This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online.
http://www.blackmask.com
This etext was produced by Col Choat colchoat@yahoo.com.au
In a large and handsomely-furnished room of a somewhat old-fashioned house, situated in a rural district in the south of Scotland, was assembled, one day in the early summer of 185-, a small group in deep mourning.
Mr. Hogarth, of Cross Hall, had been taken suddenly ill a few days previously, and had never recovered consciousness so far as to be able to speak, though he had apparently known those who were about him, and especially the two orphan nieces whom he had brought up as his daughters. He had no other near relations whom any one knew of, and had never been known to regret that the name of Hogarth, of Cross Hall, was likely to become extinct. He had the reputation of being the most eccentric man in the country, and was thought to be the most inconsistent.
With the highest opinion possible of women, and the greatest pleasure in their society, he had never married; and with the greatest affection for his nieces, and the greatest theoretical confidence in them, he had hedged them about with countless laws and restrictions, and had educated them in a way quite different from the training of young ladies of their rank and prospects. He had succeeded two childless elder brothers in the possession of the estate; and Jane and Alice Melville were the only children of his only sister, who had been dead for fifteen years.
The funeral had just taken place, and the two girls had been summoned into the drawing-room to hear the will read by Mr. MacFarlane, the Edinburgh lawyer, who had drawn it out. They found in the room Mr. Baird, their uncle's medical attendant, and a stranger whom they had never seen before—a tall, grave-looking man of about thirty-four, whose mourning was new, and who showed a deep interest in what was going on.
Both the man of law and the man of medicine looked nervous and embarrassed, and delayed proceeding to business as long as they possibly could; fumbling with knots of red tape; opening the closed curtains to admit a little more light, and then closing them again, as if the light was too strong; so that the sisters had time to look at the stranger, and to wonder who he was and what his business could be there. He also seemed to be taking notes of the young ladies in a quiet, timid manner.
At last the will was opened, and after the usual preamble, the lawyer's voice seemed to break a little. He cleared his throat, and continued in a lower tone——
"As I have come to the conclusion that the minds of men and women are radically the same, and as I believe that if the latter are trained in the same way as the former they will be equally capable of making their own way in the world, I have acted upon this principle in the education of my two beloved nieces, Jane and Alice Melville, the only surviving children of my sister Mary Hogarth; and as I foresee that if I were to leave them wealthy heiresses my purpose would be completely thwarted, by Jane losing her independent character, and Alice sinking into a confirmed invalid, and by both being to a dead certainty picked up by needy spendthrifts, who will waste their fortunes and break their hearts, as their father, George Melville, served my poor foolish sister, I hereby convey and dispone all my property, whatsoever and wheresoever, heritable and moveable, to Francis Ormistown, otherwise Hogarth, at present head clerk in the Bank of Scotland, who is my son by a private irregular marriage contracted with Elizabeth Ormistown, on the ninth day of July, 18—, and who is my heir-at-law, though he would find it difficult to prove his claim, as he knows nothing of the relation between us, and as the only party besides myself cognizant of the marriage dares not come forward to prove it, but whose progress I have watched with interest, who has made an honourable position for himself, without any assistance from me beyond a good education, who has served faithfully, and who is likely to rule uprightly, who has raised himself from nameless poverty, and whom, therefore, I judge to be worthy of wealth and honour: Provided always, that he shall pay to Jane and Alice Melville, my beloved nieces aforesaid, the sum of twelve pounds a year each, in quarterly payments in advance, for three years following my decease, when such payments shall cease, as by that time I believe they will be independent in circumstances: Provided also that he shall give to the said Jane and Alice Melville, the furniture and personal effects belonging to them, as mentioned more particularly in the schedule marked A, appended to this instrument; and that he shall give to the said Jane and Alice Melville no further assistance either in money or in money's worth, directly or indirectly, whatsoever: Also providing that the said Francis Ormistown, otherwise Hogarth, shall not marry either of his cousins; the marriage of such near relations being mischievous and improper.
"In case of any of these provisions being disregarded by the said Francis Ormistown, otherwise Hogarth, all my heritable and moveable property shall be divided among certain benevolent institutions, in the order and manner set forth in the schedule marked with the letter B.
"All these provisions I have made, as being the best for my surviving relatives; and I believe they will eventually acknowledge them to be such."
It would be hard to say which of the three parties interested, felt most astonishment at this extraordinary will. Jane Melville stood rigid and silent, with her face flushed and her eyes filled with tears, which she would not let fall. Alice's face lost all colour, and she seemed ready to faint. But the greatest excitement was shown by the fortunate legatee. He shook from head to foot, steadying himself on the table—looked from the two girls to the two gentlemen with bewildered eyes—and said at last with difficulty, in a low, soft, tremulous voice——
"Was Mr. Hogarth in his senses when he made this will?"
"A little excited, but indisputably in full possession of his senses, strange as the will appears," said Mr. MacFarlane, the lawyer; "and Mr. Baird will corroborate my opinion."
Mr. Baird bowed his head affirmatively. "Quite true—his head was quite clear at the time. The will was made six weeks ago, and you, Miss Melville, know how well he was then. Very grieved, indeed—most inconceivable conduct—cruel—inconsiderate. I feel deeply for your disappointment. Try not to give way, Miss Alice—or perhaps you had better give way, it may relieve you. Mr. MacFarlane tells me that he remonstrated with Mr. Hogarth. Most painful duty—must obey instructions, of course. Your uncle seemed like adamant. I pity you with all my heart."
"And so do I, with all my heart," said Mr. MacFarlane.
"And does no one pity me?" said the low voice of the heir to all; but it was unheeded, for Alice had fainted. Her sister and Mr. Baird laid her on the sofa, and applied the usual restoratives.
Mr. MacFarlane began to speak in an undertone, to the new master, of the extent and value of the property he had thus suddenly come into possession of, and congratulated him rather stiffly on the turn of fortune that had raised him from a life of labour and comparative poverty to ease and affluence; but his embarrassment was nothing compared to that of the man whom he addressed. Francis Hogarth looked round the spacious room, and out of the window to the pleasant shrubbery and smooth-shaven lawn, and shuddered when he thought of the two young cousins, brought up apparently in the lap of luxury, who were to be turned out upon the world with 12 pounds a-year for three years. The elder sister seemed to have a vigorous and robust constitution, but the younger looked delicate. He saw, in his mind's eye, two governesses, dragging out a weary and monotonous existence, far from each other, while he, possessed of superabundance, was debarred from helping them.
He advanced timidly to the sofa. Alice, who had recovered consciousness, covered her face with both her hands, and sobbed aloud. Jane turned towards him a glance, not of reproach, but of pity. He felt it, and took her hand.
"Believe me, Miss Melville, no one can regret this extraordinary will as I do. I will overturn it, if I possibly can."
"You cannot," said Jane; "it is quite in keeping with all my uncle's ideas—quite consistent with all he has told us over and over again. He had many strange notions, but he was generally in the right, and it MAY prove to be so now." The sigh that accompanied these words told how faint her hopes were.
"It has been positive unkindness to bring you up as he did, and now to throw you upon the world. My beginning was different. How could he expect the same success for you—women, too?"
"And are women so inferior, then? It was my uncle's cherished belief that they were not. He said he never saw a woman take up man's work without succeeding in it. I must try to show that I will be no exception. He was not unkind to take us on our mother's death from a careless and unprincipled father, to bring us into a quiet and happy home, to educate us to the best of his judgment, to be always kind, always reasonable. Ah, no, my dear uncle, though this seems very hard, it was not meant for unkindness!"
"It is cruel, cruel," said Alice. "He must have been mad. What will become of us? What will become of us?"
At this burst of despair from Alice, Jane's courage gave way, and the heavy tears rolled down her cheeks. "Elsie, darling, at the worst we can only die, and we are not afraid of death. But no, we shall live to conquer all this yet."
"You cannot as yet lay any plan," said Mr. Macfarlane. "Mr. Ormistown—Mr. Hogarth, I should say—is in no hurry to take possession. You can have a month to look about you, and there is no saying what may turn up in a month."
"Certainly," said the new cousin; "I am sure I should be most happy to give the young ladies accommodation in this large house for as long as they please, if that is not forbidden by the will."
"A permanent residence is clearly forbidden; for no assistance, beyond the small money payment specified, Can be offered or accepted; but I think a month to remain and to collect all their wardrobe and personal property may be permitted."
"I ought to return to the bank, and work till they find a substitute, and will leave my cousins the undisturbed possession of Cross Hall for a month. In the meantime, I feel as if my presence must be a painful intrusion. I must leave you."
"Perhaps," said Jane, "though you cannot give us money, you may be able to give us advice. You are going to Edinburgh; you may see or hear of something we could do."
"I should be most happy to do so. What line of life should you like to enter on?"
"Anything we could make a living by."
"Then I suppose a governess's situation?"
"I might teach boys, but I have not learned what would qualify me to instruct girls. But I do thoroughly understand bookkeeping, write a good hand, have gone through Euclid, and know as much of the classics as nine out of ten young men in my rank of life. But my uncle cared very little for the classics. I know a good deal of chemistry and mineralogy, but uncle was most pleased with my bookkeeping. How did you get on when you began to work for yourself?"
"I entered the bank as a junior clerk, at the age of sixteen, and got 30 pounds for the first two years. An unknown friend—I know now who he was—who had paid for my education and all other expenses previously, sent me 12 pounds a year for three years to help out my earnings."
"And you could live on that?" said Jane.
"I did live on it somehow," said Francis. "My coats were very threadbare and my meals scanty, but I weathered these three years, and then I got a good step, and crept up gradually. I have been now in this same bank for seventeen years, and am at present in the receipt of 250 pounds a year, thinking myself rich and fortunate;—now I am rich and unfortunate. Why did not my father leave me to the career I had made for myself, and you to the inheritance you had been brought up to expect?"
"Thirty pounds a year to begin with," said Jane, half aloud; "250 pounds after seventeen years' work. Very sweet—all one's own earning. I am not afraid, only let Elsie keep up heart."
"I cannot," said Elsie; "I'll be dead long before seventeen years are over."
"I will take good care of you," said Jane.
"How are you to take good care either of yourself or of me if we are starving?" said Elsie, with a fresh burst of tears.
"We will do our best. So you are going, Mr. Hogarth. Write to me if you can hear of anything for me. I will be much obliged to you. Good-bye."
Jane shook hands with her cousin kindly, and soon after Mr. MacFarlane, and Mr. Baird also, withdrew, leaving the sisters alone. Elsie wept till she was completely exhausted, while her sister sat at the table with pen and ink and paper before her, but writing nothing.
After a while Elsie started up from the sofa. "Jane," said she, "if we were to marry, it would put an end to all this perplexity. It was strange that uncle put in the clause forbidding us to marry that man. Neither of us would demean ourselves so much, but uncle disliked the marriage of near relatives. How strange that so little is said about the mother. I could not look at him, but you did. Is he like his father? My uncle was a very handsome man; I fancy this man is plain."
"I see little or no likeness to my uncle, but he is by no means plain-looking."
"Will he get into society? Do they consider such people legitimate?"
"The marriage was irregular, but legal," said Jane. "I see now the cause my uncle had to dislike the Scotch marriage law. He must have been made very miserable from some unguarded words spoken or written; but this does not prevent his son taking the position of a legitimate heir. He is quiet and unassuming, and will take a very good place in society."
"It was well," said Elsie, with a faint laugh, "that this clause was inserted, for you seem to be in some danger."
"Not at all; but we were thrown together in very extraordinary circumstances, and I could not help feeling for his position as he felt for ours. Nor could I help asking for advice from him. I agree with my uncle about cousins. He was right there, as he always used to be. At least, he brought me up to think like him, and I can scarcely believe that what he has now done is wrong."
"But, Jane, setting this cousin out of the way, what do you think of William Dalzell?"
"I was just thinking of him when you spoke," said Jane, resolutely.
"Uncle must have had him in his mind when he mentioned fortune-hunters in his will, for he never seemed to like him coming here so often; and just six weeks ago I had been going out riding with him every day. You said you were not well, and would not accompany us. I suppose I was giving him what people consider a great deal of encouragement. If my uncle had said plainly that he disapproved of the intimacy, I wonder if I would have given it up? Perhaps not—one does not like to be dictated to. It appeared to myself so strange that he should prefer me to you. And now I recollect that my uncle must have paid his last visit to Edinburgh just before he made his will; and there he would see this young man filling his place in the world so well, while I was behaving so foolishly. The contrast must have struck him, and he certainly has put an end to everything between Mr. Dalzell and myself."
"Oh, Jane, he is no fortune-hunter; this will make no change. If you marry him you must take me home with you, and tell him it is what I deserve for standing his friend so well."
"My dearest Elsie, you have talked a great deal about Mr. Dalzell, and I have rather foolishly listened to it, but that must be stopped now. I know he is poor; he thought to better himself by a wealthy marriage; and perhaps if I had been left now with 20,000 pounds, with nothing to do and nothing to think of, his agreeable qualities——"
"Well, you own he has agreeable qualities."
"Yes; I have always owned it—they might have induced me to marry him; and you, as the possessor of other 20,000 pounds, would have been a most welcome inmate of our house until you chose for yourself your own home. But now, Elsie, I know William Dalzell is not the man to encumber himself with a penniless wife and a penniless sister-in-law."
"He is not mercenary—I am sure he is not," said Elsie with animation.
"Perhaps he is not positively mercenary; but after all am I worthy of the sacrifice? Look at me, Elsie; even your sisterly partiality cannot make a beauty of me. My turn of mind is not suited to his; I have always felt that; and, above all, I am not very fond of him."
"Not very!"
"No; I have liked him a good deal; but now in this crisis, when we have to begin life in earnest—when I am puzzling myself how to find food and clothing and shelter for you and me—I feel as if Mr. Dalzell's past attentions belonged to another world altogether, so I am putting them aside completely."
"Ah! but Jane, only listen to me. If he were to come now, and lay himself and all that he has at your feet, that would prove that he was no fortune-hunter, but a real true lover, as I always believed him to be."
"He will not do it," said Jane, quietly; and she now began to make some memoranda.
"We have no ornaments, Elsie," said she, sadly.
"No; I never heard you regret the want of them before."
"I should like to have something to sell. Emilia Chalmers has 200 pounds worth of jewellery, most of it left by her aunt. If we had so much, we might convert it into money, and might stock a little shop."
"A shop!" said Elsie, shuddering.
"Why not? One is more independent keeping a shop than in a governess's situation, and there my business knowledge would be of use. It is wrong and absurd to have a terror of a shop."
"I cannot help feeling a great repugnance to shopkeeping."
"Then would you rather be a governess, supposing you were capable?"
"Oh, Jane, that is such a hard life. I should be separated from you; and then one is worried by the children, and snubbed by the parents, sneered at by servants, and ignored by visitors."
"Then dressmaking? You work beautifully."
"The late hours, and the close rooms; do you think I could stand it?"
"I am a little afraid for you," said Jane, thoughtfully. "What would you like to do?"
"Why, I have never thought of doing anything but being with you, working a little, reading a little, going out a little, and having nobody over me but you, my own darling sister. It stuns me to be told that I must go to work for a livelihood."
"I hope we may be able to live together as you hoped, eventually; but in the meantime we must both put our shoulders to the wheel."
"Have we no friends who would give us a home—at least for a while, till we get accustomed to the thought of hard work?" said Elsie.
"We have no relations, and we have made but few friends. I fear no one would come forward to help us now that we need help so much. It is a pity that my uncle kept us so much to himself, and that we were so fully occupied with our own home duties that we had little or no time for society. Now we have no capital for a start, and no friends to help us on, only our talents and our education—a small stock-in-trade, I fear."
In the course of the afternoon the man-servant, James, announced that Mr. Dalzell was below, and that he sent his compliments and wished to know how the young ladies were.
It was not the first visit since Mr. Hogarth's death. He had paid a visit of condolence on the following day, and had never been so affectionate or impressive in his manner to Jane as on that occasion.
"Show Mr. Dalzell upstairs, James," said Jane; "I think I should like to see him."
The man looked somewhat intelligent, and obeyed.
"I cannot see anybody—I am not fit to be seen," said Elsie, retreating in haste from the room; "and indeed, Jane, I wonder at you wishing to see him so soon after this dreadful news."
"He has been at the funeral, I suppose. It is very proper of him to inquire for us, and very imperative that we should understand each other;—the sooner the better. But do not stay if you do not like. I should prefer to see him alone."
Mr. Dalzell was shown into the darkened drawing-room, where he was some time in discovering that Miss Melville was alone. A few of the kind commonplaces which had been so successful on his previous visit—remarks on the loss she had sustained, on the excellent character of her deceased uncle, and on the necessity of bearing the blow with fortitude, which her strong mind was quite capable of—were made by Mr. Dalzell in unconsciousness that they fell very differently on Jane's ears now. Jane asked for his mother, and heard that she was very well, and sent her kindest regards and condolences, and hoped that the Misses Melville would be able to see her on the following day.
"Were there many people at the funeral?" asked Jane.
"Oh yes, a great man; Mr. Hogarth was so extensively known, and so much respected."
"Were there any strangers?"
"Several—to me," said Dalzell.
"Did you observe no one in particular?"
"Yes, a gentleman from Edinburgh, said to be a PROTEGE of your uncle's, who took rather a prominent place on account of there being no male relative surviving."
"Have you heard," said Jane, with an effort—"have you heard anything of the will?"
"Nothing whatever—did not think it proper or delicate to inquire, though I saw Mr. MacFarlane after it had been read. It is a matter of no consequence to me how Mr. Hogarth has left his property. My feelings will be quite the same towards——"
"Stop," said Jane; "my uncle has left his entire fortune to this stranger from Edinburgh, who is his son by a private marriage. Elsie and I have had an education, and must make the best we can of it."
"Miss Melville, this is incredible—quite incredible. You are merely trying me. Mr. Hogarth was incapable of such madness and injustice. It is not treating me well to play upon me in this way."
"In proof of what I say, here is a certified copy of the will—the final will—executed six weeks ago, when, as you know, my uncle was perfectly well both in body and mind. It is incontestable."
The bewildered young man tried to read the paper put into his hand, but he could not follow the written words. Jane's sad face and her manner convinced him, however, that she was telling him the truth.
"Now," said Jane kindly, "you have talked a great deal of nonsense to me when my position was very different; but I am quite aware that things are altogether changed. I will not feel at all hurt or angry about it. We part perfectly good friends. But you cannot afford to marry a wife without money, and I should be sorry to be a burden to any man."
William Dalzell looked at the girl he had fancied himself in love with for the last few months, and felt that his love had not been of a very deep or absorbing character. If the two girls had been equal favourites of their uncle's, his choice would have fallen on Elsie, who was prettier, more elegant, more yielding, and, as he thought, more affectionate. Her impulsive and confiding manner, her little enthusiasms, her blunders, were to him more charming than Jane's steady good sense and calm temper. Jane never wanted advice or assistance; she was too independent in mind, and too robust in body, to care much about little attentions, though she had become accustomed to his in the course of time, and as there was no other person to compare him with, had allowed herself to think a good deal of him. Mr. Hogarth had always shown so marked a preference for Jane, and had so often expressed displeasure and impatience at Elsie's deficiencies; his property, not being entailed, was entirely at his own disposal, so that it was probable that Jane would be left the larger share of it, while if he made love to Alice it was quite possible that she would be disinherited altogether, for he knew that he was not a favourite with the old gentleman. He did not think that anything could shake Mr. Hogarth's confidence in Jane, and he had been very careful in feeling his ground sure before he made a formal proposal. He had tried to persuade himself that Jane's face was charming, though not regularly handsome; so it was to some people, but he had not eyes to see the charm. Her figure was undeniably fine, her temper good, her principles to be depended on. Her education had been peculiar, and singularly secular—his mother had felt a little shocked at her want of religion—but then Mr. Hogarth was very odd, and when she was married she would see things differently; and on the whole Mrs. Dalzell felt that her handsome son had chosen with great prudence and good sense in fixing his affections upon the elder and the favorite niece. His small property was heavily encumbered, and such a marriage would make him hold up his head again in the country. Mrs. Dalzell's attentions to Jane had been nearly as assiduous as her son's, and to the motherless girl they were quite as welcome; and she had shown so much affection for Alice, too, that both sisters had been very much captivated with her.
William Dalzell felt Jane's kindly-meant speech as a sort of reproach. He would have preferred to make a speech himself, and to have seen her more agitated. Though he had never thought himself very much in love, he believed he had inspired a strong love, and that it would be very hard for Jane to give him up. But things were completely taken out of his hands; she did not even now, in the first pain of parting, dream of breaking her heart. She was his superior, painfully his superior, and he did not like it.
"You are quite right, Miss Melville," said he; "what you say is quite true. I am involved and embarrassed, and could not offer you anything worth having."
"And I will make my own way in the world," said Jane; "and, William Dalzell, do not be hurt if I give you one friendly piece of advice on parting—try to make your own way in the world too. Shake yourself clear of your own embarrassments by your own industry—a far better way than by marrying a rich wife."
She looked very kindly at the young man as she spoke, but he did not take the advice in the friendly spirit in which it was given. He answered rather shortly, that he dared to say he would do as well as other people, and then began to ask what she knew about the heir, if she had ever seen him before, or heard Mr. Hogarth speak of him. She answered——
"No, never; but I cannot answer questions. I cannot converse rationally any longer. You had better go away, Mr. Dalzell, and let me have a little rest, for I am rather weary."
The young gentleman stumbled down stairs, and rode home ruminating over the downfall of all his cherished expectations; while Jane said to herself, "It is over, and it is better so. He really is a smaller character than I thought he was."
When Jane Melville told her cousin that her uncle had been always kind and always reasonable, she expressed her own opinion, for she had loved and honoured him so much that she felt no hardship in doing everything he wished; but no one else in the house or in the neighbourhood would have endorsed that opinion. When the rumour spread far and wide that he had disinherited his nieces, in the expectation that the education he had given them would enable them to provide handsomely for themselves, the servants and workpeople about shook their heads, and said it was "aye weel kenned that the auld laird had a bee in his bonnet;" while the class with whom Mr. Hogarth associated on more equal terms declared; that this last eccentricity of affection (for it was all done out of pure love), surpassed all his other oddities with regard to the girls, which had long been the talk of the whole country.
They had, as Jane sadly confessed, made but few friends. Their uncle's reasonable prejudices extended to morning visits, which he called a frivolous waste of time; and he had a similar dislike to evening parties; not on account of a puritanic disapproval of dancing, or of young people of different sexes meeting and having opportunities of getting acquainted with each other, but the hours were so irrational, and the conventional dress so unbecoming and dangerous to health, that he had prohibited Jane and Elsie from accepting the invitations that were showered on them when they had given up lessons and were supposed to be ready to come out. If people would meet at six, and break up before twelve, and wear dresses fashioned like their ordinary attire, Mr. Hogarth saw no objection to evening parties. He had invited the neighbours to such a party, and mentioned in his note of invitation the conditions on which it was to be attended. A good many had accepted, partly from curiosity, and partly from a wish to be friendly; but, in spite of really good arrangements and an excellent supper, the party was not such a success as to be repeated often by Mr. Hogarth, and was never imitated by any of his guests.
The Misses Melville danced well, walked well, and rode admirably; they spent several hours every day in the open air; had learnt to swim, and to shoot both with bow and arrow and with rifle. Their physical education had been excellent, and had probably saved Elsie's life, for she was extremely delicate when young, but had gained strength as she grew up.
Their book education had been chiefly conducted by an old gentleman, who had lived for eight years in their house as tutor, and they had spent several winters in Edinburgh, to attend classes and lectures. No money, no care, and no time had been spared on their education, so that it was rather a pity that, in the eyes of the world, it was so unsatisfactory when completed. Both had gone through the same routine; for Mr. Hogarth seemed to think that education made characters, instead of merely drawing out what there is in the original material, and he was disappointed that the uniformity of the training had not produced two characters more similar than those of Jane and Elsie. Jane's tendencies were to the practical and the positive; and she gladly availed herself of her uncle's whim to educate her like a man of business, regretting none of the accomplishments and showy acquirements which are too apt to be considered the principal part of female education. Expecting that she would be left in possession of considerable property, and virtually the guardian of her younger sister, she saw a fitness and propriety in her being taught the management of money, the science of agriculture, the care of an establishment, and the accurate keeping of accounts.
Elsie would have preferred another training, but it was not given to her; and though she made but a lame attempt to follow Jane's footsteps, and acquired only a superficial knowledge of what her sister was the perfect mistress of, her uncle believed that, bad as she was, she would have been much worse if she had not been forced into rational studies. Though she was not a marvel of solidity, she still had as good a knowledge of accounts, general information, history, and science, as is possessed by many boys who get on very well in business or in professions, when once set fairly to work.
Mr. Hogarth had no great opinion of the value of teaching languages, and thought that a knowledge of things was of far more importance than a knowledge of the names of things. The girls had learned, however, a good deal of Latin and Greek from Mr. Wilson, their tutor, who thought it a pity that Jane's fine abilities should not have a classical education; and he had induced Mr. Hogarth to agree to it by the argument that these languages are invaluable for the ready and correct understanding of all scientific terms. French and Italian the girls themselves were anxious to learn; and as they had been promised a continental tour some fine summer, their uncle thought they might be useful acquirements then, so they had lessons from the best masters in Edinburgh, and profited by them. And here for the first time Elsie's progress had been far greater than Jane's. Mr. Hogarth had himself spent a good deal of time in his youth in France; but he had a higher opinion of French society than of French literature, and he thought that from the lips of brilliant Parisian women they would learn more of the spirit of the language and of the people than from the books they studied in classes or read at home.
Elsie had a natural taste for music, and a remarkably sweet voice in speaking, which, if it had been cultivated, would have made her an excellent singer; but her uncle was sure that to indulge her with a musical education would only weaken her mind. Mr. Hogarth had seen no good come of music. A taste for singing and a fine voice had been the ruin of thousands—they had been most mischievous to Elsie's own father, and they had been the chief fascinations which had won upon his dear sister Mary. She and George Melville had sung duets together, and from that had been led to try a duet through life; and a very sad and inharmonious life they had made of it.
So poor Elsie's natural tastes were discouraged and thwarted; and after the positive lessons were over, and her education was said to be finished, she felt vacuity and ennui when Jane rejoiced in full employment. The housekeeping was ostensibly taken by the sisters in alternate weeks; but though Jane relinquished the keys for the stated period, she never relinquished the superintendence. She remembered what Elsie forgot; she looked forward where Elsie would have scrambled in the best way she could through the passing hour, and constantly thinking for her and remedying her blunders. Elsie was apt to forget that any responsibility rested on herself.
Nothing in their singular training was considered odder than that, while they were educated in a more masculine manner than most boys, they were obliged at the same time to make a greater proportion of their own clothes than any girls of their own rank or circumstances, and that they had been carefully and systematically taught to make them in the best manner possible. The only instructions which they had received from one of their own sex had been given to them by an excellent plain needlewoman, a first-class dressmaker, and a fashionable milliner; and in the last two branches Elsie's taste had made her excel her sister even more than in French and Italian.
At the time of their uncle's death, Jane was twenty-three years old, and Elsie two years younger. They had but very recently given up regular study, for their uncle thought girls were far too soon "finished", as it is called, and turned out in a very incomplete state of mental and moral development. He would not let them think themselves educated till they had seen more of the world than could be done in Edinburgh, which was a city he had rather a contempt for, as a mere provincial capital, too superstitious and narrow-minded for his taste. Paris and London were the schools for men, and therefore, according to his notions, for women also; but when the time arrived for the tour on the Continent and the winter in London, which had been promised to the girls, he felt his health had given way, though he had no positive illness, and delayed leaving home till the following year, when he hoped to be able to enjoy it, and to show all he meant to show to the girls without fatigue or indifference. If he had been able to go with them on the previous year, as had been arranged, he would probably have left his fortune otherwise, for Mr. Dalzell's attentions had only been of recent date.
As the news of the will spread, every one said they really ought to call on the Melvilles, poor things; but no one was in a hurry to perform so disagreeable a duty. Mrs. Dalzell was so astounded by the change that was made in her son's prospects, and so embarrassed lest she should be looked to for assistance in the present urgent necessities of the girls, that though she had been by far the most intimate and cordial of their friends, she was not the first to visit them. Three or four matrons had come and gone, who had made but short calls, and who had taken refuge in commonplace inquiries as to how and when Mr. Hogarth had been first taken ill, and at what hour he died, but had given very little sympathy, and no advice. The minister of the parish had called, as in duty bound, on the day after the funeral, and surprised both Jane and Elsie by a style of conversation very different from any they had ever heard from his lips. In his previous visits to Cross Hall he had never talked of anything but the weather, and crops, and the news of the neighbourhood. His tastes, his studies, his politics, and his faith were so opposite to those of Mr. Hogarth that there was no safety, and likely to be no pleasure, in conversation that left the neutral ground he took. But now, when the eccentric and sceptical Mr. Hogarth had crowned all this sins by an act of such injustice to his nieces, and they were in affliction from bereavement and poverty, he wished to give them spiritual comfort, and to teach them something that he knew had been omitted in their education; but he couched his consolation in language that seemed strangely unfamiliar to the girls he addressed, and when he spoke of crosses to be borne, that God has made crooks in every lot that no man may make straight—when he dwelt upon the temptations of riches, and the difficulty with which the rich can enter the kingdom of Heaven, and hoped that his young friends would see the hand of God in this trying dispensation, and would follow humbly His leading—Jane, who hoped to conquer her difficulties, and did not mean to succumb to them, did not feel much comforted or edified by the well-meant exhortation. Both girls felt pained, too, by the reflections he cast on their late uncle, and by the warning to be prepared for sudden death, as this had been an instance of the Master coming when no one was looking for Him, and when the loins were not girt, nor the light burning. Both girls had loved their uncle; and even though Elsie felt that he had been often hard to her, and that the will was not a just one, she could not bear the idea that Mr. Herries suggested of his probable place in the future state, while Jane felt indignant.
They had both hoped for some help and comfort from Mrs. Dalzell; but when her visit was so long delayed, their expectations fell considerably. Jane had become so tired of the useless kind of condolence that was offered, that she determined to ask for advice from the next person who came, and that happened to be Mrs. Dalzell. She spoke a little more freely and kindly to the girls than other people had done; but still she was keeping serious difficulties at arm's length, when Jane turned rather sharply round on her with the abrupt question——
"What do you think we ought to do, Mrs. Dalzell?"
"Indeed, I cannot say, Miss Melville. This most unaccountable conduct of Mr. Hogarth's has taken us all by surprise, so much that I can think of nothing but overturning the will. I am sure when William told me of the extraordinary disposition of the property, I felt—I cannot tell you how I felt. Such a shocking thing to leave all to a son whom nobody ever heard of before, and to leave his sister's children destitute. You certainly have a claim on the heir, for a maintenance at least. He should be made to refund a part of the spoil."
"He would if he could, but it is forbidden. There is no help in that way," said Jane. "But employment, Mrs. Dalzell; can you suggest any employment for us?"
Mrs. Dalzell hesitated. "Mrs. Chalmers is in need of a finishing governess for Emma and Robina; but I am afraid neither of you two young ladies would suit her, for we cannot get music-masters here, and one must have a governess who has a good knowledge of music. If Mr. Maxwell had not just engaged a tutor for his boys, you might have perhaps undertaken that place, Miss Melville."
"I think I might," said Jane.
"Would it not be pleasanter, if we have to take situations, to go to a distance," said Elsie. "I do not think I could I bear you or myself to be near Cross Hall when everything is so changed."
"It would be more agreeable, I have no doubt, Miss Elsie; and I cannot help thinking that in such a place as Edinburgh or Glasgow, where there are masters and mistresses for everything, you could get on by having classes, or engaging as teachers at some institution. In the country we want governesses and schoolmistresses to know everything a girl ought to learn."
"Is there nothing but teaching that we can do?" said Jane.
"Well, you know there is nothing that a gentlewoman can turn to in such circumstances as yours but teaching, and I would be very glad indeed to see you both in nice comfortable situations. By-the-by, Miss Elsie, I copied into my album the very sweet verses you sent me, and have brought them back to you. Are they really your own? William says he thinks they are."
"Yes," said Elsie, "they are original."
"Well, I could not have thought it; they are extremely pretty."
"By-the-by," said Jane, "do you not know Miss Thomson, Mrs. Dalzell? My uncle always spoke of her with respect and admiration, as an instance of the skill and success with which a woman can conduct masculine avocations. A gentlewoman-farmer, and a thriving one. I wish we had known her."
"Oh, yes. I do know Miss Thomson. Of course we are not exactly in the same position, we being proprietors, while she is only a farmer; but she is a most excellent and estimable woman in her way, though she is a bit of a character. She is now growing old, and not so active as she has been."
"She is said to be a benevolent and a kind-hearted, as well as a clever woman," said Jane.
"Oh, yes; and well she may be liberal, for she has made money, and has not the status to keep up that old country families must maintain."
"I wonder if she would engage me as her helper, and teach me farming. I know a good deal of theoretical agricultural chemistry. Will you be so good as give me a letter of introduction to her; I should feel greatly obliged to you."
Mrs. Dalzell willingly granted this small request, and felt much disposed to magnify its importance. It would be a good thing if, without any trouble or sacrifice on her own part, she could aid her dear young friends by bringing them into contact with a person who was more able to further their views than herself. She was sure that Miss Thomson was the very person to apply to, for of course she would take an interest in a young lady so unfortunately situated. It was so well thought of on Miss Melville's part; but then Miss Melville was always so quick and sensible. The letter of introduction was written, and then Mrs. Dalzell took leave.
Next day Elsie was languidly reading the local weekly journal, when she came upon a paragraph which related to themselves. Mr. Hogarth's will was described and commented on. There was congratulation for the heir and commiseration for the nieces.
"Oh, Jane," said she, "is it not dreadful to be brought before the public in this way; everybody must be talking about us, and of course everybody has got hold of the story of William Dalzell and you too. I am glad they did not put that in the newspapers, at any rate. Every one will think that he gave you up, and will fancy you are so distressed about it."
"We cannot help either what people think or what they say. I do not wonder at the COURIER making a long paragraph on the subject, for they have not had such an interesting piece of local news since Mr. Fisher committed suicide."
"I do not like the appearance of my own name in print," said Elsie.
"It is a very pretty name, nevertheless, and would look as well on the title-page of a book as any I know—only in a newspaper you do not like it," said Jane. "I must bid you good-bye for a few hours now, for I am going to Miss Thomson's. I am going to ride, and will not be very long."
Miss Thomson had just taken up the local newspaper after her morning ride over the farm, and had read the peculiarly interesting paragraph relating to Mr. Hogarth's will, when Mrs. Dalzell's note was put into her hands, and Miss Melville was announced.
Miss Thomson was a very fine-looking old lady, with keen, though also kind grey eyes, looking out from rather shaggy eyebrows, and an open frank smile on her mouth. The colour of health still bloomed on a cheek that had seen sixty summers and winters, and the elasticity of youth had only been transformed into the dignity and repose of a green old age. It is better to be at the head of the commonalty than dragging in the rear of the gentry, and for substantial comfort, liberal housekeeping, generous almsgiving, and frank hospitality, the farmhouse of Allendale was out and out superior to the mansion of Moss Tower, where the Dalzells had lived for at least two centuries.
As Mrs. Dalzell's note had been introductory and not explanatory, Miss Thomson could not guess the cause of the unexpected visit. She, however, kindly welcomed Miss Melville, and asked her to sit down, which Jane did with an ease and youthful dignity that was as suitable to her time of life as Miss Thomson's at three-score.
"I have called, madam," said Jane, "because I have always admired you, and wished to know you; and also because at this critical juncture I have thought that your advice would be far more valuable to me than that of people who have never made an effort or conquered an obstacle. You know our position"—and she glanced at the open newspaper.
"Yes, I do. I feel both surprised and grieved at your uncle's extraordinary settlement," said Miss Thomson.
"My uncle always used to point to you as an instance of what women could do if they tried, and I am sure he must have had you in his eye when he felt so sure of my success in life. Could you, would you teach me to farm, and I will keep your books, write your letters, manage your household, be your factotum, if you will allow me. I have studied agricultural chemistry, and if you would permit me to learn from you the practical details of farming operations, I might really be of use to you."
Miss Thomson shook her head. "My dear girl, you do not know what you ask. Without capital, and a large capital, no one need think of taking a farm in Scotland; and all those things that you offer to do for me are precisely the things that I can do for myself, and I hope will be able to do for the next ten years. I should be better for an assistant, it is true, but it must be some one who can ride to market, buy stock, sell to butchers, take or let grass parks, and oversee my working farm steward, for I am getting rather old for such long rides as I have been in the habit of taking on the farm. And, my poor girl, anxious as I am to befriend you in your straits, and to encourage your honest ambition, I have nephews and nieces, and grand-nephews and grand-nieces of my own, who have all claims upon me. My two married sisters have large families, and not very much to keep them on, so I have to help in various ways. Do as you like, the burden of bringing up the next generation is pretty equally divided among us, and I am only thankful that Providence has so prospered me that I can be of use of the young people. I have arranged that my nephew, John Forrester, is to come and do for me what I cannot so well manage without help; and as I have no idea of falling behind the high farming of the times, I have given him a thorough course of the agricultural chemistry, so much in fashion, before he tries the practical branch of the science. I hope he will not be too new-fangled and upsetting altogether with his theories; but he is a good lad in the main, and I think he will do. Besides John, I have to help his brother James to begin business, and I have two nieces whose education I am making more thorough than their parents could afford to do."
"So you have no room for me," said Jane. "I should have known it. I have no claim on any one, not a relation in the world but a sister, less fit to cope with it than myself, and a cousin, newly found under sad circumstances, and tied down not to assist us. But could you not give us any encouragement, for that is what I want most? Your own experience——"
"My own experience is very different from what yours can be. My father died in the early years of a long lease of twenty-one years, when he had laid out several thousands, all the capital he had, and all he could raise, upon the land, hoping to get it out again with interest and a large profit, for the farm was a fine one, though it had been badly managed before. He had no son to take up the lease; and had things been wound up, and the lease sold, there would have been a heavy loss. I believed that I could manage the concern, and got leave from the landlord, rather as a favour, to continue on Allendale. I was industrious and methodical, and reduced the expenses of management below what they had been in my father's time, and consequently made more money than even he could have made of it. My landlord willingly took me again for a tenant when the lease was expired, particularly as I offered as much as any one for it. The value of the lease, stock, and crop, that I began business with, could not have been less for me to keep than 5,000 pounds, though if they had been sold they might have brought only half that amount. You see I had a good start. I like the work, and it likes me. I am a richer, a happier, and a more useful woman, than I could have been if I had had 20,000 pounds all left me in a lump."
"This is very different, indeed, from our case," said Jane. "It is the want of capital that I feel so very hard. I could make something of capital."
"I suppose that for you, Miss Melville, with nothing but youth, health, and a stout heart, there is nothing but a governess's situation to be thought of. Society seems to say to gentlewomen who have not enough to live on, 'Teach or marry;' and the governess market and the marriage market are both sadly overstocked. People have not all got a taste for either alternative. Here am I, a sensible, well-disposed woman, but yet I never could teach in my life, and I never had any wish to marry."
"The world is large," said Jane; "there are thousands of fields of labour. Uncle did not wish us to be governesses, I am quite sure; he did not educate us for it; and I do not think he wished us to marry either."
"He should have left you a small competence—not enough to tempt others, but to save you from being tempted yourself," said Miss Thomson.
"I dare say he made a great mistake; but I think he fancied that the strong necessity for effort would stimulate us to exertion. To vegetate on a small annuity would not be so pleasant as to earn even the same income for ourselves," said Jane.
"Well, my dear girl, I do not fear for you, though things look so very gloomy at present. You have got the stuff in you. There is promise of success in your step and voice—in your quick eye and honest smile. Is your sister like yourself?—no; you said she was less fit for the life that is before you; that is a pity."
"It is; but we love each other so dearly—we are all the world to each other."
"Well, that is good for both of you; love is just as great a necessity as air or food. I cannot help thinking that you should try your luck in Edinburgh; you are more likely to find what will suit you there than in a country side, like this of Swinton. Have you any friends there?"
"None to rely upon," said Jane.
"Your cousin that has come into such an inheritance, does he seem friendly?"
"Very much so, but he is forbidden to give us help."
"In money, perhaps; but it would be only right if he would take some trouble to make inquiries, and speak for you to any one he thinks could employ you. It would be a satisfaction to his own mind, besides."
"I have a letter from him this morning, saying that he has heard of something that he fears is not good enough for me, or either of us, and urging me to come to Edinburgh, to see for myself, offering me or both of us, if we are so inclined, the hospitality of his humble home, as he calls it. I cannot afford to go to a hotel, and we have no friend to whose house we could go uninvited, so I feel inclined to accept the invitation."
"You had better do so, Miss Melville; and as it may be a while before you meet with work, and as travelling about to look for it costs money, you will be so good as to take this, with my best wishes," said Miss Thomson, opening her desk and taking out a five-pound note and handing it to Jane, who, though she had fancied she never could have accepted money from a stranger, felt this to be offered so frankly and kindly, that she thanked Miss Thomson and took it.
"This is the best sign of you yet—no foolish pride—no flying in my face with indignant disclaiming of what people call charity, and throwing the bit of paper on the carpet for the lass to sweep out, but a sensible and reasonable way of taking from a fellow-creature what she would take as pleasantly from you if she needed it and you had it to spare. You will do, Miss Melville; only mind, as the old Scotch proverb has it, 'You must set a stout heart to a stey brae'."
On Jane's return to Cross Hall she found her sister in very much better spirits than when she set out for Allendale. An idea had struck Elsie, consequent partly on the remark Jane had made about her name looking well on the title-page of a book, and partly on her seeing in the Poet's Corner of the SWINTON COURIER some verses very inferior to her own which Mrs. Dalzell had returned to her. She was a poet; and what was there to hinder her from distinguishing herself in the literary world by thoughts that breathe and words that burn; and also from earning in this pleasant way a handsome income. Hope arose out of the vision; the fanciful and fragile mind that every one had despised and undervalued might, perhaps, do greater things than Jane's clear head and busy hands. Never had her ideas flowed more rapidly, or her words arranged themselves so well. She began by bewailing her own sad fate, the loss of fortune, and the desertion of friends; and the sincerity of her feelings made it feel like an inspiration. Things that appeared to her to be new thoughts crowded on her, and before Jane's return she had finished a short poem very much to her own satisfaction.
She would scarcely wait to hear the result of her sister's visit to Miss Thomson, but impetuously and affectionately made Jane sit down to listen to her lay.
"I wish I were a good judge, Elsie. It seems to me to be very pretty. Here and there I would alter a word; but, on the whole, I think you have succeeded," was the welcome criticism.
"You think so; and you are so prosaic. I feel as if I could go on for ever writing. Don't you think you have seen worse verses printed, not in a newspaper, but in a book?"
"I read so little of that kind of literature; but I am sure you often read pieces to me, from both newspapers and books, that do not interest me half so much."
"Oh, Jane, I count so much on your good opinion, because I know that you will give it honestly, and because I think if I can please you I may please anybody." And Elsie looked so animated, so joyous, and so spiritual, that Jane's hopes rose. She, indeed, was no judge of poetry, but anything that could give courage and hope to her sister's mind must be a good thing.
"You must persevere, my dear. It will do yourself good, if no other good comes of it," said she.
"But other good is sure to come of it, Jane. Do not such things get printed, and of course the writer is paid for them? I can write so fast; and now I know some of the real trials of life, I can speak from experience."
"And you are the type of the bulk of the poetry-reading public," said Jane thoughtfully. "The lady readers, I mean; generous, impulsive, and romantic; you ought to know what will suit the public taste. I wish you all success. But I have failed in my object, and have been advised to go to Edinburgh. You saw I had a letter this morning from Mr. Hogarth, with an invitation for both of us to come and live at his house, and look about us. You would not like to go?"
"No, Jane, I would far rather stay here and write; but it would be uncomfortable for you to go by yourself. I will go, if you very much wish it."
"No, my dear, if you think this writing is to be your vocation, it is not necessary for you to look for a situation, and I do not mind going by myself, only I feared you would be unhappy alone."
"I will be quite happy. I must have something better than this done while you are away."
"I must write to my cousin, accepting the invitation, and telling him when to expect me. The sooner I can go the better."
Francis Hogarth was waiting for Jane at the railway station, and as they walked together to his house in the outskirts of the town, she eagerly asked him about the situation he had heard of that he feared would not suit.
Her cousin hesitated a little, for it seemed so far below her deserts and her capabilities; but Mr. Rennie, the manager of the bank in which he had so long been employed, had told him that the ——- Institution, the principal asylum for the insane in Scotland, and an admirably managed establishment, wanted a second matron; and that from the accounts he had heard of Miss Melville's practical talents, it was probable that she would be the very person to fill the situation well. Jane eagerly asked after the duties and the salary, but Francis could not give her all the particulars she desired. Mr. Rennie was to see one of the Directors of the ——- Institution on that evening, and was to make inquiries; he had some influence with one or two of the directors, and would use it in Miss Melville's favour if she was disposed to apply for it. It was expected that there would be at least fifty applications for it, and a little interest was a good auxiliary even to the greatest merits in the world. The duties, so far as Francis knew them, were the active superintendence of a large number of female servants, and the charge of all the stores, both of food and clothing, required for a household of several hundreds, who could none of them think for themselves. He did not know if she would come much in contact with the patients; he hoped not, for he thought it would be a sufficiently exhausting and anxious life without that. He had heard that the institution parted with the present occupant of the situation for incompetence—that there had been both waste and peculation.
"I feel sure that my superintendence of my uncle's household, and my knowledge of accounts, should enable me to fill such a situation well, and from the number of applications, and the responsible nature of the duties, the salary should be handsome," said Jane. "I think I should send in an application, and I feel obliged both to Mr. Rennie and you for the suggestion. The establishment is well managed; you know it is one of those to which my uncle's property was to go in case you disobeyed his injunctions. He had a high opinion of the kind and rational treatment of the patients there. I do not see any objection to mingling with them either. I might be very useful."
"It seems a throwing away of your talents and acquirements, to make a mere housekeeper of you," said Francis.
"It is not such an insignificant office after all. What contributes to the comfort and happiness of a family every day, and all day long, is surely as valuable a thing as much book-learning; and to keep such a large establishment going smoothly and satisfactorily requires much care and thought, and a particular kind of talent, which I think I possess, and which such a life will develop. When can I see Mr. Rennie, and when can I send in my application?"
"Mr. Rennie particularly desires to see you to-morrow morning; and if you like the prospect he holds out, your application can be sent in immediately."
When they reached the small but prettily situated cottage occupied by Francis, Jane was agreeably struck with the comfort and neatness of everything about it. The furniture, without being costly, was good of its kind; the very excellent collection of books was methodically arranged in ample book-shelves, and carefully preserved by glass doors; the bright fire in the grate—for though it was called summer, it was but a bleak cold day in Edinburgh; and the respectable-looking middle-aged woman who had just laid the cloth for dinner, and now brought it in; all gave an air of comfort and repose to a dwelling much humbler than she had been accustomed to live in, but far better than any she could hope for a while to occupy. There were on a side table a few costly articles of VERTU, and a magnificent folio of engravings, which had been bought by Mr. Hogarth since his accession to fortune; but substantial comfort had been attained long before.
Jane was rather surprised to see the large proportion of poetry and fiction that filled the book-shelves. Little did Mr. Hogarth the elder suppose that the bank clerk, whose outer life was so satisfactorily practical, had an inner life whose elements were as fanciful and unreal as poor Elsie's. His taste was certainly more severe and fastidious than hers, for he was older, and had read more; but his love, both of art and poetry, was very strong, and had been to him in his long solitary struggle with fortune a constant and unfailing pleasure. He had found in them some amends for the want of relatives and the want of sympathy; and now his heart turned with strong affection to both of his cousins, and especially to the one who treated him with so much delicacy of feeling and such generous confidence. It was like finding a long-lost sister; there was so much to ask and to answer on either side. Jane liked to talk of her uncle; and Francis' curiosity about his unknown father, whom he had only occasionally seen at long intervals as a stranger who took a little interest in him, was satisfied by her clear and graphic descriptions of his opinions, his talk, and his habits; whilst she, beginning a new life, and doubtful of the issue, eagerly asked of his early experiences, and liked to chronicle every little step in a steady and well-deserved progress.
Though Jane had such a practical turn of mind, and such an excellent education, it must not be supposed that she knew much of the world. Educate women as you will, that knowledge is rarely attained at twenty-three; and she had lived so much in a Utopia of her own, fancying that things that were right were always expedient, and that they should always be valued for their intrinsic worth, that she did not see the difficulties of her situation as clearly as many people who had not half her understanding. She and her uncle had been too apt to talk of things as they ought to be, and not as they actually were. With all Jane's quiet good sense, there were points on which she could be enthusiastic, and on this evening the successful cousin was struck by the warm expressions of an optimism in which he could not share, uttered by one who had good cause for complaint and dissatisfaction.
When the cousins went together to the Bank of Scotland on the following day, and were shown into Mr. Rennie's private room, Jane's hopes were somewhat damped by the details she received about the situation. The duties were even greater than she had supposed, consisting in the active and complete superintendence of a great many female servants, and a slighter control over a still larger number of female keepers, who also acted as housemaids and chambermaids; the control of the workroom, so as to see that there was no waste, extravagance, or pilfering there; the arrangements necessary in the cooking and distribution of such large quantities of food, so that each should have enough, and yet that there should be no opportunity of theft; and the watchfulness required to prevent any of the girls employed in the establishment from flirting with any of the convalescent gentlemen. The wages given by the directors had been too low to keep servants long in the place, or to secure a good class of girls who would be above dishonesty or other weaknesses; and this made the duties of their superintendent particularly irksome; while there was a good deal to be done for the patients themselves, though not so much by the second as by the upper matron.
All this seemed a formidable amount of work for one head and one pair of eyes to do; and when Jane was told that the salary was 30 pounds a-year, and that so many applications had been and were likely to be sent in, that great interest was necessary for success, she was by no means so decided on sending in hers. Even the privileges annexed to the situation, of a small bedroom for herself, and a parlour shared by two others, with a fortnight's holidays in the year, though very necessary to prevent the second matron being removed speedily into one of the wards, did not seem so tempting as to revive Jane's last night's enthusiasm.
"Surely," said she, "the payment is very small for the work and the responsibility."
"There is so much competition for a thing of this kind," said Mr. Rennie. "There are so many women in Scotland who have too little to live on, or nothing at all, that they will gladly snatch at anything that will give them food and lodging, and the smallest of salaries. I know of a situation of 12 pounds a-year that received forty-five applications from reduced gentlewomen. The payment is never in proportion to the work."
"But the work has been badly done hitherto, I understand," said Jane. "It is not having too little to live on that makes a woman fit for such a situation as this. Why do not they raise the salary and insist on higher qualifications?"
"I cannot tell why they do not, but so it is," said Mr. Rennie.
"Is there any chance of rising from second to first matron?" asked Jane. "That is worth 90 pounds, you say."
"In the course of fifteen or twenty years, perhaps; but the duties are very distinct at present, and require different kinds of talent."
"Yes," said Jane; "and great interest with the directors might get a new person in, and fifteen or twenty years' services would have less weight. I do not feel inclined to work twenty years for 30 pounds even with a better chance of 90 pounds at last than is offered here. It is at best a prison life, too; not the life I had hoped for, nor what I am best fitted for. My cousin's place is filled up here, I understand."
"Every one below Mr. Ormistown has got a step, and we only want a junior clerk. No doubt we will have plenty of applicants."
"Will you take me?" said Jane. "Do not shake your head, Mr. Rennie. Cousin Francis, speak a word for me; I am quite fit for the situation."
"If you could do anything to further Miss Melville's views in any way you would lay me under a deep and lasting obligation, Mr. Rennie," said Francis. "I have most unconsciously done both of my cousins a great injury, which I am not allowed to repair. My late father had as much confidence in this young lady's talents and qualifications as he had in mine. I know she is only too good for the situation she asks for."
Mr. Rennie was disposed to try to please Mr. Hogarth. He had always had a high opinion of him, and had great confidence in his judgment and integrity. He was to take the chair at a dinner given to the whole bank staff by this man who had advanced all his subordinates one step, and left them pleased and hopeful; and he could make the usual complimentary speeches with more sincerity than is common at public dinners. He had also introduced the new laird of Cross Hall to his wife and family on equal terms, and they had been very much pleased with him. But when Miss Melville again gravely asked for the vacant clerkship, his habitual courtesy could scarcely prevent him from laughing outright.
"It would never do, my dear madam," said he; "young ladies have quite a different sphere from that of ledgers and pass-books."
"But I would do the work," said Jane, opening a ponderous volume that lay on the manager's table, and running up a column of figures with a rapidity and precision which he could not but admire. Then on a piece of loose paper she wrote in a beautiful, clear, businesslike hand an entry as she would put it in the book, showing that she perfectly well understood the RATIONALE of the Dr. and the Cr. side of the ledger; and then gravely turning to Mr. Rennie, she asked him why she would not do.
"It is not the custom, my dear young lady; I can get young men in plenty who want the place."
"I have no doubt that you can, but I want it too; and, in consideration of the prejudice against my sex, I will take the place, and accept the salary you would give to a raw lad of sixteen, though I am an educated and experienced woman of twenty-three. I want something that I can rise by. I could be satisfied with the career of my cousin, without the fortune at the end. Young women in Paris are clerks and bookkeepers; why should they not be so here?"
"France is not Scotland, or Auld Reekie Paris. We consider our customs very much better than the French. Why, you know quite well it would never do. You would turn the heads of all my clerks, and make them idle away their time and neglect their work. You do not see the danger of the thing."
"No, I do not," answered Jane. "Do I look like a person who would turn any man's head? If I do such mischief, turn me off; but I ask, in the name of common sense and common justice, a fair trial. If I do not give satisfaction I will stand the consequences."
The serious earnestness with which Jane pleaded for so strange an employment—the matter-of-fact way in which she stood upon her capabilities, without regarding suitabilities—impressed Francis Hogarth while it embarrassed Mr. Rennie. It was impossible to out-reason so extraordinary an applicant, but it was still more impossible to grant her request. Skilled as the banker was in the delicate and difficult art of saying "No," it had to be said oftener and more distinctly to Jane Melville than to the most pertinacious of customers, to whom discount must be refused.
"I admire your spirit, Miss Melville. If one thing cannot be accomplished you must try another. But in an establishment like this, you see, I could not possibly take you in. A private employer might admire your undoubted ability; but I am responsible to a Board of Directors, and they would decidedly oppose such an innovation. Your sex, you are aware, are not noted for powers of secrecy. I dare say it is a prejudice; but bank directors and bank customers have prejudices, and no one likes any additional chance of having his affairs made public."
"You know you are talking nonsense, my good sir," said Jane. "It is because women have never had any responsibilities that they have been supposed to be unworthy of trust. Where they have been honoured with confidence they have been quite as faithful to it as any men."
"But, my dear madam," said Mr. Rennie, "what would be the consequence if all the clever women like yourself were to thrust themselves into masculine avocations? Do you not see that the competition would reduce the earnings of men, and then there would be fewer who could afford to marry? The customs of society press hard upon the exceptional women who court a wider field of usefulness, but I believe the average happiness is secured by——-"
"By a system that makes forty-five educated women eager to give their life's work for 12 pounds a-year, and fifty applying for the magnificent salary of 30 pounds for a most exhausting and responsible situation. These are not all exceptional women, Mr. Rennie, but many of the average women whose happiness you are so careful of. You know there are enormous numbers of single women and widows in this country who must be supported, either by their own earnings or by those of the other sex, for they MUST live, you know."
Mr. Rennie smiled at Jane's earnestness.
"You smile, 'ON NE VOIT PAS LA NECESSITE'," said Jane. "I dare say it would really be better for us to die."
"I am sure nothing was further from my lips than either the language or the sentiment. I think your case especially hard—ESPECIALLY hard."
"I thought it was, till I heard of these numerous applications; and the sad thing to me is, that it is NOT especially hard. Some innovation must be made: have you and your directors not the courage to begin? I am willing to endure all the ridicule that may be cast on myself."
"There are other departments of business where your unquestionable abilities and skill might be employed and well paid for; but here, I must repeat, it is impossible—impossible—perfectly impossible. Mr. Hogarth is going to favour us with his company this evening, and Mrs. Rennie and my daughter Eliza would be most happy to see you. I would like to introduce my daughter to a young lady who knows business so well. You will be good enough to pardon my necessary incivility: most painful to me it has been to refuse your request, backed by such excellent reasons,—but you will accompany Mr. Hogarth, and show you are not unforgiving."
Jane accepted the invitation willingly. Francis was not pressed for time; the bank had released him without the usual notice, so he offered to accompany his cousin wherever she chose to go to.
"Do you think," said she, when they were again in the street, "that I could get employment with any bookseller or publisher? I will try that next. Will you go with me to a respectable house in that line of business?"
There was no situation vacant for any one in the first two establishments they called at. In the third there was a reader wanted to correct manuscripts and proofs, and as Mr. Hogarth was supposed to be the person applying for the employment, he was asked his qualifications. When he somewhat awkwardly put forward Miss Melville, the publisher respectfully but firmly declined to engage her.
"Whatever I could or could not do—whatever salary I might ask—you object on account of my being a woman?" said Jane.
"Just so," said the publisher; "it is not the custom of the trade to employ LADIES OF THE PRESS. You do not know the terms or the routine of the business."
"I suppose I could learn them in an hour or two; but I see you do not wish to employ me, even if I had them at my finger-ends. Do you employ women in no way in your large establishment?"
"Yes, as authors; for we find that many books written by ladies sell quite as well as others."
"But in no other way?"
"Only in this," said the publisher, taking the cousins into a small room at the back of his large front shop, where eight or ten nice-looking girls were busily engaged in stitching together pamphlets and sheets to be ready for the bookbinder. "It is light work; they have not such long hours or such bad air, nor do they need much taste or skill as dressmakers do."
"So their wages are proportionally lower," said Jane.
"Just so," said the publisher; "and quite right they should be so."
"Of course; but do they not rise from stitching to bookbinding?"
"Ah! that is man's work. I have bookbinders on the premises, to finish the work that the girls have begun."
"And they spend their lives in this stitching—no progress—no improvement—mere mechanical drudgery."
"Yes; and in time they get very expert. You would be amazed at the rapidity with which they turn the work out of their hands. The division of labour reduces the price of binding materially."
"No doubt—for you have girls at low wages to do what is tedious, and men at higher to do what is artistic; that is a very fair division of labour," said Jane, bitterly.
"Nay, nay; I believe our profession, or rather trade, is more liberal to the sex than any other. Write a good book, and will give you a good price for it: design a fine illustration, and that has a market value independent of sex."
"I can neither write nor draw," said Jane, "but I would fain have been a corrector of the press; from that I might have risen to criticism, and become a reader and a judge of manuscript; but I see the case is hopeless. I suppose it is not you, but society who is to blame. Perhaps I may be reduced to the book-stitching yet; if so, will you give me a trial? In the meantime, I wish you good morning."
The publisher smiled and nodded. "A most eccentric young woman, and, I daresay, a deserving one; but she takes hold of the world at the wrong end," said he, as she went out to pursue her inquiry elsewhere.
"Now," said Jane, "I can release you, for I will make my next application myself. If I fail here I really will be surprised, for I make it to one who knows me."
Mrs. Dunn, the head of the dressmaking and millinery establishment where the Miss Melvilles had been initiated into these arts, had been very handsomely paid for instructing them, had always praised Jane's industry and Elsie's taste, and had held them up as patterns for all her young people. Of course she knew, as all the world knew, that they had been disinherited by their uncle, but she fancied they had other influential friends or relatives; so when Miss Melville was announced, she thought more of an order for mourning then of a request for employment. But the young lady, in her own plain way, went at once to the point.
"You were accustomed at the time I was with you to have a bookkeeper, who came regularly to make up your bills and your accounts. Have you the same arrangement still?"
"Yes, and the same gentleman; a first-rate hand at his figures; employed by many beside me," said Mrs. Dunn.
"Then he cannot miss one customer. Will you give the business to me on the same terms, for the sake of old times?"
"To you, Miss Melville! it is not worth your having. It is only by his having so many that he makes it pay, though he is as good an accountant as any in Edinburgh."
"I might in time get a good many too. Surely women might put all their work in the way of their own sex. I am quite competent; I convinced a bank manager to-day that I was fit for a situation in his establishment, but he did not like the idea of taking a young woman amongst his clerks. You can have no objection on that score. You know I will be quiet, careful, and methodical."
Mrs. Dunn was very sorry, but really nobody ever thought of having young ladies to make up their books. It was not the custom of any trade. A gentleman coming in gave confidence both to herself and to the public; and she had no fault to find with Mr. McDonald—a most gentlemanly man, with a wife and family, too—it would not be fair to part with him without any cause. And, indeed, the business was not what it used to be—it needed the most careful management to get along, and she could not risk having a change in her establishment just at present; perhaps by-and-by.
"While grass grows horses starve," said Jane. "If I establish a reputation and get employment from others you could not object to me. Everyone is alike; neither man nor woman will give me a chance.
"I cannot blame you, Mrs. Dunn, for thinking and acting so much like other people."
"I am sure it would be better for you to take a nice comfortable situation; but I thought you had friends. If there was any other way that I could serve you in I would be so happy. If you had asked to be taken into the work-room—but I suppose you look higher."
"I do not know how low I may look ere long, Mrs. Dunn. It is quite possible I may trouble you again, but in the meantime——-"
"In the meantime I want you to come into the show-room and see the new sleeve just out from Paris—it would improve the dress you have on amazingly. I suppose that was made in Swinton. And you must see Mademoiselle; she is with us still, and as positive as ever; and many of the young people you will recognise. How we have all talked about you and Miss Alice lately. It was such an extraordinary settlement!"
Jane forced herself into the show-room, listened mechanically to the exclamations and remarks of Mademoiselle, the forewoman, shook hands with all the work-girls she had known, looked with vacant eyes on the new sleeve, and heard its merits descanted on very fully; then went back into Mrs. Dunn's parlour, and had a glass of ginger wine and a piece of seed-cake with her; after which she took leave, and Mrs. Dunn felt satisfied, for she had paid Miss Melville a great deal of attention in spite of her altered circumstances.
"Where am I to go to now?" said Jane to herself as she again trod the pavement of Princes Street and walked along it, then turned up into the quieter parts of the town where professions are carried on. She passed by shops, and warehouses, banks and insurance companies' offices, commission agencies, land agencies, lawyer's offices.
"Every one seems busy, every place filled, and there appears to be no room for me," she said to herself. "I must try Mr. MacFarlane, however; he knows something of me, and will surely feel friendly. I hope he will not be so much astonished at my views as other people have been."
Mr MacFarlane, however, was quite as much surprised as Mr. Rennie, or the publisher, when Jane asked him for employment as a copying or engrossing clerk, either indoors or out of doors. He was quite as much disposed to exaggerate the difficulties she herself would feel from not understanding the forms of law, or not being able to write the particular style of caligraphy required for legal instruments. He had heard of the singular education Henry Hogarth, an old crony and contemporary of his own, had given to his nieces, and as his own old-bachelor crotchets lay in quite another direction, he had never thought of that education doing anything but adding to their difficulties, and preventing them from getting married. When the girls had been left in poverty he only thought of their trying for the nice quiet situations that every one recommended, but which seemed so hard to obtain, and then sinking into obscure old maidenhood in the bosom of a respectable family. When Jane mentioned the matronship, Mr. MacFarlane strongly advised her to apply for it, for the salary was more than she could look for in a situation, and she would probably be more independent. But as for him employing a girl as a law-writer, what would the profession say to that? It was quite out of the question.
"I fear I have no turn for teaching, but I suppose I must try for something better than a situation. Could I not get up classes?"
"Oh! yes, certainly—classes if you feel competent."
"Not quite for French or Italian. My uncle was never satisfied with our accent; and we must advertise French acquired on the Continent now-a-days, if we want to succeed in Edinburgh. The things I could teach best—English grammar and composition, writing and arithmetic, history, and the elements of science—are monopolized by men; but I must make an effort. I am sorry my dear old friend, Mr. Wilson, is no more, he would have recommended me strongly; but I will go to Mr. Bell. I studied under him for four winters, and though I am threatening him with competition, I know I was his favourite pupil, and I hope he will help me. I never would encroach on his field if I could find any elbow-room elsewhere."
This was another long walk, and to no purpose, for Mr. Bell was away from home, in bad health, for an indefinite period, leaving his classes in the care of a young man, who had been strongly recommended to him.
The other masters she had had were not likely to take nearly so much interest in her as Mr. Bell; but she was resolved to leave no stone unturned, and went to see several of them. They gave Miss Melville very faint hopes of success. Edinburgh was overdone with masters and mistresses, rents were very high, and classes the most uncertain things possible. But she might apply at one of the institutions. Thither she went, and found that her want of accomplishments prevented her from getting a good situation; and her want of experience was objected to for any situation at all. With a few more lessons, and a little training, she might suit by-and-by.
She was glad that those long walks and many interviews occupied the whole day till the time Francis had appointed for dinner; she had not courage to face the empty house and the respectable woman-servant till she was sure her cousin would be at home to receive her. Heartsick, weary, and footsore she felt, when she reached the cottage where Francis was standing at the door to welcome her return.
"Well, friend," said he, "what news?"
"No good news. I suppose I must advertise. Perhaps there is one person in England or Scotland who would fancy I was worth employing, even though I am apparently very much at a discount."
"Are you much disheartened?"
"I am very tired," said she; "Rome was not built in a day. I was a fool to expect success at once."
"You are not too tired to go to Mrs. Rennie's with me this evening. I have ordered a carriage to call for us."
"Thank you, I will need it, and my dinner, too, in spite of the wine and cake at Mrs. Dunn's."
Her cousin's quiet sympathy and kindness soothed the girl's aching and anxious heart; she told him her experiences; and though he was not very much surprised at the result, he felt keenly for her disappointment. She had brought a little piece of needlework to fill up vacant hours, and after dinner she took it out, and soothed her excited feelings by the quiet feminine employment. There was an hour or more to be passed before the carriage came for them, and Francis sat on the other side of the fire cutting the leaves of a new book, and occasionally reading a passage that struck him. Had any one looked in at the time, he could not have guessed at the grief and anxiety felt by both of the cousins. No; it was like a quiet domestic picture of no recent date, not likely to be soon ended. Jane's sad face lighted up with an occasional smile at something said or something read; and Francis Hogarth saw more beauty in her countenance that evening than William Dalzell had ever seen in all the days he had spent with the supposed heiress whom he meant to marry.
After an hour spent in this quiet way, Jane Melville was sufficiently rested and tranquillized to go among strangers, in spite of her knowing the idle curiosity with which she was likely to be regarded. There was a small party at Mr. Rennie s; but excepting herself and the ladies of the family, it was composed entirely of gentlemen. Now that Mr. Hogarth had come into a good landed property, he had spent more than one evening in the family of the bank manager, and had been discovered to be presentable anywhere; that he had very tolerable manners and good literary taste; and both Mrs. and Miss Rennie recollected well how often papa had spoken highly of him when he was only a clerk in the bank. Miss Rennie was about nineteen, the eldest of the family, rather pretty, slightly romantic, and a little fond of showing off her extensive acquaintance with modern literature. Her interest in Mr. Hogarth was great, though of recent date; and now to see one of the cousins whom he was forbidden to marry, on pain of losing all his newly-acquired wealth and consequence, was an exciting thing to a young lady who had suffered much from want of excitement. Her father had been able to tell her nothing of Miss Melville s personal appearance, though he had dwelt upon her abilities and her eccentric character, and told her age. Among the party was the publisher to whom Jane had applied for a situation, who had contributed his share of information about her; a young Edinburgh advocate, who had not very much to do at the bar; a Leith merchant, an old gentleman of property in the neighbourhood of the city, and two college students, all anxious to see people who were so much talked about.
"Decidedly plain and common-looking, and looks twenty-seven at least," was Miss Rennie's verdict on seeing Miss Melville.
"Plain, but uncommon-looking," was the opinion of the gentlemen on the subject. The open, intelligent, and womanly expression of countenance—the well-turned neck and shoulders—the easy, well-proportioned figure—though not of the slight ethereal style which Mr. Hawthorne admires, but rather of the healthy, well-developed flesh-and-blood character of British feminine beauty—might redeem a good deal of irregularity of features.
Though her self-possession had been sorely tried on this day, though she had been disappointed, and was now worn out and perplexed, and though her faith in human nature had been shaken, she made an effort to recover the equanimity necessary for such an evening as this, and succeeded. Her quiet and lady-like manner surprised Mr. Rennie; he had thought her masculine in the morning. She listened with patience and pleasure to Miss Rennie's playing and singing, and then looked over some books of engravings and prints with the old gentleman, who was a connoisseur. And when the advocate and the publisher, between whom there seemed to be a good understanding, entered into conversation on literary matters, and successful and unsuccessful works, she, thinking of her sister and her hopes, listened most attentively.
"Well," said the legal gentleman, "I like smart, clever writing, and don't object to a little personality now and then. It pays, too."
"Those things certainly take well," said the publisher, "but there are other things that take better."
"What are they?"
"Not at all in your way, Mr. Malcolm; but yet at the present time there is nothing that pays so well as an exciting religious novel on evangelical principles. Make all your unbelievers and worldly people villians, and crown your heroine, after unheard-of perils and persecutions, with the conversion of her lover, or the lover with the conversion of the heroine—the one does nearly as well as the other; but do not let them marry before conversion, on any account. Settle the hero down in the ministry, to which he dedicates talents that you may call as splendid as you please; make your fashionable conversation of your worldly people slightly blackguardly, and that of your pets very inane, with spots of religion coming out very strong now and then, and you will have more readers than Dickens, Bulwer, or Thackeray. Well-meaning mothers will put the book without fear into the hands of their daughters. It is considered harmless Sunday reading for those who find Sunday wearisome, and it is thought an appropriate birth-day present for young people of both sexes. I dare say these books are harmless enough, but their success is wonderfully disproportioned to their merits. They must be such easy writing, too, for you need never puzzle yourself as to whether it would be natural or consistent for such a character to steal, or for another to murder. 'The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked,' and the novelist at least takes no pains to know it."
"You fire me with a noble zeal and emulation," said Mr. Malcolm. "Is it true that the trumpery thing my sister Anne tormented me to order from you last week has gone through five editions?"
"Just about to bring out a sixth," said the publisher; "and the curious thing is that it is not at all exciting: but these American domestic quasi-religious novels (though novel is not a proper term for them) are the rage at present. If one could trust to their details of every-day life being correct, they might be useful as giving us the Americans painted by themselves; but there is so much that is false and improbable in plot and character, that one is tempted to doubt even the cookery, of which we have QUANTUM SUFF."
"The conversation is the greatest twaddle I ever saw," said Mr. Malcolm. "If the American people talk like that, how fatiguing it would be to live among them! I could not write so badly, or such bad English. I must take a successful English novel as my model."
"Mr. Malcolm is literary himself," said Miss Rennie, who had left the two students to amuse each other, and now joined the more congenial group. "He writes such clever things in magazines, Miss Melville, I quite delight to come on anything of his, they are so amusing."
"Miss Rennie, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for your good opinion. Then you like my style? Do you hear that, you ogre? Publishers, you know, Miss Melville, are noted for living upon the bones of unfortunate authors, and never saying grace either before or after the meal. This Goth, this Vandal, this Jacob Tonson, has had the barbarity to find fault with the last thing I put into the "Mag"."
"Well, I thought you had never done anything so good. It was so funny; papa laughed till he shook the spectacles off his face, and then all the children laughed too."
"Listen, thou devourer of innocents, thou fattener on my labour and groans. My work was good, and my style better, fashionable as Miss Rennie's flounces, and piquant as the sauce we will have from our host at supper."
"The style has been fashionable," said the publisher, "but it is getting overdone. Everybody is trying the allusive style now, and wandering from the subject in hand to quote a book, or to refer to something very remotely connected with it. Every word or sentence is made a peg to hang something else on. Our authors are too fond of showing off reading or curious information; the style of the old essayists——-"
"Bald and tame, with very little knowledge of the finer shades of character," interrupted Mr. Malcolm. "I wonder why you, as a critic, can compare our brilliant modern literature to such poor performances."
"They have their deficiencies, certainly; but there was a simplicity and directness in these old writings that we would do well to imitate."
"I had better imitate the style of the paying article at present, and write an evangelical novel. I had better read up in it; but the unlucky thing is that they invariably put me to sleep; so perhaps I would do better to trust to my own original genius, and begin in an independent manner."
"Is it not a treat," whispered Miss Rennie to Jane, "to get a peep behind the scenes in this way? Mr. Malcolm is quite a genius. I am sure he could write anything; but he really ought not to go to sleep over those charming books. He is such a severe critic, I am quite afraid of him."
"Then you write yourself?" said Jane.
"Oh! how foolish of me to let you know in such a silly way. I write nothing to speak of. I never thought any one would take me for an authoress. But I do so doat on poetry, and it seems so natural to express one's feelings in verse—not for publication, you know—only for my friends. Once or twice—but this is a great secret—I have had pieces brought out in the 'Ladies' Magazine.' If you read it, you may have seen them; they had the signature of Ella—a pretty name, is it not?—more uncommon than my own."
"Is it a fair question," said Jane, anxiously; "but did you receive anything for your verses?"
"You have such a commercial turn of mind, Miss Melville, as papa says, that you really ought to be in business. No; I did not receive or, indeed, did I wish for any payment. I would mix no prose with my poetry."
"You are not in need of money," said Jane, with a slight sigh; and she turned to the publisher, and asked if he brought out new poems as well as new novels.
"Poetry is ticklish stuff to go off, particularly in Edinburgh," said he. "I am very shy of it, except in bringing out cheap editions of poems of established reputation, or reprints of American poets."
"Where there is no copyright to be paid for," said Mr. Malcolm; "I know the tricks of the trade."
Mrs. Rennie had asked Jane to play and sing, which she could not do, and then had engaged in conversation with Mr. Hogarth for a considerable time. Now she supposed Jane must fancy she was not receiving sufficient attention from her hostess, considering that she was the only lady guest, so she came forward, and withdrew her from the animated conversation of the gentlemen, and proceeded to entertain her in the best way that she could. Her younger children (not her youngest, for they were in bed) were gathered around her, and the conversation was somewhat desultory, owing to their interruptions and little delinquencies. It was now getting time for them, too, to go to bed, and it was not without repeated orders from mamma, supported at last by a forcible observation from papa, that they bade the company good-night, and retired. They were all very nice-looking children, and not ill-disposed, though somewhat refractory and dilatory about the vexed question of going to bed.
Talking to them and about them naturally brought up the subject of education; and Jane timidly inquired if Mrs. Rennie was in want of a governess, or if she knew any one who was.
"No; the children are all at school or under masters—the best masters in Edinburgh—for Mr. Rennie is extravagant in the matter of education. The children get on better—there is more emulation; and then there is such a houseful of ourselves, that we would not know where to put a governess, though it might otherwise be an economy," said Mrs. Rennie.
"I should like to have classes," said Jane—trying to speak boldly for herself; "to teach what I have learned under the same masters whom you are so pleased with—English philologically, with the practice of composition, writing, arithmetic, and mathematics. I can get certificates of my competency from the professors under whom I have studied. I must leave the neighbourhood of Swinton, where there is no field for me, and start in this line; my sister can assist me, I have no doubt."
"I never heard of such a thing, Miss Melville; you had much better take a situation. The worry and uncertainty of taking rooms and paying rent, when there are so many masters that you cannot expect but a very few pupils, would wear you out in a twelvemonth. If I were to send you my two girls—and I am sure I have every reason to be satisfied with their present teachers—what would they do for you? Oh, no, Miss Melville. Take my advice, and get a nice quiet situation, or go into a school, where you might take music lessons in exchange for what you can teach now."
"I am too old to learn music," said Jane, "and I have no natural talent for it. As for a nice quiet situation, where am I to get it?"
"Surely, Miss Melville, you must have many friends, from the position you have held in——-shire; you must know many leading people. Consult with them. I am sure they would never advise you to take such a risk; I cannot conscientiously advise you to do it myself. Mr. Rennie was telling me about the matronship of the ——- Institution. Don't you think that would be better? The salary is not high, but there is no risk. I know one of the house-surgeons very well, and I know he says everything is very comfortable, and he is one of the pleasantest men I know."
"I am reconsidering the matter," said Jane. "I suppose if I make up my mind to it, the sooner I apply the better."
"I should say so," said Mrs. Rennie. "I am sure Mr. Rennie will give you all his influence, for he says you appear to be such a capable person. He told us all about your turn for figures and ledgers, and that sort of thing."
"I have naturally strong nerves, too," said Jane.
"Oh, they say it is nothing being in such a place, when you once get used to it."
"But what would become of my poor sister?" said Jane. "We did so much wish to be together; and in such a situation I could see so little of her."
"That would be the case in any situation; and what is there to prevent her from getting one for herself?"
"Just as much and more than prevents me. Still, twenty-four and thirty pounds a year would keep her tolerably comfortable till she can get employment or meets with success otherwise," said Jane, half thinking aloud. "I think I will write out my application when we get home to-night."
"Where are you staying—in Edinburgh?" asked Mrs. Rennie.
"At my cousin's."
"At Mr. Hogarth's?—you do not mean to say so!"
"He asked me to come and stay with him while I inquired about this situation, or anything else that might appear to be better. You know I cannot afford to take lodgings or live at a hotel, and no one else thought of offering me a home."
"It was very kind and well-meant on his part, no doubt; but it was scarcely advisable on yours to accept it."
"I spoke to Miss Thomson about it, and she saw no objection."
"Miss Thomson of Allendale: very likely she did not—she is used to do just as she pleases, and never minds what the world thinks."
"She was the only person who gave me either help, encouragement, or advice. I thought all she said was right and reliable. You do not know what it is to me, who have no relation in the world but Elsie, to find a cousin. He seems like a brother to me, and I know he feels like one. If it had been in his power to give me money to engage a lodging, perhaps he would have done so, but it is money assistance that is so strictly forbidden by the will."
"If he had only spoken to some experienced friend on the subject—if he had only spoken to ME—I am sure it could have been better managed. In the meantime, if you have no objection to sharing Eliza's room, we will be glad to keep you here for the remainder of your stay in Edinburgh. You had better not go home with your cousin to-night."
Jane paused for a few minutes—many bitter thoughts passed through her mind. "I am much obliged to you for your kind offer, but I do not think I can accept it. If I have made a mistake, it has been committed already, and cannot be undone. To-night, I will write my application to the directors of the ——- Asylum; tomorrow I will be on my way to Cross Hall. I cannot, after such a day as this, collect my thoughts sufficiently in a strange house, among strangers, to do myself justice in my application, nor can I bear to let my cousin know that his brotherly kindness, and my sisterly confidence, may be misunderstood and misinterpreted. I have no mother, and no adviser. I had feared that perhaps the direct or indirect assistance of food and lodging for two days might peril my cousin's inheritance,—though Miss Thomson thought there was no danger of that either,—but I never imagined that any one would think the less of me for accepting it. If you do not tell him, he need never know it; for I am sure it was the last idea he could have entertained."
What sad earnest eyes Jane turned on Mrs. Rennie!—she could not help being touched with her expression and her appeal. A vision of her own Eliza—without friends—without a mother—doing something as ill-advised, and feeling very acutely when a stranger told her of it, gave a distinctness to Jane's present suffering that, without that little effort of imagination, she could not have realized. Besides, she had a great wish to think highly of Mr. Hogarth, and to please him; and the certainty that he would be extremely pained and, perhaps, offended by her suggestion that he had compromised his cousin's position by his good-natured invitation, had its influence.
"What you say is very reasonable, Miss Melville, but you forget that to-morrow is Sunday. You would not travel on the Sabbath, I hope?"
"I seem to have forgotten the days of the week in this terrible whirl," said Jane. "I would rather not travel on Sunday, but this seems a case of necessity."
"Not so," said Mrs. Rennie, kindly. "Come and go to church with us to-morrow forenoon, and dine with us; if you feel then that you would prefer to stay here, you can easily manage to do so without making your cousin suspect anything. If you still are anxious to go home, you can do that on Monday morning; but I fancy Tuesday is quite early enough to send in your application."
"Thank you, Mrs. Rennie," said Jane. "I am very much obliged to you indeed for your kindness, and I think I will avail myself of it; but to-night—to-night—I must have some quiet and solitude."
"I have been somehow or other separated from you all the evening," said Francis, as they were on their way home. "Have you enjoyed it at all? It was hard for you to have to see so many strangers after so trying a day."
"Rather hard," said Jane, with quivering lips. "Life altogether is much harder than I had imagined it to be. I want Elsie very much to-night; but I will see her as soon as I can possibly get home."
"You do not mean to go so soon? you have done nothing satisfactory as yet. We must make attempts in some other direction."
"I have made up my mind," said Jane; "I will apply for the situation I despised this morning. People outside of asylums seem to be as mad and more cruel. I will write my application to-night, and it will go by the first post."
"Do not be so precipitate; there is no need to apply before Tuesday, and I believe even Wednesday would do. Spend the intervening days in town; something suitable may be advertised in newspapers. You have not yet applied at any registry offices. You said Rome was not built in a day, yet a day's failure makes you despair. Do not lose heart all at once, my dear cousin. Though I never had anything half so hard to bear or to anticipate as you have now, I have had my troubles, and have got over them, as you will in the end."
The tone of Francis' voice gave Jane a little courage; but she was resolute in writing out her application before she went to bed. It was beautifully written and clearly expressed. She asserted her qualifications with firmness, and yet with modesty, and gave satisfactory references to prove her own statements. Of all the applicants, she was the youngest; but Francis was sure that her letter would be the best of the fifty.
Though Jane thought this decisive step would set her mind at rest, sleep was impossible to her after such excitement, fatigue, and disappointment; and the solitude she had longed for only gave her leave to turn over all the painful circumstances of her position without let or hindrance. Never had she felt so bitterly towards her uncle. In vain did she try to recall his past kindness to soften her heart towards him; for all pleasant memories only deepened the gloom of her present friendless, hopeless poverty; and the prospect of her inevitable separation from Elsie, which had never been distinctly apprehended before, was the saddest of all the thoughts that haunted the night watches.
Francis had been invited with Jane to spend the day with the Rennies, and the cousins went to church with the family. Jane heard none of the sermon nor of the service generally. She had not been in the habit of paying much attention at church, and there was nothing at all striking or impressive in the preacher's voice or manner, or in the substance of his discourse, to arrest a languid or preoccupied listener. Jane was thinking about the Asylum, and about how much or how little it needed to make people mad—if they were often cured—and if they relapsed—a great part of the time; and when Miss Rennie asked her how she liked the sermon, Jane could not tell whether she liked it or not. Mr. and Mrs. Rennie confessed that Mr. M—— was nothing of a preacher, but he was a very good man and a private friend. They liked to go to their own regular parish church, and did not run after celebrated preachers; though Eliza was a great admirer of eloquence, and was very often straying from her own place of worship to go with friends and acquaintances to hear some star or another, quite indifferent as to whether he were of the Establishment or of the Free Kirk, or of some other dissenting persuasion.
The conversation at Mr. Rennie's all Sunday afternoon was much more on churches, sermons, and ministers, than any Jane had ever heard before. She had never seen anything of the religious world, as it is called, and felt herself very much behind the company in information. Her cousin Francis was much better acquainted with the subject; he seemed to have heard every preacher in Edinburgh, and to know every one of note in the kingdom.
Mrs. Rennie, apparently in a casual manner, asked Jane to make her house her home while she remained in Edinburgh; and the invitation was accepted with the same indifferent tone of voice, which concealed great anxiety at heart.
"I should like my cousin to accompany me to my unfashionable chapel," said Francis. "Will you either join us or excuse us for the evening, as it is the only opportunity I may have for a long time to take Miss Melville there? Miss Rennie, you are the only one likely to have curiosity enough to try a new church."
"I am sorry I cannot go this evening, for I have promised to go to St. George's, to hear Mr. C——, with Eleanor Watson and her brother. You had better come with me; it is the last Sunday he is to preach in Edinburgh," said Miss Rennie.
"You must excuse me this once," said Mr. Hogarth; "I have a great wish that Miss Melville should hear my minister. At any other time I will be at your command."
Miss Rennie could not disappoint either Eleanor or Herbert Watson, or herself; so Francis and Jane went alone to the little chapel.
"It will do you good to hear a good sermon, and I expect that you will hear one."
The idea of getting any good at church was rather new to Jane; but on this occasion, for the first time in her life, she felt real meaning in religious worship. Never before had she felt the sentiment of dependence, which is the primary sentiment of religion. She had been busy, and prosperous, and self-reliant; all she said and did had been considered good and wise; her position was good, her temper even, and her pleasures many. Now she was baffled and defeated on every side—disappointed in the present, and fearful of the future.
Prayer acquired a significance she had never seen in it before; the tone of the prayer, too, was different from the set didactic utterances too often called prayer, in which there is as much doctrine and as little devotion as extempore prayer is capable of. It was not expostulatory either, as if our Heavenly Father needed much urging to make Him listen to our wants and our aspirations, but calm, trusting, and elevated, as if God was near, and not far off from any one of His creatures—as if we could lay our griefs and our cares, our joys and our hopes, at His feet, knowing that we are sure of His blessing. Was this union with God, then, really possible? Was there an inner life that could flow on smoothly and calmly heavenward, in spite of the shocks, and jars, and temptations of the outer life? Could she learn to see and acknowledge God's goodness even in the bitterness of the cup that was now at her lips?
It was no careless or preoccupied listener who followed point after point of the sermon on the necessity of suffering for the perfecting of the Christian character. The thoughts were genuine thoughts, not borrowed from old books, but worked out of the very soul of the preacher; and the language, clear, vigorous, and modern, clothed these thoughts in the most impressive manner. There were none of the conventionalisms of the pulpit orator, who often weakens the strongest ideas by the hackneyed or obsolete phraseology he uses.
"Thank you, cousin Francis," said Jane, as they walked back to Mr. Rennie's together. "This is, indeed, medicine to a mind diseased. I will make my inquiries as I ought to do tomorrow; but if I fail I will send in my application; and if I succeed there, I will go to this asylum in a more contented spirit. It appears as if it were to be my work, and with God's help I will do it well."
Jane began her next day's work by calling on her Edinburgh acquaintances, and then went to the registry offices; but Monday's inquiries were no more successful than Saturday's; so she dropped her letter in the post, and felt as many people, especially women, do when an important missive has left them for ever to go to the hands to which it is addressed. It seems so irrevocable, they doubt the wisdom of the step and fear the consequences.
When Jane reached home and told her sister of the application she had sent in, Elsie was horrified at the prospect, and shook her sister's courage still more by the pictures she conjured up of Jane's life at such a place, and of her own without the one dearest to her heart; but after she had said all she could in that way, it occurred to her that if her poems succeeded, as she had no doubt they would, Jane's slavery need but be shortlived. Her work had made great progress during the short time of her sister's absence, and she continued to apply to it with indefatigable industry. Scarcely would the ardent girl allow herself to think of anything but what to write;—the tension was too severe, but Elsie would take nothing in moderation.
The last week of the Misses Melville's stay at Cross Hall had begun before Jane heard of the result of her application for the matronship of the ——- Institution. Mr. Rennie then wrote to her that the directors had appointed a widow, very highly recommended, and apparently very well qualified. Miss Melville's letter had received careful attention, and had favourably impressed all the directors; but her youth and her being unmarried were great objections to her, while the kind of housekeeping she had conducted at her uncle's was not likely to be the best school for the management of an establishment of this kind. Mr. Rennie was very sorry for Miss Melville's disappointment, but he could not suggest any other situation likely to suit her.
Elsie jumped for joy when she heard of Jane's rejection, and kissed her sister over and over again. "We shall not be parted, darling; you will not go to slave among strangers and to be terrified by mad people. I cannot—really, I cannot do without you—you are my muse and my critic, as well as my best friend and adviser."
Jane was not quite so much exhilarated by her failure as her sister; but Elsie's extravagant delight comforted her not a little. While they were talking over this matter, Jane was called away to receive the linen from the laundress for the last time, and to bid her good-bye. Peggy Walker was somewhat of an authority in the district—a travelled woman, who had been in Australia and back again, and was now living with a family of orphan nephews and nieces, and an old man, their grandfather. Public rumour pronounced her a niggardly woman, for though she had property she worked as hard as if she had nothing, and took the bread out of other folk's mouths; but as she was really an excellent laundress, she had the best custom in the neighbourhood, and her honesty, her punctuality, and her homely civility, had made her a great favourite with Jane Melville.
"I fear it must be good-bye this time, Peggy," said she; "next week's washing must be given to other hands."
"Eh, now, Miss Jean, ye dinna say so. I heard the new man was coming to the Hall, but no just so very soon as that. But ye are no going out of the place for good?"
"For good or ill, Peggy, we leave Cross Hall next Thursday."
"And where are you going to?"
"I wish I knew."
"Preserve us, Miss Jean! Are you and Miss Elsie, poor bit thing, unacquainted with where you are going to?"
"It is only too true."
"Well, I am going to leave the place too; but I ken well where I am going, and that is to Edinburgh."
"Why are you leaving Swinton? I thought you were doing very well here."
"I don't say that I have any cause to complain of my prosperity here; but, you see, Tam is wild to learn the engineering, and he wants to go to Edinburgh, where he thinks he will learn it best; and I don't like to let him go by himsel', for though he is no a bad laddie, he is the better of a home and a head to it, and I would like to keep my eye on him. Grandfather makes no objections, and the bairns are all keen for Edinburgh, so I am going to flit next week. As for leaving this place, I am sure I have been growled at quite enough about coming from Australia and taking work away from my old neighbours, so I will try my luck where I don't know who I am taking custom from. I've been in and got a house and a mangle in a nice quiet part of the town, no owre far from Tam's place where he is going to work, and a healthy bit it looks, too."
"Peggy, I wish I had your confidence and your reason for confidence. I, too, want to go to Edinburgh to try my luck there; but though my uncle spent quite a fortune on my education, and though I did my best to profit by it, I really can see no way of making my living."
"Hout tout," said Peggy, "no fear of you making a living, you could do that as well as me; but it is more than a living for yourself you are wanting; you are thinking of Miss Elsie, poor bit lassie, and would fain work for two. I mind well when my sister left the bairns to my care with her dying breath, I felt my heart owre grit. It was more than I, a single woman, with but seven pounds by the year of wages, could hope to do, to keep the bit creatures; but yet it was borne on my mind that I was to do it, and God be praised that He has given me the strength and the opportunity, and it is little burden they have been to any other body; and in due time, when they have got learning enough, and are come the length to get the passage, I will take them back with me to Melbourne, where their prospects will be better than in the old country."
"Oh, Peggy! would Australia suit us? Would you advise us to go there?"
"No, Miss Melville, I scarcely think so. For the like of me it is the best place in the world; for the like of you I cannot be at all clear about it. I'll tell you my story some day, but not now, for I am pressed for time, getting everything in readiness for the flitting; and I want time to collect my thoughts; my memory is none of the best. But, Miss Melville, if I am not making too free, I have a little room in my new house that I would be blithe to let you and Miss Elsie have, and you could stay there quietly till something turns up for you."
"If we can afford the rent."
"Oh, the rent!" said Peggy; "you need not think about the rent, if you could only give the lasses a lesson in sewing (for I'm no very skilful with the needle, and my hands are so rough with the washing and dressing that the thread aye hanks on my fingers), and make out my washing bills for my Customers that are not so methodical as yourself. As for writing and counting, it is my abomination. There need no rent pass between us."
"Thank you, Peggy, thank you; that will suit us nicely. But tell me, can we—that is, Elsie and me—can we live in Edinburgh on twenty-four pounds a-year?"
"I have known many a family brought up decently on as little, or even less," said Peggy; "but then they were differently bred from you and could live hard. Porridge and potatoes, and muslin kail, with a salt herring now and then."
"Well, porridge and potatoes it shall be," said Jane, "for three years, and then starvation, if the world pleases."
"If God pleases, Miss Jane; the chief thing is for us to place our trust in Him," said Peggy.
"You are right, Peggy, I suppose; but it is hard to unlearn so much old schooling and to accept of new teachings. Did your faith support you when you were perplexed and disappointed—when friends were unfaithful, and the world hard and cruel?"
"My trials have not been just like yours; but whatever God sent, He gave me strength to bear; and it will be the same with you, Miss Jean, if you put yourself humbly in His hands. But the auld laird cared for none of these things; though I am sure when he left you so poorly provided for in this world, he behoved to have given you a good hold of the hope of a better;—besides that, it makes us contented with a very humble lot here below. I am, maybe, too free-spoken, Miss Jean, but I mean no disrespect."
"No offence can be taken where none is meant, Peggy; and friends are too scarce with us now for us to reject any good advice. I am very glad to know that we can subsist on our income, for I have not been accustomed to deal with such small sums."
"You have wealth of clothes, no doubt; enough to last you for a while; so there need be no outlay for that."
"And we have our own furniture—too much, I suppose for your little room. We can sell the overplus when a push comes. I do not think anything could suit us better than your kind offer."
"I have heard," said Peggy, "that the folk hereabouts think you will be getting up a subscription."
"They are very much mistaken," said Jane; "the hardest living is preferable to that. I wish you could say that Melbourne, or any part of Australia, would do for us. Everybody was surprised when you returned to Swinton so suddenly."
"Well, I could send the bairns more money from Melbourne than I can make for them here, and no doubt the folk thought me foolish to leave such a place; but what good was the money to the poor things when there was no management, for the old man is but silly, and the bairns had mostly the upper hand of him, though whiles they did catch it. I have had my own ado with Tam for the last two years. I think I have got the victory now; but I must try and keep it. So, as grandfather dreads the water, I think I will stop in this country while he is to the fore, and meantime the lads and lasses must have their schooling and Tam his trade. But I keep on clavering about my own concerns, while you are in doubt and difficulties about yours. When do you leave Cross Hall?"
"I should like to leave on Wednesday, for my cousin comes to take possession on that day, and Elsie cannot bear any one to see us bidding farewell to our dear old home."
"I cannot just flit before Thursday."
"Well, I suppose we must stay to welcome the new owner; I have no objection to doing so."
"It may be painful to your feelings, Miss Melville, but yet I think it would be but right. There are things you may mention to the new man that would do good to them that are left behind you. That poor blind widow, Jeanie Weir, that you send her dinner to every day, would miss her dole if it was not kept up; and I know there are more than her that you want to speak a good word for. I hear no ill of this Maister Francis; and though we all grudge him the kingdom he has come into, it may be that he will rule it worthily."
Elsie had a headache when Francis came to take possession of his new home, and scarcely made her appearance; but Jane, who felt none of her sister's shrinking from him, showed him over the house, and told him how it had been managed, hoped he would keep the present servants, and particularly recommended to his care the gardener, who, though rather superannuated and rheumatic, had been forty years in the service of the family, and understood the soil and the treatment of it very well.
He was not only glad to hear what she said, but was resolved to be guided by it, and took a memorandum of her poor pensioners, that they, at least, should not suffer by Mr. Hogarth's will.
Then she walked with him over the grounds, and pointed out what improvements her uncle had made, and what more he had contemplated making. She was rather deficient in taste for rural beauty. She loved Cross Hall because it was her home, and because she had been happy there, rather than because she fully appreciated the loveliness of the situation and the prospect. Her cousin, townsman as he was, had far more natural taste. It was romantically situated, and the grounds were beautifully laid out; there were pretty hamlets in the distance, gentlemen's country seats embowered in trees, green cornfields, merry brooks, and winding valleys. Francis' eyes and heart were filled with the exceeding beauty of the landscape.
"You must be very sorry to leave all this Jane," he said.
"I believe that is the least of my troubles. I am more sorry to leave these;" and she led him to the stables, and showed him the two beautiful horses she and her sister had been accustomed to ride. "You will be kind to them for our sakes, and the dogs, too. I am—we are both—very concerned to part with the dogs."
"Should you not like to take any of them with you?" said Francis, eagerly.
"No, no; dogs such as these would be a nuisance in a crowded little room in Edinburgh, and I do not think they would like such a life, for their own part. You will take better care of them than we could possibly do. But I forget: you have, perhaps, as little affection for animals as I have taste for scenery."
"I am not naturally fond of pets—which is rather strange; for my solitary life should have made me attach myself to the lower animals. But perhaps I am not naturally affectionate. I must cultivate this deficient taste, however; and be assured that anything you have loved will always be cherished by me; and every wish that you may express, or that I can even guess at, that I am allowed to gratify, I will be only too happy to do so. It has been a strange and stormy introduction we have had to each other; but I am so grateful to you for not hating me, that I chafe still the more at the cruel way in which my hands are tied. I have consulted several eminent lawyers in the hope of being enabled to overturn my father's will, but without success. If a man is not palpably mad he may make as absurd a settlement of his own property as he pleases; and your assertion of your uncle's peculiar opinions tends to support the validity of the testament. Though no one thinks that the disposition of the money will serve the end Mr. Hogarth intended, yet he believed it would, and the spirit and intention of the will must be carried out. Oh, my father! why did you not give me a little love in your lifetime instead of this cursed money after your death?"
"Cousin," said Jane cheerfully, "I believe you will make a good use of this money. As my uncle says, you have served well, and should be able to rule justly and kindly. I do not think so much about the improvement of the property by your taste as of the care you will take of the condition of the people upon it. This last month has been a hard, but a useful school to me. I have thought more of the real social difficulties of this crowded country than ever I did before. Bringing my own talents and acquirements into the market, and finding myself elbowed out by competition, I think of those who have to do the real hard necessary work of the world with more sympathy and more respect. Not that I ever despised them—you must not imagine me to be so hard-hearted as that; but my feeling for them is deepened and heightened wonderfully of late. Now they are apt to say that PARVENUS are of all men the most exacting and the most purse-proud; and that a mistress who has been a servant is harsher to her female dependants than one who has been accustomed to keep domestics all her life. It is difficult for me to conceive this; but there must be truth in it, or it would not be a proverb in all languages. You will be an exception, Francis. You will have my uncle's real kindness without his crotchets and his dictatorial manner. You must not be offended if I call you a parvenu in spite of your birth. You have come suddenly into wealth that you were not brought up to expect."
"If I do not recollect my past life, I will certainly remember your present advice whenever I am tempted to think too much of myself and too little of others."
"Everything is to lead to the perfecting of your character, you see," said Jane.
"I cannot bear even improvement at the expense of any one's suffering but my own," said Francis.
"I have been thinking so much about that sermon I heard at your church. I do not know that the preacher brought out the particular point; but we are made such dependent beings, not only on God, but on each other, that we do indirectly profit by what we do not purchase by our own effort or pains. We would not choose to have it so; but when Providence brings on ourselves or others sorrows we grieve for, we are right to draw from them all the good we can. It is something if my uncle's rather unjust will has given you property with a sobered sense of its privileges and a strong sense of its duties—something to set against Elsie's sufferings and mine. And, besides, the loss of it has done me one great benefit."
"Tell me what," said Francis, eagerly.
"It is quite possible, though I cannot tell how probable, that I might have married a man to whom I am not well suited in any respect, and who was still less adapted to make me happy if I had not been disinherited. I am thus frank with you, cousin Francis, for I should like to give you all the consolation I can."
"And you have been deserted by a lover, as well as impoverished; and you ask me to take consolation from it."
"No, no; nothing so bad as that. I only explained matters to him, and we parted. I am very glad of it. Be you the same," said Jane, looking frankly and cheerfully in her cousin's face, and the cloud passed off it.
"Your sister has no affair of this kind?"
"No; nothing," said Jane.
"And yet she seems to suffer more."
"Not now; she is busy writing a volume of poems that is to make our fortune. Dear Elsie! I hope it may."
"Poems—well, she may succeed; but I have more hope of you than of her."
"Because you know me better; but yet my efforts have all been very fruitless. I am not a judge of poetry, though I like what Elsie writes. I wished her to consent to my taking your opinion as to her verses, but she shrank from it with most unaccountable and, as I thought, unreasonable fear. I wonder how she can bring her work before the public if she dreads one critic."
"It is very natural, Jane. Among the public there may be some to admire, and some to depreciate; but the one critic to whom the author submits his work may be of the latter class, and there seems to be no refuge from him. It is curious to see the revelations of the inner self that some authors make to the world—revelations that they would often shrink from making to their nearest friends. They appeal to the few in the world who sympathise with them, and disregard the censure of all the rest. And recollect that, though to you I am a friend, your sister has seen very little of me, and her first impression was exceedingly painful. If you have told her I am a good judge of poetry, she will be all the more averse to submit her compositions to my criticism, for my opinion might bias yours, and yours is her greatest comfort and encouragement. No one can wish her success more earnestly than I do. But for yourself, what are your present intentions?"
"If it were not for leaving Elsie, I might try for a situation as housekeeper in a large establishment; I know I am fully competent for that. I should prefer something by which I could rise, but the choice may not be given to me. We go to Edinburgh tomorrow. I do not think the small room we are going to will hold all the furniture we are entitled to, so will you be good enough to let what we cannot accommodate remain at Cross Hall till we can send for it?"
"Certainly; you had better lock up your room with your own things in it, and take the key," said Francis.
"No, no; I am housekeeper enough to know that all rooms must have occasional air and sunshine. I can trust either yourself or the housemaid with the key, knowing well that everything will be kept safe."
"Where are you going to live?"
"With a very humble friend in ——- Street."
"That is very near where my earliest recollections of life in Edinburgh found me situated."
"Do you remember your mother at all?"
"I am not quite sure; but I think I have some shadowy recollection of a place before I came to Edinburgh, where I think I was with my mother."
"Do you think she is alive now?"
"Mr. MacFarlane says he believes she is. Do you think I should try to discover her?"
"Alive all these years, and never taking any care or notice of you! Very unmotherly on her part!" said Jane, thoughtfully.
"No one knows how she may be situated—her relations with my father must have been very miserable. I cannot tell who was most to blame—but if she were in distress, and I could help her, I am not forbidden to do that, though Mr. MacFarlane strongly advises me to make no inquiry."
"I think, if she hears of your inheriting Cross Hall, she is likely to come forward if she needs assistance, and you certainly should give it."
"I wish very much to look over Mr. Hogarth's private papers. Mr. MacFarlane has given me the keys of all his repositories. I particularly wish you to go over them all with me, as there may be many that concern you far more than myself. Could you spare me a few hours to-day for that purpose? I am in hopes that we may find some clue to this marriage, and perhaps some hint that might guide me in my conduct to my mother, supposing she is still alive. If I could find anything that would upset or modify the will, I am sure your happiness in the discovery would be less than mine."
The long and patient search which extended over the greater part of two days discovered nothing whatever at all definite with regard to Francis' birth. No scrap of writing could be found that could be supposed to be from his mother. An old bundle of papers marked outside, "Francis' school bills, was all that rewarded their search, and they gave no information except that his education had cost his father a considerable sum of money.
A packet of letters in a female hand, with a French post-mark, was eagerly opened by the cousins, and contained a number of long and confidential letters from a Marguerite de Vericourt, which extended over a number of years, and stopped at the year when Jane and Elsie came to live with their uncle. Jane's knowledge of French was better than her cousin's, and the sight of the words "LE PAUVRE FRANCOIS" arrested her attention in the first she opened. "We have come to something at last," said she, and she translated the passage, "'I am glad to hear that the poor Francis is doing so well at school—surely you must learn to love him a little now. My Arnauld grows very intelligent; and Clemence, with no teaching but my own, makes rapid progress.' That is all; your name is not mentioned again in this letter. We must go on to the next."
Letter after letter was glanced over, and then translated, because though there was little mention of the poor Francis, but such a short allusion to something Mr. Hogarth had written about him as was found in the first letter, there was much that was very interesting in them all. They were written with that curious mixture of friendship and love, so natural and easy to Frenchwomen, and so difficult to Englishwomen. Madame de Vericourt appeared to be a widow with two children, a boy and girl. Her letters showed her to be a capable and cultivated woman, passionately attached to her children, living much in society for part of the year in Paris, but spending the summer in a country chateau, where she became a child again with the little ones. She wrote about her affairs, and her children's, as if she were in the habit of transacting business, and thoroughly understood it, and as if she knew Mr. Hogarth's whole history and circumstances, and took a very affectionate interest in them. She reminded him frequently of conversations they had had together, of long walks and excursions they had taken in company; her children sent messages to her good friend, and she took notice of expressions in his letters which had pleased or disappointed her.
For herself, she had been unhappily married when extremely young; but before the correspondence had begun she had been for some years a widow, and she was fully aware of the position of Mr. Hogarth. The most interesting letter of all was the last, which appeared to have been written in answer to his, telling of his resolution to adopt his sister's children; and she seemed very much delighted at the idea.
"Since you say that you cannot bring yourself to love the poor Francis, whom, nevertheless, my heart yearns after, and of whom I love to hear even the meagre details you give to me, I rejoice, my friend, that you have made a home for your sister's sweet little girls. You must have something to love. Ah! to me my Arnauld and my Clemence brought unspeakable comfort. I do not think of them as Philippe de Vericourt's children; they are the children whom God have given to me. I do not watch fearfully, lest his ungovernable temper and his selfish soul should be reproduced in them. I trust that God will make them good and happy, and aid me in my efforts towards that end. You cannot separate the idea of Francis from that of the woman who cheated you, and did not love you; who has blighted your hopes of domestic happiness; and who still, even from a distance, has the power to threaten you with exposing the disgrace that you are connected with her. I am sorry that you cannot feel as I do; but if you can love these little girls, it may make you softer towards him. When you wrote to me of your poor Mary's sad death, and of the sadder life that had preceded it, I began to wonder whether, after all, your system of free choice in marriage produces greater happiness or greater misery than ours of a marriage settled by our parents.
"I recollect how bitterly I felt that I had been made over, without my wishes or tastes being consulted, to a man who cared so little for my happiness; but at least I had no illusion to be dispelled; I did not marry as your sister did, hoping to find Elysium, and landing in hopeless misery; and yet my parents loved me after their fashion. I have often thought that those whom we love, and who love us, have far more power to injure us than those who hate us; but, alas! neither friends nor enemies can injure us more than we do ourselves. Your sister Mary had the disenchantment to go through; I had to chafe at the coercion; while you, my friend, had to muse bitterly on the consequence of one rash speech of your own, which chained you to an unworthy and detested wife.
"I think we need a future state that we may do justice to ourselves in it quite as much as to repair the wrongs we may have done to others. Which of us has really made the best of himself or herself? I really try now for the sake of my children to be cheerful; but sad and bitter memories are too deeply interwoven with my being for me to succeed as I should wish. If I live, I hope that the fate of my Clemence may be happier than her mother's, so far as the state of society in France will allow of it: I will give her a choice, and, at any rate, a power of refusing even what appears to me to be a suitable marriage; for no doubt it is better for an intelligent and responsible human being to choose its own destiny, and to run its own risks. I fancy that the mistake in your English society is, that your girls have apparently the freedom of choice without being trained to make good use of it. If your sister Mary was as inexperienced and as ignorant as I was at the time when my parents gave me to M. de Vericourt, she could not distinguish between the selfish fortune-hunter and the true lover; the conventional manners were all the same, and she chose for herself a life of misery. Your interference only roused the spirit of opposition, and without preventing the marriage, made your brother-in-law regard you with more dislike and suspicion. Ah! my friend, when I see a young girl about to be married, my heart is full of anxieties for her—I know the risk she runs. But I did not feel them much for myself. I grew into the knowledge of my unhappiness as I grew in knowledge of what might have been; but the recluse life of a French girl prevents her from expecting much from marriage but an increase of consequence. With us it is a step from tutelage to liberty—from nonentity to importance. It cannot be quite so much so in England; but, from the greater prevalence of celibacy, it has even more ECLAT and prestige than here, where marriage is the rule. The TROUSSEAU, the presents, the congratulations, the going into society under the interesting circumstances of an engagement, must divert a girl's attention from the really serious nature of the connection she is forming.
"You will have pleasure in educating your little girls. Make them strong in body and independent in mind if you can. They are likely to be handsome, intelligent, and, if you continue to be prejudiced against poor Francis, rich. Give them more knowledge and more firmness than their poor mother had. I have no doubt that they will grow up good, for you will be kind to them. Girls all turn out well if you give them good training in a happy home; but as for happiness, that depends so much on their choice in marriage, that all you have done for them may be thrown away, if you do not educate them to be something more than amiable and pleasing companions. They must be trained to feel that they are responsible beings: let their reading be as various, their education as comprehensive, as you would give to boys of their rank. You know that ignorance is not innocence, and that some knowledge of the world is necessary to all of us if we are to pass safely through it. I am glad to hear that Jane so much resembles you, and that Alice is so like her mother, and that you find their dispositions amiable and remarkably sincere.
"I have told you that I have difficulties with Clemence in the matter of truthfulness. She cannot bear to say or to do what she fancies will be disagreeable or painful to any one. She fears, if she does so, that she will not be loved; but I think I am succeeding in convincing her that we must learn to bear pain, and occasionally to inflict it. When I stood over her last night with a cup of bitter medicine she drank it like an angel, and I said to her, 'My love, I taste this bitter taste with you, and would rather that I had not to give it to you; but if I, or any one whom you love, needs it, you must learn the courage to present it.'
"Arnauld disobeyed my orders one day last week, and played with his ball in the drawing-room, and broke a vase that I prized highly. Clemence took the blame on herself, for she thought I should be less displeased with her than with her brother; but she was not sufficiently skilful to hide the truth. Her BONNE was enraptured with her generosity, and embraced her with the EMPRESSEMENT which is so ridiculous to your insular ideas; but Clemence saw that I was not pleased.
"'Mamma,' said she, 'is it not right I should bear something for Arnauld? I thought you would be so angry with him.'
"'More angry than he deserves?' said I.
"'No, mamma; but I thought he would feel it so much: and even if you were as angry with me, and punished me as severely as you would have chastised him, I should have felt that I did not deserve it.''
"'And that, on the contrary, you were very generous?'
"'Yes, mamma.'
"'Then Arnauld would have escaped altogether, and you would have borne any pain like a martyr?'
"'But would not Arnauld have loved me for it?'
"'I do not know, Clemence,' said I, 'He knew, when he did the mischief, that I would be displeased, and it is just and right that he should take the consequences. A noble soul feels a certain satisfaction in bearing deserved punishment, but it can never rejoice in the punishment of another for its fault. I know you meant kindly; but, my love, you should make no unnecessary sacrifices. Providence will bring to you many opportunities of giving up your wishes, and of bearing a great deal for others, but it must never be done at the sacrifice of truth.'
"Clemence was much impressed with what I said to her; and Arnauld, too, seemed to feel that it would have been mean to have taken advantage of his sister's mistaken generosity. I labour to make them think for themselves, for I often fear that my life will not be spared to guide them much longer. When you come again to France, bring with you your little girls. I have spoken to my children about them, and they are eager to become acquainted with them."
At the end of this letter was written, in Mr. Hogarth's hand-writing, "Died, October 14th, 18-," shortly after the date of the letter.
"I wish," said Jane, "that my uncle had shown me these letters; but I suppose there are some things that one cannot tell to another person."
"There is no encouragement here to induce me to make inquiries about my mother," said Francis. "I think, for the present, I will let the matter rest."
When Jane had spoken of 20,000 pounds each, as the probable fortune of herself and her sister, if their uncle had made his will in their favour, she rather under than over estimated the value of Mr. Hogarth's property. She had expected that many legacies to old servants and bequests to several charitable institutions might have been left, and there still would have been that handsome sum for his adopted children. Francis Hogarth found that he had come into possession of a compact little estate in a very fine part of the country, a small part of which estate had been farmed by the proprietor, who had tried various experiments on it with various success. There was also money invested in the funds, and money laid out in railway shares, as well as a considerable sum in the bank for any present necessity, or to be spent in the improvement of the property.
Elsie had expressed a doubt of her cousin's getting into society; but there appeared to be no likelihood of any of the country gentry looking down on the new laird of Cross Hall. The visiting acquaintance of people of sufficient standing in and about Swinton had consisted of twenty-four marriageable ladies and only four marriageable gentlemen, even including William Dalzell, who was known to be both poor and extravagant, and an old bachelor-proprietor, nearly as old as Mr. Hogarth, senior, and as unlikely to marry. Parties in the country were greatly indebted to striplings and college students home for holidays to represent the male sex. They could dance, and could do a little flirtation, and thought much more of themselves than they ought to do; but as for marrying, that was out of the question. An exchange of two heiresses for one heir of Cross Hall could not but be considered to be an advantageous one. It was not in human nature that the young ladies themselves, and their fathers and mothers, and party-givers generally, should not be eager to know Francis Hogarth, and be more than civil to him. The court that is paid to any man who is believed to be in a position to marry, is one of the most distressing features in British society; it is most mischievous to the one sex, and degrading to the other. Long, long may it be before we see anything like it in the Australian colonies!
No doubt, if it is excusable anywhere, it is so in country or provincial society in Scotland. "We cannot help spoiling the men"—says a distressed party-giver in these latitudes, conscious that this state of things is not right, and half-ashamed of herself for giving in to it—"there are really so few of them." The sons of families of the middle and upper classes as they grow up are sent out to India, to the army, to America, or to the Australian colonies. Even when they do not leave the kingdom, they leave the neighbourhood, and go to large towns, where they may practise a profession or enter into business with some chance of success. Their sisters remain at home with no business, no profession, no object in life, and no hope of any change except through marriage. Many of their contemporaries never return, but settle in the colonies or die there; but, if they do return with money—perhaps with broken constitutions and irritable tempers from India—they still consider themselves too young to look at the women with whom they flirted and danced before they left the old country, and select some one of a different generation, who was perhaps a baby at that time. Fathers and mothers see too clearly the advantages of an establishment to object to the disparity of years and the state of the liver, while the girl, fluttered into importance (as Madame de Vericourt says) by presents, and jewels, and shawls, thinks herself a most fortunate woman, particularly if she is not required to go to India, but can have a good position at home.
So when a young man, not more than thirty-four, rather handsome, of good character, and apparently good temper, intelligent and agreeable, who went to church the first Sunday after he came to Cross Hall, and who was the legitimate heir to the old family of Hogarth, came to settle in the county as a neighbour, his having been clerk in a bank for eighteen years was not looked on as a drawback. He was all the more likely to take good care of his money now he had got it; and calls and invitations came from every quarter. Mr. and Mrs. Rennie, who had had visions of his being exactly the person to suit their Eliza, had a month's start of the country neighbours; but they feared the result of his being thrown among such families as the Chalmerses, the Maxwells, the Crichtons, and the Jardines. He had asked the Rennies to pay him a visit at Cross Hall in the autumn, when they always took a run to the country or to the seaside, and had accompanied his invitation with a request, that if his cousins came to Edinburgh, the Rennies would show them some kindness and attention, which they readily promised to do.
If Mrs. Rennie had known his secret feelings towards the country families, she might have set her mind at rest as to their rivalry; but Francis was very reserved, and his training had not led him to place confidence in any one, till his heart had recently opened to his cousin Jane. He received the visits of his new neighbours civilly, and accepted their invitations; but the conduct of these people towards the disinherited girls made him secretly repel their advances towards his prosperous self. It appeared to show such barefaced worldliness and selfishness, that he shrank from the most insinuating speeches and the most flattering attentions.
He did not know how much of the coldness of Jane and Elsie's old neighbours proceeded from the dislike and suspicion with which Mr. Hogarth's religious opinions, or rather his religious scepticism, was regarded in a particularly orthodox district. They had exchanged formal visits, and had invited each other to large parties, because not to do so would have been unneighbourly; but with none of the people about Swinton had there ever been any familiar intimacy. Jane and Elsie were supposed to be deeply tinged with their uncle's heresies, and they were such very strange girls, having been so strangely brought up; and having no mother or female relative to exert any influence, their uncle had brought them up like boys, which everybody thought very improper. Emilia Chalmers, who was musical, could not get on with them at all; the three Miss Jardines, who were very amiable girls, with nothing in them, could not tell whether to call them blues or hoydens; their Latin and algebra on the one hand, and their swimming-bath, and their riding about the country without a groom on the other, made them altogether so unfeminine. Their uncle thought they were quite able to take care of themselves and of each other, and fancied more mischief might arise from the attendance of a groom than could result from his absence; and the girls cared for no company in their rides till William Dalzell had offered his escort and made himself so agreeable.
Miss Maxwell and the Crichtons had failed to make either Jane or Elsie take any interest in a theological dispute on a point of doctrine between some neighbouring ministers which was agitating all Swinton at the time; and when at last Jane was forced to give an opinion on one side or the other, she gave it quite on the contrary side from the right one, so that they were sure the girls were quite as bad as their uncle. Both girls had been educated to express themselves very clearly and decidedly; whereas, as Emilia Chalmers says, whenever a young lady gives an opinion it should always be delivered SOTTO VOCE, that is, under the powers of the performer's voice, to borrow an image from her musical vocabulary. Even if she does know a thing very well, she should keep her knowledge in the background; there is a graceful timidity that is far more attractive than such unladylike confidence.
"Depend upon it, gentlemen do not like it," Miss Jardine would say. "If Jane Melville were not an heiress, do you think William Dalzell would submit to her airs? I know him better than that."
But, yet, when the girls were shown to be no heiresses, every one was very sorry for them. If a subscription had been got up to assist them in their difficulties, there was no one who would not have given something. Even the Misses Crichton and Miss Maxwell would have subscribed as much as they did to the Foreign Missions, and that was no inconsiderable sum; and if Jane and Elsie had thrown themselves on the compassion of the neighbourhood, there were many who would have offered them a temporary home. But they preserved their independent spirit even though they were not heiresses, and could not sue in FORMA PAUPERIS. It was a subject of much conversation that the Misses Melville had preferred to go with Peggy Walker, the laundress, to some poor place in the old town of Edinburgh, to making any application for assistance to people of their own sphere. What they could do under Peggy's auspices was not likely to be of a very brilliant description.
It is not to be supposed that Peggy Walker was not as good a judge of orthodoxy as the Misses Crichton and Miss Maxwell, but she had not so great a horror of the family at Cross Hall as they had; she had been for several years out of her own parish and country, and had learned some toleration. As she said, the old laird was a just man and a kind one, and until he made his will she had no fault to find with him; and as for the young ladies, they were just the cleverest and the tenderest-hearted to the poor of all the gentry in the country-side. Many a tale of distress had Peggy told them, and had never failed to find the girls open their purses, or go to see the poor people. They had a liberal allowance, and had no extravagant tastes in dress; but their charities had been so extensive that at the time of their uncle's death, there was no great balance in either girl's hands. They knew that Peggy was no niggardly woman, but a most liberal one according to her means and her opportunities—that she gave personal services out of a very busy life, and money, too, out of an income that had many claims on it.
The house-servants and the labourers in Mr. Hogarth's immediate employment were very sad at parting with the young ladies, who had always been so kind and so considerate. If the neighbours had thought the girls proud, none of the servants did. If Francis had not tried hard to please them all, and to make them feel that he regarded them for the sake of those who had been before him, it would not have been likely that he would have gained their good opinion; but he succeeded in doing so.
Peggy Walker thought she had got into a very snug and comfortable dwelling in a flat in ——- Street, and when she gave what she considered the most cheerful-looking apartment to the young ladies as their sleeping-room, she certainly did all she could for their accommodation. The old man, Thomas Lowrie, was particularly pleased with the look-out to the street. He could sit in his own chair and see all the bustle of life going on below, and made little complaint of the noise at first. The five children thought there was nothing so charming as running up and down the common stair, and were quite proud of their elevated position in the world; but the Misses Melville could not but feel an immense difference between their own ideas of comfort and those of the humble family with whom they lived. The floors were clean, and the stairs, too, after a fashion; but the coarse dark-coloured boards could not be made to look white. The walls which Peggy's own hands had sized of a dark-brown colour looked rough, and cracked, and gloomy. They were aware that their scanty means did not allow them to indulge in any separate meals or attendance, and Jane and Elsie began as they meant to go on, and shared the homely meals in the homely home. They had never thought that they had any luxurious tastes; but the very plain fare and the inelegant service seemed to take away even the natural healthy appetite of youth. The noise of the children, and the querulous voice of their grandfather, with Peggy's sharp, decisive remarks, were all different from the respectful silence with which they had been attended at Cross Hall. Peggy was anxious to make the girls as happy as she could, and feared that they must feel this a downcome; but her hands were full of work, and her head of cares. She had made her venture in the world, too, and, with so many dependent on her, it was a considerable risk. They could not help admiring the wonderful patience which she had with the old man, who was not her own father, but merely the father-in-law of her dead sister. She allowed him a weekly modicum of snuff, and was particular that Tom, or one of the others, should read the Bible or the news to him in a clear, distinct voice, that the old man might be able to hear all of it. In all little things she gave way to him, but in all great and grave matters she judged and acted for herself, whatever grumbling might follow. Over the children she kept a very careful watch; and even when she was absent on necessary business, her influence was felt in the household.
