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diff --git a/38198.txt b/38198.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..55e5ce0 --- /dev/null +++ b/38198.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9006 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Frederica and her Guardians, by Margaret Robertson + +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: Frederica and her Guardians + The Perils of Orphanhood + +Author: Margaret Robertson + +Release Date: December 3, 2011 [EBook #38198] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FREDERICA AND HER GUARDIANS *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Frederica and her Guardians +The Perils of Orphanhood +By Margaret Robertson +Published by Hodder and Stoughton. +This edition dated 1881. + +Frederica and her Guardians, by Margaret Robertson. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +________________________________________________________________________ +FREDERICA AND HER GUARDIANS, BY MARGARET ROBERTSON. + +CHAPTER ONE. + +The Perils of Orphanhood. + +The house in which the Vanes lived stood in a large and beautiful +garden, and both were enclosed by a high brick wall, over which only the +waving tops of the trees could be seen from the street. There were a +good many such houses in M. at the time my story opens. They were +originally built in the country, amid green fields and orchards, where, +on summer days, one might sit and look at country sights and listen to +country sounds, and quite forget that the hum and bustle of a great town +sounded close at hand. + +As time went on, and commerce prospered, the town extended itself in all +directions. Houses, some large and some small, were built near those +pleasant country homes, and in a few years stretched far beyond them. +Sometimes the gardens were encroached upon, and streets were opened, and +building lots laid out and occupied close to the house itself, till only +a narrow strip of dusty lawn was left. But in some streets the high +brick garden-walls made a blank between great blocks of stores and +terraces of dwellings for a good many years, and in some streets there +are high brick garden-walls still. + +The house in which the Vanes lived was a long time before it yielded up +a foot of its large garden which the wall shut in. This wall was broken +on two sides by gates. In a narrow street which led down towards the +river were two heavy wooden doors, one large enough to admit a carriage, +the other smaller, for the convenience of those who entered on foot. On +another side, from one of the great thoroughfares of the city, the +grounds were entered by handsome iron gates. A clump of evergreens and +ornamental shrubs in part hid the house, even when the gates, were open, +and a low cedar hedge and a fence of iron network separated the lawn and +the carriage-drive from the more extensive grounds behind the house. + +The house itself had no particular claim to be called handsome, except +that it was large and well built of grey hewn stone. It was high and +square, and on one side a wing had been thrown out, which rather spoiled +the appearance of the original building; but, standing back from the +bustle and dust of the street, behind the green, lawn and pebbly +carriage-drive, and partly hidden by the trees and shrubs, it looked a +very pleasant and pretty place for a home. + +This house was built and occupied many years by Mr St. Hubert, an +immigrant from France, and at his death it was left to his only child, +Mrs Vane, with a condition that neither it nor a foot of the land about +it should be sold during her life-time. A great many tales might be +told of what happened in that house from first to last--most of them +sorrowful tales enough--but it is only the story of poor Mrs Vane and +her children that is to be told here. + +Almost every one spoke of this lady as "poor Mrs Vane." Her friends +had all said, "Poor Theresa," when it was first known that she was to be +married to Mr Vane; for he was a poor man, and a widower with three +children, who, they all said, wished to marry her because she was the +daughter of a man who was supposed to be rich. Her father would have +given half of what he possessed, rather than that she should have +married Mr Vane; but he had never crossed a wish of hers during all the +eighteen years of her life, and it was too late to begin then. So, +though he did not like him, he gave his consent to the marriage, on +condition that he should leave the army, and accept a situation in a +public office, which he, being a man of wealth and influence, was able +to obtain for him. It did not cost Mr Vane much self-denial to do +this--though he used afterwards to declare that it did--for he was a man +who first of all considered what was for his own ease and pleasure. Nor +did it trouble him much to send his children from him. His eldest +daughter was adopted by his first wife's mother, who resided in the town +of M.; and his other children--a boy and girl--were sent home to be +cared for and educated by their father's friends in England; and he took +up his residence in the luxurious home of his father-in-law with very +good will. + +It did not prove a happy marriage. It might have done so, perhaps, if +after a few years Mrs Vane's health had not failed. If she could have +continued the gay life to which she had been introduced, and could have +shone a belle among her husband's friends, as she had done in her own +smaller circle while a girl, she might have had a sort of happiness, +while it lasted, and so might he. But after awhile her health failed, +and at the time of her father's death, which happened when her eldest +child was thirteen years of age, she was a confirmed invalid. + +She was "poor Mrs Vane" indeed then. A suffering, solitary, forsaken +woman she felt herself to be the day her dead father was carried away +from the house he had built. Not that her husband had ever been unkind +to her, or even openly neglectful. But he had never cared for her as +she had cared for him; and it was not in his nature to understand the +wants or cravings of a sick unsatisfied heart like hers, much less to +minister to them. He was sorry that she could no longer go into the +society she had always adorned, and he often told her so; but he never +gave up a pleasure which society could offer to him for her sake. He +grieved for her sufferings, and did what might be done during a brief +visit or two each day to relieve them; but long before her father's +death she had come to feel that his grief was of a kind that could very +well be left in her chamber when he went away. After a time the vain +craving for his sympathy, which made the first years of her illness so +miserable, wore away, and a kind of dull content, growing gradually out +of an interest in other things, took its place; but she was "poor Mrs +Vane" still to the few friends who had not forgotten her already in her +enforced retirement. + +And her husband was "poor Mr Vane" to himself and everybody else when +Mr St. Hubert died. The old man had treated him shamefully, he thought +and declared, for his name was not mentioned in his will. The house and +a certain income was insured to his wife while she lived, and at her +death all the property was to be divided between the children, and given +up to them as each came of age. But he had nothing; and even his wife's +income was not allowed to pass through his hands. + +It was not a very large income. It would not have sufficed for her and +her children, had they been living in the gay world, entertaining and +being entertained. But living quietly, as her health obliged them to +live, it might be considered ample for them all. At any rate, she knew +it would have to suffice; for Mr Vane, having always spent his own +income on his own pleasures, was ill prepared to give up any part of it. + +They did not grow happier together after this. Some time before Mr St. +Hubert's death the care of household affairs had been committed by him +into the hands of a relative of his own--a widow of the name of Ascot; +and during his life-time nothing transpired to occasion any doubt as to +her entire fitness for the position he had given her. She was a French +woman by birth, and spoke English very imperfectly, though her deceased +husband had been an Englishman. She was a very quiet, firm person, +faithful in the performance of all her duties, and careful and exact in +the management of the household expenses. She never presumed on her +relationship in any way that was disagreeable to Mr St. Hubert, and, by +her attention to himself and her kindness to Mrs Vane, won his +confidence entirely; and his anxiety as to the future of his daughter +and her children was in a great measure allayed by the promise she made +never to leave them while they needed her care. + +But after his death matters were not so well managed. At least, they +were not managed to the satisfaction of poor Mrs Vane. In a very short +time an entire change was effected in the household. Mr Vane found it +an improvement as far as _his_ comfort was concerned, or probably Mrs +Ascot's stay in the house would have been short. But it was not so with +Mrs Vane. Mrs Ascot was very quiet, very reasonable, and, above all, +very firm. "Nothing was so necessary for Mrs Vane as entire quiet," +she declared; and the poor mother had not the strength or courage to +carry on a battle with her stronger will. So her two little daughters +were sent to school, and her two little sons, with their nurse, were +banished to the part of the house most distant from their mother's room, +and were only permitted to visit it at certain times. They would have +been sent to school, too, if Mrs Ascot could have accomplished it; but, +as the eldest was only four years of age at the time of his +grandfather's death, this she could hardly do. + +Only one thing saved Mrs Vane from falling into hopeless fretfulness or +helpless imbecility--this was the constant presence of her eldest and +dearest child, Selina. Even Mrs Ascot's cold-heartedness could not +separate these two. Even Mr Vane's selfishness was not equal to +planning or permitting anything that could come between the mother and +her child. For the little girl was blind,--had been blind from her +seventh year, and since that time she had never once been beyond the +sound of her mother's voice. + +A great many of God's best blessings come to us disguised as sorrows. +It seemed to this mother, when she could no longer doubt that the light +of heaven was to be denied to her child, that God could deal no harder +blow, and in her wild angry way she prayed that the little creature +might die. She thought of all that had made life sweet to herself, from +all which her child must be shut out for ever, and she utterly refused +to be comforted. + +And yet, as the years went on, the affliction of the child did more for +the mother than all the blessings that had been showered on her youth, +than all the trials that had fallen on her later years--it made her +forget herself. In seeking to brighten her little daughter's life, her +own was brightened. She suffered herself to be beguiled into exertions +for her sake, that would have seemed impossible for her own. She +welcomed the few visitors that came, because Selina liked to hear new +voices and make new friends. The daily walk in the garden or the drive +in the carriage sometimes seemed a weariness to her; but they deepened +the rose on the little girl's cheek, and she went for her sake. She +recalled the little songs and tales of her childhood for her pleasure, +and took pains to learn such simple fancy work as the blind child could +be taught to do. + +In her little daughter the mother found solace for many a sorrow. She +was a fair, slender child, more like her father than her mother, but +like neither in disposition. She was sweet and cheerful always, even +merry in her quiet way. She knew her blindness was a great misfortune, +but it did not press upon her as such. She never repined under it, nor +murmured that she was not like the rest; but rather comforted herself +and her mother, saying that no schools nor visits could ever take her +from her and from home; and after a time her mother was comforted and +reconciled to her affliction. + +"For after all," she thought, "what has life to give to any one? Far +better that she should live here always, safe, and ignorant of the world +and its ways, than that she should taste of pleasure only to have it +turn to bitterness on her lips, as it has done on mine. If she could +only be always a child! What will become of my darling when I must go +and leave her?" + +Poor Mrs Vane! She sought refuge in the present, from the griefs of +the past, and the fears for the future; for she was one of those who +have no safe place to which they can flee from trouble. She had +scarcely even a form of religion. She had been altogether untaught as +regards sacred things. Her mother had been a Jewess, and had died +young, and her father had had no religion. Her husband troubled himself +very little about these things, either for her or himself. He had +chosen godfathers and godmothers for his children, and had them +baptised, and then his duty was done. And the poor, solitary, suffering +mother knew not where to betake herself in her time of need. Her fears +for the future of all her children pressed on her heavily often, and she +longed sadly and earnestly for some true friend to whom she might trust +them. + +And so the months and years passed, with nothing to break the monotony +of their life but the monthly visits of the two school girls, Frederica +and Theresa. Very pleasant breaks they were. The girls always came +into the still sunshine of their mother's pretty room like a fresh sweet +breeze from the outer world, bringing health and fragrance on its wings. +They were bright days indeed. Selina lived another life in the tales +told by the school girls; and even their mother forgot her cares and +ailments for the time as she listened to their merry talk. They were +not at all alike: Selina was growing up tall and fair, like an English +girl, her blind beautiful eyes clear and cloudless as the summer heaven; +Frederica was small and dark, as much a Jewess in appearance as ever her +grandmother had been; Theresa was more like Frederica than Selina, but +plainer than either. But they were all alike in one thing: they loved +each other and their mother dearly, and longed earnestly for the time +when their school days should be over, and they should be happy +together. + +So poor Mrs Vane, who had comfort in so few things, had much comfort in +her daughters and their love. And she needed all their comfort, poor +soul! for some troubles, hard to bear, fell to her lot at this time-- +troubles which she could not let them share with her, and which need not +be told here. + +CHAPTER TWO. + +A whole week of holidays!--unexpected, unhoped-for holidays! For Mrs +Glencairn was a Scotch lady, and had small respect for days "appointed +by men." All the days in the year were good days to a Godfearing +people, said she; and as a general thing, Easter passed in their school +just like any other time. But this year there was to be a whole week of +holidays, whatever might be the reason. The pupils who stayed wearied +themselves with conjectures as to why it had so happened; but the happy +little girls who could go home to enjoy them, accepted the boon without +a question, content with the fact itself. + +Content! That hardly expresses the feelings of the little Vanes as they +went dancing down the street, unconsciously jostling the many +church-goers in their joyful excitement. Perfect happiness was in their +hearts, shone in their faces, and rang out in their voices, and people +as they passed turned again to look at them, so charming was the sight +to see. They were happy in their own holiday, and happy in the thought +that their coming home would make a holiday for their mother and Selina +and their little brothers. + +"And I am sure there will be some flowers out in the garden," said +Theresa,--"hyacinths or snowdrops, at least. And all the walks will be +so neat and the borders. That is one good thing about Mrs Ascot, she +does see that the garden is beautifully kept." + +"Yes, very. But I only hope mama will be well. It is so lovely to-day; +and we must have a drive. It will make no difference though Dixen be +busy in the garden, because I shall drive myself." + +"But will mama like that, do you think?" asked Theresa doubtfully. + +"Of course she will like it, and Selina too. They have perfect +confidence in me," said Frederica firmly. "And as for Prickly Polly,"-- +she shrugged her shoulders. + +"But no, my children! What shall I say to your papa when you shall be +brought home in little morsels, and the carriage, and your dear mama!" +And Theresa clasped her hands, and threw back her head with an air so +ludicrously like Mrs Ascot, that her sister laughed merrily. + +"She will go to church to-day. What if we should meet her?" + +"Oh! she would be sure to go back with us. Let us go down the other +way!" + +Laughing and running, the girls turned into a narrow street. In their +haste they ran against a little old gentleman just stepping out from an +office door. They did not quite overturn him, but they startled him out +of his good manners, and he uttered an angry exclamation in French. +Then, as they turned to apologise, he exclaimed, "The young ladies Vane! +What next, I wonder?" + +"Mr St. Cyr! a thousand pardons." They had been speaking English all +the way down the street, but they spoke French to him, and both the +girls dropped their very best curtseys. + +"It must be that my little cousins have come to get their wills made, or +their marriage contracts drawn, in all this haste." + +Mr St. Cyr was the gentleman to whom their grandfather had committed +the arrangement of his affairs; it was he who still managed the +property; and through his hands their mother's income came still. + +"I was going to church this morning, but I shall be happy to defer it +for you. You need not have been in such haste, however." + +The girls laughed, and apologised again. + +"We were running away from Prickly Polly," said Theresa. + +"From Madame Marie Pauline Precoe Ascot," explained Frederica. + +"Is she coming after you? You had much better come in here," said Mr +St. Cyr, pretending great fright. + +"Oh, no! But she is sure to go to church today, and we thought we might +meet her. And if she knew we were going home, it might shorten her +devotions." + +"If she knew we had a holiday, she would want to come home to vex us. +We are not among her favourites--especially Fred." + +"Ah! that is it, is it?" said Mr St. Cyr. "She is hard on you, is she? +I hope you do not let her trouble you too much." + +"By no means," said Frederica with dignity. "On the contrary, I think I +trouble her far more." + +"I can conceive it possible," said Mr St. Cyr with a shrug. "But are +you sure you can find your way home by these streets? See, I will go +with you, and show you past the corner below. And let us hope that +Madame Pauline will confess all her sins to-day; and I fancy that might +ensure her absence till nightfall at least. And my young ladies, the +next time you come to me in your troubles, pray don't begin by knocking +me down." + +"Pardon us, Cousin Cyprien. It was very careless," said Frederica, +eagerly. "But really and truly, may I come to you with my troubles? I +mean, of course, when I have any. I have none now," she added, +laughing. + +Mr St. Cyr did not laugh. He looked gravely into the bright face +before him, so gravely that the laughing eyes looking up at him grew +grave too. + +"I hope it will be a long time before you need my help in trouble, +little cousin. How old are you now? Let us see." + +Instead of turning at the corner, as he meant to do, he walked on with +them. + +"I shall be fifteen my next birthday. It comes in August," said +Frederica. + +"Fifteen!" repeated Mr St. Cyr. "But what a little creature you are! +It is a pity." + +"I am as tall as mama," said Frederica with dignity. + +"Yes, I suppose so. She was just such another child. Ah! how the years +pass!" + +"I shall grow yet, I have no doubt," said Frederica. + +"Ah! well! we will hope so. And be quick about it. If you were only as +tall as your sister at home now, we might strain a point, and call your +education finished, and send you home to your mother. You must have +learned quantities of things all these years, eh?" + +"Oh! quantities!" said Frederica gravely. "But, Mr St. Cyr, I am not +very big, I know. Still I could be a comfort to mama all the same." + +"And she needs comfort you think?" + +"It gives her pleasure to have us at home." + +"And she has not so many pleasures, these days," said Mr St. Cyr. "But +it would not do, I fear, not yet. Why, you are a mere child! I had no +idea! Not nearly so mature as her mother was at her age," continued he, +not to her, but to himself. "Well, so much the better. The more a +child the better. The longer a child the better. She is so like her +mother, too. The same sweet smiling eyes. Ah! there are so great +mistakes made in this life!" + +"Mr St. Cyr," said Frederica in a moment, "I am very little, I know, +but Mrs Glencairn says I have a great deal of good sense, if I would +only use it; and I daresay if you were to tell papa that I have learned +enough of things, and that I ought to stay at home with mama and Selina, +I don't think he would object." + +Mr St. Cyr only answered by that wonderful shrug of his shoulders, +which he could make to express anything--surprise, doubt, utter +disbelief; and Frederica went on: + +"Indeed, Mrs Glencairn thinks I am very sensible, and so does Miss +Robina. Will you tell papa to let me stay at home, Mr St. Cyr?" + +"And you think he would do it for me?" said he with an odd smile. "You +are too young--much too young. If I had my way, you should remain a +happy child for years and years yet--no millinery, no balls, no +admiration, for seven years at least. Ah! when I think of your mother, +and see you looking at me with her happy eyes! But what is the use of +going over all this? I shall, be late for church, and I must bid you +good day. And if I shall see--what is this you call her, little one?-- +Prickly Polly!--I shall send her wool-gathering, shall I? And then you +can pass the day without her." + +They all laughed. + +"Oh! I am not the least afraid of her; though I am not very big," said +Frederica. + +"But you may send her to gather wool, all the same," said Theresa. + +Then they went quietly on their way. There was no dancing along the +street after that, as Mr St. Cyr saw when he turned at the corner of +the square to look after them. + +"She is like her mother," said he to himself, "but more like her +grandmother, that shrewd little Jewess, with her `good sense,' as madame +the schoolmistress says. Ah! if she had lived, that poor foolish child +would not have been suffered to make that great mistake in life. But I +must go to church. How many times have I said that I would not permit +myself to care for her children as I have cared for her, to have my +heart torn by ingratitude, or by indifference, which is as ill to bear. +If, indeed, through them I could wound the self-love and vanity of their +father, and so avenge the wrongs of my friend's child, the poor +Theresa--ah! then I might care for them, and fight for them against him +to the death." And with this Christian sentiment in his heart, the +little man went up the great cathedral steps to pray. + +In the meantime the two girls were walking slowly down the street. + +"I like Cousin Cyprien very much," said Frederica, gravely. + +"Yes, so do I," said her sister. "But then he is not our cousin, you +know." + +"Well, he was grandpapa's cousin; and if he is not ours, we have none. +I like him." + +"Madame Ascot is our cousin quite as much as he." + +"Madame Ascot, indeed! Don't be silly, Tessie;" and she shrugged her +shoulders in Mr St. Cyr's fashion. "I wish I had gone to church with +Mr St. Cyr. I mean I wish I had offered to go. He would have been +pleased." + +"But papa would not have been pleased, Fred." + +"He would not have cared about my going to church. He would not have +been pleased that I should go to give pleasure to Mr St. Cyr. He does +not like him; I wonder why." + +"Oh! you know very well. It is because of grandpapa's will." + +"Mama likes him. She says he is a good and just man. He is very +religious." + +"So is Madame Ascot," said Tessie. "I don't admire religious people." + +"But then there are so many ways of being religious. Miss Baines' +religion made her strong and patient to bear pain. And she was good and +kind always." + +"Miss Pardie is very religious--the cross thing," said Theresa, "and so +is Fanny Green. But she listens to the girl's conversation while she +says her prayers. And Mattie Holt tells tales, and is very +disagreeable. I don't admire religious people." + +"But then their religion cannot be of the right kind. There must be +some good in the right religion, if we only could be sure what the right +is." + +"Oh, I daresay they are all good after a fashion. One kind is good for +one, and another kind for another." + +"But, Tessie, that is nonsense. How can things be equally good that are +exactly opposite? And I know that Mrs Ascot thinks papa and the rest +of us all wrong. And you should have seen her scornful look, when I +told her once that Miss Baines was a religious woman. And I know that +Mrs Glencairn and Miss Robina, among themselves, call Mrs Ascot `a +poor benighted creature.' They cannot all be right." + +"Oh! well! what does it matter?" said her sister, impatiently. "Why +should you care what Mrs Ascot thinks, or Mrs Glencairn either?" + +"Still, one would like to know. Mr St. Cyr is good, but then Mrs +Ascot is not; and they have just the same religion, though I don't +suppose Mr St. Cyr goes so often to church, or to confession, as she +does. And Miss Baines was good, and her religion was quite different. +As for papa and the rest of us, I don't think we have any at all." + +"Well, that shows that it doesn't matter about religion. I am sure mama +is much nicer than Madame Ascot, and she has no religion at all you say, +and Madame says the same." + +"Mama is a Jewess, at least her mother was," said Frederica; "but she is +certainly not religious in her way. One ought to have a religion of +some kind, only how is one to know when one has that which is right?" + +"There is the Bible," said Tessie, hesitating. + +"Yes, Miss Baines says it is the book of books, and mama approves of it +too. She has one, you know, only it is in Hebrew. I shall ask some one +about it,--which is the right kind I mean." + +"Papa, for instance, or Mr St. Cyr. But one would tell you one thing, +and the other another, and you would be just in the same place. Only I +think papa would just laugh at you." + +"I suppose so. But there must be some way of finding out the truth." + +"Better go and ask the bishop," said Tessie, laughing. "But then there +are two bishops, and which is the right? Don't be a goose, Fred." + +"I am quite serious, I assure you, for the moment," added she. "And +indeed, it is a thing to be quite serious about." + +"If we had gone to the convent, as Mr St. Cyr and Madame Ascot wished, +instead of to Mrs Glencairn's, we should have known all about it. But +then it is quite right that we should be of the same religion as papa. +Still I think he did not care himself, only he wished to vex Mr St. +Cyr." + +Frederica said nothing for a minute, and her sister added-- + +"We ought to learn about it in church: that is what we go to church for, +I suppose." + +"Yes, and I like to go very well, but I get very sleepy during the +sermon, especially when we go with Miss Robina. I try to listen +sometimes; but of course all that is meant for grown-up people, and I +don't understand it." + +"Were you not just telling Mr St. Cyr that you are grown up? But I +think you are very stupid to bother about it. If people say their +prayers and are nice and obliging, and all that, I think that is quite +enough. I am sure mama is good, and so is Selina, and what is the use +talking so much about religion, _as_ though that would make any +difference?" + +"Yes, mama is good, and Selina, but I am not, at least very often I am +not. And there must be some way of finding out what is wrong and what +is right." + +"Of course there is--your own conscience," said Tessie, triumphantly. +"Hasn't Mrs Glencairn often told you?" + +Frederica shook her head. + +"But there must be something more than that. I wish I knew." + +"Say your prayers and go to church, that is religion, everybody knows. +But to be good and nice is something quite different. I think you are +very silly, with all your wishes and talking, and I beg you won't say +anything to Selina about it. She thinks of things afterwards, and you +are not to vex her. And don't look like that, or I shall wish you had +gone to church with Mr St. Cyr. But you will forget all about it +before to-morrow. That is one comfort." + +"Very likely; but that does not prove anything;" said Frederica. +"Everybody ought to have some kind of religion; and sometimes, when I +used to see Miss Baines so happy in the midst of all her pain and +trouble, I thought of poor mama, and wished that she could know all +about it. But I won't say anything to Selina just yet." + +"No, nor ever, unless you are a goose. Here we are at home. Won't they +be glad?" And the little girl ran up the broad stone steps, and danced +out her impatience while she was made to wait for the opening of the +door. + +"No," said Frederica, as she stood at her side; "I am not going to spoil +our visit with religion, at any rate; and I daresay you are right, +Tessie, and I may forget all about it before the week is over." + +CHAPTER THREE. + +Easter fell late this year. The grass on the sheltered lawn was already +green, and there were many budding things in the borders; and with the +sunshine falling on them so warm and bright, it almost seemed to the +children like a summer day. Tessie could not resist the temptation to +run down the steps again, to peep through the wires and over the low +cedar hedge at the crocuses and snowdrops beyond: + +"We shall have cold days enough yet," she said as she came back; "but I +need not spoil to-day thinking about them. It is just like summer +to-day." + +"We shall make a summer day in the house to mama and Selina, that is-- +and to the children--and to Madame Marie Pauline Precoe Ascot, too, if +she will let us; to the rest, whether she will or not." + +The coming in of the two children brightened their mother's dim room +like sunshine, and the more this time that they were not expected. It +was early yet, and their mother was not dressed; but their sister sprang +to meet them with a glad cry, and in a minute they were all rejoicing +round their mother's couch. + +"A week of holidays, mama! Think of it, Lina! a whole week. I don't in +the least know how it happened. Somebody is going away or somebody is +coming. It doesn't matter; here we are. Isn't it nice?" + +And so they chattered on for a time, while their mother listened. + +"Lina," said Frederica, in a little, "stand up, and let me see how tall +you are." + +Seeing her there in her mother's room, you would never have supposed +that Selina Vane was blind. Her eyes were a clear and lovely blue, well +opened and bright. She walked about the room, not rapidly, but still +lightly; not at all like one afraid. While going about the house and +garden, she bent slightly forward, and walked with one hand held a +little out before her; but here, in her mother's dressing-room, she had +no look of blindness. Her face was as bright and happy as her sister's, +and she rose at Frederica's bidding, laughing and wondering a little. +Her sister placed herself beside her, and measured the difference in +their height with her hand. She shook her head gravely. + +"There _is_ a dreadful difference. I am a shockingly little creature; +am I not, mama?" + +She put on such a face of ludicrous dismay, that her mother could not +but laugh. + +"Mama, I am nearly fifteen. I ought to be a woman by this time, and +really I am nothing but a child." + +She stood before a large dressing-glass, and surveyed herself +discontentedly. + +"These curls have something to do with it, and this short dress. That +can be remedied, however." + +In a moment she had obtained a dressing-gown of her mother's, and, +drawing the silken cord tightly round her waist, she walked up and down, +looking over her shoulder to see herself in the glass. The whole thing +was done in a manner so childish, and so amusing, that her mother +laughed merrily; and her little brother who had come in with Tessie, +clapped their hands. Frederica laughed too. + +"I am afraid it is not the dress, mama; I am only a child." + +"My darling! a happy child is a very good thing to be. I hope it will +be a long time before you are anything but a happy child. The longer +the better," added she, with a sigh. + +"That is what Cousin Cyprien said, mama," said Frederica, gravely. + +"Yes; it was Mr St. Cyr that put all that nonsense in her head about +being a woman and grown up," said Tessie, severely; "and she told him +she had a deal of sense, though she was so little. For my part, I am +very well content to be a child." + +"But you have a child, you know, dear; only thirteen, or is it twelve, +mama? A precocious child certainly, but still a child," said Frederica, +with an air. + +"Mama, look at her. She must be forty, at least," exclaimed Tessie. +"She must be considerably older than Mrs Ascot--ever so much older than +Lina." + +"What is it all about?" asked Selina, gently. + +"Never mind. Don't ask her, Lina. She is so dreadfully wise and clever +that she is quite too much for me sometimes. I should not wonder if +Mrs Glencairn would wish to engage her to supply Miss Robina's place +when she is married." + +"Tessie, that is a secret. You promised not to tell--about Miss Robina, +I mean." + +"How prudent, too?" said Tessie. "Mama, we are not crazy; only we are +so glad to get home." + +"And indeed, mama, I am very willing to be a child for a long time yet," +said Frederica, and seizing her little brother Hubert, she danced with +him round the room to music of her own making. Catching Charlie's +hands, Tessie followed, while Selina, laughing, joined in the music, +though not in the dance. + +"Mama," said she, softly, "is it the same house do you think?" + +The boys might have grown too noisy, but Frederica brought their play to +an end presently. + +"Mama," said she, "it is the loveliest of spring days. You think it +cold, I daresay, as you have a fire, but it is just like summer, and I +am going to drive you and Selina; and afterwards I will drive the boys, +if they are very good. We will go very slowly; not in the streets, but +away in the country. Mama, you are not afraid of my driving?" Mrs +Vane shook her head. "No, love; I am not afraid. I am sure you can +drive the ponies; but it is a long time since I was out. Selina will +like to go, however." + +"And you too, mama--just a little way. Are you not so well, mama? You +are tired. Something has tired you. Ah! these papers. I see. She +could not have gone to church, and said her prayers quite happily, +unless she had left you something to vex yourself with while she was +away. Where are they? Why, mama, these are the very same I saw at +Christmas--some of them at least," added she, after turning over a +bundle of papers that lay on the dressing-table. "I see butcher's +bill--baker's bill--grocer's bill. What quantities you and Selina must +eat, mama! I don't understand them in the least. Were not all these +things paid before, mama?" + +"Some of them must have been," replied Mrs Vane, wearily; "but I do not +understand them." + +"And why should you be vexed? Is not Mrs Ascot here for no other +reason than to save you all this trouble? And surely papa--" + +Mrs Vane made a sudden impatient gesture. "Papa can do nothing. There +is nothing to be done but pay the bills, and he cannot pay them." + +"Has anything happened since we were at home?" asked Frederica +anxiously. "Have we grown poor?" + +"No, no. Everything is as usual. Indeed, Mr St. Cyr gave me more +money than usual. Rents have risen, he says. He was here not a month +since, but the money has all gone--`to pay servants' wages and old +debts,' Mrs Ascot says. I do not understand how it can be." + +"But, mama, there must be some mistake. I wish I knew about bills and +things. Papa ought to examine these. He would understand them. Why +should you be vexed about them?" + +"My love, there is nothing to understand, he says, but that the bills +must be paid; and he says I must ask Mr St. Cyr for more money--that we +have not enough to live upon. I cannot do it. It is not in his power +to increase it. He gave me more once, but I think, it was his own. It +was for Mrs Glencairn. I could not bear that she who is so good to you +should be without her money. But I could not ask him again." + +"But, mama," said Frederica, hesitating, "has papa no money? He goes to +the office, and all that--and has he no salary, like other gentlemen?" + +"There is many a family kept on less than his income, Mr St. Cyr told +me; but the keeping up of the place is expensive; and I cannot ask him. +And oh, darling, to think that I should have spoiled your holiday with +all this!" + +"Mama, don't you remember how you put these bills away at Christmas, not +to vex yourself and us? And here they are again. It is right that I +should be vexed with what vexes you, although I am a child." + +"Yes, if you could help me, dear." + +The children had gone out to the garden by this time. Selina sat +holding her mother's hand, listening with a grave face to all that +passed. + +"Mama," said she, "Frederica ought to know. She is a child, but she has +sense; and, with her to help us, we might be able to understand. Have +you the papers, Frederica? Mama read them all at Christmas after you +went away, and she gave Madame Ascot money to pay some of them at least, +and it cannot be right that they all should come back. There must be +some mistake." + +Frederica opened a great many papers and read patiently through long +household accounts, and in a little while became utterly bewildered. +Nothing but the grave looks of her mother and Selina prevented her from +bursting into childish laughter, so comical did the going over and over +the same thing seem to her. The grocer's bill was the most amusing. +"Tea, sugar, coffee, soap, candles, salt," and so on, over again. + +"Dear me, mama, how many things people need?" + +Then there were other bills, the butcher's, the baker's, and then a wine +merchant's bill. There was one which had "paid M. Leroy" at the end of +it, and Frederica said-- + +"Madame Ascot did not intend you should have this, mama. However, we +may as well put it with the rest." + +Selina listened earnestly, but said nothing. Indeed, when they had all +wearied themselves, they were no wiser, and no nearer the end of their +trouble. + +"Mama, ought people to have bills?" said Frederica; "ought not people to +pay when they buy things? It would save a great deal of trouble." + +"I think they ought; but Mrs Ascot seems to have fallen into this way. +It was not done when I was well. Oh, if I were only able to attend to +these things myself! It is quite wrong that things should have fallen +into such a state. I do not believe there is any need that it should be +so. Everything is wrong, and I can do nothing. I do not trust Madame +Ascot: and your father,--there is no use speaking to him." + +She was getting excited, and would be ill soon, her daughters knew, +unless this could be put out of her mind. + +"I will tell you what we must do, mama. We will take all these papers +to Mr St. Cyr--not to ask more money. But he will understand them, and +he will help us. Mama, he was quite nice to-day, not at all cross, +though we nearly knocked him down; and he said I was to come to him when +I was in trouble, and I am sure this is dreadful trouble. Selina, don't +you think we might go to Mr St. Cyr?" + +Selina waited for her mother to speak. + +"I don't think Mrs Ascot would like it, nor papa. He says Mr St. Cyr +must advance the money to pay the bills, that is all." + +"Oh! as for papa, he won't trouble himself; and I think I should rather +like to vex madame. She need not be vexed if she has made no mistakes, +and if she is quite to be trusted," said Frederica, with some +hesitation. + +"There is no good in struggling against Mrs Ascot," said Mrs Vane +hopelessly; "I have tried often, and there is no use. I have not the +strength nor the courage." + +The papers fell to the floor, as Frederica started up suddenly. + +"Mama, I have strength and courage to tear Madame Ascot into fifty +thousand little pieces, if she dares to trouble you," cried she; and +then, as she saw her mother's face, she hung her head, adding, "I beg +your pardon, mama: that was very foolish and wicked." + +"My darling, there is no use in doing anything that Mrs Ascot will not +like. I have tried to bring things right often." + +"Because you are not strong. Papa ought to do it," said Frederica. + +"And, mama, this cannot go on always. There must come an end some time, +and I think Frederica is right, and these papers should be sent to Mr +St. Cyr." Selina spoke very quietly. + +"And why should Madame Ascot care?" said Frederica. "I hope she will +care. I should like to see her face when she knows Mr St. Cyr has got +those disagreeable papers. I have a fancy that their only use is to +make you uncomfortable, you and Selina. Now I shall put them away, and +you must promise not to think of them again, till Cousin Cyprien shall +make them all right. And I will order the ponies, and drive you first, +mama, and Lina, and afterwards Tessie and the boys, if they are very +good." + +"Mama," said Selina, "I think this is quite the best way--about the +papers, I mean. You know you have thought about giving them to him +before. And he will be quite willing to take the trouble, and he will +know what to do; he is wise. Say that this is right, mama." + +"Indeed, love, I do not know what is right; but we will send them: I can +do nothing else." + +"And it will all be made easy, mama. I only wonder we have not sent +them long ago. And you are really not to think about them--promise, +dear mama." + +And so the disagreeable subject was put away for that time. + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +The orders were given, and all preparations made, and in a little time +the pony carriage stood at the door. It was a carriage which Mr St. +Hubert had had made for his daughter's use, after she became an invalid. +It was open and quite low, and large enough to hold two persons, +besides the fortunate ones who should occupy the luxurious chief seats. +But the boys were restless, and sometimes noisy, and Tessie was to stay +at home with them, so that their mother and Selina might sit in state +and comfort. Frederica, on the high front seat, acted as driver, and +enjoyed it well. Dixen was there beside her, so that her mother need +not have the least cause for being frightened or nervous, and so lose +the pleasure of the drive. + +Dixen had once been a soldier, and Mr Vane's servant while he was in +the army, and had lived with him since his marriage in various +capacities. Lately he had been called the coachman; but to take Mrs +Vane and Selina out to their unfrequent drives, was only a small part of +what was expected from him. He waited on Mr Vane, he worked under the +gardener, and held himself ready to do whatever else might be found for +him to do. The other servants had got into the fashion of calling him +old and good for little; but none of them all worked so faithfully for +their wages as he. + +He did not feel affronted that the reins were taken out of his hands on +this occasion; for the young lady had been taught to drive by him, and +he was proud of her skill and success in the art. + +They left the city streets, and passing the toll-gate, soon found +themselves with the river on one side and the dull grey fields and +leafless trees on the other, with nothing to hinder the putting of the +ponies to their speed. It was a summer day for brightness and mildness, +but Mrs Vane drew her fur cloak close around her, as the breeze from +the river reached her; for she had made herself a prisoner in the house +for a long time, and the keen air made her shiver. Selina smiled with +pleasure as she felt the wind on her face, and drew in long breaths of +the sweet refreshing air. + +"Is not this nice, mama?" asked she, laying herself back among the +cushions with a sigh of satisfaction. + +"Very nice and pleasant," said her mother, touching her hand gently. +This stood to the blind girl for a smile. + +"And you are glad you came, mama?" + +"Very glad, love. You have quite a colour already." + +"And so have you, mama," said Frederica, glancing round. "When were you +out last?" + +"Not for a long time--not since we went in a sleigh," said Selina, +answering for her. "We thought the roads could not be quite good yet. +And mama is afraid of the cold." + +"Not since sleighing!" exclaimed Frederica: "you don't know your +privileges. Dixen, I am surprised at you." + +"It has no' been my fault, Miss Frederica, I can assure you," said Dixen +gravely. + +"I have not felt inclined to go out," said Mrs Vane; "and, indeed, +there is little pleasure in going when one has to be so muffled from the +cold." + +"But, mama, you thought you could not come to-day. You thought it would +be too much for you, and now you enjoy it. It is just what you need, +and Selina too. You want me to be at home to take care of you both." + +"And indeed, Miss, that's a true word of yours," said Dixen in a +whisper. + +Frederica looked up quickly. + +"Mama, I am going to ask Dixen. He is a man of sense. Dixen, don't you +think it is quite time that I should be considered a grown-up young +lady? I am fifteen, and mama needs me at home. I am very little, I +know," added she, deprecatingly, as the old man let a queer glance rest +on her. He answered with great gravity, however. + +"Good gear is ay in small bundles; and one does not need to be a +giantess to be a comfort to one's mother." + +"Just so," Said Frederica, nodding well pleased. "I am fifteen, and one +ought to have some sense at fifteen. Mama, are you keeping your +promise? You know you are only to think of pleasant things. You are +sure you are glad you came?" + +"Very glad, dear." + +"And not all for Lina's sake?" + +"No," said her mother, laughing; "a little for your sake." + +"Oh, I hope it will be fine every day while we are at home. We shall +drive every day. Do you like it, Lina?" + +"Yes," said Selina softly. Selina's "yes" said more than other people's +protestations. + +It was very pleasant to them all. It was not in appearance only that +Mrs Vane had put away all unhappy thoughts; she had really put them +away. It was not that she had much hope that her cousin could put +everything right, as Frederica had said, or that she had much faith in +her little daughter's "good sense." But she had great faith in her +loving heart and happy temper, and it was a wonderful break in the dull +life led by her and Selina to have the merry little creature with them, +and she yielded entirely to the charm of her lively loving ways, and for +the time was well and happy. They only reached home in time for their +two o'clock dinner, which they enjoyed all the more for their drive, and +then Mrs Vane and Selina were left to rest, while Frederica went out +with Tessie and the children. + +"It will not be too much for Jack and Jill, I hope," said Frederica, as +she stood stroking the ponies before they set off. + +"Not if you drive gently," said Dixen. "And I think, Miss Frederica, +the mistress would be more at her ease if I were to go with you. Not +that there's any need of it, but she's nervous-like, you know." + +"And can you be spared? You seem to be in such demand." + +"We'll no' ask," said Dixen. "If you're wanting me, that is all that +need be said. Duty doesn't call two ways at once, they say; and if it's +for pleasure, why should not I have a holiday as well as the rest? And +madame's no' here to hinder or to try it even." + +Frederica laughed. + +"And besides, Miss," continued Dixen, "it is more seemly for a young +lady like you to have your servant with you. It may do for children and +common folk to go here and there by themselves, but a young lady like +you--" + +Frederica opened her eyes. This was a new light to see the matter in; +she was by no means sure that it was a pleasant one. But if it pleased +Dixen to be responsible for her dignity and propriety, she would not +object, at least on this occasion. + +So away they went through the streets first, and then round the +mountain, to the great enjoyment of them all. Not one of them enjoyed +it less, and Dixen I am assured enjoyed it all the more, that they met +Mrs Ascot not far from the house, and knew by the look she gave them +that she would have liked to turn them back. + +"Her smile was out of the wrong side of her mouth," muttered Dixen. He +knew that she had ordered the carriage for herself at four, and they +could not go for her pleasure that afternoon. + +"I only hope she will not disturb mama till we come home," said +Frederica. + +The drive was charming, but even Frederica confessed to being a little +tired when they reached home. It was five and after. Madame Ascot met +them at the door. It puts the best-tempered people out to be kept +waiting, and her face was not an agreeable one to see at the moment. + +"Did you not understand that I said four?" asked she sharply. + +"Miss Frederica," began Dixen, touching his hat to the young lady. + +"Did I not say four?" repeated Mrs Ascot. + +"But, madame, it would have been quite impossible. We did not leave +home till nearly three," said Tessie. + +"Don't let it happen again," said Mrs Ascot; taking no notice of the +child. + +Frederica was patting her favourites, calling them, all sorts of pet +names. She turned as Mrs Ascot attempted to pass her. + +"It is a pity, madame. You should have sent, for a carriage. It is +quite impossible that the ponies should be taken out again to-night, you +know," she added as Mrs Ascot seemed to be preparing to enter the +carriage. It is likely madame would have proved it quite possible, had +not Mr Vane entered the garden at the moment Tessie ran down the steps +to meet him. + +"Oh, papa, we are to have a whole week of holidays. Are you not glad?" + +"Papa, I am so sorry we did not drive round by the office and take you +up. I thought you must have been home. Yes, they are rather warm, and +tired too, but they will be none the worse, will they, Dixen? And I am +to drive mama every fine day and you must come too, papa. I shall be +charmed to drive you." + +Mr Vane laughed. + +"My neck is too valuable," said he: + +"Not more valuable than mama's; and we can take Dixen if you are afraid. +Now you must be kind to them, Dixen, and rub them well down," added +she, as the old man prepared to lead them away. + +"Never fear, Miss Frederica," said Dixen. + +"But I thought Mrs Ascot was going out;" said Mr Vane. + +"It is too late now," said that lady angrily. + +"Quite too late, and the ponies are tired. It is quite impossible," +said Tessie, with irritating dignity. + +"All right," said Mr Vane, indifferently. + +"Papa, we are going to have a party in the drawing-room to-night. We +are all going, and mama and Selina and you must come too, just after +dinner. Will you come, papa?" pleaded both girls, hanging on his arms. + +"Certainly, with great pleasure," said their father, pleased to be thus +entreated; "but you must let me go now." + +"It is not summer to madame to-night," whispered Tessie, laughing. + +"We will invite her to our party, and that will comfort her," said her +sister, and then she went upstairs to give private instructions to the +boys' maid, that they were not to be put to bed at their usual early +hour. + +Mrs Ascot did not honour them with her presence, but the party was very +successful notwithstanding. Mr and Mrs Vane were becoming quite +indifferent to each other by this time; that is to say, no part of the +happiness of either was of the other's giving. Mrs Vane was long past +resenting the open indifference that had hurt her so much at first, and +her husband never brought so much brightness with him in his brief +visits, as to cause her to regret his absence very bitterly. She had +quite resigned herself to the knowledge that it could not be otherwise +now. + +Still they had one interest in common. They cared for their children, +each in a different way, and took a little pleasure in each other's +society when their children were with them. Mr Vane was not a fond +father, but his children were pretty and bright, and he had the selfish +man's satisfaction in the possession of what other people admired. They +were fond of him, and not in the least afraid of him. He never reproved +or punished them, and was rarely impatient with them, for they were +never long enough in his presence to weary him, or to interfere in any +way with his comfort. So when the girls welcomed him to the +drawing-room, he was quite prepared to enjoy an hour or two with them. + +They all enjoyed it. They had much to say for awhile, and then they +danced and sang, that is, the little boys danced with Tessie, and then +they all sang, and doubtless a much larger and more discriminating +audience would have been delighted with this part of the entertainment; +for they all had sweet voices, especially Selina, and her sisters had +been well taught; and two hours passed away very quickly, Mr Vane +thought. + +After the little boys went to bed, the conversation somehow turned again +on the subject of Frederica's young-ladyhood, and she once more +suggested the question whether she had not