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diff --git a/old/2004-06-thyng10h.htm b/old/2004-06-thyng10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6403f98 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2004-06-thyng10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,28464 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2 Final//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=windows-1252"> +<meta name="GENERATOR" content="Microsoft FrontPage 4.0"> +<meta name="ProgId" content="FrontPage.Editor.Document"> +<meta name="preparer" content="Sandra Laythorpe"> +<title>The Young Stepmother</title> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Young Step-Mother Or, a +Chronicle of Mistakes, by Charlotte M. Yonge</h1> + +<pre> +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Young Stepmonther Or, A Chronicle of Mistakes + +Author: Charlotte M. Yonge + +Release Date: June, 2004 [EBOOK #5843] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on September 11, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE YOUNG STEP-MOTHER *** +</pre> + +<p><font size="2">This Project Gutenberg Etext of The Young +Stepmother by Charlotte M Yonge was prepared by Sandra Laythorpe, +laythorpe@btinternet.com. A web page for Charlotte M Yonge will +be found at http://www.menorot.com/cmyonge.htm.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<center> +<h1><font size="2">THE YOUNG STEP-MOTHER;<br> +</font></h1> + +<p><font size="2">or</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">A CHRONICLE OF MISTAKES.</font></p> + +<h2><font size="2">by<br> +</font></h2> + +<p><font size="2">CHARLOTTE M YONGE</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Fail--yet rejoice, because no less<br> +The failure that makes thy distress<br> +May teach another full success.<br> +Nor with thy share of work be vexed<br> +Though incomplete and even perplexed<br> +It fits exactly to the next.<br> +ADELAIDE A PROCTOR</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER I.</font></h3> +</center> + +<p><font size="2">Have you talked it over with her?' said Mr. +Ferrars, as his little slender wife met him under the beeches +that made an avenue of the lane leading to Fairmead +vicarage.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes!' was the answer, which the vicar was not +slow to understand.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I cannot say I expected much from your +conversation, and perhaps we ought not to wish it. We are likely +to see with selfish eyes, for what shall we do without +her?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Dear Albinia! You always taunted me with +having married your sister as much as yourself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So I shall again, if you cannot give her up +with a good grace.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If I could have had my own way in disposing of +her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Perhaps the hero of your own composition might +be less satisfactory to her than is Kendal.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'At least he should be minus the +children!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I fancy the children are one great attraction. +Do you know how many there are?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Three; but if Albinia knows their ages she +involves them in a discreet haze. I imagine some are in their +teens.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Impossible, Winifred, he is hardly +five-and-thirty.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thirty-eight, he said yesterday, and he +married very early. I asked Albinia if her son would be in +tail-coats; but she thought I was laughing at her, and would not +say. She is quite eager at the notion of being governess to the +girls.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She has wanted scope for her energies,' said +Mr. Ferrars. 'Even spoiling her nephew, and being my curate, have +not afforded field enough for her spirit of +usefulness.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That is what I am afraid of.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Of what, Winifred?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That it is my fault. Before our marriage, you +and she were the whole world to each other; but since I came, I +have seen, as you say, that the craving for work was strong, and +I fear it actuates her more than she knows.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No such thing. It is a case of good hearty +love. What, are you afraid of that, too?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, I am. I grudge her giving her fresh whole +young heart away to a man who has no return to make. His heart is +in his first wife's grave. Yes, you may smile, Maurice, as if I +were talking romance; but only look at him, poor man! Did you +ever see any one so utterly broken down? She can hardly beguile a +smile from him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'His melancholy is one of his charms in her +eyes.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So it may be, as a sort of interesting +romance. I am sure I pity the poor man heartily, but to see her +at three-and-twenty, with her sweet face and high spirits, give +herself away to a man who looks but half alive, and cannot, if he +would, return that full first love--have the charge of a tribe of +children, be spied and commented on by the first wife's +relations--Maurice, I cannot bear it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is not what we should have chosen,' said +her husband, 'but it has a bright side. Kendal is a most +right-minded, superior man, and she appreciates him thoroughly. +She has great energy and cheerfulness, and if she can comfort +him, and rouse him into activity, and be the kind mother she will +be to his poor children, I do not think we ought to grudge her +from our own home.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You and she have so strong a feeling for +motherless children!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thinking of Kendal as I do, I have but one +fear for her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have many--the chief being the +grandmother.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mine will make you angry, but it is my only +one. You, who have only known her since she has subdued it, have +probably never guessed that she has that sort of quick sensitive +temper--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Maurice, Maurice! as if I had not been a most +provoking, presuming sister-in-law. As if I had not acted so that +if Albinia ever had a temper, she must have shown it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I knew you would not believe me, and I really +am not afraid of her doing any harm by it, if that is what you +suspect me of. No, indeed; but I fear it may make her feel any +trials of her position more acutely than a placid person +would.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oho! so you own there will be +trials!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear Winifred, as if I had not sat up till +twelve last night laying them before Albinia. How sick the poor +child must be of our arguments, when there is no real objection, +and she is so much attached! Have you heard anything about these +connexions of his? Did you not write to Mrs. Nugent? I wish she +were at home.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I had her answer by this afternoon's post, but +there is nothing to tell. Mr. Kendal has only been settled at +Bayford Bridge a few years, and she never visited any one there, +though Mr. Nugent had met Mr. Kendal several times before his +wife's death, and liked him. Emily is charmed to have Albinia for +a neighbour.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Does she know nothing of the Meadows' +family?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nothing but that old Mrs. Meadows lives in the +town with one unmarried daughter. She speaks highly of the +clergyman.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'John Dusautoy? Ay, he is admirable--not that I +have done more than see him at visitations when he was curate at +Lauriston.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Is he married?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I fancy he is, but I am not sure. There is one +good friend for Albinia any way!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And now for your investigations. Did you see +Colonel Bury?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I did, but he could say little more than we +knew. He says nothing could be more exemplary than Kendal's whole +conduct in India, he only regretted that he kept so much aloof +from others, that his principle and gentlemanly feeling did not +tell as much as could have been wished. He has always been +wrapped up in his own pursuits--a perfect dictionary of +information.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We had found out that, though he is so silent. +I should think him a most elegant scholar.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And a deep one. He has studied and polished +his acquirements to the utmost. I assure you, Winifred, I mean to +be proud of my brother-in-law.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What did you hear of the first +wife?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was an early marriage. He went home as soon +as he had sufficient salary, married her, and brought her out. +She was a brilliant dark beauty, who became quickly a motherly, +housewifely, common-place person--I should think there had been a +poet's love, never awakened from.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The very thing that has always struck me when, +poor man, he has tried to be civil to me. Here is a man, sensible +himself, but who has never had the hap to live with sensible +women.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'When their children grew too old for India, +she came into some little property at Bayford Bridge, which +enabled him to retire. Colonel Bury came home in the same ship, +and saw much of them, liked him better and better, and seems to +have been rather wearied by her. A very good woman, he says, and +Kendal most fondly attached; but as to comparing her with Miss +Ferrars, he could not think of it for a moment. So they settled +at Bayford, and there, about two years ago, came this terrible +visitation of typhus fever.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I remember how Colonel Bury used to come and +sigh over his friend's illness and trouble.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He could not help going over it again. The +children all fell ill together--the two eldest were twin boys, +one puny, the other a very fine fellow, and his father's especial +pride and delight. As so often happens, the sickly one was +spared, the healthy one was taken.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then Albinia will have an invalid on her +hands!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The Colonel says this Edmund was a +particularly promising boy, and poor Kendal felt the loss +dreadfully. He sickened after that, and his wife was worn out +with nursing and grief, and sank under the fever at once. Poor +Kendal has never held up his head since; he had a terrible +relapse.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And,' said Winifred, 'he no sooner recovers +than he goes and marries our Albinia!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Two years, my dear.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Pray explain to me, Maurice, why, when people +become widowed in any unusually lamentable way, they always are +the first to marry again.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Incorrigible. I meant to make you pity +him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I did, till I found I had wasted my pity. Why +could not these Meadowses look after his children! Why must the +Colonel bring him here? I believe it was with malice +prepense!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The Colonel went to see after him, and found +him so drooping and wretched, that he insisted on bringing him +home with him, and old Mrs. Meadows and her daughter almost +forced him to accept the invitation.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'They little guessed what the Colonel would be +at!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You will be better now you have the Colonel to +abuse,' said her husband.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And pray what do you mean to say to the +General?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Exactly what I think.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And to the aunts?' slyly asked the +wife.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think I shall leave you all that +correspondence. It will be too edifying to see you making common +cause with the aunts.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That comes of trying to threaten one's +husband; and here they come,' said Winifred. 'Well, Maurice, what +can't be cured must be endured. Albinia'a heart is gone, he is a +very good man, and spite of India, first wife, and melancholy, he +does not look amiss!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars smiled at the chary, grudging +commendation of the tall, handsome man who advanced through the +beech-wood, but it was too true that his clear olive complexion +had not the line of health, that there was a world of oppression +on his broad brow and deep hazel eyes, and that it was a dim, +dreamy, reluctant smile that was awakened by the voice of the +lady who walked by his side, as if reverencing his grave +mood.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was rather tall, very graceful, and well +made, but her features were less handsome than sweet, bright, and +sensible. Her hair was nut-brown, in long curled waves; her eyes, +deep soft grey, and though downcast under the new sympathies, new +feelings, and responsibilities that crowded on her, the smile and +sparkle that lighted them as she blushed and nodded to her +brother and sister, showed that liveliness was the natural +expression of that engaging face.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Say what they would, it was evident that +Albinia Ferrars had cast in her lot with Edmund Kendal, and that +her energetic spirit and love of children animated her to embrace +joyfully the cares which such a choice must impose on +her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">As might have been perceived by one glance at +the figure, step, and bearing of Mr. Ferrars, perfectly clerical +though they were, he belonged to a military family. His father +had been a distinguished Peninsular officer, and his brother, +older by many years, held a command in Canada. Maurice and +Albinia, early left orphans, had, with a young cousin, been +chiefly under the charge of their aunts, Mrs. Annesley and Miss +Ferrars, and had found a kind home in their house in Mayfair, +until Maurice had been ordained to the family living of Fairmead, +and his sister had gone to live with him there, extorting the +consent of her elder brother to her spending a more real and +active life than her aunts' round of society could offer +her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The aunts lamented, but they could seldom win +their darling to them for more than a few weeks at a time, even +after their nephew Maurice had--as they considered--thrown +himself away on a little lively lady of Irish parentage, no equal +in birth or fortune, in their opinion, for the grandson of Lord +Belraven.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They had been very friendly to the young wife, +but their hopes had all the more been fixed on Albinia; and even +Winifred could afford them some generous pity in the engagement +of their favourite niece to a retired East India Company's +servant--a widower with three children.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER II.</font></h3> +</center> + +<p><font size="2">The equinoctial sun had long set, and the blue +haze of March east wind had deepened into twilight and darkness +when Albinia Kendal found herself driving down the steep hilly +street of Bayford. The town was not large nor modern enough for +gas, and the dark street was only lighted here and there by a +shop of more pretension; the plate-glass of the enterprising +draper, with the light veiled by shawls and ribbons, the 'purple +jars,' green, ruby, and crimson of the chemist; and the modest +ray of the grocer, revealing busy heads driving Saturday-night +bargains.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How well I soon shall know them all,' said +Albinia, looking at her husband, though she knew she could not +see his face, as he leant back silently in his corner, and she +tried to say no more. She was sure that coming home was painful +to him; he had been so willing to put it off, and to prolong +those pleasant seaside days, when there had been such pleasant +reading, walking, musing, and a great deal of happy +silence.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Down the hill, and a little way on level +ground--houses on one side, something like hedge or shrubbery on +the other--a stop--a gate opened--a hollow sound beneath the +carriage, as though crossing a wooden bridge--trees--bright +windows--an open door--and light streaming from it.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Here is your home, Albinia,' said that deep +musical voice that she loved the better for the subdued +melancholy of the tones, and the suppressed sigh that could not +be hidden.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And my children,' she eagerly said, as he +handed her out, and, springing to the ground, she hurried to the +open door opposite, where, in the lamp-light, she saw, moving +about in shy curiosity and embarrassment, two girls in white +frocks and broad scarlet sashes, and a boy, who, as she advanced, +retreated with his younger sister to the fireplace, while the +elder one, a pretty, and rather formal looking girl of twelve, +stood forward.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia held out her arms, saying, 'You are +Lucy, I am sure,' and eagerly kissed the girl's smiling, bright +face.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, I am Lucy,' was the well-pleased answer, +'I am glad you are come.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope we shall be very good friends,' said +Albinia, with the sweet smile that few, young or old, could +resist. 'And this is Gilbert,' as she kissed the blushing cheek +of a thin boy of thirteen--'and Sophia.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophia, who was eleven, had not stirred to meet +her. She alone inherited her father's fine straight profile, and +large black eyes, but she had the heaviness of feature that +sometimes goes with very dark complexions. The white frock did +not become her brown neck and arms, her thick black hair was +arranged in too womanly a manner, and her head and face looked +too large; moreover, there was no lighting-up to answer the +greeting, and Albinia was disappointed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Poor child, she thought, she is feeling deeply +that I am an interloper, it will be different now her father is +coming.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal was crossing the hall, and as he +entered he took the hand and kissed the forehead of each of the +three, but Sophia stood with the same half sullen +indifference--it might be shyness, or sensibility.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How much you are grown!' he said, looking at +the children with some surprise.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In fact, though Albinia knew their ages, they +were all on a larger scale than she had expected, and looked too +old for the children of a man of his youthful appearance. Gilbert +had the slight look of rapid growth; Lucy, though not so tall, +and with a small, clear, bright face, had the air of a little +woman, and Sophia's face might have befitted any age.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, papa,' said Lucy; 'Gilbert has grown an +inch-and-a-half since October, for we measured him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Have you been well, Gilbert?' continued Mr. +Kendal, anxiously.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have the toothache, said Gilbert, +piteously.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Happily, nothing more serious,' thrust in +Lucy; 'Mr. Bowles told Aunt Maria that he considers Gilbert's +health much improved.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia asked some kind questions about the +delinquent tooth, but the answers were short; and, to put an end +to the general constraint, she asked Lucy to show her to her +room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was a pretty bay-windowed room, and looked +cheerful in the firelight. Lucy's tongue was at once unloosed, +telling that Gilbert's tutor, Mr. Salsted, had insisted on his +having his tooth extracted, and that he had refused, saying it +was quite well; but Lucy gave it as her opinion that he much +preferred the toothache to his lessons.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Where does Mr. Salsted live?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'At Tremblam, about two miles off; Gilbert +rides the pony over there every day, except when he has the +toothache, and then he stays at home.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And what do you do?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We went to Miss Belmarche till the end of our +quarter, and since that we have been at home, or with grandmamma. +Do you <i>really</i> mean that we are to study with +you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I should like it, my dear. I have been looking +forward very much to teaching you and Sophia.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thank you, mamma.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The word was said with an effort as if it came +strangely, but it thrilled Albinia's heart, and she kissed Lucy, +who clung to her, and returned the caress.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I shall tell Gilbert and Sophy what a dear +mamma you are,' she said. 'Do you know, Sophy says she shall +never call you anything but Mrs. Kendal; and I know Gilbert means +the same.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Let them call me whatever suits them best,' +said Albinia; 'I had rather they waited till they feel that they +like to call me as you have done--thank you for it, dear Lucy. +You must not fancy I shall be at all hurt at your thinking of +times past. I shall want you to tell me of them, and of your own +dear mother, and what will suit papa best.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy looked highly gratified, and eagerly said, +'I am sure I shall love you just like my own mamma.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' said Albinia, kindly; 'I do not expect +that, my dear. I don't ask for any more than you can freely give, +dear child. You must bear with having me in that place, and we +will try and help each other to make your papa comfortable; and, +Lucy, you will forgive me, if I am impetuous, and make +mistakes.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy's little clear black eyes looked as if +nothing like this had ever come within her range of observation, +and Albinia could sympathize with her difficulty of +reply.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal was not in the drawing-room when +they re-entered, there was only Gilbert nursing his toothache by +the fire, and Sophy sitting in the middle of the rug, holding up +a screen. She said something good-natured to each, but neither +responded graciously, and Lucy went on talking, showing off the +room, the chiffonieres, the ornaments, and some pretty Indian +ivory carvings. There was a great ottoman of Aunt Maria's work, +and a huge cushion with an Arab horseman, that Lucy would +uncover, whispering, 'Poor mamma worked it,' while Sophy visibly +winced, and Albinia hurried it into the chintz cover again, lest +Mr. Kendal should come. But Lucy had full time to be +communicative about the household with such a satisfied, capable +manner, that Albinia asked if she had been keeping house all this +time.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No; old Nurse kept the keys, and managed till +now; but she went this morning.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy's mouth twitched.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She was so very fond--' continued +Lucy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't!' burst out Sophy, almost the first word +Albinia had heard from her; but no more passed, for Mr. Kendal +came in, and Lucy's conversation instantly was at an +end.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Before him she was almost as silent as the +others, and he seldom addressed himself to her, only inquiring +once after her grandmamma's health, and once calling Sophy out of +the way when she was standing between the fire and-- He finished +with the gesture of command, whether he said 'Your mamma,' none +could tell.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was late, and the meal was not over before +bed-time, when Albinia lingered to find remedies for Gilbert's +toothache, pleased to feel herself making a commencement of +motherly care, and to meet an affectionate glance of thanks from +Mr. Kendal's eye. Gilbert, too, thanked her with less shyness +than before, and was hopeful about the remedy; and with the +feeling of having made a beginning, she ran down to tell Mr. +Kendal that she thought he had hardly done justice to the +children--they were fine creatures--something so sweet and +winning about Lucy--she liked Gilbert's countenance--Sophy must +have something deep and noble in her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He lifted his head to look at her bright face, +and said, 'They are very much obliged to you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You must not say that, they are my +own.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I will not say it again, but as I look at you, +and the home to which I have brought you, I feel that I have +acted selfishly.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia timidly pressed his hand, 'Work was +always what I wished,' she said, 'if only I could do anything to +lighten your grief and care.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He gave a deep, heavy sigh. Albinia felt that +if he had hoped to have lessened the sadness, he had surely found +it again at his own door. He roused himself, however, to say, +'This is using you ill, Albinia; no one is more sensible of it +than I am.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I never sought more than you can give,' she +murmured; 'I only wish to do what I can for you, and you will not +let me disturb you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am very grateful to you,' was his answer; a +sad welcome for a bride. 'And these poor children will owe +everything to you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wish I may do right by them,' said Albinia, +fervently.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The flower of the flock'--began Mr. Kendal, +but he broke off at once.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia had told Winifred that she could bear +to have his wife's memory first with him, and that she knew that +she could not compensate to him for his loss, but the actual +sight of his dejection came on her with a chill, and she had to +call up all her energies and hopes, and, still better, the +thought of strength not her own, to enable her to look cheerfully +on the prospect. Sleep revived her elastic spirits, and with +eager curiosity she drew up her blind in the morning, for the +first view of her new home.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But there was a veil--moisture made the panes +resemble ground glass, and when she had rubbed that away, and +secured a clear corner, her range of vision was not much more +extensive. She could only see the grey outline of trees and +shrubs, obscured by the heavy mist; and on the lawn below, a +thick cloud that seemed to hang over a dark space which she +suspected to be a large pond.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There is very little to be gained by looking +out here!' Albinia soliloquized. 'It is not doing the place +justice to study it on a misty, moisty morning. It looks now as +if that fever might have come bodily out of the pond. I'll have +no more to say to it till the sun has licked up the fog, and made +it bright! Sunday morning--my last Sunday without school-teaching +I hope! I famish to begin again--and I will make time for that, +and the girls too! I am glad he consents to my doing whatever I +please in that way! I hope Mr. Dusautoy will! I wish Edmund knew +him better--but oh! what a shy man it is!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">With a light step she went down-stairs, and +found Mr Kendal waiting for her in the dining-room, his face +brightening as she entered.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am sorry Bayford should wear this heavy +cloud to receive you,' he said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It will soon clear,' she answered, cheerfully. +'Have you heard of poor Gilbert this morning?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not yet.' Then, after a pause, 'I have +generally gone to Mrs. Meadows after the morning service,' he +said, speaking with constraint.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You will take me?' said Albinia. 'I wish it, I +assure you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was evidently what he wished her to propose, +and he added, 'She must never feel herself neglected, and it will +be better at once.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So much more cordial,' said Albinia. 'Pray let +us go!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They were interrupted by the voices of the +girls--not unpleasing voices, but loud and unsubdued, and with a +slight tone of provincialism, which seemed to hurt Mr. Kendal's +ears, for he said, 'I hope you will tune those voices to +something less unlike your own.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">As he spoke, the sisters appeared in the full +and conscious rustling of new lilac silk dresses, which seemed to +have happily carried off all Sophy's sullenness, for she made +much more brisk and civil answers, and ran across the room in a +boisterous manner, when her father sent her to see whether +Gilbert were up.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was a great clatter, and Gilbert chased +her in, breathless and scolding, but the tongues were hushed +before papa, and no more was heard than that the tooth was +better, and had not kept him awake. Lucy seemed disposed to make +conversation, overwhelming Albinia with needless repetitions of +'Mamma dear,' and plunging into what Mrs. Bowles and Miss +Goldsmith had said of Mr. Dusautoy, and how he kept so few +servants, and the butcher had no orders last time he called. Aunt +Maria thought he starved and tyrannized over that poor little +sickly Mrs. Dusautoy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal said not one word, and seemed not to +hear. Albinia felt as if she had fallen into a whirlpool of +gossip; she looked towards him, and hoped to let the conversation +drop, but Sophy answered her sister, and, at last, when it came +to something about what Jane heard from Mrs. Osborn's Susan, +Albinia gently whispered, 'I do not think this entertains your +papa, my dear,' and silence sank upon them all.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia's next venture was to ask about that +which had been her Sunday pleasure from childhood, and she turned +to Sophy, and said, 'I suppose you have not begun to teach at the +school yet!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy's great eyes expanded, and Lucy said, 'Oh +dear mamma! nobody does that but Genevieve Durant and the +monitors. Miss Wolte did till Mr. Dusautoy came, but she does not +approve of him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Lucy, you do not know what you are saying,' +said Mr. Kendal, and again there was an annihilating silence, +which Albinia did not attempt to disturb.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">At church time, she met the young ladies in the +hall, in pink bonnets and sea-green mantillas over the lilac +silks, all evidently put on for the first time in her honour, an +honour of which she felt herself the less deserving, as, sensible +that this was no case for bridal display, she wore a quiet dark +silk, a Cashmere shawl, and plain straw bonnet, trimmed with +white.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">With manifest wish for reciprocity, Lucy fell +into transports over the shawl, but gaining nothing by this, +Sophy asked if she did not like the mantillas? Albinia could only +make civility compatible with truth by saying that the colour was +pretty, but where was Gilbert? He was on a stool before the +dining-room fire, looking piteous, and pronouncing his tooth far +too bad for going to church, and she had just time for a fresh +administration of camphor before Mr. Kendal came forth from his +study, and gave her his arm.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The front door opened on a narrow sweep, the +river cutting it off from the road, and crossed by two wooden +bridges, beside each of which stood a weeping-willow, budding +with fresh spring foliage. Opposite were houses of various +pretentious, and sheer behind them rose the steep hill, with the +church nearly at the summit, the noble spire tapering high above, +and the bells ringing out a cheerful chime. The mist had drawn +up, and all was fresh and clear.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There go Lizzie and Loo!' cried Lucy, 'and the +Admiral and Mrs. Osborn. I'll run and tell them papa is come +home.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy was setting off also, but Mr. Kendal +stopped them, and lingered a moment or two, making an excuse of +looking for a needless umbrella, but in fact to avoid the general +gaze. As if making a desperate plunge, however, and looking up +and down the broad street, so as to be secure that no +acquaintance was near, he emerged with Albinia from the gate, and +crossed the road as the chime of the bells changed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We are late,' he said. 'You will prefer the +speediest way, though it is somewhat steep.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The most private way, Albinia understood, and +could also perceive that the girls would have liked the street +which sloped up the hill, and thought the lilac and green +insulted by being conducted up the steep, irregular, and not very +clean bye-lane that led directly up the ascent, between houses, +some meanly modern, some picturesquely ancient, with stone steps +outside to the upper story, but all with far too much of pig-stye +about them for beauty or fragrance. Lucy held up her skirts, and +daintily picked her way, and Albinia looked with kindly eyes at +the doors and windows, secretly wondering what friends she should +find there.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The lane ended in a long flight of more than a +hundred shallow steps cut out in the soft stone of the hill, with +landing-places here and there, whence views were seen of the rich +meadow-landscape beyond, with villages, orchards, and farms, and +the blue winding river Baye in the midst, woods rising on the +opposite side under the soft haze of distance. On the other side, +the wall of rock was bordered by gardens, with streamers of ivy +or periwinkle here and there hanging down.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The ascent ended in an old-fashioned stone +stile; and here Sophy, standing on the step, proclaimed, with +unnecessary loudness, that Mr. Dusautoy was carrying Mrs. +Dusautoy across the churchyard. This had the effect of making a +pause, but Albinia saw the rector, a tall, powerful man, rather +supporting than actually carrying, a little fragile form to the +low-browed door leading into the chancel on the north side. The +church was handsome, though in the late style, and a good deal +misused by eighteenth-century taste; and Albinia was full of +admiration as Mr. Kendal conducted her along the flagged +path.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was rather dismayed to find herself +mounting the gallery stairs, and to emerge into a well-cushioned +abode, with the shield-bearing angel of the corbel of an arch all +to herself, and a very good view of the cobwebs over Mr. +Dusautoy's sounding-board. It seemed to suit all parties, +however, for Lucy and Sophia took possession of the forefront, +and their father had the inmost corner, where certainly nobody +could see him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Just opposite to Albinia was a mural tablet, on +which she read what revealed to her more of the sorrows of her +household than she had guessed before:</font></p> + +<center><font size="2"><b>'To the memory of Lucy, the beloved +wife of Edmund Kendal.<br> +Died February 18th, 1845, aged 35 years.<br> +</b></font> +<p><font size="2"><b>Edmund Meadows Kendal, born January 20th, +1834.<br> +Died February 10th, 1845.</b></font></p> + +<p><font size="2"><b>Maria Kendal, born September 5th, 1840.<br> +Died September 14th, 1840.</b></font></p> + +<p><font size="2"><b>Sarah Anne Kendal, born October 3rd, +1841.<br> +Died November 20th, 1843.</b></font></p> + +<p><font size="2"><b>John Augustus Kendal, born January 4th, +1842.<br> +Died July 6th, 1842.</b></font></p> + +<p><font size="2"><b>Anne Maria Kendal, born June 12th, 1844.<br> +Died June 19th, 1844.'</b></font></p> +</center> + +<p><font size="2">Then followed, in the original Greek, the +words, <b>'Because I live, ye shall live also.'</b></font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Four infants! how many hopes laid here! All the +English-born children of the family had died in their cradles, +and not only did compassion for the past affect Albinia, as she +thought of her husband's world of hidden grief, but a shudder for +the future came over her, as she remembered having read that such +mortality is a test of the healthiness of a locality. What could +she think of Willow Lawn? It was with a strong effort that she +brought her attention back to Him Who controlleth the sickness +that destroyeth at noon-day.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But Mr. Dusautoy's deep, powerful intonations +roused her wandering thoughts, and she was calmed and reassured +by the holy Feast, in which she joined with her +husband.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal's fine face was calm and placid, as +best she loved to look upon it, when they came out of church, and +she was too happy to disturb the quiet by one word. Lively and +animated as she was, there was a sort of repose and enjoyment in +the species of respect exacted by his grave silent +demeanour.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">If this could only have lasted longer! but he +was taking her along an irregular street, and too soon she saw a +slight colour flit across his cheek, and his eyebrows contract, +as he unlatched a green door in a high wall, and entered a little +flagged court, decorated by a stand destined for +flowers.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia caught the blush, and felt more bashful +than she had believed was in her nature, but she had a +warm-hearted determination that she would work down prejudices, +and like and be liked by all that concerned him and his children. +So she smiled at him, and went bravely on into the matted hall +and up the narrow stairs, and made a laughing sign when he looked +back at her ere he tapped at the sitting-room door.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was opened from within before he could turn +the handle, and a shrill voice, exaggerating those of the girls, +showered welcomes with such rapidity, that Albinia was seated at +the table, and had been helped to cold chicken, before she could +look round, or make much answer to reiterations of 'so very +kind.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was a small room, loaded with knicknacks and +cushions, like a repository of every species of female ornamental +handiwork in vogue for the last half century, and the +luncheon-tray in the middle of all, ready for six people, for the +two girls were there, and though Mr. Kendal stood up by the fire, +and would not eat, he and his black image, reflected backwards +and forwards in the looking-glass and in the little round mirror, +seemed to take up more room than if he had been +seated.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mrs. Meadows was slight, shrunken, and +gentle-looking, with a sweet tone in her voice, great softness of +manner, and pretty blue eyes. Albinia only wished that she had +worn mourning, it would have been so much more becoming than +bright colours, but that was soon overlooked in gratitude for her +affectionate reception, and in the warmth of feeling excited by +her evident fondness and solicitude for Mr. Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Miss Meadows was gaily dressed in youthful +fashion, such as evidently had set her off to advantage when she +had been a bright, dark, handsome girl; but her hair was thin, +her cheeks haggard, the colour hardened, and her forty years +apparent, above all, in an uncomfortable furrow on the brow and +round the mouth; her voice had a sharp distressed tone that +grated even in her lowest key, and though she did not stammer, +she could never finish a sentence, but made half-a-dozen +disjointed commencements whenever she spoke. Albinia pitied her, +and thought her nervous, for she was painfully assiduous in +waiting on every one, scarcely sitting down for a minute before +she was sure that pepper, or pickle, or new bread, or stale +bread, or something was wanted, and squeezing round the table to +help some one, or to ring the bell every third minute, and all in +a dress that had a teasing stiff silken rustle. She offered Mr. +Kendal everything in the shape of food, till he purchased peace +by submitting to take a hard biscuit, while Albinia was not +allowed her glass of water till all manner of wines, foreign and +domestic, had been tried upon her in vain.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Conversation was not easy. Gilbert was inquired +after, and his aunt spoke in her shrill, injured note, as she +declared that she had done her utmost to persuade him to have the +tooth extracted, and began a history of what the dentist ought to +have done five years ago.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">His grandmother softly pitied him, saying poor +little Gibbie was such a delicate boy, and required such careful +treatment; and when Albinia hoped that he was outgrowing his +ill-health, she was amused to find that desponding compassion +would have been more pleasing.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There had been a transaction about a servant in +her behalf: and Miss Meadows insisted on hunting up a note, +searching all about the room, and making her mother and Sophy +move from the front of two table-drawers, a disturbance which +Sophy did not take with such placid looks as did her +grandmother.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The name of the maid was Eweretta Dobson, at +which there was a general exclamation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wonder what is the history of the name,' +said Albinia; 'it sounds like nothing but the diminutive of ewer. +I hope she will not be the little pitcher with long +ears.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal looked as much amused as he ever +did, but no one else gave the least token of so much as knowing +what she meant, and she felt as if she had been making a foolish +attempt at wit.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You need not call her so,' was all that Mrs. +Meadows said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do not like calling servants by anything but +their true names,' answered Albinia; 'it does not seem to me +treating them with proper respect to change their names, as if we +thought them too good for them. It is using them like +slaves.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy exclaimed, 'Why! grandmamma's Betty is +really named Philadelphia.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia laughed, but was disconcerted by +finding that she had really given annoyance. 'I beg your pardon,' +she said. 'It is only a fancy of my own. I am afraid that I have +many fancies for my friends to bear with. You see I have so fine +a name of my own, that I have a fellow-feeling for those under +the same affliction; and I believe some servants like an alias +rather than be teased for their finery, so I shall give Miss +Eweretta her choice between that and her surname.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The old lady looked good-natured, and that +matter blew over; but Miss Meadows fell into another complication +of pros and cons about writing for the woman's character, looking +miserably harassed whether she should write, or Mrs. Kendal, +before she had been called upon.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia supposed that Mrs. Wolfe might call in +the course of the week; but this Miss Meadows did not know, and +she embarked in so many half speeches, and looked so mysterious +and significant at her mother, that Albinia began to suspect that +some dreadful truth was behind.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Perhaps,' said the old lady, 'perhaps Mrs. +Kendal might make it understood through you, my dear Maria, that +she is ready to receive visits.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I suppose they must be!' said +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You see, my dear, people would be most happy, +but they do not know whether you have arrived. You have not +appeared at church, as I may say.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Indeed,' said Albinia, much diverted by her +new discoveries in the realms of etiquette, 'I was rather in a +cupboard, I must allow. Ought we to have sailed up the aisle in +state in the Grandison pattern? Are you ready?' and she glanced +up at her husband, but he only half heard.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' said Miss Meadows, fretfully; 'but you +have not appeared as a bride. The straw bonnet--you see people +cannot tell whether you are not incog, as yet--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">To refrain from laughing was impossible. 'My +tarn cap,' she exclaimed; 'I am invisible in it! What shall I do? +I fear I shall never be producible, for indeed it is my very +best, my veritable wedding-bonnet!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy looked as if she thought it not worth +while to be married for no better a bonnet than that.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Absurdity!' said Mr. Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">If he would but have given a good hearty laugh, +thought Albinia, what a consolation it would be! but she +considered herself to have had a lesson against laughing in that +house, and was very glad when he proposed going home. He took a +kind, affectionate leave of the old lady, who again looked fondly +in big face, and rejoiced in his having recovered his +looks.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">As they arrived at home, Lucy announced that +she was just going to speak to Lizzie Osborn, and Sophy ran after +her to a house of about the same degree as their own, but +dignified as Mount Lodge, because it stood on the hill side of +the street, while Mr. Kendal's house was for more gentility +called 'Willow Lawn.' Gilbert was not to be found; but at four +o'clock the whole party met at dinner, before the evening +service.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert could eat little, and on going back to +the fire to roast his cheek instead of going to church, was told +by his father, 'I cannot have this going on. You must go to Mr. +Bowles directly after breakfast to-morrow, have the tooth drawn, +and then go on to Mr. Salsted's.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The tone was one that admitted of no rebellion. +If Mr. Kendal interfered little, his authority was absolute where +he did interfere, and Albinia could only speak a few kind words +of encouragement, but the boy was vexed and moody, seemed half +asleep when they came home, and went to bed as soon as tea was +over.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy went to bed too, Mr. Kendal went to his +study, and Albinia, after this day of novelty and excitement, +drew her chair to the fire, and as Lucy was hanging wearily +about, called her to her side, and made her talk, believing that +there was more use in studying the girl's character than even in +suggesting some occupation, though that was apparently the great +want of the whole family on Sunday.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy's first confidence was that Gilbert had +not been out alone, but with that Archibald Tritton. Mr. Tritton +had a great farm, and was a sort of gentleman, and Gilbert was +always after that Archy. She thought it 'very undesirable,' and +Aunt Maria had talked to him about it, but he never listened to +Aunt Maria.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia privately thought that it must be a +severe penance to listen to Aunt Maria, and took Gilbert's part. +She supposed that he must be very solitary; it must be a +melancholy thing to be a twin left alone.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And Edmund, dear Edmund, was always so kind +and so fond of Gilbert!' said Lucy. 'You would not have thought +they were twins, Edmund was so much the tallest and strongest. It +seemed so odd that Gilbert should have got over it, when he did +not. Should you like to hear all about it, mamma?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was Albinia's great wish to lift that dark +veil, and Lucy began, with as much seriousness and sadness as +could co-exist with the satisfaction and importance of having to +give such a narration, and exciting emotion and pity. It was +remarkable how she managed to make herself the heroine of the +story, though she had been sent out of the house, and had escaped +the infection. She spoke in phrases that showed that she had so +often told the story as to have a set form, caught from her +elders, but still it had a deep and intrinsic interest for the +bride, that made her sit gazing into the fire, pressing Lucy's +hand, and now and then sighing and shuddering slightly as she +heard how there had been a bad fever prevailing in that lower +part of the town, and how the two boys were both unwell one damp, +hot autumn morning, and Lucy dwelt on the escape it had been that +she had not kissed them before going to school. Sophy had +sickened the same day, and after the tedious three weeks, when +father and mother were spent with attendance on the three, +Edmund, after long delirium, had suddenly sunk, just as they had +hopes of him; and the same message that told Lucy of her +brother's death, told her of the severe illness of both +parents.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The disease had done the work rapidly on the +mother's exhausted frame, and she was buried a week after her +boy. Lucy had seen the procession from the window, and thought it +necessary to tell how she had cried.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal's had been a long illness; the first +knowledge of his loss had caused a relapse, and his recovery had +long been doubtful. As soon as the children were able to move, +they were sent with Miss Meadows to Ramsgate, and Lucy had joined +them there.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The day before I went, I saw papa,' she said. +'I had gone home for some things that I was to take, and his room +door was open, so he saw me on the stairs, and called me, for +there was no fear of infection then. Oh, he was so changed! his +hair all cut off, and his cheeks hollow, and he was quite +trembling, as he lay back on pillows in the great arm-chair. You +can't think what a shock it was to me to see him in such a state. +He held out his arms, and I flung mine round his neck, and sobbed +and cried. And he just said, so faintly, "Take her away, Maria, I +cannot bear it." I assure you I was quite hysterical.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You must have wished for more self-command,' +said Albinia, disturbed by Lucy's evident pleasure in having made +a scene.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, but it was such a shock, and such a thing +to see the house all empty and forlorn, with the windows open, +and everything so still! Miss Belmarche cried too, and said she +did not wonder my feelings overcame me, and <i>she</i> did not +see papa.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! Lucy,' said Albinia, fervently, 'how we +must try to make him happy after all that he has gone +through!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That is what grandmamma said when she got his +letter. "I would be glad of anything," she said, "that would +bring back a smile to him." And Aunt Maria said she had done her +best for him, but he must consult his own happiness; and so I +say. When people talk to me, I say that papa is quite at liberty +to consult his own happiness.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thank you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy did not understand the tone, and went on +patronizing. 'And if they say you look younger than they +expected, I don't object to that at all. I had rather you were +not as old as Aunt Maria, or Miss Belmarche.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Who thinks me so young?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! Aunt Maria, and grandmamma, and Mrs. +Osborn, and all; but I don't mind that, it is only Sophy who says +you look like a girl. Aunt Maria says Sophy has an unmanageable +temper.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't you think you can let me find that out +for myself?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I thought you wanted me to tell you about +everybody.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! but tell me of the good in your brother +and sister.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know how,' said Lucy. 'Gilbert is so +tiresome, and so is Sophy. I heard Mary telling Jane, "I'm sure +the new missus will have a heavy handful of those +two."'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And what of yourself?' said +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! I don't know,' said Lucy, +modestly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal came in, and as Albinia looked at +his pensive brow, she was oppressed by the thought of his +sufferings in that dreary convalescence. At night, when she +looked from her window, the fog hung white, like mildew over the +pond, and she could not reason herself out of a spectral haunting +fancy that sickness lurked in the heavy, misty atmosphere. She +dreamt of it and the four babies, started, awoke, and had to +recall all her higher trust to enable her vigour to chase off the +oppressive imagination.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER III.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal's eyes as she rose, and +she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time. +But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter +from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character. As he +finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, 'A letter +from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the +Salsette caves.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Have you seen the Salsette caves?</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was longing to hear about them, but his +horse was announced.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You said you would be engaged in the morning +while I ride out, Albinia?' he said, 'I shall return before +luncheon. Gilbert, you had better go at once to Mr. Bowles. I +shall order your pony to be ready when you come back.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was not a word of remonstrance, though +the boy looked very disconsolate, and began to murmur the moment +his father had gone. Albinia, who had regarded protection at a +dentist's one of the offices of the head of a family, though +dismayed at the task, told Gilbert that she would come with him +in a moment. The girls exclaimed that no one thought of going +with him, and fearing she had put an affront on his manliness, +she asked what he would like, but could get no answer, only when +Lucy scolded him for lingering, he said, 'I thought <i>she</i> +was going with me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Amiable,' thought Albinia, as she ran up to +put on her bonnet; 'but I suppose toothache puts people out of +the pale of civilization. And if he is thankless, is not that +treating me more like a mother?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Perhaps he had accepted her escort in hopes of +deferring the evil hour, for he seemed discomfited to see her so +quickly ready, and not grateful to his sisters, who hurried them +by saying that Mr. Bowles would be gone out upon his +rounds.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Bowles was amazed at the sight of Mrs. +Kendal, and so elaborate in compliments and assurances that Mrs. +Bowles would do herself the honour of calling, that Albinia, +pitying Gilbert, called his attention back.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">With him the apothecary was peremptory and +facetious. 'He had expected that he should soon see him after his +papa's return!' And with a 'soon be over,' he set him down, and +Albinia bravely stood a desperate wringing of her hand at the tug +of war. She was glad she had come, for the boy suffered a good +deal, and was faint, and Mr. Bowles pronounced his mouth in no +state for a ride to Tremblam.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I must go,' said Gilbert, as they walked home, +'I wish papa would listen to anything.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He would not wish you to hurt +yourself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'When papa says a thing--' began +Gilbert.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, Gilbert, you are quite right, and I hope +you don't think I mean to teach you disobedience. But I do desire +you, on my own responsibility, not to go and catch an +inflammation in your jaw. I'll undertake papa.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert at once became quite another creature. +He discoursed so much, that she had to make him restore the +handkerchief to his mouth; he held open the gate, showed her a +shoal of minnows, and tried to persuade her to come round the +garden before going in, but she clapped her hands at him, and +hunted him back into the warm room, much impressed and delighted +by his implicit obedience to his father. With Lucy and Sophy, his +remaining seemed likewise to make a great sensation; they looked +at Mrs. Kendal and whispered, and were evidently curious as to +the result of her audacity. Albinia, who had grown up with her +brother Maurice and cousin Frederick, was more used to boys than +to girls, and was already more at ease with her son than her +daughters.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert lent a ready hand with hammer and +chisel, and boxes were opened, to the great delight and +admiration of the girls. They were all very happy and busy +setting things to rights, but Albinia was in difficulty how to +bestow her books. There was an unaccountable scarcity both of +books and book-cases; none were to be seen except that, in a +chiffoniere in the drawing-room, there was a row in gilded +bindings, chiefly Pope, Gray, and the like; and one which Albinia +took out had pages which stuck together, a little pale blue +string, faded at the end, and in the garlanded fly-leaf the +inscription, 'To Miss Lucy Meadows, the reward of good conduct, +December 20th, 1822.' The book seemed rather surprised at being +opened, and Albinia let it close itself as Lucy said, 'Those are +poor mamma's books, all the others are in the study. Come in, and +I'll show you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She threw open the door, and Albinia entered. +The study was shaded with a mass of laurels that kept out the +sun, and made it look chill and sad, and the air in it was close. +The round library-table was loaded with desks, pocket-books, and +papers, the mantelpiece was covered with letters, and +book-shelves mounted to the ceiling, filled with the learned and +the poetical of new and old times.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Over the fireplace hung what it needed not +Lucy's whisper to point out, as 'Poor mamma's picture.' It +represented a very pretty girl, with dark eyes, brilliant colour, +and small cherry mouth, painted in the exaggerated style usually +called 'ridiculously like.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia's first feeling was that there was +nothing in herself that could atone for the loss of so fair a +creature, and the thought became more oppressive as she looked at +a niche in the wall, holding a carved sandal-wood work-box, with +a silver watch lying on it.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor Edmund's watch,' said Lucy. 'It was given +to him for a reward just before he was ill.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia tried to recover composure by reading +the titles of the books. Suddenly, Lucy started and exclaimed, +'Come away. There he is!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why come away?' said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I would not have him find me there for all the +world.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In all her vexation and dismay, Albinia could +not help thinking of Bluebeard's closet. Her inclination was to +stay where she was, and take her chance of losing her head, yet +she felt as if she could not bear to be found invading a +sanctuary of past recollections, and was relieved to find that it +was a false alarm, though not relieved by the announcement that +Admiral and Mrs. Osborn and the Miss Osborns were in the +drawing-room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Before luncheon--too bad!' she exclaimed, as +she hurried upstairs to wash off the dust of +unpacking.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Ere she could hurry down, there was another +inundation streaming across the hall, Mrs. Drury and three Miss +Drurys, who, as she remembered, when they began to kiss her, were +some kind of cousins.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was talk, but Albinia could not give +entire attention; she was watching for Mr. Kendal's return, that +she might guard Gilbert from his displeasure, and the instant she +heard him, she sprang up, and flew into the hall. He could not +help brightening at the eager welcome, but when she told him of +Mr. Bowles' opinion, he looked graver, and said, 'I fear you must +not always attach credit to all Gilbert's reports.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mr. Bowles told me himself that he must run no +risk of inflammation.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You saw Mr. Bowles?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I went with Gilbert.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You? I never thought of your imposing so +unpleasant a task on yourself. I fear the boy has been +trespassing on your kindness.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, indeed, he never asked me, but--' with a +sort of laugh to hide the warmth excited by his pleased, grateful +look, 'I thought it all in the day's work, only +natural--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She would have given anything to have had time +to enjoy his epanchement de coeur at those words, bit she was +obliged to add, 'Alas! there's all the world in the +drawing-room!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Who?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Osborns and Drurys.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you want me?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I ran away on the plea of calling +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'll never do so again,' was her inward +addition, as his countenance settled into the accustomed fixed +look of abstraction, and as an unwilling victim he entered the +room with her, and the visitors were 'dreadful enough' to +congratulate him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia knew that it must be so unpleasant to +him, that she blushed up to the roots of her hair, and could not +look at anybody.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When she recovered, the first comers were +taking leave, but the second set stayed on and on till past +luncheon-time, and far past her patience, before the room was at +last cleared.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert hurried in, and was received by his +father with, 'You are very much obliged to her!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Indeed I am,' said Gilbert, in a winning, +pleasant manner.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't want you to be,' said Albinia, +affectionately laying her arm on his shoulder. 'And now for +luncheon--I pitied you, poor fellow; I thought you must have been +famished.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Anything not to have all the Drurys at +luncheon,' said Gilbert, confidentially, 'I had begun to wish +myself at Tremblam.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'By the bye,' said Mr. Kendal, waking as he sat +down at the bottom of the table, 'how was it that the Drurys did +not stay to luncheon?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Was that what they were waiting for?' +exclaimed Albinia. 'Poor people, I had no notion of +that.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'They do have luncheon here in general,' said +Mr. Kendal, as if not knowing exactly how it came to +pass.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'O yes,' said Lucy; 'Sarah Anne asked me +whether we ate wedding-cake every day.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor Miss Sarah Anne!' said Albinia, laughing. +'But one cannot help feeling inhospitable when people come so +unconscionably early, and cut up all one's morning.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The door was again besieged by visitors, just +as they were all going out to make the round of the garden, and +it was not till half-past four that the succession ceased, and +Albinia was left to breathe freely, and remember how often +Maurice had called her to order for intolerance of morning +calls.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And not the only people I cared to see,' she +said, 'the Dusautoys and Nugents. But they have too much mercy to +call the first day.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal looked as if his instinct were +drawing him study-wards, but Albinia hung on his arm, and made +him come into the garden. Though devoid of Winifred's gardening +tastes, she was dismayed at the untended look of the flower-beds. +The laurels were too high, and seemed to choke the narrow space, +and the turf owed its verdant appearance to damp moss. She had +made but few steps before the water squished under her feet, and +impelled her to exclaim, 'What a pity this pond should not be +filled up!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Filled up!--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, it would be so much less damp. One might +drain it off into the river, and then we should get rid of the +fog.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And she began actively to demonstrate the +convenient slope, and the beautiful flower-bed that might be made +in its place. Mr. Kendal answered with a few assenting sounds and +complacent looks, and Albinia, accustomed to a brother with whom +to assent was to act, believed the matter was in train, and that +pond and fever would be annihilated.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The garden opened into a meadow with a causeway +leading to a canal bank, where there was a promising country +walk, but the cruel visitors had left no time for exploring, and +Albinia had to return home and hurry up her arrangements before +there was space to turn round in her room--even then it was not +what Winifred could have seen without making a face.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal had read aloud to his wife in the +evening during the stay at the sea-side, and she was anxious not +to let the habit drop. He liked it, and read beautifully, and she +thought it good for the children. She therefore begged him to +read, catching him on the way to his study, and coaxing him to +stay no longer than to find a book. He brought Schlegel's +Philosophy of History. She feared that it was above the young +ones, but it was delightful to herself, and the custom had better +be established before it was perilled by attempts to adapt it to +the children. Lucy and Sophy seemed astonished and displeased, +and their whispers had to be silenced, Gilbert learnt his lessons +apart. Albinia rallied her spirits, and insisted to herself that +she did not feel discouraged.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Monday had gone, or rather Albinia had been +robbed of it by visitors--now for a vigorous Tuesday. Her +unpacking and her setting to rights were not half over, but as +the surface was habitable, she resolved to finish at her leisure, +and sacrifice no more mornings of study.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">So after she had lingered at the door, to +delight Gilbert by admiring his pony, she returned to the +dining-room, where the girls were loading a small table in the +window with piles of books and exercises, and Lucy was standing, +looking all eagerness to show off her drawings.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, my dear, but first we had better read. I +have been talking to your papa, and we have settled that on +Wednesdays and Fridays we will go to church; but on these days we +will begin by reading the Psalms and Lessons.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh,' said Lucy, 'we never do that, except when +we are at grandmamma's.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Pray are you too old or too young for it?' +said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We did it to please grandmamma,' said +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Now you will do it to please me,' said +Albinia, 'if for no better reason. Fetch your Bibles and +Prayerbooks.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We shall never have time for our studies, I +assure you, mamma,' objected Lucy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That is not your concern,' said Albinia, her +spirit rising at the girls' opposition. 'I wish for +obedience.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy went, Sophy leant against the table like a +post. Albinia regretted that the first shot should have been +fired for such a cause, and sat perplexing herself whether it +were worse to give way, or to force the girls to read Holy +Scripture in such a mood.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy came flying down with the four books in +her hands, and began officiously opening them before her sister, +and exhorting her not to give way to sullenness--she ought to +like to read the Bible--which of course made Sophy look crosser. +The desire to establish her authority conquered the scruple about +reverence. Albinia set them to read, and suffered for it. Lucy +road flippantly; Sophy in the hoarse, dull, dogged voice of a +naughty boy. She did not dare to expostulate, lest she should +exasperate the tempers that she had roused.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Never mind,' she thought, 'when the +institution is fixed, they will be more amenable.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She tried a little examination afterwards, but +not one answer was to be extracted from Sophy, and Lucy knew far +less than the first class at Fairmead, and made her replies wide +of the mark, with an air of satisfaction that nearly overthrew +the young step-mother's patience.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When Albinia took her Bible upstairs, she gave +Sophy time to say what Lucy reported instantly on her +entrance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Dear me, mamma, here is Sophy declaring that +you ought to be a charity-schoolmistress. You wont be angry with +her, but it is so funny!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If you were at my charity school, Lucy,' said +Albinia, 'the first lesson I should give you would be against +telling tales.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy subsided.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia turned to Sophy. 'My dear,' she said, +'perhaps I pressed this on when you were not prepared for it, but +I have always been used to think of it as a duty.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy made no answer, but her moody attitude +relaxed, and Albinia took comfort in the hope that she might have +been gracious if she had known how to set about it.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I suppose Miss Belmarche is a Roman Catholic,' +she said, wishing to account for this wonderful ignorance, and +addressing herself to Sophy; but Lucy, whom she thought she had +effectually put down, was up again in a moment like a +Jack-in-a-box.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'O yes, but not Genevieve. Her papa made it his +desire that she should be brought up a Protestant. Wasn't it +funny? You know Genevieve is Madame Belmarche's grand-daughter, +and Mr. Durant was a dancing-master.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Madame Belmarche's father and brother were +guillotined,' continued Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! then she is an emigrant?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes. Miss Belmarche has always kept school +here. Our own mamma, and Aunt Maria went to school to her, and +Miss Celeste Belmarche married Mr. Durant, a dancing-master--she +was French teacher in a school in London where he taught, and +Madame Belmarche did not approve, for she and her husband were +something very grand in France, so they waited and waited ever so +long, and when at last they did marry, they were quite old, and +she died very soon; and they say he never was happy again, and +pined away till he really did die of grief, and so Genevieve came +to her grandmamma to be brought up.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor child! How old is she?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Fifteen,' said Lucy. 'She teaches in the +school. She is not at all pretty, and such a queer little +thing.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Was her father French?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' said Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Lucy. 'You know nothing about it, +Sophy. He was French, but of the Protestant French sort, that +came to England a great many years ago, when they ran away from +the Sicilian Vespers, or the Edict of Nantes, I don't remember +which; only the Spitalfields weavers have something to do with +it. However, at any rate Genevieve has got something in a drawer +up in her own room that she is very secret about, and wont show +to anybody.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think it is something that somebody was +killed with,' said Sophy, in a low voice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Dear me, if it is, I am sure it is quite +wicked to keep it. I shall be quite afraid to go into her room, +and you know I slept there all the time of the fever.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It did not hurt you,' said Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia had been strongly interested by the +touching facts, so untouchingly narrated, and by the +characteristic account of the Huguenot emigration, but it +suddenly occurred to her that she was promoting gossip, and she +returned to business. Lucy showed off her attainments with her +usual self-satisfaction. They were what might be expected from a +second-rate old-fashioned young ladies' school, where nothing was +good but the French pronunciation. She was evidently considered a +great proficient, and her glib mediocrity was even more +disheartening than the ungracious carelessness or dulness--there +was no knowing which--that made her sister figure wretchedly in +the examination. However, there was little time--the door-bell +rang at a quarter to twelve, and Mrs. Wolfe was in the +drawing-room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I told you so,' whispered Lucy, +exultingly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'This is unbearable,' cried Albinia. 'I shall +give notice that I am always engaged in the morning.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She desired each young lady to work a sum in +her absence, and left them to murmur, if they were so disposed. +Perhaps it was Lucy's speech that made her inflict the +employment; at any rate, her spirit was not as serene as she +could have desired.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal was quite willing that she should +henceforth shut her door against company in the morning; that is +to say, he bowed his head assentingly. She was begging him to +take a walk with her, when, at another sound of the bell, he made +a precipitate retreat into his study. The visitors were the +Belmarche family. The old lady was dark and withered, small, yet +in look and air, with a certain nobility and grandeur that +carried Albinia back in a moment to the days of hoops and trains, +of powder and high-heeled shoes, and made her feel that the +sweeping courtesy had come straight from the days of Marie +Antoinette, and that it was an honour and distinction conferred +by a superior--superior, indeed, in all the dignity of age, +suffering, and constancy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia blushed, and took her hand with respect +very unlike the patronizing airs of Bayford Bridge towards 'poor +old Madame Belmarche,' and with downcast eyes, and pretty +embarrassment, heard the stately compliments of the <i>ancien +regime</i>.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Miss Belmarche was not such a fine specimen of +Sevres porcelain as her mother. She was a brown, dried, small +woman, having lost, or never possessed, her country's taste in +dress, and with a rusty bonnet over the tight, frizzly curls of +her front, too thin and too scantily robed to have any waist, and +speaking English too well for the piquant grace of her mother's +speech. Poor lady! born an exile, she had toiled, and struggled +for a whole lifetime to support her mother; but though care had +worn her down, there was still vivacity in her quick little black +eyes, and though her teeth were of a dreadful colour, her laugh +was so full of life and sweetness, that Albinia felt drawn +towards her in a moment.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Silent and demure, plainly dressed in an old +dark merino, and a white-ribboned faded bonnet, sat a little +figure almost behind her grandmother. Her face had the French +want of complexion, but the eyes were of the deepest, most +lustrous hue of grey, almost as dark as the pupils, and with the +softness of long dark eyelashes--beautiful eyes, full of light +and expression--and as she moved towards the table, there was a +finish and delicacy about the whole form and movements, that made +her a most pleasing object.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But Albinia could not improve her acquaintance, +for in flowed another party of visitors, and Madame curtsied +herself out again, Albinia volunteering that she would soon come +to see her, and being answered, 'You will do me too much +honour.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Another afternoon devoured by visitors! Every +one seemed to have come except the persons who would have been +most welcome, Mr. Dusautoy, and Winifred's friends, the +Nugents.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When, at four o'clock, she had shaken hands +with the last guest, she gave a hearty yawn, jumped up and shook +herself, as she exclaimed, 'There! There! that is done! I wonder +whether your papa would come out now?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He is in his study,' said the +girls.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia thought of knocking and calling at the +door, but somehow it seemed impossible, and she decided on +promenading past his window to show that she was ready for him. +But alas! those evergreens! She could not see in, and probably he +could not see out.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ha!' cried Lucy, as they pursued their walk +into the kitchen garden, 'here are some asparagus coming up. +Grandmamma always has our first asparagus.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was delighted to find such an opening. +Out came her knife--they would cut the heads and take them up at +once; but when the tempting white-stalked, pink-tipped bundle had +been made up and put into a basket, a difficulty +arose.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'll call the boy to take it,' said +Lucy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What, when we are going ourselves?' said +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! but we can't.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why? Do you think we shall break down under +the weight?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'O no, but people will stare.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why--what should they stare at?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It looks <i>so</i> to carry a +basket--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia burst into one of her merriest peals of +laughing.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not carry a basket! My dear, I have looked +<i>so</i> all the days of my life. Bayford must endure the +spectacle, so it may as well begin at once.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But, dear mamma--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm not asking you to carry it. O no, I only +hope you don't think it too ungenteel to walk with me. But the +notion of calling a boy away from his work, to carry a couple of +dozen asparagus when an able-bodied woman is going that way +herself!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was so tickled that she could hardly +check herself, even when she saw Lucy looking distressed and +hurt, and little laughs would break out every moment as she +beheld the young lady keeping aloof, as if ashamed of her +company, turning towards the steep church steps, willing at least +to hide the dreadful sight from the High Street.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Just as they had entered the narrow alley, they +heard a hasty tread, and almost running over them with his long +strides, came Mr. Dusautoy. He brought himself up short, just in +time, and exclaimed, 'I beg your pardon--Mrs. Kendal, I believe. +Could you be kind enough to give me a glass of +brandy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia gave a great start, as well she +might.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I was going to fetch one,' quickly proceeded +Mr. Dusautoy, 'but your house is nearer. A poor man--there--just +come home--been on the tramp for work--quite exhausted--' and he +pointed to one of the cottages.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'll fetch it at once,' cried +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thank you,' he said, as they crossed the +street. 'This poor fellow has had nothing all day, has walked +from Hadminster--just got home, sank down quite worn out, and +there is nothing in the house but dry bread. His wife wants +something nearly as much as he does.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In the excitement, Albinia utterly forgot all +scruples about 'Bluebeard's closet.' She hurried into the house, +and made but one dash, standing before her astonished husband's +dreamy eyes, exclaiming, 'Pray give me the key of the cellaret; +there's a poor man just come home, fainting with exhaustion, Mr. +Dusautoy wants some brandy for him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Like a man but half awake, obeying an +apparition, Mr. Kendal put his hand into his pocket and gave her +the key. She was instantly opening the cellaret, seeking among +the bottles, and asking questions all the time. She proposed +taking a jug of the kitchen-tea then in operation, and Mr. +Dusautoy caught at the idea, so that poor Lucy beheld the +dreadful spectacle of the vicar bearing a can full of steaming +tea, and Mrs. Kendal a small cup with the 'spirituous liquor.' +What was the asparagus to this?</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia told her to go on to Mrs. Meadows', and +that she should soon follow. She intended to have gone the moment +that she had carried in the cup, leaving Mr. Dusautoy in the +cottage, but the poor trembling frightened wife needed woman's +sympathy and soothing, and she waited to comfort her, and to see +the pair more able to enjoy the meeting, in their tidy, but bare +and damp-looking cottage. She promised broth for the morrow, and +took her leave, the vicar coming away at the same +time.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thank you,' he said, warmly, as they came out, +and turned to mount the hill together.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'May I go and call on them again?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It will be very kind in you. Poor Simkins is a +steady, good sort of fellow, but a clumsy workman, down-hearted, +and with poor health, and things have been untoward with +him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'People, who do not prosper in the world are +not always the worst,' said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, indeed, and these are grateful, +warm-hearted people that you will like, if you can get over the +poor woman's lackadaisical manner. But you are used to all that,' +he added, smiling. 'I see you know what poor folk are made +of.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have been living among them nearly all my +days,' said Albinia. 'I hope you will give me something to do, I +should be quite forlorn without it;' and she looked up to his +kind, open face, as much at home with him as if she had known, +him for years.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Fanny--my wife--shall find work for you,' he +said. 'You must excuse her calling on you, she is never off the +sofa, but--' And what a bright look he gave! as much as to say +that his wife <i>on</i> the sofa was better than any one else +<i>off</i>. 'I was hoping to call some of these afternoons,' he +continued, 'but I have had little time, and Fanny thought your +door was besieged enough already.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thank you,' said Albinia; 'I own I thought it +was your kindness in leaving me a little breathing time. And +would Mrs. Dusautoy be able to see me if I were to +call?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She would be delighted. Suppose you were to +come in at once.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wish I could, but I must go on to Mrs. +Meadows'. If I were to come to-morrow?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Any time--any time,' he said. 'She is always +at home, and she has been much better since we came here. We were +too much in the town at Lauriston.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Dusautoy, having a year ago come out of the +diocese where had been Albinia's home, they had many common +friends, and plunged into 'ecclesiastical intelligence,' with a +mutual understanding of the topics most often under discussion, +that made Albinia quite in her element. 'A great Newfoundland dog +of a man in size, and countenance, and kindness,' thought she. +'If his wife be worthy of him, I shall reck little of all the +rest.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Her tread the gayer for this resumption of old +habits, she proceeded to Mrs. Meadows', where the sensation +created by her poor little basket justified Lucy's remonstrance. +There were regrets, and assurances that the girl could have come +in a moment, and that she need not have troubled herself, and her +laughing declarations that it was no trouble were disregarded, +except that the old lady said, in gentle excuse to her daughter, +that Mrs. Kendal had always lived in the country, where people +could do as they pleased.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I mean to do as I please here,' said Albinia, +laughing; but the speech was received with silent discomfiture +that made her heartily regret it. She disdained to explain it +away; she was beginning to hold Mrs. and Miss Meadows too cheap +to think it worth while.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well,' said Mrs. Meadows, as if yielding up +the subject, 'things may be different from what they were in my +time.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! mamma--Mrs. Kendal--I am sure--' Albinia +let Maria flounder, but she only found her way out of the speech +with 'Well! and is not it the most extraordinary!--Mr. +Dusautoy--so rude--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I should not wonder if you found me almost as +extraordinary as Mr. Dusautoy,' said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Why would Miss Meadows always nettle her into +saying exactly the wrong thing, so as to alarm and distress the +old lady? That want of comprehension of playfulness was a +strangely hard trial. She turned to Mrs. Meadows and tried to +reassure her by saying, 'You know I have been always in the +clerical line myself, so I naturally take the part of the +parson.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, my dear,' said Mrs. Meadows. 'I dare say +Mr, Dusautoy is a very good man, but I wish he would allow his +poor delicate wife more butcher's meat, and I don't think it +looks well to see the vicarage without a man-servant.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia finally made her escape, and while +wondering whether she should ever visit that house without +tingling with irritation with herself and with the inmates, Lucy +exclaimed, 'There, you see I was right. Grandmamma and Aunt Maria +were surprised when I told them that you said you were an +able-bodied woman.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">What would not Albinia have given for Winifred +to laugh with her? What to do now she did not know, so she +thought it best not to hear, and to ask the way to a carpenter's +shop to order some book-shelves.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was more uncomfortable after she came home, +for by the sounds when Mr. Kendal next emerged from his study, +she found that he had locked himself in, to guard against further +intrusion. And when she offered to return to him the key of the +cellaret, he quietly replied that he should prefer her retaining +it,--not a formidable answer in itself, but one which, coupled +with the locking of the door, proved to her that she might do +anything rather than invade his privacy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Now Maurice's study was the thoroughfare of the +household, the place for all parish preparations unpresentable in +the drawing-room, and Albinia was taken by surprise. She grew hot +and cold. Had she done anything wrong? Could he care for her if +he could lock her out?</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I will not be morbid, I will not be absurd,' +said she to herself, though the tears stood in her eyes. 'Some +men do not like to be rushed in upon! It may be only habit. It +may have been needful here. It is base to take petty offences, +and set up doubts.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And Mr. Kendal's tender manner when they were +again together, his gentle way of addressing her, and a sort of +shy caress, proved that he was far from all thought of +displeasure; nay, he might be repenting of his momentary +annoyance, though he said nothing.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia went to inquire after the sick man at +her first leisure moment, and while talking kindly to the wife, +and hearing her troubles, was surprised at the forlorn rickety +state of the building, the broken pavement, damp walls, and door +that would not shut, because the frame had sunk out of the +perpendicular.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Can't you ask your landlord to do something to +the house?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is of no use, ma'am, Mr. Pettilove never +will do nothing. Perhaps if you would be kind enough to say a +word to him, ma'am--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mr. Pettilove, the lawyer? I'll try if Mr. +Kendal can say anything to him. It really is a shame to leave a +house in this condition.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Thanks were so profuse, that she feared that +she was supposed to possess some power of amelioration. The poor +woman even insisted on conducting her up a break-neck staircase +to see the broken ceiling, whence water often streamed in +plentifully from the roof.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Her mind full of designs against the cruel +landlord, she speeded up the hill, exhilarated by each step she +took into the fresh air, to the garden-gate, which she was just +unhasping when the hearty voice of the Vicar was heard behind +her. 'Mrs. Kendal! I told Fanny you would come.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Instead of taking her to the front door he +conducted her across a sloping lawn towards a French window open +to the bright afternoon sunshine.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Here she is, here is Mrs. Kendal!' he said, +sending his voice before him, as they came in sight of the pretty +little drawing-room, where through the gay chintz curtains, she +saw the clear fire shining upon half-a-dozen school girls, ranged +opposite to a couch. 'Ah!' as he perceived them, 'shall I take +her for a turn in the garden while you finish your +lesson?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'One moment, if you please. I did not know it +was so late,' and a face as bright as all the rest was turned +towards the window.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! give her her scholars, and she never knows +how time passes,' said Mr. Dusautoy. 'But step this way, and I'll +show you the best view in Bayford.' He took her up a step or two, +to a little turfed mound, where there was a rustic seat +commanding the whole exquisite view of river, vale, and woodland, +with the church tower rising in the foreground. The wind blew +pleasantly, chasing the shadows of the clouds across the open +space. Albinia was delighted to feel it fan her brow, and her +eager exclamations contented Mr. Dusautoy. 'Yes,' he said, 'it +was all Fanny's notion. She planned it all last summer when I +took her round the garden. It is wonderful what an eye she has! I +only hope when the dry weather comes, that I shall be able to get +her up there to enjoy it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">On coming down they found that Mrs. Dusautoy +had dismissed her class, and come out to a low, long-backed +sloping garden-seat at the window. She was very little and +slight, a mere doll in proportion to her great husband, who could +lift her as easily and tenderly as a baby, paying her a sort of +reverential deference and fond admiration that rendered them a +beautiful sight, in such full, redoubled measure was his fondness +repaid by the little, clever, fairy-looking woman, with her +playful manner, high spirits, keen wit, and the active habits +that even confirmed invalidism could not destroy. She had small +deadly white hands, a fair complexion, that varied more than was +good for her, pretty, though rather sharp and irregular features, +and hazel eyes dancing with merriment, and face and figure at +some years above thirty, would have suited a girl of twenty. To +see Mr. Dusautoy bringing her footstools, shawls, and cushions, +and to remember the accusation of starvation, was almost +irresistibly ludicrous.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Now, John, you had better have been giving +Mrs. Kendal a chair all this time.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mrs. Kendal will excuse,' said Mr. Dusautoy, +as he brought her a seat.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mrs. Kendal has excused,' said Mrs. Dusautoy, +bursting into a merry fit of laughter. 'Oh, I never heard +anything more charming than your introduction! I beg your pardon, +but I laughed last evening till I was worn out, and waked in the +night laughing again.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was exhilarating to find that any one +laughed at Bayford, and Albinia partook of the mirth with all her +heart. 'Never was an address more gratifying to me!' she +said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was like him! so unlike Bayford! So bold a +venture!' continued Mrs. Dusautoy amid peals of +laughter.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What is there to laugh at?' said Mr. Dusautoy, +putting on a look between merriment and simplicity. 'What else +could I have done? I should have done the same whoever I had +met.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! now he is afraid of your taking it as too +great a compliment! To do him justice I believe he would, but the +question is, what answer he would have had.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nobody could have refused--' began +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh!' cried Mrs. Dusautoy. 'Little you know +Bayford.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Fanny! Fanny! this is too bad. Madame +Belmarche--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Would have had nothing but <i>eau sucre</i>! +No, John, decidedly you and Simkins fell upon your legs, and you +bad better take credit for your "admirable +sagacity."'.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I like the people,' said Albinia, 'but they +never can be well while they live in such a shocking place. It is +quite a disgrace to Bayford.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is in a sad state,' said Mr. +Dusautoy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I know I should like to set my brother upon +that Mr. Pettilove, who they say will do nothing,' exclaimed +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The Vicar was going to have said something, but +a look from his wife checked him. Albinia was sorry for it, as +she detected a look of suppressed amusement on Mrs. Dusautoy's +face. 'I mean to ask Mr. Kendal what can be done,' she said; 'and +in the meantime, to descend from what we can't do to what we can. +Mr. Dusautoy told me to come to you for orders.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And I told Mr. Dusautoy that I should give you +none.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! that is hard.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If you could have heard him! He thought he +<i>had</i> got a working lady at last, and he would have had no +mercy upon you. One would have imagined that Mr. Kendal had +brought you here for his sole behoof!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then I shall look to you, Mr. +Dusautoy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, I believe she is quite right,' he said. +'She says you ought to undertake nothing till yon have had time +to see what leisure you have to give us.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nay, I have been used to think the parish my +business, home my leisure.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Mrs. Dusautoy, 'but then you were +the womankind of the clergy, now you are a laywoman.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think you have work at home,' said the +Vicar.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Work, but not work <i>enough!</i>' cried +Albinia. 'The girls will help me; only tell me what I may +do.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I say, "what you can,"' said Mrs. Dusautoy. +'You see before you a single-handed man. Only two of the ladies +here can be called coadjutors, one being poor little Genevieve +Durant, the other the bookseller's daughter, Clarissa Richardson, +who made all the rest fly off. All the others do what good they +mean to do according to their own sweet will, free and +independent women, and we can't have any district system, so I +think you can only do what just comes to hand.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Most heartily did Albinia undertake all that +Mrs. Dusautoy would let her husband assign to her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, John is a strong temptation,' said the +bright little invalid, 'but you must let Mrs. Kendal find out in +a month's time whether she has work enough.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I could think my wise brother Maurice had been +cautioning you,' said Albinia, taking leave as of an old friend, +for indeed she felt more at home with Mrs. Dusautoy than with any +acquaintance she had made in Bayford.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia told her husband of the state of the +cottages, and railed at Mr. Pettilove much to her own +satisfaction. Mr. Kendal answered, 'He would see about it,' an +answer of which Albinia had yet to learn the import.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER IV.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">There are some characters so constituted, that +of them the old proverb, that Love is blind, is perfectly true; +they can see no imperfection in the mind or body of those dear to +them. There are others in whom the strongest affections do not +destroy clearness of vision, who see their friends on all sides, +and perceive their faults and foibles, without loving them the +less.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia Kendal was a person of the latter +description. It might almost be called her temptation, that her +mind beheld all that came before it in a clear, and a humorous +light, such as only a disposition overflowing with warm affection +and with the energy of kindness, could have prevented from +bordering upon censoriousness. She had imagination, but it was +not such as to make an illusion of the present, or to interfere +with her almost satirical good sense. Happily, religion and its +earthly manifestation--charity regulated her, taught her to fear +to judge lest she should be judged, strengthened her naturally +fond affections, and tempered the keenness that disappointment +might soon have turned to sourness. The tongue, the temper, and +the judgment knew their own tendencies, and a guard was set over +them; and if the sentinel were ever torpid or deceived, +repentance paid the penalty.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She had not long seen her husband at home +before she had involuntarily completed her view of his character. +Nature must have designed him for a fellow of a college, where, +apart from all cares, he might have collected fragments of +forgotten authors, and immortalized his name by some edition of a +Greek Lyric poet, known by four poems and a half, and two-thirds +of a line quoted somewhere else. In such a controversy, lightened +by perpetually polished poems, by a fair amount of modern +literature, select college friendships, and methodical habits, +Edmund Kendal would have been in his congenial element, lived and +died, and had his portrait hung up as one of the glories of his +college.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But he had been carried off from school, before +he had done more than prove his unusual capacity. All his +connexions were Indian, and his father, who had not seen him +since his earliest childhood, offered him no choice but an +appointment in the civil service. He had one stimulus; he had +seen Lucy Meadows in the radiant glory of girlish beauty, and had +fastened on her all a poet's dreams, deepening and becoming more +fervid in the recesses of a reserved heart, which did not easily +admit new sensations. That stimulus carried him out cheerfully to +India, and quickened his abilities, so that he exerted himself +sufficiently to obtain a lucrative situation early in life. He +married, and his household must have been on the German system, +all the learning on one side, all the domestic cares on the +other. The understanding and refinement wanting in his wife, he +believed to be wanting in all women. As resident at a small +remote native court in India, he saw no female society such as +could undeceive him; and subsequently his Bayford life had not +raised his standard of womankind. A perfect gentleman, his +superiority was his own work, rather than that of station or +education, and so he had never missed intercourse with really +ladylike or cultivated, female minds, expected little from wife, +or daughters, or neighbours; had a few learned friends, but lived +within himself. He had acquired a competence too soon, and had +the great misfortune of property without duties to present +themselves obviously. He had nothing to do but to indulge his +naturally indolent scholarly tastes, which, directed as they had +been to Eastern languages, had even less chance of sympathy among +his neighbours than if they had been classical. Always reserved, +and seldom or never meeting with persons who could converse with +him, he had lapsed into secluded habits, and learnt to shut +himself up in his study and exclude every one, that he might have +at least a refuge from the gossip and petty cares that reigned +everywhere else. So seldom was anything said worth his attention, +that he never listened to what was passing, and had learnt to say +'very well'--'I'll see about it,' without even knowing what was +said to him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But though his wife had been no companion, the +illusion had never died away, he had always loved her devotedly, +and her loss had shattered all his present rest and comfort; as +entirely as the death of his son had taken from him hope and +companionship.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">What a home it must have been, with Lucy +reigning over it in her pert self-sufficiency, Gilbert and Sophy +running riot and squabbling, and Maria Meadows coming in on them +with her well-meant worries and persecutions!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When taken away from the scene of his troubles, +his spirits revived; afraid to encounter his own household alone, +he had thought Albinia the cure for everything. But at home, +habit and association had proved too strong for her presence--the +grief, which he had tried to leave behind, had waited ready to +meet him on the threshold, and the very sense that it was a +melancholy welcome added to his depression, and made him less +able to exert himself. The old sorrows haunted the walls of the +house, and above all the study, and tarried not in seizing on +their unresisting victim. Melancholy was in his nature, his +indolence gave it force, and his habits were almost ineffaceable, +and they were habits of quiet selfishness, formed by a resolute, +though inert will, and fostered by an adoring wife. A youth spent +in India had not given him ideas of responsibilities beyond his +own family, and his principles, though sound, had not expanded +the views of duty with which he had started in life.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was a positive pleasure to Albinia to +discover that there had been an inefficient clergyman at Bayford +before Mr. Dusautoy, and to know that during half the time that +the present vicar had held the living, Mr. Kendal had been +absent, so that his influence had had no time to work. She began +to understand her line of action. It must be her effort, in all +loving patience and gentleness, to raise her husband's spirits +and rouse his faculties; to make his powers available for the +good of his fellow-creatures, to make him an active and happy +man, and to draw him and his children together. This was truly a +task to make her heart throb high with hope and energy. Strong +and brave was that young heart, and not self-confident--the +difficulty made her only the more hopeful, because she saw it was +her duty. She was secure of her influence with him. If he did +exclude her from his study, he left her supreme elsewhere, and +though she would have given the world that their sovereignty +might be a joint one <i>everywhere</i>, still she allowed much +for the morbid inveterate habit of dreading disturbance. When he +began by silence and not listening, she could always rouse him, +and give him animation, and he was so much surprised and pleased +whenever she entered into any of his pursuits, that she had full +hope of drawing him out.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">One day when the fog, instead of clearing off +had turned to violent rain, Albinia had been out on parish work, +and afterwards enlivening old Mrs. Meadows by dutifully spending +an hour with her, while Maria was nursing a nervous headache--she +had been subject to headaches ever since...an ominous sigh +supplied the rest.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But all the effect of Albinia's bright kindness +was undone, when the grandmother learnt that Gilbert was gone to +his tutor, and would have to come home in the rain, and she gave +such an account of his exceeding delicacy, that Albinia became +alarmed, and set off at once that she might consult his father +about sending for him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Her opening of the hall door was answered by +Mr. Kendal emerging from his study. He was looking restless and +anxious, came to meet her, and uncloaked her, while he +affectionately scolded her for being so venturesome. She told him +where she had been, and he smiled, saying, 'You are a busy +spirit! But you must not be too imprudent.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, nothing hurts me. It is poor Gilbert that +I am anxious about.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So am I. Gilbert has not a constitution fit +for exposure. I wish he were come home.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Could we not send for him? Suppose we sent a +fly.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was consenting with a pleased smile, when +the door opened, and there stood the dripping Gilbert, completely +wet through, pale and chilled, with his hair plastered down, and +his coat stuck all over with the horse's short hair.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You must go to bed at once, Gilbert,' said his +father. 'Are you cold?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very. It was such a horrid driving wind, and I +rode so fast,' said Gilbert; violently shivering, as they helped +to pull him out of his great coat; he put his hand to his mouth, +and said that his face ached. Mr. Kendal was very anxious, and +Albinia hurried the boy up to bed, and meantime ordered quickly a +basin of the soup preparing for dinner, warmed some worsted socks +at the fire, and ran upstairs with them.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He seemed to have no substance in him; he had +hardly had energy to undress himself, and she found him with his +face hidden on the pillow, shivering audibly, and actually +crying. She was aghast.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The boys with whom she had been brought up, +would never have given way so entirely without resistance; but +between laughing, cheering, scolding, covering him up close, and +rubbing his hands with her own, she comforted him, so that he +could be grateful and cheerful when his father himself came up +with the soup. Albinia noticed a sort of shudder pass over Mr. +Kendal as he entered, and he stood close by Gilbert, turning his +back on everything else, while he watched the boy eat the soup, +as if restored by every spoonful. 'That was a good thought,' was +his comment to his wife, and the look of gratitude brought a +flush of pleasure into her cheek.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Of all the dinners, this was the most pleasant; +he was more gentle and affectionate, and she made him tell her +about the Persian poets, and promise to show her some specimens +of the Rose Garden of Saadi--she had never before been so near +having his pursuits opened to her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What a favourite Gilbert is!' Lucy said to +Sophia, as Albinia lighted a candle and went up to his +room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He makes such a fuss,' said Sophy. 'What is +there in being wet through to cry about?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia heard a little shuffle as she opened +the door, and Gilbert pushed a book under his pillow. She asked +him what he had been reading. 'Oh,' he said, 'he had not been +doing it long, for the flickering of the candle hurt his +eyes.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, you had better not,' said Albinia, moving +the flaring light to a less draughty part of the dingy +whitewashed attic. 'Or shall I read to you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Are you come to stay with me?' cried the boy, +raising himself up to look after her, as she moved about the room +and stood looking from the window over the trees at the water +meadows, now flooded into a lake, and lighted by the beams of a +young moon.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can stay till your father is ready for tea,' +said Albinia, coming nearer. 'Let me see whether your hands are +hot.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She found her own hand suddenly clasped, and +pressed to his lips, and then, as if ashamed, he turned his face +away; nor would she betray her pleasure in it, but merely said, +'Shall I go on with your book!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' said he, wearily turning his reddened +cheek to the other side. 'I only took it because it is so horrid +lying here thinking.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am very sorry to hear it. Do you know, +Gibbie, that it is said there is nothing more lamentable than for +a man not to like to have his own thoughts for his company,' said +she, gaily.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! but--!' said Gilbert. 'If I lie here +alone, I'm always looking out there,' and he pointed to the +opposite recess. She looked, but saw nothing. 'Don't you know?' +he said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Edmund?' she asked.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He grasped her hands in both his own. 'Aye! Ned +used to sleep there. I always look for him there.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you mean that you would rather have another +room? I would manage it directly.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'O no, thank you, I like it for some things. +Take the candle--look by the shutter--cut out in the +wood.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The boys' scoring of 'E. & G. K.,' was +visible there.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Papa has taken all be could of Edmund's,' said +Gilbert, 'but he could not take that! No, I would not have any +other room if you were to give me the best in the +house.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am sure not! But, my dear, considering what +Edmund was, surely they should be gentle, happy thoughts that the +room should give you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He shuddered, and presently said, 'Do you know +what?' and paused; then continued, with an effort, getting tight +hold of her hand, 'Just before Edmund died--he lay out there--I +lay here--he sat up all white in bed, and he called out, clear +and loud, "Mamma, Gilbert"--I saw him--and then--he was dead! And +you know mamma did die--and I'm sure I shall!' He had worked +himself into a trembling fit, hid his face and sobbed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But you have not died of the +fever.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes--but I know it means that I shall die +young! I am sure it does! It was a call! I heard Nurse say it was +a call!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">What was to be done with such a superstition? +Albinia did not think it would be right to argue it away. It +might be in truth a warning to him to guard his ways--a voice +from the twin-brother, to be with him through life. She knelt +down by him, and kissed his forehead.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Dear Gilbert,' she said, 'we all shall +die.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, but I shall die young.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And if you should. Those are happy who die +young. How much pain your baby-brother and sisters have missed! +How happy Edmund is now!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then you really think it meant that I shall'' +he cried, tremblingly. 'O don't! I can't die!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Your brother called on what he loved best,' +said Albinia. 'It may mean nothing. Or rather, it may mean that +your dear twin-brother is watching for you, I am sure he is, to +have you with him, for what makes your mortal life, however long, +seem as nothing. It was a call to you to be as pure on earth as +he is in heaven. O Gilbert, how good you should be!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert did not know whether it frightened him +or soothed him to see his superstition treated with +respect--neither denied, nor reasoned away. But the ghastliness +was not in the mere fear that death might not be far +off.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The pillow had turned a little on one +side--Albinia tried to smooth it--the corner of a book peeped +out. It was a translation of The Three Musqueteers, one of the +worst and most fascinating of Dumas' romances.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You wont tell papa!' cried Gilbert, raising +himself, in far more real and present terror than he had +previously shown.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How did you get it? Whose is it?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is my own. I bought it at Richardson's. It +is very funny. But you wont tell papa? I never was told not; +indeed I was not.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Now, Gilbert dear, will you tell me a few +things? I do only wish what is good for you. Why don't you wish +that papa should hear of this book?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert writhed himself.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You know he would not like it?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then why did you take to reading +it?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh!' cried the boy, 'if you only did know how +stupid and how miserable it has been! More than half myself gone, +and Sophy always glum, and Lucy always plaguing, and Aunt Maria +always being a torment, you would not wonder at one's doing +anything to forget it!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, but why do what you knew to be +wrong?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nobody told me not.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Disobedience to the spirit, then, if not to +the letter. It was not the way to be happier, my poor boy, nor +nearer to your brother and mother.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Things didn't use to be stupid when Ned was +there!' sobbed Gilbert, bursting into a fresh flood of +tears.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! Gilbert, I grieved most of all for +<i>you</i> when first I heard your story, before I thought I +should ever have anything to do with you,' said Albinia, hanging +over him fondly. 'I always thought it must be so forlorn to be a +twin left solitary. But it is sadder still than I knew, if grief +has made you put yourself farther from him instead of +nearer.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I shall be good again now that I have you,' +said Gilbert, as he looked up into that sweet face.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And you will begin by making a free confession +to your father, and giving up the book.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't see what I have to confess. He would +be so angry, and he never told me not. Oh! I cannot tell +him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She felt that this was not the right way to +begin a reformation, and yet she feared to press the point, +knowing that the one was thought severe, the other +timid.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'At least you will give up the book,' she +said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'O dear! if you would let me see whether +d'Artagnan got to England. I must know that! I'm sure there can't +be any harm in that. Do you know what it is about?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, I do. My brother got it by some mistake +among some French books. He read some of the droll +unobjectionable parts to my sister and me, but the rest was so +bad, that he threw it into the fire.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then you think it funny?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'To be sure I do.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you remember the three duels all at once, +and the three valets? Oh! what fun it is. But do let me see if +d'Artagnan got the diamonds.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, he did. But will this satisfy you, +Gilbert? You know there are some exciting pleasures that we must +turn our backs on resolutely. I think this book is one of them. +Now you will let me take it? I will tell your father about it in +private, and he cannot blame you. Then, if he will give his +consent, whenever you can come home early, come to my +dressing-room, out of your sisters' way, and I will read to you +the innocent part, so as to get the story out of your +brain.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very well,' said Gilbert, slowly. 'Yes, if you +will not let papa be angry with me. And, oh dear! must you +go?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think you had better dress yourself and come +down to tea. There is nothing the matter with you now, is +there?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was delighted with the suggestion, and +promised to come directly; and Albinia carried off her prize, +exceedingly hopeful and puzzled, and wondering whether her +compromise had been a right one, or a mere tampering with +temptation--delighted with the confidence and affection bestowed +on her so freely, but awe-struck by the impression which the boy +had avowed, and marvelling how it should be treated, so as to +render it a blessed and salutary restraint, rather than the dim +superstitious terror that it was at present. At least there was +hope of influencing him, his heart was affectionate, his will on +the side of right, and in consideration of feeble health and +timid character, she would overlook the fact that he had not made +one voluntary open confession, and that the partial renunciation +had been wrung from him as a choice of evils. She could only feel +how much he was to be pitied, and how he responded to her +affection.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was crossing the hall next day, when she +heard a confusion of tongues through the open door of the +dining-room, and above all, Gilbert's. 'Well, I say there are but +two ladies in Bayford. One is Mrs. Kendal, and the other is +Genevieve Durant!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A dancing-master's daughter!' Lucy's scornful +tone was unmistakeable, and so was the ensuing high-pitched +querulous voice, 'Well, to be sure, Gilbert might be a little +more--a little more civil. Not that I've a word to say +against--against your--your mamma. Oh, no!--glad to see--but +Gilbert might be more civil.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think so indeed,' said Albinia. 'Good +morning, Miss Meadows. You see Gilbert has come home quite alive +enough for mischief.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! I thought I might be excused. Mamma was so +uneasy--though I know you don't admit visitors--my just coming to +see-- We've been always so anxious about Gilbert. Gibbie dear, +where is that flannel I gave you for your throat?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She advanced to put her finger within his +neck-tie and feel for it. Gilbert stuck his chin down, and +snapped with his teeth like a gin. Lucy exclaimed, 'Now, Gilbert, +I know mamma will say that is wrong.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! we are used to Gilbert's tricks. Always +bear with a boy's antics,' said Miss Meadows, preventing whatever +she thought was coming out of Mrs. Kendal's month. Albinia took +the unwise step of laughing, for her sympathies were decidedly +with resistance both to flannels and to the insertion of that +hooked finger.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mr. Bowles has always said it was a case for +great care. Flannel next the skin--no exposure,' continued Miss +Meadows, tartly. 'I am sure--I know I am the last person to wish +to interfere--but so delicate-- You'll excuse--but my mother was +uneasy; and people who go out in all weathers--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope Mrs. Meadows had my note this +morning.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'O yes! I am perfectly aware. Thank you. Yes, I +know the rule, but you'll excuse-- My mother was still anxious--I +know you exclude visitors in lesson-time. I'm going. Only +grandmamma would be glad--not that she wishes to interfere--but +if Gilbert had on his piece of flannel--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Have you, Gilbert?' said Albinia, becoming +tormented.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have been flannel all over all my life,' +said Gilbert, sulkily, 'one bit more or less can make no +odds.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then you have not that piece? said +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, my dear! Think of that! New Saxony! I +begged it of Mr. Holland. A new remnant--pink list, and all! I +said it was just what I wanted for Master Gilbert. Mr. Holland is +always a civil, feeling man. New Saxony--three shillings the +yard--and trimmed with blue sarsenet! Where is it, +Gilbert?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'In a soup dish, with a crop of mustard and +cress on it,' said Gilbert, with a wicked wink at Albinia, who +was unable to resist joining in the girls' shout of laughing, but +she became alarmed when she found that poor Miss Meadows was very +near crying, and that her incoherency became so lachrymose as to +be utterly incomprehensible.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy, ashamed of her laughter, solemnly +declared that it was very wrong of Gilbert, and she hoped he +would not suffer from it, and Albinia, trying to become grave, +judicial, and conciliatory, contrived to pronounce that it was +very silly to leave anything off in an east wind, and hoping to +put an end to the matter, asked Aunt Maria to sit down, and judge +how they went on with their lessons.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">O no, she could not interrupt. Her mother would +want her. She knew Mrs. Kendal never admitted visitors. She had +no doubt she was quite right. She hoped it would be understood. +She would not intrude. In fact, she could neither go nor stay. +She would not resume her seat, nor let anything go on, and it was +full twenty minutes before a series of little vibrating motions +and fragmentary phrases had borne her out of the +house.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well!' cried Gilbert, 'I hoped Aunt Maria had +left off coming down upon us.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'O, mamma!' exclaimed Lucy, 'you never sent +your love to grandmamma.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Depend upon it she was waiting for that,' said +Gilbert.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">I'm sure I wish I had known it,' said Albinia, +not in the most judicious manner. 'Half-past eleven!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Aunt Maria says she can't think how you can +find time for church when you can't see visitors in the morning,' +said Lucy. 'And oh! dear mamma, grandmamma says gravy soup was +enough to throw Gilbert into a fever.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'At any rate, it did not,' said +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! and, dear mamma, Mrs. Osborn is so hurt +that you called on Mrs. Dusautoy before returning her visit; and +Aunt Maria says if you don't call to-day you will never get over +it, and she says that--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What business has Mrs. Osborn to ask whom I +called on?' exclaimed Albinia, impatiently.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Because Mrs. Osborn is the leading lady in the +town,' said Lucy. 'She told Miss Goldsmith that she had no notion +of not being respected.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And she can't bear the Dusautoys. She left off +subscribing to anything when they came; and he behaved very ill +to the Admiral and everybody at a vestry-meeting.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I shall ask your papa before I am in any hurry +to call on the Osborns!' cried Albinia. 'I have no desire to be +intimate with people who treat their clergyman in that +way.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But Mrs. Osborn is quite the leader!' +exclaimed Lucy. They keep the best society here. So many families +in the county come and call on them.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very likely--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! Mrs. Osborn told Aunt Maria that as the +Nugents called on you, and you had such connexions, she supposed +you would be high. But you wont make me separate from Lizzie, +will you? I suppose Miss Nugent is a fashionable young +lady.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Miss Nugent is five years old. Don't let us +have any more of this nonsense.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But you wont part me from Lizzie Osborn,' said +Lucy, hanging her head pathetically on one side.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I shall talk to your father. He said, the +other day, he did not wish you to be so much with +her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy melted into tears, and Albinia was +conscious of having been first indiscreet and then sharp, hurt at +the comments, feeling injured by Lucy's evident habit of +reporting whatever she said, and at the failure of the attempt to +please Mrs. Meadows. She was so uneasy about the Osborn question, +that she waylaid Mr. Kendal on his return from riding, and laid +it before him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear Albinia,' he said, as if he would fain +have avoided the appeal, 'you must manage your own visiting +affairs your own way. I do not wish to offend my neighbours, nor +would I desire to be very intimate with any one. I suppose you +must pay them ordinary civility, and you know what that amounts +to. As to the leadership in society here, she is a noisy woman, +full of pretension, and thus always arrogates the distinction to +herself. Your claims will establish themselves.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, you don't imagine me thinking of that!' +cried Albinia, laughing. 'I meant their behaving ill to Mr. +Dusautoy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I know nothing about that. Mr. Dusautoy once +called to ask for my support for a vestry meeting, but I make it +a rule never to meddle with parish skirmishes. I believe there +was a very unbecoming scene, and that Mr. Dusautoy was in the +minority.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah, Edmund, next time you'll see if a parson's +sister can sit quietly by to see the parson beaten!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He smiled, and moved towards his +study.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then I am to be civil?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Certainly.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But is it necessary to call +to-day?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I should suppose not;' and there he was, shut +up in his den. Albinia went back, between laughing and vexation, +and Lucy looked up from her exercise to say, 'Does papa say you +must call on the Osborns?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was undignified! She bit her lip, and felt +her false position, as with a quiver of the voice she replied, +'We shall make nothing but mischief if we talk now. Go on with +your business.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The sharp, curious eyes did not take themselves +off her face. She leant over Sophy, who was copying a house, told +her the lines were slanting, took the pencil from her hand, and +tried to correct them, but found herself making them over-black, +and shaky. She had not seen such a line since the days of her +childhood's ill-temper. She walked to the fireplace and said, 'I +am going to call on Mrs. Osborn to-day. Not that your father +desires it, but because I have been indulging in a wrong +feeling.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm sure you needn't,' cried Gilbert. 'It is +very impertinent of Mrs. Osborn. Why, if he is an admiral, she +was the daughter of an old lieutenant of the Marines, and you are +General Sir Maurice Ferrars' first cousin.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Hush, hush, Gilbert!' said Albinia, blushing +and distressed. 'Mrs. Osborn's standing in the place entitles her +to all attention. I was thinking of nothing of the kind. It was +because I gave way to a wrong feeling that I mean to go this +afternoon.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">On the Sunday, when Mr. and Mrs. Kendal went to +pay their weekly visit to Mrs. Meadows, they found the old lady +taking a turn in the garden. And as they were passing by the +screen of laurels, Gilbert's voice was heard very loud, 'That's +too bad, Lucy! Grandmamma, don't believe one word of +it!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gilbert, you--you are, I'm sure, very rude to +your sister.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'll not stand to hear false stories of Mrs. +Kendal!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What is all this?' said Mr. Kendal, suddenly +appearing, and discovering Gilbert pirouetting with indignation +before Lucy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Miss Meadows burst out with a shower of half +sentences, grandmamma begged that no notice might be taken of the +children's nonsense, Lucy put on an air of injured innocence, and +Gilbert was beginning to speak, but his father put him aside, +saying, 'Tell me what has happened, Sophia. From you I am certain +of hearing the exact truth.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Only,' growled Sophy, in her hoarse boy's +voice, 'Lucy said mamma said she would not call on Mrs. Osborn +unless you ordered her, and when you did, she cried and flew into +a tremendous passion.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophy, what a story,' exclaimed Lucy, but +Gilbert was ready to corroborate his younger sister's +report.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You know Lucy too well to attach any +importance to her misrepresentations,' said Mr. Kendal, turning +to Mrs. Meadows, 'but I know not what amends she can make for +this most unprovoked slander. Speak, Lucy, have you no apology to +make?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">For Lucy, in self-defence, had begun to cry, +and her grandmother seemed much disposed to do the same. Miss +Meadows had tears in her eyes, and incoherencies on her lips. The +distress drove away all Albinia's inclination to laugh, and +clasping her two hands over her husband's arm, she said, 'Don't, +Edmund, it is only a misunderstanding of what really happened. I +did have a silly fit, you know, so it is my fault.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I cannot forgive for you as you do for +yourself,' said Mr. Kendal, with a look that was precious to her, +though it might have given a pang to the Meadowses. 'I did not +imagine that my daughter could be so lost to the sense of your +kindness and forbearance. Have you nothing to say, +Lucy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor child! she cannot speak,' said her +grandmother. 'You see she is very sorry, and Mrs. Kendal is too +kind to wish to say any more about it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Go home at once, Lucy,' said her father. +'Perhaps solitude may bring you to a better state of feeling. +Go!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Direct resistance to Mr. Kendal was never +thought of, and Lucy turned to go. Her aunt chose to accompany +her, and though this was a decided relief to the company she +left, it was not likely to be the best thing for the young lady +herself.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal gave his arm to Mrs. Meadows, saying +gravely that Lucy must not be encouraged in her habit of +gossiping and inaccuracy. Mrs. Meadows quite agreed with him, it +was a very bad habit for a girl, she was very sorry for it, she +wished she could have attended to the dear children better, but +she was sure dear Mrs. Kendal would make them everything +desirable. She only hoped that she would remember their +disadvantages, have patience, and not recollect this against poor +Lucy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The warm indignation and championship of her +husband and his son were what Albinia chiefly wished to +recollect; but it was impossible to free herself from a sense of +pain and injury in the knowledge that she lived with a spy who +would exaggerate and colour every careless word.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal returned to the subject as they +walked home.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope you will talk seriously to Lucy about +her intolerable gossiping,' he said. 'There is no safety in +mentioning any subject before her; and Maria Meadows makes her +worse. Some stop must be put to it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I should like to wait till next time,' said +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What do you mean?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Because this is too personal to +myself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nay, your own candour is an example to which +Lucy can hardly be insensible. Besides, it is a nuisance which +must be abated.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia could not help thinking that he +suffered from it as little as most people, and wondering whether +it were this which had taught him silence.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They met Miss Meadows at their own gate, and +she told them that dear Lucy was very sorry, and she hoped they +would take no more notice of a little nonsense that could do no +one any harm; she would be more on her guard next +time.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal made no answer. Albinia ventured to +ask him whether it would not be better to leave it, since her +aunt had talked to her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' he said; 'Maria has no influence whatever +with the children. She frets them by using too many words about +everything. One quiet remonstrance from you would have far more +effect.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia called the culprit and tried to reason +with her. Lucy tried at first to battle it off by saying that she +had made a mistake, and Aunt Maria had said that she should hear +no more about it. 'But, my dear, I am afraid you must hear more. +It is not that I am hurt, but your papa has desired me to talk to +you. You would be frightened to hear what he says.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy chose to hear, and seemed somewhat struck, +but she was sure that she meant no harm; and she had a great deal +to say for herself, so voluble and so inconsequent, that argument +was breath spent in vain; and Albinia was obliged to wind up, as +an ultimatum, with warning her, that till she should prove +herself trustworthy, nothing interesting would be talked of +before her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The atmosphere of gossip certainly had done its +part in cultivating Mr. Kendal's talent for silence. When Albinia +had him all to herself, he was like another person, and the long +drives to return visits in the country were thoroughly enjoyable. +So, too, were the walks home from the dinner parties in the town, +when the husband and wife lingered in the starlight or moonlight, +and felt that the weary gaiety of the constrained evening was +made up for.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Great was the offence they gave by not taking +out the carriage!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was disrespect to Bayford, and one of the +airs of which Mrs. Kendal was accused. As granddaughter of a +Baron, daughter of one General Officer and sister of another, and +presented at Court, the Bayford ladies were prepared to consider +her a fine lady, and when they found her peculiarly simple, were +the more aggrieved, as if her contempt were ironically veiled. +Her walks, her dress, her intercourse with the clergy, were all +airs, and Lucy spared her none of the remarks. Albinia might say, +'Don't tell me all Aunt Maria says,' but it was impossible not to +listen; and whether in mirth or vexation, she was sure to be +harmed by what she heard.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And yet, except for the tale-bearing, Lucy was +really giving less trouble than her sister, she was quick, +observant, and obliging, and under Albinia's example, the more +salient vulgarities of speech and manner were falling off. There +had seldom been any collision, since it had become evident that +Mrs. Kendal could and would hold her own; and that her address +and air, even while criticised, were regarded as something +superior, so that it was a distinction to belong to her. How many +of poor Albinia'a so-called airs should justly have been laid to +Lucy's account?</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">On the other hand, Sophy would attend to a word +from her father, where she had obstinately opposed her +step-mother's wishes, making her obedience marked, as if for the +very purpose of enforcing the contrast. It was a character that +Albinia could not as yet fathom. In all occupations and +amusements, Sophy followed the lead of her elder sister, and in +her lessons, her sole object seemed to be to get things done with +as little trouble as possible, and especially without setting her +mind to work , and yet in the very effort to escape diligence or +exertion, she sometimes showed signs of so much ability as to +excite a longing desire to know of what she would be capable when +once aroused and interested; but the surly, ungracious temper +rendered this apparently impossible, and whatever Albinia +attempted, was sure, as if for the very reason that it came from +her, to be answered with a redoubling of the growl of that odd +hoarse voice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">On Lucy's birthday, there was an afternoon +party of her young friends, including Miss Durant. Albinia, who, +among the girlhood of Fairmead and its neighbourhood, had been so +acceptable a playmate, that her marriage had caused the outcry +that 'there would never be any fun again without Miss Ferrars,' +came out on the lawn with the girls, in hopes of setting them to +enjoy themselves. But they looked at her almost suspiciously, +retained their cold, stiff, company manners, and drew apart into +giggling knots. She relieved them of her presence, and sitting by +the window, watched Genevieve walking up and down alone, as if no +one cared to join her. Presently Lucy and Lizzie Osborn spoke to +her, and she went in. Albinia went to meet her in the hall; she +coloured and said, 'She was only come to fetch Miss Osborn's +cloak.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia saw her disposing it over Lizzie's +shoulders, and then running in again. This time it was for Miss +Louisa's cloak, and a third time for Miss Drury's shawl, which +Albinia chose to take out herself, and encountering Sophia, said, +'Next time, you had better run on errands yourself instead of +sending your guests.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy gave a black look, and she retreated, but +presently the groups coalesced, and Maria Drury and Sophy ran out +to call Genevieve into the midst. Albinia hoped they were going +to play, but soon she beheld Genevieve trying to draw back, but +evidently imprisoned, there was an echo of a laugh that she did +not like; the younger girls were skipping up in the victim's face +in a rude way; she hastily turned round as in indignation, one +hand raised to her eyes, but it was instantly snatched down by +Maria Drury, and the pitiless ring closed in. Albinia sprang to +her feet, exclaiming aloud, 'They are teasing her!' and rushed +into the garden, hearing on her way, 'No, we wont let you +go!--you shall tell us--you shall promise to show us--my papa is +a magistrate, you know--he'll come and search--Jenny, you shall +tell!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Come with me, Genevieve,' said Albinia, +standing in the midst of the tormentors, and launching a look of +wrath around her, as she saw tears in the young girl's eyes, and +taking her hand, found it trembling with agitation. Fondling it +with both her own, she led Genevieve away, turning her back upon +Lucy and her, 'We were only--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The poor girl shook more and more, and when +they reached the shelter of the house, gave way to a tightened, +oppressed sob, and at the first kind words a shower of tears +followed, and she took Albinia's hand, and clasped it to her +breast in a manner embarrassing to English feelings, though +perfectly natural and sincere in her. '<i>Ah! si bonne! si bonne! +pardonnes-moi, Madame</i>!' she exclaimed, sobbing, and probably +not knowing that she was speaking French; 'but, oh, Madame, you +will tell me! Is it true--can he?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Can who? What do you mean, my +dear?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The Admiral,' said Genevieve, looking about +frightened, and sinking her voice to a whisper. 'Miss Louisa said +so, that he could send and search--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Search for what, my dear?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'For my poor little secret. Ah, Madame, +assuredly I may tell you. It is but a French Bible, it belonged +to my martyred ancestor, Francois Durant, who perished at the St. +Barthelemi--it is stained with his blood--it has been handed on, +from one to the other--it was all that Jacques Durant rescued +when he fled from the Dragonnades--it was given to me by my own +dear father on his death-bed, with a charge to keep it from my +grandmother, and not to speak of it--but to guard it as my +greatest treasure. And now-- Oh, I am not disobeying him,' cried +Genevieve, with a fresh burst of tears. 'You can feel for me, +Madame, you can counsel me. Can the magistrates come and search, +unless I confess to those young ladies?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Most decidedly not,' said Albinia. 'Set your +mind at rest, my poor child; whoever threatened you played you a +most base, cruel trick.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah, do not be angry with them, Madame; no +doubt they were in sport. They could not know how precious that +treasure was to me, and they will say much in their gaiety of +heart.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do not like such gaiety,' said Albinia. +'What, they wished to make you confess your secret?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes. They had learnt by some means that I keep +one of my drawers locked, and they had figured to themselves that +in it was some relic of my Huguenot ancestors. They thought it +was some instrument of death, and they said that unless I would +tell them the whole, the Admiral had the right of search, and, +oh! it was foolish of me to believe them for a moment, but I only +thought that the fright would, kill my grandmother. Oh, you were +so good, Madame, I shall never forget; no, not to the end of my +life, how you rescued me!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We did not bring you here to be teased,' said +Albinia, caressing her. 'I should like to ask your pardon for +what they have made you undergo.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah, Madame!' said Genevieve, smiling, 'it is +nothing. I am well used to the like, and I heed it little, except +when it falls on such subjects as these.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was easily drawn into telling the full +history of her treasure, as she had learnt from her father's +lips, the Huguenot shot down by the persecutors, and the son who +had fled into the mountains and returned to bury the corpse, and +take the prized, blood-stained Bible from the breast; the escapes +and dangers of the two next generations; the few succeeding days +of peace; and, finally, the Dragonnade, when the children had +been snatched from the Durant family, and the father and mother +had been driven at length to fly in utter destitution, and had +made their way to England in a wretched, unprovisioned open boat. +The child for whose sake they fled, was the only one rescued from +the hands of these enemies, and the tradition of their sufferings +had been handed on with the faithfully preserved relic, down to +the slender girl, their sole descendant, and who in early +childhood had drunk in the tale from the lips of her father. The +child of the persecutors and of the persecuted, Genevieve Durant +did indeed represent strangely the history of her ancestral +country; and as Albinia said to her, surely it might be hoped +that the faith in which she had been bred up, united what was +true and sound in the religion of both Reformed and +Romanist.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The words made the brown cheek glow. 'Ah, +Madame, did I not say I could talk with you? You, who do not +think me a heretic, as my dear grandmother's friends do, and who +yet can respect my grandmother's Church.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Assuredly little Genevieve was one of the most +interesting and engaging persons that Albinia had ever met, and +she listened earnestly to her artless history, and pretty +enthusiasms, and the story which she could not tell without +tears, of her father's care, when the reward of her good +behaviour had been the reading one verse in the quaint black +letter of the old French Bible.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The conversation lasted till Gilbert made his +appearance, and Albinia was glad to find that his greeting to +Genevieve was cordial and affectionate, and free from all that +was unpleasant in his sisters' manner, and he joined himself to +their company when Albinia proposed a walk along the broad +causeway through the meadows. It was one of the pleasantest walks +that she had taken at Bayford, with both her companions so bright +and merry, and the scene around in all the beauty of spring. +Gilbert, with the courtesy that Albinia's very presence had +infused into him, gathered a pretty wild bouquet for each, and +Albinia talked of cowslip-balls, and found that neither Gilbert +nor Genevieve had ever seen one; then she pitied them, and owned +that she did not know how to get through a spring without one; +and Gilbert having of course a pocketful of string, a delicious +ball was constructed, over which Genevieve went into an +inexpressible ecstasy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">All the evening, Gilbert devoted himself to +Genevieve, though more than one of the others tried to attract +him, playing off the follies of more advanced girlhood, to the +vexation of Albinia, who could not bear to see him the centre of +attention to silly girls, when he ought to have been finding his +level among boys.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gilbert makes himself so ridiculous about +Jenny Durant,' said his sisters, when he insisted on escorting +her home, and thus they brought on themselves Albinia's pent-up +indignation at their usage of their guest. Lucy argued in +unsatisfactory self-defence, but Sophy, when shown how ungenerous +her conduct had been, crimsoned deeply, and though uttering no +word of apology, wore a look that gave her step-mother for the +first time a hope that her sullenness might not be so much from +want of compunction, as from want of power to express +it.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Oh! for a consultation with her brother. But he +and his wife were taking a holiday among their kindred in +Ireland, and for once Albinia could have echoed the aunts' +lamentation that Winifred had so many relations!</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER V.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia needed patience to keep alive hope and +energy, for a sore disappointment awaited her. Whatever had been +her annoyances with the girls, she had always been on happy and +comfortable terms with Gilbert, he had responded to her advances, +accommodated himself to her wishes, adopted her tastes, and +returned her affection. She had early perceived that his father +and sisters looked on him as the naughty one of the family, but +when she saw Lucy's fretting interference, and, Sophia's +wrangling contempt, she did not wonder that an unjust degree of +blame had often fallen to his share; and under her management, he +scarcely ever gave cause for complaint. That he was evidently +happier and better for her presence, was compensation for many a +vexation; she loved him with all her heart, made fun with him, +told legends of the freaks of her brother Maurice and cousin +Fred, and grudged no trouble for his pleasure.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">As long as The Three Musqueteers lasted, he had +come constantly to her dressing-room, and afterwards she promised +to find other pleasant reading; but after such excitement, it was +not easy to find anything that did not appear dry. As the +daughter of a Peninsular man, she thought nothing so charming as +the Subaltern, and Gilbert seemed to enjoy it; but by the time he +had heard all her oral traditions of the war by way of notes, his +attendance began to slacken; he stayed out later, and always +brought excuses-- Mr. Salsted had kept him, he had been with a +fellow, or his pony had lost a shoe. Albinia did not care to +question, the evenings were light and warm, and the one thing she +desired for him was manly exercise: she thought it much better +for him to be at play with his fellow-pupils, and she could not +regret the gain of another hour to her hurried day.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">One morning, however, Mr. Kendal called her, +and his look was so grave and perturbed, that she hardly waited +till the door was shut to ask in terror, what could be the +matter.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nothing to alarm you,' he said. 'It is only +that I am vexed about Gilbert. I have reason to fear that he is +deceiving us again; and I want you to help us to recollect on +which days he should have been at Tremblam. My dear, do not look +so pale!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">For Albinia had turned quite white at hearing +that the boy, on whom she had fixed her warm affection, had been +carrying on a course of falsehood; but a moment's hope restored +her. 'I did keep him at home on Tuesday,' she said, 'it was so +very hot, and he had a headache. I thought I might. You told me +not to send him on doubtful days.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope you may be able to make out that it is +right,' said Mr. Kendal, 'but I am afraid that Mr. Salsted has +too much cause of complaint. It is the old story!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And so indeed it proved, when Albinia heard +what the tutor had come to say. The boy was seldom in time, often +altogether missing, excusing himself by saying he was kept at +home by fears of the weather; but Mr. Salsted was certain that +his father could not know how he disposed of his time, namely, in +a low style of sporting with young Tritton, the son of a rich +farmer or half-gentleman, who was the pest of Mr. Salsted's +parish. Ill-learnt, slurred-over lessons, with lame excuses, were +nothing as compared with this, and the amount of petty deceit, +subterfuge, and falsehood, was frightful, especially when Albinia +recollected the tone of thought which the boy had seemed to be +catching from her. Unused to duplicity, except from mere +ignorant, unmanageable school-children, she was excessively +shocked, and felt as if he must be utterly lost to all good, and +had been acting a lie from first to last. After the conviction +had broken on her, she hardly spoke, while Mr. Kendal was +promising to talk to his son, threaten him with severe +punishment, and keep a strict account of his comings and goings, +to be compared weekly with Mr. Salsted's notes of his arrival. +This settled, the tutor departed, and no sooner was he gone, than +Albinia, hiding her face in her hands, shed tears of bitter grief +and disappointment. 'My dearest,' said her husband, fondly, 'you +must not let my boy's doings grieve you in this manner. You have +been doing your utmost for him, if any one could do him good, it +would be you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'O no, surely I must have made some dreadful +mistake, to have promoted such faults.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, I have long known him not to be +trustworthy. It is an evil of long standing.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Was it always so?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I cannot tell,' said he, sitting down beside +her, and shading his brow with one hand; 'I have only been aware +of it since he has been left alone. When the twins were together, +they were led by one soul of truth and generosity. What this poor +fellow was separately no one could know, while he had his brother +to guide and shield him. The first time I noticed the evil was +when we were recovering. Gilbert and Sophia were left together, +and in one of their quarrels injured some papers of mine. I was +very weak, and had little power of self-control; I believe I +terrified him too much. There was absolute falsehood, and the +truth was only known by Sophia's coming forward and confessing +the whole. It was ill managed. I was not equal to dealing with +him, and whether the mischief began then or earlier, it has gone +on ever since, breaking out every now and then. I had hoped that +with your care-- But oh! how different it would have been with +his brother! Albinia, what would I not give that you had but seen +<i>him!</i> Not a fault was there; not a moment's grief did he +give us, till-- O what an overthrow of hope!' And he gave way to +an excess of grief that quite appalled her, and made her feel +herself powerless to comfort. She only ventured a few words of +peace and hope; but the contrast between the brothers, was just +then keen agony, and he could not help exclaiming how strange it +was, that Edmund should be the one to be taken.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nay,' he said, 'was not he ripe for better +things? May not poor Gilbert have been spared that longer life +may train him to be like his brother?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He never will be like him,' cried Mr. Kendal. +'No! no! The difference is evident in the very countenance and +features.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Was he like you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'They said so, but you could not gather an idea +of him from me,' said Mr. Kendal, smiling mournfully, as he met +her gaze. 'It was the most beautiful countenance I ever saw, full +of life and joy; and there were wonderful expressions in the eyes +when he was thinking or listening. He used to read the Greek +Testament with me every morning, and his questions and remarks +rise up before me again. That text-- You have seen it in +church.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Because I live, ye shall live also,' Albinia +repeated.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes. A little before his illness we came to +that. He rested on it, as he used to do on anything that struck +him, and asked me, "whether it meant the life hereafter, or the +life that is hidden here?" We went over it with such comments as +I could find, but his mind was not satisfied; and it must have +gone on working on it, for one night, when I had been thinking +him delirious, he called me, and the light shone out of those +bright dark eyes of his as he said, joyfully, "It is both, papa! +It is hidden here, but it will shine out there," and as I did not +catch his meaning, he repeated the Greek words.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Dear boy! Some day we shall be glad that the +full life and glory came so soon.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He shook his head, the parting was still too +recent, and it was the first time he had been able to speak of +his son. It was a great satisfaction to her that the reserve had +once been broken; it seemed like compensation for the present +trouble, though that was acutely felt, and not softened by the +curious eyes and leading questions of the sisters, when she +returned to give what attention she could to their interrupted +lessons.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert returned, unsuspicious of the storm, +till his father's stern gravity, and her depressed, pre-occupied +manner, excited his attention, and he asked her anxiously whether +anything were the matter. A sad gesture replied, and perhaps +revealed the state of the case, for he became absolutely silent. +Albinia left them together. She watched anxiously, and hurried +after Mr. Kendal into the study, where his manner showed her not +to be unwelcome as the sharer of his trouble. 'I do not know what +to do,' he said, dejectedly. 'I can make nothing of him. It is +all prevarication and sulkiness! I do not think he felt one word +that I said.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'People often feel more than they +show.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He groaned.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Will you go to him?' he presently added. +'Perhaps I grew too angry at last, and I believe he loves you. At +least, if he does not, he must be more unfeeling than I can think +him. You do not dislike it, dearest.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'O no, no! If I only knew what would be best +for him!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He may be more unreserved with you,' said Mr. +Kendal; and as he was anxious for her to make the attempt, she +moved away, though in perplexity, and in the revulsion of +feeling, with a sort of disgust towards the boy who had deceived +her so long.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She found him seated on a wheelbarrow by the +pond, chucking pebbles into the still black water, and disturbing +the duckweed on the surface. His colour was gone, and his face +was dark and moody, and strove not to relax, as she said, 'O +Gilbert, how could you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He turned sharply away, muttering, 'She is +coming to bother, now!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It cut her to the heart. 'Gilbert!' was all she +could exclaim, but the tone of pain made him look at her, as if +in spite of himself, and as he saw the tears he exclaimed in an +impatient voice of rude consolation, 'There's nothing to take so +much to heart. No one thinks anything of it!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What would Edmund have thought?' said Albinia; +but the appeal came too soon, he made an angry gesture and said, +'He was nearly three years younger than I am now! He would not +have been kept in these abominable leading-strings.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was too much shocked to find an answer, and +Gilbert went on, 'Watched and examined wherever I go--not a +minute to myself--nothing but lessons at Tremblam, and bother at +home; driven about hither and thither, and not allowed a friend +of my own, nor to do one single thing! There's no standing it, +and I won't!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am very sorry,' said Albinia, struggling +with choking tears. 'It has been my great wish to make things +pleasant to you. I hope I have not teased or driven you +to--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nonsense!' exclaimed Gilbert, disrespectfully +indeed, but from the bottom of his heart, and breaking at once +into a flood of tears. 'You are the only creature that has been +kind to me since I lost my mother and Ned, and now they have been +and turned you against me too;' and he sobbed +violently.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know what you mean, Gilbert. If I +stand in your mother's place, I can't be turned against you, any +more than she could,' and she stroked his brow, which she found +so throbbing as to account for his paleness. 'You can grieve and +hurt me, but you can't prevent me from feeling for you, nor for +your dear father's grief.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He declared that people at home knew nothing +about boys, and made an uproar about nothing.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you call falsehood nothing?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Falsehood! A mere trifle now and then, when I +am driven to it by being kept so strictly.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know how to talk to you, Gilbert,' +said Albinia, rising; 'your conscience knows better than your +tongue.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't go;' and he went off into another +paroxysm of crying, as he caught hold of her dress; and when he +spoke again his mood was changed; he was very miserable, nobody +cared for him, he did not know what to do; he wanted to do right, +and to please her, but Archie Tritton would not let him alone; he +wished he had never seen Archie Tritton. At last, walking up and +down with him, she drew from him a full confidence, and began to +understand how, when health and strength had come back to him in +greater measure than he had ever before enjoyed, the craving for +boyish sports had awakened, just after he had been deprived of +his brother, and was debarred from almost every wholesome manner +of gratifying it. To fall in with young Tritton was as great a +misfortune as could well have befallen a boy, with a dreary home, +melancholy, reserved father, and wearisome aunt. Tritton was a +youth of seventeen, who had newly finished his education at an +inferior commercial school, and lived on his father's farm, +giving himself the airs of a sporting character, and fast +hurrying into dissipation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was really good-natured, and Gilbert dwelt +on his kindness with warmth and gratitude, and on his prowess in +all sporting accomplishments with a perfect effervescence of +admiration. He evidently patronized Gilbert, partly from +good-natured pity, and partly as flattered by the adherence of a +boy of a grade above him; and Gilbert was proud of the notice of +one who seemed to him a man, and an adept in all athletic games. +It was a dangerous intimacy, and her heart sank as she found that +the pleasures to which he had been introducing Gilbert, were not +merely the free exercise, the rabbit-shooting and rat-hunting of +the farm, nor even the village cricket-match, all of which, in +other company, would have had her full sympathy. But there had +been such low and cruel sports that she turned her head away +sickened at the notion of any one dear to her having been engaged +in such amusements, and when Gilbert in excuse said that every +one did it, she answered indignantly, 'My brothers +never!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is no use talking about what swells do that +hunt and shoot and go to school,' answered Gilbert.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you wish you went to school?' asked +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wish I was out of it all!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was in a very different frame. He owned that +he knew how wrong it had been to deceive, but he seemed to look +upon it as a sort of fate; he wished he could help it, but could +not, he was so much afraid of his father that he did not know +what he said; Archie Tritton said no one could get on without. +--There was an utter bewilderment in his notions, here and there +showing a better tone, but obscured by the fancies imbibed from +his companion, that the knowledge and practice of evil were +manly. At one moment he cried bitterly, and declared that he was +wretched; at another he defended each particular case with all +his might, changing and slipping away so that she did not know +where to take him. However, the conclusion was far more in pity +than anger, and after receiving many promises that if she would +shield him from his father and bear with him, he would abstain +from all she disapproved, she caressed and soothed the aching +head, and returned to his father hopeful and encouraged, certain +that the evil had been chiefly caused by weakness and neglect and +believing that here was a beginning of repentance. Since there +was sorrow and confession, there surely must be +reformation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">For a week Gilbert went on steadily, but at the +end of that time his arrivals at home became irregular, and one +day there was another great aberration. On a doubtful day, when +it had been decided that he might go safely between the showers, +he never came to Tremblam at all, and Mr. Salsted sent a note to +Mr. Kendal to let him know that his son had been at the +races--village races, managed by the sporting farmers of the +neighbourhood. There was a sense of despair, and again a talk, +bringing at once those ever-ready tears and protestations, sorrow +genuine, but fruitless. 'It was all Archie's fault, he had +overtaken him, persuaded him that Mr. Salsted would not expect +him, promised him that he should see the celebrated +'Blunderbuss,' Sam Shepherd's horse, that won the race last year. +Gilbert had gone 'because he could not help it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not help it!' cried Albinia, looking at him +with her clear indignant eyes. 'How can you be such a poor +creature, Gilbert?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is very hard!' exclaimed Gilbert; 'I must +go past Robble's Leigh twice every day of my life, and Archie +will come out and be at me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That is the very temptation you have to +resist,' said Albinia. 'Fight against it, pray against it, +resolve against it; ride fast, and don't linger and look after +him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He looked desponding and miserable. If she +could only have put a spirit into him!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Shall I walk and meet you sometimes before you +get to Robbie's Leigh!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">His face cleared up, but the cloud returned in +a moment.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What is it?' she asked. 'Only tell me. You +know I wish for nothing so much as to help you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He did confess that there was nothing he should +like better, if Archie would not be all the worse another time, +whenever he should catch him alone.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But surely, Gilbert, he is not always lying in +ambush for you, like a cat for a mouse. You can't be his sole +game.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, but he is coming or going, or out with his +gun, and he will often come part of the way with me, and he is +such a droll fellow!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia thought that there was but one cure. To +leave Gilbert daily exposed to the temptation must be wrong, and +she laid the case before Mr. Kendal with so much earnestness, +that he allowed that it would be better to send the boy from +home; and in the meantime, Albinia obtained that Mr. Kendal +should ride some way on the Tremblam road with his son in the +morning, so as to convoy him out of reach of the tempter; whilst +she tried to meet him in the afternoon, and managed so that he +should be seldom without the hope of meeting her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia's likings had taken a current +absolutely contrary to all her preconceived notions; Sophia, with +her sullen truth, was respected, but it was not easy to like her +even as well as Lucy, who, though pert and empty, had much +good-nature and good-temper, and was not indocile; while Gilbert, +in spite of a weak, shallow character, habits of deception, and +low ungentlemanly tastes, had won her affection, and occupied the +chief of her time and thoughts; and she dreaded the moment of +parting with him, as removing the most available and agreeable of +her young companions.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That moment of parting, though acknowledged to +be expedient, did not approach. Gilbert, could not be sent to a +public school without risk and anxiety which his father did not +like, and which would have been horror to his grandmother; and +Albinia herself did not feel certain that he was fit for it, nor +that it was her part to enforce it. She wrote to her brother, and +found that he likewise thought a tutor would be a safe +alternative; but then he must be a perfect man in a perfect +climate, and Mr. Kendal was not the man to make researches. Mr. +Dusautoy mentioned one clergyman who took pupils, Maurice Ferrars +another, but there was something against each. Mr. Kendal wrote +four letters, and was undecided--a third was heard of, but the +locality was doubtful, and the plan went off, because Mr. Kendal +could not make up his mind to go thirty miles to see the place, +and talk to a stranger.