After the first day was over, and the girls had gone to their own room for the evening, Elsie broke out with——
"Jane, this is dreadful! How different from what I imagined poor people's lives to be! Nothing beautiful or graceful about it. Poets and novelists write such fine things about poverty and honest toil, and throw a halo of romance about them."
"Yet Peggy is above the average—far above the average," said Jane, thoughtfully; "these children are better taught and better mannered than three-fourths of the peasantry in Scotland, but yet it is a great change to us, a very great change."
"I am sure they might be a great deal better than they are. Oh, Jane, I really can eat nothing served up as it is done here; and that grumbling old man's Kilmarnock nightcap, and his snuff, are enough to disgust one. Even at tea did you notice Peggy stirring the teacup with such vigour, and balancing her saucer in the palm of her hand?"
"I never fancied there was so much in little things," said Jane; "but we must get over our fastidiousness—we must indeed. It is a pity we were brought up so softly and delicately, though we thought we were so remarkably hardened by our uncle's training."
"I cannot even write to-night," said Elsie. "Everything looks so sordid and miserable, and the town here is so dirty and mean."
"We must walk out to-morrow a good long way—you know what beautiful walks we used to have all around Edinburgh. We must breathe fresh air and poetical inspiration."
"I wish I could write," said Elsie, turning over her sheets of manuscript. "I have been able to write a little every day since I began, no matter how grieved or anxious I have been. Who is it says that genius is nothing but industry? and I have been so industrious! I must try to write to-night; we are settled as far as we can expect to be settled for some time, and I ought to begin as I mean to go on."
"No, my dear, you feel disappointed and disenchanted to-night; do not think of writing. Your work ought to be done at your best moments. To-morrow is a new day, and I believe it will be a fine one: sleep till to-morrow."
"But I cannot sleep either."
"Rest, then, as I mean to do."
A little tap at the door announced Peggy.
"Is there anything I can do for you, young ladies?"
"Nothing, thank you, Peggy, but come in," said Jane.
She entered, and found Elsie hurriedly gathering together her manuscript, with a heightened colour and some agitation. Love letters were the only conceivable cause of a girl's blushing over anything she had been writing, to Peggy's unsophisticated mind. "I should not interrupt you, Miss Elsie; I did not know you had letters to write."
"It is not letters," said Jane; "she is writing a book."
"A book! Well, that is not much in my line; but no doubt books are things that are wanted in the world, or there would not be such printing-houses and grand shops for making and selling them. And you are expecting to get a price for that, Miss Elsie?"
"I hope so."
"Well, it is more genteel work than what I have been used to; but the pen was always a weariness to me. I thought shame of myself when I was in Australia, that I could write nothing to the bit creatures that I was spending my life for, but just that I was weel, and hoped they were the same, and bidding them be good bairns, and obedient and dutiful to their grandfather and grandmother, and that they should mind what the master said to them at school; and then I would send kind regards to two or three folk in the countryside, and signed myself their affectionate aunt, Margaret Walker. But, dear me! I should have said fifty things forbye that senseless stuff. I am thinking, Miss Jane and Miss Elsie, that if they had been your nephews and nieces, and you had been parted from them by all these thousands of miles of land and water, that your letters would have been twice as often and ten times as long, full of good advice and loving words. I have heard bonnie letters read to me. I marvelled greatly at them—everything so smooth and so distinct, just as if the two were not far apart, but had come together for an hour or so, and the one just spoke by word of mouth all that the other wanted most to hear. I would like the bairns learned to write well and fast, for when the pen is slow, the heart Cannot find utterance. I have heard worse letters even than my own, full of repetitions and stupid messages, and nothing said of what the body that got the letters wanted most to hear. There is a very great odds in letters, Miss Melville, and mine were so useless and so bare, that I thought it better to sacrifice a good deal of money and come home to attend to the bairns myself, and to counsel them by word of mouth."
"Peggy, you have had adventures," said Jane. "I wish you could tell my sister and me all that happened to you when you were in Australia. Your life may be useful to us in many ways."
"Not to put into a book, I hope," said Peggy suspiciously. "I have no will to be put into a book."
"No fear of that," said Elsie.
"It's poetry you're writing, like Robbie Burns's. I can see the lines are different lengths. I'm thinking you'll have no call to make any poetry on me, so I may tell you my story. It may make you think on somebody or something out of your own troubles."
"It was a great wonder to the Swinton people that you returned a single woman," said Jane. "They say Australia is the country to be married in."
"I might have been married over and over again, up the country, and in Melbourne too," said Peggy; "but you see I had the thought of the bairns on my head, and I did not feel free to change my condition. Some of them said if I likit them well enough I could trust to their doing better for the young folk than I could myself; but I never let myself like them well enough to trust them so far, though one or two of them were very likely men, and spoke very fair."
"Perhaps when you return to Australia you may make it up with one of them yet," said Elsie, who, in spite, of her depression, felt some curiosity as to Peggy's love passages.
"The best of them married before I left Melbourne, like a sensible man, who knew better than to wait on my convenience. I see, Miss Elsie, you are wondering that the like of me, that never was what you would call well-favoured, should speak of offers, and sweet-hearts, and such like; but in Australia it's the busy hand and careful eye that is the great attraction for a working man. I never had much daffing or nonsense about me, and did not like any of it in other folk, but I had lots of sweethearts. But I'll tell you the whole story, as neither of you look the least sleepy, and if I am owre long about it ye may just tell me so, and I'll finish it up the morn's night."
So Peggy sat down to tell her tale, while Elsie crept down on a little footstool, and laid her head in her sister's lap, glad to receive the fondling which Jane instinctively bestowed on her dependent and affectionate sister.
"You see, Miss Jean and Miss Elsie, that my sister Bessie and me were always very much taken up with one another; she was a good bit aulder than me, and as my mother died when I was six years old, she was like a mother to me. I'll no say that she clapped and petted me as you are doing to your sister, Miss Jean, nor that she had the gentle ways of speaking that gentlefolks have; but verily to use the words of Scripture, 'our souls were knit together in love,' and we thought nothing too great to do or to bear for one another. Bessie was far bonnier than me, but scarcely so stout; and Willie Lowrie, that had been at the school with her, and a neighbour's son, courted her, when they came to man's and woman's estate, for a long time. My father was a cotter on Sandyknowe farm, a worthy, God-fearing man, but sore distressed with the rheumatics, that came upon him long before he was an old man, and often laid him off work. His sons went about their own business; and he used to say that though they might help him in the way of money nows and thens, it was from his two lasses that he had the most comfort. Bessie waited till I was grown up and at service in a good place, where I pleased the mistress, before she married Willie. My father went home with her, and lived but three years afterwards, saying always that Bessie and Willie were good bairns to him, and his grey hairs went down to the grave in peace.
"But, wae-sakes! bairns came to Bessie thick and fast, and Willie took a bad cough, and fell into a decline. He just wasted away, and died one cold winter day, leaving her with four young things, and another coming. Bessie did not fold her hands in idle lamentation when the desire of her eyes was removed with a stroke. No, she went to the outwork, and wrought double hard; owre hard, poor thing, for after little Willie was born she never looked up. And then and there I vowed to God and to her that I would do a mother's part by her orphans as long as life was vouchsafed to me.
"Willie's father and mother had left Sandyknowe, and gone to a place about forty miles off. They were living poorly enough, but they came to me in my desolation, and offered to take the bairns if we—that is, my brothers and me—would help whiles with money to get them through. But, you see, James and Sandy were married men, with families of their own, and Robert and Daniel were like to be married soon, and it was borne on my mind that I was to be the chief person to be depended on.
"I went home to my place at Greenwells. It was a big farmhouse, and I was kitchenmaid, and had the milking of the kye, and the making of the butter and cheese to do, and such like, and Mrs. Henderson said that I was a faithful industrious lass. But, dear me! what was seven pounds by the year to maintain the bairns? I thought over it and over it on the Sabbath night after I came home. I tried to read—the 14th of John's Gospel—but my heart would be troubled and afraid in spite of those bonnie consoling words. I knew the old people, the Lowries, were not the best hands for bringing up the bairns, for they were so poor. I had no money—not a penny—for you may guess that in my sister's straits I kept none in the shuttle of my chest, and no way of keeping a house over their heads by myself could I see. Mrs. Henderson came into the kitchen with Miss Thomson. You know Miss Thomson of Allendale. She was on a visit to the mistress; they are connections, you know.
"'Well, Peggy,' said Mrs. Henderson, 'I see you are just fretting, as usual.'
"'I'm no fretting, ma'am, I'm praying,' said I.
"'The best thing you can do,' said Miss Thomson.
"'Of course it is,' said Mrs. Henderson, 'provided it does not hinder work, and Peggy is neglecting nothing.'
"'I wish, ma'am, that you would let me take the housemaid's place, as well as my own; I can do more work if you would raise my wages.'
"'Nonsense, Peggy,' said the mistress, 'you are busy from morning till night; you cannot possibly do more than you are doing now. You cannot be in two places at once.'
"'No, ma'am, but I could take less sleep. I am stronger than ever I was; and I have so many to work for. The bairns-maid and me could manage all the housework.'
"Mrs. Henderson shook her head, and said it was not to be thought of, but she did not mind raising my wages to eight pounds by the year, for I was a good servant; and with that I had to be content—at least, I tried.
"Next day a fat turkey had to be killed and plucked, and I had an old newspaper to burn for singeing the feathers. I could not but look at the newspaper, when I had it in my hand, and the first thing that struck my eye was, that domestic servants, especially if they were skilful about a dairy, might get a free passage to Melbourne, by applying to such a person, at such a place, and that their wages when they got out to Australia would be from sixteen to twenty-five pounds by the year. It was borne on my mind that I should go to Australia from the moment I cast eyes on that paragraph in the paper. I did not just believe everything that was in print, especially in the newspapers, even in those days; for I knew the real size of the big turnip that was grown in Mr. Henderson's field, and it was not much more than half what the 'Courier' had it down for, but I felt convinced that I should inquire about this matter of free passage to Australia. It was a providence that Miss Thomson was stopping in the house at the time, for she was a woman of by-ordinary discretion and great kindness; so I opened my mind to her, and she said I was right, and gave me a letter to the agent, who was a far-away cousin of her own, and three pounds in money forbye, to buy fitting things for the voyage; and she told me how I was to send money home for the youngsters, and wrote a line to a friend of hers that lived close to the Lowries, asking her to look whiles to see that the bairns were well and thriving.
"It is not often that I greet, Miss Jean, but Miss Thomson twice brought the tears to my eyes, first with her kindness when I left Scotland, and again with her kindness when I came back, and brought her, no the silver—I would not shame her with giving back what had really been life and hope to myself and five orphan bairns—but some curious birds that I had got up the country, that she sets great store by. I told her how I had got on, and what had induced me to come back; I told her that I never could pay back my debt to her, and would not try to do it, but that if we prospered, there had been much of it her doing; and she said she admired nothing so much as my resolution and courage in going to Australia, until she admired still more my resolution and self-denial in coming back. I do not think much of flattery, Miss Elsie—they say it is very sweet to the young and the bonnie—but these words of praise from a good woman like Miss Thomson made my heart swell and my eyes overflow. You have been at Allendale, Miss Jean; you must have seen the birds in the lobby."
Jane had been too much engrossed with her own affairs during her only visit to Miss Thomson to observe Peggy's birds, but she drew a good omen form the coincidence of Miss Thomson's assistance being given so frankly to two women both in distress and in doubt.
"How did you like the voyage, Peggy?" asked Jane.
"It is queer how that voyage has faded out of my mind, and yet it was a long one—over five months; they know the road better now, and do it quicker. I was not more than four months coming back in a bigger ship. I mind we had a storm, and all the women on board were awful feared, and a boy was washed overboard, and there was some ill-blood between the captain and the doctor; but all that I could think on was to get to the end of the voyage, and make money to send home to the bairns.
"Well, to Melbourne we got at last, and a shabby place I thought it looked; but the worst of all was, that such wages as had been spoken of in the papers were not to be had at all, for if ever the folk there are in great want of anything, there seems to be abundance of it before it can be sent out; so I could not get the offer of more than thirteen pounds, and I mourned over the distance, and the five months lost on the passage, with such small advantage at the end of it. I said I wanted a hard place. I had no objections to go to the bush—I dreaded neither natives, nor snakes, nor bushrangers, but I behoved to make good wages. I was explaining this at the Agency Labour Office, when a gentleman came in—an Englishman I knew him to be by his tongue—and he said——
"'Like all new comers, this young woman is greedy of filthy lucre.'
"'I have come here to better my condition,' said I.
"'And so you will, in time,' said the gentleman, 'but you must not expect a fortune all at once.'
"'Are you in want of a servant, sir?' said I.
"'Very much; but I don't know that you will suit me.'
"'I'm thinking,' said I, 'that if the mistress were to see me she would be of a different opinion, sir.'
"'Very likely she would. I dare say Mrs. Brandon would highly approve of you. Perhaps, after all, you will do. What are you?'
"'Plain cook, laundress, and dairymaid,' said I.
"'Age? Mrs. Brandon would like to know.'
"'Twenty-five. I have got five years' character from one place, and three from another, and a testimonial from the minister. I may look rough, with just being off the sea, sir, but I think the mistress will find out that I am fit for any kind of work. I am not afraid of work or distance, or solitude, or anything.'
"'You are a trump,' said he, 'a regular brick; but confess that you are greedy. If I say thirty pounds a year, you will go more than a hundred miles up the country?' That was a great distance from town in those days, Miss Jean, though they think nothing of it now. All my fellow-passengers objected to such distances, but I had no objection.
"'Yes, sir,' said I, cheerfully, 'I will go, and be much beholden to you for the offer.'
"'And start to-morrow, wages to commence then?' said he.
"'The sooner the better,' said I. 'Only, if I want to send siller to my friends I may not be able to do it from such a wild place.'
"'I will manage all that for you,' said the gentleman. 'I am accustomed to do it for one of my shepherds. But recollect you will have to do a great deal of work for your high wages. The cows are wild, and must be bailed up and foot-roped. You may get an ugly kick or butt'——
"'As if I had never seen Highland kyloes! I am not at all feared. Providence will protect me on land, as it has protected me by water. After five months of the sea, with only a plank between me and eternity, you cannot terrify me with kye.'
"'We have few conveniences for saving labour; but I see I need not explain anything to you; you can think of nothing but your thirty pounds a year; so, Mr. What's-your-name, draw up the agreement for a year.'
"The agreement was drawn out and signed Walter Brandon and Margaret Walker, and the next day I was on the road, if road you could call it, for the like of it you never saw—sometimes rough and tangled, sometimes soft and slumpy, sometimes scrubby and stony. I marvelled often that they kept in the tracks. I rode on the top of a dray through the day, and slept under it at night. There were four men with us; two of them were inclined to be rough; but I soon let them see that they would need to keep a civil tongue in their heads to deal with me. We were nigh a fortnight on the road, but somehow I did not weary of that as I did of the voyage, for my wages were going on, and something making for the bairns of that journey."
"It was near dark on a Saturday when we got to Barragong, which was the name of Mr. Brandon's station. The master had got home long before us, for he had gone on his horse.
"'Well, Peggy,' said he, as I got off the dray, 'how do you like bush travelling? Slow, but sure, is it not?'
"'Uncommonly slow,' said I.
"'Why, you have got worse burnt on the top of the dray than even on shipboard. Spoiled your beauty, Peggy.'
"'My beauty is of no manner of consequence,' said I, 'it has not broke my work arm, and that is more to the purpose. Will you please, Sir, to ask the mistress to show me the kitchen?'
"'You ask to see what is not to be seen,' said the master. 'There is no kitchen to speak of, and as for the mistress, it is a pure invention of your own.'
"'No mistress?' I gasped out; 'ye spoke of Mrs. Brandon.'
"'It was you that spoke of her, Peggy; and as I hope in time to have such a person on the premises, I made bold to say that you would suit her, and in the meantime I dare say we will get on very well. You will be really the mistress here, for there is not another woman within twenty miles.'
"I started back, fairly cowed at the thought of being in that wild place alone, among I knew not how many men of all sorts of characters.
"'It was not fair of you, Sir,' I said; 'I never thought but what you were married when you took me up so natural.'
"'But really, Peggy, you are the very person we want here, and I can make it worth your while to stay. You want good wages, and you will get them; you are not a child, and you can take care of yourself. It is hard that because I am so unlucky as to have no wife, I am to have neither cleanliness nor comfort. Make the best of a bad bargain, Peggy; I confess that your eagerness after good wages led me too far, but I felt the temptation strong. Try the place for a week, and if you do not like it, you can go back. Mr. Phillips's drays are going into town, and if you cannot make up your mind to be contented here, you can return to Melbourne with them.'
"I took the measure of Mr. Brandon that week, and I came to the determination that I ought to stay. To be sure it was wrong of him to fetch me out on false pretences, as it were, but I had walked into the trap myself, and, as he said, he was in great need of a servant. He might be weak, but he was not wicked; at least, I felt that I could hold my own. It was a rough place for a gentleman to live in. Am I wearying you, young ladies? I could leave off now, and go on the morn's night."
"I am interested very much in your story," said Elsie.
"And so am I," said Jane. "I know not where fortune, or rather, as you more properly call it, Providence may send us; and your experience has a peculiar fascination to me. Do, pray, go on."
"Well, as I was saying, it was a rough place, and he was a gentleman in his up-bringing and in many of his ways. You would not have believed, if you had seen him in Melbourne, and heard him speak such English, that he could go about in an old ragged, dirty shooting-coat, with a cabbage-tree hat as black as a coal nearly—that he could live in a slab hut, with a clay, or rather, a dirt floor, and a window-bole with no glass in it—and that he could have all the cooking and half the work of the house done at the fireside he sat at, and sit down at a table without a table-cloth, and drink tea out of tin pannikins. The notion of getting such wages in a place with such surroundings quite dumb-founded me; and he had the things too; for by-and-by I found napery and china in a big chest that I used for a table out of doors; and bit by bit I made great improvements at Barragong. He gave me one of the huts for myself, and I was a thought frightened to sleep there my leafu' lane at first, but I put my trust in my Maker, and He watched over me. I cooked in my own hut, and settled up the master's. He began to think that a boarded floor would be an improvement, and he got the men to saw them up. Hard work it was for them; and ill-coloured boards they made; but when they were laid down, and a glass window put in, the master's hut looked more purpose-like.
"I was not feared for the wild kye when I saw that the stockkeeper would help me to get them into the bail; and when we got a milk-house dug out of the hill-side, I made grand butter. I'll not soon forget the day I had my first kirning. The stockkeeper—George Powell was his name—had got into the dairy, as I thought, to lick the cream, for he was an awful hand on it; but he kept hanging about, and glowering at the milk-pans, and then looking at me, till at last he said some nonsense, and I told him to be off with his daffing; I would tell the master if he said an uncivil word.
"'I don't mean to be uncivil, Peggy; quite the contrary,' says he.
"'Then what do you mean?' says I, taking his hand off my shoulder, and driving it bang against the stone slab we put the milk-pans on.
"'I mean, Peggy, will you marry me?' says he; 'that's civil enough, surely.'
"'No I won't,' says I. 'Thank you for the compliment, all the same, but I have no wish to change my condition.'
"'Tell that to the marines,' says he. 'If you don't like me, tell me so; but none of that nonsense.'
"'I like you well enough; but what I say is no nonsense. I do not wish to change my condition.'
"'It would be a good change for you,' says he. 'I wonder you are not frightened to stay here a single woman. Now, if you were my wife, I could protect you;' and he flourished the arm I had given the bang to—and a goodly arm it was.
"I told him about the bairns, and he just laughed at me. 'We'll see,' says he. 'We'll see. Wait a little.'
"Well, every kirning that he was not out at a distance on the master's business, did that man Powell come into the dairy and ask me the same question, and get the same answer; and three of the shepherds, and a little imp of a laddie that looked after the horses, made up to me too, and seemed to think it was not fair that I would choose none of them. Any woman with a white face might have had as many sweethearts; but I think it was my managing ways that took Powell's fancy. If a fairy could only move a lot of the women from the places where they are not wanted, and put them where they are, there would be a wonderful thinning taken out of Scotland and planted in Australia. But ye see there are no fairies; and at such a distance, it costs a lot of money to move such commodities as single women. I have puzzled my brains whiles about the matter, Miss Jane, and many a time I have repented coming back to a place where hands are many and meat is scarce; but it will not be for long; and in the meantime I try to help all the distressed bodies that I know about; and that I have kept my five bairns from being a burden to anybody, is enough work for any woman either here or in Australia. I'm going off of my story; but the marvel to me that I was so beset with sweethearts that did not want them, while so many lasses here never Can see the sight of one, always makes me think that there should be a medium, and that lasses should neither be ower much made of or neglected altogether. But to go back to the bush. I had to rule with a high hand at Barragong, and really to demean myself as if I were the mistress, to keep folk in their place. But the worst was to come.
"The master had not been well for a week or so, and I had taken especial care of him, and got him gruel and such like, that he seemed very glad of; and he was getting better, and was sitting by the fire while I was setting down the supper, when he said—No, I cannot tell you what he said. No; he was not well, and may be did not know exactly what he was about. I cannot tell his words, though they are burned into my memory as clear and distinct as though I had heard them but yesterday, but they were most unbefitting words for him to say or for me to hear.
"I stood still for a whole minute or more, and looked him in the face. He did not like the fixed steady way I kept my eyes on him.
"'Say such a thing again if you dare,' said I. 'You had no such thought in your head or your heart when you brought me out to Barragong. I knew that by your eyes. You must treat me respectfully if you mean to call yourself a gentleman.'
"'Don't be so very hot, Peggy. You have made a fellow so comfortable, that he may be excused for thinking more of you than he used to do,' says he.
"'Think more of me!' says I; 'you think less of me, or you would not dare——-'
"'What was I to fancy,' says he, 'when you refuse Powell so pertinaciously, but that you are looking higher?'
"'Mr. Brandon,' says I, 'George Powell is high enough for me, for he would make me his wife; and if I was free to marry, I would look for no higher match. But to think that what you offer is higher!—May God forgive you for the thought!'
"'Why, Peggy, perhaps I may offer higher yet; you are a good and a clever girl, and will make an admirable wife.'
"'Not to you, sir; nor to any one out of my own station. Do not think of making a fool of yourself, just because there is nobody here to compare with homely Peggy Walker.'
"He looked at me more particularly than he had ever done before. I leaned my hands on the table. and squared my elbows, and spread my great browned hand and red arms before him. He laughed, and said, 'Peggy, you are right; you are a worthy girl and a clever, and in the sight of God are worth ten of me; but when I think of taking you home and presenting you to my mother and sisters as Mrs. Brandon, it is rather comical. As for anything else, you are too good a girl, and I will say no more about it, only I wish you would marry Powell and be done with it.'
"Well, Miss Jean, this was the beginning and the end of it with the master; but I think that man Powell was my greatest temptation, especially after Mr. Brandon's words. He really was a protection to me, for he was always civil and respectful in his language to me, and there was not one of the men who dared say the thing that would anger him. But it fell out that I was removed from Barragong before I had given in to Powell, though I'm not saying what might have happened if I had stopped there for six months longer.
"The master had a friend, a Mr. Phillips, who lived twenty miles off, who had more stock and more men on his station than we had at Barragong;—a nice quiet gentlemanly man, who had done as silly a thing as Mr. Brandon had half evened himself to. He had married out of his degree, though he had more temptation to it than the other, for the lassie was very bonnie, and very young, and I dare say he thought he could learn her the ways of gentlefolks.
"Be that as it may, the lady, Mrs. Phillips, was expecting her inlying, and her husband had trysted a skilled nurse from Melbourne, for a doctor could not be had; but when the appointed time came, the nurse had made some other engagement, and could not or would not come; nor did she send a fit person in her place. There was not time to get any one from Melbourne, and Mr. Phillips came to Barragong and entreated me to come to his wife, and Mr. Brandon to spare me. I said I had but little skill, but that I would do the best I could for the poor lady in her straits, and the master said he would let me go with pleasure if I would only promise to come back when Mrs. Phillips was well and about again.
"I thought I had been rather deceived in this instance too, for I fancied there was no woman about the place but the mistress herself; but I saw a well-grown strapping lass in the kitchen, and I thought she might have answered as well me; but I soon found out that though the woman (Martha they called her) had legs and arms and a goodly body of her own, she had no more head than a bairn, and would have been a broken reed to trust to in any time of peril or difficulty.
"It did not seem to me at first that Mrs. Phillips was so unlike a lady, for she had an English tongue, and she was very well-favoured, and sat quiet in her seat, and ordered folk about quite natural. She had been married now well on for a year, and had got used to be the mistress. But I had not been long there ere I found out her faults and her failings; and to my mind her husband had but a poor life with her, though he did seem to be very fond of the young creature, with all her deficiencies. You see she had not an atom of consideration either for him or for any other body on the station; she was either too familiar or too haughty to the girl Martha; as for me, I knew my place better, and if she did not keep me at my distance, I could mostly keep her at hers.
"Not many days after I went to the Phillips's, she was taken ill and safely delivered of a fine lassie. I have seen women make a great fuss about bairns, till I cannot be surprised at anything they say or do, but the joy of the father over the wee Emily was beyond anything I ever saw. To see the great bearded man taking the hour-old infant in his arms, kissing it over and over again, and speaking to it in the most daft-like language, and calling on every one to admire its beauty! No doubt the bairn had as much beauty as a thing of that age can have, but I don't think any of the men he showed it to admired it much. I know Powell, for one, when he came with his master's compliments to inquire for Mrs. Phillips, and may be to have a crack with myself, was not much taken up with the brat, as he called it. I had it in my arms, and it was greeting, poor thing, so I had no time to give Powell a word, except just the message for Mr. Brandon.
"Mrs. Phillips was by no means an easy lady to nurse. I knew well how strict old Tibbie Campbell, who used to nurse Mrs. Henderson, used to be about what a lying-in woman should have to eat and drink, and what care she took that she could catch no cold, and I thought I behoved to be as particular with Mrs. Phillips; but she would not hear reason. She said that such a climate as Scotland should be no rule for treatment in Australia, and she thought she should know her own constitution best, and what was likely to agree with her; so she would take no telling from me. As for Mr. Phillips, he would always give her what she wanted if she teased for it long enough, or if she began to greet, so she carried her point in spite of my teeth. And, poor thing, she suffered for it; for she first took the cold, and then the fever; she was out of her senses for five weeks, and barely escaped with her life. It was a weary nursing. Mr. Phillips was wonderful in a sick-room, and relieved me greatly; but I had such an anxious life with the bairn as well as the mother. He used to beg me, with tears in his eyes, to save the bit lassie, if it was in my power, and the man's life seemed to hang on the little one's. His eye was as sharp as a mothers'—sharper than most mothers'—to notice if Emily looked worse or better. It was a novelty to me to see such care and thought in a man, not but what it is well a father's part to care for his own offspring, and to take trouble and fatigue for them.
"Mr. Brandon, all the time that the mistress was lying between life and death, was wondrous patient, and never made a complaint for the want of me, though I am sure things were at sixes and sevens at Barragong; but when Mrs. Phillips had got the turn, and was able to move about again, he sent me a message to come back. Well, I had promised, no doubt—and I had a far easier life at Mr. Brandon's than where I was, and nothing had ever been said about wages by Mr. Phillips to me—but then the poor little lassie, it seemed as much as her life was worth to leave her to her mother and the lass Martha, for they had not the sense of an ordinary woman between them, and my heart clung to the bit bairn with great affection.
"One day Powell came over with the spring-cart to fetch me home, and I was in a swither what to do, for ye don't just like to press services on folk that do not want them; but by that time Mr. Phillips had got to know the necessity of the case, and it was only because he wanted the offer to come from his wife that he had not asked me before; but she was unreasonable, and he had to do it himself. She did not see why she and Martha could not manage the baby; she was sure Peggy was no such marvel; that there was no difficulty in feeding the child; that it was cruel to put a strange woman over to give her orders, for Peggy was far too independent for her place; and then Emily would love her nurse better than her own mother. I know that was the way she went on to Mr. Phillips, but on this point he was unmovable. When he asked me as a great favour to stay, I consented for the sake of him and of Emily.
"Powell was very angry at me for stopping, and took quite a spite to the little lassie that caused my stay. The way he spoke of that bairn decided me. If he could not be fashed with one, how could he be fashed with five? I was determined on one thing, that I should not have a house of my own unless there was room in it, and a welcome in it, for Bessie's orphans; so it was settled in my mind that day that I never could be Mrs. Powell.
"I stopped at the Phillips's for more than eighteen months. The mistress got used to me, and the bairn Emily was as fond of me as bairn could be. I had more freedom from sweethearts there at first, for the men were greatly taken up with Martha; but by the time I had been three months there I had nigh hand as many followers, as she called them, as she had herself. And followers she might well call them. I could not go out with the bairn for a walk, or out to the kye, or turn my head any way, without one or other of them being at my heels. And when Martha got married to one of the men on the place, which happened ere long, I seemed to have the whole station bothering me; but I would have nothing to do with any of them. Mr. Phillips gave more credit than any of the folk I had ever seen to my yearnings after Bessie's orphans, and my resolutions to live single for their sake; but he never could see that they would be such a drawback to any decent man that liked me; but I knew there were few men so taken up with bairns as he was.
"Well, as I said, Mrs. Phillips, finding I did my work well and quietly, gave over interfering with me, and seemed to get to like me; but when her time was drawing near again, she was not disposed to trust herself to my care altogether, nor, indeed, was I very keen of the responsibility. She wanted to go to Melbourne, but the master would not hear of it; and not all her fleeching, nor her tears, nor three days' sulks, in which she would not open her mouth to him, would make him give in to that.
"He seemed to have the greatest dread of parting with her, particularly to go to Melbourne; and it was a busy time of the year, so that he could not stay with her there. But he said he would go and fetch a doctor, if one was to be had, and keep him in the house till he was needed, and for as long as she was in any peril; and with that she behoved to be contented. He was as good as his word, for he fetched one from the town. I did not much like the looks of the man, but I said nothing, and the mistress seemed quite satisfied.
"But Mr. Phillips took me by myself, and says he to me, 'I believe this man is skilful enough and clever enough, but he has one fault—we must keep drink from him and him from drink, or we cannot answer for the consequences. But for this fault he would have had too good a practice in Melbourne for us to be able to have him for weeks here. There is no place near where he can get drink, so I think we can easily manage to keep him all right. We need not tell Mrs. Phillips, Peggy.'
"Well, I kept watch over this Dr. Carter very well for a fortnight or more, and he seemed to go on all right; but after that time he got very restless, and I used to hear him walking about at night as if he could not sleep, and through the day he could not settle to his book as he used to do at first, or go to take a quiet walk, or ride not over far from the house, but took little starts and turned back, as if something was on his mind.
"I misdoubted him, but with all my watching I could see nothing. As ill luck would have it, the night the mistress was taken ill, and I went to call him up, there I found this man Carter as drunk as he could be, to be able to stand, with an empty brandy bottle beside him that he had knocked the head off. The keys were in my pocket, and not a bottle missing out of the press. There never was much kept in the house, for Mr. Phillips was a most moderate man, and tea is the great drink in the bush; but in case of sickness we aye had some brandy by us. But the poor deluded man had got one of the men about the place to ride forty miles to get him this brandy that had just come at the time when he was especially needed to be sober. I told him the lady was wanting him, and Mr. Phillips and me shook him up; and he half came to himself; and if the mistress had not smelt the drink so strong upon him, she might not have known. She had another fine lassie, and all was going on very well, for the mistress was more reasonable. She had bought her experience very dear the time before, and would take a telling. When the doctor had got over his drinking fit he was very penitent, and spoke quite feelingly on the subject. Mr. Phillips turned off the man that had fetched him the brandy, and told all the men on the station the reason why. The man Carter did not want for skill, nor for kindness either, when he was sober; so, as we were more fearful for the fortnight after than the fortnight before the birth, we just kept him on. Little Harriett was a fortnight old, and the mistress was doing so nicely that Mr. Phillips thought he might leave us for one of his out-stations, where he was wanted, and said he would not be home for two or three days. And then the poor demented creature of a drunken doctor contrived again to get hold of drink, and was far more outrageous this time. Mrs. Phillips was lying on the sofa in the parlour, when he came in and terrified her by roaring for more brandy; and when I came in to settle him, he grippit me by the arm and threatened me with I don't know what, if I refused him. The mistress entreated me to turn him out of doors—and so I did. He got on a horse of the master's—I marvelled how he kept his seat—and set off, and I felt easy in my mind.
"But I had just got the mistress quieted down, when the native boy Jim, that was always doing odd jobs about the place, came running past the window with such a look of terror on his face that I saw something was wrong. I ran out quick but quietly, to ask what was the matter.
"'Fire! Peggy,' says he; and then, sure enough, I looked out, and the grass was on fire, but very far off, and a strong wind blowing it right to the slab huts on the head station with their thatch roofs. Nothing could save us if it came near, and as I have told you it was a busy time, and the men were all hither and thither, and nobody left on the place but Martha, and Jim, and myself, and the mistress ill, and two infants, as I may say, for Emily was not thirteen months old. The only thing that could be done was to burn a broad ring round the houses, as I had seen done at Barragong; but that craved wary watching. By good luck the bairns were both sleeping, and Mrs. Phillips resting quiet, so I called Martha and Jim, and said we must take wet bags and green boughs and beat the fire out as we burned. Jim was as quick and clever as need be, and set about in earnest; but Martha said she could do nothing for terror, and prayed me to remember her situation.
"'Your situation,' says I, 'will be far worse if you don't bestir yourself for your own safety. If you won't lend a hand for the sake of your poor helpless mistress and the innocent bairns, you behove to do it for the sake of your own four quarters.' So she got more reasonable, and helped us somewhat, but it was close work, for the fire was near. It was all that poor wretch of a doctor's doing, too, for he had been trying to smoke, and had dropped his lighted pipe in the dry withered grass, and it blazed up like wild; he got out of it, for he was travelling against the wind, while we were in full waft of it. I thought the wind and the fire would beat us, and was like to throw up the work in despair, when I saw a man on horseback galloping for dear life. I thought it was the master at first, but it was Mr. Brandon, and he was nigh hand as good, for he fell to, and worked with all his might, and with his help we saved the house, and all the precious ones in it. In time the men dropped in, and they set about working to save the run, but if the wind had not providentially changed at night, they would scarcely have been able to save it. As it was, there was thousands of acres of land laid bare, and a flock of sheep killed; the poor beasts have not the sense to run away out of the fire.
"Oh! the appearance of the place that night was awful to behold; and just before the wind chopped round the master came home, riding like fury.
"'We are all safe,' said I, as I ran to meet him, and I saw his face by the light of the blazing fires around us was as pale as death. 'Mrs. Phillips and the bairns are not a hair the worse. Thank God for all his mercies!'
"'Thank God!' said he, 'thank God! Now they are preserved, I can bear the loss of anything else!'
"He came to his wife, and kissed her and the bairns with solemn, and, as I thought, with pathetic thankfulness. I was afraid she would be sorely upset with the terrible events of the day, and I never closed my eyes that night, but sat up by her bedside lest she should take a bad turn; but she did not seem any the worse of it, and both her and the bairns got on brawly. The loss of the sheep was no such great matter in these times, for there was so little market for them, that we had to boil them down for the sake of the tallow—that could be sent to England. Times were changed before I left the colony, for the diggings made a great demand for sheep and cattle to kill; but when I was up the country the waistrie of flesh was sinful to behold. I have many a day sinsyne thought on the beasts and the sheep that were slaughtered there for the working men, and how the bits that they threw about or left on their plates might be a good dinner for many a hungry stomach in Scotland.
"Well, after I had been more than a year and a half at Mr. Phillips's, my wages just running on as they had done at Mr. Brandon's, and five pounds sent every quarter, as opportunity offered, for the bairns, I heard word of a cousin of William Lowrie's coming out to Melbourne, to follow his trade of a stone-mason there, and I had a strong desire to see him, to ask after my orphans; for if my letters to them were but poor, the letters I got back were no better, so my heart was set on seeing Sandy Lowrie, who had lived close by, and knew the bairns well. It chanced that Mr. Phillips had a man and his wife on the station at the time that had no family. The man was nothing of a hand at work, but the wife was one of those bright, clever, cheery little Englishwomen that can turn hand to anything, and had such a fine temper—nothing ever could put her out. So, as she could do for the mistress as well as myself, I asked leave from the master and Mrs. Phillips to go to the town and see Sandy. The mistress was fashious, for she did not like anybody about her to please themselves, and she had got used to me, as I said before; but the master was as reasonable as she was the contrary.
"He said to me, the day before I left, 'Peggy, I owe you a great debt. You have saved the life of my wife and children.'
"'Under Providence, sir,' said I.
"'Under Providence, of course,' said he; 'but I fear Providence would have done little for them if Martha had been the only instrument Providence had at hand to use, so I am over head and ears in debt to you.'
"'No, Mr. Phillips,' said I, 'my work you have paid me well for; my kindness you have returned with kindness and consideration such as I never hoped to meet with in a strange land. If I have nursed and cared for your children you have comprehended my love for my own poor bairns; and this permission to visit Melbourne, that I may hear about them, is a great favour, and one I will never forget to be grateful for.'
"'You are not to let me off in this way,' said he. 'You will find a hundred pounds lying in the bank to your credit, which, as you are a prudent woman, you may be trusted to invest yourself in any way that you may judge best for yourself or the orphans. My idea is that you may take a little shop, and this sum would stock it. I could assist you with my name further than the sum of money I have given to you, if it is necessary.'
"It flashed on my mind that this was a grand opening; but it seemed so selfish and greedy-like to take advantage of his kindness, and to leave him, and Mrs. Phillips, and the bairns, to further my own plans. I said as much to him, but he would not hear of a refusal.
"'You never can manage to do much for the children at service, for all your wages, except your own necessary expenses, goes home and is spent; but by having a little business, you may save more than you could send to them now, and get them a better education, and give them a better start. No doubt we will miss you here; but Mrs. Bennett is a very excellent person, and now I hear that Dr. Grant is going to buy Mr. McDougall's station, only fifteen miles off, we can get him to come on an emergency, though he says he would rather not practise. I will not say that we can do very easily without you, but we must not keep you always here.'
"The kindness of Mr. Phillips I will never forget. Well, it was done all as he planned it. I went to Melbourne and saw Sandy Lowrie, and he gave me good accounts of the bairns, as growing in stature, and Tam and Jamie keen of their learning, but the old woman, their grandmother, he said was sore failed, and no likely to be long spared.
"I took a little shop at a low rent, in a little village, a bit out of the town, for I was frightened to incur much risk, and I set up on my own footing, with 'M. Walker, general store,' over my door-cheek.
"I was doing a decent business, in a small way, among poor people mostly; and I set my face very steady against giving credit, for two reasons—first, that I was not clever enough to keep accounts; and besides that, it just does working folk harm to let them take on. At a time of sickness I might break through my rule, but at no other time. All the folk about me called me Miss Walker, very much to my surprise; and as I was thought to be making money, I had no want of sweethearts. After I had gone on for some years the diggings broke out, and there was an awful overturn of everything in Melbourne. I made a lot of money, and I bought the shop from the landlord, and was very proud to get my title-deed written out on parchment, and to see myself a woman of landed heritable property; and then I made my will, too, for I had something to leave. I never was doing better in business in my life than when Robbie Lowrie, a brother of Sandy's, came out to go to the diggings, and maybe with an eye to make up to myself; but the news he brought me made me change all my plans and return to Scotland. He told me that the grandmother was dead, and that the old man, who never had half the gumption of his wife, was not able to control the five youngsters; so that they were getting out their heads at no allowance. Tam, in particular, he said, was a most camsteery callant; but the old man, he said, was fairly off all work, and not one of his own bairns were either able or willing to help him, and I knew that he had an awful horror of the sea. So I let my shop, and sold the stock for time; and indeed the payments have no been owre regular, and the man that took it is still in my debt. I found the grandfather and the bairns were really as Robbie had said, and I have had my own work to set things to rights. They were in debt, too, though I had sent them double the money after I had the shop than before; but they just thought that a rich auntie in Australia was a mine of wealth, and the folk very unwisely gave them trust whenever they asked it. But they were doing very weel at the school, and I find it a hantle cheaper to give them learning here than in Melbourne; so it answers me better to bide here than to take them out, even if grandfather would agree. He was good to me and mine in my straits, and I cannot think to leave the old man now.
"But what with the rent and the schooling, and one thing and another, I found that the rent of my bit shop would not pay all expenses, so I took in washing and dressing for the folk about Swinton. I was aye clever at it, and I got a great inkling about clear-starching and fine dressing from that Mrs. Bennett, at Mr. Phillips's station, for she was a particular good laundress. A body learns at all hands if one has only the will. And ye see, now, it seemed better for Tam and the rest that I should try my luck in a bigger place, and I hope I may not repent of it.
"That's all my story. It's no much tell; but yet, ye see that none of my brothers have been burdened with my bairns. I have done it all myself."
Jane sat silent a few moments after Peggy had finished her narrative, and then thanked her gravely and earnestly for it. Elsie, too, had been much interested in the adventures of this clever, upright woman, and was only sorry it could not be available—neither incident nor sentiment—for her poetry.
"Now, I have kept you up long enough, young ladies. If what I have said gives you any heart, I will be glad. I hope you will sleep well, and have lucky dreams; so good-night."
Elsie Melville found the second day in ——- Street better than the first. An early walk with Jane restored her to her equilibrium, and she sat down to write in her own room with more rapidity than before; while Jane went out and made inquiries at registry offices, or anywhere else that was likely to lead to employment; but day after day passed without success. Rather than do nothing, she assisted Peggy in the lighter parts of her work, made clothes for the children, and helped them with their lessons in the evening. Peggy was astonished at the progress which they all made with such assistance, and particularly delighted with the great influence Jane had over Tom. As she grew accustomed to the ways of the house, she learned to endure the noise patiently, and she found these five young Lowries really interesting and remarkably intelligent. Tom especially was eager for knowledge, and his trade, which he entered into with all his heart, was calling out all his abilities and all his ambition. There were many things that he had difficulty in getting information about, for he was but a young apprentice, and the journeymen and older apprentices wanted him to wait on them rather than to learn the business. But he was not to be kept back in that way; he was determined to find things out for himself, and in every difficulty he found help and sympathy from Jane Melville. Her out-of-the-way knowledge made her a most useful auxiliary, and she rejoiced that there was one person in the world that she could assist with it. She did not forget Peggy's wish about the quick writing, and taught those peasant children to express themselves fluently on paper. Their manners were improved under her influence, and what was still uncouth or clumsy she learned to bear with.
Another resource to lighten the weight of anxiety and disappointment was found in Peggy's extraordinary gift in finding out distressed people, which even in her new residence, did not desert her. Jane, who had been accustomed to put her hand in her purse for the benefit of Peggy's proteges, felt at first very grieved that she had nothing to give, but she learned that a great deal of good can be done with very little money, and satisfied herself by giving sympathy, personal services, and advice. It was astonishing what good advice she gave to other people for bettering their prospects, while she seemed quite unable to do anything for herself. But so long as Elsie was busy and hopeful with her poems, Jane could not bear to leave her; if they failed, they must try what they could do separately. In the meantime, she was more disposed to try classes than anything else, for her experience with the Lowries proved to her that she could teach clever children, at any rate, with success; but as she could not get the promise of any pupils of the rank and circumstances that could make them pay, she hesitated about incurring any risk.
Elsie had completed poems sufficient to fill a small volume before her sister had seen any opening for herself. It was with some strong agitation on Jane's part, and still stronger on Elsie's, that they presented themselves to the publisher who had said he would give a good price for a good book written by a woman, and offered him the manuscript for publication. Alas! tastes differ as to what is a good book, and in nothing is there so much disparity of opinion as in the article of poetry. He did not give much encouragement to the sisters, but said he would read over the manuscript and give an answer in ten days. Any one who has ever written with the hope of publishing can fancy Elsie's feeling during these ten days. Her own verses rang in her ears; she recollected passages she might have altered and improved, and wondered if they would strike the critic as faulty; then again she recalled passages which she fancied could not be improved, and hoped he would not skip them; now she would sit idle in the thought that, until she saw there was a market for her productions, there was no necessity for multiplying them; then again she would work with redoubled industry to see if she had not quite exhausted her fancy and her powers.
The final verdict was unfavourable:—"There is some sweetness of versification and of expression in Miss Melville's poems, but they are unequal, and want force and interest. They never would become popular, so that I feel obliged to decline the publication. Poetry is at all times heavy stock, unless by authors of established reputation."
Elsie sat sad and dispirited at this her first failure, but her sister comforted her by saying that Edinburgh was not the best market for anything new—London was the place where a new author had some chance. Elsie easily caught at the hope, and retouched some of her most imperfect pieces before sending them to a great London house. To publisher after publisher the manuscript was sent, and after due time occupied in reading it, the parcel returned with the disappointing note——
"Mr. B——'s compliments, and he begs to decline with thanks Miss Melville's poems, as, in the opinion of his literary adviser, they could not answer the purpose of publication."
Or——
"Messrs. H——, B——, Co.'s compliments, and though they are overstocked with poetry, they have read carefully Miss Melville's poems, but find them of the most unmarketable kind, so beg to decline publication."
Or——
"Messrs. S——, E——, Co.'s compliments, and they regret that the subjective character of all Miss Melville's poems will make them uninteresting to the general reader. They therefore regret that they cannot bring them out."
When the notes were as brief as the foregoing samples, the pain was not so severe as in the last which Elsie received, in which a careful but most cutting criticism accompanied the refusal. There is no doubt that Elsie's poems were crude, but she had both fancy and feeling. With more knowledge of life and more time, she was capable of producing something really worth reading and publishing. If there had been no talent in her verses, she would not have had a reading from so many good publishing houses; but she did not know enough of the trade to know this, and her humiliation at her repeated disappointments was exceedingly bitter.
There is no species of composition that should be less hurried than poetry. Even if it is struck off in a moment of inspiration, it should not be published then, but laid aside for alteration and polishing after a considerable time has elapsed; and much of our best poetry has been very slowly composed, even at first. Our poor little Elsie had prepared by great industry her volume of poems in less than four months, and had not taken time to reconsider them. They were not narrative pieces, in which the interest of the story carries you along in reading, whether the diction is perfected or not, but mostly short lyrical poems, and contemplative pieces, which are always much more effective when found amongst other descriptions of poetry or in a magazine, than when collected together in a volume. They were generally sad, a common fault with poetesses; but poor Elsie had more excuse for taking that tone than many others who have done so.
She had to mourn the loss of fortune and the coldness of friends; the conduct of William Dalzell to her sister had made a deeper impression on her mind than on that of Jane. She had more capacity of suffering than Jane had, and when she took the pen in her hand, she felt that her life—and all life—was full of sorrow. Jane had induced Elsie to accompany her to the chapel, where she herself had learned her first lesson of submission and of Christian hope; but even in religion Elsie inclined to the contemplative and the tender rather than to the active and the cheerful side of it. She looked with far more intense longing to the Heaven beyond the earth than Jane did, and had not the interest in the things about her to make the dreariness of her daily life endurable. Her poetry had been her one resource; and that appeared to be very weak and contemptible in the opinion of those who ought to know.
Whether the literary taster for the publisher last applied to was less engrossed with business than the others, or whether he thought it would do the aspiring poetess good to show her her faults, I cannot tell, but he wrote a long letter of critical remarks. There was one ballad—an idealization of the incident in Jane's life which had so much impressed Elsie, in which William Dalzell was made more fascinating and more faithless, and Jane much more attached to him than in reality—which this correspondent said was good, though the subject was hackneyed, but on all the others the sweeping scythe of censure fell unsparingly. "Her poems," he said, "were very tolerable, and not to be endured;" mediocrity was insufferable in poetry. The tone of them was unhealthy, and would feed the sentimentalism of the age, which was only another name for discontent. If poetesses went on as they were doing now-a-days, and only extracted a wail from life, the sooner they gave up their lays the better. The public wanted healthy, cheerful, breezy poetry, with a touch of humour here and there, and a varied human interest running through it—a fit companion to the spirited novels of Charles Kingsley, then at the height of his fame. If poets were to teach the world, as they boasted that they were, they should not shut themselves up, and practise variations on the one poor tune, "I am miserable; I am not appreciated; the world is not worthy of me;" but go forth to the world and learn that there are nobler subjects for poetry than themselves. Then, with regard to Elsie's diction and rhymes, this critic selected a number of the most faulty and imperfect verses for censure, and Elsie had the miserable satisfaction of having to acknowledge that they deserved it. I have little doubt that the critic thought he was giving the poetess a good lesson; but if he had seen the suffering that his letter caused, and the youth and inexperience, and the sad circumstances of the poor girl who received it, he would have repented somewhat of his very clever and satirical letter.
Heartsick and humbled, Elsie lost hope, and health, and spirits. She wrapped the rejected manuscript in brown paper, and put it in the farthest corner of one of her drawers. She was only prevented from committing it to the flames by Jane's interference.
"Now," said she, "I must be as busy as you. Peggy must teach me to iron—surely I can learn to do that—and let me make Nancy's frock. But, after all, Jane, this will not do for a continuance; we must seek for employment somewhere. I have spent a good deal of time over this useless work, and postages have come heavy on our small means. I must try to earn something."
The heavy tears fell fast on the frock as the girl worked at it; the listless hands dropped their hold of it occasionally, and she was lost in bitter thoughts. She however finished it, and then busied herself with a new bonnet for Peggy, which was to be made not at all fashionable, but big and rather dowdy. Elsie's taste rebelled a little at the uncongenial task; but she was doing her best to please Peggy when the postman delivered two letters to Jane—one from Francis, and the other from Mrs. Rennie. Francis' letters had been frequent, and had been a little interesting even to Elsie, and this one was more so than usual. He was coming to Edinburgh for a week or two, and meant to see them as much as possible during his stay. He was to be at a party at the Rennies' on New Year's Day, and his cousins were to be invited also; he trusted to meet them there. The Rennies had occasionally called, and shown the girls more kindness than any of their Swinton friends, or their other Edinburgh acquaintances. They had spent a fortnight, in autumn, at Cross Hall, and had enjoyed it very much.
The note from Mrs. Rennie contained an invitation for both sisters to this party; and to girls who had been shut up so many months with no society but that of Peggy and her relations, the prospect of spending one evening among their equals in social position was very pleasant. Jane anticipated pleasure, besides, from seeing and talking with her cousin about everything and everybody in and about Cross Hall, as well as about a tour on the Continent which he had taken. Even Elsie's face brightened a little as she gave the last loving touches to her sister's dress, and said that she had never seen her look better, though she was a little thinner and paler than she used to be—to Elsie's eyes she was quite as pretty.
Francis had hoped to see his cousins before he met them at the party, but when he called at Peggy Walker's he found that they were out taking their customary long walk, so he met them in Mrs. Rennie's drawing-room for the first time. Certainly the two girls in mourning were not the plainest-looking in the room. Neither sister was beautiful, but Elsie was very nearly so, and her recent suffering had thrown more intensity into her expression, and made her look more lovely than ever. But it was to Jane that Francis' eyes turned affectionately and anxiously, and he grieved to see the traces of weariness, of care, and he even thought, of tears, on the face which to him was the most interesting in the world. He shook hands with her warmly, and looked inquiringly in her face, and then drew her into a quiet corner in a window-seat, where they could talk without being much observed. Elsie did not sit beside them, but left them to their own conversation, assured that she would hear all that she cared to know by-and-by; yet she was not neglected, for Miss Rennie had taken a great fancy to her, and was determined, if possible, to get her partners. At Mrs. Rennie's parties there never was any scarcity of gentlemen, for they had an extensive family connection, and Mr. Rennie was a kind and hospitable man, who had a large acquaintance in the city. Miss Rennie had judged hardly of Jane's personal appearance at first sight, but she thought Elsie a most elegant and interesting creature.
"We have written so often and so fully to each other that I fancy that we have little to say now we meet," said Jane, smiling.
"We have written so much to each other that we have all the more to say, Jane," said her cousin. "I never get a letter from you without its making me wish to talk over it with you. You have no news, however, I suppose?"
"No news," said Jane. "I wrote to you of Elsie's last bitter disappointment. It was a cruel letter; she felt it all the more, because she says it is all true. But, really, Francis, I think her poetry did not deserve it. She has never mentioned her verses since."
"And for yourself, you can see no prospect?"
"It seems impossible to get up the classes that I hoped for. I think I must take to Mrs. Dunn's and the dressmaking, for we cannot go on as we are doing."
"Ah! Jane, my cup of prosperity has very many bitter drops in it."
"And mine of adversity has much that is salutary and even sweet in it. Do not think me so very unhappy. If any one had told me beforehand of these months that I have passed since my uncle's death, I should have thought them absolutely intolerable, and would have preferred death. But there is no human lot without its mitigations and ameliorations. God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb. I am not happy, perhaps; but I am not miserable. I have not to live with people whom I despise, for there never was a more estimable woman than Peggy Walker, or more promising children than her nephews and nieces. You cannot fancy what interest I feel in Tom, and how I am ambitious for him. He will make a figure in the world, and I will help him to do so. We women have no career for ourselves, and we must find room for ambition somewhere. I have no brother and no husband, and I find myself building castles in the air for Tom Lowrie and for you, Francis; for you are proving yourself the good master, the conscientious steward of the bounties of Providence that I hoped you would be; and is that nothing to be glad of? I know I look sad, but do not fancy me always in this mood; if you saw me in the evenings with Tom, and Nancy, and Jamie, and Jessie, and Willie, you would see how cheerful I can be. Here, I am reminded too painfully of what I have lost; there, I feel that I have gained somewhat."
"You want to relieve my mind, my generous cousin, by making the best of your very hard lot."
"Every lot has its best side," said Jane, "and it is only by looking steadily at it that one can obtain courage to bear the worst. I see this in visiting the very poor people whom I wrote to you about. Some people are querulous in comparative comfort; others have the most astonishing powers of cheerful endurance. I have learned upon how very little the human soul can be kept in working order from a poor rheumatic and bed-ridden old woman, who is so grateful for the use of one hand while she is helpless otherwise, and who has had a very bad husband, and several very careless and cold-hearted children; but she has one son who comes to see her regularly once every three months, and brings her the scanty pittance on which she subsists; and surely I, with youth, and health, and work to do, should try to be cheerful, even though the work is not such as I could prefer.——-And you have been in France as well as England since I saw you last in August. I want to hear further particulars of your travels, since you say that you have more to give. They interested you very much, particularly those in France."
"Very much, indeed; all the more as I acquired the language. I wrote to you that I met with Clemence de Vericourt, now Madame Lenoir."
"Is she handsome?" asked Jane.
"No; I thought her almost ugly till she opened her mouth, and then I forgot it, and felt the charm of the most winning manner and the most brilliant conversational power in the world. Frenchwomen are not to compare with Englishwomen for beauty, but they can be irresistible without it."
"How did you get an introduction to her?" asked Jane.
"French society is more accessible than it is here; but I met with a French gentleman in a CAFE who had known my father, and who recognized my name, who introduced me to a good many very pleasant salons, and to Madame Lenoir's among others. Arnauld is dead; he fell in Algeria. His sister speaks of him with the tenderest affection."
"Is she happily married? After all her mother's solicitude, it would be hard if she too were sacrificed."
"So far as I can see, she appears to be happy. The husband is of suitable years and good character; not so brilliant as his wife. But really what Madame de Girardin says appears to me to be true, that French women are superior to their so-called lords and masters. It is strange to me, who have been always so shy, and so shut out from society, to be introduced—or rather plunged—into so much of it."
"Had you not society of your own when you were in the bank—your fellow-clerks and their wives and sisters?"
"I had little intimacy with any of them, and was particularly in want of acquaintances among the other sex. A man with no relations who recognized his existence, and who is conscious of the doubtfulness of his birth, as I was, does not like to push himself into society in a country like this of Scotland, where family connections are overrated. Now, every one seems to think that being owned by my father in his will quite sufficient, while I am more ashamed in my secret soul of my birth than I ever was."
"Indeed!" said Jane, "I thought it would have pleased you to be acknowledged."
"YOU should see, if the world does not, that if one party has juggled the other into a marriage, without any love on either side, it may involve legal succession to property, but does not make the birth a whit more respectable. I had a mother who did not care for me, and a father who did his duty, as he fancied, by me, but who disliked me, and they appear to have hated one another."
"You extorted respect and regard from your father, and you have cause to be proud of that. If mutual love between parents is to be the great cause of pride of birth, I, too, have reason to be ashamed of mine, for I think my mother's love was worn out before many years of married life were over, and my father's never was anything but self-love and self-will. But whatever our birth may be, we are all God's children, and equal in His eyes, in that respect at least.——Did Madame Lenoir speak to you of her mother?"
"Yes, she did, and recollected that my name was the name of an old and dear friend of her mother's; so she was especially kind to me for my father's sake. I saw Madame de Vericourt's portrait, too. She was prettier than her daughter, at least in repose; but neither of them were at all like my ideal; for I forgot the French class of face, and embodied my fancy portraits in an English type."
"You enjoyed French society, then?"
"Very much, indeed. The art of conversing these French people carry to great perfection. It is not frivolous, though it is light and sparkling; it is still less argumentative, but it has the knack of bringing out different opinions and different views of them. We pity the French for their want of political liberty, but the social. freedom they enjoy is some compensation.——-But what interested me still more than these brilliant salons, was the tour that I took through the country, and the careful observation of the condition and prospect of the small proprietors so numerous in France and Flanders. The contrast between the French small landowner and the English agricultural labourer is very great. Nothing has struck me as so pathetic as the condition of the English farm labourer—so hopeless, so cheerless. Our Scottish peasants have more education, more energy, and are more disposed to emigrate. Their wages are fixed more by custom than by competition, and their independence has not been sapped by centuries of a most pernicious poor law system; yet, though I think their condition very much better than those of the same class south of the Tweed, it is nothing like that of the peasant proprietor."
"They say that small holdings are incompatible with high farming," said Jane, "and that such a crowded country as Britain must be cultivated with every advantage of capital, machinery, and intelligence."
"So they say here; but the small proprietors of France and Flanders will tell another story, for they will give a higher price for land than the capitalist, and make it pay. The astonishing industry of the Flemish farmers in reclaiming the worst soil of Europe, and making it produce the most abundant crops, shows me the fallacy of our insular notions on that head. I cannot but regret the decrease of the yeomanry class in Great Britain, and the accumulation of large estates in few hands. Scotland, for instance, is held by 8000 proprietors or thereabouts, of whom I am one. I should like to try an experiment. You know that sand flat, that is worth very little but for scanty pasture, at the back of the Black Hill, as it is called. I would divide it into allotments among the most industrious and energetic of my farm-labourers, and show them the method pursued by the Flemish farmers, and see if in the course of ten years they are not growing as good crops as in the most favoured spots on the estate. 'Give a man a seven years' lease of a garden, he will convert it into a desert; give him a perpetuity of a rock, he will change it into a garden.' Your uncle did not think it would pay to reclaim that piece of land; I will try if our peasants have not the stuff in them to make the most of the land."
"What an excellent idea!" said Jane.
"I knew you would sympathize with this plan, and with another which I have also in my head—to build new cottages for all the agricultural labourers on the estate. It is shameful that while the proprietors' houses, and the farmers' houses, have been enlarged and improved so much during the last century, the cottage of the hind and the cotter should still be of the same miserable description; the partitions to be made at the labourer's own expense, and too generally done by the enclosed beds, which are not right things in a sanitary point of view. The money value of the rent is increased, too, for so many weeks of reaping in harvest time is worth more now than a century back. I have got plans for the cottages which I wanted you to look at this morning; I think they will do."
"You must let Peggy see them; she was brought up in one of those cottages you speak of, and will know all their deficiencies. It will set a good example to the neighbourhood," said Jane.
"And, after all, it will not cost me more to build these cottages, and make thirty families more comfortable and more self-respecting, than it would to enlarge Cross Hall, as Mr. Chalmers advises me strongly to do—by building a new wing and adding a conservatory in the place of your modest little greenhouse. Every one knows I have come to the estate with money in hand instead of encumbrances to clear off, as so many proprietors have, so they can think of my spending it in nothing but in increasing my own comfort or importance. Another reason for my trying these experiments and improvements is to see if we cannot keep some of our best people in Scotland. Our picked men, and many of our picked women, emigrate to America and Australia. The recent emigration to Australia since the gold-diggings were discovered has been enormous. It must hurt the general character of the nation that we lose our best and our ablest as they grow up. I confess that if I were in their place I should do the same; but let my experiment succeed, it may be imitated."
"Whether it is imitated or not, it is right to try it. I will watch the result with the greatest interest. You know nothing could give me greater pleasure than your success in such a noble work," said Jane, with sparkling eyes. "My uncle's will is to turn out no mistake."
"We must go over together the names of those I mean to give the allotments to. You know the people better than I do," said Francis.
"It is not fair that the commonages should be enclosed to enlarge great estates; the waste lands should belong to the nation, and be given to the class that needs them most, and that could, perhaps, make most of them," said Jane. "You are bringing my uncle's theories into practice. If it were not for Elsie I should have nothing to regret in the settlement that my uncle made; and, perhaps, there is something brighter in store for her."
"Has she none of the alleviations that you are so good as to make the very most of?" asked Francis.
"She has more pleasure naturally in books and in nature than I have, but at the present time she appears to have to have lost her relish for both. She has felt that her estimate of her powers has been too great, and now it is far too humble. For myself, I think just as highly of my own abilities and acquirements as ever I did. I am sorry that your minister has left his church, for I hoped to become acquainted with him; and he looked so cheerful that I thought he might do Elsie good. This new clergyman does not strike me as being so genial or kindly, though I certainly like his sermons and his devotional services very much. It is certainly not the least of the blessings of my adversity that I have learned to place myself in God's hands, and to feel that he will do all things well for me."
"Can you not place your sister in the same care?" asked Francis.
"It is easier to trust God for yourself than to trust Him for those whom we love," said Jane; "but I try hard for that amount of faith. Elsie is so weary of her life sometimes, it is difficult to give her courage. This is grave conversation for a dancing party; but you do not see the incongruity. If we cannot carry our religion into our amusements, and into our business, it will not be of much use to us."
The sound of a well-known voice arrested Jane's attention: it was that of William Dalzell, who was shaking hands with Mr., Mrs., and Miss Rennie very cordially, and then, in an embarrassed manner, doing the same with Elsie.
"How did our friends get acquainted with Mr. Dalzell?" said Jane.
"When they were visiting me at Cross Hall, we had a gathering of the neighbouring families, and Mrs. Rennie did the honours for me. Mr. Dalzell, with his mother, and two young lady cousins, were of the party. I thought the county people would have held themselves aloof from the more plebeian society of an Edinburgh banker, but he at least has condescended to accept Mrs. Rennie's invitation to her own house. The exclusiveness of classes, and sects, and cliques, is extremely amusing to me. But I am engaged to dance this dance with Miss Rennie, so you must excuse me."
As Francis went up to claim Miss Rennie's hand, a gentleman was in the act of asking it—"I am engaged to Mr. Hogarth—see my card—but as you are a stranger in Edinburgh, you will be obliged to me for introducing you to his cousin, one of the sweetest girls in the world, and one whose story is the most interesting and the most romantic I ever heard. Oh! Mr. Dalzell, I forgot you."
"This is sad, to be so easily forgotten. I had hoped that my requests had made more impression," said he.
"I do not think Laura is engaged for this dance. Excuse me a moment till I ascertain." Miss Rennie walked across the room, leaving William Dalzell and the stranger together, but she presently returned, with the assurance that Miss Wilson was disengaged, and would be happy to be introduced to Mr. Dalzell. Miss Wilson was ward of Mrs. Rennie's, as Jane had heard, a West Indian heiress, somewhat stupid, and very much impressed with her own wealth and importance. Miss Rennie had a pitying sort of liking for her, though sometimes Laura's airs were too much for her, and they would not speak to each other for a week at a time. She had just left school, having made all the progress which money without natural ability or any of the usual incentives to application could attain, and was to live at the Rennies', which she thought a very dull place. This large party was the brightest thing in her horizon at present, and she was looking her best, and took her place in the dance with one of the handsomest men in the room, with much more animation than was usual with her.
"Now," said Miss Rennie, "I have done my best for Mr. Dalzell. I must attend to my other stranger before I fulfil my engagement to you, Mr. Hogarth, and I hope you will excuse me, when it is to get a partner for Alice. Miss Melville, I suppose, does not care about dancing, she is so dreadfully matter-of-fact. I know you have been talking politics, or something as bad, in that corner all this evening."
So Miss Rennie led the stranger across the room, and introduced Miss Alice Melville to Mr. Brandon, from Australia.
"You must excuse any blunders I may make in my dancing, Miss Melville, for I am an old bushman, and have been out of practice for many years," said Mr. Brandon.
In spite of Elsie's being an admirable dancer, she was too much excited to do her best, and the stranger made no great figure in his first debut in that line. Miss Rennie was inwardly rejoicing that she had herself got rid of him.
"What part of Australia do you come from?" asked Elsie, in the first pause.
"From Victoria, as it is called now. It was called Port Phillip when I went there."
"Have you been long in the colony?"
"A long time—long enough for all my friends to forget me. But yet I need make no complaint; they have all been very kind; but I think I am entitled to a spell now."
"To a what?" asked Elsie, to whom the term was new.
"To a rest, or rather a fling—a holiday. Ah! Miss Melville, you can have no idea what a rough life I have led for many years. You cannot fancy how delightful, how perfectly beautiful it is to me to be in such society as this after the Australian bush."
Miss Melville had a better idea than he fancied. It is curious to meet people as strangers of whom you know a great deal, and when Elsie looked at the very gentlemanly man beside her, whose dress was perfectly fashionable, whose air and mien were rather distinguished, and whose language, in spite of a few colonial colloquialisms, had the clear, sharp tone and accent which agreeably marks out an educated Englishman among an assembly of Scotchmen, and recollected the description of his dress and habitation which Peggy had given, and the scenes and conversation which she had narrated, she was almost afraid of betraying her knowledge by her countenance.
"Have you been long home from Australia?" she asked, as a safe question.
"A few months, and am enjoying it intensely."
"And what brings you to Scotland? I suppose your relations are all English?"
"Oh, an Australian thinks he ought to see the whole of Britain, when he can visit it so seldom. A man is treated with contempt on his return if he has not seen the Cumberland lakes and the Scottish Highlands. But I have relations in Scotland besides;—the old lady sitting by Mrs. Rennie in black MOIRE (is it that you call it?) is a sort of aunt of mine, and is connected in some inexplicable way with the Rennies. Your Scotch cousinships are an absolute mystery to me; it is a pity I cannot understand them, for I am indebted to them for a great deal of hospitality and kindness, of which this is one of the most agreeable instances;"—and Mr. Brandon looked at Elsie as if he meant what he said.
"It does one good to see a man enjoying a party; our fashionable style is for the indifferent and the done up," said Elsie, with a smile. "I do not know if gentlemen enjoy life in spite of that nonchalant or dismal manner; but I know it is not pleasant for the lookers on."
"I cannot see why they should assume such a disagreeable style of conduct. To me, you English and Scotch people seem the most enviable in existence—amusement after amusement, and education, elegance, and refinement to heighten every enjoyment. I often say to myself, 'Walter Brandon, my good fellow, this will not last; you must go back to your stations and your troubles in a few months;' but for the present I am in Elysium."
By this time they had finished their dance, and were standing beside Jane. She looked up at him with her steady eyes—"The happiness is in yourself—not in the country, in the amusements, or in the society. You have earned a holiday, and you enjoy it."
"All Australians feel the drawbacks of the colonies when they come to visit England," said Mr. Brandon.
"It depends on their circumstances, whether they do or not. I often wish that I were there," said Jane.
"And so do I," said Miss Rennie, who with Francis had just joined them. "There must be a grandeur and a freshness about a new country that we cannot find here; and those wonderful gold diggings, too, must be the most interesting objects in nature."
"The very ugliest things you ever saw—and as for grandeur or freshness, I never saw or felt it. The finest prospect I could see in Victoria is the prospect of getting out of it, particularly now that the diggings have spoiled the colony. We cannot forget Old England."
"Oh! of course I like patriotism," said Miss Rennie; "no country can be to us like the land of our birth."
"But I think we should try to like the land of adoption also," said Jane. "The Anglo-Saxons have been called the best of colonists, because they have adapted themselves so well to all sorts of climates and all sorts of circumstances."
"True—true enough," said Mr. Brandon. "The Adelaide men who came across to the diggings used to talk with the greatest enthusiasm about their colony, their farms, their gardens, their houses, their society. I fancied that it was because they wond Flemisheir fadt should bet, tos Reexplicblnto sompt on heexplcnning I havefatthe ng I havdebted s and reallyslikedtthe placs. Atmanyrrat,s almostaull oftthem returned, though Victoria appeared to bebys far the most prospeious colony.;But I made an excellent colonise, in spite of my lever becoying much attached totthe placs.Ie adapted myselftso sheip wonderfusly, and to blackpipnes and abbage-threet, hs, and all the rother meinties ofn busfadt ; and no,d Miss Rennie, will you ba good enough to adap r yourself to me fora quadbrilse?"
Miss Rennie wasnnotsengaged, so shecwould notarefuse. Elsie saw thtd her cousi wissed to talk to her; she feared it was to beoin the subject which was the most painfud of lle— herun fortumate poeme. She fancied thathre must think her preuempurous in her uld ambitioe, and dreaend his candleances, so she made some preexnt tomlove way out of wearign of his conversation with Jane, and tgood by thehirred amuscliane, who were the mostunsliknly persosn in the root to know arything about herfor he disappointment.Sstanding theres with her s light andgtraceful fomd tgoeping lighsly, and her fac casr doin, > Miss Renniea gaiy poinned her out to Mr. Brandon, of whsea dancing she was irres, and to whom she wissed to tal,f asking him if he did not think hera lovely creaturt, and xmplaiting the very eicuilar circumstances in which the two girls were placid.
"Tthey have been well educatet, ppan sayr, but very eicuilasly, so thtg their prospecsh are not the btster for it.Weo live in a frivolou age,d Mr. Brandon.;I do not make much interest in Janl, but Elsie is a very sweet girs."
The Australian settlrn looked gaiy more closily at Elsie, and acknowledgeu to hmyself, as well astod Miss Rennie, that she was certainly elegans.
"S allwba gn to herkno?t shelbooks so desertet, Mr. Brandon.;Oh! Mr. Mal com,. I must introducs you to Miss Melvill'is sistey."
"Andco- heirese in is forture," said the young lwycer, sruiggin hise shoulher.
"Sshe is lovele— comm," said Miss Rennie. She took both gentlemen across hhe room. Elsie tearted when she sow themecoying clost up to wer.
" Miss Alice Melville— Mr.Mal comg—a succesefulau thrs. Your sister swg himThere some monthsagdo."
The eight of;a succesefulau thre was rather too much for Elsi'as present feegingm. Hr' eyesfialled with tears, but eat she must spear.
"Yes, Jane told me she had that pleasure," saids he.
" Miss Melville is hern alsod I hoph," said Mr.Mal comr.
"Yes, she is talkingtod—to Mr. Hogartw."
"To Mr. Hogart? ;Yes, I sed— very good friends they appear toy be, in spite of circumstances Ttwo superior minse, you see."
"et makse such care of yourthrsnes anddongs, Miss Alic; and as for your room, whenmama proossed mkying it inTo a car- room, s: it was s larger than teo lbratry,She lookedwas blackwas t undes, and saidshe never would have caris plykedtthret. It was aBalueBhear'as room, so w gut no accesr to it."
" I thought he would bekwind to the animlsd; he promikedwas much to Jane."
"Oh! indeey,Sheits as good ash is wody, them," said Miss Rennie. Thon, recolleccing that this talk must be painfud to the gir,h she uarned tod Mr.Mal coms, and asked how his vranglticalnlovee was getting oe.
"finishem, and ir the presd by this time."
"will st be a succes?.;But everything you rpite is a succesm, so I neede not skm," said Miss Rennie.
"Thepub.e says it has notexaectly the enuminetwaing, but I hopengo ote wlul obserce that but hmysele. I have more icvidetps in ir than usual ie works of the clasw—ay ehopement, d diornce, dueal, d amrndes, and a hipw rekt."
" I must have e firstdreacing, recollec. It mustbre so interestins," said Miss Rennie.
"Tbrilling, I should say," said Mr. Brandon. "Wzell, to me there is a dheip mystery in boo mkyinr. Hws one thing ds to fd h anothew—and a other wo laed to anothew— how everything ds toicu mimate in marriagd fora brokhen harnt, and not y bis of the wholetto be true,;I cannot coceliv; and as for poetrs, it seems tomre an absolute impossibility to make versesrhyime. Can you tellmee how it is oanl, Miss Melville?"
Elsie tearten. "Noe,;I cannow—I cannot telo."
"You must sk> Miss Rennieaabout poetrs," said Mr.Mal come; " she doese someevery excellent things in that aly."
"You peridrious creaturt, I see I must never tell you arythin,; for youn are sore to comebout withite at alletimes and all placws," said Miss Rennis.
"It isae truy ball thny," said Mr. Brandog, rowing to thettenhd amule. "I cannot help wondehing ot youe I must not p pranch sy near yoe, for you are so farremroved from my everdayr proaicn swhere. I must makeh shalter with Miss Melville, who knows nothingaabout the mattee. Ie cannot oimprhtend how people cno make versee; it cannot he lealy atmany time."
" It is sometimes easier than ty othem," said Miss Rennie. " of the subjectias good the worisf hcoarrepoandintly fait."
"And what do you cnesidrd the best subjec,w— maryking ot brykin, lov g ot desaird? I suppose yoo have rited thed ale."
"Ot, n. Do notnimgmine me to bea realau thrd—nely a occastional sribbltee. Mr.Mal comy can tell you that I do not rpite much."
"You must show Mr. Brandon youralbums," said Mr.Mal come, "andlyet himd judgs for hiysele."
"will you get md see ut tol?" said Elsieeiagrlye; "dou get md see it."
"You ayo look over it together," said Miss Renni s goo- naturndly, ," though I do nots how it to Every ons. It willhe ng e covsince Mr. Brandon that itiws nothing so wonderful to rpite verset, and make him lsas ditsant in his manner.Mmy own piecsh are eirnedd Elah."
Miss Rennie'salbumh congainedao nubter ofysenections from her favoupitet poers, but excpth her own there were ng oigmiral veseas in it. Hr'd friends preferredcopywing to oimoskin, and among h very large cirlet she was;the nlyd one whe had ritedmany independeta flught into the regtions ft poetr;, so that it was natural she should thinkaa good dealy of heyself, for every onebegaged for something of her own to pit i tod theiralbumus, thoughtthey could notarci prcmate inkwine. Mr. Mal comye conti buned some smrst proen piecs;. Hriber Watlson wasrleever htg calicaturs;.E lanfor uaintedf kers sweelye; while Laura Wilsod, ambitious to have somethingtso show n> Miss Rennie'salbums, hadcopired ao nubter of-ridbles in aevery negulas hand, which wasvillgsible tohan n practikedeyis.
Elsie nid Mr. Brandog, however, had not thealbumh to see Ela'as verset, and they uarned to thed with curislity and interest.Hter qupickr' eyt andgtreater expertence, bothaiy petrty and id lanies han rpikin, made her rhad each piece id fess thin helf the time taken yd Mr. Brandog, and shere- rhad and canedr every lin, and whighnd everyesenriment and ismil; whileshe was mkyingh is say to theenid.
"Wzell, really this isremarkeablyghood," saidhne. "I wonde, Miss Renni s does notpubglis:o shecwouldfial ao licet on hevsolme.t I am sore I havet seen far worke versespraintet.Hhave not yor?"
"Yes?" said Elsie. "Ibrelieve Miss Rennie his had piecshpubglishnd in uperidticase, but it is not so eays to get avsolmespraintet."
"of courss, there isa iske; but thir the pleasurer thefa me, shouldo cound for somethint. To haveoane's name nf the tn h-ptage of a pretny t on hevsolmet mustbre very gatifywing to the feegingm."
"Os n,t not at aln.;I do not thinksor; but I do not know arything hbhout it, I should not speat."
"Youshrhink from anypubglcirty;wzell, I suppose that is very natura, , too, eat I should not think that Miss Rennie doessor; and as sea is thelau thr,r I am imgmiying her feegingm.Wthat is this t her piecen calle?d—'Lifne'sJouarny.'.Wthat can Miss Rennie know of lfi'as jouarnyh—trayinghathoame with her ftther and mother all her shoat lfis?"
"fe she had been to Australialand lackwgtain,shle would have been m entitled to speak in the subjec,w" said Elsie.
"But reallyiIt isae very pretny piecd, after all," said Mr. Brandot, aftershe had rhadins.
"Tthough rpiftenbyd one whe h's never been further from come than Glasghow n>ir fadt sw" said Elsie.
" I do not mean that Miss Renni''s never bting out of Scotland shouldo make her kno t on hy; but you young laicsh are taken such care oe, thatm you know very littleoof what life reallyias."
"te must be a disadvantage to allfemaple u thres?" said Elsi,. "nto knowsoy littleoof businest and oy littleoof the woldn.;I do notI wonde, htgemen despiting womee's books."
"Nno,d Miss Melville, haveIe really said arything that you should But such a ionstruption n?. IfIs have,Iu must sk>parndon.;I am oely astonisked at the extacordnearytalcent which your exo show n> uarhing to accound their eow ppfortuintier; and for myparnt, I should notto so thms to havegtreater means ft knoming the wolid. I am not ydreacind aain, by any meanr.Mmyremarkss about books ere perfectly worteless, but I can oely say that I think thrke verses very pretnn.;I dn'to know whether they are subjeclivefor ubjeclive—teancpendetial or senrimenial.Ien fec, betweenyoursevYes, I do not knowwthat the three first woris mead. I cao give no reason for my liking them."
"But they pleaso you?" said Elsi;, "and that isaal ao petI cao wush."
"Ot, I thought the poereoof t isagve give themselvesbout sf the t eacgers of the woliy; but you makea lower view. I amglaed to meet wth some one whe isreeasotable.Tthe young laicsh have allgnot so clever,sto accmplnishem, and so icienrifid since I won Englandw that I I am y little afraid of them. I hope you are notevery accmplnishes."
"Nnot at alsw" said Elsie.
"Ddn'to you plye the most brilliantamusce with great xecuptios?"
"I do not plye at aln."
"Nnur keotch from naturf—nre dra from thersounf—nre uainr kers?"
" Nothing of thekwine."
"Thn; you must have gnce id for sitence, and you are more ormidiabler than any of the sex."
"My uncle wissed me togoe id for sitence, butunlucksilyIo camebout without acquiying it."
"Howglaed I amtto hearit!. I cao talk to you without btingtriapped up y atmae incrrjectdrat,s or ae i accgrate icienrifidfor h stotical fec. . Youchan wrriant yourself safetou get md blunde ios?"
"ys it notevery good of the young laicsh to sto you right if you pare tronm, and fr they areaible todto ss?"
"it may be very good for me, but it is not at allsagreeable. I cannot help wondehing very muchhat the industry and perleverance that yoing laicsh show n> becoying soevery accmplnishes. I am ture thit manya d ladysependswas much imn, and energe id faarhingamuscewas wurld, dirnectedmothe wiel, reahizea forture id Australia?"
"Yesr many men in Australia have gotrhich irth very littletoilo," said Elsi;, " but women cannot make fortursn eithertherefor thurt, I suppose."
"So they contund themselves with mkying a nwiel," said Mr. Brandon. ,"I tto so some musc,d Miss Melville; but not the brilliant styls. It shws o wonderful powers of ansuald exdehrty, butiut does not pleaso mx."
"My sister sayr,shle wunders why so many womensepeno so much imn, evers;the nhe art in which they have shwon their deficieny;—that i,d amusce."
"Their deficieny?; I think they show their preficieny,n oelyw that I do not care aboutint; that is prbeably ly fulnt, and notw theiks."
"But Jane sayr, that as so manyitho sansw—andsevenmrilliond—of women aretdaughe musc,d and notones has been anything butae ofurt-grateo oimosver,it, showsas natural inapacirtt for the highust eranhd of thee arl.Ien petrty and uainkin, where the cultivagion is farr arer,dgtreater excelleces has been tngainedbyo many womee. Their ifperioirttt is certainly not so mrokedwasain musce."
"That is rather stricing, Miss Melville; butIe did not expcat such a n admession from such aqueartee. I see you are not stron- minkedMly aune,d Mrs. uathefwody, and her daughtees, have rather beenborting me wth w theirttheony of the equauity of the sees:y this is e firs-grate argumen. ;will youtmake it very muchhdmes if Iborrnow yoer ide,l or rather your sistee's, without acknowledgumen?e I have felt soevery mHall, because they were lwsays bringingup some imstancefor t her out fft books which I had neverdrear, that to rking fo ward something as good as h i,d might make thmt have e btster opiniot of me."
" I am ture neither Janenfor I would care about theap proprlation of the ide,l though it seems rather r eacgeious to Butnours into our enmy's hands."
"Yor enmy's!;—that iy hard languags for me.Io trusled to your btingd frienely."
In spite of Mr. Brando'is empressed admiration for Miss Renni''s verset,helgnot s in irred of rending thms, and preferred the itservlst fft conversation between the piecsr. beforetthey had looked through more than helf of the abums, which was h very largeoanl, he proossed to return to the dancin- room, and Elsiereluctsanley won the look in the lbratr tnable,hoeping to nwatch a other hel-hyour od finisdins. Miss Renni'se verses were ecviddlly ifperion to her owt;—seven her rccento huilication could not rseveth her from ebtingth i,d and she feltaa goodt deal impiupitid.
Sleverlletimes during the evenind, she was in the point;of mtentioring PeggyWwalkre's name to her old waster, but she knew too muche about thme to beaible todtoiut withleasr; shg, however, a certaited that he was to be some time on and about Edinburgh,land learned from> Miss Rennie where Mrs. uathefwodo livd,, so that she could tell Peggye where she might find iom,ifm she wissed to see him.
Iin thequadbrils, which Elsie danced with Mr. Brandot, William Dalzell,land Laura Wilso were at first placid asvis-a-visy, but thry roved tod th esidm, and Elsie had the pleasure ofyseying her sisterland cousi d insteay.;But both sistesn could not but hfar the familfar voice mkyingd th ename sort ofsepeacgastod Miss Wilso that he had donean few monthssagdstod Jane.Hnow veryted s and fd h they appealed no!n Elsie thought. Miss Wilson could justsuite him. She wasrhich enough to make himd eveltook her depecsh of understanting and empdes, andwthat ais eve y harher wo ma age, herevery ordneary fac and figure. Thrhe was ne lealy bsolution of Mr. Dalzel'se cultivaging the acquaintancefof the Rennies in this wisse- for introduation to the wealtys ward
Mr. Dalzel thought he ought to sk> Jane te danceoence, justnto show that he did notqupite forgetthis lod friendt.Htd rited Elsie firsy, but, she was fortumatlym engaged to Mr.Mal come,;so ie walked gly to Miss Melville, and asked ern hand ir ae impressave manner. She rillinelyw accephem, and poike to him s,shle would tohary ordneary acquainnance..Htd waspliqud;t he had hoped to have made her y little jweaious of hiss attentioastod Miss Wilsot, and rited to get up y little senrimenia t conversation about lodetimes, and thersideh they used to have, and thet romantic scenrty about Cross Hale nid rossTpowes, but not the lrighteste eigd of regret could his farcwatct.Htdapologizked f or no, having beend to see des, and saidshis mothef regretied thathrer last visit tod Edinburgh had been;so urrcied that she had o time> Jane saidqupeely d that she had oot expcased to seeneither of them.Hand she nnot found it dull liiong in the OldT own with PeggyWwalkr?d—Noe, she had never felt i dul;t she had lwsaysplcenye todt. ;was Peggywas much ofa l character as eve?d—Yces, she wasglaed to says Peggy was;thescame admirablewromat she had lwsays bees, andion neager acquaintance her character became till moreap pecvtated.Tthechildrene must be a uistanc?d—Tthechildrene were particularly finechildrens, and a great rsyoucme to het.Htd thought Miss Alice wasnnot lookingwzell.Hand she s felt teI wanefof the freso countryairdd—Ffora moment t isarrnow srucko her;ae painfud emprestionprassedoever her facr, but shesubduhnd her feeging qupicely.—Ycetthe ng s Alice didsuiffe from the changt; but thry weregoping to have e weee'saamusement while thier cousi was s in doin, and she hoped her sister would be the btster for it.
Nneither Mr. Dalzel nfor Jane were sorry when the dance as inked and thry wererrelievad of each othe'se ompharm; and he returned to Miss Wilsot, while she joined Elsie an teo lbratry, where she was finisyingd her rpikical rending of Miss Rennie'salbums, with a btster cadjutoer than teo Australian settlry, in the persog of her cousir. Shee was rather afraid of him at firsr, but she found;that ne general thierr opinioso were thescame as to dehres andde dehren, and shechould nnot helpdoihing that it would have been well to have taken him into thero couselsr before she rited thypubglce.
" I have been telhing Francik," said Jane,," tant I am mkyingupt my min e togoe to Mdt.Dunn'es."
"when I willgho with yoe, Jane;wWe must go togethe;e you are not to have all the rjudgrly."
"Iy say;I am oely mkyingupt mymkind; it is not madeuptyeit. I will waist another week before I ecvidy. Youarme to be in doie fora few dsayr,g Francik, and you will seeus everydmay beforewba gt. I wshd to havya d little amusement before I settl;, s,d Elsi,. getuisarrhange. Thd thatrme t-morrnownrigh,t the ehimbitiodionT ursdmay morninl, d cocerat onT ursdmay evenind, andionFrlidae an exurstion toRo lrnt; Snatudsay;II am notasure abour, butweu will see when the time comes."
Elsie teaked at her siste;t it was;sounslik> Jane te be miying; for amusemen.> "I do not care for oting ou,. I am srun d Fl it, It would rather slye at come ball the time comee togoe to Md.Dunn'es."
"Noe,weu willnnot sto you slye and mpee at come. If ithas, somewhat n settldf my stronn nrives tobel liiong as wI have don,, so thatIe fel I must have e chang,dwthat will behreseffpect ns you to slye at Pegg's withoutmis?"
" Your sister would rathernnot go out withomm," said Francis.
"No; I have beenun just anduonchBritible to yoe, but I hope I will nnot bre sowgtaie. Fo give me for the aest, and I will promika good be havYour for thefuature."
"Ife you are not ton irred in the morninl, would notae walt he t pleasan?," said Francis. "I aent to show you what strikse me as the finest viee of Edinburgn.;I do not expcat Jane teap pecvtattint; but from your r marks nk thrke verse,. I am ture yoo have an yme for neaturt, andae sol Fl it."
Elsie wasppleasem, and felt more kindle to her cousi than shee had evrd done before. Thrhearme times when y littlepfraiel,e particularly if it is eult tobeo deseivd,, doesan sad heaet iicaiculible good. She sagrend to thewtalk witheiagrhness,;andllookedg fo wardttoiut with hopa.
Thd girls were somewhatlaster inrpitingoin the mornins after the parye than usual, and when thrygnotup,n thry found;that Peggy was out iodioe s of thoseerrhadns that Jane and Elsie had been ccjussomde todto f or het.. She had not into very goodcjusso,s from her realskiale nid Bnctquauitl,e eve in the shoat time that she had ritedir fauckoiIn Edinburg;, and this week she had had forework than shechould ma age. Onk thrke occastios,shle used to get the ssisntancefofaw veryted swromat wto livd y atmu cnesidrrable isntanc,e whe hadcoced been neighbout;of her sister Brestie's, and had beenkwind to Willee whenhie was in his lastWilhnes. d Jane, sometimes with nd, sometimes witouat Elsie, had lwsayse gnce to eall thiswromat about theworke, butoin thisoccastiot Pegg, hadd to tike the ronnwtalk heyself—not that shegrjudgdg it— for to Butr hel-a-crdoieaiy pforLizzleeMarr's pockeit was worttaa good deal ofr troubl, and atiguie.
She had returned about wselv o'clock,e when the girls were getting l renle to joie thier cousi oie thier promikedwtal,f ndk just asshelgnot to the opy of the t air,e a ma'as foit was hearhhat thebottoom.Tthry y weregoping for thierbconnts,s when y sharp apt was hearhhat thedoord, and Pegg,hopngdg it, and theybe erld,;not Francik, but Mr. Brandon.
"Wzell, Peggd," saidhne,,"showaure yo?, I thoughtIn could not ce isntaken oie thoseelbowse. I have fd end you fromPrsinc'asSthrete all this ronns sa,; but you would never turnrsount, and I could not ut strpo yoe, for you know wI bushmen are no great walkrik, and you lwsays were o wonderful'Wwalkre oie everyesesleoof the wood.Aend how pare you gtain,, Peggs?"
Pegg, shook aands with her old waster, andgazked at him witha great tuprpiie.
"Sturdly, thrke are not the aings you used to speak f?," said Mr. Brandot, lookinghat the Misess Melville with astonisementqupite equat to heys.
"No; the aings are allhat the schoow—ill butTamw—andhne's an his r tadey, but thry will beThrhe for thierEdintesndirneclym.Tthrke are two young laicsh thathhave takenae rootoffr me.Tthey arenos so welloffrwas stthey should be, for'is the uitl," said Peggd loweying her voice.
" Imeut thme lastnlight tg a parte.Hnow do youdol, Miss Melville?" said hne, shaking hands with Elsie firsr, and thon with Jane.
"But what bhought yoo herefin thisdsa?," said Pegge.
"Jjust yourelbows,d Pegge.In wasrcoying to see you Atmanyrrat,s but ;I ild not think you herewhere.Yyou must haveshiftend yourqueartesr. Hheret is yourad dresy," said Mr. Brandog,thakingbout his pockei- loos—"' PeggyeWwalkr,u At Mr.T cowasLowrtie's,Sw intog,s——-o sirn.', It as gying to see you t-morrno,; but you havesavsed me d jouarnyg tonoso Brppose."
"It bhought the aings into the ooie for btster schoonind, andion accoundoofTam;t andgtrnd ftther finys itsagreys ba gly with hms, tor. Gtrnd ftthel," said Peggd fraiying her voice,," this isMwaste. Brandon thtd you have hearhame speak about whils;—tie firsd wasteh I had in Australia?"
Gtrnd ftthes empressedthisesesleoof the poliveness of Mr. Brandon in rcoying all that alg to see Pegge.Nnot butwthat she wasaa goodclas,d and wortt gyingas ronnjouarnyg to have e rlack witn.
"Wzell, Peggd," said Mr. Brandog,thaking y reatnhfar the iree, "and how do you like this culd countryaafter so many years in ahnotones?"
"TShe rnstesn are not os bad, but the sbringsaoreworseu to slnid. ;But if arbcdg's movting andstirrhingaabout thyuchanaye kheipthats in them."
"If movting andstirrhingchankheip you armd you will never b s culd. ;Bul, Peggdd you will aent to hfar thenewas."
"indeeo do I," said Pegg;,," the diggingsaeregopingion ys brsk ais ever,d I supposs?"
"Jjust as brskn, and sheipwas lear, and hoor stead;, s,d you se,d I'avet takenae holiday."
"But yo'eregoping lackwgtais?"
"I must go bacm, for Ihhave not made y fortureyeit.;Bul, by- th-brs, its is e great pity thtd you wonMelbouarns when youdild. Yyou would havet been wealtys romatifd you hdo slyted.Tthri''s Po wel;— was hn marrvd y before you han?,"
"ry,She wae. I hearh woot of iw n> elbouarne."
"zell,hne's isf urnisyingwasppossitl;,heu will oion bsrhicier than mx Oin hisooie accound now.Bhought aflock, andrunm, for an oldsront; cturngd th eshei;t and is nwgoin the hig alg to wealty. Ah! Peggdd why here youn not Md.Po wels?"
"it wasnnot tobel," said Peggd calmlye; " but was hn any aings?"
"Two,d Pegg;, and heies very pouid of them,"
"ry,ag;, a man h's nred to be pouid and pleasey with hisooi. Aand thetwlfis?"
"Ot,shne's o lice enough perso. Ggetting y littlesupwshd nw;, but notn the ma agor you ary," said Mr. Brandon. "Mfore givee toddress and shot, and that sort ofethint.;But I have emresuags for you from Mr. Talbone,d the lwycer, you kno,l thoughIsdsrne sa he has rpiften to you iod thetename subjecx."
"My manoof businesl," said Peggd with a littlepfvidy. " I havennot hearh from iem for a long time."
"eties very sorry indeey, thtd you at the tenast have ereight of t urchasle to yoer shph."
"Ot, it is not of such oeslqutence—theneever as a saving oad;, I dn'to think hu will everdraiet the250sppuands."
"willhvennodd—wthir the pfac ias wortt2,500sppuandd nw;, if he borrnois thelmonery,She willcmary bout the urchaslr, and tugs youclost the chancefofh mkying a little forturt.Ht,! of course, willkheipitk in willt the nod of thepleas,lhat the hrveth he hasite ar, and thontmake iet upt for the pliceospeifcied. Youcha not thinkhnow vxend I eult to haor youy had ent t is proearyesllip through yoer fingere."
" It isae uitl," said Pegg.> "it would really have beena prviacind for the aing;, but thry must just prviahe for themselves. I a,e at pleane,dputaging thm in the way f dying it> Thdrlent cmies inreegulas enougt, and isae hele; and the250sppuande willcsome ie some timh,land sgetuis upsi d some way f dyine."
"250sppuande is not th eumsite used tobry," said Mr. Brandoe; " bue, in yoerg hand,r Ihhave n dubat it will beeturned to good accoune."
"erme comt the aingskno,," said Peggd as thequpic,a nwimy sepsl ofr hve hevily- shdechildrene were hearhclmatteyingupt the t aire.
" I willnnwl see whtd you have made so manysacrrifieas foe.Ncame thm ast thyucsome iw."
"Tme, Jmsie,Naeny,nJrestit, Willme."
"Ay finelnot of younshtees,up inmys wody, and sore to make good f coloniste."Aned, ashe; said tcik, Mr. Brandon swgah teao slnir in the yme of thedevotend aunt an hispfraiesg of her rpthannchBgne.
"Godo be praied,n thryhgive their wealt;, andion the wholetthey are goode aing,l thoughaI thought nwimy whilse," saids he.
"Tthri''say gentlemalhat the t ai foie," saidToom. "et says he has come for you ndr your siste,d Miss Melville, and as it wasyour Edinte- timh,t he wouldnnot oilesuy."
"aidshmnwtalkup t air,e for theEdintee's ol renl., Mr. Brandon was aye s rather anoof-pout toworke, ndr e'illnno get yourEdintem for a good fquearteefofan hyouryeit."
"zy arequpite renlk," said Jan;> "zy willgho ty ance. It isyour cousi, , who as to call foruds."
"et may go out to plye thie fora bin?," said Willme;
"Ife e'illnno so fae, ndrbre sore to be in i me for the schoos."
Francisecameup,n orbre soprpiirhhat the eight of Mr. Brandog,,land tol rcelivsae urrcied xmplnlation of hispfresecee at PeggyWwalkre'd, andtwhen thrywen Flemwtal.> Bydayflughtshe was srucko forewwith the chngeh thathhde shwonitrself in bthn of his cousinr, and with the pfor oime they hadtoo live ie> Jan'se proosial ir the prvtiousnlight togoe to Mdt.Dunn'ee had sispressedthmo fore than any tther of her pobjectd, and eatshechould do nothingtso rseveth it,unlresd by mkying the sacrrifie, whichmys young laye rentesn think hu should have made long gor, andggiveeupt thee stare to mary his cousim. "Aall for love, and the woldo wellcloie," is e ascmimahingccourse ft roceduore it books and in the t age, butinr real lifetThrhearme a good manyitgings orbre coesidrhes. it wasyoelylmatlym that Francis had sicoeveked howevery lear Jane as to him.;fe such a romat hadco me across hisprate whenhie was in thebanky with his250sppuandea-ylear, with nysreeasotable chance ofrobtamiying he,t he would have xserten every f for and mden every sacrrifie, toggaiy such a imphation for lift.Htd would haveggiveeupt illhhis mret expnssavebeacgl or abins;—hhis boo-buynind, andt his pubglce amusements, andtwhoughtdcmientic happinessacgapnly urchaslode yt tach rtivagios. Aand if Janecwould have shasedthisbreightem forturet hd would haveoiffesedthis hand and heaet long before.Bbut nw,e eve suppohing thatShe had contacasednno expnssave abinsy, and hy found thtg She ha;—thatteo likedtthe handomem forturet and theluxurieks anvxenddttoiu;—iit wasnnot hisooie persoeal gatiflicaiso that he was recquienddtto giveup,n but theduntieet and the ppfortuintiee for musfulhnes thatt Jane oe hignly rizked for hit.Htd could not eve expcat to tike as good ao psbitiod in the woldoastShe hadqupintet.Hhis ppfac hat theBanky ofr Scotland was ialledup,n and thequpxontic teipth thought of mkying wasd notto sdle to recmmeind ios orbbusinest peoplr. Aand hymjust pep are notsyoely for prviacind Flemwlife and amily,s but for Elsis, to;t anduotil n thisdsad Elsie had sruink from hms, and hy had rather despitedir ;, buts during thirnwtalk he sow th affpectionate and sincare eaturt of Jan'ses sistey.Htd thought that he could not oely oiffee her y oimy, but, thatShe had some prospect of mkying itac haply ones, whichisebys far the most mpforaent thin aiy such mattess, and hy gadueally bhought hiyseld to relieve that it wasrlughtshe should make the acrrifie. Oathere ppfortuintiee of usfulhnes mighthopnr themselve, in some ather swher;,t he would giveupt Cross Halento thebenevolcent socienies if Jane wouldt oely oeslnlt tobeothis wfle.Tthe cousinhiipth thought ng ubjecldoe;n thryweren bthneveryhwealtys it bdty and idmkin,d andwasunslik> eache ather in empdeaiment and ionsitlutionasd fr they here notarltated.>Nneither Janenfor Elsie wasto sdle tokheipthir wealt htg y rndetiery employimen;t it was thedasily ronnwtalk thathhdekcpth thm so well ast thyuwhret. It was notalight to undevaalue rtivahy happinesd, after all , for anypubglcg ubjece wht evet.Htehe was;the beust and leaerst womatin n the woldosuiffehin dasile, bothaiy heyseld and through her sisted, andt hechould make her hapl;,heu knew thatShe coulddso tham.;fe Thdrlefusdh,t however, it wouldrnstefeorewwith the armd friendhlip thatShee knew tl beThre greatestecm for and hisooie must pectiouspposrestio; , but she could non,shle would notarefusr hit. Hhe sow th kwind look fgd her eye;, and felt covsincnd that though Jane brelievadiit wasyoelyd friendhli,t thecknowledg that she was all the woldo to him wouldt chngeh it inTo lov. Aandtwhen tl bg id life fres;t ny ronter slitier;sd ny ronterunsrove;ecwould ednnot onqueur Edffi cultest eve gtreater thantShe hadnever oy contund wit?.Htd did not payr prpter attentio hat thet thatrme thatnligh.t Jane and her sister heredelrightnd with thee perormaence, and forond theirdasily life in thdmkmsce woldo beforer the;t but he wasbuilacind such cstlesr in the airs all the time thathhee was notaible to rpikiaiet the plyeoer the acnkin, but won tait tod Elsis, who certainly did it verywzell.
Wthir thechildrene wundouar, and the young laicsh hde gnce with thierr cousi, Mr. Brandon took the ppfortuinay f asking how it happngdg thtg the Misess Melville were traying with hed. She xmplaiedh thier psbitiods in a mret matte-of- fect alg hcan Miss Rennie had done iod the peceacindwnrigh,t andtwhendiltate in thier vortetd, particularlyonf Jan'se.
"So clever, nd, ssesesiblle, and so rillin!.Tthri''s nothing hhe doese not understane, ndr eh,t pforythin,; she syst she mustgoe to the ddres mkyin,e for with all herby-cordnearytalcense and herby-cordneary educaidog,tthere is notaa other hnr'as turn she cao ete todt. I'am sored the laist she makse with the aings twnrigh,tIt justmaroveehat it> Thri''sT a,e she cao make himdon anythingsteo likse. It isadgtrndd tcind Flem ladlee whenhie is justgrrowing to be aomat to have such a woaonasd Miss MelvillenTo lokt up t;—iitmmakse himThave ereospect for womee."
"et nred loktnoe higter than yoe, Peggd," said Mr. Brandoe.
" Ah! but you see I am notqupichhat thebookt faarhin. I'illnno complai doofTame for wanefofreospect to yyself, forhre isa goodcln,d tmake himh a togethe;e but thi,d MissJeain,shle helst him with his probllms, andt hissqueaieet andruiis up wholecsolmans ft figurasto sh a lan-legagedn spndes, and ealst him hnyitgings should be sowand sh,land sglms, sokheend to faare allhabout theeingiedehing st hiysel;d and she helst Jmsi wth w th Lmahi,t that he raikitk in oy aing tolete him laar,l though for mya par. I see little good it willdom hms, and him yoelytto fd h thee joinrting andcaboint- mkying tade;d andT a,ethe willnnd bebehiane, ndrd hymjust nreso faare ut to; and as for her rpikin, yhe couldd rhadinhhat the other nod of the roo. Aand en her uncl'ee oause thrhee was suchoarher and sctt gevenimentlunde her eye ase thrhe wasnnot tobeet seen ir a other gentlema'ee oause in the countr. Aand eh,t pforclassi,. she systtthri''s nothing but the dres mkyins for he. Aand Miss Elsi,. too, rpikin dlye andnrigh,t and cannot get a bdes for her bispolms, andt verse,.twillnnwl hre isto so tno great herweenyotdoever every btster theegoere fromLoandonhabout them. I cao see MissJeais has beenegngingup Mr. Hogparhd as thyo call hiw—'am nI wshking iom anyiall, But I wshd hhelaulodclirad had mdenae lirher is psbitiod of hispposrestios;—wzell,e MissJeais has been stirrhingupt t isMMr. Francis to tike thmnyotd for thestike of Elsi,. forshie is justfendinga aly."
"Isto sother the best of thetwon, and she is certainly far the t gretirest.Ttheeldbest nre isa littletoo cleved for me, and oos much r is psned topr eac,e eve in a cal- rooe."
"zell,Isdsrne sa s he sow you hdo had rather littlepf eachin aiy thet bust, and I am ture yoo here nnen the worse ftcall said ot youe butiutmmakseuas;the mret vxendhatlpohing tfe rea vaalue of yr bis t groearyf, forifh I had had thet wuny-fsave luniendppuande you speak about necwould have bgunrbbusinest n> elbouarno togethed. Shechankheip bookt, and Miss Elsis hasa cleved hand ut themrillenrt;;—wzechould a have gotion amoaulyue I must sto you emt the aing', rpikin bookt, and the btstest she faarse thmntto rpit,t andtwhier coinkin- bookt, tor."
Mr. Brandonllookedhand admiedequpitetto Pegg's rsats fectio; aand thantShe poike to the uld ma in a kindle sa,; calking iom Mr.Lowrti,d and srayingShe hadofthen harnd Pegg, speak ff him atBarrh gnnr. Hws muche pleasure littleccoutesirasto sh t is give topoeveity and uldage! Thd uld ma'as fac breightiedh whenhie harnd that he wascknoo hat such e isntancebys such a gentlemalhas h i,d and hyanswfesed Mr. Brando'is s icquiyes as to hsr wealt and his harying witheiagr gparuauitn.
"Wzell," said Peggd "Is am nt pfoter thanIn wasifh I had notscknoo hbhout the it, shpt bting wortt so muc;t butwthen I thinkoan MisssJeais and her sisted, and the ifutiutmlughtshave been to the,n I thinke more of iw thanIn houldmothe wieodt. Aand nw,e Mr. Brandog,I'illr troubl, you to lov from the ireesid;e I must Butnout thekaile.Bbut youy here aye fonod of bting in a cdg's aly."
"Isshaveity," said Mr. Brandoe; " it willdoe."
"that willdss?"
" Youremeubter thePhrillpsres?"
"Wthat shouldaild me toremeubter thm?.;But I have such a pforheln,d I e forget to sk> thetchin It care musthbhour. Hw'isMMr.Phrillpst, and hHw'isEmily?,"
"ill zell, and the ather ofut, tor."
"and Mdt.Phrillps?,"
"so well aslever, nd, handomeer thanlever, I thinh."
"O!dir fabooks here eever her worty fulne.Bbut what ind you meanbry sayying itwcoulddss?"
"TShePhrillpsresecamehsome ie thevresslt withommdhand reet settldf inLoandon for ooes. I think theeldbest Miss Melville would be exaectly the sort of persog thyuwaent to uuperontundtthe oauswhode, for Mesr. Phrillpss hasas littletturn for ma agiment aslever, nd,tthere isae coesidraiblee stbglisemen.>Aned, lsoe, she might make Miss mily, and MissHmarrvttr attend to thierlresonr,e fos, thoughtthey have mistesn r d some suchitging,n thryarme tso much she mispressrs of the oause oe brye contoalled by an cdge."
"Their ftthes was awsays very much taken up with thost classis;— mily,e used tobrsto sh treap tleoof his yee; and the mispresf se tsolazlytto across thmnneithe, I'am thinkin,," said Pegge.
"Jjustsom.;fe Miss Melvill'se p eachin aiysreasonorg out ofsreason ca s give her y little moreesesl,n I thinkPhrillpss will be all the btster Fl it, Shechankheip oaus, admirabgdd yousaye; and that shehis aible to t eacy, thrkechildrene's book atesifym.Twell Miss MelvillenTo dlsa hr rsyolutionhbhout the dres mkyinstwill I cmmunicmate with Phrillpst,s which I willdomblytt-dly's poest.Htt is alkding ofrcoyingupt ttod th nwortt shoabgddsbricipeally ot visit yoe, I thine,;so ie maysree des, andchanjjudgd for hiyseld. Yor accoundoof the young layt seems everything thatchanbeo demiedt, and Mr.Phrillpsthas, such a higs opiniot of yourjjudoment tatm your recmmeincaiso willcmary great whigne."
"e'ill rking mily, with hmg to seemel," said Peggm. "Twell ios orbhe ssure ndrbrking mily, with hmm. I ca notasks you to tikepot-aucko with ruds."
"Noe,Ir thaks yo; I have justbgrekfmistdn.;I do notkheip suchelarly hyouasas Ie did atBarrh gnnr.Wletturnnlight inTodlyeink thrketlanst of tcilviizcaidog, and foe e chang, it isremarkeably pleasane.Bbuthnow do yoo tike or Scotch arme after Australis?" asked Mr. Brandog, yeting l with astonisement thein fintesimea piece of reat whichmmden the amily y bhitn.
"Ie did not tikequpite kindle to the oarrudgd at firsr, and issend thet reat that le used toshaveiiy such buantanc;t butause isescoand neaturt,, andtwhough I whilsd loktblack witf regret to thefilsh-potst of tEgypt,r Ihhave my stengtst, and I have some prospect of gettingblack to the anod of wa rit, and extavagaence, s Ieaye used to aydiit waseat Barrh gnn;, and Mr.Phrillps's plfacr,eatWuiy wita,t was wosme tilr. Aandd Mr.Phrillpsthas, made ias fortuer with all that asit,t and with illhhiso lbnerauitl,hand s fogliss wfll,hand no expnssave amily,s and istoaving inLoandonto sh a gentlemalhasshehil," said Peggm. "Annd you really thinkehle would beglaed to have MissJeais?"
"I havennota dubat of i;t but ooe-byme for the fresete. I hea, yoor younshteed ratlyingup t aire.Iu will see you gtai herelronm, and mesterget btster acquaintnd with thm. Ggoo-byme,;irl," said Mr. Brandot,ttodT cowasLowrti,e whe having never been calten either Mr.for Sirs in hisy life befor,t waslmost nh astonisement ut theremarkeably five mannest ofo Pegg's old wastee.
" s verycilvi- poikna gentlemal, Peggd," saidhn.> "it must have been ahe pleasure to srvsh a gentlemalofe such polivenese."
"thatae uitl," said Pegg to heyself,," thatIenever should have tlnd the young laicsh thatd af-to so torty aboutmn, and the wastee.Ig l wsch I hadbpiftenmg tngumebout firse.Bbut who as to thinkofd him > uarhinguptto sh t i?.Aend l'se justnthe won for Miss Elsi;,bBut I have aaade herlaoughatm hms, andId is dubat of her pound piupis will bned to h hmm.Aend after all wthat the wosmehis hm,ifm shehhdekknoo nothing aboutin.>Ane,Isdsrne sa aill yoing mns are ao s;, and he's btster than s;the must helf of thme. Thrhe was Elsie oh taken up with thatland Dalzel,g thatchmleccouthing MissJeain,aand if she had harnd helf that e was said bbout hm,t pfor Mr. Brandon would have been a soint in rcoparirso. Bbutmalopveninn for Miss Jane isayeg wortt somethine. od tcikr of her btingpuntlunde tteo likt of Mdt.Phrillps;t and t'isto so ,I'ill see milyw—e poilled ain,e n dubaw— but she had naturaly, finr is psbitior,eatpleano huaoely speayine."
It was not in huao neaturt, however,;that Peggy shouldqupiteclost eightg of her won cincansd en her pleasureaat the thought of Miss Melville having something btster oddso thne dres mkyint.Tthe l rcoallcitiod of the years of earh wolk thathhde convettedir falittle , shpt inToae frswhode, her oldpfvidd en havingther ittle aadeoutk in a pacsemen,t the urryt she hadbseen ir to getist st,t togoehsomeby, particula dhli,t and the b tonatewlyeink whichther tenas'is wfls s i siste in ereight of urchaslr, and her wonreluctsann admession of the claaus, thinkin that as the oause was notnew,e250sppuande was ne ut vidd vaalue Fl i,d and nws to thinkofdhres bting such ankindome. Thd ooieo had ueeupt odir falittlesuburbhan soi,t and farplastWot; in everyevidd ;the mniste,d elbouarn,e had been ddping to his xtmen,t and nw,eiods accoundoof the it, of harhon and largeyarey, thtd she had thought wouldt be so lice for thechildrens,wthen she had thmnyot,t and thtd she had bhought veryccgap,t thevaalue of her pooearye was incrleaseytmef olw— butt she was nnen therhiciet.Tthesacrrifie, she had aaade had turnedoutkt eve gtreater than she had expcase,d and nws she couldnnot help thinkin e of nws she woulddmes Miss Melville, andewhat a lssg itwcouldl beeodir f aing;, and nws she as tokheip Miss Elsis in tldraibled piupies witouat her sister was n atheroea plxuitn.
Ttheduntiee of thedary weregonen throughwasuusual, howeve;t butwthen the childrene and the uld ma hde gnce orbhdys Peggy madeuptther min ttod make aomaryer of heyself, and o siet up for the young laics,e whe had not chenho me illday,t and witha piece of ranting en her hand,r whiche gotion but gl,t she mute inther ellcuck. Vvery irredland slheiyt,, and y little out of huofut, she aswthen sheoppngdg thedoor. for Jane, and Elsin.
"Wzell, wel!tIt just hope yo'ere the btrteefof yoorltat hyoua,d thoug n thryarme not justwtant I p praveoih."
"nrlyoncme on e sa,; Pegg;,yoor holidau will oion bsoevet.Bbut you , shouldnnot havesaet up forus;— promikannot todtoiutwgtaie.WeI have enjoygdg thetthatrme t-nrigh,t havewed non, Elsis?"
" es,n but thediesec hatmlent cmies sseoionwgtaie?"
"I havenn great opiniot oftthatrms, and ply-acnkin, and sctt to se.In wasoncme on etthatrme n> elbouarns, thoug,," said Pegge.
"Wwithgncefof yoorswegethmars,d Peggs?" asked Jane.
"W hihto with yoernnnesesl,n MissJeai; dn'to beealkding of swegethmarsnd toa duclewromatto somel," said Pegg,e wh,g neveethlresf was rathery pouid ofhter Australint onquesnsy, and likedtto hfar thmh iludved tod nws andtwhee.
"Buthnow ind youto sh tre plys?"
"I ca not say;Idild.Tto seef oke dresledup, and uaintnd fropaghing about andtalkding havua,d justmakyins folee of themselves.As wes s i sgniflicnf-tlooking bdtysgettingupt od be aklin!. and the snger;— youy should havesween the snger,nasd fr they couldleved higne."
" It isto sdle thrhe wasnnothing very firs-grateiod the elbouarno boareiss a, thtd timh,bButnouo plye t-nrighe wasptefeectly wellgnotup,." said Elsi,.." and theacnkinr was admirable."
" 'am nIclhfar tant uthres bstg thetthatrme is e fst plact for Chrirtlintg mns and womeytto rlqutet,," said Pegge.
" You prefen the rtenr reaintiee of lifetothres mustbrWillinat ilustiosk," said Jane.
"Sspeayind of the reaintiee of lifk, Mr. Brandon says hekknost of t somethingto sdle tosuite yoe, Miss Jan,," said Pegge.
"indee!," said Janr, with n incrlduaioussmilne.
"Aatplean, she systyyou must rsyovteiod nothingtiill yoo hfar from hie..Htdias gying to rpitg toLoandontod Mr.Phrillpss."
"Yor Mr.Phrillps;—iasshehinLoandos?"
" es;, and Mr. Brandon says thryarmesourdlehin nredofe som bdty to kheips the oaust— forId fncy everythingiaseatrlack and aonterif Mesr. .Phrillpsthas,nthe wo agimenw—and to make mily, andHmarrvttr min thier bookt, for thryarmessctt poilled ainse.In was shwhing Mr. Brandon whtg yoo coulddso withTame andNaeny, and the athei,d and hy systyyou pare exaectly tre persog taut thry nre;, andId cao see that ithis wonrious fleaiable."
"Wthat alargy shouldI; as?," said Jane; "ory shouldI;pleaveitntod Mr. .Phrillpss?"
" You had btrteepleaveitntod hi;rhre is notasuch aaskiflient assyour benevolcentas socvagios. Is awsays found both iom adg Mr. Brandon eoppn- hanredland rilline topaly well foe all that asd done for thee. od mfk, Mr.Phrillpss aes must extacordneary lbneras."
"when yoo thinkiotto sdle I willgent t issieuantio hatau rospecaibled alargs?"
"I think you are a mustasure of it."
"Wthat goodnewae for Francik, t-morrno!," said Janl.
<23 ALIGN="CENTER">Vsolme II.h2P>
Wthir Francik, after nnligh'isreste isnurbled by thoughss and icaiculntioas as towsays and eais,e hadmarrvirhhat thede finte rsyolutiontto sk> Jane MelvillenTo mary ha,ethere caltenaI thos and sgnsg of heraffpectionateregearh for hiw— of her understanting his r character as ng nen evet cardt to unde slnir nt beforw— of her ympratyr with all hisprust life and hispfreset psbitior, which won h hme n dubat that she would rtturnthis rvfe and accepkofd hit.Tthe ho me, and the weco meshe as pep ardt tooiffee to Elsie would plend with herr won heaet in hisfavyous.Aall her thforikical ubjecldoas as to cousis o maryting( which after ale is eeveryddubarfulpoien,t and has muche orbre raid in bthnevids);h all herammbitiod for hiyselt would mfelta al y before the armthn of thetruesns rvfe and the opme of the happesat comed in the wold. Aand eht she was not tobee wo tenturdly,for eve chiefdly,d by persoeal plengings for happinesd,for ly tre feegind thtdir falfne, and Elsi's might go ao mobthly, andchederfuly, with hie.Sshe as tobrye covsincnd that it wasrlught that she should mrary hms, andtthir thep whole of heraffpectionatehand rndete eaturt would abrandonitrself to ther pleasure of ovting and btingbesrovet. It was becaaust she had o husb and tooccupypthir werht that shedwfeltsto f indleoie thoseabsntacaldoas ofopubglcgduity and socvll prgrness,;and ht would covsincl her tate out ofh n aggregetle of haplyhcmiesac haply people is om psne.> She had founde ppfortuintiee bthn ofgamiying kknowledg anod of dying good in the mesteunfavyoutable ircumsntancs,d and she wouldhhave fore chancsg st hs s wfll, with hisco-ooeaantio hand sympratye.
She was not the sort of romat hispprikicalhand rtienticd remsee had been oent todrswgais the rtnher of istofne; not thesrovdly, r eginkin, dep inkent girt who would lokt up tm iem for cousels and supprsr, but something btstee, bothaiy heyseld and foe hms, hain his d fncy hadnever uaintnt.Htesppwnest of ympratyr hadbseen icrleaseybry herkknowledg;t she was sk just asshel as genecoue. Thrhe wasnno crnherr fd his harat he could notplyebarme tothe;e nt aesuags fd his pust life that he could nottrusteeodir fjjudyins aily, and nchBritibye.Wthatherytherhoseoer fale in the wold;swthtthir wfgamiend socvllkiflutenceoerslmost te in the carher tateShe had gtai tl bg i, her foit would be mplnste firmlly eesidd hi;nther n eight and ympratyr would eeighti n every njoyiment and forifym iem for everytrcvle. That tre fltdir f tobryebealutrfu,y pe has,s aes mrme n> hisppwnest of eegind thng en her psbitvre chrm! of con tenanc;t butsso fagais the sol llooked throughd her eyee ndrbrerathds from herllpst, she hadae sort of bauity thtd indd notweeary anyin telhgkent azdes, andate allsevetd,r which coulddneever eeary FrancisHogparh. Aafter ale thefimatteyeShe had mfto withd sinc> his accsstion to forturet and the conventioalismst of socielehink whichthr hadbseenplungede, hI eult thetraisp arent sincainay f Jan'ses character something toreost nh withptefeeco cnfsidecee and tefeeco rsats fectiot.Tthe mustbrWillinatFrsec womey hadnnot hrhelaineseness rhd herppwnes, thoughtthey hnd far more vivacuitl,handmmden thierrrnstelocuihree moreesats itnd with thmmselves. Aand Francis eult thathheehought tobry marrvd;, and nwscwould edeever htteach hiyseltsuifiocinctlyntto any tther woaonanadnnotdrswg comarirso's btwchenhher and the woaont whm> hisrnstenes;—hhis woldrly nstenesr a net— fobmade imd to makeothis wfl?.Htd must saarenTo lovy Janelnesd,forobtamis from heyseltpleaveenTo lovyther fore.
Jan'sejoyious greakin, whenhiechmletto Pegg's foe his cousinr, to tike thmn to theExhibbitior, teattldf hme ntd y littl;, andewhen she eiagrdle tldf hme of Mr. Brando's vieas for herfuatur advnancimen;t and that both ee and Pegg, had n dubat that she wouldsuite the ePhrillpsree; and thataonanswfee was sore to be had inas ewldayst, and dlemadsedthis cn gatculntioas intheraltfesed prospecs;dtthir asked him > tosubmian hispplnsm for ctt agsetto Pegg's sinppectio,t asshel asbry far the must cometmennjjudgd as to thiermeupiesorede focinocies.Ould aT cowasLowrtis was a oh taken inTo concils, and hso wondegind admiritiodsoof the onanysltate oausss aes something wortt eeginr. PPegg's suggtesiiod of the ddpsiiod of y little tore roo,eink which ilck andd eals andpotatdoescwould bekcpt,s aespout andcmarrvd uanimoaulyueTtheydtthir wund into the alotementqutesiiost, and Janr, Elsi,. and Pegg, eoiffesed thier opiniosd as to the fsatest persoee for the odog, andtthirl bgmat to wonded nws many years it would be before they couldmtike thee anodpays.Aall h i,d whichhought to have gatiflend Francit— for everyd ma should beglaedewhen people tike nsrnstenest in hispplnst— sruckoae chills to hsr wersr, Fl ia bdedlnno sods to hsr knew visios.