learned "enough of things," +and whether it was not time that she were leaving school. + +"For indeed, papa, I have gone through all the books the girls ever go +through at Mrs Glencairn's, and she has given me quite new books +lately, French history, and a book about animals; but I could read these +just as well at home." + +"How very clever you must be!" said her father. + +"No, papa, not particularly clever? at least, cleverness has nothing to +do with it. But you know their French takes the other girls for ever to +learn, and French is nothing to us who speak it at home. So I have just +the dictation now, and learning poetry and easy things like that. +Indeed, I think it is just wasting money for me to go longer to school," +added she, instinctively feeling that that argument her father might be +brought to consider. + +"I am afraid it would lead to wasting much more if you were to leave +school," said her father, laughing. "To be sure you are such a child +you could not be taken into society for a while yet, school or no +school." + +"Oh! as to that, I am in no haste about going into society; I only wish +to be at home to take care of mama and Selina. Would it not be nice, +mama?" + +"It would not be nice for me to be left at school alone," said Tessie; +"and as for you, I am afraid you would not have everything your own way. +Madame Ascot would spoil your pleasure a little." + +"Oh! we could dispense with Mrs Ascot, if I were at home," said +Frederica with dignity. "I could take charge of the house, and make +less fuss about it than she does. Papa, won't you take it into your +serious consideration? I have had enough of school." + +"You have had enough of Mrs Glencairn I daresay. I think I must take +into serious consideration whether it will not be better to send you to +England for a year or two. I think it is the best thing I can do for +you." + +That was the last word spoken on the subject Mrs Vane was too startled +by her husband's words to reply to them, and she touched Selina's lips +to stay the exclamation that rose to them. Frederica and Theresa +exchanged looks of dismay, but admonished by a look from their mother, +neither of them spoke, and in a little time their father bade them +good-night and went out. + +"He did not mean anything, mama," said Frederica. + +"He had not thought of it a minute before he said it, and he will forget +it in a day. He often does forget things," said Tessie. + +"We must not say anything to make him remember it," said their mother; +"and for the present we may hear no more about it." + +"And I must stay at school," said Frederica, pouting a little. "Mama, +you don't know how nice it would be for you and Lina, if I were always +at home." + +"I can imagine it, dear. But we will not speak of it, lest I should +have to lose you altogether for years to come." + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +The happy holidays passed all too soon away, and it was not till the +very last of them that Frederica went with her bundle of papers to the +office of Mr St. Cyr. + +"Mama could write a note and send Dixen, of course," said she to +Theresa. "But in a matter so troublesome every care should be taken, +and I shall go myself." + +She almost wished she had not, however, when she reached his house. The +outer door was standing open, and instead of ascending a step or two as +to most other houses in the street, one went down a step to the +threshold, and when that was passed, the dark and gloomy hall looked not +at all inviting to Frederica's eyes. It was too late to think of +running away now, however, and she sat down in the dingy outer office to +wait till her name was taken in to Mr St. Cyr. Her courage revived +when he came out to her; for he welcomed her warmly, and asked her into +his private office with great ceremony, quite as if she had been a +grownup young lady, she told Theresa afterwards. + +He took the papers, which the made haste to present as an excuse for her +coming, and examined them carefully for a minute or two. He nodded his +head and shrugged his shoulders, and said mademoiselle should have no +more trouble with them, unless he were much mistaken. And then +Frederica knew that the right thing for her to do would be to rise and +thank him, and go away. But she did not. She sat looking round the dim +room upon the numberless shelves and drawers and pigeon-holes, and then +through the dusty window into a narrow court shut in by high Walls--as +dismal a place as one could imagine. Her eyes were very grave when they +came back again to Mr St. Cyr's face. + +"Well, my little cousin, what do you think of it all?" asked he. "Do +you live here always, Mr St. Cyr?" + +"Yes; here by day, and upstairs at night." + +"And do you live alone? Have you no one else in this house?" + +"I have old Babette, whom you saw at the door." + +"And no one else?" + +"Is not that enough?" + +"And has there never been any one else? And are you happy here?" asked +Frederica, wonder struggling with the gravity in her face. + +"Ah, well! as to that--like the rest of the world, I suppose," said Mr +St. Cyr, with his wonderful shrug; but there came a look of pain over +his face that startled the little girl, and made her wish that she had +gone away before, so she rose hastily, and said,-- + +"Adieu--and--pardon me, Cousin Cyprien." + +"To meet soon, my little cousin," said he, bowing over her offered hand, +"as if I were quite grown up," thought Frederica again, in the midst of +her confusion. + +He went with her through the outer room and through the dim hall to the +street door, and then a new thought seemed to strike him. + +"You will think I am a wicked old spider sitting here in the dark to +catch unwary flies, if I let you go so. You shall come upstairs to see +that the sun shines here too, and that I am not altogether unlike my +fellow-men, though I am quite alone. Come upstairs, my child." + +Frederica gave one glance upward, and another into the sunny street. +She would much rather have gone away, but Mr St. Cyr was half-way up by +this time, and so she could only follow. The stairs were as dim as the +hall, and she saw nothing distinctly till she found herself in a large +but not very lofty room. Mr St. Cyr drew aside the heavy curtains, and +let in the sunshine. + +"And now you shall sit here till I see what my Babette can find for your +refreshment;" said he. + +There were a great many beautiful things in the room. Though the +furniture _was_ dark and old-fashioned, it was very rich and handsome of +its kind. The curtains were of the richest damask, of a shade between +crimson and brown, and the carpet was of the same colours, and so thick +and soft that never a foot-fall could be heard in the room. There were +vases and other ornaments on the mantel-piece, and a quaintly carved +cabinet opposite, whose open doors showed many strange and beautiful +things. There were pictures on the walls which made Frederica think of +the great churches in which she had sometimes been. + +It was not a pleasant room, notwithstanding all these beautiful things; +but quite as gloomy, though in a different way, as the office +downstairs. She did not move about to examine any of them, but sat +looking at a lovely picture of a woman with a child in her arms, over +which the morning sunshine fell. By-and-by Mr St. Cyr came in, +followed by a little old woman in an odd dress, who carried a silver +tray in her hand. On the tray was a china plate, with a bunch of +grapes, which she set down on a little table at her master's bidding, +and then left the room. + +"And so you do not think it well to be alone, my little cousin," said +Mr St. Cyr, when he had given the grapes into Frederica's hand. "Will +you not come and stay with me then?" + +Frederica did not answer for a moment. "You have learned enough of +things you know," said he, with his odd smile. "If we can persuade Mr +Vane to let you leave school, will you come and stay here with me?" + +Frederica shook her head. + +"I could not leave mama. She needs me." + +"But she has your sisters, and I am quite alone. Your mother used to +come here when she was a child." + +"Did she? Yes, she told us so. That must have been a long time ago." + +"A long time ago! And so you will not come?" + +"Papa says he will send me home to England to school for a year or two, +after I am done with Mrs Glencairn." + +"And would you like that?" + +"No, not at all. Mama would miss me so much, and Selina. But I don't +intend to make myself unhappy about it. Very likely papa may forget all +about it again." + +"He forgets with ease some things," said Mr St. Cyr: "let us hope he +may forget this." + +"I should not like to go, because of mama," repeated Frederica. + +"And that is a good reason why you will not come and stay with me. Ah, +well! I do not blame you. This is not the place for a bright little +flower like you to bloom in. I must still be alone, I suppose." + +"But I will come sometimes and see you, and so will Tessie, if you would +like us to do so," said Frederica, rising to go: "and I shall certainly +come if I fall into any more troubles. You said I was to do so, did you +not, Cousin Cyprien?" + +"Surely, I shall expect you." + +"And I have come already with these tiresome papers. And ah! I had +forgotten. There were several things I wished to say about them." + +"You need not say them," said Mr St. Cyr: "I shall understand them +perfectly, I do not doubt, and they shall not trouble you any more, nor +your mama either. I only wish all her troubles could be as easily ended +as these shall be." + +"But, Mr St. Cyr," said Frederica, pausing at the door, and growing +very red, "mama does not wish that you should pay these things. Has not +mama enough of money?" + +"Assuredly, she has ample means. I have no thought of paying these +debts. Do not alarm yourself." + +"You are not angry with me, are you, Cousin Cyprien?" asked Frederica, +wistfully. + +"Angry! By no means, my little cousin. Why should I be angry? And +now, remember you are to come again, you and your sister. Ah! how +bright the sunshine is!" added he, as he opened the door. + +Yes, it was almost dazzling at first, after the dimness within. +Frederica walked slowly home, not able, even in the bright sunshine, to +shake _off_ the quieting influence of the old man's solitary home. + +"I wonder why it seemed so strange?" said she to herself, "it must have +been the silence. I wonder if any other voice is ever heard in that +room. He must have visitors. And mama used to go there when she was a +little girl, with grandpapa, I suppose. If I were to do anything wrong, +or were afraid of an enemy, I think I would go there to hide myself. +But to live there always!--no, I could not do that; it is too silent and +sad." + +"Mama," she asked that night when she had told them of her visit, "was +it always so still and gloomy at Cousin Cyprien's when you used to go +there? Was he always alone in those days?" + +"I do not remember it as gloomy or silent. Mr St. Cyr's mother lived +there then, and there were a great many beautiful things in the house. +His brother was there too sometimes, but he was not a cheerful person." + +"There are beautiful things there now. The cabinet is full of them, and +there are the pictures on the walls," and she went on to name other +things she had seen: "but still I wonder that he can content himself +there, it is so solitary and silent." + +"Mama," said Tessie, "I don't think it says much for Fred's good sense +that she should talk in that way about Mr St. Cyr and his home. Very +likely there are crowds of visitors there every night, though there was +no one there then." Frederica shook her head. "No, you would not say +so if you went there. Only very old people or shadows could ever be +content there." + +"Mama, listen to her! Is she sensible?" + +"Well, perhaps it is foolish," said Frederica candidly. "But all the +same I cannot help being sorry for Cousin Cyprien. What does he take +pleasure in, mama?" + +"My dear, a man like Mr St. Cyr has many sources of interest and +pleasure that a young girl like you cannot be supposed to know anything +about, or even to understand, if you knew them. I do not think he needs +your pity or sympathy very much. He is very religious, I believe." + +"And religion is enough to content some people," said Tessie flippantly. +"You know you told me the other day that Miss Baines' religion made her +quite patient and happy, even when she was in great suffering, and not +afraid even of death; and perhaps it suits Mr St. Cyr to be religious +too." + +"Yes; but then his religion must be quite different from Miss Baines'." + +"Oh, well! it may be just as good, or it may suit him just as well. I +think you are very foolish, and so does Selina." + +But Selina said nothing. She listened always to her sister's talk, and +"thought about it afterwards," as Tessie had said. Now she was +repeating to herself, "Patient and happy even in great suffering; that +must be a good and beautiful thing." And many thoughts did she give to +Miss Baines and her sufferings, and her patience, before she saw her +sisters again. + +It was a beautiful sight, if there had been anyone to see it--the mother +and her daughters as they sat there together on that last night before +Frederica and Theresa went back to school. And yet it would have been a +sorrowful sight to one who knew their history and their affairs, and who +loved them and wished them well. For, except the dear love they bore to +one another, there was not a single element of permanence in the +happiness they enjoyed together. + +That the hour of separation was drawing near, none who looked in Mrs +Vane's face could fail to see. It was coming slowly, so slowly that +she, who had almost forgotten what it was to be quite well and free from +pain, had come to think that her illness was not of a kind that sooner +or later ends in death. The thought that it might be so--that she must +leave her children, young, without experience, every danger doubled by +their own beauty and their grandfather's wealth, was a very painful one, +but she put it from her, whenever it could be put away. Death was +terrible to think of for their sakes. Yes, and terrible for herself +too; for of the hope which sustains the Christian alike in life and in +death, she knew nothing. + +It is difficult to conceive of ignorance so utter as hers on all +religious subjects. Her mother had not lived long enough to teach her +the little that she herself understood of the religion of her people, +and her father had had no religion. During the first years of her +married life, she had sometimes gone to church with her husband, but she +had never been much interested in what she heard, or tried to understand +it. It had been a mere form with her; as indeed it had been always with +her husband. She knew nothing of the way in which a sinner must be +prepared for death, that must come some time, and which might be near, +and there were times when the thought of this made her afraid. + +Her daughters knew little more than she did. When the idea of sending +them to school was first proposed, Mrs Ascot desired that it should be +to one of the convents of the city, and probably there they would have +been sent, had not Mr St. Cyr earnestly desired it too. His wish was +enough to make Mr Vane decide against it, so bitter was his dislike, +and they were sent to Mrs Glencairn's instead. Their religions +teaching while there was, at their father's request, committed to the +charge of the English teacher, Miss Pardie, and her instructions were +not of a kind to make much impression on the minds of volatile girls, +with whom she was not a favourite. The Scripture lessons which they +shared with the other pupils, were too often learned and repeated as a +task, and forgotten. + +So neither the mother nor the children had any knowledge of the true way +to find happiness, either in this world or the next. A vague dread and +fear had come to Mrs Vane now and then during all the years of her +illness, but she had tried to put them from her. They had come oftener +of late, but she strove to put them from her still. + +"Patient and happy in the midst of great suffering, and not afraid even +of death." Many, many times in the days when the two girls had gone, +and she was left to the quiet of their solitary days, did these words +come back to her again. + +CHAPTER SIX. + +The reluctance with which the sisters always left home to return to +school, was usually forgotten by them as soon as they found themselves +among their companions, and busy with their lessons again. But this +time it was not so with Frederica. She was restless and unhappy, +finding it quite impossible to interest herself in her school-work, or +to settle quietly to anything. + +It was all the more difficult for her to do so, that she was in few +regular classes in the school. It was quite true as she had told her +father, she had gone through and through all the books generally used by +Mrs Glencairn's pupils. This was not saying much, for few of the girls +stayed in school so long as they ought to have done--none had been so +long as Frederica. Under the guidance of Miss Robina Glencairn, a +clever and cultivated woman, she had gone far beyond the usual routine +of school lessons, and had taken much pleasure in her reading, though +she had read alone, but she could not interest herself in it now. It +seemed foolish and wrong for her to be at school, learning things that +she could very well do without, when her mother and Selina needed her so +much at home. They _did_ need her, she was sure; and she grew irritable +and impatient under the restraint that kept her from them, till she was +in danger, her sister told her, of losing the reputation for politeness +and amiability, which she had been all those years acquiring. + +"And where is the good of fretting? If you can end it at the summer +holidays, you may be very glad. You may be sure that Prickly Polly will +not hear of your coming home just now. If I were you, I would learn the +dictionary from the beginning to the end, or do something else to pass +the time. Or you might ask Miss Robina for a story-book. She will give +you one--you are such a pet of hers, I'm sure." + +"It wouldn't be a bad idea," said Frederica. + +There was to be no walking that day, because of the rain, and her book +would have been little pleasure to her in the large schoolroom, where +the girls usually passed the recreation hour on rainy days. But she +knew where to find a refuge, to which, without special permission, even +Tessie could not follow her. Frederica, because of Miss Robina's +favour, and for some other reasons, was permitted to go to it if she +chose, provided her presence was not required elsewhere. So she was +soon knocking at the door of a room at the head of a dim staircase that +led to no other room in the house. + +"May I come in, Mistress Campbell?" said she, pausing on the threshold. + +"Is it you, missy?" said a voice from behind a great basket of clothes +that was standing on the floor. "Who would have expected to see you at +this hour? Have you no' got the play? It canna be that you have a +lesson to get over again!" + +"No," said Frederica. "This is not a lesson book. But I have got a +headache, and I am cross, and I can't be bothered with the girls; but I +shall be very quiet and good, and not be in the way, if you will let me +stay." + +"Well, if you'll promise no' to fash me with your foolish talk while I +am busy, you may stay." + +"Shall I fash you here?" said Frederica, laughing, and springing up into +the wide seat of one of the large dormer windows by which the room was +lighted. + +"Whisht now, and no' put me out of my count," said Mistress Campbell. + +She was sitting on a low stool, sorting and laying out on large trays at +her side the clothes of pupils and teachers that had just come up from +the laundress, a work which needed both patience and care, and Frederica +knew that she must not be disturbed. Instead of opening her book, she +sat for a moment watching her. She was a small, bowed woman, crippled +by rheumatism, with a thin brown face, and deep-set, sharp, grey eyes. +She wore a dark linsey gown, with a shawl of Campbell tartan over her +shoulders, and she had a "mutch" with two or three rows of stiff borders +on her head. She sung at her work, or rather chanted an old ballad +which Frederica had heard before; but every now and then, as she counted +and folded, and laid the different garments aside, she put their numbers +and the names of their owners, and her thoughts about them, into the +tune, without a pause; and Frederica knew by this that she had quite +forgotten her presence in the room. + +"A droll little person," she called her to herself, and then she thought +how strange a being "old Eppie" would seem to her mama and Selina, and +wondered how it was that she had never told them about her. She had +mentioned her to them, but now she looked at her, and around the low, +wide room, with eyes that meant to see everything for their benefit. It +was a large room, which yet did not seem very large, because of the many +things crowded into it, and because of the sloping roof which on three +sides came almost to the floor. It was the attic of the wing in which +the large classroom and dining-room were. The walls were roughly +plastered and whitewashed, and underneath were arranged old bureaux and +boxes and chests of drawers, filled with such clothing as was not often +needed, and under Eppie's particular care. Besides these, there were +articles of furniture, broken or out of use, such as will accumulate in +a house where many people live--chairs and tables, pictures, and faded +ornaments of all kinds. + +There was a bed at that side of the room where the roof did not slope, +but at this moment it was almost hidden by the great piles of linen +arranged upon it. There was a small open stove, in which a coal fire +smouldered, and over that part of the floor which was unencumbered by +furniture a faded carpet was spread. There was not one beautiful thing +in the room, Frederica thought, except a rose tree covered with buds and +blossoms, that stood in the window opposite. + +The windows were pleasant, but from them Eppie could only see the sky, +they were so high above her. From the one on the high seat of which she +sat, Frederica could see thousands and thousands of city roofs, with +bits of open space here and there, and the river beyond. But it was not +a fair sight under drizzling rain and a leaden sky, and so she turned +her eyes into the room again. Order was gradually coming out of the +confusion of the innumerable white garments by which the little old +woman had been surrounded. One after another the great trays were +carried and emptied, into the many drawers beneath the eaves; and then +coming back to place her empty baskets in a recess made beneath the high +window, Eppie saw Frederica. + +"Preserve us a' lassie! I had no mind o' your being here. It is time +for playing yourself now. Why should you be here at this hour?" + +"I don't care to play with children any more," said Frederica gravely. + +"Eh, sirs! You'll be growing ower-womanly for the like of that, I +suppose. Weel, weel! But you shouldna sit so quiet as to make me +forget that you are here. I might be saying things that it wouldna be +wise to say in your hearing. Are you no coming down out of that?" + +"Yes, I am coming, Mrs Campbell. Don't you ever get tired of this +place? Is it not awfully dull?" + +"Dull!" repeated Eppie, "and tired of it! Is it this chamber you mean? +Where could I go if I tired of it? I am very thankful to bide in it, I +can tell you." + +"Yes, I suppose so. But don't you get tired of it all the same? What +do you look forward to? There is nothing in your life but mending, and +keeping count, and--" + +"Hear the disrespectful lassie! Folding and keeping count, said she. +That's but for one day in the week. The mending whiles takes two or +three, and there's many a thing besides that I canna be speaking to the +likes of you about." + +"Yes; but not pleasant things, Eppie." + +"Pleasant things, quo' she! They're my duty. What other would I hae?" + +"But, Mistress Campbell, dear, if I thought I had to live all my life +here, even in this house, I should be miserable." + +"But then it's no your duty to live here all your life, and that makes +the difference. If I were to make myself miserable as you call it, it +would be for fear that I mightna get leave to bide here all my life, but +I daresay it will be time enough to fret when I'm bidden go." + +"That will never be. What would Mrs Glencairn and Miss Robina do +without you?" + +"There's no telling," said Eppie, nodding her head many times; "but +we'll say no more about it. Are you no coming down from that cold +window when I bid you?" + +"Yes, I'm coming. But, Eppie, how can you be content? Are your father +and mother dead? Have you any brothers and sisters? Will it be just +the same all your life till you die?" + +"Now, missy, come down this moment when I bid you. That's an +unwholesome book you've been reading, to put thoughts like that into +your mind. It's no me that's like to grow discontented, it's you. And +I was just thinking of inviting you to tea." + +Frederica sprang down from the window so suddenly as to make the old +woman start. + +"Oh, do, Eppie dear," cried she eagerly, "that is just the thing I +should like. I want to speak to you, and I don't want to go down to +that rubbishing history; and I'll read to you. I have not read a page +yet, and it's a very nice book they say." + +"Is it a story book? But I would far rather hear about the wee beasties +out of your lesson book. And I'm no just sure that Miss Robina would be +pleased that you should take tea with me so soon again, and I'm no sure +that I hae scones enew." + +"Oh! Miss Robina will be sure to let me; and never mind the scones. +I'll go down for whatever we need, and I'll ask Miss Robina. Let me +stir the fire." + +Frederica had forgotten the gloomy day, and the nun, and all imaginable +subjects of discontent. She urged her petition eagerly; for she knew +that Eppie liked to be entreated. + +"Let be the fire, missy. You'll do mischief, and spoil your hands. You +may bide if you get leave. But I doubt your sister will no be well +pleased. It is `making fish o' the one and flesh o' the other,' I +doubt." + +But Frederica did not stay to listen. It was a great honour and an +exceptional one, to be asked to tea by Mrs Campbell. No other girl now +in school, except Tessie and one or two of the elder pupils, had ever +been asked to drink tea in the garret. Except for the fun of the thing, +or for the sake of a change from the dreary school routine, few of them +would have cared to do so. For Eppie was only a little old woman, bowed +and lame, who even in her best days had only been a sort of upper +servant in Mrs Glencairn's house. The present race of girls did not +often see her. Some of them had never seen her; for her daily journey +to the lower part of the house to get what she needed was accomplished +with much labour and effort at time when the girls were sure to be in +school. + +Frederica was often in the garret. Miss Robina, whose pet, as Tessie +had said, she was, seldom refused her permission when she wished to +escape from the other girls, few of whose lessons she shared, either for +work or amusement. But taking tea there was another matter; and +Frederica, rather tired of being dismal, entered eagerly into the +preparations. Miss Robina did not object; on the contrary, she was very +glad to let her have the pleasure, heartily wishing that she might share +it. She did share it for a little while, and added to it. For she came +upstairs, carrying in her own hands a tray, on which were some fresh +"scones" and a bit of "paddie," each wrapped up in a snowy napkin, as +was absolutely necessary to their perfection. She could not stay long-- +only long enough to be thanked and petted, and called "bonny bird" and +"good bairn" by Mistress Campbell. She had a beautiful and good face, +though it was rather pale and tired-looking, Frederica thought, as she +sat for a moment smiling in the flickering firelight; and the first +thing she said, when she and Eppie were left alone, was,-- + +"How pretty and nice Miss Robina is! What a pity it is that she has to +keep a school?" + +To this no reply was given. + +"It must be so tiresome to do the same thing over and over again every +day of the year," added she. + +"There are worse things than that in Miss Robina's life, I'm thinking," +said Eppie gravely. + +"Are there? Tell me about them," said Frederica, eager for a story. + +"I doubt you are no speaking with your usual discretion," said Mistress +Campbell gravely. "We'll take our tea, and not meddle with what doesna +concern us. There are few lives in which there are no troubles. Let us +be thankful for our mercies." + +It was a very nice tea. Scones and fresh butter and honey, to say +nothing of "paddies" and other nice things. And such delicious tea made +in a funny little black teapot with a broken spout. Everything was +charming, Frederica thought and declared. The novelty would have made +it charming to her, though there had been nothing else to do so. They +did not fall out of talk. Eppie asked questions about the holidays they +had enjoyed; and entered with great interest into all the details +Frederica gave her about her mother and Selina, and the drives they had +had, and all they had enjoyed together. She grew grave as she went on +to tell that her mother was not strong, but easily tired and troubled, +and to wish that she could leave school, and stay at home with her +always. Eppie was grave too, and occupied with her own thoughts for a +little while; and as Frederica sat looking into the fire in silence, the +unhappy feeling that had passed away in the interest of tea-drinking in +such pleasant circumstances came back again. + +"Are you no going to wash the cups?" asked Eppie in a little. + +This was always in the evening's entertainment, and to-night it was +happily accomplished, inasmuch as it dispelled the cloud which had hung +for a moment over them. + +"It must be nice to have things to do--useful things I mean," said +Frederica. + +"I doubt it is a liberty in me to let you wash my cups, or even to ask +you to your tea," said Eppie. "For you are no longer the wee missy that +came creeping up the stairs the first day you came to the school. You +are growing a young lady now." + +"That is just what I was telling mama," said Frederica eagerly. "I +ought to have done with school now, and stay at home, ought I not? I +don't suppose I should wash cups; but there are a great many things I +could do for mama and Lina. Do you really think I am growing a young +lady, Eppie? I am such a little thing, you know," said Frederica; "but +I am nearly fifteen." + +An odd smile flickered for a moment on Eppie's small wrinkled face. + +"You needna be in any great hurry about being a young leddy. I doubt +you're but a bairn to the most o' folk yet," said she. + +"Not for myself--I am in no hurry to be grown up for myself; but for +mama's sake." + +"But there must be a heap o' things for you to learn yet," said Eppie +gravely. "There's time enough." + +"But I don't see the good of learning so many things, and I have gone +through all the books the girls learn here. And mama does need me, I am +sure of that." + +Then Eppie went on to say how important the season of youth is, and how +she had no doubt but Mrs Vane would rather deny herself the happiness +of her little daughters' company for the sake of having them become wise +and accomplished women, and so on. But Frederica did not seem to be +noticing what she was saying; for she asked suddenly,-- + +"Eppie, do you know where Miss Baines is now? Will she ever come back +again, do you think?" + +Eppie shook her head. + +"Have you not heard? She is dead, my dear." + +"Dead!" repeated Frederica. + +"Yes. She has gone to a better world, I have little doubt." + +"To heaven!" + +"Ay, I am sure of it, as far as a body can be sure of such a thing. She +was a good woman. She had some curious notions about things, but she +was a good woman." + +"She was very religious," said Frederica. + +"Yes, she was religious. She was a good woman." + +"But then there are so many kinds of religion," said Frederica. + +"But there is but one right kind I doubt," said Mistress Campbell +gravely. + +"And Miss Baines' was the right kind? It made her patient and gentle +with us girls, even when we were naughty. And after her fall, when she +suffered so much, it made her patient to bear her pain. And once she +told me that she was not afraid to die. I wish I had asked her more +about it. I don't know, but I am almost sure mama would be afraid to +die." + +Eppie gave her a startled glance; but Frederica did not look as though +she had said anything to excite surprise. + +"But your mama is a good woman. I have always heard you say that." + +"Yes. She is very good and dear. But then we have no religion in our +house--except Mrs Ascot; and I am afraid hers is not the right kind. +It is _not_ at all like Miss Baines', at any rate. But then how is one +to know?" + +"But I hope there are good people among all kinds," said Eppie, not +knowing very well what to say. + +"Yes. Mr St. Cyr is good, though Mrs Ascot is not. That is true. +And it does not matter so much, so that we have a religion of some kind. +Though, of course, one would wish to have the best." + +"You are wrong there, missy. It matters much. And you should be +thankful that you were sent here to the school, where the Bible is read, +and where you may learn your duty to God and man. That is the best +religion." + +"But I have not learned it very well," I fear. + +"Maybe that is your own fault. I have heard you say that you are not +very fond of going to the kirk and reading your Bible." + +"That is quite true. And that is the right way, is it? Were you fond +of going to the kirk when you were young? We go to the church, you +know." + +"I would be very thankful to be able to go to the kirk," said Eppie +evasively: + +"And is your religion just like Miss Baines'? Hers must have been +right, because it made her happy when she was in great trouble, and it +made her not afraid to die. Is yours the same, Mistress Campbell?" + +Eppie looked at her, wondering a little at her persistency, and then she +said, "Ay is it--the very same. The same in kind, though not in degree. +Miss Baines was a good woman, a far better woman than the like of me." + +"Tell me about it," said Frederica. + +Mistress Campbell looked sadly at a loss. + +"How did they teach you to be religious when you were young?" + +"We were taught to read our Bibles and to say the catechism, and to go +to the kirk. And my father had worship morning and evening, and we were +bidden do our duty, and be content with our lot." + +Eppie hesitated, by no means satisfied with her attempt to make the +matter clear, and then she said,-- + +"To be religious is to be good, and to do our duty to God and our +fellow-creatures. Don't you mind what the Bible says? `Thou shalt love +the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself.' And +in another place it says, `Pure religion and undefiled is this, to visit +the fatherless and the widow in their affliction.' That is religion," +said Eppie, with a pleased sense of having got well out of a difficulty. + +Frederica nodded. + +"Yes, I have read that. That is the way is it? Do good people all do +that? But then they must begin at the very beginning of their lives." + +Eppie shook her head. + +"We are poor imperfect creatures at the best," said she. "But God's +ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts our thoughts. We are +unprofitable servants. If we got what we deserve, it would go ill with +us. But He is merciful and gracious, and full of compassion, and of +tender mercy." + +Frederica considered gravely for a little while. + +"And is that all? I think I could manage to do all that, except perhaps +to love my neighbour as myself," said she, thinking of Prickly Polly. + +"But you would need to do that too, I doubt," said Eppie, not wishing to +make religion seem a thing too easy. "And you would need to say your +prayers, for the best of us need to be forgiven, and the strongest and +wisest need to be helped and guided, and the Lord is good." + +"And if I don't know very well at first. He will help me. But, Eppie +dear, I think Miss Baines must have had something more than this. I +wish I had asked her about it," said Frederica, regarding the old woman +with wistful eyes. + +"Dear me, lassie," said Eppie, at a loss what to say to her; "what has +putten such like thoughts into your head? you are not an ill bairn, and +you will learn as you grow older. You have no call to vex yourself with +such thoughts more than usual." + +"But, Eppie, it is for mama. She is ill, and suffers a great deal, and +she has only Selina with her; and if I only knew what made Miss Baines +so happy, I could tell mama. But mama could not begin at the beginning, +and go to church, and visit poor and sick people. There must be some +other away for her. For, Eppie, I am almost sure that mama would be +afraid to die." + +There were no tears in the great wistful eyes turned towards her, but +there was something which the old woman found it quite as hard to meet. + +"Poor body," murmured she; "the Lord help her!" + +"And, Eppie, Miss Baines said something about the Lord Jesus caring for +her. And He died, you know. It is in the service, `Crucified, dead, +and buried,' and in the Bible there is something about it." + +"Surely," said Eppie, eagerly, "that is just it. We are sinners, both +by Adam's fall and by actual transgression. And God sent His Son to die +in our room and stead. And we must lippen to Him. He will save us." + +"And it would not make any difference because mama is a Jewess, would +it?" + +"Preserve us a'! What will the lassie say next?" muttered the +bewildered Eppie. "No difference but what would be in her favour, I +would think. In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, the Word says, +and the apostles were bidden begin at Jerusalem," said she, the +long-forgotten words coming back to her in the exigency of the moment. +"And they are all to be gathered in, Paul says. I mind weel my father +and our minister ay used to pray for the ingathering of the Jews. No, +I'm sure it would be in her favour rather than the contrary," repeated +Eppie confidently, growing more assured as she went on. "They were a +grand people, the Jews--God's own chosen people. They did ill things. +They killed our Lord, and I canna just reconcile it all, but I'm sure +the Lord loves them yet." + +Frederica did not reply, but sat gazing in among the dying embers in the +grate. As she sat watching her abashed but anxious face, a great +longing to help and counsel her came over the poor old woman's kind +heart, but there came also sharply a sense of her utter inability to do +so, a vague but painful doubt whether she had ever seen clearly the way +of safety herself. + +"I'm but a poor ignorant sinfu' woman, my dear bairn," said she humbly; +"I havna lived up to the little light I have, and it's no for me to +teach you. But one thing I can tell you: read your Bible, and ask the +Lord Himself to teach you, and you'll need no other teaching, or if you +do He'll provide it. But see, the fire's near out, and it's more than +time you were down the stair, and I must go to my bed. So good night to +you, and mind your prayers." + +"Good night," said Frederica, and she went downstairs pondering many +things. + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +Attached to the large old-fashioned house in which Mrs Glencairn lived +were a garden and orchard of very large old apple trees, which now in +the spring time were full of wonderful possibilities for enjoyment and +amusement to children who had for the most part been obliged to find +amusement within doors during the long winter. And so no wonder that +Frederica, without whom no game was complete, should forget her serious +thoughts, and her troubles, and even her mother's doubtful state, unless +something particularly recalled them to her mind. She was such a little +creature, that, though she led the elder girls in their lessons, and was +indeed far before them, she did not seem to be at all out of place when +she led the plays and games of the little girls too. + +Even in her visits to the garret, with her "Animated Nature" in her +hand, she and Eppie kept to the safe subject of beasts and birds and +creeping things, in the discussions into which they fell. She had taken +up botany, too, in a less elementary form than had been given her +before, and her interest was greatly quickened, and her attention +happily given to it. And strange to say, Eppie, the recluse of the +garret, who had not set her foot on a green thing growing beyond the +orchard for many a year and day, even she gave eager interest and +stimulus to the girl's pursuit, and with spectacles on nose peered into +triticums and anemones brought from the mountain, and into apple +blossoms, and even into dandelions and buttercups gathered in the +orchard, for want of rarer flowers. + +"And what for no," said Eppie, "when Solomon himself, the wisest of +kings and men, spoke about green growing things from the cedar of +Lebanon to the hyssop on the wall? And God made them a'. They mind me +of my father's house and the fir belting, and the heather hills beyond. +And they mind me o' the days o' my youth, that are gone like a blink," +added she with a sigh. + +"Yes," said Frederica, turning compassionate eyes on the kindly wrinkled +old face. + +"I'm no complainin' you'll understand. I hae had my day as you'll +have," said Eppie, nodding her head gently a great many times. "But I +was ay fond o' flowers. I liked to notice their likeness, and their +difference, though I didna ken that they were a' written down in books. +Eh! it's just wonderful how true nature is to herself. That bonny +yellow flower might be the one that grew on the bush beside my father's +door, and yon rosebush that Miss Robina brought up the stairs to-day is +the very marrow o' the one that Sandy Gow the laird's gardener brought +down and gave to my sister Annie more than fifty years ago. It's like a +dream to look back upon." + +"But, Eppie, I have often wondered that you only care for one or two +flowers at a time, when you are so fond of them; you could have quite a +greenhouse of them in this south window. I could bring you dozens of +them," said Frederica. + +But Eppie shook her head. + +"I tried it, my dear, when sore against my will I had to betake myself +to this place--a dismal place it seemed for a while. I tried having +many flowers. Miss Isabel was here then, and she and Miss Robina took +great pains to get me the best and the bonniest. But I soon saw that it +wouldna do. I couldna get them kepit to my mind without troubling +somebody. They were ay needing something done, and I couldna even get a +spadeful of earth without another pair of hands. I was more helpless +then than I am now, and even the bringing of water for them up the +stairs was more than I could ay manage; so I just gave them up; for +unless a body can do justice to the bonny things, they are more pain +than pleasure. And I couldna bide to fash other folk. So now Miss +Robina brings me one as it blooms, and I hae been few days without a +flower all the seven years I have been in this room. I aye hae my +wallflowers, and once I had heather, but it didna thrive, and I thought +a pity to have it dying before my eyes, so I got no more." + +It was growing too dark by this time to pore over either books or +flowers. Eppie had had her tea, Frederica knew, because she saw the +tray with the dishes standing near the door, and she knew that she would +be welcome to stay till the school bell rang again for prayers. So she +sat in the window watching the clouds that were still bright, though the +sun had disappeared. By-and-by she said,-- + +"Tell me something that happened when you were young, something that you +never told me before." + +Eppie took up the stocking on which she could work as well in the dark +as in the light. + +"There was many a thing happened to me when I was young that I never +told anybody, but I might happen on an old story that you have heard +before, as is the way with old bodies like me. And I hae no feast o' +tellin' bits out o' my own life just for folk's diversion." + +But Frederica knew that she would have a story for all that; she was not +so sure that it would be a new one. + +"Were there many flowers in your garden when you were a little girl?" +asked she after a pause. + +"Weel! there were na just so many, but eh, missy! they were awfu' bonny +flowers. But I mind the flowers among the hills, and by the burn sides +best. The names of them? I canna mind a' the names, and if I could +they would seem like common flowers to you, but they gave us just a +wonderful delight. And there were other things besides the flowers. We +got many a day's pleasure out of the rushes by the burn, and the +brackens in the wood, and we ay had the heather. And, oh! wasna it a +bonny sight to see when the summer began to wear over! Flowers! High +above the glen where my father's house stood, there whiles were miles +and miles o' the purple blossom. I can see it now when I shut my eyes," +said Eppie, leaning back in her chair, and letting her stocking fall +upon her lap. + +"And then there were the daisies that you told me about," suggested +Frederica in the pause that followed. + +"Yes, the gowan, and the blue bell, and many a one beside. And I hae +seen the hills in a bleeze o' gold with the yellow broom. Though a +broom bush is no' to call a bonny thing, except a bit away. But a' +things are bonny to young happy eyes, and I daresay they are bonnier to +me now, looking back to them over all the long years." + +And on she rambled, as she had done many a time before, on the very same +theme, and if there had been an hour to spare, or if Frederica had been +inclined, this was the time when she would have asked for a song, and +the chances were she would have got ten of them chanted in a voice that +had once been sweet, but which failed now both in sweetness and in +power. Frederica always liked the songs, though she did not always like +the singing, but there was something else in store for her tonight-- +something which she had ceased to expect, a bit out of Eppie's life. +She knew it was coming when the old woman went on to speak about the +hills, and the grassy nooks hidden between them, and the days when she +used to go out with her father, who was a shepherd, among them. + +"And I mind one day we were sitting on the lowne side o' a hill, and +there came over it and down upon us, two lads with packs on their backs, +and one of them with a book in his hand. When they saw us, they stopped +to ask the road to the next town, for they had got in among the morning +mists, having risen early for their journey, and so had lost their way. +I mind how they both looked, as well as if I had seen them yesterday, +and maybe better. One of them was shame-faced about having lost the +way, which he said he had been over many a time before; but the other +only laughed and said it was a good thing to be mistaken whiles, and for +his part he was glad to lie down and rest. And so he lay down among the +heather, and turned a thin fair face to the sky. He was an English lad, +I think. His tongue was English any way. My father bade me take a +plaid I had brought with me, and spread it over him, for there was a +cold breath creeping now and then round the hill; and when I went and +did what I was bidden, the lad gave me first a surprised look, and then +a smile that made his eyes and his whole face beautiful. I see it now, +though I have hardly thought of it these thirty years," said Eppie with +a sigh. "And I mind his deep sweet voice, and the sound of the smooth +English words he used when he thanked me, and bade me sit down beside +him, and tell him my name. I sat down as he bade me, but he took little +heed of me for a while. For he looked sore weary and spent with more +than just the tramp over the hills, and his eyes had a look as if they +were seeing things far, far away. + +"The other was a fine lad too, I daresay, though o' a commoner nature. +He and my father got very friendly together, he telling and my father +listening to all they were doing out in the great world, whose voice +came to our glen, not like a real voice, but like an echo casten back +from the hills. And by-and-by the English lad's eyes came back to mine, +and what he saw in them I canna say, but he gave me the same smile that +lighted his face in a way that was just wonderful--I can see it now--and +he bade me look up to the sky, and see a ship that was sailin', sailin' +away to the west, and what did I think it was carrying there? There was +nothing in the sky that I could see, but a long trail of grey cloud, +with here and there an edge of light upon it, and he only gave a bit +laugh when I looked back at him again wondering. And then he plucked a +wee curled head o' the bracken that grew at his hand, and bade me look +at it. Naught could I see but just a bit o' bracken. I said not a +word, only looked from it to his fair smiling face. But then he took +out of his pouch a case, and out of the case a glass, and put it between +the bracken and my eyes. And I thought, surely a great magician had +come to our hills, for it was a bit o' bracken no longer, but a +wonderful network of cells, and veins, and feathery fringes, like +nothing I had ever seen before. And next it was a bit of brown heather +he took, and then a nodding bluebell, and then the wing of a May fly +that had lighted on his hand. + +"I looked and looked, and at last I cried out to my father to come and +see. Even my father wondered. Ilken leaf and blade o' grass, and even +the wee stones that we took from the path were wonderful to see. And +then he put the glass on my mother's plaid, and on his own fine kerchief +of lawn, and bade us see the difference between God's works and man's-- +how poor, and coarse, and common was the best that man could do, and how +the more and the closer we looked into the works of God, the more worthy +of admiration we should see them to be. + +"And then him, and my father, and the other lad had things to say that I +couldna make much of. He was a man of excellent understanding, my +father. But just one thing I mind. It was the English lad that said it +with a smile, and a great longing in his bonny een. `It may be,' he +said, `that when we get home to heaven, our glorified eyes shall see the +mysteries of beauty hidden in even the least of the things that God has +made without a glass between.' And when my father shook his head, +saying that there was no such word in the Bible, and that there was such +a thing as being wise above what is written, he smiled, and `Ah well!' +he said, `our eyes will be opened to see the wonders of grace and the +beauty of holiness, for we shall see our Lord Himself, and that will be +enough.' + +"I mind the words, because I heard my father telling them to my mother +that night as they were sitting by the fireside. They come back to me +now, as other words come, that I havena thought of for many a year and +day, a sure sign that I am no' far from the foot o' the brae." + +"And was that all?" asked Frederica softly, after a long pause, in which +Eppie had taken up her knitting again. + +"That was all, except that they wouldna go to my father's to bide all +night, because they were expected elsewhere, they said; and then I ran +home as my father bade me, and brought them milk and oaten cakes, which +they ate to their refreshment, doubtless, and to our pleasure, and then +they went away." + +"And who were they? And did you never see them again?" + +"We never saw nor heard of them, though doubtless they crossed our hills +again. They were just two lads on their way home from the college in +the north. We used whiles to see such, though our glen was a bit out of +the way for most of them. But we never saw them again. It must be +fifty years and more since then. It had gone clean out of my head, till +your flowers and your pleasure in them brought it all back again." + +There was nothing heard for a while but the "click, click," of Mistress +Campbell's "wires," as she went on with her knitting. The old woman and +the little girl were thinking their own thoughts. + +"Eppie, dear," said Frederica, as she slipped from her high seat to the +floor, "I like that about `glorified eyes,' and one seeing hidden +things; I mean things that are hidden from us now." + +"Ay, the eyes o' man are never satisfied with seeing, nor his ears with +hearing," said Eppie: "I doubt that is but a carnal notion o' heaven. +This is what David says about it-- + + "`But as for me, I Thine own face + In righteousness shall see; + And with Thy likeness when I wake, + I satisfied shall be.'" + +"Satisfied!" repeated she; "ay, doubtless, they'll be satisfied that win +there. But, eh me! `Strait is the gate, and narrow the way, that leads +to life,' and I doubt there will be some awfu' disappointments at that +day." + +"If one only knew just what to do," said Frederica gravely. + +"Be a good bairn, and ay read your Bible, and mind your prayers," said +Eppie. "But there's your bell, and you will need to go." + +And so Frederica went downstairs with the grave thoughts that Eppie's +words had awakened, stirring at her heart again. She read her Bible as +Eppie had bidden her, and sometimes she read it with delight, because of +the elevation of the thoughts and the beauty of the language; but she +came upon nothing in these readings that touched her heart, or that she +felt to be suited to her. She read the Old Testament, as the history of +her mother's people. She had been often told of late that she was a +Jewess in appearance, like her mother, and she took a real interest in +the history