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia found that her power did not extend +beyond driving him from 'I'll see about it,' to 'Yes, by all +means.' Action was a length to which he could not be brought. Mr. +Nugent was very anxious that he should qualify as a magistrate +since a sensible, highly-principled man was much wanted +counterbalance Admiral Osborn's misdirected, restless activity +and the lower parts of the town were in a dreadful state. Mrs. +Nugent talked to Albinia, and she urged it in vain. To come out +of his study, examine felons, contend with the Admiral, and to +meet all the world at the quarter sessions, was abhorrent to him, +and he silenced her almost with sternness.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was really hurt and vexed, and scarcely +less so by a discovery that she made shortly after. The hot +weather had made the houses beneath the hill more close and +unwholesome than ever, Simkins's wife had fallen into a lingering +illness, and Albinia, visiting her constantly, was painfully +sensible of the dreadful atmosphere in which she lived, under the +roof, with a window that would not open. She offered to have the +house improved at her own expense, but was told that Mr. +Pettilove would raise the rent if anything were laid out on it. +She went about talking indignantly of Mr. Pettilove's cruelty and +rapacity, and when Mr. Dusautoy hinted that Pettilove was only +agent, she exclaimed that the owner was worse, since ignorance +alone could be excused. Who was the wretch? Some one, no doubt, +who never came near the place, and only thought of it as +money.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Fanny,' said Mr. Dusautoy, 'I really think we +ought to tell her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Mrs. Dusautoy, 'I think it would be +better. The houses belonged to old Mr. Meadows.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, if they are Mrs. Meadows's, I don't wonder +at anything.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I believe they are Gilbert +Kendal's.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They were very kind; Mr. Dusautoy strode out at +the window, and his wife would not look at Albinia during the +minute's struggle to regain her composure, under the +mortification that her husband should have let her rave so much +and so long about what must be in his own power. Her only comfort +was the hope that he had never heard what she said, and she knew +that he so extremely disliked a conference with Pettilove, that +he would consent to anything rather than have a +discussion.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was, for the first time in her life, out of +spirits. Gilbert was always upon her mind; and the daily walk to +meet him was a burthen, consuming a great deal of time, and +becoming trying on hot summer afternoons, the more so as she +seldom ventured to rest after it, lest dulness should drive +Gilbert into mischief, or, if nothing worse, into quarrelling +with Sophia. If she could not send him safely out fishing, she +must be at hand to invent pleasures and occupations for him; and +the worst of it was, that the girls grudged her attention to +their brother, and were becoming jealous. They hated the walk to +Robble's Leigh, and she knew that it was hard on them that their +pleasure should be sacrificed, but it was all-important to +preserve him from evil. She had wished to keep the +tutor-negotiations a secret, but they had oozed out, and she +found that Mrs. and Miss Meadows had been declaring that they had +known how it would be--whatever people said beforehand, it always +came to the, same thing in the end, and as to its being +necessary, poor dear Gibbie was very different before the change +at home.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia could not help shedding a few bitter +tears. Why was she to be always misjudged, even when she meant +the best? And, oh! how hard, well-nigh impossible, to forgive and +candidly to believe that, in the old lady, at least, it was +partiality, and not spite.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In September, Mr. and Mrs. Ferrars returned +from their journey. Albinia was anxious to see them, for if there +was a sense that she had fallen short of her confident hopes of +doing prosperously, there was also a great desire for their +sympathy and advice. But Maurice had been too long away from his +parish to be able to spare another day, and begged that the +Kendals would come to Fairmead. Seeing that Albinia's heart was +set on it, Mr. Kendal allowed himself to be stirred up to appoint +a time for driving her over to spend a long day at +Fairmead.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">For her own pleasure and ease of mind, Albinia +made a point of taking Gilbert, and the girls were to spend the +day with their grandmother.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Pretty old Fairmead!' she cried, as the +beech-trees rose before her; and she was turning round every +minute to point out to Gilbert some of the spots of which she had +told him, and nodding to the few scattered children who were not +at school, and who looked up with mouths from ear to ear, and +flushed cheeks, as they curtsied to 'Miss Ferrars.' The 'Miss +Ferrars' life seemed long ago.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They came to the little green gate that led to +what had been 'home' for the happiest years of Albinia's life, +and from the ivy porch there was a rush of little Willie and +Mary, and close at hand their mamma, and Maurice emerging from +the school. It was very joyous and natural. But there were two +more figures, not youthful, but of decided style and air, and +quiet but fashionable dress, and Albinia had only time to say +quickly to her husband, 'my aunts,' before she was fondly +embraced.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was not at all what she had intended. Mrs. +Annesley and Miss Ferrars were very kind aunts, and she had much +affection for them; but there was an end of the hope of the +unreserve and confidence that she wanted. She could get plenty of +compassion and plenty of advice, but her whole object would be to +avoid these; and, besides, Mr. Kendal had not bargained for +strangers. What would become of his opportunity of getting better +acquainted with Maurice and Winifred, and of all the pleasures +that she had promised Gilbert?</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">At least, however, she was proud that her aunts +should see what a fine-looking man her husband was, and they were +evidently struck with his appearance and manner. Gilbert, too was +in very good looks, and was altogether a bright, gentlemanly boy, +well made, though with the air of growing too fast, and with +something of uncertainty about his expression.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was quickly explained that the aunts had +only decided, two days before, on coming to Fairmead at once, +some other engagement having failed them, and they were delighted +to find that they should meet their dear Albinia, and be +introduced to Mr. Kendal. Setting off before the post came in, +Albinia had missed Winifred's note to tell her of their +arrival.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And,' said Winifred, as she took Albinia +upstairs, 'if I did suspect that would be the case, I wont say I +regretted it. I did not wish to afford Mr. Kendal the pleasures +of anticipation.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Perhaps it was better,' said Albinia, smiling, +'especially as I suppose they will stay for the next six weeks, +so that the days will be short before you will be +free.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And now let me see you, my pretty one,' said +Winifred, fondly. 'Are you well, are you strong? No, don't +wriggle your head away, I shall believe nothing but what I read +for myself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't believe anything you read without the +notes,' said Albinia. 'I have a great deal to say to you, but I +don't expect much opportunity thereof.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Certainly not, for Miss Ferrars was knocking at +the door. She had never been able to suppose that the +sisters-in-law could be more to each other than she was to her +own niece.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">So it became a regular specimen of a 'long day' +spent together by relations, who, intending to be very happy, +make themselves very weary of each other, by discarding ordinary +occupations, and reducing themselves to needlework and small +talk. Albinia was bent on liveliness, and excelled herself in her +droll observations; but to Winifred, who knew her so well, this +brilliancy did not seem like perfect ease; it was more like +effort than natural spirits. This was no wonder, for not only had +the sight of new people thrown Mr. Kendal into a severe access of +shyness and silence, but he was revolving in fear and dread the +expediency of asking them to Willow Lawn, and considering whether +Albinia and propriety could make the effort bearable. Silent he +sat, while the aunts talked of their wishes that one nephew would +marry, and that the other would not, and no one presumed to +address him, except little Mary, who would keep trotting up to +him, to make him drink out of her doll's tea-cups.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars took pity on him, and took him and +Gilbert out to call upon Colonel Bury; but this did not lessen +his wife's difficulties, for there was a general expectation that +she would proceed to confidences; whereas she would do nothing +but praise the Dusautoys, ask after all the parishioners of +Fairmead one by one, and consult about French reading-books and +Italian grammars. Mrs. Annesley began a gentle warning against +overtaxing her strength, and Miss Ferrars enforced it with such +vehemence, that Winifred, who had been rather on that side, began +to take Albinia's part, but perceived, with some anxiety, that +her sister's attempts to laugh off the admonition almost amounted +to an admission that she was working very hard. As to the +step-daughters, no intelligence was attainable, except that Lucy +would be pleased with a new crochet pattern, and that Sophy was +like her father, but not so handsome.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The next division of time passed better. +Albinia walked out at the window to meet the gentlemen when they +came home, and materially relieved Mr. Kendal's mind by saying to +him, 'The aunts are settled in here till they go to Knutsford. I +hope you don't think--there is not the least occasion for asking +them to stay with us.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Are you sure you do not wish it?' said Mr. +Kendal, with great kindness, but an evident weight +removed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Most certain!' she exclaimed, with full +sincerity; 'I am not at all ready for them. What should I do with +them to entertain?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very well,' said Mr. Kendal, 'you must be the +judge. If there be no necessity, I shall be glad to avoid +unsettling our habits, and probably Bayford would hardly afford +much enjoyment to your aunts.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia glanced in his face, and in that of her +brother, with her own arch fun. It was the first time that day +that Maurice had seen that peculiarly merry look, and he +rejoiced, but he was not without fear that she was fostering Mr. +Kendal's retiring habits more than was good for him. But it was +not only on his account that she avoided the invitation, she by +no means wished to show Bayford to her fastidious aunts, and felt +as if to keep them satisfied and comfortable would be beyond her +power.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Set free from this dread, and his familiarity +with his brother-in-law renewed, Mr. Kendal came out to great +advantage at the early dinner. Miss Ferrars was well read and +used to literary society, and she started subjects on which he +was at home, and they discussed new books and criticised critics, +so that his deep reading showed itself, and even a grave, quiet +tone of satire, such as was seldom developed, except under the +most favourable circumstances. He and Aunt Gertrude were +evidently so well pleased with each other, that Albinia almost +thought she had been precipitate in letting him off the +visit.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert had, fortunately, a turn for small +children, and submitted to be led about the garden by little +Willie; and as far as moderate enjoyment went, the visit was not +unsuccessful; but as for what Albinia came for, it was +unattainable, except for one little space alone with her +brother.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I meant to have asked a great deal,' she said, +sighing.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If you, want me, I would contrive to ride +over,' said Maurice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, it is not worth that. But, Maurice, what +is to be done when one sees one's duty, and yet fails for ever +for want of tact and temper! Ah, I know what you will say, and I +often say it to myself, but whatever I propose, I always do +either the wrong thing or in the wrong way!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You fall a hundred times a day, but are raised +up again,' said Maurice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Maurice, tell me one thing. Is it wrong to do, +not the best, but only the best one can?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is the wrong common to us all,' said +Maurice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I used to believe in "whatever is worth doing +at all, is worth doing well." Now, I do everything ill, rather +than do nothing at all.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There are only two ways of avoiding +that.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And they are--?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Either doing nothing, or admiring all your own +doings.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Which do you recommend?' said Albinia, +smiling, but not far from tears.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear,' said Maurice, 'all I can dare to +recommend, is patience and self-control. Don't fret and agitate +yourself about what you can't do, but do your best to do calmly +what you can. It will be made up, depend upon it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was no time for more, but the sound +counsel, the sympathy, and playfulness had done Albinia wonderful +good, and she was almost glad there had been no more privacy, or +her friends might have guessed that she had not quite found a +counsellor at home.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER VI.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">The Christmas holidays did indeed put an end to +the walks to meet Gilbert, but only so as to make Albinia feel +responsible for him all day long, and uneasy whenever he was not +accounted for. She played chess with him, found books, and racked +her brains to seek amusements for him; but knowing all the time +that it was hopeless to expect a boy of fourteen to be satisfied +with them. One or two boys of his age had come home for the +holidays, and she tried to be relieved by being told that he was +going out with Dick Wolfe or Harry Osborn, but it was not quite +satisfactory, and she began to look fagged and unwell, and had +lost so much of her playfulness, that even Mr. Kendal was +alarmed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophia's birthday fell in the last week before +Christmas, and it had always been the family custom to drink tea +with Mrs. Meadows. Albinia made the engagement with a sense of +virtuous resignation, though not feeling well enough for the +infliction, but Mr. Kendal put a stop to all notion of her going. +She expected to enjoy her quiet solitary evening, but the result +was beyond her hopes, for as she was wishing Gilbert good-bye, +she heard the click of the study lock, and in came Mr. +Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I thought you were gone,' she said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No. I did not like to leave you alone for a +whole evening.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">If it were only an excuse to himself for +avoiding the Meadows' party, it was too prettily done for the +notion to occur to his wife, and never had she spent a happier +evening. He was so unusually tender and unreserved, so desirous +to make her comfortable, and, what was far more to her, growing +into so much confidence, that it was even better than what she +used last year to picture to herself as her future life with him. +It even came to what he had probably never done for any one. She +spoke of a beautiful old Latin hymn, which she had once read with +her brother, and had never seen adequately translated, and he +fetched a manuscript book, where, written out with unrivalled +neatness, stood a translation of his own, made many years ago, +full of scholarly polish. She ventured to ask leave to copy it. +'I will copy it for you,' he said, 'but it must be for yourself +alone.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was grateful for the concession, and happy +in the promise. She begged to turn the page, and it was granted. +There were other translations, chiefly from curious oriental +sources, and there were about twenty original poems, elaborated +in the same exquisite manner, and with a deep melancholy strain +of thought, and power of beautiful description, that she thought +finer and more touching than almost anything she had +read.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And these are all locked up for ever. No one +has seen them.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So. When I was a young lad, my poor father put +some lines of mine into a newspaper. That sufficed me,' and he +shut the clasped book as if repenting of having revealed the +contents.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, I was not thinking of anything you would +dislike with regard to those verses. I don't like to let in the +world on things precious, but (how could she venture so far!) I +was thinking how many powers and talents are shut up in that +study! and whether they might not have been meant for more. I beg +your pardon if I ought not to say so.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The time is past,' he replied, without +displeasure; 'my youth is gone, and with it the enterprise and +hopefulness that can press forward, insensible to annoyance. You +should have married a man with freshness and energy more +responsive to your own.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, Edmund, that is a severe reproach for my +impertinent speech.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You must not expect too much from me,' he +continued. 'I told you that I was a broken, grief-stricken man, +and you were content to be my comforter.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Would that I could be so!' exclaimed Albinia, +'but to try faithfully, I must say what is on my mind. Dear +Edmund, if you would only look out of your books, and see how +much good you could do, here in your own sphere, how much the +right wants strengthening, how much evil cries out to be +repressed, how sadly your own poor suffer--oh! if you once began, +you would be so much happier!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She trembled with earnestness, and with fear of +her own audacity, but a resounding knock at the door prevented +her from even discovering whether he were offended. He started +away to secure his book, and the two girls came in. Albinia could +hardly believe it late enough for their return, but they +accounted for having come rather earlier by saying that Gilbert +had been making himself so ridiculous when he had come at last, +that grandmamma had sent him home.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'At last!' said Albinia. 'He set off only ten +minutes after you, as soon as he found that papa was not +coming.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'All I know,' said Lucy, 'is, that he did not +come till half-past nine, and said he had come from +home.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And where can he be now?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gone to bed,' growled Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know what he has been doing,' said +Lucy, who since the suspicion of favouritism, had seemed to find +especial pleasure in bringing forward her brother's faults; 'but +he came in laughing like a plough-boy, and talking perfect +nonsense. And when Aunt Maria spoke to him, he answered quite +rudely, that he wasn't going to be questioned and called to +order, he had enough of petticoat government at home.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' said Sophy, breaking in with ungracious +reluctance, as if against her will conveying some comfort to her +step-mother for the sake of truth, 'what he said was, that if he +bore with petticoat government at home, it was because Mrs. +Kendal was pretty and kind, and didn't torment him out of his +life for nothing, and what he stood from her, he would not stand +from any other woman.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But, Sophy, I am sure he did say Mrs. Kendal +knew what she was going to say, and said it, and it was worth +hearing, and he laughed in Aunt Maria's face, and told her not to +make so many bites at a cherry.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He must have been beside himself,' said +Albinia, in a bewilderment of consternation, but Mr. Kendal's +return put a stop to all, for the sisters never told tales before +him, and she would not bring the subject under his notice until +she should be better informed. His suffering was too great, his +wrath too stern, to be excited without serious cause; but she +spent a wakeful, anxious night, revolving all imaginable evils +into which the boy could have fallen, and perplexing herself what +measures to take, feeling all the more grieved and bound to him +by the preference that, even in this dreadful mood, he had +expressed for her. She fell into a restless sleep in the morning, +from which she wakened so late as to have no time to question +Gilbert before breakfast. On coming down, she found that he had +not made his appearance, and had sent word that he had a bad +headache, and wanted no breakfast. His father, who had made a +visit of inspection, said he thought it was passing off, smiling +as he observed upon Mrs. Meadows's mince-pie suppers and +home-made wine.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy said nothing, but glanced knowingly at her +sister and at Albinia, from neither of whom did she get any +response.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia did not dare to take any measures till +Mr. Kendal had ridden out, and then she went up and knocked at +Gilbert's door. He was better, he said, and was getting up, he +would be down-stairs presently. She watched for him as he came +down, looking still very pale and unwell. She took him into her +room, made him sit by the fire, and get a little life and warmth +into his chilled hands before she spoke. 'Yes, Gilbert, I don't +wonder you cannot lift up your head while so much is on your +mind.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert started and hid his face.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Did you think I did not know, and was not +grieved?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well,' he cried, peevishly, 'I'm sure I have +the most ill-natured pair of sisters in the world.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then you meant to deceive us again, +Gilbert.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He had relapsed into the old habit--as usual, a +burst of tears and a declaration that no one was ever so badly +off, and he did not know what to do.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You <i>do</i> know perfectly well what to do, +Gilbert. There is nothing for it but to tell me the whole meaning +of this terrible affair, and I will see whether I can help +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was always the same round, a few words would +always bring the confession, and that pitiful kind of helpless +repentance, which had only too often given her hope.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert assured her that he had fully purposed +following his sisters, but that on the way he had unluckily +fallen in with Archie Tritton and a friend, who had driven in to +hear a man from London singing comic songs at the King's Head, +and they had persuaded him to come in. He had been uneasy and +tried to get away, but the dread of being laughed at about his +grandmother's tea had prevailed, and he had been supping on +oysters and porter, and trying to believe himself a fast man, +till Archie, who had assured him that he was himself going home +in 'no time,' had found it expedient to set off, and it had been +agreed that he should put a bold face on it, and profess that he +had never intended to do more than come and fetch his sisters +home.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That the porter had anything to do with his +extraordinary manner to his grandmother and aunt, was so shocking +a notion, and the very hint made him cry so bitterly, and protest +so earnestly that he had only had one pint, which he did not +like, and only drank because he was afraid of being teased, that +Albinia was ready to believe that he had been so elevated by +excitement as to forget himself, and continue the style of the +company he had left. It was bad enough, and she felt almost +overpowered by the contemplation of the lamentable weakness of +the poor boy, of the consequences, and of what was incumbent on +her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She leant back and considered a little while, +then sighed heavily, and said, 'Gilbert, two things must be done. +You must make an apology to your grandmother and aunt, and you +must confess the whole to your father.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He gave a sort of howl, as if she were misusing +his confidence.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It must be,' she said. 'If you are really +sorry, you will not shrink. I do not believe that it could fail +to come to your father's knowledge, even if I did not know it was +my duty to tell him, and how much better to confess it +yourself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">For this, however, Gilbert seemed to have no +force; he cried piteously, bewailed himself, vowed incoherently +that he would never do so again, and if she had not pitied him so +much, would have made her think him contemptible.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was inexorable as to having the whole told, +though dreading the confession scarcely less than he did; and he +finally made a virtue of necessity, and promised to tell, if only +she would not desert him, declaring, with a fresh flood of tears, +that he should never do wrong when she was by. Then came the +apology. It was most necessary, and he owned that it would be +much better to be able to tell his father that his grandmother +had forgiven him; but he really had not nerve to set out alone, +and Albinia, who had begun to dread having him out of sight, +consented to go and protect him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He shrank behind her, and she had to bear the +flood of Maria's surprises and regrets, before she could succeed +in saying that he was very sorry for yesterday's improper +behaviour, and had come to ask pardon.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Grandmamma was placable; Gilbert's white face +and red eyes were pleading enough, and she was distressed at Mrs. +Kendal having come out, looking pale and tired. If she had been +alone, the only danger would have been that the offence would be +lost in petting; but Maria had been personally wounded, and the +jealousy she already felt of the step-mother, had been excited to +the utmost by Gilbert's foolish words. She was excessively +grieved, and a great deal more angry with Mrs. Kendal than with +Gilbert; and the want of justification for this feeling, together +with her great excitement, distress, and embarrassment, made her +attempts to be dry and dignified ludicrously abortive. She really +seemed to have lost the power of knowing what she said. She was +glad Mrs. Kendal could walk up this morning, since she could not +come at night.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was not my fault,' said Albinia, earnestly; +'Mr. Kendal forbade me. I am sure I wish we had come.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The old lady would have said something kind +about not reproaching herself, but Miss Meadows interposed with, +'It was very unlucky, to be sure--Mr. Kendal never failed them +before, not that she would wish--but she had always understood +that to let young people run about late in the evening by +themselves--not that she meant anything, but it was very +unfortunate--if she had only been aware--Betty should have come +down to walk up with them.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert could not forbear an ashamed smile of +intense affront at this reproach to his manliness.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was exceedingly unfortunate,' said Albinia, +trying to repress her vexation; 'but Gilbert must learn to have +resolution to guard himself. And now that he is come to ask your +forgiveness, will you not grant it to him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, yes, yes, certainly, I forgive him from my +heart. Yes, Gilbert, I do, only you must mind and beware--it is a +very shocking thing--low company and all that--you've made +yourself look as ill--and if you knew what a cake Betty had +made--almond and citron both--"but it's for Master Gilbert," she +said, "and I don't grudge"--and then to think--oh, +dear!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia tried to express for him some becoming +sorrow at having disappointed so much kindness, but she brought +Miss Meadows down on her again.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, yes--she grudged nothing--but she never +expected to meet with gratitude--she was quite prepared--' and +she swallowed and almost sobbed, 'there had been changes. She was +ready to make every excuse--she was sure she had done her +best--but she understood--she didn't want to be assured. It +always happened so--she knew her homely ways were not what Mrs. +Kendal had been used to--and she didn't wonder--she only hoped +the dear children--' and she was absolutely crying.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear Maria,' said her mother, soothingly, +'you have worked yourself into such a state, that you don't know +what you are saying. You must not let Mrs. Kendal think that we +don't know that she is leading the dear children to all that is +right and kind towards as.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, no, I don't accuse any one. Only if they +like to put me down under their feet and trample on me, they are +welcome. That's all I have to say.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was too much annoyed to be amused, and +said, as she rose to take leave, 'I think it would be better for +Gilbert, as well as for ourselves, if we were to say no more till +some more cool and reasonable moment.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am as cool as possible,' said Miss Meadows, +convulsively clutching her hand; 'I'm not excited. Don't excite +yourself, Mrs. Kendal--it is very bad for you. Tell her not, +Mamma--oh! no, don't be excited--I mean nothing--I forgive poor +dear Gibbie whatever little matters--I know there was +excuse--boys with unsettled homes--but pray don't go and excite +yourself--you see how cool I am--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And she pursued Albinia to the garden-gate, +recommending her at every step not to be excited, for she was as +cool as possible, trembling and stammering all the time, with +flushed cheeks, and tears in her eyes.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wonder who she thinks is excited?' exclaimed +Albinia, as they finally turned their backs on her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was hardly in human nature to help making +the observation, but it was not prudent. Gilbert took licence to +laugh, and say, 'Aunt Maria is beside herself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I never heard anything so absurd or unjust!' +cried Albinia, too much irritated to remember anything but the +sympathy of her auditor. 'If I am to be treated in this manner, I +have done striving to please them. Due respect shall be shown, +but as to intimacy and confidence--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm glad you see it so at last!' cried +Gilbert. 'Aunt Maria has been the plague of my life, and I'm glad +I told her a bit of my mind!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">What was Albinia's consternation! Her moment's +petulance had undone her morning's work.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gilbert,' she said, 'we are both speaking very +wrongly. I especially, who ought to have helped you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Spite of all succeeding humility the outburst +had been fatal, and argue and plead as she might, she could not +restore the boy to anything like the half satisfactory state of +penitence in which she had led him from home. The giving way to +her worse nature had awakened his, and though he still allowed +that she should prepare the way for his confession to his father, +all real sense of his outrageous conduct towards his aunt was +gone.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Disheartened and worn out, Albinia did not feel +equal even to going to take off her walking things, but sat down +in the drawing-room on the sofa, and tried to silence the girls' +questions and chatter, by desiring Lucy to read aloud.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">By-and-by Mr. Kendal was heard returning, and +she rose to arrest him in the hall. Her looks began the story, +for he exclaimed, 'My dear Albinia, what is the +matter?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, Edmund, I have such things to tell you! I +have been doing so wrong.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was almost sobbing, and he spoke fondly. +'No, Albinia, I can hardly believe that. Something has vexed you, +and you must take time to compose yourself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He led her up to her own room, tried to soothe +her, and would not listen to a word till she should be calm. +After lying still for a little while, she thought she had +recovered, but the very word 'Gilbert' brought such an expression +of anxiety and sternness over his brow as overcame her again, and +she could not speak without so much emotion that he silenced her; +and finding that she could neither leave the subject, nor mention +it without violent agitation, he said he would leave her for a +little while, and perhaps she might sleep, and then be better +able to speak to him. Still she held him, and begged that he +would say nothing to Gilbert till he had heard her, and to pacify +her he yielded, passed his promise, and quitted her with a +kiss.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER VII.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">There was a messenger at Fairmead Parsonage by +sunrise the next morning, and by twelve o'clock Mr. and Mrs. +Ferrars were at Willow Lawn.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal's grave brow and depressed manner +did not reassure Winifred as he met her in the hall, although his +words were, 'I hope she is doing well.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He said no more, for the drawing-room door was +moving to and fro, as if uneasy on the hinges, and as he made a +step towards it, it disclosed a lady with black eyes and pinched +features, whom he presented as 'Miss Meadows.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, now--I think--since more +efficient--since I leave Mrs. Kendal to better--only pray tell +her--my love and my mother's--if I could have been of any use--or +shall I remain?--could I be of any service, Edmund?--I would not +intrude when--but in the house--if I could be of any further +use.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Of none, thank you,' said Mr. Kendal, 'unless +you would be kind enough to take home the girls.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, papa!' cried Lucy, I've got the keys. You +wont be able to get on at all without me. Sophy may go, but I +could not be spared.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Let it be as you will,' said Mr. Kendal; 'I +only desire quiet, and that you should not inconvenience Mrs. +Ferrars.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You will help me, will you not!' said +Winifred, smiling, though she did not augur well from this +opening scene. 'May I go soon to Albinia?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Presently, I hope,' said Mr. Kendal, with an +uneasy glance towards Miss Meadows, 'she has seen no one as yet, +and she is so determined that you cannot come till after +Christmas, that she does not expect you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Miss Meadows began one of her tangled skeins of +words, the most tangible of which was excitement; and Mr. Kendal, +knowing by long experience that the only chance of a conclusion +was to let her run herself down, held his tongue, and she finally +departed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Then he breathed more freely, and said he would +go and prepare Albinia to see her sister, desiring Lucy to show +Mrs. Ferrars to her room, and to take care not to talk upon the +stairs.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">This, Lucy, who was in high glory, obeyed by +walking upon creaking tip-toe, apparently borrowed from her aunt, +and whispering at a wonderful rate about her eagerness to see +dear, dear mamma, and the darling little brother.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The spare room did not look expectant of +guests, and felt still less so. It struck Winifred as very like +the mouth of a well, and the paper showed patches of ancient +damp. One maid was hastily laying the fire, the other shaking out +the curtains, in the endeavour to render it habitable, and Lucy +began saying, 'I must apologize. If papa had only given us notice +that we were to have the pleasure of seeing you,' and then she +dashed at the maid in all the pleasure of authority. 'Eweretta, +go and bring up Mrs. Ferrars's trunks directly, and some water, +and some towels.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Winifred thought the greatest mercy to the +hunted maid would be to withdraw as soon as she had hastily +thrown off bonnet and cloak, and Lucy followed her into the +passage, repeating that papa was so absent and forgetful, that it +was very inconvenient in making arrangements. Whatever was +ordinarily repressed in her, was repaying itself with interest in +the pleasure of acting as mistress of the house.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mrs. Ferrars beheld Gilbert sitting listlessly +on the deep window-seat at the end of the passage, resting his +head on his hand.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well!' exclaimed Lucy, 'if he is not there +still! He has hardly stirred since breakfast! Come and speak to +Mrs. Ferrars, Gilbert. Or,' and she simpered, 'shall it be Aunt +Winifred?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'As you please,' said Mrs. Ferrars, advancing +towards her old acquaintance, whom she would hardly have +recognised, so different was the pale, downcast, slouching +figure, from the bright, handsome lad she remembered.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How cold your hand is!' she exclaimed; 'you +should not sit in this cold passage.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'As I have been telling him all this morning,' +said Lucy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How is she?' whispered the boy, rousing +himself to look imploringly in Winifred's face.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Your father seems satisfied about +her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">At that moment a door at some distance was +opened, and Gilbert seemed to thrill all over as for the moment +ere it closed a baby's cry was heard. He turned his face away, +and rested it on the window. 'My brother! my brother!' he +murmured, but at that moment his father turned the corner of the +passage, saying that Albinia had heard their arrival, and was +very eager to see her sister.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Still Winifred could not leave the boy without +saying, 'You can make Gilbert happy about her, can you not? He is +waiting here, watching anxiously for news of her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gilbert himself best knows whether he has a +right to be made happy,' said Mr. Kendal, gravely. 'I promised to +ask no questions till she is able to explain, but I much fear +that he has been causing her great grief and +distress.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He fixed his eyes on his son, and Winifred, in +the belief that she was better out of their way, hurried to +Albinia's room, and was seen very little all the rest of the +day.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was spared, however, to walk to church the +next morning with her husband, Lucy showing them the way, and +being quiet and agreeable when repressed by Mr. Ferrars's +presence. After church, Mr. Dusautoy overtook them to inquire +after Mrs. Kendal, and to make a kind proposal of exchanging +Sunday duty. He undertook to drive the ponies home on the morrow, +begged for credentials for the clerk, and messages for Willie and +Mary, and seemed highly pleased with the prospect of the holiday, +as he called it, only entreating that Mrs. Ferrars would be so +kind as to look in on 'Fanny,' if Mrs. Kendal could spare +her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I thought,' said Winifred to her husband, +'that you would rather have exchanged a Sunday when Albinia is +better able to enjoy you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That may yet be, but poor Kendal is so much +depressed, that I do not like to leave him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have no patience with him!' cried Winifred; +'he does not seem to take the slightest pleasure in his baby, and +he will hardly let poor Albinia do so either! Do you know, +Maurice, it is as bad as I ever feared it would be. No, don't +stop me, I must have it out. I always said he had no business to +victimize her, and I am sure of it now! I believe this gloom of +his has broken down her own dear sunny spirits! There she is--so +unlike herself--so anxious and fidgety about her baby--will +hardly take any one's word for his being as healthy and stout a +child as I ever saw! And then, every other moment, she is +restless about that boy--always asking where he is, or what he is +doing. I don't see how she is ever to get well, while it goes on +in this way! Mr. Kendal told me that Gilbert had been worrying +and distressing her; and as to those girls, the eldest of them is +intolerable with her airs, and the youngest--I asked her if she +liked babies, and she growled, "No." Lucy said Gilbert was +waiting in the passage for news of mamma, and she grunted, "All +sham!" and that's the whole I have heard of her! He is bad enough +in himself, but with such a train! My poor Albinia! If they are +not the death of her, it will be lucky!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well done, Winifred!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But, Maurice,' said his impetuous wife, in a +curiously altered tone, 'are not you very unhappy about +Albinia?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I shall leave you to find that out for +me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then you are not?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think Kendal thoroughly values and +appreciates her, and is very uncomfortable without +her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I suppose so. People do miss a +maid-of-all-work. I should not so much mind it, if she had been +only <i>his</i> slave, but to be so to all those disagreeable +children of his too! And with so little effect. Why can't he send +them all to school?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Propose that to Albinia.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She did want the boy to go somewhere. I should +not care where, so it were out of her way. What creatures they +must be for her to have produced no more effect on +them!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor Albinia! I am afraid it is a hard task: +but these are still early days, and we see things at a +disadvantage. We shall be able to judge whether there be really +too great a strain on her spirits, and if so, I would talk to +Kendal.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And I wonder what is to come of that. It seems +to me like what John Smith calls singing psalms to a dead +horse.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'John Smith! I am glad you mentioned him; I +shall desire Dusautoy to bring him here on Monday.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What! as poor Albinia would say, you can't +exist a week without John Smith.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Even so. I want him to lay out a plan for +draining the garden. That pond is intolerable. I suspect that +all, yourself included, will become far more good-tempered in +consequence.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A capital measure, but do you mean that Edmund +Kendal is going to let you and John Smith drain his pond under +his very nose, and never find it out? I did not imagine him quite +come to that.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not <i>quite</i>,' said Maurice; 'it is with +his free consent, and I believe he will be very glad to have it +done without any trouble to himself. He said that Albinia +<i>thought it damp</i>," and when I put a few sanatory facts +before him, thanked me heartily, and seemed quite relieved. If +they had only been in Sanscrit, they would have made the greater +impression.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'One comfort is, Maurice, that however +provoking you are at first, you generally prove yourself +reasonable at last, I am glad you are not Mr. Kendal.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! it will have a fine effect on you to spend +your Christmas-day <i>tete-a-tete</i> with him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mrs. Ferrars's views underwent various +modifications, like all hasty yet candid judgments. She took Mr. +Kendal into favour when she found him placidly submitting to Miss +Meadows's showers of words, in order to prevent her gaining +access to his wife.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Maria Meadows is a very well-meaning person,' +he said afterwards; 'but I know of no worse infliction in a +sick-room.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wonder,' thought Winifred, 'whether he +married to get rid of her. I should have thought it justifiable +had it been any one but Albinia!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The call on Mrs. Dusautoy was consoling. It was +delightful to find how Albinia was loved and valued at the +vicarage. Mrs. Dusautoy began by sending her as a message, John's +first exclamation on hearing of the event. 'Then she will never +be of any more use.' In fact, she said, it was much to him like +having a curate disabled, and she believed he could only be +consoled by the hopes of a pattern christening, and of a nursery +for his school-girls; but there Winifred shook her head, Fairmead +had a prior claim, and Albinia had long had her eye upon a +scholar of her own.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I told John that she would! and he must bear +it as he can,' laughed Mrs. Dusautoy; and she went on more +seriously to say that her gratitude was beyond expression, not +merely for the actual help, though that was much, but for the +sympathy, the first encouragement they had met among their richer +parishioners, and she spoke of the refreshment of the +mirthfulness and playful manner, so as to convince Winifred that +they had neither died away nor been everywhere wasted.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Winifred had no amenable patient. Weak and +depressed as Albinia was, her restlessness and air of anxiety +could not be appeased. There was a look of being constantly on +the watch, and once, when her door was ajar, before Winifred was +aware she exerted her voice to call Gilbert!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Pushing the door just wide enough to enter, and +treading almost noiselessly, he came forward, looking from side +to side as with a sense of guilt. She stretched out her hand and +smiled, and he obeyed the movement that asked him to bend and +kiss her, but still durst not speak.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Let me have the baby,' she said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mrs. Ferrars laid it beside her, and held +aloof. Gilbert's eyes were fixed intently on it.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, Gilbert,' Albinia said, 'I know what you +will feel for him. He can't be what you once had--but oh, +Gilbert, you will do all that an elder brother can to make him +like Edmund!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert wrung her fingers, and ventured to +stoop down to kiss the little red forehead. The tears were +running down his cheeks, and he could not speak.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If your father might only say the same of him! +that he never grieved him!' said Albinia; 'but oh, +Gilbert--example,' and then, pausing and gazing searchingly in +his face, 'You have not told papa.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' whispered Gilbert.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Winifred,' said Albinia, 'would you be so kind +as to ask papa to come?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Winifred was forced to obey, though feeling +much to blame as Mr. Kendal rose with a sigh of uneasiness. +Gilbert still stood with his hand clasped in Albinia's, and she +held it while her weak voice made the full confession for him, +and assured his father of his shame and sorrow. There needed no +such assurance, his whole demeanour had been sorrow all these +dreary days, and Mr. Kendal could not but forgive, though his eye +spoke deep grief.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I could not refuse pardon thus asked,' he +said. 'Oh, Gilbert, that I could hope this were the beginning of +a new course!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia looked from Gilbert to his little +brother, and back again to Gilbert.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It <i>shall</i> be,' she said, and Gilbert's +resolution was perhaps the more sincere that he spoke no +word.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor boy,' said Albinia, half to herself and +half aloud, 'I think I feel more strong to love and to help +him!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That interview was a dangerous experiment, and +she suffered for it. As her brother said, instead of having too +little life, she had too much, and could not let herself rest; +she had never cultivated the art of being still, and when she was +weak, she could not be calm.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Still the strength of her constitution staved +off the nervous fever of her spirits, and though she was not at +all a comfortable patient, she made a certain degree of progress, +so that though it was not easy to call her better, she was not +quite so ill, and grew less irrational in her solicitude, and +more open to other ideas. 'Do you know, Winifred,' she said one +day, 'I have been thinking myself at Fairmead till I almost +believed I heard John Smith's voice under the window.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Winifred was obliged to look out at the window +to hide her smile. Maurice, who was standing on the lawn with the +very John Smith, beckoned to her, and she went down to hear his +plans. He was wanted at home the next day, and asked whether she +thought he had better take Gilbert with him. 'It is the wisest +thing that has been said yet!' exclaimed she. 'Now I shall have a +chance for Albinia!' and accordingly, Mr. Kendal having given a +gracious and grateful consent, Albinia was informed; but Winifred +thought her almost perverse when a perturbed look came over her, +and she said, 'It is very kind in Maurice, but I must speak to +him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was struck by the worn, restless expression +of her features, so unlike the calm contented repose of a young +mother, and when she spoke to him, her first word was of Gilbert. +'Maurice, it is so kind, I know you will make him happy--but oh! +take care--he is so delicate--indeed, he is--don't let him get +wet through.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice promised, but Albinia resumed with +minutiae of directions, ending with, 'Oh! if he should get hurt +or into any mischief, what should we do? Pray, take care, +Maurice, you are not used to such delicate boys.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear, I think you may rely on +me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, but you will not be too strict with +him--' and more was following, when her brother said, 'I promise +you to make him my special charge. I like the boy very much. I +think you may be reasonable, and trust him with me, without so +much agitation. You have not let me see my own nephew +yet.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia looked with her wistful piteous face at +her brother as he took in his arms her noble-looking fair +infant.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You are a great fellow indeed, sir,' said his +uncle. 'Now if I were your mamma, I would be proud of you, rather +than--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am afraid!' said Albinia, in a sudden low +whisper.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He looked at her anxiously.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Let me have him,' she said; then as Maurice +bent over her, and she hastily gathered the babe into her arms, +she whispered in quick, low, faint accents, 'Do you know how many +children have been born in this house?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars understood her, he too had seen the +catalogue in the church, and guessed that the phantoms of her +boy's dead brethren dwelt on her imagination, forbidding her to +rejoice in him hopefully. He tried to say something encouraging +of the child's appearance, but she would not let him go on. 'I +know,' she said, 'he is so now--but--' then catching her breath +again and speaking very low, 'his father does not dare look at +him--I see that he is sorry for me--Oh, Maurice, it will come, +and I shall be able to do nothing!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice felt his lip quivering as his sister's +voice became choked--the sister to whom he had once been the +whole world, and who still could pour out her inmost heart more +freely to him than to any other. But it was a time for grave +authority, and though he spoke gently, it was almost +sternly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Albinia, this is not right. It is not thankful +or trustful. No, do not cry, but listen to me. Your child is as +likely to do well as any child in the world, but nothing is so +likely to do him harm as your want of composure.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I tell myself so,' said Albinia, 'but there is +no helping it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, there is. Make it your duty to keep +yourself still, and not be troubled about what may or may not +happen, but be glad of the present pleasure.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't you think I am?' said Albinia, half +smiling; 'so glad, that I grow frightened at myself, and--' As if +fain to leave the subject, she added, 'And it is what you don't +understand, Maurice, but he can't be the first to Edmund as he is +to me--never--and when I get almost jealous for him, I think of +Gilbert and the girls--and oh! there is so much to do for +them--they want a mother so much--and Winifred wont let me see +them, or tell me about them!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She had grown piteous and incoherent, and a +glance from Winifred told him, 'this is always the +way.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear,' he said, 'you will never be fit to +attend to them if you do not use this present time rightly. You +may hurt your health, and still more certainly, you will go to +work fretfully and impetuously. If you have a busy life, the more +reason to learn to be tranquil. Calm is forced on you now, and if +you give way to useless nervous brooding over the work you are +obliged to lay aside for a time, you have no right to hope that +you will either have judgment or temper for your +tasks.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But how am I to keep from thinking, Maurice? +The weaker I am, the more I think.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Are you dutiful as to what Winifred there +thinks wisest? Ah! Albinia, you want to learn, as poor Queen Anne +of Austria did, that docility in illness may be self-resignation +into higher Hands. Perhaps you despise it, but it is no mean +exercise of strength and resolution to be still.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia looked at him as if receiving a new +idea.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And,' he added, bending nearer her face, and +speaking lower, 'when you pray, let them be hearty faithful +prayers that God's hand may be over your child--your children, +not half-hearted faithless ones, that He may work out your will +in them.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, Maurice, how did you know? But you are not +going? I have so much to talk over with you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, I must go; and you must be still. Indeed +I will watch over Gilbert as though he were mine. Yes, even more. +Don't speak again, Albinia, I desire you will not. +Good-bye.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That lecture had been the most wholesome +treatment she had yet received; she ceased to give way without +effort to restless thoughts and cares, and was much less +refractory.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When at last Lucy and Sophia were admitted, +Winifred found perils that she had not anticipated. Lucy was +indeed supremely and girlishly happy: but it was Sophy whose eye +Albinia sought with anxiety, and that eye was averted. Her cheek +was cold like that of a doll when Albinia touched it eagerly with +her lips; and when Lucy admonished her to kiss the dear little +brother, she fairly turned and ran out of the room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor Sophy!' said Lucy. 'Never mind her, +mamma, but she is odder than ever, since baby has been born. When +Eweretta came up and told us, she hid her face and cried; and +when grandmamma wanted to make us promise to love him with all +our hearts, and not make any difference, she would only say, "I +wont!"'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We will leave him to take care of that, Lucy,' +said Albinia. But though she spoke cheerfully, Winifred was not +surprised, after a little interval, to hear sounds like stifled +weeping.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Almost every home subject was so dangerous, +that whenever Mrs. Ferrars wanted to make cheerful, innocent +conversation, she began to talk of her visit to Ireland and the +beautiful Galway coast, and the O'Mores of Ballymakilty, till +Albinia grew quite sick of the names of the whole clan of +thirty-six cousins, and thought, with her aunts, that Winifred +was too Irish. Yet, at any other time, the histories would have +made her sometimes laugh, and sometimes cry, but the world was +sadly out of joint with her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was a sudden change when, for the first +time her eye rested on the lawn, and she beheld the work of +drainage. The light glanced in her eye, the colour rose on her +cheek, and she exclaimed, 'How kind of Edmund!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Winifred must needs give her husband his share. +'Ah! you would never have had it done without +Maurice.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Albinia, 'Edmund has been out of +the way of such things, but he consented, you know.' Then as her +eyes grew liquid, 'A duck pond is a funny subject for sentiment, +but oh! if you knew what that place has been to my imagination +from the first, and how the wreaths of mist have wound themselves +into spectres in my dreams, and stretched out white shrouds now +for one, now for the other!' and she shuddered.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And you have gone through all this and never +spoken. No wonder your nerves and spirits were tried.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I did speak at first,' said Albinia; 'but I +thought Edmund did not hear, or thought it nonsense, and so did I +at times. But you see he did attend; he always does, you see, at +the right time. It was only my impatience.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I suspect Maurice and John Smith had more to +do with it,' said Winifred.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, we wont quarrel about that,' said +Albinia. 'I only know that whoever brought it about has taken the +heaviest weight off my mind that has been there yet.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In truth, the terror, half real, half +imaginary, had been a sorer burthen than all the positive cares +for those unruly children, or their silent, melancholy father; +and the relief told in all ways--above all, in the peace with +which she began to regard her child. Still she would provoke +Winifred by bestowing all her gratitude on Mr. Kendal, who began +to be persuaded that he had made an heroic exertion.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Winifred had been somewhat scandalized by +discovering Albinia's deficiencies in the furniture development. +She was too active and stirring, and too fond of out-of-door +occupation, to regard interior decoration as one of the domestic +graces, 'her nest was rather that of the ostrich than the +chaffinch,' as Winifred told her on the discovery that her +morning-room had been used for no other purpose than as a deposit +for all the books, wedding presents, lumber, etc., which she had +never had leisure to arrange.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You might be more civil,' answered Albinia. +'Remember that the ringdove never made half such a fuss about her +nest as the magpie.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, I am glad you have found some likeness +in yourself to a dove,' rejoined Winifred.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mrs. Ferrars set vigorously to work with Lucy, +and rendered the room so pretty and pleasant, that Lucy +pronounced that it must be called nothing but the boudoir, for it +was a perfect little bijou.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was laid on the sofa by the sparkling +fire, by her side the little cot, and in her hand a most happy +affectionate letter from Gilbert, detailing the Fairmead +Christmas festivities. She felt the invigoration of change of +room, admired and was grateful for Winifred's work, and looked so +fair and bright, so tranquil and so contented, that her sister +and husband could not help pausing to contemplate her as an +absolutely new creature in a state of quiescence.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It did not last long, and Mrs. Ferrars felt +herself the unwilling culprit. Attracted by sounds in the hall, +she found the two girls receiving from the hands of Genevieve +Durant a pretty basket choicely adorned with sprays of myrtle, +saying mamma would be much obliged, and they would take it up at +once; Genevieve should take home her basket, and down plunged +their hands regardless of the garniture.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve's disappointed look caught Winifred's +attention, and springing forward she exclaimed, 'You shall come +to Mrs. Kendal yourself, my dear. She must see your pretty +basket,' and yourself, she could have added, as she met the +grateful glitter of the dark eyes.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy remonstrated that mamma had seen no one +yet, not even Aunt Maria, but Mrs. Ferrars would not listen, and +treading airily, yet with reverence that would have befitted a +royal palace, Genevieve was ushered upstairs, and with heartfelt +sweetness, and timid grace, presented her +<i>etrennes</i>.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Under the fragrant sprays lay a small +white-paper parcel, tied with narrow blue satin bows, such as no +English fingers could accomplish, and within was a little +frock-body, exquisitely embroidered, with a breastplate of actual +point lace in a pattern like frostwork on the windows. It was +such work as Madame Belmarche had learnt in a convent in times of +history, and poor little Genevieve had almost worn out her black +eyes on this piece of homage to her dear Mrs. Kendal, grieving +only that she had not been able to add the length of robe needed +to complete her gift.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia's kiss was recompense beyond her +dreams, and she fairly cried for joy when she was told that she +should come and help to dress the babe in it for his christening. +Mrs. Ferrars would walk out with her at once to buy a sufficiency +of cambric for the mighty skirts.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That visit was indeed nothing but pleasure, but +Mrs. Ferrars had not calculated on contingencies and family +punctilios. She forgot that it would be a mortal offence to let +in any one rather than Miss Meadows; but the rest of the family +were so well aware of it, that when she returned she heard a +perfect sparrow's-nest of voices--Lucy's pert and eager, Miss +Meadows's injured and shrill, and Albinia's, alas! thin and loud, +half sarcasm, half fret.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There sat Aunt Maria fidgeting in the +arm-chair; Lucy stood by the fire; Albinia's countenance sadly +different from what it had been in the morning--weary, impatient, +and excited, all that it ought not to be!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Winifred would have cleared the room at once, +but this was not easy, and poor Albinia was so far gone as to be +determined on finishing that endless thing, an altercation, so +all three began explaining and appealing at once.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It seemed that Mrs. Osborn was requiting Mrs. +Kendal's neglect in not having inquired after her when the +Admiral's sister's husband died, by the omission of inquiries at +present; whereat Albinia laughed a feeble, overdone giggle, and +observed that she believed Mrs. Osborn knew all that passed in +Willow Lawn better than the inmates; and Lucy deposed that Sophy +and Loo were together every day, though Sophy knew mamma did not +like it. Miss Meadows said if reparation were not made, the +Osborns had expressed their intention of omitting Lucy and Sophy +from their Twelfth-day party.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">To this Albinia pettishly replied that the +girls were to go to no Christmas parties without her; Miss +Meadows had taken it very much to heart, and Lucy was declaiming +against mamma making any condescension to Mrs. Osborn, or herself +being supposed to care for 'the Osborn's parties,' where the boys +were so rude and vulgar, the girls so boisterous, and the dancing +a mere romp. Sophy might like it, but she never did!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Miss Meadows was hurt by her niece's defection, +and had come to 'Oh, very well,' and 'things were altered,' and +'people used to be grateful to old friends, but there were +changes.' And thereby Lucy grew personal as to the manners of the +Osborns, while Albinia defended herself against the being grand +or exclusive, but it was her duty to do what she thought right +for the children! Yes, Miss Meadows was quite aware--only +grandmamma was so nervous about poor dear Gibbie missing his +Christmas dinner for the first time--being absent--Mrs. Ferrars +would take great care, but damp stockings and all--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Winifred endeavoured to stem the tide of words, +but in vain, between the meandering incoherency of the one, and +the nervous rapidity of the other, and they had both set off +again on this fresh score, when in despair she ran downstairs, +rapped at the study door, and cried, 'Mr. Kendal, Mr. Kendal, +will you not come! I can't get Miss Meadows out of Albinia's +room.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Forth came Mr. Kendal, walked straight +upstairs, and stood in full majesty on the threshold. Holding out +his hand to Maria with grave courtesy, he thanked her for coming +to see his wife, but at the same time handed her down, saw her +out safely at the hall door, and Lucy into the +drawing-room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was a pity that he had not returned to +Albinia's room, for she was too much excited to be composed +without authority. First, she scolded Winifred; 'it was the thing +she most wished to avoid, that he should fancy her teased by +anything the Meadowses could say,' and she laughed, and protested +she never was vexed, such absurdity did not hurt her in the +least.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It has tired you, though,' said Winifred. 'Lie +quite down and sleep.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Of course, however, Albinia would not believe +that she was tired, and began to talk of the Osborns and their +party--she was annoyed at the being thought too fine. 'If it were +not such a penance, and if you would not be gone home, I really +would ask you to take the girls, Winifred.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I shall not be gone home.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, you will. I am well, and every one wants +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Did you not hear Willie's complimentary +message, that he is never naughty now, because Gilbert makes him +so happy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But, Winifred, the penny club! The people must +have their things.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'They can wait, or--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is very well for us to talk of waiting,' +cried Albinia, 'but how should we like a frosty night without +cloaks, or blankets, or fire? I did not think it of you, +Winifred. It is the first winter I have been away from my poor +old dames, and I did think you would have cared for +them.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And thereupon her overwrought spirits gave way +in a flood of tears, as she angrily averted her face from her +sister, who could have cried too, not at the injustice, but with +compassion and perplexity lest there should be an equally violent +reaction either of remorse or of mirth.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It must be confessed that Albinia was very much +the creature of health. Never having been ill before, the +depression had been so new that it broke her completely down; +convalescence made her fractious.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Recovery, however, filled her with such an +ecstasy of animal spirits that her time seemed to be entirely +passed in happiness or in sleep, and cares appeared to have lost +all power. It was so sudden a change that Winifred was startled, +though it was a very pleasant one, and she did not reflect that +this was as far from the calm, self-restrained, meditative +tranquillity enjoined by Maurice, as had been the previous +restless, querulous state. Both were body more than mind, but +Mrs. Ferrars was much more ready to be merry with Albinia than to +moralize about her. And it was droll that the penny club was one +of the first stages in her revival.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, mamma,' cried Lucy, flying in, 'Mr. +Dusautoy is at the door. There is such a to do. All the women +have been getting gin with their penny club tickets, and Mrs. +Brock has been stealing the money, and Mr. Dusautoy wants to know +if you paid up three-and-fourpence for the Hancock +children.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia instantly invited Mr. Dusautoy to +explain in person, and he entered, hearty and pleasant as ever, +but in great haste, for he had left his Fanny keeping the peace +between five angry women, while he came out to collect +evidence.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The Bayford clothing-club payments were +collected by Mrs. Brock, the sexton's wife, and distributed by +tickets to be produced at the various shops in the town. Mrs. +Brock had detected some women exchanging their tickets for gin, +and the offending parties retaliated by accusing her of +embezzling the subscriptions, both parties launching into the +usual amount of personalities and exaggerations.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia's testimony cleared Mrs. Brock as to +the three-and-fourpence, but she 'snuffed the battle from afar,' +and rushed into a scheme of taking the clothing-club into her own +hands, collecting the pence, having the goods from London, and +selling them herself--she would propose it on the very first +opportunity to the Dusautoys. Winifred asked if she had not a +good deal on her hands already.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear, I have the work in me of a young +giant.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And will Mr. Kendal like it?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He would never find it out unless I told him, +and very possibly not then. Six months hence, perhaps, he may +tell me he is glad that Lucy is inclined to useful pursuits, and +that <i>is</i> approval, Winifred, much more than if I went and +worried him about every little petty woman's matter.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Every one to her taste,' thought Winifred, who +had begun to regard Mr. and Mrs. Kendal in the same relation as +the king and queen at chess.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The day before the christening, Mr. Ferrars +brought back Gilbert and his own little Willie.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Through all the interchange of greetings, +Gilbert would hardly let go Albinia's hand, and the moment her +attention was free, he earnestly whispered, 'May I see my +brother?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She took him upstairs at once. 'Let me look a +little while,' he said, hanging over the child with a sort of +hungry fondness and curiosity. 'My brother! my brother!' he +repeated. 'It has rung in my ears every morning that I can say my +brother once more, till I have feared it was a dream.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was the sympathy Albinia cared for, come +back again! 'I hope he will be a good brother to you,' she +said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He must be good! he can't help it! He has +you!' said Gilbert. 'See, he is opening his eyes--oh! how blue! +May I touch him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'To be sure you may. He is not sugar,' said +Albinia, laughing. 'There--make an arm; you may have him if you +like. Your left arm, you awkward man. Yes, that is right. You +will do quite as well as I, who never touched a baby till Willie +was born. There, sir, how do you like your brother +Gilbert?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert held him reverently, and gave him back +with a sigh when he seemed to have satiated his gaze and touch, +and convinced himself that his new possession was substantial. 'I +say,' he added wistfully, 'did you think <i>that</i> name would +bring ill-luck?</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She knew the name he meant, and answered, 'No, +but your father could not have borne it. Besides, Gibbie, we +would not think him <i>instead</i> of Edmund. No, he shall learn, +to look up to his other brother as you do, and look to meeting +and knowing him some day.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert shivered at this, and made no +opposition to her carrying him downstairs to his uncle, and then +Gilbert hurried off for the basket of snowdrops that he had +gathered early, from a favourite spot at Fairmead. That short +absence seemed to have added double force to his affection; he +could hardly bear to be away from her, and every moment when he +could gain her ear, poured histories of the delights of Fairmead, +where Mr. Ferrars had devoted himself to his amusement, and had +made him happier than perhaps he had ever been in his life--he +had had a taste of shooting, of skating, of snowballing--he had +been useful and important in the village feasts, had dined twice +at Colonel Bury's, and felt himself many degrees nearer +manhood.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">To hear of her old haunts and friends from such +enthusiastic lips, delighted Albinia, and her felicity with her +baby, with Mr. Kendal, with her brother and his little son, was +one of the brightest things in all the world--the fresh young +loving bloom of her matronhood was even sweeter and more +beautiful than her girlish days.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Poor little frail, blighted Mrs. Dusautoy! +Winifred could not help wondering if the contrast pained her, +when in all the glory of her motherly thankfulness, Albinia +carried her beautiful newly-christened Maurice Ferrars Kendal to +the vicarage to show him off, lying so open-chested and +dignified, in Genevieve's pretty work, with a sort of manly +serenity already dawning on his baby brow.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Winifred need not have pitied the little lady. +She would not have changed with Mrs. Kendal--no, not for that +perfect health, usefulness, value--nor even for such a baby as +that. No, indeed! She loved--she rejoiced in all her friend's +sweet and precious gifts--but Mrs. Dusautoy had one gift that she +prized above all.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Even grandmamma and Aunt Maria did justice to +Master Maurice's attractions, at least in public, though it came +round that Miss Meadows did not admire fat children, and when he +had once been seen in Lucy's arms, an alarm arose that Mrs. +Kendal would allow the girls to carry him about, till his weight +made them crooked, but Albinia was too joyous to take their +displeasure to heart, and it only served her for something to +laugh at.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They had a very happy christening party, +chiefly juvenile, in honour of little Willie and of Francis and +Emily Nugent. Albinia was so radiantly lively and good-natured, +and her assistants, Winifred, Maurice, and Mr. Dusautoy, so kind, +so droll, so inventive, that even Aunt Maria forgot herself in +enjoyment and novelty, and was like a different person. Mr. +Kendal looked at her with a pleased sad wonder, and told his wife +it reminded him of what she had been when she was nearly the +prettiest girl at Bayford. Gilbert devoted himself as usual to +making Genevieve feel welcome; and she had likewise Willie +Ferrars and Francis Nugent at her feet. Neither urchin would sit +two inches away from her all the evening, and in all games she +was obliged to obviate jealousies by being partner to both at +once. Where there was no one to oppress her, she came out with +all her natural grace and vivacity, and people of a larger growth +than her little admirers were charmed with her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy was obliging, ready, and useful, and +looked very pretty, the only blot was the heavy dulness of poor +Sophy, who seemed resolved to take pleasure in nothing. Winifred +varied in opinion whether her moodiness arose from ill-health, or +from jealousy of her little brother. This latter Albinia would +not believe, especially as she saw that little Maurice's blue +eyes were magnets that held the silent Sophy fast, but surly +denials silenced her interrogations as to illness, and made her +content to acquiesce in Lucy's explanation that Sophy was only +cross because the Osborns and Drurys were not asked.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia did her duty handsomely by the two +families a day or two after, for whatever reports might come +round, they were always ready to receive her advances, and she +only took notice of what she saw, instead of what she heard. Her +brother helped Mr. Kendal through the party, and Winifred made a +discovery that excited her more than Albinia thought warranted by +any fact relating to the horde of Irish cousins.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Only think, Albinia, I have found out that +poor Ellen O'More is Mr. Goldsmith's sister!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Indeed! But I am afraid I don't remember which +Ellen O'More is. You know I never undertake to recollect any but +your real cousins out of the thirty-six.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'For shame, Albinia, I have so often told you +about Ellen. I'm sure you can't forget. Her husband is my +sister's brother-in-law's cousin.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, Winifred, Winifred!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But I tell you, her husband is the third son +of old Mr. O'More of Ballymakilty, and was in the +army.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! the half-pay officer with the twelve +children in the cottage on the estate.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There now, I did think you would care when I +told you of a soldier, a Waterloo man too, and you only call him +a half-pay officer!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do remember,' said Albinia, taking a little +pity, 'that you used to be sorry for his good little English +wife.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Of course. I knew she had married him very +imprudently, but she has struggled gallantly with ill-health, and +poverty, and Irish recklessness. I quite venerate her, and it +seems these Goldsmiths had so far cast her off that they had no +notion of the extent of her troubles.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Just like them,' said Albinia. 'Is that the +reason you wish me to make the most of the connexion? Let me see, +my sister-in-law's sister's wife--no, husband's brother's uncle, +eh?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't want you to do anything,' said +Winifred, a little hurt, 'only if you had seen Ellen's patient +face you would be interested in her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, I am interested, you know I am, +Winifred. I hope you interested our respected banker, which would +be more to the purpose.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think I did,' said Winifred; 'at least he +said "poor Ellen" once or twice. I don't want him to do anything +for the captain, you might give him a thousand pounds and he +would never be the better for it: but that fourth, boy, Ulick, is +without exception the nicest fellow I ever saw in my life--so +devoted to his mother, so much more considerate and self-denying +than any of the others, and very clever. Maurice examined him and +was quite astonished. We did get him sent to St. Columba for the +present, but whether they will keep him there no one can guess, +and it is the greatest pity he should run to waste. I told Mr. +Goldsmith all this, and I really think he seemed to attend. I +wonder if it will work.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was by this time anxious that it should +take effect, and they agreed that an old bachelor banker and his +sister, both past sixty, were the very people to adopt a +promising nephew.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">What had become of the multitude of things +which Albinia had to discuss with her brother? The floodtide of +bliss had floated her over all the stumbling-blocks and shoals +that the ebb had disclosed, and she had absolutely forgotten all +the perplexities that had seemed so trying. Even when she sought +a private interview to talk to him about Gilbert, it was in full +security of hearing the praises of her darling.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A nice boy, a very nice boy,' returned +Maurice; 'most amiable and intelligent, and particularly +engaging, from his feeling being so much on the +surface.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nothing can be more sincere and genuine,' she +cried, as if this fell a little flat.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Certainly not, at the time.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Always!' exclaimed Albinia. 'You must not +distrust him because he is not like you or Fred, and has never +been hardened and taught reserve by rude boys. Nothing was ever +more real than his affection, poor dear boy,' and the tears +thrilled to her eyes.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, and it is much to his credit. His love and +gratitude to you are quite touching, poor fellow; but the worst +of it is that I am afraid he is very timid, both physically and +morally.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Often as she had experienced this truth, the +soldier's daughter could not bear to avow it, and she answered +hastily, 'He has never been braced or trained; he was always ill +till within the last few years--coddling at first, neglect +afterwards, he has it all to learn, and it is too late for +school.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, he is too old to be laughed at or bullied +out of cowardice. Indeed, I doubt whether there ever would have +been substance enough for much wear and tear.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I know you have a turn for riotous, obstinate +boys! You want Willie to be another Fred,' said Albinia, like an +old hen, ruffling up her feathers. 'You think a boy can't be good +for anything unless he is a universal plague!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wonder what you will do with your own son,' +said Maurice, amused, 'since you take Gilbert's part so +fiercely.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I trust my boy will never be as much to be +pitied as his brother,' said Albinia, with tenderness that +accused her petulance. 'At least he can never be a lonely twin +with that sore spot in his heart. Oh, Maurice, how can any one +help dealing gently with my poor Gibbie?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gentle dealing is the very thing he wants,' +said Mr. Ferrars; 'and I am thinking how to find it for him. How +did his going to Traversham fail?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know; Edmund did not like to send him +without having seen Traversham, and I could not go. But I don't +think there is any need for his going away. His father has been +quite enough tormented about it, and I can manage him very well +now. He is always good and happy with me. I mean to try to ride +with him, and I have promised to teach him music, and we shall +garden. Never fear, I will employ him and keep him out of +mischief--it is all pleasure to me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And pray what are your daughters and baby to +do, while you are galloping after Gilbert?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! I'll manage. We can all do things +together. Come, Maurice, I wont have Edmund teased, and I can't +bear parting with any of them, or think that any strange man can +treat Gibbie as I should.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice was edified by his sister's +warm-hearted weakness, but not at all inclined to let 'Edmund' +escape a 'teasing.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal's first impulse always was to find a +sufficient plea for doing nothing. If Gilbert was to go to India, +it was not worth while to give him a classical +education.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Is he to go to India? Albinia had not told me +so.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I thought she was aware of it; but possibly I +may not have mentioned it. It has been an understood thing ever +since I came home. He will have a good deal of the property in +this place, but he had better have seen something of the world. +Bayford is no place for a man to settle down in too +young.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Certainly,' said Mr. Ferrars, repressing a +smile. 'Then are you thinking of sending him to +Haileybury?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was pronounced too young, besides, it was +explained that his destination in India was unfixed. On going +home it had been a kind of promise that one of the twin brothers +should have an appointment in the civil service, the other should +enter the bank of Kendal and Kendal, and the survivor was +unconsciously suspended between these alternatives, while the +doubt served as a convenient protection to his father from making +up his mind to prepare him for either of these or for anything +else.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The prompt Ferrars temper could bear it no +longer, and Maurice spoke out. 'I'll tell you what, Kendal, it is +time to attend to your own concerns. If you choose to let your +son run to ruin, because you will not exert yourself to remove +him from temptation, I shall not stand by to see my sister worn +out with making efforts to save him. She is willing and devoted, +she fancies she could work day and night to preserve him, and she +does it with all her heart; but it is not woman's work, she +cannot do it, and it is not fit to leave it to her. When Gilbert +has broken her heart as well as yours, and left an evil example +to his brother, then you will feel what it is to have kept a lad +whom you know to be well disposed, but weak as water, in the very +midst of contamination, and to have left your young, +inexperienced wife to struggle alone to save him. If you are +unwarned by the experience of last autumn and winter, I could not +pity you, whatever might happen.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice, who had run on the longer because Mr. +Kendal did not answer immediately, was shocked at his own +impetuosity; but a rattling peal of thunder was not more than was +requisite.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I believe you are right,' Mr. Kendal said. 'I +was to blame for leaving him so entirely to Albinia; but she is +very fond of him, and is one who will never be induced to spare +herself, and there were considerations. However, she shall be +relieved at once. What do you recommend?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars actually made Mr. Kendal promise to +set out for Traversham with him next morning, thirty miles by the +railway, to inspect Mr. Downton and his pupils.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia had just sense enough not to object, +though the discovery of the Indian plans was such a blow to her +that she could not be consoled by all her husband's +representations of the advantages Gilbert would derive there, and +of his belief that the Kendal constitution always derived +strength from a hot climate, and that to himself going to India +seemed going home. She took refuge in the hope that between the +two Indian stools Gilbert might fall upon one of the professions +which she thought alone worthy of man's attention, the clerical +or the military.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Under Maurice's escort, Mr. Kendal greatly +enjoyed his expedition; liked Traversham, was satisfied with the +looks of the pupils, and very much pleased with the tutor, whom +he even begged to come to Bayford for a conference with Mrs. +Kendal, and this was received by her as no small kindness. She +was delighted with Mr. Downton, and felt as if Gilbert could be +safely trusted in his charge; nor was Gilbert himself reluctant. +He was glad to escape from his tempter, and to begin a new life, +and though he hung about Mrs. Kendal, and implored her to write +often, and always tell him about his little brother--nay, though +he cried like a child at the last, yet still he was happy and +satisfied to go, and to break the painful fetters which had held +him so long.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And though Albinia likewise shed some parting +tears, she could not but own that she was glad to have him in +trustworthy hands; and as to the additional time thus gained, it +was disposed of in a million of bright plans for every one's +service--daughters, baby, parish, school, classes, clubs, +neighbours. It almost made Winifred giddy to hear how much she +had undertaken, and yet with what zest she talked and +acted.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There's your victim, Winifred,' said Maurice, +as they drove away, and looked back at Albinia, scandalizing +Bayford by standing in the open gateway, her face all smiles of +cheerful parting, the sun and wind making merry with her chestnut +curls, her baby in one arm, the other held up to wave her +farewell.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That child will catch cold,' began Winifred, +turning to sign her to go in. 'Well,' she continued, 'after all, +I believe some people like an idol that sits quiet to be +worshipped! To be sure she must want to beat him sometimes, as +the Africans do their gods. But, on the whole, her sentiment of +reverence is satisfied, and she likes the acting for herself, and +reigning absolute. Yes, she is quite happy--why do you look +doubtful? Don't you admire her?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'From my heart.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then why do you doubt? Do you expect her to do +anything?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A little too much of everything.'</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER VIII.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">Yes! Albinia was excessively happy. Her +naturally high spirits were enhanced by the enjoyment of +recovery, and reaction, from her former depression. Since the +great stroke of the drainage, every one looked better, and her +pride in her babe was without a drawback. He seemed to have +inherited her vigour and superabundance of life, and 'that first +wondrous spring to all but babes unknown,' was in him unusually +rapid, so that he was a marvel of fair stateliness, size, +strength, and intelligence, so unlike the little blighted buds +which had been wont to fade at Willow Lawn, that his father +watched him with silent, wondering affection, and his eldest +sister was unmerciful in her descriptions of his progress; while +even Sophia had not been proof against his smiles, and was proud +to be allowed to carry him about and fondle him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Neither was Mr. Kendal's reserve the trial that +it had once been. After having become habituated to it as a +necessary idiosyncrasy, she had become rather proud of his lofty +inaccessibility. Besides, her brother's visit, her recovery, and +the renewed hope and joy in this promising child, had not been +without effect in rousing him from his apathy. He was less +inclined to shun his fellow-creatures, had become friendly with +the Vicar, and had even let Albinia take him into Mrs. Dusautoy's +drawing-room, where he had been fairly happy. Having once begun +taking his wife out in the carriage, he found this much more +agreeable than his solitary ride, and was in the condition to +which Albinia had once imagined it possible to bring him, in +which gentle means and wholesome influence might lead him +imperceptibly out of his morbid habits of +self-absorption.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Unfortunately, in the flush of blitheness and +whirl of activity, Albinia failed to perceive the relative +importance of objects, and he had taught her to believe herself +so little necessary to him that she had not learnt to make her +pursuits and occupations subservient to his convenience. As long +as the drive took place regularly, all was well, but he caught a +severe cold, which lasted even to the setting in of the east +winds, the yearly misery of a man who hardly granted that India +was over-hot. Though Albinia had removed much listing, and opened +various doors and windows, he made no complaints, but did his +best to keep the obnoxious fresh air out of his study, and seldom +crossed the threshold thereof but with a shiver.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">His favourite atmosphere was quite enough to +account for a return of the old mood, but Albinia had no time to +perceive that it might have been prevented, or at least +mitigated.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Few even of the wisest women are fit for +authority and liberty so little restrained, and happily it seldom +falls to the lot of such as have not previously been chastened by +a life-long affliction. But Mrs. Kendal, at twenty-four, with the +consequence conferred by marriage, and by her superiority of +manners and birth, was left as unchecked and almost as +irresponsible as if she had been single or a widow, and was +solely guided by the impulses of her own character, noble and +highly principled, but like most zealous dispositions, without +balance and without repose.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Ballast had been given at first by bashfulness, +disappointment, and anxiety, but she had been freed from her +troubles with Gilbert, had gained confidence in herself, and had +taken her position at Bayford. She was beloved, esteemed, and +trusted in her own set, and though elsewhere she might not be +liked, yet she was deferred to, could not easily be quarrelled +with, so that she met with little opposition, and did not care +for such as she did meet. In fact, very few persons had so much +of their own way as Mrs. Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was generally in her nursery at a much +earlier hour than an old-established nurse would have tolerated, +but the little Susan, promoted from Fairmead school and nursery, +was trained in energetic habits. In passing the doors of the +young ladies' rooms, Albinia gave a call which she had taught +them not to resist, for, like all strong persons, she thought +'early to rise' the only way to health, wealth, or wisdom. Much +work had been despatched before breakfast, after which, on two +days in the week, Albinia and Lucy went to church. Sophy never +volunteered to accompany them, and Albinia was the less inclined +to press her, because her attitudes and attention on Sunday were +far from satisfactory. On Tuesday and Thursday Albinia had a +class at school, and so, likewise, had Lucy, who kept a jealous +watch over every stray necklace and curl, and had begun +thoroughly to enjoy the importance and bustle of charity. She was +a useful assistant in the penny club and lending library, which +occupied Albinia on other mornings in the week, until the hour +when she came in for the girls' studies. After luncheon, she +enjoyed the company of little Maurice, who indeed pervaded all +her home doings and thoughts, for she had a great gift of doing +everything at once.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">A sharp constitutional walk was taken in the +afternoon. She thought no one could look drooping or dejected but +from the air of the valley, and that no cure was equal to rushing +straight up one hill and on to the next, always walking rapidly, +with a springy buoyant step, and surprised at any one who lagged +behind. Parochial cares, visits, singing classes, lessons to +Sunday-school teachers, &c., filled up the rest of the day. +She had an endless number of 'excellent plans,' on which she +always acted instantly, and which kept her in a state of +perpetual haste. Poor Mrs. Dusautoy had almost learnt to dread +her flashing into the room, full of some parish matter, and +flashing out again before the invalid felt as if the subject had +been fairly entered on, or her sitting down to impress some +project with overpowering eagerness that generally carried away +the Vicar into grateful consent and admiring approval, while his +wife was feeling doubtful, suspecting her hesitation of being +ungracious, or blaming herself for not liking the little she +could do to be taken out of her hands.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was nothing more hateful to Albinia than +dawdling. She left the girls' choice of employments, but insisted +on their being veritably occupied, and many a time did she +encounter a killing glance from Sophia for attacking her +listless, moody position in her chair, or saying, in clear, alert +tones, 'My dear, when you read, read, when you work, work. When +you fix your eye in that way, you are doing neither.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy's brisk, active disposition, and great +good-humour, had responded to this treatment; she had been +obliging, instead of officious; repeated checks had improved her +taste; her love of petty bustle was directed to better objects, +and though nothing could make her intellectual or deep, she was a +really pleasant assistant and companion, and no one, except +grandmamma, who thought her perfect before, could fail to +perceive how much more lady-like her tones, manners, and +appearance had become.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The results with Sophy had been directly the +reverse. At first she had followed her sister's lead, except that +she was always sincere, and often sulky; but the more Lucy had +yielded to Albinia's moulding, the more had Sophy diverged from +her, as if out of the very spirit of contradiction. Her intervals +of childish nonsense had well nigh disappeared; her indifference +to lessons was greater than ever, though she devoured every book +that came in her way in a silent, but absorbed manner, a good +deal like her father. Tales and stories were not often within her +reach, but her appetite seemed to be universal, and Albinia saw +her reading old-fashioned standard poetry--such as she had never +herself assailed--and books of history, travels, or metaphysics. +She wondered whether the girl derived any pleasure from them, or +whether they were only a shield for doing nothing; but no inquiry +produced an answer, and if Sophy remembered anything of them, it +was not with the memory used in lesson-time. The attachment to +Louisa Osborn was pertinacious and unaccountable in a person who +could have so little in common with that young lady, and there +was nothing comfortable about her except her fondness for her +little brother, and that really seemed to be against her will. +Her voice was less hoarse and gruff since the pond had been no +more, and she had acquired an expression, so suffering, so +concentrated, so thoughtful, that, together with her heavy black +eyebrows, large face, profuse black hair, and unlustrous eyes, it +gave her almost a dwarfish air, increased by her awkward +deportment, which concealed that she was in reality tall, and on +a large scale. She looked to so little advantage in bright +delicate colours, that Albinia was often incurring her +displeasure, and risking that of Lucy, by the deep blues and +sober browns which alone looked fit to be seen with those beetle +brows and sallow features. Her face looked many years older than +that of her fair, fresh, rosy stepmother; nay, her father's clear +olive complexion and handsome countenance had hardly so aged an +aspect; and Gilbert, when he came home at Midsummer, declared +that Sophy had grown as old as grandmamma.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The compliment could not be returned; Gilbert +was much more boy-like in a good sense. He had brought home an +excellent character, and showed it in every look and gesture. His +father was pleased to have him again, took the trouble to talk to +him, and received such sensible answers, that the habit of +conversing was actually established, and the dinners were +enlivened, instead of oppressed, by his presence. Towards his +sisters he had become courteous, he was fairly amiable to Aunt +Maria, very attentive to grandmamma, overflowing with affection +to Mrs. Kendal, and as to little Maurice, he almost adored him, +and awakened a reciprocity which was the delight of his +heart.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">At Midsummer came the grand penny-club +distribution, the triumph for which Albinia had so long been +preparing. One of Mrs. Dusautoy's hints as to Bayford tradesmen +had been overruled, and goods had been ordered from a house in +London, after Albinia and Lucy had made an incredible agitation +over their patterns of calico and flannel. Mr. Kendal was just +aware that there was a prodigious commotion, but he knew that all +ladies were subject to linen-drapery epidemics, and Albinia's +took a more endurable form than a pull on his purse for the +sweetest silk in the world, and above all, it neither came into +his study nor even into his house.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was a grand spectacle, when Mr. Dusautoy +looked in on Mrs. Kendal and her staff, armed with their +yard-wands.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">A pile of calico was heaped in wild masses like +avalanches in one corner, rapidly diminishing under the +measurements of Gilbert, who looked as if he took thorough +good-natured delight in the frolic. Brown, inodorous materials +for petticoats, blouses, and trowsers were dealt out by the +dextrous hands of Genevieve, a mountain of lilac print was folded +off by Clarissa Richardson, Lucy was presiding joyously over the +various blue, buff, brown, and pink Sunday frocks, the +schoolmistress helping with the other goods, the customers--some +pleased with novelty, or hoping to get more for their money, +others suspicious of the gentry, and secretly resentful for +favourite dealers, but, except the desperate grumblers, satisfied +with the quality and quantity of the wares--and extremely taken +with the sellers, especially with Gilbert's wit, and with Miss +Durant's ready, lively persuasions, varied to each one's taste, +and extracting a smile and 'thank you, Miss,' from the surliest. +And the presiding figure, with the light on her sunny hair, and +good-natured, unfailing interest in her countenance, was at her +central table, calculating, giving advice, considering of +complaints, measuring, folding--here, there, and +everywhere--always bright, lively, forbearing, however +complaining or unreasonable her clients might be.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Dusautoy went home to tell his Fanny that +Mrs. Kendal was worth her weight in gold; and the workers toiled +till luncheon, when Albinia took them home for food and wine, to +restore them for the labours of the afternoon.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What have you been about all the morning, +Sophy? Yes, I see your translation--very well--I wish you would +come up and help this afternoon, Miss Richardson is looking so +pale and tired that I want to relieve her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can't,' said Sophy,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't order you, but you are losing a great +deal of fun. Suppose you came to look on, at least.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hate poor people.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope you will change your mind some day, but +yon must do something this afternoon. You had better take a walk +with Susan and baby; I told her to go by the meadows to +Horton.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't want to walk.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Have you anything to do instead? No, I thought +not, and it is not at all hot to signify.--It will do you much +more good. Yes, you must go.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In the course of the summer an old Indian +friend was staying at Fairmead Park, and Colonel Bury wrote to +beg for a week's visit from the whole Kendal family. Even Sophy +vouchsafed to be pleased, and Lucy threw all her ardour into the +completion of a blue braided cape, which was to add immensely to +little Maurice's charms; she declared that she should work at it +the whole of the last evening, while Mr. and Mrs. Kendal were at +the dinner that old Mr. and Mrs. Bowles annually inflicted on +themselves and their neighbours, a dinner which it would have +been as cruel to refuse as it was irksome to accept.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was a great similarity in those Bayford +parties, inasmuch as the same cook dressed them all, and the same +waiters waited at them, and the same guests met each other, and +the principal variety on this occasion was, that the Osborns did +not come, because the Admiral was in London.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The ladies had left the dining-room, when +Albinia's ear caught a sound of hurried opening of doors, and +sound of steps, and saw Mrs. and Miss Bowles look as if they +heard something unexpected. She paused, and forgot the end of +what she was saying. The room door was pushed a little way open, +but then seemed to hesitate. Miss Bowles hastened forward, and +opening it, admitted a voice that made Albinia hurry breathlessly +from the other side of the room, and push so that the door +yielded, and she saw it had been Mr. Dusautoy who had been +holding it while there was some kind of consultation round +Gilbert. The instant he saw her, he exclaimed, 'Come to the baby, +Sophy has fallen down with him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">People pressed about her, trying to speak +cheeringly, but she understood nothing but that her husband and +Mr. Bowles were gone on, and she had a sense that there had been +hardness and cruelty in hesitating to summon her. Without knowing +that a shawl was thrown round her, or seeing Mr. Dusautoy's +offered arm, she clutched Gilbert's wrist in her hand, and flew +down the street.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The gates and front door were open, and there +was a throng of people in the hall. Lucy caught hold of her with +a sobbing, 'Oh, Mamma!' but she only framed the words with her +lips-- 'where?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They pointed to the study. The door was shut, +but Albinia broke from Lucy, and pushed through it, in too much +haste to dwell on the sickening doubt what it might +conceal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Two figures stood under the window. Mr. Kendal, +who was holding the little inanimate form in his arms for the +doctor to examine, looking up as she entered, cast on her a look +of mute, pleading, despairing agony, that was as the bitterness +of death. She sprang forward herself to clasp her child, and her +husband yielded him in broken-hearted pity, but at that moment +the little limbs moved, the features worked, the eyes unclosed, +and clinging tightly to her, as she strained him to her bosom, +the little fellow proclaimed himself alive by lusty roars, more +welcome than any music. Partly stunned, and far more terrified, +he had been in a sort of swoon, without breath to cry, till +recalled to himself by feeling his mother's arms around him. +Every attempt of Mr. Bowles to ascertain whether he were +uninjured produced such a fresh panic and renewal of screams, +that she begged that he might be left to her. Mr. Kendal took the +doctor away, and gradually the terror subsided, though the long +convulsive sobs still quivered up through the little frame, and +as the twilight darkened on her, she had time to realize the past +alarm, and rejoice in trembling over the treasure still her +own.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The opening of the door and the gleaming of a +light had nearly brought on a fresh access of crying, but it was +his father who entered, and Maurice knew the low deep sweetness +of his voice, and was hushed. 'I believe there is no harm done,' +Albinia said; and the smile that she fain would have made +reassuring gave way as her eyes filled with tears, on feeling the +trembling of the strong arm that was put round her, when Mr. +Kendal bent to look into the child's eyes.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I thought my blight had fallen on you,' was +all he said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! the thankfulness--' she said; but she +could not go on, she must stifle all that swelled within her, for +the babe felt each throb of her beating heart; and she could +barely keep from bursting into tears as his father kissed him; +then, as he marked the still sobbing breath, said, 'Bowles must +see him again.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know how to make him cry again! I +suppose he must be looked at, but indeed I think him safe. --See, +this little bruise on his forehead is the only mark I can find. +What was it? How did it happen?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophia thought proper to take him herself from +the nursery to show him to Mrs. Osborn. In crossing the street, +she was frightened by a party of men coming out of a public-house +in Tibbs's Alley, and in avoiding them, slipped down and struck +the child's head against a gate-post. He was perfectly insensible +when I took him--I thought him gone. Albinia, you must let Bowles +see him again!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Is any one there?' she said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Every one, I think,' he replied, looking +oppressed--'Maria, and Mrs. Osborn, and Dusautoy--but I will call +Bowles.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Apparently the little boy had escaped entirely +unhurt, but the surgeon still spoke of the morrow, and he was so +startled and restless, that Albinia feared to move, and felt the +dark study a refuge from the voices and sounds that she feared to +encounter, lest they should again occasion the dreadful +screaming. 'Oh, if they would only go home!' she said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I will send them,' said Mr. Kendal; and +presently she heard sounds of leave-taking, and he came back, as +if he had been dispersing a riot, announcing that the house was +clear.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert and Lucy were watching at the foot of +the stairs, the one pale, and casting anxious, imploring looks at +her; the other with eyes red and swollen with crying, neither +venturing near till she spoke to them, when they advanced +noiselessly to look at their little brother, and it was not till +they had caught his eye and made him smile, that Lucy bethought +herself of saying she had known nothing of his adventure, and +Albinia, thus recalled to the thought of the culprit, asked where +Sophy was.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'In her own room,' said Mr. Kendal. 'I could +not bear the sight of her obduracy. Even her aunt was shocked at +her want of feeling.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Low as he spoke, the sternness of his voice +frightened the baby, and she was obliged to run away to the +nursery, where she listened to the contrition of the little +nursemaid, who had never suspected Miss Sophy's intention of +taking him out of the house.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And indeed, ma'am,' she said, 'there is not +one of us servants who dares cross Miss Sophy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was long before Albinia ventured to lay him +in his cot, and longer still before she could feel any security +that if she ceased her low, monotonous lullaby, the little fellow +would not wake again in terror, but the thankfulness and prayer, +that, as she grew more calm, gained fuller possession of her +heart, made her recur the more to pity and forgiveness for the +poor girl who had caused the alarm. Yet there was strong +indignation likewise, and she could not easily resolve on meeting +the hard defiance and sullen indifference which would wound her +more than ever. She was much inclined to leave Sophy to herself +till morning, but suspecting that this would be vindictive, she +unclasped the arm that Lucy had wound round her waist, whispered +to her to go on singing, and moved to Sophy's door. It was +fastened, but before she could call, it was thrown violently +back, and Sophy stood straight up before her, striving for her +usual rigidity, but shaking from head to foot; and though there +were no signs of tears, she looked with wistful terror at her +step-mother's face, and her lips moved as if she wished to +speak.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Baby is gone quietly to sleep,' began Albinia +in a low voice, beginning in displeasure; but as she spoke, the +harshness of Sophy's face gave way, she sank down on the floor, +and fell into the most overpowering fit of weeping that Albinia +had ever witnessed. Kneeling beside her, she would have drawn the +girl close to her, but a sharp cry of pain startled her, and she +found the right arm, from elbow to wrist, all one purple bruise, +the skin grazed, and the blood starting.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My poor child! how you have hurt +yourself!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy turned away pettishly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Let me look! I am sure it must be very bad. +Have you done anything to it?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, never mind. Go back to baby.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Baby does not want me. You shall come and see +how comfortably he is asleep, if you will leave off crying, and +let me see that poor arm. Did you hurt it in the +fall?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The corner of the wall,' said Sophy. 'Oh! did +it not hurt him?' but then, just as it seemed that she was +sinking on that kind breast in exhaustion, she collected herself, +and pushing Albinia off, exclaimed, 'I did it, I took him out, I +fell down with him, I hurt his head, I've killed him, or made him +an idiot for life. I did.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Who said so?' cried Albinia, +transfixed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Aunt Maria said so. She said I did not feel. +Oh, if I could only die before he grows up to let one see it. Why +wont you begin to hate me?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear,' said Albinia, consoled on hearing +the authority, 'people often say angry things when they are +shocked. Your aunt had not seen Mr. Bowles, and we all think he +was not in the least hurt, only terribly frightened. Dear, dear +child, I am more distressed for you than for him!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy could hold out no longer, she let her +head drop on the kind shoulder, and seemed to collapse, with +burning brow, throbbing pulses, and sobs as deep and convulsive +as had been those of her little brother. Hastily calling Lucy, +who was frightened, subdued, and helpful, Albinia undressed the +poor child, put her to bed, and applied lily leaves and spirits +to her arm. The smart seemed to refresh her, but there had been a +violent strain, as well as bruise, and each touch visibly gave +severe pain, though she never complained. Lucy insisted on +hearing exactly how the accident had happened, and pressed her +with questions, which Albinia would have shunned in her present +condition, and it was thus elicited that she had taken Maurice +across the street to how him to Mrs. Osborn. He had resented the +strange place, and strange people, and had cried so much that she +was obliged to run home with him at once. A knot of bawling men +came reeling out of one of the many beer shops in Tibbs's Alley, +and in her haste to avoid them, she tripped, close to the +gate-post of Willow Lawn, and fell, with only time to interpose +her arm between Maurice's head and the sharp corner. She was +lifted up at once, in the horror of seeing him neither cry nor +move, for, in fact, he had been almost stifled under her weight, +and all had since been to her a frightful phantom dream. Albinia +was infinitely relieved by this history, showing that Maurice +could hardly have received any real injury, and in her +declarations that Sophy's presence of mind had saved him, was +forgetting to whom the accident was owing. Lucy wanted to know +why her sister could have taken him out of the house at all, but +Albinia could not bear to have this pressed at such a moment, and +sent the inquirer down to order some tea, which she shared with +Sophy, and then was forced to bid her good-night, without drawing +out any further confessions. But when the girl raised herself to +receive her kiss, it was the first real embrace that had passed +between them.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In the very early morning, Albinia was in the +nursery, and found her little boy bright and healthy. As she left +him in glad hope and gratitude, Sophy's door was pushed ajar, and +her wan face peeped out. 'My dear child, you have not been asleep +all night!' exclaimed Albinia, after having satisfied her about +the baby.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Does your arm hurt you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Does your head ache?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Rather.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But they were not the old sulky answers, and +she seemed glad to have her arm freely bathed, her brow cooled, +her tossed bed composed, and her window opened, so that she might +make a fresh attempt at closing her weary eyes.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was evidently far too much shaken to be fit +for the intended expedition, even if her father had not decreed +that she should be deprived of it. Albinia had never seen him so +much incensed, for nothing makes a man so angry as to have been +alarmed; and he was doubly annoyed when he found that she thought +Sophy too unwell to be left, as he intended, to solitary +confinement.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He would gladly have given up the visit, for +his repugnance to society was in full force on the eve of a +party; but Albinia, by representing that it would be wrong to +disappoint Colonel Bury, and very hard on the unoffending Gilbert +and Lucy, succeeded in prevailing on him to accept his melancholy +destiny, and to allow her to remain at home with Sophy and the +baby--one of the greatest sacrifices he or she had yet made. He +was exceedingly vexed, and therefore the less disposed to be +lenient. The more Albinia told him of Sophy's unhappiness, the +more he hoped it would do her good, and he could not be induced +to see her, nor to send her any message of forgiveness, for in +truth it was less the baby's accident that he resented, than the +eighteen months of surly resistance to the baby's mother, and at +present he was more unrelenting than the generous, forgiving +spirit of his wife could understand, though she tried to believe +it manly severity and firmness.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It would be time to pardon,' he said, 'when +pardon was asked.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And Albinia could not say that it had been +asked, except by misery.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She has the best advocate in you,' said Mr. +Kendal, affectionately, 'and if there be any feeling in her, such +forbearance cannot fail to bring it out. I am more grieved than I +can tell you at your present disappointment, but it shall not +happen again. If you can bring her to a better mind, I shall be +the more satisfied in sending her from home.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Edmund! you do not think of it!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My mind is made up. Do you think I have not +watched your patient care, and the manner in which it has been +repaid? You have sufficient occupation without being the slave of +those children's misconduct.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophy would be miserable. Oh! you must not! +She is the last girl in the world fit to be sent to +school.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I will not have you made miserable at home. +This has been a long trial, and nothing has softened +her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Suppose this was the very thing.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If it were, what is past should not go +unrequited, and the change will teach her what she has rejected. +Hush, dearest, it is not that I do not think that you have done +all for her that tenderness or good sense could devise, but your +time is too much occupied, and I cannot see you overtasked by +this poor child's headstrong temper. It is decided, Albinia; say +no more.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have failed,' thought Albinia, as he left +the room. 'He decides that I have failed in bringing up his +children. What have I done? Have I been mistaken? have I been +careless? have I not prayed enough? Oh! my poor, poor Sophy! What +will she do among strange girls? Oh! how wretched, how harsh, how +misunderstood she will be! She will grow worse and worse, and +just when I do think I might have begun to get at her! And it is +for my sake! For me that her father is set against her, and is +driving her out from her home! Oh! what shall I do? Winifred will +promote it, because they all think I am doing too much! I wonder +what put that in Edmund's head? But when he speaks in that way, I +have no hope!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal's anger took a direction with which +she better sympathized when he walked down Tibbs's Alley, and +counted the nine beer shops, which had never dawned on his +imagination, and which so greatly shocked it, that he went +straight to the astonished Pettilove, and gave him a severe +reprimand for allowing the houses to be made dens of iniquity and +disorder.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was at home in time to meet the doctor, and +hear that Maurice had suffered not the smallest damage; and then +to make another ineffectual attempt to persuade Albinia to +consign Sophy to imprisonment with Aunt Maria; after which he +drove off very much against his will with Lucy and Gilbert, both +declaring that they did not care a rush to go to Fairmead under +the present circumstances.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia had a sad, sore sense of failure, and +almost of guilt, as she lingered on the door-step after seeing +them set off. The education of 'Edmund's children' had been a +cherished vision, and it had resulted so differently from her +expectations, that her heart sank. With Gilbert there was indeed +no lack of love and confidence, but there was a sad lurking sense +of his want of force of character, and she had avowedly been +insufficient to preserve him from temptation; Lucy, whom +externally she had the most altered, was not of a nature +accordant enough with her own for her to believe the effects deep +or permanent; and Sophia--poor Sophia! Had what was kindly called +forbearance been really neglect and want of moral courage? Would +a gentler, less eager person have won instead of repelling +confidence? Had her multiplicity of occupations made her give but +divided attention to the more important home duty. Alas! alas! +she only knew that her husband thought his daughter beyond her +management, and for that very reason she would have given worlds +to retain the uncouth, perverse girl under her charge.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She stood loitering, for the sound of the river +and the shade of the willows were pleasant on the glowing July +day, and having made all her arrangements for going from home, +she had no pressing employment, and thus she waited, musing as +she seldom allowed herself time to do, and thinking over each +phase of her conduct towards Sophy, in the endeavour to detect +the mistake; and throughout came, not exactly answering her +query, but throwing a light upon it, her brother's warning, that +if she did not resign herself to rest quietly when rest was +forced upon her, she would work amiss when she did +work.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Just then came a swinging of the gate, a step +on the walk, and Miss Meadows made her appearance. A message had +been sent up in the morning, but grandmamma was so nervous, that +Maria had trotted down in the heat so satisfy her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was surprised to find that womanhood +had thrown all their instincts on the baby's side, and was +gratified by the first truly kind fellow-feeling they had shown +her. She took Maria into the morning room, where she had left +Sophy lying on the sofa, and ran up to fetch Maurice from the +nursery.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When she came down, having left the nurse +adorning him, she found that she had acted cruelly. Sophy was +standing up with her hardest face on, listening to her aunt's +well-meant rebukes on her want of feeling, and hopes that she did +regret the having endangered her brother, and deprived 'her dear +mamma of the party of pleasure at Fairmead; but Aunt Maria knew +it was of no use to talk to Sophy, none--!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Pray don't, Aunt Maria,' said Albinia, gently +drawing Sophy down on the sofa again; 'this poor child is in no +state to be scolded.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You are a great deal too good to her, Mrs. +Kendal--after such wilfulness as last night--carrying the dear +baby out in the street--I never heard of such a thing--But what +made you do it, Sophy, wont you tell me that? No, I know you +won't; no one ever can get a word from her. Ah! that sulky +disposition--it is a very nasty temper--can't you break through +it, Sophy, and confess it all to your dear mamma? You would be so +much better. But I know it is of no use, poor child, it is just +like her father.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was growing very angry, and it was well +that Maurice's merry crowings were heard approaching. Miss +Meadows was delighted to see him, but as he had a great aversion +to her, the interview was not prolonged, since he could not be +persuaded to keep the peace by being held up to watch a buzzing +fly, as much out of sight of her as possible, wrinkling up his +nose, and preparing to cry whenever he caught sight of her white +bonnet and pink roses.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Miss Meadows bethought her that grandmamma was +anxious, so she only waited to give an invitation to tea, but +merely to Mrs. Kendal; she would say nothing about Sophy since +disgrace--well-merited--if they could only see some +feeling.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thank you,' said Albinia, 'some evening +perhaps I may come, since yon are so kind, but I don't think I +can leave this poor twisted arm to itself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Miss Meadows evaporated in hopes that Sophy +would be sensible of--and assurances that Mrs. Kendal was a great +deal too--with finally, 'Good-bye, Sophy, I wish I could have +told grandmamma that you had shown some feeling.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I believe,' said Albinia, 'that you would only +be too glad if you knew how.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy gasped.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia could not help feeling indignant at the +misjudged persecution; and yet it seemed to render the poor child +more entirely her own, since all the world besides had turned +against her. 'Kiss her, Maurice,' she said, holding the little +fellow towards her. That scratched arm of hers has spared your +small brains from more than you guess.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy's first impulse was to hide her face, but +he thought it was bo-peep, caught hold of her fingers, and +laughed; then came to a sudden surprised stop, and looked up to +his mother, when the countenance behind the screen proved sad +instead of laughing.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! baby, you had better have done with me,' +Sophy said, bitterly; 'you are the only one that does not hate me +yet, and you don't know what I have done to you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I know some one else that cares for you, my +poor Sophy,' said Albinia, 'and who would do anything to make you +feel it without distressing you. If you knew how I wish I knew +what to do for you!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is no use,' said Sophy, moodily; 'I was +born to be a misery to myself and every one else.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What has put such a fancy in your head, my +dear?' said Albinia, nearly smiling.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Grandmamma's Betty said so, she used to call +me Peter Grievous, and I know it is so. It is of no good to +bother yourself about me. It can't be helped, and there's an end +of it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There is not an end of it, indeed!' cried +Albinia. 'Why, Sophy, do you suppose I could bear to leave you +so?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm sure I don't see why not.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why not?' continued Albinia, in her bright, +tender voice. 'Why, because I must love you with all my heart. +You are your own dear papa's child, and this little man's sister. +Yes, and you are yourself, my poor, sad, lonely child, who does +not know how to bring out the thoughts that prey on her, and who +thinks it very hard to have a stranger instead of her own mother. +I know I should have felt so.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But I have behaved so ill to you,' cried +Sophy, as if bent on repelling the proffered affection. 'I would +not like you, and I did not like you. Never! and I have gone +against you every way I could.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And now I love you because you are sorry for +it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm not'--Sophy had begun, but the words +turned into 'Am I?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think you are,' and with the sweetest of +tearful smiles, she put an arm round the no longer resisting +Sophy, and laying her cheek against the little brother's, she +kissed first one and then the other.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can't think why you are so,' said Sophy, +still struggling against the undeserved love, though far more +feebly. 'I shall never deserve it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'See if you don't, when we pull together +instead of contrary ways.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But,' cried Sophy, with a sudden start from +her, as if remembering a mortal offence, 'you drained the +pond!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I own I earnestly wished it to be drained; but +had you any reason for regretting it, my dear?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! you did not know,' said Sophy. 'He and I +used to be always there.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He--?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why, will you make me say it?' cried Sophy. +'Edmund! I mean Edmund! We always called it his pond. He made the +little quay for his boats--he used to catch the minnows there. I +could go and stand by it, and think he was coming out to play; +and now you have had it dried up, and his dear little minnows are +all dead,' and she burst into a passion of tears, that made +Maurice cry till Albinia hastily carried him off and +returned.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear, I am sorry it seemed so unkind. I do +not think we could have let the pond stay, for it was making the +house unhealthy; but if we had talked over it together, it need +not have appeared so very cruel and spiteful.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't believe you are spiteful,' said Sophy, +'though I sometimes think so.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The filial compliment was highly +gratifying.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And now, Sophy,' she said, 'that I have told +you why we were obliged to have the pond drained, will you tell +me what you wanted with baby at Mrs. Osborn's?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I will tell,' said Sophy, 'but you wont like +it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I like anything better than +concealment.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mrs. Osborn said she never saw him. She said +you kept him close, and that nobody was good enough to touch him; +so I promised I would bring him over, and I kept my word. I know +it was wrong--and--I did not think you would ever forgive +me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But how could you do it?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mrs. Osborn and all used to be so kind to us +when there was nobody else. I wont cast them off because we are +too fine and grand for them.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I never thought of that. I only was afraid of +your getting into silly ways, and your papa did not wish us to be +intimate there. And now you see he was right, for good friends +would not have led you to such disobedience--and by stealth, too, +what I should have thought you would most have hated.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia had been far from intending these last +words to have been taken as they were. Sophy hid her face, and +cried piteously with an utter self-abandonment of grief, that +Albinia could scarcely understand; but at last she extracted some +broken words. 'False! shabby! yes-- Oh! I have been false! Oh! +Edmund! Edmund! Edmund! the only thing I thought I still was! I +thought I was true! Oh, by stealth! Why couldn't I die when I +tried, when Edmund did?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And has life been a blank ever +since?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Off and on,' said Sophy. 'Well, why not? I am +sure papa is melancholy enough. I don't like people that are +always making fun, I can't see any sense in it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Some sorts of merriment are sad, and hollow, +and wrong, indeed,' said Albinia, 'but not all, I hope. You know +there is so much love and mercy all round us, that it is +unthankful not to have a cheerful spirit. I wish I could give you +one, Sophy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy shook her head. 'I can't understand about +mercy and love, when Edmund was all I cared for.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But, Sophy, if life is so sad and hard to you, +don't you see the mercy that took Edmund away to perfect joy? +Remember, not cutting you off from him, but keeping him safe for +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, no,' cried Sophy, 'I have never been good +since he went. I have got worse and worse, but I did think I was +true still, that that one thing was left me--but now--' The sense +of having acted a deception seemed to produce grief under which +the stubborn pride was melting away, and it was most affecting to +see the child weeping over the lost jewel of truth, which she +seemed to feel the last link with the remarkable boy whose +impress had been left so strongly on all connected with +him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear, the truth is in you still, or you +could not grieve thus over your failure,' said Albinia. 'I know +you erred, because it did not occur to you that it was not acting +openly by me; but oh! Sophy, there is something that would bring +you nearer to Edmund than hard truth in your own +strength.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know what you mean,' said +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Did you ever think what Edmund is about +now?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know,' said Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I only know that the one thing which is +carried with us to the other world is love, Sophy, and love that +becomes greater than we can yet imagine. If you would think of +Him who redeemed and saved your dear Edmund, and who is his +happiness, his exceeding great reward, your heart would warm, +and, oh! what hope and peace would come!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Edmund was good,' said Sophy, in a tone as if +to mark the hopeless gulf between.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And you are sorry. All human goodness begins +from sorrow. It had even to be promised first for baby at his +christening, you know. Oh, Sophy, God's blessing can make all +these tears come to joy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia's own tears were flowing so fast, that +she broke off to hide them in her own room, her heart panting +with hope, and yet with grief and pity for the piteous disclosure +of so dreary a girlhood. After all, childhood, if not the +happiest, is the saddest period of life--pains, griefs, petty +tyrannies, neglects, and terrors have not the alleviation of the +experience that 'this also shall pass away;' time moves with a +tardier pace, and in the narrower sphere of interests, there is +less to distract the attention from the load of grievances. +Hereditary low spirits, a precocious mind, a reserved temper, a +motherless home, the loss of her only congenial companion, and +the long-enduring effect of her illness upon her health, had all +conspired to weigh down the poor girl, and bring on an almost +morbid state of gloomy discontent. Her father's second marriage, +by enlivening the house, had rendered her peculiarities even more +painful to herself and others, and the cultivation of mind that +was forced upon her, made her more averse to the trifling and +playfulness, which, while she was younger, had sometimes +brightened and softened her. And this was the girl whom her +father had resolved upon sending to the selfish, inconsiderate, +frivolous world of school-girls, just when the first opening had +been made, the first real insight gained into her feelings, the +first appearance of having touched her heart! Albinia felt +baffled, disappointed, almost despairing. His stern decree, once +made, was, she knew, well-nigh unalterable; and though resolved +to use her utmost influence, she doubted its power after having +seen that look of decision. Nay, she tried to think he might be +right. There might be those who would manage Sophy better. +Eighteen months had been a fair trial, and she had failed. She +prayed earnestly for whatever might be best for the child, and +for herself, that she might take it patiently and +submissively.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy felt the heat of the day a good deal, but +towards the evening she revived, and seemed so much cheered and +refreshed by her tea, that, as the sound of the church bell came +sweetly down in the soft air, Albinia said, 'Sophy, I am going to +take advantage of my holiday and go to the evening service. I +suppose you had rather not come?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think I will,' returned Sophy, somewhat +glumly, but Albinia hailed the answer joyfully, as the first +shamefaced effort of a reserved character wishing to make a new +beginning, and she took care that no remark, not even a look, +should rouse the sullen sensitiveness that could so easily be +driven back for ever.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Slowly they crept up the steps on the shady +side of the hill, watching how, beyond the long shadow it cast +over the town and the meadows, the trees revelled in the sunset +light, and windows glittered like great diamonds, where in the +ordinary daylight the distance was too great for distinct +vision.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The church was cool and quiet, and there was +something in Sophy's countenance and reverent attitude that +seemed as if she were consecrating a newly-formed resolution; her +eye was often raised, as though in spite of herself, to the name +of the brother whose short life seemed inseparably interwoven +with all the higher aspirations of his home.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In the midst of the Thanksgiving, a sudden +movement attracted Albinia, and she saw Sophy resting her head, +and looking excessively pale. She put her arm round her, and +would have led her out, but could not persuade her to move, and +by the time the Blessing was given, the power was gone, and she +had almost fainted away, when a tall strong form stooped over +her, and Mr. Dusautoy gathered her up in his arms, and bore her +off as if she had been a baby, to the open window of his own +drawing-room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Put me down! The floor, please!' said Sophy, +feebly, for all her remaining faculties were absorbed in dislike +to the mode of conveyance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, flat on the floor,' said Mrs. Dusautoy, +rising with full energy, and laying a cushion under Sophy's head, +reaching a scent-bottle, and sending her husband for cold water +and sal volatile; with readiness that astonished Albinia, unused +to illness, and especially to faintings, and remorseful at having +taken Sophy out. 'Was it the pain of her arm that had overcome +her?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' said Sophy, 'it was only my +back.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Indeed! you never told me you had hurt your +back;' and Albinia began describing the fall, and declaring there +must be a sprain.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, no,' said Sophy, 'kneeling always does +it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Does what, my dear?' said Albinia, sitting on +the floor by her, and looking up to Mrs. Dusautoy, exceedingly +frightened.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Makes me feel sick,' said Sophy; 'I thought it +would go off, as it always does, it didn't; but it is better +now.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, don't get up yet,' said Mrs. Dusautoy, as +she was trying to move; 'I would offer you the sofa, it would be +more hospitable, but I think the floor is the most comfortable +place.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thank you, <i>much</i>,' said Sophy, with an +emphasis.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you ever lie down on it when you are +tired?' asked the lady, looking anxiously at Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I always wish I might.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was surprised at the interrogations +that followed; she did not understand what Mrs. Dusautoy was +aiming at, in the close questioning, which to her amazement did +not seem to offend, but rather to be gratifying by the curious +divination of all sensations. It made Albinia feel as if she had +been carrying on a deliberate system of torture, when she heard +of a pain in the back, hardly ever ceasing, aggravated by sitting +upright, growing severe with the least fatigue, and unless +favoured by day, becoming so bad at night as to take away many +hours of sleep.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! Sophy, Sophy,' she cried, with tears in +her eyes, 'how could you go on so? Why did you never tell +me?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I did not like,' began Sophy, 'I was used to +it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Oh, that barrier! Albinia was in uncontrollable +distress, that the girl should have chosen to undergo so much +suffering rather than bestow any confidence. Sophy stole her hand +into hers, and said in her odd, short way, 'Never mind, it did +not signify.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Mrs. Dusautoy, 'those things are +just what one does get so much used to, that it seems much easier +to bear them than to speak about them.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But to let oneself be so driven about,' cried +Albinia. 'Oh! Sophy, you will never do so again! If I had ever +guessed--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Please hush! Never mind!' said Sophy, almost +crossly, and getting up from the floor quickly, as though +resolved to be well.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have never minded long enough,' sighed +Albinia. 'What shall I do, Mrs. Dusautoy? What do you think it +is?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">This was the last question Mrs. Dusautoy wished +to be asked in Sophy's presence. She had little doubt that it was +spine complaint like her own, but she had not intended to let her +perceive the impression, till after having seen Mrs. Kendal +alone. However, Albinia's impetuosity disconcerted all +precautions, and Sophy's two great black eyes were rounded with +suppressed terror, as if expecting her doom. 'I think that a +doctor ought to answer that question,' Mrs. Dusautoy +began.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, yes,' exclaimed Albinia, 'but I never had +any faith in old Mr. Bowles, I had rather go to a thorough good +man at once.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, certainly, by all means.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And then to whom! I will write to my Aunt +Mary. It seems exactly like you. Do you think it is the +spine?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am afraid so. But, my dear,' holding out her +hand caressingly to Sophy, 'you need not be frightened--you need +not look at me as an example of what you will come to--I am only +an example of what comes of never speaking of one's +ailments.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And of having no mother to find them out!' +cried Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Indeed,' said Mrs. Dusautoy, anxious to +console and encourage, as well as to talk the young step-mother +out of her self-reproach, 'I do not think that if I had been my +good aunt's own child, she would have been more likely to find +out that anything was amiss. It was the fashion to be strong and +healthy in that house, and I was never really ill--but I came as +a little stunted, dwining cockney, and so I was considered ever +after--never quite comfortable, often forgetting myself in +enjoyment, paying for it afterwards, but quite used to it. We all +thought it was "only Fanny," and part of my London breeding. Yes, +we thought so in good faith, even after the largest half of my +life had been spent in Yorkshire.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And what brought it to a crisis? Did they go +on neglecting you?' exclaimed Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why, my dear,' said the little lady, a glow +lighting on her cheek, and a smile awakening, 'my uncle took a +new curate, whom it was the family custom to call "the +good-natured giant," and whose approach put all of us young +ladies in a state of great excitement. It was all in character +with his good-nature, you know, to think of dragging the poor +little shrimp up the hill to church, and I believe he did not +know how she would get on without his strong arm; for do you +know, when he had the curacy of Lauriston given him, he chose to +carry the starveling off with him, instead of any of those fine, +handsome prosperous girls. Dear Mary and Bessie! how good they +were, and how kind and proud for me! I never could complain of +not having sisters.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, and Mr. Dusautoy made you have +advice?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not he! Why, we all believed it cockneyism, +you know, and besides, I was so happy and so well, that when we +went to Scotland, I fairly walked myself off my legs, and ended +the honeymoon laid up in a little inn on Loch Katrine, where John +used regularly to knock his head whenever he came into the room. +It was a fortnight before I could get to Edinburgh, and the +journey made me as bad as ever. So the doctors were called in, +and poor John learnt what a crooked stick he had chosen; but they +all said that if I had been taken in hand as a child, most likely +I should have been a sound woman. The worst of it was, that I was +so thoroughly knocked up that I could not bear the motion of a +carriage; besides, I suppose the doctors wanted a little +amusement out of me, for they would not hear of my going home. So +poor John had to go to Lauriston by himself, and those were the +longest, dreariest six months I ever spent in my life, though +Bessie was so good as to come and take care of me. But at last, +when I had nearly made up my mind to defy the whole doctorhood, +they gave leave, and between water and steam, John brought me to +Lauriston, and ever since that, I don't see that a backbone would +have made us a bit happier.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy had been intently reading Mrs. Dusautoy's +face all through the narration, from under her thick black +eyelashes, and at the end she drew a sigh of relief, and seemed +to catch the smile of glad gratitude and affection. There was a +precedent, which afforded incredible food to the tumultuous +cravings of a heart that had been sinking in sullen gloom under +the consciousness of an unpleasing exterior. The possibility of a +'good-natured giant' was far more present to her mind than the +present probability of future suffering and restraint.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Ever rapid and eager, Albinia could think of +nothing but immediate measures for Sophy's good, and the +satisfaction of her own conscience. She could not bear even to +wait for Mr. Kendal's return, but, as her aunts were still in +London, she resolved on carrying Sophy to their house on the +following day for the best advice. It was already late, and she +knelt at the table to dash off two notes to put into the +post-office as she went home. One to Mrs. Annesley, to announce +her coming with Sophy, baby, and Susan, the other as +follows:--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'July 10th, 9 p.m.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Dearest Edmund,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I find I have been cruelly neglectful. I have +hunted and driven that poor child about till it has brought on +spine complaint. The only thing I can do, is to take her to have +the best advice without loss of time, so I am going to-morrow to +my aunt's. It would take too long to write and ask your leave. +You must forgive this, as indeed each word I have to say is, +forgive! She is so generous and kind! You know I meant to do my +best, but they were right, I was too young.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Forgive yours,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A. K.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The Dusautoys were somewhat taken by surprise, +but they knew too well the need of promptitude to dissuade her; +and Sophia herself sat aghast at the commotion, excited by the +habitual discomfort of which she had thought so little. The +vicar, when he found Mrs. Kendal in earnest, offered to go with +them and protect them; but Albinia was a veteran in independent +railway travelling, and was rather affronted by being treated as +a helpless female. Mrs. Dusautoy, better aware of what the +journey might be to one at least of the travellers, gave advice, +and lent air cushions, and Albinia bade her good night with an +almost sobbing 'thank you,' and an entreaty that if Mr. Kendal +came home before them, she would tell him all about +it.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">At home, she instantly sent the stupefied Sophy +to bed, astonished the little nurse, ordered down boxes and bags, +and spent half the night in packing, glad to be stirring and to +tire herself into sleeping, for her remorse and her anticipations +were so painful, that, but for fatigue, her bed would have been +no resting-place.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER IX.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">Winifred Ferrars was surprised by Mr. Kendal's +walking into her garden, with a perturbed countenance, begging +her to help him to make out what could be the meaning of a note +which he had just received. He was afraid that there was much +amiss with the baby, and heartily wished that he had not been +persuaded to leave home; but poor Albinia wrote in so much +distress, that he could not understand her letter.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">More accustomed to Albinia's epistolary habits, +Winifred exclaimed at the first glance, 'What can you mean? There +is not one word of the little one! It is only Sophy!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The immediate clearing of his face was not +complimentary to poor Sophy, as he said, 'Can you be quite sure? +I had begun to hope that Albinia might at least have the comfort +of seeing this little fellow healthy; but let me see--she says +nursed and--and danced--is it? this poor child--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, no; it is hunted and driven; that's the +way she always <i>will</i> make her <i>h</i>'s; besides, what +nonsense the other would be.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'This poor child--' repeated Mr. Kendal, 'Going +up to London for advice. She would hardly do that with +Sophia.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Who ever heard of a baby of six months old +having a spine complaint?' cried Mrs. Ferrars almost +angrily.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have lost one in that way,' he +replied.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">A dead silence ensued, till Winifred, to her +great relief, spied the feminine pronoun, but could not fully +satisfy Mr. Kendal that the ups and downs were insufficient for +the word <i>him</i>; and each scrawl was discussed as though it +had been a cuneiform inscription, until he had been nearly argued +into believing in the lesser evil. He then was persuaded that the +Meadowses had been harassing and frightening Albinia into this +startling measure. It was so contrary to his own nature, that he +hardly believed that it had actually taken place, and that she +must be in London by this time, but at any rate, he must join her +there, and know the worst. He would take the whole party to an +hotel, if it were too great a liberty to quarter themselves upon +Mrs. Annesley.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Winifred was as much surprised as if the +chess-king had taken a knight's move, but she encouraged his +resolution, assured him of a welcome at what the cousinhood were +wont to call the Family Office, and undertook the charge of +Gilbert and Lucy. The sorrowful, almost supplicating tone of his +wife's letter, would have sufficed to bring him to her, even +without his disquietude for his child, whichever of them it might +be; and though Albinia's merry blue-eyed boy had brought a +renewed spring of hope and life, his crashed spirits trembled at +the least alarm.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Thus, though the cheerful Winifred had +convinced his reason, his gloomy anticipations revived before he +reached London; and with the stern composure of one accustomed to +bend to the heaviest blows, he knocked at Mrs. Annesley's door. +He was told that Mrs. Kendal was out; but on further inquiry, +learnt that Sophy was in the drawing-room, where he found her +curled up in the corner of the sofa, reading intently.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She sprang to her feet with a cry of surprise, +but did not approach, though he held out his arms, saying in a +voice husky with anxiety, 'Is the baby well, Sophia?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' she cried, 'quite well; he is out in the +carriage with them.' Then shrinking as he was stooping to kiss +her, she reddened, reddening deeply, 'Papa, I did very wrong; I +was sly and disobedient, and I might have killed him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do not let us speak of that now, my dear, I +want to hear of--' and again he would have drawn her into his +embrace, but she held out her hand, with her repelling gesture, +and burst forth in her rude honesty, 'I can't be forgiven only +because I am ill. Hear all about it, papa, and then say you +forgive me if you can. I always was cross to mamma, because I was +determined I would be; and I did not think she had any business +with us. The more she was kind, the more I did not like it; and I +thought it was mean in Gilbert and Lucy to be fond of her. No! I +have not done yet! I grew naughtier and naughtier, till at last I +have been false and sly, and--have done this to baby--and I would +not have cared then--if--if she would not have been--oh! so +good!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy made no farther resistance to the arm +that was thrown round her, as her father said, 'So good, that she +has overcome evil with good. My child, how should I not forgive +when you are sensible of your mistake, and when she has so freely +forgiven?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy did not speak, but she pressed his arm +closer round her, and laid her cheek gratefully on his shoulder. +She only wished it could last for ever; but he soon lifted her, +that he might look anxiously at her face, while he said, 'And +what is all this, my dear! I am afraid you are not +well.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Her energies were recalled; and, squeezing his +hand, she said, 'Mind, you will not let them say it was mamma's +fault.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Who is accusing her, my dear?' What is the +matter?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is only my back,' said Sophy; 'there always +was a stupid pain there; but grandmamma's Betty said I made a +fuss, and that it was all laziness, and I would not let any one +say so again, and I never told of it, and it went on till the +other night I grew faint at church, and Mrs. Dusautoy put mamma +in such a fright, that we all came here yesterday; and there came +a doctor this morning, who says my spine is not straight, and +that I must lie on my back for a long time; but never mind, papa, +it will be very comfortable to lie still and read, and I shall +not be cross now,' she added reassuringly, as his grasp pressed +her close, with a start of dismay.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear, I am afraid you hardly know what you +may have to go through, but I am glad you meet it +bravely.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But you wont let them say mamma did +it?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Who should say so?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Aunt Maria will, and mamma <i>will</i> go and +say so herself,' cried Sophy; 'she <i>will</i> say it was taking +walks and carrying baby, and it's not true. I told the doctor how +my back ached long before baby came or she either, and he said +that most likely the weakness had been left by the fever. So if +it is any one's mismanagement, it is Aunt Maria's, and if you +wont tell her so, I will.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gently, Sophy, that would hardly be grateful, +after the pains that she has taken with you, and the care she +meant to give.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Her care was all worry,' said Sophy, 'and it +will be very lucky if I don't tell her so, if she says her +provoking things to mamma. But you wont believe them, +papa.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Most certainly not.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, you must tell her to be happy again,' +continued Sophy; 'I cannot bear to see her looking sorrowful! +Last night, when she fancied me asleep, she cried--oh! till it +made me miserable! And to-day I heard Miss Ferrars say to Mrs. +Annesley, that her fine spirits were quite gone. You know it is +very silly, for I am the last person in all the world she ought +to cry for.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She has an infinite treasure of love,' said +Mr. Kendal, 'and we have done very little that we should be +blessed with it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There, they are come home!' exclaimed Sophy, +starting up as sounds were heard on the stairs, and almost at the +same moment Albinia was in the room, overflowing with contrition, +gladness, and anxiety; but something of sweetness in the first +hasty greeting made the trust overcome all the rest; and, +understanding his uppermost wish, she stepped back to the +staircase, and in another second had put Maurice into his arms, +blooming and contented, and with a wide-mouthed smile for his +papa. Mr. Kendal held him fondly through all the hospitable +welcomes of the aunts, and his own explanations; but to Albinia +it was all confusion, and almost annoyance, till she could take +him upstairs, and tell her own story.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am afraid you have been very much alarmed,' +were his first words.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have done everything wrong from beginning to +end,' said Albinia. 'Oh, Edmund, I am so glad you are come! Now +you will see the doctor, and know whether it was as bad as all +the rest to bring her to London.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dearest, you must calm yourself, and try to +explain. You know I understand nothing yet, except from your +resolute little advocate downstairs, and your own note, which I +could scarcely make out, except that you were in great +trouble.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah, that note; I wrote it in one of my +impetuous fits. Maurice used to say I ran frantic, and grew +irrational, and so I did not know what I was saying to you; and I +brought that poor patient girl up here in all the heat, and the +journey hurt her so much, that I don't know how we shall ever get +her home again. Oh, Edmund, I am the worst wife and mother in the +world; and I undertook it all with such foolish +confidence.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal liked her impetuous fits as little +as her brother did, and was not so much used to them; but he +dealt with her in his quiet, straightforward way. 'You are +exaggerating now, Albinia, and I do not wonder at it, for you +have had a great deal to startle and to try you. Walking up and +down is only heating and agitating you more; sit down here, and +let me hear what gave you this alarm.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The grave affection of his manner restrained +her, and his presence soothed the flutter of spirits; though she +still devoted herself with a sort of wilfulness to bear all the +blame, until he said, 'This is foolish, Albinia; it is of no use +to look at anything but the simple truth. This affection of the +spine must be constitutional, and if neglect have aggravated the +evil, it must date from a much earlier period than since she has +been under your charge. If any one be to blame, it is myself, for +the apathy that prevented me from placing the poor things under +proper care, but I was hardly then aware that Maria's solicitude +is always in the wrong place.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But everybody declares that it was always +visible, and that no one could look at her without seeing that +she was crooked.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Apres le coup,' said Mr. Kendal. 'I grant you +that a person of more experience might perhaps have detected what +was amiss sooner than you did, but you have only to regret the +ignorance you shared with us all; and you did your utmost +according to your judgment.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And a cruel utmost it was,' said Albinia; 'it +is frightful to think what I inflicted, and she endured in +silence, because I had not treated her so that she could bear to +speak to me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That is over now,' said Mr. Kendal, 'you have +conquered her at last. Pride could not hold out against such +sweetness.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is her generosity,' said Albinia; 'I always +knew she was the best of them all, if one could but get at +her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What have you done to her? I never heard her +say half so much as she voluntarily said to me just +now.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor dear! I believe the key of her heart was +lost when Edmund died, and so all within was starved,' said +Albinia. 'Yes,' as his eyes were suddenly raised and fixed on +her, 'I got to that at last. No one has ever understood her, +since she lost her brother.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She has a certain likeness to him. I knew she +was his favourite sister; but such a child as she +was--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Children have deeper souls than you give them +credit for,' said Albinia. 'Yes, Edmund, you and Sophy are very +much alike! You had your study, and poor Sophy enclosed herself +in a perpetual cocoon of study atmosphere, and so you never found +each other out till to-day.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Perhaps it was the influence of the frantic fit +that caused her to make so direct a thrust; but Mr. Kendal was +not offended. There was a good deal in the mere absence from +habitual scenes and associations; he always left a great deal of +reserve behind him at Bayford.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You may be right, Albinia,' he said; 'I +sometimes think that amongst us you are like the old poet's "star +confined into a tomb."'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Such a compliment was a pretty reward for her +temerity.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Returning to business, she found that her +journey was treated as more judicious than she deserved. The +consequences had justified her decision. Mr. Kendal knew it was +the right thing to be done, and was glad to have been spared the +dreadful task of making up his mind to it. He sat down of his own +accord to write a note to Winifred, beginning, 'Albinia was +right, as she always is,' and though his wife interlined, +'Albinia had no right to be right, for she was inconsiderate, as +she always is,' she looked so brilliantly pretty and bright, and +was so full of sunny liveliness, that she occasioned one of the +very few disputes between her good aunts. Miss Ferrars declared +that poor Albinia was quite revived by the return to her old +home, and absence of care, while Mrs. Annesley insisted on giving +the credit to Mr. Kendal. They were perfectly agreed in +unwillingness to part with their guests; and as the doctor wished +to see more of his patient, the visit was prolonged, to the +enjoyment of all parties.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy had received her sentence so easily, that +it was suspected that she did not realize the tedium of +confinement, and was relieved by being allowed to be inactive. +Until she should go home, she might do whatever did not fatigue +her; but most sights, and even the motion of the carriage, were +so fatiguing, that she was much more inclined to remain at home +and revel in the delightful world of books. The kind, unobtrusive +petting; the absence of customary irritations; the quiet +high-bred tone of the family, so acted upon her, as to render her +something as agreeably new to herself as to other people. The +glum mask was cast aside, she responded amiably to kindness and +attention, allowed herself to be drawn into conversation, and +developed much more intelligence and depth than even Albinia had +given her credit for.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">One day, when Miss Ferrars was showing Mr. +Kendal some illustrations of Indian scenery, a question arose +upon the date of the native sovereign to whom the buildings were +ascribed. Mr. Kendal could not recollect; but Sophia, looking up, +quietly pronounced the date, and gave her reasons for it. Miss +Ferrars asked how she could have learnt so much on an +out-of-the-way topic.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I read a book of the History of India, up in +the loft,' said Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That book!' exclaimed her father; 'I wish you +joy! I never could get through it! It is the driest chronicle I +ever read--a mere book of reference. What could induce you to +read that?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I would read anything about India;' and her +tone, though low and subdued, betrayed such enthusiasm as could +find nothing dry, and this in a girl who had read aloud the reign +of Edward III. with stolid indifference!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, I think I can promise you more +interesting reading about India when we go home,' said Mr. +Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The colour rose on Sophy's cheek. Books out of +papa's study! Could the world offer a greater privilege?' She +could scarcely pronounce, 'Thank you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very faithful to her birth-place,' said Miss +Ferrars; 'but she must have been very young when she came +home.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'About five years old, I believe,' said her +father. 'You surely can remember nothing of Talloon.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know,' said Sophy, mournfully; 'I +used--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I thought Indian children usually lost their +eastern recollections very early,' said Miss Ferrars; 'I never +heard of one who could remember the sound of Hindostanee a year +after coming home.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal, entertained and gratified, turned +to his daughter; and, by way of experiment, began a short +sentence in Hindostanee; but the first sound brought a glow to +her cheeks, and, with a hurried gesture, she murmured, 'Please +don't, papa.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia saw that feelings were here concerned +which must not be played on in public; and she hastily plunged +into the discussion, and drew it away from Sophy. Following her +up-stairs at bed-time, she contrived to win from her an +explanation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Edmund had been seven years old at the time of +the return to England. Fondly attached to some of the Hindoo +servants, and with unusual intelligence and observation, the +gorgeous scenery and oriental habits of his first home had dwelt +vividly in his imagination, and he had always considered himself +as only taken to England for a time, to return again to India. +Thus, he had been fond of romancing of the past and of the +future, and had never let his little sister's recollections fade +entirely away. His father had likewise thought that it would save +future trouble to keep up the boys' knowledge of the language, +which would by-and-by be so important to them. Gilbert's health +had caused his studies to be often intermitted, but Edmund had +constantly received instructions in the Indian languages, and +whatever he learnt had been imparted to Sophia. It was piteous to +discover how much time the poor forlorn little girl had spent +sitting on the floor in the loft, poring over old grammars, and +phrase-books, and translations of missionary or government +school-books there accumulated--anything that related to India, +or that seemed to carry on what she had done with Edmund: and she +had acquired just enough to give her a keen appetite for all the +higher class of lore, which she knew to reside in the +unapproachable study. Those few familiar words from her father +had overcome her, because, a trivial greeting in themselves, they +had been a kind of password between her and her +brother.