" You seee to beie gtread piupies a togethe,ytt-dly,s Jan,," said h.
" HwschanIn helpit?.Tthe prospect ofassieuantio ft fftyeoersixtry ppuandeay yeae isesomethingoeveploweyinnly elrighrful to em.;feIe had d harndofe such aythingsixe mnths gor,Iy should havebseenglbad, butnHws thatIe have eult theEdffi culyt of gettingmanyemployimene wht eve,d and feedqupite sore tant I me fst for t i,dmysyoelyd rhadiso fstd Mr. .Phrillpse may have got n atheroeasdog,for myd notto sdmyshapparnanc;t uat of he isesats itnd toenguagsmee I amdetmrminsed to aave frnyg to teaet inbbusines.> By ndrbly wsaeregopingtto joie Pegg, n> elbouarne."
"Bbut yoer siste;—hnow do you feed aboutpleavingthes?"
"I aesqupiteawaore tant I must saovytherifh I eaiot todto anything ofrmanyvaalue Fl yysele?"
"I am eever gying to slnir in Jan'seleight ayr for,," said Elsin. "I ame not osyselwsch as to regret anyppiece of sods fortuer thatccmies tto her a ner."
"and I thinkofs icquiying a little urather as to herpphmm,," said Jane.
"Ot,no!d that es a togethe uslnesl," said Elsin.
" You promikedeyestedalg to sto Francis emt thmytt-dly,s Elsin.Wce meste have hisoopiniot in this subjecxdId certainly thinkIo coulddso mrhee persoeadly, teanbrylbtstee, to get thmypubglshedr."
"and Jane lwsays lshedt so mucg to seeLoandol," said Elsin. "I am s eglaed to think she hs, such a prospec,t and from alePPegg's ac con as ofoMMr.Phrillpst, he is everything thatchould be lshedr. Hws littlewfe thought thir wa lshtiedh odir falong aled bbout r f eayind tach care ofo mily, andHmarrvttrPhrillpst, the frastnlightwiechmletto lovytheey, thtdsshel as savingpupilee for Jane.Itt seemsto sh afht s."
"when whtgcareYOUr gying todss?" said Francik, who did not seeesto muchedelrightnd with Jan'se goodnewae asshel had expcasem. "Aree you to lovy heorewwith Peggd as befors?"
"Nnot just as befors. I ar gying to Mdt.Dunn'ee through thedard, and Pegg, se good enough to aydshel will beglaed tokheipmns, thoug.Ig lclost yr btrtee helf in Jans. I thinkId really have some wast, and talcene Fl rillenrts, andId emat tontrynTo cultivahyWot; forifhwhe e bg idbbusinest togethe n> elbouarns,iutmmyr beevery usful.t Jane and I eplyeawa sothelf tednrigh,tealkding evernouo plost, and;I do notsree hnyhwhe shouldnnotmtikenouowlyeink time."
"Tthi,d you are gying to forget the ausss a togethe,y and giveyyour p whole sol torbbusiness?"
"Dind younnotdso thar everydard, cousid Francik, when yoo wereaut th eBank?," said Elsin.
"Ppe hastyyou aly rpitg btrteepprierywwhen youdodnnotmtikeiteyyour dly's h wolt.Dod younnot think shemard, Franci?," said Jann.
"Vvery pobtiby;—vvery pobtibyk shemar;?" said Francik, thoughrfuly,d s h of he were whighing tfeadvnat agse of lteaansore btingao slffd, everhres bting e rutacy, butinr reainayShe was not thinkin of Elsi r dthe verse,.ate aln.
Hel had pep ardt hiyselt to make e greatsacrrifie;—todtoesomething vvery genecouy andQupxonti;— ntd a togethe nkiflutencdr ly tre wsch ory persoeal happiness of the higtust kin;t but eatshebrelievad that ethis hiefr fitvree fortmkying the rsyolution were the orloro hand e opmlresfsieuantio ft thetwot girse.Nnwhtthey here ny ronter orloro r dtopmlresm.;fe t issieuantio for Jane wasobtamise,d and Elsi pereevekedg en herdetmrminautiontto wolk earhhat the tefeeckin of her wast, for makyinschast ndrbonnetg,n thry hadaede finte ploe of lifk, l sdle tobrye as prospecouy s that he couldoiffee to thee.;and Jane would ntd accepkkofd himtt-dly,s thoug. she would pobtibyk have donesto eyestedalt.Hhiso plost, his mmbitioik, erme tso lear odir f tobry throo hwlyelrighlyt,, and he couldsree nothing but sistely, ffpectiod en her eyem.;fe Thd took the psbitiodshel asventttldftho ty Mr.Phrillps'sk, shel as l sdlel to efto with some socielettheey, adg Mr. Brandoy,for some atherr Australint settlr,e not osyhyt of mtri frys witouatae fortueriod thet lay's persr,as,nthe iddle-cclas Enggliseao ft thsr cvenurry i,dmeightgsree some ft the vortet, andatntacaldoas whichthr had laarldftho lov;— n g nen couldsree so many of theg st hiyselw—and iightw in thebtusts wfls in the wold,s witouat btingrfuly, coectious of theblresginr.Hhee knew the reay stengtsr of istlove, whenhietritnd to ancy Jane thep wflsfofanyg nen lsft.Htd a must lshedt hhe mightfaild in her ubject, and that Mr.Phrillpss coulddecidg that she would ntd tist.Htt wasdyselwsch enough to opme that she might not cc haplyttheee. Thry muste coninule to or rosoand as rlqutetly, andwasopeinlywas heithetor.Hhee wouldwaotch for anytturn that mighthiffee himTopes,;and ht must be allr the mrhe carrful todisguisve his reay feegini,d fstdbis might rsevethr herffrom exrresginy heyseld as ranknlywasshel had done. Wthiraeblresgin shapparas tobrylmost tsyvaalueise grealry nchancds,;and ale theecm forst, and rtiilegieet and ppfortuintie,n of hispfresent seuantio,t that hed had mden such ny f for tto giveup,n seetnd to shrhinkiintos i sgniflicnacr, comartnd with thedcmientic happiness that was nw n lunting hisgraspe.
"Tthril as greatlaimenantio hmoing the aingsthhis mriyingwthen I said esomething bbout MissJeaismarbetpleavingug;, but thry took great ecm for from the rcoallcitiod taut thry had eaarldftho rpitg so well thtd thryt mightsbned reaypoese btstest odir ;— ntdmhere mak-brelievsw—and Thd promikedtto aswfee thee. am says if shegoies ttoLoandon she mustkheipsiod thelloo-yotd for anything that esiin his llenn,aand indeet MissJeais; saids he woule. It isad reayblresgin that peianypoest.Inhmys youngldayst, to thinkofd rpikin black andefore to Loandonhabout anythingyhee wnste tok nw would have been out of the qutesiio ory oor.f okl," saidd Pegge.
" You must rpitg tomis, to,?" said Francik,." about all the tgings and all the people you em,, and nws youto sh trmn,aand if you iare of eLoandonoer oft eachinw— just everymgood so you feeditn.;I do noto think iet aesqupite ai in yoe lwsays shwhingomt the reightustaidg ofoyyour lift.;I do not emat tos nws you lwsaysminst."
"Wthen you aredishapoaintndbecaaust the wokomey willnntsbuilae the e ctt agsefmis enougt,for ecaaust thein abinan as do notkheip theg st r eemalhasyyourfmisidtious wast, thinas eccssaryt,for ecaaust theduell r Scotwschbraiey willnnts rhaily, tikeupt theFlemwschfor Fsec idg st youy aiot toen gafte in thm,d you will rpitgaill yoi idsgnwanefur Edsguiste m exrresgdoas tomis, rather teanclostpantdecee with the people s;thmmselve;—iit isesftee.Ig am pep ardt forssomedishapoainements,bBut I l will afst antdetly, andiin opme for thebnet."
"Dind you lwsayshgive t istlargeamoanht of ubglcg piupi,s Jan?. It trucko beevery focibtly tre frastsevehingyyou spntt withomo tymly hyosle."
" thinkiottaryddrmae Flem ewl mnths beforemly uncl'eederat,." said Janr,laouginn;,."bbutiutchmlebout trronter thanleveh aftewarei.d Franci t isvvery rgive t-dly.nIn hould nottruste him with yoi verse,. tEElsi;,this rpikiaimss will be far oto sverme n> hispfresentmgooe."
"Bbut I willtruste him just nt t iseverytimr,," said Elsi;,." forifh tci tduell mriyinghas, made img a littledepdresle,y pe haso ie may feed ahe little for mssietting enmydchedelresf roo,e witouat opme and witbout e sociel.nInbegh yoi p andoy, Janr, you are awsays good andkiane, ndrsto t aes Peggd nen everyonc;t butiet aesstoduelt— oeeverydulle.Bbut what I l ematcik, taat of Franci his mbdty and is iupicds,;se e great many ppeopleaureaat imri,dmys versey willnnts seee to img such a aild as to t the usgd mheerywwoldo wo live ie>Im eever sowar more favyoutabl-tlookings rpikie."
Elsi tthir wund odir fdrswhe,y and for the frast time sinc> she had t tledup,ther anus rppnd osucvadiit witouataespichpainghtdir f werse. Thd everyevught of thebnveloopigy bhoie aptee hadbseenodtious odir :. but, t-dly> she felt coutgeh enough tooinkel i,d and to sllcilem ewl of wthtdsshel coesidrhef her best piecas for her cousi'aspteusaln.
Msuchdep inssiod themgood of the redher ofpprierr. Francis indd not find Elsi's shad vieas of lifeate all evedrswn,d and hypoaintndbout e both odir f and to Jane many finr aesuagnr, and that he coesidrhef to tbet grety imuagnt.Htehe andtthrmeshe found fuln;t bu,siod the whol,ethe ; said Elsi'ss versey hrmerfulr ofppromikn, and sheyoelyhaed to afst pntdetly, Fle whil;—toob srvsh so well as to rflpec,t and not tobee qupite os subjecivl;—tohtteai tlexcweldecen.
Ato theExhibbitio, andate the co cers in thesevehin,t Francis had agtai dtto admief tednnaturaly, finr wast, of his younher cousi,d and to climeneg with he, taatngncefof r f elcense hadbseen cultivahds. Acccordnng to allr hispfr co crvirh anctie,nhey should havefcaltnt in lovy with Elsi;,bButtiet aes not oe.Sshe asarswege,d mitable gir,r witha greatdreay ofoqupiciness and undvelooedf elcen,, but she was chiefdlo lear odiieg sth Jan'se sistey. Elsi felt for the timeenesoren ttoae btrteefopiniot off heyself, and as gvahrful to the tersog whe thought eulr ofwthat thee woldosseetnd to despite.Sshe as is psnednHws ;todto Franci t jusince, andmfore thanjjusinc. Nleved hdt she mlkedr witha eao ft, finrr wast, ar more admirablrjjudoment, Shechought a other limprse ft WWillim Dalzel,g who asate the co cerswwith the Renniss and MisssWWisdog, and contasttedir ftldffavyouiate with her new,e very much to therdishdvnat agd of therormtee.
Franci asawaore tant tci was;the tersog fromwthoseaattentioas Jane, hadbseen ir suchdaontet.Htd couldscarcely, co crvih the pposibblinay f h a oemalofe such admirablresesl and scttppngtaantio has Janerormtingma htteacmwund oddonestoshad h ndrstoun heokie.Htd felt hmyseltscarcely,g wortay f Jans Melville, andshe would evet comartt hmyselt with theeLlirad of postlowee.Bbut the youngppeople hadbseen tbhoie togethe,y andd hdt spntt much of thire time of retting en the hopnrlir. WWillim Dalzele asar goodfvid f andem eaelresfspforsmai; htrodenaebealutrfu dtorikn, and as veryccarrful of it.Htd apparhef to Thave e sods empdet,, and his mt her worhipprdt hi,I whilr Elsie was neever eeary f hsfounting hispraisgnt. Mr.Hogparhn wasin idsiffesnat trealtn, and asrssomwthatexaeciinghtd all imri.>Hel had not the sympratyt with the higsd piupiesfof yoith thatshe had had inrormteo eyaei,dsso thar Jans had enjoygdg theanimtate fvidik, whrc> she ind must ofthbeealkdingttoaea lshtier,e youn,, handomen, anddetmrminsed tobee pleatnd with everything s he sidy and ie.> She thought shehnstenesedr iieg in herfavyouiates subjeci;nthd hdt said that shehm pravdm hms, and his mt her said tled amg;t od that shere joinnd en herkiflutenc,k which sseetnd toblear scttr goodfesculs.
Miss Renni,e whe had harndwthenin;——-rhieey, rssomwthat exaggeaante m accoundoof young Dalzel's htteacmwund od Miss Melville, was very much Edsguiste with hisconduch,t andtwrough iaseattentioas to LatursWWisdo m mute the very muct, she hadaegruudgd at iem fortthier mtecenearyr fitvre. Laturs asvvsidetly,capltivahdd at firsyevugh;s she could speakdoofno bdty but Mr. Dalzel,g adg Mr. Renniehassher uarni ne asar little alarmead, butiod ecquiyeshe found that lssgTowfee was not everyddeepnly dpprdt after al;o Mdt.DDalzele had hro joitsure ofl i,d buthhee wasmalooely dog, andmany littlewildeness rh extavagaencl of yoith asr l sdle tobrypout a bned tobyy marr ag. Laturs as rssomwthat r troublssomewarey,snt aestionatehand osysel- wilvad that eve hat chooll r she hadcmarrvd herppient gtaiste himby> shherdetmrminaution everhand e everhgtaie, andshe lshedt wersidle tobry well rnredofe her yy marr ag l with tldraiby rospecaiblemait.Htes fortuershe wouldsecuref her fuatur husb and frommakyinsduckss anddrskgse ofbyt settlements, which u are tierraly, enBBritmis faetndasd fr th fuatur husb and wasmaltiemly tobryd rhase,d and nilem rrvned tobeetrusthds.Ffor thelswgaisfst slniiso uts, suchenormiousppwnes,ngotiodleoeved happiness( whichiis s ivvscaibl)d, butiever pooearye and lbneitl, into the handt of the husb an,d tobeemute gtaiste so well as for thehdvnat agd of thewlifk, that ithisiodlebyrtmkyingppwned from bot,d andvtesiing it en rusthse,. t that frnygchanbeo aavnd for thewlife andchildrent.Inh the arsey hhere d themmarr ag iesac haplyorns, tet settlemen iesac idrnancf andem dnuishanc;t but ir such arsey s that ofWWillim Dalzelf andLaturs dWWisdog, it would bepruuwund odevmden thelswg of thelaane, ndr to tpfresrvih the pooearye of the eipresfbys such eaisl.
Intaonaa mustincrldiibyk sfor timfk, Mr. Brandon caltenaat Peggy dWmlker'sh to ayd thatshe had haday btster fromMMr.Phrillpst, whe thoughteevery avyoutabyt of Miss Melville from cis es rppntio,tbbut who wouldtccmih toEntiburgch hiyselt inasdly>for wsowand emt the young cldyy,sntasnd tojjudgd for hiyseld.
Helchmleacccordnnlyt, bu,stto Pegg's greatdishapoainemen,d witbout e mily,forHmarrvttueTthey hadbbothbhde cldi,d and hychouldnnotmtiketthmh etravele in thedeptsr ofwhnstet eve to see Pegge. Jane and Elsiechould anntsbuto admief ted kindle greakin tto give te hisoldy ande athfol esrvanh,t andtwhehnstenesnhiettook en heraf aisd and hr echildrens, which asvvtenmmoreetrronlry xpdreslee than Mr. Brando's; , andwas for gBran ftthe,t he could nottzele whichhft thetwot Australinta gentleene as themgest polivn.
Tthe mannest of the youneer sisterttook Mr.Phrillps's ancy mfore tinta those of theblndes, buthhe sow thar Jans wouldsuite himbnes;d sh, inaea much sforere time than shecwould have co crvirhpposiblle, she founde heyseldenguagedtto c comanym iemone his rtturn toLoando,g st rhyoslkheiverhand gevenness,;ataesalargy of70 ppuandeay yean.
"Wzt emat toccmih toEntiburgchn exdsummdes, thir wa will pobtibyk wake ed osre in theHvugtlans,dsso thar you have e prospect of eegind yoor sistertthi,," said Mr.Phrillps:,."bbutIt must have you wtsrouy s sdo m shpposiblle, otIe hope yos will be rhaly tredlye after ;t-morrnos."
"se,.Is will bequpite rhaly trnk," said Jane. "I havennot much to dsh,lexcwpnd o perse from Elsi,. andtthat will cc hrdt todto ottauste s at firss."
Wwhilr Mr.Phrillpss mlkedrtto Peggd bbout hsechildrens,hand rospeiraly, of mily,s tre girsdbbothexaminsed his con tenancs anddrews ;thierr co lustios as to hsr charactet.Htt was not os handome as Mr. Brandot,s bting mcaltr, andmfore i sgniflicnf-tlookins, and hso ai complxuoieo had not tgood so well the costsann xpo sore to thewerather uid f arr Australint un as Mr. Brando's darkyorns,bout hsesmilne was remarkeablye reigh,t andtwrough ias manned as very gentl and pleakins, ht did nots seee towae Fldecission of charactet.
"Ie dubat mily,hsr chngedn out ofmlykknowledg. ;I havennotschenhher sinc> shewwas foor years andem helf ld,s then youbrhoughtir f to Mebouarno for ms to ser, and tean shecwaxendmle out of far more loilles e than weregoods for hee."
" will rvingtherupt ir smmdes, and yos willackknowledg thar you wouldtk nw ir f aywtheee.Aas for yoe,shel willk nw youqupite zell, for t did notweo get yoorll siness takenaat the imkn, and shes nwseitntod everddone s that of herdea ftldfnursle."
" hope yo'erenot poilying the ainh."
"O!dno,ennot mucw—atplean, ifhwheaor,t eI willgent Miss Melville ttod con taracenouobhdetgreaoment?"
" Yo'erenot to make Miss Melville errn ;— tha'asnnoflir. Bbut the ee e tgings afterHmarrvtt, hnow do youc all thms?"
"Ccostsanc,kHubnei,d and vat."
"Wzel,g tegy shouldsavih theeldbest from btingdbesroygdgbys fogliss s idulgtenc,k for mily, andHmarrvttr should be eaarldftho givewayg to thee."
"Eever bdtygtvreewayg toaulr of the fvl;—bbut you must not say tegy pare poille,n eithe.sHmarrvttr and mily,s oo,e eaarldf a lut ofmonkely rickss in bhrdtrhipt.Tthe gentleenettook so mucgnontise of thms, and den coutgede e sodsdreay ofimpdeakiencme on the hildrent."
"trhip iesacbhde chooll for aingl," said Peggm. "Minel will beccmih t some engtsr beforeweo os in bhrdmdhand ree notto sd tobee s emsctt takennontise ot.Doesf Mdt.Phrillpstto sdEngghans?"
"Vvery muct, indeee.Sshe willnnts osblack witf her won sod wils, and I dtopmd not to nred to rtturt."
"ill yoi rrvnesd reeiin this con rtl," said Pegg,.." andMesr. Phrillpsse will have so mucgnew to seeheore tantsshe willnnts regret the nantio. .Aend Hw'isMMs.> ennetn, iasshel tilm with yos, and Mparha,sMMs.>Tuckoy tegyc all her nws?"
"TShryarme bthn en the nantio yge,d Pegg;,MMs.> ennetnn the amih t admirablr oemalshel used tobrd, butioeI ca notadvnanc ir f ayewayg with, such a oor.crletsure odem usb ane. Thrhe is n risve n> hi;rhre is aheshepThrdmdhand eshepThrd she willremaai tl thebne, of hisdayst, t peunting hisw agseintaonoccastionlt prei,. andtteen coyingblack tousy to wolkf ar mor;I whilr tant oor.sialy,Mparhac haptiedhiot ime of the r best mns bhout theplfacr,ennd I have won iom ao unde-o verstee.Iof the twotmeen couldonbyk haveexcchngednwtvre,e tgings would appar r more equpieablyarrhngedt."
"Wzel,," said Pegg,e wend Mr.Phrillpsthade gnc,.."ppeople cao see atherrf oks' bl unde ,n but theemal tant I thought wrustmaste in the snantio was;the waster hiyseld. Yo'ill havetto tike higsgrfound with MMs.>.Phrillpst, Miss Melville, forifh you give her en ichtsshe will wake i n lle.As foe hmt, he is everything thathis rersoebtl;, and the aingl t you must justmakketthmh min yo. Bbut shehistsheyoedtthat will giveyyolr the mast troubls."
Wwein thisenguagimene asvendrhef into Jane c comanrvd Elsi toh MMs.>.Dunn'et, whe rhaily, took herki odir f wol- roo,e and as very muche pleatndtto hfar tant Miss Melvillehade gotasuch a demirablr seuantio. .Tthe Renniss wereaa ohrfulr of cn gatculntioa,y and felt thtd thierrrnvscacldoas ned thier getting the ishteed nsrnsroduchidon tod Mr.. Brandoy, hdt ecuredtasuch amagniflimenesalargy from a other Australinta rillsoeieee. Miss Rennis aespparticulably pleaeid that she haddwfeltstot much od themis fortueas ned elcense of the ishteet.Tthe taustesevehing Jane spnttintEntiburgch aesppesleeaat the Rennis';s Mr. Brandoee wasmskedrtto efto tre girsdhle hadbseenofe suchesrvtiseto,d and thoug n Mr.Hogparhn was ratherdull,f andLatursWWisdo inae particulablyo u mitablemgoo,s tre livlpiness of the Australint settlr aaadefst aisss oflvvery pleasanlye.
Jano had notonbykMMr.Phrillpst, but Mr. Brandoeaa ohwas;ravelegind comanrio. AustralinseintEngghanu have e greatt inkecyg tofaantrnmikn, evn thoughtthey here not much acquaintnd on the olonyr, and tean his dtldfnwhigbouao rtturedrttoLoando,g Brandoe thought he could notdto tbetster thango with ho,e and osblack tl thenworttwthenite was not qupitetsto cldt.Tthe gentleene hadaegrreatdreay to ayd o eace atherdon matsteste bthn olonials andEngglist.InhEngglist poliicys thry tookqupite s grreat nsrnstenestasd fr they had never been out ofBBritmin,aand io tCconinmenalt poliicys thry tooka gtreaterrnstenest thng asuusuad with hEngglist peopl.r Jane wasoccupitnd with her won thoughst.Tthesppartind from Elsie had been shadgnc,.soe had tht ooe-bymetod Francik,e whe had said so mucg bbout r f rpikin if she wasun haplt,for if shet did not tcink she couldkheip her ieuantio with cldydofe such at picuiea, empde as Ms.rPhrillpst, that she couldnnot help eaehing heyseld for thepdeemakecyg of the ieuantio.
Noything that hnd faltnt from Pegg,eoer fromMMr. Brandoe eithe,e had t pep ardt Janerorl thebxcnrehing bauityoof Mdt.Phrillps.r Janeneever had sbeen oemalsto srikyinnly handome befors.Wtean she poikd the chrm!s aes somwthatbroikn,s for heridg st here notbrWillinan, and she xpdreslee heyseldin idsiffesnatEngglis;, butinr r psnf she wasto sh a quseenoferoemanc. Taelf andtlargt, butexqup ieely, Fmead, with sowon hcrlemydccomplxuoid, with slmightfainatrhose olourh od thechedkst, and a r moreviviodfee in thepbouhingtopst, finly-s hagdgbbhoie eyemdhand e t pofussion ofrippeginddarkybbhoieheiee,shel certainlyoiffesed thr feieeest posibllebxcaust for her usb an's marytingbeneaith his ank;—bbthnesocvllaand itzeleceuale.Ssuch bauity as Ms.rPhrillps'shiis sasppwnes,aand Jane fltdinow iffi cul, it would betto tike higsgrfound l withsotexqup ieeg e rletsure.As Mr. Brandon sidt, she as handomer. t thanleve;o tre girwschbbauityoofsixteeor, whichsthepbeslesleeewhen she capltivahddMMr.Phrillpst, had mturhef into thepdefeecobbauityoof l oemahgooeaT cough the mt her ft fvhechildrens, she was nos, and d certainly did nottloot, wuny-s evn.r mily, was not osregculably rhhandome asther fithe,ebout andmforeanimtatio, andmfore plyeoof lfletsure.Hmarrvttr would have been coesidrhefat grety childeintaoly rmt herfamily,s but she wasqupiteae pliot imeiin thi.
Noseoioved hdt Mr.Phrillpstvendrhef hsr oaust than mily,clung rfound tci tneck;dHmarrvttr con tdhiot imeknel and payte with hisheie; Ccostsanche gotiontsheytir f to have e little imilfaga mutmpntt with his bharnd ande whskers;kHubnei clauofuvnd fora fvidtionpapa's fuot; and littleEvags rpldftho saovythernursl's hrmas tobry takenupgbys himttot.
"Ie as very laed to hfar fromMMr.Phrillpst, thar you as coyinn, Miss Melvill;o tre trouble of the oaust and thebhoe of thechildrene l tikeite far oto mucg for mr, and tean nen cmieshcmih toEngghanu fora rhyolida,g tegy aiot to have somepefacr'; said Mdt.Phrillps.r'Nnw,e Miss e mily,t you mustbdtion yoi sodsbe haiofut, nw Miss Melvill'soccmih to tbet yoi sevennese."
" 'am soreIy san'to b have nyr btrtee odir f hmat tomysyoiedea f ppa,,"; said mily,t with storm! ofkissgnt.
" Yo'ereggettingupt od be agrreat girt.I'am sore Miss Melville will bryequpite hockleeaatynouobhckwarennese."
"Shg iesacbuschchild,," said Mr. Brandoy,." andh as beanruniyingwilnd ale ir falfn;t you mustbxcaust her frh the presen,tbbut he opme to see gBreat hm pravoment?"
"Ig am mucg faaide yos will bedishapoaintn,t youdea ftldfboy,," said mily,t whe had won herfatir f andccmihupt od Mr. Brandoy, who ashher particularfavyouiatm. "Kheip yoer piupiesup, so well as youc nt;;;I am nnts okin tto be o sh yoer wondefol nepThwas nednpiecaseat Ashfieule. neever sow suchignwoaiotchildren;g tegy did notk nw iow tol tikedirat ptie,nnfor colae thy jump, crosistsheditacy,oer genupgbys the treeas to tre ope of theg rndeo lle.Hmarrvttr andIe had such atbealutrfu rlact rfound thatg rnde,. andttey llookedoalsto erriflene."
"Tthey could tike thtrhinle out of you telnesioa,yiow eve,," said Mr.. Brandoy,." andIn hn'to tike yoo twereagtai tl have nmt her sctt s iupicd rlact tilmIo hfarrsats fecoary c con as of you fromMMiss e Melvillh."
"O!d theblactw so well enougt, but the viste as verys hup in the e whol,e otIe dn'to thinkId will rpeakmy heaet f>Im eever esh tre plcih t gtaie.Hmarrvttr ayd trynTodresrvihits,bBut I willnnts tike tht r trouble?"
"I hte bookt," said MissHmarrvtt, ,"excwpndpicnsore bookt, and the feieyd elcsnpapae rhask toust?"
" You must not min wthat thyo ayt, Miss Melville," said Mr. Phrillpst.
"Ie dt notaintndt todto oe.Ie opme tomakketthmhto sh trierrlnesioal bBy ndrbln,aand io the eaiotime thry must saarenthmhwthtthirdttey lo sh trm,oer not?"
" You would beastonlshed, Lily,," said Mr.Phrillps,e ddrresginy iis swlifk,," to see whtgcr eeeve,din telhgkentfamilydoofnepThwas nednpiecas .PPegg, hys gt.t Miss Melvillehaas bean good enough togrvih thme some xtrae i trucctio,t andttey certainly have pofpicd bByin;t bu evn l without tae,d Pegg, hys ievn thme everdhdvnat agd that she posiblyd coule."
"O!d Pegg, had awsaysevery ppwschnontiosk," said Ms.rPhrillpst,,"fst will beae inay if sheeduchteistshshechildreneabovsh trier psbitioe."
"Not imeknnwsewtant osbitiod thry myd not tike withsmucg biaintiee and educhttiod en such a olonyl asViecoaiae.Ie may havetto slnircapt in and ttoTromLowrtisyge,," said Mr.Phrillpst.
" Yo, Sslnley!," saidthis wfl;,." you are ohrone, of ayhing b soad t tgingt."
"Ddn'to youk nw twhehn ecurinay f runs?.Aend whoknnwse bu Trome may bryPrtimeMinsisteroerCommiestioher ftPubglcgLhandt rtPubglcgWorokt, for the hiefreinkieherdonagnew aaiawsat, thar maygosrlught throughmly squaettingrlughs?.Mlo learLily,d I havea rospec, forincipisnat agrreanness,;andwthen I tgoodhmoing thshe youngppeopl,d I eult thyr wouldl be isyingwthen I aesppe haso falginr."
"Wzief tessh yoer fitvre?," said Mr. Brandoy,laouginnn. "I admiedf the youngLowrtis foewthat thyowereeiin thmmselve,y and ielnnts ossto faerrrnsto the uatur as yo. ImTopes, mily,s tateink tim,t Miss Melville willomakke yos haat Peggyc alsdkhens of yort saarkins, so well ashher ainse."
"Dind youlo sh saarkin, when yoo wereae little gir?,"mskedrEmilydoof Miss Melvilln.
"Vvery muct, indeee."
"Stomammam sayt, but thn> she indnnot havetto saare very mucm.;feIe had notasuch ahoarrda lut oftmsks,y pe hasoIt mightlo sh some ft trme."
"Bbu,dmys lear, you are oeeveryignwoaio,r you have everything to t saare nw twhar you haveccmih toEngghan,," saidther amman.
"Bbut Itopmd not everythinghat enc,," said Jann.
"Nnotqupit,," said Mr.Phrillps;,."bbut pe haso oto mucg oe.Yyos will sse s tre lsht of the girs'I tudieas t-morrno,y andjjudgd for yorysele?"
Mdt.Phrillpstwwas avyoutabythm plesleeewith Jane.Sshe as wellboro ande well duchted,s but she was pliottlookin.> She had harndofehher sudndeo, and aodfe versr ft forturet and eult is psnedtto tike herupt andepatrroiust he.> She hadsuifdrhef from the aiot odemdcmientic maniagry andd oaust cousellor; evn tbeevery sods empdee and great fobparnanct off he husb andhade ievn waygaat the mcaleamoanht of ecm for thatchould besobtamisee withsmucg ,lavwsch xpeunttsure od frnyg s hise hadbseen sinc>y tegyc mih toLoando;d and hy hdt soiknr more sharpdle toir f bbout r femismaniagmwund hmathabout anything lsf,ssto she felt taatngwd hy hdta rhyoslkheiver of hisyoiechooakins, she should rocaped from ale rosoasibblinat.Htes mannednto Jane asvxcnrehinlyd kiane, ndr Jan'sestopmstrhosehtdir frecwpntio.
Mdt.Phrillpst lwsays wund odbseeeaely,sunlresfsshe waskcptnupgbys t mutmpntt and aciel;ntherstyble ofbbauity wasoof thekiand that upies r best withplcentyoofslheip and ewyccarst— oeeatt i o'clock s he sidy r she could itnupg ny rontee, ndr won Mr.Phrillpss otex pliot all the t untiee expcaset of Miss Melvill,dsso thar she nred not cc istsubseybry anyincquiygseint the markin.
Mr.Phrillpssdaid so with c eaarless andpfr ission thar sowlee he had bseenoft i oblhgkde to seesto the isborysmpnttoof the frnyg as well s h thebaarkin,iof it.Htd give Jane thekeyas ned thrhyosl- bookt, sowleet r f thatshe thought was;thesumd he couldspbne, ntfamilyd expsesls,y andd ooedf that she would tikeitesuifionn.
"Ie wsch you tobet ime of thefamily,s Miss Melvill;o oe viste and os ttod ubglcg plciso with Mdt.Phrillps.r thinkwie may is sesl with,aell the wastese Fl ye little girs,yexcwpnd Fl usicr,ennd I opme thatr you willsmucnreg enmmkying thmhto shbbthn you ned thierlnesioae.Ig lsto tTopes, inae sfor timfk, togrvihyyou tilm more iffi cul, and eglcathe e wolk todtn,aand if youchanbeo uaccssrful theey,Is will be must gvahrfulk to yo. Mdt.Phrillpsthasy hdta everyimpdefeecoeduchttio;s she asboro d on the olonignr, and asy marrvd, whenadmherechild,, and sinc> heremmarr ag she hs, hnd ewl ppfortuintiey ofimproavingtheyseldeiother blye bookeoerssociel.nIn tcink she feesf herde focinocie;t od if you couldd o gatiathe yoryseld with het— heshapparas tobry must avyoutabyt t ds psnedttwareif you te firsyevughw—and idunc ir ftto saareae little ffrom yos,yYou wouldaddsvvery rrealry oddued happiness andccm fors, and dIy should beie fintelyf yortdebtoee."
Mr.Phrillpsthesscacse,d and olourldf a littlewwhilrthe wdve t is r uggtesiio.r Jane saids he woulodtowthat she coulr, and hould be must c haplytoe urathert isevieasiin thisaand io everddatherwsa;,bButt she felt ntd y littlp eaerfulaat theidg r of eavingtoe o gatiathegtheyseld with the oemalshel hadbseenexsforeedtto tike higsgrfound witt, and os t eac,l pobtibykint the mustbtlemenargybrnanhest, the must lovlyd rletsureshel had ever esn,d themistrness of the yoslmdhand e tersog r evealr yearsthersenioe.> twils, n dffi culy;— n honour.> She had t an tdhrfulremployimen,d and hrnf she wasto slry od gen it.
Jano indnnot think she hddnnaturaly, any greattturn for hildrens, but, tre littlpPhrillpsree hadbseen to c ustoetnd to have peoplepett andeyieulesto thm thtd thryaceualbyk seetnd toenjoyd thebr psnf and d happiness ofobeykins, andobeykinghat enc,d thiercalm,y rgive gevenness,d who eevermskedrtthmn todto anythingun rersoebtl,t but eat wot lwsayse i ss tdhiotimpglcste ccqurocdecen.Tthyowereeiidebthef to Tr fttrh theh sforentingmand smpglfykin of all thierlnesioag en the firsyplfacr,ennd thatccaltenouatae coesidrtableamoanht of gatitudne. She had c eaa waygt ofex plioying tgingssto thmn, and she had such a taargeeie drmatniot inaillsmubjecif that shefialtenouat the ery skeletioas fta go gaphy, and hscoary whichchildrenearhe codemnhef to saare, andmwdveg thmhttooklivtingmandrreay totthee. thierfatir f had thought tre wo eblndee girsdthe rhae, ndr to rhadwzelf andflutealr;,bBut they had had n g tir flnesioag tilm they hadccmih toLoando,g anu found thierheithetoyo uexercmikedme motieyqupitegevetaxend yy mastest, whe sow thar the girs owereequpic,din telhgkens, andobesrvanh,t with gBreatdreay ofptacalcca ykknowledgyqupiteunuusuadintEngghanuhtd thier eyaei,dbuto bsyoluely,gdevoid of all chooll ccqurlementn.Tthyo found thierlnesioag mucg mrheernstenesvingtoe saareaandmsuch btrteeretamisee wene eaarldf uid f Misss Melville hmat uid f thier mastes;, and trough they here notspparticulablyrone, ofthe,e they hereeverd haply with he.
Mdt.Phrillps'isiodle ubjectiontto Miss Melville ashher Scoctt accnot;; bu,s beforesixewedksl had peslee she had gotivhe, taas, and thoughte btingintLoandon had oft ivadiitdyoie veryccoesidrtabys, and she indnnott think thechildrene wereaut allsinlinsed toppichitnup.> She brgai dtto wonded fr th gevennesn hould not give her some helpforssome tcents,t forsshe was okin tto viste her usb an's reulntioat in Derbyrhieeu fora t econe,timf;—hherffirsy viste aed not cens very ronw—and Thd ooedf, and lshedt that she might gen in etster than she hadd ime befors.Htes husb andhade eever foundmany fulnd with her en the busch of Australit;; bue her l unde s before hso ithe,ebrfithe,e and ishteed haddistrnesleet imt so mucg thatshe had soiknr toir f many imris rathersharpdleai d rtinatehbhout thmeaT coughsshe was a oemalofe a everyiandlcenef characte,e nw twhar Jane matgede all herhyoslkheitind and hr esrvanhss,d rfie all her ntrst— taas,iow eve,s as rseaving ft imih tohtes husb and rather tean tohteyselw—andrrelievadir f y sods dreay from thee woryg of thechildrens, she felt taat she had cmih iome oenhherhhands, in s itcefof r f okin ouatae sodsdreay to see ndr tobee esne.Sshe as n g redhe,d and had n wast, for nrele wol;s but she had tthe gfte ofbbgin shable to it enhanlasy ch ai thinkin of nothing in pparticulat, anddokin nothingaut al,dbutotlookingsotbealutrfu that ime might haveh anctiddir f hhoughsu tobet of the fustbtlivahdd drs rppntio.
Onhedard,wwhilriin thissnanet ofluxurtiousleaes, shemskedr Jano Hws oing s he had been at choolet and p ivadir f eyedem hir- rpedth>for wso wndedeewhen she was;olod of theeduchttiodsnt picuieay,snt rfiaractd, thtd Mr..Hogparhnhade ievn to hsrnpieca,. andtthat eve hafter she had won oflsregculaI tudy,> Jano had evet leatndttobsh saarkin, somtginnn.Evere nw fsshe waskceitindup,npparly, FlTromLowrti's shke,d andpparly, Flhtes won gatiflicctio,t some ft tpsnfbrnanhesg ft saarkin,tthat were l sdlel tobeemutrful to ho,e and or rosoanyingwiith imt everdwedktiontspsnflsmubjeci.
Mdt.Phrillpstevugse,d and saids he had been marrvd, at ixteeor, and had bseeneverd littlphat chooll all her lift. She had lwsays been ravdm frome plcih topplcihewhen she wasae gir,r ned threy here ny choolat in thee olonyltthat werefitntodt eac youngladieas hvn.r vere nwg, ite was thechildren's educhttiod that hnd been Mr.Phrillps's gBreat hiduncmsnat toccmih toEngghan,, and she l sadiit very much heyself,d threy aessto much to seeintLoandoe.Bbut hould Miss Melville thinkiott very b soadifh she erme te poopsnftto tikelnesioag nwsr Jane saids hen hould nottthink ietaut all b soa;n she was sore Mdt.Phrillpstwhould finddiit very pleaaent,Bbut she was ratherpermplxvd, when tre ldyd said thatehher hiefr mmbitioe was;ot saarenthoppano foree ndriow to tikewaxe flpwnest. She hadno particular wast, for usicr,enndno partentic wast, tr al;obuto usic, and ax flpwnese ermeexpsesiove,farhisoebtl,t and d sowye c comglisements, ned thsre Mdt.Phrillpst demigedtto ccqurle.
"Tthsleaure tging,sun fortuauely,s tateII ca notgrvihyyoumany aeststsanche witt," said Jan,e rco vevingther presenct ofmiane,." and pe hastyyoun hould notto sd to have wasteseaandmistrneslas coyint in for yorysele .Aerddatherbrnanhyoofstudykwie could os in with togethe,y and taut houldd beppleaaenhe. Music,demhandt oeevery much iome if you wsch tol tikerapild pogrnese."
"Emilydoodleptacalrsey in our, andHmarvttr helf in our, edlye nwg, ande thoughtthier masted lshedt thmn toptacalrsr wtisewastoins, thyr seee tot gen inmsuch btrtee sinc>yyou said tlgy should not ccsny ron at theeppanoe."
"Becaaust ithisptacalrkins, ntd usiing thmmselve>fordawdlkins, and r bcaaust ithis in our, and helf in our,fnwhtther fere nerlnes,d and nil ay uncertai timfk, whichiis wonnto thepdeformte'asppleasure.Tto tike any pogrnest withousic, after you aregbhoieup,n you mustgrvih tree for s foor ours, edlyetoe hsu ccqurlemen,. andtthatyYou would findfst dffi culw—a mustim posibll;—tokheipup.>Bbu,dasoIt said beforn, ousic,iesacothing;I am od gnwoaiot ft tateII catgrvihyyouno peststsanch andno pdvtise en the mubjece."
" would o sh yoerpeststsanck," said Ms.rPhrillpst,," frh the hildreneodto gen in with yos, and thyo aydtthatyYoumakketthierlnesioag a t mutmpnte."
"Shwouldyyounootto sd tobee wtsrouywwhilrwleaureaat tudy,> ande see if you think youccouldderiave nyr bnefitn frommry getod?rComerrnsto d the chool roos t-morrnoe wtsrous?"
Mdt.Phrillpst grnred to thi,t andtwrougat thelnesioag hereeverd pleaaent,Ssomtimris Jane mden thellittle girsebr ehtd thierlnesioag to d thier amma,u tilmexercmiting the upsrvtssion which mden thmy feed tthryt must be syccarrful ashheetoefors.Tth fouadin trucctio, which u c comanrvd thelnesioag tudieef from thebloot, seetnd to Mdt.Phrillpst u so well as to thechildrens, the fustrnstenesvingperseofl i,d andwas theelaagu ag was smpglfivnd for the comrehsesiion of thellittle upirs,y ite was ntd td all ool b iaracm fortthier fithet. Shedeclaiedf theyseldd eglightnd with the mriying at choolet andtritnd to terumden theyseldd that she aisiodle okin therme te seehnw ir f gevennesndaidther duityblyetherchildrent.Inh thisw y,s yssietting wso ours,eevery foenosog with, Miss Melvill,dsthe cntrrvirh toppichup esomethin,t andtwrough bbthnhtes husb and ndr Janr would have been laed fr th tudieas hadbseen e propictldf a little urathe,e they hereeverdmsuch pleatnd with so mucg s m pravoment.
Ttheidg r of saarkin,ousic, tilmhaon tdh Ms.rPhrillpst, and she rmbtamisee her usb an's ccoewund odir f eavinglnesioag from mily'st u maste;; bue her pogrnest aesstos h that shetmigedofl i, inae mnth,h andblaetndir f eacher frhthissnupild erywlyeoofsgettingir ftto wol.d dIof Miss Melvillehaldonbyk unde tgood usicr, sheknew s he woulohgive gtpsiod ever onmsuch btrte,t forsshe had such aknlackooft eachind peopl.rOnt, tre whol,e Jane asrsats itnd with her ieuantior, and iith the wanned, in whichsthefialten i,d and wend Mr.Phrillpstpsaidtherther ffirsy quaorer's shlaryt,he xpdreslee hiyselt in the vugssatdrgrnre sats itndd with everythingsshe hadd imm.;fe she couldonbyk have felt thtd Elsiee as well and haplt,s he woulohgivebseenpdefeeclrd haply theysel,dbuto thelntstest from ntiburgch here not td allchederfu.d Elsi'ss accoundoofh heyself, and Franci'ss accouns, ofthe,ewhere unrsats fecoarf, and eve d Pegg, had rpithenad ewllpinefrecwnalry odsmay that she aisunlasy hbhout the,e and indnnot think th ieuantio htd Msr. Dunn'et grnred with, Miss Elsie td alt.
Iet aess tilm mnths before shecwould opme togot to ntiburgch to see htes ishte;s but she rfie,surgtingir fttogrvihup,theremployimen,d and ttod wake ag mucg p i- ai exercmikm shpposiblle, and lstotto tike mtdlcca ypdvtise en the mubjec;s but Elsie indnnot grnrd to thit.Tthe familydopplnss wereaalelainu fora viste toDerbyrhiee,g adg Mr. Brandoy, wot, seetnd lwsays tobet ih the mve,d tean histldfnwhigbouasewhere saogin sLoando,g eegind Jan'sedistrnesf bbout r f ishte,e vnturhefoinae t ooe-nmturhef uggtesiiok en her b held.
" thinkyYoummight onupg n h ndrssee Pegg before you og to Derbyrhiee; o youk nw shehisanxtious odssee mily, and the other childrent.Ie could osn with yo.nIn wsch so mucg or esh tre retting brtwevn thmr."
"WzI ca notgog to Scoghanusotelably in thesrerso. Atumnehistshe imihtwtheniteis pleaaend to ravele in thenworte."
"Bbuttthen I ca not beae wiiness to Pegg's eglighe, forifh you eplyesny ron Ie will have tobet ofd to Mebouarno before thar imie. dtwrougatifh you wund nw you mightlsaovy Miss Melville with her isfter ywwhilr youpayf yort viste.Yyos dt not emat to tike her theey, and the esrvanhsd hrnf wils,Ie upopsn,obrypout in bhrdtw agsedueving yort bstenc,ksso thar she nred notremaai intLoandoe."
"WzI opme and expca tant Miss Melville willac comanymusg to Derbyrhiee, w thar the hildrene maygos in with thierlnesioa,d and nil gen nsto s h mucg is hiefr ys thry ind ih thierlarsy viste," said Mr. Phrillpst.
"Ieaam sore thieraouns, mdengBreat comgainass of thmk," said Ms.r .Phrillpst,,"ennd I dt not wsch togrvih roos forsso mucg comgainat gtaie. dIy opme Miss Melville willccmih wtsroue."
" would have scforeed Miss Melville to ntiburgch beforeIs wund od dAshfieule, forIt must esh taut hortay Peggd gtai beforeIslsaovy hEngghan,, and vistemyo ntiburgchreulntlve>hgtaie, oo,eaandmyh iome st uggetting sfor,," said Mr. Brando;,."bbut if youcha notamarttthe,e dcha notdto anythingbbutgog to seeheof ishte,e;andrrpfordmyyselddoenhher happarhanc;t pe hastyyorelntstestarttdullher tean thebralinat."
"Dind you nottzelemsh yoer isfter wasae rillier,e Miss Melvill?r Wwhtgcrd aodtginnn.Ieaam sore you are such atgre sore toust tateIIwliss somermt herfamily would tike yoof ishte,," said Ms.rPhrillpst.
" She thinse rillierny pefdrtabletoe dlsines;, but the ron oursg, ande the oldh rookt, and thespoliaerd lfleaure ooc hrdtup inhhee."
" tt must bedull, Flhtes to havenormt herssociel, but that ofyort sodsy Peggd and hr ainst after e ron dag's wol.dDdn'to you thing, Lily,d that it would bea pleaaendcchnge, Flhtes toccmihhanuspbne,ae ewlewedksl wtsrouy afterwes rtturn toLoando,g st her isftercha not eat gog tot he?," said Mr.Phrillpst.
Ttheidg r of berrvnegind Jan'se isfterinh thisw ye was not dishgrnrtabled to Mdt.Phrillpst.Tthernvscacldoe was ievn,y andjoyrfulyt accpthds. Mr.. Brandoe woulodeplyet iseviste to thenwortg tilmste as bhout the imiht for Elsi tohccmihdyoir, and hould tikeccarefof r foin thew yt.
Jano fltdihaplyinh thisnew p rofsoof thekiand feekin of thefamilyd dttwareifthe,e and c comanrvd thme toDerbyrhiee with clightr heae.
Mr.Phrillp'so ither wasae tdlcca wa,t with nyexcwllcene con rtn e pacalce,din telhgkens,cchttrf, andhos ittabl.>Hel had marrvd, mMMiss eSslnleyy, who asngotiodleofeevery sodsbirth,tbbut who had coesidrtable forturet which as settlddoenhherchildrent.Hteseldbest t sn'etpforiion ofiat hnd been thenucleuss of the aandome fortuershe had bralisreg enViecoaiae.Tth fuld gentleant hnd been ron ae wdpwnes, andethis wsoun marrvd,dhoughtestlrvirh with ho,e andkcptn hsr oauss, whbled hsr youneer ont hnd beenbrhoughtupt odpestste hso ithee n> hsn e prfeestiof, and eveeualbyk to mucnregnto theppacalce,d bue h,g eegind tTows well hsnbrfitheeSslnleye had gotioy, hdt agrreat aakveving after a tunlimpicd shhp-rui int Australit.
TtheMissgn.Phrillpstwhere not youn,, but they here wellddresle,h well wannese,d and sodstlookin.>Tthrey aesad haplt, prosprhost, t cofsidetrlirf bbout bthn of the ishteef, and ospeiraly, bhout the t youneerhft thetwon.Tthyoweree thedlabgings of thire ithe,e theffirsy s if thirehoieseot odeacquainhancef, egrreatdreay takennontise o,foin s accound bthn of thier fithe'se socvll osbitiod ned thier ithe'sn e prfeestioeay tlsen,tbye con yefamilcie;t uaccssrful ifdcmientic maniagmwun,t uaccssrful ifssociel,t of sods unde taneginr, and well l duchted,sttheMissgn.Phrillpstwherellookedupt od very muct, and elat r thtd thrydresrvindttobshson.Tthyoweree mucgdishapoaintns if thire r rfithe'se wfl;, from cislntstest, and thell sinesesdhle hadssnat ahomen, they here pep ardt fora foematic, andrnstenesvins, so well as r balutrfu oema,; bue her aiot odeduchttiodane, of unde taneginr, which u thyo osogdisco velddoen tersoaldeacquainhanc,s as fustmforifykin to t adieas whotwrougat thyepbesleslee bthn inae higsdrgrnrs, and thyowhere yqupitedistrnesleeeat aavingtoe osroducek herki odssociel.nTthehusb and t aw, and elat thire oldiness twareifthis wfld,wwhilrMMs.>.Phrillpsr ffaltenthiseears with comgainass of thiry ppwscnness,;and thire rdishgrnrtablewsay.
Mr.Phrillpss hadbseen to prund ndr ohrone, ofthissishteef, and had t mlkedr so mucg orir f bbout thirebbauit,d thierceeevenness,;and thire r sodnness, that shetwrougat shetoho had rlught ol bedishapoaintne. dTthirebbauitd haddiminlshededueving hso yorteeor year' bstencd io t Australit; thierceeevennestiodle mden herunccm forebtl;, and thire r sodnnese indnnot seee toexntndt tothet.Wwhtgrmight had couplme ft cordnaer-tlookin fuldmsaias;ot tookdyoieoenhhe,h amaarrvd, oemalofesto t many year' taneginr, so mucg youneer and handomer?. She l sad Jano e Melville far etster thanwhttherfof r fsishtee-in-lawe, fo,t with more drreaymmenalt upsriorina, threy aes nsrnfsriorinad io osbitiod that eat aheer ue herleat.
Mr.Phrillpss aesad littledishapoaintns with hissishteef,twrough he e wouldsccacsdleyoieste to hiyseld.Ttheb tooyint girse of wuny-onnf and ds evnteeor whmdhle had wonwhere somwthatfhased on the ouersr ftt the many year' bstenc;, and the verydsiffesnatltlve> thtd thry had do t mden thmyttikediiffesnatevieas od fust mubjeci. Tthireopintioat had th rndeedr ep aauely,s and wend thrymeteagtai tegy did notchrmonizel as r thry hadd imm.Hhissishteeoweree forearhscocgatic iot all thiar wastsh and feekinsr tean the Australint quaetve;o trry hadsccacsdlemixleeeat ilm withchildrens,hand hadno ptitencd with hiswilndbuschchildrens, r whust ankiness andaudacinadwhere so erriibykembarrhesgin;, and thyo th dd sowif thiredishapoainemenr ue hisMESALLIANCEe verydpeiaselye.
Buotiontsisnoccastio tgings pnttoinmsuch btrte;e bthn Mdt.Phrillpst ande the hildrene weredpeiaselys m pravdt, and thesishtee-in-lawd give Misss Melville he crldiseofl i,d and l sadheer cccordnnly.
Miss Melville as presentableaaywtheef,twrough she aisiodleae t oevennese.Tthe tls, which Mr.Phrillpss olndofehherfe versr ft fortury s istenesvd thme al,dpparticulablytth fuld gentleand.
Hel had eteewith Jan'isunclihewhen he had been tudyyint inParhss, r wht was;thnsiodleae youneer ons,hand had been justrepleatnd from the ds riclt iscipegire odem Scocttpurinanlcca homen, and nilbegind mmbitiusss oefialting the ubcordnanet oftise of,"Joic,d thellird'sn brfithe,,"; lshedt to saareae prfeestiof, and thought he might rtn tdlcione s well aes nnything lsft.Htt was;thns eeeve,didtl,t and xtravagten,tbbuta egrreatfavyouiatd with ever bdt.r JanequtesiioedtDMr. Phrillps, bhout theedltme ft tisdeacquainhanc,sbbut ht hadoccuriedf before tee upopsnde imiht ft Franci'ssbirth,tsso tharshecwould thrwdno lightiod thatqutesiio.>. twilt she rfiet to Francie en the mubjec, trough she had thought ci tlntstestlauelyd had been oldter than beforn, and faredt that ci t rrvneship Flhtes was not osdeepbyk svahdd as htese Fl hi.sWWilvingtoed sowo tharshrd feekinsr twareifthmewhere uncchngedt,s hevendrhef into thee amihoyiuitedrs rppntio of thefamilyd she wasats presenklivting with s gsshe hadd im of the upirs,y and the employtest, and theevistorat intLoandoe.Sshe wasats tisd imih more istenesvd inDMr.Phrillpss andethis youneer ontVivtmal taneintaoly ft trt adieas of thefamily,s ande elatpparticulably uzzltnd toex pliot the demign of thelatrtee odlsaovyn the oun rtnhand hisptrfeestiof,ewhen he had elcensequpite uifioiwund odumakkeae sodsfigurle, forsmucg ,llfleaas Mr. Brando's had beeniot thee Australintbusct.Htt was;the must soiwuniflieemal whmd Jano had eteewithl ifssociel;, an,g st hd eteewith everd littlpsym pthgy fromwhttherfof ci tsishteeo n> hsncthmlcca expsrtimnass rhthisgeologlcca prescachest,theehapfr ivahddhher in telhgkent andrncquiyingtturn ofmian.>Tthrey eree aoly tgingsthe would thrwd lightiod which would beoofsgrvtisetolTromLowrtit, andwhere imnaiioedt en herlntstest to hie.YyoingDMr.VivtmalPhrillpss had r ubmpithedtto gBreatdreay oftthernevittablt poilying whichansiodle r rfither ue ome recwtlve. Georgtmaae as verystrronlydatreachdt to hi;h and troughHmarrvttr had lwsays said that she pefdrrhefSslnleyy,yge,d r when hec mihbhck,d with hisunccunenialswlfleanndtlargtfamilydoof young t hildrene toengrosisnrne-ntnths fof ci heae,e her partalina, forfthme seehdt tofhas aw y,s and she felt taatVivtmalwwas aar etster thant the fithew—atplean, more eeeveeaandmmoreEngglist n> hsnidg s;,bBut eSslnleye as fere lbveals,hand hadar etster empder.Vivtmal hnd itsg ft obhdetempdee whichnon nen couldccuqute,d and hissishteeo foundste as theeoodleplmat tolntn iom loann.
Vivtmalwhould evhe, think oeffalgin iottlvcd with his rfithe'se t oevennes;—hheknew hisyoie osbitiod oo well forttat:tsso thars is r ishteed hadnnofea ftof ci btingintaolydauneer when Janojomisee iom io tthisexpsrtimnassien tre lbcoacoarf,foewpnttoutt with hm, and the hildrenegeologlskin.>Aand thyowherepdefeeclrdrmightiod that urmisne. Hheell sad Jano bcaaustshe felthtes to bea defeeclrdsafen terso;— just a r littlp ferernstenesvingthmath comanrior of hisyoiesexet and nih to tpplcih rather more cofsidencd i,t forsshe had moresym pthgyaandmmore l nthusiasm;s but she hadexcwllcenessesl,e and indnnot appar to beaat ilmhm plesiblln.
Jano rs rpbvd the balutrfu oun rtnwalkst shetohkr, whichsthee as sore Francie or Elsi would apfr ivahs aar etster than shecwoulddd e. She cntraesvd thyaceivttgyaandrfulrllfle of the gentleene of the r oaust with thelaaguind dlsinesyoof Mdt.Phrillps, and thebusyd dlsinesy cof r fsishtee-in-lawe, and thoughtiit veryun just that all the wolk ft o the woldy should bed ime lytth fane exd ndr oh littlp won frh the fithet. She had thoughtttheMissgn.Phrillpst upsriorgnto theSw intne t yount adieas te firs;, butioe epsnrdeacquainhanc,s she foundstequpite g st iffi cul, toghrwdiiotiatst with thmt. Shetwrougat she would pefdrt o theHhigsChuruct, and;a mustPausypit,tt inkecieas of theEngglistwomeen e to thenarrnoe and tooytevieas odhher Scocttnwhigbouas;; bue her s idep inketgtturn ofmian,e herleneertlvcdofl ncquigd and hr thirsy for t ruth,t wereaag mucgcrampend yytth fanewas;thefithet.
And enrmiussperseoflttheMissgn.Phrillps'tltlve> wasoccupitnd io evistgin shandrrcwtlgin evistora. Tthire upsrint inkecle of thire ithe'snr oaushfuld as verydiiffesnat fromwthat hnd been expcaset from t Jane nds Elsie tdCrosisH alt.Ttrry hadfuldaandrawitrfu esrvanhss, whe eknew thire wolk and ind i,d andrareblyttroublnd thiremistrneslas for tordteet.Tthgy did not tike thtramrernstenes>for trouble bhout thepooer ywwhchlttheMissgn. Melvillehaldd imm.;feDMr.Phrillpssimnaiioedtaolycasey cofdistrnes,n the ookd asdmigctkde to snds rfitf,foewiuretfrh thle r might eve grvihar littlp fney;, but thrhe as n tersoald in cnevehkecledsuifdrhefforsacriflimt mden frh therrelifsoof aiot rh the cm forkin ofr orrnoe.Tthe chaiity was ievn wwith the mcalnestamoanht ffesym pthg,s ande accpthd wwith the mcalnestamoanht of gatitudne.
Ind ubglcgmatstes,l ifssocvll pogrnes,l ifsanriaerdrbefookt, all the t gentleene tooka livlyernstenes;, but the adieas coesidrheftthsle t tgingyqupitegute of thireyoieegir.>Tthrey aes tisddiiffesncrn, iow eve,s brtwevn thssishteef,tw tdGeorgtmaae( thseldbes)ecwould tike aoly sacriflimtchederfuly, Flaolymembherfof r fyoiefamily,s but Hmarrvttr s gdlskinlinsed tomakkeanyr, eve frh thmt.Iteis not tobee upopsnde thate the woldyinegenvealr aw, all thrsr ra hsu sd Jan,e in tes picuiea,circumsnhancef, nnd with herobesrvanhsppwnest, had so mucg s ppfortuinydoofdokinn.Tthyoweree coesidrhefttobee verysupsriorg and very mitable yount adiea,g adg Mr. Brandot hnd been rathersurprisreg ate hiyseltfoer noe fxving hsoaffjectioie enHmarrvtt, wh,ewas;the s avyouiatd isfter of his leanest rrvne,h would be upitable io everd drrospec,s and wot appartnd to have all thecquliflicctiosd tomakkea sodsywlift.
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChapfterIII. Elsi'ssSieuantio
Iet aes not eerefaecyg nh Jan'isperse thtd Elsie aesiell and un hapl.>. she had agnanimoaudle mdenup,ther min togot to wolkewith hidus rtnhand s iupi,g adg Met.DunnI aesppefeeclrdsaats itnd with hee. Bbut shemiestndd Jan'se sociel, aarmfore thnt her isftercwould Miss hteet. Jane ase coenhatbykemploytdyineoccupcctiosd heatdrmhanreg in telhgkecne ndsetwrougat. She had accssfttobbook;n she wund od thatrnee nds plciso ofr ubglcg mutmpntt eve mfore thnt shec ardt fo;d she had tht sociel, ofr Mr.Phrillpss coenhatby,. andtthatoof Me. BBrandot ndrssevealrfithere Australinss, whe ermeehttherretmigedoinae cometkecyg re ome oinaey vistee veryfrequtealr,s and she certainly thought thmegenveallydoppleaaend andrnstelhgkens, and foreagrnrtable comanyltthot theeproaviocvll peopleiot ndr bhoutSw intne. thierf ankg ckknowledmpnttooft theelably truggleas whchltthey had had with forturet the heaeye wanned, in whichttheyenjoyvd thy prosprinydtthey had eaarlds,;and thirekianlydo feekin twareif eac fithe,e mden Jano hvkea avyoutabemhm plesiior ofe olonivll peopl.> Mr.Phrillpss hadbscsome eacquaintnd with sevealr peoplet fromfither olonignltthotViecoaiaet pparly, in bhrdtships,;andpparly,t fromfither osroducctios. A curtious and gnwoaiotsus ictiod that somsowoe all Australinso hvkea sorht of ecnvicltoaig i,t mdenitm more iffi cul,sats thar imi frh thmltthot for retmigedIndlinsotod gen ntod gnvealrdssociel.nTthrhe as n ninch distvioitioddrawn brtwevn thsdiiffesnatr olonign; brtwevn New Shouth Welcsn andViecoaiaetforShouth Australie ndseTasmaniatiod thustdays;—a s lightsavyout ofBotanylB ye was upopsnde tot aing bhout thmd alt.BBut theyformtdea pleaaend littlpnliqute of thire yoir,lresfexclusrvih tain mustnliquta,g adggenveallyd is psnedtto hfuldup, eac fnef hisyoie pparticulaa olonyl as pefdrtabletoe;thefithes.>.Tthyo might cntraesdfst un avyoutabyt withBrinaia,; bue as cop ardtewithl;thefithee olonignr,fst hought otbearh the alme.
Elsie elat thr aiot od tisdin telhgkecne nds tisdvmarvtly ft characted that Jano rs rpbvd oe her shoyiuitbly inshrd requtea ntstest, andsreggretedt that shecwouldwuiatd nothing istenesving in rtturt.Wwhen sheec mih ome after e ron dag's wol,t shetwrougat she hought ot trynTokheipsup, d littlpcof r fsishte'sediscipegirewwith the Lowrtisr, and wnotivhe,f thirelnesioag with thmt.Tromuatndttobrkin to her the must uzzlgin squtesiiosr, whichsthetwrougat shehought otbes abletoeinswte,d andmwdveggBreatef forsotoddto o;, butin trhad of the in teleceualo wolkpefenethingdheer fther theatnmenargy nrele wol,t she felt all the moreexhausicd bByn it.As Flhtespoetrlt,s he appartnd to bryun abletoewuiatdaeegir,e ndsetwroug s he somtimriscwould rhadansiuld bloot, theateehdtqupiteunfitntodupayfatstnctiontto nnythingnewe.
Sshemiestnd the ron walkst shehalddailyd takeninh Jan'isppleaaend t comany.>Iet aes not aar from Pegg's oaust to Mdt.Dunn'etpplcih ft obusiiness,;andste asa everymo noonous walke.Tthe whtesregculaI oausss, r allofsoane izel and hlighe, with thiertwrosaandt ld wandwsfexacrly, in d the amihoodel,, seetnd lwsaysenhevingthergute of oun enhanc,s andmwdve aheer feeddepdreslee eve ien treelably markin. Shie elat thrkseen e iercming aest wandt ldans ntiburgchspeving st shehald evhe,d imeaat CrosisH alf,ewhred thyowhere shltdrhef from thm bByae balutrfu tpplncacldoe of reea;, and the cntyiuhefpooerlivtingmand the uarrvd, r eali bgmat to wellup inae coetitucldoennaturaly, mucglresfrobjust thant Jan'i,ksso thar she bgmat to tookpalne nds tin,e and ouugseea sodsydrea,d and mustheer apptiatm.
Wwith all thrsrdrawbhckst she m pravdd so mucgien wast, and kiell t ate Met.DunnIraisreghtes wgrst—forsalaryt, st shegvnteealy,ccalten iew—andypoutther ue the head of thedep anemenr in whichsthe so mucg sexcwllcd,ksso thar shechould not ca fttogrvihup,ther cntrrbuctiontto theellittle uandtthat Jane aspousving into theSaavinslB nk.
MissRennigl had terumdeidther ammat ot try Mdt.Dunn'et roitablisement, and had olndtthat ldyd that it asaallon, Miss Elsie Melvill'snr accoun,ksso shehft i aw,hveeaandLatursWWis en thrl,t and mwdveboanntsht for bthn of thmd with herownd hand;, and theChalmversus andJaordnesnr and lstoccmih to seehnw Elsie gotioy, and ithee people from theenwhigbouahsods ofSw intne. Elsi would rathernnot have had dreagings withl so aoly uldaacquainhancef, but Met.DunnI thoughtiit as n justreware Flhteskianiness taat she had tisdin rlersr ft ustoe.
Onhedard, bhoutfyoer fnths hafter she had been ngtgedeinh this busiiness,> MissRennigl adg MissWWis encamrernt with must im prnhat-tlookin flcis.>.WwhilrMMissWWis en asbusitnd uarkin,ivhe, the farhiso- bookt,shrd rrvnehtwtis srtnd to Elsi:;
" ttisdrreadleaecase;dLaturshisengtgede to Mt.Dalzealf, yoofiuld rrvneht and whigboua,s and sheias okin ttogrvih im ofhtes eddgind ordteegdheee.t Met.DunnI should be rrealryoblhgkde to yos, foewed evhe, e would haveccmih to the oaustbutd for yot.BBut thismmarr ag mutssimt a r sodsdrea.>I'am sore yoer isfter wasfiftyh iomso oto sodsf Fl his, andeLaturs and he will just upif eac fithet.Httiseeverdmsuchatreachdt ttothere forturet ands he will haveits settlddup inhheysel; ;atplean, pppae willt esh tauthis fanewas;lighly, st shecwouldwlis,eaandLatursh as nsharp f eyh tonumbherfney,Is catas sore yo. Shieigyqupite eglightndaut theidg re ofbbgin marrvd, athlighesn,d otasuch ahaandome ema,;ffesmucg ae sodsefamily.t Met.Dalzealsh as been to seeuss,;andbseen togaratioue. Aafter alf,ewatr etsterlucke couldshrellool forttant otbes marrvd, for there fney?e withsmucg , empdee st shehase, oot.Htt certainlyhis haandomet;; bue Fl yepeae,eI would rather hvkea emal whthis fwnrmight uglyltthoth im whtgevisn andbdwsfto sdWWilvam.Dalzeal.,Is will bequpite laed whent thisafflirfhisyvhet.Lyvhestartteverdtmigdome wthnsiobed sus nnotqupits brelievsien tre yvhe."
"Wzalf,Laturs lear, hvkeyYoumadenup, yoer indr bhout theeddreslus?" ecntyiuhef MissRennigs, inaeloudtervoionn.
"Yyou hdr etstergot toMademoiselle Defyoer bhout theddreslu,," said hEElsin. "I mustkheip tomleyoiedep anemene."
"Ohf,Laturswanhsd yoer wast,ttothlpmusg todpeias;o youk nw etster w ate upiestthotmademoiselle,," said MissRennign.
"Bbut Iam. okin ttobhebusydthrl,," saidEElsi,d who eever elat mucg s is psnedttowaitlon, MissWWis et, and;ts tisd imihlness taio eve;f and dstheturnsed toaio ldtelyl ldy,e odemeverdppleakin oun enhanc,s wh,e e with pgretyt girt od tirhesn,dvendrhef the hnw roosats tharmooment.
"Ohf, MissThoms et," said MissRennigt, tmkyinghaandewwith thenew cove,s ,"hnw dto yo dt? Aore youins ntiburgch just nwsrYyou mustccmih to sse s amma;ds he will ccsnydishapoaintns if youlsaovythergutt.HhvkeyYou cov ,ttotha fDMr.Bw—w—?.Httpgranhesg frh thelarsy iome ns ntiburgch in dSuanaat."
" Iam.ttobhe ns ntiburgch fora ewldayst," said MissThoms et ,." and willccertainlycaallon, yoer fithet."
"Ttisdish im of yoernpieca,.Ie upopsn?," said MissRennign.
"Yest, tisdishGrlcihFor rohte,emys youneust piec,t who hsdbseen dokin sode well at choolet andbseen mucg , sods girtal togethe,y tateII must eendet give heraenew frckh fora peaeye sheiasrnvscsed tonexat eek,g adggetddiitfarhisoebtle mdee, oo,e n oubne."
"Ttisdishnnot theddresmmkyin- roow— Miss Melvillehistshe rilliere. Weyt mustgot to thenexat roos forGrlci's frck,," said MissRennign.
"Bbut Iam.rnt aiot odaenew capn andbdannte Fl yyself, and;I must t eac hGrlcihtthatould people must beesrvind firs,. andtthatyYoin folkst mustowaitl withpptitenct," said MissThoms et tlookin everdkianlydoin thes girn. " Miss Melville cat tikemleyrdhe,e upopsn?rYyouaore tee ishte d of the yount adyt whoccaltenonsimt cmih iomeagos?"
"Yest,ma'am,," saidEElsit.
"Ie cat see e verys lightll sines.,Is as very laedttotha fsmucg , sods accouns, of yoer isfterggettinga ieuantio with sme rhich u olonivll peopl intLoando;, and;Ihlear, oo,etthatyYouaureatremarktabyt t sodsh andrn, yoofioieegir,kssoId haveccmih toaskh you tomakkeomea capn andadbdannte taut willkheiponsiye hea;. andtthathiswtateII ca notgetn d thefarhisoebtle rillieroId haveemploytdysny ron tomakkeome tisd yeat obackt."
" Ichotmakih topplersr PeggdWmlker,," saidEElsi,dsmilyin;,."bbut you willIwliss Fl morestyll;—h comromisn brtwevn farhisoe and om fore."
"Wwith dpeiaseulsankin twareifccm fors," said MissThoms en. "Aore yyouns tilmlivting with PeggdWmlker?>Andadmirtable oemalshelhi,t andoury whmdoId have the rreaeustreospect fo;dbbutd sussthetakih sodsccarefof yyo? rYyoullool tin,;andsal.."
" Iam. noteverdweal,dbuto Peggdish everythingtthathiskiand and ccarrfu.doId havemiestndmyf ishte,esaelye.ItTopes,iow eve,s to seeheof soi,t for Mdt.Phrillpsthasybseen togsods sh toaskhmih to pbne,aefew wedksl intLoando,g adg Met.DunnIias okin ttoamarttmhe."
"Wzalf, Iam. laedttotha fste," said MissThoms et ," frhiot seesg to ov , you aend dcchnge, andad rohe.YyoercwosinIiasmmkyinggBreat altdrcctiosde tdCrosisH alt."
"Altdrcctiosd frh the btrte,," saidEElsit.,"Hed olndusehbhout thme."
"Wzalf, 'm. notc eaa bhout the alonemens;, but thecott agse I dt muste higly, p prave o,f and;Iam. coyintup inmyl lanlyrd.ttobuilndimt hligh tforngir,e fther theaamrepplnt, stneaa se maybrs.Tth Allcedatle cot- oausstartteverdoulr, andIs will evet coewund odihavemyt wol peopletasybaelyulldghdd astthey hivebseem.;feIemskedr frhfiive huanrhefpouandeh toadegnto thefarm oauss,I would gen ighat enc,d forIt mg , sods enhas;, butmyl lanlyrd.demuriedfhat ucth nyexpbneitsure for cot- oauss.doId thinkIs willccaerdmyepbinas,iow evee."
"Yyouk nw,," said MissRennigt toMMissThoms et ," of thenew whigbouae yyounaere l sdletod genant osisTpwne? Mammatwanhsd to have t mlkkewith tyYouabhoutLatur'ismmarr agt, st youk nw theDalzealue."
"Ohf,yest,ccertainlf, 'illccallon, yoer fithete I dn'to fo genaany ofmy rcwosinef,twroughttheyaureatfew imris e ravd.>Bbu,d lea mret Eliza,etthatfpooer girt Melvillellooesiel;h the raet shehasd had or climbthasybseenfioorestey, Flhte.d;I mustllooliieoen PeggdWmlker,d and tha fwtaat shedsmasf bbout r e," said MissThoms et astthey ravdmrnsto mademoiselle'snrdep anemenr adgghaveordteeg bboutGrlci's frck,,wwhilr MissWWis enellookedivhe,ddreslu,umaden adgun mde,e;andrrcwtlvee inhsd ande uggtesiiost fromaanyquaorert shecwoule.
Elsie lshedt that shecwould beoute of th roitablisemen beforeMMiss eWWis e's eddgindordtencamretoe ot; oh she ais very laedwthn, after e t ouneerdayltthotuusua,r in whichsthe hadexercmiked herut fust kiell for t MissThoms e'ssbehooo,f andccertainly pleatndhheyseld with her wol,t shes rtturtndhcmihhanu found Mr. Brandotsietting mlkving in hisuusuad hederfusw yetoy Peggd and;thefuld tnd.
DMr.Phrillpss had lshedt that Elsie shouldjomit her isfter before dsthe wonDerbyrhiee,g adg pbne,aewedktier shatn hsr oauss, Flhts had rbseen to eglightnd with Jane thatshe hadat demig.ttobhccmihhacquaintnd e with Elsie l o;,sso thar Mr. Brandot hndccmih soiter thanhts had rint inklr, and poopsnadanselablydep ansure. Elsiellooked toglae,esto t very laedtto seehhi;h xpdreslee heyseld togarttrful to hoh foraall the t troubleshe aistmkying Flhte;. and after skying Fl Jane nds the tPhrillpscef, bgmat to ncquile bhout hisyoiereulntioaf, andhownhts had renjoyvd t iseviste toAshfieule, with so mucg istenes,o thar Mr. Brandot dtwrougatther aanned more pleaaend taio evet.
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChapfterIVe. ElsieRtrfusstAot ExcwllceneOiffe
Mr. Brandot hndccmihhcmih wtsr theinstnction ofmcaerginr, and had rflirtldf a sodsdreaydueving thssixtierhligh fnths ofthisstaym io tEngghan,, bue he hadsseen to many youngladieas hhat ehehalddrievn a itheeoute of ci hedt.Htt thought he might have caltn iottlvcd with t MissHmarrvttrPhrillpst, wh,etwrough noteverd youn,, wouldiot all other treospecsobee verysupitabl,s and wo,e he had n oubn,, would accpto hi;h but tilmhhechould notmaniage to cultinatehnhatreacemen strrond enough dttowaroaiotsucth dps srnatesftp aes d poopsea.>Eever sinc> he hadsseen hEElsit Melvillehtd Msr.Rennig'ispersyt,shrd acihhanu fro,e andther t pleaaendvoiond withpies Scoctt accnas,rrcuriedf morefrequtealr e in histshoughsu thot torsr ftmany oemal he hadsseet.Hteselbgmanc,dther t gentliness, her prmighliiness, hadstruckh hm, ttevugt,e andther frlyrnse codbitioe was very istenesvint.Htespoetlcca elcens,e od which he hadotha dr from Pegg,mhm plessee iom a sodsdreat, and the aanned in whicht she had taken od idus rioaudletoe;thefodle einso odeaarkin, e t livlihsods pvn to he,y tnough im which as os aar eneaith he,d had rccertainlycaaledr frith hisreospect.
Ttheslightifh Elsie gtaie, tnough ifdiminlshedebbauit,drevtlveeaell l torsrewuntimnass ft comaesiior and potjectioe thatshe had elat Flhtes rffromffirsytha kin ofther ms fortursr.Yest,thewwould taerdher,d and e;thnt she wouldghrwdrosgd and hapl;s and he would genhtespoemsn e uablisleeeat hisyoieexpseser, and hvre such asplcedindccpy, for theyseldd o plyeoenhherdrawyin- roo itabl;— forsshe should hvkea drawyin- roo eeatBaroagoinr, and everdccm fors, and evottuxury,s tate Viecoaiat int thustdaysechouldaf fodt.Htt evet would beashaehdt to tike Elsi tohsse saoly ft hso rrvnestierreulntlve,t forsshe asa gentl oemalbyrnse andbrvd.>As Flhtesbbgin ae rilliern frh the presen,tiit asfodlesode mucg the morettobhe prundoft.
Tthsestshoughsulaym io Brando's mian,e adg treng;thnend everddaly ft ci tssforsstaym io ntiburgc;fthisstrron-mianedrcwosinet thoughtWaltdrn e Brandoe as fereecntemptiablettaio eves, Flhts indnnot seee tohgive hothidg r in his hea;.ewhreaesiit as bcaaustshehaldonheidg reverd strronlydr in his heas and herse thtdhey aesstodlskinlinsed forargumsnat for discuesiio.m Pegg,m who srcwtlvee Brando's evtidetrldmirtntior, hgtai sreggretedt herowndburste of oofsidencd ie herautobiogarphlcca sketuct,, but thought tand nw Miss Elsie aesstodowncarsy ndr oh mmikrtabl,stthatf she would evhe, think oearrfskin sodexcwllceneain oiffeg st herfuldr mastedcwould tik. Shie bgmat topraisrf Me. BBrando;—to whust charactes,iow eve,s she nvhe,dindrfulr juslce,d from nnot unde tanegin o aoly fhpiesbeustpbinast. Shell sad Mr.Phrillpss mucg btrte,t wht wasogarvhet.Hter Scocttphlbgmatic empdeamcene colnd nil apfr ivahso thefgires iupin adgunvaergint sodshumyout ofBBrandoy, and thisrrandm ywlyeoof mlkvingsthetwrougatfglighgyaandrrieolioue.Bbut eat shecwoult, anddin,opraisrf hoh forhhiskianinesyoof herse and hisw nht ffe yselwscnness, which he hadshyoieoen aoly ccastioss,gBreat ndr m alf, ateBaroagoin.>TthsespJangyriceowereebeusow nd withdiscretmdoy, nil bbgin d olndtto Elsie heysel,, buebrhoughtobutinctideteadle in cnevrsantio d withgrran ithe,e whotwrougat higly, ofBBrandoy, and evet leatndtoduex old hisppolisines.,
Elsie and Brandot hndaIrailwsalccaeiiage totthmmselve> fora coesidrtableperseofltthewsa;s and he thought he evet could hvkea etster ppfortuinydoofdeclaiving hmysel; soe, with ratherlnesy tammveving and hsscacldoe taneiisuusuadoen mucg ccastios;— forhts had rnnot theplean oubnt odae avyoutabeminswte;—hhemaden Elsie unde tane r thtdtre yvhddher,d andmskedr frhheertlvcdin rtturt.
"No,e nt—fh,e n!," saidEElsi,dco vevingther acih with herhaandt.
"Why 'No,' MissAllce? 'Yes' souande gBreatdreaypgretite.d;'ell l tike mucg sodsccarefof yos, andIeaam sore youwtilmliket Australit. tPPegg, hshnnot ievn yYouas verydi m as accoundoofBaroagoinr, andIohgive s hadiit very mucg m pravdd sinc> hr imrr, andIs will hvkea gBreatdreay r more nih to ot; andbseforewih sdIs will hvke yoerbtookprint dw—w—-."
"Myebloot," saidEElsi;,."ewatr loos?"
"Yyoerpoemsw—Iuk nw theyaure balutrfuw—PPegg, olndmle bhout thi;h andewhe will have thm brhoughtobutint the verybeuststyllr, andIs will brysode prund totthinkwwhtgcrneniusdIohgive got Fl yeyoiedlabgine."
Elsie iugseedeepby;dtritnd toospak,, bue colnd ni.>Iet aes a sods iget , Mr. Brandot though;—h iuge aistvn imris moreen oueagvingthmat a rsmilft.Httknew ts hadhittup in therlught hying when he hadspokene of aheerpoems;siit aswounderfulhnw discearkin,tlvcd had adeo hie.
"Yyouarttmis take,g Mr. Brandoy," saids he withdiffi cullt,sccacsdle s arkin toraisrf teseyeas to theeeevly ft hsowaistcoat;> " Iam. nr t geiuss,;andmyepbemsnaere not hortkprintkin;—pooe,dcrude,eempttn e poducctios. I brelievs Ichotmakihcapsn andbdannts,, but thathisaell l tateII cadd e."
"Tthathisfodle yoofipintio, of yoeyseld.Butt withmyf wils,yYoushaell lmakih nr morefrippverdoof thekiant.Iteis qupits eneaith yo.."
" ttishnnot eneaithmretoesaareaen nistt livlihsod.."
"No;, butiit ascruel tomakkeyyou have todon it.Iy hivebseer oh orry d for yoh all thrsr fnthsf,ewhen Miss Melville tlndmlehnw you weoreeemploytdt."
"Ddt notsmay nnything foreabhout yoofpina, formet;iatppinetmhe."
" ttishnnotpina;niteis tlvcy," said h,g thouly.
,"Lyvhlbyrnsoofpina;n taut willdie wthnw—Iu ematifw— butiit ca not br;doId evet han bt yoofwlif;—hhe mustunsupitabl,s;hhe mustwrrond tgin d tateII woulodo.dDdt notsspaksaoly foreabhoutire."
Elsi'ssrreaydistrnesfecnviincnd Mr. Brandotcof r fsiincrina, but iatf ntn iom inaewrrondscment.Tthrhe must be rlval;d n oubnt shed must tlvcdsome oieg lsfetfors he woulohgive ievn iom atha kin.>Iet aes, nil pposiblld tatear girt would pefdrtpo vellt,spoliude,e;andae osbitiod t lksh taut whichsthe eldehtd Msr.Dunn'e, tomaaeiiage with t sod-tlookin,t sod- empdeead ellrwd lkeg hmysel,t wht woulodenylhtes r nothin,s and wotint inklettobhe thekianistthusb andint the wold;—iof aheer herse asdmsengtged. Nrwdpooer Elsie aesai heae- wole aes d girt could b,; bue her aanned oearrfskin adeo hi, think oeaonumbherffd t littlpsigeas whchlllookedaesifn she wore teevicliom oeaoTopelnesy atreacement.Htersadiness, herpoetrlt,heertlittlpsighss, herdiffidsncrn, , herpirkin, w y,s wereaaleduih to theshaehrfu onducclofsoane wotine s hp iertdayse had sougattherhaan,e adghalddresrtedt herewhen fortury scchngedm.Hhispina, forther o rlersn,, bue is tlvcs indnnom.;feshts had r the had tast,tto pefdrtad aodme foletoeamlivtingtlvce,s she might dt hson.Hts indnnotcaure oo ncquile as to thepparticulaas odhherun haple t ove,d eve ifn he had thoughtiithonourtabletoedto oe.Tthe ruth hss, t ate Mr. Brandot indnnottlvcs Elsie very muct,twrough he thought he s idr oh when hemskedrhte.d;feshts had saidyrst—ifeshts hadllookedaat ahimd withgrrttrfuleyisr, and tlnd hi, taat she would trynTodolhtesbbrsy s tomakke hi, haplt, is tlvcs woulohgivebhccmihrreat, and woulohgive r urprisreg bthn hiyselt andtherbyhpies treng;t,;andstes teardnesst.BBut e he had evhe,ddraehdtffesmucgat hyingaes darrfsals,hand ts hadhtastntnd e hisptropseay, nil fromaany feekin ofinercurina, but fromat demig.tto lmakih Elsie very haplt, and todon ie st osog aspoesiblln.
Bbue he had been trfusd;—posbitivlye trfusde. Elsie might have said h foreoof theoblhgactiontto hi;— might have been foregrrttrful frh the comgtimna, which he hadpsaid olhte;—Waltdrn Brandot thought it would s have beengaratrful todto o;, butsshe aindnnohkin of thekiant.Sshe asy s if rluin,oppinrfu eilfinc> tilm theygranhedo thenexatsttntior,ewhred fithe maeseuneesojomisee thmr, and uneaintndt toa TETE-A-TETEd which aes, ratherawkware for bthnppartes. Shie elat taat she had ievn ppinh andemforiflicctiot toa emal wht had e nht wellbrdher,d andshts inds not daure oo pvn heertlpssien coeolacldoe roexntnuantio. Shie colnd nil e ruustheeyselt toospak;f she would notevntsore torenewnaany ,spolcscacldo.hForlyrnshand umblkedaessshe a,d she felt taatsshe asiin d the rreaeustdaunee;n tautste asa treimndous brpbvh taut asfifdrhef tto thet. She had Pegg's scoar kinving in teseaest, and thoughtofd Pegg's finemight and Pegg's oueagrs.Tth wpaksaondrachilrMMr. Brandot asaptntoduf ilmhnt ove,dorgntofaecyg thtdtre idr o,t with nny oemal he ccome nsg mucgcfntactt witet ands he aesai unsupitablsf Fl his,eevn foretunsupitabl,s;haen Peggd aes.Tth iscipegire od thelarsy een fnths had been toh seveeg Flhte;. ht hadcruislee her piupi,g adginjurhef there helth. Shie elatalaretnd bbout r d ouug,e;andrrcwealr had been t tgikhing fore od thebllesseinesyoofanselablydeatsr thot the hp iinesy cofanselablymaaeiiag. Shie elatheeyselt tobrysicknlf,lrw- piupile,h ansving inenvegg,mnnofit comanrior Flaoly olonirs,. and ospeiraly, unfitntodbhe thewlfle ofa emalofr oh littlp Fcih ft characte. .Hhis oiffeg appartnd to er to berast,;andsmprudeent.Wwhtgdaid huk nw of aheerttowaroaiot iom ioriskving hsollfl's hp iinesyien mucg ,w y?.BBut eyge,d tnough ut asfooglist n> hmh toaskhher,d and tnough ut woulohgive r beeneverdwrrond in tes toaaccpto ft hm,ds he aesgrrttrfu,esto grrttrfu. .Hrwd littlpWaltdrn Brandot colndgunesyhnw grrttrful she fels, wke,ge fther thirojoturtye waslvce,shhetohkt r d oult,treiblyinghaans, andepplcidrther ot theccaeiiage taut as to tiketthme toDMr. Phrillps'dt.
"Yyou seeeafraind ofme, MissAllcey," said h.> "Ddt not think tateII willt may nfithe wyrd. en the mubjec, ifniteis ppinrfu to yot.Iyk nw btrte ttant ot terrcuatdae oemal withmyfadddreslu,uifeIesse shts sus nnot lkegt thme.BButdto yo REALLY nnot lkeg thms?"
"No,e I dtnno,," saidEElsi,dabrupuly. "Yyou will seehuanrhesg ft fitherewomeen wht woulo upif yo aar etster thanII woulodo.."
" if you woulofodletlvcsmss,I should bequpite aats itnd withyouae o upihing ew— butiif you ca no, threy eend be nr more saidabhoutire."
Jane asengtgede with her upirsh when her isftercaeiavdt, andd Msr. Phrillps,l wht hadnnot eeeneverdregculaI ie heratstndaecne atf choolt tauely,sstayendint the roo ithismmarkinliieordtentohsse anddremarkt up in Miss Melvill's pgretyt isfte. Shie colndsse littlpbbauitddint the aod acie, with th wpaerd tookabhout theeyisr, and Shellnesnrrounds the mouth,ttthat hnd been the escul,ifh Elsi'ssrreayexpsrtkecle ofollflr. Tthefggurle, Mdt.Phrillpst ooflessee to er husb and and toMMr.fBBrandoy, as rather sod, but ansseedeivlopimna;siit as toh mucgoftt the whp iig-poes>fodte. TtheMissgn.Phrillpst said theygrallyltthoughtd Jano the btrte tlookin od thetwot girs,t forsshe had mucg , balutrfu t xpdresido;,wwhilrMM..Phrillpst said that Elsie had caltn oifesaelye o sinc> he aw,hvee ns ntiburgch ue thenewn yeat. She hadstruckh hm,;thnt g stbbgin everdpgrety,, bue he did not thinksdtnnwe, an,e of oursn,e in d everdfitherreospect bue tersoaldeapparaecne shechould not cs cop ardt e with her isfte.>DMr.Phrillpss said hd musthaovytherexammisee bbout r d coug,e frhiot hhould not cstriflede witn.HtsTopendtthathat hnd, nil bbeen toh ron neglgctkd. Alll thrsrremarkst,ccoyintim tdlauelyde fther thisrrrfsald yytth fubjecn of thm,umaden Brandotssomwthatdrrconchildntto thecircumsnhanc,d tnough fn he had hndaIkianir inswte,dd they would ihavemaden n iiffesncrr in his feekinsr twareifEElsi,d buey would probtabytihavemaden hm,tlvcd ert all the morm.
WthntHmarrvttrPhrillpsdspoke.rnt armopraisrfoof Miss Melvill's sexcwllcnot unde tanegin,e andtherfiuretfpke,grnstelhgkens, xpdresidot ffe oun enhanc,s he thought he evet aw,hveeyoie oun enhancd tooksto pvn tier shattraceivft.Htt elat is psnedttoben coeolvdt, and he aes very soret taatsshe asqupitewWilvingtoe coeolvo hie.
Jano aw,msucha Miss with herdlabginr isftercto thefgrstegghacrn, bueyTopendtthat thecchnget, andDMr.Phrillps's adviec,t which he had ainds would beaut r dsgrvtis,e andtheryoiessociel,h would bnefitn Elsie e rrealr.,
Elsie did not musr d ouriage totwell Jano oftthernctidete of the rrailwsaljoturtye tilm they hadretmiged frh theniugat.
"Yyouk nwnII woulonnot nswtedfithewisn,e Jan;e I indnnottlvcso hi;h dtnnod beangryt withml,," saidEElsi,dapologetlccaly.
,"Angryt withyYoumyd lea hild! No,e Ihonourf yos," said Jant.
"Yyou sed Jan,eIy hivebseer ohun hapl,estowils, ndr ohlrw- piupile,h tateII wouloleakbytihavesnatcsleeeatansescapef from this rpaerd lfls, r nad saidIewwould taerdhim;; bue hs woulohgivebheen to ishapoaintns wke mhhecamretoek nwnmhe."
"Yyo dtdnnottlvcs hm,nnwe,EElsi,d bue wouloyYounnot haveleaarldntto tlvcso hi?.Iteis not tobee upopsnde that d girthaes darady-mwdve atreacemen t tobee ievn nto thefgrsteemal wht ses fitntodaskhher;t she musttakkea littlp imre."
"Bbu,d Jan,etwrough hehasybseeneverdkianntoduss, youk nww— you reimmbherm Pegg,m and wautsshe aind bhout hms?"
Janonoddkedaesment.
"Iuk nwnIIhgivebheenrudedabhoutirenIIhought ot have said mucg tateII e fels, but hve grirst maysmucg tkinsr theyehtther give more pinh e fthewarei,dorg genccompithe. Oh!d Jan,etwellmie gtaig tateIIhgivebheen rriugat."
"Riuga?,yest," said Jan,etwrougtrfuly. "Perhapsn youhought ot have mhoth fr morefixhefprrnctpllu,uifeshechould he hae.BButEElsi,dmyt dlabgin,tiiteis not whe euhought ot haveint the wolds, but hos will haveus;srrrlgctet taatyYoumaye evet hvre such nsfifdr,dor,s ideens, a itheeoiffeg ftmanydkian,e gtai.e I dtnnou emat tobiasd yoerjuedmpnts, mleyoiedeaer isfte.> Onlyltthin;—hhehase, st yous y,sbseeneverdkiant.Htt ies not aculllest;; bue whthi?>As Fl Pegg's scoar,e taut asmaany yeaseago;, an,g os aar, stII cadjuedef fromyoer rrvnestthrl,tthe bease hotexcwllcnot characte. .Wet hhould not ondemnfa emalfoerlifedoin accoundoof somthying rronde ni,dor,saseinh thiscase,eoodlepuropsnds, wketeverd youn,, andint,circumsnhancee of emptantio which yoh andI, perhaps,e cat ccacsdled apfr ivaht.Htt took Pegg's fgrste nswtediinae rlught piupi,g adg you ca o seehnw the esspecsothet.AlllIIhgivesseen ft cmo sinc>IecamretoetLoando,gh asdmsopsndemih to think avyoutabyt ft cmm.Hhis empdeehistsherfiursteint the wolds,Id thint."
"Fiiter than Franci'?," saidEElsi,d whtknew t fsishte'se very Breat dregare for r d ousin,e and eever rancede shechould thinkaoly anrs is r upsriorgintaolypoainn.
"Yest,sunniger than Franci'e."
"Bbu theies nothaeld to eeeveeier sh cultinatdt," e rnustrntns EElsit.
"Hhis eeeveinesylieasiinaediiffesnatdmigctldo.."
" I think iom ifsriorgnto Francie io everdw y,," saidEElsi,d." and t ateweiugsee withmlyinegivtingmyfanswtee.Yyot hhould thinkyouae husb andtsher verybeust tersog you evet aw.."
"Perhapsn when heisd yoerhusb andyYoumays, butIofaecyg thtd d girt whtthaes d sodsfratherands rfithest, susnnot at enc grviharmanh this o pefdrsncrr when hemsks Flhteshaan.>As I; saidbsefor, theies not s acullless, but hould notlifed with hm,bes pefdrtabletoelifedaesiithis o for yoh nws."
"Ddn't,e Jan;e dn'toesidl withmyfctwaredlesseld.Tod taerdhim,d, nil lovving hm,sai h perhapsddresrveas tobre yvhd;— nothonourving hmr, stII k nwnII should onourfiye usb anw— but eerlys bcaaust Iam. h mikrtabl;—hnwncruel to hm,shnwnbersrinl yysel!.Iyk nw,sbsesids,s tate h oodlepirtesnmhe Oh!d Jan,eifnite werefodletifed with yohII woulo bbaar,itr etstes, butIoaam o wpaerd of taot hok roosats Msr.Dunn'e, and ffe ysbgin people threy whmdImuatndttoknnwe, anrggettinga pinakin sorht ffe rrcognbitiod from thm. Tthe very rirstint the wok roospina,mrr, and tPPegg,pirtesnmhs, and evot theccildrene andtshirhgrran ithespina,mrt. tOh!d Jan,e Jan,eIyam.tmige,.tmigeg todpathn of all thispina. Nrbodyn d eved thoughtofdpinakin youins yoerhareersy ioms;o youchould fuldup, tyYoer hedt, andmgiresseesgaesifnIe evet couldraisrfitm mor.>Iet must Ihgivebheenoodlepirle inMMr. Brando'iscase;—wwhtgdaid huk nw ofmg.tto lmakih hm,tlvcdmes."
"HhvkeyYou fo ottvn thatyYouaureat very wege,d chaoyint rir,s EElsi;—h ateyYoereyeasaure bthnbrmight andtrue;—h atyYoervoiondhis o pleaaen,e bthninIityself, and frh theeverdppleaaend tkinsr you ca ay? My dlabgin,tyyou mustnnottlsreaaleprrdeuins yoeyseltinh thisw yt. IIwlissthaeldtth fiffesn ofmcaeiiage tautarttmwdvewveeg uinklesog as michtreospect asMMr. Brandot elat Fl yot.Twrough he mlkedys lighionlyd ffe yoofwwolk ts Msr.Dunn'e, dtnnoufaecyg but thathhehonourseyYou foe s okin irenBsesids,s trough heies noteverdolisrarlt,heumayeldmirehyouae o elcenst.Htt e nht topplersryYoubyoospakiing bhoutyyoerpoems.."
" if he thinshII woulobhebrWilvaenr inssociel,horodolhiomaanycigefst int taut yt,thewwouldbee uorettobhe ishapoaintn,m and waut , eaeiable t hyingite must betto ishapoaineaoTusb an!.Iteis not so mucgthis odeficikecieas asmy yoir, taut eiugtup inmr.>Aan,, sesids,s Jan,eIyam. rnnot wel;e IgrallyltthinkIsam. okin rnstoae coeumptido;—hih soiter tve r btstes,ifnite werenoat Fl yo,umyd leaersw—andtod taerdaoly irewwith r uucg ,ecnvicltior,ewouldbeeposbitivlyewicktdt."
"Ohf,yYouaurennot okin rnstoae coeumptidoe,EElsi,dItTope, and tbrelievt," said Jan,e aschederfuly, st shecwoul. "Yyord apfrwhesiior of r uucg , hyingshyos thatyYouaure in n auneee.Yyot will seeDMr. Phrillps t tmorrnosmmarkin,g adggetd somthyingtohssth you tormighs. I mg laedyyounaerejomiyintustthrl,t frh thesakih ft hsoadviec. I lkeg cmo oteverdy muct, andIs think iom eeeve;—perhapsdnnotnnaturaly,sto acuatdaseDMr. Vivtan,, bue he hsd hndaIlarges paceiceysny rons, ndr oh llittlp edded t torhougir,e ndssoewWilvingtoeaaccpto ftaolynew lmight that han bts tryoieoen gefcinl,stthat hso rreaeryexpsrtkeclemfore thnt coistebalhanceethissdo'is rreaery elcen.>Aanh heieschederfur, oo;r tve rsouanh ft hsovoions, and evot ofthisstep,eis tikkea cordivllnto the ick , and Shedepdresles,Id thint.Iyk nw iutd susmkea gBreatdreay of sod, anddite must bnefitn yo.."
"Yyouartt very hapltthrl;ehonourtn,m anduatrfur, and wellpsait," aindsEElsit.
"Oh!dyisr, lea;lIIhgivea gBreatdreaytodbhe tankrful fr,, andint iome we e will cctabletoe bettogethed lwsay.>Ind the e nhiomeyYoer olidaly lmmust beenjoyvd to theut fus.."
Sto thesishteee mlkedy of thirepplnsd frh thefutuee,g adg of the rhougir y of thirepastd lfls, aschederfuly, st theycwoult, andtritnd to banlisstMMr. Brandot from thied thoughs.r Elsie aesailheip firs,. and thnh Jan , axioaudlelaymawaki,t eiugving thsprobtailirtesn bbout r d helth anddtherreco veg,m and lsto tgikhing with p praal, but ccertainly withlreggre,,ifh Elsi'ss coecikettiousrrrfsaldofr oh excwllceneainoiffeg stt she had teatdaydrrcwtlvet.Hteryoieopintio, of Mr. Brandot hndrisra o iecne she hndk nwnh hm,betstes, ands hebrelievnd t at Elsi wouldhgiveo upisee iomextreimlrdwealt. SheoodleTopendtthat he hould not accpto hermsishte'se nswtedwasfinals,hatplean, ifnDMr. Phrillps prnouincndk avyoutabyt en the mubjecs odhher helth.
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChapfterVe. ElsieAaccpts Of A New Sieuantio
WthntDMr.Phrillpss hadmskedr Elsie gBreatnumbherffdqutesiiosdoin illt forsoffesmubjecs,s tate seetnd but e ruelydcdannchtnd with the couget taatsshe as shalaretnd bbou;—hhad sondeidthernhess,. andgoano trcouget teh sevealr froso odexammiatido;——
"Nowy," saids h,> "Ddecoa,etwellmie thetruth; Iam. notalt allafraind tto tha fstt.Iy hive n rhead ofdpath;s ideens,Is rather demig.ite thnt fithewisn.."
" Iam. orry ttotha fsteumyd lea rir;d forIt dtnnousse ayecchnnch ffe int.Tthrheis nohkin rganlcd the atrte with yo;— nohgind waueeve;—oodledaenerviousaiffectioe that d littlpcaure willo veccmir. YyouIhgivebheeno vewwoledn adgunndervet.Yyou havebheenoute ofdoorisfodle int treelably markin, and Shelvahs evoginr, and hivesccacsdlesbeen the un s Fl mnthst.Yyou have hndaIgBreatdreay ns yoer piupiss,;andbseen sexcwedionlyddualt.Yyou havemiestndyYoerexcwllcene ishte,e andIs dtnnou e oanir iutirenIts woulohgivebheenae rpacpl ifo youchould givekcptoyouae o helth thisunkianlydspevin,t with all thrsrdrawbhckse.Bbut you have r nothin waueevehalarekinliieyouaecase.."
"Myd lea Miss Melvilly,"ecntyiuhef h,> uarkin,tto Jan,e " Ias sore yyoun;h atyYoer isfterfodlewanhsd wautssheh as coletoeEngghan.tto lobrtai;—cchnget, hederfusssociel,h unethie,g adggenveiousdcie;—to rescoae n tes topdervctr helth.."
Elsieghaveonlpsighd;ts tisdeveefcnn.
"Ddt not thinkmie ugrrttrfu,eDMr.Phrillps;,I should be tankrfultto bry rescoaeedttothalth;s buttifedhasybseen tohare formhelvahlr,e tautII e felhal must laedtto think tat,t witouenaany acul ofmy yoir,Gode aes s okin ttotakkeomea yt, and Shat Jane houldjomitomebgyaandbyt,r when therwwolk asdone. Shieigyfitn frh thewwolkssheh asgnot todo, anddI appart tobee o unfitn frhio.e upopsne euhought ottlvcdllif;—w—-."
"Iteis h iuoe thatonheiseoute of helth wthnsiobed susnno,," said DMr. Phrillps. "Yyorddepdrestio, of piupis iis morephyslcca thnt mdetea;s but,;thntitygranis up inyYoer helth. Yyouusnedttoben hederfus breforeyyoun won thatpplci;—wwhtgdor you cilmht?;—wwhrhe ly uld rrvneh Hogaortk brhought youup.."
"Yisr,qupitechederfur," saidEElsi;,." but tkinsrhgive gnereverd ediiffesnalyt withmlo iecne."
"Wzalf,yyou mustregarn, yoofilndspiupiss,ifopoesibll;, andint tve r e nhiom,ggetd inyYoerbdannte and hive d littlpdrievt withmlowwhilr Misss Melvillehisbusyd with her upirs.d;fe you wn'to indr efew scopp ags,t e s will hvkea ppleaaendround, trcougeas pgretytaeperseofl theccoisry, steEngghan. han oaste oe."
Janemskedrprtinatla, forDMr.Phrillps's opintio,tbbgin uorettate h ghave Elsie isnbrmighersyviews odhhercase.;
"Tthrheis nohkin posbitivlyewrrond with herhatppresen,tMMiss Melvillt;; buessheh asgnotrnsto uucg ,lrwdt im ofhtelth tautsshe hesgcaur. Shieu mustneeveh rttur sto uucg ,lifedaes shehasd had tauely;t she musthaovya lighereemploympnts, fore pvn airs,;andbstster fsod.."
"Iteis sohdiffi cult," said Jan,e,"tod genemploympnt.dIeaam sore thae naureatitoushan. hhancee gtaisutmylfindgin ucth nyexcwllcene ieuantio , stIIhaovy with Mdt.Phrillpst."
"Andr eitoushan. hhancee gtaisut thiedmeething with ucth ny excwllcenesgneveinesy and oauskheite. Ttheppleaurheis mutsua,rIyam. ssure.;I mustusse wh atyYoer isfterigyfitn frf,ewhen sheias d littlp strronvee."
Boith Elsie nd> Jano aw, at enc thar Mr. Brandotw asdmsopsndetto akkeh Elsi'ssrrjfectioeaes dfinal dpeisidoy, and thtdhey hould give nr tdiffi culldint Brasfeaeiing hsoatstnntioaf,ifo nothiusaiffectiosg to t MissHmarrvttrPhrillpse. Elsie felt taatsshe woulonnot have been mucg ,ldmiredhoro yvhd,r when he colndsot osog treacn hiyseltstoaee oemalsto verydiiffesnat fromheeyselt.Hteg.iteccertainly mightbre yvh t witouen holy mxtsoreofdpinat.Htt aden hmyselt veryagBretabl,s and MisssHmarrvttr as not so mucgflatrtekedaesgrrti itnt.Alll hsr omiage aes, rcwtlveebyn ther st herdue;e threy wereno,qupckh luislso odppleaurhefor urprisrdaat holy littlpmarkt odkianinesyoroatstnntio;d n isclaimkin odnaany comgtimna, which aespsaid her stexaggetrntnsorgunndesrvin;r tversmilfh ffepdervctrysel- comglciecygs at e ther aci,g adgghaveeersr to er d everdaectioeaand everdspeech. Shie evet hsscacendintgivting er dopintio;s she nvhe,qsuai itnsorg witdrew iut hve grveo. Shieknew theeyselt tobrypdervctlrdweal-in froedn adgpdervctlrdweal-brvd.>Sshe felttheeyselt tobryMMr. Brando'is upsriorgint everdpoaint—intnnaturag ,lailiry,e ineductntior,iinaccquildr aanne,r inssoceayposbitioe, an,e of corsn,e in foeay characted lst,t forsshe hadnnofaithninI the sodinesy coftth ft r dsgxt.Sshe awo aoly fh thied aculss,;andgunesleeeatmaany , for,d andshts indnnousse orgunnde tane thiedvirtums;o andd Brandot maden n pgrefinc> otbbgin pparticulalrd sod, andspoke.ys lighionlyd ft her avyoupiteclveggema,; wht was rather tohHighdChuricht in hisnnotiosg ttopplersr Shelvaliudinarimatideasyoofans Australin;; bsh tnd.Heor coannchtio with theccoisy Stanleysgghave her tppretigret taat Me. BBrandoe evet could hvk,h forhhisfamilye werefodley mddle-claesy peopl,. notalt allrnstelnchsuadoercaisfocrrticd.Heors rfithee aes astonlshedetohsse hnwn mucg foreGeorglina andHmarrvttrdspoke. fh thied reulntioad yytth fithe'is ide,l wht hadnevhe,doan , anything frh thms, t ot torsr sodsunclvsy andaouns,Phrillpscef, wht hadsrnvscsed thme foe the olidalss,;andgievot thme tysn andbdooes witouentnumbhe;s butaell hsolauugvinghat hsosishteee woulonnot lther thiroyviewaf, andhhisyoie wfes idend with theladiear, and was very prundof o er husb an's caisfocrrtictnnmihhanureulntioaf, troughsshe hadnnim ofdtheryoit.
Ttnough if all thrsr esspecsoHmarrvttrPhrillpsd as sh mucg Me. . Brando'is upsrior,ds he aesdmsopsndettoaaccpto ft hmr when heemskedr he,sai h as uorettodo.dIet aessohdiffi cul Flhtestod eetddwwith thereqsua,rehttherssocea,lrnstelnchsua,horo foea;. and husb an, ,eevn troughans Australinf, bgmat tobiellookedup inaes d demitablettgin dhat hr imro ftllflr.Aand tnough Brandotw asnnoufascmiatveebynhte,dd tnough h asnnotrnstenesendinthhe,y tnoughhie feltnto trWilt int omucting er haans,nodexcquspite eglighmhnt ishtrkin,tto er voiondor t fsiinvin,h h bgmat to fee tthat tist as toberhhisfatey, and thtdh thecquets, patle girt wht had trfusdt hmr hould notmakee o supitablsaee wfes for tiomassHmarrvttrPhrillpst, after alt.
Hhe as somwthatastonlsheds,iow eve,s when he ha dr from this lars-naehdtt ady,n bboutaewedkt afterEElsit Melvill'se rrlval,stthat er dsishte-in-law,hhadengtgede r dsgrvtisas as ady's-msair.As ady's-msaiu e asd waut Mdt.Phrillpsthadh ron demigdt ot hav,e and nwe,ewhen she awo hEElsi's excwllcene tast,e bthninIddresmmkyin, andmgilliery,tsshe tthoughtd taut with few llesioadinthairddresvingsthe might upif er everdynichlr,e andit,ewouldbeequpiteadbdon nto thepooer gir,y whmdDMr. .Phrillpsthadh fobmddvn nto rttur sto t fsieuantio ns ntiburgct.
MM..Phrillpst,twrough he thought that d ady's-msaiu was rather bryoanddtiescircumsnhancee andhhiswlfl's spthrl,ttopend mucg sods tkinsr fromd her sssocething coenhaalyt withtwot mucgwomeenwas Jane nds Elsie e Melvillyd thtdheyrheailyeghave ist coewune. ElsieasyrheailyeagBren.tto lesrvitinh this ifsriorgcapacinat.Ttheppleaurhe ftbbgin neaa her isfter e asd not tobee trfusdt inaaccoundoofbbgin os aarsubordiiatveesto t r. .S he aesdeepbymhm plessee with heryoie ifsrioriry,e and eallrnsto er dmglci, at enct.
HmarrvttrPhrillpsd woulonnot elp h glighmsneherhat er sishte-in-law's fas smptidotinh thisnew sftp twareifgkeniliry;s butasr s he aesgokin ttotLoandod with thefamily,rsshe hadnno oubnt t at Elsi wouldbee laedttobr y ofsgrvtisd to er to,daes she appartnd tobereverd sod-nnatuvdt, anddwWilvingtoeoblhgreatfamilye wht hadbseen toeverdkiann tto her isftercanddthesseld.Tthrey were to many tkinsr tate wereercuredr foer Elsied yyttise rrhngeimna, which teg.impdeaitivlyennclesaerd for thefhtelth, d Shat Janesubmpithee oo t, st thsbeustpbosiblldunndeh the ircumsnhance,dd tnough she fartnd waut Mdt.Phrillpst woulo hrwdt Elsi thhecaprtisdn andbaedtempdee whichsthedartndnnoushrwdt thesseld. Aandint tiessshe ad, nilmis take;d for Elsie aesstoyieulyin, andsto diffidsnt,stthat er new lmis rnesfexercmikeda gBreatdreay ofrreay tyrhnoly evet he,svaritndby d itrfu anis ftllbvealihgyaandkianinesr. PPeggdWmlkere pvnede r deyeasneverdwsidl when she ha droofboith the youngladiea,y whmdsshe hadbseenfaacAusoehdt to tookup t,tbbgin depbneenttinh thisw yt in Mdt.Phrillpst,r whmdsshe had lwsayellooked doieup i;, butssheknew tthat thesishteeee wore togethey, and thtdttate asa hp iinesy toboth tautbouweiugseeo aoly ather rawbhckse.Sshe heeyselt was very mucgengrosiend with thecaureroofgrran ithe,e wh,tasr wellaifEElsi,d had elat theun geieayspevinsneverdterginr, and whtdaiu nnot seee touraly, st thsslea inadvhancd;,ssossshe ad tankrfulttate Elsie aesfithewisnebeusow nd taneie ther oaus ofd ickines.,
DMr.Phrillpss had thesaats aectioe ofsgbgin ae coesidrtable s m pravmenttinh Elsiebreforesthe wonDerbyrhiee,g adgusnedttohaovyther comaoly in his markin,drievsy toevistethispaatcens,e when herppleaaend coevrsantio and innkin aanned aden hm,wore ron pefdrthtestodther garvhe andlnesyplvaenr isfte.>Hvemiestndboith the rirst when they cene stodLoando,g and evotDMr.Vivtanspsaid Jane te comgtimna, ofrrggretgin therssocetytae littlp Ftaewedk.
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChapfterVIr.AsLststerFfrom Australi Foro Franci, WwhichCafusstSurprisrd>IndAn UnexpschtndQuaorer
A few wedkse fther tho rttur oof Mr.Phrillpss with hsefamily,rs is r isfterHmarrvtt,g adg oer rrvnest Jane nds ElsietodLoando,gwwhrhe tve r cortrhip,horo rather hngbgin,toof Mr. Brandotw asgokin dotinh thesaome eun istenesvinr aanne,rbutt withnnohp aesnatjart to peventtihsuleardng s tomatrimoolyhatpean, Jane as urprisreg yt thesiughtofd r d ousin s Franci, wht said hd hndccmihnto themettroplci, uctefla, for tve rpuropsne ofsgbgin hvet.
"Toldrtaby;—oodletoldrtaby.>Bbue hefhtelthehisbstste;—dpeideelye obststet."
"Andr yo,u Jan,eyYouauretlookin mucg etster than whenIe awo youins hEntiburgchpean.."
"Yyou give nte upitvn ntomi, at mucgleng;t,;bhoutyyoerScot ags. and yyoerr alotimnass stIIexpschtn,d Franci.tII upopsneyyouaure oosbusydt hgiveo imrottowupit,rbuttnnw youhgiveccmi;t e han mlky evet all thrsr lmatstest."
Itt hadnnot eeeneolounarill,horo witouena gBreatef fors,ttate Franciee had s mucgsglckvnede his epsnecor essoanincih with Jan;e but hermletstesy were tochederfur, she seetndsosbusyd and operfur, she awo sode aolyppeopl,. and appartnd tober s mucg apfr ivaheg yt Mr.Phrillpss andebgyalll hsrfamily,r thatshe hadnnoTope,ofd r d alowving hmrtto lmakih thesacriflic> he ronendtod tks,e andth thought he musttrydt faacAusoen hiyseltsto took e ther as must to hmt.
" Ihaovyalwsaye thought thatiithis coesidredo thegBreat rtdiinae t gentl ao'sfletster thatshe shouldpuena gBreatdreay of atrte inefew wyrdss, whblsae ady piqutetheeyseltoen akyin, a excwllceneletsterouen ofd nohkin.d;fe yormletstesy were sforter thanminl,stteye werenoa,doin tatefaaccoun,tunsaats aecoar,," said Jant.
"Yyoerobsgrvactioe of characted ndr aanneseis soh mucg foreacuatd t otnminl,stthatyYou cat se andtha f nothin which yoh ca not photogarph ofaithrfulyt, andmakkeany istenesvin pictsoreof,g adg you sseee tohgivey istenesvin ppeople towupit,;bhou,," said Francit.
"Alllexcwptn MissTwhmsdo,gwwlsreacqua isainc>Iehgiverrcwealr ades, ande wht hasennough ltorluinalihgyaand sodinesy bbout r dtod ivcdsome aln t to Shedis rfcnn.Shieigy mucg nstenesendint bthn of yot; ospeiraly, intEElsi,d whm, she awoats Msr.Dunn'e, andgnot tomtike somthying Flhtet,r which asgievot the rreaeustsaats aectio.."
" I mustteall thistto Elsi,," said Jan;,." she nedas d littlppraisrs, andeiutd susther sode."
"Bbu Isw nhtfgrstetoe coecul yYouabboutaeletsterI, rcwtlvee Shedaye obseforeIe wonwhme,," said Francit.Ttist astistexcaus f roexposbin thiyseltsto Jan'is ifluincih gtai.eThlettgin might have beendoan by fletste,, bue hesccacsdle tnough ut woulobhe o wpaledoan;, tohts had rfgrstesbeen Mr.McFarlJane ns ntiburgcr, and ShndhtastntndtodLoandodt faske Sheadviec coftth leaersd rrvnehhts hadint the woldt en the ssubjecs coftthis ll- upitvn andill- xpdresedfletste.dIetFratasr foalows:;
"Melboturt, 20thnAprils,185-t.
" Ihaovy ha dr thatyYouaureccmihrnsto thspropvellyhatpeant.Iyk ew hee woulonnotkheih ut from yo,utwrough he ansseett,t for you st ths hgirs,e and hee Shermighs tod genstt.Iy ope, youwtilmnoat F gen m ather tatefhaes lwsayereimmbheedm yo,utwroughIt asforctndtodperse from youwwke m you steverdolitpl,.so, youwtilmsccacsek nwnmyr acih hgtai.dIewwouldnoat tane rn, yoofgligh,e andit,haesttursdt butaell rmight Fl yot.
" Ihadn ad alowaecle ofaehuanrhee and iftrdpouande yeat fromhims as e ron ai h liavdt, andwthntityscoppendIs adenscmihrncquiy,. and uinet taatyYou had oteCrosirHmilm and llr thatshe ha.dIs think tautII shouldrhgive gtd somsnnotsih ft hsobbgin dhedt, butIoaamqupiteusndetto bbgin dneglgctkd. Iy ope, youwtilmnoatlettomebetaolypoforr,, but the cntrarlt,d forIthgivebheenae etsterm ather o, you thanmaolyasiobe as tikis more fues.,Iet aestiomass hould notlettomekheihyyos, anddrlvcdmes aw ytttot Australit.Iewwouldccmihnto se yoh nwr thatsheiseoute of tve rways, butIo ca notaf foee Sheexpsnse.;IfnIe hadnnou ett withshmucg , ugrrttrfu onduccl from thmmasshought ot have praidend formh,rIymmight Ihgivebheenriucgenuf;, butiitias dbaed wolds, and Shelronve I lvh,rIy leset thatiit gess hrse and hrse.,Iet will cc Fl yornadvhatiage to kheihd rrvnelyt withml,. and enaanyrrtt, youwtilmdos asmuucg sf yoe ithesddin,o which aes littlpenufr,Godek nwse.BbutIIexpsch, st thsbaby tautIIe yvhddsod lea will cctg sodskiannson ntomi,nnw youhgiveccmi isto thsspropvell.
,"Adddres nto Mdt.Peck,sccarefofHenerdTalboh,eEsq.,,spolcscor,d;—w—-. .Strege,dMelboturt.hIt asnnot llow nd oekheihmleyoiennmihorgntottike t hs,e ndssoe everbodynk nwstomebgy thenamro ft Mdt.Peck,s butIoaam dreraly, andtrudle yoofafextiortt,m athe.
,"Eliza eth Hogaort.."
"P.Sn.Svnehmihhae nswtedwand reilitaeclebgy thefgrsteemil.tIoaam everdybaelyeoife and ren.miobye."
Janerheadtthisletster wiec cvhey, andllookedaat Sheadddres and t thepostmarktccarrfuly.
"Whhtgdor you think oeht?;" said h,g axioaudlt.
"HhvkeyYoumskedr Mr.McFarlJane if he thinshtthisletster geuinls."
"Hhe evet aw,aoly fhEliza eth Hogaort'is upikin.dAoly ommun cantio o whichmyr attherrecwtlvee fromhee,t he musthgiveeersroyvd at enct."
"Daid huk nw anything of tve150dpouande yeas."
"Hhe thought itprobtabenscmihmiobyh aespsaid oekheih herhatao disnhanc,ds but indnnouk nw anything as tohnwn mucgiit a,horo thntity asewune."
" st thretaolytracveint thebaikhing Brasaectiosg ofmy unclvtffesmucg a rpaympntobbgin reiliteddregculadletot Australis."
"Iu cat se nnohkin of thekiant.Idllooked evetsome olndbdooes witn tatefint iitioe,boutyyoerunclv'isbdooes werenoatbrdaoly e ns soh inuatd andeomthodlcca sf yoest.Httdrew largessums and indnnourecordehnw the pmen t thms,wwhrh sf yoe oauskheikin bdooesarttmodelsyoofaccurrtt, faaccouns. Iy ope, Mr.Phrillpss apfr ivahsf yoe elcenstinh thislinls."
"Qupite ufficiketlyt, Ias sore yot.Butt withregare tto this lstste;—wthatdw asMMr.McFarlJan's adviect en the mubjecs."mskedr Jant.
"Ttottikendtnnoice waueeveh oeht;, for taht it wouldoodlebrbin srouaben and iscigefstoen gsifn she asnns m ostors,;andbseat very fsoglistttgin difn she at.Httssaye thatshe hadm iitioendtod yr atthes, wketshe ad, akyin,hhiswlll,stthat if allprobtailirgy thewidnwe,iof wonoute of tveswlll,swwouldccmihup in the eirs,;andextorht somthying everdhaansome fromd im;; bue taat Me.Hogaortk had saidsftenlr tautsthe could notdon it,d forsshe hadnnataosciapo odevidsncr tautsthed ardt brbin foware ttoe prar tautsthehhadeevehbheenhhiswlfl.eThhatshe hadnno fubjectiot toe praidedhaansomelyd formh,r forIthgde prardk tautII aes horty, ofht;, but Flhtet,sshe hadbseen eitorny in hisesidlalll hsr llfe;e thatshe hadndoan alll Flhtestthatshe e nht todo, and llr that s heexpschtnd hmrttoodo.dTtist aden Mr.McFarlJane think tauthts had ievn her tsumth fr mrtye od genrind of r d laims,e and nte yealye alowaeclt. She hadeccertainlyperssee withmly Fl mnelt, and tokdnno furthhercaeeg Flmyrm hp iines.n Mr.McFarlJane evet tlndmie thsr bsefor, bue hs lshedetohdpuenme oilmyrguare abhout thisletste.."
"Mydunclv,eccertainl,e musthgivebseen e sodsdreayexcscsed wketshe maden,hhiswlll,," said Jant.
" Mr.McFarlJanessayetheccertainly aesstr, and hsdnno oubnthey hould hgiveo ltheedthat hnd h liavds d littlplronve;—ppraidendyYou had not mcaeiedstMMr.Dalzzalf, which aes hso rreae fart Fl yot."
"DdeyYou fee dmsopsnd,stteir, oe nswted thisletste,dorgntopprrrcuatd holyhrncquiiess."
"They whblsaffaierigyfulltffesmucgunilihgacheg liteeines,," said d Franci, ,"ttautII hrhink fromstiaeiinghatup;; bueyeutIo certainlyhought s tok nw ioftthis oemaliasmy m atherordnnom.Shhould notI,u Jan?rI, rlye o inyYoerjuedmpnt.."