of her people, and began to feel pride in being descended +from a "nation of heroes." But pre-occupied with thoughts of this kind, +she read on from day to day, seeing nothing in the wonderful words she +read to enlighten her on all that she so much needed, and which she +believed she so much desired to know. + +She listened now with attention to such Bible lessons and readings as +entered into the regular routine of school work, but the instructions +connected with them were often of a kind to influence the reason and +affect the imagination, rather than to touch the heart; and though her +attention and interest enlarged her knowledge of the letter of +Scripture, and won her many good marks and the chance of a prize at the +end of the year, the lessons brought her no answer to the question as to +which was the right religion, or how one was to get the good of it in +the time of trouble, as Miss Baines had done. + +Indeed, if it had not been for one thing, the grave and anxious thoughts +that had been for some time occupying her mind might have passed away, +as they pass from the mind and heart of so many of the young and +thoughtless, leaving no trace in her life, no influence for good, either +to herself or to others. If her mother had been well and happy, if +there had been no shadow of dark days and painful nights hanging over +her future, if she had not longed so earnestly to learn for her sake the +secret of peace and joy, over which these have no power, she might have +put all anxious thoughts away from her. But all her thoughts of her +mother were anxious thoughts now; for in the only visit they had made +since Easter, they had found her no better, but rather worse. + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +Spring was passing into the loveliest part of summer. The school girls +were beginning to count the days that must pass before the midsummer +holidays; and none counted them more earnestly than did Frederica and +her sister. What was to follow the holidays they did not know. There +had been nothing more said about sending them to England. But whether +they were to be sent there, or to come back again to Mrs Glencairn's, +there were two months of holidays on which they might safely count, and +no one knew what might happen before they were over. + +Their one short visit since Easter had not been a very successful one. +Their mother had been ill and Mrs Ascot had been cross, and there was +to be no other visit till holiday time. Dixen had come once or twice +with a message from Selina, but the tidings he brought were neither very +cheerful nor very definite; and no wonder that Frederica longed for +more, and would not lose a chance to get them. + +And so one morning, as Mr Vane and some of his friends were riding +through one of the wide upper streets, which at that time looked more +like the country than the town, they were startled by a voice calling, +"Papa, papa," and out from a straggling line of school girls there +sprang a little figure gesticulating eagerly. Mr Vane turned round, +and so did the others. + +"It is you, Fred, is it?" said he in surprise. + +"Yes, papa, I beg your pardon for calling you, but it is so stupid +walking along all in a row, and I want to ask you how mama is, and +Selina." + +"Oh! they are very well--just as usual. But what will madame the +schoolmistress say to your escapade?" + +"I am very naughty I know, papa, but I did so want to hear about mama. +Is she really better? Why! here she is," said Frederica in surprise. +"Here are Jack and Jill at any rate." + +Yes, there were Jack and Jill, but there was not Mrs Vane nor Selina. +A very pretty lady--two of them indeed--leaned back in the carriage. +Frederica turned astonished and indignant eyes from them to her father +as the carriage stopped. + +"Your mama gave herself the pleasure of lending her carriage to Mrs +Clifford to-day," said Mr Vane, and Frederica knew by his tone and +manner that he was annoyed, though it would not have done to show it to +the rest of the party. + +"Let Miss Vane come with us," said one of the ladies. "We can easily +make room for her, can we not, Mrs Clifford?" + +Mrs Clifford was not quite sure, but Frederica declined the invitation +with a stately little curtsey, and turned to her father again. + +"Do come with us, Miss Frederica," said Major Hargrave, a gentleman whom +Frederica had several times seen before: "the day is lovely, and you +will enjoy it." + +"Is it a pic-nic? Thank you. It would be very nice, I daresay, but I +would rather not. Good-bye, papa; I am afraid Miss Pardie will be very +angry with me." + +"And no wonder," said her father, laughing. The admiring glances which +he saw exchanged quite dispelled his momentary vexation. + +"We could manage to soothe her, I think," said he. "Would you like to +go, Fred? Where is Tessie?" + +"Tessie is not walking to-day. She was naughty, and remained at home. +No, I thank you, papa. If there were no other reason, I could not go +because of Tessie. It would be too cruel to go and leave her." + +"Naughty! what has she done? It would serve her right to leave her if +she has been naughty." + +"Oh! as to that, yes. She was very wrong. She was playing Madame +Bulbat for the girls, and Madame heard her, and was in a rage of course. +And Miss Robina was obliged to be very severe with the child to keep +the peace. I cannot go, papa; but I daresay, if you were to ask her, +Miss Pardie would let me go and see mama for a little while." + +But Mr Vane shook his head with sufficient decision. + +"No: mama is all right. You are far better at school. She does not +need you." + +But pleased with the whispered admiration of the foolish people who were +with him, and willing to prolong the pleasure, he moved away with his +little daughter in the direction of the line of returning school girls, +saying he must make the child's peace with her teacher; and he quite won +Miss Pardie's heart by his manner of entreating it at her hands. + +"Was that your mama in the carriage, and your sister?" asked one of her +companions, as they went on together. "I think they might have asked +you to go with them." + +"My mama, indeed! That great red woman!" said Frederica scornfully. + +"She was very pretty," said her friend. "That is because she did not +ask you to go with them." + +"She did ask me. I did not choose to go." + +"Because of your print dress? Of course you could not have gone in +that." + +Thus her friend chattered on, and Frederica answered at random or not at +all, thinking of other things. For it did not make her sure that her +mother was well again, that her father had said so. And though it was +no new thing to her knowledge that her father should seek his own +pleasure, without giving a thought to her mother in her enforced +retirement, it struck her with new and sharp pain to-day, and her +anxious and unhappy thoughts came back again with double force. + +"I have a great mind to go home without asking anybody," she said to +herself. But she knew she must not. + +She was, for the moment, very unhappy, and it was with a slow step and a +sad face that she went to make her confession to Miss Robina. For +though Miss Pardie had graciously accepted Mr Vane's apologies for his +daughter's behaviour, that was only as far as he was concerned. She had +her confession to make to Miss Robina all the same; and it is possible +that Miss Pardie was not without hope that, for the moral effect of the +thing, she would not be permitted to escape without punishment, or at +least without reproof. She got no punishment, however, and Miss +Robina's reproof was of the gentlest, when it was explained to her that +"she had been so anxious to hear about mama." + +"And I am afraid it was not good news you heard, from the sad face I +see," said Miss Robina, kissing her. + +"Papa said she was well, so I suppose she is at least not worse. Am I +to be punished, Miss Robina? I think Miss Pardie expects it." + +"You mean you think you deserve it. Well, you must be sent upstairs for +a while. Take these strawberries to Eppie, and save me the stairs, and +you need not hasten down again." + +So Frederica went slowly upstairs, believing herself to be very unhappy, +little thinking how much more unhappy she was to be before she came down +again. Eppie was not in her room, which was an unusual circumstance at +that hour of the afternoon, and Frederica set down the tiny basket of +strawberries on the table, and went to her favourite seat in the west +window, with her lesson-book in her hand. In a little while she heard +the slow, unequal steps of Eppie on the stairs, and saw her come in with +a great bundle in her arms, and watched her as she carefully laid each +garment in its place. She did not speak, and in a minute there were +other footsteps on the stairs, and Mrs Glencairn came into the room. + +Frederica ought to have spoken then. She ought to have made them aware +of her presence in the room. But almost the first words she heard +startled her so much, as to take away her power of speech, and to make +her forget how wrong it was for her to listen to that which was not +meant for her ears. + +She did not hear all that was said, nor did she know how long it had +taken to say it, but when she saw the door close, and heard Mrs +Glencairn's footsteps going slowly down the stairs, she slid from her +seat on the window, and confronted Eppie with a white face and angry +eyes. The old woman uttered an exclamation, and drew back with uplifted +hands. + +"Tell me what she meant, Eppie." + +"Miss Frederica! Who would think that you would come and frighten a +body out of their wits in that wild way? You have given me a turn that +I winna get over this while." + +"Tell me what she said," repeated Frederica. + +But Eppie, hoping that she might have heard little, had no mind to tell +her what her mistress had said. + +"I would hae thought it o' any o' our young leddies rather than of you, +pussy. Eh, fie! to be hearkening to what other folk are saying! What +think you Miss Robina would say gin I were to tell her?" + +But Frederica put her words aside with an impatient gesture. + +"Tell me, or I will go to Mrs Glencairn." + +"'Deed you'll do nothing of the kind. She has had trouble enew already, +and it just needs you to go with thae bleezing een o' yours to upset her +altogether. Bide still where you are, like a good bairn." + +Frederica sat down, and neither of them spoke for a while. + +"Eppie," said she at last, "I think I understand, but I am not quite +sure. Tell me, so that I need not make a mistake, or bring any one into +trouble." + +"Whisht, lassie! It's a matter you hae nothing to do with, and I +counsel you no' to make nor meddle in it." + +"You are mistaken, Eppie; there is no one but me to put this right, +unless mama is to be troubled. And she shall not be troubled. Is this +it? For more than a year and a half Mrs Glencairn has received +nothing--absolutely nothing--for all that she has done for Tessie and +me. She has asked for it more than once, but she has received nothing. +I wish to understand." + +Eppie looked at her, but did not answer. The shrewd old woman had +seldom been so utterly at a loss before. + +"My dear," said she, "it might have happened to anybody." + +"And we have been living on charity--Tessie and I?" + +"Hoot, lassie! dinna speak nonsense. It is all to the fore. And it is +a good thing, for it might have been spent, and now it is waiting for +Miss Robina to do what she likes with; to go and see her sister, maybe. +It's a good thing that it's to the fore." + +Frederica looked at her without a word. + +"I would advise you no' to meddle in the matter. It will be all settled +as it ought to be, and Miss Robina would be ill pleased that you should +ken. And it will be all right, you may be sure," said Eppie cheerfully. + +"It would do no good to go to-day, because papa Is away, and mama is not +to be troubled. But to-morrow--Has Mrs Glencairn been very much in +need of it; Eppie? Why did they not send us away?" + +"My dear, that's nonsense! What difference would one, or even two, make +in a family like this? She would rather have you here than not, though +she were never to see the colour of your father's money. And as for +Miss Robina! But the money is safe enough; so just you sit down, and +put the thought of it out of your head." + +There was not another word said about it, and Mistress Campbell rejoiced +in the readiness with which her counsel had been taken. But Frederica +had no thought of "putting it out of her head" in the sense that Eppie +hoped. The first sudden shock of anger and shame passed, but it was +followed by a pain and doubt not more easily borne. She had only just +been able to shut her lips closely, when the name of Mrs Ascot had +risen to them; but as she sat there in silence, seeming to read quietly, +her thoughts went beyond Mrs Ascot. They followed her father and his +gay friends; away into the sunshine of the pleasant fields, and they +went to her mother left solitary and suffering, with only Selina to +comfort her, and with Mrs Ascot to vex her with cares which she ought +never to know. + +"It is not kind of papa," she said, over and over again. + +She did not get further than this; for hitherto she had looked at their +life and their household ways and cares with the unreasoning eyes of a +child. Her father was gay and careless, and apt to forget about things +that did not specially concern himself, even a child could see that; but +she had never regarded all this as worthy of blame. She had not thought +about it in that way at all. But she thought about a great many painful +things as she sat with her head bent over her book in Eppie's garret +that night. + +There was nothing to be said by anybody. Frederica did not even tell +Tessie, as she was almost sure to tell anything that vexed her, in the +few minutes that were allowed them for talk before silence was commanded +for the night. Tessie could not help her to do as she had determined to +do, and Tessie was rather apt to exclaim about things, and to take other +girls into her confidence, and such a thing was not to be thought of +now. + +It would not be easy for her to obtain permission to go home next day, +she knew, but she determined to go all the same, whether she got +permission or not. But something in the girl's face made Robina pause +before she answered her in one way or the other. + +"Has anything happened, love? You have heard no bad news, I hope," said +she kindly. + +Frederica did not find it easy to answer. + +"Your mama is not worse, I hope." + +"She is not better," said Frederica huskily. "Won't you let me go home, +Miss Robina? I might go with Nora when she goes to the market, and +Dixen will bring me back. Please do, dear Miss Robina, for a little +while." + +"I am by no means sure that I ought to say `yes,'" said she; but she +kissed the sweet pleading face and said it, notwithstanding. + +Frederica did not go home first. She took Nora some distance out of her +way to her father's office, and bade her good-bye at the door. + +"Thank you, Nora, don't wait. Papa will take care of me now." + +Her father looked surprised, and not very well pleased to see her. Not +that she was interrupting his business, for she saw that he was only +reading the newspaper. She did not give him time to express his +surprise in words, nor did she greet him in her usual fashion, but said +hurriedly, "I came on business, papa." She did not find it easy to say +more for a minute; and something which he saw in her face kept her +father silent also. + +"Papa, do you know that Mrs Glencairn has not been paid for more than a +year and a half? for Tessie and me, I mean." + +Her father stared at her in astonishment, not understanding for the +moment what she meant. + +"What nonsense, Frederica!" said he: "and what have you to do with it?" + +"It is quite true, papa, and of course I have to do with it. Mrs +Glencairn must be paid." + +"And did she send you here to say that to me? She has been paid. I +cannot say that I admire either her taste or her judgment. I think we +have had almost enough of madam the schoolmistress." + +"I think she must have had quite enough of us, papa. But she did not +send me. She is not aware that I know about it. I overheard her +speaking about it to Mistress Campbell." + +"Overheard! and you have been suffering the usual penalty of listeners." + +"No, papa, and I did not mean to listen. But I was so shocked. Mrs +Glencairn and Miss Robina have been very kind to us, papa, and they must +be paid." + +"I have not the least doubt that they have been paid, over and over +again. Let them alone for that!" + +"Did you pay them, papa?" + +"No. I did not give the money to them, but I have a distinct +recollection of its being provided." + +"So have I, papa. Mama was obliged to ask Mr St. Cyr for more money, +and she said it was very painful, and she could not do it again." + +"All that relates to Mr St. Cyr's connection with our affairs is +painful. You are old enough now, Frederica, to understand that it was +never with my consent that he had to do with--with our affairs--with +your grandfather's property. I can do nothing. If things go wrong, it +is not my fault. I protested against such an arrangement at the time, +and--and washed my hands of them. And it is a matter with which you can +have nothing to do." + +"Except about Mrs Glencairn's money, papa. I _must_ have to do with +that, you know. Tell me what I must do, papa." + +"You can do nothing. There must be some mistake. A year and a half! +It would be a large sum." + +"Yes, indeed! But, papa, don't you think it possible that--that Mrs +Ascot may have made some mistake?" + +"She may certainly have made a mistake. I will see that it is put +right. But you can do nothing, and you must not try. You will only +make matters worse." + +There was silence for some time, and then Frederica said hesitatingly,-- + +"I am afraid, papa--that Mrs Ascot is not a very good woman." + +Mr Vane looked at her without speaking. + +"I mean that she is too clever to make mistakes--that she must know if-- +if there is anything wrong about the money." + +"She is clever, but she is not too clever to make mistakes. She has +made one now--she will find." + +"I think so, papa. Mrs Glencairn could not have been mistaken. She +must know, of course. And, papa--it is not pleasant to speak about--but +I don't think Mrs Ascot is nice with mama and Lina. I mean she is not +considerate." + +"That will do, Fred. We won't discuss Madame Ascot. It was not by my +will that she was brought into the house. Your grandfather--but I can't +speak to you about all that. Go home, or go back to your school. This +matter shall be cleared up and put right." + +"To-day, papa? Papa, I shall be ashamed to look at Miss Robina till +this money is paid. Can you not give it to me to take back to-day? +Please do, dear papa." + +Mr Vane laughed a very unpleasant laugh. + +"Don't be foolish, Fred. I have not the money to give you to-day, or +any day. I must speak to Mrs Ascot: there must be some mistake. She +and your mother have always managed these things, with Mr St. Cyr's +help. I can do nothing." + +"But, papa--" entreated Frederica. + +"Hush, say nothing more. As Mrs Glencairn said nothing to you, you are +not supposed to know anything about the matter. Go back to school at +once. Or are you going home for the day?" + +"I meant to do so, but I don't wish to trouble mama. I might speak to +Mrs Ascot." + +"Much good that would do," said her father, with his unpleasant laugh. +"No, I will speak to her. Go now, there are people coming in." + +As the door opened to admit some one, Frederica passed out, but she did +not turn her face towards home, nor towards school. + +"I will go to Cousin Cyprien," said she to herself. "I cannot trouble +mama, and I cannot go back to Mrs Glencairn's without some hope that it +will all be set right. Papa so soon forgets." + +And not giving herself time to lose courage by thinking about the +difficulties before her, she hastened away. But when she found herself +in the dismal hall into which Mr St. Cyr's office opened, and from +which the staircase to his house led, she wished herself well away +again. It was late in the morning by this time, but Mr St. Cyr had not +come down to his office, the man who opened the door told her, and +Frederica went upstairs with a beating heart. She thought she had come +at a wrong time, when she opened the door, and found that Mr St. Cyr +was not alone. But her friend hastened to welcome her, and though he +expressed some surprise at the sight of her, he expressed pleasure also. + +"Only I fear you must be in trouble again," said he, kindly. "Is it +something very serious this time? Ah! yes, your face says so. It is +not--is it Prickly Polly? But first let me introduce my brother to you, +whom you ought to know. Jerome, this is Theresa's daughter--Mr St. +Hubert's grandchild." + +"It must be Theresa herself, I think," said the dark man, who rose and +held out his hand. + +"No, I am Frederica. Theresa is younger than I." + +"She is very like her, is she not? Just the same bright little +creature. But she is not bright to-day. Tell me what is the matter, my +little cousin." + +Frederica hesitated. She did not like to speak before Mr St. Cyr's +brother. She would not have liked to speak before anyone, but, as she +told Tessie afterwards, the Reverend Mr St. Cyr had not a nice face. +It was a face that somehow made her think of a mask, and she looked with +a little startled curiosity at him, wondering what might be behind it. + +"It brings back your youth, does it not? She is very like what her +mother was in those days. But her mother is changed. Ah! so sadly +changed," said Mr St. Cyr, with a sigh. + +But the priest did not answer a word. + +"Well, what can I do for you?" said Mr St. Cyr, turning to Frederica. +"Who has been troubling you this time? Not Prickly Polly, sorely? I +thought I had settled her affairs the other day. What is it now?" + +"Did you?" said Frederica, eagerly. "And was it very disagreeable?" + +"Well, for her, rather so, I fancy. What is it now? Is it a secret? +And does Madame the Schoolmistress let you go here and there about the +city by yourself? She thinks you `sensible,' I suppose?" + +Frederica shook her head. + +"I was not alone. Nora took me to papa's office, and then I came here. +It is not a secret, but--" + +The Rev. Mr St. Cyr sat down, and took up a book. + +"Regard him as if he were made of wood," said Cousin Cyprien, laughing; +"and now tell me all your trouble." + +"I don't know whether I ought to tell you, but I don't know what else to +do." + +And then she told him all her trouble; how she had heard by accident +that Mrs Glencairn had received nothing for their board and education +for a long time, and how she had gone to her father, and he had been +angry, and said he could do nothing, and then she added,-- + +"I think Mrs Ascot, must know. Do you think Madame Ascot is a +trustworthy person, Cousin Cyprien? Of course she is disagreeable, and +cross, and all that; but not to be trustworthy is something quite +different. And papa says it was not his fault that she came to our +house. Do you think her a good woman. Mr St. Cyr? Is she +trustworthy?" + +He listened to her story without a word, only smiling and nodding now +and then till she came to the end and asked those questions about Mrs +Ascot. Then he looked uneasily towards his brother, but his brother +never lifted his eyes from his book, nor seemed to hear a word. + +"We must not speak evil of her, nor accuse her without sufficient +grounds," said he gravely. + +"No," said Frederica faintly. "But I do not mean because of this +altogether. She is not always considerate towards mama, I am afraid, +and mama is ill, and--alone. But I need not trouble you about it. +Pardon me if I ought not to have come to you." + +"You did right to come to me. I can set right all this mysterious +affair. You shall not hear of it again. Of course you are to come to +me." + +"But, Cousin Cyprien," said Frederica, taking courage from his kindness, +"ought I to need to come to you always? Is there not something wrong +that might be remedied?" + +"My dear child, almost everything in the world is wrong, and I very much +fear must always remain so. But this can be remedied, and it shall be +on one condition. You are not to trouble yourself about it. Are you +the little girl who the other day nearly overturned me? You look like +an old woman with that naughty wrinkle in your forehead." + +Frederica laughed. + +"What should I do, if I might not come to you? And yet I ought not to +need to come. There must be something wrong," added she, the naughty +wrinkle coming to her forehead again. "Was it grandpapa who put it all +wrong, as papa says? or is it Madame Ascot? or perhaps papa himself?" +added she, with some hesitation. + +Mr St. Cyr answered her gravely. + +"My little girl, we will not ask. I will set this matter right--no, not +to-day, but soon, and you must not think of it any more." + +His promise sounded very different in Frederica's ears, from the promise +her father had made. Mr St. Cyr did not forget. Still she lingered as +if she had more to say, and as if she were not quite sure whether she +ought to say it. + +"Do you wish Mrs Ascot to stay in our house, Cousin Cyprien? Papa said +to-day it was not by his wish that she ever came. Do you like her, Mr +St. Cyr? Have you confidence in her? I am quite sure I could make mama +and Selina much happier than she makes them." + +"This terrible Madame Ascot!" said Mr St. Cyr with a shrug. "No, I +don't think I like her very much, or have much confidence in her. But +we will not speak of her. When you are old enough and wise enough to +take care of your mama and your sister, and the housekeeping, and all +that, we shall dispense with madame altogether, I fancy. But this must +be a secret till the right time comes, and we shall say no more about +it." + +"I am almost old enough, am I not? Well, I will wait patiently." + +"Good child! that will be best," said Mr St. Cyr. + +Then he showed her several curious things that were in the cabinet, and +a fine picture he had lately purchased, and then he rang for some fruit, +and was very attentive and full of ceremony in serving her; and then he +went downstairs with her, when she went away. + +"Good day, my little cousin," said he. "Be sure you come to me always. +I wish I could put aside all trouble from you as easily as I can put +aside this one. Though, indeed, I may have vexation more than enough, +before I am done with it," he muttered, as he went upstairs to his +brother again. + +And he did have vexation, and so had Mrs Ascot, and Mr Vane did not +escape without his share. But Frederica had no more. In a day or two +she gathered from various sources that Mrs Glencairn had been paid in +full, and with interest, and that was enough for her. She never heard +another word more about the matter. + +CHAPTER NINE. + +Mr St. Cyr's vexation began the moment he went upstairs again into the +room where his brother was sitting. A good many years before this time, +Mr Jerome St. Cyr had known the St. Huberts, and had looked upon +Theresa's marriage with Mr Vane, as almost all her friends had done, as +a terrible sacrifice. He had been a young man then, he was much younger +than his brother. He had gone to Europe to pursue his studies soon +after that, and had remained there after they were finished. His +correspondence with his brother had not been very regular or frequent, +and he knew little of what was passing among his friends all that time. +He had only lately returned home, and he showed great interest in the +Vane family, and asked his brother many questions concerning them. Mr +St. Cyr gave him some particulars of them and their manner of life; of +Mrs Vane's ill-health, and the quiet way in which she and her blind +daughter lived together. + +"But, my brother," said Jerome St. Cyr, "I do not understand how you +should have permitted affairs to take such a course, you who have so +long had the power in your own hand. Why should these girls be losing +their time at a second or third-rate school, as seems to be the case? +Why have they not been all these years with the Sisters of the Sacred +Heart? And the boys, too! Think of them wasting their time with some +foolish young person who goes to them daily! It is little less than +disgraceful." + +"You mistake," said Mr St. Cyr quietly. "I have had the management of +their grandfathers property for their mother's use, but I have had no +power--no, nor the shadow of power, nor of influence, where Mr Vane's +children are concerned." + +"Then permit me to say that you have been very culpable in this matter, +I should have obtained influence and power too." + +Mr St. Cyr shrugged his shoulders, but said nothing. + +"And all this immense property that has been accumulating since Mr St. +Hubert's death, this rascally Englishman is to have?" + +"No, his children are to have it--Theresa St. Hubert's children. It has +made the Englishman sufficiently miserable thus far--the sight of I +mean, without the power to use it. Not but that he has had some good of +it too." + +"But to think of these poor children growing up without Christian +instruction! Did Mr St. Hubert make no condition as to their +education--their religion? I cannot imagine how you and Pauline Precoe +can reconcile it to your sense of duty, to your conscience, that it +should be as it is with them. With Pauline Precoe's help, I should have +made it quite otherwise." + +Mr St. Cyr laughed in a way which was not pleasant to hear. + +"You have not forgotten Pauline Precoe, it seems," said he. + +"I must see her," said Jerome. "It may not be too late yet. These +children must be saved." + +"It is too late to think of availing yourself of Pauline Precoe's help +in your good work, however. She is now in Mrs Vane's house, but she +shall not be there long. I have no influence with Mr Vane--he hates me +like poison; but I think he may be made to see that it will not be for +his interest that Madame Ascot should stay much longer in his family." + +"Why? What has she done, poor Pauline? You did not use to hate her +so." + +"I never respected her. She was never worthy of respect. She was and +is an utterly unscrupulous person. I say to you what I mean to say to +her soon--she is a dishonest person. I might even say worse than that." + +"She has not been under right direction," said his brother. + +"And you would like to be her director henceforth. I wish you joy of +the office. But you must not hope through her to gain influence over +Theresa St. Hubert and her children." + +"And they and their wealth must be lost to the Church? You are not so +good a Christian as you once were, Cyprien," said his brother. + +"That is as may be. I do not think it is my Christian duty, or yours, +to seek to obtain possession of Mr St. Hubert's wealth, or any part of +it, by any means, or for any purpose whatever." + +"I seek nothing for myself," said his brother; "and we will discuss the +subject no more." + +"There is just this to be said more," said Mr St. Cyr, gravely and +firmly: "Do not meddle with their affairs, my brother. No good can come +of it, to you or to any one. You wish none of it for yourself? To wish +for it for any purpose--yes, even to build churches, or to feed and +clothe your orphans--is covetousness. To obtain possession of it would +be dishonesty. Put it altogether from your thoughts." + +There was a silence of several minutes, and Mr St. Cyr rose to leave +the room. + +"Brother," said Jerome, meekly, "I had hoped that after all these years +of separation we might at least have lived in peace together--the last +of our race as we are." + +"With all my heart, let it be peace. Only there must be no meddling +with this matter, or with any matter in which my honour as a gentleman +and a man of business is involved. That must be clearly understood." + +"I must be faithful with you," said Jerome, still speaking softly: "I +consider that you have been Culpably negligent with regard to these +children. It is their souls for which I am anxious, not their wealth. +It is for you to render an account of them--not me." + +"So be it! I will answer," said Mr St. Cyr. After a moment he added, +"Do not, my brother, let us become unfriendly over this matter. When +Mr St. Hubert left his property to me, in trust for his daughter and +her children, I did all that was permitted me to do to have these +children placed under Christian influence and teaching. In fact, I +would have confided them to the care of the ladies of the Sacred Heart, +as you suggest, if I had been consulted. Mr Vane had other plans, and +I had no right to interfere. I cannot say that I now regret that my +plans for them failed. They are good and sweet children, frank and +loving, and conscientious, with far more strength of character and +truthfulness, than would have been developed in them had they been +educated within convent walls. And they will need these qualities, poor +children." + +"All that sounds strangely from the lips of one who has the reputation +of being a religious man," said his brother gravely. + +"Have I that reputation? Well, we will say no more, lest your next word +be not so flattering. And now I must leave you to amuse yourself, while +I without loss of time attend to this unpleasant business. We shall see +each other again soon." + +It truly was an unpleasant business to all concerned; and all the more +so, that instead of shutting his eyes, and seeming not to see what was +wrong, as he had often done before, in matters where Mr Vane was +concerned, he was determined to search to the bottom the affair of the +misappropriated money. He had no expectation that it would be restored; +he did not care about that: the result he desired to bring about was the +departure of Mrs Ascot from the house. She would have been sent away +long before, if Mrs Vane in her ill-health could have found courage to +dissent from the will of her dead father who had placed her there, or to +oppose the expressed will of her husband, whose ease and interest Mrs +Ascot in all things studied. + +So Mr St. Cyr did his best to make it unpleasant business to both Mrs +Ascot and Mr Vane, and they did the same for each other. With the +details our story has nothing to do, but the result was matter of +rejoicing to the Vanes. The very first thing that Fred and Tessie heard +when they came home for the holidays was that Madame Ascot was going to +be married! It was madame herself who told them. She was to many her +own cousin, Mr Joseph Precoe, who was a merchant in the city. It would +have happened long ago, only she had never been able to induce herself +to forsake dear Mrs Vane, who had been so much in need of her. But now +in justice to Mr Precoe, who had waited so long, she must wait no +longer. + +Madame was determined to part in friendship with everybody, it seemed, +and she would not see the joyful looks the girls exchanged, nor any +other indications of delight at the prospect of her departure. She not +only did not resent these things, but took the utmost pains to +conciliate the young people and their mother as well. There was to be a +fine wedding, and Mrs Ascot's earnest wish was that she should go +directly from Mrs Vane's house to the church, and that her dear little +cousins should go with her as bridesmaids; and she had so much to say +about the charming dresses and ornaments that would be required, that +they desired it too. + +Their mother did not desire it and their father, with more decision than +he usually displayed in matters that did not particularly affect his own +comfort, put an end to the discussion of the subject at once. Madame +Ascot, an inmate of their house, had been a person of some importance, +but Madame Precoe would be like any other common person with whom they +had nothing at all to do. This was made quite clear to the children by +him, and there was no reason, except the pretty bridesmaids' dresses, +why they should regret his decision. Madame was disappointed and angry. +She showed her disappointment, but she did not show her anger. She was +determined to part in friendship with them all, and she promised to come +and see them often, and to render them assistance in all matters where +assistance was needed. + +"There must be none of that, however," said Mr Vane, when Frederica +told him of Mrs Ascot's kindness. "It would suit her purpose, I +daresay, to make good her position here, and it would suit other +people's also; but it will not suit me; and she is not to be encouraged; +remember that, Fred." + +Frederica opened her eyes in astonishment at her father's unwonted +warmth. + +"It would not suit mama, if that is what you mean, papa--nor any of us. +We are very glad to part with her, and Mr St. Cyr does not like her at +all, I am sure." + +"He may wish to make use of her, though he does not like her. But she +is not to be encouraged to come here." + +"Very well, papa," said Frederica: but she by no means understood what +her father meant, nor did it matter much that she did not. + +The girls saw the wedding after all. They went to the church in the +early morning, and saw madame in her fine dress and veil, and her +bridesmaids, who were much better suited to the office than they would +have been. Madame did not see them. They kept out of sight, and +watched the ceremony with great interest, rather pitying the +good-natured-looking bridegroom, and exchanging serious doubts as to his +chances of good times in madame's hands. The usual carriages drawn by +white horses awaited them at the door; and as they watched them driving +away, Tessie said,-- + +"There! she has really gone at last. I have been afraid all along that +Mr Precoe would repent, or that somebody would do something to put a +stop to it, and that we should have Prickly Polly back again. I should +like to dance and sing for thankfulness." + +But Frederica had no thought of dancing and singing. + +"There is always, some drawback," said she gravely. "If everything does +not go on well in the house,--dinners, and servants, and all that,--papa +will not be pleased." + +"Oh, well! Why should they not go on well? You are so sensible, you +know," said Tessie, laughing. "You are equal to Mrs Ascot, surely." + +"I mean to be good, and try to do everything right, and then all will go +well. That is what Miss Robina said to me--at least, she said I must +always try to do right, whatever happened. If one could always know +what is right!" + +Tessie laughed. + +"I wonder if it was right for us to come and see the last of Madame +Ascot, after what papa said." + +"Oh! our coming in this way was quite different. We were not guests, +and she did not see us. And after the first moment I daresay papa did +not think about it." + +"That is true. Papa does not mind about things." + +"But he minds about his dinner, and about everything being right when +his friends come to the house, and all that; and perhaps he might mind +about our coming here too. I think I shall tell him that we were in the +church." + +Tessie said he would be sure not to care, and Frederica thought so too, +or perhaps she would not have been so ready to tell him about it. It is +possible he did not care very much; but he was rather cross about it, +Frederica confessed, when she told Tessie afterward. His comfort had +already been interfered with since Mrs Ascot's departure, for the +affairs of the house did not go on very well for a while, and he had +other causes for embarrassment which he could not tell to her. He only +said it was not a proper thing for her to be going about the streets +alone, or with no one but Tessie, and insisted that an end should be put +to it. + +"You are no longer a child," said he; "you are almost a woman." + +"But surely, papa, I should be all the fitter to go about for that," +said she, laughing. + +"That is your idea, is it? Well, it is not mine. You must amuse +yourselves within the bounds of the garden, while your vacation lasts." + +"But, papa," said Frederica, with dignity, "it is not a question of +amusement: you forget that I am housekeeper." + +"No, I am not likely to forget that," said her father drily. "If you +must go out, you must go in the carriage, or take Dixen with you. I +cannot have you going here and there by yourself." + +"Very well, papa: I will remember." + +It was very agreeable to her that her father should acknowledge that she +was no longer a child, but she was by no means sure that all the +consequences of being almost a woman would be agreeable. However, she +was determined to make the best of it. + +"I am going to be very busy," said she. "You shall see what a +housekeeper I shall be. I shall have no time to be going here and +there. I shall like it, I am quite sure, better than school." + +But Frederica had all her housekeeping to learn yet. She did not know +what she was saying when she was speaking in this way to her father. It +is not to be supposed that an inexperienced young girl like her could at +once have rightly governed and guided so large a household, even had she +set herself to the work with a full sense of its responsibility and +difficulty. She had some misgivings in the direction of "papa," but all +the rest seemed easy and pleasant. Indeed, she considered it "great +fun" to keep the keys, and order dinner, and hold consultations with the +cook over courses, and dishes, and sauces, of which she knew nothing at +all. + +It was "great fun" to the cook too, but she tired of it after a while, +and so did Frederica. As a general thing, the cook heard the orders and +took her own way about obeying them, which, on the whole, answered +everybody's purpose best. But sometimes the young mistress forgot her +orders, or did what was worse, issued orders which were contradictory or +impossible to obey. And sometimes, in her ignorance, she was arbitrary +and unreasonable, and assumed dignified "airs," and asserted her +authority at wrong times, and made "no end" of trouble. "And as for +standing the like of that from a child that didn't know white sauce from +butter, it was not to be thought of for a minute," cook said, with +sufficient emphasis. + +It was the cook who was Frederica's greatest trouble, because she was +the only servant in the house, except Dixen, who could in any measure +interfere with the comfort or temper of her father; and in trying to +keep things right for him, she put them often woefully wrong. So +domestic affairs were in rather a troubled state for a while. Tessie +was not altogether wrong, when she asserted that it would have been much +more comfortable for everybody if she had left the servants of the house +to do things in their own way, and of course it came to that at last. + +Frederica grew tired of being anxious, and dignified, and out of temper, +and by-and-by let the cook and all the rest of them take their own +plans, and fell into the usual holiday ways, and devoted herself to her +mother and Selina. She kept the keys still, and ordered dinner; but +very often the store-room door was open, while the keys were safe in her +little basket, and her orders for dinner were very apt to degenerate +into amiable and undignified coaxings for certain favourite dishes at +the cook's hands. This was a great deal more agreeable for all +concerned, and was quite as well every way. For the servants had been +well trained by Mrs Ascot, and they sufficiently appreciated the +advantages of a good place and good wages, to be reasonably faithful in +the performance of their duties. And besides, in a little time they +grew quite fond and proud of their merry and pretty young mistress, and +took pains to please her, when it did not involve too much trouble to +themselves. + +And so Mrs Ascot was less missed in the house than she would have +believed possible. Even "papa" ceased to be critical and vexatious when +he found that his dinner, and his boots, and his fine linen seemed to +make their appearance at proper times with no trouble to himself. +Household affairs settled into their new grooves quietly and regularly, +and the young housekeeper gave herself not much trouble about them for a +while. She had enough to do without them. Even in the busiest of +housekeeping times, the sisters had never neglected their mother and +Selina. + +The presence of the girls in the house made a joyful difference to them. +The sound of their voices, as they danced out and in the rooms, usually +so silent and lonely, was music and medicine to their mother. She grew +better and stronger in these weeks, and made efforts that she would have +believed impossible before they came home. + +Mr Vane's desire that the girls should confine themselves to the garden +for their walks and amusements was not so disagreeable to them as it +might have been. For the summer proved to be hot and dry, and the +streets were dusty and close, and the large and beautiful garden, with +its walks, and soft green turf and shady trees, was as pleasant a place +as could well be imagined in which to pass the sultry days. + +From the first day of her return home Frederica had been faithful with +regard to the reading of the Bible with her mother and Selina. Eppie +had said that this was one of the ways by which she had been taught to +be religious. She knew that other good people valued the Bible for the +wisdom it contained, or for the comfort it could give. She had heard it +spoken of as the rule of life, and as the guide to heaven, and she +determined to know what it contained, and to get the good of it for +herself and for those she loved. So, beginning at the beginning, she +read regularly a portion every day. She might have grown tired of it +after a while, for though she found some of it full of interest, it was +not all so, and she did not find in it what she had hoped to find. It +did not tell her directly and plainly what she must do. She did not see +the way to be good and serve God pointed out in words that she could +understand, and she might have been tempted to betake herself to other +books for instruction and amusement, if it had not been for Selina. But +there was no doubt about her interest in what she heard. + +Selina's life had been quiet and untroubled. There had been her +mother's ill-health, and the occasional irritability and despondency +consequent upon it, and there had been the vexations that from time to +time had come on them through the agency, direct or indirect, of Mrs +Ascot. But there had been nothing else to disturb in any painful way +the uneventful days to her. And there had been as little to heighten +beyond its usual quiet flow the contented current of daily occupation +and pleasure. There had been her little brothers' daily visit to their +mother's room, and the infrequent joyful holidays of her sisters, but +her life had been still and monotonous. Her interests and occupations +had not been of a kind to take her thoughts out of the house where she +had always lived. Their few visitors brought little to her but the +usual commonplace talk and superficial sympathy, and even the books that +were read, and the tales that were told her, were not of a kind to move +the unawakened heart and mind of one withdrawn by her blindness and +isolation from a young girl's interest in the world around her. + +And so when Frederica came with her eager interest in the reading, and +her vague but joyful hopes of all that might spring out of it, Selina +did not know what it meant, but prepared herself to take pleasure in the +pleasure of her sisters, as she had often done before. But this state +of mind did not survive even the first day's reading. All the wonderful +new things to which she listened were for her, as well as for Frederica +and the rest. They were not new to Frederica. She had often read +before how in the beginning the heavens and the earth were made. The +mother, too, had some vague remembrance of what the Book contained, for +during the first years of her married life she had gone to church with +her husband. But strange as it may seem, all was new to Selina, and to +all that her sister read she listened eagerly, and thought and spoke of +it afterwards with a wonder and delight that encouraged her sister to +persevere in the reading; and whatever else was neglected or hurried +over, to the reading was always given its full share of time and +attention. + +This was the beginning of a new life to Selina. If her beautiful blind +eyes had been suddenly opened on the world around her, it could hardly +have made a more entire change in her thoughts and feelings and +enjoyments, than did this daily reading of the Bible. She did not say +much about it. It had always been her way to listen to the others +rather than to speak, and it was her way still. But a great many new +thoughts came to her, and the knowledge of many wonderful truths. Her +thoughts were often confused, and her reception of truth partial and +imperfect, but her interest and enjoyment were real and deep. All that +came to her through the reading did not come at once, and the best did +not come first. The blessing for which Frederica hoped, and looked, and +sometimes prayed, did not come in its fulness to any of them for a good +while after that, but from the first the reading was a source of +happiness to them, and most of all to Selina. + +Mrs Vane's enjoyment of it was in the enjoyment of her children. To be +sitting, free from pain, in the garden, where she had played as a child, +with her own children around her, and with no care or fear pressing +immediately upon her, was enough to satisfy her. Their delight in the +reading, and in the talk that often grew out of it, she did not share. +She did not understand it, nor cared to do so at first. To watch her +blind darling's bright absorbed face, and to see her sisters' tender +affection, and their desire to give her a part in the pleasure from +which her affliction tended to debar her, was happiness to the mother, +who had grieved so much over her in the past. + +Mrs Vane was not a very wise mother, nor indeed a very wise woman in +any relation of life, and she wished nothing more for herself nor for +her children than a continuation of just such days as these. She felt +so safe and at rest in the sunshine of the dear old garden, shut in from +the world, where trouble was, and danger. It was a new experience to +her to have them all around her, with no one to interfere with their +plans and pleasures, and she desired nothing beyond. + +Mr Vane had gone away, as he always did for a month or two in the +summer, and there were few interruptions in the quiet of their lives. +Once or twice Frederica and Tessie went to visit their half-sister Mrs +Brandon, who lived in a pretty house near the mountain. They went +because they knew their father wished them to go, but they did not enjoy +going very much. Their sister Caroline was very pretty and good, they +thought, and she meant to be very kind to them; but she had a way of +looking at them and listening to them as though she thought them odd +little creatures, different from other young girls, which was not +agreeable to them; and she had a way of speaking of their father as +"poor papa" or "poor dear papa," which was especially distasteful to +Frederica, and which she resented, not for her father's sake, but for +her mother's, and she did not always conceal her displeasure. So they +did not go often, nor stay long. + +They drove out in the carriage when the days were clear and cool, and +once or twice they had a visit from Madame Precoe. Mr St. Cyr's +brother came several times; but for the most part they were alone, and +the days passed quietly away. They read other books as well as the +Bible. Selina took pleasure in them all, and Frederica promised, when +her holidays were over, seriously to attend to her sister's neglected +education, and even now favoured her with scraps of information +remembered from her own lessons, historical and geographical facts, and +bits of botany, and even grammatical rules. Selina declared herself +ready to be taught all that her sister knew, but in the meantime it was +the reading of the Bible about which she cared most. + +Many grave discussions grew out of the reading. They made mistakes +often, and said foolish things, and any one listening to them must have +been sometimes amused and sometimes pained by the ignorance they +displayed, and by the opinions they expressed; but no one could have +failed to discern in them an eager desire to know the truth and to obey +it. And they who earnestly desire to know the truth have an infallible +teacher and guide, and it is certain of such, for He says it, that "they +shall know the truth, and the truth shall make them free." + +"I have heard that before, more than once," said Selina one day, when +Frederica had read the promise of God to Isaac in Gerar: "And I will +make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy +seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the +earth be blessed." + +"Yes, we have had it before," said Frederica. "The same promise was +given to Abraham, you know." + +"What does it mean, I wonder?" asked Selina. "Oh! it means that the +children of Abraham were to become a great people, as they did +afterwards. They were God's own chosen people. All the Bible is +written about them, you know." + +"Yes, but how are all the nations of the earth to be blessed through +them?" + +"I have heard something about it," said Frederica meditatively. "Let me +think a minute. Oh, yes! it was because the Saviour was to come among +them. The Bible is all about the Jewish people, because Jesus was a +Jew." + +"Was He?" said Selina wistfully. + +"Yes, and of course that is what it means. Jesus died for all men. +Jesus is the Son of God, and the son of Mary, you know." + +"No," said Selina gravely; "I don't know." + +"Well, never mind, we can read about it," said Frederica, turning the +leaves of the Bible till she came to the first chapter of Matthew. "It +is all here, and we will read it." + +Going rapidly over the first verses to