^m m T #^.i5-- L I B R.AR.Y OF THL UNIVERSITY or ILLINOIS 823 / THE LADY RESIDENT, THE LADY RESIDENT. a Hoitl. cr' t. HAMILTON PAGE. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. bonbon : MACMILLAX AXD CO. 1880. [TJie Right of Translotim is reserved.] CLAY AND TAYLOR, PEINTERS. c-. - CONTEXTS OF VOL. I. ^ > CHAPTER I. ^CHRISTMAS AT HOME CHAPTER II. HUSBAND AND WIFE .V CHAPTER III. ^ 000, D-BYE TO THE CHILDREN- CHAPTER IV. '^' THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF WOMEN ■f CHAPTER V. H THE ladies' COMMITTEE i PAGE 1 20 27 ... 38 50 vi CONTENTS. CHAPTER VI. PAGE TIIB FIRST IXTRODUCTIOX ... ... ... ... 70 CHAPTER VII. MRS. BROWNLOW AT HOME CHAPTER XII. AN EVENING PARTY CHAPTER XIII. AFTERNOON TEA .. ... i-- ' 91 CHAPTER VIII. woman's FUTURE ... ... ... ... ... 113 CHAPTER IX. BERTIE IN THE CLASS-ROOM ... ... ... ... 130 CHAPTER X. A PRACTICAL JOKE 143 CHAPTER XL RIVAL POWERS 1^^ ... 172 192 CONTEXTS. vii CHAPTER XIY. PAGE MATCH MAKING ... ... ... ... ... ... 217 CHAPTER XV. POOR NORA 236 CHAPTER XVI. NORA GOE.S nOME ... ... ... ... ... 256 THE LADY RESIDENT CHAPTER I. CHRISTMAS AT HOME. Norlands stands on the slope of a hill, about twenty miles from Westhampton. It is so large, so irregular, and so peculiar that it cannot fail to attract attention, though it is nearly half a mile from the main road. In the centre of a building which seems to wander at will over the hill side, there is a small two-storied house ; and the only visible front en- trance to the whole edifice is the door of this house ; a small door painted green, with a brass knocker, and a porch of lattice work covered with roses and jasmine. A wooden balcony, festooned in the summer time by clusters of deep purple clematis,' stretches across the upper windows ; VOL. I. B 2 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. and this central cottage is crowned by a high four-square, red-tiled roof, with a turret and bell on the summit of it. On both sides of the cottage a lofty wing arises ; irregular, many-storied, many-roomed, towering upward and stretching backward, reaching out into long low buildings, stables, dairy, laundry, tennis-court, vineries ; losing itself in a kitchen- garden with borders of bright flowers and acres of glass. Even so the exuberant life of which this house is the garment cannot be restrained : it breaks out again beyond the bounds of the kitchen - garden in dove-cotes, pigeon - houses, rabbit-hutches, hen-coops, and sheds scattered over adjacent fields. Twenty years before the date of this story Norlands was a small farm which Mr. Eavenshaw rented during the summer months for his young wife and her two children. The pretty cottage, fine air, and pleasant surroundings pleased them so well, that shortly afterwards, when it was ofi'ered for sale together with eighty acres of land, Mr. Ravenshaw purchased it. He then resolved to leave the outer walls of the cottage untouched, to clear the inside for an entrance-hall, and to build his residence on both sides of it ; the size and character of such I.] CHRISTMAS AT HOME. 3 residence to depend upon tlie requirements of his family and any fancy that might predominate at a given time. Pursuing this plan Norlands had grown to its .present dimensions, together with the owner's income, now very large, and a family that con- sisted of twelve children, the eldest a daugliter of twenty- two and the youngest a hahij of four years old. Mrs. Ravenshaw always said that her tastes were simple. She liked a room to be perfectly square, and to have cupboards on each side of the fireplace, dwarf cupboards if it was a sitting-room,' full-length if a bed-room, but in every case cup- boards. The wall paper she liked with a white ground and plenty of it, and the Brussels carpet must invariably have a drab ground and be well covered with bright flowers. These points con- ceded, she left the rest to Mr. Ravenshaw and his whims. But Mr. Ravenshaw seldom conceded so much, and the rooms were of so many sizes shapes, and modes of arrangement, of so many styles of architecture and modes of decoration, that it was a marvel how one roof could cover them all. Mr. Ravenshaw was a man who liked to carry out his ideas, and when he had a new idea with regard to the house, he built a room b2 4 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. and embodied it. Perhaps it was on tliis account that friends used to say the great charm of Nor- lands was not so much its variety as its capacity. There seemed no limit to the numbers that could be entertained in it, as there was none to the hos- pitality of the entertainers. There was a warm welcome for old friends because they were old, and for the new because they were new. The twelve children were never without a sprinkling of cousins who wanted country air, or horse ex- ercise, or archery, or shooting, or new milk. The elder boys and girls had each at least one bosom friend, chosen outside the family circle, and to be included in it as often as possible. The house was always full, but on Christmas Eve ten years ago every corner of it was occu- pied. A merry troop of young people had been busy all day long with wreaths of holly, ivy, and laurel, with mottoes, banners, and devices, with ladders and hammers. At eight o'clock in the evening they were dancing in the hall as lightly and merrily as if the dance had not been preceded by twelve hours of work. The sound of music and the hum of voices penetrated even through the double doors which shut off the dining-r6om, where a young girl was writing at one corner of a long table. She lifted l] CHRISTMAS AT HOME. 5 her head from time to time as the sound of car- riage wheels and a shout of welcome announced some new arrival. The dininor-room was lonci: and low, with lar2:e windows and deep embrasures. At the end farthest from the door an enlarged copy of the old-fashioned farm-house kitchen chimney stretched from side to side of the room. The red- brick hearth was raised above the floor, gre^ log's of wood burnt on it, benches of black oak stood ao-ainst the wails, and the overhanorino; chim- ney-piece stretched in a long, low line across the room. It was of stone carved in many a Cjuaint device, whilst the wall above it was paneled with old stamped leather and adorned with fantastic groups of helmets, swords, shields, and miscel- laneous pieces of glittering armour. Alons: the stone ledo^e there was now a motto with letters formed of ivy and holly leaves : East oe West, Home is Best. So the young people had put it to please the father; whilst, to please himself, he had bade them add : '' Chatted food is half dio;ested." He sat there in his favourite seat, the chimney corner, in a large arm-chair on the red hearth, with a Turkey mat at his feet, a table at one side, and on the other a little oriel window, from 6 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. whence in the day time he could see the garden and his children at their play. Prom time to time he laid down the Times w^hich he was reading and looked at his daughter. She was copying a German song, saying the words half aloud as she traced them carefully in cramped German characters : " Der Vogel Sang verstummt im Hain, Uiid od' ist Eerg und Thai : " s]]e murmured, and at the sound of her own voice tears fell and blotted the page. She did not discontinue her work, but took a piece of blotting paper, absorbed the tears in a very business-like manner, and continued writing. " Won't you go and dance, Bertie ? " " Nd, thank you, father ; I don't " She could say no more, for the tears sprang afresh. Her father looked at her in silence as she quietly wiped them away. "' Docli ist vom GlUck was icli getraiimt Auch jede Spur verwelit : " she said, and went on with the copying. Before long the door was opened, and in the midst of a great burst of sound, a grim female servant appeared. " Miss Bertie, your ma sent me to ask if you'll come and play a quadrille ? " 1.] CHRISTMAS AT HOME. 7 '' Say I'd rather not. I am busy : " replied Ber- tie, with a flushed face. There was another rush of sound as the maid retreated, and then a long unbroken silence. Bertie's father rose and approached the table. He walked feebly, as one out of health and scarcely able to support the massive frame which nature had assimed him. He stood for a moment before his daughter, and his lips trembled as he saw the tears stealing clown her face and dropping on the open page. " Bertie," he said ; and she looked up. '' Ber- tie, my child, do you think your mother and I like to see you unhappy ? " *■ Oh, father ! " was all the girl replied, as she rose and threw her arms round him. " Now, my dear girl, don't cry." " I won't, daddy ; indeed I won't. But you see I can't be happy. I have tried as hard as ever I can, and really I can't be happy." " Ah, well. I see how it is, and it's of no use to say any more about it." " Don't be angry with me." " No, no. I'm not angry ; but I suppose wilful woman must have her way. "When do you want to go ? " '•' To go, father ! AVhere am I to go ? " 8 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " Well, I thought we'd wait till to-night ; give you a month, and then, as you haven't changed your mind, I suppose that I must/' " What do you mean, father dear ? " says Bertie, getting white. " Do you mean that I may go to college ? " " Oh, it's a college ! Well, you shall go for a year. But mind, I only promise one year.'"' " But, daddy, do you really mean it ? You're not making fun of me ? " '' No ; I'm earnest enough ; and pretty work I shall have with your mother. Eighteen years old and going to school ! Ah, well ! " ^' Father, dear, it's a college." " Oh, it's a college I Caps and gowns, I suppose. However, my dear, if it's to make you happy you shall go." Bertie could not speak. She kissed her father again and again, and he told her he would not be cried over. She said that he was crying also, and tried to prove it ; and then, with both hands clasping his arm, she led him back to the arm- chair and sat on the stool at his feet. The merry dance tunes resounded through the house. They could hear the tapping of the dancers' feet, and the clear ringing voices of the children at their games ; but Bertie was too much I.] CHRISTMAS AT HOME. 9 absorbed in a discussion as to the comparative educational value of mathematics and logic to bestow any attention upon the trivialities of a Christmas festivity. At length she drew a deep breath, and said almost with a sigh : . *' Father, I shall never foro-et this nio^ht. It is the very happiest time of my whole life, and to think it should come when I had given up all hope ! '' " Never give up hope, Bertie, it is a bad habit ; and if you acquire it in youth you will go grumbling and doubting all through life." *' But what am I to do now when there is nothing left to hope for ? I have got ever}i:hing I want. What s/tall I do, father, what ca?i I do to show you how grateful I am ? " " Well, my dear, I think you may as well try and do something that will please your mother. Go and show yourself in the hall. You can either dance with your peers or play with the children.*' Bertie's face clouded. She was not prepared for such an immediate and distasteful form of gratitude. She thought her father might have asked her to read a chapter of John Stuart ]\lill, or at any rate that he might have allowed her to stay with him. 10 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. But lie did not acquiesce in her views ; slie rose somewhat reluctantly : " I may come back, father, mayn't I ? " "You may, Bertie. I shan't run away from the old corner." Something in his tone arrested the girl. " Oh, daddy, I do wish I might stay with you this one night. They are all so foolish with their dances and games and stupid jokes. I am so tired of it all ; and I do think grown-up people should be reasonable." " You are a very superior young person, my dear ; but that has nothing to do with the matter in hand. You can try to please your mother ; if you don't succeed in pleasing any one else you must not allow yourself to be discouraged by early failures." Bertie's response was a blush and a hasty exit. She entered the gaily-decorated hall in wdiich the dancers occupied one part and the children another, although just at that time the two parties had joined in a game of forfeits. The front door opened into this hall, and on either side of it a fireplace, in which a large fire burned brightly, showed where the parlours of the old farm- house had been. A broad staircase ascended from the centre of the hall and led to a gallery which I.] CHEISTMAS AT HOME. 11 surrounded the four walls. That part of it ruu- ninof alono^ the front of the house communicated by means of glass doors with the wooden balcony already noticed ; whilst on the other three sides numerous doors, long irregular passages, steep and winding stairs, led to the rooms in the two wings and the adjacent premises. The gallery was gay with Chinese lanterns and Christmas devices. The young people as- cended the broad staircase and walked round it between the dances, much tormented by children playing at hide and seek, and darting in and out of doors and passages. Some of the elders of the party sat there looking do^Ti at the gay scene below them ; but the majority of these were in the two dra^dng-rooms and the lil)rary, which were on the opposite side of the hall to that from which Bertie entered. On this occasion the drawing-rooms were given up to whist tables and the library to bagatelle, whilst in the hall, when Bertie entered, forfeits were being called. She walked towards the nearest fire-place, and a voice called out : '' Bow to the wittiest, kneel to the prettiest, and kiss the one you love best." Bertie looked on ^ith an expression that 12 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. seemed to say slie was prepared on this occasion to tolerate much folly. A young man with light hair, and a clean-shaved, pale, and rather cada- verous countenance, came forward and went gravely through his bowing and kneeling, amidst merry laughter caused by the deliberation and anxious thought he seemed to bestow upon the matter. When these preliminaries were con- cluded he approached Bertie without a trace of irresolution. She stood with one hand on the mantelpiece, and as he came forward their eyes met. In hers there was a sudden startled look which arrested him for a moment ; then with a slight smile he stept forward and kissed her on the cheek. She did not speak or move, but stood erect, quivering, and with a face from which every trace of colour had fled. Young men standing in groups eyed her keenly, some of the girls laughed, the elder sister approached and said : " I wouldn't stand and look such a tragedy queen, if I was you. Pred is only like your own brother." Almost at the same moment a little dark-eyed woman, round and merry, bustled forward with a look of great concern : " Oh, Bertie, dear, you mustn't mind it ; it's I.] CHRISTMAS AT HOME. 13 all a cliildisli affair. It is very foolisli and wrong of Fred, and I shall give him a good scolding. Come with me, my dear : " and she took the girl's hand and led her from the room. Fred meanwhile looked uncomfortable. He turned round and said with the tone of a person aggrieved : " ^Vhy do they play at such absurd games if girls don't like them ? How should I know Bertie would mind ? " " 1 tell you what, my dear fellow," said the man addressed, who was some years older than Fred, ^' a man is a fool if he kisses a girl before he knows that she iviil like it. He thinks she won't mind, and kisses her ; then he finds out that she doesn't like it. Just imagine what the poor devil must feel ! " and he turned away. Fred was left to his own experience, which showed that such a one would feel uneasy. He waited for an opportunity of getting out un- noticed ; and when the hall door next opened he passed through it and walked up and down in front of the house. Bertie had returned to the dinino'-room. He savr shadows on the window-blind, and knew that his mother was with her. He walked backwards and forwards before the house, and took out a cigar. It was very awkward, he thought, for a 14 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. man to offend the girl he wanted to marry, on the very night he has decided to propose to her. Bertie had always been a curious girl, he knew that ; but he had never doubted that she or any other woman would be delighted to discover his intention to make her the mistress of Elmsdale. She ought to have known he was in earnest and not to have stood there like an injured princess, every one in the hall looking at her. He had meant the kiss to be a suitable prelude to the offer of his hand and fortune, and he was pre- pared to lead Bertie to the gallery and there make known his magnanimous decision. Indeed he had put two chairs in the embrasure of a window, and had been waiting for her appearance with some anxiety. When she came at that very moment he thought the forfeit almost a provi- dential interposition in his favour, and was proud of his inspiration to kiss Bertie as the one he