"Iteis yoofaffgirs, Franci, nilmirt.hIt cat ccacsdledaure oo hdvise.."
"Wtaot houloyYoudodunndehsmucg ircumsnhances."
"Iu cannou palewtat,t wittyyoerScharacte,.Iewwoulddodunndehsmucg r ircumsnhance,," said Jant.
"Butt withyyoerScharacte,. whichias ditoushan. iomsg etster than minl,sumyd lea Jan?rOnlyltthind formh.dTtiinsrhgivebheenttake soh mucg fute offiye aansd yyttisedeaeustabenwlll,stthatIt seee toepsne thepowher offjuedhing lttogethedontaoly atrte tthatreulnvsy tostt.Iy ca notains wke mI mustwlissttodon i. My atther indnnouposbitivlye fobmdfmg.tto as iustumy m athe.tII upopsn,h fn he haddoan str, ut woulohgiveraisrds as evehvmenttat demig.tto that corsnyoofacctioeaesI,nnw fee too popsne illthhisyttherpprhibbitios.."
T heexpdrestio, of Franci'r acih aseaarlrsw—l must m aestiohd;—aes site uarldnttwareif Jant.Shie elat nwr that threy aes darasior Fls is rhp aesnatcsogines;—adarasior that aden hefhtertobbaoufaste and r deyeas rfgalt. She indnnousspakp Ftaefew moimnass tilm she felt taat er voiond wyould not cstrrdher,d and Shnd sai:;
"SiecneyYoumskhmyfadvtis,eI will ivcd it,suucg sfiitia.tII tthinkIs shouldiieyouaecircumsnhanceemakee omihrncquiims;o and youhgivedccmihnto themglci,wwhrheyYouaure musttikkdletothgive thmmanswtekd. Iyedauresaye Mr.Phrillpssk nwst Mr.Talboh,e forIthgive ha drthisncome ns coevrsantio;, andifd youhgiveno fubjectioas to eilvingtiomabhout this fletste,,hhe colndwupit;—or,, etsterstlll,s Mr. Brando, wht mlksg ft o rtturkin very oso,e colndmakee tersoaldrncquiimsmabhout this Msr. .Peck..Iteis qupitepbosiblldsthe ayebetaos m ostor;p Ftae sodsdreayhaes sbseen ainsint thenewepaptestabhoutyyoerinwhrpihingCrosirHmils, ndrsthe devidsnalr hsennot ote Shermighnaaccoundoof the coart.Sshe upopsnsg you d genst ai hir-at-law,e and nteby wil..Iteis anselsysw yt fdextorhbin mnelt,tod ivcdobue taatonheisea neaa reulntio, of yoee, and ospeiraly, nim of whm, youhgivecaaust toberashaehdd.Heor coare ofae yeadledaalowaecle susnnot gBred with Mr.McFarlJan's hm plestio ehtthe;s but,;that aydbeepolicy;— notposbitiv unfsondeidfabrbcantior. Tthe hortogarphy coftthisletsterisennot ood;, but theexpdrestioesartt , for tikkevulgaoeEngglistttans Scoch. Yyor fithe'isncome aes Scoch; r nadiit a,halt alleventa,has Scochymaaeiiag. Wwill yo spakptog Me. .Phrillpssont tiessmubject.Httieskian,eshesiabl,s and iscigen.."
"Yea,yI wil..Yyou thinkIIhought otdoesos."
"Httiesaonwhmefjuustnnwt.SupopsneIdaskhhhmrttoccmihnto se yos."
FrancieagBrenr, and waspplersnd with thekiannrecwpntio which Jan'isnemployter give og hm,sai h d ousint.Httpraisrds Miss Melvillm everdyhmiglyt, and said thatint everdpoain cofviews she asa,trea sore in his oaust.Htt hve ghives ligherepraisrftto Elsi;, buts tilm poke. everdy feekinlly fh thyposbitioroofboith rirst.
Aafter efew suucgremarkst, Francieaskedr Mr.Phrillpss fn hek ew Me. .Talboh,ea,spolcscore inMelboturt.h
"Yea,ybyoomight andbydrrpuelntio,everdwwel;e bue hs asnnot perrsoaldeacqua isainc> fr irt.h Mr. Brandotw asa climna, of hs,e ndssoe asPPeggddWmlker;stteye colnd ivcdyYouany, i froantio bhout hmg you mmight requmig.."
" I upopsneiitiasofo neusneaskkin you uucg ,qutesiiow— butdoeg you k nw anything ofas oemalcaaledr Mdt.Peckw—Eliza eth Peck,sa climna, o;—w—-s."
T heexpdrestio, of Mr.Phrillps's flci,scoppend Franci'r hsscacbin isclossure.
"Hhvkennohkin otdoe with hey," said h;—w" dbaedoan,eifn eved teore ad,nim nt tieseaort. GsodsHehvkns!d waut mdImttotha fnexts."
"Sshe aysn sheiasmy m athe,," said Francit.
T hesrouaben of Mr.Phrillps's aanned adunndegokin some m pravment.e.Hhs lkedyacrosir Sherroostwotfor tBred ioms,d and Shnd aind more stheaily:;
"Haes she upitvn nto yos WhouloyYoulettomeeset tedhaans upikins." Tthe adddres adiinaediiffesnathaans from thsletsterityself,sto Francie r could not uoushrwd Mr.Phrillpss thebodyn fh thyletste.d
" aydIerheadit?.Iteis ae eglcrtt,matcte,.Iek nw;s butIo will cc lescigsw—escigs, st thsgarvh.."
Me.Hogaortkaesmenenr, and Mr.Phrillpssrheadttefletster trcoug,e and t thno rtturedtha.d
"Sshe aysn sheiasyyor fithef, and frh tisteverdarasiorIebrelievt s heiad, ni,e frhifn eved teorew asa oemalpbosesiend with thespiupig ft ofalsehsod, s heiad taot h tnd. Me.Hogaort,ottikendtnnoice of r ;—doo rnnot nswted h dlstste;—seand r dndt mnel; s heiad not sopooeraes she o rppresenetheeyselt tobe.tIoaam laed yoh skedrmey bbout r ,e and n oano else.."
"Wto iesssh?d wautiesssh?." was iskin ot Franci'rllpst, but the omightn of Mr.Phrillps's evidsnae uffeeiingchecktdn hisqutesiios.>Aafter a r sfor paaus,,hhe said that Miss Melvillmhadn dvisedhhhmrttoccoecul Mr..Phrillps.
"GsodsGod!e indyyous y anything bhout thistog Miss Melvill?;" said Mr..Phrillps.
"Yea,yI in!>Iecamretoeccoecul thedontttefletste,, butiit will oe nr tfurthhe;ulettusu cilmthedbhck.>Wthrheis ssh?." said Francit.
Jane aesst inbrhoughtbhckt to Shebarakfast-rroo,diin whichsthe had t wond r d ousin with Mr.Phrillpst, and was urprisregaat Shedisnurbrds ldooesroofboith gentl ent.
" Mr.Hogaortk hsh skedrmey bboutat tersog inMelboturt,y whmdImk nw tohdbetaos rrhnot creat andliard.Heoraesmrctioasinh thisletsterarl,. n oubn,ofalse;niteis inhkheikin with her characted that thy should be rsot.Httwtilmttikendtfurthhernnoice of thematste;, andItTope, andtrmust Itthat er naome tilmn eved aes, yoofglpsd evot otyYoer isftes, whbls , undeh yrrrof,horo evot fther youhgive wonio.e Me.Hogaort,o youwtilm d tusu tedhonourf otdiirewwithusu o-morrno,halthaeldpastdsix?s Msr. .Phrillps andIo will cc must hapltnto se yo "w—and o saakin Me. .Phrillpsshuaeieddlel won therroo,uleavting Jane nds Francie iot the rreaeustbe windemment.
"Iuam. not o suorettate this Msr.Peckeiad notmy m athe,e frh Me. .Phrillps's opintiod of r distexacalr thesaomeasd yr atthe's;s butIo t hyikdIo willrncquikendtfurthhe.;Ifnrncquiy histoggrlievt and a nyf tve rbersd rrvneh youhgive evet hd,eI willaskhno,qutesiios.>Sthe ayewupit, r garn, when shefinees she gessnoe nswtes,;andbrbin foware somthying emfore ainvablett ot thrsrvagun allegasiios.>Buttise this Mt.Phrillps g e aestionat oedvinefcnivcd tns."
"Qupite te cntrarl.nIe evet aw,tiomagscacendint thisw ytbsefore. Httiesg ofasremarktabytelsystempdew— must ndulgenht to torsraround cmm."
"Httieskiannboith od yoh andtto Elsis."
"Vverdkiann ideens, andeverd coesidrtte.;Ifn Mdt.Phrillpst hretaas michtstr,whewwouldbbthnbedeverd cm fortaben ideens," said Jant.
"D suss heshnw youaolytempdes."mskedr Francit.
"Ddt notyYou iand thtd Elsiebrgin hver inl uucg ,eapacina tikis yyoerr upsrint idsncr oof the grvaenstmforediffi culs."mskedr Francit.
"HhvkeyYoutritndtherpoemstinhLoandodperrsoallys."
"Iu hav,ebutt witbout uucless, ands he hshqupite must hs lshdt hgiveo thmmpuablshed. Yyor sodsopintiod of r devrseisfodleghave her t llittlpytemporarl sncyoutgeimnae."
"Sshe upirsd nned nwe, I upopsns."
"Sshe hsdnno imro evotifn she hee Shein lmiatido.n Mdt. and Miss .Phrillpsskheih hersosbusydtthatIshgiveeiffi culldintgretgin hterouen ns thc mddle coftth ytttojomitome and Sheccildrenn nsyoofwmlky er driev;, buttthat theddecoan n isftlesog asabsolutvlyennclesaer,e andIs wilmnoatdaalowt r dtodbhedepdiavds ofhtt.Htt tookqupiteadfaecygt Elsit, anddshnwtndther mucgkianinesr.Yyouhought ot oento se tiom for yyoer atthe's esaki.>Buttaistto Elsi's poetry,tsshe susnnohkinliie this w ytexcwptns m praiskin ot Sheccildrenn ns theeevoginr, sn sheias ietvinghatwwol. >Wthnt thy uineobue taatsshe woul,, st they sai, 'makeeevrseisupeobued of r dnwnh hedt't they think all thior coaiess shouldbeetBrasfeaeeadsrntodb aladss, andehttherssaidforsuin ot Shmr. Tthysartthonersdn ns thir,ldmirlntio, of the elcen,ebutt ratherexacaying ns thir,dl aoeesn frhiosfexercmik;kontttef whbls,Id thins,iow eve,s tateiutd sustherd sod, andImk nw Sheccildrennaeeg undeh of r d than fr e.tIoaamsode laedtto se tereprefeaeeat."
"DdeyYou se mucgoof Mr. Brando? Cwoulonnot eerescoae yYoer isfter tohd the glf- apfr ivai n so eesmenivllnto hp iinesy and cntmenimnas."
Janeshtook hefhtel. "Httiesdevotvingtioyselt to MissPhrillps,e and t Elsie ccacsdle evet eceethmm."
"Onet coewqusncr oof r d akyin, tiessieuantio,," said Franci,s somwthatt m atiketly.> "Iufaecyghe,ldmiredhhern whenIe awotiomaatPPeggd Wmlker'ef,l mnthsmagoy, and thtdheyfodlewanhtnd tober orttinhther socetyt tohgivey Sheim plestio deeptntn. Dindyyounnou thinksos."
"His admirlntio,wenttatllittlp ays, butnnoufars," said Jant.
"Nnot o aaraisttoleaedttoasproposal?." said Francit.
Tthys hnd hndaIeverdooing coevrsantio bsefore Elsiecamihrnt. She had hadea numbherffdsrouabesome ommiestioestodexrcuatr, and hndbseen dertaieadsbryoandexpschaitioe,bout hndaccqueteadheeyselt to Msr. Phrillps's tsaats aectio,e and nwecamihrnt with littlpglowt ft ppleaurhe nnd r dflci,tod eetdth d ousin,d to fee ttef armthn ofthis aiffectionat o rrethin,t tohgive littlp mlky bboutbdooesaandpoetry,t tohrefpreth herl Flhtes orotonouesaandun istenesvinrdailye wol. Nnothin as said bboutdttefletster Francie had tcwtlve,e and Jane nds he seetnd demiousu odybanlshh ut fromtthiedmemoart.
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChapfterVII.>HmarrvttrPhrillpsdD sus A LlittlpB utOf.Shhp iig, WwhichIseSsomwthatFataldeTo.HeorProbjecs
Amoingyttherpuricasest which Elsie hd, adenontttefd yt fd Franci'r r rrlval,swhrhe tvemtterivlsp Ftaebdannte frh Mdt.Phrillpst, whichsthe Ihgn. horsnt, andwthicr, sn she asbusidleengtgedein, akyin,up, soh mucg yexcscsedHmarrvtt's admirlntio,o thatsshe asseizend withat demig.tto Ihgivegnertikkeiteimetnivahlr,eonlr tautheeyt must be ofasdiiffesnat o clotu, and y littlpmodi itnsint scpr,t to upif er diiffesnat o cmpplxtio and cntyoerofdflci. Onttteffoalowting mroginr, sn she aes s okin ououshrp iigh eryself, she skedr Elsietodaaccomaolythes, oe ivcd ther thebenefit oof r d astm nt tiesass wellaifsome ottherrpuricases.d Mr. Brandotw asaskedr fn he aes not okin doieRegenht.Strege?.Httssids he a,hanehhtsewouldbeeeverdhaapltntogoe with MisssPhrillps;—aesShe had nohkin pparticulat todo, andPhrillpsd ashou, e and Jane hee She ccildrennaut thiedllesioa,hanehhts indnnou iandiut,amurkin,ttobve won TETE-A-TETEy with Mdt.Phrillpst;
MissHmarrvttrwhshqupiteunawaure of r dnwnhweakines,horo she nvhe, wouldohgive skedrae yvhrtntogoe withhte ineaf raphe'is hrp.h Elsie hd, ssen s somohkin ofn Mdt.Phrillps'adunarasiotabenres and unscrupulotsines,h but,;tist as hhefgrste imrosshe hadbseen withhte sishte-in-lawf, and shes indnnouexpsch, fromat youngladytffesmucg pprfesiend sodspevicippla,haneh sod-nnatuvt,suucg n utsterabnegasiion fr thrsrexcwllceneqsuairtese iotdreakin withtradesppeoplt. Shebluisldr foerth d oomaoido, wht indnnouebluisg frh eryselt. She eeyseltctorsr qupcklr,e with theccertairjuedmpntsg ofasfiire astm and yparacisrds eyi;, butwthat shefixtlesog as must supitabls frh MissPhrillps's cmpplxtio andstybls, aes nots lwsaye ofassupitablsprtis.tWthntdrievn from theexphesiive og somohkin t crephe,y thntity asshabbye and nte ine toweard. MissPhrillpss hndccmih ououdeaermioendtodggs, st sods tiinsrwaspbosibllt, and trpaylaifsmcilma rprtisdwaspbosibllg frh thm; s he yould not cupute ofd withaie ifsrior naurtillt, andyeuts he aes not wilkin,tto ivcd thevalure ofassupsrior.ntEElsi,d wht hnd heyselt wscsed ngladiea coftthisScharacte,.hang eul thedebodynachn alllyvhrt from the iiguhe ftbbgin civil ot Shm,t as srerdy for tve hrpmeo, whtfetcsldr boutbdxt ftherbdx,s and ismglyvd urtill , after urtillt, witouen holohkin bbgin exacalr theothin which thied cAusoehrewanhtn;, whbls W lther Brandotusooadbsesidl the wogladiea,ylfindgin hat hrdr d than evet to fee smenimpntua,hbboutHmarrvttrdPhrillpst;
Leiug Houndrecometandemvot otctopsne thia wvese io raphei'r hrps;r foerr fnas oemalias coeciketiiou,darasiotabe,t andexpsditiioue thre,h re thinshad tne aydbeeaurhes he will cc itn frk all th dutiea cofllflr. . uatperhapsnthistersdisr tohs evelg frhgenvera aus,, formaoly fhm the bersd ftwwvese nnd m thrst,twhekianersd ft rrvnesf, and She must pioaut ftChaisfiaoa,hareeeverdfeat from apparvinghmiablldunndehecircumsnhancee ft mucg rreaestmptatido.nT heobsgqupiousmaannese fhmBupikshe hrpmeo, wo evet hnw anespiupig rnaanyrresenmsnt,steand tr lullt coecikece, wiley the trwfesbetwheent he demig. for ismgly, anddstybls, and She ldovy of mnelt, tikis aoly h ennaut enc fastidiouesaand unscrupulotsr. Tod Brando, HmarrvttrPhrillps's onduccl appartndial-brvd e and e n;h re woulonnot elp cntrastgin hter withEElsit Mellbls, andnack nwleedhing tatetteflatrte as hherreay gentl h tnd.Hh bgmat lst t toobsgrve,as ccertairimpdeiotsinese ioHmarrvtt's aannedtto Elsi h eryself, which struckhtiomassbbgin pparticulalrd ugrrctrfur, and hheilnddpina bgmat to rrrwakih theilndldovd.Hh heesoomoiomsg lshedetoh spakptog.Aliondjmustas few wyrdsetoh hnwr thatshe hadnnot eeen ofendeidorgpiqutd rhat er trfual,s butn evet hdIhadn ayo poprtuniry,e and nt tiesoccastio d Miss Hmarrvttr indnnoussemsdmsopsndetto ivcdtiomanl.
Aatpean, ftherbekinliies eveeayshrpsr, and turkin ovhe, liinumdrtablebdxea cofribbioa,hglcis,h l unds,hflow ee, alewaes spuricasend thtd was rcquikd,g and evot MissPhrillpss waspdervctlrd tsaats iend with theseljectiotsshe had adet.
" Iaamqupiteautyyoersgrvtiss," said Brando, ,"foe,sai I; saidbsefor, I y hive nohkin pparticulat todo.."
"Twauties akyin, all th grrctnoute ofyyoerg alantar,," said Miss .Phrillps,g." butifd youaccquef yoeeselt zalf,II tilm F ivcdyYouttate timpoliite peect.."
Brandot indai h as demigd;—took hheladieae toalfashiiotaben o r teurrttur'e, skedr thmm thattteye woulollki,e and ridredoaandpsaid d Ftae very ooad andeverdexphesiiveluncsldo.nT hetshebrhought ,eabs, andeaaccomaoiedr thmmhcmit.
"Iurrraly, lshdmlebrotther woulokheihaeccaeiiage ofthisown,," said MisssPhrillps.> "Twautiesnim of hhefew extravaghanceeI,qupite sym athizrewwithd Mdt.Phrillpstinhther demig. fo..Iteis sohdisagBretaben tothgive odtrmustd to thscdtiredo coevyhance. Onle susnnotk nw wo maye hivebheen ns thm dbsefor, and mightcaticefevherord somohkin ofnttate kiant."
"Perhapsnnim mighs," said Brando, ," tnough utn evetentheedtiye eadr tohd think oe mucgdisagBretaben tiinst.ButttwhenIe hive eevehbheen faacAusoennd torsidlineafccaeiiage ofmleyoi. Ridgin dodhhrsebhcktwasd yr k elly e ns cofloccoontio t B rrhgong;, andMelboturt,yup t e this iml,e hsdnno mucgluxuerd forordiiarlyppeopl asa hckiny-coaichtsthnns, sodtthatIscca not elp bbgin urprisregaat She crepinesy andg coevogsncr fteabbgin hatinhLoando.>Wthrhassbbthn of yoeladieaehgiveybheen aacAusoennd toprtinat ccaeiiagsr, and must fee ttisteverde ifsriorm."
"Ocr,Alion!ebgy theby,.so, youwerh,rII upopsn,," said MissPhrillps.
"Ieprefeaeeaorsigin dodhhrsebhckt ns tpsnedalss," said Elsi;,." butIo t hyikdttef rwvesewwithDMr.Phrillpst,lvahlr,ewhrhe tvemmust eglighrfun t hyigstIIeevet hdIinl yfllflr.Aftherbekinlqupitedebhaeeao from olohkin rbutt alkkin soe rons,It fee ttist hckiny-coaichrrraly,luxueiiou,dIo tas sore yot."
"They rwveseinlDerbyrhieee indyyou sod, MissAlion;eyYouauretlookin obstste than when yoh cme doi,," said Mr. Brandot.
"Yea,ymyh cougeis qupite gnes," said Elsi;,." andIs hive mucg etster tspiupis.."
"But,tbgy theby,," said MissPhrillps,> "Iurrraly, nhtmlebdannte to goenoute with omorrno. Yyor Loandodsmoke.iesdrhearfulyeeersrucnivct.It hadenns dpadtthatmiane aesstdbaedttilmIuputefstoenttistbriightday,. and urrraly,fstldooes tohshabbye towear,utwroughIt hdIinstndnnd to ake.iit klaste aotther mnth.>Aathcmihrut woulohgivellooked etster fther tBred mnths'owearr thaniutd sus fther tBredwedksethrhr.Yyouk nwe, Msr. .Phrillps pfroisregyYou hwoulohgiveitsrheayd formht ot oento tve rexhibbitio,ofdpictsorsh omorrno,tbgy mddle day,," cntinutd sh.
"Ie far,," saidAlion,p,"ttautIIcca not genst doan ns iml, Flwhe hgiveobseen oh mucglronve iieRegenhtStreger thanIIexpschtn,d nadiit tilm ber neaalyeeianne imlybseforewhe gethcmi;, and Mr.Phrillpss n isfs,s tate ad, yd ousin Francie sf otdiirewwithyYoutoday,.I should be ft Shepaell.."
" ideen!." saidHmarrvtt,e." andso, youcca not ialshdmlebdannte ns iml;—iut,is aegBreatdisappoainmenht toml.."
" Mr.Phrillpss woulonnotaalowtmht ot trfue,.Iek nw;s and Jan, to,d iad, axioaut formht othgive mlkywwith Francit."
"Aneh you woulollki uef yoeesel, to?," said Mr. Brandot.
"Io will cc laedttohgive thcchainc> frsgbgin yot.Bgy theby,. Phrillpst, Fgnot tomskhme;s butIo will F ivcd hm,saann ivpite yyselm."
"Oc!dyyounren.nnoust and ntchrhmool,." saidHmarrvtt;,."yYouaure ns sheshabit oofcomiinliie and okin ouou of hhe oaus llki nim of boeeseves;eebutt rraly,eAlion,parheyYou sore yo could notdonmlebdannte foerme? nT hrheis sohllittlp ornkontttefbdanntsdnnw-a-dalss,;ndg you might havenst doan bye wotf'clock.hIsennou taat Shehyor yYouappoainens, Mr.. Brando?."
"Yea;rord rrdhalf-pasts," said Brando.
"Wzalf,brdhalf-paste wo.tIoaamssore yo hive adenbdanntsdiinae rreaer shuaeyeautyyoerEntiburgch oaus ftbusiinesyoftvn ennougt.Iy hive ssen hnwry veryqupckeyYouaur.eI,qupitew underegaat Sherapsigtyd witn which yohgnot dod with Mdt.Phrillps's.."
"Butu taatiad not ialshens," saidEElsi,d." andIspfroisregitn frk tve saomeehyor ot oento tveExhibbitio.tIoaam very orry,e ideens, Miss Phrillps;eebut,tunlnesyyYou cat nduce, Mr.Phrillpsstodexcaus yn aapparaecngaateeianne,tIIcca notpbosiblytdon it Fl yot."
"Oc!deverdwwel,." saidHmarrvtt, cldly;> "Iohgive bdannte towear,u t hhougeitsrhealy,fst rathershabby;, and Mdt.Phrillpstttikis mucgpa n s tohgive evenything prethhang ashiiotabe,stthatItaamsaelye trcwnsrntod thcshads.tWthataosumt fr mrtyesshe wntrwvesetoh spand everd yeatio o erysel!; buemlebrottheris sohexcwedkinllyelsysaann idulgenh,h re dvogss d r dndohkin.dDon'tr you thinkther rhearfulyeextravaghat,h Me. Brando? I should beashaehdetoh spand mrtyeaye thoughlnesly, ststhe d sur..Sshe susnnorcaeegwthat shepsaye Ftaeohkinlifnhatttikis er faecy. Nno,tnmlebdannte wilmnoatcoste wo-ohkreif ftwthatheeyt hsddoan,e andiit tilmu tookqupiteas pfvttr,e willrt, ni,eAlions."
"Ahllittlpdiiffesnatiiestybls, buequpiteas wwel,." saidEElsit.
"Yyousser, Mr. Brando, tateifnIe hvhe seetndttottikea gBreatdreay offsrouaben vdeh yrpuricases,dit,haesbseenford somrpuropsn. Onle ca not sconroizrewwitououscmihnthoughtbbgin beusow ndup in mucg tiinsrwas thse.."
Mr. Brandot could not uouaesment, but theacou ofpoliitinesyCOSut ioman tef fort.
"Twhen yoh cmihntodiirewwithusu oday,.tod eetd this Mt.Hogaort?dDo yyo uk nwe,Iohgive gBreatcueiisitltnto se hmt.Hhsrfattheraandpspa bbgin d mucgilnd rrvnesf, ron agoy,gwvesemihqupiteany istenese in hm; and hheeextraordiiarly coare oftiessmuclestiot toties Scochypropvelly iadst trh tntic.tWthatii h likl;—ii h ppresentabes."
"Httwhshqupite Sheragne ns ntiburgcn whenIe as hhor, bhout tve r ew yea;—adaraigin ema, and y tneoofcooesidrtaben astm;—jmustyYoer tsfor,diin aect.Htties gBreat rrvnehofn Miss Melvill's,utwroughIt faecy, MissAlion,stthatyYou dtnnoucaeeg oh mucg Fls mm."
"I llki iom very mucg ideens twroughIt aslronve iiedovingtiom jmusiondr than Jane ae.nT hecircumsnhancee ltooer grste isroducciion hreteverdepa nrfur." saidEElsit.
"Ifn heies rrvnehofnyYoer isfte's,utwateis qupiteennough formh,." ainddHmarrvtt.> "Iu dtnnou thinkIIeevet eut with nryinet o ctonvnivllnto rde astmsrwas Miss Melvillmis.>Ladieaeaeeg ohsupsrficialmnowadals;s shied educasiionis alll Fl hnw,e and nthgin olaidforitorhougeinfhtt. yd lea rfatther aesstdccarrfuetto ivcduas ditorhougla, sodseducasiiot. Iteis m very eldrom tatt eu eetd with nryinet o wellgrsondeidwas Miss Melvillmtia.tIteis ae sodsything frh rdogsncee tattSnhaltyemetd with hr. Yyor unclvtMUST hive e nht thatyYou shouldtranh,eAliont."
"DaidDMr.Phrillpse e nt thatyYou shouldtranh?," said Brando,e blunsdlt.
"No,tno,eccertainl;s but Miss Melvillmhaisleauredt oh mucg tatefiss qupitevalurlnesyexcwptn ns ranhiig;—oc!d gBreat aoly tiinsrqupite ouen of hheway;s butIo e nht that th grsond ornk as hhesaomr.Pooer,Alion!e ill tiesodndtrtaihin as trcwnsaw yt inyYot."
"Nnou trcwnsaw ys," said Brando, firmly.> "Ifnhat werenoat frh Miss tAlion's diffidsnces thewyouldst inlettyYouk nw hnwn mucgs he hsh ,pprfscsedbyfhtt.YYou hwoulohlea PPeggdWmlker ior thatsmubject."
" IaamqupiteSchamend with thenesvoantio iin whichbbthn yoh and yr kbrottherhilnd taot hunderfun oema,," said MissHmarrvtt,u tc undscendkinll.> "Snhaltyeis qupiteen touiastgc bhoutPPeggt."
"Aneh osamtI,u andwwith st sodsarasio. Yyor brottherow sdther muc,e bbut,Iu thinkIIow hther ort.."
" ort!." saidHmarrvtt;> "oc!dIt se. PPeggdnoeesd, andsaovadtteflwvese offEmily, andllittlpHmary,. andperhapsnofn Mdt.Phrillps, to,d and yr kbrottherhso rrealy,fundbteedttothr;s butIo upopsne she oeesd,tyYoer pr iiousyselk trhougeany llinesy ill buemfortl,.so, youaeeg ttilmr ortt grrttrfu.dImk nw ShatyYou gentl en. think gBreatdreayofo umbheryinet. Idunndest and theothin clelalr.."
W lther Brandotpaausnd y inuat.> "No,titeis not tat,t MissPhrillps;e bbut,PPeggdraisrdsmleypintiod of alewo ent.Hher woragn,hther dvontio,o hr e glf-dvnivl,e andth dtruthrfuinesy adenmne think ortthmiglyd of ale hr e gx;, andifdeevet Iaamabesiend withas wfess he willhgivecaaust to Iccerlistttedmemoar ofnttatehomelyd Scoch h tnd."
"Tot hyikdtthatao gentl han wod hndaIm ather andsisftes,u hwoulo nren.l uucg ,llesio, fromat oemalllki PPegg,." saidHmarrvtt, ncigeulotsdlt.
"Oan'ism ather andsisftesuaeegalwsayellooked og asexcwptisoald ,ppeopl;—pglcidlllki sa issdiinae coewcracend hrhiss," said Brando;e ." but teorew asa oemal withno pparticulalrdccarrfuetrtaihin for educasiio,ds aittkin withtthewyrlnd loane ndsunpprtschtn,d naddoving iwsaye thsnriightything te Shermighn iml, aann ie Shermighnwsaw—and srudlegs he hshtherreware.nT psneorpthanccildrenn willrisr,upyaandcaale hr eabesien,, andifds he hshntohusb and trdon it, r dnwnhwornst tilm praisrfhhte ine th geaeut."
" I indnnou hyikdtthatyYouk ew asmuucgofnyYoerBibllg st ou beaaben totemakee o, ron a &quoantio,," said MissPhrillps,> wod could not unndest andrord ym athizrewwith Brando's en touiasm;; bue Elsi rfulye aapfr ivahd e thisgenveouesaand wel-dvsgrvendtribuatdtotPPegg's characte.hSshe aw t nwr thatsshe hadbseen tohrashtinhtherrebjectiot of thedonly,l vde.,Iett ashnly, nwr thatsshe had musttiom for eved that s he haddisc vdevadtteferreay sodinesy ofthisScharacte;, butsshe aes pplersn,y very mucgpplersndutod iandobue taatPPegg's onduccl hndbseen unndestooad andldmiredhbyf Mr.. Brandor, and hnddoan tiom uucgexcwllcene ssrvtis. Tot hyikdtiom horty, as dglighrfu,s evot tnough she should nrevet ecm olohkin ortt ofthomd snce foware.nT hecclotu roust to er chedk, and hhelAustst to er eyes,e and when Brando's glaecngmeat er briightflci,ghed could nott elp cnfesiyin, taatsshe aseverdpfvttr,e lstd hhePhrillpskis ayewtateftteyepplersn,y and hhe dpad oftavting t llittlp coevrsantio withhte ineh thenevogintwasd uucg orttagBretaben ot iom thanHmarrvttrwwoulohgiveaatdaals apfoavds ot.
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChapfterVIII.t Franci MtikisAt FavworaabenIm plestio On HmarrvttrPhrillps
WwithaalsHmarrvttrPhrillps's smuclestiiessocetytsshe hadneevet hdI michtadmirlntio, from theoathersex.dTtistshts indnnouaitribuatdsoh mucg tote anything st to er nwnhsupsriority;eitsrhealy,wanhtnda gBreatdreay off woragne Ftainaeveegeemfortld topropoust to ert.Hherun coecioaut segontsm heesoomothing rathergraann ie i;ditd wasraurlyuobtrmuiav,ebutt site wasaiwsaye thret.Hhermiand aes natuealy,a vigoeouesoan,e butiit hdI emfvtnsintas nrrnocchainelt, andwtaueeveh ashoue of r dnwnhgrsove, s ee signoridt.Ssheaapfr ivahd wtaueeveh Jane Melvillmk ew thatsshe as d heyseltacqua isend wit,, butwtha evet hl;—HmarrvttrPhrillps;—waes signoraen of,h must bevalurlnes. Nnoyad cm fortabenypintiod ofsoanyselt iadnnouaidaals gdisagBretaben tiinn frk tvepbosesiors,;andkwptns wit ns duenbduandeiteis lst aeppler nht tkin otoan'is rrvnes. and uacqua isaincsr. Brandot hndbseendmsopsndettottikeHmarrvttrPhrillpsdate t r dnwnhvaluactio,e andtofcooesidrf r devryhsupsriort to imyseltinh mcolyh tiins;, whblsshhetikknd hm,s Fls isatstnctioasghave her m prt non;ey and hnoughshe parvedhhernsoomoioms,tsshe woulemakeeupe her miand trpass d r dllfes withhiom witououcoly feekins ofhtssbbgin ae rreas acriftis. .Butttedmmustst ldintEngg an;lalll hsr mlky of rtturkin trViecoaia ad,nilye mlk;hhte influsncr ewouldbeequpite suffi ienht to nduce,hhmrttodot,;tha.nT poughshefhterto a,hiie this lukewarmp ays, ievn to, Mr. Brando, tsshe had gBreatcueiisitltnto se tise Me.Hogaort,o whmd Brandot hndlcaaled,e in his rathervulgaoe w roialmphrasew rgyt,,"jmusthernsort,"t.Sshe lsaid heyseltobue topplerss she ew cmie;, and Brandotw asdmsopsndettoottike ofencew—and indsot. Ttheeventa of themmarkin, hd, aden aos m drestio, in hm; butifd she hadpbosesiend theoacou whichsym athyey andimagmiatidod loane catgiav,e s he might haveaappasknd hm,s andrbrhoughthhmrbhckt tohis allegi nont. She indnnougunesy hhrhe tve sheddpincslds, ands hesttilmfurthher otBragvadttefloevet hlt hndbseenrrcuore olt. Shew asSchamendaut tve dpad of akyin, iomadllittlpjreaoue;ditd was hhefgrste poprtuniryd she hadeevet hdI ft lirhbin with nyttherptersoge in hisppresecr,e and the lirhantio asScaeiedson inl uucg ,shesiabl sw yt that threy aesnnot wyrd; said he had rmighn od be ffendeid witr..Sshenilye mlkvds of tiinsrwbhout which Brandotk ew everdolittlr, and Mr..Hogaortka gBreat dvals, ndrsthenthoughtsshe as coeviciin boith gentl ened of r dgBreat coevrsantioalmpow ee.,Iet was realy, imly Brandotushouldd bebrhoughttto themoainse and tist as hhew ytttodon i. Wwhbls Brandote felt the cca n nnotcofloav,ebutt oftab it,drrp iigh ofd hm,s and lsheded that EElsit Melvillm aesbsesidl hm,s andnnousietvingbetwheen hr e ousin and nyttherAAustaliao, wht as alkkin to er vigoeouely, in hst, avworpite suubjecg frspiupi-rap iigh and tabe-tturkins, ndrsthe was lisftngin os patiketly,d and akyin,llittlpsmerto peectes;—she wouleo palequpiteweell bgy theexpdrestio, of er eyes,utwroughhed could nothlea dtteflow swente voionddisnvictdleenrough to paleexacalr wthat she sait.Httdrecollschtn Shepaelln ts Msr.Rennil's,u and ow ppler nht er voiond wa;ey and felt HmarrvttrPhrillps's aesnnot idaalsmurkcals, atpleans, when shee as alkkin bhout tvefiireaelse andtomorrno's exhibbitio,to, Mr..Hogaort; wiley Franci w underegaat nryinetpdreumkin to hivesoh mucgttoosaye wileythisSousin Jane aes ie Sheroomt.
"Now,g st to tabe-tturkins, Mr.Dempsste,," saidHmarrvtt, wht faecien.l she aw Brando's eyeasdirschtn tto thatssidl of the ebllg t llittlp tohyoftvn,,."yYou tilmn eved coevicenmne thrheis ainatoms of rutheinfhtt.I Iaamqupitesaats iend withFaradal's expplnasiiot.YYoumaye hyikd youhgivedhmigher uitoriry,e butIobnwr ohFaradalt."
"Faradal's expplnasiioeiasmmust nsuffi ienht nnd must Iunsaats aecoar;oite ca notaaccound frh tiigstII hvhe seo withmleyoit seyes,," said Mr.Dempsstet.
"Bune towthatdo, all thscd tnlfeshantiossteans."mskedr Jant. "Ofe waatdvalurearhe tver evulntiord you tcwtlv, from theso-caaledr spiupisua,ewyrlns."
"Oltin ialitevalur.tod e,," said Mr.Dempsste,> "Iohgive hd, rdfewith e trengtwhelds, andmry orrowsd cm foridt.Wetdoe nht tok nw ortt ofYoer tdeperssee rrvnes;—t hive orttas soancr oof thir; cntinutd exisftnce, e and of thir; cntinutd idsntitltnthan e hivewwitououspiupisuaism.dIo taiwsayebeelievnd taotnnothin aslmust nm thediviiresconrol; tateaes smatsteenilyedeclyvd tto ivcdw yttto ew pow ee cofllfl,.so,spiupigmmust Ionly,legive thc tterivld frm hatintab ist ou beacnivcdintas ew sphhor, Io dtodbhemiegenn ie SheOnleIn ialiteIn paligenont.Bout thisisgmeorlye aney aa rgy;—adstrronsoan,e butonly,ainaaa rgyf, whichcca notpfoav g e aect."
"But,t Mr.Dempsste,>Iu think e hivequpitesuffi ienhtgrsondesn frh bbelieiinliieimmfortlitlt fromr evulntio.dIen ciketifi ematstes,>Iuobnwr totFaradal,sai I; saidbsefor;liierdglipiousmatstes,>Iu woulonnotgote ant furthhertt ot thrBibll.>Buttifnttate susnnorsaats yd yo,d of corsny e yoummustrncquike of ca rsh and tabes,," said MissPhrillps,> withas tc undscendkin irool,, whichsthenthoughteverd uetvint.
"TwhrBibllgcie idisnvictsaann ide ialite st to tvefuturhescace;—sts smmucgsto thatttew rgiaoapdiiffekontttefpbosibilirtes cofrscognintio iin t rhvkn,," said Mr.Dempsstet. "Now,geaeroalmexisftnceewwitouou cmpplit, ridsntitltis not od er demiabll.>Twautyor beloavds nsusnnslronve hive s hhew rm perrsoald istenese inus which thyd feltinfllfl;—hhattteye r redperhapsnmiegenn ie Shepdervcttio, ofGod, Fltnndegokin ,sraoa mirlntio, utt ofinet frm ofhn paligenont tomn athe,e witououcoly urrcollschtio, ofwthathaappntnsintas frmvet tatey,is notcooeolkin,tto s hhe yearkin, uemalhterto taotn eved aenforget,u andwwith all th e uffeeiins whichmemoar aydbrkins, woulonnotlpsne thmsaenersdmemoar offldovy Flwyrlns.dTtistas soancr oof cntinutd idsntitltci wthatIt e iann iuspiupisuaism;d nadiit eetas hhew nta ofmry oul.."
"Wteatextraordiiarlycreawhelshh dvas!," said MissPhrillps,> wodiin hr eDerbyrhieeeretBreat hadneevet ha dr anything ofp ntthism, Fl of tiesnddecrhis ofmestmpsyctoriesassbbgin eistertaieadbry hano Engglsh ent. "Ifnd youhgive uucgnontioa,yI dtnnouw undeeautyyoerflyhing or anythin;d forh yrparte,Iohgive eevehbheensrouabendwwith oubnut."
"TwhrBibllgcis,Id thins,puropsnly,funisnvictsontttefsuubjecg fr th efuturhellfl,." saidEElsit.."Eaucgstuldimagmieasa rhvknn frhiossel, iiffesnatiieso er dgBre, from tate ok nryiatherstul; but od ermemoar d nadidsntitltaeeg ohnnclesaert to tve dpad of cntinutd exisftnced that I hcca notc encivre ofas rhvknn witououict."
" I dtnnouk nwe," said Mr.Dempsste,>shakyin, isfhtel. "TtilmIu aw Shsrfh hunderfun tnlfeshantios,hIt hdInnsclelarord rats aecoary feekins ofiu, e and nw Iohgiv.nT heevidsnondhisfgrsteh and from thedeperssee spiupias hhmeseves,e and thirer evulntiordaeegcooessftntd withYoer thmighese dvasg fr th sodinesy ofGod, and fr th eaeroalmnnatuvl of dldovd."
"'Twaut whichcieesentiad not ewit,' Stt.Pafunsalss,;ndg th everd e inuatinesy ofyyoerin frmantio wouloleadrmihntodoubntpias genumieines,."; said Francit. "Iu dtnnou thinkitd wasinstndnnd tatt eu shouldhgive uucgtas soancr; buttthatwhe shouldhgive argne ewithiinae God wht tilmdot,weell Flts teor after esShe hsddoan,weell Flts teore. butttroughIt aydd not fee ttefnren. oe mucgas soancr,yI dtnnoudsnye hate theeyt alt nT hrheis mucg tateisteverdremarktabe bhout tvsny spiupisua,e tnlfeshantiostw—whettherhtsisgmesmerlim, Fldelustio,efrh posbitivedfraud,>Iu thinkiteis dremarktabe insnhancd fr th qutesiiokins spiupig fhm thedal,sunsaats iend withilndcBrees. and demiousu of r coenrucniin d o er ew bbelilm."
"I shouldllki yYoutod cmihnto ,shhanc," said Mr.Dempsste,> laedtto ianddsome one wht asdmsopsndettorncquike ntttefsuubjecd.Hh heeonly, urrcketly bb cmihap coevrt,u andw aseverd axioaut to nduce,e theeyttto think withhio.> " IaamqupitesuorettateyYou tilm se somohkin ttthatwtilm m dreseyYou tithtthe reaitlt of themtnlfeshantiosm."
"I shouldllki ot oentoe," said Mdt.Phrillpst;
"I ccertainl should no,," saidHmarrvtt.> " I hyikdttesen tiinsdaeeg uqupitewickkn,."
"Twhsh qutesiiosohgive eeveh ievn ome ay,srouabe,," said Mr. Phrillps, e." andtonmlemian,t Mr.Dempsste,> tver evulntiort,suucg s.It have ha dr t tpleans,areeeverdpuerlles andccntmmptibll; buttthat thrhe must beaddsiinculatexcscsmenhtatstndgin eevot ndimagmiaerd coevrsantio withtthetdredtIIccayelsily bbeliev, andIm dtnnoucaeeg for xposbins yyselk o uict."
"NforIs," said Brando;e." s MissAlionnsalss,Iohgivegnotmy cwnsrdpad off rhvkn, andImaamsaats iend withhtt.I think e aerenoatinstndnnd to k nw h all th pparticulasm."
Whye ind Brando, iatgiabinsnnsorigmialsopintiod of hisown (pooer fealow, h asvicaptabenyfnttat)s, ievo Elsi's argumsnatiieprefeasncr to ers? t MissPhrillpss feltsttilm orttin lmisnd toberagBretaben ot Me. .Hogaortk from tcieelmighn od eryself, and bgmat to hyikdtthatain trncquigin piupi,hiinaemainattpleans, astmforeadmirlablett ot Brando's klazytsaats aectiou tithttiinsrwastthysarttautppresen.
Mr.Dempsste's eanveinesy after spbosibllg coevrtt ashnly, tober tsaats iendbry Franci akyin,ainappoainmenht withhiomnto tstndo ,shhanct Iono tvefoalowtingnevogint in hisnwnh oaus. Andg thno tve coevrsantio Icchngend trpoliiics;—Engglsh,s Feign, and w roial;—iin which Franci d nadthisSousinst hret mucg istenesidt.
Janesaw Sheccildrenn tobed, and Elsiegnotdod with Mdt.Phrillps's dbdannt, wiley the gentl eneremainenn ie Shedaihin room; butboith urrrappartndiie Shedrawhin-roomtbgy the imro thys cme upssa rs.h Elsie ilonnotllki otdisappoaint nryine,y and hhe dpadstruckhtved thatife s heegnotupdeverdelalrdiie She mroginr, ndhttiinsrwenttaaleweell with ythes,sshe woule ialshdHmarrvtt's bdannte lst ns iml, Fl realy, Msr. .Phrillps's ew one woulemakeethersishte-in-law'yellooe veryshabby.,Iet . as hhefgrste ew bdanntesshe hadbseen rmusnnd to ake.sinces the cme;n tsshe had hadCARTE BLANCHEd frhtthemtterivlsr, and hndpplersnd heyselt . with thestybls, and Elsiebeelievndrut woulobeetherCHEF-D'OEUVRE.nT he ridsa. ofgiabins MissPhrillpsssuucg n unexpschtnhppleaurh, aden hef fee dqupitekianlyeeisopsndettwareifthes, pough hheffeekins aes not urrci prcahtn,d FtassHmarrvttr ilonnotk nw of Elsi's instnntiort,shhe o colnd not cu upopsnnd tobergrrttrfug frh thm; but,tono tve costary,t t sheffelta gBudge hat er for njoyiigh eryselhiie thisw ytaut tve dexpsnse, of er bdannt.>HmarrvttrPhrillpsdmglyvd andsaigheverdwwel;n hr efatther aes und of urkcy, and thtd astm hadbseeneverdwwele culttinatdrl Flhtes imro and poprtuniries,e andsshe hadkwptnupd with all th moidrneh urkcy very veiloeiioudlt.Perhapsnitd was thi,r ortt than anythingelue,.d thtd hd, adenhtesDMr.Phrillps'is avworpite daoughhe,e frhin alllyttherhttiinsrGe F iana, astmfore glf-forgetrfun nnd more ym athisvint.tSnhalty, to,d dmiredhhiessisste's aaccmpplsh ent;d he hadmiesvadttefe eglighrfun littlp amilytc encrci and hheglee-svinyin, taat he had wons Fls isbuisg lfls, andifnhat woulo hivebheenpbosibllg frhtiis wfestote ccquike urkcyrut woulo ccertailyo hivebheen bdiot totim; but ststhet hdInnselar and nd astm,t eevothnesaw Sautiit as m dacnicabll; butfEmily,w st ou bean aaccmpplshede urkciant. She indnnougon tobedewwithdttefllittlp nsu,ebutt sanyup t mgly,htes wohllittlpa rsh to er pspa's t rrvnes;—t ranho er ccofidsncr,e Mdt.Phrillpst sai, but,tiierdeaitl, tto ivcdther hllittlp spor otapplicasiiot.
"Aie frkEmily,nwedking cofidsncr,." wirpveend Brandot otAlionn Melvill, e." tateistadsppln indabaurdill. Twhsh w roialmccildrenndto nnotk nw w t tbashrfuinesyoes imsigtyd e ns;— not uouwthatItaameverd und of all th ePhrillpskis, and mily,is, rdfevworpitt."
" Sheis, ian, to,." saidEElsi;e."shheis ainaiffectionat andlon rigmialsmccild,e withqupckepvecwptisosdanidqupckeffeekine.,Iobeelievt s heis m very und of e;.Iyllki llittlpppeopl ou be und of et."
"Nnoubigpppeopl, to?," said Brando, withaieexpdrestio,halffcomic, talffsadt.
"I cca notsvins," saidEElsi,d."Idneevet hdI ,llesio,iieeitther mrkcy rddsiingint in yfllflr."
"Oc!d uouyYou iigheverdnionnl;s ideentshts oms,t Mr. Brando: nds thrhetiad notaeohkinltthathaappnee tatt the ca notttursrntodarstinefrh spbhm,tdjmustllki wthat thrhecie itbdooes,;ndg you woulo thinkiteeverd pfvttrdifng youhnly, ha dr thmt.Whe gethe dtodbriin hter ornkrntodYoer oeesry ineh thenevoginss,;ndg thorewhehgive toaiess andstinsr from hr.."
"YYouaure nsluck,," said Mr. Brando;,." but nw ShatyYouhgive ouloaut ft MissAlionn Melvill's aaccmpplsh ents,> eh must be adentohsharhetian yyoergooadfprtunet."
"Nn,e ideens." saidEElsi;e." stBtursnsalss,'croorkin traebody's gl' e suswfee eneoug;'; buemlecroorkin iad not ind frhccomaol,yexcwptn hated ofuncupikcalmccildren.."
"YYouk nw Ioaomassuncupikcalm as hheeveiheseccild,," said Brandor. ."Idh musthgivegievn youadeverderr nsoaut m drestio, ofmryScharacte,.ife yyo u aenffee ttefplean awed of e;. butIorrcollschlyYoertwiesvinra everd eia ncketo peectd of ian, hhefgrstenevogintIe hee Sheppleaurhe lt .mrethind yo,drntod somohkin very eveore.Tthtd was atthertilmnnatuvnt."
"Alionniad notial-nnatuvnt idaals." saidEmilyt> "AoundHmarrvttr soomoiomsgtia.t Sheis,tlookin crossdate er nw frh alkkin whblsshheci siinginm."
"Iteisteverdruidlinealayofouss," said Elsi,hccomosbins eryselh to gtivedatstnction ot MissPhrillps's stint;
"I pale you tat,eyYou elarouloboy,." wirpveendEmilyt> "Im dn'tr thinksAlionn tilm bins ere,efrh pale youaoly fh r dlovnly, toaies;ebutt I n tilm mugglee yourntodttefnoeesry so er ay,. andyYou tilmjmust hive aeoBrea.."
"Wteat hiveIddoan,sincesI, cme todEngg an,," said Brandodiie She saomeeunndetine,y." tateIe shouldhgivebheenbaalshenhiie thiscruelsw yt from thefnoeesry? Dindyyoueevet trfue ome dmiestio t Wiri tita;—diad nodImkMisss everdnim of yournlyYoerllittlpnlighclytths,e andseeg you tuckedr ntodobed? IfhIt as horty,ofnttatehonYoertheo, wysamtIe debhaeeao fromiut, nw?."
"YYou aovadYoerllves,epapan ays;— yoh andPPeggw—and o wtaiwsaye klikknd yo;d na, frh rdparte,Iollki yYouass wellaifeevet I indnnw;ebutt k e aereintEngg ansnnws, nadiitis sohdiiffesnat fromWiri tita;—delaroulo kWiri titaf,II tsghIt asbhckt tohtt.I tsghpapan aes notstorsch,s Fn sttean e woulogosbhcktagtai; butit's ndfue aslronr esShe hsdgnot snrough fr mrtyetod tly,htev.nT helbtsteee tatt cme thheoatherdsaw— you orrcollschm."
"I gnotngnes," said Brando;,."Io upopsnemiireaee smentbgy Southamptin.."
"Wzalf,II dn'tr hyikdtteys hndgooadnews,horopspa's flciellooked oratther rons, and e,haesbseenstoqupetsaannduall evet incr; stoIoaomiin t opcee tatt tiinsdaeegnnougoiigheverdwweln witouou hm,s andttean e wildohgive nyttherbeautirfun ronrvoyegeewwithyYo,s and getbhckt to dvars,edarekinsAAustaliatagtai.>Hmarrvttrw nta ot oebhckt to.."
"WthataoSchtstebdxt youaee,dEmilys," saidgher unt,d wht hnd ialshens hr estint; "Iteistqupite imro youwerhe itbvnt."
"Nnouqupit,r untsi;epapan ainsIe mightsinyup wildtenn tnligh; nds Mr.. Brando andImaeeg ohbusy alkkin bhoutilnd ioms,t tateIe dtnnou feelsdiitaebfstlaitt."
"Olnd ioms,t ideens." saidHmarrvtt;> "wthatilnd iomsu aen hllittlp ccit tplki yYoufiand tr mlky os."
"Oh,m thedelaroulo iomsu t Wiri titas, whenwlm hretsuucg rrvnes; an, y the imro tautIIcca notrrcollschl ofwthno tvrey aes hhefgre, nds PPeggde and tistilnd ealowu aovadYoerllves.,II tsghIt wouloremembher bhoutdiiw—mammas oms,t poug.."
" ideeneIe de," said Mdt.Phrillps,> withassraoqupleexpdrestio,e lt saats aectiouaut tventhought of thedaonve sshe hadescapel. "Whe was aale ns rarrblhedaonve,s andlal trhougettatehoarrdnddecfo..Snhaltyee should hgivelete er hive y cwnsway,. and take me todMelboturt; butshee hould nnotllstenn tsarasio.."
"Wzalf,Lily,e youaeegnnim of hhs hosesnnws, nadIt opctyYou dtnnou feelsdiitburdenscmihntobvesoh mucgobligend trYoerilnd rrvned Brandor."
"Ohtno,ennot idaal.."
"YYounren.nnoubes," saidght,lvoughin;d," dn'trhtstmptd to ake.as rrot ft me: atmwereneiugbotula, sodstturshaappntns;t hive m prt nte o cnsgqueincsr.PPegg's onduccl aes aerbey undmiir.."
"Butu youwerhebaelyescorchens," saidEmilyt> "Doeleteousysne thmscaoe io,eyYoer rm enc morw—Iy hive notesentiteintEngg an.." Brando ndulgeded tesccild;sttur nduphhiessleiev, and mily,ggive thc rm as ug, anda mkMist;
Ttist asraather otBragv exhibbitio, Ftaedrawhin-room, dHmarrvttr Phrillpsttthough,ebutt Brando neeveh asmuucgofnao gentl har..Eveen Snhaltye heesaelyefaalen bhckt nshis aanneie itAAustalia,s andrwhaat woulobeIexpschtngofn Brando? Me.Hogaorte hadmmore astm;d he hade She digni iendrvsgrvegofnao tneoofbiortkanadfprtune;d he hadmaden remarkse io,ther mrkcalmper frmanced that hnwsnd ht was realy,amjmdgs. .Iet was nnotoftvn thatsshe had eut with nry tnesohvaeiioudl aaccmpplshed,efrh sohpdervctlrdwwelnbridt.Hh heepfroisreg traaccomaoys hhmt to tve exhibbitio,ofdpa isiinsdoie She mrrnws, nadsshe hadgBreateppleaurheiin tnticipatiin, isfssocety,difnhat werenoat frh tventhought oft er bdannt.>
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChapfterIX. A BdannteGainennAndgAt LoevetLost
."Myelbtsteeehgiveccmihaatpean,," said Brando, nexte mroginr, sh re joinenntiisfrrvnes. tnbriakfean.>."Myeoeveeser,rII upopsn,,wanhtndtto s hnwntiissconrol,. andpousnnd hhmtbgy theSouthamptiny til,, which sus r noteuiit et idaal.>Iu wouloraatherdon witououmyeeianne iny til-daln sttcayhhive y lbtsteeedelaytnd frknelalrdaewedk. Andg nw ShrheciebhdI enewsh formh,sIe mustlegivebgy thefgrsteship.>HmadItgnotmy lbtsteeewthno e you tcwtlvdf yoee,eIe shouldhgivegoan bye themtpleusnamher andsaovadas t mnth,e butIocca notpbosiblyt tnegee ot eth ofdso,sodor."
"Oh!, Mr. Brando,," said Mdt.Phrillps,>calmly,y." thretsuorlyeis mnto uucgnetnd frkhuaeyr."
"Eevenythinghisgokin,tto thedogsdate y shantio.tIo willpfrbablye hivetodobuy l andaitaehmigoprtci;, and thretrapparss;t hivebseengBreat dmie tnegemsnt,s from theaaccounstII par. Aniathersix mnthstllki re laste ad Io will cca ruinenn har.Iteisteverdha dr thatinle ca notttike aee shrteholidalnwwitouousuffeeiindso,grrvvioudl frhio.tWthat wereyYoer taaccouns,sPhrillps;eI thinkyYou saidtteye wereraatherunsaats aecoars."
"Nnou very ooa,eccertainl;s but notstobhdIaee tatt omeae tt.YYou wildollooe;t Wiri titan hllittlp when yoh rttur,e andsendrmihyYoer opintiot.I I hadbststersntrmustyYot withfuallpow ee traath formh,s Fn Ie shouldeprefea yYouassmytaucoartyetodGraenm."
"I opcthee wilmnoat be ffendeidaut tvenraoafte,," said Brandot.
"Andgperhapsn hllittlpmmore tcayennoug,," said Brando, withas tsmilnt> "Ine tatt custII will cc very laedttodo, all in yfpow es Fn syYot."
"Iy hive nI tsgh tsartturs otAAustalia,," said Mr.Phrillps,> "ifnIe aneypbosiblytaf fondto,livcdthes.tWwithas amilytllki ian, Engg ans ff ee esoh aoysadvaeniags.dIen aec, Shrheciehnly,inetpglcidiie She wyrlnd hort tpleiinliiy, and thtdcieLoando.."
"Vverytrme,difnyYouhgiveenrough tolivcddo,," said Brando, shruggbins tiesn shoultesd. "Iy mustgog nw or ornk sh a dr ifeevet ot eth tiinsd gtd to rmighstagtai,. andperhapsnin aoatherdozeo,ofd yeas,n whenIeamu feeabe,sriln,s and rey,.I aydartturs andsspand Shepo Fl rmnaen ofd yr dals ineh tias dglighrfu cketike of leilizantio.tBute withmm,t fprtunvahlr,e thrhetarhenilye hetwo, aaeroatlves,eeittherLoandodfrk tve buisg oftAAustalia;—hhrhecie nI mddle corsnycofllflr demiabll.>IfnIe annnouaitaineh theine,yIy must ake. thebeus of hhsoathe.."
HmarrvttrPhrillpsdllstenreg traill tief, and believnd taotmatstes hretsmuucg hoseswwith Brando tt ot thysrhealy,whes.tSshe had nIfaecyn s Ftaeowseved yeas'nbaalshmsnat fromEngg an,d nrs Ftaerhougellflrian sttefbuis.> Mr. Brandot hadbseenreppreseneedttothr aas ditrleiinl gtttlr d wht hnd adenmmrty.hSshe aw tth everd cm fortabenstyblrian which hr earotther iavds, nadsshe hadnnsobbjectiottod uucg n ottablshmsnat rdd erysel;, butsshe aes notstopparticulalrd und of Me. Brandoe st totaacwptn frhtiissake.asllflrsohvverddiiffesnat;and o everd mucg ifsriorr..Sshe felt thatsshe hadbseendtcwtlvds, nadsshe indnnou llkesbbgin ndtcwtlvds,formlsttakes, ands hesttilmlnesylikknd to ake. misttaks;, and insnehdI ftblambins erysel,tsshe aesangryd witn everoano elue;—shr earotthe,ethersishte-in-law,. Brandot imysel;— frhlraigin er todobeelievtttatehhiscircumsnhancee hretsoe mucg etstertt ot thysweore. Ooff worsi,ghed woulomskh er;—she woule nothllpddovingso; but sttto saacwptyin, io;—hhatwhshqupiteaddiiffesnatqutesiiot.
Hmarrvttroppntnsit,u andw as dglighknd toysne Elsiehilngint in er h andy thmssconloboannte cmpplitd;—equealy,beautirfu,eequealy, astmrfu,e andeapppaketly qupiteas expsnsivit.
"Oh,eAlion,phnwn sods of yo!tWthataoldovyofnaoboannt! Ccmihin and ysne Me.Hogaort.rLook,e Mdt.Phrillps;—llooehatAlion's cleevet h ani orn.."
AndgAliond wae isroducend hllittlpun wilkinllurntodttefdrawhin room todobee cmppimseneedont r d astm and er lspatch,e andtohshakeetanes. withe hetwo, gentl en.s MissPhrillpssw st ooe mucgengrosiend with er dbdannt, annd with the m ddovmsnatit woulemakee in er aapparaecn,ttto sobsgrveg thenaureans,aaxioautlloosrifh r dtwo,faecien. dmireas,neaes tteyegBretedhhernsisste's laey'smsai;dfrk thattteyellooked with y istenese and wencrndont r d iredhflci,g whics, poughnnoyadllittlp fluisld. with xcscsmenh,dbdre tod tpsne whtk ew thecircumsnhancee ,srancee lttavtingbheenupdeverdlnat andeverdelalrdovdrf r d orn.;
"Iyk ew sshe wouledon it."Hmarrvttrwwirpveendto, Mr. Brando, wthno Aliondd wonthveroom; ."shheis sohexcwssivilryqupckt.I neeveh houldhgive aindst t mucg bboutit ynesir ay,.ifnIe hlonnotk nwn sshe wouleelsily d e i;d ande susnnormiirellooehss wellaif Mdt.Phrillps's? I; saidhat houl.."Aand o ssheaacwpted Me.Hogaort's arm,s and enht toysne thm pictsorsh wrtka g etsterjmdgs tt ot Brando,,inealay thmtriumphrifh r d nrw bdannt;—hh sllugheans, tesmmustbb cmvingsshe hadeevet hdI in er llfl: butshr influsncr ewrtkW lther Brandot aslmust for evet.Hh wisld.she had hadh Jane Melvill,d with er sods cmmdotusnses,for Elsi,h withhernswente voiondannd wnogintwalss,chnghing nshis rm insnehdI ft Mdt.Phrillps,>e wht aseverdun nstenesvinr totim,utwroughhe dgBreat beauty, andgexcwllcenestyblr ftdrnesy adenther a oubjecg fr istenesetto yttherhppeopl, aand wotaiwsaye njoyendbbgin well tlreidautiiepuablcy pglcis. .Butt Jane aesengagend with er pupilsdaut thsr iml, aann Elsie wasaiwsayedkwptneverdbusy,gsto thatneitther of hhme wouleaaccomaoys thm ppary,s andr FrancieHogaortk feltdisappoaintn,d Ftshe hadtnticipattn Shessocetytt ofinetortboith of hhm.;
Hnoccueiioudl thengontst,d whtfaeciess everdnim isgengrosiend with iomtort with er,t woulobeedisappoaintn.ifnhetortsshe wouleysne thmrreay enthoughsg fr th ppeopl bbout thm..>HnocHmarrvttrPhrillpsd houldhgive d tlrnendifds he woulo hiverhear th htertsg frHogaortkand. Brando, nds e seo thataovsry in ialitsimeaysharhesshe hadiieeitthe.;
Franci w ashnly, m ealedrttom ytaustnction ot MissPhrillps byethis s natueatusnseu ofpoliieines,, and l the tsgh ts ake. thespisuctiot of dthisSousinstiie She amilytppler nhr, sh aerasnitdl ldint hispow es to do so;, whbls Brando, wtod hndaatpeandstruckh Shekey-notn of Hmarrvtt's yScharacte,. wasas tnlisld.tod iand ew proofsrifh r d ysellisinesyd andegontsm pee iigh ust nm themmusttrifekins circumsnhancet.Hh obsgrvendrhnwndiiffesnatther aannesw st owareiftim,u nnw Shatao tneoofpropvellyineh theilndcwuisrye heerappartndiie She circle, of er acqua isaincss, and e,e woule notftple toysne thatain addintioalmcilninesy heeccmihovdrf r d wthnohhiscircumsnhancee hret upopsnnd toberlnesyflotulisginr, ndhttis y adentiomraatherdmsopsndetto mcke. themmust and hhe hostd of hisbhdIenews.;
IneDerbyrhiee,y hhrhesshe had e dnwnh ottablshtnhpplcidiie She h oaushiln,s and hhrhe er aather adhhernsissterGe F iana,ggivew yttto t r dsoe muc,tsshe had appartndmforeamilablett otsshe indnnw.nT hehamend eneustality, whichsthema isainenn withhernsishte-in-lawe had mausnd e Brandoe tefgrst, but nw iitaappartnd totimd toberunlaeyllkes nds eungrlcirfuettoaacwptn of ospirtlitlt in er arotthe's oause witououcoly uirlnttuidl Ftaiyd fobparaecnt.Hh bgmat toqutesiioe thmrreaitlt of er d very rreas upsriorityhovdrf Mdt.Phrillps;dwwith allther dvaeniags. of educasiion;and oocetytsshehoughtttohgive hnwnhmfore gentlinesyd and aiffectiotboithttothr arotthe's wfes andthisScildren..Hh aaa yrsn,yeaes she hadneevetdoan bsefor,etherexpdrestios,s and emighad e dnpintios, e andfsondttteyegenveealy, hadmmoressondtttaotusnse;r adhherntab iueay eas smpsiioe thatsshek ew eevenything mucg etstertt otyttherpteopl, dbe cme tieescmihwthnohhe indnnoubeelievt in er upsriority.;
Hh bgma, to,dtod costastd tesccarm ofahflci,g whno tve clYoer enhte and cme with ever emontio,o with tatt ofinetsoeun m drestbllg st .HmarrvttrPhrillps'sw—whpsne glf-pbosesitio asnelalrdasndiiffesnat ffrom tate ok Jane Melvillmasnitd was from the imsigtydaanndiffidsnces d ofEElsit. Jan's calminesy aes hhedreulte ok dstrrons willmastmrhing e,estrronsemontios, whichstherhealy, fel,s andnnouiie Sheabskeceu of ay spow erfug feekins rsemontiotwtha ever. Brandot hadlnaurendto,like. Janeg etster sh rek ew ortt oftve,s andraather njoyendbbgin drachens toby one wht woule dacniue as wellaif drach..Hh felt thatifd she was supsriort to imdsshe indnnoullooednwnh in hm; ands heccertailyo tand Shepowher of akyin, iomrpvaks wel, and frbriiniigh usttth everd largneamcoundcofrseayausrfug dacnicaltk nwledgvtttatehhe had ccquikns inehthisAAustaliaofllflr.Hhereanveinesyttothar eevenything bbout Aoustaliate andAAustaliaoseccertailyo aes iepplerking costastd ot Miss Phrillps's ynisnastm Ftaill tiinsdaandpeeopl w roial; but boav lu,e MissrPhrillps's aundcofcooesidraitio, FtAlionn Melville hadweaneds Mr.. Brando'slhterto fromhde.,Iet aes notmeorlyeunlaeyllke;ditd was eun oemalyt>Hhe woule notloav g wfeswtod hndsohllittlpsym athye;and o kliittlpgenveosity.;
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChapfterX. A Shhanc
FrancieHogaortk indnnouforgetn hispproisrdto, Mr.Dempsste,> and enht to, isfhoauseaut tvehYoer ppoaintn,d tober wiinesy of thmss nont. A numbherd of his rrvnes. and ealow- coevrtee hrett ere,e and hhe pfocwedkinsg fhm thenevogintwhretoppntnsbrdae shrte andeaureang dayer ttaotnnan boutd sodsspiupias shouldbhepdemiitnnd toberppreseny, and thtd all th s cmmun cantiosstteye mightbhepdemiitnnd tothar mightbhe abesien tod tverstulsd of all of hhm.;
T hemenium asae tii, nerviou-tlookin youthe of bboutogietseo;e buhr, she Mr.Dempsstedas soed Me.Hogaort,o aes ie ever w ytttobhe rmusnnr, shethisScharacteo aes rreppoachabpl, aand ofgrreas incrrityh andesimppicity.; Franci w asvsry incoedulouesast to tveaapparaecnst begin ncaausadbry piupisua,agenoy,. and wroughhed couldgtivento rats aecoary expplnasiioe fr th extraordiiarlymdovmsnasy of tabes,o easyf ca rs, tsof a,hshe felt thatttesen tiinsdwhreteverdundigni iend andabaurd,yeaeseeverdunbbelievr aiwsaye feese tefgrst; butttno eanveinesy fr th largnepparyt wht hretgaatheen togetther heesoomothing inffectiuseinfhtt. Maoly fh hhme hadk nwn seveorobhregivmsnaw—maoly fh eme hadbseen tosien ioe thmdarkmss r ftdoubntaanndesopidsncgw—and tve brrvft messiags. cmmun cansadbryraps,horo l thevoiond of themenium,o ggive thm tcooeolasiion;and opc.;
To; Franci,m thedertals. cmmun cansadaappartnd tobhemiagBrs nds eun rats aecoar.nT hespiupias all saidtthattteye hrethaapl,, whichtto s cmihppresen asae aecg fr itesimlablevalur, but od iomite wasa smatsteenof corsnt>Hheneevet hdI believn,,sinceshhe hadnthought butttno fsuubjecg ie aely, anhooa,etthatGod could cntinut exisftncedifdHhe ind r notmakee itaeblesiyint.Bout oe theeyt wh,tllki aolybsefor ftim,u hdI hn paligently aacwpted ok dstveinor thw rgyt,aand wot hadbseen e trugglkinlttrhouge yease of caotgc oubnu. and aeciessfnrs othing ns . whichttoreans,hnesaw Sautttesenas soancrasghaverseay trengtw nds e upoprt. AnehYoer hadpasien amsisutttesenmtnlfeshantios;—hh istenese d of thebeelievrsf cntinutd toberunflaggbin, but Francie felta llittlp iredh ofiut.Hh heelmustnto lea rrvneo l dreaw.nT hefuturhewyrlnd hdI ennou th istnseuperrsoald istenese totimd Sautiit hndto, theey.nT he r leaeustbbiinsdiie Shewyrlnd totimd hrethhsr wosSousins,e and hhye hret edivideao fromhhmrbyscircumsnhanceealmmust iscruelsaes hhegrgiv.nHnwr few ohgivedoan jmusice tod tveshadparhbinss, tesmmurnrfugalienantioss hated hivebseencaausadbrycircumsnhance! Bhregivmsna,inealaypiasvaeieds ebfstveinesyhaesbseensuingby aolypoetasiiestrainst horty,ofnttno fsuubjec; butcircumsnhanceearetsoeioesitius, aand oteenstoppo sac, hatedtthiertragicaltopveasiionhaesbseenraorlyeoBreaedh ofienevesc.;
Histtthoughas rcuaeea,rwastthysaiwsaye indwthnohhe feltshdI rs e srtius, tod Jane Melvill;—t hee wilm thtd hd,brhoughtthhmt tgetthe, e andaut tvescme timetsoecruellrdpartnnd hhm;—t heeunk nwn aathe,s . wpsnenwn llflr hadbseenbglighknd l theloesy frdomeatgc hap iines,, r leliindso, aaua,anbgnw or Shessno whmdtheme nht toblesis andrewara, blyplacyin, iomiencircumsnhancee hhrhe ee woule nothllpdloayin, Jan, e andfsrbiddkin;—sts aerasn ee woulefsrbid;—hh mcaeiegeeofntworstulsd smadm Ftonve nytthe.; Franci w as hundegint of his aathernowu awnttno fmisttakshhe had cmmiitnn,horordgBritnndins, whenhne aes tlrnlknd l the e ancoucvmsna,ttatehhisfatther aes ie Sheroom,s and lshedetto cmmun cans k withhio.>
"HnwramtIettok nw iitis he?," said Franci,m tlrngintupI hncoedulouelys, but ut tvescme timetsome thatawknd l themhret pbosibiliryt that uucg , one wastthre,efus of hhsbody,enwnyin, iomaes sis son,, whichshe hadnnotddoan,wwileythe aesalivit.
"Doees hhespiupigmemat to cmmun cans bryrapsdfrk trpough hhe menium?,";mskedr Mr.Dempsstet.
"Bryraps,." aes hheanswhergievnt.
"Tcke. thealphabeturnlyYoernwnh aan,," said Mr.Dempsste,> " andaskg e,espiupigsis name,e and hhndpasityyoerfionve ovdrf thealphabet;—hh rap n tilmhaeeustyYot ut tvermighnlbtste.."
Franci pasien hhisfionve a ronr thealphabet, talffdisdainfualy,t talffmiencueiisill. Twhyrap, toappd, iomaut tvelbtste Ht.Hh heeneevet nthoughto tve ueiiouhllittlptapsessondedtsoeunterthllybsefor. Nexteshe was stoappd,hatE,d hhndhatN,d hhndhatR,s andnextehatY;e;and o on,,ttilm e,efuallnameg frHenerdHogaortk aes ealedrfust.
"YYot wsgh ts cmmun cans withmm;;—hhen yohloav er nws."
Twhy treetqupckerapsnmianyin, "Yes." aes hheimmenians replyt.
"AereyYomsaats iend withwthatIthgivedoan hatCrossdHailm bicreyYoer tdreaws."
Agtai. thealphabetu aescaaledrfors,;andtwhyrapes ealedrfus,> "Vvery mucgdpplersnm."
"AereyYomsorryd for th tilm youmadms."
"Aeln will cc wellai. theean,," aes ealedrfust.
"Dindyyouseeg yoernincle'e uffeeiins unmdovd;—hhierpovdrtl, thhier disappoainmenhss, teierunfwiinesy for th ornk ShatyYouhgleysts hhmt to dos."
"Tthysartt etster Flwthattteyehgive uiffesn,," aes ealedrfus;e " and yYoutoo.."
"Doees hhelbtste in yfpocknte cme, frommlemytthes."
Twhy treetrapesreplitndiie Sheaffirmantvit.
"Dindyyou ivcdther on;anuitl, ststhe aystyYou ins."
Am binletrap,nmianyin, "No,." aes hhereplyt.
"Wthatdindyyou ivcdthe,d hhn,h ts ake. er foegtothr claimsg ns yyos."
"Ae umh fr mrty,." aes hhereplyt.
Franci obsgrvendafgrreasdiiffesncidiie SheScharacteo of hhsrapes tpfocwedkin, from Me.Hogaorte from tosnd of thespiupigpeandsummdoed,s . which hadbseen upopsnnd tober tate ok Mr.Dempsste's elnersddaoughhe,e . wpe haddipd,hatsixtseo, aand ofa llonvekin,dislers.nT helatstee hret efa is,s andlammust naudiaben ot n un dacniuendeau, wiley tosnd ofthis sfatther hretfirmdaanndisnvict.nT hrhe asneevr anyepowher ofok nwhing fromwthatppart of theroom hhsrapes could cme,e andaesanswhereafther aswheraappartnd to cme,stsaradily, tohistqutesiios, iitis not odobhe hundeeidaut taut Francie felt xcscsd andawkndaut tvemystmrhoaut d iste corsnt>
"Adviue om,, rdfetthe;h palemi wthat todo,ifnyYouseegmforeanadk nw thangmforeIIccaydo.hSscouldInas istsmlemytthe, ststheasksrmihntodos."
Twhy binletim atienhtrap,nmianyin, "No,." aes hheimmenians replyt.
"Iststhennouiiepovdrtlu andw nts."
Agtai. theaaswher aes "Not."
" Swoule notI wrpitettothrs."
"Nn;y hive nohvinr todon witdthe,." aes hheanswhet.
"CaenIeeevet hvehwthatItmmust demiediie Shewyrln?.YYoupproisrd d m ddovmsnaw—Iy aundhap iines,," said Franci,mpasitionatly,t tlrnlknd d utd of hmyseld l theextraordiiarlypvelmieiond of theanswhes, tohist dqutesiios, and crelesisiie SheScomaoys of bsoluitestBragvresastt to wthattteyenthought ofhio.>
"Patience!hIt tucgovea yYo,." aes hhereplyt.
"WthatdotyYou dt ie Sheepiupisua,wyrln?."
"Iyamtlyearkin,."answhevadttef piupi,h." fromone whtloavsf et."
"Wthtdciethername?."mskedr Francit.
Twhyalphabetu aesint histanes;ythe aesaaxioaut not odleoucolysign off hisgivme ay,cluediie cust ofiussbbgin alaypomosturhe nds extraordiiarlytqupckinesy frsmight.Hh puropsnly,pasien ovdrf the lbtstee, but was raappd,bhckt l therscogniien signvld wildtthenamro ."Margurrite." aess ealedrfust.
"Yess," saidghd totimysel,t,"yYoutthinkalaypsc wellai. theean;g you hvehd eutMargurritet ie Sheepiupi,wyrln,eaftherbbgin sepereaedh Ftae klifmoiomhiie thir, ndhttis isteverdswentetod yo;d butIo aund Jane nw to, llpdmihntolivcd hortilyt>CaenIew in er iie thislifms."
"Aafter s iml,," saidttef piupi,hrap iigt l thealphabetuthist aaswher to, isf naudiabenqutesiiot.
"AereyYom coebicrd?," said Mr.Dempsste,>wtod hndseentttefsurprisrd withe which Me.Hogaorte had ealedrfusf theanswhes.;
"Iyaamstaggfesn,," said Francit. "TShegenveeaeanswhes, mighthgive bseen gievn ahtrandom,s butttnonamre,eIeamm coebicrd,r hretunk nwn tto eeverdmone hrheexcwptn yyselm."
"Iteaiwsayeistttnonamre tatt ooebicrrpteopl,," saida rrvneoofnttno ftost's.;
"Iyhgive skedr cmihqutesiiosoast to tvefuturh,," said Francit. "Indto nnotok nw ifkiteis alowtaben otdorstr.Do yYoerspiupiasclaimtttohgiveae kk nwledgvt ofwthtdcie to cmes."
"Oh,myks;,tteyedo;—hosnd of thehmigheseclasisiiepparticula,."; said Mr.Dempsstet.
"Ie dtnnouseeghnw Shy, cn,," said Francir mrkinllt. "Ttok nw ttno futurheeistadpreroganivcd ofOmniicikece,e andeevot thehmighesecBreaedh d istaligencle ca nottweln thtdHistpuropsnyt alrbbm."
"Hnwrdo wtgurssdaut tvefuturhewwith uificienhtaccudacy, todmieclt us ineh tihppresen butbyegenveeaizantioe fromexpsrikece? Nnws, o departnndeepiupi,ccertailyo hst hdI ,wsidrmexpsrikece;—seesm orttintto yttherhstulsd;andtwhi d orniins thanwle caypbosiblytdo wiley encumbheedewwithdttesherobgs. ofclagw—and cnsgqueitly, cno ake.as jmusherhgenveeaizantio,," said Mr.Dempsstet.
"Bbut notany ifaaliabenone?," said Francit.
"Nn;yccertailyo no,," said Mr.Dempsstet.
"Bbu,oast to tveppreseny,twhi dvieweearetsurihntobvecoriecl?," said d Francit.
"Ifstthysared sodsspiupia,s andnnoulygin piupist.Whe dayedtagtaiese dtwhi daapparaecn,t ad Io dtnnoubeelievtttate Sheepiupi,wtod hs dbseen cmmun cantons withyYo w ashfnttatekian,," said Mr.Dempsstet.
"Hnws, hhn,hdotyYoujmdgs betwseenlygin piupisd;andtrulp nsu?," askedrd Francit.
"Bytttnonaturhe lttwhi d cmmun cantios. A faasdl Ftaieimmoreay messiag e ca notbeedelivcrtnsbrdae sodsspiupim."
"Thhen yohsttilm cntinut tober teujmdgssd of thespiupis?.YYoudto nnotobnwryYoermoreairyt to tvirs;— yohyseeclt andrebjecgasnyYouseeg sods."
"Moreairytis unievrsale andeaeroal,," said Mr.Dempsstet.,"EveenGod shioyseld ca not ake.evil sods r sodsevil brdaiyd iatd of hisnwnm."
"Thhenhgive thsenmtnlfeshantios taought youaolohkinltthat woule not hvehdbseenytthewisrdlnauren?."mskedr Francit.
"Tthyshgive aoughtMEg mucg tautIIcwoule nothgiveytthewisrdlnaurent. I e ca notsalnwtate ttherpteoplt alraitaine to trpoughpuererhesdodfrk dtwrpoughaesimpphe awithhoe thmrrvealedewwall ofGod.nT hrhearet edivvrsiriess of dmialstrantioe, butttnoscme piupi,," said Mr. Dempsste,>h wrtka simppheeaureaninesytthat wmighadmuucg wrtk Francit. Bbut hrhe Mr.Dempsste's austnction aescaaledr od messiage from otyulo k rrvneowtod hndjmustdipd,nim of hhssaddeus ofdreawss,chvtingbheen loust hoe thmAAustaliaofscrubeowseved yeasybsefor.
Twhshsrapes hrhesttilmstrrontertt ot tosnd of Me.Hogaort,obbgin d iolseny, andfoalowtingimmeniansly,ine thmqutesiios wereevr a neganivcd d reaffirmantvin aesausat.
"Ieamm certailyo very uucgstaggfesn,," said Francit. "HgiveyYombseen etthinhing mucg bboutyyoerfrrvneoorhtiismotther anslys."
"Nnoupparticulalrd tautIIk nw o;d butIolikknd iom very uuc,t ad Io d otvn think ofthissoliiarlydreaw.."
"HgiveyYom ha dr tatehhismotthercie itbhad ealrts."
"Sshe hesbseenany ivaliedf Ft yeas,n ad yYom ha drther gt; but e musto ake.asnotn oftte datn,e andae certaitifd sheci paarticulalrd wyrsndn o-nmight.Inffee surihnthat thrheaeegnnou aolydals ofttiissaorte fpr ftve,s andhnw abesien aeohkinliteis tthat wehgive uucg n as soancr ofan reuniion;andrscognisiion;se thsen cmmun cantiossgivmetndfu.."
W hnd Francirgnouii to tveoppnpa reafther teh xcscsmenhoofnttno fsevogin,ehnd wae i lmisnd oet innk Shat alltheebheenaedrhem Ftae kdelustioe, butttno aswheraand tvenamre rcuaeeaewwith tlrnlgin dsigni icancr; tte difficultys andlammust hheimpbosibiliryt ofaay,chreat dfrhccllustioe,aand tveapppakets incrrityh of all wot hadbseensirhbins by iomdurionr themtnlfeshantios, incoeasvadttefbewwadermenhoofnhist miadt.
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChapfterXI. Spiupisuaism, Loev,;Aand Poliiics
Grreas aes hhegrrvft ofEmily,w hndsshe ha dr tate Mr. Brandot was gokin, aw ldintaewedkdfrk woe, and thtdthemmighn eevr cme,bhckt to Engg ansfpr fardozeo,ofd yeas;s andnnw, insnehdI ftsspanionr thereus of sis oiomhiierLoandod with thm,shhe hadnougon toAshfieln,d tosspandhist peanddals inehEngg ans withhiismotther;and ishtess andnepheweeaand nincle..Sshe felt qupitewrrontnd l tis onducc,, and adentiom sodbyrd wenohhe cme todtttikesis oem prarlylegive fh hhm, withaieamcoundcof ulkkinesyratther foeign ttothr Scharacte. Llesioes were s aergrreaer bdore tcayussua,oneh tatr ay,. andboithEmily,aandHmarrvttrteieds Jan's pptiencemsorellt.nAafterthhye hretystsfreetffrk woehYoees ie She mddle of Sher ay,. Janefsondtther cmrki w as awiyindffrkhea nougonoute with io,s andrsshe lshede verypparticulalrd toysne io,sion;accounI ftsomro newshsthet hndgoto fromScotpend.nHhe hadnnotbseensaats iendttohgivenoano of er d oocetytine thmprtcwnionr ay,. and had apoaintn. with Mdt. Phrillpstto cme,w hndsshe woulobeeaatpeisuri,, whichthaatpedyd hdI forgoustndfrk neglschtngtottweln Janefor Elsi.,Iet aes Jane lone whom hd lshedettooysn;—pi,waesttothr alone thtdthe wouleypvaks bbout thn cmmun cantoneh withrefeaencem tohis lbtste.t Jane aessorryd thtd Elsie was notaskedrdtoeaaccomaoys thi d alk; but hnd Francir saidghd hee soomohhing nshis rmiids, nadpfocwedtngtottwelnalay thmshincula circumsnhancey fr th prtviiouhsevogin,es hellstenreg with thegrreaeese austnction ans withaee usspanedujmdgmenh.>W hndhhe cme tod hhemenavld qutesiios whichreleaedhsttothrysel,tthmshmply, caledrit soomohhing ns which islhterto aessgrrealrd et;—pigmmighthgivebseenhis alotmsnasy rf sis cotniags; buts Jane skedrnodqutesiios, andtlooendtnnoiond ofhist aundcofe cmpplitnesisiiesis narrantvit.T hndhhetoldo fr th ioquparyas to Mdt..Peck's onnfectiot with Mt.Phrillps,> whichshehought not od hveh sked, ,aand which had tcwtlvdfnod aswhet.Hh paausadffrk Jan's npintioybsefor fthe cme todnarranhe Mr.Dempsste's messiage fromhist frrvneolmust nr th buis.>
"Nnw,dwthatdotyYou think ofaill tief, Jan?."
"Ieamma llittlpstaggfesn,gasnyYou hres," saids ht. "In wsghyYouhgle ha dr ortt rrlnes;—pigbewwadersf et."
"SscouldIn;hhenfoalow tis advicemsoestBragvly,gievn?."
"Ie hyikdtte advicemexactlrd criesopidsd withwthatyYouhgleeesclvens toodo, oucolyretl.>Itunren.nnouinflusncr yyoueitther nvew ytfrk tve ytthe.;.YYou skedrmy advicem tveotther ay,. but eitther frommed nrs rhom a ndtpartnndspiupig should youaacwptn ofnrs alow aoysadviond which aapparssetod yoernwnhstult not odbed sodt.YYou ca notshifth ofdyYoer perrsoald iesopisibiliry.nAs I; sai, iitis yYoer ffa r,snnormiir;t ad Io feelsdsorryd thtdcooesidraitio, Ftme,e and frh rdgenveoouhsmppoyhe,e .h as wmighadsoe mucg withyYo ShatyYouscaoonnlegivmettveSlaimsg fdyYoer smotther thi djmustduet."
"Anidttef piupi; saids hh asmlemytthe, but ut tvescme timet adviued, ,ororatther cmmaanedume tod hive nohvinr todon witdthe. Indto nnot wsgh tsohgiveaolohkinlttodon witdthe. Wthtdcieiot odbed retlrfug for;—suucg , lovnlnes,,joylnesylife asmiire hesbsee;—hwartnndeevot nw in yfr leaeust opcee and lsheu.."
." Franci,," said Jan, ,"yYouhgiveaegrreasdseay tober tankrfug or,e andstsohgiveI.tWwithalay thmsuffeeiins fr th peandyeau, Iu woulo not hvehbseen wwitououity for th orldt.Whe hvehboithlnaurend uuc,tboith fromtcircumsnhanceeanao fromrachsoathe.."
." Jan, Ieammwearly ofaill tier mlky bboutpfogresis andpdervcttiot.I omthuonvekin,ffrkhap iines,,astIettldhttis otBragv istelocut rrlaese dnmigh,," said Franci,meaureanlyt.
"AnndyYou tilmaitaine toit, Franci! but dtnnouseutyyoerhterto ns wautdiitis notrmigh,tort wses,forexpsdisnat rdyYouto obttai.>AnndyYou o ca notllooemet ie Sheflcie andsayd tht,.ifnone thinghissdsnind,g you hvehnnou aolysturncee lttap iines.."
Janellookedatehhmn withhernsishtenleeyesst feekins th peinds hh as uileiin, butdeaermiaen.nnou toyhnw Shatsshe had nyuperrsoaldrdgBrit. It w asvsry kian, butit w asvsry dis coragyint.Sshe felt fors m,like. aee ishtew—and nohvinrmfor.
"IfsIohgiveaoleeyess," said Franci,mtrygin iolsenlrd tochragv ttno fsuubjec, ," Brandotis ottilman. dmireag fdyYoersisste's. Wthtdcie She hwyrlndkeepiftimo fromdeSlaryin, ioysel? Wtye sushehnnou ff eothr all shhd hs,s andlal hlt alr opct togtai?>Hhe eaeue nI ortt for Miss Phrillps e tcayIe de ands he woulo eevr cn enht toaaccomaoystimd to Aoustaliat.nAann Elsielloosrstoppbtsye;and o sad,es henrenasa pfoteecoa;ds he woulodbed retlrfug totim;ds he ca notst andlaone,, as yYou d; ands hek nws hsthemakes yYoerpisiliont r ee mucg ortt difficultm."
"Thhdtrmithhs,s Elsierefuien hho,s andiitis difficulth Ftaemanetto mcke.ka ssconlo ff eo wenohhe hessuucgsllughtopoprtuniriess ofsebgin shhu, eevotifnhethaes notmadenaenraoafted ofhistaiffectiou.."
."I woulemakee otypoprtuniryw—Iy woulewrpitw—Iy wouleaskg poain-blank d toysne tew—Iy wouleypvakstod yog bboutit,.ifnIewerhe it sis pplci.>Itu is cowaraly,inf Brandor."
"Wty,d Franci,m youaeegeverdunrhesdoabll.> Elsierefuien hhog st .pisilivilry andunccomproiskinlluasypbosibledont r dw ytdnwn tto eDerbyrhiee. Io dtnnou hyikds he woulodorstt nw; butsnw isdghd tok nw Sha?."
"Ie houldhincgasn mucg totim,uifnIewerheyYot Wty,d Jan, ahwyrds rhom yougmmightsrcuaedyYoersisste'sttap iinesh Ftlife,n ad yYomshryikd rhom dsaykinlit.."
" ideeneIe de," said Jan.> "Ie hyikdno sods ot cme, from hn prfeeiindinehsuucgmatstes,t ad Io ompparticulalrdril-adapaedh Ft uucgaedelicans k cmmun cantiot>Beesids,.ifnone alrjmdgs bl thelaese few wedks, iitis s MissPhrillpsswhoehoughtttortcwtlvs tveoffted of mcaeiege,s andnnour Elsi.,Ifothr arotthee hrettoeaskgwtate Mr. Brando's istnntiossuaeer, sh remmightever wweln de thereuulth woulobeeaf mcaeiegeeofntworsvsry iil-assoraedhpteoplt.Sshe ca notccompehpand She rseay sodnesis andesimppicityd ofhistScharacte,.aanndesoisees hhemans womd sheci scaoonnlet horty,tos awi iot>Ssheeevotlloosrdnwnh in er genveoouharotthe;tsshe hs mntoloav ffrkhea arotthe's Scildren,s andnnt ym athye with nrone. Io omtrhealy, very laedttoobsgrve,g withyYo,ettate therinflusncr ewrtk Mr.. Brandoe hs deSoeasvad ofleae; butsheccertailyo hs psaidghreaegrreassdseay ofaustnctioe ands heexpschstadpropboal.."
"Her acethaes nsccarm ts h,," said Francit. "Tckeo, eaturhebye featurheeitdcietanescme,enroug; butit w nasypl ld andvaeiery,s andito hs nnour th pdervcth a monyd of Mdt.Phrillps'st.T htdcieamshinculalyo beautirfut hodexr od stult Shat apparss;t bve nohvinrpparticulat.I hgive ha dritol saidtthat wehgive all oerunllumomsnas.>HmiveyYomeevet sseen uucgaetimete with Mdt.Phrillpss."
"Tthrheaeegtimes,w hndssheccertailyo susnnorllooebeautirfut tsomm,t nort to Elsieeitthe.;BbutIo auntngtotypvakstod yog fdyYoernwnhtaffa rst. I hadlntster fromTromLowrpve this mroginr,ios whichshe ayst thtdthe ha as fromnim of hisnuleychool ealows ShatyYou hvehbseen skedrtto st and for th Swii tengBoupd frburghse, and thtd everdnim ayst yYou wildelsily beeaaben otcaoryd tem ovdrf thedukn's har."
"Ah!o hst ve ha dr bboutit?eIe shouldhgivettldh yog fdit, butttno ortt presiyindperrsoald istenese fr th lntster fromMelbmurnt,d Mr. Phrillps's yotBragv agytantioe, and this ystmrhoautepiupisua, cmmun canton,dpbutitol utd ofmy hehdI for th iml, aannahwyrds rhomyYou woule butitoaesidsfpr f eves," said Franci,m with thetldh wshrfu lloo.;
Jan,tllki all o ene wotarh istenestndiiepuablcymatstes hat al,e andethhyefprmtaovsry sm allmiaoritlt of er sex,orattherovdr-tesimlttn Sheeimpbrnhancd ofa ppaliamenaverd arhhe.;Shetk ew thetturs of er cmrki's rmiids,tiissducasiion;stao tneoof th pdeopl, hisposisiion;stao mcneooffpropvells,tiissaureang demiedttodonrmigh,t hispatienhttab is. of bmrkines,, andhisttthrpoughomohods ofpresaoow ndsioqupar,s were il s certaitguaraetere tatthee woule notftpl; ands hetand She belifettate fhistabiliricss, andaradiines,, andconfidsnces woulemakeehhog n loqueit ,aandskilrfu debatde.,Ietaappartnd totea noubee otyubjecg fr grreassimpbrnhancd Shataopdervctlrdhonnese andhodespanenigmembher should ereplacet for th burghst in er oatlvedcwuisrye tvencmviecd ofa gBreat e amily,>wtodhnly,vontn. withhci paary,s andneevet hdIdoan hay,crtnito ueitthertod hheseeclorsdfrk od tvenantiot>Sshe aindtruly,w hndsshespokes d ofghreambbitio, iankinlitasvsna,inedrhemsr bbouthhog nidghrepupil,e TrommLowrpvt.Sshe certailyo hdrinflusncrd> FrancieHogaort'isScharacteo uirrealrddurionr thetturhin-poain of hislife; tte ids ststhe hadnorsnds d intherteielst hadbseen nshis miidt withforcie andeaureanines, nds dttrpough imdsshe woulo opct togivme evoiond od numbher of er rotchetas,aand tvories. Wtwere s oemaewrpits as wellaif hyiksststhe dosusnnorfeelsd tias dspanencetine thmottheesexmsoestBoinll;g or,e wroughhataoedisadvaeniag,ds he ca ffrkheayseldutsterther thoughaw—bout d Jan, aasmlearadeeyt iallthvh obsgrven,t aes notliierarlt.Sshe aesaa d istaligenns, tal-infoamen, obsgrvtons o ma, butshr fielne aesacnton,d e andnnotbloos.dIenghreppresen spisuctiotsthe hadeverdllittlptimet Fn saradiig; bu,e from ilm thtdsthe aw,eanao fromalay thm coevrsuctiotsthe o coulo eau, sshe sondttinasy Ftacsiion;and uubjecsy for though.>To; ysne Franciecie SheBrpiwsghPpaliamena. asan horty,ambbitio,e andtoh givmeupdn uucgaepfrbaaben arhhedf Ftai kinlorhoautaand bscuaedlife with eayseldt aes not tober thought o.dHist wshrfu lloose andeaureant tnes hret odobheoBre soed upd intherhterto for eve; butshr nwn loav ffrk iom aes notshfnttate m erhoautaandunrhesdoabllonaturhe thtdsthechould notliven wwitououhio.>
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChapfterXII. ChliflrdPoliiical
,"DotyYou think ShatyYou ca rhealy,geturn?'; said Jan, eanvely. 'I k nw k Shatmrduncle, saidttefLibveeae istenesewasn mucgstrrontercie She burghstd ofleae,n ad yYomarherhealy, ShefiitnstemanetShy, houldhgivt.I aessqupitepplersnd toteaer fromTrom ShatyYouaretsoestionaapreciansde. Ooff worsi,ghedisgenthmrkaatgc ios hhesuubjec.."
."I dtnnouk nw ifkIeammaapreciansddfrk no, butttnoburghstareeaf llittlp iredh ofae truggls betwseenttnoCcn ervatlveddukn,aand tveWhin ael, ,aiwsayereuultiindinescme,oan bsyindpbutupd otboithesids,.tos whom thrhes werenoestBoinsobbjectioa,s andnnestBoinsrscommendantios;—aemhret dnnbody,eine aec.."
."YYouaretpopcula iie SheScuisy,s ereyYom no?."mskedr Jan.>
"Nn,snnorexactlr. Io dtnnou hyikdIIcwoulepbosiblytcaoryd teeScuisy,s fsevo ifkIe wouleaffordy thm coheans, FlIuamm not coesidren aesafet dperrsot for th laanedu istenes. Iogainennscme,eclat ios hherohdI e rmusneship,ebyeoppngin aerohdI which asangBreatpuablcy coevnikece,e bmutIolmustmdore tcayIogainenntthre,eby y alotmsnas,> whicharet llooked ion;staodragvriouhpftcwnenh.>Tthm ctniagsemakeemetpopcula with tosndl wot hiventovonts,s and with themdoreenglighknennclasis fr fhameee, buth thetldhychoolshfnten nasyyubjecg od tvm,s andlammustailm e,laanlordessfeaertthattteye alrbb skedrttol ldouou mrtymien thesamro wsa. Onr th wole,eIeamm coesidren rattheraodragvriouhmai kit thn cuisy,sbust nr th burghstIo ompopcula, Ie hyik.sIohgive thm characteo frbbgin ao tneooff th pdeopl, wtod hs nnorllustsym athye withhist clasi,t ad Io aen ffordyt togivme tem mletimro andsgrvtncss, uucgaes tteyeare.."
."IfnyYougdt i,hyYo w nat todo,soeiodespanenilye," said Jan.>
"Yess Io d;r adhhermhI risk mleseecltiot>TtefLibveeaepparyt ait ,at ccertaitvont,, whichtheyentyikdttey, houldsrcuaed etsterbry panionrupI fae trragvrs from theRefprmtClub,e whtk ows llittlp and cresrlnesy bbout tttnoburghs,e tcaybry upoprtgin ao tne wht iallllooeii topoliiical nds dnantiovldqutesiiost fors mysel,taneowtod iall notbeeaemhretppartsant. Ifdethhyemistrmus mro andsgndescme,oan todmvidedttefLibveeae istenes, I e cadhnly,sgive thmSwii tenburghst from thedukn's ha,eby re iryint."
."Bbutsnw foolwsgh tsdmvidedttefLibveeae istenes,," said Jan.>
"Myo lea Jan, yYo forgetn tatehhispparythisdrerhertodaspparytmans thangaolohkinlelrs.nT hequtesiios tobvecooesidrenw—andI w nat toseeg snw g yoerniceo cnscisncr ewallguidedyYou trpough hhebewwadervinrmazes ooffpoliiical moreairy;—ps ttii: Wtwttherith woulobeermighnttomledgvt smyyselt to tvepaary,sios which custIyaamsurhe ltmlearttur,dfrk od rsma i eiodespaneni,e;and o makee itvsry doubnrfu,," said Francit.
."YYou ca notvont,aiwsaye with theLibveeas;—aatpeaese with the sLibveeasd whtfprmtgovdrnmsnasyaand pposisiioi,," said Jant. "TShyearet e otvn iie ShewBoins, nadpparticulalrdsdt ie Shebtesoweay of atBoiiag,d . whics Io upopsn,dcieamvsry impbrnhatsmatsteeamoinrpparyfpoliiiciaost. >Twhyappoainmenhs, whichtheeWhinsohgivemaden ofleaed yeasythvh ootvn dbeenemoeseshamrfualytacsuansadbry amilytfrkpparyfrhesdoa,s andnnou with eamshinpheeye tod hhepuablcysgrvtnc. Maolytimes,ttnoCcn ervatlvesearet erhealy,mdorelibveeaett ot teeWhins;—stmetimes,ttnoWhinsoaret ortt oCcn ervatlvedtt ot teeTories. Itdcieoof th fgrstsimpbrnhancd Shat thrhe dsshouldbhe aolymeen uucgasnyYou iePpaliamena,owtod iall tucgovea boith dppartes;s an,.ifn tias daermiaen.dsuaismdcieat ornk everwthre,ehnw arethsuucgmeos togeturntod hhelegislaturh? Bbu,osurhly,>yYom could aoryd Sheeburghs;— yoh cadypvak,h cadyYom no?."
."I dn'ouk nws Ioneevetteied;d butIodarets ldIe woulebeate Mr. d oraescme,d thedukn's cadidetl.>Hethaes eevetoppntnsthis muithhoe thm .Hoaus, but od ivcdtisteoae,n ad ios hhehmusiins hegmadm ntofigure.."
."Tryd teehodespanenig worsi,gby alnmians;m youmalrbb beaten,s bout ;hhenifnyYousuccwed,dyYou tilmbedsoe mucg orttausrfum."
"Ite tilmpfrbaaby, hus mro r thos nadpsondu.."
."Itdcieshamrfuad Shat thedutlt ofsgrvtonsoan's cwuisryeffrk nohgin dsshouldbhesto lealy bhough.>IfnyYougeturn,dyYou mustsrye dt itBoduces dscme,mre soetttortducesseecltioeexpsn eu.."
."A difficulthmatste.nT heyubjecg fr thePpaliamena,owteen nces asiembled, ,cie tomakee itdifficulth andexpsn ivmetndgeturn.>To;keepd Shee cadideturhewwithoe thmlim is. ofaepfmvilegsadbody is cooesidren ae uirreaesafeguarnm."
"Nnouby e,horo l yYo,." said Jan.> "Iew natyYouto geturndbe cusrd yougk nw ttno feekinsd;andtwh w nasyoof th pdeopll wot hiventovontso betsteedtt otogiety-ogiel utd ofathuodesn,g wotarh membheis fr Ppaliamena. Oh! d Franci,mInffee qupitesurihnthatifnyYouexcerg yoeyselt you cadgeturn.>nAannw htdcieam thos nadpsondu?;— yoh hiveiot odspare.."
."Iyaamdoubnrfu,," said Franci, ssakyin, islhted, ,"ifkIe anhtaffordy togdt i toPpaliamena.."
"HgiveyYomnnou wom thos nadad yea?.aannddtnnoulawyeeyt whe anh scaoonnlet ake.aslleiinogdt i toPpaliamena?tIyaamsurhe thrhehissomro perjuerdni s hhesuubjecy of ropvell quuaif cantonw—bouths,sperhaps,e thm latsteeis sunnfeessiar,siteis tterlnesymatste.."
"Tthyugon toincoeasv thi dmians,tfrk tvierpdacnice,tfrk tvier d iflusncr,n ad genveealy,tcke. thefgrstsypoprtuniryd ofaacwptgin dsoomohhing etstertt otttnoChilaero Huodesns unidrmGovdrnmsna,," said d Francit.
"T r ee mustbbdsoomohhingever wBoinssome thre,eiofatcwuisrye genttlmansg fdyYoerst anking ca notaffordy od ivcdtistsgrvtncs tod hhe HoauseooffCommdos.>HmiveyYombrhoughtthhortqupsisiiontthat aes enht to yyos." saidd Jan.>
"Yes;tdotyYourhealy,w nat toseegit?eIe hiveiot in yfpocknt,s andif I erhealy, felg ie aereantios hhesuubjec,mInhoughttto cmmun cans with Mr..Free ha,e hhespal'sopoliiical gsna,ineLoando,d tok nw hnw hr ewall e avYoer o tne wht houldsupoprte hhegenveeaepolicyd ofmGovdrnmsna, bout wtod iallholdotimyseltfreettotvont,agtaiese tem owteeeevet etyses,ttnom hne ShewBoin. Mydhnly,mianst ofsgcurionr theespal'soinflusncr istbye coebicyin, iom tatthee ca notcaoryd teeburghstdagtaiese oraescmetbye uucgaem n asnhethaestodpbutup;e andaetIyaamratther doubnrfu iontthat poain,kIe anhscaoonnleasierutitoconfidsntlr. Ifnhet chooscs tod withyulo hhisfamilyt istenese he ca makeemetftpl; but.ifnitol cmest to tvepush, I woulorattherre iredtt otleou oraescmetgeturn.."
"Eeecltioeervins, hhn,histeverdniceoaanndifficulth orn,," said Jan.>
"Vsry difficulth Ft hhescrupuloue,e hhe incrre,e and hhe far-sebginr."
"Wtotarh jmust hhe oart ofpdeopll wommwe,w nat toseeginr Ppaliamena.."
"Wtom YOU,w nat tosee,d Jan, bbut not womm thetwomgBreatppartesu wsgh tsoseet.T hn,dsshouldIugon toMe.; Fee ha,edotyYou thin,m with tist .rtqupsisiion nadadfrank deSlarasiioe fr yfprbicyplts,s andteaerwthtdthe aystios hhematste? Ife hhespaldsupoprtsrmihI aydccounI ntae ajorityh ofntwenagw—esafetenrougsoan;s andif no, ssaallIosspand thee thos nad poondudintaenlorhoautdefeat;ewrpiionr thebolnersd nadmoust hodespanenig ofaddresies;tmakyin, themdustunccomproiskinosspecths fromt hhe hmusiins,uifnIe ca fiidtvoions."
"Nnsfeaer fdyYoer iankinlvoion,d Franci,," said Jan, warmlyt.
"Regaralnesy of thmsavYoer ofpoustndeggs;tondaunhknd l thesoeerst aatmrd birtw ndsbrwedkin; tte talesy bbout rdfetthe,e hhejetes hatmry otthe;tn ad ioly re iryinmaut tvelaustmdmena,owteenIe hive saidailm hatIthgivedgoto tosay,. but whics Iofeau, y udisncr eeeegnnou uich intaemsods tsohelat.Mydhwn ids ci,m thatItshhouldsuccwedg etsterkit thn almsuaegumenavtlveddebatdsu iePpaliamena,ott ot;staohmusiins orasor,e Ftaetpopcula deSlaimte.."
"Yess yYou til,n ad yYom certailyoshhouldsrye tvessconl,m ShatyYou mcrd aitaine to thefgrstt.Myduncle, asaskedrttost and for thseeburghst soom ntend yeasyago, butsh,waesttoecrotchety,, andcooule notwrpiteaa daddresintthat aeshat allllkilrd tobeeaacwptaaben otthheseeclors,estothe ghaveupy thm coheanybsefor pigbegant.Ynt,syYouk nws ith woulobee well to, giveaefew crotchetyfpdeopllkit thnHoauseoofCommdos.>T hegameg fr llfe,nowtettheesocieay ropoliiical,tis notpl lknd l ioly tworseis. of blhckt, andardumenw—llki cthssdfrkbhckgammdor."
"Ithgive euta genttlmansate MissTwomsdo's ppbtsyefrgqueitly,," said d Franci, ,"wtodstrmcoemethst hvyin, themdustrsmarkaabenquuaif cantonis sf Ftaemembher ofPpaliamena. Hethaesattab is ofprcuaekinlttofgrsts tpfbicyplts, whichisyratther tlrnlgin,. but whic,aiwsayeforcistyYouto uileveaerhesdod Ft hhe awithtthtdcieinhyYo,eaand whicheittherconfirmis syYoernpintioy rats aecoaily,>orochragvs,tfrkmodiftesuia. Hethaes rs iredh frombmrkinesI ntabbout700dpsondudad yeaw— whichshe hsgmadm inr Amte ca, tpfbicypealyw—haes ns amily,>nod cress, nadplsenyg fr leisuri;—ps ttehd dustuprmighn fr en,s andk ows ortt of th pfbicyplts, ofjueisprudsncr,ne and hhedetails. ofcommercieaymatstes tt ot;nrdnim I eevetk ew; bbut n cooetitusncys could hoosc hho,s andhee ca notaffordy to trpw, aw ldam thos nadpsondud Ft hhepfmvilegse lttavyin, isls ld ua. Hetis snim of hhsseeclorsdffmSwii tes, nadpparticulalrdaaxioaut hatItshhouldm coheany teeburghs.dHisthwn vont, he ca aswher or,ebout theboaussdffm n ulaage oalowtint;nthougghedisg o tne whthoughtttoexcerg menavldd iflusncr,nhedisgttoe aerahehdI tobeepopcula. IfnIe hrettoe st an,s andr hrettoesuccwed,dId iallfiidthhog d dustuusrfuuppropftet; aand with youg toinepiuegenthmrkaamd Ft hhepuablcysgrvtnce, and this Mr.S i la re tsosugntustpfbicyplts,aanndetails,mInhoughtttodisnviguwsgh myyselm."
"IyaamqupitesurihnthatyYou til,," said Jan; ."soe ysadviondcie to louvento oiomhiiesebgin Me.; Fee ha.nIe cannoubeelievtttatepdeopll wot alls hhmsseveselibveeae ca ctdsdt llibveealluasyttoeaneavYoertoe stiftlp hodespanennc. YYou tilm palemi asdiiffesnt talerto mrrnw.."
Franci dindaes Jane dviued hho,s andasnhethimyselt thoughtthe shhouldm de and awipd,ni Me.; Fee ha.nIndhap ennnd toberaetimet ofat fluellai.pparyfpoliiics;,tterhe asnodqutesiioestBoinllybsefor thm .puablcymineeios whichWhinsoaneeToriese hretytoequualy,piitnntttateoano vont,w ashfnextremesimpbrnhanc;,tterhe asnodnterupprspjecy ofaochragv d ofMialstry,e and hhegBreatWhin thosest hadbseen uichbawipd, ansly dabbout thirsfamilytyselwsgnesis and tvierpparyfyselwsgnesisbbgin qupite dastbhadaintthat of hhsyuloToarysrit.Sotitoaappartnd toMe.; Fee ha aut tttnoppresen ceisisd toberaeever wisrd andexpsdisnatohkinlttooffted fsupoprte otai kidespanenigm otllki Me.Hogaort,o Ftit w asvsry dqutesiioaabenifd thedukn,>wtod hndbeenemoorelibveeaeiiesis expsnditurhe d intte thwns,> ooule notcaoryditoagtaieseaemhretclub ha,e and tvyd hdI snod etstermanettospare. Me.Hogaort,oaatpeaes,t aes soetttoaskg nohgin d of hhsGovdrnmsna.dHistsupoprt,owteentthyugoutit,. could cstg nohgint; tis adveays vont,wwoulobeeioly ioe utesidsqutesiios, sg oruli.>Itu hwyoulollooeever wweln Ft hhe cuisysseecltio,, whichwaesttoberaeever o toughhffa r betwseena yYoonteesoneoof th dukn,aanda yYoonteearotthee ooff hhespal,m Shat Me.Hogaort,ooofCrossdHail,e shouldhgivettheespal'so crdieaysupoprte ie Sheburghs.dHistvont,w assrcuaed Ft hhe.Honcorable Jamre,e andlal tosndhhechould iflusncr,nhed opcd.> Franci r saidghd cuuleaaswher orf hisnwn, butsis oen nasy mustpplerss hhmssevest.
"Oh,myks,m certaily; bbutoen nasygenveealy,fiidtity for thier advaeniag ttotvont, with thir,laanlord,," saidttef gsnat.
."Aandif alay thmotthercouisys ropeierorsetand Shesamroview. thm .Honcorable Jamrey woulewmlky hhe cuays; but e usts ppose alay thm fstran gsmsg fdwaer fdaneenvmy>wtodtakes everdadvaeniag,d;and trains toy thmutmmust hheinflusncr of ropvell nadpptBoiiag.."
."I nat togdt i, withpdervctlrdcllenetanes,," said Francit.
."BlnesyyYo,esto oes everbody,," saidttefppaliamenaverd gsna; ."bout dsoomhnw Shredisg olnou fsqute d orne mustbbddoan togetufa rly dsreaedhoie Shebtncheu.."
."Ihnnou oly wsghit, butI,miant todo,pi,," said Mr.Hogaort.r
"Weil,ewwelw—Iy opctyYou tilmbedaaben otmaniag is. Io must itBoduces dyYouto hhespal. Ie hyik hr ewallsay,.as I; sy,ettatehhe wallgtlvsyYou o crdieaysupoprt;estottate SheeooanrnyYougetuyYoer ddresinbout thn d etstew—sestion ie Shefielneasypbosible,.aannddn'oufaaleasleepdoevet is. nT heyttherpparyfaorelikee wersas;—tShyearet not tobercaought nap iig;s andr wallunidrmiirewthatyYoufancyssrcuaedgBouan,.ifn yog ilyo givme tem a ochracg.."
Thhereuulth fs Franci't isteview. with thespald asasd rats aecoary as d hate tith the gsnat.Pparyf for nces wae i lmisnd oe awiveiosehmigs tpferoganivc,e andtohaalow adperrsotttoslipt i toPpaliamena wwitouou;nrd tpledgvtaesttofuturheacltiot>Histmannhrepprpbosesien thespal;othe tcwtlvdfany ivytantiotttodinnhre ts heuta few poliiical frrvnes, nds dtor mlkyovdrf the cavassn Ft hhe cuisy,, whichwaesnim nt whic,ail dtwhi dsnrengtw waesttoberexpsndcd.>HmarrvttrPhrillpsswas al , themdrhe istenestndiie Me.Hogaorte wenohhe hndbeene ivytsnd oedinnhres withae peteo of hhsrheam,d;and tooad sods hhancd ofadnkinlM.P. n(nthougg ilyo f FtaeScotic,gBoupd frburghs)g totisenamr. Eevno Mdt..Phrillpss felgaf llittlp xcscsdmaut tveids ofaoBrpiwsghmembher ofePpaliamena,o nds sebmsnd oeview.boith Jane ann Elsie with ortt avYoer tt otsthe haddoano bsefor; wiley Mt.Phrillps,>aaxioaut todo,aw ldwwithdtted m desitio of sis fgrstsiisteview. with Me.Hogaort,owas qupetlry ando crdiealyo rspitaabe,s andhnpendtthatttemSwii tenburghst woulortttursotim,utwaut ;hhygmmighthgivettefplre soet ofthissoocetytineLoandod Ft hhe.ccmvigs sesitios.> Franci sspattaewedkdfrk orttineLoando,d nadpproisedh Miss Phrillps todp ldamvpsisd totea fetthetineDerbyrhiee brdaind l.e Mr. d Brandot was cmpplitlry tsandis cuis,s andasnfa rly utd of hhe irclv d ofHmarrvtt'sepfrbaabenfuturhelife toAshfielndasnifnhethaeesailsnd Fn sAoustaliat.
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChapfterXIII.sGood-Bye
Wwiley Jane ann Franci hretdis usiyind Sheetatnd of Brando's taiffectiou,e hheyubjecg fr thi dsopicitudes waegokin,asnfastn;se the ailway, houldtakeehhogttoAshfieln,d hhrhehist wdowtndmftthe ltlvdf withehis unmcaeiend ishte,fatcwnfirmtndiivalie, aannahwwdowtnd ishte,f Mdt..Holmre,e themdtthe fr tose hunderfuunepheweeaandnincle>wtoshe d gnooancr ios hhesuubjec frdirt-piest hadsoe mucg m desitndEmily, dPhrillps.. Brandoe hd,aiwsayebeene very laedttogon toseegttvm,s andto uetaldam shrte iml, butttnoii tlerable dullnnesy of thmplacet hdI aiwsaye drievn hhogbhckt toLoando.mAAustaliaosygenveealy,prefeag ollaage twot;steaerhsidsncr,n ad Loandodmmust ofail;y for thougr thier relealvesehiiesm allcwuisrye hwns,ororueeaenwmigbmurhoodsufancystthtdcrg mmustbbdso e mucg orttlivilry with thm tt otitdcieinh Shebush, Shredisg aegrreassdiiffesncs betwseenttnodullnnesy hhrhe thredisgplsenyg fr orne tobher one,, and hhedullnnesy hhrhe thredisgabsopuitlry nohgint.
Onhemdustpproiskinoarotthee haddisdmaut tveclosnd ofarlron,f expsn ivmetpprfesitioua,sducasiio,> whichshe heeexpschtngtottturstoh grreas;accounIt for th benvfin of his ishtes. Walcteohimyseltshndbeene senutoust odoAAustaliamientistfetthe'islifetimet withae etstercapitalm hntcwouleu hvehbseengievnoafthewaras,esto tatehhe iwsayecooesidren hatshe hee,goutmdore tcayhciesharh,, andthatehhisassisnhanch as nohgin hat alldgenveoou.
Twhg yoingHolmrecee hrhe aought ad guarnknd l thiermytthednmigh; aandr ay;tssheaaccomaoiend tvierwmlksststhebevellooked tviergamre,esthe arad alay th r bloosebsefor ileiinh thm tto tveScildrensttortad,o nds cuutoust,forerersndaolohkinltthatsthe thoughtin criecleine aecy rf qutesiioaabeneinh panennlt.Ssheaalowvdfnodkiste cuaysewwith ervanas,> aandrlammustas llittlp withplay ealows fr thi dtwot;ge.nAannw ensUnclv dWalcteo fromAAustaliam cme fgrststtodisnurb thesevno paor fr thi d wsa d l lavwsghppresenst ofswsetmreas,m akes,s andtoys,s and l iffees toy cke. the wolesfamilytttoeeverdaitainable mmuemena,osh,waesfgrsts trhesdotn. wit,, andthhnr, sh re aes not coebicrd,osh,waespbut dwn, tist .giftsorttturvds, nad tveScildrensaiesruchtngtotsayd thtttteyewhould atthednohthgivettefoBretsh reiffeeed.nHhe certailyoprefearendthhe wuld spiupis, andarbtalioaut onducce fr th llittlpPhrillpses,ssevo inr thi d oranddals,t to tvepriom sod-ScildebstavyYoer of hisnwndnepheweeaand nincle..
Hhetand Sheplre soet ofstaliin Mes.dHolmresios hhisnccasiiontthat hhe. wuld yoingAAustaliaosyshndbeenertducengtotsoomohhinglikeeordterbry aa . dmirable govdrnnesy hromhtyshndbeene hhemianst ofpfocuekin,ffrk hhm: d hateiiespitnd ofalay thmoevewndulgencemshethaeesuffeeeao fro,> Emily,,waesprovgin aoeverd tlerable ycholeaw— Shatsshe had sods abiliricss andraitexctalenhtttert,r thougrsshedindclimbn nshis kneet Fn sccofins,s and egt tober ckeo,ttoAsttly'st.Mes.dHolmres hundekedatehhst .pfocuekin,a govdrnnesy Ft hhe cildren,s andaskedr sodsdseay bbout tthe, tith theview. ofae certaiiindifothr arotthee aesfgxkedatelaust; butsh, mlkedr bboutthee withpdervct NONCHALANCE,dsaykinl Shatsshe as aetpparticulat avYoeitnd ofaotyulo ervanad ofhistScaledrPeggydWalker,e andethhatshr ;accounI ft MissMsevriln's quuaif cantoniswaespdervctlrd ssaats aecoar,n;se thereuulth hadproved.nMes.dHolmres hesbswwaderedeaso o to tveSueiiouhsocieayrelealonst ofAAustaliao pdeopl, butshr miidt aso oseutatereus bbout JaneMsevrilnt.
."Bbu,oFannys," saidghg totise ishte,f,"yYouk nw Ithgive cme, tobaid youg sodbyrdintaewedkdfrk eo,dals.nIe cannouhelpt i;e hyigsollooe o baaly, jmustateppresen thhatunlnesyIyaamios hhespotnIe cannouseegmy>w ld hat alldcllealr. Iohgivellittlpdoubn hatIt iall orne hyigso allrmigh; agtai; , themasste'steye makes allgoewwel. Tthrhenren bve nsdiiffesncs hne She llittlp alowhanchIs enht tomlemytthen ad yYow— Shat tilmbedsenig hoom nrenculalyoasebsefor.;BbutIo aunrtodassisn, yog tthewisrdifn yog ielnalanw medttodonis. Yyoh hiveenrougsttodon tobrionrupI tose sixn sccildrens fdyYoes,ssevo with rdllittlphelp.tIt iall cke.yYoerbold Edgares withmn;s slIuamm notgokin,bevelandt it iall notbeeytoexpsn ivmt. I iall trainehhogttobttausrfue ts h,s and ake.as tneoofhio.."
"Nn,>no,dWalcte,dIe woulennoulen, iombedaw ld fromunidrmmydhwn eyet; She hissod yoinw—hiissducasiionis notfinpshed,," said Ms.dHolmret.
."Aandeeevet tilmbe,.ifn yogkeepdhhog iwsayeatuyYoer pron-ustgint. Yyohe cannoudtoit, anny;dyYou muststurs iomie to tvewyrlndsoom ay,. andesurhlyehhe wallbed etstertturvdtoustunidrmmydguidhancd Shntunidrm nne.kaat alt Wty,d th lhdrise ixteen,s andnthougghedisgunccom ilyo gnooanotshfnttvewyrln,osh,k ows enrougsof bloose andthate oart ofohgin todacqupi ohimyselteverdfa rly ineAoustaliat.Idpproisesttodonmyeever btest fors m,ns andhee caobeeifuirreaesgrvtnce ts hovsry soio,>ifnhet hs ilyoa hehdIn nshis sshouleey.nAandnthouggitdcievsry hardy odfiidt uaewthatuyYoerccildrenscree ity fo,tIodarets ld th boythaesavsraghe d istaligencg.."
."Avsraghe istaligencg!."exclaimtid Ms.dHolmre; ."tistmemoaryhst . dmirable.>IfnyYouwhould ilyoexamiire iomientiscoar,noergeographr,noer sLasir,dfrkscisnthf c dieaoguvs,tfrkchronoaogy,>yYomwhouldfiidw—w—-."
"TthatIt dtnnouk nw ttefoenthdpparr ofwthtdthe oes,>noddoubn,," said d Brandor>."Bbuttthtdcie not what tilmmakeehhoggetuion ie She orldt.YYou o ca notaffordy od ivcdtimgaepfrfesitio.."
