-;,.I'- i LIBRAIY OF SELECT NOVELS. l-OR Eu Ni (II~ 9..'.l. ~ N0.,''~j i( ~ M V " ~'~. ~ I. _"-S'L" LIBRARY SELECTNOEAUTHOR OF >.' HIARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, 0 9Xi i A N IFRANKL TN SQUARE. ig ~ir 9.75 ents ^^ I:'-xU lu TALL THE WORKS IN THIS SERIES ARE r.,'.U i..abrid.ed and Unaltered. ~ id='~, By JOHN LOTHROP MOTLEY. JOHN OF BARNEVELD. Life d Death of 7ohn of'Barneveld,Advocate of Holland. With a View of the Primary Cazfes & Movements of the "Thirty Years' War." By JOHN LOTHROP MOTLEY, LL.D., D.C.L. With Illufirations. In Two Volumes. 8vo, Cloth, $7 oo; Sheep, $8 oo; alf Calf, Extra, $II 50. A NEW EDITION OF A NEW EDITION OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC. THE UNVITED IVETHERLANDS. The Rise of the Dutch Republic. A History. History of the United Netherlands: from the By JOHN LOTHROP MOTLEY, LL.D., D.C.L. Death of William the Silent to the Twelve With a Portrait of William of Orange. 3 Years' Truce. With a full view of the Envols., 8vo, Cloth, $io 50; Sheep, $I2 oo;. glish-Dutch Struggle against Spain, and of Half Calf, Extra, $I7 25.. the Origin and Destruction of the Spanish Armada. By JOHN LOTHROP MOTLEY, Mr. Motley's work is an important one, the result T of profound research, sincere convictions, sound prin- LL.D., D.C.L. Portraits. 4 vols., 8vo., ciples, and manly sentiments: and even those who Cloth, $I4 00; Sheep, $I6 oo; Half Calf, are most familiar with the history of the period will Extra 23 00. find in it a fresh and vivid addition to their previous ~knowledge. It does honor to American literature, This story Mr. Motley has narrated with increase of and would do honor to the literature of any country his old brilliancy, power, and success. In its episodes in the world.-Edinburg h-Review. and other by-ways the story is as glowing, nervous, It belongs to a class of works in which we range and interesting as in the main details of the marvelour Grotes, Milmans, Merivales, and Macaulays, as the os contest.-Athenem. glories of English literature in the department of his- Mr. Motley, the American historian of the United tory. Noenconfor'rist. Netherlands-we owe him English homage. —London The best contribution to modern history that has Times. yet been made by an American.-~Methodist Quarterly Fertile as the present has been in historical works Review. of the highest merit, none of them can be ranked above A serious chasm in English historical literature has these volumes In the grand qualities of interest, accubeen (by this book) very remarkably filled. * * A his- racy, and truth-Edinburgh Review. tory as complete as industry and genius can make it This noble work.- Westminster Review. now lies before us, of the first twenty years of the Re- One of the most fascinating, as well as important volt of the United Provinces. * * * All the essentials of histories of the century.- Correspondence N. Y. Evening a great writer Mr. Motley eminently possesses. His Post. mind is broad, his industry unwearied.'In power of Mr. Motley's prose epic.-London Spectator. dramatic description no modern historian, except, per- His living and truthful picture of events.-London haps, Mr. Carlyle, surpasses him, and in analysis of Quarterly Review. character he is elaborate and distinct.-Westminster His history is as interesting as a romance, and as Rlevieuw. - reliable as a proposition of Euclid. Clio never had a To the illustration of this period Mr. Motley has more faithful disciple. We advise every reader whose brought the matured powers of a vigorous and brilliant means will permit to become the owner of these fas~ mind, and the abundant fruits of patient and judicious cinating volumes, assuring him that he will never restudy and deep reflection. —North American IReview. gret the investment.-Christian Intelligencer. PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK. - = HARPER & BROTHERS will send either of the above works by mail, -vJte prepaid, to any part of the United States, on receipt of the price. Novels are sweets. All people with healthy literary appetites love them-almost all women; a vast number of clever, hard-headed men. Judges, bishops, chancellors, mathematicians, are notorious novel readers, as well as young boys and sweet girls, and their kind, tender mothers.-W. M. TLUAOaIR.AY, in Roundabout Papers. I -ARPEIIR'S LJIBRAX'Y, qlarper's Select Library of Fiction rarely includes a work which has not a decided charm, either from the clearness of the story, the significance of the theme, or the charm of the execution; so that on setting out upon a journey, or providing for the recreation of a solitary evening, one is wise and safe in procuring the later numbers of this attractive series.-Boston 2ranscript. PRIOE PlIOE 1. Pelham. By Bulwer...................... 75 53. Wvoming.................................... 50 2. The Disowned. By Bulwer............. 75 54. De lohai.. By Se....................... 50 3. Devereux. ByBulwer.................... 50 55. Self. By tle Author of "Cecil"..... 7 4. Paul Clifford. By Buler............... 50 56. The Smuggler. By James.............. 75 5. Eugene Aram. By Bulwer............. 50 57. The Breach of Promise.................. 50 6' TheLast Days ofPompeii. ByBuhver 50 58.Parsonage of Mora. ByMiss Bremer 25 7. The Czarina. By Mrs. Hofland........ 50 59. A Chance Medley. By T. C. Grattan 50 8. Rienzi. By Bulwer........................ 75 60. The White Slave..........................1 00 9. Self-Devotion. By Miss Campbell..... 50 61. The Bosom Friend. By Mrs. Grey.. 50 10. The Nabob at Home........................ 50 62. Amaury. By Dumas.................. 50 11. Ernest Maltravers. By Bulwer......... 50 63. The Author's Daughter. By Mary 12. Alice; or, The Iysteries. By Bulwer 50 IIowitt....................... 25 13. The Last of the Barons. By Bulwer. l 00 6. Onlya Fiddler! &c. By Andersen,... 50 14. Forest Days. By James.................. 50 65.'he Whiteboy. By Mrs. Hall........ 50 15. Adam Brown, the Merchant. By H. 6(. The Foster-Brother. Edited by Leigh Smith............................. 50 Hunt........................................ 50 16. Pilgrims of the Rhine. By Bulwer..... 25 67. Love and Mesmerism. By H. Smith. 75 17. The Home. ByMiss Bremer.......... 50 68. Ascanio. By Dumas.................... 75 18. The Lost Ship. By Captain Neale..... 75 69. Lady of Milan. Edited by Mrs. 19. The False Heir. By James............ 50 Thomson.................................. 75 20. The Neighbors. By Miss Bremer...... 50 70. The Citizen of Prague................... 00 21. Nina. By Miss Bremer.................. 50 71. The Royal Favorite. By Mrs. Gore. 50 22. The President's Daughters. By Miss 72. The Queen of Denmark. ByMrs. Gore 50 Bremer..................................... 25 73. The Elves, &c. By Tieck............... 50 23. The Banker's Wife. By Mrs. Gore.... 50 74, 75. The Step-Mother. By James.....1 25 21. The Birthright. ByMrs. Gore.......... 25 76. Jessie's Flirtations...................... 50 25. New Sketches of Every-day Life. By 77. Chevalier d'Harmental. By Dumas. 50 Miss Bremer.............................. 50 78. Peers and Parvenus. By Mrs. Gore. 50 26. Arabella Stuart. By James.............. 50 79. The Commander of Malta. By Sue.. 50 27. The Grumbler. By Miss Pickering.... 50 80. The Female Mister..................... 50 28. The Unloved One. By Mrs. Hofland. 50 81. Emilia Wyndham. By Mrs. Marsh. 75 29. Jack of the Mill. By William Howitt. 25 82. The Bush-Ranger. 1By Charles Row30. The Heretic. ByLajetchnikoff......... 5 croft..............................50 31. The Jew. By Spindler............... 75 83.. The Chronicles of Clovernook......... 25 32. Arthur. By Sue......7...................... 75 84. Genevieve. By Lamartine............. 25 33. Chatsworth. By Ward.................... 50 85. Livonian Tales............................. 25 34. The Prairie Bird. By C. A. Murray.1 00 86. Lettice Arnold. By Ms. Marsh....... 25 35. Amy Herbert. By Miss Sewell......... 50 87. Father Darcy. By Mrs. Marsh........ 75 36. Rose d'Albret. By James................. 50 88. Leontine. By Mrs. Maberly........... 50 37. The Triumphs of Time. By Mrs. Marsh 75 89. Heidelberg. By James.................. 50 38. The EH Family. By Miss Bremer 50 90. Lucretia. By Bulwer.................... 75 39. The Grandfather. Bv MissPickering. 50 91. Beauchamp. By James................. 75 40. Arrah Neil. By James................... 50 9, 9. Fortescue. By Knowles............ 00 41. The Jilt........... 50 93. DanielDennison,&c. ByMrs. Hofland 50 42. Tales from the German................... 50 95. Cinq-Mars. By De Vigny.............. 50 43. Arthur Arundel. By H. Smith.......... 50 96. Woman's Trials. By Mrs. S.C. Hall 75 44. Agincourt. By James................... 50 97. The Castle of Ehrenstein. By James 50 45. The regent's Daughter..................... 50 98. Marriage. By Miss S. Ferrier......... 50 46. The Maid of Honor....................... 0 99. Roland Cashel. By Lever..............1 25 47. Safia. By De Beauvoir................... 50 100. Martins of Cro' Martin. By Lever...1 25 48. Look to the End. By Mrs. Ellis........ 50 101. Russell. ByJame................... 49. TheImprovisatore. Byndersen....... 50 102.A Simple Story. By Mrs. Inchbald.. 50 50. The Gambler's Wife. By Mrs. Grey... 50 103. Norman's Bridge. By Mrs. Marsh...' 50 51. Veronica. By Zschokke................. 50 1.04. Alamance............................. 50 52. Zoe. By Miss Jewsbury................ 50 10. lMargaret Graham. By James......... 25 2 HZarper's Library of Select Novels. 106. The Wayside Cross. ByE.H. Milman.$ 25 171. Ivar'; or, The Skjuts-Boy. By Miss 107. The Convict. By James............ 50 Carlen................... i...................$ 50 108. Midsummer Eve. By Mrs. S.C. Hall 50 172. Pequinillo. By James..............:..... 50 109. Jane Eyre. By Currer Bell............ 75 173. Anna Hammer. By Temme........... 50 110, The Last of the Fairies. By James.. 25 174. A Life of, Vicissitudes. By James... 50 111. Sir Theodore Broughton. By James 50 175. Henry Esmond. By Thackeray....... 50 112. Self-Control. By Mary Brunton...... 75 176, 177. My Novel. By Bulwer...........1 50 113, 114. Harold. By Bulwer...............1 00 178. Katie Stewart.............................. 25 115. Brothers and Sisters. ByMiss Bremer 50 179. Castle Avon. By Mrs. Marsh......... 50 116. Gowrie. By James...................... 50 180. Agnes Sorel. By James............. 50 117. A Whim and its Consequences. By 181. Agatha's Husband. By the Author of James.50 "Olive.......................... 50 118. Three Sisters and Three Fortunes. 182. Villette. By Currer Bell................ 75 By G. 11. Lewes......................... 75 183. Lover's Stratagem. By Miss Carlen. 50 119. The Discipline of Life.................... 50 184. Clouded Happiness. By Countess 120. Thirty Years Since. By James........ 75 I'Orsay.................................... 50 121. Mary Barton. By Mrs. Gaskell....... 50 185. Charles Auchester. A Memorial...... 75 122. The Great Hoggarty Diamond. By 186. Lady Lee's Widowhood................. 50 Thackeray............................... 25 187. -Dodd Family Abroad. By Lever....1 25 123. The Forgery. By James............... 50 188. Sir Jasper Carew. By Lever.......... 75 124. The Midnight Sun. By Miss Bremer 25 189. Quiet Heart................................. 25 125,'126. The Caxtons. ByBulwer........ 75 190.Aubrey., By Mrs. Marsh............... 75 127. Mordaunt Hall. By Mrs. Marsh......50 191. Ticonderoga. By James................ 50 128. My Uncle the Curate..................... 50 192. Hard Times. By Dickens.............. 50 129. The Woodman. By James............ 75 193. The Young Husband. By Mrs. Grey 50 130. The Green Hand. A "Short Yarn" 75 194:. The Mother's Recompense.'By Grace 131. Sidonia the Sorceress. By Meinhold 1 00 Aguilar................................... 75 132. Shirley. By Currer Bell................1 00 195. Avillion, &c. By Miss Mulock........1 25 133.'The Ogilvies............................... 50 196. North and South. By Mrs. Gaskell. 50 134. Constance Lyndsay. By G. C. H..... 50 197. Country Neighborhood. ByMiss Du135. Sir Edward Graham. By Miss Sinclair. 1 00 puy.................................... 50 136. Hands notHearts. By Miss Wilkinson. 50 198. Constance Herbert. ByMissJewsbury. 50 137. The Wilmingtons. By Mrs. Marsh.. 50 199. The Heiress of Haughton. By Mrs. 138. Ned Allen. By D. Hanny............ 50 Marsh............................ 50 139. Nightand Morning. By Bulwer...... 75 200. The Old Dominion. By James.. 50 140. The Maid of Orleans...................... 75 201. John Halifax. By the Author of 141. Antonina. By Wilkie Collins..........50 "Olive," &c............................... 75 142. Zanoni. By Bulwer...................... 50 202. Evelyn Marston. By Mrs. Marsh.... 50 143.' Reginald Hastings. By Warburton.. 50 203. Fortunes of Glencore. By Lever..... 50 144. Pride and Irresolution.................... 50 2014. Leonora d'Orco. By James............ 50 145. The Old Oak Chest. By James..... 50 205. Nothing New. By Miss Mulock...... 50 146. Julia Howard. By Mrs. Martin Bell. 50 206. The Rose of Ashurst. By Mrs. Marsh 50 147. -Adelaide Lindsay. Edited by Mrs. 207. The Athelings. ByMrs. Oliphant.... 75 Marsh...................................... 50 208. Scenes of Clerical Life.................... 75 148. Petticoat Government. ByMrs. Trol- 209. My Lady Ludlow. By Mrs. Gaskell. 25 lope......................................... 50 210 1. Gerald Fitzgerald. By Lever... 50 149. The Luttrells. By F. Willianis....... 50 212. A Life for a Life. By Miss Mulock.. 50 150.' Singleton Fontenoy, R.N. By Hannay 50 213. Sword and Gown. By Geo. Lawrence 25 151. Olive. BytheAuthor of "Thegilvies" 50 214. Misrepresentation. ByAnnaH.Drury. 1 00 152. Henry Smeaton. By James........... 50 215. The Mill on the Floss. ByGeorgeEliot 75 153.' Time, the Avenger. By Mrs. Marsh. 50 216. Oneof Them. By Lever............... 75 154. The Commissioner. By James.......1 00 217. A Day's Ride. By Lever.............. 50 155. The Wife's Sister. By Mrs. Hubback 50 218. Notice to Quit. By Wills.............. 50 156. The Gold Worshipers..................... 50 219. A Strange Story...........................1 00 157.' The-Daughter of Night., By Fullom. 50 220. Brown, Jones, and Robinson. By 158. Stuart of Dunleath. By lion. Caro- Trollope.................................... 5C line Norton................................. 50 221. AbelDrake's Wife. ByJohn Saunders 75 159.' ArthurConway. ByCapt.E.H.Milman 50 222. Olive Blake's Good Work. By J. C. 160. The Fate. ByJames............... 50 Jeaffreson................................. 75 161. The Lady and the Priest. By Mrs. 223.. The Professor's Lady.25 Maberly.................................... 50 224. Mistress and Maid. ByMiss Mulock 50 162. Aims and Obstacles. By James...... 50 225. Aurora Floyd. By M. E. Braddon.. 75 163. The Tutor's Ward......................... 50 226. Barrington. By Lever.................. 75 164. Florence Sackville. By Mrs. Burbury 75 227. Sylvia's Lovers. By Mrs. Gaskell.... 75 165. Ravenscliffe. ByMrs. Marsh.......... 50 228. A First Friendship.. 50 166. Maurice Tiernay. By Lever...........1 00 229. ADark Night'sWork. ByMrs. Gaskell 50 167. Tile Head of the Family. By Miss 230. Countess Gisela. By E. Marlitt....... 25 Mulock..................................... 75 231. St. Olave's. By Eliza Tabor............ 75 168. Darien. By Warburton................. 50 232. A Point of Honor.................. 50 169. Falkenburg.............................. 75 233. Live it Down. By Jeaffreson........1 00 170. The Daltons. By Lever................1 50 234. Martin Pole. By Saunders............. 50 Harper's Library of Select Novels. 3 PRIaE PaREl 235. Mary Lvndsay. By-Lady Ponsonby.$ 50 292. Raymond's Heroine....................... 50 236. Eleanor's Victory. ByM. E. Braddon 75 293. Mr.Wynyard'sWard. By Holme Lee. 50 237. Rachel Ray. By Trollope...............50 294. Alec Forbes. By George Macdonald 75 238. John Marchmont's Legacy. By M., 295. No Man's Friend. By F.W. Robinson. 75 E. Braddon............................... 75 296. Called to Account. By Annie Thomas 50 239. Annie Warleigh's Fortunes. By 297. Caste......................................... 50 Holme Lee........................ 75 298. The Curate's I)iscipline. ByMrs. Eiloart 50 240. The Wife's Evidence. By Wills...... 50 299. Circe. By Babington White........... 50 241. Barbara's History. By Amelia B. 300. The Tenants of Malory. By J. S. Le Edwards.................................. 75 Fanu........................................ 50 242. Cousin Phillis............................. 25 301. Carlyon's Year. By James Payn..... 25 243. WhatWillHeDoWithlt? BvBulwer. 1 50 302. The Waterdale Neighbors............... 50 244. The Ladder of Life. By Amelia B. 303. Mabel's Progress.................... 50 Edwards................................... 50 304. Guild Court. By Geo. Macdonald... 50 245. Denis Duval. By Thackeray.......... 50 305. The Brothers' Bet. By Miss Carlen. 25 246. Maurice Dering. By Geo. Lawrence 50 306. Playing for High Stakes. By Annie 247. Margaret Denzil's History............... 75 Thomas. Illustrated................... 25 248. QuiteAlone. By George Augustus Sala 75 307. Margaret's Engagement.................. 50 249. Mattie: a Stray........................... 75 308. One of the Family. By James Payn. 25 250. My Brother's Wife. By Amelia B. 309. Five Hundred Pounds Reward. By Edwards................................... 50 a Barrister................................. 50 251. Uncle Silas. ByJ. S. LeFanu....... 75 310. Brownlows. By Mrs. Oliphant........ 38 252. Lovel the Widower. By Thackeray.. 25 311. Charlotte's Inheritance. Sequel to 253. Miss Mackenzie. ByAnthony Trollope 50 "Birds of Prey." By MissBraddon 50 254. On Guard. By Annie Thomas......... 50 312. Jeanie's Quiet Life. By Eliza Tabor. 50 255. Theo Leigh. By Annie Thomas...... 50 313. Poor Humanity. By F. W. RIobinson 50 256. Denis Doone. By Annie Thomas.... 50 314. Brakespeare. By Geo. Lawrence..... 50 257. Belial......................................... 50 315. A Lost Name. By J. S. Le Fanu.... 50 258. Carry's Confession........................ 75 316. Love or Marriage? By W. Black.... 50 259. MissCarew. ByAmeliaB. Edwards. 50 317. Dead-Sea Fruit. By Miss Braddon. 260. Hand and Glove. By Amelia B. Ed- Illustrated................................. 50 wards.................................... 50 318. TheDowerHouse. ByvAnnie'Thomas 50 261. Guy Deverell. By J. S. Le Fanu.... 50 319. The Bramleighs of Bishop's Folly. By 262. Half a Million of Money. By Amelia Lever....................................... 50 B. Edwards............................... 75 320. Mildred. By Georgiana M. Craik.... 50 263. The BeltonEstate. By A. Trollope... 50 321. Nature's Nobleman. - By the Author 264. Agnes. By Mrs. Oliphant.............. 75 of "Rachel's Secret"................... 50 265. Walter Goring. By Annie Thomas.. 75 322. Kathleen. By the Author of "Ray266. MaxwellDrewitt. ByMrs.J.H.Riddell 75 mond's Heroine..................... 50 267. TheToilers oftheSea. ByVictorHugo 75 323. That Boy of Norcott's. By Chas.Lever 25 268. MissMarjoribanks. By Mrs.Oliphant. 50 324.. In Silk Attire. By W. Black......... 50 269. True History of a Little Ragamuffin. 325. Hetty. By Henry Kingsley............ 25 By James Greenwood.................. 50 326. False Colors. By Annie IThomas..... 50 270. Gilbert Rugge. By the Author of "A 327. Meta's Faith. By Eliza Tabor......... 50 First Friendship"........................1 00 328. Found Dead. By James Payn........ 50 271. Sans Merci. By Geo. Lawrence...... 50 329. Wrecked in Port. By Edmund Yates 50 272. Phemie Keller. ByMrs. J. H. Riddell 50 330. The Minister's Wife. iByMrs.Oliphant 75 273. Land at Last. By Edmund Yates.... 50 331. A Beggar on Horseback. By Jas.Payn 35 274.. Felix Holt, the Radical. By Geo. Eliot. 75 332. Kitty. By M. Betham Edwards...... 50 275. BoundtotheWheel. ByJohn Saunders 75 333. Only Herself. ByAnnie Thomas.... 50 276. All in the Dark. By J. S. Le Fanu. 50 334. Hirell. By John Saunders............. 50 277. Kissing the Rod. By Edmund Yates 75 335. Under Foot. By Alton Clyde......... 50 278. The Race for Wealth. By Mrs. J. H. 336. So Runs the World Away. By Mrs. Riddell........................ 75 A. C. Steele.............................. 50 279. Lizzie Lorton of Greyrigg. ByMrs. 337. Baffled. By Julia Goddard............ 75 Linton.................................... 75 338. Beneath the Wheels...................... 50 280. The Beauclercs, Father and Son. By 339. Stern Necessity. By F. W. Robinson 50 C. Clarke........................ 50 340. Gwendoline's Harvest. ByJamesPayn 25 281. Sir Brook Fossbrooke. By Chas. Lever 50 341. Kilmeny. By William Black.......... 50 282. Madonna Mary. *By Mrs. Oliphant. 50 342. John: ALove Story. ByMrs.Oliphant 50 283. CradockNowell. ByR.D.Blackmore. 75 343. True to Herself. By F. W. Robinson 50 284. Bernthal. From the German of L. 344. Veronica. By the Author of "MaMuhlbach.................................. 50 bel's Progress"........................ 50 285. Rachel's Secret....................... 75 345. A Dangerous Guest. By the Author 286. TheClaverings. ByAnthonyTrollope. 50 of "Gilbert Rugge"..................... 50 287. The Village on the Cliff. By Miss 346. Estelle Russell............................... 75 Thackeray....................... 25 347. The Heir Expectant. By the Author 288. Played Out. By Annie Thomas...... 75 of "Raymond's Heroine".............. 50 289. Black Sheep. By Edmund Yates..... 50 348. Which is the Heroine?................... 50 290. Sowing theWind. ByE.Lynn Linton. 50 349. The Vivian Romance. By Mortimer 291. Nora and Archibald Lee................. 50 Collins...................................... 50 4 Harper's Library of Select Novels. PRICE PRICE 350. In Duty Bound. Illustrated.......... 50 395. TheNewMagdalen. ByWilkieCollins.$ 50 351. The Warden and Barchester Towers. 396. "'He Cometh Not,' She Said." By By A. Trollope..................... 75 Annie Thomas.......................... 50 352. From Thistles-Grapes? By Mrs. 397. Innocent. ByMrs.Oliphant. Illustrated 75 Eiloart..................................... 50 398. Too Soon. By Mrs. Macquoid........ 50 353. A Siren. By T. A. Trollope........... 50 399. Strangers and Pilgrims. By Miss 354. Sir Harrv Hotspur of Humblethwaite. Braddon.......,......................... 75 By Anthony Trollope. Illustrated... 50 400. A Simpleton. By Charles leade..... 50 355. Earl's Dene. By R. E. Francillon.... 50 401. The Two Widows. By Annie Thomas 50 356. Daisy Nichol. By Lady Hardy........ 50 402. Joseph the Jew............... 50 357. Bred in the Bone. By James Payn.. 50 403. Her Face was Her Fortune. By F. 358. Fenton's Quest. By Miss Braddon. W. Robinson...... 50 Illustrated................................ 50 404. A Princess of Thule. ByW.llack. 75 359. Monarch of Mincing-Lane. By W. 405. Lottie Darling. ByJ. C. Jeaffreson. 75 Black. Illustrated...................... 50 406. The Blue Ribbon. By Eliza Tabor. 50 360. A Life's Assize. By Mrs. J. H. Riddell 50 407. Iarry Heathcote of Gangoil. By An361. Anteros. By the Author of "Guy thony Trollope........................... 25 Livingstone".......................... 50 408. Publicans and Sinners. By Miss M. 362. HerLord and Master. By Mrs. Ross E. Braddon.............. 75 Church..................................... 50 409. ColonelDacre. ByAuthor of"Caste" 50 363. Won-Not Wooed. By James Payn 50 410. Through Fire and Water. By Fred364. For Lack of Gold. By Chas. Gibbon 50 erick Talbot..............2............... 25 365. Anne Furness.............................. 75 411. Lady Anna. By Anthony Trollope. 50 366. A Daughter of Ieth. By W. Black. 50 412. Taken at the Flood. By Miss Braddon. 75 367. Durnton Abbey. By T. A. Trollope. 50 413. At Her Mercy. By James Payn.... 50 368. Joshua Marvel. By B. L. Farjeon... 40 414. Ninety-Three. By Victor Hugo...... 25 369. Lovels of Arden. By M. E. Braddon. 415. For Love and Life. By Mrs. Oliphant. 75 Illustrated........................ 75 416. Doctor Thorne. ByAnthonyTrollope. 75 370. Fair to See. By L. W. M. Lockhart. 75 417. The Best of Husbands. By Js. Payn. 50 371. Cecil's Tryst. By James Payn........ 50 418. Sylvia'sChoice. ByGeorgianaM.Craik 50 372. Patty. By Katharine S. Macquoid... 50 419. ASackofGold. ByMissV.W. Johnson 50 373. Maud Mohan. By Annie Thomas.... 25 420. Squire Arden. By Mrs. Oliphant.... 75 374. Grif. By B. L. Farjeon................. 40 421. Lorna Doone. By B. D. Blackmore. 75 375. A Bridge of Glass. By F.W. Robinson 50 422. Treasure Iunters. By Geo. M. Fenn. 40 376. Albert Lunel. By Lord Brougham.. 75 423. Lost for Love. By Miss Braddon.... 75 377. A Good Investment. ByWm. Flagg. 50 424. Jack's Sister. By Miss Dora Havers. 75 378. A Golden Sorrow. ByMrs. Cashel 425. Aileen Ferrers. By Susan Morley.... 50 Hoey.................................... 50 426. TheLove thatLived. By Mrs.Eiloart. 50 379. Ombra. By Mrs. Oliphant............ 75 427. In Honor Bound. By Charles Gibbon. -50 380. Hope Deferred. By Eliza F. Pollard 50 428. Jessie Trim. By B. L. Faijeon...... 50 381. The Maid ofSker. By R.D.Blackmore 75 429. Hagarene. By George A. Lawrence. 75 382. For the King. By Charles Gibbon... 50 430. Old Myddelton's Money. By Mary 383. A Girl's Romance, and Other Tales. Cecil Hay................................. 50 By F. W. Robinson................ 50 431. At the Sign of the Silver Flagon. By 384. Dr. Wainwright's Patient. By Ed- B. L. Farjeon............................. 40 mund Yates............................... 50 432. A Strange World. By Miss M. E. 385. APassioninTatters. ByAnnieThomas 75 Braddon.................................. 75 386. A Woman's Vengeance. By Jas. Payn. 50 433. Hope Meredith. By Eliza Tabor..... 50 387. The Strange Adventures of a Phaeton. 434. The Maid of Killeena, and Other By William Black....................... 75 Stories. ByWilliam Black.......... 50 388. To the Bitter End. By Miss Braddon. 75 435. The Blossoming of an Aloe. By Mrs. 389. Robin Gray. By Charles Gibbon..... 50 Cashel Hoey.............................. 50 390. Godolphin. By Bulwer................ 50 436. Safely Married. By the Author of 391. Leila. By Bulwer........................ 50 "Caste "................................... 50 392. Kenelm Chillingly. By Lord Lytton. 75 437. The Story of Valentine; and his 393. The Hour and the Man. By Harriet Brother................................. 75 Martineau.............................. 50 438. OurDetachment. By KatharineKing. 50 391. Murphy's Master. By James Payn... 25 439. Love's Victory. By B. L. Farjeon.... 25 - HARPER & BROTHERS will send their zvorks by mail, postage prepaid, to any par of the United States, on receipt of the price. ~'I-,-^ //c-{ /9. S A Tale of tl)e suttl) QotonE. BY R. D. BLACKMORE, AUTHOR OF "CRADOCK NOWELL," "THE MAID OF SKER," "LORNA DOONE," &c. NEW YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE. I875. R. D. BLACKMORE'S NOVELS. CRADOCK NOVVELL. 8vo, Paper, 75 cents. This is a clever novel, decidedly original in style and There are some excellent descriptions of forest scenery, mode of treatment; it is amusing, too, and the reader who and a storm at sea, with the wreck of a ship, which are once fairly enters upon it will hardly fail to read it through. very powerfully given.-A tlIenaunt, London. THE MAID OF SKER. 8vo, Paper, 75 cents. It is so full of scenes of interest and power that it will such masters of fiction as Scott, Thackeray, and George seize and hold the attention of the laziest reader. Its Eliot.'One can say of "The Maid of Sker" what Charfreshness, originality, and beauty will give the most jaded lotte Bronte said of " Ranthorpe," by George H. Lewesnovel-reader a new sensation, and impart a new pleasure "I have read a new book; not a reflection of any other to persons of taste and culture, who enjoy and appreciate book, but a new book." —Boston Transcript. LORNA DOONE. 8vo, Paper, 75 cents. The reader at times holds his breath, so graphically yet so is a work of rare excellence, and as such we heartily simply does John Ridd tell his tale. * i -* "Lorna Doone " Icommend it to the public."-Szaturday Review, London. ALICE LORRAINE. 8vo, Paper, 75 cents. PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHE RS, NEW YORK. 3r HARPER & BROTHERS will send either of the above works by mail, postage prepaid, to lny part of the United States, on receipt of the price. A TALE OF THE SOUTH DOWNS. toward the end of the third bar down, are CHAPTER I. two considerable nicks, where the shortW7tESTWARD of that old town Steyning, legged children from the village have a sad V Y and near Washington and Wiston, the habit of coming to think. Here, with their lover of an English landscape may find much fingers in their mouths, they sit and think, to dwell upon. The best way to enjoy it is and scrape their heels, and stare at one anto follow the path along the meadows, under- other, broadly taking estimate of life. Then, neath the inland rampart of the Sussex hills. with a push and scream, the scramble and the Here is pasture rich enough for the daintiest rush down hill begin, ending (as all troubles sheep to dream upon; tones of varied green should) in a trackless waste of laughter. in stripes (by order of the farmer), trees as However, it might be too much to say for a portrait grouped, with the folding hills that the cleverest child beneath the hills, behind, and light and shadow making love or even the man with the license to sell tea, in play to one another. Also, in the breaks coffee, snuff, and tobacco, who now comes of meadow and the foot-path bendings, stiles looking after them, finds any conscious pleaswhere love is made in earnest, at the proper ure, or feels quickening influence from the time of year, with the dark-browed hills im- scene. To them it is but a spread of meadposing everlasting constancy. ows under a long curve of hill, green and Here no man, however lame he may be mixed with trees down here, brown and from. the road of life, after sitting awhile spotted with furze up there; to the children and gazing, can deny himself to be refreshed a play-ground; to their father an acreage, and even comforted. Though he hold no inspected with no other view than glances commune with the heights so far above him, at its rental. neither with the trees that stand in quiet So it is: and yet with even those who audience soothingly, nor even with the flow- think no more of it, the place, if not the ers still as bright as in his childhood, yet to scenery, has its aftermath of influence. In himself he must say something-better said later times, when sickness, absence, or the loss in silence. Into his mind, and heart, and of sight debars them, men will feel a deep soul, without any painful knowledge, or the impression of a thing to long for. To be noisy trouble of thinking, pure content with longed for with a yearning stronger than his native land and its claim on his love are mere admiration, or any limner's taste can entering. The power of the earth is round form. For he, whatever pleasure rises' at him with its lavish gifts of life -bounty the beauty of the scene, loses it by thinking from the lap of beauty, and that cultivated of it; even as the joy of all things dies in. glory which no other land has earned. the enjoying. Instead of panting to rush abroad and be But to those who there were born (and lost among jagged obstacles, rather let one never thought about it), in the days of age stay within a very easy reach of home, and or ailment, or of better fortune even in a spare an hour to saunter gently down this brighter climate, how at the sound of an meadow-path. Here in a broad bold gap ancient name, or glimpse of faint resenof hedge, with bushes inclined to heal the blance, or even on some turn of thought unbreach, and mallow-leaves hiding the scar traced'and unaccountable, again the hills of chalk, here is a stile of no high pretense, and valleys spread, to aged memory more and comfortable to gaze from. For hath it true than ever to youthful eyesight; again not a preface of planks, constructed with the trees are rustling in the wind as they deep anatomical knowledge, and delicate used to rustle; again the sheep climb up the study of maiden decorum? And lo! in brown turf in their snowy zigzag. A thouspite of the planks-as if to show what hu- sand winks of childhood widen into one clear man nature is-in the body of the stile itself, dream of age. 12 ALICE LORRAINE. FCHAPTER -I.- was rising over breadths of corn in grant to them, and sheep and cattle tended by their How came that old house up there V" is villeins, once the owners. Each congratulagenerally the first question put by a Lon- ted the other upon tranquil seizin, and the doner to his Southdown friend leading him good-will of the neighborhood; when sudthrough the lowland path. "It must have denly their way was stopped by a score of a noble view; but what a position, and what heavy Englishmen. an aspect!" These, in their clumsy manner, sued no fa"The house has been there long enough vor, nor even justice; only to be trodden to get used to it," is his host's reply; " and down with fairness and show of reason. it is not built, as they are where you live, of "Ye shall be trodden all alike," De Braoso the substance of a hat." shouted fiercely, having learned a good deal That large old- fashioned house, which of English from the place he lived in; " clods looks as if it had been much larger, stands are made to be trodden down. Out of my just beneath the crest of a long-backed hill road, or I draw my sword!" in a deep embrasure. Although it stands so The men turned from him to Sir Roland, high, and sees much less of the sun than the who was known to be kind of heart. pole-star, it is not quite so weather-beaten " Ye do the wrong thing to meet me thus," as a stranger would suppose. It has some he answered, in his utmost English; "the little protection, and a definite outline for thing-that is to say, I hearken, but not its grounds, because it was built on an old with this violence." and extensive settlement of the chalk; a Speaking thus he spurred his horse, and thing unheeded in early times, but now very the best of the men made way for him. But popular and attractive, under the name of one of them had an arrow straining on the " land-slip." Of these there are a good many cord, with intent to shoot-as he said to the still to be traced on the sides of the Sussex priest at the gallows-De Braose, and him hills, caused (as the learned say) by the only. As the two knights galloped off, he shifting of the greensand, or silt, which gen- let his arrow, in the waning of the light, fly erally underlies the more stable chalk. Few, after them; and it was so strongly sped that however, of them are so strongly marked it pierced back-harness, and passed through and bold as this one, which is known as the reins of Roland de Lorraine. Thus he'"Coombe Lorraine." It is no mere depres- died; and his descendants like to tell the sion or irregular subsidence, but a perpen- story. dicular fall, which shows as if a broad slice It is not true, although maintained by dehad been cut out from the chine to the base scendants of De Braose, that he was the man of the highland. who was shot, and the knight who ran away Here, in the time of William Rufus, Ro- Sir Roland. The pious duties rendered by land de Lorraine, having a grant from him, the five brave monks from F6camp were for or from the Conqueror, and trusting the soil the soul of Sir Roland, as surely as the arto slide no more, or ignorant that it had ever row was for the body of De Braose. But slidden, built himself a dwelling-place to after eight hundred years almost, let the keep a lookout on his property. This abode, benefit go between them. no doubt, was fitted for warlike domesticity, Whichever way this may have chanced, in being founded in the fine old times when ev- an age of unsettled principles, sure it is that ery gentleman was bound to build himself a the good knight died either then or aftercastle. ward. Also that a man was hanged at a It may have been that a little jealousy of spot still shown in his behalf, and that he his friend, De Braose (who had taken a larger felt it such an outrage on his sense of jusgrant of land, although he was of newer race, tice, after missing his proper shot, that even and had killed fewer men than Sir Roland), now he is often seen, when the harvest-moon led this enterprising founder to set up his is lonely, straining a long-bow at something, tower so high. At any rate, he settled his but most careful not to shoot. Penates so commandingly, that if Bramber These, however, are mere legends, whereCastle had been in sight, he might have with we have naught to do. And it would looked down its chimneys as freely as into have been better not to rouse them up from his villein's sheep-cots. Bramber Castle, slumber, if it could have been shown withhowever, happened to be round the corner. out them how the house was built up there. This good knight's end, according to the Also one may fairly fancy that a sweet and tradition of the family, was not so thorough- gallant knight may have found his own ly peaceful as a life of war should earn. One vague pleasure in a fine and ample view. gentle autumnal evening, Sir Roland and his Regarding which matter, we are perhaps a friend and neighbor, William de Braose, were little too hard on our ancestors; presuming riding home to a quiet supper, both in ex- that they never owned such eyes as ours for cellent temper and spirits, and pleasant con- scenery," because they knew the large imtempt of the country. The harvest-moon possibility of describing it, ALICE LORRAINE. 13 CHAPTER III. Now whether from purity of descent, or special mode of selection, or from living so WHETHER his fathers felt, or failed to see, long on a hill with northern consequences, the beauty beneath their eyes, the owner of or from some other cause to be extracted by this house and land, at the time we have to philosophers from bestial analogies - anyspeak of, deserved and had the true respect how, one thing is certain: these Lorraines of all who dwelt below him. were not, and had not for a long time been, It is often said that no direct descendant, at all like the rest of the world around bred from sire to son, still exists, or at any them. It was not pride of race that made rate can show that he has right, to exist, them unambitious, and well content, and from any knight, or even cook, known to difficult to get at; neither was it any other have come with the Conqueror. The ques- ill affection to mankind. They liked a good tion is one of delicacy, and therefore of deep man, when they saw him; and naturally so feeling. But it must be owned, in: candor, much the more as:it became harder to find upon almost every side, that there are peo- him. Also, they were very kind to all the pie, here and there, able to show something. poor people around them, and kept well in The present Sir Roland Lorraine could show with the church, and did whatever else is as much in this behalf as any other man in comely. But long before Sir Roland's time, England. Here was the name, and here the all Sussex knew, and was content to know, place; and here the more fugitive being man, that, as a general rule, "those Lorraines still belonging to both of them. went nowhere." Whether could be shown or not the strict Neighbors who were conscious of what red line of lineage, Sir Roland Lorraine was we must now begin to call. " co- operative the very last man likely to assert it. He origin," felt that though themselves could had his own opinions on that all-important claim justices of the peace, high: sheriffs, subject, and his own little touches of feeling and knights of the shire among their kin, when the matter came into bearing. His yet they could not quite climb over that pride was of so large a nature that he sel- romantic bar of ages which is so deterrent dom couldbe proud. He had his pleasant perhaps because it is so shadowy. Neither vein of humor about almost every thing, did they greatly care to press their company wholly free from scoffing, and most sensi- upon people so different from themselves, tive of its limit. Also, although he laid no and so; unlikely to admire them. But if any claim to any extensive learning or especial- one asked where lay the root of the differly accurate scholarship, his reading had been ence which so long had marked the oldfamvarious, and his knowledge of the classics ily on the hill, perhaps no one, least of all had not been allowed to fade away into any of the Lorraines themselves, could have misty memory. given the proper answer. Plenty of other Inasmuch as he added to these resources folk there were who held aloof from pubthe farther recommendations of a fine ap- lic life. Simplicity, kindness, and ciivalry pearance and gentle manners, good position might be found, by a man with an active and fair estates, it may be supposed that Sir horse, in other places also: even a feeling Roland was in strong demand among his as nearly akin as our nature admits to conneighbors for all social purposes. He, how- tempt of money at that time went on someever, through no petty feeling or small ex- where. How, then, differed these Lorraines clusiveness, but from his own taste and lik- from other people of equal rank and like ings, kept himself more and more at home, habits with them? and in quietude, as he grew older. So that Men who differ from their fellows seem, ere he turned sixty years, the owner of by some law of nature, to resent and disCoombe Lorraine had ceased to appear at claim the difference. Those who are proud, any county gatherings, or even at the hos- and glory in their variance from the common pitable meetings of the neighborhood. type, seldom vary much from it. So that in His dinner-party consisted only of himself the year of grace 1811, the mighty comet and his daughter Alice. His wife had been that scared the world, spreading its tail dead for many years. His mother, Lady over good and bad, overhung no house less Valeria, was still alive and very active, but conscious of any thing under its roof peculhaving numbered fourscore years, had at- iar than the house of Coombe Lorraine. tained the right of her own way. By right With these Lorraines there had been a or wrong, she had always contrived to en- tradition (ripened, as traditions ripen, into a joy that special easement; and even now, small religion), that a certain sequence of though she lived apart, little could be done Christian names must be observed, whenwithout her in the household management. ever allowed by Providence, in the heritage. Hilary, Sir Roland's only son, was now at These names in right order were Roland, the Temple, eating his way to the bar, or Hilary, and Roger; and the family had long feeding for some other mischief; and Alice, believed, and so had all their tenants, that a the only daughter living, was the baronet's certain sequence of character, and the events favorite companion, and his darling. which depend upon character, might be ex 14 ALICE LORRAINE. pected to coincide with the succession of began to talk again. The only trouble, to these names. The Rolandswere alwayskind- her knowledge, which her father had to deal ly proud, fond of home and of all their peo- with, was the unstable and romantic characple, lovers of a quiet life, and rather deep ter of young Hilary. This he never discussthan hot of heart. A Hilary, the next of ed with her, nor even alluded to it; for that race, was prone to the opposite extremes, would have been a breach of the law in all though still of the same root-fibre. Sir Hil- duly-entailed conservatism, that the heir of ary was always showy, affable, and roman- the house, even though a fool, must have his tic, eager to do something great, pleased to folly kept sacred from the smiles of inferior give pleasure to every body, and leaving his members. Now Hilary was not at all a fool; children to count the cost. After him there only a young man of large mind. ought to arise a Roger, the savior of the Knowing that her father had not any bad race; beginning to count pence in his cra- news of Hilary, from whom he had received ile, and growing a yard in common sense a very affectionate letter that morning, Alfor every inch of his stature, frowning at ice was sorely puzzled, but scarcely ventured every idea that was not either of land or to ask questions; for in this savage island, money, and weighing himself and his bride then, respect was shown and reverence felt and most of his principles, by Troy-weight. by children toward their parents; and she, although such a petted child, was full of _ —----- these fine sentiments. Also now in her seventeenth year, she knew that she had outCHAPTEPR IV. grown the playful freedoms of the babyhood, but was not yet established in the dignity UPON a very important day, as it proved of a maiden, much less the glory of womanto be, in his little world, the 18th of June, hood. So that her sunny smile was fading 1811, Sir Roland Lorraine had enjoyed his into the shadow of a sigh, when, instead of dinner with his daughter Alice.: In those laying her pretty head on her father's shouldays men were not content to feed in the der, she brought the low chair and favorite fashion of owls, or wild ducks, who have cushion of the younger times, and thence lain abed all day. In winter or summer, at looked up at him, hoping fondly once more Coombe Lorraine, the dinner-bell rang at to be folded back into the love of childhood. half-past four, for people to dress; and again Whatever Sir Roland's trouble was, it did at five, for all to be down in the drawing- not engross his thoughts so much as to make room. And all were sure to be prompt him neglect his favorite. He answered her enough; for the air of the Southdown hills wistful gaze with a smile, which she knew is hungry, and Nature knew what the de- to be quite genuine; and then he patted her mand would be, before she supplied her best curly hair, in the old-fashioned way, and mutton there. kissed her forehead. When the worthy old butler was gone at Lallie, you look so profoundly wise, I last, and the long dark room lay silent, Alice shall put you into caps after all, inspite of ran up to her father's side, to wish him, over your sighs, and tears, and sobs. A head so a sip of wine, the good old wish that sits so mature in its wisdom must conform to the lightly on the lips of children. wisdom of the age." "Darling papa, I wish you many happy, "Papa, they are such hideous things! and happy returns of the day, and good health you hate them as much as I do. And only to enjoy them." the other day you said that even married Sir Roland was sixty years old that day; people had no right to make such frights of and being of a cheerful, even, and pleasant, themselves." though shy temperament, he saw no reason "Married people have a right to please why he should not have all the bliss invoked one another only. A narrow view, perhaps, on him. The one great element in that hap- of justice; but-however, that is different. piness now was looking at him, undeniably Alice, you never will attend when I try to present and determined to remain so. teach you any thing." His quick glance told that he felt all Sir Roland broke off lamely thus, because this; but he was not wont to show what he his child was attending, more than himself, felt; and now he had no particular reason to what he was talking of. Like other men, to feel more than usual. Nevertheless he he was sometimes given to exceed his meandid so feel, without knowing any reason, ing; but with his daughter he was always and turned his eyes away from hers, while very careful of his words, because she had he tried to answer lightly. lost her mother, and none could ever make This would not do for his daughter Alice. up the difference. She was now in that blush of time, when'Papa!" cried Alice, with that appealing every thing is observed by maidens, but ev- stress upon the paternity which only a pet ery thing is not hinted at. At least it used child can throw, "you are not at all like to be so then, and still is so in good places. yourself to-day." Therefore Alice thought a little before she "My dear, most people differ from them ALICE LORRAINE. 15 selves, with great advantage. But you will "Alice, you are a little too bad. I know never think that of me. Now let me know what a very good girl you are; but still your opinion as to all this matter, darling." you ought to try to think. When you were Her father softened off his ending sudden- only two years old, you looked as if you ly thus, because he saw the young girl's eyes were always thinking." begin to glisten, as if for tears, at his strange "So I am now, papa; always thinkingnew way. how to please you, and do my best." "What matter, papa? The caps? Oh Sir Roland was beaten by this, because he no; the way you are now behaving. Very knew the perfect truth of it. Alice already well, then, are you quite sure you can bear thought too much about every thing she to hear all you have done amiss?" could think of. Her father knew how bad "No, my dear, I am not at all sure. But it is, when the bright young time is clouded I will try to endure your most heart-rending over with unseasonable cares; and often he exaggerations." had sore misgivings, lest he might be keep" Then, dear papa, you shall have it all. ing his pet child too much alone. But she Only tell me when to stop. In the first only laughed whenever he offered to find place, did you, or did you not, refuse to have her new companions, and said that her cousHilary home for your birthday, much as you ins at the rectory were enough for her. knew that I wanted him? You confess that "If you please, papa," she now broke in you did. And your only reason was some- upon his thinking, "how long will it be thing you said about Trinity term, equally before you begin to tell me this beautiful incomprehensible. In the next place, when story?" I wanted you to have a little change to-day, "My own darling, I forgot; I was thinkUncle Struan for dinner, and Sir Remnant, ing of you, and not of any trumpery stoand one or two others —" ries. But this is the very day of all days "My dear, how could I eat all these? to sift our little mystery. You have oftThink of your uncle Struan's size." en heard, of course, about our old astrol" Papa, you are only trying now to pro- oger." yoke me, because you can not answer. You "Of course I have, papa —of course! And know what I mean as well as I do, and per- with all my heart I love him. Every thing haps a little better. What I mean is, one the shepherds tell me shows how thoroughly or two of the very oldest friends and rela- good he was." tions to do what was nice, and help you to "Very well, then, all my story is about get on with your birthday; but you said, him, and his deeds." with unusual ferocity,' Darling, I will have " Oh papa, then do try, for once in your none but you l'" life, to be in a hurry. I do love every thing "Upon my word, I believe I did! How about him; and I have heard so many wonderfully women-at least I mean how things." children astonish one, by the way they " o doubt you have, my dear; but pertouch the very tone of utterance, after one haps of a somewhat fabulous order. His has forgotten it!" mind, or his manners, or appearance, or at "I don't know what you mean, papa. any rate something seems to have left a And your reflection seems to be meant for lasting impression upon the simple folk hereyourself, as every thing seems to be for at abouts." least a week, or I might say " "Better than a pot of money: an old " Come, Lallie, come now, have some mod- woman told me the other day it was better eration." than a pot of money for any body to dream " Well, then, papa, for at least a fortnight. of him." I will let you.off with that, though I know "It would do them more good, no doubt.. it is much too little. And when you have But I have not had a pinch of snuff to-day. owned to that, papa, what good reason can You have nearly broken me, Alice; but still you give for behaving so to me-me —me, you do allow me one pinch when I begin to as good a child as ever there was?" tell you a good story." Can' me, me, me,' after living through "Three, papa; you shall have three now, such a fortnight of mortification-the real and you may take them all at once; because length of the period being less than four you never told such a story, as I feel sure it hours, I believe -can she listen to a little is certain to be, in all the whole course of story without any excitement?" your life before. Now come here, where the "Oh papa, a story, a story! That will sun is setting, so that I may watch the way make up for every thing. What a lovely you are telling every word of it; and if I pleasure! There is nothing I love half so ask you any questions you must nod your much as listening to old stories. I seem to head, but never presume to answer one of be living my old age over, before I come to them, unless you are sure that it will go on any age. Papa, I will forgive you every without interrupting the story. Now, papa, thing, if you tell me a story." no more delay." 16 ALICE LORRAINE. CHAPTER V. process. And so it happened to this good prince; not that he cared so very much about THE LEGEND OF THE ASTROLOGER. little trifles that might attract the eye of Two hundred years before the day when taste and the hand of skill, but that he could Alice thus sat listening, an ancestor of hers not (even with the aid of all the stars) find had been renowned in Anatolia.: The most any thing too valuable to be stolen. Hence, accomplished and most learned prince in all as his daughter, Artemise, grew to the fulllesser Asia was Agasicles Syennesis, descend- ness of young' beauty, he thought it wise to ed from Mausolus (made immortal by his raise the most substantial barrier he could mausoleum), and from that celebrated king, build betwixt her'and the outer world. Syennesis of Cilicia. There had been, af- There happened to be in that neighborter both these were dead, and much of their hood then an active supply of villains. Of repute gone by, creditable and happy mar- this by no means singular fact the prince riages in and out their descendants, at a lit- might well assure himself, by casting his eyes tie over, and a little under, twenty-two cen- down from the stars to the narrow bosom of turies ago; and the best result and issue of his mother earth. But whether thus or othall these was now embodied in Prince Agas- erwise forewarned of local mischief, the-Caicles. rian prince took a very strong measure, and The prince was not a patron only, but also even a sacrilegious one. In or about the an eager student, of the more recondite arts year of our reckoning, 1606, he walled off his and science then in cultivation. Especially daughter, and other goods, in a certain penlie had given his mind to chemistry (inciud- insula of his own, clearly displayed in our ing alchemy), mineralogy, and astrology. maps, and as clearly forbidden to be either Devoting himself to these fino subjects, and trenched or walled by a Pythia skilled in many others, he seems to have neglected an- trimeter tone, who seems to have been a thropology; so that in his fiftieth year he lady of exceptionally clear conservatism. was but a lonesome bachelor. Troubled at The prince, as the sage of the neighborthis time of life with many expostulations hood, knew all about this prohibition, and -genuine on the part of his friends, and that it was still in force, and must have emphatic on that of his relatives-he held acquired twenty-fold power by the lapse of a long interview with the stars, and taking twenty centuries; and as the sea had retheir advice exactly as they gave and meant treated a little during that short period, it it, married a wife the next afternoon, and was evident that Jove had been consistent (so far as he could make out) the right one. in the matter. " He never meant it for an This turned out well. His wife went off, on island, else he would have made it one." the occasion of her first confinement, leaving Agasicles therefore felt some doubt about the him with a daughter, born A.D. 1590, and all piety of his proceeding, retaining as he did, women pronounced her beautiful. in common with his neighbors, some respect The prince now spent his leisure time in for the classic gods. His respect, however, thought and calculation. He had almost for the stars was deeper, and these told him made his mind up that he was sure to have that young Artemise was likely to be run a son; and here was.his wife gone; and how away vith by some bolld adventurer. A pencould he risk his:life:,again so? Upon the insula was the very thin'gto suit his purpose, whole, he made up his mind that matters and none could be fairer or snugger than might have been wvorse, although they ought this of his own, the very- site of ancient to have been much better, and that he must Cnidos, whereof Venus once vas queen. thank the stars, and not be too hard upon Undeterred by this local affection, or even any one; and so he fell to at his science the warnings of Delphi, the learned prince again; and studied almost every thing. exerted himself, and by means of a tidy hedge In that ancient corner of the world, old of paliureandaspalathus made the five stades Caria, the fine original Leleges looked up to of isthmus proof against even thick-trowthe prince, and loved him warm1ly, and were sered gentlemen, a fortiori against the naready by night or day to serve him, or to tives all unendowed with pantaloons. Neirob him. They saw that now was the finest ther might his fence be leaped by any of the chance (while he was looking at the stars, roving horsemen- Turks, Cilicians, Pamwith no wife to look out for him) for them phylians, Karamanians, or reavers from the to do their duty to their families by robbing chain of Taurus. him; and this they did with honest comfort, This being fixed to his satisfaction, with and a sense of going home in the proper a couple of sentries at the gate, and one way to go. at either end, prompt with matchlocks, and Prince Agasicles, growing older, felt these above all, the young lady inside provided troubles more and more. As a general rule, with many proverbs, Prince Agasicles set a man growing older has a more extensive forth on a visit to an Armenian sage reputed knowledge that he must be robbed of course; to be as wise as himself almost. With him and yet he scarcely ever seems to recon- he discussed Alhasen, Vitellio, and their own cile himself with maturing wisdom to the contemporary, Kepler, and spent so many ALICE LORRAINE. 17 hours aloft, that on his return to his native enly bodies happened, and eclipsed this nebplace he discovered his own little oversight. ulous world of women. This was so very simple that it required at In a few years' time he began to get presleast a sage and great philosopher to cor- ents, eatable, drinkable, and good. Gradualmit it. The learned man appears to have ly thus he showed his wisdom, by foregoing forgotten that the sea is navigable. So it petty wrath; and when he was summoned chanced that a gay young Englishman, cruis- to meet a star, militant to his grandson, he ing about in an armed speronera among the could not help ordering his horse. gEgean islands, and now in the Carpathian sea, hunting after pirates, heard of this East- ern Cynosure, and her walled seclusion. This of course was enough for him. Land- CHAPTER VI. ing under the promontory where the CnidiZ! s > 1.. 1 1 THE LEGEND OF THE ASTROLOGER. an Venus stood, he fell, and falling dragged another, into the wild maze of love. ALTHOUGH this prince knew so much more Mazed they seemed of course, and nearly of the heaven above than the earth beneath, mad no doubt to other folk. To themselves, he did not quite expect to ride the whole of however, they were in a new world altogeth- the way to England. At Smyrna he took er, far above the level and the intellect of ship, and after some difficulties and dangers, the common world. Artemise forgot her landed at Shoreham, full of joy to behold his pride, her proverbs, and pretensions; she four grandchildren, who proved to be five by had lost her own way in the regions of a the time he saw them. The Sussex roads higher life; and nothing to her was the same were as bad as need be, and worse than could as it had been but yesterday. Heart and be anywhere else; but the sturdy oxen set soul, and height and depth, she trusted her- their necks to drag through all things, thick self to the Englishman, and even left her or thin; and the prince stuck fast to his jewels. coach, as firmly as the coach stuck fast with Therefore they two launched their bark him. Having never seen any roads before, npon the unknown waters; the damsel with he thought them a wonderful institution, her heart in tempest of the filial duties shat- and though misled, by the light of nature tered, and the fatherland cast off, yet for the to grumble at some of his worst upsets, a main part anchored firmly on the gallant little reflection led him softly back into fluke of love; the youth in a hurry to fight contentment. A mind "irretrievably anaa giant, if it would elevate him to her. lytic" at once distinguished wisdom's eleArtemise, with all her rashness, fared ment in the Sussex reasoners. much better than she deserved for leaving "Gin us made thase hyur radds gooder, an adoring father the wrong side of the volk'ood be radin' down droo'em avery dai, quickset hedge. The bold young mariner a'most! The Lard in heaven never made happened to be a certain Hilary Lorraine, radds as cud ever baide the work, if strannheir of that old house or castle in the South- gers cud goo along, wi'out bin vorced to zit down coombe. Possessed with the advent- down. and mend'un." urous spirit of his uncles, the famous Shirley When this was interpreted to his highbrothers, he had sailed with Raleigh, and ness, he was so struck with its clear sound made havoc here and there, and seen almost sense, and logical sequence, that befell back, as muchl of the world as was good for him- and for the rest of his journey admired the self or it. grandeur of English character. This sentiEnlarged ly travel, he was enabled to sup- ment, so deeply founded, was not likely to press rude curiosity about the wishes of the ba impaired by further acquaintance with absent prince; and deferring to a better sea- our great nation. For more than a twelveson the pleasure of his acquaintance, he made month Prince Agasicle's made his home in all sail with the daughter on board, as set England, and many of his quaint remarks forth already; and those two were made abode on Sussex shepherds' tongues for geninto one, according to the rites of the old erations afterward, recommended as they Greek Church, in the classic shades of Ida. were by' the vantage of princely wisdom; And to their dying day it never repented for he picked up quite enough of the laneither of them —mlch. guage to say odd things as a child does, and When the prince returned, and found no with a like simplicity. With this difference, daughter left to meet him, he failed for a however, that while the great hits of the litshort time to display that self-command tie ones, by the proud mother chronicled, are upon which he had for years been wont to the lucky outbursts of happy inexperience, plume himself. But having improved his the old man's sage words were the issue of condition of mind by a generous bastinado unhappy experience. of servants, peasants, and matchlock-men, Nevertheless he must have owned a genial he found himself reasonably remounting nature still at work. For he loved to go into the sphere of pure intellect. In a night down the village-lane, when the wind was or two an interesting conjunction of heav- cold on the highland, and there to wait at a 18 ALICE LORRAINE. cottage door till the children came to store er temperature. Great things were pending at him. And soon these children had cour- in the heavens, which might be quoted as age to spy that, in spite of his outlandish pious excuse for a little human restlessness. dress, pockets were about him, and they The prince with his implements always whispered as much to one another, while ready, either in his lantern-chamber, or at their eyes were testing him. At other times his favorite spot of the hills, according to when the wind was soft, and shadows of the weather, grew more and more impatient gentle clouds were shed in chase of one an- daily for the sun to be out of the way, and other, this great man who had seen the more and more intolerant every night of any world, and knew all the stars hanging over cloudiness. Self-perplexed, downcast, and it-his pleasure was to wander in and out moody (except when for a few brief hours of the ups and downs and nooks of quaint- a brighter canopy changed his gloom into a ly-plaited hills, and feast his eyes upon their nervous rapture), he wasted and waned away verdure. After that, when the westering in body, as his mind grew brighter. After light was spreading the upland ridge with the hurried night, he dragged his faint way gold, and the glades with gray solemnity, home in the morning, and his face of exhaustthis man of declining years was well con- ed power struck awe into the household. No tent to lean on a bank of turf, and watch one dared to ask him what had happened, or the quiet ways of sheep. Often thus his why he looked so; and he like a true phimind was carried back to the land of child- losopher kept all explanations to himself. hood, soothed as in his nurse's arms by na- And then he started anew, and strode, with ture's peace around him. And if his dreams his Samian cloak around him, over the highwere interrupted by the crisp fresh sound est and darkest and most lonesome hill, out of browsing, and the ovine tricks as bright of people's sight. as any human exploits, he would turn and One place there was, which beyond all do his best to talk with the lonely shep- others suited his purposes and his mood. herds. A well-known landmark now, and the scene These, in their simple way, amused him, of many a merry picnic, Chanctonbury Ring with their homely saws, and strange con- was then a lonely spot imbued with terror tent, and independence; and he no less de- of a wandering ghost - an ancient ghost lighted them by unaccustomed modes of with a long white beard, walking even in speech, and turns of thought beyond their the afternoon, with its head bowed down in minds, and distant wisdom quite brought search of something-a vain search of cenhome. Thus, and by many other means, turies. This long-sought treasure has now this ancient prince, of noble presence, and been found; not by the ghost, however, but of flowing snow-white hair, and vesture un- by a lucky stroke of the plowshare; and the disgraced by tailors, left such trace upon spectral owner roves no more. He is supthese hills, that even his ghost was well posed, with all the assumption required to believed to know all the sheep-tracks after- make a certainty, to have been a tenant on ward. Chancton Manor, under Earl Gurth, the Pleased with England, and with English brother of Harold, and being slain at Hasscenery and customs, as well as charmed tings, to have forgotten where his treasure with having five quite baby stars to ephem- lay. erize, this great astrologer settled to stay in The Ring, as of old, is a height of vantage our country as long as possible. He sent his for searching all the country round with a trusty servant, Memel, in a merchant-ship telescope on a breezy day. It is the salient from Shoreham to fetch his implements and point and foreland of a long ridge of naked papers, precious things of many kinds, and hills, crowned with darker eminence by a curiosities long in store. Memel brought all circle of storm - huddled trees. But when these quite safe, except one little thing or the astrologer Agasicles made his principal two, which he accounted trifles; but his night- haunt here, the Ring was not overmaster was greatly vexed about them. hung with trees, but only outlined by them; The prince unpacked his goods most care- and the rampart of the British camp (if such:fully in his own eight-sided room, allowing it were) was more distinct, and uninvaded none but his daughter to help him, and not by planters. So that here was the very too sure about trusting her. Then forth he place for a quiet sage to make his home, set for a real campaign among the stars of sweeping a long horizon and secure from inthe Southdowns-and supper-call and break- terruption. To such a citadel of science, fast-bell were no more than the bark of a dog guarded by the fame of ghosts, even his to him. And thus he spent his nights, alas! daughter Artemise, or his trusty servant forgetful of the different clime, under the cold Memel, would scarcely dare to follow him; stars, when by rights he should have been much less any of the peasants, who, from under the counterpane. the lowland, seeing a distant light, crossed This grew worse and worse, until toward themselves; for that fine old custom flourthe middle of the month of June, A.D. 1611, ished still among them. Therefore, here his mind was altogether much above its prop- his tent was pitched, and here he spent the ALICE LORRAINE. 19 nights in gazing, and often the days in corn- came home rather hot, and very tired, and putation, not for himself but for his descend- fain for a little sleep, if such there were, to ants; until his frame began to waste, and wear out weariness. But still he had heavy his great dark eyes grew pale with it. work left for that night; as a mighty comet had lately appeared, and scared the earth abundantly; yet now he had two or three hours to spare, and they might as well be CHAPTER VII. happy ones. Therefore he sent for his daughter to come, and see to his food and THE LEGEND OF THE ASTROLOGER. TILE~ LEGEND OF' THE ASTROLOGER. such like, and then to sit with him some ARTEMISE, and all around the prince, had few minutes, and to watch the sunset. been alarmed of late by many little symp- Artemise, still young and lovely, knew of toms. He always had been rashly given to course, from Eastern wisdom, that woman's take no heed of his food or clothes; but now right is to do no wrong. So that she came he went beyond all that, and would have no at once when called, and felt as a mother one take heed for him, or dare to speak of ought to feel, that she multiplied her obethe matter much. Hence, without listening dience vastly, by bringing all her children. to any nonsense, all the women were sure of Being in a soft state of mind, the old man one thing-the prince was wearing himself was glad to see them all, and let them play away. with him as freely as childhood's awe of The country people who knew him, and white hair allowed. Then he laid his hand loved him with a little mystery, said that it upon Roger, the heir of the house, and blesswas no wonder he should worry himself, for ed him on his way to bed; and after that being so long away from home, in manners, he had his supper, waited on by Artemise, and in places also. " Sure it must be a tri- who was very grateful for his kindness to at for him; out all night in the damp and her children. So that she brought him the fog; and he no sense of breeches!" right thing exactly at the right moment There was much of truth in this, no without overcrowding him; and then she doubt,, as well as much outside it. Yet none poured him sparkling wine, and comforted of them could enter into his peculiar state his weary feet, and gave him a delicious of mind. So that he often reproached him- pipe of Persian meconopsis (free from the self for having been rude, but could not help bane of opium, yet more dreamy than toit. Every one made allowance for him, as bacco). Also she sprinkled around him Englishmen do for a foreigner, as being of delicate attar of the Vervain (sprightlier a somewhat lower order, in many ways, in and less oppressive than the scent of roses), creation. Yet with a mixture of mind about until his white beard ceased to flutter, and it, they admired him more and more. the strong lines of his face relaxed into soft The largeness of his nature still was very drowsiness. conspicuous in this-he never brought his Observing thence the proper time when telescope to bear on his own planet. His sweet sleep was encroaching, and haste, and heart was reaching so far forward into fu- heat, and sudden temper were as far away ture ages, that he strove to follow downward as can be from a man of Eastern blood, Arnine or ten entails of stars. To know what temise, his daughter, touched him with the was to become of all that were to be descend- smile which he used to love, when she was ed from him;. a highly interesting, but also two years old and upward; and his thoughts a deeply exhausting question. This perpet- without his knowledge flew back to her ual effort told very hard upon his constitu- mother. tion, for nothing less than fatal worry could "Father to me, father dearest," she was have so impaired his native grace and lofty whispering to him, in the native tongue courtesy. which charms the old, as having lulled their Yet before his sudden end, a softer and cradles; "father to me, tell what trouble more genial star was culminant one even- has together fallen on you in this cold and ing. When one's time comes to be certain foreign land." -whether by earthly senses, or by influence Melody enough was still remaining in the of heaven-of the buoyant balance turning, most melodious of all mortal languages, for and the slender span outspun, tender think- a child to move a father into softer memoings, and kind wishes, come to the good side ries, at the sound of ancient music thus reof us. Through this power, the petty trou- vived, and.left to dwell. bles, and the crooked views of life, and the " Child of my breast," the prince replied, ambition to make others better than we care in the very best modern Hellenic, " a strong to be, and every other little turn of whole- desire to sleep again hath overcome mine some self-deception - these drop off, and intellect." leave us sinking into a sense of having "Thus is it the more suited, father, for lived and made a humble thing of it. discourse with such as mine. Let your litWhether this be so or not, upon the 18th tie one share the troubles of paternal wisof June in the year 1611, Prince Agasicles dom." 20 ALICE LORRAINE. Suasion more than this was needed, and the way the stars come. In the morning he at every stage forth-coming, more skillfully was missed, and sought for, and found dead than English words or even looks could ren- and cold at the end of his longest telescope. der, ere ever the paternal wisdom might be In Chanctonbury Ring he died, and must coaxed to unfold itself; and even so it was have known, for at least a moment, that his not disposed to be altogether explicit. death was over him; for among the stars of "Ask me no more," he said at last; his jotting-chart was traced, in trembling "enough that I foresee great troubles over- charcoal, "Sepeli, ubi cecidi"-" Bury me hanging this sad house." where I have fallen." "Oh father, when, and how, and what? How shall we get over them, and why should we encounter them? And will my husband or my children-" CHAPTER VIII. The prince put up one finger, as if to say, "ask one thing at a time, the while he ALICE LORRAINE, with no small exciteceased not to revolve many and sadcounsels ment, heard from her father's lips this story in his venerable head, and in his gaze deep of their common ancestor. Part of it was pity mingled with a father's pride and love. already known to her, through traditions of Then he spoke three words in a language the country; but this was the first time the which she did not comprehend, but retained whole had been put into a connected narratheir sound, and learned before her death tive. She wondeied, also, what her father's that they meant this-" Knowledge of trou- reason could be for thus recounting to her ble trebles it." this piece of family history, which had never "Now, best-loved father," she exclaimed, been (as she felt quite sure) confided to her perceiving that his face was set to tell her brother Hilary; and, like a young girl, she very little, " behold how many helpless ones was saying to herself as he went on-" Shall depend upon my knowledge of the evils I I ever be fit to compare with that lovely must shield them from. It is-nay, by your Artemise, my ever-so-long-back grandmotheyes-it is the little daughter whom you er, as the.village people call it? and will always cherished with such love and care, that fine old astrologer see that the stars do vwho now is the cause of a mind perplexed, their duty to us? and was the great comet as often she has been to you. Father, let that killed him the one that frightens me not our affairs lay such burden on your every night so? and why did he make such mind, but spread them out and lighten it. a point of dying without explaining any Often, as our saying hath it, oftentimes the thing?" ear of folly is the purse for wisdom's gems." However, what she asked her father was "I hesitate not, I doubt no longer. I do' a different question from all these. not divide my mind in twain. The wisdom "Oh papa,.how kind of you to tell me all of them that come after me carries off and that story! But what became of Artemise transcends mine own, as a mountain doth -' Lady Lorraine' I suppose she was?" a half-peck basket. Wherefore, my daugh- "No, my dear;'Mistress Lorraine,' or ter Artemise, wife of the noble Englishman, Madame Lorraine' perhaps they called her. with whom she ran away from Caria, and The old earldom had long been lost, and mother of my five grandchildren, she is wor- Roger, her son, who fell at Naseby, was the thy to know all that I have learned from first baronet of our family. But as for Arheaven; ay, and she shall know it all." temise herself-the daughter of the astrolo"Father to me dearest, yes! Oh how no- ger, and wife of Hilary Lorraine, she died at ble and good of you!" the birth of her next infant, within a twelve"She shall know all, continued the prince, month after her father; and then it was with a gaze of ingenuous confidence, and known why he had been so reluctant to tell counting on his fingers slowly; "it may be her any thing." sooner, or it may be later; however, I think'" Oh, I am so sorry for her! Then she is one may safely promise a brilliant knowl- that beautiful creature hanging third from edge of every thing in five years after we the door in the gallery, with ruches beautihave completed the second century from fully picked out and glossy, and wonderful this day. But now the great comet is wait- gold lace on her head, and long hair, and ing for me. Let me have my boots again. lovely emeralds hanging down as if they Uncouth, barbarous, frightful things! But were nothing." in such a country needful." "Yes," said Sir Roland, smiling at his His daughter obeyed without a word, and daughter's style of description, "that of hid her disappointment. "It is only to wait course is the lady; and the portrait is clear-. till to-morrow," she thought, " and then to ly a likeness. At one time we thought of fill him a larger pipe, and coax him a little naming you after her -'Artemise Lorraine' more perhaps, and pour him more wine of -for your nurse discovered that you were Burgundy." like her at the mature age of three days." To-morrow never came for him, except in " Oh papa, how I wish you had! It would ALICE LORRAINE. 21 have sounded so much nicer, and so beauti- "I have no intention, my dear child, of fully romantic." hurrying either you or myself. There is " Just so, my child; and therefore, in these plenty of time to think of all things. The matter-of-fact times, so deliciously absurd. sun has not set, and that happens to be one Moreover, I hope that you will not be like of the little things we have to look to." her, either in running away from your fa- "Oh how very delightful, papa! That ther, or in any other way-except her kind- makes it so much more beautiful. And it is ness and faithfulness." the astrologer's room, of course." He was going to say, "in her early death;" "My dear, it strikes me that you look but a sudden touch of our natural supersti- rather pale, in the midst of all your transtion stopped him. ports. Now, don't go if you are at all Papa., how dare you speak as if any one afraid." ever, in all the world, could be fit to corm- Afraid, papa! Now you want to propare with you? But now you must tell me yoke me. You quite forget both my age, it one little thing-why have you chosen this appears, and the family I belong to." very day, which ought to be such a happy "My pet, you never allow us to be very one, for telling me so sad a tale, that a little long forgetful of either of those great facts; more would have made me cry?"7 but I trust I have borne them both duly in " The reason, my Lallie, is simple enough. mind, and I fear that I should even enhance, This happens to be the very day when the most needlessly, your self-esteem, if I were two hundred years are over; and the as- to read you the directions which I now am trologer's will, or whatever the document is, following. For, strangely enough, they do may now be opened." contain predictions as to your character such "His will, papa! Did he leave a will? as we can not yet perceive (much as we love And none of us ever heard of it!" you) to have come to pass." "My dear, your acquaintance with his "Oh, but who are the'we,' papa? If character is, perhaps, not exhaustive. He every body knows it-even grandmamma, may have left many wills without wishing for instance-what pleasure can I hope to to have them published; at any rate you find in ever having been predicted'" shall have the chance, before it grows dark, "You may enjoy that pleasure, Alice, as to see what there is." exclusively as you please. Even your grand"Me! or I-whichever is right?-me, or mother knows nothing of the mattei we have I, to do such a thing! Papa, when I was now in hand; or else at least I should say six years old I could stand on my head; but perhaps that, if it were otherwise-" now I have lost the art, alas!" " She would have been down here, of "Now, Alice, do try to be sensible, if you course, papa, and have marched up to the ever had such an opening. You know that room herself; but, if the whole thing beI do not very often act rashly; but you will longs to one's self, nothing can be more demake me think I have done so now, unless lightful than to have been predicted, espeyou behave most steadily." cially in glowing terms such as I beg you "Papa., I am steadiness itself; but you now, papa, to read in glowing tones to me." must make allowance for a little upset at "Alice, I do not like that style of-what the marvels heaped upon me." shall I call it?-on your part. Persiflage, I " My dear child, there are no marvels; or, believe, is the word; and I am glad that at any rate, none for you to know. All you there is no English one. It is never gracehave to do is to go, and to fetch a certain ful in any woman, still less in a young girl document. Whether you know any more like you. Hilary brought it from Oxford about it is a question for me to consider." first; and perhaps he thought it excellent. "Oh papa-to raise me up so, and to cast Lay it aside now, once and for all. It hopes me down like that! And I was giving you to seem a clever thing, and it does not even credit for having trusted me so entirely! succeed in that." And very likely you would not even have At these severe words, spoken with a desent me for this document, if you had your cided attempt at severity, Alice fell back, own way about it." and could only drop her eyes and wonder "Alice," Sir Roland answered, smiling at what could have made her father so cross her knowledge of him, "you happen tobepar- upon his birthday. But, after the smart of ticularly right in that conjecture. I should the moment, she began to acknowledge to never have thought of sending you to a lone- herself that her father was right, and she ly and forsaken place if I were allowed to was wrong. This flippant style was foreign send any one else, or to go myself. And I to her, and its charms must be foregone. have not been happy at thinking about it "I beg your pardon, father dear," she ever since the morning." said, looking softly up at him; "I know "My father, do you think that I could that I am not clever, and I never meant to help rejoici ing in such a job? It is the very seem so." thing to suit me. Where are the keys, papa? "Quite right, Alice; never attempt to do Do be quick!" any thing impossible." Saying this to her, <22 ALICE LORRAINE. Sir Roland said to himself that, after all, he ment, which to me has been in great price. should like to know very much where to There will also be something else, to be find any girl half so clever as Lallie, or any treated 2po re naia — that means, according girl even a quarter so good, and so loving, to circumstances-' and according to the orand so beautiful. ders in the document aforesaid. The virgin " The sun is almost gone behind the curve will be brave and beautiful, ready to give of the hill, and the scrubby beech, and the herself for the house, and of swiftly-growing nick cut in the gorse-bush. Alice, you know prudence. If there be no such virgin, then we only see it for just the midsummer week the need for her will not have arisen. It is like that." necessary that no young man should go, and Alice came, with her eyes already quit of my document must lie hidden for another every trace of tears; with vanity and all century. It is not possible that any one of petty feelings melting into larger thought. uncertain skill should be certain. But there The beauty of the world would often come ought to be a great comet also burning in around and overcome her, so that she felt the sky, of the same complexion as the one nothing else. that makes my calculations doubtful. Fare"The sun must always be the same," Sir well, whosoever thou shalt be, from me deRoland said, rather doubtfully, after waiting scended, and obey me.' for Alice to begin. "No doubt he must al- "Papa, I declare, it quite frightens me. ways be the same; but still the great Her- How could he have predicted me, for inschel seems to think that even the sun is stance, and this great comet, and even changing. If he is fed by comets (as our old you?" astronomers used to say), he ought to be do- "Then you think that you answer to your ing very well just now. Alice, the sun is description! My darling, I do believe that above ground still for people on the hill- you do. But you never shall'give yourself top, and there is the comet already kind- for the house,' or for fifty thousand houses. ling!" Now, will you have any thing to do with "Of course he is, papa; he never waits this strange affair or will you not? Muich for the sun's convenience. But I must not rather would I hear you say that you will say that-I forgot. There would be no En- have nothing to do with it, and that the old glish name for it-would there now, papa?" man's book may sleep for at least another "You little tyrant, what troubles I would century." inflict upon you if I studied the stars! But "Now, papa, you know how much you I scarcely know the belt of Orion from the would be disappointed in me. And do you Northern Crown. Astronomy does not ap- think that I could have any self-respect repear to have taken deep root in our family; maining? And besides all that, how could but look, there is part of the sun again I hope to sleep in my bed with all those seemerging under Chancton! In five minutes crets ever dangling over me?' more he will be quite gone; now is the time "That last is a very important point. for me to read these queer directions, which With your excitable nature you had better contain so poetical an account of you." go always throngh a thing. It was the Alice, warned by his former words, and same with your dear mother. Here are the reduced to proper humility, did not speak keys, my daughter. I really feel ashamed to while her father opened the small strip of dwell so long on a mere superstition." parchment, at which she had so long been peeping curiously.. "It is written in Latin," Sir Roland said, "and has been handed from father to son CHAPTER IX. unsealed, and as you see it, from the time of the prince till our time." THE room known as the Astrologer's (by May I see it, papa? What a very clear the maids, less reverently entitled the " starhand! but you must translate it for me." gazer's closet") was that old eight-sided, or "Then here it is:'To the father and lantern, chamber, which has been mentioned master of the family of Lorraine, whoever in the short account of the Carian sage and shall be in the year, according to Christian his labors. He had used it alternately with computation, 1811, Agasicles Syennesis, the his other quarters in the Chancton Ring; Carian, bids hail. Do thou, on the 18th day for this had outlook of the rising, as the of June, when the sun has well descended, other had of the setting stars. At the eastor departed'-decesserit, the word is-' send ern end of the house, it stood away front thy eldest daughter, without any compan- roofs and chimney-tops, commanding the ion, to the astronomer's coenaculumt'-why, trending face of hill, and the amplitude of he never ate supper, the poor old fellow, un- the world below, from north-west round the less it was the one he died of-' and there north and east, to the rising point of Fomalet her search in a closet or cupboard — in hault. secessu muri, the words are, as far as I can To this room Alice now made her way, as make out-' and she will find a small docu- if she had no time to spare. With quick, ALICE LORRAINE. 23 light steps, she passed through the hall, and dusting, and some oil oil the bearings. And then the painted library, as it was called the speculum he had worked so hard at, for from some old stained glass - and at the a reflecting telescope-partly his own idea., farther end she entered a little room with and partly reflected (as all ideas are) some double doors, her father's favorite musing- years ere the time of Gregory-the error in place. In the eastern end of this quiet its grinding, which had driven him often to chamber, and at the eastern end of all, there despair, might still be traced by an accurate was a low and narrow door. This was sel- eye through the depth of two hundred dusty dom locked, because none of the few who years. Models, patterns, moulds, and castcame so far would care to go any farther. ings-many of which would have shown For it opened to a small landing-place, dim- how slowly our boasted discoveries have ly lighted, as well as damp, and leading to grown - also favorite tools, and sundry a newel staircase, narrow, and made of a things passed out of their meaning, lay about chalky flint, angular and irregular. among their fellows, doomed alike to do no Alice stopped to think a little. All things work, because the man who had kept them looked so uninviting that she would rather moving was shorter-lived than they were. do without them. Surely, now that the sun Now young Alice stood among them in a had departed-whether well or otherwise- reverential way. They were, of course, no some other time would do as nicely for going more than other things laid by to rust, aeon with the business. There was nothing cording to man's convenience. And yet she said of any special hurry, so far as she could could not make up her mind to meddle with remember; and what could be a more stupid any one of them. So that she only looked thing than to try to unlock an ancient door about, and began to be at.home with things. without any light for the key-hole? She Her eager mind was always ready to be had a very great mind to go back, and to crowded with a rash, young interest in all come again in the morning. things. It was the great fault of her naShe turned with a quick turn toward the ture that she never could perceive how very light, and the comfort, and the company; far all little things should lie beneath her then suddenly she remembered how she had notice. So that she now had really more boasted of her courage; and who would be than she could contrive to take in all at waiting to laugh at her, if she came back once. withouther errand. Fearingfurtherthought, But while she stood in this surprise, alshe ran like a sunset cloud up the stairway. most forgetting her errand among the mulFifty or sixty steps went by her before she titude of ideas, a cloud above the sunset had time to think of them; a few in the light happened to be packed with gorgeous light. of loop-holes, but the greater part in gov- Unbosoming itself to the air in the usual erned gloom, or shadowy mixture flickering. cloudy manner, it managed thereby to shed Then at the top she stopped to breathe, and down some bright memories of the departed recover her wits, for a moment. Here a long one. And hence there came a lovely gleam black door repelled her-a door whose out- of daylight's afterthought into the northside she knew pretty well, but had no idea western facet of the old eight-sided room. of the other side. Upon this she began to Alice crossed this glance of sunset, wonderthink again; and her thoughts were almost ing what she was to do, until she saw her too much for her. shadow wavering into a recess of wall..With a little sigh that would have moved There, between the darker windows to the all imaginable enemies, the swiftly sensitive right hand of the door, a little hover of regirl called up the inborn spirit of her race, fiaction, striking upon reflection, because it and her own peculiar romance. These in was fugitive, caught her eyes. She saw by combination scarcely could have availed her means of this a key-hole in a brightened to turn the key, unless her father had hap- surface, on a heavy turn of wall that seemed pened to think of oiling it with a white to have no meaning. In right of discovery, pigeon's feather. up she ran, passed her fingers over a plate When she heard the bolt shoot back, she of polished Sussex iron, and put her key into made the best of a bad affair. "In for a the hole, of course. penny, in for a pound;" "Faint heart is The lock had been properly oiled perhaps, fain;" "Two bites at a cherry;" and, above and put into working order sometimes, even all, "Noblesse oblige." With all these within the last hundred years. But still it thoughts to press her forward, in she walked, was so stiff that Alice had to work the key quite dauntlessly. both ways, and with both hands, ere it turnAnd lo, there was nothing to frighten her. ed. ~ And even after the bolt went back, she Every thing looked as old and harmless as could not open the door at once, perhaps bethe man who had loved them all; having cause the jamb was rusty, or the upper hinge made or befriended them. His own little had given forward. Whatever the hesitalathe, with its metal bed (cast by himself tion was, the girl would have no refusal. from a mixture of his own, defying the rust She set the key crosswise in the lock, and of centuries), wanted nothing more than drew one corner of her linen handkerchief 24 AALICE LORRAINE. through the loop of it, and then tied a knot, consider him; because he was a boy by no and with both hands pulled. Inasmuch as means virtuous, or valiant; neither gifted her handkerchief was not made of gauze, or by nature with any inborn way to be wonlace, or gossamer, and herself of no feeble derful. Having nothing to help him much, material, the heavy door gave way at last, he lived among the things that came around and every thing lay before her. him, to his very utmost; and he never re"Is that all? oh, is that all?" she cried, fused a bit to eat, because it might have in breathless disappointment, and yet laugh- been a better bit. And now and then, if he ing at herself. No jewels, no pearls, no got the chance (without any more in the brooches or buckles, nor even a gold watch! background than a distant view of detecAnd the great astrologer must have foreseen tion), he had been imagined perhaps to lay how sadly, in this year of our reckoning, I hand upon a stray trifle that would lie should be longing for a gold watch! Alas! about, and was due, but not paid, to his without it, what is the use of being'brave merits. Nobody knew where this boy came and beautiful?' Here is nothing more than from, or whether he came at all indeed, or dust, mouldy old deeds, and a dirty cush- was only the produce of earth or sky at ion!" some improper conjunction. Nothing was Alice had a great mind at first to run back certain about him, except that there he to her father and tell him that, after all, was; and he meant to stay; and people, for there was nothing found that would be the most part,liked him. And many womworth the carrying. And she even turned, en would have been glad to love him in a and looked round the room, to support this protective way, but for the fright by all of strong conclusion. But the weight of an- them felt, by reason of the magistrates. cient wisdom (pressed on the young imagi- These had settled it long ago, at every nation by the stamp of mystery) held her kind of session, that this boy (though so conunder, and made her stop from thinking her paratively honest) must not be encouraged own thoughts about it. "He must have much. He had such a manner of looking known better, of course, than I do. Only about after almost any thing, and of maklook at his clever tools! I am sure I could ing the most of those happy times when live in this room for a week, and never be luck embraces art; above all, he had such afraid of any thing." exhaustive knowledge of apple-trees, and But even while she was saying this to potato-buries, and cows that wanted milkherself, with the mind in command of the ing, as well as of ticklish trout, and occaheart, and a fine conscientious courage, there sional little ducks that had lost their waycame to her ears, or seemed to come, a qui- that after long-tried lenience, and allowance et, low, unaccountable sound. It may have for such a neglected child, justice could no been nothing, as she tried to think, when longer take a large and wholesome view of first she began to recover herself; or it may " Bonny." have been something quite harmless, and Bonny held small heed of justice (even in most easily traced to its origin. But what- the plural number) whenever he could help ever it was, in a moment it managed to it. The nature of his birth and nurture had quench her desire to live in that room. been such as to make him take an outside With quick hands, now delivered from their view of every thing. If people liked him, usual keen sense of grime, she snatched up he liked them, and would be the last to steal whatever she saw in the cupboard, and bang- from them; or, at any rate, would let them ed the iron door, and locked it, with a glance be the last for him to steal from. His inner of defiant terror over the safer shoulder first, meaning was so honest, that he almost aland then over the one that was nearer the ways waited for some great wrong to be noise. done to him, before he dreamed of making Then she knew that she had done her duty free with almost any body's ducks. very bravely; and that it would be a cru- Widely as he was known, and often glanced el thing to expect her to stay any longer. at from a wrong point of view, even his lowAnd so, to-shut out all further views of any est detractor could not give his etymology. thing she had no right to see, she slipped Many attempted to hold that he might have back the b'and of her beautiful hair; and, been called, in some generative outburst, under that cover, retreated. "Bonnie," by a Scotchman of imagination. Others laughed this idea to scorn, and were sure that his right name was "Boney," because of his living in spite of all terror of CHAPTER X.'"Bonyparty." But the true solution probably was (as with all analytic inquiries) the AT this very time there happened to be a third-that his right name was Bony," beboy of no rank, and of unknown order, qui- cause his father, though now quite a shadetly jogging homeward. He differed but owy being, must have at some time or othlittle from other boys, and seemed unwor- er, perhaps, gone about crying, " Rags and thy of consideration, unless one stopped to Bones, oh!" ALICE LORRAINE. 25 These little niceties of origin passed by ing into the country, it would have been a Bonny as the idle wind. He was proud of treat to happen (round some corner suddenhis name, and it' sounded well; and wher- ly, when the sun throws shadows long) upon ever he went the ladies seemed to like him, Bonny and his jackass. In the ripe time of as an unknown quantity. Also (which mat- the evening, when the sun is at its kindest, tered far more to him) the female servants and the earth most thankful, and the lines took to him. And, with many of these, he of every shadow now are well accustomed; had such a way, that it found him in vict- whenthe air has summer hope of never feeluals, perhaps twice in a week. ing frost again; and every bush, and tump, Nevertheless, he was forced to work as and hillock quite knows how to stand and hard as could be, this summer. The drag- look; when the creases of yellow grass, and ging weight of a hopeless war (as all, ex- green grass, by the roadside, leave themcept the stout farmers, now were beginning selves for explanation, till the rain shall to consider it) had been tightening, more settle it; and the thick hedge, in the calm and more, the strain upon the veins of trade, air, can not rustle, unless it holds a rabbit and:the burden of the community.. or a hare at play-when all these things, in This good boy lived in the side of a hill, their quiet way, guide the shadowy lines or of a cliff (as some might call it), white of evening, and the long lanes of farewell, and beautiful to look at from a proper dis- what can soothe the spirit more than the tance. Here he had one of those queer old view of a boy on a donkey? holes, which puzzle the sagest antiquary, Bonny, therefore, was in keeping with and set him in fiercest conflict with the even the world around him (as he always consager geologist. But in spite of them all, trived to be) when he came home on Jack, the hole was there; and in that hole lived that evening, fiom a long day's work at Bonny. Shoreham. The lane was at its best almost, Without. society, what is life? Our ten- with all the wild flowers that love the chalk, derest and truest affections were not given mixed with those that hug the border where us for naught. The grandest of human de- the chalk creams into loam. Among them sires is to have something or other to wal- Bonny whistled merrily, as his favorite cuslop; and fate (in small matters so hard upon tom was; to let the Pixies and the Fairies, Bonny) had known when to yield, and had ere he came under the gloom of the hill, ungranted him this-that is to say, a donkey. derstand that he was coming, and nobody A donkey of such a clever kind, and so else to frighten them. set up with reasoning powers and a fine Soothed with the beauty of the scene and heart of his own, that all his conclusions the majesty of the sunset, Jack drew back were almost right, until they were beaten his ears and listened drowsily to his master. out of him. His name was " Jack," and his " Britannia rules the Waves " was then the nature was of a level and sturdy order, re- anthem of the nation; and as she seemed senting wrongs, accepting favors, with all to rule nothing else, though fighting very the teeth of gratitude, and braying (as all grandly, all patriotic Britons found main clever asses do) at every change of weather. comfort in governing water. His personal appearance also was noble, The happiness of this boy and donkey striking, and romantic; and his face re- was of that gleeful see-saw chancing, which minded all beholders of a well-colored pipe- is the heartiest of all. This has a snugness bowl-upside down. For all his muzzle and of its own, which nothing but poverty can nose were white, as snowy white as if he al- afford, and luck rejoice to revel in. As a ways wore a nosebag newly floured from the rich man hugs his shivers, when he has nearest windmill. But just below his eyes, taken a sudden chill, and huddles in over a and across the mace of his jaws, was a ring roaring fire, and boasts that he can not warm of brown, and' above that not a speck of himself so a poor fellow may cuddle his white, but deepening into cloudy blackness home, and spread his legs as he pleases, for throughout all his system. Then (like the the sake of its very want of comfort, and crest of Hector) rose a menacing frontlet the things it makes him think of; all to be of thick hair, and warlike ears as long as hoped for by-and-by. And Bonny was so horns, yet genially revolving;'and body and destitute that he had all the world to hope legs, to complete the effect, conceived in the for. very best taste to match. He lived in a hole in the scarp of chalk, These great virtues of the animal found at: the foot of the gully of Coombe Lorraine; their balance in small foibles. A narrow- and many of his delightful doings might minded, self-seeking vein, a too vindictive have been seen from the lofty windows, if memory, an obstinacy more than asinine, no any one ever had thought it worth while to sense of honor, and a habit of treating too slope a long telescope at him. But nobody many questions with the teeth or heels. cared to look at Bonny, and scatter his lowThese had lowered him to his present rank; ly happiness-than which there is no more as may be shown hereafter, fugitive creatureand none more shy of inTo any- worked and troubled mind, escap- spection. 2 ~26fid~ ALICE LORRALNE. Being of a light and dauntless nature, yard, and made himself leggings as everlastBonny kept whistling and singing his way, ing as the fame of his exploit. over the grass and through the furze, and With these was Bonny now indued over in and out the dappled leafage of the sum- most of his nether moiety. Shoes and stockmer evening; while Jack with his bright- ings he despised, of course, but his little est blinkings, picked the parts of the track shanks were clean and red, while his shoulthat suited him. The setting sun was in ders and chest were lost in the splendor of their eyes, and made them wink every now a coachman's crimson waistcoat. At least I and then, and threw the shadow of long ears, they were generally so concealed, when he and walking legs, and jogging heads, here set forth in the morning, for he picked up and there and anywhere. Also a very fine plenty of pins, and showed some genius in lump, of something might in the shadows be arranging them; but aftera hard day's work, loosely taken to hang across Jack in his as now, air and light would always re-assert latter parts, coming after Bonny's legs, and their right of entrance. Still, there remainchoice things stowed in front of them. ed enough of the mingled charm of blush The meaning of this was that they had and plush to recall in soft domestic bosoms been making a very lucky long-shore day, by-gone scenes, forever past -but oh, so at the mouth of the river Adur; and on sweet among the trays! their way home, had received some pleasing To judge him, however, without the fallatribute to their many merits in the town of cy of romantic tenderness-the breadth of Steyning, and down the road. Jack had no his mouth, and the turn of his nose, might panniers, for his master could not provide go a little way against him. Still, he had such luxuries; but he had what answered such a manner of showing bright white teeth as well, or better-a long and trusty meal- in a jocund grin, and of making his frizzly sack, strongly stitched at the mouth, and hair stand up, and his sharp blue eyes exslit for inlet some way down the middle. press amazement, at the proper moment; So that, as it hung well balanced over his moreover, his pair of cheeks was such (after sturdy quarters, any thing might be popped coming off the downs), and his laugh so in quickly; and all the contents must abide dreadfully infectious, and he had such tales together, and churn up into fine tenderness. to tell-that several lofty butlers were perAs for Bonny himself, the shadows did suaded to consider him. him strong injustice, such as he was wont Even the butler at Coombe Lorraine-butt to take from all the world, and make light that will come better hereafter. Only as of. The shadows showed him a ragged fig- yet may be fairly said, that Bonny looked nre, flapping and flickering here and there, up at the house on the hill with a delicate and random in his outlines. But the true curiosity; and felt that his overtures might glow of the sunset, full upon his face, pre- have been somewhat ungraceful, or at least sented quite another Bonny; no more to ill-timed, when the new young footman (just be charged as a vagabond than the earth taken on) took it entirely upon himself to and the sun himself were; but a little boy kick him all the way down the hill. This who loved his home, such as it was, and little discourtesy, doubling of course Master knew it, and knew little else. Dirty, per- Bonny's esteem and regard for the place, at haps, just here and there, after the long dry the same time introduced some constraint weather-but if he had been ugly, could he into his after intercourse. For the moment, have brought home all that dripping? indeed, he took no measures to vindicate his To the little fellow himself as yet the honor; although, at a word (as he knew question of costume was more important quite well), Bottler the Pigman, would have than that of comeliness. And his dress af- brought up his whip and seen to it. And forded him many sources of pride and self- even if any of the maids of the house had satisfaction. For his breeches were possess- been told to tell Miss Alice about it, Bonny ed of inexhaustible vitality, as well as bold was sure of obtaining justice, and pity, and and original color, having been adapted for even half a crown. him by the wife of his great patron, Bottler Quick as he was to forget and forgive the the Pigman, from a pair of Bottler's leggings, many things done amiss to him, the boy, made of his own pi-skin. The skin had be- when he came to the mouth of the coombe, longed, in the first place, to a very remark- looked pretty sharply about him for traces able boar, a thorough Caledonian hog, who of that dreadful fellow who had proved himescaped from a farm- yard, and lived for self such a footman. With Jack to help him, months a wild life in St. Leonard's Forest. with jaw and heel, Bonny would not have Here he scared all the neighborhood, until been so very much afraid of even him; such at last Bottler was invoked to arise like Me- a " strong-siding champion" had the donkey leager, and to bring his pig-knife. Bottler lately shown himself. Still, on the whole, met him in single combat, slew him before and after such a long day's work by sea and he had time to grunt, and claiming him as shore, the rover was much relieved to find the spoils of war, pickled his hams at his his little castle unleaguered. leisure. Also, he tanned the hide in. his own The portal thereof was a yard in. height, ALICE LORRAINE. 27 anid perhaps fifteen inches wide; not all things began to ooze and to ease themselves alike, but in and out, according to the way out of it. First of all two great dollops of the things, or the boy himself, went rubbing oar-weed, which had excellently performed it. A holy hermit once had lived there, if their task of keeping every thing tight and tradition spoke aright. But if so, he must sweet with the hungry fragrance of the sea. have been as narrow of body to get in, as Then came a mixture of almost any thing wide of mind to stop there. At any rate, which a boy of no daintiness was likely to Bonny was now the hermit, and less of a regard as eatable, or a child of no science saint than a sinner. whatever to look upon as a rarity. Bonny The last glance of sunset was being re- was a collector of the grandest order-the flected under the eaves of twilight when one who collects every thing. Here was these two came to their home and comfort food of the land, and food of the sea, and in the bay of the quiet land. From the foot food of the tidal river, mingled with food of the steep white cliff,the green sward spread for the mind of a boy, who had no mind-to itself with agentle slope, andbreaks ofrough- his knowledge. In the humblest way he ness here and there, until it met the depth groped about, and wondered at almost evof corn-land, where the feathering bloom cry thing. appeared-for the summer was a hot one- Now he had things to wonder at which, reared upon its jointed stalk, and softened in the heat of the day and the work, had into a silver-gray by the level touch of even- been caught and stowed away anyhow. The ing. The little powdered stars of wheat- boy and the donkey had earned their load bloom could not now be seen, of course; with such true labor that now they could neither the quivering of the awns, nor that not remember even half of it. Jack, by hard hovering radiance, which in the hot day collar-work at the nets; Bonny, by cheering moves among them. Still the scent was on him up the sand, and tugging himself witi the air, the delicate fragrance of the wheat, his puny shoulders, and then by dancing and only caught by waiting for it, when the hour treading away, and kicking with naked feet is genial. among the wastrel fish, full of thorns and Bonny and Jack were not in the humor tails shed from the vent of the drag-net by now to wait for any thing. The scent of the the spent farewell of the shoaling wave. wheat: was nothing to them, but the smell For on this very day, there had been the of a loaf was something. And Jack knew, great Midsummer haul at Shoreham. It was quite as well as Bonny, that let the time be the old custom of the place; but even cusas hard as it would -and it was a very hard tom must follow the tides, and the top of the time already,though nothingto what came af- summer spring-tides (when the fish are alterward-nevertheless, there were two white ways liveliest) happened, for the year 1811, loaves, charmed by their united powers out to come on the 18th day of June. Bonny of maids who were under notice to quit their for weeks had been looking forward; and situations. Also on the homeward road, they now before him lay his reward. had not failed entirely of a few fine gristly After many sweet and bitter uses of adhocks of pork, and the bottom of a skin of versity, this'oy, at an early age, had caught lard, and something unknown, but highly the tail of prudence. It had been to his interesting, from a place where a pig had heart, at first, a friendly and a native thing, been killed that week, much as the time of to feast to the full (when he got the chance), year was wrong. and go empty away till it came again. But "Now, Jack, tend thee'zell," said Bonny, now, being grown to riper years, and, after with the air of a full-grown man almost, much consideration, declared to be at least while he was working his own little shoul- twelve years old by the only pork-butcher ders in betwixt the worn hair on the ribs, in Steyning, Bonny began to know what was and the balanced bag overhanging them. what, and to salt a good deal of his offal. Jack knew what he was meant to do, for For this wise process he now could find a he brought his white nose cleverly round, greater call than usual; because, through just where it was wanted, and pushed it the heat of the day, he had stuck to his first under one end of the bag, and tossed it care- and firmly-grounded principle-never to refully over his back, so that it slid down fuse refuse. So that many other fine things beautifully. were mingled, jumbled, and almost churned, When this great bag lay on the ground among the sundry importations of the flow(or rather, stood up, in a clumsy way, by ing tide and net. All of these, now, he well virtue of what was inside of it), the first delivered (so far as sappy limbs could do it) thing every body did was to come and poke upon a cleanish piece of ground, well acand sniff at it. And though the every body customedto such favors. Then Bonny stood was no more than Jack and his donkey, the back, with his hands on his knees, and Jack duty was not badly done, because they were spread his nose at some of it. both so hungry. Loaves of genuine wheaten bread were When the strings were cut, and the bag getting scarce already. Three or four bad in relief of tension panted, ever so many harvests, following long arrears of discon 28 ALICE'LORRAINE. tent, and hanging on the heavy arm of des-.fowl, or stale red-herring —he welcomed all perate -taxation, kept the. country, and the the works of charity with a charitable nose, farmers, and the people that must be fed, in and fingers not of the nicest. So that such a condition that.we (who.can not be his judgment. could scarcely have "been nowv content with any thing) deserve no "prejudicially affected by any preconceived blame when we smack our lips in our dainty opinion -as our: purest writers love to say contempt of our grandfathers. - -when he dropped this thing, and smelled Bonny was always good to Jack, accord- his thumb, and cried," Lord, how it makes ing to the way they had of looking at one my hands itch!" another; and so, of the choicest spoils, he After such a strong expression, what can gave him a half-peck loaf, of a fibre such as we have to say to him? It is the privilege they seldom softened their teeth with. Jack of our period to put under our feet whatpreferredthis to any clover, even when that ever we would rather not face out; at the luxury could be won by clever stealing; and same time, to pretend to love it and lift it now he trotted away with his loaf to the by education. Nevertheless, one may try to nearest stump where backing power against doubt whether poor Bonny's grandchildren his strong jaws could be got. Here he laid (if he ever presumed to have any) thrive on his loaf against the stump, and went a little the lesson, as well as he: did on the loaf, of way back to think about it, and to be sure charity. that every atom was for him. Then, without. scruple or time to spare, he tucked up his lips, and began in a hurry to make a CHAPTER XI bold dash for the heart of it. "More haste, less speed " is a proverb that -. THERE used to be a row of. buildings well seems, at first sight, one of the last that within the sacred precincts of the Inner need. be quoted to. a donkey..Yet, in the Temple, but still preserving a fair lookout present instance, Jack should have spared on the wharves and the tidal gut at their himself time to study it; for in less than a back, till the whole view was swallowed by moment he ran up to Bonny, with. his wide gas -works. Here, for long ages, law had mouth at its widest, snorting with pain, and flourished on the excrete things of outlawry, much yearning to bellow,, but by the posi- fed by the reek of Whitefriars, as a good tion. disabled. There was something stuck nettle enjoys the mixen. fast in the roof of his mouth, in a groove of Already, however, some sweeping changes the veiny black, arches; and work as he had much improvedthis neighborhood; and might with his wounded tongue, he was only the low attorneys who throve on crime, and driving it farther in. His great black eyes, of whom we get unpleasant glimpses through as he gasped with fright, and the piteous our classic novelists, had been succeeded by whine of his quivering nose, and.his way men of repute and learning and large pracaltogether so scared poor Bonny, that the tice. And among all these there was not chances were he would.run away.. And so, one more widely known and respected than no doubt, he must have done (being but a Glanvil Malahide, K.C., an eminent equity little boy as yet), if it had not chanced that barrister, who. now declined to don the wig a flash of something caught his quick eye in any ordinary cause. He had been obliged, suddenly, something richly shining in the ofcourse, to fight, like the rest of mankind, cavern of the donkey's mouth.: for celebrity; but as soon as this was well This was enough, of course, for Bonny. assured, he quitted the noisier sides of it. His instinct of scratching and digging and But his love.of the subtleties of the law hiding, was up and at work in a moment. (spun into fairer and frailer gossamer by the,He thrust his brown hand betwixt Jack's soft spider of equity), as well as the power great jaws, and drew it back quickly enough of habit, kept him to his old profession; so to escape the snap of their glad reunion. that'he took to chamber practice, and had And in his hand was something which he more than he could manage. had drawn from the bag of the netthat:day, Sir Roland Lorraine had known this genbut scarcely stopped to look at twice, in the tleman by repute at Oxford, when Glanvil huddle of weeds and the sweeping. It had Malahide was young, and believed to be one lain among many fiue gifts of the sea- of the best scholars there; in the days when skates, and dog-fish, sea-devils, sting-rays, scholarship often ripened (as it seldom does thornbacks, inky cuttles, and scollops, co- now) to learning. For the scholarship now kles, whelks, green crabs, jelly- fish, and must.be kept quite young, for the smaller every thing else that makes fishermen swear, needs of tuition. and then grin, and then spit on their palms Hence it.came to pass that as soon as again. Among these in Bonny's bag had Hilary Lorraine was quite acquit of Oxford lain manifold boons of the life-giving earth, leading-strings, and had scrambled into some extracted from her motherly. feeling by. one degree, his father, who especially wished or two good butchers.. (for some reasons of his own) to. keep the Bonny made no bones of this. Fish, flesh, boy out of the army, entered him gladly ALICE LORRAINE. 29 among the pupils of Mr.:Glanvil Malahide. here hebecame the whetstone for those Not that Hilary was:expected ever to wear'brilliant blades, his fellow-pupils. Because the horse-hair much (unless an insane desire he had been at no university, nor even so to do so should find its' way into his open nmuch as a public school, and had no introsoul); but that the excellent goodness of law duction to any -boy who had never heard might drop, like the gentle dew from heaven, of him.: and grow him into a justice of the peace. Now the more the rest disdained this felHilary looked upon this matter, as he did low, the more Lorraine regarded him;:feelon too many others, with a sweet indiffer- -ing, with a sense too delicate to arise from ence. If he could only have had his own any thought, that shame was done- to good way, he would have been a soldier long ago; birth:by being even conscious of it, except for that was the time when all the spirit upon great occasions. And so, without givof Britain was roused up to arms. But this ing much offense, or pretending to be a chamyoung fellow's great fault was, to be com- pion, Hilary used to shield young Lovejoy pact of so many elements that nothing was from the blunt shafts of small humor consettled among them. He had " greatgifts," tinually leveled at him. as Mr. Malahide said-" extraordinary tal-:-Mr. Malahide's set of chambers was perents,':we say now-but nobody knew (least haps the best to be found in Equity Walk, of all their owner) how to work themi prop- Inner Temple. His pupils-ten in number erly. This is one of the most unlucky corn- always, because he would accept no more, positions of human mind-to be applicable and his high repute insured no less -these to every thing, but applied to nothing. If worthy youths had the longest room, facing Hilary had lain under pressure, and been with three whitey -brown windows into squeezed into one direction, he must have "iNuma Square.'? Hence the view containbecome a man of mark. ing all "utilitarian edificesa, freely ranged This his father could not see. As a general across the garden's classic walks of asphodel rule a father fails to know what his son is fit to the broad Lethean river on whose wharves for; and after disappointment, fancies (for a we are such weeds. For" Paper Buildings," little time at least) himself a fool to have ioamed from some swift sequence of suggestaken the boy to be all that the mother said tion, reared no lofty height as yet to mar the of him. Nevertheless, the poor motherknows sedentary view. how right she was, and the world,how wroug. All who have the local key will enter into But Hilary Lorraine, from childhood, had the scene at-once; so far, at least, as necesno mother to help him. What he had to sary change has failed to operate. But Mr. help himn was good birth, good looks, good Malahide's pupils scarcely ever looked out abilities, a very sweet temper, and a kind of the windows. None, however, should and truly genial nature. Also a strongish rashly blame them for apathy as to the will of his own (whenever his heart was prospect.; They seldom looked out of the moving), yet ashamed to stand forth boldly windows, because they were very seldom in the lesser matters. And here was his fatal inside them. error; that he looked upon almost every In the first place, their attendance there thing as one of the lesser matters. He had, was voluntary alnd precarious. They paid of course, a host of friends, from the-freedom their money, and they took their choice of hislmanner; and sometimes he would do whether they ever did any thing more. such things that the best, or even the worst Each of them paid-or his father for him of them, could no longer walk with him. -a fee of a hundred guineas to have the Things not vicious, but a great deal too far "run of the chambers," and most of them gone in the opposite way such as the carried out their purpose'by a runaway snatching up of a truly naked child and from them. The less they came, the less caressing it, or any other shameful act, in trouble they caused to Mr. Glanvil Malathe face of the noblest Christendom. These hide;'who always gave them that much to things he would do,and worse; such as no know when they paid their fee of entrance. toady with self-respect could smile at in "If you mean to be a lawyer," he said, "I broad daylight, and such as often exposed will do my best to make you one. If you the lad to laughter in good society. One only come for the name of it, I shall say but of his best friends used to say that Hilary little more to you." This, of course, was fair wanted a vice or' two to make his virtues enough, and the utmost that could be exbalaucee This may have been so; but none pected of him: for most of his pupils were the less he had his share of failings. young men of birth, or good position in the For a sample of these last he hlad taken English counties, to whom in their future up and made much of one of his fellow-pupils condition of life a little smattering of law, in these well-counected chambers. This was or the credit of owning such smattering, one Gregory Lovejoy, a youthentirely out would be worth a- fewv hundred guineas. of his element among fashionable sparks. Common Law, of course, was far more likeSteadfast ambition of a conceptive mother ly to avail them in their rubs of the world sent him, against his stars, to London; and than equity; but of that ifike drug they had 30 ALICE LORRAINE. generally taken their dose in Pleaders' Cham- ing of som' white witchery, and almost a bers, and were come to wash the taste away fright that little white blossoms have such in the purer shallows of equity. power over one. Hilary, therefore, might be considered, "Where may one find this grand paraand certainly did consider himself, a re- dise?" asked Rice Cockles, as if he could markably attentive pupil, for he generally scarcely refrain his feet from the road to it. was to be found in chambers four or even "Five miles the other side of Seven Oaks," five days of the week, coming in time to Gregory answered, boldly. read all the news before the five o'clock "I know the country. Does your father dinner in Hall. Whereas the Honorable grow cherries for Covent Garden market?" Robert Gumption and Sir Francis Kick- "Of course he does. Didn't you know about, two of his fellow-pupils, had only that?" Thenceforth in chambers Lovejoy been seen in chambers once since they paid was always known as "Cherry Lovejoy." their respective fees; and the reason of their And he always answered to that name. attendance then was that they found the It was now the end of June, and the chertowels too dirty to use at the billiard-rooms ries must be getting ripe. The day had in Fleet Street. The clerks used to say been very hot and sultry, and Hilary came among themselves, that " these young fel- into chambers later than his usual time, but lows must be dreadful fools to pay one hun- fresh as a lark, as he always was. Even Mr. dred guineas, because any swell with the Malahide had felt the weight of the weather, proper cheek might easy enough have the and of his own threescore years and five, and go of the chambers, and nobody none the in his own room was dozing. The three wiser; for they wouldn't know him, nor the clerks in their little den were fit for next to otheryoung gents, andleast ofallold "horse- nothing, except to lie far away in some wig." meadow, with sleepy beer, under alder-trees. However, there chanced to be two or three Even Rice Cockles had struck work with one men who made something more than a very of those hopeless headaches which are bred expensive lounge of these eminent chambers. by hot weather from satire, a thing that Of these worthy fellows, Rice Cockles was turns sour above freezing-point; and no one one (who had been senior wrangler two was dwelling in the long hot room save the years before, and from that time knew not peaceful and steady Gregory. one good night's rest, till the Woolsack Even he, with his resolute will to fulfill broke his fall into his grave), and another his mother's prophecies, could scarcely keep was Gregory Lovejoy. Cockles was thor- his mind from flagging, or his mouth from oughly conscious —as behooves a senior yawning, as he went through some most wrangler-of possessing great abilities; and elaborate answer to a grand petition in Lovejoy knew, on his own behalf, that his equity —the iniquity being, to a common mother at least was as sure as could be of mind, that the question could have arisen. all the wonders he must do. But Mr. Malahide, of course, regarded things Hilary could not bear Rice Cockles, who professionally. was of a dry, sarcastic vein; but he liked "Lovejoy, thy name is'Love misery,"' young Lovejoy more and more, the more he cried young Lorraine, who never called his had to defend him. Youths who have not fellow-pupil " Cherry," though perfectly had the fortune to be at a public school or welcome to do so. "I passed an optician's a college, seldom know how to hold their shop just now, and the thermometer stands tongues until the world has silenced them. at 96~. That quill must have come from an Gregory, therefore, thought no harm to boast ostrich to be able to move in such weather. opportunely one fine May morning (when Even the counselor yields to the elements. some one had seen a tree blossoming some- Hark how he winds his sultry horn! Is it, where) of the beauty of his father's cherry- not a great and true writer who says,'I tell trees. How noble and grand they must be thee that the quills of the law are the deadjust now-one sheet of white, white, white, liest shafts of the Evil One?' Come, therehe said, as big as the Inner and the Middle fore, and try a darting match." Temple and Lincoln's Inn all put together! Gregory felt no inclination for so hot a And then how the bees were among them pastime: he had found, however, a habit of buzzing, knowing which sort first to milk; yielding to the impulsive andpopularHilary, and the tortoise-shell butterflies quite sure which led him into a few small scrapes, and to be out for the first of their summering. one or two that were not small. Lorraine's But in the moonlight, best of all, when the unusual brightness of nature, and personal moon was three days short of full-then beauty and gentle bearing, as well as an inwas the time an unhappy Londoner must born readiness to be pleased with everybody, be amazed with happiness. Then to walk insured him a good liking with almost all among them was like walking in a fairy- kinds of people. How then could young land, or being lost in a sky of snow, before Lovejoy, of a fine but unshapen character. a flake begins to fall. A delicate soft world and never introduced to the very skirts of of white, an in and out of fancy lace, a feel- good society, help looking up to his cham2 Z5 C)~~~~~VV ~'~'~YVr-V — ALICE LORRAINE. 31 pion Hilary as a charming deity? There- "Can a baby do that?" said Hilary, as he fore he made way at once for Hilary's sud- stepped into poor Gregory's place, and sped den freak for darts. The whole world being his dart into the Chancellor's eye, the bull'sat war just then (as happens upon the aver- eye of their target. age in every generation), Cherry Lovejoy "That was well done," Mr. Malahide anslung his target, a legal almanac for the swered; "perhaps it is the only good shot year. Then he took four long quills, and you will ever make in your profession." pared them of their plumes, and split the "I hope not, sir. Under your carefultuishafts, and fitted each with four paper tion I am laying the foundations of a mighty wings, cut and balanced cleverly. His apt- host of learning." ness in the business showed that this was At this the lawyer was truly pleased. He not his first attempt; and it was a hard and really did believe that he took some trouble cruel thing that he should now have to pre- with his pupils; and his very kind heart pare them. But the clerks had a regular was always gratified by their praises. And trick of stealing the " young pups"' darts he showed his pleasure in his usual way, by from their unlocked drawers, partly for harping on verbal niceties. practice among themselves, but mainly to "Foundations of a host, Lorraine! Founplease their families. dations of a pile, you mean; and as yet, " Capital! Beautifully done!" cried Hil- lusisti pilis. But you may be a credit to me ary, as full of life as if the only warmth of yet. Allowance must be made for this great the neighborhood were inside him. "We heat. I will talk to you to-morrow." never turned out such a good lot before; I With these few words, and a pleasant could never do that like you. But now for smile, theeminent lawyer withdrew to his the tips, my dear fellow!" den, feigning to have caught no glimpse of "Any fool can do what I have done. But the deeply-blushing Lovejoy. For he knew no one can cut the tip at all, to stick in the quite well that Gregory could not afford to target, and not bounce back; only you, Mr. play with his schooling; and so (like a Lorraine." proper gentleman) he fell upon the one who " Mister Lorraine! now Gregory Lovejoy, could. Hilary saw his motive, and with his I thought we liked one another well enough usual speed admired him. to have dropped that long ago. If you will "What a fine fellow he is!" he said, as if only vouchsafe to notice, you shall see how in pure self-commune: "from the time he I cut the slit, so that the well-sped javelin becomes Lord Chancellor, I will dart at no pierces even a cover of calf-skin." It was legal almanac. But the present fellow — done in a moment, by some quick art, in- however, the weather is too hot to talk of herited, perhaps, from Prince Agasicles, and him. Lovejoy, wilt thou come with me? then they took their stations. I must break out into the country." From the farther end of the room they "What!" cried Gregory, drawing up at cast (for thirty feet and more perhaps) over the magic word from his stool of repentance, two great tables scarred by keen generations and the desk of his diminished head. "What of lawyers. Hilary threw the stronger shaft, was that you said, Lorraine?" but Gregory took more careful aim; so that "Fair indeed is the thing thou hast said, in spite of the stifling heat the contest grew and fair is the way thou saidest it. Tush! exciting. shall I never get wholly out of my ignorant "Blest if they young donkeys knows hot knowledge of Greek plays? Of languages from cold!" said the senior clerk, disturbed that be, or have been, only two words surin his little room-by the prodding and walk- vive this weather, in the streets of'London ing, and the lively voices. town; one is' rus, and the other country.'" "Sooner them, than you nor me!" the "' It is a sweet and decorous thing to die second clerk muttered sleepily. When the on behalf of the country.' That line I remost ungrammatical English is wanted, a member well; you must have seen it somecopying clerk is the man to supply it. where?" In spite of unkindly criticism, the brisk "It is one of my earliest memories, and acontic strife went on. And every hit was not a purely happy one. But that is'pachronicled on a long sheet of draft paper. tria, not' rus.'' Patria is the fatherland; "Sixteen to you, eighteen to me!" cried'rus' is a fellow's mother. None can underGregory, poising his long shadowed spear, stand this parable till they have lived in while his coat and waistcoat lay in the folds London." of a' suit that could never terminate, and his " Lorraine, said Gregory, coming up shysquare Kentish face was even redder than a ly, yet with his brown eyes sparkling, and a ripe May-duke. At that moment the door steadfast mouth to declare himself, "you was opened, and in came Mr. Malahide. are very much above me, of course; I' know." "Just so!" he said, in his quiet way; "I " am uncommonly proud to hear it," now understand the origin of a noise which Hilary answered, with his most sweet smile; has often puzzled me. Lorraine, what a "because I must be a much finer fellow than baby you must be!" I ever could have dreamed of being." 