loved best. Everything had gone against him. It would be impossible to ask a girl to marry you whilst she was angry, even though the offer was such a good one. Perhaps Bertie thought he was not in earnest. That was the thing. He had never given any intimation of his preference, and so she had misunderstood him. Well., that could soon be set right. Ho would go to Mr. Eaven- I.] CHRISTMAS AT HOME. 15 shaw aad ask pennission to solicit the lionour of Bertie's hand. The phrase pleased him. He said it over and over again to himself, and thought that it might Avell atone for a kiss. His mother might tell all her friends that he had solicited the honour of Bertie's hand. That would make it all rig-ht : indeed his mother was sure to have made it rio^ht with Bertie ah^eady. When he had finished his cigar he re-entered the house and went to the dining-room. Bertie and her father were in the chimney corner, talk- in sj and lauo'hino'. '' I have come," said the young man, in a solemn and rather pompous manner, " to request the favour of a short interview with you, Mr. Ravenshaw." " Yqvj glad to see you, Fred, if you are quite sure you are not wanted to kiss any more young ladies." " Oh, father," said Bertie with a hot blush. "It is not every young man," continued Mr. Ptavenshaw, " who has got the courage and pre- sence of mind to kiss a girl in a deliberate public way as they tell me, Fred, that you have done." "Well, sir—," said Fred. " It may be well, though I am not prepared to 16 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. concede so mucli ; but I am told the kissing would have been confined to the children if it had n^t been for you, Fred, and even now your per- formance isn't looked upon as a precedent." '' I beg, sir, that you will say no more about it. I think you misunderstand me." "Oh, we are quite ready to overlook it this once, aren't we, Bertie, especially as it is Christ- mas Eve ? " " I must request, sir, that you will grant me a private interview before you allude to the subject again. I wish to explain my motives." "Motives, indeed I Well, Fred, I always thought you were not the kind of person to be mastered by an impulse. Bertie, my love, I can't leave the fireside ; will you run into the smoking-room whilst I hear these motives ? " The young man was not encouraged by his reception, but neither was he discouraged. Mr. Kavenshaw, so he often told his m.other, was always trying to snub him ; but he was sustained by the calm certainty that all he did was right, and did not need the encouragement or consola- tion which his mother was at all times ready to offer. Still there was just a trace of hesitation in his manner as he stood opposite to Mr. Ravenshaw, I.] christ:*ias at home. 17 who smoked uninterruptedly, and looked steadily at Mm. "He's a conceited, ugly, ill-conditioned dog;" was the tliouglit tliat passed througli the mind of his intended father-in-law : "I should like to see Bertie when she gives him his answer." "Well, Fred, what is it you want ?" *'I want permission, sir, to pay my addresses to Bertie." "Oh." "I suppose you have no objection, sir V "Why should I?" " I thought not. You see you know me and my means and position." " Uncommonly well. I have known you and your ajQfairs since you were seven years old, just nineteen years ago." "And are you prepared to support my suit :" said Fred, who was beg-inninp: to reo-ain confidence. " Can't say that I am, my boy ; but I am pre- pared to support my daughter. If Bertie likes the proposal you can let me know. She's in the smoking-room." " Then with your permission I will join her." " Do so," said the father. He left the room, and Mr. Ravenshaw watched him with a grim smile : VOL. I. c 18 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " He won't come out witli quite so much mamier as lie goes in," he said to himself. " Well, my love, what do you want ?" This was to his eldest daughter, Lizzie, who had darted into the room and was about to leave it. " Oh, papa, I have come for Bertie. She really is too disagreeable. If she w^on't dance she might play for us. Mamma says she is to come, and I am not to go back without her." " Come here, Lizzie, and Fll tell you a secret." " What is it ? " said Lizzie eagerly. Her father pointed to the smoking-room door. " Now, papa, don't tease me, for I've no time, and I'm not in the humour for it." ^^ I have been asked," he said, in a mysterious whisper, " for the hand of one of my daughters." " Oh, papa, who is it ? " "Not you, my love. I said the eldest ought to go first ; but it's of no use — " '' What a shame, papa. What do you mean ? " *' Hush, my dear ; not so loud. There's a young man in there on his knees to Bertie." " She's a horrid little flirt," said Lizzie with a burst of tears. " I wonder you don't see through her." " I do, Lizzie, I do ; and I propose to send her off to school for a year." I.] chpjst:\l\s at home. 19 " She'll get whatever she wants, I have no doubt of that :" retorted Lizzie angrily. " It's a kind attention on your part, my dear, to tell me so." *'' Well, papa, I didn't mean to be rude." " That's the thing, my love ; your condition is hopeless. You are rude without knowing it." '' I did think no one would quarrel with me on Christmas eve," sobbed Lizzie; *'what with one thing and what with another, my life is a perfect wreck." After a pause she asked, " Who is in the smoking-room ? " ''At present, my love, it is Fred Wilmshurst." Lizzie turned away and left the room, and at that moment Bertie entered. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes looked larger than usual. She walked resolutely up to her father and said, " Father, isn't it a disgraceful thing for a man to ask a girl to marry him in such a way ? " " In what way, Bertie ? " " Why, as Fred has done. He says he knew I didn't love him, and he glories in it." Suddenly the girl flung herself down before a chair and covered her face with her hands. " Oh, father, he thinks he can buy me, even me." 20 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. CHAPTER 11. HUSBAND AND WIFE. '' I don't like the plan. I never shall like it," said Mrs. Eavenshaw. *' Bertie's head is full of nonsense, and she will be worse than ever if yon encourage her and sanction her absurd notions." "I do not sanction anything absurd ; I never did." " Now, Mr. Eavenshaw, you must confess that it is absurd to send a girl to school when she is eighteen years old, and has an eligible offer of marriage." *' Which she has refused." " Many girls refuse a first offer. If she goes away now there is an end of the whole thing. If she stays, and Fred has opportunities of mak- ing his way, the result may be very different." "I see no use in discussing a problematical result. My word is already pledged to Bertie ; II.] HUSBAXD AND WIFE. 21 and six months ago you agreed with me that unless Bertie gave up her wish to go to St. Mary's we had far better allow her to do so than keep her at home to pine and fret." " Yes, ]\Ir. Eavenshaw ; but I agreed because I thouo;ht she would chano;e her mind before Christmas." " I don't think that alters the case. Bertie goes for a year only. Neither you nor I approve of very early marriages, and when she returns she will be only nineteen." " But Fred may change his mind." *' I shall be glad to give him an opportunity of doing so before marriage." " You talk in such a foolish way, Mr. Eaven- shaw. Very few men with seven daughters would send the first that is likely to make a good match out of the way." "My dear, you have always told me Bertie had no chance whilst her sisters were unmarried. Lizzie is twenty-two ; she is the one who ought to marry." " Lizzie has too many admirers. A girl with many lovers is slow to mairy, and I cannot spare my eldest daughter." " Well, there is Gladys. She is twenty." '' Gladys will marry a title, and we must not 22 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. precipitate matters. With her beauty we may well wait a little." '' I don't want any of my girls to leave me ; but my clear little Molly is nineteen." "Mr. Eavenshaw, this is a very unprofitable discussion. If you have made up your mind about Bertie, of course I must submit, and I beg you to spare me your reproaches." " Submission, my dear, is the strong point of your character ; and a woman who knows how to yield is in the end always victorious." " Then Bertie stays at home ? " "No, no. As you justly remark, we may very well spare one out of seven daughters, and I would rather send her to St. Mary's for a year than to Elmsdale for a lifetime." "Depend upon it we shall regret the step. Bertie will never be satisfied with home life. We shall lose her, without the satisfaction of knowing that she has a good husband and a good home of her own ; and you begin to spend money on education when she is out of the school-room." "It is impossible to foresee what the future may bring forth to a girl like Bertie. I am not very fond of strong-minded females ; but, I must confess, I should like to give Bertie a chance, and II.] HUSBAND AXD WIFE. 23 see what slie ^Yill do with. it. Really when I find what the education of the boys costs, it does seem impossible to refuse the one girl who asks for it, an advantao^e which she can obtain at so small o an expense. " I never can follow your crooked reasoning, Mr. Ravenshaw; but mark my words, Bertie will marry ; that's what she will do with her education." " Well, perhaps she couldn't do better." " Of course she couldn't. But, after all the trouble and expense we have already had, she might just as well marry upon French and German as upon this new-fangled Latin and mathematics." " Too late, my dear, too late. There has been a mistake with Bertie from the very first. She ought to have been a boy. A fourth consecutive daughter has no place, even in such a large family as ours. If George had preceded her as he ought to have done, my eldest son would he eiofhteen. Bertie would be fifteen : in the school- room ; no anxiety to Fred Wilmshurst or any one else." Mrs. P^avenshaw rose to leave the room : "If you have nothing to say but such non- sense as that I see no use in talking." 24 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. ** There is no use in talking/' said Mr. Eaven- shaw, " the thing is done." The door was opened again and Mrs. Raven- shaw returned : " I have only one thing to say," she resumed, " and it is this ; you have done exactly what you liked in this house, and tried experiments all over it, from the garret to the cellar. There are not two rooms alike anywhere, or two stoves that burn on the same principle. Now if you are going to begin in the same way with the children I protest against it from the very first." "My dear, don't excite yourself. The boys won't want to go to St. Mary's, and there is no fear of the three elder girls." " I should hope not," said the mother angrily. " AVell, as Nelly is only eleven, and girls are not admitted to St. Mary's under sixteen, we shall have plenty of time to consider the subject of female education before her turn comes." Mrs. Eavenshaw sat down and took out a handkerchief. " Now, Jem," said her husband, *' don't fret about it. Let the girl go for a year. That is all I have promised. Suppose it is a whim of hers and of mine too, haven't you always said that my whims made a happy home." II.] HUSBAXD AXD WIFE. 25 ''Yes, John; but then they were not whims about the children." " My dear, you forget ; but never mind. Say it is a new whim of mine and give in to it like a good soul." Mrs. Eavenshaw wiped her eyes. " If I must, I must ; but you will see that no good " "I absolutely forbid a prophetic utterance," said her husband hastily, as Bertie entered the room. " Bertie, go and kiss your mother. It has cost her a great effort to yield to my wish for you, and I know you will do everything in your power to show your gratitude and affection." Bertie advanced with some hesitation, and her mother looked at her with a shade of anger, not unobserved by father and daughter. The kiss was not altogether a success. j\Irs. Eavenshaw put her handkerchief in her pocket, saying, " Well, well ! " with an air of resignation as she rose for the second time to leave the room. " Don't go away just yet, my dear. I want you to write one or two letters for me. AYe will make all arrangements at once, and then Bertie will be ready for the new term at the end of January." Bertie's eyes danced with joy, and she had much ado to refrain from expressing her delight. 26 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. A warning glance from her father told her she had better leave the room. She would gladly have remained, but she saw that her mother was in no mood to allow her to be present. Moreover, it was all settled ; when once her . mother had yielded everything was sure to go on smoothly, no obstacles would be raised, and there would be no unnecessary delay. Mrs. Eavenshaw took great pride in her busi- ness faculty, nothing pleased her so much as to be told that she was a capital woman of business ; and Bertie, as she sat at the hall window lookino; out at the large flakes of snow falling softly on the bare branches of the trees or collecting into white masses on the shrubs, knew that her mother was making plans for her journey, de- ciding where and with whom she was to live, and what pocket money she was to have. On all these points Bertie would have liked to express her views, but she knew the thing was not to be done. Moreover, she was really to go to St. Mary's ! That was the main point, and her thoughts wandered away to the life and work which she had so often tried to picture to herself. III.] GOOD-BYE TO THE CHILDREX. 27 CHAPTER III. GOOD-BYE TO THE CHILDEEX. Theee was miTcli comment on this decision of tlie parents in favom^ of Bertie's ^ish. Tlie elder sisters lauglied ; the elder boys, George and Charlie, home from Eiigby, and Herbert from Wellington, said it was " awfully jolly," and the ^ve younger children looked at Bertie with amaze- ment and said nothing. As the time drew near for her departure these five, with whom she was a special favourite, resolved to give her a treat. "Now what shall it be?" asked Nelly, a girl of eleven. "I think keeping shop will be best:" suggested jNIaggie, who was six. " AVe can get some raisins and biscuits, and cook will let us have the scales if we say we are going to weigh out plums for Bertie." *' Masr^ie, how^ orreedv vou are : " exclaimed 28 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. a third girl of eight years old. " You always want a shop because there's something to eat in it." " What a story, Ethel 1" pouted Maggie. " I knov/ what Til do : " piped Leonard the youngest, and Bertie's especial darling : " I'll dwess Donald with wibbons and put on his new tail that Frank niade him yesterday, and Bertie shall have him all to her own self and take him wound the hall." " Oh, Lenny, Bertie wont care about your old horse." " Yes, she will ; she's very fond of him, and she shall have him all to her very own self. I won't even hold the weins." The little fellow, who was sitting on a large wooden horse, much battered and curiously painted in spots and stripes, rose and patted it. " Lenny, you might let me have Donald for a little, just to take him round the room." " No, I sliall not, Maggie. You pulled off his tail last time and hurted him." '' I didn't really, Lenny. It came off of itself. I only just put my hand on it." *' You pulled it off, Maggie." " No I didn't, Lenny." III.] GOOD-BYE TO THE CHILDREX. 29 " Maggie, you pulled it ofiV' " You two always begin to quarrel when we want to talk," interposed JSTelly ; " now if you don't make it up at once you shan't join in with us." '' Well, but Lenny won't let me have Donald, and isn't it very selfish of him V '' Be quiet, Maggie. Now listen, all of you ; shall we dress up and act a charade for Bertie ?" " Oh yes, yes : " was shouted on all sides. " Xelly, may I wear a gold crown?" said Lenny. " And may I be a cook and make some cakes ?" asked Maggie, "they bake beautifully on the hob." " I'll be a schoolmaster," said Frank, a boy of ten years old who had not yet spoken, " and I'll have a cap and a black gown and a stick. Lenny and IMaggie can run away, and then I'll flog them." " Oh !" said Lenny, jumping about, '' that's jolly ; but you musn't weally hit, you must only pretend. And Jip may come in, because he'll bark when he sees a stick and make such a jolly wow." "Trissy says you're not to say 'jolly row,' Lenny." so THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " It's holiday time, Maggie, and I shall say whatever I like. Jolly wow ! jolly wow ! jolly wow !" "Hold your tongue, you naughty boy!" ex- claimed Maggie, running after Leonard. There was a struggle and a loud cry. -Nelly interposed and scolded them both : " You two can never be together without quar- relling, and I don't think we shall let you act in the charade at all." " Well, Lenny will say jolly roio, and he oughtn't to." '' "What business is it of yours ? Can't you leave him alone ? " " Now what are you crying for, Lenny ?" "She bitedme:" said the little boy with a piteous face. '' Oh," groaned the three elder children with unanimous disapproval. " I didn't bite, you naughty boy ; you know I didn't," cried Maggie with shrill tones. " You put your fingers in my mouth, and you're a naughty boy, and I'll tell mamma." " Now they are both crying," said Ethel in dismay, " and if Lizzie hears it she'll send us to bed directly after tea, just the very night we want to sit up." III.] GOOD-BYE TO THE CHILDEEX. 