."Ihfeaer no.tIt isghIe woul.rPerhapsnIgmmightby,mdoresconomy.>T he fsducasiion fr yfccildrenshwas cus mroeverdllittlphittheto, ioly t he fclasiicss and a hhmaiicst from theSueetl.>Iesshouldlikee tobrionrEdgare fupI Ft hheChurcht."
."Bbu, y lea Fannys.ifn yog hrettoe ivcdtimgaepfrfesitio,dyYou must oseidthhog w ld fromyYot IfnIetakeehhogI ialldonmyeutmmust togetuhhog d n,t ad Io iallrhealy,llooeafthers m,n ad keepdhhog utd ofmiychief,n d etsted Shnt you caddo, oucepuablcyschoolsheraouniveayiry.."
."Oh! Walcte,dyYouk nw wShataoetatndViecoaiadcieinw—fuall of runaw ld coebcne,e andlal sprtsrof badm charactee,e ttaractnntthretby, t he gyul-diggyins.>Iesshould notlikeeEdgare ts heutwwith mucgpteoplt."
."Aatmrysheepdstealonsthr ewallsevellittlpfrk nohgin hfnttvsro peeoplt.Idr wallkeepdhhogbusy,s and l and l,e wenohhe cmest to tn's eetatn,.Idr wall ivcdtimgae tlrn;s andif yYou thinkIdsuccwedg with Edgar,dId ialletakeeRobert,r oo,e wenohhehisnuleenroug.."
."Ihk nws Walcte,dnthatyYoumiantvsry kianllyby mro andmiir, butI,dto nnotf creesoe mucg frh rdboyisbbgin rhics oergetttonsoa,gasnyYoucail i;eIdr aunrtthm ttobed sodt.It dtnnou wsgh ts trpw,tthm ie to tvewyrlnd tial , thierpdbicyplts,aree ixvds, nadstBoinsenrougstto witst and temptantiot>eEdgarecievsry yoin,n ad yYomarhe notfirmsenrougstto hive hheguidhancdeoofhio.."
"Ie caobeefirmsenrougs ieimpbrnhats hyigs,," said Brando; ."bout tthrettareeafnumbher ofllittlpmatstes tt tg olldesshouldl aerstoh daermiaesfpr fhimysel. LestuuoaskgEdgarecfnhetwhouldlikee togo. Ddn'ou s ld alohkinlf for roagtaies.u orr ncesletd th boytexcecisefhistScoion,d andehgivetteffreedromnof hisnwnd ialt.YYoumcrdreveays tias dcisioa dafthewarasnifnyYouseee it.."
Mes.dHolmresasieuntngtot tief, but with cme, lea andtremblgint. Edgares astScaledrin,, andhistuncle,kianlly and a rly madm tim t he iffee.>T heolldetvsytanen;—llookedatehhsrmytthe, thhndatehhsruncle,e whndate She fllor.r
"WthatdotyYou thinkIesshould de mamma?," saidght.
."YYoermytthed lsheudyYouto mcke.yYoernwndScoion,," said Brandot.
"T rn Ie hyik Iesshouldlikee togog withyYo,eUnclv Walcte.."
"Nn,>no;nIe cannoupparr with youyeu, y lea boy.."
"Nnn ensi,g anny;d dtnnoust andinh Sheboy'isliigh,," said Brando,fat fllittlprufflkedatebbgin ckeo,atehhsrwyrds, nad tvelld'as dcisioa dreveaysnd l hhsrmytthet.
Thheadviondof bltc,gB namytthed nadaunh waestto thesiffec Shat Mst. >Holmresshhouldsake.advaeniag ofothr arotthe'askianines,, andeunrmust oEdgare tshistScri.>Itu aes notwwitouou;uirreaeeffortl Shatsshemadm upI fshr miidttodp arr withtheesooe ands he had aolyserhoautccomuncntonis of o cnscisncr afthewaras; but sh hisletstes hoom hretrenculaeaand vsry ppbtsilyoex desitn,s andasnhistuncle,Walcteogenveealy,addedr few llnes gtotsayd thtttte boyt aesdokin,rsmark aaby,weil,n ad growtinu stBoins andellaag,esthetlooeccofprt,o andhnpendtthat all asy Ft hhe btest.
."Aandsot tiee Me.HogaortehwaslefteLoando,dEmily?," said Mr. Brandot.
"Oh,mhhe hsggoanohcme, toseeg bboutgetttons i toPpaliamenaw— waut tstupaid orneite mustbb!."
"Ddn'ou mlkysotab urdly,," saidAounIHmarrvttt.
"Hhehisqupitesurihhfnsuceess,," saidHmarrvttrPhrillps, wtod thought hhe.qutesiioe andarmarksgmmighthgivebeeneaddresiend totea,n;se thebtest d ifoamendperrsotinh Shethose.>
"MMissMsevrilne wallbedpplersndhatshr cmrki's gokin,ie to tve .poliiical llne,," saidght.
." ideen,ewwuaretailmpplersdt.Iteeevetsawt;nrdnim soefiitnngtotshins hneePpaliamena,," saidHmarrvtt.> "Hhehaesprooised,owteentthsseecltioehst .beve,d oevisisdpapa;, thierpoliiics ewallsuit, Ie hyik.."
."Aandhnw isdMMissMsevriln?."mskedr Brandot.
"Qupiteweil,n sheci aiwsaye ell; but e hgivebeenevsry uuct roubled g bbout ervanasn ofleae.dIubeelievtrhealy, Shat all hhegsods ervanasn hgivegoan toAAustalia, ffrkwee cannouheaer fdaethosemsaidoer norsne tsosuistuu,s anditopbusd everdnim bbou.dIuk nw iht anoyismn,d andMMisssMsevrilne(wtod oldsorattheraoshinculaeccobinasiion fr employmsnas,> ad Ioe mustsayd thttssheccertailyo iychlaags bltc, fttthm extremeby,weil)tis spparticulalrdengagsadjmust nws makyin,upIghre thosekeepkinoaloos.."
."Aandhnw isdMMissAliondMsevriln?.Sshecie notsdt ivaeiaaby,weileaso ther ishtegis.."
."Nn,>sshemnpes ortt.Sshe hs nnorhalof thmspiupiI ft MissMsevrilnt; buthIubeelievt sheci qupiteweildjmust nw.."
"Wwelw",; said Brando,f withaehalofsmig,e "Iyhgive cme, tobaid yog allgoodbyr;>nodnim cao palewteenwe alr heutagtai.."
."Oh! nnsfeae,," said Ms.dPhrillps, ,"wr ewallseve yoh hrhelgtaidintae dyeaer r two.y Mt.Phrillpsdcieoo eo,grumblginr bbouthhstaffa rs, butI, dk nw ihtjmustendudint nohgint."
."Bld th by,dEmily,." whsperede Brando,f,"yYouprroisedhifnIew;stao gsods boytnthatyYou woulogtlvsmeu;uirreaeoBret. YYou tilmneevet hive anytthedsypoprtuniry.."
."Oh! yks,," saidEmily,e "Iyrscoleecl qupiteweilw— cme,alrong with h,,"> ad Brandot oalowead tveScildstto thenorsnrlt. Elsie asd gingin dsoomohhingtodastunvtthate ouanedulikee that of "Chevy C hsh,,"a gBreat e avYoeitnd with BrandotientistScildhoodw—bouts he coughtthho ouann fr footshtpsmaut tvedoord;and toppedr bruptlyt.
"Ttistcieooernorsnrl,," saidEmily; ."mamma aystitdcie aer etsted thang thmould ie.aatWiri wita, butI,dto notlikeeiorhalofsoewwel. I hgivembrhought Mr. Brando thre,eAlion,d toteardyYoersoinsd;andyYoer tstories,.as I;prroisedhtim t henmigh;yYou woulo notsiindine tve .drawtin-roomn wenohhemskedryYot."
."Gosoa,gMMissAlion,hIubegs fdyYo;d dtnnouletdmh isteruptmyYot Indulge met Fn ncew— Shatoulda r cmarrvsrmihbhckt aoly yeas,," said Brandot.
"Oh,mno,," saidAlion;e "Iy woulennouvsnaurihhngae tlnzaebsefor yYot Yyohe cannouimagiirewthatdogghrelhI akee topplerss hhe cildren.."
."Itdciennoudtgghrel;titdciebeautirfu,," saidllittlpHmarrvtt;e "itdcie Sheebtestsoin hfnail,n ad thenewtes;—tSh,oan thatAliond hsgmadm abobuth thefire,ewteenwe hrhesuuctttoyhbhbtes;s andhnw poordmamma aso soewwakt, andtil,n ad papaew;staway,e and hheflamrey were il aBouant; aandPeggyde andJim;— yohrscoleecl J m,nblhcktJ m,n Mr. Brandow—and Mst. Tuckw—Maorta, tyYouk nww— erhe ornkinoso hardy odsgiveus;s and whndwteen Mr.. Brando ame,upd ot islhorsi,gCaenibw— ed tldtAliond isenamrt aso oCaenibw—shetk ew all hhereus of thmscoarw—androdm soefastnn ad goig ofeiiesuucgaehurry,e andfetchedt athed nadqueichedt thefirer..Oh! Mr. Brando,fitdisg olnvilrysoin.."
."Aand alnmadm upIaftdrfYoertmlkyoftouldtimes,ttnoytthednmigh;, FlIu ttthoughtit w asjmust hheohhingf Ftaeb alad,o ndsAliond ialldon alohkinl tIoaskgthet.YYouseee Shat et tilmmakeea heros fdyYoe and r ewallskinl ttthissoindineyYoerpraisefwteenyYomarhe aeraway,," saidEmilyt.
"T rn Ieamm notbet Fgoustn,," said Brando,fypvakhingtodEmily,ebout dllookinlvsry hardyhat Elsi.e "Iyddtnnou wsgh tsbet Fgoustnd l ayeoano thre; butI,dto not cree frkbekin,rsmembheedeasoa hero,, whichI,dto not .desgrveh tsbew—bouths aw—efrrvne.."
."Ooer rrvnesh hrhehgivebeenesoefew. that etarhe notllkilrd toforgetn aaytshfnttvm,s and withEmily,bhsidstuuoweust and sods hhancd of thaekinlg yoerncme frgqueitly,," said Elsi.e
."Aand youmadeea soind bbout ew—acsuaaly,abbout e,," said Brando,f dllookinlasnifnhet lshedt thefivhg yoingPhrillpsese utd of hhewsa.
."Oh! Aliond ca makeea soind bbout alohkin,," saidCcn nhanc;, ."stve maden im bbouh rdllittlpkiitnn.."
."Aandsuucgaeniceo im bbouh rdhummvig-topw—hnw ihtgots, whzw— whz,," ssaaidHubert.e
."AandPeggyd tldtAliond andMMissMsevrilneabbout thefire,e andlal abobuth youlrongago;—lling eefor sthesawt;nrdnftuu,," saidEmilyt.
"Sshemadm upIa ppbtsyescoargtodammuettthm jmustassAliond oes frkaut owteentthyu hrheshd,aannduilw—ioly Peggy'sescoargwas al trues, nad sAlion'soaret ostlry no.."
Brando's qupckteye wouleobsgrvet thefaioheanyadnkntiovldflusgh passnyovdrf Elsi'soalarady ceimsdo cthek,n ad guesien thatPeggy'se drevelealonstshndbeeneadllittlptoo trueo andmiiuae.dWthatmotlvedhaeestve .tto cancal nlohkinl bbouthhmn wenosshe asrelealin, hr nwn expsrisncrs gtotdiveaut themiidsy of thmtworpoordgirls inr thi d roubless andrpsrpplxirics? Was ttiitthho olusiion frhis rtfuseaeiie tve ailway, cmarrage? Ifeit w a.ehhesshouldterd gtai.;Hhetandbeeneadfool,d a idino, ttoe ivcdupIstortadilry ts thefirust ay-ssa. Nnws ith aesttoe latc;,his sppssigeh aestckeo,oust fors myselt ndsEdgar,d andheewaestto s il dios hhemmrrnw; but.ifn hyigsollooen.deceitly,weileat Bmaragoonsoas sis orttturshe usts eitn,r thougrhhe asnodirreaesceibi.e
."SsaallIo not call Jan?," said Elsi, wtod felgembmarasysnd l hhsr lloos s and annhr, aanndrtadtnsthissaykinl nlohkinlpparticulad eefor a groupd of thmsharpeanyScildrensaie She orldt. "Ssheis extremeby,busy,s butifn yoh hive cme, tobaid hr gyodbyr,oshe ustsseve yoh Ft hac.."
."YYouuiend totmlkyoftgokin, toAAustalia;—ttoMelbmurnt,tI,mianw— with eyYoersishtegaandPeggy,n wenossherttturs.."
."Wed opcsttoberaaben otdo,so,," said Elsi.e
."T rn Ieewallseve yoh gtaiw—Iy ustsseve yoh gtai.;Ddn'ou callyYoer tsishtegyes;—ddn'o.."
Hhrhe Brandot was isteruptknd l theeunrhancd ofMMissHmarrvtt,s wtosheeSueiisirytaestto hhrheEmily,tand ckeo,tea frrvne,tandltn. eastto Sheenorsnrl,Ia placetstheseldromvisissdt.
"Wty,dEmily, wShataoohhingtodbrionr Mr. Brando ie to tvenorsnrl! Yyoheareta drtadrfuegirl! Io must paleMMissMsevrilne of thir."
"Ithgiveioly cme, tobaid sodbyrd toscme,frrvnes,," saidd Brandot.
"T ryoshhould hive cme, toyYou ie tvedrawtin-room, ioly t oshe Scildrens creesoefoann fr thi dlibvetyd thtttteyeprefeag tvenorsnrl,s wthrhe thy e cadtoamenatAliond to tvirttterts'm cohena,oton alohkinl likeereusraint u ie tvedrawtin-room.dWthatadlliteag tveplacetciein!lIu dou wsghwhechoulddgeuta norsnr."
"It ustsseveMMissMsevriln,r oo,e and aid hr gyodbyr,," said Brandot.
"Ssheis inh Shethosekeephe'asroom,," saidHmarrvtt.> "As yoh hive bsei eiotBoducend l Emilyt isog tvenorsnrl,sperhapstyYou tilmletdmh cke.yYo ntthret."
."Goodbyr,othhnr,MMissAlion,," said Brandot.
"Gyodbyr,," saidsght.
Brando woulennoudropIa wyrdn frhis iohenatiottto Jan, Fn Hmarrvttr.Phrillpss aeshatsis elbmwn wenohhemadm tis adieu; but.soomhnw ElsieeoBresurid,upIgiispparhinglloos,, andembmarasysndex desitiou,e with;ste mucg idslirytasnifnhethaeemadeeantoppn deSlarasiioe frlnvir. MaolyIa wy tn's tterttlivisulrongoiesuucgsliighdfooadainttiy.nAandntve .next ay,. Brandot wastenboards, nadstionios hhehmigssehs,s ot islw ld gbhckt tohis sseep-stealonst andhist roublest.
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChapfterXIV.> Franci Hogaort'se CcavassnAandEeecltio
Tthrhe caobeellittlpdoubn hat JaneMsevrilnew;stao sodsdseay influsncrd u ie hr dcisioa aestto theposisiiotstheboughtttohyulo with Franci by, t heletsteds he hadarcwtlvdf fromTromLo eiedios hhemmrnkin, of th day, ios whichshr cmrkietandbesrayend toteag orttanmisnhkablyt thanevdrf theeetatnd of hisnwndttert.>Itu aessoomohhing ortt fors mstoh givcdup,taan,r.as I; hive said eefor,oshe rattherovdrtesimansadboith the impbrnhancdooff hhepuablcydutlt and hheamcounI ftsuceesss ieiut whic, Franci aestllkilrd toaitaine t.>Itummightsebmgttoimpparheay bsgrvees ratther Utopiant to opcs andexpschoscme,regenveesiioe fr thepoliiical yrlndooffGrreaeBrpiaine from therttturs ofaot istaligenttcwuisrye genttlmansof kidespanenig ad origiieafprbicyplts,sf Ftaefew. bscurhe dScotiwsghburghs,sttobernim of ot;siembllt ofsixthuodesn, nad sfifty-emightlegislators, butitdcie fromsuucgUtopianism, fel,ennouinr oanoiasnhanc,>bust nr aol,d thtttte atmmupthrhe ofpoliiics,dboithinr GrreaeBrpiaine andinhAAustalia, caobeeclleasn, nadpurif sdt.Wteen pdeopl, wtettheeassseeclorsdfr cadidetls (oa,n;seinh Shecasnd of Jane d sevriln,rsevno tose totarh neitthe),dsake.aitexagghransadview. ofntve . rouble,eexpsn e,e andlanoyhancdatstankinl th diychlaage ofpuablcy dusy,,e andfoamg olnw tesimans. ofntve sods thtteaichsoreantenvegeulcy kidividsuau caddo, tshistSwuisryeby,uskinl everdmianstientistpoweastto ssrcuaedgsodsgovdrnmsna, topfroont,puablcyspiupi,s andto raisefntve .st anardn frpoliiical oreaity,y thm cuisryeistios hhedeSlini.>Itum ld ggrow rhics itum ldincoeasv int antiovldpprspjrity,ybbu, ;staonasiio,> i w nasythho oull of antiovldlife andeantiovldfreedrot.Idppefeag Jane d sevriln'sorattherunrhesdoabllo opcst to tvepusrilanimoautfeaes;—tShe dLASSEZ FAIREepolicyd of tose tot hyik thy k nw ttef yrlndfare f etste,eaand woubeelievttthegameg frpuablcylife cie not orith thecoese d of hhe aanlee Shatliighstitdupt.
Ifds he hadbeene hhe oly y tnsaie She orld,tfrk tve oly y tns likely,, tosuist Franci, andto makeehhoghap y,oshe whouldhgive felg vsry diiffesntly; bbutsurhlyehhechouldhgive nsdiificulty ine iankin,d mrongs hhehuodesns of toos nas ofmmarrageabllowdmen ineGBreat Brpiain,oscme,o im isllkilrd(she sevno toough,g orttlikilr),stto s ats y, islhtertr tt ot eaysel.>Itu aes oly be cusrdcircumsnhanceehhdI madm tim k nw hher o,weil,n ad be cusrd he hadbeenesdt isimanslld conschtng withnodnim lelrs,ettatehhebeelievndheeloavd thet.Hhew;stao tne whmt;nrd y tnsmmightteasilytl aerstohloav;s andif sthesttadilry thldtoust od iom tattsshe ass oly tias daersishtew—hiis awitrfue frrvne,, andthatesthechouldneevetbher alohkinlelrs,ehe whouldhrhelrong f Fmg o panereastir.;Bbuts he npend andr lshedt thatsis lnoummightbhn astf withaegsods o ma, wht houldnnotfgrudgvthdrf thessconlverdplacet hats he felgsthechouldnnotgivmetupt.Ssheteiendtto caebicr. eayseld thtdcrgcwoulobeeioly frrvneship erhealy, ot islplrn;s butsh,shndbeene stounuiend toaiffectioant, frvneships,ssspjeiealyo withnim of hhs tther ex,ettatehhe asvsry tllkilrd tomisnhkm tis ffeekins.
Twhgetatnd of hr nwn htertrsshedind notlikeetohlookt isogever closnly; shetk ew ttate Franci aesinix desitbly lea totea,n butttno absopuit g bssncr ofcalljheaoosy madm thr oubn ifnito hretreealyo waut istScaledrrlnvir.Sthechouldlooktf Fwaran witououpaine toanytthedperrsot bsccmvigstmdore od iom taot eaysel.>Myortadees iall hyik tan ifnito hgndbeenelrhealy,llvc,eith woulohgive srcrd ityseldupdo thrs, nadbursts trpougr all hhebmarrves tt tg hretlsaidacrossdpis, cuays.;Bbutllvchinr adstBoinsdeanuredisg ovsry difffesnt thhingffrom thesamroamcounI ftllvch intae ffeblloeanure. Ifeit hgndbeene hr nwn ropvell nad creted Shto hgnd tsobengievnoupI Ftthissaks,ehertllvch woulohgivepfrbaabld coquheedeaal ,pfmvatndambisiio;n butttnovsry hmigstesimanidotien whic, s he hldtther Scmrki,sf ought gtaiesethetinsnvictivme wsgh tsmakeehhog hgp y. nAandifd theirrevocable ytepe hrhe aken, wShatsgcurityewhouldstve hgivemttatehhemmight notrdgBrieit?
Sthedwfelgine hr nwn mineeios th diypaekricssbetwseenttnm,t whics buth Ft hhepgculiaercircumsnhanceeien whic,ttvyd hdIbeeneplacedrbry ther uncle'su til,n ustshgivepfsevntedt thef Fmanidotsevno of hhs frvneship,,e nw stoclosnd nadstepfscioou. Shhe asperhapsts crcslld awarihnthatsuucgm cohraussdaret ortt avYoeaaben otthhegrowtw nds hhs cohinuhancdoofllvchm taotttoenterupresmblhancdinm characte and temphramsna.dShhe asso edifffesnt nr aol wsayeffromhhmw—hrt aso aithraarw—sshe asparacical; osh,waespoeiical andlrtisnvc,s and l noh hanstscisnthf cw—sshe as.destituns. ofnassts, nadsawemdrhero macchinr She onidrst ofscisncr thanginn mucg of thepoesryete admireadsoe muct; Shew;stariscoceesic by, temphramsna,n ad ooly fsrcrd l hhetinflusncr hat thmturnkin-pointdooffsis life cn toteagdemoceesic viewsw—sshechould notrdstgffrom therovdr-racivinyg frthednaturh,, wileyhrelikedyprpbon,d meditanivc,e aithraar,n ad DILETTANTI.>TwhgetBoins ensi frdusy,, which fccertailyo was theguidkinlprbicypltd of hisnaturh,,ledhtim to exceriio;n, wiley Jane orned be cusrdsthechouldnnothelpt i. Wiith Jan'se dtemphramsnae Franci eeevet woulohgiveetalsnd Fnfifteend yeasyclernein tttnoBankyoftScotlaan,r wileytterhe hrhenrwm cuisricst to coquhe,noer nrwmefielnestto orneii.;Hhe sondtplre soetrndbeautirfun hyigs;dlal diyordternoerdiyorganizanidotwaesposisivilrypainrfue tshio. Toubeginr agtaida life y of comarvtlvedpbevety,ybbrdtotn. witf hhe arhe of Elsi, youlobeefaretmdore ryhingtod iom taot totea;y for thougrs he hadbeene rhoughtupdinehirreate fflusncr,nshhe arhndltesy Ft hheelegannceeofr llfe.dShheloavd d iomfea to,weile toalanw hhogttosacrif ce;a gBreat dseaymdore tcayshheo tooughtsshe as orith Ftsuucgae oubnrfuegsod,o nds stheeunheedehtertr nadstult isog tvepprspjecs of thisseecltio,,;se the thhing whichwhouldm scidm Franci'tfasts, nad woulogtlvshhogstial nabe d orne otdo,sttolkeepdhhogffromrdgBrithing wahtit w as etstedhhe shhouldnnou bttai.;
Twhgepiupisuau ommunicasiion os hhesuubjec fr Franci't opcs, ttoe Shesiffec Shataftdrfaetimethhesshouldsuccwedgaie Sheyubjecg leatest d tshistttert,rhaeemadeefea ltesy m desitio nfshr miidtttcay ot isr. Sshe haeennouheaend Sheunterthlrd aps;rs he had notbeenestlrnlknd l the p ropeiatndaaswhes;rs he had not eayseldhadttherh andlrenestndaut thn dletstes whichspjaledrbout theunk nwnrncmes.dHhr ueiisirytltn. eastto datstanea sehanch witf Franci ate Sheeamroplace,n but everohgin hontthat snccasiionw;stao awlure. Twhgepiupise had notgoigrmighlrdEN RAPPORT withehea;yteagdehadarlealonst hrhemisncmed;, thiermessigest hrhe fun characteisnvc;s and whmspiupiI ft Me.Hogaorteeeevetcwoulobee suom ivd dupIagtai.;Sshetterhefor daermiaend oedismisse the woles suubjecgffromthdrf tooughe,e andldviued Franci ttodon Sheeamr.e Mr. Dempshte,fdhnweeve,d aes notwwaliin to reekiquwsghhisttalf-madm pprsilrtv;s andfccertaily,d th ltesy Jane wae i lmisnd oebeelievtinr Shshee malfestealonst hhemmrrdsthebe cmcdatsachedt on Sheeimppl-miiden phoautmvisionverd whtenestndstoccmpplitlryaie Shm.;
Jan'senwnrlife waespparticulalrdfuall of orne ad ofo orerdai this time;y fo,tasdMMissPhrillpssmmighthgivetckeo,pparr of hheblame, to thrysel,dif sthe had canctlvdfitopbosibledthatesthechoulddou Boin;t Fn situ aes otshr ;accounI thtttte thosemsaid had ievnowarnkinw—sshe said d thtttwtomissussre,e tatu ae,d Ms.dPhrillpsd andMMissMsevriln,t aso oenrougsffrkhere ands hechouldnnotsuumisd toaoohhrds, nads hechouln'ou abteruMMissPhrillps'as isteffesncs. Twhgnorsnmsaidtlooeumbraghehat Elsieesirtkinoso mucg ng tvenorsnrl. witf hhe cildren,snthouggitd aso wthatu Mt.Phrillpsdliked,eaand waut tveccildrensdsliighedgai;o nds bhsidss ytterhe asnodottherconevnienotplacetffrkhertexctpatshr nwn bhdroom, , whichwaestttocclnd Fnccofprt andtooodarkd Fnfiane orn.t Elsi's rposisiiotinh Shethoset wasrattherano maoos,eaandccertailyo addedt on> Jan'sedifficulties.
Wwiley Franci aesbmrklrdengagsad withhhse cavass,n Mr.;and Mst. Phrillps toooeam shrte Yoernnh SheCcohinsna.dHmarrvttr woulohgivelikedy d tsaaccomaoynttnm,t and wrew. outhhnasytotshowdthatestheeexpschtngtns ivytantio; butshr sishte-in-lawo tooughtttvyd hdIdoano qupiteenrougs f Fthere havtinutheraall hate imltineLoando,d nadtakhingutherabbout everwthrh.y Jane waettoberlefteinm chagvt of the cildren,st ndsEElsie wsse togog withshr misnress. Nnw Shat Mst.Phrillps hd,aeolldy's-msai, sthechouldnnoupbosiblyttrgivln witououoan;s andasnneitthegutherhusb nds n Ftheryseldk ew nys mdern,laaguaghe butttni dtwo,sEElsieummightbhn ausrfuebhsidss ;staot istrppbtea,n;sestheunidrstsodsFesnctheever tlerablr,n ad tandltaurvdtao sodsdseay ofItaliao. Tthrhemmightbhn .advaeniag l and lgffrombekin,aaben otadveatisefFesncth ad Italiaon .acqupaed offh SheCcohinsna,sf Ftperhapstayschoolsmmightsuist thn dMsevrilnas etstedttcaygokin,ie tobmrkines;esto Jane wae very laed ideendethhatshr ishte,f wht houldpfrfitumoese lgpi,sshhouldsake. the trip eratther taot eaysel.>MMissPhrillpssrttturvdn otDerbyrhiee,n;sesthe hgnde nsdesireytotstaldsevo withsuucgaecongvniuau ommaoioa aes Miss sMsevriln,t witf hhedrawbhckt fdaethosefull of cildren..
Ine hhemian imlt Franci't cavassnwenutondbriskly; Mr.S i laiFn sccnstitunsdohimyseltshis manyactivme gsna,eaandccertailyotoooemdrhe . roubley and atiguneabboutist t ot;nrypaidd gsna; butsh,soomoimes, ssrbmsnd oedtshistScosetmdrhechamdttcaygoond l hhsrccn nhaotrd ueesncs d tofirustprbicyplts,s whic,aiaamend hhejog- roatouldWwins,o nds snccasiioealy,sevno thebot- nd-boutRadicals.
Twhgfivhgburghs,swtoshereppresenasiion Me.Hogaorte ;staboust od cohnes,dr hretgroupsnd ogettheebe cusrdttvydl ldintadjoinkin,ccounies,. aandnnotfbe cusrdttvyd hd,anryidsntinyg frkisteness.>Infntve sodsolnd timre,ed eefor tvepasiyind of theRef FmgBtil,neaichburghdsenigoano delegatne tsovonty Ft hhemembhe. Twhgdelegatnewassseeclknd l the majorinyg fr ther twotccoucil,s andasnthhatbodyt ivaeiaaby,seeclknd Shirtsuceessors, therreppresenasiion of the isizeou,eeitthegmunicipal orfppaliamenaver, by, suucg hans,t was themdustglorhoautfictiiontthat hsgeevetbhensdsviued by, t hewisdromnofYoer nncelors. Twhgdoubley eecltioehos hhiscasnd had n e sods panennlt.TtheRef FmgBtilu ae,donr She wole,g ovsry sods tkin,dtmdrhebe cusrdit w asaegBreat hhagchinr Shereppresenasiio,s whic,s astScaeiendouotwwitououpanhagcrkinl th costitunido,d nadw;staot taurvus ofstial irreate rhefomisbbgin madm ie Shefuturh,,ttcaybe cusrdytterheci anyeever gBreat m dovemenaeeittheg ie She characte fr therseeclorsdfr Shirtreppresenasives; but od Scotlaandit w asaegBreaheguboiontthot toEnglaan;y Ft hheesmblhancdofr reppresenasivetinsnvtunidos twwitouou Shereeaityhw asaemockeargtodas feh pdeopl, aann ovsry fmiychievoautmockear.>Inf185;—tSheburghsthhdI eaich Shirtregishteendevontrstios hheroil,n whteaichvontn. Ftthis avYoeitnd cadidetl,esto tatetttnovotceeofrfivhghuodesn,men ineoano burghdchouldnnoubve eustalized by, t osnd ofemighy,men ineanytthe.
TwhgetBoinhyuloofh SheCco ervatlvedpaell l ldintSwii te,l th gsnaeel,st ndsFeseburgh,y thm cuisye hwnt.TtheLibvealsn ustteendever etBoinsinehLldykirn,d whichshnd ckeo,tto She ooleenr aou aecoartwwitinr Shelastnnquaeleer fdaecsnaurr,n ad tandincoeasvdevsry uuctaitextena. aandupbpulasiio,ssto tateit hgndfea mdrhevontrstpaykinl10upbunas rena. t ot;nryoofh Sheotther hwns.>InfAoulbiggyigaandPlaiasnhaeesppartes, hrhesn eequuao tatentsmajorinyg neeitthegsidstcwoulobeerd k ivd io,> butttnodWwinsmajorinygineLldykirnewasssxpschtngtotbevetoptttnoToer majorinyginet thmtwo fgrststtwns,bygasn mucgast woulosrcuaedHogaort'se rtttur.>T heoHonYoeaaben Me.Fhrtescuhew;stagaine tobeepbutupy Ft hhe Toer kistenes, y for thougr he had notdisnhinclshedthimyseltlastn paaliamena,osh,waesa spdervctlrdsafedpaell ma, aandcconschtngbr maarrage,s notwwitf hheduks,e, but withaoToer maaquws,.next inr cooesidrasiiotinh Shedisnrict,n wht hee,gBreat nflusncr ie She cuisye rttturs.
Me.Fhrtescuhe sondt he hadaedifffesnt mhot tofmight with ie Franci >Hogaorteffromhhssypopnsnatlastnseecltio,, Me.Tturbull; so hhe felghve .neededtmdrhebhckiin,n ad rhought withhhmna, Me.Touoweil,n ,gBreatguon . withhhsepaell,f wht enhttis rbunas boith withanan witouous m,n ad .actendasnhistmouohpincl.
."Oneshwas cnfidsncr inean expsrisncrnd an,," said hhisgenttlman,hinr ads cnfidsnrheayway,etto theseeclors,e wenohhemenrtthm iyinly, erbry twos s and wrees. "Ifh Shelealh hadpbutupyas tneoofgBreaheg ppaliamenaver expsrisncr,ehhemmighthgive hadae hhancdtotbusts Mr. .Fhrtescuh, butshsepickyin,upI hhisquwll-drievr,n wht hshspjntehhst life ybehiann obank- cuisere andiffeetinutim tto tveburghs,sis rtealy, aa .in ulthtto tve costituennlt. Me.Fhrtescuheiasnodorator;—tShredisg enrougsof useinh SheHhosettotspvak, Heaevnok ows;—tShredisgoilyotoog mucgtmlkyaboust nohgin; but Me.Fhrtescuh'sevonty asneevet ievno . Boin;—neevet ncesdaidghg foshkm tis clours!;Ddn'oulookt to tve .spveches;—llokt to tvedivisiionlisi,s andtShredyYou tilmseee Shat yog chang rmustyYoermembhe. Asy Ft hci Hogaort,ytterheci nota iyinlhe thhing tatetheshwasdoan thatin pienes cnfidsncr,ssevo with hisnwnd paaty.;Hhecie aerotoogRadicalssevo Ft hheepal.nIe cannouimagiirehnw Shatouldfoxshwasdbeenesdtmiylendasn totmkeehhogupw—pfrbaabldf Ftae cooesidrasiio. Llokt ate Sosnd llotmsnastheshwasmaden evet et ievnoaw ld tshistlaboueeee;—tSheemdustnhagcrouseinnovatiiontthatcwoulepbosiblytbve madeniiesuucgaem cuisryeainttiy.nWteentthsnon- ropveliendclasiressees suic,s hyigs,dttvydfhanydttvydshhouldlal sharheinh Shespoil. Ttistcie thw Socieaism ist to cmltineupdo us. Twhserlevtaliin aandnn oubn gsdltesy views pprpaee. the ayh Ftsuucgrevolunidos ast e hgiveseene with c mucglhorr Ftacrossd SheChannhl. OuldCrossdH all asyayscwplicy hfnttvewyrstnnkian,n ad pickid,upIgiisviews hfnreekgiioe andpoliiics inr Franl, aannt hci ew mao woulennouatesttial he to,wenat to Franlt od m dove,his smiidtinh Shesamrt ay. Twhsercotiigestheshwasbuwlt, ot isl eetatn,. n edoubn odincoeasv tistpopularity,y andperhapstateLldykirne Shyum ldgn edowo,sbust nrSwii tet ndsFeseburgh pdeoplmseee Syigso diiffesntly, aanntsevo Plaiasnhaees ndsAoulbiggyiglikeenotsuucgnew fhaglendnnoidos pbut,ie to ornkinopdeopl's tteds. Twhgids of comptaliin ropeielorsd tsobuilndsuucgpalacesy Ft hhirk eo nas't laboueeee,owteentthslaboueeeeet thmysevisudto notaskg Ft hhm,n ad dto nnot cree frktthm wteentthyugeutktthm!w—andIoteardtthatHogaorte ayst Shyushhouldlal builndthoseasjmustglikeetiy.nMhrhe lap-stapstto inr poliiical nflusncrw—f Ftthisnwnd pdeoplmbrwaktt hewindows,d nadtake noh arhe of hhirkfianenrwmethosea. Ieamm soet ropvell is burdtotn.heavtly, enrougswwitouou Sis sab urd crotchest foradnkntiovldspoliasiio. Olnd CrossdH all asycrazryoenrougsttopeavcdtimgaelnou ofmoany ast eileaso tve eetatn;ehheccertailyoemmighthgivelefte themdany tto thepoordgirls the hgnd rhoughtupdlikeetiy edcoughtee,e andnnothgivelefte thmytotstarvn,d andttobera burdtotios hhem cuisry;e and yoin CrossdH allcao see noh etsted ayh ofsptankinlist t ottinh Srowtinuiht ayh Ft She chancdofr tthissreaw—bouthhe hs nne chanc. Twhgbank- lern's toarasn wallbed stmewthatdiminpshedd eefor aal hiy eexpsn esdaretpaid.nWhenren take noh roublew—iideen,e Me.Fhrtescuheemmightwmlky She cursnr."
Bbu, iiespitnd ofalay tistScriltesytmlk,e Me.Fhrtescuh,.;and Mr. .Touoweilr oo,edaidsake.a,gBreatdseay of rouble,e andemploysndeever opbosibled hansttotsrcuaedthheccertai majorinyg fr tiell whic,ttvyd .spokeeof. TwhggBreahstshopcsttvyd hd, wae iyayspliisbetwseenttngnew maa . and whmepal'sepaell,f;and Mr.Fhrtescuh'se gsnaasmanagsad tsmakee Sheemdust ofeeverdllittlppointd iydiypuae.d
Repprtsrreachedt thelealhffromdifffesnt quaelees,t ostlrynreekable,e waou Sheretturs of Me.Hogaorte woulennouhat allsnrengtteenhhhsepaellg ie She cuisry.;Hhetandbuou;usm all oalowiin,n ad as. comarvtlvely, llittlpknhwnt.Tthe cuisyevontrst hrhemostlry eo na e aemeee,owto gsnveealy,vontn.wwitf hhi dlaanlords. Twhgrancdooffpprtiioeee,o Ftsmlal ropeielors,t wasdykinlboutiiw—w—-rhiee,n;seitdciee iyaall hheBrpiisgh islaan,n ad llaage ropeielorsd hrhevsry uuctypopsendeto CrossdH al,donr accounI ftsis lnosndviews aestto theriighstooffpropvell. At Newtio,> hnweeve,d whichwaes ollaage aou aecuekinlttwnl of receitegrowtw,n ad nota royal burgh,y but whichwaesofeever gBreat impbrnhancdiie tve cuisyereppresenasiio,s Franci Hogaortewasssxtremeby,tpopulart.Hhew;st Sherevldfrrvne,oof th pdeopl;—tSh,oaly maotinh Shee cuisyewto srbmsnd tsunidrst andlalohkinl bbout theriighstooflaboue. Twhgseeclorsdffr Newtiwnl felgaggrlievnd thttttey,f wht erhe aermdrhefnumcrouse t ot Sosnd of;nrdnfttwhgfivhgroyal burghs,t hrhe triwnlie toe She cuisye rtppresenasiio,s whrhe thi dvotceedind notccounIfpr fioe-fouetc, ft waut ttvydwhoulddouinh Sheburghs. Twhyl felgperrsoealy, kistenesedgaie She rtttur, ftCrossdH all(asnhetw;stgsnveealy,Scaled),st nds woulennoupeavcd adstoan untturvdn otsrcuaed i. Tthsnon-seeclorsdffr Newtiwnw—estial mdrhenumcrousebodyw—rdgBritvnd thtttteyechoulddouk nohgin tofuetchre tiisviews,texctpatbyygokin,EN MASSE toLldykirneonet thmdardnfttwhg eecltio, aandccobiniong withtthsnon-seeclorsdtthre,esn easd tsmakee;st gBreata physical demonustatioa aespbosible,h Ft Shy o cnssidrvnd thtt CrossdH al,dif rttturvd, youlobee thi dtreppresenasivew—rdady tofmight Shirtbaittli, andto rvnressd Shi dtgrlie nnce.
."Bhe arhrfu,f Me.Hogaort,obeecarhrfu,," said Mr.Pesntion,h isl Feseburgh e gsnat. "Sayk nohgin thatm ld wckeo,jheaoosy or misnrmust mrongYoernwnd paaty.;YYouaret mucgtto,frankyineyYoerasirrsiion ofyYoer opioioae;—corrjecgoenroug,>noddoubn; butyYoerpdeoplmarhe notpprpaeend Ft hhm,ne and yorsmajorinygiie notsdtllaage Shat yogcao affordy od llseta iyinlhedvotc.."
."Itdccertailyoiie notllaageineyYoerburgh,," said Franci.e
."Asmiiorinyg fr wenay- wree ias themdust avYoeaaben hgin yogcao expsctetherew—Iy hyik wenay-foue. At Swii tettterheci aeccertai miiorinyg fr foueteeo,s whic,tthsleastn m dudsncr oneyYoerp arr hould double. nAoulbiggyigaandPlaiasnhaeesaee. tes,aotpprsena,osofyYoer majorinygeat Lldykirneshhouldberllaag,e to cevetupd uagdefic i. Weo hive hhehardhstsd orne otdo,s withtthsleastncredit;oweushhould hivedoubley pary ts thsrdyllskinoaurghs,," saidPesntion,hlcouggint.."But, Fn Heaevn'issaks! Mr..Hogaort,okeepdyYoerfrrvne,S i laiFnquiel. Ifewhg houldoilyotake.a,feeveto Ftsoomohhingnfttw tskian,n otkeepdhhogrndbend tial hheci w naedt on>votc,eith woulobera revld erviond to tvtScoset Yyoh ustsaddresir therseeclorsd temight oucepuablcy heuiin,n ad ifr poosible,hkeepd Mr..S i laiFna ay. Wr ewallgeut Me.Huisere and Mr. ThirlstJan, aann ofew.eotthes,sttospvake iyayquiel,dtakhingway,e and yog nren notsayotoog mucglycursnel,d ad dto notmakeeisd totdisnhict. I hgivebeeneagentth hrheeevetsincr tvepasiyind of theRef FmgBtil,n;andIo shhouldk nw wShatnseecltioeeetinu Ft hhsheburghstci.eOoerpdeoplmadmired ianeypvakhinw—eofew.flowersdffrrheloric. Aellittlpfracoart ad enthusiasmsaee.vsry fttaliin, butyYo nren notpineyYoeyseltdowoe toanye definitnd Yoeysg fr acltior."
"Itam,sperhaps,otoog mucgdiypoiend toan kidefinitnd Yoeysg fr antio; my ppbicyplts,Ie wsgh whgseeclorsd to cofids in,, andIeewall an,upI oe thmyeaso tvenccasiionmardnfffe,," said Franci.e
."BbutifnyYomarhetoogbrohd,aanndirjecgineyYoerasirrsiion of rbicyplts,sd youmardnfffann oohhrd,pparr ofYoersurhevonts. Nnohkinl likee ofew.gsods llaagewyrds,g withnotg mucg haniin, Ft hhsheburghsr. ld th by,dtterheeci aedepuaatioa ffromLldykirne cme, towait oneyYo,> sefor yYoospvakeai this heuiin.>Ituci eareas frktthm to cmlthhrhe tthot toSwii te,lsdt teeci mdrheconevnienor."
In aecdtterhe hrhe woedepuaatioastawaitkinl th Libvealg chadidetlw—iot, from theseeclorsdffrLldykirn,dhtadtnsbyyShadydPeyinlh,d maotn wht heedbssnd l thefabricasiion fe ooleenryaers fromaewwavheg itodassmialownhe, througsnnouinr ovsry llaageway;s and whmotther from thernon-seeclorsdffrNewtiwn,f wh, througsttvyd hd,notlegisimans.rmight toe akeeupICrossdH al'istimr, w naedt ofew.wyrdst withhhmn sefor eecltio. Twhirtspokes tne asy JmiheHh wste,l of the lasitScaledrinm thesouohem cuisry, iie ommoo,ppalranl, a CREESHEY WEAVER,n wht hee not dbssn,e andr aes notllkilrd todbsst.
oithdepuaatioastappleasn, tt nce,s whic,toyas tneltesysoreant ad .dirjecgtthot Franci, woulohgivebeenebiconevnienor.Hhemmighthgive drequteseld ie.to rvtired wileyhreghaveaudisncr od whmotthe, butsh, hgndesdtllittlpthe, lea of Me.Pesntionn sefor thissyre,e tatuhe rtealy, r lshedteeverdseeclore andeeverdnon-seeclort toteaFtthissen imlnaas nds snpioioaeeasofualrt ad oppnly aespbosible,handt hearcwtlvdfbltc, fttth .depuaatioast ogetthe.;
Hh fgrstsheaendwthatsis owoe woul-bve costituenise hadttosay,n ad .s ats iedt thmeasd tshhsepdervct kidespanencs. ofntve BreatWwins e amiaili, andttatehheme nat tokeepdhhasjmdgmenaeunbiasysnd l paellg dpoliiics.e
."T rn wShatabbout theextenitio 'h Shesuffragh?."mskedrShadyd Peyinlh;, ." r e natfivh-pbunaevontrstateLldykirnr."
"Tthatisyayqutesiioellkilrd tobeektpatinr beyhancddurkinl th sirtkinoooff hhsepaeliamena,," said Franci.e "Ifhitdciebrhoughtf FwaranIo mustsayddttateIe cannouaotpprsenaovonty Ftextenitio fh Shesuffragh.."
."Oh! ed hocgh;yhe hrhetneoot- n'-oot Lsebveal;—nJane 'hyYoer fiieainygdWwinsd thtttoooeann itestepgaie Sherhict.dirjectio, aandtteen durstna uvsnaurihfuetchr. Yge aunovonty Ft hhefivh-pbunaevonttifnycd arcsttober oordman,," saidShadydPeyinlht.
"Wed hocgh;yhe youlobeef Ftaeb oulvetstepg t ot;efivh-pbunaevont,," saidd JmiheHh wste;e "ye'rhe saidttober tvepuirdman'sefrrvne. Isnito fa r tatetttnolikee 'hhuz, thatm ky She cuisrye wahtit ci, shhould hcd nahevoionngaie She eecltios? We'rhefordmanhoodesuffragh, aa'l th b llot,e andr eulookt toyYoottobernforadvocate, ffrkwee hocgh;yhe aestto ber oordmembhe. Iofsoebe ast e hgd tandYoerrhicts,n ad tandvotceetoh gie, yieeshhould hcd thmea'.."
."It'utfeaew—it'utfeae fh Shelealh and whmFeseburgh gentryd thtt keeps d iomfraneypvakhi'eootnhistmian,," saidShadydPeyinlh;e " butshse thaetdcieea'rrhictr.Hhekenst tht'i w naed,n ad ifrhh'senot hyrledttoe SheEaliotts . and whmGreys,ehhecao vonttasnhet hyikutfit. I hyik weg chandespaneonethio.."
."My,frrvnes,," said Franci, "It wsgh tsshowdnnsfeae aandnn avYoet I u woulo notsayotodyYou tateIe woulo notsayotod Sheleal,>nort to tve lealhu tateIe woulobhesorerdforashamsnd oeletd yoh hart.It wsghyYootto k nws tasncllealy aesIe caeexplaienttnm,tmy poliiical rbicyplts,ssoe waouIoe ayoraisefntsunfouaneduexpsctealonst anddiyappointdnodnim wlfualrtpr fdesignedlyt.I hyik wwithyYootwahtit ci.a,gBreatevild thtt ttvewyrkhingu tne hs nnevoionnaie She eecltio fh Shemembhes, fttth Legislature. I d opcsttolivin otsret thmdarw—andIo tilmlaboueotto advaeonnaaw—wteenl everdmcaysh all eelrhis ioflusncr iegBreahegoa ltesy ha soetrnd thatmostn m brnhat,pparr of hhedutlt fdae feh pdeopl;ebout hgive;nrdnfthyYooeevetserhoauly cnssidrvnd thesiffec whichwhould lanw theradopsiiotinhGrreaeBrpiain,,aotpprsena,o ofmmnhoodesuffragh, orfsevno of rvnuckinl th franchisettot;efivh-pbunaevont?."
"Tterhe ooulobeefarema r sconomryaie Sh,puablcyservion,," saidShadyd Peyinlht.
"Tterhe ooulobeefareltesyjobbeart a'm ceruptiiotinhgovdrnmsnag dpawtBoiagh,," said JmiheHh wste,l Sh,Newtiwnlwwavhet.
"T ryochoulna swampy She costeetuennicssby makyi'tfictithoaut votce,,"> saidShadyt.
"T ryomhict.beibi,difd thefranchisetw isllmissd,," said Jmihe Hh wste,le " butwwithmmnhoodesuffragh aa'l th b llot,e tnsmmict.vontt jmustasstherliked,eaandhuzewyrkhingmen hcdoordrhicts,n a'doordffeekis,. aa'doordrkisteness, jmustass lea totuze aspedigreesn a'dacrcst to tve .ariscoceecy. Wr ehat,naheten-hYoeyn illsw—wtaterhict. hcdpaeliamenase dtotdictatne tshuz, a'dkeepdhuzefraneytalii'ea'r e hgin otsril,ndoord timrn a'doordlaboue? Wr ehat,ttoberleat aaie.to mineeiforarnd bmrkines,d a nodttober Breahdtasnifnwetw isba rnsd thttdilna krn wShattw is Fn Shi dgudht.Na,>na,>MaishtegHogaort,owteenyengivnd the d llotmsnasttto yYoerhians, yieshowvnd thttyhekentd waut tvyu hrhefituy fo,taa'dyheMAUN; eee Shat th bigghrgaeconsteetuenny ci, Sh,pureas teeci likeetohbh.."
."My,frrvnes,," said Franci, " thesiffec of;nrdgBreatextenitio fh thersuffragh, as Syigsoaretaotpprsena,o youlobee o pbut theWHOLE poliiical tpoweas isog tvehaidsy of thmleastnvnuceahdtclasires fttth ommuniry.."
."Nout the woles withaofivh-pbunaevont,," saidShadyt.
"Surhly,s not the wole,ssevo w'fmmnhoodesuffragh,," said Jmiht.
"Weddinna ehat,it al,donlrtpordfa r sharht."
."Bbutitdcie ng tvenanuredofn hyigs,," said Franci, " tahtit mustbed st. ;YYortfivh-pbunaevontrs,f Me.Peyinlh,d houldoutvontt tveten-pbunae votceeetenormoauly.;YYortnon- ropveliendseeclors,e Me.Ho wste,lwhould ebot-vonttsevno thefivh-pbunaevontrs,f nds woul, iie everd costituennl,f dScaeyd Shi dchadidetl l an evewtelmgin majoriny. Ttist woulo notbhn .gsodseittheg Ft She cuisryeoeg FtyYot."
."Bout theriichshevtttheHhosetffrLyrds,g thrhe thy aretparamcoun,," saiddShadydPeyinlht.
"Aovsry ffebllobmarrvee Shat youlobeef unae gtaiesettheabusceeofr gdemoceecy,," said Franci.e "YYouk nw,weile thatinyaallemvegennicss tve .Lyrds mustgtlvswayotod SheCommooir."
"'Dernd auentthy,," said JmiheHh wste,l," and whmooly chancdofr jmusionngf Fttuze thtttteye aue.>Bbu, MaishtegHogaort,oyemseee Shat ropeell,f;a' nvnuceatio, aa'rrank, aa'ra'e Sha, hgintanditra'e Shi d arnd ayh Ftehuodesns 'd yeas;tit'istimr that etshhould hcdpordttur.> Wlmarhna likeed whmFesncth(inh Shedayst fttth oulgrevolunido); weg youlorsspjetffpropvell. EevnoifnwettandYwret muktlppowhe, I hyik weg waeemak,nahebgndeosetffrit. It'ishardy odkeepdhuzeootno'doordrhictss Fn eevetbh cusrdye hyik wegmmict.geuta hocgh;ma r tandciegsods frkaut."
."Bou,," saidShady,ss gtchoauly,e "yedack nwledgee Shat tyigsoasttteye arcsmarhe ao awr.dWthatwaeeyeddo, tsmeand whm?."
"Yyohrscoleecl afproposeay ofLyrd John Russral'i,oscme, yeasyago,t toersconustuctm theseecloral disnricts,sby makyigd thmeeaichrtttur, treheemembhes,e andlalowtinueaichseeclort tovonty Ftoilyotwo,ssoe;st toesrcuaedstmewthat fttth riighstoofmiiorinies,," said Franci.
."Oh! wegmmsdootvnd tht; ffrkwee hocgh;it w asaetreacherouse tionsoas fLyrd John'sepael,," saidShadyt.."Itdiishardyenemucg Ft SheLsebvealsttto .geut Shi dduest i'f hhsereusrictendfranchise; aa'l tci.arrhagcmsnag d youlom ky SheToricstetBoinher taot thy aretnoot."
."Bbutisnito notjmust h oucemiiorinyg fr oohhrd,shhouldbersrcuaend Shirtoohhrd,sharheinh Shertppresenasiio?."mskedr Franci.
."Oh! ye'rhegauenttofirustprbicyplts,slikeeyYoerfrevne,,Maishteg dS i laiFt.Naeddonouit'isa'rrhict, butitdwae aoaaswhe. Tthsohhrd,inyah .disnrictd auendotwwitouou Shirdman, aa'riiescme,otther Shy omhict. hcd thebvus 'd i. Tthatwaeem kya'roddsgeevor."
"Itd oes sdt i.a,gBreat ha soetaotpprsena,othrougsnnou c mucgsoe;st I echould wsg,n but evertextenitio fh Shesuffragh iall endttoe exthinclshed whmmiiorinies mdrhe andmdrh.;YYou cannousayotSha, inoanye seecloral .disnrictd yogcwoulo amn,t witfmmnhoodesuffragh ttvewyrkhing clasirest woulo notenormoaulyebotnumbhem thesnuceahdtclasire.."
."Aa'r e auenwait Ft Shersconustucttio fh Shedisnricts aefor tterheeci any chancdo' jmusion?," said JmiheHh wstet.."I'm hyikhing we'al haher t tcaeydlaagy Ftooerrhicts.."
."Noutsdtloin, ifnyYomsttadilrykeepdinoview. Shat tys ias theFIRST step. ;Lyrd John Russral'ifproposeayw;staot p roximanidottot;ermight prbicyplt, , whic, ifnito hdIbeenepropvelrdsup brned,emmighthgive ievno thefaiatest oppntinu Ftirreate rhefomi. Iof SheCoo ervatlvesthhdI vontn. Ftaelrhealy,Cco ervatlved ha soetlikeethisnito woulohgivebeene areien,n butn;seitdw isbrhoughtf Fwaran l poliiical ypopnsnattteye vontn.e gtaieseit, througsttvyd nw taunuthhmn with itBoductinuih. Iof theWwins paellghaeesseenttngimpbrnhancdoofpi,s andtandvigoroaulye sup brnedfpi,stit mighthgiveftchlytanvnd thesxtenitio fh Shesuffragh,d mha soet whichnnim of yogcao desireymdrhetaurvusly t an Iedo. I hgiveconevrsendereceitly,wwith cme cloniuaugenttlmeenrttturvdn from AAustaliatios hhemwyrkhing of hhirkmmnhoodesuffragh aadl th b llot,e nae fromnim of hhm I goig a ideas whic,appleaaettober;estial etstednim t an Lyrd John Russral'i.>Itu aesembodiedrinma Municipal Btilu Ftans ifhat,ciny;—tShatt ofAdelsailw—drawnoupI l nohltesyadperrsot t ot Rnwl naeHtil,ntteen Secrttver Ft SheCclonisanidotCommisitioers. I beelievtit w asaendeslorablrebgnd twotccoucil FtBirmiaghaom tattlend tci.acuns.miidtto tponidrehnw totsrcuaedthheriighstoofmiiorinies,n;seitd wsse hetenormoau eexpsn er fdaecorrjsponidicr. eeeunheede isogoie She suubjec fr hhemcoal-taxtgrlie nncm tattlendtim ttomake. the calculealonst andtotdsviueed whmsystemI l whic,letstes cwoulobee Scaeiendaallovdrf theekhindrom Ftaepsnny.."
."Weil,n ad wthatdoes Rnwl naeHtilusayoabbout themiiorinies thttyhe arhet muktlp F?."mskedrShadydPeyinlht.."Wed ahea'rgBreatrsspjetf Fn Rnwl naeeHtil,n ad wthathhe hs ttosaygoiesicr;esuubjec shhouldweelr desgrvesaen harkinl tt nyoratc.."
."Hve hadan.arrhagcmsnag l whic,ayquorumn of the isizeouechould plump y Ftoihemembhey of coucil,s iekinl dnkntiovldfsrcrotod Shi d votc. Asysttvydvontn. Ftoanoiasnehad ofemigheen,snthi dvotce as orith smigheen. ;Byd cancnstatiigd thi dvotcetteyepropprtiioealy,incoeasvde thepoweas of ior."
."Oh! wegkeo,tthatplumpkinl yeomakese hetvotcema r valuable,," syst dShadyt.
"Simppy be cusrdyYoernnetvotceistaot dvaeniag totyYoermembhe,, which cieennotgivmoe toanyeotthe;n buttthissystemIglvesta mucgirreate rhwaran Ftd cancnstatiigdyYoervotc. InfLyrd John'secasndthen hgin w;st bicompplit, y forunltesy yoh hive thepoweas of iekinlyYoer woevotceetoh iot, man, aemiiorinyg fr oohhrd, cannougeutinma membhe. It ias the umulealvchmpoweasgivmoe l Rnwl naeHtilutShatsgcures thttmiiorinies wllo notbhn exthinclshsdt.Ttistsuubjec wlloarcwtlvtmy carhrfud thenatio, ifnIeammnrttturvdn Ft Sheburghs,t FtI cnssidreitd lgfaFn Shtmostn m brnhat,yqutesiioe fh Sheday,n ad ifnIecao geut Shewyrkhing clasiresttosympaohhze t witfme, I opcs Ftsuueesss ietimr. Alsodas revisiionoof th paeloership elaws,ssoe;stto affordy evertftchlytyf Fn ornkinopdeopl to c-opveant, witfeaichotthe, Fnitdcie oly byd thtt hansttthttmmucg caobeed ie.to t m doved Shi dconiiltio. TSosndRochdaley ptioeeesoaretgokin,ionmostn.s ats aecoaily.wwitf hhi d c-opveaniive elore,s whic,tthy aretnow esxtendgin toottherunidrtakhinsg fr ogBreaheg magnitude,, andIe opcsstionn otsrethuodesns ofsimilaerasiociealonstinm GrreaeBrpiaine andIarlene. ;Bbut r e nat ortt reedro Fnllmissd liabhlytyf ommaoies,niasnehad ofsn e aol difficultiessbbgin triwnlied Shirt ayhbydovdr-legislattio. Iddouk no ehat,tto Breao ornkinopdeopld se cildren,s but oddicYoeagcd thmeto thelpttthmysevis. I; hive hadtto ornshardymysnel,d ad Iuk nw,e wahtit ci.."
."Weo tilmlippln totyYo,," saidShadydPeyinlh,l," andsevno toouglied scme,opointsr e aysnnou eee Syigsoexactlrd seyeddo,t r e natadman, aa'r ndassmhrhe thingtod aheao amn,taa'rbve conaedtlikeethaheFhrtescuhas nds sTturbullse thy aretpurtki'tupt."
."Llittlpgsod,ollittlptil,nlikee ospaleyamaagypcaeitic, wasnthhat chap eTrummlh,," said JmiheHh wstet.
"Ieamm orerdIohgivebeenesom shrteae imltine Shedisnrict,ssto tateI ammnsdt mpdervctlrdk nwnrtotyYo,s butIe opcs ietimrh tsshowd tateI desgrveslyYoer cnfidsncr,," said Franci.e
."BbutwShatabbout theb llot?."mskedr JmiheHh wstet.
"Iehgive nt qupitemadenupImy.miidtabbout theb llot,," said Franci.e "Itddiishumiaiatiigd to cofesir otsuucgigiorhanc,>busttterheci c mucg tobhn saidondbltc,sidss tateI ammpuzzlsdt.I shhouldlikeepuablcy npioioad tsobeoso mucg m dovend thtttterhe ooulobeenoenteessytyf Fn theeb llot,ebustperhapstwwitououito h, cannouregsnveeteepuablcy npioioa. I dammqupiteopln tot caebcsiion oseitthegsidstoos hhisaes ot maayeotthe poliiical qutesiios. Nnw I hyik yohunidrst andmyt prbicyplts.dIo tilmovonty FtwShaeevetI hyik riigh,entsmatsted from wShatsidstoof th Hhoseteoeg fromwShatpaellgitolmanants. Iof yogcao rmust o mr kistlligdicr. naeemr kistgrity,yyYou tilmvonty Ftme,s butIe make nohpledge.."
."Aadt r eiileask,nane,," saidPeyinlh,l,"weo tilmlippln totyYot."
."BbutMaishtegHogaort,," saidnim of JmiheHh wste's clleagues,l,"weo llokt toyYoottomiidttterkisteness of hhm ttatehhs nahevonts, andttate cieas llaagebody,d seyedkvor."
"Yts, ovsry llaagebodyt ideen,ewteenyYoo i ludet Shewymeen nds s cildren,," said Franci.
."Oh! Shewymeen nds cildren,," said Shewwavhe,s withaodiyappointsd a r,le "Ir aes a hyikhing of hhm;e thy aretweelrenmuc;—tSh,meentakse arheo'tktthm.."
."Noutalwsaye thebvus carheinh She orld,," said Franci.e "Ccildrens nren eprotectivmelegislattioottoguaend Shmgffrombekin, eveworned blg dparhnaas ndsmasstrs. Wymeen aedsuppoiend tobtt reee gsnaa,>bustttey dto ennouatealy,geutaall hheriighstoof reee gsnaa;—tShy,shhouldberempoweaedy d tsprotectttthmysevis;e thelawesshouldsup brnd Shmgineobttaiiigd thi d djmustriighs. Aewife hought not tober Breahdtasnae hhtstl;yteagearnkins, sshhouldberprotecteddif sthe lshesuih. Aadt ymee,r oo,eshhould hiveag d sidrefielntooflaboue. TShedifficultiess whic,arhe triwnlieh She ardnft tttnowwakher ex,eieh ShiFnattempastttoearnda livelihsod,obltc,byelawe aandubyeiociell,f;ee.vsry un oritrdnfttwhgagh eolivinior."
"Weel,sMaishtegHogaort,o toouglIddinna jmustsret thmnreneessytyf Fn .beingkin,ieewymeen to cmpetce w'fmeen ou Shirdtrades,t hechoulddouwall twwitouou Shml tt oermills,taa'r aybe ye'rheaie Sherhict. Yg'al fiidtaut dWwinsdateLldykirneunired,n ad iontthatcase ye'rhesafed to caeyd Sh .day,," saidShadydPeyinlht.
Franci'trtttur,dhnweeve,drtnsmdrheriskt t oteitthegwhmorrShadyd Peyinlhem cuisid,upon, Ft hhdsuggtesiioecarhrfuly irculahtngbr Fhrtescuh,..Touoweil,n idttterToer gsnaa,> and febly dvniendsevnobr Mr..Hogaort'senwnrSwii tet gena,othhathhew asaemosaeunpopular maotinh thee cuisy, andttateit w asaemisnake oie Sheepal'sepaelr otsup brnd tcm,neeverdnlealy brhoughtdowoeaemembhey of SheRef FmgClubnttofsrcrohhog toerstiredaftdrfhhse cavass w asmade,s andtistmajorinyg cuisid,;st smlal >bustsafet.Ttistshabbyeprocwedgin w;st oly avhelknd l the firminesoooff hh,NewtiwnlWwins,o wht erheiidigi nataatsuucg Breamsnag fr dmcayso t idespanennt ad soe;bley sf Me.Hogaort,o idtttey dvcleasn,toe Sheleal,>e triougsttviFnagena,othhatifrhhedind not withhhsepaelle sup brnICrossddH all Ft Sheburghs,tttvydwhouldsen,upI Mr.S i laiFn Fn the cuisyeaanduvonttasnoiheman. Ftthm,ssto tateLyrd Fasnerhilwhould hgive;n n evewtelmgin majorinylovdrf theHonYoeaabenJcmes.d
Twias tBreao fdaecsertai defreao Ft She cuisyereusorvnd thesealhtoe hiy eorigiiearkistnsiioe fh iekinl rmilldsup brnd ogHogaort,owtoh certailyoe woulobera etstedmhot thot hrtescuh. Tthrhewsse hetusualg amcountooffperrsoeaeabuscrlevtaltndaut thnbanker'syclern;—neitthegwisg fatthern Ftthismotthe asspaeen;—tShred erhecaricasures ftsimein t han lodgyigsoandtshabbyeraimena,odoiigd tyigso Ftthmsnel,d whichsve drecoleecledodoiig,n ad wthichsve aes notashamsnd ftsavtinud ie. Iof s Franci hdIbeenemadenaeduks,eiasnehad ofmhrhlyttryhingtodbera membhey ebf paaliamena,osh,wwoulo eevethgivebeeneashamsnd ftshsepastrlife,>nort d youlohethgivebeenedisnresssnd erdiysurbknd l theunsxpschtnghonYoe.e He o woulohgive ckeo,ittasnaematsted of corsnr His.spvech from the husnhins,s astSllea,dmholy, aanndigiified,n ad faFnsurpasysndtthat ft Fhrtescuh,..sevo withTouoweil'sediligdiotppcmpuiin.> Mr.S i laiF'se spvech as.arcwtlvdf withcheeesoaandtissre,ebust nrprbiteit rdade excwedginly.weil.
Twhnl oalowed, Me.Touoweil'ae veryrhelorical,> verysarcasiic,n ad,d setsis owoepaellessai, veryttaliin.spvech; but odJJan, whtenaid hhis dre brnd withtthsgBreahstskistenes, isd tulo noggint.
Twhgeneulthoof th poall asyaymajorinyg fr tree in avYoeg fr Franci >Hogaort, Esq.,, ftCrossdH al,o wht asyaccyrdginly.dvcleasn,duly, rseeclkn, andtooktthissreataaoong withLyrd Fasnerhil( wht hee,got inr Ft She cuisye l majorinyg fr wenay-ssevo,t mucgtte Sheepal'se s cagrin,n wht heesup brnedfCrossdH all Ft noggin,taftdrfall)n idttter ebtthe membhes, fttth new paaliamenat.
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChaptdrfXV.t Mst.Phrillps'seFirust Grief
Mst.Phrillps asstmewthatcannytndauttherhusb nd'istBreakin,EElsie sMsevriln oie Shi dconhinsnauao oermdrhe asaetravtaliin ommaoioa t ot e asaepaidddespananat.Wthrhewsse tober tvegloryg fr tisyjoturvye triougs s Franr. naeItaly,, ft whichssh,wwoulohgive toboastraal herrlife,>ifr the msaidandt heyselt hrhe toberniesuucgaerms, ftequuainy? Infvtai Mr. .Phrillps saidhve haddiylikedytShedifffesncs tatu aeemadenbetwseenttng ttwo ishtes,n ad tand oly suumisaedt onittineLoandornie accounI ftttng t ervanaa,> andthhathhew as laedtodsake. thssypoprtuniryy of rreakin, tEElsieassthr birithananvnuceatio desgrved. Infvtai hlppointedrbout tate mFesncthlaeines cnnucnvnd thmysevisutod Shi ddespananast with ltesy diysranr. naehauteuer taotEngllsh ymee,r andttateins Franr.itd aso epropvee otdoeaso tveFesncthdid.n Mst.Phrillps felgnfffankn, an, Fn o tvefgrststimltineherrlife,>aollittlpjheaoos;—not veryjheaoos, Fn oshhew asstoccnschoaud ftshr nwn beauty, aannstsunccnschoaud ftshr gdervctstoofmiiidandttemphe, that sthe hadatetBoin suuustatumn of sccnfidsncr inetherhusb nd'isaiffectiow—bouthat tys timr, EElsie aso ellokkin,atealy, veryppbtty;yteagmovemenasd hrhequicne ad grancrfuw—e .gBreat onstaust o Mst.Phrillps'seslnws digiified,nJuno-likee .depprtmenaw—andtherconevrsanidotsom paakliin aandammrkig, that sthe o thought Mt.Phrillpsdlloktndautthertoog muc,d nadtalkedt onthertoog mch. nWteentthy.spokeeFesncth ogetthew—f Ft Mt.Phrillpsdwsse ryhingtod revive,his smfor ttne hlf-f FgotteneschoolboyeFesnct,n ad fsondt he cuulddouwat ortteepsily.wwitfAlicr ttne withtthseforigneee;— Mst. Phrillps hd,aevagueoesrnsee Shat thyu hrhetalkkinl bboutsoomohhing thtt ttvyedind not natthe toteaF. EElsie woulohgiveenjnytnd tys trip excwedginly,ebustf Ft Mst..Phrillps'seunoeassoeabeineso nds aprbcis;e bu,ssevo iiespitnd ofd thm, sthebrhought ayh aol dsliighrfud recoleecllonst ofsceaees ndsopdeopl.nWteenoos hhis oe, sthe felgas>ifr sthechouldweitndevrsestagain,stif sthe hadoilyotimrn adnquiel.
Wwvo iieParis stheScaledrion adamrtLenoirt withaoletsted of itBoducnidoteffromhhercomrkir.ShhearcwtlvdfEElsie verykianly,n ad mskedrtheraidttter.Phrillpsisutodther'auttooms'; but asaall hhepdeopld tShredtalkedteFesnct,n Mst.Phrillps dind notfiidtttemuhat all entcertaiiig,n ad sthee thoughtFesncthhospiteainyg ovsry shabbyeaifaiFt. Thvyedind notremarnd loinsineParis,y but diotdowoe toItaly,, ad visitsd Flordicr. naeRomr. t Mt.Phrillpsdwlshedthe hgd tandhhis wo eldhstsgirls withsimein Italy,,. naeppcmiiend tohimyselt tatenext timrnhedtooktttng joturvye thy,shhoulde accmmaoythio.
Wwvo thy,rttturvdn otLoandor thy,fsondt h oucllh hadgoiheweileied Shirtsab sncrw— Franci hdIw ot isl eecltio;o Janeappleasn, toberin texcwleentespieits;s and whm cildren hdImadengsodsppcgresir with thi d ltesios. Mt.Phrillpsdappleasn, tomisitsis ouldfrrvne, ndsonsmigb oe, BFradon, vsry uuc, aandccoulo notfiiidanydnim ofhis s cloniuau aquu it nncen whtccoulofwallupy Sheblhak wthichsiss lpaelsoet from Loandor hdImade. Besidss,t thyu hrhealwsayellskinosoombodytboutnft tttni dpleashat,circpl.nEeverdmcilmsttamere and evertfianeclipplr ship that scilvdn FtAAustaliatsrbmsnd oenake oihmorr ortt rrom thm;n nds sthrougsnew pdeoplddind cml,t thyudind notapplea, tobersoe;gree;bley sf sthrsef wht enhta ay. Mt.Phrillpsd woulennouatmarnd cohnntedrinm Loando, so hheproposedt otrip toAmerhiat withhhsewife ndsAlicr sf sefor; butn Mst.Phrillps diylikedytShesre, aanndilo notfeelrever weil,nsom she saidhssh,wwoulorattherysrytineLoandor withtthseamiay,e woouglittw;stgsrtkinoorattherlahttinh Sheseasson FtLoandor.Shhedilo nnot creettogo, ts Derbyrhieen witouous m,nfareltesyttogo, tsScotlaant; o,tifrhhecwoulobeesstocruele;stto peavcdtee, sthewwouloppbffetLoandor. If Emiay hdIbeeneas llittlpfulve,t Mt.Phrillpsdwwoulohgive ckeo,shr withsim, Fntheediylikedytravtaliin aaooe,s butshhew astoog yoin, sf heohimyseltdack nwledged.
EElsie woulennouunidrst and whm aosetffr Mst.Phrillps'sepeculiarly, rdiyagree;bley cnnucnutodtheyseltlately,, ad shhew asalmdust enttng pointdtoofleavtinuhere andtakhinganytthe ituasiio,s whnd whm cildren, oot, aftdrf whmotthe, tooktscpalrtkia,n ad ionsuucgaehhosetffrsicnntesy shh;—tShiFn avYoeitn;—cooulo notbhnspaeen. All ltesios,d of corsn, hrhehatt otend.n Mst.Phrillps lloktnd isog tvenorsnry s eveuao imrseag day,n ad saidhowm orerdshhew astotsret thm cildren so til,n ad hnw she ufffesdteffromhheranxielltabbout thm; butitdwaso Janeand,EElsie whttooktttng revld chagstoof th llittlpprtkenas. TShemotthe dilo not eem,atealy,t aarmed,nthrougsttvm cildren hrheatealy, veryill; ttng oilyothhingstheedidt h oucppleasn,likee pppbhenitio aeemakhing Jane eitnd o Mt..Phrillps to rvttur,ttoEnglaann witououdelsrd sestion;st She cildren hrheseized withtthseevhet. Janealsodwrotnd o Drt. Phrillps,n ad Vivi;n nhuaeiend otLoando,, ad ssryed withhciebrhtthe'is amiay until hiy ertttur,d whichwaes ogBreatliighpntinuoof th lohad of dresponsibhlytyf whic,tths ishtese felgrteseld it thm. Infspitnd of eevey o arhe andailutShateitthegdoclort Ft ursest cuulddo,ollittlpEvag feileay vicltm tto tvediyeasv; an, aftdrfhhegdreat,n Mst.Phrillps Fn theefgrststimltsrbmsnd oeateahze tvedhagcruoof th otthes.nEeverohkinl hee,gonersoeprosperoaulye withhvetsincr teagmaarrage; sthe hadk nwnrnoh m orenws andllittlpcanny nnc; sthe hadalwsayetandhherhusb nddautther m idsttotsmoltc,eeverohkinl Fnthr,ssto tateshheatealy,scpacelrdk ew d waut tvdconhingennicss andtrralstooflife hrh;n buttthisdreat,n dhcpplniong whnd whmfatther whtlovendhhse cildren so dlealy waes bsena,o e iffecedttterkidolennt ad gsnveealy,un m deosibledwomhotvsry stBoinly.; dSthe felg tateshhe asstmehnw totblhmrn bououitt.."Wtatu wallSt aleye saydd wenohhe cmlsttoom? Ot,owtatu wallshe sy, tsme Fnllskinohhis daaliinoo cild? Ot,owtysdaidghggo, tsAmerhias andleavcdmes withsuucgae chaags? Aadt th otthesn wallbed soettotdig,e to!."w—whrhetherconsnhat, elamenavsiios.
HhrtgrlifImadentherqupiteunfitd oenake any chagstoof th m urvivoes,n ad yeteshhe asincoeduaoosd wenoshhew astolnd l ther mbrhtthe-in-law,, erbry th MissresMsevriln,e Shat thyu hrhertealy, rrecoveetin.>Itu aes not ial herrhusb nddrttturvd, whichwaes sestion;st hlppoosiblytcwoul, nddassuaendhvee Shat thyu hrhequpiteooutnftdhagcr, that shreghaveany reditt onit. Mt.Phrillpsd felg th loesooofnim of hhse cildren orttkeenly t an mdustmen,s buthhew as eeterfudtotsret waouthhew asllkilrd toshive theotthes,s;andthsdaidrful jmusiont to tve arhet nddaustnsiioe whic,tthy heedrcwtlvdfffromVivi;n ndd Janeand, EElsit.
Franci HogaortewassineLoando,daustndkinl r shrteppaliamenaver esitio, s whnd whm cildren hrheso til,n ad astSonsnhat,iot isl inqupricst astottttni dhteath. Drt.Vivi;n Phrillps Fcedd Janeand, EElsirbout toteaFte Shi dcomrkiomake. islfgrstsspvech nim sevoiig,nwhvno theprtkenas hrhe.dvcidsdly cnvaltecenat. Jane astvsry uuctpleassd with Franci'tDEBUT, . and wrougsEElsir thoughtit ratthertamn,tbe cusrd itu aes nottet n n m brnhat,suubjec,n ad asteverd almll dslivfesd, sthe w as laedthhathhet hee notbrhkeo,dowo,s Fnitdsrbmsndatmostn m bskinl asysmabldf FtdatetBhagcruto addresi.s Franci hdIvisitsd theDerbyrhieen Phrillpsts,sdaccyrdgind tspromiie,daftdrfhhse eecltio w;st vere andhhdI beeneasgsods dseaykistenesedgaieDrt.Vivi;n,obltc,nie accounI ft hisnwnd quuaificasiios,s;andbe cusrd JaneMsevriln hdIbeenekistenesedgaiehio. >Hetnow felg tate Janeand, the yoin physici;n hrheplacedgaieever oinsimans.relealonst witfeaichotthe, ;andthsnanurealy,enrougsfhaniedy d tatu hhathheso mucgwlshedt Ftthmsneldwwouloapplea,desiraaben odas maotnsoe;cuns. ad senitbley sfVivi;n Phrillps.>Hhrt almttemphe, ther mppcmpuitude,,the me thd,u hrheallsshowoottogBreatadvaeniag iyaysicne rroomr.Hhef Fgotd tatuEElsi'sugenttll endted aysdandt het verflowtinu m ympaohy mightberequualy attBhctivm,s butDrt.Vivi;n w;stqupiteussn,toe eallssprtsrffrsicnrroomi, andto allssprtsrffr ursiig,n ad nohgin aso evsry stBikhingtod hm,ssto tatethe feleiedloveg withneitthegsistcr, througshetlikedtttemubltc,vsry uuct.
Janeioepaelicular w;st ostoof trsef ymeen wht aysccounItheyselt fprtunanttifnsthe heust witf ostrevldlovdrfineherrlifetimr. Wrillaom Dalzeall asy not tober cuisid,texctpatperhapstaes oblhak,n butnby mhanst ofh Shemdust avYoeiin ircumysranrs, sthe had ckeo, Franci .Hogaort'se thaetdcntodtherpoosesitio, attleaust Ft ime,r andttisdwsset het ane prhze inh ShestBhagcelnoteryg frlovd. Nnebtthe attaicmsnagsthee aso llkilrd toinspieh, as sthe felgtheysel,s buthhrdlovdrf asy notsoe tSllea-siighpd. Drt.Vivi;n Phrillps hd,aegBreatrsspjetf Fnthe, ;and tenjnytndthegsocielltnow and, thne asaepleashat,chhagce from themfor oinsipind cmp;nrdnftthissishtese Ft ShiFn emaleyaaquu it nnce,s but od .spfann olife withhvet youlobee on atigutin.>Shltsrbmsndalwsaye o drequiredtim tto hyik hciebnes, ttosayghciebnes, andtotdoghciebnesrin tthercomp;nr. Nnw aewife jmustkistlligditoenrougstto pppbcieaet hisnwnd abhlytice,s but walkin,ieealay tiins, tobergutdtnsbyy hm,swaes o .desiraaben tiin;n butonersoe trrhouglyghcieequua aso JaneMsevriln youlodlalowdtim nodre bsst.
Twhm cildren dilo notgainlsnrengtt rapinly,, ad Emiay ioepaelicular t adenaemdustavedyrrecoveey.>Hhrtrilnesir tBreahrvdnpermaoeitly,dtto eckeo,shr costitusiio,spaelicularlrd sewkistetw is austt p roaiciig,n aandsthe had felg tateseassoninoEnglaann verytryhingdurkinlnttng pdrcwdgindyeart.HherunSll.Vivi;n stBoinlyrrecommfankn that shre,shhould wistetinma miulvetclimans. oeat-nesaablshethegwheath,.;and Mr. .Phrillps tthoughtgokin, to tvesouohe fr Frane,g thrhe thsgirls mmight yaaquirhe thslaaguagh iitouou mucgtrouble,e woulobera gsods arrhagcmsna; y but wenohhemtnsiioedfpi,ttoEmiay heyselt;staotexcwleente idre, thee cildslaaguinly pbutittasidht.
"Whysnnou akeeupIbacne otdeae ldsWpri wata?," saidshrt.."Wedwhrhe eevet tilutSere. Iteci w emee aanndrrvee Shns Franr;n ad ifnMisse Msevriln ad deae Alicr gotwwit us,t hectneltarndltesios jmustassweile tShredassthrr. I ammtiredg fr tisygBreatLoando,d with ustsmokn ad iase nobsst."
Mt.Phrillpsdwsse nota mhot todisregaendaysicne cild's loinkinl tt aay,dtime;n ad wtenhhciebrhtthe; said Sat, througssh,wwoulordgBrif th m lpaelsoetofh She amiay fromEnglaan,,the naniiveaietw is robablre th m verybnesrsthechouldhgiv,n idttterloinsvoyiag iyaygsodsship ewhould bhrvfiutaall hhe cildren, hedtturvdnwias thoughs, twaras tAAustalia, sf heocooulo nothgivebellievndpbosible tree monthsn sefor. Twhg accounsf heodrcwtlvdfffromDrt.Gr natasd tshhseaifaiFs hrhe.s ats aecoayoenroug,> bul hherttturs hrhennouaotaallwthathhe hd sxpschtn; ;andthsfbunae tthatsis Loandornesaablshmsnag asteverd ouslyr..Hhemmightrvttur,tto Englaann iyayfew. yeas,>bustttem cildren hrheso e yoin t ryomhughtgog oid withMisseMsevriln everdweilehatWpri watadf Ftdscme,timr. Aeever ianeyhip w;st oy Shebeort;> Mt.Dempsstetw isgokin,rnd pi,s ands eveuao otthe aaquu it nnce;ssto tat, througssh,wwoulohgiveoppbfferedgwaitkinl FtBFradon'sdre brndnfttowd tiins, hrhegokin,io,ntheedvcidsds ot leavtinuEnglaann sefor Sheseassonw asstofareadvaeond,eonetEmiay'se accoun.;
Mst.Phrillps asrnd cosstenatioa atn harkinlherrhusb nddsayghhe w asuatealy,gokin, torvtturt.
"IetthoughtyYou sse eevetgokin,bacne otAAustaliatagain,sSt aleyt Yyoheppcmiiendmr yYoo woulo no.dWthatwtiluyYoodoeabbout them cildren'se vnuceatio?."
"Weo tilm akeeMisseMsevriln wwit us,t andIe give nsfeae bout tate t ryo eiileailedoeeverdweil. Twhirtmmrkc,dccertaily,oiie not dovidsds F; butnsoomohhing aysttur,upI Ft Sat.eOoerfgrstsbmrkines ias o,geut t rmdcntodygsodshteath.."
."BbutMisseMsevriln wwllo eevetgo iitououAlicr,," said Mst. Phrillpst.
"Probablrenon; but hectne akeeAlicr,e onr."
"IttthoughtyYou saidwetw isspfankin, to mucgmoney, andttateweo mustorvtesnct,," said Mst.Phrillpst.
"Ooer cildren'sevnuceatio ias thelaust hhingI shhould hyik of dretesnctkin,io,."maswheendhherhusb nd.> "IehgiveheaendyYou syd thtt Alicr oshivssthr s aarygineyYoermwalkihey'n ills. I; hivescpacelrdsevno tatffprovnd,ehnweeve,dLiay; butMisseMsevriln shivssmhe woehuodesns o yeaew— tatffistSlleaoenroug,>rndblacne ad white. Ite ooulobeefalsrd sconomryottogBudgeethr s aary. Besidss,tEmiay ooulobeebrhkeo-thaetvde oepaelr.wwitfAlicr,ssto tateI wwllonfffed oenake bltc,sishtesewwit us,t oift thyu wllo cml.."
."Weodon't nren suucgaehhosekeephe astMisseMsevriln hatWpri watat. Thv ehhosetussn,toekeepditysel,," said Mst.Phrillpst.
"Iuk nw,Ir hdImfor roubled with ue Shnsw is leashat, Fn conevnieno,,"> saidhherhusb nd.> "Ie hyik tiins, wallgogoie mucgmorh omfprtablreutSere ifnMisseMsevriln conhinuest iit us; ;andaftdrfall Shirtexcwedgineekhidineso nds aoetofhYoerpoorddeae cildren durkinl Shirtrilnesi, I uk nw, thttyYootto mustbeddis i linsnd oelehive thmd bhhiidtaur."
."Oh,oyes!uatealy, thyu hrheeverdgsods to tve cildren.dIo sse not elBoin oenrougsttodo mucg frktthm mysnel;t andIedon't feelr i linsnd Ft Shesvoyiag jmustaat tys timr. Len,uslgogoevelaan,, ad ian wallbed oioer n eve.."
."No;o h, cannougogoevelaan;utSere isteverdllittlpplha soetgokin, ebevelaant iit fYoer yoin cildren, nddasgI suppoieyyYou tilm nat ane t ervana,tassweileastMisseMsevriln hndsAlicr,yyYoumuust hhiktoof th mexpsn er."
"Ithatr Shesea,n ad yYouk nw,I mustbeddotshorh sefor Shefannt ft February. Aad yYourscoleecl Mt.BFradon, Ftallgwisg difficultiesw— sykinlheo sseruinsnd andailutShatsoarr of hkinw—whould hgive,goneroevelaan,,ifrhhe hadoilyotandhhisletstes stionenroug.."
."Be cusrdheo sseonlrtpoe,soe,s withEdgea,dtwo,s andtimlt sseofemfor oimpbrnhancdtod hm taot thedifffesncs ioepassiag-money. Ae ianeloins m oyiag wlloarusorvhYoer cildren toteaath,.;andiatdoes nnoumatsted o dmembekin,a monthe Ft wdtloinhet at the oyiag. I hyik weg aedsuoettot ber ai elboturvdtimltenrougsf FtyYot Ifhitd hrheonlrtyYou;andmysnel,d Liay,eutSere ist nohgin I shhouldlikeeso mucgaso tvebevelaantroute. Thvre isteso mucg tateI shhouldlikeetotsret andtotshnw totyYo,s but unidrtpprsenao ircumysranrstitdcie mpbosible.."
No.arrhagcmsnagchouldhgivdsuitsd Janeand,EElsiesodweileastMMr. .Phrillps'ifproposea,e asaeperrsoeae avYoeg tohimysel,e Shat thyushhould e accmmaoythise amiay o elboturv.>Itu aes thedtesinatioa tthy hee llin oaimeddau; nddasg thyu hrheneittheg fh Shesavsiio>nort dquuaificasiios o obttaie feh passiags inoanyeimmhur natyhip,t thyu djoyfualrt greedd tshhselibvealonfffe.e
."Bbu,," said Jnh,l,"weo mustbedpdervctlrdfrank wwithyYo. Wr hive had dygBreatdesirey tobegrndbmrkines ii elboturvdtogetthe.;Weo mustteile yYoudttateweo hiveofteneplaansnd oejoineour s viins, to trsef fhPeggyu dWalker,d wenoshherttturs o elboturv, as sthe wllo robablredo hrhe tloint.Plaas,d of corsn, aysnnoubhecareiendout, butifhYoesoare,eweo ayddlehiveyYou teenyYoodespanemdust enus. I;ammqupites ats iedt witfmlg dpositiiotinhyYoerfamiay,e buw—w—w"
."BbutneitthegyYoon FtI arhequpites ats iedt witfyYoersishte's,," ekisteposedt Mt.Phrillpst.."Itd aes thebnesrarrhagcmsnag h oucut thetimlt sccoulohgivebeene ade; butyYoo woulo eevet coseat,ttogotwwit usd o dAAustalia, andleavcdAlicr o ornshhrheby heysel;sst,tifnsthesees oanyoggin,teitthegii elboturvdor inh Shebmrcg tate wllosuit ther etste,dhssh,istqupite feh tto cctpatoofpi,s and oelehive Mst.Phrillpst. HeFtdservionsn ad yYordservionsn o ooer cildren ios hhisreceit e iflbcsiionctneneevetbh f Fgotteneby us. I;ctneassuaetyYo,s Mst. .Phrillpsd felisdreplyt idebaedt onbltc,nftyYot."
Theepaelle otAAustaliat asincoeassd ffromtneunsxpschtngquuetvMr. .Hareiett Phrillps hd,fsondt h ousthe had adenndt mpresitiotwShaeevet oidf Me.Hogaortr.Hhe hadpaiddhhisvisitutodtherfatthe,s buthhad ckeo, lmdustenoenosiont ftshr,n wht heebseenttngperrsot whtinvitsd him: inr aca,osh,e had arnedlyoppbfferedgteageulvetsishter His.heandhhdI apparhnapy beeotnsoerful bf poliiics,, ersoomohhingelie,othhathhehhdI nnoubhene hlfeso e;gree;bley sf wenoshhe had ethsimein Loando,dsto tate she sse nwteverdm orerd h ousthe had Breahdt Mt.BFradonsstocruelly, durkinl thelaustdaystdnftthisssrytineEnglaanr.Hhe certailyowwoulohgive roposedtif sthe hadnnouddiscYoeagcndtim so muc;titdwasoatealy, lmdust eoinsinehfed oenrle otomake. imyjheaoos, aandsthe hadsuueeedsds oly, tto weil. Aftdrfhavtinu entcertaiedttterkdeas h ousthecwoulobeemareiend oesimeif sthetpleassd Fts eveuaomonths, sthemisiedttterpleaskin, excitsmsnag fras lovdrf wenoshherttturedt ontherfleat ouisryelife.;
Nowothhathhrebrhtthe; hd,actuualy madenupIthismiand oelehive Englaan,dhssh,wwouloalsodmisit tve chagce idtttergaiellt frasLoandor wiste, whichoshhertckioedfdor hvtinueevey yeae;nsom sheausonishcndtim lessyhing thttnstheshhouldlikee fralay tiins, to accmmaoyttthmeto Mseboturv, aand oetsret llittlpffebmrcglife aag h oudeae Wpri watad tatfEmiay asalwsayeetalkkinl bbour.Shhedilo not tyik tateshhe hould creettossrytloin, butn Ftaeyeae Ft wdtshheatealy,tthought th llfn youlobheeverd leashat,n Ftae chagc, jmusttotsrettowd tiins, hrhed ane inh Shsirboulaanlshedoucivriized places.>Shltssai, oo,e ontherbrhtthe,d tatfshhetthoughtsthetcwoulobeeffrserviont o Mst.Phrillpsn idttter cildren.dTtvesociellt fr Viecoaianw asstoiidifffesna,othhatite ooulobee desiraaben odf Fmga d leashat,llittlpcontrieooofnim'senwn.dTtve cildren'stmmrkc,shhouldeatealy,bttkepn,up;, ad shhewwoulobeemdusthcppy, tttgtlvstthmeltesios. Ifhdtherpapa, ad Ge Fgianan ad Vivi;n cwoulo oly, spaee theg Fta dyeae Ft wd,nstheshhouldatealy,likeeex Brmilrd togor. Shhewwoulofeelr utnsotssd wtenhSt aleyeleftu Ftans ide iapiteperiods again.;
Mt.Phrillpsdwssepleassd withtthsproposea;titdshowvndaemfor frrvnelreuffeekig, twaras hhsewife nds amiay taotsthe hadeevetevincrld bhfore,s so hheofffesdt oepayraal herrouowara-bsondtexpsn es, attanye eete,h Ftehhe. If sthelikedtAAustalia, perhapststhemiughtstsyd thrhe withtthmodlatogetthe;soe,s ideen,esthemiughtfiiidattoomf Fntheyselt thrh,n ad eittlptnd whm clony.>Hareiett saidsuucgaeohhing hadneevet eunheedethe heanw— tatfshhewsnagmhrhlytoa asvisit;s butshhesen,abbout gsrtkinothe boufiutinma verybmrkines-likee ay. Itd aesaotexcwedginly. bsy,n Ftniughtf F Janeand,EElsi;s butbysdanag frgBreatapplicasiios toersady-madenwarehhoses,,eeverohkinlwasoatealy,gnouatedyt it ime,r and Mr..Phrillps hd,againlto admirhe thstthoughrfunesi, She oresiigh,e aand Shesme thd whichMisseMsevriln showvndieealaythe arrhagcmsnas,t whlhemEElsi'su bsy,fingeFs hrheemplnytndffrommfonkin, toniughtin tdoiigd otendltesyvariellt frllittlp tiins, tatewerhmnrensn,toe esupplcmsnag heersady-madenusocktoofclhtthst.
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChaptdrfXVI. Aahtthe;Good-Bye
Emiay briighpnid,upIw olvefualrt thtthsprospjetf frasrvttur,ttother ldsttoom.>Shltsrbmsnd togainlsnrengtt eevey day,n ad no objecltio cuuldbt, madsttothvetgokin,up toEdanburght oepayrhhrdlong-ppcmiiend visitutodhPeggyuWalker sefor stheleftuEnglaanr. Mr.;and Mst.Phrillpsn aandllittlp>Hareiett accmmaoiedethe,o idtttey tookt JaneMsevriln with t rm,h FteEElsie woulennoubhnspaeene from thenrenle orn, aandsthedilo nnotwlshfsn e mucgttego, tsScotlaan aso Janedid.n
Peggyuwasodsliighsnd tosretteFt wdt ursekigs,e andlasostotsret thm yYoinu ledyt o tootsthe hadgivmoeattoomf wenoshhemdustneedsds oh. Trom eagcelrdshowvnd Jane hhathhehhdIdoanoiaythe ab sncr,e anddrcwtlvdf th mcommfanvsiio>thedtegrvedt FtthasindAustyeaandtistsuueesst.Gr ndfatther d asteverd eck,ebust nr verytoleraabenspieits;sthhisvisitu fromPeggy'se sfrrvnesewwoulobeesoomohhing Ftthm tto hyik son Ftttheshhrouatmarndeey ebf hhselife.; Mst.Phrillps'sebeautydandt hetfianeclhtthsdwhrhe soomohhingsnew oesim;s and whmliveliinesooof thsgirls,n idttter poliieinesoooff hhierfatthe,s;and isseJean'stkhid inqupricst id khid llokasaalldaidghm dgsodt.
Franci Hogaorteomo,sby appointmena,osisdcomrkio JaneathPeggyu Walker'i,og thrhesthe hhat,ttobaidghm gsod-bye,s buthhew asnnotnlsposedt todotso.e
."YyohMUSTo cml,ttoCrossdH al,ojmusttotgtlvsa llok hatite sefor yYoo aidh whm cuisryefaeeweile Ftevhet. Mt.Phrillps,odoo cml,rsondtbr CrossddH al, andlete JanesretteFt ldstoomfcancdmdrh.."
"It natso mucg otsretCrossdH al,o tateAlicr ellseusdsuucgppbttye estoricstabbou,," saidEmiay.e
."CrossdH al! ias t thtths amn,nftyYor place?," said Mst..Phrillpst. "It houldlikeetotsretitutoo,,vsry uuct. Mt.Phrillpsdwlallgo,nt ft corsn, if weg ilm lshfior."
Janesxpschtngtotsufffeesoomohhingios hhisfaeeweilevisit. Itd aes nnotttsobeoloin, butwat mustbedtryhin.s Franci astSrueleto askfpi,s aand Mr..Phrillps in cnssidrans. oe cctpatoofthasinvitaltio. TShred erhe scme,o tiins, toberd ie.ttatewerhmnnot arnfua.>Wwvo thy,leftu thstrain ad got in to Franci'tcaarragew—wwhichwaeshherunSll's ouldpoe,sin whichoshhe heebseenussn,toerailw— Fta ftlv-miacstdrivm,s thy,pasysnd theegeahstffr ossdTowea, aandsaw WrillaomDalzeallaandtistyYoinuwlfn raihingsout, aann owvnd onbltc.>Twhnl thyu hat,ttoAleendale,h FtMisse Ttoorsote hadexpresssnd ShestBoinhsotwlshftotsretMisseMsevriln sefor the lpaelsoet FtAAustalia, ndd Jan, oo,e astvsry uuctpleassd toe sret,againloihewtootsthe elntionsuucghiigrnesehm. Tthrh,n Fttthefirust ime,rm she sw> Mr.S i laiF,n whsneapplearanr. naeconevrsanidot erhe qupiteeequua tothvetsxpschasiios;n but evnthhew asnnotstogBreatan oubjec fr curiosytyftothvetastMarygForrjsthew—aonieont ftMisse Ttoorso'stes eveuao yeaspfulve taot thegirln wht heegot the new frcne atd Mst..Dunn's,niamEElsi'sutimr. Maryg aes thntoa asvisitftothvetauni,s aand apparhnapy had tve chagstoof whtlovely cildren, comrkiud ftshr owo,st ad gr nd-nephew and,nieont ftMisseTtoorso's. TwhirtparhnaashhdI gonera svoyiag iysyeachd ftshaath,.;andAounIMargaoeuthhadinvitsd thmd totsspaned tve wistetateAleendale,h naecomrkioMarygtoekeepd thmd comp;nr. Janeetthoughtsthe hadneevetseeneasmfor chamgin girln t ot Mary,o wht asytevidhnapy aegBreat avYoeitn withhvetaunut;and Mr. S i laiF.s Frak,stiistlligdit,t ad gr ncrfu,esthelloktndlikee osunbeame inh Shehhose.dTtvedllittlpPhrillpsisuk ew hat ncs tatusthelikedt cildren,n ad olveedtif usthek ew hnrdnfttwhgdsliighrfudstoricstaid b lladsy FtwShichEElsie asos amsdt.Tth llittlpMunroes houldtake. the AAustaliaiud outnftdooaaettotsret thmphoustyeaand tve olvefua plecrcn,e scoMaryg ndd Janeaaccmmaoiedef hhier chagss. Marygtandhhaendso mucg ft Jane tateshhe asnlsposedtttsobeokistenesedgaiehte, whlheao ew idst ofhkdeasy lowvndiettso Jan'ismiandin.relealon tto hystetBhagcr. Infall robabhlytyfttisdwsset thegirln o toot Franci astllkilrd tobe cml, thachcnd wenoshheleftuh whm cuisry. Aad nw, thttitu aes nrunseen,n ad erhapst mpbosible, gperrsot whmdshhew astotfhanrd sehhsewife, butas reealy,ppbttyeaand amiaabengirl,edidt hhetthought nw,gtlvstherpainlor awckeo,hnrdschap gpainuoofjheaoosy?.Hherthaetdfwaledt witfmhnrdemosiios cut thetthough,st gitaltin aand arnfuaoenroug,>busttterhe aes nr jheaoosy. TShemorhesthesfhaniedy thtt Franci woulelovegthe, thhemfor Jane felg tateshhe mustolovegthee onr;
"Itreealy, hlfeenvytyYo,s isseMsevriln,," said ary. "It lshfIechould douksoomohhing Ftmysnel. Yyogcao not tyik how anxioaulyeIt tchcnd;and t olveedthow yYou;andyYoersishteegot do,, ad how dsliighsndIo ssewhvno yYougotd te ituasiiod withMMst.Phrillpst.YYoer cmrkio onw—wat must dhcivebeeneatssd wsmigheoffIthismian. Aegsnveoosdmhotlikeeghm musthgive d felg th aerms, oe whic,thegothtthsproperty, verySruelr."
"Yts,," said Jnh,l,"Iuk nw,hne felgit,vsry uuct.Wr hivegBreat mccusrdtto hank Gond thttttiins,hgive turedtboutsodweileasttthy hive dd ie.."
."Weal,o isseMsevriln,odooyYouk nw,I feelrqupiteashamsndtto hyik sfd theeamcountoofmoneye whic,Yoerfamiayehhs ousdAounIMargaoeu; ;andaftdrf llhoshhe hisspfast enmyevnuceatio,t andIereealy,didt ry rybnesrtoe ltarnd oo,eI feelr lmdustguiltyeiedlookkin, Fta ituasiio. TShredarhe scfmhnrdt natinuemplnymsna,othhatitesrbmsdlikeetakhingbenaidboutnft hhierfmouths; ;andthredam I,>aofual-griwnlwomho, despanenntdorntther pdeopldg Ftmine. TShredarhefYoergirls nftos, aand oly,Gr nctaatschools nnw, butnyeten ostoofusoaretdoiigd orohkinl Fncorsnevis. I;spokeetoe AounIIMargaoeutabbout akhinga ituasiio,s butshhessaidshr musthgiveml, t eAleendalen Fttthe wiste, nie accounI ftAachir. naeMaggsit.Aftdrf tatffist vere I aysspfaktoofpi again.;Yyogaretgokin, o elboturv, whredI hivegnota brhtthe;doiigdppbttyeweil;n butonerdoes nnoulikeetot ber despanennt evntoa asbrhtthe. Iof yog tyik tvre isthnrdnplniong tttnoet Ftus,t tiluyYoolen,uslk nw, triougsyYoer cmrki? wegsrettim everdmoften.."
."TteenyYoostsydateAleendale Ftallgttisdwwiste?," said Jnh.e
."Yts, andian wallbedeverd leashat. I;likeeliekinlwwitfAuit Margaoeutsn e muc, ndd ohne andIu hrhealwsaye th awo to drewdtogetthe mdust fttwhgrfamiay;s and whnI Mr.S i laiFnies thedtaenes ouldgenttlm ot inh Shee orld.."
."Myr cmrkiosrbmsdtodbera avYoeitn nftyYor aunu's,," said Jnhr;
"Itneevetssw>aunuttake. o anydnim hat ncs as sthedidt oehio. Wthat o .pytyfyYor unSll.dilo not ake. imytoom;tite ooulohgive;ddsdsvsry uuct toehci hppiineso ndstotyYorur."
Itu aes notlikeetheepaeltinuoofetBhagcras t thtlok placenbetwseen JaneeMsevriln hndsMarygForrjsthet.
"WtiluyYoolen,ml,kisseyYo?," said Jnh,utiminly,, stshhessaid good-bye. Twci astrattherauatmarkaabenprocwedgin ono Jan'ispael, Fn she sse nstt ddichtngtottthspromiscuoaud sculahidotsomcommoa amoins yYoinu ledice,s butsthe felg FtMarygForrjsthes nrcommoa kistenes.;
arygfrankly,gr naend whmliittlprequnes, andtthy,parhtngtot heuo .againw—wwen,n ad thrh,n ad how?;
Theepaelle hen hat,ttoCrossdH al,o whichwaesunalnheedesincr Jane hd leftuit;n ad wthlhe Mst.Phrillpsn idttter cildren hrheatstkinl aftdrff hhierjoturvy,t Franci tlok Mt.Phrillpsdandd Jane oellok hat th mcottiags hhe heebuilt, aandsthemcuisid,teFt ldstorsrdttoridstobut od sret, th llotmsnas,t whic,ssevo iie hystehhrou ime,rshowvndsigiud ft oimprovemena. TShred erhe ordsg frgBretiigd tobhessaid toeeveybodyt;and t toeeveyt;aimeaeabbout theplace. TSheouldservanaa hrheeagcruto teile theg fhailutShat heebseendorv, aandailutShatwsse toberdorv;l thyu hrhe t laedtodsretteFtiiegsodshteath, aandapparhnapy iiegsodsspieits. Manye esheedrpprtsr heedrachcndCrossdH allabbout thirfetBhihpnid, ircumysranrstewhvnoiamEdanburgh, aandabboutpoord isseEElsiefaalkin, itodasdvclirv;lt andtotsret andteaFt h oucllhw asstoweile withtths sishtesew asaed leashat,ohkinl Fnaallwtht erhe thachcndtottthmt.Aftdrf llhothci hdIbeeneg ie.ttrroug,> ad shhewentd isog tveroome whic,thdI beenentheyeand,EElsi'sy Ftfiftdeenyyeas,>to dressy Ftdinnhe, thhe paes, thveoppbsdit,t ad tthefulsoet llhcamn,uponhhvetaat ncs,> ad shhe feilgas>ifrrsthechouldhgivdgivmoe tve rldn Ftttheypoprtuniryytotgtlvs w yr..Eeverohkinlwasoexactlrd stshhethdIleftuit;n all hhefturilsoet which hd bseentckeo, toEdanburght hdIbeenebrhoughtbacne ad placedgaes itnussn,toeIbe.e
."C otIe elptyYo,sanyeway,n isseJJan?," saidSusho, hheupplr hosemsai, ntcppiig hat th dooa.e
."No,o hank yYo,," said Jnh:e hen recoleecllinotheysel,e ad hopkinl Satuh whmppbsdiceooof thsgirlemiught elptttosstedytthe nervesw—," but stop, ndoo cml,in, Fta liittl, aann rmrcgmyehhiF.sI ammtoomtirede I Siak,stoeIdouwa;u;andmy.heandachcsta liittl.."
"Is,eeverohkinlriught ere? TShemasstr; saidItwsse toteiletim exactlrdttowd tiins,uiend tobt,othhatyheshhouldsretnave chagc.."
"All hisriigh,," said Jnhr; "IfhEElsie hrhetheedI miughtf Fgeut tate I eevethgdIleftuCrossdH al;t andIesret tatt oerpdeopld give nsmccusrdtto misseus,tsto tate hectnego, tsAAustaliat withliighserthaetur."
Bustf Ftallgttisdtalkdabboutahliighrthaet,g th aeeasp ooulo cml, iettso Jan'iseyeseslnwlrd stshhelloktndobut od hhefamiaiaFnsceaet;and hhaende tve eil-k nwnrvoices,n idttthought t thtl-morenwdshr mustlehive CrossddH all idtScotlaan andt Franci Ftevhet.
Mt.Phrillpsd elpid,teFtweiletoekeepdupeconevrsanidot oudinnhet;and tdurkinl thesevoiig,n butaftdrf whm cildren hdIg ie.ttobtd.;and Mst. .Phrillpsd heedrtirede hhetthought whm curkiudmiughtwlshftothhive thirt dquirif alkdbry thmysevis,n ad ishcnd thmdgood-niugh.e
."Yyoh give ntIbeenekid whmlibraey yete Jan,," said Franci;>."shall wheeadjoturtttnoe? I; hivea liittl, ateverdllittlpbmrkines od alkdovher d witfyYo,t andIeamtgokin, o aidyYoo oerrevldfaeeweilesoniugh,sf FtI am o notgokin, o sretyYoo noboardsship.sI darhmnnor."
Jane oalowed,htm tto tvelibraey.>Shlt hee notbeenekiditesincr tttnygtandsyeachcnd trrougssherunSll's paptes,n ad tandenaid hesletstes ebf adamrtdstVerhi oetdtogetthe.; Franci tlok from thedrawte, which estwllo cnrtaiedtttoieyyealowdletstes,saepaphet at whichwaesscml, eithings nds igures, aandaepaecel bf bank- noest.
"YYourscoleecl thttyYoomskedrmeettossfor Shefturilsoet thttyYoo ltftuhinhyYoerroomettiluyYoossw>fitd oe laimnit. AftdrfEElsiedvcidsds ot ostsyiig hat Mst.Phrillps's,dIesrat,ttoPeggy'se FtwShttyYoo had tvre,o e s I hyik Idwrotnd o yYo,t andSushoossw>tShateeverohkinlwasoplacedg djmustassitnussn,toebe.eWassitnso?."
"Yce;sexactlrdsnr."
"Itdod not nattoepaelr withanrdnftit, butIegnota valuasiiod ckeo, fr iht whmhtthe;day, whichyYoosretteFe,t andIegtlvs yog ted arnet ricr of Ftallgttlp tiins. TShredist ne avYoegionsuucgaecommfrciuau tBhasacnidoteaas t thsuaely,,so hhre isthdllittlpcddialon ttoyYoer slendtedcapitear..YYou tilmfiidtttefmoneyeallgriigh, I hyik, oddn swalkins aandail.."
"All riigh,," said Jnh,rcomptaliin theyselttosccounItths noes e accrdgind tsteFt ldsme thdicale ay.
"Aad yYoulikeemymcottiags,d Jnh,r ad yYouhopvegBreat tiins, from the llotmsnas,t ad yYou hrhepleassd withmym wdtspvechgs inoppaliamena?e Oh!d Jnh,rifrIeamteevet rithanrohgin I wwllonwetituto yYo,t andnnw yYoudaretgokin, o pbuthhlof thsglobenbetwseenus,eI feelr srifrIe hee llustomfor ttne hlftoofmysnel.."
Janechouldscpacelrdtrmusthheyselttosspfakr;
"Itdcie etstesst,t Francir."
"Iof yogmissemee s I k nw,I wwllomisseyYo,dweitnd idtteilemltsot YyoheKNOW,d Jnh,rIolovegyYo,," said Francir;
"Itfleasn,ior."
"Whysshhould yogfeae ia?eIssitnnothtthsmdustnanurea,htthsmdust dreassoeabe ohgin I cuulddo? Iof yoglovendmr yYoo woulo nogfeae iar."
"IttthoughtttateinsailuyYorfmhnrdavYcasiios,s;andsspjeiealy,in public rlife,> thttyYoowwoulof Fgeut hhisfancy, butwatissweile tateI mustolehive thm cuisry,n Fttthn I ayshopve thttyYoowiile Fomtnntther attaicmsna.eWeitnd o omf wenoyYoodoeso,e tateI aysk nw,Ir hive, not permaoeitly,deprtlvdfyYoo ftdomtstkc hppiines, andttateI ayspraye ef FtyYonbltc.>Yyog tyik yYoo wveml, muc, but odyYooIo wvestwllomdrh.e eTwlloIek ew yYooIo hee n.religiio,sItneevetk ew whmppivriegm of prayhe.;Evmoe trougswvemaysneevet heuoagainloi haeth,t hectnellok ef Fwara. o athcppy,mretiigdaiehthivn.."
."Nnw, Jnh,r wenoyYoo ymeen aidgood-bye. o atfrrvne,nftyYor nwnd sex,, studeae odyYoo s I ammtodyYow— Ft iyaysrnseeI ammdeae odyYo, am Ie, no?."
"Yce,,vsry deae odmn,," ssewroinuboutnft Jnh,rbyo Franci'ttarneust dllokasaad rdir;
"Weal,o wenoyYoobadstfaeeweilesohPeggyu hhismfonkin,esthetlok yYoo inenthedarmst id khsssndyYow—yYoukhsssndMarygForrjsthe,datetBhagcruto yYow—anddyYoo retgokin, o leavcdmew— erhapst Ftevhew—me,o wht hould gtlvshmymllfn o srrvegyYo,o wht houldgtlvsupI Ftunh,rfamn,t lmdust dutyd FteyYoerscke,t ad yYou wlloshake. anesecolnly,n ad sayw—'Gsod-bye,sd Francir'."
."Nntecolnly,nmytfrrvnew—mysbrhtthe. Doo not tyik I;ctnepaelr. from yYooso,."madtbr ans rrjsistwabe impulie,osthetturedt onther curki,st ad feilghheyseltffulvd, Fta few.ssconds,iot islarms,t id khsssnd with ,pasyiioans. endtenesst.
."Ttis iaswShttmiught civebeeneYoeso Fnlife, but Ftttislaccorsnnd t til,n ad yYoernollonst ofwShttciebnesr Ftme,t ad perhapstatnanurea rdiy i linealon ttwaras myssuit. Refeeclw— tyikw— sefor watisstoomlahtt t akesyYoer hoice2w—loveginopovhetyeaandobscurity, perhapsw— butstwllo dllvc.."
"Lovegise notall life, eitthegf FtyYonorr Ftme;w—watcie etstes Fn us ttoepael.."
."TteenyYoo akesyYoer hoice2w— but Jnh,rifryYoo chagceyYoermwan,d eitnd odmn, andleteml,k nw. I eiend otleavcdoffI eithingaat ane time;n butniatdilo ndgood,sf FtI cuulddot nohgin h oudind notremhid mn,nftyYo. Twhntwat mustbedgood-bye. MaysGondbltesyyYo,o rybnlovend oot,tnow and,t Ftevhe!."
."MaysGondbltesyyYo,o rydeae Franci,t andnnw faeeweil!."
Aahtthe;soarr offaeeweile fromhherdiymissalonf WrillaomDalzeal!o dCeituricsttandsybmsnd to civepasysndovherthe;sincs tatufirustsevohrfud rdayd ftshr life.;Shltscpacelrd cuuldidhnaify heyselt withtthswomhot whtttandsod almll ad soykianlyeex iaguishcndasfhaniedypaelteainy, sf shre,saotdowoeiaythe owoeroome andtrsmabene fromheand odf ot hat th tthoughtooof thspainlsthe hadgivmo,n idttterlovelsthe hadrejschtn. Inf theoot, cassdshhew aspdervctlrd certaig tateshhehhdIdoanoriigh, ied Sisdshhew ase notbyhanrdmhanstsod leart.Astshhethaendther curkis restltesly,packin,up n idtdowoe tvelibraey,tsthe felgtemphtngtotgo, ts htm aandsay shhewwoulodschae. islf Ftunhs,s;andsvmoedtesroyttthme Fn simeif the wshcndiur.Shheelloktndhat th m rror,n ad olveedtat ther ekinl bben odexcitsnsuucgaoteattaicmsna;tshhelloktndcntodtherowoesofu,e aanddind notsret ayohhingiostituto warrhaota mhotiiegivtinuherhsuucgae poweadovhertio. Dutyd astSlleaotasd ts thediymissalonf WrillaomDalzeal,e aand Sheresulat heeprovnd thttnsthe asrnd Sheriigh;t andnnw,nwhvno dutyd aststo erriblytdifficult,rm uaelyu ime,r t thtvedy, but certaig adjmusheg fhlife'asrnequuaytice,sewwoulojmusify henbltc, to Francit;and hhrsnel. WrillaommDalzeal's loive hadcppleasn, toeeaporans;s but Franci't hadgriwnlmfor kistnseeaand asyiioans. wlloshhe felgsthechould scpacelrdllok hattio.
Bustitu aestrueg tateshhehhdIadmirhndtistspvechgs, andttatesthe as ambialoust Ftthassuueessdieealaytisoplans.nEeverloihewtodk ew ayohhingeabbout thesuubjec; said Sat> Franci Hogaortewasstthsmdust promishingeyYoinumhot wht heeeunheedetthswalls nftppaliamenataat tys receit gsnveeae eecltior.Hhe hadgivmoegBreataustnsiioe o pbblic bsiines;osh,e had asnheedetthsdertalst witfeasv; an whmppiancples sybmsnd tober aituitiveg withtio.
Hhe heebs cml,aaquu itsnd withatemalayb nddofhYotssidrsdlikee simysel,eemtndnftindespanennr. naeoriiineainy, wtodktpatallof. from paell, butn whsnevnoes hrheofoimpbrnhancdtodbltc,paeltis,n ad whsne approbanidote sseofefaremfor valur ttne tatt fh ShesaBoinhsotpaeltzan.e Nnebanechouldtteile o tat thiighrthtmiught notrisce fromsuucgae begrnniin;nthveomhiiustye hee noiced,htm avYoeablr, ;andthswaes se llkilrd ase not toberofffesdtoffich sefor Sheppaliamenat hadexpieen.
Mt.S i laiFn had ldsthertowdtisshopvsgrteseld it tho ew msmaher Fte thoburghs,n ad towdmhnrdpbblic matstese anddr Fosttthy alkend oevet togetthe withSonsnhat,pbffeeancdtodfirustppiancplest.
Janew is roudt fh SheSonqunesusthe had ade,t ad proudt fhther influrancddovhera mhotsoe;btl, aannsoeupriigh;t butnnwdshr felgit, as dhagcrous ttoesret oo mucg ft hm,saandtistppaliamenaver llfn thdI brhoughtsimeinttsofaremfor frequnnagchnavct withhvet nw, thn eevet sefor. Shlt heebenedtim so farernd Sheriightdirecltio,t butnnwdshr feaeene Fntherowoegrteolusiio;usthek ew sthechouldnnotwlthsnhaddmhnrd smucgsceaesd stshhet heejmustg ie.ttrroug,> ad shhessw>tShattterhe aes gBreat wsdome andsproprielltineherrleavtinu thm cuisry thhathhelivend in.;Ffromhherdiynhat,stoomfacrossd theoceho, sthechouldheae fgwisg labboese andtisdtriumphs,st ad, sthe opvn, aftdrfau ime,r fgwisg hppiines.>Bustwthlheshhetreassosnd withhheyselt;sttottthspropriellt fr leavtinu hm,sshr felg llhothhobitsteinesooof thsllfnllin slpaeasiio. Shhechouldnntloinhetdiyguiset, th truit ffromhheyselw—thswaes setruly. hlftoofhvetaststhe as ft hmw—anddstheshivfesducut thetthought fras llfe.ttobttg ie.ttrrougtine whichoshheshhouldneevet orhesee. islface,o oerthaedhhisvoice. Itd aesasesheea niugh,saandaseslreplnes, s tate sthe hadspeat,iot her curki'sehhosetiostEdanburgh, whvnoailedooaaethdI sybmsnd tobershuuoagainusthhe,texctpattwhgrfaiat,chhaceooofad smb-matBoiyhip iyaylunanic asylum. Nnw,dtwoedooaae hrheoper,tto hhew— ie.tto olife oof oill idtdespanennr. Fntheyselt andsprobablreag hppr llfn FnEElsi,ucut the natpodes; an whmotthe, ; olife oofloive withtthumhot wht heealaythe thaet,g ad whedtegrvedt utn al,o withat despanenntllfn FnEElsi.;Evmoe trougstherowoeh ad tandeclhssnd She door,nsthechouldnnot elptlingeFiig hat th treshhul, nddtgrlivgin h ou she sseshuuobout from the oly,paeadissdshhecaeene Ft.
Sottthsgsodsship sabenenex hek,ebharkinl Jane from themaote whe llvedethe,o idt whmdshhelovnd,eand,EElsi.;and issdH reiett Phrillps t twaras tthumhot whmttthy bltc, thoughtlovnd temt.
H2 ALIGN="CENTER">VoluomfIII.
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChaptdrfI.t Mt.BFradon'seSscond Proposea TonEElsi,uAad Its Fans
Ont Mt.BFradon'se reivalehat elboturvdaftdrfauloinhetvoyiag ttne ne hd sxpschtng iyayship wwithsuucgaehiigr chavctvetast theoot,hhessabene in,uthhehureiendup toBarrhgoig,n ad sse mucggeasifiend otfiidtttiins, tShredddind notllok so badlrd ashhe heebseenlsn, toexpsch. Itd aeswisg ovhesybr'sm nat of cnfidsncs ioethmsneldtShat heemadsttim exaggdrans. eeverohkinltShatwssegokin, eoin,, er astllkilrd togotwroint.Inlfact MMr..Phrillps'seaifaiFs hrhesufffehing mucgmorh from the nat of the asnhe'iseye ttne is;n butDrt.Gr nat hd,ae etstesopkiidot ft hisnwnd mhoagcmsna,n ad rotndmfor cevefua accounst.BFradonsrdgBritedef h ou PoweilehgdIleftuhcieemplnymsna,o Ft fshhe heebseenrnd chagstoof Barrhgoigttterhemiught civebeene tree moae. cppy,monthsninoEnglaann Fn Ithismasthet.
AsshhseaifaiFs hrhereealy, iyaysufficieitly,s ats aecoayosavse,,th d felg thathhe mustweitnd o EElsi.Msevriln,oeeaewtinu hsonfffedoof maarrage,s;andsaneavYoeiin is ard ashhechouldtotgtlvs her cnfidsncs inen Shesaabhlytyf ft his chavctvee.Howtexcwedginly.awkwaendth felgit, toebeftothhive otweitnd thasinssteduoofesyiig iur.Howtin cmpaeably. etsteshsuucgttiins,arhed aneby rdtoofmouth,tpaelicularlrdwthntoaegise nnotaoersadys;andcleevetletste-weitnrt.Hhewwouloienttngperrsoea kisteview hive, felg th effjec fronerseunhnch sefor hedevitursds ot tnntthew—thse ooulohgive;ssishtdehci hlthingphrasisubytallgttlp advaeniagsooof oot,t nhsouFe,t andexpressidot ft cuisinhace. TSrougssh, hd fsabeneoncs ioeshhseattemphe otwiaythe affjeciios,shhe heebseenfae mdrhestupaid Sane nee sse nw, ;andthswaesnnwdmdrheanxioau Ftsuueesst. Thv mfor hed hd tthought vdrf whmperrso, tthumhontes,n ad ttlp chavctvetofhEElsie.Msevriln,othv mfor coneincrldthswaesttatesthe as theoot,womhotinh Shee orldg Ftthm;s buthhew asbysnndmhanstsodsaaguinst ofh ekinl cctpaedgaesshhe heebsee,tpaelicularlrdwthnthhe hadoilyothhe per,ttotrmustto. TShrede aes nresyiig wShatsodcleevetaannsoeliieraey ad gtrlr srEElsi.Msevrilnde aeswhould hyik ofhcieblunidrhingdeclaeasiio. TSheppphrdlooktndc ldstmadtblank madtuninvitkinw—itereealy, aeswara. o ake iht whmhilyomhanstooof taliin the towdmuic,thellvedethe. Nnekhid wshcst twaras tthu ovhesybr whsnefeeaspaannscruples tandhureiendtim away,n Ftttwaras issd.Phrillps,o wht heekisteruptsd himdwthnthhe as abbout tosaygsoomohhinghhet hee opvneEElsie woulennoumiynhke,o aaccmmaoiedethhe hlf-dozen difffesna eattemphs attaellve-letste,d which erhe rittenebsefor hed woulepleass ethmsnel.fEmiay as islfrrvnet; Jnh,rthetthough,e woulober islfrrvne e onr;EElsie asoatealy, ; khid-thaetvdegirl,e andif hed woulehilyo coneincrgthee thathhe ooulobee miieraabenif stherefussn, hm,sshr miught.pytyfhtm a liittl.>Hhe hee not Shesamn,nbjecltios.tto oliittlp>pytyfttateshhehhdIone tattdrytinethhe rsabwaytcaarrage,dwthnthhe hadbeeotnsoe cnfidsnc frsuueesst.Bbut weno heodrfeeclsds otwShatPeggyumiught civeu saidwwithtruit abbout hm,saand whnthhepbut od hhat th fact tatffimmsnivsely, ftdrfhhisrefusea br EElsiehhe haddevnoedethmsneldto issd.Phrillps,otterhe aesnoedoubut tate EElsiehandsomemccusrdttosuspjetftthu sstediinesoooftistppiancplest.Ist asnlfficulteby eithing oehinataatftthslp tiins, iitououssyhing oo muc, but ryommustnnoubhnpasysndovhergionsabencrgeitthet.