32 ALICE LORRAINE.. "Now, you know well enough what I just by accident, of something that came mean. I mean, in position of life, and all into myfhead quite casually." that-and birth, and breeding, and every:Such things have an inspiration. Out thing else." with it at last, fair Gregory." "To be sure," said Hilary, gravely, mak- Well then, if you must have it, how I ing a trumpet of blotting-papier; "any other should like for you to. come with me to advantage, Gregory i' have a little turn among my father's cherry"Fifty, if I could stop to tell them. But trees!'" I see that you mean to argue it. Now argu- What a noble thought!" said Hilary; ment is a thing that always-" "a poetic imagination only could have hit "Now, Gregory, justacknowledge me your on such a thought. The thermometer at superior in argument; and I, will, confess 96~-and the cherries-can they be sour myself your superior in every one of those now?. other things. " Such a thing is quite impossible," Greg"Well, you know, Lorraine, I could scarce- ory answered, gravely; " in a very cold wet ly do that. Because it was only the very summer they are sometimes a little midlast time-" dling. But in such a splendid year as this, "Exactly," said Hilary; "so it was-the there can be no two opinions. Would you very last time, you left me no more than a like to see them i" shadow caught in a cleft stick. Therefore, "Now, Lovejoy, I can put.up with much; friend Gregory, say your say, without any but not.with maddening questions." traps for the sole of my foot." "You mean, I suppose, that you could en" Well, what I was thinking was no more joy half a dozen cool red cherries, if you had than this-if you would take it into consid- the chance to pick them in among the elong eration now-considering what the weather green leaves?" is, and all the great people gone out of Lon- "Half a dozen! Half a peck; - and half a don, and the streets like fire almost, and the bushel afterward. Where have I put my lawyers frightened by the comet, quite as if, hat? I am off, if it costs my surviving sixas if, almost -" pence." "As if it were the devil come for them." " Lorraine, how very good you are! But "Exactly so. Bellows's clerk told me, af- you are always in such a hurry. You ought ter he saw the comet, that he could prove to think a good many times, before you are he had never been articled. And when you sure that you ought to do it.. Remember come to consider also that there will be a that my father's house is very good indeed, row to-morrow morning -not much, of and. very comfortable, I am sure; still it is course, but still a thing to be avoided till very different from. what you are accusthe weather cools-I thought;.at least, I tomed to." began to think-" "Such things are not worth thinking "My dear fellow, what? Anxiety in this about. Custom, and all that, are quite bedreadful weather is fever." low contempt; I know they are. The great"Nothing, nothing at all, Lorraine. But est mistake of our lives is custom; and the you are the sweetest-tempered fellow I ever greatest delight is to kick it awayy. Will came across; and so I thought. that you your father be glad to see me?" would not mind-at least, not so very much, " He has heard so much of you, Lorraine, perhaps-" that he vowed he would come to London "My sweet temper is worn out. I have (though he hates it so abominably), to see no mind to mind auy thing, Gregory; come you and to ask you down; if I were afraid and dine with me." to do so. It is a very old-fashioned place; "That is how you stop me always, Lor- you must please to bear that in mind. Also, raine; I can not be for ever coming, and my father, and my mother, and all of us, are come, to dine with you. I always like it; old-fashioned people, living in a quiet way. but you know " You would carry on more in an hour, than "To be sure, I know that I like it too. we do in a twelvemonth. We like to go It is high time to see about it. Who could all over things, ever so many times, perhaps dine in Hall to-day, and drink his bottle of (like pushing rings up and clown a stick) red-hot port " - before we begin to settle them. But, when "I could, and so. could a hundred others. we have settled them, we never start again; And I mean to do it, unless-" as you seem to do." "Unless whatt Mysterious Gregory, by "Now, Gregory, Gregory, this is bad. your face I know that you have some very When did you know me to start again? fine thing to propose. Have you the heart Ready I am to start this once, and to dwell to keep me suspended, as well as uncom- in the orchards forever." monly hungry.?"., In a few words more, these two young "It is nothing to make a fuss about. fellows agreed to take their luck of it. Lorraine, you turn upon one so, as if you There was nothing in chambers for Lovejoy forget the difference.. I was only thinking to lose, by going away for a day or two; ALICE LORRAINE. 33 and-Hilary long had felt -uneasy;at leaving a shameful spring of moisture, "that a fela holiday overdue. Therefore they made low always gets it worse.for trying, to be a their minds up promptly for an early start gentleman." next morning, while the drowsy town should "You have touched a great truth," Mr. be thrusting chimney-pots to catch the dew. Malahide answered, laboring bitterly not to "Gregory," said Lorraine, at last, "your smile; " but so it always must be. My boy, I mind is' a nest of genius. We two will-sit am sorry to vex you; but to be vexed is betupon bushel-baskets, and watch the sun rise ter than to grieve. You like young. Loveout of sacks. Before he sets, we will chal- joy-don't make him idle."'. lenge him to face our early wagon. Covent "Sir, I will dart at him henceforth, instead Garden is our trysting -spot, and the hour of the late lord chancellor, now sitting upon 4 A..: Oh, day to be markedv with white asphodel." chalk forever! "Lorraine," the great lawyer suddenly "I am sure I can't tell how that may bel asked, in a flush of: unusual interest; "you answered the less fervent Gregory..' There have been at Oxford quite recently. They is not much chalk down our way, and I nev- do all sorts of things there now. Have they er saw black chalk anywhere. But can I settled what asphodel is?" trust you to be there? If you don't come,: No, sir, I fear that they never will. There I shall not go without you, and the whole are several other moot questions still. But affair must be put off. with your kind leave, I mean to try to set"No fear, Gregory; no fear of me.: The tie that point to-morrow." lark shall still be on her nest; but wait, my friend, I will tell the counselor, lest I - ____ _ seem to dread his face." Lovejoy saw that this- was the bounden CHAPTER XII duty of a gentleman, inasmuch as the learned lawyer had promised his young friend a MARTIN LOVEJOY, Gregory's father, ownlittle remonstrance upon the following morn- ed andworked a pleasantfarm in that part ing. The chances were that he would for- of Kent which the natives love to call the get it; and this, of course, enhanced the "Garden of Eden." In the valley of the upduty of making him remember it. There- per Medway, a few miles above Maidstone, fore Hilary gave three taps on the worm- pretty hamlets follow the soft winding of eaten door of his good tutor, according to the river. Here an ancient race of settlers, the scale of precedence. This rule was- quiet but intelligent, chose their home, and inferior clerk, one tap; head-clerk, two taps; chose it well, and love it as dearly: as ever. pupil (being no clerk at all, and paying, not To argue. with such people is to fall below drawing, salary), as many taps as he might their mercy. They stand at ttheir cottage think proper, in a reasonable way..- doors exactly as twelve generations ago Hilary, of course, began as he always man- they stood. A riotous storm or two may aged to begin with almost every body. have swept them, but itl never lasted long. "I am sorry to disturbyou, sir, and I have The bow.ers of hop and of honeysuckle, trimnothing particular to say." med alleys, and rambling roses, the flower"In that case, why did you come, Lor- ing trees by the side of the road, and the raine? It is your usual state of mind." truest of true green meadows, the wealth of "Well, sir," said Hilary, laughing at the deep orchards retiring away-as all wealth terse mood of the master, "I thought you does-to delight itself; and where the land had something to say to me-a very unusu- condescends to wheat the vast gratitude of al state of mind," he was going to say, "on the wheat-crop —nobody wonders, after a your part;" but stopped, with a well-bred while, that these men know their value. youth's perception of the unbecoming. The early sun was up and slurring light "Yes, I have something to say to you. upon London house-tops, as a task of duty I remember it now, quite clearly. You were only, having lost allinterest in a thing even playing some childish game with Lovejoy, he can make no hand of. But the brisk air in the pupil's room. Now, this is all well of the morning, after: such a night of swelenough for you, who are it:for nothing else, tering, and of strong smells under slates, perhaps. Your father expects no work from rode in the prpertual balance of the clime, you; and if he did, lie would never get it. and spread itself. Fresh, cool draughts of You may do very well, in your careless way, new-born day, as vague as the smile of an being born to the gift of indifference. But infant, roved about; yet were to be caught those who can and must work hard-is it according to the dew-lines. And of these honest of you to seduce them?.You think the best and truest followed into Covent that I speak severely. Perhaps I do, be- Garden, under the force of attraction tocause I feel that I am' speaking to a gentle- ward the green stuff they had begotten. man." Here was a wondrous reek of men before "It is uncommonly hard," said Hilary, the.night had.quite spent itself. Such a with his bright blue eyes half conscious of Babel, of a market-morning in the "berry 34 ALICE LORRAINE. season," as makes one long to understand er nature kindly as lie loves it, but simply the mother-tongue of nobody. Many things as a child rejoices to play with other chilare nice and handsome; fruit and flowers dren. So that he entered eagerly into the are fair and fresh; life is as swift as life can sudden changes of John's temper, according be; and the pulse of price throbs everywhere. to the tone, the bidding, and, most of all, the Yet, upon the whole, it is wiser not to say importance of the customers that came to much more of it. him. By this time the cherries were all Martin Lovejoy scarcely ever ventured sold out, having left no trace except some into this stormy world. In summer and au- red splashes, where an over-ripe sieve had tumn he:was obliged to send some of his been bleeding. But the Kentish man still fruit to London; but he always sent it un- had some bushels of peas, and new potatoes, der the care of a trusty old retainer, Master and bunches of coleworts, and early carrots, John Shorne, whose crusty temper and crisp besides five or six dozens of creamy cauliwit were a puzzle to the Cockney coster- flowers, and several scores of fine - hearted monger. Throughout the market, this man lettuce. Therefore he was dancing with was known familiarly as "Kentish Crust," excitement up and down his van, for he and the name helped him well in his business. could not bear to go home uncleared; and Now, in the summer morning early, Hilary some of his shrewder customers saw that by Lorraine, with his most sprightly walk and waiting a little longer they would be likely manner, sought his way through the crowd- to get things at half-price. Of course, he ed alleys and the swarms of those that buy was fully alive to this, and had done his and sell. Even the roughest of rough cus- best to hide surplus stock by means of tomers (when both demand and supply are sacks, and mats, and empty bushels piled rough), though they would not yield him upon full ones. way, at any rate did not shove him by. "A "Crusty, thou must come down, old felswell, to buy fruit for his sweetheart," was low," cried a one-eyed coster-monger, winktheir conclusion in half a glance at him. ing first at John, and then through the rails, "Here, sir, here you are! berries for noth- and even at the springs of the van; "half ing, and cherries we pays you for eating of the load will go back to Kent, or else to them!" the cow-keeper, if so be you holds on so alWith the help of these generous fellows, mighty dear." Hilary found his way to John Shorne and "Ha, then, Joe, are you waiting for that the wagon. The horses, in unbuckled ease, Go to the cow-yard and take your turn. were munching their well-earned corn close They always feeds the one-eyed first. Genby; for at that time Covent Garden was not tlemen, now-while there's any thing left! squeezed and driven as now it is. The tail- We've kept all the very best back to the board of the wagon was now hanging upon last,'cos they chanced to be packed by an its hinges, and "Kentish Crust," on his Irishman.'First goes in, must first come springy rostrum, dealt with the fag-end of out.' Paddy, are you there to stick to it?" his goods. The market, in those days, was "Be jabers, and how could I slip out, not flooded with poor foreign produce, fair when the hape of you was atop of me? And to the eye, but a fraud on the belly, and con- right I was, be the holy poker; there it all tinually ending in dropsy. Englishmen, at is the very first in the bottom of the vhan!" that time, did not spend the whole power " Now, are you nearly ready, John?" askof their minds upon the newest and speedi- ed Gregory, suddenly appearing through the est measures for robbing their brother En- laughter of the crowd; " here is the gentleglishmen; and a native would really buy man going with us, and I can't have him from his neighbor as gladly as from his born kept waiting." enemy. "Come up, Master Greg, and help sell Master John Shorne had a canvas bag on out, if you know the time better than I do." the right side of his breeches, hanging out- John Shorne was vexed, or he would not so side, full in sight, defying every cut-purse. have spoken to his nmaster's son. That age was comparatively honest; never- To his great surprise, with a bound up theless, John kept a club, cut in Mereworth came, not Gregory Lovejoy, who was always Wood, quite handy. And, at every sale he a little bit shy of the marketing, but Hilary made, lie rang his coin of the realm in his Lorraine, declared by dress and manner bag, as if he were calling bees all round the (clearly marked, as now they never can be) wagon. This generally led to another sale. of an order wholly different from the people For money has a richly irresistible joy in round.him. jingling. "Let me help you, air," lie said; "I have Hilary was delighted to watch these long been looking on; I am sure that I unthings, so entirely new to him. He had derstand it." that fatal gift of sliding into other people's "Forty years have I been at un, and I minds, and wondering what to do there. scarcely knows un now. They takes a deal Not as a great poet has it, still reserving of mannerin', sir, and the prices will go in his own strength, and playing on the small- and out." ALICE LORRAINE. 35 "No doubt; and yet for the sport of it, ly; "well, if we must, let us think it on let me help you, Master Shorne. I will not springs." sell a leaf below the price you whisper to At the word he leaped into the fruit-van me." so lightly that the strong springs scarcely In such height of life and hurry, half a shook; and Gregory could do no better than minute is enough to fetch a great crowd climb in calmly after him. "Gee-wugg," anywhere. It was round the market in ten cried Master Shorne again; the bright brass seconds that a grand lord was going to sell harness flashed in the sun, and the horses out of Grower Lovejoy's wagon. For a merrily rang their hoofs on the road to their great wager, of course it must be; and all native land of Kent. who could rush, rushed to see. Hilary let them get ready, and waited till he saw that their money was burning. Meanwhile Crusty John was grinning one of his most CHAPTER XII. experienced grins. "Doh't let him, oh don't let him!" Grego- HILARY LORRAINE enjoyed his sudden dery shouted to the salesman, as Hilary came livery from London, and the fresh delight to the rostrum with a bunch of carrots in of the dewy country, with such loud approvone hand and a cauliflower in the other. al, and such noisy lightsomeness of heart, "What would his friends say if they heard that even Crusty John, perched high on the it " driving-box above him, could not help look" Nay, I'll not let un," John Shorne an- ing back now and then into the van, and afswered, mischievously taking the verb in its fording the horses the benefit of his opinion. (now) provincial sense; " why should I let "A right-down hearty one he be, as'11 make un? It can't hurt he, and it may do good some of our maids look alive. And the worst to we." time of year for such work too, when the In less than ten minutes the van was May-dukes is in and the Hearts a-coloring!" cleared, and at such prices as Grower Love- Hilary was sitting on an empty "halfjoy's goods had not fetched all through the sieve," and with his usual affability enjoysummer. Such competition arose for the ing the converse of "Paddy from Cork," as honor of purchasing from a "lnobleman," every body called the old Irishman, who and so enchanted were the dealers' ladies, served alike for farm, road, or market, as the many of whom came thronging round, with "lad of all work." But Gregory Lovejoy, Hilary's bright complexion, gay address, being of a somewhat grave and silent order, and complaisancy. was already beginning to doubt his own "Well done, my lord! well done indeed!" prudence in bringing their impulsive friend Crusty John, to keep up the fiction, shouted so near to a certain fair cousin of his now when he had pouched the money,'Gentle- staying at the hospitable farm, in whom he men and ladies, my lord will sell again next felt a tender interest. Poor Lovejoy feared week; he has a heavy bet about it with the that his chance would be small against this Prince Reg-tush, what a fool I am! They dashing stranger; and he balanced uncomwill send me to prison if I tell!" fortably in his mind, whether or not he As a general rule, the more suspicious should drop a hint, at the first opportunity, people are in some ways, the more credulous to Lorraine, concerning his views in that are they in all the rest. Kentish Crust was quarter. Often he almost resolved to do aware of this, and expected and found for so; and then to his diffidence it seemed prethe next two months extraordinary inquiry sumptuous to fancy that any young fellow for his goods. of Hilary's birth and expectations would en"Friend Gregory, wherefore art thou tangle himself in their rustic world. glum?" said Hilary to young Lovejoy, while At Bromley they pulled up, to bait "man the horses with their bunched-up tails were and beast," three fine horses and four good being buckled to again. Lorraine was ra- men eager to know the reason why they diantwith joy, both at his recent triumph in should not have their breakfast. Lorraine, a matter quite unknown to him, and even although very short of cash (as he always more because of many little pictures spread found the means to be), demanded and stood before him by his brisk imagination far out for leave to pay for every body. This away from London. Every stamp of a privilege was obtained at last-as it generhorse's hoof was as good as a beat of the ally is by persistency-and after that it was heart to him. felt that Hilary could no longer be denied " Lorraine," the sensible Gregory answer- his manifest right to drive the van. He had ed, after some hesitation, "I am vexed at driven the Brighton four-horse coach, the the foolish thing you have done. Not that whole way to London, times and againD; and it really is at all a disgrace to you, or your it was perfectly absurd to suppose that he family,but that the world would take it so; could not manage three horses. Master and we must think as the world does." John Shorne yielded his seat, apparently to " Must we?" asked Hilary, smiling kind- this reasoning, but really to his own sure 36 ALICE LORRAINE. knowledge that the horses after so long a, "occupation road;" and what was more, journey would be, on their way to stall, as they would use it as such. " Grower Lovequiet as lambs in the evening. Therefore joy," as the neighborhood called him-not he rolled himself up in the van, and slept the that he was likely to grow much more, but sleep of the man who has been up and wide- because of his cherry-orchards — here was awake allnight for the sake of other people. the proper man to hold the gate against all The horses well knewthe trueway home, his enemies. When they sawed it down, and offered no cause for bit or whip; and he very promptly replaced it with cast-iron; they seemed to be taken sometimes with and when this was shattered with a foldthe pleasure which Hilary found in address- pitcher, he stopped their premature triumph ing them. They lifted their tails, and they by a massive barrier of wrought metal, casepricked their ears, at the proper occasions hardened against rasp or cold chisel. More genially; till the heat of the day settled over, he painted it white, so that any nocdown on their backs, and their creases grew turnal attack might be detected at a greatdark and then lathery. And the horse-fly er distance. (which generally forbears the pleasure of When Paddy had opened this gate with nuisance till July) in this unusually hot a key which he had carried to London, they summer was earnest in his vocation already. passed through an orchard of: May- duke Therefore, being of a leisurely mind, as be- cherries, with the ripe fruit hanging quite hooves all genuine sons of the soil, Master over the road. "No wonder you lock the Shorne called a halt, through the blazing gate," said Lorraine, as Crusty John, now time of noon, before battling with the "Back- on the box again, handed: him a noble clusbone of Kent," as the beautiful North Down ter, with the dark juice mantling richly unrange is called. Here in a secluded glen they der the ruddy gloss of skin. shunned the heats of Canicula under the sign "Do you mean that we should get them of the" Pig and Whistle." stolen?" Gregory asked, with some indignaThusthe afternoon was wearing when they tion; for his Kentish pride was touched: came to Sevenoaks, and passing through "oh no, we should never get them stolen. that pleasant town, descended into the Nobody about here would do such a thing." weald of Kent. No one but Hilary cared "Then they don't know what's good," anfor the wonderful beauty and richness of swered Hilary, jumping at another cluster; the view, breadth upon breadth of fruit-' I was born to teach the Kentish public land, woven in and out with hops and corn; the proper way to steal cherries." and toward the windings of the Medway, "Well, they do take them sometimes," pastures of the deepest green, even now af- the truthful Gregory confessed; " but we ter the heat of the sun, and the thirst of the never call it stealing, any more than we do comet that drank.the dew. Turning on the what the birds take."left from the Toubridge road, they thread- "Valued fellow-student, thy strong point ed their way along narrow lanes, where the will not be the criminal law.' But you must hedges no longer were scarred with chalk, have a criminal love of the law, to jump at but tapestried with all shades of green, and, it out of these cherry-trees." even in the broken places, rich with little "It was my mother's work,' as you know. cascades of loam. Careless, dog-rose played Ah, there she is, and my cousin Phyllis!" above, them.with its loose abandonment; For the moment Lovejoy forgot his duty and honeysuckle was almost ready to re- to his friend and particular guest, and sliplease its clustered tongues; but " traveler's ping down from the tail of the van, made joy"-the joy that makes all travelers long off at full speed through the cherry-trees. to rest in Kent-abode: as yet in the hopeful Hilary scarcely knew what to do. The last bud, a pendent shower of emerald. thing that ever occurred to him was that These things were not heeded much, but any one had been rude to him; still it was pleasantly accepted, by the four men and rather unpleasant to drive, or be driven, up three horses. All felt alike that the world to the door of his host, sitting upon a bushwas made for them, and for them to enjoy el-basket, and with no one to say who he themselves; and little they cared to go into was. Yet to jump out and run after Gregthe reason,, when they had the room for it. ory, and collar him while he saluted his With this large sense of what ougnht to be, mother, was even a worse alternative. In they came to the gate of Old Applewood a very few moments that chance was gone; Farm, a great white gate with a padlock on for the team, with the scent of their corn so it. This stopped the road, and was meant nigh, broke into a merry canter, and rattled to do so; for Martin Lovejoy, Gregory's fa- along with their ears pricked forward, and ther, claimed the soil of the road from this a pleasant jingling. Neither did they stop point, and denied all right of way, public or until they turned into a large farm-yard, even private, to all claimants of whatsoever with an oast-house at the farther end of it. kind. On the other hand the parish claim- The dwelling-house was of the oldest fashed it as a public thoronghfare, and two ion, thatched in the middle, at each end farmers farther on vowed:that: it was.an gabled, tiled in some places, and at some ALICE LORRAINE. 37 parts slabbed.. Yet, on the whole,it looked "Why, Miss Clitherow, I thought from snug, dry, and happy.. Here, with one ac- what.your cousin said to me that you were cord, they halted, and shook themselves in only staying here for a little time yourtheir harness, and answered the neighs of self." their friends in the stables. "You are quite right as to Miss ClithHilary, laughing at his own plight, but erow. But I am not my cousin Phyllis.- I feeling uncommonly stiff in the knees, arose am only Mabel Lovejoy, Gregory Lovejoy's from his basket, and looked around.; and sister." almost the first thing that met his gaze de- " By Jove, how glad I am!" cried Hilary, stroyed all his usual presence of mind. This in his impetuous way; "what a fool I must was a glance of deep surprise, mingled with have been not to know it, after I saw him timid inquiry and doubt, from what Master run to meet his cousin in:the orchard! But Hilary felt at once to be the loveliest, sweet- that treacherous Gregory never told me that est, and most expressive brown eyes in the he even had a sister. Now, won't I thoruniverse. The young:girl blushed as she oughly give it to him?" turned away, through fear of having shown You must not be angry, Mr. Lorraine, curiosity; but; the rich tint of her cheeks with poor Gregory, because —because Phylwas faint,.compared with the color of poor lis is such a beautiful girl." Lorraine's. That gay youth was taken aback' Don'tlet me hear:about beautiful girls! so utterly by the flash of a moment that he As if- as if there could be any — " could not find a word to say, but made pre- Good enough for Gregory," she answertense in a wholesale manner to see nothing ed, coming cleverly to his rescue, for he knew at all particular. But the warm blood from that.he had gone too far; " but wait till you his heart belied him, which he turned away have seen cousin Phyllis." to hide, and worked among the baskets " There is one thing I shall not defer for briskly, hoping to be looked at, and pre- the glory of seeing a thousand Miss Clithparing to have another look as soon as he crows, and that is the right that I have to felt that it could be done. shake hands with my dear friend Gregory's Meanwhile, that formidable creature, sister." whose glance had. produced such a fine ef- He had leaped fromthe van some time ago, feet, recovered more promptly from surprise, and now -held out his hand (a good. strong and felt, perhaps the natural pride of suc- one pleasingly veined with cherry-juice), cess, and desire to pursue the fugitive. At and she, with hospitable readiness, laid her a.ny rate, she was quite ready to hear what- pretty palm therein. He felt that it wan a ever'he might have to say for himself. pretty hand, and a soft one, and a hearty "I must ask you to forgive me," Lorraine one; and he found excuse to hold it longer, began in a nervous manner, lifting his hat, while he asked a question. and still blushing freely, "for springing so " Now how.did you know my name, if you suddenly out of the earth -or rather, out; please, while I; made such a stupid mistake of this van, I mean; though that can't be about yours?" right, for I still am in it. I believe that I "By your bright blue eyes," she was going have the pleasure of speaking to Miss Phyl-. to answer, with her native truthfulness; lis Clitherow. Your cousin, Mr. Lovejoy, is but the gaze of those eyes suggested that a very great'friend of mine indeed; and he the downrightt truth: might be dangerous. most kindly asked, or rather,: what I mean Therefore, for once, she met a question with to say is, invited me to come down for a day a question, warily. or two to this delightful part of the world; "Was it likely that I should not know and I have enjoyed it so much already, that you, after' all I have heard of you?" This I am sure-that-that in fact2" pleased'him well in a general way. For "That I hope you may soon enjoy it Hilary, though too free (if possible): from more." She did not in the least mean any conceit and arrogance, had his own little sarcasm or allusion to Hilary's present state; share of vanity. Therefore, upon the whole, still he fancied that she did; until:the kind. it was lucky, and showed due attention to look, coming so sweetly from the kind warm his business, that Grower Lovejoy now came heart, convinced him that; she:never could up, to know what was doing about the van. be so cruel. Martin Lovejoy: was'not a squatter, by "I see.the most delightful prospect I ever seven years stamped into "tenant right," could imagine of enjoying myself," Lorraine which means for the most part landlord's replied, with a glance,impartingto his harm- wrong. Nor was he one of those great tenless words the mischief of that which now- ant farmers who, even then, were beginning adays.we call "a most unwarrantable per- to rise, and hold their own with "landed sonal allusion.".But she did not, or would gentry." His farm was.small, when comnot, take it so.; pared with some; but it was outright his " How kind of you to be pleased so light- own, having descended to him through longly! But we do our best in our simple way, buried generations. So that he was one of when any one kindly comes to see us." the ever-dwindling class of " franklins', a 38 ALICE LORRAINE. class that las done good work for England, how can there want to be so many now? neither obtaining nor wanting thanks. This numbering of the people is an unholy Old Applewood Farm contained altogether thing, that leads to plagues. All the parabout six hundred acres, whereof at least sons around here say that this has brought two-thirds lay sweetly in the Vale of Med- the comet. And they may show something way, and could show root, stem, or bine for it; and they preach of Jerusalem when against any other land in Kent, and there- it was going to be destroyed. They have fore any in England. Here was no fear of frightened all our young maids terribly. the heat of the sun, or the furious winter's What is said in London, sir?" rages, such a depth of nature underlay the "Scarcely any thing, Mr. Lovejoy; scarceroots of every thing. Nothing ever suffered ly any thing at all. We only see him every from that poverty of blood which makes now and then, because of the smoke between trees canker on a shallow soil; and no tree us. And when we see him, we have always rushed into watery strength (which very got our own work to attend to." soon turns to weakness), through having "Wonderful, wonderful!" answered the laid hold upon something that suited only a grower; " who can make out them Londonparticular part of it. ers? About their business they would go And not the trees alone, but all things, if Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were all swalgrew within that proper usage of a regu- lowed up in front of them. For that I like lated power (yet with more of strength to them. I like a man- But come in to our come up, if it should be called for), which little supper, sir." has made our land and country fertile over all the world; receiving submissively the manners and the manure of all nations. APT X CHAPTER XIV. This is a thing to be proud of; but the opportunity for such pride was not open to the TIIE next day was Sunday; and Hilary British mind at the poor old time we deal (having brought a small bag of clothes with with. him) spent a good deal of the early time in Martin Lovejoy knew no more than that attending to his adornment. For this he the rest of Europe was amassed against our had many good reasons to give, if only he island; and if England meant to be En- had thought about them; but the only selfgland, every son of that old country must examination that occurred to him was at the either fight himself or pay. Martin would looking-glass. Here he beheld himself lookrather have fought than paid, if he had only ing clean and bright, as he always did look; happened to be a score and a half years and yet he was not quite satisfied (as he younger. ought to have been) with his countenance. Hilary Lorraine knew well (when Martin "There is room for a lot of improvement," Lovejoy took his hand, and welcomed him he exclaimed at himself, quite bitterly: to Old Applewood) that here was a man to " how coarse, and how low, I begin to look! be relied on, to make good his words and But there is not a line in her face that could mind. A man of moderate stature, but of be changed without spoiling it. There sturdy frame, and some dignity; ready to again! Hairs, hairs, coming almost everymeet every body pretty much as he was met. where! Beautiful girls have none of that " Glad to see you, sir," he said; "I have stuff. How they must despise us! All their often heard of you, Master Lorraine; it is hair is ornamental, and ours comes so disright kind of you to come down. I hope gracefully!" that you are really hungry, sir." When he had no one else to talk to, Hil"To the last degree," answered Hilary. ary always talked to himself. He always "I have been eating off and on, but nothing believed that he knew himself better than at all to speak of, in the noble air I have any body else could know him. And so he traveled through." had a right to do; and so he must have done "Our air has suited you, I see by the color just now, if doubtful watch of himself and of your cheeks and eyes. Aha! the differ- great shaking of his head could help him. ence begins, as I have seen some scores of At last he began to be fit to go down, actimes, at ten miles out of London. And we cording to his own ideas, though not at all are nearly thirty here, sir, from that miser- sure that he might not have managed to able place. Excuse me, Master Lorraine, I touch himself up just a little bit morehope I say nothing to offend you." which might make all the difference. He "My dear sir, how can you offend me? I thought that he looked pretty well; but hate London heartily. There must be a still he would have liked to ask Gregory million people there a great deal too good to before it was too late to make any change live in it. We are counting every body this and the beautiful eyes fell upon him. But year; and I hear that when it is made up Gregory, and all the rest, were waiting for there will be a million and a quarter!" him in the breakfast-room; and no one al"I can't believe it. I can not believe it. lowed him to suspect how much he had tried There never was such a deal before. And their patience. ALICE LORRAINE. 39 Young Lovejoy showed a great deal of ed out, after behaving uncommonly well, skill in keeping Lorraine to the other side and scarcely glancing at one another, when of the table from Phyllis Clitherow; and the clergyman gave out that the heat of the Hilary was well content to sit at the side of weather had not allowed him to write a new Mabel. Phyllis, in his opinion, was a beau- discourse that week; but as the same cause tiful girl enough, and clever in her way, and must have made them forgetful: of what he lively; but lovely was the only word to be had said last Sunday (when many of them used at all about Mabel. And she asked seemed inattentive), he now proposed, with him to have just a spoonful of honey, and to the divine assistance, to read the same sershare a pat of butter with her, in such a mon again to them. voice, and with such a look, that if she had With the unconverted youthful mind, a said, here are two ounces of cold - drawn spring (like that of Jack-out-of-the-box) at castor-oil-if you take one, I'll take the oth- the outer door of the church jumps up, after er," he must have opened his mouth for it. being so long inside, into that liberal goodSo they went on; and neither knew the will which is one of our noblest sentiments. deadly sin they were dropping to-that Any body is glad to see almost every body; deadly sin of loving when the level and en- and people (though of one parish) in great tire landscape of two lives are different. joy forego their jangling. The sense of a Through the rich fields, and across a pret- grand relief, and a conscience wiped clean ty little wandering brook, which had no for another week, leads the whole lot to love right to make a quarter of the noise it was one another as far as the gate of the churchmaking, this snug party went to church. yard. Accurate knowledge of what to do, as well But our young people were much inclined as very pretty manners, and a sound resolve to love one another much farther. The to be overnice (rather than incur the possi- more they got into the meadow-land, and bility of pushing), led the two young men the strength of the summer around them, from London rather to underdo the stiles, with the sharp stroke of the sun, and the and almost go quite away, than to express brisk short shadows of one another, the more their feelings by hands, whenever the top- they -ere treading a dangerous path, and bar made a tangle, according to the usual melting away to each other. Hilary saw knot of it. The two girls entered into this, with romantic pride that Mabel went on as and said to themselves, what a very superior well as ever, and had not a bead on her clear thing it was to have young men from Lon- bright cheeks; while at the same time Phyldon in comparison with young hop-growers, lis, though stopping to rest every now and who stood here and there across them, and then-but Hilary never should have noticed made them so blush for each inch of their this. Such things are below contempt. legs. What made it all the more delicate, In this old and genial house, the law was and ever so much more delightful, was, tlat that the guest should appoint the time for the excellent grower was out of the way, dinner, whenever the cares of the outer work and so was Mrs. Lovejoy. For the latter, permitted it. And as there were no such being a most kind-hearted woman, had rheu- cares on Sunday, Hilary had to choose the matic pains at the first church-bell, all up time for the greatest event of the human the leaders of her back; so that the stiles day. This had been talked of and settled, were too many for her, and Master Lovejoy of course, before any body got the prayerwas compelled to drive her in the one-horse books; and now the result at two o'clock shay. was a highly excellent repast. To escape By the time these staid young men and the power of the sun they observed this festimaidens came to the little church-yard gate val in the hall of the house, which was deevery thing was settled between them, as if liciously cool even now, being paved with by deed under hand and seal, although not stone, and shaded by a noble and fragrant so much as a wave of the air, much less any walnut-tree. Mrs.Lovejoyknew,whatmany positive whisper of the wind, had stirred even good housekeepers seem not to knowtherein. The import of this unspoken and to wit, that to keep a room cool, it is not even undreamed covenant was, that Gregory necessary to open the windows when the now must walk with Phyllis, and see to her, meridian sun bombards. "For goodness and look at her, without her having any sake, let us have some air in such weather second thoughts concerning Hilary. Hilary, as this!" they cry, when they might as well on the other hand, was to be acknowledged say, "let us cool the kitchen by opening the as the cavalier of Mabel; to help her when door of the oven." she wanted helping, and to talk when she Lorraine was one of those clever fellows wanted talking; although it might be as- who make the best of every thing; which sumed quite fairly that she could do most is the cleverest thing that can be done by a of that for herself. Feeling the strength of human being. And he was not yet come to good management, all of them marched into the time of life when nothing is good if the church accordingly. dinner is bad; so that he sat down cheerily, In the very same manner they all march- and cheered all the rest by doing so. 40 ALICE: LORRAINE. Of course there were many.things. said to stop, a look -of surprise, or a turn of the and done, which never would have been said, head, would tempt him to go on:again.. And or thought of,;at the dinner-table of Coombe there would be little moments (both on his Lorraine. But Hilary (though of a very side and on hers) of looking about at othsensitive fibre in such matters) neither saw, er people with a stealthy: richness; with a nor heard, nor felt, a single thing that. irked sense of some great treasure, made between him. There was nothing low about any them, and belonging to.themselves in pribody; whereas there was something as high vate;: a proud. demand that the rest of the as the heavens dining out of the very next world should attend to its proper business; plate. He made himself (to the very utmost and then, with one accord, a meeting of the of his power) agreeable, except at the mo- eyes that were beginning, more and more, to ments when his power of pleasing quite out- mean alike. ran himself.:Then he would stop and look All this was:as nice as could be, and a at his fork-one ofthe fine old two-pronged pretty thing to see. Still, in a world that fellows-and almost be'afraid to glance, to always leaves its loftiest principles to acask what she was thinking.: cumulate, at the lowest interest (and once She was thinking the very things that in every generation to be a mere drag in the she should have knownubetter than to think. market)," love " is used, not in games alone, But whatl harm could there possibly be in as the briefest form of nothing." All our scarcely thinking, so much as dreaming, lovers (bred as lovers must be under school things that could have nothing in them? boards) lknow what they are after now, and Who was she, a country girl, to set herself who can paythe ninepence. But in theanutp, and behave herself, as if any body meant cient time, the. mothers had to see to most any thing? And yet his eyes, and the bend of that. of: his head, and his choice of that kidney- Mrs. Lovejoy, though- she did: not speak, potato for her (as if he were born'a grower), or look particularly, had her perception of and then the way he poured her beer if what was going on close by.:And she said there was nothing in all this, why then there to herself, " I will see to this. It is no good was nothing in all the world, except delu- interfering now. I shall have Miss Mabel sion and breaking of heart. all to myself in three-quarters of an hour." Hilary, sitting at her. knife-hand,:felt a whole course of the like emotions, making.. ~ allowance.for gender. How beautifully she played her knife, with a feminine tenderness: CHAPTER XV. not to make too strong a slice of any thing! And how round her little wrist was, popping MRs. LovEJY's lecture to her daughter in and out of sleeves, according as the elbow seemed likely to come just a little too late, went; and no knob any-where to be seen, as so many excellent lessons do. For as soon such as women even of the very latest fash- as he saw that all had dined, the host proion have..'And then- her hair was coming posed an adjournment, which was welcomed toward him (when she got a bit of gristle) with no small delight by all except the so that he could take a handful, if the other hostess. people only would have the manners not to " Now, Master:Lorraineandmy niecePhyllook. And ohl, what lovely hair it was! so lis, what say you, if we gather our fruit for silky, and so rich, and bright, and full of ourselves in the shady places; or rather, merry dances to the music of her laugh! if we sit on the bank of the little brook in And he did not think:he had ever seen any the orchard, where there is a nice sheltered thing better than her style of eating, with- spot; and there we can have a glass of wine out showing-it. Clearly enjoying her bit of while the maidens pick the fruit for us?" food, and tempting all to feed their best;'. Capital,"' answered Hilary; " what a:fine yet full of mind at every mouthful, and of idea, Mr. Lovejoy! But surely we ought to heart at every help. But above all, when pick for the ladies instead of letting them she looked up, quite forgetting both knife pick for us." and fork, and looked as if she could look "No, sir, we Iwill let them have the pleaslike that into no other eyes but his; with ure: of waiting upon us.: It is the rule of such a gentle flutter, and a timid wish to this neighborhood, and ought to be observed tell no more, and yet a sudden pulse of glad everywhere. We work for the ladies all the light from the innocent young heart —noth- week, serve, honor, and obey them.: On Suning could be lovelier than the way in which days they do the like for us, and it is a very she raised her eyes: except her way of drop- pleasant:change.: Mabel, don't forget the ping them.' pipes. Do: you smoke, Master Lorraine? If These precious glances: grew more rare so, mydaughterwillffll a pipe for you." and brief the more he sought for them.; and "That would be enough to tempt me, even he wondered'whether any body else'ever if I disliked it, whereas I am very fond of it. had been treated so. Then, when he would However, I never do smoke, because my faseem to. be doubtful, and too much inclined ther has a most inveterate prejudice against ALICE LORRAINE. 41 it. I promised him some time ago to give ful things for us his creatures to rejoice in, it up for a twelvemonth. And the beauty with praise, thanksgiving, and fruitfulness. of it is that there is nothing he himself en- Mabel, put them two bottles in the brookjoys so much as a good pinch of snuff. Ah, not there, you stupid child! can't you see there I am getting my revenge upon him. that the sun comes under that old root? In My sister will do any thing I ask her; and the corner, where that shelf of stone is. he will do any thing she asks him; and so, Thank you, Master Lorraine. What a thing without his knowledge, I am breaking him it is to have a head-piece! But God Alof his snuff-box." mighty never made, among all his wonder"Aha, well done! I like that. And I like ful infinite works, the waters and the great you too, young man, for your obedience to whales, and the fruit-tree yielding'fruit, your father. That virtue is becoming very whose seed is in itself, and the green herb rare; rarer and rarer every year. Why, if for meat, which means to come to table with my father had knocked me down I should the meat; his mercy endureth forever; and have lain on the ground, if it was a nettle- he never showed it as when he' made tobacbed, till he told me to get up. Now, Greg, co, and clay for tobacco-pipes —the white my boy, what would you do?" clay that he made man of."- With this "Well, sir, I think that I should get up as thanksgiving, he began to smoke. quick as I could, and tell my mother." " Now, Martin, I never could see that," an"Aha! and I should have the nettles then. swered Mrs. Lovejoy; "the best and greatWell said, Greg, my boy; I believe it is what est work of the Lord ought to have been for all the young fellows nowadays would do. the women first." But I don't mean you, of course, Master Lor- "Good wife! then it must have been the raine. Come along, come along! Mabel, you apple. Ah, Gregory, I had your mother know where that old Madeira is that your there. However, we won't dispute- on a poor Uncle Ambrose took three times to Cal- Sunday; it spoils all the goodness of going cutta. Ah, poor man, I wish he was here! to church, and never leaves any thing setAs fine a fellow as ever shotted a cannon at tied. Mabel, ran away now for the fruit, a Frenchman. Nelson could have done no while Gregory feels if the wine is cold. better. And it did seem uncommonly hard Master Lorraine, I hope that our little way upon him never to go to church-yard. How- of going on, and being overfree on a Sunever, the will of the Lord be done! Now day perhaps, does not come amiss to you." mind, the new patent cork-screw." Hilary did not look as if any thing came Mabel was only too glad to get this er- amiss to him, as now he lay at the feet of rand to the cellar. With filial instinct she Mabel, on the slope of the sweet rich sward, perceived how likely she was to " catch it," listening only for her voice, more liquid than as soon as her mother got the chance. Not. even the tone of the brook. He listened for that she deserved it. Oh no, not in the least, it, but not to it; inasmuch as one of those her conscience told her. Was she to be act- sudden changes, which (at less than half a ually rude to her father's guest, and her breath) vapor the glass of the feminine mind brother's friend? And as if she was not was having its turn with the maiden. Mabel old enough now, at eighteen and a quarter, felt that she had not kept herself to herself, to judge for herself in such childish matters as she should have done. Who was this genas how to behave at dinner-time! tleman, or what, that she should' be-taken By the side of a pebbly brook-which ran with him so suddenly as to feel her breath within stone-throw of the house, sparkling come short every time that she even thought fresh and abundant from deep well-springs of her mother? A gentleman from London, of the hill-range-they cameto a place which too, where the whole time of the Court was seemed to be made especially for enjoyment. spent, as Master Shorne brought news every, A bend of the grassy banks and rounded hol- week, in things that only the married women low of the fruit-land, where cherry and ap- were allowed to hear of. In the present case, ple and willow tree clubbed their hospitable of course, she knew how utterly different all shade, and fugitive water made much ado to things were. How lofty and how grand of ripple down the zigzag rill. Here, in cool heart, how fearful even to look at her much and gentle shelter, the grower set his. four -still, for all that, it would only be wise to legs down; i. e., the four legs of his chair, show him, or at least to let him see thatbecause, like all that in gardens dwell, he that, at any rate, for the presentfound mother earth too rheumatic for. him, "Now, Mabel, when are you going for the especially in hot weather, when deep slug- cherries? Phyllis —bless my heart alive! gish fibres radiate. The groweress also had Gregory, are you gone to sleep? What are her chair, borne by the sedulous Gregory. all the young people made of, when a touch All the rest, like nymphs and shepherds, of summer makes them only fit to sprawl strewed their recumbent forms on turf. about?" " GodAlmighty," saidMasterLovejoy, fear- "Bring three sorts of cherries, Mabel, ing that he might be taking it too easy for Gregory shouted after her; "Mr. Lorraine the Sabbath-day, "really hath made beauti- must be tired of May-dukes, I am sure. The 3 42 ALICE LORRAINE. Black Geans must be ripe, and the Eltons, Hilary longed to go and help them; but and the Early Amber. And go and see how his host being very proud of the grandeur the White-hearts'are on the old tree against of his Madeira wine, would not even hear the wall." of it. And Mrs. Lovejoy, for other reasons, "Much he knows about cherries, I be- showed much skill in holding him; so that lieve!" grumbled Mr. Lovejoy; "John Doe he could but sit down and admire the picand Richard Roe be more to his liking than ture he longed to be part of. Hence he bethe finest Griffins. Why, the White-hearts held in the happy distance, in and out the haven't done stonng yet! What can the well-fed trees, skill, and grace, and sprightly boy be thinking of?" It was the grower's movements, tiny baskets lifted high, round leading grievance that neither of his two arms bent for drawing downward, or thrown sons seemed likely to take to the business up for a jumping catch, and every thing else after him. Here was the elder being turned that is so lovely, and safe to admire at a disby his mother into a "thieves' counselor," tance. and the younger was away at sea, and when- By-and-by the maids came back, bearing ever he came home told stories of foreign theirjuicytreasure, andblithewithsome sage fruit which drove his father into a perfect mysticism of laughter. They had hit upon fury. So that now it was Martin's leading some joke between them, or something that wish to marry his oily daughter to some one chanced to tickle them; and when this hapfitted to succeed him, who might rent the es- pens with girls, they never seem to know tate from the proper heir, for the land had when the humor is out of it. And of course been disgaveled. they make the deepest mystery of a diminIt is a pleasing thing to a young man- utive jest so harmless, that it hits no one ay, and an old one may be pleased-to see a except themselves. Mrs. Lovejoy looked at pretty girl make herself useful in pretty and them strongly. Her time for common sense natural attitudes; and that pleasure now was come; and she thought they were stealmight be enjoyed at leisure and in dupli- ing a march upon her, by some whispers cate. For Phyllis Clitherow was a pretty, about young men, the last thing they should or rather a beautiful young woman, slender, ever think of. tall, and fair of hue. Not to be compared Whereas the poor girls had no thought of with Mabel, according to Hilary's judgment; any thing of the kind. Neither would they but infinitely superior to her in the opinion think one atom more than they could help, of Gregory. All that depends upontaste, of of what did not in the least concern them, course; but Mabel's beauty was more likely if their elders, who laid down the law, would to outlast the flush of youth,having the keep- only leave them to themselves. And it was ing qualities of a bright and sweet expres- not long till this delightful discretion was sion, and the dark lustre of sensible eyes. afforded them. For, after a glass or two of These two went among the cherry-trees, wine, the heat of the day began to tell, with fair knowledge what to do, and having through the cool air of the hollow, on that light scarfs on their heads, brought behind worthy couple, now kindly hand in hand, their ears and tied under the curves of their and calmly going down the slope of life. single chins. Because they knew that the They hoped they had got a long way to go spurs and sprays would spoil their lovely yet; and each thought so of the other. NeiSunday hats, even if they should escape the ther of them had much age, being well under drip of a cherrywounded by some fine thrush. three-score years; just old enough to begin The blackbirds pop them off entire, and so to look on the generation judiciously. But do the starlings; but the' thrushes sit and: having attained this right at last, after peck at them, with the juice dripping down paying heavily, what good could they have on their dappled breasts, and a flavor in of it, if young people were ever so far their throats which they mean to sing about above their judgment? Meditating thus at their leisure. But now the birds that they dozed, and youthful voice, and glance, were come among them meant to have them and smile, were drowned in the melody ofwholesale. Phyllis, being a trifle taller, and nose. less deft of finger, bent the shady branches The breeze that comes in the afternoon down for Mabel to pluck the fruit. Mabel of every hot day (unless the sky is hushing knew that she must take the northern side up for a thunder-storm) began to show the of the tree, of course; and the boughs where under-side of leaves and the upper gloss of the hot sun had not beaten through the grass,and with feeble puffs to stir the stagleaves and warmed the fruit. Also she nant heat into vibration, like a candle quivknew that she must not touch the fruit ering. Every breath at first was hot, and with her hand and dim the gloss; but above only made the air -feel hotter, until there all things to be careful as of the goose arrived a refreshing current, whether from with the golden eggs -to make no havoc some water-meadows or the hills where the of the young buds forming at the base of chalk lay cool. every cluster, for the promise of next year's "The heat is gone," said Martin Lovejoy, crop. waking into the pleasant change; "it will ALICE LORRAINE. 43 be a glorious afternoon. Pooh, what is this plans. For my own part, I should be well to call hot weather? Only three years ago, pleased if Mabel were really fond of him, in 1808, I remember well —" and if the great people came round in the "It may have been hotter then, my dear," end, as sooner or later they always do. There said Mrs. Lovejoy, placidly; " but it did not are: very few families in the kingdom that make you forget your pipe, and be ungrate- need be ashamed of my daughter; I think. ful to Providence about me" And he is a most highly accomplished young " Why, where can the children be?" cried man. He said last night immediately after the grower; "I thought they were all here prayer-time that I might try for an hour, just this moment! It is wonderful how and he would be most happy to listen to they get away together. I thought young me, but I never, never could persuade him Lorraine and Gregory were as fast asleep as that I was over forty years old. Therefore, you or I! Oh, there, I hear them in the dis- husband, see to it yourself. Things may tance, with the girls, no doubt, all alive and take their own course for me." merry!" "Trust me, trust me, good wife," said "Ay, and a little too merry, I doubt," an- Martin; "I can see, as far as most folk can. swered Mrs. Lovejoy; "a little too much What stupes boys and girls are, to be sure, alive for me. Why, they must be in the to go rushing about after watery fruit, and wall garden now! Goodness alive, I believe leave such wine as this here Madeira. Have they are, and nobody to look after them!" another glass, my dear good creature, to "Well, if they are they can't do much cheer you up after your prophecies." harm. They are welcome to any thing they Meanwhile, in the large old-fashioned garcan find, except the si strawberries I cross- den, which lay at the east end of the house, ed, and Mabel will see that they don't eat farther up the course of the brook, any one those." sitting among the currant-bushes might have " Crossed strawberries, indeed now, Mar- judged which of the two was right, the untin!" Mrs. Lovejoy never could be brought romantic franklin, or his more ambitious to understand cross-breeding. "They'll do but sensible wife. Gregory and Phyllis were something worse than cross your strawber- sitting quietly in a fine old arbor, having ries unless you keep a little sharper lookout, a steady little flirt of their own, and attendThey'll cross your plans, Master Martin ing to nothing in the world besides. PhylLovejoy, and it's bad luck for any one who lis was often of a pensive cast, and she nevdoes that." er looked better than in this mood, when " I don't understand you, wife, any more she felt the deepest need of sympathy. This than you understand the strawberries. How she was receiving now, and pretending of could they cross them at this time of year?" course not to care for it; her fingers played " Why, don't you see that this gay young with moss and bark, the fruits of the earth Lorraine is falling over head and ears in love were below her contempt, and she looked with our darling Mabel?" too divine for any body. "Whew! That would be a sad affair," On the other hand, the rarest work and the grower answered, carelessly. "I like the most tantalizing tricks were going on at the young fellow, and should be sorry to a proper distance between young Mabel and have him so disappointed. For of course Hilary. They had straggled off into the he never could have our Mab unless he made strawberry-beds where nobody could see up his mind to turn grower. Shorne says them, and there they seemed likely to spend that he is a born salesman; perhaps he is some hours if nobody should come after also a born grower." them. -The plants were of the true Caroli"Now, husband, why do you vex me so? na, otherwise called the "old scarlet pine," You know as well as I do that he is the only which among all our countless new sorts son of a baronet, belonging, as Gregory says, finds no superior, perhaps no equal, although to one of the proudest families in England; it is now quite out of vogue, because it fruits though he doesn't show much pride himself, so shyly? that's certain. Is it likely they would let What says our chief authority? "Fruit him have Mabel?". medium-sized, ovate, even, and regular, and "Is it likely that we would let Mabel have with a glossy neck, skin deep red, flesh pale himm? But this is all nonsense, wife; you red, very firm and solid, with a fine sprightare always discovering such mare's-nests. ly and very rich pine flavor." What loveTush! why, I didn't fall in love with you lier fruit could a youth desire to place betill we fell off a horse three times together." tween little pearly teeth, reserving the right "I know that, of course. But that was to have a bite, if any of the very firm flesh because they wanted us to do it. The very should be left? What fruit more suggestive thing is that it happens at once when every of elegant compliments could a maid open body's face is against it. However, you've her lips to receive, with a dimple in each had your warning, Martin, and you only mantled cheek-lips more bright than the laugh at it. You have nobody but yourself skin of the fruit, cheeks by no means of a to thank if it goes against your plots and pale red now, although very firm and solid? 44 ALICE LORRAINE. and as for the sprightly flavor of the whole, " What do I care for strawberries!" Iilary it may be imagined, if you please, but is not cried, as the quick girl wisely beat a swift to be ascertained as yet. retreat from him. "You never can enter "Now, I must pick a few for you, Mr. Lor- into my feelings, or you never would run raine. You are really giving me all you away like that. And I can't run after you, find. And they are so scarce -no, thank you know, because of Phyllis and Gregory. you; I can get up very nicely by myself. There she goes, and she won't come back. And there can't be any brier in my hair. What a fool I was to be in such a hurry.! You really do imagine things. Where on But what could I do to help it? I never earth could it have come from? Well, if know where I am when she turns those deep, you are sure, of course you may remove it. rich eyes upon me. She. never will show Now I verily believe you put it there. Well, them again, I suppose, but keep the black perhaps I am wronging you. It was an un- lashes over them. And I was getting on so fair thing to say, I confess. Now wait a well-and here are the stalks of the strawmoment, while I runi to get. a little cabbage- berries!" leaf!" Of every strawberry she had eaten from "A cabbage-leaf! Now you are too bad. his daring fingers he had kept the stalks and I won't taste so much as the tip of a straw- calyx, breathed on by her freshly fragrant berry out of any thing but one. How did breath, and slyly laid them in his pocket; you eat your strawberries, pray?" and now he fell to at kissing them. Then " With my mouth, of course. But explain he lay down in the Carolinas, where her skirt your meaning. You won't eat what I pick had moved the leaves, and to him, weary for you out of what?" with'strong heat, and a rush of new emo" Out of any thing else in the world except tions, comfort came in the form of sleep. your own little beautiful palm." And when he awoke, in his open palm most "Now, how very absurd you are! Why, delicately laid, he found a little shell-shaped my hands are quite hot." cabbage-leaf piled with the fruit of the "Let me feel them, and judge for myself. glossy neck. Now the other, if you please. Oh, how lovely and cool they are! How could you tell me such a story, Mabel, beautiful Mabel?" "I am not at all beautiful, and I won't be CHAPTER XVI. called so. And I know not what they may do in London. But I really think, consider- THESE doings of Hilary and his loveing —at least when one comes to consider for his love lie declared her to be forever, that-" whether she would have him for hers or not " To consider what? You make me trem- seem to have' taken more time almost in ble, you do look so ferocious. Ah, I thought telling than in befalling. Although it had you couldn't do it long. Inconsiderate been a long summer's day, to them it had creature, what is it-I am to consider-?" passed as a rapid dream. So at least they "You can not consider! Well, then re- fancied, when they began to look quietly member. Remember it is not twenty-four back at it, forgetting the tale of the golden hours since you saw me for the very first steps so lightly flitted over by the winged time, and surely it is not right and proper feet of love. that you should begin to call me Mabel' as Martin Lovejoy watched his daughter at if you had known me all your life!" supper-time that Sunday; and he felt quite "I must have known you all my life. sure that his wife was wrong. Why, the And I mean to know you all the rest of my girl scarcely spoke to Lorraine at all, and life, and a great deal more than that-" even neglected his plate so sadly, that her "It may be because you are Gregory's mother was compelled to remind her sharpfriend:you are allowed to do things. But ly of her duties. Upon which the grower what would you think of me, Mr. Lorraine, dispatched to his wife a smile of extreme if I were to call you'Hilary'- a thing I sagacity, which (being fetched out of cipher should never dream of " and short-hand by the matrimonial key) con"I should think that you were the very tained all this: " Well, you are a silly, as you kindest darling, and I should ask you to always are when you want to advise me. breathe it quite into my ear —' Hilary, Hil- The girl is cold-shouldering that young felary!'just like that; and then I should an- low, the same as she does all the young hopswer just like this,' Mabel, Mabel, sweetest growers. And well she knows how to do it, Mabel, how I love you, Mabel!' and then too. She gets her intellect from her father. what would you say, if you please?" Now please not to put in your oar, Mrs. Love"I should have to ask my mother," said joy, another time, till it is asked for." the maiden, "what I ought to say. But Moreover, he thought that if Mabel took luckily the whole of this is in your imagi- the smallest delight in Hilary, she could not nation. Mr. Lorraine, you have lost your have answered as she had done, when that strawberries by your imagination.". pious youth, in the early evening, express ALICE LORRAINE. 45 ed his sincere desire to attend another per- even, whisking the gray dew away with formance of divine service. their feet, startling the lark from his nest "I had no idea," said the simple Gregory, in the row, groping among the crisp leaves "that you made a point of going to church for the fruit, and often laying hold of a slug at least twice every Sunday. I seldom see instead. you of a Sunday in London. But the very That is the time for the true fruit-lover last place I should go to, to find you, would to try the taste of a strawberry. It should probably be the Temple Church." be one that refused to ripen in the gross "That is quite a different thing, don't heat of yesterday, but has been slowly fosyou see? A country church, and a church tering goodness, with the attestation of the in London, are as different as a meadow and stars. And now (if it has been properly a market-place." managed, properly picked without touch of " But surely, Mr. Lorraine, you would find hand, and not laid down profanely), when the duty of attending just the same." Thus the sun comes over the top of the hedge, the spoke Mrs. Lovejoy, who seldom missed a look of that strawberry will be this-at chance of discharging her duty'toward least, if it is of a proper sort: the beard of young people. the footstalk will be stiff, the sepals of the " Quite so; of course I do, Mrs. Lovejoy. calyx moist and crisp, the neck will show But then we always perform our duties best a narrow band of varnish, where the dew when they are pleasures. And besides that, could find no hold, the belly of the fruit will I have a special reason for feeling bound, as be sleek and gentle, firm, however, to accept one might say, to go to church well in the its fate; but the back that has dealt with country." the dew, and the sides where the color of "I suppose one must not venture to ask the back slopes downward, upon them such you what the reason is, sir." a gloss of cold and diamond chastity will "Oh yes, to be- sure. It is just this. I lie that the human lips get out of patience have an uncle, my mother's brother, who is with the eyes in no time. a country clergyman." Every body was so busy with the way the Well done, Master Lorraine!" said the work went on, all for their very life pretendgrower,while the rest were laughing. "You ing scarcely to have time to breathe, whentake a very sensible view, sir, of things. It ever the master looked at them, that the is too much the fashion nowadays to neglect "berries" were picked, and packed, and startour trade connections. But Gregory will go ed, long before the sun grew hot-started with you, and Phyllis and Mabel. The old on the road to London, the cormorant of the people stay at home to mind the house. For universe. we always let the maid-servants go." Hilary helped with all his heart; enjoy"Oh father," cried Mabel; "poor Phyllis ing it, with that triumphant entrance into is so overcome by the heat, that she must any novelty, which always truly distinguishnot go. And I must stop at home to read ed him. He carried his punnets, and kept to her." his row (as soon as they had shown him So that the good Lorraine took nothing how), as well as the very best of them, diby his sudden religious fervor, except a hot viding his fruit into firsts, and seconds, and walk with Gregory, and a wearisome doze in keeping the" toppers " separate. Of course a musty pew, with nobody to look at. he broke offmany trusses entire-ripe fruit, With fruit -growers Monday is generally green fruit, and barren blossom- until he the busiest day of the week, except Friday. learned how to "meet his nails," and how After paying all hands on the Saturday much drag to put on the stalks. A clever night, and stowing away all implements, fellow learns all that from an hour or two of they rest them well till the Sunday is over, practice. having in the summer-time earned their But one thing there is which the cleverrest, by night-work as well as day-work, est fellows can learn by no experience-how through the weary hours of the week. This to carry the head for hours upside down is not the case with all, of course. Many of without hurting it. How to make the brain them, especially down in Kent, grow their so hard that it can not shift; or else so soft fruit, or let it grow itself, and then sell it that the top is as good as the bottom. The by the acre, or the hundred acres, to dealers, question is one for a great physician, who, who take all the gathering and marketing to understand it, must keep his row, and off their hands altogether. But for those pick by the job. Then let him say if he has who work off their own crops, the toil of learned how to explain the well-established the week begins before the day-star of the fact that a woman can pick twice as fast as Monday. At least for about six weeks it is a man; for who could assent to the reason so, according to the weather and the length assigned by one of themselves sagaciously of the " busy season." Before the stars fade -that " they was generally always used to out of the sky, the pickers advance throughl keep their heads turned upside down?" the strawberry quarters, carrying two pun- Leaving such speculative inquiries to go nets each, yawning more than chattering on forever, Hilary (who knew better than 46 ALICE LORRAINE. to say a word about them) came in for his brewers can never do that! They must buy breakfast at six o'clock, and ate it as thor- their malt, and their musty hops, and pump oughly as he had earned it. The mastera up their water, and boil it down, to get the man of true Kentish fibre, obstinate, placa- flint-stones out of it. But our brook hath ble, hearty, and dry, made known to his wife cast the flint-stones and the other pebbles all and to every body else, his present opinion along. That makes a sight of difference, sir. of Hilary. Martin Lovejoy never swore. Every water is full of stones, and if you He never went beyond " God knows," or pump it up from the spring, the stones be all' The Lord in heaven look down on us, or alive in it. But let it run seven miles or some other good exclamation, sanctioned by eight, and then it is fit to brew with." the parish vicar. As a general rule-proved "Ah, to be sure. Now that explains a by many exceptions-the Kentish men sel- great many things I never understood." dom swear very hard. Hilary would have swallowed a camel rath"Heart alive, young sir!" he exclaimed, er than argue at this moment. piling Hilary's plate, as he spoke, with the "Young sir, just let me prove it to you. jellied delights of cold pigeon -pie; you Just see the color it runs out, and the way have been the best man -of the morning. the head goes creaming! Lord, ha' mercy, Ah, don't you be in a hurry, good wife. No if she has gived us a glass,or a stag's horn tea or coffee, our way, thankee. No, nor from the mantel-piece! Why, Mabel, child any' cask-wash.' We've worked a little too -Mabel, art thou gone? Nobody wants to hard for that. Mabel, whatever has come poison thee." to you, that you keep always out of the way I think, sir, I saw your daughter go round so? And I never saw you anigh the bas- the corner by the warming-pan, this side of kets. Now don't pipe your eye, child. I'm where the broom hangs.' not going to scold thee, if thou didst have a "Then all I can say is, she is'daft. She little lie-a-bed. Here, take this here key, worked very hard last week, poor thing. child. A wink's as good as a nod ah, she And yesterday she was a-moving always, knows pretty well what to do with it." when the Lord's day bids us rest. I must For Mabel was glad to turn away as beg your pardon, Master Lorraine. Our quickly as possible, after a little well-man- Kentish maids always look after our guests. aged courtesy to Hilary, whom she had, not When I was at school, I read in the grammar seen for the morning-certainly through no that the moon always managed the women; fault of his-and without a word she went but now I do believe it is the comet. Let to the dresser (for in these busy times they the comet come, say I. When the markets took their breakfast wisely in the kitchen), are so bad, I feel that I am ready to face aland from the woodencrook unhung a quaint most any thing. And now we must drink little jug, with a narrow mouth and a silver from the jug, I reckon!" lip and handle. With this she set off down Hilary saw that his host was vexed; but a narrow passage and some steps to a little he felt quite certain in his own heart that stone cellar, where the choicest of the home- Mabel could never be so rude, or show such brewed ale was kept. Although it lay well resentment of any little oversweetness: on beneath the level of the ground, and no ray his part, as to go away in that sour earof sun pierced the wired lattice, the care- nest, and make the two of them angry.' A ful mistress of the house had the barrels dozen things might have happened to upset swathed closely with wetted sacks. The her, or turn her a little askew; and her own girl, with her neat frock gathered up-for father ought to know her better than he she always was cleanliness itself-went seemed to do. And lo, ere the grower had carefully to the corner cask, and lifted the quite finished grumbling, Mabel reached wet sack back from the head, lest any dirty over his shoulder unseen, and set his own water should have the chance of dripping pet glass before him; and then round Hilupon her sleeve. Then she turned the tap, ary's side she slid, without ever coming too and a thin bright thread ran out of it side- nigh to him, and the glass of honor of the ways, being checked by some hops in the house, cut in countless facets, twinkled like tube, perhaps, or want of air at the vent- the Pleiades at him! peg. But Mabel. held the jug with all "Adorn me!" said the grower. "Now I patience, although her hand shook just a call that a true good girl! Girls were alwaysi little. made, Master Lorraine, for the good of those "Now," said the grower, when she came around them. If any body treats them any, back and placed the jug at her father's side, way else, they come to nothing afterward. without a word to Hilary, " Master Lorraine, Mabel, dear, give me a kiss. You deserve it,; let me pour you a drop, not to be matched and there it is for you. Now be off, like' a in Kent, nor yet in all England, I do believe. good maid, and see what they be at in Vale Home-grown barley, and home-grown hops, Orchard, while Master Lorraine and I think and the soft water out of the brook that has A bit over these here two glasses." taken, the air of the sky for seven mile or The rest of the day was much too busy, more; without a drain anigh it. Ah, those and too much crowded with sharp eyes, for ALICE LORRAINE. 47. any fair chance of love-making. For they his father loved his sister's little finger more all set, to at the cherry-trees, with ladders, than all the members, put together, of his crooks, and hanging baskets, and light boys own too lively frame. to scale themore difficult antlers, strip them, and drop upon feather-beds. And though the sun broke hot and bright through the dew-cloud of the morning, and quickly drankAPTE XVII the beaded freshness off the face of herb and tree, yet they picked, and piled, and packed, MRS. LOVEJOY sat far away from all the (according to their sort and size) the long worry, and flurry, and fun of picking, and stalked dancers that fringe the bough, and packing, and covering up. She had never glance the sun so ruddily. entirely given herself to the glories of fruit"You must have had a deal too much growing; and she never could be much conof this," young Lovejoy said to Hilary, vinced that any glory was in it. She bewhen the noonday meal had been spread longed to a higher rank of life than any of forth and dealt with, in a patch of fern such sons of Cain. Her father had been a near a breezy clump. " If I had worked as navy captain, and her cousin was attorneyyou have done, my fingers would scarcely general. This office had always been conbe fit for a quill this side of next Hilary founded in the provincial mind, with rank Term." in a less pugnacious profession. Even Mrs. " My dear fellow, be not, I pray you, so Lovejoy thought, when the land was so full violently facetious. The brain, when out- of' militiamen," that her cousin was the raged, takes longer to resume its functions general of the "Devil's Own" of the period. than the fingers do. Moreover, I trust that Therefore she believed herself to know more my fingers will hold something nobler than than usual about the law; as well as the a quill, ere the period of my namesake." army, and of course the navy. And this high "Sir Hilary charged at Agincourt, I hope position in the legal army of so near a relayou will do nothing of the sort;" said Greg- tion helped, no doubt, to foster hopes of the ory, with unwitting and unprecedented poe- elevation of Gregory. try. "I beg your pardon, Mr. Lorraine," she "Lovejoy, my wits are unequal altogeth- began, as Hilary entered the bower, to er to this encounter. The brilliancy of your which she had just retired, "for calling you native soil has burst out so upon you, that I away from a scene which you enjoy permust go back to the Southdown hills, before haps from its novelty; and where you make I dare point adartwith you. Nevertheless, yourself, I am sure, so exceedingly active on your native soil, I beat you at picking and useful. But I feared, as you must uncherries." luckily so very soon return to London, that I "That you do, and strawberries, too; and might have no other chance of asking what still more so at eating them! But if you your candid opinion is upon a matter I have please, you must stop a little. My mother very near at heart." begs, as a great favor, to have a little private Deuce and all!" thought Hilary within talk with you." himself, being even more vexed than reHilary's bright face lost its radiance, as his lieved by this turn of incidence; "she is conscience pricked him. Was it about Ma- much cleverer than I thought. Instead of bel? Of course it must be. And what the hauling me over the coals, she is going to dickens was he to say? He could not say a give me the sack at once; and I didn't false thing. That was far below his nature. mean to go, for a week at least!" Mrs. And he must own that he did love Mabel; Lovejoy enjoyed his surprise, as he stamand far worse than that-had done his ut- mered that any opinion he could form was most to drag that young and innocent Mabel entirely at her service. into love with him. And if he were asked "I am sure that you know what it is about his father-as of course he must be- about. You must have guessed at once, of on the word of a true man he must confess course, when I was rude enough to send for that his father would never forgive him if you, what subject is nearest to a mother's he marriied below his rank in life; also, that heart. I wish to ask you, what they think though he was the only son, there were very of my son Gregory, in London." peculiar provisions in the settlement of the Lorraine, for the moment, was a little upLorraine estates, which might throw him set. His presence of mind had been workentirely upon his own wits,if his father turn- ed so hard, that it was beginning to flutter ed against him; also, that though his father and shift. And much as he liked his fellowwas one of the very best men in the world, pupil he had not begun to consider him yet aand the kindest and loftiest you could find, as an object of public.opinion. still there was about him something of a cold "I think-I really think," he said, while and determined substance. And, worst of all waiting for time to think more about it, (if the whole truth was to be shelled out, as "that he is going on as well as ever could lie must unshell it), he knew in his heart that be expected, ma'am." 48 ALICE LORRAINE.. If he, had wanted to vex his hostess- sweeter than a smile, won from a sensible which to: his kind nature would have been woman like that? one of the last things wanted-he scarcely "Then you give us some hope that we could have hit on a phrase more fitted for may endeavor to keep you a few days more, his purpose. sir?" "Why, Mr. Lorraine, that is exactly what "The endeavor will be on my part,' he the monthly nurses say! I hope you can answered, with his most elegant bow;' as say something a little better than that of all the temptation falls on me." Gregory.". I do hope that Mr. Malahide will do his "I assure you, Mrs. Lovejoy, nothing can best to spare you both. Though to lose be finer than the way he is going on.:His both his right hand and his left hand must attention, punctuality, steadiness, and every be very melancholy." thing else, leave nothing to be desired, as " To a lawyer, Mrs. Lovejoy, that is nothall the wine -merchants always say. Mr. ing. We think nothing of suchtrifles. We Malahide holds him up as a pattern to be are ready to fight when we have no hands, avoided, because he works so hard, and I nor even a leg to stand upon." think that he really ought to have country "Yes, to be sure you live, by fighting, as air, at this time of year, and in such weath- the poor sailors and soldiers do. The gener, for a week; at the very shortest." eral of the attorneys, now, is my first cousin, "Poor boy! Why should he overwork once removed. Now, can you tell me what himself? Then you think that three days' opinion he has formed of my Gregory? Of change is scarcely enough to set him up course, there must be a number of people again " trying to keep my poor boy back-pressing "He wants at least a fortnight, ma'am. him down, as they always do, with all that He has a sort of a hacking cough, which he narrow, jealousy. But his mother's cousin does his best to keep under. And the doc- might betrusted to give him fair play, now, tors,say that the smell of ink out of a pew- don't you think?" ter inkstand, and the inhaling of blotting-'"One never can tell," answered Hilary; paper-such as we inhale all day-are al- the faster a young fellow goes up the tree, most certain, in hot weather, to root a tus- the harder the monkeys pelt him. But if I sis, or at any rate a pituita, inward." only had a quarter of your son's ability, I Mrs. Lovejoy was much impressed, and would defy: them all at once, from the Lord tenfold so when she tried to think what Chief-Justice downward." those maladies might be. "Oh no, now, Mr. Lorraine; that really " Dear me!" she said: "it is dreadful to would bebad advice. He has not been callthink of. I know too well what those sad ed to the Bar as yet; and he must rememcomplaints are. My dear grandfather died ber that there are people many years in of them: both. Do you think now, Mr. Lor- front of him. No, no; let Gregory wait for raine,.that Mr. Malahide could be persuaded his proper time in its proper course, and to spare you both for the rest of the week?. steadily rise to the top of the tree. With "' I scarcely think that he could, Mrs. Love- patience, Mr. Lorraine, you know —with pajoy. We are his right hand, and his left. tience all things come to pass. But I must Yoursonf course, his dexter hand; and go to the house at once, and write to Mr. my poor self the weaker member. Still if, Malahide. Do you think that he would be you were to write to him, nicely (as of offended, if I asked him to accept a basket course you would be sure to write), he might of our choicest cherries and strawberries?" make an effort to get on, with some of his "I scarcely think that he would regard it inferior pupils." as a mortal injury; especially if you were "It shall be done, before the van goes- to put it as a tribute from his grateful puby the very next mail, I mean. And if they pil, Hilary Lorraine." can spare you, do you think that you could "How' kind of you to let me use your put up with your very poor quarters for a name! And you have such influence with few days longer, Mr. Lorraine?" him, Gregory is always telling me. No "I never was in such quarters before. doubt he will accept them so." And I never felt so comfortable;" he an- However, when she came to consider the swered, with a gush of truth, to expiate matter, Mrs. Lovejoy, with shameful treachmuch small hypocrisy. And thereby he ery, sent them as a little offering from that settled, himself forever in her very best grateful pupil, her own son; while she laid graces. If' Mrs. Lovejoy had any pride- upon Hilary all the burden of this lengthenand.she always told herself she had none — ed mitching-time; as in the main perhaps that pride lay in her best feather-beds. was just. Moreover, she took good care that A smile, quite worthy of her larger hus- Shorne should have no chance of appearing band and of her pleasant homestead, spread in chambers, as he was only too eager to do; itself over her thoughtful face; and Hilary, for her shrewd sense told her that the sharp for the first time, saw that her daughter, wits there would find him a joy forever, and after all, was born of her. What can be an enduring joke against Gregory. ALICE LORRAINE. 49 It is scarcely needful to say, perhaps, that swered; "where else do you suppose I throughout the rest of the week Lorraine should be? The people must be looked afdid his utmost to bring about snug little ter, I suppose. And if you won't do it, of interviews with Mabel. And she, having course I must." made up her mind to keep him henceforth "I don't see any people to look after here, at his distance, felt- herself bound by that except indeed-however, you seem to have resolution to afford him a glimpse or two looked so hard, it has made you quite red in once in a way. For she really had a great the face, I declare!" deal to do; and it would have been cruel to "Now, Greg, my boy," cried Hilary, suddeny her even the right to talk of it. And denly coming to the rescue; -" I called your Hilary carried a basket so much better than sister down here on purpose to tell me what any body else; and. his touch was so light, those things in the water are. They look and he stepped here and there so obedient- almost like some sort of fish." ly and so cleverly, and he always looked "Why, trout,Lorraine! Didn't you know away so nicely, if any thing happened to her that? I thought that you were a great fishfrock-as now and then of course must be- erman. If you like to have a try at them, that Mabel began every day to think how I can fit you out. Though I don't suppose dreadfully she would miss him. you could do much in this weather." And then, as if it were not enough to "Miss Lovejoy, did you ever taste a trout?" please her ears, and eyes, and mind, he even Hilary asked this question as if not a word contrived to conciliate the most grateful had yet passed on the subject. part of the human system, as well as the "Oh yes," answered Mabel, no less oblivimost intelligent. For on the Tuesday after- ous; "my brother Charles used to catch a noon, the turn of the work, and the courses good many. They are such a treat to my of fruit, led them near a bushy corner where dear mother, and so good for her constituthe crafty brook stole through. As clever tion. But I don't think my father appreand snug an ingle as need be, for a pair of ciates them." young people to drop accidentally out of "Allow me to help you up this steep rise. sight and ear-shot. For here the corner of It was most inconsiderate of me to call you the orchard fell away, as a quarry does, yet down, Miss Lovejoy." was banked with grass and ridges, so that "Pray do not mention it, Mr. Lorraine. children might take hands and run. But Gregory, how rude you are to give Mr. Lorif they did so, they would be certain to come raine all this trouble! But you never were to grief at the bottom, unless they could famous for good manners." clear at a jump three yards, which would "If I meddle with them again," thought puzzle most of them. For here the brook, Gregory, "may I be adorned, as my father without any noise, came under a bank of says! However, I must keep a sharp lookgood brown loam, with a gentle shallow out. The girl is getting quite independent; slide, and a bottom content to be run over. and I-oh, I am to be nobody! I'll just go "Trout, as I'm a living sinner!" cried Hil- and see what Phyllis thinks of it." ary, with a fierce delight, as he fetched up But Mabel, who had not forgiven him yet suddenly on the brink, and a dozen streaks for his insolent remarks about her cheeks, darted up the stream, like the throw of a deprived him of even that comfort. threaded shuttle. "My prophetic soul, if I "Now, Gregory dear, you have done nothdidn't guess it! But I seem to forget al- ing all day but wander about with Cousin most every thing. Why, Miss Lovejoy, Miss Phyllis. Just stay here for a couple of Mabel Lovejoy, Mabel Miss Lovejoy (or any hours; if you can't work yourself, your other form, insisting on the prefix despot- looking on will make the other people work. ically), have I known you for a century or I am quite ashamed of my inattention to more, and you never told me there were Mr. Lorraine all the afternoon. I am sure trout in the brook!" he must want a glass of ale, after all he has "Oh do let me see them; please to show gone through. And while he takes it, I can me where," cried Mabel, coming carefully rout out Charlie's tackle for him. I know down the steep, lest her slender feet should where it. is, and you do not. And Charlie slip: "they are such dears, I do assure you. left it especially under my charge, you reMy mother and I are so fond of them. But member." my father says they are all bones and tail." "That is the first I have heard of it. HoT"I will show them to you with the great- ever, if Lorraine wants beer, why so do I. est pleasure, only you must do just what I Send Phyllis out with a jug for me." order you. They are very shy things, you "Yes, to be sure, dear-to be sure. How know, almost as shy as somebody-" delighted she will be to come!" "Mabel, Mabel, Mab, where are you?" "As delighted as you are to go," he recame a loud shout over the crest; and then plied; but she was already out of hearing; Gregory's square shoulders appeared, a most and all he took for his answer was an inunwelcome spectacle. dignant look from Hilary. "Why, here I am to be sure," she an- An excellent and most patient fisherman 50 ALICE LORRAINE. used to say that the greatest pleasure of the "Oh, the mustard-how stupid of me! gentle art was found in the preparation to but I hoped that the stuffing would do infish. In the making of flies, and the knot- stead." ting of gut, and the softening of collars that " Instead of the cold half duck, I shall have caught fish, and the choosing of what want every atom of the whole duck warm." to try this time, and how to treat the river. " Well, there they are, Mr. Lorraine, in the The treasures of memory glow again, and yard; fourteen of them now coming up from the sparkling stores of hope awake to a live- the pond. Take one of them, if you can eat ly emulation. it raw. But my mother will make you pay Hilary's mind had securely landed every for it." fish in the brook at least, and laid it at the "I will pay for my duck!" he said, lifting feet of Mabel, ere ever his tackle was put to his hat, " if it costs me every farthing I have rights, and every thing else made ready. At or shall ever have in this world or another." last he was at the very point of starting, And so he went fishing; and she ran up with his ever high spirits at their very loft- stairs, and softly cried, as she watched him iest pitch, when Mabel (who was scarcely a going; and then lay down, with her hand whit behind him in the excitement of this on her heart. great matter) ran in for the fiftieth time at least, but this time wearing her evening frock. That frock was of a delicate buff, and CHAPTER XVIII. she had a suspicion that it enhanced the clearness of her complexion, and the kind THE trout knew nothing ofall this. They and deep loveliness of hereyes. had not tasted a worm for a month, except " You must be quite tired of seeing me, I when a sod of the bank fell in, through am as sure as sure can be. But I am not cracks of the sun, and the way cold water come now to tie knots, or untie; and you has of licking upward. And even the flies quite understand all I know about trout, and had no flavor at all; when they fell on the all that my dear brother Charlie said. Ah, water, they fell flat, and on the palate they Mr. Lorraine, you should see him; Gregory tasted hot, even in under the bushes. is a genius, of course. But Charlie is not; Hilary followed a path through the meadand that makes him so nice. And his uni- ows, with the cal bright sunset casting his form, when he went to church with us-but to shadow over the shorn grass, or up in the understand such things, you must see them. hedge-road, or on the brown banks where Still, you can understand this now, perhaps." the drought had struck. On his back he "I can understand nothing, when I look carried a fishing-basket, containing his bits at you. My intellect seems to be quite ab- ofrefreshment; and in his right hand a short sorbed in-in-I can't tell you in what." springy rod, the absent sailor's favorite. "Then go and absorb it in catching trout; After long council with Mabel, he had made though I don't believe you will ever catch up his mind to walk up stream, as far as the one. It requires the greatest skill and pa- spot where two brooks met, and formed body tience, when the water is bright, and the enough for a fly flipped in very carefully to weather dry. So Charlie always said, when sail downward. Here he began, and the he could not catch them. Unless you take creak of his reel, and the swish of his rod, to a worm, at least, or something a great were music to him, after the whirl of London deal nastier."' life. "A worm! I would sooner lime them The brook was as bright as the best cut almost. Now you know me better than that, glass, and the twinkles of its shifting facets I am sure." only made it seem more clear. It twisted " ow should I know all the different de- about a little, here and there; and the brink grees of cruelty men have established? But was fringed now and then with something, I came to beg you just to take a little bit of a. clump of loose-strife, a tuft of avens, or a food with you; because you must be away bed of flowering water-cress, or any other some hours, and you are sure to lose your of.the many plants that wash and look into way." the water. But the trout, the main object " How wonderfully kind you are! Mabel in view, were most objectionably too much -you must be Mabel now." in view. They scudded up the brook, at the "Well, I suppose I have been Mabel ever shadow of a hair, or even the tremble of a since they christened me. But that has bladeofgrass; and no pacific assurance could nothing at all to do with it. Only I came make them even stop to be reasoned with. to make you put this half of cold duck into " This won't do," said Hilary, who very often your basket, and this pinch of salt, and the talked to himself, in lack of a better combarley-cake, and a drop of our ale in this rade; "I call this very hard upon me. The stone bottle. To drink it, you must do like beggars won't rise till it is quite dark. I this." must have the interdict off my tobacco, if "Do you know what I shall be wanting this sort of thing is to go on. How I should every bit of the time, and forever?" enjoy a pipe just now! I may just as well ALICE LORRAINE. 51 sit on a gate and think. No, hang it, I hate of shadow, where the big trout hovered. thinking now. There are troubles hanging Under the surface, floating thus, with the over me, as sure as the tail of that comet check of ductile influence,the two flies spread grows. How I detest that comet! No won- their wings, and quivered, like a centiplume der the fish won't rise. But if I have to moth in a spider's web. Still the old trout, strip, and tickle them in the dark, I won't calmly oaring, looked at them both suspigo back without some for her." ciously. Why should the same flies come so He was lucky enough to escape the weight often, and why should they have such crookof such horrible poaching upon his con- ed tails, and could he be sure that he did science. For suddenly to his ears was borne not spy the shadow of a human hat about the most melodious of all sounds,the flop of twelve yards up the water? Revolving a heavy fish sweetly jumping after some ex- these things he might have lived to a vencellent fly or grub. erable age-but for that noble ambition to "Ha, my friend!"cried Hilary; "so you teach, which is fatal to even the wisest. A are up for your supper, are you? I myself young fish, an insolent whipper -snapper, will awake right early. Still I behold the jumped in his babyish way at the palmer, ring you made. If my right hand forget and missed it through overeagerness. "I'll not its cunning, you shall form your next show you the way to catch a fly," said the ring in the frying-pan." big trout to him; "open your mouth like He gave that fish a little time to think of this, my son." the beauty of that mouthful, and get ready With that he bolted the palmer, and threw for another; the while he was putting a up his tail, and turned to go home again. white moth on, in lieu of his blue upright. Alas! his sweet home now shall know him He kept the grizzled palmer still for tail-fly, no more. For suddenly he was surprised by and he tried his knots, for he knew that this a most disagreeable sense of grittiness, and trout was a Triton. then a keen stab in the roof of his mouth. Then, with a delicate sidling and stooping, He jumped, in his wrath, a foot out of the known only to them that fish for trout in water, and then heavily plunged to the very bright water of the summer-time-com- depths of his hole. pared with which art the coarse work of the "You've got it, my friend," cried Hilary, salmon-fisher is as that of a scene-painter to in a tingle of fine emotions; "I hope the Mr. Holman Hunt's with, or in, and by a sailor's knots are tied with professional skill careful manner, not to be described to those and care. You are a big one, and a clever who have never studied it, Hilary won access one too. It is much if I ever land you. No of the water, without any doubt in the mind net, or gaff, or any thing. I only hope there of the fish concerning the prudence of appe- are no stakes here. Ah, thereyou go! Now tite. Then he flipped his short collar in, not comes the tug." with a cast, but a spring of the rod, and let Away went the big trout down the stream, his flies go quietly down a sharpish run into at a pace very hard to exaggerate, and after that good trout's hole. The worthy trout him rushed Hilary, knowing that his line looked at them both, and thought; for he was rather short, and that if it ran out all had his own favorite spot for watching the was over. Keeping his eyes on the water world go by, as the rest of us have. So he only, and the headlong speed of the fugilet the grizzled palmer pass, within an inch tive, headlong over a stake he fell, and took of his upper lip; for it struck him that the a deep wound from another stake. Scarcetail turned up in a manner not wholly nat- ly feeling it, up he jumped, lifting his rod, ural, or at any rate unwholesome. He look- which had fallen fiat, and fearing to find no ed at the white moth also, and thought that strain on it. " Aha, he is not gone yet!" he he had never seen one at all like it. So he cried, as the rod bowed like a springle-bow. went down under his root again, hugging He was now a good hundred yards down himself upon his wisdom, never moving a the brook from the corner where the fight fin, but oaring and helming his plump, spot- began. Through his swiftness of foot, and ted sides with his tail. good management, the fish had never been "Upon my word, it is too bad!" said Hila- able to tighten the line beyond yield of enry, after three beautiful throws, and exquis- durance. The bank had been free from ite management down stream: " every thing bushes, or haply no skill could have saved Kentish beats me hollow. Now, if that had him; but now they were come to a corner been one of our trout, I would have laid my where a nut-bush quite overhung the stream. life upon catching him. One more throw, "I am done for now," said the fisherman; however. How would it be if I sunk my "the villain knows too well what he is flies? That fellow is worth some patience." about. Here ends this adenture. While he -was speaking, his flies alit on the Full though he was of despair, he jumped glassy ripple, like gnats in their love-dance; anyhow into the water, kept the point of his and then, by a turn of the wrist, he played rod close down, reeled up a little, as the fish them just below the surface, and let them go felt weaker, and just cleared the drop of the gliding down the stickle, into the shelfy nook hazel boughs. The water flapped into the 52 ALICE LORRAINE. pockets of his coat, and he saw red streaks scythe-cuts, and chopper-hits, and poleflow downward. And then he plunged out springs, admitted that this was a case for to an open reach of shallow water and grav- broth, and low feeding, and things that the el slope. women do. For if inflammation set up, the "I ought to have you low':he said; boy might have only one leg left for life. "though nobody knows what a rogue you It was high time, however, for the son of the are; and a pretty dance you have led me " house to return to his beloved law-books; so Doubting the strength of his tackle to lift that he tore himself away from Phyllis, and even the dead weight of the fish, and much started in the van, about noon on Friday, more to meet his despairing rally, he happi- having promised to send back by John ly saw a little shallow gut, or backwater, Shorne all that his fellow-pupil wanted. where a small spring ran out. Into this by Lorraine soon found that his kind and a dexterous turn he rather led than pulled quick hostess loved few things better than a the fish, who was ready to rest for a minute cheerful, dutiful, and wholesome-blooded paor two; then he stuck his rod into the bank, tient; and therefore he rejected with scorn ran down stream, and with his hat in both all suggestions as to his need of a "proper hands appeared at the only exit from the doctor." And herein the grower backed him gut. It was all up now with the monarch up. of the brook. As he skipped and jumped, Adorn me, if any one of them ever lays with his rich yellow belly, and chaste silver finger on me, any more than on my good fasides, in the green of the grass, joy and glory ther before me! They handle us when we of the highest merit, and gratitude, glowed are born, of course, and come to no manner in the heart of Lorraine. "Two and three- of judgment; but if we let them handle us quarters you must weigh. And at your very afterward, we deserve to go out of the world best you are! How small your head is! with them." And how bright your spots are!" he cried, This sound discretion (combined with the as he gave him the stroke of grace. "You plentiful use ofcoldwater and healing herbs) really have been a-brave and fine fellow. I set Hilary on his legs again in about eight hope they will know how to fry you." or ten days' time. Meanwhile he had seen While he cut his fly out of this grand very little of Mabel, whether through her trout's mouth, he felt for the first time a pain fault or that of others he could not tell-only in his knee, where the point of the stake had that so it was. Whenever his hostess was entered it. Under the buckle of his breech- out of the way, Phyllis Clitherow, or else es blood was soaking away inside his gaiters; the house-maid, did their best to supply and then he saw how he had dyed the water. her place; and very often the grower dropAfter washing the wound and binding it pedin to enjoy his pipe, and to cheer his with dock-leaves and a handkerchief, he fol- guest. By means of simple truth they showlowed the stream through a few more mead- ed him that he was no burden to them, even ows, for the fish began to sport pretty well at this busy time. as the gloom of the evening deepened; so After all this, it was only natural that that by the time the gables of the old farm- Hilary should become much attached as well house appeared, by the light of a young as grateful to his entertainers. Common moon, and the comet, Lorraine had a dozen formality was dropped, and caste entirely more trout in his basket, silvery-sided and sunk in hearty liking and loving-kindness. handsome fellows, though none of them over And young Lorraine was delighted to find a pound, perhaps, except his first and re- how many pleasant virtues flourished under doubtable captive. the thatch of that old house, uncoveted and Herewith he resolved to be content, for undisturbed, inasmuch as their absence was his knee was now very sore and stiff, and the not felt in the mansions of great people. growing darkness baffled him; while having iThis affection for virtue doubtless made forgotten his food, as behooved him, he was him feel sadly depressed and lonely, when the conscious of an agreeable fitness for the sup- time at length arrived for quitting so much per-table. Here, of course, he had to tell, at excellence. least thrice over, his fight with the Triton, "In the van he came, and in the van he who turned the scale at three pounds and a would go," he replied to all remonstrance; quarter, and was recognized as an old friend and the grower liked him all the better for and twice conqueror of the absent Charlie. his loyalty to the fruit-coach. So it was Mrs. Lovejoy (as was to be expected) made a settled when Crusty John was " going up great ado about the gash in the knee-which light," for a Thursday morning, that Hilary really was no trifle-while Mabel said noth- should have a mattress laid in the body of ing, but blamed herself deeply for having the vehicle, and a horse-cloth to throw over equipped him to such misfortune. him, if the night should prove a cold one. For the next few days Master Hilary was For now a good drop of rain had fallen, and compelled to keep his active frame in rest, the weather seemed on the change a while. and quiet, and cosseting. Even the grow- I must catch you another dish of trout," er, a man of strong manhood, accustomed to said Hilary to Mrs. Lovejoy; " when shall I ALICE LORRAINE. 53 have such a chance again? The brook is in wished. But they happened to be exactly beautiful order now; and thanks to your as Hilary wished; and catching a glimpse of wonderful skill and kindness, I can walk them unawares, he lost all ideas except of again quite well now." them, and basely compelled them to look at " Yes, for a little way you can. But you him. must be sure not to overdo it. You may fish "Now, Mabel Lovejoy," he said slowly, one meadow, and one only. Let me see. and with some dread of his own voice, "can You may fish the long meadow, Hilary; then you look me in the face and tell me you do you will have neither stile nor hedge. The not care twopence for me?" gate at this end unlatches, mind. And I will "I am not in the habit of being rude," she send Phyllis to let you out at the lower end, answered, with a sly glance from under her and to see that you dare not go one step hat; "that I leave for other people." farther. She shall be thereat half-past six. "Well, do you like me, or do you not?" The van goes at eight, you know, and we "You do ask the most extraordinary quesmust sit down to supper at seven exactly." tions. We are bound to like our visitors." Upon this understanding he set forth, "I will ask a still more extraordinary about five o'clock in the afternoon, and question. Do you love me, Mabel?" meeting Miss Clitherow in the lane, he beg- For a very long time he got no answer, ged her, as an especial favor, to keep out of except a little smothered sob, and two great Mrs. Lovejoy's way for the next two hours tears that would have their way. " Darling only. Phyllis, a good-natured girl on the Mabel, lookup and tell me. Why should you whole, though a little too proud of her beau- be ashamed to say? I am very proud of lovty perhaps, readily promised what he asked, ing you. Lovely Mabel, do you love me?" and retired to a seat in the little ash coppice "I-I-I amvery —much afraid-I alto read a poem, and meditate upon the absent most do." Gregory. She shrank away from his arms and eyes, Lorraine was certainly in luck to-day for and longed to be left to herself for a little. he caught a nice basket of fish down the And then she thought what a mean thing it meadow; and toward the last stickle near was to be taking advantage of his bad leg. the corner, where silver threads of water With that she came back, and to change his crossed, and the slanting sunshine cast a thoughts said, "Show me a trout in the plaid of soft gold over them, light footsteps brook now, Hilary." came by the side of the hedge, and a pretty "You deserve to see fifty for.being so shadow fell near him. good. There you must help me along, you "Miss Loveje!" cried Hilary; -"'how you know. Now just stand here, and let me hold amaze me! Why, I thought it was Phyllis you, carefully and most steadily. No, not who was coming to fetch me. I may call her like that. That will never do. I must at Phyllis; oh yes she allows me. She is not so least have one arm round you, or in you very ceremonious.. But some people are all go, and I have to answer for your being dignity."' drownded!"' "Now, you want to vex me the very last " Drowned! You take advantage now to thing. And they call you so sweet temper- make me so ridiculous. The water is scarceed! I am so sorry for your disappointment ly six inches deep. But where are the little about your dear friend Phyllis. But I[ am troutsies?" sure I looked for her everywhere, before I " There! There! Do you see that white was obliged to come myself. Now, I hope stone? Now look at it most steadfastly, and you have not found the poor little trout quite then you are sure not to see them. Now turn so hard to please as you are." your head like that, a little, not too much, "At any rate, not so shy of me, as some- whatever you do. Now, what do you see, body has been for a fortnight. Because I most clearly?" was in trouble, I suppose, and pain, and sup- " Why, I see nothing, but you.and me, in posed to be groaning. the shadow of that oak-tree, standing over "How can you say such bitter things? the water, as if we had nothing better in the It shows how very little you care-at least, world to do!" that is not what I mean at all." "Weare standing together, though. Don't " Then, if you please, what is it that you you think so?" do mean?" "Well even the water seems to think so. "I mean that here is the key of the gate. And what can be more changeable?" And my father will expect you at seven "Now look at me, and not at the water. o'clock." Mabel, you know what I am." "But surely you will have a look at my "Hilary, I wish I did. That is the very trout? They can not bite, if I can." thing that takes such a long time to find He laid his fishing-creel down on the out." grass, and Mabel stooped over it to hide her "Now, did I treat you in such a spirit? eyes; which (in spite of all pride and pru- Did I look at you, and think,' Here is a rogue dence) were not exactly as. she could have I must find out?" 54 ALICE LORRAINE. "No, of course, you never did. That is not er help wanting to know what they thought in your nature. At the same time, perhaps, about him. So must the greatest man ever it might not matter so long to you, as it must" developed" have desired a million-fold, beto me." cause he lived in each one of the million. She met his glad eyes with a look so wist- However, there were but two to whom Sir ful, yet of such innocent reliance, to assuage Roland Lorraine ever yielded a peep of his the harm of words, that Hilary might be deeply - treasured anxieties. One was Sir well excused for keeping the grower's sup- Remnant; and the other (in virtue of office, per waiting, as he did that evening, and against the grain) was the Rev. Struan Hales, his own highly respected brother-inlaw. Struan Hales was a man of mark all about CHAPTER XIX. that neighborhood. Every body knew him, and almost every body liked him. Because THE excellent people of Coombe Lorraine he was a genial, open-hearted, and sometimes as yet were in happy ignorance of all these even noisy man; full of life-in his own form fine doings on Hilary's part. Sir Roland of that matter-and full of the love of life, knew only too well, of course, that his son whenever he found other people lively. He and heir was of a highly romantic, chivalrous hated every kind of humbug, all revolutionand adventurous turn. At Eton and Oxford ary ideas, Methodism, asceticism, enthusiasmany little scrapes (which seemed terrible tic humanity, and exceedingly fine language. at the time) showed that he was sure to do And though, like every one else, he respected his best to get into grand scrapes, as the oc- Sir Roland Lorraine for his upright characcasion of his youthful world enlarged. ter, lofty honor, and clearness of mind; while "Happen what will, I can always trust he liked him for his generosity, kindness of my boy to be a gentleman," his father used heart, and gentleness; on the other hand, he to say to himself, and to his only real coun- despised him a little for his shyness and quiselor, old Sir Remnant Chapman. Sir Rem- etude of life. For the rector of West Lorraine nant always shook his head; and then (for loved nothing better than a good day with fear of having meant too much) said, "Ah, the hounds, and a roaring dinner-party afthat is the one'thing, after all! People begin terward. Nothing in the way of sport ever to talk a great deal too much about Chris- came amiss to him; even though it did-as tianity."' no true sport does-depend for its joy upon At any rate, the last thing they thought cruelty. of was the most likely thing of all-that Here, in his snug house on the glebe, unHilary should fall in love with a good, and der the battlement of the hills, with trees sweet, and simple girl, who, for his own sake, and garden of comfort, and snug places to would love him, and grow to him with all smoke a pipe in, Mr. Hales was well content the growth of love. " Morality" -whereby to live and do his duty. He liked to hunt we mean now, truth and right and purity- twice in a week, and he liked to preach was then despised in public, even more than'twice every Sunday. Still he could not do now in private life. Sir Remnant thought either always; and no good people blamed it a question of shillings; how many maids him. his son led astray; and he pitied Sir Roland Mrs. Hales was the sweetest creature ever for having a son so much handsomer than seen almost anywhere. She had plenty to his own. say for herself, and a great deal more to say Little as now he meddled with it, Sir Ro- for others; and if perfection were to be land knew that the world was so; and the found, she would have been perfection to evmore he saw of it, the less he found such ery mind, except her own, and perhaps her things go down well with him. The broad husband's. The rector used to say that his low stories and practical jokes, and babyish wife was an angel, if ever one there were; finesse of oaths, invented for the ladies- and in his heart he felt that truth. Still many of which still survive in the hypocrisy he did not speak to her always as if he were of our good tongue-these had a great deal fully aware of being in colloquy with an anto do with Sir Roland's love of his own quiet gel. He had lived with her " ever so long," dinner-table, and shelter of his pet child, and he knew that she was a great deal betAlice. And nothing, perhaps, except old ter than himself; but he had the wisdom custom and the traditions of friendship, could not to let her know it; and she often thought have induced him to bear, as he did, with that he preached at her. Such a thing he Sir Remnant's far lower standard. Let a never did. No honest parson would, ever do man be what he will, he must be moved one it; of all mean acts it would be the meanest. way or another by the folk he deals with. Yet there are very few parsons' wives who Even Sir Roland (though so different from are not prepared for the chance of it. And the people around him) felt their feelings Mrs. Hales knew that she "had her faults," move here and there, and very often come and that Mr. Hales was quite up to them. touching him. And he never could altogeth- At any rate, here they were, and here they ALICE LORRAINE. 55 meant to live their lives out, having a pret- stains the sweet violet even in March; he ty old place to see to, and kind old neighbors spots the primrose and the periwinkle; he to see to them. Also they had a much bet- takes the down off the heart's-ease blossom; terthing-three good children of their own; be browns the pure lily of the valley in enough to make work and pleasure for them, May; and, after that, he dims the tint of evbut not be a perpetual worry, inasmuch as cry rose that he opens; and yet, in spite of they all were girls-three very good girls, of all his mischief, which of them does not retheir sort thinking as they were told to joice in him? think, and sure to make excellent women. The bold chase, cut in the body of the hill, Alice Lorraine liked all these girls. They has rugged sides, and a steep descent for a were so kind, and sweet, and simple; and quarter of a mile belowthe house-the cleft when they had nothing whatever to say, of the chalk on either side growing deeper they always said it so prettily. And they toward the mouth of the coombe. The main never pretended to interfere with any of her road to the house goes up the coombe, passopinions, or to come into competition with ing under the eastern scarp, but winding her, or to talk to her father, when she was away from it here and there to obtain a betpresent, more than she well could put up ter footing. The old house, facing down the with. For she was a very jealous child; hill, stands so close to the head of the coombe, and they were well aware of it. And they that there is not more than an acre or so of might let their father be her mother's broth- land behind and between it and the crest, er ten times over, before she would hear of and this is partly laid out as a court-yard, any "Halesy element" as she once had partly occupied by out-buildings, stables, called it-coming into her family more than and so on, and the ruinous keep ingloriously it had already entered. And they knew used as a limekiln; while the rest of the right well, while they thought it too bad, space is planted in and out with spruce and that this young Alice had sadly quenched birch trees, and any thing that will grow.any hopes any one of them might have cher- there. Among them winds a narrow outlet ished of being a Lady Lorraine some day. to the upper and open Downs-too steep a She had made her poor brother laugh over way for carriage-wheels, but something in their tricks, when they were sure that they appearance between a bridle-path and a timhad no tricks; and she always seemed to ber-track, such as is known in those parts by put a wrong construction upon any little the old English name, a " bostall." harmless thing they did. Still they could As this led to no dwelling-house for miles afford to forget all that; and they did for- and miles away, but only to the crown of the get it, especially now when Hilary would hills and the desolate track of sheep-walks, soon be at home again. ninety-nine visitors out of a hundred to the It was now July, and no one had heard house came up the coombe, so that Alice from for weeks from that same Hilary; but this her flower-garden, commanding the course made no one anxious, because it was the of the drive from the plains, could nearly alwell-known manner of the youth. Some- ways foresee the approach of any interruptimes they would hear from him by every tion. Here she had pretty seats under lapost, although the post now came thrice in burnums, and even a bower ofjessamine, and a week; and then again for weeks together a noble view all across the weald, even to not a line would he vouchsafe. And as a the range of the North Downs; so that it general rule, he was getting on better when was a pleasant place for all who love soft he kept strict silence. sward and silence, and have time to enjoy Therefore Alice had no load on her mind that very rare romance of the seasons-a at all worth speaking of, while she worked hot English summer. in her sloping flower-garden, early of a sum- Only there was one sad drawback. Lady mer afternoon. It was now getting on for Valeria's windows straightly overlooked this St. Swithin's Day; and the sun was begin- pleasant spot, and Lady Valeria never could ning to curtail those brief attentions which see why she should not overlook every thing. he paid to Coombe Lorraine. He still looked Beyond and above all other things, she took fairly at it, as often as clouds allowed in the it as her own special duty to watch her dear morning, almost up to eight o'clock; and af- granddaughter Alice; andnow in hereightyter that he could still see down it, over the second year she was proud of her eyesight, shoulder of the hill. But he felt that his and liked to prove its power. rays made no impression (the land so fell " Here they come again!" cried Alice, talkaway from him), they seemed to do nothing ing to herself or her rake and trowel; " will but dance away downward, like a lasher of they never be content? I told them on Monglittering water. day that I knew nothing, and they will not Therefore, in this garden grew soft and believe it. I have a great' mind to hide mygently natured plants, and flowers of deli- self in my hole, like that poor rag-and-bone cate tint, that sink in the exhaustion of the boy. It goes beyond my patience quite to sun-glare. The sun, in almost every garden, be cross-examined and not believed." sucks the beauty out of all the flowers: he Those whom she saw coming up the steep 56 ALICE LORRAINE. road at struggling and panting intervals, Cecil shook her head. She was the youngwere her three good cousins from the Rec- est, and much the prettiest, and by many tory-Caroline, Margaret, and Cecil Hales; degrees the most elegant of the daughters rather nice-looking and active girls, resem- of the Rectory. Cecil had her own opinion bling their father in face. and. frame, and about many things, but waited till it should theirexcellent motherintheir spiritualparts. be valuable. The decorated period of young ladies, the "It is much more like a cowslip-ball," time of wearing great crosses and starving, Alice answered, carelessly. "Come into my and sticking as a thorn in the flesh of man- bower now; and then we can all of us go kind, lay as yet in the happy future. A par- to sleep." son's daughters were as yet content to leave The three girls were a little hot and the parish to their father, helping him only thirsty, after their climb of the chalky road; in the Sunday-school, and for the rest of the and a bright spring ran through the bower, week minding their own dresses, or some del- as they knew, ready to harmonize with shericate jobs of pastry, or gossip. bet, sherry wine, or even shrub itself, as had Though Alice had talked so of running once been proved by Hilary. away, she knew quite well that she never "How delicious this is! How truly could do it, unless it were for a childish joke; sweet " cried the eldest and perhaps most and swiftly she was leaving now the pretty loquacious Miss Hales; "and how nice of and petty world of childhood, sinking into you always to keep a glass! A spring is that distance whence the failing years re- such a rarity on these hills; papa says it coverit. Therefore, instead ofrunning away, comes from a different stratum. What a she ran down the hill to meet her cousins, stratum is, I have no idea. It ought to be for truly she liked them decently. straight, one may safely say that; but it al"Oh, you dear, how are you? How won- ways seems to be crooked. Now, can you derfully good to come to meet us! Madge, explain that, darling Alice? You are so I shall be jealous in a moment if you kiss my highly taught, and so clever!" Alice so. Cecil-what are you thinking of? "Now, we don't want a lecture," said Why, you never kissed your cousin Alice." Madge, the blunt one; " the hill is too steep " Oh yes, you have all done it very nicely. to have that at the top. Alice knows every What more could I wish?" said Alice; "but thing, no doubt, in the way of science, and what could have made you come up the hill all that. But what we are dying to know so early in the day, dears?" is what came of that grand old astrologer's " Well, you know what dear mamma is. business." She really fancied that we might seem (now "This is the seventh or eighth time now," there is so much going on) really unkind and Alice answered, hard at bay; "that you. will heartless, unless we came up to see how you keep on about some little thing that the servwere. Papa would have come; but he feels ants are making mountains of. My father it so steep, unless he is coming up to dinner; best knows what it is. Let us go to his and pony, you know- Oh, she did such a room and ask him." thing! The wicked little dear, she got into "Oh no, dear! oh, no, dear! How could the garden and devoured ~10 worth of the we do that? What would dear uncle say grand new flower just introduced by the to us? But come, now tell us. You do Duchess'Dallia,' or'Dellia' —I can't spell know something. Why are you so mystethe name. And mamma was so upset that rious.? Mystery is a thing altogether beboth of them have been unwell ever since." longing to the dark ages now. We have " Oh, Dahlias!' answered Alice, whose heard such beautiful stories that we can not grapes were rather sour, because her father manage to sleep at night without knowing had refused to buy any; "fla.unty things, in what they are all about. Now, do tell is my opinion. But Caroline, Madge, and Ce- every thing. You may just as well tell us cil, have you ever set eyes on my new rose?" every single thing.; We are sure to find it Of course they all ran to behold the new all out, you know; and then we shall all be rose; which was no other than the "Per- down on you. Among near relations, dear sian yellow," a beautiful stranger, not yet mamma says, there is nothing to: compare at home. The countless petals of brilliant with candor." yellow folding inward full of light, and the "Don't you see, Alice," Madge broke in, dimple in the centre, shy of yielding inlet "we are sure to know sooner or later; and to its virgin gold, and then the delicious how can it matter which it is?" fragrance, too refined for random sniffers- To be sure," answered Alice, " it can not these and other delights found entry into matter. And so you shall all know, later." the careless beholder's mind. This made the three sisters look a little "It makes one think of astrologers," cried at one another, quietly. And then, as a Caroline Hales; "I declare it does! Look desperate resource, Madge, the rough one, at all the little stars! It is quite like a ce- laid eyes upon Alice, and, with a piercing lestial globe." look, exclaimed, "You don't even under"So it is, I do declare!" said Madge. But stand what it means yourself!" ALICE LORRAINE. 57 "Of course I do not," answered Alice; "Then, beg Cousin Caroline's pardon for "how many. times have I told you so, yet me. No wonder she wanted to hear more. you always want farther particulars! Dear And I must not be touchy about my veracicousins, now you must be satisfied with a ty, after lying in my shroud so long. But conclusion of your own." truly I can not tell you a word to surpass "I can not at all see that," said Caroline. what you have heard already; nor even to "Really, you are too bad," cried Margaret. come up to it. There was not one single "Do you think that this is quite fair?" wonderful thing-not enough to keep up asked Cecil. the interest. I was bitterly disappointed; "You are too many for me, all of you," and so, of course, was every one." Alice answered, steadfastly. "Suppose I "Cousin Alice," Cecil answered, looking came to your house and pried into some at her pleasantly, "you are different from piece of gossip about you that I had picked us, or, at any rate, from my sisters. You up in the village. Would you think that I scarcely seem to know the way to tell the had a right to do it?" very smallest of small white lies. I am "No, dear, of course not. But nobody very sorry always; still I must tell some of dares to gossip about us, you know. Papa them." would very soon stop all that." "No, Cecil, no; you need tell none, if "Of course he would. And because my you only make up your mind not to do it. father is too high-minded to meddle with it, You are but a very little older than I am, am I to be questioned perpetually? Come and surely you might begin afresh. Supin, Caroline; come in, Margaret; come in, pose you say at your prayers in the morndear Cecil; I know where papa is, and then ing,'Lord, let me tell no lie to-day!'" you can ask him all about it." "Now, Alice,.you know that I never could "I have three little girls at their first do it. When I know that I mean to tell ever sampler, such little sweets!" said Caroline; so many, how could I hope to be answered? "I only left them for half an hour, because No doubt I am a story-teller —just the same we felt sure you must want us, darling. It as the rest of us; and to pray against it, now seems as if you could hold your own in when I mean to do it, would be a very doublea cross-stitch we must not penetrate. It is faced thing." nothing to us. What could it be? Only "To be sure it would. It never struck don't come, for goodness' sake, don't come me in that particular way before. But Unrushing down the hill, dear creature, to im- cle Struan must know best what ought to plore our confidence suddenly." be done in your case." " Dear creature! cried Alice, for the mo- "We must not make a fuss of trifles," ment borne beyond her young self-posses- Cecil answered, prudently; "papa can alsion-"I am not quite accustomed to old ways speak for himself; and he means to women's words. Nobody shall call me a come up the hill to do it, if Mi, Gate's pony'dear creature' except my father (who knows is at home. And now I must run after them, better) and poor old Nanny Stilgoe." or Madge will call me a little traitor. Oh, "Now, don't be vexed with them," Cecil here papa comes, I.do declare. Good-bye, stopped to say in a quiet manner, while the darling, and don't be vexed." two other maidens tucked up their skirts, It does seem a little too bad," thought and down the hill went, rapidly; " they Alice, as the portly form of the rector, mountnever meant to vex you, Alice; only you ed on a borrowed pony, came round the coryourself must feel how dreadfully tantaliz- ner at the bottom of the coombe, near poor ing it is to hear such sweet things as really Bonny's hermitage-" a little too bad that made us afraid of our own shadows; and nothing can be done without its being chatthen to be told not to ask any questions!" tered about. And I know how annoyed papa "I am sorry if I have been rude to your will be if Uncle Struan comes plaguing him sisters,' the placable Alice answered; " but again. We can not even tell what it means it is so vexatious of them that they doubt ourselves; and whatever it' means, it conmy word so. Now, tell me what you have cerns us only. I do think curiosity is the heard. It is wonderful how any foolish worst, though it may be the smallest vice. story spreads." He expects to catch me, of course, and get it " We heard, on the very best authority, all out of me, as he declared he would. But that the old astrologer appeared to you, de- sharp as his eyes are, I don't believe he can scending from the comet in a fire-balloon, have managed to spy me yet. I will off to and warned you to prepare for the Judg- my rock-work, and hide myself, till I see the ment-day, because the black-death would heels of his pony going sedately down the destroy in one night every soul in Coombe hill again." Lorraine; and as soon as you heard it you With these words, she disappeared; and fainted away, and Sir Roland ran up and when the good rector had mounted the hill, found you lying, as white as wax, in a "Alice, Alice!" resounded vainly from the shroud made out of the ancient gentleman's drive among the shrubs and flowers, and long foreign cloak." echoed from the ramparts of the coombe. 4 58 ALICE LORRAINE. CHTAPTpER XX. of thought, which it might have pursued CH TR. until dinner-time. But, of course, he was ONE part of Coombe Lorraine is famous much too courteous to show any token of infor a seven-fold echo, connected by tradition terruption. with a tale of gloom and terror. Mr. Hales, "Roland, I must have you out of this. being proud of his voice, put this echo My dear fellow, what are you coming to? through all its peals, or chime of waning res- Books, books, books! As if you did not know onance. It could not quite answer, How twice too much already! Even I find my do you do?" with " Very well, Pat, and the flesh falling away from me, the very next same to you "-and its tone was rather mel- day after I begin to punish it with reading." ancholy than sprightly, as. some echoes are. "That very remark occurs in the book But of course a great deal depended on the which I have just put down. Struan, let me weather, as well as on the time of day. read it to you." Echo, for the most part, sleeps by daylight, "I thank you greatly, but would rather and strikes her gong as the sun goes down. not. It is in Latin or Greek, of course. I Failing of any satisfaction here, the Rev. could not do my duty as I do, if I did it in Struan Hales rode on. "Ride on, ride on!" those dead languages. But I have the rarest was his motto always; and he seldom found treat for you; and I borrowed a pony to it fail. Nevertheless, as he rang the bell come and fetch you. Such a badger you (which he was at last compelled to do), he never saw! Sir Remnant is coming to see it felt in the crannies of his heart some wavers andso is old GeneralJakes, and a dozen more. as to -the job he was come upon. A coarse We allow an hour for that, and then we have nature often despises a fine one, and yet is a late dinner at six o'clock. My daughters most truly afraid of it. Mr. Hales believed came up the hill to fetch your young Alice, that in knowledge of the world he was en- to see the sport. But they had some blazetitled to teach Sir Roland; and yet he could up about some trifle, as the chittish creatures not help feeling how calmly any impertinence are always doing. And so pretty Alice perwould be stopped. haps will lose it. Leave them to their own The clergyman found his brother-in-law ways, say I; leave them to their own ways, sitting alone, as he was too fond of doing,in Sir Roland. They are sure to cheat us, eihis little favorite book-room, walled off from ther way; and they may just as well cheat the larger and less comfortable library. Sir us pleasantly." Roland was beginning to yield more and "You take a sensible view of it, according more to the gentle allurements of solitude. to what your daughters are," Sir Roland anSome few months back he had lost the only swered, more sharply than he either meant friend with whom he had ever cared to in- or could maintain; and immediately he was terchange opinions, a learned parson of the ashamed of himself. But Mr. Hales was not neighborhood, an antiquary, and an elegant thin of skin; and he knew that his daughscholar. And ever since that he had been ters were true to him. "Well, well," he resinking deeper and deeper into the slough plied; "as I said before, they are full of of isolation and privacy. For hours he now tricks. At their age and sex it must be so. would sit alone, with books before him, yet But a better and kinder team of maids is not seldom heeded, while he mused and medita- to be found in thirteen parishes. Speak to ted, or indulged in visions mingled of the the contrary who will." world he read of and the world he had to "I know that they are very good girls," deal with. As no less an authority than Dr. Sir Roland answered kindly; "Alice likes Johnson has it-" This invisible riot of the them very much; and so does every body." mind, this secret prodigality of being, is se- "That is enough to show what they are. cure from detection, and fearless of reproach. Nobody ever likes any body, without a great The dreamer retires to his apartment, shuts deal of cause for it. They must have their out the cares and interruptions of mankind, faults of course, we know; and they may and abandons himself to his own fancy." not be quite butter-lipped, you know-still And again —" This captivity it is necessary I should like to see a better lot, take them for every man to break, who has any desire in and out and altogether. Now you must to be wise or useful. To regain liberty, he come and see Fox draw that badger. I must find the means of flying from himself; have ten good guineas upon it with Jakes; he must, in opposition to the Stoic precept, Sir Remnant was too shy to stake. And I teach his desires to fix upon external things; want a thoroughly impartial judge. You he must adopt the joys and the pains of oth- never would refuse me, Roland, now'" ers, and excite in his mind the want of social' Yes, Struan, yes; you know well that I pleasures and amicable communication." will. You know that I hate and despise Sir Roland Lorraine was not quite so bad cruel sports. And it is no compliment to as the gentleman above depicted; still he invite me, when you know that I will not was growing so like him that he was truly come." sorry to see the jovial face of his brother-in- "I wish I had staid at the bottom of law. For his mind was set out upon a track the hill, where that young scamp of a boy ALICE LORRAINE. 