31 *' Leave oflf crying, Lenny," said Frank, '' and go and ask mamma if we may dress up to- niglit/' Lenny dried his eyes, and seizing tlie leather reins of his horse dragged it away ; the children listened as he clattered along the passage. Li a few minutes child and horse re-appeared. " Yes, we may ; yes, we may : " shouted Lenny. *' And stay up to supper V asked Maggie. '' I didn't ask ; I didn't ask." '^ Oh you are a silly ; mamma would have said yes, and now we shall be packed off with a piece of bread and butter." Mao'o-ie retired to a corner to sulk ; whilst the other children, from the lowest shelf of the school-room cupboard, drew out a tumbled heap of stage properties and discussed their plans. Bertie sat with her father on this Jast evening at home. " May the children come in at six, father, and act their play ? " "Yes, if they get out of the way by dinner- time." " Don't you know there is no dinner to-night. It is Lizzie's birthday ; so there's supper at nine." 32 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " So much the better for tlie children. Let them come by all means." *' They'll only have you and me for an audi- ence, for mamma is busy with the maids. Lizzie wants the floor chalked in honour of the occasion." " Pray how is Lizzie on this eventful night ? " " Oh, much as usual. Full of mystery and tragedy, and horribly cut up because there is no lobster salad for supper." " And where is Gladys ? " " Gladys has got a new black net dress, looped up with poppies. Just now it's hanging over a chair before the glass, and Gladys is standing behind it to arrange the folds and puffs. Won't she look well in it ? " '' Can't say. What has become of Miranda ? " "Dear old Molly. I saw her set off with a lantern and a paib She is taking a bran masli to the pony." " Your mother says it's time to leave off Molly, and call her Miranda." "No, indeed, father; it can't be done. Molly wouldn't like it. She says she always thinks of the cows and the milking-pails when we call her Molly, and that is what she likes best. Here come the children." A motley crew entered. III.] GOOD-BYE TO THE CHILDEEX. 33 "What does the drawino'-room hearth-rucr represent ? " asked Mr. Eavenshaw. " It's the story of Eed Eiding-Hood ; and that is Lenny, he is the wolf." " What is the boy with the stick going to do ? " " That is Ethel. She always likes to be dressed like a boy. Frank is the grandmother. Don't you know we have to change the story for Lenny. He can't bear anybody to be eaten uj) ; so Ethel has a big stick and rescues the grandmother first, and then little Eed Eidinor-Hood." o At this point there was a loud cry ; the grand- mother had inadvertently trodden on the paw of the wolf. Lenny let the hearth-rug sli^D off, and sat down on the floor with tears streamino- down o his face. " Oh, Lenny, you mustn't cry on Bertie's last night:" said Ethel; ''and Lm so sorry. You know I didn't meai; it." *' Pinch it hard," exclaimed Frank. " Pinch it as hard as ever you can ; that's what the boys do at school ; and then you won't feel the pain." ^' Let him say what he'd like to do best :" inter- posed Nelly with an air of authority ; " and then if he won't cry he shall do it." " What would you like best, my pet ? " said Bertie, who had taken the little fellow in her arms. VOL. I. D 34 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. Lenny made a valiant effort to keep down liis sobs, and at last said : " May I be tlie appawition of a cliild ? " " What does he mean ? " asked Bertie. " That's his part in the play ; please let him do it, Bertie." " Papa didn't hear it. You know he was ill in bed when we had the play, and yon were with papa all the evening, so you haven't seen it cither, Bertie." " Papa, may Lenny do his part in the play ? " " By all means. I shall like to see it." Frank took the little fellow from Bertie and carried him out of the room ; Nelly followed. A few minutes later the door was partly opened, showing a small figure and a little white face draped in a shawl. A high voice with the tremulous tone of tears piped out : " Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth, be bloody, bold, and resolute." " Oh you darling ! " exclaimed Bertie. " Bring him here, Frank, and let papa kiss him.'' "No, no, no," shouted all the children. "He can't come in, Bertie ; it would spoil everything. He's got to disappear. The book says so. He disappears." III.] GOOD-BYE TO THE CHILDEEX. 35 "Very well. When he has quite clone dis- appearing you can bring him to me :" said the father. " He ought to say something more," interposed Ma^'o-ie, *'but he never remembers it." An hour later the children were sitting at the dinner- table, and Maggie's bright eyes were roving over the dishes. " I am glad there's supper," she said. Bertie presided at the feast, and the children drank her health in lemonade and wished her a pleasant journey, each one adding in turn : ''And, Bertie, will you v.Tite to me first ? " Lenny did not like to hear of Bertie's going away. He began to draw down his upper lip, and finally set up a piteous cry. At that moment Mrs. Ravenshaw entered the room. "Now, Bertie, what are you saying to that poor child ? It is very cruel to hurt his feelings. Crying is so bad for him. Look at his poor little white, miserable face ; I really am ashamed of you all. Come to mother, my darling, come away to mother." " Now, mummy, don't be tross," said Lenny, who had an indistinct notion that Bertie was being scolded and he must take her part ; '' don't D 2 36 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. be tross, mummy. You said we might sit up, and / ordered the supper." " My precious child. But who has been making you cry ? " The little fellow looked wistfully at Bertie. *' Nobody," he replied stoutly. *' I like Bartie to go to College. I want her to go, and I sant cry again." The two little hands clasped her neck so tightly that Bertie had to loosen them as she kissed him. " Dear child," said his mother, " I think you ought to be an example to your sister. Bertie, I have come to tell you that you must start at seven to-morrow to catch the mail train, so you need not dance to-night if you don't wish it." "Thank you, mother; I would rather not dance." "Your brother George will see you to the train, and I have just had a letter from your uncle Harmer to say he will meet you at Exeter. You can stay all night with aunt Ellen, and the next day your uncle will take you on to St. Mary's." " Thanks, mother. I will go and say good-bye to everybody before the festivities begin." " Bertie, Bertie," shouted the five. III.] GOOD-BYE TO THE CHILDPiEX. 37 '' All right," slie' replied. " I shall come aucl kiss you all in bed." '^ Hurrah ! " Bertie danced from room to room, had just one waltz with the boys, admired Gladys, scolded ]\Iolly for being late, and was received by Lizzie with emotion. "I did think, sister, you would have spared my feelings on this day. It is hard to say good- bye, perchance for ever, on my birthday. " Nonsense, Lizzie. Why I shall be home in June, and nothing ever happens at Norlands. You'll all be just the same. The Pigotts will be comins:, and Luke Hatherleio-h, and the Calde- cotts, and there'll be a dance ; only it will be summer and the doors and windows will be all open, whereas now they are all shut." '' Ah, Bertie, you have no deep feelings." "Lizzie," said Harry, bursting into the room, " Joe's come back." ''Well!" ''He's got the lobsters." " Sister ! " said Lizzie, turning to Bertie with streaming eyes, ''it is a trifling matter, but you don't know how pleased I am ; the supper would have been to me a hlanh without lobster-salad." 38 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. CHAPTER lY. THE HIGHEE EDUCATION OF WOMEN. In the year 1862 the Professors of the Uni- versity of Minster, moved by the urgent advocacy of two or three of their number, resolved to establish classes for ladies. The scheme met with considerable ajDproval, and Minster afforded it a rare combination of advantages. The staff of Professors, the prestige of the Western University, and the presence of a society remarkable for culture rather than for wealth and fashion were all in its favour. The wives and daughters of Professors, the widows and families of many of their prede- cessors, and a very large contingent of unmarried females of all ages, gave promise of an inex- haustible supply of students. Moreover, many of these persons had '' connec- tions," and there was an implied sanction of the scheme on the part of the church, the army, and IV.] THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF WOMEN. 39 the bar. Deans were not uncommon in Minster, and Bishops not unknown ; general officers fre- quented the place, and a Lord Chief Justice had honoured it with his presence. All these things were taken as an indication that in Minster, if anywhere in Great Britain, the experiment of providing for the higher education of women might safely be tried. At the expiration of two years Principal Ellice and Lady Mary his wife held a drawing- room meeting to review the work done. The classes Avhich had been carried on in the town- hall had been so well attended, and the pecu- niary result was so satisfactory, that it was unanimously resolved to establish forth^^'ith, under the auspices of the Principal and Pro- fessors, a College for Ladies. At this point numerous difficulties began to crop up. There was no endowment for such a College, there were no funds, there were no suit- able premises. Persons who had recently founded scholarships and contributed munificently to the buildino' fund for the enlaro-ernent of Minster University drew back in dismay when it was pro- posed that they should establish a College for Women. A special dread of demoralising and pauperis- 40 THE LADY RESIDENT. [cHAr. ing the parents of girls was developed in all such, and they asserted that as an earnest of their sin- cerity those persons who advocated the higher education of women should pay for it. The difficulties attending the undertaking threatened to be insuperable ; but after much patient effort Lady Mary Ellice called a meeting of the Professors and announced that they had been overcome. Two widows, Mrs. Milner and Mrs. Armstrong ; three ' spinsters, Miss le Mesu- rier, Miss Ellen Green, and Miss Julia Spiers, had resolved to contribute each £200 ; she her- self proposed to add £500, and this sum of £1500 would be offered as a loan to the govern- ing body of the College for Women. She also announced that Mrs. Armstrong, Miss le Mesurier, and Miss Ellen Green had purchased from the creditors of Mr. Lumley the extensive buildings and large grounds known as St. Mary's Hall, where Mr. Lumley had failed to establish a remunerative school for boys. They had bought this property, a great bargain, and were willing to let it on agreement for three years at a very low rent. Lady Mary Ellice proposed that the £1500 should form a guarantee fund, to provide for the rent, the execution of repairs, and suitable furn- IV.] THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF AVOMEX. 41 isliing of the college. The subscribers expected no interest for their money until such time as the college could aflford to pay it ; but, at the sugges- tion of a legal friend, they asked that the furni- ture and fittings should be secured to them. Great was the rejoicing at the good news Lady Mary announced. The six Founders, as they were called, were the most popular women in the city and had everything their own way. All preparations were entrusted to the three pur- chasers of St. Mary's, who were henceforth denominated the manaoinsf ladies, or the man- agers. Principal Ellice and the professors, to- gether with some ladies and gentlemen of good standing in Minster, formed the governing body or General Council ; and certain m^embers of this council were nominated to form a Ladies' Com- mittee. Three months later St. 3Iarijs College for Ladies was opened with all the pomp and circum- stance that the presence of the most distinguished liberals in Minster and the whole University staff could confer. The class-rooms at St. Mary's were numerous and large ; there was in addition to them a well- built house which had been occupied by Mr. Lumley and his boarders. 42 THE LADY RESIDENT. [cHAr. The managers reserved this house ; and, as a private speculation, furnished it for the reception of twenty girls, and appointed a certain Miss Flint as superintendent of what was known as The House. For two years things went smoothly. The number of pupils in college and house increased steadily ; the popularity of the founders was un- diminished ; they bore their honours meekly and well deserved the praise bestowed upon them. Gratitude and courtesy combined to give them unlimited power both in the General Council, of which they had all been appointed members, and in the Ladies' Committee, where they formed a majority. At the end of this period the health of Lady Mary Ellice, never very strong, failed entirely, and a lengthened residence in the south of Europe was prescribed for her. No greater catastrophe than that which was brought about by her absence could have befallen the council and committee of St. Mary's. She had given strength to the gentle and yielding Mrs. Milner, and supplied the want of words in Miss Julia Spiers. The friends of Miss Julia Spiers opined that she might think although she did not speak, and that it was not impossible she should form IV.] THE HIGHER EDLXATION OF WOMEX. 43 opinions tliougli she never uttered them. She dici in reality blindly follow the three managing ladies. She looked up to them as her leaders and voted for everything of which they ap- proved. Shortly after Lady Mary left Minster for Cannes, Mrs. Armstrono; received a letter sio'ned J. de S. KimlDerley Finch, which she thought of such importance that it was brought forward for consideration at the ensuiuof meeting: of the Ladies' Committee. Miss Kimberley Finch stated that she had followed the career of St. Mary's with deep interest ; that the Emancipation and Advancement of Woman was the only subject deserving attention at the present time ; that if the movement in their favour was not judiciously guided, the advantages now offered would be allowed to slip away from them, and the sole result of all labour on their behalf would be to increase the emoluments and add to the power of men. She spoke with authority on this matter, for she said her brother was a well-known English professor in Dublin University, and she appealed with confidence to the experience of every woman to confirm her statements. They were all familiar with the universal masculine belief that women have nothino- to do with their 44 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. money except to bestow it in some manner for the advantage of men. " As for men," she con- tinued, " women are absolved from all considera- tion of their interests. They will look after themselves ; they always have done so. They will snap up every penny that is to be had, and take tlie bread of knowledge from the very lips of women, though they are liberal enough with the cold water of disapproval. In almost every parish in England, at some period, money has been left for the education of boys and girls. What have the men done ? On the plea of the inability of women to understand and manage business they have assumed entire control over it, and spent it on endowed schools and grammar- schools for boys. If they have occasionally reserved a trifle for girls, how has it been em- ployed ? A charity-school has been established in which a certain number of poor girls are dressed like scarecrows, treated like felons, taught to destroy crockery by having nothing but tin mugs and plates, and sent out into the world unable to write their names or to read the alphabet ; ignorant, stupid, and vicious. In fact," concluded the writer, ^^ the influence of men in an institution established for the benefit of Woman can have only one result ; to maintain IV.] THE HIGHEE EDUCATION OF WOMEX. 45 their own supremacy and confirm tlie clegTaclu- tion of our sex." AVlien this letter was read some members of the committee laughed and some protested ; but the manao'ino: ladies maintained a solemn silence ; they w^ere considering the fact that they had received no interest for their money. If Lady Mary had been present she would have recognised the nature of this cloud on the horizon, and have provided means to escape from the danger which it threatened. But in her absence no one had the rec^uisite tact and the necessary social influence to smooth over little difficulties. Miss Ellen Green had been pro- moted to the chair, and was supposed to take Lady Mary's place. She w^as nervous and irrit- able, and chiefly troubled by Mrs. Brownlow^ the wife of one of the Professors, a young and very pretty woman who chattered freely. It was Mrs. Brownlow wdio now^ broke the silence of the meeting by observing : " I have heard of Professor Finch. I think my husband knows him, and his sister is so disagreeable that I believe he is obliged to make extra-mural arrangements in order to procure his meals in peace." 