herself, till she came to the +eighteenth, she then read, "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this +wise," and so on. "Thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save +His people from their sins. And they shall call His name Emmanuel, +which being interpreted is, God with us." + +Frederica lingered over these passages, reading them many times, and +trying to remember all that she had heard about them. + +"Jesus is God, you know, and He became man that He might die for us, and +save us from our sins, as the verse says; and we ought to love Him, and +obey Him, and serve Him." + +"Yes," said Selina, "if we only knew the way. If we had any one to +teach us." + +"We are going to learn the way. It is all here; in the Bible, I mean," +said Frederica. + +"They all say that--Miss Robina, and Miss Pardie, and all of them. And +the clergymen say it in church. And Mrs Glencairn said always that we +must not mind what people say about religion, unless it is in the Bible. +And Eppie told me once that God Himself would teach us." + +"And do you think He will?" + +"Yes, if we ask Him--when we say our prayers, you know." + +"When we say `Our Father,' you mean?" + +Every night and morning since she was a little child, Selina had said +"Our Father." + +"Yes, and we may ask for other things, and God will give them. We +learned texts about it once, only I can't quite remember them. This is +one--`Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it +you.' Jesus Himself says that." + +"And will He?" asked Selina. + +"Yes," said Frederica, with a little hesitation, "if we ask right +things, I suppose." + +"And would He make me see, if I were to ask Him? Oh, mama I only think +if He would!" + +Mrs Vane clasped the eager little hand that touched hers, and sighed. + +"But, mama, He could do it. He opened blind eyes many times while He +was on earth, and His being in heaven now would make no difference. He +_could_ do it, I suppose," said Frederica, not knowing very well what to +say. + +"And will He, do you think, if I ask Him? Mama will ask Him too, and +you and Tessie." + +"He could do it if He chose. But perhaps it means not such things we +are to ask for, but that He would teach us, and make us wise and good, +and forgive us our sins, and take us to heaven when we die," said +Frederica. "And you are very happy as you are, dear! You don't care +very much about it, do you?" said she, kissing softly the beautiful +blind eyes that were wet, though they were smiling, too. + +"Frederica, love, you are making your sister unhappy, I fear," said her +mother anxiously. "My darling, come to me!" + +Selina kissed her mother gently two or three times. "Unhappy! no, mama. +It was only for a moment, and it was for you that I wished it, mama, +more than for myself." + +Her mother could only murmur fond words over her, as she caressed her +tenderly. + +"But it cannot be true, all that Fred has been saying," broke in Tessie. +"It is a pity. But it is only one of Fred's ideas." + +"But it must be true, because Jesus said those very words, only I +suppose we do not understand it yet," said Frederica. "We will read +more. And, mama, Selina will see when she gets to heaven." + +Mrs Vane uttered an exclamation of impatience and astonishment. + +"Frederica! why do you say such things?" + +"Let us read more," said Selina, for she saw that her mother was +troubled at the discussion. + +And so they read on. Not in the Old Testament, but in the New. They +read of the wonderful words and deeds of our Lord, and Selina drank in +the strange glad tidings with awe and delight. She never in her +mother's presence said anything more about her wish to see. She spoke +of it to her sisters, and for a little while the desire disturbed the +gentle current of her thoughts and enjoyments. But it passed away, and +the sweet content that had brightened all these years to her mother came +back again. She listened, and mused, and wondered at all she heard, and +by-and-by, as her mind opened, and she understood better the nature of +those things that are promised without reserve to those who ask for them +aright, she never ceased to ask humbly yet undoubtingly that to her and +to those whom she loved, they might be given in due time. + +CHAPTER TEN. + +And so the untroubled days passed, till Mr Vane came home again. They +were glad to see him, and indeed made a jubilee of the day of his +return. But there was an unconfessed fear in the heart of each that a +change was at hand, and that their untroubled days were at an end. + +But the holidays were over, and nothing was said about the girls' return +to Mrs Glencairn's. If Mrs Ascot had been among them, that would have +been settled long ago, but there was no one now eager to get them away, +and no one to make the necessary arrangements, except their father, and +so Tessie comforted herself with the thought that "there was always a +chance that he would forget all about it." Still she rejoiced with +trembling, and went softly through the house, and kept out of sight, +that he might not be unpleasantly reminded of his neglected duty. This +was not difficult to do, for their early breakfast was over before he +came down in the morning, and he did not return to dinner till the hour +at which the children took tea in their mother's parlour, and except +during his brief visit after dinner, there was little chance of his +seeing any of them. And when one week was safely passed, and then +another, Tessie began to think the danger of going back to school was +over. + +Frederica had not shared her anxiety as far as being sent to Mrs +Glencairn's was concerned, and the possibility of going to England +involved so much more that would need consideration, and care, and +expense, that she was not much afraid that her father would decide upon +it at present. So she took no pains to keep out of the way, but, on the +contrary, assumed again the responsibility and dignity of housekeeper, +and wore her key-basket at her waist, and made grave suggestions about +housekeeping matters for his benefit. She tried to amuse him, too, on +such evenings as he did not go out after dinner, and had no one with +him, and she succeeded so well that he missed her greatly when she did +not come to him; and if it had not been for one unfortunate +circumstance, a quiet winter might have followed the pleasant summer, +and they might have all been at home together for a little longer. + +One night Mr Vane told Frederica that there was on the next day to be a +grand review of troops at L--farm, and to her delight he promised to +take her with him. Unfortunately, however, as had happened before, the +promise of the night was forgotten in the morning. Frederica was +disappointed of course, and a little angry, but she recovered her good +temper immediately when Tessie suggested that she might go still, and +take them all with her. To be sure she could, and she congratulated +herself on her father's forgetfulness; for now the pleasure would be +doubled, and more than doubled; for not only Tessie and Selina could go, +but their little brothers as well. So Dixen, nothing loth, had the +carriage at the door in less time than usual. They did not even have +the thought of leaving their mother alone to mar the prospect of their +enjoyment; for Miss Grant, having given the boys a holiday, kindly +offered to stay with Mrs Vane till they all came home again. + +It never came into their minds that they might be doing wrong, or that +their father might be displeased with them for venturing into such a +crowd, or they might have placed themselves in a less conspicuous +position, and at a greater distance from that part of the grounds where +many of the fashionable people of the town had stationed themselves. It +never occurred to them either, that while they found so much interest +and amusement in watching and commenting upon the people and the +equipages crowded so closely round them, others might find the same +interest in regarding them. Indeed, they made rather a remarkable +group, the young girls and their brothers, and old Dixen, and Jack and +Jill together, and it is not likely that Mr Vane and his daughter Mrs +Brandon, or the party of equestrians who were with them, would have +passed without observing them, even if little Hubert had not at the +sight of them called out,-- + +"Papa, papa, here we are! come this way, papa." + +The little boy had clambered up on the high seat of the carriage beside +Dixen. Tessie was leaning over them, and Frederica was standing on the +low step of the carriage, eagerly describing to Selina all that was +going on around them. But it was Selina who was the central figure of +the group, to which all eyes turned. The younger girls were simply and +quietly dressed in proper school-girl fashion, but they had decked their +fair blind sister in beautiful and costly things; and her bright serene +face, and her long golden curls shading it, made a very lovely picture. +No one would have imagined that those clear sweet eyes were blind, +except that she sat so still and so unconscious of the looks that were +bent upon her. + +"Hush, Hubert?" whispered Tessie. "Do not call again. Papa does not +look pleased." + +He looked by no means pleased. Unfortunately for his good temper, he +did not hear the murmur of surprise and admiration that rose from some +of the party, because he was listening to Mrs Brandon, who was +saying,-- + +"How foolish and wrong, and what bad taste, for these girls to be here +alone! Papa, I am surprised that you should allow it! The horses are +not taken from the carriage. There will be an accident certainly." + +Mr Vane laughed. + +"With Jack and Jill! Hardly, while old Dixen is by them." + +"But they ought not to have come without a gentleman to take care of +them. You should send them home." + +"Through this crowd? They are safer where they are at present." + +A movement in the throng of people permitted a nearer approach to the +carriage. Tessie, who had seen her father's face, seated herself to +watch him as he came near, but Frederica was still talking rapidly and +eagerly to Selina. She started as he touched her on the shoulder with +the end of his riding-whip, but she did not look at all as if she +expected to be reproved. She smiled and nodded gaily to him and Mrs +Brandon. + +"You see we are all here, papa. I wish they would begin." + +There was some delay in the bringing up of the soldiers. The crowd was +getting impatient, and moved to and fro about them; and in the movement, +some of Mr Vane's friends, having dismounted and given their horses +into safe keeping, came round the carriage, and, as Mr Vane whispered +to Mrs Brandon, there were soon gentlemen enough about them. Frederica +had seen most of them before, but they were not people that she cared +for, and she whispered to Selina that she was sadly afraid their +pleasure was to be spoiled. She greeted them politely, however, and +mentioned their names to Selina. + +"But you need not mind them," added she, in a whisper. "They'll go away +directly, I daresay. Now the soldiers are ready to begin, and I will +tell you what they do." + +And so she did. Standing on the seat where her sister sat, that she +might see the better, she described in a low rapid voice the marching +and countermarching, and all the movements of the men; and when she +became silent, Tessie spoke, and the boys sometimes broke eagerly in. +And through all, Selina listened and smiled with a face of such sweet +content, such seeming unconsciousness of misfortune or loss, that tears +came to the eyes of some that were looking on. Even her father saw her +wonderful beauty and sweetness, and her affliction, with a new sense of +surprise and pain, and sighed as he regarded her. + +It grew tiresome at last to those who did not understand the movements +of the soldiers, or the skill and drill needed to ensure success in all +the wonderful evolutions through which they were put; and so, when at +length a clear space was made near the carriage, they began to speak of +going home. + +"Mama will be getting anxious," said Selina softly to one who urged them +to stay longer. + +"And there will be nothing more. It will be the same thing over and +over again," said Tessie. "There will be music, I suppose, and you will +like that, Lina." + +"Still, if Hubert and Charlie are ready, I think we should go," said +Selina. + +The boys were by no means ready to go, but their indignant outcry was +interrupted by their father. + +"Now that the way is clear you must go," said he, "or you may get +entangled among the carriages and be hurt." + +And then the misfortune of the day happened. Mrs Brandon, meaning to +be very kind, and meaning also to gratify the curiosity of some of her +friends, who had been expressing a wish to see more of her young +sisters, invited them all to luncheon before they should return home. +Frederica politely but promptly declined for them all. + +"We said we should be home to dinner, and mama will be anxious," said +she. + +"But the boys can tell her that you have stayed with me. Papa is +coming, and several others. She will not care." + +"No, I suppose not, but we are tired, and it will be much nicer to visit +you some time when you are alone. Excuse me. It is quite impossible," +added Frederica, as Mrs Brandon continued to urge her. + +Her last words were spoken in an air and manner "not in the least like +Fred," her father said to himself, as he listened. But Mrs Brandon +thought it was exactly like Fred--"the naughty little thing." She had +more than once noticed this disagreeable manner in her intercourse with +her younger sister, and had spoken of it to her father, and to him she +now turned her disapproving eyes. So Mr Vane interposed. + +"Nonsense, Fred! What difference can it make? Stay of course--not you, +Tessie, nor the boys! Dixen can come for you later. Now, Dixen, take +care." + +Frederica was indignant, and said quite enough to her sisters on their +way down, but to her father she only said, "Very well, papa," with an +air of offended dignity that made him laugh. + +"However," added she, when she had said all that was necessary, and a +little more, "I may as well make the best of it, and amuse myself as +well as I can." + +So when Mrs Brandon arrived a little while afterwards, they found her +walking about on the lawn, quite ready to amuse, and to be amused. But +her troubles were not over. It was Selina especially, it seemed, whom +Mrs Brandon had wished to stay, and she had gone home. There were many +regrets expressed by her and by the others. They had been so desirous +to know Miss Vane, and to hear her sing, and so on. + +"It is a pity you were not more explicit, Caroline," said Frederica. +"However, it would have made no difference. Selina's staying was quite +out of the question." + +"I am sure I can't understand why," said Mrs Brandon. + +"Can you not? It is quite true, however." + +Mrs Brandon turned her eyes on her father, who had just entered the +room. It must be acknowledged that Fred was not behaving well. Her +manner was by no means respectful to her elder sister, and her tones and +the flash of her eye showed that she was out of temper. + +"What is the matter, Fred?" asked her father. + +"We are all disappointed that Miss Vane did not stay," said some one, +with the kind intention of smoothing matters for Fred. + +"Fred thinks Selina would not have enjoyed it," said Mrs Brandon. + +"Mama would not have wished it," said Frederica, walking away, as though +there was nothing more to be said. + +Of course, it was all a failure after this, as far as Frederica was +concerned. At another time she would have looked and listened, and +amused herself with all that was going on. But she felt cross; and what +was worse, she knew that all these people must be thinking her very rude +and ill-bred. No one noticed her much nor spoke to her, and though she +knew she deserved it, she was indignant at being treated like an +ill-tempered child. Especially was she indignant with her sister for +bringing all this upon her. So at the first possible moment she excused +herself from the table, at which the rest seemed inclined to linger, and +went out into the garden. + +Her ill-temper and discomfort did not trouble her after that. She +forgot it utterly; for here she found the nurse with her sister's +beautiful baby, and every trace of annoyance vanished at the sight. +Here her sister found her in a little while. She had come in search of +her, intending to speak a few serious words to her about her foolish +conduct. But when she saw the girl's bright face as she kneeled on the +grass, clasping and kissing the pretty boy, she too forgot her vexation. + +"O Caroline I was there ever so lovely a child before? How happy you +must be?" + +And then she wondered over him--his beauty, his murmuring and cooing, +and pretty baby ways, and her delight was perfect, when he refused to go +to his mother from her arms. Was there ever such a triumph? The baby +was a very pretty baby, and the young girl's delight over him was pretty +too, and in the midst of it Dixen came for her, and Mrs Brandon had no +time for the serious words which she felt it to be her duty to speak, +"for poor papa's sake." But she set her conscience at rest by saying +all the more to papa himself, and the immediate result of her advice was +that Tessie was sent at once back to Mrs Glencairn's, and Frederica was +advised to prepare herself to be sent elsewhere very soon. + +Poor Tessie thought it rather hard that she should be made to suffer for +Fred's faults. That was the way she put the matter to herself, but it +was a very good thing for her to be sent to school again. She begged +hard to go with her sister, wherever she should be sent, but this could +not be; and her dissatisfaction did not continue long after she was +fairly back at school, for Mrs Glencairn's house was a very good place +to be in, and Tessie was reasonable, and by-and-by content. + +As for Frederica, it would have been as well for her if she had been +sent to Mrs Glencairn's too, for she and her mother and Selina made +themselves unhappy in their uncertainty as to where she was to be sent. +But when week after week passed, and nothing more was said on the +subject, they began to take courage again, and to hope that she might +not be sent away at all. And she was not, but it would have been much +better for her if she had. + +For this was not a profitable winter to Frederica. They had a happy +month or two, she and her mother and Selina; they lived the same +uneventful quiet life that the summer had brought them, and every little +pleasure they enjoyed was doubled to Mrs Vane and Selina, because +Frederica enjoyed it with them. They went on faithfully and regularly +with their reading of the Bible, and for a time Frederica fulfilled her +promise; and went over her old school lessons with her sister, and took +great pride and pleasure in the progress that she made. They practised +their music together, and a teacher came to give them lessons; and +Frederica assured her father, that instead of losing her time, as Mrs +Brandon had declared, she had never been so well and so happily employed +as now. Whether he thought so too, or whether he was prevented by other +reasons besides indolence from deciding on a proper school for her, +could not be told, but the winter was nearly over before another word +was said about her going away. + +It was near Christmas time that Frederica began to be a good deal at the +house of her half-sister, Mrs Brandon, and to go with her a good deal +to other houses, and then the tenor of her life for a time was quite +changed. It began very naturally and simply. There was a children's +party at Mrs Brandon's house, to celebrate the first birthday of her +little boy. Frederica was asked, and her brothers, and they all went +and enjoyed it. Frederica threw herself into the pleasure of amusing +the little people with all her heart. It was a delight to her, and her +success was entire. The enjoyment was perfect to them all. The evening +passed without one of the unfortunate incidents so likely to occur on +such occasions, and no child enjoyed it better than Frederica. + +It was called a children's party, but there were many people there +besides children, and it is not surprising that the bright young girl, +"with the playfulness of a child and the sense of a woman," should +attract admiring attention. She threw herself so heartily and prettily +into the amusement of the little ones, they said to one another and to +Mrs Brandon. She was so clever and charming, and so unconscious of it. +A great many foolish things were said, and some of them were said to +Frederica. Of course she thought it all very agreeable, and showed +herself equal to the entertainment of grown people as well as children, +and enjoyed it all. + +This "children's party" led to others, and to parties of grown people as +well, and by-and-by the character of these gay doings changed +altogether. The simple dresses and ornaments that had at first been +considered quite sufficient were laid aside for dresses of a different +kind. Her mother's long-neglected treasures of laces, and silks, and +other fine things, were turned over in search of materials for her +adornment, and even her jewel cases were examined, and certain of their +contents appropriated for the same purpose. + +Frederica had always taken pride in knowing that Mrs Glencairn spoke of +her as "sensible" and as "a discreet young person," and she had been +very much in earnest to prove to her father and mother that Mrs +Glencairn was right. But notwithstanding her sense and her discretion, +no one will be surprised to hear that for a time she enjoyed greatly the +excitement and gaiety of her life. For though it is quite true that no +real and lasting happiness can be obtained in the pursuit of pleasures +such as these, yet it cannot be denied that to a young girl like +Frederica, the first experience of a life of this kind gives a delight +which seems real, and sweet, and satisfying, and which, in a certain +sense, is so while it lasts. And so she threw herself into all these +things with all her heart, and enjoyed them, without a thought that she +was in danger from such a life. + +Her mother, remembering her own youth, her brief triumphs, and long +disappointments, sent her thoughts after her into those gay scenes with +vague but painful anxiety. But this always vanished in Frederica's +presence. If she made a feeble attempt now and then to remonstrate with +her, or with her father, against such constant gaiety, it was only +because the child was so young, and not at all because she thought such +a life of pleasure wrong in itself. She knew of no other kind of life +for the rich and well-born; and though she could not look forward to +such a life for her daughters without anxiety, yet she was incapable of +planning, or even of imagining, any other for them. If they all could +have remained together content with the quiet enjoyments that had come +to them in the past summer, while their father was away, she would have +sought no other life for them. But that was quite impossible, she +thought with a sigh. + +There was no one to tell Frederica that she was in danger. All her +mother's fears were vague and indistinct. They seemed to her daughter, +and even to herself, when she spoke of them, to be nervous fancies, +natural enough in her state of illness and seclusion, a natural +shrinking from any possible cause of change or pain. And so they both +put away such thoughts, and the mother strove to take pleasure in the +many costly and beautiful things brought for her approval for the +adornment of her daughter. + +Even Selina listened happily to her sister's merry recitals of all she +saw and heard and enjoyed, and offered her soft touch to the rich and +delicate fabrics, to the laces and flowers and jewels that she wore, +without a thought of trouble or danger to the sister whom she loved so +well. + +But Frederica was in danger all the same. She was in danger of losing +that sweet naturalness and girlish simplicity which even to the worldly +people with whom she mingled made her chief charm; she was in danger of +growing vain and frivolous and foolish, of forgetting all the serious +views of life that had so filled her thoughts, of ceasing to strive for, +or to value, a knowledge of those truths which were to bring such peace +and patience; such blessed hopes to her suffering mother, and such +happiness to them all. Nay, she was in danger even of neglecting her +mother and her blind sister, of giving up the sweet office so eagerly +coveted and claimed, of being their comforter and guardian, and of +living to herself and her own selfish enjoyment. + +All this has happened to others who have given themselves up to a life +of worldly pleasure, and this must have been the end to Frederica, if +such a life had continued long. + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +In the beginning of March, there came a letter to Mr Vane, announcing +the approaching marriage of his second daughter Cecilia, and begging him +to be present at the ceremony, which was to take place at the end of +April. Something had been said by Mr Vane, every year for the last +ten, about going home to England; but sometimes for one reason, and +sometimes for another, he had never carried out his design. This +announcement and invitation induced him to take the matter into serious +consideration this time, and Mrs Brandon's suggestion that the +opportunity would be a good one to take Frederica home for the +completion of her education, decided him to make arrangements at once +for going. Indeed, he by-and-by convinced himself, and endeavoured to +convince others, that it was for Frederica's sake, and not at all for +his own pleasure, that the voyage was to be undertaken, and thus +especially was it represented to Mr St. Cyr. + +Frederica was not so pained by her father's sudden determination as she +would have been in the autumn. Of course, the thought of school was not +quite agreeable to her after the winter she had spent, but there was the +voyage, and possibly a gay wedding to come first; and if it had not been +for the thought of leaving her mother and Selina, the prospect would not +have been disagreeable. And she could not help thinking that they would +miss her less than they would have done six months before. + +But it did not seem so to them. The thought of losing her was almost +more than her mother could bear. But there was nothing to be said: +discussion would make no difference to Mr Vane's decision. There was +little time for discussion or preparation. All that Frederica needed, +could be got as well in England, her father said, and there was no time +to lose. + +A suitable person to take charge of the home, and of all household +matters during the year, had to be sought, and through the kind +exertions of Mr Jerome St. Cyr, such a one was found, a very pleasing +person she seemed, and she came highly recommended. She was a large +fair woman, with a pale face that was very pleasing when she smiled, and +her eyes were at the same time kind and searching. Her voice in +speaking, and her manner and movements, were very soft and gentle, and +she was, Frederica though the very opposite of Mrs Ascot in all +respects. + +But her gentleness did not give one the idea that she was weak. On the +contrary, she was very strong and firm, as well as gentle, as they all +had an opportunity of seeing, even the first day of her coming among +them. For the two boys were ill when she came. They had taken cold, it +was supposed, and little Hubert, from his persistent refusal to take his +medicine, seemed to be becoming very ill indeed. But there was an end +to all this, as soon as ever Miss Agnace understood the matter. In a +moment the refractory little lad was placed in her lap, and by some +extraordinary exertion of skill and will on her part, the bitter draught +was swallowed by him, and he was laid quietly and comfortably in bed +again. Frederica looked on with mingled astonishment and admiration. + +"I have been accustomed to be with sick children," said Miss Agnace +quietly. + +"I wonder if that is the way she would take with mama or Selina," said +Frederica to herself. "I can easily imagine her taking me up and +dealing with me in that peremptory way; but mama, who must be so gently +managed--oh! how can I ever go away, and leave her? oh! I cannot?" and +though she knew her tears were vain, she wept bitterly for a long time. + +She had an opportunity very soon of knowing how Miss Agnace would deal +with her in little Hubert's place. For the illness of her brothers +proved to be not mere colds, as was at first supposed, but a severe form +of one of those diseases of childhood, which generally pass through a +whole household when one has been seized. In a few days Frederica was +very ill, much more ill than either of the boys had been, and helpless, +and miserable, she was entirely given up to the care of Miss Agnace; for +neither her mother nor Selina was permitted to enter her room. + +Gentle and firm. That exactly described her nurse's treatment. She was +taken entirely out of her own hands, which was indeed the very best +thing that could have happened to her, and found herself yielding in all +things to the firm and gentle rule of Miss Agnace. She was not always +quite herself, and slept and woke, and tossed and murmured, with the +vaguest possible idea of what was happening around her, or how the time +was passing. She had the strangest dreams and fancies, and said things, +and asked questions, which her nurse could only meet by her calm +surprised look and silence. + +Once she saw, just within the door of her room, some one whom she at +first supposed was the doctor, but then it seemed to be Mr St. Cyr's +brother who was speaking with Miss Agnace, and she thought she heard him +say that she must not go to England with her father, and that God had +sent this sickness to keep her at home. She said to herself she was +surely dreaming, and shut her eyes; and when she opened them again, +there was only Miss Agnace offering her the bitter medicine with a +smile. + +And so one day passed after another, till the day fixed for their +departure drew near. Nothing could be clearer, however, than that no +departure was possible for Frederica. Nor was there much hope of her +being so far recovered as to be able to leave at the latest day that +would admit of their reaching England in time for the wedding. So Mr +Vane spoke rather vaguely of making arrangements for her to go by some +other opportunity, and set out alone. Frederica did not know whether +she was glad or sorry at being left at home. She was too restless and +weak to take pleasure in anything, and longed so for a change of some +kind, that she could very easily have persuaded herself that she was +disappointed at being left. But she had no thought to think about it or +about anything for a time. She could only toss restlessly on her bed, +or sit listlessly in the large easy-chair, when she was at last +permitted to rise. + +Her little brothers were well and strong by this time, and came to see +her every day. They tried to wait upon her, and to amuse her gently and +quietly, but they tired her inexpressibly, and she could not endure them +long. Her mother came ice a day to see her, but she was only allowed to +remain a few minutes with her, and Selina was not permitted to come near +her, lest she also should take the disease. So she was left almost +entirely with Miss Agnace, who was very kind to her, she told her +mother, who never failed to ask the question when she came. + +Yes, she was very kind; that did not prevent the days from being long +and tedious; and Frederica, forgetting that she had been counted a young +lady all the winter, grew childish, and petulant, and ill to please. +But Miss Agnace never lost patience, and was never otherwise than gentle +with her, even when she was most firm in making her do all that the +doctor desired. + +Books were entirely forbidden. The doctor said her eyes were quite too +weak to be used, and that her sight might be permanently injured if she +were to read much now. Miss Agnace in this matter obeyed the doctor to +the letter, and carried every book--even little Hubert's large-print +Testament--away. + +Now and then, as she grew stronger, Miss Agnace told her stories, to +which she liked to listen. They were almost all about _very_ good +people who lived a great many years ago--wonderful stories some of them +were, "If one only could believe them," Frederica used to say to +herself. One day she said it to Miss Agnace, and for the first time her +fair still face lost its calm, and looked angry. + +"Well, but that does sound rather like a fairy story, now doesn't it?" +said Frederica, moved from her usual indifference by the unwonted sight +of the nurse's indignation. "Of course it does not really mean that the +loaves of bread all turned to roses in the lady's lap, when her cruel +husband made her afraid. It is an allegory, is it not? Not exactly to +be received as having really happened. It is a very pretty story, and +you must not be angry, because I did not mean to offend you." + +All this was not said at once, but with a pause now and then. + +"Angry! no, why should I be angry? You know no better, poor child, poor +unhappy child!" + +Frederica did not consider herself particularly happy just at this time, +but it was not at all for the reason that Miss Agnace seemed to +intimate. + +"Why do you say so? Why am I so unhappy?" asked she. + +"Because you have no religion," said Miss Agnace solemnly; "because you +do not believe." + +It was perfectly true, and Frederica acknowledged in her heart, but not +in the sense or for the reason that Miss Agnace seemed to imagine; so +she said lightly,-- + +"A great many religious people refuse to believe such tales as these. +They are very pretty, you know, and perhaps they have valuable lessons, +but as for having, really happened! Such things don't happen now." + +"That is not true. Such things do happen still. Not frequently, but +when God has a purpose to accomplish, a blessing to convey." + +"Tell me something that has happened lately," said Frederica, forgetting +all else in her eagerness for a story. + +And so she did, and sometimes Frederica was interested, and sometimes +she was amused. She heard of lame people who had been made to walk, of +pictures which had spoken, of images which had wept, and many more of +the same kind. + +"But I don't quite see the good of it, even if these things were all +true," she said at last. + +"My child," said Miss Agnace gravely, "they are true. We have for their +truth the authority of men to whom a lie is impossible. Do not say, `If +they are true.'" + +"And does it make you happy to believe these things?" asked Frederica. + +"Happy?" repeated Miss Agnace; "can any one be happy who does not +believe? Are you happy? Were you happy when you were so ill, when you +thought you might die? Were you not afraid?" + +"Was I so ill as that?" asked Frederica, startled. "I never thought of +dying. If I had, I daresay I should have been afraid. Did mama think +so, and Selina? How sorry they must have been! And papa went away all +the same." + +She had no heart for any more wonderful stories that day. She lay quite +silent for a long time after that, but she was not resting or at ease, +for her face was flushed, and she grew restless and impatient; nothing +pleased her, and she thought the day would never be done. She had all +the impatience to herself, however, for Miss Agnace was as gentle and +helpful as ever, and bathed her hot hands and head, and soothed her till +she lost the sense of her troubles in sleep. + +But another day came after that, and many days that had to be got +through somehow. Her mother could not be much with her, and her +brothers tired her. The cold March winds made it not safe for her to +drive out, and poor Fred longed for Tessie, and would have given half +her treasures to be transported to Mistress Campbell's garret for a +single day. And thus thinking of Eppie, and of "the days of her youth," +of which she used to tell her, it came into Frederica's mind to wonder +what had happened to Miss Agnace when she was a child. For though she +had talked much with her, both by night and by day, she had a way of +falling back on one theme--the good deeds which the saints had done, and +which all people ought to strive to do: and all this grew tedious when +it was repeated over and over again, and Frederica longed for something +else, and so she asked her,-- + +"When were you born, Miss Agnace? Have you brothers and sisters? Tell +me about the days when you were young, as Eppie used to do. Has +anything wonderful ever happened to you?" + +Miss Agnace looked at her in smiling surprise. + +"I have nothing to tell. Nothing wonderful ever happened to me." + +"But still tell me about your childhood." + +Miss Agnace told her a good many things, but certainly nothing +wonderful. She was one of a large family. She had been sent to a +convent school at the age of nine, and remained a pupil till she was +nearly seventeen. There had been no incidents in her school life. +Everything went on quietly, and happily that was all. Yes, she had +favourite companions. One died, and one married, and the best loved one +of all was lost on a steamer on one of the great lakes. She could tell +no more than that. + +"And since you left school?" asked Frederica. + +"Nothing has happened to me since then. I have had a busy life, and +have been content with it," said Miss Agnace, rising to leave the room. +She was away a good while; but when she came back, carrying Frederica's +tea on a tray, the young girl said, as though there had been no pause,-- + +"Well, and what have you been busy about and content with since then?" + +Miss Agnace did not answer immediately. It was evident that she did not +wish to continue the conversation, only she did not know how to help it. +She was not a clever person, and she could not "make up" an answer in a +moment. So she said,--"I have been nursing sick people much of the +time--sometimes in one place and sometimes in another. Yes, I have been +a good deal in St. P.'s Hospital." + +"Oh!" said Frederica eagerly, "you are one of the sisters?" + +"I am a nursing sister, yes." + +"And were they willing to let you come here? You do not wear the +sisters' dress. It was a very good thing you came here. What should we +have done all this time? Was it Mr St. Cyr who sent you? Do you like +to stay here, better than in the Hospital?" + +Frederica could not expect that all her questions should be answered. +Miss Agnace looked relieved as she listened to her. + +"Yes, it was Mr St. Cyr who sent me. I like to stay here very well. I +am glad to be of use." + +"You are very kind. I ought to call you Sister Agnace, ought I not? or +`Ma tante,' as the convent girls do? How odd that you should be here! +And have you been nursing sick people all your life? You must have seen +a great many sorrowful sights." + +"Yes, a great many sorrowful sights," repeated Miss Agnace gravely; "but +not all sorrowful. I have seen the joyful ending of many a troubled +life, which is a happy thing to see." + +And she told her that night, and afterwards, about many sorrowful and +joyful things, sickness and pain, grief and disappointment, and the +blessed endings of all these; and a new view of life was presented to +Frederica as she listened. She was getting better by this time, but not +rapidly, and she did not grow cheerful and bright, as she ought to have +done, when she was able to go out with her little brothers in the fine +April days. Mrs Brandon came to see her, and would have taken her home +with her for a few days, for a change, but because of baby it was not +considered safe to do so, and she was obliged to content herself with +the company of Miss Agnace and an hour's reading now and then. + +She was not very happy these days. She did not look back with much +satisfaction on the winter. It had been agreeable enough in passing, +and she had not been taught that such a life was wrong, or might lead to +wrong--that "she who liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth." But +somehow she was not content with herself. She had a feeling that she +had "been weighed in the balance, and found wanting;" that she had not +proved herself wise, or sensible, or discreet, as she had sometimes been +called; that she had been seeking her own pleasure rather than the +comfort of her mother and Selina. She had even been able to look +forward to the prospect of leaving them for a long time, not without +pain, certainly, but still with a vague expectation of enjoying the +change for herself. She had failed them, and thinking about it made her +more unhappy than she had ever been in all her life before. + +But the root of her trouble lay deeper than any of these things. A year +ago she had pleased herself with the thought that she wished to become +religious, to become a Christian, not in name merely, but in reality. +She then wished this less for herself than for her mother. She had felt +the need less for herself, because she was young, and strong, and happy. +But she had been near death, they told her, since then; and now, as her +thoughts went back to that time, she could not but ask herself, What if +she had died? would it have been the end of all trouble to her, as Miss +Agnace said it was to so many of the suffering poor creatures, whose +eyes she had closed? She hoped so. She had never done anything very +wrong. She wished to be good. + +But she was not religious. At least, she had not the religion that +would make her happy in the midst of suffering and in the prospect of +death. And when she thought of it in this way, she was not so sure that +it would have been well with her if she had died. + +"But how am I to know?" said she, as she had many times said before. +"People think so differently. Eppie said, If I asked Him, God would +teach me, or send me a teacher. I have asked Him, though not so often +as I might have done. But I will ask Him. Perhaps He has sent Miss +Agnace." + +She sat up in the easy-chair in which she had been reclining. + +"Miss Agnace, tell me about your religion. There are so many different +sorts, you know; and I want to know about yours." + +Miss Agnace shook her head gravely. + +"There is only one true religion--one true Church. There are many +sects, but there is but one Church." + +"And that is yours? Eppie thought it was hers. But tell me about +yours." + +She had plenty to tell her, such as it was. She told her about the only +true Church, the only place of happiness and safety. She told her about +its ceremonies, and worship, and sacraments. She told her about +confession and penance, and of the blessedness of those who have their +sins forgiven. She told her about Mary and the saints in heaven, and +about our blessed Lord who may be approached through them. She said a +great deal about the good works of all kinds that would win the favour +of these. Above all, she insisted on the necessity of submitting +implicitly to the requirements of the Church, of having no will of one's +own in such matters, and spoke severely of the pride and folly of those +who ventured to take the law of God, and interpret it for themselves, +without availing themselves of the teaching of those whom God had +appointed for the work. She grew very earnest as she went on, but she +did not speak very wisely. She certainly did not say anything that +touched the heart, or gave light to the eyes of Frederica. + +It is possible that if the Rev Mr St. Cyr had known the state of +Frederica's mind, or if he could have contemplated the possibility of +such an opportunity occurring for influencing her heart or her opinions, +it would not have been Sister Agnace who would have been sent to Mrs +Vane's house. It would have been some one whose natural powers and +acquirements better fitted her for the work of proselytism, which was, +indeed, the work he had in view. But that was to come later, as time +and events might permit. In the meantime Miss Agnace was a perfect +instrument for the work he had given her to do. She was a born nurse, +with strong nerves and a tender heart, gentle, patient, and firm. She +was disciplined, experienced, and skilful, just the nurse to make life +tolerable, even pleasant, to a confined invalid like Mrs Vane, and this +was the office for which she was intended. + +She was not clever, nor intelligent, nor very devout, but she had +learned obedience. She was not her own. She had no will or judgment of +her own on many matters. Her confessor was her conscience. Her idea of +right was implicit obedience to him, and to the Superior of her order. +Whatever they required her to do was right in her esteem, and hitherto +nothing had been required of her likely to suggest questions to her +mind. Her life had hitherto been so busy and so useful as to leave her +no time for questioning; and in coming to Mrs Vane's, she was conscious +only of a wish to do her duty to her employer on the one hand, and to +those who had sent her on the other, without an idea that it might be +difficult to do both. + +She grew very fond of Frederica during these days. Frederica was +impatient often, and grew tired alike of her silence, and of her soft +voice murmuring on about the blessed saints; but Miss Agnace never lost +patience with her. She saw that the young girl was not at rest, and +that she wished for something else, even more than she longed for health +or society; and she longed to lead her into those paths where alone, she +believed, true happiness could be found--the paths of entire submission +of heart and will and judgment to the only true Church. But she did not +succeed, and she was not surprised. She was a humble woman, with no +wise words on her tongue, by which she might convince or teach one +brought up in error, or bring her into the right way, and one day she +told her so, and added,-- + +"But you should let me send for some one who is wise, and who has +authority; and when you are well, you must go with me to church, and +tell all your troubled thoughts to the blessed Mother. You should let +me ask the Rev Mr St. Cyr to come and talk with you." + +"I should like to see almost any one, it is so dull," said Frederica +with a sigh, "but I don't like the Rev Mr St. Cyr. Oh! I daresay he +is very good and all that," added she, as she saw that Miss Agnace +looked displeased, "but I don't know him, and he certainly has not a +nice face." + +"But that is a small matter," said Miss Agnace severely. "He is wise, +and he has authority, and he would know what to say to you. He would +show you the truth." + +Frederica was by no means sure that she cared about having the truth +shown to her by Mr Jerome St. Cyr, or that her father would be pleased +to have him visit her. + +"I like you to teach me far better than I should like Mr Jerome St. +Cyr," said Frederica, "because, I know you believe what you say; and +besides, I can trust you. And I always feel uncomfortable with Mr +Jerome." + +"You may trust Mr Jerome. He loves you dearly," said Miss Agnace, but +she said no more at that time. + +She quite believed that Mr Jerome loved them, and sought their good. +Was he not interested in all that took place among them? It never came +into her thoughts that she was betraying confidence, or acting in any +way unworthily, by telling him every incident of their daily life. She +was not always aware how much, in answer to his apparently careless +questioning, she made known; for there was little to tell--trifling +details of their daily life, incidents that had no significance, except +as they tended to show the tastes or tempers of the children of the +house, which could only interest one who loved them, as she was sure he +did. + +By-and-by he permitted her to see that he had a definite motive and plan +in listening to all the details which seemed so trifling. He wished to +gather from them some means of judging in what manner they might best be +influenced in the right direction, should an opportunity to do so +present itself at some future time. + +Miss Agnace strongly desired for these children and their mother, that +they should be brought to a knowledge of the truth, and she assented +when the priest told her that it was a blessed thing for her to be +permitted to aid, even indirectly, in this good work. She did not doubt +the excellence of his motives, or his right to claim her help, and she +never thought of refusing obedience to his lightest word. But when +Frederica said, "I can trust _you_," a painful sense of being not worthy +of the girl's confidence came upon her for a moment. It was only for a +moment, however; at least, it was only till she spoke to Father Jerome +about it--then she believed, as he told her, that it was a temptation of +Satan to hinder her from doing God's work, and she prayed and strove +against it with success. + +Soon after this Mr Jerome came to see Frederica, but he brought none of +the strong arguments, none of the words of wisdom, that Miss Agnace had +promised. He made himself very agreeable to the young girl, told her +amusing tales of the lands in which he had travelled, and made an +attempt at teaching her the interesting game of "Tric trac," before he +went away. Frederica acknowledged that he was agreeable, and that his +face was not so bad when he was speaking and smiling, as when it was +quite at rest. He came often after that; but Frederica was soon able to +leave her room and become one of the family again, so that she only +shared his visits with the rest. He made himself very agreeable to them +all. He was a fine musician, and proposed to teach Selina to play, as +he had seen the blind taught in Europe; and of course this gave pleasure +to them all. He laid himself out especially to please the boys, Charles +and Hubert, and succeeded. Even Tessie who was inclined to be critical +and even rude to him at first, yielded to his determined attempts to +please. + +Frederica would have liked him too, if it had not come into her mind +that he was taking all this pains for some other reason than the mere +wish to be agreeable. And the same thought came into the mind of her +mother. Mrs Vane had some unpleasant remembrances of him, in the days +when she had known him better than she did now, and his visits did not +give her unmingled satisfaction. But they did not speak to one another +about him for a long time. They enjoyed Selina's pleasure, and the +pleasure of the little boys, who shared his attention, and went with him +on expeditions of various kinds. They had a very quiet time till Tessie +came home for the holidays. Frederica was not long in throwing off all +invalid habits, and growing well and strong again, but she was quieter +and graver than she used to be before her illness, and the summer did +not, even after Tessie's returning, promise to be so merry or so idle as +the last had been. + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +Mr Vane's first letter brought an account of the wedding, and of the +gaieties attending it, and his next told them that he had made up his +mind to pass the summer on the Continent, returning to spend a month in +England in the autumn, before he went home. They heard afterwards from +Paris, and then from Rome, but for a time nothing more was said about +Frederica's going to England. + +As for Frederica, she said less than she used to do about being "grown +up" and "sensible," but she was more thoughtful and quiet than she had +ever been before; and, with the advice and assistance of Miss Robina, +laid out for herself a regular course of reading, which she pursued with +praiseworthy diligence, considering all things. The reading of the +Bible with her mother and Selina was commenced again, and nothing was +permitted to interfere with it. She began also to take her little +brothers regularly to church, and to listen and try to understand all +that she heard there. She did not get discouraged, though there was not +much to interest or to instruct in the sermons she often heard. + +There was little hope of a happy summer to them, as the days went on. +The heat which last year seemed to bring healing to Mrs Vane, brought +this year weakness and nervous prostration painful to see. And +something even worse than these came with them, to make the days and +nights terrible to her--the fear of death,--death, which she knew to be +drawing near. It had come to her in former illnesses, but never as it +came now. + +Mr Jerome. St. Cyr never spoke many words to her in private, but they +had been strong words that she could not forget, about her godless +marriage and her godless life, which had brought on her, he said, the +double curse of ill-health and neglect, and which must end in still +deeper misery. She could not forget them, and they woke terrible fears +for the future. She told her fears to her children, hoping that they +might chase them away as they had chased so many troubles of hers in +past years, with playful or loving words, but they knew not what to say, +for they too were afraid. + +"God is good, and Christ died for us," repeated Selina many times. +"Surely that is enough, mama." + +They read the Testament daily to her still, and Frederica searched it +carefully for her sake, bringing to her such sweet words as these: + +"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give +you rest. + +"For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost. + +"God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that +whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. + +"Death is swallowed up in victory. O death! where is thy sting? O +grave! where is thy victory? The sting of Death is sin, and the +strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who giveth us the +victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ." + +The clergyman of the church they attended came to see her, and read +prayers solemnly and tenderly, and answered