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal was greatly touched, and very +remorseful for having left such a heart to pine in solitude, +while he was absorbed in his own lonely grief; and Albinia +ventured to say, 'I believe the greatest pleasure you could give +her would be to help her to keep up the language.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He smiled, but said, 'Of what possible use +could it be to her?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I was not thinking of future use. It would be +of immense present use to her to do anything with you, and I can +see that nothing would gratify her so much. Besides, I have been +trying to think of all the new things I could set her to do. She +must have lessons to fill up the day, and I want to make fresh +beginnings, and not go back to the blots and scars of our old +misunderstandings.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You want me to teach her Sanscrit because you +cannot teach her Italian.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Exactly so,' said Albinia; 'and the Italian +will spring all the better from the venerable root, when we have +forgotten how cross we used to be to each other over our relative +pronouns.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But there is hardly anything which I could let +her read in those languages.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very likely not; but you can pick out what +there is. Do you remember the fable of the treasure that was to +be gained by digging under the apple-tree, and which turned out +not to be gold, but the fruit, the consequence of digging? Now, I +want you to dig Sophy; a Sanscrit, or a Hindostanee, or a Persian +treasure will do equally well as a pretext. If she had announced +a taste for the differential calculus, I should have said the +same. Only dig her, as Maurice dug me apropos to Homer. I +wouldn't bother you, only you see no one else could either do it, +or be the same to Sophy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We will see how it is,' said Mr. +Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">With which Albinia was obliged to be content; +but in the meantime she saw the two making daily progress in +intimacy, and Mr. Kendal beginning to take a pride in his +daughter's understanding and information, which he ascribed to +Albinia, in spite of all her disclaimers. It was as if she had +evoked the spirit of his lost son, which had lain hidden under +the sullen demeanour of the girl, devoid indeed of many of +Edmund's charms, but yet with the same sterling qualities, and +with resemblance enough to afford infinite and unexpected joy and +compensation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal enjoyed his stay in town. He visited +libraries, saw pictures, and heard music, with the new zest of +having a wife able to enter into his tastes. He met old friends, +and did not shrink immoderately from those of his wife; nay, he +found them extremely agreeable, and was pleased to see Albinia +welcomed. Indeed, his sojourn in her former sphere served to make +him wonder that she could be contented with Bayford, and to find +her, of the whole party, by far the most ready to return home. +Both he himself and Sophy had an unavowed dread of the influence +of Willow Lawn; but Albinia had a spring of spirits, independent +of place, and though happy, was craving for her duties, anxious +to have the journey over, and afraid that London was making her +little Maurice pale.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Miss Meadows was the first person whom they saw +at Willow Lawn. Two letters had passed, both so conventionally +civil, that her state of mind could not be gathered from them, +but her first tones proved that coherence was more than ever +wanting, and no one attempted to understand anything she said, +while she enfolded Sophy in an agitated embrace, and marshalled +them to the drawing-room, where the chief of the apologies were +spent upon Sophy's new couch, which had been sent down the day +before by the luggage-train, and which she and Eweretta had +attempted to put together in an impossible way, failing which, +they had called in the carpenter, who had made it +worse.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was an untold advantage that she had to take +the initiative in excuses. Sophy was so meek with weariness, that +she took pretty well all the kind fidgeting that could not be +averted from her, and Miss Meadows's discourse chiefly tended to +assurances that Mrs. Kendal was right, and grandmamma was +nervous--and poor Mr. Bowles--it could not be expected--with +hints of the wonderful commotion the sudden flight to London had +excited at Bayford. As soon as Mr. Kendal quitted the room, these +hints were converted into something between expostulation, +condolence, and congratulation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was so very fortunate--so very lucky that +dear Mr. Kendal had come home with her, for--she had said she +would let Mrs. Kendal hear, if only that she might be on her +guard--people were so ill-natured--there never was such a place +for gossip--not that she heard it from any one but Mrs. Drury, +who really now had driven in--not that she believed it, but to +ascertain. --For Mrs. Drury had been told--mentioning no +names--oh, no! for fear of making mischief--she had been told +that Mrs. Kendal had actually been into Mr. Kendal's study, which +was always kept locked up, and there she had found something +which had distressed her so much that she had gone to Mr. +Dusautoy, and by his advice had fled from home to the protection +of her brother in Canada.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Without waiting for Bluebeard's asking for the +key! Oh, Maria!' cried Albinia, in a fit of laughter, while +Sophia sat up on the sofa in speechless indignation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You may laugh, Mrs. Kendal, if you please,' +said Maria, with tart dignity; 'I have told you nothing but the +truth. I should have thought for my part, but that's of no +consequence, it was as well to be on one's guard in a nest of +vipers, for Edmund's sake, if not for your own.' And as this last +speech convulsed Albinia, and rendered her incapable of reply, +Miss Meadows became pathetic. 'I am sure the pains I have taken +to trace out and contradict--and so nervous as grandmamma has +been--"I'm sure, Mrs. Drury," said I, "that though Edmund Kendal +does lock his study door, nobody ever thought anything--the +housemaids go in to clean it--and I've been in myself when the +whitewashers were about the house--I'm sure Mrs. Kendal is a most +amiable young woman, and you wouldn't raise reports." "No," she +said, "but Mrs. Osborn was positive that Mrs. Kendal was nearly +an hour shut up alone in the study the night of Sophy's +accident--and so sudden," she said, "the carriage being sent +for--not a servant knew of it--and then," she said, "it was +always the talk among the girls, that Mr. Kendal kept his study a +forbidden place."'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then,' said Sophia, slowly, as she looked full +at her aunt, 'it was the Osborns who dared to say such wicked +things.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There now, I never meant you to be there. You +ought to be gone to bed, child. It is not a thing for you to know +anything about.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I only want to know whether it was the Osborns +who invented these stories,' said Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear,' exclaimed Albinia, 'what can it +signify? They are only a very good joke. I did not think there +had been so much imagination in Bayford.' And off she went +laughing again.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'They are very wicked,' said Sophy, 'Aunt +Maria, I will know if it was Mrs. Osborn who told the +story.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy's <i>will</i> was too potent for Miss +Meadows, and the admission was extracted in a burst of other odds +and ends, in the midst of which Albinia beheld Sophy cross the +room with a deliberate, determined step. Flying after her, she +found her in the hall, wrapping herself up.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophy, what is this? What are you +about?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Let me alone,' said Sophy, straining against +her detaining hand, 'I do not know when I shall recover again, +and I will go at once to tell the Osborns that I have done with +them. I stuck to them because I thought they were my mother's +friends; I did not guess that they would make an unworthy use of +my friendship, and invent wicked stories of my father and +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Please don't make me laugh, Sophy, for I don't +want to affront you. Yes, it is generous feeling; I don't wonder +you are angry; but indeed silly nonsense like this is not worth +it. It will die away of itself, it must be dead already, now they +have seen we have not run away to Canada. Your heroics only make +it more ridiculous.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I must tell Loo never to come here with her +hypocrisy,' repeated Sophy, standing still, but not yielding an +inch.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Miss Meadows pursued them at the same moment +with broken protestations that they must forget it, she never +meant to make mischief, &c., and the confusion was becoming +worse confounded when Mr. Kendal emerged from the study, +demanding what was the matter, to the great discomfiture of +Maria, who began hushing Sophy, and making signs to Albinia that +it would be dangerous for him to know anything about +it.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But Albinia was already exclaiming, 'Here's a +champion wanting to do battle with Louisa Osborn in our cause. +Oh, Edmund! our neighbours could find no way of accounting for my +taking French leave, but by supposing that I took advantage of +being shut in there, while poor little Maurice was squalling so +furiously, to rifle your secrets, and detect something so +shocking, that away I was fleeing to William in +Canada.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Obliging,' quietly said Mr. Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Now, dear Edmund--I know--for my sake--for +everything's sake, remember you are a family man, don't take any +notice.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I certainly shall take no notice of such +folly,' said Mr. Kendal, 'and I wish that no one else should. +What are you about, Sophia?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Tell mamma to let me go, papa,' she exclaimed, +'I must and will tell Louisa that I hate her baseness and +hypocrisy, and then I'll never speak to her again. Why will mamma +laugh? It is very wicked of them.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Wrong in them, but laughing is the only way to +treat it,' said Mr. Kendal. 'Go back to your sofa and forget it. +Your aunt and I have heard Bayford reports before.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy obeyed unwillingly, she was far too much +incensed to forget. On her aunt's taking leave, and Mr. Kendal +offering his escort up the hill, she rose up again, and would +have perpetrated a denunciation by letter, had not Albinia +seriously argued with her, and finding ridicule, expediency, and +Christian forgiveness all fail of hitting the mark, said, 'I +don't know with what face you could attack Louisa, when you +helped her to persecute poor Genevieve because you thought she +had an instrument of torture in her drawer.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was not I who said that,' said Sophy, +blushing.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You took part with those who did. And poor +Genevieve was a much more defenceless victim than papa or +myself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I would not do so now.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It does not take much individual blackness of +heart to work up a fine promising slander. A surmise made in jest +is repeated in earnest, and all the other tale-bearers think they +are telling simple facts. Depend upon it, the story did not get +off from the Osborns by any means as it came back to Aunt +Maria.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I should like to know.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't let us make it any worse; and above all, +do not let us tell Lucy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, no!' said Sophy, emphatically.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">To Albinia's surprise no innuendo from Mrs. or +Miss Meadows ever referred to her management having caused +Sophy's misfortune, and she secretly attributed this silence to +Mr. Kendal's having escorted his sister-in-law to her own +house.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy's chief abode became the morning-room, +and she seemed very happy and tranquil there--shrinking from +visitors, but grateful for the kindness of parents, brother and +sister.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal, finding her really eager to learn +of him, began teaching her Persian, and was astonished at her +promptness and intelligence. He took increasing pleasure in her +company, gave her books to read, and would sometimes tell the +others not to stay at home for her sake, as he should be 'about +the house.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He really gave up much time to her, and used to +carry her, when the weather served, to a couch in the garden, for +she could not bear the motion of wheels, and was forbidden to +attempt walking, though she was to be in the air as much as +possible, so that Albinia spent more time at home. The charge of +Sophy was evidently her business, and after talking the matter +over with Mrs. Dusautoy, she resigned, though not without a pang, +the offices she had undertaken in the time of her superfluous +activity, and limited herself to occasional superintendence, +instead of undertaking constant employment in the parish. Though +she felt grieved and humiliated, Willow Lawn throve the better +for it, and so did her own mind, yes, and even her temper, which +was far less often driven by over-haste into quick censure, or +unconsidered reply.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Her mistakes about Sophia had been a lesson +against one-sided government. At first, running into the other +extreme, she was ready to imagine that all the past ill-humour +had been the effect of her neglect and cruelty; and Sophy's +amiability almost warranted the notion. The poor girl herself had +promised 'never to be cross again,' and fancied all temptation +was over, since she had 'found out mamma,' and papa was so kind +to her. But all on a sudden, down came the cloud again. Nobody +could detect any reason. Affronts abounded--not received with an +explosion that would have been combated, laughed at, and disposed +of, but treated with silence, and each sinking down to be added +to the weight of cruel injuries. There was no complaint; Sophy +obeyed all orders with her old form of dismal submission, but +everything proposed to her was distasteful, and her answers were +in the ancient surly style. If attempts were made to probe the +malady, her reserve was impenetrable--nothing was the matter, she +wanted nothing, was vexed at nothing. She pursued her usual +occupations, but as if they were hardships; she was sullen +towards her mamma, snappishly brief with her aunt and sister, and +so ungracious and indifferent even with her father, that Albinia +trembled lest he might withdraw the attention so improperly +received. When this dreary state of things had lasted more than a +week, he did tell her that if she were tired of the lessons, it +was not worth while to proceed; but that he had hoped for more +perseverance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The fear of losing these, her great pride and +pleasure, overcame her. She maintained her grim composure till he +had left her, but then fell into a violent fit of crying, in +which Albinia found her, and which dissolved the reserve into +complaints that every one was very cruel and unkind, and she was +the most miserable girl in all the world; papa was going to take +away from her the only one thing that made it +tolerable!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Reasoning was of no use; to try to show her +that it was her own behaviour that had annoyed him, only made her +mamma appear equally hard-hearted, and she continued wretched all +the rest of the day, refusing consolation, and only so far +improved that avowed discontent was better than sullenness. The +next morning, she found out that it was not the world that was in +league against her, but that she had fallen into the condition +which she had thought past for ever. This was worst of all, and +her disappointment and dejection lasted not only all that long +day, but all the next, making her receive all kindnesses with a +broken-down, woebegone manner, and reply to all cheerful +encouragements with despair about anything ever making her good. +Albinia tried to put her in mind of the Source of all goodness; +but any visible acceptance of personal applications of religious +teaching had not yet been accomplished.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gradually all cleared up again, and things went +well till for some fresh trivial cause or no cause, the whole +process was repeated--sulking, injured innocence, and bitter +repentance. This time, Mr. Kendal pronounced, 'This is low +spirits, far more than temper,' and he thenceforth dealt with +these moods with a tender consideration that Albinia admired, +though she thought at times that to treat them more like temper +than spirits might be better for Sophy; but it was evident that +the poor child herself had at present little if any power either +of averting such an access, or of shaking it off. The danger of +her father's treatment seemed to be, that the humours would be +acquiesced in, like changes in the weather, and that she might be +encouraged neither to repent, nor to struggle; while her +captivity made her much more liable to the tedium and sinking of +heart that predisposed her to them.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There seemed to be nothing to be done but to +bear patiently with them while they lasted, to console the victim +afterwards, lead her to prayer and resolute efforts, and above +all to pray for her, as well as to avoid occasions of bringing +them on; but this was not possible, since no one could live +without occasional contradiction, and Sophy could sometimes bear +a strong remonstrance or great disappointment, when at others a +hint, or an almost imperceptible vexation, destroyed her peace +for days.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal bore patiently with her variations, +and did his best to amuse away her gloom. It was wonderful how +much of his own was gone, and how much more alive he was. He had +set himself to attack the five public-houses and seven beer-shops +in Tibbs's Alley, and since his eyes had been once opened, it +seemed as if the disorders became more flagrant every day. At +last, he pounced on a misdemeanour which he took care should come +before the magistrates, and he was much annoyed to find the case +dismissed for want of evidence. One Sunday he beheld the end of a +fray begun during service-time; he caused an information to be +laid, and went himself to the petty sessions to represent the +case, but the result was a nominal penalty. The Admiral was a +seeker of popularity, and though owning that the town was in a +shocking state, and making great promises when talked to on +general points, yet he could never make up his mind to punish any +'poor fellow,' unless he himself were in a passion, when he would +go any length. The other magistrates would not interfere; and all +the satisfaction Mr. Kendal obtained was being told how much he +was wanted on the bench.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">One of the few respectable Tibbs's Alleyites +told him that it was of no use to complain, for the publicans +boasted of their impunity, snapped their fingers at him, and +drank Admiral Osborn's health as their friend. The consequence +was, that Mr. Kendal took a magnanimous resolution, ordered a +copy of Burn's Justice, and at the September Quarter Sessions +actually rode over to Hadminster, and took the oaths.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">On the whole, the expectation was more +formidable than the reality. However much he disliked applying +himself to business, no one understood it better. The value of +his good sense, judgment, and acuteness was speedily felt. Mr. +Nugent, the chairman, depended on him as his ally, and often as +his adviser; and as he was thus made to feel himself of weight +and importance, his aversion subsided, and he almost learnt to +look forward to a chat with Mr. Nugent; or whether he looked +forward to it or not, there could be no doubt that he enjoyed it. +Though still shy, grave, silent, and inert, there was a great +alteration in him since the time when he had had no friends, no +interests, no pursuits beyond his study; and there was every +reason to think that, in spite of the many severe shocks to his +mauvaise honte, he was a much happier man.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">His wife could not regret that his magisterial +proceedings led to a coolness with the Osborns, augmented by a +vestry-meeting, at which Mr. Dusautoy had begged him to be +present. The Admiral and his party surpassed themselves in their +virulence against whatever the vicar proposed, until they fairly +roused Mr. Kendal's ire, and 'he came out upon them all like a +lion;' and with force appearing the greater from being so seldom +exerted, he represented Mr. Dusautoy's conduct in appropriate +terms, showing full appreciation of his merits, and holding up +their own course before them in its true light, till they had +nothing to say for themselves. It was the vicar's first visible +victory. The increased congregation showed how much way he had +made with the poor, and Mr. Kendal taking his part openly, drew +over many of the tradespeople, who had begun to feel the +influence of his hearty nature and consistent uprightness, and +had become used to what had at first appeared innovations. Mr. +Dusautoy, in thanking Mr. Kendal, begged him to allow himself to +be nominated his churchwarden next Easter, and having consented +while his blood was up, there was no danger that, however he +might dislike the prospect, he would falter when the time should +come.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER X.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">It was 'a green Yule,' a Christmas like an +April day, and even the lengthening days and strengthening cold +of January attaining to nothing more than three slight +hoar-frosts, each quickly melting into mud, and the last +concluding in rain and fog.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What would Willow Lawn have been without the +drainage?' Albinia often thought when she paddled down the wet +streets, and saw the fields flooded. The damp had such an effect +upon Sophy's throat, temper, and whole nervous system, that her +moods had few intervals, and Albinia wrote to the surgeon a +detail of her symptoms, asking if she had not better be removed +into a more favourable air. But he pronounced that the injury of +the transport would outbalance the casual evils of the bad +weather, and as the rain and fog mitigated, she improved; but +there were others on whom the heavy moist air had a more fatal +effect.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">One morning, Mr. Kendal saw his wife descending +the picturesque rugged stone staircase that led outside the house +to the upper stories of the old block of buildings under the +hill, nearly opposite to Willow Lawn. She came towards him with +tears still in her eyes as she said, 'Poor Mrs. Simkins has just +lost her little girl, and I am afraid the two boys are +sickening.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What do you mean? Is the fever there again?' +exclaimed Mr. Kendal in the utmost consternation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Did you not know it? Lucy has been very +anxious about the child, who was in her class.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You have not taken Lucy to a house with a +fever!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, I thought it safer not, though she wanted +very much to go.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But you have been going yourself!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was a low, lingering fever. I had not +thought it infectious, and even now I believe it is only one of +those that run through an over-crowded family. The only wonder +is, that they are ever well in such a place. Dear Edmund, don't +be angry; it is what I used to do continually at Fairmead. I +never caught anything; and there is plenty of chloride of lime, +and all that. I never imagined you would disapprove.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is the very place where the fever began +before!' said Mr. Kendal, almost under his breath.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Instead of going into the house, he made her +turn into the garden, where little Maurice was being promenaded +in the sun. He stretched out from his nurse's arms to go to them, +and Albinia was going towards him, but her husband held her fast, +and said, 'I beg you will not take the child till you have +changed your dress.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was quite subdued, alarmed at the +effect on him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You must go away at once,' he said presently. +'How soon can you be ready? You had better take Lucy and Maurice +at once to your brother's. They will excuse the liberty when they +know the cause.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And pray what is to become of poor +Sophy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Never going out, there may be the less risk +for her. I will take care of her myself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'As if I was going to endure that!' cried +Albinia. 'No, no, Edmund, I am not likely to run away from you +and Sophy! You may send Lucy off, if you like, but certainly not +me, or if you do I shall come back the same evening.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I should be much happier if you were +gone.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thank you, but what should I be? No, if it +were to be caught here, which I don't believe, now the pond is +gone, it would be of no use to send me away, after I have been +into the house with it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Her resolution and Sophy's need prevailed, and +most unwillingly Mr. Kendal gave up the point. She was persuaded +that he was acting on a panic, the less to be wondered at after +all he had suffered. She thought the chief danger was from the +effect of his fears, and would fain have persuaded him to remain +at Fairmead with Lucy, but she was not prepared to hear him +insist on likewise removing Maurice. She had promised not to +enter the sick room again, and pleaded that the little boy need +never be taken into the street--that the fever was not likely to +come across the running stream--that the Fairmead nursery was +full enough already.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal was inexorable. 'I hope you may +never see what I have seen,' he said gravely, and Albinia was +silenced.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">A man who had lost so many children might be +allowed to be morbidly jealous of the health of the rest. But it +was a cruel stroke to her to be obliged to part with her noble +little boy, just when his daily advances in walking and talking +made him more charming than ever. Her eyes were full of tears, +and she struggled to choke back some pettish rebellious +words.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You do not like to trust him with Susan,' said +Mr. Kendal; 'you had better come with him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' said Albinia, 'I ought to stay here, and +if you judge it right, Maurice must go. I'll go and speak to +Susan.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And away she ran, for she had no power just +then to speak in a wifely manner. It was not easy to respect a +man in a panic so extremely inconvenient.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was resolved on an immediate start, and the +next few hours were spent in busy preparation, and in watching +lest the excited Lucy should frighten her sister. Albinia tried +to persuade Mr. Kendal at least to sleep at Fairmead that night, +and after watching him drive off, she hurried, dashing away the +tears that would gather again and again in her eyes, to hold +council with the Dusautoys on the best means of stopping the +course of the malady, by depriving it of its victims.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She had a quiet snug evening with Sophy, whom +she had so much interested in the destitution of the sick +children as to set her to work at some night-gear for them, and +she afterwards sat long over the fire trying to read to silence +the longing after the little soft cheek that had never yet been +laid to rest without her caress, and foreboding that Mr. Kendal +would return from his dark solitary drive with his spirits at the +lowest ebb.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">So late that she had begun to hope that +Winifred had obeyed her behest and detained him, she heard his +step, and before she could run to meet him, he had already shut +himself into the study.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was at the door in a moment; she feared he +had thought her self-willed in the morning, and she was the more +bent on rousing him. She knocked--she opened the door. He had +thrown himself into his arm-chair, and was bending over the +dreary, smouldering, sulky log and white ashes, and his face, as +he raised his head, was as if the whole load of care and sorrow +had suddenly descended again.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am sorry you sat up,' was of course his +beginning, conveying anything but welcome; but she knew that this +only meant that he was in a state of depression. She took hold of +his hand, chilled with holding the reins, told him of the good +fire in the morning-room, and fairly drew him +up-stairs.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There the lamp burnt brightly, and the red fire +cast a merry glow over the shining chintz curtains, and the two +chairs drawn so cosily towards the fire, the kettle puffing on +the hearth, and Albinia's choice little bed-room set of tea-china +ready on the small table. The cheerfulness seemed visibly to +diffuse itself over his face, but he still struggled to cherish +his gloom, 'Thank you, but I would not have had you take all this +trouble, my dear.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It would be a great deal more trouble if you +caught a bad cold. I meant you to sleep at Fairmead.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, they pressed me very kindly, but I could +not bear not to come home.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And how did Maurice comport +himself?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He talked to the horse and then went to sleep, +and he was not at all shy with his aunt after the first. He +watched the children, but had not begun to play with them. Still +I think he will be quite happy with Lucy there, and I hope it +will not be for long.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was a favourable sign that Mr. Kendal +communicated all these particulars without being plied with +questions, and Albinia went on with the more spirit.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, I hope it may not be for long. We have +been holding a great council against the enemy, and I do hope +that we have really done something. No, you need not be afraid, I +have not been there again, but we have been routing out the +nucleus, and hope we may starve out the fever for want of +victims. You never saw such a swarm as we had to turn out. There +were twenty-three people to be considered for.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Twenty-three! Have you turned out the whole +block?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, I wish we had; but that would have been +seventy-five. This is only from those two tenements with one +door!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Impossible!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I should have thought so; but the lawful +inhabitants make up sixteen, and there were seven +lodgers.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal gave a kind of groan, and asked what +she had done; she detailed the measures.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Twenty-three people in those two houses, and +seventy-five in the whole block of building?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Too true. And if you could only see the rooms! +The windows that wont open; the roofs that open too much; the +dirt on the staircases, and, oh! the horrible smells!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It shall not go on,' said Mr. Kendal. 'I will +look over the place.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not till the fever is out of it,' hastily +interposed Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He made a sign of assent, and went on: 'I will +certainly talk to Pettilove, and have the place repaired, if it +be at my own expense.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia lifted up her eyes, not understanding +at whose expense it should be.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The fact is,' continued Mr. Kendal, 'that +there has been little to induce me to take interest in the +property. Old Mr. Meadows was, as you know, a successful +solicitor, and purchased these various town tenements bit by bit, +and then settled them very strictly on his grandson. He charged +the property with life incomes to his widow and daughters, and to +me; but the land is in the hands of trustees until my son's +majority, and Pettilove is the only surviving +trustee.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The burning colour mantled in Albinia's face, +and almost inaudibly she said, 'I beg your pardon, Edmund; I have +done you moat grievous injustice. I thought you <i>would</i> not +see--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You did not think unjustly, my dear. I ought +to have paid more attention to the state of affairs, and have +kept Pettilove in order. But I knew nothing of English affairs, +and was glad to be spared the unpleasant charge. The consequence +of leaving a man like that irresponsible never occurred to me. +His whole conscience in the matter is to have a large sum to put +into Gilbert's hands when he comes of age. Why, he upholds those +dens of iniquity in Tibbs's Alley on that very +ground!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor Gilbert! I am afraid a large sum so +collected is not likely to do him much good! and at +one-and-twenty--! But that is one notion of +faithfulness!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was much happier after that +conversation. She could better endure to regret her own injustice +than to believe her husband the cruel landlord; and it was no +small advance that he had afforded her an explanation which once +he would have deemed beyond the reach of female +capacity.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In spite of the lack of little Maurice's bright +presence, which, to Albinia's great delight, his father missed as +much as she did, the period of quarantine sped by cheerfully. +Sophy had not a single sullen fit the whole time, and Albinia +having persuaded Mr. Kendal that it would be a sanatory measure +to whitewash the study ceiling, he was absolutely forced to turn +out of it and live in the morning-room, with all his books piled +up in the dining-room. And on that great occasion Albinia +abstracted two fusty, faded, green canvas blinds from the +windows, carried them off with a pair of tongs, and pushed them +into a bonfire in the garden, persuaded they were the last relics +of the old fever. She had the laurels cut, the curtains changed, +the windows cleaned, and altogether made the room so much +lighter, that when Mr. Kendal again took possession, he did not +look at all sure whether he liked it; and though he was +courteously grateful, he did not avail himself of the den half so +much as when it had more congenial gloom. But then he had the +morning-room as a resort, and it was one of Albinia's bargains +with herself, that as far as her own influence could prevent it, +neither he nor Sophy should ever render it a literal +boudoir.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The sense of snugness that the small numbers +produced was one great charm, and made Mr. Kendal come unusually +far out of his shell. His chief sanatory precaution was to take +Albinia out for a drive or walk every day, and these expeditions +were greatly enjoyed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">One day, after a visit from her old nurse, +Sophy received Albinia with the words,--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, mamma,' she said, 'old nurse has been +telling me such things. I shall never be cross with Aunt Maria +again. It is such a sad story, just like one in a book, if she +was but that kind of person.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Aunt Maria! I remember Mrs. Dusautoy once +saying she gave her the idea of happiness shattered, +but--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Did she?' exclaimed Sophy. 'I never thought +Aunt Maria could have done anything but fidget everybody that +came near her; but old nurse says a gentleman was once in love +with her, and a very handsome young gentleman too. Old Mr. +Pringle's nephew it was, a very fine young officer in the army. I +want you to ask papa if it is true. Nurse says that he wrote to +make an offer for her, very handsomely, but grandpapa did not +choose that both his daughters should go quite away; so he locked +the letter up, and said no, and never told her, and she thought +the captain had been trifling and playing her false, and pined +and fretted, till she got into this nervous way, and fairly wore +herself out, nurse says, and came to be what she is now, instead +of the prettiest young lady in the town! And then, mamma, when +grandpapa died, she found the letter in his papers, and one +inside for her, that had never been given to her; and by that +time there was no hope, for Captain Pringle had gone out with his +regiment, and married a rich young lady in the Indies! Oh, mamma! +you see she really is deserted, and it is all man's treachery +that has broken her heart. I thought people always died or went +into convents--I don't mean that Aunt Maria could have done that, +but I did not think that way of hers was a broken +heart!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If she has had such troubles, it should indeed +make us try to be very forbearing with her,' said +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Will you ask papa about it?' entreated +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, certainly; but you must not make sure +whether he will think it right to tell us. Poor Aunt Maria; I do +think some part of it must be true!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But, mamma, is that really like deserted +love?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear, I don't think I ever saw deserted +love,' said Albinia, rather amused. 'I suppose troubles of any +kind, if not--I mean, I suppose, vexations--make people show +their want of spirits in the way most accordant with their +natural dispositions, and so your poor aunt has grown querulous +and anxious.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If she has such a real grand reason for being +unhappy, I shall not be cross about it now, except--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy gave a sigh, and Albinia bade her good +night.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal had never heard the story before, +but he remembered many circumstances in corroboration. He knew +that Mr. Pringle had a nephew in the army, he recollected that he +had made a figure in Maria's letters to India; and that he had +subsequently married a lady in the Mauritius, and settled down on +her father's estate. He testified also to the bright gay youth of +poor Maria, and his surprise at the premature loss of beauty and +spirits; and from his knowledge of old Mr. Meadows, he believed +him capable of such an act of domestic tyranny. Maria had always +been looked upon as a mere child, and if her father did not +choose to part with her, he would think it for her good, and his +own peace, for her not to be aware of the proposal. He was much +struck, for he had not suspected his sister-in-law to be capable +of such permanent feeling.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There was little to help her in driving it +away,' said Albinia. 'Few occupations or interests, and very +little change, to prevent it from preying on her +spirits.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'True,' said Mr. Kendal; 'a narrow education +and limited sphere are sad evils in such cases.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you think anything can be a cure for +disappointment?' asked Sophy, in such a solemn, earnest tone, +that Albinia was disposed to laugh; but she knew that this would +be a dire offence, and was much surprised that Sophy had so far +broken through her reserve, as to mingle in their conversation on +such a subject.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Occupation,' said Mr. Kendal, but speaking +rather as if from duty than from conviction. 'There are many +sources of happiness, even if shipwreck have been made on one +venture. Your aunt had few resources to which to turn her mind. +Every pursuit or study is a help stored up against the vacuity +which renders every care more corroding.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well!' said Sophy, in her blunt, downright +way, 'I think it would take all the spirit out of +everything.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope you will never be tried,' said Mr. +Kendal, with a mournful smile, as if he did not choose to confess +that she had divined too rightly the probable effect of trouble +upon her own temperament.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I suppose,' said Albinia, 'that the real cure +can be but one thing for that, as for any other trouble. I mean, +"Thy will be done." I don't suppose anything else would give +energy to turn to other duties. But it would be more to the +purpose to resolve to be more considerate to poor +Maria.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I shall never be impatient with her again,' +said Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And though at first the discovery of so +romantic a cause for poor Miss Meadows's fretfulness dignified it +in Sophy's eyes, yet it did not prove sufficient to make it +tolerable when she tormented the window-blinds, teased the fire, +was shocked at Sophy's favourite studies, or insisting on her +wishing to see Maria Drury. Nay, the bathos often rendered her +petty unconscious provocations the more harassing, and Sophy +often felt, in an agony of self-reproach, that she ought to have +known herself too well to expect to show forbearance with any one +when she was under the influence of ill-temper.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In Easter week Mr. Ferrars brought Lucy and +Maurice home, and Gilbert came for a short holiday.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert was pleased when he was called to go +over the empty houses with his father, Mr. Ferrars, and a +mason.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Back they came, horrified at the dreadful +disrepair, at the narrow area into which such numbers were +crowded, and still more at the ill odours which Mr. Ferrars and +the mason had gallantly investigated, till they detected the +absence of drains, as well as convinced themselves that mending +roofs, floors, or windows, would be a mere mockery unless the +whole were pulled down.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars was more than ever thankful to be a +country parson, and mused on the retribution that the miasma, +fostered by the avarice of the grandfather and the neglect of the +father, had brought on the family. Dives cannot always scorn +Lazarus without suffering even in this life.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert, in the glory of castle-building, was +talking eagerly of the thorough renovation that should take +place, the sweep that should be made of all the old tenements, +and the wide healthy streets and model cottages that should give +a new aspect to the town.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal prepared for the encounter with +Pettilove, and his son begged to go with him, to which he +consented, saying that it was time Gilbert should have an opinion +in a matter that affected him so nearly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert's opinion of the interview was thus +announced on his return: 'If there ever was a brute in the world, +it is that Pettilove!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then he wont consent to do +anything?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, indeed! Say what my father or I would to +him, it was all of not the slightest use. He smiled, and made +little intolerable nods, and regretted--but there were the +settlements, and his late lamented partner! A parcel of stuff. +Not so much as a broken window will he mend! He says he is not +authorized!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Quite true,' said Mr. Kendal. 'The man is +warranted in his proceedings, and thinks them his duty, though I +believe he has a satisfaction in the power of thwarting +me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm sure he has!' cried Gilbert. 'I am sure +there was spite in his grin when he pulled out that horrid old +parchment, with the lines a yard long, and read us out the +abominable old crabbed writing, all about the houses, messuages, +and tenements thereupon, and a lot of lawyer's jargon. I'm sure I +thought it was left to Peter Pettilove himself. And when I came +to understand it, one would have thought it took my father to be +the worst enemy we had in the world, bent on cheating +us!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That is the assumption on which settlements +are drawn up, Gilbert,' said his father.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Can nothing be done, then?' said +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thus much,' said Mr. Kendal. 'Pettilove will +not object to our putting the houses somewhat in repair, as, in +fact, that will be making a present to Gilbert; but he will not +spend a farthing on them of the trust, except to hinder their +absolute falling, nor will he make any regulation on the number +of lodgers. As to taking them down, that is, as I always +supposed, out of the question, though I think the trustees might +have stretched a point, being certain of both my wishes and +Gilbert's.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't you think,' said Mr. Ferrars, looking up +from his book, 'that a sanatory commission might be got to +over-ride Gilbert's guardian?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My guardian! do not call him so!' muttered +Gilbert.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am afraid,' said Mr. Kendal, 'that unless +your commission emulated of Albinia and Dusautoy they would have +little perception of the evils. Our local authorities are obtuse +in such matters.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Agitate! agitate!' murmured Mr. Ferrars, going +on with his book.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well,' said Albinia, 'at least there is one +beer-shop less in Tibbs's Alley. And if there are tolerable +seasons, I daresay paint, whitewash, and windows to open, may +keep the place moderately wholesome till--Are you sixteen yet, +Gilbert? Five years.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, and then--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert came and sat down beside her, and they +built a scheme for the almshouses so much wanted. Gilbert was +sure the accumulation would easily cover the expense, and Albinia +had many an old woman, who it was hoped might live to enjoy the +intended paradise there.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, yes, I promise,' cried Gilbert, warming +with the subject, 'the first thing I shall do--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, don't promise,' said Albinia. 'Do it from +your heart, or not at all.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, don't promise, Gilbert,' said +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why not, Sophy?' he said +good-humouredly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Because you are just what you feel at the +moment,' said Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You don't think I should keep it?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The grave answer fell like lead, and Albinia +told her she was not kind or just to her brother. But she still +looked steadily at him, and answered, 'I cannot help it. What is +truth, is truth, and Gilbert cares only for what he sees at the +moment.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What is truth need not always be fully +uttered,' said Albinia. 'I hope you may find it +untrue.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But Sophy's words would recur, and weigh on her +painfully.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XI.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">The summer had just begun, when notice was +given that a Confirmation would take place in the autumn; and +Lucy's name was one of the first sent in to Mr. Dusautoy. His +plan was to collect his candidates in weekly classes of a few at +a time, and likewise to see as much as he could of them in +private.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! mamma!' exclaimed Lucy, returning from her +first class, 'Mr. Dusautoy has given us each a paper, where we +are to set down our christening days, and our godfathers and +godmothers. And only think, I had not the least notion when I was +christened. I could tell nothing but that Mr. Wenlock was my +godfather! It made me feel quite foolish not to know my +godmothers.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We were in no situation to have things done in +order,' said Mr. Kendal, gravely. 'If I recollect rightly, one of +your godmothers was Captain Lee's pretty young wife, who died a +few weeks after.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And the other?' said Lucy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Your mother, I believe,' he said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy employed herself in filling up her paper, +and exclaimed, 'Now I do not know the date! Can you tell me that, +papa?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was the Christmas-day next after your +birth,' he said. 'I remember that, for we took you to spend +Christmas at the nearest station of troops, and the chaplain +christened you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy wrote down the particulars, and exclaimed, +'What an old baby I must have been! Six months old! And I wonder +when Sophy was christened. I never knew who any of her godfathers +and godmothers were. Did you, Sophy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No--' she was looking up at her +father.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">A sudden flush of colour came over his face, +and he left the room in haste.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why, Sophy!' exclaimed Lucy, 'one would think +you had not been christened at all!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Even the light Lucy was alarmed at the sound of +her own words. The same idea had thrilled across Albinia; but on +turning her eyes on Sophy, she saw a countenance flushed, +anxious, but full rather of trembling hope than of +dismay.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In a few seconds Mr. Kendal came back with a +thick red pocket-book in his hand, and produced the certificate +of the private baptism of Sophia, daughter of Edmund and Lucy +Kendal, at Talloon, March 17th, 1838.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy's face had more disappointment in it than +satisfaction.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can explain the circumstances to you now,' +said her father. 'At Talloon we were almost out of reach of any +chaplains, and, as you know, were almost the only English. We +always intended to take you to the nearest station, as had been +done with Lucy, but your dear mother was never well enough to +bear the journey; and when our next little one was born, it was +so plain that he could not live, that I sent in haste to beg that +the chaplain would come to us. It was then that you were both +baptized, and before the week was over, he buried little Henry. +It was the first of our troubles. We never again had health or +spirits for any festive occasion while we continued in India, and +thus the ceremony was never completed. In fact, I take shame to +myself for having entirely forgotten that you had never been +received into the congregation.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then I have told a falsehood whenever I said +the Catechism!' burst out Sophy. Lucy would have laughed, and +Albinia could almost have been amused at the turn her displeasure +had taken.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was not your fault,' said Mr. Kendal, +quietly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He evidently wished the subject to be at an +end, excepting that in silence he laid before Albinia's eyes the +certificate of the baptism of the twin-brothers, not long after +the first arrival in India. He then put the book in his pocket, +and began, as usual, to read aloud.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, don't go, mamma,' said Sophy, when she had +been carried to her own room at bed-time, and made ready for the +night.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was only too glad to linger, in the +hope to be admitted into some of the recesses of that +untransparent nature, and by way of assistance, said, 'I was not +at all prepared for this discovery.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy drew a long sigh, and said, 'If I had +never been christened, I should have thought there was some hope +for me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That would have been too dreadful. How could +you imagine your papa capable--?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I thought I had found out why I am so horrid! +exclaimed Sophy. 'Oh, if I could only make a fresh beginning! +Mamma, do pray give me a Prayer Book.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia gave it to her, and she hastily turned +the pages to the Order for Private Baptism.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'At least I have not made the promises and +vows!' she said, as if her stern conscientiousness obtained some +relief.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not formally made them,' said Albinia; 'but +you cannot have a right to the baptismal blessings, except on +those conditions.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mamma, then I never had the sign of the cross +on my forehead! It does not feel blest!' And then, hastily and +low, she muttered,' Oh! is that why I never could bear the cross +in all my life!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nay, my poor Sophy, yon must not think of it +like a spell. Many bear the cross no better, who have had it +marked on their brows.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Can it be done now?' cried Sophy, +eagerly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Certainly; I think it ought to be done. We +will see what your father says.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, mamma, beg him, pray him!' exclaimed +Sophy. 'I know it will make me begin to be good! I can't bear not +to be one of those marked and sealed. Oh! and, mamma, you will be +my godmother? Can't you? If the gleams of goodness and brightness +do find me out, they are always from you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think I might be, dear child,' said Albinia, +'but Mr. Dusautoy must tell us whether I may. But, indeed, I am +afraid to see you reckon too much on this. The essential, the +regenerating grace, is yours already, and can save you from +yourself, and Confirmation adds the rest--but you must not think +of any of these like a charm, which will save you all further +trouble with yourself. They do not kill the faults, but they +enable you to deal with them. Even baptism itself, you know, has +destroyed the guilt of past sin, but does not hinder subsequent +temptation.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia hardly knew how far Sophy attended to +this caution, for all she said was to reiterate the entreaty that +the omitted ceremony might be supplied.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal gave a ready consent, as soon as he +was told that Sophy so ardently wished for it--so willing, +indeed, that Albinia was surprised, until he went on to say, 'No +one need be aware of the matter beyond ourselves. Your brother +and sister would, I have no doubt, act as sponsors. Nay, if +Ferrars would officiate, we need hardly mention it even to +Dusautoy. It could take place in your sitting-room.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But, Edmund!' began Albinia, aghast, 'would +that be the right thing? I hardly think Maurice would +consent.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You are not imagining anything so preposterous +or inexpedient as to wish to bring Sophia forward in church,' +said Mr. Kendal; 'even if she were physically capable of it, I +should not choose to expose her to anything so painful or +undesirable.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am afraid, then,' said Albinia, 'that it +will not be done at all. It is not receiving her into the +congregation to have this service read before half-a-dozen people +in my sitting-room.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Better not have it done at all, then,' said +Mr. Kendal. 'It is not essential. I will not have her made a +spectacle.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Will you only consult Mr. +Dusautoy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do not wish Mr. Dusautoy to interfere in my +family regulations. I mean, that I have a great respect for him, +but as a clergyman, and one wedded to form, he would not take +into account the great evil of making a public display, and +attracting attention to a girl of her age, station, and +disposition. And, in fact,' added Mr. Kendal, with the same +scrupulous candour as his daughter always showed, 'for the sake +of my own position, and the effect of example, I should not wish +this unfortunate omission to be known.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I suspect,' said Albinia, 'that the example of +repairing it would speak volumes of good.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is mere absurdity to speak of it!' said Mr. +Kendal. 'The poor child is not to leave her couch yet for +weeks.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy was told in the morning that the question +was under consideration, and Lucy was strictly forbidden to +mention the subject.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When next Mr. Kendal came to read with Sophy, +she said imploringly, 'Papa, have you thought?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' he said, 'I have done so; but your mamma +thinks, and, on examination of the subject, I perceive she is +right, that the service has no meaning unless it take place in +the church.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Sophy; 'but you know I am to be +allowed to go about in July.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You will hardly be equal to any fatigue even +then, I fear, my dear; and you would find this publicity +extremely trying and unpleasant.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It would not last ten minutes,' said Sophy, +'and I am sure I should not care! I should have something else to +think about. Oh! papa, when my forehead aches with surliness, it +does feel so unblest, so uncrossed!' and she put her hand over +it, 'and all the books and hymns seem not to belong to me. I +think I shall be able to keep off the tempers when I have a right +in the cross.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! my child, I am afraid the tempers are a +part of your physical constitution,' he returned, +mournfully.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You mean that I am like you, papa,' said +Sophy. 'I think I might at least learn to be really like you, and +if I must feel miserable, not to be unkind and sulky! And then I +should leave off even the being unhappy about +nothing.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Her eyes brightened, but her father shook his +head sadly, and said, 'You would not be like me, my dear, if +depression never made you selfish. But,' he added, with an +effort, 'you will not suffer so much from low spirits when you +are in better health, and able to move about.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, no!' exclaimed Sophy; 'I often feel so +sick of lying here, that I feel as if I never could be sulky if +only I might walk about, and go from one room to another when I +please! But papa, you will let me be admitted into the Church +when I am able, will you not?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It shall be well weighed, Sophy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy knew her father too well, and had too +much reticence to say any more. He was certainly meditating +deeply, and reading too, indeed he would almost have appeared to +have a fit of the study, but for little Maurice, a tyrannical +little gentleman, who domineered over the entire household, and +would have been grievously spoilt, if his mother had not taken +all the crossing the stout little will upon herself. He had a +gallant pair of legs, and the disposition of a young Centaur, he +seemed to divide the world into things that could be ridden on, +and that could not; and when he bounced at the study door, with +'Papa! gee! gee!' and lifted up his round, rosy face, and +despotic blue eyes, Mr. Kendal's foot was at his service, and the +study was brown no longer.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The result of Mr. Kendal's meditations was an +invitation to his wife to drive with him to Fairmead.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That was a most enjoyable drive, the weather +too hot and sunny, perhaps, for Albinia's preferences, but +thoroughly penetrating, and giving energy to, her East-Indian +husband, and making the whole country radiant with sunny +beauty--the waving hay-fields falling before the mower's scythe, +the ranks of hay-makers tossing the fragrant grass, the growing +corn softly waving in the summer breeze, the river blue with +reflected sky, the hedges glowing with stately fox-gloves, or +with blushing wreaths of eglantine. And how cool, fresh, and fair +was the beech-avenue at Fairmead.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Yet though Albinia came to it with the fond +tenderness of old association, it was not with the regretful +clinging of the first visit, when it seemed to her the natural +home to which she still really belonged. Nor had she the least +thought about producing an impression of her own happiness, and +scarcely any whether 'Edmund' would be amused and at ease, though +knowing he had a stranger to encounter in the person of +Winifred's sister, Mary Reid.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That was not a long day. It was only too short, +though Mr. and Mrs. Kendal stayed three hours longer than on the +last occasion. Mr. Kendal faced Mary Reid without flinching, and +she, having been previously informed that Albinia's husband was +the most silent and shy man in existence, began to doubt her +sister's veracity. And Albinia, instead of dealing out a shower +of fireworks, to hide what, if not gloom, was at least twilight, +was now 'temperately bright,' talking naturally of what most +concerned her with the sprightliness of her happy temper, but +without effort; and gratifying Winifred by a great deal more +notice of the new niece and namesake than she had ever bestowed +on either of her predecessors in their infant days. Moreover, +Lucy's two long visits had made Mrs. Ferrars feel a strong +interest in her, and, with a sort of maternal affection, she +inquired after the cuttings of the myrtle which she had given +her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah!' said Albinia, 'I never honoured gardening +so much.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I know you would never respect it in +me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'As you know, I love a walk with an object, and +never could abide breaking my back, pottering over a pink with a +stem that wont support it, and a calyx that wont hold +it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And Lucy converted you when I could +not!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If you had known my longing for some wholesome +occupation for her, such as could hurt neither herself nor any +one else, and the pleasure of seeing her engrossed by anything +innocent, making it so easy to gratify her. Why, a new geranium +is a constant fund of ecstasy, and I do not believe she was ever +so grateful to her father in her life as when he gave her a +forcing-frame. Anything is a blessing that makes people contented +at home, and takes them out of themselves.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Lucy is a very nice, pleasant inmate; her +ready obligingness and facility of adapting herself make her very +agreeable.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Albinia, 'she is the "very woman," +taking her complexion from things around, and so she will go +smoothly through the world, and be always preferred to my poor +turbid, deep-souled Sophy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Are you going to be very angry with +me?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! you do not know Sophy! Poor, dear child! I +do so long that she could have--if it were but one day, one hour, +of real, free, glowing happiness! I think it would sweeten and +open her heart wonderfully just to have known it! If I could but +see any chance of it, but I am afraid her health will always be +against her, and oh! that dreadful sense of depression! Do you +know, Winifred, I do think love would be the best chance. Now, +don't laugh; I do assure you there is no reason Sophy should not +be very handsome.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Quite as handsome as the owl's children, my +dear.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, the owls are the only young birds fit to +be seen. But I tell you, Sophy's profile is as regular as her +father's, and animation makes her eyes beautiful, and she has +grown immensely since she has been lying down, so that she will +come out without that disproportioned look. If her eyebrows were +rather less marked, and her complexion--but that will +clear.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, we will make her a beauty when we are +about it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And, after all, affection is the great charm, +and if she were attached, it would, be so intensely--and +happiness would develop so much that is glorious, only hidden +down so deep.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope you may find her a male Albinia,' said +Winifred, a little wickedly, 'but take care. It might be kill or +cure, and I fancy when sunshine is attracted by shadow, it is +more often as it was in your case than vice versa.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Take care!' repeated Albinia, affronted. 'You +don't fancy I am going beyond a vague wish, do you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And rather a premature one. How old is +Sophy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Towards fourteen, but years older in thought +and in suffering.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia did not hear the result of the +conference with her brother till she had resumed her seat in the +carriage, after having been surprised by Mr. Kendal handing in +three tall theological tomes. They both had much to think over as +they drove home in the lengthening shadows. Albinia was greatly +concerned that Winifred's health had become affected, and that +her ordinary home duties were beyond her strength. Albinia had +formerly thought Fairmead parsonage did not give her enough to +do, but now she saw the gap that she had left; and she had fallen +into a maze of musings over schemes for helping Winifred, before +Mr. Kendal spoke, telling her that he had resolved that Sophia's +admission into the Church should take place as soon as she was +equal to the exertion.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia asked if she should speak to Mr. +Dusautoy, but the manliness of Mr. Kendal's character revolted +from putting off a confession upon his wife; so he went to church +the next morning, and saw the vicar afterwards.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Dusautoy's first thought was gratitude for +the effort that the resolution must have cost both Mr. Kendal and +his daughter; his next, how to make the occasion as little trying +to their feelings as was consistent with his duty and theirs. He +saw Sophy, and tried to draw her out, but, though far from +sullen, she did not reply freely. However, he was satisfied, and +he wished her, likewise, to consider herself under preparation +for Confirmation in the autumn. She did all that he wished +quietly and earnestly, but without much remark, her confidence +only came forth when her feelings were strongly stirred, and it +was remarkable that throughout this time of preparation there was +not the remotest shadow of ill-temper.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal insisted that her London doctor +should come to see her at the year's end. The improvement had not +been all that had been hoped, but it was decided that though +several hours of each day must still be spent on her back, she +might move about, join the meals, and do whatever she could +without over-fatigue. It seemed a great release, but it was a +shock to find how very little she could do at first, now that she +had lost the habit of exertion, and of disregard of her +discomforts. She had quite shot up to more than the ordinary +woman's height, and was much taller than her sister--but this +hardly gave the advantage Albinia had hoped, for she had a weak, +overgrown look, and could not help stooping. A number of people +in a room, or even the sitting upright during a morning call, +seemed quite to overcome and exhaust her: but still the return to +ordinary life was such great enjoyment, that she endured all with +good temper.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But now the church-going was possible, a fit of +exceeding dread came upon her. Albinia found her with the tears +silently rolling down her cheeks, almost as if she were +unconscious of them.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, mamma, I can never do it! I know what I +am. I can't let them say I will keep all the commandments always! +It will not be true!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It will be true that you have the steadfast +purpose, my dear.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How can it be steadfast when I know I +can't?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was the old story, and all had to be argued +through again how the obligation was already incurred at her +baptism, and how it was needful that she should be sworn to her +own side of the great covenant--how the power would be given, and +the grace supplied, but that the will and purpose to obey was +required--and then Sophy recurred to that blessing of the cross +for which she longed so earnestly, and which again Albinia feared +she was regarding in the light of a talisman.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars was to be her godfather. Mr. Kendal +had wished Aunt Winifred, as Lucy called her, to be the +godmother, but Sophy had begged earnestly for Mrs. Dusautoy, +whose kindness had made a great impression.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was not much liking between Mrs. Ferrars +and Sophy. Perhaps Sophy had been fretted and angered by her +quick, decided ways, and rather disgusted by the enthusiasm of +her brother and sister about Fairmead; and she was not gratified +by hearing that Winifred was to accompany her husband in order to +try the experiment of a short absence from cares and +children.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia, on the contrary, was highly pleased to +have Winifred to nurse, and desirous of showing off Sophy's +reformation. Winifred arrived late in the day, with an invalid +look, and a great inclination to pine for her baby. She was so +much tired, that Albinia took her upstairs very soon, and put her +to bed, sitting with her almost all the evening, hoping that +downstairs all was going on well.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The next morning, too, went off very well. Mr. +Ferrars sought a private talk with his old godchild, and though +Sophy scarcely answered, she liked his kind, frank, affectionate +manner, and showed such feeling as he wished, so that he fully +credited all that his sister thought of her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Otherwise, Sophy was kept quiet, to gave her +strength and collect her thoughts.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">At seven o'clock in the evening, there was not +a formidable congregation. Miss Meadows, who had been informed as +late as could save offence, had treated it as a freak of Mrs. +Kendal, resented the injunction of secrecy, and would neither be +present herself, nor let her mother come out. Genevieve, three +old men, and a child or two, were the whole number present. The +daily service at Bayford was an offering made in faith by the +vicar, for as yet there was very little attendance. 'But,' said +Mr. Dusautoy, 'it is the worship of God, not an entertainment to +please man--it is all nonsense to talk of its answering or not +answering.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal was in a state of far greater +suffering from shame than his daughter, as indeed he deserved, +but he endured it with a gallant, almost touching resignation. He +was the only witness of her baptism, and it seemed like a +confession, when he had to reply to the questions, by whom, and +with what words this child had been baptized, when she stood +beside him overtopping her little godmother. She stood with +tightly-locked hands, and ebbing colour, which came back in a +flood when Mr. Dusautoy took her by the hand, and said, 'We +receive this child into the congregation,' and when he traced the +cross on her brow, she stood tremblingly, her lips squeezed close +together, and after she returned to her place no one saw her +face.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia, with her brother and Lucy, were at +home by the short cut before the carriage could return. She met +Sophy at the hall-door, kissed her, and said, 'Now, my dear, you +had better lie down, and be quite quiet;' then followed Winifred +into the drawing-room, and took her shawl and bonnet from her, +lingering for a happy twilight conversation. Lucy came down, and +went to water her flowers, and by-and-by tea was brought, the +gentlemen came in from their walk, and Mr. Kendal asked whether +Sophy was tired. Albinia went up to see. She found her on her +couch in the morning room, and told her that tea was ready. There +was something not promising in the voice that replied; and she +said,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, don't move, my dear, I will bring it to +you; you are tired.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No--I'll go down, thank you.' It was the gruff +voice!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Indeed you had much better not, my dear. It is +only an hour to bed-time, and you would only tire yourself for +nothing.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'll go.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You are tired, Sophy,' said her father. 'You +had better lie down while you have your tea.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, thank you,' growled Sophy, as though hurt +by being told to lie down before company.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Her father put a sofa-cushion behind her, but +though she mumbled some acknowledgment, it was so surly, that +Mrs. Ferrars looked up in surprise, and she would not lean back +till fatigue gained the ascendancy. Mr. Kendal asking her, got +little in reply but such a grunt, that Mrs. Ferrars longed to +shake her, but her father fetched a footstool, and put it under +her feet, and grew a little abstracted in his talk, as if +watching her, and his eye had something of the old habitual +melancholy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">So it went on. The night's rest did not carry +off the temper. Sophy was monosyllabic, displeased if not +attended to, but receiving attention like an affront, wanting +nothing, but offended if it were not offered. Albinia was +exceedingly grieved. She had some suspicion that Sophy might have +been hurt by her going to Mrs. Ferrars instead of to her on their +return from church, and made an attempt at an apology, but this +was snubbed like an additional affront, and she could only bide +the time, and be greatly disappointed at such an exhibition +before the guests.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Winifred looked on, forbearing to hurt +Albinia's feelings by remarks, but in private compensating by +little outbreaks with her husband, teasing him about his hopeful +goddaughter, laughing at Albinia's infatuation, and railing at +Mr. Kendal's endurance of the ill-humour, which she declared he +promoted.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice, as usual, was provoking. He had no +notion of giving up his godchild, he said, and he had no doubt +that Edmund Kendal could manage his own child his own +way.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Because of his great success in that +line.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He is not what he was. He uses his sense and +principle now, and when they are fairly brought to bear, I know +no one whom I would more entirely trust.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well! it will be great good luck if I do not +fall foul of Miss Sophy one of these days, if no one else +will!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Winifred was slightly irritable herself from +weakness, and on the last morning of her stay she could bear the +sight no longer. Sophy had twice been surly to Lucy's good +offices, had given Albinia a look like thunder, and answered her +father with a sulky displeasure that made Mrs. Ferrars exclaim, +as soon as he had left the room, 'I should never allow a child of +mine to peak to her father in that manner!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy swelled. She did not think Mrs. Ferrars +had any right to interfere between her and her father. Her +silence provoked Winifred to continue, 'I wonder if you have any +compunction for having spoilt all your--all Mrs. Kendal's +enjoyment of our visit.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am not of consequence enough to spoil any +one's pleasure.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That was the last effort. Albinia came into the +room, with little Maurice holding her hand, and flourishing a +whip. He trotted up to the sofa, and began instantly to 'whip +sister Sophy;' serve her right, if I had but the whip, thought +Mrs. Ferrars, as his mother hurried to snatch him off. Leaning +over Sophy's averted face, she saw a tear under her eyelashes, +but took no notice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Three seconds after, Sophy reared herself up, +and with a rigid face and slow step walked out of the +room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Have you said anything to her?' asked +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I could not help it,' said Winifred, narrating +what had past. 'Have I done wrong?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Edmund cannot bear to have anything harsh said +to her in these moods, especially about her behaviour to himself. +He thinks she cannot help it--but it may be well that she should +know how it appears to other people, for I cannot bear to see his +patient kindness spurned. Only, you know, she values it in her +heart. I am afraid we shall have a terrible agony +now.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was right. It was the worst agony poor +Sophy had ever undergone. She had been all this time ignorant +that it was a cross fit, only imagining herself cruelly neglected +and cast aside for the sake of Mrs. Ferrars; but the wakening +time had either arrived, or had been brought by that reproach, +and she beheld her conduct in the most abhorrent light. After +having desired to be pledged to her share of the covenant, and +earnestly longed to bear the cross, to be sworn in as soldier and +servant, to have put her neck under the yoke of her old master +ere the cross had dried upon her brow, to have been meanly +jealous, ungrateful, disrespectful, vindictive!! oh! misery, +misery! hopeless misery! She would take no word of comfort when +Albinia tried to persuade her that it had been partly the +reaction of a mind wrought up to an occasion very simple in its +externals, and of a body fatigued by exertion; and then in +warm-hearted candour professed that she herself had been +thoughtless in neglecting Sophy for Winifred. Still less comfort +would she take in her father's free forgiveness, and his sad +entreaties that she would not treat these fits of low spirits as +a crime, for they were not her fault, but that of her +constitution.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then one can't help being hateful and wicked! +Nothing is of any use! I had rather you had told me I was mad!' +said poor Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was so spent and exhausted with weeping, +that she could not come down--indeed, between grief and +nervousness she would not eat; and Albinia found Mr. Kendal +mournfully persuading her, when a stern command would have done +more good. Albinia spoke it: 'Sophy, you have put your father to +a great deal of pain already; if you are really grieving over it, +you will not hurt him more by making yourself ill.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The strong will came into action on the right +side, and Sophy sat up, took what was offered, but what was she +that they should care for her, when she had spoilt mamma's +pleasure? Better go and be happy with Mrs. Ferrars.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy's next visitor came up with a manly +tread, and she almost feared that she had made herself ill enough +for the doctor; but it was Mr. Ferrars, with a kind face of +pitying sympathy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'May I come to wish my godchild good-bye?' he +said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy did not speak, and he looked +compassionately at the prone dejection of the whole figure, and +the pale, sallow face, so piteously mournful. He took her hand, +and began to tell her of the godfather's present, that he had +brought her--a little book of devotions intended for the time +when she should be confirmed. Sophy uttered a feeble 'thank you,' +but a hopeless one.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! you are feeling as if nothing would do you +any good,' said Mr. Ferrars.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Papa says so!' she answered.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not quite,' said Mr. Ferrars. 'He knows that +your low spirits are the effect of temperament and health, and +that you are not able to prevent yourself from feeling unhappy +and aggrieved. And perhaps you reckoned on too much sensible +effect from Church ordinances. Now joy, help, all these blessings +are seldom revealed to our consciousness, but are matters of +faith; and you must be content to work on in faith in the dark, +before you feel comfort. I cannot but hope that if you will +struggle, even when you are hurt and annoyed, to avoid the +expression of vexation, the morbid temper will wear out, and you +will both be tempted and suffer less, as you grow older. And, +Sophy--forgive me for asking--do you pray in this unhappy +state?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I cannot. It is not true.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Make it true. Take some verse of a Psalm. +Shall I mark you some? Repeat them, even if you seem to yourself +not to feel them. There is a holy power that will work on you at +last; and when you can truly pray, the dark hour will +pass.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mark them,' said Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was some space, while she gave him the +book, and he showed her the verses. Then he rose to +go.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wish I had not spoilt the visit,' she said, +wistfully, at last.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We shall see you again, and we shall know each +other better,' he said, kindly. 'You are my godchild now, Sophy, +and you know that I must remember you constantly in +prayer.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' she faintly said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And will you promise me to try my remedy? I +think it will soften your heart to the graces of the Blessed +Comforter. And even if all seems gloom within, look out, see +others happy, try to rejoice with them, and peace will come in! +Now, goodbye, my dear godchild, and the God of Peace bless you, +and give you rest.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XII.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Dusautoy had given notice of the day of the +Confirmation, when Mr. Kendal called his wife.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wonder,' he said, 'my dear, whether Sophia +can spare you to take a walk with me before church.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy, who was well aware that a walk with him +was the greatest and rarest treat to his wife, gave gracious +permission, and in a few minutes they were walking by the bright +canal-side, under the calm evening sunshine and deep blue sky of +early autumn.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal said not a word, and Albinia, +leaning on his arm, listened, as it were, to the stillness, or +rather to the sounds that marked it--the gurgling of the little +streams let off into the water-courses in the meadows; the +occasional plunge of the rat from the banks, the sounds from the +town, softened by distance, and the far-off cawings of the rooks, +which she could just see wheeling about as little black specks +over the plantations of Woodside, or watching the swallows +assembling for departure sitting in long ranks, like an ornament +along the roof of a neighbouring barn.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Long, long it was before Mr. Kendal broke +silence, but when at length he did speak, his words amazed her +extremely.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Albinia, poor Sophia's admission into the +Church has not been the only neglect. I have never been +confirmed. I intend to speak to Dusautoy this evening, but I +thought you would wish to know it first.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thank you. I suppose you went out to India too +young.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor Maria says truly that no one thought of +these things in our day, at least so far as we were concerned. I +must explain to you, Albinia, how it is that I see things very +differently now from the light in which I once viewed them. I was +sent home from India, at six years old, to correspondents and +relations to whom I was a burthen. I was placed at a private +school, where the treatment was of the harsh style so common in +those days. The boys always had more tasks than they could +accomplish, and were kept employed by being always in arrears +with their lessons. This pressed less heavily upon me than on +most; but though I seldom incurred punishment, there was a sort +of hard distrust of me, I believe because the master could not +easily overwhelm me with work, so as to have me in his power. I +know I was often unjustly treated, and I never was +popular.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, I can imagine you extremely +miserable.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You can understand my resolution that my boys +should not be sent to England to be homeless, and how I judged +all schools by my own experience. I stayed there too late, till I +was beyond both tormentors and masters, and was left to an +unlimited appetite for books, chiefly poetry. Our religious +instruction was a nullity, and I am only surprised that the +results were not worse. India was not likely to supply what +education had omitted. Looking back on old journals and the like, +I am astonished to see how unsettled my notions were--my +sublimity, which was really ignorant childishness, and yet my +perfect unconsciousness of my want of Christianity.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I dare say you cannot believe it was yourself, +any more than I can. What brought other thoughts!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Practical obligations made me somewhat less +dreamy, and my dear boy, Edmund, did much for me, but all so +insensibly, that I can remember no marked change. I do not know +whether you will understand me, when I say that I had attained to +somewhat of what I should call personal religion, such as we +often find apart from the Church.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But, Edmund, you always were a +Churchman.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I was; but I viewed the Church merely as an +establishment--human, not divine. I had learnt faith from Holy +Scripture, from my boy, from the infants who passed away so +quickly, and I better understood how to direct the devotional +tendencies that I had never been without, but the sacramental +system had never dawned on my comprehension, nor the real meaning +of Christian fellowship. Thence my isolation.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You had never fairly seen the +Church.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Never. It might have made a great difference +to me if Dusautoy had been here at the time of my trouble. When +he did come, I had sunk into a state whence I could not rouse +myself to understand his principles. I can hardly describe how +intolerable my life had become. I was almost resolved on +returning to India. I believe I should have done so if you had +not come to my rescue.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What would you have done with the +children?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'To say the truth I had idolized their brother +to such an exclusive degree, that I could not turn to the others +when he was taken from me. I deserved to lose him; and since I +have seen this unfortunate strain of melancholy developed in poor +Sophia, who so much resembles him, I have been the more +reconciled to his having been removed. I never understood what +the others might be until you drew them out.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia paused, afraid to press his reserve too +far; and the next thing she said was, 'I think I understand your +distinction between personal religion and sacramental truth. It +explains what has often puzzled me about good devout people who +did not belong to the Church. The Visible Church cannot save +without this individual personal religion but without having +recourse to the Church, there is--' she could not find the +word.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There is a loss of external aid,' he said; +'nay, of much more. There is no certainty of receiving the +benefits linked by Divine Power to her ordinances. Faith, in +fact, while acknowledging the great Object of Faith, refuses or +neglects to exercise herself upon the very subjects which He has +set before her; and, in effect, would accept Him on her terms, +not on His own.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was not refusal on your part,' said +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, it was rather indifference and imaginary +superiority. But I have read and thought much of late, and see +more clearly. If I thought of this rite of Confirmation at all, +it was only as a means of impressing young minds. I now see every +evidence that it is the completion of Baptismal grace, and +without, like poor Sophia, expecting that effects would ever have +been perceptible, I think that had I known how to seek after the +Spirit of Counsel and Ghostly Strength, I might have given way +less to the infirmities of my character, and have been less +wilfully insensible to obvious duties.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then you have made up your mind?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes. I shall speak to Mr. Dusautoy at +once.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And,' she said, feeling for his sensitive +shyness, 'no one else need know it--at least--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I should not wish to conceal it from the +children,' he answered, with his scrupulous candour. He was +supine when thought more ill of than he deserved, but he always +defended himself from undeserved credit.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Whom do you think I have for a candidate?' +said Mr. Dusautoy that evening.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Another now! I thought you were talking to Mr. +Kendal about the onslaught on the Pringle pew.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What do you think of my churchwarden +himself?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You don't mean that he has never been +confirmed!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So he tells me. He went out to India young, +and was never in the way of such things. Well, it will be a great +example.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">' Take care what you do. He will never endure +having it talked of.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think he has made up his mind, and is above +all nonsense. I am sure it is well that I need not examine him. I +should soon get beyond my depth.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And what good did his depth ever do to him,' +indignantly cried Mrs. Dusautoy, 'till that dear good wife of his +took him in hand? Don't you remember what a log he was when first +we came--how I used to say he gave you subscriptions to get rid +of you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, well, Fanny, what's the use of +recollecting all our foolish first impressions. I always told you +he was the most able man in the parish.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Fanny' laughed merrily at this piece of +sagacity, as she said 'Ay, the most able and the least +practicable; and the best of it is, that his wife has not the +most distant idea that she has been the making of him. She nearly +quarrelled with me for hinting it. She would have it that +"Edmund" had it all in him, and had only recovered his health and +spirits.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And, indeed, it was no wonder she was happy. +This step taken of free will by Mr. Kendal, was an evidence not +only of a powerful reasoning intellect bowed to an act of simple +faith but of a victory over the false shame that had always been +a part of his nature. Nor did it apparently cost him as much as +his consent to Sophy's admission into the Church; the first +effort had been the greatest, and he was now too much taken up +with deep thoughts of devotion to be sensitive as to the eyes and +remarks of the world. The very resolution to bend in faithful +obedience to a rite usually belonging to early youth and not +obviously enforced to human reason, nor made an express condition +of salvation, was as a pledge that he would strive to walk for +the future in the path of self-denying obedience. Who that saw +the manly well-knit form kneeling among the slight youthful ones +around, and the thoughtful, sorrow-marked brow bowed down beneath +the Apostolic hand, could doubt that such faith and such humble +obedience would surely be endowed with a full measure of the +Spirit of Ghostly Might, to lead him on in his battle with +himself? Those young ones needed the 'sevenfold veil between them +and the fires of youth,' but surely the freshening and renewing +came most blessedly to the man weary already with sin and woe, +and tired out alike with himself and the world, because he had +lived to himself alone.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XIII.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">Old Mr. Pringle never stirred beyond his +parlour, and was invisible to every one, except his housekeeper +and doctor, but his tall, square, curtained pew was jealously +locked up, and was a grievance to the vicar, who having been +foiled in several attempts, was meditating a fresh one, if, as he +told his wife, he could bring his churchwarden up to the scratch, +when one Sunday morning the congregation was electrified by the +sound of a creak and a shake, and beheld a stout hale sunburnt +gentleman, fighting with the disused door, and finally gaining +the victory by strength of hand, admitting himself and a boy +among the dust and the cobwebs.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Had Mr. Pringle, or rather his housekeeper, +made a virtue of necessity? and if so, who could it +be?</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia hailed the event as a fertile source of +conjecture which might stave off dangerous subjects in the Sunday +call, but there was no opportunity for any discussion, for Maria +was popping about, settling and unsettling everything and +everybody, in a state of greater confusion than ever, +inextricably entangling her inquiries for Sophy with her +explanations about the rheumatism which had kept grandmamma from +church, and jumping up to pull down the Venetian blind, which +descended awry, and went up worse. The lines got into such a +hopeless complication, that Albinia came to help her, while Mr. +Kendal stood dutifully by the fire, in the sentry-like manner in +which he always passed that hour, bending now and then to listen +and respond to some meek remark of old Mrs. Meadows, and now and +then originating one. As to assisting Maria in any pother, he +well knew that would be a vain act of chivalry, and he generally +contrived to be insensible to her turmoils.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Who could that have been in old Pringle's +seat?' he presently began, appropriating Albinia's cherished +morsel of gossip; but he was not allowed to enjoy it, for Miss +Meadows broke out,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, Edmund! this blind, I beg your pardon, but +if you would help--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was obliged to move to the window, and +nervously clutching his arm, she whispered, 'You'll excuse it, I +know, but don't mention it--not a word to mamma.' Mr. Kendal +looked at Albinia to gather what could be this dreadful subject, +but the next words made it no longer doubtful. 'Ah, you were +away, there's no use in explaining--but not a word of Sam +Pringle. It would only make her uneasy--' she gasped in a +floundering whisper, stopping suddenly short, for at that moment +the stranger and his son were entering the garden, so near them, +that they might have seen the three pairs of eyes levelled on +them, through the wide open end of the unfortunate blind, which +was now in the shape of a fan.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia's cheeks glowed with sympathy, and she +longed for the power of helping her, marvelling how a being so +nervously restless and devoid of self-command could pass through +a scene likely to be so trying. The bell sounded, and the loud +hearty tones of a manly voice were heard. Albinia looked to see +whether her help were needed, but Miss Meadows's whole face was +brightened, and moving across the room with unusually even steps, +she leant on the arm of her mother's chair, saying, 'Mamma, it is +Captain Pringle. You remember Samuel Pringle? He settled in the +Mauritius, you know, and he was at church this morning with his +little boy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was something piteous in the searching +look of inquiry that Mrs. Meadows cast at her daughter's face, +but Maria had put it aside with an attempt at a smile, as +'Captain Pringle' was announced.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He trod hard, and spoke loud, and his curly +grizzled hair was thrown back from a bronzed open face, full of +broad heartiness, as he walked in with outstretched hand, +exclaiming, 'Well, and how do you do?' shaking with all his might +the hand that Maria held out. 'And how are you, Mrs. Meadows? You +see I could not help coming back to see old friends.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Old friends are always welcome, sir,' said the +old lady, warmly. 'My son, Mr. Kendal, sir--Mrs. Kendal,' she +added, with a becoming old-fashioned movement of +introduction.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very glad to meet you,' said the captain, +extending to each such a hearty shake of the hand, that Albinia +suspected he was taking her on trust for Maria's +sister.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Your little boy?' asked Mrs. +Meadows.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ay--Arthur, come and make the most of +yourself, my man,' said he, thumping the shy boy on the back to +give him courage. 'I've brought him home for his schooling--quite +time, you see, though what on earth I'm to do without +him--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The boy looked miserable at the words. 'Ay, +ay,' continued his father, 'you'll do well enough. I'm not afraid +for you, master, but that you'll be happy as your father was +before you, when once you have fellows to play with you. Here is +Mr. Kendal will tell you so.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was an unfortunate appeal, but Mr. Kendal +made the best of it, saying that his boy was very happy at his +tutor's.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A private tutor, eh?' said the rough captain, +'I'd not thought of that--neither home nor school. I had rather +do it thoroughly, and trust to numbers to choose friends from, +and be licked into shape.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Poor little Arthur looked as if the process +would be severe; and by way of consolation, Mrs. Meadows +suggested, a piece of cake. Maria moved to ring the bell. It was +the first time she had stirred since the visitor came in, and he +getting up at the same time, that she might not trouble herself, +their eyes met. 'I'm very glad to see you again,' he exclaimed, +catching hold of her hand for another shake; 'but, bless me! you +are sadly altered! I'm sorry to see you looking so +ill.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We all grow old, you know,' said Maria, +endeavouring to smile, but half strangled by a tear, and looking +at that moment as she might have done long ago. 'You find many +changes.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope you find Mr. Pringle pretty well,' said +Albinia, thinking this might be a relief, and accordingly, the +kind-hearted captain began, ruefully to describe the sad +alterations that time had wrought. Then he explained that he had +had little correspondence with home, and had only landed three +days since, so that he was ignorant of all Bayford tidings, and +began asking after a multitude of old friends and +acquaintance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The Kendals thought all would go on the better +in their absence, and escaped from the record of deaths and +marriages, each observing to the other as they left the house, +that there could be little doubt that nurse's story was true, but +both amazed by the effect on Maria, who had never been seen +before to sit so long quiet in her chair. Was his wife alive? +Albinia thought not, but could not be certain. His presence was +evidently happiness to Miss Meadows, but would this last? Would +this renewal soothe her, or only make her more restless and +unhappy?</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia found that Sophy's imagination bad been +quicker than her own. Lucy had brought home the great news of the +stranger, and she had leapt at once to the conclusion that it +must be the hero of nurse's story, but she had had the resolution +to keep the secret from her sister, who was found reproaching her +with making mysteries. When Lucy heard that it was Captain +Pringle, she was quite provoked.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Only Mr. Pringle's nephew?' she said, +disdainfully. 'What was the use of making a fuss? I thought it +was some one interesting!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy was able to walk to church in the +evening, but was made to go in to rest at the vicarage before +returning home. While this was being discussed before the porch, +Albinia felt a pressure on her arm, and looking round, saw Maria +Meadows.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Can you spare me a few moments?' she said; and +Albinia turned aside with her to the flagged terrace path between +the churchyard and vicarage garden, in the light of a +half-moon.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You were so kind this morning,' began Maria, +'that I thought--you see it is very awkward--not that I have any +idea--but if you would speak to Edmund--I know he is not in the +habit--morning visits and--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you wish him to call? He had been thinking +of it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maria would have been unbounded in her +gratitude, but catching herself up, she disclaimed all personal +interest--only she said Edmund knew nothing of anything that had +passed--if he did, he would see they would feel--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think,' said Albinia, kindly, 'that we do +know that you had some troubles on that score. Old nurse said +something to Sophy, but no other creature knows it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah!' exclaimed Maria, 'that is what comes of +trusting any one. I was so ill when I found out how it had been, +that I could not keep it from nurse, but from mamma I did--my +poor father being just gone and all--I could not have had her +know how much I felt it--the discovery I mean--and it is what I +wish her never to do. But oh! Mrs. Kendal, think what it was to +find out that when I had been thinking he had been only trifling +with me all those years, to find that he had been so unkindly +treated. There was his own dear letter to me never unsealed; and +there was another to my father saying in a proud-spirited way +that he did not know what he had done to be so served, and he +wished I might find happiness, for I would never find one that +loved me as well. I who had turned against him in my +heart!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was cruel indeed! And you kept it from your +mother!' said Albinia, beginning to honour her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My poor father was just gone, you know, and I +could not be grieving her with what was passed and over, and +letting her know that my father had broken my heart, as indeed I +think he did, though he meant it all for the best. But oh! I +thought it hard when Lucy had married the handsomest man in the +country, and gone out to India, without a word against it, that I +might not please myself, because I was papa's +favourite.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was very hard not to be made aware of his +intentions.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yea,' said Maria; 'for it gave me such a +bitter, restless feeling against him--though I ought to have +known him better than to think he would give one minute's pain he +could help; and then when I knew the truth, the bitterness all +went to poor papa's memory, and yet perhaps he never meant to be +unkind either.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia said some kind words, and Maria went +on:</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But what I wanted to say was this--Please +don't let mamma suspect one bit about it; and next, if Edmund +would not mind showing him a little attention. Do you think he +would, my dear? I do so wish that he should not think we were +hurt by his marriage, and you see, two lone women can do nothing +to make it agreeable; besides that, it would not be +proper.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Is his wife living?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear, I could not make up my tongue to +ask--the poor dear boy there and all--but it is all the same. I +hope she is, for I would not see him unhappy, and you don't +imagine I have any folly in my head--oh, no! for I know what a +fright the fret and the wear of this have made me; and besides, I +never could leave mamma. So I trust his wife is living to make +him happy, and I shall be more at peace now I have seen him +again, since he turned his horse at Bobble's Leigh, and said I +should soon hear from him again.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Indeed I think you will be happier. There is +something very soothing in taking up old feelings and laying them +to rest. I hope even now there is less pain than +pleasure.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can't help it,' said Maria. 'I do hope it is +not wrong; but his very voice has got the old tone in it, as if +it were the old lullaby that my poor heart has been beating for +all these years.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Who would have thought of Maria speaking +poetically? But her words did indeed seem to be the truth. In +spite of the embarrassment of her situation and the flutter of +her feelings, she was in a state of composure unexampled. Albinia +had just gratified her greatly by a few words on Captain +Pringle's evident good-nature, when a tread came behind +them.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ha! you here?' exclaimed the loud honest +voice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We were taking a turn in the moonlight,' said +Albinia. 'A beautiful night.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Beautiful! Arthur and I have been a bit of the +way home with old Goldsmith. There's an evergreen, to be sure; +and now--are you bound homewards, Maria?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maria clung to Albinia's arm. Perhaps in the +days of the last parting, she had been less careful to be with a +chaperon.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! I forgot,' said the captain; 'your way +lies the other side of the hill. I had very nearly walked into +Willow Lawn this morning, only luckily I bethought me of +asking.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope you will yet walk into Willow Lawn,' +said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! thank you; I should like to see the old +place. I dare say it may be transmogrified now, but I think I +could find my way blindfold about the old garden. I say, Maria, +do you remember that jolly tea-party on the lawn, when the frog +made one too many?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That I do--' Maria could not utter more, and +Albinia said she was afraid he would miss a great +deal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I reckoned on that when I came home. Changes +everywhere; but after the one great change,' he added, +mournfully, 'the others tell less. One has the less heart to care +for an old tree or an old path.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia felt sure he could mean only one great +change, but they were now at Mrs. Meadows's door, and Maria +wished them good night, giving a most grateful squeeze of the +hand to Mrs. Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Where are you bound now?' asked the +captain.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Back to the vicarage, to take up my husband +and the girls,' said Albinia, 'but good night. I am not +afraid.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The captain, however, chose to continue a +squire of dames, and walked at her side, presently giving +utterance to a sound of commiseration. 'Ah! well, poor Maria, I +never thought to see her so altered. Why, she had the prettiest +bloom--I dare say you remember--but, I beg your pardon, somehow I +thought you were her <i>elder</i> sister.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mr. Kendal's first wife was,' said Albinia, +pitying the poor man; but Captain Pringle was not a man for +awkwardness, and the short whistle with which he received her +answer set her off laughing.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I beg your pardon,' he said, recovering +himself; 'but you see I am all astray, like a man buried and dug +up again, so no wonder I make strange blunders; and my poor uncle +is grown so childish, that he does not know one person from +another, and began by telling me Maria Meadows had married and +gone out to India. I had not had a letter these seven years, so I +thought it was high time to bring my boy home, and renew old +times, though how I am ever to go back without him--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Is be your only one?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes. I lost his mother when he was six years +old, and we have been all the world to each other since, till I +began to think I was spoiling him outright, and it was time he +should see what Old England was made of.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia had something like a discovery to +impart now; but she hated the sense of speculating on the poor +man's intentions. He talked so much, that he saved her trouble in +replying, and presently resumed the subject of Maria's +looks.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She has had a harassed life, I fear,' said +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Eh! old Meadows was a terrible old tyrant, I +believe; but she was his pet. I thought he refused her +nothing--but there's no trusting such a Turk! Oh! ah! I dare +say,' as if replying to something within. And then having come to +the vicarage wicket, Albinia took leave of him and ran indoors, +answering the astonished queries as to how she had been employed, +'Walking home with Aunt Maria and Captain Pringle !'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was rather a relief at such a juncture that +Lucy's curious eyes should be removed. Mr. Ferrars came to talk +his wife's state over with his sister. Her children were too much +for Winifred, and he wished to borrow Lucy for a few weeks, till +a governess could be found for them.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It struck Albinia that this would be an +excellent thing for Genevieve Durant, and she at once contrived +to ask her to tea, and privately propound the plan.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve faltered much of thanks, and said +that Madame was very good; but the next morning a note was +brought in, which caused a sudden change of +countenance:</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear Madame,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I was so overwhelmed with your kindness last +night, and so unwilling to appear ungrateful, that perhaps I left +you under a false impression. I entreat you not to enter on the +subject with my grandmamma or my aunt. They would grieve to +prevent what they would think for my advantage, and would, I am +but too sure, make any sacrifice on my account; but they are no +longer young, and though my aunt does not perceive it, I know +that the real work of the school depends on me, and that she +could not support the fatigue if left unassisted. They need their +little Genevieve, likewise, to amuse them in their evenings; and, +forgive me, madame, I could not, without ingratitude, forsake +them now. Thus, though with the utmost sense of your kindness, I +must beg of you to pardon me, and not to think me ungrateful if I +decline the situation so kindly offered to me by Mr. Ferrars, +thanking you ten thousand times for your too partial +recommendation, and entreating you to pardon</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Your most grateful and humble +servant,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">GENEVIEVE CELESTE DURANT.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There!' said Albinia, tossing the note to her +brother, who was the only person present excepting +Gilbert.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor Albinia,' he said, 'it is hard to be +disappointed in a bit of patronage.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I never meant it as patronage,' said Albinia, +slightly hurt. 'I thought it would help you, and rescue her from +that school. There will she spend the best years of her life in +giving a second-rate education to third-rate girls, not one of +whose parents can appreciate her, till she will grow as wizened +and as wooden as Mademoiselle herself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Happily,' said Mr. Ferrars, 'there are worse +things than being spent in one's duty. She may be doing an +important work in her sphere.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So does a horse in a mill,' exclaimed Albinia; +'but you would not put a hunter there. Yes, yes, I know, +education, and these girls wanting right teaching; but she, poor +child, has been but half educated herself, and has not time to +improve herself. If she does good, it is by force of sheer +goodness, for they all look down upon her, as much as vulgarity +can upon refinement.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I told her so,', exclaimed Gilbert; 'I told +her it was the only way to teach them what she was +worth.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What did you know of the matter?' asked +Albinia; and the colour mounted in the boy's face as he muttered, +'She was overcome when she came down, she said you had been so +kind, and we were obliged to walk up and down before she could +compose herself, for she did not want the old ladies to know +anything about it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And did she not wish to go?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, though I did the best I could. I told her +what a jolly place it was, and that the children would be a +perfect holiday to her. And I showed her it would not be like +going away, for she might come over here whenever she pleased; +and when I have my horse, I would come and bring her word of the +old ladies once a week.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Inducements, indeed!' said Mr. Ferrars. 'And +she could not be incited by any of these?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' said Gilbert, 'she would not hear of +leaving the old women. She was only afraid it would vex Mrs. +Kendal, and she could not bear not to take the advice of so kind +a friend, she said. You are not going to be angry with her,' he +added.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' said Albinia, 'one cannot but honour her +motives, though I think she is mistaken; and I am sorry for her; +but she knows better than to be afraid of me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">With which assurance Gilbert quitted the room, +and the next moment, hearing the front door, she exclaimed, 'I do +believe he is gone to tell her how I took the +announcement.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice gave a significant 'Hem!' to which his +sister replied, 'Nonsense!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very romantic consolations and +confidences.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not at all. They have been used to each other +all their lives, and he used to be the only person who knew how +to behave to her, so no wonder they are great friends. As to +anything else, she is nineteen, and he not sixteen.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'One great use of going to school is to save +lads from that silly pastime. I advise you to look to these +moonlight escortings!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'One would think you were an old dowager, +Maurice. I suppose Colonel Bury may not escort Miss +Mary.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah, Albinia, you are a very naughty child +still.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Of course, when you are here to keep me in +order, I wish I never were so at other times when it is not so +safe.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal was kind and civil to Captain +Pringle, and though the boisterous manner seemed to affect him +like a thunderstorm, Maria imagined they were delighted with one +another.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maria was strangely serene and happy; her +querulous, nervous manner smoothed away, as if rest had come to +her at last; and even if the renewed intercourse were only to +result in a friendship, there was hope that the troubled spirit +had found repose now that misunderstandings were over, and the +sore sense of ill-usage appeased.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Yet Albinia was startled when one day Mr. +Kendal summoned her, saying, 'It is all over, she has refused +him!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Impossible; she could only have left half her +sentence unsaid.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Too certain. She will not leave her +mother.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Is that all?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Of course it is. He told me the whole affair, +and certainly Mr. Meadows was greatly to blame. He let Maria give +this man every encouragement, believing his property larger, and +his expectations more secure than was the case; and when the +proposal was made, having discovered his mistake, he sent a +peremptory refusal, giving him reason to suppose her a party to +the rejection. Captain Pringle sailed in anger; but it appears +that his return has revived his former feelings, and that he has +found out that poor Maria was a greater sufferer than +himself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why does he come to you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'To consult me. He wishes me to persuade poor +old Mrs. Meadows to go out to the Mauritius, which is clearly +impossible, but Maria must not be sacrificed again. Would the +Drurys make her comfortable? Or could she not live alone with her +maid?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She might live here.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Albinia! Think a little.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can think of nothing else. Let her have the +morning room, and Sophy's little room, and Lucy and I would do +our best for her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, that is out of the question. I would not +impose such charge upon you on any consideration!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia's face became humble and remorseful. +'Yes,' she said, 'perhaps I am too impatient and +flighty.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That was not what I meant,' he said; 'but I do +not think it right that a person with no claims of relationship +should be made a burthen on you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No claims, Edmund,' said she, softly. 'In +whose place have you put me?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was silent: then said, 'No, it must not be, +my kind Albinia. She is a very good old lady, but Sophy and she +would clash, and I cannot expose the child to such a +trial.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I dare say you are right,' pensively said +Albinia, perceiving that her plan had been inconsiderate, and +that it would require the wisdom, tact, and gentleness of a model +woman to deal with such discordant elements. 'What are you going +to do?' as he took up his hat. 'Are you going to see Maria? May I +come with you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If you please; but do not mention this notion. +There is no necessity for such a tax on you; and such arrangement +should never be rashly made.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He asked whether Miss Meadows could see him, +and awaited her alone in the dining-room, somewhat to the +surprise of his wife; but either he felt that there was a long +arrear of kindness owing, or feared to trust Albinia's impulsive +generosity.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Meantime Albinia found the poor old lady in +much uneasiness and distress. Her daughter fancied it right to +keep her in ignorance of the crisis; but Maria was not the woman +to conceal her feelings, and her nervous misery had revealed all +that she most wished to hide. Too timid to take her confidence by +storm, her mother had only exchanged surmises and observations +with Betty, and was in a troubled condition of affectionate +curiosity and anxiety. Albinia was a welcome visitor since it was +a great relief to hear what had really taken place and to know +that Mr. Kendal was with Maria.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! that is kind,' she said; 'but he must tell +her not to think of me. I am an old woman, good for nothing but +to be put out of the way, and she has gone through quite enough! +You will not let her give it up! Tell her I have not many more +years to live, and anything is good enough for me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That would hardly comfort her,' said Albinia, +affectionately; 'but indeed, dear grandmamma, I hope we shall +convince her that we can do something to supply her +place.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! my dear, you are very kind, but nobody can +be like a daughter! But don't tell Maria so--poor dear love--she +may never have another chance. Such a beautiful place out there, +and Mr. Pringle's property must come to him at last! Bless me, +what will Sarah Drury say? And such a good attentive +man--besides, she never would hear of any one else--her poor papa +never knew--Oh! she must have him! it is all nonsense to think of +me! I only wish I was dead out of the way!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was a strong mixture of unselfish love, +and fear of solitude; of the triumph of marrying a daughter, and +dread of separation; of affection, and of implanted worldliness; +touching Albinia at one moment, and paining her at another; but +she soothed and caressed the old lady, and was a willing listener +to what was meant for a history of the former transaction; but as +it started from old Mr. Pringle's grandfather, it had only +proceeded as far as the wedding of the Captain's father and +mother, when it was broken off by Mr. Kendal's +entrance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! my dear Mr. Kendal, and what does poor +Maria say? It is so kind in you. I hope you have taken her in +hand, and told her it is quite another thing now, and her poor +dear papa would think so. She must not let this opportunity pass, +for she may never have another. Did you tell her so?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I told her that, under the circumstances, she +has no alternative but to accept Captain Pringle.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! thank you. And does she?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She has given me leave to send him to +her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am so much obliged. I knew that nobody but +you could settle it for her, poor dear girl; she is so young and +inexperienced, and one is so much at a loss without a gentleman. +But this is very kind; I did not expect it in you, Mr. Kendal. +And will you see Mr. Pettilove, and do all that is proper about +settlements, as her poor dear papa would have done. Poor +Pettilove, he was once very much in love with Maria!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In this mood of triumph and felicity, the old +lady was left to herself and her daughter. Albinia, on the way +home, begged to hear how Mr. Kendal had managed Maria; and found +that he had simply told her, in an authoritative tone, that after +all that had passed, she had no choice but to accept Captain +Pringle, and that he had added a promise, equally vague and +reassuring, of being a son to Mrs. Meadows. Such injunctions from +such a quarter had infused new life into Maria; and in the course +of the afternoon, Albinia met the Captain with the mother and +daughter, one on each arm, Maria in recovered bloom and +brilliancy, and Mrs. Meadows's rheumatism forgotten in the glory +of exhibiting her daughter engaged.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">For form's sake, secrecy had been mentioned; +but the world of Bayford had known of the engagement a fortnight +before took place. Sophy had been questioned upon it by Mary +Wolfe two hours ere she was officially informed, and was sore +with the recollection of her own ungracious professions of +ignorance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So it is true,' she said. 'I don't mind, since +Arthur is not a girl.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal laughed so heartily, that Sophy +looked to Albinia for explanation; but even on the repetition of +her words, she failed to perceive anything ridiculous in +them.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why, mamma,' she said, impressively, 'if you +had been like Aunt Maria, I should--' she paused and panted for +sufficient strength of phrase-- 'I should have run away and +begged! Papa laughs, but I am sure he remembers when grandmamma +and Aunt Maria wanted to come and live here!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He looked as if he remembered it only too +well.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, papa,' pursued Sophy, 'we heard the +maids saying that they knew it would not do, for all Mr. Kendal +was so still and steady, for Miss Meadows would worret the life +out of a lead pincushion.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Hem!' said Mr. Kendal. 'Albinia, do you think +after all we are doing Captain Pringle any kindness?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He is the best judge.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nay, he may think himself bound in honour and +compassion--he may be returning to an old ideal.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'People like Captain Pringle are not apt to +have ideals,' said Albinia; 'nor do I think Maria will be so +trying. Do you remember that creeper of Lucy's, all tendrils and +catching leaves, which used to lie sprawling about, entangling +everything till she gave it a prop, when it instantly found its +proper development, and offered no further +molestation?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">All was not, however, smooth water as yet. The +Captain invaded Mr. Kendal the next morning in despair at Maria +having recurred to the impossibility of leaving her mother, and +wanting him to wait till he could reside in England. This could +not be till his son was grown up, and ten years were a serious +delay. Mr. Kendal suspected her of a latent hope that the Captain +would end by remaining at home; but he was a man sense and +determination, who would have thought it unjustifiable weakness +to sacrifice his son's interests and his own usefulness. He would +promise, that if all were alive and well, he would bring Maria +back in ten or twelve years' time; but he would not sooner +relinquish his duties, and he was very reluctant to become +engaged on such terms.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No one less silly than poor Maria would have +thought of such a proposal,' was Mr. Kendal's comment afterwards +to his wife. 'Twelve years! No one would be able to live with her +by that time!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I cannot help respecting the unselfishness,' +said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'One sided unselfishness,' quoth Mr. Kendal. 'I +am sick of the whole business, I wish I had never interfered. I +cannot get an hour to myself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He might be excused for the complaint on that +day of negotiations and counter-negotiations, which gave no one +any rest, especially after Mrs. Drury arrived with all the rights +of a relation, set on making it evident, that whoever was to be +charged with Mrs. Meadows, it was not herself; and enforcing that +nothing could be more comfortable than that Lucy Kendal should +set up housekeeping with her dear grandmamma. Every one gave +advice, and nobody took it; Mrs. Meadows cried, Maria grew +hysterical, the Captain took up his hat and walked out of the +house; and Albinia thought it would be very good in him ever to +venture into it again.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The next morning Mr. Kendal ordered his horse +early, and hastened his breakfast; told Albinia not to wait +dinner for him, and rode off by one gate, without looking behind +him, as the other opened to admit Captain Pringle. She marvelled +whither he had fled, and thought herself fortunate in having only +two fruitless discussions in his absence. Not till eight o'clock +did he make his appearance, and then it was in an unhearing, +unseeing mood, so that nothing could be extracted, except that he +did not want any dinner; and it was not till late in the evening +that he abruptly announced, 'Lucy is coming home on Wednesday. +Colonel Bury will bring her to Woodside.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">What? have you heard from Maurice?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No; I have been at Fairmead.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">You! To-day! How was Winifred?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Better--I believe.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How does she like the governess?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I did not hear.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gradually something oozed out about Lucy having +been happy and valuable, and after Sophy had gone to bed, he +inquired how the courtship was going on?</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Worse than ever,' Albinia said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I suppose it must end in this?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'In what!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If there is no more satisfactory arrangement, +I suppose we must receive Mrs. Meadows.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">If Albinia could but have heard what a scolding +her brother was undergoing from his vivacious wife!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'As if poor Albinia had not enough on her +hands! Of all inmates in the world! When Mr. Kendal himself did +not like it! Well! Maurice would certainly have advised Sinbad to +request the honour of taking the Old Man of the Sea for a +promenade a cheval. There was an end of Albinia. There would +never be any room in her house, and she would never be able to +come from home. And after having seen her worked to death, he to +advise--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I did not advise, I only listened. What he +came for was to silence his conscience and his wife by saying, +"Your brother thinks it out of the question." Now to this my +conscience would not consent.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'More shame for it, then!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I could not say I thought these two people's +happiness should be sacrificed, or the poor old woman left +desolate. Albinia has spirits and energy for a worse infliction, +and Edmund Kendal himself is the better for every shock to his +secluded habits. If it is a step I would never dare advise, still +less would I dare dissuade.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well! I thought Mr. Kendal at least had more +sense.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ay, nothing is so provoking as to see others +more unselfish than ourselves.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'All I have to say,' concluded Mrs. Ferrars, +walking off, 'is, I wish there was a law against people going and +marrying two wives.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was in no haste to profit by her +husband's consent to her proposal. The more she revolved it, the +more she foresaw the discomfort for all parties. She made every +effort to devise the 'more satisfactory arrangement,' but nothing +would occur. The Drurys would not help, and the poor old lady +could not be left alone. Her maid Betty, who had become necessary +to her comfort, was not a trustworthy person, and could not be +relied on, either for honesty, or for not leaving her mistress +too long alone; and when the notion was broached of boarding Mrs. +Meadows with some family in the place, the conviction arose, that +when she had grandchildren, there was no reason for leaving her +to strangers.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Finally, the proposal was made, and as +instantly rejected by Maria. It was very kind, but her mother +could never be happy at Willow Lawn, never; and the tone betrayed +some injury at such a thing being thought possible. But just as +the Kendals had begun to rejoice at having cleared their +conscience at so slight a cost, Captain Pringle and Miss Meadows +made their appearance, and Maria presently requested that Mrs. +Kendal would allow her to say a few words.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am afraid you thought me very rude and +ungrateful,' she began, 'but the truth was, I did not think dear +mamma would ever bear to live here, my poor dear sister and all; +but since that, I have been talking it over with the dear +Captain--thinks that since you are so kind, and dear Edmund--more +than I could ever have dared to expect--that I could not do +better than just to sound mamma.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was still another vicissitude. Mrs. +Meadows would not hear of being thrust on any one, and was +certain that Maria had extorted an invitation; she would never be +a burden upon any one; young people liked company and amusement, +and she was an old woman in every one's way; she wished she were +in her coffin with poor dear Mr. Meadows, who would have settled +it all. Maria fell back into the depths of despair, and all was +lugubrious, till Mr. Kendal, in the most tender and gentle +manner, expressed his hopes that Mrs. Meadows would consider the +matter, telling her that his wife and children would esteem it a +great privilege to attend on her, and that he should be very +grateful if she would allow them to try to supply Maria's place. +And Albinia, in her coaxing tone, described the arrangement; how +the old furniture should stand in the sitting-room, and how Lucy +would attend to her carpet-work, and what nice walks the sunny +garden would afford, and how pleasant it would be not to have the +long hill between them, till grandmamma forgot all her scruples +in the fascination of that sweet face and caressing manner, she +owned that poor old Willow Lawn always was like home, and finally +promised to come. Before the evening was over the wedding-day was +fixed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">What Sophy briefly termed 'the fuss about Aunt +Maria,' had been so tedious, that it almost dispelled all +poetical ideas of courtship. If Captain Pringle had been drowned +at sea, and Aunt Maria pined herself into her grave, it would +have been much more proper and affecting.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy heard of the arrangement without remark, +and quietly listened to Albinia's explanation that she was not to +be sent up to the attics, but was to inhabit the spare room, +which was large enough to serve her for a sitting-room. But in +the evening Mr. Kendal happened in her absence to take up the +book which she had been reading, and did not perceive at once on +her entrance that she wanted it. When he did so, he yielded it +with a few kind words of apology, but this vexation had been +sufficient to bring down the thunder-cloud which had been +lowering since the morning. There were no signs of clearance the +next day; but Albinia had too much upon her hands to watch the +symptoms, and was busy making measurements for the furniture in +the morning-room when Mr. Kendal came in.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have been thinking,' he said, 'that it is a +pity to disturb this room. I dare say Mrs. Meadows would prefer +that below-stairs. It used to be her parlour, where she always +sat when I first knew the house.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The dining-room? How could we spare +that?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, the study.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia remained transfixed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We could put the books here and in the +dining-room,' he continued, 'until next spring, when, as your +brother said, we can build a new wing on the drawing-room +side.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And what is to become of you?' she +continued.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Perhaps you will admit me here,' he said, +smiling, for he was pleased with himself. 'Turn me out when I am +in the way.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! Edmund, how delightful! See, we shall put +your high desk under the window, and your chair in your own +corner. This will be the pleasantest place in the house, with you +and your books! Dear Winifred! she did me one of her greatest +services when she made me keep this room habitable!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And I think Sophy will not object to give up +her present little room for my dressing-room. Shall you, my +dear?' said he, anxious to judge of her temper by her +reply.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't care,' she said; 'I don't want any +difference made to please me; I think that weak.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophy!' began Albinia, indignantly, but Mr. +Kendal stopped her, and made her come down, to consider of the +proposal in the study.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That study, once an oppressive rival to the +bride, now not merely vanquished, but absolutely abandoned by its +former captive!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't say anything to her,' said Mr. Kendal, +as they went downstairs. 'Of course her spirits are one +consideration, but were it otherwise, I could not see you give up +your private room.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is very kind in you, but indeed I can spare +mine better than you can,' said Albinia. 'I am afraid you will +never feel out of the whirl.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yours would be a loss to us all,' said Mr. +Kendal. 'The more inmates there are in a house, the more needful +to have them well assorted.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Just so; and that makes me +afraid--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Of me? No, Albinia, I will try not to be a +check on your spirits.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You! Oh! I meant that we should disturb +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You never disturb me, Albinia; and it is not +what it was when the children's voices were untrained and +unsubdued.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can't say much for Master Maurice's +voice.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He smiled, he had never yet found those joyous +notes de trop, and he continued, 'Your room is of value and use +to us all; mine has been of little benefit to me, and none to any +one else. I wish I could as easily leave behind me all the habits +I have fostered there.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Edmund, it is too good! When poor Sophy +recovers her senses she will feel it, for I believe that morning +room would have been a great loss to her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was too much to ask in her present state. I +should have come to the same conclusion without her showing how +much this plan cost her, for nothing can be plainer than that +while she continues subject to these attacks, she must have some +retreat.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yet,' ventured Albinia, 'if you think solitude +did you no good, do you think letting these fits have their swing +is good for Sophy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I <i>cannot</i> drive her about! They must not +be harshly treated,' he answered quickly. 'Resistance can only +come from within; compulsion is worse than useless. Poor child, +it is piteous to watch that state of dull misery! On other +grounds, I am convinced this is the best plan. The communication +with the offices will prevent that maid from being always on the +stairs. Mrs. Meadows will have her own visitors more easily, and +will get out of doors sooner, and I think she will be better +pleased.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, it will be a much better plan for every +one but Mr. Kendal himself,' said Albinia; 'and if he can be +happy with us, we shall be all the happier. So this was the old +sitting-room!' 'Yes, I knew them first here,' he said. 'It used +to be cheerful then, and I dare say you can make it the same +again. We must dismantle it before Mrs. Meadows or Maria come to +see it, or it will remind them of nothing but the days when I was +recovering, and anything but grateful for their attention. Yes,' +he added, 'poor Mrs. Meadows bore most gently and tenderly with a +long course of moroseness. I am glad to have it in my power to +make any sort of amends, though it is chiefly through +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia might well be very happy! It was her +moment of triumph, and whatever might be her fears for the +future, and uneasiness at Sophy's discontent, nothing could take +away the pleasure of finding herself deliberately preferred to +the study.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy did not fail to make another protest, and +when told that 'it was not solely on her account,' the shame of +having fancied herself so important, rendered her ill-humour +still more painful and deplorable. It was vain to consult her +about the arrangements, she would not care about anything, except +that by some remarkable effect of her perverse condition, she had +been seized with a penchant for maize colour and blue for the +bridesmaids, and was deeply offended when Albinia represented +that they would look like a procession of macaws, and her aunt +declared that Sophy herself would be the most sacrificed by such +colours. She made herself so grim that Maria broke up the +consultation by saying good-humouredly, 'Yes, we will settle it +when Lucy comes home.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' muttered Sophy, 'Lucy is ready for any +sort of nonsense.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. and Mrs. Kendal went to Woodside to meet +Lucy, hoping that solitude would be beneficial. Albinia grieved +at the manifestations of these, her sullen fits, if only because +they made Lucy feel herself superior. In truth, Lucy was superior +in temper, amiability, and all the qualities that smooth the +course of life, and it was very pleasant to greet her pretty +bright face, so full of animation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Dear grandmamma going to live with us? Oh, how +nice! I can always take care of her when you are busy, +mamma.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That accommodating spirit was absolute +refreshment, and long before Albinia reached home the task of +keeping the household contented seemed many degrees +easier.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">A grand wedding was 'expected,' so all the +Bayford flys were bespoken three deep, a cake was ordered from +Gunter, and so many invitations sent out, that Albinia speculated +how all were to come alive out of the little +dining-room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And Mr. Kendal the presiding +gentleman!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He had hardly seemed aware of his impending +fate till the last evening, when, as the family were separating +at night, he sighed disconsolately, and said, 'I am as bad as you +are, Sophy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It awoke her first comfortable +smile.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Experience had, however, shown him that such +occasions might be survived, and he was less to be pitied than +his daughter, who felt as if she and her great brown face would +be the mark of all beholders. Poor Sophy! all scenes were to her +like daguerreotypes in a bad light, she saw nothing but herself +distorted!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And yet she was glad that the period of +anticipation had consumed itself and its own horrors, and found +herself not insensible to the excitement of the occasion. Lucy +was joyous beyond description, looking very pretty, and +solicitously decorating her sister, while both bestowed the +utmost rapture on their step-mother's appearance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Having learnt at last what Bayford esteemed a +compliment, she had commissioned her London aunts to send her +what she called 'an unexceptionable garment,' and so well did +they fulfil their orders, that not only did her little son +scream, 'Mamma, pretty, pretty!' and Gilbert stand transfixed +with admiration, but it called forth Mr. Kendal's first personal +remark, 'Albinia, you look remarkably well;' and Mrs. Meadows +reckoned among the honours done to her Maria, that Mrs. Kendal +wore a beautiful silk dress, and a lace bonnet, sent down on +purpose from London!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maria Meadows made a very nice bride, leaning +on her brother-in-law, and not more agitated than became her +well. The haggard restless look had long been gone, repose had +taken away the lean sharpness of countenance, the really pretty +features had fair play, and she was astonishingly like her niece +Lucy, and did not look much older. Her bridegroom was so beaming +and benignant, that it might fairly be hoped that even if force +of habit should bring back fretfulness, he had a stock of +happiness sufficient for both. The chairs were jammed so tight +round the table, that it was by a desperate struggle that people +took their seats, and Mr. Dusautoy's conversation was a series of +apologies for being unable to keep his elbows out of his +neighbours' way while carving, and poor Sophy, whose back was not +two feet from the fire, was soon obliged to retreat. She had +gained the door before any one perceived her, and then her +brother and sister both followed; Albinia was obliged to leave +her to their care, being in the innermost recesses, where moving +was impossible.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was not much the matter, she only wanted +rest, and Gilbert undertook to see her safely home.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I shall be heartily glad to get away,' he +said. 'There is no breathing in there, and they'll begin talking +the most intolerable nonsense presently. Besides, I want to be at +home to take baby down to the gate to halloo at the four white +horses from the King's Head. Come along, Sophy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mind you don't make her walk too fast,' said +the careful Lucy, 'and take care how you take off your muslin, +Sophy, you had better go to the nursery for help.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert did not seem inclined to hurry his +sister as they came near Madame Belmarche's. He lingered, and +presently said, 'Should you be too tired to come in here for a +moment? it was an intolerable shame that none of them were +asked.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mamma did beg for Genevieve, but there was so +little room, and the Drurys did not like it. Mrs. Drury said it +would only be giving her a taste for things above her +station.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then Mrs. Drury should never come out of the +scullery. I am sure she looks as if her station was to black the +kettles!' cried Gilbert, with some domestic confusion in his +indignation. 'Didn't she look like a housekeeper with her +mistress's things on by mistake?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She did not look like mamma, certainly,' said +Sophy. 'Mamma looked no more aware that she had on those pretty +things than if she had been in her old grey--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mamma--yes--Mrs. Drury might try seventy years +to look like mamma, or Genevieve either! Put Genevieve into satin +or into brown holland, you couldn't help her looking ten times +more the lady than Mrs. Drury ever will! But come in, I have got +a bit of the cake for them here, and they will like to see you +all figged out, as they have missed all the rest of the show. +Aunt Maria might have cared for her old mistress!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy wished to be amiable, and refrained from +objecting.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was a holiday in honour of <i>cette chere +eleve</i> of five-and-twenty years since, and the present pupils +were from their several homes watching for the first apparition +of the four greys from the King's Head, with the eight white +satin rosettes at their eight ears.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Madame Belmarche and her daughter were +discovered in the parlour, cooking with a stew pan over the fire +a concoction which Sophy guessed to be a conserve of the +rose-leaves yearly begged of the pupils, which were chiefly +useful as serving to be boiled up at any leisure moment, to make +a cosmetic for Mademoiselle's complexion. She had diligently used +it these forty-five years, but the effect was not encouraging, as +brown, wrinkled, with her frizzled front awry, with not stainless +white apron, and a long pewter spoon, she turned round to +confront the visitors in their wedding finery.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But what Frenchwoman ever was disconcerted? +Away went the spoon, forward she sprang, both hands outstretched, +and her little black eyes twinkling with pleasure. 'Ah! but this +is goodness itself,' said she, in the English wherein she +flattered herself no French idiom appeared. 'You are come to let +us participate in your rejoicing. Let me but summon Genevieve, +the poor child is at every free moment trying to perfectionnate +her music in the school-room.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Madame Belmarche had arisen to receive the +guests with her dignified courtesy and heartfelt felicitations, +which were not over when Genevieve tripped in, all freshness and +grace, with her neat little collar, and the dainty black apron +that so prettily marked her slender waist. One moment, and she +had arranged a resting-place for Sophy, and as she understood +Gilbert's errand, quickly produced from a corner-cupboard a +plate, on which he handed it to the two other ladies, who +meanwhile paid their compliments in the most perfect +style.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The history of the morning was discussed, and +Madame Belmarche described her sister's wedding, and the +curiosity which she had shared with the bride for the first sight +of '<i>le futur</i>,' when the two sisters had been brought from +their convent for the marriage.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But how could she get to like him?' cried +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My sister was too well brought up a young girl +to acknowledge a preference,' replied Madame Belmarche. 'Ah! my +dear, you are English; you do not understand these +things.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' said Sophy, 'I can't understand how +people can marry without loving. How miserable they must +be!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'On the contrary, my dear, especially if one +continued to live with one's mother. It is far better to earn the +friendship and esteem of a husband than to see his love grow +cold.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And was your sister happy?' asked Sophy, +abruptly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah, my dear, never were husband and wife more +attached. My brother-in-law joined the army of the Prince de +Conde, and never was seen after the day of Valmy; and my sister +pined away and died of grief. My daughter and granddaughter go to +the Catholic burying-ground at Hadminster on her fete day, to +dress her grave with immortelles.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Now Sophy knew why the strip of garden grew so +many of the grey-leaved, woolly-stemmed, little yellow-and-white +everlasting flowers. Good madame began to regret having saddened +her on this day of joy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! no,' said Sophy, 'I like sad things +best.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mais, non, my child, that is not the way to go +through life,' said the old lady, affectionately. 'Look at me; +how could I have lived had I not always turned to the bright +side? Do not think of sorrow, it, is always near +enough.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">This conversation had made an impression on +Sophy, who took the first opportunity of expressing her +indignation at the system of <i>mariages de +convenance</i>.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And, mamma, she said if people began with +love, it always grew cold. Now, has not papa loved you better and +better every day?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia could not be displeased, though it made +her blush, and she could not answer such a home push. 'We don't +quite mean the same things,' she said evasively. 'Madame is +thinking of passion independent of esteem or confidence. But, +Sophy, this is enough even for a wedding-day. Let us leave it off +with our finery, and resume daily life.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Only tell me one thing, mamma.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She paused and brought it out with an effort. +It had evidently occupied her for a long time. 'Mamma, must not +every one with feeling be in love once in their life?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well done, reserve!' thought Albinia--'but she +is only a child, after all; not a blush, only those great eyes +seeming ready to devour my answer. What ought it to be? Whatever +it is, she will brood on it till her time comes. I must begin, or +I shall grow nervous: "Dear Sophy, these are not things good to +think upon. There is quite enough to occupy a Christian woman's +heart and soul without that--no need for her feelings to shrivel +up for want of exercise. No, I don't believe in the passion once +in the life being a fate, and pray don't you, my Sophy, or you +may make yourself very silly, or very unhappy, or +both."'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy drew up her head, and her brown skin +glowed. Albinia feared that she had said the wrong thing, and +affronted her, but it was all working in the dark.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">At any rate the sullenness was dissipated, and +there were no tokens of a recurrence. Sophy set herself to find +ways of making amends for the past, and as soon as she had begun +to do little services for grandmamma, she seemed to have +forgotten her gloomy anticipations, even while some of them were +partly realized. For as it would be more than justice to human +nature to say that Mrs. Meadows's residence at Willow Lawn was a +perfect success, so it would be less than justice to call it a +failure.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">To put the darker side first. Grandmamma's +interest in life was to know the proceedings of the whole +household, and comment on each. Now Albinia could endure +housewifely advice, some espionage on her servants, and even +counsel about her child; but she could not away with the anxiety +that would never leave Sophy alone, tried to force her +sociability, and regretted all extra studies, unable to perceive +the delicate treatment her disposition needed. And Sophy, in the +intolerance of early girlhood, was wretched at hearing poor +grandmamma's petty views, and narrow, ignorant prejudices. She +might resolve to be filial and agreeable, but too often found +herself just achieving a moody, disgusted silence, or else +bursting out with some true but unbecoming reproof.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">On the whole, all did well. Mrs. Meadows was +happy; she enjoyed the animation of the larger party, liked their +cheerful faces, grew fond of Maurice, and daily more dependent on +Lucy and Mrs. Kendal. Probably she had never before had so much +of her own way, and her gentle placid nature was left to rest, +instead of being constantly worried. Her son-in-law was kind and +gracious, though few words passed between them, and he gave her a +sense of protection. Indeed, his patience and good-humour were +exemplary; he never complained even when he was driven from the +dining-room by the table-cloth, to find Maurice rioting in the +morning-room, and a music lesson in the drawing-room, or still +worse, when he heard the Drurys everywhere; and he probably would +have submitted quietly for the rest of his life, had not Albinia +insisted on bringing forward the plan of building.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When Captain and Mrs. Pringle returned to +Bayford to take leave, they found grandmamma so thoroughly at +home, that Maria could find no words to express her gratitude. +Maria herself could hardly have been recognised, she had grown so +like her husband in look and manner! If her sentences did not +always come to their legitimate development, they no longer +seemed blown away by a frosty wind, but pushed aside by fresh +kindly impulses, and her pride in the Captain, and the rest in +his support, had set her at peace with all the world and with +herself. A comfortable, comely, happy matron was she, and even +her few weeks beyond the precincts of Bayford had done something +to enlarge her mind.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was as if her education had newly begun. The +fixed aim, and the union with a practical man, had opened her +faculties, not deficient in themselves, but contracted and nipped +by the circumstances which she had not known how to turn to good +account. Such a fresh stage in middle life comes to some few, +like the midsummer shoot to repair the foliage that has suffered +a spring blight; but it cannot be reckoned on, and Mrs. Pringle +would have been a more effective and self-possessed woman, a +better companion to her husband, and with more root in herself, +had Maria Meadows learnt to tune her nerves and her temper in the +overthrow of her early hopes.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XIV.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice Ferrars was a born architect, with such +a love of brick and mortar, that it was meritorious in him not to +have overbuilt Fairmead parsonage. With the sense of giving him +an agreeable holiday, his sister wrote to him in February that +Gilbert's little attic was at his service if he would come and +give his counsel as to the building project.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal disliked the trouble and disturbance +as much as Maurice loved it; but he quite approved and submitted, +provided they asked him no questions; he gave them free leave to +ruin him, and set out to take Sophy for a drive, leaving the +brother and sister to their calculations. Of ruin, there was not +much danger, Mr. Kendal had a handsome income, and had always +lived within it; and Albinia's fortune had not appeared to her a +reason for increased expense, so there was a sufficient sum in +hand to enable Mr. Ferrars to plan with freedom.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">A new drawing-room, looking southwards, with +bedrooms over it, was the matter of necessity; and Albinia wished +for a bay-window, and would like to indulge Lucy by a +conservatory, filling up the angle to the east with glass doors +opening into the drawing-room and hall. Maurice drew, and she +admired, and thought all so delightful, that she began to be +taken with scruples as to luxury.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' said Maurice, 'these are not mere +luxuries. You have full means, and it is a duty to keep your +household fairly comfortable and at ease. Crowded as you are with +rather incongruous elements, you are bound to give them space +enough not to clash.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'They don't clash, except poor Sophy. Gilbert +and Lucy are elements of union, with more plaster of Paris than +stone in their nature.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Pray, has Kendal made up his mind what to do +with Gilbert?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have heard nothing lately; I hope he is +grown too old for India.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gilbert is rather too well off for his good,' +said Mr. Ferrars; 'the benefit of a profession is not evident +enough.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I know what I wish! If he could but be Mr. +Dusautoy's curate, in five or six years' time, what glorious +things we might do with the parish!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Eh! is that his wish?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have sometimes hoped that his mind is taking +that turn. He is ready to help in anything for the poor people. +Once he told me he never wished to look beyond Bayford for +happiness or occupation; but I did not like to draw him out, +because of his father's plans. Why, what have you drawn? The +alms-houses?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I could do no other when I was improving +Gilbert's house for him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That would be the real improvement! How +pretty! I will keep them for him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The second post came in, bringing a letter from +Gilbert to his father, and Albinia was so much surprised, that +her brother asked whether Gilbert were one of the boys who only +write to their father with a reason.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He can write more freely to me,' said Albinia; +'and it comes to the same thing. I am not in the least afraid of +anything wrong, but perhaps he may be making some proposal for +the future. I want to know how he is. Fancy his being so foolish +as to go out bathing. I am afraid of his colds.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Many times during the consultation did Mr. +Ferrars detect Albinia's eye stealing wistfully towards that 'E. +Kendal, Esq.;' and when the proper owner came in, he was +evidently as much struck, for he paused, as if in dread of +opening the letter. Her eyes were on his countenance as he read, +and did not gather much consolation. 'I am afraid this is +serious,' at last he said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'His cold?' exclaimed Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Mr. Kendal, reading aloud sentence +by sentence, with gravity and consideration.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do not wish to alarm Mrs. Kendal, and +therefore address myself at once to you, for I do not think it +right to keep you in ignorance that I have had some of the old +symptoms. I do not wish to make any one uneasy about me, and I +may have made light of the cold I caught a month since; but I +cannot conceal from myself that I have much painful cough, an +inclination to shortness of breath, and pain in the back and +shoulders, especially after long reading or writing. I thought it +right to speak to Mr. Downton, but people in high health can +understand nothing short of a raging fever; however, at last he +called in the parish surgeon, a stupid, ignorant fellow, who +understands my case no more than his horse, and treats me with +hyoscyamus, as if it were a mere throat-cough. I thought it my +duty to speak openly, since, though I am quite aware that +circumstances make little difference in constitutional cases, I +know you and dear Mrs. Kendal will wish that all possible means +should be used, and I think it--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal broke down, and handed the letter to +his wife, who proceeded,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think it best you should be prepared for the +worst, as I wish and endeavour to be; and truly I see so much +trial and disappointment in the course of life before me, that it +would hardly be the worst to me, except--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That sentence finished Albinia's voice, and +stealing her hand into her husband's, she read on in +silence,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'for the additional sorrow to you, and my grief +at bringing pain to my more than mother, but she has long known +of the presentiment that has always hung over me, and will be the +better prepared for its realization. If it would be any +satisfaction to you, I could easily take a ticket, and go up to +London to see any physician you would prefer. I could go with +Price, who is going for his sister's birthday, and I could sleep +at his father's house; but, in that case, I should want three +pounds journey money, and I should be very glad if you would be +so kind as to let me have a sovereign in advance of my allowance, +as Price knows of a capital secondhand bow and arrows. With my +best love to all,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Your affectionate son,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'GILBERT KENDAL.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia held the letter to her brother, to whom +she looked for something cheering, but, behold! a smile was +gaining uncontrollably on the muscles of his cheeks, though his +lips strove hard to keep closely shut. She would not look at him, +and turning to her husband, exclaimed, 'We will take him to +London ourselves!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am afraid that would be inconvenient,' +observed Maurice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That would not signify,' continued Albinia; 'I +must hear myself what is thought of him, and how I am to nurse +him. Oh! taking it in time, dear Edmund, we need not be so much +afraid! Maurice will not mind making his visit another +time.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I only meant inconvenient to the birthday +party,' drily said her brother.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Maurice!' cried she, 'you don't know the +boy!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have no doubt that he has a +cold.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And I know there is a great deal more the +matter!' cried Albinia. 'We have let him go away to be neglected +and badly treated! My poor, dear boy! Edmund, I will fetch him +home to-morrow.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You had better send me,' said Maurice, +mischievously, for he saw he was diminishing Mr. Kendal's alarm, +and had a brotherly love of teasing Albinia, and seeing how +pretty she looked with her eyes flashing through wrathful tears, +and her foot patting impetuously on the carpet.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You!' she cried; 'you don't believe in him! +You fancy all boys are made of iron and steel--you would only +laugh at him--you made us send him there--I wish--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gently, gently, my dear Albinia,' said her +husband, dismayed at her vehemence, just when it most amused her +brother. 'You cannot expect Maurice to feel exactly as we do, and +I confess that I have much hope that this alarm may be more than +adequate.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He thinks it all a scheme!' said Albinia, in a +tone of great injury.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, indeed, Albinia,' answered her brother, +seriously, 'I fully believe that Gilbert imagines all that he +tells you, but you cannot suppose that either the tutor or doctor +could fail to see if he were so very ill.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Certainly not,' assented Mr. +Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And low spirits are more apt to accompany a +slight ailment, than such an illness as you +apprehend.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I believe you are right,' said Mr. Kendal. +'Where is the letter?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia did not like it to come under +discussion, but could not withhold it, and as she read it again, +she felt that neither Maurice nor her cousin Fred could have +written the like, but she was only the more impelled to do +battle, and when she came to the unlucky conclusion, she +exclaimed, 'I am sure that was an afterthought. I dare say Price +asked him while he was writing.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What's this?' asked Mr. Kendal, coming to the +'presentiment.