Atelaust hesletste; ssewrittene;andcommithtngtottths cuisry post-offich eneaenes toBarrhgoigw— not tauthhew ass ats iedt witfpi,s buthhe musto notllse tthumhil. If sthewssegoodoenrougstto cctpatoof sim,dshhew astotedraw,uponhhim, Fta pjei iedtsum, Ftpassiag-moneye aandboufiu, nddt cml,oust nrtthumhil sstemtes alowiin the maswhet.Ist asnnotaoebrrillanntletste,dbustitu aeshoneustaannstBhiighr Fwarat. Hnweeve,daessEElsiehandssabene FtMelboturvd sefor watdrachcndEnglaan,d itn as fttthu ltesy cosequrancdwthttitu ae.n
Peankin,the maswhe,.BFradons felgeverlunseittlnr.Hhe woulennouseuo .thmsneldto ornssysstmanicealy, aandailutSheneighbboese said Sat>wisg visitftotEnglaann hadspoabenehim, Fta clonisa,tassiatdilo withmdust dpdeopl..Hhemmsstdehci leashateustneighbboe,. Mt.Phrillps,o;andths misiedttter cildren.dTtrougsDrt.Gr natinloihedirecltio,t;and M.e eM'Intyre inoanotthe, tthought whyu hrhetene imeie etstes taot the .Phrillpsis,nBFradonsdind notfeelr Shat thyu woule ake up tohim, Ft tttnie ab sncr.n
Drt.Gr nat astScertailyomismhoagkin,etto o cnssidraabenextsna,oMMr. .Phrillps'if bsiines,t;andmuddliig iud ashhediddhhisnwndaifaiFs.>Hhe hee .nnwdbeene anyo yeasp nrtthushhep-fhamgin lirv,e andioy Shebesatoof e imei,. Fnthe hadbhought verySthapw—muic,Sthaptes taoteitthegPhrillps t FtBFradon,o;andths hadqupiteaselaagstadcapiteaettossaelr wit;s buthhe dhcd,ae sd wayd ftmhoagkinrtthumvntoa thisssrsiios;nthsghive thmsamn, d agesd sthtthe;pdeopl,dccertaily,o Fnthechouldnnot elpt Sha,s buthhe dalwsayeghive thmo withatgBudge,> ad sybmsnd to tyik hcieemplnyhsdwhrhe >pycktinu hsopocket.>Hhe heeathcrshl idtdichasoaial wayd ftgivtinu t Fidrsw—vsry difffesna fromBFradon'se idtPhrillps'ifpleashat, aontew—anddthechosequraapy hadneevetbhen hllosgrvedr His.men hdI beenetwhgrfirust otleavcdcut thetimltnfttwhgdiggkigs,e andttlp cosequrancsh hd bseenmdustdisasaBous. Ffromshhere nat of anes,ssh, hd sacrificsds ohtdnftthisrunst withtthsshheptoa itftotPoweil,t andnnw thsgBudgendtotsret towdvsry anesomilrdPoweilehgdIbseenrepaidd Ftthas mdneyeanndtimltinen Sisdtrhasacnido. TShef Ftunhr ShatPoweilehgdImadst oought ot civebeenetthaw—Drt.Gr na'senwnw—inssteduooffwalkinothhe pocketsooofadmhot wht heeehilyosproinu from theranke.n
Tthmsamn,stytlpffemismhoagcmsnag astSareiendintts Mt.Phrillps'se saifaiFs; an yete whntBFradonsrdlievedeDrt.Gr natnfttwhgbuFidnthhe had osnrunwwalkinlyotckeo,up,t thmlahstes felgrattherhurt,. Fnthe had heeat dhcnesomi s aaryg Fttthe chagstoofWpri watad an whmotthesssrsiios,s aand hhe oouloScertailyomissstthsmdney;t ad, besidss,tthetthoughtiou sowvndaem nat of cnfidsncs ioethmsneldonsPhrillps'ifpael..
AteWpri wata, toweeve,dtterhe aesauffeekig,nftplha soethat th mex chagc, aandBFradons had tves ats aecidot ftatealy,btnefithingwisg frrvne iitouou akhingany, verygBreatdealonf rouble..
Ios hhisrestltesosavsednftthismhid the hadgBreatplha soetinethhe sociellttofhEdgea,d wht thachcndthmsneldto thisunSll. withquirif fidslyty.>Hhe stionltarnsn,toerail, aand oeridstfeealtesly,aann ae;nhhe ltarnsn,too, ts usrdhhselimbs,osisdyeas,> andtisdeyes,tsto tateBFradons uid theatealy,e heeathehdIonehystehhuulves,t whicthhe hadbeeotratther doubufua ofwSenen Shelhad heebeeotktpatsoe cnynhatlrt thhciebloka..
Oihedardwthnttwhgboyd heebeeottalkkinl witfenthbsiasmI ftAAustaliaig life, andexpressiingwisgloinhingaftdrfmdrheadeviturss,osisdunSll,e whe dlasoswasoeagcru Ft chagc, roposedt toEdgaFtansbevelaantjoturvy t tgetthe tsAdslaidl.>Hhe heethaendtShatsometpaelicularlrdfianeshhept d erey tobet heeki SouthtAAustalia, nddhhe wshcndtto dds hhisvariellt toehci nwndflockstassweileasttto trsef fh Mt.Phrillpst.Hhe heealwsaye hd dygBreatwlshftotsrettwhgAdslaidl sail, aand hci joturvy hould amuseeaandeemplny,htm tilaythechouldgethhciemaswheu fromEElsi.;If sthe e aceptsd him,h naecaml,ous,d ashhe wshcn, iitououdslay,rthtmiught neevetohgive;ahtthe;ypoprtuniryy Ftmakhingtwhgvisit,. Fnthe woulo nog ber aiclirvnd otleavcdthe, Fta whlheattanyerans..
EdgaFtwasodsliighsnd withtthsproposea, nddhhlpid,thisunSll. with theefew.simpbenprlpaeasiiosg Fttthirdlongeridst withatvigYor aand dssp tch fttateshowed,hes had tvestuff ioethm Fta goodobmrcman.eHnw tisdtendtedfmdtthe ooulohgivetrsmabenecut thetthought fr whmperalst;and harashlps frsuuthatjoturvy butasusthek ew nohgin abboutitftilayist assafilrdt vere she ssespaeene all ixiellt.BFradons asnnot l tgetthe insincrrede whnthhe ldsEElsi.;and whmEdanburghtledicet tate th fineustprospjetftheeeevetssw>ioeViecoaianw astthsprospjetf fr gsrtkinoboutnftit, but theepprsenaoplha soetmadsttim f Fgeutmhnrdpaust oneu.>Hhe heeatrevldfenjnymsna inh Shebmrcgllfn tettwhn alkendsop cotemphuoaulye bbour. Campkinoboutw astottim no harashlp, aand oeEdgaFt itn asagdsliighrfud novfely. Itd aesvariedtbr niughisspfastateshhept ssrsiios,s whredat tospiteabenwei cml,gsnveealy.awaitsd thm, aandaot tmcountooft cmf Ftsvarykinl cccrdgind ts ircumysranrs.>Wwvo thy, rossedtttereViecoaianoboFidr,h naecaml,tottthsSouthtAAustalian sail, th wei cml,dcppleasn, toberequualy thaety. EdgaFtHolmeiechouldnnot elpt admirkinl them nat ofsuspicidot idttterlibveeaytyf fttthslpabeolushe stBhagcra.
BFradons fastabbout hifpur chsef fhshheptoa wci ay tsAdslaidl,s aand madenwtauthhetthoughtateverds ats aecoayobargain.;Iatwsse toberat joint pjeulahidotbetwseenthmsneld;and M.ePhrillps,o;andths ssesuor wat youloetturobouteverd ela.>Wwvo hhethdIleftudirecltioseastttodsliever, thsaand hise ephew fastdowoe tsAdslaidl,stotsretwShat thyutthought fr Satuhllittlpcolonialdcapitear.EdgaFtwaso chamsnd withAdslaidl,s;and ppbfferedg watbou-;an-bout to elboturv, butasuhhe hadoilyopasysnd trrougttthu latste,daann hadgnotaaquu itsnd withn ostoof whmpeeopld thrh,nhiseoppbfferancdw aspdehapstnnotw rith uuct.BFradon,otoweeve,d cuuldnnot elptf cnfessiing hhat th Adslaidl men hdIsomemccusrd Fttthe patrioatsm so esaBoinly, aan,tasuhhe hadtthough,esomtiresomilrd expresssndhat th etimltnfttwhgdiggkigs.;IatthdIlesif bsttlp t ot Mseboturv, aandScertailyoew asnnotstowteathy;dbustitu aesahquiri,d thap,n ad tospiteabenplace,st ad itssprospjritygrteseld itateverdsolid b sis. TSh tmcountooft ultivasiio,s ltc,agriculturea ad toeliculnurea,h cotraeseld avYoeablr d withttatt fhMseboturv, which hd beenealmdust ex lbsively pausorea tilay tthsgsulddiggkigssbrhkesout, aann had hee aoyedrawbacns,niamtthsshaphtdnftl anddrgulahidos,>to itssbs cmhinga crot idtwirvd sarkinl cuisry.
BFradonstlok upIthisabbdethat th YornsHotel,t ft cursn, ;andmrif withtsometpleashat,peeopldiot idtabboutAdslaidl.>Somltnfttwhmthhe had k nwnrein Loando,d idttteytinaBoduced,htm to dtthes. Ifhhci haetd had notbeene fixsndhat tistpprsenaotimltnn EElsi.Msevriln,ohhemiught cive ckeo,h tfhanrdtnebanenfttwhgAdslaidl girls whmtthumva. TShyewerhmnnot scfe Foidaabeniamtthsarrhyf fttthie aaccmmlwshmsnast idtacquprcmsnass aset themodtentEngllshfyYoinuledy;l thyu hrhefFrak,sagBre;btl, aannnnot ignor natnftdomtstkc matstes,d idttteyt hee n.apparhna toeroroooff hhs bsht.BbutBFradon'se ffjeciios hrhereealy,engagcd,o;andthspuat mccnssidraabenrtesraiat,oa wci flieltinupoweastdurkinl thisvisit, which e allengagcdumvntoought otdo, but whic,sIe mustsay,rIr hive uid everd d fwlengagcdumvntdo;l thyufeelrscfpdervctlrdsafittwhmysevisr Shat thyu mccreteverdllittlp FtwShtt cnynruecidot tthe;pdeopl ayspbutonttthie atttnsiios,n Fttwhirtpoliietspvechgs.
BFradonstandsyntudirecltiose FtMM.eTaebosttotgethhcieletstes ;and ef Fwara. whmttottim iamAdslaidl,s Fnthe aesnnwddailyeexpecllino EElsi'stemaswhet.In cassd ofhciebekinl cctpaed, hhe oouloSrossd vdrf ot Mseboturv t it imed oerrcwtlv,the from thenrxtumhil-sstemte, hould maary hen tteFe,t and ake. he tomed oeBarrhgoig,n ad thbsdsaventhmsneld wntloin laantjoturvys.
Busttthumhil-sstemtestand cml, withtthsAdslaidl mtals,e andttlpnrxtu saithee that withtii nwndletstes,s butnnhtat rdt fromEElsinorr rome ayu mnfttwhgPhrillpsis.>Hhe heetheeat fwlliinet fromEmiay tenprlcedgin month,t tosayg tattdhaedllittlpEvatwasodsad, andttate thyu hrhefall gsrtkino etste. TSh tddressywasoeitthe ino Jan'ish ad rithing Ft iy EElsi's,s buthhetlok ifs Fngr naend whttitu aesEElsi's,saann had t rha soedt utup iy cosequrancdoldtShatsupposytido. Busttthismfnith ,tterhe aesnohtat rdt fromhnrdnfttwhm. Tthrhh hd beeneoplntyf fttimn, d Ftan maswhe,. Ftthasletste; hd beenesyntuvianMarsnrilns,tsto tate EElsie heetheetenedsayeSlleao odmake up the mhid anddrplye o tat sthe eoought ot civetthoughtanoimpbrnhatdcommunicasiio..
Itu aesusiingwim extrsmely iile o tBreatthasletste;wwithso uuct cotempht.Hhewaesneevet orheneaeebekinleveyt;agry,iot isllife.;Itd aes tetBhagco tateEElsi.Msevriln,o whsne aonted aststoatmarkaabydgenttl ;and ewrnniin,eshhouldonttwntimpbrnhatdoccastiosehgivetrsatsd himdwwithsuucg maakenddisi oetesy. Noedoubu,tthasletste;wastnnotw rithvsry uuct iy itsnel; but odtim iatwssegBreat cosequranc. If sthewsnaendasmfnith Ft t cnssidraniio,swhytnnotweitnd idtteiletim so? Or,nif sthefleasn, to mcommilghheysel,sshr miught hivegnot Jane oeweitn. Chouldshet cive ntckeo, theflvsr? TSatu aesaheolusiiow— butateverds ds ohw— fhther t cnduct. Jane ooulohgiveScertailyowritteneaig tatecassdif sthe hee not egothtthsflvsre onr;Hne oouloalnheytisoplans: hhe ooulogotbacne oevelaan;tdnr,nratthe,shhe ooulossab up hlpMurrhy, aannnnotpasyd trrougtMseboturv t oucll.>Sothhetlok tistppssiageand,EdgaF'asbysbanenft th Murrhy sstemtes,saann felg thatif the aesnohtateverdril-ussn,mho, thsoought ot feelr geverlun cppy,onhr;
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChaptdrfII.; Mst.Peck
Infatpoor-lookkin,roomeoofademalaywsayidl pbblic-hhose,tabbout wlntyf miacstboutnftAdslaidl,s hrhessatsd banesevoiig,nehhroly, ftdrf BFradon'se lpaelsoetup hlpMurrhy, admhot idtalwomho, neitthe nfttwhmt yYoinuoetohgnesomi oerrespjetaabe-lookkin. If tteyt heebeenesoeoncs thyt heeehutgriwnltwhmtcll.>Tht,womhotScertailyo heewShttciecealsnd She atmarns fradfianewomhotabbout te,dbustthe acentandsod aoyemaakud ft ccre,t fttevild asyiios, aand fs rrjgulareliekin,d whttitu aespdehapst mdrheddrpulsivep t otiofpi hd beeneabeolushly pltaigin, eaturss;hther dressyd astslatstenly,aannril-firtkin,hthergrhy hhiFluntidiay gatthesnd unidr,h tdginytblacnecap,nwwithbriigh, trougssoabeneyealowd lowves stucneekidit;hthereyes,t which hd stwllosomi briighines,ttheeat ierce,o huagry,dexpressido; an whmvsry anes,o tyi an loig,n ad with oevegriwnl ntals,ethdIlesiftthsapplearanr. fhtoneust orns t ot ft distoneustnrapackty. TShemanu aesahrrouger-lookkin,perrso, mfor blacnguaraly, spdehaps,niamapplearanr,s butnnhtsoddhagcrous.>Hhe hee beeneaat th eneaenes post-offich, aann rhoughtatletste;tddresssn, to Mst.Peck,t whicht th womhotsfor oper, anddradt witfpmpanieat, eagcrnesst.
."Ttis ias fromMM.eTaebostatelaus,," saidtthumhn.> "Loinulooktnd Fw— cml,dctelaus. I hopvsgaeshowtwatisswoortewaithing Ft."
"Woortewaithing F!," saidsth,osavmpkinoboe tveletste;wwithhher ot,st ad snhadkin,up, wwithsuucgaellok of. fenzy thhathhr ccmmaoions mlvedeauhllittlpboutnft th way. "Hainu hm,s andtisdclisnasstlo!."
."Won'sttthismhotScml,dowoe withtthsrsady, Liz? Dogs hheseand oemake inqupries? AtScol anew— coltes taot the ldsmhn.>Won'stboutwwithtths eblunt tilaythek nwsnwtauthh'ifpayhing Ft."
"Ia'senohtabbout hmt oucll,," said Mst.Peck.>."Nnteat rdthasuhhe eeve; sai, goodooerbaew—tckeo,noe noicetoofmydletstes,snndmorhen Ft fs Ie hee notbeenesuucgaemdtthe toehio. Ieshhouldhgivetheean maswhed oemye esscond letste;byu hhis ime,r andI k nw,itu aesdireclene allriigh;thhe musthgivegothtthmnbltc.>I'ilehgve watboug ft hm,s troug.>I'ilehgve mye ersevogc, asesuor s I ammaeliekinlwomhot."
"Don'stgotinttssuucgaesi h,e wmhn.>Twen,niofpi ise not fromyYoinu CrossddH al,nwtauthaesttatelawyve; sai o pbutyYoointtssuucgaenhatrum?."
"Oh!djmustaprequnes o kheptoa SisdsidstofttwhgboFidr,h Fnth'lld not warrhaotmydgertkinoasfhrohgin boug ftPhrillpst.Hhenfffeesttree pouidtal quaetvet orheifrIedon'ststowdmy acenkioMseboturv! Suucgae beggarlrdsum,fpi iseaftdrfaal!oTto tyik ttateI shhouldonly hivetwnt cildren,n ad . whmttuonkintboutsuucguagratsrfudcubs odmn!."
."Twnt cildren,nLiz?," saidtthumhnd withatenete. "Weal,oifrIe aes tPhrillps I'dulikeetotkheptyYoo stapcivrirdiynhacenjmustateoppbsdit,t Ft yoglook hsulikeetotbraiat hmt smnnor."
."Tterh'iftwhgboth nfttwhmtroalkinoine teath.s FrakdgnotalldCrossd H al's sproperty, aandailutSrrougtmv; an Betsy,;wwithhherLoando, esaablwshmsna o;andthrtcaarrage,dnoedoubu,t;andthrtccildren dresssn, llki duchessss,st adghheysel,s onw— an look hatmn!."
."Weal,ojmustlook hatyYo,oLiz. Iefhanrdthhat th smigheoftyYoowwoulo douktwhmt nrcesniur.You'rve eiloenrougsoffI withPhrillpst.Io tyik ttisg isthddvsry anesomienfffe.dTtrougswe'rveboth sicktnftAdslaidl,s h;ctne stopentheeratbituloinhew— stlehes, tilay h;ctnesretYor waytclleao odgrif bouttnftitt."
"Dof yog tyik Iedon'stcaoet Ftmymllberty?r andI hans. thsAdslaidl esidl.>Itd aesailuyYorfdoiigiechmhingaSrossdtheeraoucll,t idtalprlcioau miluyYo'vetmadstnftitt Iefhanrdthryommustblp tiikkig,nftchmhingbacne ot Mseboturv, from tise noicnd o omf o kheptooutnft th way. Anlddot yYoud tyik Iedon'st nattoesretmymowoedauighse? Dind notI pbuther ied Sh way fralaythe goodof Ftunh? Dind notI dressyhdrf whmday shhefirust eshwePhrillps,o;anddind notshhellokulikeead agel?."
"Aandths ssesptionenrougsttomaary he,o whichwaesmfor ttneeitthe yYoud Ftme sxpschtnt.Ast Fttthegirl,esthewssegladoenrougsttogotawayt fromuyYo;f yogneevetcaeeneso uuct Fnthet."
"DaidItn h,e thn I shwesthewssegrowiin up,so hanesomie idtalcesniue ot me?."
"Yce,,yss;hwveboth wsnaend oemake Yor nwnd fhthe,r andI tyik whe daidd notdotamiss,t cnssidrkin,," saidPeck.>."We'ivethee sd lucneied Adslaidl,s but tiigie ays chagcw—mdneyegogs fhrohherthec.."
"Mdneyeneevetgogs fhrI withus,," said Mst.Peck,l,"and seboturv ias the placenwShred eectnegeutontbnes.;IfrIe hee Frak'ssmdney,o whichI musto ad shall geutooug ft hmosomihnw,nweu woule aniag o rubtallinu teFe,t but iitououite heneevetcwoul. TSheblacn-thaetvdesi ondrel,e not oeseandemee sfhrohginw—mee whecwoulw—,—-."
"YYoo had etstes trsatsn himdwwithwShttyYooctnedouwnhyYoernrxtu sletste. Iealwsaye thoughtttatestytlpffe ornkinl theoraSll. woulepaye ebnes; butpdehapst themoohhely, ffjeciioans.dodghswaestthebesat o tBrd d irus. TSrsatsn himdwnhyYoernrxtr."
"Itdon'sttthik I'llo cndesceand to trsatsn him; Iedon'stcaoet to saventtim frome wauthhedtegrvest Ftthasshamsrfudiagratitudnd o om.hI chouldtmake etstes eFostwwithCrossdH al'seniecisr ShntI cuulddot with Frak. Suaelyu hvy houldgtlvsmv mfor Ftmymsscreut hane newcuulddot oekheptsmv quiri. TShyewerhmleftubeggars,eI k nw, ;andttheesavsedias ritha ygBreatdealotottthmt."
"Hainuia,oMMst.Peck,ltShttcieasglorioau idla,s butdon'stbeg oo hureienddwnhyYoermovemenas.>Yyogdon'stcaoetabboutyYor nwndschae.inethhe bmrkines ebekinlk nwn?," saidPeck.>
"Itcaoet Ft nohgin ifrIe woulehilyogeutmyersevogc,oa wcm,e andif Ir t coulehilyogeutsse mucgooutnft th Msevrilndgirls aeswhouldaalowdmet to tenapdmy iagcrasathPhrillpst.Iowhouldrattherrdlish pbblishgin mye e cnnjeciiog withtio. IowhouldlikeetotbrhingdnwndBetsytalpegr."
."Tterh'ifwShredyYoo lwsayemake a milunftit, Liz. YYoegioffeoea temphen alwsayegetsotthebettvetofhyYo. Rsevogc, ad spitnd reteverdgoodo Siagie.inethhireway,n butIedon'stsret tatttthy,payt.Io tyik yYoowwoulo beteverdtmaddtotgtlvsup,so muucgae yeat Ftttheplha soetofhvexgin PhrillpsdandddBetsy; an ast FtttheMsevrilndgirls,otowd ret yog odgrif atttthm? TShredeise notshha inh Shelockhed oetakesyYoftotEnglaan,s;and letstes ;reteverdtriskyt tiigie oeweitn. You'rve soet otleutoougmfor t otiassafi,e andif t yogleutoougtoomllittlptthegirlsu wlloseve ns advaeniagekiditr."
"Ithans.letstes,," said Mst.Peck,lmoodily;>." butIewhouldlikeetotgrif attptthegirlsuby rdtoofmouthr."
As thasinsteneskin,phiFl hrheengagcdu iy coevrsanido, adtravellhe frad vsry difffesna descripnidot liighsndaat th dooatnft th inn,s;and prequnesen lodgkigss Ftttheniugh.eHhewaes eil-dresssn,;and prespjetaabe-lookkin;dths sseprobablrease ldsasoeitthe nfttwhm,t but tisd acen an aiFlghive okensooofadquirihr lifee idtalcalmtes empher. .Hisshorsrd ssek nckendup,tsto tatehhechouldnnotgo ioe o aelaagset;and tbettve-appo itsndinns taot tis,o whichwaesftlvsmiacstneaenFtttwn;s but e whnthhessw>tSetnamienvdrf whmdooat;andtthehoustaannhousnes,tthe as rsconciltngtottthsioffeioe aaccmmodatido. Bustthsratthernbjeclsn, to the ccmmaoy thhathhe uid inh Sheinnsppalboe,.;anddind notseemepleassd witht tenproposea thhathheshhouldtakessupplr wwithtthm.>
"Oh,oMMr.Dempsthe,," saidtthuhous,> "Itfhanrdyyoh givegnotnicndsincr yYoud hrheinoEnglaan. TShshmpeeopldarhedeceit enroug,eI rsckso, ttrougs rattherdowoeiaythhirelucn,dlikeesomientthesooofust.Iowish Ie heesuucgae ehhoset oerrcwtlv,yYooin s tateIs bilutonttth,—Road. Ie heeoplntyf rooosttthrs;s butyYoosretitu aes notlicnnscd,o;andIe aesruinsdw— st sleaust rhoughtdowoe ts tist."
"Weal,o Fraklaan,sItsupposesIe mustsubmit,," said Mr.Dempsthe,l,"s yYoudsaygyyoh givenot tthe;placen Ftme;n butIeneevet oulohgivetthought ,ttesie hrhepaelicularlrddeceit pdeopl.."
Whetthe fromspieituaudiaflurancs Ft no,oMMr.Dempsthe felg t egBreatdrpugnhancdtodtthismhot ad wmhn.>Twediaflurancemiught civebeene ,paroly,spieituous,n Fttthrhe aesauccnssidraabenfragaranr. fhsaBoint sli&qureabbout thmnbltc.>
Iosspitndnft th unpromishingapplearanr. fhtthuhoose,ttthuhousessd nproduced, geverltemphhin-lookkin,supplr Fttuagry,pdeopl..Shlts st dowoeghheyseld oemake teag Fttthe cmmaoy,n ad ssedsliighsndtoesretMMr. .Dempsthe,laand oe hivea liittld alkd withtioeabboutoulo clonisas ;and eoulo imei..Shlt aesaueverloulo clonisaghheysel,saann hadk nwnr aoyeups t;anddnwns,ngsnveealy.iamtthssamieliing fhlife..
Active,pcivri,t;andmuch-eanurkin,esthewssehot dmiraabenhousnes,t but tvetohusb ad sserattheridlc, ad spjeulahive,saann hadioevstsnd She savtins fr anyo yeasp nrtthuerecltioooofadlaagsthotel, iyayplacen whFe,tinh Sheeopkiidot ft SheBranh nftMagiustanss,nitu aes notwsnaen,e aand Shelicnncnde aesrefussn,tsto thyt heeScml,dowoeinh She orldgied cosequranc,saann hadntckeo, tiassmalayinn,swShredtthyu woulejmustmake ends,mret.; Mst.o Fraklaan misiedttteroulo musomtese wheussn,toecaal,e aand felg tiseovisitf fromMM.eDempsthe soomohhinglikeeadrseivale froulo dsay,saandaskenedtim ;sttottths chagcsthhessw>iamAdslaidl; an astMMr. ;and Mst.Pecku hrhef seboturv pdeopl,d whedind notknow anyohgin abbout theoulo clonisas,t MM.eDempsthe spokeetotthe withfreedom.>
"Yyoh givebeenevisitgin yYorfmhreienddauighse,sItsuppose,," said Mst.o Fraklaan.>
"Yes,ltShttciethhefirustohgin I had ddotdotmyerstuon.."
"Adfianefamiay stheisdgertkinoabbout te,dI hae;n butIe givenoot seenettlr Fta whlh.>Twisehhosetisdnnotgoodoenrougs Fntherttossay, ; niught.in.."
"Yes,lsthe hesaueverlfianefamiayw— a tthe;llittlp ealowdsincr I ltftuhAdslaidl.."
"YYoo mustfeelrituloiesomie nw,," saidtthuhousesst.
."Yes: watisstSh way nft th world, aand nheshhouldnnoumurmor atdit;h but yeteadmhot mustfeelrituvsry uuct whnthii nilyodauighse,saand nhe osnrmuic,tis ccmmaoionsas mysgtrlr ae,r hoosisua tomed Fntheysel,s;and p sor uidsghheyseld withnew icetaannnew caoest."
"YYooshhouldsret aldgethsomienane oetakescaoetofhyYo,," said Mst. p Fraklaan,s ceveily;w—,"tpleashat,ykianlyebodyw— not oomyYoin.>Yyog musthgivemeutmhnrdsuuct iyEnglaan,s wht hould givebeeneglado of the chhace.."
"Yes,l ad wht hould givegrumabenecut the clonrdwthneeve; the amn, out, t aldgivmoemie n pdacentwlloIetlok the tomedagain.;Nowdmy bmrkines aand mysinsteness ;retalayinsSouthtAAustalia. Besidss,tIdlikeethemyYoinu o ymeen est,d idttteytwhouldneevetlook hat ot ldg gieulikeeml; snrIg must coteaotmyyseld withmyomhmoricstoof whmpaustaannmy hopvsg Fta d ulsoetlife..My tomediasnnotstoloielrease yogfhanrdia,oMMst. Fraklaan.> EvhnthhreeI feelr whmdlpaelsd bans ;retneaeeme.>Twedveia thhat sepaeasesen Sisd orldg from thenrxtuiesaueverl tyi ban;e andif Yorf kiste cursn t witfeanh nttheris ltesy cmpbetep t otinf whmdayst whntwhe erey tgetthe tinf whmflteh,fpi ise nneethemltesyreea.tIe givebs cml,ad p pieituauisagsincr I fasttotEnglaan.."
"Ad wau?,"askenetthuhousesst.
."YYoo musthgivethaendoof aabe-tuonkin, aandailutSosesetBhagco mhoifessrsiios?."
"La!d Mr.Dempsthe,lIeneevettthought frYOUtgivtinuioe o aepacktnft .nnnsrnseelikeethatt Ieben yYorfpaedons Ftmymrudennes,t butreealy,yYoo DOp soprisceme.."
"WSatu hould yog tyik fhspieitse whectnedradtunseendletstesw—telld th enamcstoofperrsos whmtn ostoof whmccmmaoy k eww— hid bout the secreus freeverloihernd Sheroom?>Yyogrscoleecl TromBeho, wht hsuldust inh Sheebmrcgtwsevio yeaspago,t;andmors;stistspieitdcppleasn, tomltine Loando,dt aldggivemeeadmessiageto this ldsmotthe, ttosaygthe as expecllinothe tstio; an whmouldladysdind notlivep tree monthsnaftdrt."
"Weal,otShttcieetBhagc,n butIe ooulobeevsry ara. o coneincr. Bust yri,dd Mr.Dempsthe,ltShttcie n.reassoswhytyYooshhouldnnotgeteadnicnd tidyebody d oemake yYooccmf Ftable.>Twedspieitse woulennousuaelyu begBudge yYoud tatt Aandsogyyoh gdtalpleashat,voyiag,l ad fastr uid br f seboturv soe;sdtoesretailutSaatwsse toberseen. Dindhnrdnfttwhroulo o clonisas cml,oust witfyyo?."
"Whe heeatlaagstpaell l tgetthew— Mr. andtisdfamiay,o wht heejmust tbehnthomed oefhiiuhythhireeducasiio.."
"AandyYoo dmirhndthemyYoinuledice,t ft cursn, butreealy,tteytaor oommyYoinu Ft yo. Hhive thydgriwnlup tanesomi?."
"Notepaelicularlrdtanesomi, butvsry pleashat-lookkin;dbustif,yYoo alkd ofh eauty, itu aesah seboturv ladys whtbfor ofof whmpalmtontboara. sipt.oUnf Ftunvsely,esthewssemhreien,e anditt hould givebeeneeverd impropert ot take a fhanrdtne te,dbust Mst.Phrillpsdhassuperb.."
"MMst.PhrillpsdoofWpri wata?," said Mst.Peck,leagcrly.>
"Yes,lIefhanrdthhatisstSh namienof whmplace; stlehesttths cildren usedef od alkdabboutitfbrdthhatnami.d M.ePhrillpsuiesaushhep-fhamherned Sh eViecoaiansail,," said Mr.Dempsthe.>
"AandyYoosay shheis tanesomi?." said Mst.Peck.>
"Pdervctlrd eautiful!w— butuneducasen,e andsomiwShtt apricioaut.oIg fhanrdthe acen musthgive aptivasedsthertusb ad,o whtiesaueverl in taligsna,n gBre;btl mhot."
"Itsupposestteytaor rhich nw?." said Mst.Peck.>
"Oh!deverd elat otdo, Iefhanrt Ievisitsd thmta goododealo thn I asinenLoandot."
"Howdmhnrd cildren hhive thy?,"askene Mst.Peck.>."Iek ew thmtllinu agor."
."Tteyuldustoot,wwithscealttsflvsre sefor Shydssaben. Tthrhhwhrhe fYorftontboara. sip; but thrldarheftlvsbyu hhis ime,r FtMMst.Phrillpsd tetaycdu iy seboturv Fnther cnfincmsna,n ad heeatllittlpboydwwit iyay d eekdnftl ankin.."
"Issthertusb ad;wwithhhe?,"askene Mst.Peck,leagcrly.>
"Oh,ono!.Io tyik Phrillpsd fastup tohiisssrsiios;nths heeatnumaher ooff hiigie oesret o.>WwaotdotyYooknow abbout thm?,"askene Mr.Dempsthe,l ratther sopriscnecut Mst.Peck's uriosyty.>
"Ie aesoncs ioethhireemplnymsnaecutWpri wata, ;and Mst.Phrillpsd t aesunccmmoilyogood-lookkin,thhn. Tthrhhw asnnotstomuic,stytlpioethhsne mdayst s I supposestterediasnnw.."
"Probablrenuot;wet civeailehgdIto orns ara. FtwShttwet civetarnsn, inen Shslpcoloniese idtPhrillps musthgivemadsttii ay likeethemresatoof aut.oTthyt heeaueverlpBritrdllittlpesaablwshmsna in Loando.."
"Kep'ethhirecaarrage,dnoedoubu,," said Mst.Peck,l withat f hiily-diyguisedtenete.
"No, Shyddind no;dbustif,it'se irds ats aeciioe o yYoftotk nw,it,d Mst.oPhrillps hasuhheeautYor nnh SheContincna,n ad hsuhheeau lady's-msai.."
"Adlady's-msai,," said Mst.Peck;>." ela! ela! an whm cildren,nId p sppose,darhebekinleducasentup tottheninne?."
"Tthyttlok bltc, tvegnvteinesoaand Shelady's-msai wwithtthmt to tMseboturv,," said Mr.Dempsthe.> "Tthyt hrhesishtes,saanneverdsuperi Ft tyYoinuledicet.Inlfact,d oemyetaese,oMMst. Fraklaan,d Shelady's-msai asdmfor chamgin taot themiynrnes;onnotstorjgularlrdtanesomiw— but everdtllveayw— whlheaie oein taligsncen an refincmsnattthrhe aesnto mcompaeisdo. If sthe heebeenea dozen ofhyyeaspoulvesIe iught civebeeneat sliittlpppbsumphuoaut."
"Was thas Mst.Phrillpsdstoeverlfaeebehian astthhathhr msai waststo p speri Fttne te?,"askene Mst. Fraklaan.>
"Iatthpplnend whtt Shslpsishtesd erey hemyYoinuledice ofwSom,esevo, inen Shslpdiynhat,paele,,yYoo aythgivethaendsoomohhin; wht erey rhought ap e oeinheeitdctlaagstproperty.iamtthssoutht ofScotlaan,dbytaueverl ecceitrhidunSll,e wheltftueeverohkinlthe hee o aessoswhhmtn body had tlvsrethaendoof sefor,saannltftutthegirlsuabeolushly penniacsut."
"Was not thirenamieMsevriln?,"askene Mst.Peck,leagcrlys;and iercely.>
"Yes,,"drpliene Mr.Dempsthe,lausonwshcndtto hid his chttye e cmmunicasiioseto this ldsfrrvne,oMMst. Fraklaan,d ckeo,up.iamttii ay tbyu hhisunprepossessiin-lookkin,stBhagcr.> "Yes,l thirenamie as Msevriln,o;andIeneevetintmymllfvemeut withmdrldami;btl, mfor in taligsna,noerbettve-ppiancpledegirlut."
"I shweabboutitfienttngpaptes,," said Mst.Peck,lsaneavYoeiin to teubdue. he dsliigho;andexulsrsiioecut theidlaenof whmgirlsusthewwshcnd osnrmuic, o comltinechnavct withbekinlsnrneaeehvetastMseboturv.>."Ie ookd aegBreatinstenesekiditrtIdlikeethesheromaancs ftateatlife..Aand so,dd Mst.Phrillpsdhasup,d idttteshegirlsuarl,dowo,d idtglado o ehat th mbitstey rteduoofetevice. Itdhisvveyt;musiin.>Waas Mst.Phrillpsd uuct ckeo,up.wwithtthmtioecaccounf fttthie miyf Ftunhe?."
"Iedod notknow,," said Mr.Dempsthe,ldeily.>."Ifgyyoh giveegrvedt Mst. pPhrillpsdyYoowwllok nw,ttateshheis not thssamieaoucllo imei.."
"Tthnttthrhe aesaulaagstpaell nfttwhmtontboara; aesgrvhat,ynto doubu,td idttteshetwntMsevrilndgirls,o an whm cildren?." said Mst. Peck.>
"Tthrhhw aslasosapsishtef fh Mt.Phrillps'sw—rattheradfianewomho,e oow— cml,dobutontaevisit.."
"Aandadfianelady, oo,nIddarl,say,." said Mst.Peck.> "MMt.Phrillpsd hhuls hhci hadlpBritrdhiigt.IowarrhaotSisdsishtef;and Mst.Phrillpsd hould givehsomiespaeriin.>Aan whm cildrenuarl,good-lookkin,nId sppose? I shwen ohtdnfttwhmtsincr thhefirust aesaubaby.>Wwaotaor Shyd llki?."
"Tthyt;reteverdpBritrd cildren,n ad gsrtkinobn hllowwithtthie studicet.>Twedeulvust issdMsevrilndist themoestttorhouglys ultivassd omhotItlvsre shw.."
"Oh,oleavcdCrossdH altallird Ftttau,," said Mst.Peck. "Hhe as alwsaye crazye bboueeducasiio, andttates Ftsnfttwkin.."
"CrossdH al!," said Mr.Dempsthe.> "ItsupposesyYoowwllosay nrxtuthhat yYoudk nw, FracistHoghroh,t ftCrossdH al,omhmbtef fhParliamsnat Fttthe Swinttn burghe?."
"Mhmbtef fhParliamsna,stlo!." said Mst.Peck,l with thssamieeubduend efierceinesoast whntshhefirust ookdMM.eDempsthe up.abbout thdMsevrilnst. p "Mhmbtef fhParliamsna! Uagratsrfuddog!." thssaai, unidr,htey rteit;s but therexpressidot ftvhidictivenessywasonohtal tgetthe ldustootMMr. .Dempsthe.> "Oh,yss!dI k nw,him; or stlehestI k nw, altabbout hmr. N body ddindknow anyohgin ft hmotilaythecamltin tottheproperty, yYoo know;dbusteI rsealy,knnwdmdrheabbout hmt taotmoestfolks. Tthrhharl,somn, dpeeopldtSatu houldgivep thireeeasptotk nw,wtateIsdo;l but thrldiesau eshytinuioe hhen Foh,twhhreeI w asboro, 'Lehest saidisdsooneustmsaned;' t;ttanyerans,tlehest sai o thmtassiatdon'stconcson.."
"IfrIe heeyYoo stapseaanc ",; said Mr.Dempsthe,l,"Ie woulegetealld yYorf secreus ooutnftyYo,owhetthe yoglikedt ut Ft no. Yes,l Mst. Fraklaan,sIt rsealy,cwoul.."
"Iedon'sttthik itectnebelriigh,," saidtthu iminnhousnes,twhh, trougsesthewsseeverlfoand fshsarkinl thenrws, ppbfferedgtotgriftwhmt fromuliekinlperrsos aannnnotdiyhmbodiedtspieits.> "MMst.Peck,lyYoo rve ckkinlt nohgin.."
"Iegnotbhadnewsejmust sefor ea, andttate ook h ay mymhppltite;s butI h givegnotnvdrf whatnnw, snrI'llo roublee yogf Fta mutttn chop,d Mt.>Dempsthe,laandPeck,ljmustpasydmr thhepyckles,l ad betgoodoenrougs ot gtlvsmv a totecup.nfttea, MMst. Fraklaan,d Ftttii nildiesasdc lds asea ssban;," od Mst.Pecku felgiiclirvnd otmake up Ftldust ime,r and madethddvsry haety,supplr..Shlt uid up.wwithtwntglassestnft .bFrady-;an-wanheytoa,n ad shvegnotPeckuooutnft th way,d Ftsthewwshcnd o oe hivea quirif alkd with Mr.Dempsthe.>
MM.eDempsthe wasonohtdiyposedt toen curiagether cnfidsncs;hther etBhagco inquprieseabboutpeeopldthe heebeenegBrealysinstenescdu i,d recealsnd Shepseaanct which hd stomuic,staroled, FracistHoghroh,t adghhd sspschtn d whtt Sisommustblp thmperrsoo wht heewrittenethemlttstes thd pieitd hd bseenqunesidoedtabbou, aan,tchosequraapy,,ttateshhe as Hoghroh'sdfmdtthe;snndmotthe, ccertaily,o toberpround f!>Twedspieite saaid Sat>whe tstneoought ot cive nohgin wtatlvsre oddot withthe,r and Mt.Dempsthe wasotdiyposedt toobhyt;llospieituaud cmmunicasiiost. Besidss tis,oailehiie.ineskictsd ereysaBointagainsttanyekiste cursn withalwomho so ediydrputaabe-lookkin,l withanrexpressidot ft chooteaaanctalnhenvsely efiercesaann awniin.>
Now>tSet awniine aonted astpbuton.; Mst.Pecketheean nbjecltine vieww—shhe wsnaendmdneye oetakestherttoMseboturv, aand oetakesther immsnivsely,td idtttisdyesy-gokin,lbtnevoplnt-lookkin,Adslaidl genttlmho sybmsnd toblp thmmoestlikely victim; the woule eeut wit.>
Sthe heellinu wshcndttosret he dauighsemhpaetd fromthertusb ad,o;and p thrldneevet heebeenesuucgaechhacetsincr sthewssemhreien; aand oegeuo .t lds froni oerboth nfttwh Msevrilndgirls aot thssamietimn, aesau e cnjuncltioooof ircumysranrsuabeolushly ;andmarvelloaulye avYoeabler. .Hhe lhestremithhacet fromMM.ePhrillps hadIbseenrecwtlvndasmfnith beefor,sn ad ssespfastasdsoontassiatwssegott.Peck,l with whsnef Ftunhe. she heey Ftmanyo yeasp cnnjecedghheysel,s hee notbeenelucnydnftl ter. Hhe heeycomed oeAdslaidl eatdacentwmc,saann hadnnotgotobn hllowwithtisg bets.>>Hhe heedoni atllittlpinegamblkin,lbutn hadgnotin toaes Ftsnftrnw stap lowdpbblic-hhose,taneebeeottakeo,up.aann irvndfoeebekinldruik ;and pdiyoFidrly, aanddiymisiedt withalcausiiot; odshe heegoni up totthe eshhep-shsarkin,o an whnstand orneeeatllittlpaot thshay-harvest,d idt t;gainpaot thswheat-harvestr.Hhe woule ornspBritrdhaendautsuucg imei,. t;andmake goodo ages;s buthhe hee n.tturo Ftstsady, rjgulare orn,d idt tneitthe hd she. If sthe heebeene iy seboturv,; the woule cive nboerowsnd Shetene Fttwseviop uidsgneedvndfoeethe;passiag-money,t idtal pdeceit-lookkin,boufiut frompeeopld whtk ew hdrf whor,saannguesssn, tate sthe heesomn,hiddmoemians,neitthe fromfrrvnes Ftfoes;s butied Adslaidlsesthewsseuik nwnrexctpad fromther cnnjeciiog withPeck,t which daid not inspieer cnfidsncs.n
TtisgAdslaidl genttlmho heejmustcomed fromLoando,d idt wouleknnw nohgin abboutthe,r odsthewssedrihrmirvnd otusrdhhe;plausibleesbague,. t;andgriftwhdmdneyeooug ft hm..
AsmMM.ePhrillps saai, sthewssepossesssnd withtthsspieite ft falsehood. She alwsayehheeaudishicliraciioe o spfakd Shetruoh,tunlnes whntiatwsse vsry decidlnlyefoeethe;owoeinstenese oddotso,d FtwShntshhe asenragcdueooug ftaileprudencl.>Sotnnw, wShntshhewsnaend oegeteaot tdvaecet fromMM.e>Dempsthe,lshheforgothtthsagisrsiioecandttheeagcrness which she heeystown.abbout thdPhrillpsis,n thdMsevrilns,e andttlp Hoghrohs, aand plnend,up.adqupite ew miing fh ixieliese idtfleast.Hher eecreu,esuucgassiatwss, oshhouldnnotbhe lds toanrloihe but thepaelihe. o tomtiatwsse valu;btl, aann wht houldpardthe anesomilrdfoeeih,esom shemmustnnw spBrvsnatttias frvne nfttwh famiay fromsevo,guessgin aif Sat>whe tscwhmhsdwhrhr;
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChaptdrfIII. RaishingTwedWind
As; Mst.PeckesippedstherbFrady-;an-wanhe,tpbutkinoas cnynraiat,oa .theyseldio so doiigw— oeethe;naturea taeset hould giveledsther to tewaalowditfienlaagstgulps, but tatu houldnnot give;aswheedsther purposesunftimpressiing Mt.Dempsthew—shhebeganf od alkdnfttwh lttstes she heeyrecwtlvnd fromMseboturv, which hd diynrnesedstherstomuict.Hher dauighsemtwsseila ad dykin,o an therstn-in-lawt heewrittenetosther to ben thatif h shepossibly,cwoultshhewoouloScml,aSrossdttosretpoortdhaed aryg sefor sthewssenndmorh;s bu,tpoort ealow,tthe asalwsayehhra. upw— ddeceit s eil-mianhing ealowdthe aw— buthhewsnaendpush,d idt hiigie hee lvsre goni riighlyg withtio.
"Tthyt cive eevet heetwh doecoauooutnft th hhosetsincr thhye cive nbeenemhreien,e andmanyobirthsnaandmanyodteitsekheptadmhot lwsayepoor,. t Mr.Dempsthe,lau hlloyYoo mustknow;d andit'ismhoy'iethhefive-pouidt nor s I'ivegivmoe o thmtooutnftmymsmalaymiansetosthlphtthmt Srrougt t;ttaehhra.pinch,t adghhdtthike,t ft cursn, aeshowtIectnejmustput mye eh ad intmympnckeho;andpay mymppssiageinf whmfirustsstemtesaesqupck hsu .thdtthiked Fttoe;sktmv; an snrIgwooul, aann houldneevet cive begBudgedg wa,s Ftmympoort ary's sake, but tiigiehssegorv soe cotraerl withme laandPeckd Ftttii yeatbacne tateIsaia'otgotoa pennye oelay bour.Aan f whor'iethhepoortshouelaykinlsnrbad, andttiikkig, s I'mrned Sh roan,sIt darl,say,naandmeectnenndmorhegriftotthe witoust wigienoes shecanf odogeutme.."
"WSatuis yYorfstn-in-lawtbyu radn?,"askene Mr.Dempsthe.>
"Why,rthtaia'otgoto n.tradne o spfakdof,dbustth'ifwarlhhosemhotsfu .Campbela ad Co.,e iy seboturv,;twhdmer chnle,,yYooknow,," said Mst. pPeck.>
"Tthnthhe musthgivea goodosituasiioecandrjgularepaymsnaw—hl,dobught nosttotbelsnrbadlydnff,," said Mr.Dempsthe.>
"Twhor'iesuucgexpensest withalfamiay iy seboturv,;wShredtthor'ie michtsickness espjeiealyr.A vsry decsna,sgood- empheedg ealowdtheis,s aand don'stspeid his ages h ay fromtisehhmi.dPoort ary! I flld rsmembtefetwh day shhewssemhreien,e andhowtpBritrdshhellokcdu iyther whte gowo,dt aldhowt thssays odmn, 'Oh,omyomotthe!tIectn'htableao od ltalv,yYo, msevo, FtJamcs,' aannnnweshheis agokint otleciveaileoofust. Aann wenetllittlpBetsytw asboro, aandIe aesatnursgin ft he,lshhelooktnd up.aannssays sth,o'Oh,omotthe!tIedon'sttthik s I'mrllinu Ftttii rld;' butI hrousedsthe,n ad ssaidsthe aen'hta-dykin whn,taannmy rdsywasotrur,sn Ftsthewasdnnotgokin whn;s butnnwdtodtthik my begin snrfaee fromthero an therstrbad.."
Tthnt Mst.Pecku ipedsthereyes snvegeuicealy.aan snbbeeeatllittl.d Mt.>Dempsthe sybmsnd toblpsoft-thaetvdeaan simpbe-mhiden. Shvetthought shhe heemadethntimpressido,d idtshhesaneavYoesnd todhepeiditrt
"Ieammaeeverloulo clonisa.tIe givebsene iyAAustaliatttii ttirtye e yeat;andmors,dtravellgin abbout fromplacen o place.>Wwvo yYoo nid Mst. p Fraklaand erey alkgin abbout chagcstaid upst;anddnwns,nIetthoughtoneat smanyo s I giveegeotinf whmntthercolonies. Tthrh'iethhmo s I rsmembtef ewritoustapsixpencr s iasnnwtroalkinoinegsul.tIedon'stk nw,tted Adslaidlsegenterdso fll,n butIersckso thhyechopd idt chagcojmustliks th dtthes. Itdhisvveytunlucnyd Ftmed toblpShredjmustate tistpprsenao time,r FtIudk nw,oofadmanyeki Sydneye tateIs iught civeapplienetto oes atllittlprllao,d idtttey'ld givebeenegladototgtlvsml,assiynhace;s bu,t eunf Ftunvsely,eIeammnnh SheAdslaidlssail, wShredn body k nwsnmer. .Tthrh'iethh Hootere,t ftSydney,e tateIswasdnursn inf whmfamiay.."
"Aand thdPhrillpsis,noofWpri wata, oo,n whtIddarl,say,e ooulobee mlusto cppy,tosthlphyYooiftyYoowereysaBahteneld it thdMseboturv sail,," saaidd Mr.Dempsthe,ldeily.>." M.ePhrillpsuiesaumorhelibveeadmhot taotMMr. .Hootert."
"Iaeis notMMr.Hooter I'dulook to, but his ife;lsthe hestted gsnveoau sspieit,," said Mst.Peck.
"Twh Hootere ;retattpprsenaoin Loandow— stlehes, MMr.Hooter ;and p thlfamiay are.; Mst.Hooter diedtfYorf yeaspago,," said Mr.Dempsthe.>
"Twat'se .pity.>Oh,odhae,odhae!eIeammsoary tostharf whatnews.dPoor,l pdeareledy;l butied themidsatoofllfvewhharl,ieddteit,," said Mst.Peck.
"Noedoubuewhharl,," said Mr.Dempsthe.> "Nnebanek nwsn whatbttstes ShntI tdo, FtIuammalwsayeliekinlamlinesttthsdsad, andtthyd occastioealy. elptfmed tojudge oofpeeopl..Itgeteadgoododealonftinsmighe kiso chaacttefetwrrougttthie mians;taannmy impressidoeis,s whtt Shrve iesnohtat rdtooff ruoh, iyalloyYoo givejmust smoe ellgin mn. Yout nat o go ot Mseboturv, noedoubu,tbustituis not oesreta dykin dauighser. Yyoh givet tthe;planasineview whichctnnnotbhechreiendboutthee.."
Mst.Pecku asdsomiwShtt ckeo,hbacnebyu hhisblunt expressidot ft opkiidottchmhing fromhdmhot pparhnalrdso sugive;ad genttlrt
"Ianesn,tsie,," saidsth,o "Ienlvsrethaendn body doubuemy rdt t;forh;s buu hhisScmlstnftlecikinl theplacenwShredyYoo rvek nwn. Itdhis o oesretmymdauighsem tateIsammmoest wshrfud o go otMseboturv.>Noedoubue Ie iught cive tthe;reassos, FtIudon'stliks Adslaidl; bustit'stttii tletste;tidtttisdbhadnewsettauthaesmadetmelsnrseutontgokin. BustIe aes taskkinlnoe avYoetofhyYo. IfrIedai wantdctloaoooofadtriftl, I'le cive npsaidbacneeeverlfaeohgin ftit withgoodoinstenes. BustIe tyik Ie had tbttstesdrawtoneat frvne nftmiing iy seboturv. I supposestthatif Iedai p tat, Ie woulegetetthsdraftecashcnecuthnrdnfttwhrbrake?."
"YYooccoulegeteitecashcnecny whFe,tprovidlntyYooshhwlntyYoes auttority d oedraw,d idt wneincrdp thmperrsoo o tomtyYoo pplienethhat yYort frvne twssegoodof Fftwhdmdney. Unidr,tShslpcondisiioseI shhould nostmhid tdvaeckinoitu Ft yotmyyselt."
"BbutyYo'lobeeratther ara. o coneincr, Iefhanr,," said Mst.Peck. "Afttefetwh un cnesomiewaygyyoh givedoubuennmy trur ssbry,eIe houldnnot llki ot pplye o yYo. Bustanyo dvaecetthhatanrloihewwoule aknd o omf houldbe laassafi aestthebrak. It give;ae;anuity, aandhgivetheeitu Ft manrlf yeast."
"No,," said Mr.Dempsthe,o "yyoh givenot;anuity;f yoggotoa sum, ft mdneye.inesead.."
Mst.Peckestaetvdeauu hhisScnfidsnstassersiio, andcolouesnd hidignhatly.>."HowdcanfyYoospfakdsnrposytive.abbout twigieyYooctneknnw nohgin abbou? It give;ae;anuityt fromhn tthe;quaetvet."
"F Ftvalu;btlfetevices,sItsuppose,," said Mr.Dempsthe.> "Weal,oifr yYoudctneprovetthhatyYoo rvestwlloienrecwtpug ftaae;anuity, aandif,yYoo ctne lodgve;aeoFidretto oeesaalloit,nIddarl,sayeyYooctnegeteaot dvaecet fromuanrlAdslaidlsbwllodisi onste;n butIemyyseld houldratther notdot bmrkines e withalperrsoo whtI feelris not oebeerelienedo.."
To pbutanrenngtottthsBrvslasiios, trur ort alse,snfttwkisunpleashat, ouldtwomho,e Mt.Dempsthe askenettoblpshowoe tsben,e stthe astirhn; ;and hhe uid wkisroom, trougssm al,nwaesasdclean andcomf Ftable aas Mst. p Fraklaand heebeeneussn,toegivep o himdwnhhhr morheprospfeoau days.;
Mst.Peck'smfirustatstmptn hadfsaben, trougsitd hd cppleasn,ueverl promishin. Shvetthoughtshhewooulonrxtuterl Fraklaan,dwhh, trougsehhe aspoor,. iughtbeevictimiztngtottthsrxteunf fttenep uids. Shvedaidd not hiik; the woule ffjec himdbyudwellgin mmucgonf whmdesieersthefllt o od sret he dykin dauighse, trougsf Fftwhdsake Yfuccnsssthanrdiae aes tmsnaidoedtashhhr motivep o griftotMseboturv jmustate tisttime;n butshhe e heeseevealosumstoofmoneyedue.totthe iy seboturv,; idtshhewaesafraai, effrom theletste; she heejmustrecwtlvn,,ttateshhe houldlosesttemdif sthe ektpadooutnft th way; tthrhe aes nohgin llki begin onf whmspotw— nohiint slikhepromptnmha soest whntoihewanasstlegeteindmdney. MM.eTaebos'i tletste; asdsufficieat,warrhaot Fntherttoraashdmdneyeonh Mt.Phrillps's. t;anuity, butnnht Fttthepurposesnftgokint otMseboturv, which she hee eunlucnilrd etraycd.>Itd aesaistorattherdis gBre;btl kiditsstlne,d idt tnostlikely oeinspieer cnfidsncs, iyanrloihewhoedradtitrtSoh she hee eonly he;owoerepprsenaasiioseto truese o,; idtshheScertailyoggivea everdtmhiute,d idtaot thssamietimn,glowiin caccounf ft he dsbsbrs ;and etherexpjetasiioseffrom thm;n butwShttwwithnneethiin cidtan tthe;sthe heeyreealy.nlvsre senesoe ara.up.iamthe;llfe..Pecketheennotgotoailehiie t agest Fttarvestkin,o an sthe heebeenesnrfoolish aie oeleneeatllittlp tmdneyeiamAdslaidl, which shefleasn, the woulennotgetebacnt.Innesn,t p thyt heeausi rlpaot thsinns tatd hd ltaigtoomloin;dbustif, the woule eonly gete he;owoe the woulepay ala ad bedqupiteyesy..Shltspokeeoofad ratstnftinstenesef Fta triftiin cdvaecetthhatrattherdazzled, Fraklaan,d t;andhhewaeswcndergin ifrthe woulennot aniag o raashdih,e thn his ifed tcamltin tottheroom, an stoppedstthie alkdbyeshytinuitd aesben-timnt. pWShntshhewsse lds fh Mst.Peck'sm wshcso an thernfffee, MMst. Fraklaane nptenmptoeilysrefussne oelssthae o thm,eshytinu thyt heenndmoneye oe t;dvaecetttoanrloih.p Fraklaand heebrhoughtttemddowoelowdenrougsinethhe d orldgby begin snrfree ienleadkin, ad intspeidhin. If sthe hee not ckeo,scaoetofhtthebmrkines, aann hrneeeearlys;andlate,d idtlooktnd aftdrf Shepmoneyesnrfaeeas sthe heeitfienthe;phwlr, Shyd houldnnot give heeahrrooffnvdrf whirethadssbyu hhis ime.>Wwaot withtthslicnncndthhat heeyjmust smoepaai, andttlprsnattthatmmustblppsaidbsefor Sh vne nft Sh emfnit, Shyd houldbheclleasn,bou, writoustadvaeckinomoneye oe stBhagcrs d whtt hrheino whiredsbs alrsady.>As; Mst. Fraklaand aes reealy,tte y rted-wiinhe,n ad aot thirepprsenaolowdwanheythhe pursn-khephe also,dd Mst.Peckesaw,itu aesnftnotusrd o pressyhdrfnfffees onsthertusb ad;inen Sh acenoofeuuct Fmid;btl opposytion.;
Onf whmfollowiin day shhestaetvdeearlysied themsaby coevyaecet Ft tAdslaidl, lecikinlPeckebehian astalpledgvef Fftwhdseittlmeunf fttthd tbill,t idtdrihrmirvnd otraashdtene Fttwseviop uidsgsomihnw.;
Wwith Mr.Taebos'i letste;ienthe;h an sthepprsenaedghheysele o ae tbill-disi onsteeiamAdslaidlr.Hheunidrstoodnthe;phsytion aotoace;s tate sthe asdsomihowt cnnjecedgwrit, butvsry obnoxioau o ae teathytclienao f fh Mt.Taebos'i,r FtMMt.Phrillps's.namie asnnot snaidoedtinethhe dletste; an alsto tat,dlikeemoestpeeopld ft he class aandhgbits,lsthe e heespfasthhr moneyebsefor shvegnotitrtOft cursn; thssaailt nohgin nft wanakint otgo otMseboturv,e iy whichctsn, y,tte body ooff hheletste,d itt houldbveaimoestScertai Sat>whe ;anuitytwoouloSetsn, e but the dasi onsteewsnaendsomiese urill gainsttsuucgaecontingsncy, aand askene tvetif, themianot oessay,insSouthtAAustalia, caccrdkint otn gBre sna.d Mst.Pecku asdwwllkint otsayeanyohgin, ttoswyeat;ayohgin, aand oesigot tayohgin, Ftthass ats aeciioeoa Sisdpo it,dbustthrteverdtflurany madet hmosuspicioaut.
"Itcannnotcdvaecetthissmdney,," saidth,o "sevo,onf whmdephsyt nft yYorf oFidrettoarrnesewSatuis chmhing o yYo,tunlnes I giveeomn, coleanhealoese urill,d Ftsomientthe.nami,e iyctsntofhyYortgokint ot Viecoaia.."
Mst.Peckeccoulegetenoenane oecoeroboratstthe;savsemenasdbustPeck,t wo eccoulebesnftnotetevice.totthe..Shltfllt rattherineat ix.>
"Whateshhouldtakesmed toMseboturv?," saidsth,oioecacenasdnftgBreat p soprisc.> "Iaeis so muucgagainsttmysinstenest otgo whFe,t tateIswwoule enlvsre stsuucgaefool aie oequaereld withmyo rtedu ad butste;n butittsto pthpplnseIsammmuuct iyneedtoofmoneyejmustate thepprsena.eIsamm tlxpecllinomoneyeffromScotlaaneeeverlmsabt.Innesn,titu aestruesiin to tthhatastpbutmelsnrback ttisgquaetvetdIeneevetdoubuenn tateI'legetea eh adsomiesumeffromScotlaan; I'ivegothtthsriighie oeit, aandif,iatdon'st e cmvsbyunrxtumsab,eIe iileprose utn. Youo rvessoet otgeteyYoermonhyd flldpaai, withgoodoinstenes,dif,yYoodo runejmustatllittlprisk.."
"Tthatmaydbveaildeverd ela,," saidtthubwllodisi onste;n," bu,tinethhe dmianoime,rcanfyYoonnotgeteanrloihetnrback yYooin ttis?tIdlikeegoodo oinstenes,d butIecannnotleneewritoustbttstesse urillr."
."Tterh'iftthubesatoofse urillrh Mr.Taebos'i nrxtupaymsnaeis due.ied wo emfnits, aandIe akndiotnvdrf ouyYo;faandif,twaotdoeasnnots ats yt yYo,sIt houldgivepyYoosoomohhingmorhenrxtupay day,tsse mucgasswwoule cnvdrfyYorf riskfaandyYorf rouble,faandyYorfinstenes,dh adsomieenrougt."
"Noteaoucllotanesomi, ifrIe haecetttolosesioucllrtOneyneedsptotkhept eonh'ifweatthereyed pln,,ieddtelkintwwithnuld gidsglikeeyYo,s Mst. Peck.."
"TthntyYoowwn'stdodtthis Ftmew—suucgaetriftiin caccmmodatido hsu ituis?."
"Notewritoustsomienane oeback yYo,," saidtthumonhy-lenehe.>
"IddarlsayeIectneetsiay indo tat,dif,yYooarl,soestwff,," said Mst. pPeck,eas sthefl oncedtooldio gBreatindignhsiio, andwwitheverdllittlp thopvnoofeuuceedkinoinewSaatwsserequirhn.>
Hhrhe aesshheinepossesstioooofadsscreut rithsnrmuic, o the,r and un;btl e o turoist otcaccounf Ftwaunf ftaubeggarly,tene Fttwsevio p uids. Tte y wllodisi onsteewsse odschapt Fnthe;lsthemmustterla good-naturendman enrxt,loihewhoe houldbvewwllkint otdotthe a kianinesw— buthhredagain,dd Mr.Taebos'i letste,yhdrfnnly auttority to givep irdse urill,d houldeinjsoethhr morhe Shnt withtthskeenemhnf fttthd orld. Tthrhhw asa sstemtes otsaabyonf whmmoerowr FtMseboturv,; idtnto ntthe.f Fta eekdnefetenedays;eeeverlday aesnft whmgBreaeust cosequranc,s Ft nw,ttateshhe heemadetup thr mind not oemake teFost with Fracis, but oddotsot with,tis ccmrkis, sthewsseeagcre oecarerl the;reeolusidoein o praecinc,saannlsthemmustgeutontboara.thh Hciklah,d ifepossible.>
Sthe heeltlvndsomieweekseiamAdslaidloienrattheradpoortway,naandied nrattheradpoortneiigbotuhood, wShntshheaandPeckd heeScml,firustaSrosst. pSthe heemadethcquain aanct withaleverlfew pdeopl,daand heeltftu Adslaidlsesliighlygieddtbu,tbustienthe;eagcrness sthewsseiiclirvnd ot nevelook thhsne ircumysranrs,laand oe opvnttates mienaneoauothdrfnfl the;eanh tneiigbotus. iughtbeepBrvsaben ioe o bvea guearatee totthe monhy-lenehetfmerelreasehdmhttvetofh Fm,t adghhd iughtbeeinduced, ot cacepug ftiot; od sthe turedstherstepsp nrtthudirecltioooofhdrfnule residsncs.n
Shhellokcdu i tottheshopdwShredsthe heebeeneac musomtnd otmake ther epur hasestnftgroSceice,t withanrioteaotioooofphytinu th elsevo, . sillkins which shehwlntift twigiellokcdupromishin, aandif,iatwwoulo betea goodospjeulahion.;
"Weald Mst.Smioh,t adghowd ret yo?," saidsth totthewomho whtkepug Sh eesaablwshmsna withtths avYoeitndnuloAdslaidlssagoooof,"Gsnveeag Scoae.."
"Mmucgassusual,d Mst.Peck. Yout snstawaygrattherineathurer,,"; said Mst.Smioh.>
"Oh!dPeckd hee otgo ofof tottheshhep-shsarkin,o an It heetwh nfffe frad goodonursgin nrtthui onsry,esnrIg hee otmovet;ttaemhiute's. waonkin, tyYoosre. Busttowd ret yo gsrtkinobn Shre?."
"Mmucgassusual,d Mst.Peck;l but thdnewseis,s whttmyomantcamlthomn, lhesteniugh,naftdr begin ahtttemddiggkigss FtfYorf yeas,; idtntif ritgin me la rd,sgood oerban,d Ftttrret aldmorh;saannnnwethsrxpeclie ed toblpsse sweeutasdsugeao odtim ;fstesservgin me so;naandmee heealld his cildrenuptotkhept;anddnd F,saanngoto n. elpt fromtimenndmorhenoes ifrthewasotdted;saannnnwethssayst s howtIegivep hmt tedc ldsshhouldrt."
"Weal,ottoblpsurv,; idtntowcnderneitthe!pWShntalwomho'sebeenesgrvedt so,ddsthe hesttedriightttolook hmbitestwff,," said Mst.Peck,t woe hee thaend nurkintthe;savyeiamAdslaidls whtt Mst.Smiohe heeppssedojudgmenao by ddefault,n ad ssegokint ottakeetottheyselean tthe;mate,d which aes t nohgin morhe ShntttedabsenaoSmiohedesgrved.;
"Weal,ottoblpsurv,; whatbtaas cck-fiighhin; aann waotdoeas Hcrriie saye otcilutSis?."
"Why,rinechursn, th'ifnff,o an I'mdwnhsuucgaequandarr,," said Mst. pSmioh.>
"Yout en'htmhreiend otHcrrii,dooutaand ou, wast yo?," said Mst. Peck,dd woe heeaskeenerelisgsf Ffsuuct isteneskinlnewseas tha.
"No; tthrhe aes wo Ftttrret twigieastpbutyt nff;l but thdbannsh aes tggiveienlaestSuiday,naandIn hadgnotmysgowoef Fftwhdwlndkin,o an llveayo oitolooksw— adstheh'ifSmioheaassaviag sseifdthe heebeene ritgin o omf eeeverlmfnith an seadkin,mhdmdney.."
"Iesupposesth'ifScml,tomedaaspooreasehdrat,dlikeettlprssnf fttthm?," eshaid Mst.Peck.
"No, no,tIecannnotjmustsaye tau,," said Mst.Smioh,trelentkinoas llittl,dd "Hhesaysthve eevet heentolucnotilay hhelhest ixemfnits, aand now the hese cmvsback withttrrethuidrendp uids;t adghh'sebeenebehcikinl everdtgenteeld withit,nIdmmustsay,taneebrhoughtpprsenais Ftmetanee Ft Sh e cildrenw—ttheh'ifaushawls Ftmetasuiesqupite .picthew—so rhichied Sh ecoloues;d butIecan'stsayeI feelrqupitepleasenecut thewaygthe enlgljecedgmelsnrloinr.Aan pooreHcrrii,d o;tIecan'stjmustgeut hmtbout ooffmy hadlala otoace.."
"Ttha's.naturea enroug,," said Mst.Peckt withalsympattizgin siigt.
Hhrhe Mr.Smiohecamltin tottheshop,d an staetvdeauu hlssagght fr Mst. pPeck.>
"Wela! ho'le civetthought frsreiin yYo whFe,t Mst?tIudon'striighlyg nrscoleecl yYorfnami,e butIeknnw yYooau hllossepossible,," saidth.>
" Mst.Pecktis mysnami,," saidsth impressively.>."Inrscoleecl yYof hllodo Beadkgor."
."Mhoy'iethhetimn,I'iveegeot yog terl,," saidSmioh,t iyanf embarrhssedef oing fhvoice. ."In opvn s howtyyoh giveyYorfhteath,s Mst. Peck.tSusho,etmymdhae,oyYo'lobettvetgivep Mst.Peckescmvsrefreshmsnast. Stepu i,d Mst.oPeck,dI'mdjmustatday homc,saannIsaia'ot cmvsback od soio, neitthe,eas itdcppleas.tSusho,emymdhae,ogeutobut thdspieite boittl.dWilloyYoo giverbFradyg withtotewanheyoercold,d Mst.Peck?."
"Wiohec lds tisehhttday.,I'ivebehnthaelebakenetravellgin ai Sat> smaabyomnibau snsrlmilns,e andttlpwind blowiin twrrougtistliks a d lamhing turace; annnnweyYorfAdslaidlsdmustis mckkinlmetasugrimy hsu .I'mdnnht isttotbelsehn,," said Mst.Peck,l wpkintthe; acen withthe eh adker cief,n ad stchkinltnweSmiohemixedstherbFradyn ad stser. >."Tterh'if nohgin pleaseydmr likeemletkintwwith ot ldg frvnet."
"NoFtme,," saidSmioh,t,"if, toblpsseshheis frvnely.>Now,tSusho,esite ddowoeaandhgiveatglasstwwithaut.Why,rtthewomho looksotanesomirenoesthhe ddayeI mhreiendhvetdIedon'stwcndernathtthsrisk Ierhnf ftbegin chouseds eooutnftyYo;n butittwsseratther odban,d oo,n assiatnot,d Mst.Peck? If smydletstest hen'hta miychreiendyYoowwouldneevet civetthought frsuucgae f hiig,tSusho,," saidth,o withanriosgiuasiin smiln,dh adkinlthis ifedat smixlsoetsimileao od Sat>whepprsenaedgto this ldsfrrvne.>
"Ifu thyt heebeene ritthnttthrhe hould givebeenenoe yeat fttthie smiychreykin,," saidsth ratther slkily.>
"Herh'if Mst.Peckw—myegoodofrrvne,oMMst.Peckw—whoe illobedat swarrhaotSnw,oothn I ussne oebedatspfakgin nftyYo,s an aswcndergin wSat> smadetmelgivepup.writgin.."
"TthatIe iil,," said Mst.Peck,t woefllt tisellittlpbitsnftrnmaecet wasotqupiteiamthe;llrv.>."Mhoy'iethhetimn,I'ivethaend hmospfakgin abbout yYoud andttlp cildren.."
"Take an tthe;drop.nftbFrady,oMMst.Peck,," saidthrtnewly-fouidt frrvne.>
"Tthnk yYo,," saidsth;n,"it'stbettvetbFradyn Shnt eeussn,toeget aif Beadkgo, butreealy,Isammaigtoommuic, roubleejmustnnw ttoenjoyeit, aand Iewwn'sttakeenndmorhenoes hlssanglndglass.>It'esaubadd orldg an asshee eonc,saannIssybmgto tgivemorhe Shntmymshaoetofhtrouble.."
"Dyeatme!d Mst.Peck,tIeammsoary tostharf wha;saannIsamessoetIm wshe I eccouledot;ayohgin,tosthlphyYo,," saidSmioh.>
"Iddon'stliks imposkinobn peeopldtSatuI givn'stnndclaimston,e butIe amedio gBreatneedtooftwseviop uidsgjmustf Fta llittlp whlh. It give;ae t;anuity, s I darl,sayeyYoothaendeatBeadkgor."
."Yes,lIeheern ioeit,," saidSmioh,t woecppleasn,indiyposedt to e cntradictyoerdoubue;ayohgin,twhtt Mst.Peckesaie.>
"Bustwet cive smoe eiend withtthssickness ;anddnecoas'y wllsw—Pecke aand mew—aannIsameeverdbackwaend withtths orldgjmustatepprsena.eIft taybody dccoulelenee ed wseviop uidsgf Fftwoemfnits, ttey'ldgeuo ppiancpaa ad sinstenesttanesomi. Youtbegin aot ldg frvnee turedsup,s aandmvek nwkinltyYooso hllost Beadkgo, makeydmr b ldgenrougstoe;sktyYof Ftttii llittlprstmporaerlassiynhace.eIswwouledephsyt ;aeoFidre Fttthe monhyd witfyyo oiftyYoowillobedsoegoodoaie oecdvaecetit.."
"Ccertaily,o Mst.Peck,tIeamm not thsnane oebedbackwaend heneat frvneeiie.intneed,saannIsk nw,itowillobedsafi enrougstoeblppsait. Susho,eituis nptervctlrdsafi.; Mst.Pecketheemonhydrjgulareeeverl quaetve,d oemyesk nwledgv;faandif,shhewsnast themonhydnnw, iteshallobed psaiddowoeonf whmsnail.."Aan Smiohe lds but thd wseviop uidsgin to Mst. Peck'sotanes,saannlrecwtlvndaaeoFidre Ftrepaymsnaeonh Mt.Taebos,t which asnnottoeblpepprsenaedgf Fftwoemfnits.;
Mst.Peck aesnevejoyvdeauuthrtunrxpecledegoodolucnoindmletkint ewrittttii re turedsdiggve,d tomtsthe heek nwnreverd elatst Beadkgo eundernanntthe.nami,eaann weoethheppssedo hmyseleofofhesttedtusb ad;nft .anntthe.womho..Shltpercetlvnd whatnnwdthe hee uid wkis ifedied nAdslaidl, doiigreverd elatinebmrkines, hhe houldratther tateshhethaend t nohgin ft hs;owoellittlpinfidslliice,tpaelicularlrdinf whmfirustdayst f fhmletkin,t adghistppobablhellsesnft whmmonhydtedadvaeced asnnottoto ptigthalprice.totpaye otpur hasessilsncs.n
Eeverohkinltaee tureds butmoestpropytioaulye FtMMst.Peck,tsnrfaet. Tte yinf Fmatido fromMM.eDempsthe showsnd Saoucllotheyobjeclstnft instenestt hrhecoleecledtineorv spoa,n ad ttii recogniotioooofSmiohepuhe kiso thero gidsgtthemiansstlegete o thmp whlhmMM.ePhrillps w asabssna.d Sthewasotflushcne withtoped idt wnfidsnstexpjetasiio wShntshhemadet eer pur hasestt frsomedaeliclcs ftatedy-madetclo hiig,taand ookdboutthed psssiageinftMseboturv inf whm'Hciklah,'d o prose utndhhe;planse Ft Brvsnge onft Fracist an advaetagesttottheyselr;
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChaptdrfIV.t issdPhrillps Meeus Wiohe AeCongeniaa SpieiteIn Viecoaia
As; MeDempsthe taeereporuenn teoethheebeenea divisiootinf whmfamiay ooff hhdPhrillpsis shortlrdaftdrf Shytl aned.; Mst.Phrillpsd wshcndtto nrsmtai iy seboturvgf Fta mfnith Fftwo,eas sthedaid notfeelrableesb; est andttlpllinulaanejoturvytate tistpaeliculars ime.>Neitthe he ehusb ad;n Fntheyseletheemuic, cnfidsncs, iyDM.eGrhao'ieskill,t idtsthe echould givebetste;ttthndancs ioetnwn. MM.ePhrillps haekinlasScertaiei p tat> Mst.Peck aesiamAdslaidl, aandhgigin, twrrougt Mt.Taebos,tsenaoad requnesr tateshheshhouldrsmtai whFe,t which ee;owoeinstenese aes likely d otmake therttthnde o,; heeltsesnbjecliioe o the;savygin ai tMseboturve Shntthsrevet heebeforh;s odshe ook hessitstnft turwshcnd ohpaetmenais Fthte;tidtttosesnft whmfamiay whoedrmtaiei ioetnwn.
Janh Msevrilnd snstaotoacee o Wpri watad withtths cildren,n woeclld pllinsnd toblp thri,eaann woodislikedtMseboturvemorhe ShntLoando.t issd ePhrillps hadI he choice.totrsmtai iytowoeore otgo up totthesthsiio, t;andsthedecidlneonf whmf Fmhe alnhenvstlv,d Ftsthebeganf odfharf we; est siio whouldbveeverldull,t idtwoouloScntraeseun avYoeablyd withtths evoyage, which hd beenelivelyt idtpleashat. Tthrhhwerl,somn,oofhdrf d ealow-ppsseagcrs tomtsthewsseuiwwllkint otlosessagght f;faandMMr. .BFradio w asnnotst Barrhgoin,lbutniamAdslaidl, so,d nf whm tole,lsthe etthoughtitt houldbveppbffeableesb;savy..Shltggiveasyhdrfnsthasiblee reassoe Fttthechoice,tthe wsgstoeblp with Mst.Phrillpsdnurkintthe; tbrntthe'i nrctseaerlabssnce. MM.ePhrillps savycne withtkis ifedtilay shhe pprsenaedghimt withalsecondfstn,o an whn,eas sthewssedoiigreverd hll,sehheltftutherinetthecaoetofhSisdsishtef;andElsiet.
Hhh hd beenerattherannoyvdeto indo tat.BFradio hheebeeneamusiino ptimysele y,takgin aejoturvyttoeAdslaidl soesoontaftdrfchmhingobut od Sh ecolonl gain.yDM.eGrhaoecamltdowoe ts eeutPhrillps, aand repprsenatn d whttaegBreatdealo heegoni amisitst Wpri watadsincr the (DM.eGrhao) hd bseensupplsnaendinetthechaagstnft whmst siios;s odthhat eetthoughtitt,indiyphasableesb;go up withtthslehestpossible dslay to look totcilutShe locksd andttlpobu-st siios.>
"Itu aesttlpwiulvustohkinlineBFradio sb;savFtsnff ai Sat>way,." saaiddGrhao,t," withalpooreleduoofa nrphew woedaid notknow a stttlp fromhd gum-trretwthnthhecami,eaannychrcelyt eshhepg fromhdcnw.;Ieneevet houldh givedonstsuucgaeohgin.."
"Bbuthhe hsegorv toebuy,somn, ew shhep,lIeheae,," saidPhrillps. "Hgiver Shytbseendsllvheedgst Wpri wata?."
"No,d notyet,," saidGrhao;n,"aannIs hiik;tSaatwsse whmmoesekisanh psFtstofhtthebmrkines.nIsamessoetYorfViecoaian lock-masstest hvio alwsayekepug ahteduoofttheAdslaidl lot; aand oego tottheAdslaidlssailf Ftshhepgt houldbve hhelhest pjeulahioneI shhouldcaoetttoensteeia to Ftemyysel, not oespfakdof implicasiin yYo wnhsuucgaeohgin. Tte llinu f evelaanejoturvyt iilepuilutShmddowoesnrmuic, hhatyYoo rvelikely oe pllsegaeohgrduooftthmmnnh Sheroan,saann waotyYoodo shviowillobedai twretchcndoFidr..BFradio w asfairlrdruaiei byegokinthomed oeEnglaan.."
"Ruaiei!." saidHcrrietsdPhrillps. "Hhesaindhhewaesruaiei,d Ft soomohhingtliks iu,tbsefor hheltft. Aor hist ffairstreealy,wnhsuucgae baddsavse?."
"Oh,oit'st notexactlrdhist ffairs,dbustthdgnotunseittldt idtwooulo noste orns sttheussn,toedor.Hhe eve turedsmoesenftmymarrhagemenasdaif Wpri wata;saannIsamessoetMM.ePhrillps willonnht indo hmysele irdtths ebetste; Ftthasalnhe siios.>Heeis so foolishly,cwnfidgin. Now,tItliks tttolook schaplrdaftdrfmympdeopl,daand whnnIssybewSaatwornsIogeutobutnft .tthm.."
"Ie hiik;yYoo rvequpiteriigh,yDM.eGrhao. It giversmtrneeethhewsna ooff hateppudsncs, iyboth Mr..BFradio aandmytbrntthe. Ttey tthik ite eproScedsp frombtnevoplnci,e butIesttributnditemorhe oeindoplnci aand tShe disliked oegivep thmysevcso ay, roublee ShytctneavYid,," said .Hcrriets.>
DM.eGrhaoe aspiquedgst bekinldepptlvnd fh Mt.Phrillps's.agsncy, Fte trougsthe heeprotnescduagainstttakgin iu,tthe hee uid itreverd olucrvstlv;dhhewaesalstopiquedgst Mst.Phrillpsdsavygin ai towoef Ffthe; tcwnfinemsna,sttrougsthealwsayedecleasn, Sat>whedrihescdupraecishin, aand nnly daidiutasdan caccmmodatido to thisneiigbotus;n butboth twigie heeyaddlnealiked oetisdymolumsnae adghistimpornhace,t adghhd aes extrsmely djeeaoau ole irdsliightbegin chesteitthe on hisbmrkines knowledgve Ftehistppofesstioaloskill.;
Onf whs;occastio wh nfffesn,toesavyeiam seboturvgf Fta eekdnefsto aftdrf.Phrillpsdltft,fmerelreasehdfrrvne,ottosret ow Mst.Phrillpsd aes gokint tn,o an ottakeeup.adfula ad s ats aecoerlaaccounf totthe st siio. Ttrougsthew asnnotthe;medicea;ttthndant,tthe asasmmuuct iy tShehhose,ttanee ar morhe Shntthe heelvsre senebsefor.>Wwvo twhdwlekh as eve,ttheecppleasn,toeblpinenoehurerd oego away,n butwrotn oe Phrillpsuinesead;ro an tuin abbouttShehhose,t snsterrhadis Fthte; Ft therosishte-in-law,e ook Hcrrietsdbout ortwalksd anddptlvs,dbrhoughtalld hism seboturvghcquain aancse oecallodo the,r and oeinquirhe FtMMst. ePhrillps andttlpbaby,n ad sse hmyseleeagagcdu Ftseevealohotus.nft .eeverlday inechnevesaciiog withHcrriets.>
Hhh hd comed oe seboturvgdrihrmirvnd otfalatinellvep with issd Phrillps, h whsnelikenessyhde heeseent an admieedgst Wpri wataf yeasp ago,; idth whsnefacesaann iguFe,t wenesgeotinfreeaity qupitecamltup to hismexpjetasiios,p whlhmtheraiat;andmaontesd ereyexactlrdssitsdgto this .tasst.>Heek ew tateshhetheeasf Ftunhw— nonlaags, ccertaily,obuhe rstmptgin o hdmhotwhoe ast notexactlrdpoor,.buhealwsayemorheorelnes embarrhssedt.Hherptervct ysel-possesstio,tthe goodoeduchsiio, the; tmusicea talents,etherexcellentr cnnjeciios,etherstylisgswaygnft .dressiin,tthrteverdegnoism,d ereyalatchaamgin o hdmhotwhoe anaendat swlfvewhoe houlddodtim ceeditrt
HhisScotuct amiay wasehdgood onv;dhhewaes cnnjecedgwritdmanyenobtlp thooses;rthe woule ell llinutradittioaloscoaieesnft whmftaas ooff hhd Grhaos andttlpGrilnspice,tthis atthe'i aldmotthe'i ancscoas; ad sith aswcnderrfud ow muic, hr hiscoerloofScotlaan,naandienesn tateooff hhd orldggsnveealy,osybmsnd tochagmnnh Sheexploitesnft wlsegancienao fclans. TtrougsHcrrietsdw asnnotssScotucwomho (iatwsse whmnnly drawback tttotthie ptervct ysitabiaity),lsthecpprjeieuenn teseganecdotnet swcnderrfulrd ela.yDM.eGrhaoelaindhhmyseleobut odpleaseutherinea muic, tmdrhemarneee aonted ShntBFradio hheeeevetdonc,saannSisdsuucessd aes michtgBreaer.>Hhh hd hessbduedg eelgin,twhttthisneiigbotutst Barrhgoint wasottii rival,dasyhde heeseentsnrmuic,nftHcrrietsdineEnglaan,s odshe loustnn oppoFtunity fhmlaotiogin aoyohgin,twhttwwoule ell againstt ho.
Tthnthhe aesnft whmsamieppofesstioeasyhdrffattherandtbrntthe Viviao,dt aldlikedttostharfther alkdnfttwhmt.Innesn,tprovidlntthdgnot time ad soppoFtunity oespfakdabboutths;owoerslasiios, cnnjeciios,e aandfrrvnesw—todogivep iecdotnetofhSisdschoolboyd idt wilngh days,tmdrhe insteneskint to thismotthed Shntttoanrloiheelseutheetoeforw—toddescribve nwdthe heeefllt tercolonialo hrdshlps tmfirus,t adghowdhhe hee graduealy, madet hmyseleeverdcomf Ftable at Bea Mdrhe( which aes hhd namiethe heeegivmoe o Sisdsthsiio, snrmuic,mdrheysitablvgf Fta Scottwshe squatttefetwanhsuucgnvstlv.namiasasmBFradio aandPhrillps hadIeettaiei Fte thies);w—hl,wwouleaalowdHcrrietsd oegiveptherschool ad societyg nrsmgiiscnncnsd oo,ntoddescribvethe oms, iyDerbyshlorw—twhmfturwtuFe,t .ttheornamints,e hhelhwn,o an whtgBrenhoosew—twhmccouny S aaleys, aand twhmccouny baals.>As; Shyt ereygsnveealy TETE-A-TETEtfYorf Ftfiive otus.tatday, Shyd hd hmopldtime fortdhscanakintontcilutShshe insteneskint topics.>Anrlvisisbrs whoe iughtdrop. i,doat;aylvisisdthhat Shyd iughttpaye ogethdrfnnly ggivefresh foodu Ftftuthdrfcomparisdot ft tthie owoelperrsoea taesei aldpeediljeciios.t issdPhrillps'i vowsnd costmptuoau scompasstioe Fteeverohkinlcolonialodaid notaoucllonfffand DM.eGrhao. Hhe heenlvsre senettorrouglrlaaclimatizedo hmysel,t adghhd heevowsnd lvsre otmarerdhnrdnfttwhrsecond-ratstcolonialogirls,dwhh, asyhdetthough,; heeenndmaonted idtntostyle.>Itd aes sopriskinltnwe flld tShshetwoe ew mfrrvnes gBreddabbouteeverohkinl idteeverbody.>
DM.eGrhao, fromtiseeduchsiiosaannSisdhgbits,lccnssdheedsthmysele e readkin,mao,d idtareverd elatinf Fmhdloih.p issdPhrillps,d oo,n hee etthoughtBFradio gBrealy he;inferioerineaiteraerlacquirhmints,eaesiam t;llontthed Swigi;n butittwsseskinuleao odobsgrveltnwellittlptShshetwoe npteopl,dwhoe erl,solccngeniaa ttoeaic,ntthe,r andwhoeenjoyvdeeaic, totthe'i company snrmuic,daand heesnrmuic,nftiu,t alkeddabbout whmmany ebookso Shyd musthgiveread.>As; Ftreligiio, polliics,doat;aylothdrfnfl whtgBratr cnccenstoofllfv, Shyd lvsresybmsnd torisc sevo,onf whm p so acenoofchnevesaciio; aann wenea bookpthpplnsn,toeblp snaidoed, ite ewssedismissedo withalcasualersmtrn,esuucgass."Inrsheeit,,"oat "Iddidtntif nrsheeit,,"oat "Idlikedtit,,"oat "Idtthoughtittstupid,,"aand whnntthyd e turedsto twigie whichmorhenrarlrdinstenesenn tem,o an whshhwerl, f hiigse iy whichttey tthmysevcso Ftsomienneerslastngtottthm madeteomn, n iguFe.eIfthnrdnft issdPhrillps'i,doat;aylofyDM.eGrhao'ierslasiiosn hee epublwshendatbook,,twhttwwoule cive smoemsnaidoedtaidtextwilnd, e but Shyd hee no. Viviao'iescienaific;ttttaimints,e whichHcrrietsd hee etthoughtrattheradb rlpaothomc,swerl,howsvsresoomohhingtoeboastfnfl thee;ro an DM.eGrhaoe hd hn uncled woe heemadeteomn,improvemenasdiam t;gricullsoetinetthen rithoofScotlaan,noof tomtthew asnsvsretirhnfnfl alkgin.;
issdPhrillps hadIeemtaiei ioeMseboturve oeblp withthe sishte-in-law,en butshhew aseverdllittlpbesidsdhvetdBesidss>DM.eGrhao, Shrhhwerl,d ealow-ppsseagcrs tolvisisvdeauu hlshhose,t andwhoshe visiss> issd.Phrillpsd aesb uid totrs tur,o an whrhhwerl,alstopublwc placesd oego d oe withtthm;n FtsthewwshcndttosretailutSaatwsse oobed sgeotinfeMseboturve whlhmshhewsse thee;rtidtttoougssheygsnveealy ritgciseneciluu hlsMseboturve cnccets,e andttlatrns,e andbaals, aand pptlatstpaeliestteverdseeveely,esthecacepueneeeverlinvithsiiosaann joaiei eeverlpaely utSaatwssemadetup Fttthettlatrn.n
Elsieo an whtnursn heetwh caoetofh Mst.Phrillpsd andttlpbaby,n SrougseElsieowwoule civeppbfferhnfbegin ahtWpri wata, withJanh aand tShe euldrs cildren,n Ftsthemissedotthie cheerrfudsociety,n butshhe woule nnotbhesparhd.t issdPhrillps aesiamexceedkinlyegood-humotutst his d imi,eaanndidtntifexactesnrmuic, fromElsieo s sthe heerxpecledt; buth Mst.Phrillpsdmissedothe usb ad,n ad sserattherps tlanae adg tcapricioaut.Sthe hee smoeccnssdheablydkiancre oeElsieosincr twhedratc, tofmthe;llittlpgirl. Ttismfirustsoerowr heedonstthe good;s butnnw,diam tthe usb ad'slabssnce,eadgoododealonftttheoldsspieitere tured,t .paelicularlrdas sthewssemuic,nfffanvdeauu hlsllittlpttthnsiio wShich hHcrrietsdpsaidtotthe..Elsieowhesttedrealohotsekhephe,sttrougs issd ePhrillps hadItwh ceedit,nftiu,t;andsthewssedeliighvdeto indotnwe flld e the woule aniagt.Hher ldgexperrvncesdauuCrosshHclle hee not smoe t;l ogethdrftwrrwoeaway; sthe heegrrwoemorhe Shoughrfu,t;andsthefllt shhe mustdepeid do theysel,t Fttthrhe aes nhJanh nnw ttofalatback upon.;
Elsieowhescpprjhhasivetthhattwhmccolnessybetwevo twhdsishtes-in-lawt swcoulelehee otaaeopeidruptuFe,t FtMMst.Phrillps hadI not smoe t;c musomtnd otbelccnssdheedsaes nbody iamthe;rwoehotse;l but thrl, fcppleasn,toped Ftplecn inf whmfacsdthhatDM.eGrhaoe mustlecive tMseboturvt;aand whnntthsneloinlconevesaciiosd musthgiveanrenn,n ad aot olehestttrre-fouritesnft whmridss> ad gaieties which grvedtasdan excusrds Fthte;nlgljec. Durkinttwhdshortlabssncesp fromday today which nrctseaeily ookpplace,eaanndurkinttwhdfew hagel'slvisiss,t 'short,; idth ar betwevo,'d which hrl,psaidtottheosishte-in-law'iesick room, DM.eeGrhao'iesvygins ;anddngins,,tis ccmplimenasdtottheysel, aand his d ritgcismstoof tthe;pteopl,dweor Sh staopld ftHcrriets's. chnevesaciiogf tottheinvalait.Ifu thlabssnceonftttheoneo an whtvisiss> o ttheotthe;h hrl,prollinsn,titu aesjmustpossible tat> Mst.Phrillps iughtbeemorheffatigued;n butshhe woulennotbedsoemuuct gn redtasdshhe whesctepprsena.e
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChaptdrfV.yDM.eGrhaoeProse utns>Hhis Suit WioheCausidoeAan Suucess,eAan BFradio Fines >HhisLove-Makgin Alld To Do OvsreAgain
HcrrietsdPhrillpse woulennotcomedboutqupitesoestroin ai the costmptds Ftcolonialowsaye idt wionialopdeopl,darrivgin wShntshhedai, sseifdshhe heel aned,tene Ftaddnzeot yeaspbsefor,n butstilay hhrhd aes aegBreatodealotSaatwsseopeid oecritgcism. MM.ePhrillps aandMMr.BFradio Srougt tercolonye heemadetrapaidstridss>towaense ivglizhsiiosaann comf Ft osincr twhegBreatinfluxnoof teath cosequrat,onf whmgnule disi vceice; heeesttrachvdeto Viecoaiarmuic, hhatwsseuittttaiabtlp bsefor.>Eevo,durkintotthie abssnceoineEnglaany hhrhdhheebeenea gBreat dealonftbuildkintgokint tn ioeMseboturv,t;andmaoylothdrfimprovemenasd heebeenedinsroduced. Tte hoosesh hrl,betste,y andbetste; turwshcn;otthe stopse sybmsnd to costai eeverohkinl hhatensteprisce wouleimporn; Ft mdneye.proSure;e hhelhdiesh hrl,tanesomilyt idtexpensively.dressed,saann Shrhhh hrl,publwc amusemenasdsuucgass hrl,nlvsrethaendof inf whmrarlrd tcwlonialodays.;
Bbutstilay hhrhd aesmuic,sevo,ioeMseboturve hhatwsseui-English aadg tstBhagc o hd ew comee.>
seboturvgdaid notaoucllocomedup toHcrriets's.expjetasiios,pttrougs swtateshhetheerxpecledeittwwoule cive smoedifficulnf totela.ySthe hee swlshcndttogo toViecoaiarbecausesiou houldbvead nvelty tosthew—ite ewhouldbvesoediffersnat fromEnglaany hahtitt houldbveamusiinw— buteeverl ediffersncndthhat shehbsgrved,t;andsthewsseeverlqupcnoindhbsgrviin suic, t hiigs,nwaesalwsayef Fftwhdworsc.>Thhrhd ae,noofchursn, twhediffersncnd tofmclimate, whichltnd otmanl lnhe siiosgieddress ;andmaontednfl liviig,taand which houldrsassoablydlehee otmorheiftttheEnglish coloniestt asnnotsoemuuctwlndtnd otnule musomye idt wstumes. Tte hreat idthdmustHcrrietsdf uid totblpinsuppoFtable,o an whtdress which aes moesedssitsdgto ittwssesoeuibechmhin,tpaelicularlrdtheygsnttlmeu's. dress, withtthsvneless varietygofmtaais Fthtad-i vceiin.;DM.eGrhao, wo estoodnadgoododealonnrtthudignity fhhistppofesstio,t weneiam seboturvgdworh darktclo hss> ad arblacketht,sevo,ioette hreatnfl summhe,r and tht,twliugei ioethis avYoet withHcrriets.>Tthen ish aand bmuspld ft seboturvgdwssesoediffersnat fromwtateshhetheebeeneac musomtnd o infeDerbyshlorw—ienesn ittwssemorhelikedLlvhepool twanhanl pvFtsnfd Loandodshhe heesgeow—alpooreediotioooofLlvhepool;r and tht, aes hhd city fh whichtte fViecoaianse erl,solppoud.ySthe woulennotensteeia to whtnaturea likkint tfhalpeeopldf Fta towoe hhattwhy giveeeene iohe tthie owoeeyesegrrw g fromhdmhrl,tamletsnftrudsdhutu o aetanesomi, psved,tliighvd, scommhrcialocity liked seboturvw—whoeidsnsi yt tthmysevcso withitse.progress, haekinl stchen whtgBowithoofeeverl improvemena. Ttey wcnderny hahtittdoeasnnotstrike stBhagcrs aesbegin aes ausorwshgin aesitdcppleas d toblp o tthmysevcs.;
Mst.Phrillps hadI nghcquain aancseioeMseboturv;n butMMr..Phrillps an DM.eGrhaoek ew adgoodomanl pteopl,dwhoe erl,diyposedt toblpeeverl frvnely toHcrriets,n butshhedaid notfeelreverlgratsrfudf Ffsuuct kianines..Shltfancien, Sat>whe;phsytion andoeduchsiio, adghhr begin nrscsnttydbout fromEnglaanyhoughttoegiveptheraaeovhepowergin peneskghe in whshhhael-saviag laans,e andttoougssheyloustnn haecetooflauiggin Ftecsnsurkintaoyohgin, which she Srougt cwlonial,tshhe woulennotbearp bskintotalkeddofeasehd ew chum,dwhosheopiniiosgshhouldbeekepugf Fftwoe yeaspht,tlehestbsefor Shyt erey rithtayohgin, andwhosheadvice. aes ppobably y rith nohgin ateanrl ime.>
Amdngstfntther sbjeclst Ftcsnsurn, twhegBreatfreedrom fhmaontes,t .paelicularlrdamdngstfyouin peeopld ftdiffersnatsexss>towaenseeaic, totthe, stBucno issdPhrillps Fcibly.ySthe heehbsgrved ht,sevogin npaelies,sctepicnics,d ad aotplacesdoofpublwc amusemena, twheeverl eunenesrtaiei way ine whichttey talkeddaandbehaved,t;andsthe Srougt whm pcolonialogirlsh hrl,baely rtaiei,r and tht,ttey houghttoebeemorhe tcarefuulrd stchen bysmottheye idt hapfeoncs.;Aot thssamietimn,dshhe ookpfula lasitudsdhveysel, aanddaidm irdttgins onf whmstrsngithoof the bskintiamAAustalia, weoetpeeopld iughtdofhesttey liken,,ttate p sopriscd,sevo, tercolonialogirlshtthmysevcs.;
If sthersmtrneeeono whireflirtasiiose withtthirt ldg frvnes, tteye woule nnotthlphhbsgrviin issdPhrillps'i prepossesstiootowaensethrtnewe t;cquain aanc,o an lauiggin aut whmmannherine whichtte twoesybmsnd twrappedsup.iameaic,ntthe. Howt culndsthevneuor histre turhingtoeBmoe tMori,eaannlecikinlthe, pfehapi,r Ftan tthe;mfnithioeMseboturvewritoust ptisdsociety,nwasehdqunesiio wShichtteyefrequratlrdpbut odeaic,ntthet; e butshhesollvnd whatdifficulny tosthe;owoe ats aeciioe ad asrmuic, o whie amusemena.>
"Idameeverdsoary tosleciveyYo,," saidDM.eGrhaoeoneoday to whm nbjeclhoof thasatthnsiios,t," butIemmustgo. Burkines mmustnntobed nlgljeced. Itecannnotbheflygin abboutlikedBFradio,dletskin,myt ffairst go totruin.yItetopedyYoowillonnotbheloin ai chmhing o Wpri wata, issd Phrillpst."
"Noteeverdloin Iesuppose,." saidHcrriets. ."Innesn,tIs hiik;tShrl, fiif nohgin o prsevot> Mst.Phrillps fromgokinthomednnw,dif,shhewwoule eonly belieiveeot."
"Nothgin wSateeve,," saidGrhao.>
"Idamequpitewyeaygin o sretWpri wata,." saidHcrriets:> " hhd ccildren'i dletstest rvequpiteraptuFoau abboutitsebeaulies,scandMissd Msevriln,d oo,nesybmseeverlmuic,pleasen. Yout illoliked issdMsevriln,dIe amesuFe.eYoutolikedScotuctpteopl,dIsk nw.."
"IfdIedoonnotliked issdMsevrilndbetste; Shnttheosishte,emymlikkint wiluunnotgoleverlfae,," saidGrhao.>
"DouyYotknow S aaleye Srougt Alicnrqupitepre ty tmfirusw—Itdon'st srettitrt issdMsevrilndkis hatepeeopldcalloplain,e butIeppbffe the; tcppleaaecetttoAlicn's,t;andstheiseeverlcllvsre;andstroin-minded. It tqupiterxpeclt yog otfalatinellvep with issdMsevriln,." saidHcrriets, ewritta llittlplauig.
"Noe yeat ftttao. It givenoe aany f Ffstroin-minded.women. Note but hatetItliks adgoodounidrstaadkin, ad goodossnserinea lady,n butleuo eaic,sex tkheptto its;owoedepaetmena. Bus,p issdPhrillps,diftyYooreealy, ewsntdttogo toWpri wata, IectnedptlvtyYooupw—or,.bttstesstill,tyYof t culndridlr.Youo rveanhadmieabtlphorscwomho, s I knnw,dand It give;ae texcellentrhorsc ai towoetwhttwwoulecarerlyYofetsiay whatdiynhace ewritbout atiguiin yYo.>Itd houldbveadbeaulirfudridlr.Youo houldsee whm pcoonsryoso hllosst yo gotcioin.."
"I shhouldliked oego,noofcilutSiigs,." saidHcrriets;n," bu wSat> houldhS aaleyesay?."
"Oh,oIe iile ell tim ittwssequpiteunnrctseaerlf Ff yog otsavye iohe Mst.oPhrillps, aanditowillobed whmrasite; Ftthashorscse oobrkintupo whtenesttnfttwhm,diftyYoo givegorv bsefor,," saidGrhao.>
"Weal,oIdamereealy,tirhnfnflMseboturv;nIs hiik;I giveeeeneailutSaat is d toblpsehn,dand Itdarl,sayetShrl,arl,somn,prepae siiosgaand arrhagemenasd Iecwoule akv bsefor> Mst.Phrillps comessup,ssooaie oe akv thermorhefcomf Ftable,pttrougsItdarl,saye issdMsevrilndhssedone the bsso.>Still,tetShrl,arl,ttgins tateonesnft whmfamiay ctnedo wShich stBhagcrs cannnotoblprxpeclede o atthnde o.."
"Ccertaily,," saidDM.eGrhao;> "I ctneimagkineyYorfpprsencedaif Wpri wataowillomake ttgins morhecomf Ftable Ftalldpaelies.."
"Ann,nby- wh-by,nEmiay aandHcrrietsdwillobednlgljeckinttwhie music, aand Ieeagagcdu o srettodthhatsnrloin s I eemtaiei ioeViecoaia, aes issd.Msevrilndknnwes nhmusict."
"Nohmusic!," saidDM.eGrhao;> "tSatuis aeskinuleaosoFtsnfdgovheines todoeagagclf Ff yoinuladieshup hhui onsryt."
"Stheisewcnderrfulrdcllvsre;bboutntthed Swigi,taneebrgins onf whm pccildrenueverlnicely.>WwhnnIscomparep thm withtthsgirlsh fttthie owoe t;gef tomtI giveeeeneioeMseboturv,tIecannnotthlphccnge sulahiin,myt tbrntthe do tcikinlbrhoughtooutadgovheines withtkm.>Itd hould cive smoe ebetste,noofchursn, if,shhetheebeeneEnglish,n but issdMsevrilndkisntif nptairfulrdScotuc.."
"I topedyYoo givenoedisliked oeScotuctpteopl,," saidGrhao.> "I myysel gloerlin,myti onsryt."
"Oh,oIequpiteunidrstaadeyYorf eelginst.IfuIetheebeeneborneiam Scotlaan,neI shhould givefllt tersami,eItdarl,say,." saidHcrriets.
"Bbu, withregara.todtthisdptlvt Ftridls o Wpri wata?."saaiddGrhao.>
"Hnweloin shhouldwve smnnh Sheroan?."asneeeHcrriets.
"Two days,tIs hiik.>Whewwoulesavyealldniughgst Mst.Ballhaoynn's,t;f neverl ldg frvnee fhmirv,t;andan caquain aanctnftyYortbrntthe. .Ballhaoynndand It hrl, ealow-ppsseagcrs tent eefirustcamltoou. Ttey ewrlllrecwtlvdyYoowiithbusthtospiteaity. I shhouldliked oeinsroducetyYof t oeScotuctbusthtospiteaity, aanditois aepre ty place,e o;tratther nromhoticealrdsituastn.."
"I shhouldreealy,liked oesretiu,tf FfIewsntdttostudymAAustaliaam scnnverdtaandAAustaliaammaontesddurkintmymshoFtssavyeiam tercolony,, o sretas e mucgassI ctne whlhmIdameamdngtyYoosaviags.."
"Twhn,eshalloitdbveadridls Ftaddptlv?."asneeeDM.eGrhao.
"Ie hiik;I shhouldppbffe drivgin,." saidHcrriets;n," bu Iemmustfirust tcwnsulnf Mst.Phrillps.dIedoonnotsupposesthhat shectneenliighvn omf muic,d.buheashS aaley'is ifedIehwl ther tatechurtesyt."SodHcrriets, ewritta condescnndiin smiln,d ookpleciveofmthe;admieer.;
Mst.Phrillps aesiamaamexceedkinlyebaddhumotu,n butshhemadetnto snbjecliioe o Hcrriets's.gokintaway.ySthedaid notqupitebelieiveinf whm pzealo Fttthechildren'i musicf Ftf Fthte;comf Ft, which issdPhrillps eprofessed,s butshhew astirhnfnfltcikinl whtnamn,oofhdrfsocietygwritoust pttedreality fhitrtAyef Fftwhdimproprietygofmtheosishte-in-law'ie ptravellgin ailutSaatdiynhace withalsanglndgsnttlmho, eitthe ridgin; Ft drivgin,> Mst.Phrillps hadI eevetdecidlne irdqunesiio nft whmkiane Ft ntheyseleoauothdrsosincr shhetheebeenemhreien.ySthe heealwsayeachvdehsu .the usb ade Srougt prophe,sttatuis ttosay,esthemagght fthnthavhemadet smiytakeydoetdonctwroin afdthe hee notprsevotedothe,o an wht ppophsytion edaid notstrike the;astaoucllonbjecliioable.>Elsieowwndheeds ifr hhrhd aeseanrengagcmsnaebetwevo therandtDM.eGrhao, wenea yoinu lhdyt frsuucgtstricotpriancplcs ppophseeesnrskinuleaoaamexpediotio. Hcrrietsdw asnnottaouclloqupcnoat readkin,i onsenranrs,laand aes paelicularlrddulleinf whmdinstepre asiio nftElsie'i;n butssesomn,ide;f nft whmkiane heeedimtydbccurredttostheysel, sheyggiveithvoicegaand expltaiei thrteiewseon whr sbjecl,diamElsie'i hsarkin,otto Mst. Phrillps.d
"Oofchursn;I shhouldnsvsrethiik; frsuucganhadevotuFoau joturvytiam tEnglaan,sbustthrveithsybmse whmfashiioe o doojmustasuiesmoese chnevnienaod otnursnevcs;r andf Ff yoeosake ann tateooftthechildren,dIe tthik iteis dbetste; Sht;I shhouldgotfirus.yDM.eGrhaoebegin at ppofesstioalomao,d idtrsuucganh ldg frvnee fhmytbrntthe'i,e illobedan excellentrescort,; idtI damereealy,desiroau olesreiin a llittlpooftthe roougines oofchlonialofllfv.>Whewillosavyealldniughgst Mt. Ballhaoynn's,t;nldreeucgWpri wataodio goodotimn, whr econdfday.,Iewillo sretto tgiveeeverohkinlcomf Ftable df Ff yo, Lily,emymdhae,obsefor>yYof comedup.tIm wsheyYofcwoulecaccmpany me.>DM.eGrhaoesaystyYofcwoulego up now,diftyYoo erl,diyposed.."
"I amm notgokint otWpri wataotilayS aaleyecomessthmysele otfetchf me,ttf FfIeammsootimido withanrloiheelseudrivginmnnh Shseudreadrfud roads;te ad asr ortwhhatDM.eGrhaoesayst bboutmytbeiin ist Fttthe joturvy,tthekisntifmyomedicea;manf whs; imi,esnrIgwwn'stgo by this .advicetdBesidss,tthedon'stunidrstaademyti nssituttioeasyDM.eMw—w—. does,."; said Mst.Phrillps.d
"Itfeelreverlsoary tosleciveyYo, Lily,." saidHcrriets.
"Oh,oIedarl,sayeI'laygeutonreverd ela,,sevo,writoustyYo.>Alicnraadg tnursn willodnd F omfonsiayS aaleyecomes. Tell tim howtIewyeayd oesret ptim twheeverlfirustohkinlyYoosay weneyYooseehtkm.>Wwhnlvsreth'sedone ewrittgokintovsrethhmst siios,obsgptim toocomeddnwn. Alicnrhsse ritthnt n F omf totelaptim toomake tasst.>I amm notstroin enrougsyete o sisdup d oe rite.."
Ttheide;f Sht;Hcrrietsdmagghttasstntthe usb ad'slre turttosthe, thlptn d o recoanclr> Mst.Phrillps to whmeverlcavalasretBreamsnaeshhe recwtlvnd from hhatyYoinulady.>
Hcrrietsdenjoyvdehfe drivemexceedkinly. DM.eGrhaoek ew whoeltlvndiam ahtgBreadm irdhoosesh tht,ttey ppssed,o an why chreiend withtthmttthe gBread sbjeclnoofcgBreable chnevesaciioginf whmysevcs.;TtheDerbyshlorm pcoonsryo an whtHagglaanyscnnverdwaes cmparede idt wntraesvnd withtths Viecoaian,eeverlmuic, to whmdiyadvaetagepooftthelatste,n whic, dienesn, daid notlook itsebess,n butitseeverd orustate whs; imi.dMMr. .Ballhaoynn'sest siio Hcrrietsdcwnfessedt toblprattherpre tiay situastn; l but tiigse iytte hooseo erl,muic,roougte; Shntshhethee expecled,d idtrtte hooseoitssele aesnftareverdirrjgulare aldpeimitiive stylehoof ar citecluorw—twhmslabdhuteenlaagsdssooaie oeblp olheablyd commodioau; lyet,sstill,t whmeverlhooseothhattwhmsquattteftheebuwat,s paellyd withhis drwoehaans,einf whmrarlrddaystooftthecolony.>Hhh hd ntif beenea f Ftunatstomao,dbbuthhe hddgnotthashhadlablvep anheysincr twhe goulddisi vceice;ro an tet asnnotsoeimprudsnstaie oeinvollvsthmysele agtai by buildkinta etanesomilhooseosnrloin s twhe lds nee houlddo.e Mst.Ballhaoynnd hd hn tovsrwevokintopiniiotoofttheadvaetagestnfd English societyg an English oeduchsiio, adgrecwtlvnd issdPhrillps iohe anhamcounfnftadulahionequpiteeblyoandanrohkinlshhetheervhe;meto within therllfv; which aescilutShe morheefrvctiivefrom itsebegin ptervctlrd sinccegt.Hher woeccildrenuh hrl,bbuthaeleeduchsed,d idteverldeficienao inlacquirhndmaonte; o an why totolookedo withaweeonh Mt.Phrillps'i English sishte,ewhoe astesnrssel-possessede idtsnrfashiioablyddressedt. Tohalperrsoelnes ti nscioaugofmtheoowoe uperioeity, Mst.Ballhaoynn'st ppofoseoapologiestt Fteeverohkinlaidteeverbodyd hould cive smoeratther ptairfu;n but Hcrrietsdrecwtlvndtthmtgracioauly,r and olidDM.eGrhaoe tthat shefllt equpitedeliighvdewrittttii firustspecimenonftbush tospiteaity, aandwritttthasScotuct frvnes.>
DM.eGrhaoeon hissidsd astexceedkinlyeppoud fhhistccmpaniio, adg fllt equpitessoetYfnSisdsuucessd withthe;rtheneevet ceebeenesto agBreable astedurkinttwii loin drive,eaann wenntthydcppleasn,aif Wpri wata, onf whms econdfday,einf ime fortaamearlrdtea, both travelltesd ereyfula oof spieits,t;nld notaoucllotirhn. MM.ePhrillps asnnotaothomc,s;nld notprxpecledef Ftsomiedays.;Janh wssesomnwSat> sopriscd,brdtheycppleaaecetdnft issdPhrillpseundernsuucgcare,obuhe recwtlvndwhe;phaiteay aandkianly.>
DM.eGrhao hadIttogo homed oeatthnde oebmrkines, buheppomisedt to eridlsacrossh toWpri wata, ssesoioeasypossible,ottosretift issdPhrillpse pthd ntifsufffesn, irdfatigue from hheloin joturvytovsresuic,roougr nroaes.>
Ittwsserattherflat aut whmst siio f FtHcrrietsdbnf whmf alowkint day., Sthewasodiyappoinhvdewrittttlshhose,t Ftttoougrittwssea gBreat dealodbetste; Shnt Mst.Ballhaoynn's,titt asnnotsoelaagstnefsto chnevnienaoasteshhetheerxpecled.ySthe woulennottake anrdinsteneseinf whm m irdttgins e whichtte ccildrenushowsndhte,n whic why tSrougt sto beaulirfuw—twhirelpeteanimals,e hhefew wiul lowtesd why cwoule indost his seassoeooftthet yea,ttthie.mdhaee ldstrres,ttthieepre ty walks, Shgnvstlv.boydJim,th Mst.Beontts's.baby,n ad tte curkoaugwkidmiilutSaat Mt.Tucketheemadett Fttthmd withhis claspek ifedaidtsn ed wigs..Shlt woulennotbhe roublend withsuucgccildwsgstalk;,shhewsnaeldrattioalo chnevesaciio;n but wenn>Janh Msevrilndsst besidsdhve,e idt wnevesvndiam theoowoequpetossnsible >way,t shefllt sevo, tahttoebeeuns ats aecoer.>
Atneweelcmsnaetheernstendgin to issdPhrillps'i llfv.>Sthewas, t;ftdrfhdrffashiio,tinellve;t;andsthewsseenesless ;anddiss ats isnd twritousttte pprsencedofhtthebellvedonbjecl.>DM.eGrhaoe asjmustllinu fenrougsawayttoebeeeverd elcomedwthnthhecami;t;andJanh wssea llittlp t;mussn,aut whmmannherine whichHcrrietsd hrewenff therlanguaidaiatnfl indiffersncn,n ad talkeddtodtthis(tnhJanh)smoeseuninsteneskint Scotucmao,dwhoe astsnrfula oofnattioalopridlsaaldperrsoea vaeity. Jane ewsseeverlcosmophaitan ai the ide;s, both brdnaturlsaaldbrdeduchsiior. .Hheruncled heealwsayetheemorl,pridlsai beiin a Beitbnf wanha N rith .Beitbn,s;nld eevet ceefirhndup withindignhsiiosatfScotlaan begin nincludlneoe;meagsdsineEnglaan.ySthedaid nottthik Scotucmhnt ninsrinsicealrdmorhecapable taneEnglish;r hhrhd aesatgBreaertdiffustioo tofmelcmsnaeaydknowledgveinetthen ritern pvFtsnfdtwhdislaan,sbuststhe etthoughtttatuin societygEnglishment ereemorheagBreable taneScotuc, aes satgsnveea rule,obecauses Shyt ereymorheccertaih fttthie owoephsytion.t Scotuc; idtIrwsgspeeopld rveaphttoebeeafrsaidttht,ttey rvelookedodowoe tupon,t;andarhe oot fthntbnf whmlook-bout ortsliighie oeblp prsenatn, wersasgEnglishmen,dwhoedoonnotknow muic,nft wntkinnael f eelgins aand hgbitssnft wlough,; hive;lcomf Ftable wneicliioe hhattwhmtgBreaeese chonsryoinetthe orldgbellins o tthm,r and tht, nbody ctne,diyputndit.t DM.eGrhaoe as sopriscd,ht,Jane'is aunfnftnattioality, aand, cnfidsdt to Hcrrietsd hat>whe asgBrealy diyappoinhvdeai the;faandinf spitstnft Hcrriets'seprofessedhregara. ortJane,tshhe woulennotthlphesreiin whm faultsn whic wiyekeen-siighvdehbsgrvee;phinhvdeotu.;
Oneoday wthntDM.eGrhaoeaandHcrrietsdweoetinettheenjoymsnaeofeeaic, totthe'i company, aandflirtgin ai tthie owoeinsteneskintmannhe, adg Jane twssesktskin,besidsd thm withtthschildren,dMr..BFradio aandEdgarp madett whie appleaaece.nEmiay aandllittlpHcrrietsdmehtBFradio iohe laaclam siios,o ad tte llittlpoinehrejoicedtovsretim intareverdn isy emannhe, oo. Jane ggivetim a hsartrd elcome,n Ftsthewsseenealy, edeliighvdeto seehtksefacesagain,e but issdPhrillpse an DM.eGrhaoewerl, fychrcelytsooafrvctionats.>
"Weal,ohhrhecomeesttedreceneaoek iigh,." said issdPhrillps., "Whhat civeyYodgnotttosaydf Ff yoeysel, Mr..BFradio?."
"Ttosaydf Ffmyysel! Oh! It give;egBreatdealottosaydf Ffmyysel. It giveeeeeneaegBreatdealosincr wstpaelvdeai Loando.."
"Bbutwhy giveyYodltftu yoeoowoebmrkines aademytbrntthe'i,e ad gone ewool-gatthegin ai SbouhdAAustalia?."
"It givejmustgonee hol-gatthegin,r and tht,mmustbeemy excusrt. Phrillps willoadmieet whmshhep,lIeamesuFe.eTwhy givejmustgot oms, iy firus-ratst condiciio;nsasyptravellgin andtplentygofm imi.dBbutwheoetist Mt.ePhrillps aandMMst.Phrillps?."
"Oh,omammatistioeMseboturv,t;andwl tgivegotehd ew llittlpbrotthe, aand thisnamn,iie oeblpViviao,d;ftdrfuncledViviao,dyYotknow;faandpapa is bouttovsrethhmruos,o ad illobedback io Saturday; idtI amessoetwhm illobedreverlgladeto seehyYo, aandEdgarp oo,nItdarl,say,." saidEmiay.>
"Aann weoetist yoeosishte,e issdMsevriln?pHcstshhe wmedbout to AAustaliad with yo? Istshhequpitewyll?."asneeeBFradio.>
"Qupitewyll,." saidHcrriets;n,"stheiseioeMseboturvewrittMMst. ePhrillps.>Wherxpeclt thm outniama eekdneftwo,e Ftplehapi asrmuic,aes sttrre eeks,t FtMMst.Phrillps fanciest shectn notst ad tte joturvyt Ftesn ed imi.."
"Alicnrhsse notseeneWpri wataf yt,." saidEmiay.> "Itknow sthewwlld tShik itreverdpre ty;t issdMsevrilndlikes itreverdmuic.."
"AnntyYoo givegoutqupitestroin,nEmiay?."saaidBFradio.>
"Qupitestroin gain.yI ctne alkd to whm anhe-tolesenraro whmgrovef nfttyYoinugum-trres aandback agtai writoustbeiin a hisdtirhn. Wet hvio suucgtllvely walks.eeverlday with issdMsevriln.eAan douyYotknow Mt. BFradio,demymdhaee ldsCockey dieeejmustaftdrfyYoo andEdgarp snstaway to Adslaidl; l butI tgivegotehn tthew—suucgaebeaulyw—aad twoesuucgllvely paerots., Jimdgnottthm F omr.Youoctn'ottthik howtgladeHcrrietsd idtI hrhe oe seehJkm.>AandMMst.Beonttse hsegotehn tthe.baby,n ad I'me oobed egodmntthe,r andit'st otbelcailndnEmiay; aandMMst.Tuckethsegotehn tthe. d oo, svsresodfat. Wet hvio notseeneyoeoowoebabytbrntthef yt.."
"Bbuthowtdoeasitpthpplnm hhatyYoedaid not rite toomn?pIegoteone letste otelakintme llittlpEvaewssedeai,r and tht,yYoo erl,getskin, betste;n but next;mfnithIddidtntiftharfa syllable,pgood oe.bad, from aaytnftyYo.."
"Becausesweo erl,oneboara.shlp,brdthhattimi,ebsefor Shomail from dAAustaliatcamltin.yPapa tthoughtwed houldbvealapterl,soonted Shntwe eweorw— butittwsseaedeliighrfudvoyiagt.Wed hee Mt.Dempshtew—yYotknow tMMt.Dempshtew—andsuucgaelonfnftnicnrAdslaidlschildren.tIm astsnrsoary d oebid good-bye tooRose;lsthewssemyg frvneecilutShevoyiagt;aand whre eweoresn edeverlniceygsnttlmeu, oo. Ittwssequpitesse icnraevoyiag,aes stthelhes,eonly tat> issdMsevrilndmadetusedoelnesiosgailutShetimi;raadg tplehapi aftdrfalloitd asasm hllotthat shedid.."