46 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. "Husli, Bell !" exclaimed a cousin who sat by Mrs. Brownlow's side. Miss le Mesurier, turning to the two ladies, said harshly : " No doubt a man is very glad to escape from his sister when he finds in her an intellectual equal.'' " I should have expected it to be the other way :" exclaimed Mrs. Brownlow. *' I am always sorry for- a man who is tied to a disagreeable, naofcrins: woman ; and a sister must be worse than a wife because you can't beat her." Miss Ellen Green rapped the table sharply, and Mrs. Nichol appealed to her cousin. As a result that lady broke out into whispers, but made no further audible remarks throughout the meeting. Mrs. Milner proposed that Miss Kimberley Finch should be thanked, and informed that St. Mary's had been established entirely through the gener- ous interest and influence of Principal EUice and the professors of Minster University ; but Miss le Mesurier protested strongly that such a statement would be partial and misleading, and proposed that Miss Kimberley Finch should be asked for an opinion on the present condition of affairs. IV.] THE HIGHER EDUCATIOX OF WOMEN. 47 And thus it was that Miss Kimberley Finch was thanked and encourao;ed. One letter was followed by another, and a policy of distrust and suspicion was inaugurated, which had begun to break up the harmony of the Ladies' Committee and of the General Council. The manaojino; ladies hesitated to take any step without the advice of Miss Kimberley Finch, and appealed to her on every possible occasion. Mrs. Armstrong and Miss le ^lesurier were always ready to follow her advice and take the initiative in offensive measures ; but ]\Iiss Ellen Green was a woman of a different stamp ; narrow it is true, suspicious and irritable, a woman of weak nerves and weak health, but naturally sus- ceptible to good influence, and not incapable of aspiration. Under a leader like Lady Mary Ellice she would have carried on her work to noble issues. Even now she had occasional accesses of compunction which troubled her colleagues and impeded their progress ; but in spite of these they had, during the period that had elapsed since the receipt of the first letter from Miss Kimberley Finch, contrived to change the whole aspect of affairs at St. Mary's, and had obtained a position which enabled them to worry the pro- fessors, interfere in the teaching, suggest in spec- 48 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chaf. tion, and urge external examinations. By degrees during this period ready acquiescence in all their views had given place to organised resistance on the part of the professors; and this again was met by persistent and determined attack on that of the manasrers. o At length, after some years of discord, the council accepted a suggestion emanatiug in the first place from Miss Kimberley Finch, that a Lady Eesident should be appointed, and made respon- sible for the condition of the college. The Profess- ors, groaning under many masters, had eagerly adopted the suggestion. They declined, however, to elect the candidate put forward by Miss Kim- berley Finch, and preferred to wait for the result of an advertisement to be inserted in The Times. This advertisement was answered by two hun- dred and ninety-seven candidates, of whom two hundred and twenty-five could not write a gram- matical letter or spell it correctly. Of the re- maining seventy-two only nine gave promise of being competent, and this number was rapidly diminished to two ; Miss Crayston and the candi- date originally brought forward by Miss Kimber- ley Finch. Miss Crayston, who held testimonials that were unimpeachable, and who was known to belong to IV.] THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF WOMEX. 49 a good family and believed to possess private means, was cliosen by the Ladies' Committee and elected by the Council, chiefly, as the managers Avere well aware, on the ground that she was not their nominee. It was the first severe check which the three ladies had received, and they looked upon it, so Miss le Mesurier said, as "a most unmerited insult." " Perhaps you are wrong," urged Mrs. Arm- strong. " I think from the photograph that she must be just the kind of person we want." VOL. I. 50 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. CHAPTER y. THE LADIES COMMITTEE. The short January afternoon is fast drawing to a close. The wind is rising. It whistles past the windows in angry gusts, driving before it low dark clouds. Whenever there is a lull w^andering snowflakes are seen, or there is a sudden burst of sleet and hail. A dull, con- tinuous reverberation seems to fill the air ; from time to time it is interrupted by a sound like the boom of artillery. The sea is nearly two miles distant ; but in a storm on the Cornish coast, with a gale from the north-west, the long roll and mighty sweep of the Atlantic waves brinsfs them thundering^ over the cruel reefs at the foot of the cliff with the crash and the tramp of armies. The brunt of the storm falls upon the cliffs w^hich shelter the Minster valley; but it is also felt v.] THE LADIES' COMMITTEE. 51 in the old city that lies ou the steep south- eastern slopes, and the ladies who brave such inclement weather in order to reach St. Mary's Hall have shown considerable courao^e. Not a few of them, as they sit round the committee- table, look from time to time anxiously towards the windows. They think of the gathering storm and the darkness ; of the half-mile of exposed road which separates them from the ruined tower, the battered walls of a cathedral, the cluster of halls, chapels, and old-fashioned houses, the low- lying lanes and purlieus, the light and warmth and dirt and noise, the human fellowship and shelter of the old University and city of Minster. They reflect, moreover, that only one of their members has a carriage, and that she has never been known to overcrowd it. The nine ladies in St. Mary's Hall are seated round a table covered with green baize. They have pens, paper, and ink before them, and a casual observer may at once discover that they represent the product of the nineteenth century, a Ladies' Committee. The institution over which they preside is a Ladies' College. One of their number is absorbed in a pen-and-ink sketch of a young man followed by a dog, another ex- ecutes a highly-finished drawing of aD oak leaf, E 2 52 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. and tlie remainder are talking together in little groups of two and three. There is an animated discussion on the tem- perance question at one side of the table, whilst on the other the announcement that Colonel Black is to rejoin his regiment in India, and that Mrs. Black will let Trelawney and go abroad with the children, is received with great in- terest. At the head of the table a large fair woman in spectacles beams mildly and somewhat feebly over the assembly. By her side is the honorary secretary, Mrs. Armstrong, who clears her throat with a prolonged er — er — er — um, and tries in vain to attract attention. Mrs. Armstrong is about fifty years old and a widow, at least she is supposed to be a widow. Mr. Armstrong, who left her three years after their marriage to look after some property in the colonies, has never since either written or returned to her. She does not speak of him to anyone. After he had been absent twelve years she put on mourning, which she has now worn for six years. " I have every reason to believe that my husband is dead," she said to her friends ; but she said no more, and declined to answer questions *' on so painful a subject." Mrs. Armstrong has very light hair, v.] THE LADIES' COMMITTEE. 53 SO light that it is difficult to discriminate be- tween the grey and the sandy, colourless eyes with a gleam of pale blue when she is angry, and a round face on which hair grows in tufts and patches, chiefly on moles in the region of the mouth and chin. Her teeth, which project, are large, long, and set far apart. She draws her lips over them when she is silent, and this gives a look of repression which is her character- istic expression. She has before her a pile of official-looking books and papers, and by her side gapes a leather bag full of letters and miscel- laneous documents. These letters used formerly to be brought to the table in a simple but com- modious wooden box, in which they were neatly arranged. On one occasion the box was unfor- tunately turned away from the owner and towards the assembled members of the Committee. The announcement on the inside of the lid, "Fry's Homoeopathic Cocoa, grateful, nourishing : " pro- duced a general smile, and an after ripple of lauo^hter throuo[li the small Minster circle, which did not fail to reach Mrs. Armstronor. She thereupon abandoned the box and adopted a bag with an ominous steel snap, and pockets in which small documents were sure to be mis- laid. 54 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. A loud gust of wind for a moment liushes all voices, and the speakers look uneasily towards the windows. " I wish to remark," observes one of the mem- bers, "that it is now more than an hour since the Lady Resident ought to have arrived." "Perhaps there has been an accident," inter- poses her neighbour. '' Have you heard about poor Bessie Polwarth ? " " Is she the one that went to visit her aunt at Sheffield ? " *•' The very same ; Bessie. Well, when she reached Exeter she stepped out of the carriage too soon " " I beg your pardon," interrupts a harsh, dis- cordant voice ; " she got out too late." " I tUnh you are wrong, Miss le Mesurier ; I had it from a friend who is sure to know, and she says " " I am sorry to interrupt the conversation," interposes Mrs. Armstrong ; " but we have business of great importance before us." " Is it about Miss Ravenshaw ? " asks Mrs. Mcholl. " That matter was decided at our last meeting, when you were not present : " smiles Miss Ellen Green, who always likes to remind people of the v.] THE LADIES' COMMITTEE. 65 non-fulfilment of their duties. '' Miss Flint can- not at present receive another boarder, and Mr. Eavenshaw made rather a point of placing his daughter under Miss Crayston's charge. We have acceded to his ^-ish, and in so doing have secured a companion for Miss Crayston, a pupil for the college, and a very desirable connection." " Hear, hear ! " exclaims Miss le Mesurier. "Did you not say," asks Mrs. Bro^Tilow, " that when the minutes were read and confirmed we should have nothing to do except to receive the Lady Resident ? " " I don't think those words were used," replies Mrs. Armstrono' smilins; at ■\Iiss Ellen Green and speaking for her, " at the same time I was not aware until this morning of the important matters I should have to bring before you." " Can't you postpone the communication ? " '^ I think not. The fact is, I have received a long letter from Miss Kimberley Finch, which contains most valuable advice as to the position and duties of the Lady Resident." "But we decided those points at our last meetincr ! " "You see," resumes Mrs. Armstrong, "that Miss Kimberley Finch has had so much experi- ence, and is such a very distinguished authority, 56 THE LADY RESIDENT. [cuAr. that I am sure we shall all be disposed to modify our decisions if they are such as she does not approve." Mrs. Armstrong looked round the table ; the lady in the chair bowed graciously, and Miss le Mesurier nodded her head with a jerk. " Will it not be a very good plan to send the letter round from one member to another ? " asked Mrs. Cookson, laying down her pen, and contemplating the oak-leaf with some satisfaction. " It would be a great loss of time, and scarcely courteous to Miss Kimberley Finch, who has taken the trouble to write expressly for this meeting.'' " I shall be delighted to propose a vote of thanks to Miss Finch : " interposed Mrs. Brown- low with alacrity ; " and I suggest that the letter shall be entered upon the minutes." " No, no," whispered her neighbour ; '' we shall then have it twice over." " Shall we ? Oh ! then, if you please, Mrs. Armstrong, I don't propose it." '' We can scarcely impose such a task upon our secretary as to transcribe all the letters that are received, however important they may be : " said Miss Ellen Green, the lacly in the chair. She smiled at Mrs. Brownlow as one conscious of v.] THE LADIES' COMMITTEE. 57 superior knowledge with regard to the details of committee work ; and this smile, which was her strong point, often did more than words to over- awe her colleagues. As no one replied, she continued : "Moreover, we have not yet decided whether this letter is or is not important, so I will ask Mrs. Armstroncr to read it." o Mrs. Browulow and her cousin and inseparable companion, Mrs. XichoU, always sat together at the Committee meetino-s, and carried on much private conversation. As the result of an em- phatic whispered appeal Mrs. Xicholl now said : " May I delay the reading for a few minutes to ask how it is that when we had decided to give the new porter and his wife £60 a year they have been engaged at £J:0 ? " "I don't think we can re-open the question:" smiled Miss Green. " The minutes confirming the appointment at £40 a year were signed at our last meeting, Mrs. Kicholl, which you did not attend : " said ^Irs. Armstrong. " Yes ; but I find that no one noticed the change from £00 to £40, and we are all quite sure that we voted the former sum, although Miss le Mesurier proposed the latter." 58 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. *' The porter is already complaining of his poor pay, and no wonder : " said Mrs. Brownlow. '' I don't see that there is anything to be done :" said Miss Green, looking at Miss le Mesurier, who shook her head. " My husband suggests that we had better have the minutes rectified, or something of that kind," continued Mrs. NichoU ; " the gentlemen will tell us how to manage it." "Ah," smiled Miss Ellen Green, ''Professor NichoU is not very familiar with the business of a Ladies' Committee ; but perhaps Mrs. Armstrong will kindly explain." Thus appealed to, that lady turned over the contents of the leather bag, and produced a bulky document. She retained it in her hand whilst she announced that, as the decision with regard to the porter's salary w^as in direct opposition to the advice given on that subject by the man- aQ:ino^ ladies, she had thouofht it better to consult Miss Kimberley Finch. That lady, who had great experience in all these matters, considered that £60 a year would be full London wages for a man and his wife, and would be excessive at St. Mary's. The managers, acting upon this advice, had therefore decided in favour of the sum originally proposed. v.] THE LADIES' COMMITTEE. 59 " Now, really ! " exclaimed Mrs. Brownlow. *' How nice for you ! And that was exactly your own opinion, ]\Irs. Armstrong ! "Was it not ? " " I anticipated your objections/' replied Mrs. Armstrong, with some asperity, " and therefore wrote again to Miss Kimberley Finch on the subject. She states that the secretary of a committee has very large discretionary powers, and she does not see that I have in any way exceeded them. I will read what she says on the subject:" and she open- ed the voluminous document and began to read. There was a feeble attempt on the part of two or three members to put further questions ; but Mrs. Armstrong read on and on, stumbling over words, and correcting herself so often that it was not easy to gather her meaning. This manner of reading was habitual to her ; and JVIrs. Brownlow, in a whisper to her cousin, who complained that she could make nothing of it, replied : '' Depend on it there's method in her madness." The letter seemed interminable ; but when it passed from the discussion of the porter's salary to the appointment of visitors to the classes, and the exclusion of the wives of the Professors from the class rooms, the whole committee was roused to attention. *' This, my love," whispered Mrs. Brownlow, 60 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " this is the use of rockets, so valuable in savage warfare." " Hush, don't be foolish. It is no time for jesting." " Am I to understand," asked a lady who had not yet spoken, " that a decision has been formed, and a new scheme inaugurated, of which this committee is ignorant ? " Mrs. Armstrong hesitated. " Well, really. Miss Graham, as the founders are members of the committee, and form a ma- jority, we cannot be said to be ignorant even in our corporate capacity." " I'll make a note of 'corporate capacity: '" mur- mured Mrs. Brownlow, as she drew pen and paper towards her. "But is the decision of the founders binding upon the committee ? " ''Most assuredly:" replied Miss Ellen Green with a smile of ineffable condescension. " How delightful for the founders ! " exclaimed Mrs. Brownlow, this time aloud ; and she looked so simple, so young, and so pretty, that Miss Ellen Green was beguiled, and added, with much affability : "But you forget the grave responsibility of their position, dear Mrs. Brownlow." v.] THE LADIES' COMMITTEE. 