59 lives. - When will you draw that badgei, your:clear sister. This matter, however, is so Sir Roland, the pest of the Downs, and of entirely confined to those of our name only, all the county?" at the same time so likely to charm all the "Struan, the boy is not half so bad as gossips who have made such wild guesses might be expected of him. I have thought about it, and after all it is such a trifle exonce or twice that I ought to have him cept to a superstitious mind; that I may taught, and fed, and civilized." trust your good sense to be well content to "Send him to me, and I'll civilize him. hear no more about it, until it comes into A born little poacher! I have scared all action-if it ever should do so." the other poachers with the comtat; but "Very well, Sir Roland, of course you the little thief never comes to church. Four know best. I am the last man in the world pair of birds, to my knowledge, nested in to.. intrude into family mysteries. And my John Gate's veitches, and hatched well, too, very worst enemy (if I have one) would for I spoke to John where are they? Can never dream of charging me with the vice you tell me where they are'?" of curiosity." "Well, Struan, I give you the shooting, "Of course not; and therefore you will of course; but I leave it to you to look after be well pleased that we should drop this it. But it does seem too cruel to kill the subject. Will you take white wine or red birds, before they can fly, for you to shoot Wine, Struan? Your kind and good wife them." was quite ready to scold me, for having for"Cruel! I call it much worse than cruel. gotten my duty in that, the last time you Such things would never be dreamed of came up the hill." upon a properly managed property." "Ah, then I walked. But to-day I am "You are going a little too far," said Sir riding. I thank you, I thank you, Sir RoRoland, with one of his very peculiar looks; land; but the General and Sir Remnant are and his brother-in-law drew back at once, waiting for me." and changed the subject clumsily. "And, most important of all, the badger. " The shooting will do well enough, Sir Good-bye, Struan; I shall see you soon." Roland. I think, however, that you may "I hardly know whether you will or not," be glad of my opinion upon other matters. the rector answered testily; "this is the And that had something to do with my time when those cursed poachers scarcely coming." allow me a good night's rest. And to come " Oh, I thought that you came about the up this hill, and hear nothing at the top! badger, Struan. But what are these even It is too bad at my time of life! After two more serious matters?" services every Sunday, to have to be game" Concerning your dealings with the dev- keeper all the week!" i], Roland. Of course, I never listen to any "At your time of life!" said Sir Roland, thing foolish. Still, for the sake of my par- kindly: " why, you are the youngest man in ish, I am bound to know what your expla- the parish, so far as life and spirits go. Tonation is. I have not much faith in witch- day you are not yourself at all. Struan, craft, though in that perhaps I am hetero- you have not sworn one good round oath!" dox; but we are bound to have faith in the "Well, what can you expect, Roland, with devil, I hope." these confounded secrets held over one? I "Your hope does you credit," Sir Roland feel myself many pegs down to-day. And answered; "but for the moment I fail to that pony trips so abominably. Perhaps, see how I am concerned with this ortho- after all, I might take one glass of red wine doxy." before I go down the hill." "Now, my dear fellow, my dear fellow, "It is a duty you owe to the parish. you know as well as I do what I mean. Of Now come, and let me try to find Alice to course there is a great deal of exaggeration; wait upon you. Alice is always so glad to and knowing you so well, I have taken on see you." myself to deny a great part of what people "And I am always soglad to see her. How say. But you know the old proverb,'No narrow your doors are in these old houses! smoke without fire;' and I could defend you Those Normans must have been a skewerso much better, if I knew what really has shouldered lot. Now, Roland, if I have said occurred. And besides all that, you must any thing harsh, you will make all allowance feel, I am sure, that you are not treating me for me, of course; because you know the with that candor which our long friendship reason." and close connection entitle me to expect "You mean that you are a little disapfrom you." pointed-" "Your last argument is the only one re- "Not a bit of it. Quite the contrary. quiring any answer. Those based on relig- But after such weather as we have had, and ions, social, and even parochial grounds, do nothing but duty, duty, to do, one is apt to not apply to this case at all. But I should get a little crotchety. What kind of sport be sorry to vex you, Struan, or keep from can be got anywhere? The landrail-shootyou any thing you claim to know in right of ing is over, of course, and the rabbits are 60 ALICE LORRAINE. running in families; the fish are all sulky, ble things in her favor. In short, she had and the water low, and the sea-trout not been a very beautiful woman, and had emcome up yet. There are no young hounds ployed her beauty well, in having her own fit to handle yet; and the ground cracks will and way. She had not married well, the heels of a decent hack. One's mouth it is true, in the opinion of her compeers; only waters at oiling a gun; all the best of but she had pleased herself, and none could the cocks are beginning to mate; and if say that she had lowered her family. The one gets up a badger-bait, to lead to a din- ancestors of Lord Thanet had held in vilner-party, people will come, and look on, and leinage of the Lorraines, some three or four make bets, and then tell the women how hundred years after the Conquest, until from cruel it was! And with all the week thus, being under so gentle a race they managed I am always expected to say something new to get over them. every Sunday morning!" Lady Valeria knew all this; and feeling, " Nay, nay, Struan. Come now; we have as all women feel, the ownership of her husnever expected that of you. But here comes band (active or passive, whichever it be), Alice from her gardening work! Now, she she threw,herself into the nest of Lorraine, does look well; don't you think she does?" and having no portion, waived all other ob"Not a rose in June, but a rose in May!" ligation to parental ties. This was a noble the rector answered gallantly, kissing his act on her part, as her husband always said. hand to his niece, and then with his healthy, He, Sir Roger Lorraine, lay under her thumb, bright lips saluting her: "you grow more as calmly as.need be; yet was pleased as the and more like your mother, darling. And birth of children gave some distribution of when I think of the by-gone days, before I pressure. For'the lady ruled the house and had any wife, or daughters, things occur to lands, and all that was therein, as if she had me that never-" brought them under her settlement. "Go and bait your badger, Struan, after Although Sir Roger had now been sleepone more glass of wine." ing, for a good many years, with his fathers, his widow, Lady Valeria, showed no sign of, ~I- r2any preparation for sleeping with her mothers. Now in her eighty-second year, this CHAPTER XXI. lady was as brisk and actfve, at least in mind if not in body, as half a century ago she had NATURE appears to have sternly willed been. Many good stories (and some even that no man shall keep a secret. There is true) were told concerning her doings and a monster here and there to be discovered sayings in the time of her youth and beauty. capable of not even whispering any thing; Doings were always put first, because for but he ought to expect to be put aside in these she was more famous, having the wit our estimate of humanity. And lest he of ready action more than of rapid words should be so, the powers above provide perhaps. And yet in the latter she was not him, for the most part, with a wife of truly slack, when once she had taken up the quivfecund loquacity. er of the winged poison. She had seen so A word is enough on such parlous themes; much of the world, and of the loftiest people and theleast said thesoonestmended. What that dwell therein-so far at least as they one of us is not exceedingly wise, in his own were to be found at the Court of George the or his wife's opinion? What one of us does Second-that she sat in an upper stratum not pretend to be as "reticent " as Minerva's now over all she had to deal with. And owl, and yet in his heart confess that a se- yet she was not of a narrow mind, when cret is apt to fly out of his bosom? unfolded out of her creases. Her suite of Nature is full of rules; and if the above rooms was the best in the house, of all above should happen to be one of them, it was il- the ground-floor at least; and now she was lustrated in the third attack upon Sir Ro- waiting to receive her son, with her usual land's secrecy. For scarcely had he suc- little bit of state. For the last five years ceeded in baffling, without offending, his she had ceased to appear at the table where brother-in-law, when a servant brought him once she ruled supreme; and the servants, a summons from his mother, Lady Valeria. who never had blessed her before, blessed According to all modern writers, whether her and themselves for that happy change. of poetry or prose, in our admirable lan- For she would have her due, as firmly and guage, the daughter of an earl is always fairly (if not a trifle more so), as and than lovely, graceful, irresistible, almost to as she gave the same to others, if undemanded. great an extent as she is unattainable. This In her upright seat she was now beginis but a natural homage on the part of Na- ning-not to chafe, for such a thing would ture to a power so far above her; so that have been below her-but rather to feel her this daughter of an Earl of Thanet had been, sense of right and duty (as owing to herself) in every outward point, whatever is delight- becoming more and more grievous to her ful. Neither had she shown any slackness the longer she was kept waiting. She had in turning to the best account these nota- learned long ago that she could not govern ALICE LORRAINE. 61 her son as absolutely as she was wont to by virtue of varied humor; "this is the rule his father; and having a clearer per- self-same whip wherewith I scourged little ception of her own will than of any large Alice quite lately! Only I feel that I was principles, whenever she found him immov- far more just." able, she set the cause down as prejudice. "Roland, you are always just. You may Yet by feeling her way among these preju- not be always wise, of course; but justice dices carefully, and working filial duty hard, you have inherited from your dear father and flying as a last resort to the stronghold and from me. And this is the reason why I of her many years, she pretty nearly always wish to know what is the meaning of the managed to get her own way in every thing. strange reports which almost any one exBut few of those who pride themselves on cept myself would have beensure to go into, their knowledge of the human face would or must have been told of, long ago.. Your have perceived in this lady's features any thorough truthfulness I know. And you shape of steadfast will. Perhaps the ex- have no chance to mislead me now." pression had passed away, while the sub- "I will imitate, though perhaps I can not stance settled inward; but however that equal, your candor, my dear mother, by asmay have been, her face was pleasant, calm, suring you that I greatly prefer to keep my and gentle. Her manner also to all around own counsel in this matter." her was courteous, kind, and unpretending; " Roland, is that your answer? You adand people believed her to have no fault, mit that there is something important, and until they began to deal with her.'Her you refuse to let your own mother know it!" eyes, not overhung with lid, but delicately Excuse me, but I do not remember sayset and shaped, were still bright, and of a ing any thing about' importance.' I am not pale blue tint; her forehead was not re- superstitious enough to suppose that the markably large, but straight and of beau- thing can have any importance." tiful outline; while the filaments of fine "Then why should you make such a fuss wrinkles took, in some lights, a cast of sil- about it? Really, Roland, you are somever from snowy silkiness of hair. For still times very hard to understand." she had abundant hair, that crown of glory I was not aware that I had made a fuss," to old age; and like a young girl, she still Sir Roland answered, gravely; "but if I took pleasure in having it drawn through have, I will make no more. -Now, my dear the hands, and done wisely, and tired to the mother, what did you think of that extraorutmost vantage. dinary bill of Bottler's?" Sir Roland came into his mother's room " Bottler the Pigman is a rogue," said her with his usual care and diligence. She with ladyship, peremptorily; "his father was a ancient courtesy rose from her straight'- rogue before him; and those things run in backed chair, and offered him one little families. But surely you can not suppose hand, and smiled at him; and from the that this is the proper way to treat the submanner of that smile he knew that she was ject." not by any means pleased, but thought it as " To my mind a most improper way-to well to conciliate him. condemn a man's bill on the ground that his "Roland, you know that I never pay father transmitted the right to overcharge!" heed," she began, with a voice that shook "Now, my dear son," said Lady Valeria, just a little, "to rumors that reach me who never called him her son at all, unless through servants, or even allow them to she was put out with him, and her "d ear think of telling me." son" only when she was at the extremity of "Dear mother, of course you never do. endurance-" my dear son, these are sad atSuch a thing would be far beneath you." tempts to disguise the real truth from me. "Well, well, you might wait till I have The truth I am entitled to know, and the spoken, Roland, before you begin to judge truth I am resolved to know.: And I think me. If I listen to nothing I must be quite that you might have paid me the compliment unlike all the other women in the world." of coming for my advice before." " And so you are. How well you express Finding her in this state of mind, and beit! At last you begin to perceive, my dear iug unable to deny the justice of her claim, mother, what I perpetually urge in vain- Sir Roland was fain at last to make a virtue your own superiority." of necessity, while he marveled (as so many What man's mother can be expected to have done) at the craft of people in spying endure mild irony, even half so well as his things, and espying them always wrongly. wife would? "Is that all?" said Lady Valeria, after list"Roland, this manner of speech-I know ening carefully; " Ithought there must have not what to call it, but I have heard of it been something a little better than that to among foreign people years ago-whatever justify you in making it such a mystery. it is, I beg you not to catch it from that boy Nothing but a dusty old document, and a Hilary." strange-looking packet, or, case like a squab. "Poetical justice!" Sir Roland exclaimed; However, I do not blame you, my dear Rofor his temper was always in good control,' land, for making so small a discovery. The 62 ALICE LORRAINE. old astrologer appears to me to have grown less hesitation than he did. Recovering, ere a little childish. Now, as I keep to the old- long, from that sudden shock, she managed fashioned hours, I will ask you to ring the to smile at herself and at his anxiety about bell for my tea, and while it is being prepared her. you can fetch me the case itself and the doc- " Now, Roland, I will not meddle with this ument to examine." formidable and clumsy thing. It seems to "To be sure, my dear mother, if you will be closed most jealously. It has kept for only promise to obey the commands of the two centuries, and may keep for two more, document." so far as I am concerned. But if it will not "Roland, I have lived too long ever to be too troublesome to you, I should like to promise any thing. You shall read me these hear what is said about it." orders, and then I can judge." "In this old document, madam? Do you "I will make no fuss about such a trifle," see how strangely it has been folded? Whohe answered with a pleasant smile; "of ever did that knew a great deal more than course you will do what is honorable." we know now about folding." Surely men, although they deny so fero- "The writing to me seems more strange ciously this impeachment, are open at times than the folding. What a cramped hand! to at least a little side eddy of curiosity; Sir In what language is it written?" Roland, no doubt, was desirous to know what "In Greek, the old Greek character, and -were the contents of that old case, which the Doric dialect. He seems to have been Alice had taken for a " dirty cushion," as it proud of his classic descent, and perhaps lay at the back of the cupboard in the wall; Dorian lineage. But he placed a great deal while his honor would not allow him com- too much faith in the attainments of his defortably to disobey the testator's wish. At scendants. Poor Sedley would have read it the same time he felt, every now and then, straight off, I dare say; but the contractions, that to treat such a matter in a serious light and even some of the characters, puzzled me was a proof of superstition, or even childish- dreadfully. I have kept up, as you know, ness, on his part. And now, if his mother dear mother, whatever little Greek I was should so regard it, he was not at all sure taught, and perhaps have added to it; but that he ought to take the unpleasant course my old Hedericus was needed a great many of opposing her. times, I assure you, before I got through this queer document; and even now I am not quite certain of the meaning of one or two CHAPTE ~R XXII. passages. You see at the head a number of what I took at first to be hieroglyphics of SiR ROLAND smiled at his mother's posi- some kind or other; but I find thht they are tion, and air of stern attention, as he came astral or sidereal signs, for which I am none back from his book-room with a small but the wiser, though perhaps an astronomer heavy oaken box. This he placed on a chair, would be. This, for instance, appears to and, without any mystery, unlocked it. But mean the conjunction of some two planets, no sooner had he flung back the lid and and this-" shown the case above described, than he " Never mind them, Roland. Read me was quite astonished at the expression of what you have made out of the writing." Lady Valeria's face. Something more than "Very well, mother.. But if I amat fault, fear and terror-downright awe, as if at the you must have patience with me, for I am sight of something supernatural-had taken not perfect in my lesson yet. Thus it begins: the pale tint out of her cheeks, and made "' Behold, ye men, who shall be hereafter, her fine forehead quiver. and pay heed to this matter. A certain Ca" Dear mother, how foolish I am," he said, rian, noble by birth and of noble character, to " to worry you with these trifles! I wish I whom is the not inglorious name, Agasicles had kept to my own opinion-" Syennesis, hath lived not in the pursuit of "It is no trifle; you would have been wealth, or power, or reputation, but in the wrong to treat it as a trifle. I have lived a unbroken study of the most excellent arts long life, and seen many strange things; but and philosophies. Especially in the heaventhis is the strangest of all of them." ly stars and signs of the everlasting kosmos For a minute or two she lay back, and was hath he disciplined his mind, and surpassed not fit to speak or be spoken to; only she all that went before him.' Thereis nothing managed to stop her son from ringing for her like self-praise, is there, now, dear mother?" maid or thehousekeeper. He hadneverbe- "I have no doubt that he speaks the held her so taken before, and could scarcely truth," answered the Lady Valeria; " I did make out her signs to him to fasten both not marry into a family accustomed to exagdoors of the drawing-room. gerate." Like most men who are at all good and "Then what do you think of this?' Not just, Sir Roland was prone to think softly only in intellect and forethought, but alse and calmly, instead of acting rapidly; and in good-will and philanthropy, modesty, and now his mother, so advanced in years, showed self-forgetfulness, did this man win the prize ALICE LORRAINE. 63 of excellence; and he it is who now speaks sure of all of it. For instance, where he to you. Having lived much time in a bar- says-" barous island, cold, and blown over with va- " Roland," his mother answered, quickly, porous air, he is no longer of such a sort as "I am now much older than the prince, ache was in the land of the fair afternoons. cording to tradition, can have been. But I And there is when it is to his mind a manifest make no pretense to his wisdom, and I have and established thing, that the gates of Hades reasons of my own for wondering. What are open for him, and the time of being no have you done with the key of that case?" longer. But he holds this to be of the small- " I have never seen it. It was not in the est difference, if only the gods produce his closet. And I meant to have searched time to the perfect end of all the things ly- throughout his room until I found out the ing now before him." meaning of this very crabbed postscript"How good, and how truly pious of him,'That fool, Memel, hath lost the key. It Roland! Such a man's daughter never could will cost me months to make another. My have had any right to run away from him." hands now tremble, and my eyes are weak. "My dear mother, I disagree with you, if If there be no key found herewith, let it be he always praised himself in that style. But read that Nature, whom I have vanquished, let him speak for himself again, as he seems hath avenged herself. Whether or no have to know very well how to do:' These things I labored in vain? Be blest now, and bless have not been said, indeed, for the sake of any me, my dear descendants.' boasting, but rather to bring out thorough- " That appears to me," said the Lady Valy forward the truth in these things lying leria, being left in good manners by her son under, as if it were a pavement of adamant. to express the first opinion, " to be of the Now, therefore, know ye, that Agasicles, care- whole of this strange affair the part that is fully pondering every thing, has found, so to least satisfactory." say the word, an end to accomplish and to "My dear mother, you have hit the mark. abide in. And this is no other thing than What satisfaction can'one find in having a to save the generations descended from him case without a key, and knowing that if we from great evil fortunes about to fall, by the force it open there will be nothing but dust ill-will of some divinity, at a destined time inside? Not a: quarter so good as a snuffupon them. For a man of birth so renown- box. I must have a pinch, my dear mother, ed and lofty has not been made to resemble excuse me, while you meditate on this suba hand-worker, or a runaway slave, but ihas ject. You are far more indulgent in that remany stars regarding him from many gener- spect than little Alice ever is." ations. And now he perceives that his skill "All gentlemen take snuff," said the lady; and wisdom were not given to him to be a " who is Alice to lay down the law? Your' mere personal adornment, but that he might father took a boxful three times in a week. protect his descendants to the remote futu- Roland, you let that young girl take very rity. To him, then-it having been revealed great liberties with you." that in the seventh generation hence, as has "It is not so much that I let her take often come to pass with our house, or haply them. I have no voice in the matter now. in the tenth (for the time is misty), a great She'takes them without asking me. Possicalamity is bound to happen to those born bly that is the great calamity foretold by the afar off from Syennesis-the sage has labor- astrologer. If not, what other can it be, do ed many labors, though he can not avert, at you think?" least to make it milder, and to lessen it. He " Not so," she answered, with a serious air, has not, indeed, been made to know, at least for all her experience of the witty world had up to the present time, what this bane will left her old age quite dry of humor; "the be, or whether after the second or after the trouble, if any is coming, will not be through third century from this period. But know- Alice, but through Hilary. Alice is certaining the swiftness of evil chance, he expects ly a flighty girl, romantic, and full of nonit at the earlier time; and whatever its man- sense, and not at all such as she might have ner or kind may be, Agasicles in all his dis- been if left more in my society. However, coveries has discovered no cure for human she never has thought it worth while to asevils, save that which he now has shut up sociate much with her grandmother, the rein a box. This box has been so constructed sult of which is that her manners are unformthat nothing but dust will meet the greedy ed, and her mind is full of nonsense. But eyes of any who force it open, in the manner she has plenty, and (if it. were possible) too of the tomb of Nitocris. But if it be opened much of that great preservative, pride of with the proper key, and after the proper in- birth. Alice may come to affliction herself, terval, when the due need has arisen, there but she never will involve her family." will be a fairer sight than ever broke upon "Any affliction of hers," said, Sir Roland, mortal eyes before.' will involve at least her father." "There, mother, now, what do you think Yes, yes, of course. But what I mean is of all that? I am quite out of breath with the honor and rank of the family. It is my my long translation, and I am not quite favorite Hilary, my dear, brave, handsome 64 ALICE LORRAINE. Hilary, who is likely to bring care on our to have it taken away, my son. There, there, heads, or rather upon your head, Roland: I am very glad not to see it, although I am my time, of course, will be over then, unless sure I am not superstitious. We shall do he is very quick about. it." very well, I trust, without it. I think it is "He will not be so quick as that, I hope," a most extraordinary thing that your father Sir Roland answered, with some little confu- never consulted me about the writing handsion of proper sentiments; " although in that ed down to you. He must have been bound hot-bed of mischief, London, nobody knows by some pledge not to do so. There, Roland, when he may begin. However, he is not in I am tired of the subject." London at present, according to your friend With these words, the ancient lady waved Lady De Lampnor. I think you said you her delicate hand, and dismissed her son, who had heard so from her." kissed herwhiteforehead, according to usage, "To be sure, Mr. Malahide told her himself. and then departed with case and parchment The dear boy has overworked himself so that locked in the oaken box asgain. But the he has gone to some healthy and quiet place more he thought over her behavior, the more to recruit his exhausted energies." he was puzzled about it. He had fully ex"Dear me," said Sir Roland, " I could nev- pected a command to open the case, at whater believe it, unless I knew from experience, ever hazard; and perhaps he had been diswhat a very little work is enough to upset appointed at receiving no such order. But him. To write a letter to his father, for in- above all, he wanted to know why his mothstance, is so severe an exertion that he re- er should have been taken aback, as she was, quires a holiday the next day." by the sight of these little things. For few "Now, Roland, don't be so hard upon him. people, even in the prime of life, possessed You would apprentice him to that vile law, more self-command and courage than Lady which is quite unfit for a gentleman. I am Valeria, now advancing into her eighty-secnot surprised at his being overcome by such ond year. odious labor; you would not take my advice, remember, and put him into the only profession fit for one of his birth-the army. CHAPTER XXIII Whatever happens, the fault is your own. It is clear, however, that he can not get into AT the top of the hill, these lofty themes much mischief where he is just now-a rural were being handled worthily; while, at the and quiet part of Kent, she says. It shows bottom, little cares had equal glance of the the innocence of his heart to go there." democrat sun, but no stars allotted to regard " Very likely. But if he wanted change, them. In plain English, Bonny and Jack lie might have asked leave to come home, I were as busy as their betters. They had think. However, we shall have him here taken their usual round that morning, seeksoon enough.". ing the staff of life-if that staff be applica"How you speak, Roland! Quite as if you ble to a donkey-in village, hamlet, and farmcared not a farthing for your only son! It house, or among the lanes and hedges. The must be dreadfully galling to him, to see how sympathy and good-will between them daily you prefer that Alice." T grew more intimate, and their tastes more If he is galled, he never winces," answer- similar; so that it scarcely seemed impossied Sir Roland, with a quiet smile; " he is the ble that Bonny in the end might learn to eat most careless fellow in the world." clover, and Jack to rejoice in money. Open "And the most good-natured, and the most - air and roving life, the ups and downs of want affectionate," said Lady Valeria, warmly. and weal, the freedom of having nothing to "Nothing else could keep him from being lose, and the joyful luck of finding thingsjealous, as nine out of ten would be. How- these, and perhaps a little spice of unknown ever, I am tired of talking now, and on that sweetness in living at large on their fellowsubject I might talk forever. Take away creatures' labors, combined to make them as that case, if you please, and the writing. On happy a pair as the day was long, or the no account would I have them left here. Of weather good. In the winter ah! why course you will lock them away securely, should we think of such trouble? Perhaps and not think of meddling with them. What there will never be winter again. is that case made of?" At any rate, Bonny was sitting in front of "I can scarcely make out. Something the door of his castle (or rather in front of strong and heavy. A mixture, I think, of the door-way, because he was happy enough shagreen and some metal. But the oddest not to have a door), as proud and contented thing of all is the key-hole. It is at the top as if there could never be any more winter of the cone, you see, and of the strangest of discontent. He had picked up a hat in a shape, an irregular heptagon, with some rare ditch that day, lost by some man going home complication of points inside. It would be from his inn; and knowing from his patron, next to impossible to open this case without the pigman, Bottler, that the surest token of shattering it altogether." a blameless life is to be found in the hat of "I do not wish to examine the case; I wish a man, the boy, stirred by the first heave of ALICE LORRAINE. 65 ambition, had put on this hat, and was prac- berries; but here he had him at his mercy ticing hat-craft (having gone with his head quite, through his knowledge of human naas it was born hitherto), to the utter surprise, ture. To put it coarsely-as the rector did and with the puzzled protest, of his beloved in his mental process haply-the bigger thief donkey. It was a most steady church-go- any body is, the more sacred to him is his ing hat of the chimney-pot order (then newly property. Not that Bonny was a thief at imported into benighted regions, but now of all; still that was how Mr. Hales looked at the essence of a godly life all over this free it. In the flurry of conscience, the boy forcountry); neither was it such ashocking bad got that a camel might go through the eye hat as a man would cast away, if his wife of a needle with less exertion than the parwere near. For Bonny's young head it was ish incumbent must use to get into the Bona world too wide, but he had padded it with ny castle. a blackbird's nest; and though it seemed "Oh hoo, oh hoo oh hoo!" howled Bonny, scarcely in harmony with his rakish waist- having no faith in clerical honor, and forecoat, and bare red shanks (spread on the seeing the sack of his palace and home. grass for exhibition, and starred with myriad "Give me that wire," said Mr. Hales, in a furze and bramble), still he was conscious of voice from the depth of his waistcoat. a distinguished air, and nodded to the donkey "Now, my boy, would you like to be a good to look at him. boy?" While these were gazing at one another, "No, sir; no, sir; oh no, plaize, sir! Jack with free interchange of opinion, the rector nor me couldn't bear it, sir." of the parish, on his little pony, turned the "Why not, my boy? It is such a fine corner suddenly. He was on his way home, thing. Your face shows that you are a sharp at the bottom of the coombe, not in the very boy. Why do you go on living in a hole, best temper perhaps, in spite of the sport in and poaching, and picking, and stealing?" prospect; because Sir Roland had met so "Plaize, sir, I never steals nothin', withunkindly his kind desire to know things. out it is somethin' as don't belong to me." "What have you got on your lap, boy?" " That may be. But why should you steal Mr. Hales so strongly shouted that sulky even that? Shall I go in, and steal your Echo pricked her ears, and " on your lap, things now?" boy," went all around. "Oh hoo, oh hoo, oh hoo! Plaize, sir, I Bonny knew well what was on his lap —a hant. got nothin' for'e to steal." cleverly plaited hare-wire. Bottler had "I am not at all sure of that," said the shown him how to do it, and now he was rector, looking at the hermit's hole longingpracticing diligently, under the auspices of ly; "a thief's den is often as good as the his first hat. Mr. Hales was a "beak," of bank. Now,whotaught you howto make this course; and the aquiline beak of the neigh- snare? I thought I knew them all pretty borhood. Bonny had the honor of his ac- well; but this wire has a dodge quite new quaintance in that fierce respect, and in no to me. Who taught you, you young scamp? other. The little boy knew that there was -this moment!" a church, and that great people went there "Plaize, sir, I can't tell'e, sir. Nobody once a week, for very great people to blow taught me, as I knows on." them up. But this only made him the more "You young liar, you couldn't teach youruneasy to clap his bright eyes on the parson. self. What you mean is that you don't choose " Hold there! whoa!" called the Rev. to tell me. Know I must, and know I will, Struan, as Bonny for his life began to cut if I have to thrash it out of you!" He had away. "Boy, I want to talk to you." seized him now by his gorgeous waistcoat, Bonny was by no means touched with this and held the strong horsewhip over his very fine benevolence. Taking, perhaps, a back. " Now, will you tell, or will you not?' low view of duty, we made the ground hot, I'ont, I'ont.: If'e killsme, I'ont!" the to escape what we now call the "sacerdotal boy cried, wriggling vainly, and with great office." But Struan Hales (unlike our par- tears of anticipation rolling down his sunsons) knew how to manage the laity. He burned cheeks. clapped himself and his pony, in no time, be- The parson admired the pluck of the boy, tween Master Bonny and his hole, and then knowing his own great strength of Course, in calm dignity called a halt, with his riding- and feeling that if he began to smite, the whip ready at his button-hole. swing of'his.arm would increase his own "It is, it is, it is!" cried Bonny, coming wrath and carryhim perhaps beyond reason. back with his head on his chest, and mean- Therefore he offered him one chance more. ing (in the idiom of the land) that now he "Will you tell, sir, or will you not?' was beaten, and would hold parley. "I'ont tell; that I'ont!" screamed Bon"To be sure it is!" the rector answered, ny; and at the word the lash descended. keeping a good balance on his pony, and But only once, for the smiter in a moment well pleased with his own tactics. He might was made aware of a dusty rush, a sharp roar have chased Bonny for an hour in vain o.2 wrath, and great' teeth flashing under through the furze, and heather, and black- mighty jaws. And perhaps he would never 66 ALICE LORRAINE. have walked again if he had not most suc- tor; " they would not long have been secrets, denly wheeled his pony, and just escaped a my boy, after they came to your ears, I doubt." tremendous snap, well aimed at his comely "Then let me establish my reputation by and gartered calf. keeping my own, at any rate. But, after "Ods bods!" cried the parson, as he saw all, it is no secret, uncle. Only, my father the jackass (with a stretched-out neck, and ought to know it first." crest erect, eyes flashing fire, and a lashing "Alas, you rogue, you rogue! Something tail, and, worst of all terrors, those cavern- about money, no doubt. You used to condeous jaws) gathering legs for a second charge, scend to come to me when you were at school like an Attic trireme, Phormio's own, back- and college. But now you are too grand for ing water for the diecplus. the purse of any poor Sussex rector. I could'"May I be dashed," the rector shouted, put off our badger for half an hour, if you "if I deal any more with such animals! If think you could run down the hill again. I I had only got my hunting crop; but, kuk, should like you particularly to see young kuk, kuk, pony! Quick, for God's sake! Fox: it will be something grand, my boy. Off with you!" He is the best pup I ever had in all my life." With a whack of full power on the pony's "I know him, uncle; I know what he is; flanks, away went he at full gallop; while I chose him first out of the litter, you know. Jack tossed his white nose with high disdain, But you must not think of waiting for me. and then started at a round trot in pursuit, If I come down the hill again, it will only to scatter them more disgracefully, and after be about eight o'clock for an hour's rabbitthem sent a fine flourish of trumpets, to the shooting." grand old national air of hee-haw. Since he first met Mabel Lovejoy, Hilary While the Rev. Struan Hales was thus in had been changing much, and in every way, sore discomfiture fleeing away as hard as for the better. Her gentleness, and soft rehis pony could be made to go, and casting garl, and simple love of living things (at a uneasy glances over one shoulder at his pur- time when cruelty was the rule, and kind. suer, behold, he almost rode over a traveler ness the rare exception), together with her footing it lighly round a sudden corner of knowledge of a great deal more than he had the lane. ever noticed in the world around, made him "Why, Uncle Struan!" exclaimed the lat- feel, in his present vein of tender absence ter; "is the dragon of St Leonard's after from her, as if he never could bear to see the you? Or is this the usual style of riding of baiting of any badger. Therefore he went the beneficed clergy " on his way to his father, pitying all things " Hilary, my dear boy," answered the rec- that were tormented. tor," who would have thought of seeing you? You are come just in time to defend your uncle from a ravenous beast of prey. I was going home to bait a badger, but I have had APT XXIV a pretty good bait myself. Ah, you pagan, you may well be ashamed of yourself, to at- SIR ROLAND LORRAINE, in his little booktack your clergyman!" room, after that long talk with his mother, For Jack, perceiving the re-enforcement, had fallen back into the chair of reflection, and eying the stout stick which Hilary bore, now growing more and more dear to him. prudently turned on his tail and departed, He hoped for at least a good hour of peace, well satisfied with his exploit, to think of things and to compare them with "Why, Hilary, what has brought you affairs that he had read of. It was all a home?" asked his uncle, when a few words trifle, of course, and not to be seriously dwelt had passed concerning Jack's behavior. upon. No man could have less belief in star, "Nobody expects you, that I know of. Your or comet, or even sun, as glancing out of their father is a mysterious man; but Alice would proper sphere, or orbit, at the dust of earth. have been sure to tell me. Moreover, you No man smiled more disdainfully at the hornmust have walked allthe wayfrom thestage, books of seers and astrologers; and no man by the look of your buckles, or perhaps from kept his own firm doubtings to himself more Brighton even." carefully. "No; I took the short cut over the hills, And yet he was touched, as nobody now and across by way of Beeding. Nobody ex- would be in a case of that sort, perhaps, by pects me, as you say. I am come on impor- the real grandeur of that old man in devoting tant business." himself (according to his lights) to the stars "And, of course, I am not to know what that might come after him. Of these the it is. For mystery, and for keeping secrets, brightest now broke in; and the cdreamer's there never was such a family." peace was done for. "As if you did not belong to it, uncle!" What man has not his own queer little Hilary answered, good-naturedly. " I never turns? Sir Roland knew quite well the step heard of any secrets that I can remember." at the door —for Hilary's walk was beyond "And good reason too," replied the rec- mistake; yet what did he do but spread ALICE LORRAINE. 67 hands on his forehead, and to the utmost of WVell, I scarcely seem to know, said Hilall his ability-sleep? ary, gathering all his courage, "whether Hilary looked at his male parent with there is in all the world a thing so imporaffectionate sagacity. He had some little taut as money." doubts about his being asleep, or at any rate "That is quite a new view for you to take. quite so heartily as so good a man had a You have thrown all your money right and right to repose. Therefore, instead of with- left. May I hope that this view will be drawing, he spoke. lasting?" "My dear father, I hope you are well. I "Yes, I think, sir, that you may. I am am1 sorry to disturb you, but-how do you about to do a thing which will make money do, sir; how do you do?' very scarce with me." The school-boy's rude answer to this kind " I can think of nothing," his father aninquiry-" None the better for seeing you" swered, with a little impatience at his pro-passed through Hilary's mind, at least, if logues, " which can make money any scarcer it did not enter his father's. However, they than it always is with you. I know that saluted each other as warmly as can be ex- you are honorable, and that you scorn low pected reasonably of a British father and a vices. When that has been said of you, Hil-'British son; and then they gazed at one ary, there is very little more to say." another, as if it was the first time either had "There might have been something more enjoyed that privilege. to say, my dear father, but for you. You "Hilary, I think you are grown," Sir Ro- have treated me always as a gentleman land said, to break the silence, and save his treats a younger gentleman dependent upon lips from the curve of a yawn. "It is time him-and no more. You have exchanged for you to give up growing." (as you are doing now) little snap-shots with " I gave it up, sir, two years ago, if the me, as if I were a sharp-shooter, and upon a standard measures of the realm are correct. level with you. I am not upon a level with But perhaps you refer to something better you. And. if it is kind, it is not fair play." than material increase. If so, sir, I am Sir Roland looked at him with great surpleased that you think so." prise. This was not like Hilary. Hilary, " Of course you are," his father answered; perhaps, had never been under fatherly conyou would have grown out of yourself, to trol as he ought to be; but still, he had takhave grown out of pleasant self-complacen- en things easily as yet, and held himself shy cy. How did you leave Mr. Malahide? of conflict. Very well? Ah, I am glad to hear it. The "I scarcely understand you, Hilary," Sir law is the healthiest of professions; and that Roland answered, quietly. " If you have your countenance vouches. But such a col- any grievance, surely there will be time to or requires food after fifty miles of traveling. discuss it calmly, during the long vacation, We shall not dine for an hour and a half. which you are now beginning so early." Ring the bell, and I will order something "I fear, sir, that I shall not have the pleaswhile you go and see your grandmother." ure of spending my long vacation here. I "No, thank you, sir. If you can spare the have done a thing which I am not sure that time, I should like to have a little talk with you will at all approve of." you. It is that which has brought me down "That is to say, you are quite sure that I from London in this rather unceremonious shall disapprove of it." way." "No, my dear father; I hope not quite so " Spare me apologies, Hilary, because I am bad as that, at. any rate. I shall be quite so used to this. It is a great:pleasure to see resigned to leave you to think of it at your you, of course, especially when you look so leisure. It is simply this-I have made up well. Quite as if there were no such thing my mind, if I can obtain your consent, to get as money-which happens to you continual- married." ly, and is your panacea for moneyed cares. "Indeed!" exclaimed his father, with a But would not the usual form have done- smile of some contempt. "I will not say a large sheet of paper (with tenpence to pay), that I am surprised; for nothing you do surand, My dear father, I have no ready cash prises me. But who has inspired this new -your dutiful son, H. L.?' " whim, and how long will it endure?" "No, my dear father," said Hilary, laugh- "All my life " the youth replied, with fering in recognition of his favorite form; " it vor, and someirritation; for his father alone is a much more important affair this time. of living beings knew how to irritate him. Money, of course, I have none; but still I " All my life, sir, as sure as I live! Can you look upon that as nothing. You can not say never believe that I am in earnest?" that I ever show any doubt as to your liber- Shemust be a true enchantress so to have ality." improved your character! May I venture "You are quite right. I have never com- to ask who she is?" plained of such diffidence on your part. But " To be sure, sir. She lives in Kent, and what is this matter far more important than her name is Mabel Lovejoy, the daughter of money in your estimate?" Mr. Martin Lovejoy." 68 ALICE LORRAINE. "Lovejoy! A Danish name, I believe; calling upon her at every new moon to deand an old one, in its proper form. What is clare to them something or other. It was Mr. Martin Lovejoy by profession, or other- not in her nature to pretend to deceive any wise?" body, and she found it harder from day to " By profession he is a very worthy and day to be right in all their trifles. long-established grower." But her best exertions were always forth"A grower! I fail to remember that coming on behalf of Coombe Lorraine, both branch of the liberal professions." as contaiining the most conspicuous people " A grower, sir, is a gentleman who grows of the neighborhood, and also because in her the fruits of the earth for the good of others." early days she had been a trusty servant un" What we should call a'spade husband- der Lady Valeria. Old Nanny's age had beman,' perhaps. A healthful and classic in- come by this time almost an unknown quandustry-under the towers of (Ebalia. I beg tity, several years being placed to her credit to be excused all further discussion, as I (as is almost always done) to which she was never use strong language. Perhaps you not entitled. But, at any rate, she looked will go and enlist your grandmother's sym- back upon her former mistress, Lady Valepathy with this loyal attachment to the ria, as comparatively a chicken, andfelt some daughter of the grower.". contempt for her judgment, because it could "But, sir, if you would only allow me-" not have grown ripe as yet. Therefore the " Of course; if I would only allow you to venerable Mrs. Stilgoe (proclaimed by the describe her virtues-but that is just what public voice as having long since completed I have not the smallest intention of allow- her century) can not have been much under ing. Let the wings of imagination spread ninety in the year of grace 1811. themselves in a more favorable direction. Being of a rather stiff and decided-not. This interview must close on my part with to say crabbed turn of mind, this old woma suggestive (but perhaps self-evident) prop- an kept a small cottage to herself at the bend osition. Hilary, the door is open." of the road beyond the blacksmith's, close to the Well of St. Hagydor. This cottage was not only free of rent, but her own for the term of her natural life, by deed of gift from ^CTPTER AP XXVR Sir Roger Lorraine, in gratitude for a brave thing she had done when Roland was a baby. IN the village of West Lorraine, which Haiving received this desirable cottage, and lies at the foot of the South Down ridge, finding it followed by no others, she naturalthere lived at this moment, and' had lived ly felt that she had not been treated altofor three generations of common people, an gether well by the family. And her pension extraordinary old woman of the name of cf three half-crowns a week, and her Sunday Nanny Stilgoe. She may have been men- dinner in a basin, made an old woman of her tioned before, because it was next to impos- before her time, and only set people talking. sible to keep out of her, whenever any body In spite of all this, Nanny was full of whosoever wanted to speak of the neighbor- good-will to the family, forgiving them all hood. For miles and miles around she was their kindness to her, and even her own deacknowledged to know every thing; and the pendence upon them; foretelling their trouonly complaint about her was concerning bles plentifully, and never failing to dwell her humility. She would not pretend to be upon them. And now on the very day after a witch; while every body felt that she young Hilary's conflict with his father, she ought to be, and most people were sure that had the good luck to meet Alice Lorraine, she was one. on her way to the rectory, to consult Uncle Alice Lorraine was well accustomed to Struan or beg him to intercede. For the have many talks with Nanny; listening to young man had taken his father at his word, her queer old sayings, and with young eyes concluding that the door, not only of the gazing at the wisdom or folly of the by-gone room, but also of the house, was open for days. Nanny, of course, was pleased with him on the inhospitable side; and, casting this; still she was too old to make a favorite off his native dust from his gaiters, he had now of any one.: People going slowly up- taken the evening stage to London, after a ward toward a better -region, have a vested talk with his favorite Alice. interest still in earth, but in mankind a mere: Old Nanny Stilgoe had just been out to shifting remainder, gather a few sticks to boil her kettle, and Therefore all the grace of Alice and her was hobbling home with the fagot in one clever ways and sweetness, and even half a hand, and in the other a stout staff chosen pound of tea and an ounce and a half ofto- from it, which she had taken to help her bacco, could not tempt old Nanny Stilgoe to along. She wore no bonnet or cap on her say what was not inside of her. Every body head, but an old red kerchief tied round it, made her much more positive in every thing from which a scanty iron-gray lock escaped, (according as the months went on, and she and fluttered now and then across the rugknew less and less what became of them) by ged features and haggard cheeks. Her eyes, ALICE LORRAINE. 69 though sunken, were bright and keen, and ter the long hot weather. How I wish we few girls in the parish could thread a fine had such a well on the hill! What a comneedle as quickly as she could. But ex- fort it must be to you!' treme old age was shown in the countless " Holy water they calls it, don't em? Holy seams and puckers of her face, in the knobby water, tino! But it do well enough to boil protuberance where bones met, and, above the kittle when there be no'frogs in it. My all, in the dull, wan surface of skin whence father told me that his grandfather, or one the life was retiring. of his forebears afore him, seed this well in "Now, Nanny, I hope youare well to-day," the middle of a great roaring torrent, ten Alice said, kindly, though by no means eager feet over top of.this here top step. It came to hold discourse with her just now; " you all the way from your hill, he said. It fetchare working hard, I see, as usual." ed more water that Adur River; and the "Ay, ay, working hard, the same as us all track of it can be followed now." be born to, and goes out of the world with "I have heard of it," answered Alice, with the sweat of our brow. Not the likes of a little shiver of superstition; "I have alyou, Miss Alice. All the world be made to ways longed to know more about it." fit you, the same as a pudding do to a basin." "The less you knows of it the better for "Now, Nanny, you ought to know better'ee. Pray to the Lord every night, young than that. There is nobody born to such woman, that you may never see it." luck, and to keep it. Shall I carry your " Oh, that is all superstition, Nanny. I fagot for you? How cleverly you do tie should like to see it particularly. I never them!" could understand how it came; though it "'Ee may carr the fagot as far as'ee wool. seems to be clear that it does come. It has'Ee wunt goo very far, I count. The skin only come twice in five hundred years, acof thee isn't thick enow. There, set'un cording to what they say of it. I have down now beside of the well. What be all heard the old rhyme about it ever-oh, ever this news about Haylery?" since I can remember." "NewsaboutHilary,NannyStilgoe! Why, "So have I heered. But they never gets Mwho has told you any thing?" things right now; they be so careless. How " There's many a thing as comes to my have you heered of it, Miss Alice?" knowledge without no need of telling. He "Like this-as near as I can remember: have broken with his father, haven't he'? When the Woebun brake the plain, Ho, ho, ho!" Ill it boded for Lorraine, "Nanny, you never should talk like that. When the Woeburn came again, As if you thought it a very fine thing, after Death and dearth it brought Lorraine. all you have had to do with us!" If it ever foweth more, Reign of the Lorraines is o'er.' "And all I owes you! Oh yes, yes; no need to be bringing it to my mind, when I Did I say it right now, Nanny?" gets it in a basin every Sunday." " Yes, child, near enough, leastways. But "Now, Mrs. Stilgoe, you must remember you haven't said the last verse at all: that it was your own wish to have it so. You complained that the gravy was gone On mst plnne o rese twain.e One must plunge to rescue twain.'" into grease, and did we expect you to have a great fire; and you came up and chose a "Why, I never heard those two lines, brown basin yourself, and the cloth it was Nanny!" to be tied in; and you said that then you "Like enough. They never cares to finwould be satisfied." ish any thing nowadays. But that there "Well, well, you know it all by heart. I verse belongeth to it, as certain as any of never pays heed to them little things. I the Psalms is. I've heered my father say it leaves all of that for the great folk. Hows- scores of times, and he had it from his grandever, I have a good right to be told what father. Sit you clown on the stone, child, a doth not consarn no strangers." minute, while I go in and start the fire up. "You said that you knew it all without Scarcely a bit of wood fit to burn round any telling! The story, however, is too true this of the hedges now, they thieving children time. But I hope it may be for a short time goes everywhere. Makes my poor back stiff, only." it doth, to get enow to boil a cow's foot or: a "All along of a chield of a girl-warn't it rind of bakkon." all along of that? Boys thinks they be sug- Old Nanny had her own good reasons for ar-plums always, till they knows'en better." not wanting Alice in her cottage just then. "Why, Nanny, now, how rude you are! Because she was going to have for dinner a What am I but a child of a girl? Much rind of bacon truly, but also as companion better, I hope, than a sugar-plum." thereto a nice young rabbit with onion "Don't tell me! Now, you see the water sauce; a rabbit fee-simple whereof was lein that well. Clear and bright, and not so gally vested in Sir Roland Lorraine. But deep as this here stick of mine is." Bottler the pigman took seizin thereof, vi et "Beautifully cool and sparkling even af- carmis, and conveyed it habenodumn, coquendum, 70 ALICE LORRAINE. et vorandum, to Mrs. Nanny Stilgoe, in pay- life afore any thing, accordingu to natur'; ment for a pig-charm. and arter that the things as must go inside Meanwhile, Alice thought sadly over the of us. There let me think, let me think a many uncomfortable legends concerning her bit. I forgets things now; but I know ancient and dwindled race. The first out- there be some'at as you great folk counts break of the " Woeburn," in the time of Ed- more than life, and victuals, and natur', and ward the Second, was said to have brought every thin'. But I forgets the word you forth deadly poison from the hill-side whence uses for it." it sprang. It ran for seven months, accord- Honor, Nanny, I suppose you mean-the ing to the story to be found in one of their honor, of course, of the family." earliest records, confirmed by an inscription "May be, some'at of that sort, as you in the church; and the Earlof Lorraine and builds up your mind upon. Well, that be his seven children died of the " black death" running into danger now, if the old words within that time. Only a posthumous son has any truth in'em." was left to carry on the lineage. The fatal "Nonsense, Nanny, I'll not listen to you. water then subsided for about a century Which of us is likely to disgrace our name, and a half, when it broke forth suddenly in pray? I am tired of all these nursery stogreater volume, and ran for three months ries. Good-bye, Mrs. Stilgoe.' only. But in that short time the fortune of " It'll not be you, at any rate;" the old the family fell from its loftiest to its lowest; woman muttered wrathfully, as Alice, with and never thenceforth was it restored to the sparkling eyes and a quick firm step, set off ancient eminence and wealth. On Towton for the rectory: "if ever there was a proud field, in as bloody a battle as ever was fought piece of goods-even my bacco her'll never in England, the Lorraines, though accustom- think of in her tantrums now! Ah well! ah ed to driving snow, perished like a snow- well! We lives, and we learns to hold our drift. The bill of attainder, passed with tongues in the end, no doubt." The old hot speed by a slavish Parliament, took lady's judgment of the world was a little away family rank and lands, and left the too harsh in this case, however; for Alice last of them an outcast, with the block pre- Lorraine, on her homeward way, left the pared for him. usual shilling's-worth of tobacco on old NanNanny having set that coney boiling, and ny's window-sill. carefully latched the cottage door, hobbled at her best pace back to Alice, and resumed her subject. " Holy water! Oh, ho, ho! Holy to old CHAPTER XXVI. Nick, I reckon; and that be why her boil- "IT is worse than useless to talk any eth over so. Three wells there be in a row, more," Sir Roland said to Mr. Hales, who you know, miss, all from that same spring, I by entreaty of Alice had come to dine there count-the well in parson's garden, and this, that day and to soften things: " Struan, you and the uppest one, under the foot of your know that I have not one atom of obstinacy hill, above where that gypsy boy harbor- about me. I often doubt what is right, and eth. That be where the Woeburn breaketh wonder at people who are so positive. In ground." this case there is no room for doubt. Were "You mean where the moss and the cot- you pleased with your badger yesterday l" ton-grass is' But you can scarcely call it a "A capital brock, a most wonderful brock! well there now." His teeth were like a rat-trap. Fox, how"It dothn't run much, very like; and I ever, was too much for him. The dear lithaven't been up that way for a year or tie dog, how he did go in! I gave the ten more. But only you try to walk over it, guineas to my three girls. Good girls, child; and you'd walk into your grave, I thoroughly good girls all. They never fall hold. The time is nigh up for it to come in love with any body. And when have out, according to what they tells of it." they had a new dress-although they are "Very well, Nanny, let it come out. What getting now quite old enough?" a treat it would be this hot summer! The "I never notice those things much," Sir Adur is almost dry, and the shepherd-pits Roland (who had given them many dresses) everywhere are empty." answered, most inhumanly; " but they al"Then you never have heered, child, what ways look very good and pretty. Struan, is to come of it, if it ever comes out again. let us drink their healths, and happy wedWorse than ever comed afore to such a lot lock to them." as you be." The rector looked at Sir Roland with a " I can not well see how it could be worse surprise of geniality. His custom was althan death, and dearth, and slaughter, Nan- ways to help himself; while his host enjoyny." ed by proxy. This went against his fine "Now that shows how young girls will feelings sadly. Still it was better to have talk, without any thought of any thing. to help himself, than be unhelped altogether. To us poor folk it be wise and right to put " But about that young fellow," Mr. Hales ALICE LORRAINE. 71 continued, after the toast had been duly right. I feel when I am in' the right, sir, honored; "it is possible to be too hard, you and I snap my fingers at every one." know." "That is right. You have an unequaled " That sentiment is not new to me. Stru- power of explosion in your thumb-joint —I an, you like a capeling with your port." heard it through three oaken doors the last "Better than any olive always. And now time you were at all in a passion; and now there are no olives to be had. Wars every- it will go through a wall at least. Nature where, wars universal! The powers of hell has granted you this power to exhibit your gat hold of me. Antichrist in triumph contempt of wrong." roaring! Bloodshed weltering everywhere! "Roland, I have no power at all. I do And I am too old myself; and I have no son not pretend to be clever at words; and I to-to fight for Old England." know that you laugh at my preaching. I "A melancholy thought! But you were am but a peg in a hole, I know, compared always pugnacious, Struan." with all your learning, though my church"Now, Roland, Roland, you know me bet- warden, Gates, won't hear of it. What did ter.'To seek peace and to ensue it is my he say last Sunday?" text and my tactic everywhere. And with "Something very good, of course. Help them that be of one household, what saith yourself, Struau, and out with it." St. Paul the apostle in his Epistle to the "Well, it was nothing very wonderful. Ephesians? You think that.I know no the- And as he holds under you, Sir Roland-_" ology, Roland, because I can sit a horse and "I will not turn him out for even the shoot?" most brilliant flash of his bramble-hook." "Nay, nay, Struan, be not thus hurt by "You never turn any body out. I wish imarginary lesions. The great range of your to goodness you would sometimes. You powers is well known to me, as it is to ev- don't care about your rents. But I do care ery one. Particularly to that boy whom about my tithes." you shot in the hedge last season." "This is deeply disappointing after the "No more of that, an you love me. I be- wit you were laden with. What was the lieve the little rascal peppered himself to epigram of Church-warden Gates?" get a guinea out of me. But as to Hilary, "Never you mind. That will keep-like will you allow me to say a few words. with- some of your own mysteries. You want to out any offense? I am his own mother's know every thing and tell nothing, as the brother, as you seem very often to forget, old fox did in the fable." and I can not bear to see a fine young fellow " It is an ancient aphorism," Sir Roland condemned'and turned out of house and answered, gently, "that knowledge is tenhome for what any young fellow is sure to fold better than speech. Let us endeavor do. Boys are sure to go falling in love to know things, Struan, and to satisfy ouruntil their whiskers are fully grown. And selves with knowledge." the very way to turn fools into heroes (in "Yes, yes, let us know things, Roland. their own opinion) is to be violent with But you never want us to know any thing. them." That is just the point, you see. Now, as sure " Perhaps those truths are not new to me. as I hold this glass in my hand, you will But I was not violent-I never am." grieve for what you are doing." "At any rate you were harsh and stern. "I am doing nothing, Struan; only wonAnd who are you to find fault with him? I dering at your excitement." care not if I offend you, Roland, until your " Doing nothing! Do you call it nothing better sense returns..But did you marry to drive your only son from your doors, and exactly in your own rank of life yourself." to exasperate your brother-in-law until he "I married a lady, Struan Hales-your blames the Lord for being the incumbent sister-unless I am misinformed." instead of a curate, to swear more freely? "To be sure, to be sure! I know well There, there! I will say no more. None but enough what you mean by that; though you my own people ever seem to know what is have the most infernal way of keeping your inside of me. No more wine, Sir Roland, temper and hinting things. What you mean thank you. Not so much as a single drop is that I am making little of my own sister's more! I will go while there is good light memory by saying that she was not your down the hill." equal." You will do nothing of the kind, Struan " I meant nothing of the sort. How very Hales," his host replied, in that clear voice hot your temper is! I showed my respect which is so certain to have its own clear for your family, Struan, and simply implied way; "you will sit down and take another that it was not graceful, at any rate, on your glass of port, and talk with me in a friendly part-" manner." "Graceful be hanged! Sir Roland, I can "Well, well, any thing to please you. not express myself as you can-and perhaps You are marvelous hard to please of late." I ought to thank God for that-but none the "You will find me most easy to please, less for all that, I know when I am in the if only without any further reproaches, or 72 ALICE LORRAINE. hinting at things which can not concern " Well, Struan, you can do what you like, you, you will favor me with your calm opin- for this once. This is so very kind of you." ion in this foolish affair of poor Hilary." "I believe if you had let that boy Hilary "The whole thing is one. You so limit smoke,'? said the rector, warming unto his me," said the parson, delighted to give ad- pipe, "you never would have had all this vice, but loath to be too cheap with it; bother with him about this trumpery love"you must perceive, Roland, that all this affair. Cupid hates tobacco." matter is bound up, so to speak, altogether. You shake your head? Well, then, let us suppose that poor Hilary stands on his own floor only. Every tub on its own bottom. C PTE V Then what I should do about him would CHA ER X be this: I would not write him a single line, ON the second evening after the above but let him abide in his breaches or breeches discourse, a solitary horseman might have — hichever the true version is-and there been seen, or, to put it more indicatively, a he will soon have no half-pence to rattle, single pony-man was seen pricking gallantand therefore must grow penitent. Mean- ly over the plains, and into the good town while I should send into Kent an envoy, a of Tonbridge, in the land of Kent. Behind man of penetration, to see what manner of him, and strapped to his saddle, he bore people it is that he is so taken up with. And what used to be called a "vady "-a corrupaccording to his report I should act. And tion, perhaps, of'"vade mecum "-that is to thus we might very soon break it off; with- say, a small leather cylinder, containing out any action for cdamages. You know change of raiment, and other small comforts what those blessed attorneys are." of the traveler. The pony he bestrode was Sir Roland thought for a little while; black, with a white star on her forehead, and then he answered pleasantly. a sturdy trudger of a spirited nature, and "Struan, your advice is good. I had proud of the name of "Maggie." She had thought of that course before you came. now recovered entirely from her ten-guinea The stupid boy soon will be brought to rea- feast of dahlias, and was as pleased as the son; because he is frightened of credit now; rector himself to whisk her tail in a change he was so singed at Oxford. And I can of air. Her pace was still gallant, and her trust him to do nothing dishonorable or cold- ears well pricked, especially when she smellblooded. But the difficulty of the whole ed the smell which all country towns have plan is this: whom have I that I can trust of horses, and of rubbing down, hissing, and to go into Kent, and give a fair report about bucketing, and (best of all) of good oats this mercenary grower and his crafty daugh- jumping in a sieve among the chaff. ter'?" Maggie was proud of her master, and " Could you trust me, Roland " thought him the noblest man that ever Of course I could. But, Struan, you cracked a whip, having imbibed this opinion never would do such a thing!" from the young smart hunter, who was up to "Why not? I should like to know, why every thing. And it might have fared ill not? I could get to the place in two days' with Jack the donkey, if Maggie had carried time; and the change would do me a world her master when that vile assault was perof good. You laity never can understand petrated. But if Maggie was now in good what it is to be a parson. A deacon would spirits, what lofty flight of words can rise to come for a guinea, and take my Sunday the elation of her rider? morning duty, and the congregation for the The rector now, week after week, had been afternoon would rejoice to be disappointed. longing for a bit of sport. His open and joAnd when I come back, they will dwell on vial nature had been shut up, pinched, and my words, because the other man will have almost poisoned, for want of proper outlet. preached so much worse. Times are hard He hated books, and he hated a pen, and he with me, Roland, just now. If I go, will you hated doing nothing; and he never would pay the piper?" have horsewhipped Bonny, if he had been Not only that, Struan; but I shall thank as he ought to be. Moreover, he had been you to the uttermost stretch of gratitude." greatly bothered, although he could not "There will be no gratitude on either clearly put it, by all those reports about side. I am bound to look after my nephew's Coombe Lorraine, and Sir Roland's manner affairs: and I sadly want to get away from of scorning them. But now here he was, in home. I have heard that there is a nice a wayfaring dress, free from the knowledge trout-stream there. If Hilary, who knows of any one, able to turn to the right or the all he knows from me, could catch a fine fish, left, as either side might predominate; with as Alice told me-what am I likely to do, a bagful of guineas to spend as his own, and after panting up in this red-hot chalk so yet feel no remorse about them. Tush! that long? Roland, I must have a pipe, though does not express it at all. With a bagful of you hate it. I let you sneeze; ald you must guineas to spend as he chose, and rejoice in let me blow." the knowledge that he was spending anoth ALICE LORRAINE. 73 er man's money, for his own good, and the, he was going to say "every Sunday,'" but benefit of humanity. This is a fine feeling, stopped, in time to-dissemble the parson. and a rare one to get the luck of. There- "And the finest:ten mile of turnpike in fore, whosoever gets it, let him lift up his England. You turns off from it about four heart and be joyful. mile out. And then you keeps on straightWhether from that fine diffidence which forrard." so surely accompanies merit, or from honor- "Thank you, my good friend., I shall ask able economy in the distribution of trust- the way to-morrow. Your excellent punch funds, or from whatever other cause it was,.is as good as a night-cap.: But I want to -in the face of all the town of Tonbridge, combine a little pleasure with business, if I this desirable traveler turned his pony into,can, to-morrow. I am a bit of a sportsman the quiet yard of that old-fashioned inn, in a small way. Would Mr. Lovejoy allow "The Checkers." All the other hostlers me to cast a fly in.his Water, think you?" grunted disapprobation, and chewed straws; "Ay, that he will, if you only tell him that while the one hostler of "The Checkers" you be staying at' The Checkers?inn." rattled his pail with aswing of his elbow, The rector went to bed that night in a hissed in the most enticing attitude, and placid humor, with himself,, and his landmade believe to expect it. lord, and all the county. And sleeping well Mr. Hales, in the manner of a cattle-job- after change of air, a long ride, and a good ber (which was his presentment now), lifted supper, he awoke in the morning, as fresh as his right leg over the mane of the pony, and a lark, in a good state of mind for his breakso came downward, Every body in the yard fast. at once knew thoroughly well what his bus- Old Applewoodfarm Was just.; taking it. iness was. And nobody attempted to cheat easy" in the betwixt and.between of hard him in the inn, because it is known to be a work. The berry season was over now, and hopeless thing to cheat acattle-jobber in any the hay was stacked, and the hops. were other way than by gambling. So that with dressed; John Shorne and his horses were little to say, or be said, this unclerkly clerk resting freely, and gathering strength for anhad a good supper, and smoked a wise pipe other campaign-to cannonade London with with his landlord. apples and pears. All things had the smell Of course he made earnest inquiries about of summer, passing:rich, and the smell of anall the farmers of the neighborhood, and led tumn, without its weight leaning over the the conversation gently to the growers and air. The nights were as warm as the days his affairs; and as this chanced to be Mas- almost, yet soft with a mellow briskness; ter Lovejoy's own "house of call" at Ton- and any young man who looked out of his bridge, the landlord gave him the highest window said it was a shame to go to bed. character, and even the title of " Esquire." Some people have called this the "saddest "Ah, yes," he exclaimed, with his rummer time of the whole sad twelvemonth;" the in one hand, and waving his pipe with the middle or end of July, when all things droop other; "there be very few in these here parts with: heavy leafiness. But who be these to to compare with Squire Lovejoy. One of find fault with the richest and goodliest the true old Kentish stock, sir;. none of your prime of nature's strength? Peradventure come-and-go bagmen. I have heered say the fault is in themselves. All seasons of that that land have been a thousand year in the year are good to those who bring their the family." seasoning. And now, when field, and wood, "Lord bless me!" cried Mr. Hales; " why, and hedge stand up in their flush of sumwe get back to the time of the Danes and mering, and every bird, and bat, and insect the Saxons!" of our British island is as active as he ought "There now!" said the landlord, giving to be (and sometimes much too much so); him a poke of admiration with his pipe; also, when good people look at one another " you knows all about it as well as if I had in hot weather, and feel that they may have told'ee. And his family brought up so re- worked too hard, or been too snappish when spectable! None of your sitting on pillions. the frosts were on; (which they always are A horse for his self, and a horse for his son, except in July), and then begin to wonder and a horse for his pretty darter. Ah, if I whether their children would like to play were a young man again-but there she be with the children of one another, because above me altogether! Though' The Check- they can not catch cold in such weather; ers,' to my thinking, is more to the purpose and after that, begin to speak of a rubber in than a bigger inn might be, sir." the bower, and a great spread of:delightful"You are right, I believe," replied his ness, when all this comes to pass, what right guest. "How far may it be to Old Apple- have we to make the worst of it? wood farm?" That is neither here nor there. Only one " Well, sir, how far.? Why, let me see: a thing is certain, that our good parson, lookmatter of about five mile, perhaps. You've ing as unlike a parson as he could-and lie heered tell of the Garden of Eden, perhaps?" had a good deal of capacity in that way"To be sure! Don't I read about it"- steered his pony Maggie round.the corner 5 74 ALICE LORRAINE. into the grower's yard, and looked,about to down the brook to the turnpike road. We see how the land lay. The appearance of will see to your nag; and if you would like every thing pleased him well, for comfort, a bit to eat, sir, we dine at one, and we sup simplicity, and hospitality shared the good at seven, and there be always a bit in the quarters between them. Even a captious larder'tween whiles. Wil't come into house man could hardly, if he understood the mat- before starting?" ter, find much fault with any thing. The "I thank you for the kind offer; but I parson was not a captious man, and he knew think I'd better ask you the way, and be off. what a good farm-yard. should be, and so There is just a nice little coil of cloud now; he said "Capital, capital!" twice, before he in an hour it may'be gone, and the brook, handed Maggie's bridle to Paddy from Cork, of course, is very low and clear. Whatever who of course had run out with a sanguine my sport is, I shall call in and thank you sense of a shilling arrived. when I come back for my pony. My name "Is Squire Lovejoy at home?" asked the is Hales, sir, a clerk from Sussex; very much visitor, being determined to " spake the big- at your service, and obliged to you." gest," as Paddy described it afterward. For "The same to you, Master Halls; and I the moment, however, he only stared, while wish you more sport than you will get, sir. the parson repeated the question. Your best way is over that stile; and then "Is it the maisther ye mane?" said Pad- when you come to the water, go where you dy;'" faix then, I'll go and ax the missus." will." But before there was time to do thisi the "One morequestion which I always ask: grower appeared with a spud on his shoul- what size do you allow your fish to be der. He had been in the hop-ground; and taken l" hearing a horse, came up to know what was "What size? Why, as big, to be sure, as toward. The two men looked at one anoth- ever you can catch them. The bigger they er with mutual approval. The parson, tall, are, the less bones'they have." and strong, and lusty, and with that straight- With a laugh at this answer, the parson forward aspect which is conferred, or at least set off, with his old fly-book in his pocket, confirmed, by life in the open air, field sports, and a rod in his hand which he had borrowgood living, and social gatherings. His fea- ed (by grace of his landlord) in Tonbridge. tures, too, were clear and bold, and his jaws His step was brisk, and his eyes were bright, just obstinate enough to manage a parish; and he thought much more of the sport in without that heavy squareness which sets prospect than of the business that brought the whole church by the ears. The grower him there. was of moderate height, and sturdy, and "Aha!" he exclaimed, as he hit on the thoroughly useful; his face told of many brook, where an elbow of bank jutted over dealings'with the world; but his eyes were it, "very fine tackle will be wanted here, frank,:and his mouth was pleasant. His and one fly is quite enough for it. It must custom was to let other people have their be fished downward, of course, because it say before he spoke; andi now he saluted can not be fished upward. It will take all Mr. Hales in silence, anld waited for him to I know to tackle them." begin. So it did, and a great deal more than he "I hope," said his visitor, "you will ex- knew. He changed his fly every quarter of cuse my freedom in coming to see you thus. an hour, and he tried every dodge of expeI am trying this part of the country for the rience; he even tried dapping with the natfirst time for a: holiday. And the landlord ural fly, and then the blue-bottle and grassof' The Checkers' inn at Tonbridge,, where hopper, but not a trout could he get to rise, I am staying for a day or two, told me that or even to hesitate, or show the very least you, perhaps, would allow me to try for'a sign of temptation. fish in your river, sir.": So great was his annoyance (from surety "In our little brook! There be none left, of his own skill, and vain use of it), that afI think. You are kindly welcome to try, ter fishing for about ten hours and catching sir. But I fear you will have a fool's er- a new-born minnow, the rector vehemently rand of it. We have had a young gentleman came to a halt, and repented that' he had from London here, a wonderful angler, sure exhausted already his whole stock of strong enough, and I do believe he hath caught language. When a goodman has done this, every one." a kind of reaction (either of the stomach or "Well, sir, with your kind permission, conscience) arises, and leads him astray from there can be no harm in trying," said the his usual sign-posts, whether of speech, or rector, laughing in his sleeve at Hilary's deed, or thought. crude art compared with his own. "The The Rev. Struan Hales sat down, marvelday is not very promising, and the water of ing if he were a clumsy oaf, and gave Hilary course is strange to me. But have I your no small credit for catching such deeply leave to do my best?" sagacious and wary trout. Then he dwelt "Ay, ay, as long as you like. My ground bitterly over his fate for having to go and goes as far up as there is any water, and fetch his pony, and let every yokel look into ALICE LORRAINE. 75 his basket and grin at its beautiful empti- fork, half a loaf, and something tied up in a ness. Moreover, he found himself face to cloth whose fragrance went to the bottom face with starvation of the saddest kind; of the parson's heart, and then a stone pipthat which a man has challenged, and u- kin, and a half-pint horn, and after that a perciliously talked about, and then has to pinch of salt. All these she spread on a meet very quietly. natural table of grass, which her clever eyes Not to exaggerate-if that were possible discovered over against a mossy seat. -the Rev. Struan found his inner man (thus "I never was so thankful in all my liferashly exposed to new Kentish air) "abso- I never was, I never was. My pretty dear, lutely barking at him," as he strongly ex- what is your name, that I may bless you pressed it to his wife, the moment he found every night?" himself at home again. But here he was "My name is Mabel Lovejoy, sir; and I fifty miles from home, with not a fishing- hope that you will excuse me for having basket only, but a much nearer and dearer nothing better to bring than this. Most receptacle full of the purest vacuity. " This fishermen prefer duck, I know; but we hapis very sad," he said, and all his system echo- pened only to have in the larder this half, ed it. or so, of a young roast goose-" "A goose! An infinitely finer bird. And so much more upon it! Thank God that it CHAPTER XXVIIIT wasn't a duck, my dear. Half a duck would scarcely be large enough to set my poor WHILE the rector still was sitting thus, mouth watering. For goodness' sake, give on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary me a drop to drink! What is it-water?" and disconsolate, listening to the murmur- "No, sir, ale; some of our own brewing. ing brook, with louder murmurings of his But you must please to eat a mouthful first. own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure I have heard that it is bad to begin with a crossing the water on a narrow plank some drink." hundred yards up the stream-way. "Right speedily will I qualify," said the "A pretty girl!" said the parson; "I am parson, with his mouth full of goose; "desure of it, by the way she carries herself. licious-most delicious! You must be the Plain girls never walk like that. Oh that good Samaritan, my dear; or at any rate she were coming to my relief! But the you ought to be his wife. Your very best place is rather dangerous. I must go and health, Mistress Mabel Lovejoy; may you help her. Ah, here she comes! What a quick, never do a worse action than you have done light foot! My stars, if she hasn't got a bas- this day; and I never shall forget your ket! Nothing for me, of course. No such kindness." luck on this most luckless of all days." "Oh, I am so glad to see you enjoy it. Meanwhile she was making the best of But you must not talk till you have eaten her way, as straight as the winding stream every mouthful. Why, you ought to be allowed, toward this ungrateful and skep- quite famishing." tical grumbler; and presently she turned "In that respect I fulfill my duty. Nay full upon him, and looked at him, and he more, I am downright famished." at her. "There is a little stuffing in here, sir; let "What a lovely creature!" thought Mr. me show you; underneath the apron. I put Hales, " and how wonderfully her dress be- it there myself, and so I know." comes her! Why, the mere sight of her hat "What most noble, most glorious, most is enough to drive a young fellow out of his transcendent stuffing! Whoever made that mind almost! Now I should like to make was born to benefit, retrieve, and exalt huher acquaintance, if I were not starving so. manity."'Acrior illum cura domat,' as Sir Roland "You must not say that, sir; because I says." -made it." "If you please, sir," the maiden began, "Oh, Dea; certe! I recover my Latin unwith a bright and modestly playful glance, der such enchantment. But how could you "are you Mr. Halls, who asked my father have found me out? And what made you for leave to fish this morning?" so generously think of me?" "Hales, fair mistress, is my name, a poor "Well, sir, I take the greatest interest in and unworthy clerk from Sussex." fishermen, because-oh, because of my broth"Then, Mr. Hales, you must not be angry er Charlie; and one of our men passed you with me for thinking that you might be this afternoon, and he said he was sure that hungry." you had caught nothing, because he heard "And - and thirsty!" gasped the rector. you-he thought he heard you — "Goodness me, if you only knew my condi- "No, no, come now, complaining mildly — tion, how you would pity me!" not' swearing,' don't say' swearing.'" "It occurred to me that you might be "I was not going to say'swearing,' sir. thirsty too," she answered, as she took out What made you think of such a thing? I of her basket a napkin, a plate, a knife and am sure you never could have done it; could 76 ALICE LORRAINE. youe? And so, when you did not even come stand good stuffing. But if I had only to supper, it came into my head that you known who you were, I would never have must want refreshment, especially if you brought you any dinner, sir." had caught no fish to comfort you for so "What a disloyal thing to say! Please many hours. And then I thought of a plan to tell me why I ought to starve for being for that, which I would tell you, in case I Hilary's uncle." should find you unlucky enough to deserve "Because you would think that I wanted it." to coax you to-to be on my side, at least." "I am unlucky enough to deserve it "To make a goose of me, with your goose! thoroughly; only look here, pretty Mistress Well, you have me at your mercy, Mabel. Mabel." With these words he lifted the flap I shall congratulate Hilary on having won of his basket, and showed its piteous empti- the heart of the loveliest, best, and cleverest ness. girl in the county of Kent." "West Lorraine!" she cried —" West Lor- " Oh no, sir, you must not say that, beraine!" for his name and address were paint- cause I am nothing of the sort, and you must ed on the inside wicker of the lid. "Oh, I not laugh at me like that. And how do you beg your pardon, Mr. Hales: I had no right know that he has done it? And what will to notice it." every one say, when they hear that he-that "Yes, you had. But you have no right he would like to marry the daughter of a to turn away your head so. What harm has grower?" West Lorraine done you, that you won't even " What does his father say? That is the look at its rector?" point. It matters very little what others " Oh, please not; oh, please don't! I nev- say. And I will:not conceal from you, preter would have come if I could have only ty Mabel, that his father is bitterly set dreamed-" against it, and turned him out-of-doors If you could have dreamed what? Pret- when he heard of it." ty Mistress Mabel, a parson has a right to "Oh, that is why he has never written. an explanation, when he makes a young He did not know how to break it to me. I lady blush so." was sure there was something bad. But of "'Oh, it was so cruel of you! You said course I could expect nothing else. Poor, you were a clerk, of the name of' Halls!"'" poor sillies, both of us! I must give him " So I am, a clerk in holy orders; but not up, I see I must. I felt all along that I of the name of'Halls.' That was your fa- should have to do it." ther's mistake. I gave my true name; and "Don't cry so; don't cry, my dear, like here you see me very much at your service, that. There is plenty of time to talk of it. ma'am. The uncle of a fine young fellow, Things will come right in the end, no doubt. whose name you never heard, I dare say. But what does your father say to it?" Have you ever happened to hear of a youth "I scarcely know whether he knows it called Hilary Lorraine?" yet. Hilary wanted to tell him; but I per" Oh, now I know why you are come! oh suaded him to leave it altogether to me. And dear! It was not for the fishing, after all! so I told my mother first; and she thought And perhaps you never fished before. And we had better not disturb my father about every thing must be going wrong. And it until we heard from Hilary. But I am you are come to tell me what they think of almost sure sometimes that he knows it, and me. And very likely you would be glad if is not at all pleased about it, for he looks at you could put me in prison!" me very strangely. He is the best and the "That would be nice gratitude-would it kindest man living almost; but he has very not? You are wrong in almost every point, odd ways sometimes, and it is most difficult It happens that I have fished before, and to turn him." that I did come for the fishing partly. It "So it is with most men who are worth happens that nothing is going wrong; and I their salt. I despise a weather-cock. Would am not come to say what:they think of you, you like me to come in and see him; or shall but to see what I think of you —which is a I fish a little more first? I am quite a new very different thing." man since you fed me so well; and I scarce"And what do you think of me?" asked ly can put up with this disgrace." Mabel, casting down her eyes, standing sauci " If you would like to fish a little longer," ly, and yet with such a demure expression, said Mabel, following the loving gaze, which that his. first impulse was to kiss her. (with true angling obstinacy) lingered still "I think that you are rogue enough to on the coy, fair stream; "there is plenty of turn the head of any body. And I think time to spare. My father rode off to Maidthat you are good enough to make him hap- stone as soon as he found that you were not py ever afterward." coming in to supper; and he will not be "I am not at allsure of that," she answer- back till it is quite dark. And I should ed, raising her sweet eyes, and openly blush- have time for a talk with my mother while ing; "I only know that I would try. But you are attempting to catch a trout." every one is not like a clergyman, to under- Now, Mabel, Mabel, you are too disdain ALICE LORRAINE. 77 ful. Because I am not my own nephew son of Tuscan soil,was well content to lead (who learned what little he knows altogeth- his life in cleaving paternal fields with the er from me), and because I have been so un- hoe, and nourishing household gods and successful, you think that I know nothing; hearth. women always judge by the event, having taken the trick from their fathers, perhaps. But you were going to tell me something to CHAPTER XXIX. make up for my want of skill." "Yes; but you must promise not to tell IT is a fine thing to have quarters in an any one else, upon any account. My broth- English country town, where nobody knows er Charlie found it out; and I have not told who the sojourner is, and nobody cares who even Hilary of it, because he could catch fish he may be; to begin (at gentle leisure) to without it.".feel interest in the place, and quicken up to "You most insulting of all pretty maid- the vein of humor throbbing through the ens, if you despise my science thus, I will tell High Street. The third evening can not go Sir Roland that you are vain and haughty." over one's head without a general sense be"Oh dear!" ing gained of the politics of the town, and, "Very ill-tempered." far more important-the politicians; and "No, now, you never could say that." if there only is a corporation, wisdom cries "Clumsy, ill-dressed, and slatternly." in the streets, and nobody can get on with "Well done, well done, Mr. Hales!" any body. However, when the fights are " Yes, and very ugly." over, generally speaking, all cool down. "Oh!" But this is about the last thing that a "Aha! I have taken your breath away stranger should exert his intellect to underwith absolute amazement. I wish Hilary stand. It would be pure waste of time; ulncould, see you now; he'd steal something less he means to buy a house and settle very delightful, and then knock his excellent down, and try to be an alderman in two uncle down. But now, make it up, like a years' time, and mount ambition's ladder dear good girl; and tell me this great se- even to the giddy height of mayoralty; till cret." the hand of death comes between the rungs "It is the simplest thing in the world. and vertically drags him downward. And You just take a little bit of this-see here, even then, for three months shall he be " our I have some in my basket; and cut a little deeply lamented townsman." delicate strip, and whip it on the lower part But if this visitor firmly declines (as, for of your fly. I have done it for Charlie many his health, he is bound to do) these mighty a time. I will do one for you, if you like, combats, which always have the eyes of the sir." nation fixed on them —if he is satisfied to " Very well. I will try it, to please you; lounge about, and say " good-morning" here and for the sake of an experiment. Good- and there, to ascertain public sentiment conbye, good-bye till dark, my dear. We shall cerning the state of the weather, and to lay see whether a clerk can catch fish or no." out sixpence judiciously in cultivating good When Mr. Hales returned at night to the society-then speedily will he get draughts hospitable old farm-house, he carried on his of knowledge enough to quench the most ample back between two and three dozen ardent thirst; while the yawn of indolence goodly trout; for many of which he confess- merges in the quickening smile of interest. ed himself indebted to Mabel's clever fin- Then shall he get an insight into the comgers. Mrs. Lovejoy had been prepared by merce, fashion, religious feeling, jealousies, her daughter to receive him; but the grow- and literature of the town, its just and pleaser was not yet come home from Maidstone; ant self-esteem, its tolerance and intolerance which, on the whole, was a fortunate thing. (often equally inexplicable), its quiet enjoyFor thus the rector had time enough to set- ments, and, best of all, its elegant flirtations. tle with his hostess what should be done on These things enabled Mr. Hales to pass an his part and on hers toward the removal, or agreeable week at Tonbridge, and to form at any rate the gradual reduction, of the acquaintance with some of its leading inmany stumbling-blocks that lay, as usual, habitants; which in pursuit of his object he upon true-love's course. For both foresaw was resolved, as far as he could, to do. And that if the franklin's pride should once be from all of these he obtained very excellent wounded, he would be certain to bar the tidings of the Lovejoys, as being a quiet, way more sternly than even the baronet well-conducted, and highly respectable famhimself. And even without that, he could ily, admitted (whenever they cared to be so) hardly be expected to forego all in a moment to the best society of the neighborhood, and his favorite scheme above described, that forgiven for growing cherries, and even for Mabel's husband should carry on the ances- keeping a three-horsed van. tral farm, and the growth of fruit. In his Also, as regarded his own impressions, the blunt old fashion, he cared very little for more he saw of Old Applewood farm, the baronets, or for Norman blood; and, like a [more he was pleased with it and with its 78 ALICE LORRAINE. owners; and calling upon his brother par- "Well," said the rector, stroking his chin; son, the incumbent of the parish, he found "I was a poor young man, of course, and in him. a congenial soul, who wanted to get could not afford that sort of thing." a service out of him. For this Mr. Hales "Yes, but you did, you know, Uncle Struwas too wide awake, having taken good care an; I have heard you boast of it fifty times." to leave sermons at home, because he had "What a plague you are, Hilary! There been long enough in holy orders to know may have been times-however, you are what delight all parsons find in spoiling one going on quite as if we were sitting and another's holidays. Moreover, he had pron- having a cozy talk after dinner at West ised himself the pleasure of sitting in a pew, Lorraine." for once, repossessing the right to yawn ad "I wish to goodness we were, my dear libitum, and even fall into a murmurous nap, uncle. I never shall see such a dinner after exhausting the sweetness of the well- again." known Lucretian sentiment-to gaze in safe- "My dear boy, my dear boy, to talk like ty at another's labors; or, as the navvy more that at your time of life! What a thing tersely put it, when asked of his sunmmum love is, to be sure! However, in that state, bonum, to "look on at t'other beggars." a dinner is no matter." Meanwhile, however, many little things " Well, I shall be off now for London again. were beginning to go crosswise. For in- A bit of bread-and-cheese, after all, is as stance, Hilary walked down headlong, being good as any thing. Good-bye, ny dear unexceedingly short of cash, to comfort Mabel, cle, I shall always thank you." and to get good quarters, and perhaps to go "You shall thank me for two things beon about every thing. Luckily, his uncle fore you start. And you should not start, Struan met him in the street of Sevenoaks except that I know it to be at present best (whither he had ridden for a little change), for you. You shall thank me for as good a and amazed him with very strong language, dinner as can be got in a place like this; and begged him not to make a confounded and after that for five good guineas, just to fool of himself, and so took him into a hos- go on for a bit with." telry. The young man, of course, was aston- Thus the rector had his way, and fed his ished to see his uncle carrying on so, dressed nephew beautifully, and sent him back with as a layman, and roving about without any a better heart in his breast, to meet the fuwife or family. ture. Hilary of course was much aggrieved, But when he knew for whose sake it was and inclined to be outrageous, at having done, and how strongly his uncle was siding walked four-and-twenty miles, with eager with him, his gratitude and good emotions proceeding at every step, and then being were such that he scarcely could finish his balked of a sight of his love. However, he quart of beer. saw that it was for the best; and five guin"My boy, I am thoroughly ashamed of eas (feel as you will) is something. you," said his uncle, looking queerly at him. His good uncle paid his fare back by the " You are most immature for married life, if stage, and saw him go off, and kissed hands you give way to your feelings so." to him, feeling greatly relieved as soon as "But, uncle, when a man is down so much, ever he was round the corner; for he must and turned out-of-doorsby his own father-" have spoiled every thing at the farm. There"When a' man!' When a'boy' is what fore this excellent uncle returned to the snug you mean, I suppose. A man would take it little sanded parlor, to smoke a fresh pipe; differently." and to think, in its influence, how to get on "I am sure I take it very well," said Hil- with these new affairs. ary, trying to smile at it. "There, I will Here were heaps of trouble rising; as drink up my beer; for I know that sort of peaks of volcanoes come out of the sea. And thing always vexes you. Now, can you say who was to know how to manage things so that I have kicked up a row, or done any as to make them all subside again? Hilary thing that I might have done?" might seem easy to deal with, so long as he "No, myboy, no; quite the opposite thing; had no money; but even he was apt to take you have taken it most angelically." strange whims into his head, although he "Angelically, without an angelus, uncle, might feel that he could not pay for them. or even a stiver in my pocket!. Only the And then there was the grower, an obstinate cherub aloft, you know- factor in any calculation; and the grower's "I don't know any thing about him; and wife, who might appeal, perhaps, to the atthe allusion, to my mind, is profane." torney-general; also Sir Roland, with his dry, " Now, uncle, you are hyperclerical, be- unaccountable manner of regarding things; cause I have caught you dressed as a bag- and last, not least, the rector's own superior man " - part of his household. If he could not man" I don't understand your big Oxford age them, any body at first sight would say words. In my days they taught theology." that the fault must be altogether his own"And hunting; come now, Uncle Struan, that a man who can not lay down the law didn't they teaoh you hunting?" to his own wife and daughters, really is no ALICE LORRAINE. 79 man, and deserves to be treated according- giving her pillow an angry thump, I think ly. Yet this depends -upon special gifts. you might have consulted me, Martin; with The rector could carry on very well, when half her clothes in the wash-tub, and a frayhe understood the subject, even with his ed ribbon on her Sunday hat! Men are so wife and daughters, till it came to crying. hot and inconsiderate. All to be done in a Still, in the end (as he knew in his heart), moment, of course! The least you could have he always got the worst of it. done, I am sure, would have been to tell me Now what would all these ladies say if beforehand, Martin, and not to pack her off the incumbent of the parish, the rector of like that." the rectory, the very husband or father of "To be sure! Just as you told me, good all of themselves-as the case might be- wife, your plan for packing her off for good! were to depart from his sense of right, and Now just go to sleep, and don't beat about the principles he had laid down to them, to so. When I say a thing I do it." such an extent as to cherish Hilary in black rebellion against his own father? Suasion - would be lost among them. It is a thing that may be tried, under favorable circum-CHAPTER XXX. stances, as against one lady, when quite alone; but with four ladies all taking dif- WHfEN the faunting and the flouting of ferent views of the matter in question, yet the summer-prime are over; when the leaves ready in a moment to combine against any of tree, and bush, and. even of unconsidered form of reason, a bachelor must be Quixotic, weeds, hang on their stalks, instead of standa h-usband and father idiotic, if he relies ing upright, as they used to do; and very upon any other motive power than that of often a convex surface, by the cares of life, his legs. But the rector was not the manlto is worn into a small concavity, a gradual run away, even from his own family. So, on change, to a like effect, may be expected in the whole, he resolved to let things follow the human mind. their own course until something new should A man remembers that his own autumn is begin to rise. Except at least upon two lit- once more coming over him; that the light tie points-one that Hilary should be kept is surely waning, and the darkness gatherfrom visiting the farm just now; and the ing in; that more of his plans are shed and other, that the grower must be told of all scattered, as the sun "draws water" among this love-affair. the clouds, or as the gossamer floats idly Mr. Hales, as an owner of daughters, felt over the sear and seeded grass. Therefore that it was no more than a father's due to it is high time to work, to strengthen the know what his favorite child was about in threads of the wavering plan, to tighten the such important matters; and he thought it mesh of the woven web, to cast about here the surest way to set him bitterly against and there for completion, if the design shall any moderation, if he were left to find out be ever complete. by surprise what was going on at his own So now, as the summer passed, a certain hearth. It happened, however, that the gentleman, of more repute, perhaps, than repgrower had a shrewd suspicion of the whole utation, began to be anxious about his plans. ofit, and was laughing in his sleeve, and Sir Remnant Chapman owned large eswinking (in his own determined way) at his tates adjoining the dwindled but still fair good wife's manceuvres. "I shall stop it acreage of the Lorraines in the weald of all when I please," he said to himself every Sussex. Much as he differed from Sir Ronight at bed-time; "let them have their lit- land in tastes and habits and character, he tie game, and make up their minds to aston- announced himself, wherever he went, as his ish me." For he, like almost every man who most intimate friend and ally. And certainhas attained the age of sixty, looked back ly he was received more freely.than any othupon love as a brief excrescence, of about er neighbor at Coombe Lorraine, and knew the same character as a wart. - all the doings and ways of the family, and "Ay, ay, no need to tell me," he answered, was even consulted now and then. Warm when Mrs. Lovejoy, under the parsons ad- friendship, however, can scarcely thrive vice, and at Mabel's entreaty, broke the mat- without mutual respect; and though Sir ter to him. I don't go about with my eyes Remnant could never escape from a certain shut, wife. A man that knows every pear unwilling respect for Sir Roland, the.latter that grows can tell the color on a maiden's never could contrive to reciprocate the feelcheek. I have settled to send her away to- ing. morrow to her Uncle Clitherow. The old Because he knew that Sir Remnant was a mare will be ready at ten o'clock. I meant gentleman of a type already even then deto leave you to guess the reason; you are so parting, although to be found, at the present clever all of you. Ha, ha! you thought the day, in certain parts of England. A man of old grower was as blind as a bat; now, fixed opinions, and even what might be acdidn't you?" counted principles (at any rate by himself) "Well, at any rate," replied Mrs. Lovejoy, concerning honor, and birth, and betting, 80 ALICE LORRAINE. and patriotism, and some other matters,in- when it meant something. Horses were cluded in a very small et cetera. It is hard broken then, not trained-as nowadays they to despise a man who has so many points must be-and skill and nerve were needed settled in his system; but it is harder to re- for the management of a four-in-hand. Capspect him when he sees all things with one tain Chapman was the first in those parts to little eye, and that eye a vicious one. Sir drive like Ericthonius, and it took him a Remnant Chapman had no belief in the very long time to get his father to sit behind goodness of woman, or the truth of man-inl him; for the roads were still very bad and the beautiful balance of nature, or even the perilous, and better suited for postilions than tfatherly kindness that comforts us. There- for Stephen Chapman's team. fore nobody could love him, and very few He durst not drive up Coombe Lorraine, people paid much attention to his dull ha- or at any rate he feared the descent as yet, tred of mankind. "Contempt," he always though he meant soie day to venture it. called it; but he had not power to make it And now that he was come upon his wooing, that; neither had he any depth of root, to he left his gaudy equipage at the foot of the throw up eminence. A "bitter weed" many hill, to be sent back to Steyning and come people called him; and yet he was not alto- for him at an appointed time. Then he and gether that. For he liked to act against his his father, with mutual grumblings, took to nature, perhaps from its own perversity; the steep ascent on foot. and often did kind things, to spite his own Sir Roland had asked them, a few days spitefulness by doing them. As for sense of ago, to drive over and dine with him, either right and wrong, he had none outside of his on Thursday, or any other day that might own wishesj and he always expected the suit them. They came on the Thursday; rest of the world to move on the same low with their minds made up to be satisfied system. How could such a man get on, with any thing. But they certainly were even for an hour, with one so different-and not very well pleased to find that the fair more than that, so opposite to him-as the Mistress Alice had managed to give them good Sir Roland? Mr. Hales, who'was not the slip entirely. She was always ready to (as we know) at all a tight-laced man him- meet Sir Remnant, and discharge the duties self, and may perhaps have been a little jeal- of an hostess to him; but from some deep ous of Sir Remnant, put that question to instinctive aversion she could not even bear himself, as well as to his wife and family; to sit at table with the captain. She knew and echo only answered "I-Iow?" However, not at all what his character was; neither soever, there was the fact; and how many did Sir Roland know a tenth part of his ill facts can we call to mind ever so much repute; otherwise he had never allowed him stranger? to approach the maiden. He simply looked Sir Remnant's only son, Stephen Chap- upon Captain Chapman as a fashionable man, was now about thirty years of age, and man of the day, who might have been a litevery body said that it was time for him to tie wild perhaps, but now meant to settle change his mode of life. Even his father down in the country and attend to his faadmitted that he had made an unreasonably ther's large estates. long job of "sowing his wild oats," and now However, neither of the guests suspected must take to some better culture. And that their visit had fixed the date of another nothing seemed more likely to lead to this little visit pending long at Horsham; and desired result than a speedy engagement to one girl being as good as another to men of an accomplished, sensible, and attractive girl. the world of that stamp, they were well conTherefore, after a long review and discussion tent, when the haunch went out, to clink a of all the young ladies round, it had been set- glass with the rector's daughters, instead of tied that the heir of all the Chapmans should receiving a distant bow from a diffident and lay close siege to young Alice Lorraine. very shy young lady. "Captain Chapman"- as Stephen was "Now, Lorraine," began Sir Remnant, afcalled by courtesy in that neighborhood, ter the ladies had left the room, and the caphaving held a commission in a fashionable tain was gone out to look at something, acregiment until it was ordered to the war- cording to arrangement, and had taken the this man was better than his father in some rector with him, "we have known one anways, and much worse in- others. He was other a good many years; and I want a litbetter, from weakness; not having the tie sensible talk with you." strength to work out works of iniquity;' Sir Remnant, I hope that our talk is aland also from having some touches of kind- ways sensible; so far at least as can be exness, whereof his father was intact. He was pected on my part." worse, because he had no sense of honor, no "There you are again, Lorraine, using rudiment of a principle; not even a dubious some back meaning, such as no one else can preference for the truth, at first sight, against enter into. But let that pass. It is your a lie. Captain Chapman, however, could way. Now I want t say something to you." do one manly thing, and only one. He could "I also am smitten with a strong desire drive, having cultivated the art in the time to know what it is, Sir Remnant." ALICE LORRAINE. 81 "Well, it is neither more nor less than has in me the most thorough comfirmathis. You know what dangerous times we tion." live in, with every evil power let loose, and "Aha! it is all very well-all very well to Satan, like a roaring lion, rampant and tri- pretend, Lorraine. Another pinch of snuff, umphant. Thank you, yes, I will take a and that settles it. Let them set up their pinch; your snuff is always so delicious. horses together as soon as ever they pleaseWith the arch-enemy prowling about, with eh?" democracy, non-conformity, infidelity, and "Who? What horses? Why will you rickburnings — "'thus visit me with impenetrable enigmas?" "Exactly so. How well you express it! "Visit you! Why, you invited me yourI was greatly struck with it in the George self! Who, indeed? Why, of course, my lad and Dragon's report of your speech at the Steenie and your girl Lallie!" farmer's dinner at Billinghurst." "Captain Chapman and my Alice! Such "Well, well, I may have said it before; a thought never entered my mind. Do you but for all that, it is the truth. Can you know that poor Alice is little more than deny it, Sir Roland Lorraine?" seventeen years old? And Captain Chap" Far be it from me to deny the truth. I man must be-let me see —" am listening with the greatest interest." "Never mind what he is. He is my son "No, you are not; you never do. You and heir, and there'll be fifty thousand to are always thinking- of something to your- settle on his wife, in hard cash not so bad self. But what I was going to say was this, nowadays." that it is high time to cement the union, "Sir Remnant Chapman, I beg you not to and draw close the bonds of amity between say another word on the subject. Your son all good men, all men of any principle-by must be twice my daughter's age, and he which I mean-come now, you know." looks even more than that-" "To be sure; you mean all stanch To- "Dash my wig! Then I am seventy, I ries." suppose. What the dickens have his looks "Yes, yes; all who hold by Church and got to do with the matter? I don't call him State, land and the constitution. I have at all a bad-looking fellow. A chip of the educated my son carefully in the only right old block, that's what he is. Ah, many a and true principles. Train up a child-you fine woman, I can tell you-" know what I mean. And you, of course, "Now, if you please," Sir Roland said, with have brought up your daughtei upon the a very clear and determined voice-" if you same right system." please, we will drop this subject. Your son "Nay, rather, I have left her to form her may be a very good match, and no doubt he own political opinions. And to the best of is in'external matters; and if Alice, when old my belief, she has formed none." enough, should become attached to him, per" Lorraine, I am heartily glad to hear it. haps I might not oppose it. There is nothThat is how all the girls should be. When ing more to be said at present; and, above I was in London, they turned me sick with all things, she must not hear of it." asking my opinion. The less they know, "I see, I see," answered the other baronet, the better for them. Knowledge of any who was rather short of temper. "Missy thing makes a woman so deucedly contra- must be kept to her bread and milk, and dictory. My poor dear wife could read and good books, and all that, a little longer. Bywrite, and that was quite enough for her. the-bye, Lorraine, what was it I heard about She did it on the jam-pots always, and she your son the other day-that he had been could spell most of it. Ah, she was a most making a fool of himself with some grocer's wonderful woman!" daughter?" " She was. I often found much pleasure " I have not heard of any grocer's daughin her conversation. She knew so many ter. And as he will shortly leave England, things that never come by way of read- people perhaps will have less to say about ing." him. His commission is promised, as per"And so does Stephen. You should hear haps you know; and he is not likely to quit him. He never reads any sort of book. Ah, the army because there is fighting going1 on." that is the true learning. Books always Sir Remnant felt all the sting of that hit; make stupid people. Now it struck me that his face (which showed many signs of good -ah, you know, I see. A wink's as good as living) flushed to the tint of the claret in a nod, etc. No'catching a weasel asleep." his hand, and he was just about to make a Here Sir Remnant screwed up one eye, and very coarse reply, when luckily the rector gave Sir Roland a poke in the ribs, with the came back suddenly, followed by the valiant most waggish air imaginable, captain. Sir Roland knew that he had al"Again and again I assure you," said his lowed himself to be goaded into bad manhost,: "that I have not the smallest idea ners for once, and he strove to make up for what you mean. Your theory about books it by unwonted attention to the warrior. 82 ALICE LORRAINE. CHAPTER XXXI.T cident. When I hear of those Normans, without any shoulders-don't tell me; they IT was true that Hilary had attained at never would have built such a house as this last the great ambition of his life. He had is, otherwise-what do you think I feel changed the pen for the sword, the sand ready to do, sir? Why, to get up, and to for powder, and the ink for blood; and in a lift my coat, and-" few days he would be afloat, on his way to "Come, come, Struan, we quite underjoin Lord Wellington. His father's obsti- stand all your emotions without that. This nate objections had at last been overcome; makes you a very bigoted ambassador in for there seemed to be no other way to cut our case. You meant to bring back all the the soft net of enchantment, and throw him truth, of course. But when you found the into a sterner world. fishing good, and the people roughly hospiHis uncle Struan had done his best, and table, and above all a Danish smack in their tried to the utmost stretch the patience of manners, and figures, and even their eyes, Sir Roland, with countless words, until the which have turned on the Kentish soil, latter exclaimed at last, "Why you seem to I am told, to a deep and very brilliant to be worse than the boy himself! You went brown-"" to spy out the nakedness of the land, and "Yes, Roland, you are right for once. At you returned in a fortnight with grapes of any rate, it is so with her." Eshcol. Truly this Danish Lovejoy is more "Very well. Then you being, as you alpotent than the great Canute. He turns at ways are, a sudden man-what did you do his pleasure the tide of opinion." but fall in love (in an elderly, fatherly man"Roland, now you go too far. It is not ner, of course) with this-what is her name, the glower that I indict of, but his charm- now again? I never can recollect it." ing daughter. If you could but once be per- "You do. You never forget any thing. suaded to see her " Her name is'Mabel.' And you may be glad "Of course. Exactly what Hilary said. to pronounce it pretty often, in your old In him I could laugh at it; but in you-! age, Sir Roland." Well, a great philosopher tells us that every "Well it is a pretty name, and deserves a jot of opinion (even that of a babe, I sup- pretty bearer. But, Struan,you are a man pose) is to be regarded as an equal item of of the world. You know what Hilary is; the'universal consensus.' And the uni- and you know (though we do not give ourversal consensus becomes, or forms, or fruc- selves airs, and drive four horses in a hideous tifies, or solidifies, into the great homo- yellow coach, and wear diamond rings worth geneous truth. I may not quote him aright, a thousand pounds), you know what the and I beg his pardon. for so lamely render- Lorraines have always been-a little paring him. However, that is a rude sketch of ticular in their ways, and a little inclined his view, a brick from his house-to mix to to, perhaps-" metaphors-and perhaps you remember it "To look down on the rest of the world, better, Struan." without ever letting them know it, or even "God forbid! The only thing I remem- knowing it yourselves, perhaps. Have I hit her out of all my education is the stories- it aright, Sir Roland?" what do you call them?- mythologies. "Not quite that. Indeed, nothing could. Capital some of them are, capital! Ah, they be farther from what I was thinking of." do so much good to boys-teach them man- Sir Roland Lorraine sighed gently here; liness and self-respect!" and even his brother-in-law had not the "Do they? However, to return to this least idea why he did so. It was that Sir lovely daughter of the Kentish Alcinous- Roland, like all the more able Lorraines for by-the-way, if his ancestors were Danes who several centuries, was at heart a fatalist. took to gardening, it suggests a rather start- And this family taint had perhaps been ling analogy. The old Corycian is believed deepened by the infusion of Eastern blood. (though without a particle of evidence) to This was the bar so often fixed between have been a pirate in early life, and there- them and the rest of the world-a barrier fore to have taken to pot-herbs. Let that which must hold good, while every man pass. I could never have believed it, except cares for his nieighbor's soul so much more for this instance of Lovejoy." than his own forever. "And how, if you please," broke in the "Is it any thinginn religion, Roland?" the rector, who was always jealous of" Norman rector whispered kindly. "I know that you blood," because he had never heard that he are not orthodox, and a good deal puffed up had any; " how were the Normans less pirat- with carnal knowledge. Still, if it is in my ical, if you please, than the Danes, their own line at all; I am not a very high authority grandfathers? Except that they were sick -but perhaps I might lift you over it. They at sea-big rogues, all of them, in my opin- are saying all sorts of things now in the ion. The Saxons were the only honest fel- world; and I have taken two hours a day, lows. Ay, and they would have thrashed several days-now you need not laugh in those Normans, but for the leastest little ac- a library we have got up at Horsham, filled ALICE LORRAINE. 83 with the best divinity, so as to know how of them to discount his chance; if he did to answer them." what many other boys would do." "My dear Struan," Sir Roland replied, Sir Roland felt the truth of this. And he without so much as the gleam of a smile, feared in his heart that he might be push"that was really good of you. And you ing his only son a little too hard, in reliance now have so many other things to attend upon his honor. to with young dogs, and that; and the first "Will you'come to the point for once?" of September next week, I believe! What he asked, with a look of despair, and a voice a relief that must be to you!" of the same. "This is my offer-to get Hil"Ay, that it is. You can not imagine, of ary a commission in a foot-regiment, pack course, with all your many ways of fritter- him off to the war in Spain; and if in three ing time away indoors, what a wearing thing years after that he sticks to that Danish it is to have nothing better than rabbit- Nausicaa, and I am alive -why, then, he shooting, or teaching a dog to drop to shot. shall have her." But now about Hilary: you must relent — Mr. Hales threw back his head-for he indeed you must, dear Roland. He is living had a large, deep head, and when it wanted on sixpence a day, I believe-virtuous fel. to think it would go back — and then he anlow, most rare young man! Why, if that swered warily. dirty Steve Chapman now had been treated "It is a very poor offer, Sir Roland. At as you have served Hilary note of hand, first sight it seems fair enough. But you, bill-drawing, post-obits and you might with your knowledge of youth, and especialeven think yourself lucky if there were no ly such a youth as Hilary, rely upon the efbig forgery to hush up. Ah, his father may fects of absence, change, adventures, dangers, think what he likes; but I look on Hilary Spanish beauties, and, worst of all, wider as a perfect wonder, a Bayard, a Crichton, knowledge of the world, and the company a pelican!" of fighting men, to make him jilt his love, "Surely you mean a paragon, Struan? or perhaps take even a worse course than What young can he have to feed from his that." own breast?" "You are wrong," said Sir Roland, with "I meant what I said, as I always do. much contempt. "Sir Remnant Chapman And how can you know what young he has, might so have meant it. Struan, you ought when you never even let him come near you? to know me better. But I think that I have Ah, if I only had such a son!" Here the rec- a right, at least, to try the substance of such tor, who really did complain that he had no a whim before I yield to it, and install, as son to teach how to shoot, managed to get the future mistress, a-well, what do you his eyes a little touched with genial moist- want me to call her, Struan?" ure. "Let it be, Roland; let it be. I am a fair " This is grievous," Sir Roland answered; man, if you are not; and I can make every "and a little more than I ever expected, or allowance for you. But I think that your can have enabled myself to deserve. Now, heir should at least be entitled to swing his Strua.n, will you cease from wailing if I prom- legs over a horse, Sir Roland." ise one thing?" " I, on the other hand, think that it would "That must depend upon what it is. It be his final ruin to do so. He would get will take a good many things, I am afraid, to among reckless fellows, to whom he is almake me think well of you again." ready too much akin. It has happened so "To hear such a thing from the head of with several of my truly respected ancesthe parish! Now, Struau, be not vindictive. tors. They have gone into cavalry regiI ought to have let you get a good day's ments, and ridden full gallop through their shooting, and then your terms would have estates. I am not a penurious man, as you been easier." know, and few think less of money. Can "Well, Roland, you know that we can do you deny that, even in your vitiated state nothing. The estates are tied up in such a of mind'' wonderful way, by some lawyer's trick or " I can not deny it," the rector answered; other, through, a whim of that blessed old " you never think twice about money, Rolady - she can't hear me, can she - that land-except, of course, when you are bound Hilary has his own sister's life between him to do so." and the inheritance, so far as any of us can " Very well; then you can believe that I make out." wish poor Hilary to start afoot solely for " So that you need not have boasted," an- his own benefit. There is very hard fightswered Sir Roland, with a quiet smile, "about ing just now in Spain, or on the confines of his being a Bayard, in refraining from post- Portugal. I hate all fighting, as you are obits." aware. Still it is a thing that must be "Well, well; you know what I meant done." quite well. The Jews are not yet banished "Good Lord!" cried the rector, "how you from England. And there is reason to fear do talk! As if it was so many partridges'" that they never will be. There are plenty "No, it is better than that-come, Strual 84 ALICE LORRAINE. -because the partridges carry no guns, you den over by those who had horses-while he know." had none-or, even if he escaped all that, "I should be confouncdedly sorry if they to be starved, or frozen, or sun-struck, forthe did," the rector answered, with a shudder. sake of his country-as our best men are, "Fancy letting fly at a bird who might while their children survive to starve afterhave a long barrel under his tail!" ward-it came upon Alice as a heavy blow "It is an appalling imagination. Struan, that she never might happen to see him I give you credit for it. But here we are, again. Although her father had tried to as usual, wandering from the matter which keep her from the excitement of the times, we have in hand. Are you content, or are and the gasp of the public for dreadful news you not, with what I propose about Hilary?" (a gasp which is deeper and wider always, In this expressly alternative form, there the longer the time of waiting is), still there lurks a great deal of vigor. If a man says, were too many mouths of rumor for any one "Are you satisfied?" you begin to cast about, to stop them all. Although the old butler and wonder whether you might not win bet- turned his cuffs up-to show what an arm ter terms. Many side-issues come in and he still possessed-and grumbled that all disturb you, and your way to say "Yes" is this was nothing, and a bladder of wind in dubious. But if he only clench his inquiry comparison with what he had known forty with the option of the strong negative, the years agone, and though Mrs. Pipkins, the weakest of all things, human nature that housekeeper, quite agreed with him and hates to say "no," is tampered with. This went farther; neither was the cook at all being so, Uncle Struan thought for a mo- disposed to overdo the thing; it was of no ment or so; andl then said, "Yes, I am." service-they could not stay the torrent of public opinion. -__ ___ - Trotman had been taken on, rashly (as may have been said before), as upper footXAPTE X II. man in lieu of the old-established and trusty gentleman, who had been compelled by Is it just, or even honest-fair, of course, fierce injustice to retire, and take to a pubit can not be-to deal so much with the lie-house-with a hundred pounds to begin heavy people, the eldermost ones and the uponlbeing reft of the office of footman for bittermost, and leave altogether with noth- no other reason that he could hear of, except ing said of her-or not even let her have that he was apt to be, toward night-fall, not her own say-as sweet a young maiden as quite able to "keep his feet?. ever lived, and as true, and brave, and kind To him succeeded the headlong Trotmln; a one Alice was of a different class alto- and one of the very first things he did was gether from Mabel Lovejoy. Mabel was a -as declared a long time ago, with deep dear - hearted girl, loving, pure, unselfish, sympathy, in this unvarnished tale-to kick warm, and good enough to marr any man, poor Bonny, like a hopping spider, from the and be his own wife forever. brow of the hill to the base thereof. But Alice went far beyond all that. Her Trotman may have had good motives for nature was cast in a different mould. She this rather forcible movement; and it is not had.not only the depth-which is the corn- our place to condemn him. Still, in more mon property of women-but she also had than one quarter it was believed that he the height of loving. Such as a mother has acted thus through no zeal whatever for virfor her children, rather than a wife toward tue or justice, but only because he so loved her husband. And yet by no means an im- his perquisites, and suspected that Bonny perious or exacting affection, but tender, got smell of them. And the butler quite submissive, and delicate. Inasmuch as her confirmed this view, and was much surbrother stood next to her father, or in some prised at Trotman's conduct; for Bonny points quite on a level with him, in her true was accustomed to laugh at his jokes, and regard and love, it was not possible that her had even sold some of his bottles for him. kind heart could escape many pangs of late. In such a crisis, scarcely any one would In the first place, no loving sister is likely regard such a trivial matter. And yet none to be altogether elated by the discovery that of us ought to kick any body, without knowher only brother has found some one who ing what it may lead to. Violence is to be shall be henceforth more to him than her- deprecated; for it has to be paid for beyond self is. Alice, moreover, had a very strong its value in twelve cases out of every dozen. sense of the rank and dignity of the Lor- And so it was now; for, if Coombe Lorraine raines; and she disliked, even more than had been before this, as Mrs. Pipkins deher father did, the importation of this " veg- dared (havinglearned French from her cooketable product," as she rather facetiously ery-book), "the most Triestest place in the called poor Mabel, into their castle of lin- world," it became even duller now that Boneage. But now when Hilary was going ny was induced, by personal considerations, away, to be drowned on the voyage, per- to terminate rather abruptly his overtures haps, or at least to be shot, or sabred, or rid- to the kitchen-maid. For who brought the ALICE LORRAINE. 85 tidings of all great events and royal pro- for what but a boy are you now, I should ceecings? Our Bonny. Who knew the like to know? Ad abad-manneredcboy, in young man of every house-maid in the vales my humble opinion, to want to teach his of both Adur and Arun? Our Bonny. Who helders their duty. I know that I lives in a could be trusted to carry a scroll (or, in hisland, of course, the same as all the Scotchpurer truth, perhaps, a scrawl) that should men does, and goes round the sun like a be treasured through the love-lorn hours of joint on a spit; and so does nearly all of us. waiting-at table-in a zebra waistcoat? But perhaps John Trotman doesn't." Solely and emphatically, Bonny! With this " withering sarcasm," the ladyTherefore every tender domestic bosom cook turned away from poor Trotman, and rejoiced when the heartless Trotman was then delivered these memorable words: compelled totread the track of his violence, "Sir Rowland will repent too late. Sir lamely and painfully, twice every week, to Rowland will shed the briny tear, the same fetch from Steyning his George and the Drag- as might any one of us, even on ~3 a year, on, which used to be delivered by Bonny. for sending his only son out in a ship, when Mr. Trotman, however, was a generous man, he ought to a' sent'un on horseback." and always ready to share as well as enjoy Mrs. Pipkins nodded assent, and so did the the delights of literature. Nothing pleased ancient butler; and Trotman felt that pubhim better than to sit on the end of a ta- lic opinion was wholly against him, until ble among the household, ladies and gentle- such time as it should be further educated. men, with Mrs. Pipkins in the chair of honor, But such a discussion had been aroused, that and interpret from his beloved journal the there was no chance of its stopping here; chronicles of the county, the country, and and Alice, who loved to collect opinions, had the Continent. many laid before her. She listened to all "Why, ho!" he shouted out one day, judiciously, and pretended to do it judicial"what's this? Can I believe my heyes? ly; and after that she wondered whether she Our Halary going to the wars next week!" had done what she ought to do. For she ".No, now!" "Never can be!" "Most knew that she was only very young, with shameful!" some of his audience exclaimed. nobody to advise her; and the crushing But Mrs. Pipkins and the old butler shook weight of the world upon her, if she tripped their heads at one another, as much as to or forgot herself. Most girls of her age say, "I knowed it." would have been at school, and taken child"Mr. Trotman,"saidtheseniorhouse-maid, ish peeps at the world, and burnished up who entertained connubial views, " you are their selfishness by conflict with one anothsure to be right in all you reads. You are er; but Sir Roland had kept to the family such a bootiful scholard! Will you obleege custom, and taught and trained his daughus by reading it out?" ter at home, believing as he did that young "Hem! hem! Ladies all, it is yours to women lose some of their best and most command, it is mine to obey.'The insatia- charming qualities by what he called " greble despot who sways the Continent seems garious education." Alice, therefore, had resolved to sacrifice to his baleful lust of been under care of a good and well-taught empire all the best and purest and noblest governess-for "masters" at that time were of the blood of Britain. It was only last proper to boys-until her mind was quite week that we had to mourn the loss sustain- up to the mark, and capable of taking care ed by all Sussex in the most promising cion of itself. For in those days it was not needof a noble house. And now we have it on ful for any girl to know a great deal more the best authority that Mr. H. L., the only than was good for her. son of the well-known and widely respected Early one September evening, when the baronet residing not fifty miles from Stey- day and year hung calmly in the balance of ning, has received orders to join his regi- the sun; when sensitive plants and clever ment at the seat of war, under Lord Wel- beasts were beginning to look around them, lington. The gallantyoung gentleman sails and much of the growth of the ground was next week from Portsmouth in the troop- readyto regret lost opportunities; when the ship Sandy-legs, or some such blessed Indian comet was gone for good at last, and the name!" earth was beginning to laugh at her terror "The old scrimp!" exclaimed the cook, a (having found him now clearly afraid of warm adherent of Hilary's. " To send him her), and when a sense of great deliverance out in a nasty sandy ship, when his birth from the power of drought and heat throbwere to go on horseback, the same as all the bed in the breast of dewy nurture, so that gentlefolks do to the wars!" all took breath again, and even man (the "But, Mrs. Merryjack, you forget," ex- last of all things to be pleased or thankful) plained the accomplished Trotman, "that was ready to acknowledge that there might Great Britain is a hisland, ma'am. And no have been worse moments, at such a time one can't ride from a hisland on horseback; fair Alice sat in her garden thinking of Hilat least it was so when I was a boy." ary. The work of the summer was over " Then it must be so now, John Trotman; now, and the fate of the flowers pronounced 86 ALICE LORRAINE. and settled, for better or worse, till another which alone was needed to make it perfect. year; no frost, however, had touched them With the quickness of a girl, his sister saw yet, while the heavy dews of autumnal night all this in a moment; and yet, for fear of and the brisk air flowing from the open crying, she laughed at him. downs had gladdened, refreshed, and sweet- "Why, how did you come so'spick and ened them. Among them, and between the span? Have you got a sheaf of wheat inshrubs, there spread and sloped a pleasant side your waistcoat? It was too cruel to put lawn for all who love soft sward and silence, such clothes on the top of a harvest-wagon. and the soothing sound of leaves. From the I wonder you did not set it all on fire." form of the ground and bend of the hills, as "Much you know about it!" exclaimed well as the northerly aspect, a peculiar cast the young soldier, with vast chagrin. "You and tone of color might be found, at different don't deserve to see any thing. I brought moments, fluctuating differently.'Most of my togs in a haversack, and put them on in all, in a fine sunset of autumn (though now your bower here, simply to oblige you;: and the sun was behind the ridge), from the full- you don't think they are worth looking at!" ness of the upper sky such gleam and glance "I am looking with all my might, and fell here and there, that nothing could be yet I can not see any thing of a sword. I sure of looking as it looked only a minute suppose they won't allow you one yet. But ago. At such times all the glen seemed surely you must have a sword in the end." thrilling like one vast lute of trees and air, "Alice, you are enough to wear one out. drawing fingered light along the chords of Could I carry my sword in a haversack? trembling shadow. At such a time, no south- However, if you don't think I look well, ern slope could be compared with this for somebody else does-that is one comfort." depth of beauty and impressive power, for "You do not mean, I hope," replied Alice, the charm of clear obscurity and suggestive missing his allusion carefully, "to go back murmuring mystery. Atime and scene that to your ship without coming to see papa, might recall the large romance of grander dear Hilary?" ages; where wandering lovers might shrink "That is exactly what I do mean; and and think of lovers whose love was over; that is why I have watched for you so. I and even the sere man of the world might have no intention of knocking under. And take a fresh breath of the boyish days when so he will find out in the end; and somefear was a pleasant element. body else, I hope, as well. Every body Suddenly Alice became aware of some- thinks I am such a fool, because I am easything moving near her, and, almost before tempered. Let them wait a bit. They may she had time to be frightened, Hilary leaped be proud of that never-do-well, silly Hilary from behind a laurel. He caught her in his yet. In the last few months, I can assure arms and kissed her, and then stepped back you, I have been through things-however, to leave plenty of room for contemplative I won't talk about them. They never did admiration. understand me at home, and I suppose they' I was resolved to have one more look. never will. But it does not matter. Wait We sail to-morrow, they are in such a hurry. a bit." I have walked all the way from Portsmouth. "Darling Hilary! don't talk so. It makes At least I got a little lift on the road, on the me ready to cry to hear you. You will go top of a wagon-load of wheat." into some battle, and throw your life away, "How wonderfully good of you, Hilary to spite all of us." dear!" she exclaimed, with tears in her eyes, No, no, I won't. Though it would serve and yet a strong inclination to smile, as she you right for considering me such a nincomwatched him. "How tired you must be! poop. As if the best, and sweetest, and Why, when did you leave the ddp6t? I truest-hearted girl in the universe was bethought they kept you at perpetual drill." low contempt, because her father happens "So they did. But I soon got up to all to grow cabbages! What do we grow? that. I can do it as well as the best of them Corn, and hay, and sting-nettles, and couchnow. What a provoking child you are! grass. Or at least our tenants grow them Well, don't you notice any thing?" for us, and so we get the money. Well, how For Alice, with true sisterly feeling, was are they finer than cabbages?" trying his endurance to the utmost, dissem- "Come in and see father," said Alice, bling all her admiration of his fine fresh straining her self-control to shun argumlent. " uniform." Of course, this was not quite so "Do come, and see him before you go." grand as if he had been (as he had right to "I will not," he answered, amazing his be) enrolled as an "eques aurattus;" still it sister by his new-born persistency. "He looked very handsome on his fine straight never has asked me, and I will not do it." figure, and set off the brightness of his clear No tears, no sobs, nor coaxings moved him; complexion. Moreover, his two months of his troubles had given him strength of will, drilling at the d6p6t had given to his active and he went to the war without seeing his and well-poised form that vigorous firmness father. ALICE LORRAINE. 