the appeal of her anxious +eyes with vague words about God's goodness and compassion, and how He +would save all who came to Him. But his words did not comfort her. + +"How can I come to Him? I do not know the way." + +"Mama, Jesus is the way--He says it," said Selina, who never seemed to +forget the words she heard. + +"But I do not know Him; I have not thought about Him all my life; I have +done nothing good, and it is too late now." + +"But the thief on the cross had done nothing good, even to the very +last, and yet Jesus says to him, `To-day shalt thou be with me in +paradise,'" said Selina. + +"Yes; let me read it for you," said Frederica eagerly. + +"But he could do nothing, and Mr Jerome says I could give money to +clothe the naked and feed the hungry, and that I could give my children +to the Church, and then I should be safe. But I never trusted Mr +Jerome; I am afraid of him; and yet he may be right." + +"Miss Agnace says something like that too," said Tessie, "and I think we +ought to ask Mr St. Cyr to give some money, if it would set mama's mind +at rest." + +"But it does not say that is the way in the Bible," said Frederica +gravely. + +"Yes, it says something like that. Some one was told to sell all his +goods to give to the poor. Don't you remember?" + +"But it says, `Thanks be to God, who _giveth_ us the victory!'" said +Selina. "And there must be some people so poor that they have nothing +to give Him back." + +"Yes, and in another place He says, `I _give_ unto my sheep eternal +life,'" said Frederica. "It cannot be that one can buy it." + +"And in another place it says, `He that believeth shall be saved,'" said +Selina. + +The mother's eyes turned eagerly from one to another. They knew little, +but they knew far more than she did about that which she was so anxious +to learn. + +"Miss Agnace always says I must send for a priest, and confess to him, +but my father hated all that, and your father would be very angry." + +"But mama, if it would make you happy, he need not be told," said +Tessie; "and we might send for some one else than Mr St. Cyr's +brother." + +"But that would be giving up what the Bible says; for it does not tell +us to confess to priests, or that they can pardon us," said Frederica. + +"It says something, I think," said Selina, "`Whosesoever sins ye remit, +they shall be remitted.' Oh, if we only had some one to tell us what we +ought to do?" + +And was there no one among a whole cityful to tell these children and +their mother how they might be saved? Doubtless there were many who +would gladly have pointed them to Jesus as the only hope of the sinner, +if they had made known their need to such. But it was quite true of +those with whom they came in contact, the way was not clear to them. + +"I spoke to Caroline about it," said Frederica, "and she said we must be +good, and say our prayers, and go to church, and do our duty always. +But there must be some other way; for mama can do nothing now. She +cannot even give money, unless Mr St. Cyr is willing; and it would do +no good, if she could." + +"Miss Agnace says that she knows a sister who Is very good and wise, and +who would gladly teach us. Mama, shall we send for Sister Magdalen?" +asked Selina. + +But Mrs Vane was less able to say what should or what should not be +done, than the youngest child among them. No one sent for Sister +Magdalen, unless Miss Agnace did, which was very likely; for she seemed +always to know what they wished for, whether they told her or not; but +she came. A very different woman she was from Miss Agnace. A thin, +dark, thoughtful woman, with a face which was calm now, but which +suggested thoughts of troubles passed through, and struggles encountered +in past days. + +She came to see Miss Agnace at first, or she said so; but she had some +beautiful specimens of needlework which she wished the young ladies to +see, and while they were admiring it she was speaking gentle and +sympathising words to their mother. + +She came a good many times after that, and by-and-by she had much to say +to them all about the peace and rest that were to be found in the bosom +of the true Church, and of the safety and happiness that were to be +purchased by the performance of such good works as the Church commanded. +She told them how, by penance, and prayer, and the confession of sin, +pardon might be obtained, and how, through the intercession of Mary and +the saints, they might hope to get safe to heaven. + +She was a wiser woman than Miss Agnace, and knew how to put all these +things in the fairest light, so as not to startle them. But she was as +grieved and indignant as Miss Agnace had been at the pride and self-will +of children who ventured to read, and who strove to understand, the +Bible for themselves. It was just Miss Agnace's teaching over again, +except that all was more clearly and firmly announced, and more +decidedly pressed home, by Sister Magdalen. + +If Mrs Vane had been left a little while to her instructions and +influence, she might have led her where she would, and induced her, in +the hope of finding peace, to give herself altogether into the guidance +of those who believe that they have the keys of heaven in their keeping. +But her children never left her side when Sister Magdalen was there, +and there was no assent in Frederica's anxious watchful eyes, and Selina +was always ready with some word from the Book, which even Sister +Magdalen could not but acknowledge was the very word of God. Nor did it +avail for her to say that God had other words than were written there, +and other ways of teaching those who wished to know His will. If +Frederica had learned little else from the Scriptural lessons of Mrs +Glencairn and Miss Pardie, she had learned this, that the Bible is the +only source of our knowledge of God as the Saviour of sinners, and to +distrust all other teaching. + +"What you say may be true, I cannot tell, but it is not here in the +Gospels. And surely there is all here that is necessary, if we could +only understand," said Frederica gently. And Selina added,-- + +"_I_ know we are very ignorant; but I do not think it is wrong in us to +read and to try to understand God's Word for ourselves, and I believe +God will teach us, and mama too. We will not fear." + +In the meantime Mr Jerome had still been making frequent visits to Mrs +Vane's house, where he made himself very agreeable to the children. +Selina's music progressed rapidly, and she had increasing pleasure in +it. The boys and even Tessie welcomed him with the indiscriminating +liking which children bestow on those who take pains to please and win +them. Frederica said to herself, that this liking and Selina's progress +ought to be sufficient reason for her liking him too. And it might have +been so if the priest had been content to treat her as a child. + +But she was not a child, and he touched with her on graver matters than +a child could comprehend. He was aware of her reading the Bible with +her mother and the rest, and of her anxious questionings of Sister +Agnace, and her wish to be religious and do right, and he was more than +willing to give counsel and direction with regard to these matters. But +on these things Frederica would never enter with him. At first she +could give no better reason for this, than that "he had not a nice +face," which she acknowledged was a very foolish reason. But afterwards +she had a reason which was all-powerful with her: he made her mother +unhappy. He spoke softly and soothingly to her, as far as words and +manners went: but he never came but he said some words that left her +anxious and troubled either for herself or her children. He intimated +his belief that she had forsaken the true Church--the Church of her +fathers--when she married Mr Vane, and that all her ill-health and +unhappiness had come upon her as a punishment for this wrong step. He +never said all this to her in words at one time; but he uttered a word +now and then, breathed a sigh, spoke a soft regret, or as soft a +warning, that left the poor soul never quite at ease. He never spoke +thus to her in the presence of her children. Without them there is +little doubt that he could easily have bent the poor broken-spirited +woman to his will--brought her to repentance and a better mind, he would +have called it. But Selina's gentleness, and Frederica's sense of her +mother's helplessness and dependence, were a strong defence to their +mother. At this time Frederica saw that she was unhappy a good while +before she knew that the priest had anything to do with it. When she +did know it, she resented it angrily, and told him with more than +sufficient warmth, that it was neither kind nor wise of him to come with +his hard words and harder judgments, to unsettle and perplex the mind of +one so tender and delicate. + +"Perhaps you mean it kindly, but it is not real kindness to make poor +mama unhappy and afraid. You have your religion, and we have ours. We +will not interfere with each other," said Frederica, with trembling +dignity. + +"Have you then any religion?" asked the priest. "Because it has been +intimated to me that you are in search of one, and know not where it is +to be found. Is your mother then happier than you?" + +Frederica looked at him in amazement and anger, yet other feelings also +were in her heart. + +"Mama is good," said she. "One does not need to be very wise, or to +have fine words to offer, in order to be a Christian." + +"And you? are you a Christian, dear?" + +"I am not good," said Frederica humbly; "but I wish to be, and God will +teach me, and mama also." + +"And how long will it take you to learn? a year? two years? And the +chances are your mother will not live many months. Will it be well with +her, do you think, when she shall go away into another world alone?" + +Frederica turned upon him a white face and wide-open eyes of horror. + +"Yes," said Selina's soft voice behind them, "it will be well. God is +good, and Christ has died." + +Frederica uttered a glad cry, and clasped her sister in her arms. + +"Yes," said the priest, "God is good, and Christ has died. This is our +only hope. But then all these years have you been thinking of this? +You have been forgetting God, and even now you are trusting to your own +wisdom to find Him. You are refusing counsel. You are walking in your +own ways. Oh! poor ignorant erring children, it is because I love you +so much, you and your mother, that I dare to make you unhappy by telling +you the truth. I would gladly lead you in the right way." + +"Is mama so very ill?" said Frederica, forgetting everything else, in +the misery that his words had suggested. + +"Do you not see yourselves that she is very ill? Dear children, death +is a happy change to those who have the care and blessing of the Church. +Death is nothing of which a Christian need be afraid." + +He spoke gently and tenderly, and laid his hand softly on the blind +girl's head; but his eyes were hard and angry, and Frederica shrank from +him with a repugnance which she did not try to conceal. + +"I would so gladly help you," said he again. "It is your happiness I +seek, and the happiness of your dear mistaken mother." And in a little +he added, "God bless you with humble minds." And then went silently +away. + +And he left two very unhappy girls behind him. Could it be that their +mother was going to die; and that she had cause to be afraid? + +"I never wish to see him again," said Frederica. "He shall never see +mama again, if I can prevent it." + +But her anger went away with the departure of the priest, and now she +was very miserable. + +"But, Fred, if it is true that we are all wrong, and that mama is going +to die before--" + +Selina shuddered. + +"Selina! God is good, and Christ has died; you said it yourself." + +"Yes, God is good. He will teach us." + +"And He will take care of mama and all of us. And if mama does not go +to heaven, I am sure I do not care to go there either," said Frederica, +with a great bout of weeping. + +"God is good, and Christ has died," repeated Selina softly. "He will +teach us." + +"But I never wish to see Mr Jerome St. Cyr again," said Frederica. + +But he came again, just as usual, in a day or two. Mr St. Cyr was +there with the mother and the children when he came in, and the brothers +exchanged looks of surprise at the encounter, for they had never met in +Mrs Vane's house before. Mr St. Cyr looked on with a little amused +curiosity to see how his brother would be received. + +Very cordially by the young people it seemed, but he noticed a troubled +look pass over the face of their mother; and Frederica rose and went +over to her sofa, and took her seat beside her, with an air that seemed +to say she needed protection, and she was there to give it. Mr Jerome +took no notice of the movement, but occupied himself with Selina and her +music, and with the little boys, who soon came in. + +Mr St. Cyr asked Frederica about her illness, and her employments and +amusements, and she told him about Miss Agnace, and how much nicer she +was than Mrs Ascot used to be. + +"And we all hope she will stay," said Tessie. "But they don't usually +let the sisters stay long out of their convents. Do you think they will +let her stay?" asked Tessie, addressing Mr Jerome. "Fred did not know +she was a sister at first, but she found it out from something she said. +She is very nice, however, and we all hope she may stay." + +Mr St. Cyr asked no questions about Miss Agnace; but when his brother +rose to go, he rose also. He had something to say to him. + +"Who is Sister Agnace? and why is she here?" asked he. "It is not wise +in you to wish to make any change in Mrs Vane's family affairs, my +brother. You will not succeed." + +"I have succeeded already. Miss Agnace has made a great change for the +better in this ill-regulated household, especially in the comfort of +Mrs Vane. Your little friend is a clever child, but she cannot be +expected to act with sense or judgment in certain affairs. She has not +been complaining of Miss Agnace has she?" + +"By no means. On the contrary, they seem to value her highly. But who +is she? Why is she here?" + +"Do you not know! Mr Vane advertised for a housekeeper, and she +applied. She has excellent references, and he was fortunate in getting +her." + +"Still you have not answered my question. The sisters are not permitted +to answer advertisements, and take situations, without some special +purpose in view. What was your motive in placing her among these +children?" + +"A desire to serve them would not seem to you a sufficient motive, I +suppose?" + +"No," said Mr St. Cyr, with a shrug, "not in your case. You may wish +to serve them, but you have another motive. Who is Sister Agnace?" + +"A simple, pious, affectionate creature, just the nurse for a nervous +invalid like Mrs Vane. See her, and satisfy yourself with regard to +her." + +"I shall do so," said Mr St. Cyr; "and, my brother, let me say one word +to you. Nothing good will come of your trying to gain influence in this +house. Mrs Vane has nothing in her power as to the disposal of her +father's wealth. All that is quite beyond her power." + +"Don't you remember you told me all that long ago? Is it not +conceivable that for other reasons I might wish to influence that +unhappy woman, who is so near death, and who is so unprepared to meet +it? What is her wealth to me, who am not permitted to possess aught +beyond the necessaries of life? Why should I wish to influence her, +except to turn her thoughts to the God whom she must soon meet, and of +whom she knows nothing? And these poor neglected children! Brother +Cyprien, it is terrible to me to see you so indifferent to their highest +interests, and your own." + +"Let all that pass. What I wish to say is this--No influence that you +may bring to bear on her can possibly make any change in the arrangement +of her affairs. The guardians of her children's interests are already +chosen by my advice, and with her husband's consent, and they are such +men as will not please you. She might change them, it is true, but she +will not without my advice. You have already made her unhappy, I think. +It is cruel, and will avail you nothing. This is what I wish you to +understand." + +"I clearly understand. You will not see that it is only their good I +wish for. They have no religion. They are ignorant of the first +principles of truth. These young girls are neither fit for this world +nor the next. And St. Hubert's grandsons are losing the best years of +their life, under the foolish teaching of an ignorant woman." + +"That is your opinion," said Mr St. Cyr coldly. "Well, you are not +responsible, and need not interfere. No good can come of it to any one +concerned." + +But he had no fault to find with Miss Agnace when he saw her. She was +simple and affectionate, and as far as he could judge, faithful. She +was eager for the spiritual good of Mrs Vane and her children, and +prayed for them, and told them tales of the saints, and of miracles +performed by their relics even at the present day. She took the +children with her to mass, on high days and holidays, and evidently had +full faith in the success of her efforts in their behalf at last. But +of all this Mr St. Cyr had no fear. Indeed, he might have rejoiced +over the prospect of the spiritual change, for which Sister Agnace and +his brother were so anxious, in poor Mrs Vane and her children, +provided it were a real change, and that no wrong influence were brought +to bear upon them to bring it about. + +But though Mr St. Cyr was looked upon as a very religious man, he was +far more liberal in his opinions, and charitable in his judgments, than +the greater number of those who admired his devotion. It did not seem +impossible to him that beyond the pale of his own church there might be +truth and safety. He knew that Mr Vane was not a religious man. He +gave him no credit for religious motives, or even for conscientious +motives, in the care with which, in the education of his daughters, he +had tried to keep them away from Roman Catholic influence; and it would +have troubled him very little on his account that they should leave +their father's church. He would not have pitied him, but he would have +dreaded the pain to them, the discomfort which their father's anger +would bring upon them. + +But he was not anxious for them to change. They were good little +things, he thought, desirous to do right, and quite as likely to do +right by themselves as they would be under such guidance as a change +might involve,--such guidance, for instance, as that of his brother +Jerome. He did not wish to be hard on his brother, even in his +thoughts, but he did not trust him. He did not trust him, either as +regarded the means he might use to influence the delicate nervous mother +and her children towards a change of faith, or as regarded the end he +had in view in desiring such a change. + +He cared for their souls, doubtless, and believed them to be in danger, +but he cared for something else more. He knew that he coveted some part +of the wealth that Mr St. Hubert had left, and which had been +accumulating since his death, for his own purposes; that is, for the +purposes of the Church; and he feared that he would not be scrupulous as +to the means he made use of to obtain it. + +So he went oftener to see them than he had been accustomed to do, and +assured himself of the good faith of Miss Agnace, and listened to the +earnest talk of the sisters, and sometimes even to the reading of the +Bible. He was amused sometimes, but oftener he was moved and +interested, and in his heart prayed to Him whom he believed to be the +God of all who sincerely sought to serve and honour Him, that He might +guard, and guide, and keep safe from all evil, these children whom he +was learning to love so well. + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +September was not a pleasant month this year. There were not the usual +clear, bright days, all the lovelier and more enjoyable that the frost +in the morning air, and a tinge of brilliant colour here and there among +the trees, gave warning that there could not be many more of them in the +season. They were hot, oppressive days. The air was close, and the sky +was hidden by a thick haze, which told of the coming of a storm. + +It was no wonder, the children said, that their mother was worse than +usual. Every one felt dull, and languid, and out of sorts. They would +all feel better when the rain which had been gathering so many days +should come, and it could not be long now. This was what Frederica said +to her sister, Mrs Brandon, when she came to see them after her return +from the seaside, where she had passed the summer. Mrs Brandon +assented, and regretted for baby's sake that she had returned home so +soon. She regretted it for another reason. She did not know how to +tell the business that had brought her to them that day. Their father +had decided not to return home till spring, and had written to her to +say that there would be an opportunity for Fred to travel with a Mrs +Bury, who was about to return to England, and he wished her to hasten +her preparations. Mrs Brandon was to tell Mrs Vane of the change of +plan, and to help Fred in all necessary arrangements. + +She did not like the task he had assigned her, and she liked it less +when she saw the mother and her daughters together. She could not but +feel that her father was exposing himself to remark--nay, to just +censure--by remaining away so long in the circumstances of his family; +and she felt the greatest unwillingness to say a word to Fred about +leaving home. But Fred did not even take the matter into consideration. +She dismissed the subject with a single word. + +"I'm not going," said she quietly. But an angry spot burned on her +cheek. She would not say to Mrs Brandon, or even to Selina, that she +thought it unkind of their father to ask such a thing--more than unkind +to remain longer away. She checked the hasty words of blame that rose +to. Tessie's lips in Caroline's presence. But she was grieved and +vexed too. + +"I am not going," said she, "and nobody must tell mama that papa, wished +it. He ought to know that--" + +She stopped suddenly, not sure of her voice. + +"She has been ill so long," said Mrs Brandon. "I suppose papa thinks +she is as she always has been, now a little better, now worse. He +thinks you are over-anxious, and I am afraid he does not understand. +What does Dr Gerard say?" + +"If you were to tell him, Caroline, he might understand," said Selina. +"Will you not write and tell him how we all want him home?" + +"I will write certainly, and I will also see Mrs Bury. It would make +you too unhappy to leave now, though I trust your mother is not really +worse." + +"Thank you. No, I could not go now. Even Mr St. Cyr is ill, and they +have no one but me--" said Fred, speaking with difficulty. + +"My darling," said Mrs Brandon, moved to unwonted tenderness by the +sight of Frederica's tears, "you are not to be discouraged. Remember +how often your mother has been worse than she is now; and papa will be +sure to come when I write and tell him how much you all want him. And, +dear, if you break down, what will become of the rest?" + +"I am not going to break down," said Fred, swallowing her tears, and +trying to smile. "Be sure and bring baby next time, and hasten now, for +the rain is near. Good-bye?" + +She went to the gate, and stood looking after the carriage for a minute +or two. Then, instead of going into the house, she walked round the +garden several times, telling herself that there was no one but her to +care for the rest, and that she must be strong and not discouraged for +their sake. But for the moment she was utterly discouraged and afraid. + +Though it was still early in the afternoon, it had grown very dark, and +there was first the silence, and then the low sighing of the wind among +the trees, that tells of the near approach of a storm; and the sudden +recollection that her little brothers had not returned from their walk +hastened Frederica's footsteps again to the gate. A few large drops of +rain fell before she reached it, and as she looked out a cloud of dust +and leaves came whirling down the street, and a strong gust of wind made +it necessary for her to cling for a moment to the gate, lest she should +be thrown down. + +There was nothing to be seen of her brothers; but, fighting against the +wind, and shielding his eyes from the clouds of dust which it bore, came +a slender bowed figure that made her forget them. For just a moment she +thought it was Mr St. Cyr, but even before he came near, she saw it was +not he, but an older man. His hair was snowy white, and he walked with +a great effort, bowing his head low to meet the blast. Opposite the +gate, a sudden gust nearly overthrew him. He let fall a book which he +carried in his hand, and in stooping to recover it his cane slipped from +his grasp. Frederica sprang forward to lift it for him; and when she +met the sweet, grave smile that thanked her, she quite forgot that the +face was the face of a stranger. + +"Come in," said she eagerly. "You are not strong enough to meet this +terrible wind. And see, the rain has begun to fall already. Come in +and rest." + +"I shall be glad to rest," said the stranger; and so, at Frederica's +bidding, there passed over their threshold an angel unawares. + +The brothers came home with a run and a shout, only in time to escape +the rain that soon fell in torrents. In the house it grew as dark as +night for a little while, and then the lightning flashed, and the +thunder broke over the roof with a peal that seemed to shake the +foundations. The servants of the house, awed and anxious, flocked into +the hall where the stranger sat, and where the children had gathered. +Their mother was there too, trembling and white with nervous terror. +For a minute or two the lightning flashed and the thunder rolled +continuously, and for a time not a word was spoken. Then that cloud +passed, and it grew light. + +"You are not afraid," said Hubert, looking up into the face of the +stranger. + +"No," said he gently, "I have no cause." + +"But we are afraid, except Selina," said the boy, looking round on the +terrified faces. "Selina does not see the lightning. But why are not +you afraid?" + +"`God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present Help in trouble. +Therefore shall not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the +mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.' No, I am not afraid." + +"But the lightning might kill you." + +"Yes, it might kill me." + +"And yet you are not afraid! Why are you not afraid?" + +"Because I hope--yes, I believe, that when death shall come to me, it +will be as God's messenger, not to hurt, but to take me beyond all reach +of hurt for ever and for ever. Truly, my little lad, death is the last +thing of which one whom God loves need be afraid." + +Another cloud was passing, and Hubert's face was hidden in his sister's +lap as once more the thunder broke over them. But the worst of the +storm was over. There were now longer pauses between the gradually +receding peals, and in the silence of one of them Selina asked softly,-- + +"Frederica, who is he that is not afraid of death?" + +And Frederica answered in the same tone, "One whom God loves, he says." + +"And surely He loves us all." + +Gradually the storm passed over. The servants went away to their +duties, and Miss Agnace took the little boys to change their coats, +which she only now discovered were quite wet. The girls helped their +mother into her room again, and Tessie opened the window. There were +clouds heavy and dark still in the sky, but beyond the clouds there was +brightness, and the cool sweet air brought refreshment to them all. The +stranger stood on the threshold, regarding with grave, compassionate +eyes the group which the mother and daughters made. + +"Mama," said Frederica, answering her mother's look of surprise, "I +brought him in because of the rain." + +"Who is it?" said Selina eagerly. "Is it he whom God loves, and who has +no cause to be afraid of death? Frederica, ask him why he is not +afraid. And does not God love us all?" + +"God is our Father. Truly He loves all His children." + +Drawn by his voice, Selina approached, and took in both hers his +outstretched hand. Not once in a hundred times did the blind girl seek +to get by the sense of touch a knowledge of strangers. But now she +gently passed her hand over his, and over his face, and his soft white +hair; and then she drew him gently into the room, and over towards her +mother's chair. + +"Come and tell mama why you are not afraid." + +"Because `God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, +that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting +life.' No one need fear death, who has the promise of life +everlasting." + +"No," said Selina. "And have you that promise? And is it for us too? +for mama, and all of us?" + +For answer, the old man repeated the text again, "God so loved the +world," and so on to the end. + +"It is the world He loves; and the promise is to whosoever believeth." + +"Do you hear, mama? It says, `Whosoever believeth.' Are you listening, +mama?" said Selina eagerly. + +"My darling, I know not what to believe, or what to do," said Mrs Vane +sadly. "I have never in all my life thought about these things." + +"No," said Selina, turning her eager face towards the stranger. "We +have never thought about these things. Could we begin now, do you +think? and what must we do?" + +Frederica and Tessie looked and listened in amazement. It was so unlike +Selina to have anything to say to a stranger. Their mother looked as +eager as she did, and very anxious; and she said, before the stranger +could reply,-- + +"Yes, the children might begin now. As for me, I can do nothing." + +"But," said the old man gently, "it does not say _do_, but believe." + +"Surely, mama, `Whosoever believeth.' And what are we to believe?" + +"The text says, `Whosoever believeth in Him'." + +"Yes--that is Jesus. And what are we to believe?" + +"All that the Bible says of Him. Have you heard about Him at all, my +child?" + +"Yes. In the New Testament. We believe all that. What is the first, +Fred? Oh! I remember: `Thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall +save His people from their sins.'" + +And Frederica added, "`And they shall call His name Emmanuel, which is, +being interpreted, God with us.'" + +"We are to believe that He saves His people from their sins," said +Selina. "Does that mean us too? Who are God's people?" + +"They who seek to know Him. They who love Him, and do His will. They +whom He loves and will save." + +There was a pause of some minutes; then Selina said,-- + +"We seek to know Him, and--I love Him. I do not know how to do His +will." + +"His will is written in His Word, and He Himself will teach you," said +the stranger. + +Then Tessie broke in flippantly,-- + +"But how are we to know? Some say one thing, and some another. Father +Jerome says it is the last thing we should do--to read the Bible for +ourselves. And how are we to know?" + +"But we do read it," said Frederica. "And there is no use in asking +what Mr Jerome St. Cyr would wish us to do." + +"But for my part, I think he is quite as likely to be right as those +others," said Tessie. "There are many more who are of his opinion than +of ours. And it would be a shocking thing to say that all the crowds of +people who go to his church are all wrong." + +"Hush, Tessie dear, and listen," said Selina. "Mama dear, are you very +tired? Would you like to hear more?" + +If Selina could have seen her mother's face, she would not have asked. + +"Tell us more!" said she. + +"Begin at the beginning," said Fred, and she read, "Now the birth of +Jesus Christ was on this wise." + +But the beginning was before that, he showed them. The beginning was +when, because of sin, man's need began--when the first promise was +given, and God said "that the woman's seed should bruise the head of the +serpent." He showed them how, the Divine law being broken, Divine +justice required satisfaction, and how One had said, "Lo! I come to do +Thy will, O God!" He went on from promise to promise, from prophecy to +prophecy, showing how all that went before was but a preparation for the +coming of Him who was promised, who was "to save His people from their +sins." + +Much that had been mysterious, even meaningless, in the things which +they had read--the sacrifices, the ceremonies, the prophecies--became +significant and beautiful as types of Him who was both sacrifice and +priest, dying that His people might live. The old man did not use many +words, and almost all of them were words with which the reading of the +Bible had made them familiar, but they came to them with new meaning and +power from his lips. + +He told them how the ages had been waiting for Him who was called +"Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the +Prince of Peace;" and how, "when the fulness of the time was come, God +sent forth His Son;" how "He bare our griefs, and carried our sorrows; +He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities; +the chastisement of our peace was on Him, and by His stripes we are +healed." + +He spoke to them of Him as the son of Mary, as the babe in Bethlehem, +and yet the Leader and Commander of His people. He reminded them how He +lived and suffered; how He spake wonderful words, and did wonderful +works; how He pitied, and taught, and healed the people; how He loved +them, and how He died for them at last. + +At last? No, that was not the last. He told them how the grave, that +had held in bonds all the generations that had passed away, had no power +to hold Him; how He had broken the chains of death, nay, had slain +death, and how He had ascended up to heaven, to be still the Priest of +His people, and their King. He told them that it was His delight to +pardon and receive sinners who came to Him; that He would not only +pardon and save from the punishment of sin, but take away the power of +sin over the heart; so that instead of loving it, and yielding to it, +sin would become hateful to the forgiven child of God, because God hated +it. He told them how God kept His people safe in the midst of a world +at enmity with Him, and how all things were theirs, because they were +Christ's; and how nothing, "neither life, nor death, nor things present, +nor things to come, can separate them from the love of God which is in +Christ Jesus our Lord." + +He told them that He was preparing a place for those who had loved Him, +and that Death--no longer an enemy--was to come as His messenger to take +them into His presence, there to dwell for evermore. And most +wonderful, all this was God's free gift. None were too sinful, or weak, +or wayward, to be saved by Him, who asked only to be trusted and loved +by those to whom He freely offered so much. Wonderful indeed, beyond +the power of words to utter. + +"Mama," said Selina, touching her mother's hand, "I think I see it now." + +The mother turned her eyes from the radiant face of the blind girl to +the face of the stranger again. + +"Will you trust Him?" asked he gently. "He is able and willing to +save." + +"May I?" said she eagerly; "I, who can do nothing? I, who have never in +all my life thought about these things? Ah! if it were possible!" + +"Believe it. It is true." + +"But is there nothing we must do?" said Frederica doubtfully. + +"There is nothing you need do to win His love. There is much you can do +to prove your love to Him. `If ye love me, keep my commandments,' He +said. And `we love Him because He first loved us.'" + +"And is there no good in all that Miss Agnace has told us?" said Tessie. +"Indeed, Fred, it is not that I wish to be disagreeable. But Miss +Agnace prays to the Virgin and to the saints, and she goes to +confession. She says that is the only right way, and you know Miss +Agnace is a good woman. And Mr Jerome--" + +Mrs Vane's eyes and Frederica's were turned on the stranger; and Miss +Agnace, who had been listening unseen, came forward at the sound of her +name. The old man looked gravely from one to the other, and said,-- + +"`He that believeth on the Son hath life.' Of Him it is said, `Neither +is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name given under +heaven among men, whereby we can be saved.' Of Him it is said, that He +`hath redeemed us not with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but +with His precious blood. Who His own self bore our sins in His own body +on the tree.' Of Him it is said, `In Whom we have redemption through +His blood, the forgiveness of sins.' Truly He is able to save to the +uttermost them that come unto Him by faith. They who put their trust in +Him need no other saviour. `Other foundation can no man lay, than is +laid down, which is Jesus Christ.' + +"This is God's truth, taught us in His Word. I do not desire to judge +those of whom you speak. It is through Christ, once offered for sins, +that they too can be saved." + +Mrs Vane made a movement to enjoin silence when Miss Agnace would have +spoken; and then the stranger, kneeling down, said, "Let us pray;" and +Mrs Vane and Selina for the first time heard the pouring out of a good +man's heart to God. What he asked for them need hardly be told: that +Christ might reveal Himself to them as one mighty to save; that He might +dwell in them by His Spirit, to make them holy and happy, and ready for +an entrance into "the inheritance which is incorruptible, and undefiled, +and which fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for those who love Him;" +that even _now_, believing in Him, they might have "joy unspeakable and +full of glory." + +Every heart went up with his as he prayed. Even Miss Agnace listened +and joined in supplication, wondering and moved. + +"And shall we never see you again?" said Frederica, as he took her +mother's hand to say farewell. + +"I cannot tell. I am only passing through the town, and but for the +storm I should have been already on the way. I shall never forget you." + +"I think God sent you to us," said Selina. + +Once more the blind girl touched softly his hand, and his face, and his +silver hair. Praying, "God bless all beneath this roof," he went away. + +But they never forgot him, nor the words he had spoken to them. + +For Selina after that there was neither doubt nor fear. The way which +God has opened for the return of sinners to Himself was clearly revealed +to her. She had much to learn yet, with regard to His will and His +dealings in providence; but this she knew and declared, "I love Him +because He first loved me." + +There were for her no anxious questionings, no groping in the dark, +after that. Day by day the light grew clearer and brighter to the eyes +of her soul, and she saw "wondrous things out of His law." She was at +peace, and with all the power of her loving and gentle nature she set +herself to help her mother toward the same peace. There was the daily +reading still, and daily also, kneeling by her mother's bed, Selina +asked for the blessing of peace to her mother's heart. And she did not +ask in vain. As the days went on the blessing came--God gave His own +answer of peace. + +Peace with God! That which all those weary years of sickness and +solitude this poor soul had needed came to her at last, and all was +changed. Her waiting for the end, that was slowly, but surely drawing +near, was peaceful, at times it was joyful. Even Miss Agnace saw the +change, and thanked God for it. Sister Magdalen saw it, and doubted its +reality and its sufficiency. But she was suffered to utter no word of +doubt in Mrs Vane's hearing. Indeed, she hardly wished to do so. + +"God may have ways of dealing with sinners of which we do not know," +said she, in answer to Miss Agnace's anxious looks, not knowing what to +say. + +"Yes, truly," said Miss Agnace to herself, with a sigh of relief and +comfort. + +It had come to her many times of late, that the dying mother's peace +must be from God, even though it had not come to her through the Church +or its ministers; but she had hardly dared to believe it possible. She +needed Sister Magdalen's confirming word, and took more comfort from it +than Sister Magdalen had meant it to convey. + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +Frederica was the least happy of them all at this time. They had heard +nothing as yet about Mr Vane's return; and, as must be the case in +every household at every changing season, there were many things to be +arranged, and some of them required a decision which Frederica was +neither old enough nor wise enough to exercise; and she was troubled in +various ways. She rejoiced in the new rest and peace that had come to +her mother and Selina, and said to herself often, that all the rest +mattered little, since it was well with them; but other things sometimes +pressed on her heavily. + +Tessie had grown impatient under the restraint of circumstances, and +also under the control which Frederica, not always with the best +judgment, sought to exercise over her for her good. She was wilful, and +sought the companionship of young people whom her sister did not Know, +or of whom she did not approve. Madame Precoe, who as Mrs Ascot had +been Tessie's pet aversion, invited her often; and she liked going there +better than to the house of her sister, Mrs Brandon, who did not ask +her very often. + +Her little brothers, too, were getting beyond her control. The lady who +had taught them daily for some years, being obliged, for family reasons, +to leave them, her place was not found easy to supply, and it was +decided that it was best to send them to school. Not to a day-school; +that would not have answered in the circumstances. They were sent to a +school which Mrs Brandon recommended, and which Frederica had heard her +father mention with favour. It was a small private school in the +village of T., at some distance from M. But the little lads went +willingly enough, eager as children usually are for change, and for a +time Frederica was quite at rest about them. + +All this time she could not avail herself of the doubtful help which the +telling of her troubles to Mr St. Cyr would have given her; for he was +ill. She went to see him more than once, but they would not let her in, +and Mr Jerome's grave looks and assurances that the sight of her old +friend would be no pleasure to her now, filled Frederica with sorrow, +and with a dread of what might happen to them all when Mr St. Cyr +should be no more. + +But over the sea there were coming, even then, tidings that made all +else seem of little moment to Frederica and them all. One mail brought +word that Mr Vane was coming home; but the next brought word that made +it doubtful whether he ever would come home again. At the first +reading, the tidings of evil seemed scarcely to admit of hope. Still +they tried to speak hopefully in their mother's presence, and none more +hopefully than Frederica. But enclosed in the letter of her English +brother, telling them of the accident and danger of her father, were a +few lines to Frederica written by his own hand, that left little room +for hope in her heart. + +"My darling," he wrote, "they will have no one but you. I cannot recall +the past. You must stand by your mother, and make her understand that I +would like Colonel Bentham to be appointed your guardian in my stead. +He is an honourable and upright man, and he is about to return to Canada +to remain; and I do not think Mr St. Cyr, who knows him well, will +object. Do not lose a day after you receive this. If I live, it need +make no difference. I trust to you, Frederica, in all things. Lose no +time. Oh, if I could only recall the past!" + +That was all. Not even his name was written after it. + +"Oh! papa! papa!" sobbed the girl, as she lay alone in the darkness. +"Shall I never see you any more? And how shall I ever tell mama?" + +Mrs Vane was at first only told that an accident had happened to her +husband, which would probably delay his return for a little while. He +had been thrown from his horse while riding. They could only wait for +another mail to hear more, and the first telling alarmed her less than +they had feared it might do. + +One good thing came out of this sad event to Tessie. Startled by +Frederica's giving way so utterly at the news of their father's danger, +and conscience-stricken at the knowledge that she had been disobeying +his known wishes all these weeks she at once proposed to return to Mrs +Glencairn's, and all agreed that there was no better thing for her to +do. So that anxiety was set at rest. + +To no one, not even to Mrs Brandon, did Frederica show her father's +letter. Moved by a fear which she could not put in words, she kept +secret the commission he had given her, and at the first moment that it +was possible for her to do so, took her way to Mr St. Cyr's house. She +had not seen him for a long time. He was not well enough to see any +one, she had always been told whenever she had called to enquire for +him, and yet she had heard by chance of others who had been allowed to +enter his room. Miss Agnace had been there, and Sister Magdalen; and +she had heard indirectly of his being able to transact business of +importance, and she went determined to see him, if it were possible to +do so. + +She entered the outer door with some one who was going into the office, +and went upstairs unquestioned. She opened one door, and then another, +and there sat Mr St. Cyr, looking ill and changed certainly, but with +his papers about him, not at all as though he were unequal to any work. +He greeted her with a pleased exclamation, and then playfully reproached +her with having forgotten him in his illness. + +"But I have been here often, Cousin Cyprien," said she, eagerly; "and +they would not let me come up to you. Did they not tell you? Mr +Jerome always said you were too ill to be disturbed. Are you better, +Cousin Cyprien?" + +"Yes, I am better. And did they let you come up now?" + +"I did not ask. I came up and opened the door. I left Mr Jerome at +our house." + +"Ah, my dear! I fear your trouble is beyond my power to remove this +time. I have heard of your father. Let us hope the accident to him was +not so serious as was feared." + +"It is very serious, I am afraid. But, Mr St. Cyr, you _can_ help me, +and him;" and she offered him her father's letter. + +"Is it so bad?" said he, when he had read it, and he said nothing more +for a long time. + +"I have not told mama yet," said Frederica. + +"Will you do as papa wishes, Cousin Cyprien? Is it necessary?" + +"Since he wishes it, the change may be made. It will be better." + +"But whoever may be appointed, you will always take care of mama and us +all?" + +"While I live, dear child, yes; so help me God. But I have had a +warning, too; and I must leave you in good hands. There is no time to +lose." + +No time was lost. The proper steps were at once taken, and the +necessary papers prepared in the shortest time possible. At some risk +to himself, Mr St. Cyr went to Mrs Vane's house, and the whole affair +was arranged to his satisfaction. It was all done during a temporary +absence of Mr Jerome from the city, and Mr St. Cyr did not see it +necessary to intimate to him that any change had been made in regard to +Mrs Vane's children. But one night Mr Jerome found on the table, +among other papers, one which he did not think it beneath him to glance +at--a paper properly drawn, and signed, and witnessed, by which Mrs +Vane and Mr St. Cyr had appointed three trustees, who were to have the +oversight of the property left to Mr St. Hubert's grandchildren till +they should come of age. But it was torn across. It was dated several +years back; and seeing it, Mr Jerome said to himself, "There is another +to be prepared." + +Strangely enough, it never occurred to him that this had been already +done. He did not speak to his brother about it; but he kept the matter +in his thoughts, and watched the course of events. It was a matter in +which he took much interest; and when his brother grew worse, and day +after day passed without anything being done or even said with regard to +it, he was surprised; but he was not sorry at the delay. He had by this +time become convinced that no influence of his could move Mr. St. Cyr in +the arrangement of the Vanes' affairs, and he wisely refrained from +attempting it. If trustees were not appointed for carrying out the will +of Mr St. Hubert in the manner specified by himself, there must still +be guardians appointed for the Vane children, should they be left +orphans, and it must be done by a power possibly more open to such +influence as his, and it would be far better to say no word to remind +his brother, but, let things take their course. He brooded over this in +his silent way, till something like a plan for changing all the future +relations of these children wrought itself out in his mind, and he +prepared himself, and, as far as he could venture to do so, endeavoured +to prepare others, to act on this plan when the right time should come. + +The next mail brought no good news from England. Colonel Bentham wrote +to Mrs Vane, telling her of her husband's wishes with regard to their +children, and saying that, should she see fit to name him as one of +their guardians, he would faithfully fulfil the duties of the trust. +This letter, through means of Miss Agnace, Mr Jerome read, and it +confirmed him in the opinion that nothing had been done to supply the +place of the legal document which had been destroyed. + +Frederica also received a letter from her sister Cecilia, who had +married Colonel Bentham's son. It was a very kind letter, but over it +Frederica shed many tears. It told her how her father longed for them +all; and the poor girl blamed herself that she had not obeyed his wish, +and gone home with Mrs Bury, so that she might have been with him now. +But for the sake of her mother and the rest, Frederica had done well to +stay at home. + +For every day made it more plain to them all that Mrs Vane's death was +near. Sorrowful days they were; but joy mingled with their sorrow; for +her peace flowed still and deep. + +She had never been a person of strong mind, and the training of her +early days had not been of a kind to strengthen her mentally or morally. +Out of the pain and weariness of these last years there had come no +strength, but a great longing for rest, and a fear, vague but horrible, +of death, and the unknown future beyond. + +And so the words of peace, spoken by the old man whom Frederica had +brought in for shelter, had come as a message from God to her soul. To +the trembling hope of a Saviour which it awakened she clung, as a child +in the dark clings to the unseen hand that holds it; and by-and-by, as +the light of truth grew clearer to her eyes, she knew the hand she held +was the hand of Jesus, strong and tender, with power to hold her safe +for ever, and then she was at rest. + +From the very first the light had been clear to Selina, and she was +never weary of telling the wondrous story of Christ's love and life and +death to her mother. Over and over daily, sometimes hourly, the same +words were repeated with patient, nay, with joyful iteration, and Selina +became God's messenger to her mother. He spake to the dying woman +through her child's voice; and peace, beyond all power of earthly things +to trouble, rested on her. In her state of weakness she was less +capable than ever of continued thought on any subject; but she saw +clearly, and held firmly to this, "He loved _me_, and gave Himself for +_me_" and His promise was made good to her, "My peace I leave with you." + +What strange, still, dream-like days they were which followed till the +end came! Frederica, standing, in her care for them all, a little apart +from her mother and sister, looked on with wonder. Selina was doing for +her mother all that she used to dream of doing. She was comforting, +sustaining, and showing her the way to heaven, which was drawing near. +She did not grudge Selina this joy. Far from that! Seeing their +mother's constant peace; seeing the sudden sweet gleams of something +that was more than peace that shone sometimes in the beautiful wasted +face, Frederica was ready to say that nothing else mattered much. In +the certainty of her mother's blessedness, she wished to forget--she did +forget at times--all else that could trouble her. + +"If only papa could come home," she said a hundred times a day to +herself. To her mother she spoke hopefully and cheerfully of his +return. The tidings that came mail by mail varied. Sometimes he was +better, and sometimes worse, and the time seemed long to them all. + +"We shall meet again," said his wife often; and once she added, "and we +shall not misunderstand or vex one another any more." But whether she +meant in this world or in heaven, her children did not know. + +So day after day they waited. Miss Agnace, strong, and gentle, and +patient, with watchful eyes and silent lips, went in and out among +them--an angel of help and kindness. To her, even more than to +Frederica, the change that had come over the dying woman was wonderful. + +"She is no longer the same," said she, in one of her many confidences to +Father Jerome. "They were reading about `a new creature' the other day. +That is what she has become. `Old things have passed away, all things +have become new.' I do not understand it. Is it well with her, think +you, father? If at the end you are with her, to lay hands on her and +touch her with the oil of blessing, do you not think it may be well with +her? It is Jesus on whom she relies. Is that enough, father?" + +"Let us wait until the end," said Father Jerome gravely, and to Sister +Agnace he would say no more. + +Nor did he say a word now to disturb the peace of the dying woman. He +could hardly have done so; for whenever he came he found one or both of +the girls sitting by her side, and they would suffer no word to be +uttered to trouble her. Indeed, he seemed