61 " Perhaps I do : " replied that lady, with an artless and beaming look, which quite re- assured Miss Ellen Green. '' Perhaps I do : " she added, as if thinking aloud ; '' and it would be only kind of you to tell us some of their other secret decisions before we come upon them liead-foremost in the letters of Miss Kimberley Pinch." Mrs. Armstrong moved uneasily upon her chair, and Miss Green coloured : " "We have been compelled to take the step now announced : " she said, " and before long the whole committee will see the necessity for, as well as the wisdom of it." The rasping voice of Miss le Mesurier was now beard. ''We know what men are:" she said, ''they like supreme power, and always contrive to get it ; now we must keep the government of the College in our own hands. Besides, our numbers are increasing, and there will soon be a great many young girls about the place ; we must have strict rules, and must be able to remonstrate with the Professors if necessary." " I am not quite sure that I understand you : " urged Mrs. Brownlow, turning a beaming face upon the severe visage of the last speaker, who 62 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. was at the far end of the table ; '' but I am quite sure that if ever my husband flirts with any of the young ladies, or the old ones either, I should like to remonstrate with him myself." ''This subject should not be treated with levity : " interposed Mrs. Armstrong, and three or four ladies who had laughed looked uncomfort- able at her reproof. *' That is my view : " said Mrs. Nicholl, coming to the relief of her cousin. " If the Professors are to be treated like schoolboys, watched and worried " "I might as well inform you, as a fact," interrupted Mrs. Armstrong, " that the original promoters of the College have, by the advice of Miss Kimberley Finch, already come to a decision on this point. We held a meeting a week ago, and our conclusion was unanimous^ " Not unanimous : " said a low, sweet voice, '' Lady Mary was not present, and I opposed the measure. I think it most inexpedient, most un- just, and most discourteous towards the gentlemen upon whose generous assistance we depend for the success of our scheme." Miss le Mesurier, red and angry, had in vain attempted to interrupt the speaker. "Keally, Mrs. Milner, I must protest against v.] THE LADIES' COMMITTEE. 63 such a breach of conficleuce as the repetition of what took place at a founders' meeting." " Let us have a dictionary : " suggested Mrs. Brownlow, "and look out the meaning of unanimous. One does foro-et one's Ions; words." Mrs. Armstrong kept back an angry rejoinder with some difficulty, and after a moment's pause turned to Mrs. Milner saying : " I consulted Miss Kimberley Finch on this very point, and she assures me that, considering the strength of our convictions and the import- ance of our cause, we are fully justified in con- sidering the decision tinanimousr Mrs. Armstrong closed her mouth with an ominous snap and drew down the lips over her large teeth. Mrs. Milner sighed, Mrs. Brownlow and Mrs. Nicholl whispered to each other, aud then there was silence, broken a few minutes later by the harsh tones of Miss le ]\Iesurier. " The fact is," she said, " that the Professors and the ladies represent antagonistic interests. AVe care for nothing but the welffire of woman, and therefore we must take immediate steps to secure the entire manao-ement of the College." By way of dropping oil upon the troubled waters this speech was about as successful as any 64 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. ordinary utterance of Miss le Mesurier. There arose a murmur on all sides. " I don't think that is exadlij what we said :" interposed Miss Ellen Green, '' though the clear, forcible statements of Miss le Mesurier are never very far wrong," the two ladies smiled blandly upon each other, ''perhaps Mrs. Armstrong will explain." Thus appealed to, Mrs. Armstrong, who spoke as she read, with hesitation, frequent correction, and numerous pauses, proceeded to say : " I must confess that we were all, nearly every one of us, very much impressed by the view Miss Kimberley Einch takes of our position. She says that the existing Colleges for men are so, in fact are what they are, because you see they are governed by men ; and that if ever ladies' colleges are to be the same, in fact what they ought to be, they must be governed by women." '' That 50," whispered Mrs. Brownlow, " is most impressive." '' Oh, pray be quiet." " I have good reason to believe," continued Mrs. Armstrong, turning her eyes upon the speaker with a reproving glance, in reply to which Mrs. Brownlow smiled and nodded, " I have in fact evidence, that the London Colleges v.] THE LADIES' COMMITTEE. 65 regret that tliey did not seize upon this as a vital principle. We have to show that the powers of women are, in fact, indeed that they are most certainly of a higher order than those of men ; and so we ought to, in fact we must, secure all offices of trust, importance, and dignity connected with the College." "The committee will remember," said Miss Gra- ham, "that these are the views of a lady whom we have never seen, and of only a few of the ladies present. They do not certainly represent the unanimous opinion of the ladies' committee, nor are they shared by the general council, which consists of ladies and gentlemen " " Very unequally divided," angrily interrupted Miss le Mesurier. "" It never occurred to us that there was any division in the matter : " continued Miss Graham. " The general council has administrative and the ladies' committee executive functions." " Oh dear, dear : " sighed Mrs. Brownlow. " I think I must really be going home,'' said Mrs. Nicholl ; " it is getting very late, and the subject now under discussion is one in which I am not competent to take any part." " Pray do not leave us, Mrs. Nicholl : " said Mrs. Milner, in her low sweet tones ; and then VOL. I. F 66 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. turning from one to the other, she urged all present to have patience, to wait until plans were further developed, to take no irrevocable step too soon (at this point Mrs. Armstrong replaced all her papers and closed the bag gently), and to try and secure the hearty co- operation of all those interested in the great work before them. " I'll keep Jack up to his work : " murmured Mrs. Brownlow. '' She is the very dearest old lady I ever knew." Mrs. Milner continued speaking, and insensibly she drew her listeners away from the dangerous topic of the respective powers and merits of men and women to the advent of the new Lady Kesident. "I must confess,'' she said, taking up the photograph of an elderly and foreign-looking female, " I must confess to a shade of disap- pointment in the personal appearance of Miss Crayston. I had hoped from an indescribable something in her letters that she was young and," she added after a moment's pause, " good- looking." " Oh, please tell me how you find that out from a letter : " eagerly asked Miss Juha Spiers, who had hitherto remained silent. v.] THE LADIES' COMMITTEE. 67 It was ruled from the chair that an explan- ation on this point was inadmissible; but Mrs. Milner's statement had been successful in divert- ing attention from all that preceded it. The disadvantages of youth and good looks were freely discussed, and were being demonstrated by Mrs. Armstrong on the authority of Miss Kimberley Finch, when Mrs. Brownlow, drawing out her watch, exclaimed : " Do you know it is nearly five o'clock ? We have been here since a quarter to three. Miss Crayston cannot be coming to-day, and I really must not wait any longer." "It is now precisely three minutes after five : " said Mrs. Armstrong with emphasis, looking at a large silver watch which she drew from a breast pocket on the outside of a tight-fitting cloth jacket. " Is that your time. Miss Graham ? " " I am seven minutes after five : " replied that lady. "You are both wrong:" said Miss le Mesurier in the tone of one who conveys a moral reproof; '•'it is exactly four minutes after five. My watch may be relied on." " I wonder who came in that cab that drove to the door nearly an hour ago." " ] didn't see any cab." F 2 68 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. *' Yes, it came just after Gibson lighted the gas ; I heard it distinctly." " We had better ring and ask : " said Miss Graham, going to the bell " It will be perfectly useless to do so : " ex- claimed Mrs. Armstrong. "My instructions to Gibson were quite clear. I said, ' Gibson, when Miss Crayston arrives you will usher her into the council chamber.' " ''Poor Gibson:" murmured Mrs. Brownlow; " perhaps he doesn't know how to usher." In answer to the bell appeared a man with straight black hair, and a very white face deeply pitted by small-pox. "You remember, Gibson," said Mrs. Armstrong, determined to show that she had prepared for the event of the day, " you remember what I desired you to do upon the arrival of Miss Crayston ? " '' Yes, mum ; Miss Crayston, mum, is 'ere.'' " i7^r^ / pray what do you mean? Where is she ? " '' She's in 'er own privit apartiament, mum, a takin' tea along of Professor Walmsley." " Oh, my love ! " ejaculated Mrs. Brownlow in a whisper, with a squeeze of her neighbour's hand. v.] THE LADIES' COMMITTEE. 69 There was profound silence, and tlie porter, looking round the table, added : " She come about four o'clock. No one spoke. Gibson waited a few moments and then left the rooni. " This is a bad beginning ! " groaned Mrs. Armstrong, '' a very bad beginning." Miss Ellen Green leant back in her chair and sighed deeply. But Miss le Mesurier sniffed the air and arose, saying : " I will go and enquire into it." 70 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap, CHAPTER VI. THE FIRST INTRODUCTION. Professor Walmsley had walked up to St. Mary's for a book. He was waiting in the hall whilst the porter searched for it, when a cab drove to the door, and a small lady dressed in deep mourning stepped from it. She looked round with a part-shy, part -ex- pectant air, and her eyes naturally fell upon the Professor. He concluded that it was the new Lady Eesident, and watched her with some interest, for there was much speculation concerning her in the College circle. When he saw a slight pale person, with a wistful look in her eyes, he stepped forward, and said with some hesitation : *' I suppose you are Miss Crayston. We shall soon be better acquainted, for I teach mathematics in St. Mary's. The porter is just now up-stairs, and no one seems to be about, so pray let me take you to your sitting-room." VI.] THE FIRST INTRODUCTION. 71 She thanked him and entered. " You have a room at the back of the house," he said, leading her along a dark passage, " which was formerly assigned to the Professors, so I know the way. '' I am afraid you are very tired : " he continued, turning to the silent companion w^ho had followed him into a small bare room. " Yes : " she replied, " I am tired. I came from Cheltenham, and although the distance is not very great it is a tedious journey, and I have been all day in the train." She grew paler as she spoke, and the Professor saw that she was trembling. " At this stage," he thought, " a woman either cries or faints ; I wonder which she will do, and what I shall do." The difficulty was solved by the appearance of Gibson. " Oh, Gibson ; go to Mrs. Armstrong at once and say that Miss Crayston has arrived." "The ladies is in a comity, sir, and they ex- pects me to husher i\liss Crayston whensoever she arrives." " Oh, she can't go yet ; and you'd better wait a little. Stay ; just tell your wife to make some tea." He was proud of this inspiration, and went up 72 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. to Miss Crayston, who had heard him perfectly well, saying in rather a loud tone : " I have ordered some tea for you." She was standing before the window, looking out ; and she said, " Thank you :" w^ithout turning her head. " No doubt she is crying : " he thought, but a moment after she turned her head, and he saw no sign of tears. The Professor had got himself into a difficulty, and did not know how to get out of it. He did not see how he was to leave Miss Crayston ; and she did not help him to go. He was a very shy man, and was constantly doing some of the un- naturally bold things of w^hich shy men alone are capable. In the present case he drew a chair to the fire, sat down with his feet on the fender, and began to rub his hands. He looked at Miss Crayston with bewilder- ment. She was a young woman, which he had not expected ; tastes differ, and people seldom agree as to good looks, but, to put it mildly, the face seemed to him a pleasant one. He gazed into the fire. " There's a surprise in store for some of our friends : " he thought : and then he turned to Miss Crayston, who this time looked at him. VI.] THE FIRST INTRODUCTION. 73 She had not appeared to notice the cocoa-nut mattinor on which Mrs. Armstrono: had decided as a durable and suitable coverinor for the floor of her sitting-room ; nor the walls, which were great blank spaces of yellow distemper ; nor the three cane chairs at three and sixpence, and the rickety American arm-chair, which cost six shillings ; nor the little deal table with its red and blue cotton cover. She did not notice any of these things, but stood looking out over a long stretch of sand and grass towards a gap in the high clifl", where there was a line of light and a gleam of colour upon a distant sea. "I shall like this : " she said, as she turned and met his gaze. " Yes : " answered the Professor, replying to her thought rather than her words. *' That sight of the sea gives us an escape into the infinite. It makes amends for many of the small vexations of life." She smiled, and turning from the window sat down in the American chair and began to unfasten her shawl. Mr. Walmsley went to her side and took it from her. She gave him her shawl and bonnet, and, looking up, she thanked him. No doubt she was accustomed to receive attention. She was 74 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. quite calm and unmoved. She did not even tell him where to put them, but looked towards the window and the sea. He stood by her side and watched her with a strange feeling of compunction. Now that the crape bonnet and heavy veil, which he did not know what to do with, had been re- moved, there could be no doubt about her beauty. Thick plaits of brown hair were wound round her head, and where the light touched them gleams of gold made him think of the crown of a queen. Colour was returning to her pale cheeks and lustre to her eyes, whilst, when she spoke or smiled, the parted lips of a resolute and yet sensitive mouth showed small and very pretty white teeth. The Professor began to feel sorry for her. He was sure the managing ladies would not like her ; and he wished something could be done to modify the effect of a first impression. So he said, in a puzzled kind of way : *' Won't you keep on your bonnet till you have seen the committee ? " '' Oh dear no : '' she said, looking at him with some astonishment as he held it out towards her ; ''no, indeed, thank you. I have had it on long enough, and now you see I am at home." " Oh, so you are. Well, I suppose that makes VI.] THE FIRST INTRODLXTIOX. 75 a difference." And with some reluctance he put the bonnet on a chair, laid the shawl above it, and pressed it down ; then he resumed his seat, and sat looking into the fire with his feet upon the fender. Getting aw^ay seemed more hopeless than ever, for Miss Crayston did not speak. He could not think of anything to say as an excuse for leaving her, and it did not occur to him that no excuse was wanted. The tea w^as slow in coming, for the porter's wife was not prepared for such a demand, or for the fact that the Lady Resident would arrive after a long day's journey. Still it was not so much commissariat as administrative difficulties that troubled her, and had led to an aroument with her husband. " Don't you remember now," said the porter, " what she said ? ' Mrs. Gibson,' says she, ' you'll wait on the Lady Eesident.' Them was her very words, no later than last night, a-standino* 'ere by the side of this table. Now was they or was they not ? " " Well, James, far be it from me to contradick you, or say anything contrairy ; bat did she or did she not say, as she was a-going out of this servants' 'all, and turned back and took 'old of the door, just where I am now, and as it might 76 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. be like this, did she or did she not say : ' Gibson, you will convey letters, messages, parcels, in fact everytJdnk, to the Professors ? " " Them was her words, Mary, I grant." *' Well, and if Professor Walmsley ordered the tea, James, you may be sure he wanted a cup for hisself. Now who's to take it in ? If I go near the gentleman I shall have her ragin' mad at me ; and go I won't." "But what's the good of shovin' it all on to me ; don't I get enough of it all day long ! Tea was ordered for Miss Crayston, and it's you as must take it to her." Finally, and after much discussion, it was agreed that Gibson should open the door, and his wife should carry in the tray ; that he should arrange the tea-cups, and that they should leave the room together. When at last they made their appearance Miss Crayston, leaning back in the American chair, looked so pale and tired that Mrs. Gibson, a kind - hearted little woman, forgot all pre- cautions. She poured out a cup of tea and took it to her, asking at the same time if there was anything she could do to oblige her. "Nothing, thank you." " Me and Gibson, miss, will take up your boxes." VI.] THE FIRST INTRODUCTION. 