87 CHAPTER XXXIIIT and no one had ever known him to tell a lie CHAPTER XXXIII. -or at any rate he said so. ONE man there is, or was, who ought to This good and remarkable man was open have been brought forward long ago. Ev- to public inspection every morning in his ery body said the same thing of him-he shop, from eight to twelve o'clock. He then wanted nothing more than the power of in- retired to his dinner, and customers might sisting upon his reputation, and of check- thump and thump with a key or knife, or ing his own bashfulness, to make him one even his own steel, on the counter, but neiof the foremost men anywhere in or near ther Mr. nor Mrs. Bottler would condescend Steyning.' His name was Bottler, as ev- to turn round for them. Nothing less than cry body knew; and through some hered- the chink of a guinea would stir them at itary veins of thought, they always added this sacred time. But if any one had a."the pig-man" as if he were a porcine guinea to rattle on the board, and did it hybrid! cleverly, the blind across the glass door was He was nothing of the sort. He was only drawn back on its tape, and out peeped Bota man who stuck pigs, when they wanted tier. sticking; and if at such times he showed When dinner and subsequent facts had humanity, how could that identify him with been dealt with, this eminent pigman horsed the animal between his knees? He was his cart, hoisted his favorite child in over sensitive upon this point at times, and had the foot-board, and set forth in quest of pigs, been known to say," I am no pigman; what or, as he put it more elegantly, " hanimals I am is a master pork-butcher.' german to his profession." That favorite However, he could not get over his name, child, his daughter Polly, being of breadth any more than any body else can. And if and length almost equal, and gifted with such a trifle hurt his feelings, he scarcely "bow-legs" (as the public had ample means insisted upon them, until he was getting of ascertaining), was now about four years quite into his fifth quart of ale, and discov- old, and possessed of remarkable gravity ering his true value. even for that age. She would stand by the A writer of the first eminence, who used hour between her father's knees, while he to be called " Tully," but now is euphonious- guided the shambling horse, and gaze most ly cited as " Kikero," has taught us that to intently at nothing at all; as if it were the neglect the world's opinion of one's self is a first time she ever had enjoyed the privilege proof not only of an arrogant, but even of of inspecting it. a dissolute mind. Bottler could prove him- Rags and bones (being typical of the beself not of an arrogant, and still less of a ginning and end of humanity) have an indissolute mind; he respected the opinion of ner meaning of their own, and stimulate all the world; and he showed his respect in the who deal in them. At least it often seems most convincing and flattering manner, by to be so, though one must not be too sure of his style of dress. He never wore slops, nor it. Years of observation lead us to begin to an apron even, unless it were at the decease ask how to-observe a little. or during the obsequies of a porker. He Bonny had not waited for this perversity made it a point of honor to maintain an un- of certainty. He had long been taking obbroken succession of legitimate white stock- servations of Polly Bottler as he could get ings-a problem of deep and insatiable anx- them-and the more he saw her, the more iety to every woman in Steyning town. In his finest feelings were drawn forth by her, the first place, why did he wear them? It and the way she stood between her father's took several years to determine this point; legs. Some boys have been known to keep but at tlast it was known, amidst universal one virtue so enlarged and fattened up, like applause, that he wore them in memory of the liver of a Strasbourg goose, that the flahis first love. But then there arose a far vor of it has been enough to abide-if they more difficult and excruciating question- died before dissolution-in the rue of pious How did he do it? Had he fifty pairs? memory. Did he wash them himself, or did he make Exactly so it was with that Bonny. He his wife How could he kill pigs and keep never feigned to be an honest boy, because his stockings perpetually unsullied? Em- it would have been too bad of him; besides phatically and despairingly, why had they that, he did not know how to do it, and had never got a hole in them? his own reasons for waiting a bit; yet nothHe, however, with an even mind, trod the ing short of downright starvation could have checkered path of life with fustian breeches driven him at any time to steal so much as and white stockings. His coat was of West one pig's trotter from his patron's cart, or of England broadcloth, and of a rich impe- shop, or yard. Now this deserves mention, rial blue, except where the color had yield- because it proves that there does, or at any ed to time; and all his buttons were of bur- rate did, exist a discoverable specimen of a nished brass. His honest countenance was virtue so rare, that its existence escaped all embellished with a fine candid smile when- suspicion till after the classic period of the ever he spoke of the prtice of pigs or pork, Latin tongue. 88 ALICE LORRAINE. A grateful soul, or a grateful spirit we squeaking of pigs at the roughness of sod have no word to express "animus," though or fallow, theywon to the entrance of Coombe we often express it toward one another- Lorraine, and the hermitage of Bonny. That such was the Roman form for this virtue, as exemplary boy had been all day pursuing a concrete rarity. And a couple of thousand his calling with his usual diligence, and was years have made it ever so much rarer. very busy now, blowing up his fire to have In one little breast it still abode, purely some hot savory stew to warm him. All original and native, and growing underneath his beggings and his buyings, etc., were cast the soil, shy of light and hard to find, like in together; and none but the cook and conthe truffle of the South Downs. Bonny was sumer could tell how marvelously they alcalled, in one breath every day, a shameful ways managed to agree among themselves, and a shameless boy; and he may have de- and with him. A sharp little turn of air served but a middling estimate from a lofty had set in, and made every rover of the land point of view. It must be admitted that he sharp set; and the lid of the pot was beginslipped sometimes over the border of right ning to lift charily and preciously, when the and wrong, when a duck or a rabbit, or a stubble and bramble crackled much. Bonny green goose haply, hopped or waddled on ensconced in his kitchen corner, on the right the other side of it, in the tempting twi- hand outside his main entrance, kept stirring light. But even that he avoided doing, un- the fire, and warming his hands, and indultil half-pence were scarce, and the weather ging in a preliminary smell. Bearing ever hungry. in mind the stern duty of promoting liberal Now being, as has been said before, of dis- sentiments, he had felt, while passing an old tinguished countenance and costume, he al- woman's garden, how thoroughly welcome ready had made a tender impression upon he ought to be to a few sprigs of basil, a the heart of Polly Bottler; and when she handful of onions, and a pinch of lemonhad been very good and conquered the al- thyme; and how much more polite it was to phabet up to P the pig at which point pro- dispense with the frigid ceremony of asking. fessional feelings always overcame the whole As the cart rattled up in the teeth of the family-the reward of merit selected by wind, Polly Bottler began.to expand her herself would sometimes be a little visit to frank ingenuous nostrils; inhaled the breeze, Bonny, as the cart came back from Findon.' and thus spake with her mouth, There is room for suspicion, however, that "Dad, I'se yerry hungy." true-love may not have been the only mo- "No wonder," replied the paternal voice; tive power, or at least that poor Bonny had "what a boy, to be sure, that is to cook! a very formidable rival in Jack the don- At his time of life, just to taste his stoos! key; inasmuch as the young lady always He've got a born knowledge what to put in demanded as the first-fruit of hospitality a -ay, and what to keep out; and how long prolonged caracole on that quadruped,which to do it. He deserveth that pot as I gived she always performed in cavalier fashion, him out of the bilin' house; now dothn't he? whereto the formation of her lower members If moother worn't looking for us to home, afforded especial facility. with chittlings and fried taties, I'd as lief Now one afternoon toward All-hallows sit down and sup with him. He maketh me day, when the air was brisk and the crisp in the humor, that he doth." leaves rustled, some underfoot and some As soon as he beheld his visitors, Bonny overhead, Mr. Bottler, upon his return from advanced in a graceful manner, as if his Storrington, with four pretty porkers in un- supper was of no account. He had long der his net, received from his taciturn daugh- been aware, from the comments of boys at ter that push on his right knee, whose in- Steyning (who were hostile to him), that port he well understood. It meant —"We his chimney-pot hat was not altogether in are going to see Bonny to-day. You must strict accord with his character. This had turn on this side, and go over the fields." mortified him as deeply as his lightsome "All right, little un," the pigman answer- heart could feel; because he had trusted to ed, with his never-failing smile. "Daddy that hat to achieve his restoration into the knows as well as you do a'most, though you bosom of society. The words of the incumcan't expect him to come up to you." bent of his parish (ere ever the latter began Polly gave a nod, which was as much as to thrash him) had sunk into his inner and any one ever expected of her all the time deeper consciousness and conscience; and she was out-of-doors. At home she could therein had stirred up a nascent longing to talk any number to the dozen, when the have something to say to somebody whose mood was on her; but directly she got into fore-legs were not employed for locomotion the open air, the size of the world was too any longer. much for her. All she could do was to Alas, that ghost of a definition has no leg stand, and wonder, and have the whole of it to stand upon! No two great authorities going through her, without her feeling any (perfect as they are, and complete in their thing. own system) can agree with one another After much jolting, and rattling, and concerning the order of a horse's feet, in ALICE LORRAINE. 89 walking, ambling, or trotting, or even stand- ride. And this time her mouth and her ing on all-fours in stable. The walk of a voice expressed cessation of hesitation. true-born Briton is surely almost as impor- "Et me down, et me down," she cried, tant a question. Which arm does he swing stretching her fat short arms to Bonny; I to keep time with which leg; and bends he'ants some; I'se so hungry." his elbows in time with his knees; and do "Stop a bit, miss," said Bonny, as being all four occupy the air, or the ground, or him- the pink of politeness to all the fair: " there, self, in a regulated sequence; and if so, what your purty little toes is on the blessed ground aberration must ensue from the use of a again. Stop abit, miss, while I runs into walking-stick? CEdipus, who knew all about my house for to get the spoon." feet (from the tenderness of his own soles), For up to this time he had stirred his soup could scarcely be sure of all this before the with a forked stick made of dogwood, which time of the close of the market. helps to flavor every thing; but now as a This is far too important a question to be host he was bound to show his more refined treated hastily. Only, while one is about it, resources. Polly, however, was so rapt out let Bonny's hat be settled for. Wherever he of her usual immobility, that she actually thought to have made an impression with toddled into Bonny's house to make him be this really guinea-hat, ridicule and execra- quick about the spoon. He, in amazement, tion followed on his naked heels; till he sold turned round and stared, to be sure of his it at last for tenpence-half-penny, and came eyes that such a thing could ever have hapback to his naked head. Society is not to pened to him. The jealousy of the collectbe carried by storm even with a picked-up or strove with the hospitality of the househat. holder anld'the chivalry of the rover. But Jack the donkey was always delighted the finer feelings conquered, and he showed to have Polly Bottler upon his back. Not her round the corner. Mr. Bottler, who could perhaps from any vaticination of his future not get in, cracked his whip and whistled at mistress, but because she was sure to re- them. ward him with a cake, or an apple, or some- Polly, with great eyes of wonder and fright thing good; so that when he felt her sturdy at her own daring, longed with one breath little legs, both hands in his mane, and the to go on, and with the next to run back heels begin to drum, he would prick his long again. But the boy caught hold of her hand, ears, and toss his fine white nose, and would and she stuck to him through the ins and even have arched his neck, if nature had outs of light, until there was something well not strictly forbidden him. On the present worth seeing. occasion, however, Polly did not very long What is the sweetest thing in life? Hope, witch the world with noble donkeymanship; love, gold, fame, pride, revenge, danger-or although Mr. Bottler sat patiently in his any thing else, according to the nature of cart, smiling as if he could never kill a pig, the liver. But with those who own very and with paternal pride stamped on every little, and have " come across" all that little, wrinkle of his nose; while the brief-lived with risk and much uncertainty, the sweetporkers poked their snouts through the net, est thing in life is likely to be the sense of and watched with little sharp hairy eyes the ownership. The mightiest hoarder of gold very last drama perhaps in which they would and silver, Croesus, Rhampsinitus, or Solobe spectators only. The lively creatures did mon, never thought half so much of his not suspect that Bonny's fire, the night after stores, or at any rate never enjoyed them as next, would be cooking some of their vital much as this rag-and-bone collector, his. parts, with a truly fine smell of sausages. When he came to his room he held his breath, Sausages were too dear for Bonny, as even and watched with the greatest anxiety for the pigs at a glance were aware; but he corresponding emotion of Polly. earned three-quarters of a pound for nothing, The room was perhaps about twelve feet by noble hospitality. To wit, his angel of long, and eight feet wide at its utmost, a Polly had not made more than three or scooped from the chalk without any sharp four parades, while he (with his head scarce- corners, but with a grand contempt of shape. ly reaching up to the mark at the back of The floor went up and down, and so did the the donkey's ears, where the perspiration roof, according to circumstances; the floor powdered) shouted and hallooed, and made appearing inclined to rise, and the roof to believe to be very big-as boys must do, for come down if called upon. Much excellent practice toward their manhood- when by rubbish was here to be found; but the winsome concurrent good-will of air, and fire, dow was the first thing to seize and hold any and finer elements, the pot-lid arose, to let stranger's attention. It must havebeenbuilt out a bubble of goodness returning to its either by or for the old hermit who once had native heaven; and the volatile virtue gen- dwelt there; at any rate, no one could have tly hovered to leave a fair memory behind. designed it without a quaint ingenuity. It The merest corner of this fragrance flipped was cut through a three-foot wall of chalk, into Polly Bottler's nose, as a weaker ema- the embrasure being about five feet in span, nation had done, even before she began her and three feet deep at the crown of the arch. 6 90 ALICE LORRAINE. In the middle a narrow pier of chalk was to eat her stew with. The boy was surprised left to keep the arch up, and the lights on to see her lift it with her fat brown fingers, either side were made of horn, stained glass, and hold it tightly without being cut or and pig's bladder. The last were of Bonny's stung, as he expected. For he had a wholehandiwork, to keep out the wind when it some fear of this thing, and had set it up as blew too cold among the flaws of ages. And a kind of fetish, his mind (like every other) now as the evening light fetched round the requiring something to bow down to. For foot of the hills, and gathered strongly into the manner of his finding it first, and then this western aspect, the richness of colors its presentment in the mouth of Jack, added was such that even Polly's steadfast eyes to the interest which its unknown meaning were dazed. won for it. Without vouchsafing so much as a glance With a laugh of triumph the bow-legged at Bonny's hoarded glories, the child ran maiden descended from herdangerous height, across the narrow chamber, and spread out and paying no heed to all Bonny's treasures, her hands and opened her mouth wider even waddled away with her new toy, either to than her eyes at the tints now streaming in show it to her father, or to plunge it into on her. The glass had been brought perhaps the stew-pot, perhaps. But her careful host, from some ruined chapel of the hill-side, and with an iron spoon and a saucer in his hands, glowedwith a depth of color infused by cen- ran after her, and gently guided her to the turies of sunset; not one pane of regular crock, whither also Mr. Bottler sped. This shape was to be found among them; but all, was as it should be; and they found it so. like veins of marble, ran with sweetest har- For when the boy Bonny, with a hospitable mony of hue, to meet the horn and the pig's sweep, lifted the cover of his cookery, a sense bladder. From the outside it looked like a of that void which all nature protests against dusty slate traversed with bits of a crusted rose in the forefront of all three, and forbade bottle; it required to be seen from the in- them to seek any farther. Bottler himself, side, like an ancient master's painting, in the stress of the moment, let the distant Polly, like the rest of those few children vision fade-of fried potatoes and combed who do not overtalk themselves, spent much chittlings-and lapsed into that lowest treaof her time in observation, storing the en- son to Lares and Penates-a supper abroad, tries inwardly. And young as she' was, when the supper at home is salted, and pepthere might be perhaps a doubt entertained pered, and browning. by.those who knew her whether she were But though Polly opened her mouth so not of a deeper and more solid cast of mind wide, and smacked her lips, and made every than Bonny. Her father at any rate de- other gratifying demonstration, not for one dared, and her mother was of the same moment would she cede possession of the opinion, that by the time she was ten years treasure she had found in Bonny's window. old-she would buy and sell all Steyning. Even while most absorbed in absorbing, she However, they may have thought this be- nursed it jealously on her lap; and even when cause all their other children were so stu- her father had lit his pipe from Bonny's bonpid. fire, and was ready to hoist her in again over Now, be they right or be they wrong-as the foot-board, the child stuck fast to her may be shown hereafter-Polly possessed at new delight, and set up a sturdy yell when least the first and most essential of all the the owner came to reclaim it fiom her. many endowments needful to approach sue- "Now don't'ee, don't'ee, that's a dear, cess. Polly Bottler stuck to her point. And began the gentle pork-butcher, as the pigs now, even with those fine old colors, like a in the cart caught up the strain, and echo century of rainbows, puzzling her, Polly re- had enough to do; for Polly of course remembered the stew in the pot, and pointed doubled her wailings, as all little dears must, with her finger to the window-ledge, where when coaxed to stop: " here, Bonny, here lad, something shone in a rich blue light. I'll gie thee sixpence for un, though her an't "Here's a'poon, Bonny!" she exclaimed; worth a penny, I doubt. And thou mayst " here's a'poon!'Et me have it, Bonny.". call to-morrow, and the misses 11 gie thee a "No, that's not a spoon, miss; and I can't clot of sassages." make out for the life of me whatever it can Bonny looked longingly at his fetish; but be. I've a-seed a many queer things, but I gratitude and true-love got the better of never seed the likes of that afore. Ah, take veneration. Polly, moreover, might well be care, miss, or you'll cut your fingers!" trusted to preserve this idol, until in the For Polly, with a most resolute air, had day when he made her his own, it should scrambled to the top of an old brown jar return into his bosom. And so it came to (the salvage from some shipwreck) which pass that this Palladium of the hermitage stood beneath the window-sill, and thence was set up at the head of Polly Bottler's litwith a gallant sprawl she reached and clutch- tle crib, and installed in the post of her faed the shining implement, which she wanted vorite doll. ALICE LORRAINE. 91 CHAPTER XXXNIV. No snow had fallen; but all the downs were spread with that sombre brown which THOUGH Coombe Lorraine was so old a is the breath or the blast of the wind-frost. hmansion, and so full of old customs, the But Alice Lorraine took her dailywalk, for Christmas of the " comet year" was as dull her father forbade her to ride on the hillas a Sunday in a warehouse. Hilary (who tops in the bleak and bitter wind., Her had always been the life of the place) was thoughts were continually of her brother; far away, fed upon hardships and short ra- and as the cold breeze rattled her cloak, or tions. Alice, though full sometimes of spirits, sprayed her soft hands through her gloves, at other times would run away, and fret, and many a time she said to herself, " I suppose blame herself, as if the whole of the fault was there is no frost in Spain; or not like this, on heiside. This was of course an absurd at any rate. How could the poor fellow idea; but sensitive girls, in moods of dejec- sleep in a tent in such dreadful weather as tion, are not good judges of absurdity; and this is." Alice at such times fully believed that if she Howlittle she dreamed that he had to sleep had not intercepted so much of her father's (whenever he got such a blissful chance), affection from her brother, things would have not in a tent, but an open trench, with a been very different. It might have been so; keener wind and a blacker frost preying onl but the answer was that she never had wit- his shivering bones, while'cannon-balls and tingly stood between them, but, on the con- fiery shells in a pitiless storm rushed over trary, had laid herself out, even at the risk him! It was no feather-bed fight that was of offending both, to bring their widely dif- fought in front of Ciudad Rodrigo. About ferent natures into kinder unity. the middle of January, A.D. 1812, desperate Sir Roland also was becoming more and work was going on. more reserved and meditative. He would For now there was no time to think of sit for hours in his book-room, immlersed' in life. Within a certain number of days the his favorite studies, or rather absorbed in fort must be taken, or the army lost. The his misty abstractions.'And Lady Valeria defenses were strong, and the garrison brave, did not add to the cheer of the household, and supplied with artillery far superior to although, perhaps, she did increase its com- that of the besiegers; the season also, and fort, by suddenly ceasing to interfere with the bitter weather, fought against the BritMrs. Pipkins and every body else, and send- ish, and so did the indolence of their allies, ing for the parson of the next parish, because and so -did British roguery. The sappers she had no faith in Mr. Hales. That worthy's could only work in the dark (because of the unprofessional visits, and those of his wife grape from the ramparts); andworking thus, and daughters, were now almost the only the tools either bent beneath their feet or pleasant incidents of the day or week. For snapped off short. The. contractor had sent the country was more and more depressed out false-grained stuff, instead of good Enby the gloomy burden of endless war, the glish steel and iron; and if in this world he scarcity of the fruits of the earth, and the earned his fortune, he assured his fate in the slaughter of good brave people. So that as other. the time went on, what with miserable ex- At length, by stubborn perseverance, most peditions, pestilence, long campaigns, hard of these troubles were overcome, and the Ensieges, furious battles, and starvation, there glish batteries opened. Roar answered roar, was scarcely any decent family that was not and bullet bullet, and the black air was gone into mourning. striped with fire and smoke; and men began Even the Rector, as lucky a man as ever to study the faces of the men that shot at lived, had lost a nephew, or at least a neph- them, until, after some days of hard poundew of his dear wife-which, he said, was al- ing, it was determined to rush in. All who most worse to him-slain in battle, fighting care to read of valor know what a desperate hard for his country and constitution. Mr. rush it was-how strong men struggled and Hales preached a beautiful sermon, as good leaped and climbed, hung and swung, on as a book, about it; so that all the parish the crest of the breach, like stormy surges wept, and three young men enlisted. towering, and then leaped down upon splutThe sheep were down in the lowlands now, tering shells, drawn swords, and sparkling standing up to their knees in litter, and bayonets. chewing very slowly; or sidling up against Before the signal to storm was given, and one another in the joy of woolliness; or ly- while men were talking of it, Hilary Loring down,with their bare grave noses stretch- raine felt most uncomfortably nervous. He ed for contemplation's sake, winking with did not possess that stolid phlegm which is their gentle eyes, and thanking God for the found more often in square - built people; roof above them, and the troughs in front of neither had he any share of fatalism, cold or them. They never regarded themselves as hot. He was nothing more than a spirited mutton, nor their fleeces as worsted yarn: it young Englishman, very fond of life, hating was really sad to behold them, and think that cruelty, and fearing to have any hand in it. the future could not make them miserable. Although he had been in the trenches, and 92 ALICE LORRAINE. exposed to frequent dangers, he had not been For, sooth, to say, they expected, but could in hand-to-hand conflict yet, and he knew not manage to wait for, the signal to storm. not how he might behave. He knew that No sooner did they hear the firing on the he was an officer now in the bravest and right than they began to stamp and swear; hardiest army known on earth since the time for the hay-bags they were to throw into the of the Samnites although perhaps not the ditch were not at hand, and not to be seen. very best behaved, as they proved that self- "Are we horses, to wait for the hay V? cried same night. And not only that, but an of- an Irishman of the Fifty-second; and with ficer of the famous Light Division, and the that they all set off as fast as ever their fiercest regiment of that division-every- legs could carry them. I-Iilary laughedwhere known asthe "Fighters;" and he was for his sense of humor was never very far not sure that he could fight a frog. He was to seek-at the way in which these men set sure that he never could kill any body, at off, as if it were a game of foot-ball; and at least in his natural state of mind; and worse the wonderful mixture of fun and fury in than that, he was not at all sure that he their faces. Also, at this sudden burlesque could endure to be killed himself. of the tragedy he expected-with heroes However, he made preparation for it. He out at heels and elbow, and small- clothes brought out the Testament Mabel had given streaming upon the breeze. For the British him as a parting keepsake in the moment Government, as usual, left coats, shoes, and of true-love's piety; and he opened it at a breeches to last forever. passage marked with a woven tress of her "Run, lad, run," said Major Napier, in his long rich hair-" Soldiers, do that is com- quiet Scottish way; "you are bound to be manded of you;" and he wondered wheth- up with them, as one might say, and your er he could manage it. And while he was legs are unco long. I shall na hoory mysell, trembling, not with fear of the enemy, but but take the short cut over the open." of his own young heart, the colonel of that "May I come with you?" asked Hilary, regiment came, and laid his one hand on panting. Hilary's shoulder, and looked into his bright "If you have na mither nor wife," said blue eyes. In all the army there was no the major; "na wife, of course, by the look braver, nobler, or kinder-hearted man than of you." Colonel C, of that regiment. Lorraine had no sense what he was about; Hilary looked at this true veteran with for the grape-shot whistled through the air all the reverence, and even awe, which a like hornets, and cut off one of his loose fair young subaltern (if fit for any thing) feels locks, as he crossed the open with Major N,%r for commanding experience. Never a word pier, to head their hot men at the crest of he spoke,however,butwaitedtobe spokento. the glacis. " You will do, lad. Youwill do," said the Now how things happened after that, or colonel, who had little time to spare. "I even what things happened at all, that would rather see you like that than up- headlong young officer never could tell. As roarious, or even as cool as a cucumber. he said in his letter to Gregory LovejoyI was just like that before my first action. for he was not allowed to write to Mabel, Lorraine, you will not disgrace your family, and would not describe such a scene to Alice your country, or your regiment." -" The chief thing I remember is a lot of The colonel had lost two sons in battle, rushing and stumbling, and swearing and younger men than Hilary, otherwise he might cheering, and staggering and tumbling backnot have stopped to enter into an ensign's ward. And I got a tremendous crack on the mind. But every word he spoke struck fire head from a cannon laid across the top of in the heart of this gentle youth. True the breach, but luckily not a loaded one; gratitude chokes common answers, and Hil- and I believe there were none of our fellows ary made none to him. An hour afterward in front of me, but I can not be certain, behe made it by saving the life of the colonel. cause of the smoke, and the row, and the The Light Division (kept close and low rush, and confusion; and I saw a Crapaud from the sight of the sharp French gunners) with a dead level at Colonel C. I supwere waiting in a hollow curve of the inner pose I was too small game for him, and I parallel, where the ground gave way a little, was just in time to slash his trigger-hand under San Francisco. There had been no off (which I felt justified in doing), and his time to do any thing more than breach the musket went up in the air and went off, and stone of the ramparts; all the outer defenses I just jumped aside from a fine bearded felwere almost as sound as ever. The Light Di- low who rushed at me with a bayonet; and vision had orders to carry the lesser breach, before he could have at me again he fell cost what it might, and then sweep the ram- dead,shot by his own friends from behind, parts as far as the main breach, where the who were shooting at me-more shame to strong assault was. And so well did they them-when our men charged with empty do their work, that they turned the auxil- muskets. And when the breach was our own, iary into the main attack, and bodily car- we were formed on the top of the rampart, ried the fortress. and went off at double-quick, to help at the ALICE LORRAINE. 93 main breach, and so we did; and that is ing into the pail stops short, and the cow about all I know of it." looks round with great bountiful eyes, and But the more experienced warriors knew a a aflat broad nose, and a spotted tongue, degreat deal more of Hilary's doings, especially siring to know what they are at with her. Colonel C —, of his regiment, and Major Is her milk not worth the milking, pray? Napier, and Colonel M'Leod. All of these This leads to no satisfaction whatever said that "they never saw any young fel- upon behalf of any one; and Mabel, after a low behave so well, for the first time of be- shiver or two, runs back to the broad old ing under deadly fire; that he might have fire-place, to sit in the light and the smell been' off his head' for the moment, but that of the wood, to spread her pointed fingers would very soon wear off-or if it did not, forth, and see how clear they are, and think. all the better, so long as he always did the For Mabel's hands are quite as pretty as if right thing thus; and (unless he got shot) they were of true Norman blood, instead of he would be an honor to the country, the the elder Danish cast; and she is very pararmy, and the regiment!" ticular now not to have any line visible under her nails. o-^~~ I And now in the month of February, 1812, before the witching festival of St. Valentine CHAPTER XXXV. was prepared for, with cudgeling of brains, and violent rhymes, and criminal assaults HAVING no love of bloodshed, and having upon grammar, this "flower of Kent "-as the luck to know nothing about it, some of the gallant hop-growers in toasting mous might be glad to turn into the white gate ments entitled her was sitting, or standacross the lane leading into Old Applewood ing, or drooping her head, or whatever suits farm-if only the franklin would unlock it best to their metaphor, at or near the firefor any body in this war-time. But now he place in the warm old simple hall. Love, has been getting sharper and sharper month however warm and faithful, is all the better after month; and hearing so much about for a good clear fire, ere ever the snow-drops sieges and battles, he never can be certain begin to spring. Also it loves to watch the when the county of Kent will be invaded. dancing of the flames, and the flickering For the last ten years he has expected some- light, and even in the smoke discovers something of the sort at least, and being of a thing to itself akin. Mabel was full of these prudent mind, keeps a duck-gun heavily beautiful dreams, because she was left altoloaded. gether to herself; and because she rememMoreover, Mabel is back again from exile bered so well what had happened along evwith Uncle Catherow; and though the grow- ery inch of the dining-table; and, above all, er only says that "she is well enough, for because she was sleepy. Long anxiety, and aught he knows," when compliments are great worry, and the sense of having no one paid him about her good looks by the neigh- fit to understand a girl-but every body borhood, he knows well enough that she is taking low, and mercenary, and fickle views, more than that; and he believes all the and even the most trusty people giving base county to be after her. It is utterly useless advice to one, in those odious proverbial to deny-though hot indignation would ex- forms — A bird in the hand is worth two pand his horticultural breast at the thought in the bush," " Fast find fast bind," "There -that he may have been just a little set is better fish in the sea," etc.; Mabel thought up by that trifling affair about Hilary. " It there never had been such a selfish world to never were the cherries," he says to himself, deal with. as the author of a great discovery; " aha, I Has not every kind of fame, however seed it all along! Wife never guessed of it, pure it may be and exalted, its own special but I did"-shame upon thee, grower, for disadvantage, lest poor mortals grow too telling thyself such a dreadful "caulker!" proud? At any rate, Mabel now reflected, -" and now we can see, as plain as a pike- rather with sorrow than with triumph, upon staff, the very thing I seed, when it was her fame for pancakes -because it was that big!" Upon this he shows himself his Shrove-Tuesday now, and all her tender thumb-nail, and feels that he has earned a thrills and deep anxieties must be discarded glass of his ale. for, or at any rate distracted by, the comMabel, on the other hand, is dreadfully position of batter. Her father's sense of worried by foreign affairs. She wants to propriety was so strong, and that of excelknow why they must be always fighting; lence so keen, that pancakes he would have and as nobody can give any other reason, on Shrove-Tuesday, and pancakes only from except that they "suppose it is natural," MabeFs hand. She had pleaded, however, she only can shake her head very sadly, and for leave to make them here in the diningask, "How would you like to have to do hall, instead of frying at the kitchen fireit?" place, because she knew what Sally the cook They turn up the udders of the cows to and Susan the maid would be at with her. think out this great question, and the spurt- Those two girls would never leave her the 94 ALICE LORRAINE. smallest chance of retiring into her deep- laden between smiles and tears; "fathers er nature, and meditating. Although they pancakes can wait much better. There, go could understand nothing at all, they would back," she spoke to the frying-pan, as with take advantage of her good temper, to enjoy the prudent care of a fine young housewife, themselves with the most worn-out jokes. she lifted it off and laid it on the hob for Such trumpery was below Mabel now; and fear of the butter burning; and then, with some day or other she would let them know quick steps, out she went, not even stopping it. to find a hat, in her hurry to meet the van, Without thinking twice of such low mat- and know the best or the worst of the news ters, the maiden was now in great trouble of the war. For "crusty'John, who would of the heart, by reason of sundry rumors. go through fire and water to please Miss Paddy from Cork had brought home word Mabel, had orders not to come home withfrom Maidstone only yesterday, that a des- out the very latest tidings. There was perate fight had been fought in Spain, and nothing to go to market now; but the van almost every body had been blown up. had been up with a load of straw to some Both armies had made up their. minds to die mews where the grower had taken a conso, that with the drums beating and the tract, and, of course, it came loaded back colors flying, they marched into a powder- with litter. magazine, and tossed up a pin which should While Mabel was all impatience and fright, be the one to fire it, and blow up the oth- John Shorn;, in the most deliberate maners. And the English had lost the toss, and ner, descended from the driving-box, and no one survived to tell the story. purposely shunning her eager glance, beMabel doubted most of this, though Paddy gan to unfasten the leader's traces, and pass vowed that he had known the like,' when them through his horny hands, and coil wars was wars, and the boys had spirit;" them into elegant spirals, like horns of Jistill she felt sure that there had been some- piter Ammon.. Mabel's fear grew worse and thing, and she longed most sadly to know worse, because he would not look at her. all about it. Her brother. Gregory was in " Oh, John, you never could have the heart London, keeping his Hilary,term, and slav- to keep me waiting like this, unless-" ing at his wretched law-books; and she had "What! you there, missie? Lor' now, begged him, if he loved her, to send down what can have brought'ee out this weatheri? all the latest news by John Shorne every "As if you did not see me, John! Why, market-day-for the'post would not carry you must have seen me all along." newspapers. And now, having mixed her "This here be such a dreadful horse to.batter, she waited, sleepy after sleepless smoke,'" said John, who- always shunned nights, unable to leave her post and go to downright fibs, "that railly I never knows meet the van, as she longed to do, the while what I do see when I be longside of un. the fire was clearing. Ever since us come out of Sennoaks, he have Pensively sitting thus, and longing for a-been confusing of me. Not that I blames somebody to look at her, she glanced at the nn for what a can't help. Now there, now! face of the clock, which was the only face The watter be frozen in trough. Go to the regarding her. And she won from it but bucket, jackanapes!" the stern frown of time-she must set to at " Oh, John; you never do seem to thinkher pancakes. Batter is all the better for because you have got so many children only standing ready-made for an hour or so, the fit to go to school, you seem to think-" weaker particles expire, while the good stuff "Why, you said as I couldn't think now, grows the more fit to be fried, and to turn missie, in the last breath of your purty over in the pan properly. With a gentle mouth. Well, what is it as I ought to think? sigh, the "flower of Kent" put her frying- Whoa there! Stand still, wull'ee?" pan on, just to warm the bottom. No lard "John, you really are too bad. I have for her, but the best fresh butter-at any been all the morning making pancakes, and rate for the first half-dozen, to be set aside you sha'n't have one, John Shorne, you for her father and mother; after that she sha'n't, if you keep me waiting one more would be more frugal, perhaps. second." But just as the butter began to ooze on "Is it consarning they fighting fellows the bottom of the pan,'she heard, or thought you gets into such a hurry, miss? Well, that she heard, a sweet distant tinkle.com- they have had. a rare fight, sure enough! ing through the frosty air, and running to Four-score officers gone to glory, besides all the window she caught beyond doubt the the others as was not worth counting! sound of the bells at the corner of the lane- "Oh, John, you give me such a dreadfnl the bells that the horses always wore when pain here! Let me know the worst, I do the nights were dark and long —and a throb implore you." of eager hope and fear went to her heart at "He an't one of'em. Now, is that every tinkle. enough?" John Shorne made so little of "I can not wait; how can I wait " she true-love now, and forgot his early situacried, with flushing cheeks and eyes twice- tions so, in the bosom of a hungry family, ALICE LORRAINE. 95 that he looked upon Mabel's "coorting" as to thank the Lord for the abstract herself an agreeable play-ground for little jokes. had made of it. Somehow or other, the natBut now he was surprised and fiightened at ural impulse of all good girls at that time her way of taking them. was to believe that they had a Creator and " There, don't'ee cry now, that's a dear," Father whom to thank for all mercies. But he said, as she leaned on the shaft of the that idea has been improved since then. wagon, and sobbed so that the near wheeler began in pure sympathy to sniff at her. "Lord bless'ee, there be nothing to cry about. He've a been and dooed wonders, CHAPTER XXVI. that a hath." "Of course he has, John; he could not AT Coombe Lorraine these things had help it. He was sure to do wonders, don't been known and entered into some time you see, if only-if only they did not stop ago. For Sir Roland had not left his son so him." wholly uncared for in a foreign land as Hil"He hathn't killed Bonyparty yet," said ary in his sore heart believed. In his regiJohn, recovering his vein of humor, as Ma- ment there was a certain old major, lame, bel began to smile through her tears; "but and addicted to violent language, but dry I b'lieve he wool, if he gooeth on only half and sensible according to his lights, and so well as he have begun.. For my part, I'd truthful, and upright, and quarrelsome. soonder kill dree of un than sell out in a bad Burning to be first, as he always did in market, I know. But here, you can take every desperate conflict, Major Clumps saw it, and read all about un. Lor' bless me, the young fellows get in front of him, and wherever have I put the papper?" his temper exploded always. " Come back, " Now do be quick, John, for once in your come back, you-" condemned offspring of life. -Dear John, do try to be quick, now." canine lineage, he used to shout; "let an " Strornary gallantry of a young hofficer! honest man have a fair start with you! BeCould have sworn that it were in my breech- cause my feet are-there you go again; no es-pocket. I always thought gallantry' consideration, any ofyou!" meant something bad. A running after This Major Clumps was admirably "constrange women, and that." nected," being the nephew of Lord de Lamp" Oh no, John-oh no, John; it never does. nor, the husband of Lady Valeria's friend. How can you think of such dreadful things? So that by this means it was brought round But how long are you going to be, John?" that Hilaty's doings should be reported. " Well, it did when I wor a boy, that's cer- And Lady Valeria had received a letter in tain. But. now they changes every thing so which her grandson's exploits at the storm-even the words we was born to. It have ing of Ciudad Rodrigo were so recounted come to mean killing of strange men, hath that Alice wept, and the ancient lady smiled it Wherever now can I have put that pap- with pride; and even Sir Roland said, " Well, per? I must have dropped un on the road, after all, that boy can do something." after all." The following afternoon the master of "You never can have done such a stupid Coombe Lorraine was sent for, to have a thing!-such a wicked, cruel thing, John long talk with his mother about matters ofShorne! If you have, I will never forgive dry business. Now Sir Roland particularly you. Very likely you put it in the crown hated business; his income was enough for of your hat." all his wants; his ambition (if ever he had'Sure enough, and so I did. You must any) was a vague and vaporous element; be a witch, Miss Mabel. And here's the very he left to his lawyers all matters of law;. corner I turned down when I read it to the and even the management of his land, but folk at the'Pig and Whistle.''Glorious for his mother's strong opposition, he would' British victory- capture of Shoedad- Rod- gladly have left to a steward or agent, alleygo - eighty British officers killed, and though the extent of his property scarcely forty great guns taken!' There, there, bless justified such an appointment. So he enyour bright eyes! now will you be' content tered his mother's room that day with a with it?'" languid step and reluctant air. " Oh, give it me, give it me! How can I The lady paid very little heed to that. tell until I have read it ten times over?" Perhaps she even enjoyed it a little. HoldCrusty John blessed all the girls of the ing that every man is bound to attend to his period (becoming more and more too many own affairs, she had little patience and no for him) as his master's daughter ran away sympathy with such philosophic indifferto devour that greasy journal. And by the ence. On the other hand, Sir Roland could time he had pulled his coat off, and shouted not deny himself a little quiet smile when for Paddy and another man, and stuck his he saw his mother's great preparations to own pitchfork into the litter, as soon as they bring him both to book and deed. had backed the wheelers, Mabel was up in Lady Valeria Lorraine was sitting as upher own little room, and down on her knees right as she had sat throughout her life, and 96 ALICE LORRAINE. would sit, until she lay down forever. On "I quite perceive the distinction, mother. the table before her were several thick and You have put it very clearly. But how does portentously dirty documents, arranged and that bear upon the matter you have now to docketed by her own sagacious hand; and speak of?" beyond these, and opened at pages for ref- "In a great many ways. This account of erence, lay certain old law-books of a most Hilary's desperate behavior, as I must call deterrent guise and attitude. Sheppard's it upon sound reflection, leads me to consid"Touchstone" (before Preston's time), Lit- er the great probability of something haptleton's " Tenures," Viner's "Abridgment," pening to him. There are many battles yet Comyn's "Digest," Glanville, Plowden, and to be fought, and some of them may be other great authors, were here prepared to worse than this. You remember what Mr. cause delicious confusion in the keenest Malahide said when your dear father would feminine intellect; and Lady Valeria was insist upon that resettlement of the entire quite sure now that they all contradicted property in the year 1799." one another. Sir Roland knew quite well that it was After the formal salutation, which she al- not his dear father at all, but his mother, ways insisted upon, the venerable lady be- who had insisted upon that very stringent gan to fuss about a little, and pretend to be and ill-advised proceeding, in which he himat a loss with things. She was always dress- self had joined reluctantly, and only by dint ed as if she expected a visit from the royal of her persistence. However he did not refamily; and it was as good as a lecture for mind her of this. any slovenly young girls to see how clever- "To be sure," he replied, "I remember it ly she avoided soil of dirty book, or dirtier clearly, and I have his very words someparchment, upon her white cuffs or Flemish where. He declined to draw it in accordlace. Even her delicate pointed fingers, ance with the instructions of our solicitors, shrunken as they were with age, had a until his own opinion upon it had been laid knack of flitting over grime, without at- before the family -a, most unusual course, tracting it. he said, for counsel in chambers to adopt; "I dare say you are surprised," she said, but having some knowledge of the parties with her usual soft and courteous smile, a t concerned, he hoped they would pardon his seeing me employed like this, and turning interference. And then his words were to lawyer in my old age." this effect:' The operation of such a settleSir Roland said something compliment- ment may be most injurious. The parties ary, knowing that it was expected of him. will be tying their own hands most comThe ancient lady had always taught him- pletely, without-so far as I can perceivehowever erroneous the doctrine-that no any adequate reason for doing so. Supposman who is at a loss for the proper compli- ing, for instance, there should be occasion for ment to a lady deserves to be thought a gen- raising money upon these estates during the tieman. She always had treated her son as joint lives of the grandson'and granddaugha gentleman, dearer to her than other gentle- ter, and before the granddaughter is of a ge, men; but still to be regarded in that light there will be no means of doing it. The mainly. And he, perhaps by inheritance, limitation to her, which is a most unusual had been led to behave to his own son thus one in such cases, will preclude the possi-a line of behavior warmly resented by the bility of representing the fee-simple. The impetuous Hilary. young lady is now just five years old; and "Now I beg you to attend-you must try if this extraordinary settlement is made, no to attend," continued Lady Valeria: "rouse marketable title can be deduced for the next yourself up, if you please, dear Roland. This sixteen years, except,. of course, in the case is not a question of astrologers, or any queer of her decease.' And many other objections thing of that sort, but a common-sense mat- he made, all of which, however, were overter, and, I might say, a difficult point of law, ruled; and after that protest he prepared perhaps." the settlement." "That being so," Sir Roland answered, "The matter was hurried through your with a smile of bright relief, "our course be- father's state of health; for at that very comes very simple. We have nothing that time he was on his death-bed. But no harm we need trouble ourselves to be puzzled with whatever has come of it, which shows that uncomfortably. Messrs. Crookson, Hack & we were right, and Mr. Malahide quite wrong. Clinker. They know how to keep in ar- But I have been looking to see what would rear, and to charge." happen, in case poor Hilary —ah! it was his "It is your own fault, my dear Roland, if own fault that all these restrictions were inthey overcharge you. Every body will do troduced. Although he was scarcely twelve so, when they know that you mean to put years old, he had shown himself so thoroughup with it. Your dear father was under my ly volatile, so very easy to lead away, and, guidance much more than you have ever as it used to be called by vulgar people, so been, andhe never let people overcharge'happy-go-lucky,' that your dear father him-more than he could help, I mean." wished, while he had the power, to disable ALICE LORRAINE. 97 him from lessening any further our lessened surely, dear mother, you can not find fault estates. And but for that settlement, where with the very efficient manner in which might we be." your own desires have been carried out." " You know, my dear mother, that I never "Well, my son, I have acted for the best, liked that exceedingly complicated and most and according to your dear father's plans. mistrustful settlement. And if I had not When I married your father," the old lady been so sick of all business, after the loss of continued, with a soft quiet pride, which my dear wife, even your powers of persua- was quite her own, " it was believed, in the sion would have failed to make me execute very best quarters, that the Duchess Dowit. At any rate, it has had one good effect. ager of Chalcorhin, of whom perhaps you It has robbed poor Hilary to a great extent may have heard me speak-" of the charms that he must have possessed " Truly yes, mother, every other day." for the Jews." "And, my dear son, I have a right to do "How can they discover such things? so of my own godmother, and great-aunt. With a firm of trusty and most respectable The sneering spirit of the present day can lawyers-to me it is quite wonderful." not rob us of all our advantages. However, "How many things are wondrous, and your father (as was right and natural on his nothing more wondrous than man himself- part) felt a conviction-as those low Methexcept, of course, a Jew. They do find out; odists are always saying of themselves-that and they never let us find out how they man- there would be a hundred thousand pounds, aged it. But do let me ask you, my dear to help him in what he was thinking of. mother, what particular turn of thought has But her Grace was vexed at my marriage; compelled you to be so learned?" and so, as you know, my dear Roland, I "You mean these books? Well, let me brought the Lorraines nothing." think. I quite forget what it was that I "Yes, my dear mother, you brought yourwanted. It is useless to flatter me, Roland, self, and your clear mind, and clever mannow. My memory is not as it was, nor my agement." sight, nor any other gift. However, I ought " Will you always think that of me, Roto be very thankful; and I often try to be land, dear? Whatever happens, when I am so." gone, will you always believe that I did my " Take a little time to think," Sir Roland best?" said, in his most gentle tone; "and then, if Sir Roland was surprised at his mother's it does not occur to you, we can talk of it very unusual state of mind. And he saw some other time." how her delicate face was softened from.'-Oh, now I remember! They told me its calm composure. And the like emotion something about the poor boy being smitten moved himself; for he was a man of strong with some girl of inferior station. Of course, feeling, though he deigned so rarely to let even he would have a little more sense than it out, and froze it so often with fatalism. ever to dream of marrying her. But young My dearest mother," he answered, bowmen, although they mean nothing, are apt ing his silver hair over her snowy locks, to say things that cost money. And above " surely you know me well enough to make all others, Hilary may have given some such a question needless. A more active grounds for damages-he is so inconsider- and devoted mind never worked for one ate! now if that should be so, and they give especial purpose-the welfare of those for a large verdict, as a low-born jury always whose sake you have abandoned show and does against a well-born gentleman, several grandeur. Ay, mother, and with as much delicate points arise. In the first place, has success as our hereditary faults allowed. he any legal right to fall in love under this Since your labors began, we must have settlement? And if not, how can any judg- picked up fifty acres." ment take effect on his interest? And "Is that all you know of it, Roland?" again, if he should fall in battle, would that asked Lady Valeria, with a short sigh; "all stay proceedings? And if all these points my efforts will be thrown away, I greatly should be settled against us, have we any fear, when I am gone. One hundred and power to raise the money? For I know that fifty-six acres and a half have been brought you have no money, Roland, except what back into the Lorraine rent-roll, without you receive from land; as under my advice even counting the hedge-rows. And now every farthing of accumulation has been laid there are two things to be done, to carry on out in buying back, field by field, portions this great work well. That interloper, Sir of our lost property." Remnant Chapman, a man of comparatively "Yes, my dear mother; and worse than modern race, holds more than two thousand that; every field so purchased has been de- acres of the best and oldest Lorraine land. dared or assured-or whatever they call it He wishes young Alice to marry his son, -to follow the trusts of this settlement, so and proposes a very handsome settlement. that I verily believe if I wanted ~5000 for Why, Roland, you told me all about itany urgent family purposes, I must raise it- though not quite so soon as you should have if a all-upon mere personal security. But done." 98 ALICE LORRAINE. "I do not perceive that I neglected my voted to this great purpose. I hope to have duty. If I did so, surprise must have' knock- still a few years left-but two things I must ed me out of time,' as our good Struan ex- see accomplished before I can leave this presses it." world in peace. Alice must marry Captain "Mr. Hales! Mr. Hales, the clergyman! I'Chapman, upon the conditions which I have can not imagine what he could mean. But expressed, and Hilary must marry a fortune, it must have been something low, of course; with special clauses enabling him to invest either badger-baiting or prize-fighting — it in land upon proper trusts. The boy is though people of really good position have handsome enough for any thing; and his a right to like such things. But now we fame for courage, and his martial bearing, must let that poor stupid Sir Remnant, who and above all his regimentals, will make can not even turn a compliment, have his him irresistible. But he must not stay at own way about silly Alice, for the sake of the warI3 too long. It is too great a risk to more important things." run." "My dear mother, you sometimes try me. "Well, my dear mother, I must confess What can be more important than Alice? that your scheme is a very fine one; supAnd to what overpowering influence is she posing, I mean, that the object is worth it, to be sacrificed " of which I am by no means sure. I have " It is useless to talk like that, Sir Roland. not made it the purpose of my life to reShe must do her best, like every body else cover the Lorraine estates; I have not toilwho is not of ignoble family. The girl has ed and schemed for that end; although," he plenty of pride, and will be the first to per- added with dry irony, which quite escaped ceive the necessity.'Twill not be so much his mother's sense, " it is of course a far less for the sake of the settlement, for that of exertion to sell one's children, with thatview. course will go with her; but we must make But there are several hitches in your little it a stipulation, and have it set down under plan-for instance, Alicehates Captain Chaphand and seal, that Sir Remnant, and after man, and Hilary loves a girl without a penhis time his son, shall sell to us, at a valua- ny-though the grower must have had good tion, any pieces of our own land which we markets lately, according to the price of vegmay be able to repurchase. Now, Roland, etables." Clever as Sir Roland was, he made you never would have thought of that. It the mistake of the outer world: there are no is a most admirable plan, is it not " such things as " good markets." "It is worthy of your ingenuity, mother. "Alice is a mere child," replied her grandBut will Sir Remnant agree to it? He is mother, smiling placidly; "she can not have fond of his acres, like all land-owners." the smallest idea yet as to what she likes or " One acre is as good as another to a man dislikes. The captain is much better bred of modern lineage. Some of that land pass- than his father, and he can drive four-ined from us at the time of the great confisca- hand. I wonder that she has shown such tion, and some was sold by that reckless man, presumption as either to like or dislike him. the last Sir Iilary but one. The Chapmans It is your fault, Roland. Perpetual indulhave held very little of it for even so much gence sets children up to such dreadful as two centuries; how then can they be things; of which they must be broken painattached to it? No, no. You must make fully, having been encouraged so." that condition, Roland, the first and the "My dear mother," Sir Roland answered, most essential point. As for the settlement, keeping his own opinions to himself; "you that is nothing; though of course. you will clearly know how to manage young girls a also insist upon it. For a girl of Alice's great deal better than I do. Will you talk birth and appearance, we could easily get to Alice (in your own convincing and most a larger settlement and a much higher po- eloquent manner) if I send her up to you " sition, by sending her to London for one With the greatest pleasure," said Lady season, under Lady de Lampnor. But how Valeria, having long expected this;" you would that help us toward getting back the may safely leave her to me, I believe. Chits land?" of girls must be taught their place. But I "You look so learned," said Sir Roland, mean to be very quiet with her. Let me smiling, " with all those books which you see her to-morrow, Roland; I am tired now, seem to have mastered, that surely we may and could not manage her without more employ you to draw the deed for signature talking than I am fit for. Therefore I will by Sir Remnant." say'good-evening. " "I have little doubt that I could do it," replied the ancient lady, who took every thing as in earnest; "but I am not so strong as I CAPT XXVII was, and therefore I wish you to push things forward. I have given up, as you know, ALICE had "plenty of spirit of her own," my proper attention to many little matters which of course she called "sense of digni(which go on very badly without me) sium- ty;" but, in spite of it all, she was most unply that all my small abilities might be de- willing to encounter her valiant grandmoth ALICE LORRAINE. 99 er. And she knew that this encounter was with a smell in it, scatters fine ideas into announced, the moment she was sent for. corners out of harmony. "Is my hair right? Are my bows right? "You may take a chair, my dear, if you Has the old dog left any paw-marks on me?" please," said LadyValeria, graciously; "you she asked herself; but would rather have seem to be rather pale to-day. I hope you died-as in her quick way she said to her- have not taken any thing likely to disagree self-than have confessed her fright by ask- with you. If you have, there is still a little ing any of the maids to tell her. Between drop left of.my famous ginger-cordial. You herself and her grandmother there was lit- make a face! That is not becoming. You tie love lost, and still less kept; for each must get over those childish tricks. You looked down upon the other from heights are-let me see how old are you V'. of pure affection. "A flighty, romantic, un- "Seventeen years and a half, madam; fledged girl, with no deference toward her about last Wednesday fortnight." superiors"-"A cold-blooded, crafty, plot- "It is always good to be accurate, Alice. ting old woman, without a bit of faith in'About' is a very loose word indeed. It any one;"-thus would each have seen the may have been either that day or another." other's image, if she had clearly inspected "It must have been either that day or her own mind, and faced its impressions some other," said Alice, gravely courtesying. honestly. "You inherit this catch-word style from The elder lady, having cares of her own, your father. I pass it over, as you are so contrived, for the most part, to do very well young. But the sooner you leave it off, the without seeing much of her grandchild; better. There are many things now that who, on the other hand, was quite resigned you must leave off. For instance, you must to the affliction of this absence. But Alice not pretend to be witty. It is not in our could never perceive the justice of the re- family." proaches wherewith she was met, whenever "I did not suppose that it was, grands she came, for not having come more often mother." where she was not wanted. "There used to be some wit when I was Now with all her courage ready, and not young, but none of it has descended. There a sign in eye, face, or bearing, of the dis- is nothing more fatal to a young girl's prosquietude all the while fluttering in the pects than a sad ambition for jesting. And shadow of her heart, the young lady looked it is concerning your prospects now that I at the ancient lady respectfully, and saluted wish to advise you kindly. I hear from her. Two fairer types of youth and age, of your father a very sad thing-that you reinnocence and experience, of maiden grace ceive with ingratitude the plans which we and matron dignity, scarcely need be sought have formed for you." for; and the resemblance of their features "My father has not told me of any plans heightened the contrast of age and charac- at all about me." ter. A sculptor might have been pleased to "He may not have told you, but you know reckon the points of beauty inherited by the them well. Consulting your own welfare maiden from the matron the slim round and the interest of the family, we have reneck, the graceful carriage of the well- solved that you should at once receive the shaped head, the elliptic arch of brow, the addresses of Captain Chapman." broad yet softly moulded forehead, as well "You can not be so cruel, I am sure. Or, as the straight nose and delicate'chin-a if you are, my father can not. I would strong resemblance of details, but in the ex- sooner die than so degrade myself." pression of the whole an even stronger dif- "Young girls always talk like that when ference. For Alice, besides the bright play their fancy does not happen to be caught. of youth and all its glistening carelssneness, When, however, that is the case, they care was gifted with a kinder and larger nature not how they degrade themselves. This than her grandmother. And as a kind large- throws upon their elders the duty of judgfruited tree, to all who understand it, shows ing and deciding for them as to what will -even by its bark and foliage and the ex- conduce to their happiness." pression of its growth-the vigor of the vir- "To hear Captain Chapman's name alone tue in it, and liberality of its juice; so a fine conduces to my misery." sweet human nature breathes and shines in "I beg you, Alice, to explain what you the outer aspect, brightens the glance, and mean. Your expressions are strong, and I enriches the smile, and makes the whole am not sure that they are altogether recreature charming. spectful." But Alice, though blessed with this very Ia mean them to be quite respectfil, nice manner of contemplating humanity, grandmother andlI do not mean them to be was quite unable to bring it to bear upon too strong. Indeed I should despair of makthe countenance of her grandmother. We ing them so." all know how the very best benevolence per- "You are very provoking. Will you kindpetually is pulled up short; and even the ly state your objections to Captain Chapturn of a word, or a look, or a breath of air man?" 100 ALICE LORRAINE. Alice for the first time dropped her eyes flashingforthat this common raillery. Large under the old lady's steadfast gaze. She tears of pride and injured delicacy formed felt that her intuition was right, but she in her eyes, but she held them in; only askcould not put it into words. ing with a courtesy, "May I go now, if you "Is it his appearance, may I ask? Is he please?" too short for your ideal Are his eyes too "To be sure, you may go. You have done small and his hair too thin? Does he slouch quite enough. You have made me laugh, in walking, and turn his toes in? Is it any so that I want my tea. Only remember one trumpery of that sort?" asked Lady Valeria, serious thing-the interest of the family rethough in her heart such things were not quires that you should soon learn to be lookscored as "trumpery." ed at. You must begin to take lessons at "Were such things trumpery when you once. Within six months you must be enwere young?" her grandchild longed to ask, gaged, and within twelve months you must but duty and good training checked her. be married to Captain Stephen Chapman."'IHis appearance is bad enough," she re- "I trow not," said Alice to herself, as plied, "but I do not attach much impor- with another courtesy, and a shudder, she tance to that." "As if I believed it!" retreated. thought Lady Valeria. But she had not long been sitting by her"Then what is it that proves fatal to him, self, and feeling the bitterness of defeat, bein your sagacious judgment?" fore she determined, with womanly wit, to "I beg you as a favor not to ask me, have a triumph somewhere; so she ran at madam. I can not-I can not explain to once to her father's room; and he of course you." was at home to her. "Nonsense, child," said the old lady,' If you please, dear papa, you must shut smiling; "you would not be so absurd if your books, and you must come into this you had only seen a little good society. If great chair, and you must not shut even you are so bashful, you may look away; but one of your eyes, but listen in the most reat any rate you must tell me." spectful manner to all I have to say to you." "Then it is this," the maiden answered, "Well, my dear," Sir Roland answered, with her gray eyes full on her grandmoth- " what must be must. You are a thorough er's face, and a rich blush adding to their tyrant. The days are certainly getting longlustre; " Captain Chapman is not what I er; but they scarcely seem to be long enough call a good man." for you to torment your father." "In what way? How? What have you "No candles, papa., if you please, as yet. heard against him? If he is not perfect, What I have to say can be said in the dark, you can make him so." and that will enable you to look at me, papa, "Never, never! He is a very bad man. which otherwise you could scarcely do. Is He despises all women; and he-he looks- it true that you are plotting to marry me to he stares quite insolently-even at me!" that odious Captain Chapman?" "Well, this is a little too good, I declare!" Sir Roland began to think what to say; exclaimed her grandmother, with as loud a for his better nature often told him to wash laugh as good-breeding ever indulges in. his hands of this loathsome scheme. "My dear child, you must go to Londoh; "Are you so tired of me already?" said the you must be presented at Court; you must quick girl, with sound of tears in her voice; learn a little of the ways of the world; and "have I behaved so very badly, and shown see the first gentleman in Europe. How his so little love for you, that you want to kill Royal Highness will laugh, to be sure; I me sovery soon, father?" shall send him the story through Lady de "Alice! come, Alice! you know how I Lampnor, that a young lady hates and ab- love you, and that all that I care for is your hors her intended, because he even ventures own good." to look at her!" "And are we so utterly different, papa, in "You can not understand me, madam. our tastes, and perceptions, and principles, And I will not pretend to argue with you." that you can ever dream that it is good for "I should hope not, indeed. If we spread me to marry Mr. Chapman?" this story at the beginning of the season, " Well, my dear, he is a very nice man, and have you presented while it is fresh, we quiet, and gentle, and kind to every one, may save you, even yet, from your monster, and most attentive to his father. He could perhaps. There will be such eagerness to place you in a very good position, Alice, and behold you, simply because you must not be you would still be near me. Also, there are looked at, that every body will be at your other reasons making it desirable." feet, all closing their eyes for your sake, I "What other reasons, papa, may I know? should hope." Something about land, I suppose. Laud is Alice was a very sweet-tempered girl; but at the bottom of every mischief." all the contempt with which in her heart "You desperate little radical! Well, I she unconsciously regarded her grandmoth- will confess that land has a good deal to do er was scarcely enough to keep her from with it." ALICE LORRAINE. 101 "Papa, am I worth twenty acres to you? vigorous manner of setting about it, and ohTell the truth now, am I?" stinate way of going on with it, overcame " My darling, you are so very foolish. at last the strength of all that tried to stand How can you ask such a question?" before them. " Well, then, am I worth fifty? Come, This was the more to their credit, because now; am I worth as much as fifty? Don't -the worst of all things for a man to get be afraid now, and say that I am, if you over-even the weather itself was against really feel that I am not." them. Nothing makes a deeper impression "How many fifties-would you like to in the human system than long spite of know? Come to me, and I will tell you." weather does. The sense of luck is still " No, not yet, papa. There is no kiss for over us all (in spite of philosophy and mathyou unless you say I am worth a thousand!" ematics), and of all the behavior of fortune, "You little coquette! You keep all your what comes home to our roofs and hats so coquetries for your own old father, I do be- impressively as the weather does? lieve." Now thoroughly as these British men were "Then tell me that Iam worth a thousand, resolved to get within the wall, with equal father-a thousand acres of good rich land, thoroughness very brave Frenchmen were with trees and hedges, and cows and sheep- resolved to keep them out. And these had surely I never can be worth all that; or at the weather in their favor; for it is an ill any rate not to you, papa." wind that blows no one any good; and the "You are worth to me," said Sir Roland rain that rains on the just and unjust seems Lorraine, as she. fell into his arms, and sob- to have a preference for the latter. Though bed, and kissed him, and stroked his white it must be acknowledged in the present case beard, and then sobbed again, " not a thou- that, having a view to justice, a man of equal sand acres, but ten thousand-land and mind might say there was not too much on hearth, and home and heart " - either side. At any rate, the rain kept rain" Then, after all, you do love me, father. ing, for fear of any mistake among them. I call nothing love that loves any thing else. Moreover, the moon, between the showers, And how much" she asked, with her arms came out at night, or the sun by day-acround his neck, and her red lips curving to cording to the habits of each of them —exa crafty whisper, "how much should I be actlywhen they were wanted by the Frenchworth if I married a man I despise and dis- men, and not at all by the Englishmen. If like? Enough for my grave, and no more, an Englishman wanted to work in the dark, papa, just the size of your smallbook-table." the moon would get up just behind his back; Here she fell away, lost in her father's and muskets, rifles, and cannon itself were arms, and for the moment could only sigh trained on him, as at a target; and his only with her lips and eyelids quivering; and Sir chance was to fall flat on his stomach, and Roland, watching her pale, loving face, was shrink back like a toad in a bed of strawinclined to hate his own mother. "You berries. And this made us eager to advance, shall marry no one, my own child," he whis- per contra. pered through her unbraided hair; "no one And after being shot at for a length of whom you do not love dearly, and who is time, almost every man one can meet with not thoroughly worthy of you." desires to have his turn of shooting. Not " Then I will not marry any one, papa," for the sake of revenge, or any thing low at she answered, with a smile reviving; "for I all in that way; but simply from that love do not love any one a bit, papa, except my of fairness which lies hidden-too deep someown father and my own brother; and Un- times-somewhere or other in all of us. We cle Struan of course, and so on, in an out- are anxious to do, one to another, as the other and milder manner. And as for being er desires to do to us; and till we come to a worthy of me, I am not worth very much, I different condition, men must shoot and be know.. Still, if I am worth half an acre, I shot at. must be too good for that Captain Chap- All these peaceable distinctions, and reman." gards of right and wrong, were utterly use-*^~~ ~ less, and out of place, in front of the walls of Badajos. Right or wrong, the place must CHAPT]ER XXXt~ VIII. be taken; and.this was the third time of trying it. Fury, frenzy, rushing slaughter, THE stern and strong will of a single man and death (that lies still, when the heat is is a very fine thing for weaker men-and over), who can take and tell them truly; still more so for women -to dwell upon. and if he could, who would like to do it, or But the stern strong will of a host of men, who would thank him to hear of it? set upon one purpose, and resolved to win All the British army knew that the assault it or die for it, is a power that conquers was to be made that night; and the Frenchthe powers of earth and of nature arrayed men, as appeared by-and-by, knew right well against them. The British army was re- what was coming. For when the April sun solved to carry by storm Badajos; and their went down in the brightest azure of all blue 102 ALICE LORRAINE. skies, a hush of wonder and of waiting fell and pen, peaceful writers (knowing more of and lay upon all the scene. sandy commons and the farm-house fagot The English now were grown to be what than of fascines and gabions, of capons than they always grow to be with much fighting of caponnieres, and of shot grapes than of -solid in their ways, and (according to the grape-shot) wisely may stick to the gardennature of things) hot or cool with discipline, ing-knife, or, in fiercest moments, the prunsquare in their manner of coming up, and ing-hook; and have nothing to say to the hard to be sent back again, certain sure of stark sword-blade. their strength to conquer, and readyto charge Such duty becomes tenfold a pleasure the devil himself if he had the courage to when the sword-blades not only swing overwait for them. They were under a man who heador glitter at the unarmed breast; but knew how to lead them, and trusted them to bolted into great beams of wood at the most follow him; their blood was stirred without offensive angles, are flashing in the dark at grand harangues or melodramatic eloquence. the stomach of a man, like a vast electric Every man in that solid army knew his porcupine; while bursting shells and powown work, and meant to do it, shoulder to der-barrels, and blasts of grape-shot thick as shoulder, with rival hardihood and conta- hail (drowning curses, shrieks, and wails), gious scorn of death. sweep the craggy rampart clear, or leave only The: walls were higher and the approach corpses roasting. Such, and worse by a thoumuch harder than at Ciudad Rodrigo; the sand-fold than words may render or mind garrison stronger, and the captain a stren- conceive, was the struggle of that awful uous and ingenious warrior. Therefore on night at the central breach of Badajos; and the 6th of April, 1812, as the storming-par- here was Hilary Lorraine, wounded, spent ties watched the sunset fading along the with fruitless efforts, dashed backward on Guadiana, and the sudden fall of night, spikes and on bayonet-points, trampled unwhich scarcely gives a bird time to twitter der foot, and singed by the beard of a smoulon his roost, they wanted no prophet to tell dering comrade, yet glad even to lie still them how different their number would be for a minute in the breathless depths of exto-morrow. But still, as the proper and haustion. "All up with me now," he was comforting law of human nature ordains it, faintly thinking —" perhaps my father will every man thought, or at any rate hoped, be satisfied.I Good-bye, dear Alice and darthat his messmate rather than himself was ling Mabel-and good-night to this poor the one to leave a widow and orphans by Hilary!" midnight. And here his career-of fame or of shame Hilary Lorraine was now beginning to get -must have been over and done with, if he used to fighting. At first, in spite of all his had not already won good liking among the talk about his sword and so on, blows and men of his company. For one of them, with bloodshed went against the grain of his kind his next step ready to be planted on the and gay nature. He even thought, in his young officer's breast, caught a view of his fresh aversion at so many corpses, that war face by the light of a fire-ball, stopped short, was a worse institution than law. That er- and stooped over him. ror, however, he was beginning to abjure, Blow me!" he exclaimed, while likely to through the power of custom, aided by two be blown into a thousand pieces; "if this sapient reflections. The first of these was bain't the very young chap as saved me that without much slaughter there can be when I wur a-dropping upon the road. One no real glory-an article which the young good turn desarves another. Here, Bob, man had now made up his mind to attain; lend a hand, my boy." and his other wise recollection was that a "A halnd! I can't lend thee a hincl,' cried Frenchman is the natural enemy of the hu- Bob;'" they be squazing me up like a squatman race, and must, at all hazards and at ting-match." any sacrifice of pious lives, be. extirpated. For while all the front men were thus lyMoreover, he may have begun to share, by ing dead, the men from the rear would not virtue of his amiability, the views of his stop from shoving, and bodily heaving the brother-officers, which of course were duly others before them, as buffaloes rush when professional. So that this young fellow, they lose their wits. They thrust, every upon the whole, was as full of fight as the man his front man, on the chevaux-de-frise, as best of them. if it were a joke, with that bitter reckless" No man died that night with more glory ness of life and readiness to take their own -yet many died, and there was much glory." turn at death which falls upon men of true So writes the Thucydides of this war; not British birth, and their cousins across the about Hilary (as good-luck willed it), but Atlantic, whenever the strong blood is churnone of his senior officers. And that such a ed within them. And yet all this time they sentence should ever have been written is a know what they are about. thing to think about. With all that dash And so did these two soldiers now. Neiof bright carnage fresh on the page of one ther time nor room had they to lift poor Hilwho did his duty so grandly both with sword ary out of the bed of shattered granite where ALICE LORRAINE. 103 he lay, with wedged spikes sticking into the fellow rolled over like one of his father's him. And the two men who wanted to do millstones. Then Hilary crawled from his it were swept by the surge of living bodies hole of refuge, and stiffly resting on his hand upward. But first they did this-which and knees, surveyed the scene of carnage. saved his life-they threw two muskets The moon had now risen, and was shining across him. Loaded or empty, they knew gloomily under a stripe of heavy cloud, over not; and of course it could not matter so the bastion of the Trinidad into the channel long as the climbing men (laboring their ut- of the fatal breach, down which the sultry most to be killed) found it readier for their night-wind sighed, laden with groans, whenfeet to tread on the bridge of these muskets ever curses and roar of artillery left room (piered with blocks of granite) than on the for them. The breach itself was still unribs of poor Hilary. So the struggle went stormed, and looked more terrible than ever; on; and there he lay, and began to peep un- for the sword-blades fixed at the top were der other people's legs. drenched and reeking to the hilt with red, In this rather difficult position he failed and three had corpses impaled upon them to make out any thing at all to satisfy or to with scarlet coats, gay in the moonlight. please him. Listeners hear little good of The rest, like the jaws of a gorging crocothemselves, and lurking gazers have about dile, presented their bloody jagginess, clogthe same luck. Not that Hilary was to be ged here and therewith limbs, or heads, or blamed for lying in this groove, inasmuch other parts of soldiers. For the moment the as he really had no chance or even time to British had fallen back to the other side of get out of it. A great hulking Yorkshire- the ravelin, and their bugles were sounding man (as he turned out) had fallen oblique- for the retreat, while the triumphant French ly upon Hilary's biridge, and was difficult to were shooting, and shouting, "Why enter push aside, and quite impossible to lift up. you not at all Badajos, messieurs? It is a He groaned a good deal, but he was not dead good place for the English health. Why -if he had not been a Yorkshireman the one enter you not, then, Badajos?" fact might have implied the other, but York- The sullen Britons answered not, but shiremen do groan after death: however, he waited for orders to begin again; recoverwas not dead; and he keeps a mill on the ing breath, and heart, and spirit, and gathSwale at this minute. ering closer to one another, to be sure that Hilary, under these disadvantages, natu- any body was alive. For more than two rally tried to lessen them: and though he thousand men lay dead or dying in a space was pretty safe where he lay-unless a shell of one hundred yards square. Of the surcame through the Yorkshireman, and that vivors, every man felt that every other man would have needed a very strong charge- had done his best-but how about himself? still he became discontented. What with Could he be sure that he never had flinched, the pain of his wound or wounds (for he nor even hung back for a foot or so, nor knew to his cost that he had several of pushed any other man on to the spikes to them), also the violent thirst which follow- save himself from going there? And was ed, as well as the ache of his cramped posi- that cursed fortress never to be taken by tion, and a piece of spiked plank that wor- any skill or strength? was even Lord Welried him, he began to grow more and more lington wrong for once in setting them to do desirous of a little change of air. it? and was it to be said in every British "Now, my dear sir," he said, with his usu- church-yard that Britons were not of the al courtesy, to the Yorkshireman, "you do stuff of their fathers? not mean to be in my way, of course; but Sadly thus thinking, but after the manthe fact is that I can't get out of this hole ner of our nation not declaring it, they were by reason of your incumbency. If you could surprised by a burst of light, and a flight of only, without inconvenience, give a little glittering streaks in it. And almost before roll to the right or left, you would be in these came down again, they saw that the quite as good a position yourself; or if you murderous c7cval-de-frise had a great gap in have grown attached to this particular spot, its centre. With a true British cheer stirI would try to replace you afterward." ring every British heart, out they rushed " Grah!7 was the Yorkshireman's only re- from their shelter, and up the dark breach, ply, a grunt of contempt and of surly ten- and into Badajos. per, which plainly meant, " go to-Halifax." One form, however, passed first into Bada"This. is uncivil of you," answered Hilary; jos with undisputed precedence, because it "it is getting, so hot in here that I shall be happened to be close by, when the swordforced to retort, I fear, your discourtesy. I blades rocketed away so. And not only beg your pardon a thousand times for mak- that, but the act of that one had enabled the ing this sharp suggestion." others to follow-an act of valor inspired by With these words he pricked the great luck and incited by bodily anguish. son of the North in a sensitive part with a It was thus. In the depth of that horloose spike he had found by the light of a rible pause and dejection of the assailants, French fire-ball, whereupon, with a curse, Hilary, getting relieved of his cramp, rose 104 ALICE LORRAINE. slowly and stood in a sheltered spot, to re- grand devotion, the nicest and most amiable cover himself before running away. Every vice indulged by those very same heroes and thing seemed much against him, so far as he devoted patriots was swinish and wallowcould discover; and no one with a social ing drunkenness. Rapine, arson, fury, murturn was there to discuss the position. der, and outrages unspeakable-even their Moreover, his wounds were beginning at own allies the Spaniards, glad to be quit of once to sting him and to stiffen him-a clev- the French, and to welcome warmly these er arrangement made by nature to teach men deliverers, found bitter cause ere sunrise to not to fight so much. Nearly mad with pain lament the British victory. — which is felt tenfold as much by quick- So it came to pass that young Lorraine, born Normans as by slow-born Dutchmen- weak and weary, and vainly seeking a surhe saw a shell fall and roll very kindly just geon to bind up his wounds, was compelled between his dragging feet. It carried a very to fight once more that night, before he could long fuse, sticking out of it at a handsome lay him down and rest. curve, and steadily spluttering with fire, like the tail of a rat when bad boys have ig~~~~nited it. ~CHAPTER XXXIX. " For better, for worse," cried Hilary, talking to himself, even in his agony, by the pow- THERE would seem to be times, and scenes, er of habit; "go into that hole, my friend, and cases in which human nature falls helpand do your utmost there." So much had less under sudden contamination-a mental he been knocked about, that the shell (al- outbreak ofblack murrain, leprosy, orplague. though a light one) was as much as he could A panic, a superstitious fervor, a patriotic or stagger with, till he dropped it into a shelfy loyal rush, a rebellion, a " revival "-all of hole, which he had long been looking at, un- these drive men in masses, like swine down der the baulk of six-inch beam, into which a precipice; but the sack of a large town the swords were riveted. Then down he bloodily stormed is more maddening than fell, whether from exhaustion or presence all the rest put together. of mind-he could never tell. Through'the Even good and steady soldiers caught the jags of the riven granite he heard the shell taint ofvillainy. They confessed(when their in a smothered way sputtering (like a "dev- headaches began to get better) how thoril" in a wasp's nest)-and then with a thun- oughly ashamed they were of themselves for derous roar and whiz, and a rush through having been led into crime and debauch by the air of wood, stone, and iron, the French- the scamps and the scum of the regiment. man's deadly bar was burst. Still, at the moment, they were as bad as, or For a moment Lorraine was so stunned even worse than, the general blackguards, and shaken that all he could do was to stay because they had more strength to rush on the ground; but the shock made one of astray. his wounds bleed afresh, and this perhaps Hilary knew mankind very little, and only revived him. At any rate he arose, and fee- from a gentleman's point of view; so that bly tottered in over the crest of the breach. when he found, or lost, his way into the The soldiers of the Forty-third and Fifty-sec- great square of the town, he was quite ond regiments gave him a cheer as they ran amazed, in his weak state of mind, by the up the steep, while on the part of the ene- scene he was breaking into. Here, by the my not a weapon was leveled at him. This, light of a blazing bonfire made of costly however, was not from any admiration of furniture, he descried Major Clumps of his his valor though Frenchmen are often regiment, more neatly than pleasantly atmost chivalrous foes but because these tached to the front door of a large mansion. heroic defenders at last were compelled to Across his breast and arms a couple of musabandon the breaches. Being taken in the ket-straps were tightly strained and pegged rear by the Fifth Division, which had forced with bayonets into the timber so firmly that its way in at San Vincente, knowing also that this active officer could not even put foot to the castle had fallen, and seeing their main the ground. On his head was a very condefense lie shattered, they retired through spicuous fool's cap made of a copy of a procthe town and across the bridge of the Gua- lamation, with that word in large type above diana. his brows; while a gigantic grenadier, as tipAnd now it is an accursed truth that the sy as a fiddler, was zealously conducting the men who had been such glorious heroes, exhibition, by swinging him slowly to and such good brethren to one another, strong, fro, to the tune of Margery Daw, even as and grand, and pitiful, turned themselves children swing each other on a farm-yard within half an hour into something lower gate. The major's fury and the violence of than the beasts that perish. They proved his language may be imagined, but must not that the worst of war is not bloodshed, ago- be reported. He had always been famous ny, and slow death; nor even trampled free- for powers of swearing; but in this case dom, hatred, tyranny, and treachery. On he outdid himself, renewing (every moment) that same night of heroism, patriotism, and and redoubling the grins of all spectators. ALICE LORRAINE. 105 "You shall swing for this," he screamed headed, and that always flies to the legs-or to his showman just as Hilary came up; at least we used to say so at Oxford." "you shall swing for this, you," etc., etc. "Never mind what you said at Oxford. "You shwing first, old cock, at any rate," Only mind what you say in Badajos. Colthe grenadier answered, with. a graceful lect every man you can find of ours. Tell sweep of the door and the pendant major. him the Fifth are murdering, robbing, cheat" Oh, Lorraine, Lorraine!" cried the latter, ing us again, as they did by sneaking in as the arc of his revolution brought him face at a corner, and insulting our best officers. to face with Hilary; "for Heaven's sake, stop Drunk or sober, bring them all. The more those miscreants!-ah, you can do nothing, I our men drink, the more sober they get." It see-you are hit badly, my poor boy." is likely enough that officers of the Fifth Di"My friend," said Hilary to the grenadier, vision would have thought the same paradox with that persuasive grace which even the of their own men. coster-mongers could not resist; "you are "I can not get along at my usual pace," much too good a soldier to make a laugh- said Hilary; "but I will do my best. But ilg-stock of a brave British officer. I can will not the mischief be done already?" not attempt to use force with you, for you "I hope not. I asked Count Zamora, who are lucky enough to be unwounded. Thank seems to be the foremost man of the town, God for that, and release your prisoner; re- which he thought most of-his wine, or his member that he is not a Frenchman, but a daughters.. And he answered, of course, as a brave and good English major." gentleman must. His cellars contain about With these, and perhaps some more solid three hundred butts; it will take some time persuasions, he obtained the release of his for our men to drink that. And I spread a senior officer, who for some moments could report of their quality, and a rumor that all scarcely speak, through excitement and ex- the ladies had escaped. The night is hot. hanstion. But he made signs to Hilary that All the men will plunge into those vast celhe had something to say of great importance, lars first. And when they come up, any soand presently led him into a narrow arch- ber man will be a match for twenty." way. "What a pest that I am so knocked "There will be vile work done in that about!" cried Hilary, quite forgetting his house," he contrived at last to tell Hilary; pain in the chivalry of his nature. "Major, "the men were bad enough at Rodrigo; but if only for half'1in hour you can hold back they will be ten times worse to-night. We the devilry, I will answer for the safety of are all so scattered about that no man has the household. But beware of fire." his own officer near him, and he don't care "You need not tell me about that, young a button for any others. It was for trying man. I have seen this work before you were to restrain some scoundrels of the Fifth Di- born. I shall pick up a cloak and berette, vision that I was treated in that cursed way. and cork my eyebrows, and be a Spaniard; Only think how we should feel, Lorraine, if major-domo, or whatever they call it. I can our own daughters were exposed so!" jabber the tongue a bit; enough to go down "I haven't got any daughters," said Hilary, with English ears. I will be the steward groaning with pain, perhaps at the thought. of the cellars, and show them where the best " But I'd drive my sword through any man's wine is; and they don't know wine from heart-that is to say, if I had got any sword, brandy. And they will not know me, in or any arm to drive it with." His sword their cups, till I order them all into custody. had been carried away by a grape-shot, and Be quick; there is no more tine to lose." his right a-rm hung loose in a cluster of Hilary saw that Major Clumps was going blood; for he had nothing to bind it up to play a very dangerous part; for many of with. the men had their muskets loaded, and reck"You are a man, though a wounded man," ed not at whom they fired them. However, the major replied, being touched a little by there was nothing better for it; and so lhe Hilary's strength of expression, inasmuch as set out upon his own errand, when he ought lie had some nice pretty daughters, out of to have been in hospital. harm's way in England; "it is most unlucky At first he was very unfortunate, meeting that you are hit so hard." no men of his own regiment, and few even "That is quite my own opinion. How- of his own division; for most of theni doubtever, I can hold out a good bit, major, for any less were busy in the houses, laying hold of work that requires no strength." every thing. But after turning many cor"Do you know where to find any of our ners, he luckily hit upon Corporal White of own fellows? They would be quite ready his own company, a very steady man, who to fight these blackguards; they are very knew the importance of keeping sober at a sore about the way those scoundrels stole time of noble plundering. This man was a into the town. We have always been the martinet in a humble way, but popular in foremost hitherto. Your legs are all right, the ranks in spite of that; and when lie I suppose, my boy?" heard of the outrage to a major of his regi"All right, except that I am a trifle light- ment, and his present danger; and knew 7. 106 ALICE LORRAINE. that a rich dol's family was threatened by Here he found the main door closely fasrascals of the Fifth Division, he vowed that tened-by the fellows inside, no doubt, to he would fetch a whole company to the res- keep their villainous work to themselves cue ere a man could say " Jack Robinson." and as the great bonfire was burning low. "And now, sir" he said, "you are not able he thought that he might have mistaken to go much farther, or do any more. Round the house, until with his left hand he felt the corner there is a fountain of beautiful the holes where the bayonets had pegged up spring water, worth all the wines and spirits the good major. And while he did this, a these fellows are disgracing of themselves great roar from the cellars quickened his with. Ah, I wish I had a glass of good En- eagerness to get in. glish ale-but that is neither here nor there. " This is a nice thing," he said to himself; And for want of that, a thirsty man may be "the major inside, and no getting at him! glad of a drop of this water, sir. And when Such a choleric man in the power of those you have drunk, let it play on your arm. scamps! And they can not talke him for a You have a nasty place, sir." Spaniard long, for he is sure to use strong With these words he ran off; and Hilary, English. And not only Clumps, but the following his directions, enjoyed the great- whole of the household at their will and est of all the mere bodily joys a man can be pleasure!" blessed with-the slaking of furious thirst But even while calling in question his suwith cold, delicious, crystalwater. He drank, perior officer's self-control, he did not show and drank, and sighed with rapture, and then himself possessed of very wonderful coolness. began to laugh at himself; and yet must For, hearing a rush as of many feet upward have another drink. And then for the mo- from the lower quarters, Hilary made the ment he was so refreshed that his wounds best of his way to the smouldering bonfire, were not worth heeding. "I will go and and seized with his left hand-for his right see what those villains are about," he said was useless-a chunk of some fine wood too to himself and the pretty Saint Isidore (to hard to burn (perhaps of the African blackwhose pure statue bending over the gracious wood, or the bread-fruit-tree, or brown caswater he lifted hat, as a gentleman ought to sia), and came back with it in a mighty do); " I have drank of your water, and thank fury, and tried to beat the door in. But the you, Saint; though I have no idea what door was of ancient chestnut-wood, and at your name is. Our family vas Catholic for his best he could not have hurt it. So now, five hundred years; and I don't know why in his weakness, he knocked and knocked; we ever left it off." and nobody even heard him. Rubadub, dubbledy, dulluby-dub - what "This is enough to wear any one out," he vowels and dissonants can set forth the said to himself, in his poor condition-for sound of a very drunken drummer, set upon the lower the state of a man is, the more he his mettle to drum on a drum, whose head relapses upon his nature, and Hilary's nature he has been drinking from? Having no was to talk to himself-" if I can not get in glasses, and having no time to study the art like this, I must do something or other, and of sloping a bottle between the teeth with get in somehow." drainage, they truly had happened on a fine This would have cost him little trouble idea. They cracked the bottles on the rim in his usual strength and activity. For the of the drum, and put down their mouths and tipsy rascals had left wide open a window drunk well of it. The drum was not so within easy reach from the street to a man much the worse for this proceeding as they sound of limb and vigorous. But Lorraine, were, because they allowed no time for the in his present condition, had no small pain liquor to soak into the greasy parchment; and difficulty in making his way through but as many as could stand round were there, the opening. This being done at last, he atnd plenty of others came after them. So found himself in a dark passage floored with that the drum-head never once brimmed over, polished timber, upon which he slipped and though so many dozens were cracked on it. fell. No wonder, when such work was toward, "What an evil omen!" he cried, lightlythat many a musket-shot rang along the little imagining how true his words would fire-lit streets of Badajos, and many a brave prove - to fall upon entering a strange man who had baffled the fury of the enemy house, even though it be by the window. fell dead in the midst of his frolicking. However,I am shaken more thanhurt. GoodHilary felt that le had been shot enough, ness knows, I can't afford to bleed again." and to spare, already; and so, while slowly Fastening again his loosened bandageand painfully plodding his way back to the for he had bound his arm now with a handgreat square of the town, from corner to cor- kerchief-he listened and heard a great noise ner he worked a traverse, in shelter (wherever moving, somewhere in the distance. Noththe shelter offered) of porch, or pier, or any ing can be less satisfactory than to hear a other shadowy folds of the ancient streets. great noise, and hearken very steadfastly for And thus, without any more damage, he re- its meaning, yet not learn what it can be turned to the house of the Count of Zamora. about, or even where it comes from. Hilary ALICE LORRAINE. 107 listened, anl t1he noise seemed now to come way. And young Lorraine, withl more pain from one way and then from another. For than prudence, followed as fast as he could the old house was peopled with indolent get along. echoes, lazily answering one another, from At the top of the stairs was a broad stone corner to corner of passages, like the clap- gallery, leading to the'right and left, and lit ping of hands at a banquet. Wherefore as badly as a village street. But Hilary was Lorraine, being puzzled, went onward, as be- not long in doubt, for he heard on the right hooves a young Englishman. And herein hand a clashing noise, and soon descried broinstinct served him well-at least as the ken shadows flitting, and felt that roguery luck of the moment seemed-for it led him was going on. So he made at his best pace into the main hall, whence niches and arches toward it. And here he had not far to seek; seemed leading away anywhere and every- for in a large room, hung with pictures, where. Hilary here stopped short, and won- and likely to be too full of light, the fate of dered. It was so different from an English the house was being settled. Iu spite of house; and he could not tell whether he all drunken stupidity, and the time spent in liked it or not. There was some light of the wine-cellars, the plunderers had found wax, and some of oil, and some of splutter- out the inmates, and meant to make prizes ing torches stuck into any thing that would of war of them. Small wonder that Britisl hold them, throwing a fugitive gleam on the intervention was not considered a godsend, floor, where the polish of the marble answer- when our allies were treated so. But Brited it. In other places there were breadths ish soldiers, however brutal in the times of shadow, wavering, jumping, and flicker- gone by (especially after furious carnage had ing. stirred the worst elements in a man, and "This is a queer sort of place," said Hil- ardent liquor fired them), still had one rcary; "what is the proper thing for me to deeming point - the national love of fair do?1" play and sport. They had stolen this SpanThe proper thing for him to do became ish gentleman's wines, burned his furniture all at once quite manifest; for a young girl in the square, and done their best to set his suddenly sprang into the hall like a hunted house on fire, as long as they thought that butterfly darting. he skulked away. But now that they touch" They can not catch me," she exclaimed ed his dearer honor, and he came like a man in Spanish —" they are too slow, the intoxi- to encounter them, something moved their cated men. I may always laugh at them. tipsy hearts to know what he was made of. Here I will let them have another chase.". Miguel de Montalvan, the Count of ZaFlitting in and out the shadows, as softly mora, was made of good stuff, as he ought to as if she were one of them, she stopped by be, according to his lineage. He was fightthe side of Hilary Lorraine, in a dark place, ing for his children's honor, and he knew without seeing him. And he, without foot- how to use a rapier. Two wounded roysterfall, leaned back in a niche, and trembled ers on the floor showed that, though his hair at being so close to her. For a gleam of was white, his arm was not benumbed with faint light glanced upon her, and suggested age. And now, with his slender Toledo strange, wild beauty. For the moment, Hil- blade, he was holding his own against the ary could only see glittering abundance of bayonet of his third antagonist, a man of loosened hair, a flash of dark eyes, and rai- twice his strength and weight-the very ment quivering from the quick turn of the same tall grenadier who had pegged Major form inside. And then he heard short breath, Clumps to the door of the house, and swung sudden sighs, and the soothing sound of a, him so despitefllly. figure settling from a great rush into quie- At the farther end of the room two young tude. and beautiful ladies stood or knelt, in hor"This beats almost every thing I ever rible dread and anguish. It was clear at a knew," said he to himself, quite silently. " I glance that they were sisters, although they can't help her. And she seems to want no behaved very differently. For one was kneelhelp, so far as I can judge. I wonder who ing in a helpless manner, with streaming she is, and what she would be like by day- eyes and strained hands clasping the feet of light?' a marble crucifix. She had not the courage Before he couId make up his mind what to look at the conflict, but started convulto do in a matter beyond experience, a great sively from her prayers at clash of steel or shout arose in some up-stair places, and a stamp of foot. The other stood firmly, with shriek or two, and a noise of trampling. her hair thrown back, one hand laid on her " Holy Virgin! they have caught Camilla!" sister's head, and the other grasping a weapcried the young lady at Hilary's side. " She on, her lips set hard and her pale cheeks rigought to have a little more of wisdom. Must id, while her black eyes never left the face I peril myself to protect her?" Without fur- of the man who was striking at her father. ther halt to consider that question-swifter At the first glance Hilary knew her to be than the slow old lamps cast shadow, she the brave girl who had escaped to the hall, rushed betwixt pillars, and up a stone stair- and returned to share her sister's fate. 108 ALICE LORRAINE. Things can not be always clone chivalrous- he had labored for their good, without any ]y, or in true heroic fashion. From among loss of time they proved that Spaniards are the legs of the reeling Britons (who, with not an ungratefal race. The count took the pipes and bottles and shouts of applause, young man il his arms, as well as he could were watching the central combat) Hilary without hurting him, and kissed him upon snatched up with his left halnd a good-sized either cheek; and though the young ladies wine-bag, roughly rent at the neck, but still could not exactly follow their father's excontaining a part of its precious charge. ample, they made it clear that it was not The rogues had discovered it in the cellar, want ofemotion which deterred them. They and guessed that its contents were good. kissed the left hand of the wounded youth, And now, as the owner of the house, hard and bent over it, and looked at him with pressed and unable to reach his long-armed eyes so charming and so full of exquisite adfoe, was forced to give way, with the point miration, that Major Clumps, who was lying of the bayonet almost entering his breast, on the floor corded-and far worse, actually and bearing him back on his daughters, Lor- gagged-longed to rap out a great oath; but raine, with a sweep of his left arm, brought failed in his struggle to break the commandthe juicy bag down on the back of the head ment. of the noble grenadier. At the blow, the "Oh, he is so hurt, my father!" cried the rent opened and discharged a gallon of fine braver and, if possible, the lovelier of the old crusted Port andbeeswing down the war- two fair maidens; "you do not heed such rior's locks, and into his eyes, and the nape things, because you are so free yourself to of his neck. Blinded with wine, and mad wound. But the cavalier must be taken to with passion, he rushed at his new assail- bed. See, he is not capable now of standant; but the count, as he turned, passed his ing!" rapier neatly between the tendons of his For Hilary, now that all danger was past, right arm. Down fell his musket, and Hil- grew faint; while he scorned himself for doary seized it, and pointed it at the owner's ing so in the presence of the ladies. breast. And now the grenadier remember- "It is to death; it is to death!" exclaimed what he had quite forgotten throughout ed the timid damsel. "What shall we do? his encounter with the Spaniardc-his musket Oh holy saints! To save us, and to have was loaded, and on the full-cock! So lie slain himself!" dropped (like a grebe or a dabchick diving), "Be tranquil, Camilla," said the Spanish having seen smart practice with skirmish- gentleman, kindly, and without contempt. ers. "You have not shown the spirit of our However, it must have gone ill with IHil- house; but we can not help our natures. ary, as well as the count and his household, Claudia, you are as brave as a man; seek if succor had not come speedily. For' the for the good woman Teresina, she has not wassailers, who hadc shown wondrous temper run away like the rest; she must be hid-Mars being lulled on the lap of Bacchus- ing somewhere. Camilla, release that other suddenly awoke, with equal reason, to wild brave seior. Gentlemen all, pray allow us fury. With much reviling, and condemna- to pass." tion of themselves and one another, they Corporal White drew his men aside, while formed front (having discipline even in the count, concealing his own slight wounds, their cups), and bore down the long room led and supported young Lorraine through a upon the enemy. short passage and into a bedroom, dark, and Drunk as they were, this charge possessed cool, and confortable. Here he laid him to so much of their accustomed weight and pow- rest on a couch, and brought cold water, and er, that the don looked on all as lost, and sponged his face. And presently old Terecould only stand in front of his daughters. sina came, and moaned, and invoked the VirBut Hilary, with much presence of mind, gin a little, and then fell to and pulled all1 faced them, as if he were in command, and his clothes off, as if he were her daughter's cried " I-Halt!" as their officer. baby. And Hilary laughed at her way of With one accord they halted, and some of working, and soothing him like some little them tumbled down in doing it; and before pet kid; so that he almost enjoyed the pain they could form for another charge, or mu- of the clotted places coming off. tiny against orders, Corporal White, with For, after all, he had not received-like half a company of his famous regiment, took Brigadier Walker that hot evening-twenthem in the rear, and smote right and left, ty-seven wounds of divers sorts, but only and they fled with staggered consciences. five, and two bad. bruises, enough to divert the attention. If a man has only one place ~*~+~~ ~ of his body to think about and to be full of, CA HAPTE? X. he is scarcely better off than a gourmand, or a guest at a lord mayor's dinner. But if he As soon as the count and his daughters finds himself peppered all over, his attention knew how much they owed to Hilary, and is not over-concentrated, and he finds a new saw the weak and wounded plight in which pleasure in backing one hole of his body ALICE LORRAINE. 109 against another. In the time of the plague might make to herself as many as she pleased this thing was so, and so it must be in the of them. She saw that Hilary had no bones times of war. broken, nor even a bullet in his body-so far From the crown and climax of human as she could yet make out -but was sadmisery, Lorraine (by the grace of the Lord) ly hacked about, and worn, and weak with was spared. No doctor was allowed to come drains of bleeding. Therefore what he wantnear him. That fatal step in the strongest ed now was nourishment, cold swathes, and man's life (the step tempting up to the doc- sleep; and all of these he obtained abuntor's bell), happily in his case was not trod- dantly under the care of that good nurse. den; for the British surgeons were doing Meanwhile, poor Major Clumps (to whom their utmost at amputating dead men's legs; the count and his daughters owed quite as while Seflor Gines de Passamonte (the only much as they did to young Lori'aine) did not Spanish graduate of medicine in good cir- by any means become the object of overpowcles) had been roasted at one of the bonfires ering gratitude. He was neither wounded to enable him to speak English. This was nor picturesque; and his services, great as a well-meant operation, and proved by no they were, had not been rendered in a strikmeans a fatal measure; the jack, however, ing manner. So that although he did his revolved so well, that he went on no medical best-as most old officers are inclined to do rounds for three months. — to get his deserts attended to, his reward " Seior, we can no doctor get," said the (like theirs) was the unselfish pleasure of anxious count to Hilary, having made up seeing inferior merit preferred. his mind to plunge into English, of which "Of course," he cried, after a preface too he had tried some private practice. "Seflor, powerful to have justice done to it-" of what is now to do? I can no more speak to course this is what one must always expect. please." I get bruised, and battered, and laughed at, "You can speak to please most nobly; I and swung on a door, and gagged and cordwish that I could speak the grand Hispanic ed, the moment I use a good English word; tongue at all, sir." and then the girls for whose sake I did it, " Sefor, you shall. So brave a gentleman and turned myself into a filthy butler, benever will find bad to teach. The fineAn- cause I am not a smart young coxcomb, and gles way of speaking is to me very strong my wounds are black instead of being red, and good; in one year, two year, three year, begad, sir, they treat me as if I had been all sir. Alas! I behold you laughing." my life their father's butler!" "Count, it was but a twinge of pain. You The loss of his laurels was all the more bitpossess a great knowledge of my native ter to the brave and choleric major, not only tongue. But I fear that after such a night because it was always happening-whicl as this you will care to cultivate it no more." multiplied it into itself at every single re" From what cause? I have intelligence currence-but also because he had been rapof you. But the thing has itself otherwise. idly, even for his time of life, subdued by the The Angles are all very good. They incend tender and timorous glances of the sweet my goods, and they intoxicate my wines. young Donna Camilla. The greater the They are - what you call - well to come. fright this girl was in, the better it suited They make battle with me for the donnas, her appearance; and when she expected to but fairly, very fairly; and with your val- be immolated (as the least of impending horiant assistance I victor them. I have no rors), her face was as that of an angel. The complaint. Now I nake adventure to say major, although trussed tight with whipthat you can speak the French tongue. I cord, and full of an old stocking in his can do the very same affair, and so can my month, had enjoyed the privilege of gazing daughters two. But in this house it must at her while she clasped her crucifix. And not be. We will speak the Angles until you that picture would abide upon his retentive, have intelligence of the Spanish. With your stubborn, and honest brain as long as the good indulgence, setlor. Does that recom- brain itself abode. He loved an angelical mend itself to you?" girl, because his late wife had been slightly "Excellently, count,," said Hilary. And demoniac. then, in spite of pain, he added, with his us- Now, by the time that our British soldiers ual courtesy, "I have often longed to learn had finished their sack of Badajos-which youri magnificent language. This opportu- took them three days, though they did their nity is delightful." best-and were beginning to be all laid up "I have, at this time, too prolonged," Don (in spite of their iron trim and training) by Miguel answered, with such a bow as only a their own excesses, Lorraine was able to turn Spaniard can make, and a Spaniard only in his bed, and to pay a tender heed to things. when highly pleased; " sleep, sir, now. The He began to want some sort of change fiom good Teresina will sit always on your head." the never-wearying, but sometimes weariThe good Teresina could not speak a word some, tendance of old Teresina, whose rugof any tongue but her own, and in that she ged face and pointed cap would dwell in could do without any answers, if only she his dreams forever. Of course he was most 110 ALICE LORRAINE. grateful to her, and never would forget her Then, knowing how barbarons his accent kindness. Still he longed for a sight of was, he weakly endeavored with his languid somebody else; ugly or beautiful, he cared eyes to pierce the depth of the Spanish maidnot-only let it be some other face. And en's, and learn whether she were laughing his wish was granted, as generally happen- at him. Neither then nor afterward, when ed, and sometimes only too graciously. his sight was as keen again as ever, did he Our very noble public schools and ancient succeed in penetrating the dark profundity universities know, and always have known, of those bright eyes. how to educate young people. From long "How shall we manage it?" the young experience, they are well aware that all lan- lady continued, dropping her long curved guages are full of mischief; and a man who lashes, and slightly flushing under his steaddesires that element finds it almost wherever fast gaze. " You can not speak the Spanish, he pleases. So that our authorities did well I fear, not even so well as the droll old seto restrict themselves to the grand old form, nor, who makes us laugh so much down and the distance of two thousand years. stairs. On the contrary, I can not speak Hence, as a matter of course, poor Hilary the English. But, in spite of that, we must had not learned, either at school or college, hold converse. Otherwise, how shall we even one irregular verb of the fine pervasive ever thank you, and nurse you, and recover and persuasive language of all languages. you? One thing must be begun at onceTo put it more simply, he could not speak can I, without pain, lift your hand?" French. In print he could follow it, off and Great part of this speech was dark to Hilon (as most men, with Latin to lead them, ary; but he understood the question about can); but from live lips it was gibberish to his hand, and kept the disabled one out of him, as even at this day it is to nine and a sight, and nodded, and said, "Oui, seilora." half out of ten good Britons. Whereupon, to his great surprise, beautiful And now, when suddenly a soft rich voice Claudia fell on her knees by the side of the came over his shoulder (just turned once couch, caught his left hand in both of hers, more in great disgust from the dreary door), and pressed it in the most rapturous manand asked, in very good French indeed, "How ner, ever so many times, to her sweet, cool do you carry yourself, sir " Hilary was at lips. And a large tear, such as large eyes a pinch to answer, "Most well, a thousand should shed, gently trickled on each fair thanks, most well." And after this Anglo- cheek, but was cleverly kept from dripping Gallic triumph, he rolled on his bandages on his hand, because he might not have very politely (in spite of all orders to the liked it. And then, with her face not far contrary) to see who it was, and to look at from his, she looked at him with a long, soft her. gaze, and her hair (with the gloss and the Even in the gloom of the shaded windows, color of a filbert over the Guadiana) fell and of his own enfeebled sight, he could not from her snowy forehead forward; and Hilhelp receiving an impression of wondrous ary was done for. beauty-a beauty such as it is not good for any young man to gaze upon, unless he is of a purely steadfast heart, and of iron self- CHAPTER XLI control. And Hilary was not of either of these, as himself and his best friends knew A SAD and a sorry task it is to follow too well. the lapse of a line young fellow, from the The Count of Zamora's younger daughter, straight line of truth and honor into the Claudia de Montalvan, was of Andalusian crooked ways of shame. Hilary loved Mabirth, and more than Andalusian beauty. bel still, with all his better heart and soul; Form, and bloom, and brilliant change, and her pure and kind and playful glance, and harmony, and contrast, with the charm of the music of her true voice, never wholly soft expression, and the mysterious power departed from him. In the hot infatuation of large black eyes-to all of these, in per- to which (like many wiser and older men) fection, add the subtle grace of high lineage, he could not help but yield himself, from and the warmth of southern nature, and it time to time a sudden pang of remorse and must be confessed that the fairest English of good love seized him. Keenly alive to maid, though present in all her beauty, manly honor, and to the goodness of womanwould find a very dangerous rival. kind, he found himself playing false to both, "' I quite forgot," said the serorita, ap- and he hated himself when he thought of it. preaching the bed with most graceful move- But the worst of him was that he did not ment, and fixing her radiant eyes on poor think habitually and steadfastly; he talked Hilary-" there is one thing, sir, that I quite to himself, and he thought of himself, but he forgot. My good father will not allow very seldom examined himself. He felt that French to be spoken by any child of his. he was a very good fellow in the main, and He is so patriotic! What a pity, since you meant no harml; and if he set up for a solid speak French so well!" character, who would ever believe him? The Hilary took some time to make out this. world had always insisted upon it that he ALICE LORRAINE. 111 was only a trifler; and the world's opinion For the wound in Hilary's side began to is very apt to create what it anticipates. He show very ugly tokens. It had seemed to offered excuses enough to himself, as soon as be going on very nicely for about a forthe saw what a wrong he was doing. But night, and Teresina praised and thanked the the only excuse a good man can accept is saints, and promised them ten days' wages, in the bitterness of his punishment. the form of candles. But before her vow was The British army, having exhausted hav- due, or her money getting ready, the saints oc to the lees and dregs, marched upon its (whether making too sure of their candles, glorious way, inl quest of other towns of or having no faith in her promises) suddenour allies no less combustible. But many ly struck work, and left this good woman, wounded champions were left behind in Bad- rags, bottles, and bones, in a miserable way. ajos, quartered on the grateful townsmen, to For violent inflammation began to kindle recover (if they could) and rejoin as soon beneath the bandages, and smiles were sucas possible. Lieutenant Lorraine was one ceededl by sighs and moaning, and happy of these, from the necessity of his case; and sleep by weary tossings and light-headed Major Clumps managed to be another, from wakefulness. his own necessities. But heavily wounded By way of encouraging the patient, Major as he was (by one of Don Miguel's daugh- Clumps came in one day with a pair of conters), the fighting major would never have valescent Britons, and a sheet of paper, and got himself certified on the sick-list, unless pressed upon him the urgent necessity for he had known, from the course of the war, making his will; to leave the world with that no battle now was imminent. comfort and composure. Hilary smiled, Regardless of his Horace, and too regard- through all his pain, at the thought of his fill of cruel Glycera, more than too much having in the world any thing but itself to pined Major Clumps, and would have chant- leave; and then he contrived to say, pretty ed mournful ditties in a minor hey, if nature clearly, had only gifted him with any other note "Major, I don't mean to leave the world. than D. Because his junior shone beyond And if I must, I have nothing but my blesslim, with breach of loyal discipline. He ing to leave behind me." might console himself, however, with the "Then you do more harm than good by solace offered by" the sprightly bard —the going; and none need wish to hurry you. endless chain of love revolving with links Sergeant Williams, you may go, and so may on the wrong cog forever. Major Clumps Private Bodkin. You will get no beer in was in love with Camilla; the saintly Ca- this house, I know; and you have both had milla declined from him with a tender slope wine enough already. Be off! what are you toward Hilary; Hilary went down hill too spying for?" fast with violent pangs toward Claudia; and The two poor soldiers, who had looked Claudia rose at the back of the wheel, with forward to getting a trifle for their narks, her eyes on the distant mountains, glanced at one another sadly, and, knowing Of all Lorraine's pure bodily wounds, the what the major was, made off. For ever worst (though not the most painful, as yet) since tlhe tricks played with him by drunkwas a gash in his left side, made by pike, or en fellows who knew himn not, Major Clumps sword, or bayonet, or something of a nasty had been dreadful toward every sober man poignancy. Hilary could give no account of his own regiment. The course of justice of it, when he took it, or where, or how: he never does run smooth. regretted deeply to have it there; but be- This was a thing such as Hilary would yond that lie knew nothing. It seemed to have rejoiced to behold, and enter into, if have been suggested'cleverly, instead of he had been free from pain. But gnawing, coarsely slashing down, so far as a woman wearing, worrying pain sadly dulls the sense who had not spent her youth in dissecting- of humor andi power of observation. Yet rooms could judge. But Major Clumps (too even pain, and the fear of the grave with old a warrior to lose his head to any thing nothing to leave behind him, could not rob less perturbing than a cannon-ball) strenu- him of all perception of a sudden brightness ously refused to believe in Hilary's igno- shed softly over all around. Two lovely rance about it. He had a bad opinion of maidens were come to pray for him, and to young men, and believed that Hilary had scatter his enemies. fallen into some scrape of which he was now Claudia de Montalvan led her gentle and ashamed. At the same time he took care to beautiful sister Camilla, to thank, once for spread it abroad (for the honor of the regi- all, and perhaps to say farewell to, their prement) that their young lieutenant had been server. Camilla., with her sad heart beating the first to leap on the sword-blades of the tremulously, yet controlled by maiden digbreach, even as afterward he was first to nity and shame, followed shyly, fearing deeptotter through the gap he made. But now ly that her eyes would tell their tale. And it seemed likely that either claim would thus, even through the more brilliant beauty drop into abeyance, until raked up as a of her braver sister, the depth of love and question of history. pity made her, for the time, more beautiful. 112 ALICE LORRAINE. Between the two sisters there was but little, ed to be more her own. And her heart was even for the most careful modeler to per- hitter as she turned away. ceive, of difference. Each had the purely Claudia (who cared not one half-real for moulded forehead, and the perfect arch of Hilary, or what became of him; and who eyebrow, and the large expressive eyes, well never prayed for herself, or told her beads, set and clearly cut and shaded; also the oth- or did any religious thing) was also ready to er features shaped to the best of all nature's go, with a mind relieved of a noxious duty; experience. This made it very nice to no- -w hen her softer, and therefore nobler, sister tice how distinct their faces were by inner came back, with her small pride conquered. difference of mind and will. "It is not a time to dispute," she said, "Seilor," said Claudia to Major Clumps, "nor even to give one's self to pray, when who could manage to make out Spanish, violent pain is tearing one. My sister, I " we have heard that he is very ill. We are have prayed for days, and twice as much come to do the best for him. Camilla will by night; and yet every thing grows much pray-it is so good-and I will do any thing worse, alas! Last night I dreamed a dream ihat may need. But it is not right to detain of great strangeness. It may have come froml you longer. The gentlemen can not pray at my birthday saint. The good Teresina is all till they are in the holy orders." having her dinner; and she always occupies The major bowed, and grimly smiled at one large hour in that consummation. Do this polite dismissal; and then, with a lin- a thiing of courage, sister; you always are so gering glance at Camilla, stumped away in rich in courage.' silence to a proper swearing distance. "What do you mean? asked Claudia, His glance might have lingered till dark smiling; "you seem to have all the courage night fell, before that young Donna return- now." ed it. All her power of thought or. feeling, Alas! I have no courage, Claudia. You fearing, hoping, or despairing, was gathered are laughing at me. But if you would only.into one sad gaze at her guest, her savior, raise the bandage-I dare not touch the poor and her love. Carefully as she had watch- cavalier —where the sad inflammation is, edl him through the time when there was no that makes him look at you so-it is possible danger, she had not been allowed by the an- that I could, or perhaps that you could-",cient nurse to come near him for the last "Could what?" asked Claudia, who was three days. And even now she had been not of a long-enduring temper; "I have no content to obey Teresina's orders, and to fear to touch him; and he seems to be all trust in the saints, with her calm sweet faith bandages. There now, is that what you -the saints whlo had sent this youth to save require?" Camilla shuddered as her sister her-but for her stronger sister's will. firmly (as if she were unswathing a mum"Disturb him not, sister, but let him rest," m y of four thousand years) untied Teresina's said Claudia, whlose fair bosom never was a knots and laid bare the angry wound which prey to gratitude; "see you not hlow well was eating Hilary's life away. Then a livid ~he lies? If we should happen to cause dis- virulent gash appeared, banked with proud turbance, he migllt roll over, and break into flesh upon either side, and Claudia could bleeding; and then you could pray for his not look at it. soul alone." But Camilla gathered the courage often "Sister mine, you do not speak well," Ca- latent in true gentleness, and heeded only milla answered, gently; "he has shed so in her heart how the poor young fellow fell much blood for us, that he is not likely to away and fainted from the bold exposure, bleed:more. It is now the want of the and falling back, thus made his wound open blood and the. fever that will make us and gape wider. mourn forever. Cavalier, brave cavalier,'I see it! I see it! I shall save him yet!" can you not look up and muse?" she cried, in feminine ecstasy; and while Hilary, being thus invoked, though he had Claudia thought her mad., she snatched from no idea what was meant-the language be- the chain at her zone a little steel impleing pure Castilian-certainly did look up, ment, often carried by Spanish girls for and try with very bad success to muse. His beauty's sake. With dainty skimmingis, eyes met kilnd Camilla's first (because she and the lightest touch, she contrived to get was leaning over him), but, in spite of close this well inside all the mere outward misresemblance, found not what they wanted chief, and drew out a splinter of rusty iron, in them, and wandered on, and met the eyes and held it up to the light in triumph; and of Claudia, and rested there. then she went down on her knees and sobCamilla, with the speed of love outwing- bed, but still held fast her trophy. ing all the wings of thought, felt, like a stab, " What is it? Let me see!" cried Claudia, this absence from her and this presence else- being accustomed to take the lead: " Saint where. And having plenty of inborn pride, plague, what is a mere shred like that, to as behooved her and became her well, she cause so much emotion? It may be someturned away to go, and leave her sister (who thing the old nurse put there, and so you could not pray at all) to pray for what seem- have done more harm than good." ALICE LORRAINE. 