to have no wish to utter any +such word, and he came but seldom as the end drew near. + +His brother was ill again, "failing fast," he told Frederica, when she +enquired. It was Mr Jerome who did for them all that Mr St. Cyr would +have done, had he been well. He sent for their brothers when their +mother grew worse. He was kind and thoughtful for them in many ways, +and said never a word to remind them that he believed them to be all +wrong, or that their mother, dying out of the true Church, was going to +no certainty of rest or happiness. + +Did he doubt it? Who can tell? He stood beside the dying bed in +wonder. "A new creature!" Yes, there was no better word for it than +that. She was changed. Instead of the fears, and cares, and anxious +questionings of former days, there was in her heart and in her face "the +peace that passeth understanding," "the joy unspeakable," which is +theirs whom God loves. + +"I am not afraid. `He loved me, and gave Himself for me,'" she said +with difficulty, as he stooped for a moment over her. + +Afraid! No. There was no shadow of fear on the radiant face turned +towards him, and in his heart, for the moment at least, he acknowledged +that she had no cause for fear. That there was need or room for any man +to come between this passing soul and the Saviour who loved her, whom +she loved, whom she hoped so soon to behold, could not surely be. It +was as though she already beheld Him, he could not but acknowledge. But +looking up, and meeting the gaze of Sister Agnace's asking eyes, he +spoke no such word to her. + +"Is she safe?" asked she eagerly. "Will you let her die unblessed of +the Church? and must she perish?" + +But he did not answer. + +"May God have mercy on us all," said he solemnly. + +"Amen!" said Miss Agnace, crossing herself. "Is it enough, I wonder? +`He loved us, and gave Himself for us.' `The blood of Jesus Christ His +Son cleanseth us from all sin.' That is what these children are always +saying to her and to one another. And surely she is cleansed and saved. +Ah, well! I will send at the very last for Father Jerome, and for +Sister Magdalen, and it will be well, let us hope. It ought to be +enough, the blood of Jesus Christ." + +But neither Father Jerome nor Sister Magdalen was with her at the end. +A very peaceful end to a troubled life it was. Her children were all +there, and Mr and Mrs Brandon. They thought her dying early in the +afternoon, but she revived again, and spoke to them all, and sent a +message to their father. + +"Tell him I shall be waiting for him till he comes. Are you here, +Frederica? Write it now beside me, that no time may be lost. Tell him, +`He loved us, and gave Himself for us.'" + +If she spoke after that, they did not catch the words. They waited on, +hour after hour, and so gently came the messenger, they scarce knew the +moment when she was called. + + "They thought her dying when she slept, + And sleeping when she died." + +Then "a change" came over the beautiful worn face. Tessie uttered a +startled cry, and Selina laid down her face on the hand growing cold in +hers, Frederica, taking a step toward the door, said, "Now I must go to +papa." But she would have fallen, had not Miss Agnace put her arm +around her. + +Then there were long, long days of waiting. Awed by the remembrance of +their mother's face, and the unwonted quiet of the house, the little +boys now and then broke into momentary tears, and Tessie gave way +sometimes, and cried bitterly. Selina comforted them all. She hardly +realised yet what had befallen her. She only thought that her mother +was at rest--that the weariness of earth was over, and the joy of heaven +begun, and she said to the others how blessed their mother was now, how +safe, and satisfied, and how she was waiting for them all there. +Frederica listened as the rest did, and watched with grave, attentive +eyes all that was done in preparation for the funeral, but she hardly +ever spoke a word. + +So Mrs Vane was carried away from the house where she was born, and +where she had lived all her life. Her little sons followed her to the +grave, but her daughters remained at home, as is the custom in M. among +people of their class. They sat silent in the room where their mother +had lain, refusing to leave it till their brothers came home. Mrs +Brandon was with them, and by-and-by Miss Agnace came and sat down by +the door. It grew dark, for the days were at the shortest, and it +seemed a long time before the little boys came home. + +"And now I must go to papa," said Frederica that night, before Mrs +Brandon went away. Mrs Brandon looked in perplexity at Miss Agnace, +who whispered,-- + +"Say nothing to-night. Look at her eyes and her changing colour. She +is not fit to be spoken to to-night. Poor child! There are weary days +before her." + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +Miss Agnace was right. The next day Frederica began with her own hands +the preparations for the voyage she was determined to make, and Miss +Agnace, going up in a little while to her room, found her lying on the +floor, among the garments she had gathered together, quite insensible. +She had come to the end of her strength now. For the next few weeks she +knew little of what was going on in the house. Except that Selina was +with her now, as well as Miss Agnace, the days passed very much as they +had done after her father went away. + +Tessie went willingly back to school, for Madame Precoe's presence in +the house was altogether distasteful to her. Madame had taken up her +abode with them, no one knew at whose request or suggestion. Her stay +gave pleasure to no one. Mrs Brandon was more than displeased, she was +indignant. But there was no one to whom appeal could be made. It was +to be presumed that Mr Jerome was carrying out the plans of Mr St. +Cyr, who was the proper person to act for Mrs Vane's children, and Mr +Jerome approved of Madame's residence with them. There was nothing to +be done therefore but to wait patiently till their father came home. + +The boys were sent to school again within a few days after their +mother's funeral. Mr Jerome took them away, saying that school was the +best place for them, and so no doubt it was. The boys went away +willingly, for their home was altogether changed now. + +For a good while Frederica was not sufficiently able to notice what was +going on about her, to be unhappy because of these things. Selina was +constantly saying to herself and her sister, that it would be well with +them, and they need not fear, and she believed it, and Frederica came to +believe it too. + +But whether it was to be well with them or not, Frederica knew there was +nothing she could do to help it. What a poor weak little creature she +felt herself to be! Even Selina, whom she had meant to care for and +comfort, was stronger than she--stronger and wiser, and more to be +relied on in a time of trouble; and she found it difficult sometimes not +to murmur at her weakness. + +She was very weak. The slightest exertion tired her. A word brought +tears to her eyes. She needed quite another kind of discipline than +that which she was getting at the hands of her sister and Miss Agnace, +Madame Precoe hinted to Mr Jerome, and she also hinted what sort of +discipline it ought to be. But either he did not agree with her, or had +not the power to put her plans in practice, for the girls were left +undisturbed together under Miss Agnace's care. + +"Selina," said Frederica one day, after a hint from Madame Precoe, "I +had forgotten how very disagreeable Mrs Ascot used to be. Her visit +has taken away all the good effect of Miss Agnace's medicine." + +"Don't be foolish, Fred dear," said her sister. + +"Oh! you did not see her face, or the horrible shrug of her shoulders. +You cannot know. Has she quite taken possession of us and the house. I +wonder what her beloved Precoe can do without her!" + +"Fred," said Selina, laughing, and kissing her, "you are almost your old +self again. It delights me to see you vexed with Prickly Polly." + +Frederica laughed, partly at the old nickname, and partly at Selina's +way of saying it; for French had always been Selina's language with her +mother, and she spoke English with an accent not at all like the rest. + +"But she is not `Prickly Polly' now. She is not easily offended as she +used to be. I have not tried certainly; but she has a grand and +satisfied air, as though she had but to speak to put things on a +pleasant footing--for herself at least." + +"You must rise, Fred, and sit on this chair. You are quite well, I am +sure. She was not ten minutes in the room, and you saw all that." + +"Oh! Selina," said Frederica, with a sigh, "it is very sad to think now +of the days when we were young and had no trouble." + +"But then, we are still rather young, are we not?" said Selina gravely. +"And if you remember, there never was a time when we were quite without +trouble. Always mama was ill, and there were other things sometimes." + +"Yes, that is true." + +"Mama will not suffer any more, and I am glad for her." + +But it was a tearful smile that bore witness to her gladness, and +Frederica broke into weeping as she looked at her sister's face. + +"Oh! Lena! Lena!" she gasped, "are we never to have her with us any +more? nor papa--" + +"Hush, Fred! Don't cry like that," said Selina, crying herself, but +more gently. "Think how well she is, and how satisfied. And papa may +come home; but I don't think he will: I think he will go to mama. He +has had all this long time to think, and to be sorry. And Jesus loves +him too. He gave Himself for _him_." + +"Oh! Lena! Lena!" was all that Frederica could say. + +"And, darling, think how glad mama will be! and nothing shall grieve +them any more. We shall be with them there; and you may go very soon, +for you are not strong." + +Frederica was startled by her sister's words. + +"No. I am not strong: but to die! Lena, I must not die. I must live +to take care of you all. Oh! what a foolish girl I am! As though I +could do anything!" and her tears fell fast as her sister tried to +soothe her. + +"And, Lena, I would not like to die yet, even to see mama. I am not +good like you." + +"Hush, dear. I think God will let you live to take care of us all. And +you are not to cry any more to-night. For indeed, except that you are +weak and tired, there is no cause." + +But Frederica was weak in body and mind, and cried herself to sleep, and +Miss Agnace saw with anxiety her flushed wet cheeks when she came in. + +"I almost wish she might have her desire, and go away to England," said +she as she stood looking at her. "She needs something to rouse and +interest her. But perhaps Madame's plan for her would be best." + +"What is her plan?" asked Selina quickly. "My child, Madame has given +me no authority to speak of any plan of hers. But I wish there could +come a change of some kind for this poor Miss Frederica." + +"She is better, and I don't know why Madame Precoe should take trouble +in making plans for us. What has she to do with us, or our plans?" + +"Nay, my child! It is not well to say anything in that voice and +manner. It is not like you. It will all be well, as you often say. +Why should you be afraid?" + +"Yes, it will be well," said Selina, and she thought so still, though +she felt that her sister's eyes were wet beneath her kiss. "We must +have patience a little while. It will all be well." + +"Yes, it will be well," said Miss Agnace, thinking how Father Jerome had +set himself to the work of saving these children. Yet she sighed, too; +for she had learned to love them dearly, and she longed that they should +be happy, as well as safe. If Father Jerome were permitted to have his +will as to their future life, she feared that suffering must come before +the happiness. She could not help them much, she knew, still she gave +them good counsel, repeated her little legends, and prayed earnestly to +Mary and the saints in their behalf. In her heart she believed it would +be well with them in the end, and in the meantime she longed to comfort +them and to teach them as well. So that night, as the young girls sat +in the darkening room a little sad and dreary, with the tears not very +far from the eyes of either of them, she said softly,-- + +"My children, do you never comfort yourselves and one another by praying +for your dear mother's soul?" + +Frederica looked at her in astonishment, not quite free from anger. + +"I do not understand you, Miss Agnace," said Selina gently. + +"It would soothe and comfort you, would it not, to feel that you might +still do something for your dear mama?" + +"We do what we think would please her by loving one another, and caring +for our brothers and Tessie. We can do nothing more," said Selina. + +"Ah! who knows?" said Miss Agnace. "It is dark beyond the grave." + +"The grave is dark, but beyond the grave is heaven. Do you know what is +said of it, Miss Agnace? `And the city had no need of the sun neither +of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and +the Lamb is the light thereof.' Frederica, read about it to Miss +Agnace." + +But Frederica made no movement. + +"Miss Agnace does not care for the Bible. Father Jerome is her Bible. +I am glad he is not mine," said Frederica contemptuously; for she was +not pleased with what Miss Agnace had said. Miss Agnace took no notice. + +"We know so little," said she. "But the Church teaches us that there +are purifying fires through which some, even some of the saints, have +had to pass to heaven. Every day I pray that if your dear mother is not +yet safe and happy, the time may be hastened." + +Frederica uttered an angry cry. + +"Nay, but I fear Father Jerome would say all that was wrong--to pray for +the soul of a heretic." + +"Fred dear, that is quite wrong," said Selina, but she was herself very +pale. "If you please, Miss Agnace will not speak of these things on +which we do not think alike. But, Frederica, it is foolish to be +angry." + +"But, my dear children, though we may keep silence, or forget, that will +change nothing. And the Church teaches no doctrine more clearly than +that some must enter heaven through purifying fires." + +"We will not talk about it," said Frederica. + +If they had talked all night about it, Miss Agnace could have said no +more. The Church taught the doctrine--none more plainly--and there were +examples enough, of which she could have told them. + +"No, we will speak no more," said Selina. "Only this, Miss Agnace. +There is a word which you believe as well as we: `The blood of Jesus +Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.' Now surely those who are +cleansed in this precious blood need no purifying fires. And there is +nothing else. The Book of God tells of no other way." + +"Yes, I know it is the blood of Jesus. Still the Church is clear in her +teaching, and it would do no harm to ask. It might comfort you, and who +knows--?" + +"It would be mockery; for we do not believe in it," said Frederica. + +"It would be wrong," said Selina. "It would dishonour the Lord Jesus. +He has done all for His people. He saves to the uttermost, He needs no +help from purifying fires. Could any one say, could even David have +said, `Yea, though I walk through the valley and shadow of death, I will +fear no evil, for Thou art with me,' if there had been any danger that +after all he might be left behind? And the old man told us, `Death is +swallowed up in victory.'" + +"The Bible is what we go by," said Frederica, "and we do not mind what +else is said." + +"But, dear child," said Miss Agnace, showing no anger, though +Frederica's manner might well have provoked it, "you have not read even +all the Bible carefully; and besides, how can children like you +interpret what is written there? Indeed, it is because I love you that +I speak of these things." + +"We know you love us," said Selina. "But there is only this to be said: +Jesus died that we might live for ever. This is for you, and for us, +and for all who believe on Him and love Him. All other words are vain." + +Nothing more was said; but that Miss Agnace was grieved and anxious +about them, they could plainly see. + +"Selina," said Frederica, when they were left alone, "did her words make +you afraid?" + +"No," said Selina slowly, "I am not afraid." + +"But how did you know how to answer her? I could only be angry. But we +will not speak about it. Oh, dear! I am so tired of Miss Agnace and +her teaching. I wish--" + +"But you like her better than Madame Precoe." + +"Much better, but why should we have either?" + +"I do not know. But now we have both, and there seems to be no one +else," said Selina, with a sigh. + +"Oh! if papa could only come! We should have no more of Madame Precoe, +or Father Jerome, or any of them. Everybody seems to have forsaken us." + +"No. A great many people have called. But you have been so ill--and +Madame does not care to have even Miss Robina come up. Oh! Fred dear, +if you were only quite well again?" + +"I shall be well, I am determined. I shall be equal to Madame Precoe +very soon." + +"I do not know why she is here. We do not need her more than we did +before. When you are well, you must ask Mr St. Cyr." + +"I shall be well I feel quite strong when I think of Madame Ascot +Precoe. And we can get Tessie home." + +"But that is not a very sure strength, I am afraid. And the best way +will be to wait patiently till papa comes home, or till--" + +Selina stopped suddenly, and Frederica, notwithstanding her boasted +strength, burst into tears. They felt very forlorn and friendless, +these young girls. There were many in M--who cared for them, and who +would gladly have come to them with help and counsel. But they seemed +to be under other guardianship. No offered kindness to them was well +received either by Mr Jerome St. Cyr, or by Madame Precoe. To the +young people themselves there was little chance of access, and those who +felt kindly towards them had no opportunity of showing their feelings. +Even Mrs Brandon was kept at home by the care of an infant daughter, +and no wonder that they began to feel their loneliness press sadly on +them. + +"We can have Tessie home for awhile. I will write a note to Miss +Robina, and she will let her come. Then she can read to us, and go out +in the sleigh with you." + +The note was written, and Tessie came home, well pleased to be made +useful, and they brightened up a little. Frederica grew better, and was +soon able to drive with her sisters. She made several attempts, more or +less successful, to let Madame Precoe see that she was not the mistress +of the house, nor even the housekeeper, as she once had been. She was +too well bred, and heeded too entirely the peacemaking suggestions of +Selina, to say or do anything to make her aware that she was not +altogether a welcome visitor. To all appearance Madame was quite +content with her ill-defined position in the house, and willing to be on +the best of terms with them all. Tessie took less pains than the rest +to be agreeable to her, but Madame would take no offence; and beyond a +suggestion, that it was not wise to have Tessie losing so much of her +time from school, she did not interfere with their arrangements with +regard to her. + +But though there was nothing to disturb the outward quiet of the time, +it was a time of trial to them all. There was in every one of them a +feeling that they were waiting for something--a sense of dread and +doubt, that went deeper than the fear that they might never see their +father again. Of that there was little hope. The tidings that came +from him varied with every mail, and did not become more hopeful. There +never had been much hope that he would be quite well, and now it seemed +doubtful whether he would be able to return home again; and gradually, +as the winter wore away, there fell on them a dread of what might follow +his death to them all. + +Mr St. Cyr was still an invalid, quite confined to the house. They +used to go round that way when they went to drive, and several times +Frederica had made an attempt to see him. But he was able to see no +one, she was always told: His brother seemed to have taken his place +with them, as far as the guidance of their affairs was concerned; but +they did not trust Mr Jerome as they had been taught to trust Mr St. +Cyr. He was kind in many ways, granting without hesitation almost all +the requests made to him, and refusing, when he was obliged to refuse, +in a way which ought not to have offended them. But it was not clear to +them, that he had a right to assume any guardianship or authority over +them, and they made one another unhappy, and sometimes angry, by +discussing his possible motives, and the designs he might have with +regard to them. + +If there had been nothing else, the stand he took with regard to Madame +Precoe's residence with them would have made them dislike him. He said +decidedly, when appealed to, that she must remain. A family of young +girls in their circumstances could not well be left without some +responsible person to take charge of them. There was no one so well +fitted for the position as Madame. Her former residence in the house +made this evident. Her society was not, it seemed, indispensable to the +happiness of Mr Precoe. At least, she could be spared, and was willing +to devote herself to their interests. What complaint had they against +her? + +They had no complaints, except that Tessie detested her, and Frederica +did not trust her; but neither the one nor the other could give any +satisfactory reason for the feelings entertained toward her, and she +remained. + +She had taken the affairs of the house into her own hands from the very +first. There were changes made in various respects. Old servants were +dismissed for reasons which commended themselves to her judgment and the +judgment of Mr Jerome, and she did not trouble the young ladies about +the matter. Still she was not unreasonable with regard to this, nor +arbitrary, as the priest took pains to point out to them. For when they +indignantly exclaimed against the dismissal of old Dixen, Madame +certainly did not look pleased, but she did not insist. Dixen still +kept his place in the house, and came and went at everybody's bidding, +but he was no longer permitted to drive the young ladies as he had +always done before. It was dangerous in the crowded streets, Madame +said, for Dixen was getting both deaf and blind, and his place was given +to one whom she considered in every way worthy of confidence. + +Madame did not trouble herself to answer expostulations or objections. +She did not resent Frederica's but half-concealed distrust, or Tessie's +open impertinence. Like every one else in the house, she seemed waiting +for something--"biding her time," as Tessie said, and knowing her as +they did, they were hardly to be blamed for looking forward with dread, +and for the determination, daily strengthening, to resist her influence +and interference when the time for change should come. + +Miss Agnace was with them still, but she was very grave and silent at +this time. Any day or hour she might be recalled to her hospital and +her sick people again, and she was sad at the thought of leaving the +children whom she had learned to love so well. But she was sad for +another reason too--a reason which ought _not_ to have troubled her. +This silent, patient, humble woman, who had long ago forgotten what it +was to have hopes, or fears, or wishes of her own, had her heart stirred +to its utmost depths for the sake of these orphan children. She was +afraid for them. And yet, why should she be afraid? Why should she +look forward with such dread to the change and separation that sooner or +later must come to them? Were they not to be in good keeping? Had not +Father Jerome given himself to the work of caring for their souls, of +bringing them into the true Church? thus ensuring their happiness, both +in this world and the next. They must suffer a little while, being +separated from each other; but with such good and gentle children the +struggle would not be long. Why should she fear for them? So blessed +an end would justify the use of any means, and who was she that she +should judge the actions of one like Father Jerome? + +But in spite of her confidence in the priest, in spite of her reasonings +and her indignation at herself because of her misgivings, she had +painful sinkings of heart for the children's sakes. Sometimes, as she +sat listening to their conversation, or watched Frederica writing to +their little brothers letters which would never reach them, because she +knew they must be given by her into Father Jerome's hands, to be read +and smiled at, and put into the fire, she had a feeling of pain and +shame which no confidence in the priest, no belief in the good work he +was to do in the saving of these children's souls, could quite put away. +She knew that, with the will of Father Jerome, the sisters would not +for years see their brothers again. She knew that into his plans for +them the entire separation of the sisters entered. It might be best for +them, she acknowledged, but it was very, very sad. + +The boys had not been sent back to the school from which they had been +brought at the time of their mother's death. They were in one of the +great Catholic schools of the city, where hundreds of boys of all ages +and classes were taught. It was a good school, Miss Agnace believed, +and they would be well taught and well disciplined, and where no evil +could befall them. It was the best place in the world for them, she was +sure. But she shrank with a feeling of pain and shame from the thought +that their sisters were being deceived with regard to them. And if it +was wrong for Father Jerome and Madame Precoe, what was it for her, whom +they loved and trusted, to deceive them? Many a painful question, which +she could not answer, came into Miss Agnace's thoughts during these days +of waiting--questions which she called sinful--but which she could +neither answer nor put quite away. + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +The winter wore slowly away. The snow was fast disappearing from +mountain and fields, and the streets were growing dirty and uneven, as, +under the influence of the sun in the lengthening days of March, the ice +began to yield, and an early spring was anticipated. + +Except for the sunshine, which is usually bright, this is not a pleasant +time of the year in the city of M--. It is a time for high winds, and +the streets are rough when the frost is strong, and very wet and +slippery when the thaw sets in; and people who are not obliged to go +out, usually keep within doors for a week or two, till the season +advances, and the streets are cleared. But when, as happens in most +seasons, a heavy fall of snow comes to restore for a day the reign of +winter, few fail to avail themselves of the opportunity to renew the +winter's chief enjoyment. Sleigh bells tinkle merrily, and the streets +are full of gay equipages gliding smoothly and noiselessly to and fro. + +Such a day came after a week of alternate rain and wind and sleet, and +the sisters gladly found themselves speeding away from home and from the +city streets. The fresh air, the sunshine, and the rapid motion had an +exhilarating effect upon their spirits after the confinement of the last +few days, and the burden of doubt and dread that had fallen on them grew +lighter. The last English letter had been less discouraging than the +former ones; Frederica was growing better and stronger, and they were +more cheerful and lively than they had been for a long time. Neither +Madame Precoe nor Miss Agnace was with them, and they amused themselves +with making plans as to what they were to do when their father came +home. For a long time it had been, "If papa comes home," but to-day +they said cheerfully, "When papa comes home." + +"Oh, how glad papa will be to see us all again!" said Frederica. "And, +Lena and Tessie, I think he must have changed in some things." + +"He will be glad to get home, I am sure; but as to his being changed--I +don't know about that," said Tessie. + +"He has suffered so much," said Frederica; "and God sends suffering to +do people good. And besides, Cecilia's letters make me think so." + +"And his little letters to us," said Selina. + +"Oh! if he were only safe home with us again!" said Frederica. "This +has been such a long winter, and I am afraid to think of the summer +without papa or any one." + +"Any one! We have only too many people;" and Tessie went on to say +something not at all polite about Madame and Father Jerome, and they +were in danger of taking up their burden again as they came back to the +town. + +"Where are we?" asked Selina as the street noises told her they were +near home. + +"We are in M--Street, near where the tall poplars are. They are +building a new house, and the fence has fallen down, and there are a +great many sleighs passing along," said Frederica, as her manner was, +using her eyes for her sister's benefit; and then Tessie went on,-- + +"And here are school-boys, hundreds of them, I should think. Listen to +the noise as they pass. A shabby lot they are. The Brothers should +dress their boys in uniform--they would look much nicer. One would +think all the old clothes in the town had been collected for their +benefit." + +"Listen," said Selina suddenly, "Some one is calling Fred." + +They listened, but amid the jingling of bells and the trampling of feet +nothing was heard. + +"It was Charlie's voice. I am quite sure it was Charlie's voice," said +Selina. + +"But Lena dear, it is quite impossible," said Tessie. "Charlie is far +away." + +"It was Charlie's voice. First he called `Fred,' and then `Lena, +Lena.'" + +The horses' heads were turned, and they drove slowly along by the line +of boys. There was noise enough, laughing, talking, and exclaiming, but +no voice called `Fred' or `Lena.' When they had passed, they turned +again, and waited as the boys moved on, and both Fred and Tessie eagerly +scanned each face as it came near. There were all sorts of faces, dark +and fair, handsome and ugly, bright, eager, laughing faces, and faces +stupid, dull, and unhappy. But the face of Charlie was not among them. + +"It was Charlie's voice," said Selina, and nothing could move her from +that. + +They went home full of wonder and anxiety. They told Miss Agnace about +the voice that Selina had heard, but Miss Agnace said nothing. They +told Madame Precoe, when she came in, and she expressed more surprise +than she needed to have expressed, seeing she had already heard all +about the incident from Louis the coachman, as indeed, she generally +heard of the incidents, and even of the conversations, that attended +their drives, when she was not with them. + +By-and-by Mr Jerome came in, and he was interested too, but laughed a +little at Selina's fancy. + +"You were thinking of your brother, and imagined the voice," said he. + +Selina said nothing. + +"Or rather, you heard many voices, and the names were a fancy, or why +should not your sisters have heard them also? It is nothing to look so +grave about, my child." + +"It was Charlie's voice," said Selina. + +"And we were not thinking of our brothers, but looking and talking. And +Selina hears much more readily than we do," said Tessie. + +Frederica said nothing. She was not strong yet, and she was in that +nervous anxious state when nothing in the way of trouble seems +impossible, and she looked pale and unhappy. + +"Could we not go to the school and ask if Charlie was among the boys?" +said Tessie. + +"We could certainly do that," said Father Jerome, "if it would set your +minds at rest. Shall we go at once?" + +But Madame said the girls needed rest, and they must wait till +to-morrow, or at least till afternoon, and this was acquiesced in by +them all. + +Of course, when they went there, they found no Charlie. They found a +great many boys, who scanned them with sharp, attentive eyes, as they +passed down the long class-room. They heard them sing and do some of +their lessons, and they saw them file down to the long dining-hall to +their supper of dry bread and pease coffee. Then they went through +other long rooms, and through the great dormitory, where the little grey +beds stood close together in long rows, and where nothing else was seen. +They went up many stairs, and looked down on numberless city roofs, and +that was all. + +Everybody was polite and attentive, and thanked them for coming, and +asked them to come again. Then Madame Precoe and each of the girls put +a piece of money in the charity box that hung on the wall near the door, +and then they went away. + +That was all. Of course it had been very foolish in them to expect to +see their brother, Fred and Tessie said to one another as they walked +down the stairs; but when they came home and saw Selina's expectant +face, they looked at one another in doubt again. + +Madame sat with them that evening, and exerted herself to amuse them and +to withdraw their thoughts from their brother, and from Selina's foolish +fancy about the voice she had heard. Miss Agnace was rarely with them +when Madame was there, and when she went upstairs with them she would +not linger to talk with them as she sometimes did. + +"You are not to listen to them or speak about this foolish fancy, and +they will forget it," said Madame to her. "In a few days it will not +matter what they know. But in the meantime they might complicate +matters by discussing their affairs with other people. And remember, +should any one call when I am out, the young ladies are engaged. And +should it be impossible to deny any one, remember you must know all that +may be said." + +Miss Agnace assented silently. + +"And when you go as usual to Mr St. Cyr's, remember you are to say +nothing of this foolish fancy of Miss Selina's. He could do nothing, +even if he understood; and they will soon be out of his hands, and the +sooner the better for all concerned. You understand what I wish, do you +not?" + +Again Miss Agnace assented in silence. She was by no means sure how all +this would seem to her, when she should have time to think it over, but +there was nothing to be said. She was not bound to obey blindly Madame +Precoe's commands, except as they expressed the will of Father Jerome +also; and in the single moment in which she permitted herself to +question, a great many unhappy thoughts rushed into her mind. And they +would not be put away, even when it became clear to her that for the +plans with regard to the future of these children, and all that they +involved, Father Jerome was responsible. Madame Precoe was but an +instrument in his hands, as she herself was. Father Jerome must not be +accused of doing wrong--at least, the end he had in view was right, and +that ought to be enough. + +Ought it to be enough? Poor Sister Agnace had never been in the habit +of deciding between right and wrong for herself, and she was sadly +puzzled now. It was such a pity, she thought, that it was necessary to +deceive these children for their good. There would be strong resistance +on their part, she began to fear, to the power that was shaping their +fate. + +"And they will suffer. Oh! how they will suffer?" said the poor anxious +creature to herself. "But it is for their souls' sake, and their +suffering will only be for this world; and surely, Mary and the saints +will soften their trouble, poor darlings! Father Jerome must, of +course, be right. But it hurts me to deceive them, because they love me +a little, and trust me." + +She went that night to pay her usual monthly visit to Mr St. Cyr. She +answered his questions. She told him no lie, but she kept silence, as +Madame had bidden her, about all that could have awakened the anxiety of +their friend and guardian on their account. Unintentionally she made +him aware that Madame Precoe was living with them; but he said nothing. + +He thanked Miss Agnace for her care of the girls and their mother, and +for her love and faithfulness to them, and expressed a hope that as long +as they should need her, she might be permitted to remain with them. +Poor Miss Agnace! She went into a church on her way home, and knelt for +a long hour or two in the cold and darkness, but she carried still her +burden of doubt and care when she went away. + +A few more weeks passed away. Frederica said nothing now about going to +her father, for they were not without hope that when the spring came he +might return home. He longed very much to come, they knew, and they +permitted themselves to hope, almost to believe, that they would see him +again, and waited for his coning with what patience they could command. + +Tessie went to school again after the Easter holidays, and they missed +her sadly. But they both strove conscientiously, not only to be +patient, but to be happy, in the great lonely house that had so changed +to them. But waiting is weary work to young and eager hearts, and time +passed slowly. + +The day for Tessie's first visit came, and they amused themselves making +preparations for her entertainment. But hour after hour passed, and she +did not appear. Instead of Tessie, came Madame with her work-basket in +her hand, and with the evident intention of remaining. It was not a +pleasant prospect, and it is to be feared they were not quite able to +hide their discomfort under it. + +"Frederica," said Madame, "pray do not be so restless--so unsettled. +You had much better take your work, and be content to sit still." But +Frederica could settle to nothing till Tessie came. + +"Expect Tessie? Nay, you need not do that Tessie is not coming home." + +"Excuse me, Madame, but it was certainly to-day that we agreed on for +her visit, and Miss Glencairn will be sure to allow her." + +"But unfortunately it is not a question of Miss Glencairn's kindness. +It has long been evident that Miss Tessie has got beyond Miss Glencairn +and her little attempts at education; and she has been sent elsewhere-- +to the ladies of the Sacred Heart, where you all should have been sent +long ago. I have no doubt she will be quite happy there. She will, at +all events, be judiciously dealt with." + +Astonishment kept the sisters silent, and Madame went on-- + +"A most necessary and important step, I consider it. It is only to be +regretted that so much time has been lost." + +Frederica so trembled with indignation, that she could not speak. +Selina made a movement toward her, and holding her hand firmly, said,-- + +"Remember, Fred, nothing can really harm Tessie, or any of us. And, +Madame, you will excuse us from discussing this matter with _you_. It +is painful to us, and it cannot concern you." + +"Except as I approve of it entirely. You do me injustice. I take the +greatest possible interest in this matter, and in you." + +"And who took the responsibility to advise such a step?" asked +Frederica. "Does Mr St. Cyr know it? What do you suppose papa will +say?" + +"I advised it, and Mr Jerome St. Cyr saw the propriety of it. Mr St. +Cyr is in no state of health to say anything about such a matter. As +for Mr Vane--" added Madame, and paused, with a look that sent a chill +to the girls' hearts. There had no letter come to them by the last +mail. + +"What of papa?" said Selina, "Have you heard anything that we do not +know?" + +"As to this affair of Tessie? No, I have heard nothing. Should he ever +return, he will doubtless recall her, unless she should wish to remain. +I dare say she is quite happy there by this time." + +"Fred, love, do not let us vex ourselves. Tessie is at least quite safe +there. But, Madame, why was it thought necessary to conceal her going +there from us? Why did you deceive us?" + +"Nay, you forget--I have nothing to do in this affair. I suppose Father +Jerome feared that you might make yourselves unhappy. It was for your +sakes that his intentions were not explained to you. Now that your +sister is there, you must acknowledge that the convent is quite the best +place for her. At all events, no change will be made now." + +Frederica was sick at heart. If she were to utter the angry words that +rose to her lips, she knew it would do no good. She knew not what to +do. + +"Fortunately, here comes Father Jerome; you may discuss the matter with +him, and I will leave you;" and Madame rose to leave the room. + +"At this moment it would not be agreeable to us," said Selina. "He has +deceived us, and we decline to see him just now." + +"What right has he to intermeddle in our affairs?" burst in Frederica; +"a man whom neither our father nor mother ever trusted." + +Madame laughed. + +"It is as well to decline his visit at this moment. Later he will, I +think, make you understand his right to meddle in your affairs, and his +power to do so," said Madame, as she left the room. + +"Selina, what shall we do? Selina, I am beginning to be afraid." + +"But then you know, dear, nothing can really harm us. You read it +yesterday--`Who is he that can harm you, if ye be followers of that +which is good?'" + +"Oh! I don't remember, and that may not mean us. Selina, I am afraid." + +"But, Fred, love, it must mean us, I think. We must not let the promise +go, as though God would change. Read it, dear--to please me;" and she +put the Bible into her sister's hand. "And in another place it is said, +`All things shall work together for good to them that love God.' We +love Him, Fred. He has been very good to us." + +Frederica took the Bible and read,-- + +"`For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open +unto their prayers. But the face of the Lord is against them that do +evil. + +"`And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is +good?'" + +Selina's face grew bright as she listened. + +"Fred, love, why should we be afraid? It is wrong to be afraid." + +"Well," said Frederica, with a long breath, "I will not be afraid. I +think I am more angry than afraid." + +"But anger will not help us. Read what you read yesterday," said +Selina. + +Frederica read on to the end of the chapter, and then turned back to the +one before it, the second of First Peter. They could not have explained +all those beautiful and wonderful words--nay, they knew that most of +them they understood very imperfectly. But they could take comfort from +them, lingering over a verse here and there, and speaking to one another +words which might not have been very wise, but which were always +reverent and trustful. + +"It is `as new-born babes' that He speaks to us. And babes are neither +wise nor strong. But He cares for them all the same, and surely we +`have tasted that the Lord is gracious,'" said Selina. + +And so she went on to the end. It quieted them, and they went out to +the garden to get the good of the sunshine, not less cheerfully than +usual. The faces that the priest caught sight of as they passed were +brighter than he had seen them for a good while. + +"See, they have forgotten their troubles already," said he, smiling. +"You are mistaken in thinking they will resist. Sister Agnace is +mistaken in thinking they will suffer. They will yield to circumstances +and a strong will. From whom could they have inherited strength? +Neither from father nor mother." + +"Frederica is like the little Jewess her grandmother. She may have +inherited her strength," said Madame. "I wish you could have seen her +as I saw her a little while ago." + +"Ah, well! She has forgotten her anger already. See the little +butterfly flitting about in the garden. There is nothing to fear from +her." + +"I will send Sister Agnace to keep an eye on your butterfly. It is not +necessary that they should tell their affairs to old Dixen who is +there." + +She returned immediately. + +"Of what are you then afraid, if not of the `little Jewess'?" asked she. + +"There is nothing to fear. Everything is prospering beyond my hopes." + +"And your brother?" + +"He is better. But I do not think he will seriously object to the plans +I have in view for these children. Indeed, I have no plans for them. +That will be for those who are to be appointed as their guardians. I +hope to name these guardians. Cyprien may not agree with me, but still +I think it can be arranged to suit us both." + +"And are you sure that their mother and your brother did not appoint +them, even after you found the torn paper on your brother's table?" + +"It is impossible. If indeed there were any guardians legally +appointed, that might make the work I have set myself more difficult. +Other means would have to be used." + +"Ah, well! I doubt if ever you can make a nun of `the little Jewess,'" +said Madame. + +"Nothing is farther from my wish than to do that. Her sister shall be a +nun and a saint, and if by any miracle of science and skill her +blindness may be cured, it shall be so done, that even by that the +Church shall receive honour, and her power be extended and strengthened. +Your `little Jewess,' your `butterfly,' shall be allowed to shine in +society, and to take her fill of the pleasure she tasted last year. A +few years with the good sisters first will do much for her. When she is +properly submissive to those who have a right to direct her, she shall +have her own way. I am not afraid." + +"And her brothers: what are they to be?" + +"After ten, or even seven years with the good fathers, they shall choose +for themselves." + +"And if Mr Vane should return? It is not impossible." + +"It _is_ impossible. Mr Vane is dead." + +"Dead!" repeated Madame. Even she was shocked at the tidings, or the +suddenness of the announcement. + +"I have known it for a week. Cyprien does not know it yet, but all must +know it soon." + +"And have you come to tell these girls?" + +"No. They will probably have letters to-night,--the steamer has +arrived, I see,--and then no time must be lost. They must not have a +chance to talk over their affairs with all the world, who will come to +condole with them." + +"And will you not see them?" + +"You forget. They decline to see me," said the priest laughing. "I +hope to find them in better humour another time." + +Madame did not laugh. + +"It is not impossible that all your plans for them may be frustrated +after all," said she. + +"For the moment, it is not impossible. But I shall never, while I live, +give up the hope of making them and their wealth of use to the Church, +and when I die others will take up the work. There is nothing +impossible. They, or their children, or their children's children--and +their wealth must be ours." + +"There is only God Himself stronger than you and the Church, and these +children believe Him to be on their side." + +"They are but children," said the priest, but he frowned darkly at her +words, as he turned to go away. + +Madame sat still, looking after him in silence, Mr Jerome's tidings had +moved her more than she would have thought possible. She sat lost in +painful thoughts till Miss Agnace came in. She felt that she could not +yet meet the questioning eyes of these orphan girls. + +"I am going out," said she, rising hastily. "If any one calls, the +young ladies are not to be seen." + +She went out immediately and Miss Agnace did not follow her to say to +her what she had come to say. + +"It will keep. Perhaps she need not be told," said she to herself. + +It seemed that Miss Agnace had not been needed in the garden, or rather +the need for her was past, before she had been sent out. She met the +girls returning to the house. They were very quiet but there was some +restrained excitement in their manners, as she remembered afterwards. +They went to their own room, where she had supposed they both remained +till she went to tell them that luncheon was served. But only Selina +was there. Frederica had gone to see their sister Caroline, she told +Miss Agnace. + +"But my dear, should she not have asked permission, or at least have +said that she was going, or have taken the carriage. It is not well +that a young lady should go out alone, and she is not strong." + +"Of whom should she ask permission?" said Selina coldly. + +And so Miss Agnace had gone to let Madame know, as Madame expected her +to let her know everything that went on in the house. But she had not +waited to hear, and Frederica had been allowed to have her own way. + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +Madame Precoe's care in sending Sister Agnace into the garden because of +old Dixen, had been more needed than she supposed, but it came too late +to be of use. The old man had been busy near one of the walks as they +entered, and he had answered their greeting very briefly. But as he +stooped again he said hurriedly,-- + +"She thinks I am blind, but I can see her and the priest at the window +looking out. Go round to the other side behind the hedge, young ladies +dear, for I have something to tell you." + +He worked on for a little while after they had disappeared. He worked +his way along the walk till he was out of sight of the windows, then +coming close to them he said in a whisper, as though he feared to be +overheard,-- + +"I have seen the little lads. Mrs Hearn told me something that made me +think they were at the school with her boys. I never let on that it was +not all right, and I watched afterwards, and saw them walking with the +rest. But they do not always walk, and they are well watched." + +"I knew it was Charlie's voice," said Selina. + +"Oh! Lena! Oh! Dixen! What shall we do?" said Frederica, clasping +her hands. + +"Fred love! God will take care of them." But Selina herself grew pale. + +"And is it true that Miss Tessie was sent away to the convent without a +word to you two?" went on Dixen. "I'm sore feared that something must +have happened to the master, or they would never have dared to do that." + +"But it cannot be that, Dixen. For the boys must have been there a long +time. They were never sent back, I suppose," said Frederica. + +"And we have heard nothing from papa for a fortnight," said Selina. + +"It does not look well," said Dixen. "But, children dear, you are not +to fret. The boys are safe enough. No harm can come to them. We are +living in the Queen's dominions, thank God, and evil things can only be +done in secret. And, Miss Fred dear, you should go to Mrs Brandon, and +tell her about Miss Tessie and the little lads. And somebody that is +wise in the law should be told. I would have gone myself, but nobody +would heed such a story from the like of me. I am sore feared that no +good is meant to you all. And the priests are everywhere, and have the +means of making men do their will, that we know nothing of. Only here +they must keep things quieter than in some places. But don't let them +smuggle you all off without a word. They will tell you it is your souls +they would save, but it is your grandfather's money they want as well. +And here is that soft-spoken nun coming to hear what I may be saying. +Be sure you go to your sister this very day." + +In his increasing excitement the old man used some words that are not +put down, and he went muttering to himself away. + +"Here is Miss Agnace," said Frederica. + +"We must be very quiet, and let her see nothing. Let us walk round the +other way to the house," said Selina. + +"And I will go to Caroline. Anything is better than to sit still and +think about it," said Frederica excitedly. + +They walked very quietly into the house, and went to their room. + +"I will go at once, as Dixen said," and Frederica's preparations were +soon made. + +The room where Madame and the priest were sitting looked back upon the +garden, so she got away without being seen. She had gone but a few +steps, when she heard Dixen's voice behind her. + +"You are but weakly yet, Miss Frederica," said he, when she waited for +him, "and I will come with you. Just you go on without heeding me. I +will keep in sight. Can you walk all the way, think you?" + +Frederica was doubtful about it. She was excited, and trembling, hot +and cold by turns. She was not very hopeful as to any help she could +get from her sister. She was ill, and her husband was cautious, and not +easily moved, and above all averse to interfere in matters where his +right to do so was not acknowledged. + +"And he will say it is Mr St. Cyr that is doing all this--and it is not +impossible," said Frederica, with a new pang of terror. "But I don't +think he would deceive us. I will go to the school myself. I will take +them by surprise, and they will not have time to hide them as they must +have done before, and I will take them away." + +It was not a very wise idea. Dixen shook his head, but Frederica +persisted, and the old man followed her up the street. But before they +had gone far they heard the hum of many voices, and the long line of +boys came in sight. Frederica turned into a doorway, and waited till +they passed, scanning each face eagerly. They were for the most part +bigger boys than her brothers. She looked in vain for the face of +either of them, and stood gazing blankly after the long line as it +passed down the street. The gate stood open, and she went and looked +in. The side door stood open also. + +"Dixen," said she hurriedly, "I am going in. They cannot do me any +harm, and I may see Charlie, or little Hubert." + +But this seemed a dreadful thing to Dixen. + +"Miss Frederica, I cannot think it would be well to go. No one knows +what might happen," said he in distress. + +"I am not afraid, Dixen. Yes, I am a little afraid. But I have prayed +to God, and so has Selina, and He will take care of me. Wait at the +corner; and if I don't come out in half an hour; you must tell some one, +and come for me." + +But she did not keep him half that time. She went slowly up the steps +and in at the door. She did not go forward into the wide hall as she +had done when they came with Father Jerome, but turned at once, and went +up a narrow stair, down which the sound of voices came. Still following +the sound, she came to a room where a score or two of little boys were +amusing themselves. They did not see her at first, and she stood +watching them for a little while. She did not see her brothers, but she +called softly several times,-- + +"Charlie! Hubert! are you here?" And as she spoke, a little hand +touched hers, and she turned to meet the wondering eyes of her youngest +brother. Without a word, she drew him outside of the room, and along +the passage toward the stairs. + +"Where is Charlie?" uttered she with difficulty. "No, we must not look +for him. I have one safe, and I can come again for Charlie." + +It does not sound possible that this should have happened, but it is +perfectly true. The stairs were passed, and the hall, and they ran +across the yard, and into the street, and no eye had seen them. At +least, no hand had stopped them. It would not have been easy to stop +them, Frederica thought; for her courage rose to the occasion the moment +she felt the touch of her little brother's hand. It was a happy thing +that no one tried. Dixen rubbed his eyes as they passed him without a +word, but he lost not a moment in following them. After they had +crossed a good many streets, they paused, and he overtook them. + +"Where shall we go? Not home. To Mrs Brandon's? Yes. And you must +go home and tell Selina. Go quickly, Dixen, before you are missed." + +In her haste she had not noticed the way she was taking. The streets +were not familiar to her and as she hurried on, hardly daring to speak +to her brother, or even to look at him, she became bewildered and +anxious, and her courage failed a little. + +"I am afraid Caroline will think I have been foolish. And they will be +sure to look in her house, as they will not find him at home. Oh! if I +only had a safe place in which to hide him for a few days!" + +She thought of Mr St. Cyr's house. But then she was not sure that +their old friend had remained true to them. And besides, he was ill, +and Father Jerome was often there, and the house was no place for +Hubert. + +"A safe place," repeated she, and then there came into her mind the +thought of Mistress Campbell and her garret, where there never entered a +creature, but Eppie herself. Without a moment's hesitation, she turned +her steps in the direction of Mrs Glencairn's house. + +"Hubert dear," said she coaxingly, "you will be very good, won't you, +and stay with Mistress Campbell till I know what I ought to do. No one +will think of looking for you there." + +"But are we not going home? Why should we not go home?" demanded +Hubert. + +"It is quite impossible to-night," said Fred firmly. "Father Jerome +would have you back at school again this very night. You cannot go +home." + +"Father Jerome? What has he to do with it? I don't know what you mean, +Fred." + +"Was it not he who took you there, when he should have taken you back to +your former school again?" + +No, Hubert thought not. He did not remember very well about it. But +Father Jerome had nothing to do with their going to school. But +Frederica had her doubts about it all the same, and hurried on. + +"But we cannot go home, because mama is not there, nor papa. But Madame +is there, and you may be sure she would not let you even stay one night, +but send you back at once, and they would be sure to punish you for +coming without leave." + +"It is you they ought to punish, Fred, I think," said Hubert. + +"Ah! wouldn't they. If they could! And tell me about about Charlie. +Where was he?" + +"But Hubert knew very little about his brother. They very seldom saw +each other. They were not in the same class." + +"And are they good to you? Are you glad to come away?" + +It was not so, bad as it might be. Still, Hubert was very glad to get +away. Some of the boys were not nice, and they had queer ways there. +But of his life there he had no complaint to make. In the midst of his +talk they reached Mrs Glencairn's house. They went round to the door +at the wing at which the pupils entered. They stumbled over a +scrubbing-brush and a pail of water at the open door, but they saw no +one; and went up till they reached the attic unseen. + +"Where are we going?" said Hubert, holding fast his sister's hand in the +dimness, of the little passage. "Into the spider's parlour, I think." + +"By no means," said Frederica, as she knocked. "We are going to see +Mistress Campbell; who used to be so good to Tessie and me when we were +at school. And you must not look surprised at anything you may see. +And, Hubert dear, you will be a good boy, won't you?" + +"Oh, yes, of course. Why should I not be good?" said Hubert +impatiently. + +"Eh, Missy! is this you?" exclaimed the old woman, holding up her hands +in astonishment. "And this is your wee brother?