77 ''Thank you." " Me and Gibson, miss, will be most 'appy to tiy and make you as eomfable as we can." " Thank you," this time with a smile ; "I will ring presently and ask you to show me my room." " Quite the lady : " said Mrs. Gibson to her husband when they had returned to the room dignified by the title of servants' hall, " it's easy to see that ; and much more so, I should say, than many. Poor thing ! I shouldn't like to stand in 'er shoes." '•' There's that bell a - ringin'," exclaimed Gibson, " and there let it ring ; I know which on 'em that is. When Miss le Mesurier's in the 'ouse 'er 'and is never hoff it." "Lor, James, don't you know she lives in lodgin's and ain't got nobody to order about, for they won't stand it ; but there, do go, or she'll be down-stairs prying about. I 'card 'er come out- side the door as soon as ever she'd rung." When Gibson appeared Miss le Mesurier was standinor in the hall. On second thouo;hts she had come to the conclusion that it would be rather derogatory to fetch the Lady Resident. She resolved therefore to send a message by the porter, and return to the council chamber, 78 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. where she would await the arrival of the delin- quent. Gibson conveyed the summons to Miss Crayston, who rose at once to obey it. Her companion was more puzzled than ever as to how he was to get away ; and therefore, to the surprise of the committee, when Miss Crayston appeared she was attended by Professor Walms- ley. After she had entered the room he closed the door cautiously, took out his handkerchief and wiped his brow ; and then espying Mrs. Brownlow and Mrs. NichoU hurried to them and shook hands eagerly, as if, instead of having met 'that very morning, he had not seen them for years. This was aggravating. It disarranged all Mrs. Armstrong's plans. She had a certain document in her bag with which she had hoped to strike an early and effective blow, but it would be im- possible to make use of it whilst a Professor was present. However, she looked towards the new- comer, and, without rising from her chair, said with peculiar emphasis : " Good evening, Miss Crayston." Mrs. Milner had risen, and moved slowly to- wards the new official. She took her by both hands and looked earnestly at her, and with some VI.] THE FIRST INTRODUCTIOX. 79 astonishment depicted on her countenance, as she spoke a few kindly words of welcome. Mrs. Brown] ow and Mrs. Nicholl broke away from the Professor and greeted her with much cordiality, whilst Miss Graham also rose to shake hands with h'er. " How tired you must be ! " said Mrs. Brown - low ; " much too tired to attend to business, and there really is none of any importance. Now that we have had the pleasure of receiving you, I think the best thing we can do is to allow you a few clays to rest and look about vou." ''Ahem!" exclaimed Miss Ellen Green, rap- ping on the table with her knuckles, '*' I cannot quite agree -^ith you, Mrs. Brownlow. The duties of our Lady Resident are so very onerous and important that it would not be right to allow her to pass a night in ignorance of them." "Perhaps Professor Walmsley has been ex- plaining them : " suggested Miss le Mesurier, speaking sharply. " Impossible ! " said Mrs. Armstrong. " The entire control over college officials and the arrangement of the details of their respective duties rests exclusively with the ladies of the committee." " Ah ! you see that you are an officer : " said 80 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. Mrs. Milner in her sweet, gracious raanner ; and taking Miss Crayston by the hand she led her forward to the light. That lady had been look- ing on in silence. She had a way of slightly raising her brows, and fixing dark, luminous eyes on a speaker, which was impressive, and just now somewhat embarrassing. She looked from one to the other, from those that welcomed to those that smiled, as if they were pictures that puzzled her. " I am tired," she said, as she took her seat at the table by Mrs. Milner, "but I can quite well attend to business." As she sat the light fell full upon her, and all eyes were fixed upon her face. A door was opened and hastily closed again. The Professor had escaped. " This is the most gorgeous joke I ever heard of: " whispered Mrs.^Brownlow. '' I am glad that we stayed, ain't you ? " " Hush ! hush ! what does it mean ; has Walmsley got a hand in it ! " Mrs. Milner's beautiful face, pale and clear, set in snow-white hair, beamed with happiness as she talked to her young companion. Whispers passed from one lady to the other, and '' Ex- traordinary ! " " Requires some explanation ! " VI.] THE FIRST INTRODUCTION. 81 " Shameful ! " were tlie exclamations that ^Ye^e heard. Mrs. ArmstroDg was hurriedly throwing the papers out of her bag. She found whaF she required, and leaning forward said to Miss Crayston : " May I ask whose photograph this is ? " and she handed up the likeness of the severe female. Miss Crayston received it calmly, but started with pleasure as she recognised it. " Mine," she said, " my very own copy. How did you get it ? It is the likeness of my dear friend and former governess, Fraulein Deiss, who is now dead. My name is on it. This Helen Crayston is in her own hand-writing. Nothing has grieved me more than the mysterious loss of this photograph. How did it come into your possession ? " " My dear young friend : " beamed Mrs. Milner, who could scarcely refrain from kissing the speaker, "we all thought it was a likeness oi you, and vou can't imaofine how relieved I am at the mistake." " But how has it come into the hands of the committee ? The servant at my rooms in Cheltenham said a strange lady came one day and took it from the table, and nodded to her VOL. I. G 82 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. and walked away. I could not imagine what had become of it." " Mrs. Armstrong produced it at a meeting of the committee some weeks ago," said Mrs. Milner, " and she will explain this delightful mystery." Thus appealed to Mrs. Armstrong, in a cold and angry tone and with much hesitation, pro- ceeded to explain that the managers were na- turally anxious to have some notion of the personal appearance of the candidates for the post of Lady Kesident. They had been outvoted at the General Council when they proposed to ask for photographs. Miss Crayston's testi- monials were so good that there could be no doubt as to her fitness for the post of Resident if she consented to undertake it, but none of them had alluded to her age. The distance from Chel- tenham precluded the possibility of a personal interview, and therefore Mrs. Armstrong said she had asked Miss Kimberley Finch, who happened to be passing through Cheltenham, if she would call and see the candidate, who was almost certain to be elected. Miss Kimberley Finch forwarded the photograph, and of course they asked no further questions. " Hurrah ! " whispered Mrs. Brownlow, *' I thought she was in it." VI.] THE FIRST IXTEODUCTION. 83 Mrs. Armstrong hesitated so much, and seemed so uncomfortable, that Miss le Mesurier inter- posed : ''Perhaps," she said, "as this correspondence was carried on through me, I had better continue the narrative." Mrs. Armstronor looked relieved, and ^liss le Mesurier, whose harsh tones had startled even those who were accustomed to hear them, pro- ceeded : " Miss Kimberley Finch was on the point of leaving Cheltenham when she received my letter with the request to obtain Miss Crayston's photo- graph. She very kindly took the trouble to drive to that lady's lodgings, although they were in a most out-of-the-way part of the town. Miss Crayston was not at home, no one seemed to know anything about her movements, so Miss Kimberley Finch thought she had better go in and wait a little. Of course I may be mistaken, but, as I understand the account, it was the ser- vant who produced this photograph ; she must have known the circumstances under which Miss Kimberley Finch thought it well to receive it on behalf of the committee.'* " The servant alluded to is a very truthful girl : " interposed Miss Crayston. *' She has always G 2 84 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. told me that a strange lady took it from the table, and just nodded to her and walked away with it.'' " I am quite sure," retorted Miss le Mesurier, " that Miss Kimberley Tinch would leave an ex- planatory message ; a dirty servant in a lodging- house is not to be relied upon." Miss Ellen Green rapped upon the table and looked at Miss le Mesurier, who was silent. *' Some one stated at the committee that Miss Crayston was forty-eight : " exclaimed Mrs. Brown- low, with an amused look. " We concluded from the photograph that she was over forty, and thought it unnecessary to enquire as to her exact age. The managers have always been anxious to secure the services of an experienced lady, and we judged from the photograph that we had secured such a person : " resumed Mrs. Armstrong, who spoke in an afi^meved tone. " I am sure we all see that although we very much regret the misunderstanding as to the photograph, yet that it is impossible Miss Kim- berley Finch can be in any way to blame. We must really exonerate her from all blame : " said Miss Ellen Green, looking round the table. '^Miss Crayston gazed earnestly first at one VI.] THE FIRST IXTPtODUCTIOX. 85 speaker and then at another. There was a pause, and she asked in a voice which secured attention by a certain ominous vibration : " Is Miss Kimberley Finch present ? " " Oh, no : " answered Mrs. Brownlow with eager delight ; "we have never beheld her in the liesh. She is an airy nothing to us : that is, she has got a long name, but no local habitation that I ever heard of." " I beg your pardon ; she lives at Grittleton : " said Mrs. Armstrong. There was no change in the tone in Avhich Miss Crayston resumed : "I must beg the lady who corresponds with her to inform her that in removing the photo- graph I consider she has taken a most unwarrant- able liberty." "And 1 must remind you," said Miss le Mesurier hotly, " that this is not at all a desir- able attitude for you to assume towards the committee, which has exonerated Miss Kimberley Finch from blame." " Keally, Miss le Mesurier, I don't agree with you : " interposed Mrs. Brownlow. " I don't know much about attitudes, but I am sure that if a stranger came into my house and took a photograph I should consider the act one of 86 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. petty larceny ; and so would you, Mrs. Milner, would you not ? " "You are impulsive, dear 'Mrs. Brownlow, and apt to say a little more than you mean. But Miss Crayston must see," and she turned to that lady, ''that if we do not hold such strong views as our young friend, and are not prepared to sanction the expression ' petty larceny,' yet that we were ignorant of the manner in which the photograph had been obtained. I see how very much Mrs. Armstrong and Miss Ellen Green are annoyed, and I can't tell you how much I should be annoyed myself if the discovery of our mis- take had not come in such a charming form : " and she laid her hand on that of Miss Crayston. "Dear old lady," whispered the irrepressible member. " Isn't she gracious. Let us try and make it up, just to please her." " Mrs. Armstrong," she said aloud, " I beg to withdraw the expression petty larceny ; it came out on the spur of the moment, in fact it visited me unawares. I am sure Miss Finch meant well, and as it has turned out she has really done well." *' They would never have elected Miss Cray- ston if the managers had seen her : " she whis- pered to her cousin in explanation. *' It is too late for regret : " croaked Miss le VI.] THE FIRST INTRODUCTION. 87 Mesurier ; " but there has been a lamentable mistake." " Indeed there has : " assented Mrs. NichoU ; "and how Miss Kimberley Finch could have taken the photograph without Miss Crayston's knowledge or consent I cannot imagine ! " " That is not my meaning." " We are giving you a strange reception : " said IVIrs. Milner to Miss Cray st on ; '' and you look quite exhausted. I must beg to urge upon the committee that we adopt Mrs. Brownlow's sug- gestion, and adjourn for two or three days." " If you have no further use for the photograph of Fraulein Deiss," said Miss Crayston, fixing her eyes on Mrs. Armstrong, " I shall be obliged if you will restore it to me." '' "Well, I don't know : " replied that lady, closing the bag in which she had deposited it ; "I don't know about that. You see the circumstances are rather peculiar, and seem to require some explan- ation. I should like to have it clearly shown that ^liss Kimberley Finch obtained it in a justifiable manner." " Quite so : " said Miss le Mesurier. "And how are we to know which lady we have elected ? We certainly chose the original of the photograph." " Oh, dear me ! " interposed Mrs. Milner with a 88 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. bewildered look; *' there surely can be no diffi- culty on that point. I understood Miss Crayston to say that her friend is no longer alive." '' That is not my meaning, Mrs. Milner : " said Mrs. Armstrong, " I hold this photograph in my private capacity and not as honorary secretary. Eefore I give it up in my official capacity I ought to have some proof of official possession." " I can make that quite clear to you at any rate : " exclaimed Mrs. Brownlow, '' for I saw you put it in your bag two minutes ago." There was an angry flush on Mrs. Armstrong's face, and Miss Ellen Green interposed on her behalf : " I think, Mrs. Brownlow, that we must all sympathise with Mrs. Armstrong's conscientious scruples. I learn these details with regard to the photograph for the first time, and so does she. We both regret the incident ; " and she turned to Mrs. Armstrong, who reddened and bowed. '' It will be better, therefore, to reserve documentary evidence for further enquiry." This utterance from the chair, which seemed to please the speaker, was not received with general approbation, and Mrs. Milner looked from one to the other as if to implore peace. She cast an appealing glance upon Miss Crayston, but that VI.] THE FIRST IXTEODUCTIOX. 