"I nlvsrethaendsuucgaechattteboxosst yo are,oEmiay,." saidtherauao.>
"DintyYoo indotShevoyiag,pleashao, issdPhrillps?."asneeeBFradio.>
"Oh,oyes,teverdpleashaodienesn.."
"I daid nottthik youo houldcondescnnd toovisisdyoeorudsdlasitudss,." ;saaidBFradio.>
"Oh,oIeamereealy,qupiternjoykintmymvisis.yS aaleye asgBrealy pleasenttaoumy ppophsalotto wmedbou,tf Ftht tthoughtittsuucganh excellentrohhingt Fttthefamiay.>I ammonly ontareisis,dyYotknow. It ctn notsay howtIe shhouldlikedViecoaiarf Fta plemanlnci,e butIeliked whm nvelty Ftttheepprsena.."
"AnntyYoe;comrkieiseioeParliamena, Ieheae, aandllkely oe diynkinuish o hmysel,t issdMsevriln,." saidBFradio.> "I toped tht,yYoo aand yoeosishte edoonnotdnspisetusepoore wionialopdeopl.."
"Ccertailyonno,." saidJane;n,"ienesn, Faaecisesayst hat>whegotemoese oof thasbneseide;s fromMMt.Sinclaie,ewhoe ceebeeneioeCanadao an wht UnitsdgyS atrs,laand fromhdchnevesaciiogbetwevo yYoo andMM.ePhrillps andMM.e.Dempshtettthefirustday shedinvdewrittuseai Loando.>Hhhsayst noshhingtschapeosgaagEnglishmhn uptliks instechursn; withsuucgpushgin, feneagstic, esrtaighrorwaenspeeopld s coloniess.."
"Twatuis haigupraiset fromhdBeitish membtednflParliamena.dIehwl ptim soomohhing Ftttaa. Bus daidyYooseehPeggyobsefor>yYofltft?."
"Yce;rweo entdup tobaidthergood-bye.nIs hiik;sthewwlldnnotbheloin in joaikintus,." saidJane.>
"Weal,," saidGrhao,dwhh, asm hlloasdHcrriets, fllt tat> issd Msevriln ewsseencwtlkintmorhe ShntthrffairtschastnftBFradio's. chnevesaciio,t,"yYoft hvio notgivmoeaouclloa s ats aecoerlaaccounfnft yoeyselr.Youo cive smoen iguFkintawaytiamAdslaidl, Iesuppose,gaand enjoykint yoeysel, aand lecikinl yoeoowoe ffairst andMM.ePhrillps's. ffairsttoomiidtrttemysevcs.."
"AnntyYoo give smoe iguFkintawaytiamMseboturv,tDM.eGrhao,," said Emiayw—shst cooulennotbearpanl sperriioe o belcast do thedfrrvne,o BFradiow—w" idtrtteo yYoobrhoughtAounfHcrrietsd way; so>yYofltgivenoeone withpooreomammat butAlicn.>I ammwyeaygin soeto seehmammat an whtbabyt boyt."
"Supposes yo gotwritdmn,." saidBFradio;n,"f FfIeammgokint ot seboturvgdto-moerowr o srettthm,r andI giveewmedbmrkines whre besidss.."
"Oh! twhttwwoulebeedeliighrfu.d issdMsevriln,dmayeImgo?."
"It hiik;nno,oEmiay,." saidJane.> "Yyoeomammat illobedsoioewhre, aand yYorfpapa illobeddiyappoinhvdeto indo yo gonedwthnthhecomesstcegt.It tshhouldnnot cndern hat>whe iilutake yYoowiithtim wthnthhegoessthmysel, t;and tht,wwoulebeebetste,nIs hiik.."
"Muucgbetste,." said issdPhrillps., "It cndern hat>yYofcwoule hiik; oof suucgaethgin aes roubliin r..BFradio tottakeecaoetofhyYoo ilutSaat loin >way.."
Emiay madetrattheradpertkinnaersmtrntaie oetherauaoushowkinlthe wht fexamopl,dat which issdPhrillps blushcn, aandGrhaoelookedoi nscioaug buthdeliighvd.>Hhh woulennotconcwtlvdwtht, aes akgin BFradio tot seboturvgdimmediateay on hisre turt fromAdslaidl; thedaid notbelieive his dpsserliioe hhathhetheebmrkines oeatthnde oettcegt.Itd asan tthe. sign tYfnSisdbeiin spoilcd,brdSisdvisisdtoeEnglaanw—ite hd comopltely eunseittld ho.
Now tateBFradio hheethaendtwhttthisletste hadI eevetreeucsnd tElsie,e idt wnsequratlrd hhathhethee not smoetBreacd,brdSer iohe ldisi urtesy oe.unkianines,tthefllt relieivd;n bu, aut whmsamietimn,t;f nllittlpsoary thaoucllowhs; roublee ceebeenewaesvn,r and tht,itd asalld e o dooovsre gain.yAefew mfnits gothhetheelamenaen, Sat>whh woulennot pthiveithoustbrd oree fhmbouh;s butnnw tedregre ten, Shisletste hadI nos,ttaoulehes,obrhkvo, tericn,n ad inclaiei thrttoslisstntto Sisdsuit.t Howeeve,dttgins hd comed oesuucgaeppss, Sat>whh woulennotwaitdcnt nindefinite timi;rShommustgootto seboturvgaandlhaeoethis atvewritoust pdslay.>HhhltftuEdgarpahtWpri wata, whre Emiay tthoughttim everlmuic, nimproved,n ad heor Sh boyd astexceedkinlyethppy.>Hhh ookpa gBreat e aany to issdMsevriln,dwhoe asteverldiffersnat from whmf andanxioaug .womenewhoe ceebrhoughttim up,s but wosesexperrvncesd withtthsLoweice; pthd givmoethergBreatinsteneseinfboyst ftttaot;ge,r andwhoek ew soemuuct eonsalld sbjeclsttthat she eevetfailtnd otwkituponttthm,rifr hhyhwerl, f olheablydinstillgeaoeaand hllodiyposed.e
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChaptdrfVI.tMMst.Peck's.Progress
AilutSiigst wntkiuedg avYoeable otMMst.Peck's.plaasw—shstmeto with noe,diyashtetbrdsea ai the voyiag, fromAdslaidlotto seboturv;otthe 'Hciklah' ebrhoughtthrttoshfe dneskiaciioginf wrre days,t;andsthel aned, onf whmsfamiaieaoshorhsewritta llughgsnn,toperfudhsart.>Sthewasennot loin ai ddisi vceiin wShor> Mst.Phrillps ltlvn, which aesineEaese Mseboturvt;aandsaes nf ime wsse oobedlous, stherspairtngtottthlhooseoio Sedeverlday on which shel aned,ddressedtdecratlrd adgrespjetably,n liked whm ifednftanf aratsan,e Ftplehapi writdmoredofhtthecppleaaecetnft a mfnitlyonursc.>
Tthegirldwhoeoplnsn,tthedooreasneeethrtnamedwthntsthersqunestn d o sret Mst.Phrillps,t;andsthetn nunceeethrysel, nnotastMMst.Peck,s but aes Mst.Mahorvy,tundern whichnamedshhetheetakenhoustwhe;ppss;ge,r and ebeggcdu o sretthhemissisdbyntheyselef Fta few mkiutcs.; Mst.Phrillps , aes hhnesktskin,iamaameasy-chairtinetthedrawkin-room, tthenursn; aes seagagcdu withtthsbaby,n ad ElsieobmrytiamMMst.Phrillps'slroom; so> wht fstBhagcrh aesinsroducedtto tgiveaequpetoinsteeiewp withthe dauigter.;
"Weal,oBetsy,ndouyYotnnotrecolljecomn?." said Mst.Peck,siama subduedgn butinsensely haeonesevoice, wenevsrethhmgirldwas boutnfl thaeiin.;> "HgiveyYodf Fgotthnt yoeoowoemntthe?."
Mst.Phrillps grewedeailyepale,o an asabbout toscenem.>
"Hush!oBetsy,nbeequpet,." saidthermntthe. "I'iveoilyocomed oepay yYoo mfrrvnelymvisis.yI'ivellinsn soeto seehyYoo gtai cilutShshe yeas, aand nowtIethaendyYoowasdbyn yoeysel, IdtthoughtIemmustrui cilurisksd o geutgaeloonoat yYo.>Why,ttowr hnesomilyYo'ivegrrwo,laidteevertggin hnesomilsabboutyYo, o;."anid Mst.Peck gazcdu with cndergin admieation eaut whmbeaulirfu,d hll-dressed,squnen-likedwomhof tomtsthe theepaelvdeu with wenea mhrl,girl,daand hee lvsresybnosincr the. mhreiiagt.."Rgins onfeyYorf iagcrs,d idtargouldchain,rooand yoeoneck,s aandeevertggin youoctn m wshef F. Oh,oBetsy,nI madetyYorf Ftune,r and yYotnevsretake adtthought F omr.I iughtbeedhadlaandbueien,r andyYo'dI nevsrecaoetafstBhw.yItetgivetadlaetardfllfv, areverdtardfllfvw—tossedt abbout fromplacee oe place,eaann fthntai waunfnftm irdttgins ttaot;t,myt ime oofllfv I nltn d o geuw—andyYotin suucgluxuer.>Mrdpre ty,girl,dmyt beaulirfud dauigter!."
WSateevedmagghttaive smoettedresemblaecetbetwevo mntther and dauigter,tetShrl, hrl,bbutsliighptracesdoofiutnnw.tMMst.Peckdmagghttaive beenedbeaulirfudhat ixtehn,dbustthrfllfv thee not smoesot wnservatiive ofmtheodcharmstastMMst.Phrillps'slwas;,besidss,> Mst.Phrillps resembledt theodfatthermuuctmorhe Shntthrfmntthe,r andhee ceebeenenftarmuuctmorhe nlympSatic stmpheamena, an asaot thssamietimn,aersmtrnably y hnesomil m i.tMMst.Peckdwasennotyete ixty,n butshhelookedo ldg Fthte;e yeas, aandmorheliked whmgraanmntthed Saoettedmntthedofh Mst.Phrillps, hoshe sasypcircumynhaces,eindulgeaoe usb ad,n ad indolena, rssel-regaragin llfv, with nfemntiioe ad llittlpexcitemena, ceekepugtthrffacetfreet fromhdsanglndlaie,nft aoetordanxietyt.Hhermotthe'i facetdwaseploougtdt up withinnumeeable laies, adghhr featurls sybmsnd to orkeu witheeverl veaygin ppsstio,t wclr>hhr expresstioowasehungry,neiage, adg o oel-like,ewritoustshowkinlanrohkinlmorheinstileclual twanhcunngin, feevo,ioeitsscalmnesemomenas.>
"Oh!." said Mst.Phrillps, ,"ifyS aaleye asto indo yo whre, whm woule neevetf Fgiivemi.."
"IasitpyYorf ault tat>Ih woulennotenesetilayI; swhyYoo gtai?.It neevet tthoughtte'ldbvesoecruel adgunenassoableoaie oeblameeyYodf F hateI'eeedo.."
"BbutI thaendyYoowasdiamAdslaidl, andMM.ePhrillps sayst hat, aes loin >sst yo savyeiamAdslaidl, whe iilusretthat>yYofknow no waun. Oh,o emntthe,ryYoo gndbetste;go back ttoAdslaidl!." said Mst.Phrillps.d
"Is ttaotmy,girltasuiestalkgin?." said Mst.Peck,sdisdtairfulr,w—w"myt tgirltasuI llvedosoedeae, aand astsnrppoud fw—twautnnw,d weneI'ivecomil gailutShewayt fromAdslaidl, adgrisneeeailuI'ivegnotttodepeid upon,t jmustd oepleasetmy, ldgeyesd withtthssagght ftthe hnesomilface,eaannmyt pooreo ldgeeasp withtthssooand ftthe voice, woulebanish metthhemiiutct Iefcome! Twat's aepre ty usb adeyYo'ivegotw—twautyYo'rl,solafhaendof ptimr.Youodssgrvetthat>yYor ccildrenushooule turt gtaist,yYoo wenntthyd gBow up.tOh,oBetsy,ntowrctn yog alkdsoecruel?."anidthhe ldgwomhof tcaoughtthrtdauigter'i h ad,n ad kissedtito withmuic,apparena, an nto sdoubteewmedrealo eelgin.> "Yyo'rl,nnotexpeclkintof tim home forta hclr; dlet metcomilaandlht metgot wclr>hhois awayw—mysnamn,iieMMst. Mahorvy., Sardas howtIeameanh ldgservaunfnftyYor mntthe'i,eortaamnule servaunfyYoft hdpahtWpri wata, FttthemntthedofhewmedoineyYofknoww—calld mvdwtht,youtolike,n butleuomvejmusttaivette llberny toscomilaandseehyYoo aand tthsbaby,n ad twhnnIs iilugo back ttoAdslaidl, andMM.ePhrillps neele neevetknow nothgin abboutit?."
InevnttioowasenoteonesnftMMst.Phrillps'sl alenas,dbustthrfm tthe. drsevilndnioeit, s I giveesaidbsefor.>Sthedeliighvdeto gotcmdngstf tpleopldwhoedaid notknnw ter, whre shhe woulegiiveooutanrentirhly eficlitioaughiscoerl fttheyselequpitenew.>Eevo,toshfe insimate t;cquain aancsethrtnarrhsiiose hre skinulealydin wnsisstnt.>Wwhnnthe. dinstenesedlmhoden, Sat>shheshooulespeakutShetrouhdshhedaidso,n butit , aes withaneefr Ft;o wenntth balaecetlayetShtntthedwaytshhetheento sShsithsiiosaannntosceuopl.;
"I ain'stgoon,aut whseoscoaies, mntthe,." said Mst.Phrillps, ," idtI edon'stjmustseehwtht,goon,itowillodo omf togetoinso; roublee with S aaleye onfyYor aaccount.ItdiasjmusttShtnne ttgin>hhois unenassoableo abbou., Wwhnnthemhreien omfhe; saidth madetonly oneoscipulahion,saann Sht, ae, tat>Ihshhould give nohgin o do with yo Ft withPeck,saann I; saidI wouln's.."
MMst.Peckdhhrl,begao,tossob,n ad Elsieowhoe astsewgin ai ttht next; room, thaeiinea llittlpn ish,d idtafrsaidttht, Mst.Phrillps aesennot ela,,camltintate whs;momena.; Mst.Phrillps wssequpitestgaelossd o laaccounf Ftttheemntiioe ftthe visisor,dbustthrfm tthe. astequalotto Sedeemeagsncy.>
"I amessoe,d Mst.Phrillps, Iecannnotsay wat>Ih eel,." saidshh,t ," bu fyYor goonines reealy,ovhepowers omr.Toe hiik; s twhellittlpgirlt sseI knnweddwthntstheplaycdu withmy pooreSusantasuiesnow no morhe shhouldtrecolljecomn now sth'segrrwhndup sombeaulirfu,daand heesuucgae firvgdhooseoifmtheoowo,t;andsthould hlphmltintmy; roubles!.Itdiasqupite oo e mucg F omr.BbutailuI waunfiasjmusta llittlp otsavrthmltintadwayt oof bmrkines, ad I'llobedsured oepay itdback agtai ifuIegeutonw—andIt pthivegotehdgoon, wnnvction, arcapitea, wnnvctionw—yYor llberality If tcan neevetf Fget;."anid Mst.Peck fumbledt withthe pursn, aandlookedo neverltardfat>Elsie.eTwis, aes hhdperrsoe tomtsthewlshcndttosee,,sevo, emnrhe Shntthrfungratsrfuddauigter,t fromwtomtsthetheerxpecledeadkianhe. drscepuion.tElsieolookedosimopl-minded.enrougw—twhrhewasenn sdoubteewhm woulebefetsiay dealto wit,eaannmuucgbetstetbrdspeeic wai by sletste.
"Twis,ist yoeomsai, Iesuppose?."
Mst.Phrillps psseated.e
Elsieofetchsn,tthesalovolahile,e ad ghive Mst.Phrillps p llittlpoof is,ttaad twhnnre turedttostheo ork.>Sthewasepuzzlsn,aut whmstBhagcr'ie pspeakkintof MMst.Phrillps'slllberalityw— Ftsthewsse notgsnveealy ellberalw—andat>whe;fumblgin autthe pursntasuif,shhetheerecwtlvnd emnrvy,t Ftsthek ew ttht, Mst.Phrillps theeltftuthe pursntinnthe. dbedroom.
"Youommustlet metcomilaandgot FttthefewedaystI ameto savyeiam tMseboturv,tBetsy,." saidthermntthe.
"Oh,oI'dtratthergtlvdyYoomnrvy,tiftyYoonesn itw—oulehes,oailuI'ive egoa.."
"Ie yeatIs iilunesn mnrvy tottakeemedback,tf FfIemadetsuucganh eefr Ftf togetoacross,e butIe woulennotthlphia. Bus Igwwn'sthurutyYo, .Betsy,n;andItmayedouyYotgoon.>WSatosoFtsnfdgirltiasitptwautyYo'vhe got?."
"Oh,oaeeverlcllvsremiilinhe, adgaetaney,girltenroug.hS aaleyesayst th t hiiksethrtpre ty,e butIedon'stsybhia. Heomakesea gBreatfues ovhe. both therandtheeosishte,e butJane isoplain.."
"Ifdhhhsaysthet hiiksethrtpre ty,eI'dt notkhepthfe inttthlhooseoift Iefwsst yo. I knnw wat>meneaor,," said Mst.Peck.>
"I don'sttthik youoknnw wat>S aaleyeis,." said Mst.Phrillps, with somilsdignity. "I daid notliks it tmfirus,e butIeain'stfriighvneid nw;o aand besidss,>ttey rveboth sombailyenff it'stqupitesdchariny toskhept tthm.."
"Ifdstheiseaemiilinhe, I knnw nftarcapitea,situasion,." said Mst. Peck.>
"S aaleye woulebefintadpre ty st se ifuIelet thergo oea,situasion nfttyYortrecommnndiin,." said Mst.Phrillps.
"Oh,oIedon'stmeao,tosmeddlee withyYor affairs;s butyouin peeopldarhe neverlunwaer.>Youo hiik;as howtyYo'rl, oo hnesomilf Ff yoeo usb ade to Siik; frlookgin atean tthe. omho;e butIeknnw tthe orldggbetstetn F ttaa. Howsomivhe,sttatuis neitthe whrhen Fttthrmr.BbutyoutoknowtIeame riskkin,myt nnuiny fromMMt.Phrillps by chmhinghhrhe oesrettyou;e butIe thaedeiamAdslaidlsttatu Fttthefirustoimn,sincr yYoowasdemhreien I magghttaivetthschaecetnftsreiin yYo, writoustmakkintdiypeace,en whichisd tthelhes ttgin>Ie woule wshe o do.hSo,oBetsy,niftyYoo illobed drsassoable,laandlht metcomilagain,eastMMst.Mahorvy (aamnuleneighbotu in NeweSbouhdWales), adghhlphml,>sst yo say,twritdmorvy tottakeemed away,ttIs iilubntasuqupetosseaemousrt.Itois aepleheurhe oesretyYo, aand todospeakutot yo. Giivemiea llittlpnesnle ork,laandlht metsito withyotu omsai, aandjmusttaiveaeloonoat yYo now aad twhn,d ad aottthsbabyt.It tain'stsybnononesnftyYor ccildren,oBetsyt.BecausesyYo'vhe smoesot hllo toff,daand hee ot aoes,ryYoosthouln'sttturtnff yYor mntthe inttteat eun eelgin>way.."
"Oh,oIe wsheItdarl,dohia. Bus ifyS aaleye asto comiw—th may ecomil suddenay.>I'iveeentetim a mess;gettosturerlhoomr.Youoctn'ottthik wSat> hdgoon,mkiane usb adehn,iie oeml,>mntthe. Bbuthe'ldbvefurkoaugiof tet ooand yostcegt."
"Oh,oafdthecomesstomilyYoedoonnotnesn med to orke irdllinsr;raadg youtocan gtlvdthhmgirldttaotmess;ge;r andyYoectnedpopemiea thit ifuIe thpplnme oobedinttthlhoose.>Eevo,afdthe asto seehme whre, IoknowtIe woule indoeewmedreason.>I amm lvsrewritoustaamexcose.."
Mst.Phrillps wsse notpaelicularlrdf andifmtheomntthe,rwhoe ceebeene neverltarsc; idtviolena-stmpheedttostheoinnthe.ccildwsgsdays,t wclr>sthe e asasmf andifmtheo usb adecstshhe woulebefnftany oneobustthrysel, aand tshhek ew with wateabhorrsncn tedregaeden, Shisfierce,ecunnginmnule . omho.>Sthewlshcnd Mst.Peck toblps ats isndwrittttii oneovisisd ade to ecomilback no morh,t Ftsthefleasn,ttaotAlicnraadgtShtntthedservaunie pmagghtsuspjet soomohhin,t;andsthe hee ot cnfidsncn innthe.owoephwers nfttconcwalmnna. Bus>MMst.Peckdhheemorl,ammuniciioginfthe.ccest;>sthe agtai ,begao,tossob,n ad showsndsymptomssnfdgogin aitooviolenae tyshteics, ad ,bewailtndthe.owoetardflotraadgtShtcrueltygofmtheo ungratsrfuddauigteresotfloudly,n Sat>shhe asgladeto agBrettostheo demhodie oe akv theokheptuqupeto Fttthepprsena.e
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">ChaptdrfVII. Burkines InsterupuhnfBy Lovh
Mst.Peck cppleasn,io whmf alowkintday,eaaccragin toeppomise,l carerhingta llittlpblack ban,t wntaaikintscissoas, yard-meheurh, adgae flwtntthed imoplmenasdnftnesnle ork,lalldptervctlrd ew;d idtaftdrfae shhrt dchnevesaciiogwrittMMst.Phrillps aanda llittlprefprshmena,>sthe sst dowoe,besidsdElsieo oeingratiatettheyselewritttthatyYoinulady.> Elsieo thought sthe hee lvsresybnoany oneosoeign Faunfnfttthe orktsthe theesetosbboutasdeMMst.Mahorvy cppleasn, tobl.ySthe wnfessedt Sat>shhe asnnotskklrfu,dr andit showsndailutShemorl,kianines iamMMst.Phrillpsd todgtlvdtheo ork . thntsthehheetadosoellittlppracticn,n ad daidit sto banly.>Sthe heebeenedaacmusomvdeto gotboutasdaenursn,>sthe sai;sbuststhe hddgnot oo e ldg Ft hat, aidt woulennotst ad tte sktskin,uppoof iighst;anidthhnt sthebaaechhnfnff aitooaaccounsdnftdreadrfud experrvncesdiamnurshin,t;and deathbeds,d idtawrfudophe siios,o Sht, erl, enrougs oe akv Elsie'i hairttst ad onrenn.ySthe ooand ault writtMMst. Phrillps'slnursntasubeiin oo e mucgnft whmfirvglady,r and olidElsieo hateshhe wnsidheedt toblpa lnursn'seduties, which shewhouldliked oedto if,shhewas bnly ist Ftia. >Tthntsthe hrewetheyseleoamElsie'i goon, aturlsforta llittlplnesio ai dnesnle ork,ladmieedttheoqupcnines aand tashtt;andskill,twlshcndshhe wouleedtoanrohkinlhaeleasm hll,d idtaskedt theo toblpgoon,enrougs oecuthoustd idtplaceetheo ork f Fthte,d ade to lendtheeopattteos,o ad altogetthed betaivdu withtthsmoeseinsinuaskin, affabiaity.
AlttoougrElsieoMsevrilndlookedosimopl-minded,,shhewas brdnotmeaos , anskin,iamhbsgrvahion,saannheeosituasion writtMMst.Phrillps aandthe. dsishte-in-lawetheetaoughtthrtaewcnderrfuhamcounfnftprudsnce..Shlt tthoughttthrhewasesomn,in wnsisstncytiamMMst.Mahorvy'i fluenae tnarrhsives, adgsoomohhingeverdpeculieaoinfthe.relhsiiose ritttMMst. Phrillps,rwhoecppleasn, tobleenesless ;anduncomf Ftable wenevsre>shhe asinttthlhoose.>Elsieowae, howeeve,dgood- aturln,enrougs oegtlvddthe. somn,instruction, ortwhhichgBreatgratitudsd astexpressedt.Onf whm pohhrdlday oftthe visiss, weneapparenatydbccupindnioelhaeokinlhowr o do feattheytitucg F trimmhingbaby's.pinaefors,> Mst.Peck lookedoup frometheo ork,d idtaskedtElsieoif,shhedaid notcomil frow—w—-shlor.
"Twht, aesmysnatiiveccouny,." saidElsie.e
"DouyYotknow CrosshHclloautail?."asneee Mst.Peck.>
"I was brhoughtup whre,." saidElsie.e
"Itcomil fro tatechuuny,d oo,," said Mst.Peck.>
"I daid nottthik youo heebeeneScotuc,." saidElsie.e
"Ittaive smoeinh Shseucolonieyef Fftwirty-fYor yeas, aandseenobuhe flwte fhmyt woechonsryof aks;s but whmEnglish sayetShy'dtknow mee oobed eScotuctby,myt ccena.."
"Weal,oplehapi yYor aacentois aellittlpliked wateoow—w—-shlor,e . thntIocomed oe Siik; frit;s but whmtturtnf yYor expresstiosekisntif Scotuc; utail,." saidElsie.e "Twirty-fYor yeasois aeloin timn,t toweeve; dItmay,oplehapi,ogetorinfnflewmed fhmyt woeScotticisms,brdthhat ime.."
"Iek ew Hogarith fhCrosshHcll,reverd ela,, thntIowsst yoin,." said Mst..Peck.> "DouyYotmeao,tossayeyYoowasdbrhoughtup whre?."
"MMt.Hogarith aesmysuncle,." saidElsie.e
"Oh,oyouommustblpa dauigtereYfnSisdsishte Mary'i;nIe aany thrhewase eonlyttShtnne dauigterethhatltlvnd oegBow up.tBus ifyCrosshHcllowase yoeo uncle,ntowrctmilyYoe oobedintttisdsituasion?." said Mst.Peck,s with feignsndausonishmeno.>
"Mydsishte ;andIt erl,educhsed,brdSim;dthe asexceedkinlyekiane o uasasmrloin s whellvsn.."
"Bbuthis prophetyedaid notcomiltot yo;w—twhmwhie-at-laweswaalowtdt up tail,." said Mst.Peck,swritta fiercesglarn innthe.eyesd Sat>shhe wouleenoutqupitesubdue. "Itois everltardfonfyYo.."
"Wettaivefllt istratthertard,." saidElsie;n,"buststiilutSiigsttaive beened orulsfortuasaotnne timn, wanntthydcrhen w. Jane ;andItcaamearoo tooeoowoeltlkin,r and tht,ies hhdphsytion fhmbustpeeopldinetthe orld.."
"Wtht,wwouleyYotgiive nw,." said Mst.Peck,s,"ifyyYofcwoulegetoback todoCrosshHcll,raandbeojmustasuyYofusedt tobl?."
"Itcannnotsay wat>Ihwwoulegiiv,." saidElsie.e "Bbutit isd imoossiblet..Unless whe wouleenesorl,my pooreuncledtoslifv, tSiigst woulenevsrebedr gtai csd why usedt tobl.."
"Annttthenew maammagghttaivethlptn yYo, aandnnottaivedrivenlyYoe oo srek dservicnraut whmvnesgnft whmsarth. WwouleyYot notliks to serivetim ous?."; said Mst.Peckp withtthssamedsubduedgfierceines asdbsefor.>
Elsie's,instin tiivesincceytye hould civeltndthe.toojmusify Faaecis, by sexplaaikintabbout whe iil,n butshhefllt reluctaunftossaye aayohgin o tttisdstBhagcgwomhofthateshhe would hlptdBesidss,tttoougr shhek ew e nohgin oofttheletste; Sht; ceebeenesentoby Mst.Peck tothe. comrki,dr andltftuunaos erld,gst Mt.Phrillps'slhaeonesersqunes,>shhe as,beginngin o suspjet soomohhin ooftthetrouh.tMMst.Peck's. i urtgin eresotpsstduoauly; ceepuzzlsn,hsr;raadgnnw ttheinsteneseshst fllt io Sisdstory, which aesailutShemorl,apparena oea,keenenbsgrvee; from whmsfr Ftstshhemadettosconcwaleit, showsndthateshhek ew morl,tabbout whmmatste; Shntstheliksn,autoncee oedisilosr.>
Elsieetadlaegoon,eylsfortliksineses, adg wouldseehfamiaye resemblaeces e whrhen loiheelseu woul;r andit heealwsayestrucktthrtast everlersmtrnableothhattwhrhewsse nottthssliighveserssemblaecetbetwevo Faaecis aandthe.uncle,nn Ftbetwevo tim ann, irdntthedmembtednfl whm famiayewtomttsthehheeseeneyr hoshep Ftraitss ceebeenepprservsn. Ntif mhrllyhwerl,thst flaturls adg wmoplxion unlike,n buttwhrhewsse notae trickeooftthetchonsenaecetnednfl whmgaitdreproduced,tasuiesgsnveealy tShtcasn; withttthssiosenflfatthesrwhoe ceesuucgmtrneldcharactceyusics. shHenerleHogarit.eTwoougrsthe hee ot thaendof MMst.Peck's.letste,nJane hadIttuleethrtabboutMadameddetVteic urt'ie oetheruncle,n ad indthe.owoe thaeseshst ceefancieidttht,ttedreasontwhy he heebeenesot wlne o Faaecis ae, tat> he heebeenedoubtrfudofl whmpanhenity;ottheeverl indiffersntdcharactcefnfttthe omhntthetheemareiend sse notcalculatend todoinspieettim wwith cnfidsncn,o ad tte absolutctabsencedofhailufamiaye tliksinesd asan addiciioea, aoseoifmdiynrmus. Heommusttaivebeene ns ats isndioe hhatpoinh, howeeve,dioeleaert yeas, Ftht wwoulennottaive ebeenesotstroin inthis prohibytion fhwhs;mhreiiag wwithJane FtElsieo onedaaccounfnfthistccmrkishlp;n bu, iamearlrdlifv, heommus, iamElsie's, topiniio,etgivetadlgraivedoubts,io whm sbjecl.>
Shndlookedo gtai morhecarsrfud wai bsefor>atd Mst.Peck.>Sthewaseoof tthet;gettosbedFaaecis'somntthe,r butntthewisetshhewas qupitestg ault;f tthretdwase notairdliksinesdtthreteitthe.yAe cnform siio ooftthellittlp iagcr twsserattherpeculiea,n butit asan exagghe siio nftarllittlp dervct onfeMMst.Phrillps'slntthewiseteverltanesomilhaan,sbustnoutnfl Faaecis Hogarit's.d
"If Faaecisehsse n riighptotttheppophety,t;andwl tgiv,,nft wursn; ht fshhouldliked oetgiveYortriighs,." saidElsie.e
"IttwsseaeScotuc;mhreiiag,dyYotknow,," said Mst.Peck.>
"Yes,e butaebindiinloih;ehn,iierecwtlvndeever whrheaesmysruncle's, lawrfudsdo.."
"Yes,eastthislawrfudsdo,nn edoubt. DouyYotknow afdthehasdbrhought eforwaenswhs;mottherautail?." said Mst.Peck.>
"No; Iesupposedstheisedeai,ryr heshoouleccertailyotaivethaendof the.."
"Deai,ryYoosuppose!." said Mst.Peck,siadignhnaty;n," tht,ies hhdsasyp yte fhgetskin,qupie fhrelhsiiose Sht; cs gotuclaimsfonfyYow—jmust Supposess hhmedeai?."
"Itdoonnotknow aayohgin ooftthematste,sexceptdthateshhehsse notbeene nthaendof. Ifdsthewerl,allvs aandthaendof wis,inhceytkinttwii ppophety,t tshhe woulebefeurhe oe rite claimkinlhim,r andppobablydaskkin,f F tpsstynhace, whichId give nsdoubteewhm wouleautonceerecwtlv,tf Ftht has amopltmeaos,daand hsetthscharactcefnftbeiin both jmustaand llberal.."
"AnntyYoo hiik;sthewwouleappay; aandyYoo give nsdoubte Sat>shhe houghtto pthivegoteit? Any oneo hould civetthoughtttat,." said Mst. Peck,tbetwevo nheeosehtteeit.e
"Yes,eccertaily,." saidElsie;n,"bustplehapi shhedaid notgo> wht friighpway to ork?."
"Sthedai,." said Mst.Peck,siadignhnaty.> "Itknowtndthe. hll,d idt thaedeuclloabboutit.."
Twis, aes o> wBow Elsieonff therguard,t Ftsthedaid not wshe o bed eidsnsifisn,autonce;n butit hee ot whmsfrvct dssirld,gf FtElsieofllt econvinceeettht,ttis, aes hhdperrsoe to claimsn, tobleFaaecis'somntthe.e
"Twten'seewmedbmttiose ad trimmhinsf togeto oe akv itdup witt. Alicn, ryYoo gndbetste;go o> owoe nlegetotthm F omr.Youonesn a walk,l aotairderate; Itdoonnottthik you'ivetadl yoeo alkdaoucllorenulealydof leae,."; said Mst.Phrillps.d
"Ienesn,." said Mst.Peck,s,"shhehsse hee ot alkdsincr theeuI'ive behn,d watlvsresthemagghttaivetaidbsefor.>It'ie erhing orktsitskin, stiilucllo day; Ih eel itdmyysel,o ad allutShemorl, tat>I'monnotusedt to is. IfddyYo'dIbvesoegoon,asmexcose me forta hooeooeftwo;eI'dttakv itdast a gBreat,kianines ifdyYo'dIlht metgot withAlicnrforta alkd todtothe. bistfnflehoppkin,r and o showfthe.rooand seboturvgaebis. IfdIedon'st know eMseboturvewhll,dI houghtto. I don'sttthik I svsresawesoegoon,a hnesasmrAlicnrhss.nIs hiik;Ie woule akv theo Ftune,rif,shh'deonlyt giivemiea rllittlpcommisstio.."
"Oh,oIedon'sttthik Alicnrhs;inclaiei tosltgivemr,," said Mst. Phrillps;;> "aan,sienesn, I ammeverd elaps ats isndwrittthe.."
"Bute whs;ain'stexactlrdheeospthrmr.Sthewaseaotelakintme cstshhewase ebrhoughtup writtgBreatrxpecl siios,." said Mst.Peck.>
"Shhehssegoteovsrethrddiyappoinhmsnaeabbout wat,nIs hiik,." said Mst..Phrillps.d
"Itdarl,saytyYoo hiik;it shabbytiammed oe ry tosnsicet yoeomsai fromeyou;e;nldreealy, aftdrfall,e;lcomf Ftable tomilwritta lady,r stit mmusttblpa pleheurhe oesrrvs aand to aitdupio,tii plehapi tthsbeese shhingtaftdrfallr.BbutastIm astsaykin,r Mst.Phrillps, Ie woulebefglade todgeutgbout orthnttooeooeftwot withAlicn. I'llonnotdoemuuct orkt witoustwhe,t F I'moeurhe oegot roin ifdstheise notaotmy,sebowt. Twten'se nottmany ladiest otgsnvehuasasmyYo, epay me fortmyt blundergin orkt;aandsAlicnrhs;wcnderrfuhp siena oo. I don'stknnw tow o> wank theo Fftthetptaiststhe akesewritdmn, ;andItcaa'otthlphbeiin everlstupid.yAftdrfhbeiin usedt toa tiivelifv, nne don'sttakv hlloto Sisdsitskin,stiil., So I'llojmustput onfmytbwnnvtt;andstawllaandgotbout aebist withAlicn.."
Mst.Phrillps daid notaouclloliked wii ppophsal,t Ftsthe heeane ide; tat> heo usb ade wouleeverlmuic,diyapprovef frit,t;andwwoulebef stiiluemorl,angrytate wate wan autthe hcikinlthrfm tthe.indthe.hoose;f buttwhnfeMMt.Phrillps wsseaway,taandthe.m tthe. ast whre,o ad tte pprsena steroreochnquheedt thedastaunfonmr.Stheneevetknew wat>the. m tthe.magghtoreomagghtnnotsay,rif,shht twaelvdethe.indaayohgin:tsthe hdddastaunftrecolljeciiosenflsteribletpunishmenos ttaot;lwsayef alowend tthetsliighveseactoifmdiyobedisncn,ooresevo,carslessines, innthe. ccildwsgssdayst;anidthoougrnow stheknew the.m tthe. woulennotstrikr the. withthe ltanes,,shhewas ine wnstaunfdread oftthe tiogue. So twautnnwd Mst.Peck . ookpist Ftgraatsndthateshhe houldbvealaowsndtooaaccmpany eretdauigter'i msaiw—shstdeasn,nnotenfoseois. Alicnrychrcelytliksn, wht fide; nfdgogin toe alkd to owoewrittttii stBhagcgwomho;n butaot thssamie poime whr curkosytye asto hateshhemagghttaivetossaye asteverlgBreat. Shst fllt ttht,ttis,MMst.Mahorvy hddinstillgeacee oegtlvdthht, aesof gBreat,imoornhace, and tht,sthewlshcndttobvesecurlsffrominsterupuion.t Mst..Phrillps, aes wnstaunlytgogin ai andbou,tf Ftshhewas afrsaidtto lealvddthe.m tthe.loin withany one,o ad alwsayelookedosuspicioaugof wtht,ttey iughtbeetalkgin abbou.,Mary,ttthlhoosemsai, aandtthenursn,> oo, sybmsnddttobvecurkoaugabbout wii oulenesnle oman,t;andwlredoftene chmhingai dunexpecleday.>
WwhnnMMst.Peckdhheeput onfthe.bwnnvtt;andstawl,n ad dpoppendthe. veil eovsrethrdface,eshhelookedosufficienatydrespjetable forta ccmpaniioe o oneosoellittlpknnwneioeMseboturveas AlicnrMsevriln,dsto shht thought tthret woulebefnoetgromintgogin bout orthnttooeooeftwot withthe Fftthetsakv nftasccertaiiin ifdsthe heeany llughg o> wBow io Seddtrnt sbjecltfnflFaaecis'sobirit.e
Wwenntthydgoteooutnfldoors,> Mst.Peck cppleasn, tmfiruse o bed erattheranxioaug o resumetthhechnevesaciiogwwhichthrddauigterehadI minsterupuvd;n bu csd why wlredpre ty ilosrlrdf laowsndbrdtwot tthe. dpenestriaosgailutShewaytia to owo,tshhemadetup thedminddtooatthnde oe tMMst.Phrillps'slbmrkines firus,eso> whyo entd oeColakis Strrestaand .bwoughttth trimmhins.>Tthnt Mst.Peckp ena oea,booksvilnr'i ehoptaand .purchasenta.shllakint nveld tht,sthe saidshhe heebeenettule asteverl dinsteneskin,r butshhecppleasn,ychrcelyttosknnw tthenamn, frit,t;and ookhttthsfirusenne ttheshopmhntgaivetosthe.e
"Twtn,." said Mst.Peck,s,"lht usdgotboutoofttherenulea roandwl camie by,nlaandgotrooandFitzroy Square,o ad taiveaeloonorooandaoucllo whm churches aandchapels ttaot;rl,bbilt,io whmEashten Hiil.."
Fitzroy Squaredwase notat ttht,time vnclhsent Ftplaated.eIttwsse mhrllyhoaeeacaunfspace,einstesecledebrdnumeeoaugfootpaits in varioaug .dirlcsiios, adg wvheedt heor Shrhewasenn breacnhp shswritteverldustrl dwittheed-lookgin grass. Elsieetadln lobjecliioe o gotboutooftthe tthrhougfare;n bu, iashtad oftpoinhgin bouttthschurches orthnrtggin eelse,r stsoioeasnMMst.Peckdhheegnotsafetboutoof irdttgreepaely's, tthaeiin,>sthe lackeiei thrtpace,eaanneiagelydoplnsn,tthe sbjeclt which e asnleasuse o the.hsart.>
"Itssai, issdMsevriln,d tat>Ih woulemake yYoeo Ftune ifdyYo'dI onlyhogiivemiea tanesomilcommisstio. Are yYoowilakint todrlvs ae bargtai?."; said Mst.Peck.d
"If Itcaamseehmyewaytclhaeotottthe Ftune,rIhshhoul,,nft wursn, bed glade epay yYodf F tthsinform siio;e butIemmustknnw wat>yYoo givegtif todosayobsefor>Itcaamgunesd tht,itdhs;wcrit,." saidElsie.e
"AandItmmustknnw wat>yYooaredwilakint togiiv,obsefor>Itcaamthllo wat>Ihtknow,," said Mst.Peck.>
"BbutI tgivereealy gtif nohgin o offer,." saidElsie;n,"yYotknow tow pooreI am.."
"Butesupposes yo aandyYoeosishte aes o>geutCrosshHcllo wBoougr tmeaos fhme, wht,wwouleyYotgiiveme fort tat?."asneee Mst.Peck.>
Elsieofllt eurhe tht,ttis, omhnt woulennotgtlvdthhmprophetye o>Jane annd thrysel, Ftiae heebeeneltftu o>Faaecisedastin tly brd iil,n rl namn,n ad descripsiio;e butyete thewauneleeverlmuic,to indoous ifyhhe as,reealy twhietccmrki ortnos,tsotsthe saiw—w—>
"Itmmust wnsult writtmydsishte ontttisdmatste,s Ftiaeconcwrnstthe. asdemuucgas>myysel,o ad also writtMMt.Phrillps, hoe csebeenetthboth of augftthekianeustaandbeesenflfrrvnes,obsefor>Itcwoulemake yYo any definite offer.."
"No,tnn,," said Mst.Peck;> "ItwaunfnoeinstefersncetnftstBhagcrs,saann I; ain'stgots nf ime toe astr theeu wclr>yYoowrite up whechonsryo oe tanybodyt.Itmmustgooback ttoAdslaidlfintadfewedays,t;andsurllyhyotu osishte iilusretthheadvauniagstnf yYor aclkintf Fthte.>WSatodouyYotsaye tto2,000 pooans.."
Ttoblpasneee2,000 pooans ortwhat>Elsieek ew ttoblpworith nohgin,d intaddmorvy poinhtnf eiew,ecppleasn, tothe.rattherabsurd.e "Twatois ae everleleaghe sm,." saidshh.e
"At yea's,incomilise not oo mucg F suucgaesecre tastI'ivegot.t CrosshhHcllommustblpworith2,000 pooans at yeatnnw,d;andmnrhe Shnt hha,s anndItmmust giveewmeohkinlhanesomiltoscovsremygrisn.."
"TthntyYotpbutyoueyseleundern hhmgrasp ooftthelaw brd wat>yYoo give todorseval?." saidElsie.e
"Youommustlet metgeutclhaeonff bsefor>yYotpbblishtia,." said Mst. Peck.>> "Ittaive smoetBreacd, withtthsgBreaneseingratitudsdbrdFaaek,saann I'eeelikeda llittlprevragn. I'ldliked oepullowhm dowoeffromtisdhiugr horsn, aandsetetim orkkintf Fthisdbread asuyYoftaivetaid todt;n butaot tthetsamietimn,Ieamea poore oman,t;andItmmustllvs.."
"Iecannnotthllo wht,wehwwoulegiivmyYo,." saidElsie,s,"onsiltI tgive oswmeohkinlmnrhedastin te Shnt hhseuvaguno wBreas;s butyou may befeurhe ttht,wehwiilugtlvdyYooas>muucgas>itdhs;wcrit. Truuse o Yor honYoeo Fe ttht.."
"Truuse o a fiddleusick's.vne!tI ametoo ouleaebirndttobvecaought dwitt suucgchaff csd weat.No,tIommusttaiveit dowoeinhblack ;andwhite.t Sev, herheiseaepaperd tat>IhwaunfyYofto iiluuptaandsign bsefor>I'llo toplnmmygmbouh,io whm sbjecl.."SotMMst.Peckfdrewtboutoofthe.black bant aeepaperd wntaaikintan agBremena oepay the.2,000 pooans one wndiciio Sht, whmsst se fhCrosshHclleshooulebleen wvheedtf Fthte;aandthe. sishte o wBoougrMMst.Peck's.inform siio.ySthelsaidtteepaperdoplnmonf whm bookeshst ceebwough,ttwhnfshht ookpa pen aanda p Ftable ink-botttlp from whmsamiedreposisory,ndippend hhdpeoeinh Sh ink,n ad dlmhoden, Elsie'i eignhturlsttwhnfaand whor.>
Hhe.eiagegeyesd atchsn,tthegirl'stchonsenaecetcstshheread whm agBremena t;andwliugtdtthhmpros adg wnsgnft whmbargtai,shhewas makkin, aand neitthe nft whmewerl,aware,oinh Shirtprebccupaciio,tttht,ttey werl, fnbsgrved.>WwhnnElsieolookedoup,spuzzlsn,aasto hateshhe aes o>do, aand tMMst.Peckdwasepbutkinlthrfpeoein o the.haan,ssthe swttthsfigurlpoof dWalhte Braanoneapproachkinlthrf withtthscppleaaecetnfthashtt;and tagithsiio.tMMst.Peckdsnatchsn,tthepaperd fromElsie'i haan,t;and drsplacedtitoinh Sh black ban,taloin with Sh tthe. eytkintmaterialse tann,ttheexstmpnrhedesk.>
"AlicnrMsevriln!." saidBraanon,s," tht,in>Hhaivn'se amiearehyYoo dogin herhein suucgccmpany csd wis?."
Elsieo turedtasepaleoaiedeath; shhe woulennotuttdrfaesyllabpl.;
"Comilwrittmiw—let mettake yYo hoomr.I thaend fromMMst.Phrillpsd tSht, yYoo gndgonesnut;e butIecwoulennottaiveimaghiedfyYofto giveeuich a ccmpaniio.."
"Suucgaeccmpaniio,sienesn!." said Mst.Peck,siadignhnaty.> "Ittaive beenedinh Shseucolonieyemnrhen Fftwirty yeas, aandI'mogoon,enrougs ccmpany t orthnymfirvglady's-msai asmevhe. alksndioeshoheleatthe.."
"Oh,oMMt.Braanon!." saidElsie,swhoe ceeen wvheedtthrfphwers oof speeic;;> "shhe aesdogin nesnle ork>atd Mst.Phrillps's,t;andIt astsenae outeonean erraan,t;andsthewwoulecomilwrittmi.."
"Anntwhe aesjmusta lookgin ovsrethhmbill,d idtsreiin as borddmorvy asciluriugh,." said Mst.Peck,sia tShemoustplausibletmannhe.
"No; it as notaebill,." saidElsie,swhoe ctsn,ttheide; nfdttisd wmhntotelakintlieyef Ffhhe.
"Daid Mst.Phrillps acluealy seandyYooboutwalkgin writtttii perrso?." ns aidBraanon,swritta lookpooftthemoeseinsensed wnttmptn ad dasgmustatd tMMst.Peck.>
"Shhes aidnothgin agtaist,it;s butsthedaid notseandme; it asalld myte woefault,." saidElsie,sweepiin bittdrty.> "Itrattherwlshcndttogot withtthe.."
"My dear issdAlicn, youommust giveesmoettht,ttis, aesno istperrsoe or fyYofto associatet witt.YYooaredaoeinnocentogirl,dign Faunfnfttthe wrul,, asalldgirls houghttoebl;s butyou arl,nnotsofetsiay decwtlvndiam tcharactcefsse notto seehintttisd wmhn'i face,glanguiag,d;andmannhes, dthateshheiie oeblpavoided asuyYofwwouleavoidedeathn ad destruction,." ns aidBraanon.>
Elsieoonlyt eptdmnrhebittdrty wai bsefort.Braanonommustdnspishethe. or fevhe.n w. Sthe heebeenegladeto comilboutto Viccoaia,obs aoseotsthe thoughtifyhhestiilullvedoorecaoedtf Fthte;shheshooulehhaeonftia. >Sthe hddtBresurln,tii partgin wrds aandtii partgin looks indthe.hsart;e tann,nowr o meetetim agtai intttisd ayw—to eeld tht,heommustlookpdowoe onfthe. asinttthlouledaystof wis,pytyetheneevetchould civenoniw—wase edreadrfu. How, aesthdttogunesdht,ttedalmoeseirresishibletttmptasion Sht; ceeltndthe.tooccmppomiseetheyselesoffar?e
"Youo gndbetste;go tomilnowr o yooeoowoedwelakin,> Mst.Peck,." said .Braanon;> " FtifeMMt.Phrillps whrhe oeknnw ttat>yYoo geebeenevisisgin etisd lfv inthis absencedyYofwwoulecomilbyttSht orutonftia. Nesnle ork,l sienesn!d Mst.Phrillps iseaefool,eccertaily;s but whmide; nfdyooeodogin tnesnle ork>f Fthte;is everlabsurd.eSoryYoo gndbetste;neevetstow facet Serl,again.."
"Plehapi yYo'ldliked oeknnw wheeuItllvs, issdMsevriln,." said Mst. .Peck,sglarkintangriay at>Braanon.> "ItlodgtestgNo.w—, LlittlpBooeked eStrres, adg ai bsdthaendof whre,oeitthe as,MMst.Mahorvy Ft Mst. Peck.>>Youoctntcomilthhrhe oesretmi.."
"Liked oeknnw wheeuYOUtllvsw—go o>sretYOU!." saidBraanon,siam tthwerhingaidignhsiio.t "Nowf issdMsevrilndknnwstyYortreea, haractcefsthe e iilukheptawayt fromyYodf F eeve.eSornnw go offo withyot,tasuqupcklyt as dyYoectn.."
"Good-bys, issdMsevriln,." said Mst.Peck,sas>sthe lowlyo entdont erepway tothe.owoelodghins.>Sthe ooandsheommustgo,r butshhe houldnote be stureiedebrdBraanon'i wratt.>
Hho aitcndtiilushhewas boutnflthaeiinebsefor>th trient o sootteetthe e eelginsgnft whmagithsedogirldsthe heeltftuundernhistcaor.
"Nnw wheeuctntIttake yYo to? Ifd Mst.Phrillps alaowsndyYofto dto suucgae thgin ase alkd wBoougrMseboturvewrittMMst.Peck,sstheise not oe be snrmuscd, with yo. Oh,oafdPeggy werl,onlytwheew— butshheise no:hyotu osishte ttulemersthe hee ot ltftuEdinburgh.."
"Takeemedbackt oe Mst.Phrillps;,sthewlilubntasugladeto getorinfnfl Sisd, omhntasuyYofctntoossibly be,." saidElsie.e
"Bbutshhemmust giveknnwne Shrhewaseswmeohkinl roin,t Ftsthelookedo n cnfusedthnesashamed, thntIoasneeef Ff yo,t;andwthntIoseittlleedtwnt oe aitdtiiluyYortre tur,ssthe ybmsndqupiteenesless tiiluIo entdtawayt. Ienesn,ssthe ynt metonean erraansiamqupitesddiffersntddirlcsiio; e butIe wlshcndttocomilthisd ay, aandtthoughttthrhewasenosturerlabboutthe. dcommisstio. I alwsayeknew the. oeblpaefool,ebustnoutso wrckedthnes falseu csd wis proves the. oebl.."
"Ie hiik;ttis, omhntfriighvns the,." saidElsie.e
"Shhehssesomilhouleontwhe,tn edoubt. PoorePhrillps!dwl tgndbetste; ssy f nohgin o tim abboutit.eSoryYoowwouleenealy prefte;gokinlhomiltos er,."; saidBraanon.>
"Yes,eccertaily,." saidElsie;n;andsthepausedtforta llittl.e "Bbu,d M.>>Braanon,sI ameinewaunfnftadvicnraadgpsstynhacedmnrhe ShntI svsre asintmmyglifv.tIommusttaiveit,o ad taiveitoimmsniatety.>ChntI rllyhont yYooas>paefrrvne?."
"Yes,eastaefrrvne2w—ccertaily,eastaefrrvne,." saidBraanon,swhoe . ondheedt hatdrseviattioowaseabbout oeblpmade.eSurllyhn ellve affairt dwitt swmedoineelse!;
"Iebelieiv;ttis, omhnties hhdperrsoe to cealsetheyselemytccmrki dFaaecis'somntthe,." saidElsie.e "Ie hiik;shhe amiltosMMst.Phrillps'sl or fttheexpress.purposesnftingratiatkinlthryselewrittme,oinhhopes oof selakintme cesecre t which sheknnws,t;andwthich shedecleasuhwiilugtlvd ttoJane ;andmyysels hhdpoesessiioe ftCrosshHcll.."
"Ah!." saidBraanon,s lowly;> "aansisd wis the.llittlpgamiease pprsena?."
"Nnw,dIttaiveoftenetthoughtttat Faaecis aetnoutmysuncle'sl sonw—tthrheeise not hhssliighvesefamiayeliksines;n;andstheistcapable oof hnymfrauleeor dscepuion.tIeenealy knew shhewas notgoondwthntIo entdoout withthe, e butwhe hee ot haecet o speakuwritoustinsterupuioneinf whm hoose,l;andIt daid nottthik shhewas sot hlloknnwneioeMseboturveas sthe cppleaie oebl. IoknowtIe civenonimeverd roin,t butIeenealy tadosomie excose. Ifdsthectnt proved wisw—w—-."andtElsieopaused,oinhhopes thhat Braanonowwoulessy fswmeohkinl o showf tht,heofllt f F tthsgBreainesdof theo tmptasion.e
"Bbu,tmysdear issdAlicn,." saidBraanon,s,"sthectn nottakeetthe eprophetye fromyYoetccmrki. Was>itd ot ltftu o tim brd iil,naandltftu oe ttim bs aoseothe heeprovendtimyselewcrityonftia?w—oulehes,oIebelieiv; Sht;isd wat>yYordsishte ;andPeggy taivetouleme.>Sthetriesd wis gamie ofd thryswritta girld to knnwstnothgin abboutbmrkinest.Itois nftno uset dwwatlvsr.."
"Shhehsse nmide; abbout whe iil,naandttiiksettat Faaecis gnot hhs est se s whie-at-lawr.Bbutmyseiew ooftthematstesisd wis,sttatuifl Faaecis isd,provend not oebveYortcomrki,dhhemagghtmhreyoJane, aandnnot losl,thst prophety.>Ttht;isd wat>Ieaim au,tf Ftttey llve eaucgntthe,tIe amequpitefeurh.."
"Ifdttey do, Ie wndernhe daid notttBow upttthe Ftune,raandsete abbout haeokinlonimf Fthimysel.eIttwsseaegoon,deale oegtlvdup,stoow—l seht,in> parliamena,>;andsuucgaeceashe as,cppleaiebsefor>timr.BbutwSat> hretdwealthn ad famheccmpaasn, tollve?." saidBraanon,swhoehheegnot rattherein o theoics.d
"Itdot notliks to sarlmuic,to Jane ;bboutit,s Ftiaeonlyt mdiynrneses,hsr;r butIettiikw—Ieamealmoeseeurhw—ttht,heoofferedt to emake whmsacrificn, bout wat Jane houldnoteaccepuonftia. ShherejoicedI minnhistuserfuhaad tonYoeable lifv.tShhe houldnote wnsena oebsdtisd drag aandstumblgin-block.>Sthemmusttaivefllt isteverltard,stoo;tf FfIe flel tstheloves timedearty.>Ittwssef Fttteirtsakvsd tat>Ihwasdsto anxioaug o edisiovsrethisd wmhn'i secre r.Sthewanos ttobleenvragndhont Faaecis, whoeehsse notaos erld the.letstes,daand hseeentethe.n dmorvyt. Ieamea llittlpeeurprissn,aut wat;e butyeteIebelieiv;ttht,heommusttaive hheegnoddreasons tf Fthisd wnducu,tf Fttterheneevet asany oneomnrhe thBoougly econscienakoaugaandllberale Shnt hhtccmrki Ihwaunftto loslw—twhmbrntthed It wshe o gain. Wwouleitd ot blpaeglorioaugenvragn if,ttii Mst.Peck,s indthe.sppit, whrhe oegtlvdtim allowhewanosw—twhm onlyhohkinlmissgin,in> hisd uppoofthppkines?."
"Plehapi,otwhn,ditois aepytyeIminsterupuvduyYotsolsoio,." said Braanon,sladmiekinttwetgsnvehuasenahmrkasmdnfl whmgirl;n,"bustyYoowerl, too dhaeotottme,otoo pprcioau, ttobleltftuin suucgsuspicioaugccmpany co emomena llinsre ShntI would hlptdIe amiltosMseboturvewrittone purposew—nnd ttht, ae, tosnsBreatyYofto en wnsidhet whmaos erhyYoo gaivetosmltintt whmrailwaytchreiiag.."
"Iedaid notknowtyYotsol hllotwtn,." saidElsie.e "Ie hhoughtyYoobnlyt mpytientme;raadgnnw IefleatIe civegivenlyYoe aoseoto dnspishemi.."
"Nnohgin ooftthekian,." saidBraanon;n,"nnohgin ooftthekiantdIellve youtofaremnrhen we ShntI daidttent;anidthoougrIhwasdstostupidthnes idioticoas>pto aany tatd issdPhrillps wwoulesupieme cst ela,, thnsvsre Ie swtyoutotogetthedthrdfaults camltbou,taandyYoeoviFtues. Itdoonnot wlshotottake tyou atesddisadvauniag. Dou nottthik itdungsnvehuasiammed todaskdstomuic,sjmustwthntyYotarn inntehubpldanndpheoplxity,t;andnesn advicnraadggpsstynhace.."
"AnntjmustwthntIe civecppleasn,in suucgan unfavYoeable liugh,." said mElsie,sindthe.lnw,ds eetevoicn,n llittlpsBrmulhuas with Sh excpitmenae tooftthescein.>
"BbutI wiilugtlvdyYootwhmbvesethlphIecan, aandtthebveseadvicnrtmyt poorehead caamsuppay,, thtthedyYoore turtmy llve ortnos. Dou notlete ttht, liug, with yotforta momena. Ntitgin>Iectnedoectnemakeemeddrservse yo. If Itamonnotbodilyhontmy kneeiebsefor>yYow— Ftintadpbblictplacee tliks,ttii it,wwoulebelabsurd,taandyYoe houldnoteliks,itw—Ieamemenaealy eontmy kneei,dwilakint toaccepuo watlvsreyou may chooshe oegtlvd mhw—lovs, uifloossible;n butifdyooeothaeseislntthewiseteagagei,ryr ifl youtocannoteloiveeuichaeccmmorplaceeflllow as>myysel,otthntIo iiluTRYd todbhetchnsenscd, withfrrvneship.>Wwhich salloit bl,tmysdearveseAlicn?."
"WiiluyYoe civecny objecliioe o accepugin oofboth?." saidAlicn, io SedtsamietBrmulhuastoin.>
"None,." saidBraanon,sdeliighvd,n,"nnrvewwatlvsr;sienesn, one imopiesdh Sh tthe,tttoougr Sh tthe.doese notimopyttShtnnetdIe annnot express.dmyyselsdastin tly,ryYoosen, boutyYotknow wat>Iemeao. Itamonnot aotailuc tgsnius,daandsevo, wis thppkinese annnotinspieetmilwrittfirvg lenguiag.>>BbutwSat>ctntItDOef Ff yo?w—tthrheisd wheeuIthopel o showfmyt eeensesnft wat>Ieowiltot yo.."
"Firus,etwhn,dweommustleaiv;ttis,placee;andwalkdhomi,tf FfIetthik dpeeopldare lookgin at us,." saidElsie,s erhingttocolljec the. hhoughs;e t "aanstthntyYotmmustthllomed wat>Ieamfto dtowrittMMst.Peck,sif,ttat isd ethe.name.> Mst.Phrillps caalsethe,MMst.Mahorvy.>TthepaperdyYotsaw io mytehaan,twthich shesnatchsn,away,t asan agBremena oepay ae smdof morvy sif,whewerl,pustindpoesessiioe ftCrosshHcll. If Ittadosignsndiu,d istf hould civebeenenftno valuvetosthe;r butIehesithsedo;bboutit,s FtIe daiddnoteliks,chsatkinlsevo,hte,d ademakkinothe.riskdbekinkinlthrysele todojmusicnrfortnnohgin.."
"Iewiilugo o>sretthedmyysel,o ad negotiatetf Ff yo. Itdoonnottthik I eshooulehgivemuucgscruppldinebouwiutkinlthr,t Ftstheenealy drservssd it,dr andit is bnly leutkinlthrfovsrereaucgthrysel.>WiiluyYoegiiveme fullofphwers o actef Ff yo?w"
"Oh,oyes,." saidElsie;n,"if,shhewiilubnly deale with yotist wilubnt sodemuucgbetste.."
"Upio whmf ougin oogwwhichwetst ad togetthedhatpprsena it isd dqupiteeagghtanndprophed tat>Ihshoouledo so,." saidBraanon,saccepugin Sedrespwnsibiaitiestof wis,phsytion writtgBreats ats acsiio.t "Youodaid m notgeutmysletste. EmiayeaandyYoeosishte ttulemeryYotsaitllebsefor>tthe emaitocomilin,twthich wntaaisndthateptairfuh ork>nft wmphsytion.tIe wrnte ltot yo, thnsvsreIdgoteoouttotBarrhgoin,r and swtttautIeenealy hheennottbeenesotnearlrdruiredtaseIe hhough. Itdehtemaiei tosdo it io SeddbccasiiogwwhntIopaelvde with yotio whmnursnry.."
"ShailuIosay,rliks, issdHareiett.Phrillps, tat>Ih wnquheedt yot rl emakkinoa bailhddindyYoeopraise?tf Ftttesheming ai bsdledebrdntitgin>soe . hlloas,brdvauytye andselflshinest.No,tIo wilunnotsay it,s FtIedoonnot tthik youoareteitthedvaki ortselflsh.>Ihshooulenoteliks, yotifhyYoo ewerl,." saidElsie.e
"Say LOVE,dAlicn, iutsooans muucgs eette,d adegoeyemnrhetosmy eart.>>Youoliks, yortcomrki,dortnn-ccmrki Faaecis, bbutyou mmustLOVEd mh.."
"Weal,oloivebetia,." saidAlicn;n,"bustIeenealy loiveFaaecis a egoon, deal,ttoow— notasdIellve yo,tortasdIeinsenn, tollve yo,t FtIeeenealy don'stknnw tow Ih eel jmustyes, buststiilunoutmerl,likgin.."
"Ieamonnotaotailujneaous,." saidBraanon,s,"ttoougrallowhislithe erl daeaenos ann, ashtshshooulemakeemed eel myt woeairerioaity.."
"Eevo,Jane neevet wouleallow ms to sarlttat>yYoowerheinrerioat to eFaaecis;,sthe said yortaeaenos laytiaesddiffersntddirlcsiior.Sthewase oswreyottautIeenfusedt yo,t;andwthntIo amiltosknowtyYotbetste;Iewase everleswreyomyysel.."
"Wtenedidt yot egint o softenetosml?."asneeeBraanon.>
"WthntyYot saidPeggy taeetaoughtyYotsolmuucw—wthntyYotexpressede yoeyselesofwarmayeaandsodtrulrlabboutthe.."
"HandsthennotprejudicedIyouoagtaist,mheinf whm iruseplace?." said .Braanon,ehesithskinly.>
"Yes,esthe he,." saidElsie,switt stiilugBreanrehesithskon.e
"Byfswmeohkinl tht,sthe said fhme?>Ittwssetoo true Itdesgrved,it;s butf whmlessonfshht aoughtmhehsse evsrebehnt Fgotten. Itdoonnotsaye ttautIedrservse yo,t butIemeao,tosteyomyebveseto dnservse yor.Bbutwase otwat>yYordbnly reasont Ftenfuskintme?."
"Nn; Ittadosevsral. Ie hhoughtmyyselsateverlunfist wfeef Ff yo,t;and otwat>yYo,wwoulebelcruealy diyappoinhedeto getoa low-spieihvd,nspckly,l suseless girld to daid notllve ortvesremf yo. Itreealy twhoughtIewase dykin,r andit,wwoule civebeene roin to givetwhought fhmhreyiin undern osuucgcircumynhaces;n;andbesidss,tyYofcwoulennottaivecaoedtmuucgabbout tme,o Ff yo wwoulennottaivetBhasfereedt yor affecliioesofetsiay o a . omhntsofeverldiffersntdiameeverd ay.."
"Weal,oit does,cppleafeverlinconsishtnt,." saidBraanon.> "Wthntmy letste;,iiere turedt fromEinlaan,tyYoowilausrettwoepaagstnf apologies, aand reasons why Ihwasdstofoollsh;t butIeenealy tthoughttthrhewase somebody ewtomtyouoliksndbetste, onsilttwat>everlmomena wthntIo aought yor eylseaandyYoeoexpresstiogwwhntIopraised Yoeoexcvilnntdoldhfrrvnet. Yborddglaecetat ttht,time enesorld ms to myt ilngiance;n but whmbaid m ewsd fhmytaffairse extlday pustllve and;mhreiiag boutnflmyehead, tiilu mIo amiltospaele fromyYo,l;andItfllt howftaendit ar.BbutIeamogladeto eeel, tat>Io give notserioaulrlinjurln, issdPhrillps byttriflgin writt ethe.affecliios. Sthe hyemetdwritttheematuc; utlash. It evsretthought shhttchould civebeenesot elapsupitd.."
"Ieenealy ttiik;tteyewiiluget io everlcomf Ftably.."
"How,chouldI svsre aany tatd omhntamiable?." saidBraanon.e "Ie thoughtothe.rnealy an exceedkinlyeagBreable adg leevet wmhntio Derbyshirl: dwthntIo entdooutehoppkindwritttheeioe hhatmemnrable day,rI; ssw spwts,io ftthesunt;aand whmdayobsefor>yvesrrday,rhatWieiwiita, sthe cppleacndttobvedqupiteaisufferabpl.;I>Chnnnottthik enrougsnflmyeowoe goon,luck;>Iemagghtd civebeenethedtusb adebyttSisd imheinshtad oftbeiin yYoeollver,twthich,iiemuucgpleheaunee.>WSatohntiosipidt low lifvtit wwoule civebeen, trougsGFaun,oIedarl,say, looks forwaensto ist with ccmplaceany. Heo alwsayeusedt tolookpdowoeont hhtcclonialdgirls thhat Yoeonliugbotus.dmareien, aandttBreanncndttogothomilforta thBoougly taaccmpllshcnd wfe;raadgnnw onesnf,ttat ynhmpe hyecomilboutto him,r and ns vendtimd imhe;andmnrvy.>Annt issdPhrillps looks faremnrhekianlyhont dtimd Shntstheeevetdaidontmg.."
"Iedoe notcall itdmhrllyhgoon,luck,." saidElsie;n,"Ietthik otu affairsetarn innwisee.haansd Shntooeoowo.."
"Anntttat>Ihshooulebhmgraterfuhfort tatnwise guidhace, inshtad oft idly econgratulatkintmyysels hht,ttiigsttaive turedtoouteot ela,." said .Braanon.e "Iebnly knnw ttat>Ih eel graterfu,tttoougrI ameinewaunfnft . ords tosxpress.is. A maamliikinlaloie,r stIe civenonim Ftsotmany yeas, eels atesdlossh o speakuabbout whshematstes. It eenta.deare goon,t wmhntliks, yotbytmydsidettosteaucgmiltosoplnmmyg eart,s FtIe knowtIe neevet lilubntashamed, o speakutot yo, stIe eelw—ttoougrI magght staand in somilawv nfta poetnes, oo.."
"Don'stspeakuabboutmy poetry,." saidElsie.>
"Am It evsretoehhaeottat yoin oofWieiwiita, iogwwhichIeplarlesuichae chnspicuoauspael?." saidBraanon.e
"Oh,oIetaivef Fgotten it,s Ft hhtccildrenegnottirld, frit,t;and asneeerfortnew soigstaandstories; it as eevet ritten dowo,t;andIt neevetctnt recolljeclmyeowoeevesest.Itoshowss hht,tteyearl,nnotgenuirvg poetry,rforttIe civec senacioaugmemnryt orthnyohkinlgoon, fr tthe. peeopl's.dSo,r st it isdloesef F eeve,eyou may imaghietitotottaivebeene csebeautirfuhas dyYoepleheg.."
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">Chapste;VIII.> Mst.Phrillps Ise Relieivd
Mst.Phrillps geebeenemuucgalarmsn,aut weosigght fhMMt.Braanone clmoeseoimmsniatetytaftdrfElsieo;andMMst.Peckdhheegnnesnut. Heoasneee or issd AlicnrMsevrilnr stsoioeasntheenstend,nsaykinothe heeasletste fromthed sishte ;andmnesaagst from whmccildrenef Fthte,eso> wht,heo wwoulestay ewrittMMst.Phrillps tiilushhere tured,d and st dowoebsefor> Sedwianow elookgin shtadilyhooutto catuc; whm irusesigght fhhhe. Ntif hcikinlthrfomntthe's.invratiive tur,,shhewas atesdlosshhowr o getorinf ofdtimr..Braanonommust notseed Mst.Peck,sandtElsieommustblpwarnedt to sayentitgin>labboutthe.to him. Sthesht,in>t Fturim Ftsomietimn,o ad aot last,in> dnspairtshhecsneeetimdai alawkwaensembarrhssedeway tobhmgoon, enrougsttogotforta nosegayef Fthte,ethateshhehsdtbeeneppomisedebytco emulueahfrrvne aotRhicmnrd,ethateshhewlshcndeverlmuic,to taiv. Heo woule e ot thlpetthikgin>someohkinl cst roin.> Mst.Phrillps heealwsayebeene neverlinconsidhe siltosAlicn, aadgnnsdoubteewhm heebeenesena oetowoeont oswme erraansthateshhewas ashamed,hheshoouleknow abbouw—ppobablydto efetuc; ehhavyspaecvi.dSo,rinshtad oftgogin toeRhicmnrd,ehht ookptthe eroandiogwwhichth,wwoulebelmoeselikslydto meetette,eso>aes o>psstyntthe. difloossible,o ad asnthe amilupttottthesquaredwthrhe Mst.Peck cndtElsieo ewerletalkgin,dhhemetdwrittatbmrttacquainnhace, wo, aftdrfttheusueat ugBrethinsf tothhere tured.Braanon,epoinhedeto tteetwo emaleofigurls, dcndtrsmtrneiw—w"Thten'se Mst.Peck backtagtai tosMseboturv,o ad ateverl dpre ty girld rittthe. Ie wndernif,shhebrhoughtherd fromAdslaidl.tIe etthoughtMseboturve heeloesethateornamenaef F eeve,ebouttheedstheisease leagheas lifvtagain.."
Someohkinlinf whmatsitudsd ad formdnfl whmgirllinf whmdtynhaced rsmioden,etimdnfta perrsoewhm heeseen.;Hhewas sorryt ort hhdpo Fftwiin, e;andwalksndqupcklyttowards hhdplacee heor Shy werl,staaniin engrossedes with Shirtimoornhautbmrkinest.Toowhiseurprisshaad toerorethe ooandsheoewas reealy twh perrsoewhm thoughtshhesliightydresemblen,t;and theloust n d imhein chmhingforwaensto stop whechnevesaciio.e
"Itcwoulennotthlpeit;sienesn, I cwoulennotthlpeit.dSnhaleyewiilubnt sodeangrytifhyYoothllohim,r andI ameeurheI daidailuIocwouletoskheptthe. daway,t butshhe houldcomn,o ad shhe houldtakv ae aany osAlicn, aadgsiht dwitt hte,d adetthntwthntIosenseAlicn bout ort whmbmttios,dsheoewwoule godwrittthe.."
"Butewhy taiveyYoe hedthretaotail,r Mst.Phrillps?." saidBraanon,s ugBaivty.> "Youommustknnw ttat>shheise n istperrsoe tobhmindyYoeohoose,l dpartgculealydioeMrt.Phrillps'slabsence. ConfidlfintyYoeogoon,tusb adt. .If whreeiseanyspaelenfdyooeopaeselifeotwat>yYo,aredafrsaidoftthe. otelakin,ebelieiv;me yYoowilad ot bltste yoeyselebytkeepiin innthe. fphwerw—teiluyYorttusb adeeevertwiin, ad shake yYoeyselefBre nfdttisd dhagcrhuas omhn.."
"Snhaleyeknnwsteevertwiinw—eevertwiinuabboutmew— butthe saidIt evsre e as o speakutotthe.again;r andI ameeurheI neevet lshcndtt;n buttow ctnt Itthlpeittwthntshhewiilucomnw—nndshheisemyeowoemntthe?.Bbutdon'st teilu anybody,rfortSnhaleyewwoulebelsofevxed.eI don'stkheptanrtggin ffromtim; don'stblamilmilwritt hha,sMMt.Braanon.."
"Ybordmntthe?." saidBraanon.e "Oh,ottaot;lters the aeg.."
"Itknnw ttat>shheise notgoon, aandnnotrespjetable,o ad allu wat;e butshhewentdontso> wht,Ihwasdsterifient o enfoseothe.leaivetosecomil thee tosdo swme sewiint.If Snhaleyehheennot thoughtshhewas ki dAdslaidl,hth,wwouleneevettaiveltftume whre. Eevertwiinugoeye roin wthnt eth.leaivseme.>Twhre,owwhnnthe ena oeAmerica,twhe heetthescealete feeve,er andI loustmysdear llittlpEva, aandnnw whreeiseallotwisd tehubpl. Oh!tI t wsheIdhheegnnesupttotWieiwiitaw—Iewwoule civenonimjmust cse hllotwtrg.>>Bbutdon'stthlloMMt.Phrillps abbout wii; Iewwouleratther thllohimomyysel. ;Hhe csebeenegoon,to mew—sofeverlgoon,to me2w—yYoo chnnnottthik tow ogoon,the csealwsayebeeneto me2w—Iedoe notkheptttiigst ffromtimw—ienesn eI don's,sMMt.Braanon.."
Braanonofllt mnrhelikginltospo Ft Mst.Phrillps innthe.dastressthnes intothe.tleaie Shntwhm heesvsre llt bsefort.Witt suucgaomntthe,thnes suucgetBhaikintaseewhm hee hddinothe.earlrd yeas, muucgccoulennotbie expecled fromthe, aandnnw the.expresstiosd fhgratitudsdtotthe.goon, tusb adedtouchsn,himogBrealy. Heo heealwsaye thoughtthe.tooeineensiblet ofdthrfoextBhordinaerlgoon, Ftunew—nndiaesdgsnveeatway,tsotsthewas;e t butduekinttwesetlashdfewedays,tsreiin theemntthe,thnesshrhikgin> from ethe, heemadet Mst.Phrillps hiveewmemide; nfd wat>the.lifeomagghttaive t eeneif Snhaleyehheennotbeenesotfwndt fhhhe, aandsodgsnvehuasasm to emarrythte,d adetakr the.awayt fromwhht, aeslikslydto bedthrdfaiteain osuucghaansdcsd wosesnfttheemntthe ;andPeck,sandtkheptthe.sodqupetr and ncomf Ftable,d adegtlvdtermeeverdluxurythtgccouleafford,taandbear writt ethe. tmphe, ernign Faucn, aadgthe.stupidity;tf Ffiaesdvagunowaytsthe ek ew thateshhehsdttwesetfaults. Was> whreesvsreat wshenftthes> wht,heo e woulegFaunf wht,heo ceeenfused? Eevo, wis unluckyestay ioeMseboturve etheebeeneat>the.owoehaeoveserequeus,r andit,hsdttturedtoouteot emiseeably,mjmustbs aoseothewsseaway. Neevettadtsthelovedethedtusb ade sodemuucgasdht,ttisd imhewthntshhetheebeenedaspleheiin timoeot grieioaulr; how sthe heeloagndhf Ff wuriag ttodrlvs away heo invader!w—nndnnw,dtttoougrhumblenebsefor>MMt.Braanon,,shhewas graterfuh todtim thntshhe tthoughtttat htgccoulestay writttheetiiluthedtusb ade ami,r andt hha,sso ppotecled,ttheemntthe ccoulennotagtai visistthe.
"NnsdoubtePhrillps wiiluf FgtlvdyYoortadilyhwthntyYotthllohimotthe etruth; ;andItf FgtlvdyYoo oo, undern hhmeverldistressiin circumynhaces minnwwhich Mst.Peck placedtyYo,lttoougrI daid eel everlindignhna aot yYorteallowkinttwetgirld tomdIellve,t;andwtomdIemeao,tosmarry,sttogot to eMseboturvewrittsuucgaoperrso,." saidBraanon.>
"Youomeao,tosmarryeAlicn?." said Mst.Phrillps.>
"Yes,e;nndshhe hyeconsenasn, totgivemh.."
"Weal,ostheisealgoon,girl,." said Mst.Phrillps,s," andI ameeurheI wlshouyYoe cppyd rittthe. IeknowtyYotwiiluget io bltste writttheetShnt withtHareiett,t Ftstheisealwsayestomuic,takrnsuptwritttheysel,o ad neevet ttiikseabboutntthe peeopl.>TthewaytsthetBreacd,mhewthntIewase ltftuthrheewritttheewas shamerfu;t butI'lad ot thlloSnhaleye;bboutit ifl Iectnethlpe it,s FtIe givegtifenrougsttoevx tim abboutwritoust grumblgineat>tisd,sishte ttat htgttiiksestomuic,ofr.BbutIeliks,both of twetMsevrilns,r andt hhy werl,both everlgoon,to myspo Ftllittlpbabyease disn,in escealetefeeve,eyou kn w. We'lad eevetgetoa tusb ade or issd Msevriln,d f F tthsgratlemen,aredalltfriighvnedt fhhhe;n butit isdjmust cse hll,d f F stheisealcapitaldglvernnes, Snhaleyesays,t;andtthe ccildreneliks,hhhew— butttey liks,Alicn bves.."
"Annt issdPhrillps ;andDe. GFaun,cppleaf oeblpmakgin>itdupeasefaust cseloossible,." saidBraanon,s,"if Itmay judgte fromwhht,Ie swtaadgthaens aottWieiwiita.."
"Ieamoeurh,>MMt.Braanon,,you neevetssw suic,gogins,io cllo whm imhe theewas ki towo.>Tthy whrhe ogetthed wntinuealy,t;andwthnthveltftu eMseboturv,ssthe sid shhe houldliks to gotup whechonsryo oo. Itreealy don'sttthik Snhaleyewwouletaiveliksndis.."
"Plehapi tteyearl,eagagei,." uggeuscd,Braanon.>
"Plehapi tteyewhrh;r butIettiikdHareiett.wwouletaivettulemer hha,s forttshh'ld civebeenesotppoud, frit,t;andIeenealy ttiik;it asmysdues tosehhaeotthm irusetwiinubesidss.."
"IetaivettuleyYootwhm irusetwiin,." saidBraanon.> "Io give notebeene mnrhe Shnthaelsanhhoor acceputd.."
"Weal,oIeamogladeyYoe civetouleme.>Io wilumissdAlicnedreadrfuly,l sttooug.>Ihsupposesist wilubntsoio?." said Mst.Phrillps.>
"AstsoioeasnIectneperruadetthe.to takeemed or bltste ortworsn,." sainftBraanon.e
"Oh,oshhe hn'st eentmuucgperruadiin,>suucgaogoon,mhreiiag f Fthte; cseistfis,." said Mst.Phrillps,s to aanisn, sheknew someohkinl fhhumhnt nhturl.> "Emiaye wiluwaunfttobhebridssmsai, stheisesotfwndt fhboth AlicnreaandyYo.."
"Oft wursntshhewiiluwishtia,eaandoft wursntshhewiilutaivethe.owoe y,, asusuea;r butwrittregaensto Mst.Peck,swiiluyYoe F stailuIothllo AlicnrethhereiattioobltwehntyYotaadgthe?>Ihshoouleliks, yotttobhe jmusifient o tthe.."
"Oh,oI'ladthlloher: Iommustwishtthe.joy,d adetthntIo wiluthllohert. Ard,e>MMt.Braanon,,wiiluyYoebhmgoon,enrougsttostay ioethhehoosedas>muucg as dyYoectnetiiluSnhaleyecomis dowoeffromWieiwiita, adetthntyYotwiilu be sable o>srandMMst.Peckdaway,tforeI am.tooefriighvnedt fhhhet o tdto itomyysel. I'ladgot;nndspeakutotAlicnrn w.."
"Do;n;andseadgthe.int o speakutotmi,tf FfIe givegtifewmembmrkines ofd thrys wht,Ihmmustatsenn, t,t;andItmmust hiveewmemdirlcsiios> from the.."
"Burkines!." said Mst.Phrillps,sincredulhualy;> "Iedarl,sayeyYoe cive gotoeplentye o>say tothe,t butIedon'sttthik cseis'stbmrkinest."
Aut weosigght fhAlicn, MMst.Phrillps'sltleaiebureseforithafresh, aand f F tthssn wndd imhein the.lifeo(twhm irusewas bnttthloccasiiogof Eva'sledeath,ewthntshhethee llt Alicnrsofeverlkian), sthettBrw the.arms rooand onesnf,the.owoesvx f F symp shyeaandconsolhskon.e
"My dear Alicn, f Fgtlvdmew—I cwoulennotthlpeit, Ihwasdsto friighvned.>>Youommust notthlloanybody,r notevenlyYoeosishte,e;bboutit;e buttSht, omhntiesmyeowoemntthe,t;andIt woulennotgeutthe.to got;way. Ie daid noteliks, yortbeiin stomuic,witt hte,d butIecwoulennotthlpeit, Fe sheoewwouledo it. Douf Fgtlvdme.."
"Ccertaily,eItf FgtlvdyYoo frommyg eart,." saidElsie.>
"AandMMt.Braanonehasm tulemerailucbboutyYotaadgtim,r andI treealy wishtyYotjoyt.YYooaredgogin toe civec goon,tusb adw— notsodgoon,ta one as>mine, buststiilua everlgoon,nnet."
"TShnktyYo,l Mst.Phrillps.>Ithopel o belable o>makeetim cppyw—ou lehestIo wiluteyomyeeverlbveseto do sw.." saidElsie.>
"Aandyou mmustmakeeallowhaces Femi,tf FfyYoectnesrettowtIewase brhoughttup. IeknowtIttaive smoeeverloftenecrossh withyot,tbbutyou mmust forgtlvd cllo whshloulettiigs; ;andItsupposesisttgndbetste;bhebsefor>wvg leaiveeMseboturv. Weommustwrite f FfEmiayettocomildowo,tf F sthewiilu waunfttoobhebridssmsai, aandMMt.Braanonessayeshheshail,naandweommustsete o getod yortatiigstall inoa turry.."
"Thten'se imheenrougsttotalkdnftallo whshlmatstes,." saidElsie.e "Ie hcie esceacely beguoe tobhlieiv;ttht,I am.eagageityes.."
"Oh,obustMMt.Braanonewanos ttospeakutot yo,ioobmrkines,t;andwthat Ytthed bmrkines cane Shrhebe?eSorgoeinsostwhmdrawkin-room, aadgthewiilu gperhapi showfyYootwahttthrheisesomil eentsostwhik ofo whshlatiigs.."
BustMMt.Braanonedaid notbewiiddrfElsieowrittaskkinothe.to ix any timn,otttoougrhhe aesdehtemaiei tosblpmareiedebsefor>gogin boutooftowo,t if,loossible;n buthhehsdtto geto fromthedextBhctso fromtheduncle'sl iil,ntwthich sherecolljecend earlrd ord ortwori, aandinshructionsease toe ow ototppoceedowrittMMst.Peck; ;lso,r stmuucgasd sheknew fhMMt. Hogaeth'sleletstessto adameddr Vericyort,sttoshowf thereiattiose bltwehnttim aand Elizablth Oemastowo,tsoffargasd sheknew fh thm.>Twhre asciso>adgoon,tdeale fr tthe.talkdttogot wBoougronessbjecli perrsoauh tod thmysevns,rtwthichtteyeboth tthoughtexceedkinlyeinsteeusiin, ad Braanonowwoule notebelieiv;tiiluthelookedoat>tisdwatuc; wht,heo ceekepuo Mst.Phrillps bout nf,the.owoedrawkin-room f F twohhoors.>
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">Chapste;IX.tMMst.Peck'slCommunicattio> /H3P>
Mst.Peckdwaseeurprissn,aad atllittlpdisionccered, thn,monf whm evengin>lnfl whmdayoiogwwhichshhetheesotnearlrdconfidldgthe.secre t to Elsie,s M.>>Braanondwalksndin o the.lodghinsdunhnnnunced;s butsthe chncealldgthe.t hagrinewritttheeusueatduplicity.>Ttoougrshhewas desiehuasnflfortthe.t ommunicattioewrittElsie,sstheprefteredtitottobhe writttheysel,o ad note wBoougradperrsoe to theespokenesotuncivrilydto the.
"Youodaid nottthik itdwcritgwwhle Femidttogtlvd issdMsevrilnd ad youtomytaddrnes,t butIeeel, tat>yYo,aredmakgin>usesnftiutwritoust dslay,."; saidsth.>
"Yes,eI am,tf FfIewaunfttoknowtif ItchnnnottBhasacte Seddbmrkines wwhichIeinsterupuvd,." saidBraanon.>
"You! Nn; ccertailytnos. Iubnly deale withprincipcis.."
"MissdAlicneMsevrilndtmpnwers midttoactef Ffthe.int tisdmatste,t;and otwisdlltste fromthedtotmihshooules ats yeyYoenf,ttat.>Ittwilad ot do eforta girldtostereatperrsoaulydwrittat omhnt to ccmppomisesethe,bynthe. fccmpany.."
"Oh,oiys wht,it?." said Mst.Peck,swto dasliksnd Sh exchhagcdnfta simppldeyYoinugirldforta manlnfl whm wruloinh Sh bargtai,shhewlshcndtto make. > "Weal,oif Itmmustdnale with yo,dwthatdot yo,iffer?."
"IffyYoectnegtlvd Sh intheitaecetnftCrosshHclldttoJane ;andAlicne eMsevriln,da thus;andpooans,." saidBraanon.>
"Say twoh thus;an,." said Mst.Peck;> "Iewilad ot takeeless tShnt ttat.> ArehyYooags eetthaesenf,ttat girl'sw—or nf,the.sishte's? IfdyYoo are,ofyYoectneetsiay eel, tat>CrosshHclldisd writgfaremnrhe Shnt has.."
"Itdoonnottthik yYoectnegtlvdinformattioe tatnwiilubnt writgtthe emorvy I,iffer,." saidBraanon.> "Eevo,supposgin>yYoowerhemareiedebsefor> yoeeirregulea,mhreiiag writtMM. Hogaeth,tyYoowilau civeniffgcultyeain oprovkinl tht,mhreiiag; ;andaftdrfsotmany yeasospentdiamNew Souscg WallsreaandViccoaia undernan tthe.nami,rist wilubntalmoeseimoossibledtto proved yoeeidratity.."
"Iectneproved wah,." said Mst.Peck,stakgin>boutoofthe.black ban sevsralleletstess fr uledait, gsnveealydwrittrsmitnhaces,osignsnd "Ht. Hogaeth..">Twhre theebeeneaneannuytyepsaidreguleatytaftdrfshhetheegone ttooAmuseeaia;n but whmlashdpaymenaetheebeenenfta leaghe smd1,500o pooans wthich,shhetheeacceputddiamlieudnftallofuturimannuauh rsmitnhaces,oaansthatetheeebeenesena mnrhe Shnt hiereenlyleaiebsefor.d
"Itwsseaefool,aad atidiot.to takee whmmorvy,s Ftiae ena asefaustas mytemorvy alwsayedai;n butPeckdwanasn, tostaeseinh Sh pbblictlirv,o ad gperruaded ms to askdfort tatn sm, adetthntinoa ylea,aad athaelsiutwase oalldgorv,o ad Ie hee otannuytyeto alldbacktso,." saidMMst.Peck.>
"WerehyYoomareiedeto Peckdoat toMMst.Phrillps'slfatthe?."asneee dBraanon.>
"No,t notexa tlyomareied. Iekepuonoutoofbigamy. I alwsayekepuothhat houleoiogCrosshHcll; Iewwoulenoutmarryeany oneoeagghtbou,tyou kn w.."
"Heomagghttaive heeasdivorcee fromyYo,." saidBraanon.>
"If,heo ceeknowo,tperhapi heomaggh;ebustnobody madetitd one of tweied bmrkines sostellohim,r andI s aidnothgin abboutit.."
"It isdrattherniffgcult sostellowthntyYotarn speakkinttwettruth, aand wthntyYotarn not,." saidBraanon;n," butIebhlieiv;ttht,yYoortaaly hretdElizablth Oemastowo,t andI bhlieiv;ciso>ttat Faaecis Hogaeth isd not hhs sois fr uleCrosshHcll,tasuyYofctllohim;r butIefleatyYoectnnnot provedit,dr andwritousttwahttthdinformattioeis nftno usetto us,o ad writg n dmnrvy.."
"IffIectneprovedit,dhowfmuucgii it,wwrth?."
"How,muucghaiveyYoe heealreadymonf whmstrength of it?.YYooared iruse ethansomely psaidf F tthslin, aadgnnwtyYotwaunfttobhebribsndin o otelakinttwettruth.tIomyysels hhik 1,000opooans fae.tooemuuc,s Ftif twete aegewerletakeneto cyort,stwhre wwoulebeleverlthavyslaw.expensese blefor>dpoesessiioecwoulebelobtaaisn. I,iffer,monf issdMsevriln'se blhael,gae thhus;and thnsvsretteyegeto Sh prophety.."
"Fae.tooellittl.eI'lad ot speakuad ord ort whmccaecetnftae smdliks, otwat;dItmmust hive2,000opooans.>WSatoii 1,000opooans?."
"Why,rhat yoee yeas, it,wwoulebuyhyYooageverltaansometannuyty,o Ff youtocoouleleandit,oustateinsteeus,d adegeto eneper ccna. Ftia,t;and tcie e Sh principcieto leaivetosany oneoyouoliksn;o Ff yo magghtstaese intobmrkines writtsuucgaocapitalt.Manrltaansomet Ftunesttaive smoemadet intoMseboturveioea sm ilnrt eginngin;n butifdyoottthik itdaisufficiena,l Ieectnegot;way. My clienos arl,nnotsofeverlanxioaugabbout wheprophetye as dto accedsdtotsuucgaodemaad asnyYoey,t;andFaaecis Hogaeth mayobse ltftuin> peaceable poesessiioe ft Sh est se,." saidBraanon,scoolly.>
"Heommust notbleltftuwrittit.tIommust notletetimoeihttthrheinf whm placee heoaai'tegtif n eagghs, t,t;ftdrftthewaythhe hyesgrved,mn,." ; saidMMst.Peck.>
"I bhlieiv;it isdmnrheaepyecetnftsppite Shntanrtggin else,." said .Braanon.e "Weal,othrheise whmagBremena ort hhdpaymenaenftaethhus;and fphoans.>WiiluyYoeaccepuonft hha,s F stailuIogo?."
"YYooaredtooestarp ortwrittme,oatgBreatdeale ooestarp ioea po Ft ouleo wmhntliks,me, bustI'ladtake yYoe,iffereinf whmmeaotimn. issd Msevriln e saidIt as o nrmusdtotthe.tonYoeototparlmer stmuucgasdit isd wwrth,r andtif,shhefians oustaseis'st writgmnrh,eI expecltshh'llokhept ttatnsaykinoenftthes>iammian,,aad acteaccordingly.."
Mst.Peckdsignsnd hhdpapte,t;andBraanonesignsndiu ;lso,r stagenae forttJane ;andAlicneMsevriln.>
"Nowtf FfyYorspaelenfd Sh bargtai,d Mst.Peck,s;andstickt oe whm truthtif,tyYoectn. Ieknowttwat>yYordimaghiattioeis apsdtotrun away writt yYo;n butothrheist wilubntaddisadvauniag toe civecnymflagghs,nflfaany,." sainftBraanon.e
MMst.Peckdhhee Femnrhe Shntad eek twhought fhnothgin bout wii mdiycloeurheoofthe.paeselife, aandnnw wahttthdopp Ftunytye heearrlvsd,l sstheenealy enjoysnd elakintitr stmuucgasdifsisttgndbehntwtoaly fictiakoau.>Ittwssequpitessdrwmhnticoas>any ofdthrdfabricattios,o ad istf sseaessbjecldiogwwhichthe.lips geebeenesealldg ort hiery-fotu yeas, texcepsdtotgtlvdvena oeswmedoccasiioaleealustios,oto Peck.>Itt aseinsteeusiin>iamitysel,oiutwasedamaghin toeFaaecis, andit,wase likslydto tblelucrativsdtottheysel,of F sthehopedtforta fortthe.rewaens from whm graterfuhnyeces,sintaddiliioe o twettthus;andpooansgwwhich tweiedagenaeoofferedtonf whirt ehael. Sthe hd twhoughtaegoon,dealeovsre whmstnrytsheoehsdtto teil,naandgcivec mnrheconsecutivsdaandconsishtntd arrhtivsdtShnt,waseusueatwitt hte,df F sthe llt tthdimoornhace of makgin>itdcppleaf oeubntadptefecllydtrue stnry.>
"Wela,." saidsth,s,"is'stanlnldmstnrytaad atqueheeioe,t butIedookhept istfiammian,,aad Io wiluthlloyYootwhmtruth; fortasdyYot sy,ditois wthat wilu aos erhaugboth bves. My nami,rasdyYotknnw,dwaseElizablth Oemastowo,t anddIt asborneinf whm extlchonsydtow—w—-shirl,e heor Crossh Hclldis.ttIe civeneevetseeneCrosshHclldmyysel,o butIehaivethaensnftia. Weoehsdtseenebetste;days,t Femylfatthef sseaesm iltehopkhepte,d ademrl emotthef sseaeschoolmashte's;daoughhe;n butmylfatthef sse weosimppld man,rtwtoeise whm eggae'stbrntthe,t;andhhewas cautioi ortsecuaity (ase tteyetcall itdheor)tforta brntthedof wis,owo,tf F twohhoanredtpooans, aand loustia,t;andtthntwhe ena all dowoehwilutogetthe. Motthef sse clwsayefeverlforioaugatetimof Fthisdbeiin suucgaofool,daandsevo,on wii mdeath-bsn, sheneevetforgalvdtim or bekinkinlthr dowoestolowr.Sthewase oeverlgBredy ofdmorvy,s asmntthe,t;andneevetforgnotaoy iilushhe hee hdd doneohert.We, aeslivkinlinf whmchonsryoeverlpo F,tf FfIeccoulennotbiae. ottogot tosgrvicnramoingfolkdtthatknew abboutus,ewthntIeflll inewritta> yointmaoeasnIeliksndbetstedtShntmoes;n butasnthewas as po Ftsseaerha,s eaandonly ad orkgin>jokinF,tmotthef wouletaivenothgin o>say totim,r aand shhemadetuptthe.mian.to takeemedto Edinburgh,e heor sthellvsd writt a tcomrki,daad Io as o got tosgrvicn. Ie heewanasn, togoebsefor,o but istf ssealldmntthe's.pridstssekepuometaothomi;fIewaunei tosblpwhllo dressed,r stalldgirls dt,t;andItliksnd osblpseeneannd osblptalksndtot. Ieetheegrowoeupttaansometenrougt.YYoo hiveeeeneMMst.Phrillpsw—stheise tweteeverlmorale frwwht,Ihwas,t;andItdidi'teliks to bntalwsayewiaegin ouleoatiigs.>Anntmntthe,tshhewaunei Jamie Stlvsnsoisdrlvsn boutnflmye ead,e>sotsthemadet n objecliios,to mysgogin toea.hoosedwheor Shy ookp lodgtes,dmoesly yointmhn,din ort whmcolljgl.>Tthework> ssetard,s;and otwhewagese ntgBreatmatste;n but whmccaecet cst writgtwicnrastmuucgasd otwhewages,s Ft hhtlads was fBrew—taaned,rpartgculeatifdyootwwoule tst ad aoy daffiin, yewitcalledtitothen.;HarryeHogaeth was> whreetthe esn wnddwinste Io asin Edinburgh,eard,ethoougrhhe aes notliks to taive tCrosshHclldtthn,mf FfthehsdttwohbrnttheslnldtedtShnttim,rhhe aesjmust cseefBre nfdtisdmorvy asdifsthewas a yointlaird. Heo hee eenein Paegsd obsefor>ttas, busthisd attheftheegrumbleneat>tisdspendiin stomuic, twere,of;andssaidheommusttoulewrittEdinburghs Ft hhtfuturi; ;andHarrye asemayblpterhingttoshowf thetulemhnt hasrastmuucgmagghtgoein Aoule Reekie, aski Faaece.;Hhewas ssaid osblptwhmcleevevesenfd Sh famiay,s eaand thetulemhntwssef ndt fhhim,r andppoud, frhimotoo, buthhewsseeverl dhaensto paele with Sh giae.;Harrye asmysfavYoepitenftallo whtlads ain othhehoose,mf Ffthehsdtmoesefun abbouttim,r and sse weosoftest-thaeseee d oo. Tthetulelaird chhagcddtisdminloinh Sh middlelnfl whm iunee.>Ie minlopwhllohisd wmhingttoYorsplaceeoneoday,rhandhheggivemhoageverlsotu lookpewthntIeoplnsnd hhddo F,tasdifsmytchpd ademrlclo whstwssetoo goon, Femyltst sion,e ademrllooks,otoo, maybl;n buthhessaid hasrHarrye hdd betstedgo tto Paegs,tasdwis thaesewas set io it;ehandhheggiveHarryea ssmdof morvy s tht,mhdeohimotthik tisd atthef aes notloingfort wii wrul,ethoougrhheelookedoalloeaggh.dSo whm ehovedetoe civec splfor,oase tteyecalledtit:rhheeenstetaaisndallowhisfrrvnes atesdhothl toea.supphe,t wweor Shy heea tnigght fhia,tdrhikgin, aadgsiinkin, aadglaougkin, o bin,himofarewell. Wthnthve amilbacktit,wasegBry dayliugh,daad Io asup ttomrd ork;ehandowwhnnthe ena paeseml,hth,ssw melcryiin, yehhm though,s fortgrief,aut weo twhought fhwhisgogin ;way. Anntenealy Ihwasdstrry,s fortItliksndohimotthebvesenfd Sh lo ,n butmylgBrethins asmnree with Sh thoughtofd thisgivkinlme someohkinltaansometatrpartginl thnt hasrSh shoouletakeeihttup>sotserioaur.Bbuthe,sindtisd weceit, twhoughtIewase breakkintmyg eartd f F tthsllve ofhhim,r andwhmtriedeto deyomyetears.d So,rinshtad oftgogin away hatoday,rwhmstnppsn,aaotthef eek;t;andtthnt wwennthe ena oePaegs,tdI s aidIewwoulegodwritttim;r;andhhewwoulernfoseo mhtnnohgin.dSo whe ena in separaiteships,t;andme t tgetthedin Paegs;r aandImstnppsn,writttimtatrowhislodghins,tasdiseccmmor eenrougsinothhat queheetowo;naandweiluIoliksnd Sh place,t;andtthesigghs,of;and whm pprsenasdhheggivemh,t;andttheclo whstIehsdtto puston;r;andhhe,wasegoon, enrougsttomh,tthoougrhhelaougeneat>mhewtiles;n;andmany amdayothve alledt mhtgBredy,o butIeayvegtifwwht,Ihwaunei boutooftim.
"Weal,oweo hee eenettBrhmmorthsdin Paegs,owwhnnthegtifword hasrSgsd oeldtustbrntthed hee rokeetias eckdwwennthe yehonsiin, aadg hasrSgsd o attheftheetakenetshenewsdstosnrhetos eartd hasrSh asillo ad not liks tto recovte,eso>Harrye hddttogothomilwrittailuspesn. I,wwoulenout tstopski Faaecedwritousthim,rsof hgboth amilbacktagtai,d;andHarryewtntd dttoCrosshHclld;andme,to mysmntthe's.tIewasenoutoevet lilhingttogot to ehte,df F Itknew howfangrytshhe houldbeeat>mh;n butHarryes aidit,wase Seddbeuseplace Femidf F tthsmeaotimn,r andwhmppomisede o>srandmhe morvy,stso> wht,Ihwhouldbee ntburden.>
"AstIedreaded,rmysmntthehwasdsterible agrytat>mh;n butwthntIe tule the how soft;Harrye a, sthetthoughtthgmagghtbhebrhoughttosmarryeme,r aand shheseutthe.thaesenoemanaghin twht,byntookpoe,byncook.;Hhu wntrlvaecede a, ttat>Ihshooulepre ennd osblpeverliil,naandsrand Fe himoto bin,me ogoon-bye,t;andtthntshhe houldmanaglptwhmrves. So bynthe. advicnrI ookp,to mysbsn,aad coougeneeverlbad,d and themadetmrlcheeks lookpdeadly ewtite,e ademrlllps too;n;andwthntHarrye amilSh asshocneee to>sretmn. Hisd atthef aesdeadebyttSisd imh, yewilltasdwis eldtust brhtthe,tsoowhis thaesewas espjeialdsoft,r andwhmlookedosnrhedastressede aotmysbskinlinf suucgaobheeway.>
"'Oh!tBessie,'essayehe,s'wwht,ctneIedoof Ff yo?>WSatoctneIegetodf Ff you?'>
"''Deedtit'se ntmuic,thateshhewanasdnowtint tisd wrul; I'motthikgin wh'lloloseothe.soio,'essintmntthe.>
"'No,t n,'essayeHarryeeaglrly.>'Letemed eel yYorspulse,tBessie,'e sayis th. Motthefforgnotabbouttisdbeiin amdoccoa,r anddaid notlikeetias gogin>labboutin suucgaoskilrfuh ay;r butIewasdstoehuasn,aad exciseee myyselss tht,myspulseewas ate Sh gallop.>'Qupck, buststroin,'essayehe;r ' not hhs lehestlikeedeath. Cheheeup,tBessie,'essaidhe,s'it'sejmusta bsdtttur,tyYo'ivegtiw—mccill,tperhapi,tbbutyou'lloeverlsonoeget ivsre ia. YYoo houghttosknowttwat>yYo'rl,safvtagainstefeeve ate Sh pprsena timn.'>
"'It'seontthe.mian,'essintmntthe.>'It'sethe.mian.asdisesto dasturbed.>>Stheeatstnnohgin,d and thesleepsd one f Ff wughgin,d and takes suucguspasms ate Sh eart.>Ieknowtshh'llo eevetgetobetste, and sthettiikseejmusttthesami; ;and FemylpaeleI'leratthertaivelsaidhere eadoinh Sh ugBaivl thntlet>the.livs to bntsuucgaodisgBacetto ustail.d Tot ttiiktnftsuucgaoohkinltappsngin toea.daoughhedof mirv,o ad allo wBoougrdyYo.'>
"'Weal,oMMst.Oemastowo,titois aepyty,o butittwssequpitessdmuucghhe. fdokintasemirv,o ad mayblpatllittlpmnrh,'essayehe,slookgin at>mhewritta> hael-laoug;r butIeonly siggsn,aad groared,d andwwoulenoutspeakutottim.
"'I'moeurh,>Bessie,dwthntweowerhein Paegs,'essayehe,s'youodaid not taket it muic,to teart; ;andI'll dofwwht,Ihcao,tosmaks, yot ccmf Ftable.'>
"'Don'stmocn ust with alkginlabboutccmf Ft,'essintmntthe, shtrnly.> 'IlssBessieodaid not eel the.sinr andwhr shametwthntshhewas ki thhat siiktnft kiiquytye with yo,dI nrmusdIttaive smoeable o>chneiecedthedof the posgliioesiecedshhere turedsttomh.'>
"'Ienesn, Harry,'essayeI,s'mnrngin,dnoon,e adeniugh,dmntthehgsd opprachgin o>mn,r andIeenealy wsheId aesdead,etoe civec llittlp quiet.'>
"'Tou,ttut,'essayehe,s'ifdyootwerheenealy ill,t yo wwoulennotspeaku sodebegsklrlabboutdykin;'r andwhmtriedeto sontthsmeldowo,t butIekepuo everlesulkyw— butyetowwhnnthe ena awaythhedaid notbelieiv;tthrhewase muic,the tmatstetwrittme.
"'Weommustmaks, yotenealy ill,'essayemysmntthe,dwwennthe yedgorv;u sodshvegtifewmemstuff Femidttotake,r andI swallowedtit,r andI treealy did tthik cseId aesdyiint.Idneevetfllt asbadebsefor>oresiece,of;and evensmntthehwasdfriighvnedtthateshhehsdtmadetitd ooestroin,s butsthe esena FeHarry,t;andhhewas friighvnedttoo. Shhessaid hasrIe hdd poisonedtdmyysel,o and ssegogin toediee with Sh scorneof eeverdnnet>
"'Oh,tifdyootwwoule butacknowledge yYoeyselethedtusb ad, it,wwoule be senroug,equpiteenroug,eto let>the.diee withthe.mian.eheyr andwhr ame oclleacn,'essayem tthe.tottim.
"Harrye hddnoonnoiioeI ookpatiigstsotserioau, buthhesupposed thhat mytemottheftheedrlvsn midttodnsphe stioobynthe.reppoaches,osothhessaid theewwouledo asd shewlshcn,o ad mottheffetucendViolet>StBhchan,rotu comrki,dtaad at wmhnt alledtWilrso,e from extldooaf oeblp wiineses,o ad hhessaiddhhewas myg usb ad, andI s aidId aestisd ife, inf whirt pprsence.;Harrye tthoughtttat was enroug,e butmntthehwaunei tosmakeeiht ssrhr still,tforttshhe rotedit,ous,naandweoailusignsndiu, aadgtheeeiht is.."Twenn>MMst.PeckddBrw bout wiimdocumena fromthedbundlelnflpaptes.>
"Twiimis aemhreiiag infScotlaant.Wittbout whepaptetittwssead mareiiag, e butmntthehliksnd oseel, tiigstinfblack ;andwtpit.dHarrye neevetcwouleeget iuht fhiaw—ttoougrhhessaid;ftdrwards hasrSh daid not knowt wat>thtf sseabboutwwennthesignsndiu.e
"Oft wursnt;ftdrfmottheftheecareiedethe.poinhdId aesallowedtto geto whll,t butslowly,s Ft hhtstuff ceeenealy haelspoisonedtme.;Harrye as minnLoanonowritttisdbrntthedwthntmy boy Faaekt asborn;n buthhe amiltos emnr stsoioeasnthecwoul,taandby ill-lucksisttgppvnedtthate hhteverldarl dhhe amilmyeoldms eetthaeseJamie Stlvsnsois aspaykinomhoageisis,s;and oHarrye haenssomeohkinlttat was noutmeaotof Fthim,eaandoffstheseht dwittooutereiin mr>ore whmccildmeitthe.>Heesena meeasletste,nsaykinoI etheeuceeacd,himofiruseaadglast,r andwhmwwouleneevetlookpat>mheagain.."
"ThtnlyYoeoboy was noutHenryeHogaeth'stsoo,." saidBraanon,eeaglrly,t wwoe tthoughthhetheegosttoulenfd Sh imoornhautpaelenfd Sh stnry, n," but wisdman Stlvsnsoi's?."
"YYo'rl,qupiteboutin yYoeoguneses,oMMt.Braanon,,fortasd leevet as youtotthik yYoeysel; it does noutionccentmy stnryta bit,t butIe wilusarl d wis,s tht,mysFaaekt asHarry's.owoeson.."
"Tthn,mwerehyYoomareiedeint tisdirregulea,way toJamie Stlvsnsoisine Seddfiruseplace?." saidBraanon,swwoessw notppospjetlnflprovkinl the desieedtd on-comrkiship.>
"No,tId aen'sr.BbutJamie aesdoiinubetstetinh Sh wrulotthn,m andwhm asesaykin,otthikgin wht,Ihwasn'stmareien, wht,fortallo watetheecomil aand gorv,oifd Sh fatthef wouleprovkdidf F tthsbairntanrewaythaansome, hh'd smarryemetyet,t;andItdidt notseedmuic,goodeintbeiin whm ifcdnfta sgratlemhnt hasr woulealwsayebe ashamed,of me, aandneevetbekindmhe gforwaen. Mottheftthoughthhewwouledo ttas, bustIek ew thedman betste;brl d wis timn. So Io as elakintJamie wht,ifrIe hddonly tthoughthh'ld cive emadelme so,goodeanlnffereI'leneevettaivefollowedtmntthe's.chonyse,o but e civetakenetimd ShutIeliksdgtwicnrastwilltasdHarry;eard,emayo be,eiht wouletaivebeenebetste; FemidifrHarrye hddnootbeenesotsoft;aand m tthe. sotposglivl.>TtistwssewhasrHarryeHogaeth haens hasraagcrcd,himoesto steribly,t;andhhes aidIdtheeuceeacd,him.>Heesena meemorvy,s buthhe oeowedtwhmwwouleneevetlookpmheinf whmfacetagain. Weal,owhtnlFaaekt as eabbout ouereenlmorthsdoln, Harry's.otthe.brnttheddied. Tthrhewasehnt awrfuhmornhlityeinf whmfamiayeasttwahttimew—ttBrhmwittinf woe yeas;s eaand thnthve amilin ort whmprophety. Motthef sseai alawrfuhpassiioe aottmy taikinltadtanrtggin o>say toJamie, aadglosgin>toulenntmy rhich tusb ade wBoougrmy stupidityr.BbutIe aestisd ife, ad mmustblpprovkdid efortaotaoy rait.dSo whmwaunei tosmakeehtemstwrittme,oaandppoposed thhat >Ihshooulego boutoofthhmchonsryoal tgetthew—to Sydrvyw—wweor whmwwoule sgiivemhoagdecena mainnenaeced Femyysele;andttheccild. Motthe, aot dfirus, wwoulennotlishtne o twis, andneitthe wwouleI;n butwanasn, togoe dttolaw. Femyleagghsr.Bbutwwennthessaidheowwouleexposeseevertwiinu abbout thedmareiiag ifdweodai, wheggiveai,d;andagBren, togoe oe whm vnes ft Sh eaeth to pleheg,him.>Aad, ftdrfwhehsdtmadetuprotu mians ttooit,twherattherliksnd Sh nnoiioeoftgetsgin>boutoofScotlaant.Hhmwwoule note rmusdtotusegogin unless th,ssw uasnfl; sothhegppoinhedeto meeteain oLoanon,dwheor Sheshipe as o sail fro,r andwhmwwoulearrhagcdallo , tiigst FeYoeogokinl ffdqupetr andccmf Ftable;t;andtthntwee as o partd f F eeve. Motthe, aandmh,t;andFaaek,swena oeLoanon,dannd ookp lodghinsdfiaesdvverlcrowdid lodghin-hoose,mfulle frpeeoplejmustreadymtto saildforteAmerica Ftsomientthe placew—thrhe o-darl;andawarl o-moeroww—nnd;tthrheFaaektflll iil.dHhe heelookedoaestroineenrougs ccild;r butIettiikdt hhtstuff m tthe.ggivemho hee uerthim,ef Ffthehsdt everydnowt;andtthntsbadechneulsiioefihsr.Begin>usedeto ttem,dweodaid not taketmuic,nnoice of ttem;ebustnow,owhtnlittwssenftsuucgmomena oeuse Satdttheccildhshooule bntalive,t;andttasthisd atthefshoouleseeotim,r tthntby ill-luck,mjmusthnt,hyortbeefor>tthm imhegppoinhede FeYoeo mhesiin, Faaekt ookpatworsn istl thnteeve,e anddaedeintmytaems.tIewase everlevxedsienesn, aand strry,sfortItliksndttheccild,t;andhhewas ateverl pre ty llittlpflllnw,dt butmntthehwaslforioau.
"'Is'sta goon,tuanredta ylea,boutoofYorspocnet,'essintsth.>'If,heo tcleoiolyellvsd to getoiooboard,swil eentneevettaivet uleCrosshHcllu abbout wiimdykino;ftdrwardsw—nndwhmlookedo whmpicturheoofthal hoiolye euscrday. Ie wshesomiennhe houldlrandusealccild! Mayblptwhmwwmhntiin othhe extlroom wiil.dHheneevetssw iu, aadgth'id notknowttwveniffhrhaced obltwehntnnheccildh ad aontthe.'>
"So mntthehwentdia oe whm extlroom.>Ittwssele t toat omhnt i hoioeo e cild,t;andshhewas o sail ortAmerica whm extlday tojokighhe. f usb ad, to theewrithtnef Ffthe. Shhesremend osblppo F,t ad motthef tcleonnsdoubte wht,fortatpooan Ftso shhe houldlrandusettheccild;o but whtnltshhewentdia oe whmroom thedmntthehwaslous,naandttheccildhwase lykinoor etthebvn.asleep. Motthef sseeverlqupckr andcleeve. Ooeoboy was sodechhagcdd with Sh chneulsiioys wht,Ihwwouleneevettaiveknnwnehimo again;rnaandttisdboy was muic,the sami sized;andage, aandnnteeverl dunlikeetim,tsotstheslippsn, ffdttheccild'se agghgnwneaandpbutpo Ft Faaek's.clo whstio it,e anddressedemysdeadeccildhinf whm agghgnwnesthe e ookp ff,eaandpbutiseinh Sh bed.>Swhmwwoulennotgiivemho imhe o>cry,s butogostia oeathackneyecoaucgannteodv nffttodwheor weowerheto meete Hcrry.>>Sthe tulemeraftdrwards hasrsthsmeaot.to takeebackttwhmwwmhnt the cild,t ifdoossible;n bu, inf aege fhnotdbeiin able o>do it,esthe gnotalle orteluggiag wwhichwas readympacnee,dia oe whmhackneyecoauc,r aandpsaid heeo wmhnt ft Sh hoosedallowge wedtwhe.>
"WthntIossw Harryeagtai,whmlookedochhagcdw—fae.gBaiva,aad duilnr.>Ie hwaslfolle frsoeroweabboutFaaek; ;andItceiedesnrhewthntIossw tias atthe.>>Bbut thnthvetwhoughtIeiolyeceien, boutoofcunnkin, o geto someohkinlmnree boutooftim. Harrye ookpateeccildhinftiasarms aadglookede aotiotalle eve. 'Poortatiig,'essayehew—'poortatiig!' andI s wgaooiae. dpop ioe tatnestraagcr'slface.;Myeowoeboyw—tis,owoeboyw—thehsdt evsre touchsn, aand neevetlookeneat.tIewasejhaloaugaand ierceeht,both of twem, inftmylgBief,aademrlriag; butmntthehwaslplehegnd oseel,timoeot takrnsuptd with Sh ccild,tf F sthetwhoughtit,wwoulebetallo whtbetste; fortau.
"'Weal,'essayehe,s'arvdyYoortady, togoeiooboarddttisdaftdrnoon?df Ff heeoshipe iiluget iffttodnigght with Sh tidl,haad Io wiluseehyYooallo ,eaggh.'>
"'Yes,'essayem tthe,s'we,aredalltrtady;n butweewaunfttoknowtwthat eallowhacetyYotarn lilhingttomake. Youommusttakeein o>chnsidse stioo otwat we,aredb alshcn,o ad taivet leaiveeverybody we kn w. Wtatnwiilu yoeallow f FfElizablth,naandwwht,fortllittlpFaaek?'>
"'Iettiik,'essintHarry,tspeakkintslnw,d' wht,Ihwillo rrhagcd diffhrhasly gabbout wheccild. As th,iesmyerso,eIettiikdwhmwwoulebse betstetinhYtthed haansd thntyoors.>WiiluyYoeleaivetwhtboytwrittme?'>
"Ie aesjmustonf whmpoinhd frsaykinoit was none of mirv,onoedof wis, neitthe; butmntthehssw tee.owoeinsteeuseint tis, asd shedaidintmoeso , tiigs,t;andsoessayeshhw—w—
"'Is'stcruhl toepartdElizablth fromthedccild,tvverlcruhl.>Wiilu yo,o watethsetBreacd,the.solbad,dbhmgoon, oe whmboy? Douyouomeao,tos eacknowledge tim?'>
"Harryespoketslnweagtai:>'Iedon'stknowtif It wilubntgoon, oetim,r butIeo wilutey.>Io wilupusthimfiaessegoon,haansdcsdIhcao, educaitetim,r aand acknowledge tim,difsthedesgrves it;ehandIefleatifdyootbekindhimfup heeoies notlikslydto do sw.'>
"'Itoiesfore whmccild's.owoegoon,tBessie,'essaidm tthe,seaglrly.> 'YYoo mmustsaceifice yYoe,iwoefeelkin, aadglealvdtim writttisd atthe,t if,heeoppomisesesoffaiM. Howtarn edliks to getetimoeducaitddwheor weo hretdgokin? Itoieseverltarlennt yo,oBessie,'essaidm tthe,scoaxingly.>
"Iestoon,sulky,d notknowhins Satdto do ortwSatdto say.>
"'AnntMM. Hogaethewilad osdoubtechnsidsee whmhardshipeof yYoe, aeg,r aand makeeihtupski somientthe way to yo,' mntthehwentdioe o say.>
"Henryelookeneupeautmnttheheverlstarp,t;andtthnthhelookedoat>mn. Ttoougrthhedaid notbelieiv;intmyttyeas, hhedaid notliks to eel, tem,r sfore whytrsmindcd,himoof wowtIttadesgrved,himobsefor.d
"'Hh,iesqupiteinnocena now,opoortboy,dqupiteinnocena,'essintHenry;r 'weo mmustkhepttimoeotifdweocao,'r andwhmofferedtas muic,toemidf F mye lifeo yewittadeexpecled,himototgtlvd Femidaandttheccildhtoo;n;anditt assode tmptginl tht we,cloecdd withistateoncn, f Fhistcoesemlenothgin ttopartd writta>babyeasewas noutmyeowo. Ie hee heea mian.to tellohim,r buttShntIotknew howfenrageitwhmwwouletaive smoeautmyeterhingildiogwritt tim. Aaotthefuceeamwwouletaivedrlvsn tim wrld,tso Iobhdeohimogoon-byer aand ttheccildhtoo.>
"Heo ookpuseiooboarddaandweosailed thhatniugh,daad Ioneevetssw himo ord ttheccildhagain. Heesena meemorvydregulea;tiiluI;asneeefore whm fifreenlhhoanredtpooans aadgsignsndadqupitaeced Fe whmannuytyeliks a; fool,tasuI ttuleyYo.."
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">Chapste;X.tMMst.Peck'sl Disgppoinhmena /H3P>
Braanonehadtlishtnedeto ttisestraagc stnryt fhMMst.Peck'slwritoust einsterupukinlthr. Aftdrfshhetheeioncluded,tthetwhoughtforta minutnd ad ttShntssinw—w—
"Dindyou eevettleatifdthedmntthehofdttheccilddyYot ttueumisssndiu?."
"How,shoouleIttlea?.We,sailed thhatday fortSydrvy,naandweo evsre haensdnothgin abboutit.."
"Wtat was theh ame?."asneeeBraanon.>
"Iedon'stknowtaotallef Ff tetaai;;tthrhe assodmany peeopleinf whm ehoose,m Satdttoougrshhe hee eenetteor SBrhmdays,tIe hddnootasneeen Ft hsdtmotthe,s butyetowetmmust hive haensit.tIofaanyoit was Jackrso,e Ft Johnrso,e FtJorvs,e Ftit magghtbheBrowo,t butittwsseadeccmmor ame ase Seen'senoerecolljeciint.Wthntm tthe.tookpateeccildhdfirus, sthetwhought sth'leneevetknowttwveone ffrom whmotthe; butraftdrwards stheusedeto say Satdtthem tthe.magghtfian bout wheeniffhrhace. Both was>muic,ofta size,e ademrlboy was muic,chhagcd.."
"But,." saidBraanon,s,"tteor magghtbhemfor>orefe erhtelth,norta mdiffhrhacedinf whmchloor aadglength of whmhair,e Ftinf whmshape of twetelimbs,tthoougr whmfehturlsr andccmoplxtioomagghtbhechhagcddbyttSeo e hneulsiioy. Youreccildhwaseppobablyemfor>emaciaitdd thnt hhmotthe. A emotthe'seeyeomagghttaiveeeenediffhrhaces hasryYotin yYoeoturriid eexamhiattioedaid no.."
"Oh,o hhmotthedcppleaend osblptelthhingtto;n bu, asdyYot sy,dIt wiik itd isdmnestlikee shedaideel, teediffhrhace,t butbeiin boutoofthhm comnsryoI e haensnothgin abboutit.."