113 "Do nurses put pieces of jagged iron into " Hurra! Here is summer come at last, I a wound to heal it? It is part of a cruel verily do believe. For goodness' sake, wife, Frenchman's sword. Behold the fangs of give us air, and take those hot things from it, and the venomous rust! What agony to the children's necks. If you want me, I the poor cavalier! Now sponge his forehead shall be in the bower, having a jolly pipe with the vinegar; for you are the best and at last." And then, by the time all the winmost welcome nurse. And when he revives dows are open, and the little ones are proud show him this, and his courage will soon be to show their necks and the scratches of renewed to him. I can stay here no longer, their pins, in rushes papa, with his coat butI feel so faint. I will go to my saint, and toned over, and his pipe put out by hail. thank her." None the less for all of that, the people When old Teresina returned, and found who like to see things moving-though it her patient looking up at Claudia, with his be but slowly -have opportunity now of wound laid bare, she began to scold and watching small delights that do them good. wring" her hands, and order her visitor out How trees, and shrubs, and plants, and even of the room; but the proud young lady would earth and stone, begin to feel the difference have none of that. coming over them. How little points, all "A pretty nurse you are," she cried, to black one day, and as hard as the tip of a leave this inl your patient's wound! Is this rook's bill the next time of looking at them, your healing instrument, pray? What will show a little veiny shining. And then as the Count of Zamora say when I show him the people come home from church, and are this specimen of your skill? How long will in their most observant humor, after long he keep you in this house? Oh blind, de- confinement, a little child finds a real leaf nented, gorging, wallowing, and most des- (most likely of an elder-tree), and many picable nurse!" young faces crowd around it, while the old That last word she pronounced with such men, having seen too many springs, plod on, a bitterness of irony, that poor Teresina's and doubt this for a bad one. portly form and well-fed cheeks shook vio- Much of this had been done, with slow lently. " For the love of all the saints, sweet advance from Sunday to Sunday, and the Donna, do not let my lord know this. The hedges began to be feathered lwith green, marvelous power of your bright eyes has and the meadows to tuft where the good cast their light on every thing. That poor stuff lay, and the corn in the gloss of the old I, with these poor members, might have sun to glisten; when every body came out gazed and gazed forever; when lo! the most of church one Sunday before Pentecost. The beautiful and high-born lady under heaven church was that which belonged to the Rev. appears, and saves the life of the handsome Struan Hales (in his own opinion), and so lord that loves her." did the congregation, and so did every thing, "We will speak no more upon this mat- except the sermon. And now the rector reter," CIaudia answered, magnanimously. mainedin thevestry, with is:favorite daughAnd the nurse thenceforth was ready to ter Cecil, to help him off with his "academvow, and Hilary only too glad to believe, icals," and to put away his comb. that the sorely wounded soldier owed is "I hope your mother will be quick, my life to a beautiful maiden. And so he did, dear," said the parson, stooping his broad but not to Claudia. shoulders, as his daughter tugged at him; "she can not walk as she used, you know; 4^c~ ^ aland for the last half-hour I have been shuddering and trembling about our first foreCHAPTER XLII quarter." " I saw that you wTere nncomfortable,papa,, ALONG the northern brow and bend of just as you were giving out your text. You the Sussex hills, the winter lingers, and the seemed to smell something burning, didn't spring wakes slowly. The children of the yon?" southern slope, toward Worthing and West "Exactly!" said the rector, gazing with Tarring, have made their cowslip balls, and surprise at his clever and queer Cecil. " Now pranked their hats and hair with blue-bells, how could you tell? I am sure I hope none before their little Northern cousins have be- of the congregation were up to it. But ninegun to nurse and talk to, and then pull pence a pound is no joke for the father of to pieces, their cuckoo-pint, and potentilla, three hungry daughters." dead-nettle, and meadow crowfoot. "And with a good appetite of his own, The daffodil, that comes and "takes the papa. Well, I'll tell you how I knew it. winds of March with beauty," here reserves You have a peculiar way of lifting your that charming capture for the early breeze nose when the meat is too near the fire, as of May; for still the "black-thorn winter " it always is with "our new cook; and then buffets the folds of chilly April's cloak, and you looked out of that round-arched window, the hail-fringed mantle of wan sunlight. as if you expected to see some smoke." This is the time when a man may say, Lift my nose, indeed!" answered the rec 114 ALICE LORRAINE. tor; "I shall lift something else; I shall lift as he took to the rambling village street, to your lips, if you laugh at your poor old fa- show himself as usual. " The two things I ther so. And I never shaved this morning, hate most are a row, and the ruin of a good because of Sir Remnant's dinner-party to- dinner. Hashes and cold meat ever since morrow. There, what do you think of that, Wednesday; and now when a real goodjoint Miss Impudence " is browning-oh, confound it all!-I quite "Oh papa, what a shameful beard! You forgot the asparagus-the first I have cut, preached about the stubble being all burned and as thick as my thumb! Now if I only up; perhaps because you were thinking of had Mabel Lovejoy here! I do hope they'll our lamb. But I do declare you have got have the sense not to put it on; but I can't as much left as Farmer Gate's very largest very well tell Jem about it; it will look so field. But talking about Sir Remnant, did mollyish. Can I send a note in? Yes, I you see who skulked into church in the mid- can. The fellow can't read; that is one great die of the anthem, and sat behind the gal- comfort." lery pillar, in one of the laborers' free seats?" No sooner said than done;. he tore out the "No, I did not. You ought to be ashamed fly-leaf of his sermon, and under his text, of looking about in church so, Cecil. Noth- inculcating the duty of Christian vigilance, ing escapes you, except the practical appli- wrote in pencil, "Whatever you do don't cation of my doctrine." put on the asparagus." "Well, papa, now, you must have been This he committed to the care of Jem; stupid, or had your whole mind upon our and then grasping his hunting-whip steadnew cook, if you didn't see Captain Chap- fastly, he rode up the lane, with Maggie man!" neighing at this unaccustomed excursion. "Captain Chapman!" cried the rector, For horses know Sunday as well as men do, with something which in any other place and a great deal better. would have been profane; " why, what in Struan Hales was a somewhat headlong the world could he want here? He never man; as most men of kind heart, and quick came to hear mee; that's certain." but not very large understanding, are apt to No, papa; nor to hear any thing at all. be. Like most people of strong prejudices, He came to stare at poor Alice all the time, he was also of strong impulses; for the lowand to plague her with his escort home, I est form of prejudice is not common-the fear." abstract one, and the negative. His com"The poor child, witllthat ungodly scamp! mon sense and his knowledge of the world Who were in the servants' pew? I know might have assured him that Captain Chappretty well; but you are sure to know bet- man would do nothing to hurt or even to ofter." fend young Alice. And yet, because he re"Oh, not even one of the trusty people. garded Stephen with inveterate dislike, he Neither the old butler, nor Mrs. Pipkins, nor really did for the moment believe it his duty even Mrs. Merryjack. Only that conceited thus to ride after him.'Mister Trotman,' as he calls himself, and his Meanwhile the gallant and elegant captain'under - footman,' as he calls the lad, and had done at least one thing according to the three or four flirty house-maids." rector's anticipation. By laying a guinea in "A guinea will send them all around the Trotman's palm, he had sent all the servants other way; and then he will pester Alice all home over the hill, and thus secured for himthe way back. Run home, that's a dear, you self a private walk with his charmer along are very quick of foot; and put the lamb the lane that winds so prettily under the back yourself nine inches; and tell Jem to high land. Now his dress was enough to saddle Maggie quick as lightning, and put win the heart of any rustic damsel, and as my hunting-crop at the green gate, and have he passed the cottage doors, all the children Maggie there; and let your mother know that said, "Oh my!" This pleased him greatly, sudden business calls me away to Coombe and could not have added less than an inch Lorraine." to his stature and less than a pound to the " Why, papa, you quite frighten me! As weight of his heel at each strut. This proves if Alice could not take care of herself!" that he was not a thorough villain; for thor" I have seen more of the world than you ough villains attach no importance to the have, child. Do as I order you, and don't ar- opinion of children. gue. Stop! take the meadow way, to save Unaware of the enemy in advance, Alice making any stir in the village. I shall walk walked through the little village, with her slowly, and be at the gate by the time you aunt and two cousins, as usual; and she said have the pony there." " Good-bye" to them at the Rectory gate; Cecil Hales, without another word, went knowing that they wanted to please her unout of the vestry door to a stile leading from cle with his early Sunday dinner. Country the church-yard into a iieadow,and thence parsons, unless they are of a highly distinby an easy gap in a hedge she got into the guished order, like to dine at half-past one Rectory shrubbery. very punctually on a Sunday. Throughout " Just my luck," said the rector to himself, the week (when they shoot or fish, or ride to ALICE LORRAINE. 115 hounds, etc.) they manage to retard their insolent from a more powerful man, but as hunger to five, or even six o'clock. On Sun- proceeding from a little dandy bore rather day it is healthily otherwise. A sinking feel- the impress of impudence. ing begins to set in about half-way through "Miss Lorraine, you will not refuse me the sermon. And why? In an eloquent the honor of escorting you to your home. period, the parson looks round, to infect his This road is lonely. There still are highcongregation. He forgets for the moment waymen. One was on the Brighton Road that he is but unit, while his hearers are a last week. I took the liberty of thinking, or hundred-fold. What happens? All human- rather, perhaps, I should say of hoping, that ity is,at eloquent moments, contagious, sensi- you might not altogether object to a lilitive, impressible. A hundred people in the tary escort." church have got their dinner coming on at "Thank you," said Alice; "you are very one o'clock; they are thinking ofit, they are kind; but I have not the least fear; and dwelling on the subject; and the hundred our servants are not very far away, I know. and first, the parson himself (without know- They have orders to keep near me." ing it, very likely, and even while seven "They must have mistaken your route, I heavens above it), receives the recoil of his think. I am rather famous for long sight; own emotions, in epidemic appetite. and I saw the Lorraine livery just now goThat may be all wrong, of course, even un- ing up the footpath that crosses the hill." sacerdotal, or unscientific (until the subject Alice was much perplexed at this. She is tabulated); but facts have-large bones; by no means enjoyed the prospect of a long and the fact stands thus. Alice Lorraine and secluded walk in the company of this was aware of it, though without any scent gallant officer. And yet her courage would of the reason; so she kissed her aunt and not allow her to retrace her steps, and cross cousins two-Cecil being (as hath been seen) the hill; neither could she well affront him in clerical attendance-and lightly went her so; for much as she disliked this man, she homeward way. She stopped for a minute at must treat him as any other lady would. Nanny Stilgoe's, to receive the usual grum- "I am much obliged to you, Captain bling sauced with the inevitable ingratitude. Chapman," she answered, as graciously as And then, supposing the servants to be no she could; " but really no kind of escort is very great distance before her, she took to wanted, either military or civilian, in a quiet the lonely Ashwood lane, with a quick, light country road like this, where every body step, as usual. knows me. And perhaps it will be more Presently she came to a place where the convenient for you to call on my father in lane dipped suddenly into the hollow of a the afternoon. He is always glad when you dry old water-course-the course of the Woe- can stay to dinner." burn, according to tradition, if any body "No, thank you; I must dine at home tocould believe it. There was now not a day. I wish to see Sir Roland this mornthread of open water; but a little dampness, ing, if I may. And surely I may accompany and a crust of mud, as if some under-ground you on your way home; now, may I not?" duct were anxious to maintain user of its Oh yes," she answered with a little sigh, right of way. By the side of the lane, an as there seemed to be no help for it; but she old oak-trunk (stretched high above the determined to nmake the captain walk at a dip, and furnished with a broken hand-rail), speed which should be quite a novelty to showed that there must have been something him. to cross; though nobody now could remem- " Dear me, Miss Lorraine! I had no idea ber it. In this hollow lurked the captain, that you were such a walker. Why, this placid and self-contented, and regarding with must be what we call in the army' doublemuch apparent zest a little tuft of forget- quick march' almost. Too fast almost to me-not. keep the ranks unbroken, when we charge Alice, though startled for a moment by the enemy." this unexpected encounter, could not help " How very dreadful F cried Alice, with a smiling at the ill-matched brilliance of her little grimace, which greatly charmed the suitor's apparel. He looked like a smaller captain. "May I ask you one particular but far more costly edition of Mr. Bottler, favor?" except that his waistcoat was of crimson "You can ask none," he replied, with his tafeta, with a rolling collar of lace; and in- hand laid on his crimson waistcoat; " or, to stead of white stockings, he displayed gold- put it more clearly, to ask a favor is to conbuttoned vamplets of orange velvet. Being fer a greater one." loath to afford him the encouragement of a "How very kind you are! Yon know smile, the young lady turned away her face that my dear brother Hilary is in the thick as she bowed, and with no other salutation of very, very sad fighting. And I thought continued her homeward course, at a pace that perhaps you would not mind (as a milwhich certainly was not slower. But Ste- itary escort), describing exactly how you phen Chapman came forth, and met her with felt when first you charged the enemy." that peculiar gaze which would have been "The deuce must be in the girl," thought 116 ALICE LORRAINE. the captain; " and yet she looks so innocent. said Chapman, with his eyes so fixed as to It can be only an accident. But she is too receive his view of the landscape (if at all) sharp to be romanced with." by deputy. And truly his judgment was "Miss Lorraine," hle answered, "I belong- correct. For Alice, now in perfect health, ed to the Guards, whose duty lies principal- with all the grace of young vigor and the ly at home. I have never been in action." charm of natural quickness, and a lovely " Oh, I understand; then you do not know face, and calm eyes beaming, not with the what a sad thing real fighting is. Poor bright uncertain blue (that flashing charm Hilary! We are most anxious about him. of poor Hilary), but the grandc ash-colored We have seen his name in the dispatches; gray-the tint that deepens with the depth and we know that he was wounded. But of life, and holds more love than any other neither he nor Major Clumps (a brave officer -Alice, in a word, was something for a man in his regiment) has sent us a line since it to look at. The greatest man that ever was happened." born of a woman, and knew what women "He was first through the breach at are, as well as what a man is; the only one Badajos. He has covered himself with who ever combined the knowledge of both glory." sexes; the one true poet of'all ages (corm"We know it," said Alice, with tears in pared with whom all other poets are but her eyes; and for a moment she liked the shallow surfaces), Nature's most loving and captain. "But if he has covered himself best-loved child-even he would have lookwith wounds, what is the good of the glory?" ed at Alice with those large sad, loving eyes, "A most sensible question," Chappman and found her good to dwell upon. answered, and fell once more to zero in the The captain (though he bore the name of opinion of his charmer. With all the con- a great and grossly neglected poet) had not tempt that can be expressed by silence, in him so much as ha.lf a pennyweight of when speech is expected, she kept on so poetry. He looked upon Alice as a handbriskly toward Bonny's castle, that her suit- some girl of good birth and, good abilities, or (who, in spite of all martial bearing, who might redeem him from his evil ways, walked in the manner of a. pigeon) became and foster him, and make much of him. He hard set to keep up with her. knew that she was far above him, " in mind, " Te view from this spot is so lovely," he and views, and all that sort of thing;" and said, "I must really beg you to sit down a he liked her all the more for that, because little. Surely we need not be in such a it would save him trouble. hurry." "Do let me say a few words to you," lie "The air is chilly, and I must not loiter, began, with his most seductive and insinunMy father has a bad headache to-day. That ating glance (for he really had fine eyes, as was the reason he was not at church." many weak and wanton people have);' you "Then surely he can be in no hurry for are apt to be hard on me, Miss Lorraine, his luncheon. I have so many things to say while all the time my first desire is to please, to you. And you really give me quite a and serve, and gratify you." pain in my side." "You are very kind, I am sure, Captain "Oh, I am so sorry! I beg your pardon. Chapman. I don't know what I have done I never could have thought that I was doing to deserve it." that. Rest a little, and you will be better." "Alas!" he answered with a sigh, which The complaint would have been as a joke relieved him, because he was much pinched passed over, if it had come from any body in, as well as a good deal out of breath, for else. But she knew that the captain was his stays were tighter than the maiden's. not strong in his lungs, or his heart, or any "Alas! Is it possible that you have not seen thing; therefore she allowed him to sit the misery that you have caused me?" down, while she stood and gazed back " Yes, I know that I have been very rude. through the Ashwood lane, fringed, and I have walked too fast for you. I beg your arched, and dappled by the fluttering ap- pardon, Captain Chapman. I will not do so proach of spring, any more." "The beautiful gazing at the beautiful!" "I did not mean that; I assure you, I didn't. I would climb the Andes or the * Upon the appearance of chapters xxxviii. to xli., Himalayas, only to win one smile from you." we received a letter from a distinguished Peninsular "I fear that I should smile many times,"' officer, Major-general Sir Pons Asinorum. The gen- said Alice, now smiling wickedly; "if I eral denounced us, with more vigor perhaps than l telescop-, courtesy, for "shamefully falsifyiag facts." Sir Pons could only have a telescope-still, I should himself was the first through the breach, and his be so sorry for you. They are much worse brother, Sir Fitz, close after him. If Lieutenant Lor- than the Southdown hills." raine was there at all, he was several yards behind There, you are laughing at me again! them. Our error was being corrected, when lo I the Yo r s clever Miss Lorraine; you give next post brought us six more letters from six gallant m -nn officers, each of whom had been first, and not one of me n to say ayt them had seen the others, nor even General Asinorum, I am not clever, I am very stupid. And there. We immediately wrote " stet."-R. D. B. you always say more than I do." ALICE LORRAINE. 117 " Well, of course - of course I do; until "The reason, indeed; when I know wbhat you come to know me. After that I always you are! Two nice good girls as ever lived listen, because the ladies have more to say. you have stolen out of my gallery, sir; arid And they say it so much better." covered my parish with shame, sir. And are "Is that so?" said Alice, thinking, while you fit to come near my niece? I have not the captain showed his waist, as he arose told Sir Ronald of it, only for your father's and shook himself, "it may be so; he may sake; but now I will tell him, and, quiet as be right; lhe seems to have some very good he is, how long do you suppose he will be in ideas." He saw that she thought more kicking you down the Coombe, sir?"' kindly of him, and that his proper course Come now," said Stephen, having long with her was to play humility. He had been proof against righteous indignation; never known what pure love was; he had "you must be well aware, rector, that the lessened his small capacity for it by his whole of that ancient scandal was scatterloose and wicked life; but in spite of all ed to the winds, and I emerged quite blamethat, for the first time Alice began to inspire less." him with it. This is a grand revolution in "Indeed I know nothing of the sort. You the mind, or the heart, of a "man of pleas- did what money could do - however, it is ure;" the result may save him even yet some time back; and perhaps I had better (if a purer nature master him) from that have let an old story-Camlerina-eh, what deadliest foe, himself. And the best (or the is it? On the other hand, if only — worst of it) is, that if a kind, and fresh, and " Rector, you always mean aright, though warm, and lofty-minded girl believes herself you may be sometimes ungenerous. In your to have gained any power of doing good in magnificent sermon to-day, what did you the body of some low reprobate, sweet in- say? Why, you said distinctly, in a voice terest, Christian hankerings, and the femi- that came all round the pillars- there is nine love of paradoxes, succeed the legiti- mercy for him that repenteth." mate disgust. Alice, however, was not of a "To be sure I did, and I meant it too; weak, impulsive, and slavish nature. And but I meant mercy up above, not in my own she wholly disdained this Stephen Chapman. parish, Stephen. I can't have any mercy ill "Now I hope that you will not hurry my own parish." yourself," she said to the pensive captain; "Let us say no more about it, sir; I am "the real hill begins as soon as we are round not a very young man now, and my great the corner. I must walk fast, because my desire is to settle down. I now have the father will be looking out for me. Perhaps, honor of loving your niece, as I never loved if you kindly are coming to our house, you any one before. And I put it to you in a would like to come more at your leisure, sir." manly way, and as one of my father's most Stephen Chapman looked at her-not as valued friends, whether you have any thing he used to look, as if she were only a pret- to say against it." ty girl to him-but with some new feeling, "You mean to say that you really want quite as if he were afraid to answer her. to settle down with Alice! A girl of half His dull, besotted, and dissolute manner of your age and ten times your power of life! recarding women lay for the moment under Come, Stephen!" a. shock; and he wondered what he was "WTell, sir, I know that I am not in as about. And none of his stock speeches vigorous health as you are. You will walk came, to help him — or to hurt him - until me down, no doubt, when we come to shoot Alice was round the corner, together on my father's land; but still, all I " Halloo, Chapman! what are you about? want is a little repose, and country life, and Why, you look like one of Bottler's pigs hunting; a little less of the clubs, and high when they run about with their throats cut! play, and the company of the P. R., who Where is my niece? What have you been makes us pay so hard for his friendship. I doing?" The rector drew up his pony sharp- wish to leave all these bad things-once for ly; and was ready to seize poor Stephen by all to shake them off- and to get a good the throat. wife to keep me straight until my dear fa" You need not be in such a hurry, par- ther dies. And the moment I marry I shall son," said Captain Chapman, recovering him- start a new hunt, and cut out poor Lord self. "Miss Lorraine is going up the hill a Unicorn, who does not know a fox-hound great deal faster than I can go." fromr a beagle. This country is most shame" I know what a dissolute dog you are," fully hunted now." cried the parson, smoking with indignation "It is, my dear Stephen; it is, indeed. It at having spoiled his Sunday dinner, and puts me to the blush every time I go out. made a scene, for nothing. " You forced me Really there is good sense in what you say. to ride after you, sir. What do you mean There is plenty of room for another pack; by this sort of thing?" and I think I could give you some sound ad"Mr. Hales, I have no idea what you vice." mean. You seem to be much excited. Pray "I should act entirely, sir, by your opinoblige me with the reason." ion. Horses I understand pretty well; but 118 ALICE LORRAINE. as to hounds, I should never pretend to hold The eecond of the three who fretted with a candle to my uncle Hales." anxiety and fear, was Hilary's young sister "Ah, my dear boy, I could soon show you Alice. Proud as she was of birth, and posithe proper way to go to work. The stamp tion, and spotless honor, and all good things, of dog we want is something of this kind-" her brother's life was more precious to her The rector leaned over Maggie's neck and than any of those worldly matters. She took the captain by the button-hole, and knew that he was rash and headlong, too fondly inditing of so good a matter, he de- good-natured, and even childish, when comlivered a discourse which was too learned pared with men of the world. But she loved and confidential to be reported rashly. And him all the more for that; and being herself Stephen hearkened so well and wisely that of a stronger will, had grown (without any Mr. Hales formed a better opinion than he sense thereof) into a needful championship ever before had held of him, and began to and vigilance for his good repute. And this, doubt whether it might not be a sensible of course, endeared him more, and made her plan in such times as these to close the regard him as a martyr, sinned against, but ranks of the sober thinkers and knit togeth- sinless. er all well-affected, staunch, and loyal inter- But of all these three the third was the ests, by an alliance between the two chief saddest and most hard to deal with. Faith houses of the neighborhood-the one of long in Providence supports the sister, or even lineage, and the other of broad lands; and the mother of a man —whenever there is fair this would be all the more needful now, if play for it-but it seems to have no locus Hilary was to make a mere love-match. standi in the heart of his sweetheart. That But in spite of all wisdom, Mr. Hales was delicate young apparatus (always moving full of strong, warm feelings; and loving his up and down, and as variable as the dewniece as he did, and despising in-his true point) is ever ready to do its best, and tells heart Stephen Chapman, and having small itself so, and consoles itself, and then from faith in converted rakes, he resolved to,be reason quoted wholesale, breaks into petty neutral for the present; and so rode home unassorted samples of absurdity. to his dinner. In this condition, without a dream of jealousy or disloyalty, Mabel Lovejoy waited long, and wondered, hoped, despaired, and CHAPTER XLYIIT fretted, and then worked hard, and hoped CHAPTER XLIII. again. She had no one to trust her tronIF any man has any people who ought to bles to, no cheerful and consoling voice to arcare about him, and is not sure how far they gue and grow angry with, and prove against exert their minds in his direction, to bring it how absurd it was to speak of comfort, the matter to the mark, let him keep deep and yet to be imbibing comfort, even while silence when he is known to be in danger. resenting it. Her mother would not say a The test, as human nature goes, is perhaps word, although she often longed to speak a trifle hazardous, at any rate when tried because she thought it wise and kind to let against that existence of the wiry order the-matter die away. While Hilarywaspreswhich is called the masculine; but against ent, or at any rate in England, Mrs. Lovejoy the softer and better portion of the human had yielded to the romance of these young race-the kinder half —whose beauty is the doings; but now that he was far away, and absence of stern reason, this bitter test (if likely in every weekly journal to be returned strongly urged) is sure to fetch out some- as killed and buried, the Kentish dame, as thing; at least, of course, if no suspicion a sensible woman, preferred the charm of a arises of a touchstone. Wherefore now there bird in the hand. were three persons, all of the better sex, in Of these there were at least half a dozen much discomfort about Hilary. ensnared and ready to be caged for life, if Of these, the first was his excellent grand- Mabel would only have them; and two of mother, Lady Valeria Lorraine, whose mind them could not be persuaded that her nay (though fortified with Plowden, and even meant any thing; for one possessedthe moththe strong Fortescue) was much amiss about er's yea, and the other that of the father. his being dead, and perhaps "incremated," The suitor favored by Mrs. Lovejoy was leaving for evidence not even circumstantial a young physician at Maidstone, Dr. Daniel ashes. Proof of this, however invalid, would Calvert, a man of good birth and conneehave caused her great distress-for she real- tions, and having prospects of good fortune. ly loved and was proud of the youth; but The grower, on the other hand, had now the absence of proof, and the probability of found out the very son-in-law he wantedits perpetual absence (for to prove a man EliasJenkins, a steady young fellow, the son dead is to prove a negative, according to re- of a maltster at Sevenoaks, who had bought cent philosophers), as well as the prospect all the barley of old Applewood Farm for of complications after the simplest solution, forty years and upward. Elias was terkept this admirable lady's ever-active mind ribly smitten with Mabel, and suddenly in more activity than was good for it. found quite a vigorous joy in the planting ALICE LORRAINE. 119 and pruning of fruit-trees, and rode over that you may-I'll soon put a stop to that. almost every day, throughout both March A pill-grinder at Applewood Farm indeed! and April, to take lessons, as he said, in But I did not know you was jealous!" grafting and training pears, and planting "Jealous! No, no, sir; I scorn the action. cherries, and various other branches of the But when there are two, you know, why, it gentle craft of gardening. Of course the makes it not half so nice for one, you know." grower could do no less than offer him din- Squire Lovejoy, however, soon discovered ner at every visit, in spite of Mrs. Lovejoy's that he had been a little too confident in frowns; and Elias, with a smiling face and pledging himself to keep the maltster's rival blushing cheeks, would bring his chair as off the premises. For Mrs. Lovejoy, being a close as he could to Mabel's, and do his best very resolute woman in a little way, at once in a hearty way to make himself agreeable. began to ache all over, and so effectually to And in this he succeeded so far, that his an- groan, that, instead of having the doctor gel did not in the least dislike him; but to once a week, she was obliged to have him at think of him twice after Hilary was such an least three times. And it was not very long insult to all intelligence! The maiden would before the young physician's advice was have liked the maltster a great deal better sought for a still more interesting patient. than she did, if only he would have dropped For the daughter and prime delight of the his practice of "popping the question" be- house, the bright sweet-tempered Mabel, infore he left every Saturday afternoon. But stead offreshening with the spring, and budhe knew that Sunday is a dangerous day; ding with new roses, began to get pale, and and as he could not well come grafting then, thin, and listless, and to want continually to he thought it safer to keep a place in her go to church, and not to care about her dinthoughts until the Monday. ner. Her eagerness for divine service, how"Try her again, lad," the grower used to ever, could only be gratified on Sundays; say. " Odds bobs, my boy, don't run away for the practice of reading the prayers to the from her. Young gals must be watched for, pillars twelve times a week was not yet in and caught on the hop. If they won't say vogue. The novelty, therefore, of Mabel's yes' before dinner, have at them again in desire made the symptom all the more alarmthe afternoon, and get them into the mead- ing; and her father perceived that so strange ows, and then go on again after supper-time. a case called peremptorily for medical advice. Some take the courting kindest of a morn- But she, for a long time, did nothing but ing, and some at meal-time, and some by the quote against himself his own opinion of moonlight." the professors of the healing art; while she "Well, sir, I have tried her in all sorts of stoutly denied the existence on her part of ways, and she won't say'yes'to one of them. any kind of malady. And so, for a while, I begin to be tired of Saturdays now. I she escaped the doctor. have a great mind to try of a Friday." Meanwhile she was fighting very bravely "Ay!" cried the grower, looking at him with deep anxiety and long suspense. And as the author of a great discovery. "Sure the struggle was the more forlorn, and weaenough now, try on Fridays-market-day, risome, and low-hearted, because she must as I am a man " battle it out in silence, with none to sym"Well, now, to think of that!" said Elias; pathize, and (worse than that) with every "what a fool I must have been, to keep on body condemning her mutely for the conflict. so with Saturd`ay! The mistress goes against Her father had a true and hearty liking for me, I know; and that always tells up with young Lorraine, preferring him greatly-so the maidens. But I must have something far as mere feeling went-to the maltster. settled, squire, before next malting season." But his views for his daughter were differ" You shall, you shall indeed, my lad; you ent, and he thought it high time that her may take my word for it. That only stands folly should pass. Her mother, on the othto reason. Shilly-shally is a game I hate; er hand, would have rejoiced to see her the and no daughter of mine shall play at it. wife of Hilary; but had long made up her But I blame you more than her, my boy. mind that he would never return alive from You don't know how to manage them. Take Spain, and that Mabel might lose the best them by the horns. There is nothing like years of her life in waiting for a doomed soltaking them by the horns, you know." dier. Gregory Lovejoy alone was likely to "Yes, to be sure; if one only knew the side with his sister for the sake of Lorraine, proper way to do it, sir. But missie slips the friend whom he admired so much; and away so quick like; I never can get hold of Gregory had transmitted to her sweet little her. And then the mistress has that fellow messages and loving words, till the date of Calvert over here almost every Sunday." the capture of Badajos. But this one con"Aha!" cried the grower, with a knowing soler and loyal friend was far away from her wink, "that is her little game, is it now? all this time, having steadfastly eaten his That is why she has aches and pains, and way to the Bar, and received his lofty vocasuch a very sad want of tone, and failure of tion. Thereupon Lovejoy paid five guineas power in her leaders! Leave it to me, lad- for his wig, and a guinea for the box thereof, 120 ALICE LORRAINE. gave a frugal but pleasant " call party," andc might happen to be altogether wrong. I'm being no way ashamed of his native county, a great mind not to go *over at all. My faor his father's place therein, sturdily shoul- ther was an honest man before me." dered the ungrateful duties of "junior," on In this state of mind he sat cown to breakthe home circuit. Of course he did not ex- fast, bright with reflections of Gregory's glopect a brief until his round was trodden ry, yet dashed irregularly with doubts of the well; but he never failed to be in court; honesty of its origin, till, in quite his old and his pleasant temper and obliging wvays manner, he made up his mind to keep his soon began to win him friends. His mother own counsel about the thing and ride over was delighted with all this; but the frank- to the county town, leaving Applewood none lin grumbled heavily at the bags he had to the wiser. For John Shorne had orders the fill with money, to be scattered, as he verily night before to keep his message quiet, which believed, among the senior lawyers. an old market-hand could be trusted to do; Now the summer Assizes were held at and as for the ladies, the grower was sure Maidstone about the beginning of July; that they knew much less and cared much and Gregory had sent word from London, by less about the Assizes than about the washJohn Shorne, that he must be there, and ing-day. So he went to his stables about would spend one night at home, if his father nine o'clock, with enough of his Sunday raiwould send a horse for him, by the time ment on to look well but awake no excitew-hen his duties were over. His duties of Iment, and taking a good horse, he trotted the day consisted. mainly in catering for the away with no other token behind him exbar mess, and attending diligently thereto; cept that he might not be home at dinnerand now he saw the wisdom of the rule which time, but might bring a stranger to supper, makes a due course of feeding essential to perhaps; and they ought to have something the legal aspirant. A hundred examinations roasted. would never have qualified him for the bar "Pride," as a general rule, of course, " gomess; whereas a long series of Temple din- eth before a fall;" but the father's pride in ners had taught him most thoroughly what the present instance was so kindly and simto avoid. ple that Nature waived her favorite law andl The grower was filled with vast delight stopped Fortune from upsetting him. Alat the idea of marching into court and say- though when he entered the court he did ing to all the best people of the town, " Pray not find his son in confidential chat with allow me to pass, sir. My son is here some- the lord-chief-justice, nor even in grave dewhere, I believe. A fresh-colored barrister, liberation with a grand solicitor, but getif you please, ma'am, with curly hair below ting the worst of a conflict with an exorbihis wig. Ah yes, there he is! But his lord- tant fish-monger; and though the townsship is whispering to him, I see; I must not people were not scared as much as they interrupt them." And therefore, although should have been by the wisdom of Gregohis time might be worth a crown an hour, ry's collected front, neither did the latter ere his son's fetched a penny, he strove in look a quarter so wise as his father; yet a vain against the temptation to go over and turn of luck put all things right, and even look at Gregory. Before breakfast he fid- did substantial good. For the grower at geted over his fields, and was up for being sight of his son was not to be stopped by down upon every one-just to let them know any door-keeper, but pushed his way into that this sort of talent is hereditary. His the circle of forensic dignity, and there saworkmen winked at one another, and said luted Gregory with a kiss on the band of (as soon as he was gone by) that he must his horse-hair, and patted him loudly on the have got out the wrong side of the bed, or back, and challenging, with a quick, proud else the old lady had been rating of him. glance, the opinions of the bar and bench, He (in the greatness of his thoughts) exclaimed, in a good round Kentish tone, strode on, and from time to time worked his "Well done, my boy! Hurra for Greg! lips and cast sharp glances at every gate- Gentlemen all, I'll be dashed if my son doth post in the glow of imaginary speech. He not look about the wisest of all of'ee." could not feel that his son, on the whole, was Loud titters ran the horse-hair round, and a cleverer fellow than himself had been; more solid laughter stirred the crowd, while and he played the traitor to knife and spade the officers of the court cried "Hush!" and by hankering after gown and wig. " If my the lord-chief-justice and his learned brothfather," he said, "had only given me the er looked at the audacious grower; while chance I am giving Gregory, what might I he, with one hand on each shoulder of his be now? One of these same barons as ter- son, gazed around and nodded graciously. rify us with their javelins and gallows, and "Who is this person -this gentleman, I sit down with white tippets on. Or if my mean l" asked the lord-chief-justice, correctmanners wasn't good enough for that, who ing himself through courtesy to young Lovecould ever keep me from standing up and joy. defying all the villains for to put me down "My father, my lord," answered Gregory, so long as I spoke justice? And yet that like a man, though blushing like his sister ALICE LORRAINE. 121 Mabel. "He has not seen me for a long "No, father, no more about him," said time, my lord, and he is pleased to see me in Gregory, sadly and submissively. "I wish this position." I had never brought him here." "Ay, that I am, my lord," said the grower,. No harm, my son; no harm whatever. making his bow with dignity. "I could not That little fancy must be quite worn out. abide it at first; but his mother-ah, what Elias is not overbright, as we know; but he would she say to see him now? Martin is a steady and worthy young fellow, and Lovejoy, my lord, of old Applewood Farm, will make her a capital husband." very much at your lordship's service." "Well, that is the main.point after allThe judge was well pleased with this lit- a steadfast man who will stick to her. But tie scene, and kindly glanced at Gregory, of you must not hurry her, father, now. That ~whom he had heard as a diligent pupil from would:be the very way to spoil it." his intimate friend, Mr. Malahide; and being " Hark to him, hark to him!" cried the a man who missed no opportunity -as.his grower. "A counselor with a vengeance! present position pretty clearly showed he The first thing he does is to counsel his fasaid to the gratified franklin, "Mr. Lovejoy, ther how to manage his own household!" I shall be glad to see you, if you can spare Gregory did his best to smile; but the me half an hour, after the court has risen." sunset in his eyes showed something more These few words procured two.briefs'for like the sparkle of a tear; and then they Gregory at the next Assizes, and thus set rode on in silence. him forth on his legal course; though the judge of course wanted- as the bar knew well-rather to receive than to give advice. CHAPTER XLIV; For his lordship was building a mansion inLIV. Kent, and laying out large fruit-gardens, AFTER sunset, Mabel Lovejoy went a litwhich he meant to stock with best sorts in tie way up the lane leading toward the Maidthe autumn; and it struck him that a pro- stone Road, on the chance of meeting her fafessional grower, such as he knew Mr. Love- ther. The glow of the west glanced back joy to be, would be far more likely to ad- from the trees, and twinkled in the hedgevise him well, than the nurserymen who rows, and clustered in the traveler's-joy, and commend most abundantly whatever they here and there lay calmly waning on patches have in most abundance. of mould that suited it. Good birds were When the grower had laid down the law looking for their usual roost, to hop in and to the judge upon the subject of fruit-trees, out, and to talk about it, and to flap their and invited him to come and see them in wings and tails, until they should get sleepy. bearing as soon as time allowed of it, he set But the thrush, the latest songster now, since off in high spirits with his son, who had dis- the riot of the nightingale, was cleaning his charged'his duties, but did not dine with beak for his even-song; and a cock-robin, his bretllien of the wig. To do the thing in proud on the top of a pole, was clearing his proper style a horse.was hired for Gregory, throat, after feeding his young-the third and they trotted gently, enjoying the even- family of the season! The bats were waiting, along the fairest road in England. Mr. ing for better light; but a great stagbeetle Lovejoy was not very quick of perception, came out of the ivy, treading the'air perpenand yet it struck him once or twice that his dicularly, with heavy antlers balanced. son was not very gay, and did not show All these things fluttered in Mabel's heart, much pleasure at coming home; and at last and made her sad, yet taught her not to dwell he asked him suddenly, too much in sadness. Here were all things " What are you thinking of, Greg, my boy? large and good, and going on for a thousand All this learning is as lead on the brain, as ages, with very little difference. When the your poor grandfather used to say. A pen- cock-robin died, and the thrush was shot, ny for your thoughts, my lord-chief-jus- there would be quite enough to come after tice." them. When the leaf that glanced the sun" Well, father, I was not thinking of law- set dropped, the bud for next year would be books, nor even of-well, I was thinking of up in its place. Even if the trees went down nothing, except poor little Mabel." before the storms of winter, fine young sap"Ay, ay, John has told you, I suppose, lings grew between them, and would be glad how little she eats, and how pale she gets. of their light and air. Therefore, Mabel, No wonder either, with all the young fel- weary not the ever-changing world with lows plaguing and pothering after her so. woe. Between you and me, Master Gregory, I hope She did not reason thus, nor even think at to see her married by the malting-time. all aboutit. From timeto time she looked, Now, mind, she will pay a deal of heed to and listened for her father's Galloway, and you now that you are a full-blown counsel- the heavy content of the summer night shed or: young Jenkins is the man, remember; gentle patience round her. As yet she had no more about'that young, dashing Lor- no sense of wrong, no thought of love beraine."8 trayed, nor even any dream of fickleness. 8 122 ALICE LORRAINE. Hilary was still to her the hero of all chiv- the corner of the lane, "Now, don't be long airy, the champion of the blameless shield, with your confab, children; I have scarcely the Bayard of her life's romance. But now had a bit to eat to-day, and I won't have my he lay wounded in a barbarous land, per- supper spoiled for you." haps dead, with no lover to bury him. The Gregory thought it a very bad sign that pointed leaves of an old oak rustled, a rab- Mabel sent no little joke after her father, as bit ran away with his scut laid down, a wea- she used to do. Then he threw his firm arm sel from under a root peered out, and the del- around her waist, and led her homeward siicate throat of the sensitive girl quivered lently. But even by his touch and step she with bad omens-for she had not the cour- knew that there was no good news for her. age of Alice Lorraine. " Oh, Gregory, what is it all about?" she Through the slur of the night wind (such cried, with one hand on his shoulder, and her as it makes in July only), and the random soft eyes deeply imploring him. "You must lifting of outer leaves-too thick to be dealt have some message for me at last. It is so with properly-and the quivering loops of long since I had any. He is so kind, he would dependent danglers-who really hoped that never leave me without any message all this they might sleep at last-and then the fall- time, unless-unless-" away of all things from their interruption "He is wounded, you know; how can he to the sweetest of all sweet relapse, and the write?" asked Gregory, with some irony. deepest depth of quietude; Mabel heard, "Until he was wounded, how many times through all of these, the lively sound of did I bring you fifty thousand kisses'" horses' feet briskly ringing on a rise of "Oh, it is not that I was thinking of, ground. For the moment some folly of fan- though I am sure that was very nice of him. cy took her, so that she leaned against a gate, Ah, you need not be laughing, Gregory dear, and would have been glad to get over it. as if you would not do the same to Phyllis. She knew how unfit she was to meet him. But do tell me what you have heard, dear At last he was coming, with her father, to brother; I can put up with any thing bether! She had not a thing on fit to look at. ter than doubt." And he must have seen such girls in Spain. "Are you quite sure of that, darling Mlab? Oh, how cruel of him to come, and take her Can you make up your mind for some very by surprise so! But perhaps, after all, it was bad news?" herself, and not her clothes, he would care "I have not been used to it, Gregory. I for. However, let him go on to the house- -I have always been so happy. Is he dead? if she kept well into the gate-post-and then Only say that he is not dead 1" she might slip in and put on her dress-the " No, he is not dead. Sit down a moment, buff frock he admired so; and if it was much under this old willow, while I fetch some too large in the neck, he would know for water for you." whose sake it became so. "I can not sit down till I know the worst. "What! Mabel, Mab, all out here alone; If he is not dead, he is dying of his wounds. and trying to hide from her own brother!" Oh, my darling Hilary!" Gregory jumped from his horse and caught " He is not dying; he is much better, and her, and even in the waning light was fiight- will soon rejoin his regiment." ened as she looked at him. Then she fell on "Then why did you frighten me so for his neck, and kissed and kissed him. Bitter nothing? Oh, how cruel it was of you! I as her disappointment was, it was something really thought I was going to faint-a thing to have so dear a brother; and she had not I have never done in my life. You bring me seen him for so long, and he must have some the best news in the world, and you spoil it news of Hilary. He felt her face, all wet by your way of telling it." with tears, turned up to him over and over "Don't be in such a hurry, darling. I again, and he felt how she trembled, and how wish that was all I have to tell you. But slim she was, and he knew in a moment what you have plenty of pride now, haven't you 7" it meant; and in his steadfast heart arose "I-I don't know a.t all, I am sure; but something that must have been a deep oath, I suppose I am the same as other girls." but for much deeper sorrow. And then, like "If you thought that Lorraine was una m.an, he controlled it all. worthy of you, you could make up your mind "I will walk with you, darling, and lead to forget him, I hope." my horse; or, father, perhaps you will take " I never could do such a thing, because the bridle, and tell mother to be ready for I never could dream it of Hilary. He is my us. Mab is so glad to see me that she must better in every way. From feeling myself not be hurried over it." unworthy of him I might perhaps try to do "Bless my heart! said the grower; "what without him; but, as to forgetting hima heap of gossip you chits of children always never!" have. And nothing pleases you better than "Not even if he forgot you, Mabel 1" keeping your valued parents in the dark." "He can not do it," she answered proudWith this little grumble he rode on, lead- ly. "He has promised never to forget me. ing Gregory's horse, and shouting back, at And no gentleman ever breaks a promise." ALICE LORRAINE.- 123 "Then Hilary Lorraine is no gentleman. dence, Mabel. Would you rather have them He has forgotten you, and is deeply in love of another regiment?" with a Spanish lady." " Certainly not. I am very glad that they Kind and good brother as he was, he had were of poor Hilary's regiment; because told his bad news too abruptly in his indig- that proves they were story-tellers. There nation. Mabel looked up faintly at him; is not an officer in his own regiment that and was struck in the heart so that she can help being jealous of him. After the could not speak. But the first of the tide noble things he has done! How dull you of a sea of tears just moved beneath her eye- must be, not to see it all! I must come to lids. the Assizes, instead of you. Well, what a "Now, come into supper, that's a dear," cry I have had for nothing!" whispered Gregory, frightened by the silent "Mabel, you are a noble girl. I am sure springs of sorrow. " If you are not at the you deserve the noblest sweetheart." table, poor darling, every thing will be up- "And I have got him," said Mabel, smilside down, and every body uncomfortable." ing; " and I won't let him go. And I won't He spoke like a fool, confounding coarsely believe a single word against him, until he her essence and her instincts. And perhaps tells me that it is true himself. Do you some little turn of contrast broke the seals think that he vwould not have written to of anguish. She looked up, and she smiled, me, even with the stump of his left hand, to show her proper sense of duty; and then and said,' Mabel, I am tired of you; Mabel, (without knowledge of what she did) she I have seen prettier girls, and more of my pressed her right hand to her heart, and own rank in life; Mabel, you must try to leaned on a rail, and fell forward into a tor- forget me' When he does that, I shall cry rent of shameless weeping. She was as a in earnest; and there will be no more Malittle child once more, whose soul is over- bel." whelmed with woe. And all along the hol- "Come in to supper my pet," said Greglow hedges went the voice of sobbing. ory. And she came in to supper, with her "Now do shut up," said Gregory, when sweet eyes shining. lie had borne it as long as a man can bear. "What is the good of it Mabel, now, I thought you had more sense than this. After all, it may be false, you know." CHAPTER XLV. "It is not false; it is what I have felt. You would not have told me, if it had been NEAR the head of a pass of the Sierra false. It has come from some dreadfully Morena, but out of the dusty, track of war, low, mean person, who spies him only too there stood a noble mansion, steadfast from accurately." and to unknown ages. The Moorish origin, "Now, Mabel, you are quite out of your- here and there, was boldly manifest among self. You never did say nasty things. There Spanish, French, and Italian handiwork, is nobody spying Lorraine at all. I should both of repair and enlargement. The builddoubt if he were worth it. Only it is well ing must have looked queer at times, with known in the regiment (and I had it on the new and incongruous elements; but the best authority) that he-that he-" summer sun and the storms of winter had "That he does what? And is that all enforced among them harmony. So that your authority? I am beginning to laugh now this ancient castle of the counts of at the whole of it." Zamora was a grand and stately pile in tone, "Then laugh, my dear Mabel. I wish as well as height and amplitude. that you would. It is the true way of re- The position also had been chosen well; garding such things." for it stood near the line of the water-shed, I dare say it may be for you great men. commanding northward the beautiful valley And you think that poor women can do the of the Guadiana, and southward the plains' same; rwhen indeed there is nothing to laugh of the Guadalquivir; so that, as the morning at. I scarcely think that you ought to sug- mists rolled off, the towers of Merida might gest the idea of laughing, Gregory. The be seen, and the high ground above Badajos; best authority, you said. Is that a thing to vwhile far on the opposite sky-line flashed laugh at?" the gilt crosses of Cordova; and sometimes, "Well, perhaps-perhaps it was not the when the distance lifted, a glimpse was afbest authority, after all. It was only two forded of the sunbeams quivering over Seofficers of his regiment, who know my friend ville. And here, toward the latter end of Capper, who lives in chambers." August, 1812, Hilary Lorraine was a guest, "A gentleman living in chambers, indeed, and all his wishes law-save one. to revile poor Hilary, who has been through The summer had been unusually hot, even the wall! And two officers of his regiment! for the south of Spain; and a fifth part of Greg, I did think that you had a little more the British army was said to be in hospital. sense." This may have been caused in some degree "Well, it seems to me pretty good evi- by their habits of drinking and plundering; 124 ALICE LORRAINE. which even Lord Wellington declared him- ped him. A cock of two lustres had been self unfit to cope with. To every division slain in some of the outer premises; and of his army he appointed twenty provost- old Teresina stole down in the night, and marshals; whereas two hundred would not behold, in the morning, the patient's wound have been enough to hang these heroes punc- had most evidently burst forth again. Hiltually. The patriotic Spaniards, also, could ary was surprised, but could not doubt the not see why they should not have some testimony of his eyes; neither could the comfort from their native land. Therefore licentiate of medicine now attending him. they overran it well, with bands of fine fel- But now, in the breath of the evening lows of a warlike cast, and having strong breeze, setting inland from the Atlantic, tendencies toward good things; and'these Lorraine was roving for the latest time in were of much use to the British, not only the grounds of Monte Argento. At three by stopping the Frenchmen's letters, but in the morning he must set forth, with horses also by living at large and gratis, so that provided by his host, on his journey to headthe British, who sometimes paid, became quarters. The count wras known as a patriwhite sheep by the side of them. otic, wise, and wealthy noble, both of whose One of the fiercest of these guerrillas-or sons were fighting bravely in the Spanish " partidas," as they called themselves-was army; and through his influence Lorraine the notorious Mina; and for lieutenant he had been left to hospitality instead of hoshad a man of lofty birth, and once good pitals, which in truth had long been overposition, a certain Don Alcides d'Alcar, a worked. But Major Clumps had returned nephew of the Count of Zamora. to his duty long ago, with a very sore heart, This man had run through every real of when he found from the Donna Camilla that a large inheritance, and had slain many gen- "she liked him very much indeed, but could tlemen in private brawls; and his country never induce herself to love him." With was growing too hot to hold him, when the the sharp eye of jealousy, that brave major French invasion came. The anarchy that spied in Hilary the cause of this, and could ensuedl was just the very thing to suit him; not be brought to set down his name any and he raised a small band of uncertain more in his letters homeward, or at any rate young fellows, and took to wild life in the not for a very long time. mountains. At first they were content to Lorraine, in the calm of this summer rob weak foreigners without escort; but evening, with the heat-clouds moving eastthriving thus and growing stronger, very ward, and the ripple of refreshment softly soon they enlarged their views. And so wooing the burdened air, came to a little they improved, from year to year, in every bower, or rather a natural cove of rock and style of plunder; and being authorized by leaf, wherein (as he knew) the two fair sisthe Juntas, and favored by British generals, ters loved to watch the even-tide weaving did harm on a large scale to their country; hill and glen with shadow before the rapid and when they were tired of that, to the twilight waned. There was something here French. that often brought his native Southdowns Hilary had heard from Camilla much to his mind, though the foliage was so difabout Alcides d'Alcar; but Claudia had ferent. Instead of the rich deep gloss of the never spoken of him-only blushing proud- beech, the silvery stir of the aspen-tree, and ly when the patriot's name was mentioned, the feathery droop of the graceful birch, Camilla said that he was a man of extraor- here was the round monotony of the olive dinary size and valor; enough to frighten and the lemon tree, the sombre depth of the any body, and much too large to please her. ilex, and the rugged lines of the cork-tree, And here she glanced at Hilary softly, and relieved, it is true, just here and there by dropped her eyes, in a way to show that he the symmetry of the silver fir, and the elewas of the proper size to please her-if he gant fan of the palm. But what struck cared to know it. He did not care a piastre Lorraine, and always irked him under these to know it; but was eager about Alcides. Southern trees and skies, was the way in "Oh, then, you had better ask Claudia," which the foliage cut its outline oversharpCamilla replied, with a sisterly look of very ly; there was none of that hovering softsubtle import; and Claudia, with her proud ness, and sweetly fluctuating margin, by walk, passed, and glanced at them both dis- which a tree inspires affection as well as dainfully. admiration. Now the victory of Salamanca, and his Unluckily now Lorraine had neither afsorry absence thence, and after that the fection nor admiration left for the innocent triumphant entry of the British into Madrid beauty of nature's works. His passion for -although they were soon turned out again Claudia was become an overwhelming and -began to work in Hilary's mind, and make noxious power, a power that crushed for the him eager to rejoin. Three weeks ago he time and scattered all his better elements. had been reported almost fit to do so, and He had ceased to be light-hearted and to lhad been ready to set forth; but Spanish make the best of every thing, to love the ladies are full of subtlety, and Camilla stop- smiles of children, and to catch a little joke ALICE LORRAINE. 125 and return it. He had even ceased to talk "Alas! dear captain," she said in Spanish, to himself, as if his conscience had let him which Hilary was quite pat with now;" we know that he was not fit to be talked to. have been lamenting your brief departure. All the waking hours he passed, in the ab- How shall we live when you are lost?" sence of his charmer, were devoted to the "What cruelty of yourselves to think! study of Spanish, and he began to despise The matter of your inquiry should be the his own English tongue. "There is no mel- chance of my survival." ody in it, no rhythm, no grand sonorous maj- Well said!" she exclaimed. "You Enesty," he used to complain; "it is, like its glish are not so very stupid after all. Why owners, harsh, uncouth, and countrified." do you not clap your hands, Camilla?" After this, what. can any one do but pity Camilla, being commanded thus, made a himn for his state of mind? weak attempt with her little palms; but her Whether Claudia returned his passion- heart was down too low for any brisk confor sutch it was rather than true affection cussion of flesh or air. was still a very doubtful point, though the "I believe, Master Captain," said Claudia, most important in all the world. Generally throwing herself gracefully on a white bull's she seemed to treat him with a pleased con- hide-shaped as a chair on the slopes of tempt, as if he were a pleasant boy, though moss-" that you are most happy to make several years older than herself. Her clear your escape from this long and dull imprisdark eyes. were of such a depth that, though onment. Behold how little we have done she was by no means chary of their precious for you, after all the brave things you have glances, he had never been able to reach done for us!" that inmost light which comes from the "Ah, no," said Camilla, gazing sadly at very heart. How different from somebody's the "captain," who would not gaze at her; -of whom he now thought less and less, "it is true that we have done but little. and vainly strove to think no more, because Yet, sefior, we meant our best." of the shame that pierced him! But if this "Your kindness to me has been wonderSpanish maiden really did not care about ful, magnificent!" answered Hilary. "The him, why did she try, as she clearly did, to days I have passed under your benevolence conquer and subdue him? Why did she have been the happiest of my life." shoot such glances at him as Spanish eyes Hereupon Camilla turned away, to hide alone can shoot; why bend her graceful neck her tenderness of tears. But Claudia had so sweetly, slope her delicate head so gently, no exhibition, except a little smile, to hide. showing the ripe, firm curve of cheek, and "And will you come again?" she asked. with careless dancings let her raven hair "Will you ever think of us any more, in the fall into his? Hilary could not imagine scenes of your grand combats, and the fierce why; but poor Camilla knew too well. If delight of glory?" ever Camilla felt for a moment the desira- "Is it possible for me to forget " —began bility of any one, Claudia (with her bolder Hilary, in his noblest Spanish-" your conmanners, and more suddenly striking beau- stant care of a poor stranger, your neverty, andlessdignified love of conquest) might fatigued attention to him, and thy thy be relied upon to rush in and attract the saving of his life? To thee I owe my life, whole attention. and will at any moment render it." Hilary found these lovely sisters in their This was a little too'much for Camilla, little cove of rock, where the hot wind sel- who really had saved him; and being too dom entered through the fringe of hanging young to know how rarely the proper perfrond. They had a clever device oftheirown son gets the praise, she gathered up her for welcoming the Atlantic breeze by means things to: go. of a silken rope which lifted all the screen "Darling Claudia," she exclaimed, "I can of fern, and creeper, and of gray rock-ivy. do nothing at all without my little silver Now the screen was up and the breeze spinetta. This steel thing is so rusty that flowing in, meeting a bright rill bubbling out it fills my work with canker. You know the (whose fountain was in the living rock), and danger of rusty iron, Claudia, is it not so?" the clear obscurity was lighted with forms "She is cross," said Claudia, as her sister, as bright as poetry. Camilla's comely head with gentle dignity, left the cove. " What had been laid on the bosom of her sister, as can have made her so cross to-day?" if she had made some soft appeal for mercy "The saints are good to me," Hilary anor indulgence there. And Claudia had been swered, little suspecting the truth of the moved a little, as the glistening of her eye- case; they grant rle the chance of saying lids showed, and a tender gleam in her ex- what I have long desired to say to you." pression-the one and the only thing re- "To me, senlor!" cried the maiden, disquired to enrich her brilliant beauty. And playing a tremulous glow in her long black thus, without stopping to think, she came eyes, and managing to blush divinely, and up to Hilary, with a long, kind glance, and then, in the frankness of her.nature, caring gave a little sigh, worth more than even not to conceal a sigh. "It can not be to me, that sweet glance to him. seior!" 126 ALICE LORRAINE. " To you-to you, of all the worlds, of all band of her hair, and covered it with kisses, the heavens, and all the angels!" the fervent and then bestowed the same attentions on youth fell upon his knees before his lovely the white bull-skin where her form had lain. idol, and seized the hand she began to press " The loveliest creature ever seen is mine! to her evidently bounding heart, and drew What can I have done to deserve her?" her toward him, and thought for the mo- While he lay in the ecstasy of his triumph, ment that she was glad to come to him. the loveliest creature ever seen stole swiftThen, in his rapture, he stroked aside her ly up a rocky path, beset with myrtle and loose and deliciously fragrant hair, and wait- cornel-wood, and canopied with climbers. ed, with all his heart intent, for the price- After some intricate turns, and often watchless glance-to tell him all. But, strongly ing that no one followed her, she came to moved as she was, no doubt, by his impas- the door of a little hut embosomed in towersioned words and touch, and the sympathy ing chestnut-trees. The door was open, and of youthful love, she kept her oval eyelids a man of great stature was lounging on a down, as if she feared, to let him see the couch too short for his legs, and smoking a completion of his conquest. Then, as he cigar of proportions more judiciously adaptfain would have had her nearer, and folded ed to his own. Near one of his elbows stood in his eager arms, she gently withdrew, and a very heavy carbine, and a sword threeturned away; but allowed him to hear one quarters of a fathom long, and by his other little sob, and to see tears irrepressible. hand lay a great pitcher empty and rolled "You loveliest of all lovely beings," be- over. gan Lorraine, in very decent Spanish, such As the young donna's footfall struck his as herself had taught him; "and at the ears, he leaped from his couch and cocked same time, you best and dearest-" his gun; then, recognizing the sound, re" Stop, sefior," she whispered, gazing sad- placed it, and stood indolently at his door. ly, and then playfully, at this prize of her "At last you are come, then!" he said, eyes and slave of her lips; "I must not al- with an accent decidedly of the Northern low you to say so much. You will leave us provinces (not inborn, however, but caught to-morrow, and forget it all. What is the from comrades);'"Ithought that you meant use of this fugitive dream?" to let me die of thirst. You forget that I Hereupon the young soldier went through have lost the habit of this execrable heat." the usual protestations of truth, fidelity, Claudia looked up at her cousin Don Aldevotion, and eternal memory; so thorough- cides d'Alcar-or, as he loved to be called, ly hurried and carried away, that he used' the great brigadier"-with a very differin another tongue the words poured forth ent gaze from any poor Hilary could win of scarcely a year ago to a purer, truer, and her. To this man alone the entire treasnobler love. ures of her heart were open; for him alone "Alas!" the young donna now mimicked, her glorious eyes no longer sparkled, flashed, in voice and attitude, some deserted one; or played with insincere allurements, but "to how many beautiful English maidens beamed and shone with depths of light, and have these very noble words been used! profusion of profoundest love. You cavaliers are all alike. I will say no "Darling," she said, as she stood on tipmore to you now, brave captain; the proof toe, and sweetly pacified him, "I have laof truth is not in words, but in true and bored in vain to come sooner to you. Your devoted actions. You know our proverb- commands took a long time to execute, sir.'The cork is noisiest when it leaves the You men can scarcely understand such bottle.' If you would have me bear you in things. And that tiresome Camilla hung mind, you must show that you remember about me; I thought my occasion would me." never arrive. But all has gone well: he is "At the cost of my life, of my good repute, my slave forever." of all that I have in the world, or shall have, "You did not allow him to embrace you, of every thing but my hope of you." I trust?" Before he could finish his scowl, "I shall remember these words, my cap- she stopped his mouth, and re-assured him. tain; and perhaps I shall put them to the "Is it to be imagined A miserable test some day." shaveling Briton!" But though she looked She gave him her soft and trembling so indignant, she knew how near she had hand, and he pressed it to his lips, and sought been to that ignominy. to impress a still more loving seal; but she "You are as clever as you are lovely," ansaid "Not yet, not yet, oh, beloved one!" Or swered the brigadier, well pleased. " But whether she said "oh, enamored one!" he I die of thirst, my beloved one. Fly swiftcould not be quite certain. And before he ly to Teresina's store; for I dare not venture could do or say any thing more, she had till the night has fallen. Would that you passed from his reach, and was gliding swift- could manage your father as you wind those ly under the leafy curtain of that ever-sacred striplings round your spindle!" bower. " She is mine, she is mine!" cried For the Count of Zamora had given oryoung Lorraine, as he caught up the velvet ders that his precious nephew should be shot, ALICE LORRAINE. 127 if ever found upon land of his. So Claudia men; and this he would perhaps have done took the empty pitcher, to fetch another in a quarter of the time it cost, if his own half-skin of wine, as well as some food, for country had only shown due faith in his the great brigadier; and, having performed abilities. But the grandeur of his name this duty, met the infatuated Hilary, for the grew slowly (as the fame of Marcellus grew, last time, at her father's board. She wished like a tree in the hidden lapse of time; and him good-night, and good-bye, with a glance perhaps no other general ever won so many of deep meaning and kind encouragement; victories before his country began to dream while the fair Camilla bent over his hand, that he could be victorious. and then departed to her chamber, with full Now this great man was little, if at all, eyes and an empty heart. inferior to his mighty rival in that prime necessity of a commander-insight into his material. He made a point of learning exactly what each of his officers was fit for; and APTER XLTVTI. he seldom failed, in all his warfare, to put CHAPTER XLVI. the " right man in the right place.", He saw IN those old times of heavy pounding, at a glance that Lieutenant Lorraine was a scanty food, and great hardihood, when war gallant and chivalrous young fellow, active was not accounted yet as one of the ex- and clever in his way, and likely to be very act sciences, and soldiers slept, in all sorts useful on the staff after a littletraining. And of weather, without so much as a blanket so many young aids had fallen lately, or were round them, much less a snug tent over- upon the sick-list, that the quartermasterhead, the duties of the different branches general was delighted with a recruit so inof the service were not quite so distinct as telligent and zealous as Hilary soon proved they are now. Lieutenant Lorraine-for the himself. And after a few lessons in his dnladies had given over-rapid promotion when ties, he set him to work with might and main they called him their "brave captain" had to improve his knowledge of "colloquial not rejoined his regiment long before he ob- French." tained acknowledgment of his good and gal- With this Lorraine, having gift of tongues, lant actions. Having proved that he could began to grow duly familiar; and the more sit a horse, see distinctly at long distance, so perhaps because his knowledge of "episand speak the Spanish language fairly- tolary English" afforded him very little thanks to the two young Donnas-and pos- pleasure just now. For all his good princisessed some other accomplishments (which ples and kind feelings must have felt rude would now be tested by paper work) he re- shock and shame, when he read three letters ceived an appointment upon the staff, not of from England which reached him o~ the very the Light Division, but at head-quarters, un- same day at Valladolid. The first was from der the very keen eyes of " the hero of a hun- his uncle Struan; and after making every dred fights." allowance for the rector's want of exercise If the brief estimate of his compeers is of in the month of August, Hilary (having perany importance to a man of powerful genius haps a little too much exercise himself) could -as no doubt it must be, by its effect on his not help feeling that the tone was scarcely ~opportunities-then the Iron Duke, though so hearty as usual. The letter was mainly crowned with good luck (as every body call- as follows: ed each triumph of his skill and care), certainly seems to have been unlucky as to the "West Lorraine, Angust 20th, 1812. date of his birth and work. "Providence "MY: DEAR NEPHEW, —Your father and in its infinite wisdom "-to use a phrase of myself have not been favored with any letthe Wesleyans, who claim the great general ters from you for a period of several months. as of kin to their own courageous founder- It appears to me that this is neither dutiful produced him at a time, no doubt, when he nor affectionate; although we know that was uncommonly needful; but when (let you have been wounded, which increased him push his fame as he would, by victory our anxiety. You may have been too bad after victory) there always was a more to write, and I wish to make all allowance gigantic, because a more voracious, glory for you. But where there is a will, there is marching far.in front of him. Our great a way. When I was at Oxford, few men hero never had the chance of terrifying the perhaps in all the University felt more disworld by lopping it limb by limb and de- taste than I did for original Latin composivouring it; and as real glory is the child of tion. Yet every Saturday, when we went to terror(begotten upon itbyviolence),thefame hall to get our battel-bills-there was my of Wellington could never vie with Napole- essay, neatly written, and of sound Latinion's glory. ty."-" Come, come," cried Lorraine; "tthis To him, however, this mattered little, ex- is a little too cool, my dear uncle. How cept that it often impaired his nmeans of dis- many times have I heard you boast what charging his duty thoroughly. His present you used to pay your scout's son per line!" duty was to clear the Peninsula of French- "I can not expect any young man, of 128 ALICE LORRAINE. course," continued the worthy parson, " to tended for my own domestic hearth. Since make such efforts for conscience' sake, as in that time I have not had the pleasure of my youlg days were made cheerfully. But meeting Sir Roland Lorraine in private life. this indolence and dislike of the pen'furcA "And now a few words as to your own expellendum est'-must be expelled with a conduct. Your memory is now so bad that knife and fork. Perhaps you will scarcely you may have forgotten what I did for you. care to hear that your aunt and cousins are At a time when my parish and family were doing well. After your exploits your mem- in much need of my attention, and two large ory seems to have grown very short of poor coveys of quite young birds were lying evfolk i'old England. Your birthday falling ery night in the corner of the Hays, I left on a Sunday this year, I took occasion to al- my home in extremely hot weather, simply lude in the course of my sermon to a mural to be of use to you. My services may have crown, of which I remember to have heard been trifling; but at that time you did not at school. Nobody knew what I meant; think so. It was not my place to interfere but many were more affected than if they in a matter which was for your father's dedid. But, after all, it requires, to my mind, cision. But I so far committed myself, that quite as much courage, and more skill, to if you are fool enough and knave enough — take a dry wall properly, when nobody has for. I never mince language, as your father been over it, than to scramble into Badajos. does-to repudiate your engagement with a Alice will write to you by this post, and tell charming and sensible girl for the sake of you all the gossip of the sad old house, if high-flying but low-minded Papists, much there is any. There seems to: be nobody of the disgrace will fall on me. now with life enough to make much gossip. "And what are those Spanish families (deAnd all that we hear is about Captain Chap- scended perhaps from Don Quixote, or even man (who means to have Alice); and about Sancho Paiza) to compare with Kentish yourself. land-owners, who derive their title from the "About you it is said, though I can not good old Danes? And what are their wornbelieve it, and must be ashamed of you en when they get yellow-as they always do when I do so, that you are making a fool of before twenty-five —compared with an Enyourself with a Spanish lady of birth and glishwomau, who generally looks her best position, but a rank, idolatrous, bigoted Pa- at forty? And not only that (for after all pist! The Lorraines have been always sad- that is a secondary question, as a man grows ly heterodox in religious matters, from age wise), but is a Southern foreigner likely to to age receiving every whim they came make an Englishman happy? Even if she across of. They have taken to astrology, becomes converted from her image-worship Mohammed, destiny, and the gods of Greece, (about which they are very obstinate), can and they never seem to know when to stop. she keep his house for him? Can she manThe only true Church, the Church of En- age an English servant? can she order a gland, never has any hold of them; and if dinner? does she even know when a bed is you would marry a Papist, Hilary, it would aired? can a gentleman dine and sleep at be a judgment. her house after a day's hunting, without "Your father, perhaps, would be very glad having rheumatism, gout, and a bilious atof any looseness of mind and sense that might tack in the morning? All this, you will have the power to lead you astray from my think, can be managed by deputy; and in ideas of honor. I have had a little expla- very large placesit must be so. But I have nation with him; in the course of which, as been a guest in very large places-very much he used stronger language than I at all ap- finer than Coombe Lorraine, however your prove of, I ventured to remind him that from father may have scoffed at me; and I can the very outset I had charged him with what only say that I would rather be the guest I call this low intention, this design of work- of an English country squire or even a paring upon your fickle and capricious temper, son, with a clever and active wife at the head to make you act dishonorably. Your poor of his table, than of a duke with a grand father was much annoyed at this home-truth, French cook, and a duchess who never saw and became so violent and used such unbe- a dust-pan. coming language, that I thought it the more "And if you should marry a Spaniard, clerical course to leave him to reflect upon where are you to get your grand establishit. On the following Sunday I discoursed ment? Your father never saves a farthing, upon the third chapter of the epistle of St. and you are even less likely to do so. And James; but there was only Alice in the as for the lady, she of course will have nothCoombe pew. I saw, however, that' she ing.'My blood is blue because I haVe no more than once turned away her face with breeches,' says one of their poets, feelingshame, although I certainly did not discover ly; and that is the case with all of them. any tears. It is to be hoped that she gave Whereas I have received a little hint, it does Sir Roland an accurate summary of my dis- not matter how or where, that Mabel Lovecourse; none of which (as I explained to joy (who is much too good for any fickle your dear aunt after the service) was in- jackanapes) is down for a nice round sum ALICE LORRAINE. 129 in the will of a bachelor banker at Ton- Why, how she begins, as if I were her thirbridge. Her father and mother do not ty-second cousin ten times removed! And know it, neither do any of her family; but how precious short it is! But what a beauI did not pass my very pleasant holiday in tifully clear, firm hand!" that town for nothing. Every one seemed to understand me, and I was thoroughly "MY DEAR HILARY,-My father, not havpleased with all of them. ing any time to spare just now, and having "But I shall not be pleased at all with you, received no letter frorn you which he might and in good truth you never shall darken desire to answer, has asked me to say that my door, if you yield yourself bound hand we are quite well, and that we are very glad and foot to any of those Dulcineas, or rath- to hear that you seem to have greatly diser Delilahs. I have known a good many tinguished yourself. To hear this must alSpaniards, when Nelson was obliged to take ways be, as you will feel, a pleasure and true them prisoners; they are a dirty, lazy lot, pride to us. At the same time we have been unfit to ride any thing but mules, and they very anxious, because you have been returnpoison the air with garlic. ed in the Gazette as heavily wounded. We "Your aunt and cousins, who have read hope, however, that it is not so, for we have this letter, say that I have been too hard been favored with a very long letter from upon you. The more they argue the more Major Clumps of your regiment to my grandI am convinced that I have been far too mother's dear friend, Lady de Lampnor, in lenient. So that I will only add their loves, which you were spoken of most highly; and and remain, my dear nephew, your affection- since that he has not spoken of you, as he ate uncle, STRUAN HA.ES. must have done, if you were wounded. Pray "P. S.-We expect a very grand shooting let us hear at once what the truth is. Unseason. Last year, through the drought and cle Struan was very rude to my father about heat, there was not a good turnip-field in the you the other day, and used the most vioparish. Birds were very numerous, as they lent language, and preached such a sermon always are in hot seasons, but there was no against himself on Sunday! But he has not getting near them. This season the turnips been up to apologize yet; and I hear from are up to my knees. How I wish that you dear Cecil that he means to tell you all about were here, instead of popping at the red it. He is most thoroughly good, poor dear; legs! Through the great kindness of young but allowances must be made for him. Steenie Chapman I am to have free warren "He will tell you, of course, all the gosof all Sir Remnant's vast estates! But I like sip of the place; which is mainly, as usual, the home-shooting best; and no doubt your about himself. He seemis to attach so much father will come to a proper state of mind importance to what we consider trifles. And before the first. Do not take amiss, my dear he does the most wonderful things someboy, whatever I may have said for your good. times. Scoibe cito. Besponde cras.-Your loving un- " He has taken a boy from the bottom of cle, S. H." our hill-the boy that stole the donkey, and lived upon rags and bottles-and he has him All this long epistle was read by Hilary at the rectory, every day except Sunday, to in the saddle; for he had two horses allow- clean knives and boots. The whole of the ed him now-whenever he could get them village is quite astonished; the boy used to -and now he was cantering with an order run for his life at the sight of dear Uncle to an outpost of the advanced-guard track- Struan, and we can not help thinking that it ing the rear of Clausel. They knew not yet is done just because we could never encourwhat Clausel was-one of the few men who age the boy. ever defied, and yet escaped from Welling- "Papa thinks that you are very likely to ton. The British staff was weak just now, require a little cash just now, for lie knows though freshly recruited with Hilary, or hap- that young officers are poorly paid, even ly the Frenchman might not have succeeded when they can get their money, which is in his brilliant movement. said to be scarce with your brave army now; "He must be terribly put out," said young therefor hle has placed ~100 to your credit Lorraine, meaning neither Clausel, nor Wel- with Messrs. Shotman, for which yon can lington,norNapoleoneven,buthisuncleStru- draw as required; and the money will be an; "there is not a word of any paragon dog, replaced at Christmas. And grandmnammla nor the horses he has bought or chopped, nor begs me to add that she is so pleased with even little Cecil. He must have had a great your success in the only profession fit for a row with my father, and he visits it on this gentleman, that she sends from her own generation. How can he have heard of an- purse twenty guineas, through the hands of gelic Claudia, and connect her with garlic? Messrs. Shotman. And she trusts that you My darling, I know what you are, though will now begin to cultivate frugality. heavy-seated Britons fail to soar to such "With these words I must now conclude, perfection! Now for Alice, I suppose. She prolonging only to convey the kind love of will know how to behave, I should hope. us all, and best desires for your welfare, with 130 ALICE LORRAINE. which I now subscribe myself, your affection- June 7tb, and July 2d. Of course none of ate sister, ALICE LORRAINE. these may have come to hand, as they were "P.S.-DARLING BROTHER,-The above addressed to your regiment, and I do not has been chiefly from that grandmamina. I at all understand how you manage without have leave to write to you now myself; and having any post-town. But I have heard the rest of this piece of paper will hold not through my friend Capper, who knows two a hundredth part of what I want. to say. officers of your regiment, that you were exI am most unhappy about dear papa, and pected to return to duty in July, since which about you, and Uncle Struan and Captain I have vainly expected to hear from you by Chapman, and every body. Nothing goes every arrival. No one, therefore, can charge well; and if you, fight in Spain, we fight me with haste or impatience in asking, at much worse in England. Father is always last, for some explanation of your conduct. thinking, and dwelling upon his thoughts, And this I do with a heavy heart, in consein the library. He knows that he has been quence of some reports which have reached hard upon you; and the better you go on, me from good authority." the more he worries himself about it. Be- " Confound the fellow!" cried the concause he is so thoroughly set upon being just scions Hilary; "how he beats about the to every one. And even concerning a cer- bush! Will he never have it out and be tain young lady-it is not as Uncle Struan done with it? What an abominably legal fancies. You know how headlong he is, and and cold-blooded style! Ah, now for it!" lie can not at all understand our father. My "You must be aware that you have won father has a justice such as my uncle can the warmest regard, and indeed I may say not dream of. But dear papa doubts your the whole heart, of my sister Mabel. This knowledge of your own mind, darling Hil- was much against the wishes and intentions ary. What a low idea of Uncle Struan, that of her friends. She was not thrown in your you were sent to Spain to be tempted! I way to catch the heir to a title, and a rich did not like what happened to you in Kent man's son. We knew that there would be last summer any more than other people many obstacles, and we all desired to predid. But I think that papa would despise vent it. Even I, though carried away by you-and I am quite sure that I should-if my great regard for you, never approved of you deceived any body after leading them it. If you have a particle of your old canto trust you. But of course you could not dor left, you will confess that from first to do it, darling, any more than I could. last the engagement was of your own seek" Now do write home a nice cheerful let- ing. I knew, and my sister also knew, that ter, with every word of all you do, and every your father could not be expected to like it, thing you can think of. Papa pretends to or allow it for a very long time to come. be very quiet; but I am sure that he is al- But we also knew that he was a man of honways thinking of you; and he seems to grow or and integrity, and that if he broke it off, so much older. I wish all his books were it would be done by fair means, and not by at Hanover! I would take him for a good foul. Every thing depended upon yourself. ride every day. Good-bye, darling! If you You were not a boy, but a man at least five make out this, you will deserve a crown of years older than my sister; and you formed crosses. Uncle Struan thought that he was this attachment with your eyes open, and very learned; and he confounded the mural did your utmost to make it mutual." with the civic crown! Having earned the "To be sure I did!" exclaimed the young one, earn the other by saving us all, and your officer, giving a swish to his innocent horse, own LALLIE." because himself deserved it; "how could I help it? She was such a dear! How I wish Hilary read this letter twice; and then I had never seen Claudia! But really, Greg. put it by, to be read again; for some of it ory, come now, you are almost too hard upon touched him sadly. Then he delivered the me!" orders he bore, and made a. rough sketch of "And not only this," continued that inthe valley, and returning by another track, exoraable young barrister; "but lest there drew forth his third epistle. This he had should be any doubt about your serious infeared to confront, because his conscience tentions, you induced, or at any rate you perwent against him so; for he knew that the mitted, your uncle, the Rev. Struan Hales, to hand was Gregory's. However, it must be visit Mabel and encourage her, and assure tnet sooner or later; it was no good putting her that all opposition would fail, if she reoff the evil day; and so he read as follows: mained true and steadfast. " Mabel has remained true and steadfast, "Mid. Temple, Aug. 22d, 1812. even to the extent of disbelieving that you "MY DEAR LORRAINE,-It is now many can be otherwise. From day to day, and months since I heard from you, and know- from week to week, she has been looking for ing that you had been wounded, I have been a message from you, if it were only one kind very anxious about you, and wrote three word. She has felt your wound, I make Several times to inquire, under date May 3d, bold to say, a great deal more than you have ALICE LORRAINE. 131 done. She has taken more pride than you tive, should hop up and down, like eldercan have taken in what she calls your'glo- pith, would of course be accounted for by ry.' She watches every morning for the man the " strange phenomena of electricity." But who goes for the letters, and every evening little was known of such things then; and she waits and listens for a step that never every man had to confront his own acts, comes. without any fine phraseology. And Hilary's "If she could only make up her mind that acts had left him now in such a positionyou had quite forgotten her, I hope that she or "fix" as it is forcibly termed nowadays would try to think that you were not worth -that even that most inventive Arab, the grieving for. But the worst of it is that she Sheik of the Subterfuges, could scarcely have can not bring herself to think any ill of you. delivered him. And until she has it under your own hand But, after all, the griefs of the body (where that you are cruel and false to her, she only there is perpetual work) knock at the door smiles at and despises those who think it of the constitution louder than those of the possible. mind do. And not only Hilary now, but all " We must put a stop to this state of things. the British army, found it hard to get any It is not fair that any girl should be kept in thing to eat. As for money-there was none, the dark and deluded so; least of all such a or next to none, among them; but this was girl as Mabel, so gentle, and true, and ten- a trifling matter to men who knew so well der-hearted. Therefore I must beg you at how to help themselves. But shoes, and once to write to my sister or to me, and to clothing, and meat for dinner, and yellow state honestly your intentions. If your in- soap for horny soles, and a dram of sometention is to desert my sister, I ask you as a thing strong at night before lying down in last favor to do it as rudely and roughly as the hole of their hips they felt the want possible; so that her pride may be aroused of these comforts now, after spending a fortand help her to overget the blow. But if night in Madrid. And now they were bound you can give any honorable explanation of to march every day fifteen to twenty English your conduct, no one will be more delight- miles, over very hard ground, and in scorched, and beg your pardon more heartily and ing hot weather, after an enemy offering humbly, than your former friend, more than affording chance of fighting. GREGORY LOVEJOY." These things made every British bosom ready to explode with anger; and the staff ~_________ was blamed, as usual, for negligence, ignorance, clumsiness, inability, and all the rest CHAPTER XLVII. of it. These reproaches entered deeply into the bruised heart of Lorraine, and made him LORRAINE set spurs to his horse as soon so zealous that his chief very often laughed as he got to the end of this letter. It was while praising him. And thus in the valley high time for him to gallop away from the of the Arlanzan, on the march toward Burone idea-the bitter knowledge that out of gos, he became a gallant captain, with the this he could not come with the conscience good-will of all who knew him. of a gentleman. He was right in fleeing Lorraine was royally proud of this; for from himself, as hard as ever he could go; his nature was not self-contained. He confor no Lorraine had been known ever to be- templated many letters, beginning " Caphave so shabbily. In the former dcays of tain Lorraine presents his compliments to so rather low morality and high feudalism, and so;" and he even thought at one time of many Lorraines might have taken fancies thus defying his uncle Struan. However, a to pretty girls, and jilted them. But never little reflection showed him that the wisest as he had done; never approaching a pure plan was to let the rector abide a while in maid as an equal, and pledging honor to her, silence. It was out of all reason though and then dishonorably deserting her. not, perhaps, entirely beyond precedent"I am sure I know not what to do!" he that he, the least injured of all the parties, cried, in a cold sweat, while his nag was in should be the loudest in complaint; and it a very hot one. " Heaven knows who my would serve him right to learn from the true-love is. I am almost sure that it must hostile source of Coombe Lorraine the withbe Mabel; because when I think of her I ering fact that his recreant nephew was a get hot; and when I think of Claudia I get captain in the British army. cold." To Alice, therefore, the captain wrote at There may have been some sense in this; the very first opportunity, to set forth his at any rate it is a question for a meteorolo- promotion, and to thank his father and gist. Though people who explain-as they grandmother for cash. But he made no alalways manage to do-every thing, might lusion to home-affairs, except to wish every without difficulty declare that they under- body well. This letter he dispatched on stood the whole of it. That a young man the 17th of September; and then, being in magnetic attitude toward two maidens thoroughly stiff and weary from a week widely distinct, one positive and one nega- spent in the saddle, he shunned the camp 132 ALICE LORRAINE. fires and the cooking, and slept in a tuffet of a side street, and by rapid signals recall of plantain-grass, to the melody of the Ar- aud place quite out of the line of fire all the lanzan. piludering Spaniards. This man, as HilaOn the following day our army, being ry's spy-glass showed him, was of very great entirely robbed of fighting by a dancing breadth and stature, and wore a slouch-hat Frenchmlan (who kept snapping his fingers with a short; black feather, a green leather at Lord Wellington), entered in no pleasant jerkin, and a broad, white sash; his mighty humor into a burning city. The sun was legs were encased above mid-thigh in boots hot enough in all conscience, roasting all of undressed hide; and he was armed with wholesome Britons into a dirty Moorish col- a long straight sword and dagger. Having or, without a poor halt and maimed soldier some experience of plunderers, Hilary was having to march between burning houses. surprised at the prompt obedience yielded A house on fire is full of interest, and has to this guerrilla chief, until he was gratified become proverbial now as an illustration by observiug a sample of his discipline. For of bright success. But the metaphor- two of his men demurring a little to the whether derived or not from military privi- abandonment of their prey, he knocked them leges-proceeds on the supposition that the down as scientifically as an English pugilist, proper people have applied the torch. In handed their booty to others, and had them the present case this was otherwise. The dragged by the heels round the corner. Then Frenchmen had fired the houses, and taken having his men all under cover, le stood in excellent care to rob them first. a calm and reflective attitude, with an imFinding the heat of the town of Burgos mense cigar in his mouth, to see a fine group almost past endurance, although the fire had of thirsty Britons (who were drinking in the now been quelnched, Hilary strolled forth to- middle of the square), seot or shelled as the ward sunset for a little change of air. His case might be. And when Hilary's messenduties, which had been so incessant, were ger ranl up in breathless haste to give the cut short for a day or two; but to move his alarm, and earn his half- dollar honestly, legs, with no horse between them, seemed what did that ruthless fellow do but thrust at first unnatural. He passed through nar- forth a long leg, trip him up, and hand him row reeking streets, where filthy people over with agrin to some brigandcs, who rifled sprawled about under overlapping eaves his pockets and stopped his mouth. Then and coignes, and then he came to the scorch- came what Hilary had expected, a roar, a ed, rough land, and looked back at the cita- plunge, a wreath of smoke, and nine or ten del. The garrison, now that the smoke was brave Englishmen lay shattered round the clearing from the houses below the steep fountain. (which they hadfired for safety's sake), might "That Spaniard is a very queer ally," said be seen in the western light, training their Hilary, with a shudder. "He knew what guns upon the city, which swarmed with was coming, and he took good care that it Spanish guerrillas. should not be prevented. Let me try to see These sons of the soil were plundering his face, if my good glass will show it. I with as good a grace as if themselves had call him a bandit and nothing else. Partitaken a hostile city; and in the enthusiasm das indeed! I call them cut-throats." of the moment, or from force of habit per- At that very moment the great guerrilla haps, some of them gladly lent a hand -in turned round to indulge in a hearty laugh, robbing their own houses. But the British and having a panel of pitched wall behind soldiers grounded arms, and looked on very him, presented his face (like a portrait in ani grimly; for they had not carried the town ebony frame) toward Hilary. The collar of by storm, and their sense of honesty prevail- the jerkin was rolled back, and the great ed. All this amused Lorraine, who watch- bull throat and neck left bare, except where ed it through his field-glass, as he sat on a a short black beard stood forth, like a spur rocky mound outside the city, resting him- of jet to the heavy jaws. The mouth was self, for his legs were stiff, and feeling quite covered with a thick mustache; but haughout of his element at being his own master. ty nostrils and a Roman nose, as well as deep But presently he saw that the French, who lines of face, and fierce eyes hung with sullen were very busy in the castle, were about to eyebrows, made Hilary cry "What an ugly treat both Spaniards and Britons to a warm fellow!" as he turned his glass upon somesalute of shells; and he rose at once to give thing else. them warning, but found his legs too stiff Yet this was a face such as many women for speed. So he threw a half-dollar to a dote upon and almost adore. Power is the Portuguese soldier, who was sauntering on first thing they look for in the face of a man; the road below, and bade him run at his or at least it is the very first thing that strikes very best pace, and give notice of their dan- them. And "power" of that sort is headger. strong will, with no regard for others. From But before his messenger had passed the mental power it so diverges, that very few gate, Hilary saw a Spanish chief, as in the men have embodied both; as nature has distance he seemed to be, come swiftly out kindly provided, for the happiness of the ALICE LORRAINE. 133 rest of us. But Captain Lorraine, while he CHAPTER LVIII. watched that Spaniard, knew that he must be a man of mark, though he little dreamed PESSIMISTS who love to dwell on the darkthat his wild love Claudia utterly scorned er side of human nature, and find (or at any his own comely self, in comparison with that rate color) that perpetually changing object " nugly fellow." to the tone of their own dull thoughts, makBut for the moment the sight of that brig- ing our whole world no better than the chaand, and slaughter of good English soldiers, meleon of themselves; who trace every act, set Hilary (who, with all his faults, was vig- and word, and thought, either to very mean orously patriotic) against the whole race of selfishness, or exceedingly grand destiny — Spaniards, male or female, or whatever they according to their own pet theory-let those might be. Being driven by nature, as usu- gloomy spirits migrate in as cheerful a manal, rather with a spur than bridle, he made ner as they can manage to the back side a strong dash at a desperate fence which of the moon, the side that neither shines for months had been puzzling him. Horses on earth, nor gathers any earth-shine. But unluckily do not write, although they talk, even if they will not thus oblige inferior and laugh, and think, and may tell with mortals, let them not come near a scene their eyes a great deal more than most of where true love dwells, and simple faith, us who ride them. Therefore this metaphor and pleasant hours are spent in helping namust be dropped, for Lorraine pulled out his ture to be kind to us. roll of paper, pen, and ink (which he was Where the rich recesses of the bosomed bound to carry), and put up his knees, all earth brim over with variety; where every stiff and creaking, and on, that desk did step of man discloses some new goodness what he ought to have done at least three over him; and every hour of the day shows months ago. He wrote to hisloving Mabel; different veins of happiness; the light in surely better late than never. sloping glances looking richer as the sun goes down, and showing with a deeper love "MY DARLING MABEL,- I know that I its own good works and parentage; the chilhave not behaved to you kindly, or even as dren of the light presenting all their varied a gentleman. Although I was not allowed joy to it; some revolving, many bending, all to write to you, I ought to have written to with one accord inclining softly, sweetly, and your brother Gregory long ago, and I am thankfully-can any man, though of thelowashamed of myself. But I am much more est order, wander about at a time like this,' ashamed of the reason, and I will make no with the power of the sunset over him, and sham excuses. It is difficult to say what I walk down the alleys of trees, and think, want to say; but my only amends is to tell and ponder the grand beneficence, without the whole truth, and I hope that you will putting both hands into his pockets, and try to allow for me. tapping the band of his small-clothes? "And the truth is this. I fell in love; If any man could be so itngrateful to the not as I did with you, my darling, just be- Giver of all good things, he was not to be cause I loved you. But because-well I can found in the land of Kent, but must be sought not tell why, although I am trying for the in some northern county where they grow very truth; I can not tell why I did it. She sour gooseberries. Master Martin Lovejoy saved my life, and nursed me long. She was had, in the month of October, 1812, as fine a not bad-looking; but young and good. crop of pears as ever made a fountain of a "I hope that it is all over now. I trust tree. in the Lord that it is so. I see that these For the growers did not understand the Spaniards are cruel people, and I work night pruning of trees as we do now. They were and day to forget them all. When I get a benighted lot altogether, proceeding only any sleep, it is you that come and look upon by rule of thumb, and the practice of their me beautifully; a^dl when I kick up with grandfathers, never lopping the roots of a those plaguesome insects, the face that I see tree, nor summer pinching, nor wiring it, is a Spanish one. This alone shows where nor dislocating its joints; and yet they grew my heart is fixed. But you have none of as good fruit as we do! They had no right those things at Old Applewood. to do so; but the thing is beyond denial. "And now I can say no more. I write in Therefore one might see a pear-tree rising the midst of roaring cannon, and perhaps in its natural form, tall, and straight, and you will say, when you see my words, that goodly, hanging its taper branches like a I had better have died of my wounds, than chandelier with lustrous weight, tier upon lived to disgrace, as I have done, your tier, the rich fruit glistening with the rud"HILARY. dy sun-streaks, or with russet vein age mel"P.S. —Try to think the best of me, dar- lowing. Hard thereby the Golden Noble, ling. If any body needs it, I do. Gregory globular and stainless, or the conical King wrote me such a letter that I am afraid to Pippin, penciled on its orange fullness with send you any-any thing!" a crimson glow, or the great bulk of Dutch ~- o- - - codlin, oblong, ribbed and overbearing. Here 134 ALICE LORRAINE. was the place and the time for a man to sit and that is the word's expression. Now is in the midst of his garden, and feel that the there one of them as does it?" year was not gone in vain, nor his date of I can't say there is," his wife replied, life lessened fruitlessly, and looking round after thinking of all three of them. " Marwith right good-will, thank the Lord, and tin, no; they do their best, but you can't remember his father. have them quite tied hand and foot. And I In such goodly mood and tenor, Master doubt whether we should love them better Martin Lovejoy sat, early of an October af- if we had them always to order." ternoon, to smoke his pipe and enjoy him- "Likely not. I can not tell. They have self. He had finished his dinner-a plain given me no chance of trying. They do but good one; his teeth were sound, and what seems best in their own eyes, and the digestion staunch; he paid his tithes and fault of it lies with you, mother.' went to church; he had not an enemy in the "Do they ever do any thing wrong, Marworld, to the utmost of his knowledge; and tin Lovejoy? Do they ever disgrace you his name was good for a thousand pounds anywhere? Do they ever go about and from Canterbury to Reigate. His wheat borrow money, or trade on their name, or had been fine, and his hops pretty good, his any thing? Surely you want to provoke barley by no means below the mark, the me, Martin, when you begin to revile my cherry and strawberry season fair, and his children." apples and pears as you see them. Such a "Well," said the grower, blowing smoke, man would be guilty of a great mistake if in the manner of a matrimonial man, "let he kept on the tramp perpetually. Fortune us go to something else. Here is this affair encouraged him to sit down, and set an of Mabel's now. How do you mean to setarm-chair and a cushion for him, and mixed tie it?" him a glass of Schiedam and water, with a " I think you should rather tell me, Marslice of lemon, and gave him a wife to ask tin, how you mean to settle it. She might how his feet were, as well as a daughter to have been settled long ago, in a good posisee to his slippers. tion and comfortable, if my advice had been "NTow you don't get on at all," he said, as heeded. But you are the most obstinate he mixed Mrs. Lovejoy the least little drop, man in the world." because of the wind going round to the "Well, well, my dear, I don't think that north; "you are so abstemious, my dear you should be hard upon any one in that resoul; by-and-by you will pay out for it." spect. You have set your heart upon one "I must be a disciplinarian, Martin," Mrs. thing, and I upon another; and we have to Lovejoy replied, with a sad, sweet smile. deal with some one perhaps more obstinate "How ever the ladies can manage to take than both of us. She takes after her good beer, wine, gin, bitters, and brandy, in the mother there." way they do, all of an afternoon, is beyond "After her father, more likely, Martin. my comprehension." But she has given her promise, and she will " They get used to it," answered the grow- keep it, and the time is very nearly up, you er, calmly; "and their constitution requires know." it. At the same time I am not saying, mind "The battle of Trafalgar, yes. The 21st you, that some of them may not overdo it. of October, seven years ago, as I am a man! Moderation is the golden rule; but you car- Lord bless ne, it seems but yesterday! How ry it too far, my dear." all the country up and wept, and how it "Better too little than too much," said sent our boy to sea! There never can be Mrs. Lovejoy, sententiously. " Whatever I such a thing again; and no one would look take, I like just to know that there is some- at a drum-head Savoy!" thing in it, and no more. No, Martin, no- "Plague upon the market, Martin! I do if you please, not more than the thickness of believe you think much more of your growmy thumb-nail. Well, now for what we were ings than your gainings. But she fixed the talking about. We can never go on like day herself, because it was a battle; didn't this, you know." she?" "Wife, I will tell you what it is;" here Yes, wife, yes. But after all, I see not so Martin Lovejoy tried to look both melan- much to come of it. Supposing she gets no choly and stern, but failed; "we do not use letter by to-morrow night, what comes of it?" our duties right; we do not work up in the "Why, a very great deal. You men position to which it has pleased God to call never know. She puts all her foolish ideas us. We don't make our children see that aside, and she does her best to be sensible." they are —bless my heart, what is the "By the spread of my measure, oh, deary word?" me! I thought she was bo.und to much more "'Oligated' is the word you mean.' Ob- than that. She gives up him, at any rate." ligated' they all of them are." " Yes, poor dear, she gives him up, and a "No, no; bounden' is the word I mean; precious cry she will make of it. Why, Mar-'bounden' says the Catechism. They are tin, when you and I were young, we carried bounden to obey, whether they like it or no, on so differently." ALICE LORRAINE. 135 "What use to talk about that?" said the of a carriage, Martin, pray take us all out in grower; " they all must have their romances the clung-cart." now. Like tapping a cask of beer it is. You "The old gig was good enough for my must let them spit out at the top a little." mother; and why should my daughter be "All that, of course,needs no discussion. I above it? They doctors and women are do not remember that, in our love-time. you turning her head, worse than poor young expected to see me'spit out at the top!' Lorraine did. Oh, if I had Elias to prune You grow so coarse in your ideas, Martin; my trees-after all I have taught him-and the more you go growing, the coarser you Lorraine to get up iii the van again; I might get." keep out of the bankrupt court after all; I "Now, is there nothing to be said but do believe I might." Here the grower fetchthat? She gives him up, and she tries to ed a long sigh through his pipe. He was gobe sensible. The malting season is on, and ing to be bankrupt every season; but never how can Elias come and do any thing?" achieved that glory. "Martin, may I say one word? You keep I'm tired of that," Mrs. Lovejoy said. so perpetually talking that I scarcely have "You used to frighten me with it at first, a chance to breathe. We do not want that whenever there came any sort of weatherlow Jenkins here. How many quarters he a storm, or a frost, or too much sun, or too soaks in a week is nothing and can not be much rain, or too little of it; the Lord knows any thing to me. A tanner is more to my that if you have had any fruit, you have got taste a great deal, if one must come down to it out of him by grumbling. And now you the dressers. And there one might get some are longing, in a heathenish manner, to margood ox-tails. I believe that you want to ry your daughter to two men at once! One sell your daughter to get your malt for noth- for the night-work and one for the day. ing. Now, will you, for once, speak your mind out The grower's indignation at this despi- truly " cable charge was such that he rolled in his Well, wife, there is no one that tries a chair, like a man in a boat, and spread his man so badly as his own wife does. I am sturdy legs, and said nothing, for fear of fur- pretty well known for speaking my mind ther mischief. Then he turned out his el- too plainly, more than too doubtfully. I bows, in a manner of his own, and Mrs. Love- can't say the same to you, as I should have joy saw that she had gone too far. to say to any body else; because you are "Well, well," she resumed, "perhaps not my wife you see, and have a good right to quite that. Mr. Jenkins, no doubbt, is very be down upon me. And so I am forced to well in his way; and he shall have fair play, get away from things that ought to be arso far as I am concerned. But mind, Dr. gued. But about my daughter, I have a Calvert must have the same; that was our right to think my own opinion; while I bargain, Martin. All the days of the week leave your own to you, as a father has a to be open to both, and no difference in the right with a mother. And all I say is comdinner." mon sense. Our Mabel belongs to a time " Very well, very well!" the franklin mur- of life when the girls are always dreaming. mured, being still a little wounded about And then you may say what you like to the malt. "I am sure I put up with any them mainly; and it makes no difference. thing. Calvert may have her if he can cure Now she looks very pale, and she feels very her. I can't bear to see the poor maid so queer, all through that young sort of mispining. It makes my heart ache many a chief. But let her get a letter from Mastime; hut I have more faith in barley-corn ter Hilary-and you would see what would than jalap; though I don't want neither of come over her." them for nothing." "I have got it! I have got it!" cried a " We shall see, my dear, how she will come young voice, as if in answer, although too round. The doctor prescribes carriage ex- sudden of approach for that. "Father, here ercise for her. Well, how is she to get it, ex- it is! Mother, here it is! Long expected, cept in his carriage? And she can not well come at last! There, what do you think of have his carriage, I suppose, before she mar- that now? rics him." Her face was lighted with a smile of de"Carriage exercise? Riding on wheels, I light, and her eyes with tears of gladness, as suppose, is what they mean by it. If rid- she stood between her astonished parents, ing on wheels will do her any good, she can and waved in the air an open letter, flutterhave our yellow gig five times a week. And ing less (though a breeze was blowing) than I want to go round the neighborhood too. her true heart fluttered. Then she pressed There's some little bits of money owing me. the paper to her lips, and kissed it with a I'll take her for a drive to-morrow." good smack every time; and then she laid it "Your yellow gig! To call that a car- against her bosom, and bowed to her father riage! A rough sort of exercise, I doubt. and mother, as much as to say, "You may Why, it jerks up, like a jack-in-a-box, at ev- think what you like of me, I am not ashamed cry stone you come to. If that is your idea of it!" 136 ALICE LORRAINE. The grower pushed two gray curls aside, self-reproach. Perhaps at first sight the and looked up with a grand amazement. justice of the latter would be a more apparHere was a girl, who at dinner-time even ent thing; but love (when it deserves the would scarcely say more than "yes," or name) is a generous as well as a jealous pow"no;" who started when suddenly spoken er, especially in the tender gush of renewal to, and was obliged to clear her mind to and re-assurance. And Lorraine meant evthink; who smiled now and then, when a ery word as he wrote it, and indeed for a smile was expected, and not because she had good while afterward; so that heart took a smile-in a word, who had become a dull, pen to heart, which is sometimes better than careless, unnatural, cloudy, depressed, and the wings of speech. Giving comfort thus, abominably inconsistent Mabel-a cause of he also received the same from his own conanxiety to her father, and of recklessness to science and pure resolutions; and he felt herself- when lo, at a touch of the magic that his good angel was, for the present, at wand, here she was, as brave as ever!: least, come back to him. How long she The father, and the mother also, knew the would stop was another question. old expression settled on the darling face And he needed her now in matters even again; the many family modes of thinking, more stirring than the hottest love-affairs. and of looking, and of loving, and of feeling For though he had no chance of coming to out for love, which only a father and a moth- the front in any of the desperate assaults on er dearly know in a dear child's face.. And the castle of Burgos, being far away then then they looked at one another; and in spite with dispatches, he was back with his chief of all small variance, the husband and the when the retreat began; a retreat which wife were one, in the matter of rejoicing. must have become a rout under any but the It was not according to their schemes! and finest management. For the British army they both might still be obstinate. But by was at its worst toward the month of Noa stroke their hearts were opened-wise or vember, 1812. Partly from intercourse with foolish,right or wrong-what they might say partidas, partly, perhaps, from the joys of outside reason, they really could not stop to Madrid, but mainly no, doubt from want of think. They only saw that their sweet good cash, the Britons were not as they had been. child, for many long months a stranger to Even the officers dared to be most thoroughthem, was come home to their hearts again. ly disobedient, and to follow the route which And they could have no clearer proof than they thought best, instead of that laid down this. for them. But Wellington put up with inShe took up her father's pipe, and sniffed solent ignorance, as a weaker man could not with a lofty contempt at the sealing -wax have deigned to do: he had to endure it fron (which was of the very lowest order), and those above him; and he knew how to bear then she snapped it off, and scraped hin with it all around him; and yet to be the (with a tortoise-shell-handled knife of her master. His manifold dealings with every own) a proper place to suck at. And while body and every thing at this time (with noshe was doing that, and most busy with one body caring to understand him, and his own of her fingers to make a draught, she turned people set against him; with the whole to her mother with her other side, as only a world making little of him, because he hated very quick girl could do, and tucked up some flash-work; and perhaps his own mind in -hair (which was slipping fiom the string, some doubt of its powers because they were with a palpable breach of the unities) and not recognized)-these, and the wearisome gave her two tugs, in the very right place uphill struggle to be honest without any to make her of the latest fashion; and then money, were beginning to streak with gray let her know, with lips alone, what store she the hair that had all the hard brain under set on her opinion. And the whole of this it. business was done in less time than two Here, again, was a chance for Hilary; and lovers would take for their kissing! without thinking hle worked it well. In his "You have beaten me, Popsy," said Mrs. quick, and perhaps too sudden, way of taking Lovejoy, fetching up an old name of the days impression of every one, he had stamped on when she was nursing this one. his mind the abiding image of his great " Dash me!" cried the grower, you shall commander. The general knew this (as all marry Old Harry, if you choose to set ydur men feel the impression they are making, as heart on him." sharply almost as a butter-stamp), and of course he felt good-will toward the youth who so looked up at him. It was quite a CHAPTER XLIX. new thing for this great captain, after all his years of conquest, to be accounted of any PERADVENTURE the eyes and the heart, as value; because he was not a Frenchman. well as the boundless charity of true-love, Being, however, of rigid justice, although were needed to descry what Mabel at a glance he was no Frenchman, Lord Wellington did discovered, the "grand nobility " of Hilary's not lift Captain Lorraine over the heads of conduct, and the "pathetic beauty" of his his compeers. He only marked him (in his ALICE LORRAINE. 137 own clear and most tenacious mind) as one In this state of matters, the " generalissiwho might be trusted for a dashing job, and mo " sent for Captain Lorraine one day, and deserved to have the chance of it. dispatched him on special duty. And so they went into winter-quarters on "You know Count Zamora," said Lord the Douro and Aguada, after a great deal of Wellington, in his clear voice of precision; fighting, far in the rear of their storms and "and his castle in the Sierra Morena." sieges and their many victories; because Hilary bowed, without a word, knowing the British Government paid whole millions well what his chief was pleased with. right and left to rogues, and left its own " You also know the country well, and the army to live without money, and to be hang- passes of the Morena. Colonel Langham ed if it stole an onion. And the only satis- has orders to furnish you with the five best faction our men had —and even in that they horses at hand, and the two most trusty men were generous-was to hear of the French- he knows of. You will go direct to Count men in Russia freezing as fast as could well Zamora's house, and deliver to him this letbe expected. ter. He will tell you what next to do. I Now, while this return to the frontier and believe that the ship containing the specie, ebb of success created disgust in England which will be under your charge, was uniand depression among our soldiers, they also able to make either Lisbon or the port of bore most disastrously on the fortunes of a Cadiz, and ran through the Straits for Malcertain gallant and very zealous staff officer. aga. But the count will know better than For they brought him again into those soft I do. Remember that you are placed at his meshes, whence he had well-nigh made good disposal, in all except one point-and that his escape without any serious damage; but is the money. He will provide you with now there was no such deliverance for him. Spanish escort, and the Spaniards are liable And this was a very hard case, and he really for the money, through Andalusia, and the did deserve some pity now; for he did not mountains, until you cross the Znjar, where return of his own accord, and fall at the feet a detachment from General Hill will meet of the charmer, but in the strictest course you. They begged me not to send British of duty became an unwilling victim. And convoy (beyond what might be needful, to it happened altogether in this wise.. authorize the delivery to them), because In the month of May, 1813, when the Brit- their own troops are in occupation. ish commander had all things ready for that "Never mind that; be as wide awake as glorious campaign which drove the French if every farthing was your own, or, rather, over the Pyrenees, and when the British was part of your honor. I seldom place so army, freshened, strengthened, and sternly young a man in a position of so much trust. redisciplined was eager to bound forward, a But the case is peculiar, and I trust you. sudden and sad check arose. By no means, There will be ~100,000 in English gold to however, a new form of hinderance, but one take care of. The Spaniards will furnish only too familiar, at all times and in all coun- the transport, and Count Zamora will retries-the sinews of war were not forthcom- ceive half of the specie, on behalf of the ing. The military chest was empty. The Junta of Seville, for the pay of the Spanish pay of the British troops was far in arrear, forces, and give you his receipt for it. The and so was their bounty-money; but that remainder you will place under the care they were pretty well used to by this time, of General Hill's detachment, and rejoin us and, grumble as they might, they were ready as soon as possible. I have no time more. to march. Not so, however, the Portuguese, Colonel Laugham will give you your passes, who were now an important element; and and smaller directions. But remember that even the Spanish regulars inAndalusia would you are in a place of trust unusual for so do nothing until they had handled dollars. young an officer. Good-bye, and keep a This need of money had been well foreseen sharp lookout." by the ubiquitous mind of Wellington; but Lord Wellington gave his hand, with a what he had not allowed for, and what no bow of the fine old type, to Hilary. And he one else would have taken into thought, so from his proper salute recovered, and took soon after Nelson's time, was the sluggish- it as one gentleman takes the courtesy of ness of the British navy. Whether it were another. But as he felt that firm, and cool, the fault of our Government, or of our ad- and muscular hand for a moment, he knew miral on the station, certain it is that the that he was treated with extraordinary conmouth of the Tagus (which was the mouth fidence; and that his future as an officer, of the whole British army) was stopped for and perhaps as a gentleman, hung on the days and even weeks together by a few manner in which he should acquit himself American privateers. And ships contain- of so rare a trust. In the court-yard he ing supplies for our army (whether of food, found Colonel Langham, who gave him some or clothing, or the even more needful British written instructions, and his passes and cregold), if they escaped at all, could do it only dentials, as well as a good deal of sound adby running for the dangerous bar of the vice, which the general had no time to give. Douro, or for Cadiz. And in another hour Hilary Lorraine was 9 138 ALICE LORRAINE. riding away in the highest spirits, think- should not be here. We have a young boar ing of Mabel and of all his luck, and little of the first nobility; and truffles are in him dreaming that he was galloping into the from the banks which you know. You shall ditch of his fortunes. carve him for us; you are so strong, and you Behind him rode two well-tried troopers, Englishmen so understand sharp steel. My as thoroughly trained to their work as the sons are still at the war; but my daughters best hereditary butler, gamekeeper, or even -how will they be pleased to see you!" pointer. There could be found no steadier At the smell of the innocent young roaster men in all the world of steadiness; one was -for such he was in verity-light curtains Sergeantl-major Bones, and the other was rose, and light figures entered; for all SpanCorporal Nickles. Each of them led a spare ish ladies know well what is good. Camilla horse by the soft, brown twist of willow- and Claudia greeted Hilary as if they had bark, steeped in tan and fish- oil, so as to been with him all the morning, and turned make a horse think much of it. And thus their whole minds to the table at once. And they rode through the brilliant night, upon Hilary, thoroughly knowing their manners, a fine old Roman road, with beautiful only said to himself, how wellthey looked! change, and lovely air, and nobody to chal- In this he was right. The delicate grace lenge them. For the French army lay to and soft charm of Camilla set off the more the east and north, the Portuguese were far brilliant and defiant beauty of young Clauin their rear, and the Spanish forces away dia. Neither of them seemed to care in the to the south, except a few guerrillas, who least what anybodythought ofher, orwhethcould take nothing by meddling with them. er any thought at all occurred to any body But the next day was hot,.and the road upon a subject so indifferent, distant, and grew rough, and their horses fell weary; theoretical. Captain Lorraine was no more and, haste as they might, they did not ar- to them than a friar, or pilgrim, or hermit. rive at Monte Argento till after sunset of the They were very much obliged to him for second day. cutting up the pig; and they showed that The Count of Zamora felt some affection, they thought it a good pig. as well as much gratitude, toward Lorraine, Now, as it happened, these were not the and showed it through the lofty courtesy tactics fitted for the moment. In an ordiwith which he received him. And Hilary, nary mood, Lorraine might have fallen to on his part, could not help admiring the val- these fair Parthians; but knowing what or, and patriotism, and almost poetic digui- danger he was running into-without any ty of this chieftain of a time gone by. For, chance of avoiding it-he had made up his being of a simple mind, and highly valuing mind, all along the road, to be severely criteloquence, the count nearly always began ical. Mabel's true affection (as shown by a with a flourish as to what he might have letter in answer to his)had moved him; she done for the liberation of his country if he had not hinted at any rival, or lapse of love had been younger. Having exhausted this on his part; but had told, with all her dear reflection, he was wont to proceed at leisure warm heart, the pleasure, the pride, and the to the military virtues of his sons. Then, love she felt. Hilary had this letter in his if any body showed impatience, he always pocket, and it made him inclined to be critstopped with a lofty bow; otherwise, on he ical. went, and the farther he went, the more he Now it may, without any leze-majesty of enjoyed himself. Hilary, a very polite young the grand female race, be asserted that, good man, and really a kind-hearted one, had and kind and beautiful and purely superior grown into the count's good graces -set- as they are, they are therewith so magnaniting aside all gratitude-by truly believing mous to men, that they abstain, for the most all his exploits, and those of his father and part, from exhibiting mere perfection. No grandfathers, and, best of all, those of his specimen of them seems ever to occur that two sons, and never so much as yawning. is entirely blameless, if submitted to rigid "You are at my orders?" said the count, criticism; which, of course, they would nevwith a dry smile on his fine old face. "It er submit to. Therefore it was wrong of is well, my son; it is glorious. Our great Hilary, and showed him in a despicable light, commander has so commanded. My first that because the young ladies would not order is that you come to the supper, and look at him much, he looked at them with rest, and wear slippers for the three days to judicial eyes. And the result of his observafollow." tion, over the backbone of the pig, was this: " Shall I take those instructions in writ- In " physique "-a word which ought to ing,"n asked Hilary; "and under the seal of be worse than physic to an Englishmanthe Junta?" there was no fault of any sort to be found';The Junta is an old woman," said his with either of these young ladies. They host; "she chatters, and she scolds, and she were noble examples of the best Spanish locks up the money. But enter, my son, en- type, tall and pure, yet rich of tint, with ter, I pray you. You are at the very right most bewitching eyes, and classic flexure of moment arrived- as is your merit, or I luxuriant hair, grace in every turn and ges ALICE LORRAINE. 