89 lady's very steadfast eyes showed no sign of relenting. '' She'll fight : " whispered Mrs. Brownlow, clap- ping her hands gently under the table. " She'll fight : and she'll have it out of that bag." And so she did : and the committee broke up. Mrs. Milner offered Mrs. Brownlow and ]\rrs. Nicholl seats in her carriao-e. As they were driving home she sighed deeply. " It was indiscreet," she said, '' most indiscreet. It would have been much better to leave the matter in our hands. She has made at least three enemies on the very first day of her arrival ; and she is so young, so charming, just my ideal of what she ought to be in all other respects." " Never mind, we will soon make it all right." *^ Ah, my love, things are not easily made ' all right ' in this world." Meanwhile !Miss Ellen Green, Mrs. Armstrong, and Miss le Mesurier, who had remained after their coUeao^ues left the room, were standing^ round the fire. They were mortified as well as annoyed. The restoration of the photograph, which had been insisted upon in spite of their opposition, implied blame. *' It is equal to a vote of censure," sobbed Miss 90 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. Ellen Green ; " and yet not one of us knew any- thing about it." Naturally, at this point there was some re- crimination : each lady thought the other might have said or done something that would have brought about explanation. They censured the absent friend, and finally discovered that the person really to blame was the Lady Resident. She bad deceived them as to her age, her appear- ance, and, most probably, as to her acquirements. '' It's a regular hoax ! " exclaimed Miss le Mesurier ; '' a regular hoax ; and so we shall find by experience ! " " Do you think Walmsley is in it ? " asked Mrs. Armstrong. "Well, he always wanted her to come, and was here to receive her. Don't you remember how he laughed when he looked at the photo- graph ? " replied Miss Ellen Green. " Don't tell me ! " ejaculated Miss le Mesurier. '' It's a j)lanned thing. We have fallen into a regular trap!' " After all she is but one," the ladies said, and smiled at each other, and were reconciled. VII.] MES. BEOWXLOW AT HOME. 01 CHAPTEE VII. MES. BEOWXLOW AT HOME. " Oh, Jack," exclaimed Mrs. Brownlow, as she burst into a tiny drawing-room, and threw her arms round her husband's neck, '•' I thought I should never live to get home, and tell you all that has taken place at the committee." " I began to have my own fears on the subject, and should have been really anxious if I had heard Mrs. ]\Iilner's carriage pass. So long as I knew that she was at St. Mary's I thought there was hope for you." " She brought us both home, Mary and me. And do you know, Jack, that she kissed me when she said good-bye." " Her kiss must be a benediction." "It really is; and do you know, Johnnie, it made the tears start to my eyes. I am sure I don't know why, though. Can you tell me ? And although she did not say a word I felt 92 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. SO sorry for being foolish, and talking so much at the meetings. I am resolved not to sit by the side of Mary. I'll go and sit by Miss le Mesurier, and then I shall learn not to whis- per all the nonsense that comes into my head." *' A very good resolution if you can only keep it. But what has kept you so late ? " " Oh, the most supreme goings on ! John, I can hardly keep my senses when I think of it. Why, the old lady in the photo; with her hair dragged back, isn't Miss Crayston at all ! Our new Lady Resident is a most lovely young creature. As for Walmsley, I shall think worse of him than 1 ever did if he has an atom of heart left. He spent a whole hour with her. Jack, alone ! Why or how I can't imagine ; but I am sure the three think it was an assig^nation : and as for them, Johnnie, they really are too cross and unhappy. Somehow I am a little sorry for them. See ! She stands and looks at you like this." Mrs. Brownlow had thrown aside her hat and warm jacket as she was speaking ; and now she drew out comb and hair-pins, and wound a long coil of bright shining cut-Is round her head, which strayed and fell in charming confusion. VII.] MRS. BROWXLOW AT HOME. 93 ** Now isn't that fine ? " she said. ^' Very pretty indeed, my love, for a Bacchante." "A Bacchante ! Why, she is Venus and Minerva combined." " I don't like two-headed combinations, and I propose that we go to dinner." " You are too much engrossed by material cares and pleasures, my husband. I tell you that this lovely lady is going to live here. She'll be in Minster, and one of us. I have made up my mind to have Shakespeare readings, and she shall have all the best parts. I was thinking it over on the way home, whilst Mary and Mrs. Milner were talking^. We will beoin with Pericles, CO ' and she shall take ]\Iarina." " Xo, my dear ; we will, if you please, begin with dinner." " Nothing of the kind. Jack. You positively must listen to me. But don't be so greedy, and you may ring for dinner. I had forgotten those proofs ; and no doubt instead of correcting them this afternoon you have been reading the Times" " And waiting for your return." " Well, you will let me write for you after dinner, won't you ? and we'll have the boy and a real cosy evening." 94 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " It sounds very delightful." " Very well, then ; if it does, say that you are pleased about Pericles." " My dear child, you may not be aware of it, but you have chosen the most difficult of Shake- speare's plays ; in fact, almost an impossible one for reading aloud." '^ Details, my husband, mere details. Of course the parts will be marked. Now, if there is one thing that you have tried to impress upon me as the distinguishing mark of a mean mind it is absorption in details." Mr. Brownlow laughed, and said, " Quite true ; but these are details that give tone and colour to the play." " Not so. Stop a minute and listen to me ; for I really do know what I mean this time. That young person, Marina, I mean, is set in the midst of the most tremendous evils, everything seems to be against her, bad men and worse women surround her, and you wonder what these swine will do with this pearl. She comes tri- umphant out of every danger ; and if I could only talk to you, John, as I ought to do, I would show you how Marinas purity does discover the purity that is hidden even in the people who seem so wicked. And then she doesn't preach and VII.] MRS. BROWXLOW AT HOME. 95 argue. That's what I like. She looks up with her angel eyes and says : ' Oh, that the gods Woukl set me free from this unhallow'd place, Though they did change me to the meanest bird That flies i' the purer air ! ' That's quite enough. You know quite well that she will come victorious out of every diffi- culty. And that is Miss Crayston. I see her in a triumphal car and on a throne — " " No, my dear ; what you really see is Anne, announcino^ that dinner is on the table. Take my arm." " I don't know that I will. You ought to have heard me to the end." "So I will over the nuts and orangres : and I think you said something about the boy." " Ah, that is where your heart is ; come along, and we will take him with us." They went to an adjacent room, where in his little cradle a baby of eight months old was lying with wide-open eyes. The mother sent away a small maid who was sewing at a table near the fire, and lifting her boy kissed him repeatedly. " Oh, John, look at him. Isn't he lovely 1 His 96 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. cheeks and his little hands, the way his head is set, his sunny curls, and the nape of his neck, and then his little shoulders ! " The baby fixed steadfast eyes upon his mother and cooed to her as she spoke. She wrapped him in a soft white shawl and put him back in the cradle. " Now, John, he is quite safe from the draughts of the passage, and you may carry the cradle down to the dining-room. We will put him on the hearthrug, and have him with us all the even- ing. And that is what a husband gets who is good to his wife and doesn't scold her when she is an hour late for dinner, and then detains him by her chattering." " My dear, you mustn't put a premium upon your misdeeds." "Be careful, John, or you'll say something about discounting my faults, and then you'll laugh so that you'll drop the cradle." " Very good. I'll be guided by you." " Shall I draw the bolt on our side of the door ? " " I think not ; I have some work that must be finished, and I know that Nicholl is busy to- night. We had better wait a little." Mrs. Brownlow had paused with her hand on VII.] MES. BROWXLOW AT HOME. 97 the bolt of a door at the foot of the staircase ; a door of entrance into the adjacent house, occupied by the Professor of History, whose wife, Mary Nicholl, was Mrs. Brownlow's cousin and her senior by some eight years. In spite of this difference of age the cousins had always been fast friends. It was during one of her frequent visits to Mrs. Nicholl that pretty Isabel Evans met ]Mr. Brownlow, who was a well - known scholar at Oxford. When Isabel consented to be his wife he offered himself as a candi- date for the vacant Professorship of Greek at Minster University. He was elected ; and it was then that Mr. Nicholl secured for him the house next his own, and the friends resolved to open a door of communication in the waU that separated them. " Mary," said the young wife when she took possession of her home, " I am delighted with the door ; but I think there should be a bolt on each side of it." " Oh, no ; that is quite unnecessary. It will be enough to keep it always shut." " It may be enough for you, but not for me. If I can get through that door I shall always be on the wrong side of it, looking after you and the babies. No, my love, it shall not be left VOL. I. H 98 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. open. We will have each a bolt, and you shall promise me not to unfasten that on your side of the house until dinner is over ; and then we can spend our evenings together." " Such nonsense ! " replied Mrs. NichoU. " Sup- pose some one is ill, or there is important news, or I want you." *' Oh, on great emergencies our rule does not hold good. But half the pleasure of living here will be gone if I can't pay you calls ; in the morning if I want to see you I shall put on my hat and knock at the front door, and you can do the same." Both the husbands approved of the suggested bolts, which, accordingly, were put on. The click of the withdrawal of the bolt was a signal that friends were welcome; but on this night the Brownlows did not as usual give the signal when dinner was over. Instead of that the cloth was hastily removed, Mr. Brownlow gave some letters to his wife, and instructed her as to the answers, and taking a packet of proof-sheets seated himself on the opposite side of the table. They worked in silence : Mrs. Brownlow wrote and addressed her letters, leaving them open that her husband might at his leisure see, as she said, if she had done her work properly. She VII.] MES. BROWNLOW AT HOME. 99 then rose, took a low chair to the side of her baby's little cradle on the hearth-rug, and sat down with her needlework. The boy was asleep. His dimpled hand had firm hold of the corner of a blanket, without which he could not o;o to sleep happily. The mother kissed the little hand, gently drew away the blanket, and ar- ranged the cradle and her own seat so that her husband could see his wife and child when he raised his eyes from his work. She knew that he liked to have them so in his sight, with the fire-light shining upon her whilst the darling face of his child, rosy and pure, was seen under the shadow of the cradle hood. It was nearly ten o'clock wheu, after watching her for some time unnoticed, Mr. Brownlow said : ^'My dear!" He never addressed her by name; a husband who is twenty years older than his wife very seldom does: "My dear! why are you looking at the wall ? " " I am planning the book-cases, Jack. I have made up my mind to have them black, but with lines of gold somewhere ; I think at the very top, or else I see that it won't do well with the bindings of the books. And then we might H .2 100 THE LADY RESIDENT. [cnAP. make a Landseer paper in grey -green do until we can afford paint, and panels, and tliat sort of thing." ''Perhaps you will kindly explain your mean- ing, my dear : " said the Professor, looking at the blotchy paper on the bare walls, the boxes of books piled one above the other, and the litter of magazines and newspapers in all parts of the room. '' Well, John, I have quite made up my mind that you must have book -shelves. Just think of the time you spend among those boxes, though you said they would be so convenient on the floor ; and you know that the books you want are always out of the way ! Now I have made up my mind that the back parlour shall be nursery and dining-room combined. I am not going to let this child turn out his father ; and I shall make a real study for you, John ; and won't you be proud ! " " I like the notion hugely; and some ten years hence we may be able to carry it out." " You think so ; well, look here : " and she approached and spread out before him a twenty- pound note. " There ! My dear old mother has been saving and saving, ever since we were married, to send me this. She hoped to have VII.] MRS. BEOWXLOW AT HOME. 101 got it by Xew Year's day, but it is a little late, because she had to w^ait for some dividends or something. Now I'll give it to you, John, if we really want it for the house ; but I'd like best to have it for my very own." He looked at her with a sudden dimness that veiled his eyes, and then he laid his hand gently on the hand of his wife, which rested on the table, and there was a silence. " John, I shall cry if you don't say something to me. I never had so much money before ; and I have kept the secret ever since one o'clock because I wanted to go to the Post Office and get the money. It did not seem possible that I should really have it ; and then I waited for this quiet time to teU you about it, our happiest time, dear Jack." Her husband's voice was rather husky; and he cleared his throat several times before he said : " There are so many things that you want and the boy wants. I know the pleasure of giving ; but won't you get something with your money ? " " I should think I would. I'll get more pleasure out of it than twenty pounds ever gave before. No man ever took such an empty-handed wife as you did, John." 102 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. *' Rich with blessing and delight : " he said, as he stooped and kissed th ehand. " I like that," she said ; " do it again, John : " and then they both laughed, and in some mysteri- ous way they had understood each other, and had no need to say any more about the money. " You have been very good, and worked quite long enough ; and you may carry the boy up- stairs. After that Mary and Mr. Nicholl shall come in just for half an hour." *' Very good, my dear : " and the Professor took up the cradle and carried it carefully up-stairs, followed by his young wife. They knelt together by the side of their boy, kissed him and covered the little hands, and left him sleeping peacefully. Never was baby so quiet, so good, they both agreed ; and that wonderful gift of sleep which he had inherited from his mother was a natural endowment of greater value than a fortune, added the father. When they returned to the dining-room Mr. Brownlow drew the bolt of the door of communi- cation and called out : *' Nicholl, my wife has come into a fortune. Can you join us for half an hour, or is it too late ? " " Ah ! " said his friend, a few moments after- VII.] MES. BEOWXLOW AT HOME. 103 wards, as lie entered and saw tlie table. "You have been at work. Do you want those proofs posted to-night ? If so I can take them with my letters." '' No, I have not finished ; but I have done enough for to-day. The rest may wait, and I shall send, all off together by the evening mail to-morrow." The two men were soon engrossed in a dis- cussion as to the meaning of a difficult passage. "I will not allow it:" said Mrs. Brownlow, drawing a chair to the table ; " and if there is one thing more than another that shocks my whole nature it is the profound dissimulation of which men are capable ? " " What do you mean ? " asked Mr. Nicholl, who was always a little puzzled by his wife's cousin. " Well, to hear you talk one would think you were discussing the driest and most learned book in the world, quite out of the reach of the average female intellect. Instead of which, Mary, I assure you," and. she turned to ]\Irs. Nicholl, "this is a most jovial work. The manner in which you are told about the religious festival, and the people going from aU parts to see it, and the servant that runs after a group of friends and takes one by the cloak and asks him to wait till 104 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. his master comes up, is just as simple as ever it ean be. And then they all go home to supper together, and there is a most delightful old man in the chimney-corner. He takes really a com- prehensive view of things, and acknowledges with the greatest candour that on the whole it is better to be rich when you are old than to be poor. Just the conclusion my unenlightened judgment would have led me to form ; so you see how very superior I must be. After that they drift into an argument which is too deep for the old gentleman; he rises, and says it is time for him to attend the religious ceremonies. That is the cleverest thing I ever heard, and I don't intend to forget that old gentleman the next time John is too many for me." The men laughed, and Mr. NichoU said : " I am very glad to find, Mrs. Brownlow, that you take so kindly to your Plato." "Not at all," she said; "it is not that. The thing I can't understand is the way in which you all seem to forget what the books are about. You do nothing but talk about participles and things ; and roots, and such like dry stuff ; editions, and all that." "My dear, your want of reverence is a painful peculiarity." VII.] MRS. BEOWXLOW AT HOME. 105 " John, it will be the makino; of von. Yon wonld grow dreadfullj nninteresting witli a woman that adored yon. Now wonldn't he, Mary ? " " Perhaps ; bnt let ns talk over the fortnne.'' " No, no ; not to-night. I want to gloat over it in secret and in silence." " Very well ; then we'll talk about something else. Have you told Mr. Brownlow all the Crayston episode ? " " No ! I just began upon him before dinner ; but I saw he was thinking about his proofs, so I waited for you. How I wish they could have seen Miss Crayston enter the room ! Walmsley was there. He lost his hat and dropped his gloves, and went down on his hands and knees to find them. Then when we sat down he made a dart and disappeared." " But what had he to do with the new Lady Resident ? " " That's the question, Mr. Brownlow ; and if I am not mistaken it will be a