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She hesitated, afraid both of him and of +Maurice, but there was no alternative. 'Poor Gilbert!' she said. +'It was a cry or call from his brother just at last. It has left +a very deep impression.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Indeed!' said his father, much moved. 'Yes. +Edmund gave a cry such as was not to be forgotten,' and the sigh +told how it had haunted his own pillow; 'but I had not thought +that Gilbert was in a condition to notice it. Did he mention it +to you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, not long after I came, he thinks it was a +call, and I have never known exactly how to deal with +it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is a case for very tender handling,' said +Maurice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I should have desired him never to think of it +again,' said Mr. Kendal, decidedly. 'Mere nonsense to dwell on +it. Their names were always in Edmund's mouth, and it was nothing +but accident. You should have told him so, Albinia.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And he walked out of the room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! it will prey upon him now,' said +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, I thought he only spoke of driving it +away because it was what he would like to be able to do. But +things do not prey on people of his age as they do on younger +ones.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wonder if I did right,' said Albinia. 'I +never liked to ask you, though I wished it. I could not bear to +treat it as a fancy. How was I to know, if it may not have been +intended to do him good? And you see his father says it was very +remarkable.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you imagine that it dwells much upon his +mind?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not when he is well--not when it would do him +good,' said Albinia; 'it rather haunts him the instant he is +unwell.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He makes it a superstition, then, poor boy! +You thought me hard on him, Albinia; but really I could not help +being angry with him for so lamentably frightening his father and +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Let us see how he is before you find fault +with him,' said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You're as bad as if you were his mother, or +worse!' exclaimed Maurice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! Maurice, I can't help it! He had no one to +care for him till I came, and he is such a very dear fellow--he +wants me so much!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars agreed to go with Mr. Kendal to +Traversham. He thought his father would be encouraged by his +presence, and he was not devoid of curiosity. Albinia would not +hear of staying at home; in fact, Maurice suspected her of being +afraid to trust Gilbert to his mercy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">With a trembling heart she left the train at +the little Traversham station, making resolutions neither to be +too angry with the negligent tutor, nor to show Gilbert how much +importance she attached to his illness.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">As they walked into the village, they heard a +merry clamour of tongue, and presently met five or six boys, and, +a few paces behind them, Mr. Downton.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah!' he exclaimed, 'I am glad you are come. I +would have written yesterday, but that I found your boy had done +so. I shall be very glad to have him cheered up about himself. I +will turn back with you. You go on, Price. They are setting out +for one of Hullah's classes, so we shall have the house +clear.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope there is not much amiss?' said Mr. +Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A tedious cold,' said the tutor; 'but the +doctor assures me that there is nothing wrong with his chest, and +I do believe he would not cough half so much, if he were not +always watching himself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Who has been attending him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Lee, the union doctor, a very good man, with a +large family,' (Albinia could have beaten him). 'Indeed,' he +continued perceiving some dissatisfied looks, 'I think you will +find that a little change is all that he wants.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope you can give a good account of him in +other respects?' said Mr. Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! yes, in every way; he is the most +good-natured lad in the world, and quite the small boys' friend. +Perhaps he has been a little more sentimental of late, but that +may be only from being rather out of order. I'll call +him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The last words were spoken as they entered the +parsonage, where opening a door, he said, 'Here, Kendal, here's a +new prescription for you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia had a momentary view of a tabby-cat and +kitten, a volume of poetry, a wiry-haired terrier, and Gilbert, +all lying promiscuously on the hearth-rug, before the two last +leaped up, the one to bark, and the other to come forward with +outstretched hand, and glad countenance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He looked flushed and languid, but the roaring +fire and close room might account for that, and though, when the +subject was mentioned, he gave a short uncomfortable cough, +Albinia's mind was so far relieved, that she was in doubt with +whom to be angry, and prepared to stand on the defensive, should +her brother think him too well.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The gentlemen went away together, and Gilbert, +grasping her hand, gave way to one of his effusions of +affection-- 'So kind to come to him--he knew he had her to trust +to, whatever happened'--and he leant his cheek on his hand in a +melancholy mood.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't be so piteous, Gibbie,' she said. 'You +were quite right to tell us you were not well, only you need not +have been so very doleful, I don't like papa to be +frightened.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I thought it was no use to go on in this way,' +said Gilbert, with a cough: 'it was the old thing over again, and +nobody would believe I had anything the matter with +me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And he commenced a formidable catalogue of +symptoms which satisfied her that Maurice would think him fully +justified. Just at a point where it was not easy to know what +next to say, the kitten began to play tricks with her mother's +tail, and a happy diversion was made; Gilbert began to exhibit +the various drolleries of the animals, to explain the friendship +between dog and cat, and to leave off coughing as he related +anecdotes of their sagacity; and finally, when the gentlemen +returned, laughing was the first sound they heard, and Mrs. +Kendal was found sitting on the floor at play with the +livestock.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They had come to fetch her to see the church +and schools, and on going out, she found that Mr. Ferrars had +moved and carried that Gilbert should be taken home at once, and, +on the way, be shown to a physician at the county town. From this +she gathered that Maurice was compassionate, and though, of +course, he would make no such admission, she had reason +afterwards to believe that he had shown Mr. Downton that the +pupil's health ought to have met with a shade more +attention.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">With Gilbert wrapped up to the tip of his nose, +they set off, and found the doctor at home. Nothing could have +been more satisfactory to Albinia, for it gave her a triumph over +her brother, without too much anxiety for the future. The +physician detected the injury to the lungs left by an attack that +the boy had suffered from in his first English winter, and had +scarcely outgrown when Albinia first knew him. The recent cold +had so far renewed the evil, that though no disease actually +existed, the cough must be watched, and exposure avoided; in +fact, a licence for petting to any extent was bestowed, and +therewith every hope of recovery.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia and her son sat in their corners of the +carriage in secret satisfaction, while Mr. Kendal related the +doctor's opinion to Mr. Ferrars, but one of them, at least, was +unprepared for the summing-up. 'Under the circumstances, Gilbert +is most fortunate. A few years in his native climate will quite +set him up.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! but he is too old for Haileybury,' burst +out Albinia, in her consternation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nearly old enough for John Kendal's bank, eh, +Gilbert?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh!' cried Albinia, 'pray don't let us talk of +that while poor Gilbert is so ill.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Hm!' said Mr. Kendal with interrogative +surprise, almost displeasure, and no more was said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia felt guilty, as she remembered that she +had no more intended to betray her dislike to the scheme, than to +gratify Gilbert by calling him 'so ill.' Aristocratic and +military, she had no love for the monied interest, and had so +sedulously impressed on her friends that Mr. Kendal had been in +the Civil Service, and quite unconnected with the bank, that Mr. +Ferrars had told her she thought his respectability depended on +it, and she was ashamed that her brother should hear her give way +again so foolishly to the weakness.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert became the most talkative as they drew +near home, and was the first to spring out and open the hall +door, displaying his two sisters harnessed tandem-fashion with +packthread, and driven at full speed by little Maurice, armed +with the veritable carriage whip! The next moment it was thrown +down, with a rapturous shout, and Maurice was lost to everything +but his brother!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! girls, how could you let him serve you +so?' began the horrified Albinia. 'Sophy will be laid up for a +week!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Never mind,' said Sophy, dropping on a chair. +'Poor little fellow, he wished it so much!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I tried to stop her, mamma,' said Lucy, 'but +she will do as Maurice pleases.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'See, this is the way they will spoil my boy, +the instant my back is turned!' said Albinia. 'What's the use of +all I can do with him, if every one else will go and be his +bond-slave! I do believe Sophy would let him kill her, if he +asked her!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is no real kindness,' said Mr. Kendal. +'Their good-nature ought not to go beyond reason.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The elder Maurice could hardly help shrugging +his shoulders. Well did he know that Mr. Kendal would have joined +the team if such had been the will of that sovereign in scarlet +merino, who stood with one hand in Gilbert's, and the whip in the +other.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Come here, Maurice,' quoth Albinia; 'put down +the whip,' and she extracted it from his grasp, with grave +resolution, against which he made no struggle, gave it to Lucy to +be put away, and seated him on her knee. 'Now listen, Maurice; +poor sister Sophy is tired, and you are never to make a horse of +her. Do you hear?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Maurice, fidgeting.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mind, if ever you make a horse of Sophy, mamma +will put you into the black cupboard. You understand?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophy shan't be horse,' said Maurice. 'Sophy +naughty, lazy horse. Boy has Gibbie--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There's gratitude,' said Mr. Ferrars, as 'Boy' +slid off his mamma's knee, stood on tiptoe to pull the door open, +and ran after Gilbert to grandmamma's room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Albinia, 'no one is grateful for +services beyond all reason. So, Sophy, mind, into the cupboard he +goes, the very next time you are so silly as to be a +horse.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'To punish which of them?' asked her +brother.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophy knows,' said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy was too miserable to smile. Sarah Anne +Drury had been calling, and on hearing of Gilbert's +indisposition, had favoured them with 'mamma's remarks,' and when +Mrs. Kendal was blamed, Sophy had indignantly told Sarah Anne +that she knew nothing about it, and had no business to interfere. +Then followed the accusation, that Mrs. Kendal had set the whole +family against their old friends, and Sophy had found all her own +besetting sins charged upon her step-mother.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear!' said Albinia, 'don't you know that +if a royal tiger were to eat up your cousin John in India, the +Drurys would say Mrs. Kendal always let the tigers run about +loose! Nor am I sure that your faults are not my fault. I helped +you to be more exclusive and intolerant, and I am sure I tried +your temper, when I did not know what was the matter with +you--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No--no,' said the choked voice. It would have +been an immense comfort to cry, or even to be able to return the +kiss; but she was a great deal too wretched to be capable of any +demonstration; physically exhausted by being driven about by +Maurice; mentally worn out by the attempts to be amiable, which +had degenerated into wrangling, full of remorse for having made +light of her brother's illness, and, for that reason, persuaded +that she was to be punished by seeing it become fatal. Not a word +of all this did she say, but, dejected and silent, she spent the +evening in a lonely corner of the drawing-room, while her +brother, in the full pleasure of returning home, and greatly +enjoying his invalid privileges, was discussing the projected +improvements.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Talking at last brought back his cough with +real violence, and he was sent to bed; Albinia went up with him +to see that his fire burnt. He set Mr. Ferrars's drawing of the +alms-houses over his mantelshelf. 'I shall nail it up to-morrow,' +he said. 'I always wanted a picture here, and that's a jolly one +to look to.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It would be a beautiful beginning,' she said. +'I think your life would go the better for it, +Gibbie.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I suppose old nurse would be too grand for +one,' he said, 'but I should like to have her so near! And you +must mind and keep old Mrs. Baker out of the Union for it. And +that famous old blind sailor! I shall put him up a bench to sit +in the sun, and spin his yarns on, and tell him to think himself +at Greenwich.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia went down, only afraid that his being +so very good was a dangerous symptom.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy was far from well in the morning, and +Albinia kept her upstairs, and sent her godfather to make her a +visit. He always did her good; he knew how to probe deeply, and +help her to speak, and he gave her advice with more experience +than his sister, and more encouragement than her +father.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy said little, but her eyes had a softened +look.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'One good thing about Sophy,' said he +afterwards to his sister, 'is, that she will never talk her +feelings to death.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That reserve is my great pain. I don't get at +the real being once in six months.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So much the better for people living +together.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, I was thinking that you and I are a +great deal more intimate and confidential when we meet now, than +we used to be when we were always together.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'People can't be often confidential from the +innermost when they live together,' said Maurice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Since I have been a Kendal, such has been my +experience.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was the same before, only we concealed it +by an upper surface of chatter,' said Maurice. '"As iron +sharpeneth iron, so doth a man the countenance of his friend;" +but if the mutual sharpening went on without intermission, both +irons would wear away, and no work would be done. Aren't you +coming with me? Edmund is going to drive me to Woodside to meet +the pony-carriage from home.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wish I could; but you see what happens when +I go out pleasuring!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, you can take one element of mischief +with you--that imp, Maurice.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ye--es. Papa would like it, if you +do.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I should like you to come on worse +terms.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very well, then; and Sophy is safe; I had +already asked Genevieve to come and read to her this afternoon. +If Gilbert can spare me, I will go.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert did not want her, and begged Lucy not +to think of staying indoors on his account. He was presently left +in solitary possession of the drawing-room, whereupon he rose, +settled his brown locks at the glass, arranged his tie, brushed +his cuffs, leisurely walked upstairs, and tapped at the door of +the morning-room, meekly asking, 'May I come in?' with a cough at +each end of the sentence.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! Gilbert!' cried his anxious sister, +starting up. 'Are you come to see me?' and she would have wheeled +round her father's arm-chair for him, but Genevieve was +beforehand with her, and he sank into it, saying pathetically, +'Ah! thank you, Miss Durant; you are come to a perfect hospital. +Oh! this is too much,' as she further gave him a footstool. 'Oh! +no, thank you, Sophy,' for she would have handed Genevieve her +own pillow for his further support; 'this is delightful!' +reclining pathetically in his chair. 'This is not like +Traversham.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Where they would not believe he was ill!' said +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope he does not look so very ill,' said +Genevieve, cheerfully, but this rather hurt the feelings of both; +the one said, 'Oh! but he is terribly pale,' the other coughed, +and said, 'Looks are deceitful.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That is the very reason,' said Genevieve. 'You +don't look deceitful enough to be so ill--so ill as Miss Sophie +fears; now you are at home, and well cared for, you will soon be +well.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Care would have prevented it all,' said +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And not brought me home!' said Gilbert. 'Home +is home on any terms. No one there had the least idea a fellow +could ever be unwell or out of spirits!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! you must have been ill,' cried his sister, +'you who never used to be miserable!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert gave a sigh. 'They were such mere +boys,' he said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'<i>Monsieur votre Precepteur?</i>' asked +Genevieve.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! he was otherwise occupied!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There is some mystery beneath,' said +Genevieve, turning to Sophy, who exclaimed abruptly, 'Oh! is he +in love?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophy goes to the point,' said Gilbert, +smiling, the picture of languid comfort; 'but I own there are +suspicious circumstances. He always has a photograph in his +pocket, and Price has seen him looking at it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! depend upon it, Miss Sophy, it is all a +romance of these young gentlemen,' said Genevieve, turning to her +with a droll provoking air of confidence; '<i>ce pauvre +Monsieur</i> had the portrait of his sister!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Catch me carrying Sophy's face in my waistcoat +pocket, cried Gilbert, forgetting his languor.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Speak for yourself, Mr. Gilbert,' laughed +Genevieve.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And he writes letters every day, and wont let +any of us put them into the post for him; but we know the +direction begins with Miss--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! the curious boys!' cried Genevieve. 'If I +could only hint to this poor tutor to let them read Miss Downton +on one!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I assure you,' cried Gilbert, 'Price has laid +a bet that she's an heiress with forty thousand pounds and red +hair.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mr. Price is an impertinent! I hope you will +inform me how he looks when he is the loser.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But he has seen her! He met Mr. Downton last +Christmas in Regent Street, in a swell carriage, with a lady with +such carrots, he thought her bonnet was on fire; and Mr. Downton +never saw Price, though he bowed to him, and you know nobody +would marry a woman with red hair unless she was an +heiress.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Miss Sophy,' whispered Genevieve, 'prepare for +a red-haired sister-in-law. I predict that every one of the +pupils of the respectable Mr. Downton will marry ladies with +lively chestnut locks.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What, you think me so mercenary, Genevieve?' +said Gilbert.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I only hope to see this school-boy logic well +revenged!' said Genevieve. 'Mrs. Price shall have locks of orange +red, and for Mrs. Gilbert Kendal--ah! we will content ourselves +with her having a paler shade--sandy gold.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' said Gilbert, speaking slowly, turning +round his eyes. 'I could tell you what Mrs. G. Kendal's hair will +be--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve let this drop, and said, 'You do not +want me: good-bye, Miss Sophie.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Going! why, you came to read to me, +Genevieve,' exclaimed Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! I beg your pardon, I have been +interrupting you all this time,' cried Gilbert; 'I never meant to +disturb you. Pray let me listen.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And Genevieve read while Gilbert resumed his +reclining attitude, with half-closed eyes, listening to the sweet +intonations and pretty refined accent of the <i>ancien +regime</i>.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy enjoyed this exceedingly, she made it her +especial occupation to take care of Gilbert, and enter into his +fireside amusements. This indisposition had drawn the two nearer +together, and essentially unlike as they were, their two +characters seemed to be fitting well one into the other. His +sentiment accorded with her strain of romance, and they read +poetry and had discussions as they sat over the fire, growing +constantly into greater intimacy and confidence. Sophy waited on +him, and watched him perpetually, and her assiduity was imparting +a softness and warmth quite new to her, while the constant +occupation kept affronts and vexations out of her sight, and made +her amiable.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert's health improved, though with +vicissitudes that enforced the necessity of prudence. Rash when +well, and desponding at each renewal of illness, he was not easy +to manage, but he was always so gentle, grateful, and obliging, +that he endeared himself to the whole household. It was no +novelty for him to be devoted to his step-mother and his little +brother, but he was likewise very kind to Lucy, and spent much +time in helping in her pursuits; he was becoming companionable to +his father, and could play at chess sufficiently well to be a +worthy antagonist in Mr. Kendal's scientific and interminable +games. He would likewise play at backgammon with grandmamma, and +could entertain her for hours together by listening to her long +stories of the old Bayford world. He was a favourite in her +little society, and would often take a hand at cards to make up a +rubber, nay, even when not absolutely required, he was very apt +to bestow his countenance upon the little parties, where he had +the pleasure of being treated as a great man, and which, at +least, had the advantage of making a variation in his +imprisonment during the east winds.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Madame Belmarche and her daughter and +grandchild were sometimes of the party, and on these occasions, +Sophy always claimed Genevieve, and usually succeeded in carrying +her off when Gilbert would often join them. Their books and +prints were a great treat to her; Gilbert had a beautiful +illustrated copy of Longfellow's poems, and the engravings and +'Evangeline' were their enjoyment; Gilbert regularly proffering +the loan of the book, and she as regularly refusing it, and +turning a deaf ear to gentle insinuations of the pleasure of +knowing that an book of his was in her hands. Gilbert had never +had much of the schoolboy manner, and he was adopting a gentle, +pathetic tone, at which Albinia was apt to laugh, but in her +absence was often verged upon <i>tendresse</i>, especially with +Genevieve. She, however, by her perfect simplicity and lively +banter, always nipped the bud of his sentiment, she had known him +from a child, and never lost the sense of being his elder, +treating him somewhat as a boy to be played with. Perfectly aware +of her own position, her demeanour, frank and gracious as it was, +had something in it which kept in check other Bayford youths less +gentlemanlike than Gilbert Kendal. If she never forgot that she +was dancing-master's daughter, she never let any one else forget +that she was a lady.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When the building began, Gilbert had a +wholesome occupation, saving his father some trouble and--not +quite so much expense by overlooking the workmen. Mr. Kendal was +glad to be spared giving orders and speaking to people, and would +always rather be overcharged than be at the pains of bargaining +or inquiring. 'It was Gilbert's own house,' he said, 'and it was +good for the boy to take an interest in it, and not to be too +much interfered with.' So the bay window and the conservatory +were some degrees grander than Mr. Ferrars had proposed but all +was excused by the pleasure and experience they afforded Gilbert, +and it was very droll to see Maurice following him about after +the workmen, watching them most knowingly, and deep in mischief +at every opportunity. Once he had been up to his knees in a +tempting <i>blancmanger</i>-like lake of lime, many times had he +hammered or cut his fingers, and once his legs had gone through +the new drawing-room ceiling, where he hung by the petticoats +screaming till rescued by his brother. The room was under these +auspices finished, and was a very successful affair--the +conservatory, in which the hall terminated, and into which a side +door of the drawing-room opened, gave a bright fragrant, flowery +air to the whole house; and the low fireplace and comfortable +fan-shaped fender made the room very cheerful. Fresh +delicately-tinted furniture, chosen <i>con amore</i> by the +London aunts, had made the apartment very unlike old Willow-Lawn, +and Albinia had so much enjoyed setting it off to the best +advantage, that she sent word to Winifred that she was really +becoming a furniture fancier.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was a very pretty paper, and some choice +prints hung on it, but Albinia and Sophy had laid violent hands +on all the best-looking books, and kept them for the equipment of +one of the walls. The rest were disposed, for Mr. Kendal's +delectation, in the old drawing-room, henceforth to be named the +library. Lucy thought it sounded better, and he was quite as +willing as Albinia was that the name of study should be extinct. +Meantime Mr. Downton had verified the boys' prediction by writing +to announce that he was about to marry and give up +pupils.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert was past seventeen, and it was time to +decide on his profession. Albinia had virtuously abstained from +any hint adverse to the house of Kendal and Kendal, for she knew +it hurt her husband's feelings to hear any disparagement of the +country where he had spent some of his happiest years. He was +fond of his cousins, and knew that they would give his son a safe +and happy home, and he believed that the climate was exactly what +his health needed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy fired at the idea. Her constant study of +the subject and her vivid imagination had taken the place of +memory, which could supply nothing but the glow of colouring and +the dazzling haze which enveloped all the forms that she would +fain believe that she remembered. She and her father would +discuss Indian scenery as if they had been only absent from it a +year, she envied Gilbert his return thither, but owned that it +was the next thing to going herself, and was already beginning to +amass a hoard of English gifts for the old ayahs and bearers who +still lived in her recollection, in preparation for the visit +which on his first holiday her brother must pay to her birthplace +and first home.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert, however, took no part in this +enthusiasm, he made no opposition, but showed no alacrity; and at +last his father asked Albinia whether she knew of any objection +on his part, or any design which he might be unwilling to put +forward. With a beating heart she avowed her cherished +scheme.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Is this his own proposal?' asked Mr. +Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No; he has never spoken of it, but your plan +has always seemed so decided that perhaps he thinks he has no +choice.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That is not what I wish,' said his father. 'If +his inclinations be otherwise, he has only to speak, and I will +consider.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Shall I sound him?' suggested Albinia, +dreading the timidity that always stood between the boy and his +father.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do not inspire him with the wish and then +imagine it his own,' said Mr. Kendal; and then thinking he had +spoken sternly, added 'I know you would be the last to wish him +to take holy orders inconsiderately, but you have such power over +him, that I question whether he would know his wishes from +yours.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia began to disavow the desire of +actuating him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You would not intend it, but he would catch +the desire from you, and I own I would rather he were not +inspired with it. If he now should express it, I should fear it +was the unconscious effort to escape from India. If it had been +his brother Edmund, I would have made any sacrifice, but I do not +think Gilbert has the energy or force of character I should wish +to see in a clergyman, nor do I feel willing to risk him at the +university.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! Edmund, why will you distrust Oxford? Why +will you not believe what I know through Maurice and his +friends?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If my poor boy had either the disposition or +the discipline of your brother, I should not feel the same +doubt.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Maurice had no discipline except at school and +when William licked him,' cried Albinia. 'You know he was but +eleven years old when my father died, and my aunts spoilt us +without mitigation.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I said the disposition,' repeated Mr. Kendal; +'I can see nothing in Gilbert marking him for a clergyman, and I +think him susceptible to the temptations that you cannot deny to +exist at any college. Nor would I desire to see him fixed here, +until he has seen something of life and of business, for which +this bank affords the greatest facilities with the least amount +of temptation. He would also be doing something for his own +support; and with the life-interests upon his property, he must +be dependent on his own exertions, unless I were to do more for +him than would be right by the other children.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then I am to say nothing to him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I will speak to him myself. He is quite old +enough to understand his prospects and decide for +himself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But, Edmund,' cried Albinia, with sudden +vehemence, 'you are not sacrificing Gilbert for Maurice's +sake?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She had more nearly displeased him than she had +ever done before, though he looked up quietly, saying, 'Certainly +not. I am not sacrificing Gilbert, and I should do the same if +Maurice were not in existence.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was too much ashamed of her foolish fancy +to say more, and she cooled into candour sufficient to perceive +that he was wise in distrusting her tact where her preference was +so strong. But she foresaw that Gilbert would shrink and falter +before his father, and that the conference would lead to no +discovery of his views, and she was not surprised when her +husband told her that he could not understand the boy, and +believed that the truth was, that he would like to do nothing at +all. It had ended by Mr. Kendal, in a sort of despair, +undertaking to write to his cousin John for a statement of what +would be required, after which the decision was to be +made.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Meantime Mr. Kendal advised Gilbert to attend +to arithmetic and book-keeping, and offered to instruct him in +his long-forgotten Hindostanee. Sophy learnt all these with all +her heart, but Gilbert always had a pain in his chest if he sat +still at any kind of study!</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XV.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">Colonel Bury was the most open-hearted old +bachelor in the country. His imagination never could conceive the +possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his +house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of 'a few +friends' overflowed the dining-room, and his 'nobody' meant +always at least six bodies. Every season was fertile in occasions +of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little +Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that 'the +Colonel's parties made her quite dissipated.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">One bright summer day, his beaming face +appeared at Willow-Lawn with a peremptory invitation. His nephew +and heir had newly married a friend of Albinia's girlhood, and +was about to pay his wedding visit. Too happy to keep his guests +to himself, the Colonel had fixed the next Thursday for a fete, +and wanted all the world to come to it--the Kendals, every one of +them--if they could only sleep there--but Albinia brought him to +confession that he had promised to lodge five people more than +the house would hold; and the aunts were at the parsonage, where +nobody ventured to crowd their servants.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But there was a moon--and though Mr. Kendal +would not allow that she was the harvest moon, the hospitable +Colonel dilated on her as if she had been bed, board, and +lodging, and he did not find much difficulty in his +persuasions.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Few invitations ever gave more delight; Albinia +appreciated a holiday to the utmost, and the whole family was +happy at Sophy's chance of at length seeing Fairmead, and taking +part in a little gaiety. And if Mr. Kendal's expectations of +pleasure were less high, he submitted very well, smiled +benignantly at the felicity around him, and was not once seen to +shudder.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sarah Anne Drury had been invited to enliven +grandmamma, and every one augured a beautiful day and perfect +enjoyment. The morning was beautiful, but alas! Sophy was <i>hors +de combat</i>, far too unwell to think of making one of the +party. She bore the disappointment magnanimously, and even the +pity. Every one was sorry, and Gilbert wanted her to go and wait +at Fairmead Parsonage for the chance of improving, promising to +come and fetch her for any part of the entertainment; and her +father told her that he had looked to her as his chief companion +while the gay people were taking their pleasure. No one was +uncomfortably generous enough to offer to stay at home with her; +but Lucy suggested asking Genevieve to come and take care of +her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nay,' said Sophy, 'it would be much better if +she were to go in my stead.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert and Lucy both uttered an exclamation; +and Sophy added, 'She would have so much more enjoyment than I +could! Oh, it would quite make up for my missing it!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear,' said grandmamma, 'you don't know +what you are talking of. It would be taking such a +liberty.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There need be no scruples on that score,' said +Albinia; 'the Colonel would only thank me if I brought him half +Bayford.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then,' cried Sophy, 'you think we may ask her? +Oh, I should like to run up myself;'--and a look of +congratulation and gratitude passed between her and her +brother.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, indeed, you must not, let me go,' said +Lucy, 'I'll just finish this cup of tea--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear, my dear,' interposed Mrs. Meadows, +'pray consider. She is a very good little girl in her way, but it +is only giving her a taste for things out of her +station'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! don't say that, dear grandmamma,' +interposed Albinia, 'one good festival does carry one so much +better through days of toil!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah, well! my dear, you will do as you think +proper; but considering who the poor child is, I should call it +no kindness to bring her forward in company.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Something passed between the indignant Gilbert +and Sophy about French counts and marquises, but Lucy managed +much better. 'Dear me, grandmamma, nobody wishes to bring her +forward. She will only play with the children, and see the +fireworks, and no one will speak to her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia averted further discussion till +grandmamma had left the breakfast-table, when all four appealed +with one voice to Mr. Kendal, who saw no objection, whereupon +Lucy ran off, while Albinia finished her arrangements for the +well-being of grandmamma, Sophy, and Maurice, who were as +difficult to manage as the fox, goose, and cabbage. At every turn +she encountered Gilbert, touching up his toilette at each glass, +and seriously consulting her and Sophy upon the choice between +lilac and lemon-coloured gloves, and upon the bows of his fringed +neck-tie.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear Gilbert,' said Albinia, on the fifth +anxious alternative, 'it is of no use. No living creature will be +the wiser, and do what you will, you will never look half so well +as your father.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert flung aside, muttering something about +'fit to be seen,' but just then Lucy hurried in. 'Oh! mamma, she +wont go--she is very much obliged, but she can't go.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Can't! she must,' cried Albinia and Gilbert +together.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She says you are very kind, but that she +cannot. I said everything I could; I told her she should wear +Sophy's muslin mantle, or my second best polka.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No doubt you went and made a great favour of +it,' said Gilbert.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, I assure you I did not; I persuaded her +with all my might; I said mamma wished it, and we all wished it; +and I am sure she would really have been very glad if she could +have gone.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It can't be the school, it is holiday time,' +said Gilbert. 'I'll go and see what is the matter.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, I will go,' said Albinia, 'I will ask the +old ladies to luncheon here, and that will make her happy, and +make it easier for Sophy to get on with Sarah Anne +Drury.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy had seen Genevieve alone; Albinia took her +by storm before Madame Belmarche, whose little black eyes +sparkled as she assured Mrs. Kendal that the child merited that +and every other pleasure; and when Genevieve attempted to whisper +objections, silenced her with an embrace, saying, 'Ah! my love, +where is your gratitude to Madame? Have no fears for us. Your +pleasure will be ours for months to come.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The liquid sweetness of Genevieve's eyes spoke +of no want of gratitude, and with glee which she no longer strove +to repress, she tripped away to equip herself, and Albinia heard +her clear young voice upstairs, singing away the burthen of some +queer old French ditty.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia found Gilbert and Sophy in disgrace +with Lucy for having gathered the choicest flowers, which they +were eagerly making up into bouquets. Genevieve's was ready +before she arrived in the prettiest tremor of gratitude and +anticipation, and presented to her by Gilbert, whilst Sophy +looked on, and blushed crimson, face, neck, and all, as Genevieve +smelt and admired the white roses that had so cruelly been reft +from Lucy's beloved tree.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">With every advantage of pretty features, good +complexion, and nice figure, the English Lucy, in her +blue-and-white checked silk, worked muslin mantle, and white chip +bonnet with blue ribbons, was eclipsed by the small swarthy +French girl, in that very old black silk dress, and white trimmed +coarse straw bonnet, just enlivened by little pink bows at the +neck and wrists. It had long been acknowledged that Genevieve was +unrivalled in the art of tying bows, and those pink ones were +paragons, redolent of all her own fresh sprightly archness and +refinement. Albinia herself was the best representative of +English good looks, and never had she been more brilliant, her +rich chestnut hair waving so prettily on the rounded contour of +her happy face, her fair cheek tinted with such a healthy fresh +bloom, her grey eyes laughing with merry softness, her whole +person so alert and elastic with exuberant life and enjoyment, +that grandmamma was as happy in watching her as if she had been +her own daughter, and stroked down the broad flounces of her +changeable silk, and admired her black lace, as if she felt the +whole family exalted by Mrs. Kendal's appearance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was a merry journey, through the meadows and +corn-fields, laughing in the summer sunshine, and in due time +they saw the flag upon Fairmead steeple, and Albinia nodded to +curtseying old friends at the cottage doors. The lodge gate swung +open wide, and the well-known striped marquee was seen among the +trees in the distance, as they went up the carriage road; but at +the little iron gate leading to the shrubbery there was a halt; +Mr. Ferrars called to the carriage to stop, and opened the door. +At the same moment Albinia gave a cry of wonder, and exclaimed, +'Why, Fred? is William here?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No; at Montreal, but very well,' was the +answer, with a hearty shake of the hand.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Edmund, it is Fred Ferrars,' said Albinia. +'Why, Maurice, you never told us.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He took us by surprise yesterday.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes; I landed yesterday morning, went to the +Family Office, found Belraven was nowhere, and the aunts at +Fairmead, and so came on here,' explained Fred, as be finished +shaking hands with all the party, and walked on beside Albinia. +He was tall, fresh-coloured, a good deal like her, with a long +fair moustache, and light, handsome figure; and Lucy, though +rather disconcerted at Genevieve being taken for one of +themselves, began eagerly to whisper her conviction that he was +Lord Belraven's brother, mamma's first cousin, captain in the +25th Lancers, and aide-de-camp to General Ferrars.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was the first meeting since an awkward +parting. The only son of a foolish second marriage, and early +left an orphan, Frederick Ferrars bad grown up under the good +aunts' charge, somewhat neglected by his half-brother, by many +years his senior. He was little older than Albinia, and a merry, +bantering affection had always subsisted between them, till he +had begun to give it the air of something more than friendship. +Albinia was, however, of a nature to seek for something of depth +and repose, on which to rely for support and anchorage. Fred's +vivacious disposition had never for a moment won her serious +attachment; she was 'very fond of him,' but no more; her heart +was set on sharing her brother's life as a country pastor. She +went to Fairmead, Fred was carried off by the General to Canada, +and she presently heard of his hopeless attachment to a lovely +Yankee, whom he met on board the steamer. All this was now cast +behind the seven most eventful years of Albinia's life; and in +the dignity of her matronhood, she looked more than ever on 'poor +Fred' as a boy, and was delighted to see him again, and to hear +of her brother William.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">A few steps brought them to the shade of the +large cedar-tree, where was seated Winifred, and Mrs. Annesley +was with her. The greetings had hardly been exchanged before the +Colonel came upon them in all his glory, with his pretty shy +bride niece on his arm, looking very like the Alice Percy of the +old times, when Fred used to tease the two girls.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve was made heartily welcome, and +Sophia's absence deplored, and then the Colonel carried off the +younger ones to the archery, giving his arm to the much-flattered +Lucy, and followed by Gilbert and Genevieve, with Willie and Mary +adhering to them closely, and their governess in +sight.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars and Mr. Kendal fell into one of +their discussions, and paced up and down the shady walk, while +Albinia sat, in the complete contentment, between Alice and +Winifred, with Fred Ferrars on the turf at their feet, living +over again the bygone days, laughing over ancient jokes, +resuscitating past scrapes, tracing the lot of old companions, or +telling mischievous anecdotes of each other, for the very purpose +of being contradicted. They were much too light-hearted to note +the lapse of time, till Maurice came to take his wife home, +thinking she had had fatigue enough. Mrs. Annesley went with her, +and Albinia, on looking for her husband, was told that he had +fallen in with some old Indian acquaintances; and Charles Bury +presently came to find his wife, and conduct the party to +luncheon. There was no formal meal, but a perpetual refection +laid out in the dining-room, for relays of guests. Fred took care +of Albinia and here they met Miss Ferrars, who had been with one +of her old friends, to whom she was delighted to exhibit her +nephew and niece in their prime of good looks.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But I must go,' said Albinia; 'having found +the provisions, I must secure that Mr. Kendal and the children +are not famished.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Fred came with her, and she turned down the +long alley leading to the archery-ground. He felt old times so +far renewed as to resume their habits of confidence, and began, +'I suppose the General has not told you what has brought me +home?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He has not so much as told me you were +coming.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ay, ay, of course you know how he treats those +things.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh--h!' said Albinia, perfectly +understanding.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But,' continued Frederick, eagerly, 'even he +confesses that she is the very sweetest-- I mean,' as Albinia +smiled at this evident embellishment, 'even he has not a word of +objection to make except the old story about married +officers.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And who is <i>she</i>, Fred?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, mamma, there you are!' and Lucy joined +them as they emerged on the bowling-green, where stood the two +bright targets, and the groups of archers, whose shafts, for the +most part, flew far and wide.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Where are the rest, my dear? are they +shooting?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes; Gilbert has been teaching +Genevieve--there, she is shooting now.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The little light figure stood in advance. +Gilbert held her arrows, and another gentleman appeared to be +counselling her. There seemed to be general exultation when one +of her arrows touched the white ring outside the +target.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That has been her best shot,' said Lucy. 'I am +sure I would not shoot in public unless I knew how!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you not like shooting?' asked Captain +Ferrars; and Lucy smiled, and lost her discontented +air.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It hurts my fingers, she said; 'and I have +always so much to do in the garden.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia asked if she had had anything to +eat.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, yes; the Colonel asked Gilbert to carve in +the tent there, for the children and governesses,' said Lucy, 'he +and Genevieve were very busy there, but I found I was not of much +use so, I came away with the Miss Bartons to look at the flowers, +but now they are shooting, and I could not think what had become +of you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And Lucy bestowed her company on Albinia and +the Captain, reducing him to dashing, disconnected talk, till +they met Mr. Kendal, searching for them in the same fear that +they were starving, and anxious to introduce his wife to his +Indian friends. When at the end of the path, Albinia looked +round, the Lancer had disappeared, and Lucy was walking by her +father, trying to look serenely amused by a discussion on the +annexation of the Punjaub.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The afternoon was spent in pleasant loitering, +chiefly with Miss Ferrars, who asked much after Sophy, lamented +greatly over Winifred's delicate health, and was very anxious to +know what could have brought Fred home, being much afraid it was +some fresh foolish attachment.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Ominous notes were heard from the band, and the +Colonel came to tell them that there was to be dancing till it +was dark enough for the fireworks, his little Alice had promised +him her first country-dance. Fred Ferrars emerged again with a +half-laughing, half-imploring, 'For the sake of old times, +Albinia! We've been partners before!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You'll take care of Lucy,' said Albinia, +turning to her aunt; but Mr. Winthrop had already taken pity on +her, and Albinia was led off by her cousin to her place in the +fast lengthening rank. How she enjoyed it! She had cared little +for London balls after the first novelty, but these Fairmead +dances on the turf had always had an Arcadian charm to her fancy, +and were the more delightful after so long an interval, in the +renewal of the old scene, and the recognition of so many familiar +faces.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">With bounding step and laughing lips, she flew +down the middle, more exhilarated every moment, exchanging merry +scraps of talk with her partner or bright fragments as she +poussetted with pair after pair; and when the dance was over, +with glowing complexion and eyes still dancing, she took Fred's +arm, and heard the renewal of his broken story--the praise of his +Emily, the fairest of Canadians, whom even the General could not +dislike, though, thorough soldier as he was, he would fain have +had all military men as devoid of encumbrances as himself, and +thought an officer's wife one of the most misplaced articles in +the world. Poor Fred had been in love so often, that he laboured +under the great vexation of not being able to persuade any of his +friends to regard his passion seriously, but Albinia was quite +sisterly enough to believe him this time, and give full sympathy +to his hopes and fears. Far less wealth had fallen to his lot +than to that of his cousins, and his marriage must depend on what +his brother would 'do for him,' a point on which he tried to be +sanguine, and Albinia encouraged him against probability, for +Lord Belraven was never liberal towards his relations, and had +lately married an expensive wife, with whom he lived chiefly +abroad.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">This topic was not exhausted when Fred fell a +prey to the Colonel, who insisted on his dancing again, and +Albinia telling him to do his duty, he turned towards a group +that had coalesced round Miss Ferrars, consisting of Lucy, +Gilbert, Genevieve, and the children from the parsonage, and at +once bore off the little Frenchwoman, leaving more than one +countenance blank. Lucy and Willie did their best for mutual +consolation, while Albinia undertook to preside over her niece +and a still smaller partner in red velvet, in a quadrille. It was +amusing to watch the puzzled downright motions of the sturdy +little bluff King Hal, and the earnest precision of the prim +little damsel, and Albinia hovering round, now handing one, now +pointing to the other, keeping lightly out of every one's way, +and far more playful than either of the small performers in this +solemn undertaking. As it concluded she found that Mr. Kendal had +been watching her, with much entertainment, and she was glad to +take his arm, and assure herself that he had not been miserable, +but had been down to the parsonage, where he had read the +newspaper in peace, and had enjoyed a cup of tea in quiet with +Winifred and Mrs. Annesley.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The dancing had been transferred to the tent, +which presented a very pretty scene from without, looking through +the drooping festoons of evergreens at the lamps and the figures +flitting to and fro in their measured movements, while the shrubs +and dark foliage of the trees fell into gloom around; and above, +the sky assumed the deep tranquil blue of night, the pale bright +stars shining out one by one. The Kendals were alone in the +terrace, far enough from the gay tumult to be sensible of the +contrast.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How beautiful!' said Albinia: 'it is like a +poem.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I was just thinking so,' he +answered.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'This is the best part of all,' she said, +feeling, though hardly expressing to herself the repose of his +lofty, silent serenity, standing aloof from gaiety and noise. She +could have compared him and her lively cousin to the evening +stillness contrasted with the mirthful scene in the tent; and +though her nature seemed to belong to the busy world, her best +enjoyment lay with what calmed and raised her above herself; and +she was perfectly happy, standing still with her arm upon that of +her silent husband.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'These things are well imagined,' said he. 'The +freedom and absence of formality give space for being alone and +quiet.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Albinia, saucily, 'when that is +what you go into society for.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You have me there,' he said, smiling; 'but I +must own how much I enjoyed coming back from the parsonage by +myself. I am glad we brought that little Genevieve; she seems to +be so perfectly in her element. I saw her amusing a set of little +children in the prettiest, most animated way; and afterwards, +when the young people were playing at some game, her gestures +were so sprightly and graceful, that no one could look at the +English girls beside her. Indeed I think she was making quite a +sensation; your cousin seemed to admire her very much. If she +were but in another station, she would shine +anywhere.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How much you have seen, Edmund!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have been a spectator, you an actor,' he +said, smiling.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Her quiescence did not long continue, for the +poor people had begun to assemble on the gravel road before the +front door to see the fireworks, and she hurried away to renew +her acquaintance with her village friends, guessing at them in +the dark, asking after old mothers and daughters at service, +inquiring the names of new babies, and whether the old ones were +at school, and excusing herself for having become 'quite a +stranger.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In the midst--whish--hiss, with steady +swiftness, up shot in the dark purple air the first rocket, +bursting and scattering a rain of stars. There was an audible +gasp in the surrounding homely world, a few little cries, and a +big boy clutched tight hold of her arm, saying, 'I be afeard.' +She was explaining away his alarms, when she heard her brother's +voice, and found her arm drawn into his.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Here you are, then,' he said; 'I thought I +heard your voice.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! Maurice, I have hardly seen you. Let us +have a nice quiet turn in the park together.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He resisted, saying, 'I don't approve of +parents and guardians losing themselves. What have you done with +all your children?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What have you done with yours?' retorted +she.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I left Willie and Mary at the window with +their governess, I came to see that these other children of mine +were orderly.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Most proper, prudential, and exemplary +Maurice!' his sister laughed. 'Now I have an equally hearty +belief in my children being somewhere, sure to turn up when +wanted. Come, I want to get out from the trees to look for +Colonel Bury's harvest moon, for I believe she is an +imposition.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, I'm not coming. You, don't understand your +duties. Your young ladies ought always to know where to find you, +and you where to find them.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! Maurice, what must you have suffered +before you imported Winifred to chaperon me!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You are in so mad a mood that I shall attempt +only one moral maxim, and that is, that no one should set up for +a chaperon, till she has retired from business on her own +account.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That's a stroke at my dancing with poor Fred, +but it was his only chance of speaking to me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not particularly at the dancing.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, then--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You'll see, by-and-bye. It was not your fault +if those girls were not in all sorts of predicaments.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I believe you think life is made up of +predicaments. And I want to hear whether William has written to +you anything about poor Fred.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Only that he is more mad than ever, and that +he let him go, thinking that there is no chance of Belraven +helping him, but that it may wear itself out on the +journey.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">A revolving circle shedding festoons of purple +and crimson jets of fire made all their talk interjectional, and +they had by this time reached the terrace, where all the company +were assembled, the open windows at regular intervals casting +bewildering lights on the heads and shoulders in front of them. +Then out burst a grand wheat-sheaf of yellow flame with crimson +ears and beards, by whose light Albinia recognised Gilbert +standing close to her in the shadow, and asked him where the rest +where.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can't tell; Lucy and my father were here +just now.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Are you feeling the chill, Gilbert?' asked +Albinia, struck by something in his tone. 'You had better look +from the window.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He neither moved nor made answer, but a great +illumination of Colonel Bury's coat-of-arms, with Roman candles +and Chinese trees at the four corners, engrossed every eye, and +flashing on every face, enabled Albinia to join Mr. Kendal, who +was with Lucy and Miss Ferrars. No one knew where Genevieve was, +but Albinia was confident that she could take good care of +herself, and was not too uneasy to enjoy the grand representation +of Windsor Castle, and the finale of interlaced ciphers amidst a +multitude of little fretful sputtering tongues of flame. Then it +was, amid good nights, donning of shawls, and announcing of +carriages, that Captain Ferrars and Miss Durant made their +appearance together, having been 'looking everywhere for Mrs. +Kendal,' and it was not in the nature of a brother not to look a +little arch, though Albinia returned him as resolute and +satisfied a glance as could express 'Well, what of +that?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In consideration of the night air, Mr. Kendal +put Gilbert inside the carriage, and mounted the box, to revel in +the pleasures of silence. The four within talked incessantly and +compared adventures. Lucy had been gratified by being patronized +by Miss Ferrars, and likewise had much to say of the smaller fry, +and went into raptures about many a 'dear little thing,' none of +whom would, however, stand a comparison with Maurice; Gilbert was +critical upon every one's beauty; and Genevieve was more animated +than all, telling anecdotes with great piquancy, and rehearsing +the comical Yankee stories she had heard from Captain Ferrars. +She had enjoyed with the zest and intensity of a peculiarly +congenial temperament, and she seemed not to be able to cease +from working off her excitement in repetitions of her thanks, and +in discussing the endless delights the day had +afforded.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But the day had begun early, and the way was +long, so remarks became scanty, and answers were brief and went +astray, and Albinia thought she was travelling for ever to +Montreal, when she was startled by a pettish exclamation from +Lucy, 'Is that all! It was not worth while to wake me only to see +the moon.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I beg your pardon,' said Genevieve, 'but I +thought Mrs. Kendal wished to see it rise.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thank you, Genevieve,' said Albinia, opening +her sleepy eyes; 'she is as little worth seeing as a moon can +well be, a waning moon does well to keep untimely +hours.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why do you think she is so much more beautiful +in the crescent, Mrs. Kendal?' said Genevieve, in the most +wakeful manner.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm sure I don't know,' said Albinia, +subsiding into her corner.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Is it from the situation of the mountains in +the moon?' continued the pertinacious damsel.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'In Africa!' said Albinia, well-nigh asleep, +but Genevieve's laugh roused her again, partly because she +thought it less mannerly than accorded with the girl's usual +politeness. No mere sleep was allowed her; an astronomical +passion seemed to have possessed the young lady, and she dashed +into the tides, and the causes of the harvest-moon, and +volcanoes, and thunderbolts, and Lord Rosse's telescope, forcing +her tired friend to reply by direct appeals, till Albinia almost +wished her in the moon herself; and was rejoiced when in the dim +greyness of the early summer dawn, the carriage drew up at Madame +Belmarche's house. As the light from the weary maid's candle +flashed on Genevieve's face, it revealed such a glow of deep +crimson on each brown cheek, that Albinia perceived that the +excitement must have been almost fever, and went to bed +speculating on the strange effects of a touch of gaiety on the +hereditary French nature, startling her at once from her graceful +propriety and humility of demeanour, into such extraordinary +obtrusive talkativeness.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She heard more the next morning that vexed her. +Lucy was seriously of opinion that Genevieve had not been +sufficiently retiring. She herself had heedfully kept under the +wing of Mary's governess, mamma, or Miss Ferrars, and nobody had +paid her any particular attention; but Genevieve had been with +Gilbert half the day, had had all the gentlemen round her at the +archery and in the games, had no end of partners in the dances, +and had walked about in the dark with Captain Ferrars. Lucy was +sure she was taken for her sister, and whenever she had told +people the truth, they had said how pretty she was.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You are jealous, Lucy,' Sophy said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy protested that it was quite the reverse. +She was glad poor little Jenny should meet with any notice, there +was no cause for jealousy of <i>her</i>, and she threw back her +head in conscious beauty; 'only she was sorry for Jenny, for they +were quite turning her head, and laughing at her all the +time.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia's candour burst out as usual, 'Say no +more about it, my dear; it was a mistake from beginning to end. I +was too much taken up with my own diversion to attend to you, and +now you are punishing me for it. I left you to take care of +yourselves, and exposed poor little Genevieve to unkind +remarks.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know what I said,' began Lucy. 'I +don't mean to blame her; it was just as she always is with +Gilbert, so very French.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That word settled it--Lucy pronounced it with +ineffable pity and contempt--she was far less able to forgive +another for being attractive, than for trying to +attract.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy looked excessively hurt and grieved, and +in private asked her step-mother what she thought of Genevieve's +behaviour.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear, I cannot tell; I think she was off +her guard with excitement; but all was very new to her, and there +was every excuse. I was too happy to be wise, so no wonder she +was.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And do you think Captain Ferrars was laughing +at her? I wish you would tell her, mamma. Gilbert says he is a +fine, flourishing officer in moustaches, who, he is sure, flirts +with and breaks the heart of every girl he meets. If he is right, +mamma, it would cure Genevieve to tell her so, and you would not +mind it, though he is your cousin.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor Fred!' said Albinia. 'I am sorry Gilbert +conceived such a notion. But Genevieve's heart is too sensible to +break in that way, even if Fred wished it, and I can acquit him +of such savage intentions. I never should have seen any harm in +all that Genevieve did last night if she had not talked us to +death coming home! Still I think she was off her balance, and I +own I am disappointed. But we don't know what it is to be born +French!'</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XVI.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">'Mrs. Kendal, dear Madame, a great favour, +could you spare me a few moments?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">A blushing face was raised with such an +expression of contrite timidity, that Albinia felt sure that the +poor little Frenchwoman had recovered from her brief +intoxication, and wanted to apologize and be comforted, so she +said kindly,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I was wishing to see you, my dear; I was +afraid the day had been too much for you; I was certain you were +feverish.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! you were so good to make excuses for me. I +am so ashamed when I think how tedious, how disagreeable I must +have been. It was why I wished to speak to you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Never mind apologies, my dear; I have felt and +done the like many a time--it is the worst of enjoying +oneself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! that was not all--I could not help +it--enjoyment--no!' stammered Genevieve. 'If you would be kind +enough to come this way.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She opened her grandmother's back gate, the +entrance to a slip of garden smothered in laurels, and led the +way to a small green arbour, containing a round table, +transformed by calico hangings into what the embroidered +inscription called '<i>Autel a l'Amour filial et maternel</i>,' +bearing a plaster vase full of fresh flowers, but ere Albinia had +time to admire this achievement of French sentiment, Genevieve +exclaimed, clasping her hands, 'Oh, madame, pardon me, you who +are so good! You will tell no one, you will bring on him no +trouble, but you will tell him it is too foolish--you will give +him back his billet, and forbid him ever to send +another.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Spite of the confidence about Emily, spite of +all unreason, such was the family opinion of Fred's propensity to +fall in love, that Albinia's first suspicion lighted upon him, +but as her eye fell on the pink envelope the handwriting +concerned her even more nearly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gilbert!' she cried. 'My dear, what is this? +Do you wish me to read it?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, for I cannot.' Genevieve turned away, as +in his best hand, and bad it was, Albinia read the +commencement--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">"My hope, my joy, my Genevieve!"</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In mute astonishment Albinia looked up, and met +Genevieve's eyes. 'Oh, madame, you are displeased with me!' she +cried in despair, misinterpreting the look, 'but indeed I could +not help it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear child,' said Albinia, affectionately +putting her arm round her waist, and drawing her down on the seat +beside her, 'indeed I am not displeased with you; you are doing +the very best thing possible by us all. Think I am your sister, +and tell me what is the meaning of all this, and then I will try +to help you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, madame, you are too good,' said Genevieve, +weeping; and kindly holding the trembling hand, Albinia finished +the letter, herself. 'Silly boy! Genevieve, dear girl, you must +set my mind at rest; this is too childish--this is not the kind +of thing that would touch your affections, I am sure.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'<i>Oh! pour cela non</i>,' said Genevieve. +'Oh! no; I am grateful to Mr. Gilbert Kendal, for, even as a +little boy, he was always kind to me, but for the rest--he is so +young, madame, even if I could forget--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I see,' said Albinia. 'I am sure that you are +much too good and sensible at your age to waste a moment's +thought or pain on such a foolish boy, as he certainly is, +Genevieve, though not so foolish in liking you, whatever he may +be in the way of expressing it. Though of course--' Albinia had +floundered into a dreadful bewilderment between her sense of +Genevieve's merits and of the incompatibility of their station, +and she plunged out by asking, 'And how long has this been going +on?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve hesitated. 'To speak the truth, +madame, I have long seen that, like many other youths, he would +be--very attentive if one were not guarded; but I had known him +so long, that perhaps I did not soon enough begin, to treat him +<i>en jeune homme</i>.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And this is his first letter?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! yes, madame.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He complains that you will not hear him? Do +you dislike to tell me if anything had passed +previously?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thursday,' was slightly whispered.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thursday! ah! now I begin to understand the +cause of your being suddenly moon-struck.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! madame, pardon me!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I see--it was the only way to avoid a +<i>tete-a-tete</i>!' said Albinia. 'Well done, Genevieve. What +had he been saying to you, my dear?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Poor Genevieve cast about for a word, and +finally faltered out, '<i>Des sottises, Madame</i>.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That I can well believe,' said Albinia. 'Well, +my dear--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think,' pursued Genevieve, 'that he was +vexed because I would not let him absorb me exclusively at +Fairmead; and began to reproach me, and protest--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And like a wise woman you waked the sleeping +dragon,' said Albinia. 'Was this all?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, madame; so little had passed, that I hoped +it was only the excitement, and that he would forget; but on +Saturday he met me in the flagged path, and oh! he said a great +deal, though I did my best to convince him that he could only +make himself be laughed at. I hoped even then that he was +silenced, and that I need not mention it, but I see he has been +watching me, and I dare not go out alone lest I should meet him. +He called this morning, and not seeing me left this +note.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do your grandmother and aunt know?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, no! I would far rather not tell them. Need +I? Oh! madame, surely you can speak to him, and no one need ever +hear of it?' implored Genevieve. 'You have promised me that no +one shall be told!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No one shall, my dear. I hope soon to tell you +that he is heartily ashamed of having teased you. No one need be +ashamed of thinking you very dear and good--you can't help being +loveable, but Master Gibbie has no right to tell you so, and +we'll put an end to it. He will soon be in India out of your way. +Good-bye!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia kissed the confused and blushing +maiden, and walked away, provoked, yet diverted.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She found Gilbert alone, and was not slow in +coming to the point, endeavouring to model her treatment on that +of her brother, the General, towards his aide-de-camp in the like +predicaments.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gilbert, I want to speak to you. I am afraid +you have been making yourself troublesome to Miss Durant. You are +old enough to know better than to write such a note as +this.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was all one blush, made an inarticulate +exclamation, and burst out, 'That abominable treacherous old +wooden doll of a mademoiselle.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, Miss Belmarche knows nothing of it. No one +ever shall if you will promise to drive this nonsense out of your +head.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nonsense! Mrs. Kendal!' with a gesture of +misery.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gilbert, you are making yourself +absurd.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He turned about, and would have marched out of +the room, but she pursued him. 'You must listen to me. It is not +fit that you should carry on this silly importunity. It is +exceedingly distressing to her, and might lead to very unpleasant +and hurtful remarks.' Seeing him look sullen, she took breath, +and considered. 'She came to me in great trouble, and begged me +to restore your letter, and tell you never to repeat the +liberty.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He struck his hand on his brow, crying +vehemently, 'Cruel girl! She little knows me--you little know me, +if you think I am to be silenced thus. I tell you I will never +cease! I am not bound by your pride, which has sneered down and +crushed the loveliest--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not mine,' said Albinia, disconcerted at his +unexpected violence.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes!' he exclaimed. 'I know you could +patronize! but a step beyond, and it is all the same with you as +with the rest--you despise the jewel without the +setting.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' said Albinia, 'so far from depreciating +her, I want to convince you that it is an insult to pursue her in +this ridiculous underhand way.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You do me no justice,' said Gilbert loftily; +'you little understand what you are pleased to make game of,' and +with one of his sudden alternations, he dropped into a chair, +calling himself the most miserable fellow in the world, unpitied +where he would gladly offer his life, and his tenderest feelings +derided, and he was so nearly ready to cry, that Albinia pitied +him, and said, 'I'll laugh no more if I can help it, Gibbie, but +indeed you are too young for all this misery to be real. I don't +mean that you are pretending, but only that this is your own +fancy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Fancy!' said the boy solemnly. 'The happiness +of my life is at stake. She shall be the sharer of all that is +mine, the moment my property is in my own hands.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And do you think so high-minded a girl would +listen to you, and take advantage of a fancy in a boy so much +younger, and of a different class?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It would be ecstasy to raise her, and lay all +at her feet!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So it might, if it were worthy of her to +accept it. Gilbert, if you knew what love is, you would never +wish her to lower herself by encouraging you now. She would be +called artful--designing--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If she loved me--' he said +disconsolately.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wish I could bring you to see how unlikely +it is that a sensible, superior woman could really attach herself +to a mere lad. An unprincipled person might pretend it for the +sake of your property--a silly one might like you because you are +good-looking and well-mannered; but neither would be +Genevieve.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There is no use in saying any more,' he said, +rising in offended dignity.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I cannot let you go till you have given me +your word never to obtrude your folly on Miss Durant +again.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Have you anything else to ask me?' cried +Gilbert in a melodramatic tone.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, how would you like your father to know of +this? It is her secret, and I shall keep it, unless you are so +selfish as to continue the pursuit, and if so, I must have +recourse to his authority.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! Mrs. Kendal,' he said, actually weeping, +'you have always pitied me hitherto.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A man should not ask for pity,' said Albinia; +'but I am sorry for you, for she is an admirable person, and I +see you are very unhappy; but I will do all I can to help you, +and you will get over it, if you are reasonable. Now understand +me, I will and must protect Genevieve, and I shall appeal to your +father unless you promise me to desist from this +persecution.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The debate might have been endless, if Mr. +Kendal had not been heard coming in. 'You promise?' she said. +'Yes,' was the faint reply, in nervous terror of immediate +reference to his father; and they hurried different ways, trying +to look unconcerned.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Never mind,' said Albinia to herself. 'Was not +Fred quite as bad about me, and look at him now! Yes, Gilbert +must go to India, it will cure him, or if it should not, his +affection will be respectable, and worth consideration. If he +were but older, and this were the genuine article, I would fight +for him, but--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And she sat down to write a loving note to +Genevieve. Her sanguine disposition made her trust that all would +blow over, but her experience of the cheerful buoyant Ferrars +temperament was no guide to the morbid Kendal disposition, +Gilbert lay on the grass limp and doleful till the fall of the +dew, when he betook himself to a sofa; and in the morning turned +up his eyes reproachfully at her instead of eating his +breakfast.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">About eleven o'clock the Fairmead pony-carriage +stopped at the door, containing Mr. Ferrars, the Captain, Aunt +Gertrude, and little Willie. Albinia, her husband, and Lucy, were +soon in the drawing-room welcoming them; and Lucy fetched her +little brother, who had been vociferous for three days about +Cousin Fred, the real soldier, but now, struck with awe at the +mighty personage, stood by his mamma, profoundly silent, and +staring. He was ungracious to his aunt, and still more so to +Willie, the latter of whom was despatched under Lucy's charge to +find Gilbert, but they came back unsuccessful. Nor did Sophy make +her appearance; she was reported to be reading to +grandmamma--Mrs. Meadows preferred to Miss Ferrars! there was +more in this than Albinia could make out, and she sat uneasily +till she could exchange a few words with Lucy. 'My dear, what is +become of the other two?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am sure I don't know what is the matter with +them,' said Lucy. 'Gilbert is gone out--nobody knows where--and +when I told Sophy who was here, she said Captain Ferrars was an +empty-headed coxcomb, and she did not want to see +him!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! the geese!' murmured Albinia to herself, +till the comical suspicion crossed her mind that Gilbert was +jealous, and that Sophy was afraid of falling a victim to the +redoubtable lady killer.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Luncheon-time produced Sophy, grave and silent, +but no Gilbert, and Mr. Kendal, receiving no satisfactory account +of his absence, said, 'Very strange,' and looked +annoyed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Captain Ferrars seemed to have expected to see +his bright little partner of Thursday, for he inquired for her, +and Willie imparted the information that Fred had taken her for +Sophy all the time! Fred laughed, and owned it, but asked if she +were not really the governess? 'A governess,' said Albinia, 'but +not ours,' and an explanation followed, during which Sophy +blushed violently, and held up her head as if she had an iron bar +in her neck.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A pity,' said the Lancer, when he had heard +who she was, and under his moustache he murmured to Albinia, 'She +is rather in Emily's style.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, Fred,' thought Albinia, 'after all, it may +be lucky that you aren't going to stay here!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When Albinia was alone with her brother, she +could not help saying, 'Maurice, you were right to scold me; I +reproached you with thinking life made up of predicaments. I +think mine is made of blunders!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! I saw you were harassed to-day,' said her +brother kindly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Whenever one is happy, one does something +wrong!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I guess--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You are generous not to say you warned me +months ago. Mind, it is no fault of <i>hers</i>, she is behaving +beautifully; but oh! the absurdity, and the worst of it is, I +have promised not to tell Edmund.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then don't tell me. You have a judgment quite +good enough for use.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, I have not. I have only sense, and that +only serves me for what other people ought to do.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then ask Albinia what Mrs. Kendal ought to +do.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert came in soon after their departure, +with an odd, dishevelled, abstracted look, and muttering +something inaudible about not knowing the time. His depression +absolutely courted notice, but as a slight cough would at any +time reduce him to despair, he obtained no particular +observation, except from Sophy, who made much of him, flushed at +Genevieve's name, and looked reproachful, that it was evident +that she was his confidante. Several times did Albinia try to +lead her to enter on the subject, but she set up her screen of +silence. It was disappointing, for Albinia had believed better +things of her sense, and hardly made allowance for the different +aspect of the love-sorrows of seventeen, viewed from fifteen or +twenty-six--vexatious, too, to be treated with dry reserve, and +probably viewed as a rock in the course of true love; and +provoking to see perpetual tete-a-tetes that could hardly fail to +fill Sophy's romantic head with folly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">At the end of another week, Albinia received +the following note:--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Dear and most kind Madame,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I would not trouble you again, but this is the +third within four days. I returned the two former ones to +himself, but he continues to write. May I ask your permission to +speak to my relatives, for I feel that I ought to hide this no +longer from them, and that we must take some measures for ending +it. He does me the honour to wait near the house, and I never +dare go out, since--for I will confess all to you, madame--he met +me by the river on Monday. I am beginning to fear that his +assiduities have been observed, and I should be much obliged if +you would tell me how to act. Your kind perseverance in your +goodness towards me is my greatest comfort, and I hope that you +will still continue it, for indeed it is most unwillingly that I +am a cause of perplexity and vexation to you. Entreating your +pardon,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Your most faithful and obliged +servant,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve Celeste Durant.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">What was to be done? That broken pledge +overpowered Albinia with a personal sense of shame, and though it +set her free to tell all to her husband, she shrank from +provoking his stern displeasure towards his son, and feared he +might involve Genevieve in his anger. She dashed off a note to +her poor little friend, telling her to do as she thought fit by +her aunt and grandmother, and then sought another interview with +the reluctant Gilbert, to whom she returned the letter, saying, +'Oh, Gilbert, at least I thought you would keep your +word.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think,' he said, angrily, trying for +dignity, though bewrayed by his restless eyes and hands--'I think +it is too much to accuse me of--of--when I never said-- What word +did I ever give?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You promised never to persecute her +again.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There may be two opinions as to what +persecution means,' said Gilbert.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I little thought of subterfuges. I trusted +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mrs. Kendal! hear me,' he passionately cried. +'You knew not the misery you imposed. To live so near, and not a +word, not a look! I bore it as long as I could; but when Sophy +would not so much as take one message, human nature could not +endure.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, if you cannot restrain yourself like a +rational creature, some means must be taken to free Miss Durant +from a pursuit so injurious and disagreeable to her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ay,' he cried, 'you have filled her with your +own prejudices, and inspired her with such a dread of the hateful +fences of society, that she does not dare to +confess--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'For shame, Gilbert, you are accusing her of +acting a part.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No!' he exclaimed, 'all I say is, that she has +been so thrust down and forced back, that she cannot venture to +avow her feelings even to herself!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh!' said Albinia, 'you conceited +person!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well!' cried the boy, so much nettled by her +sarcasm that he did not know what he said, 'I +think--considering--considering our situations, I might be worth +her consideration!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Who put that in your head?' asked Albinia. +'You are too much a gentleman for it to have come there of its +own accord.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He blushed excessively, and retracted. 'No, no! +I did not mean that! No, I only mean I have no fair play--she +will not even think. Oh! if I had but been born in the same +station of life!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert making entrechats with a little fiddle! +It had nearly overthrown her gravity, and she made no direct +answer, only saying, 'Well, Gilbert, these talks are useless. I +only thought it right to give you notice that you have released +me from my engagement not to make your father aware of your +folly.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He went into an agony of entreaties, and +proffers of promises, but no more treaties of secrecy could he +obtain, she would only say that she should not speak immediately, +she should wait and see how things turned out. By which she +meant, how soon it might be hoped that he would be safe in the +Calcutta bank, where she heartily wished him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She sought a conference with Genevieve, and +took her out walking in the meadows, for the poor child really +needed change and exercise, the fear of Gilbert had made her +imprison herself within the little garden, till she looked sallow +and worn. She said that her grandmother and aunt had decided that +she should go in a couple of days to the Convent at Hadminster, +to remain there till Mr. Gilbert went to India--the superior was +an old friend of her aunt, and Genevieve had often been there, +and knew all the nuns.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was startled by this project. 'My dear, +I had much rather send you to stay at my brother's, or--anywhere. +Are you sure you are not running into temptation?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not of that kind,' said Genevieve. 'The +priest, Mr. O'Hara, is a good-natured old gentleman, not in the +least disposed to trouble himself about my +conversion.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And the sisters?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Good old ladies, they have always been very +kind to me, and petted me exceedingly when I was a little child, +but for the rest--' still seeing Albinia's anxious look-- 'Oh! +they would not think of it; I don't believe they could argue; +they are not like the new-fashioned Roman Catholics of whom you +are thinking, madame.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And are there no enthusiastic young +novices?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I should think no one would ever be a novice +<i>there</i>,' said Genevieve.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You seem to be bent on destroying all the +romance of convents, Genevieve!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I never thought of anything romantic connected +with the reverend mothers,' rejoined Genevieve, 'and yet when I +recollect how they came to Hadminster, I think you will be +interested. You know the family at Hadminster Hall in the last +century were Roman Catholics, and a daughter had professed at a +convent in France. At the time of the revolution, her brother, +the esquire, wrote to offer her an asylum at his house. The day +of her arrival was fixed--behold! a stage-coach draws up to the +door--black veils inside--black veils clustered on the roof--a +black veil beside the coachman, on the box--eighteen nuns alight, +and the poor old infirm abbess is lifted out. They had not even +figured to themselves that the invitation could be to one without +the whole sisterhood!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And what did the esquire do with the good +ladies?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He took them as a gift from Providence, he +raised a subscription among his friends, and they were lodged in +the house at Hadminster, where something like a sisterhood had +striven to exist ever since the days of James II.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Are any of these sisters living +still?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Only poor old Mother Therese, who was a little +pensionnaire when they came, and now is blind, and never quits +her bed. There are only seven sisters at present, and none of +them are less than five-and-forty.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And what shall you do there, +Genevieve?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If they have any pupils from the town, perhaps +I may help to teach them French. And I shall have plenty of time +for my music. Oh! madame, would you lend me a little of your +music to copy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'With all my heart. Any books?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! that would be the greatest kindness of +all! And if it were not presuming too much, if madame would let +me take the pattern of that beautiful point lace that she +sometimes wears in the evening, then I should make myself +welcome!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And put out your eyes, my dear! But you may +turn out my whole lace-drawer if you think anything there will be +a pleasure to the old ladies.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! you do not guess the pleasure, madame. +Needlework and embroidery is their excitement and delight. They +will ask me closely about all I have seen and done for months +past, and the history of the day at Fairmead will be a fete in +itself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well! my dear, it is very right of you; and I +do feel very thankful to you for treating the matter thus. Pray +tell your grandmamma and aunt to pardon the sad revolution we +have made in their comfort, and that I hope it will soon be +over!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve took no leave. Albinia sent her a +goodly parcel of books and work-patterns, and she returned an +affectionate note; but did not attempt to see Lucy and +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The next Indian mail brought the expected +letter, giving an exact account of the acquirements and habits +that would be required of Gilbert, with a promise of a home where +he would be treated as a son, and of admission to the firm after +due probation. The letter was so sensible and affectionate, that +Mr. Kendal congratulated his son upon such an advantageous outset +in life.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert made slight reply, but the next morning +Sophy sought Albinia out, and with some hesitation began to tell +her that Gilbert was very anxious that she would intercede with +papa not to send him to Calcutta.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You now, Sophy!' cried Albinia. 'You who used +to think nothing equal to India!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wish it were I,' said Sophy, 'but you +know--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well,' said Albinia, coldly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy was too shy to begin on that tack, and +dashed off on another.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, mamma, he is so wretched. He can't bear to +thwart papa, but he says it would break his heart to go so far +away, and that he knows it would kill him to be confined to a +desk in that climate.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You know papa thinks that nothing would +confirm his health so much as a few years without an English +winter.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'One's own instinct--' began Sophy; then +breaking off, she added, 'Mamma, you never were for the +bank.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I used not to see the expediency, and I did +not like the parting; but now I understand your father's wishes, +and the sort of allegiance he feels towards India, so that +Gilbert's reluctance will be a great mortification to +him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So it will,' said Sophy, mournfully, 'I am +sure it is to me. I always looked forward to Gilbert's going to +Talloon, and seeing the dear old bearer, and taking all my +presents there, but you see, of course, mamma, he cannot bear to +go--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophy, dear,' said Albinia, 'you have been +thinking me a very hard-hearted woman this last month. I have +been longing to have it out.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not hard-hearted,' said Sophy, looking down, +'only I had always thought you different from other +people.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And you considered that I was worldly, and not +romantic enough. Is that it, Sophy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I thought you knew how to value her for +herself, so good and so admirable--a lady in everything--with +such perfect manners. I thought you would have been pleased and +proud that Gilbert's choice was so much nobler than beauty, or +rank, or fashion could make it,' said Sophy, growing enthusiastic +as she went on.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, my dear, perhaps I am.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But, mamma, you have done all you could to +separate them: you have shut Genevieve up in a convent, and you +want to banish him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It sounds very grand, and worthy of a cruel +step-dame,' said Albinia; 'but, my dear, though I do think +Genevieve in herself an admirable creature, worthy of any one's +love, what am I to think of the way Gilbert has taken to show his +admiration?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And is it not very hard,' cried Sophy, 'that +even you, who own all her excellences, should turn against him, +and give in to all this miserable conventionality, that wants +riches and station, and trumpery worldly things, and crushes down +true love in two young hearts?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophy dear, I am afraid the love is not proved +to be true in the one heart, and I am sure there is none in the +other!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mamma! 'Tis her self-command--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nonsense! His attentions are nothing but +distress to her! Sensible grown-up young women are not apt to be +flattered by importunity from silly boys. Has he told you +otherwise?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He thinks--he hopes, at least--and I am +sure--it is all stifled by her sense of duty, and fear of +offending you, or appearing mercenary.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'All delusion!' said Albinia; 'there's not a +spark of consciousness about her! I see you don't like to believe +it, but it is my great comfort. Think how she would suffer if she +did love him! Nay, think, before you are angry with me for not +promoting it, how it would bring them into trouble and disgrace +with all the world, even if your father consented. Have you once +thought how it would appear to him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You can persuade papa to anything +!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophy! you ought to know your father better +than to say that!' cried Albinia, as if it had been disrespect to +him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then you think he would never allow it! You +really think that such a creature as Genevieve, as perfect a lady +as ever existed, must always be a victim to these hateful rules +about station.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' said Albinia, 'certainly not; but if she +were in the very same rank, if all else were suitable, Gilbert's +age would make the pursuit ridiculous.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Only three years younger,' sighed Sophy. 'But +if they were the same age? Do you mean that no one ever ought to +marry, if they love ever so much, where the station is +different?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, but that they must not do so lightly, but +try the love first to see whether it be worth the sacrifice. If +an attachment last through many years of adverse circumstances, I +think the happiness of the people has been shown to depend on +each other, but I don't think it safe to disregard disparities +till there has been some test that the love is the right stuff, +or else they may produce ill-temper, regrets, and unhappiness, +all the rest of their lives.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If Gilbert went on for years, +mamma?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I did not say that, Sophy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Suppose,' continued the eager girl, 'he went +out to Calcutta, and worked these five years, and was made a +partner. Then he would be two-and-twenty, nobody could call him +too young, and he would come home, and ask papa's consent, and +you--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I <i>should</i> call that constancy,' said +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And he would take her out to Calcutta, and +have no Drurys and Osborns to bother her! Oh! It would be +beautiful! I would watch over her while he was gone! I'll go and +tell him!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Stop, Sophy, not from me--that would never do. +I don't think papa would think twenty-two such a great +age--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But he would have loved her five years!' said +Sophy. 'And you said yourself that would be +constancy!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'True, but, Sophy, I have known a youth who +sailed broken-hearted, and met a lady "just in the style" of the +former one, on board the steamer--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy made a gesture of impatient disdain, and +repeated, 'Do you allow me to tell Gilbert that this is the +way?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not from me. I hold out no hope. I don't +believe Genevieve cares for him, and I don't know whether his +father would consent--' but seeing Sophy's look of +disappointment, 'I see no harm in your suggesting it, for it is +his only chance with either of them, and would be the proof that +his affection was good for something.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And you think her worth it?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think her worth anything in the world--the +more for her behaviour in this matter. I only doubt if Gilbert +have any conception how much she is worth.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Away went Sophy in a glow that made her almost +handsome, while Albinia, as usual, wondered at her own +imprudence.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">At luncheon Sophy avoided her eye, and looked +crestfallen, and when afterwards she gave a mute inquiring +address, shook her head impatiently. It was plain that she had +failed, and was too much pained and shamed by his poorness of +spirit to be able as yet to speak of it.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Next came Gilbert, who pursued Albinia to the +morning-room to entreat her interference in his behalf, appealing +piteously to her kindness; but she was obdurate. If any +remonstrance were offered to his father, it must be by +himself.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert fell into a state of misery, threw +himself about upon the chairs, and muttered in the fretfulness of +childish despair something about its being very hard, when he was +owner of half the town, to be sent into exile--it was like +jealousy of his growing up and being master.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Take care, Gilbert!' said Albinia, with a +flash of her eye that he felt to his backbone.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't mean it,' cried Gilbert, springing +towards her in supplication. 'I've heard it said, that's all, and +was as angry as you, but when a fellow is beside himself with +misery at being driven away from all he loves--not a friend to +help him--how can he keep from thinking all sorts of +things?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wonder what people dare to say it!' cried +Albinia wrathfully; but he did not heed, he was picturing his own +future +misfortunes--toil--climate--fevers--choleras--Thugs--<i>coups de +soleil</i>--genuine dread and repugnance working him up to +positive agony.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gilbert,' said Albinia, 'this is trumpery +self-torture! You know this is a mere farrago that you have +conjured up. Your father would neither thrust you into danger, +nor compel you to do anything to which you had a reasonable +aversion. Go and be a man about it in one way or the other! +Either accept or refuse, but don't make these childish +lamentations. They are cowardly! I should be ashamed of little +Maurice if he behaved so!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And you will not speak a word for +me!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No! Speak for yourself!' and she left the +room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Days passed on, till she began to think that, +after all, Gilbert preferred Calcutta, cholera, Thugs, and all, +to facing his father; but at last, he must have taken heart from +his extremity, for Mr. Kendal said, with less vexation than she +had anticipated, 'So our plans are overthrown. Gilbert tells me +he has an invincible dislike to Calcutta. Had you any such +idea?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not till your cousin's letter arrived. What +did you say to him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He was so much afraid of vexing me that I was +obliged to encourage him to speak freely, and I found that he had +always had a strong distaste to and dread of India. I told him I +wished he had made me aware of it sooner, and desired to know +what profession he really preferred. He spoke of Oxford and the +Bar, and so I suppose it must be. I do not wonder that he wishes +to follow his Traversham friends, and as they are a good set, I +hope there may not be much temptation. I see you are not +satisfied, Albinia, yet your wishes were one of my +motives.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thank you--once I should,' said Albinia; 'but, +Edmund, I see how wrong it was to have concealed anything from +you;' and thereupon she informed him of Gilbert's passion for +Genevieve Durant, which astonished him greatly, though he took it +far less seriously than she had expected, and was not displeased +at having been kept in ignorance and spared the trouble of taking +notice of it, and thus giving it importance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It will pass off,' he said. 'She has too much +sense and principle to encourage him, and if you can get her out +of Bayford for a few years he will be glad to have it +forgotten.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor Genevieve! She must break up her +grandmother's home after all!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It will be a great advantage to her. You used +to say that it would be most desirable for her to see more of the +world. Away from this place she might marry well.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Any one's son but yours,' said Albinia, +smiling.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The connexion would be worse here than +anywhere else; but I was not thinking of any one in our rank of +life. There are many superior men in trade with whom she might be +very happy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor child!' sighed Albinia. 'I cannot feel +that it is fair that she should be banished for Gilbert's faults; +and I am sorry for the school; you cannot think how much the tone +was improving.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If it could be done without hurting her +feelings, I should gladly give her a year at some superior +finishing school, which might either qualify her for a governess, +or enable her to make this one more profitable.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! thank you!' cried Albinia; 'yet I doubt. +However, her services would be quite equivalent in any school to +the lessons she wants. I'll write to Mrs. Elwood--' and she was +absorbed in the register-office in her brain, when Mr. Kendal +continued--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'This is quite unexpected. I could not have +supposed the boy so foolish! However, if you please, I will speak +to him, tell him that I was unaware of his folly, and insist on +his giving it up.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I should be very glad if you +would.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert was called, and the result was more +satisfactory than Albinia thought that Genevieve deserved. His +frenzy had tended to wear itself out, and he had been so +dreadfully alarmed about India and his father, that in his +relief, gratitude, and fear of being sent out, he was ready to +promise anything. Before his father he could go into no +rhapsodies, and could only be miserably confused.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Personally,' said Mr. Kendal, 'it is +creditable that you should be attracted by such estimable +qualities, but these are not the sole consideration. Equality of +station is almost as great a requisite as these for producing +comfort or respectability, and nothing but your youth and +ignorance could excuse your besetting any young woman with +importunities which she had shown to be disagreeable to +her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was no outcry of despair, only a +melancholy muttering. Then Mr. Kendal pronounced his decree in +terms more explicit than those in which Albinia had exacted the +promise. He said nothing about persecution, nor was he +unreasonable enough to command an instant immolation of the +passion; he only insisted that Gilbert should pay no marked +attention, and attempt no unsanctioned or underhand +communication. Unless he thought he had sufficient self-command +to abstain, his father must take 'further measures.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">As if fearing that this must mean 'Kendal and +Kendal,' he raised his head, and with a deep sigh undertook for +his own self-command. Mr. Kendal laid his hand on his shoulder +with kind pity, told him he was doing right, and that while he +acted openly and obediently, he should always meet with sympathy +and consideration.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Two difficult points remained--the disposing of +the young people. Gilbert was still over young for the +university, as well as very backward and ill-prepared, and the +obstinate remains of the cough made his father unwilling to send +him from home. And his presence made Genevieve's absence +necessary.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The place had begun to loom in the distance. A +former governess of Albinia's, who would have done almost +anything to please her, had lately been left a widow, and +established herself in a suburb of London, with a small party of +pupils. She had just begun to feel the need of an additional +teacher, and should gladly receive Genevieve, provided she +fulfilled certain requisites, of which, luckily, French +pronunciation stood the foremost. The terms were left to Albinia, +who could scarcely believe her good fortune, and went in haste to +discuss the matter with the Belmarches.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It almost consoled her for what she had been +exceedingly ashamed to announce, the change of purpose with +regard to Gilbert, which was a sentence of banishment to the +object of his folly. Nothing pained her more than the great +courtesy and kindness of the two old ladies to whom it was such a +cruel stroke, they evidently felt for her, and appeared to catch +at Mrs. Elwood's offer, and when Albinia proposed that her salary +should be a share in the instructions of the masters, agreed that +this was the very thing they had felt it their duty to provide +for her, if they had been able to bring themselves to part with +her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So,' said good Madame Belmarche, smiling +sadly, 'you see it has been for the dear child's real good that +our weakness has been conquered.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve was written to, and consented to +everything, and when Mr. Kendal took Gilbert away to visit an old +friend, his wife called for Genevieve at the convent to bring her +home. Albinia could not divest herself of some curiosity and +excitement in driving up to the old-fashioned red brick house, +with two tall wings projecting towards the street, and the front +door in the centre between them, with steps down to it. She had +not been without hopes of a parlour with a grille, or at least +that a lay sister would open the door; but she saw nothing but a +very ordinary-looking old maid-servant, and close behind her was +Genevieve, with her little box, quite ready--no excuse for seeing +anything or anybody else.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">If Genevieve were sad at the proposal of +leaving home and going among strangers, she took care to hide all +that could pain Mrs. Kendal, and her cheerful French spirit +really enjoyed the prospect of new scenes, and bounded with +enterprise at the hope of a new life and fresh field of +exertion.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Perhaps, after all,' she said, smiling, 'they +may make of me something really useful and valuable, and it will +all be owing to you, dear madame. Drawing and Italian! When I can +teach them, I shall be able to make grandmamma easy for +life!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve skipped out of the carriage and into +her aunt's arms, as if alive only to the present delight of being +at home again. It was a contrast to Sophy's dolorous visage. Poor +Sophy! she was living in a perpetual strife with the outward +tokens of sulkiness, forcing herself against the grain to make +civil answers, and pretend to be interested when she felt +wretched and morose. That Gilbert, after so many ravings, should +have relinquished, from mere cowardice, that one hope of earning +Genevieve by honourable exertion, had absolutely lowered her +trust in the exalting power of love, and her sense of justice +revolted against the decision that visited the follies of the +guilty upon the innocent. She was yearning over her friend with +all her heart, pained at the separation, and longing fervently to +make some demonstration, but the greater her wish, the worse was +her reserve. She spent all her money upon a beautiful book as a +parting gift, and kept it beside her, missing occasion after +occasion of presenting it, and falling at each into a perfect +agony behind that impalpable, yet impassable, barrier of +embarrassment.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was not till the very last evening, when +Genevieve had actually wished her good-bye and left the house, +that she grew desperate. She hastily put on bonnet and cloak, and +pursued Genevieve up the street, overtaking her at last, and +causing her to look round close to her own door.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear Miss Sophy,' cried Genevieve, 'what is +the matter? You are quite overcome.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'This book--' said Sophy--it was all she could +say.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Love--yes,' said Genevieve. +'Admiration--no.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You shall not say that,' cried Sophy. 'I have +found what is really dignified and disinterested, and you must +let me admire you, Jenny, it makes me comfortable.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve smiled. 'I would not commit an +egoism,' she said; but if the sense of admiration do you good, I +wish it had a worthier cause.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There's no one to admire but you,' said Sophy. +'I think it very unfair to send you away, and though it is +nobody's fault, I hate good sense and the way of the +world!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! do not talk so. I am only overwhelmed with +wonder at the goodness I have experienced. If it had happened +with any other family, oh! how differently I should have been +judged! Oh! when I think of Mrs. Kendal, I am ready to weep with +gratitude!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, mamma is mamma, and not like any one +else, but even she is obliged to be rational, and do the +injustice, whatever she feels,' said Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! not injustice--kindness! I shall be able +to earn more for grandmamma!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is injustice!' said Sophy, 'not hers, +perhaps, but of the world! It makes me so angry, to think that +you--you should never do anything but wear yourself out in +drudging over tiresome little children--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Little children are my brothers and sisters, +as I never had any,' said Genevieve. 'Oh! I always loved them, +they make a home wherever they are. I am thankful that my +vocation is among them.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In dread of a token from Gilbert, Genevieve +would not notice it, but pursued, 'You must come in and rest--you +must have my aunt's salts.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No--no--' said Sophy, 'not there--' as +Genevieve would have taken her to the little parlour, but opening +the door of the school-room, she sank breathless into a sitting +position on the carpetless boards.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve shut the door, and kneeling down, +found Sophy's arms thrown round her, pressing her almost to +strangulation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! I wanted to do it--I never could. wont you +have the book, Genevieve? It is my keepsake--only I could not +give it because--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Is it your keepsake, indeed, dear Miss Sophy?' +said Genevieve. 'Oh! if it is yours--how I shall value it--but it +is too beautiful--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nothing is too beautiful for you, Genevieve,' +said Sophy fervently.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And it is your gift! But I am frightened--it +must have cost--!' began Genevieve, still a little on her guard. +'Dear, dear Miss Sophy, forgive me if I do seem ungrateful, but +indeed I ought to ask--if--if it is all your own +gift?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mine? yes!' said Sophy, on the borders of +offence. 'I know what you mean, Genevieve, but you may trust me. +I would not take you in.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve was blushing intensely, but taking +courage she bestowed a shower of ardent embraces and expressions +of gratitude, mingled with excuses for her precaution. 'Oh! it +was so very kind in Miss Sophy,' she said; 'it would be such a +comfort to remember, she had feared she too was angry with +her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Angry? oh, no!' cried Sophy, her heart quite +unlocked; 'but the more I loved and admired, the more I could not +speak. And if they drive you to be a governess? If you had a +situation like what we read of?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Perhaps I shall not,' said Genevieve, +laughing. 'Every one has been so good to me hitherto! And then I +am not reduced from anything grander. I shall always have the +children, you know.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How I should hate them!' quoth +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'They are my pleasure. Besides I have always +thought it a blessing that my business in life, though so humble, +should be what may do direct good. If only I do not set them a +bad example, or teach them any harm.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not much danger of that,' said Sophy, smiling. +'Well, I can't believe it will be your lot all your life. You +will find some one who will know how to love you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' said Genevieve, 'I am not in a position +for marriage--grandmamma has often told me so!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Things sometimes happen,' pursued Sophy. +'Mamma said if Gilbert had been older, or even if--if he had been +in earnest and steady enough to work for you in India, then it +might-- And surely if Gilbert could care for you--people higher +and deeper than he would like you better still.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Hush,' said Genevieve; 'they would only see +the objections more strongly. No, do not put these things in my +head. I know that unless a teacher hold her business as her +mission, and put all other schemes out of her mind, she will work +with an absent, distracted, half-hearted attention, and fail of +the task that the good God has committed to her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then you would never even wish--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It would be seeking pomps and vanities to +wish,' said Genevieve; 'a school-room is a good safe cloister, +probably less dull than the convent. If I wish at all, it will be +that I may be well shut up there, for I know that in spite of +myself my manners are different from your English ones. I cannot +make them otherwise, and that amuses people; and I cannot help +liking to please, and so I become excited. I enjoy society so +much that it is not safe for me! So don't be sorry, dear Sophy, +it is a fit penance for the vanity that elated me too much that +evening at Fairmead!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mademoiselle Belmarche was here attracted by +the voices. Sophy started up from the ground, made some +unintelligible excuse, and while Mademoiselle was confounded with +admiration at the sight of the book, inflicted another +boa-constrictor embrace, and hurried away.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XVII.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">Planets hostile to the tender passion must have +been in the ascendant, for the result of Captain Ferrars's +pursuit of his brother to Italy was the wholesome certainty that +his own slender portion was all he had to reckon upon. Before +returning to Canada, he came to Bayford to pour out his troubles +to his cousin, and to induce her, if he could induce no one else, +to advise his immediate marriage. It was the first time he had +been really engaged, and his affection had not only stood three +months' absence, but had so much elevated his shatter-brained +though frank and honest temperament, that Albinia conceived a +high opinion of 'Emily,' and did her best to persuade him to be +patient, and wait for promotion.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy likewise approved of him this time, +perhaps because he was so opposite a specimen of the genus lover +from that presented by her brother. Gilbert had not been able to +help enjoying himself while from home, but his spirits sank on +his return; he lay about on the grass in doleful dejection, +studied little but L. E. L., lost appetite, and reproachfully +fondled his cough; but Albinia was now more compassionate than +Sophy, whom she was obliged to rebuke for an unsisterly disregard +toward his woes.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can't help it,' said Sophy; 'I can't believe +in him now!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, you ought to believe that he is really +unhappy, and be more gentle and considerate with him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If it had been earnest, he would have +sacrificed himself instead of Genevieve.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! Sophy, some day you will learn to make +excuses for other people, and not be so intolerant.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I never make excuses.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Except for Maurice,' said Albinia. 'If you +viewed other people as you do him, your judgments would be +gentler.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy's conscientiousness, like her romance, +was hard, high, and strict; but while she had as little mercy on +herself as on others, and while there were some soft spots in her +adamantine judgment, there was hope that these would spread, and, +without lowering her tone, make her more merciful.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She corresponded constantly with Genevieve, who +seemed very happily placed; Mrs. Elwood was delighted with her, +and she with Mrs. Elwood; and her lively letters showed no signs +of pining for home. Sophy felt as if it were a duty to her +friend, to do what in her lay to prevent the two old ladies from +being dull, and spent an hour with them every week, not herself +contributing much to their amusement, but pleasing them by the +attention, and hearing much that was very curious of their +old-world recollections.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Ever since that unlucky penny-club-day, when +she had declared that she hated poor people, she had been let +alone on that subject; and though principle had made her use her +needle in their behalf, shyness and reserve had kept her back +from all intercourse with them; but in her wish to compensate for +Genevieve's absence, she volunteered to take charge of her vacant +Sunday-school class, and obtained leave to have the girls at home +on the afternoons for an hour and a half. This was enough for one +who worked as she did, making a conscience of every word, and +toiling to prepare her lessons, writing out her questions +beforehand, and begging for advice upon them.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear,' said Albinia, 'you must alter +this--you see this question does not grow out of the last +answer.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Sophy, 'that must have been what +puzzled them last Sunday: they want connexion.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nothing like logic to teach one to be simple,' +said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can't see the use of all this trouble,' put +in Lucy. 'Why can't you ask them just what comes into your head, +as I always do?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Suppose mistakes came into my +head.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! they would not find it out if they did! I +declare!--what's this--Persian? Are you going to teach them +Persian?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No; it is Greek. You see it is a piece of a +Psalm, a quotation rather different in the New Testament. I wrote +it down to ask papa what it is in Hebrew.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'By-the-bye, Sophy,' continued Lucy, 'how could +you let Susan Price come to church with lace sleeves--absolute +lace sleeves!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Had she?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There--you never see anything! Mamma, would +not it be more sensible to keep their dress in order, than to go +poking into Hebrew, which can't be of use to any one?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was more reason than might appear in what +Lucy said: the girls of her class were more orderly, and fonder +of her than Sophy's of the grave young lady whose earnestness +oppressed them, and whose shyness looked dislike and pride. As to +finding fault with their dress, she privately told Albinia that +she could not commit such a discourtesy, and was answered that no +one but Mrs. Dusautoy need interfere.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I will go and ask Mrs. Dusautoy what she +wishes,' said Albinia. 'I should be glad if she would modify +Lucy's sumptuary laws. To fall foul of every trifle only makes +the girls think of their, dress.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia found Mrs. Dusautoy busied in writing +notes on mourning paper.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Here is a note I had written to you,' she +said. 'I am sending over to Hadminster to see if any of the +curates can take the services to-morrow.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia looked at the note while Mrs. Dusautoy +wrote on hurriedly. She read that there could be no daily +services at present, the Vicar having been summoned to Paris by +the sudden death of Mrs. Cavendish Dusautoy. As the image of a +well-endowed widow, always trying to force her way into higher +society, arose before Albinia, she could hardly wait till the +letter was despatched, to break out in amazement,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Was she a relation of yours? Even the name +never made me think of it!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is a pity she cannot have the gratification +of hearing it, poor woman,' said Mrs. Dusautoy, 'but it is a fact +that she did poor George Dusautoy the honour to marry +him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mr. Dusautoy's brother?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ay--he was a young surgeon, just set up in +practice, exactly like John--nay, some people thought him still +finer-looking. She was a Miss Greenaway Cavendish, a +stock-broker's heiress of a certain age.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh!' expressively cried Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You may say so,' returned Mrs. Dusautoy. 'She +made him put away his profession, and set up for taste and +elegant idleness.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And he submitted?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There was a great deal of the meek giant in +him, and he believed implicitly in the honour she had done him. +It would have been very touching, if it had not been so +provoking, to see how patiently and humbly that fine young man +gave up all that would have made him happy, to bend to her +caprices and pretensions.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Did you ever see them together?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, I never saw her at all, and him only once. +I never knew John really savage but once, and that was at her not +letting him come to our wedding; but she did give him leave of +absence for one fortnight, when we were at Lauriston. How happy +the brothers were! It did one good to hear their great voices +about the house; and they were like boys on a stolen frolic, when +John took him to prescribe for some of our poor people. He used +to talk of bringing us his little son--the one pleasure of his +life--but he never was allowed. Oh, how I used to long to stir up +a mutiny!' cried Mrs. Dusautoy, quite unknowing that she ruled +her own lion with a leash of silk. 'If she had appreciated him, +it would have been bearable; but to her he was no more than the +handsome young doctor, whom she had made a gentleman, and not a +very good piece of work of it either! Little she recked of the +great loving heart that had thrown itself away on her, and the +patience that bore with her; and she tried to hinder all the +liberal bountiful actions that were all he cared to do with his +means! I wish the boy may remember him!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How long has he been dead?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'These ten years. He was drowned in a lake +storm in Switzerland--people clung to him, and he could not swim. +It was John's one great grief--he cannot mention him even now. +And really,' she added, smiling, 'I do believe he has brought +himself to fancy it was a very happy marriage. She has always +been very civil; but she has been chiefly abroad, and never would +take his advice about sending her boy to school.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What becomes of him now?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He is our charge. She was on the way home from +Italy, when she was taken ill at Paris, and died at the end of +the week.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How old is he?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'About nineteen, I fancy. He must have had an +odd sort of education; but if he is a nice lad, it will be a +great pleasure to John to have something young about the +house.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I was thinking that Mr. Dusautoy hardly wanted +more cares.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So have I,' said her friend, smiling, 'and I +have been laying a plot against him. You see, he is as strong as +a lion, and never yet was too tired to sleep; but it is rather a +tempting of Providence to keep 3589 people and fourteen services +in a week resting upon one man!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Exactly what his churchwarden has preached to +him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Moreover, he cannot be in two places at once, +let alone half-a-dozen. Now, my Lancashire people have written in +quest of a title for holy orders for a young man who has just +gone through Cambridge with great credit, and it strikes me that +he might at once help John, and cram Master Algernon.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And Gilbert!' cried Albinia. 'Oh, if you will +import a tutor for Gilbert, we shall be for ever beholden to +you!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I had thought of him. I have no doubt that he +is much better taught than Algernon; but I am not afraid of this +poor fellow bringing home bad habits, and they will be good +companions. I reckon upon you and Mr. Kendal as great +auxiliaries, and I don't think John will be able to withstand our +united forces.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">On the way home, on emerging from the alley, +Albinia encountered Gilbert, just parting with another youth, who +walked off quickly on the Tremblam road, while she inquired who +it was.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That?' said Gilbert; 'oh! that was young +Tritton. He has been away learning farming in Scotland. We speak +when we meet, for old acquaintance sake and that.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The Bayford mind was diverted from the romance +of Genevieve, by the enormous fortune of the Vicar's nephew, +whose capital was in their mouths and imaginations swelled into +his yearly income. Swarms of cards of inquiry were left at the +vicarage; and Mrs. Meadows and Lucy enjoyed the reflected dignity +of being able to say that Mrs. Kendal was continually there. And +so she was, for Mrs. Dusautoy was drooping, though more in body +than visibly in spirit, and needed both companionship and +assistance in supporting the charge left by her absent +Atlas.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was not gone a moment longer than necessary, +and took her by surprise at last, while Albinia and Sophy were +sitting on the lawn with her, when she welcomed the nephew and +the Vicar, holding out a hand to each, and thanked them for +taking care of 'Fanny.' 'Here, Algernon,' he continued, 'here are +two of our best friends, Mrs. Kendal and Miss Sophy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was a stiff bow from a stiff altitude. +The youth was on the gigantic Dusautoy scale, looking taller even +than his uncle, from his manner of holding himself with his chin +somewhat elevated. He had a good ruddy sun-burnt complexion, +shining brown hair, and regular features; and Albinia could +respond heartily to the good Vicar's exclamation, as he followed +her down to the gate for the sake of saying,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well-grown lad, isn't that? And a very +good-hearted fellow too, poor boy--the very picture of his dear +father. Well, and how has Fanny been?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He stayed to be reassured that his return was +all his Fanny wanted, and then hurried back to her, while Albinia +and Sophy pursued their way down the hill.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'News for grandmamma. We must give her a +particular description of the hero.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How ugly he thought me!' said Sophy, +quaintly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear, I believe that is the first thing you +think of when you meet a stranger!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I saw it this time,' returned Sophy. 'His chin +went up in the air at once. He set me down for Mrs. Kendal, and +you for Miss Sophy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nonsense,' said Albinia, for the inveterate +youthfulness of her bright complexion and sunny hair was almost a +sore subject with her. 'Your always fancying that every one is +disgusted with you, is as silly as if you imagined yourself +transcendently beautiful. It is mere self-occupation, and helps +to make you blunt and shy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mamma,' said Sophy, 'tell me one thing. Did +you ever think yourself pretty?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have thought myself looking so, under +favourable circumstances, but that's all. You are as far from +ugliness as I am, and have as little need to think of it. As far +as features go, there's the making of a much handsomer woman in +you than in me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy laughed. A certain yearning for personal +beauty was a curious part of her character, and she would have +been ashamed to own the pleasure those few words had given her, +or how much serenity and forbearance they were worth; and her +good-humour was put to the proof that evening, for grandmamma had +a tea-party, bent on extracting the full description of the great +Algernon Greenaway Cavendish Dusautoy, Esquire. Lucy's first +sight was less at her ease. Elizabeth Osborn, with whom she kept +up a fitful intimacy, summoned her mysteriously into her garden, +to show her a peep-hole through a little dusty window in the +tool-house, whence could be descried the vicarage garden, and Mr. +Cavendish Dusautoy, as, with a cigar in his mouth, and his hands +in his pockets,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Stately stept he east the wa', and stately +stept he west.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy was so much amused, that she could not +help reporting it at home, where Gilbert forgot his sorrows, in +building up a mischievous romance in honour of the hole in the +'sweet and lovely wall.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But the parents' feud did not seem likely to +hold out. A hundred thousand pounds on one side of the wall, and +three single daughters on the other, Mrs. Osborn was not the +woman to trust to the 'wall's hole;' and so Mr. Dusautoy's enemy +laid down her colours; and he was too kind-hearted to trace her +sudden politeness to the source.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Dusautoy acceded to the scheme devised by +his wife, and measures were at once taken for engaging the +curate. When Albinia went to talk the matter over at the +parsonage, Lucy accompanied her; but the object of her curiosity +was not in the room; and when she had heard that he was fond of +drawing, and that his horses were to be kept at the King's Head +stables, the conversation drifted away, and she grew restless, +and begged Mrs. Dusautoy to allow her to replenish the faded +bouquets on the table. No sooner was she in the garden, than Mrs. +Dusautoy put on an arch look, and lowering her voice, +said,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! it is such fun! He does despise us so +immensely.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Despise--you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He is a good, boy, faithful to his training. +Now his poor mother's axioms were, that the English are vulgar, +country English more vulgar, Fanny Dusautoy the most vulgar! I +wish we always as heartily accepted what we are +taught.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He must be intolerable.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, he is very condescending and patronizing +to the savages. He really is fond of his uncle; and John is so +much hurt it I notice his peculiarities, that I have been dying +to have my laugh out.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Can Mr. Dusautoy bear with +pretension?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is not pretension, only calm faith in the +lessons of his youth. Look,' she added, becoming less personal at +Lucy's re-entrance, and pointing to a small highly-varnished +oil-painting of a red terra cotta vase, holding a rose, a +rhododendron before it, and half a water-melon grinning behind, +newly severed by a knife.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Is that what people bring home from Italy +now-a-days?' said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That is an original production.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Did Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy do that?' cried +Lucy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'<i>Genre</i> is his style,' was the reply. +'His mother was resolved he should be an amateur, and I give his +master great credit.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Especially for that not being a Madonna,' said +Albinia. 'I congratulate you on his having so safe an +amusement.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes; it disposes of him and of the spare room. +He cannot exist without an <i>atelier</i>.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Just then the Vicar entered.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! Algernon's picture,' began he, who had +never been known to look at one, except the fat cattle in the +Illustrated News. 'What do you think of it? Has he not made a +good hand of the pitcher?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia gratified him by owning that the +pitcher was round; and Lucy was in perfect rapture at the 'dear +little spots' in the rhododendron.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A poor way of spending a lad's time,' said the +uncle; 'but it is better than nothing; and I call the knife very +good: I declare you might take it up,' and he squeezed up his +eyes to enhance the illusion.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">A slow and wide opening of the door admitted +the lofty presence of Algernon Cavendish Dusautoy, with another +small picture in his hand. Becoming aware of the visitors, he +saluted them with a dignified movement of his head, and erecting +his chin, gazed at them over it.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So you have brought us another picture, +Algernon,' said his uncle. 'Mrs. Kendal has just been admiring +your red jar.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Have you a taste for art?' demanded Mr. +Cavendish Dusautoy, turning to her with magnificent +suavity.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I used to be very fond of drawing.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'<i>Genre</i> is my style,' he pursued, almost +overthrowing her gravity by the original of his aunt's imitation. +'I took lessons of old Barbouille--excellent master. Truth and +nature, those were his maxims; and from the moment I heard them, +I said, "This is my man." We used positively to live in the +Borghese. There!' as he walked backwards, after adjusting his +production in the best light.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A snipe,' said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A snipe that I killed in the Pontine +marshes.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There is very good shooting about Anxur,' said +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">"You have been at Rome?' He permitted himself a +little animation at discovering any one within the pale of +civilization.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'For one fortnight in the course of a galloping +tour with my two brothers,' said Albinia. 'All the Continent in +one long vacation!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That was much to be regretted. It is my maxim +to go through every museum thoroughly.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can't regret,' said Albinia. 'I should be +very sorry to give up my bright indistinct haze of glorious +memories, though I was too young to appreciate all I +saw.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'For my part, I have grown up among works of +art. My whole existence has been moulded on them, and I feel an +inexpressible void without them. I shall be most happy to +introduce you into my <i>atelier</i>, and show you my notes on +the various <i>Musees</i>. I preserved them merely as a trifling +memorial; but many <i>connoisseurs</i> have told me that I ought +to print them as a <i>Catalogue raisonnee</i>, for private +circulation, of course. I should be sorry to interfere with +Murray, but on the whole I decided otherwise: I should be so much +bored with applications.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mrs. Dusautoy's wicked glance had so nearly +demolished the restraint on her friend's dimples, that she turned +her back on her, and commended the finish of a solitary downy +feather that lay detached beside the bird.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My maxim is truth to nature, at any cost of +pains,' said the youth, not exactly gratified, for homage was his +native element, but graciously proceeding to point out the merits +of the composition.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia's composure could endure no more, and +she took her leave, Mr. Dusautoy coming down the hill with her to +repeat, and this time somewhat wistfully,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A fine lad, is he not, poor +fellow?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">With perfect sincerity, she could praise his +good looks.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He has had a quantity of sad stuff thrust on +him by the people who have been about his poor mother,' said Mr. +Dusautoy. 'She could never bear to part with him, and no wonder, +poor thing; and she must have let a very odd sort of people get +about her abroad--they've flattered that poor lad to the top of +his bent, you see, but he's a very good boy for all that, very +warm-hearted.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He must be very amiable for his mother to have +been able to manage him all this while.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Just what I say!' cried the Vicar, his honest +face clearing. 'Many youths would have run into all that is bad, +brought up in that way; but only consider what disadvantages he +has had! When we get him to see his real standing a little +better--I say, could not you let us have your young people to +come up this evening, have a little music, and make it lively? I +suppose Fanny and I are growing old, though I never thought so +before. Will you come, Lucy, there's a good girl, and bring your +brother and sister? The lads must be capital friends.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy promised with sparkling eyes, and the +Vicar strode off, saying he should depend on the +three.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert 'supposed he was in for it,' but 'did +not see the use of it,' he was sick of the name of 'that +polysyllable,' and 'should see enough of him when Mr. Hope came, +worse luck.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The result of the evening was, that Lacy was +enraptured at the discovery that this most accomplished hero sang +Italian songs to the loveliest guitar in the world, and was very +much offended with Sophy for wishing to know whether mamma really +thought him so very clever.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Immediately after the Ordination arrived Mr. +Hope, a very youthful, small, and delicate-looking man, whom Mr. +Dusautoy could have lifted as easily as his own Fanny, with short +sight, timid nature, scholarly habits, weak nerves, and an +inaudible voice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Of great intellect, having read deeply, and +reading still more deeply, he had the utmost dread of ladies, and +not even his countrywoman, Mrs. Dusautoy, could draw him out. He +threw his whole soul into the work, winning the hearts of the +infant-school and the old women, but discomfiting the +congregation by the weakness of his voice, and the length and +depth of his sermons. There was one in especial which very few +heard, and no one entered into except Sophy, who held an hour's +argument over it with her father, till they arrived at such +lengthy names of heresies, that poor grandmamma asked if it were +right to talk Persian on a Sunday evening.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He conscientiously tutored his two pupils, but +there was no common ground between him and them. Excepting his +extra intellect, there was no boyhood in him. A town-bred +scholar, a straight constitutional upon a clean road was his +wildest dream of exercise; he had never mounted a horse, did not +know a chicken from a partridge, except on the table, was too +short-sighted for pictures, and esteemed no music except +Gregorians.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The two youths were far more alive to his +deficiencies than to his endowments: Algernon contemned him for +being a book-seller's son, with nothing to live on but his +fellowship and curacy, and Gilbert looked down on his ignorance +of every matter of common life, and excessive bashfulness. Mr. +Dusautoy would have had less satisfaction in the growing intimacy +between the lads, had he known that it had been cemented by +inveigling poor Mr. Hope into a marsh in search of cotton-grass, +which, at Gilbert's instigation, Algernon avouched to be a new +sort of Indian corn, grown in Italy for feeding +silkworms.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">An intimacy there was, rather from constant +intercourse than from positive liking. Gilbert saw through and +disdained young Dusautoy's dulness and self-consequence; but +good-natured, kindly, and unoccupied, he had no objection to +associate with him, showing him English ways, trying to hinder +him from needlessly exposing himself, and secretly amused with +his pretension. Algernon, with his fine horses, expensive +appointments, and lofty air, was neither a discreditable nor +unpleasing companion. Mr. Kendal had given his son a horse, +which, without costing the guineas that Algernon had 'refused' +for each of his steeds, was a very respectable-looking animal, +and the two young gentlemen, starting on their daily ride, were a +grand spectacle for more than little Maurice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert had suffered some eclipse. Once he had +been the <i>grand parti</i>, the only indisputable gentleman, but +now Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy had entirely surpassed him both in +self-assertion and in the grounds for it. His incipient dandyisms +faded into insignificance beside the splendours of the heir of +thousands; and he, who among all his faults had never numbered +conceit or forwardness, had little chance beside such an implicit +believer in his own greatness.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Nor was Bayford likely to diminish that faith. +The non-adorers might be easily enumerated--his uncle and aunt, +his tutor, his groom, Mr. and Mrs. Kendal, Gilbert and Sophy; the +rest all believed in him as thoroughly as he did in himself. His +wealth was undoubted, his accomplishments were rated at his own +advertisement, and his magnanimous condescension was esteemed at +full value. Really handsome, good-natured and sociable, he +delighted to instruct his worshippers by his maxims, and to bend +graciously to their homage. The young ladies had but one +cynosure! Few eyes were there that did not pursue his every +movement, few hearts that did not bound at his approach, few +tongues that did not chronicle his daily comings and +goings.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It would save much trouble,' said Albinia, 'if +a court circular could be put into the Bayford paper.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The Kendals were the only persons whom Algernon +regarded as in any way on a footing with him. Finding that the +lady was a Ferrars, and had been in Italy, he regarded her as fit +company, and whenever they met, favoured her with the chief and +choicest of his maxims, little knowing how she and his aunt +presumed to discuss him in private.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Without being ill-disposed, he had been +exceedingly ill taught; his mother, the child of a grasping +vulgar father, had little religious impression, and that little +had not been fostered by the lax habits of a self-expatriated +Englishwoman, and very soon after his arrival at Bayford his +disregard of ordinary English proprieties had made itself +apparent. On the first Sunday he went to church in the morning, +but spent the evening in pacing the garden with a cigar; and on +the afternoon of that day week his aunt was startled by the sound +of horse's hoofs on the road. Mr. Dusautoy was at school, and she +started up, met the young gentleman, and asked him what strange +mistake could have been made. He made her a slight bow, and +loftily said he was always accustomed to ride at that hour! 'But +not on Sunday!' she exclaimed. He was not aware of any objection. +She told him his uncle would be much displeased, he replied +politely that he would account to his uncle for his conduct, +begged her pardon, but he could not keep his horse +waiting.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mrs. Dusautoy went back, fairly cried at the +thought of her husband's vexation, and the scandal to the whole +town.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The Vicar was, of course, intensely annoyed, +though he still could make excuses for the poor boy, and laid all +to the score of ignorance and foreign education. He made Algernon +clearly understand that the Sunday ride must not be repeated. +Algernon mumbled something about compromising his uncle and +offending English prejudices, by which he reserved to himself the +belief that he yielded out of magnanimity, not because he could +not help it; but he could not forgive his aunt for her peremptory +opposition; he became unpleasantly sullen and morose as regularly +as the Sunday came round, and revenged himself by pacing the +verandah with his cigar, or practising anything but sacred music +on his key-bugle in his painting-room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The youth was really fond of his uncle, but he +had imbibed all his mother's contempt for her sister-in-law. Used +to be wheedled by an idolizing mother, and to reign over her +court of parasites, he had no notion of obeying, and a direct +command or opposition roused his sullen temper of passive +resistance. When he found 'that little nobody of a Mrs. John +Dusautoy' so far from being a flatterer, or an adorer of his +perfections, inclined to laugh at him, and bent on keeping him in +order, all the enmity of which he was capable arose in his mind, +and though in general good-natured and not aggressive, he had a +decided pleasure in doing what she disapproved, and thus +asserting the dignity of a Greenaway Cavendish +Dusautoy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The <i>atelier</i> was a happy invention. +Certainly wearisome noises, and an aroma of Havannahs would now +and then proceed therefrom, but he was employed there the chief +part of the day, and fortunately his pictures were of small size, +and took an infinite quantity of labour, so that they could not +speedily outrun all the Vicarage walls.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He favoured the University of Oxford by going +up with Gilbert for matriculation, when, to the surprise of Mr. +Hope, he was not plucked. They were to begin their residence at +the Easter term. Mrs. Dusautoy did not confess even to Albinia +how much she looked forward to Easter.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In early spring, a sudden and short illness +took away Madame Belmarche's brave spirit to its rest, after +sixty years of exile and poverty, cheerfully borne.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There had been no time to summon Genevieve, and +her aunt would not send for her, but decided on breaking up the +school, which could no longer be carried on, and going to live in +the Hadminster convent. And thus, as Mr. Kendal hoped, all danger +of renewed intercourse between his son and Genevieve ended. +Gilbert looked pale and wretched, and Sophy hoped it was with +compunction at having banished Genevieve at such a moment, but +not a word was said--and that page of early romance was +turned!</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XVIII.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">It was a beautiful July afternoon, the air +musical with midsummer hum, the flowers basking in the sunshine, +the turf cool and green in the shade, and the breeze redolent of +indescribable freshness and sweetness compounded of all fragrant +odours, the present legacy of a past day's shower. Like the +flowers themselves, Albinia was feeling the delicious repose of +refreshed nature, as in her pretty pink muslin, her white drapery +folded round her, and her bright hair unbonnetted, she sat +reclining in a low garden chair, at the door of the conservatory, +a little pale, a little weak, but with a sweet happy languor, a +soft tender bloom.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was a step in the conservatory, and +before she could turn round, her brother Maurice bent over her, +and kissed her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Maurice! you have come after all!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, the school inspection is put off. How are +you?' as he sat down on the grass by her side.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, quite well! What a delicious afternoon we +shall have! Edmund will be at home directly. Mrs. Meadows has +absolutely let Gilbert take her to drink tea at the Drurys! Only +I am sorry Sophy should miss you, for she was so good about +going, because Lucy wanted to do something to her fernery. Of +course you are come for Sunday, and the christening?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,--that is, to throw myself on Dusautoy's +mercy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We will send Mr. Hope to Fairmead,' said +Albinia, 'and see whether Winifred can make him speak. We can't +spare the Vicar, for he is our godfather, and you must christen +the little maiden.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I thought the three elder ones were to be +sponsors.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gilbert is shy,' said Albinia, 'afraid of the +responsibility, and perhaps he is almost too near, the very next +to ourselves. His father would have preferred Mr. Dusautoy from +the first, and only yielded to my wish. I wish you had come two +minutes sooner, she was being paraded under that wall, but now +she is gone in asleep.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Her father writes grand things of +her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Does he?' said Albinia, colouring and smiling +at what could not be heard too often; 'he is tolerably satisfied +with the young woman! And he thinks her like Edmund, and so she +must be, for she is just like him. She will have such beautiful +eyes. It is very good of her to take after him, since Maurice +won't!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And she is to be another Albinia.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I represented the confusion, and how I always +meant my daughter to be Winifred, but there's no doing anything +with him! It is only to be a second name. A. W. K.! Think if she +should marry a Mr. Ward!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, she would not be awkward, if she were so +a-warded.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It wont spell, Maurice,' cried Albinia, +laughing as their nonsense, as usual, rose to the surface, 'but +how is Winifred?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'As well as could be hoped under the affliction +of not being able to come and keep you in order.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She fancied me according to the former +pattern,' said Albinia, smiling, 'I could have shown her a better +specimen, not that it was any merit, for there were no worries, +and Edmund was so happy, that it was pleasure enough to watch +him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I was coming every day to judge for myself, +but I thought things could not be very bad, while he wrote such +flourishing accounts.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, there were no more ponds!' said Albinia, +'and grandmamma happily was quite well, cured, I believe, by the +excitement. Lucy took care of her, and Sophy read to me--how we +have enjoyed those readings! Oh! and Aunt Gertrude has found a +delightful situation for Genevieve, a barrister's family, with +lots of little children--eighty pounds a year, and quite ready to +value her, so she is off my mind.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Maurice, boy! come here,' she called, as she +caught sight of a creature prancing astride on one stick, and +waving another. On perceiving a visitor, the urchin came +careering up, bouncing full tilt upon her, and clasping her round +with both his stalwart arms. 'Gently, gently, boy,' she said, +bending down, and looking with proud delight at her brother, as +she held between her hands a face much like her own, as fair and +freshly tinted, but with a peculiar squareness of contour, large +blue eyes, with dark fringes, brimming over with mischief and +fun, a bold, broad brow, and thick, light curls. There was a +spring and vigour as of perpetual irrepressible life about the +whole being, and the moment he had accepted his uncle's kiss, he +poised his lance, and exclaimed, 'You are Bonaparte, I'm the +Duke!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Indeed,' said Mr. Ferrars, at once seizing a +wand, and bestriding the nearest bench. Two or three charges +rendered the boy so uproarious, that presently he was ordered +off, and to use the old apple tree as Bonaparte.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What a stout fellow!' said Mr. Ferrars, as he +went off at a plunging gallop, 'I should have taken him for at +least five years old!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So he might be,' said Albinia, 'for strength +and spirit--he is utterly fearless, and never cries, much as he +knocks himself about! He will do anything but learn. The rogue! +he once knew all his letters, but no sooner did he find they were +the work of life, than he forgot every one, and was never so +obstreperous as when called upon to say them. I gave up the +point, but I foresee some fine scenes.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'His minding no one but you is an old story. I +hope at least the exception continues.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have avoided testing it. I want all my +forces for a decisive battle. I never heard of such a masterful +imp,' she continued, with much more exultation than anxiety, 'his +sisters have no chance with him, he rules them like a young Turk. +There's the pony! Sophy will let him have it as a right, and it +is the work of my life to see that she is not defrauded of her +rides.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You don't mean that that child rides anything +but a stick.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'One would think he had been born in boots and +spurs. Legitimately he only rides with some one leading the pony, +but I have my suspicions that by some preternatural means he has +been on the pony's back, and round the yard alone, and that papa +prudentially concealed it from me!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I confess I should not like it,' said her +brother gravely.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! I don't mind that kind of thing. A real +boy can't be hurt, and I don't care how wild he runs, so long as +he is obedient and truthful. And true I think he is to the +backbone, and I know he is reverend. We had such a disturbance +because he would not say his prayers.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Proof positive!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, it was,' said Albinia. 'It did not seem +to him orthodox without me, and when he was let into my room +again, it was the prettiest sight! When he had been told of his +little sister, all he said was that he did not want little +girls--girls were stupid--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! that came of your premature introduction +to my Albinia,'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not at all. It was partly as William's own +nephew, and partly because pleasure was expected from him. But +when he actually saw the little thing, that sturdy face grew so +very soft and sweet, and when we told him he was her protector, +he put both his hands tight together, and said, "I'll be so +good!" When he is with her, another child seems to shine out +under the bluff pickle he generally is--he walks so quietly, and +thinks it such an honour to touch her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She will be his best tutor,' said Maurice, +smiling, but breaking off--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">A sudden shriek of deadly terror rang out over +the garden from the river! A second or two sufficed to show them +Lucy at the other end of the foot-bridge, that led across the +canal to the towing-path. She did not look round, till Albinia, +clutching her, demanded, 'Where is he?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Unable to speak, Lucy pointed down the +towing-path, along which a horse was seen rushing wildly--a +figure pursuing it. 'It was hitched up here--he must have +scrambled up by the gate! Oh! mamma! mamma! He has run after him, +but oh!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars gave Lucy's arm a squeeze, a hint +not to augment the horror. Something he said of 'Let me--and you +had better--' but Albinia heard nothing, and was only bent on +pressing forward.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The canal and path took a wide sweep round the +meadow, and the horse was still in sight, galloping at full +speed, with a small heap on its back, as they trusted, but the +rapid motion, and their eyes strained and misty with alarm, +caused an agony of uncertainty.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia pointed across the meadows in anguish +at not being able to make herself understood, and hoarsely said, +'The gate!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars caught her meaning, and the next +moment had leaped over the gutter, and splashed into the water +meadow, but in utter hopelessness of being beforehand with the +runaway steed! How could that gate be other than fatal? The horse +was nearing it--the pursuer far behind--Mr. Ferrars not half way +over the fields.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was a loud cry from Lucy.--'He is caught! +caught!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">A loud shout came back, was caught up, and sent +on by both the pursuers, 'All right!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia had stood in an almost annihilation of +conscious feeling. Even when her brother strode back to her +repeating 'All safe, thanks be to God,' she neither spoke nor +relaxed that intensity of watching. A few seconds more, and she +sprang forward again as the horse was led up by a young man at +his side; and on his back, laughing and chattering, sat Master +Maurice. Algernon Dusautoy strode a few steps behind, somewhat +aggrieved, but that no one saw.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The elder Maurice lifted down the younger one, +who, as he was clasped by his mother, exclaimed, 'Oh! mamma, +Bamfylde went so fast! I am to ride home again! He said so--he's +my cousin!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia scarcely heard; her brother however had +turned to thank the stranger for her, and exclaimed, 'I should +say you were an O'More.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm Ulick, from the Loughside Lodge,' was the +answer. 'Is cousin "Winifred here?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, this is my sister, Mrs. Kendal, +but--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia held out her hand, and grasped his; 'I +can't--Maurice, speak,' she said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The little Maurice persisted in his demand to +be remounted for the twelve yards to their own gate, but nobody +heard him; his uncle was saying a few words of explanation to the +stranger, and Algernon Dusautoy was enunciating something +intended as a gracious reception of the apologies which no one +was making. All Albinia thought of was that the little unruly +hand was warm and struggling, prisoned in her own; all her +brother cared for was to have her safely at home. He led her +across the bridge, and into the garden, where they met Mr. +Kendal, who had taken alarm from her absence; Lucy ran up with +her story, and almost at the same moment, Albinia, springing to +him, murmured, 'Oh! Edmund, the great mercy--Maurice;' but there +she found herself making a hoarse shriek; with a mingled sense of +fright and shame, she smothered it, but there was an agony of +suffocation, she felt her husband's arms round her, heard his +voice, and her boy's scream of terror--felt them all unable to +help her, and sank into unconsciousness.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars helped Mr. Kendal to carry his +wife's inanimate form to her room. They used all means of +restoration, but it was a long, heavy swoon, and a slow, painful +revival. Mr. Kendal would have been in utter despair at hearing +that the doctor was out, but for his brother, with his ready +resources and cheerful encouragement; and finally, she lifted her +eyelids, and as she felt the presence of her two dearest +guardians, whispered, 'Where is he?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy reported that he was with Susan, and +Albinia, after hearing her husband again assure her that he was +quite safe, lay still from exhaustion, but so calm, that her +brother thought them best alone, and drew Lucy away.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In about a quarter of an hour Mr. Kendal came +down, saying that she was quietly asleep, and he had left the +nurse with her. He had yet to hear the story, and when he +understood that the child had been madly careering along the +towing-path, on the back of young Dusautoy's most spirited +hunter, and had been only stopped when the horse was just about +to leap the tall gate, he was completely overcome. When he spoke +again, it was with the abrupt exclamation, 'That child! Lucy, +bring him down!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In marched the boy, full of life and mischief, +though with a large red spot beneath each eye.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Maurice!' Gilbert had often heard that tone, +but Maurice never, and he tossed back his head with an innocent +look of fearless wonder. 'Maurice, I find you have been a very +naughty, disobedient boy. When you rode the pony round the yard, +did not I order you never to do so again?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I did not do it again,' boldly rejoined +Maurice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Speak the truth, sir. What do you mean by +denying what you have done?' exclaimed his father, +angrily.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I didn't ride the pony,' indignantly cried the +child, 'I rode a horse, saddled and bridled!