--a bonny laddie, but--" + +Mistress Campbell could not finish her sentence; for, excited and tired +beyond her strength, Frederica burst into tears. + +"My bairn! what is it?" said Eppie. "To think of my folly in speiring +that I after all that has come to you and yours, since we saw you here. +But, my dear, you have no cause to grieve--for your mama--" + +Frederica put up her hand to stop her. + +"No--I am glad for mama--but--I am frightened--and tired." + +"Sit down and rest you, my bairn," said her old friend tenderly. "Go +away yonder to your window, and I'll make acquaintance with your brother +here--a fine lad he is." + +Hubert, though a little startled at the sight of Frederica's tears, had +never taken his eyes from the small brown wrinkled face of the old +woman, and he met her look with an undisguised curiosity and wonder that +amused her. + +"Your wee brother, did I say? No, this must be the elder of the two-- +and a fine well-grown lad he is," said Mistress Campbell admiringly. + +"No, Charlie is bigger than I am," said Hubert gravely. + +"Dear me! I ay thought Miss Frederica's brothers were but wee boys; but +you have had time to grow, it's true, since I have been in the way of +hearing about you. You're near hand as big as Miss Frederica herself." + +This was not saying very much, but it won the good-will of Hubert, +whether she meant it to do so or not. And some interesting confidences +followed on his part, in the midst of which his sister found him, when +she recovered herself. + +"And you'll bide to your tea with me," said Mistress Campbell. "I'm +sore failed since you were here, Miss Frederica, but I am not altogether +helpless yet. So you'll bide still a wee while." + +But Frederica was not sure that they ought to stay. + +"First, I must tell you why we came," said she. + +She told the story hurriedly, and it was doubtful whether Mrs Campbell +followed her closely through it all. She understood, however, that Miss +Tessie had been "spirited away," as she called it, and that from some +dread mysterious fate Frederica had courageously rescued her little +brother, and that in some way she was relied on for help. + +"But I thought the days for such things were long past, and that they +only whiles happen in books," said he wondering. "But dear! dear! What +is the like o' me to ken about what is going on in the world? And one +has but to look out, first at one window and then another, at the great +buildings that are rising up on every hand, to be sure that the `scarlet +woman' has this for a favoured abiding-place. And I doubt she's no' +much changed since the old days, though her hands are a wee tied. And +you rescued your brother, did you? 'Deed you're a brave lassie." + +But Hubert had no idea of being looked on as rescued. + +"If I had known you cared about it, Fred, I could have run away any +time--I could have done it quite easily." + +"I'm no' just so sure o' that," said Mistress Campbell gravely. "If +these long-coated gentry had a motive for keeping you, they wouldna have +let you go, or they would have had you back again." + +"Yes, and no one must know where he is," said Frederica anxiously. "I +could think of no other safe place to bring him to. And, Hubert dear, +if Mistress Campbell will have you, you will stay here quietly till I +can see Caroline and Mr Brandon, or till papa comes home." + +"There has nothing happened to your papa, has there? They're bold, +these folk, or they're sure o' their ground," said Mistress Campbell +gravely. + +"Dixen said that about papa. But we have had no more news. We had no +letter last mail." + +"Oh well! No news is good news, they say; and it's utter nonsense to +think that anything can really happen to harm you in a Christian country +like this." + +"And in the Queen's dominions, as Dixen said," echoed Frederica +hopefully. + +"And I'll keep the laddie safe, though the whole Inquisition were after +him. That's no' just the name they get here, I daresay; but I'll keep +the laddie, if he'll bide." + +"You cannot go home, Hubert dear; for Madame Precoe is there, and Father +Jerome; and though he is so smooth and pleasant, I do not trust him; +and, indeed, I don't know what to do. Will you stay, dear Hubert?" + +"Oh, yes, I'll stay, if you make a point of it. But there is no danger +for me," said Hubert loftily. + +"Did you like staying at the school, my lad? Were they good to you?" + +"At first I did not like it. Oh, yes, they were kind enough. They're a +rough lot, however, and I would not like to go back, since Fred objects +to it." + +The door opened, and Frederica uttered a cry. It was only Miss Robina, +however, not one of the servants, as she had feared. Of course there +were more exclamations, and the story was told again, but the part dwelt +on now was the taking away of Tessie from Mrs Glencairn's, and sending +her to the convent, without even telling her sisters. + +"We did not know it till this morning, and I was angry and frightened. +We could have done nothing, even if we had known. There is no one but +Mr Brandon who has a right to say anything, and he does not like to +interfere with Mr St. Cyr. But I think that has been done by Mr +Jerome and Madame Precoe, and not Mr St. Cyr. I should be in despair +if I thought Mr St. Cyr had turned against us." + +"Have they heard that Mr Vane is worse?" asked Miss Robina anxiously. + +Frederica turned pale: "They all ask that. Dear Miss Robina, do you +think he is really worse. What must we then do?" + +"My darling, don't be troubled. No harm can really come to you. It is +not to be believed. Have you seen Mr St. Cyr? He is a man of high +character. He will do nothing wrong--nothing unlawful, surely." + +"He has been ill. They thought him dying. I have not seen him for a +long time. Oh! if papa would only come home! No, I am not going to +cry. But I am tired, and--yes--I am afraid." + +"When had you your dinner?" asked Mistress Campbell gravely. Frederica +laughed. + +"I don't know; I don't think I had any." + +"And no wonder you are faint-hearted. Just you lie down and rest you, +and you will be another creature when you get your tea." + +But Frederica was too excited and anxious to rest. She enjoyed her tea, +however, and so did Hubert. He had evidently not been used to dainty +fare of late, and he yielded to Mistress Campbell's entreaties to eat, +with entire willingness and enjoyment Fred found her strength and +courage renewed when she rose to go. "I will come again soon, if I am +not carried away too," said she laughing. + +"My dear, it is no laughing matter," said Mistress Campbell gravely. +"May the Lord preserve you all?" + +"He will, Selina says. She is not afraid. Selina is better than I am," +said Fred humbly. + +"But then it's no' our deserts we are to lippen to. You'll be cared +for, never fear. He'll give His angels charge, and He'll no' leave it +altogether to them either. He'll raise some one up to take the orphan's +part." + +Miss Robina promised to come and see her soon, and bring her tidings of +Hubert, who was already so sound asleep, that he could not be awakened +to say good-bye; and somewhat reassured and comforted, Frederica went +away. + +But how lonely and friendless she felt, as she went down the familiar +street! By some association, which it would not have been easy to +trace, there came back to her the remembrance of their unexpected +holiday at Easter. Oh, how long it seemed, since these two happy +children had gone dancing down the street! How light-hearted they had +been! how fearless of all possible evil! + +At the corner of the street down which she and Tessie had run to avoid +the chance of meeting Mrs Ascot, she paused a moment. Could it be +possible that their old friend who had been so kind to them that day, +should have turned against them? She remembered how he had walked on +with them, and the promise he had made to help her if ever she were in +trouble. + +"And he did help me ever so many times. I cannot believe that he knows +all that is making us unhappy and afraid. I will go and see him now." + +In a minute she was standing on the steps that went down to the wide +door of the house. It was not open as she had found it once before, +when she came to him with her troubles. But when it opened at the sound +of the bell, she gave the servant no time to say as usual, that her +master could see no one; but passing her softly and quickly, sprang +upstairs like a bird. It was still quite light out of doors, but the +passage was dark, and so was the room into which she went. There was a +fire in the grate, however; and before she saw Mr St. Cyr, she saw his +shadow on the wall, and paused a moment to get breath. Then as she +heard a footstep at the door, she came forward. Mr St. Cyr must have +been asleep, she thought, for at first he looked at her in a wondering +way, as though he did not know her, and she therefore hastened to speak. + +"Are you better, Cousin Cyprien?" + +"It is not Theresa--is it?" said he, with little pauses between the +words, as though he did not find it easy to utter them. + +"Not Theresa, but Fred. Are you better, cousin?" + +"Ah! my little cousin--who comes to me--in her trouble--but who does not +come to me in mine." + +"I have been here often, but you were too ill to see me, they said +always. Are you better now?" + +"Yes--I am better, I think. Once they told me--I was dying--" He +paused. + +"And were you afraid, Cousin Cyprien?" said Frederica, looking with awe +into his changed face. + +"Was it fear that I felt? There was fear, and a thrill of something +that was not fear. Now--I said--I shall know the mystery of death--and +the beyond." + +"Cousin, mania was not afraid. Even at the last, when death was very +near, she was not afraid, because--" + +In her earnestness she had knelt down beside the old man; and now, as +her voice failed, she laid her face down on his knee. His trembling +right hand was laid on her head. + +"So--she has gone! She has solved the mystery." + +"Did you not know, Cousin Cyprien? Did not Mr Jerome tell you? He +feared to grieve you." + +"Doubtless--it was for that or for some other good reason. I am glad I +did not die." + +"But mama was not afraid, after she knew how Jesus loved us and came to +die for us." + +"Tell me of your mother, and the end." + +"She was not afraid," repeated Frederica. "Miss Agnace was afraid for +her, and Mr Jerome and Sister Magdalen came often, and told her many +things she ought to do. But she was never afraid, after the old man +told us how `the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all +sin.' It is in the Bible, you know, and God taught her, I think God and +Selina. And it is for us all--the blood of Jesus--for those who think +as Miss Agnace does, and you, and all of us. Selina will tell you. May +I bring Selina, Mr St. Cyr?" + +"Tell me about your mother," said he. + +Frederica told him about how afraid her mother had been, and how she +longed to know the way to heaven. And then she told how she had brought +the old man in from the storm, never thinking what wonderful things he +was to tell them, and how after that her mother was at rest. She told +him how she had grown weaker, so slowly that they could see no change in +her from day to day, and how calm and peaceful she was through all the +time. + +"Not even the thought of leaving us alone, when we feared papa was +dying, made her unhappy; for she said, `God will take care of my +children, against all who would do them harm.' And so He will," added +Frederica earnestly; and as she raised her eyes, they fell on the face +of Mr Jerome, standing in the shadow of the door. She rose hastily. + +"Must you go? Sit by me for a little while," said her old friend. + +The door closed softly, shutting out the priest, as she believed, and +Frederica sat down at the old man's feet again. + +"Does the time seem long, Cousin Cyprien?" asked she. + +"It seemed long in passing, but to look back on, it seems like a blank. +I must get strong again. Is your father dead too?" + +"Papa! Oh, no! He was better when we heard last, but it is a long time +now. You have not heard that papa is worse?" + +"I have heard nothing, and I can do nothing. Why have you come to-day? +Is it because of some new unhappiness? Madame Ascot is with you, I +hear. Are you unhappy, my child?" + +Frederica paused a moment before she answered. + +"Mama is gone, and papa, and sometimes we are afraid. But I did not +come because of Madame. I thought that you had forgotten us, and I came +to see. I am not afraid now that you are getting well." + +"Ah! we will trust so. And have you nothing to tell me?--no trouble to +be helped through?" + +"No," said Frederica thoughtfully. "I will wait till you are quite well +again, and then I will tell you all. And will you tell Babette that we +may come upstairs--Selina and I? I may bring Selina, may I not?" + +"By all means, and I will warn Babette, you may be sure. Must you go +how?" + +"It is growing dark, I think. Yes, I must go. So good night, Cousin +Cyprien." + +"Are you alone? My child, it is not well for you to be alone in the +street at this hour." + +"It was not dark when I came. It is only a little way. I am not +afraid." + +"Well, be sure and come again. Good night, my child." + +"I will see Miss Vane safely home, I have something to say to her," said +a voice from the darkness. Frederica with great difficulty suppressed a +cry as Mr Jerome stepped forward. + +"Is it you, my brother? Ah, well, she need not be in haste, though it +is growing dark. You will see her safely home." + +But Frederica bent hastily over Mr St. Cyr's hand. + +"Good night, Cousin Cyprien. I do not fear the dark," said she; "but I +do fear Mr Jerome," added she, in an undertone, as she sprang out of +the room and down the stairs. She sped along the street like one +pursued by an enemy. But Mr Jerome did not follow her across the +threshold. He lingered a moment, looking out after her, and then went +up through the darkness to his brother's room. + +"And so Theresa St. Hubert is gone!" said Mr St. Cyr, as he entered the +room, which was no longer dark. + +"Yes," said his brother; "she is gone, and so is her husband." + +"Dead! His daughter does not know." + +"No. Why tell her sooner than needful? He, at least, is no loss to his +children." + +"And yet they loved him, and they ought to know." + +"They will be told when the right time comes." + +"There will be much to do. There are many documents relating to their +affairs that must be looked over and arranged, and I have still so +little strength." + +"My strength is yours in their cause;" said Mr Jerome. + +"Brother," said Mr St. Cyr, "why did you not tell me of poor Theresa's +death?" + +"Did I not tell you? Did not Sister Agnace? You were too ill at that +time to be told, I suppose. Or you have forgotten. Your memory fails +you at times, I fear, my brother." + +"It may be," said Mr St. Cyr, after a moment's thought. "And yet I +think I should not have forgotten this." + +"There is no time to be lost in the settlement of their affairs, you +must see," said Jerome. + +"No, certainly." + +"There must be guardians appointed." + +"They are appointed." + +"In your illness, having to act for them, I examined such papers +relating to their affairs as I had access to. I found none having +reference to what was to follow the death of their mother. None entire, +I mean. Was there not to be some change? some new choice? I found some +torn morsels of paper, a cancelled instrument of some sort. It is quite +as well. The court will be happier in the selection of guardians than +that unhappy woman was." + +"There are guardians appointed!" repeated Mr St. Cyr. + +"You have forgotten. Your illness has impaired your memory. There was +to be a change of names. The former appointment was set aside. You +yourself must have had some knowledge of it. You have forgotten." + +Mr St. Cyr looked at his brother with a strange emotion visible in his +face. + +"My brother, you are not glad of my weakness, are you? Have patience +with me. I _am_ weak." + +"That is easily seen. Yes, I will be gentle with you, but I must be +faithful too: your weakness shall be helped and shielded by my +strength." + +"Yes, but not to-night. I am tired to-night," said Mr St. Cyr, leaning +back wearily in his chair. + +"You shall not be troubled. See, I have thought of the men whose names +are written here, and at an early day I shall see the judges as to their +legal appointment. And you shall not be troubled. If you are not +satisfied with my suggestions, of course you are at liberty to make what +change in the names you please." + +"But their mother, by my advice, appointed their guardians in the manner +prescribed by Mr St. Hubert's will; and nothing can supersede that +appointment, you are aware." + +"If any trace of such an instrument is to be found," said Mr Jerome. + +"It is to be hoped it is to be found, or it may go badly with some of +us," said Mr St. Cyr gravely. + +"As to that I cannot say. But the court, under your direction and mine, +can do all that is necessary, without reference to documents of doubtful +justice." + +"The appointment must stand as it is," said Mr St. Cyr impatiently. + +"It is time you were retiring, is it not? You seem tired. Shall I help +you?" + +"Thanks, I am not inclined to go yet." + +"Still I think you had better go. I shall speak to Babette, shall I +not?" + +There was no reply; and he left the room. Listening intently to his +receding footsteps, Mr St. Cyr rose with difficulty, and holding by the +furniture, crossed the room to the cabinet in which Frederica, on her +first visit, had seen so many beautiful and curious things. From a +hidden compartment in one of its sides, he drew forth several papers, +and looked eagerly and attentively over them. He had only time to +replace them and return to his seat, before his brother came in again. + +"Your fire is bright in yon chamber. My brother, I entreat you to allow +me to assist you thither, before I leave. I cannot divest myself of a +feeling of responsibility with regard to that foolish young girl +lingering in the street at this unseemly hour. I must see that she is +safe at home. And I must hasten." + +"Thanks," said Mr St. Cyr, rising meekly. "You are most kind, but pray +do not stay. Babette can do all that is necessary for me. I fancy +myself better to-night." + +"Better," repeated his brother, as he went down the stairs. "I do not +see it. For the present it is not necessary that you should be better. +I can do your work for you, better than you can do it yourself. I have +succeeded beyond hope--unless indeed, by some unimaginable chance, there +should exist such an instrument as Cyprien asserts. Even then something +might be done to put matters right, should I, and not Cyprien, guide +them. We shall see." + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +Frederica reached home excited and breathless, and sat down to rest for +a moment on the steps, before she went in. + +"Miss Frederica--Thank God," said old Dixen, coming out of the shadow +where he had been waiting for the return of his young mistress in great +anxiety. + +"All right, Dixen--only I am so tired, I cannot tell you about it now." + +The hall door opened, and Miss Agnace came out. She, too, was watching, +it seemed. Dixen fell back into the shadow again. + +"My child, is it you? Where have you been? Not at Mrs Brandon's, for +she has been here. We have been in such terror for you." + +"You need not have been," said Frederica. "Where is Selina? No, Miss +Agnace, I am not going in there, for I am very tired." + +She paused a moment at the foot of the stairs, looking up. A kind, +half-familiar face looked down on her from above. + +"Is it Col. Bentham?" said she, going up slowly. "And papa has come. +Oh! papa! papa?" + +Was it her father's face she saw? It was such a face as her father's +might have been in his youth, a nobler and better face than his had ever +been to her knowledge, though no such thought came into Frederica's mind +as she gazed. And who was this beside him, looking at her with Selina's +eyes, smiling on her with Selina's smile, and calling her sister? +Frederica grew pale, and trembled more and more. + +"Lena," she faltered. "Lena, is it that I am going to be ill again? or +am I dreaming?" + +"Fred love," said Selina, putting her arms around her, "it is our elder +brother Edgar, who has come, and our sister Cecilia, and poor papa--" + +But Frederica heard no more, for there was a mist before her eyes, and a +buzzing in her ears, and by-and-by she found that Miss Agnace was +bathing her face, and Selina was holding her hand, with a pale anxious +face. Then she heard a strange voice say,-- + +"She must drink this, and go to bed at once and no one is to talk to her +to-night." And that was almost the last thing she knew, till she awoke +next morning with the sunshine on her face. + +It was well that the rest of the night came before the excitement of the +day that awaited her. For poor Fred had yet to be told that she would +never see her father on earth again. Col. Bentham told her first, and +then her sister Cecilia told her about his last days; and as she +listened, Frederica's thought was-- + +"Now he is with mama, and nothing will ever happen to make them grieve +one another any more." + +This thought softened her grief, and made her tears flow gently, as +Cecilia went on to tell how sorry he had been about some things; and how +he had longed to return to his children and their mother, when it was no +longer possible to do so; and how unwillingly he resigned himself to the +sad necessity at last. + +She told them how his restlessness and impatience went away, and a great +change came over him towards the end. He longed to live for his +children's sake, but he ceased to be afraid of death, nay, he welcomed +the messenger of the King as he drew near. + +"Papa must have known all along what mama only learned towards the last, +that Jesus died to save His people," said Selina. "Was it that which +made him not afraid?" + +"He learned it in a new way as he lay upon his bed," said Cecilia. "It +was that from which he took comfort at the last. Many a time he said to +me, he had nothing else in which to trust." + +"And, Fred love, we must not grieve too much. Think how glad mama must +be to see him there," said Selina. + +All this, and more, was told on that first Sunday morning, but Frederica +was not told that day that they had brought her father's body home. +Careless as he had in the old days been about all that did not minister +to his own pleasure, in the time of suffering his heart turned with +longing unspeakable to those he had left behind, and strange to say, he +had entreated to be taken back, to be laid by the side of the wife he +had too often neglected and forgotten. And so they had brought him +home. + +"And did papa ask you to come and take care of us? It was very good in +you to come." + +"Col. Bentham came to take care of you, and Edgar is to help him. My +husband and I came because we wished so much to see you, and because we +hoped we might have you home with us for a little while. But that will +be decided later." + +Frederica had not spoken all this time. She was afraid if she said a +word she would break into tears and sobs beyond her power to stay, as +had happened once or twice before. But when their brother Edgar came +in, she gave a cry, and clasped her sister's hand. + +"He is so like papa," she uttered faintly. + +"Is he?" said Selina. "I have not seen him yet." + +She took her brother's hand, pressing her own small fingers softly and +rapidly over it, and then over his face and hair. "Is he like papa?" +asked she doubtingly. + +"Like, and yet not like," said Cecilia, and Frederica said the same. +But neither of them said that the likeness was of features only, or of +expression. + +"Are you better?" asked he of Frederica. "Do you know that it was I who +prescribed for you last night?" + +"Are you a physician?" asked she. + +"I hope to be one some day. Indeed, I am one already, in a way. I am +going to take you into my special care, till you are the rosy little +girl we used to hear of long ago." + +Frederica shook her head sadly. "I am quite changed. I never used to +know what it was to be tired. Now I can do nothing, and I am so +foolish, that the least thing makes me cry. I am quite ashamed." + +"But all that is to be changed now that I am come to take care of you. +You will soon be well and strong again." + +And so they talked on, till they were on friendly and familiar terms +with each other; and Frederica, reassured and comparatively cheerful, +was able without undue excitement to make the acquaintance of Cecilia's +husband, when later he and Col. Bentham came in together. + +"Fred love," said Selina, "tell them about Charlie and Hubert." + +"Ought I, Selina? must I? I am afraid everybody will think I have been +very foolish--perhaps wrong." + +"We were alone, and frightened," said Selina. "And there was no one to +tell us what we ought to do." + +"Of course, if we had known that you were all coming to take care of us, +it would not have mattered. We could have waited; but we did not know," +said Fred deprecatingly. + +And then the story was told, partly by one, and partly by the other, how +startled they had been when Selina had heard Charlie's voice calling to +her in the street. They told of their visit to the school out of which +the long procession of boys had come, with Madame Precoe and Father +Jerome, and how the people there had been so polite and kind, and how +they had put all thoughts of the boys being there out of their minds, +till Dixen had told them yesterday that he had seen one of them in the +long procession of boys again going up the street. + +"Was it yesterday, Lena? It seems a long time ago, since Dixen spoke to +us in the garden." + +"And the foolish part of the matter is yet to be told," said her +brother. + +"Then Fred ran away to tell Caroline. But she did not go there, and I +only know that she told Dixen it was `all right,'" said Selina. + +"It was foolish, I suppose, but then I did not know what else to do." + +They listened to the account she gave them of little Hubert's `rescue,' +with mingled astonishment and amusement, at a loss, when all was told, +to decide whether Fred had been very brave or very foolish--inclined +rather to agree with the child himself, that no "rescue" had been +needed, yet admiring the courage which had accomplished it, and the +modesty which deprecated blame rather than claimed admiration for what +she had done. + +"I daresay Hubert thinks himself a prisoner now, and that he needs to be +rescued much more than he did before," said she doubtfully. + +"But, indeed, if you knew how anxious and unhappy we had sometimes been +about some things, you would not call us altogether foolish," said +Selina. + +"And it came so suddenly upon us. First we heard that Tessie had been +to the convent, and then Dixen told us he had seen Charlie, and then I +went away." + +"But who has taken the ordering of all these matters?" said Col. +Bentham. "Where is the responsibility? Mr St. Cyr must have known the +wishes of your father and mother with regard to these children." + +"It was not Mr St. Cyr," said Frederica eagerly. "At least, I don't +think it was he. That was worst of all when we thought that he had +turned against mama's wishes, because he had always been so kind to us +before. But last night I went to see him." + +"What! more adventures!" said Edgar. "You went to beard another lion in +his den?" + +"Oh! I have been there before. But he has been very ill this winter, +and they would not let us in. But last night I did not ask leave. I +ran upstairs and into the room where he was sitting." + +"And was he glad to see you?" asked Selina eagerly, "and did you tell +him about Tessie and the boys?" + +"No, Lena. He looked so changed and weak, I could not ask him. Was I +very foolish? But then I am quite sure he knew nothing about them. +And, Lena, he did not know about mama, though it was so long ago--Mr +Jerome had not told him." + +"And was he very kind still?" + +"Very kind, and he asked about papa, and said he hoped he would come +home soon. And he asked about mama--and by-and-by I saw that Mr Jerome +had come in, and then I came home." + +"And now it does not matter since you have all come to take care of us," +said Selina. + +That their coming would put an end to all cause for apprehension in the +settlement of these children's affairs, did not seem by any means +certain to those who listened. However, nothing was said to lessen +their confidence. Nothing could be certainly known till Col. Bentham +should see Mr St. Cyr, and as the arrangements for Mr Vane's burial +must be made at once, he determined to lose no time in visiting him, and +Edgar Vane went with him. + +The interview was necessarily short, but it made Edgar quite sure that +Mr St. Cyr knew nothing of the change of arrangements for the children +after their mother's death. He spoke as though he supposed the boys to +be at a distance, and requested Mr Jerome to take the necessary steps +for bringing them home. Mr Jerome assented at once, but said very +little during their stay. + +"I wish I could be as sure of his good faith as I am of Mr St. Cyr's," +said Edgar, when he spoke to his sisters about it afterward. "However, +it signifies little to us, as now he need have little to do with their +affairs." + +"But did he say nothing about the boys being in town when you spoke of +their coming home?" asked Mrs Brandon. + +"Nothing--and we said nothing to him. But I cannot help wondering what +he will say, when little Hubert shall not be forthcoming to-morrow." + +"I confess I should like to see that man put to confusion, if such a +thing were possible," said Mrs Brandon. + +"Which is doubtful," said her husband. + +"Still, he will have to account for his non-appearance in some way, +which will be rather difficult, I imagine," said Edgar. + +But Mr Jerome was not destined to be put to confusion by the +non-appearance of little Hubert; for, as they were speaking, he walked +in among them. + +"You did not come for me, Fred, as you promised. And I thought your old +woman had had enough of me, and so I came away," said he. + +Mr Jerome had no account to render to any of them. Whatever he said on +the subject was said to Mr St. Cyr, not that he considered it necessary +to give an account of his actions even to him. He was accountable only +to a tribunal, which would acquit him of all wrong-doing in the matter. +He uttered some angry and bitter words, because of his brother's +weakness and folly, where poor Mrs Vane and her children were +concerned. The children were, in his opinion, in a fair way to be +ruined. The only hope for them, both for this world and the next, lay +in the proper choice of guardians. + +"And for you to tell Colonel Bentham, even before he alluded to the +subject, that he was one of the three persons charged with the +responsibility of their future welfare was monstrous. If any instrument +appointing him to this office exists, you should never let it see the +light. I do not believe it exists. It is one of the many dreams of +your illness. Why did you not produce it to-day, if it is here?" + +"It will be produced at the right time. I scarcely think you know what +you are counselling, my brother," said Mr St. Cyr, gravely. "I could +not, without committing a villainy, do as you bid me do in this." + +"I will take the responsibility. You are not capable of deciding such a +question. Your illness has weakened your mind, as well as your body. +You will be wise to let yourself be guided by me!" + +"You forget we did not agree about this thing before my illness. I am +weak, I know, but I am not weak enough for your purpose. And my +yielding would avail nothing. The business is known to others, as well +as to me." + +Mr Jerome gave him an evil look. Mr St. Cyr was much weakened by his +illness, and a terrible thought, that he was not safe in his brother's +hands, came into his mind, and showed in his face. + +"The business is now in other hands," said he feebly. + +"I do not believe you," said Jerome, restraining himself with a great +effort. The look of terror in his brother's face shocked him. The +tacit accusation was an awful one, but that it was not altogether +unjust, he could not but acknowledge. For in his heart at that moment +he was saying, "If Cyprien had died, all might have been made to go +well." + +"A further discussion of this subject can do no good now. But I warn +you that whatever can be done to save these children and their wealth to +the Church shall be done. It is not I who say it. A power which it is +impossible to defeat or circumvent, stands pledged for a successful +issue. It will be wise for you to yield before a heavy hand is laid +upon you." + +"An idle threat," said Mr St. Cyr. + +"No threat, my brother. That power, as you know, never yields. Its +triumph is certain. It may come to-morrow, or ten years hence, or +twenty, but ultimate triumph is certain." + +"An idle threat," repeated Mr St. Cyr. + +And probably it was only a threat. If anything was done to bring into +the life and destiny of these children the change which Father Jerome so +earnestly desired, it was done in secret, and it failed. If the +"power," with whose heavy hand he had been threatened ever touched him +to his hurt, Mr St. Cyr never complained of it, or revealed it. +Certainly he never yielded to it, in the matter of the trust which Mrs +Vane had given him. + +With more promptness and decision than he might have considered +necessary had he been in perfect health, or had the circumstances been +different, he transferred to the guardians whom the mother had appointed +for her children, all the responsibility which their acceptance of the +office involved. The responsibility was not a light one, but it was +assumed cheerfully and faithfully, and successfully borne; and as yet no +harm has come, either from Father Jerome, or from the power he serves, +to Mrs Vane's children. + +But all this took time, and of the details they who were most interested +in the matter knew nothing, and thought nothing, except that it was a +happy thing for them that to Colonel Bentham, and not to Father Jerome, +the arrangement of their affairs had been committed. + +Tessie came home from the convent none the worse for her fortnight's +seclusion. For a little while his sisters found that the same thing +could not be said of Charlie. Poor Charlie had rebelled, and had been +hardly dealt with, though he said little about it for a time. Into his +eyes came now and then the look, half-deprecating, half-defiant, which +they have who are only learning to yield obedience to the government of +a strong hand and will, which no love softens. + +He had gone into the strange uncongenial world of the great school, with +his heart sore with the thought of his mother's death, and angry with +the suspicion that he who had brought them there had done so less for +their good than for his own pleasure; and, child though he was, he +suffered terribly. Grief, and home sickness, and disgust at many things +which now became part of his daily experience, made him irritable and +rebellious, and would have made him difficult to manage anywhere else. +There the "strong hand" touched him, and a few months longer of the +discipline he underwent would doubtless, in all things, have moulded him +to the will of those who taught and governed him. As it was, those at +home believed that he had come back to them none too soon for his good. + +As for Tessie, though she indignantly resented having been taken away +without her own consent, she had nothing to complain of with regard to +the treatment she had received. Indeed, she had been flattered and made +much of by all with whom she had come in contact, and doubtless would, +in time, have yielded with passable grace to the necessity of +submission, and contented herself with her circumstances. But she was +glad enough to find herself at home again, and to make the acquaintance +of their elder brother and sister, whose coming was as joyful an event +to her, and as unexpected as it had been to them all. + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +The brothers followed their father to the grave, and the sisters sat at +home waiting, as they had done when their mother was carried away. But +this time Cecilia was with them, and that made a wonderful difference. +She read with them the beautiful burial service of their Church, and +comforted them sweetly with words which were not her own, showing them +how they, being fatherless and motherless, could claim in a new way the +love and care of their Father in Heaven, because of His promise to the +orphan. There was no room for fear, or even for doubt, in their future, +she told them, because of this; and it was the easier for them to +believe it, and rejoice in it; coming from her loving lips. + +Before they saw the graves of their father and mother, they were +beautiful with soft green turf and the fairest of spring flowers. + +They all went there together, on one of the loveliest and last of the +April days; and though their tears fell fast for a little while, there +was no bitterness in them; and the elder brother and sisters, sitting a +little apart, saw smiles on their faces before their tears were dry. + +"It is all past for them," said Frederica; "the troubles of their life, +I mean. And now mama is as strong and well as the other happy people up +there, and not anxious or afraid any more." + +"And papa is satisfied, and does not mind things now, I suppose," said +Tessie. "For my part, I cannot think what heaven is like." + +"Jesus is there, we know," said Selina, "and that is enough." + +"Yes, I suppose so. But still mama must have been glad to see papa +coming in through the gate. But, as Tessie says, we cannot tell what +heaven is like, or how it seems to them there." + +"Jesus is there," repeated Selina, "and they are like Him. `And there +shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying;' and they shall go +no more out. We know a little, Tessie dear, I think." + +"But I cannot think of mama being quite happy without you, Lena. And +has she forgotten us all, do you think?" + +"She knows that I shall be coming by-and-by," said Selina, with a smile, +wonderful for its sweet content. "Yes, and all of us--`to go no more +out.' She will not think the time long, we may be sure of that. And I +shall _see her face there_?" + +"If mama could have known about Cecilia and Edgar, and how good they +would be to us, before she went away." + +"Papa knew," said Tessie, "and he will tell her." + +"And, Fred love, mama was not afraid for us at the last," said Selina. +"She did not know that they would care for us and love us, but she knew +that Jesus would; and I daresay He has told her about our brother and +sister also." + +"And we needn't fret about Madame Precoe or Father Jerome any more," +said Tessie. + +"No; but we will not speak of them _here_," said Selina gently; "and we +need not be afraid of anything any more." + +By-and-by there was a little movement among them, and then the others +heard Selina say,-- + +"Tell me about it, so that I may know the place where they lie." + +So one told her one thing, and one told her another, about the lonely +spot where the two graves were side by side. Tessie told of the green +turf and the lovely flowers that covered them, and of the budding trees, +and the dark shadows which the evergreens made, and the many, many +graves and white monuments that could be seen. And then Frederica told +her of the far-away view, of the great level over which they could look +to the river and the hills beyond. And they both said how peaceful the +place was, and how fair and sweet, till Selina smiled, saying,--"_I_ +think I can see it all now." + +"And, please God, she shall see it yet as clearly as it lies before us +all," said Edgar softly. + +"Do you mean it, Edgar? Can such a thing be possible?" said Mrs +Brandon in amaze. + +"Please God, she may yet see," said the young man gravely. + +"Ah I do not disturb the sweet quiet of her heart by a hope that may +never be realised," said Cecilia. + +"By no means at present," said her brother; "there is no need for that." + +"It would be a miracle," said Mrs Brandon. + +"A miracle of science and skill," said Edgar. "We will not speak of +this to her, or to any of them, yet; but I cannot but hope that she may +see, even before she enters the city by the gates of pearl." + +After that they had a very quiet summer. Madame Precoe went home to her +own house, and they did not see her very often. But Miss Agnace was +allowed still to remain with them, and the affairs of the household went +well and smoothly in her hands. Mr Jerome they never saw, for he had +been sent on a mission to a distant city, and they only heard of him now +and then through Mr St. Cyr; but they were none the less happy that he +was away. + +Mr St. Cyr did not grow strong very fast. It was, indeed, doubtful +whether he would ever be very strong again; and so all through the +summer he was making arrangements to give up his business for a while +into the hands of his partner, and he purposed to take a long holiday, +to go to Paris, where he had not been since he was a young man, and +perhaps to Rome, where he had never been. But he found time, amid all +his preparations, to come often to see the young people; for he still +considered himself their guardian, and in a certain sense responsible +for their well-being. And besides, he loved them dearly, and they +trusted him, and depended on him as they had always done, and loved him +better every day. + +Edgar and young Mr Bentham, Cecilia's husband, had much to do, and many +places to visit, before the time set for their return to England, and +sometimes Cecilia went with them. But it generally pleased her best to +stay quietly at home with her young sisters, and it pleased them also. + +It was a very quiet summer, but it was a very busy one. For it had been +decided that when their elder brother and sister went back to England, +they should all go with them; and there was much to be thought of, and +much to be done, in preparation. To say that they were glad at the +prospect, would be saying little. To go anywhere with the brother and +sister who had been so kind to them, and whom they had learned to love +so dearly, would have been pleasant; but to go to England, the country +of which they had heard so much, where there were so many wonderful and +beautiful things to see, was more than pleasant. + +"And papa's home was there, and it was the last place he saw," said +Selina, who had no hope of beholding the beautiful and wonderful things +of which her brother and Tessie were never weary of talking. "And the +kind people who cared for him are there. Yes, I am glad to go." + +"And we shall come home again. I am glad to go away for a while, +because there are some things here I want to forget," said Frederica, a +little tremulously. "But we must come home again by-and-by, and begin +all over again." + +"Unless we should like England best," said Tessie. "I should not be at +all surprised." + +But Frederica said that would be quite impossible. When their brothers +should be quite grown up, and able to take care of themselves, they +would all come back and be happy at home. They made many plans as to +what they were to do and enjoy, but Frederica's plans all had reference +to their return home, and the life they were to live afterwards. She +was as glad to go as any of them, but it was always with thought of +coming home again. + +They had not many friends to whom it was sad to say good-bye. Mr St. +Cyr was going with them, on his way to Paris. Miss Agnace was going +with them too, to be Selina's special attendant and friend. For though +little was said about it, it was more for Selina's sake than for +anything else that they were going to England. Edgar had taken Mr St. +Cyr into his confidence as to the hope he entertained of bringing back +the light, to her sweet eyes, and so all plans with regard to their +going were made easy by him. + +They went to school to say good-bye to Miss Robina and her mother, and +Cecilia went with them to thank them for all their kindness to her +little sisters. But this was not Frederica's last visit. She went +again with Selina, and Mistress Campbell made tea for them in her room, +as she used to do when Frederica was a child. It was not so very long +ago, but it seemed a great while to her, and she was very quiet and +grave all the afternoon. Selina had more to say than she had, and asked +many questions about what her sister used to do when she was a pupil in +the school. + +"A bonny bit wilful creature she was," said Mistress Campbell, "very +wilful whiles. But it was just a pleasure to see her for all that. +Many a good advice I had occasion to give her at one time and another, +but she did me more good than ever I did to her, I think. She is one of +His little lambs, as you are yourself doubtless, and none shall pluck +you out of His hand. You are ay safe with Him, but still it is a grand +thing to have a brother and sister like those you have found to trust +to, and to be obedient to. You'll ay mind that, Miss Frederica, my +dear, when you are far away." + +"I shall never be wilful or disobedient any more, Mistress Campbell," +said Fred gravely, quite believing it. + +Mistress Campbell nodded her head a good many times. + +"You are in God's keeping, my bairn. That's ay a comfort. But walk +softly, my lammie, when your light heart comes back again. And mind the +rest will ay look to you for an example, and so on." Mistress Campbell +had "many an advice" to give still, and Frederica received them more +meekly than she used sometimes to do in the old times. + +"And though I never see you more on earth, we'll meet in a better place, +my bonny bairns, and God go with you wherever you go," said the old +woman, kissing them when they were ready to go away. "And there is +nothing to grieve about, though it is the last time." + +Nothing to grieve about. It could not be long that the kind old woman +would have to stay in her garret, and there were no partings where she +was going to dwell. + +After that they spent a day with their sister Caroline and her little +children, and this was the saddest parting of all. But even this was +not so very sad, for they were coming back again by-and-by to their home +and their friends, and the graves of their father and mother, and there +was no bitterness in the tears they shed when the day of departure came. + +The summer was quite over by that time. The sun of a bright still +autumn day was near its setting as they stood on the deck of the steamer +to take their last look of the city, and of the mountain which makes so +grand a background to the view. Grand indeed it was that night, for the +frost spirit had breathed on the unfallen leaves, and changed their +summer green to colours wonderful for glory and beauty, and few words +were spoken for a good while as they gazed. + +"Tell me about it," said Selina softly. + +So one told her about the bright clouds in the west, and the mountain +growing dim already in the distance, and another told of the gleaming +city roofs and spires; and the great cathedral towers looking down upon +them all, and little Hubert told her of the long shaft of light that the +sun sent over the water, and of the white sails that were passing out of +sight. + +"Which of us all is so happy as she?" said Cecilia softly, as she +watched the smile of sweet content on the blind girl's listening face. + +"But please God, when she comes home again, she shall see it all," said +her brother. And so she did. + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +Cecilia's home was in London, and there until Christmas-time her +brothers and sisters remained. It was not the best season of the year +for sight-seeing, but by taking advantage of such gleams of sunshine as +now and then came to brighten the general dulness, a good deal was +enjoyed even in that way. Nothing came amiss in the way of amusement to +any of them. Everything was new and full of interest, and in their eyes +wonderful. A drive through London streets gave matter for discussion +for days afterwards. + +It was all new and strange to them, the crowds of people hurrying to and +fro, the great dingy houses, the queer narrow courts into which they +sometimes peeped, the splendour of the shop windows, the monuments and +public buildings afforded never-ending themes for talk, and the bright +quaint remarks which were now and then made, amused their elders +greatly. + +But there were many dull days during that autumn, when all things were +seen dimly through rain or fog, and there were some days when nothing at +all could be seen, when the gas burned at noon, and when the carts and +carriages that rumbled through the streets all day long, were quite +invisible to the eager eyes of the little boys. On such days, no wonder +that they grew impatient and even fretful, now and then, or that their +sisters were not always so bright and cheerful themselves, as to be able +to beguile their brothers back to cheerfulness and good-humour again. +They were all a little homesick on such days; and so, when the time came +to accept Col. Bentham's invitation for Christmas, they were glad to +leave the dull dark streets behind them, and to get a glimpse of blue +sky and green fields again. + +For in sheltered places the fields were green still, almost with the +greenness of summer. In their own country at Christmas-time the