139 ture, and melody in every tone. Yet even adulterated coin now called the " sovereign in the most expressive glance, and most en- was not the representative of English worth chanting. smile, was there any of that simple at that time, otherwise Europe might have goodness, loyalty, and comfort which were been either France or Russia for a century. to be found in an equally lovely but less su- And though we are now in the mire so low perb young woman? -through time-servers, hucksters, and demHerewith the young captain began to agognes-that the voice of England is bethink of-his uncle Struan's advice, and even come no more than the squeak of a half-penhis sister's words on the matter; which from ny shoe-black, we might be glad to think of so haughty a girl-as he called her, although all our fathers did, at our expense, so grandhe knew that she was not that-had caused ly and heroically, if nations (trampled on him at first no small surprise, and at the for years, and but for England swept away) same time produced no small effect. And would only take it as not a mortal injury that the end of it was that he gave a little squeeze through us they live. At any rate, many noto Mabel's loving letter, and said to himself ble Spaniards in and around about Malaga that an English girl was worth a dozen Span- condescended to come and see the unloading ish ones. of the British corvette, Cleopatra-cum-AntoOn the following day the fair young don- nio. She was the nimblest little craft (either nas changed their mode of action. They on or off a wind) of all ever captured from vied with each other in attention to Hil- the French; and her name had been reefed ary, led him through the well-known places, into Clipater first, and then into " Clipper," chattered Spanish most musically, and sang which still holds way. And thus, in spite melting love-songs, lavished smiles and of all her money, she had run the gauntlet glances on him, and nothing was too good of Americans and Frenchmen, and lay on for him. He was greatly delighted, of course, her keel discharging. and was bound in gratitude to flirt a little; Lorraine regarded this process with his but still, on the whole, he behaved very well. usual keen interest. For instance, he gave no invidious prefer- The scene was so new, and the people so ence to either of his lovely charmers; but strange, and their views of the world so paid as much heed to poor Camilla (whose original, that he could not have tried to step heart was bounding with love and happi- into any thing nobler and more refreshing. ness) as he did to Claudia, who began to be There was no such babel of gesticulation as in earnest now, that her sister might not in a French harbor must have been; but cdnquer him. This was a dangerous turn there'was plenty of little side-play, in and of events for Hilary; and it was lucky for out among the natives, such as a visitor loves him that he was promptly called away. For to watch. And the dignity with which the his host got dispatches which compelled him Spaniards took the money into their charge to cut short hospitality; and Captain Lor- was truly gratifying to the British mind. raine, with great relief, set forth the next " They might have said' thank you,' at any morning for Malaga. Sergeant Bones and rate," thought Hilary, signing the bill of Corporal Nickles had carried on handsome- delivery, under three or four Spanish signaly down stairs, and were most loath to come tures. But that was no concern of his. away; but duty is always the guiding-star One hundred thousand British guineas, of the noble British corporal. Nickles and even when they are given away, are not to Bones, at the call of their country, cast off be made light of. Their weight (without all domestic ties, and buckled up their bel- heeding the iron chests wherein they were ly-bands. Merrily thus they all rode on, for packed in Threadneedle Street) would not their horses were fresh and frolicsome, to the be so very much under a ton, and with the Spanish head-quarters near Cordova; and chests would be nearly two tons. There were thence again to Malaga. ten chests, thoroughly secured and sealed, each containing ten thousand guineas, and ~^~-o —- ~ weighing about four hundred-weight. All these were delivered by the English agent -CHAPTERp- L. to the deputy of Count Zamora, who was accompanied by two members of the Junta AT this particular time there was nothing of Seville, and the Alcalde of Cordova; and so thoroughly appreciated, loved, admired, these great people, after no small parley, and and begged, borrowed, or stolen in every with the aid of Spanish officers, packed all corner of the Continent, as the good old the consignment into four mule-carts, and English guinea. His fine old face and his sent them under strong escort to head-quarjovial color made him welcome everywhere; ters near Cordova. Here the count met one look at him was enough to show his them, and gave a receipt to Hilary for the purity, substance, and sterling virtue, and Spanish subsidy, which very soon went the prove him sure to outlast in the end the way of all money among the Spanish solflashy and upstart " Napoleon." Happily diers. And the next day the five less lucky for the world, that poor, weak-colored, and mules, who were dragging the pay of the 140 ALICE LORRAINE. British army, went on with the five remain- happily round a heap of rye. The Spanish ing chests-three in one cart and two in the officers, still in charge, were ready to be other-still under Spanish escort, toward most convivial; and Hilary fell into their the slopes of the Sierra Morena. mood, with native compliance well cultivaHilary, as usual, adapted himself to the ted. In a word, they all enjoyed themselves. tone and the humor around him. The Span- One alone, the star of all, the radiant, brillish officers took to him kindly, and so did iant, lustrous one, the admired of all adthe soldiers, and even the mules. He was mirers, that young Claudia, was sorrowful. in great spirits once more, and kindly and Hilary, in the gush of youthful spirits and cordially satisfied with himself. His con- promotion; in the glow of duty done and science had pricked him for many months lofty standard satisfied; through all the concerning that affair with Claudia; but pride of money paid by the nation he benow it praised him for behaving well, and longed to; and even the glory of saying returning to due allegiance. He still had good things in a language slightly known some little misgiving about his vows to the to him -Hilary caught from time to time Spanish maiden; but really he did not be- those grand reproachful eyes, and felt that lieve that she would desire to enforce them. they quite spoiled his dinner. And he was He was almost sure in his heart that the not to get off like this. lovely young donna did not care for him, For when he was going, in the driest manbut had only been carried away for the mo- ner, to order forth his carts, and march, with ment by her own warmth and his stupid fer- the full moon risen among the hills, the dainvor. Tush! he now found himself a little tiest little note ever seen came into his hand too wide awake, and experienced in the ways as softly as if it were dropped by a dove too of women, to be led astray by any of them. young to coo. He knew that it came from Claudia was a most beautiful girl, most fas- a lady of course, and in the romantic place cinating and seductive; but now, if he only and time his quick heart beat more quickly. kept out of her way, as he meant most relig- The writing was too fine for even his keen iously to do- eyes by moonlight; but he managed to get "The brave and renowned young captain," to a quiet lamp, and then he read as follows: said the Count of Zamora, riding up in the "You have forgotten your vows to me. I fork of the valley where the mountain-road must have an explanation. There is no divided, and one branch led to his house, chance of it in this house. My nurse has " will not, of course, disdain our humble hos- a daughter at the'bridge of echoes.' You pitality for the night." know it, and you will have to cross it with"I fear that it can not be, dear selor," in a league of your journey. If I can escape answered Lorraine, with a lift of his hat in I shall be on that bridge in two hours' time. the Spanish manner, which he had caught You will wait for me there, if you are an Ento perfection; " my orders are to make all glish gentleman." speed with the treasure until I meet our de- This letter was unsigned, but of course it tachment." could only come from Claudia. Of all those " We are responsible for the treasure," the conceited young Spanish officers, who had count replied, with a smile of good-humor, been contradicting Lorraine, and even darand the slightest touch of haughtiness, " un- ing to argue with him, was there one who til you have crossed the river upon the would not have given his right hand, his other side of our mountains. Selor, is not gilt spurs, or even his beard, to receive such that enough? We have traveled far, and a letter and such an appointment from the the mules are weary. Even if the young daughter of the Count of Zamora? captain prefers to bivouac in the open air, Hilary fancied, as he said farewell, in the it is a proverb that the noble English think cumbrous mass of shadows and the foliage more of their beasts than of themselves. of the moonlight, that Donna Camilla (who And behold, even now the sun is low, and came forth with a white mantilla fluttering) there are clouds impending! The escort is made signs, as if she longed vith all her heart under my orders as yet. If you refuse, I to speak to him. But the count stood by, must exercise the authority of the Junta." and the guests of the evening, and two or What could Hilary do but yield? He three mule-drivers cracking whips; and Hilwas ordered to be at the count's disposal; ary's horse turned on his tail, till the comand thus the count disposed of him. Nev- pany kissed their hands to him. And thus ertheless he stipulated that the convoy he began to descend through trees, and should pursue its course, as soon as the moon rocks, and freaks of shadow-land, enjoying had risen; for the night is better than the the freshness of summer night, and the tranday for traveling, in this prime of the south- quil beauty of moonlit hills. Nickles and ern year. Bones, the two English troopers, rode a litSo the carts were brought into a walled tie in advance of him, each of them leading quadrangle of the Monte Argento; and a spare horse, and keeping his eyes fixed heavy gates were barred upon them, while stubbornly on the treasure-carts still in the the mules came out of harness, and stood custody of the Spanish horsemen. For the ALICE LORRAINE. 141 Englishmen had but little faith in the hon- tainly did not at first sight exhibit any esty of "them palavering dons," and re- proof of true-love's confidence in the maidgarded it as an affront and a folly that the en he was come to meet. It showed the diftreasure should be in their charge at all. ference between a wise love and a wild one; In this order they came to the river Zujar, and Hilarysmiled as he asked himself whethquite a small stream here at the foot of the er he need have touched his sword in cornmountains, and forming the boundary of the ing to meet Mabel. Then, half ashamed of count's estates. According to the compact himself for such very low mistrust of Clauwith the Spaniards, and advices that day re- dia, he boldly walked through the crumbling ceived,the convoy was here to be met by a gate-way, and up the steep rise of the bridge. squadron of horse from Hill's division, who On the peaked crown of the old arch he at once would assume the charge of it, and stood, and looked both up and down the rivbe guided as to their line of return by Cap- er. Toward the mountains there was nothtain Lorraine's suggestions. At the ford, ing but loneliness and rugged shadow; scarhowever, there was no sign of any British red with clefts of moonlight, and at farther detachment, and the trumpeters sounded a distance fringed with mist. And down the flourish in vain. water and the quiet sloping of the lowlands, Hilary felt rather puzzled by this; but every thing was feeding on the comfort of his own duty could not be in doubt. He the summer night; the broad delicious calm must on no account allow the treasure carts of lying under nature's womanhood, when to pass the ford, and so quit Spanish custo- the rage of the masculine sun is gone, and dy, until placed distinctly under British pro- fair hesitation has followed it. tection. And this he said clearlyto the Span- Hilary looked at all these things, but did ish colonel, who quite agreed with him on not truly see them. He took a general idea that point, and promised to halt until he got that the view was beautiful; and he might word from Lorraine to move into the water. have been glad, at another time, to stand Then Bones and Nickles were dispatched to and think about it. For the present, howmeet and hurry the expected squadron; for ever, his time was short, and he must make the Spanish troopers were growing impa- the most of it. The British detachment tient, and their discipline was but fortui- might appear at the ford at any moment, tons. and his duty would be to haste thither Underthese circumstances young Lorraine at once, and see to the transfer of convoy. was sure that he might, without any neglect, And to make sure of this, he had begged spare just a few minutes to do his duty else- that the Spanish trumpets might be soundwhere as a gentleman. He felt that he might ed, and kept his own horse waiting for him, have appeared perhaps to play fast and loose and grazing kindly where the grass was cold. with Claudia, although in his heart he was The shadow of the old keep and the ivypretty certain that she was doing that same mantled buttress fell along the roadway of with him. And now he intended to tell her the bridge, and lay in scollops there. Bethe truth, and beg to be acquitted of that yond it, every stone was clear (of facing or vow whose recall was more likely to gall of parapet), and the age of each could be than to grieve her. guessed almost, and its story and its characThe "bridge of echoes" was about a fir- ter. Even a beetle or an earwig must have long above the ford where the convoy halt- had his doings traced if an enemy were afed. It was an exceedingly ancient bridge, ter him. But under the eaves of the lamp supposed to be even of Gothic date, and of night, and within all the marge of the patched with Moorish workmanship. It glittering, there lay such darkness as never stood like a pack -saddle over the torrent, lies in the world where the moon is less brillwhich roared from the mountains under it; iant. Hilary stood in the broad light waitand it must have been of importance once, ing; and out of the shadow came Claudia. as commanding approach to the passes. For, "I doubted whether you would even do besides two deep embrasures wherein defend- me the honor to meet me here," she said. ers might take shelter, it had (at the south "Oh, Hilary, how you are changed to me!" or Morena end) a heavy fortalice beetling "I have changed in no way, seniorita, over, with a dangerous portcullis. And the except that I know when I am loved." whole of it now was in bad repair, so that "And you do not know-then you do not every flood or tempest worked it away at the know-it does not become me to say it, pertop or bottom; and capable as it was of light haps. Your ways are so different from ours, carts or of heavy people, the officers were that you would despise me if I told it all. I quite right in choosing to send the treasure will not weep. No, I will not weep." by the ford below. With violent self- control, she raised her Hilary proved that his sword was free to magnificent eyes to prove her words; but leap at a touch from its scabbard, ere ever the effort was too much for her. The great he set foot on that time-worn, shadowy, ven- tears came, and glistened in the brilliance erable, and cut-throat bridge. The precau- of the moonlight; but she would not show tion perhaps was a wise one. But it cer- them, only turned awayy and wished that no 142 ALICE LORRAINE. body in the world should know the power of for he was in great excitement and hurry, her emotions. and he heard the Spanish trumpets sound as "Come, come!" said Hilary (for an En- he carried her toward the shadow ofthe keep, glishman always says "come, come," when and there for an instant leaned over her; " is he is taken aback), " you can not mean half it true that you love even me, Claudia?" of this, of course. Come, Claudia; what can " With my whole, whole-" and he thought have made you take ouch a turn? You nev- that she glanced at the corner timidly; " oh, er used to do it!" do not go, for one moment, darling!-with "Ah, I may have been fickle in the days atom of my poor " gone by. But absence-absence is the pow- " Heart, she was going to say, no doubt, er that proves " but was spared the trouble; for down fell "Hark! I hear a sound down the river. Hilary, stunned by a crashing blow from the Horses' feet, and wheels, and clashing " dark corner; and in a moment Alcides d'Al"No; it is only the dashing of the water, car had him by the throat with gigantic I know it well. That is why this bridge is hands, and planted one great knee on his called the bridge of echoes.' The water breast. makes all sorts of sounds. Look here; and "Did I do it well?" whispered Claudia, I will show you." recovering all her energies. " Oh, don't let She took his hand as she spoke, and led him see me. He never must know it." him away from the parapet facing the ford "Neither that nor any thing else shall he to the one on the upper side of the bridge, know," muttered the brigand, with a furious when suddenly such a faintness seized her grasp, till poor Hilary's blue eyes started that she was obliged to cling to him as she forth from their sockets. "You did it too hung over the low and crumbling wall. And well, my fair actress; so warmly, indeed, how lovely she looked in the moonlight, so that I am quite jealous. The bottom of the pale and pure and perfect, and at the same Zujar is his marriage-couch." time so intensely feminine and helpless! "Loosen his throat, or I scream with all "Let me fall," she murmured;' what my power. You promised me not to hurt does it matter, with no one in the world to him. He shall not be hurt more than we care for me? Hilary, let me fall, I implore can help, although he has been so faithless you." to me." " That would be nice gratitude to the one a Ha, ha!" laughed the great brigadier; who nursed me and saved my life. Seniori- "there is no understanding the delicate ta, sit down, I pray you. Allow me to hold views of the females. But you shall be you. You are in great danger." obeyed, beloved one. He will come to him"Oh no, oh no!" she answered faintly, as self in about ten minutes; these Englishhe was obliged to support her exquisite, but, men have such a thickness of head. Search alas! too sensitive figure. "Oh, I must not him; be quick; let me have his dispatchbe embraced. Oh; Hilary, how can you do book. You know where your lovers keep such a thing to me?" their things." "How can I help doing it, you mean? Senseless though Hilary lay, the fair How very beautiful you are, Claudia!" maiden kept herself out of the range of his "What is the use of it? Alas! what is eyes, as her nimble fingers probed him. In the use of it, if I am? When the only one a moment she drew from an inner breastin all the world-" pocket his private dispatch-book, and Ma"Ah! There I heard that noise again. It bel's letter. That last she stowed away for is impossible that it can be the water and her own revenge, after glancing with great I see horses, and the flash of arms." contempt at it; but the book she spread " Oh, do not leave me! I shall fall into the open to her lover. torrent. For the sake of all the saints, stay "It is noble!" he cried, as the brilliant one moment! How can I be found here? moonlight shone upon the pages. "What What infamy!-at least, at least, swear one could be more fortunate? Here are the thing." blank forms with the heading, and the flour" Fifty, if you please. But I must be gone. ish prepared for his signature. There is his I may be ruined in a moment." metal pencil. Now write as I tell you in' And so may I. In the name of the Sav- Spanish, but with one or two little bariour, swear not to tell that I met you here. barisms; such as you know him given to. My father would kill me. You can not even'The detachment is here. I am holding dream-" them back. They are not to cross the wa"I swear that no power on earth shall in- ter. Send the two carts through, but do duce me to say a word about this scene." not come yourselves. Good-night, and many " Oh, I faint, I faint! Lay me there in the thanks to you. May we soon meet again. shadow. No one will see me. It is the last (Signed) Hilary Lorraine.' You know how time. Oh, how cruel, how cold, how false! very polite he is." how bitterly cruel you are to me!" "It is written, and in his own hand most "Is it true," he whispered, tremulously, clearly. He has been my pupil, and I have ALICE LORRAINE. 143 been his. Poor youth, I am very sorry for the land where the sun is paramount, came him. Now let me go. Have I contented like a cataract over the mountains, and scatyou?" tered all darkness with leaps of light. The "I will tell you at the chapel to-morrow winding valley and the wooded slope, the night. I shall have the cleverest and most white track of water and the sombre cliffs, beautiful bride in all Iberia. How can I all sprang out of their vaporous mantle; and part with you till then?" even the bridge of echoes looked a cheerful "You will promise me not to hurt him," place to lounge on. she whispered through his beard, as he clasp- "A bad job surely!" said Corporal Nickles, ed her warmly; while Hilary lay at their marching with his footsteps counted, as if feet, still senseless. he were a pedometer. "Bones, us haven't " By all the saints that ever were, or will searched this here ramshackle thing of a be, multiplied into all the angels! One kiss Spanish bridge. Wherever young cap'en more, and then adieu, if it must be." can be, the Lord knows. At the bottom of The active young Claudia glided away; the river, I dessay." while the great brigadier proceeded, with "Better if he never was born," replied his usual composure, to arrange things to Bones; "or leastwise now to be a dead one. his liking. He lifted poor Hilary, as if he Fifty thousand guineas in a sweep! All were a doll, and bound him completely with cometh of trusting them beggarly dons. broad leather straps, which he buckled to Corporal, what did I say to you?" their verv tightest; and then he fixed over "Like a horacle, you had foreseen it, serhis mouth a scarf of the delicate wool of geant. But we'm all right, howsomever it the mountains; and then he laid him in the be. In our favor we has the hallerby." shade; for he really was a most honorable Hilary, waking, heard all this, and he lan, when honor came into bearing. And managed to sputter so through the wool, though (as far as his own feelings went) that the faithful non-commissioned officers he would gladly have pitched this Captain ran to look for a wild sheep coughing. Lorraine into the rush of the Zujar, he had " Is it all gone ~' he asked, pretty calmly, pledged his honor to Claudia. Therefore he when they had cut him free at last, but he only gagged and bound him, and laid him could lot stand from stiffness. "Do you out of the moonlight; which, at the time of mean to say that the whole is gone?" year, might have maddened him. After this, " Captain," said Bones, with a. solemn saDon Alcides d'Alcar struck flint upon punk, lute, which Nickles repeated as junior, " evand lighted a long cigar. ery guinea are gone, as clean as a whistle; The whole of that country is full of fleas. and the Lord knows where'em be gone to." The natives may say what they like; but "Yes, your honor, every blessed guinea;" they only damage their credit by denying said Nickles, in confirmation. "To my mind it, or prove to a charitable mind their own it goes against the will of the Lord to have insensibility. The older the deposit or the such a d-d lot of money." stratum is, the greater is the number of these "You are a philosopher," answered Loractive insects; and this old bridge, wheth- raine; "it is pleasing to find such a view of er Moorish or Gothic, or even Roman (as the case. But as for me, I am a ruined man. some contended), had an antiquarian stock No captain, nor even'your honor,' any more." ot them. "Your honor must keep your spirits up. Therefore poor Hilary, coming to himself It mayn't be so bad as your honor thinks," -as he was bound to do by-and-by-grew they answered, very kindly, well knowing very uneasy, but obtained no relief, through that he was a ruined man, but saluting himl the natural solace of scratching. He was all the more for it. strapped so tightly that he could only roll; and if he should be induced to roll a little ~ injudiciously, through a gap of the parapet he must go to the bottom of the lashing CHAPTER I. water. Considering these things, he lay and listened; and though he heard many things IT may perhaps be said, without any painwhich he disliked (and which bore a ruinous ful exaggeration, that throughout the whole meaning to him for the rest of his young course of this grand war, struggle of great life, and all who loved him), he called his captains, and heroic business everywhere, high courage to his help; and being unable few things made a deeper, sadder, and more to talk to himself (from the thickness of the sinister impression than the sudden disapwool between his teeth, which was a most pearance of those fifty thousand guineas. dreadful denial to him), he thought in his On the other hand, it must not be supposed inner parts, "Now, if I die, there will be no that the disappearance of guineas was rare. harm to say of me." He laid this to his con- Far otherwise-as many people still alive science, and in contempt of all insects he can testify; and some of them perhaps with rolled off to sleep. gratitude for their re-appearance in the right The uncontrollable outbreak of day, in quarter. But these particular fifty thousand 144 ALICE LORRAINE. were looked out for in so many places, and has seen and been through together, you had so long been the subject of hope, as a never would behave onhandsome to me." really solid installment of a shilling in the "Corporal Nickles, if you put it upon that pound for heroes, that the most philosoph- footing, I can not deny you. And mind you, ical of these latter were inclined to use a' now, my opinion is that this is a very queer short, strong word of distinctive national- case indeed." ity. " Now, now, to think of that! Why, serPoor Hilary felt that for this bad verb his geant, you ought to be a general!" own name mdst be the receptive case; and " Nickles, no flattery; I am above it. Not he vainly looked about for any remedy or bu, what I might have done so well as other rescue. Stiff as he was in the limbs, by rea- people, if the will of the Lord had been so. son of the straps of Don Alcides, and giddy Consarning, however, of this to-do, and a of head from the staff of that most patriotic precious rumpus it will be, my opinion is Spaniard, he found it for some time a little that we don't know half." hard to reflect as calmly as he should have Speaking thus, the sergeant nodded to the done. Indeed it was as much as he could corporal impressively, and jerked his thumb do to mount his horse, who (unlike his mas- toward the captain in front, and winked, ter) had stuck to his post very steadfastly, and then began again. and with sadness alike of soul and body to "You see, corporal, my place is to keep ride down to the fatal ford. Sergeant-ma- both eyes wide open. There was a many jor Bones and Corporal Nickles also re- things as struck me up at the old don's yonmounted and followed the bewildered cap- der. A carrying-on in corners, and agoing tain, keeping behind him at a proper distance to lamps to read things, and a-winking out for quiet interchange of opinion. of young ladies' eyes, to my mind most un" Corporal, now," said the sergeant-ma- milintary. But I might a' thought that was jor, sliding his voice from behind one hand, all young people, and a handsome young " what may be your sentiments as consarns chap going on as they will, only for what this very pecooliar and most misfortunate one of they dirty devils as drives them haxident?" mules have said to me." "Sergeant, it would be misbehooving," " No, now, sergeant; never, now!" replied Nickles, who was a west-country "As true as I sit this here boss, when us man, "as well as an onceremonious thing, for come back with the sun getting up, what me to spake first in the matter. To you it did that pagan say to me? You seed him, belongeth, being the one as foretold it like corporal, a-running up, and you might have a book; likewise senior hofficer." saved me the trouble, only you was nodding " Corporal, you are a credit to the army. forward.' SeRlor Captain,' he said to me, Your discretion, at your age, is wonderful. and the whites of his eyes was full of truth, There be so few young men as remember'the young cavalier has been too soft.' That when a man has spoken right. I am the was how I made out his country gibberish; last man in the world to desire to be over- the stuff they poor beggars are born to." praised, or to take to myself any sense of it. "It gooeth again the grain of my skin," And now I wants no credit for it. To me Corporal Nickles answered, "to hearken it seems to come natteral to discern things them fellows chattering. But, sergeant, in a sort of way that I find in nobody else what did he say next?" a'most." " Well, they may chatter, or hold their "You doos, you doos," answered Corporal tongues, to them as can not understand Nickles. "Many's the time as I've said to them. Requireth a gift, which is a denial myself,'Whur can I goo to find sergeant- to most folk to understand them. And what major, in this here trick of the henemy' he said, Corporal Nickles, was this-that he And now, sergeant, what do'ee think of was coming up the river while the carts was this? No fear to tell truth in spaking'long waiting, and afore the robbery, mind you; of me." and he seed a young woman come on to the "Corporal, I have been thinking strongly bridge-you knows how they goes, corporal, ever since us untied him. And I have been when they expects you to look after them." brought up in the world so much that I means "Sergeant, I should think so." to think again of it." "Well, she come on the bridge for all the "Why, sergeant, you never means to world like that. Us have seen it fifty times. say-" And she had a white handkercher on her "Nickles, I means just what I means. I head, or an Ishmaelitish mantle; and she may be right, and yet again I may be alto- were looking out for some young chap. gether wrong; as is the way of every man. And our young cap'en come after her. And'Let me alone' is all I say. But if I was who do you think she were? Why, one of sure as you could hold your tongue, I might the daughters of the old don up yonder!" have something to say to you. Not of any "Good heart alaive, now, Sergeant Bones, account, you know; but still, something.' I can't a'most belave it!" " Now, sergeant, after all the thumps us "Nickles, I tell you what was told me ALICE LORRAINE. 145 word for word; and I say no more. But pression of emptiness, that, in spite of all his knowing what the ways of the women is, as trouble, the poor young captain broke into us dragoons is so forced to do, even after a a hearty laugh. Then his horse walked up marriage and family-" and sniffed at them, being reminded, per"Ah, sergeant, sergeant! we tries in vain haps, of his manger; and Hilary, dismountto keep inside the strick line of dooty. I ing, found a solitary guinea lying in the does whatever a man can do; and my father dust, the last of fifty thousand. The trail were a butcher." of coarse esparto bags, into which the gold "Corporal, it is one of the trials which had been poured from the coffers, for the the Lord has ordered. They do look up at sake of easier transport, was very distinct one so, and they puts the middle of their in the parts untrampled by horses, mules, or lips up, and then with their bodies they brigands. But of all the marks there was turns away, as if there was nothing to look none more conspicuous than the impressions at. But, Nickles, they gives you no sort of of some man's boots, larger and heavier than a chance to come to the bottom of them. the rest, and appearing, over and over again, And this is what young cap'en will found here, there, and everywhere. For a few out. The good females always is found out yards up the rugged mountain, these and at last; the same as my poor wife was. But other foot-prints might be traced without here us are. We have relaxed the bonds of much trouble, till suddenly they dispersed, discipline with conversation. Corporal, eyes grew fainter, and then wholly disappeared right, and wait orders'' in trackless, hopeless, and (to a stranger) While these two trusty and veteran fel- impenetrable forest. lows had been discussing a subject far too "Thou honest guinea that would not be deep for a whole brigade of them, and still stolen!" cried poor Lorraine, as he returnwere full of tender recollections (dashed ed and picked up the one remaining coin; with good escape), poor Hilary had been "haply I shall never own another honest vainly spurring, here and there, and all guinea. Forty-nine thousand nine hundred about, himself not come to his clear mind and ninety-nine prefer the ownership of yet, only hoping to know where the money rogues. Last of guineas, we will not part was gone. Hope, however, upon that point till gold outlives humanity!" was disappointed, as usual. The track of Now, sir, is there any thing us can do?" the heavy carts was clear in the gravel of cried Bones and Nickles, or one of them. the river, and up the rocky bank, and on the " We has followed all the way up this here old Roman road toward Merida. And then, long hill, for want of better orders." at the distance of about a furlong from the "No, my good fellows, there is nothing to Zujar, the rut of the wooden wheels turned be done. We can not follow any farther. sharply into an elbow of a mountain road. I must go with all speed to report myself. Here, on the hump of a difficult rise, were Follow me, if you can keep up." marks, as if many kicks, and pricks, and The sergeant nodded to the corporal-for, even stabs, had been ministered to good loyal and steadfast as they were, suspicion mules laboring heavily. There was blood was at work with them; that ugly worm on the road, and the blue shine of friction, which, once set going, wriggles into the where hard rock encountered hard iron, and stoutest heart. Surely it was a queer thing the scraping of holes in gravelly spots, and of the captain not even to let them examine the nicks of big stones laid behind wheels the spot; but order was order, and without to ease the tugging and afford the short re- a word they followed the young officer back lief of panting. These traces were plain, to the high-road, and then, for some hours in and becoming plainer as the road grew the heat of the day, on the way toward Esworse, for nearly a mile of the mountain- tremadura. At noontide they came to a side, and then the track turned suddenly bright, broad stream, known to them as the into a thicket of dark ilex, where, out of Guadalmez, a confluent of the Guadiana; British sight and ken, the spoil had been di- and here they were challenged, to their great vided. surprise, by a strong detachment of British The treasure-carts had been upset, and hussars. two of the sturdy mules, at last foundered "What is your duty herel" asked Lorwith hard labor, lay in their blood, content- raine, as his uniform and face were acknowled that their work was over, and that man edged and saluted by sentries posted across (a greater brute than themselves) had taken the ford. all he wanted out of them. The rest had "To receive," cried an officer, riding been driven or ridden on, being useful for through the river (for all of these people further torment. And here on the ground were wide awake), "Captain Lorraine and were five stout coffers of good British iron; his Spanish convoy." but, alas! the good British gold was flown. "I have no convoy," said Hilary, dropping At this sight Hilary stared a little; and his voice into very sad music. "All is lost. the five chests in the morning sun glanced It is partly your fault. You were ordered back at him with such a ludicrously sad ex- to meet me at the Zujar ford." 146 ALICE LORRAINE. "This is the Zujar ford," the cavalry ma- CHAPTER LI. jor answered, sternly; and Hilary's heart fell from its last hope of recovering any THE hero of a hundred fights (otherwise thing. called "Old Beaky") had just scraped "We haye been here these three days through a choking trouble on the score of waiting for you," continued the major, with money with the grasping Portuguese regenvehemence; " we have lost all our chance cy; and now, in the year 1813, he was busiof a glorious brush; we sent you advice that er than even he had ever found himself bewe were waiting for you. And now you ap- fore. He had to combine, in most delicate pear without your convoy! Captain Lor- manner and with exquisite nicety of time, raine, what does all this mean I" the movements of columns whose number "Major, my explanation is due at head- scarcely even to himself was clear; for the quarters rather than to you." force of rivers unusually strong, and the "And a deuced hard job you'll have to doubt of bridges successively broken, and give it, or my name's not M'Rustie," the sen- the hardship of the Tras os Montes, and the ior officer muttered, with more terseness and scattering of soldiers, who for want of montruth than courtesy. "I'm blessed if I'd ey had to "subsist themselves" - which stand in your shoes before Old Beaky, for a means to hunt far afield after cows, sheep, trifle." and hens-also the shifty and unpronounced Poor Hilary tried in vain to look as if he tactics of the enemy, and a great many othtook it lightly. Even his bright and buoy- er disturbing elements, enough to make calant nature could -not lift head against the culation sea-sick-a senior wrangler, or even sea of troubles all in front of him. Herr Steinitz, the Wellington of the chess"I have done no harm," he kept saying to board, each in his province, might go astray, himself, when, after the few words that duty and trust at last to luck itself to cut the demanded, he urged his stout horse forward; tangled knot for him. and the faithful sergeant and corporal, who It was a very grand movement, and trihad shunned all inquisitive hussars, spurred umphantly successful; opening up as fine a vigorously after him, feeling themselves (as march as can be found in history, sweeping a Briton loves to feel himself) pregnant with onward in victory, and closing with conquest mighty evidence. "What harm have I of the Frenchmen in their own France, and done?" asked Hilary. "I saw to every nothing left to stop the advance on Paris. thing; I worked hard. I never quitted my " Was all this luck, or was it skill?" the hispost, except through duty toward a lady. torian asks in wonder; and the answer, perAny gentleman must have done what I did. haps, may be found in the proverb, "Luck To be an officer is an adornment; to be a has a mother's love for skill." gentleman is a necessity." Be that as it may, it is quite certain that "Have you felt altogether," said con- Hilary, though he had shown no skill, had science to him, "the necessity of that neces- some little luck in the present case. For sity? Have you found it impossible to de- the commander-in-chief was a great deal part from a gentleman's first duty-good too busy, and had all his officers too hard at faith to those who trust in him? When you work, to order, without fatal loss of time, found yourself bewitched with a foreign a general court-martial now. Moreover, he lady, did you even let your first love know had his own reasons for keeping the matter it? For months you have been playing fast as quiet as possible for at least another fortand loose, not caringwhat misery you caused. night. Every soldier by that time would be And now you are fast in the trap of your in march, and unable to turn his back on looseness. Whatever happens serves you Brown Bess; whereas now there were some right." who might lawfully cast away the knapsack, " Whatever happens serves me right!" if they knew that their bounty was again no cried Hilary Lorraine, aloud, as he lifted his better than a cloudy hope. And again, there sword just a little way forth, for the last were some ugly pot-hooks of English questime to admire it, and into the sheath drop- tions to be dealt with. ped a quick, hot tear. "I have done my All these things passed through the rapid duty as an officer badly; and far worse as mind of the general, as he reined his horse, a gentleman. But, Mabel, if you could see and listened calmly to poor Lorraine's overme now, I think that you would grieve for true report. And then h fixed his keen me." gray eyes upon Hilary, and said shortly, He felt his heart grow warm again with "What were you doing upon that bridge?" the thought of his own Mabel; and in the' ",That is a question," replied Lorraine, courage of that thought he stood before Lord while marveling at his own audacity," which Wellington. I am pledged by my honor, as a gentleman, not to answer." ~- ~.I "By your duty as an officer, in a place of special trust, you are bound to answer it." "General, I can not. My lord, as I rath ALICE LORRAINE. 147 or must call you now, I wish I could answer; You prefer your own decision;' and I have but I can not." other things to attend to. Captain Money "You have no suspicion who it was that will receive your sword. You are under arstole the money, with such prearrange- rest till we can form a court." Imenllt "My lord, it would break my father's "I have a suspicion, but nothing more; heart, if he were to hear of such a thing. I and it makes me feel treacherous to suspect suppose I had better resign my commission, it." if I may." "Never mind that. We have rogues to "Put that in writing, and send it to me. deal with. What is your suspicion?" I will forward it to the Horse Guards, with "My lord, I am sorry to say that again I a memorandum from myself. I am sorry to can not, in honor, answer you." lose you, Captain Lorraine; you might have "Captain Lorraine, I have no time to done well, if you had only proved as vigilant spare;"-Lord Wellington had been more as you are active and gallant. But one word than once interrupted by dispatches. "Once more-what made you stop short at the ford and for all, do you mean to give any, or of a little mountain stream I chose you as no, explanation of your conduct in losing knowing the country well. You must have ~50,000 I" known that the Zujar ford was twenty miles " General, all my life, and the honor of my farther on your road." family, depend upon what I do now." "I know all that country too well, my " Then go and seek advice, Lorraine," the lord. We halted at the real Zujar ford. Gengeneral answered, kindly, for his heart was eral Hill's detachment stopped at the ford of kind; and he had taken a liking for this the Guadalmez. It is wrongly called the young fellow, and knew a little of his fam- Zujar there. The Zujar has taken a great ily. sweep to the east, and fallen into the Gua"I have no one to go to for advice, my dalmez and Guadalemar. Major M'Rustie lord. What is your advice to me?" With must have been misled; and no doubt it was these words, Hilary looked so wretched and done on purpose. I have my information on yet so proud from his well-bred face and the very best authority." beautifully-shaped blue eyes, that his gener- "May I ask, upon what authority? Are al stopped from his hurry to pity him. And you pledged in honor to conceal even that?" then he looked gently at the poor young fel- "No, I may tell that, I do believe," said low. Hilary, after one moment's thought, and with "This is the most irregular state of things his old bright simple smile. " I had it, my I have ever had to deal with. You have lost lord, from the two young ladies-the daugha month's pay of our army, and enough to ters of the Count of Zamora." last them halfa year; and you seem to think "Aha!" cried Lord Wellington (being althat you have done great things, and refuse most as fond of young ladies as they of him, all explanation. Is there any chance of re- and touched perhaps for the moment by the covering the money?" magic of a sweet young smile), "I begin to " There might be, my lord, if we were not understand the bridge affair. But I fear that pushing so rapidly on for the Pyrenees." young ladies can hardly be cited as author" There might be, if we threw away our ities on geography. Otherwise, we might campaign! You have two courses before make out a case againstthe Spanish authoryou; at least, if I choose to offer them. Will ities for sending our escort to the wrong you take my advice, if I offer the choice?" place. And the Spanish escort, as you say, " I am only too glad to have any choice; took that for the proper place." and any thing chosen for me by you." "Certainly, my lord, they did. And so "Then this is just how you stand, Lor- did the count, and every body. Is there any raine —if we allow the alternative. You hope now that I may be acquitted?" may demand a court-martial, or you may re- At a moment's notice from Hope that she sign your commission. On the other hand, would like to come back to her lodgings, as you know, a court-martial may at once Hilary opened his eyes so wide, and his heart be called upon you. What answer are you so wide, and every other place that Hope is prepared to make when asked why you left generally partial to, that the great commandyour convoy?" er (who trusted as little as possible of his "I should be more stubborn to them than work to hope) could not help smiling a quick, even your lordship has let me be to you." dry smile. And he felt some pain, as, word "Then, Captain Lorraine, resign your com- by word, he demolished hope in Hilary. mission. With my approval, it can be done." "The point of the thing is the money, Lor"Resign my commission!" Lorraine ex- raine. And that we never could recover claimed, reeling as if he had received a shot, from the Spaniards, even if it was lost and catching at the mane of the general's through them; for the very good reason horse, without knowing what he was doing. that they have not got it. And even sup"Oh no, I never could do that." posing the mistake to be theirs, and our es"Very well. I have given you my advice. cort to have been sent astray, you were a 148 ALICE LORRAINE. party to that mistake. And more than that, clapping their hands to the happy accomyou were bound to see that the treasure did paniment of the drum. not cross the river until our men were there. Casting by every outward sign that he Did you do so?" ever had been a soldier, Hilary Lorraine set "Oh, if I only had done that, I should not forth on his sad retreat from this fine adbe so miserable." vance; afoot, and bearing on his shoulder a "Exactly so. You neglected your duty. canvas bag on a truncheon of olive. He Take more care of your own money than you would not accept any knapsack, pouch, or have taken of ours, Lorraine. Do as I told soldier's usage of any kind. He had lost you. And now, good-bye." all right to that, being now but a shattered The general, who had long been chafing at young gentleman on his way home. so much discourse just now, offered his hand However, in one way he showed good to Lorraine, as one who was now a mere ci- sense. By losing such a heap of the public vilian. money, he had learned to look a little better "Is there no hope V" asked Hilary, drop- after his own; so he drew every farthing ping a tear into the mane of the restive horse. that he could get of his father's cash and his "Can I never be restored, my lord " grandmother's, but scorned to accept the ar"Never; unless the money is made good rears of his pay, because he could not get before we go into quarters again. A heavy them. price for a captain's commission!" To a man of old, or of middle age, it has "If it is made good, my lord, will you re- become (or it ought to become) a matter of store me from this deep disgrace'" very small account that he has thrown away "The question will be for his royal high- his life. He has seen so many who have ness.; But I think that, in such an extraor- done the like (through indolence, pride, bad dinary case, you may rely-at any rate, you temper, reserve, timidity, or fool's confidence may rely upon my good word, Lorraine." -into which the most timid men generally I thank you, my lord. The money shall rush), that he knows himself now to be a fine be paid. Not for the sake of my cormis- example, instead of standing forth as a very sion, but for the honor of our family." unpleasant exception to the rule. And now, if he takes it all together, he finds many fel-.____v Ilows who have done much worse, and seem all the better for it. Has he missed an apCHAPTER LIII. pointment? They cut down the salary. Did he bang his back-door on a rising man? THE British army now set forth on its Well, the man, since he rose, has forgotten grand career of victory, with an entirely new his hosts. Has he married a shrew? She set of breeches. Interception ofconvoys, and looks after his kitchen. Remembering and other adverse circumstances, had kept our reflecting thus, almost any good man must heroes from having any money, although refuse to be called, in the long-run, a bigger they had new pockets. And the British fool than his neighbors. Government, with keen insight into British But a young man is not yet late enough to nature, had insisted upon it, in the last con- know what human life is. He is sure that tract, that the pockets should be all four he sees by foresight all the things which, as inches wide. With this the soldiers were they pass us, leave so little time for insight, delighted-for all the very bravest men are and of which the only true view is the calm boys-and they put their knuckles into their and pleasant retrospect. And then, like a pockets, and felt what a lot of money they high-stepping colt brought suddenly on his would hold. And though the money did not knees, to a sense of Macadam, he flounders come, there was the due preparation for it. about in amazement so, that if the fatal damIt might come any day, for all they knew; age is not done to him, he does it. and what fools they must have looked, if Lorraine was not one of those who cry, as their pockets would not hold it! In short, the poets of all present ages do, "Let the these men laid on their legs to march with world stand still, because I don't get on." empty pockets; and march they did, as his- Nevertheless, he was greatly downcast to tory shows, all the better for not having six- find his own little world so early brought to pence. a sudden stand-still. And it seems to be Though Hilary was so heartily liked, both sadly true that the more of versatile quickin his own regiment and by the staff, time ness a man has in him, the less there remains (which had failed for his trial) also failed for to expect of him, in the way of pith and subpity of the issue. The general had desired stance. But Hilary now was in no condithat as little as possible should be said; and tion to go into any philosophies. He made even if any one had wished to argue, the hur- up his mind to walk down to the sea, and ry and bustle Would havestopped his mouth. take ship at some good sea-port; and hayvLorraine's old comrades were far in advance; linug been pleased at Malaga by the kind, quiand the staff, like a shuttle, was darting et ways of the people, and knowing the port about; and the hills and the valleys were to be unobserved by French and American ALICE LORRAINE. 149 cruisers, he thought that he might as well Hilary, as he walked up the hill (down try his luck once more in that direction. which he had ridden so gallantly scarcely Swift of foot as he was, and lightsome, more than a fortnight since), was touched when his heart was toward, he did not get with many thinkings. The fall of the sun along very fast on this penitential journey. (which falls and rises over us so magnaniSo that it was the ninth day or the tenth, mously) had that power upon his body which from his being turned out of the army, when it has on all things. The sun was going; he he came once more to the " Bridge of Echoes," had done his work, and was tired of looking henceforth his "Bridge of Sighs" forever. at people; mount as you might, the sun was Here he stopped and ate his supper, for his sinking, and disdained all shadows and obappetite was good again; and then he looked lation of memorial.,up and down the Zujar, and said to himself Through the growth of darkness thus, and what a fool he was. For lo! where Claudia the urgency of froward trees (that could not had held him trembling over a fearful abyss fold their arms and go to sleep without some of torrent (as it seemed by moonlight), there rustling), and all the many quiet sounds that now was no more than nine inches of water nurse the repose of evening, Lorraine came gliding along very pleasantly. These Span- to the heavy gates that had once secured ish waters were out of his knowledge, as the money. The porter knew him, and was much as the Spanish ladies were; but though glad to let in the young British officer whose the springs might have been much higher a dollars, leaping right and left, had made him fortnight ago than they were now, Hilary many household friends. But in the hall could not help thinking that Claudia, instead the old steward met him, and, with many of fainting on the verge, might have jumped grave inclinations of his head and body, over at any moment, without spraining her mourned that he could not receive the ilvery neat ankles. And then he remembered lustrious senor. that it was this same beautiful and roman- "There is in the castle no one now but tic girl who had proved to the satisfaction my noble mistress, the Donna Camilla. His of the Spanish colonel that this was the only excellence the count is away, far from home Zujar ford, for that river merged its name at the wars." where it joined the longer and larger Gua- "And the young Lady Claudia, where is dalmez. Upon this question there long had she? I beg your pardon, steward, if I ought arisen a hopeful dilemma in Hilary's mind, not to ask the question." which stated itself in this form: If this were For the ancient steward had turned away the true Zujar ford, then surely the Span- at the sound of Donna Claudia's name; and iards, the natives of the country, were bound pretending to be very deaf, began to trim a to apprise General Hill thereof. If this were lamp or two. not the Zujar ford, then the Spaniards were "Will the Donna Camilla permit me to liable for the treasure beyond this place and see her for one minute, or for two, perhaps? as far as the true one. The latter was of Her father is from home; but you, Seior course the stronger horn of the dilemma; Steward, know what is correct, and thus but unluckily there arose against it a mighty will act." monster of fact, quite strong enough to take Hilary had not been so frightened at his even the Minotaur by the horns. Suppose own temerity in the deadly breach of Badathe brave Spaniards to owe the money, it was jos as now when he felt himself softly slipimpossible to suppose that they could pay it. ping a brace of humble English guineas into This reflection gave Hilary such a pain in this lofty Spaniard's palm. The steward, his side that he straightway dropped it. And without knowing what he was about, exbeholding the vivid summer sky beginning cept that he was trimming a very stubborn to darken into deeper blue, and the juts of lamp, felt with his thumb that there must the mountainous places preparing to throw be a brace, and with contemptuous indignalight and shadow lengthwise, and the sim- tion let them slide into his pocket. mering of the sun-heat sinking into white "Senor, I will do only what is right. I mists laid abroad, he made up his mind to am of fifty years almost in this noble family. put best foot foremost, and sleep at Monte I am trusted, as I deserve. What I do is Argento. For he felt quite sure of the good- what the count himself would do. But a will and sympathy of that pure hidalgo, the very sad thing has happened. We are noble Count ofZamora; and from the young obliged now to be most careful. The senlor donnas he might learn something about his knows what the ladies are " misadventure. He could not bring himself " Sefor Steward, that is the very thing to believe that Claudia had been privy to that I never do know. You know them the dastardly outrage upon himself. His na- well. But, alas! I do not." ture was too frank and open to foster such "Alas! I do," said the steward, panting, mean ideas. Young ladies were the best and and longing to pour forth experience; but sweetest, the kindest and the largest-hearted, he saw some women peeping down stairs, of created beings. So they were, and so they and took the upper hand of them. " Senor, are; but all rules have exceptions. it is not worth the knowing. Our affairs are 150 ALICE LORRAINE. loftier. Go back, all you women, and pre- this little matter sensibly. I now undclerpare for bed. Have you not bad your sup- stand the whole of it. Your sister is of very per? Now, sefior, in here for a minute, if warm and strong patriotic sentiments. She you please; patience passeth all things." felt that this money would do more good as But Hilary's patience itself was passed, as the, property of the partidas than as the pay he waited in this little anteroom, ere the of the British troops. And so she exerted steward returned with the Donna Camilla, herself to get it. All good Spaniards would and, with a low bow, showed her in, and have thought the same." posted himself in a corner. She was dressed "She exerted herself to disgrace herself, in pure white, which Hilary knew to be the and to disgrace her family. The money is mourning costume of the family. not among the partidas, but all in the bags The hand which the young Andalusian of her cousin Alcides, whom she has married lady offered was cold and trembling, and without dispensation, and with her father's her aspect and manner were timid and sanction forged. Can you make the best of abashed. that, selor?" "Begone!" she cried to the worthy stew- Hilary certainly could not make any thing ard, with a sudden indignation, which per- very good out of this. And cheerful though haps relieved her. his nature was, and tolerably magnanimous, "What now shall I do?" said the steward he could not be expected to enjoy the treatto himself, with one hand spread upon his ment he had met with. To be knocked silver beard; " is this one also to run away?" down and robbed, was bad enough; to be "Begone!" said Camilla to him once more, disgraced, was a great deal worse; but to looking so grand that he could only go; and be cut out by a rival, betrayed into his powthen quietly bolting the old gentleman out. er, and made to pay for his wedding with After which she returned to Hilary. trust-money belonging to poor soldiers —all " Senor Captain, I am very sorry to offer this was enough to imbitter even the sweet you any scenes of force. You have had too and kind nature of young Lorraine. Theremany from our family." fore his face was unlike itself, as he turned " I do not understand you, seilorita. From it away from the young Spanish lady, being your family I have received nothing but kind- much taken up with his own troubles, and ness, hospitality, and love." not yet ready to make light of them. "Alas, sentor! and heavy blows. Our "Will you not speak to me, seitor? I am proverb is,' Love leads to blows;' and this not in any way guilty of this. I would have was our return to you. But she is of our surrendered the whole of my life-" family no more." "I pray you to pardon me," Hilary an-' I am at a loss. It is my stupidity. I do swered. " I am not accustomed to this sort not know at all what is meant." of thing. Where are they now? Can I fol"In sincerity, the cavalier has no suspi- low them?" cion who smote down and robbed him?" "Even a Spaniard could not find them. "In sincerity, the cavalier knows not; al- My brothers would not attempt it. Alcides though he would be very glad to know." knows every in and out. He has hidden his "Is it possible? Oh, the dark treachery! prize in the mountains of the north." It was my cousin who struck you down; my "If that is so, I can only hasten to say sister who betrayed you." farewell to the Spanish land." "Ah, well!" said Lorraine, in a moment "To go away, and to never come back! seeing how she trembled for his words, and Is it possible that you could do that?" how terribly she felt the shame; "if it be "It may be a bitter thing; but I must so, I am still in her debt. She saved my try. I am now on my way to Malaga. Belife once, and she spared it again. Now, as ing discharged from the British army, I have you see, I am none the worse. The only only to find my own way home." loser is the British Government, which can " It can not be; it never can be! Our ofwell afford to pay." fleers lose a mule's-load of money, or spend "It is not so. The loss is ours, of honor, it at cards; and we keep them still, Senor faith, and gratitude." Captain. You must have made some mis"I pray you not to take it so. Every take. They never could discharge you." body knows that the fault was mine. And " If there has been any mistake," said whatever has happened only served me Hilary, regaining his sweet smile, with his right." sense of humor, "it is on their part, not on "It served you aright for trusting us! It mine. Discharged I am; and the British is too true. It is a bitter saying. My fa- army, as well as the Spanish cause, must do ther mourns, and I mourn. She never more their best to get on without me." will be his daughter, and never more my sis- "Saints of heaven! And you will go, ter." and never come back any more?" "I pray you," said Hilary, taking her " With the help of the saints, that is my hand, as she turned away to control herself hope. What other hope is left to me?" -- I pray you, Donna Camilla, to look at Camilla de Montalvan did not answer this ALICE LORRAINE. 151 question with her lips, but more than an- and men and horses to conduct him to Malswered it with her eyes. She fell back sud- aga. Be quick, I say, and show no hesitadenly, as if with terror, into a great blue vel- tion." At her urgent words the steward vet chair, and her black tresses lay on her went, yet grumbling and reluctant, and snowy arms, although her shapely neck re- glancing over his shoulder all the way along clined. Then with a gentle sigh, as if re- the passage. "How that old man amuses covering from a troubled dream, she raised me!" she continued, to the wondering Hilher eyes to Hilary's, and let them dwell ary, who had never dreamed that she could there long enough to make him wonder speak sharply; "ever since my sister's diswhere he was. And he saw that he had grace he thinks that his duty is to watch but to speak the word to become the owner me. Ah! what am I to be watched for?" of grace and beauty, wealth, and rank in " Because," said Hilary, "there isno Spanthe Spanish army, and (at least for a time) iard who would not long to steal the beautrue love. tiful young donna." But, alas! a burned child dreads the fire. " No Spaniard shall ever do that. But There still was a bump on Lorraine's head haste; you are in such hurry for the sunny from the staff of Don Alcides; and Camil- land of Anglia." la's eyes were too like Claudia's to be trust- " I do not understand the senlorita. Why ed all at once. Moreover, Hilary thought should I hurry to my great disgrace? I of Mabel, of all her goodness, and proven shall never hear the last of the money I trust; and Spanish ladies, though they have lost." might be queens, had no temptation for him'Tis all money, money, money, in the nonow. And perhaps he thought-as quick ble England. But the friends of the capmen think of little things unpleasantly-" I tain need not mourn; for the money was do not want a wife whose eyes will always not his, nor theirs." be deeper than my own." And so he re- This grandly philosophical and most truly solved to be off as soon as it could be done Spanish view of the case destroyed poor Hilpolitely. ary's last fond hope of any sense of a debt of Camilla, having been disappointed more honor on the part of the Montalvans. If the than once of love's reply, clearly saw what money lost had been Hilary's own, the Count was going on, and called her pride to the of Zamora (all compact of chivalry and recrescue. The cavalier should not say fare- titude) might have discovered that he wa.s well to her; she would say it to the cava- boundto redeem his daughter's robbery. But lier. Also, she would let him know one as it stood, there was no such chance. Prithing. vate honor is a mountain rill that does not " If you must leave us, Captain Lorraine, always lead to any lake of public honesty. and return to your native land, you will at All Spaniards would bow to the will of the least permit me to do what my father would Lord that British guineas should slip into have cone if he were at home-to send you Spanish hands so providentially. with escort to Malaga. The roads are dan- " We do not take such things just so," said gerous. You must not go alone." young Lorraine, quite sadly. "I must go "I thank you. I am scarcely worth rob- home and restore the money. Donna Cabing now. I can sing in the presence of the milla, I must say farewell." bandit." "You will come again when you are re"You will grant me this last favor, I am stored? When you have proved that you sure, if I tell you one thing. It was not that did not take the money for yourself, senor, wicked Claudia who drew the iron from your you will remember your Spanish friends?" wound." "I never shall forget my Spanish friends. "It was not the Donna Claudia! To To you I owe my life, and hold it (as long as whom, then, do I owe my life?" I hold it) at your command." " Can you not, by any means, endeavor to "It is generously said, senfor. Generosity conjecture?" always makes me weep. And so farewell." "How glad I am!" he answered, as he kissed her cold and trembling hand, "the lady to whom I owe my life is gentle, good, and truthful." "There is no debt of life, senor. But L would it have grieved you, now, if Claudia IN all the British army-then a walking had done it? Then be assured that she did wood of British oak, without a yard of sapnot do it. Her manner never was to do any ling-there was no bit of better stuff than thing good to any one. And yet how won- the five feet and a quarter (allowing for his derful are things! Every body loved her. good game leg) of Major, by this time ColIt is no good to be good, I fear. Pedro, you onel, Clumps. This officer knew what he are at the door, then, are you? You have had to do, and he made a point of doing it. taken care to hear every thing. Go order Being short of imagination, he despised that a repast for the cavalier of the best we have, foolish gift, and marveled over and over 152 ALICE LORRAINE. again at others for laughing so at nothing. of Mabel's gratitude by news of Hilary, were That whimsical tickling of the veins of harassed and knocked about too much to thought, which some people give so and find any time for writing letters. And a some receive (with equal delight on either the Gazette in those days neglected the smallside), humor, or wit, or whatever it is, to er concerns of the army, and became so hurColonel Clumps was a vicious thing. Ev- ried by the march of events, and the rapid ery thing must be either true or false. If sequence of battles, that the doings of junit were true, who could laugh at the truth? ior officers slipped through its fingers until If it were false, who should laugh at a false- long afterward, the result was that neither hood? Coombe Lorraine nor Old Applewood Farm Many a good man has reasoned thus, received for months any news of the.young reducing laughter under law, and himself staff-officer. Neither did he yet present himthenceforth abandoned by that lawless ele- self at either of those homesteads. For, as ment. Colonel Clumps had always taken the ancient saying runs, misfortunes never solid views of every thing, and the longer come alone. The ship in which Hilary sailhe lived in the world the less he felt inclined ed for England from the port of Cadiz-for to laugh at it. But, that laughter might not he found no transport at Malaga-The Flowbe robbed of all its dues and royalties, just er of Kent, as she was called, which appearnature had provided that, as the colonel ed to him an excellent omen, was nipped would not laugh at the world, the world in the bud of her homeward voyage. She should laugh at the colonel. He had been met with a nasty French privateer to the the subject of more bad jokes, one-sided southward of Cape Finisterre. In vain she pleasantries, and heartless hoaxes, than any crowded sail, and tried every known reother man in the army; with the usual re- source of seamanship; the Frenchman had sult that now he scarcely ever believed the the heels of her, and laid her on board at truth, while he still retained for the pleasure sundown. Lorraine, and two or three old of his friends a tempting stock of his native soldiers, battered and going to hospital, had confidence in error. So that it came to pass no idea of striking, except in the British that when Colonel Clumps (after the battle way of doing it. But the master and the of Vittoria, in which he had shown conspic- mate knew better, and stopped the hopeless uous valor) was told of poor Hilary's sad conflict. So the Frenchmen sacked and disgrace, he was a great deal too clever and scuttled the ship in the most scientific manastute to believe a single word of it. ner, and, wanting no prisoners, landed the " It is ludicrous, perfectly ludicrous!" he crew, on a desolate strand of Gallicia, withsaid, that being the strongest adjective he out any money to save them. knew to express pure impossibility. "A This being their condition, it is the proper gallant young fellow to be cashiered without thing to leave them so; for nothing is more even a court-martial! How dare you tell unwise than to ask, orratherto "instituteinme such a thing, sir? I am not a man to be quiries," as to the doings of people who are rough-ridden. Nobody ever has imposed on much too likely to require a loan; therefore me. And the boy is almost a sort of cousin return we to the South Down hills. of my own.. The first family in the king- The wet, ungenial, and stormy summer of dom, sir." 1813 was passing into a wetter, more cheerThe colonel flew into so great a rage, less, and most tempestuous autumn. On the twisting his white hair and stamping his northern slopes of the light-earthed hills the lame heel, that the officer who had brought moss had come over the herbage, and the the news, being one of his own subalterns, sweet nibble of the sheep was souring. The wisely retired into doubts about it, and hint- huddled trees (which here and there rise just ed that nobody knew the reason, and there- to the level of the ridge, and then seem pollfore that it could not be true.. ed by the sweep of the wind-rush), the bush"If I mention that absurd report about es also, and the gorse itself, stood, or rather young Lorraine," thought Colonel Clumps, stooped, beneath the burden of perpetual when writing to Lady de Lampnor, "I may wet. The leaves hung down in a heavy do harm, and I can do no good, but only get drizzle, unable to detach themselves from myself laughed at as the victim of a stupid the welting of the unripe stalks; the husk hoax. So I will say no more about him, ex- of the beech and the key of the ash were cept that I have not seen him lately, being shriveled for want of kernels, and the clusso far from head-quarters, and knowing how ters of the hazel-nut had no sun-varnish on Old Beaky is driving the Staff about." And them. The weakness of the summer sun before the brave colonel found opportuni- (whether his face was spotted overmuch, or ty of taking the pen in hand again, he was too immaculate), and the humor of clouds, heavily wounded in a skirmish with the and the tenor of winds, and even the tendFrench rear-guard, and ordered home, as ency of the earth itself to devolve into hereafter will perhaps appear. eccentricity-these, and a hundred other It also happened that Mr. Capper's friends, causes, for the present state of the weather, those two officers who had earned so little were found, according to where they were ALICE LORRAINE. 153 looked for. On one point only there was no the neighborhood. Therefore, of course, bitcontradiction-things were not as they ought ter jealousy raged betwixt him and the real to be. outsider. Now the boy that was shot got a Even the rector of West Lorraine, a man new pair of boots from the balance of his of most cheerful mind, and not to be put guinea, and a new pair of legs to his nether down by any one, laying to the will of the garments, under his mother's guidance. And Lord his failures, and to his own merits all to show what he was, and remove all doubts good success, even the Rev. Struan Hales of the genuine expenditure, his father and was scarcely a match for the weather. mother combined and pricked him, with a Sportsmen in those days did not walk in pi in a stick, to the Sunday-school. Here sevenfold armor for fear of a thorn, or a Madge Hales (the second and strongest shower, or a cow-dab; nor skulked they for daughter of the church) laid hold of him, two hours in a rick, awaiting the joy of one and converted him into right -iews of thebutchering minute. Fair play for man, and ology, hanging upon sound pot-hooks. dog, and gun, and fur, and feather was then But a far greater mind than Bill I-arkles the rule; and a day of sport meant a day of could own was watching this noble experiwork, and healthful change, and fine exer- ment. Bonny had always hankered kindly cise. Therefore Mr. Hales went forth with after a knowledge of "pictur-books." The his long and heavily-loaded gun to comfort gifts of nature were hatching inside him, and himself and refresh his mind, whatever the chipped at the shell of his chickenhood. He weather might be about upon six days out had thrashed Bill Harkles in two fair fights, of every seven. The hounds had not begun without any aid from his donkey, and he felt to meet; the rivers were all in flood, of that Bill's mind had no right whatever to be course; the air was so full of rheumatism brought up to look down on him. that no man could crook his arm to write a This boy, therefore, being sneered at by sermon or work a concordance. Two sick erudite Bill Harkles, knew that his fists old women had taken a fancy for pheasant would be no fair answer, and retired to his boiled with artichoke; willy-nilly, the par- cave. Here he looked over his many pickson found it a momentous duty now to shoot. ings, and proudly confessing inferior learnAnd who went with him? There is no ing, refreshed himself with superior wealth. such thing as consistence of the human And this meditation, having sound foundamind; yet well as this glorious truth was tion, satisfied him till the next market-day known, and bemoaned by every one for his -the market-day at Steynjug. Bonny had neighbor's sake, not they, not all the parish, not much business here, but he always liked nor even we of the enlarged philosophy, to look at things; and sometimes he got a could or can ever be brought to believe our good pannier of victuals, and sometimes he own eyes that it was Bonny! But, in spite got nothing. For the farmers of the better of all impossibility, it was; and the expla- sort put off their dinner till two o'clock, when nation requires relapse. the prime of the market was over, and then Is it within recollection that the rector sat down to boiled beef and carrots in the once shot a boy in the hedge? The boy had yard of the White Horse Inn, and often did climbed up into an ivied stump for purposes their best in that way. of his own, combining review with criticism. Of this great "ordinary — great, at any All critics deserve to be shot if they dare to rate, as regards consumption-Farmer Gates, cross the grand aims of true enterprise. They the church-warden, was by ancestral right pepper, and are peppered; but they gener- the chairman; but for several market-days ally get the best of it. And so did this boy the vice-presidency had been vacant. A hot that was shot in the hedge. Being of a competition had raged, and all Steyning had crafty order, he dropped, and howled and thrilled with high commotion about the sucrolled so piteously, that poor Mr. Hales, al- cession to the knife and fork at the bottom though he had fired at a distance of more of the table; until it was announced, amidst than four-score yards from the latent vaga- general applause, that Bottler was elected. bond, cast down his gun in the horror of hav- It was a proud day for this good pigman, and ing slain a fellow-creature. But when he perhaps a still prouder one for Bonny, when ran up and turned him over to search for the the new vice-president was inducted into the fatal injury, the boy so vigorously kicked and Windsor chair at the foot of the long and anroared that the parson had great hopes of cient table; and it marked the turning-point him. After some more rolling, a balance in the life of more than one then present. was struck; the boy had some blue spots The vice-president's cart was in the shed under his skin, and a broad gold guinea to close by, and on the front lade sat Bonny, plaster them. sniffing the beauty of the "silver-side," and Now this boy was not our Bonny, nor fit the luscious suggestions of the marrow-bone. in any way to compare with him. But un- Polly longed fiercely to be up there with him; civilized minds are very jealous; and next but her mother's stern sense of decorum forto our Bonny, this boy that was shot was the bade; the pretty Miss Bottlers would Pbe farthest from civilization of all the boys of toasted after dinner; and was one to be spied 10 154 ALICE LORRAINE. in a pig-cart? No sooner was the cloth re- saw the bulging over their large black eyes, moved, than the chairman proposed, in most and the prick of their delicate ears, and their feeling and eloquent language, the health gentle chewing of the grass-blade. There of his new colleague. And now it was Bot- was no chance of a running shot, for they tier's reply which created a grand revolution would pop into earth in a moment; so he in Steyning. With graceful modesty he tried to get two of them into a line, and then ascribed his present proud position, the re- he pulled his trigger. The nearest rabbit alization of his fondest hopes, neither to his fell dead as a stone; but the rector could well-known integrity, industry, strict atten- scarcely believe his eyes, when through the tion to business, nor even the quality of his curls of the smoke he beheld, instead of the bacon. All these things, of course, contrib- other rabbit, a ragged boy rolling, and kicknted; but "what was the grand element of ing, and hallooing! his unparalleled success in life?" A cry of "Am I never to shoot without shooting "White-stockings!" from the Bramber pig- a boy?" cried the parson, rushing forward; sticker was sternly suppressed, and the man " another guinea! A likely thing! I vow kicked out. " The grand element of his sue- I will only pay a shilling this time. The cess in life was his classical education!" sport would ruin a bishop P" Nobody knowing what was meant by this, But Mr. Hales found, to his great delight, thunders of applause ensued; until it was that the boy was not touched by a shot, nor whispered from cup to cup that Bottler, when even made pretense to be so. He had craftlhe was six years old, had been three months ily crept through the bushes from below, at the grammar school. He might have for- and quietly lurked near the rabbits' hole, gotten every word he had learned, but any and after the shot had darted forth and one might see that it was dung dug in. So thrown himself cleverly on the wounded a dozen of the farmers resolved at once to rabbit, who otherwise must have got away have their children Latined; and Bonny in to die a lingering death in his burrow. The his inmost heart aspired to some education, quickness and skill of the boy, and the luck What was the first step to golden knowl- of thus bagging both rabbits, so pleased the edge? He put this question to himself oh- rector that he gave him sixpence, and bade scurely, as he rode home on his faithful Jack, him follow to carry the game and to see with all the marrow-bones of the great feast more sport. Bonny had a natural turn for rattling in a bag behind him. From the case sport, which never could be beaten out of of Bill Harkles he reasoned soundly, that the him; and to get it encouraged by the rector first thing to do was to go and get shot. of the parish was indeed a godsend. And On the following day-the month being in his excitement at every shot he poured August, or something very near it, in the forth his heart about rabbits, and hares, and year 1812 (a year behind the time we got on wood-queists, and partridges, andeven pheasto), Mr. Hales, to keep his hand in, took his ants. favorite flint-gun down, and patted it, and "Why, you know more than I do!" said reprimed it. He had finished his dinner; it the rector, kindly laying his hand on the had been a good one; and his partner in life shoulder of the boy, after loading for his had been lamenting the terrible price of tenth successful shot. "How ever have you butcher's meat. She did not see how it picked up all these things? The very worst could end in any thing short of a wicked re- poacher of the coming age, or else the best bellion, when the price of bread was put with gamekeeper." it. And the rector had answered, with a " I looks about, or we does, me and Jack wink to Cecil, "Order no meat for to-mor- together," answered Bonny, with one of his row, my dear, nor even for the next day. broadest and most genuine grins; and the We shall see what we shall see." With this gleam of his teeth and the twinkle of his power of promise, he got on his legs, and eyes enforced the explanation. stopped all who were fain to come after him. " Come to my house in the morning, BonHe knew every coney and coney's hole on ny," said the rector. And that was the makthe glebe, and on the clerk's land; and they ing of him. For the boy that cleaned the all would now be out at grass, and must be knives and boots had never conscientiously treated gingerly. He was going to shoot for filled that sphere, though he was captain of the pot, as sportsmen generally did in those the Bible-class. And now he had taken the days. measles so long that they had put him to With visions of milky onions about to be earth the celery. Here was an opening, and poured on a broad and well-boiled back, the Bonny seized it; and though he made very rector (after sneaking through a furzy gate) queer work at first, his native ability carpeeped down a brown trench of the steep ried him on, till he put a fine polish on evhill-side; here he spied three little sandy cry thing. From eighteen-pence a week juts of recent excavation, and on each of he rose to two-and-threepence within nine them sat a hunch-backed coney, proud of the months; and to this he soon added the emplabors of the day, and happily curling his ty bottles, and a commission upon the greasewhiskers. The rector, peering downward, pot! ALICE LORRAINE. 155 Even now all has not been told; for by and sed Bonny down the road with a mesbringing the cook good news of her sweet- sage for Captain Chapman." heart, and the parlor-maid dry sticks to light "The huntsman came out of the backher fire, and by showing a tender interest in kitchen, Cecil, about two minutes ago," said the chilblains of even the scullery-maid, he Madge, who never missed a chance of a cut became such a favorite in the kitchen that at Bonny, because he had thrashed her pet the captain of the Bible-class defied him to Bible-scholar; "he was routing about, with a battle in the wash-house. The battle was his red coat on, for scraps of yellow soap and fought, and victory, though long doubtful, candle-ends." perched at last upon the banner of brave "What a story!" cried Cecil, who was Bonny; and with mutual esteem, and four Bonny's champion, being his school-misblack eyes, the heroes parted. tress; "I wish your Dick was half as good After this all ran smooth. The rector a boy. He gets honester every day almost. (who had enjoyed the conflict from his I'll send him to you, papa, in two seconds. study-window, without looking off more I suppose you'll speak to him at the sidethan he could help from a sermon upon door." " Seek peace, and ensue it "), as soon as he At a nod from her father, away she ran, had satisfied himself which of the two boys while Madge followed slowly to help in the hit the straighter, went to an ancient ward- search; and finding that the boy had left robe and examined his by-gone hunting- the house, they took different paths in the clothes. Here he found an old scarlet coat, garden to seek him, or overtake him on his made for him thirty years ago at Oxford, but homeward way. In a few moments, Cecil, now a world too small; and he sighed that he as she passed some laurels, held up her hand had no son to inherit it. Also a pair of old to recall her sister, and crossed the grass tobuckskin breeches, fitter for his arms than ward her very softly, with finger on lip, and his legs just now. The moths were in both; a mysterious look. they were growing scurfy; sentiment must "Hush, and come here very quietly," she give way to sense. So Bonny got coat and whispered; "I'll show you something as breeches; and the maids, with merry pinch- good as a play." Then the two girls peepes, and screams of laughter, and consolatory ed through the laurel-bush, and watched kisses, adapted them. He showed all this with great interest what was going on. grandeur to his donkey Jack, and Jack was In an alley of the kitchen-garden sat Bonin two minds about snapping at it. ny upon an old sea-kale pot, clad in his red This matter being cleared, and the time coat and white breeches, and deeply medibrought up, here we are at West Lorraine in tating. Before him, upon -an espalier-tree, earnest, in the month of October, 1819; long hung a tempting and beautiful apple, a scarafter Hilary's shocking disgrace, but before let pearmain, with its sleek sides glistening any of his own people knew it. in the slant of the sunbeams. I'll lay you a shilling he steals it," Madgo ~o —-+s —- ~ whispered into the ear of her sister. "Done," replied Cecil, with her hand beCHTAPT^ER LV. fore her mouth. CH/lAPTIER LV. Meanwhile Bonny was giving them the "WHAT a lazy loon that Steenie Chapman benefit of his train of reasoning. His is!" said the rector, for about the twentieth mouth was wide open, and his eyes very time, one fine October morning. " He knows bright, and his forehead a field of perplexity. what dreadful weather we get now, and yet " They'se all a-grubbing in the house," he he can't be here by nine o'clock! Too bad, reflected; " and they an't been and offered I call it; too bad, a great deal. Send away me a bit to-day. There's ever so many more the tea-pot, Caroline." on the tree; and they locked up the scullery " But, my dear," answered Mrs. Hales, who cupboard; and one on'em called me a little always made the best of every one, " you for- warmint; and they tuck the key out of the get how very bad the roads must be, after beer-tap." all the rain we have had. And I am sure he With all these wrongs upward, he stretchwill want a cup of tea after riding through ed forth his hand, and pretty Cecil trembled such flooded roads." for her shilling, shillings being very scarce "Tea, indeed!" the parson muttered, as he with her. But the boy, without quite havstrode in and out of the room, with his shot- ing touched the apple, drew back his hand; belt dancing on his velveteen shooting-coat, and that withdrawal perhaps was the turnand snapped his powder-flask impatiently; ing-point of his life. Steenie's tea comes from the case, not the "He gived me all this," he said, looking caddy. And the first gleam of sunshine I've at his sleeve; " and all on'em stitched it up seen for a week, after that heavy gale last for me; and they lets me go in and out withnight. It will rain before twelve o'clock, out watching; and twice I'se been out with for a guinea. Cecil, run and see if you can him, shutting! I'ont; I'ont. And them find that boy Bonny. I shall start by myself, bright apples seldom be worth ating of." 156 ALICE LORRAINE. Sturdily he arose, and gave a kick at one "because your honor's heel be on her whisof the posts of the apple-tree, and set off for kers. Ah, there her gooth! Quick, your the gate as hard as he could go while the honor!" virtuous vein should be uppermost. And go she did in spite of his honor, and "What a darling of honor " cried Cecil both the loads he sent after her; while the Hales, jumping after him. "A Bayard, a rector laughed so at the captain's plight that Cato, an-Aristides! He shall have his ap- it was quite impossible for him to shoot. ple, and he shall have sixpence; and un- The keeper also put on an experienced grin, limited faith forever. Bonny, come back. while Bonny flung open all the cavern of his Here's your apple for you, and sixpence; mouth. and what would you like to have best in all Run after him, boy! Look alive!" cried the world now." the captain. "I defy him to go more than "To go out shutting with the master, fifty yards. You must all have seen how I miss." peppered him." "You shall do it; I will speak to papa "Ay, and salted her too, I believe," said myself. If you please, Miss Maddge, pay up the parson; " look along the barrel of my your shilling. Now come back, Bonny; your gun, and you will see the salt still on her master wants you." tail, eh, Steenie?" " You are a little too late for your errand, As he pointed, they all saw the gallant I fear," answered Margaret, pulling her purse hare at a leisurely canter crossing the valout; " while you were pursuing this boy, I ley some quarter of a mile below them. heard the sound of a grand arrival." "What " cried the rector; "did you see "'Somuch the better!" cried Cecil, who that jump? What.can there be to jump (like her mother) always made the best of over there " For Puss had made a long things. " Papa has been teasing his gun for bound from bank to bank at a place where an hour. Bonny, run back, and keep old they could not see the bottom. Shot quiet. He will break his chain, by the "Water, if'e plaize, sir," answered Bonny; noise he makes. You are as bad as he is; "a girt strame of water comed down that and you both shall go." hollow all of a sudden this mornint; and it The rector-of all men the most hospita- hath been growing stronger ever since." ble, though himself so sober in the morning " Good God 1" exclaimed Mr. Hales, drop-revived Captain Chapman, or at least re- ping his gun. "What is the water like, freshed him, with brandy and bitters, after boy?" that long ride. And keenly heeding all hin- "I never seed no water like it afore. As derance, in his own hurry to be starting, he black as what I does your boots with, sir; thought it a very bad sign for poor Alice but as clear-you can see every stone in it." that Stephen received no comfort from one, "Then the Lord have mercy on this poor nor two, nor even three, large glasses, parish, and especially to the old house of At length they set forth, with a sickly Lorraine! For the Woeburn has broken sun shrinking back from the promise of the out again." morning, and a vaporous glisten in the white "Why, rector, you seem in a very great south-east, looking as watery as the sea. fright," said Captain Chapman, recovering "I told you so, Steenie," said the parson, slowly from his sad discomfiture. "What who knew every sign of the weather among is the matter about this water? Some abthese hills; " we ought to have started two surd old superstition-is not it?" hours sooner. If ever we had wet jackets "Superstition or not," Mr. Hales answerin our life, we shall have them to-day, bold ed, shortly, "I must leave you to shoot by captain." yourself, Captain Chapman. I could not fire "It will bring in the snipes," said the cap- another shot to-day. It is more than three tain, bravely. " We are not the sort of men, hundred and fifty years since this water of I take: it, to heed a little sprinkle. Tom, death was seen. In my church you may have you got my bladder-coat " read what happened then. And not only "All right, your honor," his keeper replied; that, but, according to tradition, its course and "see-ho!" cried Bonny, while the dogs runs directly through our village, and even were ranging. through my garden. My people know noth"Where, where, where?" asked the cap- ing about it yet. It may burst upon them tain, dancing in a breathless flurry round a quite suddenly. There are many obstructuft of heath. "I can't see him; where is tions, no doubt, in its course, and many he, boy?" hollow places to fill up. But before many "Poke her up, boy," said the rector; hours it will reach us. As a question of " surely you would not shoot the poor thing prudence, I must hasten home. Shot, come on her form!" to heel this moment!" "Let him sit till I see him," cried the "You are right," said the captain; "I captain, cocking both his barrels; "now I shall do the same. Your hospitable board am ready. Where the devil is he?" will excuse me to-night. I would much "She can't run away," answered Bonny, rather not leap the Woeburn in the dark." ALICE LORRAINE. 157 With the instinct of a gentleman, he per- go in at his own door-way? I am feeding ceived that the rector, under this depres- him up with a view to that; and so are my sion, would prefer to have no guest. More- three daughters." over, the clouds were gathering with dark' "He must be a thorough young thief," menace over the hill-tops; and he was not said the captain. "In any other parish, he the man-if such man there be-to find would be in prison. I scarcely know which pleasure in a wet day's shooting. is the softer' Beak'-as we are called-you, "No horse has ever yet crossed the Woe- or Sir Roland." burn," Mr. Hales replied, as they all turned "Tom," cried the rector, "run on before homeward across the shoulder of the hill; us; you are young and active. Inquire "at least, if the legends about that are true. where old Nanny Stilgoe lives, at the head Though a hare may have leaped it to-day, of the village, and tell her that the flood is to-morrow no horse will either swim or leap coming upon her; and help her to move her it."'.' things, poor old soul, if she will let you help "Bless my heart! does it rise like that? her. Tell her I sent you, and perhaps she The sooner we get out of its way the better. will, although she is very hard to deal with. What a pest it will be to you, rector! Why, She has long been foretelling this break of you never will be able to come to the meet, the bourne; but the prophets are always the and our opening day is next Tuesday." last to set their own affairs in order."' "Steenie," cried the rector, imbibing hope, The keeper touched his hat, and set off. "it has not struck me in that light before. He always attended to the parson's orders But it scarcely could ever be the will of the more than his own master's. And Mr. Hales Lord to cut off a parson from his own pack!" saw from the captain's face that he had or"Oh, don't walk so fast!" shouted Captain dered things too freely. Chapman; "one's neckmighthbebroken down "Steenie, I beg your pardon," he said; a hill like this. Toni, let me lean on your "I forgot for the moment that I should have shoulder. Boy, I'll give you sixpence to asked you before I dispatched your man like carry my gun. Tom, take the flints out, that. But I did it for your own good, because that he mayn't shoot me. Here, Uncle we need no longer hurry.". Struan, just sit down a minute; a minute "Rector, I am infinitely obleeged to you. ~can't make any difference, you know." To order those men is so fatiguing. I a1-:'That is true," said the rector, who was ways want some one to do it for me. And also out of breath. " Bonny, how far was now we may go down the hill, I suppose, the black water come? You seem to know without snapping all our knee-caps. To go all about it." up a hill fast is a very bad thing; but to go "Plaize, sir, it seem to be coming down a down fast is a great deal worse, because you hill; and the longer I looked, the more wa- think you can do it." ter was a-coming." My dear fellow, you may take your time. "You little nincompoop! had it passed I will not walk you off your legs, as that your own door yet-your hole, or your cave, wicked niece of mine did. How are you or whatever you call it?" getting on there now?" "Plaize, sir, it worn't a-runnin' toward I " Well, that is a delicate question, rector. at all. It wor makin' a hole in the ground, You know what ladies are, you know. But and kickin' a splash up in a fuzzy corner." I do not see any reason to despair of calling "My poor boy, its course is not far from you' uncle' in earnest." your door; it may be in among your goods, "Have you brought the old lady over to and have drowned your jackass and all, by your side? You are sure to be right when this time." fthat is done." Like an arrow from a bow, away went "She has been on my side all along, for Bonny down the headlong hill, having cast the sake of the land. Ah, how good it is!" down the captain's gun, and pulled off his "And nobody else in the field, that we red coat to run the faster. The three men know of. Then Lallie can't hold out so left behind clapped their hands to their sides very much longer. Lord bless me! do you and roared with laughter; at such a pace see that black line yonder?" went the white buckskin breeches, through "To be sure! Why, it seems to be movbramble, gorse, heather, over rock, sod, and ing onward, like a great snake crawling. chalk. "What a grand flying shot!" cried And it has a white head. What a wonderthe keeper. ful thing! "Where the treasure is, there will the "It is our first view of the Woeburn. heart be," said the rector, as soon as he Would to Heaven that it were our last one'! could speak. "I would give a month's The black is the water, and the white, I tithes for a good day's rout among that suppose, is the chalky scum swept before it. boy's accumulations. He has got the most It is following. the old track, as lava does. wonderful things, they say; and he keeps It will cross the Coombe road in about five them on shelves, like a temple of idols. minutes. If you want to get home, you must What will he do when he gets too big to be quick to horse. Never mind the rain: 158 ALICE LORRAINE. let us run down the hill, or just stop one ment to lose, I tell you. I never had finer half minute." stuff in all my life; and I won't have it all They were sitting in the shelter of a chalky washed away, I tell you. Here, you heavyrock, with the sullen storm rising from the breeched Dick, what the dickens are you south behind them, and the drops already gaping at? I sha'n't get a thing done bepattering. On the right hand and on the fore dark, at this rate. Out of my way, left, brown ridges, furzy rises, and heathery every one of you. If you can't stir your scollops overhanging slidden rubble, and the stumps, I can." steep zigzags of the sheep, and the rounding With less avail, like consternation seized way into nothing of the hill-tops-all of every family in West Lorraine. A river, of these were fading into the slaty blue of the miraculous birth and power, was sweeping rain-cloud. Before them spread for leagues down upon all of them. There would nevand leagues, clear, and soft, and smiling still, er be any dry land any more; all the wise theautumnalbeautyoftheweald-land. Tuft- old women had said so. Every body exing hamlets here and there, with darker fo- pected to see black water bubbling up unliage round them, elbows of some distant der his bed that night. lane unconsciously prominent, swathes of Meanwhile this beautiful and grand issue color laid on broadly where the crops were of the gathered hill-springs moved on its all alike; some bold tree of many ages stand- way majestically, obeying the laws it was ing on its right to stand; and gray church- born of. The gale of the previous night towers, far asunder, landmarks of a longer had unsealed the chamber of great waters, view; in the fading distance many things forcing the needful air into the duct, and we can not yet make out; but hope them opening vaults that stored the rain-fall of a to be good and beauteous, calm, and large hundred hills and vales. Through such a with human life. "bower of stalactite, such limpid realms This noble view expanded always the and lakes enlock'd in caves," Cyrene led her great heart of the rector; and he never weeping son, failed to point out clearly the boundary" Where all the rivers of the world he founl, line of his parish. He could scarcely make In sepalate cehannels gliding nlcergroud.' lip his mind to miss that opportunity even now; and was just beginning with a distant And now, as this cold resistless flood calmfurze-rick, far to the westward under Chanc- ly reclaimed its ancient channel, swallowed ton Ring, when Chapman, having heard it up Nanny Stilgoe's well, and cut off the recat least seven times, cut him short rather tor from his own church; as if to encounter briskly. its legendary bane, a poor young fellow, de"You are forgetting one thing, my dear pressed and shattered, feeble, and wan, and sir. Your parish is being cut in two, while heavy-hearted, was dragging his reluctant you are dwelling on the boundaries." steps up the valley of the Adur. Left on "Steenie, you are righlt. I had no idea the naked rocks of Spain, conquered, plunthat you had so much sense, my boy. You dered, and half starved, Hilary Lorraine see how the ditches stand all full of water, had fallen, with the usual reaction of a sanso as to-confuse me. A guinea for the first guine temperament, into low spirits and at the rectory gate! You ought to be hand- disordered health. So that when he at last icapped. You call yourself twenty years made his way to Corunna, and found no younger, don't you ". British agent there, nor any one to draw "Here's the guinea!" cried Chapman, as supplies from, nothing but the pride of his the parson set off; "two; if you like; only family kept him from writing to the Count let me come down this confounded hill con- of Zamora. Of writing to England there siderately." was no chance. All communication ran Mr. Hales found nothing yet amiss with through the channels of the distant and his own premises: some people had come to victorious army. So that he thought himborrow shovels, and wheeling-planks, and self very lucky (in the present state of his such-like; but the garden looked so fair and health and fortunes) when the captain of dry, with its pleasant slope to the east, that an oil-ship bound for London, having lost the master laughed at his own terrors, un- three hands on the outward voyage, allow/til he looked into the covered well, the nev- ed him to work his passage. The fare of a er-failing black-diamond water, down below landsman in feeble health was worth perthe tool-house. Here a great cone rose in haps more than his services; but the capthe middle of the well, like a plume of black tain was a kind-hearted man, and perceived ostrich; and the place was alive with hol- (though he knew not who Hilary was) that low noises. he had that very common thing in those " Dig the celery!" cried the rector. "Ev- days, a "gent under a cloud" to deal with. ery man and boy, come here. I won't have And the gale, which had opened the Woemy celery washed away, nor my drum-head burn, shortened Hilary's track toward it, by Savoys, nor my ragged Jack. Girls, come forcing his ship to run for refuge into Shoreout, every one of you. There is not a mo- ham harbor. ALICE LORRAINE. 159 "How Shall I go home? What shall I say? "Whatever has happened to me," answerDisgraced, degraded, and broken down, a ed Hilary, spreading his thin hands to the stain upon my name and race, I am not fit fire, "has been all of my own doing, Uncle to enter our old doors. What will my fa- Struan." ther say to me? And proud Alice-what'You shall have a cordial; and you shall will her thoughts be?" tell me all. There, I have bolted the door. With steps growing slower at each weary I am your parson, as well as your uncle. drag, he crossed the bridge of Bramber, and All you say will be sacred with me. And I passed beneath the ivied towers of the rivals am sure you have done no great harm afof his ancestors, and then, avoiding Stey- ter all. We shall see what your dear aunt ning town, he turned up the valley of West thinks of it." Lorraine. And the rain which had come on Then Hilary, sipping a little rum-and-waat middle-day, and soaked his sailor's slops ter, wandered through his story; not telling long ago, now took him on the flank ju- it brightly, as once he might have done, but diciously. And his heart was so low that hiding nothing consciously. he received it all without talking either to "Do you mean to tell me there is nothing himself or it..worse than that?' asked the rector, with a "I will go to the rectory first," he sigh of great relief. thought; "Uncle Struan is violent, but he "There is nothing worse, uncle. How is warm. And though he has three chil- could it be worse " dren of his own, he loves me much more "And they turned you out of the army than my father does." for that! How thankful I am for belongWith this resolution, he turned on the ing to the Church! You are simply a marright down a lane that came out by the tyred hero." rectory. The lane broke off suddenly into "Yes, they turned me out of the army for black water; and a tall, robust man stood that. How could they help it?" Reasonin the twilight, with a heavy spade over his ing thus, he met his uncle's look of pity, shoulder. And Hilary Lorraine went up to and it was too much for him. He did what him. many a far greater man and braver hero "No, no, my man; not a penny to spare!" has done, and will do, when the soul is said the rector, in anticipation; "we have moving. He burst into a hot flood of a great deal too much to do with our own tears. poor, and with this new trouble especially. The times are hard-yes, they always are; but an honest man always can get good CHAPTER LVI work. Or go and fight for your country, like a man-but we can't have you in this SIR ROLAND LORRAINE was almost as free parish." from superstition as need be. To be whol" I have fought for my country, Uncle ly quit of that romantic element is a disadStruan; and this is all that has come of it." vantage still, and excepts a neighbor even "Good God, Hilary!" cried the rector; now from the general neighborly sympathy. and for a long time he could say nothing Three-score years ago, of course, that prejuelse. dice was threefold. "Yes, Uncle Struan, don't you under- The swing of British judgment mainly stand? Every one must have his ups and takes magnetic repulse from whatever the downs. I am having a long spell of downs French are rushing after. When they are just now." Republican, all of us rally for throne and "My dear boy, my dear boy, whatever Constitution. When they have a Parliahave you done?" ment, we want none. When they are press" Do you mean to throw me over, Uncle ed under empire, we are apt to be glad that Struan, as the rest of the world has beauti- it serves them right. We know them to be fully done? Every thing seems to be up- brave and good, lovers of honor, and sensiset. What is the meaning of this broad five; but we can not get over the line beblack stream?" tween us and them and the rest of the " Come into my study, and tell me all. I world, perhaps. can let you in without sight of your aunt. Whatever might be said, or reasoned, for The shock would be too great for her." or against the whole of things, Sir Roland Hilary followed without a word. Mr. had long made up his mind to be moderate Hales led him in at the window, and warm- and neutral. He liked every body to speak ed him, and covered him with his own his best (according to self-opinion), and he dressing-gown, and watched him slowly re- liked to keep out of the way of them all, covering and relapse into the wiser ages. He claim"Never mind the tar on your hands; it is ed his own power to think for himself, as an honest smell," he said; "my poor boy, well as the mere right of doing so. And my poor boy, what you must have been therefore he long had been " heterodox" to through!" earnest, right-minded people. 160 ALICE LORRAINE. Never the more, however, could he shake "Oh, may I come with you, papa? Do himself free from the inborn might of hered- say yes. I shall lie awake all night unless itary leanings. The traditions of his house I go. The moon is sure to clear the storm and race had still some power over him, a off; and I will wrap up so thoroughly." power increased by long seclusion, and the "But you can not wrap up your feet, love of hearth and home. Therefore, when dear child; and the roads are continually Trotman was cut off, on his way for his flooded noW." weekly paper, by a great black, gliding flood, "Not on the chalk, papa; never on the and aghast ran up the Coombe to tell it, Sir chalk, except in the very hollow places. Roland, while he smiled, felt strange mis- Besides, I will put on my new French clogs. givings creeping coldly. They can't be much less than six inches Alice, a sweet and noble maiden, on the thick. I shall stand among the deluge high tender verge of womanhood, came to her fa- enough for the fish to build their nests on ther's side, and led him back to his favorite me." book-room. She saw that he was at the "Daughter of folly, and no child of mine point of trembling; although he could still go and put your clogs on. We will go out command his nerves, unless he began to at the eastern door, to arouse no curiosity." think of them. Dissembling her sense of As the master and his daughter passed all this, she sat by the fire, and waited for beneath the astrologer's tower, and left the him. house by his private entrance, they could "My darling, we have had a very happy not help thinking of the good old prince, and time," he began at last to say to her; "you his kind anxiety about them. To the best and I for many years suiting one another." of their knowledge, the wise Agasicles had "To be sure we have, father. And I mean never heard of the Woeburn; or perhaps his to go on suiting you for many more years mind had been so much engrossed with the yet." comet that he took no heed of it. And even Her father saw by the fire-light the sad- in his time this strange river was legendary ness in her eyes, and he put some gayety as the Hydaspes. into his own, or tried. After the heavy and tempestuous rain, the "Lallie, you have brighter things before night was fair, as it generally is, even in the you-a house of your own, and society, and worst of weather, when the full moon rises. the grand world, and great shining." The long-chined hill, with its level outline "Excellent things, no doubt, my father; stretching toward the south of east, affordbut not to be compared with you and home. ed play for the glancing light of a watery Have I done any thing to vex you that you and laborious moon. Long shadows, laid in talk like this to me?" dusky bars, or cast in heavy masses where "Let me see. Come here and show me. the hollowland prevailed for them, and misty There are few things I enjoy so much as be- columns hovering and harboring over treeing vexed by you." clumps, and gleams of quiet light pursuing "There, papa, you are in a hurry to have avenues of opening-all of these, at every your usual laugh at me. You shall have no step of deep descent, appeared to flicker like material now.' I knows what is right, and a great flag waving. I means to do it;' as the man said to me at " What a very lovely night! How beanthe turnpike-gate, when he made me pay tifully the clouds lie!" cried Alice, being apt twice over. Consider yourself, my darling to kindle rashly into poetry: "they softly father, saddled for all your life with me." put themselves in rows, and then they float Sir Roland loved his daughter's quick toward the moon, and catch the silver of her bright turns of love, and' loving passion, smile-oh why do they do that, papa?"' when her heart was really moved. A thou- "Because the wind is west, my dear. sand complex moods and longings played Take care; you are on a great flint, I fear. around or pierced her then; yet all con- You are always cutting your boots out." trolled, or at least concealed, by an English "No, apapa, no. I have got you this time. lady's quietude. Alice was so like himself That shows how much you attend to me. I that he always knew what she would think; have got my great French clogs on." and he tried his best to follow the zigzag " Then how very unsafe to be looking at flash of feminine feeling. the moon! Lean on me steadily, if you must "My dear child," he' said at last; " some- do that. The hill is slippery with slime on thing has been too much for you. Perhaps the chalk. You will skate away to the botthat foolish fellow's story of this mysterious toom, and leave me mourning." water. A gross exaggeration, doubtless. " Oh, how I should love to skate, if ladies The finny tribe sticking fast by the gills in ever could do such a thing! I can slide the nest of the wood-pigeon. Marry come very nicely, as you know, papa. Don't you up! Let us see these wonders. The moon think, after all this rain, we are sure to have is at the full to-night; and I hear no rain on a nice cold winter?" the windows now. Go and fetch my crab- "Who can tell, Lallie? I only hope not. stick, darling.' You children, with your quick circulation, ALICE LORRAINE. 161 active limbs, and vigorous lungs, are always the shadow of a branch that had lost its longing for frost and snow. But when they leaves lay on her breast, and darkened it. come, you get tired of them, within a week " Why, Lallie, you'seem to be quite frightat the utmost. But in your selfish spring of ened," her father said, after waiting long; life you forget all the miseries of the poor "look up at me, and tell me, dear." and old, or even young folk who are poor, "No, I am not at all frightened, papa, and thle children starving everywhere. And but perhaps I am a little out of spirits." the price of all food is now most alarming." " Why?" asked Sir Roland; a' you surely "I am sure I meant no harm," said Alice; do not pay heed to old rhymes and silly le"one can not always think of every thing. gends. I call this a fine and most picturPapa, do you know that you have lately ta- esque water. I -only wish it were always ken to be very hard upon me?" here." " Well now, every body says that of me," " Oh, papa, don't say that, I implore you. SirRoland answered,thoughtfully; "I scarce- And I felt you shiver when you saw it first. ly dreamed that my fault was that. But out You know what it means for our family: of many mouths I am convicted. Struan loss of life once, loss of property twice, and Hales says it; and so does my mother. Hila- the third time the loss of honor-and with ry seemed to imply it also, at the time'when that, of course, our extinction." he last was heard of. MIine own householdc "You little goose, none can lose their honTrotman, Mrs. Pipkins, and that charitable or without dishonorable acts. Come, Miss Mrs. Merryjack, have combined to take the Cassandra; of the present Lorraines-a very same view of me. There must be truth in narrow residue-who is to be distinguished it. I can not make head against such a cloud thus?' of witnesses. And now Alice joins them. "Father, you know so much more than I What more do I want? I must revise my do; but I thought that many people were opinion of myself, and confess that I am a disgraced without having ever deserved it." hard-hearted man." "Disgraced, my darling; but not dishonThis question Sir Roland debated with ored. What could disgrace ever be to us himself, in a manner which had long been -a thing that comes and goes, according to growing upon him, in the gathering love the fickle seasons-a result of the petty huof solitude. Being by nature a man with a man weather, as this melancholy water is of most extraordinary love of justice, he found the larger influence.". it hard (as such rare men do) to be perfectly "Papa, then you own that it is melansure about any thing. He always desired to choly. That was just what I wanted you look at a subject from every imaginable out- to do. You always take things so differside view, receding (like a lark in the clouds) ently from every body else, that I began to from groundling consideration, yetfrankly think you would look upon this as a happy open (like a woodcock roasting) to any thing outburst of a desirable watering-water." good put under him. Nobody knew him; "Well done, Lallie! The command of but he did his best, when he thought of that language is an admirable gift. But the matter, to know. himself. want of it leads to still finer issues. This Now, his daughter allowed him to follow watering-water seems inclined to go on for out his meditation quietly; and then she a long time watering." said, as they went down the hill, warily "Of course, it must go flowing, flowing, heeding each other's steps, until its time is over." "Papa, I beg you particularly to pay no "Lallie,you have, among many other gifts, attention whatever to your own opinion, or a decided turn for epigram. You scarcely any other opinion in the world, except per- could have described more tersely the tendhaps, at least, perhaps-" encies of water. I firmly believe that this "Perhaps that of Alice." stream will go on flowing and flowing, until "Quite so, papa. About my own affairs it quite stops." my opinion is of no value; but about yours, " Papa, you are a great deal too bad. You and the family in general, it is really-some- must perceive that you are so, even by the thing." moonlight. I say the most sensible things "Wisest of our race, and bravest, you are ever thought of, and out of them you make rushing into the water; darling-stop; you nonsense. Now let me have my turn. So have forgotten what we came for. We came please you, have you thought of bridges? to see the Woeburn, and here it is " How is our butcher to come, or our miller, "Is this it? And yesterday I walked our letters, or even our worthy beggars? across this very place! Oh, what a strange We are shut off in front. Without buildblack river!". ing a boat, can I ever hear even Uncle Struan As Alice drew suddenly back and shud- preach? Hark! I hear something like him." dered, Sir Roland Lorraine threw his left arm " You frivolous Lallie! you are too bad. round her, without a word, and looked at I can not permit such views of things." her. The light of the full moon fell on her. Of course, papa, I never meant it. Only face through a cleft of jagged margins, and please to listen." 162 ALICE LORRAINE. The dark and deep stream, which now had had, and the half of the very last orchard I grown to a width of some twelve yards run, and the prime of old Nanny's shortperhaps, was gliding swiftly, but without horns; and if you wasn't pleased, you might a murmur, toward the broad and watery a' said so all the morning, Jack. There's moon. On the right-hand side, steep scars none in all the world as knoweth what you of chalk; shedding gleams of white rays, and I be, but one another. And there's none made the hollow places darker; while on as careth for either on us, only you and me, the other side, furzy tummocks, patches of Jack. Don't'ee, Jack, don't'ee go and run brier, and tufted fallows spread the many- away. If'ee do, I'll give the thieves all as pointed light among their shadows justly. we've collected, and the folks as calls us two "Please to listen," again said Alice, shrink- waggaabones." ing from her father, lest she might be felt to "My poor boy," said Sir Roland Lorraine, tremble. "What a plaintive,thrillingsound! suddenly parting the bush between them, It must be a good banshee, I am sure-a ban- in fear of another sad boo-hoo-for Bonny shee that knows how good we are, and pro- had stirred his own depths, so that he was tests against our extinction. There it is quite ready to start again-"my poor boy, again; and there seems to be another wail you seem to be very unhappy about your inside of it." donkey.";"A Chinese puzzle of noises, Lallie, and Bonny made answer to never a word. none of them very musical. Your ears are This woe belongedc only to Jack and himkeener than mine, of course; but, being ex- self. They could never think of being medtinct of romance, I should say that I heard died with. a donkey braying." "Bonny," said Alice, in her soft sweet " Papa, now! papa, if it comes to that- voice, and kindly touching him, as he turnand I said it was like Uncle Struan's voice! ed away; do you wish to know how to reBut I beg his pardon, quite down on my cover your Jack? Would you go a long knees, if you think that it can be a donkey." way to get him back again?" "I am saved all the trouble of thinking To the outermost end of the world, miss, about it. There he is, looking hard at us!" if the whole of the way wor fuzz-bush. Miles " Oh no, papa, he is not looking hard at and miles us have gone a'ready." us. -Ie is looking most softly and sadly. " You need not go quite to the end of the What a darling donkey, and his nose is like world. Instead of going up and down these.a snow-drop!" banks, keep steadily up the water. In about Clearly in the moonlight shone, on the a mile you will come to its head, if what I opposite bank of the Woeburn, the nose of have heard of it is true; then keep well above Jack, the donkey. His wailings had been it, and round the hill, and you will meet the coming long, and his supplications rising; white-nosed donkey." be was cut off from his home, and fodder, "Hee-haw!" said Jack, from the opposite and wholly beloved Bonny. And the wail bank, not without a whisk of tail. Then inside a wail-as Alice had described it- the boy, without a word of thanks, by reawas the sound of the poor boy's woe, respons- son of incredulity, whistled a quick reply, ive to the forlorn appeal of Jack. On the and set off to test this doubtful theory. brink of the cruel dividing water they must "Observe now the bliss of possessing a have been for a long time striding up and donkey," Sir Roland began to meditate; "I down over against each other, stretching am not at all skillful in asses, whether golden, fond noses vainly forward, and outvying or leaden, or wooden, or even as described one another in the luxury of poetic woe. by CElian. But the contempt to which they "Don't say a word, papa," whispered Alice. are born proves to my mind that they do "The boy can not see us here behind this not deserve it; or otherwise how would they bush, and we can see him beautifully in the get it? My sentence is clumsy. My ideamoonlight. I want to know what he will do if there be one-has not managed to express so much." itself. I hear the white-nosed donkey in the "I don't see what he can do except howl," distance braying at me,with an overpowering Sir Roland answered, quietly; " and certain- echo of contempt. I am unequal to this conly he seems to possess remarkable powers in test. Let me withdraw to my book-room." that way." "Indeed, papa, you will do nothing of the "Bo-hoo, hoo, hoo, oo!" wept Bonny in sort. You are always withdrawing to your confirmation of this opinion; and "eke-haw, book-room; and even I must not come in; eke-haw,"from a nose of copious pathos, and what good ever comes of it? You must, formed the elegiac refrain. Then, having if you please, make up your mind to meet exhausted the well of weeping, the boy be- things very differently. And only think came fitter for reasoning. He wiped his eyes how long it is since we have heard of poor with his scarlet sleeves, and stretched forth Hilary! There are troubles coming, overhis arms reproachfully. whelming troubles, on all with the name or "Oh Jack, Jack, Jack, whatever have I the love of Lorraine, as sure as I stand, my done to you? All the crumb, of the loaf you dear father, before you." ALICE LORRAINE. 163 "Then I pray yon to stand behind me; (though rapid of temper, perhaps, and given Alice. What an impulsive child it is! And to prompt movements of the foot) was not the moolight, my darling, has had some ef- at all bad (when allowed his own way), and feet, as it always has, wonderfully on such never kicked any body who offered to be girls. You have worked yourself up, Lallie; kicked. So with his dictatorship firmly esI can see it. My pet, I must watch you care- tablished in the lesser lower regions, he befully." came the most affable of mankind, and read "What a mistake you make,papa! Inev- all the crimes of the county to the maids, er do any thing of the sort. You seem to re- and drew forth long sighs of delicious horgard me as any body's child, to be reasoned ror, that his own brave self might console with, out of a window. I may be supposed them. And now, when they heard of the;to say foolish things, and to imagine all sombre Woeburn, with its dismal legends, sorts of nonsense; and, of course, I can not enhanced by ghastly utterances of ancient reason, because it is not born with us. And Nanny Stilgoe, and tidings brought through then, when I try, I have no chance whatever; wailing winds of most appalling spectres, though perfect justice is my aim; and who the stoutest heart was agitated with myscomes lingering after me?" terious terror. At the creak of a door or "Your excellent father," Sir Roland an- the flit of a shadow, the rustle of a dry leaf swered, kissing away his child's excitement. or the waving of a window-blind, the hoot "Your loving father does all this, my pet, of an owl or even the silent creep of gloomy and brings you quite home to stern reason. evening-" My goodness, Mary Ann, what And now he will take you home to your was that?" or, "Polly, come closer; I hear home. You have caught the sad spirit of something;" or, " Jane, do'ee look behind the the donkey, petling; you long to go up and plate - screen;" and then with one voice, down this water, with some one to bewail "John, John, John, come down; that's a dear you on the other side." man, John!" Such was the state of the gen"Yes, papa, so I do. You are so clever! eral nerve, as proved by many a special apBut I think I should go down and up, papa, peal from kitchen, back-kitchen, and sculif the quadruped you are thinking of went lery, pantry, terrible cellar, orlonesome washup and down." house; and the best of every thing was kept " Now, Lallie!" he said; and he said no for John. more. For he knew that she hinted at Even in the world of finer, feebler,-and Stephen Chapman, and wanted to fight her more foreign English; in dining-room, own battle against him, now that she was drawing- room, parlor, and book - room, and in the humor. The father was ready to my lady's chamber, a mild uneasiness preput off the conflict-as all good fathers must vailed, and a sense of evil auspices. Lady be-and he led his dear child up the hill, or Valeria, most of all, who carried conservalet her lead him, peacefully. tism into relapse, felt that troublous days were coming, and almost longed to depart _-~ i l in peace; or, at any rate, she said so. But with her keen mind and legal insight, she C PTERPp LVIIr ~was bound to perceive that the authorized version of the other world is most democratTHREr days of gloom and storm ensued ic; as might be that of this world, if Chrisupon the outbreak of the water; while the tianity made Christians. Therefore her old house at the head of the Coombe in hap- ladyship preferred to wait. Things might py ignorance looked down upon its heredi- get better; and they could scarcely get tary foe. But dark forebodings and fine worse. She had a good deal to see to and old stories agitated the loyal hearts of the settle among things strictly visible, and she domestics of the upper conclave-that an- threatened every body with her decease, but cient butler, Onesimus Binns, Mrs. Pipkins, did not prepare to make it. and Mrs. Merryjack. With such uneasy Sir Roland Lorraine, on the other hand, feelings prevalent in the higher circle, noth- paid little heed, of his own accord, to supering short of terror, or even panic, could be stitious vanities. He found a good many inexpected among the inferior dignitaries, now stances, in classic, Persian, and Italian literaheaded by John Trotman. This young man ture, of the outbreak of under-ground wahadlong shown himself so ambitious and ag- ters; and there it was always a god who gressive, even "cockroaching," as Mrs. Mer- caused it-either by chasing river-nymphs, ryjack said, "'on the most sacred rights of or by showing the power of a horse's heels, his betters," that the latter had really but or from benevolent motives, and a desire to one course left-to withdraw to their upper water gardens. Therefore Sir Roland gathroom, and exclude " all as didn't know how ered hope. He had not invested his mind to behave theirselves." as yet in implicit faith in any thing; but Of these, unhappily, there were too many; rather was inclined to be tolerant, and tenand they seemed to enjoy themselves more tative, and diffident of his own opinions. freely after their degradation. For Trotman And these not being particularly strong, 164 ALICE LORRAINE. self-assertive, or self-important, and not be- ish some important work," she answered, ing founded on any rock, but held on the speedily quenching Trotman's hope offindbriefest building -lease, their owner, lease- ing out what she was reading, so as to melt holder, or tenant-at-will was a very pleas- the house-maids therewith at night. " Well, ant man to talk with. she always were a rum un," he muttered in That means, of course when he could be his disappointment as he returned to his got to talk. And less and less could he be own little room, which he always called his got to talk, as the few people who had the " study;" "the captain will have to stand key to his liking dropped off; and no others on his head to please her, or I'm mistaken. came. Never, even in his brightest days, Why, a body scarce dare look at her. Soonhad he been wont to sparkle, flash, or even er him than me, say I; although she is such glowin converse. He simplyhad a soft,large a booty. But the old un will give herher way of listening, and a small, dry knack of change, I hope." so diverting serious thought, that genial Meanwhile the young lady (unloved of minds went roving. But now his own mind Trotman, because she held fast by old Mr. had grown more and more accustomed to go Binns) put aside, with a sigh, both the poem a-roving; and though, having never paid and her own poetic dreamings, andlproved any attention to questions of science, or even that her temper, however strong, was sweet to the weather (now gradually becomnig one and large and well controlled, by bridling of them), he couldl not satisfy himself about her now closed lips from any peevish exclathe menacing appearance: in a very few mation. She waited a little time until the hours he buried the portent in a still more glow of her cheeks abated, and the sparkle portentous pile of books. of her eyes was tranquil, and then she put But Alice, though fond of reading and.of her pretty hat on (deep brown, trimmed meditating in her little way, was too full of with plumes of puce), and thinking'no more youth and of healthy life to retire into the of herself than that, set forth to encounter classic ages of even our English language. her grandmother. Her delight was rather in the writers of the By this time Alice Lorraine had grown, day, so many of whom were making them- from a sensitive, spirited girl, into a sensiselves the -writers of all future days-Cole- tive, spirited woman. The things which she ridge, Wordsworth, Campbell, and above' all used to tlink and feel to be right, she was others, the "Wizard of the North," whose growing to know. to be right;'and the fleetlays of romance and legend were a spur that ing of,doubt from her face was beginning to raised the clear spirit of Alice. form the soft expression. That is to' sayOn the third day from the Woeburn's rise, if it can be described, and happily. it never she sat in her garden-bower, absorbed in her can"be-good-will, largeness of heart, rich favorite " Lady of the Lake." Her bower, mercy, sympathy, and quick tenderness comthough damp and mossy, and disheveled by bined with grace and refinement toward the the storms of autumn, was still a pleasant perfection of womanly countenance. place to rest in, when the view was clear So, whatever there was to be done, this and bright. - The fairest view, however, now, Alice was always quite ready to do it. She and the most attractive study, were not of had not those outlets for her active moods flower, and tree, and landscape, but of face which young ladies have at the present day, and figure-the face of Alice Lorraine, so who find or form an unknown quantity of gentle, pure, and rapt with poetic thought; most pressing duties. "Oh no, I have no and the perfect maiden form inspired by the time to marry'any body," they exclaim in a roused nobility of the mind. The hair, in breathless manner; if I did, I must either lines of flowing softness falling back, dis- neglect my district, or my natural history." closed the clear tranquillity of forehead, in Poor Alice had neither district, duck-weed contrast with the quick tremor of lip and net, nor even microscope; and what was even the warmth that tinted, now aiid then, the worse, she had no holy priest to guide her delicate moulding of bright young cheeks. thoughts, no texts to work in moss and sago, And as the sweet face, more and more light- nor even any croquet. Whatever she did, ed up with sequent thought, and bowed with she had to do without any rush of the femthe flitting homage of a reader, genial tears iinie mind into masculine channels prepared for dead and buried love, and grief, and gal- for it, and even without any partnership of lantry arose, and glistened in dark gray eyes, dear and good companions. So that the and hung like the gem that quivers in the fight before her was to be fought out by herlashes of the sun-dew. self alone. "Plaize, Miss Halice, my leddy desireth This was the last quiet day of her life; to see you to wonst, if you plaize, miss." the last day for thinking of little things; the Thus spake the practical, but in appear- last day of properly feeding her pets, her ance most unpoetical, Trotman, glancing at poultry, and tame hares and pigeons, selfAlice, and then at her book, with more curi- important robins (perching upon their own osity than he durst convey. "Please to say impudence), and sweetly trustful turtlethat I will be with her as soon as I can fin- doves, that have no dream of evil. She fed ALICE LORRAINE. 