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't answer me in that way!' thundered Mr. +Kendal, and much incensed by the nice distinction, and not +appreciating the sincerity of it, he gave the child a shake, +rough enough to bring the red into his face, but not a tear. 'You +knew it was very wrong, and you were as near as possible breaking +your neck. You have frightened your mamma, so as to make her very +ill, and I am sorry to find you most mischievous and unruly, not +to be trusted out of sight. Now, listen to me, I shall punish you +very severely if you act in this disobedient way +again.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Papa angry, was a novel spectacle, at which +Maurice looked as innocently and steadily as ever, so completely +without fear or contrition, that he provoked a stern, 'Do you +hear me, sir?' and another shake. Maurice flushed, and his chest +heaved, though he did not sob, and his father, uncomfortable at +such sharp dealing with so young a child, set him aside, with the +words, 'There now, recollect what I have told you!' and walked to +the window, where he stood silent for some seconds, while the boy +stood with rounded shoulders, perplexed eye, and finger on his +pouting lip, and Mr. Ferrars, newspaper in hand, watched him +under his eyelids, and speculated what would be the best sort of +mediation, or whether the young gentleman yet deserved it. He +knew that his own Willie would have been a mere quaking, sobbing +mass of terror, under such a shake, and he would like to have +been sure whether that sturdy silence were obstinacy or +fortitude.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The sound of the door-bell made Mr. Kendal turn +round, and laying his hand on the little fellow's fair head, he +said, 'There, Maurice, we'll say no more about it if you will be +a good boy. Run away now, but don't go into your mamma's +room.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice looked up, tossed his curls out of his +eyes, shook himself, felt the place on his arm where the grip of +the hand had been, and galloped off like the young colt that he +was.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia awoke, refreshed, though still shaken +and feeble, and surprised to find that dinner was going on +downstairs. Her own meal presently put such new force into her, +that she felt able to speak Maurice's name without bursting into +tears, and longing to see both her little ones beside her, she +told the nurse to fetch the boy, but received for answer, 'No, +Master Maurice said he would not come,' and the manner conveyed +that it had been defiantly said. Master Maurice was no favourite +in the nursery, and he was still less so, when his mamma, +disregarding all mandates, set out to seek him. Already she heard +from the stairs the wrangling with Susan that accompanied all his +toilettes, and she found him the picture of firm, solid fairness, +in his little <i>robe de nuit</i>, growling through the combing +of his tangled locks. Though ordinarily scornful of caresses, he +sprang to her and hugged her, as she sat down on a low chair, and +he knelt in her lap, whispering with his head on her shoulder, +and his arms round her neck, 'Mamma, were you dead?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, Maurice,' she answered with something of a +sob, 'or I should not have my dear, dear little boy throttling me +now! But why would you not come down to me?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Papa said I must not.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Oh, that was quite right, my boy;' and though +she unclasped the tight arms, she drew him nestling into her +bosom. 'Oh, Maurice, it has been a terrible day! Does my little +boy know how good the great God has been to him, and how near he +was never seeing mamma nor his little sister again.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Her great object was to make him thankful for +his preservation, but with a child, knowing nothing of death and +heedless of fear, this was very difficult. The rapid motion had +been delightful excitement, or if there had been any alarm, it +was forgotten in the triumph. She had to change her note, and +represent how the poor horse might have run into the river, or +against a post! Maurice looked serious, and then she came to the +high moral tone--mounting strangers' horses without leave--would +papa, would Gilbert, think of such a thing? The full lip was put +out, as though under conviction, and he hung his head. 'You wont +do it again?' said she.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She told him to say his prayers, guiding the +confession and thanksgiving that she feared he did not fully +follow. As he rose up, and saw the tears on her cheeks, he +whispered, 'Mamma, did it make you <i>so</i>?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Cause and effect were a great puzzle to him, +but that swoon was the only thing that brought home to him that +he had been guilty of something enormous, and when she owned that +his danger had been the occasion, he stood and looked; then, +standing bolt upright, with clasped hands, and rosy feet pressed +close together, he said, with a long breath, 'I'll never get on +Bamfylde again till I'm a big boy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">As he spoke, Mr. Kendal pushed open the +half-closed door, and Albinia, looking up, said, 'Here's a boy +who knows he has done wrong, papa.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Never was more welcome excuse for lifting the +gallant child to his breast, and lavishing caresses that would +have been tender but for the strong spirit of riot which turned +them into a game at romps, cut short by Mr. Kendal, as soon as +the noise grew very outrageous. 'That's enough to-night; good +night.' And when they each had kissed the monkey face tossing +about among the clothes, Maurice might have heard more pride than +pain in the 'I never saw such a boy!' with which they shut the +door.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'This is not prudent!' said Mr. +Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you think I could have rested till I had +seen him? and he said you had told him not to come +down.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I would have brought him to you. You are +looking very ill; you had better go to bed at once.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, I should not sleep. Pray let me grow quiet +first. Now you know you trust Maurice,--old Maurice, and I'll lie +on the sofa like any mouse, if you'll bring him up and let him +talk. You know it will be an interesting novelty for you to talk, +and me to listen! and he has not seen the baby.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia gained her point, but Mr. Kendal and +Lucy first tucked her up upon the sofa, till she cried out, 'You +have swathed me hand and foot. How am I to show off that little +Awk?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'll take care of that,' said Mr. Kendal; and +so he did, fully doing the honours of the little daughter, who +had already fastened on his heart.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But,' cried Albinia, breaking into the midst, +'who or what are we, ungrateful monsters, never to have thought +of the man who caught that dreadful horse!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You shall see him as soon as you are strong +enough,' said Mr. Kendal; 'your brother and I have been with +him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, I am glad; I could not rest if he had not +been thanked. And can anything be done for him? What is he? I +thought he was a gentleman.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice smiled, and Mr. Kendal answered, 'Yes, +he is Mr. Goldsmith's nephew, and I am pleased to find that he is +a connexion of your brother.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'One of the O'Mores,' cried Albinia. 'Oh, +Maurice, is it really one of Winifred's O'Mores?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Even so,' replied Mr. Ferrars; the very last +person I should have expected to meet on the banks of the Baye! +It was that clever son of the captain's for whose education Mr. +Goldsmith paid, and it seems had sent for, to consider of his +future destination. He only arrived yesterday.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A very fine young man,' said Mr. Kendal. 'I +was particularly pleased with his manner, and it was an act of +great presence of mind and dexterity.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is all a maze and mystery to me,' said +Albinia; 'do tell me all about it. I can't make out how the horse +came there.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I understood that young Dusautoy was calling +here,' said Mr. Kendal; 'I wondered at even his coolness in +coming in by that way, and at your letting him in.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I saw nothing of him,' said Albinia. 'Perhaps +he was looking for Gilbert.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' said Lucy, looking up from her work, with +a slight blush, and demure voice of secret importance; 'he had +only stepped in for a minute, to bring me a new fern.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Indeed,' said her father; 'I was not aware +that he took interest in your fernery.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He knows everything about ferns,' said Lucy. +'Mrs. Cavendish Dusautoy once had a conservatory filled with the +rarest specimens, and he has given me a great many directions how +to manage them.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! if he could get you to listen to his +maxims, I don't wonder at anything,' exclaimed +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He had only just come in with the Adiantium, +and was telling me how hydraulic power directed a stream of water +near the roots among his mother's Fuci,' said Lucy, rather hurt. +'He had fastened up his horse quite securely, and nobody could +have guessed that Maurice could have opened that gate to cross +the bridge, far less have climbed up the rail to the horse's +back. I never shall forget my fright, when we heard the +creature's feet, and Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy began to run after it +directly.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'As foolish a thing as he could have done,' +said Mr. Kendal, not impressed with Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy's +condescension in giving chase. 'It was well poor little Maurice +was not abandoned to your discretion, and his +resources.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It seems,' continued Mr. Ferrars, 'that young +O'More was taking a walk on the towing-path, and was just so far +off as to see, without being able to prevent it, this little +monkey scramble from the gate upon the horse's neck. How it was +that he did not go down between, I can't guess; the beast gave a +violent start, as well it might, jerked the reins loose, and set +off full gallop. Seeing the child clinging on like a young +panther, he dashed across the meadow, to cut him off at the turn +of the river; and it was a great feat of swiftness, I assure you, +to run so lightly through those marshy meadows, so as to get the +start of the runaway; then he crept up under cover of the hedge, +so as not to startle the horse, and had hold of the bridle, just +as he paused before leaping the gate! He said he could hardly +believe his eyes when he saw the urchin safe, and looking more +excited than terrified.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, he was exceedingly struck with Maurice's +spirit,' said Mr. Kendal, who, when the fright and anger were +over, could begin to be proud of the exploit.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'They fraternized at once,' said Mr. Ferrars. +'Maurice imparted that his name was Maurice Ferrars Kendal, and +Ulick, in all good faith and Irish simplicity, discovered that +they were cousins!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! Edmund, he must come to the christening +dinner!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mind,' said Maurice, 'you, know he is not even +my wife's cousin; only nephew to her second cousin's +husband.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'For shame, Maurice, cousin is that cousinly +does!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very well, only don't tell the aunts that +Winifred saddled all the O'Mores upon you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not an O'More but should be welcome for his +sake!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nor an Irishman,' said Mr. Ferrars.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia suffered so much from the shock, that +she could not make her appearance till noon on the following day. +Then, after sitting a little while in the old study, to hear that +grandmamma had not been able to sleep all night for thinking of +Maurice's danger, and being told some terrible stories of +accidents with horses, she felt one duty done, and moved on to +the drawing-room in search of her brother.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She found herself breaking upon a tete-a-tete. +A sweet, full voice, with strong cadences, was saying something +about duty and advice, and she would have retreated, but her +brother and the stranger both sprang up, and made her understand +that she was by no means to go away. No introduction was wanted; +she grasped the hand that was extended to her, and would have +said something if she could, but she found herself not strong +enough to keep from tears, and only said, 'I wish little Maurice +were not gone out with his brother, but you will dine with us, +and see him to-morrow.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'With the greatest pleasure, if my uncle and +aunt will spare me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'They must,' said Albinia, 'you must come to +meet your old friend and <i>cousin</i>,' she added, mischievously +glancing at Maurice, but he did not look inclined to disavow the +relationship, and the youth was not a person whom any one would +wish to keep at a distance. He seemed about nineteen or twenty +years of age, not tall, but well made, and with an air of great +ease and agility, rather lounging and careless, yet alert in a +moment. The cast of his features at once betrayed his country, by +the rounded temples, with the free wavy hair; the circular form +of the eyebrow; the fully opened dark blue eye, looking almost +black when shaded; the short nose, and the well-cut chin and +lips, with their outlines of sweetness and of fun, all thoroughly +Irish, but of the best style, and with a good deal of thought and +mind on the brow, and determination in the mouth. Albinia had +scarcely a minute, however, for observation, for he seemed +agitated, and in haste to take leave, nor did her brother press +him to remain, since she was still looking very white and red, +and too fragile for anything but rest. With another squeeze of +the hand she let him go, while he, with murmured thanks, and head +bent in enthusiastic honour to the warm kindness of one so sweet +and graceful, took leave. Mr. Ferrars followed him into the hall, +leaving the door open, so that she heard the words, 'Good-bye, +Ulick; I'll do my best for you. All I can say is, that I respect +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't respect me too soon,' he answered; +'maybe you'll have to change your mind. The situation may like me +no better than I the situation.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, what you will, you can do; I trust to your +perseverance.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'As my poor mother does! Well, with patience +the snail got to Rome, and if it is to lighten her load, I must +bear it. Many thanks, Mr. Ferrars. Good morning.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Good morning; only, Ulick, excuse me, but let +me give you a hint; if the situation is to like you, you must +mind your Irish.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then you must not warm my heart with your +kindness,' was the answer. 'No, no, never fear, when I'm not with +any one who has seen Ballymakilty, I can speak English so that I +could not be known for a Galway man. Not that I'm ashamed of my +country,' he added; and the next moment the door shut behind +him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How could you scold him for his Irish?' +exclaimed Albinia, as her brother re-entered; 'it sounds so +pretty and characteristic.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I fear Mr. Goldsmith may think it too +characteristic!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am sure Edmund might well call him +prepossessing. I hope Mr. Goldsmith is going to do something +handsome for him!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor lad! Mr. Goldsmith considers that he has +purchased him for a permanent fixture on a high stool. It is a +sad disappointment, for he had been doing his utmost to prepare +himself for college, and he has so far distinguished himself at +school, that I see that a very little help would soon enable him +to maintain himself at the University. I could have found it in +my heart to give it to him myself; it would please +Winifred.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, let us help; I am sure Edmund would be +glad.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, no, this is better for all. Remember this +is the Goldsmith's only measure of conciliation towards their +sister since her marriage, and it ought not to be interfered +with. Poor Ulick says he knows this is the readiest chance of +being of any use to his family, and that his mother has often +said she should be happy if she could but see one of the six +launched in a way to be independent! There are those three +eldest, little better than squireens, never doing a thing but +loafing about with their guns. I used to long for a horse-whip to +lay about them, till they spoke to me, and then not one of the +rogues but won my heart with his fun and good-nature.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then I suppose it is a great thing to have one +in the way of money-making.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Hem! The Celtic blood is all in commotion! +This boy's business was to ask my candid opinion whether there +were anything ungentlemanlike in a clerkship in a bank. It was +well it was not you!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Now, Maurice, don't you know how glad I should +have been if Gilbert would have been as wise!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, you have some common sense after all, +which is more than Ulick attributes to his kith and kin. When I +had proved the respectability of banking to his conviction, I'll +not say satisfaction, he made me promise to write to his father. +He is making up his mind to what is not only a great vexation to +himself, and very irksome employment, but he knows he shall be +looked down upon as having lost caste with all his +family!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It really is heroism!' cried +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is,' said Mr. Ferrars; 'he does not trust +himself to face the clan, and means to get into harness at once, +so as to clench his resolution, and relieve his parents from his +maintenance immediately.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Is he to live with that formal Miss +Goldsmith?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No. In solitary lodgings, after that noisy +family and easy home! I can't think how he will stand it. I +should not wonder if the Galwegian was too strong after +all.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We must do all we can for him,' cried Albinia; +'Edmund likes him already. Can't he dine with us every +Sunday?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I know you will be kind,' said Mr. Ferrars. +'Only see how things turn out before you commit yourself. Ah! I +have said the unlucky word which always makes you fly +off"!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was little fear that Ulick O'More would +not win his way with Mr. and Mrs. Kendal, recommended as he was, +and with considerable attractions in the frankness and brightness +of his manner. He was a very pleasant addition to the party who +dined at Willow Lawn, after the christening. No one had time to +listen to Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy's maxims, and he retired rather +sullenly, to lean against the mantelpiece, and marvel why the +Kendals should invite an Irish banker's clerk to meet <i>him</i>. +Gilbert likewise commented on the guest with a muttered +observation on his sisters' taste; 'Last year it was all the +Polysyllable, now it would be all the Irishman!'</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XIX.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">There was a war of supremacy in the Kendal +household. Albinia and her son were Greek to Greek, and if +physical force were on her side, her own tenderness was against +her. As to allies, Maurice had by far the majority of the +household; the much-tormented Susan was her mistress's sole +supporter; Mr. Kendal and Sophy might own it inexpedient to +foster his <i>outrecuidance</i>, but they so loved to do his +bidding, so hated to thwart him, and so grieved at his being +punished, that they were little better than Gilbert, Lucy, +grandmamma, or any of the maids or men.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The moral sense was not yet stirred, and the +boy seemed to be trying the force of his will like the strength +of his limbs. Even as he delighted to lift a weight the moment he +saw that it was heavy, so a command was to him a challenge to see +how much he would undergo rather than obey, but his resistance +was so open, gay, and free, that it could hardly be called +obstinacy, and he gloried in disappointing punishment. The dark +closet lost all terror for him; he stood there blowing the horn +through his hand, content to follow an imaginary chase, and when +untimely sent to bed, he stole Susan's scissors, and cut a range +of stables in the sheets. The short, sharp infliction of pain +answered best, but his father, though he could give a shake when +angry, could <i>not</i> strike when cool, and Albinia was forced +to turn executioner, though with such tears and trembling that +her culprit looked up reassuringly, saying, 'Never mind, mamma, I +shan't!' He did, however, <i>mind</i> her tears, they bore in +upon him the sense of guilt; and after each transgression, he +could not be at peace till he had marched up to her, holding out +his hand for the blow, and making up his face not to wince, and +then would cling round her neck to feel himself pardoned. Justice +came to him in a most fair and motherly shape! The brightest, the +merriest of all his playmates was mamma; he loved her +passionately, and could endure no cloud between himself and her, +so that he was slowly learning that submission to her was peace +and pleasure, and rebellion mere pain to both. She established +ten minutes of daily lessons, but even she could not reach beyond +the capture of his restless person, his mind was out of reach, +and keen as he was in everything else, towards "a + b = ab" he +was an unmitigated dunce. Nor did he obey any one who did not use +authority and force of will, and though perfectly simple and +sincere, he was too young to restrain himself without the +assistance of the controlling power, so that in his mother's +absence he was tyrannical and violent, and she never liked to +have him out of her sight, and never was so sure that he was deep +in mischief as when she had not heard his voice for a quarter of +an hour.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Albinia,' said Mr. Kendal, one relenting +autumn day, when November strove to look like April, 'I thought +of walking to pay Farmer Graves for the corn. Will you come with +me?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Delightful, I want to see what Maurice will +say to the turkey-cock.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Is it not too far for him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He would run quite as many miles in the +garden,' said Albinia, who would have walked in dread of a court +of justice on her return, had not the scarlet hose been safely +prancing on the road before her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'This way, then,' said Mr. Kendal; 'I must get +this draft changed at the bank. Come, Maurice, you will see a +friend there.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you know, Edmund,' said Albinia, as they +set forth, 'my conscience smites me as to that youth; I think we +have neglected him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I cannot see what more we could have done. If +his uncle does not bring him forward in society, we cannot +interfere.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It must be a forlorn condition,' said Albinia; +'he is above the other clerks, and he seems to be voted below the +Bayford Elite, since the Polysyllable has made it so very +refined! One never meets him anywhere now it is too dark to walk +after the banking hours. Cannot we ask him to come in some +evening?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We cannot have our evenings broken up,' said +Mr. Kendal. 'I should be glad to show him any kindness, but his +uncle seems to have ruled it that he is to be considered more as +his clerk than as one of his family, and I doubt if it would be +doing him any service to interfere.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They were now at the respectable old freestone +building, with 'Goldsmith' inscribed on the iron window-blinds, +and a venerable date carved over the door. Inside, those blinds +came high, and let in but little light over the tall desks, at +which were placed the black-horsehair perches of the clerks, old +Mr. Goldsmith himself occupying a lower throne, more accessible +to the clients. One of the high stools stood empty, and Albinia +making inquiry, Mr. Goldsmith answered, with a dry, dissatisfied +cough, that More, as he called him, had struck work, and gone +home with a headache.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Indeed,' said Albinia, 'I am sorry to hear it. +Mr. Hope said he thought him not looking well.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He has complained of headache a good deal +lately,' said Mr. Goldsmith. 'Young men don't find it easy to +settle to business.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia's heart smote her for not having +thought more of her son's rescuer, and she revolved what could or +what might have been done. It really was not easy to show him +attention, considering Gilbert's prejudice against his accent, +and Mr. Kendal's dislike to an interrupted evening, and all she +could devise was a future call on Miss Goldsmith. But for +Maurice, it would have been a silent walk, and though her mind +was a little diverted by his gallant attempt to bestride the +largest pig in the farm-yard, she was sure Mr. Kendal was musing +on the same topic, and was not surprised when, as they returned, +he exclaimed, 'I have a great mind to go and see after that poor +lad.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'This way, then,' said Albinia, turning down a +narrow muddy street parallel with the river.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Impossible!' said Mr. Kendal; 'he can never +live at the Wharves?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Albinia; 'he told me that he lodged +with an old servant of the Goldsmiths, Pratt's wife, at the Lower +Wharf.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She pointed to the name of Pratt over a +shop-window in a house that had once seen better days, but which +looked so forlorn, that Mr. Kendal would not look the slatternly +maid in the face while so absurd a question was asked as whether +Mr. O'More lived there.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The girl, without further ceremony, took them +up a dark stair, and opened the door of a twilight room, where +Albinia's first glimpse showed her the young man with his head +bent down on his arms on the table, as close as possible to the +forlorn, black fire, of the grim, dull, sulky coal of the county, +which had filled the room with smoke and blacks. The window, +opened to clear it, only admitted the sickly scent of decaying +weed from the river to compete with the perfume of the cobbler's +stock-in-trade. Ulick started up pale and astonished, and Mr. +Kendal, struck with consternation, chiefly thought of taking away +his wife and child from the infected atmosphere, and made signs +to Albinia not to sit down; but she was eagerly +compassionate.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was nothing,' said Ulick, 'only his head +was rather worse than usual, and he thought it time to give in +when the threes put lapwings' feathers in their caps just like +the fives.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Are you subject to these +headaches?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is only home-sickness,' he said. 'I'll have +got over it soon.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I must come and see after you, my good +friend,' said Mr. Kendal, with suppressed impatience and anxiety. +'I shall return in a moment or two, but I am sure you are not +well enough for so many visitors taking you by surprise. +Come.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was so peremptory, that Albinia found +herself on the staircase before she knew what she was about. The +fever panic had seized Mr. Kendal in full force; he believed +typhus was in the air, and insisted on her taking Maurice home at +once, while he went himself to fetch Mr. Bowles. She did not in +the least credit fever to be in the chill touch of that lizard +hand, and believed that she could have been the best doctor; but +there was no arguing while he was under this alarm, and she knew +that she might be thankful not to be ordered to observe a +quarantine.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When Mr. Kendal returned home he looked much +discomposed, though his first words were, 'Thank Heaven, it is no +fever! Albinia, we must look after that poor lad; he is +positively poisoned by that pestiferous river and bad living! +Bowles said he was sure he was not eating meat enough. I dare say +that greasy woman gives him nothing fit to eat! Albinia, you must +talk to him--find out whether old Goldsmith gives him a decent +salary!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He ought not to be in those lodgings another +day. I suppose Miss Goldsmith had no notion what they were. I +fancy she never saw the Lower Wharf in her life.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I never did till to-day,' said Mr. Kendal. 'It +was all of a piece--the whole street--the room--the +furniture--why the paper was coming off the walls! What could +they be dreaming of! And there he was, trying to read a little +edition of Prodentius, printed at Salamanca, which he picked up +at a bookstall at Galway. It must have belonged to some priest +educated in Spain. He says any Latin book was invaluable to him. +He is infinitely too good for his situation, and the Goldsmiths +are neglecting him infamously. Look out some rooms fit for him, +Albinia.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I will try. Let me see--if I could only +recollect any; but Mr. Hope has the only really nice ones in the +place.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Somewhere he must be, if it is in this +house.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There is poor old Madame Belmarche's still +empty, with Bridget keeping it. I wish he could have rooms +there.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, why not? Pettilove told me it must be +let as two tenements. If the old woman could take half, a lodger +would pay her rent,' said Mr. Kendal, promptly. 'You had better +propose it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And the Goldsmiths?' asked Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I will show him the Lower Wharf.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The next afternoon Mr. Kendal desired his wife +to go to the Bank and borrow young O'More for her walking +companion.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Really I don't know whether I have the +impudence.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I will come and do it for you. You will do +best alone with the lad; I want you to get into his confidence, +and find out whether old Goldsmith treats him properly. I +declare, but that I know John Kendal so well, this would be +enough to make me rejoice that Gilbert is not thrown on the +world!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia knew herself to be so tactless, that +she saw little hope other doing anything but setting him against +his relations; but her husband was in no frame to hear +objections, so she made none, and only trusted she should not be +very foolish. At least, the walk would be a positive physical +benefit to the slave of the desk.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Ulick O'More was at his post, and said his head +was well, but his hair stuck up as if his fingers had been many +times run through it; he was much thinner, and the wearied +countenance, whitened complexion, and spiritless sunken eyes, +were a sad contrast to the glowing freshness and life that had +distinguished him in the summer.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal told the Banker that it had been +decided that his nephew needed exercise, and that Mrs. Kendal +would be glad of his company in a long walk. Mr. Goldsmith seemed +rather surprised, but consented, whereupon the young clerk +lighted up into animation, and bounded out of his prison house, +with a springy step learnt upon mountain heather. Mr. Kendal only +waited to hear whither they were bound.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! as far as we can go on the Woodside road,' +said Albinia. 'I think the prescription I used to inflict on poor +Sophy will not be thrown away here. I always fancy there is a +whiff of sea air upon the hill there.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Ulick smiled at such a fond delusion, bred up +as he had been upon the wildest sea-coast, exposed to the full +sweep of the Atlantic storm! She set him off upon his own +scenery, to the destruction of his laborious English, as he dwelt +on the glories of his beloved rocks rent by fierce sea winds and +waves into fantastic, grotesque, or lovely shapes, with fiords of +exquisite blue sea between, the variety of which had been to him +as the gentle foliage of tamer countries. Not a tree stood near +the 'town' of Ballymakilty, but the wild crags, the sparkling +waters, the broad open hills, and the bogs, with their intensely +purple horizon, held fast upon his heart; and he told of white +sands, reported to be haunted by mermaids, and crevices of rock +where the tide roared, and gave rise to legends of sea monsters, +and giants turned to stone. He was becoming confidential and +intimate when, in a lowered voice, he mentioned the Banshee's +crag, where the shrouded messenger of doom never failed to bewail +each dying child of the O'More, and where his own old nurse had +actually beheld her keening for the uncle who was killed among +the Caffres. Albinia began to know how she ought to respect the +O'Mores.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They were skirting the side of the hill, with a +dip of green meadow-land below them, rising on the other side +into coppices. The twang of the horn, and the babbling cry of the +hounds, reminded Albinia that the hunting season had begun, and +looking over a gate, she watched the parti-coloured forms of the +dogs glancing among the brushwood opposite, and an occasional red +coat gleaming out through the hedge above. Just then the cry +ceased, the dogs became silent, and scattered hither and thither +bewildered. Ulick looked eagerly, then suddenly vaulted over the +gate, went forward a few steps, looked again, pointed towards +some dark object which she could barely discern, put his finger +in his ear, and uttered an unearthly screech, incomprehensible to +her, but well understood by the huntsman, and through him by the +dogs, which at once simultaneously dashed in one direction, and +came pouring into the meadow over towards him, down went their +heads, up went their curved tails, the clatter and rushing of +hoofs, and the apparition of red coats, showed the hunters all +going round the copse, while at the same moment, away with winged +steps bounded her companion, flying headlong like the wind, so as +to meet the hunt.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<center> +<p><font size="2">'Ask me not what the lady feels,<br> +Left in that dreadful hour alone,'</font></p> +</center> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">laughed Albinia to herself. 'Well done, speed! +Edmund might be satisfied there's not much amiss! Through the +hedge--over the meadow--a flying leap over the stream--it is more +like a bird than a man--up again. Does he mean to follow the hunt +all the rest of the way? Rather Irish, I must say! And I do +believe they will all come down this lane! I must walk on; it +wont do to be overtaken here between these high hedges. Ah! I +thought he was too much of a gentleman to leave me--here he +comes. How much in his way I must be! I never saw such a runner; +not a bit does he slacken for the hill--and what bright cheeks +and eyes! What good it must have done him!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I beg ten thousand pardons!' cried he, as he +came up, scarcely out of breath. 'I declare I forgot you, I could +not help it, when I saw them at a check !'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You feel for the hunter as I do for the fox,' +said Albinia. 'Is yours one of the great hunting +neighbourhoods?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That it is!' he cried. 'My grandfather had the +grand stud! He and his seven sons were out three times in the +week, and there was a mount for whoever wanted it!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And this generation is not behind the +last?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! and why would it be?' exclaimed the boy, +the last remnant of English pronunciation forsaking him. 'My +Uncle Connel has the best mare on this side the bridge of +Athlone! I mean that side.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And how is it with you?' asked +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We've got no horses--that is, except my +father's mare, and the colt, and Fir Darrig--the swish-tailed +pony--and the blind donkey that brings in the turf. So we younger +ones mostly go hunting on foot; and after all I believe that's +the best sport. Bryan always comes in before any of the horses, +and we all think it a shame if we don't!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I see where you learnt the swiftness of foot +that was so useful last July,' said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That? oh! but Bryan would have been up long +before me,' said Ulick. 'He'd have made for the lock, not the +gate! You should see what sport we have when the fox takes to the +Corrig Dearg up among the rocks--and little Rosie upon Fir +Darrig, with her hair upon the wind, and her colour like the +morning cloud, glancing in and out among the rocks like the fairy +of the glen. There are those that think her the best part of the +hunt; they say the English officers at Ochlochtimore would never +think it worth coming out but for her. I don't believe that, you +know,' he added, laughing, 'though I like to fetch a rise out of +Ulick at the great house by telling him of it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How old is she?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Fifteen last April, and she is like an April +wind, when it comes warm and frolicking over the sea! So wild and +free, and yet so gentle and soft! Ellen and Mary are grave and +steady, and work hard--every stitch of my stockings was poor +Mary's knitting, except what poor old Peggy would send up for a +compliment; but Rosie--I don't think she does a thing but sing, +and ride, and row the boat, and keep the house alive! My mother +shakes her head, but I don't know what she'll say when she gets +my aunt's letter. My Aunt Goldsmith purses up her lips, and says, +"I'll write to advise my sister to send her daughters to some +good school." Ellen, maybe, might bear one, but ah! the thought +of little Rosie in a good school!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Like her brother Ulick in a good bank, +eh?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why,' he cried, 'they always called me the +steady Englishman!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia laughed, but at that moment the sounds +of the hunt again occupied them, and all were interpreted by +Ulick with the keenest interest, but he would not run away again, +though she exhorted him not to regard her. Presently it swept on +out of hearing, and by-and-bye they reached the summit of the +hill, and looked forth on the dark pine plantations on the +opposite undulation, standing out in black relief against a sky +golden with a pale, pure, pearly November sunset, a 'daffodil +sky' flecked with tiny fleeces of soft bright-yellow light, +reminding Albinia of Fouque's beautiful dream of Aslauga's golden +hair showing the gates of Heaven to her devoted knight. She +looked for her companion's sympathy in her admiration, but the +woods seemed to oppress him, and his panting sigh showed how real +a thing was <i>he-men</i>.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! my poor sun!' he broke out, 'I pity you +for having to go down before your time into these black, stifling +woods that rise up to smother you like giants--and not into your +own broad, cool Atlantic, laughing up your own sparkles of +light.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We inland people can hardly appreciate your +longing for space.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It's a very prison,' said Ulick; 'the horizon +is choked all round, and one can't breathe in these staid stiff +hedges and enclosures!' And he threw out his arms and flapped +them over his breast with a gesture of constraint.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You seem no friend to cultivation.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why, your meadows would be pretty things if +they were a little greener,' said Ulick; 'but one gets tired of +them, and of those straight lines of ploughed field. There's no +sense of liberty; it is like the man whose prison walls closed in +upon him!' And he gave another weary sigh, his step lost +elasticity, and he moved on heavily.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You are tired; I have brought you too +far.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Tired by a bit of a step like this?' cried the +boy, disdainfully, as he straightened himself, and resumed his +brisk tread. But it did not last.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I had forgotten that you had not been well,' +she said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Pshaw!' muttered Ulick; then resumed, 'Aye, +Mr. Kendal brought in the doctor upon me--very kind of him--but I +do assure you 'tis nothing but home sickness; I was nearly as bad +when I went to St. Columba, but I got over it then, and I will +again!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It may be so in part,' said Albinia, kindly; +'but let me be impertinent, Ulick, for my sister Winifred told me +to look after you; surely you give it every provocation. Such a +change of habits is enough to make any one ill. Should you not +ask your uncle for a holiday, and go home for a little +while?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't name it, I beg of you,' cried the poor +lad in an agitated voice, 'it would only bring it all over again! +I've promised my mother to do my part, and with His help I +<i>will</i>! Let the columns run out to all eternity, and the +figures crook themselves as spitefully as they will, I've vowed +to myself not to stir till I've got the better of the +villains!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah!' said Albinia, 'they have blackened your +eyes like the bruises of material antagonists! Yes, it is a +gallant battle, but indeed you must give yourself all the help +you can, for it would be doing your mother no good to fall +ill.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I've no fears,' said Ulick; 'I know very well +what is the matter with me, and that if I don't give way, it will +go off in time. You've given it a good shove with your kindness, +Mrs. Kendal,' he added, with deep emotion in his sensitive voice; +'only you must not talk of my going home, or you'll undo all you +have done.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then I won't; we must try to make you a home +here. And in the first place, those lodgings of yours; you can +never be comfortable in them.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! you saw my fire smoking. I never shall +learn to make a coal fire burn.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not only that,' said Albinia, 'but you might +easily find rooms much better furnished, and fitter for +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do assure you,' exclaimed Ulick, 'you +scarcely saw it! Why, I don't think there's a room at the big +house in better order, or so good!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'At least,' said Albinia, repressing her +deduction as to the big house of Ballymakilty, 'you have no +particular love for the locality--the river smell--the stock of +good leather, &c.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It's all Bayford and town smell together,' +said Ulick; 'I never thought one part worse than another, begging +your pardon, Mrs. Kendal.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And I am sure,' she continued, 'that woman can +never make your meals comfortable. Yes, I see I am right, and I +assure you hard head-work needs good living, and you will never +be a match for the rogues in black and white without good +beef-steaks. Now confess whether she gives you dinners of old +shoe-leather.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A man can't sit down to dinner by himself,' +cried Ulick, impatiently. 'Tea with a book are all that is +bearable.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And you never go out--never see any +one.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I dine at my uncle's every Sunday,' said +Ulick.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Is that all the variety you have?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why, my uncle told me he would not have me +getting into what he calls idle company. I've dined once at the +vicarage, and drunk tea twice with Mr. Hope, but it is no use +thinking of it--I couldn't afford it, and that's the +truth.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Have you any books? What can you find to do +all the evening?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have a few that bear reading pretty often, +and Mr. Hope as lent me some. I've been trying to keep up my +Greek, and then I do believe there's some way of simplifying +those accounts by logarithms, if I could but work it out. But my +mother told me to walk, and I assure you I do take a +constitutional as soon as I come out at half-past four every +day.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, I have designs, and mind you don't +traverse them, or I shall have to report you at home. I have a +lodging in my eye for you, away from the river, and a nice clean, +tidy Irishwoman to keep you in order, make your fires, and cram +you, if you wont eat, and see if she does not make a man of +you--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Stop, stop, Mrs. Kendal!' cried Ulick, +distressed. 'You are very kind, but it can't be.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Excuse me, it is economy of the wrong sort to +live in a gutter, and catch agues and fevers. Only think, if it +was my boy Gilbert, should I not be obliged to any one that would +tyrannize over him for his good! Besides, what I propose is not +at all beyond such means as Mr. Kendal tells me are the least Mr. +Goldsmith ought to give you. Do you dislike going into +particulars with me? You know I am used to think for Gilbert, and +I am a sort of cousin.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You are kindness itself,' said Ulick; 'and +there! I suppose I must go to the bottom of it, and it is no news +that pence are not plenty among the O'Mores, though it is no +fault of my uncle. See there what my poor dear mother +says.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He drew a letter from his pocket, and gave a +page to her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I miss you sorely, my boy,' it said; 'I know +the more what a support and friend you have been to me now that +you are so far away; but all is made up to me in knowing you to +be among my own people, and the instrument of reconciliation with +my brother, as you well know how great has been the pain of the +estrangement caused by my own pride and wilfulness. I cannot tell +you how glad I am that he approves of you, and that you are +beginning to get used to the work that was my own poor father's +for so long. Bred up as you have been, my mountain lad, I +scarcely dared to hope that you would be able to sit down quietly +to it, with all our hopes of making you a scholar so suddenly +frustrated; but I might have put faith in your loving heart and +sense of duty to carry you through anything. I feel as if a load +were off my mind since you and Bryan are so happily launched. The +boy has not once applied for money since he joined; and if you +write to him, pray beg him to be careful, for it would well-nigh +drive your father mad to be pressed any more--the poor mare has +been sold at a dead loss and the Carrick-humbug quarry company +pays no dividends, so how we are to meet the Christmas bills I +cannot guess. But, as you remember, we have won over worse times, +and now Providence has been so good to you and Bryan, what have I +to do but be thankful and hope the best.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Ulick watched her face, and gave her another +note, saying mournfully, 'You see they all, but my mother, think, +that if I am dragging our family honour through the mire, I've +got something by it. Poor Bryan, he knows no better--he's younger +than me by two years.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The young ensign made a piteous confession of +the first debt he had been able to contract, for twenty pounds, +with a promise that if his brother would help him out of this one +scrape, he would never run into another.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am very sorry for you, Ulick,' said Albinia, +'and I hate to advise you to be selfish, but it really is quite +impossible for you to be paymaster for all your brothers' +debts.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If it were Connel, I know it would be of no +use,' said Ulick. 'But Bryan--you see he has got a start--they +gave him a commission, and he is the finest fellow of us all, and +knows what his word is, and keeps it! Maybe, if I get on, I may +be able to save, and help him to his next step, and then if +Redmond could get to college, my mother would be a happy woman, +and all thanks to my uncle.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then it is this twenty pounds that is pinching +you now? Is that it?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You see my uncle said he would give me enough +to keep me as a gentleman and his nephew, but not enough to keep +all the family, as he said. After my Christmas quarter I shall be +up in the world again, and then there will be time to think of +the woman you spoke of--a Connaught woman, did you +say?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When Albinia reported this dialogue to her +husband, he was much moved by this simple +self-abnegation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There is nothing for it,' he said, 'but to +bring him here till Christmas, and by that time we will take care +that the new lodgings are cheap enough for him. He must not be +left to the mercy of old Goldsmith and his sister!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Even Albinia was astonished, but Mr. Kendal +carried out his intentions, and went in quest of his new friend; +while no one thought of objecting except grandmamma.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I suppose, my dear,' she said, 'that you know +what Mr. Goldsmith means to do for this young man.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am sure I don't,' said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Really! Ah! well, I'm an old woman, and I may +be wrong, but my poor dear Mr. Meadows would never encourage a +banker's clerk about the house unless he knew what were his +expectations. Irish too! If there was a thing Mr. Meadows +disliked more than another, it was an Irishman! He said they were +all adventurers.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">However, Ulick's first evening at Willow Lawn +was on what he called 'a headache day.' He could not have taken a +better measure for overcoming grandmamma's objections. Poor dear +Mr. Meadows' worldly wisdom was not sufficiently native to her to +withstand the sight of anything so pale and suffering, especially +as he did not rebel against answering her close examination, +which concluded in her pronouncing these intermitting attacks to +be agueish, and prescribing quinine. To take medicines is an +effectual way of gaining an old lady's love. Ulick was soon +established in her mind as 'a very pretty behaved young +gentleman.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In the evenings, when Mr. Kendal read aloud, +Ulick listened, and enjoyed it from the corner where he sheltered +his eyes from the light. He was told that he ought to go to bed +quickly, but after the ladies were in their rooms, a long buzzing +murmur was heard in the passage, and judicious peeping revealed +the two gentlemen, each, candle in hand, the one with his back +against the wall at the top of the stairs, the other leaning upon +the balusters three steps below, and there they stayed, till the +clock struck one, and Ulick's candle burnt out.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What could you be talking about?' asked the +aggrieved Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Prometheus Vinctus,' composedly returned Mr. +Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Ulick's eagerness in collecting every crumb of +scholarship was a great bond of union; but there was still more +in the bright, open, demonstrative nature of the youth, which had +a great attraction for the reserved, serious Mr. Kendal, and +scarcely a day had passed before they were on terms of intimacy, +almost like an elder and younger brother. Admitted into the +family as a connexion, Ulick at once viewed the girls as cousins, +and treated them with the same easy grace of good-natured +familiarity as if they had been any of the nineteen Miss O'Mores +around Ballymakilty.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How is your head now?' asked Mr. Kendal. 'You +are late this evening.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Ulick, entering the drawing-room, +which was ruddy with firelight, and fragrant with the breath of +the conservatory, and leaning over an arm-chair, as he tried to +rub the aching out of his brow; 'there were some accounts to +finish up and my additions came out different every +time.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A sure sign that you ought to have left +off.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I was just going to have told my uncle I was +good for nothing to-day, when I heard old Johns mumbling +something to him about Mr. More being unwell, and looking up, I +saw that cold grey eye twinkling at me, as much as to say he was +proud to see how soon an Irishman could be beaten. So what could +I do but give him look for look, and go on with eight and seven, +and five and two, as unconcerned as he was.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well,' said Mr. Kendal, 'you know I think that +your uncle's apparent indifference may be his fashion of being +your best friend.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'd take it like sunshine in May from a +stranger, and be proud to disappoint him,' said Ulick, 'but to +call himself my uncle, and use my mother's own eyes to look at me +that way, that's the stroke! and to think that I'm only striving +to harden myself by force of habit to be exactly like him! I'd +rather enlist to-morrow, if that would not be his greatest +triumph!' he cried, pressing his hands hard on his temple. 'It is +very childish, but I could forgive him anything but using my +mother's eyes that way!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You will yet rejoice in the likeness,' said +Mr. Kendal. 'You must believe in more than you can trace, and +when your perseverance has conquered his esteem, the rest will +follow.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Follow? The rest, as you call it, would go +before at home,' sighed Ulick, wearily. 'Esteem is like fame! +what I want begins without it, and lives as well with or without +it!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Perhaps,' said his friend, 'Mr. Goldsmith +would think it weakness to show preference to a relation before +it was earned.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah then,' cried Ulick, in a quaint Irish tone, +'Heaven have mercy on the little children!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, the doctrine can only be consistently +held by a solitary man.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Where would we be but for inconsistency?' +exclaimed Ulick.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do not like to hear you talk in that +manner,' said Sophy. 'Inconsistency is mere weakness.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! then you are the dangerous character,' +said Ulick, with a droll gesture of sheltering himself behind the +chair.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I did not call myself consistent, I wish I +were,' she said, gravely.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How she must love the French!' returned Ulick, +confidentially turning to her father.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not at all, I detest them.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then you are inconsistent, for they're the +very models of uncompromising consistency.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, to bad principles,' said +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Robespierre was a prime specimen of +consistency to good principle!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy turned to her father, and with an odd +dubious look, asked him, 'Is be teasing me?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He'd be proud to have the honour,' Ulick made +answer, so that Mr. Kendal's smile grew broad. It was the +funniest thing to see Ulick sporting with Sophy's gravity, +constraining her to playfulness, with something of the compulsion +exercised by a large frolicsome puppy upon a sober old dog of +less size and strength.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do not like to see powers wasted on +paradox,' she said, even as the grave senior might roll up his +lip and snarl.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm in earnest, Sophy,' pursued Ulick, +changing his note to eagerness. '<i>La grande nation</i> herself +finds that logic was her bane. Consistency was never made for +man! Why where would this world be if it did not go two ways at +once?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy did laugh at this Irish version of the +centripetal and centrifugal forces, but she held out. 'The earth +describes a circle; I like straight lines.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Much we shall have of the right direction, +unless we are content to turn right about face,' said Ulick. 'The +best path of life is but a herring-bone pattern.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What does he know of herring-boning?' asked +Mrs. Kendal, coming in at the moment, with a white cashmere cloak +folded picturesquely over her delicate blue silk. Ulick in a +moment assumed a less careless attitude, as he +answered--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I found my poetical illustration on the motion +of the earth too much for her, so I descended to the herring-bone +as more suited to her capacity.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There he is, mamma,' said Sophy, 'pleading +that consistency is the most ruinous thing in the +world.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I thought as much,' said Albinia. 'Prometheus +and his kin do most abound when Ulick's head is worst, and papa +is in greatest danger of being late.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal turned round, looked at the +time-piece, and marched off.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But mamma!' continued Sophy, driving straight +at her point, 'what do you think of consistency?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, mamma!' cried Lucy, coming into the room +in a flutter of white; 'there you are in your beautiful blue! +Have you really put it on for the Drurys?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy bit her lip, neither pleased at the +interruption, nor at the taste.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Have you a graduated scale of dresses for all +your friends, Lucy? asked Ulick.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Everybody has, I suppose,' said +Lucy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! then I shall know how to judge how I stand +in your favour. I never knew so well what the garb of friendship +meant.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You must know which way her scale goes,' said +Albinia, laughing at Sophy's evident affront at the frivolous +turn the conversation had taken.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That needs no asking,' quoth Ulick, +'Unadorned, adorned the most for the nearest the +hearth.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That's all conceit,' said Lucy. 'Maybe +familiarity breeds contempt.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, no, when young ladies despise, they use a +precision that says, "'Tis myself I care for, and not +you."'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What an observer!' cried Lucy. 'Now then, +interpret my dress to-night!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How can you, Lucy!' muttered the scandalized +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, Sophy, as you will have him to torment +with philosophy this whole evening, I think you might give him a +little respite,' said Lucy, good-humouredly. 'I want to know what +my dress reveals to him!' and drawing up her head, where two +coral pins contrasted with her dark braids, and spreading out her +full white skirts and cerise trimmings, she threw her figure into +an attitude, and darted a merry challenge from her lively black +eyes, while Ulick availed himself of the permission to look +critically, and Sophy sank back disgusted.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Miss Kendal can, when she is inclined, produce +as much effect with her beams of the second order as with all her +splendours displayed.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Stuff,' said Lucy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Stuff indeed,' more sincerely murmured +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Say something in earnest,' said Lucy. 'You +professed to tell what I thought of the people.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope you'll never put on such new white +gloves where I'm the party chiefly concerned.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What do you mean?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'They are a great deal too +unexceptionable.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">If there were something coquettish in the +manner of these two, it did not give Albinia much concern. It was +in him 'only Irish;' and Fred Ferrars had made her believe that +it was rather a sign of the absence of love than of its presence. +She saw much more respect and interest in his mischievous attacks +on Sophy's gravity, and though Lucy both pitied him and liked +chattering with him, it was all the while under the secret +protest that he was only a banker's clerk.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy was glad of the presence of a third +person to obviate the perils of her evenings with grandmamma, and +she beheld the trio set off to their dinner-party, without the +usual dread of being betrayed into wrangling. Mr. O'More devoted +himself to the old lady's entertainment, he amused her with droll +stories, and played backgammon with her. Then she composed +herself to her knitting, and desired them not to mind her, she +liked to hear young people talk cheerfully; whereupon Sophy, by +way of light and cheerful conversation, renewed the battle of +consistency with a whole broadside of heavy metal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When the diners-out came home, they found the +war raging as hotly as ever; a great many historical facts and +wise sayings having been fired off on both sides, and neither +having found out that each meant the same thing.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">However, the hours had gone imperceptibly past +them, which could not be said for the others. The half-yearly +dinners at Mr. Drury's were Albinia's dread nearly as much as Mr. +Kendal's aversion. He was certain, whatever he might intend, to +fall into a fit of absence, and she was almost equally sure to +hear something unpleasant, and to regret her own reply. On the +whole, however, Mr. Kendal came away on this evening the least +dissatisfied, for Mr. Goldsmith had asked him with some +solicitude, whether he thought 'that lad, young More,' positively +unwell; and had gone the length of expressing that he seemed to +be fairly sharp, and stuck to his work. Mr. Kendal seized the +moment for telling his opinion, of Ulick, and though Mr. +Goldsmith coughed and looked dry and almost contemptuous, he was +perceptibly gratified, and replied with a maxim evidently +intended both as an excuse for himself and as a warning to the +Kendals, that young men were always spoilt by being made too much +of--in his younger days--&c.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy, meantime, was undergoing the broad banter +of her unrefined cousins on the subject of the Irish clerk. A +very little grace in the perpetration would have made it grateful +to her vanity, but this was far too broad raillery, and made her +hold up her head with protestations of her perfect indifference, +to which her cousins manifested incredulity, visiting on her with +some petty spite their small jealousies of her higher +pretensions, and of the attention which had been paid to her by +Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not that he will ever look at you again, Lucy, +you need not flatter yourself,' said the amiable Sarah Anne. +'Harry Wolfe writes that he was flirting with a beautiful young +lady who came to see Oxford, and that he is spending quantities +of money.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is nothing to me, I am sure,' retorted +Lucy. 'Besides, Gilbert says no such thing.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gilbert! oh, no!' exclaimed Miss Drury; 'why, +he is just as bad himself. Papa said, from what Mrs. Wolfe told +him, he would not take 500 pounds to pay Mr. Gilbert's +bills.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia had been hearing much the same story +from Mrs. Drury, though not so much exaggerated, and administered +with more condolence. She did not absolutely believe, and yet she +could not utterly disbelieve, so the result was a letter to +Gilbert, with an anxious exhortation to be careful, and not to be +deluded into foolish expenditure in imitation of the +Polysyllable; and as no special answer was returned, she +dismissed the whole from her mind as a Drury +allegation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The horse chanced to be lame, so that Gilbert +could not be met at Hadminster on his return from Oxford, but +much earlier than the omnibus usually lumbered into Bayford, he +astonished Sophy, who was lying on the sofa in the morning-room, +by marching in with a free and easy step, and a loose coat of the +most novel device.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No one else at home?' he asked.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Only grandmamma. We did not think the omnibus +would come in so soon, but I suppose you took a fly, as there +were three of you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'As if we were going to stand six miles of bus +with the Wolfe cub! No, Dusautoy brought his horse down with him, +and I took a fly!' said Gilbert. 'Well, and what's the matter +with Captain; has the Irishman been riding him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy bit her lip to prevent an angry answer, +and was glad that Maurice rushed in, fall of uproarious joy. +'Hollo! boy, how you grow! What have you got there?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It's my new pop-gun, that Ulick made me, I'll +shoot you,' cried Maurice, retiring to a suitable +distance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I declare the child has caught the brogue! Is +the fellow here still?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What fellow?' coldly asked Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why, this pet of my father's.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Bang!' cried Maurice, and a pellet passed +perilously close to Gilbert's eyes.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't, child. Pray is this banker's clerk one +of our fixtures, Sophy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know why you despise him, unless it is +because it is what you ought to be yourself,' Sophy was provoked +into retorting.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Apparently my father has a monomania for the +article.' Gilbert intended to speak with provoking coolness; but +another fraternal pellet hit him fall in the nose, and the +accompanying shout of glee was too much for an already irritated +temper. With passion most unusual in him, he caught hold of the +child, and exclaiming, 'You little imp, what do you mean by it?' +he wrenched the weapon out of his hand, and dashed it into the +fire, in the midst of an energetic 'For shame!' from his sister. +Maurice, with a furious 'Naughty Gilbert,' struck at him with +both his little fists clenched, and then precipitated himself +over the fender to snatch his treasure from the grate, but was +instantly captured and pulled back, struggling, kicking, and +fighting with all his might, till, to the equal relief of both +brothers, Sophy held up the pop-gun in the tongs, one end still +tinged with a red glow, smoky, blackened, and perfumed. Maurice +made one bound, she lowered it into his grasp as the last red +spark died out, and he clasped it as Siegfried did the magic +sword!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There, Maurice, I didn't mean it,' said +Gilbert, heartily ashamed and sorry; 'kiss and make it up, and +then put on your hat, and we'll come up to old Smith's and get +such a jolly one!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The forgiving child had already given the kiss, +glad to atone for his aggressions, but then was absorbed in +rubbing the charred wood, amazed that while so much black came +off on his fingers, the effect on the weapon was not +proportionate, and then tried another shot in a safer direction. +'Come,' said Gilbert, 'put that black affair into the fire, and +come along.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No!' said Maurice; 'it is my dear gun that +Ulick made me, and it shan't be burnt.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What, not if I give you a famous one--like a +real one, with a stock and barrel?' said Gilbert, anxious to be +freed from the tokens of his ebullition.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No! no!' still stoutly said the constant +Maurice. 'I don't want new guns; I've got my dear old one, and +I'll keep him to the end of his days and mine!' and he crossed +his arms over it.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That's right, Maurice,' said Sophy; 'stick to +old friends that have borne wounds in your service!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, it's his concern if he likes such a +trumpery old thing,' said Gilbert. 'Come here, boy; you don't +bear malice! Come and have a ride on my back.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The practical lesson, 'don't shoot at your +brother's nose,' would never have been impressed, had not mamma, +on coming in, found Maurice and his pop-gun nearly equally black, +and by gradual unfolding of cause and effect, learnt his +forgotten offence. She reminded him of ancient promises never to +aim at human creatures, assured him that Gilbert was very kind +not to have burnt it outright; and to the great displeasure, and +temporary relief of all the family, sequestrated the weapon for +the rest of the evening.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy told her in confidence that Gilbert had +been the most to blame, which she took as merely an instance of +Sophy's blindness to Maurice's errors; for the explosion had so +completely worked off the Oxford dash, that he was perfectly meek +and amiable. Considering the antecedents, such a contrast to +himself as young O'More could hardly fail to be an eyesore, +walking tame about the home, and specially recommended to his +friendship; but so good-natured was he, and so attractive was the +Irishman, that it took much influence from Algernon Dusautoy to +keep up a thriving aversion. Albinia marvelled at the power +exercised over Gilbert by one whose intellect and pretensions he +openly contemned, but perceived that obstinacy and undoubting +self-satisfaction overmastered his superior intelligence and +principle, and that while perceiving all the follies of the +Polysyllable, Gilbert had a strange propensity for his company, +and therein always resumed the fast man, disdainful of the clerk. +He did not like Ulick better for being the immediate cause of the +removal of the last traces of the Belmarche family from their old +abode, which had been renovated by pretty shamrock chintz +furniture, the pride of the two Irish hearts. Indeed it was to be +feared that Bridget would assist in the perpetuation of those +rolling R's which caused Mr. Goldsmith's brow to contract +whenever his nephew careered along upon one.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">His departure from Willow Lawn was to take +place at Christmas. The Ferrars party were coming to keep the two +consecutive birthdays of Sophy and Maurice at Bayford, would take +him back for Christmas-day to Fairmead, and on his return he +would take possession of his new rooms.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice's fete was to serve as the occasion of +paying off civilities to a miscellaneous young party; but as +grandmamma's feelings would have been hurt, had not Sophy's been +equally distinguished, it was arranged that Mrs. Nugent should +then bring her eldest girl to meet the Ferrarses at an early +tea.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Just as Albinia had descended to await her +guests, Gilbert came down, and presently said, with would-be +indifference, 'Oh, by-the-by, Dusautoy said he would look +in.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The Polysyllable!' cried Albinia, +thunderstruck; 'what possessed you to ask him, when you knew I +sacrificed Mr. Dusautoy rather than have him to spoil it +all?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I didn't ask him exactly,' replied Gilbert; +'it was old Bowles, who met us, and tried to nail us to eat our +mutton with him, as he called it. I had my answer, and Dusautoy +got off by saying he was engaged to us, and desired me to tell +you he would make his excuses in person.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He can make no excuse for downright +falsehood.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Hem!' quoth Gilbert. 'You wouldn't have him +done into drinking old Bowles's surgery champagne.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'One comfort is that he wont get any dinner,' +said Albinia, vindictively. 'I hope he'll be ravenously +hungry.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He may not come after all,' said Gilbert; and +Albinia, laying hold of that hope, had nearly forgotten the +threatened disaster, as her party appeared by instalments, and +Winifred owned to her that Sophy had grown better-looking than +could have been expected. Her eyes had brightened, the cloudy +brown of her cheeks was enlivened, she held herself better, and +the less childish dress was much to her advantage. But above all, +the moody look of suffering was gone, and her face had something +of the grave sweetness and regular beauty of that of her +father.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Seventeen,' said Mrs. Ferrars; 'by the time +she is seventy, she may be a remarkably handsome +woman!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The tea-drinking was in lively operation, when +after a thundering knock, Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy was ushered in, +with the air of a prince honouring the banquet of his vassals, +saying, 'I told Kendal I should presume on your hospitality, I +beg you will make no difference on my account.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Of which gracious permission Albinia was +resolved to avail herself. She left all the insincerity to her +husband, and would by no means allow grandmamma to abdicate the +warm corner. She suspected that he wanted an introduction to Mrs. +Nugent, and was resolved to defeat this object, unless he should +condescend to make the request, so she was well satisfied to see +him wedged in between papa and Sophy, while a prodigious quantity +of Irish talk was going on between Mrs. Nugent and Mr. O'More, +with contributions of satire from Mr. Ferrars which kept every +one laughing except little Nora Nugent and Mary Ferrars, who were +deep in the preliminaries of an eternal friendship, and held the +ends of each other's crackers like a pair of doves. Lucy, +however, was ill at ease at the obscurity which shrouded the +illustrious guest, and in her anxiety, gave so little attention +to her two neighbours, that Willie Ferrars, affronted at some +neglect, exclaimed, 'Why, Lucy, what makes you screw your eyes +about so! you can't attend to any one.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is because Polly Silly is there,' shouted +Master Maurice from his throne beside his mamma.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">To the infinite relief of the half-choked +Albinia, little Mary Ferrars, with whom her cousin had been +carrying on a direful warfare all day, fitted on the cap, shook +her head gravely at him, and after an appealing look of +indignation, first at his mamma, then at her own, was overheard +confiding to Nora Nugent that Maurice was a very naughty boy--she +was sorry to say, a regular spoilt child.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But how should you hinder Miss Kendal from +attending?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'll tell you, darling. Poor Lucy! she is very +fond of me, and I dare say she wanted me to sit next to her, but +you know she will have me for three days, and I have you only +this one evening. I'll go and speak to her after tea, when we go +into the drawing-room, and then she wont mind.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy, after an agony of blushes, had somewhat +recovered on finding that no one seemed to apply her brother's +speech, and when the benevolent Mary made her way to her, and +thrust a hand into hers, only a feeble pressure replied to these +romantic blandishments, so anxious was she to carry to Mrs. +Kendal the information that Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy had been so +obliging as to desire his servant to bring his guitar and +key-bugle.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We are much obliged,' said Albinia, 'but look +at that face!' and she turned Lucy towards Willie's open-mouthed, +dismayed countenance. You must tell him the company are not +sufficiently advanced in musical science.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But mamma, it would gratify him!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very likely'--and without listening further, +Albinia turned to Willie, who had all day been insisting that +papa should introduce her to the new game of the +Showman.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Infinitely delighted to be relieved from the +fear of the guitar, Willie hunted all who would play into another +room; whence they were to be summoned, one by one, back to the +drawing-room by the showman, Mr. Ferrars, who shrugged his +shoulders at the task, but undertook it, and first called for +Mrs. Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She found him stationed before the red +curtains, which were closely drawn, and her husband and the three +elder ladies sitting by as audience.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Pray, madam, may I ask what animal you would +desire to have exhibited to you, out of the vast resources that +my menagerie contains. Choose freely, I undertake that whatever +you may select, you shall not be disappointed.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What, not if I were to ask for a black spider +monkey?' said Albinia, to whom it was very charming to be playing +with Maurice again.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal looked up in entertained curiosity, +Mrs. Nugent smiled as if she thought the showman's task +impossible, and Winifred stretched out to gain a full +view.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A black spider monkey,' he said, slowly. +'Allow me to ask, madam, if you are acquainted with the character +of the beast?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It doesn't scratch, does it?' said she, +quickly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That is for you to answer.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I never knew it do so. It does chatter a great +deal, but it never scratched that I knew of.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nor I,' said the showman, 'since it was young. +Do you think age renders it graver and steadier?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not a bit. It is always frisky and +troublesome, and I never knew it get a bit better as it grew +older.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Winifred laughed outright. Mr. Kendal's lips +were parted by his smile. 'I wonder what sort of a mother it +would make?' said the showman.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'All animals are good mothers, of +course.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I meant, is it a good +disciplinarian?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If you mean cuffing its young one for playing +exactly the same tricks as itself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Exactly; and what would be the effect of +letting it and its young one loose in a great scholar's +study?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There wouldn't be much study left.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And would it be for his good?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Really, Mr. Showman, you ask very odd +questions. Shall we try?' said Albinia, with a skip backward, so +as to lay her hand on the shoulder of her own great scholar, +while the showman drew back the curtain, observing--'I wish, +ma'am, I could show "it and its young one" together, but the +young specimen is unfortunately asleep. Behold the original black +spider monkey!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There stood the monkey, with sunny brown locks +round the laughing glowing face, and one white paw still lying on +the scholar's shoulder--while his face made no assurance needful +that it was very good for him! The mirror concealed behind the +curtains was the menagerie! Albinia clapped her hands with +delight, and pronounced it the most perfect of games.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And now let us have Willie,' said Mrs. +Ferrars; 'it will conduce to the harmony of the next +room.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Willie, already initiated, hoped to puzzle papa +as a <i>platypus ornithoryncus</i>, but was driven to allow that +it was a nondescript animal, neither fish, flesh, nor good +red-herring, useless, and very fond of grubbing in the mud; and +if it were not at Botany Bay, it ought to be! The laughter that +hailed his defence of its nose as 'well, nothing particular,' +precipitated the drawing up of the curtain and his apparition in +the glass: and then Nora Nugent being called, the inseparable +Mary accompanied her, arm-in-arm, simpering an announcement that +they liked nothing so well as a pair of dear little +love-birds.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Oh, unpitying papa! to draw from the +unsuspicious Nora the admission that they were very dull little +birds, of no shape at all, who always sat hunched up in a corner +without any fun, and people said their love was all stupidity and +pretence; in fact, if she had one she should call it Silly Polly +or Polly Silly!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">To silence Willie's exultation in his sister's +discomfiture, he was sent to fetch Lucy, whose impersonation of +an argus pheasant would not have answered well but for a +suggestion of Albinia, that she was eyes all over for any +delinquency in school. Ulick O'More, owning with a sigh that he +should like to see no beast better than a snipe, gave rise to +much ingenuity by being led to describe it as of a class +migratory, hard to catch, food for powder, given to long bills. +There he guessed something, and stood on the defensive, but could +not deny that its element was bogs, but that it had been seen +skimming over water meadows, and finding sustenance in banks, +whereupon the curtain rose. Ulick rushed upon the battles of his +nation, and was only reduced to quiescence by the entrance of +Sophy, who expressed a desire to see a coral worm, apparently +perplexing the showman, who, to gain time, hemmed, and said, 'A +very unusual species, ma'am,' which set all the younger ones in a +double giggle, such as confused Sophy, to find herself standing +up, with every one looking at her, and listening for her words. +'I thought you undertook for any impossibility in earth air or +water.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, ma'am, do you take me for a mere +mountebank? But when ladies and gentlemen take such unusual +fancies--and for an animal that--you would not aver that it is +often found from home?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Never, I should say.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nor that it is accessible?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Certainly not.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And why is it so, ma'am?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why,' said Sophy, bewildered into forgetting +her natural history, 'it lives at the bottom of the sea; that's +one thing.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Where Truth lives,' said a voice +behind.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I beg to differ,' observed Albinia. 'Truth is +a fresh water fish at the bottom of a well; besides, I thought +coral worms were always close to the surface.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But below it--not in everybody's view,' said +Sophy--an answer which seemed much to the satisfaction of the +audience, but the showman insisted on knowing why, and whether it +did not conceal itself. 'It makes stony caves for itself, out of +sight,' said Sophy, almost doubting whether she spoke correctly. +'Well, surely it does so.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Most surely,' said an acclamation so general +that she did not like it. If she had been younger, she would have +turned sulky upon the spot, and Mr. Ferrars almost doubted +whether to bring ont his final query. 'Pray, ma'am, do you think +this creature out of reach in its self-made cave, at the +bottom--no, below the surface of the sea, would be popular enough +to repay the cost of procuring it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! that's too bad,' burst out the Hibernian +tones. 'Why, is not the best of everything hidden away from the +common eye? Out of sight--stony cave-- It is the secret worker +that lays the true solid foundation, raises the new realms, and +forms the precious jewels.' The torrent of r's was +irresistible!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Police! order!' cried the showman. 'An Irish +mob has got in, and there's an end of everything.' So up went the +curtain, and the polyp appeared, becoming rapidly red coral as +she perceived what the exhibition was, and why the politeness of +the Green Isle revolted from her proclaiming her own +unpopularity. But all she did was to turn gruffly aside, and say, +'It is lucky there are no more ladies to come, Mr. Showman, or +the mob would turn everything to a compliment.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert's curiosity was directed to the +Laughing Jackass, and with too much truth he admitted that it +took its tone from whatever it associated with, and caught every +note, from the song of the lark to the bray of the donkey; then +laughed good-humouredly when the character was fitted upon +himself.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That is all, is it not?' asked the showman. 'I +may retire into private life.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh no,' cried Willie; 'you have forgotten Mr. +Dusautoy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I was afraid you had,' said Lucy, 'or you +could not have left him to the last.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am tempted to abdicate,' said Mr. +Ferrars.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' Albinia said. 'He must have his share, +and no one but you can do it. Where can he be? the pause becomes +awful!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Willie is making suggestions,' said Gilbert; +'his imagination would never stretch farther than a lion. It's +what he thinks himself and no mistake.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He is big enough to be the elephant,' said +little Mary.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The half-reasoning!' said Ulick, softly; 'and +I can answer for his trunk, I saw it come off the +omnibus.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ladies and gentlemen, if you persist in such +disorderly conduct, the exhibition will close,' cried the +showman, waving his wand as Willie trumpeted Mr. Cavendish +Dusautoy in, and on the demand what animal he wanted to see, +twitched him as Flibbertigibbet did the giant warder, and caused +him to respond--'The Giraffe.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Has it not another name, sir? A short or a +long one, more or less syllables!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Camelopard. A polysyllabic word, certainly,' +said Algernon, looking with a puzzled expression at the laughers +behind; and almost imagining it possible that he could have made +an error, he repeated, 'Camel-le-o-pard. Yes, it is a +polysyllable' --as, indeed, he had added an unnecessary +syllable.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Most assuredly,' said the showman, looking +daggers at his suffocating sister. 'May I ask you to describe the +creature?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Seventeen feet from the crown to the hoof, but +falls off behind,' said the accurate Mr. Dusautoy; 'beautiful +tawny colour.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nearly as good as a Lion,' added Gilbert; but +Algernon, fancying the game was by way of giving useful +instruction to the children, went on in full swing. 'Handsomely +mottled with darker brown; a ruminating animal; so gentle that in +spite of its size, none of my little friends need be alarmed at +its vicinity. Inhabits the African deserts, but may be bred in +more temperate latitudes. I myself saw an individual in the +<i>Jardin des Plantes</i>, which was popularly said never to bend +its neck to the ground, but I consider this a vulgar delusion, +for on offering it food, it mildly inclined its head.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Let us hope the present specimen is equally +condescending,' said Mr. Ferrars.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Eh! what! I see myself!' said Mr. Cavendish +Dusautoy, with a tone so inappreciably grand in mystification, +that the showman had no choice but to share the universal +convulsion of laughter, while Willie rolling on the floor with +ecstasy, shouted, 'Yes, it is you that are the thing with such a +long name that it can't bend its head to the ground!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But too good-natured to be annoyed at folly,' +said Mr. Ferrars, perceiving that it was no sport to +him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'This is the way my mischievous uncle has +served us all in turn,' said Lucy, advancing; 'we have all been +shown up, and there was mamma a monkey, and I an argus +pheasant--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! I see,' said the gentleman. 'These are +your rural pastimes of the season. Yes, I can take my share in +good part, just as I have pelted the masks at the +Carnival.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Even a giraffe can bend his head and do at +Rome as Rome does,' murmured Ulick. But instead of heeding the +audacious Irishman, Algernon patronized the showman by thanks for +his exhibition; and then sitting down by Lucy, asked if he had +ever told her of the tricks that he and il Principe Odorico +Moretti used to play at Ems on the old Baron Sprawlowsky, while +Mr. Ferrars, leaning over his sister's chair, said aside, 'I beg +your pardon, Albinia; I should not have yielded to Willie. This +"rural pastime" is only in season <i>en famille</i>.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Never mind, it served him right.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It may have served him right, but had we the +right to serve him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I forgive your prudence for the sake of your +folly. Could not Oxford have lessened his pomposity?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It comes too late,' said Maurice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Before Ulick went to bed his pen and ink had +depicted the entire caravan. The love-birds were pressed up +together, with the individual features of the two young ladies, +and completely little parrots; the snipe ran along the bars of +the cage, looking exactly like all the O'Mores. The monkey showed +nothing but the hands, but one held Maurice, and the other was +clenched as if to cuff him, and grandest of all was, as in duty +bound, <i>Camelopardelis giraffa</i>, thrown somewhat backwards, +with such a majestic form, such a stalking attitude, loftily +ruminating face, and legs so like the Cavendish Dusautoy's last +new pair of trousers, that Albinia could not help reserving it +for the private delectation of his Aunt Fanny.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It and its young one,' said Mr. Kendal, as he +looked at her portrait; and the name delighted him so much, that +he for some time applied it with a smile whenever his wife gave +him cause to remember how much there was of the monkey in her +composition.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was the merriest Christmas ever known at +Willow Lawn, and the first time there had been anything of the +atmosphere of family frolic and fun. The lighting up of Sophy was +one great ingredient; hitherto mirth had been merely endured by +her, whereas now, improved health and spirits had made her take +her share, amuse others and be amused, and cease to be hurt by +the jarring of chance words. Lucy was lively as usual, but rather +more excited than Albinia altogether liked; she was doubly +particular about her dress; more disdainful of the common herd, +and had a general air of exaltation that made Albinia rejoice +when the Polysyllable, the horses, the key-bugle, and genre +painting disappeared from the Bayford horizon.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XX.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">If the end of the vacation were a relief on +Lucy's account, Albinia would gladly have lengthened it on +Gilbert's. Letters from his tutor had disquieted his father; +there had been an expostulation followed by promises, and +afterwards one of the usual scenes of argument, complaint, +excuse, lamentation, and wish to amend; but lastly, a murmur that +it was no use to talk to a father who had never been at the +University, and did not know what was expected of a +man.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The aspect of Oxford had changed in Albinia's +eyes since the days of her brother. Alma Mater had been a vision +of pealing bells, chanting voices, cloistered shades, bright +waters--the source of her most cherished thoughts, the abode of +youth walking in the old paths of pleasantness and peace; and she +knew that to faithful hearts, old Oxford was still the same. But +to her present anxious gaze it had become a field of snares and +temptations, whither she had been the means of sending one, +unguarded and unstable.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Once under the influence of a good +sound-hearted friend, he might have been easily led right, but +his intimacy with young Dusautoy seemed to cancel all hope of +this, and to be like a rope about his neck, drawing him into the +same career, and keeping aloof all better influences. Algernon, +with his pride, pomposity, and false refinement, was more likely +to run into ostentations expenditure, than into coarse +dissipation, and it might still be hoped that the two youths +would drag through without public disgrace; but this was felt to +be a very poor hope by those who felt each sin to be a fatal +blot, and trembled at the self-indulgent way of life that might +be a more fatal injury than even the ban of the +authorities.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She saw that the anxiety pressed heavily on Mr. +Kendal, and though both shrank from giving their uneasiness force +by putting it into words, each felt that it was ever-present with +the other. Mr. Kendal was deeply grieving over the effects, for +the former state of ignorance and apathy of the evils of which he +had only recently become fully sensible. Living for himself +alone, without cognizance of his membership in one great +universal system, he had needed the sense of churchmanship to +make him act up to his duties as father, neighbour, citizen, and +man of property; and when aroused, he found that the time of his +inaction had bound him about with fetters. A tone of mind had +grown up in his family from which only Sophy had been entirely +freed; seeds of ineradicable evil had been sown, mischiefs had +grown by neglect, abuses been established by custom; and his own +personal disadvantages, his <i>mauvaise honte</i>, his reserved, +apparently proud manner, his slowness of speech, dislike to +interruption, and over-vehemence when excited, had so much +increased upon him, as, in spite of his efforts, to be serious +hindrances. Kind, liberal, painstaking, and conscientious as he +had become, he was still looked upon as hard, stern, and +tyrannical. His ten years of inertness had strewn his path with +thorns and briars, even beyond his own household; and when he +looked back to his neglect of his son, he felt that even the +worst consequences would be but just retribution.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Once such feelings would have wrapt him in +morbid gloom; now he strove against his disposition to sit inert +and hidden, he did his work manfully, and endeavoured not to let +his want of spirits sadden the household.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Nor was he insensible to the cheerful healthy +atmosphere of animation which had diffused itself there; and the +bright discussions of the trifling interests of the day. Ulick +O'More was also a care to him, which did him a great deal of +good.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That young gentleman now lived at his lodgings, +but was equally at home at Willow Lawn, and his knock at the +library door, when he wished to change a book, usually led to +some 'Prometheus' discussion, and sometimes to a walk, if Mr. +Kendal thought him looking pale; or to dining and to spending the +evening.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">His scrapes were peculiar. He had thoroughly +mastered his work, and his active mind wanted farther scope, so +that he threw himself with avidity into deeper studies, and once +fell into horrible disgrace for being detected with a little +Plato on his desk. Mr. Goldsmith nearly gave him up in despair, +and pronounced that he would never make a man of business. He +made matters worse by replying that this was the best chance of +his not being a man of speculation. If he were allowed to think +of nothing but money, he should speculate for the sake of +something to do!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Before Mr. Goldsmith had half recovered the +shock, Mr. Dusautoy and Mr. Hope laid violent hands upon young +O'More for the evening school twice a week, which almost equally +discomposed his aunt. She had never got over the first blow of +Mr. Dusautoy's innovations, and felt as if her nephew had gone +over to the enemy. She was doubly ungracious at the Sunday +dinner, and venomously critical of the choir's chanting, Mr. +Hope's voice, and the Vicar's sermons.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The worst scrape came in March. The Willow Lawn +ladies were in the lower end of the garden, which, towards the +river, was separated from the lane that continued Tibb's Alley, +by a low wall surmounted by spikes, and with a disused wicket, +always locked, and nearly concealed by a growth of laurels; when +out brake a horrible hullabaloo in that region of evil report, +the shouts and yells coming nearer, and becoming so distinct that +they were about to retreat, when suddenly a dark figure leapt +over the gate, and into the garden, amid a storm of outcries. As +he disappeared among the laurels, Albinia caught up Maurice, Lucy +screamed and prepared to fly, and Sophy started forward, +exclaiming, 'It is Ulick, mamma; his face is bleeding!' But as he +emerged, she retreated, for she had a nervous terror of the +canine race, and in his hand, at arm's length he held by the neck +a yellow dog, a black pot dangling from its tail.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Take care,' he shouted, as Albinia set down +Maurice, and was running up to him; 'he may be mad.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice was caught up again, Lucy shrieked, and +Sophy, tottering against an apple-tree, faintly said, 'He has +bitten you!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, not he; it was only a stone,' said Ulick, +as best he might, with a fast bleeding upper lip. 'They were +hunting the poor beast to death--I believe he's no more mad than +I am--only with the fright--but best make sure.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Fetch some milk, Lucy,' said Albinia. 'Take +Maurice with you. No, don't take the poor thing down to the +river, he'll only think you are going to drown him. Go, Maurice +dear.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice safe, Albinia was able to find ready +expedients after Sir Fowell Buxton's celebrated example. She +brought Ulick the gardener's thick gauntlets from the tool-house, +and supplied him with her knife, with which he set the poor +creature free from the instrument of torture, and then let him +loose, with a pan of milk before him, in the old-fashioned +summer-house, through the window of which he could observe his +motions, and if he looked dangerous, shoot him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Nothing could look less dangerous; the poor +creature sank down on the floor and moaned, licked its hind leg, +and then dragged itself as if famished to the milk, lapped a +little eagerly, but lay down again whining, as if in pain. Ulick +and Albinia called to it, and it looked up and tried to wag its +tail, whining appealingly. 'My poor brute!' he cried, 'they've +treated you worse than a heathen. That's all--let me see what I +can do for you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, but yourself, Ulick,' said Albinia, as in +his haste he took down his handkerchief from his mouth; 'I do +believe your lip is cut through! You had better attend to that +first.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, no, thank you,' said Ulick, eagerly, +'they've broken the poor wretch's leg!' and he was the next +moment sitting on the summer-house floor, lifting up the animal +tenderly, regardless of her expostulation that the injured, +frightened creature might not know its friends. But she did it +injustice; it wagged its stumpy tail, and licked his +fingers.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She offered to fetch rag for his surgery, and +he farther begged for some slight bits of wood to serve as +splints, he and his brothers had been dog-doctors before. As she +hurried into the house, Sophy, who had sunk on a sofa in the +drawing-room, looking deadly pale, called out, 'Is he +bitten?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, no,' cried Albinia, hurrying on, 'the dog +is all safe. It has only got a broken leg.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice, with whom Lucy had all this time been +fighting, came out with her to see the rest of the adventure; and +thought it very cruel that he was not permitted to touch the +patient, which bore the operation with affecting fortitude and +gratitude, and was then consigned to a basket lined with hay, and +left in the summer-house, Mr. Kendal being known to have an +almost eastern repugnance to dogs.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Then Ulick had leisure to be conducted to the +morning-room, and be rendered a less ghastly spectacle, by some +very uncomfortable sticking-plaster moustaches, which hardly +permitted him to narrate his battle distinctly. He thought the +boys, even of Tibb's Alley, would hardly have ventured any +violence after he had interfered, but for some young men who +aught to have known better; he fancied he had seen young Tritton +of Robbles Leigh, and he was sure of an insolent groom whom Mr. +Cavendish Dusautoy, to the great vexation of his uncle, had +recently sent down with a horse to the King's Head. They had +stimulated the boys to a shout of Paddy and a shower of stones, +and Ulick expected credit for great discretion, in having fled +instead of fought. 'Ah! if Brian and Connel had but been there, +wouldn't we have put them to the rout?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Nothing would then serve him but going back to +Tibb's Alley to trace the dog's history, and meantime Lucy, from +the end of the passage, beckoned to Albinia, and whispered +mysteriously that 'Sophy would not have any one know it for the +world--but,' said Lucy, 'I found her absolutely fainting away on +the sofa, only she would not let me call you, and ordered that no +one should know anything about it. But, mamma, there was a +red-hot knitting-needle sticking out of the fire, and I am quite +sure that she meant if Ulick was bitten, to burn out the +place.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia believed Sophy capable of both the +resolution and its consequence; but she agreed with Lucy that no +notice should be taken, and would not seem aware that Sophy was +much paler than usual.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The dog, as well as Ulick could make out, was a +waif or stray, belonging to a gipsy deported that morning by the +police, and on whom its master's sins had been visited. So +without scruple he carried the basket home to his lodgings, and +on the way, had the misfortune to encounter his uncle, while +shirtfront, coat, and waistcoat were fresh from the muddy and +bloody fray, and his visage in the height of +disfigurement.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Goldsmith looked on the whole affair as an +insult to every Goldsmith of past ages! A mere street row! He +ordered Mr. More to his lodgings, and said be should hear from +him to-morrow. Ulick came down to Willow Lawn in the dark, almost +considering himself as dismissed, not knowing whether to be glad +or sorry; and wanting to consult Mr. Kendal whether it would be +possible to work his way at college as Mr. Hope had done, or even +wondering whether he might venture to beg for a recommendation to +'Kendal and Kendal.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal was so strongly affected, that he +took up his hat and went straight to Mr. Goldsmith, 'to put the +matter before him in a true light.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">True light or false, it was intolerable in the +banker's eyes, and it took a great deal of eloquence to persuade +him that his nephew was worth a second trial. Fighting in Tibb's +Alley over a gipsy's dog, and coming back looking like a ruffian! +Mr. Goldsmith wished him no harm, but it would be a disgrace to +the concern to keep him on, and Miss Goldsmith, whom Mr. Kendal +heartily wished to gag, chimed in with her old predictions of the +consequences of her poor sister's foolish marriage. The final +argument, was Mr. Kendal's declaration of the testimonials with +which he would at once send him out to Calcutta, to take the +situation once offered to his own son. No sooner did Mr. +Goldsmith hear that his nephew had an alternative, than he +promised to be lenient, and finally dispatched a letter to U. +More, Esquire, with a very serious rebuke, but a promise that his +conduct should be overlooked, provided the scandal were not +repeated, and he should not present himself at the bank till his +face should be fit to be seen.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal mounted him the next morning on +Gilbert's horse, and sent him to Fairmead. The dog was left in +charge of Bridget, who treated it with abundant kindness, but +failed to obtain the exclusive affection which the poor thing +lavished upon its rescuer. By the time Ulick came home, it had +arrived at limping upon three legs, and was bent on following him +wherever he went. Disreputable and heinously ugly it was, of +tawny currish yellow (whence it was known as the Orange-man), +with a bull-dog countenance; and the legs that did not limp were +bandy. Albinia called it the Tripod, but somehow it settled into +the title of Hyder Ali, to which it was said to 'answer' the most +readily, though it would in fact answer anything from Ulick, and +nothing from any one else..</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Ever at his heels, the 'brazen Tripod' +contrived to establish an entrance at Willow Lawn; scratched till +Mr. Kendal would interrupt a 'Prometheus talk' to let him in at +the library door; and gradually made it a matter of course to +come into the drawing-room, and repose upon Sophy's +flounces.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">This was by way of compensation for his +misadventures elsewhere. He was always bringing Ulick into +trouble; shut or tie him up as he might, he was sure to reappear +when least wanted. He had been at church, he had been in Miss +Goldsmith's drawing-room, he had been found times without number +curled up under Ulick's desk. Mr. Goldsmith growled hints about +hanging him, and old Mr. Johns, who really was fond of his bright +young fellow clerk, gave grave counsel; but Ulick only loved his +protege the better, and after having exhausted an Irish +vocabulary of expostulation, succeeded in prevailing on him to +come no farther than the street; except on very wet days, when he +would sometimes be found on the mat in the entry, looking +deplorably beseeching, and bringing on his master an irate, +'Here's that dog again!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Would that no one fell into worse scrapes,' +sighed Mr. Dusautoy, when he heard of Ulick's disasters with +Hyder Ali, and it was a sigh that the house of Kendal +re-echoed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Nobody could be surprised when, towards the +long vacation, tidings came to Bayford, that after long +forbearance on the part of the authorities, the insubordination +and riotous conduct of the two young men could be endured no +longer. It appeared that young Dusautoy, with his weak head and +obstinate will, had never attempted to bend to rules, but had +taken every reproof as an insult and defiance. Young men had not +been wanting who were ready to take advantage of his lavish +expenditure, and to excite his disdain for authorities. They had +promoted the only wit he did understand, broad practical jokes +and mischief; and had led him into the riot and gambling to which +he was not naturally prone. Gilbert Kendal, with more sense and +principle, had been led on by the contagion around him, and at +last an outrageous wine party had brought matters to a crisis. +The most guilty were the most cunning, and the only two to whom +the affair could actually be brought home, were Dusautoy and +Kendal. The sentence was rustication, and the tutor wrote to Mr. +Dusautoy, as the least immediately affected, to ask him to convey +the intelligence to Mr. Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The vicar was not a man to shrink from any +task, however painful, but he felt it the more deeply, as, in +spite of his partiality, he was forced to look on his own +favourite Algernon as the misleader of Gilbert; and when he +overtook the sisters on his melancholy way down the hill, he +consulted them how their father would bear it.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! I don't know,' said Lucy; 'he'll be +terribly angry. I should not wonder if he sent Gilbert straight +off to India; should you, Sophy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope he will do nothing in haste,' exclaimed +Mr. Dusautoy. 'I do believe if those two lads were but separated, +or even out of such company, they would both do very +well.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' exclaimed Lucy; 'and, after all, they +are such absurd regulations, treating men like schoolboys, +wanting them to keep such regular troublesome hours. Mr. +Cavendish Dusautoy told me that there was no enduring the having +everything enforced.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If things had been enforced on poor Algernon +earlier, this might never have been,' sighed his +uncle.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm sure I don't see why papa should mind it +so much,' continued Lucy. 'Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy told me his +friend Lord Reginald Raymond had been rusticated twice, and +expelled at last.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What do you think of it, Sophy?' asked the +vicar, anxiously.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't feel as if any of us could ever look +up again,' she answered very low.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why, no; not that exactly. It is not quite the +right way to take these things, Sophy,' said Mr. Dusautoy. 'Boys +may be very foolish and wrong-headed, without disgracing their +family.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy did not answer--it was all too fresh and +sore, and she did not find much consolation in the number of +youths whom Lucy reckoned up as having incurred the like penalty. +When they entered the house, and Mr. Dusautoy knocked at the +library door, she followed Lucy into the garden, without knowing +where she was going, and threw herself down upon the grass, +miserable at the pain which was being inflicted upon her father, +and with a hardened resentful feeling, between contempt and +anger, against the brother, who, for very weakness, could so +dishonour and grieve him. She clenched her hand in the intensity +of her passionate thoughts and impulses, and sat like a statue, +while Lucy, from time to time, between the tying up of flowers +and watering of annuals, came up with inconsistent exhortations +not to be so unhappy--for it was not expulsion--it was sure to be +unjust--nobody would think the worse of them because young men +were foolish--all men of spirit did get into scrapes--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was lucky for Lucy that all this passed by +Sophy's ear as unheeded as the babbling of the brook. She did not +move, till roused by Ulick O'More, coming up from the bridge, +telling that he had met some Irish haymakers in the meadows, and +saying he wanted to beg a frock for one of their +children.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think I can find you one,' said Lucy, 'if +you will wait a minute; but don't go in, Mr. Dusautoy is +there.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Is anything the matter?' he +exclaimed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Every one must soon know,' said Lucy; 'it is +of no use to keep it back, Sophy. Only my brother and Mr. +Cavendish Dusautoy have got into a scrape about a wine party, and +are going to be rusticated. But wait, I'll fetch the +frock.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy had almost run away while her sister +spoke, but the kind look of consternation and pity on Ulick's +face deterred her, he in soliloquy repeated, as if confounded by +the greatness of the misfortune, 'Poor Gilbert!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor Gilbert!' burst from Sophy in irritation +at misplaced sympathy; 'I thought it would be papa and mamma you +cared for!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'With reason,' returned Ulick, 'but I was +thinking how it must break his heart to have pained such as +they.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wish he would feel it thus,' exclaimed +Sophy; 'but he never will!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! banish that notion, Sophy,' cried Ulick, +recoiling at the indignation in her dark eyes, 'next to grieving +my mother, I declare nothing could crush me like meeting a look +such as that from a sister of mine.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How can I help it?' she said, reserve breaking +down in her vehemence, 'when I think how much papa has +suffered--how much Gilbert has to make up to him--how mamma took +him for her own--how they have borne with him, and set their +happiness on him, and yielded to his fancies, only for him to +disappoint them so cruelly, and just because he can't say No! I +hope he wont come home; I shall never know how to speak to him +!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But all that makes it so much the worse for +him,' said Ulick, in a tone of amazement.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, you can't understand,' she answered; 'if +he had had one spark of feeling like you, he would rather have +died than have gone on as he has done.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Surely many a man may be overtaken in a fault, +and never be wrong at heart,' said Ulick. 'There's many a worse +sin than what the world sets a blot upon, and I believe that is +just why homes were made.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy came back with the frock, and Ulick, +thanking her, sped away; while Sophy slowly went upstairs and hid +herself on her couch. For a woman to find a man thinking her +over-hard and severe, is sure either to harden or to soften her +very decidedly, and it was a hard struggle which would be the +effect. There was an inclination at first to attribute his +surprise to the lax notions and foolish fondness of his home, +where no doubt far worse disorders than Gilbert's were treated as +mere matters of course. But such strong pity for the offender did +not seem to accord with this; and the more she thought, the more +sure she became that it was the fresh charity and sweetness of an +innocent spirit, 'believing all things,' and separating the fault +from the offender. His words had fallen on her ear in a sense +beyond what he meant. Pride and uncharitable resentment might be +worse sins than mere weakness and excess. She thought of the +elder son in the parable, who, unknowing of his brother's +temptation and sorrow, closed his heart against his return; and +if her tears would have come, she would have wept that she could +not bring herself to look on Gilbert otherwise than as the +troubler of her father's peace.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When her mother at last came upstairs, she only +ventured to ask gently, 'How does papa bear it?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It did not come without preparation,' was the +answer; 'and at first we were occupied with comforting Mr. +Dusautoy, who takes to himself all the shame his nephew will not +feel, for having drawn poor Gilbert into such a set.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And papa?' still asked Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He is very quiet, and it is not easy to tell. +I believe it was a great mistake, though not of his making, to +send Gilbert to Oxford at all, and I doubt whether he will ever +go back again.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, mamma, not conquer this, and live it +down!' cried Sophy; but then changing, she sighed and said, 'If +he would--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, a great deal depends upon how he may take +this, and what becomes of Algernon Dusautoy; though I suppose +there is no lack of other tempters. Your papa has even spoken of +India again; he still thinks he would be more guarded there, but +all depends on the spirit in which we find him. One thing I hope, +that I shall leave it all to his father's judgment, and not say +one word.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The next post brought a penitent letter from +Gilbert, submitting completely to his father; only begging that +he might not see any one at home until he should have redeemed +his character, and promising to work very hard and deny himself +all relaxation if he might only go to a tutor at a +distance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">This did not at all accord with Mr. Kendal's +views. He had an unavowed distrust of Gilbert's letters, he did +not fancy a tutor thus selected, and believed the boy to be +physically incapable of the proposed amount of study. So he wrote +a very grave but merciful summons to Willow Lawn.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia went to meet the delinquent at +Hadminster, and was struck by the different deportment of the two +youths. Algernon Dusautoy, whose servant had met him, sauntered +up to her as if nothing had happened, carelessly hoped all were +well at Bayford, and, in spite of her exceeding coldness, talked +on with perfect ease upon the chances of a war with Russia, and +had given her three or four maxims, before Gilbert came up with +the luggage van, with a bag in his hand, and a hurried bewildered +manner, unable to meet her eye. He handed her into the carriage, +seated himself beside her, and drove off without one unnecessary +word, while Algernon, mounting his horse, waved them a disengaged +farewell, and cantered on. Albinia heard a heavy sigh, and saw +her companion very wan and sorrowful, dejection in every feature, +in the whole stoop of his figure, and in the nervous twitch of +his hands. The contrast gave an additional impulse to her love +and pity, and the first words she said were, 'Your father is +quite ready to forgive.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I knew he would be so,' he answered, hardly +able to command his voice; 'I knew you would all be a great deal +too kind to me, and that is the worst of all.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, Gilbert, not if it gives you resolution to +resist the next time.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He groaned; and it was not long before she drew +from him a sincere avowal of his follies and repentance. He had +been led on by assurances that 'every one' did the like, by fear +of betraying his own timidity, by absurd dread of being disdained +as slow; all this working on his natural indolence and love of +excitement, had combined to involve him in habits which had +brought on him this disgrace. It was a hopeful sign that he +admitted its justice, and accused no one of partiality; the +reprimand had told upon him, and he was too completely struck +down even to attempt to justify himself; exceedingly afraid of +his father, and only longing to hide himself. Such was his utter +despair, that Albinia had no scruples in encouraging him, and +assuring him with all her heart, that if taken rightly, the shock +that brought him to his senses, might be the blessing of his +life. He did not take comfort readily, though soothed by her +kindness; he could not get over his excessive dread of his +father, and each attempt at reassurance fell short. At last it +came out that the very core of his misery was this, that he had +found himself for part of the journey, in the same train with +Miss Durant and two or three children. He could not tell her +where he was going nor why, and he had leant back in the +carriage, and watched her on the platform by stealth, as she +moved about, 'lovelier and more graceful than ever!' but how +could he present himself to her in his disgrace and misery? 'Oh, +Mrs. Kendal, I forgive my father, but my life was blighted when I +was cut off from her!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, Gilbert, you are wrong. There is no +blighting in a worthy, disinterested attachment. To be able to +love and respect such a woman is a good substantial quality in +you, and ought to make you a higher and better man.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert turned round a face of extreme +amazement. 'I thought,' he said, 'I thought you--' and went no +farther.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I respect your feeling for her more than when +it was two years younger,' she said; 'I should respect it doubly +if instead of making you ashamed, it had saved you from the need +of shame.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you give me any hope?' cried Gilbert, his +face gleaming into sudden eager brightness.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Things have not become more suitable,' said +Albinia; and his look lapsed again into despondency; but she +added, 'Each step towards real manhood, force of character, and +steadiness, would give you weight which might make your choice +worth your father's consideration, and you worth that of +Genevieve.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! would you but have told me so +before!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was evident to your own senses,' said +Albinia; and she thought of the suggestion that Sophy had +made.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Too late! too late!' sighed +Gilbert.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, never too late! You have had a warning; +you are very young, and it cannot be too late for winning a +character, and redeeming the time!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And you tell me I may love her!' repeated +Gilbert, so intoxicated with the words, that she became afraid of +them.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do not tell you that you may importune her, +or disobey your father. I only tell you that to look up and work +and deny yourself, in honour of one so truly noble, is one of the +best and most saving of secondary motives. I shall honour you, +Gilbert, if you do so use it as to raise and support you, though +of course I cannot promise that she can be earned by it, and even +that motive will not do alone, however powerful you may think +it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Neither of them said more, but Gilbert sighed +heavily several times, and would willingly have checked their +homeward speed. He grew pale as they entered the town, and +groaned as the gates swung back, and they rattled over the wooden +bridge. It was about four o'clock, and he said, hurriedly, as +with a sort of hope, 'I suppose they are all out.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was answered by a whoop of ecstasy, and +before he was well out of the carriage, he was seized by the +joyous Maurice, shouting that he had been for a ride with papa, +without a leading rein. Happy age for both, too young to know +more than that the beloved playfellow was at home +again!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Little Albinia studied her brother till the +small memory came back, and she made her pretty signs for the +well-remembered dancing in his arms. From such greetings, +Gilbert's wounded spirit could not shrink, much as he dreaded all +others; and, carrying the baby and preceded by Maurice, while he +again muttered that of course no one was at home, he went +upstairs.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia meantime tapped at the library door. +She knew Mr. Kendal to be there, yearning to forgive, but +thinking it right to have his pardon sought; and she went in to +tell him of his son's keen remorse, and deadly fear. Displeased +and mournful, Mr. Kendal sighed. 'He has little to fear from me, +would he but believe so! He ought to have come to me, +but--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That 'but' meant repentance for over-sternness +in times past.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Let me send him to you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I will come,' said Mr. Kendal, willing to +spare his son the terror of presenting himself.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was a pretty sight in the morning-room. +Gilbert was on the floor with the two children, Maurice intent on +showing how nearly little Albinia could run alone, and between +ordering and coaxing, drawing her gently on; her beautiful brown +eyes opened very seriously to the great undertaking, and her +round soft hands, with a mixture of confidence and timidity, +trusted within the sturdy ones of her small elder, while Gilbert +knelt on one knee, and stretched out a protecting arm, really to +grasp the little one, if the more childish brother should fail +her, and his countenance, lighted up with interest and affection, +was far more prepossessing than when so lately it had been, full +of cowering, almost abject apprehension.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Was it a sort of instinctive feeling that the +little sister would be his best shelter, that made him gather the +child into his arms, and hold her before his deeply blushing face +as he rose from the floor? She merrily called out, 'Papa!' +Maurice loudly began to recount her exploits, and thus passed the +salutation, at the end of which Gilbert found that his father was +taking the little one from him, and giving her to her mother, who +carried her away, calling Maurice with her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Have you nothing to say to me?' said Mr. +Kendal, after waiting for some moments; but as Gilbert only +looked up to him with a piteous, scared, uncertain glance, be +added; 'You need not fear me; I believe you have erred more from +weakness than from evil inclinations, and I trust in the +sincerity of your repentance.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">These kind words softened Gilbert; he assured +his father of his thanks for his kindness, no one could grieve +more deeply, or be more anxious to atone in any possible manner +for what he had unwittingly done.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I believe you, Gilbert,' said his father; 'but +you well know that the only way of atoning for the past, as well +as of avoiding such wretchedness and disgrace for the future, is +to show greater firmness.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I know it is,' said Gilbert, +sorrowfully.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I cannot look into your heart,' added Mr. +Kendal. 'I can only hope and believe that your grief for the sin +is as deep, or deeper, than that for the public stigma, for which +comparatively, I care little.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert exclaimed that so indeed it was, and +this was no more than the truth. Out of sight of temptation, and +in that pure atmosphere, the loud revel and coarse witticisms +that had led him on, were only loathsome and disgusting, and made +him miserable in the recollection.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am ready to submit to anything,' he added, +fervently. 'As long as you forgive me, I am ready to bear +anything.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I forgive you from my heart,' said Mr. Kendal, +warmly. 'I only wish to consider what may be most expedient for +you. I should scarcely like to send you back to Oxford to +retrieve your character, unless I were sure that you would be +more resolute in resisting temptation. No, do not reply; your +actions during this time of penance will be a far more +satisfactory answer than any promises. I had thought of again +applying to your cousin John, to take you into his bank, though +you could not now go on such terms as you might have done when +there was no error in the background, and I still sometimes +question whether it be not the safer method.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Whatever you please,' said Gilbert; 'I deserve +it all.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nay, do not look upon my decision, whatever it +may be, as punishment, but only as springing from my desire for +your real welfare. I will write to your cousin and ask whether he +still has a vacancy, but without absolutely proposing you to him, +and we will look on the coming months as a period of probation, +during which we may judge what may be the wisest course. I will +only ask one other question, Gilbert, and you need not be afraid +to answer me fully and freely. Have you any debts at +Oxford?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A few,' stammered Gilbert, with a great +effort.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Can you tell me to whom, and the +amount?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He tried to recollect as well as he could, +while completely frightened and confused by the gravity with +which his father was jotting them down in his +pocket-book.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, Gilbert,' he concluded, 'you have dealt +candidly with me, and you shall never have cause to regret having +done so. And now we will only feel that you are at home, and +dwell no longer on the cause that has brought you. Come out, and +see what we have been doing in the meadow.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert seemed more overthrown and broken down +by kindness than by reproof. He hardly exerted himself even to +play with Maurice, or to amuse his grandmother; and though his +sisters treated him as usual, he never once lifted up his eyes to +meet Sophy's glance, and scarcely used his voice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Nothing could be more disarming than such +genuine sorrow; and Sophy, pardoning him with all her heart, and +mourning for her past want of charity, watched him, longing to do +something for his comfort, and to evince her tenderness; but only +succeeded in encumbering every petty service or word of +intercourse with a weight of sad consciousness.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XXI.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">'I had almost written to ask your pardon,' said +Mrs. Dusautoy, as Albinia entered her drawing-room on the +afternoon following. 'I should like by way of experiment to know +what <i>would</i> put that boy out of countenance. He listened +with placid graciousness to his uncle's lecture, and then gave us +to understand that he was obliged for his solicitude, and that +there was a great deal of jealousy and misrepresentation at +Oxford; but he thought it best always to submit to authorities, +however unreasonable. And this morning, after amiably paying his +respects to me, he said he was going to inquire for Gilbert. I +intimated that Willow Lawn was the last place where he would be +welcome, but he was far above attending to me. Did Gilbert see +him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gilbert was in the garden with us when we were +told he was in the house. Poor fellow, he shuddered, and looked +as if he wanted me to guard him, so I sent him out walking with +Maurice while I went in, and found Lucy entertaining the +gentleman. I made myself as cold and inhospitable as I could, but +I am afraid he rather relishes a dignified +<i>retenue</i>.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor boy! I wonder what on earth is to be done +with him. I never before knew what John's love and patience +were.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you think he will remain here?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I cannot tell; we talk of tutors, but John is +really, I believe, happier for having him here, and besides one +can be sure the worst he is doing is painting a lobster. However, +much would depend on what you and Mr. Kendal thought. If he and +Gilbert were doing harm to each other, everything must give +way.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If people of that age will not keep themselves +out of harm's way, nobody can do it for them,' said Albinia, 'and +as long as Gilbert continues in his present mood, there is more +real separation in voluntarily holding aloof, than if they were +sent far apart, only to come together again at +college.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert did continue in the same mood. The +tender cherishing of his home restored his spirits; but he was +much subdued, and deeply grateful, as he manifested by the most +eager and affectionate courtesy, such as made him almost the +servant of everybody, without any personal aim or object, except +to work up his deficient studies, and to avoid young Dusautoy. He +seemed to cling to his family as his protectors, and to follow +the occupations least likely to lead to a meeting with the +Polysyllable; he was often at church in the week, rode with his +father, went parish visiting with the ladies, and was responsible +when Maurice fished for minnows in the meadows. Nothing could be +more sincerely desirous to atone for the past and enter on a +different course, and no conduct could be more truly humble or +endearing.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The imaginary disdain of Ulick O'More was +entirely gone, and perceiving that the Irishman's delicacy was +keeping him away from Willow Lawn, Gilbert himself met him and +brought him home, in the delight of having heard of a naval +cadetship having been offered to his brother, and full of such +eager joy as longed for sympathy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Happy fellow!' Gilbert murmured to +himself.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Younger in years, more childish in character, +poor Gilbert had managed to make his spirit world-worn and weary, +compared with the fresh manly heart of the Irishman, all centered +in the kindred 'points of Heaven and home,' and enjoying keenly, +for the very reason that he bent dutifully with all his might to +a humble and uncongenial task.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Yet somehow, admire and esteem as he would, +there arose no intimacy or friendship between Gilbert and Ulick; +their manners were frank and easy, but there was no spontaneous +approach, no real congeniality, nor exchange of mind and sympathy +as between Ulick and Mr. Kendal. Albinia had a theory that the +friendship was too much watched to take; Sophy hated herself for +the recurring conviction that 'Gilbert was not the kind of +stuff,' though she felt day by day how far he excelled her in +humility, gentleness, and sweet temper.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When the Goldsmiths gave their annual +dinner-party, Albinia felt a sudden glow at the unexpected sight +of Ulick O'More.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am only deputy for the Orange man,' he said; +'it is Hyder Ali who ought to be dining here! Yes, it is his +doing, I'd back him against any detective!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What heroism have you been acting +together?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We had just given Farmer Martin L120 in notes, +when as he went out, we heard little Hyder growling and giving +tongue, and a fellow swearing as if he was at the fair of +Monyveagh, and the farmer hallooing thieves. I found little Hyder +had nailed the rascal fast by the leg, just as he had the notes +out of the farmer's pouch. I collared him, Johns ran for the +police, and the rascal is fast.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What a shame to cheat Mr. Kendal of the +committal.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The policeman said he was gone out, so we had +the villain up to the Admiral with the greater satisfaction, as +he was a lodger in one of the Admiral's pet public-houses in +Tibb's Alley.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah, when Gilbert is of age,' said Albinia, +'woe to Tibb's! So you are a testimonial to the +Tripod?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So I suspect, for I found an invitation when I +came home, I would have run down to tell you, but I had been kept +late, and one takes some getting up for polite +society.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was a great deal of talk about Hyder's +exploit, and some disposition to make Mr. O'More the hero of the +day; but this was quickly nipped by his uncle's dry shortness, +and the superciliousness with which Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy turned +the conversation to the provision of pistols, couriers, and +guards, for travelling through the Abruzzi. The polysyllabic +courage, and false alarms on such a scale, completely eclipsed a +real pick-pocket, caught by a gipsy's cur and a banker's +clerk.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Not that Ulick perceived any disregard until +later in the evening, when the young Kendals arrived, and of +course he wanted each and all to hear of his Tripod's +achievement. He met with ready attention from Sophy and Gilbert, +who pronounced that as the cat was to Whittington, so was Hyder +to O'More; but when in his overflowing he proceeded to Lucy, she +had neither eyes nor ears for him, and when the vicar told her +Mr. O'More was speaking to her, she turned with an air of +petulance, so that he felt obliged to beg her pardon and +retreat.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The Bayford parties never lasted later than a +few minutes after ten, but when once Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy and +Miss Kendal had possession of the piano and guitar, there was no +conclusion. Song succeeded song, they wanted nothing save their +own harmony, and hardly waited for Miss Goldsmith's sleepy +thanks. The vicar hated late hours, and the Kendals felt every +song a trespass upon their hosts, but the musicians had their +backs to the world, and gave no interval, so that it was eleven +o'clock before Mr. Kendal, in desperation, laid his hand on his +daughter, and barbarously carried her off.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The flirtation was so palpable, that Albinia +mused on the means of repressing it; but she believed that to +remonstrate, would only be to give Lucy pleasure, and held her +peace till a passion for riding seized upon the young lady. The +old pony had hard service between Sophy's needs and Maurice's +exactions, but Lucy's soul soared far above ponies, and fastened +upon Gilbert's steed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And pray what is Gilbert to ride?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! papa does not always want Captain, or Mr. +Cavendish Dusautoy would lend him Bamfylde.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thank you,' returned Gilbert, +satirically.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Next morning Lucy, radiant with smiles, +announced that all was settled. Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy's Lady +Elmira would be brought down for her to try this afternoon, so +Gilbert might keep his own horse and come too, which permission +he received with a long whistle and glance at Mrs. Kendal, and +then walked out of the room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How disobliging!' said Lucy. 'Well then, +Sophy, you must make your old hat look as well as you can, for I +suppose it will not quite do to go without anyone.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy, like her brother, looked at Mrs. Kendal, +and with an eye of indignant appeal and entreaty, while Albinia's +countenance was so full of displeasure, that Lucy continued +earnestly, 'O, mamma, you can't object. You used to go out riding +with papa when he was at Colonel Bury's.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, Lucy!' exclaimed her sister, 'I did not +think even you capable of such a comparison.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It's all the same,' said Lucy tartly, blushing +a good deal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy leapt up to look at her, and Albinia +trying to be calm and judicious, demanded, 'What is the same as +what?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why, Algernon and <i>me</i>,' was the equally +precise reply.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In stately horror, Sophy rose and seriously +marched away, leaving, by her look and manner, a species of awe +upon both parties, and some seconds passed ere, with crimson +blushes, Albania ventured to invite the dreaded admission, by +demanding, 'Now, Lucy, will you be so good as to tell me the +meaning of this extraordinary allusion?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why, to be sure--I know it was very different. +Papa was so old, and <i>there were us</i>,' faltered Lucy, 'but I +meant, you would know how it all is--how those +things--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Stop, Lucy, am I to understand by those +things, that you wish me to believe you and Mr. Cavendish +Dusautoy are on the game terms as-- No, I can't say +it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know what you mean,' said Lucy, +growing frightened, 'I never thought there could be such an +uproar about my just going out riding.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You have led me to infer so much more, that it +becomes my duty to have an explanation, at least,' she added, +thinking this sounded cold, 'I should have hoped you would have +given me your confidence.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'O, but you always would make game of him!' +cried Lucy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not now; this is much too serious, if you have +been led to believe that his attentions are not as I supposed, +because you are the only girl about here whom he thinks worthy of +his notice.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It's a great deal more,' said Lucy, with more +feeling and less vanity than had yet been apparent.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And what has he been making you think, my poor +child?' said Albinia. 'I know it is very distressing, but it +would be more right and safe if I knew what it amounts +to.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not much after all,' said Lucy, her tone +implying the reverse, and though her cheeks were crimson, not +averse to the triumph of the avowal, nor enduring as much +embarrassment as her auditor, 'only he made me sure of it--he +said--(now, mamma, you have made me, so I must) that he had +changed his opinion of English beauty--you know, mamma. And +another time he said he had wandered Europe over to--to find +loveliness on the banks of the Baye. Wasn't it absurd? And he +says he does not think it half so much that a woman should be +accomplished herself, as that she should be able to appreciate +other people's talents--and once he said the Principessa Bianca +di Moretti would be very much disappointed.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, my dear,' said Albinia, kindly putting +her arm round Lucy's waist, 'perhaps by themselves the things did +not so much require to be told. I can hardly blame you, and I +wish I had been more on my guard, and helped you more. Only if he +seems to care so little about disappointing this lady might he +not do the same by you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But she's an Italian, and a Roman Catholic,' +exclaimed Lucy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia could not help smiling, and Lucy, +perceiving that this was hardly a valid excuse for her utter +indifference towards her Grandison's Clementina, continued, 'I +mean--of course there was nothing in it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very possibly; but how would it be, if +by-and-by he told somebody that Miss Kendal would be very much +disappointed?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'O, mamma,' cried Lucy, hastily detaching +herself, 'you don't know!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I cannot tell, my poor Lucy,' said Albinia. 'I +fear there must be grief and trouble any way, if you let yourself +attend to him, for you know, even if he were in earnest, it would +not be right to think of a person who has shown so little wish to +be good.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy stood for a few moments before the sense +reached her mind, then she dropped into a chair, and +exclaimed,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I see how it is! You'll treat him as grandpapa +treated Captain Pringle, but I shall break my heart, quite!' and +she burst into tears.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear, your father and I will do our best +for your happiness, and we would never use concealment. Whatever +we do shall be as Christian people working together, not as +tyrants with a silly girl.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy was pleased, and let Albinia take her +hand.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then I will write to decline the horse. It +would be far too marked.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But oh, mamma! you wont keep him +away!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I shall not alter our habits unless I see +cause. He is much too young for us to think seriously of what he +may have said; and I entreat you to put it out of your mind, for +it would be very sad for you to fix your thoughts on him, and +then find him not in earnest, and even if he were, you know it +would be wrong to let affection grow up where there is no real +dependence upon a person's goodness.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The kindness soothed Lucy, and though she shed +some tears, she did not resist the decision. Indeed she was +sensible of that calm determination of manner, which all the +family had learnt to mean that the measures thus taken were +unalterable, whereas the impetuous impulses often were +reversed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Many a woman's will is like the tide, ever +fretting at the verge of the boundary, but afraid to overpass it, +and only tempting the utmost limit in the certainty of the +recall, and Lucy perhaps felt a kind of protection in the curb, +even while she treated it as an injury. She liked to be the +object of solicitude, and was pleased with Albinia's extra +kindness, while, perhaps, there was some excitement in the belief +that Algernon was missing her, so she was particularly amenable, +and not much out of spirits.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The original Meadows character, and Bayford +breeding, had for a time been surmounted by Albinia's influence +and training; but so ingrain was the old disposition, that a +touch would at once re-awaken it, and the poor girl was in a +neutral state, coloured by whichever impression had been most +recent. Albinia's hopes of prevailing in the end increased when +Mrs. Dusautoy told her, with a look of intelligence, that +Algernon was going to stay with a connexion of his mother, a Mr. +Greenaway, with six daughters, very stylish young +ladies.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Six stylish young ladies! Albinia could have +embraced them all, and actually conferred a cordial nod on Mr. +Cavendish Dusautoy when she met him on the way home.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But as she entered the house, so ominous a tone +summoned her to the library, that she needed not to be told that +Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy had been there.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I told him,' said Mr. Kendal, 'that he was too +young for me to entertain his proposal, and I intimated that he +had character to redeem before presenting himself in such +capacity.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope you made the refusal evident to his +intellect.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He drove me to be more explicit than I +intended. I think he was astonished. He stared at me for full +three minutes before he could believe in the refusal. Poor lad, +it must be real attachment, there could be no other +inducement.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And Lucy is exceedingly pretty.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal glanced at the portrait over the +mantelpiece smiled sadly, and shook his head.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor dear,' continued Albinia, 'what a +commotion there will be in her head; but she has behaved so well +hitherto, that I hope we may steer her safely through, above all, +if one of the six cousins will but catch him in the rebound! Have +you spoken to her?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Is it necessary?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So asked her grandfather,' said Albinia, +smiling, as he, a little out of countenance, muttered something +of 'foolish affair--mere child--and turn her head--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That's done!' said Albinia, 'we have only to +try to get it straight. Besides, it would hardly be just to let +her think he had meant nothing, and I have promised to deal +openly with her, otherwise we can hardly hope for plain dealing +from her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And you think it will be a serious +disappointment?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She is highly flattered by his attention, but +I don't know how deep it may have gone.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wish people would let one's daughters +alone!' exclaimed Mr. Kendal. 'You will talk to her then, +Albinia, and don't let her think me more harsh than you can help, +and come and tell me how she bears it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Won't you speak to her yourself?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you think I must?' he said, reluctantly; +'you know so much better how to manage her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think you must do this, dear Edmund,' she +said, between decision and entreaty. 'She knows that I dislike +the man, and may fancy it my doing it she only hears it at second +hand. If you speak, there will be no appeal, and besides there +are moments when the really nearest should have no +go-betweens.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We were not very near without you,' he said. +'If it were Sophy, I should know better what to be +about.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophy would not put you in such a +fix.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So I have fancied--' he paused, smiling, while +she waited in eager curiosity, such as made him finish as if +ashamed. 'I have thought our likings much the same. Have you +never observed what I mean?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! I never observe anything. I did not find +out Maurice and Winifred till he told me. Who do you think it is? +I always thought love would be the making of Sophy. I see she is +another being. What is your guess, Mr. Hope?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal made a face of astonishment at such +an improbable guess, and was driven into exclaiming, 'How could +any one help thinking of O'More?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! only too delightful!' cried Albinia. 'Why +didn't I think of it--but then his way is so free and cousinly +with us all.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There may be nothing in it,' said Mr. Kendal; +'and under present circumstances it would hardly be +desirable.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If old Mr. Goldsmith acts as he ought,' +continued Albinia, 'we should never lose our Sophy--and what a +son we should have! he has so exactly the bright temper that she +needs.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, well, that is all in the clouds,' said +Mr. Kendal. 'I wish the present were equally +satisfactory.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah, I had better call poor Lucy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Come back with her, pray,' called Mr. Kendal, +nervously.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia regretted her superfluous gossip when +Lucy appeared with eyes so sparkling, and cheeks so flushed, that +it was plain that she had been in all the miseries of suspense. +Her countenance glowed with feeling, that lifted her beyond her +ordinary doll-like prettiness. Albinia's heart sank with +compassion as she held her hand, and her father stood as if +struck by something more like the vision or his youth than he had +been prepared for; each feeling that something genuine was +present, and respecting it accordingly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Lucy,' said Mr. Kendal, tenderly, 'I see I +need not tell you why I have sent for you. You are very young, my +dear, and you must trust us to care for your +happiness.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes.' Lucy looked up wistfully.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'This gentleman has some qualities such as may +make him shine in the eyes of a young lady; but it is our duty to +look farther, and I am afraid I know nothing of him that could +justify me in trusting him with anything so precious to +me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy's face became full of consternation, her +hand lay unnerved in Albinia'a pressure, and Mr. Kendal turned +his eyes from her to his wife, as he proceeded,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have seen so much wretchedness caused by +want of religious principle, that even where the morals appeared +unblemished, I should feel no confidence where I saw no evidence +of religion, and I should consider it as positively wrong to +sanction an engagement with such a person. Now you must perceive +that we have every means of forming an opinion of this young man, +and that he has given us no reason to think he would show the +unselfish care for your welfare that we should wish to +secure.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia tried to make it comprehensible. 'You +know, my dear, we have always seen him resolved on his own way, +and not caring how he may inconvenience his uncle and aunt. We +know his temper is not always amiable, and differently as you see +him, you must let us judge.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Wrenching her hand away, Lucy burst into tears. +Her father looked at Albinia, as if she ought to have saved him +this infliction, and she began a little whispering about not +distressing papa, which checked the sobs, and enabled him to say, +'There, that's right, my dear, I see you are willing to submit +patiently to our judgment, and I believe you will find it for the +best. We will do all in our power to help you, and make you +happy,' and bending down he kissed her, and left her to his +wife.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In such family scenes, logic is less useful +than the power of coming to a friendly conclusion; Lucy's awe of +her father was a great assistance, she was touched with his +unwonted softness, and did not apprehend how total was the +rejection. But what he was spared, was reserved for Albinia. +There was a lamentable scene of sobbing and weeping, beyond all +argument, and only ending in physical exhaustion, which laid her +on the bed all the rest of the day.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert and Sophy could not but be aware of the +cause of her distress. The former thought it a great +waste.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Tell Lucy,' he said, 'that if she wishes to be +miserable for life, she has found the best way! He is a +thorough-bred tyrant at heart, pig-headed, and obstinate, and +with the very worst temper I ever came across. Not a soul can he +feel for, nor admire but himself. His wife will be a perfect +slave. I declare I would as soon sell her to Legree.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy's views of the gentleman were not more +favourable, but she was in terror lest Lucy should have a +permanently broken heart, after the precedent of Aunt Maria. And +on poor Sophy fell the misfortune of being driven up by +grandmamma's inquiries, to own that the proposal had been +rejected.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Shade of poor dear Mr. Meadows, didst thou not +stand aghast! Five thousand a year refused! Grandmamma would have +had a fit if she had not conceived a conviction, that imparted a +look of shrewdness to her mild, simple old face. Of course Mr. +Kendal was only holding off till the young man was a little +older. He could have no intention of letting his daughter miss +such a match, and dear Lucy would have her carriage, and be +presented at court.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy argued vehemently against this, and poor +grandmamma, who had with difficulty been taught worldly wisdom as +a duty, and always thought herself good when she talked +prudently, began to cry. Sophy, quite overcome, was equally +distressing with her apologies; Albinia found them both in tears, +and Sophy was placed on the sick-list by one of her peculiar +headaches of self-reproach.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was a time of great perplexity. Lucy cried +incessantly, bursting out at every trifle, but making no +complaints, and submitting so meekly, that the others were almost +as unhappy as herself.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was first cheered by the long promised +visit from Mrs. Annesley and Miss Ferrars. Albinia had now no +fears of showing off home or children, and it was a great +success.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The little Awk was in high beauty, and +graciously winning, and Maurice's likeness to his Uncle William +enchanted the aunts, though they were shocked at his mamma's +indifference to his constant imperilling of life and limb, and +grievously discomfited his sisters by adducing children who +talked French and read history, whereas he could not read d-o-g +without spelling, and had peculiar views as to b and d, p and q. +However, if he could not read he could ride, and Mrs. Annesley +scarcely knew the extent of the favour she conferred, when she +commissioned Gilbert to procure for him a pony as his private +property.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Miss Ferrars had not expected one of the +thirty-six O'Mores to turn up here. She gave some good advice +about hasty intimacies, and as it was received with a defence of +the gentility of the O'Mores, the two good ladies agreed that +dear Albinia was quite a child still, not fit for the care of +those girls, and it would be only acting kindly to take Lucy to +Brighton, and show her something of the world, or Albinia would +surely let her fall a prey to that Irish clerk.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They liked Lucy's pretty face and obliging +ways, and were fond of having a young lady in their house; they +saw her looking ill and depressed, and thought sea air would be +good for her, and though Lucy fancied herself past caring for +gaiety, and was very sorry to leave home and mamma, she was not +insensible to the refreshment of her wardrobe, and the excitement +and honour of the invitation. At night she cried lamentably, and +clung round Albinia'a neck, sobbing, 'Oh, mamma, what will become +of me without you?' but in the morning she went off in very fair +spirits, and Albinia augured hopefully that soon her type of +perfection would be no longer Polysyllabic. Her first letters +were deplorable, but they soon became cheerful, as her mornings +were occupied by lessons in music and drawing, and her evenings +in quiet parties among the friends whom the aunts met at +Brighton. Aunt Gertrude wrote to announce that her charge had +recovered her looks and was much admired, and this was +corroborated by the prosperous complacency of Lucy's style. +Albinia was more relieved than surprised when the letters +dwindled in length and number, well knowing that the Family +Office was not favourable to leisure; and devoid of the +epistolary gift herself, she always wondered more at people's +writing than at their silence, and scarcely reciprocated Lucy's +effusions by the hurried notes which she enclosed in the +well-filled envelopes of Gilbert and Sophy, who, like their +father, could cover any amount of sheets of paper.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XXII.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">'There!' cried Ulick O'More, 'I may wish you +all good-bye. There's an end of it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal stood aghast.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He's insulted my father and my family,' cried +Ulick, 'and does he think I'll write another cipher for +him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Your uncle?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't call him my uncle. I wish I'd never set +eyes on his wooden old face, to put the family name and honour in +the power of such as he.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What has he done to you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He has offered to take me as his partner,' +cried Ulick, with flashing eyes; and as an outcry arose, not in +sympathy with his resentment, he continued vehemently, 'Stay, you +have not heard! 'Twas on condition I'd alter my name, leave out +the O that has come down to me from them that were kings and +princes before his grandfathers broke stones on the +road.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He offered to take you into partnership,' +repeated Mr. Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you think I could listen to such terms!' +cried the indignant lad. 'Give up the O! Why, I would never be +able to face my brothers!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But, Ulick--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't talk to me, Mr. Kendal; I wouldn't sell +my name if you were to argue to me like Plato, nor if his bank +were the Bank of England. I might as well be an Englishman at +once.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then this was the insult?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And enough too, but it wasn't all. When I +answered, speaking as coolly, I assure you, as I'm doing this +minute, what does he do, but call it a folly, and taunt us for a +crew of Irish beggars! Beggars we may be, but we'll not be bought +by him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, this must have been an unexpected +reception of such a proposal.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You may say that! The English think everything +may be bought with money! I'd have overlooked his ignorance, poor +old gentleman, if he would not have gone and spoken of my O as +vulgar. Vulgar! So when I began to tell him how it began from +Tigearnach, the O'More of Ballymakilty, that was Tanist of +Connaught, in the time of King Mac Murrough, and that killed +Phadrig the O'Donoghoe in single combat at the fight of +Shoch-knockmorty, and bit off his nose, calling it a sweet morsel +of revenge, what does he do but tell me I was mad, and that he +would have none of my nonsensical tales of the savage Irish. So I +said I couldn't stand to hear my family insulted, and then--would +you believe it? he would have it that it was I that was insolent, +and when I was not going to apologize for what I had borne from +him, he said he had always known how it would be trying to deal +with one of our family, no better than making a silk purse out of +a sow's ear. "And I'm obliged for the compliment," said I, quite +coolly and politely, "but no Irish pig would sell his ear for a +purse;" and so I came away, quite civilly and reasonably. Aye, I +see what you would do, Mr. Kendal, but I beg with all my heart +you won't. There are some things a gentleman should not put up +with, and I'll not take it well of you if you call it my duty to +hear my father and his family abused. I'll despise myself if I +could. <i>You</i> don't--' cried he, turning round to +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, no, but I think you should try to +understand Mr. Goldsmith's point of view.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I understand it only too well, if that would +do any good. Point of view--why, 'tis the farmyard cock's point +of view, strutting on the top of that bank of his own, and +patronizing the free pheasant out in the woods. More fool I for +ever letting him clip my wings, but he's seen the last of me. No, +don't ask me to make it up. It can't be done--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What can be done to the boy?' asked Albinia; +'how can he be brought to hear reason?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Leave him alone,' Mr. Kendal said, aside; +while Ulick in a torrent of eager cadences protested his perfect +sanity and reason, and Mr. Kendal quietly left the room, again to +start on a peace-making mission, but it was unpromising, for Mr. +Goldsmith began by declaring he would not hear a single word in +favour of the ungrateful young dog.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal gathered that young O'More had +become so valuable, and that cold and indifferent as Mr. +Goldsmith appeared, he had been growing so fond and so proud of +his nephew, as actually to resolve on giving him a share of the +business, and dividing the inheritance which had hitherto been +destined to a certain Andrew Goldsmith, brought up in a +relation's office at Bristol. Surprised at his own graciousness, +and anticipating transports of gratitude, his dismay and +indignation at the reception of his proposal were extreme, +especially as he had no conception of the offence he had given +regarding the unfortunate O as a badge of Hibernianism and +vulgarity. 'I put it to you, Mr. Kendal, as a sensible man, +whether it would not be enough to destroy the credit of the bank +to connect it with such a name as that, looking like an Irish +haymaker's. I should be ashamed of every note I +issued.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is unlucky,' said Mr. Kendal, 'and a +difficulty the lad could hardly appreciate, since it is a good +old name, and the O is a special mark of nobility.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And what has a banker to do with nobility? +Pretty sort of nobility too, at that dog-kennel of theirs in +Ireland, and his father, a mere adventurer if ever there lived +one! But I swore when he carried off poor Ellen that his +speculation should do him no good, and I've kept my word. I wish +I hadn't been fool enough to meddle with one of the concern! No, +no, 'tis no use arguing, Mr. Kendal, I have done with him! I +would not make him a partner, not if he offered to change his +name to John Smith! I never thought to meet with such +ingratitude, but it runs in the breed! I might have known better +than to make much of one of the crew. Yet it is a pity too, we +have not had such a clear-headed, trustworthy fellow about the +place since young Bowles died; he has a good deal of the +Goldsmith in him when you set him to work, and makes his figures +just like my poor father. I thought it was his writing the other +day till I looked at the date. Clever lad, very, but it runs in +the blood. I shall send for Andrew Goldsmith.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">One secret of Mr. Kendal's power was that he +never interrupted, but let people run themselves down and +contradict themselves; and all he observed was, 'However it may +end, you have done a great deal for him. Even if you parted now, +he would be able to find a situation.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why--yes,' said Mr. Goldsmith, 'the lad knew +nothing serviceable when he came, we had an infinity of maggots +about algebra and logarithms to drive out of his head; but now he +really is nearly as good an accountant as old Johns.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You would be sorry to part with him, and I +cannot help hoping this may be made up.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You don't bring me any message! I've said I'll +listen to nothing.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No; the poor boy's feelings are far too much +wounded,' said Mr. Kendal. 'Whether rightly or wrongly, he +fancies that his father and family have been slightingly spoken +of, and he is exceedingly hurt.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'His father! I'm sure I did not say a tenth +part of what the fellow richly deserves. If the young gentleman +is so touchy, he had better go back to Ireland again.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Nothing more favourable could Mr. Kendal +obtain, though he thought Mr. Goldsmith uneasy, and perhaps +impressed by the independence of his nephew's +attitude.