snow +lies thick on the ground, and the smaller streams, and sometimes even +the great rivers, are covered with ice. Not a leaf is to be seen or a +blade of grass, but great snowdrifts on the hill-sides, and icicles +hanging from the bare boughs of the trees. + +The skaters are out on the ice, and the snow-shoe clubs are beginning to +think of long tramps over the fields. Hundreds of sleighs are gliding +along the city streets, and over the country roads, and the air is full +of the music of sleigh-bells, and the merry voices of people enjoying +the holidays. + +And Jack and Jill used to be out with the rest, with a sleighful of +happy children behind them. The children's faces grew grave as they +told one another of all this. How bright it used to be! How +delightful! Oh, yes! Of course it was cold sometimes, but who would +mind the cold, with furs and wraps, great buffalo robes, and bearskins +to keep them warm! + +No, it did not seem like Christmas-time to them here. In some of the +sunny glades of Eastwood Park, the little Canadians could have forgotten +that it was not summer, except when they looked up at the great leafless +oaks and elms and beeches, which made a wide dark network of boughs +between them and the sky. There were no flowers in the open park, but +the grass was green, and there was ivy on the wall, and there were great +holly bushes and laurels, and in Grandmamma Bentham's garden, shut in +from the winds, and having the sunshine full upon it, there were +heartsease and Christmas roses. It was all very different, out of +doors, from Christmas time at home. But within doors it was like the +best of Christmas-times. + +There was a large party assembled at Eastwood Park--sons and daughters +of Col. Bentham, grandchildren, nephews and nieces, and friends of the +family. Their brother Edgar was there for a few days, and his friend +Captain Clare. Everard Bentham, the Colonel's youngest son, was Edgar's +dear friend, though they were not at all alike in most respects. +Everard was gay and inclined to be idle, and had caused his father some +anxiety during the last year or two. But of all this nothing was known +to the young Vanes. He was very kind to them, very merry and +light-hearted, and they liked him dearly--almost as well as they liked +Captain Clare, who was a very different sort of man. + +He was older than their other friend, though not so much older as they +fancied, because his hair was a little grey, and he was often grave and +silent when there were others besides the children present. He was a +soldier, and had been in battle many times, and had the Victoria cross +and medals to show that he had done his duty on the field. He had other +tokens as well. There was a faintly traced scar extending along his +temple, which his hair only partially concealed, and he always wore a +glove on his left hand to hide the traces of another wound. + +He had much to tell the little lads about many things. He had been in +their own country, had spent a winter in their own city. He had known +their father and their mother, and remembered Jack and Jill, and never +tired listening to all they had to tell about them, and this was one +secret of his popularity doubtless. + +The sisters liked him also, for similar reasons, and for better reasons. +For he was a true soldier of Christ, as well as of the Queen, and had +fought and won battles for Him in his day, and the very first words that +he spoke to them, as he came upon them one day in old Mrs Bentham's +garden, made Selina and Frederica glad in the hope of having him for +their friend. + +All who came to Eastwood Park were interested in these children and very +kind to them. They were kind, and they were a little curious also--that +is, they watched with interest, and sometimes with amusement, the words +and ways of these young Canadians, who were not in all respects just +like English children. I speak of them all as children, for with all +their womanliness and decision of manner, the sisters were in some +respects quite as childlike as were little Hubert and Charlie. Selina +was like no one else in her never-failing sweetness and cheerfulness. +Tessie's frankness and independence of speech might, under the +encouragement of amused listeners, have fallen into undesirable +freeness, had it not been for the gentle check of her eldest sister's +influence. She rebelled sometimes under Fred's rather imperative hints +as to what was desirable and right or otherwise, but Selina's lightest +half-spoken remonstrance never passed unheeded. + +It was the same with the little lads. It was Frederica who assumed +authority over them; and her little motherly ways and words, at once +coaxing and determined, generally answered well with them. They were +obedient and teachable usually; but they now and then appealed from her +rather arbitrary rule to the gentler rule of Selina; and the way in +which she used to soften and modify her sister's decisions, while she +gravely and firmly upheld her sister's authority with their brothers, +was a pretty thing to see. Frederica was careful and troubled over them +and their future often; Selina was trustful and cheerful always, and not +afraid. + +Everybody was kind to them, and much was done to make their Christmas, +not only a merry one, but a happy one. Everybody was kind to them; but, +after Cecilia and her husband and their brother Edgar, they liked no one +so well as Captain Clare. A good many people went away when the +holidays ended, but Captain Clare stayed on, and so did Everard Bentham. +Everard had been thrown from his horse, and so seriously hurt, that, +much against his will, he was obliged to remain at home several weeks +longer than it had been his intention to stay. He made the best of it, +and amused himself as well as he could, and by-and-by got "great fun," +as he called it, out of the little Canadians. But he gave them quite as +much as he got from them in the way of amusement; for he was kind as +well as merry. In the way of real and lasting benefit, his intercourse +with these young people did much to change his character, and influence +his future life; but all this came later. + +In the meantime Captain Clare was their dearest friend after their +brother Edgar went away; and it was in this way that their friendship +began: They were sitting--Selina and Frederica--one day in old Mrs +Bentham's garden, where the sunshine made it, to Selina at least, just +like a summer day. Frederica had been reading a word or two, as her +sister liked to have her do when they were alone together; and to-day it +had been the first verses of the twelfth of Hebrews that she had chosen. +They had not gone beyond the first two or three verses; there was +enough in them to talk and wonder over. + +"Perhaps it means this, Fred," said Selina, after a minute's silence; +"these people, `so great a cloud of witnesses'--the people in the last +chapter, you know--are all looking at us, and so we must `run with +patience the race set before us.' Or is it that all these people looked +to Jesus, and so got strength and patience to `subdue kingdoms,' to +`stop the mouths of lions'? Don't you remember? They were `destitute, +afflicted, tormented,--of whom the world was not worthy.' Oh! Fred +dear, how little we know!" + +But it was not Fred that answered her, but Captain Clare. Fred had gone +down the garden path, not caring less than her sister for the reading, +or for the meaning of what they read, but less intent upon it for the +moment, because she could see so much that was beautiful around her. +For even in winter Grandmamma Bentham's garden was beautiful, and not +every visitor at Eastwood Park was admitted to it. But when Captain +Clare took up the book which Frederica had laid down, and reading over +again the words Selina had found so difficult, added afterwards a few +words of his own, she came back again, and leaned on the garden chair on +which her sister sat. + +It was nothing very new or very wonderful that he said to them. He only +told them in a few clear words what he thought the apostle meant in +writing thus to the suffering Hebrews, touching incidentally on other +points of interest in other parts of the Bible, over which the sisters +had pondered together with varying interest and profit. Selina listened +eagerly, only saying now and then with smiling lips, "Do you hear, +Frederica?" + +"Are you listening, dear Fred?" + +Fred was listening, forgetting the holly leaves and the bright berries +with which she had filled her apron to make wreaths for some young +friends in the house. She listened silently. She had less to say on +all subjects than she used to have in the old days, before care had been +laid so heavily upon her. But she listened earnestly, for she knew that +all would have to be gone over again with her sister when they were +alone. They listened till Miss Agnace came to warn them that the sun +had gone behind the clouds, and that they must return to the house. + +"But you will tell us more," said Selina, softly passing her fingers +over the hand that had taken hers in saying good-bye. "Another day you +will tell us more." + +It was an easy promise to make, and a pleasant promise to keep. + +"We know so little," said Frederica, as, with Captain Clare, she +followed her sister and Miss Agnace up the avenue to the other side of +the house. "We had no one to teach us, and at first we did not care to +learn," added she humbly. "It was for mama's sake at first--because-- +she was going to die--and--she was afraid--" and the tears rushed to her +eyes. + +She hardly ever spoke of her mother to any one but her sisters, and she +wondered a little at herself that she should do so now. She wondered +less when she looked up and met the kind eyes looking down upon her. + +"Some day you must tell me more about your mother," said Captain Clare. + +This was the beginning. After that, while they were at Eastwood, not a +day passed in which Captain Clare did not pass an hour with them. When +the weather did not allow them to go out of doors, they sat in the +library or in one of the deep windows of the hall. The party was +variable as to numbers; but Selina was always there, and almost always +Miss Agnace. She was never far away from her charge, unless her sisters +were with her; and although she would sit with her face averted, +apparently absorbed with her work, she never lost a word which Captain +Clare said about the truth which she was beginning to love, though she +hardly knew it yet. She was never in the way, and because of Selina's +blindness it did not seem out of place that she should be constantly +with her. Besides, her service was a service of love. + +She did not listen now as she had done at first to the reading and the +talk, that she might detect errors, and warn these children against +them. She said little to them now of the "true Church," or its +teachings. She only listened, saying to herself, that however at +variance with these teachings some things which she heard might seem to +be, there could not be any real difference, seeing the same fruits of +the Spirit--love, peace, joy--which flourished and showed in the life of +many a saint of old, showed fair and sweet in the lives of these +children growing so dear to her. So she always listened when she could, +and Selina made it easy for her to be near her at such times. + +Cecilia was with them often, and Edgar, but most of their intercourse +with Captain Clare as a near friend and teacher took place after Edgar +went away. Mr Everard Bentham, when he began to limp about the house +again after his hurt, found his time pass more rapidly among these young +people, who asked questions, and discussed subjects as little likely to +interest young people as could well be imagined, he thought. It seemed +to him the oddest fancy in the world that kept these girls intent on +Captain Clare's words, as he made clear to them how the Old Testament +and the New were one, how the truths dimly foretold in the one found +fulfilment in the other, and showed how in all things written in both +Christ appeared. What could it matter to them to be wise about such +things? he questioned laughing. But he never laughed at them. It might +be odd and foolish, but at the same time he liked to see it all; and +though he listened for a while, that he might catch the wonderful +brightness on the blind girl's face, as some new thought was made clear +to her; and though he asked questions in his turn, that he might provoke +Frederica's eager defence of her opinions and beliefs, the Word did not +"return void," as far as he was concerned. Now and then a bow drawn at +a venture sent an arrow home to his conscience, and none of them had +better reason to remember those days than the hitherto careless Everard +Bentham. + +Sometimes the little lads heard tales of marches and battles, of +suffering bravely borne, of good work well done for the sake of duty. +But rarely a day passed in which there did not fall to the share of the +sisters some good word about the Lord they loved, and about whom they +longed to know more. These children knew already that Christ was the +only Saviour from sin, and from its consequences,--the Friend of +sinners--the Conqueror of death. They knew and they rejoiced in all +that He had done for them and for all, and in all that He had promised +still to do. They knew what they owed Him, but they knew less of what +He expected from them. They loved Him, and for His sake they loved His +friends and followers. But they had never been taught the duty of +self-denial for His sake, the blessedness of a life given up to Him in +the doing of service to His little ones. + +Of all this Captain Clare told them, and they were apt scholars. +Frederica displayed something like her old bright eagerness in +explaining some of the plans of usefulness which her imagination +suggested as wise and possible to be carried out in the future. Some +foolish things might have been done, if they had been left to their own +counsels. But it did not need severity, nor even great firmness, to +check Frederica now. She was not unwilling to acknowledge that they +were yet too young and inexperienced to undertake on their own +responsibility any of the schemes of usefulness so well carried out for +the benefit of the ignorant and the suffering by others who were wiser +and fitter for the work than they. + +All this might come later. In the meantime Frederica had her brothers +and sisters to live for and to influence. She had her own education to +complete. She laughed now at the remembrance of the time when she had +boasted of having "gone through all the books" in Miss Robina's class. +There was enough to do for herself, as well as for the others, she +acknowledged; and she listened earnestly when Colonel Bentham, as her +guardian, spoke to her of the serious responsibilities which the +possession of wealth would involve in her case, and that of them all. + +In the meantime she and Selina had much to say between themselves of all +they meant to do when they should go home. Selina's wish was to gather +together all the blind people who were poor, and who needed a home--the +old people and little children--and teach them about Jesus, and about +the land where all shall see His face. In this work her sister was to +help her, and Miss Agnace. In all her plans for the future Miss Agnace +had a place. + +In her heart Miss Agnace knew that in such a home as these young girls +were planning she would be suffered to have no part, unless, indeed, +Father Jerome, or others who thought as he did, should have the guidance +of it all. But she did faithfully her duty to her blind friend and +mistress, loving her more dearly every day, content with the present, +and willing to accept without question whatever the future might bring. + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +After Christmas the boys went to school--to the great public school +where their father and their elder brother had been educated, and a +great quietness fell on the sisters after they went away. It was their +first separation since the day their father had been, laid beside their +mother on the hillside far away, and they missed them sadly for awhile. +They all missed them, but Frederica especially felt lost without the +constant sense of responsibility which had rested on her with regard to +them since that day. It was well that they still lingered in beautiful +Eastwood. Cecilia did not like to think of how dull the days would have +been in London at this time. But every one in the large and happy +household of Colonel Bentham strove more than ever to interest and amuse +them, so as to beguile them from regretful thoughts; and when there came +first one letter and then another from the little lads, showing that +they were falling more easily and happily than could have been supposed +into their right places, and taking the good of the pleasant things in +school, even Frederica became content about them, and confessed that it +was a relief to know that they were safe and well, and to let the sense +of responsibility slip from her for a time. + +But a greater trial was before her than the parting from their brothers. +By-and-by they returned to London, and she and Tessie were soon as +earnestly engaged with lessons and masters as could be desired. It was +partly from a sense of duty, and from a desire to make the most of the +exceptional advantages afforded them, that they worked so well, but they +also enjoyed their work. It was made pleasant to them, and they were +not allowed to do too much. Walks and drives, visits and sight-seeing +prevented their work from becoming monotonous, or from injuring them in +any way, and the time to them passed quickly. + +But Selina drooped. She missed her brothers, and though she shared +Frederica's reading as far as was possible, and enjoyed the sight-seeing +at second-hand, still she was not so bright and cheerful as usual; and +strange to say, Frederica was not the first to see it Selina's best time +was when they were all together, so that this was not surprising; but +Cecilia became anxious about her, and longed for the time when their +brother Edgar should be at home again. + +He came at Easter, and in a day or two declared himself at liberty to do +as he pleased for three months at least. After that he was to settle +down to the practice of his profession in another part of London, and +then there would be no more leisure days for him. + +"And you are going to make the most of these three months," said Tessie, +"and have a great deal of pleasure." + +"I hope so," said Edgar, but he looked more grave than people usually do +who are anticipating three months of pleasure; and when Tessie went on +to suggest, that instead of going away by himself, as he had proposed, +he should take them all with him, he looked grave still, and said that +would be impossible. He could not take them all at this time, but it +was his intention to take Selina away for a little while. They all +looked grave at that, and there came a look over Frederica's face which +neither he nor Cecilia had ever seen before, but which made Tessie think +of the rule of Madame Ascot, and the days when Fred took her own way in +spite of her. It would not be right, Edgar went on to say, to interrupt +the studies of the others so happily and successfully commenced, for +though their company might be agreeable to Selina, it was not necessary +to her, as he would care for her, and Miss Agnace was to go with her. + +Frederica uttered an impatient exclamation. "Studies! In comparison +with Selina's happiness her studies and masters counted for nothing. +Selina must come first always. They had never been separated since-- +since--" Fred could get no further. It was only by a great effort that +she kept back her tears. And her brother said gently,-- + +"But if it were to be for Selina's good that she should go away for a +little while, and that you should remain at home, surely you would be +willing to deny yourself? At this time it is better for our sister to +be in my care, and in the care of Miss Agnace." + +"That is because you do not know," broke in Frederica. "Ask Selina. +Let her decide." + +"No, we will not ask Selina this time. Of course it will be a trial for +her to leave you both; but still it is best." + +"And, Fred darling, you will not make the trial harder for her by +objecting," said Cecilia. "Believe me, dear, Edgar is right. You must +trust him." + +"Edgar does not know," persisted Frederica. "Selina cannot go alone. +It would break her heart. Selina alone! without me or mama--" + +Frederica was determined she would not cry, and she stopped suddenly. +Edgar was very gentle with her, but he was very firm also, and when he +forbade her or Tessie alluding to the subject in Selina's presence till +he should give them leave, Frederica rose and walked out of the room, +carrying her head very highland with a look on her face that made +Cecilia regard her brother anxiously as the door closed upon her. Edgar +smiled reassuringly. He was surprised, but he was amused also, Tessie +could see as she rose to follow her sister. He looked grave enough in a +moment. + +The case stood thus. Selina was not looking well, and the change was +necessary for her, but that was not all. It was of the utmost +importance that she should be strong and cheerful just now, because the +time had come when her brother hoped to get the opinion of a friend of +his, a celebrated oculist who resided in a German city, as to the state +of her eyes, and the possibility of something being done to restore to +her some measure of sight. The prospect of success was not so assured +as to make it wise to say anything about his plans and wishes to his +sisters. The suspense would not be good for them, and the trial of +remaining behind would be all the greater to Frederica, should she be +made aware that her sister might have doubt and anxiety, and perhaps +pain and disappointment, to undergo alone. Her being with her sister at +such a time would not be good for either of them, he thought; and should +his brotherly influence fail, her guardian's authority must be exercised +over Frederica. + +"But Colonel Bentham's authority will not be needed. Fred will think +better of it; and be reasonable." + +But Cecilia was not so sure. "You give her no reasons," said she. And +then she went on to repeat some instances of Frederica's wilfulness in +the old days, of which their sister Caroline had told her, how she used +to rule the household, and set Madame Ascot at defiance. Some of these +it was not easy to believe, in view of Frederica's almost uniform +gentleness and sweetness since they had known her, but they were +doubtless quite true; and remembering her face and air as she walked out +of the room, some trouble with her seemed not impossible. + +"But all the same she must yield," said her brother. + +But it was not the wilful little Fred of the old days that had walked +out of the room with her head held high and haughtily. She was as angry +and indignant as ever the Fred of those days could have been, so angry +that she utterly forgot for the moment how dear was the love that had +grown up during the last year between her and her brother, or how +perfect the confidence she had had in his affection and wisdom until +now. She was so angry that she would not let the tears come even when +she was alone; and when Tessie ran in upon her, exclaiming indignantly +about their brother's unkindness, Frederica sat with a face that changed +from red to white and from white to red every moment, but she did not +utter a word. As she listened to her sister, she grew less angry and +more unhappy, for there was an echo of triumph mingling with Tessie's +indignation, that smote painfully on Frederica's heart. + +"I have been wondering for a long time when all this was to come to an +end--your `docility and humility,' your `sweet bright gentleness,' as +your friend Captain Clare calls it. Oh, yes, I have been expecting it. +It is all very well within reasonable limits, obedience and submission, +and all that; but Edgar has not a particle of authority over us, and you +can wind Colonel Bentham round your finger, as you used to do with Mr +St. Cyr. It is just as well to make a stand about Selina as anything. +It must have come some time, and now we shall have the pleasant old days +back again." And so on. Yes, she grew very unhappy as she listened. +Were the old times coming back again?--the times when she did not know +where to turn to find a friend when anxiety for her little brothers and +Tessie made her heart-sick. Obedience! submission! She had not been +conscious of any such thing all this time. She had felt so safe, so +comforted, so at home with her brother and sister. They had no +authority certainly. But would it be a wise or happy thing to take even +the smallest of these affairs out of their hands into her own? + +If only Edgar would be reasonable about Selina! No, she could not part +from her. She could bear it for herself; but what could Selina do +without her? + +"I cannot, cannot let her go." + +Tessie's voice startled her again. She was laughing merrily. + +"I declare, Fred, I could quite have fancied myself at home again. I +had forgotten how _grand_ you could be;" and she threw back her head +with an air, and marched to the door as her sister had done. "You quite +frightened Cecilia, I could see. As for Edgar, I think he was laughing +a little. He cannot be harder to overcome than Madame Ascot. This +`turning the other cheek' is all very well to talk about; but Edgar has +no real authority over us, and if you are firm now, Fred, we shall have +it all our own way." + +Did she want to have it all her own way? Had Edgar no authority over +them? Would her father have said that? And without him what was to be +done with the brothers or with Tessie, should she grow wilful, as she +used to be? And as to "the other cheek"! Had Edgar smitten her on the +one cheek? Was she right in resenting what he had planned and what he +had said to her? And now here was Tessie laughing and delighted at her +anger and her pride. Poor Fred! The very foundations seemed to be +removing. The tears she had kept back with such difficulty flowed +freely; but all this time she had never uttered a word. + +"I thought it was all over and at an end, my foolish anger and pride and +disobedience, and now, at the very first word of opposition, I am as bad +as ever. Oh! if it were anything else, I would give up, and not mind! +Hush, Tessie," she said aloud, "you do not understand. No, you are not +to speak to Selina. I must think about it first. Edgar never was +unkind before. Perhaps to-morrow he may change his plans." + +To-morrow found Frederica not at all well; a restless night had given +her a headache; and when she did not appear at breakfast, Edgar went up +to see her, only half convinced that real illness was keeping her in her +room. She was ill certainly, and very silent, but she was not angry any +longer. Selina was with her, and Edgar knew in a moment that nothing +had been said between them with regard to the coming separation. He was +very gentle and kind, but Fred could not look up and meet his eye, +because she had not fought out the battle with herself yet. She had got +so far as to acknowledge that it was very ungrateful in her to act and +speak as though Edgar had no right to interfere in their affairs, after +all his kindness to them. Every hour she had felt more deeply how +dearly she loved him, and how entirely she trusted him, and how terrible +a thing it would be for them if their brother were to leave them to +their own guidance, as she had yesterday wished him to do. + +But she had not been able during the wakeful night to persuade herself +that he was right with regard to Selina. She had thought of many things +that she would like to say to him about her to make him change his mind; +but when she saw his face in the morning, so kind and yet so firm in its +expression, she doubted whether her words would avail, and so she did +not look up, and scarcely uttered a word. Tessie waited eagerly to hear +what might be said, but she heard nothing, and their brother took her +and Selina away with him, leaving Frederica to Miss Agnace's care. So +she had time to think over her trouble, and the longer she thought the +more clearly she saw how foolish had been her anger, and how wrong her +example to Tessie. + +Still she could not yield the point in question. Edgar could not know +as well as she what was best for Selina. It would be like forsaking her +sister, were she to consent to his plan. It would be breaking her +promise to her mother, that Selina should always be considered before +herself. She could not do it. + +And yet something made her feel sure that she must do as her brother +wished, and feeling confidence in his love and in his wisdom, she +thought if it had been anything else she would have yielded to him so +gladly. But she lay and turned about restless and feverish, more +unhappy than she had ever been since the days of her illness after her +father went away. Miss Agnace came in and went out softly, saying +little, but very gentle and kind. + +"Is it something that you cannot tell to your best friend?" she said at +last, as she bathed her hot brow with cool water, and smoothed the hair +that lay in confusion on the pillow. + +Frederica gave her a quick look. She longed to ask her about her +brother's plans, but it would not be right to do so. And besides, Miss +Agnace might not know, and might not tell her if she did. + +"After all He has brought you through to these happy days, you are +surely not forgetting to bring your trouble to Him, are you?" + +It was not just the way Miss Agnace was wont to speak; but even Miss +Agnace was beginning to see things differently, in the new light that +was shining on them, and for a minute Frederica forgot her own trouble, +looking at her wistfully. + +"Are you glad to be here, Miss Agnace? Are you happy here?" said she. +"Will you never go away from us any more?" + +"Oh! as to going away--no, while my young lady needs me," said Miss +Agnace. + +"Not even if Father Jerome said you must?" + +The name had not been mentioned for a long time between them. An odd +look came over Miss Agnace's face. + +"He will not say it," said she. + +"Did he wish you to come? I am very glad you came; but was he not +afraid to let you come? Was it for our sakes?" said Frederica, wishing +to get away from her own troubled thoughts, and speaking very much at +random. + +"My dear, Father Jerome loved you, though you doubted it, and he wished +you well always, though perhaps he made mistakes," said Miss Agnace; +"but you are to rest, and not think of anything to vex you, and I will +leave you for a little while." + +But though Miss Agnace went, Frederica's troubled thoughts stayed with +her, and she said to herself she must find courage to write to Colonel +Bentham, and ask him to interfere between her and her brother. Could +she ask it? would it do? oh! how helpless and miserable she felt! +Suddenly there came into her mind Miss Agnace's question: "Is it then +anything you cannot carry to your best Friend?--to Him who has brought +you through all to such happy days?" + +Had she brought it to Him? Could she bring it? Not her anger, and her +pride, and her determination to rebel--to have her own way; but her +trouble--her fear for Selina being far away and unhappy. If Edgar did +not know what would be best for her, surely Jesus did, and He would help +them. But then it might not be in her way. They might have to be +separated all the same. Frederica cried bitterly as she thought about +it; but she did bring her trouble to her Friend, and the bitterness had +all gone out of her tears, and out of her heart too, before she fell +asleep. When she woke, her brother was looking down upon her with a +very grave face. Frederica smiled, though her tears came again. + +"I am going to be good," said she, and she took the hand that rested on +hers, and Carried it to her lips. + +"My darling! my precious little sister!" said her brother, moved by her +gentleness as her anger could not move him. "It grieves me sorely to +have to grieve you; but trust me, Frederica, this once." + +"Ah! must you grieve us? I do trust you: I could bear it, but Selina! +I do not think I am vain, but I cannot think what she will do without +me," she pleaded. "No, I am not going to be naughty, and I do trust +you--" + +Edgar soothed her with his touch and his voice. He was very gentle with +her. + +"If I were sure--" + +"But, darling, if you were sure, there would be no need to trust me. +And our Elder Brother--do you think He will forget Selina and you?" + +"Oh, no," said Fred, but her tears fell fast. He was very tender with +her, and firm too, telling her that he depended on her to make the +parting easy to her sister, saying it would only be for a little while, +and in the meantime she could not be very unhappy, having many and +pleasant duties, and a willing mind. And then there was Tessie, who +needed her more even then Selina. And Frederica's conscience told her +that Tessie had been none the better for her influence for the last two +days at least. + +"I will try and be good," she said, and her brother could not but wonder +at her gentleness; and as he went out he said softly to himself, +"`Except ye become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into +the kingdom of heaven.'" + +In one sense Frederica's trouble was over now. Her anger was over, and +her rebellion; and in trying to speak cheerfully of their separation, +for Selina's sake, she did much to strengthen herself for the trial. +Selina was startled and grieved at the thought of going away from her +sisters, but she was gentle and yielding, as she always had been, and +never doubted that their brother was wise and right in the plans he had +made for them. + +So she said "Good-bye," cheerfully enough, and so did the others for +that matter; but when she was gone, and Frederica found herself standing +looking after the departing carriage, it seemed to her that the feeling +of loss and loneliness was more than she could bear. + +"And now we shall have our drive in the Park," said Colonel Bentham +cheerfully, as though nothing particular had happened, and Selina's +going away was an event of every-day occurrence. But Frederica stood +very white and still. + +"I am--tired--I think. If Tessie would go without me to-day," said she +with difficulty, but she walked very quietly by Captain Clare's side +till they came to the drawing-room door. "I think I must--rest for a +little while. Will you excuse me to Colonel Bentham?" + +She spoke quietly; but when she looked up and met the kind eyes that +were looking down on her, she gave a little cry, and ran upstairs into +her room, not at all sure that she was not rebellious and angry still. +Tessie came in soon, all ready for the drive, and found her sister +crying on the bed. She was quite inclined to feel aggrieved at the +delay. She went at her sister's entreaty to carry her excuses to +Colonel Bentham. Her guardian seemed quite to understand, and they went +out without her. + +True to her determination to be good, Frederica did not long indulge her +tears, and within the hour she came downstairs, and walking sedately +into the drawing-room, found Captain Clare waiting for her. Her +elaborate cheerfulness was quite as pathetic, he thought, as her grief +had been, and so were her fears that her guardian might believe her to +be ungrateful for his kindness. Captain Clare laughed at her a little. + +"You speak as though you were a child to be punished for being naughty +by being put in a corner," said he. "Shall we go and walk? we may meet +the carriage, and you can still have your drive." + +Frederica hesitated, but only a moment. + +"You were reading," said she. + +"I was waiting for you, and now we must hasten, for the best of the +afternoon is passing." + +They did not meet the carriage, though they went a long way round, +hoping to do so. Frederica was not sorry: she never forgot that walk +home in the twilight. As it grew dark she put her hand into that of her +friend, as simply as a little child might have done, and for a while she +had most of the talk to herself. She told him more than she had ever +told any one before about their mother, and their old home and their way +of life; and sometimes he smiled, and sometimes he was deeply touched, +as she dwelt with quite unconscious pathos on some of the incidents of +those days. Her face clouded as they drew near the house. + +"I am almost afraid to go in," said she. + +"Lest you should be naughty again? No, you will not," said her friend. +"See, I will give you something to prevent it: `Thou shalt keep him in +perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in +Thee.'" + +"Thank you," said Frederica, without looking up. "A month is a long +time, two months perhaps." + +"But it will soon pass, and summer will soon be here, and who knows what +summer may bring?" + +"And this afternoon has not been so bad," said Frederica. + +No time after that was so very bad. Frederica kept herself +conscientiously busy for one thing, and she kept Tessie busy also. +Their friends made pleasures for them. They had walks with Captain +Clare which were always delightful, and drives with their sister +Cecilia, and one day they went with them to visit their brothers, whose +school was not so very far away, and this they enjoyed wonderfully. +Frederica, who had had few letters in the course of her life, took great +delight in those of her brother Edgar. Besides bringing good news of +her sister's health and happiness, they were full of interest for other +reasons, and they never failed to contain just a word or two to remind +the sisters at home that all were alike safe in the best keeping. + +And better than all other helps towards patience and content was the +young girl's trust in Him who had brought them to a safe place. On Him +she was learning to rest more lovingly every day. She suffered a good +deal at first; but peace came and stayed, not quite the perfect peace +promised to them whose trust is entire and full, but even that came +later. + +Tessie watched her sister narrowly, and expressed her opinion of her way +of taking it all by little shrugs and laughing protests, in which +Frederica sometimes fancied there was a contemptuous echo. But Tessie +was subdued at last by her sister's never-failing gentleness and +sweetness, and showed it by devotion to her duties, and by deference to +her sister's wishes in little things. + +The time of Selina's absence extended beyond what was first planned. +But this was not so great a trial as it seemed beforehand Spring passed +into summer before a word was said of their going home, and the time +came to leave hot and dusty London, and to return to Eastwood Park +again, and the sisters went gladly, though they had no thought of the +joyful surprise awaiting them there. + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +If Eastwood had been beautiful to the eyes of the sisters when seen +under Christmas skies, what was it now in the prime of summer? The pony +carriage awaited them at the station, and in it they drove to the Park +the nearest way through the loveliest lanes, in the hedges of which +Tessie counted nearly a score of different green growing things besides +honeysuckle and foxgloves and bluebells and many a flower that she could +not name. How wide and still the Park was, with only green grass and +great trees to see at first, and by-and-by shrubbery, and then flowers, +and then the house itself came in sight. There were open doors and +windows, and people coming and going over the lawn, and Grandmamma +Bentham sitting in a garden chair, in full sight of the gate. + +Some one was coming to meet them, as the carriage stopped at the east +gate, and they came in. Some one! There were many people. Colonel +Bentham was there, and Captain Clare, and Everard, and their brothers +Charlie and Hubert. But "some one" was Selina, not led by Miss Agnace, +as might have seemed natural, not led by any one, though Everard Bentham +walked at a little distance from her, regarding her with the strangest +wondering smile upon his face. Their brother Edgar was there too, a +little in advance of the rest. But Selina walked alone, and came +forward to them, holding her hand a little out before her, as she always +used to do, walking softly and slowly to the very gate, for Frederica +stood still and waited. Tessie waited too a moment, and then sprang +forward with a cry. + +"Selina! Do you see me? Oh! Fred. Oh! mama! mama?" + +And then she clasped and kissed her, clinging to her, and sobbing +wildly, moved as no one had ever seen the sharp little Tessie moved +before. + +"Gently, Tessie love," said her guardian, putting his arms about her, +and drawing her aside from the rest. Frederica stood still and white at +the gate, so still and white that her brother Edgar drawing near looked +anxiously at her. But she only looked at Selina, who paused at a little +distance. + +"Frederica," she said, "I can see you." + +Then Frederica awoke out of her dream; but before she sprang forward to +clasp her sister, she turned and kissed the hand her brother had laid on +her shoulder. She did not cry out as Tessie had done, nor speak a word, +but she held her sister's hand firmly as they walked towards the house, +looking at her with eyes in which the wonder hardly left room for the +pleasure to appear. + +The meeting had not happened just as their elder brother had desired and +planned. He had meant to prepare his sisters for the happy change in +Selina, but perhaps it happened just as well. They were left very much +to themselves for the rest of the day; and as their way was at such +times, they talked in their mother tongue fast and eagerly. That is, +Tessie and the little brothers talked, and Selina also, who had much to +tell them, though she told it in few words. The beginning and the end +of all was her brother Edgar's kindness to her during the time she had +been away. + +As to how it all came about--how through the wonderful skill, and +unfailing gentle care of her brother's friend, and of her brother as +well, the blessed gift of sight was restored to her, need not be told +here. The sweet blue eyes looked just as they had always looked, but +there was light in them now. Her face was changed. It was not so +peaceful and serener--it could hardly be brighter than it used to be. +But it had an expectant look, and its expression varied every moment. +Her constant movements towards this and that, in her attempts at a +nearer acquaintance with things which she had hitherto only known by +touch or by sound, gave her an air of restlessness not at all like +Selina, and for a little while Frederica watched her doubtfully. But +when Edgar came among them, hushing the eager buzz of talk, and saying +gently to Selina that she had seen enough for one day, the old look came +back, sweet and serene, and she lay down at his bidding, with closed +eyes and a smile on her lips that reassured her sisters. And then Edgar +said in response to the brightening of Frederica's face,-- + +"Yes, it is a new world to her. But she has had the best things all +along--the peace and the joy--and she is not going to lose them because +she can see. I think you may let yourself be glad for her." + +"Yes, I am glad! for her," said Frederica gravely, "very glad, I think; +or I shall be glad by-and-by." + +"Are you sure you are glad now?" said Captain Clare to her when a few +days had passed, and they had in some measure become accustomed to the +knowledge that Selina could see; "because I do not think you always look +very glad." + +"I am glad for Selina, I am glad for us all: But then, you see, I do not +quite know what I am going to do with myself and my life now," said she +gravely. "I have it all to plan over again, now that Selina will not +need me to take care of her." + +"You need not be afraid, I think," said her friend. "Your work will +come to you; and indeed, your sister needs you as much as ever. She +does not seem to be able to do without you." + +"She likes to look at me, because I am like mama, she says. She has not +forgotten mama all these years since she was a little child. And I am +to teach her all I know; and that will not take me long," added she, +laughing. "And besides, she has been learning all the time, though not +with her eyes. Oh, yes! I am glad!" + +In the midst of their rejoicing Mr St. Cyr came to Eastwood Park; and +if Frederica had had her choice of all the pleasant things that might +happen to them, she would certainly have chosen this. It was almost +like being at home again, and having the old times back. Not but that +they were all quite content at Eastwood; but their old friend, who had +also been their mother's friend, was very welcome and dear. They had +some things to say to him that it would not have been easy to say to any +one else; and his odd ways with them, sometimes merry and sometimes +grave, always old-fashioned and friendly, had a wonderful charm for them +all, and even for those who were looking on. + +Frederica no longer doubted her joy over her sister when she presented +her to Mr St. Cyr. Her tears fell, it is true, in a sudden shower, as +she said to him, "If mama had only known!" But her tears were soon dry; +and in his society, responding to his quaint ways and speeches, she grew +more talkative and merry than ever her English friends had seen her +before. She was more like the Fred who used to drive "Jack and Jill," +and amuse the children in Miss Robina's orchard, than like the grave +little monitress of her brothers and Tessie, inclined to be careful and +troubled about many things. + +Mr St. Cyr stayed at Eastwood till the summer days began to grow short, +and then he went away, not to Canada, but to some mild climate, for +another winter, till his health should be more firmly re-established. +It was quite as well, for the peace of mind of the young people, that he +should have so decided; for they might have longed to return with him, +had he been going home. + +If I were to carry my story over the next three years, I should have +little more to say than this: they were happy and profitable years for +them all. Selina learned all that Frederica could teach her, and some +things besides. Sometimes they were in London, and at Christmas times +and during the summer they were at beautiful Eastwood. They went +through some of the prettiest parts of England with their brothers, to +their great delight; and after a time their travels extended beyond +England. They saw just what other travellers see, and enjoyed it more +than most travellers do, being young and full of life, with no weight of +care pressing upon them. + +And after their travels were over they began seriously to consider and +plan what their life-work was to be, and on which side of the sea it was +to be done. Selina still spoke of the blind old people and little +children whom she would like to gather into their old home, to care for +and to teach. But her plans went farther than these now. + +"For surely," said she, "if we were to tell our people about Jesus and +all He has done for them, they would turn to Him rather than to those +who bid them look to Mary and the Saints in time of need. It is because +they do not know Him that they look to be saved in some other way, and I +would like to teach them. It is at home that we ought to be, Miss +Agnace, is it not?" + +But Miss Agnace had little to say, knowing better than they all that +would make it impossible for these young girls to influence directly any +one among a people so docile in the hands of their spiritual guides. + +"God will prepare your work for you," said Miss Agnace gravely. "It +matters little where it is, so that it is done for Him. We must wait +and see." + +Selina's work came to her in an unexpected way, but by a sure token she +knew it to be God-given work when it came. It was no new work. Ever +since the happy Christmas-time when the blind girl went softly about the +great house at Eastwood, and sat in the sunshine in Grandmamma Bentham's +garden, she had been doing a good work for Everard Bentham. Her +influence was exerted quite unconsciously. She did not know how much +every gentle word of hers meant to him, how dear she became to him day +by day. But when he left his father's house after that time, it was +with a new resolve for the future--to the living of a new life, to a new +end. Three years of earnest devotion to the duties of his profession, +and to the still higher duties of a Christian gentleman, had placed him +on different ground from that which he had occupied in the days when his +father had suffered deep anxiety with regard to him. Edgar Vane had +always loved him, now he respected and trusted him; and when he found +courage to ask Selina to become his wife, neither her guardian nor her +brother said him nay. Selina had no doubt then on which side of the sea +her work was to lie. + +All their friends were surprised when it came to be known that Captain +Clare had persuaded Frederica to share a soldier's fortunes as his wife. +Not that it needed much persuasion. For though he was older and graver +than she, one who might be thought little likely to take a young girl's +fancy, Frederica knew his worth, and had long loved him, first as her +brother's friend, and then as her own. Her husband took her to Canada +for a time, where his regiment was stationed, and Tessie accompanied +them. Selina and her husband also went with them for a summer holiday. + +And so Selina saw her old home, as Edgar had foretold. It was she who, +through the lifting morning mists, first caught sight of the city roofs +and the cathedral towers, and the mountain beyond, beautiful with the +level light of the sunrise on them. She saw her old home, and the two +graves, and the faces of some people who had only been as names to her +in the old days. She saw her home, and for a time she wished she had +not seen it, but that she had allowed it still to stand in her memory as +the sweetest and loveliest spot on earth, made beautiful in her thought +by the remembrance of her mother and of all they had been to each other +there. + +For the old home was changed. The great warehouses pressed closer and +closer upon it. The garden had been encroached upon, and the shadows of +great chimneys and workshops darkened the lawn. It was very little like +the home she had been remembering so lovely all these years. It was +little like home to many of them now. + +There were few people that they remembered well. They saw Miss Robina +again, but her mother was dead, and so was Mistress Campbell. Madame +Precoe was very friendly with them, in her unpleasant way. She smiled, +and was polite, and spoke softly to them, but she never allowed them to +forget that she believed them to have wandered far from the truth, and +that days of darkness awaited them. + +Father Jerome did not come to see them, but one day Frederica met him in +the street. He had grown very old and bowed, and walked wearily, with +his eyes fixed upon the ground, so that he did not see her when she +passed. For the moment she was glad, but afterwards she could not +forget his face, nor the look it wore,--a look not peaceful, but +silent--blank--unresponsive. + +Mr St. Cyr was home by this time, and they saw him often. But he would +not speak much about his brother. + +"He is not happy," said he; "but that is a small matter. I pray God to +give him His peace." + +And these young people, who had only just escaped great suffering and +sorrow at his hand, remembering all the way by which they had been led +and guided since then, could only join heartily in the prayer that God's +peace might indeed come upon him, and God's light as well. + +Selina and her husband had only a summer holiday to give to her native +country, and they did not linger long in M--. Selina had been glad to +come, but she was not sorry to go. On the spot she did not find it easy +to identify herself with the little blind child who had lived so happily +with her mother there. She seemed to herself to be a different person +now. She might have been quite content to remain, if her lot had been +cast in her old home, but she returned gladly to the land of her +adoption. Miss Agnace returned with her. Whether she asked and +obtained leave from those whom in former days she had vowed to obey, or +whether she broke her bonds of her own free will, no one asked her. She +is happy in the loving service of one whom she so faithfully cared for +when she was in need of care, and happier still in the higher service of +a Lord and Master whom she has better learned to know. + +Tessie stayed in Canada with her sister Caroline; and when the brothers +have thoroughly prepared themselves for the work that awaits them, one +or both of them may join her there. They both give fair promise that +they mean to do faithfully that which is given them to do. + +Frederica's work lies wherever her husband's duty calls him. It is +among the women and the little children of the regiment, who need her +care; and the same gentle brightness that endeared her to her friends in +the old days, makes her a messenger of blessing to many a suffering +soul. The message that brought peace to the troubled heart of her +mother, when the shadows of the valley of death began to darken around +her, has--spoken by Frederica's lips--brought peace to many a troubled +heart since then. + +This is her work, and her happiness as well, and it does not matter on +which side of the sea such work is done. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Frederica and her Guardians, by Margaret Robertson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FREDERICA AND HER GUARDIANS *** + +***** This file should be named 38198.txt or 38198.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/1/9/38198/ + +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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