happy we are. Have I succeeded? If I have, join me in + thanksgivings to the `Father of the fatherless,' + + "I am your most affectionate,-- + + "Jane Forsyth." + +FINIS. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Principle and Practice, by Harriet Martineau + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCIPLE AND PRACTICE *** + +***** This file should be named 23131.txt or 23131.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/1/3/23131/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +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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