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was an arduous office for a peace-maker, +where neither party could comprehend the feelings of the other, +but on his return he found that Ulick had stormed himself into +comparative tranquillity, and was listening the better to the +womankind, because they had paid due honour to the amiable +ancestral Tigearnach and all his guttural posterity, whose savage +exploits and bloody catastrophes acted as such a sedative, that +by the time he had come down to Uncle Bryan of the Kaffir war, he +actually owned that as to the mighty 'O,' Mr. Goldsmith might +have erred in sheer ignorance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'After all,' said Albinia, 'U. O'More is rather +personal in writing to a creditor'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It might be worse,' said Ulick, laughing, 'if +my name was John. I. O'More would be a dangerous confession. But +I'll not be come round even by your fun, Mrs. Kendal, I'll not +part with my father's name.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, that would be base,' said +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Who would wish to persuade you?' added +Albinia. 'I am sure you are right in refusing with your feelings; +I only want you to forgive your uncle, and not to break with +him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'd forgive him his ignorance, but my mother +herself could not wish me to forgive what he said of my +father.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And how if he thinks this explosion needs +forgiveness?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He must do without it,' said Ulick. 'No, I was +cool, I assure you, cool and collected, but it was not fit for me +to stand by and hear my father insulted.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia closed the difficult discussion by +observing that it was time to dress, and Sophy followed her from +the room burning with indignant sympathy. 'It would be meanly +subservient to ask pardon for defending a father whom he thought +maligned,' said Albinia, and Sophy took exception at the word +'thought.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! of course <i>he</i> cannot be deceived!' +said Albinia--but no sooner were the words spoken than she was +half-startled, half-charmed by finding they had evoked a glow of +colour.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How do you think it will end?' asked +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can hardly fancy he will not be forgiven, +and yet--it might be better.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, I do think he would get on faster in +India,' said Sophy eagerly; 'he could do just as Gilbert might +have done.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Was it possible for Albinia to have kept out of +her eyes a significant glance, or to have disarmed her lips of a +merry smile of amused encouragement! How she had looked she knew +not, but the red deepened on Sophy's whole face, and after one +inquiring gaze from the eyes they were cast down, and an +ineffable brightness came over the expression, softening and +embellishing.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What have I done?' thought Albinia. 'Never +mind--it must have been all there, or it would not have been +wakened so easily--if he goes they will have a scene +first.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But when Mr. Kendal came back he only advised +Ulick to go to his desk as usual the next day, as if nothing had +happened.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And Ulick owned that, turn out as things might, +he could not quit his work in the first ardour of his resentment, +and with a great exertion of Christian forgiveness, he finally +promised not to give notice of his retirement unless his uncle +should repeat the offence. This time Albinia durst not look at +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Rather according to his friend's hopes than his +own, he was able to report at the close of the next day, that he +had not 'had a word from his uncle, except a nod;' and thus the +days passed on, Andrew Goldsmith did not appear, and it became +evident that he was to remain on sufferance as a clerk. Nor did +Albinia and Sophy venture to renew the subject between +themselves. At first there was consciousness in their silence; +soon their minds were otherwise engrossed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mrs. Meadows was suddenly stricken with +paralysis, and was thought to be dying. She recovered partial +consciousness in the course of the next day, but was constantly +moaning the name of her eldest and favourite granddaughter, and +when telegraph and express train brought home the startled and +trembling Lucy, she was led at once to the sick bed--where at her +name there was the first gleam of anything like +pleasure.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And where have you been, my dear, this long +time?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I've been at--at Brighton, dear grandmamma,' +said Lucy, so much agitated as scarcely to be able to recall the +name, or utter the words.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And--I say, my dear love,' said Mrs. Meadows, +earnestly and mysteriously, 'have you seen +<i>him</i>?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Poor Lucy turned scarlet with distress and +confusion, but she was held fast, and grandmamma pursued, 'I'm +sure he has not his equal for handsomeness and stateliness, and +there must have been a pair of you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Dear grandmamma, we must let Lucy go and take +off her things; she shall come back presently, but she has had a +long journey,' interposed Albinia, seeing her ready to sink into +the earth.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But Mrs. Meadows had roused into eagerness, and +would not let her go. 'I hope you danced with him, dear,' she +went on; 'and it's all nonsense about his being high and silent. +Your papa is bent on it, and you'll live like a princess in +India.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She takes you for your mother--she means papa, +whispered Albinia, not without a secret flash at once of +indignation at perceiving how his first love had been wasted, yet +of exultation in finding that no one but herself had known how to +love him; but poor Lucy, completely and helplessly overcome, +could only exclaim in a faltering voice: 'Oh, grandmamma, +don't--' and Albinia was forced to disengage her, support her out +of the room, and leaving her to her sister, hasten back to soothe +the old lady, who had been terrified by her emotion. It had been +a great mistake to bring her in abruptly, when tired with her +journey, and not fully aware what awaited her. But there was at +that time reason to think all would soon be over, and Albinia was +startled and confused.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia had hitherto been the only efficient +nurse of the family. Sophy's presence seemed to stir up instincts +of the old wrangling habits, and the invalid was always fretful +when left to her, so that to her own exceeding distress she was +kept almost entirely out of the sick room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy, on the other hand, was extremely valuable +there, her bright manner and unfailing chatter always amused if +needful, and her light step and tender hand made her useful, and +highly appreciated by the regular nurse.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">For the first few days, they watched in awe for +the last dread summons, but gradually it was impossible not to +become in a manner habituated to the suspense, so that common +things resumed their interest, and though Sophy was pained by the +incongruity, it could not have been otherwise without the spirits +and health giving way under the strain. Nothing could be more +trying than to have the mind wrought up to hourly anticipation of +the last parting, and then the delay, without the reaction of +recovery, the spirit beyond all reach of intercourse, and the +mortal frame languishing and drooping. Mr. Kendal had from the +first contemplated the possibility of the long duration of such +lingering, and did his utmost to promote such enlivenment and +change for the attendants as was consistent with their care of +the sufferer. They never dared to be all beyond call at once, +since a very little agitation might easily suffice to bring on a +fatal attack, and Albinia and Lucy were forced to share the hours +of exercise and employment between them, and often Albinia could +not leave the house and garden at all.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert was an excellent auxiliary, and would +devote many an hour to the cheering of the poor shattered mind. +His entrance seldom failed to break the thread of melancholy +murmurs, and he had exactly the gentle, bright attentive manner +best fitted to rouse and enliven. Nothing could be more +irreproachable, than his conduct, and his consideration and +gentleness so much endeared him, that he had never been so much +at peace. All he dreaded was the leaving what was truly to him +the sanctuary of home, he feared alike temptation and the effort +of resistance and could not bear to go away when his grandmother +was in so precarious a state, and he could so much lighten Mrs. +Kendal's cares both by being with her, and by watching over +Maurice. His parents were almost equally afraid of trusting him +in the world; and the embodiment of the militia for the county +offered a quasi profession, which would keep him at home and yet +give him employment. He was very anxious to be allowed to apply +for a commission, and pleaded so earnestly and humbly that it +would be his best hope of avoiding his former errors, that Mr. +Kendal yielded, though with doubt whether it would be well to +confine him to so narrow a sphere. Meantime the corps was +quartered at Bayford, and filled the streets with awkward louts +in red jackets, who were inveterate in mistaking the right for +the left, Gilbert had a certain shy pride in his soldiership, and +Maurice stepped like a young Field Marshal when he saw his +brother saluted.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Nothing had so much decided this step as the +finding that young Dusautoy was to return to his college after +Easter. He was at the Vicarage again, marking his haughty +avoidance of the Kendal family, and to their great joy, Lucy did +not appear distressed, she was completely absorbed in her +grandmother, and shrank from all allusion to her lover. Had the +small flutter of vanity been cured by a glimpse beyond her own +corner of the world?</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But soon Albinia became sensible of an +alteration in Gilbert. He had no sooner settled completely into +his new employment, than a certain restless dissatisfaction +seemed to have possessed him. He was fastidious at his meals, +grumbled at his horse, scolded the groom, had fits of petulance +towards his brother, and almost neglected Mrs. Meadows. No one +could wonder at a youth growing weary of such attendance, but his +tenderness and amiability had been his best points, and it was +grievous to find them failing. Albinia would have charged the +alteration on his brother officers, if they had not been a very +steady and humdrum set, whose society Gilbert certainly did not +prefer. She was more uneasy at finding that he sometimes saw +Algernon Dusautoy, though for Lucy's sake, he always avoided +bringing his name forward.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">A woman was ill in the bargeman's cottage by +the towing-path, and Albinia had walked to see her. As she came +down-stairs, she heard voices, and beheld Mr. Hope evidently on +the same errand with herself, talking to Gilbert. She caught the +words, ere she could safely descend the rickety staircase, +Gilbert was saying,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! some happy pair from the High +Street!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I beg your pardon,' said Mr. Hope, 'I am so +blind, I really took it for your sister, but our shopkeepers' +daughters do dress so!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia looking in the same direction, beheld +in a walk that skirted the meadow towards the wood, two figures, +of which only one was clearly visible, it was nearly a quarter of +a mile off, but there was something about it that made her +exclaim, 'Why, that's Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy! whom can he be +walking with?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert started violently at hearing her behind +him, and a word or two of greeting passed with Mr. Hope, then +there was some spying at the pair, but they were getting further +off, and disappeared in the wood, while Gilbert, screwing up his +eyes, and stammering, declared he did not know; it might be, he +did not think any one could be recognised at such a distance; and +then saying that he had fallen in with Mr. Hope by chance, he +hastened on. The curate made a brief visit, and walked home with +her, examining her on her impression that the gentleman was young +Dusautoy, and finally consulting her on the expediency of +mentioning the suspicion to the vicar, in case he should be +deluding some foolish tradesman's daughter. Albinia strongly +advised his doing so; she had much faith in her own keen +eyesight, and could not mistake the majestic mien of Algernon; +she thought the vicar ought at once to be warned, but felt +relieved that it was not her part to speak.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was very glad when Mr. Hope took an +opportunity of telling her that young Dusautoy was going to the +Greenaways in a day or two.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">As to Gilbert, it was as if this departure had +relieved him from an incubus; he was in better spirits from that +moment, and returned to his habits of kindness to both grandmamma +and Maurice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The manifold duties of head sick-nurse, +governess, and housekeeper, were apt to clash, and valiant and +unwearied as Albinia was, she was obliged perforce to leave the +children more to others than she would have preferred. Little +Albinia was all docility and sweetness, and already did such +wonders with her ivory letters, that the exulting Sophy tried to +abash Maurice by auguring that she would be the first to read; to +which, undaunted, he replied, 'She'll never be a boy!' +Nevertheless Maurice was developing a species of conscience, +rendering him trustworthy and obedient out of sight, better, in +fact, alone with his own honour and his mother's commands, than +with any authority that he could defy. He knew when his father +meant to be obeyed, and Gilbert managed him easily; but he warred +with Lucy, ruled Sophy, and had no chivalry for any one but +little Albinia, nor obedience except for his mother, and was a +terror to maid-servants and elder children. With much of promise, +he was anything but an agreeable child, and whilst no one but +herself ever punished, contradicted, or complained of him, +Albinia had a task that would have made her very uneasy, had not +her mind been too fresh and strong for over-sense of +responsibility. Each immediate duty in its turn was sufficient +for her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice's shadow-like pursuit of Gilbert often +took him off her hands. It might sometimes be troublesome to the +elder brother, and now and then rewarded with a petulant rebuff, +but Maurice was only the more pertinacious, and on the whole his +allegiance was requited with ardent affection and unbounded +indulgence. Nay, once when Maurice and his pony, one or both, +were swept on by the whole hunt, and obliged to follow the +hounds, Gilbert in his anxiety took leaps that he shuddered to +remember, while the urchin sat the first gallantly, and though he +fell into the next ditch, scrambled up on the instant, and was +borne by his spirited pony over two more, amid universal +applause. Mr. Nugent himself rode home with the brothers to tell +the story; papa and mamma were too much elated at his prowess to +scold.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The eventful year 1854 had begun, and General +Ferrars was summoned from Canada to a command in the East. On his +arrival in England, he wrote to his brother and sister to meet +him in London, and the aunts, delighted to gather their children +once more round them, sent pressing invitations, only regretting +that there was not room enough in the Family Office for the +younger branches.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars' first measure was to ride to +Willow Lawn. Knocking at the door of his sister's morning-room, +he found Maurice with a pouting lip, back rounded, and legs +twisted, standing upon his elbows, which were planted upon the +table on either side of a calico spelling-book. Mr. Kendal stood +up straight before the fire, looking distressed and perplexed, +and Albinia sat by, a little worn, a little irritable, and with +the expression of a wilful victim.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">All greeted the new-comer warmly, and Maurice +exclaimed, 'Mamma, I may have a holiday now!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not till you have learnt your spelling.' There +was some sharpness in the tone, and Maurice's shoulder-blades +looked sulky.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'In consideration of his uncle,' began Mr. +Kendal, but she put her hand on the boy, saying, 'You know we +agreed there were to be no holidays for a week, because we did +not use the last properly.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He moved off disconsolately, and his father +said, 'I hope you are come to arrange the journey to London. Is +Winifred coming with you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No; a hurry and confusion, and the good aunts +would be too much for her, you will be the only one for +inspection.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, take him with you, Maurice,' said +Albinia, 'he must see William.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You must be the exhibitor, then,' her brother +replied.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Now, Maurice, I know what you are come for, +but you ought to know better than to persuade me, when you know +there are six good reasons against my going.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I know of one worth all the six.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Mr. Kendal; 'I have been telling +her that she is convincing me that I did wrong in allowing her to +burthen herself with this charge.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That's nothing to the purpose,' said Albinia; +'having undertaken it, when you all saw the necessity, I cannot +forsake it now--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If Mrs. Meadows were in the same condition as +she was in two months ago, there might be a doubt,' said Mr. +Kendal; but she is less dependent on your attention, and Lucy and +Gilbert are most anxious to devote themselves to her in your +absence.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I know they all wish to be kind, but if +anything went wrong, I should never forgive myself!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not if you went out for pleasure alone,' said +her brother; 'but relationship has demands.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Of course,' she said, petulantly, 'if Edmund +is resolved, I must go, but that does not convince me that it is +right to leave everything to run riot here.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal looked serious, and Mr. Ferrars +feared that the winter cares had so far told on her temper, that +perplexity made her wilful in self-sacrifice. There was a pause, +but just as she began to perceive she had said something wrong, +the lesser Maurice burst out in exultation,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There, it is not indestructible!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What mischief have you been about?' The +question was needless, for the table was strewn with snips of +calico.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'This nasty spelling-book! Lucy said it was +called indestructible, because nobody could destroy it, but I've +taken my new knife to it. And see there!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And now can you make another?' said his +uncle.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't want <i>to</i>.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nor <i>one</i> either, sir,' said Mr. Kendal. +'What shall we have to tell Uncle William about you! I'm afraid +you are one of the chief causes of mamma not knowing how to go to +London.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice did not appear on the way to penitence, +but his mother said, 'Bring me your knife.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He hung down his head, and obeyed without a +word. She closed it, and laid it on the mantel-shelf, which +served as a sort of pound for properties in +sequestration.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Now, then, go,' she said, 'you are too naughty +for me to attend to you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But when will you, mamma?' laying a hand on +her dress.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know. Go away now.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He slowly obeyed, and as the door shut, she +said, 'There!' in a tone as if her view was +established.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You must send him to Fairmead,' said the +uncle.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'To "terrify" Winifred? No, no, I know better +than that; Gilbert can look after him. I don't so much care about +that.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The admission was eagerly hailed, and objection +after objection removed, and having recovered her good humour, +she was candid, and owned how much she wished to go. 'I really +want to make acquaintance with William. I've never seen him since +I came to my senses, and have only taken him on trust from +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wish equally that he should see you,' said +her brother. 'It would be good for him, and I doubt whether he +has any conception what you are like.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'd better stay at home, to leave you and +Edmund to depict for his benefit a model impossible idol--the +normal woman.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice looked at her, and shook his +head.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No--it would be rather--it and its young one, +eh?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice took both her hands. 'I should not like +to tell William what I shall believe if you do not +come.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, what--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That Edmund is right, and you have been +overtasked till you are careful and troubled about many +things.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Only too much bent on generous self-devotion,' +said Mr. Kendal, eagerly; 'too unselfish to cast the balance of +duties.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Hush, Edmund,' said Albinia. 'I don't deserve +fine words. I honestly believe I want to do what is right, but I +can't be sure what it is, and I have made quite fuss enough, so +you two shall decide, and then I shall be made right anyway. Only +do it from your consciences.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They looked at each other, taken aback by the +sudden surrender. Mr. Ferrars waited, and her husband said, 'She +ought to see her brother. She needs the change, and there is no +sufficient cause to detain her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She must be content sometimes to trust,' said +Mr. Ferrars.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Aye, and all that will go wrong, when my back +is turned.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Let it,' said her brother. 'The right which +depends on a single human eye is not good for much. Let the weeds +grow, or you can't pull them up.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Let the mice play, that the cat may catch +them,' said Albinia, striving to hide her care. 'One good effect +is, that Edmund has not begun to groan.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Indeed, in his anxiety that she should consent +to enjoy herself, he had not had time to shrink from the +introduction.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Outside the door they found Maurice waiting, +his spelling learnt from a fragment of the indestructible +spelling-book, and the question followed, 'Now, mamma, you wont +say I'm too naughty for you to go to London and see Uncle +William?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, my little boy, I mean to trust you, and +tell Uncle William that my young soldier is learning the +soldier's first duty--obedience.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And may I have my knife, mamma?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Papa had settled that question by himself +taking it off the chimney-piece and restoring it. If mamma wished +the penance to have been longer, she neither looked it nor said +it.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The young people received the decision with +acclamation, and the two elder ones vied with one another in +attempts to set her mind at rest by undertaking everything, and +promising for themselves and the children perfect regularity and +harmony. Sophy, with a bluntness that King Lear would have highly +disapproved, said, 'She was glad mamma was going, but she knew +they should be all at sixes and sevens. She would do her best, +and very bad it would be.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not if you don't make up your mind beforehand +that it must be bad,' said her uncle.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy smiled, she was much less impervious to +cheerful auguries, and spoke with gladness of the pleasure it +would give her friend Genevieve to see Mrs. Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars had a short interview with Ulick, +and was amused by observing that little Maurice had learnt as +much Irish as Ulick had dropped. After the passing fever about +his O had subsided, he was parting with some of his +ultra-nationality. The whirr of his R's and his Irish idioms were +far less perceptible, and though a word of attack on his country +would put him on his mettle, and bring out the Kelt in full +force, yet in his reasonable state, his good sense and love of +order showed an evident development, and instead of contending +that Galway was the most perfect county in the world, he only +said it might yet be so.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Isn't he a noble fellow?' cried Albinia, +warmly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said her brother; 'I doubt whether all +the O'Mores put together have ever made such a conquest as he +has.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was fun to see how the aunts were dismayed +to find one of the horde in full force here. I believe it was as +a measure of precaution that they took Lucy away. I was very glad +for Lucy to go, but hers was not exactly the danger.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ha!' said Maurice; and Albinia blushed. +Whereupon he said interrogatively, 'Hem?' which made her laugh so +consciously that he added, 'Don't you go and be romantic about +either of your young ladies, or there will be a general burning +of fingers.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If you knew all our secrets, Maurice, you +would think me a model of prudence and forbearance.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ho!' was his next interjection, 'so much the +worse. For my own part, I don't expect prudence will come to you +naturally till the little Awk has a lover.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Won't it come any other way?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, in <i>one</i> way,' he said, +gravely.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And that way is not easily found by those who +have neither humility nor patience,' she said, sadly, 'who rush +on their own will.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nay, Albinia, it is being sought, I do +believe; and remember the lines--</font></p> + +<center> +<p><font size="2">"Thine own mild energy bestow,<br> +And deepen while thou bidst it flow,<br> +More calm our stream of love."'</font></p> +</center> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Forced to resign herself to her holiday, +Albinia did so with a good grace, in imitation of her brother, +who assured her that he had brought a bottle of Lethe, and had +therein drowned wife, children, and parish. Mr. Kendal's spirits, +as usual, rose higher every mile from Bayford, and they were a +very lively party when they arrived in Mayfair.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The good aunts were delighted to have round +them all those whom they called their children; all except Fred, +whom the new arrangements had sent to rejoin his regiment in +Ireland.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sinewy, spare, and wiry, with keen gray eyes +under straight brows, narrow temples, a sunburnt face, and alert, +upright bearing and quick step, William Ferrars was every inch a +soldier; but nothing so much struck Mr. and Mrs. Kendal as the +likeness to their little Maurice, though it consisted more in air +and gesture than in feature. His speech was brief and to the +point, softened into delicately-polished courtesy towards +womankind, in the condescension of strength to weakness--the +quality he evidently thought their chief +characteristic.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was amused as she watched him with +grown-up eyes, and compared present with past impressions. She +could now imagine that she had been an inconvenient charge to a +young soldier brother, and that he had been glad to make her over +to the aunts, only petting and indulging her as a child; looking +down on her fancies, and smiling at her sauciness when she was an +enthusiastic maiden--treatment which she had so much resented, +that she had direfully offended Maurice by pronouncing William a +mere martinet, when she was hurt at his neither reading the Curse +of Kehama, nor entering into her plans for Fairmead +school.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Having herself become a worker, she could +better appreciate a man who had seen and acted instead of +reading, recollected herself as an emanation of conceit, and felt +shy and anxious, even more for her husband than for herself. How +would the scholar and the soldier fare together? and could she +and Maurice keep them from wearying of each other? She had little +trust in her own fascinations, though she saw the General's eye +approvingly fixed on her, and believing herself to be a more +pleasing object in her womanly bloom than in her unformed +girlhood.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How does the Montreal affair go on?' she +asked.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What affair?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Fred and Miss Kinnaird.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am sorry to say he has not put it out of his +head.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Surely she is a very nice person.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Pshaw! He has no right to think of a wife +these dozen years.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not even think? When he is not to have one at +any rate till he is a field officer!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And he is a fool to have one then. A mere +encumbrance to himself and the entire corps.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, I know,' said Albinia, 'she always gets +the best cabin.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And that is no place for her! No man, as I +have told Fred over and over again, ought to drag a woman into +hardships for which she is not fitted, and where she interferes +with his effectiveness and the comfort of every one +else.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The identical lecture of twelve years since, +when he had feared Albinia's becoming this inconvenient +appendage! If he had repeated it on all like occasions, she did +not wonder that it had wearied his aide-de-camp.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Perhaps,' she said, 'the backwoods may have +fitted Miss Emily for the life; and I can't but be glad of Fred's +having been steady to anything.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Considering this speech like the Kehama days, +the General went on to dilate on the damage that marriage was to +the 'service,' removing the best officers, first from the mess, +and then from the army.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What a pity William was born too late to be a +Knight of St. John!' said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">All laughed, but she doubted whether he were +pleased, for he addressed himself to one of the aunts, while +Maurice spoke to her in an under tone-- 'I believe he is quite +right. Homes are better for the individual man, but not for the +service. How remarkably the analogy holds with this other +service!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You mean what St. Paul says of the married and +unmarried?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I always think he and his sayings are the most +living lessons I know on the requirements of the other +army.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia mused on the insensible change in +Maurice. He had not embraced his profession entirely by choice. +It had always been understood that one of the younger branches +must take the family living; and as Fred had spurned study, he +had been bred up to consider it as his fate, and if he had ever +had other wishes, he had entirely accepted his destiny, and +sincerely turned to his vocation. The knowledge that he must be a +clergyman had ruled him and formed him from his youth, and acting +through him on his sister, had rendered her more than the +accomplished, prosperous young lady her aunts meant to have made +her. Yet, even up to a year or two after his Ordination, there +had been a sense of sacrifice; he loved sporting, and even balls, +and it had been an effort to renounce them. He had avoided coming +to London because his keen enjoyment of society tended to make +him discontented with his narrow sphere; she had even known him +to hesitate to ride with the staff at a review, lest he should +make himself liable to repinings. And now how entirely had all +this passed away, not merely by outgrowing the enterprising +temper and boyish habits, nor by contentment in a happy home, but +by the sufficiency and rest of his service, the engrossment in +the charge from his great Captain. Without being himself aware of +it, he had ceased to distrust a holiday, because it was no longer +a temptation; and his animation and mirth were the more free, +because self-regulation was so thoroughly established, that +restraint was no longer felt.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mrs. Annesley was talking of the little +Kendals, who she had ruled should be at Fairmead.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' said Maurice, 'Albinia thought her son +too mighty for Winifred. Our laudable efforts at cousinly +friendship usually produce war-whoops that bring the two mammas +each to snatch her own offspring from the fray, with a scolding +for the sake of appearances though believing the other the only +guilty party.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Now, Maurice,' cried Albinia, 'you confess how +fond Mary is of setting people to rights.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well--when Maurice bullies Alby.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Aye, you talk of the mammas, and you only want +to make out poor Maurice the aggressor.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Never mind, they will work in better than if +they were fabulous children. Ah, you are going to contend that +yours is a fabulous child. Take care I don't come on you with the +indestructible--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Take care I don't come on you with Mary's +lessons to Colonel Bury on the game-law.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Does it not do one good to see those two +quarrelling just like old times?' exclaimed one aunt to the +other.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And William looking on as contemptuous as +ever?' said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not at all. I rejoice to have this week with +you. I should like to see your boy. Maurice says he is a thorough +young soldier.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal looked pleased.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The man of study had a penchant for the man of +action, and the brothers-in-law were drawing together. Mars, the +great geographical master, was but opening his gloomy school on +the Turkish soil, and the world was discovering its ignorance +beyond the Pinnock's Catechisms of its youth. Maurice treated Mr. +Kendal as a dictionary, and his stores of Byzantine, Othman, and +Austrian lore, chimed in with the perceptions of the General, +who, going by military maps, described plans of operations which +Mr. Kendal could hardly believe he had not found in history, +while he could as little credit that Mr. Kendal had neither +studied tactics, nor seen the spots of which he could tell such +serviceable minutiae.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They had their heads together over the map the +whole evening, and the next morning, when the General began to +ask questions about Turkish, his sister was proud to hear her +husband answering with the directness and precision dear to a +military man.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That's an uncommonly learned man, Albinia's +husband,' began the General, as soon as he had started with his +brother on a round of errands.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I never met a man of more profound and +universal knowledge.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't see that he is so grave and unlike +other people. Fred reported that he was silence itself, and she +might as well have married Hamlet's ghost.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Fred saw him at a party,' said Maurice; then +remembering that this might not be explanatory, he added, 'He +shines most when at ease, and every year since his marriage has +improved and enlivened him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am satisfied. I hardly knew how to judge, +though I did not think myself called upon to remonstrate against +the marriage, as the aunts wished. I knew I might depend on you, +and I thought it high time that she should be +settled.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have been constantly admiring her +discernment, for I own that at first his reserve stood very much +in my way, but since she has raised his spirits, and taught him +to exert himself, he has been a most valuable brother to +me.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then you think her happy? I was surprised to +see her such a fine-looking woman; my aunts had croaked so much +about his children and his mother, that I thought she would be +worn to a shadow.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very happy. She has casual troubles, and a +great deal of work, but that is what she is made for.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How does she get on with his +children?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Hearty love for them has carried her through +the first difficulties, which appalled me, for they had been +greatly mismanaged. I am afraid that she has not been able to +undo some of the past evil; and with all her good intentions, I +am sometimes afraid whether she is old enough to deal with +grown-up young people.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You don't mean that Kendal's children are +grown up? I should think him younger than I am.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He is so, but civil servants marry early, and +not always wisely; and the son is about twenty. Poor Albinia +dotes on him, and has done more for him than ever his father did; +but the lad is weak and tender every way, with no stamina, moral +or physical, and with just enough property to do him harm. He has +been at Oxford and has failed, and now he is in the militia, but +what can be expected of a boy in a country town, with nothing to +do? I did not like his looks last week, and I don't think his +being there, always idle, is good for that little manly scamp of +Albinia's own.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why don't they put him into the +service?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He is too old.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not too old for the cavalry!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He can ride, certainly, and is a tall, +good-looking fellow; but I should not have thought him the stuff +to make a dragoon. He has always been puling and delicate, unfit +for school, wanting force.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Wanting discipline,' said the General. 'I have +seen a year in a good regiment make an excellent officer of that +very stamp of youngster, just wanting a mould to give him +substance.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The regiment should be a very good one,' said +Mr. Ferrars; 'he would be only too easily drawn in by the bad +style of subaltern.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Put him into the 25th Lancers,' said the +General, 'and set Fred to look after him. Rattlepate as he is, he +can take excellent care of a lad to whom he takes a fancy, and if +Albinia asked him, he would do it with all his heart.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wish you would propose it, though I am +afraid his father will never consent. I would do a great deal to +get him away before he has led little Maurice into +harm.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'This consideration moved the Rector of +Fairmead himself to broach the subject, but neither Mr. Kendal +nor Albinia could think of venturing their fragile son in the +army, though assured that there was little chance that the 25th +Lancers would be summoned to the east, and they would only hold +out hopes of little Maurice by and by.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia's martial ardour was revived as she +listened with greater grasp of comprehension to subjects familiar +in her girlhood. She again met old friends of her father, the +lingering glories of the Peninsula and Waterloo, who liked her +for her own sake as well as for her father's, while Maurice +looked on, amused by her husband's silent pride in her, and her +hourly progress in the regard of the General, who began to talk +of making a long visit to Fairmead, after what he expected would +be a slight demonstration on the Danube. He even began to regret +the briefness of the time that he could spend in their +society.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Much was crowded into that week, but Albinia +contrived to find an hour for a call on her little French friend, +to whom she had already forwarded the parcels she had brought +from home--a great barm-brack from Biddy, and a store of delicate +convent confections from Hadminster.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was set down at a sober old house in the +lawyers' quarter of the world, and conducted to a pretty, though +rather littered drawing-room, where she found a delicate-looking +young mamma, and various small children.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm so glad,' said little Mrs. Rainsforth, +'that you have been able to come; it will be such a pleasure to +dear Miss Durant; and while one of the children was sent to +summon the governess, the lady continued, nervously but warmly, +'I hope you will think Miss Durant looking well; I am afraid she +shuts herself up too much. I'm sure she is the greatest comfort, +the greatest blessing to us.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia's reply was prevented by a rush of +children, followed by the dear little trim, slight figure. There +was no fear that Genevieve did not look well or happy. Her olive +complexion was healthy; her dark eyes lustrous with gladness; her +smile frank and unquelled; her movements full of elastic +life.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She led the way to the back parlour, dingy by +nature, but bearing living evidence to the charm which she +infused into any room. Scratched table, desks, copybooks, and +worn grammars, had more the air of a comfortable occupation than +of the shabby haunt of irksome taskwork. There were flowers in +the window, and the children's treasures were arranged with +taste. Genevieve loved her school-room, and showed off its little +advantages with pretty exultation. If Mrs. Kendal could only see +how well it looked with the curtains down, after tea!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And then came the long, long talk over home +affairs, and the history of half the population of Bayford, +Genevieve making inquiries, and drinking in the answers as if she +could not make enough of her enjoyment.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Not till all the rest had been discussed, did +she say, with dropped eyelids, and a little blush, 'Is Mr. +Gilbert Kendal quite strong?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thank you, he has been much better this +winter, and so useful and kind in nursing grandmamma!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, he was always kind.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He was going to beg me to remember him to you, +but he broke off, and said you would not care.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I care for all goodness towards me,' answered +Genevieve, lifting her eyes with a flash of inquiry.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am afraid he is as bad as ever, poor +fellow,' said Albinia, with a little smile and sigh; 'but he has +behaved very well. I must tell you that you were in the same +train with him on his journey from Oxford, and he was ashamed to +meet your eye.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah, I remember well. I thought I saw him. I +was bringing George and Fanny from a visit to their aunts, and I +was sure it must be Mr. Gilbert.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'As prudent as ever, Genevieve.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It would not have been right,' she said, +blushing; 'but it was such a treat to see a Bayford face, that I +had nearly sprung out of the waiting-room to speak to him at the +first impulse.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My poor little exile!' said +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, that is not my name. Call me my aunt's +bread-winner. That's my pride! I mean my cause of thankfulness. I +could not have earned half so much at home.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope indeed you have a home +here.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That I have,' she fervently answered. 'Oh, +without being a homeless orphan, one does not learn what kind +hearts there are. Mr. and Mrs. Rainsforth seemed only to fear +that they should not be good enough to me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you mean that you found it a little +oppressive?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'<i>Fi donc, Madame</i>! Yet I must own that +with her timid uneasy way, and his so perfect courtesy, they did +alarm me a little at first. I pitied them, for I saw them so +resolved not to let me feel myself <i>de trop</i>, that I knew I +was in their way.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Did not that vex you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why, I suppose they set their inconvenience +against the needs of their children, and my concern was to do my +duty, and be as little troublesome as possible. They pressed me +to spend my evenings with them, but I thought that would be too +hard on them, so I told them I preferred the last hours alone, +and I do not come in unless there are others to prevent their +being tete-a-tete.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very wise. And do you not find it +lonely?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is my time for reading--my time for +letters--my time for being at home!' cried Genevieve. 'Now +however that I hope I am no longer a weight on them, Mrs. +Rainsforth will sometimes ask me to come and sing to him, or read +aloud, when he comes home so tired that he cannot speak, and her +voice is weak. Alas! they are both so fragile, so +delicate.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Her soul was evidently with them and with her +charges, of whom there was so much to say, that the carriage came +all too soon to hurry Albinia away from the sight of that buoyant +sweetness and capacity of happiness.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was rather startled by Miss Ferrars saying, +'By-the-by, Albinia, how was it that you never told us of the +development of the Infant prodigy?</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know what you mean, Aunt +Gertrude.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't you remember that boy, that Mrs. +Dusautoy Cavendish's son, whom that poor little companion of hers +used to call <i>l'Enfant prodigue</i>. I did not know he was a +neighbour of yours, as I find from Lucy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What did Lucy tell you about him? She did not +meet him!' cried Albinia, endeavouring not to betray her alarm. +'I mean, did she meet him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Indeed,' said Miss Ferrars, 'you should have +warned us if you had any objection, my dear.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, but what did happen?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, nothing alarming, I assure you. They met +at a ball at Brighton; Lucy introduced him, and said he was your +vicar's nephew; they danced together. I think only +once.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wish you had mentioned it. When did it +happen?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can hardly tell. I think she had been about +a fortnight with us, but she seemed so indifferent that I should +never have thought it worth mentioning. I remember my sister +thought of asking him to a little evening party of ours, and Lucy +dissuading her. Now, really, Albinia, don't look as if we had +been betraying our trust. You never gave us any reason to +think--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, no. I beg your pardon, dear aunt. I hope +there's no harm done. If I could have thought of his turning up, +I would--But I hope it is all right.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Such good accounts came from both homes, and +the General was so unwilling to part with his brother and sister, +that he persuaded them to accompany him to Southampton for +embarkation. They all felt that these last days, precious now, +might be doubly precious by-and-by, and alone with them and free +from the kindly scrutiny of the good aunts, William expanded and +evinced more warm fraternal feeling than he had ever manifested. +He surprised his sister by thanking her warmly for having come to +meet him. 'I am glad to have been with you, Albinia; I am glad to +have seen your husband. I have told Maurice that I am heartily +rejoiced to see you in such excellent hands.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You must come and see the children, and know +him better.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope so, when this affair is over, and I +expect it will be soon settled. Anyway, I am glad we have been +together. If we meet again, we will try to see more of one +another.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He had said much more to his brother, +expressing regret that he had been so much separated from his +sister. Thorough soldier as he was, and ardent for active +service, the sight of her and her husband had renewed gentler +thoughts, and he was so far growing old that the idea of home and +rest came invitingly before him. He was softened at the parting, +and when he wrung their hands for the last time on the deck of +the steamer, they were glad that his last words were, 'God bless +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There had been some uncertainty as to the time +of his sailing, and Fairmead and Bayford had been told that +unless their travellers arrived by the last reasonable train on +Friday, they were not to be expected till the same time on +Saturday, Maurice having concocted a scheme for crossing by +several junction lines, so as to save waiting; but they had not +reckoned on the discourtesies of two rival companies whose lines +met at the same station, and the southern train was only in time +to hear the parting snort of the engine that it professed to +catch.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The Ferrars' nature, above all when sore with +farewells, was not made to submit to having time wasted by +treacherous trains on a cold wintry day, and at a small new +station, with an apology for a waiting-room, no bookstall, and +nothing to eat but greasy gingerbread and hard apples.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice relieved his feelings by heartily +rowing all the officials, but he could obtain no redress, as he +knew full well the whole time, nor would any train pick them up +for full three hours.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">So indignant was he, that amusement rendered +Albinia patient, especially when he took to striding up and down +the platform, devising cases in which the delay might be +actionable, and vituperating the placability of Mr. Kendal, who +having wrapt up his wife in plaids and seated her on the top of +the luggage, had set his back to the wall, and was lost to the +present world in a book.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Never mind, Maurice,' said Albinia; 'in any +other circumstances we should think three hours of each other a +great boon.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If anything could be an aggravation, it would +be to see Albinia philosophical.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You make me so on the principle of the Helots +and Spartans.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was possible to get to Hadminster by +half-past seven, and on to Bayford by nine o'clock, but Fairmead +lay further from the line, and the next train did not stop at the +nearest station, so Maurice agreed to sleep at Bayford that +night; and this settled, set out with his sister to explore the +neighbourhood for eatables and church architecture. They made an +ineffectual attempt to rouse Mr. Kendal to go with them, but he +was far too deep in his book, and only muttered something about +looking after the luggage. They found a stale loaf of bread, and +a hideous church, but it was a merry walk, and brought them back +in their liveliest mood, which lasted even to pronouncing it +'great fun' that the Hadminster flies were all at a ball, and +that the omnibus must convey them home by the full +moonlight.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XXIII.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">Slowly the omnibus rumbled over the wooden +bridge, and then with a sudden impulse it thundered up to the +front door.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia jumped out, and caught Sophy in her +arms, exclaiming, 'And how are you all, my dear?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We had quite given you up,' Gilbert was +saying. 'The fire is in the library,' he added, as Mr. Kendal was +opening the drawing-room door, and closing it in haste at the +sight of a pale, uninviting patch of moonlight, and the rush of a +blast of cold wind.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And how is grandmamma? and the children? My +Sophy, you don't look well, and where's Lucy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Ere she could receive an answer, down jumped, +two steps at a time, a half-dressed figure, all white stout legs +and arms which were speedily hugging mamma.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There's my man!' said Mr. Kendal, 'a good boy, +I know.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No!' cried the bold voice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No?' (incredulously) what have you been +doing?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I broke the conservatory with the marble dog, +and--' he looked at Gilbert.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There's my brave boy,' said Mr. Kendal, who +had suffered so much from his elder son's equivocation as to be +ready to overlook anything for the sake of truth. 'Here, Uncle +Maurice, shake hands with your godson, who always tells +truth.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The urchin folded his arms on his bosom, and +looked like a young Bonaparte.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Where's your hand? said his uncle. 'Wont you +give it to me?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He will be wiser to-morrow, if you are so good +as to try him again,' said Albinia, who knew nothing did him more +harm than creating a commotion by his caprices; 'he is up too +late, and fractious with sleepiness. Go to bed now, my +dear.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I shall not be wiser to-morrow,' quoth the +child, marching out of the room in defiance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Monkey! what's the matter now?' exclaimed +Albinia; 'I suppose you have all been spoiling him. But what's +become of Lucy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gilbert said she was at the Dusautoys,' +replied Sophy; 'but if you would but come to grandmamma! She +found out that you were expected, and she is in such a state that +we have not known what to do.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'll come, only, Sophy dear, please order tea +and something to eat. Your uncle looks ravenous.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She broke off, as there advanced into the room +a being like Lucy, but covered with streams and spatters of +flowing sable tears, like a heraldic decoration, over face, neck, +and dress.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">All unconscious, she came with outstretched +hands and words of welcome, but an astonished cry of 'Lucy!' met +her, and casting her eyes on her dress, she screamed, 'Oh +goodness! it's ink!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Where can you have been? what have you been +doing?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I--don't know--Oh! it was the great inkstand, +and not the scent--Oh! it is all over me! It's in my hair!' +shuddering. 'Oh, dear! oh dear! I shall never get it out!' and +off she rushed, followed by Gilbert, and was soon heard calling +the maids to bring hot water to her room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What is all this?' asked Mr. +Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do not know,' mournfully answered +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia left the library, and taking a candle, +went into the empty drawing-room. The moonlight shone white upon +the table, and showed the large cut-glass ink-bottle in a pool of +its own contents; and the sofa-cover had black spots and stains +as if it had partaken of the libation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy saw, and stood like a statue.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You know nothing, I am sure,' said +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nothing!' repeated Sophy, with a blank look of +wretchedness.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If you please, ma'am,' said the nurse at the +door, 'could you be kind enough to come to Mrs. Meadows, she will +be quieter when she has seen you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophy dear, we must leave it now,' said +Albinia. 'You must see to their tea, they have had nothing since +breakfast.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She hastened to the sick room, where she found +Mrs. Meadows in a painful state of agitation and excitement. The +nurse said that until this evening, she had been as usual, but +finding that Mrs. Kendal was expected, she had been very +restless; Miss Kendal was out, and neither Miss Sophy nor Mr. +Gilbert could soothe her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She eagerly grasped the hand of Albinia who +bent down to kiss her, and asked how she had been.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! my dear, very unwell, very. They should +not leave me to myself so long, my dear. I thought you would +never come back,' and she began to cry, and say, 'no one cared +for an old woman.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia assured her that she was not going +away, and restrained her own eager and bewildered feelings to +tranquillize her, by prosing on in the lengthy manner which +always soothed the poor old lady. It was a great penance, in her +anxiety to investigate the mysteries that seemed to swarm in the +house, but at last she was able to leave the bedside, though not +till she had been twice summoned to tea.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy, lividly pale, was presiding with +trembling hands; Gilbert, flushed and nervous, waiting on every +one, and trying to be lively and at ease, but secret distress was +equally traceable in each.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She durst only ask after the children, and +heard that her little namesake had been as usual as good and +sweet as child could be. And Maurice?</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He's a famous fellow, went on capitally,' said +Gilbert.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, till yesterday,' hoarsely gasped Sophy, +sincerity wrenching out the protest by force.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah, what has he been doing to the +conservatory?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He let the little marble dog down from the +morning-room window with my netting silk; it fell, and made a +great hole,' said Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What, as a form of dawdling at his +lessons?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, but he has not been at all tiresome about +them except to-day and yesterday.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And he has told the exact truth,' said Mr. +Kendal, 'his gallant confession has earned the little cannon I +promised him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I believe,' said Albinia, 'that it would be +greater merit in Maurice to learn forbearance than to speak truth +and be praised for it. I have never seen his truth really +tried.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I value truth above all other qualities,' said +Mr. Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So do I,' said Albinia, 'and it is my greatest +joy in that little fellow; but some time or other it must cost +him something, or it will not be tested.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal did not like this, and repeated that +he must have his cannon. Albinia fancied that she heard something +like a groan from Gilbert.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When they broke up for the night, she threw her +arm round Sophy as they went upstairs, saying, 'My poor dear, you +look half dead. Have things been going very wrong?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Only these two days,' said Sophy, 'and I don't +know that they have either. I am glad you are come!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What kind of things?' said Albinia, following +her into her room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't ask,' at first began Sophy, but then, +frowning as if she could hardly speak, she added, 'I mean, I +don't know whether it is my own horrid way, or that there is +really an atmosphere of something I don't make out.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Didn't you tell me Lucy was at the Vicarage?' +said Albinia, suddenly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gilbert said yes, when I asked if she could be +with the Dusautoys,' said Sophy, 'when grandmamma wanted her and +she did not come. Mamma, please don't think of what I said, for +very likely it is only that I am cross, because of being left +alone with grandmamma so long this evening, and then Maurice +being slow at his lessons.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You are not cross, Sophy; you are worn out, +and perplexed, and unhappy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! not now you are come home,' and Sophy laid +her head on her shoulder and cried with relief and exhaustion. +Albinia caressed her, saying,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My trust, my mainstay, my poor Sophy! There, +go to bed and sleep, and don't think of it now. Only first tell +me one thing, is that Algernon at home?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No!' said Sophy, vehemently, 'certainly +not!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia breathed more freely.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Everybody,' said Sophy, collecting herself, +'has gone on well, Gilbert and Lucy have been as kind as could +be, and Maurice very good, but yesterday morning he went on in +his foolish way at lessons, and Gilbert took him out riding +before he had finished them. They came in very late, and I think +Maurice must have been overtired, for he was so idle this +morning, that I threatened to tell, and put him in mind of the +cannon papa promised him; but somehow I must have managed badly +for he only grew more defiant, and ended by letting the marble +dog out of window, so that it went through the roof of the +conservatory.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, of course it was your fault, or the +marble dog's,' said Albinia, smiling, and stroking her fondly. +'Ah! we ought to have come home at the fixed time, and not left +you to their mercy; but one could not hurry away from William, +when he was so much more sorry to leave us than we ever +expected.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! mamma, don't talk so! We were so glad. If +only we could help being such a nuisance!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia contrived to laugh, and withdrew, +intending to make a visit of inquiry to Lucy, but she could not +refuse herself the refreshment of a kiss to the little darling +who could have no guile to hide, no wrong to confess. She had +never so much realized the value of the certainty of innocence as +when she hung over the crib, and thought that when those dark +fringed lids were lifted, the eyes would flash with delight at +meeting her, without one drawback.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Suddenly a loud roar burst from the little room +next to Gilbert's, in which Maurice had lately been installed. +She hurried swiftly in that direction, but a passage and some +steps lay between, and Gilbert had been beforehand with +her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She heard the words, 'I don't care! I don't +care if it is manly! I will tell; I can't bear this!' then as his +brother seemed to be hushing him, he burst out again, 'I wouldn't +have minded if papa wouldn't give me the cannon, but he will, and +that's as bad as telling a lie!' I can't sleep if you wont let me +off my promise!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Trembling from head to foot, her voice low and +quivering with concentrated, incredulous wrath, Albinia advanced. +'Are you teaching my child falsehood?' she said; and Gilbert felt +as if her look were worse to him than a thousand +deaths.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'O mamma! mamma! Gilbert! let me tell her,' +cried the child; and Albinia, throwing herself on her knees, +clasped him in her arms, as though snatching him from the demon +of deceit.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Tell all, Maurice,' said Gilbert, folding his +arms; 'it is to your credit, if you would believe so. I shall be +glad to have this misery ended any way! It was all for the sake +of others.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mamma,' Maurice said, in the midst of these +mutterings of his unhappy brother, 'I can't have the cannon +without papa knowing it all. I couldn't shake hands with Uncle +Maurice for telling the truth, for I had not told it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And what is it, my boy?' tell me now, no one +can hinder you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I scratched and fought him--Mr. Cavendish +Dusautoy--I kicked down the decanter of wine. They told me it was +manly not to tell, and I promised.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was crying with the exceeding pain and +distress of a child whose tears were rare, and Albinia rocked him +in her arms.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert cautiously shut the door, and said +sadly, 'Maurice behaved nobly, if he would only believe so. You +would be proud of your son if you had seen him. They wanted to +make him drink wine, and he was fighting them off.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And where were you, Gilbert, you to whom I +trusted him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I could not help it,' said Gilbert; then as +her lip curled with contempt, and her eye spoke disappointment, +he cast himself on the ground, exclaiming, 'Oh, if you knew how I +have been mixed up with others, and what I have gone through, you +would pity me. Oh, Maurice, don't cry, when I would give worlds +to be like you. Why do you let him cry? why don't you tell him +what a brave noble boy he is?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know what to think or believe,' said +Albinia, coldly, but returning vehemently to her child, she +continued, 'Maurice, my dear, no one is angry with you! You, at +least, I can depend on. Tell me where you have been, and what +they have been doing to you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Even with Gilbert's explanations, she could +hardly understand Maurice's narrative, but she gathered that on +Thursday, the brothers had ridden out, and were about to turn +homewards, when Archie Tritton, of whom to her vexation Maurice +spoke familiarly, had told Gilbert that a friend was waiting for +him at the inn connected with the training stables, three miles +farther on. Gilbert had demurred, but was told the matter would +brook no delay, and yielded on being pressed. He tried to +suppress the friend's name, but Maurice had called him Mr. +Cavendish Dusautoy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">While Gilbert was engaged with him, Tritton had +introduced Maurice to the horses and stable boys, whose trade had +inspired him with such emulation, that he broke off in the midst +of his confession to ask whether he could be a jockey and also a +gentleman. All this had detained them till so late, that they had +been drawn into staying to dinner. Maurice had gone on very +happily, secure that he was right in Gilbert's hands, and only +laying up a few curious words for explanation; but when he was +asked to drink wine, he stoutly answered that mamma did not allow +it.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Idle mischief prompted Dusautoy and Tritton to +set themselves to overpower his resistance. Gilbert's feeble +remonstrances were treated as a jest, and Algernon, who could +brook no opposition, swore that he would conquer the little prig. +Maurice found himself pinioned by strong arms, but determined and +spirited, he made a vigorous struggle, and so judiciously aimed a +furious kick, that Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy staggered back, +stumbling against the table, and causing a general +overthrow.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The victory was with Maurice, but warned as he +had often been against using his natural weapons, he thought +himself guilty of a great crime. The others, including, alas! +Gilbert, strove to persuade him it was a joke, and, above all, to +bind him to silence, for Tritton and Dusautoy would never have +ventured so far, could they have imagined the possibility of such +terms as those on which he lived with his parents. They attacked +the poor child on the score of his manly aspirations, telling him +it was babyish to tell mamma and sisters everything, a practice +fit for girls, not for boys or men. These assurances extracted a +pledge of secrecy, which was kept as long as his mother was +absent, and only rendered him reckless by the sense that he had +forfeited the prize of good conduct; but the sight of her renewed +the instinct of confidence, and his father's reliance on his +truth so acted on his sense of honour, that he could not hold his +peace.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'May I tell papa? and will he let me have the +cannon?' he finished.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You shall certainly tell him, my dear, dear +little boy, and we will see what he says about the cannon,' she +said, fervently kissing him. 'It will be some comfort for him to +hear how you have behaved, my precious little man. I thank God +with all my heart that He has saved you from putting anything +before truth. I little thought I was leaving you to a +tempter!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The child did not fully understand her. His was +a very simple nature, and he was tired out by conflicting +emotions. His breast was relieved, and his mother caressed him; +he cared for nothing more, and drawing her hand so as to rest his +cheek on it, he looked up in her face with soft weary happiness +in his eyes, then let the lids sink over them, and fell +peacefully asleep, while the others talked on. 'At least you will +do me the poor justice of believing it was not willingly,' said +Gilbert.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wish you would not talk to me,' she +answered, averting her face and speaking low as if to cut the +heart; 'I don't want to reproach you, and I can't speak to you +properly.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If you would only hear me, my only friend and +helper! But it was all that was wanting! I have forfeited even +your toleration! I wonder why I was born!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was taking up his light to depart, but +Albinia's fear of her own temper made her suspect that she had +spoken vindictively, and she said, 'What can I do, Gilbert? Here +is this poor child, whom I trusted to you, who can never again be +ignorant of the sound of evil words, and only owes it to God's +mercy on his brave spirit that this has not been the beginning of +destruction. I feel as if you had been trying to snatch away his +soul!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And will you, can you not credit,' said +Gilbert, nearly inaudibly, 'that I did not act by my free will? I +had no notion that any such thing could befall him, and would +never have let them try to silence him, but to shield +others.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Others! Yes, Archie Tritton and Algernon +Dusautoy! I know what your free-will is in their hands, and yet I +thought you cared for your brother enough to guard him, if not +yourself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If you knew the coercion,' muttered Gilbert. +'I protest, as I would to my dying day, that I had no intention +of going near the stables when I set out, and would never have +consented could I have helped it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And why could not you help it?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert gasped. 'Tritton brought me a message +from Dusautoy, insisting on my meeting him there. It was too late +to take Maurice home, and I could not send him with Archie. I +expected only to exchange a few words at the door. It was Tritton +who took Maurice away to the stables.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hear, but I do not see the compulsion, only +the extraordinary weakness that leads you everywhere after those +men.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I must tell you, I suppose,' groaned Gilbert; +'I can bear anything but this. There's a miserable money +entanglement that lays me under a certain obligation to +Dusautoy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Your father believed you had told him of all +your debts,' she said, in a tone of increased scorn and +disappointment.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I did--I mean--Oh! Mrs. Kendal, believe me, I +intended to have told him the utmost farthing--I thought I had +done so--but this was a thing--Dusautoy had persuaded me into +half consenting to have some wine with him from a cheating +Portuguese--then ordered more than ever I knew of, and the man +went and became bankrupt, and sent in a great abominable bill +that I no more owned, nor had reason to expect than my +horse.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So you preferred intriguing with this man to +applying openly to your father?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was no doing of mine. It was forced upon +me, and, in fact, the account was mixed up with his. It was the +most evil hour of my life when I consented. I've not had a +moment's peace or happiness since, and it was the promise of the +bill receipted that led me to this place.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And why was this place chosen for the meeting? +You and Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy live only too near one +another.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He is not at the Vicarage,' faltered +Gilbert.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia suddenly grew pale with apprehension. +'Gilbert,' she said, 'there is only one thing that could make +this business worse;' and as she saw his change of countenance, +she continued, 'Then it is so, and Lucy is his +object.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He did not speak, but his face was that of a +convicted traitor, and fresh perceptions crowded on her, as she +exclaimed, horror struck, 'The ink! Yes, when you said she was +with the Dusautoys! I understand! He has been in hiding, he has +been here! And this expedition was to arrange a clandestine +meeting between them under your father's own roof! You conniving! +you who said you would sooner see your sister sold to +Legree!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is all true,' said Gilbert, moodily, his +elbows on the table and his face in his hands, 'and if the utmost +misery for weeks past could be any atonement, it would be mine. +But at least I have done nothing willingly to bring them +together. I have only gone on in the hope and trust that I was +some protection to poor Lucy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Fine protection,' sighed Albinia. 'And how has +it been? how does it stand?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why, they met at Brighton, I believe. She used +to walk on the chain pier before breakfast, and he met her there. +If he chooses, he can make any one do what he likes, because he +does not understand no for an answer. Then when she came home, he +used to meet her on the bridge, when you sent her out for a turn +in the evening, and sometimes she would make me take her out +walking to meet him. Don't you see how utterly miserable it was +for me; when they had volunteered this help all out of kindness, +it was impossible for me to speak to you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia made a sound of contempt, and said, 'Go +on.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That time when you and Mr. Hope saw them, Lucy +was frightened, and they had a quarrel, he went away, and I hoped +and trusted it had died out. I heard no more till yesterday, when +I was dragged into giving him this meeting. It seems that he had +only just discovered your absence, and wanted to take the +opportunity of seeing her. I was in hopes you would have come +back; I assured him you would; but he chose to watch, till +evening, and then Lucy was to meet him in the conservatory. Poor +Lucy, you must not be very angry with her, for she was much +averse to it, and I enclosed a letter from her to forbid him to +come. I thought all was safe, till I actually heard their voices, +and grandmamma got into an agitation, and Sophy was running about +wild to find Lucy. When you came home, papa's opening the door +frightened Lucy, and it seems that Dusautoy thought that she was +going to faint and scream, and laid hold of the ink instead of +the eau-de-cologne. There! I believe the ink would have betrayed +it without me. Now you have heard everything, Mrs. Kendal, and +can believe there is not a more wretched and miserable creature +breathing than I am.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia slowly rose, and put her hand to her +brow, as though confused with the tissue of deceit and double +dealing.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! Mrs. Kendal, will you not speak to me?' I +solemnly declare that I have told you all.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am thinking of your father.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">With a gesture of acquiescent anguish and +despair, he let her pass, held open the door, and closed it +softly, so as not to awaken the happy sleeper.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Good night,' she said, coldly, and turned +away, but his mournful, resigned 'Good night,' was so utterly +broken down that her heart was touched, and turning she said, +'Good night, Gilbert, I am sorry for you; I believe it is +weakness and not wickedness.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She held out her hand, but instead of being +shaken, it was pressed to his lips, and the fingers were wet with +his tears.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Feeling as though the bad dreams of a night had +taken shape and life, Albinia stood by the fire in her +sitting-room the next morning, trying to rally her judgment, and +equally dreading the sight of those who had caused her grief, and +of those who would share the shock she had last night +experienced.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The first knock announced one whom she did not +expect--Gilbert, wretchedly pale from a sleepless night, and his +voice scarcely audible.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I beg your pardon,' he said; 'but I thought I +might have led you to be hard on Lucy: I do believe it was +against her will.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Before she could answer, the door flew wide, +and in rushed Maurice, shouting, 'Good morning, mamma;' and at +his voice Mr. Kendal's dressing-room door was pushed back, and he +called, 'Here, Maurice.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">As the boy ran forward, he was met and lifted +to his father's breast, while, with a fervency he little +understood, though he never forgot it, the words were +uttered,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'God bless you, Maurice, and give you grace to +go on to withstand temptation, and speak the truth from your +heart!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice was impressed for a moment, then he +recurred to his leading thought--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'May I have the cannon, papa? I did kick--I +broke the bottle, but may I have the cannon?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Maurice, you are too young to understand the +value of your resistance. Listen to me, my boy, for you must +never forget this: you have been taken among persons who, I +trust, will never be your companions.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh!' interrupted Maurice, 'must I never be a +jockey?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, Maurice. Horses are perverted to bad +purposes by thoughtless men, and you must keep aloof from such. +You were not to blame, for you refused to do what you knew to be +wrong, and did not know it was an improper place for +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gilbert took me,' said Maurice, puzzled at the +gravity, which convinced him that some one was in fault, and of +course it must be himself.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gilbert did very wrong,' said Mr. Kendal, 'and +henceforth you must learn that you must trust to your own +conscience, and no longer believe that all your brother tells you +is right.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice gazed in inquiry, and perceiving his +brother's downcast air, ran to his mother, crying, 'Is papa +angry?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Gilbert, willing to spare her the +pain of a reply, 'he is justly angry with me for having exposed +you to temptation. Oh, Maurice, if I had been made such as you, +it would have been better for us all!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was the first perception that a grown person +could do wrong, and that person his dear Gilbert. As if the grave +countenances were insupportable, he gave a long-drawn breath, hid +his face on his mother's knee, and burst into an agony of +weeping. He was lifted on her lap in a moment, father and mother +both comforting him with assurances that he was a very good boy, +and that papa was much pleased with him, Mr. Kendal even putting +the cannon into his hand, as a tangible evidence of favour; but +the child thrust aside the toy, and sliding down, took hold of +his brother's languid, dejected hand, and cried, with a sob and +stamp of his foot,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You shan't say you are naughty: I wont let +you!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Alas! it was a vain repulsion of the truth that +this is a wicked world. Gilbert only put him back, +saying,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You had better go away from me, Maurice: you +cannot understand what I have done. Pray Heaven yon may never +know what I feel!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice did but cling the tighter, and though +Mr. Kendal had not yet addressed the culprit, he respected the +force of that innocent love too much to interfere. The bell rang, +and they went down, Maurice still holding by his brother, and +when his uncle met them, it was touching to see the generous +little fellow hanging back, and not giving his own hand till he +had seen Gilbert receive the ordinary greeting.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Though Mr. Ferrars had been told nothing, he +could not but be aware of the symptoms of a family crisis--the +gravity of some, and the pale, jaded looks of others. Lucy was +not one of these; she came down with little Albinia in her arms, +and began to talk rather airily, excusing herself for not having +come down in the evening because that 'horrid ink' had got into +her hair, and tittering a little over the absurdity of her having +picked up the inkstand in the dark. Not a word of response did +she meet, and her gaiety died away in vague alarm. Sophy, the +most innocent, looked wretched, and Maurice absolutely began to +cry again, at the failure of some manoeuvre to make his father +speak to Gilbert.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">His tears broke up the breakfast-party. His +mother led him away to reason with him, that, sad as it was, it +was better that people should be grieved when they had +transgressed, as the only hope of their forgiveness and +improvement. Maurice wanted her to reverse the declaration that +Gilbert had done wrong; but, alas! this could not be, and she was +obliged to send him out with his little sister, hoping that he +would work off his grief by exercise. It was mournful to see the +first shadow of the penalty of sin falling on the Eden of his +childhood!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">With an aching heart, she went in search of +Lucy, who had taken sanctuary in Mrs. Meadows's room, and was not +easily withdrawn from thence to a <i>tete-a-tete</i>. Fearful of +falsehood, Albinia began by telling her she knew all, and how +little she had expected such a requital of trust.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy exclaimed that it had not been her fault, +she had always wanted to tell, and gradually Albinia drew from +her the whole avowal, half shamefaced, half exultant.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She had never dreamt of meeting Algernon at +Brighton--it was quite by chance that she came upon him at the +officers' ball when he was staying with Captain Greenaway. He +asked her to dance, and she had said yes, all on a sudden, +without thinking, and then she fancied he would go away; she +begged him not to come again, but whenever she went out on the +chain-pier before breakfast, there he was.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Why did she go thither? She hung her head. Mrs. +Annesley had desired her to walk; she could not help it; she was +afraid to write and tell what was going on--besides, he would +come, though she told him she would not see him; and she could +not bear to make him unhappy. Then, when she came home, she had +been in hopes it was all over, but she had been very unhappy, and +had been on the point of telling all about it many times, when +mamma looked at her kindly; but then he came to the Vicarage, and +he would wait for her at the bridge, and write notes to her, and +she could not stop it; but she had always told him it was no use, +she never would be engaged to him without papa's consent. She had +only promised that she would not marry any one else, only because +he was so very desperate, and she was afraid to break it off +entirely, lest he should go and marry the Principessa Bianca, a +foreigner and Papist, which would be so shocking for him and his +uncle. Gilbert could testify how grieved she was to have any +secrets from mamma; but Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy was so dreadful +when she talked of telling, that she did not know what would +happen.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When he went away, and she thought it was all +over--mamma might recollect how hard it was for her to keep up, +and what a force she put upon herself--but she would rather have +pined to death than have said one word to bring him back, and was +quite shocked when Gilbert gave her his note, to beg her to let +him see her that evening, before the party returned; she said, +with all her might, that he must not come, and when he did, she +was begging him all the time to go away, and she was so +dreadfully frightened when they actually came, that she had all +but gone into hysterics, or fainted away, and that was the way he +came to throw the ink at her--she was so very much shocked, and +so would he be--and really she felt the misfortune to the +beautiful new sofa-cover as a most serious calamity and +aggravation of her offence.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was not easy to know how to answer; Albinia +was scornful of the sofa-cover, and yet it was hard to lay hold +of a tangible subject on which to show Lucy her error, except in +the concealment, which, by her own showing, she had lamented the +whole time. She had always said no, but, unluckily, her noes were +of the kind that might easily be made to mean yes, and she +evidently had been led on partly by her own heart, partly by the +force of the stronger will, though her better principles had +filled her with scruples and misgivings at every stage. She had +been often on the point of telling all, and asking forgiveness; +and here it painfully crossed Albinia, that if she herself had +been less hurried, and less disposed to take everything for +granted, a little tenderness might have led to a voluntary +confession.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Still Lucy defended herself by the compulsion +exercised on her, and she would hear none of the conclusions +Albinia drew therefrom; she would not see that the man who drove +her to a course of disobedience and subterfuge could be no fit +guide, and fired up at a word of censure, declaring that she knew +that mamma had always hated him, and that now he was absent, she +would not hear him blamed. The one drop of true love made her +difficult to deal with, for the heart was really made over to the +tyrant, and Albinia did not feel herself sufficiently guiltless +of negligence and imprudence to rebuke her with a comfortable +conscience.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal had been obliged to attend to some +justice business--better for him, perhaps, than acting as +domestic magistrate--and meanwhile the Vicar of Fairmead found +himself forgotten. He wanted to be at home, yet did not like to +leave his sister in unexplained trouble, though not sure whether +he might not be better absent.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Time passed on, he finished the newspaper, and +wrote letters, and then, seeing no one, he had gone into the hall +to send for a conveyance, when Gilbert, coming in from the +militia parade, became the recipient of his farewells, but +apparently with so little comprehension, that he broke off, +struck by the dejected countenance, and wandering eye.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I beg your pardon,' Gilbert said, passing his +hand over his brow, 'I did not hear.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I was only asking you to tell my sister that I +would not disturb her, and leaving my good-byes with +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You are not going?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thank you; I think my wife will grow +anxious.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I had hoped'--Gilbert sighed and paused--'I +had thought that perhaps--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The wretchedness of his tone drove away Mr. +Ferrars's purpose of immediate departure, and returning to the +drawing-room he said, 'If there were any way in which I could be +of use.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then you do not know?' said Gilbert, veiling +his face with his hand, as he leant on the +mantel-shelf.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I know nothing. I could only see that +something was amiss. I was wishing to know whether my presence or +absence would be best for you all.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! don't go!' cried Gilbert. Nobody must go +who can be any comfort to Mrs. Kendal.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">A few kind words drew forth the whole piteous +history that lay so heavily on his heart. Reserves were all over +now; and irregularly and incoherently he laid open his griefs and +errors, his gradual absorption into the society with which he had +once broken, and the inextricable complication of mischief in +which he had been involved by his debt.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yet,' he said, 'all the time I longed from my +heart to do well. It was the very thing that led me into this +scrape. I thought if the man applied to my father, as he +threatened, that I should be suspected of having concealed this +on purpose, and be sent to India, and I was so happy, and thought +myself so safe here. I did believe that home and Mrs. Kendal +would have sheltered me, but my destiny must needs hunt me out +here, and alienate even her!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The way to find the Devil behind the Cross, is +to cower beneath it in weak idolatry, instead of grasping it in +courageous faith,' said Mr. Ferrars. 'Such faith would have made +you trust yourself implicitly to your father. Then you would +either have gone forth in humble acceptance of the punishment, or +else have stayed at home, free, pardoned, and guarded; but, as it +was, no wonder temptation followed you, and you had no force to +resist it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And so all is lost! Even dear little Maurice +can never be trusted to me again! And his mother, who would, if +she could, be still merciful and pitying as an angel, she cannot +forget to what I exposed him! She will never be the same to me +again! Yet I could lay down my life for any of them!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars watched the drooping figure, +crouching on his chairs, elbows on knees, head bowed on the +supporting hands, and face hidden, and, listening to the meek, +affectionate hopelessness of the tone, he understood the fond +love and compassion that had often surprised him in his sister, +but he longed to read whether this were penitence towards God, or +remorse towards man.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Miserable indeed, Gilbert,' he said, 'but if +all were irretrievably offended, there still is One who can +abundantly pardon, where repentance is true.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I thought'--cried Gilbert--'I thought it had +been true before! If pain, and shame, and abhorrence could so +render it, I know it was when I came home. And then it was +comparative happiness; I thought I was forgiven, I found joy and +peace where they are promised'--the burning tears dropped between +his fingers--but it was all delusion; not prayers nor sacraments +can shield me--I am doomed, and all I ask is to be out of the way +of ruining Maurice!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'This is mere despair,' said Mr. Ferrars. 'I +cannot but believe your contrition was sincere; but steadfast +courage was what you needed, and you failed in the one trial that +may have been sent you to strengthen and prove you. The effects +have been terrible, but there is every hope that you may retrieve +your error, and win back the sense of forgiveness.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If I could dare to hope so--but I cannot +presume to take home to myself those assurances, when I know that +I only resolve, that I may have resolutions to break.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Have you ever laid all this personally before +Mr. Dusautoy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No; I have thought of it, but, mixed up as +this is with his nephew and my sister, it is impossible! But you +are a clergyman, Mr. Ferrars!' he added, eagerly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars thought, and then said,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If you wish it, Gilbert, I will gladly do what +I can for you. I believe that I may rightly do so.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">His face gleamed for a moment with the light of +grateful gladness, as if at the first ray of comfort, and then he +said, 'I am sure none was ever more grieved and wearied with the +burden of sin--if that be all.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think,' said Mr. Ferrars, 'that it might be +better to give time to collect yourself, examine the past, +separate the sorrow for the sin from the disgrace of the +consequences, and then look earnestly at the sole ground of hope. +How would it be to come for a couple of nights to Fairmead, at +the end of next week?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert gratefully caught at the invitation; +and Mr. Ferrars gave him some advice as to his reading and +self-discipline, speaking to him as gently and tenderly as +Albinia herself. Both lingered in case the other should have more +to say, but at last Gilbert stood up, saying,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I would thankfully go to Calcutta now, but the +situation is filled up, and my father said John Kendal had been +enough trifled with. If I saw any fresh opening, where I should +be safe from hurting Maurice!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There is no reason you and your brother should +not be a blessing to each other.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, there is. Till I lived at home, I did not +know how impossible it is to keep clear of old acquaintance. They +are good-natured fellows--that Tritton and the like--and after +all that has come and gone, one would be a brute to cut them +entirely, and Maurice is always after me, and has been more about +with them than his mother knows. Even if I were very different, I +should be a link, and though it might be no great harm if Maurice +were a tame mamma's boy--you see, being the fellow he is, up to +anything for a lark, and frantic about horses--I could never keep +him from them. There's no such great harm in themselves--hearty, +good-natured fellows they are--but there's a worse lot that they +meet, and Maurice will go all lengths whenever he begins. Now, so +little as he is now, if I were once gone, he would never run into +their way, and they would never get a hold of him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars had unconsciously screwed up his +face with dismay, but he relaxed it, and spoke kindly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You are right. It was a mistake to stay at +home. Perhaps your regiment may be stationed +elsewhere.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know how long it may be called out. If +it were but possible to make a fresh beginning.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Did you hear of my brother's +suggestion?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wish--but it is useless to talk about that. +I could not presume to ask my father for a commission--Heaven +knows when I shall dare to speak to him!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You have not personally asked his pardon after +full confession.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'N-o--Mrs. Kendal knows all.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Did you ever do such a thing in your +life?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You don't know what my father is.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Neither do you, Gilbert. Let that be the first +token of sincerity.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Without leaving space for another word, Mr. +Ferrars went through the conservatory into the garden, where, +meeting the children, he took the little one in his arms, and +sent Maurice to fetch his mamma. Albinia came down, looking so +much heated and harassed, that he was grieved to leave +her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, Maurice, I am sorry! You always come in +for some catastrophe,' she said, trying to smile. 'You have had a +most forlorn morning.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gilbert has been with me,' he said. 'He has +told me all, my dear, and I think it hopeful: I like him better +than I ever did before.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor feather, the breath of your lips has +blown him the other way,' said Albinia, too unhappy for +consolation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, it seems to me that you have done more +for him than I ever quite believed. I did not expect such sound, +genuine religious feeling.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He always had plenty of religious sentiment,' +said Albinia, sadly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have asked him to come to us next week. Will +you tell Edmund so?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes. He will be thankful to you for taking him +in hand. Poor boy, I know how attractive his penitence is, but I +have quite left off building on it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars defended him no longer. He could +not help being much moved by the youth's self-abasement, but that +might be only because it was new to him, and he did not even try +to recommend him to her mercy; he knew her own heart might be +trusted to relent, and it would not hurt Gilbert in the end to be +made to feel the full weight of his offence.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I must go,' he said, 'though I am sorry to +leave you in perplexity. I am afraid I can do nothing for +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nothing--but feel kindly to Gilbert,' said +Albinia. 'I can't do so yet. I don't feel as if I ever could +again, when I think what he was doing with Maurice. Yes, and how +easily he could have brought poor Lucy to her senses, if he had +been good for anything! Oh! Maurice, this is sickening work! You +should be grateful to me for not scolding you for having taken me +from home!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do not repent,' said her brother. 'The +explosion is better than the subterranean mining.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It may be,' said Albinia, 'and I need not +boast of the good I did at home! My poor, poor Lucy! A little +discreet kindness and watchfulness on my part would have made all +the difference! It was all my running my own way with my eyes +shut, but then, I had always lived with trustworthy people. Well, +I wont keep you listening to my maundering, when Winifred wants +you. Oh! why did that Polysyllable ever come near the +place?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars said the kindest and most cheering +things he could devise, and drove away, not much afraid of her +being unforgiving.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was disposed to stake all his hopes of the +young man on the issue of his advice to make a direct avowal to +his father. And Gilbert made the effort, though rather in +desperation than resolution, knowing that his condition could not +be worse, and seeing no hope save in Mr. Ferrars' counsel. He was +the first to seek Mr. Kendal, and dreadful to him as was the +unaltering melancholy displeasure of the fixed look, the steadily +penetrating deep dark eyes, and the subdued sternness of the +voice, he made his confession fully, without reserve or +palliation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was more than Mr. Kendal had expected, and +more, perhaps, than he absolutely trusted, for Gilbert had not +hitherto inspired faith in his protestations that he spoke the +whole truth and nothing but the truth, nor had he always the +power of doing so when overpowered by fright. The manner in which +his father laid hold of any inadvertent discrepancy, treating it +as a wilful prevarication, was terror and agony; and well as he +knew it to be the meed of past equivocation, he felt it cruel to +torture him by implied suspicion. Yet how could it be otherwise, +when he had been introducing his little brother to his own +corrupters, and conniving at his sister's clandestine +correspondence with a man whom he knew to be +worthless?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The grave words that he obtained at last, +scarcely amounted to pardon; they implied that he had done +irreparable mischief and acted disgracefully, and such +forgiveness as was granted was only made conditional on there +being no farther reserves.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Alas! even with all tender love and compassion, +no earthly parent can forgive as does the Heavenly Father. None +but the Omniscient can test the fulness of the confession, nor +the sincerity of 'Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before +Thee, and am no more worthy to be called Thy son.' This interview +only sent the son away more crushed and overwhelmed, and yearning +towards the more deeply offended, and yet more compassionate +Father.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal, after this interview, so far +relaxed his displeasure as to occasionally address Gilbert when +they met at luncheon after this deplorable morning, while towards +Lucy he observed a complete silence. It was not at first that she +perceived this, and even then it struck more deeply on Sophia +than it did on her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal shrank from inflicting pain on the +good vicar, and it was decided that the wives should be the +channel through which the information should be imparted. Albinia +took the children, sending them to play in the garden while she +talked to Mrs. Dusautoy. She found that keen little lady had some +shrewd suspicions, but had discovered nothing defined enough to +act upon, and was relieved to have the matter opened at +last.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">As to the ink, no mortal could help laughing +over it; even Albinia, who had been feeling as if she could never +laugh again, was suddenly struck by the absurdity, and gave way +to a paroxysm of merriment.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Properly managed, I do think it might put an +end to the whole affair,' said Mrs. Dusautoy. 'He could not stand +being laughed at.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm afraid he never will believe that he can +be laughed at.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, that is unlucky,' said Mrs. Dusautoy, +gravely; but recollecting that she was not complimentary, she +added, 'You must not think we undervalue Lucy. John is very fond +of her, and the only objection is, that it would require a person +of more age and weight to deal with Algernon.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Never mind speeches,' sighed Albinia; 'we know +too well that nothing could be worse for either. Can't you give +him a tutor and send him to travel.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'll talk to John; but unluckily he is of age +next month, and there's an end of our power. And John would never +keep him away from hence, for he thinks it his only +chance.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I suppose we must do something with Lucy. +Heigh-ho! People used not to be always falling in love in my +time, except Fred, and that was in a rational way; that could be +got rid of!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The effect of the intelligence on the vicar was +to make him set out at once to the livery-stables in quest of his +nephew, but he found that the young gentleman had that morning +started for London, whither he proposed to follow him on the +Monday. Lucy cried incessantly, in the fear that the +gentle-hearted vicar might have some truculent intentions towards +his nephew, and was so languid and unhappy that no one had the +heart to scold her; and comforting her was still more +impossible.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal used to stride away from the sight +of her swollen eyes, and ask Albinia why she did not tell her +that the only good thing that could happen to her would be, that +she should never see nor hear of the fellow again.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Why he did not tell her so himself was a +different question.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XXIV.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, Albinia,' said Mr. Kendal, after seeing +Mr. Dusautoy on his return from London.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was such a look of deprecation about him, +that she exclaimed, 'One would really think you had been +accepting this charming son-in-law.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Suppose I had,' he said, rather quaintly; +then, as he saw her hands held up, 'conditionally, you +understand, entirely conditionally. What could I do, when +Dusautoy entreated me, with tears in his eyes, not to deprive him +of the only chance of saving his nephew?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Umph,' was the most innocent sound Albinia +could persuade herself to make.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Besides,' continued Mr. Kendal, 'it will be +better to have the affair open and avowed than to have all this +secret plotting going on without being able to prevent it. I can +always withhold my consent if he should not improve, and Dusautoy +declares nothing would be such an incentive.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'May it prove so!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You see,' he pursued, 'as his uncle says, +nothing can be worse than driving him to these resorts, and when +he is once of age, there's an end of all power over him to hinder +his running straight to ruin. Now, when he is living at the +Vicarage, we shall have far more opportunity of knowing how he is +going on, and putting a check on their intercourse, if he be +unsatisfactory.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If we can.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'After all, the young man has done nothing that +need blight his future life. He has had great disadvantages, and +his steady attachment is much in his favour. His uncle tells me +he promises to become all that we could wish, and, in that case, +I do not see that I have the right to refuse the offer, when +things have gone so far--conditionally, of course.' He dwelt on +that saving clause like a salve for his misgivings.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And what is to become of Gilbert and Maurice, +with him always about the house?' exclaimed Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We will take care he is not too much here. He +will soon be at Oxford. Indeed, my dear, I am sorry you +disapprove. I should have been as glad to avoid the connexion as +you could be, but I do not think I had any alternative, when Mr. +Dusautoy pressed me so warmly, and only asked that he should be +taken on probation; and besides, when poor Lucy's affections are +so decidedly involved.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia perceived that there had been temper in +her tone, and could object no further, since it was too late, and +as she could not believe that her husband had been weak, she +endeavoured to acquiesce in his reasoning, and it was a strong +argument that they should see Lucy bright again.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I suppose,' he said, 'that you would prefer +that I should announce my decision to her myself!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was a more welcome task than spreading gloom +over her countenance, but she entered in great trepidation, +prepared to sink under some stern mandate, and there was nothing +at first to undeceive her, for her father was resolved to atone +for his concession by sparing her no preliminary thunders, and +began by depicting her indiscretion and deceit, as well as the +folly of attaching herself to a man without other recommendations +than figure and fortune.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">How much Lucy heard was uncertain; she leant on +a chair with drooping head and averted face, trembling, and +suppressing a sob, apparently too much frightened to attend. Just +when the exordium was over, and 'Therefore I lay my commands on +you' might have been expected, it turned into, 'However, upon Mr. +Dusautoy's kind representation, I have resolved to give the young +man a trial, and provided he convinces me by his conduct that I +may safely entrust your happiness to him, I have told his uncle +that I will not withhold my sanction.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">With a shriek of irrepressible feeling, Lucy +looked from father to mother, and clasped her hands, unable to +trust her ears.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, Lucy,' said Albinia, 'your father +consents, on condition that nothing further happens to excite his +doubts of Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy. It rests with yourself now, it +is not too late. After all that has passed, you would incur much +deserved censure if you put an end to the affair; but even that +would be better, far better, than entering into an engagement +with a man without sound principle.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Your mother is quite right, Lucy,' said Mr. +Kendal. 'This is the only time. Gratified vanity has led you too +far, and you have acted as I hoped no child of mine would ever +act, but you have not forfeited our tenderest care. You are not +engaged to this man, and no word of yours would be broken. If you +hesitate to commit yourself to him, you have only to speak, and +we would gladly at once do everything that could conduce to make +you happy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You don't want me to give him up!' cried Lucy. +'Oh! mamma, did not he say he had consented?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I said it rested with yourself Lucy. Do not +answer me now. Come to me at six o'clock, and tell me, after full +reflection, whether I am to consider you as ready to pledge +yourself to this young man.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was all that could be done. Albinia had a +dim hope that the sense of responsibility, and dread of that hard +will and selfish temper, might so rise upon Lucy as to startle +her, but then, as Mr. Kendal observed, if she should decide +against him, she would have used him so extremely ill, that they +should feel nothing but shame.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Albinia, 'but it would be better to +be ashamed of a girl's folly, than to see her made miserable for +life. Poor Lucy! if she decide against him, she will become a +woman at once, if not, I'm afraid it will be the prediction about +Marie Antoinette over again--very gay, and coming right through +trial.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They were obliged to tell Sophy of the state of +things. She stood up straight, and said, slowly and clearly, 'I +do not like the world at all.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't quite see what you mean.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Every one does what can't be helped, and it is +not <i>the</i> thing.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Explain yourself, Sophy,' said her father, +amused.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't think Lucy ought to be making the +decision at all,' said Sophy. She did that long ago, when first, +she attended to what he said to her. If she does not take him +now, it will be swearing to her neighbour, and disappointing him, +because it is to her own hindrance.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, Sophy; but I believe it is better to +incur the sin of breaking a promise, than to go on when the +fulfilment involves not only suffering, but mischief. Lucy has +repeatedly declared there was no engagement.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I know it could not be helped; but Mr. +Dusautoy ought not to have asked papa.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nor papa to have consented, my Suleiman ben +Daood,' said Mr. Kendal. 'Ah! Sophy, we all have very clear, +straightforward views at eighteen of what other people ought to +do.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Papa--I never meant--I did not think I was +saying anything wrong. I only said I did not like the +world.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And I heartily agree with you, Sophy, and if I +had lived in it as short a time as you have, perhaps +"considerations" would not affect my judgment.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am always telling Sophy she will be more +merciful as she grows older,' said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If it were only being more merciful, it would +be very well,' said Mr. Kendal; 'but one also becomes less +thorough-going, because practice is more painful than theory, and +one remembers consequences that have made themselves felt. It is +just as well that there should be young people to put us in mind +what our flights once were.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia and Sophy left Lucy to herself; they +both wished to avoid the useless 'What shall I do?' and they +thought that, driven back on her own resources, even <i>her</i> +own mind might give her better counsel than the seven watchmen +aloft in a high tower.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She came down looking exceedingly pale. Mr. +Kendal regarded her anxiously, and held his hand out to her +kindly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Papa,' she said, simply, 'I can't give it up. +I do love him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very well, my dear,' he answered, 'there is no +more to be said than that I trust he will merit your affection +and make you happy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Good Mr. Dusautoy was as happy as a king; he +took Lucy in his arms, and kissed her as if she had been his +child, and with her hands folded in his own, he told her how she +was to teach his dear Algernon to be everything that was good, +and to lead him right by her influence. She answered with +caresses and promises, and whoever had watched her eye, would +have seen it in a happy day-dream of Algernon's perfection, and +his uncle thanking her for it.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She had expected that grandmamma would have +been very happy; but marriage had, with the poor old lady, led to +so much separation, that her weakened faculties took the alarm, +and she received the tidings by crying bitterly, and declaring +that every one was going away and leaving her. Lucy assured her +over and over again that she was never going to desert her, and +as Mr. Kendal had made it a condition that Algernon should finish +his Oxford career respectably, there was little chance that poor +Mrs. Meadows would survive until the marriage.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">All along Gilbert made no remark. Though he had +been left out of the family conclaves, and his opinion not asked, +he submitted with the utmost meekness, as one who knew that he +had forfeited all right to be treated as son and heir. The more +he was concerned at the engagement, the greater stigma he would +place on his own connivance; so he said nothing, and only devoted +himself to his grandmother, as though the attendance upon her +were a refuge and relief. More gentle and patient than ever, he +soothed her fretfulness, invented pleasures for her, and rendered +her so placid and contented, that her health began to +improve.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Not for a moment did he seem to forget his +error; and Albinia's resolution to separate Maurice from him, +could not hold when he himself silently assumed the mournful +necessity, and put the child from him when clamorous for rides, +till there was an appeal to papa and mamma. Mr. Kendal gave one +look of inquiry at Albinia, and she began some matter-of-course +about Gilbert being so kind--whereupon the brothers were together +as before. When Albinia visited her little boy at night, she +found that Gilbert had been talking to him of his eldest brother, +and she heard more of Edmund's habits and tastes from the little +fellow who had never seen him, than from either the twin-brother +or the sister who had loved him so devotedly. It was as if +Gilbert knew that he could be doing Maurice no harm when leading +him to think of Edmund, and perhaps he felt some intrinsic +resemblance in the deep loving strength of the two +natures.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The invitation to Fairmead spared him the pain +and shame of Algernon Dusautoy's first reception as Lucy's +accepted lover. He went early on Saturday morning, and young +Dusautoy, arriving in the evening, was first ushered into the +library; while Albinia did her best to soothe the excited nerves +and fluttering spirits of Lucy, who was exceedingly ashamed to +meet him again under the eyes of others, after such a course of +stolen interviews, and what she had been told of her influence +doing him good only alarmed her the more.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Well she might, for if ever character resembled +that of the iron pot borne down the stream in company with the +earthen one, it was the object of her choice. Poor pipkin that +Gilbert was, the contact had cost him a smashing blow, and for +all clay of the more fragile mould, the best hope was to give the +invulnerable material a wide berth. Talk of influence! Mr. +Dusautoy might as well hope that a Wedgwood cream-jug would guide +a copper cauldron and keep verdigris aloof.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">His attraction for Lucy had always been a +mystery to her family, who perhaps hardly did justice to the +magnetism of mere force of purpose. Better training might have +ennobled into resolution that which was now doggedness and +obstinacy, and, even in that shape, the real element of strength +had a tendency to work upon softer natures. Thus it had acted in +different ways with the Vicar, with Gilbert, and with Lucy; each +had fallen under the power of his determination, with more or +less of their own consent, and with Lucy the surrender was +complete; she no sooner sat beside Algernon than she was +completely his possession, and his complacent self-satisfaction +was reflected on her face in a manner that told her parents that +she was their own no longer, but given up to a stronger +master.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia liked neither to see nor to think about +it, and kept aloof as much as she could, dividing herself between +grandmamma and the children. On Tuesday morning, during Maurice's +lessons, there was a knock at the sitting-room door. She expected +Gilbert, but was delighted to see her brother.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I thought you were much too busy to come near +us?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So I am; I can't stay; so if Kendal be not +forthcoming you must give this fellow a holiday.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He is gone to Hadminster, so--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Where's Gilbert?' broke in little +Maurice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He went to his room to dress to go up to +parade,' said Mr. Ferrars, and off rushed the boy without waiting +for permission.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia sighed, and said, 'It is a perfect +passion.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't mourn over it. Love is too good a thing +to be lamented over, and this may turn into a +blessing.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I used to be proud of it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So you shall be still. I am very much pleased +with that poor lad.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She would not raise her eyes, she was weary of +hoping for Gilbert, and his last offence had touched her where +she had never been touched before.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Whatever faults he has,' Mr. Ferrars said, 'I +am much mistaken if his humility, love, and contrition be not +genuine, and what more can the best have?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sincerity!' said Albinia, hopelessly. 'There's +no truth in him!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You should discriminate between deliberate +self-interested deception, and failure in truth for want of moral +courage. Both are bad enough, but the latter is not "loving a +lie," not such a ruinous taint and evidence of corruption as the +former.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is curious to hear you repeating my old +excuses for him,' said Albinia, 'now that he has cast his glamour +over you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not wrongly,' said her brother. 'He is in +earnest; there is no acting about him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, that I believe; I know he loves us with +all his heart, poor boy, especially Maurice and me, and I think +he had rather go right than wrong, if he could only be let alone. +But, oh! it is all "unstable as water." Am I unkind, Maurice? I +know how it would be if I let him talk to me for ten minutes, or +look at me with those pleading brown eyes of his!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars knew it well, and why she was +steeled against him, but he put this aside, saying that he was +come to speak of the future, not of the past, and that he wanted +Edmund to reconsider William's advice. He told her what Gilbert +had said of the difficulty of breaking off old connexions, and +the danger to Maurice from his acquaintance. An exchange into +another corps of militia might be for the worse, the occupation +was uncertain, and Mr. Ferrars believed that a higher position, +companions of a better stamp, and the protection of a man of +lively manners, quick sympathy, and sound principle, like their +cousin Fred, might be the opening of a new life. He had found +Gilbert most desirous of such a step, regarding it as his only +hope, but thinking it so offensively presumptuous to propose it +to his father under present circumstances, his Oxford terms +thrown away, and himself disgraced both there and at home, that +the matter would hardly have been brought forward had not Mr. +Ferrars undertaken to press it, under the strong conviction that +remaining at home would be destruction, above all, with young +Dusautoy making part of the family.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I declare,' said Mr. Ferrars, 'he looked so +much at home in the drawing-room, and welcomed Gilbert with such +an air of patronage, that I could have found it in my heart to +have knocked him down!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was a treat to hear Maurice speak so +unguardedly, and Albinia laughed, and asked whether he thought it +very wrong to hope that the Polysyllable would yet do something +flagrant enough to open Lucy's eyes.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'll allow you to hope that <i>if</i> he +should, her eyes <i>may</i> be opened,' said Maurice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia began a vehement vindication for their +having tolerated the engagement, in the midst of which her +brother was obliged to depart, amused at her betrayal of her own +sentiments by warfare against what he had never said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She had treated his counsel as chimerical, but +when she repeated it to her husband, she thought better of it, +since, alas! it had become her great object to part those two +loving brothers. Mr. Kendal first asked where the 25th Lancers +were, then spoke of expense, and inquired what she knew of the +cost of commissions, and of her cousin's means. All she could +answer for was, that Fred's portion was much smaller than +Gilbert's inheritance, but at least she knew how to learn what +was wanted, and if her friends, the old Generals, were to be +trusted, she ought to have no lack of interest at the Horse +Guards.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert was taken into counsel, and showed so +much right spirit and good sense, that the discussion was +friendly and unreserved. It ended in the father and son resorting +to Pettilove's office to ascertain the amount of ready money in +his hands, and what income Gilbert would receive on coming of +age. The investigation somewhat disappointed the youth, who had +never thoroughly credited what his father told him of the +necessity of his exerting himself for his own maintenance, nor +understood how heavy a drain on his property were the +life-interests of his father and grandmother, and the settlement +on his aunt. By-and-by, he might be comparatively a rich man, but +at first his present allowance would be little more than doubled, +and the receipts would be considerably diminished by an +alteration of existing system of rents, such as had so long been +planned. It was plain that the almshouses were the unsubstantial +fabric of a dream, but no one now dared to refer to them, and Mr. +Kendal desired Albinia to write to consult her cousin.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Captain Ferrars was so much flattered at her +asking his protection for anything, that he would have promised +to patronize Cousin Slender himself for her sake. He praised the +Colonel and lauded the mess to the skies, and economy being his +present hobby, he represented himself as living upon nothing, and +saving his pay. He further gave notice of impending retirements, +and advised that the application should be made without loss of +time, lamenting grievously himself that there was no chance for +the 25th, of a touch at the Russians.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Something in his letter put every one into a +hurry, and a correspondence began, which resulted in Gilbert's +being summoned to Sandhurst for an examination, which he passed +creditably. The purchase-money was deposited, and the household +was daily thrown into a state of excitement by the arrival of +official-looking envelopes, which turned out to contain +solicitations from tailors and outfitters, bordered with +portraits of camp-beds and portable baths, until, at last, when +the real document appeared, Gilbert tossed it aside as from +'another tailor:' but Albinia knew the article too well to +mistake it, and when the long blue cover was opened, it proved to +convey more than they had reckoned upon.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert Kendal held a commission in the 25th +Lancers, and the corps was under immediate orders for the East. +The number of officers being deficient, he was to join the +headquarters at Cork, without going to the depot, and would +thence sail with a stated minimum of baggage.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia could not look up. She knew her husband +had not intended thus to risk the last of his eldest-born sons; +and though her soldier-spirit might have swelled with exultation +had her own brave boy been concerned, she dreaded the sight of +quailing or dismay in Gilbert.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Going really to fight the Russians,' shouted +Maurice, as the meaning reached him. 'Oh! Gibbie, if I was but a +man to go with you!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You will do your duty, my boy,' said his +father.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'By God's help,' was the reverent answer which +emboldened Albinia to look up at him, as he stood with Maurice +clinging by both hands to him. She had done him injustice, and +her heart bounded at the sight of the flush on his cheek, the +light in his eyes, and the expression on his lips, making his +face finer and more manly than she had ever seen it, as if the +grave necessity, and the awe of the unseen glorious danger, were +fixing and elevating his wandering purpose. To have no choice was +a blessing to an infirm will, and to be inevitably out of his own +power braced him and gave him rest. She held out her hand to him, +and there was a grasp of inexpressible feeling, the first renewal +of their old terms of sympathy and confidence.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was no time to be lost; Mr. Kendal would +go to London with him by the last train that day, to fit him out +as speedily as possible, before he started for Cork.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Every one felt dizzy, and there was no space +for aught but action. Perhaps Albinia was glad of the hurry, she +could not talk to Gilbert till she had learnt to put faith in +him, and she would rather do him substantial kindnesses than be +made the sharer of feelings that had too often proved like the +growth of the seed which found no depth of earth.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She ran about for him, worked for him, +contrived for him, and gave him directions; she could not, or +would not, perceive his yearning for an effusion of penitent +tenderness. He looked wistfully at her when he was setting out to +take leave at the Vicarage, but she had absorbed herself in +flannel shirts, and would not meet his eye, nor did he venture to +make the request that she would come with him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Indeed, confidences there could be but few, for +Maurice and Albinia hung on either side of him, so that he could +hardly move, but he resisted all attempt to free him even from +the little girl, who was hardly out of his arms for ten minutes +together. It was only from her broken words that her mother +understood that from the vicarage he had gone to the church. Poor +little Albinia did not like it at all. 'Why was brother Edmund up +in the church, and why did Gilbert cry?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice angrily enunciated, 'Men never cry,' +but not a word of the visit to the church came from +him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Algernon Dusautoy had wisely absented himself, +and the two sisters devoted themselves to the tasks in hand. +Sophy worked as hard as did Mrs. Kendal, and spoke even less, and +Lucy took care of Mrs. Meadows, whose nerves were painfully +excited by the bustle in the house. It had been agreed that she +should not hear of her grandson's intention till the last moment, +and then he went in, putting on a cheerful manner, to bid her +good-bye, only disclosing that he was going to London, but little +as she could understand, there was an instinct about her that +could not be deceived, and she began to cry helplessly and +violently.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mrs. Kendal and Lucy were summoned in haste; +Gilbert lingered, trying to help them to restore her to +composure. But time ran short; his father called him, and they +hardly knew that they had received his last hurried embrace, nor +that he was really gone, till they heard Maurice shouting like a +Red Indian, as he careered about in the garden, his only resource +against tears; and Sophy came in very still, very pale, and +incapable of uttering a word or shedding a tear. Albinia was much +concerned, for she could not bear to have sent him away without a +more real adieu, and word of blessing and good augury; it made +her feel herself truly unforgiving, and perhaps turned her heart +back to him more fully and fondly than any exchange of sentiment +would have done. But she had not much time to dwell on this +omission, for poor Mrs. Meadows missed him sorely, and after two +days' constant fretting after him, another paralytic stroke +renewed the immediate danger, so that by the time Mr. Kendal +returned from London she was again hovering between life and +death.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal, to his great joy, met Frederick +Ferrars at the 'Family Office.' The changes in the regiment had +given him his majority, and he had flashed over from Ireland to +make his preparations for the campaign. His counsel had been most +valuable in Gilbert's equipment, especially in the knotty +question of horses, and he had shown himself so amiable and +rational that Mr. Kendal was quite delighted, and rejoiced in +committing Gilbert to his care. He had assumed the trust in a +paternal manner, and, infected by his brilliant happiness and +hopefulness, Gilbert had gone off to Ireland in excellent +spirits.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Another thing conduced to cheer him,' said Mr. +Kendal afterwards to his wife, with a tone that caused her to +exclaim, 'You don't mean that he saw Genevieve?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You are right. We came upon her in Rivington's +shop, while we were looking for the smallest Bible. I saw who it +was chiefly by his change of colour, and I confess I kept out of +the way. The whole did not last five minutes; she had her pupils +with her, and soon went away; but he thanked me, and took heart +from that moment. Poor boy, who would have thought the impression +would have been so lasting?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, by the time he is a field-officer, even +William will let him please himself,' said Albinia, lightly, +because her heart was too full for her to speak +seriously.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She tried, by a kind letter, to atone for the +omitted farewell, and it seemed to cheer and delight Gilbert. He +wrote from Cork as if he had imbibed fresh hope and enterprise +from his new companions, he liked them all, and could not say +enough of the kindness of Major Ferrars. Everything went +smoothly, and in the happiest frame he sailed from Cork, and was +heard of again at Malta and Gallipoli, direfully sea-sick, but +reviving to write most amusing long descriptive letters, and when +he reached the camp at Yarna, he reported as gratefully of +General Ferrars as the General did kindly of him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Those letters were the chief pleasures in a +harassing spring and summer. It was well that practice had +trained Sophia in the qualities of a nurse, for Lucy was seldom +available when Algernon Dusautoy was at home; she was sure to be +riding with him, or sitting for her picture, or the good Vicar, +afraid of her overworking herself, insisted on her spending the +evening at the vicarage.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She yielded, but not with an easy conscience, +to judge by her numerous apologies, and when Mr. Cavendish +Dusautoy returned to Oxford, she devoted herself with great +assiduity to the invalid. Her natural gifts were far more +efficient than Sophy's laboriously-earned gentleness, and her +wonderful talent for prattling about nothing had a revivifying +influence, sparing much of the plaintive weariness which +accompanied that mournful descent of life's hill.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia had reckoned on a rational Lucy until +the Oxford term should be over. She might have anticipated a +failure in the responsions, (who, in connexion with the +Polysyllable, could mention being plucked for the little-go?) but +it was more than she did expect that his rejection would send him +home in sullen resentment resolved to punish Oxford by the +withdrawal of his august name. He had been quizzed by the young, +reprimanded by the old, plucked by the middle-aged, and he +returned with his mouth, full of sentences against blind, +benighted bigotry, and the futility of classical study, and of +declamations, as an injured orphan, against his uncle's disregard +of the intentions of his dear deceased parent, in keeping him +from Bonn, Jena, Heidelberg, or any other of the outlandish +universities whose guttural names he showered on the meek Vicar's +desponding head.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was twenty-one, and could not be sent +whither he would not go. His uncle's resource was Mr. Kendal, who +strongly hoped that the link was about to snap, when, summoning +the gentleman to the library, he gave him to understand that he +should consider a refusal to resume his studies as tantamount to +a dissolution of the engagement. A long speech ensued about dear +mothers, amiable daughters, classics, languages, and foreign +tours. That was all the account Mr. Kendal could give his wife of +the dialogue, and she could only infer that Algernon's harangue +had sent him into such a fit of abstraction, that he really could +not tell the drift of it. However, he was clear that he had +himself given no alternative between returning to Oxford and +resigning Lucy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That same evening, Lucy, all blushes and tears, +faltered out that she was very unwilling, she could not bear to +leave them all, nor dear grandmamma, but dear Algernon had +prevailed on her to say next August!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When indignant astonishment permitted Albinia +to speak, she reminded Lucy that a respectable career at Oxford +had been the condition.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I know,' said Lucy, 'but dear Algernon +convinced papa of the unreasonableness of such a stipulation +under the circumstances.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia felt the ground cut away under her +feet, and all she could attempt was a dry answer. 'We shall see +what papa says; but you, Lucy, how can you think of marrying with +your grandmamma in this state, and Gilbert in that camp of +cholera--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I told Algernon it was not to be thought of,' +said Lucy, her tears flowing fast. But I don't know what to do, +no one can tell how long it may go on, and we have no right to +trifle with his feelings.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If he had any feelings for you, he would not +ask it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, mamma, indeed!' cried Lucy, earnestly; 'it +was his feeling for me; he said I was looking quite languid and +emaciated, and that he could not allow my--good looks and +vivacity to be diminished by my attendance in a sick chamber. I +told him never to mind, for it did not hurt me; but he said it +was incumbent on him to take thought for me, and that he could +not present me to his friends if I were not in full bloom of +beauty; yes, indeed, he said so; and then he said it would be the +right season for Italy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is impossible you can think of going so far +away! Oh, Lucy! you should not have consented.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I could not help it,' said Lucy, sobbing. 'I +could not bear to contradict him, but please, mamma, let papa +settle it for me. I don't want to go away; I told him I never +would, I told him I had promised never to leave dear grandmamma; +but you see he is so resolute, and he cannot bear to be without +me. Oh! do get him to put it off--only if he is angry and goes to +Italy without me, I know I shall die!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We will take care of you, my dear. I am sure +we shall be able to show him how impossible a gay wedding would +be at present; and I do not think he can press it,' said Albinia, +moved into soothing the present distress, and relieved to find +that there was no heartlessness on Lucy's side.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">What a grand power is sheer obstinacy! It has +all the momentum of a stone, or cannon-ball, or any other object +set in motion without inconvenient sensations to obstruct its +course!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Algernon Dusautoy had decided on being married +in August, and taking his obedient pupil-wife through a course of +lectures on the continental galleries of art; and his determined +singleness of aim prevailed against the united objections and +opposition of four people, each of double or quadruple his wisdom +and weight.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">His first great advantage was, that, as Albinia +surmised, Mr. Kendal could not recal the finale of their +interview, and having lost the thread of the rigmarole, did not +know to what his silence had been supposed to assent. Next, +Algernon conquered his uncle by representing Lucy as on the road +to an atrophy, and persuading him that he should be much safer on +the Continent with a wife than without one: and though the two +ladies were harder to deal with in themselves, they were obliged +to stand by the decision of their lords. Above all, he made way +by his sincere habit of taking for granted whatever he wished, +and by his magnanimous oblivion of remonstrance and denial; so +that every day one party or the other found that assumed, as +fixed in his favour, which had the day before been most +strenuously refused.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If you consented to this, I thought I could +not refuse that.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I consent! I told him it was the last thing I +could think of.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, I own I was surprised, but he told me +you had readily come into his views.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Such was the usual tenor of consultations +between the authorities, until their marvel at themselves and +each other came to a height when they found themselves preparing +for the wedding on the very day originally chosen by +Algernon.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal's letter to Gilbert was an absolute +apology. Gilbert in Turkey was a very different person from +Gilbert at Bayford, and had assumed in his father's mind the +natural rights of son and heir; he seemed happy and valued, and +the heat of the climate, pestiferous to so many, seemed but to +give his Indian constitution the vigour it needed. When his +comrades were laid up, or going away for better air, much duty +was falling on him, and he was doing it with hearty good-will and +effectiveness. Already the rapid changes had made him a +lieutenant, and he wrote in the highest spirits. Moreover, he had +fallen in with Bryan O'More, and had been able to do him sundry +kindnesses, the report of which brought Ulick to Willow Lawn in +an overflow of gratitude.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was a strange state of affairs there. +Albinia was ashamed of the plea of 'could not help it,' and yet +that was the only one to rest on; the adherence to promises alone +gave a sense of duty, and when or how the promises had been given +was not clear.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Besides, no one could be certain even about +poor Lucy's present satisfaction; she sometimes seemed like a +little bird fluttering under the fascination of a snake. She was +evidently half afraid of Algernon, and would breathe more freely +when he was not at hand; but then a restlessness would come on if +he did not appear as soon as she expected, as if she dreaded +having offended him. She had violent bursts of remorseful tears, +and great outpourings of fondness towards every one at home, and +she positively did look ill enough to justify Algernon in saying +that the present condition of matters was hurtful to her. Still +she could not endure a word that remotely tended towards advising +her to break off the engagement, or even to retard the wedding, +and her admiration of her intended was unabated.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Indeed, his affection could not be doubted; he +liked her adoration of all his performances, and he regarded her +with beneficent protection, as a piece of property; he made her +magnificent presents, and conceded to her that the wedding tour +should not be beyond Clifton, whence they would return to Willow +Lawn, and judge ere deciding on going abroad.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He said that it would be <i>'de bon ton'</i> to +have the marriage strictly private. Even he saw the incongruity +of festivity alongside of that chamber of decay and death; and +besides, he had conceived such a distaste to the Drury family, +that he had signified to Lucy that they must not make part of the +spectacle.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia and Sophy thought this so impertinent, +that they manfully fought the battles of the Drurys, but without +prevailing; Albinia took her revenge, by observing that this +being the case, it was impossible to ask her brother and little +Mary, whose well-sounding names she knew Algernon ambitionated +for the benefit of the county paper.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Always doing what was most contrary to the +theories with which she started in life, Albinia found herself +taking the middle course that she contemned. She was marrying her +first daughter with an aching, foreboding heart, unable either to +approve or to prevent, and obliged to console and cheer just when +she would have imagined herself insisting upon a rupture at all +costs.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy had said from the first that her sister +could not go back. She expected her to be unhappy, and believed +it the penalty of the wrongdoings in consenting to the +clandestine correspondence; and treated her with melancholy +kindness as a victim under sentence. She was very affectionate, +but not at all consoling when Lucy was sad, and she was impatient +and gloomy when the trousseau, or any of the privileges of a +fiancee brought a renewal of gaiety and importance. A broken +heart and ruined fortunes were the least of the consequences she +augured, and she went about the house as if she had realized them +both herself.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The wedding-day came, and grandmamma was torpid +and only half conscious, so that all could venture to leave her. +The bride was not allowed to see her, lest the agitation should +overwhelm both; for the poor girl was indeed looking like the +victim her sister thought her, pale as death, with red rings +round her extinguished eyes, and trembling from head to foot, the +more at the apprehension that Algernon would think her a +fright.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">After all that lavender and sal-volatile could +do for her, she was such a spectacle, that when her father came +to fetch her he was shocked, and said, tenderly, 'Lucy, my child, +this must not be. Say one word, and all shall be over, and you +shall never hear a word of reproach.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But Lucy only cast a frightened glance around, +and rising up with the accents of perfect sincerity, said, 'No, +papa; I am quite ready; I am quite happy. I was only +silly.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Her mind was evidently made up, and it was past +Albinia's divination whether her agitation were composed of fear +of the future and remorse for the past, or whether it were mere +love of home and hurry of spirits, exaggerated by belief that a +bride ought to weep. Probably it was a compound of all, and the +whole of her reply perfect truth, especially the final +clause.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">So they married her, poor child, very much as +if they had been attending her to the block. Sophy's view of the +case had infected them all beyond being dispelled by the stately +complacency of the bridegroom, or the radiant joy and affection +of his uncle.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They put her into a carriage, watched her away, +and turned back to the task which she had left them, dreading the +effects of her absence. She was missed, but less than they +feared; the faculties had become too feeble for such strong +emotion as had followed Gilbert's departure; and the void was +chiefly perceptible by the plaintive and exacting clinging to +Albinia, who had less and less time to herself and her children, +and was somewhat uneasy as to the consequences as regarded +Maurice. While Gilbert was at home, the child had been under some +supervision; but now his independent and unruly spirit was left +almost uncontrolled, except by his own intermittent young +conscience, his father indulged him, and endured from him what +would have been borne from no one else; and Sophy was his willing +slave, unable to exact obedience, and never complaining, save +under the most stringent necessity or sense of duty. He was too +young for school, and there was nothing to be done but to go on, +from day to day, in the trust that no harm could eventually ensue +in consequence of so absolute a duty as the care of the sufferer; +and that while the boy's truth and generosity were sound, though +he might be a torment, his character might be all the stronger +afterwards for that very indocility.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was not satisfactory, and many mothers would +have been miserable; but it was not in Albinia's nature to be +miserable when her hands were full, and she was doing her best. +She had heard her brother say that when good people gave their +children sound principles and spoilt them, they gave the children +the trouble of self-conquest instead of doing it for them. She +had great faith in Maurice's undertaking this task in due time; +and while she felt that she still had her hand on the rein she +must be content to leave it loose for a while.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Besides, when his father and sisters, and, +least of all, herself, did not find him a plague, did it much +matter if other people did?</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XXV.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">Exulting peals rang out from the Bayford tower, +and as Mr. and Mrs. Cavendish Dusautoy alighted from their +carriage at Willow Lawn, the cry of the vicar and of the +assembled household was, 'Have you heard that Sebastopol is +taken?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Any news of Gilbert?' was Lucy's +demand.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, the cavalry were not landed, so he had +nothing to do with it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I say, uncle,' said Algernon, 'shall I send up +a sovereign to those ringers?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Eh! poor fellows, they will he very glad of +it, thank you; only I must take care they don't drink it up. I'm +sure they must be tired enough; they've been at it ever since the +telegraph came in!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There!' exclaimed Algernon; 'Barton must have +telegraphed from the station when we set out!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You? Did you think the bells were ringing for +<i>you</i>,' exclaimed his uncle, 'when there's a great battle +won, and Sebastopol taken?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Telegraphs are always lies!' quoth Mr. +Cavendish Dusautoy, tersely, 'I don't believe anything has +happened at all!' and he re-pocketed the sovereign.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Meantime Lucy was in a rapture of embracing. +She was spread out with stiff silk flounces and velvet mantle, so +as to emulate her husband's importance, and her chains and +bracelets clattered so much, that Mr. Kendal could not help +saying, 'You should have taken lessons of your Ayah, to learn how +to manage your bangles.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! papa,' said she, with a newly-learnt +little laugh, 'I could not help it; Louise could not find room +for them in my dressing-case.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They were not, however, lost upon the whole of +the family. Grandmamma's dim eyes lighted when she recognised her +favourite grand-daughter in such gorgeous array, and that any one +should have come back again was so new and delightful, that it +constantly recurred as a fresh surprise and pleasure.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">All were glad to have her again--their own +Lucy, as she still was, though somewhat of the grandiose style +and self-consequence of her husband had overlaid the original +nature. She was as good-natured and obliging as ever, and though +beginning by conferring her favours as condescensions, she soon +would forget that she was the great Mrs. Cavendish Dusautoy, and +quickly become the eager, helpful Lucy. She was in very good +looks, and bright and happy, admiring Algernon, rejoicing to obey +his behests, and enhancing his dignity and her own by her +discourses upon his talents and importance. How far she was at +ease with him, Albinia sometimes doubted; there now and then was +an air of greater freedom when he left the room, and some of her +favourite old household avocations were tenderly resumed by +stealth, as though she feared he might think them unworthy of his +wife.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She gave her spare time to the invalid, who was +revived by her presence as by a sunbeam; and Albinia, in her +relief and gratitude, did her utmost to keep Algernon happy and +contented. She resigned a room to him as an atelier, and let the +little Awk be captured to have her likeness taken, she promoted +the guitar and key-bugle, and abstained from resenting his +strictures on her dinners.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Such a guest reduced Mr. Kendal to absolute +silence, but she did not think he suffered much therefrom, and he +was often relieved, for all the neighbourhood asked the young +couple to dinner. Mrs. Cavendish Dusautoy's toilette was as good +as a play to the oldest and youngest inhabitants of the house, +her little sister used to stand by the dressing-table with her +small fingers straightened to sustain a column of rings threaded +on them, and her arm weighed down with bracelets, and +grandmamma's happiest moments were when she was raised up to +contemplate the costly robes, jewelled neck, and garlanded head +of her darling.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When it turned out that Sebastopol was anything +but taken, Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy's incredulity was a precious +confirmation of his esteem for his own sagacity, more especially +as Ulick O'More and Maurice had worn out the little brass piece +of ordnance in firing <i>feux de joie</i>.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But,' said Maurice, 'papa always said it was +not true. Now you only said so when you found the bells were +ringing for that, and not for you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice's observations were not always +convenient. Algernon, with much pomp, had caused a horse to be +led to the door, for which he had lately paid eighty guineas, and +he was expatiating on its merits, when Maurice broke out, 'That's +Macheath, the horse that Archie Tritton bought of Mr. Nugent's +coachman for twenty pounds.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Hush, Maurice!' said his father, 'you know +nothing of it; and Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy pursued, 'It was bred +at Lord Lewthorp's, and sold because it was too tall for its +companion. Laing was on the point of sending it to Tattersalls, +where he was secure of a hundred, but he was willing to oblige +me, as we had had transactions before.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Papa!' cried Maurice, 'I know it is Macheath, +for Mr. Tritton showed him to Gilbert and me, when he had just +got him, and said he was a showy beast, but incurably lame, so he +should get what he could for him from Laing. Now, James, isn't +it?' he called to the servant who was sedulously turning away a +grinning face, but just muttered, 'Same, sir.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal charitably looked the other way, and +Algernon muttered some species of imprecation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Thenceforth Maurice took every occasion of +inquiring what had become of Macheath, whether Laing had refunded +the price, and what had been done to him for telling +stories.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">If the boy began in innocence, he went on in +mischief; he was just old enough to be a most aggravating +compound of simplicity and malice. He was fully aware that Mr. +Cavendish Dusautoy was held cheap by his own favourites, and had +been partly the cause of his dear Gilbert's troubles, and his +sharp wits and daring nature were excited to the utmost by the +solemn irritation that he produced. Not only was it irresistibly +droll to tease one so destitute of fun, but he had the strongest +desire to see how angry it was possible to make the big +brother-in-law, of whom every one seemed in awe.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">First, he had recourse to the old term +Polysyllable, and when Lucy remonstrated, he answered, 'I've a +right to call my brother what I please.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You know how angry mamma would be to hear +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mamma calls him the Polysyllable herself,' +said Maurice, looking full at his victim.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy, who would have given the world to hinder +this epithet from coming to her husband's knowledge, began +explaining something about Gilbert's nonsense before he knew him, +and how it had been long disused.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That's not true, Lucy,' quoth the tormentor. +'I heard mamma tell Sophy herself this morning to write for some +fish-sauce, because she said that Polysyllable was so fanciful +about his dinner.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy was ready to cry, and Algernon, +endeavouring to recal his usual dignity, exclaimed, 'If Mrs. +Kendal--I mean, Mrs. Kendal has it in her power to take +liberties, but if I find you repeating such again, you little +imp, it shall be at your risk.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What will you do to me?' asked the sturdy +varlet.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Dear Maurice, I hope you'll never know! Pray +don't try!' cried Lucy; but if she had had any knowledge of +character, she would have seen that she had only provoked the +little Berserkar's curiosity, and had made him determined on +proving the undefined threat. So the unfortunate Algernon seldom +descended the stairs without two childish faces being protruded +from the balusters of the nursery-flight over-head, pursuing him +with hissing whispers of 'Polysyllable' and 'Polly-silly,' and if +he ventured on indignant gestures, Maurice returned them with +nutcracker grimaces and provoking assurances to his little sister +that he could not hurt her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Algernon could not complain without making +himself ridiculous, and Albinia was too much engaged to keep +watch over her son, so that the persecution daily became more +intolerable, and barren indications of wrath were so diverting to +the little monkey, that the presence of the heads of the family +was the sole security from his tricks. Poor Lucy was the chief +sufferer, unable to restrain her brother, and enduring the brunt +of her husband's irritation, with the great disappointment of +being unable to make him happy at her home, and fearing every day +that he would fulfil his threat of not staying another week in +the house with that intolerable child, for the sake of any one's +grandmother.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Tidings came, however, that completely sobered +Maurice, and made them unable to think of moving. It was the +first rumour of the charge of Balaklava, with the report that the +25th Lancers were cut to pieces. In spite of Algernon's +reiteration that telegraphs were lies, all the household would +have been glad to lose the sense of existence during the time of +suspense. Albinia's heart was wrung as she thought of the cold +hurried manner of the last farewell, and every look she cast at +her husband's calm melancholy face, seemed to be asking pardon +that his son was not safe in India.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Late that evening the maid came hurriedly in +with a packet of papers. 'A telegraph, ma'am, come express from +Hadminster.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was to Mrs Kendal from one of her friends at +the Horse Guards. She did not know how she found courage to turn +her eyes on it, but her shriek was not of sorrow.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Major the Honourable F. Ferrars, severely +wounded--right arm amputated.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Lieutenant Gilbert Kendal, slightly +wounded--contusion, rib broken.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She saw the light of thankfulness break upon +Mr. Kendal's face, and the next moment flew up to her boy's +bed-side. He started up, half asleep, but crying out, Mamma, +where's Gibbie?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Safe, safe! Maurice dearest, safe; only +slightly wounded! Oh, Maurice, God has been very good to +us!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He flung his arms round her neck, as she knelt +beside his crib in the dark, and thus Mr. Kendal found the mother +and son. As he bent to kiss them, Maurice exclaimed, with a sort +of anger, 'Oh, mamma, why have I got a bullet in my +throat?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia laughed a little hysterically, as if +she had the like bullet.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was very kind of Lord H----,' fervently +exclaimed Mr. Kendal; 'you must write to thank him, Albinia. +Gilbert may be considered safe while he is laid up. Perhaps he +may be sent home. What should you say to that, +Maurice?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! I wouldn't come home to lose the fun,' +said Maurice. 'Oh, mamma, let me get up to tell Awkey, and run up +to Ulick! Gilbert will be the colonel when I'm a cornet! Oh! I +must get up!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">His outspoken childish joy seemed to relieve +Albinia's swelling heart, too full for the expression of +thankfulness, and the excitement was too much even for the boy, +for he burst into passionate sobs when forbidden to get up and +waken his little sister.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The sobering came in Mr. Kendal's mention of +Fred. Albinia was obliged to ask what had happened to him, and +was shocked at having overlooked so terrible a misfortune; but +Maurice seemed to be quite satisfied. 'You know, mamma, it said +they were cut to pieces. Can't they make him a wooden arm?' +evidently thinking he could be repaired as easily as the +creatures in his sister's Noah's Ark. Even Algernon showed a +heartiness and fellow-feeling that seemed to make him more like +one of the family. Moreover, he was so much elevated at the +receipt of a telegraph direct from the fountain-head, that he +rode about the next day over all the neighbourhood with the +tidings and comported himself as though he had private access to +all Lord Raglan's secrets.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The unwonted emotion tamed Maurice for several +days, and his behaviour was the better for his daily rides with +papa to Hadminster, to forestall the second post. At last, on his +return, his voice rang through the house. 'Mamma, where are you? +The letter is come, and Gilbert shot two Russians, and saved +Cousin Fred!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I opened your letter, Albinia,' said Mr. +Kendal; and, as she took it from him, he said, 'Thank God, I +never dared hope for such a day as this!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He shut himself into the library, while Albinia +was sharing with Sophy the precious letter, but with a moment's +disappointment at finding it not from Gilbert, but from her +brother William.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Before you receive this,' he wrote, 'you will +have heard of the affair of to-day, and that our two lads have +come out of it better than some others. There are but nine +officers living, and only four unhurt out of the 25th Lancers, +and Fred's escape is entirely owing to your son.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Then followed a brief narrative of the events +of Balaklava, that fatal charge so well described as +'<i>magnifique mais pas la guerre</i>,' a history that seemed +like a dream in connexion with the timid Gilbert. His individual +story was thus:-- He safely rode the 'half a league' forward, but +when more than half way back, his horse was struck to the ground +by a splinter of the same shell that overthrew Major Ferrars, at +a few paces' distance from him. Quickly disengaging himself from +his horse, Gilbert ran to assist his friend, and succeeded in +extricating him from his horse, and supporting him through the +remainder of the terrible space commanded by the batteries. Fred, +unable to move without aid, and to whom each step was agony, had +entreated Gilbert to relinquish his hold, and not peril himself +for a life already past rescue; but Gilbert had not seemed to +hear, and when several of the enemy came riding down on them, he +had used his revolver with such effect, as to lay two of the +number prostrate, and deter the rest from repeating the +attack.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'All this I heard from Fred,' continued the +General; 'he is in his usual spirits, and tells me that he feels +quite jolly since his arm has been off, and he has been in his +own bed, but I fear he has a good deal to suffer, for his right +side is terribly lacerated, and I shall be glad when the next few +days are over. He desires me to say with his love that the best +turn you ever did him was putting young Kendal into the 25th. +Tell your husband that I congratulate him on his son's conduct, +and am afraid that his promotion without purchase is only too +certain. Gilbert's only message was his love. Speaking seems to +give him pain, and he is altogether more prostrated than so +slight a wound accounts for; but when I saw him, he had just been +told of the death of his colonel and several of his brother +officers, among them young Wynne, who shared his tent; and he was +completely overcome. There is, however, no cause for uneasiness; +he had not even been aware that he was hurt, until he fainted +while Fred was under the surgeon's hands, and was then found to +have an ugly contusion of the chest, and a fracture of the +uppermost rib on the left side. A few days' rest will set all +that to rights, and I expect to see him on horseback before we +can ship poor Fred for Scutari. In the meantime they are both in +Fred's tent, which is fairly comfortable.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia understood whence came Gilbert's +heroism. He had charged at first, as he had hunted with Maurice, +because there was no doing otherwise, and in the critical moment +the warm heart had done the rest, and equalled constitutional +courage: but then, she saw the gentle tender spirit sinking under +the slight injury, and far more at the suffering of his friend, +the deadly havoc among his comrades, and his own share in the +carnage. The General coolly mentioned the two enemies who had +fallen by his pistol, and Maurice shouted about them as if they +had been two rabbits, but she knew enough of Gilbert to be sure +that what he might do in the exigency of self-defence, would +shock and sicken him in recollection. Poor Fred! how little would +she once have believed that his frightful wound could be a +secondary matter with her, only enhancing her gratitude on +account of another.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That was a happy evening; Maurice was sent to +ask Ulick to dinner, and at dessert drank the healths of his +soldier relatives, among whom Mr. Kendal with a smile at Ulick, +included Bryan O'More.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In the universal good-will of her triumph, +Albinia having read her precious letter to every one, resolved to +let the Drurys hear it, before forwarding it to Fairmead. Lucy's +neglect of that family was becoming flagrant, and Albinia was +resolved to take her to make the call. Therefore, after +promulgating her intentions too decidedly for Algernon to oppose +them, she set out with Lucy in the most virtuous state of mind. +Maurice was to ride out with his father, and Sophy was taking +care of grandmamma, so she made her expedition with an easy mind, +and absolutely enjoyed the change of scenery.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The war had drawn every one nearer together, +and Mrs. Drury was really anxious about Gilbert, and grateful for +the intelligence. Nor did Lucy meet with anything unpleasant. +Mrs. Cavendish Dusautoy, in waist-deep flounces, a Paris bonnet, +and her husband's dignity, impressed her cousins, and whatever +use they might make of their tongues, it was not till after she +was gone.