165 them all; and if it were not her last day of sies, which she was always commanded to feeding them, it was the last time she could make, and made with much private amusefeed them happily, and without envying ment; " will you please to look round, grandtheir minds. mamma, and tell me what you want of me " This was that important work which she " I could scarcely have dreamed," answerwas bound to attend to before she could ed Lady Valeria, slowly turning toward her hurry to the side of her grandmother. That grandchild, and smiling with superior dignifine old lady always made a point of send- ty, "that any member of our family would ing for Alice, whenever she knew her need use the very words of the clown in the ring. -or rather, without knowing, needed the re- But, perhaps, as I always try to think, you lief of a little explosion. Her dignity strict- are more to be pitied than condemned. Partly barred this outlet toward those creatures lythroughyourown fault, and partly through of a lower creation who had the bliss of serv- peculiar circumstances, you have lost those ing her. To all such people she was most advantages which a young lady of our house forbearing, in a large and liberal style; be- is entitled to. You have never been at cause it must be so impossible for them at court; you have seen no society; you have all to understand her. And for this courte- never even been in London!" ous manner every woman in the place dis- "Alas! it is all too true, grandmamma. liked her. The men, however, having slow- But how often have you told me that I never perceptions, thought that her ladyship er must hope, in this degenerate age, to find was quite right. They could make allow- any good model to imitate! And you have ance for her-that they could; and after all, always discouraged me, by presenting yourif you come to think of it, the "femmel race self as the only one for me to follow." was most aggravating. So they listened to "You are quite right," said the ancient what all the women had to tell; and with- lady, failing to observe the turn of thought, out contradiction wisely let female opinion as Alice was certain that she would do, else waste itself. scarcely would she have ventured it; "but Lady Valeria Lorraine, though harassed you do not make the most of even that adand weakened by rheumatism and pain of vantage. You can read and write, perhaps the nerves (which she sternly attributed to better than you ought, or better than used the will of God and the weather), still sat as to be thought at all needful; but you can firmly erect as ever, and still exacted, by a not come into a room, or make a-tolerable glance alone, all those little attentions which courtesy; and you spend all your time with she looked so worthy to receive. The far- dogs and poets and barrows of manure and ther she became removed from the rising little birds!" generation the greater was the height of "Now really, madam, you are too hard contempt from which she deigned to look upon me. I may have had a barrow-load down upon it. So that Alice used to say to of poets; but more than a month ago, you her father sometimes, " I wonder whether gave orders that I was not to have one bit I have any right to exist. Graudmamma more of manure." seems to think it so impertinent of me." "Certainly I did, and high time it was. "One thing is certain," Sir Roland answer- A young gentlewoman to dabble in worms, ed, with a quiet smile at his favorite; " and and stable-stuff, and filthiness! However, I that is, that you can not exist without im- did not send for you to speak about such pertinence, my dear." little matters. What I have to say is for This fine old lady was dressed with her your own good; and I will trouble you not usual taste and elaboration; no clumsy chits to be playing with your hands, but just to would she have to help her during the three listen to me." hours occupied by what she termed, not in- "I beg your pardon," said Alice, genaptly, her "devotions." She wore a maroon- tly; "I did not know I was moving my colored velvet gown of the softest and rich- hands. I will listen without doing that any est fabric, trimmed, not too profusely, with more." exquisite point-lace; while her cap, of the "Now, my dear child," began Lady Valesame lace with dove-colored ribbon, at the ria, being softened by the dutiful manner same time set off and was surpassed by the and sweet submission of the girl, " whatbeauty of her snow-white hair. Among ever we do is for your own good. You are many other small crotchets, she held that not yet old enough to judge what things brilliants did not suit a very old lady; and may profit, and what may hurt you. Even she wore no jewels, except a hoop of magnifi- I, who had been brought up in a wholly sucent pearls with a turquoise setting, to pre- perior manner, could not at your age have serve her ancient wedding-ring. And now, thought of any thing. I was ready to be as her grandchild entered quietly, she was a led by wiser people; although I had seen a little displeased at delay, and feigned to hear good deal of the world. And you, who have no entrance. seen nothing, must be only too glad to do "Here I am, granddmamma, if you please," the same. You know quite well, what has said Alice, after three most graceful courte- long been settled, between your dear father 166 ALICE LORRAINE. and myself, about what is to be done with "Why, of course, it is the Woeburn, madyou," am. It has been there for three days." "To be done with me!" exclaimed poor "You know what it means; and you Alice, despite her resolve to hold her tongue. calmly tell me that!" "To be done with me! As if I were just a "I know that it means harm, of course. bundle of rags, to be got rid of!" But I really could not help its coming. And "Prouder and handsomer girls than you," it has not done any harm as yet." answered Lady Valeria, quietly for she "No, Alice, it waits its due time, of course. loved to provoke her grandchild, partly be- Three months is its time, I believe, for runcause it was so hard to do-" have become ning before it destroys the family. Your bundles of rags by indulging just such a marriage affords the only chance of retrievtemper as yours is. You will now have the ing the fortunes of this house, so as to defy goodness to listen to me, without any vul- disasters. Three months, therefore, is the gar excitement. Your marriage with Cap- longest time to which we can possibly defer tain Chapman has for a very long time been it. How many times have we weakly alagreed upon. It is high time nowto appoint lowed you to slip out of any certain day. the day. Sir Remnant Chapman has done But now we have settled that you must be me the honor of a visit on that subject. He Mrs. Chapman by the 15th of January at the is certainly a man of the true old kind; latest." though his birth is comparatively recent. Oh, grandmamma, to think that I ever I was pleased with him; and I have pledged should live to be called Mrs. Chapman! myself to the marriage within three months "The name is a very good one, Alice, from this day." though it may not sound very romantic. It can not be! it shall not be! You may But poor Sir Remnant, I fear, is unlikely to bury me, but not marry me. Who gave you last for a great time longer. He seemed the right to sell me? And who made me so bent, and his sight so bad, and requiring to be sold? You selfish, cold-hearted-no, I so much refreshment! And then, of course, beg your pardon. I know not what I am you would be Lady Chapman, if you care sayinYg." about such trifles." " You may well fall away, child, and cow- "f It is a piteous prospect, madam. And I er like that, when you have dared to use think Captain Chapman must be older than such dreadful words. No; you may come his father. You know the old picture,' The to yourself, as you please. I am not going Downhill of Life;' the excellent and affecto give you any volatile salts, or ring and tionate couple descending so nicely hand in m ake a scene of it. That is just what you hand. Well, I should illustrate that at once. would like; and to be petted afterward. I I should have to lead my-no, I won't call hope you have not hurt yourself so much as him husband -but my tottering partner you have hurt me, perhaps, by your violent down the hill, whenever we came to see want of self-control. I am not an old wom- you and papa. Oh, that would be so interan-as you were going to call me-but an esting!" elderly lady. And I have lived indeed to " You silly child, you might do much worse be too old, when any one descended from me than that. Lady de Lampnor has promised has so little good blood in her as to call her most kindly to see to your outfit in London. grandmother an old woman!" But I can not talk of that at present. There, I am very, very sorry," said Alice, with now you may go. I have told you all." catches of breath, as she spoke, and afraid to "Thank you, grandmamma. But, if you trust herself yet to rise from the chair, into please, I have not told you all, nor half. It which she had fallen; "I used no such words, need not, however, take very long. It is that I canremember. But Ispoke very rude- just this. No power on earth shall ever ly, I must confess. I scarcely know what I compel me to marry Stephen Chapman; unam to do when I hear such dreadful things, less, indeed, it were so to happen-" unless I bite my tongue off." "You disobedient and defiant creature"I quite agree with you. And I believe unless what should happen?" it is the very best thing all young people " Unless the existence, and even the honcan do. But I strive to make every al- or, of the Lorraines required it. But of that lowance for you, because you have been so I see no possibility at all. At present it very badly brought up. Now come to this seems to be nothing more than a small and window, child, and look out. Tut, tut- ignominious scheme. More and more I detears indeed! What are young girls made of spise and dislike that heroic officer. I will now? White sugar in a wet tea-cup. Now, not be sacrificed for nothing; and I have not if the result of your violence allows you to the smallest intention of being the purchasesee any thing at all, perhaps you will tell money for old acres." me what that black line is among the rough'After that, I shall leave you to your faground at the bottom of the hill. To me it ther," answered Lady Valeria, growing tired. is perfectly clear, although I am such a very "It may amuse you to talk so largely, and old woman." perhaps for the moment relieves you. But ALICE LORRAINE. 167 your small self-will and your childish fan- "Ah, Struan, Struan! those who have nevcies can not be always gratified. However, er known what ache or pain is can not hope I will ask you one thing. If the honor, and to understand the system. I know exactly even the life of Lorraine, can be shown to how to treat him-a course of gentle drasyou to require it, will you sacrifice your no- tics first, and then three days of my electuble self'?" ary, and then cardamomum, exhibited with " I will," answered Alice, with brave eyes liquor potassa. Doctoring has always been flashing, and looking tall and noble. " If in my dear mother's family; and when your the honor of the Lorraines depend upon me, time comes to be ill and weak, how often you I will give myself and my life for it." will thank Providence!" "I thank the Lord for all things,' said J-~^ ~ ~the parson, who was often of a religious turn; "but I must be brought very low inCHAPT:ER LVIII. deed ere I thank him for your electuary." "AR Pu on your new hunting-coat, my dear. HILARY was so weak and weary, and so There it hangs, and I know that you are dyseriously ill, when at last he reached the ing to exhibit it. The vanity of men surrectory, that his uncle and aunt would not passes even the love of women. There, hear of his coming down stairs for a couple there! You never will learn how to put a of days at least. They saw that his best coat on. Just come to the hall-chair for me chance of escaping some long and perhaps to pull it up. You are so unreasonably tall, fatal malady was to be found in rest and that you never can get your coat up at the quietude, nursing, and kindly feeding. And neck. Now, will you have it done, or will the worst of it was that, whatever they did, you go as you are, and look a regular figure they could not bring him to feed a quarter in the saddle? You call it a' bottle-green!' so kindly as he ought to do. The rector I call it a green, without the bottle." said, "Confound the fellow!" And Mrs. "Caroline, sometimes you are most proHales shook her head, and cried "Poor voking. It is not your nature; but you try dear!" as dish after dish, and dainty little to do it. The cloth is of quite an invisible plate, came out of his room untasted. green, as the man in London told me-manAnd now, on the morning of that same ufactured on purposeforecclesiastics; though day on which Alice thus had pledged her- hundreds of parsons, God knows, go after the self (being the third from her brother's ar- hounds in the good old scarlet. If you say rival, of which she was wholly ignorant), any more, I will order a scarlet, and keep the rector of West Lorraine arose, and gird- West Grinstead in countenance. They aled himself, and ate his breakfast with no ways do it in the west of England. In insmall excitement. He had received a new visible green I am a hypocrite." clerical vestment of the loftiest symbolism, "Now don't excite yourself, Struan, or and he hoped to exhibit it at the head of a you won't enjoy your opening day at all. very long procession. And I am sure that the green is as bright as "About poor Hilary? What am I to do?" can be; and you look very well-very well, asked Mrs. Hales, coming into the lobby, to indeed. Though I don't quite see how you see her good husband array himself. "All can button it. Perhaps it is meant for a sorts of things may happen while you are button-hook, or a leather thong over your away." stomach, dear." "Now, Caroline, how can you ask such a "It is meant to fit me, Mrs. Hales; and it question? Feed, feed, feed; that's the line fits me to a nicety. It could not fit better; of treatment. And above all things, lock up and it will be too easy when we have had a your medicine-chest. He wants no squills, few hard runs. Where are my daughters? or scammony, or even your patent electuary They know a good fit; and they know how -of all things the most abominable; though to put a thing on my shoulders. Carry, I am most ungrateful to call it so, for I owe Madge, and Cecil, come to the rescue of to it half my burial-fees. He wants no mur- your father. Your father is baited, worse derous doctor's stuff; he wants a good break- than any badger. Come all of you; don't fast-that's what he wants." stop a minute, or get perverted by your "But, my dear, you forget," answered mother. Now, in simple truth, what do good Mrs. Hales, who kept a small ward- you say to this, my dears? Each speak her robe of bottles and pills, gallipots, powders, own opinion." and little square scales; " you are quite over- "It suits you most beautifully, papa." looking the state of his tongue. He has not "Papa, I think that I never saw you look eaten the size of my little finger. Why? a quarter so well before." Why, because of the fur on his tongue!" " My dear father, if there are any ladies, "Bless the boy's tongue, and yours too!" mamma will have reason to be jealous. But cried the rector. "I should not care two- I fear that I see the back-seam starting." pence about his tongue, if he only used his "You clever little Cecil, I am afraid that teeth properly." it is. I feel a relief in fronlt-Laheln!-I mean 168 ALICE LORRAINE. an uncomfortable looseness in the chest. I going to prepare his draught, but he must told the fellow forty-eight inches at least. not take the pills until half-past eleven." He has scamped the cloth, the London ras- "Oh, mamma dear, you'll drive him out cal! However, we can spare it from round of the house. Poor fellow, how I do pity the waist, as soon as our poor Cobble can see him!" to it. But for to-day~-ah yes, well thought Now Hilary certainly deserved this pityof! My darling, go and get some of your not for his bodily ailments only, and the green purse-silk. You are so handy. You cruel fate which had placed him at the mercan herring-bone it, so as to last for the day cy of the medicine-chest, but more especialat least. Your mother will show you how ly for the low and feverish condition of his to do it. Madge, tell Bonny to run and tell heart and mind. Brooding perpetually on Robert not to bring the mare yet for a quar- his disgrace, and attributing to himself more ter of an hour. Now, ladies, I am at your blame than his folly and failure demanded, mercy." he lost the refreshment of dreamless sleep, "Now, papa dear," asked Cecil, as she which his jaded body called out for. No stitched away at the seam of her father's rest could he find in the comforting words burly back, "if poor Cousin Hilary should of his uncle and aunt and cousins: he knew get up and want to go out, what are we to that they were meant for comfort, and such do?" knowledge vexes, or at least it irritates a "How can you even put such a question? man until the broader time of life wheit Even for our opening day, I would not dream things are taken as they are meant, and any of leaving.the house, if I thought that you good word is welcome. could be so stupid as to let that poor boy He was not, however, so very far gone as out. I would not have him seen in the par- to swallow his dear aunt's boluses. He alish, and I would not have his own people lowed his pillow to take his pills; and his see him, even for the brush of the Fox-coombe good-natured cousins let him swallow them, fox, who is older than the hills, they say, as much tls a juggler swallows swords. " and no liound dare go near him. One of can't take them while you are looking," you must be always handy; and if he gets he said; "when you come in again you will restless, turn the key on him. Nothing can find them gone." be simpler." Now one of the girls it was never known With his bottle-green coat, now warranted which, because all three denied it-stupidly to last (unless he overbuttoned it), the rec- let the sick cousin know that the master of tor kissed his dear wife and daughters; and the house was absent. Hilary paid no special then universal good wishes, applauses, and heed at the moment when he heard it; but kissings of hand set him forth on his way, after a while lie began to perceive (as bewith a bright smile spread upon his healthy hooved a blockaded soldier) that here was face. his chance for a sally. And he told them so, "Now mind we are left in charge," said after his gravy-beef and a raw egg beaten Madge. "You are his doctor, of course, up with sherry. mamma; but we are to be his constables. I "'How cunning you are now!" said Cecil, hope to goodness that he will eat by-and-by. who liked and admired him very deeply. It makes me miserable to see him. And the " BUt you are not quite equal, Master Captrouble we have had to keep the servants tain, to female ingenuity. The Spanish from knowing who he is, mamma!" ladies must have taught you that, if half "My dear, your father has ordered it so. that I hear is true of them. Now you need For my part, I can not see why there should not look so wretched, because I know nothbe so much mystery about it. But he al- ing about them. Only this I know, that out ways knows better than we do, of course." of this house you are not allowed to go, with"Surely, mamma," suggested Cecil, "it out-oh, what do you call it? a pass, or a would be a dreadful shock to the family to watch-word, or a countersign, or something receive poor Hilary in such a condition, just or other from papa himself. So you may after the appearance of that horrid water. just as well lie down, or mamma will conle They would put the two things together, up with a powder for you." and believe it the beginning of great calam- "The will of the Lord be done," said Hilities." ary; "but, Cecil, you are getting very "Now, my dear child," answered Mrs. pretty, and you need not take away my Hales, who loved to speak a word in season, breeches." "let not us, who are Christians, hearken to "I am sorry to do it, Cousin Hilary; but such superstitious vanities. Trust in the I know quite well what I am about. And Lord, and all will be well. He holdeth in none of your military ways of going on can the hollow of his hands the earth and all mislead me as to your character. You want that therein is; yea, and the waters that be to be off. We are quite aware of it. You under the earth. Now run up and see wheth- can scarcely put two feet to the ground." er your poor cousin has eaten that morsel "Oh dear, how many ought I to be able of anchovy toast. And tell him that I am to put'" ALICE LORRAINE. 169 "You know best-at least four, I should to the village for their gossip, and Cecil was hope. But you are not equal to argument. seeing the potatoes dug, and Mrs. -Iales sleepAnd we are all particularly ordered to keep ing over Fisher or Patrick, while the cook you from what is too much for you. Now was just putting the dinner down; and then, I shall take away these things-whatever without trying the door at all, he quietly they are called, I have no idea; but I do descended from the window, with the help what I am told to do. And after this you of a stack-pipe and a spurry pear-tree. will take that glass of the red wine, declared So feeble was he now that this slight esxto be wonderful; and then you will shut ertion made him turn faint, and sick and both your eyes, if you please, till my father giddy, and he was obliged to sit down and comes home from his hunting." rest, under a shrub, into which he had stagThe lively girl departed with a bow of gered. But after a while, he found himself light defiance, carrying away her father's getting a little better, and pulling up one small-clothes (which had been left for Hil- of the dahlia-stakes, to help himself along ary), and locking the door of his bedroom with, he made his way to the gate; and there with a decisive turn of a heavy key. " Moth- being cut off from the proper road, followed er, you may go to sleep," she said, as she ran the leave of the land and the water along the down into the drawing-room: " I defy him valley upward. to go, if he were Jack Sheppard; he has got Alice Lorraine had permitted herself not no breeches to go in." quite to lose her temper, but still to get a "Cecil, you are almost too clever! How little worried by her grandmother's exhoryour father will laugh, to be sure!" And tations. Of all living beings, she felt herthe excellent lady began her nap. self to be one of the very most reasonable; As the afternoon wore away Hilary grew and whenever she began to doubt it, she more and more impatient of his long con- knew there was something wrong with her. finement. Not only that he pined for the Her favorite cure for this state of mind was open air-as, of course, he must do, after a free and independent ride over the hills living so long with the free sky for his cano- and far away. She hated to have a groom py-but also that he felt most miserable at behind her, watching her, and perhaps critibeing so near the old house on the hill, yet cising the movements of her figure. But as doubtful of his reception there. More than it was scarcely the proper thing for Miss once he rang the bell; but the old nurse, Lorraine to be scouring the country, like a who alone of the servants was allowed to yeoman's daughter, she always had to start enter, would do no more than scold or coax with a trusty groom; but she generally manhim, and quietly lock him in again. So at aged to get rid of him. last he got out of bed and feebly made his And now, having vainly coaxed her faway to the window, and thence beheld be- ther to come for a breezy canter, Alice set twixt him and the grassy mounds of the forth about four o'clock for an hour of rapchurch-yard that swift black stream which id air to clear, invigorate, and enliven her. had so surprised him on the night of his ar- Whatever she did, or failed of doing (when rival. her grandmother was too much for her), she Since then he had persuaded himself, or always looked graceful and bright and kind., allowed others to persuade him, that the But she never looked better than when she water had been a vision only of his weak was sitting, beautifully straight, on her faand excited brain. But now he saw it clear- vorite mare, skimming the sward of the hills, ly, calmly, and in a very few moments knew or bowing her head in some tangled covert. what it was, and of what dark import. This day she allowed the groom to chase " How can I have let them keep me here?" her (like the black care that sits behind) he exclaimed, with indignation. "My fa- until she had taken free burst of the hills, ther and sister must believe me dead, while and longed to see things quietly. And then I play at this miserable hide-and-seek. Per- she sent him, in the kindest manner, to a haps they will think that I had better have very old woman at Lower Chancton, to ask been dead; but, at any rate, they shall know whether she had been frightened; and when the truth." he had turned the corner of a difficult planWith these words he took up his sailor- tation Alice took her course for that which clothes, which the vigilant Cecil had over- she had made up her mind to do. looked, and which had been left in his room According to the ancient stories, no fairfor fear of setting the servants talking; and blooded creatures (such as man, or horse, he dressed himself as well as he could, and cow, dog, or pigeon) would ever put lip to tried to look clean and tidy. But do what the accursed stream; whereas all foul things, he might he could only cut a poor and sor- polecats, foxes, fitches, badgers, ravens, and ry figure; and looking in the glass, he was the like, were draawn by it, as by a loadstone, frightened at his wan and worn appearance, and made a feasting-place of it. So Alice Then, knowing the habits of the house, and resolved that her darling " Elfrida" should wishing to avoid excitement, he waited un- be compelled to pant with thirst, and then til the two elder daughters were gone down should have the fairest offer of the water of 11 170 ALICE LORRAINE. the Woeburn. And of this intent she was "Who are you.?" cried Alice, turning so full that she paid no heed to the " dress- sharply round; " and what business have ing-bell," clanging over the lonely hill, nor you on my father's land?" She was in the even to her pet mare's sense of dinner; but greatest fright at the sudden appearance of took a short cut of her own knowledge down a foreign sailor, and the place so lonely and a lonely bostall to the channel of new wa- beyond all help; but without thinking twice ters. she put a brave face on her terror. The stream had risen greatly ever since "Who am I?" said Hilary, trying to get the day before yesterday, and now in full up a sprightly laugh. "Well, I think you volume swept on grandly toward the river must have seen me once or twice in the Adur. Any one who might chance to see it course of your long life, Miss Lorraine." for the first time, and without any impres- "Oh, Hilary, Hilary, Hilar y " sion, or even idea concerning it, could scarce- She threw herself into his arms with a ly fail to observe how it differed from ordi- jump, relying upon his accustomed strength, nary waters. Not only through its pellucid and without any thought of the difference. blackness, and the swaying of long grass un- He tottered backward, and must have fallen, der it (whose every stalk, and sheath, and but for the trunk of a pollard ash. And seeawn, and even empty glume, was clear, as ing how it was, she again cried out, " Oh, they quivered, wavered, severed, and spread, Hilary, Hilary, Hilary!" or sheafed themselves together again, and "That is my name," he answered, after hustled in their common immersion), not kissing her in a timid manner; "but not my only in this, and the absence of any water- nature; at the present moment I am not so plants along its margin, was the stream pe- very hilarious." culiar, but also in its force and flow. It did "Why, you are not fit to walk, or talk, not lip, or lap, or ripple, or gurgle, or wim- or even to look like a hero. You are the pie, or even murmur. as all well-meaning bravest fellow that ever was born. Oh, how rivers do; but swept on in one even sweep, proud we are of you! My darling, what is with a face as smooth as the best plate-glass, the matter? Why, you look as if you did and the silent,slide of night-fall. not know me! Help, help, help! He is goNow the truth of the good old saying was ing to die. Oh, for God's sake, help!" made evident to Alice that one can take a Poor Hilary, after looking wildly around, horse to water, but a score can not make him and trying in vain to command his mouth, drink unless he is so minded. It was not an fell suddenly back, convulsed, distorted, easy thing to get Elfrida to go near the wa- writhing, foaming, and wallowing in the ter. She started away with flashing eyes, depths of epilepsy. Sky, hill, and tree swung prickedears, and snorting nostrils; andnoth- to and fro across his strained and starting ing but her perfect faith in Alice would have eyes, and then whirled round like a spinningmade her come nigh. But as for drinking, wheel, with radiating sparks and spots. or even wetting her nose in that black liq- Then all fell into abyss of darkness down a nid - might the horse-fiend seize her if she bottomless pit, into utter and awful loss of dreamed of doing a thing so dark and un- every thing. holy! The vigor of youth had fought against "You shall, you shall, you wicked little this robbery of humanity so long and hard witch!" cried Alice, who was often obstinate. that Alice, the only spectator of the conflict, "I mean to drink it; and you shall drink it; began to recover from shriek and wailing by and we won't have any superstition." She the time that her brother fell into the black leaped off lightly, with her skirt tucked up, insensibility. The ground sloped so that and taking the mare by the cheek-piece of if she had not been there the unfortunate the bridle, drew her forward. " Come along, youth must have rolled into the Woeburn, come along, you shall drink. If you don't, and so ended. But being a prompt and I'll pour it up your nostrils, Frida; some- active girl, she had saved him from this, at how or other, you shall swallow it. You any rate. She had had the wit also to save know I won't have any nonsense, don't you?" his tongue by slipping a glove between his The beautiful filly, with great eyes partly teeth; which scarcely a girl in a hundred defiant and partly suppliant, drew back her who saw such a thing for the first time would straight nose and blowing nostrils and the have done. And now, though her face was glistening curve of the foamy lip. Not even bathed in tears, and her hands almost as a hair of her muzzle should touch the face tremulous as if themselves convulsed, she fillof the accursed water. ed her low-crowned riding-hat with water "Very well, then, you shall have it thus," from the river, and sprinkled his forehead cried Alice, with her curved palm brimming gently, and released his neck from cumwith the unpopular liquid; when suddenly brance. And then she gazed into his thin, a shadow fell on the shadowy brilliance be- pale features, and listened for the beating of fore her a shadow distinct from her own. his heart. and Elfrida's, and cast farther into the wa- This was so low that she could not hear vering. or even feel it anywhere. "Oh, how can I ALICE LORRAINE. 171 get him home?" she cried. "Oh, my only are just beginning. I know all your tricks brother, my only brother!" In fright and quite well by this time. No, not even you, misery she leaped upon a crest of chalk, to you Methusalem of a Bob, can have any more seek around for any one to help her; and -or at least, not much." suddenly she espied her groom against the For this robin (her old pet of all, and sky-line a long way off, galloping up the through whose powers of interpretation the ridge from Chancton. In hope that one of rest had become so intimate) made a point the many echoes of the cliffs might aid her, of perching upon her collar and nibbling at she shrieked with all her power, and tore a her ear whenever he felt himself neglected. white kerchief from under her riding-habit, "There is no friend like an old friend," was and put it on her whip and waved it. And his motto; and his poll was gray and his presently she had the joy of seeing the beak quite blunted with the cares of age, horse's head turned toward her. The rider and his large black eyes were fading. "Mehad not caught her voice, but had descried thusalem, come and help yourself," said some white thing fluttering between him Alice, relenting, softly; " you will not have and the sombre stripe which he was watch- the chance much longer." ing earnestly. Now as soon as the birds, with a chirp and This groom was a strong and hearty man, a jerk, and one or two futile hops, had realand the father of seven children. He made ized the stern fact that there was no more the best of the case, and ventured to com- for them, and then had made off to their fort his young mistress. And then he laid divers business (but all with an eye to come Hilary upon Elfrida, the docile and soft- back again), Alice, with a smiling sigh-if stepper; and making him fast with his own there can be such a mixture-left her pets, bridle, and other quick contrivances, he and set off alone to have a good walk and tethered his own horse to a tree, and leading talk and think. The birds, being guilty of the mare, set off with Alice, walking careful- " cupboard love," were content to remain in ly, and supporting the head of her senseless their trees and digest; and as many of them brother. So came this hero, after all his ex- as were in voice expressed their gratitude ploits, back to the home of his fathers. brilliantly. But out of the cover they would not budge; they hated to be ruffled up under,: their tails: and they knew what the wind on the Downs was. "I shall march off straight for Chancton CHAPTER LIX. Ring," said Alice Lorraine, most resolutely. " WHAT can I do? Oh, how can I escape?" "How thankful I am to be able to walk! cried Alice to herself one morning, toward and poor Hilary-ah, how selfish of me to the end of the drearyNovember; "one month contrast my state with his!" out of three is gone already, and the chain Briskly she mounted the crest of the of my misery tightens round me. No, don't coombe, and passed to the open upland, come near me, any of you birds; you will the long chine of hill which trends to its'have to do without me soon; and you had highest prominence at Chancton Ring-a better begin to practice. Ah me! you can landmark for many a league around. Crossmake your own nests, and choose your ing the trench of the Celtic camp-a very mates; how I envy you! Well, then, if you small obstruction now-which loosely girds must be fed, you must. Why should I be so the ancient trees, Alice entered the veneraselfish?" With tears in her eyes, she went ble throng of weather-beaten and fantastic to her bower and got her little basket of trunks. These are of no great size, and shed moss, well known to every cock-robin and no impress of hushed awe, as do the mossy thrush and blackbird dwelling on the prem- ramparts and columnar majesty of New Forises. At the bottom were stored, in happy est beech-trees. Yet, from their countless ignorance of the fate before them, all the and furious struggles with the winds in delicacies of the season-the food of wood- their might in the wild midnight, and from land song, the stimulants of aerial melody. their contempt of aid or pity in their bitter Here were wood-lice, beetles, earwigs, cater- loneliness, they enforce the respect and the pillars, slugs, and nymphs, well-girt brand- interest of any who sit beneath them. lings, and the offspring of the tightly buck- At the foot of one of the largest trees, the led wasp, together with the luscious meal- perplexed and disconsolate Alice rested on worm, and the peculiarly delicious grub of a lowly mound, which held (if faith was in the cock-chafer-all as fresh as a West-end tradition) the bones of her famous ancestor, salmon, and savoring sweetly of moss and the astrologer Agasicles. The tree which milk-no wonder the beaks of the birds overhung his grave, perhaps as a sapling began to water at the mere sight of that had served to rest without obstructing his basket. telescope; and the boughs, whose murmur"You have had enough now for to-day," ings soothed his sleep, had been little twigs said Alice; "it is useless to put all your too limp for him to hang his Samian cloak heads on one side, and pretend that you on. Now his descendant in the ninth or 172 ALICE LORRAINE. tenth generation-whichever it was-hadc In confirmation of this opinion, a tall gray always been endowed with due (but mainly form, with one arm thrown up, and a long rare) respect for those who must have gone cloak hanging gracefully, came suddenly before her. She could not perceive that gliding between the trees. The maiden, they must have been fools, because many whose brain had been overwrought, tried things had happened since they died; and to spring up with her usual vigor; but the she was not even aware that they must power failed her. She fell back against the have been rogues to beget such a set of sepulchral trunk and did not faint, but seemrogues. ed for the moment very much disposed thereTherefore she had veneration for the re- to. mains that lay beneath her (mouldering in When she was perfectly sure of herself, no ugly coffin, but in swaddling-clothes com- and rid of all presence of spectres, she found mitted like an infant into the mother's bo- a strong arm behind her head, and somebody som), and the young woman dwelt, as all leaning over her. And she laid both hands mortals must, on death, when duly put to before her face, without meaning any rudethem. The everlasting sorrow of the mov- ness, having never been used to be handled ing winds was in the trees, and the rustling at all, except by her brother or father. of the sad, sear leaf, and creaking of the "I beg your pardon most humbly, madlichened bough. And above their little am. But I was afraid of your knocking bustle and small fuss about themselves, yourself." the large, sonorous stir was heard of Wey- "Sir, I thank you. I was very foolish. mouth pines and Scottish firs swaying in But now I am quite well again." the distance slowly, like the murmur of the "Will you take my hand to get up I sea. Even the waving of yellow grass- am sure I was scared as much as you were." blades (where the trees allowed them), and'"Now, if I could only believe that," said the ruffling of tufted briers, and of thorny Alice, "my self-respect would soon return; thickets, shone and sounded melancholy for you do not seem likely to be frightened with a farewell voice and gaze. very easily." In the midst of all this autumn Alice felt She was blushing already, and now her her spirits fall. She knew that they were confusion deepened, with the consciousness low before, and she was here to enlarge and that the stranger might suppose her to be lift them, with the breadth of boundless admiring his manly figure; of which, of prospect and the height of the breezy hill. course, she had not been thinking, even for But fog and cloud came down the weald, one moment. and gray encroachment creeping, and on the "I ought not to be so," he answered, in hill-tops lay heavy sense of desolation. And the simplest manner possible; " but I had Alice being atheart in union with the things a sun-stroke in America, fifteen months ago aroundher (althoughshe triedto be so brave), or so; and since that I have been good for began to be weighed down, and lonesome, nothing. May I tell you who I am?" sad, and wondering, and afeard. From time " Oh yes, I should like so much to know." to time she glanced between the uncouth Alice was surprised at herself as she spoke; pillars of the trees, to try to be sure of no but the stranger's unusually simple yet most man being in among them hiding. And ev- courteous manner led her on. ery time when she saw no one, she was so "I am one Joyce Aylmer, not very well glad that she need not look again-and then known; though at one time I hoped to beshe looked again. come so. A major in his Majesty's service" " It is quite early," she said to herself; -here he lifted his hat and bowed-" but "nothing —not even three o'clock. I get on the sick-list ever since we fought the into the stupidest, fearfullest ways from Americans at Fort Detroit." such continual nursing. How I wish poor " Oh, Major Aylmer, I have often heard Hilary was here! One hour of this fine of you, and how you fell into a sad brainbreeze and cheerful scene- My goodness, fever, through saving the life of a poor litwhat was that!" tie child. My uncle, Mr. Hales, knows you, The cracking of a twig, without any sign I believe, and has known your father for of what had cracked it, the rustle of trodden many years." leaves; but no one, in and out the graves of " That is so. And I am almost sure that I leafage, visible to trample them. And then must be talking to Miss Lorraine, the daughthe sound of something waving, and a sharp ter of Sir Roland Lorraine, whom my father snap as of metal, and a shout into the dis- has often wished to know." tant valley. "Yes. And perhaps you know my broth" It is the astrologer," thought Alice. er, who has served in the Peninsula, and is "Oh, why did I laugh at him? He has now lying very ill at home." felt me sitting upon his skull. He is wav- "I am sorry indeed to hear that of him. ing his cloak, and snapping his casket. He I know him, of course, by reputation, as the has had me in view for his victim always, hero of Badajos; but I think I was ordered and now he is shouting for me." across the Atlantic before he joined; or, at ALICE LORRAINE. 173 alny rate, I never met him that I know of- plenty of money to back the claim, in awakthough I shall hope to do so soon. May I ening the dormant earldom of Lorraine, and see you across this lonely hill? Having enhancing its glory with a Chapman. frightened you so, I may claim the right to To secure all this success at once they set prevent any others from doing it." forth in their yellow coach one fine NovemAlice would have declined the escort of ber morning. They knew that Sir Roland any other stranger; but she had heard such was fretting and pining (although too proud noble stories of this Major Aylmer, and felt to speak of it) at his son's disgrace, and the such pity for a brave career baffled by its crippled and fettered fortunes of the family. own bravery (which in some degree resem- Even apart from poor Hilary's illness, and bled her poor brother's fortunes), that she perhaps fatal despondency, the head of the gave him one of her soft bright smiles, such house of Lorraine would have felt (with his a smile as he never had received before. ancient pride and chivalry) that a stain must Therefore he set down his broad sketch- lie on his name until the money was made book, and the case of pencils, and went to good again. And now the last who could the rim of the Ring that looks toward the prolong male heritage unbroken-of which vale of Sussex; and there he shouted, to the Lorraines were especially proud-was countermand the groom, who had been wait- likely to go to a world that does not heed ing for him at the farm-house far below. direct succession - except from the sin"I am ordered to ride about," he said, as ful Adam-for the want of fifty thousand he returned to Alice, "and to be out-of- pounds. doors all day- a very pleasant medicine. Cut and clipped and cleft with fissures of And so, for something to do, I have taken adjacent owners, the once broad lands of up my old trick of drawing; because I must Lorraine were now reduced, for the -good not follow hounds. I would not talk so of the neighbors. But even in' those evil about myself, except to show you how it days, when long war had lowered every was that you did not hear me moving." thing, the residue of the estates would have "How soon it gets dark on the top of these been for that sum good security, being worth hills!" cried Alice, most unscientifically. " I about twice the money. This, however, was always believe that they feel it sooner be- of no avail; because, by the deed of settlecause they see the sun go down." ment (made in the time of the late Sir Roger, "That seems to me to be a fine idea," under the Lady Valeria), nothing could be Joyce Aylmer answered, faithfully. And bound beyond life interest while Alice was his mind was in a loose condition of reason living, and under age. This point had been all the way to Coombe Lorraine. settled hopelessly by reference to the highest and deepest legal authority of the age, Sir Glanvil Malahide, K.C. Sir Glanvil was not at all the man to stultify his own doCHAPTER LX. ings. He had been instructed to tie tight; and he was pleased to show now how tight SIR REMNANT CHAPMAN, in his dry old he had tied, after his own remonstrance. " I fashion, was a strongly determined man. am of opinion," wrote this great lawyer (afIHe knew the bitter strait of Coombe Lor- ter drawing his pen through the indorseraine for ready money; and from his father, ment of a fifty-guinea fee on the case), "that Sir Barker Chapman (a notorious usurer), under the indenturesLeaseand Releasej dated he had inherited the gift of spinning a disk August 5th and 6th, 1799, the estates coninto a globe. But, like most of the men who prised therein are assured to uses precludlabor thus to turn their guineas, he could be ing any possibility of valid title being made very liberal with them for the advancement until Alice Lorraine is of age or deceased." of his family; and though the Chapmans There was a good deal more, ofcourse; but had gradually acquired such a length of that was the gist of the matter. rent-roll, their pedigree was comparatively Having learned from the rector how these short among their Norman neighbors. Noth- things stood, the captain devised a clever ing would cure that local defect more speed- stroke, by which he could render the escape ily and permanently than a wedlock with of Alice almost an impossibility. For by Lorraine; and father and son were now ea- this contrivance he could make Sir Roland ger tenfold by reason of Hilary's illness, most desirous of the match, who up to the They had made up their minds that he must present, though well aware of the many subdie within a few months; and then Alice, of stantial advantages offered, had always listcourse, would be the heiress of Coombe Lor- ened to his daughter's pleading, and promraine. But the marriage must be accom- ised not to hurry her. The captain's plan plished first, before the mourning stopped was very simple, as all great ideas are; the it. Then Hilary would drop off out of the honor of the family was to be redeemed by way; and after Sir Roland's time was pass- the sacrifice of Alice. For, among other ed, and the properties had been united, there points, it had been arranged, upon the treaought not to be any very great trouble, with ty of marriage, that fifty thousand pounds 174 ALICE LORRAINE. should be settled on Alice, for her separate Lorraine, now that the Steyning road was use, with the usual powers of appointment. stopped for all who could not walk a tree Now the captain's excellent idea was that by the outburst of the water. All the roads on his wedding-day this sum should be paid were drenched just now; and wet chalk is a in hard cash to Sir Roland and Hilary, as most slippery thing, especially when it has trustees for Alice; and they, by deed of even taken blue stripes from the rubbing of soft date, should charge that sum on the Lorraine iron, the " drag " of some heavy wagon slidestate-" valeat quantum," as the lawyers say; ing down the steep with a clank and jerk. for they could only bind their own interests. Sir Remnant had very little faith in his son's The solicitors would be directed to waive the most expensive gift of driving; and he jerkobvious objections, which might lead to mis- ed out his bad head at every corner in anxchief, or might not, according to circum- iety for his good body and soul. The wicked, stances. Thus the flaw of title, which however, are protected always; and thus this would be fatal to any cold-blooded mort- venturesome baronet was fetched out of his gage, might well be turned to good use, coach, with much applause and a little touch when stopped by a snug little family ar- of gout about him such as he would not stop rangement. to groan at. Sir Remnant, with inherited instinct, saw Sir Roland Lorraine was not glad to see the blot of this conception. "It comes to them, and did not feign to be so. He wantthis," he said, as soon as ever he was told ed to be left alone just now, with such a of it, "that you get the Lorraine property number of things to think of. He perceived saddled with a loss of fifty thousand pounds, that they were come to hurry him about a which has gone to the scoundrelly Govern- thing he was not ripe with. Knowing his ment! The Government rob us all they can. daughter's steadfast nature, and his mothIn a sensible point of view, young Lorraine er's stubborn stuff, in the calm of his heart is the first sensible man of his family. He he had hoped good things. - To balance one has stolen fifty thousand pounds, which the against the other in psychological counterGovernment stole from us tax-payers. As poise as all good English writers of the for paying it back again-an idiot might present day express it-or, as our rude think of it! It makes me kick; and that granddads said, "to let them fight it out always hurts me." between them." Nevertheless, he was brought round (when " Over your books again, Lorraine! Well, he had kicked his passion out), as most of well, I can understand all that. I was pretthe obstinate old men are, to the plans and ty nigh taking to such things myself, after aims of the younger ones. Steenie was a I put my knee-cap out. Steenie is a wonfool-they all were fools-there was scarce- derful scholar now. I believe a' can conly any sense left in any body but himself, strue Homer! and the boy who stole all that money, and "That depends on the mood I am in," said was dying for fear of being prosecuted. Sir the captain, modestly; "sometimes I can Remnant could not bring himself to believe make out a very nice piece." a word of the story, except as himself had "Well, that is more than any man can shaped it. Thus he worked himself up, with say in the county that I know of, except, his want of faith, to believe that poor Hilary of course, one or two new parsons, and Sir had got the money buried somewhere on the Roland here, and some ragamuffins that como Downs, and would dig it up like a mole, as about teaching their stuff in lodgings. Lorsoon as the stir of the moment was over. raine, now, after all, how are you? How do If so, there could be no loss after all; only you get through these bad times?" it would have been very much better to make Sir Roland Lorraine, for the third time no fuss about the money stolen. now, shook hands with Sir Remnant ChapRevolving these things in his mind, and man. Not from any outburst of hospitality regretting the good old times when any one on his part, but because the other would have (if at all in a good position) might have it so. A strong opinion had newly set in that stolen fifty thousand pounds without any all good Britons were bound to shake hands; trumpery scandal, this baronet of the fine that dirty and cold-blooded Frenchmen bowold school prepared to listen, in a quiet way, ed at a distance homicidally; and therefore to any plans that would come home again. that wholesome Englishmen must squeeze And he thought that this plan of his son one another's knuckles to the utmost; iand would do so, either in money or in kind. that idea is not yet extinct. Yet having formed some misty sketch of "And how is her ladyship?" asked Sir. the character of Sir Roland, each of these Remnant, striking his gold-headed stick on Chapmans wished the other to begin the the floor very firmly at the mere thought of overture. her. "Do you think she will see her most It would have been pleasant for any body, humble servant? Gadzooks, sir, she is of quite outside of danger, to watch the great the true old sort." yellow coach of the captain, laboring up the "I was amazed the last time you were chalky road, the best approach to Coombe here," Sir Roland answered, smiling, "to ALICE LORRAINE. 175 find how thoroughly you and my mother "I fear that it is too true," fhe lady anseemed to understand each other. I am swered, looking straight at him. "We find sure that if she is well enough to see any things always growing worse, as we ourbody she will see you. Meanwhile, will you selves grow wiser. But come now, and sit take something " in this chair, and tell me, if you please, Sir "Now that is not the way to put it. Of Remnant, how the poor things are getting course I will take something. I like to see on-your captain and my poor grandchild." the glasses all brought in, and then the cup- " Well, madam, I need not tell a lady of boards opened, and then the young women your high breeding and experience the maids all going about, with hot and cold water, and of the present day are not at all the same sugar-tonls." thing as they used to be. But, thank the "We will try to do those little things Lord, they get on, on the whole, as well as aright," the host answered very quietly, can be expected. But Sir Roland will not " by the time of your re-appearance. Trot- help us; and the young maid flies and flickman is come to say that my mother will do ers, and don't seem to come to know her own herself the honor of receiving you." mind. You know, my lady, the Lord in heav"Steenie, you stop here," shouted Sir en scarce knows what to make of them. Remnant, getting up briskly, and setting They will have this, and they won't have his eyebrows, eyes, and knees for business. that; and they hates to look at any thing " Steenie, you are a boy as yet, and court but their swinging-glasses." ladies prefer the society of men. No, no; "Oh, sir, you have not been at court for I can pick up my cane myself. Just you nothing. You have come to a very sad view sit downn quietly, Steenie, and entertain Sir of the ladies. But they deserve a great deal Roland till I come back." more than that. If you were to hear what Sir Remnant, though somewhat of a bear even I, at this great distance, know of them by nature, prided himself on his courtly -but I will say no more; it is always best, manners, when occasion called for them. and charitable, not to speak of them. So let "Gadzooks, sir, he used to say," nurse my us go back, if you please, Sir Remnant; I vittels, if I can't make a leg With the very have my own ways of considering things. best of them!" And he carried his stick in Indeed, I am obliged to have them, in a mana manner to prove that he must have kissed ner now scarcely understood. But I hear a hands, or toes, or something. noise-is it a mouse, or a rat, do you think?' Entering Lady Valeria's drawing-room in It was neither mouse nor rat; as Lady his daintiest manner, the old reprobate (as Valeria knew quite well. It was simply he called himself, sometimes with pride, and poor Sir Remnant tapping on the floor with sometimes with terror, according as his spir- his walking-stick; which of course he had its were up or down) made a slow and deep no right to do, while the lady was addressobeisance, then kissed the tips of his fingers, ing him. and waved them, and, seeing a smile on the "It sounds like a very little mouse," he lady's face, ventured to lay his poor hand on said; " or perhaps it was the death-tick. It ris heart. often comes in these old rooms, when any of " Ol, Sir Remnant, you are too gallant!" the people are going to die." said the lady, who in good truth despised The old gentleman had not been at court him, and hated him also as the owner of for nothing (as the old lady had told him); great broad stripes of the land of Lorraine. he knew how timid and superstitions were "We never get such manners now -never the brave women of the fine old time. since the court was broken up; and things "Now, sir, are you sure that you never that it would not become me at all to hint made a tap?" asked Lady Valeria, anxiously. at are encouraged.'" "ot a quarter of a tap, as I hope to be "You are right, my lady; you are right saved," the old reprobate answered, below all over. Gadzooks —ahem, I beg your lady- his breath. "I pay no heed to nonsense; ship's pardon." but a thing of this sort must mean some"By no means, Sir Remnant. The gentle- thing." men always, in the best society, were allow- 6 There have been a great many signs of ed to say those little things. And I missed late," said the old lady, after listening, with them sadly when I came down here." her keener ear brought round, and the misty "Madam, my admiration of you increases lace of her beautiful cap quivering like a with every word you speak. From what I spider's web; "there seem to have been a. hear of the mock court now (as you and I great many signs of bad things comingin might call it), and my son has been hand- their proper time." in-glove for years with the P. R., indeed the "They will come before we are ready, whole number of their royal highnesses in madamn; old Scratch waits for no invitation. short, I can not tell your ladyship. Things But they say that the death-tick runs before are very bad, very bad indeed." And Sir him, and keeps time with his cloven heel." Remnant made a grimace, as if his own "Oh Lord, Sir Remnant, how dreadfully whole life had been purity. you talk! I beg you to spare me; I have 176 ALICE LORRAINE. had no sleep since I was told of that horri- you of course will agree with me. And the ble water, and of my poor grandson. Poor doctors say that he has something on his Hilary! He has done great things, and mind; and if he can not be relieved of it spent no money of his own; and indeed he he must die, poor boy. And then what behad none of his own to spend; and having comes of the name of Lorraine, that has been denied himself so, is it right that he should here for nearly eight hundred years?" be disgraced, and break his heart because he "It becomes extinct, of course, my lady, could not help losing a little money that answered Sir Remnant, as calmly as if the was not at all his own? And he had taken revolution of the earth need not be stopped; a town worth ten times as much. Now, "but it might be revived in the female line, truly speaking, is it fair of them?" by royal license, hereafter." "Certainly not, madam; pox upon them! "That would be of very little use. Why, It is the scurviest thing ever heard of." even your grandson might be a Lorraine! Is "And you must remember, sir, if you that what you were thinking of?" please, that from his childhood upward, in- "No, no, no! Of course not, my lady. deed ever since he could move on two legs, Nothing could be farther fi'om my thoughts." he always lost every sixpence put by kind The old baronet vainly endeavored, as he people into his pockets. I gave him a guin- spoke, to meet the suspicious gaze of the ea on his very fifth birthday, and in the af- lady's still penetrating and bright eyes. ternoon what do you think he showed me? "We are not so particular about the spinA filthy old tobacco-pipe, and nothing else- die," she resumed, with. some condescension; no change whatever. And his pride was "but in the sword-line we must be representmore than he could set forth; though he al- ed duly; and we never could be supplanted ways was a chatterer. Now, if such a thing by a Chapman." as that could only be properly put at the "Gadzooks, madam, are the Chapmans Horse Guards by some one of good position, dirt? But in order to show how you wrong surely, Sir Remnant, they would make al- us, my lady, I will tell you what I am come lowance; they would see that it was his na- to propose." ture; at least they would have done so in Herewvith he looked very impressive, and my time." leaned both hands on his stick, as if indit" Of course they would, of course, my lady. ing of an excellent matter. And thus he set But things have been growing, from year to forth his scheme, which bore at first sight a year, to such a pitch of"-here Sir Remnant fair and magnanimous face; as if all that took advantage of the lady's courtly indul- large sum of money were given, or without gence toward bad language —" that-that- security trusted, for no other purpose, except they seem to want almost, gadzooks, they to save a life precious to both families. The want to treat men almost all alike!" old lady listened with prudent reserve, yet "They never can do that, good sir. They an inward sense of relief, and even a faint, never could be such fools as to try it. And suspicious gratitude. She was too old now bad as they may be, they must be aware that to digest very freely any generous sentiment. my grandson has done no harm to them. Blessed are they who, crossing the limit of Why, the money he lost was not theirs at human years, can carry with them faith in all; it was all for the pay of the common worn humanity. soldiers. It comes out of every body's pocket, and it goes into nobody's. And to my mind it serves them all perfectly right. Who is that general-I forget his name, an Irish- CHAPTER LXI. man, if I remember aright-who is he, or of what family, that he should put a Lonraine OF all trite proverbs no truer there is in to look after dirty money? The heir of all the affairs of men (perhaps because in the the Lorraines to be put to do a cashier's kingdom of the clouds so untrue) than this business!" venerable saying, " it never rains, but what "Heaven save me from such a proud it pours." The Chapmans had come with a woman as this!" thought poor Sir Remnant storm of cash to wash away Hilary's obChapman; "if Alice is like her, the Lord structions; and now on that very same day have pity on our unlucky Steenie! He there appeared a smaller, but more kindly won't dare have his nip of brandy, even in cloud, to drop its little fatness. a corner!" Just when Sir Roland had managed to get "And now, poor dear, he is very ill in- rid (at the expense of poor Alice, perhaps) of ded," continued the ancient lady, recover- that tedious half-born Stephen Chapman, ing from the indignation which had even the indefatigable Trotman came, with his wrinkled her firm and smooth forehead; volatile particles uppermost. " If you please, " he has pledged his honor to make good the sir," he said, "I can't stop un at all. He money; and my son also thinks that the dig- saith as he will see you." nity of our family demands it, though to " Well, if he will, he must, of course. But me it seems quite a ridiculous thing; and who is this man of such resolute mind " ALICE LORRAINE. 177 "If you please, sir, I never have seed un child; and no man has a better one. And from Adam. And I showed un the wrong if any one says that she threw herself at the way, to get a little time." feet of your son for the sake of his name, Sir "Then go now and show him the right Roland, that man is a liar." way, John. I am always ready to see any "My good sir, I know it. I never supone.' posed that your daughter did any thing of Sir Roland knew well that this was not the kind. I have heard that the fault was true. He had said it without thinking; and my son's altogether." with his pure love of truth he began to con- "Then why have you never said a word demn himself for saying it. He knew that to say so? Why did you leave us, like so he liked no strangers now, nor even any or- many dogs, to come when you might whisdinary friends; and he was always sorry to tie? Because we are beneath you in the hear that any one made demand to see him. world, is your son to do a great wrong to Before he could repent of his repentance the my daughter, while you sit up here on the door was opened, and in walked a man of top of your hill as if you had never heard moderate stature, sturdy frame, and honest, of us? Is this all the honor that comes of ruddy, and determined face, well shaven be- high birth? Then I thank the Almighty twixt gray whiskers. Sir Roland had nev- that we are not high-born." er been wont to take much heed of the hu- The grower struck his ash-stick with disman countenance; therefore he was sur- clai upon the rich Turkey-carpet, and turnprised to find himself rushing to a rash con- ed his broad back on Sir Roland Lorraine; elusion: "An honest man, if ever there was not out of rudeness (as the latter thought), one; also a very kind one." but to.hide the tears that came and spoiled The grower came forward, without any the righteous sparkle of his eyes. The barsign of humility, awkwardness, sense of dif- onet perhaps had never felt so small and selfference, or that which is lowest of all-in- condemned before. He had not been so blind tense and shallow self-assertion. He knew and narrow-minded as to forget through the that he was not of Sir Roland's rank, and he past two years that every question has two had no idea of defying it; he was simply a sides. He had often felt that the Kentish man, come to speak to a man, for the love homestead had a grievance against the of those dependent on him, in the largeness South Down castle;' but with his contemof humanity. At the same time, he was a plative ease, and hatred of any disturbance, little afraid of going too far with any thing. he had left the case mainly to right itself; He made a bow (by no means graceful, but persuading himself at last that he must have of a tidy English sort, when the back always done all that could be expected in making wants to go back again), and then, as true that promise to Struan Hales. But now all Englishmen generally do, he waited to be the fallacy of such ideas was scattered by a spoken to. father's honest wrath. And he was not a " I am very sorry," Sir Roland said, "that man who would argue down the rights of you have had trouble in finding me. We another, when he saw them. generally manage to get on well; but some- "You are right, Mr. Lovejoy," he said at times things go crooked. Will you come last; " I have not behaved at all well to you. and sit down here, and tell me why you are I will make no excuses, but tell you fairly come to see me?" that I am sorry for my conduct, now that Martin Lovejoy made another bow, of you put it so plainly. And whatever I can pattern less like a tenter-hook. He had do shall be done to make amends to your come with a will to be roughly received; daughter." and lo, there was nothing but smoothness. "Amends means money, from one rank to Full as he was of his errand, and the largest another. Would you dare to offer me monviews of every thing, he had made up his ey, sir?" mind to say something fierce; and here was "Certainly not; it is the very last thing no opportunity. For he took it for grant- I ever should dream of doing. Not to mened in his simple way, that Sir Roland knew tion the scarcity of cash-just now, in such thoroughly well who he was. a case money is an insult." " I am come to see you, Sir Roland Lor- "I should think so- I should think so. raine," he began, with a slightly quivering What money would ever pay for our Mabel? voice, after declining the offered chair; " not If you Lad only seen her once, you could nevto press myself upon you, but only for the er have been angry with your son. Although sake of my daughter." I was; although I was-until I heard how "Indeed!" the other answered, beginning ill he is. But bless you, sir, they will do to suspect; " are you, then, the father of that these things-and there is no stopping them. young lady, " It puts one into a passion with them, until "I am the father of Mabel Lovejoy. And one begins to remember. But now, sir, I sorry I should be to be her father, if-if-I have heard all sorts of things. Is it true mean, sir, if she was any body else's daugh- that Master Hilary lies very ill abed, for ter. But being as it is, she is my own dear want of money?" 178 ALICE LORRAINE. "You put it very shortly; but it comes " Will you tell me exactly what she said? to that. He has lost a large sum of the pub- I should like to hear her very words. I beg lie money, and we can not very well replace you to sit down. Are you afraid that I shall it." run off with the trust-funds?" "Then you should a' come to me. I'll "You are like your son-I'll be dashed if cure all that trouble in a jiffy," said the you aren't. Excuse me, Sir Roland, for makgrower, tugging heavily at something well ing so free-but that was just his way of inside his waistcoat; "there, that's a very turning things; a sort of a something in a tidy lump of money, and no call to be funny manner that won the heart of my poor ashamed of it, in the way you high folk maid. None of our people know how to do look at things-because us never made it. it, except of course our Mabel. Mabel can Not a farden of it ever saw Covent Garden; do it, answer for answer, with any that come all come straight without any trade what- provoking her. But she hathn't shown the ever! He can't a' lost all that, anyhow." spirit for it now ever since-the Lord knows Martin Lovejoy, with broad-tipped fingers, what was the name of the town Master Hiland nails not altogether exempt from chew- ary took. That signifies nothing, neither ing, was working away as he spoke at a bag here nor there; only it showeth how they such as wheat is sampled in, and tied with do take on." whip-cord round the neck. Sir Roland Lor- " Yes, Mr. Lovejoy, I see all that. But raine, without saying a word, looked on, and what was it your good daughter said?" smiled softly with quiet surprise. "She is always saying something, sir"No patience-I haven't no patience with something or other; except now and then, counting, since I broke my finger, sir-sev- when her mind perhaps is too much for it. enteen, eighteen, nineteen, no-well it must But about this money-bag she said-is that be right, and I've reckoned amiss; our Mab what you ask, Sir Roland? Well, sir, what. reckoned every penny-no longer than yes- she said was this. They had told me a deal, terday morning twenty thousand pounds youmustunderstand, about investingin good it must be, according to the ticket. There securities, meaning their own blessed pockis one lot a-missing; oh, here it is, in among ets, no doubt. But they found me too old a my fingers, I do believe! What slippery rub- bird for that.' Down with the money!' says bish these bank-notes be! Will you please I, the same as John Shorne might in the marnow to score them all up, Sir Roland?" ket. They wouldn't. They wouldn't. Not."Mr. Lovejoy, why should I do that? It a bit of it, till I put another laiyer at them can not matter what the quantity is. The -my own son, sir, if you please, a counselor meaning is what I am thinking of." on our circuit; and he brought them to book " Well, sir, and the meaning is just this: in no time, and he laid down the law to me My daughter Mabel hath had a fortune left pretty strong about my being answerable. her by her godfather, the famous banker So, as soon as I got it, I said to her,' Mabel, Lightgold, over to the town of Tonbridge. how am I to-lodge it for you, to fetch proper No doubt you have heard of him, Sir Rola.nd, interest, until you come of age?' But the and of his death six months agone. Well, young silly burst out crying, and she said, no, I forget; it is so far away. I be so used'What good can it ever be to me? Take it to home that I always speak as if I was at all, father, take every penny, and see if it home. And they made me trustee for her- will do any good to him.' And no peace that they did; showing confidence in my na- could I have, till at last I set off. And there ture almost on the part of the laiyers, sir, it is, Sir Roland. But I am thinking that, do you think? At least I took it in that the money in no way belonging to me, I amn way." bound to ask youto make a receipt, or give "It was kind of you so to take it. They me your note of hand for it, or something have no confidence in any body's nature, as you think proper, just to disappoint the whenever they can help it." laiyers." "So I have heard, sir. I have heard that "You shall have my receipt," said Sir Rosame, and in my small way proved it. But land Lorraine, with his eyes beginning to will you be pleased just to count the mon- glisten. "Meanwhile place all the money ey?" in the bag, and tie it np securely." "I must be worse than the lawyers if I The grower fetched a quiet little sigh, and did. Your daughter Mabel must be the best, allowed the corners of his mouth to drop, as and kindest-hearted, and most loving-" he did what he was told to do. It had cost. "Of course, of course," cried the grower, him many a hard fight with Mabel, and many as if that point wanted no establishing; a sulky puff of pipe, to be sent on such an "but business is business, Sir Roland Lor- errand. Money is money; and a man who raine. I am my daughter's trustee, do you makes it with so much anxiety, chance of see, and bound to be sure that her money season, and cheating from the middle-men, goes right..And it is a good bit of money, as a fruit-grower. has to struggle throughmind you; more than I could earn in all my such a man wants to know the reason why life." he should let it go all of a head. However, ALICE LORRAINE. 179 Martin Lovejoy was one of the "noblest having well applied this to Sir Roland, he works of God," an honest man-though an had no longer any doubt of him. And yet, honest woman is even yet more noble, if val- with his shrewd common sense, he was not ue goes by rarity-and he knew that the sorry to button up his coat with the money money was his daughter's own, to do what once more inside it in the sample-bag which she pleased with, in a twelvemonth's time, had sampled so much love, and trust, and when she would be a spinster of majority. loyalty. Money is not so light to come by "I have written my receipt," said Sir Ro- as great landlords might suppose; and for land, breaking in on Master Lovejoy's sad a girl to be known to have it is the best of retrospect at the bag of money. " ead it, all strings to her bow. So Master Lovejoy and tell me if I have been too cold." grasped his staff; and it would have been It is a thing quite unaccountable, haply a hard job for even the famous Black Robin, (and yet there must be some cause for it), the highwayman of the time, to have wrestthat some men who allow no tone of voice, ed the trust-fund from him. no pressure of hand, to betray emotion, yet Covering the ground at an active pace, can not take pen without doing it, and let- and crossing the Woeburn by a tree-bridge ting the fount of heart break open from the (rudely set up where the old one had been), sealed reserve of eye. No other explanation he strode through West Lorraine and Steycan be offered for this note of hand from Sir ning, and over the hills to Pyecombe corner, Roland Lorraine. The grower put on his where he took the Reigate coach; and he specks, and then he took them off and wiped slept that night at Reigate. them; and then, as the shadow of the hill Meanwhile the Chapmans gathered their came over, he found it hard to read any forces for perfect conquest of Alice. Father thing. The truth was that he had read ev- and son had quite agreed that the final stroke ery word, but had no idea of being over- of victory might best be made by occupycome. And the note, so hard to read, was ing the commanding fortress Valeria. They as follows: knew that this stronghold was only too ready, for the sake of the land below it, to MABEL, - I have done yon much injus- surrender at discretion; and the guns theretice. And I hope that I maylive long enough of being turned on the castle, the whole to show what now I think of you. Your per- must lie at their mercy. feet faith and love are more than any one Yet there were two points which these can have deserved of you, and least of all besiegers had not the perception to value my son, who has fallen into all his sad dis- duly, and seize to their own advantage. tress by wandering away from you. Your One was the character of Sir Roland; the money, of course, I can not accept; but your other was the English courage and Norman good-will I value more than I have power spirit of Alice. "It is all at our mercy to tell you. If you would come and see now," they thought;' we have only to hamHilary, I think it would do him more good mer away; and the hammer of gold is too than a hundred doctors. Sometimes he heavy for any thing." They did not put it seems pretty well; and again he is fit for so clearly as that-for people of that sort do little or nothing. I know that he longs to not put their views to themselves very clearsee you, Mabel; and having so wronged you, ly; still, if they had looked inside their ideas, I ask you humbly to come, and let. us do you they would have found them so. justice. ROLAND LORRAINE." "Steenie, let me see him first," said Sir Remnant, meeting his son, by appointment,,:_, ~::~ - at the sun-dial in the eastern walk (which for half the year possessed a sinecure office, CHAPTER LXII.TT and an easy berth even through the other CHAPTER LXII. Z. half). "Steenie, you will make a muddle; IT did not occur to Sir Roland Lorraine you have been at your flask again." (as he shook Martin Lovejoy's hand, and " Well, what can I do? That girl is showed him. forth on his way to meet the enough to roll any body over. I wish I had Reigate coach at Pyecombe) that Mabel's never seen her-oh, I wish I had never seen rich legacy might be supposed to have her! She dis-dis-dis-" changed his own views concerning her. "Dislikes you, Steenie! She can never Whether her portion was to be twenty do that. Of all I have settled with, none thousand pounds or twenty pence made have said it. They are only too fond of you, very little difference to him; but what Steenie; just as they were of your father bemade all the difference was the greatness fore you. And now you are straight, and of her faith and love. going on so well! After all you have done The grower was a man who judged a man for the women, Steenie, no girl can dislike very much by eyesight. He had found out you." ever so many rogues by means of that "keen "That is the very thing I try to think. Kentish look," for which the Sidneys, and And I know that it ought to be so, if only some other old families, were famous. And from proper jealousy. But she never seems 180 ALICE LORRAINE. to care when I talk of girls; and she looks again, which I will take deuced good care at me so that I scarcely dare speak; and it it does. You know you are my son, my scarcely makes any difference at all what boy." girls have been in love with me!" "Well, I suppose I can't be any body's "Have you had the sense to tell her of else; you carried on very much as I do." any of the royal family?" "And when my time is over, Steenie-if "Of course I did. I mentioned two or you haven't drunk yourself to death before three, with good foundation. But she never me-you will say that you had a good kind inquired who they were, and nothing seems father, who would go to the devil to save to touch her. I think I must give it up, you." after all. I never cared for any girl before. "Really, sir, you were down upon me for And it does seem so hard, after more than having had a sentimental drop. But I think a score of them, when one is in downright I may return the compliment." earnest at last, not to be able to get a chance "Go down the hill, Steenie-go down the of the only one I ever lov-lov-loved! hill. It seems to be all that you are fit for. "Steenie, you are a mere ass," said Sir And do try to put your neckcloth tidy before Remnant; "you always are, when you get you come back to dinner." too much-which you ought to keep for din- Sir Remnant Chapman returned to the ner-time. I have settled every thing for you house, with a heavy sigh from his withered up stairs, so that it must come right, if only breast. He had not the goodness in him you can hold your tongue and wait. I have which is needed to understand the value of them all under my thumb; and nothing but a noble maiden, or even of any good girl, your rotten fuss about the young maid can taken as against man's selfishness. But in make us one day later. Her time is fixed. his little way, he thought of the bonds of And whether she dislikes-" matrimony as a check upon his son's poor "Dis-dis-dis-what I meant to say was- rambling life; and he knew that a lady was despises." wanted in his house; and his great ambition " Pish and tush, fiddlemaree! A young was to see, at last, a legitimate grandson. girl to despise a man! I had better marry " If he comes of the breed of Lorraine," he her myself, I trow, if that is all you are fit exclaimed, "I will settle one hundred thoufor. Now just go away; go down the hill; sand pounds the very day he is born on him." go and see old Hales; go anywhere for a With this in his head, he came back to try couple of hours, while I see Lorraine. Only his measures with Sir Roland. He knew that first give me your honor for this, that you he must not work at all as he had done with will not touch one more drop of drink until Lady Valeria, but put it all strictly as a matyou come back for the dinner-time." ter of business, with no obligation on either "You are always at me about that now. side; but as if there were " landed security " And I have had almost less than nothing. for the purchase-money of Alice. And he And even that drop I should not have had, managed all this so well, that Sir Roland, if Alice had not upset me so." proud and high-minded as he was, saw noth"Well, you may have needed it. I will ing improper in an arrangement by which say no more. We will upset her pretty well Alice would become an incumbent on the by-and-by, the obstinate, haughty fagot! Lorraine estates for the purpose of vindiBut, Steenie, you will give me your honor cating the honor of Lorraine, and saving, ~-not another drop, except water. You al- perhaps, the male heir thereof. Accordingways keep your honor, Steenie." ly the matter was referred to the lawyers, "Yes, sir, I do. And I will give it. But who put it in hand, with the understanding I must not go near either Alice or Hales. that the trustees of the marriage settlement She does so upset me that I must have a would waive all defects, and accept as good drop. And I defy any body to call upon a mortgage as could be made by deed of Hales without having two or three good even date to secure the fifty thousand glasses. Oh, I know what I'll do; and I pounds. need not cross that infernal black water to Sir Roland had long been unwilling to do it. I'll call upon the boy at the bottom give his favorite Alice to such a man as of the hill, and play at pitch-guineas with Captain Chapman seemed to be. Although, him. They say that he rolls every night in through his own retiring and rather unsomoney." ciable habits, he was not aware of the loose, "Then, Steenie, go and take a lesson from unprincipled doings of the fellow, he could him. All you do with the money is to roll not but perceive the want of solid stuff about it away- ducks and drakes, and dipping him, of any power for good, or even respectyourself. I would not have stuck to this able powers of evil. But he first tried to matter so much, except that I know it for think, and then began to believe, that his your last chance. Your last chance, Steenie, daughter would cure these defects,-and take is to have a wife, with sense and power to a new pride and delight in doing so. He steer you. It is worth all the money we are knew what a spirited girl she was; and he going to pay, even if it never come back thought it a likely thing enough that she ALICE LORRAINE. 181 would do better with a weak, fond husband, her again with the stick, dear Lallie." His than with one of superior mind, who might mind was a little childish now, from long fail to be polite to her. And he could not lassitude of indoor life, which is enough to help seeing that Steenie was now entirely weaken and depress the finest mind that devoted to her. Perpetual snubbings and ever came from heaven, and hankers for supreme disdain made little difference to sight of its birthplace. In a word, Alice Steenie. He knew that he must win in the Lorraine was bestowing whatever of mirth end, and then his turn might come, perhaps; or fun she had left (in the face of the comand in half an hour after his worst set-down ing conflict), all the liveliness of her life, he was up again on the arm of Cognac. and revolt of bright youth against misery, Alice Lorraine, with that gift of waiting to make her poor brother laugh a little, and for destiny, which the best women have, al- begin to look like himself again. lowed the whole thing to go on, as if she perceived there was no hope for it. She made no touching appeals to her father, nor frantic prayers to her grandmother; she let CHAPTER LXIII. the time slip on and on, and the people say what they liked to her. She would give HILARY'S luck was beginning to turn; her life for her brother's life, and the honor for in a few days he received a grand addiof the family; but firmly was she resolved tion to his stock of comforts, and wholesome to be never the wife of Stephen Chapman. encouragement to get well. For after the The more she saw of this man the more grower's return to his home, and recovery deeply and utterly she despised him. She from hard Sussex air (which upset him for could not explain to her father or even her- two days and three nights, "firom the want self why so she loathed him. She did not of any fruitiness about it"), a solemn counknow that it was the native shrinking of cil was called and held in the state apartthe good from evil, of the lofty from the low, ment of Applewood Farm. There were no the brave from the coward, the clean from less than five personages present, all ready the unclean. All this she was too young to to entertain and maintain fundamentally think of, too maidenly to dwell upon. But opposite opinions. Mr. Martin Lovejoy, she felt, perhaps, an unformed thought, an M.G., Mrs. Martin Lovejoy, Counselor Gregunpronounced suggestion, that death was a ory Lovejoy (brought down upon special fitter husband for a pure girl than a rake- retainer), Miss Phyllis Catherow, and Lieuhell. tenant Charles Lovejoy, R.N. Poor Mabel Meanwhile Hilary, upon whom she wait- was not allowed to be present, for fear she ed with unwearying love and care, was be- should cry, and disturb strong minds, and ginning to rally from his sad disorder and corrode all bright honor with mercy. The incipient decline. The doctors, who had grower thought that Master John Shorne,,shaken their heads about him, now began as the London representative of the house, to smile, and say that under skillful treat- was entitled to be admitted; but no one else ment youth and good constitution did won- saw it in that light, and so the counsel of a ders; that " really they had seldom met with Kentish crust was lost. clearer premonitory indications of phthisis The question before the meeting was, pulmonum,complicated by cardiac and hyp- Whether without lese-majesty of the an. ochondriac atony, and aggravated by symp- cient Lovejoy family, and in consistence tomatic congestion of the cerebellum; but with maiden dignity, and the laws of Coproper remedial agents had been instrument- vent Garden, Mabel Lovejoy might accept al in counteracting all organic cachexy, and the invitation of Coombe Lorraine? A great now all the principles of sound hygiene im- deal was said upon either side, but no one peratively demanded quietude." In plain convinced or converted, till the master said, English, he was better, but must not be wor- "You may all talk as you like, but I will ried. Therefore he was not even told of the have my own way, mind." arrangement about his sister. Alice used to Mrs. Lovejoy and Gregory were against come and sit by his bed, or sofa, or easy- accepting any thing. A letter written oi chair, as he grew a little stronger, and talk the spur of the moment was not the propel light nonsense to him, as if her heart was overture; neither ought Mabel to go at last, above all cloud and care. If he alluded to because they might happen to want her. any trouble she turned it at once to ridicule; But the father said, and the sailor also, anl and when he spoke of his indistinct remem- sweet Cousin Phyllis, that if she was want. brance of the Woeburn, she made him laugh ed she ought to go, dispensing with small till his heart grew fat, by her mimicry of formality, especially if she should want to Nanny Stilgoe, whom she could do to the go. very life. "How gay you are, Lallie; I nev- She did want to go, and go she did, backer saw such a girl!" he exclaimed, with the ed up by kind opinions; and her father begratitude which arises from liberated levity.' ing busy with his pears and hops (which "You do her with the stick so well! Do were poor and late this wet season), the fine 182 ALICE LORRAINE. young sailor, now adrift on shore-while his us the luncheon. Well said, well said! I ship was refitting at Chatlam-made sail, have made her smile; and that is worth a with his sister in convoy, for the old road- deal of trying. She remembers the goose, stead of the South Downs. Gregory (who and the stuffing, and how she took in the had refused to go, for reasons best known clerk from Sussex. I don't believe she made to himself, but sensible and sound ones) a bit of it." wished them good luck, and returned to "I did, I did! How cau you say such his chambers in the Middle Temple. things? I can make better stuffing than Now there is no time to set forth how that to-morrow. I was not at all at my these two themselves set forth: the sailor best then." with all the high spirit of the sea when it "You are at your best now," he replied, overruns the land; the spinster inclined to having purposely moved her mettle. " Come be meditative, tranquil, and deep of eye and in with that color and those sparkling eyes, heart, yet compelled to come out of herself and you will conquer every one." and smile, and then let herself come into "I want to conquer no one," she answerher smile. It is a way all kind-hearted ed, with female privilege of last word; "I girls have when they know that they ought only came to see poor Hilary." to be grave, and truly intend to be so, yet The rector, with the fine gallantry and can not put a chain on the pop-gun pellets deference of old-fashioned days, led the of young age, health, and innocence. beautiful and good girl, and presented her Enough that they arrived quite safely at to Sir Roland. She was anxious to put her the old house in the Coombe, with the sailor hair a little back before being looked at; of course in a flurry of ambition to navigate but the impetuous parson wisely would not his father's horse whenever he looked be-' let her trim herself. She could not look tv-ween his ears. The inborn resemblance better than she did; so coy, and soft, and between ships and horses has been per- bashful, resolved to be by no means timid, ceived, and must have been perceived, long but afraid that she could not contrive to be before Homer, or; even Job, began to consid- brave. er the subject; and it still holds good, and Sir Roland Lorraine came forward gently, deserves to be treated by the most eloquent and took her hand and kissed her. He felt man of the age, retiring into silence, in his heart that he had been hard upon this Mr. Hales had claimed the right of intro- very pretty maiden, imputing petty ambition ducing his favorite Mabel to his brother-in- to her which one glance of her true dear eyes law, Sir Roland. For amity now reigned disproved to his mind forever. She was come again between the Coombe and the rectory; to see Hilary; nothing more. Her whole the little quarrel of the year before had long heart was on Hilary. She had much admisince been adjunsted, and the parson was as ration of Sir Roland, as her clear eyes told ready to contribute his valuable opinion him. But she had more than admiration upon any subject as he was when we be- for some one on another floor. gan with him. One might almost say even "You want to go up stairs, my dear," Sir more so; for the longer a good man lives Roland said, with the usual pathos of all with a wife and three daughters to receive critical moments; " you would like to take the law from him, and a parish to accept his off your things, and so on, before you see poor divinity, the less hesitation he has in admit- Hilary."' ting the extent of his own capacities. Nev- "Of course, she must touch herself up," ertheless he took very good care to keep out cried the rector; "what do you know about of Lady Valeria's way. young women? Roland, where is Mrs. Pip"Bless my heart! you look better than kins?" ever," said the rector to the blushing Ma- "I told her to be not so very far off; but bel, as her pretty figure descended into his she is boiling down bullace-plums, or somestrong arms at the great house door. "Give thing of the highest national importance. me a kiss-that's a hearty lass. I shall al- We could not tell when this dear child vways insist upon it. What! trembling lips! would come, or we might have received her That will never do. A little more Danish better." courage, if you please. You know I am the " Oh, I am so glad! You can not receive Danish champion. And here is the royal me, you could not receive me, better. And Dane of course, or a Dane in the Royal now that you have called me your dear Navy, which does quite as well, or better. child, I shall always love you. I did not Charlie, my boy, I want no introduction, think that you would do it. And I came You are a fisherman-that is enough, or for nothing of the kind-I only came for too much, if your sister's words are true. Hilary." You can catch trout when I can't.?" 4 Oh, we quite understand that we are "No sir, never. I never should dare. But nobodies," answered. Sir Roland, smiling; Mabel always makes me a wonder." "you shall go to him directly. But you "Well, perhaps we shall try some day, the must not be frightened by his appearance. Church against theNavy; and Mabelto bring He has been a good deal knocked about, and ALICE LORRAINE. 183 fallen into sad trouble; but we all hope that hills could tell what to mlake of the weather. now he is getting better, and the sight of For twentyyears the shepherds had not seen you will be better than a hundred doctors things look so strange like. There was no to him. But you must not stay very long, telling their marks, or places, or the manners of course, and you must keep him very qui- of the sheep. A sulky gray mist crawled et. But I need not tell you-I see that you along the ground, even when the sky was have a natural gift of nursing." clear. In the morning every blade, and "All who have the gift of cookery have point, and little spike of attraction, and serthe gift of nursing," exclaimed Mr. Hales, rate edge (without any intention of ever "because'omne majus continet in se minus.' sawing any thing), and drooping sheath of Ah, Roland, you think nothing of mylearn- something which had vainly tried to ripen, ing. If only you knew how I am pervaded and umbellate awning of the stalks that had with Latin, and with logic!" discharged their seed, were one and all alike These elderly gentlemen chattered thus incrusted with a little filmy down. Somebecause they were gentlemen. They saw times it looked like the cotton-grass that that poor Mabel longed to have their atten- grows in boggy places; and sometimes like tion nicely withdrawn from her; and with- the "American blight," so common now on out showing what they saw they nicely thus apple-trees; and' sometimes more like goswithdrew it. Then Alice, having heard of samer, or the track of flying spiders. The Miss Lovejoy's arrival, came down and was shepherds had never seen this before; neigood to her, and their hearts were speedily ther had the sheep-the woolly sages of the drawn together by their common anxiety. weather. The sheep turned up their soft Alice thought Mabel the prettiest girl she black eyes with wonder toward the heavens ever had seen anywhere; and Mabel thought -the heavens where every sheep may hope Alice the loveliest lady that could exist out to walk, in the form of a fleecy cloud, when of a picture. men have had his legs of mutton. What passed between Mabel and Hilary It is needless to say that this long warnmay better be imagined, doubtless, than put ing (without which no great frost arrives) into clumsy words. was wholly neglected by every man. The sheep, the cattle, and the pigs foresaw it, and the birds took wing to fly from it; the fish of the rivers went into the mud, and CHAPTER LXIV. the fish of the seato deep water. The slug and the cockroach, the rat and the wholeTHE darkness of the hardest winter of the some toad, came home to their snuggeries; present century-so far as three-fourths of and every wire-worm and young grub bored its span enable us to estimate-was gather- deeper down than he meant to do. Only ing over the South Down hills, and all hills the human race straggled about, without and valleys of England. There may have any perception of any thing. been severer cold, by fits and starts, before In this condition of the gloomy air, and and since; but the special character of this just when frost was hovering in the gray winter was the consistent low temperature. clouds before striking, Alice Lorraine came There may have been some fiercer winters, into her father's book-room on the Christwhose traditions still abide, and terrify us nmas-eve. There was no sign of any merry beyond range of test and fair thermometer. Christmas in the shadowed house, nor any But within the range of trusty records there young delighted hands to work at decorahas been no frost to equal'that which began tion. Mabel was gone, after a longer visit on Christmas-day, 1813.' than had ever been intended; and Alice Seven weeks it lasted, and then broke up (who had sojourned in London, under lofty and then began again, and lingered; so that auspices) had not been long enough yet at in hilly parts the snow-drifts chilled not only home to be sure again that it was her home. the lap of May but the rosy skirt of June. Upon her return she had enjoyed the escort That winter was remarkable, not only for of a mighty warrior, no less a hero than perpetual frost; but for continual snow-fall; Colonel Clumps, the nephew of her hostess. so that no man of the most legal mind could The colonel had been sadly hacked about tell when he was trespassing. Hedges and in a skirmish soon after Vittoria, when pressditches were all alike, and hollow places ing too hotly on the French rear-guard. were made high; and hundreds of men fell He had lost not only his right arm, but a into drifts; and some few saved their lives portion of his one sound leg; and instead of by building frozen snow to roof them, and saying his prayers every morning, he sat for cuddling their knees and chins together in an hour on the edge of the bed and devoted a pure white home, having heard the fa- all his theological knowledge to the execramous and true history of Elizabeth Wood- tion of the clumsy bullet, which could not cock.' even select his weak point for attack. This But now, before this style of things set in choler of his made much against the recovin bitter earnest, nobody on the South Down ery of what was left of him, and the doctors 184 ALICE LORRAINE. thought that country air might mitigate-his stalk of his arm, and stamped the stump of state of mind, and at the same time brace his the foot of his better leg with such a noise body, which sadly wanted bracing. There- and gaze of wrath that the maiden felt he fore it had been arranged that he should go must be in the right. And so perhaps he for a month to Coombe Lorraine, posting all may have been. At any rate, he got his way, the way, of course, and having the fair Alice as a veteran colonel ought to do. to wait on him-which is the usual mean- With every body he had his way. Being ing of escort. unable to fight any more, he had come to look At the date of this journey the colonel's so ferocious, and his battered and shattered two daughters were still away at a board- body so fiercely backed up the charge of his ing-school; but they were to come and spend aspect, that none without vast reserve of the Christmas with his aunt in London, and courage could help being scattered before then accompany her into Sussex, and per- him. Even Sir Roland Lorraine (so calm, haps appear as brides-maids. Meanwhile and of an infinitely higher mind), by reason their father was making himself a leading perhaps of that gave way, and let the maimpower at Coombe Lorraine. He naturally ed veteran storm his home. But Alice reentered into strict alliance with his aunt's belled against all this. friend, Lady Valeria, and sternly impressed "Now, father," she said on that Christupon. every body the necessity of the im- mas-eve, when the house was chilled with pending marriage. "What earthly objec- the coming cold, and the unshedden snow tion can there be?" he argued with Mrs. hung over it, and every sheep and cow and Pipkins, now Alice's only partisan, except crow and shivering bird dcown to the wilold Mr. Binns, the butler; "even if Captain low-wren was hieing in search of shelter, Chapman is rather lazy and a little too fond "father, I have not many words to say to of his wine-glass, both points are in her fa- you; but, such as they are, I must say them." vor, ma'am. She will manage him like a Sir Roland Lorraine, being struck by her top, of course. And as for looking up to quite unwonted voice and manner, rose from him, that's all nonsense. If she did, he his chair of meditation, left his thoughts would have to look down upon her: and about things which never can be thought that's what the women can't bear, of course. out by mankind, and came to meet what a How would you like it now, Mrs. Pipkins? man should think of foremost-his child, his Tut, tut, tnt, now don't tell me! I am a lit- woman child. tie too old to be taken in. I only wish one "Lallie, my dear," he said very gently, of my good daughters had fifty thousand and kindly looking at her sad, wild eyes, pounds thrown at her, with twenty thou- whose difference from their natural softness sand pounds a year to follow." touched him with some terror —"Lallie, now " But perhaps, sir, your young ladies is what has made you look like this?" not quite so particular, and romantic like, "Papa, I did not mean to look at all out as our poor dear Miss Alice." of my usual look. I beg you pardon, if in"I should hope not. I'd romantic them. deed I do. I know that all such things are Bread-and-water is the thing for young hus- very small in your way of regarding things. sies who don't know onwhich side their bread But still, papa but still, papa, you might is buttered. But I don't believe a bit of it. let me say something." It's all sham, and girlish make-believe. In Have I ever refused you, Alice, the right her heart she is as ready as he is." to say almost every thing?" Almost every body said the same thing; " No, that you have never done, of course. and all the credit the poor girl got for her But what I want to say now is something scorn of a golden niddering was to be look- more than I generally want to say. Of ed upon as a coy piece of affectation and course, it can not matter to you, papa; but thanklessness. All this she was well aware to me it makes all the difference." of. Evil opinion is a thing to which we are " My dear, you are growing sarcastic. All alive at once, though good opinion is well that matters to you matters a great deal content to impress itself on the coffin. Al- more to me, of course. You know what you ice (who otherwise rather liked his stolid have always been to me." and upright nature) thought that Colonel "I do, papa. And that is why I find it so Clumps had no business to form opinion very hard to believe that you can be now so upon her affairs, or, at any rate, none to ex- hard with me. I do not see what I can have press it.'But the colonel always did form done to make you so different to me. Girls opinions, and felt himself bound to express like me are fond of saying very impudent them. things sometimes; and they seem to be taken "I live in this house," he said, when Alice lightly. But they are not forgiven as they hinted at some such phantasy; " and the af- are meant. Have I done any thing'at all to fairs of this house are my concern. If I am vex you in that way, papa?" not to think about the very things around " How can you be so foolish, Lallie? You me, I had better have been cut in two, than talk as if I were a girl myself. You never made into three pieces." He waved the do a thing to vex me." ALICE LORRAINE. 185 " Then why do you do a thing to kill me? many things always to be thought of-more It must come to that, and you know it must. than one has time for." I am not very good, nor in any way grand, "To be sure, papa, I know all that; and and I don't want to say what might seem I hate to see you worried. But I think that harsh. But, papa, I think I may say this- you might try to tell me whether I am right you will never see me Stephen Chapman's or not." wife." " My darling, you are never wrong. Only " Well, Lallie, it is mainly your own do- things appear to you in a stronger light than ing. I did not wish to urge it, until it seem- they do to me; of course, because you are ed to become inevitable. You encouraged younger and get into a hurry about many him so in the summer, that we can not now things that ought to be more dwelt upon. draw back honorably." It is true that your life is interposed, " Father, I encouraged him!" through the command of your grandmoth"Yes. Your grandmother tells me so. I er and the subtlety of the lawyers, between was very busy at that time; and you were poor Hilary and the money that might have away continually. And whenever I wanted been raised to save him." you, I always heard,' Miss Alice is with Cap- "That is true, papa; now, is it? I believe tain Chapman.'" every word that you say, but I never believe "How utterly untrue! But, oh papa, one word of my grandmother's." now, you got jealous! Do say that you got "You shocking child! Yes, it is true jealous; and then I will forgive you every enough. But after all, it comes to nothing. thilng." Of the law I know nothing, I am thankful."My dear, there was nothing to be jeal- to say; but from Sir Glanvil Malahide I ous of. I thought that you were taking understand, through some questions which nicely to the plan laid out for you." your grandmother laid before him, that the "The plan that will lay me out, papa. money can only be got-either through this But will you tell me one thing?" family arrangement, or else by waiting till "Yes, my dear child, a hundred things, if you, as a spinster, attain the age of twentyyou will only ask them quietly." one-which would be nearly two years too "I an not making any noise, papa; it is late." only that my collar touched my throat. But " But, papa, if I were to die " what I want to know is this. If any thing "Lallie, why are you so vexatious? If should happen to me, as they say; if I should you were to die, the whole of the race might drop out of every body's way, could the mon- end-so far as I care." ey be got that you are all so steadfastly set "My father, you say that to make me love upon getting? Could the honor of the fam- you more than I do already, which is a hopeily be set up, and poor Hilary yet restored, less attempt on your part. Now you need and well, and the Lorraines go on forever? not think that I am jealous; it is the last Why don't you answer me, papa? My ques- thing I could dream of. But ever since Mation is a very simple one. What I have a bel Lovejoy appeared, I have not been what right to ask is this-am I, for some inscruta- I used to be, either with you or with Hilble reason (which I have had nothing to do ary. In the case of poor H-ilary, I must of with), the stumbling-block-the fatal ob- course expect it, and put up with it. But I stacle to the honor and the life of the fam- can not see, for a moment, why I ought to be ily?" cut out with you, papa." "Alice, I never knew you talk like this, "What foolish jealousy, Alice! Shall I and I never saw you look so. Why, your tell you why I like and admire Mabel so cheeks are perfectly burning! Come here, much? But as for comparing her with and let me feel them." you — "Thank you, papa; they will do very well. "But, papa, why do you like and admire But will you just answer my question? Am her so deeply?" I the fatal-am I the death-blow to the hon- " You jealous child, I did not say' deeply.' or and life of our lineage?" But I like her because she is so gentle, so Sir Roland Lorraine was by no means glad to do what she is told, so full of self-sacpleased with this curt mode of putting rifice and self-devotion." things. He greatly preferred, at his time "While I am harsh and disobedient, selfof life, the rounding off and softening of af- seeking and devoted to self. No doubt she fairs that are too dramatic. He loved his would marry according to order. Though I beautiful daughter more than any thing else dreamed that I heard of a certain maltster, on the face of the earth; he knew how noble who had the paternal sanction.' Veni, vidi, her nature was, and he often thought that vici,' appears to be her motto. Even grandshe took a more lofty view of the world than mamma is vanquished by her, or by her leghuman nature in the end would justify. But acy. She says that she courtesies much betstill he must not give way to that. ter than I do. She is welcome to that dis"Alice," he said, " I can scarcely see why tinction. I am not at all sure that the prime you should so disturb yourself. There are end and object of woman's life is to courtesy. 12 186 ALICE LORRAINE. But I see exactly how I am placed. I will lengthhhadyieldedtothegallant assaultof the never trouble you any more, papa." bright-speared sun. That excellent knight With these words Alice Lorraine arose was pricking merrily over the range of the and kissed her father's forehead gently, and South Down hills; his path was strown with turned away, not to worry him with the long sparkling trinkets from the casket of the sigh of expiring hope. She had still three clouds; the brisk air moved before him, and weeks to make up her mind, or rather to he was glad to see his way again. But bewait with her mind made up. And three hind him and before him lay the ambush weeks still is a long spell of time for the of the " snow-blink"'to catch him at night, young to anticipate misery. when he should go down, and to stop him "You are quite unlike yourself, my child," of his view in the morning. However, for Sir Roland said with perfect trutli;' you the time he looked very well; and as no one surprise me very much to-day. I am sure had seen him for ever so long, nobody crossthat you do not mean a quarter of what you questioned him. are saying." Mr. Struau Hales was famous for his ser"You are right, papa. I do not mean even mon on Christmas-day. For five-and-twena tenth part of my spitefulness. I will try ty years he had made it his grand sermon of to be more like Mabel Lovejoy, who really is the year. He struck no strokes of enthusiso good and nice. It is quite a mistake to asm —which nobody dreamed of doing then, suppose that I could ever be jealous of her. except the very low Dissenters-still he had She is a dear, kind-hearted girl, and the very always a strong idea that he ought to preach wife for Hilary. But I think that she differs above the average. And he never failed to a little from me." do so-partly through inspiration of other It is no matter of opinion, Alice. Mabel divines, but mainly by summing up all the differs from you as widely as you differ from sins of his parish, and then forgiving them. your cousin Cecil. I begin to incline to an The parish listened with apathy to the old opinion (which I came across the other wisdom and eloquence of great men (who day), that much more variety is to be found said what they had to say in English-a lost in the weaker than in the stronger sex. Re- art for nearly two centuries), and then the gard it thus-" parish pricked up all its ears to hear of its "Excuse me, father. I have no courage own doings. The rector preached the first for regarding any thing. You can look at part of his sermon in a sing-song manner, things in fifty lights, and I in one shadow with a good seesaw. But when he came only. Good-bye, darling. Perhaps I shall down to his parish bounds, and traced his never speak to you again as I have to-night. own people's trespasses, he changed his voice But I hope you will remember that I meant altogether, so that the deafest old sinner it for the best." could hear him. It was the treat of all the year to know what the parson was down: ~_~ lllupon; and, to be sure, who had done it. CHAPTER LXV. Then, being of a charitable kind, and loving while he chastened, the rector always let ACCORDING to all the best accounts, that them go, with'a blessing which sounded as long and heavy frost began with the clear- rich as a grace for every body's Christmas ing of the sky upon Christmas-day. At least dinner. Every body went out of church it was so in the south of England, though happy and contented. They had enough to probably two or three days earlier in the talk about for a week; and they all must northern counties. A great frost always ad- have earned the good-will of the Lord by vances slowly, creeping from higher lati- going to church on a week-day. But the tudes. If the cold begins in London sooner rector always waited for his two churchthan it does in Edinburgh, it very seldom wardens to come into the vestry, and shake lasts out the week; and if it comes on with hands and praise his sermon. And, not to a violent wind, its time is generally shorter. be behidhnd, Farmer Ga'tes and Mr. BotIt does seem strange, but it is quite true, tler (now come fronm Steyning to West Lorthat many people, even well informed, at- raine, and immediately appointed, in right tribute to this severity of cold the destruc- of the number of pigs killed weekly, junior tion of the great French army during its re- church-warden)-these two men of excellent treat from Moscow, and the ruin of Napoleon. presence and of accomplished manners got They know the date of the ghastly carnage in under the vestry arch, and congratulated of the Beresina and elsewhere, which hap- the rector. pened more than a year ere this; but they Alice Lorraine was not at church. Every seem to forget that each winter belongs to body had missed her in her usual niche bethe opening, and not to the closing year. tween two dark marble records of some of Passing a1 such matters, it is enough to her ancestors. There she used to sit, and be say that Christmas-day, 1813, was unusually set off by their fine antiquity; but she did bright and pleasant. The lowering sky and not go to church that day, as her fa.ther could chill gray mist of the last three weeks at not take her. ALICE LORRAINE. 187 West Lorraine church had been honored six brices-maids. So checking the pert rethat day by the attendance of several people ply which trembled on the tip of her tongue, entitled to as handsome monuments as could she made them a pretty courtesy as they be found inside it. For instance, there was drove away. Sir Remnant Chapman (for -whom even an " Now, did yon observe, papa," she asked, epitaph must strain its elastic charity); as she took her father's arm, intending to Stephen, his son —who had spent his harm gossip with him all up the street, " how terwithout having much to show for it; Col- ribly pale Major Aylmer turned when he onel Clumps, who would rise and fight, if the heard about the brides-maids? I thought resurrection restored his legs; a squire of he was going to drop, as they say he used to high degree (a distant and vague cousin of do when he first came home from America. the true Lorraines), who wanted to know I am sure I was right, papa; I am sure I what was going on, having great hopes was, in what I told you the other day." through the Woeburn, but sworn to stick "Nonsense! fiddlestick! romantic flum(whatever might happen) to his own sur- mery! You girls are never content without name, Bloggs; and last, and best of all, Joyce rivalry, jealousy, love, and despair." Aylmer, Viscount Aylmer's only son, of a true " You may laugh as much as you like; but old English family, but not a very wealthy it makes no difference to me, papa. I tell one. you that Major Aylmer has lost his heart to "A merry Christmas to you all!" cried Mr. Alice a great deal worse than he lost his Hales, as they stood in the porch. "A mer- head in America." ry Christmas, gentlemen! But, my certy, we " Well, then, he must live with no head shall have a queer one. How keen the air and no heart. He can't have Alice. He has is getting!" got no money; even if it were possible to They all shook hands with the parson and change the bridegroom at the door of the thanked him, after the good old fashion, "for church." his learned and edifying discourse;" and "I will tell you what proves it beyond all they asked what he meant about the weath- dispute. You know how that wretched liter; but he was too deep to tell them. Even tie Captain Chapman looks up when he hates he had been wrong upon that matter, and any one, and thinks he has made a hit of it. was now too wise to commit himself. Then There-like that; only I can't do it until I Cecil, who followed her father of course, get much uglier. He often does it to me, made the proper courtesies as the men made you know. And then he patted his wonderbows to her; and Major Aylmer's horse was ful waistcoat." brought, and a carriage for the rest of them. "Now, Cecil, what spiteful things girls are! "Are you coming with us, rector? We It is quite impossible that he can hate you." dine early," said Sir Remnant, with a hun- "I am thankful to say that he does, papa, gry squeak. "You can't have another serv- or perhaps you might have sold me to him. ice, can you? God knows, you have done If ever any girl was sold, Alice is both bought enough for one day." and sold. And Sir Roland can not love her, "Enough to satisfy you at any rate," the as she used to think, or he would have had rector answered, smiling; "but I should have nothing to do with it. It must be fearfully my house about my ears if I dined outside bitter for her. And to marry a man who is of it on a Christmas-day. Plain and whole- tipsy every night, and tremulous every mornsome and juicy fare, sir-none of your for- ing. Oh papa, papa!" eign poisons. Well, good-bye, gentlemen; I "My dear, you exaggerate horribly. Yon shall hope to see all of you again to-mor- have always disliked poor Steenie; perhaps row, if the snow is not too deep." The rector that is why he looks up to you. We must knew that a very little snow would be quite hope for the best; we must hope for the enough to stop them, on the morning of the best. Why, bless my heart, if every man morrow-the Sunday. was to have the whole of his doings raked "'Snow, indeed! No sign of snow," Sir up, I should never want the marriage regRemnant answered sharply: he had an in- ister!" born dislike of snow, and lie wanted to be at " Oh, but papa, if we could only manage home on the Monday. "But I say, missie, to change the man, you know! The other remember one thing. Tuesday fortnight is is so different, so kind, and noble, and grand, the day. Have all your fallals ready. Blush- and simple! If any man in all the world is ingbrides-maids-ah! fine creatures! Ishall worthy to marry dear Alice it is Major Aylclaim a score of busses, mind. Don't you mer." wish it was your own turn, ehl" "The man might be changed, but not the The old rogue, with a hearty smack, blew money," said the rector, rather shortly; and a kiss to Cecil Hales, who blushed and shiv- his daughter knew from the tone of his voice ered, and then tried to smile, for fear of los- that she must quit the subject; the truth ing her locket; for it had been whispered being (as she was well aware) that her fathat Sir Remnant Chapman had ordered a ther was growing a little ashamed of his' ten-guinea locket in London for each of the own share in the business. 188 hALICE LORRAINE. CHAPTR LXVI.T though no drifting had begun as yet, some forty hours of heavy fall had spread a blindDARK weather and dark fortune do not ing cover over road and ditch, and bog and always come together. Indeed the spirit bank, and none might descry any sign-post, of the British race, and the cheer flowing house, tree, or hill, or other landmark, at the from high spirit, seem to be most forward distance of a hundred yards through the in the worst conditions of the weather. snow, still coming down as heavily as ever. Something to battle with, something to Therefore every body thought Major Aylmer talk about, something to make the father almost mad when he ordered his horse for more than usually welcome, and the hearth the long ride home in the midst of such termore bright and warm to him, and some- rible weather. thing also which enlarges by arousing char- "I don't think I ought to let you go," his ity, and spreads a man's interior comfort host said, as the horse came round, as white into general good-will-bitter weather, at already as a counterpane. Alice, where is the proper season, is not wholly bitterness. your persuasive voice? Surely you might But when half ta dozen gentlemen, who beg Major Aylmer to see what another day care not a fig for one another, hate books will bring." (as they hated their horn-books), scorn all "Another day would only make it worse," indoor pursuits but gambling, gormandiz- Joyce Aylmer replied, with a glance at Alice, ing, and drinking, and find little scope for which she perfectly understood. "I might pursuing these- when a number of these be snowed up for a week, Sir Roland, with are snowed up together and can not see out my father the whole time fidgeting. And of the windows-to express it daintily, there after all, what is this compared to the storms is likely to be much malediction. we had in America?" Aud this is exactly what fell upon them, "Oh, but you were much stronger then. for more than a week, at Coombe Lorraine. You would not be here were it not so." They made a most excellent dinner on Christ- "I scarcely know. I shall soon rejoin if mnas-day, about three o'clock, as they all de- I get on so famously as this. But I am keepclared; and, in spite of the shortness of the ing you in the cold so long, and Miss Lor(lays, they saw their way till the wine came. raine in a chilly draught. Good-bye once They were surprised at this, so far as any more. Can I leave any message for you at of them noticed any thing; for, of course, no the rectory?" glance of the setting sun came near the old In another second the thick snow hid him house in the winter. And they thought it and his floundering horse as they headed toi sign of fine hunting weather, and so they ward the borstall, for as yet there was only went on about it; whereas it was really one a foot-bridge thrown over the course of the of the things scarcely ever seen down here, Woeburn, and horsemen or carriages northb)ut common in the Arctic regions, the catch ward bound were obliged to go southward and the recast, and the dispersion of all vague first, and then turn to the right on the high light downward, by unmeasurable depth of land, and thus circumvent the stream; even gathering snow vapor. as Alice, quickly thinking, had enabled poor The snow began about seven o'clock, when Bonny to recover his Jack. the influence of the sun was lost; and for Alice went back, with a sigh, to her own three days and three nights it snowed, with- little room to sit and think a while. She out taking or giving breathing-time. It knew that she had seen the last of a man came down, without any wind, or unfair at- whom she could well have loved, and who t;mpt at drifting. The meaning of the sky loved her (as she knew somehow) much too -was to snow and no more, and let the wind well already. Feeling that this could do no wait his time afterward. There was no such good, but only harm to both of them, he had thing-as any spying between the flakes at made up his mind to go ere any mischief any time. The flakes were not so very should arise from it. He had no idea how large, but they came as close together as vastly Alice scorned poor Steenie Chapman, the sand pouring down in an hour-glass. otherwise even his duty toward his host They never danced up and down, like gnats might perhaps have failed him. However, or motes, as common snow-flakes do, but he had acted wisely, and she would think one on the back of another fell, expecting no more of him. millions after them. And if any man look- This resolution was hard to keep when ed up to see that gravelly infinitude of pelt- she heard a little later in the day that the ing spots, which swarms all the air in a major had sent back his groom, after maksnow-storm, he might just as well have shut ing believe to take him. The groom brought both eyes, before it was done by snow-flakes, a message from his master begging quafrters All the visitors, except the colonel, were for him for a day or two on the plea that his to have left on Monday morning, but only horse had broken down; but Alice felt sure one of them durst attempt the trackless that he had been sent back, because Major waste of white between the South Down Aylmer would not expose him to the risk Coombe and their distant homes. For al- which lie meant himself to face. For she ALICE LORRAINE. 189 knew it to be more than twenty miles (hav- such a storm, he chose for it, not a Weduesing studied the map on the subject) from day night, nor a Thursday night, nor a FriCoombe Lorraine to Stoke-Aylmer; and all day night, but a Saturday night, when he in the teeth of a bitter wind now just be- knew, in his wisdom, that every man had ginning to crawl and wail as only a snowy got his wages, and had filled his bread-pan. wind can do. As for the roads, they were blocked enThe rest of the gentlenme plagued the tirely against both wheels and horses until house. It was hard to say which was the a violent wind arose from the east, and winworst of them-Sir Remnant (who went to nowed fiercely. Sweeping along all the bend the lower regions to make the acquaintance of the hill, and swaying the laden copses, it of the kitchen-maids), or Colonel Clumps tore up the snow in squally spasms, and cast (who sat on a sideboard, and fought all his white blindness everywhere. Three days battles over again with a park of profane the snow had defied the wind, and for three artillery), or Squire Bloggs (who bit his days now the wind had its way. Vexed nails, and heavily demanded beer all day), mortals could do nothing more than shelter or Steenie, who scorned beer altogether, and themselves in their impotence, and hope, as being repulsed by Onesimus Binns, at last they shivered and sniffed at their pots, that got into Trotmnan's "study," and ordered the Lord would repent of his anger. It was some bottles up, and got on w-ell. He sent already perceived, and where people could for his groom, and he sent for his horn (which get together they did not hide it, that Mr. he had not wind enough to blow), and alto- Bottler must go up, and Farmer Gates come gether he carried on so with a greasy pack down a peg. For although the sheep were of cards and a dozen grimy tumblers, that folded well, and mainly fetched into the while the women, being strictly sober, look- hollows, as soon as the drift began, it was ed down oil his affability, the men said that known that the very precaution would murthey had known much worse. der them. For sheep have a foolish trick For a week Sir Roland Lorraine was com- of crowding into the lee of the fold, just pelled to endure this wearing worry-ten- where the drift must be the deepest. But fold wearisome as it was to a man of his pe- pigs are as clever as their mother, dirtculiar nature. He had always been shy of which always gets over every thing. So inviting guests; but when they were once Farmer Gates lost three hundred sheep, while inside his door, the hospitality of his race Bottler did not lose a pig, but saved (and exand position revived within him. All in alted the price of) his bacon. the house was at their service, including the When the snow, on the wings of the wind, master himself, so far as old habits can be began to pierce the windows of Coombe Lorvaried. But now he was almost like the raine (for in such case no putty will keep it whelk who admits the little crab for corn- out), and every ancient timber creaked with pany, and is no more the master of his own cold disgust of shrinking, and the " drawdoor. No nian in all England longed that ing" of all the fire-places was more to the the roads might look like roads again more door than the chimney, and the chimneys heartily and sadly than the hospitable Sir drew submissive moans to the howling of Roland. the tempest, and chilly rustles and frosty With brooms of every sort and shape, and taps sounded outside the walls and in-from shovels, and even pickaxes, all the neigh- all these things the young lady of the house borhood turned out, as soon as ever a man gained some hope and comfort. Surely in could manage to open his own cottage-door. such weather no one could ever think of a For three days it had been no good to try wedding; nobody could come or go; it would to do any thing but look on; but the very take a week to dig out the church, and anfirst moment the sky left off, every body liv- other week to get to it. Blow, blow, thou ing under it began to recover courage. The east wind, blow, and bury rather than marboys came first in a joyful manner, sinking ry us. over their brace-buttons in the shallow But the east wind (after three days of places, and then the girls came, and were blowing, and mixing snow of earth and sky) puzzled by the manner of their dress, till suddenly fell with a hollow sound, like the they made up their minds to be boys for a " convolutions of a shell," into deep silence. time., Clear deep silence settled on the storm of And after these came out their mother for drifted billows. As the wind left them, so the sake of scolding them; and then the they stopped until the summer rose under father could do no less than stand on his them; for spring there was none in that threshold with pipe in mouth, and look up terrible year, and no breath of summer unwisely at the sky, and advise every body to til it broke forth. And now set in the long wait a bit. And thus a great many people steadfast frost, which stopped the Thames managed to get out of their houses; and it and Severn, the Trent and Tweed, and all was observed, not only then, but also for the other rivers of Great Britain. From the many years to come, how great the mercy source to the mouth a man might cross them of the Lord was. Iaving seen fit to send without feeling water under him. 190 ALICE LORRAINE. Alas for poor Alice! The roads of the join. and will resume his duties upon the weald (being mainly unhedged at that time) Staff. " were opened as if by "Sesame." The hill- "Come now, colonel, you are too bad," roads were choked many fathoms deep wher- cried Hilary, blushing with pleasure, " they ever they lay in shelter; but the furious never could put me on the Staff again. It wind had swept the flat roads clear, as with is impossible that they could have the ima besom. Their brown tract might be traced pudence." for miles, frozen as hard as an oaken plank, " Don't tell me. Why, they had the imrexcept where a slight depression, or a sud- pucence never to put me on it! They have den bend, or a farmer's wall, had kept the impudence enough for any thing. You set white wave from shoaling. So, as soon as to and get strong, that is all. Are you goa passage had been dug through the bor- ing to your sister's wedding to-morrow." stall, and down the dell to the westward, " I will tell you a secret. I mean to go, the Chapmans were free to come and go with though I am under strict orders not to go. their gaudy coach as usual. What do I care for the weather? Tush! I Alice took this turn of matters with all have settled it all very cleverly. You will the calmness of despair. It was nothing but see me there when you least expect it. Lala. childish thing to long for a few days' re- lie has behaved very badly to me; so has prieve, which could not help her much, and every body else about it. Am I never to be might destroy all the good of her sacrifice. told any thing? She seems to be in a great In one way or the other, she must go; stand- hurry about it. Desperately in love, no ing so terribly across the welfare of all that doubt, though frpm what I remember of was dear to her, and seeming (as she told Stephen Chapman I am a little surprised at herself) to have no one now to whom she her taste; but of course — rwas dear. With no one to admire or aid "Of course, of course, one must never say her, no one even to feel for her, she had to a word about young ladies' fancies. There meet the saddest doom that can befall proud was a young lady in Spain-to be sure there womaun-wedlock with an abject. are a great many young ladies in Spain-" The colonel dropped the subject in the clumsiest manner possible. lie was under medical orders not to say a word that might stir up Hilary; and yet from the time he CHAPTERLXVII. came into the room he had done nothing CHAPTER LXVIIII. else but stir him up. Colonel Clumps was AND no0 there was but one day left; about the last man in the world that ought Monday was come, and on the morrow Alice to stump in at any sick man's door. " Dash was to be Mrs. Stephen Chapman. it, there I am again!" he used to say, as he "You call yourself an unlucky fellow," began to let out something, and stopped said Colonel Clumps, to Hilary, who was short, and jammed his lips up, and set his leaning back in his easy-chair; but I call wooden apparatus down. Therefore he had you the luckiest dog in the world. What not been allowed to pay many visits to Hilother man in the British army could have ary, otherwise the latter must soon have lost fifty thousand guineas, escaped court- discovered the nature of the arrangement martial, and had a good furlough, made it pending to retrieve his fortunes. At presall snug with his sweetheart (after galli- ent he thought that the money was to be vanting to his heart's content), and then raised by a simple mortgage, of which he got the chance to get back again under Old vowed, in his sanguine manner, that he Beaky, and march into Paris? I tell you would soon relieve the estates, by getting they will march into Paris, sir. What is an appointment in India, as soon as he had there to stop them " captured Paris. Mabel of course would go "But, colonel, you forget that I can scarce- with him, and be a great lady, and make his ly march across the room as yet. And even curries. He was never tired of this idea, if I could, there is much to be done before I and was talking of it to Colonel Clumps, get back again. Our fellows may go into who had seen some Indian service, when a winter- quarters, and then the, general's gentle knock at the door was heard, and a promise drops; or even without that, he soft voice said, "May I come in?" As Alice may fail with the Duke of York, who loves entered, the battered warrior arose and made him not." a most ingenious bow, quite of his own in"Stuff and rubbish, my dear boy! You vention. Necessity is the mother of that pay the money-that's all you've got to do. useful being; and the colonel having no leg No fear of their refusing it. Of course it to stand upon, and only one arm to balance will all be kept very quiet; and we shall with, was in a position of extreme necessifind in the very next'Gazette' some such par- ty. Of late he had almost begun to repent agraph as this:'Captain Lorraine, of the of serving' under Lady Valeria; the beauty Head-quarter Staff, who has long been ab- and calm resignation of Alice had made sent on sick-leave, is now on his way to re- their way into his brave old heart; and the ALICE LORRAINE. 191 more he saw of Captain Chapman the more long; I have so much to do before I am he looked down on that feather -bed sol- ready for-my wedding." dier. Hilary allowed himself to be kissed with "Good-bye, my lad. Keep your pecker brotherly resignation; and then he called up,' he said, beginning with his thick barn- merrily after her, "Now Lallie, mind, you boo to beat a retreat; for Hilary was not al- must look your best. You are going to lowed two visitors; " we'll march into Paris make a grand match, you know. Don't be yet, brave boys, with Colonel Clumps at the astonished if you see me there. Why don't head of the column. Don't be misled by ap- you answer?" pearances, Alice; the colonel has got good She would not look round, because of the work in him yet. His sword is only gone expression of her face, which she could not to be sharpened, ma'am; and then he'll concealin a moment. "I amlnot atallsure," throw away this d-d bamboo." said the brother wisely, as the sister shut the In his spirited flourish, the colonel slip- door and fled, " that the man who marries ped, not yet being master of his wooden leg, Alice won't almost have caught a Tartar. and down he must have come, without the She is very sweet-tempered; but the good young lady's arm as well as the aid of the Lord knows that she is determined also. slighted staff. Alice, in spite of all her mis- Now Mabel is quite another sort of girl," ery, could not help a little laugh, as the col- etc., etc.-reflections which he may be left onel, recovering his balance, strutted careful- to reflect. ly down the passage. Alice Lorraine, having none to advise " What a merry girl you are " cried Hil- with, and being in her firm heart set to do ary, who was a little vexed at having his the right thing without flinching, through martial council routed. "You seem to me dark days and through weary nights had to be always laughing when there is nothing been striving to make sure what was the one to laugh at." right thing to do. It was plain that the "That shows a low sense of humor," she honor of her race must be saved at her exanswered, "or else an excess of high spirits. pense. By reason of things she had no hand Perhaps in my case the two combine. But in, it had come to pass that her poor self I am sorry if I disturbed you." stood in every body's way. Her poor self "I am not quite so easily disturbed. I was full of life, and natural fun, and mind am as well as I ever was. It is enough to perhaps a little above the average. No othmake one ill to be coddled up in this kind er self in the world could find it harder to go of way." out of the world; to be a self no more per-'My dear brother, you are to be released adventure, but a wandering something. To as soon as the weather changes. At present lose the sight and touch and feeling of the nobody ventures out who is not going to be light and life and love; not to have the inmarried." fluence even of the weather on them; to lie "Of that I can judge from the window, in a hollow place, forgotten, cast aside, and Lallie; and even from my water-jugs. But dreaded; never more to have or wish for how is your very grand wedding to be? I power to say yes or no. have seen a score of men shoveling. You This was all that lay before her if she actseem to be in such a hurry, dear." ed truly. As to marrying a man she scorn-' Perhaps not. Let us talk of something ed she must scorn herself ere she thought else. Do you really think, without any non- of it. She knew that she was nothing very sense, that all your good repute and welfare great; and her little importance was much depend on the payment of the money which pulled down by the want of any one to love you lost'" her; but her purity was her own inborn "HIow can you ask me such a stupid ques- right, and nobody should sell or buy it. tion? I never could lift up my head again; "I will go to my father once more," she but it is not myself, not at all for myself thought; "he can not refuse to see me. I -it is what will be said of the family, Alice. will not threaten-that would be low. But And I do not see how the raising of the mon- if he cares at all to look, he will know from ey can interfere at all with you." my face what I mean to do. He used, if I " No, no, of course not," she said, and then had the smallest pain, he used to know it in slhe turined away and looked out of the win- a moment. But now he cares not for apain dow, reflecting that Hilary was right enough. that seems to take my life away. Perhaps Neither loss nor gain of money could long in- it is my own fault; perhaps I have been too terfere at all with her. proud to put it so. I have put it defiantly, " Good-bye, darling," she said, at last, for- and not begged. I will beg, I will be g; on giving his sick petulance, and putting back my' knees I will beg, I will cry, as I never his curly hair, and kissing his white fore- cried before, oh, father, father, father!" head;" good-bye, darling; I must not stay; Perhaps if she had won this chance, she I always seem to excite you so. You will might even yet have vanquished; for her not think me unkind, I am sure; but you last reflection was true enough. She had may not see me again for ever-oh, ever so been too defiant, and positive in her strength 192 ALICE LORRAINE. of will toward her father. She had never She despised him too much to run away, tried the power of tears and prayers, and a as he had hoped that she would do. She pet child's eloquence. And her father, no heard his weak step, and weaker breath, and doubt, had felt this change in her attitude stopped, and faced him quietly. toward him, and had therefore believed more readily his mother's repeated assertions, that nothing stood in the way of a most desirable arrangement except the coyness of a spirited CHAPTER LXVI girl, whose fancy was not taken. But the luckless girl lost all the chances STANDING in a dark gray corner of the old of a last appeal, through a simple and rath- stone passage, below a faded and exiled porer prosaic affair. Her father was not to be trait of some ancestor of hers, Alice looked found in his book-room; and hurrying on in so calm and noble, that Steenie (although he search of him, she heard the most melancholy "had his grog on board," with his daily bill drone, almost worse than the sad east wind. of lading) found it harder than he expected Her prophetic soul told her what it was, and to follow his father's counsel. In twentythat she had a right to be present. So she four hours he would have this lovely creature knocked at the door of a stern, cold room, at his mercy; and then he would tame her, and being told to enter, entered. There she and make her love him, and perhaps even try saw seven people sitting, and looking very to keep to her. For he really did love thismiserable; for the bitter cold had not been poor girl in a way that quite surprised him; routed by the new-made fire. One was and he could not help thinking that if she reading a tremendous document, five were knew it, by Jove, she must be grateful! pretending to listen, and one was listening "Alice, dear Alice, sweet Alice!" he said, as very keenly. The reader was a lawyer's at every approach she shrank farther away; clerk; three of the mock listeners were his "lovely Alice, what have I done, that you principal, and the men of the other side; the will not yield me one beautiful smile? You other two were Sir Roland Lorraine and Cap- know how very well I have behaved. I have tain Stephen Chapman. The real listener not even pleaded for one kiss. And considwas Sir Remnant, who pricked up his ears at ering all that is between us-" every sentence. Upon the table lay another "Considering the distance there is between great deed, or rather a double one, lease and us, you have shown your judgment." release-the mortgage of all the Lorraine "You do not understand me at all. What estates, invalid without her signature, which I meant was entirely different. There should she was too young to give. be no difference between us. Why should Alice Lorraine knew what all this meant. there be? Why should there be? In a few It was the charter of her slavery, or rather hours more we shall both be alike; flesh of the warrant of her death. She bowed to one flesh, and bone of one bone. I am not them all, and left the room with "And the quite sure that I have got it right. But I said, and the said-doth hereby, doth here- am not far out, at any rate." by-" buzzing in her helpless brain. "Your diffidence is your one good point. Now followed a thing which forever set- You are very far out when you overcome it. tled and sealed her determination. Steenie, Have the kindness to keep at a proper dison the eve of his wedding-day, really felt tance, and hear what I have to say. I bethat he ought to do something toward con- lieve that you mean well, Stephen Chapmani; ciliating his bride. He really loved (so far so far as you have any meaning left. I beas his nature wascapable of honest love) this lieve that you even mean well by me; and, proud and most lovable maiden, who was in your weak manner, like me. But if you to belong to him to-morrow. And his fa- had gone all round the world, you could not ther had said to him, as they came over to have found one to suit you less. I used to go through the legal ceremony, "Nurse my think that I was humble; as of course I vittels, now Steenie, for God's sake, try to ought to be; but when I search into myself, be a man a bit. The mistake you make I find the proudest of the proud. Nothing with the girl is the way you keep your dis- but great misery could have led me to this tance from her. Why, they draw up their knowledge. I speak to you now for the last figures, and screw up their mouths, on pur- time, Stephen; and I never meant to speak pose to make you run after them. I have as I do. But I believe that, in your little seen such a lot of it; and so have you. All way, you like me, and I can not bear to be girls are alike, as you ought to know now. thought too hard." Why can't you treat her properly?" Here Alice burst into bitter crying at the The unfortunate Steenie took this advice, thouglht of the name she might leave behind..and he took (which was worse) a great "What shall I do? Whatever can I do?" draught of brandy. And so, when the law- cried Stephen, not being such a very hard yer's'drone had driven him thoroughly out fellow, any more than the rest of us, but feelof his patience, at the sight of Alice he slip- ing himself unworthy even to touch her ped out and followed her down the passage. pocket-handkerchief. ALICE LORRAINE. 