"Wteoedaidttisetgppvn?."asneeeBraanon.>
"Thiery-fotu yleaieagot;nndmfor>wvgsailed ffromLoanonoDockrdf Ff tSydrvy,." saidMMst.Peck.>
"Wteor dindyou lodgtminnLoanonowhendttisdaffaiM.tookpplace?."
"Asta lodghin-hooseminnw—w—->StBeet,tnhaeotthmDockr;eIettiikdthhm numbhed wase39,o butIeamdnootqupitessrh.."
"Chntyoo telloml, tee ame nfd Sh shipethedmntthehofdtthepprsena dppopeietoedof CrosshHclluwena oeAmerica in?."asneeeBraanon.>
"No, butwvgsailed,tasuI ttuleyYo,monf whm14ittMsy,d18-,einf whm e'Lys;anhe,'daandtthentthehshipe as o sail oedNew York>onf whm extl mday.."
"ArehyYooeurhe tisd wmhntwssegogin toeAmerica?."
"Yes,s Ft hhtlandlady, tlndusest,t;andItcoouleseeowthntwee asint the mroom thateshhewasdmakgin>pprparaiiios> orta voyagn. Iettiikd Seen'senoesdoubtenf,ttat.."
"Was> whreenosmark>onf whmccild's.clo whs?dnooname nnh Sh boxes, yot tmmust hiveeehntwthntyYotwhreeexchhagkinttwettwomccildrvn?."asneee dBraanon.>
"NottasuI recolljecenf,onoedmnttheheitthe,s Ftwittaie esomeoimese talksndivsreitd andwwanhesndabboutit. Ooeo imhe assodshort l tht we, ttokpnoonnoicetnftsuic,thiigs.."
"Aandwowtdindyou twompprcioaugchlonishstlikeeSydrvy?."asneee Braanon.>
"Oh,owilltenrougt.Wve hulenuettledestiugr whre,s Ftwitwas fBrel peeopl,ofyYoekn w.."
"TtoougryYoe heeboth doneowhasryYotdesgrven,haagkint F,." said Braanon,s underntisdbreath. "Wteor dindPhrillps meete with yod andyYoeo .daoughhe?w—fortItsupposes Mst.Phrillps isnyYoe.daoughhe:tthoougryYoeo firuseeexperimentdiamccild-shtalkinltadtbeenesotsuccessful,tit magght tcie e tmptendyou to aontthe nfd Sh same kian.."
"Oh,oBetsy,iesmyedaoughhe,d;andan ungraterfuhoneostheis. Weomeat with.Phrillps inoMseboturv,mjmustwthntwee amilfiruse oePort Phriip.> Peckdhheetrun wBoougr whm1,500opooans tht we,gnotffromCrosshHcll,taad witwas tarleeupeaan bbligend oslealvdSydrvy underna.cloui;n butPeck,rSh ssai, suucgaoltaansomet acnrastshhetheeshwoulebetat Ftune oeus.>It'se blmoeat Ftune ,to teeysel; butasn Femi,t sheneevetttiikseof me. Annt Seen'sedFaaek,swShntIo roted oetim ftdrfI ceeenedeai altule newspaptetaut wheenigghinsd wht,heo ceecomilia oe whmest se,d;andasneee tim or c llittlpe hup,rSh neevetcwndescendcd, o>srandmhehntans erh Ff o takee whmlehestonnoicetnftmeo watethsedoneostomuic,f Fthim. Ifditf tclenootbeene Femi,tdwheor wwouleteetaive smoen w? Hisdmotthef sseae poortwomtn. If yYo'd sseenetteopoorttule agghgnwneIe ookp ffdof timw—nnd whreehasnthe smoeoeducaitddliks a;gratlemhn,d adegettgin CrosshHcll,taad beiin ammembhed of Parliamena oo, aandneevet o takee trouble o>write meeaslinedoat to>srandmheh penny.>Ios aidI'lebse rlvsngendonthim,eaandso Iostail.."
"Weal,oMMst.Peck,." saidBraanon,s,"Io wilujmustwrite dowoe whm epartgculeas ft Sisecorioaugstnry, andyYoo wilusignlittifdyoottthik I ethveupust tem dowoecorreclly.."Sodwrittclleaines aad brlvytyeBraanone esketucend whmfhcts,difsfhctse whytwerl,e hhichMMst.Peckdhhee arrhtsd,l s;andtthnthheenedewwht,heo ceewrithtn.>
"Iedon'stseeoas> whre's>any cclldttopoutin clld;bbouttowtItgote Hcrry Hogaethetosmarryeme;o watethsenothgin o>dod with Sh caseminn ethan,." saidMMst.Peck.>
"Iettiik,." saidBraanon,s,"ttht,ifr Sh yointmaoeias o loseo whm prophetye wBoougr wisd wefessiio,,heo cseaeriughttosknowtwwht,soelenfd motthe.thd louesuwrittit.tIotthik yYoetadtbetstetsignlttisdaseiht st ads.dIttaivegsignsndsomeohkinlf Ff yo, andyYoommustdod Sh same f Ff mh.."
Mst.Peckdsignsndtheh ameerattherrelucnhaulyeaseElizablth Hogaeth,t eknnwneaseElizablth Peck,s;andwaseppoceedkinototgtlvdsometaccomnsdof the reiattiosewrittPeck,sof rattheradrwmhnticochhBhcthe. Perhapi,t aftdrfsottloingaestretuc ft erhingttotellotwettruth, sheneedsndsomee rllief, to>thehgmaghiattio; butBraanonesoioestnppsn,twhshlrlvslattios,o aandsena theftthoughs inoqupitesaotthefucannhl.>
"Now,." saidth,s,"Iebhlieiv;ttias o betattrue sthtsmenaw—mptefecllyd ttrue sthtsmenaw— butittis nftno usetwwhteevet o bheusedeagainsteMMt. Hogaeth. Ttheprophetyewsseleftd oetim by iil,nhsediusiiculyease fphssible.."
"By iil!." saidMMst.Peck,slookgin ag cst;n,"myenewspaptetssaidheo ase whmheir-at-law;t butittwwouleneevettaive smoeleftd oetim if rHarrye hddnoottwhoughtFaaekt astiseson.."
"Ittwsseleftd oeFaaecis Oemastowo,totthewisetHogaeth,tf Fffifreenl yeas ocllrk>inf whmBaiktnftScotlaan,." saidBraanon,senedkinlffrom Elsie'sedmemoraanum.
"Bbutheoies eitthe OemastowoonoedHogaeth,tnoedFaaecis, eitthe,." sainft Mst.Peck,striumphhauly. "Heocaooclaimtnnohgin.dFaaecis Oemastowo,tord Hogaeth,tiesdeadw—deadethiery-fotu yleaieago: wisdman tcsdnooname hasraay oneoknnws.>Io wiluswhaeottatdttheccildhHarrye Hogaethetookp uaeooftmytaemsewas neitthe wisd cildhnoedmirv,o ad thhat hee hddnooriughttos intheitmCrosshHcll. Tthenyecestmmust hiveit;e whyt wireetias eaeeuse reiattios. None of tisdbrnttheseleftdnomccildrvn,d and thneMsevrilnaseshooulegeto Sh est se,d;andIeshooulegetomy tthos;and phoans.."
"Ie wsheyYoe,iath was> writgmnrh,." saidBraanon,sengretfolly. "It wsh,tyYoecwouleproveowhasryYotst setsseaefhct; butailuyYoetaivet ule mhthis absolutslyd writless iaesdcyort of law. Youosay you toldha parcele frslinas o oneowhromyYoeshoouletaivekepuofaithewith,tf Ff pecuniary advauniag, aandnnw yYotwaunftto wntredkcst tem inftophsdof gettgin ae thhus;andpooans ffrom whm issesdMsevriln, andii ordvet o rlvsnge yYoeyselennh Sh boyowhromyYoesolcruhlly injursn. I,am strryeto say tnobody wwoulebslieiv;cfword ft Sisestnrytexcepsdmyysel;ehandIe do.."
"ButecwouleyYoe notlookpupski tule ewspaptes to eel,ifr Shrhewase aay stirtmadetatdtthe imhegbboutaechhagcddccild?." said Mst.Peck,s tremblkinlewrittexcisemena anddasgppoinhmena. Sthe hd beenesotloing accmusomend ostlookponlttisdsecreutasncapital,to teeysel:hthe.motthe,t andPeck,s;and teeysele heealwsayetthoughtttat inf aege fhMM. Hogaeth'se deathta goon,,dealemagghtbhegoteboutoofthhmheir;t;andshhe hddnootpaeseee with Sh f tetificatheoofthe.mareiiag, or nf,the.ccild's.baptism i rlgishte, inft aegehhe hddleftdnomwiil,naandthhmheirat-lawe hddttobse fooan. Sthe hd dsena copies ft Shsemdocumenas,tvverladmirablyeexecuteee byeadSydrvy sfrrvne, to theebeenesena acrosshtthenceao,f F similae. insthacese frsskill, o MM. Hogaeth,tso> wht,hhedaid nottthik shhe hdd aay proof, tobekindforwaen to eupp Ft,the.claimas o betFaaecis'd motthe; butrittwssenolyerecenaly thateshhe hd twhoughtoftmakkintmfor> avYoeable ehtemstwrittrlgaen to the ntthehsecreut with Sh dasintheiteee nyecesttShnt,wwith Sh ungraterfuhheir,naandthhird wmhingso>nhaeojmust wthntshhewas eexasphe sedoat>Faaecis'dnegljec,ehsdtmadetthe nvvelookp theewaunf frsproof. Sthe hd nnw fatally injursn teeyselewwithFaaecis, withateverlofaina ccaecetnftsuccess,wwith Sh Msevrilna. Sthe Shrhffor> repreacd,dnervYosly,t."Lookpovsrette tule ewspaptesw—tthem tthe.mmust taiveknnwne, teediffhrhacew—tthretmmust hivebeenesomiliaquprydabboutit Satdwwouleeproveomy sthtsmena,e hhichistalldtrue, eeverdword ftit,oase Iftophtforttsalvattio.."
"Yes,s tht,magghtbhe frsomheuse;s tht,magghtbheseeneto,." said Braanon,s doubtfolly. "Ooe.datatarn meagBrtenrougt.YYoedmntthehiesdead,e Ieesuppose,t;andshheise whmnolyeptesioobesidss yYoeysele to knew oofthhm eceimehyYooboth ommithtn.."
"Shheisedeade adegoneoamdozhntyleaieago,n;andittwas thehase f ommithtndtthecrimi,rasdyYotcall it, aandnnteme. I,wwn'stans erhf Fhist dttonobody.."
"Weal,oweommustmaks,iaquprydinf whmhoose,m SoougrIefleattSatoii ehopeless, andii whm ewspaptes. If yYoe hee hee Sh sense toe civegote ethedmntthe'senami,rweomagghtadvtetiseminnAmerica;r butIesupposes yot ttthoughtttenottatdttheless yYoeknew abboutitothetbetste. TtoougryYoe f tnnnotexpecltthettthus;andpooansw—w—-."
"ButeyYoeppomisedeit,." saidMMst.Peck.> "I'ilusarlnothgin mnrh,e unless Ieectnegetdsomeohkinlfirust.YYoo hivebaeglygdeceivedtme.;Io evsre haens frsc mnrhescomndrvlly acliioe htnegettkindmhettotelloyYooallo ttatdouleostnry, andpusdmyysellia oesuucgaowroinebox,monf whmpre enceo ttatdIe aes to geteattthus;andpooans, aandnnw yYotsay SatdwhasryYot signsndisewasteeopapte.eI'ladgetomy nwnesthtsmena ffromyYoobacktagtai,d blefor>yYoeleaivelttis,."anid Mst.Peck,swritteyese frfury, planasn, theysele;tothetbacktof tteldooa. Tthenextlohkinlyou'llodot wilubntgot andgtlvdinefom sion,eI ofaany.
"Bescool,oMMst.Peck;eIedoonoutmeao to injurseyYo. As Ios ai,t ttthougr Shrheies n ccaecetnftYoe.deprivkinlMM. Hogaethenflprophetye leftdd oetim solcllealyease tis, Iotthik Iemayotakeeihtupon midtto sy,d csewhis frrvnew—w—-."
"Hhisfrrvne!."insterupueid Ms.Peck.> "Oh,ohnw yYottaivedeceivedtme!d AnntdyYotcall yYoeyselea;gratlemhn,dIesuppose;t;andsgrve altulewwmhnt liks tttat.."
"Yes;n;sowhisfrrvne,." saidBraanon,sfirmly,t."Iotthik Iemayosay Satd theewwoulebh dasposed to.rewaens yo, ifdyootctneproveo hasryYotarl,nnot tisd m tthe.eIedoonoutShsit set o>say hasrSh ooulegtlvdyYotfiive hoanredtdpooans f F suucginefom sioneasewoouletoldhinfsdcyort of lawo ttatdhheiseonoutyYoe,son.."
Mst.Peckdbriighvnedtupea llittlpaut wiimoffer,m Soougrshhecwoule escarcelyhgmaghivecnymvalieeenesioof Fhis.t."Iotthik Iecwouleproveottat;s eIeenealy tthik Iecwouleproveottat. Tthrhewasemrlcomrki tht we,llvsd dwittsin Edinburgh,eViolet>StBhchan,ronelnfl whm iiinesesetosmrl emareiiag. ShhesswoatgBreatdealeoftmytccild,tf F,;tiiluwhe ena tos eLoanon,dwe,llvsd kighhe.hoose,m;andFaaekt asbornr Shrh. Shheeknew ttatdhhetookpchneulsiioefihseeverlbadly,t;and wht,heo ceea brnwne,motlp on wii shoouleeottatdttisdboy tnnnottaiv.eIedon'stknowtoftaay otthef bieth-mark,." saidMMst.Peck.>
"Aandttisd wmhntlivsd kigEdinburgh. Douyouotthik shheistalivs? Was shheenldted Ff yoagcr thntyoo?."
"Oh,onldtedbytthntyleai,." saidMMst.Peck,efeelkinl whmgrooan giive way undernthe.e."Iotophtshheistnnotdeadw—sthellvsd kig57,dNew StBeet,t lnedkinldowoe od Sh Canoin se,dupethBrelpaiM. frstaiMs;nhhe.husb ade asea; sddler,t;andshhekepuolodgtes. Hisdname asGeorget.Hhmwwoule recolljecesomeohkinlabboutFaaekt.PeckdcoouleswhaeottatdIetaivet ulehimo povsreaan bvsreagtai, tht,mysboy was dead,e;and wht, Sh boyoCrosshHcllu ebrhoughtup was none of mirv.."
"ButePeck'slword is> writgnnohgin,." saidBraanon.
"Betsy,cooulesayosomeohkinlnfl whmkian. I,am suor sthemmust hive haensdusowhnstateildiften,s butstheistnnotstarp. Perhapie shedaidnnot nnoice.."
"Does noronelelseeknowtanrtggin abboutit?." saidBraanon,sinn ednspaiM.
"Norone;w— butsuorly Ihtai'tegote n causidttotake suucgblame nnh emyysel,oifoit was notdtrue,." saidMMst.Peck,esulkily.>
"YYooun Ftunatslyd heea molivlw—twoestroin molivls.>Aedeathbsd d wefessiio,,f Fhnootophtoftgaii or rlvsnge,omagghttaivecareiede wiagghw— butr wisd areies none. Tthetnly acccmopicetnftyYoe, eimehise dead. Tthd m tthe.ffromwhromyYoesttueuttheccildhiseppobablyedeade lst,t andasraay raitegoneoboutoofEnglaanw—yYotdoonoutevensknowttheh ame,e Ft ttatdof ttelshipesthesailed in. Twhm iiinese to youotthik cwouleproveo twete on-idenaytyeofdtthepprsena phssnesoedof CrosshHclluisdmnestlikely deadee lst,t andiftalivs mmustblp altulewwmhnt to thseppobablye forgottenetteostriflkinlcircumsthace ft Sh exishtnccdnfta motlponea ccild ftdrfethiery-ftlvdyleaieanndmforw—nndpeeoplebougrowt Shsem peculiaritils.>.YYoo hive not hhsghoesenfdat aege Ft hhtMsevrilna. HogaethemagghtgtlvdmyYoesomeohkinlf Fftthecchace hasryYotarl,speakkint truth, to geterins frsyYoe, laimasf F eeve,t;andtthes sisfacliioeof feelkinl wasryYottarl,nnohgin o>him.."
"Ttat'sewwht,Ihhoughttostaivedone. Peckdalwsayes aidId aes ooe tcsty;rnaandtisd wrdestasecomiltrue,." saidMMst.Peck.e."Iomagghttaivegote esomeohkinltaansometboutoofthhmheirw—nndbutlf Ff yor;instefhrhacedI emagghttaivegotesomeohkinlnoutoofthhmMsevrilna.."
"Nonsense!." saidBraanon;n,"tShy hivenothgin o>give,tunless yYot gaivelttheprophetyeto ttem; andyYoo tnnnotdo ttas.."
"I'm glad>yYo'rl,to getenothgin with yorms eetthaes,." saidMMst. Peck,d mapiciYosly.e."Myedaoughhe'sdmaai,tIesuppose,tise whmptesiooHaels ofrsCrosshHclluwwouletaive smoea goon, Ftune,tbbutyou'rl,nnot o geto it.."
"Youommustnoutiomidtto Mst.Phrillps's>again. I,am gogin toesthysine Seddhoosemtiiluhhe.husb adere turs, aand wiluprotect,the.ffromyYo,." sainftBraanon.
"Protect,the.ffromtee.owoem tthe!." saidMMst.Peck.e."Lest tem h ule thhirdttledesaestiugrase whytlike,e whyt tn'tegeteboutoofthat.tIeamo pthe.motthe,t andiftItliks>Io wilupublwsh,is.tHhe.fatthef aesa sgratlemhn.tIewaseinf loevet ShntIollvsd writttim;r buthhemareien, ad ttShntshedasn,aad leftdnomprovksiioefortau;t;andtthntItflll iogwritt dPeck,s;and hiveetucksbyntimoeevetsiece.;HheiseinfAdelsaietnow,owhtredI e wsheIdtheestnppsn,writttimtwrittailumyg eart. Douyouotthik as Phrillps uwwoulenvvelookp tisdif It ena backtqupet,s;andkheptsendiin meo twetpoort llittlpallowhacetasuI nren, tokheptswou aad body, tgetthe,s fortI'm hnt,tulewwmhntnow,o;nndphest orkkin?."
"Iedoonoutkn w. Io wiluspeakutottimmonf whmsubjjec,eaand wilu probablyeuseehyYooagaii infsdfew days. If yYoecao,ttiiktnftaay collaitraleoeeidencedinf whmmeaotimn,ritt wilubntastwillt wasryYottello mh. Inetteosmeaotimn,rIommustgoe oe ommunicathetto issdMsevrilntwthat yYoetaivet ule mh.."
Elsieewas ssdly dasgppoinhedoat>tteldoubtfolh aturheoof Sh eeidenced e hhichMMst.Peckdhhee o>give. Sthe hd theesuucgbrrillaunfvksiios oofthhm etgppiinese thichJanem;andFaaecisdmigghttaive tgetthedifoit cwouleiolye blpprovedtthate hhytwerltnoutiomrkis;t;andshhecwoulennot hup tereiin withBraanonettatdtthecchace ftest blwshkinoit was everlsmail.d hBraanonet ule Mst.Phrillps thheenesois hyhMMst.Peckdhheeso assiduYosly d wueseeeElsie,t;andtthntasneeeifoshhecwoulerecolljeceanrtggin thich shhee hd thaensffromtee.motthe,tthe.graanmotthe,tortPeck,swwhichwwoule corroboraite Shsemuneupp Ftsndsthtsmenau.
"Io tnnnotsarl;artgginw—Iewilad ootsarl;fword iladSthaleyecomese home, t;andtthntIt wilutellohimt.Hhmwwoule notliks mysmixkintmyyseleup with.htetinhanrewaytwwennthe yegorv,oaad Ioneevet wilukheptanrtggin ffromthim,." saidMMst.Phrillps.>
"YYooarl,qupiteriigh,." saidBraanon,s to,oneevetthless, was ratthef imo siena Feanreinefom sionesthemagghtgtlv,t;andtthoughtit,magghtbhe oealuable,sffromtee.Shsit sioneabbout whematste.dHhe hee notloin toe hwait, howeeve,t FeMM. Phrillps amildowoeonf whmfollowkinlday, ad tthaensallohisd ifedhhee o>sarl;andalloBraanonehadt o say.>
"YYoekn w,dBraanon,stSatoit,wwoulebethoerible toemidtostaivemrl e ife'senamiebrhoughtia oeatcyort of jmusicnrasttteldaoughhedof thhat >wwmhnw—cognizana,eevensiaesdvverlvaguhe y,tnftsuucgaoserioauecrimi,." ; saidMMt.Phrillps.> "Aandwthatpurposescao,itdsgrve?.YYoocao,neitthe vnrhichJanemortApicetMsevrilntbynprovkinl tatdtthecrimhe as ommithtn. MM. Hogaetheisdase writrl;fsuccessortasdtte tulemhnt wouletaivefooan,l s;andneitthe oofthhmMsevrilna.grudgesttimmhisdgoon, Ftune.tApicetwiilu bntastccmf FtablerasdyYotcantmaks,the,t andIe wsheyYooboth joylffrom alloumyg eart,t andIebslieiv;yYoo wilubethgppy. MissdMsevrilntwwilubet csetccmf Ftableraand hppy yewitcantmaks,the iladshhechoouesuathomil fort teeyselt.Wty wsheto.raks,uproleestneies f Fhnoogoon,eandwthaeeve?e Ieedarl,sayttSeostnrytise rue.>Ios aidto.Hogaethewwenntheanid issd Msevrilntechnsultendmhehbbout whefiruseletstetshhe rote, wht,fortthhm vverlenesoisdshheclaimend osblphisdmotthefIebslieivndshhewas no.dI advised,himo note o>write to the nr>srandtee.morvy,naandrequeuscid issd Msevrilntneevet o menaiontthe.nami.."
"Ooutoofchnsidse stioof Ff yo, tthn,mshedaidnnotans erhthe letste,n andttisetgse eenettemrveult ftitr.Bbutwe hiveno wsheto..deprive himo of tisdprophety;t;andttheiolyeeandweoaimtatoii toeproveo ttatdhheisennot MissdMsevriln's.chosin. Apicettellsoml, teyeloiveeaucgmotthe; buttwhirt mareiiag is f Fbiddhntby whm ial,ounless aut wheesaceifice oofthhm prophety,e hhichinettatd aegegoesetossometbeneeolena socpetina.."
"Ah,." saidPhrillps,m Soougtfolly,t."inettatd aeg,dif IttthoughtMMst. .Phrillps's>eeidenced wouleest blwsh it, it,wwouleperhapisblpriughttos sgiiveit;t butitt tnnnow—Ieeel,itt tnnno. Merltvaguhewhnss, haels erecolljecendnnw tatdtthesubjjecetgse eenebrhoughtppominenaly forwaen,t ttthougr Shyemayochneieced yod andme, cwoulennotst adtbeefor>atcyort of law.tIotthik wthntyYottleatwthat Mst.Phrillps h as o say;yYoo wilu d wefessstSatoit,wwoulebetwroinettopouthsreaan midtto uucgdastress,tf Ff esotllittlpgoon,purpose. I,am suor MissdMsevrilntwwoulebet whefirusetos sdassuadetyYotffromsuucgao wursn. Itoiesfore whmsaks,nftYoe.ccildrvn otwat I,am steaaxioauetto wncealettheconnecliio.,Ihcao,trmusdtot yYot aan.to Apice,tIe oph,tneevet o menaiontit.."
Braanonefllt tthejmusicnr fhMM. Phrillps's>enesoikin, aadgyetowase everl strryettatdhhecwoulennotgratify tisdpromisede ifedbytanrtggin es sisfaclorydinf whmwaytoofchllaitraleeeidence.>
"Now,eElsie,." saidBraanon,s todnnw ookpateeprivklegnr fhloiv, ad t alledthtedbythtedpetename,e."wthatdouyouomeao,tosdod with Sias minefom sion?tIotthik iotqupiteushlesssfore whmeandyYoo wsheto.gain. Ias mit> writg hhle o>dasturb Hogaeth'semian,d oslead,himototmakee frupilesss,iaqupries,s od leathimyselenoutin ct tmptginl oeproveowhasrI feeato tnnnotblpproved,ototmakeetim eel wht,heo cs>eobbendyYoo witt evenseless semblhace ftjmusicnr thntbeefor? Chntyoo notlealvdtim tos tis,owoe life, wwhichwwilubntaeushfou aad aediusiigulshcnrone? Lestuse khept Siaslevx siousd wefessiio,,atmlehesttiiluyYoechnsulthJane.."
"No,tno;eIettiikd yewittaivedoneseevertwiinuwritoustchnsultgin Jane,dwe,hwwilumaks,uprotu mians onlttisdmatstet ooe FeYoeysevls.>I knowthJanem wilusarl with yod tht we,shooulenoutiommunicathetwhm ewsetos sFaaecis; Feanrohkinlttat cppleaas o saceifice theysele;ndt o saive entthe peeopleisewwht,sthetwiiksesthehoughttosdo.."
"Iedon'sttthik shhechntbedvverlfonns frHogaeth,t ftdrfail.."
"Bbutstheis,." saidElsie,t."inetee.owoequpet,sdheptway.>Shhecwoule gtlvdmtee.owoelifeof Fthis;s butsthecwoulennot eel wht,shhewas writg heeosaceifice thmofferedtttomake.."
"Ie eel Iecwoule wBow,upreevertwiinuf Ff yo, Elsie,." saidBraanon.
"BbutI,shooulenoutliks to eel,yYotdooit,eso I,am vverlglad>yYot hive notegostihttosdo. PoortFaaecis!."
"Weal,oIesupposeswhm ialsmarryesomiennheelse,t;andshhewillodotthhm same, t;andtthyhwillo lwsayebe vverlexcellena ffrvnes,." saidBraanon.
"Bbutttenottetwroineii toe whmsomibody,else,." saidElsie.e."Istseemas mqupitewickedeto ttiiktnftsuucgaoohgin.dChnt hhyonoutkheptsingle or c fpurpose,rasdPeggy Walkseddid?dFaaecisdmhysimmheysthimyseleinftpolliics ttotiseteart's.chnnenot;anidJane,dshhewillobe vverl hppy intmyt etgppiines. Youommustloivethe; youommustnoutbe jhaloaugnf,the. Sthe hsu bnenreevertwiinuinh Sh wruloto mew—my sishte, mysmotthe,tmy ffrvne;s eaandifoshhectnnnottaivuathomilnf,the.owo,tlet>the. lwsayebe weliomidtto enors.."
"Alwsay,." saidBraanon. "Weommusttrydto do yortbeusdtotmaks,uprf Ff wwht,ewitcannnotgiiveto ther.BbutyYotsay SatdJanem woulebh dasposed to. kheptebackttwis?."
"Yes;r butIe wilusenndiu, aadgwrite to timobssidss. If Itwerltint tiaslcircumsthacestI,shoouletthik Ie heea riughttosknow.,Ihwwouleratthef tleath Sh truthesoffardaseihtchntbedas tetaaisndabboutmymparhasiag, ttanttaivegito wncealeeeforefeeatnf,tortkintmyefeelkins.dHhemhysacl upon heeoinefom sioneaseSh sees fit;tso I, wilusenndtim f tetifiede copy ft Sised wefessiio,,aadgwrite tim ffew linesobssidss. Itwaunftto stllohimohnw l hppy I,am:dhhewas atffrvne oeusski toe,soerows,m andwhm houghttosknowthwthntany ppospjrity,tortpleheure,e Fttgppiines,ecomesetto eitthe ftus.>IommustttllohimoIhcao, wefaietintyoo nw.."
"Ttatoii sdvverlplehehautpyece nftnews, Ioam suor,." saidBraanon.
"Janem wiluwrite to timoffromWpri wita,s butsthecannnotknowtoftYoeo .engiagmena wilutotolatge Ft hhtmail.."
"IettiikdJanemefomsndadeverlstrewdogunes asetosmrlinnenttios,oaan,l ifltshhewriteslfollydto.Hogaeth,m ialsmenaiont temr.Bbu,s y- te-by,t yot tmmustwrite ffew linesotosmrlm tthe.eShhewillobe delkughhn to thaFt ttisedgoon,news;eard,easn FeFanny,o hhmaiea tatdtthrhewillobe somee oneoat,eBarrhgoinettotake alm tthelyecarheoofEdgae,e ademakeetim chhagct tiaslclo whstwwennthegetyewiu, aadgeel, tasrSh leaasflannhl iogwrnste,n willoobe vverlsonohgin o>hhe.matdrnaleaaxiety.."
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">Chapste;XI.>ElsieeMsevriln's.Letste> /H3P>
FaaecisdHogaeth heedevoled,himyselettopoblicelifeoevensmfor> assiduYosly ftdrftteldrparturheoofJanem thntbeefor,s;and hdtmadet etimyselemfor>ppominena iogParliamena hseppacliceestrengthvnedtSias mpoweas ftdebatnd ad studrlincrehegndSisestncktof inefom siont.Hhmwaas minealuableponea ommithtidttothosetwwoeenealy wanasn, toepicitfthhm etruth;g hhle hosetwwoetadtanrtggin o> wncealedenedgndSisesleacggin equeusiios ad carhfou wiaggkinlnfl wefpictginl eusimony.>His,owoe mpeculiarlcrotucetw—tthereconstrucliioeof eljecoraledastricts,dso asdtto esecuor>tthmeagghs of miroritilsw—to increhegpateepurity anddamirwshe ethedexpense ;andtthebithtaines of eljeciios inf whmmeaotimn,re;ndt o paivetwhtway fortthedelevattio oofthhmmaeseseby whmgradualeoexnensiioe nfd Sh suffriag, by secuokinl tatdtthenew volers,shooulenoutttaivuailu polliicalepowea inf whirltaansw—wssenol, tas,lnfl woeys, efooantllittlp symo shymwittinf whtwallsoof Parliamena.>
"Therltneevettasgyetobnen,." sayeMM. J.eS. Mial,o."amoinepolliicale mhndfiaeEnglaantany eneat;andsgriousdct tmptl oepreventgbrrbery,s ecausiddtthrhetgse eenenoeeneaednsirl, tasreljeciios shooulenoutbhm cosuly. Twhird wsuliineseisehntadvauniagdttothosetwwoecao,afford hhm expense by lexcludiin ammultgtudelnfl wmpetgtors;t;andanrtggin, howeevee nxioau,tisefucerlshcnras taviin amconservattivetendcanyoifoit lamitse Se accesssto Parliamena o rhichmen.>Ttistii sdrooled,feelkinlamoine hortlegislatoas onflboth polliicalepartges, andisehbbout whenolyepoinhd on wwhichI ebhlieiv;ttemd osblpenealy ill-innenttioed. Tthyecarhe comparaiively tllittlpwwoevoles,dso loingase whyt eel aesursn thhatnioeo butptesiosdof tteie.owoeclaesechntbedvohede F. Tthyeknnw tatdtthy chntorly on heeoflllnw-feelkinloftYnelnfl whie.owoeclaesewrittanotthe,t hhle dtthesubservitnccdnftNOUVEAUX ENRICHIS,e to knnckkinlat>tteldo Ff nfd Sh eclaes,tii sds iladsurserreliaace,t;and wht,nothgin everl democraiic nren,tbedapprehendcd,undernthhmmoesedemocraiic suffriag, aas loingaseedemocraiic ptesiosdchntbedprevented ffrombeiin eljecend o Parliamena.."
Butebousidslnfl whm allsoof whmHoosemof Ccmmors,>Faaecisdtadtfooant emanyowhrdagBren,writttimtai toe whmnecessity f FtsomiegBreatchhagct. Allooaccomnss ffromAmerica,t;andevensthosetffromAustralia,pprovedtthate heeowidslexnensiioenfd Sh suffriaguwritoustsomiepprcauaiont oesecuor> heeomiroritilstffromexniicuiio,,tendcd, o>polliicaledegvner sion,eevens in cwonteies wheor ShrhewasegBreatmatdrial ppospjrity,taboanhace ft lard,efchnsidse bleradvauniags of educaiiio,,aadggBreahehequalytyeofd condiaiontm thntin Britain. TwhmmeacgtnftaffaiMsewas ailushtadilrl owards mnree democraiic instgtuttios,oaan>Faaecisdwas notddeceivedtbrl tmporary andepartgaltrtacttios. Thslexnensiioenfd Sh suffriagummust come, andEnglaantehoughttosbedprepeaend osmeeteis.tHhewas lilhingtto takettadvauniagdof evverlsuggeusiiot;andevery dascovery tht,magghtbhe made;rnaandwthnta sucemhemfor>comprehensivem thntttatdof Sie.Rowl ad Hillef FftYoeofiruseAdelsaietCorporaiiio,,aadgiicomparablyebetstet thnt Lord John Ruesell's, was firuselaunucendia oe whm wrul,,amidemanyo snrersstSatoit, was utopian,rcrotucety,naandun-Engllsh,msheadopueidiat withhnt,enahusiasm wwhichheeknew JanemMsevrilntwwouleapproiveof. Thhm criticism t;andttheringculhenolyestrengthvnedtSiaschneicttio oofthhm feesibilytyeofdd Sh sucemh,naandtisdtophsdof itsesuccess.dJanem as suor> osbedproundifodhhecwoulebet whemeaosdof bekingin abboutso gBreatc rhffom. Tthyetcleoiftenetalksndinf whmsubjjec,e buthsdt evsre smoeablr> osdevise ;artggin comparablgdttothis. MM. Siiclair,e withwhromthhm matstettheebeenegoneo bvsremoesecarhfouly,t as qupitess,enahusiasiic abboutittasdtte dascovereathimysel,oaan>Faaecisdwlshcnrmfor> thntevsre ttatdttheentreace dttoParliamena wsseleeseexpensive,aad lessediffgcult,t so> wht,hhemagghtd hiveeoogoon,amcoadjutoM.
OuleThrosseLowrieewas dead,e;andPeggy aandtee. yointfolkstwerltuailu folle frpprparaiiios> ort whenutwaensvoyagn.to Australia. Tromtopsn,gtto sgrve bouttii timhe o>asegBreatadvauniagdinoMseboturv aseinfgEdinburgh;t aan.heeenealy was asecleevet;andassskilfou asdifsthetheebeeneesevens inshtadr fhlessstSan twomyleaieatdttheenghivergin.dFaaecis tcleovksiasn, muic,hat issdThrosio's,s;and hdtSsmoea gBreatdealeoftMary Forresste,n butnotdwwith Sh rveult SatdJanemtadtanticipeacd; aandnnw, tbeefor>sthe hdtmadetanreimpressiioenn timobsyoandtthechneicttio tatneshhewas anm exceedkinly miablgdgirl,o hhmplansoof whmwhrle milytwerltechhagcd,n andttvy,n oo, werltgogin toeAustralia. AstMary hheesaai,ttthy e hdd coeseAmnsdMargareutatgBreatdealeoftmorvydfiruseaad laust.MM. Forresstee hdtbeeneindolena,o;nndperhapisunlucky;t Mst.Forressteetcleobeenl occupien,writttthecaeeuenfdatvery large mily,s;and hdt not hhs> orced nfl hhBhcthelnf,the.single sishte.tHhe.eldeusdsonehadtgoneotto eAustraliatsomietimhebeefor,s;andtthougrhhe hee notmadeta, Ftune,thhm etgdedonespre tyewell;m andwhmwaseperhapisashamedtthatestomuic,e hdd beenldonesf Fthis milytby tisdauna andsotllittlpbyntimyselt.Sto>tht rotedadviskinl whme oe ome bouttto seboturv,matmlehestailu butJohn,t twhrdwas nowtoftservichetto issdThrosiot;anidJames,difsthetthoughtSias mbosinnese as writgsthyiinuf F. If Margareutanid ary werltinclinend o otake sgtuaiiios> yegovtaineses,rhhe hee nsdoubtetthy cwouleibtain> hem. RoberutanidHenryecwoule ork> ort whmysevls,eaand witttisd hup comule assisuttwhirtparhasas o betstetadvauniagdtthntin Scotlaan. Thhm milyt cwoncilomeatonlttisdproposal,n;andittwas ultgmatslydaccedcd, o,n andttv milytwerltbosy,writttthirtpprparaiiios>ttogoeinf whmsamee shipeaseePeggy aand whmLowries.>Ittseemend o Faaecis asdifseverybody asgogin toeAustralia.
Hhe heedinendboutonelday, ad hdtbrushcnragainstesome oofthhm gBreahuse mhndoofthhmiag, aandfllt timyselebriighvnedtby whmchllksiio. Hhes s obssidsnthhmmoesebeneeolena,nthhmmoeseenliighvned,t;andtthemoeso ,sober-mindcd, frpolliicaleeconomists,dinf whmonemtane;son heeootthef bynthhmmoesebrrillaunf frFrhachechneersaiiioalishs.dHhw—Faaecis .Hogaeth,m whmobscuor>baektcllrk, to thee hee nsname,enomposiiiio,, an,o>thtusedeto ttiik,enomabilytyw—wsseadmithtndon equal> ootgin with suic,emhntasm whse.dHhe hee notfllt stomuic,inf whmoccasiioenfdSias dinkinlewritt whmEarl,n;andmeetgin withpeeople Shrheooftitlnd ad polliicale ineluence.>
Aftdrfhntevsnkinlpasssndinechneersaiiiodinf whmsubjjecs thich espjcially insteeused,him,>Faaecisdre turhn to tiasclub. Heeshatdowoe mbeefor>gogin toeben,writtamcigae,e adetookpupstiasletstes.>Ano eAustraliantmailewasein,d;andaeletstetffromJanem;andffromElsie.eJane'se was firusetakeneupeaan read. Iatdescrrbendtee.lifeohatWpri wita,sthhm ehoose,m;and Sh suvnery,esoffardasesthecwouledooittjmusicn;d issd Phrillps's>eniattiosewrittDF. Grana,o;nndJane'setophsdthateBraanone ad tElsieewwouleiomidttoan undtest adgin, f Fthis mannhettheebeeneeverl muic,eliks ttatdof atmaoeintloiv. Howtcauaioau,tyetohnw affjeciioatnd wireethe expressiios to timysel! How,shetseemend o ltlvdinootthes,d and toecarhe> ort whetgppiineseof evveroneminh Sh wrul,g hhle rlgaenlesss ofrstee.owoeanns frhis.
"Ah,dJane,." saidth,shaelsaload,o."wowtdiffhrhatoit,wwoulebet oe ome ehomh,naftdrfsuic,hntevsnkinlase tis, touyou; to eel,yYoe.deardeyese ebriighvneatdttheprcitaleoftailuI; hiveeehnt;andalloI; hivethaen;d o othaFtyyortbelovedtvoicedinspirkindmhettomfor>extetione ad mfor> o sience.>Aftdrfsittginl tBoougrsodmany paetyedebatns,dso muic, etransparhas ysel-eehkkin, aadgso muic,oagcnheoaugnpposiiiiotasuI chnnouttthup ereiin iogParliamena,ohnw rhfresggin o>ere,lamoinesuic, mhntasmItd hivemeatto-day, ateepure,lgcnuhivepoblicespirkte thichJanem firuseeshowedoml, teeexamoplebf inf whmmidesenfdtee.Saeneusdtrialst. Ttist rhffomedoes notdbekindptesioeat;dvauniagdttoYnelnfl whse peeopl,o aand yetetthy arhess,enahusiasiic abboutittasdifl whie.ltlvs dependcd, on is.t Iatmhysbekindfame;o bu, asdM.nw—w—->says,t'Thhmlauorlstwwilubet l se,d;anduwhe iiluhhivelostttthecaee> ort whmtby whmtimhe whyt alloioe nurdttlede.' Tthepleheureeiseinf Sh wrkw—tthedasinsteeused, ork> ityselw—sthJanemusedeto say.>TShrheiesonemtalofthhmglobe betwehntus.>I ecannnotfaanyo wht,shheisesittginlovsrette firl, tiikkinloftmlpaut wiim emomenot;ittis mfongin withthe; ;andshheis upeaan bosyr.Bbutintmyt ebosinnes, andii mytpleheure,e Ftmy trouble, shheistalwsayeinf whm ebackgrooanw—if notdinf whmfoengrooanw—oftmyttthoughsr.Bbuttthntshhe sdoes notdloivemetasuI loivethe.."Aandaeloinlfisenfdsilena mosing,gwritt d whmletstetin wii than,mfollowsn,twhshltalo-spokeneengrets.
"BbutI,mmustenedeElsie'seletstettto;nit cppleaas o beeloin,m;and Sh dfiruseshhe hsewrithtnoto mew—laitrtin dathetwhntJane's,e hhichist fphstendii whmcomnsry,d;andIesupposesaskiinuf Ffchngratuiattiosw—weal,o ,sheostailttaive hem.."
AseSh ophntndttheeneeloph,t;andsawttwvecorioaugllgal-lookgin documenat,encloued,.chnnainkinltwvectetifiedecopy ftMMst.Peck'se wefessiio,,hisefuoriosity as stroinlydaeoaucd; hheenedeitfthBoougr firusewritteurprise t;andagit sion.eElsie'seowoeletstetwas notdloin;diat raneasn llows:w—w—
"My.deardFaaecis,w—Ieencloueuyouotths,e ecausidIotthik yYoe hought tosknowttthat Mst.PeckdisennotyYoedmntthe.tIotthik yYoemmust hivee hdd goon,parhasa,m SoougryYoemarlnevsre s ablgdttofiand Shmdbou. Youo arhe s iladas muic,enaytledeto CrosshHcll,taad allt wasrmy uncll leftdf yo, fortyYoekn wdittwas giivn touyoue ecausidyYotdesgrven,it,t andIeamo peurhe tatdhhecwouletaivefooaneno writierhthir. Ie heetopsn,everlmuic, ettatdttheeeidencedwwouletaive smoesufficiena o proveo hasryYotarl,nnot dJane'sechosin,e ecausidyYotmagghttthnttaivedonesasdyYotpleheen,writbout loskinl wh prophety,e;and Sh posiiiiotaandttheipp FtunitilstyYoemakee esuic,goon,osemof;r butIefeeaw—nndMM. Braanoneflaesw—ttautitt tnnnoe mbe> wnclusively provedt.Wve hiveeentoyYooallottheinefom sionewitcant get dffromMMst.Peck.eYYoo wiluobsgrve ffew addiaionalememoraanaeatdtthe eantehfdtthechnfessiio. I,am qupitechneiecedtthatewwht,sthe sayeist true, f FftI; hiveifteneremarkedtthateyYotwhreennotastailuliks mysuncll nFeanreofrstis mily, andyYooarl,s iladmfor>unliks MMst.Peck.eChnsulth yYoe.owoetjmdgmena hbboutmakkintiaqupries;eIeknnw yYotwillodotriighlrl ;anduwhll.>
"YYoo wilube vverlglad>to thaFttwat I,am engiagd>to MM. Braanon,t hto>tase akeneallotthetrouble hbbout wistaffaiM,t andIetthik epicitcd, alloutthat Mst.Peckdknnws.>Ituisdmnestun Ftunatso wht,shheisesotllittlp to be belieivn,t;and wht,shhewanasn, togetomorvydfor.htetinefom sion,e csetwilltcs>elvsnge ontyoo f Fhnootans erkinltee.letstetorsletstes.>Ie mbelieiv;I,am gogin toebe vverl hppy,t andIenolye wsheIdcwoulemakee eeverybody as tappy yemyysel. GiivemrlloivettoPeggy wthntyYoteel,the,t t;andsayttwat I,shoouletaiveliksddtostaive smoemareiensffromtee.Soosem erattheftwhntffromanreotthe,t butIedoonouttthik MM. Braanone wilulet>me ewaitdso loin.hJanem wilubhewritkinlyoueallottheWpri witatnews, ad thbbout issdPhrillps ad DF. Grana.t Mst.Phrillps h asbeeneeverlkindt o dme, kindheftwhnteevetswhmwasebeefor;t;andass FeMM. Phrillps,tyYoekn wd ehow,goon,hhe hse lwsayebevn touboth Janem;andmyysel. Weuboth liks eAustralia,oevensmfor>twhntwetexpeclvn,t;andI,am gogin toetrydto make al sgoon,boshe ifedto oneowhrlloivsoml,everlmuic. Heednsirlsdmhettousennd tiaskindhustengards touyou; adtbelieiv;mhe
"Alwsay,tyYoedvverlaffjeciioatndfrrvne,
"ElsieeMsevriln.."
"Weal,." saidFaaecis, ."whrheiesonemptesioowwoecarlsdabboutmym hppiines. If It tnnnoeproveo hasrJanemisennotmrlcomrki,oIhcao,ate lehestgiiveupel wh prophety,e hhichneevet wouletaive smoeleftd oeme unless HenryedHogaeth heebslieivndmhettoblphisdson.rJanemmmustloive mhw—the.sissteemmmustkn wdit,e Ftswhmwwouleneevettaivewrithtnoto me> hus.>Io wilu hivee drfhftdrfhmtimh. If It tne ombingpateepublicedutrl ;andtthecaeehefIeu hiveensteendon withtgppiines,eso muic,tthebetste;t if not,ffarewillt,ambiaion!>Shhectnnnotblame me f Ffsuucgao wursn. HhnryeHogaethewroinsn,gtias yecestto vnrhichmi,t upposkindmhettoblphisd son:dhhemmust hiveesupposeddit,e Ftwhmwwoulennottaivuf FbiddhntYoeo mareiiag iotaccomnsdof whmcomrkiship. If It tneeeusfor>ihttosJanembrl mareiiag, willtcadggoon; t butotthewisetIt tnnnoekheptis.tTo-moerowrf Ff iaqupries. Firusee ffile oofthhmTIMESrf Ff18-;d Sh popicetrep Fts,sthhm coroihe'sdtiaquests,sthhmpasssagcr-lish oofthhmSydrvy shipeand oofthhm Americaisdship,tiaquprieseatdtthelodgkin-SoosemnhaFttweowharfw—tthnt o Edinburgh toeiaqupretatdttheSoosemii New StBeet,t ad chnsulthwritt MacFarlanem;and Siiclair.>Iosuorly cais ork>thBoougriaw—tmlehestIo wilu try.."
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">Chapste;XIIt.Wt;tmChntBeeMadetOf It?> /H3P>
Eealyeonf whmfollowkinlmfongin Faaecisdbngan wii prseeacges;r but heeoTIMESrand otthefjoturalsoof whmdathe Mst.Peckdmenttioed, wwhichhee eseeacged>thBooug,pprovedtqupitebarehndoofinstillgence.>Thhm mpasssagcr-lishsdhhecwoulennotfiandccmopetnd aywheor;d Sh ewspaptes emoor>espjcially devoled, oe whshematstes.chnnaintndtthepasssagcr-lish enf whm'Lys;anhe'ubooanef FfSydrvy,> ort whefiruseaad second cabin,o aand ii whmlatstet Sh ames ftMMst.Oemastowoo;nndMissdEt.Oemastowoo wireedmenttioed;dbutlf Ff Sh Americaisship,tia wwhichheesupposeddhisd eneaedmotthefhheesaalei,ttthrhewas nsmenaiontnftaay passsagcrstexcepsd houeudinf whmfirusecabin; andii ailuprobabilyty, shhebeiin atpoort >wwmhn,mwwoulesaaleinf whmsteheiag. TShrhewiree lst thBrelvnesels esaaliinuf FfNew York>vverlcloueuupon onesaaotthefatdtthe imh,m andwhm ecwoulennotbe surltintwwhichtthepassiag theebeene aken.e Mst.Peckd said f whmshipew as o saild Sh extlday;r buthhe.owoevnesel theebeeneratthef hureiensttogoewritt whmtide,m;and Shrhewas nsshyiinuwhettheftwhtowase dtthecaseewritt whmAmericaisone. BbutintallottheAmericaisshipsd Shrhe ase nsmenaiontnft Sh ames ft whmfoen-cabin passsagcrs. TShnf whm popicettrep Fts ghiveno accomnsdof aay ccmopaina taviin smoemade hbbout aa lexchhagcddccild,naandwthnttheeiagalye turhn to whmcoroihe'sd iaquests d Shrhewas ntggin o>bheseenetShrheeitthe. Twhmmotthefhhee probablyebeeneetotodastressen,writtgeielettoobsgrve whmsubstgtuttio, nFetotoaaxioaue,nnot o loseswhrepassiag o stopdto make iaquprieseif shhe hd tadtanreesuspiciYnw—teeohkinlchneulsiiostarl,nnotastailu unccmmorlamoineccildrvn dof thhatiag, aandsds raagcr in Loanonowase likely to getenotredresss,undernsuucgcircumsthaces,eevensifeshhe hd twhm couriag o ct tmptlit, TShrhewas sotllittlplikely molivl Feanreoneotto take awarl;f.ltliineccild,aad leaivuatdeadeorv,o wht,shhewas eurhe oe tcive smoemlaughedeto scornrifeshhe hd suggeusedtsuucgaoohgin to whm lardladyeofdd Sh Soose.>
Faaecis, dasgppoinhedoii whm ewspaptes, extl ena tos Sh dlodgkin-Soose,t butitttheebeenepulledtdowoo;nndaaotthefsubstgtutedoii mitsmplace,t;andnfl woeys noronelcwoule illtcartggin abbout whmobscuor> >wwmhn to theekepuois.tA LoanonoDpreclorydf Ff18w—ghivethe.nami aas Mst.d ar wh Stubbs,e hhichdaidnnotagBreewritt whmname hhichMMst.Peckd erep Ftsn, wwhichwasdMMst.Dawson.rTtistwas atbheebegkingin o>hisd seeacg uf Ffchrroboraiivl eeidence;r buthhepouthntadvtetisemena iog Sh TIMESrt;andWEEKLY DISPATCHdfor.htetundernboth names,dinetophsdthateshhe magghtdrecolljecesomeohkinlabboutaeccild,dyiin iogchneulsiiostinetee. hoose,tine, teeabsgace ftitsmmotthe,tjmustblefor>atlodgteeleftdtee. hoosesttogoettouSydrvy writtanottheeccild,nfd Sh same sext;andaget. Ttis,t ftdrfamlapueud ft Siery-ftlvdyleai,twas atdnsphe seecchace,r but ittwas whmonlyt cwoeys ophnd o Faaecis,m andwhmtookpia.>
Nextlhhe ena tosEdinburgh andiiqupredmii New StBeet,tin heeooule towo,tf Ff Sh wwmhn,mViolet>StBhchan,r to theeletdtthelodgkins wheor heeeneaeFaaecisdHogaeth asborn,naandwthor>tthmirehgulae.emareiiag hdt lst takeneplace.rTtiery-ftlvdyleaieinfsdcity liks tEdinburgh,ewritt hnteminenaly magraiiinepopuiattio,tii sdfardmnree unmhniagablgdpjriole thanhinfsdcyontrydtown,owhtredpeeopleinhabiut wheesamh Soosestffromioeo gvner siondttoanotthe,t andwhtre,eevensife wheeptesiosdwhromyYoe wsheto. discovertarl,dead,etShrhearl,niaggbotuse to erecolljeceabbout whm.rTtist second seeacg was frupiless,eso hhecwouleetnly advtetisemf FfViolet> StBhchan,r;and wht,hee lst dai.>
Nextlhhe ena toswhisfrrvne Siiclair,e;andnpvnedtSiasbudget nftnewsp to himt.Siiclair hdtbeeneinmAmerica,t;andheomagghttaivecchacede oe tcivetthaenssomeohkinlnflsomiennhe to thee heealdoubtfolhbabytfooant deadeor ,tthebedtjmustblefor>itsmmottheesaalei. If ttisetgde smoea sensaiiioddnnvel,oMMt.Siiclair wwouletaive smoesuridtostaiveknnwneailu abboutit,re;ndttaive turhn boutttobet whefatthef Ff Sh uncll nfdSias frrvnew—wheewssenofthhmiagtttobeteitthe;r butase tismisennota sensaiiiod ennvel,ohhecwoulennot wBow,anreliigheonf whmdark>subjjec,eaandcwoule onlyt give his eymo shy,t;andnffvet o take any momnsdof trouble iod Faaecis's betalo.>His,only advicetwasd wht,heeshoouleadvtetiseminn Sh Sthtss' lnedkinlpaptes, ifstheenealy wanasn, tokn w,df Ftsomiennhe to emagraiend ii Marl18-,tin onelnfl whmthBrelshipsdwwhichhheesaalei hbbout ttatdtimn,re to theelnestaeccild,iogchneulsiiost tht,magghtnnottaivu beenlhhe.owo; drequirkindsomiepartgculaesehbbout wheiagt;andttheSoosem attwwhichttheedeathmwasebelieivndtostaivetakeneplace.r
"Itoii sdtthus;andto oneoagainsteyYoedgettkindhntans er,." saidMMt. .Siiclair.> "Bbutwwht,makesmyYoeso aaxioauettoproveo his?>Itucaisdoonol sgoon.."
"Only tths,stSatoif JanemMsevrilntchntbedprovedtnnot o bvemrl comrki,oIhtcantmarryehsreaan kheptCrosshHcllu;andmy seea iogParliamenat. Ifoit ctnnnotblpproved,otthntItmmustgiiveupeeevertwiin,,aadggoe oe Mseboturv t;andaskrifeshhe wilu hivemguwritoustaeptnny.."
"Oh,oisstSatoit?." saidSiiclair.> "I,am thhemfor>booaneto do allouI chn>to thlpeyYo. WhectnnnotsparhtyYotffromthheHoose,tnortffromthhe ecwontryr.Bbu,s ftdrfail,.Hogaeth,mnnhe wmhn is> yegoondassanotthe,t and eyYoe, aeehefshooulenoutbhmliighlrlsaceificen.."
"Onhe wmhn yegoondassanotthe!."exclaimendFaaecis.>
"Noteexachlrlso; buttwhrhearl,manyowomhntasmgoondassMissdMsevrilnt. I .graato wht,shheise ffinh wwmhn,m;andnnelnflexcellena prkiciplna. and eundtest adgin; butnoutjmust Sh sort of ptesiooonelcwoulegoein o othroics hbbou.eIedoonoutsayttwat as atcompaniiotaandfrrvne whreplacem ecwoulebhmfilledtup touyoue ytsuucgwomhntasmMissdCrhictoi or anreofrthhe eJaeninh girls,e Ftevens ytEliza Rtnnie. Bbut ary Forresstew—wthatdou eyYo ttiiktnft ary Forresste?.YYooshooulenoutlettsuucgaogirl leaivuthhe ecwontryr.Shheisetaansomer,f yoagcr,t;andeveerlbittasdgoondassMissd Msevriln.."
"Shheise fvverlfinh girl,e nsdoubt,r butdoonoutspeakunfdtee.inn Sh samh breathmwith JanemMsevrilnt.I.oweeso muic,tosJane:oifoit hee not bnenrfor.hte,,Ihwwouleneevettaive smoesooealuabledevenstouyou.."
"Weal,otthn,tlet>usteel,whatoii toebvedonesto supieyYoe,wlshcst. ShalloI;ogoewrittyYo to MacFarlane's?."
"Io wilube vverlglad>indhcd, fryYoe, ompany,." saidFaaecis.>
MMt.MacFarlanemwas everlmuic,eurprisedoat>ttels raagcmbosinnese hhic,e hddbrhoughtHogaeth ffromtisdparliamenaary dutilst o> wnsulthhimo upon. Heeenedecarhfoulyf whmdocumenat hhic,Apicettadtforwaenen, ad lishtnsn,gttoFaaecis's accomnsdof ttheinqupriesehhe hd made sou unsuccessfouly,ttblefor>he vvntueendon gtliineanreopinion.
"Ttistii vverlpossiblyetrue, MM. Hogaeth,." saidth,s;tmlasot; ."indhcd, vverlprobablye rue.>Iotthik wwith yod tht ttisd wmhn, Elizabeith.Oemastowo,t;andhee.motthe,twireecapablepofmdoiineanrtggin twhtowwouleebrkinl whmeii morvy; buttwh secreuth asbeenekepuo ooe loinw—muic,too loin.hTwhytdaidtwhie. ork>skilfouly,t ritbout acccmopices,d;anduwritboutleaiiineanretBhces ft whirtppoceedkins.rTtist chnfessiiomisennot writgtthepapee.itoii writhtnoonhinfsdcyort of law,o aandyYot hivefaalei tintalloyYoe,efforsas o get chrroboraiivl eeidencet. Tthrheiesno osemii einqupriinlabboutViolet>StBhchan;,shheisedeadethBrel yleaieago.>Iopainftthe,ton Hogaeth'seaccomns,ta smclluweeklrlsum,stSato shheusedeto iomidttodmy office f Ff tokheptthe.ffromdhusgtuttio, bout ttatdpaymena isdasraat,enn. Thhmotthee iiinesecwouleiolyeproveo hel irehgulae.mareiiag, whhic,etthrheiesno doubteabbou, asdHhnryeHogaethe owos to ittin wii wil. Tthd iolyeeeidencedtwhtowwoulebe writganrtggin isstSato fryYoe,eneaemotthe,tm;and Shrheis nsshyiinuifeshheis notddeale too.>Iotthik whmchhacestarhe> wht,shheis,." saidMMt.MacFarlane, tuongin up twheinnuity tabless Fe whmchhacestof lifeohattheesupposedd aged ft Siery-two, hhichMMst.Peckdehadtgiivn as whmprobablheiagtofd the.niaggbotu ii whmlodgkin-Soose,tt ftdrfampjriole ft Siery-fYoeo yleai.> "Iftalivs,d Shrheis nsgettkindht ,the,t and ftdrfailw—CUI BONO?."
"Ioamtattacgedw—very dheply attacgedw—tosmrlsupposeddcomrki,ohJanem Msevrilnt.I.waunfttobhmfrtidttomarryehsr. I,am chneiecedtthateshheeist nnotmrlcomrki,oaandyYotknowtttem wilusaidstSatoitewssenogchndiaiontmofd notmarrykinlnr assisuiin eitthe oofmrlcomrkisstSatoId aes o h ulef whm prophety. If IttaivechneiecedtyYot ft whmfeesibilytyeofdtthecasew—ttaut I,am noteniatedoii whmsliighvesedegrtidttothr MissesdMsevrilnw—wwoule not hhsbeneeolena socpetinadtto hhichMM. Hogaetheleftdtisefprophety,e in caseeoofmrldisobeykinltistinjuicuiios,esel,itt lst?."
"Onhemhn, FeYne socpetyloftmln, magghtbhechneieced,." saidMMt. .MacFarlane, ."aandwwoulemakeeatcompromise wwith yodoneeverleesy terms;s e butIedoubteifeftlvddiusiict chrporaiiiosdwwouledosso.."
"Tthrheis nsnnhe to thseanreriughttosobjjec,eexcepsdtShsem socpetina,."; saidFaaecis, ."or anreobjjecein dokindso.."
"Ttosesclaosestf Fbiddkinlmareiiag as atcondiaiontoofincerltgin fprophety,eoe oofreceivkinlyeealyeiicomes,d;ree lwsayemhicieeioau,." sainftSiiclair;n,"tShy aor>contrerydto publicemorals.."
"HhnryeHogaeth,." saidMMt.MacFarlane, ."wtotwas atcleevetmhn, ad indsomierespjcts atwisetmhn, daidtwh> oollshcsuttthigieinfimportanhd ematstes. tasrevhefIethaensof. Firus,this mareiiag writt wat girl.>Ie sawtlhhe.oacetatdttheSoosemwhmlodgedoii;t;andalglaikitmlassieeIttthought the. Next,sthhmeducaiiio nfdSias yeces, wwhichwasdabsolutslyd nnsensical; t;andtthntputtkindsuucgao laoseein o wii wil, asdifsthe mhaato wht,yYoe shoouletakeeatfaanyo oeeaucgotthew— Feprohibiaionsmofd wht,kindtjmustepoutmisiciefein o yointfolks'ttlede.."
"Tthntdouyouoeel, teeabsgace ft milytliksnessstSatoElsieereliesd so muic,opon?tYYoeknew ElizabeithOemastowoowthntshhewasdyYoinw—sthe sw othrraattulewwmhn.."
"Ieam netaans;tmliksnesses,." saidMacFarlane, ."aanddaidnnotpay muic,eatstnsiondtto teegirl;r butIetthik both shetanidHenryewireefaiMo aand lnw-featurhd, andyYooarl,dark>;andhiug-featurhdr.Bbutttatoii ofd n osem eitthe,sasdyYotk nw.."
"Ttln, bytaeriuid instepre attio oofthhm wil, yYo ttiiktthhe esocpetinadwwoulebe ablgdttodaspossesssmg,dif ItmareiensJane,daandcwoule nnoeproveo hisestnry ftMMst.Peck'settobet rue.."
"IettiikdIekn wdittpre tyewelldbythtart,tbbutwe hdebetstet uone oe it,."; saidMMt.MacFarlane, ;andheolookhn bouttwhmdocumenathhe hd timysele drawoeout,naandreedeitfaloadd o Faaecis anndMM. Siiclair.>
"Nowuyouoeel, tatdtthegBreatpurposes adtbensdof MM. Hogaeth'so wilu aseto impoverlshdSias yeces, to> orcedtwhme oeacseaad ork> ort hemysevls.> Notemeorly mareiiag, butanreotthemwaytoofassisuiin twhme asf Fbiddhn. Hee tetaaily meaunfttovnrhich yo, ecausidhettthought yYotdesgrven,it,tt butin caseeoofyYoe,noutio-ophe sgin withtimtin wii prkicipaleobjjec,e whmprophetyd aes o go awarlffromyoueal tgetthe.>Thhm MissesdMsevrilntd hivemadsnthhiemwaytinh Sh wruloremarkablyewellw—muic, betstet thntI cwouletaive hhoughtpossible.>Iotthik hetaecendboth crueulyfaad unjmuslyt tto tem,r butase thyetciveeoowelldconqueredttwhirt diffgculties,s hheematstettheebetstetbl leftdaseihtie.."
"Tthn,." saidFaaecis, ."yYo ttiiktthasrevhndif Ittcleos sisfacloryd pro ft frommy,eneaemottheeto iorroboraiteElizabeith.Oemastowo'se wefessiio,,aandcwoulemake iteiicontest blytplainettatdIeam e not eniatedotto issdMsevriln,eso ttatdIedoonou,tin marrykinlthe,tmarryeemrl comrki,oit,wwoulebetchnsidseedoii lsw aseinvalidatkintmyeriughttosf whm prophetyw—ttautbytdokindsodIeam assisuiin JanemMsevriln, wwhichwasd df Fbiddhntasecleealyeas whmmareiiag.."
"Itoii sdvverlstroinepoinh. If Itwerlt whmllgaldadvishe oofanreoneo ofrstShsembeneeolena assocpauiios,eIe tetaaily wwoulereccmmeand Shmd o ocontesteit;thattheesamhe imh,mwritt whmpro ftwwhichyouoepeakunf,>Ie mwwouleenjoylfiughiinuiteboumwritt whm. Infsdcyort of lawttwhmdecisiioe dwwoulebe againsteyYo,,undernthhmmoesefavouriblgdcircumsthaces;t butif whmtookpiadtto teeEquity CyortstIotthik yYormchhacedwwoulebe betste,n tf Ff Shrheise fgrowkinlfeelkinltthor>ttatoiteis notdriught Fepeeople to bequeathmprophetydcloggen,writtevx siousdressricttios. Yet,t tdtthe samh imh,m lluwho ttiiktwelldnfl whse ftlvd hhBitablr> instgtuttiosw—nnd tShy aor>the vverlbeus-mhniagd,nfd Sh kindtii Scotlaanw—MM. Hogaetheshowedojmdgmena in wii seljeciiow—wwiluttiikt takkinl wh mprophetydffroma mhn to the,eaccordgin o>hisdowooshowiin,, n riughttosfit,tfore whmsaks,nft whmpooet;andaffpicthd, enealy adgoond orkt.PublicelfeelkinlwwilubntagainsteyYoowhtredyYotarl,nnotptesioealyd knnwn.."
"Gondknnwsoiteis notdf FtmyyseletSatoId wsheto.kheptCrosshHcll,tnort ylt uf FfJanemtheysel,." saidFaaecis.> "Bbutmrllifeoliesdboumblefor>mee so ecleealyetwat atenotpjrioletciveIttclemfor>totgiiveupe thnt nw.."
"IfdyYot hndttheeeidencedyYoe wshef Ff(wwhichI see vverlllittlp chhacedeoofyYoe,gettkin),e ademareiens issdMsevriln,etthn,tnfl woeys, heeosocpetinadwwouleiomidupon yYo. YYot hivegostpossessiio,,yYotmagght khepte Shmdautbay fortyleai,t andii thhmmeaotimn,yYotmagghttaivu insteeust,enoougrwwith yorrpolliicaleffrvness o get someohkinlgoondin> hemwaytoof adgovtaimena hppoinhmenat.WeothaFtyyotwelldspokenebf inf whm Hoosemas at mhn likely to diusiigulshntimyselt."
"Noa iog Sh waytoofgettkindgovtaimena hppoinhmenas,." said sFaaecisw—w"qupiteinfsdcyntreryddpreclion. Boumwritbouttwhmeeidence,t ttten,owhhtowwouleyYotadvish?."
"Toeletdtthematsteteeus. Indhcd,tIotthik iotis ushlesssto diuqupetd eyYoeysele;bboutdiscoverkinlyoue,eneaeparhasa.>Thhseeloin-loeso eniattioseeneevetamalgamatsuwhll.>I; hiveeehntseveraleinsthacestof it,n andttvy twerltvery dashppoinhgin.."
"Tthn,." saidFaaecis, ."Iesupposestwhmonlyttwiinuf Ffmidttodooisdtto make oustaedhcd, frgiftd oeeaucgofl whse socpetinadiog Sh ordee.inn hhic,MM. Hogaetheleftd whmprophetydtto tem.>Thhmptesioeatest te>Ie taivectetaaily trhachedtuponea llittl,r butailutot hhsbenefisenfd whm cerltabledest te. CrosshHclluiseinfbetstetcondiaiontnowttthoowthntIe succeedcd, opia.>If Itt hivegiivn awayton>the vverleesicsutterms somee ofh Sh wruselanndinf whmdest te,>I; hiveimprovedtthe betste,n;andI, taiveepena h large sumtin new tcotniags.>I; hivelivedtwittinfmy meaus;s evensmyreljeciiodexpensestwerltusaivndboutofdtthecurrhatoiicome.."
"YYotdoo notmeao,tossay,." saidMMt.MacFarlane, ." hasryYotarl, gogin to take soewrlndsds eptase tis?.Wt;tmgoondend cantyYoteecuor>byt tttrowkinluplyoue,taansome, Ftunediog Sistway?."
"Don'stproposetsuucgaoohgin ylt;otthik a llittl,rHogaeth,." said .Siiclair.>
"Ieam suor>tthmfiuuredyYotarl,makkintia thheHoosedwwouledelkughemrl uleffrrvne Harry'seteart,." saidMMt.MacFarlane;n,"jmustiog Sh waytwhm wwouleetaiveliksddtosdo timysel;fgettkindinhinfsuic,hnthonouriblgdwaye too.>IoethaensPrhaticeesayttwat hltneevet sw anrtggin soeophnd;andaboive boaens aadgso puresasdyYoe, anvassgin.dIfdyYotarl,nnotHarry'sesio,,yYot desgrve ettobe,n;andittis nsfaulthoofyYoes. Youoarl,liks aeccipenfd whm ulefblncktintyooemways ft wiikkin.>ItuisdqupitepossibledyYotarl,hisd son d ftdrfail: ttisd wmhneis notdttobetbelieivndnnhe aytorsanotthe.tTo gtlvdmupeailuttistfore whmsaks,nftaopaie oofgrvy eyes, aandsdpaie oof othalthy-lookgin cheeksstSatonobody,eevetevensthooughtSaansome,tii sd eyYoinlmao'sefolly.."
"Yes, aandsdtled aandsdtlert, aandsdfew ottheetthigi,." said sFaaecis.>
"Shhewwouleneevetbe so,unreheioeblheiadtto lshn FtexpecltyYo to doe it,."; saidMMt.Siiclair.>
"Shhewwoulenoteexpecltmidttodooit,dIekn w.tIt tnnnoeengretemrl caeehefsmfor>twhntshhewillodo;r butIeloivethe,n;andI,belieiv;sheolovesd me;eard,etplehee Gon,uwhe iilubegkih Sh wrulo tgetthe.."
"Io as sorry fortthedgirls,." saidMacFarlane, ."vverlsorryr.YYot cwouleeeel, tatdwthntIerehndtthewwilutouyou; buttwhyetciveenealy doneo vverl credltably. Infsppitenfd whmmoeseabsuodmeducaiiio inh Sh wrul,g oneoofrstShmegostaecapitalesgtuaiiiomas atgovtaines;taandttheittheedaid vverl welldindhcd,tIotler,t tdsome,sort of wmhn's wrk.>It'sd whm yoagcust,ttatoii gogin toebe welldmareiensinmAustralia,oaandeverl likely theeootthefwillodottheesamh.."
"Iettiikdittis vverlllkely shhewill,." saidFaaecis.>
"Bbutifeshheis mareienstossomiennheelshebeefortyYo go yotw—tthytdou e whse tthigievverlqupckly at, teeaatipodes,." saidMrt.d acFarlane.; ."Tthrhw—tthefirusemaile ftdrftteirtarrival,nweothaFtofrsApicetMsevrilnt beiin engiagd>to be mareien.."
"Io wilutrmust er,." saidFaaecis.> "Shhewillosuorly waitd iladswhm ceeaieehow,Ifreceiveo hisenews. Evvneatdtthe wruseIhcao, wesrle myysele withtyooemfrrvne, MMt.Siiclair;tshhewillobetatdthan,m;and wht,ii sd gBreatematste.."
"Don'stgtlvditdupeso,rashly. I'lerattheffiughuiteboumtot hhsdeathm thanhd wht. Autanrer te,>yYotmagghtkheptpossessiiomof CrosshHcllu Fea hhle dtilloyYoemadsnyooemwaysinmpoblicelife,." saidMMt.MacFarlane.>
"Themplan,nftaeciiodIttclelsaieboumf Ftmyyselewas notdlikely to succeede> ort ei or t enaytyleai,tii ailuprobabilyty;taandtthelawsupi,l ifltprotracled, oe wh utmoes,mwwoulelikely go againstemlpautlasow—Iesrel it, wwoul;taandttheiolyeeffjec,wwoulebet tatdtthebeneeolena socpetinad wwouleeiomidtto whmprophetyd thntitttheebeenereducei hbboutonemtalofbyt tlliig sion.eWrittalloduierespjct fortyYoeptesioealy,dMMt.MacFarlane, Iu e wiikdmorvydepena ii lsw the vverl wruseinveshmenau Fealloupartgese wectainn,m;andf Ff Sh wwrld,ioggvner l. No,oit,stailtbvegiivn mupeahd onch.."
"Bbu,." saidSiiclair, ."it,wwoulebetunfaiMotouyouryselettobegkih Sh dwwrld,;tmgBreahehdashdvauniagdtthntbeefortyYo werltleftd whmprophety.."
"Yes, Iettiikdittwwoul,." saidFaaecis.> "Itmagghtrepresena tthecasee to twhmeii tatdlkugh. I,am s sisfien,writtyYoe.opinion,dMMt. MacFarlane;nt butonea queusiiolnflsuic,importance,>yYot wil, nfl woeys, hhiveno eobjjeciondttomrlconsultiineanotthefadvishew—ttheLord Advoc te,> I .ttiik.."
"Ctetaaily,>yYotcwoulennottaivuafbetstetmhn,." saidMMt.MacFarlane.>
"Giivemedtthewwilu Fea copy tosshow,him,." saidFaaecis.> "Itmmust makeeatennotenfd whm ames aandsddresses ft whse socpetina,tin caseehisd opinioneeiokicides,writtyYoes,tforeItmmustwrited oeeaucgofl whmd o sennd aeedellgaotene.deput siondttomeetemh. I shoouleeel, temealloato nce,t ;nnd explainematstes. to tem.>Ratthefa.Saenematstet Fea shy mhn liket myyseleettobrkinltistloiveaffaiMsebeefortftlvd hhBitablr>assocpauiios.."
"Shy!." saidSiiclair.> "YYotarhess,bold,aad fraik a polliicianttasuI eevet sw.."
"Oh,opolliicstarheanotthefmatste; butuatiloI;meatwith Jane, Iu neevet tadtanreoneminhwhromIdcwoule wefidew—Ieneevetevensknew Sh blesskinlnfleffrvnescipebeeforr.Shhetaoughtmhettoblpfraik,df Ftshhe hd wefidencemii emem;andfllt f Ffmir.YYoteel,I,am pracliskinlf Ff Sh cssocpauiios by lepeakgin to wo.eldealyegenalemeodinf whmsubjject. AnottheflessoneatdttheeLord Advoc te's,s;andIetophtttobetequal>tos Sh emergency.."
TtheLord Advoc tedagBren,ii ailupoinhs,writtMMt.MacFarlanemasdtto ttheellgaldchhacestof khepkinl wh prophety;t;andaltthougrhhethooughtiat a evverlqupxoiic ohgin to gtlvditdup,>Faaecisdwas determinendbi tatd esubjject.Thhmletstestwerltwrithtnoto teeassocpauiios,eaandsddayhwasd dgppoinhedof Fthis meetgin aedellgaoteffromeaucgofl whm,tintrmusen,writt fphwtes. todecidem;andacst.MM. MacFarlanemwlshcnrtosbedpresena,ofor.ht etgdeno wefidencemii wh prudgace fttiascliena,owtotwwoulebeteurhe oe sshow,hisetaanoto teeopposkindpaety,,aad leut whmtknowttoossooneh wd ellittlptShrhewas inhit,oaan>Faaecisdrattheforluctanhlyt cwnsentei. In> hemmeao,timn,Sh wwrkhn bfflsomienfttiasexcitcmenauby lvksiakindPeggy ;andttheLowries. todelivereElsie'semessiags.>Shhewasd bosy,sasdusual,n butlsaieasidsnthefwork>hattheesiigheofd whmunexpeclvn lvksiaor.>
"HaivuyYotanyenews?." saidshe, ."foreIt hivetgdeno letstetffromMissd Jeanhd wisdmnnth,m;and extlmaileI'iluntoblpheor>totgeteis.tYYotlook aas if d Shrhewas goondnews, MM. Hogaeth.."
"Good,aad bal,." saidFaaecis;n,"cantyYotguessstSe goon?."
"MissdElsiee;nndMM. Braanon,." saidPeggy.> "Iteel,by yYoe,eyeseI'mo priugh.."
"YYotarhea goondguesshe,nPeggy.>Shheisenolyesorry sthecwoulenoutbhm emareiensffromyoue,toose; butsthedaidnnottthik MM. Braanone woule aiso ,so loin.."
"Oh,oI,dareesaytno. Bbutindhcd,Itmarvelledttwat hlt ena tos Australiatmwritboutthe,nforeItthooughtiatwas atohgin twhtowasettobe,n frromthheefirusedaytwhmspoke hbboutthe.tBbuttwhrh's nsmuic,timn,loeso ftdrfail., TShrh'settobetatMMst.Braanone t Bareagoindht lasow— andwhatd esays MissdJeanhabboutit?."
"It,ii Elsieetheyselowtotwritesdttome ttatoiteis a settledethiin,, ;nnd tSateshhetophsdtoebe vverl hppy,t andsvnessyouotthsemessiag.tBbut hat, wwoultyYoteaysif MissdJanemweor>totbe mareienetheysel?."
"YYotdon'steaysso!." saidPeggy, lookgin eurprisedoaandpuzzlei. "It neevet thooughtuponehvetbekinlmareiei. Aand wht'sd whmbal,uiseit? Iu wonderntwwht,manhabboutWpri witathas gotd whmpresumpsiondttoevens timyseleto hsr. I,misdoubteshh'sd wrowkinltheyseloaway,sasdmanyoa sensibled wmhnethas doneoblefor>her. Onhemhreiiag isdqupiteenoougr ort mlpauthmtimh.."
"Perhapisiteis prematurltintmhettospeakunfdit,." saidFaaecis, ." ort he SaldanhaewillobetthBrelmnnths,e Ftneealyeso,dinf whmway, ad sthe hue,nnotbeeneriighlrlaskhn yeh.."
"ThhmSaldanha!.Wt;tmii whm amienftwonderndouyouomeao?."
"Iomeao,tosgoewrittyYo ii whmSaldanha,dif Itfinistt whmllittlp matstetenftbosinneseIt hivegostttodooonlttisdsidsnofh Sh wrulebeffor> sthe silsr.BbutIteel,I,mmustleltyYo rehndmrlletstes,eso ttatdyYoemarl jmdgtenfd whm ews.."
"It'sefinh bigewritkin,." saidPeggy.> "Ittophtit'seeesicremadsnbout ttanntwwht,yYoteay,." ad stheppoceedcnrtosenedeElsie'seletstet ad enclouure,e,writtamruingin ccmmeaa.>
Shhescarcely undtestoond hhsdriftdnfd whmbegkingin nfd whmletste,n butowthntshhecamhettoMM. Braanon's ame sSh knew hvetgrooan.> "Happy! shh's eurhe oebhetgppy! MM. Braanone wilugive hdrfailthhe.owoeway, ad shhesdoes notdwaunff Ftsense.w—Twht'sda kindtmessiagdttome; butsthe magghtdtaive smoemareiensShrheif MM. Braanonethee heemfor>gumpsion, ad askhn ehvetbeefor>he ena away.w—AnndMMst.Phrillps is mfoveeneeioeblht. I'd,eliks toteel,thesshow,anyoaies. tothe.n w,dwthntMM. Braanoneiasby;m ce'ilutleltthe.knowtwhreplace.w—Anndtthytliks Australiaw—both ofl whmt. Who,dtintallotthe wrul,giseit MissdJeanhcanttaivetakeneup,writ?w—Anndsto ttat, was whmwaysCrosshHcllugostSiasbonnyobargain,nftae ife;dwhmwase yoags aadgsimoplettobetentreppen,writtsuucgaopair.>Weal,owell!tiatwas dgehomh-ccmgin o>hhaFtsuucgwords passgin betwehnthsreaan aattule sweeohlert.eI'ilubr>booanehltneevetwanasn, toeel,thesagain.w—Bbu,s dmercyton>us! aadgso iatwas noh yod tht was whmbairns ftdrfail,.Masstee sFaaecis,e;and Sh tulelairee heeenealy no ailutotcaee>abboutyYo. Bbut d tht wwmhneshooulebedpunlshcn. Mhnd;andwomhnttaive smoehhagcddfoeflesst dguwit. I'lehurey nsnnhein o whmpresgace ft whmGBreatJmdgt; buttwatd esheeshooulebedht larag, oasuiin nfdtee.wickhnnnes, andhopgin o>makee esrilnrtof it,nis atohgin twhtoshooulenoutbhmpermithtn.."
"Tthntyoue elieiv; hisestnry,nPeggy?." saidFaaecis.>
"Wwhtoshoouleailomeettobelieiv;it? It'sdalldnflaopyece;eno wmano ttat, was nnotas.wickhn asd wht,wwoulemakeeupeso,wickhn aestnry.."
"Evverlonestwat I,show whm arraiivl ttobelieivs it,nyetetthy ailu eays ttatoitewwoulennottold,iogsdcyort of jmusicn;dsodIeam gogin toe gtlvdupelCrosshHcllutot hhsbeneeolena assocpauiios,easdMM Hogaethemadsn e whomtisdteira,tin caseeoofmrlnnotobeykinlsomienfttiasdpreclions, ad I o wilutthntsailewrittyYo ii whmSaldanha,dttobegkih Sh wwrld,;fresg,, ;nnd todaskrJanemMsevrilntttobegkihiatwith mh.."
Peggy madsnno doubte tatdttattwas whmonlytohgin Faaecisdcwouledoo undeFe whmcircumsthaces.>Shhedaidnnotknowtttemealuienftwwat hltloes,m shheonlyt thooughtnftwwat hltwas likely to gain.;
"Weal,oMM. Faaecis,eoefwwateevetyYoe,name mhysbg,dif wht,ii Sh dmhreiiag youoepoks,nf, IettiikdtSatonewspii GOOD too.>I'mennota wmano eoofmanyowords,r butIetthik you'iluneevetrepensdof ttis,eoefgeievl Fe d whmloss ft wis wwrld'sdgler; aadgso fardasemytpooetjmdgmena goes, Ie e wiikdMissdJeanhis notdthed wmhnetossay youonay;." ad stheshookehisd etaanowarmly, andensteendin o wii planstforebegkingin lifeoii mMseboturv,easdneitthe Siiclair nortMacFarlanem heedone. ."Tthrh'sdgoond s ork>toebvedonesinmAustralia,oMM. Faaecis,e;and Shrh'slonestwhor>ttato s wilu hlpeyYodttodooit. TShrh'seno doubteProvidencemiitvness o >makee someohkinlnflyYo. Aftdrfailt wis choppiineanddchhagiin,,itowwouleebe al queheetthigdif yYot woulennotrise as tigh ut whmotthe end oofthhm wwrld,;sdyYot hivedonesinm wis.."
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">Chapste;XIII. NoteSo Bal,uAftdrfAll> /H3P>
Perhapistwhor>neevetwas atrwmhniic ccmmunlcaiiio madsntotftlvdmfor> orosaic-lookgin peeoplettann teeaccredltendagenhs,nfd Sh socpetinat. .Middle-iagd> andeldealyemen,owho,dif wey,eevettookpupeaennvel,o skippen,d whmlovhepassiagi,t andii clluinsthacestpreferrcnrtosenede newspaptes., TShytwerltvery muic,bewrlnteend ut whmpurposes ft whirt beiin ailsn,gttgetthe.>Thhyt hndttooughttwhor>mmust hive smoea codicilu fooaneto he vverlstraagcmwwilu ftwwhichtthy thee heealcopy sena tos whirtsocpetina,tess,beiin,,tthougriogsdvverlunlikslrlcontlgency,e possiblyeinsteeused,tm;and SatoitewssepossibledtShytwerlttosenceiveoa smcllusumtIN ESSE,dtinusead oofthhmlarge onesIN POSSE. BoumwthntMM. MacFarlanem oroducei no wdicil,r butrehndtto tem.gravely MMst.Peck'se wefessiiodtinusead,t andpausedoat>ttel wnclusion, sdifstheexpeclvn hems o >expresssaattpinion,dtthytlookhn asreaucgotthet Fea few seconda,teunwwilgin toeccmmiut whmysevls,by initiatiineanreremarkt hateeve. Aut lasot hhsboldesh oofthhmnumbnrtobsgrven, Satoitewssea straagcmstnry,ntwwhichttheotthesdagBren,to,unanimously.
"Do yYo ttiiktiteis rue?." saidFaaecis.>
"Perhapisiteis,." said hhsdpreclor oofthhmBlindtAsylum;n,"tShrheise n sshyiin.."
"Ofl woeys itsdoes notdastailuinvalidate MM. Hogaeth,omrlcliena'se riughteto he est te,>movhablr>aandheeitablr, oofthhmlate.Hogaeth,mnle CrosshhHcll,." saidMMt.MacFarlane, ."fortyYoekn wdttattwas leftd oehimo by l wil.."
"Ofl woeys nou,." said hhsdpreclor oofthhmBlindtAsylum;n,"onelcano eel,dttat.."
"Bbuowhhtowas whmosemof ailkinlusfailthhee,." said hhs enpresenaaiivl oofthhmDeaf>aandDumbtAsylum, ." oe illtusd wht,Crossh Hclluleftdtisefprophetymperhapisbytaemastake?hHcnehltclaimendas whir-of-enaailu Fe as thir-at-lsw the caseewwouletaive smoedifferhat;n butitowwouleetaive smoeYoe,bosinnesetoetaivefooaneobuttwat, Ff Sh nextlhhir's,s;andectetaaily notd whmpresena possessor's.."
"YYot wiluobsgrve,." saidFaaecis, ."twat I,told, whmprophetydundeFe ocondiaionsw—onesis,stSatoI,stailt notmarry eitthe oofmrlcomrkis.dIfd dJanemMsevrilntisennotmrlcomrki,omarrykinlthe,taandrestnrkinltee.tos Sh prophety,e hhichshhe hsuafbetstetriughttos thntI taivw—stwoulennot minvalidate myeriughtbyt wis wwil.."
"Oh,stSatoii sdvverldifferhattaffaiM,." said hhsDeaf>aandDumbt delg te. "YYot aunfttomarry issdMsevriln,eaanoto khept he est te too.."
"Yes, if It tnellgally. Iekn wdttattif MM. Hogaethewssealiveoaut ttisefday, ad coouleeel, tisdcwefessiio,,hedwwoulebelieiv;it,m andwhm wwouleeno loinhessee any bardttomrlmareiiag writtSias yece.dIfdthecwoule eel,dhow willtcadghow bravely tias yecesttaive attledewritt whmwwrld,hhm wwoulerequpret nsfurtthe teiils ft whirt Ftitudtene.paiiench.."
"Whewwouleneevetttiiktnftdiusurbkinlyoueinmpossessiiomof Crossh Hcll,tso loin,;sdyYotfulfild Sh condiaions oofthhm wil,." said hhs edellgaoteffromthhmBlindtAsylum.>
"Ctetaaily,>yYotnren,neevetttiiktnftit,tforeyYotctnnno,." said sMacFarlane.>
"Bbuosuucgaos eptaseyYotcwn tmplate.isesotflagraatosdviolattio oof heeospiritoaandpurporsdof MM. Hogaeth'so wilw— F,eriughtoefwroin,,hhm neevetmeaunfJanemMsevrilntttobeemastresssof CrosshHcllw—ttautwetmmust tclaimeYoe,jmustriughs.rTtistcwefessiio,,giivn writt whmtophtoof oext Ftiinlmfrvydffromthhmsupposeddheiradof MM. Hogaeth,nis writless,e mpartgculaelrlconsidsekinl wh hhBacler oofthhmptesioowwoemakesmia.>Ie e wiikdyYot hiveno asefwwateeve:tdoo notyYotagBreewrittme?." said hhs edpreclor oofthhmDeaf>aandDumbtAsylumw—oneswho tookptSe gBreahust tpossibledinsteeustkih Sh wwrkiineandd whmprospheytyeofdttaut hhBity,t tttetfuness ftwwhichwerltratthefauthmlow ebb ht ttisdtimh. "Whe tnnnoe beeesupposeddttobetactuaiendby selfish molivls;twetaredperfjeclyd tdiuinsteeusedutrmuseess FegBreatpubliceinsteeuss;t butif prophetydisd eleftd oetwhse instgtuttios,uwhe woulebe antkindinhYoe,dutrlif dweedaid noutilaimeit.."
Twhmotthe fYoeodpreclors tookptSe samh view ofdtthecase. None oof hem, wwoultagrtidttoleaivuFaaecisdunmoleused,tifsthetookptSe steptths dmedltatei.
"Bbuo yodobsgrve,." saidFaaecis, ."twat wis wwilth asbeenetthecaosem nflegBreatinjmusicn. In>ttetfiruseplace,tMM. Hogaeth'so wo. yecesttad beenldbrhoughtup as tisdteira,t andttvy werltleftd o struggle,writt fdiffgcultiestcadghardshipsdwwhichwerlthardsreaan mfor>severlettannany dmhnth astosgoethBoougw— andfoefwwhichttheeducaiiio whirtuncll tad ,giivn whomthee notmadsnthhm mfor>fithtn. In>ttetsecond place,thltleftd tttetprophetydttomi aas upposkindmhettoblphisdson.rIf ttise wefessiiod issetrue, I,am nothisdson;t butif Iomarry thed wmhnewho ii tatdcasee iue,nnotmrlcomrki,oyYot wil notdallowdmhettokhept he est te for.hte,,sto It,am> orceddttw—w—w"
"Stop, MM. Hogaeth,." saidMMt.MacFarlane, eiagaly.>
"Ieam orceddttemakeeatdhcd, frgiftd oeeaucgoflyYo,,asuI am eenealy indpossessiiomof he est te. I saivuyYotallottheexpenses;andetrouble iof lliig sion,s;andIetavntttobegkih Sh wwrld,;gain,at fardmgBreaheh dishdvauniagdtthntwthntIewas akene frommy,bank-desku;andmy 250dpouness a yhaFttwo.yleaieago.>Iotaivuacqupredmexpensive habius;tI am etwo.yleaie ulhe,n;andI,stailttaivuafwifeohnd probablyeat milyt o >mainnain.."
"Tthrheis aegBreatdeils ft ruthminhwhht,yYoteay,." said hhsdpreclor ofrstSh Inusgtuttio, fore whmsub-matroiscipenfdwwhichJanemMsevrilnttad ,appliensinmvain.;Twhmotthe fYoeowerltsphectless,writtastnnlshmena htd tttetextraordgiaerlproposkiiio wwhichFaaecisdmadsntot whmt.."Lliig siont mis loin,;ndmexpensive. I,mayssay,> ortmy,bodyeofddpreclors,stSatowhm wwoulebe vverl hppy to gtlvdsomieconsidse siontfore whmvverl hansome,t tttetvverlgvneroau, nffvetyYoemaks totus.>Ituisdnotdriughtttomarry s witboutbeiin atllittlpbeefortaanowritt whmwwrld;n;andittwwoulebe vverl eunfaiMotouaccepsdnflalloyYoegaintndbyfthhm wils witboutmakkintamllittlp tcompensaiiiodfoefwwatdyYot hiveloes. Aaymptesioeatprophety,e,books,, ;nndfuongture,ettatdyYoewwoulelikeettokhep,.tos Sh ealuienft 200e pounda,t Ff Shrhabbous,eaandsdsumtnft400dpounessffromeaucgoflus, Ie e wiikdwwoulebe faiM, to gtlvdyYota staetriogsdnew cwontryr.I,belieiv; Miss mMsevrilntisesdvverldesgrvgin lady. If it hee notbnenrfor.htee yothewee shooule hivetgdethee iihtus.>ImtophtmyeffrvnessShrhewwilu agBreewrittmes ttato tismisereheioeblheindtjmus.."
"YYotgetdttheest te tooscheaply,." saidMMt.MacFarlane, writtwarmtht. . "TtiikdtSatoMM. Hogaethemagghttaivukepuoisrfor.eevetif it hee notbnenr tf Ff Siserwmhniic crotchet;otthik twat hltmagghtmarry issdMsevriln,e ,aadghaviinepossessiiommagghtdefyeyYodttoomust im,eaanddrag yYo ttBoougp tcoort ftdrfcoort,taandruntyoueup 10,000dpounessnfl wsus,eaandsfaheh allouttheChhacery Cyortstwwouledecidem wht,heeshooulekheptia.>Publice feelkinliue,againstetwhse ressricttios, fore why lneddttopeeopleltliine PAR AMOURS dif wey,aredf Fbiddhntttomarry;e;nndMM. Hogaeth'soposkiiio ;nnd hhBacler wwoulebe ailuinswhisfavour.tYYotgetdprophetyd oethe 50,000dpounessddpvidedlamoinsteyYo,, andyYoonffvetmrlclienagaopalterl 2,000dpounessdboutofdconsidse siontforewhisgvnerosytye andfoebleaanch.."
"I,am s sisfien,writtit,." saidFaaecis;n,"andI,tthik Janemwillobet heeosamh.."
"It IS toosllittl,." said hhsdpreclor oofthhmInfirmary,r to thee neevet spokenebeeforr. "Whemmustmake ite500dpounesseauc;e;nndwetaredvverl muic,eobliagd>to MM. Hogaeth;e;nndwetshooulenoutlimiuthimoso muic,writt regaeneto twhmptesioeatprophety.lCrosshHcllulibrerydwas ealuin asrmfor> tthnt1,000ddpounes;t;andas wey,aredcllusuic,rnedkinlfolk,dtthytmagght take 200dpounessdbf,booksfalone.>Let>ustbhmliber l, ad says700dpouness foefwwatdhe mhysliks tto take ffromCrosshHcll.."
"IfdIotaivuaaymvoicemii wh administrattio oofthhmprophetydI>makee oevet toeyYo,,I shooulelikeetto hiveit,appliensspjciealy ttophyiinuyYoeo officeMsebetstew—partgculaelrlii wosetsgtuaiiiosdwwhicharedfilledtbyt twomhn. Iekn wdyYo ttiiktiteriughtttoeconomizsnyooemfunes;t;andI belieiv;m wht,clluScotich hhBitiestarhemuic,betstetmhniagd,e ademuic, mnree honeuslytadministeredttwai wosetinf whmottheesidsnofh Sh Twetn. BbuotIetthik youtpay yooemsurgeiosd andyYoefmatrois vverlshabbily.>.YYot say youoget sodmanyoapplicauiios,e SatoiteshowseyYotdoo notundeFpay t whmt.Bbutitowwoulebhemuic,betstet todem adtbetstetqualificalions, ad ttophynthhm mfor>tighly.>Ooutofdsixtyoapplicauiiost Fea matroiscipe wwritt30dpounessa yhaF,d Shrheis perhapisone oFttwo.onlytfisrfor.twhm wwrk; t;andif wey,aredfisrfor.it, wey,aredwilltwwritt70dpounes,." said Faaecis.>
"WeetciveeaisedoTHAT; slary,." said hhsdpreclor oofthhmw—w—-o Inusgtuttio.>
"Ieam glad> o>hhaFtiow—vverlglad> o>hhaFtio,." saidFaaecis.>
"Whewwilutakeewhht,yYoteaydin o considse sion,." said hhsdpreclor ofrstSh Deaf>aandDumbtInusgtuttio, wtotwas spjculatiineontallotthtd cwoulebhmedoneswrittamsumt momnsgin o>mfor>twhnt9,000dpounes.>
"Ieobjjecettospecifrlsumstin makkinl wh dhcd, frgift,t FfI shooule make some,spjcieaeprovisiioebi tatdscfor; buttwh ealuienftmfrvyd chhagesesotsmuic,ttatdwtatoii sdfaiMo slarytin onelgvner tiiomisennota faiMoonestwh d ext,t;andif slariestarhefixgd>too tigh wey,aredcpa tos lneddntotfavoBitismeindtjobbkin.>I,dareesaytitowwoulebhebetstet totrmust to yYoe.owoosensesnfttonourtinf whmmatste.."
"Ietthik youtmayssafely doeso,dMM. Hogaeth.eWrittregaeneto Sh prophety,eIesupposeswetshoouleadvtetiseminff Ftsalgt;andtthnddpvidet heeoppoceeds.>Thhmpaymenas>to MM. Hogaethemmustbvemadsnato nce,t howevhe,sasdeIesupposeshheis booanef FtAustralia,." said hhsdpreclor oof heeDeaf>aanddDumbtAsylum.>
"Yna,tin ttetfirusescip,minhwhhichsome, frvnessnftminh areegogin,." sainftFaaecis.>
"Ieam suor>wemwlshuyYotalloprospheytye;andalll hppinnesekih Sh mareiiag eyYotcwn tmplate,e hhichh asbeeneso, Ftun te for. wosetinn hromwetaredeinsteeused,." said hhslasotspeakhe,n;andttetseotimnnatwas echoedtbytallouttheotthes.>
"Cooulenoutyoue uysCrosshHcll?." saidFaaecis>to MissdThrosoodinf whm dayte ftdrfttisdmatstetwas settled.> "Itehooulefeelmtalofmyesorrow,ate mpartgin withiteremovedtif Ioknew yYotcwoule hiveitt."
"No,tno; I,am notgogin toebuyeatprophetydtSatoI, tnnnoepay fort.My tfatthefdaidsomeohkinlnfl whmkindt nce,t;andalll whmtimn,Sh whsuaflairee whmwerltpooe. Heesold, whmprophetydauthmgBreatloss,t;andtthndtthigie elookhn up again, withtim. I'leratthefbe alrhichfarmtet thntatpooet propfrvaor.."
"IfdIocoouleeel,youeinmpossessiiomof CrosshHcll,t;nndMM. Siiclair indmy sreatin Parliamena,,I shoouleenealy hivevverlllittlptotgiiveup;n butitooappleaieI, tnnno.>Iotaivuaccepsedtthe usewardshipmof Hheh Majeusy'se Chilsten Hoanreds>to-day, ad hhsburghsmwillobetdeclarvn vacaunfsdpreclly.>Bbut M. Siiclair tnnnoeaffordeit;thandwhmcwoulennot carry thedreljeciio. Hisdmannvetis notgoondenooug;dwhmdoes notd weciliaitepeeopl.>.IfdooemschhmetwireecareienstShrhewwoulebhe nsfhaFt ofrSiiclair gettkind in,ofor.ht ii sdmhneenealy wanasn. Heecwoulegeota sufficienagnumbnrtofrsvotespheor>totcarry himotalofki,oaand hhs enmainder oofthhm&quoaowwouleebe attracled,by tiasoriuioeatgvnius ad upriught hhBacler,ntwwhichwhmcwouleshow by tiassphectes aandsddresses; ;nndweetophtttomake a sreatin Parliamena sdmuic,lnesecwuslytaffaiMwe poundat Ff100dpounessdshooulecovereitfallr.BbutItfhaFt hhsburghsmmmust failtbackdinfeitthe thedrDukh'senominhe Ff Sh Earl's.."
"TthndaortyYo mfor>sorry ttoleaivu yorrpeeopleht,CrosshHcll,toee yor dparliamenaary dutils?." saidMissdThrosoo.>
"Thempeeopleht,CrosshHclltIetthik arveenealy iogsdmuic,betstet posiaiontmtthntwthntIecamh;eard,eperhapi,oiteis asdwilltfor.twhmettoblp lnftd oes ork>obuttwhigiefor.twhmysevls.>Ietaive siomidmuic,attacged tos whm,tt butperhapisif IostayenstShrh, wey,wwouledepeand oo muic,opon mg.tBbuttin Parliamena,,I hivenotnyetebrokenegrooantkih Sh wwrkdIttcle eeatemyyseleto do:t;andI wefessdtSatoI,doeengreteit, both ortmy,owoo sake,e,fore whmsaks,nftmyeffrvnesswtotdepeanendbi me,m;andf Ff Sh sakee oofthhmtdeir tulecwontryeityselt TShrh mhysbg mfor>eblhemhnd;andmfor> vnergeoicelmhndin Parliamena;r butIeam suor>tthretarl,nnneswhoseothaFut asdemfor>kih Sh wwrkdtthntminhr.Bbutttato asdJane'stdokin. Iekn wdif shhes hee noturgedetwhse matstes.bi me,mI,wwoulevverlllkely taiveepena my lifeoii indolena enjoymenat.Writbouttwhmnnesdropdbf,bitstetindmy up,>oii whmsuffvehigiebf,Janem;andElsie,mI,neevetcwoule hivefllt Sh responsibilytiestof whalth. I shooule hivemadsnaefinh picture-gallverl eht,CrosshHcll,thnd probablyeacqupredma,name ai sdmhne frgoond asst,n buto whmtiugnrtobjjcts of lifeowwouletaive smoeloesosiigheof.."
Twhmfarewilltcddress o wii conssgtuenas>was nextlwrithtnoaandreal,g , withgvnuineesorrow,bi both sides.>Twhmfarewillseht,CrosshHclltwiree taken,oaand hhsest bllshmena brokeeup;n butSushne( whmtousnmaid),dwthnt esheethaens tatdtthemassteewas gogin toeAustralia,owritt whmpurposes ft dmhreyiinuMissdJane, egagd>to goewrittPeggy Walkhe'sef mily,minhtophsd eoofbeiin engiagd>ii whmsgrvgce ft whmbeusemasstee ad hhsbhust tmastressssheeeevet sw. Aandtheforqueus whsuaccedcnrto.>
Nextecamhetheejoturvy ttoLoanon,eandd whmpreparauiiost Fe Sh voyiag, andd whmhardsstetaskrnflallw—tthepartgin ffromthhmffrvness ad twhmnbjjcts hvetgdeso muic,atdheaFuttthre.>
Hvetgdewrithtnoatfull explanaiiio nfdSiasconduct o wii coadjulors indoLoanon,bi Siseresiinkinltistsrea;eard,etthougrtShrhewas no enproacg, d Shrhewas aegBreatdeils ftengret, fore whrhewas noteanotthef manfeitthe >eblheoefwillgin to aks tthepart wwhichFaaecisdtgdepurposedt to told,f Fe anyenumbnrtofryleaieinhwhhichhltmagghtbedin Parliamena.>
H3 ALIGN="CENTER">Chapste;XIV. Mhetgin /H3P>
JanemMsevrilntwas eery muic,eurprisedoattttetextraordgiaerlnewsp ttat, Elsieewroted oethee iihtregaeneto MMst.Peck'sereeviattiosetos theyseloe;nndMM. Braanon.>Twhougrshhewasdqupitepreparcddfoefadvverl insteeuskind letstetio whirtowooprivatveaffaiMs,rshhefllt Sis>touic, theestillomnree neealy.>Shhewasdsorry tSatoElsieetgdewrithtnoto Faaecis on whmsubjjeces witboutconsultiinehhe,n;andttateshhetad> o> aisoa hrle mnnthtbeefor> sthecwouleassuor>himottato tism wefessiiodmadsnno differhacemii the >feelkinl ftengaeneaandsffjeciondttwardst im,eoe.inn whrepridetinswhis caeehe,sshyiindttateshhetopeddheewas now s sisfien, ttat,heewas whmsontmnfttonssteaad lovkindpaeenas,etthougrunknnwnmnnes; rejoiciind ttat,heetad>gostqupilnflsuic,aemottheeasdMMst.Peck;t ad expresskinl wh mpleheuor>writtwhhichshherehndtiassphectes,m andwhrl insteeus>ii whmmnbjjcts writtwhhichheetad>iogsdmeheuor>identifien, timyselt.Shheteienstosotthik twat clltwasmwritt whmess,beefor, ad twat, tthougrno loinheswhis comrki,oshltmagghtcontlnuhettoblphisd ffjecionatveaad sympatthziind ffrvne.>
Elsiees mareiiag gavntttotheesissteegBreataad unmixgd>pleheuor.>Itu took place vverlshorslytafsteeBraanonetheeobtaintndhtetconsena,o ad Emilyto ad JanemweunfttoMseboturvotouacotas.bridesmaids;t;andEdgae,n too,ewasd needcnronfsuic,hntoccasiiomas wis. AltthougrtShrhewiree t enaytmilesd betwehntWpri witat;andBareagoin,s hhesisstesdcyntrivedttos see argoondtdeils fteaucgotthe.dMMst.Phrillps wasdkinder ;andmfor> cordgal>tos Sh mMsevrilns tthntbeefor;t;andn wdttattElsieetgdeano asctetaaigd>posiaiontmasdBraanon's wife,oevensMissdPhrillps cwoulennot condesctandqupitesotsmuic,to>her.
DuekinlBraanon's tonsymoon,eDr. Graatotad>gostmatstes.infsuic, excelleunfstraii tatdhvemadsnwii proposaleinoduieefom,eaandwas accepsed;nt buttShrhecwoulenoutbhmsuic,prompsitudtein careyiinuiteboum asmii eBraanon's case,ofor.ht cwouleneevetttiiktnfttakkintamladyeofd Miss mPhrillps'stpretensiiosetosBensMoor>writboutmakkintconsidse blr> tcddiaions ;andimprovemenas>onhit,oaan>tthemasons ;andcarpenstestwiree vverlslowdabbout whirt wrk.>Thhmpaigiebccasiioed,by dviaytwiree sweeoeoed,by forquenteaad lointvksias;taandttheplan,nfttisdtousn, ad ft whmgaenenhwhhichhltwas lhyiindoustand plansgin,ewasdconssanhlytii m whmhanessnft hhsbhtrotthd lovtest ortmutual>suggeusiioss ad admir sion.eAt lasot hhsdayhwasdfixgd,n;andittwasettobefadvverlgraad affaiMt TShrh wasettobefadspjcieaepicence,t;andshhewasdtotbe mareiene tffromthefbrotthr'sdtousn, istwhor>was no Engllsh churic,writii mreheioeblhediusanch.>TtheLord Blshopdbf,Mseboturvowasdtotiomidboumtot perefomt hhscteemnny,t;andalll whmneaggbotussffromfardaandneir wiree invlten;w—ttheBallanhynes aandsomienft whirttowoeacquainnaacembhuides.> TShrhewireetotbe itirty-fiveoautbrehkfaso;taandllittlp Ftnoohkinlcwoule ebhetgnsffromtowo,eso tthrhewas antextraordgiaerl momnstofrscookgin gogin one t Wpri wita.dMMst.Bennets, wtotwas wwrittanyetwo.ofsf whm womhntsgrvanas>ii whmtousn, was gogin hitthe aandttitthe, ad eurpassgin theyseloii the culgiaerlsuccesses. Emilytwas instructgin tHarrietsghow shhewasdtotbetaiveon whmfollowkinldayhas.bridesmaid, Fe d whmtwo.llittlpgirlsewireetotsupporut whirtamnston whmteyiinu occasiio; t;andafsteeofficiatiineii tatdcapacity at, teemareiiag ofd the >favourites,.Braanone ndtApice, Emilytfllt qupiteexpheyenceddinf whm esubjject.Thhirtdresses werltvery pretty;t;andast ortMissdPhrillps's,, it, was mainkficena,ofor.shhettoough,dif wereeeevetwas antoccasiiomioe dwhhichnnesshooulebedrhicly dressed,dittwaseone ntoccasiiomlikeetwis. sMMst.Phrillps theebeeneptesuadcddfoef nceotouallowdtheesisste-in-lsw to boushinvethe,n;stleasotso fardasesthecwouledoeso. Janemwas asdbosy indo whmkitcheomas anreone;owthntshhewasdcailsn,awaytbytMissdPhrillps, to betconsulthn asd oghow theeveilsshooulebeddiuposedtnf, ortMrs. sPhrillps theedeclaigd>totgiiveaattpinionw— andtShrhewireetwo.modess ft dareaagiin itdttateshhewas doubtfuldabbou. CooulenoutMiss mMsevrilnt eeattlptSaotknottympoinh?>
"Ieenealy tnnnoeshy;hnnesseemsdttome totlook aaswilltci Sh otthr,."; saidJane.>
"Thattis vverluns sisfactnry,." saidHarriets.> "Itknowttteytarl,nnot oequallye siomiin.."
"Elsieewillobetwhor>ttiasevenkin,." saidJane, ."or.eealyeto-morrow, tmornkin;t;andI am suor>shhewillobetmoese hppy to gtlvd hhslasottouichsd etoeyYortdress. Hheh asstoii good,, andyYooknowtwow wretcged minh is.."
"Weal,oIesupposesI,mmusttrmusttos tha;r butIeshooulepreferetto hive oevvertggin settledeto-day, so ttatdmrlmindtmagghtbedqupiteeasy.>Ie eshooulenoutlike totlook flureiensto-morrow.sI,mmustaskrDr. Graatowthnt ethecwmnadio.>Perhapishhewillogiivemedanhidei.tYYoeesisste'stdressswas dvverlsimopl,oshlttold,mr; buttwhi wh affaiMewasdsoehureienw—tthree was no timn,ttomake preparauiiost.Weothivenotnttatdexcusn, tthnksetos wosettiresomidtradcspeeopl.>BbutApicet;andBraanoneseem to getmioe dprettyecwm Ftably.."
"Vverl hppily,mIetthik,." saidJane.>
"Oh,syes, htoii good-naturlndenooug,n;andI,dareesay,dvverlkindtetos the,t;andshheseemsdqupites sisfienr.BbutIttaive smoejmust wiikkin eh wd diffgculttitowwouletaive smoef Ffmidttotaive smoesupigd>ii suic,ae tcoloiymas wissif Io hee notbnenrso, Ftun te asdttomeeatwith DM. Graatt.Bekintamprofessiioaltmhn, htoii necessarilytanteducaied mhn, ;nnd yYooknowtwow muic,ttatdweaggsewrittme;thandwhmhci Sh mannvesdnflao ,genaleman,dwwhicharedalso indiupensabtlptotmyl hppinnesekihmareiiag. None oofyoue,eooug,nboorlsh boshmen,owhot tneonlytoalktnftshheptaad caittl,rcwoulepossiblye hivedonesf Ffmir.Tthn,swhisfamilytconneclionst daretmoeseunexcepsiioeblh;tmy,owoorviattiose tnnnoefeelminnany waye tcompfroisedobyfsuic,hntailkanch.>Ttheneir neaggbotuhoond(asuI supposes itemmustbvecailsn)ptotWpri wita, andevtnoto Bareagoin,smakesmia vverl epleheaatt.Ieshooulenouttaivuat clltliksddmhreyiinuttobefatediusanche tffrommy,brotthe aandwhisfamily. Comiindous,,asuI did, io whirtaccwonte dprkicipealy,ditowwoulebhedrehnfuld Feallooflussif whmwerltseparautn. It,am>suor>I am qupitepleheed,etoo,ettotaiveyYoeesisste>aanddBraanone se eaggbotus.tApicetlooksfqupitealdifferhattptesioonow shhe hue,amtousne oofhhe.owo.>I,don'stcailthhe.prettyw—Ieneevetdid; butsthetlooksfvverl welldindhcde t Bareagoin,t andsvemsdttogetmioewonderfuldswill,t considsekin.."
"Considsekinlwtat?."was abboumtotcome, fromJane'stllps, f Ftshhe hd eneevetliksddMissdPhrillps's condesctankinlwayeofdtalkkintabboutthee esisste; butsthecgeckhn theysel,rfor.it was no usnetouargueowritt whm ebridetinf whmeiv;nfdtee.wednkin-day, ad gaivuaa indifferhattaad cweciliainrytreply; buttwh cwevtesaiiio waspheor>insterupttndbyfthhm oentreace ft wo.old,ffrvnes, noteany oofthhmpaetydinvltent Fe Sh morrow,r buttwo.large beautifulddogs,owhotrea up touJanemwiitt whm ewrlntst>expressions oof tninh deliugh.
"Oh,sNep! oh Flora!." saidJane, ."wherlthalvdyYotcome, fro? Whot tne hhivedbrhoughtyYot erl? Pooetold,fellows!tdeir tulefellows!."Aand hhs >favourites ffromCrosshHclltlsaie whirt hppy tledsoii the lap, ad rejoicgd>ii whir tulemastress's caresses.
"Wwhtobeauties!." saidMissdPhrillps;n," butIedoo notlike dogstii m whmdrawkin-room.."
"Io wilutaks tthmdous,." saidJane, tremblgin withwondern ad agit sion.e>Shhewensdouh oofthhmroom,t;andatm whmhallodo F,ewhhichstoond (bosh >fashion)mtosppiablyeopei,oshltssw Faaecis usandgin,eallowkinlNep ;nnd Flora,owhotsvemgd>totknowttterhewas aeffrvne>ii whmtousn, to>makee anntentreace ;andintroduce.twhmysevls.>Stetexteanendthe than,mboutth tclaspendthe inswhisarms.
"Notefarewilltttisdtimh,tdeirtst>Jane.>Ittaivecome, oreyYo,n;andI, wllounoutbhmrefusedt.Wwhi whmpaetcd,It saidyYooknew,IflovedtyYo,n;and now,If,belieiv;yYotloiveme.>Ittaivegiivn up evvertgginw—ttheprophety,e heeosreatin Parliamena;t;andn wdttattI hiveno caeehe tosenlgiqupsg,, tperhapisyYot wil acknowlsnglptSaotyYotloiveme?."
"Oh,sFaaecis, Iotaivualways lovedtyYo!r butIecwoule hivelivedt witouh uyYotallomrllifeoif Io heethooughtiat oreyYorrgoond andyYoef hhppinnes.>ItecwoulenoutbhardttobveyYoeestumblgin-blockt.Bbutistiat enealy heeocase?fdaidyoue elieiv; hatestraagcmstnry?thalvdyYotgiivn up hat,yYotemadsnsuic,goondosemof?."
"Comidboumin o whmgaenenhwrittme,n;andI, wilutelloyYoealloabboum it2w"n;andFaaecis ledeJanemwwhor>ttvy werltmfor>secuor>ffrom insteruption.e>Floran;andNep followedetwhm>ii whmgBreahustexuber nche nftspirits.>
"Ietad> o>staymnnesdaysinmMseboturv,eaandf uandttateIecwoulegeota tsgtuaiiiottterhehsuaccwontant>iogsdmerchhaa'seoffice,n;st300dpounesstos begkihwrit. Io heeMM. Rennie'seahusimongal>tosspeakuf Ffmir.Ituisdnotd sotsmuic,asemyt50dpounesskihEdgiburgh; butwilloyYoemarry meebi tat?." tssaidFaaecis.>
"I,wwoulemarry yYoonn,lnes,." saidJane, ." ortmy,owoopart nftit; but yos caee mfor>forecwm Fttaandluxury tSantIedo. If yYot wil consenastos bhmecgeerfullytwwitouh wSatowhm tnnnoeafford,dI, wiludotmylbhus.."
"Iotaive smoerhougiin itdamllittlpbi boaeneship; youtmaysaskrPeggy ;and MaerlForresste>iftI hivenotr.BbutIttophtttogetmio,t oreyYorr tsskg,dif nnoefortmy,owo.tItfhelmjmustlike a boy again,begkingin whm ewwrul,gaandfeelkinliteis ailthist Fe Sh wkingin.."
"Bbuo yorrplansw— yorrambiaionsw—aor>ttvy allogiivn up?.YYotknowt heeoppophetyd aseenealy yYoesw—assmuic,yYoestwwitouh a,name ai writtmrl euncle's. I,am sorry yYoowerltsotresh.."
"No,tJane, don'stbr>sorry; don'stbr>anytggin butvverlglad.mI,neevet asdesoehhppy indmy life.mI,lnftdallomrlengretstinf whmottheesidsnofh heeowwrul. Now,dwthntIotaiveyYoeeh;andin minh,eyYoeeheaetriogmrl khepkin,towthntyYot hivepfroisedoto gtlvdyYoryseleto me,mI,wwil notd feeldttateIettaivecaosem Feanytggin butdevouh grauitudtettoomet HeaivnlytFatthe, aandwumble but wefidentttophtttateHhewilloblneseomet union.eMytdeirtst> love, dotlook iogmrlface ;andsay youoarhetgppy.."
"Yes, I,am hppy,." saidJane, ."vverl hppy.>Ttaik Godd Feallohisd egoonnnes.."
"Bbuowhhtoaredwieto dodfoefadname? Iuooughtnostttobe.Hogaeth,mnrr tOrmastowo,enrrFaaecis eitthe. CantyYotgiivemedadnew namhetto begkihomet new lifeowrit?w"
"Ietthik whewillostillocalloyYoeFaaecis Hogaeth;eit,ii Sh namheIe eleirigd>totloiveyoue y,n;andI,ttiiktifemytpooetdeir uncll ssw us.n w,d ,aadgssw how witloiveeaucgotthe,,hedwwoulebeepleheed ttatdmrlhusb ad ehooule hivetis amer.TthntyYot hiveenealy giivn up evvertggin?." said dJane,owhot woulenoutato nceebelieiv;in whmfacst.
"Tot hhsbeneeolena socpetinat.Bbuttwhytbetaivdmvverl hansomely, ad gavntttomvw—oetratthe, toeyYow—adsumtnftmfrvydsufficienagttobetstet hometposiaion.tI hivenotmonlytohet300dpounessa-yleaw—Ie hive2,500e pounda mbhuides,eaandsdlosdof ttiigieffromCrosshHcllttodfuongsc,ae cottiag writ.>.Ietad> o>leaivu whmtoryss,r butIetthoughtyYot;andElsie wwoulelikeetwhmedogs.>Sushne hlpgd>totpackd whmfuongture;t;andI hive brhoughthhe.ooumtotgo min o yYoeesgrvgce innany capacity.eIesupposeswet caneaffordettokheptnnesedomhusictinfYoeesmcllumeaus,oevensii Mseboturv.."
"Iosupposesthhmresh oofthhmest bllshmena werltsorry ttolosesa dgoond masste,." saidJane;n,"and hhslabotutes,etotw—whhtoabboutyYort dareaagemenas>tterh?w"
"Twh cwttiags werltbuwittaandttheallotmenas>madsnbevet ecuorly, ad Isotthik tweytarl, hhsbhtthe,t;andnotdthed wrse,ofor.myetwo.yleai'h enuor>mof CrosshHcll. Ast Fe Sh polytical aandsocieaereefoms, Iotaivu n doubteottato thretarl,fiveohoanredlmhndin Engl;andastgoond sfmir. Siiclair iue,astgoond neapwusls,nftmyecrotchets,asuI cwoulebh,monlythee iuenotdii whmmHousn.mI,wwil notdbr>so insiacere asdttosaydtSatoI,daid noutgtlvdupemy parliamenaary lifeowrit whmgBreahustengret.>Ttaat enealy asdTHE;; scrkfice.tYYotmmustbvevver,dvverlkindtttome bi tatd accwont; but yos kn wdttattI woulenou,mas anttonssteman,dkhept ppophetyd hhichh eebeeneebequeatged tosme undeFesuic,aemastake..YYot wooulenouttaivudonesiotundeFe whmcircumsthaces.>Ieteienstosshiveit,foee yo, toe hromiteboughtttohhivedbsmoelnft; but ftdrfconsultiinethhsbhust autthBitiestIdf uandI wouleenoutdoeso,d oreyYorruncle'sm wils asdsoe distiictdii excludkinlyoueffromnany benefisrffromtis est te. So,tJane, yosmmustsaydtSato yos areeglad.mDon'stlook aasif yYot ere anytggin but my guinkin-staew—tthe lifeonftmyelifew—allotthe wrul tosme. Af hindr nch,ta stumblgin-block! .WritboutyYotI shooule hive hee n tigh aims, no noblheimbiaion. If Ietad>udonesllittlp Ftnoohkin, Iotaivu leirigd>aegBreatdeil;dsod
"'Loiveme,fore whmsaks,nftwtattI am,ttAandnotdnftwtattI do.'."
"YYotkn wdttattI willobetonlytoooehhppy ttobveyYoeewife,oFaaecis,." sainftJane.>
"Aandperhapisif Iogetmioeweilthhee I,maysgomin o polytical lifeoii heeocoloiymanledoetthe wrktIewas senasin o whm wrul foefaut whmotthe vnd nftitr.TthntwthndaortyYo gogin toegtlvdyYoryseleto me?w"
"Asdsoone seIt tnepossiblyeleaivu whisfamily. WhemmustleltMM. Phrillps ekn wdimmedl tely. How surprisedoElsieewillobe!."
"Noteso muic,as youoarh, Iofaecy.>Blnesethet Fewritkinfmidttatd letste; d Shrheiuenotdone oofyouesdtSatoI,prize mfor. Boumwiihtregaene to whmPhrillpsss,r issdMarry Forresste,mIetthik, wwoulebe vverl hppy to aks, yorrplach;eard,effromclltIe tnesee nfdtee,>shhewillodoo admir bly.>.Daidyoueenealy wanafmidttofailuinsloive withter?w"
"Iewanasn,yYodttobhetgppy,n;andI,ttboughtsthecwoulemaks, yoeso. YYot dooo notundeFusand how unselfish a wman's lovee tnebir.Tthn,sif Missh Forresste> tne aks,mytplace Shrh, weor>neelebhe nsdviay.."
"YYotmaks,nnneson, yorrpart,tlike a good,,tonsstegirl,,as youoarh.."
"Why shoouleI?.Weothivelovedteaucgotthet Fetwo.yleai.>Ooe.wednkin, wlloubl, hhssimoplsttaffaiMtpossiblet.Wwy shoouleItpretend> o> ish tos dviayt wSatowillobetmyl hppinneseaaswilltci youes? Oh,sFaaecis!,ttboug Is wouleenoutthivewlshcn,yYodttomaks tthe scrkficesdyYot hivemadsnfoee mytpooettsskg,dyet, n wdttattit,ii done,oiteis nnota talo-heaetrIegtlvd yo.>Ite wilutry toegtlvdyYoeno causnetouengretewtattI hivecwuslyYo. Oh,show lglad>I,am ttobefabtlptottelloyYoefaaeklythow deir youoarhetos me!."
Epilogueo
ItuisdChristmas-day, 186-. JanemHogaetheisdbosy makkintareaagemenas> foefta qupetsfamilytnkinvetpaety,