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">As the carriage stopped at the door, Sophy came +out with such a perturbed an expression, as seemed to prelude +fatal tidings; and Lucy was pausing to listen, when she was +hastily summoned by her husband.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! mamma, he has struck Maurice such a blow!' +cried Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Algernon? where's Maurice? is he +hurt?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He is in the library with papa.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was there in a moment. Maurice sat on his +father's knee, listening to Pope's Homer, leaning against him, +with eye, cheek, and nose exceedingly swelled and reddened; but +these were symptoms of which she had seen enough in past days not +to be greatly terrified, even while she exclaimed +aghast.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">*Aye!' said Mr. Kendal, sternly. 'What do you +think of young Dusautoy's handiwork?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What could you have done to him, +Maurice?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I painted his image.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The children got into the painting-room,' said +Mr. Kendal, 'and did some mischief; Maurice ought to have known +better, but that was no excuse for his violence. I do not know +what would have been the consequence, if poor little Albinia's +screams had not alarmed me. I found Algernon striking him with +his doubled fist.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But I gave him a dig in the nose,' cried +Maurice, in exultation; 'I pulled ever so much hair out of his +whiskers. I had it just now.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'This sounds very sad,' said Albinia, +interrupting the search for the trophy. 'What were you doing in +the painting-room? You know you had no business +there.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why, mamma, little Awk wanted me to look at +the pictures that Lucy shows her. And then, don't you know his +image? the little white bare boy pulling the thorn out of his +foot. Awkey said he was naughty not to have his clothes on, and +so I thought it would be such fun to make a militiaman of him, +and so the paints were all about, and so I gave him a red coat +and black trousers.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, Maurice, Maurice, how could +you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I couldn't help it, mamma! I did so want to +see what Algernon would do!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So he came up and caught us. And wasn't he in +a jolly good rage? that's all. He stamped, and called me names, +and got hold of me to shake me, but I know I kicked him well, and +I had quite a handful out of his whisker; but you see poor little +Awkey is only a girl, and couldn't help squalling, so papa came +up.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And in time!' said Mr. Kendal; 'he reeled +against me, almost stunned, and was hardly himself for some +moments. His nose bled violently. That fellow's fist might knock +down an ox.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But he didn't knock <i>me</i> down,' said +Maurice. 'You told me he did not, papa.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That's all he thinks of!' said Mr. Kendal, in +admiration.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not a cry nor a tear from first to last. I +told Sophy to let me know when Bowles came.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'For a black eye?' cried the hard-hearted +mother, laughing. 'You should have seen what Maurice and Fred +used to do to each other.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, tell me, mamma,' cried Maurice, +eagerly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not now, master,' she said, not thinking his +pugnacity in need of such respectable examples. 'It would be more +to the purpose to ask Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy's pardon for such +very bad behaviour.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal looked at her in indignant surprise. +'Ours is not the side for the apology,' he said. 'If Dusautoy has +a spark of proper feeling, he must excuse himself for such a +brutal assault.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am afraid Maurice provoked it; I hope my +little boy is sorry for having been so mischievous, and sees that +he deserves--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal silenced her by an impatient +gesture, and feeling that anything was better than the discussion +before the boy, she tried to speak indifferently, and not +succeeding, left the room, much annoyed that alarm and +indignation had led the indulgent father to pet and coax the +spirit that only wanted to be taken down, and as if her +discipline had received its first real shock.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal followed her upstairs, no less +vexed. 'Albinia, this is absurd,' he said. 'I will not have the +child punished, or made to ask pardon for being shamefully +struck.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was shameful enough,' said Albinia; 'but, +after all, I can't wonder that Algernon was in a passion; Maurice +did behave very ill, and it would be much better for him if you +would not make him more impudent than he is already.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I did not expect you to take part against your +own child, when he has been so severely maltreated,' said he, +with such unreasonable displeasure, that almost thinking it play, +she laughed and said, 'You are as bad as the mothers of the +school-children, when they wont have them beaten.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He gave a look as if loth to trust his ears, +walked into his room, and shut the door. The thrill of horror +came over her that this was the first quarrel. She had been saucy +when he was serious, and had offended him. She sprang to the +door, knocked and called, and was in agony at the moment's delay +ere he returned, with his face still stern and set. Pleading and +earnest she raised her eyes, and surrendered unconditionally. +'Dear Edmund, don't be vexed with me, I should not have said +it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Never mind,' he said, affectionately; 'I do +not wish to interfere with your authority, but it would be +impossible to punish a child who has suffered so severely; and I +neither choose that Dusautoy should be made to think himself the +injured party, nor that Maurice should be put to the pain of +apologizing for an offence, which the other party has taken on +himself to cancel with interest.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was too much demolished to recollect +her two arguments, that pride on their side would only serve to +make Algernon prouder, and that she did not believe that asking +pardon would be so bitter a pill to Maurice as his father +supposed. She could only feel thankful to have been forgiven for +her own offence.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When they met at dinner, all were formal, +Algernon stiff and haughty, ashamed, but too grand to betray +himself, and Lucy restless and uneasy, her eyes looking as if she +had been crying. When Maurice came in at dessert, the fourth part +of his countenance emulating the unlucky cast in gorgeous hues of +crimson and violet, Algernon was startled, and turning to +Albinia, muttered something about 'never having intended,' and +'having had no idea.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He might have said more, if Mr. Kendal, with +Maurice on his knee, had not looked as if he expected it; and +that look sealed Albinia's lips against expressing regret for the +provocation; but Maurice exclaimed, 'Never mind, Algernon, it was +all fair, and it doesn't hurt now. I wouldn't have touched your +image, but that I wanted to know what you would do to me. Shake +hands; people always do when they've had a good mill.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal looked across the table to his wife +in a state of unbounded exultation in his generous boy, and +Albinia felt infinitely relieved and grateful. Mr. Cavendish +Dusautoy took the firm young paw, and said with an attempt at +condescension, 'Very well, Maurice, the subject shall be +mentioned no more, since you have received a severer lesson than +I intended, and appear sensible of your error.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It wasn't you that made me so,' began Maurice, +with defiant eye; but with a strong sense of 'let well alone,' +his father cut him short with, 'That's enough, my man, you've +said all that can be wished,' lifted him again on his knee, and +stopped his mouth with almonds and raisins.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The subject was mentioned no more; Lucy +considered peace as proclaimed, and herself relieved from the +necessity of such an unprecedented deed as preferring an +accusation against Maurice, and Albinia, unaware of the previous +persecution, did not trace that Maurice considered himself as +challenged to prove, that experience of his brother-in-law's fist +did not suffice to make him cease from his 'fun.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Two days after, Algernon was coming in from +riding, when a simple voice upon the stairs observed, 'Here's +such a pretty picture!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Eh! what?' said Algernon; and Maurice held it +near to him as he stood taking off his great coat.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Such a pretty picture, but you mustn't have +it! No, it is Ulick's.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Heavens and earth!' thundered Algernon, as he +gathered up the meaning. 'Who has dared--? Give it me--or--' and +as soon as he was freed from the sleeves, he snatched at the +paper, but the boy had already sprung up to the first landing, +and waving his treasure, shouted, 'No, it's not for you, I'll not +give you Ulick's picture.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ulick !' cried Algernon, in redoubled fury. +'You're put up to this! Give it me this instant, or it shall be +the worse for you;' but ere he could stride up the first flight, +Maurice's last leg was disappearing round the corner above, and +the next moment the exhibition was repeated overhead in the +gallery. Thither did Algernon rush headlong, following the +scampering pattering feet, till the door of Maurice's little room +was slammed in his face. Bursting it open, he found the chamber +empty, but there was a shout of elvish laughter outside, and a +cry of dismay coming up from the garden, impelled him to mount +the rickety deal-table below the deep sunk dormer window, when +thrusting out his head and shoulders, he beheld his wife and her +parents gazing up in terror from the lawn. No wonder, for there +was a narrow ledge of leading without, upon which Maurice had +suddenly appeared, running with unwavering steps till in a moment +he stooped down, and popped through the similar window of +Gilbert's room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">While still too dizzy with horror to feel +secure that the child was indeed safe within, those below were +startled by a frantic shout from Algernon: 'Let me out! I say, +the imp has locked me in! Let me out!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia flew into the house and upstairs. +Maurice was flourishing the key, and executing a war-dance before +the captive's door, with a chant alternating of war-whoops, +'Promise not to hurt it, and I'll let you out!' and 'Pity poor +prisoners in a foreign land!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She called to him to desist, but he was too +wild to be checked by her voice, and as she advanced to capture +him, he shot like an arrow to the other end of the passage, and +down the back-stairs. She promised speedy rescue, and hurried +down, hoping to seize the culprit in the hall, but he had whipped +out at the back-door, and was making for the garden gate, when +his father hastened down the path to meet him, and seeing his +retreat cut off, he plunged into the bushes, and sprang like a +cat up a cockspur-thorn, too slender for ascent by a heavier +weight, and thence grinned and waved his hand to his prisoner at +the window.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Maurice,' called his father, 'what does this +mean?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I only want to take home Ulick's picture. Then +I'll let him out.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What picture?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That's my secret.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'This is not play, Maurice,' said Albinia. +'Attend to papa.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The boy swung the light shrub about with him in +a manner fearful to behold, and looked irresolute. Lucy put in +her cry, 'You very naughty child, give up the key this moment,' +and above, Algernon bawled appeals to Mr. Kendal, and threats to +Maurice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Silence!' said Mr. Kendal, sternly. 'Maurice, +this must not be. Come down, and give me the key of your +room.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I will, papa,' said Maurice, in a reasonable +voice. 'Only please promise not to let Algernon have Ulick's +picture, for I got it without his knowing it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I promise,' said Mr. Kendal. 'Let us put an +end to this.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice came down, and brought the key to his +father, and while Lucy hastened to release her husband, Mr. +Kendal seized the boy, finding him already about again to take +flight.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Papa, let me take home Ulick's picture before +he gets out,' said Maurice, finding the grasp too strong for him; +but Mr. Kendal had taken the picture out of his hand, and looked +at it with changed countenance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It depicted the famous drawing-room scene, in +its native element, the moon squinting through inky clouds at +Lucy swooning on the sofa, while the lofty presence of the +Polysyllable discharged the fluid from the inkstand.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Did Mr. O'More give you this?' asked Mr. +Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, it tumbled out of his paper-case. You know +he said I might go to his rooms and get the Illustrated News with +the picture of Balaklava, and so the newspaper knocked the +paper-case down, and all the things tumbled out, so I picked this +up, and thought I would see what Algernon would say to it, and +then put it back again. Let me have it, papa, if he catches me, +he'll tear it to smithereens.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't talk Irish, sir,' said his father. 'I +see where your impertinence comes from, and I will put a stop to +it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice gave back a step, amazed at his +father's unwonted anger, but far greater wrath was descending in +the person of Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy, who came striding across +the lawn, and planting himself before his father-in-law, +demanded, 'I beg to know, sir, if it is your desire that I should +be deliberately insulted in this house?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No one can be more concerned than I am at what +has occurred.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very well, sir; then I require that this +intolerable child be soundly flogged, that beggarly Irishman +kicked out, and that infamous libel destroyed!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, papa,' cried Maurice, 'you promised me the +picture should be safe!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I promise you, you impudent brat,' cried +Algernon, 'that you shall learn what it is to insult your elders! +You shall be flogged till you repent it!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You will allow me to judge of the discipline +of my own family,' said Mr. Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ay! I knew how it would be! You encourage that +child in every sort of unbearable impudence; but I have endured +it long enough, and I give you warning that I do not remain +another night under this roof unless I see the impertinence +flogged out of him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Papa never whips me,' interposed Maurice. 'You +must ask mamma.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal bit his lips, and Albinia could have +smiled, but their sense of the ludicrous inflamed Algernon, and +like one beside himself, he swung round, and declaring he should +ask his uncle if that were proper treatment, he marched across +the lawn, while Mr. Kendal exclaimed, 'More childish than +Maurice!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, mamma, what shall I do?' was Lucy's woful +cry, as she turned back, finding herself unable to keep up with +his huge step, and her calls disregarded.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear,' said Albinia, affectionately, 'you +had better compose yourself and follow him. His uncle will bring +him to reason, and then you can tell him how sorry we +are.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You may assure him,' said Mr. Kendal, 'that I +am as much hurt as he can be, that such an improper use should +have been made of O'More's intimacy here, and I mean to mark my +sense of it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And,' said Lucy, 'I don't think anything would +pacify him so much as Maurice being only a little beaten, not to +hurt him, you know.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If Maurice be punished, it shall not be in +revenge,' said Mr. Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm afraid nothing else will do,' said Lucy, +wringing her hands. 'He has really declared that he will not +sleep another night here unless Maurice is punished; and whatever +he says, he'll do, and I know it would kill me to go away in this +manner.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Her father confidently averred that he would do +no such thing, but she cried so much as to move Maurice into +exclaiming, 'Look here, Lucy, I'll come up with you, and let him +give me one good punch, and then we shall all be comfortable +again.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know about the punching,' said +Albinia; 'but I think the least you can do, Maurice, is to go and +ask his forgiveness for having been so very naughty. You were not +thinking what you were about when you locked him in.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">This measure was adopted, Mr. Kendal +accompanying Lucy and the boy, while Albinia went in search of +Sophy, whom she found in grandmamma's room, looking very pale. +'Well?' was the inquiry, and she told what had passed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope Maurice will be punished,' said Sophy; +so unwonted a sentiment, that Albinia quite started, though it +was decidedly her own opinion.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That meddling with papers was very bad,' she +said, with an extenuating smile.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Fun is a perfect demon when it becomes +master,' said Sophy. It was plain that it was not Maurice that +she was thinking of, but the caricature. Her sister should have +been sacred from derision.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We must remember,' she said, 'that it was only +through Maurice's meddling that we became aware of the existence +of this precious work. It is not as if ho had shown it to any +one.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How many of the O'Mores have made game of it?' +asked Sophy, bitterly. 'No, I am glad I know of it, I shall not +be deceived any more.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">With these words she withdrew, evidently +resolved to put an end to the subject. Her face was like iron, +and Albinia grieved for the deep resentment that the man whom she +had ventured to think of as devoted to herself, had made game of +her sister. Poor Sophy, to her that tryste had been a subject of +unmitigated affliction and shame, and it was a cruel wound that +Ulick O'More should, of all men, have turned it into ridicule. +What would be the effect on her?</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In process of time Mr. Kendal returned. +'Albinia,' he said, 'this is a most unfortunate affair. He is +perfectly impracticable, insists on starting for Paris to-morrow, +and I verily believe he will.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor Lucy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She is in such distress, that I could not bear +to look at her, but he will not attend to her, nor to his uncle +and aunt. Mrs. Dusautoy proposed that they should come to the +vicarage, where there would be no danger of collisions with +Maurice; but his mind can admit no idea but that he has been +insulted, and that we encourage it, and he thinks his dignity +concerned in resenting it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not much dignity in being driven off the field +by a child of six years old.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So his aunt told him, but he mixes it up with +O'More, and insists on my complaining to Mr. Goldsmith, and +getting the lad dismissed for a libellous caricaturist, as he +calls it. Now, little as I should have expected such conduct from +O'More, it could not be made a ground of complaint to his +uncle.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I should think not. No one with more wit than +Algernon would have dreamt of it! But if Ulick came and +apologized? Ah! but I forgot! Mr. Goldsmith sent him to London +this morning. Well, it may be better that he should be out of the +way of Algernon in his present mood.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Humph!' said Mr. Kendal. 'It is the first time +I ever allowed a stranger to be intimate in my family, and it +shall be the last. I never imagined him aware of the +circumstance.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nor I; I am sure none of us mentioned +it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Maurice told him, I suppose. It is well that +we should be aware who has instigated the child's impertinence. I +shall keep him as much as possible with me; he must be cured of +Irish brogue and Irish coolness before they are +confirmed.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal's conscience was evidently relieved +by transferring to the Irishman the imputation of fostering +Maurice's malpractices.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They were interrupted by Lucy's arrival. She +was come to take leave of home, for her lord was not to be +dissuaded from going to London by the evening's train. The +greater the consternation, the sweeter his revenge. Never able to +see more than one side of a question, he could not perceive how +impossible it was for the Kendals to fulfil his condition with +regard to Ulick O'More, and he sullenly adhered to his obstinate +determination. Lucy was in an agony of grief, and perhaps the +most painful blow was the perception how little he was swayed by +consideration for her. Her maid packed, while her parents tried +to console her. It was easier when she bewailed the terrors of +the voyage, and the uncertainty of hearing of dear grandmamma and +dear Gilbert, than when she sobbed about Algernon having no +feeling for her. It might be only too true, but her wifely +submission ought not to have acknowledged it, and they would not +hear when they could not comfort; and so they were forced to +launch her on the world, with a tyrant instead of a guide, and +dreading the effect of dissipation on her levity of mind, as much +as they grieved for her feeble spirit. It was a piteous +parting--a mournful departure for a bride--a heavy penalty for +vanity and weakness.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Unfortunately the result is to an action as the +lens through which it is viewed, and the turpitude of the deed +seems to increase or diminish according to the effect it +produces.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Had it been in Algernon Dusautoy's nature to +receive the joke good-humouredly, it might have been regarded as +an audacious exercise of wit, and have been quickly forgotten, +but when it had actually made a breach between him and his wife's +family, and driven him from Bayford when everything conspired to +make his departure unfeelingly cruel, the caricature was regarded +as a serious insult and an abuse of intimacy. Even Mr. Kendal was +not superior to this view, feeling the offence with all the +sensitiveness of a hot-tempered man, a proud reserved guardian of +the sanctities of home, and of a father who had seen his +daughter's weakest and most faulty action turned into ridicule, +and he seemed to feel himself bound to atone for not going to all +the lengths to which Algernon would have impelled him, by showing +the utmost displeasure within the bounds of common +sense.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia, better appreciating the irresistibly +ludicrous aspect of the adventure, argued that the sketch +harmlessly shut up in a paper-case showed no great amount of +insolence, and that considering how the discovery had been made, +it ought not to be visited. She thought the drawing had better be +restored without remarks by the same hand that had abstracted it; +but Mr. Kendal sternly declared this was impossible, and Sophy's +countenance seconded him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, then,' said Albinia, 'put it into my +hands. I'm a bad manager in general, but I can promise that Ulick +will come down so shocked and concerned, that you will not have +the heart not to forgive him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The question is not of forgiveness,' said +Sophy, in the most rigid of voices, as she saw yielding in her +father's face; if any one had to forgive, it was poor Lucy and +Algernon. All we have to do, is to be on our guard for the +future.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophy is right,' said Mr. Kendal; 'intimacy +must be over with one who has so little discretion or good +taste.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then after his saving Maurice, he is to be +given up, because he quizzed the Polysyllable?' cried +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do not give him up,' said Mr. Kendal. 'I +highly esteem his good qualities, and should be happy to do him a +service, but I cannot have my family at the mercy of his wit, nor +my child taught disrespect. We have been unwisely familiar, and +must retreat.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And what do you mean us to do?' exclaimed +Albinia. 'Are we to cut him systematically?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do not know what course you may adopt,' said +Mr. Kendal, in a tone whose grave precision rebuked her half +petulant, half facetious inquiry. 'I have told you that I do not +mean to do anything extravagant, nor to discontinue ordinary +civilities, but I think you will find that our former habits are +not resumed.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And Maurice must not be always with him,' said +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Certainly not; I shall keep the boy with +myself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was with the greatest effort that Albinia +held her tongue. To have Sophy not only making common cause +against her, but inciting her father to interfere about Maurice, +was well-nigh intolerable, and she only endured it by sealing her +lips as with a bar of iron.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">By-and-by came the reflection that if poor +Sophy had a secret cause of bitterness, it was she herself who +had given those thoughts substance and consciousness, and she +quickly forgave every one save herself and Algernon.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">As to her little traitor son, she took him +seriously in hand at bedtime, and argued the whole transaction +with him, representing the dreadful consequences of meddling with +people's private papers under trust. Here was poor Lucy taken +away from home, and papa made very angry with Ulick, because +Maurice had been meddlesome and mischievous; and though he had +not been beaten for it, he would find it a worse punishment not +to be trusted another time, nor allowed to be with +Ulick.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice turned round with mouth open at hearing +of papa's anger with Ulick, and the accusation of having brought +his friend into trouble.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why, Maurice, you remember how unhappy we +were, Gilbert and all. It was because it was sadly wrong of +Gilbert and Lucy to have let Algernon in without papa's knowing +it, and it was not right or friendly in Ulick to laugh at what +was so wrong, and grieved us all so much.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was such fun,' said Maurice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, Maurice; but fun is no excuse for doing +what is unkind and mischievous. Ulick would not have been amused +if he had cared as much for us as we thought he did, but, after +all, his drawing the picture would have done no harm but for a +little boy, whom he trusted, never thinking that an unkind wish +to tease, would betray this foolish action, and set his best +friends against him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I did not know I should,' said Maurice, +winking hard.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No; you did not know you were doing what, if +you were older, would have been dishonourable.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That word was too much! First he hid his face +from his mother, and cried out fiercely, 'I've not--I've not been +that and clenched his fist. 'Don't say it, mamma.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If you had known what you were doing, it would +have been dishonourable,' she repeated, gravely. 'It will be a +long time before you earn trust and confidence again.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was a great struggle with his tears. She +had punished him, and almost more than she could bear to see, but +she knew the conquest must be secured, and she tried, while she +caressed him, to make him look at the real cause of his lapse; he +declared that it was 'such fun' to provoke Algernon, and a little +more brought out a confession of the whole course of persecution, +the child's voice becoming quite triumphant as he told of the +success of his tricks, and his mother, though appalled at their +audacity, with great difficulty hindering herself from +manifesting her amusement.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She did not wonder at Algernon's having found +it intolerable, and though angry with him for having made himself +such fair game, she set to work to impress upon Maurice his own +errors, and the hatefulness of practical jokes, and she succeeded +so far as to leave him crying himself to sleep, completely +subdued, while she felt as if all the tears ought to have been +shed by herself for her want of vigilance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Conflicting duties! how hard to strike the +balance! She had readily given up her own pleasures for the care +of Mrs. Meadows, but when it came to her son's training, it was +another question.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She much wished to see the note with which Mr. +Kendal returned the unfortunate sketch, but one of the points on +which he was sensitive, was the sacredness of his correspondence, +and all that she heard was, that Ulick had answered 'not at all +as Mr. Kendal had expected; he was nothing but an Irishman, after +all.' But at last she obtained a sight of the note.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Bayford, Nov. 20th, 1854.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Dear Sir,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I was much astonished at the contents of your +letter of this morning, and greatly concerned that Mr. Cavendish +Dusautoy should have done so much honour to any production of +mine, as to alter his arrangements on that account.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'As the scrawl in question was not meant to +meet the eye of any living being, I should, for my own part, have +considered it proper to take no notice of what was betrayed by +mere accident. I should have considered it more conducive to +confidence between gentlemen. I fully acquiesce in what you say +of the cessation of our former terms of acquaintance, and with +many thanks for past kindness, believe me,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Your obedient servant,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'U. O'MORE.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Nothing was more evidently written in a passion +at the invasion of these private papers, and Albinia, though she +had always feared he might consider himself the aggrieved party, +had hardly expected so much proud irritation and so little +regret. Mr. Kendal called him 'foolish boy,' and tried to put the +matter aside, but he was much hurt, and Ulick put himself +decidedly in the wrong by passing in the street with a formal +bow, when Mr. Kendal, according to his purpose of ordinary +civility without an open rupture, would have shaken +hands.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy looked white, stern, and cold, but said +not a word; she deepened her father's displeasure quite +sufficiently by her countenance. His was grave disappointment in +a youth whom he found less grateful than he thought he had a +right to expect; hers was the rankling of what she deemed an +insult to her sister, and the festering of a wound of which she +was ashamed. She meant to bear it well, but it made her very hard +and rigid, and even the children could hardly extract a smile +from her. She seemed to have made a determination to do all that +Lucy or herself had ever done, and more too, and listened to no +entreaties to spare herself. Commands were met with sullen +resignation, entreaties were unavailing, and both in the sickroom +and the parish, she insisted on working beyond her powers. It was +a nightly battle to send her to bed, and Albinia suspected that +she did not sleep. Meantime Lucy had sailed, and was presently +heard of in a whirl of excitement that shortened her letters, and +made them joyous and self-important.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah!' said Sophy, 'she will soon forget that +she ever had a home.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor dear! Wait till trouble comes, and she +will remember it only too sadly,' sighed Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Trouble is certain enough,' said Sophy; 'but I +don't think what we deserve does us much good.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy could see nothing but the most ungentle +and gloomy aspects. Gilbert had not yet written, and she was +convinced that he was either very ill, or had only recovered to +be killed at Inkermann, and she would only sigh at the Gazette +that announced Lieutenant Gilbert Kendal's promotion to be +Captain, and Major the Honourable Frederick Ferrars to be +Lieutenant-Colonel.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The day after, however, came the long expected +letter from the captain himself. It was to Mrs. Kendal, and she +detected a shade of disappointment on her husband's face, so she +would have handed it to him at once, but he said, 'No, the person +to whom the letter is addressed, should always be the first to +read it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The letter began with Gilbert's happiness in +those from home, which he called the greatest pleasure he had +ever known. He feared he had caused uneasiness by not writing +sooner, but it had been out of his power while Fred Ferrars was +in danger. Then followed the account of the severe illness from +which Fred was scarcely beginning to rally, though that morning, +on hearing that he was to be sent home as soon as he could move, +he had talked about Canada and Emily. Gilbert said that not only +time but strength had been wanting for writing, for attendance on +Fred had been all that he could attempt, since moving produced so +much pain and loss of breath, that he had been forced to be +absolutely still whenever he was not wanted, but he was now much +better. 'Though,' he continued, 'I do not now mind telling you +that I had thought myself gone. You, who have known all my +feelings, and have borne with them so kindly, will understand the +effect upon me, when on the night previous to the 25th, I +distinctly heard my own name, in Edmund's voice, at the head of +my bed, just as he used to call me when he had finished his +lessons, and wanted me to come out with him. As I started up, I +heard it again outside the tent. I ran to the door, but of course +there was nothing, nor did poor Wynne hear anything. I lay awake +for some time, but slept at last, and had forgotten all by +morning. It did not even occur to me when I saw the pleasant race +they had cut out for us, nor through the whole affair. Do not ask +me to describe it, the scene haunts me enough. When I found that +I had not come off unhurt, and it seemed as if I could not ask +for one of our fellows but to hear he was dead or dying, poor +Wynne among them, then the voice seemed a summons. I was +thoroughly done up, and could not even speak when General Ferrars +came to me; I only wanted to be let alone to die in peace. I +fancy I slept, for the next thing I heard was the Major's voice +asking for some water, too feebly to wake the fellow who had been +left in charge. I got up, and found him in a state of high fever +and great pain, and from that time to the present, I have hardly +thought of the circumstance, and know not why I have now written +it to you. Did my danger actually bring Edmund nearer, or did its +presence act on my imagination? Be that as it may, I think, after +the first impression of awe and terror, the having heard the dear +old voice braced me, and gave me a sense of being near home and +less lonely. Not that my hurt has been for an instant dangerous, +and I am mending every day; if it were warmer I should get on +faster, but I cannot stir into the air without bringing on cough. +Tell Ulick O'More that we entertained his brother at tea last +evening, we were obliged to desire him to bring his own cup, and +he produced the shell of a land tortoise; it was very like the +fox and the crane. Poor fellow, it was the first good meal he had +for weeks, and I was glad he came in for some famous bread that +the General had sent us in. He made us much more merry than was +convenient to either of us, not being in condition for laughing. +He is a fine lad, and liked by all.' Then came a break, and the +letter closed with such tidings of Inkermann as had reached the +invalid's tent.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">A few lines from General Ferrars spoke of the +improvement in both patients, adding that Fred had had a hard +struggle for his life, and had only been saved, by Gilbert's +unremitting care by day and night.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Heroism had not transformed Gilbert, and +Albinia's old fondness glowed with double ardour as she mused +over his history of the battle-eve. His father attributed the +impression to a mind full of presage and excitement, acted upon +by strong memory; but woman-like, Albinia preferred the belief +that the one twin might have been an actual messenger to cheer +and strengthen the other for the coming trial. Sophy only said, +'Gilbert's fancies as usual.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'This was not like fancy,' said Albinia. 'This +is an unkind way of taking it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is common sense,' she bluntly answered. 'I +don't see why he should think that Edmund has nothing better to +do than to call him. It would be childish.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia did not reply, disturbed by this +display of jealousy and harshness, as if every bud of tenderness +had been dried up and withered, and poor Sophy only wanted to run +counter to any obvious sentiment.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was grateful for the message which gave +her an excuse for seeking Ulick out, and endeavouring to +conciliate him. Mr. Kendal made no objection, and expressed a +hope that he might have become reasonable. She therefore +contrived to waylay him in the November darkness, holding out her +hand so that he took it at unawares, as if not recollecting that +he was offended, but in the midst his grasp relaxed, and his head +went up.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have a message for you from Gilbert about +your brother Bryan,' she said, and he could not defend himself +from manifesting eager interest, as she told of the tea-party; +but that over, it was in stiff formal English that he said, 'I +hope you had a good account.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It struck a chill, and she answered, almost +imploringly, 'Gilbert is much better, thank you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am glad to hear it;' and he was going to bow +and pass on, when she exclaimed,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ulick, why are we strangers?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was agreed on all hands that things past +could not be undone,' he frigidly replied.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Too true,' she said; 'but I do not think you +know how sorry we are for my poor little boy's foolish +trick.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I owe no displeasure to Maurice. He knew no +more what he was doing than if he had been a gust of wind; but if +the wind had borne a private paper to my feet, I would never have +acted on the contents.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Unhappily,' said Albinia, 'some revelations, +though received against our will, cannot help being felt. We saw +the drawing before we knew how he came by it, and you cannot +wonder that it gave pain to find that a scene so distressing to +us should have furnished you with amusement. It was absurd in +itself, but we had hoped it was a secret, and it wounded us +because we thought you would have been tender of our +feelings.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You don't mean that it was fact!' cried Ulick, +stopping suddenly; and as her silence replied, he continued, 'I +give you my word and honour that I never imagined there was a +word of truth in the farrago old Biddy told me, and I'll not deny +that I did scrawl the scene down as the very picture of a bit of +slander. I only wonder I'd not brought it to +yourself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Pray let me hear what she told +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! she said they two had been colloguing +together by moonlight, and you came home in the midst, and Miss +Kendal fainted away, so he catches up the ink and throws it over +her instead of water, and you and Mr. Kendal came in and were mad +entirely; and Mr. Kendal threatened to brain him with the poker +if he did not quit it that instant, and sent Gilbert for a +soldier for opening the door to him, but you and Lucy went down +on your bare knees to get him to relent.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, I own the poker does throw an air of +improbability over the whole. Minus that and the knees, I am +afraid it is only too true. I suppose it got abroad through the +servants.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was an unlucky goose-quill that lay so +handy,' exclaimed Ulick; 'but you may credit me, no eye but my +own ever saw the scrawl, nor would have seen it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then, Ulick, if we all own that something is +to be regretted, why do we stand aloof, and persist in +quarrelling?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I want no quarrel,' said Ulick, stiffly. 'Mr. +Kendal intimated to me that he did not wish for my company, and +I'm not the man to force it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, Ulick, this is not what I hoped from +you!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'll tell you what, Mrs. Kendal, you could +talk over the Giant's Causeway if you had a mind,' said Ulick, +with much agitation; 'but you must not talk over me, for your own +judgment would be against it. You know what I am, and what I came +of, and what have I in the world except the honour of a +gentleman? Mr. Kendal and yourself have been my kindest friends, +and I'll be grateful to my dying day; but if Mr. Kendal thinks I +can submit tamely when he resents what he never ought to have +noticed, why, then, what have I to do but to show him the +difference? If his kindness was to me as a gentleman and his +equal, I love and bless him for it, but if it be a patronizing of +the poor clerk, why, then, I owe it to myself and my people to +show that I can stand alone, without cringing, and being thankful +for affronts.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Did it ever occur to you to think whether +pride be a sin?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">''Tis not pride!' cried Ulick. It is my duty to +my family and my name. You'd say yourself, as you allowed before +now, that it would be mere meanness and servility to swallow +insults for one's own profit; and if I were to say "you're +welcome, with many thanks, to shuffle over my private papers, and +call myself to account," I'd better have given up my name at +once, for I'd have left the gentleman behind me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do believe it is solely for the O'Mores that +you are making a duty of implacability!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is a duty not to run from one's word, and +debase oneself for one's own advantage.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'One would think some wonderful advantage was +held out to you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The pleasantest hours of my life,' murmured he +sadly, under his breath.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, Ulick,' she said, holding out her hand, +'I'm not quite dissatisfied; I think some day even an O'More will +see that there is no exception from the law of forgiveness in +their special favour, and that you will not be able to go on +resenting what we have suffered from the young of the +spider-monkey.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Even this allusion produced no outward effect; +he only shook hands gravely, saying, 'I never did otherwise than +forgive, and regret the consequences: I am very thankful for all +your past kindness.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Worse than the Giant's Causeway, thought +Albinia as she parted from him. Nothing is so hopeless as that +sort of forgiveness, because it satisfies the +conscience.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal predicted that, the Keltic dignity +having been asserted, good sense and principle would restore +things to a rational footing. What this meant might be uncertain, +but he certainly missed Prometheus, and found Maurice a poor +substitute. Indulgence itself could hardly hold out in +unmitigated intercourse with an obstreperous dunce not seven +years old, and Maurice, deprived of Gilbert, cut off from Ulick, +with mamma busy, and Sophy out of spirits, underwent more +snubbing than had ever yet fallen to his lot. Not that he was +much concerned thereat; and Mr. Kendal would resume his book +after a lecture upon good manners, and then be roused to find his +library a gigantic cobweb, strings tied to every leg of table or +chair, and Maurice and the little Awk enacting spider and fly, +heedless of the unwilling flies who might suffer by their trap. +Such being the case, his magnanimity was the less amazing when he +said, 'Albinia, there is no reason that O'More should not eat his +Christmas dinner here.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very well. I trust he will not think it +needful still to be self-denying.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is not our part to press advances which are +repelled,' said Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Indeed, Sophy,' said her father, smiling, 'I +see nothing attractive in the attitude of rocks rent +asunder.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The undesigned allusion must have gone deep, +for she coloured to a purple crimson, and said in a freezing +tone, 'I thought you considered that to take him up again would +be a direct insult to Lucy and her husband.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'They do not show much consideration for us,' +said Mr. Kendal. 'How long ago was the date of her last +letter?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nearly three weeks,' said Albinia. 'Poor +child, how could she write with the catalogue <i>raisonnee</i> of +the Louvre to learn by heart?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The Dusautoys yearly gave a Christmas tea-party +to the teachers in the Sunday-school, who had of late become more +numerous, as Mr. Dusautoy's influence had had more time to tell. +Mrs. Kendal was reckoned on as one of the chief supporters of the +gaiety of the evening, but on this occasion she was forced to +send Sophia alone.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy regarded it as a duty and a penance, and +submitted the more readily because it was so distasteful. It was, +however, more than she had reckoned on to find that the party had +been extended to the male teachers, an exceedingly good and +lugubrious-looking youth lately apprenticed to Mr. Bowles, and +Ulick O'More. It was the first time she had met the latter since +his offence. She avoided seeing him as long as possible, though +all his movements seemed to thrill her, and so confused the +conversation which she was trying to keep up, that she found +herself saying that Genevieve Durant had lost an arm, and that +Gilbert would spend Christmas in London.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She felt him coming nearer; she knew he was +passing the Miss Northover in the purple silk and red +neck-ribbon; she heard him exchanging a few civil words with the +sister with the hair strained off her face; she knew he was +coming; she grew more eager in her fears for Mr. Rainsforth's +chest.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Tea was announced. Sophy held back in the +general move, Ulick made a step nearer, their eyes met, and if +ever eyes spoke, hers ordered him to keep his distance, while he +glanced affront for affront, bowed and stepped back.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy sat by Miss Jane Northover, and +endeavoured to make her talk. Anything would have been better +than the echoes of the sprightliness at the lower end of the +table, where Ulick was talking what he would have called blarney +to Miss Susan Northover and Miss Mary Anne Higgins, both at once, +till he excited them into a perpetual giggle. Mr. Dusautoy was +delighted, and evidently thought this brilliant success; Mrs. +Dusautoy was less at her ease--the mirth was less sober and more +exclusive than she had intended; and Sophy, finding nothing could +be made of Miss Jane, turned round to her other neighbour, Mr. +Hope, and asked his opinion of the Whewell and Brewster +controversy on the Plurality of Worlds.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Hope had rather a good opinion of Miss +Sophia, and as she had never molested him, could talk to her, so +he straightway became engrossed in the logical and theological +aspects of the theory; and Mrs. Dusautoy could hardly suppress +her smile at this unconscious ponderous attempt at a counter +flirtation, with Saturn and Jupiter as weapons for light +skirmishing.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Ulick received the invitation to dinner, and +did not accept it. He said he had an engagement--Albinia wondered +what it could be, and had reason afterwards to think that he had +the silent young apothecary to a Christmas dinner in his own +rooms--an act of charity at least, if not of forgiveness. Mr. +Johns, the senior clerk, whose health had long been failing, was +about to retire, and this announcement was followed by the +appearance of a smart, keen-looking young man of six or +seven-and-twenty, whom Miss Goldsmith paraded as her cousin, Mr. +Andrew Goldsmith, and it was generally expected that he would be +taken into partnership, and undertake old John's work, but in a +fortnight he disappeared, and young O'More was promoted to the +vacant post with an increase of salary. It was mortifying only to +be informed through Mr. Dusautoy, instead of by the lad +himself.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The Eastern letters were the chief comfort. +First came tidings that Gilbert, not having yet recovered his +contusion, was to accompany Colonel Ferrars to Scutari, and then +after a longer interval came a brief and joyous note--Gilbert was +coming home! On his voyage from the Crimea he had caught cold, +and this had brought on severe inflammation on the injured chest, +which had laid him by for many days at Scutari. The colonel had +become the stronger of the two, in spite of a fragment of shell +lodged so deeply in the side, that the medical board advised his +going to London for its removal. Both were ordered home together +with six months' leave, and Gilbert's note overflowed with glad +messages to all, including Algernon, of whose departure he was +still in ignorance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal knew not whether he was most +gratified or discomfited by the insinuating ringer who touched +his hat, hoping for due notice of the captain's arrival in time +to welcome him with a peal of bells. Indeed, Bayford was so +excited about its hero, that there were symptoms of plans for a +grand reception with speeches, cheers, and triumphal arches, +which caused Sophy to say she hoped that he would come suddenly +without any notice, so as to put a stop to all that nonsense; +while Albinia could not help nourishing a strange vague +expectation that his return would be the beginning of better +days.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">At last, Sophia, with a touch of the old penny +club fever, toiled over the school clothing wilfully and +unnecessarily for two hours, kept up till evening without owning +to the pain in her back, but finally returned so faint and dizzy +that she was forced to be carried helpless to her room, and the +next day could barely drag herself to the couch in the +morning-room, where she lay quite prostrated, and grieved at +increasing instead of lessening her mother's cares.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, mamma, don't stay with me. You are much +too busy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, I am not. The children are out, and +grandmamma asleep, and I am going to write to Lucy, but there's +no hurry. Let me cool your forehead a little longer.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How I hate being another bother!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I like you much better so, than when you would +not let me speak to you, my poor child.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I could not,' she said, stifling her voice on +the cushion, and averting her head; but in a few moments she made +a great effort, and said, 'You think me unforgiving, mamma. It +was not entirely that. It was hating myself for an old fancy, a +mere mistake. I have got over it; and I will not be in error +again.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophy dear, if you find strength in pride, it +will only wound yourself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do not think I am proud,' said Sophy, +quietly. 'I may have been headstrong, but I despise myself too +much for pride.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Are you sure it was mere fancy? It was an idea +that occurred to more than to you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Hush!' cried Sophy. 'Had it been so, could he +have ridiculed Lucy? Could he have flown out so against papa? No; +that caricature undeceived me, and I am thankful. He treated us +as cousins--no more--he would act in the same manner by any of +the Miss O'Mores of Ballymakilty, nay, by Jane Northover herself. +We did not allow for Irish manner.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If so, he had no right to do so. I shall never +wish to see him here again.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, mamma, he did not know the folly he had to +deal with. Next time I meet him, I shall know how to be really +indifferent. Now, this is the last time we will mention the +subject!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia obeyed, but still hoped. It was well +that hope remained, for her task was heavier than ever; Mrs. +Meadows was feebler, but more restless and wakeful, asking twenty +times in an hour for Mrs. Kendal. The doctors thought it +impossible that she should hold out another fortnight, but she +lived on from day to day, and at times Albinia hardly could be +absent from her for ten minutes together. Sophy was so completely +knocked up that she could barely creep about the house, and was +forbidden the sick-room; but she was softened and gentle, and was +once more a companion to her father, while eagerly looking +forward to devoting herself to Gilbert.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">A letter with the Malta post-mark was eagerly +opened, as the harbinger of his speedy arrival.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Royal Hotel, Malta,<br> +February 10th, 1855.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Dearest Mrs. Kendal,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am afraid you will all be much disappointed, +though your grief cannot equal mine at the Doctor's cruel decree. +We arrived here the day before yesterday, but I had been so ill +all the voyage with pain in the side and cough, that there was no +choice but to land, and call in Dr.----, who tells me that my +broken rib has damaged my lungs so much, that I must keep +perfectly quiet, and not think of going home till warm weather. +If I am well enough to join by that time, I shall not see you at +all unless you and my father could come out. Am I nourishing too +wild a hope in thinking it possible? Since Lucy has been so kind +as to promise never to leave grandmamma, I cannot help hoping you +might be spared. I do not think my proposal is selfish, since my +poor grandmother is so little conscious of your cares; and +Ferrars insists on remaining with me till he sees me in your +hands, though they say that the splinter must be extracted in +London, and every week he remains here is so much suffering, +besides delaying his expedition to Canada. I have entreated him +to hasten on, but he will not hear of it. He is like a brother or +a father to me, and nurses me most tenderly, when he ought to be +nursed himself. We are famishing for letters. I suppose all ours +have gone up to Balaklava, and thence will be sent to England. If +we were but there! We are both much better for the quiet of these +two days, and are to move to-morrow to a lodging that a friend of +Fred's has taken for us at Bormola, so as to be out of the Babel +of these streets--we stipulated that it should be large enough to +take in you and my father. I wish Sophy and the children would +come too--it would do them all the good in the world; and Maurice +would go crazy among the big guns; I am only afraid we should +have him enlisting as a drummer. The happy pair would be very +glad to have the house to themselves, and would persuade +themselves that it was another honeymoon.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Good-bye. Instead of looking for a letter, I +shall come down to meet you at the Quarantine harbour. Love to +all.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Your most affectionate</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'GILBERT KENDAL.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">How differently Gilbert wrote when really ill, +from his desponding style when he only fancied himself so, +thought Albinia, as, perplexed and grieved, she handed the letter +to her husband, and opened the enclosure, written in the +laboured, ill-formed characters of a left-hand not yet accustomed +to doing the offices of both.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Dear Albinia,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Come, if possible. His heart is set upon it, +though he does not realize his condition, and I cannot bear to +tell him. Only the utmost care can save him. I am doing my best +for him, but my nursing is as left-handed as my +writing.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ever yours,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'F.F.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">His wife's look of horror was Mr. Kendal's +preparation for this emphatic summons, perhaps a shock less +sudden to him than to her, for he had not been without misgivings +ever since he had heard of the situation of the injury. He read +and spoke not, till the silence became intolerable, and she burst +out almost with a scream, 'Oh! Edmund, I knew not what I did when +I took grandmamma into this house!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'This is very perplexing,' he said, his +feelings so intense that he dared only speak of acting; 'I must +set out to-night.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Order me to come with you,' she said +breathlessly. 'That will cancel everything else.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Would Mrs. Drury take charge of her aunt?' +said he, with a moment's hesitation; and Albinia felt it implied +his impression that they were bound by her repeated promises +never to quit the invalid, but she only spoke the more +vehemently--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mrs Drury? She might--she would, under the +circumstances. She could not refuse. If you desire me to come, I +should not be doing wrong; and grandmamma might never even miss +me. Surely--oh surely, a young life, full of hope and promise, +that may yet be saved, is not to be set against what cannot be +prolonged more than a few weeks.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'As to that,' said Mr. Kendal, in the +deliberate tone which denoted dissatisfaction, 'though of course +it would be the greatest blessing to have you with us, I think +you may trust Gilbert to my care. And we must consider poor +Sophia.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She could not bear to be +considered.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No; but it would be leaving her in a most +distressing position, when she is far from well, and with most +uncongenial assistants. You see, poor Gilbert reckons on Lucy +being here, which would make it very different. But think of poor +Sophia in the event of Mrs. Meadows not surviving till our +return!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You are right! It would half kill her! My +promise was sacred; I was a wretch to think of breaking it. But +when I think of my boy--my Gilbert pining for me, and I deserting +him--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'For the sake of duty,' said her husband. 'Let +us do right, and trust that all will be overruled for the best. I +shall go with an easier mind if I leave you with the other +children, and I can be the sooner with him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I could travel as fast.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I may soon bring him home to you. Or you might +bring the others to join us in the south of France. You will all +need change.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The decision was made, and her judgment +acquiesced, though she could hardly have cast the balance for +herself. She urged no more, even when relentings came over her +husband at the thought of the trials to which he was leaving her, +and of those which he should meet in solitude; yet not without a +certain secret desire to make himself sufficient for the care and +contentment of his own son. He cast about for all possible +helpers for her, but could devise nothing except a note +entreating her brother to be with her as much as possible, and +commending her to the Dusautoys. It was a less decided kindness +that he ordered Maurice's pony to be turned out to grass, so as +to prevent rides in solitude, thinking the boy too young to be +trusted, and warned by the example of Gilbert's +temptations.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Going up to the bank to obtain a supply of +gold, he found young O'More there without his uncle. The tidings +of Gilbert's danger had spread throughout the town, and one heart +at least was softened. Ulick wrung the hand that lately he would +not touch, and Mr. Kendal forgot his wrath as he replied to the +warm-hearted inquiry for particulars.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then Mrs. Kendal cannot go with +you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, it is impossible. There is no one able to +take charge of Mrs. Meadows.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! and Mrs. Cavendish Dusautoy is gone! I +grieve for the hour when my pen got the better of me. Mr. Kendal, +this is worse than I thought. Your son will never forgive me when +he knows I'm at the bottom of his disappointment.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There is something to forgive on all hands,' +said Mr. Kendal. 'That meddlesome boy of mine has caused worse +results than we could have contemplated. I believe it has been a +lesson to him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I know it has to some one else,' said Ulick. +'I wish I could do anything! It would be the greatest comfort you +could give me to tell me of a thing I could do for Gilbert or any +of you. If you'd send me to find Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy, and tell +him 'twas all my fault, and bring them back--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Rather too wild a project, thank you,' said +Mr. Kendal, smiling. 'No; the only thing you could do, would +be--if that boy of mine have not completely forfeited your +kindness--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Maurice! Ah! how I have missed the +rogue.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor little fellow, I am afraid he may be a +burthen to himself and every one else. It would be a great relief +if you could be kind enough now and then to give him the pleasure +of a walk.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice did not attend greatly to papa's +permission to go out with Mr. O'More. Either it was clogged with +too many conditions of discretion, and too many reminiscences of +the past; or Maurice's mind was too much bent on the thought of +his brother. Both children haunted the packing up, entreating to +send out impossible presents. Maurice could hardly be persuaded +out of contributing a perilous-looking boomerang, which he argued +had some sense in it; while he scoffed at the little Awk, who +stood kissing and almost crying over the china countenance of her +favourite doll, entreating that papa would take dear Miss Jenny +because Gibbie loved her the best of all, and always put her to +sleep on his knees. At last matters were compromised by Sophy, +who roused herself to do one of the few things for which she had +strength, engrossing them by cutting out in paper an interminable +hunt with horses and dogs adhering together by the noses and +tails, which, when brilliantly painted according to their united +taste, they might safely imagine giving pleasure to Gilbert, +while, at any rate, it would do no harm in papa's +pocket-book.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XXVI.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">The day after Mr. Kendal's departure, Mrs. +Meadows had another attack, but a fortnight still passed before +the long long task was over and the weary spirit set free. There +had been no real consciousness and no one could speak of regret; +of anything but relief and thankfulness that release had come at +last, when Albinia had redeemed her pledge and knew she should no +more hear of the dreary 'very bad night,' nor be greeted by the +low, restless moan. The long good-night was come, and, on the +whole, there was peace and absence of self-condemnation in +looking back on the past connexion. Forbearance and unselfishness +were recompensed by the calm tenderness with which she could +regard one who at the outset had appeared likely to cause nothing +but frets and misunderstandings.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Had she and Sophy been left to themselves, +there would have been nothing to break upon this frame of mind, +but early the next day arrived Mr. and Mrs. Drury, upsetting all +her arrangements, implying that it had been presumptuous to exert +any authority without relationship. It did seem hard that the +claims of kindred should be only recollected in order to unsettle +her plans, and offend her unostentatious tastes.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Averse both to the proposals, and to the +discussion, she felt unprotected and forlorn, but her spirit +revived as she heard her brother's voice in the hall, and she +hastened to put herself in his hands. He declined doing battle, +he said it would be better to yield than to argue, and leave a +grudge for ever. 'It will not vex Edmund,' he said, 'and though +you and Sophy may be pained by incongruities, they will hurt you +less than disputing.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She felt that he was right, and by yielding the +main points he contrived amicably to persuade Mr. Drury out of +the numerous invitations and grand luncheon as well as to adhere +to the day that she had originally fixed for the funeral, after +which he hoped to take her and the young ones home with him and +give her the thorough change and rest of which the over-energy of +her manner betrayed the need.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Not that she consented. She could not bear not +to meet her letters at once; or suppose Edmund and Gilbert should +return to an empty, unaired house, and she thought herself +selfish, when it might do so much good to Sophy, &c., +&c., &c.--till Mr. Ferrars, going home for a night, +agreed with Winifred, that domineering would be the only way to +deal with her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">On his return he found Albinia on the stairs, +and boxes and trunks carried down after her. Running to him, she +exclaimed, abruptly, 'I am going to Malta, Maurice, to-morrow +evening!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Has Edmund sent for you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not exactly--he did not know--but Gilbert is +dying, and wretched at my not coming. I never wished him +good-by--he thinks I did not forgive him. Don't say a word--I +shall go.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He held her trembling hands, and said, 'This is +not the way to be able to go. Come in here, sit down and tell +me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is no use to argue. It is my duty now,' +said Albinia; but she let him lead her into the room, where Sophy +was changing the bright border of a travelling-cloak to crape, +and Maurice stood watching, as if stunned.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is settled,' continued she, rapidly. 'Sophy +and the children go to the vicarage. Yes, I know, you are very +kind, but Maurice would be troublesome, and Winifred is not well +enough, and the Dusautoys wish it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, that may be the best plan, as I shall be +absent.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She turned round, startled.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I cannot let you go alone.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nonsense--Winifred--Sunday--Lent--I don't want +any one. Nothing could happen to me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars caught Sophy's eye beaming with +sudden relief and gratitude, and repeated, 'If you go, I must +take you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can't wait for Sunday,' she said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What have you heard?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She produced the letter, and read parts of it. +The whole stood thus:--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Bormola,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">11 p.m., February 28th, 1855.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Dearest Albinia,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope all has gone fairly well with you in my +absence, and that Sophia is well again. Could I have foreseen the +condition of affairs here, I doubt whether I could have resolved +on leaving you at home, though you may be spared much by not +being with us. I landed at noon to-day, and was met in the +harbour by your cousin, who had come off in a boat in hopes of +finding you on board. He did his best to prepare me for Gilbert's +appearance, but I was more shocked than I can express. There can +no longer be any doubt that it is a case of rapid decline, +brought on by exposure, and, aggravated by the injury at +Balaklava. Colonel Ferrars fancies that Gilbert's exertions on +his behalf in the early part of his illness may have done harm, +by preventing the broken bone from uniting, and causing it to +press on the lungs; but knowing the constitutional tendency, we +need not dwell on secondary causes, and there is no one to whom +we owe a deeper debt of gratitude than to your cousin, for his +most assiduous and affectionate attendance at a time when he is +very little equal to exertion. They are like brothers together, +and I am sure nothing has been wanting to Gilbert that he could +devise for his comfort. They are in a tolerably commodious airy +lodging, where I found Gilbert propped up with cushions on a +large chair by the window, flushed with eager watching. Poor +fellow, to see how his countenance fell when he found I was +alone, was the most cutting reproach I ever received in my life. +He was so completely overcome, that he could not restrain his +tears, though he strove hard to command himself in this fear of +wounding my feelings; but there are moments when the truth will +have its way, and you have been more to him than his father has +ever been. May it be granted that he may yet know how I feel +towards him! His first impression was that you had never forgiven +him for his unfortunate adventure with Maurice, and could never +feel towards him as before; and though I trust I have removed +this idea, perhaps such a letter as you can write might set his +heart at rest. Ferrars says that hitherto his spirits have kept +up wonderfully, though latterly he had been evidently aware of +his condition, but he has been very much depressed this evening, +probably from the reaction of excited expectation. On learning +the cause of Lucy's desertion, he seemed to consider that his +participation in the transactions of that night had recoiled upon +himself, and deprived him of your presence. It was very painful +to see how he took it. He was eager to be told of the children, +and the only time I saw him brighten was when I gave him their +messages. I am writing while I hope he sleeps. I am glad to be +here to relieve the Colonel, who for several nights past has +slept on the floor, in his room, not thinking the Maltese servant +trustworthy. He looks very ill and suffering, but seems to have +no thought but for Gilbert, and will not hear of leaving him; +and, in truth, they cling together so affectionately, that I +could not bear to urge their parting, even were Fred more fit to +travel home alone. I will close my letter to-morrow after the +doctor's visit.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The conclusion was even more desponding; the +physician had spoken of the case as hopeless, and likely to +terminate rapidly; and Gilbert, who was always at the worst in +the morning, had shown no symptom that could lead his father to +retract his first impression.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars saw that it would be useless and +cruel to endeavour to detain his sister, and only doubted whether +in her precipitation, she might not cross and miss her husband in +a still sadder journey homeward, and this made him the more +resolved to be her escort. When she dissuaded him vehemently as +though she were bent on doing something desperate, he replied +that he was anxious about Fred, and if she and her husband were +engrossed by their son, he should be of service in bringing him +home; and this somewhat reconciled her to what was so much to her +benefit. Only she gave notice that he must not prevent her from +travelling day and night, to which he made no answer, while Sophy +hoarsely said that but for knowing herself to be a mere +impediment, she should have insisted on going, and her uncle must +not keep mamma back. Then Maurice imitatively broke out, 'Mamma, +take me to Gilbert, I wont be a plague, I promise you.' He was +scarcely silenced before Mr. Dusautoy came striding in to urge on +her that Fanny and himself should be much happier if he were +permitted to conduct Mrs. Kendal to Malta (the fact being that +Fanny was persuaded that Mr. Ferrars would obviate such +necessity). Albinia almost laughed, as she had declared that she +had set all the parsons in the country in commotion, and Mr. +Dusautoy was obliged to limit his good offices to the care of the +children, and the responsibility of the Fairmead Sunday +services.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The good hard-worked brother had hardly time to +eat his luncheon, before he started to inform his wife, and +prepare for his journey. Winifred was a very good sister on an +emergency; she had not once growled since poor Mrs. Meadows had +been really ill; and though she had been feeding on hopes of +Albinia's visit, and was far from strong, she quashed her +husband's misgivings, and cheerily strove to convince him that he +would be wanted by no one, least of all by herself. A slight +vituperation of the polysyllabic pair was all the relief she +permitted herself, and who could blame her for that, when even +Mr. Dusautoy called the one 'that foolish fellow,' and the other +'poor dear Lucy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia and Sophy safe over the fire that +evening, after their sorrowful tasks unable to turn to anything +else, wondering how and when they should meet again, and their +words coming slowly, and with long intervals of +silence.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Dear child,' said Albinia, 'promise me to take +care of yourself, and to let Mrs. Dusautoy judge what you can +do.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm not worth taking care of,' muttered +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We think you worth our anxiety,' said Albinia, +tenderly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I will not make it worse for you,' meekly +replied Sophy. 'I don't think I'm cross now, I could not +be--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, indeed you are not, my dear. We have leant +on each other, and when we come home, you will make our +welcome.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The children will.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! I think Maurice will behave well. He is +very much subdued. I told him he was to do no lessons, and he +fairly burst out crying.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, mamma!' exclaimed Sophy, hurt, indignant, +and nearly ready to follow his example.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do not think he has mastery over himself, so +as to help being unruly and idle, when he is chained to a +spelling-book. I would not for the world set him and you to worry +each other for an hour a day, and I shall start afresh with him +all the better, when he knows what absence of lessons is, and has +forgotten all the old associations.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How could you make him cry?' said Sophy, in +reproach.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I believe the tears only wanted an excuse. I +<i>did</i> put it on his naughtiness, which usually would have +elated him; but his heart was so full as to make even a long +holiday a punishment. That boy often shows me what a thorough +Kendal he is; things sink into him as they never did into us at +the same age, when my aunts used to think I had no feeling. Oh, +Sophy! how will you comfort him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'His will be an unstained sorrow,' said Sophy, +from the depths of her heart. 'O, mamma, only tell Gilbert what +you know I feel--no, you don't, no one can, but what I would not +give, to change all I have felt towards him? If I had been like +Edmund, and prized his gentleness and sweetness, and the humility +that was the best worth of all, how different it would be! But I +was proud of despising where truth was wanting.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I should have thought I should have done the +same,' said Albinia; but there was no keeping from loving Gibbie. +Besides, he was sincere, except when he was afraid, and he was +miserable when he was deceiving.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, after you came,' said Sophy; 'but I +believe I helped him to think truth disagreeable. I showed my +scorn for his want of boldness, instead of helping him. Think of +my having fancied <i>he</i> had no courage.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Kindness taught him courage,' said Albinia. +'It might perhaps have earlier taught him moral courage. If you +and he could have leant against each other, and been fused +together, you would have made something like what Edmund was, I +suppose.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I drove him off,' cried Sophy. 'I was no +sister to him. Will you bring me his forgiveness?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Indeed I will; and you may feel sure of it +already, dearest. It will make you gentler all your +life.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, I shall grow harder and harsher the longer +I live, and the fewer I have to love me in spite of +myself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think not,' said Albinia. 'Humility will +make your severity more gentle, and you will soften, and win love +and esteem.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She looked up, but cried, 'I shall never make +up to Gilbert nor to grandmamma!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia felt it almost as hard to leave her as +the two little ones.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When once on her journey, and feeling each +moment an advance towards the goal, Albinia was less unhappy than +she could have thought possible; she trusted to her brother, and +enjoyed the absence of responsibility, and while he let her go +on, could give her mind to what pleased and interested him, and +he, who was an excellent courier, so managed that there were few +detentions to overthrow her equanimity on the way to +Marseilles.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But when the Vectis came in sight of the rocky +isle, with its white stony heights, the heart-sickness of +apprehension grew over her, and she saw, as in a mist, the noble +crescent-shaped harbour, the stately ramparts, mighty batteries, +the lofty terraces of flat-roofed dwellings, apparently rather +hewn out of, than built on, the dazzling white stone, between the +intense blue of the sky above and of the sea below. Her eye +roamed as in a dream over the crowds of gay boats with white +awnings, and the motley crowds of English and natives, the +boatmen screaming and fighting for the luggage, and beggars +plaintively whining out their entreaties for small coins. Her +brother Maurice had been at Malta as a little boy, and remembered +the habits of the place enough, as soon as they had set foot on +shore, to secure a brown-skinned loiterer, in Phrygian cap, loose +trousers, and crimson sash, to act as guide and +porter.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Along the Strada San Giovanni, a street of +stairs, shut in by high stone walls, with doors opening on either +side, they went not as fast as Albinia's quivering limbs would +fain have moved, yet too fast when her breath came thick with +anxiety--down again by the stone stairs called '<i>Nix +Mangiare</i>' (nothing to eat), from the incessant cry of the +beggars that haunt them--then again in a boat, which carried them +amid a strange world of shipping to the bottom of the dockyard +creek, where, again landing, she was told she had but to ascend, +and she would be at Bormola.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She could have paused, in dread; and she leant +heavily on her brother's arm when they presently turned up a +lane, no broader than a passage, with low stone steps at +irregular intervals. They were come!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The summons at the door was answered by a +dark-visaged Maltese, and while Maurice was putting the question +whether Colonel Ferrars and Captain Kendal lived here, a figure +appeared on the stairs, and beckoned, ascending noiselessly with +languid steps and slippered feet, and leading the way into a +slightly furnished room, with green balcony and striped blind. +There he turned and held out his hand; but Albinia hardly +recognised him till he said, 'I thought I heard your voice, +Maurice;' and then the low subdued tone, together with the gaunt +wasted form, haggard aged face, the long beard, and worn undress +uniform, with the armless sleeve, made her so realize his +sufferings, that, clasping his remaining hand in both her own, +she could utter nothing but, 'Oh! Fred! Fred!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He looked at her brother with such inquiry, +perplexity, and compassion, that almost in despair Maurice +exclaimed, 'We are not too late!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, thank God!' said Frederick. 'We did hope +you might come! Sit down, Albinia; I'll--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Edmund! Is he there!' she said, scarcely alive +to what was passing, and casting another expressively sorrowful +look at Maurice, Fred answered, 'Yes, I will tell him: I will see +if you can come in.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Stay,' said Mr. Ferrars; 'she should compose +herself, or she will only hurt herself and Gilbert.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know,' murmured Fred, hastily leaving +them.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice understood that Gilbert was even then +summoned by one who would brook no delays; but Albinia, too much +agitated to notice slight indications, was about to follow, when +her brother took her hand, and checked her like a child. 'Wait a +minute, my dear, he will soon come back.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Where's Edmund? Why mayn't I go to Gilbert?' +she said, still bewildered.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Fred is gone to tell them. Sit down, my dear; +take off your bonnet, you are heated, you will be better able to +go to him, if you are quiet.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She passively submitted to be placed on a +chair, and to remove her bonnet; and seeing some dressing +apparatus through an open door, Maurice brought her some cold +water to refresh her burning face. She looked up with a smile, +herself again. 'There thank you, Maurice: I wont be foolish +now.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'God support you, my dear!' said her brother, +for the longer the Colonel tarried, the worse were his +forebodings.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Perhaps the doctor is there,' she proceeded. +'That will be well. Ask him everything, Maurice. But oh! did you +ever see any one so much altered as poor Fred! He looks twenty +years older! Ah! I am quite good now! I may go now!' she cried, +as the door opened.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But as Frederick returned, there was that +written on his brow, which lifted her out of the childishness of +her agitation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear Albinia,' he said in a trembling +voice, 'Mr. Kendal cannot leave him to come to you. He has been +much worse since last night,' and as her face showed that she was +gathering his meaning, he pursued in a lower and more awe-struck +tone: 'We think he is sensible, but we cannot tell. It could not +hurt him for you to come in, and perhaps he may know you, but are +you able to bear it? Is she, Maurice?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, I am,' she answered; and the calm +firmness of her tone proved that she was a woman again. Her hand +shook less than did that of her cousin, as silently and +reverently he took it, and led her into another room on the same +floor.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There, in the subdued light, she saw her +husband, seated on the bed, holding in his arms his son, who lay +lifted up and supported upon his breast, with head resting on his +shoulder, and eyes closed. There was no greeting, no sound save +the long, heavily drawn, gasping breaths. Mr. Kendal raised his +eyes to her; she silently knelt down and took the wasted hand +that lay helplessly on the coverlet, but it moved feebly from her +as though harassed by the touch.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gilbert, dear boy,' said his father, +earnestly, 'she is come! Speak to him, Albinia.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She hardly knew her own voice as she said, +'Gilbert, Gibbie dear, here I am.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Those large brown eyes were shown for a few +moments beneath the heavy lids, and met hers. The mouth, hitherto +only gasping for air, endeavoured to form a word; the hand sought +hers. She kissed him, and his eyes opened wide and brightened, +while he said, 'I think it is pardon now.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Pardon indeed!' said his father, with a +greater look of relief than Albinia understood, 'you are resting +in His Merits.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert's look brightened, and he said, 'I know +it now.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thank God,' said Mr. Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">His eyes closed, and Fred whispered to the +father, 'Maurice is here too.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Again the light woke in the eye, with almost a +smile, the look that always welcomed the little brother; and +Albinia grieved to say, 'Not little Maurice, though he longed to +come; it is my brother.' But the air of eagerness did not pass +away, and he seemed satisfied when Mr. Ferrars came in. It was as +a priest, speaking words not his own; and Albinia and Fred knelt +with him. At the close of each prayer or psalm, Gilbert signed +imploringly for more, even like our mighty dying queen; and at +each short pause, the distressed agonized expression would again +contract the brow, though in the sound of the holy words all was +peace. The Psalm of the Good Shepherd with the Rod and Staff in +the Valley of the Shadow of Death, recurred so strongly to +Maurice, that he repeated it like a cadence after each +penitential supplication, every time bringing a look of peace to +the countenance of the sufferer.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They must have remained long thus, Fred had +grown exhausted with kneeling and had been forced to sit on the +floor, and Maurice's voice waxed low and hoarse; yet he durst not +pause, though doubting whether Gilbert could follow the meaning. +At length the eyes were again raised. With a start as of haste, +Gilbert looked full at Albinia, and said, 'Thank you. Tell +Maurice--' He could not finish, and there was an agony for +breath, then as his father raised him, he contrived to say, +'Father--mother--kiss me; it is forgiven!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Another look brought Fred to press his hand, +and he smiled his thanks.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There were a few more terrible minutes, from +which they would fain have led away Albinia, but suddenly his +brow grew smooth, his eyes were eagerly fixed as on something +before him, and as if replying to a call, he said, 'Yes!' with a +start and a quiver of all his limbs, and then--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The first words were Mr. Kendal's. 'Edmund has +come for him!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was to the rest as if the father had been in +some manner conscious of the presence of the one twin-brother, +and, were resigning the other to his charge, for he calmly kissed +the forehead, closed the eyes, laid down the form, he had so long +held in his arms, and after a few moments on his knees, with his +face hidden, in his hands, he rose with composure, and said to +his wife, 'I am glad you were in time.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Had he given way, Albinia would have been +strong, but there was no need to support to counteract the force +of disappointment and grief, acting upon overwrought spirits, and +a fatigued, exhausted frame. Were these half-conscious looks and +broken words all she had come for, all she should ever have of +Gilbert? This was the moment's predominant sensation; she was +past thinking; and though she still controlled herself, she cast +a wild, piteous eye on her husband, and as he lifted her up, she +sank on his breast, not fainting, not sobbing, but utterly +prostrated, and needing all his support as he led her out, and +laid her on a couch in the next room, speaking softly as if +hoping his voice would restore her. 'We had some faint hope of +you; we knew you would wish it, so you see all is ready. But you +have done too much, my dear: Maurice should not have let you +travel so fast.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, no,' said Albinia, catching her breath. +'Oh! not to have come sooner!' and she gave way to a violent +burst of tears, during which he fondled and soothed her till she +suddenly said, 'I did not come here to behave in this way! I came +to help you! Edmund, what shall I do?' and she would have started +up.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Only lie still, and let me take care of you,' +said he. 'Nothing could be to me like your coming,' and she was +forced to believe his glistening eyes and voice of +tenderness.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Can you keep quiet a little while,' said Mr. +Kendal, wistfully, 'while I go to speak to your brother? It was +very good in him to come! Don't speak; I will come back +directly.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She did lie still, for she was too much spent +to move, and the silence was good for her; for if the +overwhelming sensation of grief would sweep over her, on the +other hand, there was the remembrance of the look of peace, and +the perception that her husband was not as yet so struck to the +earth as she had feared. He was not long in returning, bringing +some coffee for her and for himself, and speaking with the same +dreamy serenity, though looking excessively pale. 'Your brother +told me to give you this,' he said. 'I am glad the colonel is +under such care, for he is terribly distressed and not at all fit +to bear it. I could not make him go to bed all last +night.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You were up all last night, and many nights +before,' said Albinia; 'and all alone! Oh! why was I not here to +help!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Fred was a great comfort,' said Mr. Kendal. 'I +cannot describe my gratitude to him. And dearest--' He paused, +and added with hesitation, 'I do not now regret the having come +out alone. After the first disappointment, I think that my boy +and I learnt to know each other better. If he had left me nothing +but the recollection that I had been too severe and +unsympathizing to win his confidence, I hardly know how I could +have borne it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He was able to talk to you, then?' cried +Albinia. 'That was what I always wished! Yes, it <i>was</i> +right, so it came right. I had got between you as I ought not to +have done, and it was well you should have him to +yourself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not as you ought not,' he fondly answered. +'You always were his better angel, and you came at last as a +messenger of peace. There was relief and hope from the moment +that he knew you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He told her what could scarcely have passed his +lips save in those earlier hours of affliction. It had been a +time of grievous mental distress. Neither natural temperament nor +previous life had been such as to arm poor Gilbert to meet the +King of Terrors; and as day by day he felt the cold grasp +tightening on him, he had fluttered like a bird in the snare of +the fowler, physically affrighted at the death-pang, shrinking +from the lonely entrance into the unknown future, and despairing +of the acceptableness of his own repentance. He believed that he +had too often relapsed, and he could not take heart to grasp the +hope of mercy and rest in the great atonement. The last Communion +had been melancholy, the contrite spirit unable to lift itself +up, and apparently only sunk the lower by the weight of love and +gratitude, deepening the sense of how much had been disregarded. +There had since been a few hopeful gleams, but dimmed by bodily +suffering and terror; and doubly mournful had been the weary +hours of the night and morning, while he lay gasping away his +life upon his father's breast. Having at first taken the absence +of his stepmother as a sign that she had not forgiven him, he had +only laid aside this notion for a more morbid fancy that the +deprivation was a token of wrath from above; and there could be +little doubt that her final appearance was hailed as a seal of +pardon not merely from her. Her brother, who had raised him up +after his last fall, was likewise the person above all others to +bring the message of mercy to speed him to the Unseen, where, as +his look and gesture had persuaded his father, his brother, or +some yet more blessed one, had received and welcomed the frail +and trembling spirit.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That last farewell, that dawn of peace, so long +prayed for, so ardently desired, had given Mr. Kendal such +thankfulness and relief as sustained him, and enabled him to +support his wife, who knew not how to meet her first home grief; +whereas to him sorrow had long been a household guest more +familiar than joy; and he was more at rest about his son than he +had been for many a year. He could dwell on him together with +Edmund, instead of connecting him with shame, grief, and pain; +though how little could he have borne to think that thus it would +end, when in the springtime of his manhood he had rejoiced over +his beautiful twin boys.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He knew his son better than heretofore. After +the first day's disappointment, Gilbert had found him +all-sufficient, and had rested on his tenderness. All sternness +had ceased on one side, all concealment on the other, and the +sweetness of both characters had had full scope. Gilbert's ardent +love of home had shown itself in every word, and his last +exertion, had been to write a long letter to his little brother, +which had been completed and despatched by a private hand a few +days previously. He had desired that Maurice should have his +sword, and mentioned the books which he wished his sisters to +share, talking of Sophy as one whom he honoured much, and wished +he had known better; but much pained by hearing nothing from +Lucy, and lamenting his share in her union with Algernon. He had +said something about his wish that the almshouses should be +built, but his father had turned away the subject, knowing that +in case of his dying intestate and unmarried, the property was +settled on the sisters, and seeing little chance of any such work +being carried out with the co-operation of Mr. Cavendish +Dusautoy. Latterly he had spoken of Genevieve Durant; he knew +better how unworthy of her he had been, and how harassing his +pursuit must have appeared, but he could not help entreating that +her pardon might be asked in his name, that she might hear that +he had loved her to the last, and above all, that his father +would never lose sight of her; and Mr. Kendal's promise to regard +her as the next thing to his daughters had been requited with a +look of the utmost gratitude and affection.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">This was the substance of what Mr. Kendal told +his wife as they sat together, unwitting of the lapse of time, +and shrinking from any interruption that might mar their present +peace and renew the sense of bereavement.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars was the first to knock at the door. +He had been doing his utmost to spare both them and Fred, who +needed all his care. These four months of mutual dependence had +been even more endearing than the rescue of Fred's life on the +battlefield; and he declared that Gilbert had done him more good +than any one else. They had been so thrown together as to make +the 'religious sentiment' of the younger tell upon the warm +though thoughtless heart of the elder. They had been most fondly +attached; and in his present state, reduced by wounds and +exhausted by watching, Fred was more overpowered than those more +closely concerned. He could hardly speak collectedly when an +officer of the garrison called to consult him with regard to a +military funeral, and it was for this that Maurice was obliged to +refer to the father. There were indeed none of his regiment in +the island, but there was a universal desire in the garrison to +do honour to the distinguished young officer, for whom great +interest had been felt and the compliment brought a glow of +exultation to Mr. Kendal's face, as he expressed his warm thanks, +but desired that the decision might rest with Fred himself, as +his son's lieutenant-colonel.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice felt himself fully justified in his +expedition when he found that all devolved on him, even writing +to Sophy, and making the most necessary arrangements; for the +colonel was incapable of exertion, Albinia was prostrated by the +shock, and Mr. Kendal appeared to be lulled into a strange calm +by the effects of the excessive bodily weariness consequent on +the exhausting attendance of the last few days. They all depended +upon Mr. Ferrars, and recognised his presence as an infinite +comfort.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In the morning Albinia came forth like one who +had been knocked down and shattered, weary and gentle, and with +the tears ever welling into her eyes, above all when she +endeavoured to write to Sophy; and she showed her ordinary +earnestness only when she entreated to see her boy once more. Her +husband took her to look on the countenance settled into the +expression of unearthly peace, but she was not satisfied; it was +not her own Gilbert, boyish, sensitive, dependent, and shrinking. +The pale brow, the marked manly features, the lower ones +concealed by the brown moustache, belonged to the hero who had +dared the deadly ride and borne his friend through the storm of +shot and shell; the noble, settled, steadfast face was the face +of a stranger, and gave her a thrill of disappointment. She +gloried in the later Gilbert, but the last she had seen of him +whom she loved for his weakness, had been when she had not heeded +his farewell.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It made the pang the less when evening came and +he was carried to his resting-place. They would have persuaded +Frederick to spare himself, but as the only officer of the same +corps, as well as for the sake of many closer ties, he would not +hear of being absent, and made his cousin Maurice do his best to +restore the smart soldierly air which he for the first time +thought of regretting.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Gilbert's horse had perished at Balaklava, but +his cap, sword, and spurs, were laid on the coffin, and from her +shaded window Albinia watched it borne between the files of +soldiers with arms reversed; and the procession of officers whose +bright array contrasted with the colonel's war-worn dress, +ghastly cheek, and empty sleeve, tokens of the reality of war +amid its pageantry, as all moved slowly away to the deep tones of +the solemn Dead March, music well befitting the calm grandeur of +the face she had seen, and leaving her heart throbbing with the +deep exulting awe and pathos of a soldier's funeral. She knelt +alone, and followed the burial service in the stillness of the +room overlooking the broad expanse of blue sea and sky; and +by-and-by, through the window came the sound of the volley fired +over the grave, the farewell of the army to the soldier at rest, +his battles ended.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There was peace, and there was glory; but she +could not divest herself of a sense of unreality. She could not +feel as if it were really and truly Gilbert, and she were +mourning for him. All was like a dream--that solemn military +spectacle--the serene, grave sunshine on the fortress-harbour +stretching its mailed arms into the sea--the roofs of the +knightly old monastic city rising in steps from the bay crowded +with white sails--and even those around her were different, her +husband pale and still, as in a region above common life, and her +cousin like another man, without his characteristic joyousness +and insouciance. She could hardly induce herself, in her drowsy +state, to believe that all was indeed veritable and +tangible.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was nothing to detain them at Malta, and +Mr. Ferrars, who arranged everything, thought the calm of a +sea-voyage would be better for them all than the bustle and +fatigue of a land journey.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Kendal himself does not care about getting +home,' he said to Fred, who was afraid this was determined on his +account. 'I fear many annoyances are in store for him. His +son-in-law will not be pleasant to deal with about the +property.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">With an exclamation Fred started from the +chairs on which he had been resting, and dived into his +sabre-tasch which hung from the wall. 'I never liked to begin +about it,' he said, 'but I ought to have given them this. It was +done when he was so bad at Scutari. One night he worked himself +into a fever lest he should not live till his birthday, and said +a great deal about this Dusautoy making himself an annoyance, +perhaps insisting on a sale and turning his father out. Nothing +pacified him till, the very day he was of age, we got the +vice-consul to draw up what he wanted, and witness it, and so did +I and the doctor, and here it is. Afterwards he warned me to say +nothing of it when Mr. Kendal came, for he said if the other +fellow made a row, it would be better his father should be able +to say he had known nothing of the matter.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Does he make his father his heir?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That's the whole of it. He said his sisters +would see it was the only way to get things even, and I was to +tell Albinia something about building cottages or almshouses. Ay, +"his father was to do what ought to have been done."'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, there's the best deed of poor Gilbert's +life!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thank you,' mumbled Fred, hall drolly, half +gravely.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ay, Kendal and Albinia will do more good with +that property than you have thought of in all your life, +sir.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Their future and my past,' laughed Fred, +adding more gravely, 'Scamp as I am, there's more responsibility +coming on me now, and I have gone through some preparation for +it. If I can get out to Canada--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You will not lessen your responsibilities,' +said Maurice, smiling, 'nor your competency to meet +them.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I <i>trust</i> not,' said Fred.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars read in his countenance far more +than was implied by those words. The General, by treating him as +a boy, had kept him one, and perhaps his levity had been +prolonged by the rejection of his first love; but a really steady +attachment had settled his character, and he had been undergoing +much training through his own sufferings, Gilbert's illness, and +the sense of the new position that awaited him as commanding +officer; and for the first time Maurice, who had always been very +fond of him, felt that he was talking to a high-principled and +right-minded man instead of the family pet and +laughing-stock.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I suppose,' he said, 'that you cannot have +heard often from Montreal since you have been in the +East.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No. If my letters are anywhere, it is at the +Family Office. I desired them to be forwarded thither from +head-quarters, not expecting to be detained here. But,' cried +Fred with animation, 'what think you of the General actually +writing to Mr. Kinnaird from Balaklava?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It would have been too bad if he had +not.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I believe he did so solely to make me sleep, +but it is the first time he has deigned to treat the affair as +anything but a delusion, and he can't retract now. Since that, +poor Gilbert has made a scrap or two of mine presentable, and +there's all that I have been able to accomplish; but I hope it +may have set her mind at rest.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Shall I be secretary?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Thank you, I think not. She would only worry +herself about what is before me; and if the doctors let me off +easy, I had rather report of myself in person.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">His eyes danced, and Maurice thought his +unselfishness deserved a reward.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My poor Gilbert's last secret,' said Mr. +Kendal, as he laid before his wife the brief document by which +his son had designated him as his sole heir and executor. 'A gift +to you, and a trust to me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia looked up for explanation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'While he intrusts his sisters to my justice, +he tacitly commends to me the works which you wished to see +accomplished.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The almshouses! The improvements! Do you mean +to undertake them?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It shall be my most sacred duty.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! that we could have planned it with +him!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Perhaps I value this the more from the +certainty that it is spontaneous,' said Mr. Kendal. 'It showed +great consideration and forethought, that he said nothing of his +intention to me. Had he mentioned it, I should have thought it +right to suggest his leaving his sisters their share; and yet, as +we are situated with young Dusautoy, it would have been awkward +to have interfered. He did well and wisely to be +silent.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You don't expect Algernon to be discontented. +Impossible, at such a time, and so well off as he is!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wish it may be impossible.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What do you mean, to do?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'As far as I can see at present, I shall do +this. I fear neither the mode of acquisition nor the management +of that property was such as to bring a blessing, and I believe +my poor boy has made it over to me in order to free his sisters +from the necessity of winking at oppression and iniquity. Had it +gone to them, matters must have been let alone till Sophia came +of age, and even then, all improvements must have depended on +Algernon's consent. The land and houses we will keep, and +sufficient ready money for the building and repairs; and to this, +Sophia, at least, will gladly agree. The rest--something under +twenty thousand, if I remember correctly--is the girls' right. I +will settle Lucy's share on her so as to be out of her husband's +power, and Sophia shall have hers when she comes of +age.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am sure that will take from Algernon all +power of grumbling, though I cannot believe that even he could +complain.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You approve, then?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How can yon ask? It is the first thing that +has seemed like happiness, if it did not make one long for him to +talk it over!' The wound was still very recent, and her spirits +very tender, and the more she felt the blessing of the +association with Gilbert in the work of love, the more she wept, +though not altogether in sorrow.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mortified at having come so much overworked and +weakened, as to occasion only trouble and anxiety, she yielded +resignedly when forbidden to wear out strength and spirits by a +visit to the burial-ground before her embarkation. She must +content herself with Maurice's description of the locality, and +carry away in her eye only the general picture of the sapphire +ocean and white rock fortress of the holy warriors vowed to +tenderness and heroism, as the last resting-place of her +cherished Gilbert, when 'out of weakness he had been made strong' +in penitence and love.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XXVII.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">Had Sophia's wishes been consulted, she would +have preferred nursing her sorrows at home; but no choice had +been left, and at the vicarage the fatherly kindness of Mr. +Dusautoy, and the considerate let-alone system of his wife, kept +her at ease and not far from cheerful, albeit neither the +simplicity of the one nor the keenness of the other was +calculated to draw her into unreserve: comfort was in the +children.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The children clung to her as if she made their +home, little Albinia preferring her even to Uncle John, as he had +insisted on being called ever since Lucy had become his niece, +and Maurice invoking caresses, the bestowal of which was his +mother's rare privilege. The boy was dull and listless, and +though riot and mirth could be only too easily excited, his +wildest shouts and most frantic gesticulations were like efforts +to throw off a load at his heart. Time hung heavy on his hands, +and he would lie rolling and kicking drearily on the floor, +watching with some envy his little sister as she spelt her way +prosperously through 'Little Charles,' or daintily and distinctly +repeated her hymns. 'Nothing to do' was the burthen of his song, +and with masculine perverseness he disdained every occupation +suggested to him. Sophy might boast of his obedience and +quiescence, but Mrs. Dusautoy pitied all parties, and wondered +when he would be disposed of at school.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Permission to open letters had been left with +Sophy, who with silent resignation followed the details of poor +Gilbert's rapid decay. At last came the parcel by the private +hand, containing a small packet for each of the family. Sophy +received a silver Maltese Cross, and little Albinia a perfumy +rose-leaf bracelet. There was a Russian grape-shot for Maurice, +and with it a letter.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">With childish secrecy, he refused to let any +one look at so much as the envelope, and ran away with it, +shouting 'It's mine.' Sophy was grieved that it should be treated +like a toy, and fearing that, while playing at importance, he +would lose or destroy it, without coming to a knowledge of the +contents, she durst not betray her solicitude, lest she should +give a stimulus to his wilfulness and precipitate its fate. +However, when he had galloped about enough, he called +imperatively, 'Sophy;' and she found him lying on his back on the +grass, the black cat an unwilling prisoner on his +chest.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You may read it to Smut and me,' he +said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It bore date the day after his father's +arrival, but it had evidently been continued at many different +times; and as the handwriting became more feeble, the style grew +more earnest, so that, but for her hoarse, indifferent voice, +Sophy could hardly have accomplished the reading.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear Maurice,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Many, many thanks to you and dear little Awkey +for your present. I have set it up like a picture, and much do I +like to look at it, and guess who chose the colours and who are +the hunters. I am sure the fat man in the red coat is the +admiral. It makes the place seem like home to see what tells so +plainly of you and baby.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Kiss my little Awk for me, and thank her for +wanting to send me Miss Jenny, dear little maid; I like to think +of it. You will not let her quite forget me. You must show her my +name if it is put up in church, like Edmund's and all the little +ones'; and you will sometimes tell her about dear old Ned on a +Sunday evening when you are both very good.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think you know that you and she will never +again run out into the hall to pull Gibbie almost down between +you. Perhaps by the time you read this, you will be the only son, +with all the comfort and hope of the house resting upon you. My +poor Maurice, I know what it is to be told so, and only to feel +that one has no brother; but at least it cannot be to you as it +was with me, when it was as if half myself were gone, and all my +stronger, better, braver self.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My father has been reading to me the Rich Man +and Lazarus. Maurice, when you read of him and the five brethren, +think of me, and how I pray that I may not have left seeds of +temptation for you. In the time of my loneliness, Tritton was +good-natured, but I ought to have avoided him; and that to which +he introduced me has been the bane of my life. Nothing gives me +such anguish as to think I have made you acquainted with that +set. Keep out of their way! Never go near those pigeon-shootings +and donkey-races; they seem good fun, but it is disobedience to +go, and the things that happen there are like the stings of +venomous creatures; the poison was left to fester even when your +mother seemed to have cured me. Neither now nor when you are +older resort to such things or such people. Next time you meet +Tritton and Shaw tell them I desired to be remembered to them; +after that have nothing to do with them; touch your hat and pass +on. They meant it in good nature, and thought no harm, but they +were my worst enemies; they led me astray, and taught me +deception as a matter of course. Oh! Maurice, never think it +manly to have the smallest reserve with your parents. I would +give worlds to have sooner known that truth would have been +freedom and rest. Thank Heaven, your faults are not my faults. If +you go wrong, it will be with a high hand, but you would wring +hearts that can ill bear further grief and disappointment. Oh! +that I were more worthy to pray that you may use your strength +and spirit the right way; then you will be gladness to our father +and mother, and when you lie down to die, you will be happier +than I am.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I want to tell you more, but it hurts me to +write long. If I could only see you--not only in my dreams. I +wake, and my heart sickens with longing for a sight of my brave +boy's merry face, till I almost feel as if it would make me well; +but it is a blessing past hope to have my father with me, and +know him as I have never done before. Give little Albinia these +beads, with my love, and be a better brother to her than I was to +poor Lucy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Good-by, Maurice. No one can tell what you +have been to me since your mother put you into my arms, and I +felt I had a brother again. God bless you and cancel all evil you +may have caught from me. Papa will give you my sword. Perhaps you +will wear it one day, and under my colonel. I have never been so +happy as in the time it was mine. When you look at it, always say +this to yourself: "Fear God, and fear nothing else." O that I had +done so!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Let your dear, dear mother be happy in you: it +will be the only way to make her forgive me in her heart. +Good-by, my own dear, brave boy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Your most affectionate brother,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'G. KENDAL.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I say, Smut,' quoth Maurice, 'I think you and +our Tabby would make two famous horses for Awkey's little cart. I +shall take you home and harness you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy sat breathless at his indifference. 'You +mustn't,' she said in hasty anger; 'Smut is not +yours.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, Jack said that our Tabby had two kittens +up in the loft; I think they'll make better ponies. I shall go +and try them!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't plague the kittens.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'll not plague them; I'll only make ponies of +them. Give me the letter.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, not to play with the cats. I thought you +would have cared about such a letter!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You have no right to keep it! It is mine; give +it me!' cried Maurice, passionately.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Promise to take real care of it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He only tore it from her, and was +gone.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm a fool to expect anything from such a +child,' she thought.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">At two o'clock the Vicar hurried into the bank. +'Good morning, Mr. Goldsmith, I beg your pardon; I wanted to ask +if Mr. O'More has seen little Maurice Kendal.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not since yesterday--what's the +matter?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The child is not come in to dinner. He is +nowhere at home or at Willow Lawn.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ha!' cried Ulick. 'Can he be gone to see his +pony at Hobbs's!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, it has been sent to Fairmead. Then you +have no notion where the child can be? Sophy is nearly +distracted. She saw him last about ten o'clock, bent on +harnessing some kittens, but he's not in the +hay-loft!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He may be gone to the toy-shop after the +harness. Or has anyone looked in the church-tower--he was longing +to go up it, and if the door were open--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The very thing!' cried the Vicar. 'I'll go +this moment.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Or there's old Peter, the sailor,' called +Ulick; 'if he wanted any tackle fitted, he might go to +him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You had better go yourself, More,' said Mr. +Goldsmith. 'One would not wish to keep poor Miss Kendal in +suspense, though I dare say the boy is safe enough.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Goldsmith was thanked, and Ulick hurried +out, Hyder Ali leaping up in amazement at his master being loose +at that time of day.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Everybody had thought the child was with +somebody else till dinner-time, and the state of the vicarage was +one of dire alarm and self-reproach. Sophy was seeking and +calling in every possible place, and had just brought herself to +own the message of remembrance in Gilbert's letter, thinking it +possible Maurice might have gone to deliver it at Robbles Leigh; +and Mr. Hope had undertaken to go thither in quest of him. Ulick +and Mr. Dusautoy, equally disappointed by the tower and the +sailor, went again to Willow Lawn to interrogate the servants. +The gardener's boy had heard Maurice scolding and the cat +squalling, and the cook had heard his step in the house. They +hurried into his little room--he was not there, but the drawers +had been disturbed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He may be gone to Fairmead!' cried the +Vicar.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How?' said Ulick. 'Ha! Hyder, sir!' holding up +a little shoe. 'Seek! That's my fine doggie--they only call you a +mongrel because you have all the canine virtues united. See what +you can do as sleuth hound. Ha! We'll nose him out for you in no +time, Mr. Dusautoy!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">After sniffing round the drawers, the yellow +tripod made an ungainly descent of the stairs, his nose down all +the way, then across the hall and out at the gate; but when, +after poking about, the animal set off on the turnpike-road, the +Vicar demurred.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Stay; the poor dog only wants to get you out +for a walk. He is making for the Hadminster road.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And why wouldn't he, if the child is nowhere +in Bayford?</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can't answer it to his mother wasting time +in this way. You may do as you like. I shall go to the +training-stables, where he has once been, if not on to Fairmead. +I can't see Sophy till he is found!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I shall abide by my little Orangeman,' said +Ulick; and they parted.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Hyder Ali pursued his way in the March dust, +while Ulick eagerly scanned for the traces of a child's foot. +Four miles did the dog go on, evidently following a scent, but +Ulick's mind misgave him as Hadminster church-tower rose before +him, and the dog took the ascent to the station.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Ulick made his way in as a train stood panting +before the platform. He had a glimpse of a square face and curly +hair at the window of a second-class carriage.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Maurice, come back!' he cried. 'Here, guard! +this little boy must come back!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Go on!' shouted Maurice. 'I've got my ticket. +'No one can stop me. I'm going to Malta!' and he tried to get to +the other side of a stout traveller, who defended his legs from +him, and said, 'Ha! Running away from school, young master! +Here's your usher.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, I'm not running away! I'm not at school! +I'm Maurice Kendal! I'm going to my brother at Malta!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He is the son of Mr. Kendal of Bayford,' said +Ulick to the station-master, 'his parents are from home, and +there will be dreadful distress if he goes in this way. Maurice, +your sister has troubles enough already.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I've my ticket, and can't be +stopped.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But even as he spoke, the stout traveller +picked him up by the collar, and dropped him like a puppy dog +into Ulick's arms, just as the train was getting into motion; and +a head protruded from every window to see the truant, who was +pommelling Ulick in a violent fury, and roaring, 'Let me go; I +will go to Gilbert!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Behave like a man,' said Ulick; 'don't +disgrace yourself in that way.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The boy coloured, and choking with passion and +disappointment, and straining against Ulick's hold of his +shoulder.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Indeed, sir,' said the station-master, 'if we +had recognised the young gentleman, we would have made more +inquiries, but he asked so readily for his ticket, not seeming at +a loss, and we have so many young travellers, that we thought of +nothing amiss. Will you have a fly, sir?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm not going home,' said the boy, +undaunted.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You must submit, Maurice. You do not wish to +make poor Sophy miserable.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I must go to Malta,' the boy persisted. +'Gilbert says it would make him well to see me. I know my way; I +saw it in the map, and I've a roll, and the end of a cold tongue, +and a clean shirt, and my own sovereign, and four shillings, and +a half-crown, and a half-penny in my pocket; and I'm +going!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But, Maurice, this gentleman will tell you +that your whole sovereign would not carry you a quarter of the +way to Malta.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The station-master gave so formidable a +description of the impossibilities of the route, that the hardy +little fellow's look of decision relaxed into dejection, his +muscles lost their tension, and he struggled hard with his +tears.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He followed Ulick to the carriage, and hid his +face in a corner, while orders were given to stop at the +post-office in case there were fresh letters. There was one for +Miss Kendal, in Mr. Ferrars' writing, and with black borders. +Ulick felt too surely what it must be, and hardly could bear to +address Maurice, who had shrunk from him with some remains of +passion, but hearing suppressed sobs, he put his hand on him and +said, 'My poor little man.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Get away,' said Maurice, shaking him off. 'Why +did you come and bother?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I came because it would have almost killed +your sister and mother for you to be lost. If you had seen +Sophy's face, Maurice!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't care. Now I shall never see Gilbert +again, and he did want me so!' Maurice hid his face, and his +frame shook with sobs.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Ulick, 'every one knew he wanted +you; but if it had been possible for you to go, your mamma would +have taken you. If your uncle had to take care of her how could +you go alone?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'd have got there somehow,' cried Maurice. +'I'd have seen and heard Gilbert. He's written me a letter to say +he wants to see me, and I can't even make that out!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Has not your sister read it to +you!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hate Sophy's reading!' cried Maurice. 'It +makes it all grumpy, like her. Take it, Ulick--you read +it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That rich, sensitive, modulated voice brought +out the meaning of the letter, though there were places where +Ulick had nearly broken down; and Maurice pressed against him +with the large tears in his eyes, and was some minutes without +speaking.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He does not think of your coming; he does not +expect you, dear boy,' said Ulick. 'It is a precious letter to +have. I hope you will keep it and read it often, and heed it +too.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can't read it,' said Maurice, ruefully. 'If +I could, I shouldn't mind.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You soon will. You see how he tells you you +are to be a comfort; and if you are a good boy, you'll quickly +leave the dunce behind.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can't,' said Maurice. 'Mamma said I should +not do a bit of a lesson with Sophy, or I should tease her heart +out. Would it come quite out?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, I think you've gone hard to try to-day,' +said Ulick.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mamma said my being able to read would be a +comfort, and papa says he never saw such an ignorant boy! so +what's the use of minding Gilbert's letter? It wont let +me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What wont let you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Fun!' said Maurice, with a sob.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He is a rogue!' cried Ulick, vehemently; 'but +a stout heart and good will can get him under yet. Think of what +your brother says of making your father and mother +happy!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If I could do something to please them very, +very much! Oh! if I could but learn to read all at +once.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You can read--anybody can read!' said Ulick, +pulling a book out of his pocket. 'There! try.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was some laughing over this; and then +Maurice leant out of window, and grew sleepy. They had descended +into the wide basin of alluvial land through which the Baye +dawdled its meandering course, and were just about to cross the +first bridge about two miles from Bayford, when Maurice shouted, +'There's Sophy!--how funny.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was a tall figure, in deep mourning, slowly +moving along the towing-path, intently gazing into the river; but +so strange was it to see Sophy so far from home, that Ulick +paused a moment ere calling to the driver to stop.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">As he hastily wrenched open the door, she +raised up her face, and he was shocked. She looked as if she had +lived years of sorrow, and even Maurice was struck with +consternation.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophy! Sophy!' he cried, hanging round her. 'I +wouldn't have gone without telling you, if I had thought you +would mind it. Speak to me, Sophy!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She could say nothing save a hoarse 'Where?' as +with both arms she pressed him as if she could never let him go +again.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'In the train--intending to go to Malta,' said +Ulick.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I didn't know I could not; I didn't mean to +vex you, Sophy,' continued the child. 'I'm come home now, and I +wont try again.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! Maurice, what would have become of you?' +She held out her hand to Ulick, the first time for +months.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And we've got a letter for you, proceeded +Maurice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Ulick would fain have withheld it, but he had +not the choice. She caught at it, still holding Maurice fast, and +ere he could propose her opening it in the carriage while he +walked home she had torn it open, and the same moment she had +sunk down, seated on the path, with an arm round her brother. +'Oh! Maurice, it is well you are here! You would not have found +them--it is over!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She had found one brother to lose the other; +but the relief of Maurice's safety had so softened the blow, that +her tears gushed forth freely.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The sense of Ulick's presence restrained her, +but raising her head, she missed him, and felt lonely, desolate, +deserted, almost fainting, and in a strange place.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Is he dead?' said Maurice, in a solemn low +voice, and she wept helplessly, while the little fellow stood +sustaining her weight like a small pillar, perplexed and +dismayed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Are you poorly, Sophy? What shall I do?' said +he, as she almost fell back, but a stronger arm held her +up.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Lean on me, dear Sophy,' said Ulick, who had +returned, bringing some water from a small house near at hand, +and supported her and soothed her like a brother.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The mists cleared away, the sense of desertion +was gone, and she rose, but could not stand without his arm, and +he almost lifted her into the carriage, where her appealing eye +and helpless gesture made him follow her, and take Maurice on his +knee. No one spoke; Maurice nestled close to his friend; +awe-struck but weighed down by weariness and excitement. The blow +had in reality been given when he was forced to relinquish the +hope of seeing his brother again, and the actual certainty of his +death fell with less comparative force. Perhaps he did not enter +into the fact enough to ask for particulars. After a short space +Sophy recovered herself enough to take out the letter, and read +it over with greater comprehension.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'They were come!' she said.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'In time. I am glad.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'In time to bring him peace, my uncle says! He +knew mamma. I could never have borne it if I had deprived him of +her!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nor I,' said Ulick, from his heart. 'Did one +but know the upshot of one's idle follies!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy looked towards Maurice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Asleep!' said Ulick. 'No wonder. He has walked +four miles! He has a heart that might have been born in Ireland;' +and as he looked at the fair young face softened and sweetened by +sleep, 'What an infant it is to have even fancied such an +undertaking!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor child!' sighed Sophy. 'He will never be +the same!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nay, grief at that age does not check the +spirits for life.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You have never known,' said Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No; our number has never yet been broken; but +for this little man, I trust that the sense of duty may be +deepened, and with it his love to you all; and surely that is not +what will quench the blithe temper.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'May it be so!' said Sophy. 'He may have enough +of his mother in him to be happy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I must think that the recollection of so +loving a brother, and his pride in him for a hero, may make the +stream flow more deeply, but not more darkly.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There never was a cloud between them,' said +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Clouds are all past and gone now between those +who can with him "take part in that thanksgiving lay,"' answered +Ulick, kindly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Sophy. 'My uncle says it was peace +at last! Oh! if humbleness and penitence could win it, one might +be sure it would be his.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'True,' said Ulick. 'It was a beautiful thing +to find the loving sweetness and kindness refined into +self-devotion and patience, and growing into something brighter +and purer as it came near the last. It will be a precious +recollection.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'To those who have no self-reproach,' sighed +Sophy; and after a pause she abruptly resumed, 'You once blamed +me for being hard with him. Nothing was more true.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Impossible--when could I have +presumed?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'When? You remember. After Oxford.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! you should not have let what I said dwell +with you. I was a very raw Irishman then, and thought it +barbarity to look cold on a little indiscretion, but I have +learnt to think differently,' and he sighed. 'The severity that +leads to repentance is truer affection than is shown by making +light of foolishness.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If it had been affection and not wounded +pride.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The dross has been refined away, if there were +any,' said Ulick. 'You will be able to love him better now than +ever you did in life.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">His comprehension met her half way, and gave +her more relief and soothing than anything she had experienced +for months. There was that response and intercommunion of spirit +for which her nature had yearned the more because of the +inability to express the craving; the very turn of the dark blue +eyes, and the inflexions of the voice, did not merely convey +pity, but an entering into the very core of her sorrow, namely, +that she had never loved her brother enough, nor forgiven him for +not being his fellow-twin. Whatever he said tended to reveal to +her that there had been more justice, rectitude, sisterly +feeling, and wholesome training than she had given herself credit +for, and, above all, that Gilbert had loved her all the time. She +was induced to dwell on the exalting and touching circumstances +of his last redeeming year, and her tears streamed calmly and +softly, not with the harshness that had hitherto marred her +grief. Neither could have believed that there had been so long +and marked a separation in feeling, or that Ulick O'More had not +always been one with the Kendal family. It was all too soon that +the conversation ended, and Maurice wakened suddenly at the +vicarage wicket. Mrs. Dusautoy herself came to meet them as the +little boy was lifted out. She had never been seen on her own +feet so far from the house before! But no one ever knew the +terror she had suffered, when of all her three charges not one +was safe but the little Albinia, whose 'poor Maurice' and 'all +gone' were as trying as her alternations of merriment. The vicar, +the curate, the parish clerk, the servants of the two +establishments, and four policemen, were all gone different ways; +and poor Mrs. Dusautoy's day had been spent in hearing the +results of their fruitless researches, or in worse presages, in +which, as it now appeared, the river had played its +part.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She kissed Maurice, and he did not rebel! She +kissed Sophy, and could have shaken off Ulick's hand, but he only +waited to hold up Hyder Ali as the real finder, before he ran off +to desire the school-bell to be rung--the signal for announcing a +discovery. It was well that Maurice was too much stunned and +fatigued to be sensible what a commotion he had excited, or he +might have thought it good fun.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The tidings from Malta came in almost as +something secondary. The case had been too hopeless for anything +else to be looked for, and when Mrs. Dusautoy consigned her +charge to a couch, with entreaties to her not to move, there was +calm tenderness in Sophy's voice as she told what needed to be +told, and did not shrink from sympathy. She was grateful and +gentle, and lay all the rest of the day, sad and physically worn +out, but quietly mournful, and no longer dwelling on the painful +side of past transactions, her remorse had given way to resigned +acquiescence, and desolation to a sense that there was one who +understood her. The sweet tones, and, above all, those two words, +'<i>dear</i> Sophy,' would come chiming back from some +involuntary echo, and the turbid depths were at peace.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When Mr. Dusautoy came to her side, and held +out his hand, his honest eyes brimming over, there was no +repulsion in her manner of saying affectionately, 'You have had a +great deal of trouble for my naughty little brother.' So +different was her whole tone, that her kind friends thought how +much better for some minds was any certainty than suspense. She +bethought herself of sending to the Drurys, and showed rather +gratification than her ordinary impatience at the manifold +reports of the general sympathy, and of Bayford's grief for its +hero. The poison was gone from her mind.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XXVIII.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">The Family Office had been asked to receive the +whole party on their return. Mr. Kendal had business in London, +and could not bear to part with the colonel till he had seen him +safely lodged, and heard the surgeon's opinion.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars was laying himself out to guard his +brother-in-law from being oppressed by the sympathetic welcome of +the good aunts; but though the good ladies never failed in +kindness, all the excess was directed into a different channel; +Albinia herself was but secondary to the wounded hero, for whom +alone they had eyes and ears. They would hardly let him stand +erect for a moment; easy-chairs and couches were offered, soup +and wine, biscuits and coffee were suggested, and questions were +crowded on him, while he, poor fellow, wistfully gazed at the +oft-directed pile of foreign letters on the side-table, and in +pure desperation became too fatigued to go down to +luncheon.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When the others returned, he was standing on +the rug, curling his moustaches. There was a glow of colour on +his hollow cheek, and his eyes danced; he put out his hand, and +catching Albinia's with boyish playfulness, he squeezed it +triumphantly, with the words, 'Albinia, she's a +brick!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They went their several ways, Fred to rest, +Maurice to make an appointment for him with the doctor, and +Albinia to Genevieve, whom Mr. Kendal regarded like his son's +widow, forgetting that the attachment had been neither sanctioned +nor returned. He could not rest without seeing her, and +delivering that last message, but he was glad to have the way +prepared by his wife, and proposed to call for her when his law +business should be over.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia sent in her card, and asked whether +Miss Durant were at liberty. Genevieve came hurrying to her with +outstretched hands: 'Dear Mrs. Kendal, this is kind!' and led her +to the back drawing-room, where they were with one impulse +enfolded in each other's tearful embrace.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! madame, how much you have +suffered!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You know all?' said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'O no, very little. My aunt knows little of +Bayford now, and her sight is too weak for much +writing.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve pushed back her hair; she looked ill +and heavy-eyed, with the extinguished air that sorrow gave her. +Gilbert had distressed, perplexed her, and driven her from home, +but what could be remembered, save the warm affection he had +lavished on her, and the pain she had inflicted? Uneasiness and +sorrow, necessarily unavowed, had preyed on the poor girl for +weeks in secret; and even now she hardly presumed to give way, +relief, almost luxury, as it was to be pressed in those kind +arms, and suffered to weep freely for the champion of her younger +days. When she had heard how he had thought of her to the last, +her emotion grew less controllable; and Albinia was touched by +the idea that there had all along been a stifled preference. +Embellished as Gilbert now was, she could not but wish to believe +that his affection had not been wasted; and his constancy might +well be touching in one of the heroes of the six hundred. At +least, Genevieve had a most earnest and loving appetite for every +detail, and though the afternoon was nearly gone, neither felt as +if half an hour had passed when admittance was asked for Mr. +Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was a trying moment, but Genevieve was too +simple, genuine, and grateful to pause in selfish embarrassment. +Had she toyed with Gilbert's affection, she could not have met +his father with such maidenly modesty, and sweet sympathy and +respect in her blushing cheek and downcast, tearful +eyes.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He took her hand, speaking in the kindest tone +of his mellow voice: 'My dear, Mrs. Kendal has told you what +brings us here, and how much we feel for and with +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So kind in you,' said Genevieve, +faltering.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor child, she has suffered grievously for +want of fuller tidings,' said Albinia; 'she has been keeping her +sorrow pent up all this time.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She has acted, as she has done throughout, +most consistently,' said Mr. Kendal. 'My dear, though it was +inexpedient to show my sentiments, I always respected my son for +having placed his affections so worthily, and though +circumstances were unfortunately adverse, I cannot thank you +enough for your course of action and the influence you +exercised.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I never did,' murmured Genevieve.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not perhaps consciously; but unswerving +rectitude of conduct is one of the strongest earthly influences. +He was sensible of it. He bade me tell you that whenever higher +and better thoughts came to him, you were connected with them; +and when to his surprise, poor boy, he found that he was thought +to have distinguished himself, his first thought was that it +might be a step to your esteem. He desired me to thank you for +all that you have been to him, to entreat you to pardon the +annoyance of which he was the occasion, and to beg you to wear +this for his sake, if you could think of his presumption with +forgiveness and toleration. Those were his words; but I trust you +do not retain displeasure, for though, perhaps, foolishly and +obtrusively expressed, it was sincere and lasting +affection.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, sir!' exclaimed Genevieve, 'do not speak +thus! What can I feel save that it will be my tenderest and +deepest pride to have been so regarded. Oh! that I could thank +him! but,' clasping her hands together, 'I cannot even thank +you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The best way to gratify us,' he said, 'will be +always to remember that you have a home at Willow Lawn, and a +daughter's place in our hearts. Think of me like a father, +Genevieve;' and he kissed her drooping forehead.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! Mr. Kendal, this is goodness.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He turned to Albinia to suggest, 'It must be +intolerable to be here at present. Speak to Mrs. Rainsforth, let +us take her home, if it be but for a week.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Leaving him to make the proposition to +Genevieve, Albinia gained admittance to the other drawing-room, +which she found all over little children, and their mother +looking unequal to dispensing with their deputy. She said she had +feared Miss Durant was looking ill, and had something weighing on +her spirits, though she was always so cheerful and helpful, but +baby had not been well, and Mr. Rainsforth was not at all strong, +and her views had evidently taken no wider range.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia began to think her proposal cruel, and +prefaced it by a few words on the state of the case. The little +bit of romance touched the kind heart. Mrs. Rainsforth was +shocked to think of the grief the governess must have suffered in +secret while aiding to bear her burdens, and was resolved on +letting her have this respite, going eagerly to assure her that +she could well be spared; baby was better, and papa was better, +and the children would be good.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But Genevieve knew too well how necessary she +was, and had been telling Mr. Kendal of the poor little mother's +anxieties with her many delicate children, and her husband's +failing health. She could not leave them with a safe conscience; +and she would not show how she longed after quiet, the country, +and her aunt. She stood firm, and Albinia could not say that she +was not right. Mrs. Rainsforth was distressed, though much +relieved, and was only pacified by the engagement that Miss +Durant should, when it was practicable, spend a long holiday with +her friends.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'At home!' said Mr. Kendal, and the responsive +look of mournful gratitude from beneath the black dewy eyelashes +dispelled all marvel at his son's enduring attachment.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was wonderfully patient when Mrs. Rainsforth +could not be content without Mrs. Kendal's maternal and medical +opinion of the baby, on the road to and from the nursery +consulting her on all the Mediterranean climates, and telling her +what each doctor had said of Mr. Rainsforth's lungs, in the +course of which Miss Durant and her romance were put as entirely +out of the little lady's mind as if she had never +existed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The next day the Kendals set their faces +homewards, leaving Maurice till the surgeon's work should be +done, and Fred, as the aunts fondly hoped, to be their +nursling.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">But, behold! Sunday and Monday Colonel Fred +spent in bed, smiling incessantly; Tuesday and Wednesday on the +sofa; Thursday in going about London; Friday he was off to +Liverpool; Saturday had sailed for Canada.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was coming nearer to the home that was +pulling her by the heart-strings. Hadminster was past, and she +had heard the welcome wards, 'All well,' from the servant who +brought the carriage; but how much more there was to know than +Sophy's detailed letters could convey--Sophy, whose sincerity, +though one of the most trustworthy things in the world, was never +quite to be relied on as to her own health or Maurice's +conduct.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">At the gate there was a little chestnut curled +being in a short black frock, struggling to pull the heavy gate +open with her plump arms, and standing for one moment with her +back to it, screaming 'Mamma! Papa!' then jumping and clapping +her hands in ecstasy and oblivion that the swing of the gate +might demolish her small person between it and the horse. But +there was no time for fright. Sophy caught her and secured the +gate together; and the first glimpse assured Albinia that the +hard gloom was absent. And there was Maurice, leaning against the +iron rail of the hall steps; but he hardly moved, and his face +was so strangely white and set, that Albinia caught him in her +arms, crying, 'Are you well, my boy? Sophy, is he +well?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Quite well,' said Sophy; but the boy had +wriggled himself loose, stood but for an instant to receive his +father's kiss, and had hold of the sword. The long cavalry sabre +was almost as tall as himself, and he stood with both arms +clasped round it; but no sooner did he feel their eyes upon him, +than he turned about and ran upstairs.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was not gracious, but they excused it; they +had their little Albinia comfortably and childishly happy, as yet +without those troublesome Kendal feelings that always +demonstrated themselves in some perverse manner.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And Sophy stood among them--that brighter, +better Sophy who had so long been obscured, happy to have them at +home; talking and asking questions eagerly about the journey, and +describing the kindness of the Dusautoys and the goodness of the +children.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Have you heard from Lucy?' asked Mr. Kendal, +as Albinia went in pursuit of her little boy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes--poor Lucy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Is there no letter from him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not for you, papa.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What? Did he write to his uncle?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, papa--he wrote to me and to Mr. Pettilove. +Cannot he be stopped, papa? Can he do any harm? Mr. Dusautoy and +Mr. Pettilove think he can.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You mean that he wishes to question the will? +You may be quite secure, my dear. Nothing can be more +safe.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, papa! I am so very glad. Not to be able to +hinder him was so dreadful, when he wanted to pit Lucy and me +against you. I could never have looked at you. I should always +have felt that you had something to forgive me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I could not well have confounded you with +Algernon, my dear,' said Mr. Kendal. 'What did Pettilove mean? Do +you know?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not exactly; something about grandpapa's old +settlement; which frightened the Vicar, though Mrs. Dusautoy said +that it was only that he fancied nobody could do anything right +without his help. Mr. Dusautoy is more angry with Algernon than I +thought he could be with anybody.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No one but Algernon would have ever thought of +it,' said Mr. Kendal. 'I am sorry he has molested you, my dear. +Have you any objection to let me see his letter?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I kept it for you, papa, and a copy of my +answer. I thought though I am not of age, perhaps my saying I +would have nothing to do with it might do some good.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Algernon magniloquently condoled with his +sister-in-law on the injustice from which she and her sister had +suffered, in consequence of the adverse influence which +surrounded her brother, and generously informed her that she had +a champion to defeat the machinations against their rights. He +had little doubt of the futility of the document, and had written +to the legal adviser of the late Mr. Meadows to inquire whether +the will of that gentleman did not bar any power on the part of +his grandson to dispose of the property. She might rely on him +not to rest until she should be put in possession of the estate, +unless it should prove to have been her grandfathers intention, +in case of the present melancholy occurrence, that the elder +sister should be the sole inheritrix, and he congratulated her on +having such a protector, since, under the unfortunate +circumstances, the sisters would have had no one to uphold their +cause against their natural guardian.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy's answer was--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Dear Algernon,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I prefer my <i>natural guardian</i> to any +other whatever. I shall for my part owe you no thanks for +attempting to frustrate my dear brother's wishes, and to raise an +unbecoming dissension. I desire that no use of my name may be +made, and you may rest assured that I should find nothing so +difficult to forgive as any such interference in my +behalf.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yours truly,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'SOPHIA KENDAL.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Certainly,' said Mr. Kendal, 'no family +ill-will is complete unless money matters be brought in to +aggravate it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you think I did right, and spoke strongly +enough, papa?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Quite strongly enough,' said Mr. Kendal, +suppressing a smile. 'I hope you wrote kindly to Lucy at the same +time.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'One could not help that, papa; but I did say a +great deal about the outrageous impropriety of raising the +question, because I thought Algernon might be +ashamed.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Riches kept for the owners thereof to their +hurt,' said Mr. Kendal. 'Your grandfather's acquisitions have +brought us little but evil hitherto, and now I fear that our dear +Gilbert's endeavour to break the net which bound us into that +system of iniquity and oppression, may cause alienation from poor +Lucy. Sophy, you must allow no apparent coldness or neglect on +her part to keep you from writing often and +affectionately.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Maurice here came down with his mother, and as +soon as there was a moment's pause, laid hold of the first book +he met with, and began:--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do not see the justness of the analogy to +which Onuphrio refers, but there are many parts of that vision on +which I should wish to hear the explanations of +Philalethes.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2">All broke out in amazement, 'Why, Maurice, has +Mrs. Dusautoy been making a scholar of you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! Maurice, was this your secret?' cried +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He had hidden his face in his mother's lap, and +when she raised it struggled to keep it down, and she felt him +sobbing and panting for breath. Mr. Kendal stroked his hair, and +they tried to soothe him, but he started up abruptly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't mean ever to be a plague again! So I +did it. But there--when Ulick said it would be a comfort, you are +all going to cry again, papa and all, and that's worse!' and +stamping his foot passionately, he would have rushed out of the +room, but was held fast in his father's arms, and indeed tears +were flowing fast from eyes that his brother's death had left +dry.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My child! my dear child!' said Mr. Kendal, 'it +is comfort. No one can rule you as by God's grace you can rule +yourself, and your endeavours to do this are the greatest +blessing I can ask.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">One more kiss from his mother, and she let him +go. He did not know how to deal with emotion in himself, and +hated the sight of it in others; so that it was better to let him +burst away from them, while with one voice they admired, +rejoiced, and interrogated Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I know now,' she said, the rosy glow mantling +in her cheek; 'it must have been Mr. O'More.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! has he been with you?' said her +father.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Only once,' said Sophy, her colour deepening; +'but Maurice has been in a great hurry every day to go to him, +and I saw there was some secret. One day, Susan asked me to +prevent Master Maurice from teaching baby such ugly words, that +she could not sleep--not bad words, but she thought they were +Latin. So I watched, and I heard Maurice singing out some of the +legend of Hiawatha, and insisting on poor little Awkey telling +him what m-i-s-h-e-n-a-h-m-a, spelt. Poor little Awk stared, as +well she might, and obediently made the utmost efforts to say +after him, Mishenahma, king of fishes, but he was terribly +discomposed at getting nothing but Niffey-ninny, king of fithes. +I went to her rescue, and asked what they were about; but Maurice +thundered down on me all the Delawares and Mohawks, and the +Choctaws and Cameches; and baby squeaked after him as well as she +could, till I fairly stopped my ears. I thought Ulick must be +reading the legend to him. Now I see he must have been teaching +him to read it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Can it be possible?' said Mr. Kendal. 'He +could not read words of five letters without +spelling.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He always could do much more when he pleased +than when he did not please,' said Albinia. 'I believe the +impulse to use his understanding was all that was wanting, and I +am very glad the impulse came from such a motive.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal ordained that Maurice's reward +should be learning Latin from himself, a perilous trial; but it +proved that Mr. Kendal was really a good teacher for a child of +spirit and courage, and Maurice had early come to the age when +boys do better with man than with woman. He liked the honour and +the awe of papa's tutorship, and learnt so well, that his father +never believed in his past dunceship; but over studies that he +did not deem sufficiently masculine, he could be as troublesome +as ever, his attention absent, and his restlessness most +wearisome. To an ordinary eye, he was little changed; but his +mother felt that the great victory of the will had been gained, +and that his <i>self</i> was endeavouring to get the better of +the spirit of insubordination and mischief. Night after night she +found him sleeping with the Balaklava sword by his side, and his +hand clasped over it; and he always crept out of the way of +Crimean news, though that he gathered up the facts was plain when +he committed his sovereign to Ulick, with a request that it might +be devoted to the comforts preparing to be sent to the 25th +Lancers.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Ulick wished him to consult his mother, but +this he repelled. He could not endure the sight of a tear in her +eye, and she could not restrain them when that chord was touched. +It was a propensity she much disliked, the more because she +thought it looked like affectation beside Sophy, whose feelings +never took that course, but the more ill-timed the tears, the +more they would come, at the most common-place condolence or +remote allusion. It was the effect of the long strain on her +powers, and the severe shock coming suddenly after so much +pressure and fatigue; moreover, her habits had been so long +disorganized that her time seemed blank, and she could not rouse +herself from a feeling of languor and depression. Then Gilbert +had been always on her mind, whether at home or absent; and it +did not seem at first as if she had enough to fill up time or +thoughts--she absolutely found herself doing nothing, because +there was nothing she cared to do.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal's first object was the fulfilment of +Gilbert's wishes; but Albinia soon felt how much easier it is for +women and boys to make schemes, than for men to bring them to +effect, and how rash it is hastily to condemn those who tolerate +abuses.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The whole was carefully looked over with a +surveyor, and it was only then understood how complicated were +the tenures, and how varied the covenants of the numerous small +tenements which old Mr. Meadows had amassed. It was not possible +to be free of the legal difficulties under at least a year, and +plans of drainage might be impeded for want of other people's +consent. Even if all had been smooth, the sacrifice of income, by +destroying Tibb's Alley, and reducing the number of cottages, +would be considerable. Meantime, the inspection had brought to +light worse iniquities and greater wretchedness than Mr. Kendal +had imagined, and his eagerness to set to work was tenfold. His +table was heaped with sanitary reports, and his fits of +abstraction were over the components of bad air or builder's +estimates.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It only depended on Ulick to have resumed his +intimacy at Willow Lawn; but the habit once broken was not +resumed. He was often there, but never without invitation; and he +was not always to be had. He had less leisure, he was senior +clerk, and the junior was dull and untrained; and he often had +work to do far into the evening. He looked bright and well, as +though possessed of a sense of being valuable in his own place, +more conducive to happiness than even congeniality of employment; +and Sophy, though now and then disappointed at his +non-appearance, always had a good reason for it, and continued to +justify Mr. Dusautoy's boast that the air of the hill had made +another woman of her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Visiting cards had, of course, come in numbers +to Willow Lawn, but Albinia seemed to have caught her husband's +aversions, and it would be dangerous to say how long it was +before she lashed herself into setting off for a round of +calls.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Nothing surprised her more than Miss +Goldsmith's reception. Conscious of her neglect, she expected the +stiff manner to be more formal than ever; but the welcome was +almost warm, and there was something caressing in her fears that +Miss Kendal would be tired. Mr. Goldsmith was not quite well, +there were threatenings of gout, and his sister had persuaded him +to visit the relations at Bristol next week; everything might +safely be trusted to young More, and therewith came such praise +of his steadiness and ability, that Albinia did not know which +way to look when all was ascribed to Mr. Kendal's great kindness +to him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was too palpable to be altogether pleasant. +Sophia Kendal was heiress enough to be a very desirable connexion +for the bank. Albinia was afraid she should see through the +lady's graciousness, and took her leave in haste; but Sophy only +said, 'Do you remember, mamma, when the Goldsmiths thought we +unsettled him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Before Albinia had disarmed her reply of the +irony on the tip of her tongue, the omnibus came lumbering round +the corner, and a voice proceeded from the rear, the door flew +open, and there was a rapid exit.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Face and voice, light step, and gay bearing, +all were Fred--the empty sleeve, the sole resemblance to the +shattered convalescent of a few weeks back.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There, Albinia! I said you should see her +first. You haven't got any change, have you?' the last being +addressed either to Albinia, the omnibus conductor, or a lady, +who made a tender of two shillings, while Albinia ordered the +luggage on to Willow Lawn, though something was faintly said +about the inn.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And there!' cried Fred, with an emphatic twist +of his moustache, 'isn't she all I ever told you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The last thing was a brick,' said Albinia, +laughing, as she looked at the smiling, confiding, animated face, +not the less pleasant for a French Canadian grace that recalled +Genevieve.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The right article for building a hut, I hope,' +she said, merrily.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But how and when could you have +come?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'This morning, from Liverpool. We did not mean +to storm you in this manner; we meant to have settled ourselves +at the inn, and walked down; Emily was very particular about +it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But you see, when he saw you, he forgot all my +lectures!' said Emily, taking his welcome for granted.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very proper of him! But, Fred, I don't quite +believe it yet. How long is it since we parted?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Six weeks; just enough to go to Canada and +back, with a fortnight in the middle to spare.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And pray how long has Mrs. Fred +existed?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Three weeks and two days;' and turning half +round to give her the benefit of his words, 'it was on purely +philanthropic principles, because I could not tie my own +necktie.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Now could I,' said Emily pleadingly to +Sophy--'now could I let him go back again alone, when he came so +helpless, and looking so dreadfully ill?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And what are you going to do?' asked Albinia. +'You can't join again.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Join! why not? Here's a hand for a horse, and +an arm for a wife, and the rest will be done much better for me +than ever it was before.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But with her? and at Sebastopol!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That's the very thing'' cried the colonel, +again turning about. 'Nothing will serve her but to show how a +backwoodsman's daughter can live in a hut.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And what will the general say?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The general,' cried Emily, 'will endure me +better as a fact than as a prospect; and we will teach him that a +lady is not all made of nerves and of fancies! See what he will +say if we let him into our paradise!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Fred brightened, though Albinia's inquiry had +for a moment taken him a little aback. The one being whom he +dreaded was General Ferrars, for whom he cared a thousand times +more than for his own elder brother, and he was soon speculating, +with his usual insouciance, as to how his announcement might have +been received by his lordship, and whether the aunts would look +at them as they went through London.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal met them at the gate, amazed at the +avalanche of luggage, but well pleased, for he had grown very +fond of Fred, and had been very anxious about him, thinking him +broken and enfeebled for life, and hardly expecting him to return +from his mad expedition. He was slow to believe his eyes and ears +when he beheld a hale, handsome, vigorous man, full of life and +activity, but his welcome and congratulations were of the +warmest. He could far better stand a sudden inroad than if he had +had to meditate for a week on entertaining the bride. Not that +the bride wanted entertainment, except waiting upon her husband, +who let himself be many degrees less handy than at Malta, for the +pleasure of her attentions.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Perhaps the person least gratified was Maurice; +for the child shrank with shy reverence from him whom his brother +had saved, and would as soon have thought of making a plaything +of Gilbert's sword as of having fun with the survivor. The sight +of such a merry man was a shock, and he abruptly repelled all +attempts at playing with him, and kept apart with a big book on a +chair before him, a Kendalism for which he amply compensated when +familiarity had diminished his awe.