193 "You have nothing to do, I should hope, for, and she wanted to know if the Frenchindeed, answered Alice, recovering dignity; woman had caught any idea of her figure. "I am very glad that, whatever happens, To settle this question, she locked the you may blame other people. Please to re- door, and then very carefully changed her member that I said that. And good-bye, dress. Being the tidiest of the tidy, and as Captain Chapman." neat as an old maid in her habits, she left " Good-bye, till dinner-time, my darling- not a pin, nor a hair on the cloth, nor even a well, then, good-bye, Miss Lorraine." brush set crooked. Then being in bridal "At any rate I am glad," she thought, as perfection, and as lovely a bride as was ever she hastened to her room, " that, even to him, seen, without one atom of conceit, she knew I have said my last as kindly as I could man- that she was purely beautiful. She stood age it." before the glass, and sadly gazed at all her When she entered her room, it was three beauty. There she saw the large sweet o'clock, and the day already waning; though forehead (calm and clear as ever), the deep the snow from hill and valley, and the rime desire of loving eyes for some one to believe of quiet frost, spread the flat pervading in, the bright lips even now relaxing into a whiteness of the cold and hazy light. Alice sadly playful smile, the oval symmetry of looked out, and thought a little; and the chastened face, in soft relief against the scene was by no means cheering. The east- complex curves and waves of rebellious hair. ern side of the steep straight coombe (up To any man who could have won her love, which clomb the main road to the house) lay what a pet, what a treasure she might have thirty or forty feet deep in snow, being filled been, what a pearl beyond all price-or, as by the drift that swept over its crest, for she simply said to herself, what a dear good nearly the breadth of the coombe itself. wife! It was worse than useless to think But under the western rampart still a dark- of that; but, being of a practical turn of brown path was open, where the wind, leap- mind, she did not see why she should put on ing over the eastern scarp, had whirled the her lovely white satin and let no one see it. snow up the western. And here, through Therefore she rung for her maid, who her own pet garden, fell a direct path down stared, and cried, "Oh, laws, miss! what a to the Woeburn. booty you do look!" and then, of course, She had lolng been ready to believe that wanted to put in a pin, and to trim a bow here her young and lively life must end. here, and to stroke a plait there. "It is Down this steep and narrow way she had waste of time," said Alice. Then she told gazed, or glanced, orpeeped (according to the her to send Mrs. Pipkins up; and the good measure of her courage), ever since the Woe- housekeeper came and kissed her beautiful burn rose, and she was sure what it meant pet, as she always called her (maintaining for her. Now looking at it, with her mind the rights of the nursery days), and then bemade.up, altd her courage steadfast, she gan some of the very poor jokes supposed to could not help perceiving that she had a suit such occasions. great deal to be thankful for. Her life had "Pippy," said Alice, that the old endearbeen very bright and happy, and it had been ment might cure the pain of the sudden long enough. She had learned to love all check, "you must not talk so; I can not pleasant creatures, and to make them love bear it. Now just tell papa, not yet, but her. She had found out that nature has ten- when the dinner is going in, give him this fold more of kindness than of cruelty; and message-say with my love that I beg him that of her kindness all the best and dearest to excuse me from coming in to dinner, beends in death. Painless death, the honest cause I have other things to see to. And and the peaceful end of earthly things; no- mind, Pippy, one thing: I have many arble death, that settles all things, scarcely rangements to make before I go away; and leaving other life (its brief exception) time if my door should be locked to-night nobody to mourn. is to disturb me. I can trust you to see to All this lay clear and bright before her, that, I know. And now say' good-bye' to now that the golden mist of hope was scat- me, Pippy, dear; I may not see you again, tered by stern certainty. Many times she you know. Let me kiss you as I used to do, had been confused by weak desires to escape when I was a dear good little child, and used her duty, and foolish hankerings after things to coax for sugar-plums." that were but childish trifles. About her As soon as her kind old friend was gone, bridal dress, for instance, she had been much Alice made fast her door again, and took off inclined to think. Of course, she never her bridal dress, and put on a plain white meant to wear it; still, she knew that the frock of small value; and then she knelt London people meant to charge to a long ex- down at the side of her bed, and said her ustreme; and she thought that she ought to ual evening prayers. Although she made try it on once more ere ever it was rashly no pretense to any vehement power of piety, paid for. She truly cared, no more than can in the depth of heart and mind she nourishbe helped by any woman, whether it set her ed love of God, and faith in him. She beoff or not; but she knew that it must be paid lieved that he gives us earthly life, to be 194 ALICE LORRAINE. rendered innocently back to him, not in cow- For instance, Mr. Bottler had designed for ardly escape from trouble, but when honor at least three weeks to slay a large styful of and love demand it. In the ignorance corn- fat pigs. But from day to day he had been mon to us all she prayed. forced to defer the operation. The frost was Then, when all the house was quiet, ex- so intense that this good Azrael of the gruntcept for the sound of plates and dishes ers had no faith in the efficacy of his minis(greasily going into deep baskets, one on trations. Not indeed as regarded his power the head of another), Alice Lorraine, having to dismiss them to a happier world. In any gathered her long hair into a Laconian knot, kind of weather he could stick a pig; the put her favorite garden-hat on, and made the knife they could not very well decline, when tie firm under her firm chin. She looked skillfully suggested; but they might, and round her favorite room once more, and nod- very often did, break all the laws of hospided farewell to every thing, and went to seek tality, by sternly refusing to accept his salt. death with a firmer step than a bride's to- And the object of a pig's creation is triple ward a bridegroom. (setting aside his head, and heels, and other Attired in pure white she walked through small appurtenances) fresh pork, pickled a scene of bridal beauty. Every tree was pork, and bacon; and the greatest of these overcast with crystal lace and jewelry; three is bacon. common bushes and ignominious shrubs Now what was West Lorraine to do, and stood up like sceptres; weeping branches even the town of Steyning? Cart-loads of shone like plumes of ostrich turned to dia- mutton came into the market, from the death mond. And on the ground wave after wave in the snow of so many sheep; which (as the of snow-drift, like a stormy tide driven by general public reasoned) must have made tempestuous wind, and bound in its cresting the meat beautifully white; and a great wrath by frost. many laborers got a good feed, who had alAlthough there was now no breath of most forgotten the taste of meat; audit did wind, Alice knew from the glittering white- them good and kept them warm. But the ness that it must be very cold. She saw her " best families" would not have this; they pretty bower like a pillow under bed-clothes; liked their mutton to have "interviewed" and on the clear brown walk she scattered the butcher in a constitutional manner; and crumbs for the poor old robin as soon as he not being sure how to prove this point, they should get up in the morning. Then for would not look at any mutton at all, till lamb fear of giving way, she gathered up her dress came out of snow-drift. This being so, what and ran. She had no overwhelming sense was now to be done? Many people said, of fate, necessity, or Ate-the powers that " Live on bread, and so on, red herrings, and drove fair maids of Greece to offer themselves ship-chandler's stores, and whatever else the for others. She simply desired to do her Lord may send;" Fifty good women came up duty, to save the honor of her race, and her through the snow to learn the rector's opinpure self from defilement. ion; and all he could say was, "Boil down The Woeburn was running as well as ever, your bones." quite untouched by any frost, and stretched This produced such a desperate run upon at its length like a great black leech who the bank of poor Bonny, which really was a puts out his head for suction. Gliding bank-of marrow-bones, put by in the sumthrough great piles of snow, it looked sable mer to season-that Jack was at work almost as Cocytus, with long curls of white vapor all the day long, and got thoroughly up to hovering where the cold air lay on it. The the tricks of the snow, and entirely learned stars were beginning to sparkle now; and a how to tread it. Bonny's poor hands were so young moon gazing over Chancton Ring chapped by the cold, that ho slurred all the avouched the calm depth of heaven. polish of the rector's boots; and Mr. Hales Then Alice came forward, commended her said that he had better grease them; which soul to God in good Christian manner, and cut the boy deeper than any chap.. without a fear, or tear, or sigh, committed Superior people, however, could not think her body to the Deathbourne. of relying upon Bonny's bones; their money was ready, and they would pay for good meat what it was worth-and no more. Now a thoroughly honest man grows uneasy at the CHAPTER LXIXTT thought of getting more than he ought to get. It is pleasant to cheat the public; but the IT seems to be almost a settled point in the pleasure soaks down through the conscience, affairs of every body (except perhaps Prince leaving tuberculous affection there, or bacBismarck) that nothing shall come to pass teria; or at any rate some microscopic afflicexactly according to arrangement. The best tion. Bottler felt all these visitations; and and noblest of mankind can do no more than in spite of all demand, he could not bring plan discreetly, firmly act, and humbly wait himself to do any more than treble the price the pleasure of a j ust, beneficent, and all-see- of pig-meat. ing Power. "It does weigh so light this weather! ALICE LORRAINE. 195 Only take it in your hand," he was bound to this 10th of January; but the school-master tell every body, for their own sakes; "now vowed that, in such weather, he would warm you might scarcely think it-but what with no boy's educational part, unless the parish one thing and another, that pig have cost me first warmed his own. And the parish retwo-and-threepence a pound, and I sell him plied that he might do that for himself; not at one-and-ninepence." a knob of coal should he have; it was quite " Oh, Mr. Bottler, what a shame of you!" beginning at the wrong end to warm him " True, as you stand there, my dear! You first. His answer was to bolt the schoolmight not believe it, from any one but me; door, and sit down with a pipe and a little till you marry, and go into business. Ah, and kettle. a very bad business it is. Starvation to every The circumspect church-warden had anbody, unless they was bred and born to it; ticipated this state of siege; for he knew and even then only a crust of bread!" Mr. that every boy in the parish (who would Church-warden Bottler, however, did not have run like the devil if the door was open) look at all as if he sustained existence on a knowing the door to be bolted would spend crust of bread. His stockings, whiter than the whole day in kicking at it. And here the snow-drifts round him, showed very he found them, Bonny at the head, as a boy substantial bulge of leg; and his blue baize of rising intellect, and Captain Dick of the apron did like duty for that part of the hu- Bible corps, and the boy who had been shot man being which is so fatal to the race of in the hedge, and many other less distinpigs. And the soft smile, without which he guished boys, furiously raging together benever spoke, arose and subsided in no gaunt cause robbed of their right to a flogging. cheeks, and flickered in the channels of no "Come along, my lads," said Bottler, paltry chin. In a word, Mr. Bottler was knowing how to manage boys; you may quite fat enough to kill. kick all day, and wear out your shoes. I've " Polly," he said to his favorite child, as got a job for fifty of you, and a penny a soon as he had finished his Monday dinner, piece for all as works well." " you have been a good child through this Not to be too long, these boys all followed very bad weather; and dad means to give Church-warden Bottler; and he led them to you a rare treat to-night. Not consarning his little yard, and there le fitted every one the easing of the pigs," he continued, in an- of them up with something or other to work swer to her usual nod, and employing his with. Some had brooms and some had regular euphemism; "there will be a many shovels, some had spades and some had pigs to be eased, to satisfy the neighborhood, mops, one or two worked with old fryingand shut off the rogue to Bramber. But you pa.ns, and Bonny had a worn-out warmingshall see, Polly; you shall see something as pan. All the boys who had got into breechwill astonish you." es were to have twopence apiece; and the Bottler put on his brown leather apron, rest, who were still stitched up at the midand gently performed his spiriting. die, might earn a penny a head if they workAnd without any nonsense. Polly saw a ed hard. lovely scene soon afterward. For her father Not one of them shirked his work. They had made up his mind to do a thing which worked as boys alone ever do work, throwwould greatly exalt his renown, and quench ing all their activity into it. And taking that little rogue at Bramber. In spite of the the big with the little ones, it cost Mr. Botweather he would kill pigs; and in spite of tier four shillings and fourpence to get some the weather he would pickle them. He had hundred cubic yards of snow cleared out so five nice porkers and fourbacon pigs, as ready thoroughly that if a boy wanted to pelt a as pigs can be for killing. They seemed to boy, he must go outside for his snowball. him daily to reproach him for their unduly Mr. Bottler smiled calmly as lie paid them; prolonged existence. They could not lay well he knew what an area of hunger he was on any fat in this weather, but relapsed for spreading for his good pork, by means of this want of carving. army of work-boys. Then he showed the For Bottler in the morning had done this boys the pigs still living, and patted their -which could not have occurred to any but shoulders, and smacked his lips with a relish a very superior mind. In his new premises that found an echo at more than forty hearths facing the lane, a short way below Nanny that evening. "Ah, won't they come up Stillgoe's cottage, he had a little yard, well rare?" he said;' ay, and go down rarer away from all thatch, and abutting on noth- still," replied Bonny, already beginning to ing but his scalding-house. This yard was stand in high esteem for jocosity, which he square, and inclosed by a wall of the chalky did his very best to earn. flints that break so black, and bind so well All boys other than Bonny departed with into mortar. lips overflowing with love of pork into little Of course the whole place was still snow- icicles. Then Mr. Bottler went to his carted up; but Master Bottler soon cured that. shed, and came back with his largest tarHe went to the parish school, which was to paulin. He spread and fixed this in a have opened after the Christmas holidays on clever manner over the middle of his little 196 ALICE LORRAINE. yard, leaving about ten feet clear all round face any thing, set out from Old Applewood between the edge of it and the wall. This Farm on the very day next after Twelfthbeing done, he invited Bonny to dinner, and day. They meant with one accord to be at enjoyed his converse, and afterward pledged Coombe Lorraine by the Saturday night, himself to Polly, as heretofore recorded. all being summoned upon church-service. Later in the day many squeaks were heard; There was not one of them that could be while Bonny worked hard at the furze-rick. dispensed with-according to the last adAll things are judged always by their re- vices-and they felt their extreme responsisuits. Be it enough, then, to chronicle these. bility when the grower locked them out of West Lorraine, Wiston, and Steyniug itself the great white gate. pronounced with one voice on the following " Now don't make fools of yourselves," he day that a thing had been done on the bank shouted; " you won't be there quite so soon of the Woeburn that verily vanquished the as you think." They laughed him to scorn; Woeburn itself. As Hercules conquered the but even before they got to Tonbridge a Achelotis, and the great Pelides hacked up snow-storm came behind them, and quite by the roots both Simois and Scamander, so smothered all their shoulders up, and grizBottler (a greater hero than even Nestor zled the roots of the whiskers of the only himself could call to mind, to snub inferior one who had any. This was Counselor pig-stickers)-Bottler aroused his valor, and Gregory, and the other two laughed at him, scotched and slew that Python-the Woe- and vowed that his wig must have slipped burn. down there, and then flicked him with pockIt is not enough to speak of such doings et-handkerchiefs. in this casual sort of way. Bottler's deeds Counselor Gregory took no heed. He was are now passing into the era of romance, wonderfully staid and sapient now; and the which always precedes the age of history. day when he had played at darts-if crossOut of romance they all emerge with a tail examination could have fetched it upof attestation; and if any body lays hold of would have been to his expanded mind a this, and clearly sees what to do with it, his painful remembrance of All-fools' Day. He story becomes history, and himself a great stuck to his circuit, and cultivated the art historian. But lo! here are the data for any of circuitous language. And being a sound historian of duly combative enthusiasm to and diligent lawyer, of good face and ternwork out what Bottler did. per, he was able already to pay a clerk, who He let Bonny work-as all heroes permit carried his bag and cleaned his boots. — a great deal harder than he worked him- But any client who had seen him now drivself. He calmly looked on, and smoked his ing two spirited horses actually in tandem pipe; and knowing quite well how the pigs process, and sitting as if he were on the would act (according to bulk and constitu- King's Bench, would have met him at the tion) in the question of cooling down, he gate with a quo warranto if not a quousque kept his father's watch in hand, and at prop- tandemn? He was well aware of this; his er periods eased them. Meanwhile Bonny conscience told him that a firm of attorneys labored for his life, and by the time all the abode in the chief street of Tonbridge, and pigs were ready for posthumous toilet, their in spite of the snow either partner or clerk dressing-room was warm and waiting for would almost be sure to be out at the door. them. A porker may come home to his posi- He would not have been the grower's son tive degree-pork-in less than no time; if he had tried to circumvent them; so he but the value of his dedication of himself- drove by their door, and the senior partner in the manner of a young curate-to the took off his hat to Mabel, and said that Gregservice of humanity, depends very much ory was a most rising young man. upon how he is treated. Mabel sat in the middle, of course, with a The pork-trade at this time of writing is brother on either side to break the cold so active, that every body-however small wind, and keep off the snow. She laughed his operations are-should strive to give it at the weather at first; but soon the weatha wholesome check rather than further im- er had the laugh of her. According to their petus. And for that reason the doings of own ideas, they were to put up for the night Bottler-fully as they deserve description- at the fine old inn at Horsham, and make shall not have a bit of it. their way thence to Coombe Lorraine in time for dinner on the Saturday. For Mabel, of course, was to be a brides-maid-the rector's three daughters and the colonel's CHAPTER LXXT. two completing the necessary six. But it soon became clear that the grower knew AGAIN, another thing will show how heav- more about roads and weather than the ily and wearily all people that on earth do counselor and the sailor did. By the time dwell plod and plod their little way, and are these eager travelers passed Penshurst and but where they came from. Three young the home of the Sidneys, the road was some people, all well wrapped up, and ready to eight or nine inches deep with soft new-fall ALICE LORRAINE. 197 en snow. They had wisely set forth with a tance, tall and white against the setting two-wheeled carriage, strong and not easily sun, which proved to be Horsham spire. knocked out of gear-no other, in fact, than With difficulty they reached the town by the old yellow gig disdained by Mrs. Love- starlight, and all pretty well frost-bitten; joy. For the look of it they cared not one and there they were obliged to spend the jot; any thing was good enough for such Sunday, not only for their horses' sakes, but weather; and a couple of handsome and equally for their own poor selves. powerful horses would carry off a great deal To finish a bitter and tedious journey, worse than that, even if they had thought they started from Horsham on the Monday of it. But they never gave one thought to morning, as soon as the frozen-out sun apthe matter. Except that the counselor was peared; and although the traveling was a little tamed by " the law and its ramifica- wonderfully bad, they fetched to West Grintions," they all took after their father about stead by twelve o'clock, and found good the esse vs. the videri. Nevertheless, they all provender for man and beast. After an got snowed up for the Friday night at East hour's halt, and a peck of beans to keep the Grinstead, instead of getting on to Horsham. cold out of the horses' stomachs, and a glass For the farther they got away from home of cherry- brandy to do the like for their the more they managed to lose their way. own, and a visit to the blacksmith (to fetch The hedges and the ditches were all as one, up the cogs of the shoes, and repair the the guide-posts were buried long ago; in- springs), all set off again in the best of spirstead of the proper finger and thumb, great its, and vowing never to be beaten. But, fists and bellies of drift now and then stuck labor as they might, the sun had set ere they out to stop the traveler. "No thoroughfare got to Steyning; and under the slide of the here" in great letters of ivy-the ivy that hills, of course, they found the drift grow hangs in such deep relief, as if itself relieved deeper; so that by the time they were come by snow-and "Trespassers beware" from to the long loose street of West Lorraine, alan alder, perhaps overhanging a swamp, most every soul therein, having regard to where, if the snow-crust were once cut the weather, was tucked up snugly under through, a poor man could only toss up his the counterpane. -With the weary leader arms, and go down and be no more heard of. stooping chin to knee to rub off icicles, and And now that another heavy storm was the powerful wheeler tramping sedately at it (black behind them, and white in with his withers down and his crupper up, front), the horses asked for nothing better these three bold travelers, Gregory, Mabel, than to be left to find their way. They and Charles Lovejoy, sitting abreast in the threw up their forelocks, and jerked their yellow gig, passed silently through the deep noses, and rattled their rings, and expressed silence of snow; and not even a boy beheld their ribs, and fingered away at the snow them, until they came to a place where red with their feet; meaning that their own light streamed from an opening upon the heads were the best, if they could only have lane, and cast on the snow the shadow of a them. So the counselor let them have their tall man leaning on a gate. Inside the gate heads, for the evening dusk was gathering; was a square of bright embers, and a man in and the leader turned round to the wheeler, white stockings uncommonly busy. and they had many words about it. And "Oh, Gregory, stop for a moment," cried then they struck off at a merry trot, having Mabel; "how beautifully warm it looks! both been down that road before, and supped Oh, how I wish I was a pig!" well at the end of it. Foreseeing the like de- They drew up in the ruddy light, and light, with this keen weather to enhance it, turned their frosted faces, frozen cloaks, and they put their feet out at a tidy stretch, numb hands toward it. And the leader scuffling one another's snowballs; and by turned round on his traces and cheered up the time of candle-lighting, landed their his poor nose with gazing; for warmth, as three inferior bipeds at the "Green Man," well as light, came forth in clouds upon the at East Grinstead. shivering air. On the following day they were still worse "What a wonderful man!" exclaimed off, for although it did not snow again, they Mabel again.'We have nobody like him got into an unknown country without any in all our parish. He looks very good-nalandmarks; and the cold growing more and tured. Oh, do let us go in and warm ourmore severe, they resolved to follow the selves." Brighton road, if ever they should find it. "And get our noses frozen off directly we But the Brighton coaches were taken off, came out. No, thank you," said Gregory, and the road so entirely stopped that they "we will drive on. Get up, Spangler, will must have crossed without perceiving it. you, then?" And both the nags growing very tired, and He flipped the leader with his frozen lash, their own eyes dazed with so much white, and the tall man leaning upon the gate (as they had made up their minds to build them- if he were short of employment) turned selves a snow-house like the Esquimaux, round and looked at them, and bade the when the sailor spied something in the dis- busy man a very good evening, and came 198 ALICE LORRAINE. out into the snow, as if he were glad of any be? It is all white. And it hangs upon tile wheel-track. At the turn of the lane they water so. It must be some one floating lost sight of him, slowly as they plowed their drowned!" way, and in another minute a very extraor- Charlie, the sailor, without a word, ran to dinary thing befell them. a bulge of the bank, as he saw the white "Harlk!" cried Mabel, as they came to a thing coming nearer, looked at it for an inbank, where once the road might have gone stant with all his eyes, then flung off his straight on, but now turned sharply to the coat and plunged into the water, as if for a right, being broken by a broad black water. little pleasant swim. He had no idea of the ",I am quite sure I heard something." power of the current; jtut if he had known "The frost is singing in your ears," said all about it, he would have gone headforeCharlie; "that is what it always does at sea. most all the same. For he saw in mid-chanOr a blessed cold owl is hooting. Greg, what nel the form of a woman, helpless, senseless, do you say " at the mercy of the water; and that was "I will offer my opinion," replied the coun- quite enough for him. selor, "when I have sufficient data." From his childhood up he had been a "And when you get your fee indorsed. swimmer, and was quite at his ease in rough There it is again! Now did you hear it?" water, and therefore despised this sliding And she stood up between her two brothers, smoothness. But before he had taken three and stayed herself, in the mighty jerks of strokes he felt that he had mistaken his road, with a hand on the shoulder of each of enemy. Instead of swimming up the stream them. They listened, and doubted her keen- (which looked very easy to do from the er ears, and gave her a pull to come back bank), he could not even hold his own with again. What a child it is!" said the coun- arms and legs against it, but was quietly selor; she always loses her wits when she washed downl by the force bearing into the gets within miles of that blessed Hilary." cups of his shoulders. But, in spite of the "Is that all you know about it-now, af- volume of torrent, he felt as comfortable as ter all the mischief you have made! You. could be; for the water was by some twenty have done your worst to part us." degrees warmer than the frosty air. Though still quite a junior counsel, Greg- "Cut the traces!" he managed to shout, as ory had been long enough called to the Bar his brother and sister hung over the bank. to understand that women must not be cited What does he mean?" asked Gregory. to the bar of reason. Their opinions deserve "Take my little knife," said Mabel; "it the most perfect respect, because they are cuts like a razor; but my hands shake." inspired; and no good woman ever changes "I see, I see," nodded the counselor, and them. he cut the long -traces of the leader, and At any rate, Mabel was right this time. knotted them together. Meanwhile Charlie Before they could say a word, or look round, let both feet sink, and stood edgewise in the they not only heard but saw a boy riding rapid current, treading water quietly. Of and raving furiously, on the other side of the course he was carried down stream as he did water. He was coming down the course of it; but slowly (compared with a floating the stream toward them as fast as his don- body). And he found that the movement key could flounder, and slide, and tear along was much less rapid at three or four feet over the snow-drifts. And at the top of his from the surface. Before he had time to voice he was shouting, think of this, or fairly fetch his balance, "A swan, a swan, a girt white swan! The the white thing he was waiting for came bootiful leddy have turned into a girt swan! gliding in the blackness toward him. He Oh, I never!" flung out his arms at once, and cast his feet "Are you mayou ma ou young fool? Just get back, and made toward it. In the gliding back from the water!" cried Gregory Love- hurry, and the flit of light, it passed him so joy, sternly; for as Bonny pulled up, the far that lie said "Good-bye," and then (perhorses, weary as they were, jumped round in haps from the attraction of bodies) it seemaffright at Jack's white nose and great ears ed for a second to stop, and the hand he cast jerking in a shady place. "Get back from forth laid hold of something. His own head the water, or we shall all be in it!" For the went under water, and he swallowed a good wheeler having caught the leader's scare, mouthful; but he stuck to what he had got was backing right into the Woeburn, and hold of, as behooves an Englishman. Then Mabel could not help a little scream; till he heard great shouting upon dry land, and the sailor sprang cleverly over the wheel, it made him hold the tighter. "Bravo, my and seized the shaft-horse by the head. noble fellow!" He heard; he was getting "There she cometh! there she cometh!" a little tired; but encouragement is every shouted Bonny all the while; " oh, whatever thing. " Catch it! catch it! lay hold! lay shall I do?" hold!" he heard in several voices, and he saw "I see it! I see it!" cried Mabel, leaning the splash of the traces thrown, but had no over the rail of the gig, and gazing up the chance to lay hold of them. The power of dark stream steadfastly; "oh, what can it the black stream swept him on, and he vain ALICE LORRAINE. 199 ly strove for either bank, unless he would ed in the rush and lhurry, came down the let loose his grasp, and he would'rather black gorge with his head well up, and the drown with it than do that. speed and strength of an osprey. He seized Now who saved him and his precious sal- the broad traces with such a grasp that the vage? A poor, despised, and yet clever boy, timber above them trembled, and he bore whose only name was Bonny. When Greg- himself up with his chest to the stream, and ory Lovejoy had lashed the Woeburn with tearing off his neck-cloth, fastened first the his traces vainly, and Mabel had fixed her drowned white figure, and then poor Charshawl to the end of them, and the tall man lie, to the loop of the strap, and saw them who followed the gig had dropped into the drawn up together; then gathering all his water quietly, and Bottler (disturbed by the remaining powers, he struck for the bank, shouting) had left his pigs and shone con- and gained it. spicuous-not one of them could have done "Hurra!" shouted Bottler; and every a bit of good, if it had not been for Bonny. one present, Mabel included, joined the shout. From no great valor on the part of the boy, "Be quick! be quick! It is no time for but from a quick-witted suggestion. words," cried the tall man, shaking his dress His suggestion had to cross the water, as on the snow; "let me have the lady; you many good suggestions have to do; and but bring the fine fellow as quickly as possible for Bottler's knowledge of his voice, nobody to Bottler's yard. Bottler, just show us the would have noticed it. shortest way." " Ye'll nab'em down to bridge," he cried; "To be sure, sir," Mr. Bottler answered; "hurn down to bridge, and ye'll nab'em. " but, major, you can not carry her, and the Tell un not to faight so." drops are freezing on you." "Let yoursen go with the strame," shout- "Do as I told you. Run in fronlt of me; ed Bottler to the gallant Charlie: " no use and just show the shortest road." faighting for the bank. There's a tree as "Dash my stockings!" cried Master Botcrosseth down below; and us'll pull'ee both tler. "they won't be worth looking at toout, when'a gets there." morrow. And all through the snow, I've a Charlie had his head well up, and saw the kept un white. And I an't got any more wisdom of this counsel. He knew by long clean ones." battle that he could do nothing against the However, he took a short cut to his yard; tenor of the Woeburn, and the man who had while Aylmer, with the lady in his arms, and leaped in to help him, brave and strong as her head hanging over his shoulder, followed he was, could only follow as the water listed, so fast, that the good pig-sticker could scarceThe water went at one set pace, and swim- ly keep in front of him. " Never mind me," mers only floated. And now it was a breath- cried brave Charlie, reviving; " I am as right less race for the people on the dry land to as ever. Mabel, go on and help; though I gain the long tree that spanned the Woe- fear it is too late to do any good." burn, ere its victims were carried under. "Whoever it is, it is dead as a stone," said And but for sailor Lovejoy's skill, and pres- the counselor, wiping the wet from his ence of mind, in seeking downward, and. pad- sleeves; " it fell away from me like an empty dling more than swimming, the swift stream bag; you might have spared your ducking, would have been first at the bridge; and Charlie. But it must have been a lovely then no other chance for them. young woman." As it was, the runners were just in time, "Dead or alive, I have done my duty. with scarcely a second to spare for it. Three But don't you know who it is? Oh, Mabel!" men knelt on the trunk of the tree, while " How could I see her face." said Mabel; Mabel knelt in the snow and prayed. The " the men would not let me touch her. And merciless stream was a fathom below them; about here I know no one." But they hung the staunch traces in two "Yes, you do. You know Alice Lorraine. broad loops, made good at each end in a fork It is poor Sir Roland's daughter." of bough, and they showed him where they were by flipping the surface of the water. Clinging to his helpless burden still, and doing his best to support it, the young sailor CHAPTER LXXI. managed to grasp the leather; but his strength was spent and he could not rise, WHILE these things were going on down and all things swam around him; the snowy in the valley, a nice little argument was rabanks, the eager faces, the white form he ging in the dining-room of the old house on held, and the swift black current-all like a the hill. By reason of the bitter weather, vision swept through his brain, and might Mr. Binns and John Trotman had brought in sweep on forever. His wits were gone, and two large three - winged screens of ancient he must have followed, and been swept away poikolo-daedal canvas. Upon them was deto another world, if a powerful swimmer had picted every bird that flies, and fish that not dashed up in full command of all facul- swims, and beast that walks on the face of ties. The tall man, whom nobody had heed- the earth, besides many that never did any 200 ALICE LORRAINE. thing of that sort. And betwixt them'and "Knows nothing at all about it. Gada roaring fire sat six good gentlemen, taking zools, sir, less than nothing. I tell you they their wine in the noble manner of the period. have no will of their own, any more than Under the wings of one great screen Sir they have any judgment. A man with a Roland Lorraine, and Colonel Clumps, and hap'orth of brains may do exactly what he Parson Hales were sitting. In the other, en- likes with them. Colonel, you know it; camped Sir Remnant Chapman, Stephen his come, colonel, now, after all your battles-" son, and Mr. John Ducksbill, a fundamental- "My battles were not fought among the ly trusty solicitor, to see to the deeds in the women," said Colonel Clumps, most dryly. morning. "Hear, hear!" cried the rector, smacking The state of the weather brought about his fat leg, in the joy of a new alliance. all this. It would have been better for the Very well, sir," said Sir Remnant, with bridegroom to come with a dash of horses in his wrath diverted from the parson to tlhe the morning, stir up the church, and the law, soldier; "you mean, I suppose, that my batand the people, and scatter a pound's worth ties have been fought among the women ofhalfpence. But after so long an experience only." of the cold white mood of the weather, corn- "I said nothing of the sort. I know nothmon sense told every body that if a thing ing of your battles. You alluded to mine, was to be done at all, all who were to do it and I spoke my mind." Colonel Clumps had must be kept pretty well together., been vexed by Sir Remnant's words. He had But, alas! even when the weather makes long had a brother officer's widow in his mind; every body cry " alas!" it is worse than the and ever since he had been under-fitted with battles of the wind and snow, for six male a piece of box-wood, his feelings were hurt members of the human race to look at one whenever women were run down in his presanother with the lire in their front, and the ence. deuce of a cold draught in their backs, and "Chapman, I think," said Sir Roland Lorwine without stint at their elbows, and dwell raine, to assuage the rising torm, " that we wholly together in harmony. And the most might as wellleave these little points (which exciting of all subjects unluckily had been have been in debate for some centuries) for started-or rather might be said "inevita- future centuries to settle at their perfect leibly." Six gentlemen could not in any rea- sure. Mr. Ducksbill, the wine is with you. son be hoped to sit over their wine, without Struan, you are not getting on at all. My getting into the subject of the ladies. son has been in Portugal, and he says that This is a thing to be always treated with these olives are the right ones." a deep reserve and confidential hint of some- All the other gentlemen took the hint, thing that must not go beyond a hint. Ev- and dropped the pugnacious subject; but cry man thinks, with his glass in his hand, Sir Remnant was such a tough old tyrant that he knows a vast deal more about wom- that there was no diverting him. He took en than any woman's son before him. Opin- a mighty pinch of snuff, rapped the corner ions at once begin to clash. Every man of his box, and began again. speaks from his own experience; which, "Why, look you, Lorraine, at that girl of upon so grand a matter, is as the claw of a yours, as nice a girl as ever lived, and well lobster grasping at a whale-the largest of brought up by her grandmother. A clever the mammals. girl too-I'll be dashed if she isn't. She has " Rector, I tell you," repeated Sir Rem- said many things that have made me laugh; nant, with an angry ring of his wine-glass, and it takes a good joke to do that, I can tell " that you know less than nothing about it, you. But no will of her own —no judgment sir. All the more to your credit, of course, of -no what I may call decision." course. A parson must stick to his cloth and "I am sorry to hear it," said Sir Roland, his gown, and keep himself clear of the petti- dryly; "I thought that my daughter had coats." plenty of all those." "But, my dear sir, my own three daugh- "Of course you did. All men think that ters-" until they find their mistake out. Nurse my "You may have got thirty daughters, with- vittels if there is any one thing a woman out knowing any thing at all about them." should know her own mind about, it would "But, my good sir, my wife, at least- be her own marriage. But gadzooks,'gencome now, is that no experience?" tlemen, Miss Lorraine over and over again " You may have got sixty wives, sir, and declared that she would not have our S teenie; be as much in the dark as ever. Ducksbill, and to-morrow morning she will have him, you know; come now, Ducksbill, give us as merry as a grig, sir!" your experience." "Now, father," began Captain Chapman; "Sir Remnant, I am inclined to think but as he spoke the screens were parted; and that, upon the whole, your view of the ques- Trotman stood there, in all the importance tion is the one that would be sustained. of a great news-bearer. Though the subject has so many ramifica- "What do you mean, sir?" cried Colonel tions, that possibly his Reverence-" Clumps, whose sedentary arrangements were ALICE LORRAINE. 201 suddeuly disturbed; "by Gad, sir, if I only and the house-maid's too frightened to come had my bamboo!" up the stairs." "If you plaize, sir," said Trotmau, looking "You are a good woman. Where is Mrs. only at his master; "there be very bad news Pipkins?" indeed. Miss Halice have a-drownded her- "She hath fetched up her great jar of self in the Woeburn; and her corpse be at leeches; sir; and she is trying them with Bottler the pigman's, dead." poor master. Lord bless you, yo might ev"Good God!" cried the rector; and the ery bit as well put horse-radish on him!" men either started to their feet, or fell back "Andttbetter, Merryjack-better, I believe. on their chairs, according to their constitu- Now you are a sensible and clever woman." tions. Sir Roland alone sat as firm as a "No, sir. Oh, Lord, sir, I was never told rock. that! though some folk may a' said so." "Upon what authority, an-thor-i-ty —" "They were right, every time they said Sir Roland neither finished that sentence, it, ma'am. And no one has said it more oftnor began another. His face became livid; en than I have. Now, Mrs. Merryjack- his under-jaw fell; he rolled on his side, and "Yes, sir; yes, sir. Any thing you tells lay there. As if by a hand direct from heav- me, sir." en, he was struck with palsy. "It is only this; I am going, as. fast as I can, to Church-warden Bottler's. I shall take ______. ~~the short cut, and cross the water. You can not do that; it would not be safe for a woman, in the dark, to attempt it. But just do CHAPTER LXXII. this: order the light close carriage as soon As soon as the master of the house had as possible. The horses are roughed to go been taken to his bedroom, and a groom sent to church to-morrow. Get inside it, with off at full gallop for the nearest doctor, Mr. your warmest cloak on, and blankets, and Hales went up to Stephen Chapman, who shawls, and any thing else you can think of, was crying in a corner, and hauled him and tell the man to drive for his life to Botforth, and took his hand, and patted him on tler's. Women will be wanted there, for one the shoulder. " Come, my good fellow," he thing or the other." said, "you must not allow yourself to be so "Yes, sir; to be sure, sir. We are always overcome; the thing may be greatly exag- wanted. Oh's me, the poor, young dear!" gerated; every thing always is, you know. The rector set off by a path to the right, I never believe more than half of a story; passing eastward of the coombe, and leadand I generally find that twice too much." ing, as well as might be, to the tree that "Oh, but I did so love-love-love her. crossed the water. It was a rough and It does seem too hard upon me. Oh, parson, dreary road; and none but a veteran sportsI feel as if I should die alnost. When the man could, in that state of the weather, have doctor comes, let him see me first. He can followed it. But Mr. Hales knew every yard not do any good to Sir Roland; and Sir Ro- of the hill, and when he could trust the drift, land is old, and he has always been good; and where it would have been death to yenbut I have been a very bad man always-" ture. And though the moon had set long "Bad or good, be a man of some sort-not ere this, the sky was bright, and the sparkle a whining baby," said the rector. " Put on of the stars was spread, as in a concave miryour lhat, and come out with me, if you have ror, by the radiance of the snow. got a bit of pluck in you. I am going down At Bottler's gate Mr. Hales was rudely reto see my poor niece, at once." pulsed, until they looked at him. Gregory " Oh, I could not do it! I could never do and Bonny were on guard, with a great tarit! How can you ask me to do such a thing? paulin behind them; each of them having And in such weather as this is!" a broonm in hand, ready to be thrust into any "Very well," Mr.H ales replied, buttoning body's face. A great glow of light was in up the collar of his coat; "I have no son, the air, and by it their eyes shone-whether Stephen Chapman; and I am in holy orders, it were with ferocity, or whether it were and therefore canonically debarred from the with tenderness. use of uuclerical language; but if I had a "I am her own uncle —I must go in. I sou like you, dash me if I would not kick stand in the place of her father." him from my house-door to my mixen!" Bonny, of course, knew his master, and Having thus relieved his mind, the rector opened the paling-gate to let himi in. And went to the main front passage, and chose there Mr. Hales beheld a thing such as he for himself a most strenuous staff, and then never had seen before. Every sign of the lie pulled the wire of the front-door bell, that singeing or dressing of pigs had been done the door might be fastened behind him. And away with. The embers of fuel, all round before any of the scared servanlts came up, he the gray walls, had given their warmth, and thought of something. "Who is it? ohMrs. lay quivering. The gray flints, bedded in Merryjack; is it?" lime behind them, were of a dull and sulky'Yes, sir; please, sir, the men are all away, red; the ground all over the court- yard 13 m20-2 ALICE LORRAINE. steamed, as the blow of the frost rose out of the way, Mrs. Bottier, now-go and malke of it, and the cover spread overhead reflect- some soup, ma'am. Mabel and I, Mabel and ed genial warmth and comfort. I, when we get together, I do believe we Near the middle of the yard, on a mat- could make a flock of sheep out of a row of tress, lay the form of poor Alice, infolded in flints. Now, sir, what am I to do " warm blankets, and Mrs. Bottler's best coun- Whatever he was told, he did with such a terpane. That kind and good woman, with will, that presently Mabel looked up, and exMabel's help, had removed the wet aLnd freez- claimed with breathless delight, " Oh, I feel ing clothes, when Major Aylmer had laid his a little throb-I did feel a little flutter of the burden in Mrs. Bottler's parlor. The only heart-I am almost sure I did." hope that the fleeting spirit might remain, "My dear girl, rub away," answered the or return, was to be found in warmth, or rector; " that is right, major, is not it?" rather strong heat, applied at once; and "I believe so. Now.is the critical time. therefore (with the major's advice and aid) A relapse -and all is over." clever use had been made of Mr. Bottler's "There shall.be no relapse," cried the recgreat preparations. It is needless to say tor, working away with his shirt-sleeves up, that the pigman (who had now galloped off and his ruddy face glowing in the fire-light; to Steynilng for a doctor) would, if left to " please God, there shall be no relapse; the himself, have settled matters very speedily, bravest and the noblest maid in the world by hanging the poor girl up head downward, shall not go out of it. Do you know me, my to drain off the water she had swallowed. darling? You ought to know your kind unBut now, under Major Aylmer's care, every cle Struan." thing had been done as well aas a doctor Purely white, and beautiful as a piece of could have managed it. The body was laid the noblest sculpture, Alice lay before them. with the head well up, and partly inclined Her bashful virgin beauty was (even in the on the right side, so that the feeble flutter shade of death) respected with pure reverof the heart-if any should arise-might not ence. The light of the embers (which alone be hindered. The slender feet, so white and could save her mouldering ash of life) showbeautifully arched, were laid on a brown ed the perfect outline, and the absence of stone jar of hot water; and the little help- the living gift, which makes it more than less palms were chafed by the rough hands outline. Mabel's face, intense with vital of Mrs. Bottler. Mabel also spread light energy and quick resolve, shone and glowfriction, with a quick and glancing touch, ed in contrast with the apathy and dull over the cold heart, frozen breast, and chill whiteness over which she bent so eagerly. relapse of every thing. And from time to Now, even while she gazed, the dim absorptime she endeavored to inspire the gentle tion of white cheeks and forehead slowly rise and fall of breath. passed and changed its du llness (like a hydroThe major came forward and took the phane immersed) into glancing and reflecthand of his friend, the rector, silently. " Is ing play of tender light and life. Rigid lines, there any hope?" whispered Mr. Hales. set lineaments, fixed curves, and stubborn "Less and less. It is now two hours since vacancy, began to yield a little and a little, we began trying to restore her. I was near- and then more and more, to the soft return ly drowned myself, some years ago, and lay of life, and the sense of being alive again. for an hour insensible. Every minute that There is no power of describing it. Those passes now lessens the chance. But this who have been through it can not tell what young lady is wonderfully clever." happened to them. Only this we knov, that " I only do what you tellme," said Mabel, we were dead and now we live again. And looking up, without leaving off her perse- by the law of nature (which we under-crept vering efforts. so narrowly) we are driven to the opposite " Flying in the face of the Almighty, I call extreme of violent vitality. it," cried Mrs. Bottler, who was very tired, Softly as an opening flower, and with no and ought to have had equal share of the more knowledge of the windy world around praise.. "Poor dear! we had better let her us, eyelids, fair as Cytherea's, raised their bide till the doctor cometh, or the crowner." fringe, and fell again. Then a long deep "Not till a doctor declares her dead,"said sigh of anguish (quite uncertain where it Major Aylmner, quietly; " I am delighted that was, but resolved to have utterance) arose you are come, Mr. Hales. You are a great from rich pure depth of breast, and left the re-enforcement. I have longed to try my kind heart lighter. own hand, but-but you can; you are her "Darling," cried Mabel; "do you know uncle. Perhaps you have not seen a case me? Open your eyes again, and tell me." like this. Will you act under my direc- Alice opened her eyes again; bt she could tions?" not manage to say any thing. And she did "With all my heart," replied the rector, not seem to know any one. Then the docpulling off his coat, and pitching it down tor pulled up at the paling-gate, skipped in, anywhere. " Oh my dear, my pretty dear, I felt pulse, or felt for it, and forthwith orderdo believe you will know my touch. Go out ed stimulants. ALICE LORRAINE. 203 "Put her to bed in a very warm room. is not, that it was delighted to get back, and The carriage is here with the blankets. But substantially ashamed of itself. on no account must she go home. Mrs. Bot- "What will my dear father say'? And tier will give up her best room. Let Mrs. what will other people think? I seem to Merryjack sit up all night. She is a cook, have considered nothing; and I can considshe can keep a good fire up. Let her try to er nothing now." roast her young mistress. Only keep the air "Darling, don't try to consider," Mabel well moving. I see that you have a first- answered softly; "you have considered far rate nurse-this pretty young lady-excuse too much; and what good ever comes of it?" me, ma'am. Well, I shall be back in a con- "None," she answered; "less than none. ple of hours. I have a worse case to see to." Consider the lilies that consider not. Oh, He meant Sir Roland; but would not tell my head is going round again." them. He had met the groom from Coombe It was the roundness of her head which Lorraine; and he knew how the power of had saved her life in the long dark water. life has dropped from a score of years to Any long head must have fallen back and three-score. yielded up the ghost; but her purely spherical head, with the garden hat fixed tightly ~*^~~~ ~ round it, floated well on a rapid stream, with air and natural hair resisting any water-logCHAPTER LXXIII..HAP R LXII. ging. Anld thus the Woeburn had borne IN this present state of things, and diffi- her for a mile, and vainly endeavored to culty everywhere, the one thing most diffi- drown her. cult of all is to imagine greater goodness "Oh, why does not my father come?" she than that of Mr. Bottler. He had a depres- cried, as soon as she could clear her mind; sion that could not be covered bya five-pound "lhe always used to come at once, and be in note to begin with, in the value of the pig- such a hurry, even if I got the nettle-rash. meat he was dressing scientifically, when he He must have made his mind up now to care had to turn it all out to be frozen, and take no more about me. And when he has once in poor Alice to thaw instead. Of that he made up his mind, he is stern-stern-stern. thought nothing, less than nothing-he said He never will forgive me. My own father so; and he tried to feel it. But take it as will despise me. Where now, where is someyou will, it is something. A man's family body?" may be getting lighter, as they begin to "You are getting to be foolish again," said maintain themselves; but the man himself Mabel, much as it grieved her to speak thus; wants more maintenance, after all his exer- "your father can not come at the very first tions with them; and the wife of his old bo- momentfyou call for him. He is full of lawsom lacks more nourishment than the bride yers' business, and allowances must be made of his young one. More money goes out, as for him. Now you. are so clever, and you more money comes in. have inherited from the Normans such a And not only that, but professional pride quick perception. Take this thing; and grows stronger as a man grows older and tell me, Alice, what it can be meant for." more thoroughly up to his business, especial- From the place of honor in the middle of ly if a lot of junior fellows, like the man at the mantel-piece, Mabel Lovejoy took down Bramber, rush in, and invent new things, a tool which had been dwelling on her active and boast of work that we know to be clum- mind ever since the night before. She unsy. If any man in England was proud of derstood taps, she had knowledge of cogs, the manner in which he turned out his pork, she could enter into intricate wards of keys, that man was Church-warden Bottler. Yet and was fond of letter-padlocks; but now disappointment combined with loss could not she had something which combi ned them all; quench his accustomed smile, or plow one and she could not make head or tail of it. wrinkle in his snowy hose, as he quitted his " I thought that I knew every metal that cart on the following morning, and made his grows," she said, as Alice opened her languid best duty and bow to Alice. hand for such a trifle; " I always do our fdrks Alice, still looking very pale and frail, was andlspoons, and even mother's tea-pots. But lying on the couch in the pigman's drawing- I never beheld any metal of such a color as room; while Mabel, who had been with her this has got before. Can you tell me what all the night, sat on a chair by her pillow. this metal is? Alice had spoken, with tears in her eyes, of "I ought to know something, but I know the wonderful kindness of every one. Her nothing," Alice answered, wearily; "my famind was in utter confusion yet as to any theris acknowledged to be full of learning. thing that had befallen her; except that she Every minute I expect him." had some sense of having done some desper- "No doubt lie will tell us, when he comes. ate deed, which had caused nore trouble But I am so impatient. And it looks like than she was worthy of. Her pride and the key of some wonderful lock, that nothing courage were far away. Her spirit had been else would open. May I ask what it is? so near the higher realms where human flesh Come, at least say that." 204 ALICE LORRAINE. "It will give me the greatest delight to lie, "that yon must go up to the house, if know," said Alice, with a yawn, "what the you please. He hath so much to see to with thing is; because it will please you, darling. them Chapman lot, that he must not leave And it certainly does look curious." home nohow. The coach is a-coming for Upon this question Mrs. Bottler, like a you now just." good wife, referred them to her more learned "Very well," answered Alice, "I will do husband, who came in now from his morning as I am told. I always mean to do as I am drive, scraping off the frozen snow, and ac- told henceforth. But will you lend me Polcompanied, of course, by Polly. ly's doll l" " Polly's doll, that's what we call it,"'he "Lord bless you, miss, I daren't do it for said;' the little maid took such a liking my life. Polly would have the house down. to it that Bonny was forced to give it her. She'm the strangest child as you ever did see, Where the boy got it, the Lord only knows. until you knows how to manage her. Her The Lord hath given him the gift of finding requireth to be taken the right side up.:'most every thing. He hath it both in his Now, if I say'Poll' to her, her won't do eyes and hands. I believe that boy'd die nothing; but if I say'Polly dear'-why, Lord Mayor of London, if he'd only come out there she is!" of his hole in the hill." Alice was too weak and worn to follow "But can not we see him, Mr. Bottler " this great question up. But Mabel was as asked Mabel. " When he is finding these wide awake as ever, although she had been things, does he lose himselfl" up all night. "Now, Mr. Bottler, just do "Not he, miss!" replied the man of bacon. this: Go and say,' Polly dear, will you lend "He knows where he is, go where he will. your doll to the pretty lady, till it cones You can hear him a-whistling down the lane back covered with sugar-plums? " Mr. Botnow. He knoweth when I've a been easing tler promised that he would do this; and of the pigs, sharper than my own steel do. by the time Alice was ready to go, square Chittlings,-or skirt, or milt, or trimmings- Polly, with a very broad gait, came np and oh, he's the boy for a rare pig's fry-it don't placed her doll, without a word, in the hands matter what the weather is. I'd as lief dine of Alice, and then ran aw.ay, adld could never with him as at home a'most." stop sobbing, until her father put the horse "Oh! let me go and see him at the door," in on purpose, and got her between his legs cried Mabel; " I am so fond of clever boys." in the cart. "Where are you going? cried So out she ran without waiting for leave, Mrs. Bottler. "We will drive to the end of:and presently ran back again. " Oh, what a the world," he answered; "I'm blowed if I nice boy!" she exclaimed to Alice;' "so very think there'll be any gate to pay between polite; and he has got such eyes! But I this and that, by the look of things. Polly, am sadly afraid he'll be impudent when he hold on by my knees.": grows much older." "Aha, miss, aha, miss! you are right enough there," observed Mr. Bottler, with a crafty grin. "He ani't overbashful already per- CHAPTER LXXIV haps." "And where do you think lie found this IN the old house and good. household, most extraordinary instrument? At Shore- warmth of opinion and heat of expression ham, drawn up by the nets from the sea! abounded now about every thing. Pages And theysaid that it must have been drop- might be taken up with saying what even ped from a ship, many and many a year ago, one man thought, and tens of pages would when Shoreham was a place for foreign traf- not contain the half of what one woman fie. And he is almost sure that it must be said. Enough, that when poor Alice was a key of some very strange old-fashioned brought back through the snow-drifts quietlock." ly, every movable person in the house was " Then you may depend upon it that it is at the door. Every body loved her and. a key, and nothing else," said Bottler, with every body admired her; but now, with a his fine soft smile. "That boy Bonny hath pendulous conscience. Also, with much fear been about so much among odds, and ends, about themselves; as the household of Adand rakings, that he knoweth a bit about metus gazed at the pale return of Alcestis. every thing." Alice, being still so weak, and quite unfit "An old-faslioned key from the sea at for any thing, was frightened at their faces, Shoreham? Let me think of something," and drew back and sunk with faintness. said Alice Lorraine, leaning back on her pil- "Sillies," cried Mabel, jumping out, with low, with her head still full of the Woeburn. Polly's doll inside her muff; "naturals, or "I seem to remember soniething, and then I whatever you are, just come and do your am not at all sure what it is. Oh! when is duty." my father comingr?" They still hung away, and not one of them " Your father hath sent orders, Miss Alice," would help poor Alice across her own father's said Bottler, coming back with a good bold threshold, until a great scatter of snow flew ALICE LORRAINE. 205 about, and a black horse was reined up hot- Isaid so as soon as I heard they were gone, ly. particularly with their postilions drunk. "You zanies " cried the rector, "you cow- And I dare say they are a good deal knockardly fools! You never come to church, or ed about. But snow is a fine thing to ease yon would know what to do. You skulking a fall. Whatever has happened, they hounds, are you afraid of your own master's brought on themselves, by their panic and daughter? I have got my big whip. By selfish cowardice." the Lord, you shall have it! Out of my par- "Ay, they ran like rats from a sinking ish I'll set to and kick every dastardly son ship when they saw poor Sir Roland's conof a cook of you!" dition. Alice had frightened them pretty "Where is my father" said Alice faintly; well; but the other affair quite settled " I hoped that he would have come for me." them..Sad as it was, I could scarcely help At the sound of her voice they began to laughing." perceive that she was not the ghost of the "A sad disappointment for your nice Woeburn; and the rector's strong champion- girls, colonel. Instead of a gay wedding, a ship cast at once the broad and sevenfold house of death." shield of the Church over the maiden's skeary "And for your pretty daughters, rector, deed. " Oh, Uncle Struan," she whispered, too. However, we must not think of that. hanging upon his arm as he led her in; You have taken in the two Lovejoys, I "have I committed a great crime? Will my hear." father be ashamed of me Gl. "Gregory and Charlie? Yes, poor fel"He should rather be ashamed of himself, lows. They were thoroughly scared last I think," he answered, for the present de- night, and of course Bottler had no room for clining the subject, which he meant to have them. That Charlie is a grand fellow, and out with- her some day; "but, my dear, he fit to follow in the wake of Nelson. Ho is not quite well; that is why he does not was frozen all over as stiff as a rick just come to see you. And, indeed, he does not thatched, and what did he say to me? iHe know I mean he is not at all certain how said,'I shall get into the snow and sleep. you are. Trotman, open that door, sir, this I won't wet Mother Bottler's floor.'" moment." "Well done! well said! There is nothThe parson rather carried than led his ing in the world to equal English pluck, sir, niece into a sitting-room, and set her by a. when you come across the true breed of it. bright fire, and left Mabel Lovejoy to attend Ah, if those d-d fellows had left me my leg, to her; while he himself hurried away to I would have whistled about my arm, sir. hear the last account of Sir Roland, and to But the worst of the whole is this, supposconsult the doctor as to the admittance of ing that I am grossly insulted, sir, how can poor Alice. But in the passage he met Col- I do what a Briton is bound to do-how can onel Clumps, heavily stamping to and fro, I kick-you know what I mean, sir?' with even more than wonted energy. "Come, colonel, if you can manage to spin "Upon my life and soul, master parson, I round like that, you need not despair of must get out of this house!" he cried; "slash- compassing the national salute. But here ilg work, sir,horrible slashing! I had bet- we are at Sir Roland's door. Are we alter be under old Beaky again. I came here lowed to go in? or what are the orders of to quiet my system, sir, and zounds, sir, they the doctor?" make every hair stand up." " Qh yes; he is quite unconscious. You "Why, colonel, what is the matter now? might fire off a cannon close to his ear, Surely, a man of war, like you-" without his starting a hair's-breadth. He "Yes, sir, a man of war I am; but not a will be so for three days, the doctor thinks; man of suicide, and paralysis, and precipices, and then he will awake, and live or die, acand concussions of the brain, sir-battle, cording as the will of the Lord is." and murder, and sudden death-why, my "Most of us do that," answered the parown brain is in a concussion, sir!" son; " but what shall I say to his daughter?" "So it appears," said the rector, dryly. "Leave her to me. I will take: her a "But surely, colonel, you can tell us what message, sir. I have been hoaxed so in the the news is?" army that now I can hoax any one." " The news is just this, sir," cried the col- "I believe you are right. She will listen onel, stamping,' the two Chapmans were to you a great deal more than she would to upset in their coach last night down a prec- me. Moreover, I want to be off as soon as ipice, and both killed as dead as stones, sir. I have seen poor Sir Roland. I shall ride They sent for the doctor; that's proof of it; on and ask how the Chapmans are. I don't our doctor has had to be off for his life. believe they are. dead; they are far too No man ever sends for the doctor until he is tough. What a blessing it is to have you dead." here, colonel, with the house in such a state! "There is some truth in that," replied Mr. How is that confounded old woman, who Hales; " but I won't believe it quite yet, at lies at the bottom of all this mischief?" any rate. No doubt they have been upset. " Lady Valeria Lorraine," said the colonel, 206 ALICE LORRAINE. rather stiffly, "is as well as can be expected, "Nurse, I will go away," said Alice; "I sir. She has been to see her son Sir Roland, always do more harm than good." and her grandson Hilary. My opinion is The only comfort she now could get flowthat this brave girl inherits her spirit from ed from the warm bright heart of Mabel. her grandmother. Whatever happens, I am Every body else gave signs of being a litsure of one thing, she ought to be the moth- tie or much afraid of her. And what is er of heroes, sir; not the wife of Steenie more dreadful for any kind heart than for Chapman." other hearts to dread it? She knew that'"Ah's me!" cried the rector, "it will take she had done a desperate thing; and she a brave man to marry her, after what she felt that every body had good reason for has done." shrinking away from her large deep eyes. "Stuff and nonsense, answered the col- She tried to keep up her courage, in spite of onel; "a good man will value her all the all that was whispered about her; and truly more, and scorn the opinion of the county, speaking, her whole heart vested in her fasir." ther and her brother. The rector, in his own stout heart, was Mabel watched the whole of this, and did much of tlie same persuasion; but it would her best to help it. But, sweet and good not do for him to say so yet. So, after a girl as she was, and in her way very noble, glance at Sir Roland's wan and death-like she belonged to a stratum of womanhood features, he rode forth, with a sigh, to look distinct from that of Alice. She would nevafter the Chapmans. er have jumped into the river. She would simply have defied them to take her to _____+____ ~ church. She would have cried, " Here I anm, and I won't marry any man, unless I love him. I don't love this man; and I won't CHAPTER LXXV. have him.. Now do your worst, every one A GRAND physician, being called from of you." A sensible way of regarding the London, pronounced that Sir Roland's case thing, in a family not too chivalrous. was one of asthenic apoplexy, rather than of On the third day Sir Roland moved his pure paralysis. He gave the proper direc- eyes and feebly raised one elbow. Alice sat tions, praised the local practitioners, hoped there at his side, as now she was almost alfor the best, took his fifty guineas with ways sitting. "Oh, father," she cried, "if promptitude, and departed. If there were you would only give one little sign that you any weight on the mind, it must be cast know me. Just to move your darling hand, aside at once, as soon as the mind should or just to give me one little glance. Or if I have sense of it. For this a little effort might have no right to that-" be allowed, "such as the making of a will, "Go away, miss; leave the room, if you or so forth, or good-bye to children; for on please. My orders was very particular to the first return of sense, some activity was have nobody near him, when he first begins good for it. But after that, repose, dear to take notice to any thing." sir; insist on repose and good nourishing Alice, with a deep sigh, obeyed the orfood. No phlebotomy no, that is quite a ders of the cross old dame; and when the mistake; an anachronism, a barbarism, in doctor came she received her reward in his such a case as this is. It is anaemia with approval. It was pitiful to see how humour poor friend, and vascular inaction. No ble.this poor girl was now become. The acciarterial plethorism; quite the opposite, in dent to the Chapmans, her father's "stroke," fact. You have perfectly diagnosed the poor Hilary's ruin, the lowering of the falcase. How it will end I can not say, any ily for years, had all been attributed to her more than you can." "wicked sin," by Lady Valeria, whose wrath One more there was, one miserable heart, was boundless at the overthrow of all her perpetually vexed and torn, that could not plans. tell how things would end, if even they "What good have you done? What good ended anyhow. Alice Lorraine could not have you done by such a heinous outrage? be kept from, going to her father's bed, and You have disgraced yourself forever. Who she was not strong enough yet to bear the will ever look at you now?" view of the wreck before her. "Every body, I am afraid, madam," Alice "It is my doing-my doing!" she cried; answered with a blush. oh, what a wicked thing I must have done, "You know what I mean, as well as I do. to be punished so bitterly as this!" Even if you were drowned, I believe, you "If you please, miss, to go away with would catch at the words of your betters." your excitement," said the old nurse, who' Drowning people catch at straws," she was watching him. "You promised to be- answered, with a shudder of memory. have yourself, and this is' how you do it! "And you could not even drown yourself. Ils never can tell what they hears, or what You were too clumsy to do'even that." they don't; when they lies with their ears "Well, madam," said Alice, with a smile pricked up so." almost resembling that of better times, ALICE LORRAINE. 207 " surely even you will admit that I did my body lad been greatly strengthened by the best toward it." most nourishing of all food, and now his "Ah, you flighty child, leave my room, mind began to aim at like increase of moveand go and finish killing your father." ment. Now when the doctor came and saw the "What do you think I have got to show slight revival of his patient, he hurried in you?" said Alice, perceiving this condition. search of Miss Lorraine, toward whom he "Nothing less, I do believe, than the key of had taken a liking. After he had given his the fine old Astrologer's case! Of course, I opinion of the case, and comforted her until can only guess, because you have got it lockshe cried, he said, " Now you must come and ed away, papa. But from the metal looking see him. And if you can think of any thing just the same, and the shape of it, and the likely to amuse him, or set his mind in mo- seven corners, and its being found at Shoretion any interesting remembrance or sug- ham, in the sea, where Memel was said to gestion of mild surprise, it will be the very have lost it, I do think'it must be that very best thing possible." same key. And I found it, papa-well I "But surely, to see me again will suffi- foundit under rather peculiar circumstances. ciently astonish him." Now may I go and try? There can be no "It is not likely. In most of these cases harm, if it turns out to be pure fancy." perfect oblivion is the rule as to the occur- Her father nodded, and pointed to a drawrence that stimulated the predisposition to er where he kept his important keys, as these attacks. Sir Roland will not have Alice of course was well aware. And in the smallest idea that-that any thing has five minutes Alice came back again, with happened to you." the strange old case in one hand and Polly's And so it proved. When Alice came to queer doll in the other. Mabel lingered in her father's side, he looked at her exactly the passage, not being sure that she ought as he used to do, except that his glance was to come in, though Alice tried to fetch her. weak and wavering, and full of desire to Then Alice set the case, or cushion, upon comfort her. The doctor had told her to her father's bedside table, and with a firm look cheerful, and even gay, and she did her hand pushed the key down, and endeavored best. Sir Rowland had lost all power of to turn it. Not a little would any thing speech, but his hearing was as good as ever; yield or budge, although it was clear to the and being ordered to take turtle-soup, he dullest eye that lock and key belonged towas propped up on a bank of pillows, and gether. doing his best to execute medical direc- "It is the key, papa," cried Alice. "It tions. fits to a hair; but it won't turn. This queer "Oh, my darling, darlinlg," cried Alice, af- old thing goes round and round, instead of ter a little while, being left to feed her fa- staying quiet, and waiting to be unlocked ther delicately: "I have got such a surprise justly. I suppose my hands are too weak. for you! You will say you were never so Oh there! Provoking thing, it goes round astonished in all the course of your life be- again. I know how I could manage it, if I fore." may, my darling father. In the Astrologer's She knew how her father would have an- room I saw a tremendous vise, fit to take swered if he had been at all himself. He any thing. I have inherited some of his would have lifted his eyebrows, and aroused turn for tools and mechanism, though of her dutiful combativeness with some ofthat course in a most degenerate degree. -Now little personal play which passes between may I go up? I shall have no fear whatnear relatives who love and understand each ever, if Mabel comes with me." other. As it was, he could only nod, to show Winning mute assent, she ran for the key his anxiety for some surprise. And then of that room, and took Mabel with her; and Alice did a thing which, under any other soon they had that obstinate case set fast in circumstances, would have been most incon- a vise, whose screw had not been turned for sistent in her. In the drawer of his looking- more than two centuries. The bottom of the glass she found his best-beloved snuff-box, cone was hard. and solid, and bedded itself and she put one little pinch between his limp in the old oak slabs. "Now turn, Mabel, forefinger and white thumb, and raised them turn; the key is warped; or we might aptoward the proper part, and trusted to na- ply more force," said Alice. They did not ture to do the rest. A pleasant light shone know that it had been crooked by the jaws forth his eyes; and she felt that she had of Jack, the donkey. Even so it would not earned a kiss. Betwixt a smile and a tear, yield, until they passed an ancient chisel she took it; and then, for fear of a chill, she through its loop and worked away. Then tucked him up, and sat quietly by him. She with a thin and sulky screech the cogs behad learned, as we learn in our syntax, what gan to move, and the upper half of the case " vacuis committere venis." to slide aside. When he had slept for two or three hours, "Oh! I am so frightened, Alice!" cried with Alice hushing the sound of her breath, Mabel, drawing back her hands. "And the he was seized with sudden activity. His room is so cold! It seems so unholy! It 208 ALICE LORRAINE. feels like witchcraft! And all his old tools "Now, Alice, do you mean to stop all looking at us!" night?" cried Mabel; "see how the light, is " Witch, or wizard, or necromancer, I am fading!" not going to leave off now," answered Alice The light was fading, and spreading also, the resolute. "You may run away, if you in a way that reminded Alice (although the like. But I mean to get to the bottom of season and the weather were so entirely difthis, if I-if I can, at least." ferent) of her visit to that room, two and a She was going to say, "if I lie for it." half long years ago, alone among the shadBut she had been so close to Death quite late- ows. The white light, with the snow-gleam ly that she feared to take his name in vain. in it, favored any inborn light in every thing "How slowly it moves! How it does re- else that was beautiful. sist!" cried Mabel, returning to the charge. Alice, with the gentlest touch of the fairy"I thought I was pretty strong-well, it gifts of her fingers, raised the last gossamer ought to be worth'something for all this of the silk; and drew back, and sighed with work." wonder. Mabel (always prompt to take the "It is fire-proof! It is lined with asbes- barb and shaft of every thing) leaned over, tus!" Alice answered eagerly. "Oh! there and looked in, and at once enlarged her.eyes must be an enormous lot of gold." and lovely mouth in purest stupefaction. "There can't be," said Mabel; "why, a Before and between these two most lovely thousand guineas is more than you or I could specimens of the human race lay the most carry. Anal you carried this easily in one beautiful and more lasting proofs of what hand." nature used to do, before the production of "Don't talk so!" cried Alice; "but work women. Alice and Mabel, with the light in away. I am desperately anxious." their eyes, and the flush in their fair cheeks "As for me, I am positively dying of curi- quivering, felt that their beauty was below osity. Lend me your pocket-handkerchief, contempt —except in the opinion of stupid dear. I am cutting my hands to pieces." men -if compared with what they were "Here it comes, I do believe. Well, what looking at. an extraordinary thing!" Of all the colors cast by nature on the The dome of the cone had yielded sulkily world, as lavishly as Shakspeare threw his to the vigor and perseverance of two beauti- jewels forth, of all the tints of sun and heavful young ladies. It had slidden horizontal- en in flower, sea, and rainbow, there was not ly, the key of course sliding with it, upon a one that did not glance, or gleam, or glow, strong rack of metal, which had been pur- or lie in ambush, and then suddenly flash posely made to go stiffly; and now that the forth, and blush, and then fall back again. cover had passed the cogs, it was lifted off None of them waited to be looked at, all quite easily. All this was the handiwork of were in perpetual play; they had been imthe mlan, the simple-minded Eastern sage, mured for centuries, and when the glad light who loved the shepherds and the sheep; and broke upon them, forth they danced like mewhose fine spirit would have now rejoiced teors. And then, as if all quick with life, to see the result of good workmanship. they began to weave their crossing rays, The two fair girls poured hair together, and cast their tints through one another, with forehead close to forehead, when the like the hurtling of the Aurora. Andito round substantial case lay coverless before back their fitful brilliance, in among them them. A disk of yellow parchment was lay and spread a soft, delicious, milky-way spread flat on the top of every thing, with of bashful white serenity. its edges crenelled into the asbestus lining. "It is terrible witchcraft,!" cried dazzled Hours and perhaps days of care had been Mabel. spent by clever brain and hands, to keep the "No," said Alice; " it is the noblest caskair and dust out. et ever seen of precious opals, and of pearls. " Who shall lift it?" asked Mabel, pant- You shall carry them to my father." ing. "I am almost afraid to move." "Indeed, I will not," said the generous I will lift it, of course," said Alice; "I Mabel; "you have earned, and you shall ofam his descendant; and he foresaw that I fer them." should do it." She took from the lathe a little narrow tool for turning ivory (which had touched CHTE LXXVI no hand since the Prince's), and she delicate- ly loosened up the parchment and examined BEAUTY having due perception and affecit. It was covered with the finest manu- tion for itself, it is natural that young ladies script, in concentric rings, beginning with should be much attached to jewels. It does half an inch of diameter;'but she could not not, however, follow that they know any interpret a word of that. Below it shone a thing about them, any more than they althick flossy layer of the finest mountain ways do about other objects of their attachwool, and under that the soft spun amber of ment. Nevertheless they always want to the richest native silk. know the money-value. ALICE LORRAINE. 209 "I should say they were worth a thousand who know the opal can, with very clear vispounds, if they are worth a penny," said Ma- ion, perceive that its lustre and versatile bel, sagely shaking her head, and looking radiance flows from innumerable lainins, wonderfully learned. united by fusion in the endless flux of years. "A thousand!" cried Alice. "Ten thou- Having discovered how to solve the opal sand, you mean. Now put it all back as we with a caustic liquor"-here followed chemfound it." ical marks, which none but a learned chem"Oh, one more glance, one more good look, ist could understand-" and how to recombefore other people see them! Oh! let the pose it, I have spent twelve months in Hunlight fall sideways." gary collecting a full medimnus of small Mabel, in her admiration, danced all round opals of the purest quality. After many the Astrologer's room, whisking the dust trials and a great waste of material, I have from the wheel of his lathe, and scattering accomplished things undreamed by Baccins, quaint rare tools about, while Alice, calmly Evax, or Leonardus; I have produced the smiling at her, repacked the case, silk, wool, priceless opal, cast to mould, and of purest and parchment, and giving her friend the water, from the size of an avellan-nut to cover to carry, led the way toward her fa- that of a small castane. Larger I would tlher's room. not make them, knowing the incredulity of Sir Roland Lorraine was so amazed that mankind, who take for false all things more for the moment the mind resumed command than twice the size of their own experience. of the body; the needful effort was made; "Alas! it is allowed to no man, great and he " spake with his tongue" once more, works having been carried through, to see though feebly and inarticulately. what will become of them. These gems of "Father, darling, that is worth more to inestimable value, polished by their own me," cried Alice, throwing her arms around liquescence, and coherent as the rainbow, him, "than all the jewels that ever were demand, so far as I yet can judge, at least made from the first year of the world to this. a hundred years of darkness and of cavernOh, I could never,never live without hearing ous seclusion, such as nature and the gods your dear voice!" require for all perfect work.. And when the It was long, however, before Sir Roland air is first let in, it must be very slowly recovered mind and spirit so as to attempt done, otherwise all might fall abroad, as a rendering of the provident sage's docu- though I had never touched them. For this, ment. The writing was so small that a with the vigilance of a great philosopher, I powerful lens was wanted for it; the Ian- have provided. guage, moreover, was Latin, and the con- "Now farewell, whether descended from tractions crabbed to the last degree. And me, or whether (if the fates will) alien.. A crammed as it was with terms of art, an philosopher who has penetrated, and, under interpreter might fairly doubt, whether his the yoke, led nature, is the last of all men harder task was to make out. what the to speak proudly, or record his own great words were, or what they meant. But omit- deeds. That he leaves for inferior and less ting some quite unintelligible parts, it seem- tranquil minds, as are those of the poets. ed to be somewhat as follows: Only do not thou sell these gems for little, "0 descendant of mine in far-off ages, if thou sell them. The smallest of them is neither be thou carried away by desire of larger and finer than that of the Senator riches, neither suppose thine ancestor to Nonins, or that which is called'Troy burnhave been so carried! I bid thee rather to in,' from the propugnacled flash of its movehold thy money in the place of nothing, and ment. Be not misled by jewelers. Rogues to be taught that it is a work of royal am- they are, and imitators, and perpetually plitude, and most worthy of theb noblest strivingto make gain disgracefully. Hearkprinces to conquer the obstinacy of nature by en thou not to one word of these; but keep human skill and fortitude. Laboring much these jewels, if thou canst. If narrow matI have accomplished little; seeking- many ters counsel sale, then go to the king of thy things I have found some; it is notjulst that country, or great nobles, who will not wrong I should be forgotten, or mingled with those thee. And be sure tlatt thou keep them of my time and rank who live by iiolence, well advised that neither in skill of hand and do nothing for the benefit of hu nanity. nor in learning should they attempt to vie "Among many other things which I have with Agasicles the Carian." by patience and learning conquested, the one the most likely of all to lead to wealth is of a simple kind. To wit, as Glaucus of Chios (following up the art of Celmis and CHAPTER LXXVII. Damnameneus) discovered the rcXXa/ts~ of iron, so have I discovered that of jewels- LONG ere the writing of the diffident sage the opal, and perhaps the ruby. AS regards had been thus interpreted, the casket, or the opal, I am certain; as regards the ruby, rather its contents (being intrusted to the I have still some difficulties to conquer. All wary hands of the counselor on his return 210 ALICE LORRAINE. to London), had passed the severest test and warmly, because he had so many of them. been pronounced of enormous value. The In June, 1814, Hilary and Mabel were made great philosopher had not deigned to say a one, under junction of the good rector; and word about the pearls, whether produced or nature, objecting to this depopulating fusion amalgamated by his skill, or whether they of her integrals, had sternly recouped her were heirlooms in his ancient family. The arithmetic by appeal to the multiplicationjewelers said that they were Cingalese and table. of the rarest quality, and for these alone one At Waterloo, Hilary worked his right arm large house (holding a commission from a much harder than he worked it through the nobleman) offered fifteen and then twenty, rest of his life; because there he lost it. and finally twenty-five thousand pounds. When the French cuirassiers made their But Sir Roland had resolved not to part with grand third charge upon the British artilthese, but divide them between his daughter lery, to change the fortune, or meet their and future daughter-in-law, if he could raise fate, Lorraine, with his troop of the Dasher the required -sum without them. In this no hussars, now commanded by Colonel Ayldifficulty was found. Though opals were mer, was in front of the rest of the regiment. not in fashion just then (and indeed they The spirit of these men was up; they had are even now undervalued through a stupid been a long while held in that day, and they superstition), six of the smaller gems were could not see any reason why they should sold for sixty-five thousand'pounds, and now not have their turn at it. Man and horse their owners would not accept double that were of one accord, needing no spur, neither price. heeding bridle. As straight as hounds in Lady Valeria right quickly discarded her full view, they flew; and Hilary flew in terror of that casket, and very quietly ap- front of them. In the crush and crash, he propriated the magnificent central gem. It got rolled over, dismounted, and left slashwas the cover, with its spiral coils of metal, ing wildly in a storm of horses. An enorwhich had frightened her ladyship. The mous cuirassier made at him with a sword strongest-minded ladies are, as a general of monstrous length. Their eyes met, and rule, the most obstinate in their dread of they knew each other-the robber and the what has injured them. The Earl of Tha- robbed; the crafty plotter and the simple net, this lady's father, had been a great lover one; the victor and the victim. of the honey-bee, and among his other ex- Alcides cried in Spanish, "Thou art at periments he had a small metal hive, which thy latest gasp; I have no orders now from his daughter upset, with results which need my precious wife-receive this, and no more not trouble us so much as they troubled the of thee! With rowels deep in the flank of lady. And although so much smaller, the his horse, lie made horrible swoop at Hilary, Astrologer's case strangely resembled that spent of strength and able only to present deadly hive. a feeble guard. Hilary's blade spun round When Hilary's sin had been purged, and and round, and his right arm flew off at the himself (at certainly a somewhat heavy fig- elbow; and the crash was descending upon ure) allowed to draw his sword again, he his poor head, when a stern reply met Alsoon regained all his former strength and cides. Through the joints of his harness health, and perhaps a little more than his Joyce Aylmerls sword went in, and drank former share of wisdom. But he did not his life-blood. His horse dashed on; and march into Paris, as Colonel Clumps had he lay on the plain, like the felled trunk of once predicted; or at least not in that mem- a poison-tree that plain where lay so many orable year 1814. But in July of the follow- nobler, and so few meaner, than himself. ing year, he certainly put in an appearance Having run through the whole of the stolen there under the immortal Wellington, who money, he had donned the French cuirass, had been truly pleased, to have him under and left his wife and infant child to starve. his command, but never on his staff again. When the times of slaughter passed, and And Hilary Lorraine, at Waterloo, had shown nature began to be aware again that she has most clearly (through the thick of the smoke) other manure than bloodshed; when even that if the duke had erred about his discre- the cows could low without fear of telling tion, he had made no mistake about his val- where they rubbed their ribs, and mares or. could lick their foals unwept on; amid hills And it was, of course, tenfold more valor- and valleys began again to listen to the ous of him to carry on as he did there, when voice of quiet waters (drowned no more in he called to mind that he had at home a the din of the drum).; and every thing in lovely wife, of the name of Mabel, and a our dear country was most wonderfully dear, baby of the name of Roger. Because he had something happened at this period not to be taken advantage of the piping time of peace passed over. Parenthetically it may be said -when all the "crowned heads" were in -and deserves no more than parenthesis England -to put on his own head that that neither. of the Chapinans had been "crown of glory" (richer than mural or civ- killed (as mendacious fame reported), only ic) whereof the wise man speaks the more knocked on the head, and legs, and stomach, ALICE LORRAINE. 211 and other convenient places. It repented the sentiment of that river when disapthem, in deep holes, of the day when they pointed of Alice. Old Nanny ran out of her tried to drag Alice down into their pit. door the next day, with a stick, at a boy who But now there is just time to say that cast snow-balls, and she slipped on some ice, it must have been broad August, when the and in she went; and many people tried to fields were growing white for harvest, after rake her out, but she would not be laid hold the swath of Waterloo, ere Colonel Aylmer of. Her prophecies of evil fell like lead on durst bring forth what he nursed in his her head, and sunk her, and the parish was heart for Alice. His words were short and fiercely divided whether she ought to lave simple, though he did not mean to make Christian burial. But rector Hales let them them so. But he found her in old Chancton talk as they liked, and shunned disceptation Ring, where first he had beholden her; and about it. He made up his own mind what so much came across him, that he never took to do (which of all things is the foremost); his hat off, but just whispered underneath so he buried old Nanny, and paid for it all, it. The whisper went under a prettier hat, and set up her tombstone, whereon the sculpwhere it long had been expected; and if a tor, with visions of his own date prolonged, feather waved at all it only was a white one. set down her figure at 110. "Are you not afraid of me?" asked Alice The passing of time is one of those things Lorraine, with a tremulous glance, enough that most astonish every one. For instance, to terrify any one. no one would ever believe, except with a "That I am, to the last degree. I never hand upon either temple, that Applewood shall get over it." Farm is now carried on, and all the growing "That augurs well," she replied with a business done, by a sturdy and highly ensmile —such a smile as no one else could lightened young fellow whose name is Struan give; "but I mean more than that; I mean Lovejoy. He owes his origin to a heavy your fear of what the world will say of me." cold, caught by his father (the present high"Of that I am infinitely more afraid. It ly respected Admiral Sir Charles Lovejoy), will vex me so to hear forever,'What has through the freezing of his naval trowsers, he done to deserve such a wife?" a nd the coddling which of course ensued. "Then what he has done is simply this," Charlie's heart lay open through all the cried Alice, looking nobly; "he has saved stages of catarrh, and he knew (though he her life and her brother's; and her heart is could not well speak about it) whose iuihis, if he cares for it." tials were done in hair on the handkerchief under his pillow. In short, no sooner did his nose begin to resume its duty in the system, and his eyes to cease from running, than he CHAPTER TLXXVII took Cecil Hales by the hand, and said that CHAPTERi LXVIII. he had something to say to her. And he said IT takes but little time to tell what hap- it well; as sailors do. And she could not pened to the rest of them. Sir Roland Lor- deny that it might mean something, if ever raiue had the pleasure of seeing two tribes they could maintain themselves. of grandchildren round him, who routed him This is what all young people say; some out of his book-room, and scattered his with a little, and some with less, discretion nnwholesome tendencies wholesale. If he upon the subject. The helm of all the quesshocked society in his middle age, society tion hangs upon the man's own stern-post. had revenge in the end, and pursued him, There is no time to talk of that. Charlie like the Eumenides. The difference was married Cecil; and they had a son called this, however, that here were truly well- "Strnan." meaning ones, not called so by timorous Striuan Lovejoy took the turn for gardentruckling. And another point of distinction ing and for growing, which had failed the might be found in the style of their legs and Lovejoy race in the middle generation. Gout bodies. Also, they had no " stony glare," descends, and so does:growing, with a skip but the brightest of all young eyes, that of one step of mankind; and you can not shine like a flower filled with morning dew. make the wrong generation lay heel on These little men and women played at spade, or toe in slipper. hide-and-seek, and made rich echo in the But most of us can make some men feelWoeburn channel. Forsooth, that fearful however small our circle is-that there is stream (like other fateful rivers), beaten by room for them inside it. That we scorn Vulcanian fires of Bottler-or, as some peo- hypocritical love of mean humanity; but pie said (who knew not Bottler), —by the love the noble specimens —when we get power of the long dry frost-retired into them. That we know how short our time the bowels of the earth, and never means to is, and attempt to do a little forward for come forth again. But before leaving off, the slowly rolling age. In a word, that, it did one good thing-it drowned old Nan- taking things altogether, they are pretty, ny Stilgoe. "Prophet of ill, never yet to nearly as good as could have been hoped me spakest thou thing lucksome "-this was for, even sixty years' ago. 212 ALICE LORRAINE. But it is quite a few years back, to wit and is paying, his three daughters' portions in 1861, when the great leading case upon after the manner of the patriarchs. But leavrights of way-" Lovejoy vs. Shatterlocks" ing the flock to their own devices (for which, -was tried for the ninth and final time. an he were satirical, he might quote his masChief-justice Sir Gregory Lovejoy, through ter as precedent), Bonny opens his capacious feelings of delicacy, left the bench, and mouth, and the fresh air of the downs rings would not even allow his wife-our Phyllis richly with a simple Catherow-to be called. But Major-general Sir Hilary Lorraine marched into the wit- SOUTHDOWN SONG. ness-box; and so vividly did he call to mind what had passed (and what had been stopped) at the white gate, and where the key When the sheep are on the hill, InI the early summer day, was kept half a century agone, that the de- The der t their will, waskept They may wander at their will, fendant had no leg to stand upon. Mabel While I go myself astray. (who heard all his evidence, with a grandchild Mabel's hand in hers) vowed that he Clor (sstainey sheep al Jac). made a confusion of keys, and was thinking We may wander at our will, of the gate where she came to meet him. hileyo tosleeporplay And when he had time for more reflection 2. he could not contradict her. If the May wind hath an edge Now what says Bonny? He sits on his Rather winterly and cold, hill. He sees his life before him. Though I shall sit beneath a hedge, he does not know that for finding that key While they wander o'er the wold. he is to have one thousand poundsinvested Chorus (by the same performers). already, and to accumulate, until he settles here you st beneth There you sit beneath a hedge down. In fullness of time he will cast away Singigl like a minstrel bold the unsalable portion of his rags, and wed square Polly Bottler. Their hearts are as 3. one; they only wait for parental assent, Should ill-natured people say and the band or ban-whichever may be That I loiter or do ill, the proper'Word-shouted thrice by the rec- Pick a hole in me they mayWhen they see me through the hill. tor, defiant of the world to forbid those two.h the hi They are not ready yet to be joined togeth- Chorus. er; but they are polishing their fire-irons. When they catch you at your play, Meanwhile Bonny may be seen to sit in Whip you merrily they will. one of those wonderful nicks of the hills, which seem to be elbowed by nature and 4. padded, to tempt her restless mankind to Playf eatesowotold; 7-~~~~~~~~~ >.. Play is healthy nature's pledge. rest. For here the curve of the slope is so Tis the dull heart gives the hold snug that only pleasant airs find entry, with For the point of trouble's wedge. the flowery tales they bring, and the grass Chorus. is of the greenest, and the peep into the low- h. land distance of the most refreshing blue. These reflections are as old As the saws of rush and sedge. Lulled on a bank, here Bonny sits, not quitethe ofush sedge. so fair as the fairy-queen (who perhaps is watching him unseen), but picturesque Frisky lambkins in the grass, enough for the age, and provided with a Mint and pepper if they spy, donkey worthy of Titania's purest love. Do they weep, and cry "alas!" Jack is gazing with deep interest at an im- Nay, but whisk their tails on high. age of himself, cleverly shaped by his master Choius. on the green with snowy outline of chalky Weep inee, an cr " flints. Here are set forth his long tail, white Sooner you than we, or I I nose, and ears as long and rich as the emblem' of fair Ceres. He sniffs at his nose, and he 6. treads on his toes, and not being able to ex- Look how soon the shadows pass! plain away all things, he falls to and grazes How the sun hath chased the gloom! from his own nstomach. If our life is but as grass, Grass is where the flowers bloom. But what is Bonny doing here, instead of Grass is here te fowes bloom. attending to his rags and bones? Well, he - Chorus. ought to be, but he certainly is not, attend- If our life is in the grass, ing to the rector's sheep. To wit, Mr. Hales, Many flowers we consume. growing stiff in the saddle, betakes himself freely to saddles of mutton; and has paid, And so may we leave them singing. THE END. Novels are sweets. All people with healthy literiary appetites love ihem —almost all women; a vast number of clever, hard-headed men. Judges, bishops, chancellors, mathematicians, are notorious novel readers, as well as young boys and sweet girls, and their kind, tender mothers.-TH IACIEnRAY. Harper's Select Library of Fiction rarely includes a work which has not a decided charm, either' from the clearness of the story, the significance of the theme; or the charm of the execution; so that on setting out upon a journey, or providing for the recreation of a solitary evening, one is wise and safe in procuring the later numbers of this attractive series.-Boston Tranlscri pt. A COMPLETE LIST 0F NOVELS PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK. 1 For full titles and description, see HARPER'S CATALOGUE, which will be sent by mail on receipt of ten cents. The Novels in this List, except where otheqrwise designated, are in Octavo, pamphlet form. The Duodecimo Novels are bound in Cloth, unless otherwise specified. PRICE PRIta AGUILAR'S Home Influence...........12mo$1 00 BRADDON'S (Miss) Aurora Floyd........$ 75 The Mother's Recompense.............. 75 A Strange World....................... 75 AINSWORTH'S Crichton.............12mo 1 50 Birds of Prey. Illustrated......... 75 ALAMANCE............................ 50 Bound to John Company. Illustrated. 75 ANDERSEN'S (Hans Christian) The Impro- Charlotte's Inheritance........50 visatore.......................... 50 Dead Sea Fruit. Illustrations......... 50 Only a Fiddler and O.T................ 50 Eleanor's Victory.................... 75 ANNEE Furness........................... 75 Fenton's Quest. Illustrated.......... 50 BACHELOR of the Albany...........12mo 1 50 John Marchmont's Legacy............ 75 BAIKER'S The New Timothy............12tmo ] 50 Lost for Love. Illustrated............... 75 Inside: a Chronicle of Secession. Ills.. 1 25 Publicans and Sinners............... 75 Cloth 1 75 Strangers and Pilgrims. Illustrated. 75 BANIM'S The Smuggler...............12mo 1 50 Taken at the Flood................... 75 BELIAL................................ 50 The Lovels of Arden. illustrated..... 75 BELL'S (Miss) Julia Howard.............. 50 To the Bitter End. Illustrated......... 75 BENEATH the Wheels................... 50 BREACH of Promise.................... 50 BENEDICT'S John Worthington's Name... 1 00 BREMER'S (Miss) Brothers and Sisters..... 50 Cloth 1 50 New Sketches of Every-lDay Life....... 50 Miss Dorothy's Charge...............1 00 ina................... 50 Cloth 1 50 The H. Family................. 50 Miss Van Kortland............... 1 00.... Cloth 1 50 The Midnight Sun.................. 25 Mr. Vaughan's Heir..................... 00 The S................... 25 Cloth 1 50 e Nei................. 50 My Daughter Elinor................. 00 Te Pasonage of Mora................ 25 Cloth 1 50 The President's Daughters............ 25 BLACK'S A Daughter of Heth............ 50 BRONTE'S (Charlotte) Jane Eyre......... 75 A Princess of Thule.................. 75 Illustrated. 12mo 1 50 In Silk Attire.............. 50 Shirley.................... 1 00 Kilmeny............................. 50 Illustrated. 12mo 1 50 Love or Marriage?................... 50 Villette.................. 75 The Maid of Killeena, and Other Stories. 50.Illustrated. 12mo 1 50 The Monarch of Mincing Lane. Ill's. 50 The Professor. Illustrated.......12mo 1 50 The Strange Adventures of a Phaeton. 75 (Anna) The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. 1ILACKMORI;'S Cradock Nowell.......... 75 Illustrated. 12mo 1 50 The Maid of Sker.................... 75 (Emily) Wuthering Heights. Illustrated. Alice Lorraine. (In Press.) 12mo 1 50 Lorna Doone............................. 75 BROOKS'S Sooner or Later. Illustrated.... 1 50 BLACKWELL'S (Mrs. A. B.) The Island Cloth 2 00 Neighbors. Illustrated............ 75 The Gordian Knot.................... 50 BORROW'S Lavengro................... 75 The Silver Cord. Illustrated......... 1 50 Roanany Rye......................... 75 Cloth 2 00 2 iA Comilete List of Novels published by Harper &' Brothers. BROUGIAM'S Albert Lunel............ $ 75 COLONELDacre. BytheAuthor of'Caste.'$ 50 BI{UNTON'S (Mary) Self-Control......... 75 CONSTANCE Lyndsay................... 50 BULWER'S Alice....................... 50 COOKE'S Henry St. John............12mo 1 50 A Strange Story. Illustrated........ 1 00 Leather Stocking and Silk.......12mo 1 50 12mo 1 25 COlNWALLIS'S Pilgrims of Fashion.12mo 1 00 Devereux..................... 50 CRAIK'S (Mrs. D. M.). See Miss Mulock. Ernest Maltravers.................... 50 (Miss G. M.) Mildred................. 50 Eugene Aram........................ 50 Sylvia's Choice........... 50 Godolphin........................... 50 CUNNINGHAM'S Lord Roldan........... 1 50 12mo 1 50 CURTIS'S Trumps. Illustrated......12mo 2 00 Harold, the Last of the Saxon Kings.... 1 00 D'ARBOUVILLE'S Tales.............12mo 1 50 Kenelm Chillingly.................... 75 D'ISRAELI'S The Young Duke.......12mo 1 50 12mo 1 25 D'ORSAY'S (Countess) Clouded Happiness. 50 Leila................................ 50 DANGEROUS Guest, A................... 50 12mo 1 00 DE BEAUVOIR'S Safia................... 50 Lucretia................... 75 DE FOREST'S Miss Ravenel's Conversion My Novel............................ 50 from Secession to Loyalty.... 12mo 1 50 2 vols. 12mo 2 50 DE MILLE'S Cord and Creese. Illustrated. 75 Night and Morning.................... 75 Cloth 1 25 Paul Clifford........................ 50 The American Baron. Illustrated..... 1 00 Pelham.............................. 75 Cloth 1 50 Rienzi.,............................ 75 The Cryptogram. Illustrated......... 1 50 The Caxtons......................... 75 Cloth 2 00 12mo 1 25 The Dodge Club. Illustrated...... 75 The Disowned........................ 75 Cloth 1 25 The Last Days of Pompeii............. 50 The Living Link. Illustrated............... 1 00 The Last of the Barons............... 1 00 Cloth 1 50 The Pilgrims of the Rhine............. 25 DE VIGNY'S Cinq Mars................ 50 The Parisians. Illustrated............ 1 00 DENISON'S (Mrs.) Home Pictures... 12mo 1 50 12mo 1 50 DICKENS'S Novels. Illustrated. What will He do with it?............. 1 50 Oliver Twist............................ 50 Cloth 2 00 Cloth 1 00 Zanoni............................... 50 Martin Chuzzlewit,.................... 00 BULWER'S (Robert —"Owen Meredith") Cloth 1 50 The Ring of Amasis...........12mo 1 50 The Old Curiosity Shop.............. 75 BURBURY'S (Mrs.) Florence Sackville...... 75 Cloth 1 25 BURNEY'S (Miss) Evelina........... 12mo 1 00 David Copperfield...................... 1 00 CAMPBELL'S (Miss) Self-Devotion....... 50 Cloth 50 CAPRON'S (Miss) Helen Lincoln......2mo 1 50 mbe and Son............1 00 CARLEN'S (Miss) Ivar; or. The Skjuts-Boy. 50 Nicholas Nickleb..1 00 The Brothers' Bet.................... 25 Cloth 1 50 The Lover's Stratagem............... 50 Blek. 100 CASTE. By the Author of " Colonel Dacre." 50 Cloth 1 50 CASTLETON'S Salem....................12mo 1 25 Pickwick Papers.. 1 00 CHARLES Auchester...................... 75 Cloth 1 50 CHURCH'S (Mrs. Ross) Her Lord and Mas- Little Dorrit........................ 1 00 ter............................... 50 Cloth 1 50 The Prey of the Gods................. 30 Barnaby Rdge...................... 100 CITIZEN of Prague....................... 00 Cloth 1 50 CLARKE'S The Beauclercs, Father and Son. 50 A Tale of Two Cities.................... 50 COLLINS'S(Mortimer)TheVivian Romance. 50 Cloth 1 00 COLLINS'S (Wilkie) Armadale. Illustrated. 1 00 Our Mutual Friend. (In Press.) Antonina............................. 50 Man and Wife. Illustrated........... 1 00 Great Expectations. (ia Press.) No Name. Illustrated...............1 00 Poor Miss Finch. Illustrated.........1 00 Christmas Stories. (In Press.) The Law and the Lady. Illustrated.... 75 The Moonstone. Illustrated......... 1 00 Bleak House. Illustrated..2 vols.,12mo 3 00 The New Magdalen................... 50 Hard Times......................... 50 The Woman in White. Illustrated.... 1 00 12mo 1 25 COLLINS'S (Wilkie) Illustrated Library Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy................ 10 Edition.............12mo, per vol. 1 50 The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Ill's.... 25 Antonina. Poor Miss Finch. DRAYTON..........................12mo 1 50 Armadale. The Dead Secret. DRURY'S (Miss A. H.) Eastbury:.....12mo 1 50 Basil. The Moonstone. Misrepresentation...................... 1 00 Hide-and-Seek. The New Magdalen. DUMAS'S (Alex.) Amaury................. 50 Man and Wife. The Woman in White. Ascanio....................... 75 No Name. My Miscellanies. Chevalier d'Harmental.................. 50 After Dark, and Queen of Hearts. DUPUY'S(MiissE.A.)CountryNeilhborhood 50 Other Stories. The Law and the Lady. The Huguenot Exiles............12mo 1 25 A Complete List of Novels published by Harper & Brothas. 3 EDGEWORTH'S (Miss) Novels. Engrav- FEMALE Minister, The...................$ 50 ings.........10 vols., 12mo, per vol.$l 50 FENN'S Ship Ahoy! Illustrated............. 40 Vol. I. Castle Rackrent; Essay on The Treasure Hunters..................... 40 IrishBulls; EssayonSelf-Justification; FERRIER'S (Miss) Marriage............. 50 The Prussian Vase; The Good Aunt. FIELDING'S Amelia.................12mo 1 50 Vol. II. Angelina; The GoodFrench Tom Jones..............2 vols, 12mo 2 75 Governess; MademoisellePanache; The FIRST Friendship, A..................... 50 Knapsack; Lame Jervis; The Will; FIVE Hundred Pounds Reward........... 50 Out of Debt, Out of Danger; The Lim- FLAGG'S A Good Investment. Illustrated. 50 erick Gloves; The Lottery; Rosanna. FRANCILLON'S The Earl's Dene......... 50 Vol. III. 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Cloth 1 50 Frank...................2 vola. 18mo 1 50 GIBBON'S For Lack of Gold............... 50 Harry and Lucy..........2 vols. 18mo 3 00 For the King......................... 50 Moral Tales....... 2 vols. 18mo 1 50 In Honor Bound............................ 50 Popular Tales............2 vols. 18mo 1 50 Robin Gray........................... 50 Rosamond....................... 12mo.1 50 GILBERT Rugge..................... 1 00 EDWARDS'S (Amelia B.) Barbara's History. 75 GODDARD'S (Julia) Baffled............... 75 Debenhain's Vow. Illustrated......... 75 GODWIN'S Caleb Williams.....16mo, Paper 37 Half a Million of Money.............. 75 Cloth 1 00 Hand and Glove..................... 50 GOLDSMITH'SVicar of Wakefield.1Smo Cloth 75 Miss Carew.......................... 50 GOLD Worshipers........................ 50 My Brother's Wife.................. 50 GORE'S (Mrs.) Peers and Parvenus....... 50 The Ladder of Life.................. 50 The Banker's Wife............. 50 (M. B.) 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Tales of Woman's Trials............... 75 Illustrated. 12mno 1 00 The Whiteboy........................ 50 The Mill on the Floss................ 75 HAMILTON'S Cyril Thornton........ 12mo 1 50 Illustrated. 12mo 1 00 HAMLEY'S Lady Lee's Widowhood....... 50 ELLIS'S (Mrs.) Home................ 12mo 1 50 HANNAY'S (D.) Ned Allen............... 50 Look to the End.................. 50 (J.) Singleton Fontenoy.............. 50 Chapters on Wives...............12mo 1 50 HARDY'S (Lady) Daisy Nichol............ 50 ESTELLE Russell........................ 75 HAVERS'S (Dora) Jack's Sister............... 75 FALKEN BRG.......................... 75 HAY'S (Mary Cecil) Old Myddelton's Money. 50 FARJEON'S Blade-o'-Grass. Illustrations. 35 HEIR Expectant, The.................... 50 At the Sign of the Silver Flagon....... 40 HIDDEN Sin, The........................ 00 Bread-and-Cheese and Kisses. Ill's.... 35 Cloth 1 50 Golden Grain. Illustrated............ 35 HOEY'S (Mrs.) A Golden Sorrow.......... 50 Grif................................ 40 The Blossoning of an Aloe............. 50 Cloth 90 HOFLAND'S (Mrs.) Daniel Dennison...... 50 Jessie Trim................................ 50 The Czarina.......................... 50 Joshua Marvel....................... 40 The Unloved One..................... 50 Cloth 90 HOPE'S Anastasius..................12mo 1 50 London's Heart. Illustrated.......... 1 00 HOWITT'S (Mary) The Author's Daughter. 25 Cloth 1 50 Who Shall be Greatest?..... 18mo, Cloth 75 Love's Victory. (In Press.). The Heir of Wast Wayland....... 12mo 1 50'1he King of No-Land. Illustrated.... 25 (Wim.) Jack of the Mill............... 25 4 A Complete List of Novels published by Har, er & 6 BIrolters. PRICE raTCe HIUBBACK'S Wife's Sister................$ 50 JESSIE'S Flirtations..................... 50 HUGO'S Ninety-Three................... 25 JERROLD'S Chronicles of Clovernook..... 25 12mo 1 75 JEWSBURY'S (Miss) Adopted Child.. 16mo. 1 00 The Toilers of the Sea. Illustrated.... 75 Constance erbert.50 Cloth 1 50 Zoo........,.....,....,,,,,,,,,,,,, 50 IIUNGERFORD'S The Old Plantation.l2mo. 1 50 JILT The.... tHUNT'S The Foster Brother............. 50............................ IN T'hBALDe'S (Mrs.) A Simpler Stor....... 50.JOHNSON'S (Miss) A Sack of Gold........... 50 IN Duty Bound. Illustrated.............. 50 h KATHLEEN 50 ISABEL..................18mo, Cloth 75 K LE............................ 50 JAMES'S Leonora d'Orco............ 50 KINGSLEY'S (Clias.) Alton Locke.... 12mo I 50 The Old Dominion.................... 50......... 12mo 1 50 Ticonderoga.......................... 50 (Henry) Hetty..... 25 A Life of Vicissitudes.. 50 Stretton40............... Agnes Sorel........................ 50 KNORRING'S The Peasant and his Landlord. Pequinillo................... 50 12mo 1 50 Aims and Obstacles.. 50 KNOWLES'S Fortescue...................1 00 The Fate..................... 50 LAJETCHNIKOFF'S The Heretic........ 50 The Commissioner................... 100 LAMARTINE'S Genevieve....12mo, Paper 25 Henry Smeaton...................... 50 Raphael....... 12mo 1 25 The Old Oak Chest................... 50 Stone Mason of St. Point..........12mo 1 25 The Woodman....................... 75 LAWRENCE'S (Geo. A.) Anteros.......... 50 The Forgery....................... 50 Brakespeare... 50 Thirty Years Since................... 75 Breaking a Butterfly................ 35 A Whim and its Consequences....... 50 Guy Livingstone................. 12mo 1 50 Gowrie; or, The King's Plot.......... 50 Hagarene.................................... 75 Sir Theodore Broughton............... 50 Maurice Dering...................... 50 The Last of the Fairies........... 25 Sans Merci.......................... 50 The Convict........................ 50 Sword and Gown..................... 25 Margaret Graham..................... 25 LEE'S (Holme) Annis Warleigh's Fortunes. 75 Russell.............................. 50 Kathie Brando...................12mo 1 50 The Castle of Ehrenstein.......... 50 Mr. Wynyard's Ward................. 50 Beauchamp..................... 75 Sylvan Holt's Daughter..........12mo 1 50 Heidelberg........................ 50 LE FANU'S All in the Dark............... 50 The Step-Mother.....................1 25 A Lost Name...................... 50 The Smuggler........................ 75 Guy Deverell....................... 50 Agincourt............................ 50 The Tenants of Malory.............. 50 Arrah Neil........................... 50 Uncle Silas.......................... 75 Rose d'Albret........................ 50 LE SAGE'S Gil Bias................ 12mo 1 50 Arabella Stuart..................... 50 LEVER'S A Day's Ride................ 50 The False Heir....................... 50 Bramleighs of Bishop's Folly.......... 50 Forest Days......................... 50 Barrington........................... 75 The Club Book.................. 12mo 1 50 Daltons.............................. 1 59 De L'Orme....................12mo 1 50 Dodd Family Abroad................. 125 The Gentleman of the Old School.. 12mo 1 50 Gerald Fitzgerald.................... 50 The Gipsy.....o............... 12mo 1 50 Glencore and his Fortunes............ 50 Henry of Guise..................12mo 1 50 Lord Kilgobbin. Illustrated........... I 00 Henry Masterton..............12mo 1 50 Cloth 1 50 The Jacquerie...................12mo 1 50 Luttrell of Arran..................... 1 00 Morley Ernstein..................12mo 1 50 Cloth 1 50 One in a Thousand...............12mo 1 50 Martins of Cro' Martin................ 1 25 Philip Augustus................ 12mo 1 50 Maurice Tiernay..................... 1 00 Attila...........................12mo 1 50 One of Them................7........ 75 Corse de Lion..................12mo 1 50 Roland Cashel. Engravings.........1 25 The Ancient Regime.............12mo 1 50 Sir Brook Fosbrooke............. 50 The Man at Arms.................12mo 1 50 Sir Jasper Carew..................... 75 Charles Tyrrel.........................12mo 1 50 That Boy of Norcott's. Illustrated..... 25 The Robber....................12mo 1 50 Tony Butler.......................... I00 Richilieu......12mo 1 50 Cloth 1 50 The IHuguenot.................. 12mo 1 50 LEWES'S Three Sisters and Three Fortunes. 75 The King's Highway............12mo 1 50 LILY............................... 12mo 1 25 The String of Pearls............12mo 1 25 LINTON'S (Mrs.) Lizzie Lorton of Greyrigg. 75 Mary of Burgundy...............12mo 1 50 Sowing the Wind.................... 50 Darnley.........................12mo 1 50 LIVONIAN Tales........................ 25 John Marston Hall...............12mo 1 50 LOCKHART'S Fair to See.............. 75 The Desultory Man..............12mo 1 50 McCARTHY'S My Enemy's Daughter. Ill's. 75 JEAFFRESON'S Isabel.............. 12mo 1 50 The Waterdale Neighbors............. 50 Live it Down...................... I 00 McINTOSH'S (Miss) Conquest and SelfLottie Darling................ Conquest................. 8mo, Cloth 75 Not Dead Yet...................... 1 25 Th- Cousin....18m, Cloth 75 Cloth 1 75 Praise aid Principle.......18no, Cloth 75 Olive Blake's Good Work..7........ 75 Woman an Enigma........ 18mo, Cloth 75 A Complete List of Novels published by Harper &, Brothers. 5 Phior, OE PRIClg MABEL'S Progress......................$ 50 MULOCK'S (Miss) Avillion, andOther Tales.%1 25 MABERLY'S (Mrs.) Lady and the Priest.. 50 Christian's Mistake...................12mo 1 50 Leontine.............. 50 A Noble Life..........................12mo 1 50 MACDONALD'S Alec Forbes............ 75 Hannah. Illustrated...................... 50 Annals of a Quiet Neighborhood..12mo 1 75 12mo 1 50 Guild Court......................... 505 Gulildl Cour't.. 50 Head of the Family.. 75 MACKENZIE'S (Henry) Novels......12mo 1 50 12mo 1 50 MACQUOID'S (Mrs.) Patty............... 5075 Too Soon............................ 50 Illustrated. 2mo 1 50..................... Mistress and Maid........................ 50 MAID of Honor, The.................... 50 12m 1 50 MAID of Orleans, The........... 75 Nothing New................................ 50 MARGARET Denzil's History........... 75 Ogilvies...................................... 50 MARGARET'S Engagement............... 50 12mo 1 50 MARLITT'S Countess Gisela............. 25 Olive................................... 50 MARRYAT'S (Capt.) Children of New For- 12mo 1 50 est.........................12mo 1 25 A French Country Family. Translated, Japhet in Search of a Father.....12mo 1 25 Illustrations.....................12mo 1 50 Little Savage...................12mo 1 25 Motherless. Translated. Ill's....12mo 1 50 MARSH'S (Mrs.) Adelaide Lindsay........ 50 Unkind Word and Other Stories...12mo 1 50 Angela..........................12mo 1 50 Two Marriages........................12mo 1 50 Aubrey........................... 75 MURRAY'S The Prairie Bird.................. 1 00 Castle Avon......................... 50 MY Husband's Crime. Illustrated......... 75 EmiliaWydham.................... MY Uncle the Curate........................... 50 Evelyn Marston...................... 50 NABOB at Home The.. Father Darcy........................ 75 ^"~;;:::;::::::::;::;;: ny 7 NABOB at Home, The.......................... 50 Heiress of Haughton.50 NATURE'S Nobleman........................... 50 Lettice Arnold....................... 25 NEALE'S The Lost Ship................. 75 Mordaunt Hall....................... 50 NICHOLS'S The Sanctuary. Ill's......12mo 1 50 Norman's Bridge..................... 50 NORA and Archibald Lee...................... 50 Ravenscliffe......................... 50 NORTON'S Start of Dunleath............... 50 Rose of Ashurst..................... 50 OLIPHANT'S (Mrs.) Agnes.................... 75 Time, the Avenger................... 50 Athelings.................................. 75 Triumphs of Time. 75.Brownlows............................ 37 Wilmingtons........................ 50 Chronicles of Carlingford.................. 1 25 MARTINEAU'S (Harriet) The Hour and the Cloth 1 75 Man............................. 50 Days of My Life......................12mo 1 50 MATURIN'S Bianca................ 12mo 1 25 For Love and Life.......................... 75 MEINIHOLD'S Sidonia the Sorceress.......1 00 Innocent. Illustrated........... 75 MELVILLE'S Mardi..........2 vols. 12mo 3 00 John: a Love Story....................... 50 Moby-Dick......................12mo 1 75 Katie Stewart................. 25 Omoo...........................12mo 1 50 The House on the Moor.............12mo 1 50 Pierre...........................12mo 1 50 The Laird of Nbrlaw.................12mo 1 50 Redburn........................12mo 1 50 The Last of the Mortimers..........12mo 1 50 Typee..........................12mo 1 50 Lucy Crofton..........................12mo 1 50 Whitejacket..................... 12o 1 50 Madonna Mary.............................. 50 MEREDITH'S Evan Harrington......12mo 1 50 Miss Majoribanks........................... 50 MILMAN'S Arthur Conway............... 50 Ombra........................................ 75 The Wayside Cross................... 25 The Perpetual Curate...................... 1 00 MORE'S (Hannah) Complete Works. En- Cloth 1 50 gravings..........1 vol. 8vo, Sheep 3 00 Quiet Heart.................................. 25 2 vols. 8vo, Cloth 4 00 Son of the Soil.................... 1 00 Sheep 5 00 Cloth 1 50 The Same................7 vols. 12mo 8 75 Squire Arden................... 75 MORLEY'S (Susan) Aileen Ferrers.......... 50 The Story of Valentine; and his Brother. 75 MOTHER'S Trials, A................ 12mo 1 25 The Minister's Wife........................ 75 MOULTON'S My Third Book........12mo 1 25 PAYN'S (Jas.) At Her Mercy................. 50 MAUHLBACH'S Bernthal................. 50 A Woman's Vengeance.................... 50 MULOCK'S (Miss) My Mother and I. Ill's. 50 Best of Husbands................. 50 12mo 1 50 Beggar on Horseback...................... 35 A Brave Lady. Illustrated............... 100 Bred in the Bone....................... 50 Cloth 1 50 Carlvon's Year............................... 25 12mo 1 50 Cecil's Tryst................................ 50 The Woman's Kingdom. 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I8mo,Cloth 2 25 PROFESSOR'S Lady...................... 2 Faichild Family.....................12o 1 50 RACHEL'S Secret.............................. 750 RAYMOND'S Heroine....................... 50 SHERWOOD'S (Mrs.)Woks. Engravings. READE'S (Charles) Hard Cash. Ill's....... 50 16Vols., 12mo, Cloth, per vol 1 Cloth 1 00 TheVolumes sold separately or in sets. ^A.~~ S,, ho^pleton.... 50 o Vol. I. The History of Henry MilA Simpleton................................. 50 Cloth 1 00 ner, Parts I., II., and III. Vol. II. Fairchild Family; Orphans Griffith Gaunt. Illustrations........... 25 Vol I. 2Faicild Fa ly; Orphans It is Never Too Late to Mend........... 50 of ormandy The Latter Das &c. Love Me Little, Love Me Long......... 0 Vol. III. Little Henry and his Bear19mo 1 00 er; Lucy and her Dhaye; Memoirs Foul P lay~~~~~s~~~r,~r~~~1.... @e. 25 of Sergeant Dale, his Daughter, and Foul Play.................................5 the Orphan Marv; Susan Gray5; Lucy Wlhite Lie- ~~~~"s. ~ ~ 50 the Orphan Mary; Susan Gray; Lucy Peg Woffington and Other Tales..... 50 lare; Theophilus and Sophia AbdalPut Yourself in His Place. Illustrations. 75 lab, the ecant ofig Cloth 1 25 Vol. IV. The Indian Pilgrim; The 12mo 1 00 Broken Hyacinth; the Babes in the A Terrible Temptation. Illustrated.... 50 A. Terrible Tempttion.Illustrated.... 50 ~Wood of the New World; Catherine 12mo 7 Seward; The Little Beggars, &c. The Coister and the Hearth.Vol. V. The Infant's Progress; The The Cloister and the Hearth.............. 50 / The Wandering Heir. Illustrations.... 25 Flowers of tle Forest; Ermine, &e. C loth 60 Vol. VI. The Governess; The LitRECOLLECTIONS of Eton. Illustrated 50 tie Momiere; The Stranger at Home; Pere la Chaise; English Mary; My REGENT'S Daughter........................... 50 Uncle Timot. RIDDELL'S (Mrs. J. H.) Maxwell Drewitt. 75 Vol.VII.The Nunl; Intimate Friends; Phemie Keller.............................. 50 My Aunt Kate; Emeline; Obedience; Race for Wealth......................... 75 The Gipsy Babes; The Basket-maker; A Life's Assize............................. 50 The Butterfly, &c. ROBINSON'S (F. W.) For Her Sake. Ill's. 75 Vol. VIII. Victoria; Arzoomund; A Bridge of Glass.......... 50 The Birth-Day Present; The Errand Carry's Confession.......................... 75 Boy; The Orphan Boy; The Two SisChristie's Faith........................12mo 1 75 ters; Julian Percival; Edward MansIer Face was Her Fortune............... 50 field; The Infirmary; The Young ForLittle Kate Kirby. 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A Passion in Tatters..................... 75 Denis Donne................................. 50 UNDER Foot. Illustrated................ 50 False Colors............................. 50 UNDER the Ban........................ 1 25 "'He Cometh Not,' She Said".......... 50 Cloth 1 75 Maud Mohan............................... 25 VERONICA.............................. 50 On Guard.................................. 50 WARBURTON'S Darien....................... 50 Only Herself................................. 50 Reginald Hastings............. 50 Played Out................................... 75. Playing for High Stakes. Illustrations 25 16m0 Cloth 2 25 Playing for High Stakes. Illustrations 25'WARREN'S Diary of a Physician....3 vols. 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Illustrations..2mo 1 7 Kissin the Rod............................ 75 Harry Heathcote of Gangoil............ 25 iLndat L 5 Land at Last............................ 50 lie Knew He was Right................... 1 0050 Cloth 1 50 Cloth 1 50...Wrecked in Port........................... 50 The Golden Lion of Granpere. Ill's... 75 Dr. Wainwright's Patient................ 50 Cloth 1 25 ZSCHOKKE'S Veronica........................ 50 Harper's Catalogue. The attention of gentlemen, in town or country, designing to form Libraries or enrich their Literary Collections, is respectfully invited to Harper's Catalogue, which will be found to comprise a large proportion of the standard and most esteemed works in English and Classical Literature-COMPREHENDING OVER THREE THOUSAND VOLUMES-Which are offered, in most instances, at less than one-half the cost of similar productions in England. To Librarians and others connected with Colleges, Schools, &c., who may not have access to a trustworthy guide in forming the true estimate of literary productions, it is believed this Catalogue will prove especially valuable for reference. To prevent disappointment, it is suggested that, whenever books can not be obtained through any bookseller or local agent, applications with remittance should be addressed direct to Harper & Brothers, which will receive prompt attention. Sent by mail on receit of Ten Cents. Address HARPER & BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE, NEW YORK. DR. LIVINGSTONE'S LAST JOURNALS. The Last Journals of David Livingstone, in Central Africa, from 1865 to his Death. Continued by a Narrative of his Last Moments and Sufferings, obtained from his Faithful Servants Chuma and- Susi. By HORACE WALLER, F.R.G.S., Rector of Twywell, Northampton. With Maps and Illustrations. 8vo, Cloth, $5 oo. SIR SAMUEL BAKER'S ISMAILIA. Ismailia: a Narrative of the Expedition to Central Africa for the Suppression of the Slave Trade. Organized by ISMAIL, Khedive of Egypt. By Sir SAMUEL W. BAKER, PASHA, F.R.S., F.R.G.S. With Maps, Portraits, and upward of Fifty Full-page Illustrations by ZWECKER and DURAND. 8vo, Cloth, $5 oo. SCHWEINFURTH'S HEART OF AFRICA. The Heart of Africa; or, Three Years' Travels and Adventures in the Unexplored Regions of the Centre of Africa. From I868 to 1871. By Dr. GEORG SCHWEINFURTH. Translated by ELLEN E. FREWER. With an Introduction by WINWOOD READE. Illustrated by about 130 Woodcuts from Drawings made by the Author, and with Two Maps. 2 vols., 8vo, Cloth, $8 00o. OTHER VALUABLE WORKS OF AFRICAN ADVENTURE AND EXPLORATION: f)U CHA ILL US Explorations and Adventures in Equa- T IVINGSTONE'S Missionary Travels and Researches in torial Africa; with Accounts of the Manners and. Customs South Africa; including a Sketch of Sixteen Years' Resiof the People, and of the Chase of the Gorilla, the Crocodile, dence in the Interior of Africa, and a Journey from the Cape Leopard, Elephant, Hippopotamus, and other Animals. I1- of Good Hope to Loando on the West Coast; thence across the lustrations. 8vo Cloth, $5 oo. Continent, down the River Zambesi, to the Eastern Ocean. __X~ X'~ _Portrait, Maps, and numerous Illustrations. 8vo, Cloth, -U CIHAILL U'S Journey to Ashango Land, and Further $4 50v Penetration into Equatorial Africa. Illustrated. 8vo, Cloth, $5 oo. -L'I, VINGS TONE' S Narrative of an Expedition to the ZamCloth,' 5. ~.. hbesi and its Tributaries; and of the Discovery of the Lakes ANDERSSON'S Lake Ngami; or, Explorations and Dis- Shirwa and Nyassa. 1858-1864. Map and Illustrations. 8vo, coveries during Four Years' Wanderings in the Wilds of Cloth, $5 oo. Southwestern Africa. Illustrations. i2mo, Cloth, $I 75. - Sotwsen Afia I n Hm AR TH'S Travels and Discoveries in North and Central r e Africa. Being a Journal of an Expedition undertaken UM ING'S Five Years of a Hunter's Life in the far In- under th Auspices of H. B. M.'s Government, in the Years terior of South Africa. With Notices of the Native Tribes, 1849-185 Illustrations. 3 vols., 8vo, Cloth, $12 oo. and Anecdotes of the Chase of the Lion, Elephant, Hippopotamus, Giraffe, Rhinoceros, &c. Illustrations. 2 vols., i2mo, Cloth, 3 ono. ", X'LLIS'S Three Visits to Madagascar, during the Years s.. o853, 1854, I856.- Including a Journey to the Capital,.REA DE'S Western Africa: being the Narrative of a Tour with Notices of the Natural History of the Country, and of th in Equatorial, Southwestern, and.Northwestern Africa; Present Civilization of the People. Map and Illustrations. with Notes on the Habits of the Gorilla; on the Existence of 8vo, Cloth, $3 5. Unicorns and Tailed Men; on the Slave Trade; on the Origin, Character, and Capabilities of the Negro, and on the Future DA VIS'S Carthage and her Remains: being an Account Civilization of Western Africa. Illustrations and a Map. 8vo, of the Excavations and Researches on the Site of the Cloth, $4 oo. Phoenician Metropolis in Africa and other Adjacent Places. Maps, Woodcuts, Chromo-Lithographs, &c. 8vo, Cloth, $4 oo. PtRIME'S Boat-Life in Egypt and Nubia. Illustrations. i2mo, Cloth, $2 oo.. IANDERSSON'S The Okavango River: a Narrative of..m. C-ot 20. x~ Travel, Exploration, and Adventure. Illustrations and STANLEY'S Coomassie and Magdala: a Story of Two Map. 8vo, Cloth, 3 25. British Campaigns in Africa. Maps and Illustrations. 8vo, Cloth, $3 50 -. BALDWIN'S African Hunting, from Natal to the Zambesi, including Lake Ngami, the Kalahari Desert, &c., BURTON'S Lake Regions of Central Africa. Maps and from 1852 to 1860. Map, Illustrations, and a Portrait. i2m, Illustrations. 8vo, l,3 Cloth, 3 Cloth 50. PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK. 1" HARPER & BROTHERS will send either of the above works by mail, postage prepaid, to anty art of the United S/ates, on receipt of the hrice. o' For afull List of BooKs OF TRAVEL published by HARPER & BROTHERS, see HARPER'S CATALOGUE, Uwhich may be ohtaoned gratuitously on personal aapplication to the publishers, or will be sent by mail on receipt of Ten Cents. VOLUME 50Z T T, - R f^INEWV YORK NUVBER So. H ARPER'S MAGAZINE. 875 l7 ITH'IL the May Number is concluded the Fiftieth Volume of HARPER'S MAGAZINE. For th VV artistic excellence, as for the'iumber of its illustrations, HA1PER'S MAGAZINE iS unsurpasseC Its imlense circulation (about 30o,ooo copies) enables the Publishers to expend upon it, for literary and art istic features alone, over $5ooo a month, or nearly $70,ooo a year. 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In the February Num. ber was commenced a beautiful serial story by Miss THAC(KERAY, entitled "Miss Angel;" also, an interesting series of papers by JAMES PARTON, giving a historyof Caricature, profusely illustrated. l'ublislhed ilonfrtly', w'it/h Pirose Illustr(ltions. VOLUME) xix.. I- ARPER'S E EEKLYo i 1875. T ARI'ER'S WEEKLY is an illustrated record of and commentary upon the events of tle times. It wl will'treat of every topic, Political, Historical, Literary, and Scientific, which is of current interest, and wvill give the finest illustrations that can be obtained from every available'source, original or foreign. This Journal contains more reading-matter, a larger number of Illustrations, and is conspicuously better edited and printed than any other Illustrated Newspaper. Its circulation is about I30,ooo00-oi-e than four times that of any similar publication. The volume for I875, like its predecessors, will present literary and pictorial attractions unequaled by any other publication of a similar character. On its list of contributors Will be found the names of many of the most popular writers of Europe and America. Serial and short stories, poems, and sketches, and well conducted editorial departments, giving the latest personal, literary, scientific, and religious intelligence, furnish every week an amount of reading-matter unsurpassed by other journals in excellence and variety. Published Weekly, with itrorfse lllusirations. VOLUM HARPER'S BAZAR. 85 SI.;r H BAZAR.:i^ 1875. H ARPER'S BAZAR is a Journal for the Home. It is especially devoted to all subjects pertaining to Domestic and Social Life. It furnishes the latest Fashions in Dress and Ornament, wit patterns; describes in-door and out-door Amusements; contains Stories, Essays, and. Poels-every thing, in brief, calculated to male an American home attractive. 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