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal, though little disposed to exert +himself to talk, liked to watch his wife reviving into animation, +and Sophy taking a full share in the glee with which Emily +enjoyed turning the laugh against the good-natured soldier. In +the midst of their flush of joy there was a tender consideration +about the young couple, such as to hinder their tone from +jarring. Indeed, it was less consideration than fellow-feeling, +for Gilbert Kendal had become enshrined in the depths of Fred's +heart; while to Emily the visit was well-nigh a pilgrimage. All +her hero-worship was directed to the youth who had guarded her +soldier's life, nursed him in his sickness, and, as he averred, +inspired him with serious thoughts. Poor, failing, timid, +penitent Gilbert was to her a very St. George, and every relic of +him was viewed with reverence; she composed a countenance for him +from his father's fine features, and fitted the fragments of his +history into an ideal, till Sophy, after being surprised and +gratified, began to view Gilbert through a like halo, and to rank +him with his twin brother. Friendship was a new and agreeable +phase of life to Sophy, who found a suitable companion in such an +open-hearted person, simpler in nature, and fresher than herself, +free from English commonplaces, though older and of more +standing. She expanded and brightened wonderfully, and Emily, +imagining her a female Gilbert, was devoted to her, and thought +her a marvel of learning, depth, goodness, and humility, the more +striking for her tinge of grave pensiveness.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why, Albinia,' said the colonel, 'didn't I +hear that it was your handsome daughter who is +married?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, poor Lucy was always called our pretty +one.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'More admired than her sister? Why, she never +could have had a countenance!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Albinia, highly gratified by the +opinion of such a connoisseur. 'I always told Winifred that Sophy +was the beauty, but she has only lately had health or animation +to set her off'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I declare, when we overtook you in the street, +she looked a perfect Spanish princess, in her black robes and +great shady hat. You ought always to keep her in black. Ha! +Emily, what are you smiling at?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">His wife looked up into his face with +mischievous shyness in her eyes, as if she wanted him to say what +would be a liberty in her. Somebody else had overtaken the ladies +nearly at the same moment, and Albinia exulted in perceiving that +the embellishment had been observed by others besides herself. +She did not look so severe but that Fred was encouraged to +repeat, 'Only lately had health or animation? When Irish winds +blow this way, I fancy-- But what will the aunts say?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'They are not Sophy's aunts, whatever they are +to you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What will Kendal say? which is more to the +purpose.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! he saw it first; he will be delighted; but +you must not say a word to him, for it can't come to anything +just now.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was thus confirmed in her +anticipations, and the bridal pair, only wishing everybody to be +as happy as themselves, took the matter up with such vivid +interest and amusement, that she was rather afraid of a +manifestation such as to shock either her husband or the parties +themselves; but Fred was too much of a gentleman, and Emily too +considerate, for anything perilously marked. Only she thought +Emily need not have been so decided in making room for Ulick next +to Sophy, when they were all looking out at the young moon at the +conservatory-door that evening.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And then Emily took her husband's arm, and +insisted on going down the garden to be introduced to English +nightingales; and though she was told they never had come there +in the memory of man, she was bent on doing as she would be done +by, and drew him alone the silvered paths, among the black +shadows of the trees; and Ulick asked Sophy if she wished to go +too. She looked as if she should like it very much; he fetched a +couple of cloaks ont of the hall, put her into one, and ran after +Mrs. Ferrars with the other.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well!' thought Albinia, as she stood at the +conservatory-door, 'how much more boldness and tact some people +have than others! If I had lived a hundred years, I should not +have managed it so well!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What's become of them?' said Mr. Kendal, as +she went back to the drawing-room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Gone to listen for nightingales!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nightingales! How could you let them go into +the river-fog?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Emily was bent upon it; she is too much of a +bride not to have her way.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Umph! I wonder Sophy was so +foolish.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They came back in a quarter of an hour. No +nightingales; and Fred was indulging in reminiscences of +bull-frogs; the two ladies were rapturous on the effect of the +moonbeams in the ripple of the waters, and the soft furry white +mist rising over the meadows. Ulick shivered, and leant over the +fire to breathe a drier air, bantering the ladies for their +admiration, and declaring that Mrs. Ferrars had taken the moan of +an imprisoned house-dog for the nightingale, which he +disdainfully imitated with buzz, zizz, and guggle, assuring her +she had had no loss; but he looked rather white and chilled. +Sophy whispered something to her papa, who rang the bell, and +ordered in wine and hot water.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There, Emily,' said Albinia, when he had taken +his leave; 'what shall we say to your nightingales, if Mr. O'More +catches his ague again?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, there are moments when people don't catch +agues,' said Fred. 'He would be a poor fellow to catch an ague +after all that, though, by-the-bye, it is not a place to go to at +night without a cigar.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was on thorns, lest Sophy should be +offended; but though her cheeks lighted up, and she was certainly +aware of some part of their meaning, either she did not believe +in the possibility of any one bantering her, or else the +assumption was more agreeable than the presumption was +disagreeable. She endured with droll puzzled dignity, when Fred +teased her anxiety the next day to know whether Mr. O'More had +felt any ill effects; and it really appeared as if she liked him +better for what might have been expected to be a dire affront; +but then he was a man whose manner enabled to do and say whatever +he pleased.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Emily never durst enter on the subject with +her, but had more than one confidential little gossip with +Albinia, and repeatedly declared that she hoped to be in England +when 'it' took place. Indeed that week's visit made them all so +intimate, that it was not easy to believe how recent was the +acquaintance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The aunts had been so much disappointed at +Fred's desertion, so much discomfited at his recovery contrary to +all predictions, and so much annoyed at his marriage, that it +took all their kindness, and his Crimean fame, to make them +invite him and his colonial wife to the Family Office, to be +present at the royal distribution of medals. However, the good +ladies did their duty; and Emily and Sophy parted with promises +of letters.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The beginning of the correspondence was as full +a description of the presentation of the medals as could be given +by a person who only saw one figure wherever she went, and to +whom the great incident of the day was, that the gracious and +kindhearted Queen had herself fastened the left-handed colonel's +medal as well as Emily could have done it herself! There was +another medal, with two clasps, that came to Bayford, and which +was looked at in pensive but not unhappy silence. 'You shall have +it some day, Maurice, but not now,' said Mr. Kendal, and all felt +that now meant his own lifetime. It was placed where Gilbert +would well have liked to see it, beside his brother Edmund's +watch.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Emily made Mrs. Annesley and Miss Ferrars more +fond of her in three days, than eleven years had made them of +Winifred; too fond, indeed, for they fell to preaching to Fred +upon the horrors of Sebastopol, till they persuaded him that he +was a selfish wretch, and brought him to decree that she should +stay with them during his absence. But, as Emily observed, that +was not what she left home for; she demolished his arguments with +a small amount of playing at petulance, and triumphantly departed +for the East, leaving Aunt Mary crying over her as a predestined +victim.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The last thing Fred did before sailing, was to +send Albinia a letter from his brother, that she might see 'how +very kind and cordial Belraven was,' besides something that +concerned her more nearly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lord Belraven was civil when it cost him +nothing, and had lately regarded his inconvenient younger brother +with favour, as bringing him distinction, and having gained two +steps without purchase, removed, too, by his present rank, and +the pension for his wound, from being likely to become chargeable +to him; so he had written such brotherly congratulations, that +good honest Fred was quite affected. He was even discursive +enough to mention some connexions of the young man who had been +with Fred in the Crimea, a Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy, a very good +sort of fellow, who gave excellent dinners, and was a pleasant +yachting companion. His wife was said to be very pretty and +pleasing, but she had arrived at Genoa very unwell, had been +since confined, and was not yet able to see any one. It was said +to be the effect of her distress for the death of her brother, +and the estrangement from her family, who had behaved very ill +about his property. Had not Albinia Ferrars married into that +family?</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia knew enough of her noble relative to be +aware that good dinners and obsequiousness were the way to his +esteem, and Algernon's was the sort of arrogance that would stoop +to adore a coronet. All this was nothing, however, to the idea of +Lucy, ill in that strange place, with no one to care for her but +her hard master. Albinia sometimes thought of going to find her +out at Genoa; but this was too utterly wild and impossible, and +nothing could be done but to write letters of affectionate +inquiry, enclosing them to Lord Belraven.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Algernon's answer was solemn, and as brief as +he could make anything. He was astonished that the event bad +escaped the notice of the circle at Bayford, since he believed it +had appeared in all the principal European newspapers; and his +time had been so fully occupied, that he had imagined that +intimation sufficient, since it was evident from the tone of the +recent correspondence, that the family of Bayford were inclined +to drop future intercourse. He was obliged for the inquiries for +Lucy, and was happy to say she was recovering favourably, though +the late unfortunate events, and the agitation caused by letters +from home, had affected her so seriously, that they had been +detained at Genoa for nearly four months to his great +inconvenience, instead of pushing on to Florence and Rome. It had +been some compensation that he had become extremely intimate with +that most agreeable and superior person, Lord Belraven, who had +consented to become sponsor to his son.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy wrote to Albinia. Poor thing, the letter +was the most childishly expressed, and the least childishly felt, +she had ever written; its whole aspect was weak and wobegone; yet +there was less self-pity, and more endeavour to make the best of +it, than before. She had the dearest little baby in the world; +but he was very delicate, and she wished mamma would send out an +English nurse, for she could not bear that Italian woman--her +black eyes looked so fierce, and she was sure it was not safe to +have those immense pins in her hair. Expense was nothing, but she +should never be happy till she had an Englishwoman about him, +especially now that she was getting better, and Algernon would +want her to come out again with him. Dear Algernon, he had lost +the Easter at Rome for her sake, but perhaps it was a good thing, +for he was often out in Lord Belraven's yacht, and she could be +quiet with baby. She did wish baby to have had her dear brothers' +names, but Algernon would not consent. Next Tuesday he was to be +christened; and then followed a string of mighty names, long +enough for a Spanish princess, beginning with +Belraven!!!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Lucy Dusautoy's dreary condition in the midst +of all that wealth could give, was a contrast to Emily Ferrars' +buoyant delight in the burrow which was her first married home, +and proved a paradise to many a stray officer, aye, maybe, to +Lieutenant-General Sir William Ferrars himself. Her letters were +charming, especially a detail of Fred meeting Bryan O'More coming +out of the trenches, grim, hungry, and tired, having recently +kicked a newly alighted shell down from the parapet, with the +cool words, 'Be off with you, you ugly baste you;' of his wolfish +appetite after having been long reduced to simple rations, though +he kept a curly black lamb loose about his hut, because he hadn't +the heart to kill it; and it served him for bed if not for board, +all his rugs and blankets having flown off in the hurricane, or +been given to the wounded; he had been quite affronted at the +suggestion that a Galway pig was as well lodged as himself--it +was an insult to any respectable Irish animal!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia sent Maurice to summon Ulick to enjoy +the letter in store for him. He looked grave and embarrassed, and +did not light up as usual at Bryan's praises. He said that his +aunt, who had written to him on business, had given a bad account +of Mr. Goldsmith, but Albinia hardly thought this accounted for +his preoccupation, and was considering how to probe it, when her +brother Maurice opened the door. 'Ulick O'More! that's right; the +very man I was in search of!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How's Winifred, Maurice?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Getting on wonderfully well. I really think +she is going to make a start, after all! and she is in such +spirits herself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And the boy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, a thumping great fellow! I promise you +he'll be a match for your Maurice.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do believe it is to reward Winifred for +sparing you in the spring when we wanted you so much! Come, sit +down, and wait for Edmund.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No; I've not a moment to stay. I'm to meet +Bury again at Woodside at six o'clock, he drove me there, and I +walked on, looking in at your lodgings by the way, +Ulick.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm not there now. I am keeping guard at the +bank.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So they told me. Well, I hope your guard is +not too strict for you to come over to Fairmead on Sunday; we +want you to do our boy the kindness to be his +godfather!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy blushed with approving +gratitude.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't consider that it will be a +sinecure--he squalls in such a characteristic manner that I am +convinced he will rival his cousin here in all amiable and +amenable qualities; so I consider it particularly desirable that +he should be well provided with great +disciplinarians.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You certainly could not find any one more +accomplished in teaching dunces to read,' said +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'When their mammas have taught them already!' +added Ulick, laughing. 'Thank you; but you know I can't sleep +out; Hyder Ali and I are responsible for a big chest of +sovereigns, and all the rest of it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nor could I lodge you at present; so we are +agreed. My proposition is that you should drive my sister over on +Sunday morning. My wife is wearying for a sight of her; and she +has not been at Fairmead on a Sunday since she left it, eh, +Albinia?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I suppose for such a purpose it is not wrong +to use the horse,' she said, her eyes sparkling.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And you might put my friend Maurice between +you, if you can't go out pleasuring without him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I scorn you, sir; Maurice is as good as gold; +I shall leave him at home, I think, to prove that I +can--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That's the reward of merit!' exclaimed +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She expects my children to corrupt him!' quoth +Mr. Ferrars.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'For shame, Maurice; that's on purpose to make +me bring him. Well, we'll see what papa says, and if he thinks +the new black horse strong enough, or to be trusted with Mr. +O'More.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I only wish 'twas a jaunting car!' cried +Ulick.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And what's the boy's name to be? Not Belraven, +I conclude, like my unfortunate grandson--Maurice, I +hope.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No; the precedent of his namesake would be too +dangerous. I believe he is to be Edmund Ulick. Don't take it as +too personal, Ulick, for it was the name of our mutual +connexion.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I take the personal part though, Maurice; and +thank you, said Albinia, and Mr. Ferrars looked more happy and +joyous than any time since his wife's health had begun to fail. +Always cheerful, and almost always taking matters up in the most +lively point of view, it was only by comparison that want of +spirits in him could be detected; and it was chiefly by the +vanishing of a certain careworn, anxious expression about his +eyes, and by the ring of his merry laugh, that Albinia knew that +he thought better of his wife's state than for the last five or +six years.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia and Ulick drove off at six o'clock on a +lovely summer Sunday morning, with Maurice between them in a +royal state of felicity. That long fresh drive, past summer +hay-fields sleeping in their silver bath of dew, and villages +tardily awakening to the well-earned Sunday rest, was not the +least pleasant part of the day; and yet it was completely happy, +not even clouded by one outbreak of Master Maurice. Luckily for +him, Mary had a small class, who absorbed her superabundant love +of rule; and little Alby was a fair-haired, apple-cheeked maiden +of five, who awoke both admiration and chivalry, and managed to +coquet with him and Ulick both at once, so that Willie had no +disrespect to his sisters to resent.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was exemplary at church, well-behaved at +dinner, and so little on his mamma's mind, that she had a +delightful renewal of her acquaintance with the Sunday-school, +and a leisurable gossip with Mrs. Reid and the two Miss Reids, +collectively and individually; but the best of all was a long +quiet tete-a-tete with Winifred.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">After the evening service, Mr. Ferrars himself +carried his newly-christened boy back to the mother, and paused +that his sister might come with him, and they might feel like the +old times, when the three had been alone together.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' said Winifred, when he had left them, +'it is very pretty playing at it; but one cannot be the +same.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nor would one exactly wish it,' said Albinia; +'though I think you are going to be more the same.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Perhaps,' said Winifred; 'the worst of being +ill is that it does wear one's husband so! When he came in, and +tried to make me fancy we were gone back to Willie's time, I +could not help thinking how different you both +looked.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, so much the better and more +respectable,' said Albinia. 'You know I always wanted to grow +old; I don't want to stop short like your sister Anne, who looks +as much the child of the house as ever.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wish you had as few cares as Anne. Look; I +declare that's a grey hair!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I know. I like it; now Sophy is growing young, +and I'm growing old, it is all correct.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Old, indeed!' ejaculated Winifred, looking at +her fair fresh complexion and bright features; 'don't try for +that, when even Edmund is not grey.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes he is,' said Albinia, gravely; 'Malta +sowed many white threads in his black head, and worry about those +buildings has brought more.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Worry; I'm very sorry to hear of +it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes; the tenures are so troublesome, and +everybody is so cantankerous. If he wanted to set up some +pernicious manufacture, it could not be worse! The Osbornes, +after having lived with Tibb's Alley close to them all their +lives, object to the almshouses! Mr. Baron wont have the new +drains carried through his little strip of land. The Town Council +think we are going to poison the water; and Pettilove, and +everybody else who owns a wretched tenement, that we shall +increase the wants of their tenants, and lower their rents. If it +be carried through, it will be by that sheer force in going his +own way that Edmund can exert when he chooses.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And he will?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'O, yes, no fear of that; he goes on, avoiding +seeing or hearing what he has not to act upon; but worse than all +are the people themselves; Tibb's Alley all has notice to quit, +but none of them can be got rid of till Martinmas, and some not +till Lady-day, and the beer-house people are in such a rage! The +turn-out of the public-houses come and roar at our gate on +Saturday nights; and they write up things on the wall against +him! and one day they threw over into the garden what little +Awkey called a poor dear dead pussy. I believe they tell them all +sorts of absurd things about his tyranny; poor +creatures.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Can't you get it stopped?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Edmund wont summon any one, because he thinks +it would do more harm than good. He says it will pass off; but it +grieves him more than he shows: he thinks he could once have made +himself more popular: but I don't know, it is a horrid +set.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I thought you said he was in good +spirits.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And so he is: he never gets depressed and +unwilling to be spoken to. He is ready to take interest in +everything; and always so busy! When I remember how he never +seemed to be obliged to attend to anything, I laugh at the +contrast; and yet he goes about it all so gravely and slowly, +that it never seems like a change.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In this and other home talk nearly an hour had +passed, when Mr. Ferrars returned. 'Are you come to tell me to +go?' said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not particularly,' he said, in a tone that +made her laugh.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, no,' said Winifred. 'I want a great deal +more of her. Where have you been?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have been to see old Wilks; Ulick walked +down with me. By-the-bye, Albinia, what nonsense has Fred's wife +been talking to his brother?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Emily does not talk nonsense!' fired up +Albinia, colouring, nevertheless.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The worse for her, then! However, it seems +Bryan has disturbed this poor fellow very much, by congratulating +him on his prospects at Willow Lawn.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! that is what made him so distant and +cautious, is it?' laughed Albinia. 'I think Mrs. Emily might as +well not have betrayed it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Betrayed! What could have passed?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! Emily and Fred saw it as plain as I did. +Why, it does not do credit to your discernment, Maurice; papa +found it out long ago, and told me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Kendal did?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, that he did, and did not mind the notion +at all; rather liked it, in fact.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well!' said Mr. Ferrars, in a different tone, +'it is a very queer business! I certainly did not think the lad +showed any symptoms. He said he had heard gossip about it before, +and had tried to be careful; his aunt talked to him once, but, as +he said, it would be nothing but the rankest treason to think of +such a thing, on the terms on which he is treated.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ay, that's it!' said Albinia; 'he acts most +perfectly.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Perfectly indeed, if that were acting,' said +Mr. Ferrars.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And what made him speak to you?' asked +Winifred.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He wanted to consult me. He said it was very +hard on him, for all the pleasure he had came from his +intercourse with Willow Lawn; and he could not bear to keep at a +distance, because it looked as if he bad not forgotten the old +folly about the caricature; but he was afraid of the report +coming to your ears or Mr. Kendal's, because you would think it +so wrong and shameful an abuse of your kindness.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And that's his whole concern?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So he told me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And what advice did you give him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I told him Bayford was bent on gossip, and no +one heeded it less than my respected brother and +sister.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That was famous of you, Maurice. I was afraid +you would have put it upon his honour and the state of his own +heart.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sooth to say, I did not think his heart +appeared very ticklish.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! Maurice, Maurice! But you've not been +there to see the hot fits and the cold fits! It is a very fine +thermometer whether he says Sophy or Miss Kendal.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And you say Edmund perceived this?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Much you would trust my unassisted 'cuteness! +I tell you he did, and that it will make him happier than +anything.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very well; then my advice will have done no +harm. I did not think there had been so much self-control in an +Irishman.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Had he not better say, so much blindness in +the rector of Fairmead?' laughed Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And pray what course is the affair to +take?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The present, I suppose. Some catastrophe will +occur at last to prove to him that we honour him, and don't view +it as outrageous presumption; and then--oh! there can be no doubt +that he will have a share in the bank; and Sophy may buy +toleration for his round O. After all, he has the best of it as +to ancestry, and we Kendals need not turn up our noses at +banking.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think he will be too proud to address her, +except on equality as to money matters.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Pride is sometimes quelled and love free,' +said Albinia. 'No, no; content yourself with having given the +best advice in the world, with your eyes fast shut!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And Albinia went home in high +spirits.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XXIX.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">Not long afterwards, Ulick O'More was summoned +to Bristol, where his uncle had become suddenly worse; but he had +only reached Hadminster when a telegraph met him with the news of +Mr. Goldsmith's death, and orders to remain at his +post.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He came to the Kendals in the evening in great +grief; he had really come to love and esteem his uncle, and he +was very unhappy at having lost the chance of a reconciliation +for his mother. As her chief friend and confidant, he knew that +she regarded the alienation of her own family as the punishment +of her disobedient marriage, and that his own appointment had +been valued chiefly as an opening towards fraternal feeling, and +reproached himself for not having made more direct efforts to +induce his uncle to enter into personal intercourse with +her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If I had only ventured it before he went to +Bristol,' he said; 'I was a fool not to have done so; and there, +the Goldsmiths detest the very name of us! Why could they not +have telegraphed for me? I might have heard what would have done +my mother's heart good for the rest of her life. I am sure my +poor uncle wanted to ease his mind!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'May he not have sent some communication direct +to her?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I trust he did! I have long thought he only +kept her aloof from habit, and felt kindly towards her all the +time.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And never could persuade himself to make a +move towards her until too late,' said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes. Nothing comes home to one more than the +words, "Agree with thine adversary quickly whiles thou art in the +way with him." If once one comes to think there's creditable +pride in holding out, there's no end to it, or else too much +end.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mr. Goldsmith was persevering in the example +his father had set him,' said Mr. Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ay! my mother never blamed either, and I'm +afraid, if the truth were told, my father was hot enough too, +though it would all have been bygones with him long ago, if they +would have let it. But I was thinking just then of my own +foolishness last winter, when I would not grant you it was pride, +Mrs. Kendal, for fear I should have to repent of it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What has brought you to see that it was?' +asked she.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'One comes to a better mind when the fit is +off,' he said. 'I hope I will not be as bad next +time.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope we shall never give you a next time,' +said Albinia; 'for neither party is comfortable, perched on a +high horse.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And you see,' continued Ulick, 'it is hard for +us to give up our pride, because it is the only thing we've got +of our own, and has been meat, drink, and clothing to us for many +a year.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So no wonder you make the most of +it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'True; I think a very high born and very rich +man might be humble,' said Ulick, so meditatively that they +laughed; but Sophy said,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, that is not a paradox; the real difficulty +is not in willingly yielding, but in taking what we cannot +help.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well,' said Ulick, 'I hope it is not pride not +to intend working under Andrew Goldsmith.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you consider that as your fate?' asked +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Never my fate,' said Ulick, quickly; 'hardly +even my alternative, for he would like to put up a notice, "No +Irish need apply." We had enough of each other last +winter.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And do you suppose,' said Mr. Kendal, 'that +Mr. Goldsmith has left your position exactly the +same?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I've no reason to think otherwise. I refused +all connexion with the bank if it was to interfere with my name. +I don't think it unlikely that he may have left me a small +compliment in the way of shares; but if so, I shall sell them, +and make them keep me at Oxford. I'm not too old yet!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then the work of these four years is wasted,' +said Mr. Kendal, gravely.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, indeed,' cried Ulick; 'not if it takes me +where I've always longed to be! Or, if not, I flatter myself I'm +accountant enough to be an agent in my own country.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Anything to get away from here,' said Albinia, +with a shade of asperity, provoked by the spirit of enterprise in +his voice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'After all, it is a bit of a place,' said +Ulick; 'and the office parlour is not just a paradise! Then 'tis +all on such a narrow scale, too little to absorb one, and too +much to let one do anything else; I see how larger transactions +might be engrossing, but this is mere cramping and worrying; I +know I could do better for my family in the end than by what I +can screw out of my salary now; and if it is no longer to give my +poor mother a sense of expiation, as she calls it, why, then, the +cage-door is open.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">His eyes glittered, and Sophy exclaimed, 'Yes; +and now the training is over, it has made you fitter to +fly.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It has,' he said; 'and I'm thankful for it. +Without being here, I would never have learnt application--nor +some better things, I hope.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They scarcely saw him again till after the +funeral, when late in the day he came into the drawing-room, and +saying that his aunt was pretty well and composed, he knelt down +on the floor with the little Awk, and silently built up a tower +with her wooden bricks. His hand trembled nervously at first, but +gradually steadied as the elevation became critical; and a smile +of interest lighted his face as he became absorbed in raising the +structure to the last brick, holding back the eager child with +one hand lest she should overthrow it. Completion, triumph, a +shock, a downfall!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well,' cried the elder Albinia, unable to +submit to the suspense.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'<i>Telle est la vie</i>,' answered Ulick, +smiling sadly as he passed his hand over his brow.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It's too bad of him,' broke out Mrs. +Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I thought you were prepared,' said Sophy, +severely, disappointed to see him so much discomposed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How should I be prepared,' said he, +petulantly, 'for the whole concern, house, and bank, and all the +rest of it?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Left to you?' was the cry.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Every bit of it, and an annuity apiece charged +on it to my mother and aunt for their lives! My aunt told me how +it came about. It was all that fellow Andrew's fault.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Or misfortune,' murmured Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My poor uncle had made a will in Andrew's +favour long before my time, and at Bristol he wanted to make some +arrangement for my mother and for me; but it seems Mr. Andrew +took exception at me--would not promise to continue me on, nor to +give me a share in the business, and at last my uncle was so much +disgusted, that be sent for a lawyer and cut Andrew out of his +will altogether. My aunt says he went on asking for me, and it +was Andrew's fault that they wrote instead of telegraphing. You +can't think what kind messages he sent to me;' and Ulick's eyes +filled with tears. 'My poor uncle, away from home, and with that +selfish fellow.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Did he send any message to your +mother?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes! he told my aunt to write to her that he +was sorry they had been strangers so long, and that--I'd been +like a son to him. I'm sure I wish I had been. I dare say he +would have let me if I had not flown out about my O. I could have +saved changing it without making such an intolerable row, and +then he might have died more at peace with the world.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'At peace with you at least he did.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I trust so. But if I could only have been by +his side, and felt myself a comfort, and thanked him with all my +heart. Maybe he would have listened to me, and not have sown +ill-will between Andrew and me, by giving neither what we would +like.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you expect us to be sorry?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nay, I came to be helped out of my ingratitude +and discontent at finding the cage-door shut, and myself chained +to the oar; for as things are left, I could not get it off my +hands without giving up my mother's interests and my aunt's. +Besides, my poor uncle left me an entreaty to keep things up +creditably like himself, and do justice by the bank. It is as if, +poor man, it was an idol that he had been high priest to, and +wanted me to be the same--ay, and sacrifice too.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nay, there are two ways of working, two kinds +of sacrifice; and besides, you are still working for your +mother.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So I am, but without the hope she had before. +To be sure, it would be affluence at home, or would be if she +could have it in her own hands. Little Redmond shall have the +best of educations! And we must mind there is something in +advance by the time Bryan wants to purchase his +company.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia asked how his aunt liked the +arrangement. It seemed that Andrew had offended her nearly as +much as her brother, and that she was clinging to Ulick as her +great comfort and support; he did not like to stay long away from +her, but he had rushed down to Willow Lawn to avoid the jealous +congratulations of the cousinhood.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You will hardly keep from glad people,' said +Albinia. 'You must shut yourself up if you cannot be +congratulated. How rejoiced Mr. Dusautoy will be!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Whatever is, is best,' sighed Ulick. 'I shall +mind less when the first is past! I must go and entertain all +these people at dinner!' and he groaned. 'Good evening. Heigh ho! +I wonder if our Banshee will think me worth keening +for?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope she will have no occasion yet,' said +Albinia, as he shut the door; 'but she will be a very foolish +Banshee if she does not, for she will hardly find such another +O'More! Well, Sophy, my dear.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We should have missed him,' said Sophy, as +grave as a judge.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia's heart beat high with the hope that +Ulick would soon perceive sufficient consolation for remaining at +Bayford, but of course he could make no demonstration while Miss +Goldsmith continued with him. She made herself very dependent on +him, and he devoted his evenings to her solace. He had few +leisure moments, for the settlement of his affairs occupied him, +and full attention was most important to establish confidence at +this critical juncture, when it might be feared that his youth, +his nation, and Andrew Goldsmith's murmurs might tell against +him. Mr. Kendal set the example of putting all his summer rents +into his hands, and used his influence to inspire trust; and +fortunately the world had become so much accustomed to +transacting affairs with him, that the country business seemed by +no means inclined to fall away. Still there was much hard work +and some perplexity, the Bristol connexion made themselves +troublesome, and the ordinary business was the heavier from the +clerks being both so young and inexperienced that he was obliged +to exercise close supervision. It was guessed, too, that he was +not happy about the effect of the influx of wealth at home, and +that he feared it would only add to the number of horses and +debts.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He soon looked terribly fagged and harassed, +and owned that he envied Mr. Hope, who had just received the +promise of a district church, in course of building under Colonel +Bury's auspices, about four miles from Fairmead. To work his way +through the University and take Holy Orders had been Ulick's +ambition; he would gladly have endured privation for such an +object, and it did seem hard that such aspirations should be so +absolutely frustrated, and himself forced into the stream of +uncongenial, unintellectual toil, in so obscure and uninviting a +sphere. The resignation of all lingering hope of escape, and the +effort to be contented, cost him more than even his original +breaking in; and Mr. Kendal one day found him sitting in his +little office parlour unable to think or to speak under a +terrible visitation of his autumnal tormentor, +brow-ague.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">This made Mr. Kendal take to serious +expostulation. It was impossible to go on in this way; why did he +not send for a brother to help him?</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Ulick could not restrain a smile at the +fruitlessness of thinking of assistance of this kind from his +elder brothers, and as to little Redmond, the only younger one +still to be disposed of, he hoped to do better things for +him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then send for a sister.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He hoped he might bring Rose over when his aunt +was gone, but he could not shut those two up together at any +price.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Then,' said Mr. Kendal, rather angrily, 'get an +experienced, trustworthy clerk, so as to be able to go from home, +or give yourself some relaxation.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, I inquired about such a person, but +there's the salary; and where would be the chance of getting +Redmond to school?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think your father might see to +that.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Ulick had no answer to make to this. The legacy +to Mrs. O'More might nearly as well have been thrown into the +sea.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well,' said Mr. Kendal, walking about the +room, 'why don't you keep a horse?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'As a less costly animal than brother, sister, +or clerk?' said Ulick, laughing.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Your health will prove more costly than all +the rest if you do not take care.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, my aunt told me it would be respectable +and promote confidence if I lived like a gentleman and kept my +horse. I'll see about it,' said Ulick, in a more persuadable +tone.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The seeing about it resulted in the arrival of +a genuine product of county Galway, a long-legged, raw-boned +hunter, with a wild, frightened eye, quivering, +suspicious-looking ears, and an ill-omened name compounded of +kill and of kick, which Maurice alone endeavoured to pronounce; +also an outside car, very nearly as good as new. This last +exceeded Ulick's commission, but it had been such a bargain, that +Connel had not been able to resist it, indeed it cost more in +coming over than the original price; but Ulick nearly danced +round it, promising Mrs. and Miss Kendal that when new cushioned +and new painted they would find it beat everything.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was not quite so envious of Mr. Hope when he +devoted the early morning hours to Killye-kickye, as the +incorrect world called his steed, and, if the truth must be told, +he first began to realize the advantages of wealth, when he set +his name down among the subscribers to the hounds.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Nor was this the only subscription to which he +was glad to set his name; there were others where Mr. Dusautoy +wanted funds, and Mr. Kendal's difficulties were lessened by +having another lord of the soil on his side. Some exchanges +brought land enough within their power to make drainage feasible, +and Ulick started the idea that it would be better to locate the +almshouses at the top of the hill, on the site of Madame +Belmarche's old house, than to place them where Tibb's Alley at +present was, close to the river, and far from church.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal's plans were unpopular, and two or +three untoward circumstances combined to lead to his being +regarded as a tyrant. He could not do things gently, and had not +a conciliating manner. Had he been more free spoken, real +oppression would have been better endured than benefits against +people's will. He interfered to prevent some Sunday trading; and +some of the Tibb's Alley tenants who ought to have gone at +midsummer, chose to stay on and set him at defiance till they had +to be forcibly ejected; whereupon Ulick O'More showed that he was +not thoroughly Anglicised by demanding if, under such +circumstances, it was safe to keep the window shutters unclosed +at night, Mr. Kendal's head was such a beautiful mark under the +lamp.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">If not a mark for a pistol, he was one for the +disaffected blackguard papers, which made up a pathetic case of a +helpless widow with her bed taken away from under her, ending +with certain vague denunciations which were read with roars of +applause at the last beer shop which could not be cleared till +Christmas, while the closing of the rest sent herds thither; and +papers were nightly read; representing the Nabob expelling the +industrious from the beloved cottages of their ancestors, by +turns, to swell his own overgrown garden, or to found a convent, +whence, as a disguised Jesuit, he meant to convert all Bayford to +popery.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">As Albinia wrote to Genevieve, they were in a +state of siege, for only in the middle of the day did Mr. Kendal +allow the womankind to venture out without an escort, the evening +was disturbed by howlings at the gate, and all sorts of petty +acts of spite were committed in the garden, such as injuring +trees, stealing fruit, and carrying off the children's rabbits. +Let that be as it might, Genevieve owned herself glad to come to +hospitable Willow Lawn, though sorry for the cause.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Poor Mr. Rainsforth, after vainly striving to +recruit his health at Torquay during the vacation, had been +sentenced to give up his profession, and ordered to Madeira, and +Genevieve was upon the world again.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The Kendals claimed her promise of a long +visit, or rather that she should come home, and take time and +choice in making any fresh engagement, nay, that she should not +even inquire for a situation till after Christmas. And after +staying to the last moment when she could help the Rainsforths, +she proposed to spend a day or two with her aunt at the convent, +and then come to her friends at Bayford.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal drove his ladies to fetch her. He +had lately indulged the household with a large comfortable open +carriage with two horses, a rival to Mr. O'More's notable car, +where he used to drive in an easy lounging fashion on one side, +with Hyder Ali to balance him on the other.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">This was a grand shopping day, an endless +business, and as the autumn day began to close in, even Mr. +Kendal's model patience was nearly exhausted before they called +for their little friend. There was something very sweet and +appropriate in her appearance; her dress, without presuming to +share their mourning, did not insult it by gay colouring; it was +a quiet dark violet and white checked silk, a black mantle, and +black velvet bonnet with a few green leaves to the lilac flowers, +and the face when at rest was softly pensive, but ready to +respond with cheerful smiles and grateful looks. She had become +more English, and had dropped much foreign accent and idiom, but +without losing her characteristic grace and power of +disembarrassing those to whom she spoke, and in a few moments +even Sophy had lost all sense of meeting under awkward or +melancholy circumstances, and was talking eagerly to her dear old +sympathizing friend.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was a great exchange of tidings; +Genevieve had much to tell of her dear Rainsforths, the many +vicissitudes of anxiety in which she had shared, and of the +children's ways of taking the parting; and of the dear little +Fanny who seemed to have carried away so large a piece of her +susceptible heart, that Sophy could not help breaking out, 'Well, +I do think it is very hard to make yourself a bit of a mother's +heart, only to have it torn out again.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia smiled, and said, 'After all, Sophy, +happiness in this world is in such loving, only we don't find it +out till the rent has been made.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And some people can get fond of anything,' +said Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm sure,' said Genevieve, 'every one is so +kind to me I can't help it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I was not blaming you,' said Sophy. 'People +are the better for it, but I cannot like except where I esteem, +and that does not often come.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! don't you think so?' cried +Genevieve.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't mean moderate approval. That may +extend far, and with it good-will, but there is a deep, +concentrated feeling which I don't believe those who like every +one can ever have, and that is life.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Perhaps the deepening twilight favoured the +utterance of her feelings, for, as they were descending a hill, +she said, 'Mamma, that was the place where Maurice was brought +back to me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She had before passed it in silence, but in the +dark she was not afraid of betraying the expression that the +thrill of exquisite recollection brought to her countenance; and +leaning back in her corner indulged in listening to the +narration, as Albinia, unaware of the special point of the +episode, related Maurice's desperate enterprise, going on to +dilate on the benefit of having Mr. O'More at the bank rather +than Andrew Goldsmith.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah!' said Genevieve, 'it is he who wants to +pull down our dear old house. I shall quarrel with +him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Genevieve making common cause with the +obstructives of Bayford, as if he had not enemies +enough!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What's that light in the sky?' exclaimed +Sophy, starting up to speak to her father on the driving +seat.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A bonfire,' said Mr. Kendal. 'If we had +remembered that it was the 5th of November, we would not have +stayed out so late.' The next moment he drew up the horses, +exclaiming, 'Mr. Hope, will you have a lift?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Hope, rather to the ladies' surprise, took +the vacant place beside Sophy, instead of climbing up to the box. +He had been to see his intended parish, and was an enviable man, +for he was as proud of it as if it had been an intended wife, and +Albinia, who knew it for a slice of dreary heath, was entertained +with his raptures. Church, schools, and parsonage, each in their +way were perfection or at least promised to be, and he had never +been so much elevated or so communicative. The speechless little +curate seemed to have vanished.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The road, as may be remembered, did not run +parallel with the curve of the river, but cutting straight +across, entered Bayford over the hill, passing a small open bit +of waste land, where stood a few cottages, the outskirts of the +town.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Suddenly coming from an overshadowed lane upon +this common, a glare of light flashed on them, showing them each +other's faces, and casting the shadow of the carriage into full +relief. The horses shied violently, and they beheld an enormous +bonfire raised on a little knoll about twenty yards in front of +them, surrounded by a dense crowd, making every species of +hideous noise.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal checked the horses' start, and Mr. +Hope sprang to their heads. They were young and scarcely +trustworthy, their restless movements showed alarm, and it was +impossible to turn them without both disturbing the crowd and +giving them a fuller view of the object of their terror. Mr. +Kendal came down, and reconnoitring for a moment, said, 'You had +better get out while we try to lead them round, we will go home +by Squash Lane.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Just then a brilliant glow of white flame, and +a tremendous roar of applause, put the horses in such an agony, +that they would have been too much for Mr. Hope, had not Mr. +Kendal started to his assistance, and a man standing by likewise +caught the rein. He was a respectable carpenter who lived on the +heath, and touching his hat as he recognised them, said, 'Sir, if +the ladies would come into my house, and you too, sir. The people +are going on in an odd sort of way, and Mrs. Kendal would be +frightened. I'll take care of the carriage.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal went to the side of the carriage, +and asked the ladies if they were alarmed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'O no!' answered Albinia, 'it is great fun;' +and as the horses fidgeted again, 'it feels like a +review.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You had better get out,' he said; 'I must try +to back the horses till I can turn them without running over any +one. Will you go into the house? You did not expect to find +Bayford so riotous,' he added with a smile, as he assisted +Genevieve out.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You are not going to get up again,' said +Albinia, catching hold of him, and in her dread of his committing +himself to the mercy of the horses, returning unmeaning thanks to +the carpenter's urgent requests that she would take refuge in his +house.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In fact, the scene was new and entertaining, +and on the farther side of the road, sheltered by the carriage, +the party were entirely apart from the throng, which was too much +absorbed to notice them, only a few heads turning at the rattling +of the harness, and the ladies were amused at the bright flame, +and the dark figures glancing in and out of the light, the shouts +of delight and the merry faces.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There's Guy Fawkes,' cried Albinia, as a +procession of scarecrows were home on chairs amid thunders of +acclamation; 'but whom have they besides? Here are some new +characters.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Most lugubrious looking,' said Genevieve. 'I +cannot make out the shouts.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is the Nabob,' said Mr. Kendal. 'Perhaps +you do not know that is my alias. This is my +execution.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The carpenter implored them to come in, and Mr. +Hope added his entreaties, but Mr. Kendal would not leave the +horses, and the ladies would not leave him; and they all stood +still while his effigy was paraded round the knoll, the mark of +every squib, the object of every invective that the rabble could +roar out at the top of their voices. Jesuits and Papists; +Englishmen treated like blackamoor slaves in the Indies; honest +folk driven out of house and home; such was the burthen of the +cries that assailed the grim representative carried aloft, while +the real man stood unmoved as a statue, his tall, powerful figure +unstirred, his long driving-whip resting against his shoulder +without betraying the slightest motion, neither firm lip nor +steady eye changing. Genevieve, with tears in her eyes, +exclaimed, 'Oh! this is madness! Will no one tell them how wicked +they are?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Never mind, my dear,' said Mr. Kendal, +pressing the hand that in her fervour she had laid on his arm, +'they will come to their senses in time. No, Mr. Hope, I beg you +will not interfere, they are in no state for it; they have done +no harm as yet.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wonder what the police are about?' cried +Albinia, indignantly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'They are too few to do any good,' said Mr. +Kendal. 'It may be better that they are not incensing the mob. It +will all go off quietly when this explosion has relieved their +feelings.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">They felt as if there were something grand in +this perfectly dispassionate reception of the outrage, and they +stood awed and silenced, Sophy leaning on him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It will soon be over now,' he said, 'they are +poking up the name to receive me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Hark! what's that?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The mob came swaying back, and a rich voice +swelled above all the din, 'Boys, boys, is it burning your +friends you are? Then, for the first time, Mr. Kendal started, +and muttered, 'foolish lad! is he here?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Confused cries rose again, but the other voice +gained the mastery.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So you call that undertaker-looking figure +there Mr. Kendal. Small credit to your taste. You want to burn +him. What for?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'For being a Nabob and a tyrant,' was the +shout.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Much you know of Nabobs! No; I'll tell you +what it's for. It is because his son got his death fighting for +his queen and his country a year ago, and on his death-bed bade +him do his best to drive the fever from your doors, and shelter +you and save you from the Union in your old age. Is that a thing +to burn him for?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We want no Irish papists here!' shouted a +blackguard voice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Serve him with the same sauce.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I never was a papist,' was the indignant +reply. 'No more was he; but I've said that the place shan't +disgrace itself, and--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm with you,' shouted another above all the +howls of the mob. 'Gilbert Kendal was as kind-hearted a chap as +ever lived, and I'll see no wrong done to his father.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Tremendous uproar ensued; then the well-known +tones pealed out again, 'I've given my word to save his likeness. +Come on, boys. Hurrah for Kendal!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The war-cry was echoed by a body of voices, +there was a furious <i>melee</i> and a charge towards the Nabob, +who rocked and toppled down, while stragglers came pressed +backwards on all sides.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Here, Hope, take care of them. Stay with +them,' said Mr. Kendal, putting the whip into the curate's hand, +and striding towards the nucleus of the fray, through the throng +who were driven backwards.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'O'More,' he called, 'what's all this? Give +over! Are you mad?' and then catching up, and setting on his +legs, a little fallen boy, 'Go home; get out of all this +mischief. What are you doing? Take home that child,' to a gaping +girl with a baby. 'O'More, I say, I'll commit every man of you if +you don't give over.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He was recognised, and those who had little +appetite for the skirmish gave back from him; but the more +reckless and daring small fry began shrieking, 'The Nabob!' and +letting off crackers and squibs, through which he advanced upon +the knot of positive combatants, who were exchanging blows over +his prostrate image in front of the fire.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">One he caught by the collar, in the act of +aiming a blow. The fist was instantly levelled at him, with the +cry, 'You rascal! what do you mean by it?' But the fierce +struggle failed to shake off the powerful grasp; and at the +command, 'Don't be such a fool!' Ulick burst out, 'Murder! 'tis +himself!' and in the surprise was dragged some paces before +recovering his perceptions.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The cry of police had at the same instant +produced a universal scattering, and five policemen, coming on +the ground, found scarcely any one to separate or capture. Mr. +Kendal relaxed his hold, saying, 'You are my +prisoner.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I didn't think you'd been so strong,' said +Ulick, shaking himself, and looking bewildered. 'Where's the +effigy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What's that to you. Come away, like a rational +being.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ha! what's that?' as a frightful, agonizing +shriek rent the air, and a pillar of flame came rushing across +the now open space. It was a child, one mass of fire, and flying, +in its anguish, from all who would have seized it. One moment of +horror, and it had vanished! The next, Genevieve's voice was +heard crying, 'Bring me something more to press on it.' She had +contrived to cross its path with her large carriage rug, and was +kneeling over it, forcing down the rug to smother the flames. Mr. +Hope brought her a shawl, and they all stood round in silent +awe.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The poor child will be stifled,' said Albinia, +kneeling down to help to unfold its face.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Poor little face, distorted with terror and +agony! One of the policemen recognised it as the child of the +public-house in Tibb's Alley. There were moans, but no one dared +to uncover the limbs; and the policeman and Mr. Hope proposed +carrying it at once to Mr. Bowles, and then home. Mr. Kendal +desired that it should be laid on the seat of the carriage, which +he would drive gently to the doctor's. Genevieve got in to watch +over the poor little boy, and the others walked on by the side, +passed the battle-field, now entirely deserted, too much shocked +for aught but conjectures on his injuries, and the cause of the +misfortune. Either he must have been pushed in on the fire by the +runaway rabble, or have trod upon some of the scattered +combustibles.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Bowles desired that the child should be +taken home at once, promising to follow instantly; so at the +entrance of Tibb's Alley, the carriage stopped, and Mr. Hope +lifted out the poor little wailing bundle. Albinia was following, +but a decided prohibition from her husband checked her. 'I would +not have either of you go to that house on any account. Tell them +to send to us for whatever they want, but that is +enough.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was no gainsaying such a command, but as +they reached the door of Willow Lawn, Mr. Kendal exclaimed, +'Where is Miss Durant?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She is gone with the little boy,' said Sophy. +'She told me she hoped you would not be displeased. Mr. Hope will +take care of her, and she will soon come in.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Every one is mad to-night!' cried Mr. Kendal. +'In such a place as that! I will go for her directly.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Pray don't,' said Albinia, 'no one could speak +a rude word to her on such an errand. She and Mr. Hope will be +much more secure from incivility without you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I believe it may be so, but I +wish--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">His wish was broken off, for his little +Albinia, screaming, 'Papa! papa!' clung to him in a transport of +caresses, which Maurice explained by saying, 'Little Awkey has +been crying, mamma, she thought they were burning papa in the +bonnie.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Papa not burnt!' cried little Awkey, patting +his cheeks, and laying her head on his shoulders alternately, as +he held her to his breast. 'Naughty people wanted to make a fire, +but they sha'n't burn papa or poor Guy Fawkes, or any of the good +men.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And where were you, Ulick?' cried Maurice, in +an imperious, injured way. 'You said once, perhaps you would take +me to see the fire; and I went up to the bank, and they said you +were gone, and it was glaring so in the sky, and I did so want to +go.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am glad you stayed away, my man,' said +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I did want to go,' said Maurice; 'and I ran up +to the top of the street, and there was Mr. Tritton; and he said +if I liked a lark, he would take care of me; but--' and there he +stopped short, and the colour came into his face.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia threw her arm round him, and kissed +him, saying, 'My trusty boy! and so you came home?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes; and there was Awkey crying about their +burning papa, and she would not go up to the garret-window to see +the fire, nor do anything.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why, what is the sword here for?' exclaimed +Sophy, finding it on the stairs.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Because then Awkey was not so +afraid.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">For once, Maurice had been exemplary, keeping +from the tempting uproar, and devoting himself to soothing his +little sister. It was worth all the vexations of the evening; but +he went on to ask if Ulick could not take him now, if the fire +was not out yet,</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not exactly,' said Mr. Kendal, +drily.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I beg your pardon, Mr. Kendal,' said Ulick, +who had apparently only just resumed the use of speech; 'don't +know what I may have done when you collared me, but I'd no more +notion of its being you than the Lord Lieutenant.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And pray what took you there?' asked Mr. +Kendal. 'The surprise was quite as great to me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why,' said Ulick, 'one of the little lads of +my Sunday class gave me a hint the other day that those brutes +meant to have a pretty go to-night, and that Jackson was getting +up a figure of the Nabob to break their spite upon. So I told my +little fellow to give a hint to a few more of the right sort, and +we'd go up together and not let the rascals have their own +way.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Upon my word, I wonder what the Vicar will say +to the use you make of his Sunday-school. Pretty work for his +model teacher.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What better could the boys be taught than to +fight for the good cause? Why, no one is a scratch the worse for +it. And do you think we could sit by and see our best friend used +worse than a dog?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Why not give notice to the police?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And would you have me hinder a fight?' cried +Ulick, in the most Irish of all his voices.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! very well, if you like--only there will be +a run on the bank to-morrow.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What has Ulick been doing, Sophy?' asked +Maurice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Only what you would have done had you been +older, Maurice,' she said, in a hurt voice; 'defending papa's +effigy, for which he does not seem to meet with much +gratitude.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well,' said Mr. Kendal, who all the time had +had more gratitude in his eyes than on his tongue, 'if the +burning had had the same consequence as melting one's waxen +effigy was thought to have, it might have been worth while to +interfere, but I should have thought it more dignified in a +respectable substantial householder to let those foolish fellows +have their swing.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'More dignified maybe,' smiled Albinia, 'but +less like an O'More.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, you are not going,' said Mr. Kendal; 'I +shall not release my prisoner just yet.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You carried off all the honour of the day,' +said Ulick. 'I had no notion you had such an arm. Why, you swung +me round like a tom-cat, or--' and he exemplified the exploit +upon Maurice, and was well buffeted.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That's a little Irish blarney to propitiate +me,' laughed Mr. Kendal, who certainly was in unusual spirits +after his execution and rescue by proxy, but you wont escape +prison fare.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There's no doubt who was the heroine of the +day,' added Sophy. 'How one envies her!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What! your little governess friend?' said +Ulick. 'Yes; she did show superior wit, when the rest of the +world stood gaping round.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was admirable--just like Genevieve's +tenderness and dexterity,' said Albinia. 'I dare say she is doing +everything for the poor little fellow.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, admirable,' said Mr. Kendal; 'but you all +behaved very creditably, ladies.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ay,' said Albinia; 'not to scream is what a +man thinks the climax of excellence in a woman.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is generally all that is required,' said +Mr. Kendal. I don't know what I should have done if poor Lucy had +been there.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Thereupon the ladies went upstairs, Maurice +following Sophy to extract a full account of the skirmish. The +imp probably had an instinct that she would think more of what +redounded to Ulick O'More's glory than of what would be edifying +to his own infant mind. It was doubtful how long it would be +before Guy Fawkes would arrive at his proper standing in the +little Awk's opinion, after the honour of an <i>auto-da-fe</i> in +company with papa.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Hope escorted Genevieve home, and was kept +to dinner. They narrated that they had found the public-house +open, and the bar full of noisy runaways.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The burns were dreadful, but the surgeon did +not think they would be fatal, and the child had held Genevieve's +hand throughout the dressing, and seemed so unwilling to part +with her, that she had promised to come again the next day, and +had been thanked gratefully. There seemed no positive want of +comforts, and there was every hope that all would do +well.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve looked pale after the scene she had +gone through, and could not readily persuade herself to eat, +still less rally her spirits to talk; but she managed to avoid +observation at dinner-time, and afterwards a rest on the sofa +restored her. She evidently felt, as she said, that this was +coming home, and her exquisite gift of tact making her perceive +that she was to be at ease and on an equality, she assumed her +position without giving her friends the embarrassment of +installing her, and Mr. Hope was in such a state of transparent +admiration, that Albinia could not help two or three times +noiselessly clapping her hands under the table, and secretly +thanking the rioters and their tag-rag and bob-tail for having +provided a home for little Genevieve Durant.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was indeed a pang as she thought of +Gilbert; but she believed that Genevieve's heart had never been +really touched, and was still fresh and open. She thought she +might make Mr. Kendal and Sophy equally magnanimous. Perhaps by +that time Sophy would be too happy to have leisure to be hurt, +and she had little fear but that Mr. Kendal's good sense would +conquer his jealousy for his son, though it might cost him +something.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Two lovers to befriend at once! Two desirable +attachments to foster! There was glory! Not that Albinia +fulfilled her mission to a great extent; shamefacedness always +restrained her, and she had not Emily's gift for making +opportunities. Indeed, when she did her best, so perversely +bashful were the parties, that the wrong pairs resorted together, +the two who could talk being driven into conversation by the +silence of the others.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Of Mr. Hope's sentiments there could be no +doubt. He was fairly carried off his feet by the absorption of +the passion, which was doubly engrossing because all ladies had +hitherto appeared to him as beings with whom conversation was an +impossible duty; but after all he had heard of Miss Durant, he +might as a judicious man select her for an excellent +<i>parsoness</i>, and as a young man fall vehemently in love. +Nothing could be more evident to the lookers-on, but Albinia +could not satisfy herself whether Genevieve had any +suspicion.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was not very young, knew something of the +world, and was acute and observing; but on the other hand, she +had made it a principle never to admit the thought of courtship, +and she might not be sufficiently acquainted with the habits of +the individual to be sensible of the symptomatic +alteration.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She had begged the Dusautoys to make her +leisure profitable, and spent much of her time upon the schools, +on her little patient in Tibb's Alley, and in going about among +the poor; she visited her old shopkeeper friends, and drank tea +with them much oftener than gratified Mr. Kendal, talking so +openly of the pleasure of seeing them again, that Albinia +sometimes thought the blood of the O'Mores was a little +chafed.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There,' said Genevieve, completing a +housewife, filled with needles ready threaded, 'I wonder whether +the omnibus is too protestant to leave a parcel at the +convent?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't think its scruples of conscience would +withstand sixpence,' said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You might post it for less than that,' said +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't you know,' said Ulick O'More, who was +playing with the little Awk in the window, 'that the feminine +mind loves expedients? It would be less commonplace to confide +the parcel to the conductor, than merely let him receive it as +guard of the mail bag and servant of the public.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Exactly,' laughed Genevieve. 'Think of the +moral influence of being selected as bearer of a token of +tenderness to my aunt on her fete, instead of being treated as a +mere machine, devoid of human sympathies.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophy, where were we reading of a nation which +gives the simplest transaction the air of a little romance?' said +Ulick.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And I have heard of a nation which denudes +every action of sentiment, and leaves you the tree without the +leaves,' was Genevieve's retort.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That misses fire, Miss Durant; my nation does +everything by the soul, nothing by mechanism.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'When they <i>do</i> do it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That's a defiance. You must deprive the +conductor of the moral influence, whether as man or machine, and +entrust the parcel to me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That would be like chartering a steamer to +send home a Chinese puzzle.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, indeed; I must go to Hadminster. Bear me +witness, Sophy, Miss Goldsmith wants me to talk to the house +agent.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mind, if you miss St. Leocadia's day, you will +miss my aunt's fete.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. O'More succeeded in carrying off the little +parcel. The next morning, as the ladies were descending the hill, +a hurried step came after them, and the curate said in an abrupt +rapid manner, 'I beg your pardon, I was going to Hadminster; +could I do anything for you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nothing, thank you,' said Albinia, at whom he +looked.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Did I not hear--Miss Durant had some work to +send her aunt to-day?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How did you know that, Mr. Hope?' exclaimed +Genevieve.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I heard something pass, when some one was +admiring your work,' he said, not looking at her. 'And this--I +think--is St. Leocadia's day.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am very much obliged to you for remembering +it, but I have sent my little parcel otherwise, so I need not +trouble you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! how stupid in me! I am very sorry. I beg +your pardon,' and he hurried off, looking as if very sorry were +not a mere matter of course.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor man,' thought Albinia, 'I dare say he has +reckoned on it all this time, and hunted out St. Leocadia in +Alban Butler, and then tried to screw up his courage all +yesterday. Ulick has managed to traverse a romance, but perhaps +it is just as well, for what would be the effect on the public of +Mr. Hope in <i>that</i> coat being seen ringing at the convent +door?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, Miss Durant,' said Ulick, entering the +drawing-room in the winter twilight, 'here is evidence for +you!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You have actually penetrated the convent, and +seen my aunt? Impossible! and yet this pencilled note is her own +dear writing!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You don't mean that you really were let in?' +cried Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I entered quite legitimately, I assure you. It +was all luck. I'd just been putting up at the Crown, when what +should I see in a sort of a trance, staring right into the +inn-yard, but as jolly-looking a priest as ever held a station. +"An' it's long since I've seen the like of you," says he aloud to +himself. "Is it the car?" says I. "Sure it is," says he. "I've +not laid my eyes on so iligant a vehicle since I left County +Tyrone."'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mr. O'Hara!' exclaimed Genevieve.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'"And I'm mistaken if you're not the master of +it," he goes on, taking the measure of me all over,' continued +Ulick, putting on his drollest brogue. 'You see he had too much +manners to say that such a personable young gentleman, speaking +such correct English, could be no other than an Irishman, so I +made my bow, and said the car and I were both from County Galway, +and we were straight as good friends as if we'd hunted together +at Ballymakilty. To be sure, he was a little taken aback when he +found I was one of the Protestant branch, of the O'Mores, but a +countryman is a countryman in a barbarous land, and he asked me +to call upon him, and offered to do me any service in his +power.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am sure he would. He is the kindest old +gentleman I know,' exclaimed Genevieve. 'He always used to bring +me barleysugar-drops when I was a little girl, and it was he who +found out our poor old Biddy in distress at Hadminster, and sent +her to live with us.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Indeed! Then I owe him another debt of +gratitude--in fact, he told me that one of his flock, meaning +Biddy, had spoken to him honourably of me. "Well," said I, "the +greatest service you could do me, sir, would be to introduce me +to Mademoiselle Belmarche; I have a young lady's commission for +her." "From my little Genevieve," he said, "the darling that she +is. Did you leave the child well?" And so when I said it was a +present for her saint's day, and that your heart was set on +it--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But, Mr. O'More, I never did set my heart on +your seeing her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, well, you would have done it if you'd +known there had been any chance of it, besides, your heart was +set on her getting the work, and how could I make sure of that +unless I gave it into her own hand? I wouldn't have put it into +Mr. O'Hara's snuffy pocket to hinder myself from being +bankrupt'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then he took you in?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So he did, like an honest Irishman as he was. +He rang at the bell and spoke to the portress, and had me into +the parlour and sent up for the lady; and I have seldom spent a +pleasanter hall-hour. Mademoiselle Belmarche bade me tell you +that she would write fuller thanks to you another day, and that +her eyes would thank you every night.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Was her cold gone? Did she seem well, the dear +aunt?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve was really grateful, and had many +questions to ask about her aunt, which met with detailed +answers.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'By-the-by,' said Ulick,' I met Mr. Hope in the +street as I was coming away, I offered him a lift, but he said he +was not coming home till late. I wonder what he is +doing.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia and Sophy exchanged glances, and had +almost said, 'Poor Mr. Hope!' It was very hard that the good +fortune and mere good nature of an indifferent person should push +him where the quiet curate so much wished to be. Albinia would +have liked to have had either a little impudence or a little tact +to enable her to give a hint to Ulick to be less +officious.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">St. Leocadia's feast was the 9th of December. +Three days after, Genevieve received a letter which made her +change countenance, and hurry to her own room, whence she did not +emerge till luncheon-time.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In the late afternoon, there was a knock at the +drawing-room door, and Mr. Dusautoy said, 'Can I speak with you a +minute, Mrs. Kendal?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Dreading ill news of Lucy, she hurried to the +morning-room with him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Fanny said I had better speak to you. This +poor fellow is in a dreadful state.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Algernon!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, indeed. Poor Hope! What has possessed the +girl?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Genevieve has not refused him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Did you not know it? I found him in his rooms +as white as a sheet! I asked what was the matter, he begged me to +let him go away for one Sunday, and find him a substitute. I saw +how it was, and at the first word he broke down and told +me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Was this to-day?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes. What can the silly little puss be +thinking of to put an excellent fellow like that to so much pain? +Going about it in such an admirable way, too, writing to old +Mamselle first, and getting a letter from her which he sends with +his own, and promising to guarantee her fifty pounds a year out +of his own pocket. 'I should like to know what that little Jenny +means by it. I gave her credit for more sense.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Perhaps she thinks, under the circumstances of +her coming here, within the year--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! very proper, very pretty of her; I never +thought of that; I suppose I have your permission to tell +Hope?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I believe all the town knew it,' said +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes; he need not be downhearted, he has only +to be patient, and he will like her the better for it. After all, +though he is as good a man as breathes, he cannot be Gilbert, and +it will be a great relief to him. I'll tell him to put all his +fancies about O'More out of his head.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Most decidedly,' said Albinia; 'nothing can be +greater nonsense. Tell him by no means to go away, for when she +finds that our feelings are not hurt, and has become used to the +idea, I have every hope that she will be able to form a +new--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ay; ay; poor Gilbert would have wished it +himself. It is very good of you, Mrs. Kendal; I'll put the poor +fellow in spirits again.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Did you hear whether she gave any +reasons?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! I don't know--something about her birth +and station; but that's stuff--she's a perfect lady, and much +more.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And he is only a bookseller's son.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'True, and though it might be awkward to have +the parson's father-in-law cutting capers if he lived in the same +town, yet being dead these fifteen or eighteen years, where's the +damage?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Was that all?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I fancy that she said she never meant to +marry, but that's all nonsense; she is the very girl that ought, +and I hope you will talk to her and bring her to reason. There's +not a couple in the whole place that I should be so glad to marry +as those two.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia endeavoured to discuss the matter with +Genevieve that night when they went upstairs. It was not easy to +do, for Genevieve seemed resolved to wish her good-night outside +her door, but she made her entrance, and putting her arm round +her little friend's waist, said, 'Am I very much in your way, my +dear? I thought you might want a little help, or at least a +little talk.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh! Mrs. Kendal, I hoped you did not know!' +and her eyes filled with tears.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Dusautoy told me, my dear; poor Mr. Hope's +distress betrayed him, and Mr. Dusautoy was anxious I +should--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve did not let her finish, but +exclaiming, 'I did not expect this from you, madame,' gave way to +a shower of tears.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My dear child, do we not all feel you the more +one with ourselves for this reluctance?' said Albinia, caressing +her fondly. 'It shall not be forced upon you any more till you +can bear it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Till!' exclaimed Genevieve, alarmed. 'Oh! do +not say that! Do not hold out false hopes! I never +shall!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do not think you are a fair judge as yet, my +dear.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think I am,' said Genevieve, slowly, 'I must +not let you love me on false pretences, dearest Mrs. Kendal. I do +not think it is all for--for his sake--but indeed, though I must +esteem Mr. Hope, I do not believe I could ever feel for him as--' +then breaking off. 'I pray you, with all my heart, dearest +friend, never to speak to me of marriage. I am the little +governess, and while Heaven gives me strength to work for my +aunt, and you let me call this my home, I am content, I am +blessed. Oh! do not disturb and unsettle me!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">So imploringly did she speak, that she +obliterated all thought of the prudent arguments with which +Albinia had come stored. It was no time for them; there was no +possibility of endeavouring to dethrone the memory of her own +Gilbert, and her impulse was far more to agree that no one else +could ever be loved, than to argue in favour of a new attachment. +She was proud of Gilbert for being thus recollected, and doubly +pleased with the widowed heart; nor was it till the first effect +of Genevieve's tears had passed off that she began to reflect +that the idea might become familiar, and that romance having been +abundantly satisfied by the constancy of the Lancer, sober esteem +might be the basis of very happy married affection.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Hope did not go away, but he shrank into +himself, and grew more timid than ever, and it was through the +Dusautoys that Albinia learnt that he was much consoled, and +intended to wait patiently. He had written to Mdlle. Belmarche, +who had been extremely disappointed, and continued to believe +that so excellent and well brought up a young girl as her niece +would not resist her wishes with regard to a young pastor so +respectable.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy, when made aware of what was going on, +did not smile or shed a tear, only a strange whiteness came +across her face. She made a commonplace remark with visible +effort, nor was she quite herself for some time. It was as if the +reference to her brother had stirred up the old wound. Genevieve +seemed to have been impelled to manifest her determination of +resuming her occupation, she wrote letters vigorously, answered +advertisements, and in spite of the united protest of her +friends, advertised herself as a young person of French +extraction, but a member of the Church of England, accustomed to +tuition, and competent to instruct in French, Italian, music, and +all the ordinary branches of education. Address, G. C. D., Mr. +Richardson's, bookseller, Bayford.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XXX.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">Miss Goldsmith went to spend Christmas with an +old friend, leaving Ulick more liberty than he had enjoyed for a +long time. He used it a good deal at Willow Lawn, and was there +of course on Christmas-day. After dinner the decoration of the +church was under discussion. The Bayford neighbourhood was +unpropitious to holly, and Sophy and Genevieve had hardly ever +seen any, except that Genevieve remembered the sooty bits sold in +London. Something passed about sending for a specimen from +Fairmead, but Albinia said that would not answer, for her +brother's children were in despair at the absence of berries, and +had ransacked Colonel Bury's plantations in vain.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The next day, about twilight, Albinia and Sophy +were arranging some Christmas gifts for the old women, in the +morning-room; Genevieve was to come and help them on her return +from the child in Tibb's Alley.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, here she comes, up the garden,' said +Sophy, who was by the window.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Presently Albinia heard a strange sound as of +tightened breath, and looking up saw Sophy deathly pale, with her +eyes fixed on the window. In terror she flew to her side, but +Sophy spoke not, she only clutched her hand with fingers cold and +tight as iron, and gazed with dilated eyes. Albinia +looked--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Ulick had come from the house--there was a +scarlet-berried spray in Genevieve's hand, which she was trying +to make him take again--his face was all pleading and +imploring--she turned hastily from him, and they saw her cheek +glowing with crimson--she tried to force back the holly +spray--but her hand was caught--he was kissing it. No, she had +rent it away--she had fled in through the conservatory--they +heard the doors--she had rushed up to her own room.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy's grasp grew more rigid--she panted for +breath.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'My child! my child!' said Albinia, throwing +her arms round her, expecting her to faint. 'Oh! could I have +imagined such treason?' Her eyes flashed, and her frame quivered +with indignation. 'He shall never come into this house +again!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Mamma! hush!' said Sophy, releasing herself +from her embrace, and keeping her body upright, though obliged to +seat herself on the nearest chair. 'It is not treason,' she said +slowly, as though her mouth were parched.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Contemptible fickleness!' burst out Albinia, +but Sophy implored silence by a gesture.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' she said; 'it was a dream, a degrading, +humiliating dream; but it is over.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There is no degradation except to the base +trifler I once thought better things of.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He has not trifled,' said Sophy. 'Wait! +hush!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was a composure about her that awed +Albinia, who stood watching in suspense while she went to the +bed-room, drank some water, cooled her brow, pushed back her +hair, and sitting down again in the same collected manner, which +gave her almost a look of majesty, she said, 'Promise me, mamma, +that all shall go on as if this folly had never crossed our +minds.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can't! I can't, Sophy!' said Albinia in the +greatest agitation. 'I can't <i>unknow</i> that you have been +shamefully used.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then you will lead papa to break his promise +to Genevieve, and lower me not only in my own eyes, but in those +of every one.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He little knew that he was bringing her here +to destroy his daughter's happiness. So that was why she held off +from Mr. Hope,' cried Albinia, burning with such indignation, +that on some one she must expend it, but a tirade against the +artfulness of the little French witch was cut off short by an +authoritative--</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't, mamma! You are unjust! How can she help +being loveable!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He had no business to know whether she was or +not.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You are wrong, mamma. The absurdity was in +thinking I ever was so.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very little absurd,' said Albinia, twining her +arms round Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Don't make me silly,' hastily said Sophy, her +voice trembling for a moment; 'I want to tell you all about it, +and you will see that no one is to blame. The perception has been +growing on me for a long time, but I was weak enough to indulge +in the dream. It was very sweet!' There again she struggled not +to break down, gained the victory, and went on, 'I don't think I +should have dared to imagine it myself, but I saw others thought +it, who knew more; I knew the incredible was sometimes true, and +every little kindness he did--Oh! how foolish! as if he could +help doing kindnesses! My better sense told me he did not really +distinguish me; but there was something that <i>would</i> feed +upon every word and look. Then last year I was wakened by the +caricature business. That opened my eyes, for no one who had +<i>that</i> in him would have turned my sister into derision. I +was sullen then and proud, and when--when humanity and compassion +brought him to me in my distress--oh! why--why could not I have +been reasonable, and not have selfishly fed on what I thought was +revived?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He had no right--' began Albinia, +fiercely.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He could neither help saving Maurice, nor +speaking comfort and support when he found me exhausted and +sinking. It was I who was the foolish creature--I hate myself! +Well, you know how it has been--I liked to believe it was <i>the +thing</i>--I knew he cared less for me than--but I thought it was +always so between men and women, and that I would not have petty +distrusts. But when she came, I saw what the true--true feeling +is--I saw that he felt when she came into the room--I saw how he +heard her words and missed mine--I saw--' Sophy collected +herself, and spoke quietly and distinctly, 'I saw his love, and +that it had never been for me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was a pause; Albinia could not bear to +look, speak, or move. Sophy's words carried conviction that swept +away her sand castle.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Now, mamma,' said Sophy, earnestly, 'you own +that he has not been false or fickle.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If he has not, he has disregarded the choicest +jewel that lay in his way,' said Albinia with some +sharpness.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But he has not been that,' persisted +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well--no; I suppose not.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And no one can be less to blame than +Genevieve.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Little flirt, I've no patience with +her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She can't help her manners,' repeated Sophy, +'I feel them so much more charming than mine every moment. She +will make him so happy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What are you talking of, Sophy? He must be mad +if he is in earnest. A man of his family pride! His father will +never listen to it for a moment.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know what his father may do,' said +Sophy; 'but I know what I pray and entreat we may do, and that +is, do our utmost to make this come to good.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophy, don't ask it. I could not, I know you +could not.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There is no loss of esteem. I honour him as I +always did,' said Sophy. 'Yes, the more since I see it was all +for papa and the right, all unselfish, on that 5th of November. +Some day I shall have worn out the selfishness.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She kept her hand tightly pressed on her heart +as she spoke, and Albinia exclaimed, 'You shall not see it; you +overrate your strength; it is my business to prevent +you!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Think, mamma,' said Sophy, rising in her +earnestness. 'Here is a homeless orphan, whom you have taught to +love you, whom papa has brought here as to a home, and for +Gilbert's sake. Is it fair--innocent, exemplary as she is--to +turn against her because she is engaging and I am not, to cut her +off from us, drive her away to the first situation that offers, +be it what it may, and with that thought aching and throbbing in +her heart? Oh, mamma! would that be mercy or justice?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You are not asking to have it encouraged in +the very house with you?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do not see how else it is to be,' said +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Let him go after her, if there's anything in +it but Irish folly and French coquetry--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How, mamma? Where? When she is a governess in +some strange place? How could he leave his business? How could +she attend to him? Oh, mamma! you used to be kind: how can you +wish to put two people you love so much to such +misery?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Because I can't put one whom I love better +than both, and who deserves it, to greater misery,' said Albinia, +embracing her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then do not put me to the misery of being +ungenerous, and the shame of having my folly +suspected.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia would have argued still, but the +children came in, Sophy went away, and there was no possibility +of a tete-a-tete. How strange it was to have such a tumult of +feeling within, and know that the same must be tenfold multiplied +in the hearts of those two girls, and yet go through all the +domestic conventionalities, each wearing a mask of commonplace +ease, as though nothing had happened!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve had, Albinia suspected, been crying +excessively; for there was that effaced annihilated appearance +that tears produced on her, but otherwise she did her part in +answering her host, who was very fond of her, and always made her +an object of attention. Albinia found herself betraying more +abstraction, she was so anxiously watching Sophy, who acquitted +herself best of all, had kept tears from her eyes, talked more +than usual, and looked brilliant, with a bright colour dyeing her +cheeks. She was evidently sustained by eagerness to obtain her +generous purpose, and did not yet realize the price.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The spray of holly was lying as if it had been +tossed in vexation upon the marble slab in the hall. Albinia, +from the stairs, saw Sophy take it up, and waited to see what she +would do with it. The Sophy she had once known would have dashed +it into the flames, and then have repented. No! Sophy held it +tenderly, and looked at the glossy leaves and coral fruit with no +angry eye; she even raised it to her lips, but it was to pierce +with one of the long prickles till her brow drew together at the +smart, and the blood started. Then she began to mount the stairs, +and meeting Albinia, said quietly, 'I was going to take this to +Genevieve's room, it is empty now, but perhaps you had better +take care of it for her, out of sight. It will be her greatest +treasure to-morrow.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal read aloud as usual, but who of his +audience attended? Certainly not Albinia. She sat with her head +bent over her work, revolving the history of these last two +years, and trying to collect herself after the sudden shock, and +the angry feelings of disappointment that surged within, in much +need of an object of wrath. Alas! who could that object be but +that blind, warm-hearted, impulsive Mistress Albinia +Kendal?</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She saw plain enough, now it was too late, that +there had not been a shadow of sentiment in that lively confiding +Irishman, used to intimacy with a herd of cousins, and viewing +all connexions as cousins. She remembered his conversation with +her brother and her brother's impression; she thought of the +unloverlike dread of ague in Emily's moonlight walk; she recalled +the many occasions when she had thought him remiss, and she could +not but acquit him of any designed flirtation, any dangerous +tenderness, or what Mdlle. Belmarche would call <i>legerete</i>. +He could not be reserved--he was naturally free and open--and how +could she have put such a construction on his frankness, when +Sophy herself had long been gradually arriving at a conviction of +the truth! It was a comfort at least to remember that it had not +been the fabrication of her own brain, she had respectable +authority for the idea, and she trusted to its prompter to +participate in her indignation, argue Ulick out of so poor a +match, and at least put a decided veto upon Sophy's Spartan +magnanimity--Sophy's health and feelings being the subject, she +sometimes thought, which concerned him above all.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Ah! but the evil had not been his doing. He had +but gossiped out a pleasant conjecture to his wife as a +trustworthy help-meet. What business had she to go and telegraph +that conjecture, with her significant eyes, to the very last +person who ought to have shared it, and then to have kept up the +mischief by believing it herself, and acting, looking, and +arranging, as on a certainty implied, though not expressed? Mrs. +Osborne or Mrs. Drury might have spoken more broadly, they could +not have acted worse, thought she to herself.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The notion might never have been suggested; +Sophy might have simply enjoyed these years of intimacy, and even +if her heart had been touched, it would have been unconsciously, +and the pain and shame of unrequited affection have merely been a +slight sense of neglect, a small dreariness, lost in eagerness +for the happiness of both friends. Now, two years of love that +she had been allowed to imagine returned and sanctioned, and love +with the depth and force of Sophy's whole nature--the shame of +having loved unasked, the misery of having lived in a +delusion--how would they act upon a being of her morbid tendency, +frail constitution, and proud spirit? As Albinia thought of the +passive endurance of last year's estrangement, her heart sank +within her! Illness--brain-fever--permanent ill-health and +crushed spirits--nay, death itself she augured--and all--all her +own fault! The last and best of Edmund's children so cruelly and +deeply wounded, and by her folly! She longed to throw herself at +his feet and ask his pardon, but it was Sophy's secret as well as +hers, and how could womanhood betray that unrequited love? At +least she thought, for noble Sophy's sake, she would not raise a +finger to hinder the marriage, but as to forwarding it, or +promoting the courtship under Sophy's very eyes--that would be +like murdering her outright, and she would join Mr. Kendal with +all her might in removing their daughter from the trying +spectacle. Talk of Aunt Maria! This trouble was ten thousand +times worse!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia began to watch the timepiece, longing +to have the evening over, that she might prepare Mr. Kendal. It +ended at last, and Genevieve took up her candle, bade good-night, +and disappeared. Sophy lingered, till coming forward to her +father as he stood by the fire, she said, 'Papa, did you not +promise Gilbert that Genevieve should be as another +daughter?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I wish she would be, my dear,' said Mr. +Kendal; 'but she is too independent, and your mamma thinks she +would consider it as a mere farce to call her little Albinia's +governess, but if you can persuade her--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What I want you to do, papa, is to promise +that she shall be married from this house, as her home, and that +you will fit her out as you did Lucy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ha! Is she beginning to relent?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, papa. It will be Ulick O'More.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You don't mean it!' exclaimed Mr. Kendal, more +taken by surprise than perhaps he had ever been, and looking at +his wife, who was standing dismayed, yet admiring the gallant +girl who had forestalled her precautions. Obliged to speak, she +said, 'I am afraid so, Sophy and I witnessed a scene +to-day.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Afraid?' said Mr. Kendal; 'I see no reason to +be afraid, if Ulick likes it. They are two of the most agreeable +and best people that ever fell in my way, and I shall be +delighted if they can arrange it, for they are perfectly suited +to each other.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But such a match!' exclaimed +Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'As to that, a sensible, economical wife will +be worth more to him than an expensive one, with however large a +fortune. And for the family pride, I am glad the lad has more +sense than I feared; he has a full right to please himself, +having won the place he has, and he may make his father consent. +He wants a wife--nothing else will keep him from running headlong +into speculation, for want of something to do. Yes, I see what +you are thinking of, my dear, but you know we could not wish her, +as you said yourself, never to form another +attachment.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'But <i>here</i>!' sighed Albinia, the ground +knocked away from under her, yet still clinging to the last +possible form of murmur.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It will cost us something,' said Mr. Kendal, +'but no more than we will cheerfully bear, for the sake of one +who has such claims upon us; and it will be amply repaid by +having such a pair of friends settled close to us.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then you will, papa?' said Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Will do what, my dear?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Treat her as--as you did Lucy, +papa.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And with much more pleasure, and far more +hope, than when we fitted out poor Lucy,' said Mr. +Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy thanked him, and said 'Good-night;' and +the look which accompanied her kiss to her step-mother was a +binding over to secrecy and non-interference.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Is she gone?' said Mr. Kendal, who had been +musing after his last words. 'Gone to tell her friend, I suppose? +I wanted to ask what this scene was.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh!' said Albinia, 'it was in the garden--we +saw it from the window--only he brought her a bit of holly, and +was trying to kiss her hand.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Strong premises, certainly. How did she +receive the advance?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She would not listen, but made her +escape.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then matters are not in such a state of +progress as for me to congratulate her? I suppose that you ladies +are the best judges whether he may not meet with the same fate as +poor Hope?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophy seems to take it for granted that he +will not.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Irishman as he is, he must be pretty secure of +his ground before coming to such strong measures. Well! I hope we +may hear no more of brow-ague. But--' with sudden recollection-- +'I thought, Albinia, you fancied he had some inclination for +Sophy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Was it not a good wife to suppress the 'You +did'? If she could merrily have said, 'You told me so,' it would +have been all very well, but her mood would admit of nothing but +a grave and guarded answer-- 'We did fancy so, but I am convinced +it was entirely without reason.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That superior smile at her lively imagination +was more than human nature could bear, without the poor relief of +an entreaty that he would not sit meditating, and go to sleep in +his chair.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia thought she had recovered equanimity +during her night's rest, but in the midst of her morning +toilette, Sophy hurried in, exclaiming, 'She'll go away! She is +writing letters and packing!' and she answered, 'Well, what do +you want me to do? You don't imagine that I can rush into her +room and lay hands on her? She will not go upon a wishing-carpet. +It will be time to interfere when we know more of the +matter.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy looked blank, and vanished, and Albinia +felt excessively vexed at having visited on the chief sufferer +her universal crossness with all mankind. She knew she had only +spoken common sense, but that made it doubly hateful; and yet she +could not but wish Miss Durant anywhere out of sight, and Mr. +O'More on the top of the Hill of Howth.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">At breakfast, Sophy's looks betrayed nothing to +the uninitiated, though Albinia detected a feverish restlessness +and covert impatience, and judged that her sleep had been little. +Genevieve's had perhaps been less, for she was very sallow, with +sunken eyes, and her face looked half its usual size; but Albinia +could not easily have compassion on the poor little unwitting +traitress, even when she began, 'Dear Mrs. Kendal, will you +excuse me if I take a sudden leave? I find it will answer best +for me to accept Mrs. Elwood's invitation; I can then present +myself to any lady who may wish to see me, and, as I promised my +aunt another visit, I had better go to Hadminster by the three +o'clock omnibus.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was thankful for the loud opposition +which drowned the faint reluctance of her own; Mr. Kendal +insisting that she should not leave them; little Awk coaxing her; +and Maurice exclaiming, 'If the ladies want her, let them come +after her! One always goes to see a horse.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I'm not so well worth the trouble, +Maurice.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I know Ulick O'More <i>would</i> come in to +see you when all the piebalds for the show were going +by!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Some day you will come to the same good +taste,' said his father, to lessen the general +confusion.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'See a lady instead of a piebald? Never!' cried +Maurice with indignation, that made the most preoccupied laugh; +under cover of which Genevieve effected a retreat. Sophy looked +imploringly at Albinia--Albinia was moving, but not with +alacrity, and Mr. Kendal was saying, 'I do not understand all +this,' when, scarcely pausing to knock, Ulick opened the door, +cheeks and eyes betraying scarcely repressed +eagerness.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What--where,' he stammered, as if even his +words were startled away; 'is not Miss Durant well?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She was here just this moment,' said Mr. +Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I will go and see for her,' said Sophy. 'Come, +children.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Whether Sophy's powers over herself or over +Genevieve would avail, was an anxious marvel, but it did not last +a moment, for Maurice came clattering down to say that Genevieve +was gone out into the town. In such a moment! She must have +snatched up her bonnet, and fled one way while Ulick entered by +the other. He made one step forward, exclaiming, 'Where is she +gone?' then pausing, broke out, 'Mrs. Kendal, you must make her +give me a hearing, or I shall go mad!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'A hearing?' repeated Mrs. Kendal, with slight +malice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes; why, don't you know?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So your time has come, Ulick, has it?' said +Mr. Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, and I were worse than an old ledger if +it had not, when she was before me! Make her listen to me, Mrs. +Kendal, if she do not, I shall never do any more good in this +world!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I should have thought,' said Albinia, 'that an +Irishman would be at no loss for making +opportunities.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You don't know, Mrs. Kendal; she is so fenced +in with scruples, humility--I know not what--that she will not so +much as hear me out. I'm not such a blockhead as to think myself +worthy of her, but I do think, if she would only listen to me, I +might stand a chance: and she runs off, as if she thought it a +sin to hear a word from my mouth!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is very honourable to her,' said Mr. +Kendal.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very honourable to her,' replied Ulick, 'but +cruelly hard upon me.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think, too,' continued Mr. Kendal, +stimulated thereto by his lady's severely prudent looks, 'that +you ought--granting Miss Durant to be, as I well know her to be, +one of the most excellent persons who ever lived--still to count +the cost of opening such an affair. It is not fair upon a woman +to bring her into a situation where disappointments may arise +which neither may be able to bear.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Do you mean my family, Mr. Kendal? Trust me +for getting consent from home. You will write my father a letter, +saying what you said just now; Mrs. Kendal will write another to +my mother; and I'll just let them see my heart is set on it, and +they'll not hold out.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Could you bear to see her--looked down on?' +said Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ha!' he cried, with flashing eyes. 'No, +believe me, Mrs. Kendal, the O'Mores have too much gentle blood +to do like that, even if she were one whom any one could scorn. +Why, what is my mother herself but a Goldsmith by birth, and I'd +like to see who would cast it up to any of the family that she +was not as noble as an O'More! And Genevieve herself--isn't every +look and every movement full of the purest gentility her fathers' +land can show?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I dare say, once accepted, the O'Mores would +heartily receive her; but here, in this place, there are some +might think it told against you, and might make her +uncomfortable.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What care I? I've lived and thriven under +Bayford scorn many a day. And for her-- Oh! I defy anything so +base to wound a heart so high as hers, and with me to protect +her!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And you can afford it?' said Mr. Kendal. +'Remember she has her aunt to maintain.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can,' said Ulick. 'I have gone over it all +again and again; and recalling his man-of-business nature, he +demonstrated that even at present he was well able to support +Mdlle. Belmarche, as well as to begin housekeeping, and that +there was every reason to believe that his wider and more +intelligent system of management would continue to increase his +income.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, Ulick,' said Mr. Kendal at last, 'I wish +you success with all my heart, and esteem you for a choice so +entirely founded upon the qualities most certain to ensure +happiness.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You don't mean to say that she has not the +most glorious eyes, the most enchanting figure!' exclaimed Ulick, +affronted at the compliment that seemed to aver that Genevieve's +external charms were not equal to her sterling merit.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal and Albinia laughed; and the former +excused himself, not quite to the lover's satisfaction, by +declaring the lady much more attractive than many regularly +handsome people; but he added, that what he meant was, that he +was sure the attachment was built upon a sound foundation. Then +he entreated that Mrs. Kendal would persuade her to listen to +him, for she had fled from him ever since his betrayal of his +sentiments till he was half crazed, and had been walking up and +down his room all night. He should do something distracted, if +not relieved from suspense before night! And Mr. Kendal got rid +of him in the midst of his transports, and turning to Albinia +said, 'We must settle this as fast as possible, or he will lose +his head, and get into a scrape.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do not like such wild behaviour. It is not +dignified.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is only temperament,' said Mr. Kendal. +'Will you speak to her?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, whenever she comes in.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I suspect she has gone out on purpose. Could +you not go to find her at the school, or wherever she is likely +to be?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know where to find her. I cannot give +up the children's lessons. Nothing hurts Maurice so much as +irregularity.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">He made no answer, but his look of +disappointment excited her to observe to herself that she +supposed he expected her to run all over the town without +ordering dinner first, and she wondered how he would like +that!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Presently she heard him go out at the front +door, and felt some contrition.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She had not the heart to seek Sophy to report +progress, and did not see her till about eleven o'clock, when she +came in hastily with her bonnet on, asking, 'Well, +mamma?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Where have you been, Sophy?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'To school,' she said. 'Has anything +happened?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We have had it out, and I am to speak to her +when she comes in,' said Albinia, glad as perhaps was Sophy of +the enigmatical form to which Maurice's presence restrained the +communication.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy went away, but presently returning and +taking up her work, but with eyes that betrayed how she was +listening; but there was so entire an apparent absence of +personal suffering, that Albinia began to discharge the weight +from her mind, and believe that the sentiment had been altogether +imaginary even on Sophy's side, and the whole a marvellous +figment of her own.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">At last, Mr. Kendal's foot was heard; Sophy +started up, and sat down again. He came upstairs, and his face +was all smiles.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well,' he said, 'I don't think she will go by +the three o'clock omnibus.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You have spoken to her?' cried Albinia in +compunction.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Has Maurice finished? Then go out, my boy, for +the present.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well?' said Albinia, interrogatively, and +Sophy laid down her work and crossed one hand over the other on +her knees, and leant back as though to hinder visible +tremor.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes,' he said, going on with what had been +deferred till Maurice was gone. 'I thought it hard on him--and as +I was going to speak to Edwards, I asked if she were at the +Union, where I found her, taking leave of the old women, and +giving them little packets of snuff, and small presents, chiefly +her own work, I am sure. I took her with me into the fields, and +persuaded her at last to talk it over with me. Poor little thing! +I never saw a more high-minded, conscientious spirit: she was +very unhappy about it, and said she knew it was all her +unfortunate manner, she wished to be guarded, but a little +excitement and conversation always turned her head, and she +entreated me not to hinder her going back to a school-room, out +of the way of every one. I told her that she must not blame +herself for being more than usually agreeable; but she would not +listen, and I could hardly bring her to attend to what I said of +young O'More. Poor girl! I believe she was running away from her +own heart.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You have prevented her?' cried +Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'At least I have induced her to hear his +arguments. I told her my opinion of him, which was hardly needed, +and what I thought might have more weight--that he has earned the +right to please himself, and that I believed she would be better +for him than riches. She repeated several times "Not now," and +"Not here;" and I found that she was shocked at the idea of the +subject being brought before us. I was obliged to tell her that +nothing would gratify any of us so much, and that this was the +time to fulfil her promise of considering me as a +father.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, thank you,' murmured Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So finally I convinced her that she owed Ulick +a hearing, and I think she felt that to hear was to yield. She +had certainly been feeling that flight was the only measure, and +between her dread of entrapping him and of hurting our feelings, +had persuaded herself it was her duty. The last thing she did was +to catch hold of me as I was going, and ask if he knew what her +father was.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I dare say it has been the first thing she has +said to him,' said Albinia. 'She is a noble little creature! But +what have you done with them now?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I brought him to her in the parsonage garden. +I believe they are walking in the lanes,' said Mr. Kendal, much +gratified with his morning's work.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'She deserves him,' said Sophy; and then her +eyes became set, as if looking into far distance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The walk in the lanes had not ended by +luncheon-time, and an afternoon loaded with callers was +oppressive, but Sophy kept up well. At last, in the twilight, the +door was heard to open, and Genevieve came in alone. They +listened, and knew she must have run up to her own room. What did +it portend? Albinia must be the one to go and see, so after a due +interval, she went up and knocked. Genevieve opened the door, and +threw herself into her arms. 'Dear Mrs. Kendal! Oh! have I done +wrong? I am so very happy, and I cannot help it!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia kissed her, and assured her she had +done nothing to repent of.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am so glad you think so. I never dreamt such +happiness could be meant for me, and I am afraid lest I should +have been selfish and wrong, and bring trouble on +him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We have been all saying you deserve +him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh no--no--so good, so noble, so heroic as he +is. How could he think of the poor little French teacher! And he +will pay my aunt's fifty pounds! I told him all, and he knew it +before, and yet he loves me! Oh! why are people so very good to +me?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I could easily find an answer to that +question,' said Albinia. 'Where is he, my dear?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He is gone home. I would not come into the +town with him. It is nothing, you know; no one must hear of it, +for he must be free unless his parents consent--and I know they +never can,' she said, shaking her head, sadly, 'but even then I +shall have one secret of happiness--I shall know what has been! +But oh! Mrs. Kendal, let me go away--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Go away now?' exclaimed Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes--it cannot be--here, in this house! Oh! it +is outraging your kindness.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No,' said Albinia; 'it is but letting us +fulfil a very precious charge.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve's tears flowed as she said, 'Such +goodness! Mr. Kendal spoke to me in this way in the morning, when +he was more kind and patient than I can express. But tell me, +dearest madame, tell me candidly, is my remaining here the cause +of any secret pain to him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">With regard to him, Albinia could answer +sincerely that it was a gratification; and Genevieve owned that +she should be glad to await the letters from Ireland, which she +tried to persuade herself she believed would put an end to +everything, except the precious remembrance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy here came in with some tea. She had +recollected that Genevieve had wandered all day without any +bodily sustenance.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was great sweetness in the quiet, grave +manner in which she bent over her friend and kissed her brow. All +she said was, 'Papa had goes to fetch him to dinner. Genevieve, +you must let me do your hair.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was in Genevieve's eyes an astonishing +fancy, and Albinia said, 'Come away now, my dear; she must have a +thorough rest after such a day.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve looked too much excited for rest, but +that was the more reason for leaving her to herself; and besides, +it was so uncomfortable not to be able to be kind +enough.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">However, when people are happy, a little +kindness goes a great way, and there was a subdued lustre like a +glory in her eyes when she came downstairs, with the holly leaves +and berries glistening in her hair, the first ornament she had +ever worn there.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It was Sophy's doing,' she said. 'Naughty +girl; she tried to take me by surprise. She would not let me look +in the glass, but I guessed--and oh! she was wounding her poor +hands so sadly.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">I must thank her,' said Ulick, looking +ecstatic. 'Why does she not come down?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">As she did not appear, Albinia went up, +doubtful if it were wise, yet too uneasy not to go in quest of +her.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">It was startling to have so faint an answer on +knocking, and on entering the room, she saw Sophy lying on her +bed, upon her back, with her arms by her sides, and with a +ghastly whiteness on her features.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Scarcely a pulse could be felt, and her hands +were icy cold, her voice sank to nothing, her eyelids scarcely +raised, as if the strain of the day had exhausted all vital +warmth or energy, and her purpose accomplished, annihilation was +succeeding. Much terrified, Albinia would have hurried in search +of remedies, but she raised her hand imploringly, and murmured, +'Please don't. I'm not faint--I'm not ill. If you would only let +me be still.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia teased her so far as to cover her with +warmed shawls, and force on her a stimulant. She shut her eyes, +but presently opened them to say, 'Please go.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She was so often unable to appear at dinner, +that no observation was made; and it was to be feared that her +absence was chiefly regretted by the lovers, because it prevented +them from sitting on the same side of the table.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Always frank and unrestrained, Ulick made his +felicity so apparent, that Albinia had no toleration for him, and +not much for the amusement it afforded Mr. Kendal. She would have +approved of her husband much more if he had put her into a great +quandary by anxious inquiries what was the matter with his +daughter, instead of that careless, 'O you are going up to Sophy; +I hope she will be able to come down to tea,' when she left him +on guard over the children and the lovers.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So it is with woman's martyrdoms,' said she to +herself as she walked upstairs, chewing the cud of all the +commonplaces by which women have, of late years, flattered +themselves, and been flattered; 'but at any rate I'll have her +out of sight of all their absurdity. It is enough to kill +her!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Sophy hardly stirred at her entrance, but there +was less ghastliness about her, and as Albinia sat down she did +not remove her hand, and turned slightly round, so as to lose +that strange corpse-like attitude of repose.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You are not so cold, dearest,' said Albinia. +'Have you slept?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think not.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Are you better? Have you been +comfortable?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh yes.' Then, with a pause, 'Yes--it was like +being nothing!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You were not faint, I hope?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No--only lying still. Don't you know the +comfort of not thinking or feeling?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes; this has been far too much for you. You +have done enough now, my generous Sophy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not generous; one can't give away what one +never had.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think it more gracious to yield without +jealousy or bitterness--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Only not quite base,' said Sophy. Then +presently, turning on her pillow as though more willing to +converse, she said, 'I am glad it was not last year.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We had troubles enough then!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not for that--because I should have been base +then, and hated myself for it all the time.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That you never could have been!' cried +Albinia. 'But, my dear, you must let me contrive for you; I would +not betray you for all the world, but the sight of these two is +more than you ought to undergo. I will not send Genevieve away, +but you must go from home.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't think I shall be cross,' said poor +Sophy, simply; 'I should be ashamed.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Cross! It is I who am cross, because I am to +blame; but, dearest, think if you are keeping up out of pride; +that will never, never do.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I do not believe it is pride,' said Sophy, +meekly; 'at least, I hope not. I feel humiliated enough, and I +think it may be a sort of shame, as well as consideration for +them, that would make me wish that no difference should be made. +Do you not think we may let things go on?' she said, in so humble +a manner, that it brought Albinia's tears, and a kiss was the +only answer. 'Please tell me,' said Sophy; 'for I don't want to +deceive myself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I am sure I am no judge,' cried Albinia, +'after the dreadful mischief I have done.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The mischief was in me,' said Sophy, 'or you +could not have done it. I saw it all when I was lying awake last +night, and how it began, or rather it was before I can remember +exactly. I always had craving after something--a yearning for +something to fix myself on--and after I grew to read and look out +into the world, I thought it must be that. And when I knew I was +ugly and disagreeable, I brooded and brooded, and only in my +better moments tried to be satisfied with you and papa and the +children.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And the All-satisfying, Sophy +dear.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I tried--I did--but it was duty--not heart. I +used to fancy what might be, if I shot out into beauty and +grace--not admiration, but to have that one thing to lean on. You +see it was all worldly, and only submissive by fits--generally it +was cross repining, yielding because I could not help it--and so, +when the fancy came the throne was ready made, empty, swept, and +garnished, for the idol. I wont talk of all that time; but I +don't believe even Genevieve, though she knows she may, can dwell +upon the thought as I did, in just the way to bring punishment. +And so I thought, by-and-by, at the caricature time, that I was +punished. I looked into the fallacy, when I had got over the +temper and the pride, and I saw it all clear, and owned I was +rightly served, for it had been an earthly aim, and an idol +worship. Well, the foolish hope came back again, but indeed, +indeed, I think I was the better for all the chastening; I had +seen grandmamma die, I was fresh from hearing of Gilbert, and I +did feel as I never had done before, that God was first. I don't +believe that feeling had passed, though the folly came back, and +made me feel glad to love all the world. There were--gleams of +religions thought'--she spoke with difficulty, but her face had a +strange beauty--'that taught me how, if I was more good--there +could be a fulness of joy that all the rest flowed out from. And +so when misgivings came, and I saw at times how little he could +care for me--oh! it was pain enough, but not the worst sort. And +yet I don't know--' She turned away and hid her face on the +pillow. It was agony, though still, as she had said, not the +worst, untempered by faith or resignation. What a history of that +apparently cold, sullen, impassive spirit! what an unlocking of +pent-up mysteries!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It has been blessed to you,' said Albinia, +affectionately. 'My dear, we always thought your character one +that wanted the softening of such--an attachment. Perhaps that +made me wrongly eager for it, and ready to imagine where I ought +not; I think it did soften you; but if you had not conquered what +was earthly and exaggerated in it, how it would be hardening and +poisoning you now!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope I may have,' sighed Sophy, as if she +were doubtful.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then will you not listen to me? You have done +nobly so far, and I know your feelings will be right in the main; +but do you think you can bear the perpetual irritation of being +neglected, and seeing--what I <i>must</i> call rather a parade of +his preference?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think it would be the best cure,' said +Sophy; 'it would make me feel it real, and I could be glad to see +him--them--so happy--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I don't know how to judge! I don't know +whether it be right for you to have him always before your +mind.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He would be so all the more while I was away +with nothing to do,' said Sophy; 'fancy might be worse than fact. +You don't know how I used to forget the nonsense when he had been +ten minutes in the room, because it was just starved out. Now, +when it will be a sin, I believe that strength will be given me +to root it out;' her look grew determined, but she gasped for +breath.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And your bodily strength, my dear?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If I should be ill, then it would be natural +to go away,' said Sophy, smiling; 'but I don't think I shall be. +This is only the end of my fever to see it settled. Now I am +thankful, and my heart has left off throbbing when I am still. I +shall be all right to-morrow.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope so; but you must spare +yourself.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Besides,' she added, 'one of the worst parts +has been that, in the fancy that a change was to come, I have +gone about everything in an unsettled way; and now I want to +begin again at my duties, my readings and parish matters, as my +life's work, steadily and in earnest.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not violently, not to drive care +away.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I have tried that once, and will not again. +You shall arrange for me, and I will do just as you tell me;' and +she raised her eyes with the most deep and earnest gaze of +confiding love that had ever greeted Albinia from any of the +three. I'll try not to grieve you, for you are too sorry for me;' +and she threw her arms round her neck. 'Oh, mamma! nothing is so +bad when you help me to bear it!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Tears fell fast at this precious effusion from +the deep, sincere heart, at the moment when Albinia herself was +most guilty in her own eyes. Embraces were her only answer, and +how fervent!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And, mamma,' whispered Sophy, 'if you could +only let me have some small part of teaching little +Albinia.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">A trotting of small feet and a call of mamma +was heard. The little maiden was come with her good-nights, and +in one moment Albinia had lifted her into her sister's arms, +where she was devoured with kisses, returning them with interest, +and with many a fondling 'Poor Sophy,' and 'Dear +Sophy.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">When the last fond good-night had passed, and +the little one had gone away to her nest, Sophy said in a soft, +natural, unconstrained voice, 'I am very sleepy. If you will be +so kind as to send up my tea, I will go to bed. Thank you; +goodnight.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That was the redrawing of the curtain of +reserve, the resignation of sentiment, the resumption of common +life. The romance of Sophia Kendal's early life had ended when +she wounded her fingers in wreathing Genevieve's hair. Her next +romance might be on behalf of her beautiful little +sister.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia was cured of her fretfulness towards +the new order of events, and her admiration of Sophy carried her +through all that was yet to come. It was the easier since Sophy +did not insist on unreasonable self-martyrdoms, and in her +gratitude for being allowed her purpose in the main, was +submissive in detail, and had mercy on her own powers of +endurance, not inflicting the sight of the lovers on herself more +than was needful, and not struggling with the languor that was a +good reason for remaining much upstairs. She worked and read, but +without overdoing anything, and wisely undertook a French +translation, as likely to occupy her attention without forcing +her to over-exert her powers. Not that she said so; she carefully +avoided all reference to her feelings; and Albinia could almost +have deemed the whole a dream, excepting for the occasional +detection of a mournful fixed gaze, which was instantaneously +winked away as soon as Sophy herself became aware of +it.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Her trouble, though of a kind proverbially the +most hardening and exacerbating, had an entirely contrary +tendency on her. The rigidity and harsh judgment which had +betokened her states of morbid depression since she had outgrown +the sulky form, had passed away, and she had been right in +predicting that she should not be cross, for she had become sweet +and gentle towards all. Her voice was pitched more softly, and +though she looked ill, and had lost the bloom which had once +given her a sort of beauty, her eyes had a meek softness that +made them finer than when they wore the stern, steady glance that +used to make poor Gilbert quail. Her strength came not from +pride, but from Grace; and to her, disappointment was more +softening than even the prosperous affection that Albinia had +imagined. It was love; not earthly but heavenly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">If her father had been less busy, her pale +cheek might have alarmed him; but he was very much taken up with +builders and estimates, with persuading some of the superfluous +population to emigrate, and arranging where they should go, and +while she kept the family hours and habits, he did not notice +lesser indications of flagging spirits, or if he did, he was +wise, and thought the cause had better not be put into +words.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia had brought herself to give fair +sympathy to the lovers; and when once she had begun it was easy +to go on, not as ardently as if she had never indulged in her +folly, but enough to gratify two such happy and grateful people, +who wanted no one but each other, and agreed in nothing better +than in thinking her a sort of guardian angel to them +both.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Genevieve had assuredly never given her heart +to Gilbert, and it was ready in all the freshness of maidenly +bliss to meet the manly ardour of Ulick O'More. He was almost +overpoweringly demonstrative and eager, now and then making game +of himself, but yet not able to help rushing down to Willow Lawn +ten or twelve times a day, just to satisfy himself that his +treasure was there, and if he could not meet with her, catching +hold of Mr. or Mrs. Kendal to rave till they drove him back to +his business. Such glee danced in his eyes, there was such +suppressed joyousness in his countenance, and his step was so +much nearer a dance than a walk, that his very air well-nigh +betrayed what was to be an absolute secret, till there had been +an answer from Ballymakilty, until which time Genevieve would not +rest in the hope of a happy future, nor give up her fears that +she had not brought pain upon him.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">In he came at last, so exulting and so +grateful, that it was a shock to discover that 'the kindest +letter and fullest consent in the world,' meant his father's +'supposing he would do as he pleased; as long as he asked for +nothing, it was no concern of his.' It was discovered, by Ulick's +delight, that he had expected to have a battle, and Albinia was +scandalized, but Mr. Kendal told her it somewhat depended on what +manner of father it was, whether an independent son could defer +implicitly to his judgment; and though principle might withhold +Ulick from flat disobedience, he might not scruple at extorting +reluctant consent. Besides his mother, whom he honoured far more +really, had written, not without disappointment, but with full +confidence in his ability to judge for himself.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Kendal and Mr. Ferrars both wrote warmly in +Genevieve's praise, and certainly her footing at Willow Lawn was +the one <i>point d'appui</i> in bringing round the O'More family; +so that as Ulick truly said, 'It was Mrs. Kendal whom he had to +thank for the blessing of his life.' Had poor Miss Goldsmith's +description of Miss Durant's birth, parentage, and education been +the only one that had reached Ballymakilty, a prohibition would +assuredly have been issued; but he was left sufficiently free to +satisfy his own conscience, and before Genevieve had surmounted +half her scruples, the whole town was ringing with the news, +though no one could guess how it had got wind. To be sure the +Dusautoys had been put into a state of rapture, and poor Mr. Hope +had had the fatal stroke administered to him. He looked so like a +ghost that Mr. Dusautoy contrived to release him at once, +whereupon he went to try the most unwholesome curacy he could +find, with serious intentions of exchanging his living for it; +but he fortunately became so severely and helplessly ill there, +that he was pretty well cured of his mental fever, and quite +content to go to his heath, and do his work there like the humble +and earnest man that he was, perhaps all the better for having +been personally taught something more than could be gained from +books and colleges.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Miss Goldsmith was the most to be pitied. She +would not hear a word from her nephew, refused to go near Willow +Lawn, packed up her goods and went to Bath, where Ulick promised +the much distressed Genevieve that she would yet relent. +Genevieve was somewhat consoled by the increasing cordiality of +the Irish letters, and was carried along by the extreme delight +and triumph of her good old aunt. By some wonderful exertion of +Irish faculties, Ulick succeeded in bringing mademoiselle to +Bayford in his jaunting car, when she laughed, wept, sobbed, and +embraced, in a bewilderment of transport; pronounced the +trousseau worthy of an angel of the <i>ancien regime</i>; warned +Genevieve against expecting <i>amour</i> to continue instead of +<i>amitie</i>, and carried home conversation for the nuns for the +rest of their lives.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">That trousseau was Sophy's special charge, and +most jealous was she that it should in no respect fall short of +that outfit of Lucy's for which she had cared so little. A hard +task it was to make Genevieve accept what Lucy had exacted, but +Sophy held the purse-strings, wrote the orders, and had her own +way.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">She and her little sister were the only +available bridesmaids, since Rose O'More was not allowed to come. +Having made up her mind to this from the first, when the subject +came forward, her open, cheerful look and manner were meant to +show that she was not afraid, and that her wish was real. Freely +resigning him, why should she not be glad to join in calling down +the blessing?</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">The wedding was fixed for Easter week, which +fell early, and Albinia cast about for some excuse for taking her +away afterwards. An opportune occasion offered. Sir William +Ferrars wrote from the East to propose the Kendals meeting him in +Italy, and travelling home together, he was longing, he said, to +see something of his sister, and he should enjoy sight-seeing ten +times as much with a clever man like her husband to tell him all +about it.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Mr. Ferrars strongly seconded the project! +Clever fellow, not a word did he say; but did not he know the +secrets of that household as well or better than the inmates +themselves?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Now that Tibb's Alley was deserted, and plans +fixed, architect and clerk of the works chosen, March winds ready +for building and underground work to begin at once, what could be +more prudent than for the inhabitants of Willow Lawn to remove +far from the disturbance of ancient drains and no drains, and +betake themselves to a purer atmosphere? Mr. Kendal was of no use +as a superintendent, and needed no persuasion to flee from the +chance of typhus.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">As to the children, the time had come early +when Maurice's whole nature cried out for school. He was much +improved, and there was that real principle within him which made +it not unsafe to launch him in a world where he might meet with +more useful trials than those of home. Child as he was, his +propensities were too much limited by the bounds of the +town-house and garden, and the society of his sisters, one too +old and one too young to serve as tomboys. He needed to meet his +match, and work his way; Albinia felt that school had become his +element, and Mr. Kendal only wanted to make his education the +reverse of Gilbert's; so he ran nearly frantic between the real +jacket and the promise of going to school with Willie. He knew +not, though his mother mourned over, the coming heart-sickness +and mother-sickness of the first night, the first Sunday, the +first trouble. It was sure to be very severe in one of such +strong and affectionate feeling, but it must come sooner or +later, and the better that it should be conquered while home was +still a paradise. Fairmead was not so far from his destination +but that his uncle would keep an eye on him; and Winifred held +out a hope that if the tour lasted long enough, he should bring +out both boys to spend their holidays with them. A very good +Winifred!</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia the Less was to become a traveller, for +the good reason that nobody could or would go without her. They +were to go direct to Lucy, who was at Naples with a second boy, +and pining for home faces and home comforts--the inducement which +perhaps worked most strongly to make Sophy like the journey, for +since her delusion had been swept, away, a doubly deep and +intense feeling had sprung up towards her own only sister, whose +foibles had been forgotten in long separation.</font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">CHAPTER XXXI.</font></h3> + +<p><font size="2">The Lake of Lucerne lay blue and dark in the +shade of the mountains, on whose summits the evening sunshine was +fast mounting, peak after peak falling into purple +shadow.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">There was a small inlet where a stream rushed +down between the hills, and on the green slope stood a chalet, +the rich red of the roof contrasting with the green pasture. A +little boat was moored to a stump near the land, and in it sat +Sophia Kendal, her hat by her side, listening to and answering +merrily the chatter of Maurice, who tumbled about in the boat, +often causing it severe shocks, while he inspected the cut of the +small sail which she was making for the miniature specimen, which +he often tried in the clear cold water.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Farther off, a little up the hill-side, Willie +Ferrars was holding the hand of the chestnut-curled, black-eyed +fairy, 'little Awk,' who was impressing him by her fluency in two +languages at once, according as she chattered to him in English, +or in French to a picturesque peasant, her great ally, who was +mowing his flowery crop of hay, glancing like an illumination, +with an under-current of brilliant blossoms among the +grass.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Wandering with slow conversational pace up and +down the beach of the lake, were Mr. Kendal and Sir William +Ferrars, conversing as usual; the soldier, with quick alert +comprehension, wide observation, and clearness of mind, which +jumped to the very points to which the scholar's deeply-read and +long-digested arguments were bringing him more slowly.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">On a projecting point sat Albinia, her fair +hair shaded under her dark hat, beneath which her English +complexion glowed fresh and youthful, as with flat tin box by her +side, and block sketch-book on her knee, she mixed and she +painted, and tried to catch those purples and those blues with +unabated ardour. Suddenly a great trailing frond of mountain fern +came over the brim of her hat from behind. 'Oh, Maurice, don't!' +Then, looking up and laughing, 'Oh, it is you, is it? I knew +Maurice would do, whichever it might be; but see, the other is +quite out of mischief.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Unless he should upset Sophy into the +lake.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He can't do that, the rope is too short. But +is not he very much improved? He has quite lost his imperious +manner towards her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nothing like school for making a boy behave +himself to his sisters.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Exactly, as I learnt by experience long ago. I +am glad William did not see him till he had learnt to be +agreeable. How he does admire him!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You'll never make anything of that sketch; the +mountain is humpbacked, and the face of that precipice is exactly +like Colonel Bury;' and he caught up a pencil to help out the +resemblance with nostril and eyebrow.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'For shame, to be so <i>mischievieous</i>; such +a great boy as you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, we all came out here to be great boys, +didn't we? I am sure you look a dozen years younger than when I +last saw you, Mrs. Grandmother. By-the-by, it was a bold stroke +to encumber yourself with that brat; what's become of +him?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Susan has taken him in asleep. You see, +Maurice, I really could not help it, the poor little thing was so +sickly, and had never thriven; but when they were a little while +in bracing air, Lucy was longing to have him in England, and his +father, who never believes in anything but what he likes, +<i>would</i> not see it, and what with those Italian servants, +and Algernon hunting Lucy about as he does, it would have been +the death of him. Susan, good creature, had taken to him of her +own accord the moment we came to Naples, and could not have borne +to leave him, and you know the Awk is almost off her hands now, +and Sophy, who first proposed it, or I am sure I should never +have ventured, is delighted to do anything for either of them, +and always has her little sister in her room. As to papa, he was +very good, and the child is very little in his way, and has been +quite well ever since we have been in this delicious +air.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How did you get Lucy to consent?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Poor dear, it was a melancholy business; but +she had so often been in alarm about him, and had suffered so +much from having to leave him with people she did not trust, that +she caught at the proposal before she fairly contemplated what +the parting would be; and when she did, Algernon was too glad to +be relieved from him not to keep her up to it, but it wont do to +think of it, she has her baby, who is healthier, and if they +remain abroad, I suspect we shall keep little Ralph altogether; +he is a dear little fellow, and Sophy has so taken possession of +Albinia, that I should be quite lost if I did not set up a +private child.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'What do you call him? I thought his name was +Belraven.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I could not possibly call him so; and his +aunts, by way of adding to the aviary, made him Ralph the Raven, +so I mean it to stick by him; I believe papa has forgotten the +other dreadful fact, for I caught him giving his name as Ralph +Cavendish Dusautoy. How the dear vicar of Bayford will devour +him! and what work I shall have to keep him from being +spoilt!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Then you think they will remain +abroad?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Algernon hates England; and all his habits are +foreign.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Did he make himself tolerably +agreeable?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He really did. One could bear to be patronized +by one's host better than by one's guest, and he was in wholesome +awe of William. Besides, he is really at home in Italy, and knows +his way about so well, that he was not a bad Cicerone. I am sure +Sophy could never have done either Vesuvius or Pompeii without +his arrangements; and as long as he had a victim for his +<i>catalogue raisonnee</i>, he was very placable and obliging. +That was all extracts, so it really was not so bad.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'So you were satisfied?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'He has a bad lot about him, that's the +worst--Polish counts, disreputable artists and poets, any one who +has a spurious sort of fame, and knows how to flatter him. Edmund +was terribly disgusted.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very bad for his wife.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You see, she is a thorough-going mother, and +no linguist. She really is improved, and I like her more really +than ever I could, poor dear. I believe her head was once quite +turned, and that he influenced her entirely, and made her forget +everything else; but she has a heart, though not much of a head, +and sorrow and illness and children have brought it out, and she +is what a 'very woman' becomes, I suppose, if there be any good +in her, an abstract wife and mother.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Was it not dangerous to take away her +child?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There was another, you know, and it was to +save his life. The duties clashed, and were destroying all +comfort.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'How does he behave to her?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I believe she has all the love he has to +spare; he is proud of her, and dresses her up, and has endless +portraits of her. Luckily she keeps her beauty. She is more +refined, and has more expression; one could sometimes cry to +watch her, and he likes to have her with him, and to discourse to +her, but without the slightest perception or consideration of +what she would prefer, and with no notion of sacrificing anything +for her or the children. I know she is afraid of him; I have seen +her tremble if there were any chance of his being annoyed; and +she would not object to any plan of his if it were to cost her +life. I believe it would be misery to her, but I think she would +resist--ay, she <i>did</i> resist, and in vain, for the sake of +her child.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Does her affection hold out, do you +think?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, yes, the spaniel and walnut-tree love, +which is in us all, and doubly in the very woman. It is very +beautiful. She is so proud of him and of her gilded slavery, and +so unconsciously submissive and patient; but it is a harder life, +I guess, than we can see. I am sure it must be, for every bit of +personal vanity and levity is worn out of her; she only goes out +to satisfy him; dresses to please his eye, and talks, with her +eye seeking round for him, in dread of being rebuked for mistakes +or bad French. And for the rest, her joy is to be left in peace +with little Algernon upon her lap. Yes, I hope living in all +womanly virtues may be training and compensation, but the saddest +part of the affair is that he does not think it fashionable to be +religious, and she has not moral courage to make open +resistance.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'May it come,' fervently.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is strange, how much more real and good a +creature she is now, than when at home in the midst of all +external observances. Yet it cannot be right! she surely ought to +make more stand, but it is too, too literally being afraid to say +her soul is her own, for she is unhappy. She does the utmost she +can without offending him, and feels it as she never did +before.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'There is no judging,' said Maurice, as his +sister looked at him with eyes full of sorrowful yearning. 'No +one can tell where are the boundaries of the two duties. Poor +girl! she has put herself into a state of temptation and trial; +but she may be shielded by her exercise of so much that is simply +good, and her womanly qualities may become not idolatry, but a +training in reaching higher.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'May it be so, indeed!' said Albinia. 'Oh, +Maurice! how I once disdained being told I was too young, and how +true it was! What visions I had about those three, and what +failures have resulted!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Your visions may have vanished, but you did +your work faithfully, and it has not been fruitless.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ay, in shipwrecked lives. Mischiefs wherever I +meant to do best! Why, I let even my own Maurice grow +unmanageable while I was nursing poor grandmamma. The voluntary +duty choked the natural one, and yet--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And yet,' interrupted her brother, 'that was +no error.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, no! I would not have done it for +anything.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nor do I think the boy the worse for it. I may +venture now on saying he was intolerable, and it hastened school, +but though your rein was loose, you never let it fall; and maybe, +the self-conquest was the best thing for him. If you had +neglected him wilfully for your own pleasure, nothing but harm +could have been expected. As you were absorbed by a sacred act of +duty, I believe it will all be made up to you in your +son.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, Maurice, if I might trust so! I believe I +am doubly set on that boy doing well, because his father must +not, <i>must</i> not have another pang!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I think he knows that. I do not imagine that +he will never be carried astray by high spirits; but I am sure +that he has the strength, honour, and sweetness that are the +elements of greatness!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Nothing we did so changed him as the loss of +his brother. Oh, Maurice! there was my most earnest wish to do +right, and my most fatal mistake!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And greatest success. Gilbert owed everything +to you.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Had I but silenced my foolish pride, he might +have been safe in India now.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'We do not know how safe he might be. I did +indeed think it a pity your influence led the other way, but +things might have been far worse; if you made some blunders, your +love and your earnestness were working on that susceptible +nature, and what better hope can we wish to have than what rested +with us at Malta? what better influence than has remained with +Maurice or with Fred?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">Albinia had not yet learnt to talk calmly of +Gilbert's last hours, so she put this aside, and smiling through +her tears, said, 'Ah! when Emily writes to Sophy, that their boy +is to have his name, since they can wish nothing better for him +than to be like him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The past vision always a little above what is +visible?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Hardly, Emily and Fred are as proud of each +other as two peacocks, and well they may be, for--stoop down, +'tis an intense secret; but do you know the effect of their +Sebastopol den?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Eh?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Lieutenant-General Sir William Ferrars is +going out in quest of Emily's younger sister.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'You ridiculous child! That's a trick of +yours.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'No, indeed. William was surprised into a +moment of confidence, walking home in the moonlight from the +Coliseum. <i>En vrai militaire</i>, he has begun at the right +end, and written to Mr. Kinnaird to ask leave to come and try his +luck; and cool as he looks, I believe he would rather prepare for +Inkermann.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well! if he be not making a fool of himself at +his time of life, I am sure I am very glad!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Time of life! He's but three years older than +Edmund. If you are not more respectful, we shall have to go out +to Canada to countenance him.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I shall be rejoiced to see him with a home, +and finding life beyond his profession; but I had rather he had +known more of her.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'That's what he never would do. He cannot talk +to a young lady. Why he admires Lucy a great deal more than +Sophy!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Well, judging by the recent brides, I think if +it had been me, I should have gone in search of Mrs. Ulick +O'More's younger sister.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Ah! I wanted particularly to hear of your +visit at the bank. You had luncheon there, I think. How do they +get on?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is the most charming menage in the world. +She looks very graceful and elegant, and keeps him in great +order, and is just the wife he wanted--a little sauciness and +piquancy to spur him up at one time, and restrain him at another, +with the real ballast that both have, makes such a perfect +compound, that it is only too delightful to see anything so happy +and so good in this world. They both seem to have such vivid +enjoyment of life.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Pray, has any one called on Genevieve? though +she could dispense with it.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Oh, yes; Bryan O'More spent a fortnight there. +And see what a moustache will do! The Osbornes, Drurys, Wolfes, +and Co., all dubbed themselves dear Mrs. O'More's dearest +friends. I found a circle of them round her, and when I observed +that Bryan was not half such a handsome fellow as his brother, +you should see how I was scorned.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I hope Bryan may not play his father's game +again. Do you know how she was received in Ireland?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'The whole clan adore her! Ulick, with, his +Anglo-Saxon truthfulness, got into serious scrapes for +endeavouring to disabuse them of the notion that she was sole +heiress of the ancient marquisate of Durant. I believe Connel was +ready to call Ulick out for disrespect to his own +wife.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And was she happy there!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very much amused, and treated like a queen; +charmed with his mother, and great friends with Rose. They have +brought Redmond home to lick him into shape, and I believe Rose +is to come and be tamed.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Always Ulick's wish,' said Albinia, as her eye +fixed upon Sophy.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">And her brother, with perhaps too obvious a +connexion of ideas, said, 'Is <i>she</i> quite +strong?'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Very well,' said Albinia. 'I am glad we +brought her. The sight of beauty has been like a new existence. I +saw it on her brow, in calmness and rest, the first evening of +the Bay of Naples. It has seemed to soothe and elevate her, +though all in her own silent way; but watch her as she sits with +her face to those mountains, hear her voice, and you will feel +that the presence of grandeur and beauty is repose and happiness +to her; and I think the remembrance will always be so, even in +work-a-day Bayford.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, because remembrance of such glory +connects with hope of future glory.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'And it is a rest from human frets and +passions. She has taken to botany, too, and I am glad, for I +think those studies that draw one off from men's works and +thoughts, do most good to the weary, self-occupied brain. And the +children are a delight to her!'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Sophy is your greatest work.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Not mine!' cried Albinia. 'The noblest by +nature, the dearest, the most generous.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Great qualities; but they would have been only +wretched self-preying torments, but for the softening of your +affection,' said Maurice.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Dear, dear friend and sister and child in +one,' cried Albinia. And then meeting her brother's eyes, she +said, 'Yes, you know to the full how noble she is, and +how--'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'I can guess how imprudent a young step-mother +can be,' said Maurice, smiling.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'It is very strange. I don't, know how to be +thankful enough for it; but really her spirits have been more +equal, her temper more even than ever it had been, and that just +when I thought my folly had been most ruinous.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'Yes, Albinia. After all, it is more than man +can hope or expect to make no blunders; but I do verily believe +that while an earnest will saves us, by God's grace, from wilful +sins, the effects of the inadvertences that teach us our secret +faults will not be fatal, and while we are indeed honestly and +faithfully doing our best, though we are truly unprofitable +servants, that our lapses through infirmity will be compensated, +both in the training of our own character and the results upon +others.'</font></p> + +<p><font size="2">'If we are indeed faithfully doing our best,' +repeated Albinia.</font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<p><font size="2"> </font></p> + +<center> +<h3><font size="2">THE END.</font></h3> + +<pre> +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE YOUNG STEP-MOTHER *** + +This file should be named thyng10h.htm or thyng10h.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, thyng11h.htm +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, thyng10ah.htm + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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