burning one," replied Mrs. Nicholl. " Jack, I shall never fororet it : " exclaimed Mrs. Brownlow. '' There had been breezes, or rather, as I have no doubt Professor Nicholl would like me to say, the vigorous initiative of the managing 106 THE lady; RESIDENT. [chap. ladies had not been accompanied by ordinary courtesy." *' Don't consider me : " said the Professor laugh- ing ; " take your own way." " My own way indeed ! I tell you candidly that there is a new departure in our relations with the managers ; but you shall hear." " Perhaps, my dear, you will be more comfort- able off the stilts." "Thank you, John; I shall. Well, then, 1 shelved two or three letters from that dreadful woman in London. Now didn't I, Mary ? Don't you let them laugh at me." '' Not altogether ; but go on." " We were all cross and a little tired, the gas was burning low " " When you heard three raps on a pane of glass." " Not at all ; and you must not interrupt me. I was thinking of my boy, and of what a shame it is to neglect him, and wondering how Mary and I could possibly get home through the storm if Mrs. Milner did not take us with her, when the door opened and in came, not a lady, but the Professor of History. He had his handkerchief in his hand, and he wiped his brow and looked at us in such an utterly be- VII.] MRS. BROWXLOW AT HOME. 107 wildered manner that I really thought I must have laughed. And then I spied a little black thing far away in the gloom of that big room near the door. Some of us went and shook hands. I thought she was nice, for she has got a skin like velvet, and the dearest little hand you ever touched." " My love, these are details that you may pass lightly over, and spare our feelings." '' Be quiet, John. Well, when she came to the light it was, I assure you, the most splendid thing you ever saw. Her colour went and came, her lips trembled just a little, and great solemn dark eyes seemed to grow fuller and fuller of light. I do assure you, John, I nearly went on my knees to her. I really thought I should cry." '' You must have recovered very quickly : " said Mrs. Nicholl, " for when we sat down you poked me and said : Beauty and the Beast. I haven't the least idea what you meant." " Pray don't ask me. Mr. Nicholl, the ladies have appointed some one to look after you." " What ? some one else ! Well, then, I hope it is the Lady Resident." " No, it is not." *' I have no doubt it is the lady who reproved 108 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. Mr. Walmsley for walking home with Miss Graham : " suggested Mr. Brownlow. *' That man is always getting into trouble ! " was exclaimed amidst a general lauo^h. " What has he been doing V " You must ask my wife." *' Don't you know%" resumed Mrs. Brownlow, '' that after the last Council Meeting he walked home with Miss Graham ? Miss Flint was shocked. She considered it a terrible example for the girls under her care in the boarding-house. Miss Armstrong said something about a vote of censure ; and I believe Miss Kimberley Finch suggested a resolution and a sub-committee to regulate the intercourse of the Professors and the lady visitors. Ultimately Miss Ellen Green remonstrated privately with the offender, and he rushed off to Exeter by the next train." ^' My dear, my dear, don't go too far !" " It is impossible to go too far with regard to those ladies : " interposed Mr. Nicholl with some warmth. ''They threaten to make life unen- durable." " Really, James : " said his wife laughing, " you are not free from blame. I have remonstrated with you over and over again on your un- punctuality." viL] MPtS. BROWXLOW AT HOME. 109 '*Now, Brownlow, I appeal to you. When- ever I go to St, Mary's I find Mrs. Armstrong standing at the foot of the staircase with a laro-e silver watch in her hand. And each time that I pass she clears her throat and ostentatiously consults it." There was a merry peal of laughter at his expense. "My dear fellow, you should get there before her. We see her pass this window. She goes up on purpose for your class." " That's what I tell him : " said his wife. " He might easily take his revenge, and leave her at the foot of the stairs for an hour." " What fun ! " exclaims ]\Irs. Brownlow. " Down comes the distinguished Professor, and as he passes jVIrs. Armstrong he takes out /iis watch, clears his throat, looks at her, bows and walks away." An indescribable, slight gesture suggested Mr. NicholFs look and manner. After the laughter to which it gave rise had subsided Mr. Brown- low asked : ''Who is Miss Crayston ? Didn't we hear something about her ?" " You must ask Mary," replied his wife ; '' she is up in her county families. She has got connee- 110 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. tions, Jolm, on the father's side. Our mothers were sisters ; but we haven't even a lawyer's clerk on my side of the house, as you know. Mary, naturally, always has taken an interest in the aristocracy." " Miss Crayston," said Mrs. Nicholl calmly, '^is one of the Craystons of Crayston Warren. So much we know from her reference to the family solicitor at Silchester ; but not her exact position in the family. The head of it is Sir Lionel Cray- ston, a man of thirty-two years old, unmarried, and greatly impoverished by the extravagance of his father. Sir Hubert, who died three years ago." "Ah, Mary, I remember the thrill of emotion with which some of our colleagues heard you give this information concerning Sir Lionel at the committee-meeting." " Bell, I am ashamed of you. You know the subject was not even alluded to." " Wasn't it, dear ? Then I can imagine the thrill of emotion which would shake those tender ." " Hush, hush ! You're a silly monkey." '' Miss Crayston will be lonely at St. Mary's : " su£o;ested Mr. Nicholl. " Don't you remember that she asked permis- sion from the council, two months ago, to have a VII.] MRS. BROWXLOW AT HOME. Ill young lady to board with lier and attend the College cla^^ses?" said Mrs. Brownlow. "Was it granted?" *' Yes ; and I heard her telling Mrs. Milner just before we left this evening that Miss Eavenshaw is coming to her to-morrow. By the way, Mary, who are the Kavenshaws ? " '^ I think this girl must be the daughter of John Eavenshaw. He sold his estate in Wilt- shire and settled near Westhampton. He has had a great deal to do with ships, and has made a very large fortune, or rather has very largely increased his own, which was alwavs consider- able." "Why did he sell his land?" asked Mr. Brownlow, " I am told that he married some one beneath him. No one w^ould visit her at first. He did not act very judiciously ; but just gave up his old home and went to Westhampton." ^' Is she a vulgar woman ?" " Not at all, I believe ; an excellent mother with an enormous family ; a great, happy, healthy household, which she keeps in good order with- out too great severity or undue Hcense. I know them through the Wilkinsons ; and in fact it is through me, indirectly, that Bertie, the 112 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. fourth daugbter, is coming to Miss Crayston. I hear she is very clever and anxious to study ; and just when I had been told this we were in the midst of arrangements regarding the new Lady Eesident, so I suggested Miss Crayston to the Eavenshaws, through Miss Wilkinson, and they are to place their daughter with her." Mrs. Brownlow looked at her cousin and sighed. " You see, John," she said, "what it is to have- a w^ife who knows her county families. But, Mary dear, I am your own first cousin on the mother's side, and when you ask these two dis- tinguished young persons to afternoon tea, you'l] let me sit in a corner and look on, won't you ?" VIII.] WOIVIAN'S FUTURE. 113 CHAPTER YIII. WOMAX'S FUTURE. It was six weeks since Bertie had left home, and she w^as sitting among the students in the lecture-hall of St. Mary's College for Women. A short, square-shouldered man stood before a wooden desk which was placed on a small raised platform at one end of a large and lofty- hall. He stooped over a manuscript from which he was reading ; and from time to time raised his head to throw back the long dark hair that grew low on his brow and fell before his eyes whenever he held down his head. It was in vain that he shook it back or thrust his hand through it. " 'Tis against nature : " murmured Mrs. Brown- low, who was watching him. " The only thing would be to cut it off." The lecturer was addressing an audience con- sisting mainly of women. The Ladies' Com- VOL. I. I 114 THE LADY KESIDENT. [chap. mittee and college students sat on tlie front l3enches. There were a few fathers of families and a great many mothers, whilst several Uni- versity students were also in tlie hall. Behind the speaker, and near an open door, stood a little group of Professors, who scanned the audi- ence with attention. Professor Gold worthy Fynes was delivering an introductory address. He had, up to the present time, declined to join his colleagues in their work at St. Mary's, owing, so it was said, to his fear lest contact with the inferior female intellect should narrow and deaden his own powers. But repeated applications from the Council at St. Mary's and the prevailing influence of Minster had at length induced him to withdraw his refusal, and consent to lecture at St. Mary's Hall to a class of women. Shortly after the arrival of Miss Crayston and Bertie Eavenshaw, it was announced that the dead lock with reo-ard to the Latin classes was at an end, and that Professor Fynes would give an introductory address on the following Monday. He had chosen for his title, "The Historical Attitude of Woman : " and Mrs. Brownlow said that the attitude, so far as she knew anything VIII.] WOMAN'S FUTURE. 115 about it, was chiefly remarkable because historical women did not wear petticoats. For more than an hour Mr. Fynes stooped over his manuscript and tossed back his hair as he descanted in very good English, but with a strongly- marked French accent, upon the well-known and universally-acknowledged inferiority of the female sex throughout creation and from pre-historic times. Brain power, nerve power, muscular power; all of lower order. Intellect feeble, body frail. Dependent for food and protection on the stronger and more vigorous male. Not man, he assured his hearers, but Nature, has stamped woman with inferiority, and assigned her a position of sub- ordination. He proceeded to lay down very carefully his theory on the difference between the sexes, warning his hearers that the very con- ciseness which was characteristic of the masculine grasp would probably cause it to be misunder- stood ; for women, he said, find it much easier to catch at one or two words than to give patient consideration to a consecutive argument. The greatest thinker of the age, he continued, divides our nature into three parts ; the Feelings, the Intellect, and the Character, corresponding to ]\rorality, Speculation, and Action. At this point a slight diversion was created, for I 2 116 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. the Professor went to a black board standing on an easel by liis side, wrote these words with white chalk in large and very indistinct letters, and bracketed them. This great thinker, he resumed, asserts the superiority of man in the two latter divisions ; and in so doing he has the universal voice on his side. What is peculiar to him is, that he, as emphatically, asserts the superiority of woman in morality. Now it is one of Mr. Huxley's great objections to this theory that it does not admit the inferiority of woman on all points. The Professor acknowleclo^ed that he, as an indi- vidual, certainly did think most English women not only deplorably uncultivated, but he also found that their attention was habitually directed to very frivolous and even degrading objects. On the other hand, he had seen American ladies who were decidedly superior to English ladies of the same natural capacity ; therefore, as he could not presume to set up his own opinion in opposition to M. Comte or Mr. Huxley the two great author- ities on this subject, he preferred for the present to suspend his judgment upon the inferiority of woman in the first division, namely, that of morality. In the other divisions there was a consensus of opinion throughout all ages. In VIII.] WOMAN'S FUTURE. 117 intellect and character, which correspond to spe- culation and action, her inferiority was univers- ally recognised and acknowledged. The attempt, therefore, of woman to storm a position closed against her by natural laws was predestined to failure, and certain to bring nothing but defeat to the individual and degradation to humanity. Her exclusion from active life, the result of natural laws, acting unconsciously, would, as the result of the labours of M. Comte, be formulated ; and would be in accordance with the theory^ he had stated. This theory provided for the happiness not merely of man, but of society. For example, if Miss Emily FaithfuU could open the printing trade to women, the only result would be that the same amount of capital which now employs say a thousand men, would be divided between a thousand men and a thousand women ; that is, instead of a man earning a guinea a week for his family whilst the wife stays at home, the labour of both would only earn a guinea. All would suffer by such an arrange- ment, and the vital principle of the new creed would be violated. " One of the most oriofinal and fundamental doctrines of the new theory is," said the Professor, " the following, which, in order to impress it deeply upon the minds of those I see 118 THE LADY RESIDENT. [niAP. l)efore me, I will place upon the black board:'* and lie wrote again in large and irregular letters : " l'hOMME doit NOUERIIl LA FEMME." Mrs. Brownlow, wlio was on the front row of seats, gazed at the inscription with interest, and whispered to her cousin : " Could almost believe I had seen it somewdiere before, dear ; couldn't you ? " The half- audible murmur attracted the atten- tion of the lecturer, who looked eagerly at Mrs. Brownlow. He thouo^ht he had detected sio^ns of a23proval, and continued with increased energy : " This is a fundamental condition ; and it is thus that we legislate for women with a view to the perfection of society, of which women form half. There is for woman a loftier aim, a nobler ideal, than mere success ; or than the rash attempt to storm the position occupied by man, to share his labours and rob him of his rewards. Look at those points in which she excels. Women, for example, are more religious than men ; we honour them for it. They cling at present to theology, which is a mere accident, theology being no necessary element of religion ; but religion is indispensable to the happiness of the individual and the progress of the race. It is a terrible VIII.] WOMAN'S FUTURE. 119 thing," continued the Professor, in deep and solemn tones, '' that the principles of morality on which our civilisation depends, should in the popular mind be identified with forms of religion which are every day becoming more dis- credited. When every one in Europe believed a theological dogma it was a very good basis on which to build morality. But now-a-days, if people are habituated to couple together the di\dnity of a human being and moral duty, as facts of equal certainty and importance, it will go hard with the latter. It is to woman that we look in this emergency. When she is introduced to a new and purified form of belief, she will find in it all the reliorion she wants, and will clinor to it with much more feeling than men. In fact, for her is reserved a glorious mission. She wiU become the instrument, as well as the object, of man's worship. She may prepare herself to be the worthy mate and intelligent companion of the lofty being with whom she is associated. In the pure and exalted air of subordination and sacrifice, her noblest efibrts wiU be cro^med with hitherto undreamed-of success. She will become the companion and the friend of man, the mother of the human young, and the material and moral source of masculine energy." 120 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. The Professor ceased speaking. He took off his spectacles, wiped, replaced them, and looked keenly at the audience before him. The ladies of the committee occupied the front row of chairs ; but he looked beyond them to the large silent assemblage of women and girls, who appeared impressed and resigned. " I thought there would have been more novelty in his views : " said one of the elder ladies to her neighbour ; "I didn't care so very much for the lecture." ''Well, they are just my own opinions:" replied the person addressed, ''but of course better expressed. Women should stay at home and attend to the house and their children." "What he said about Eoman Catholics," ex- claimed one of the members of an evangelical congregation, " was really very beautifully put ; that making human beings into saints and pray- ing to them is the ruin of us." " I didn't catch it. He speaks so fast and has such a curious pronunciation that I lost a good deal. Of course not, when he got angry and seemed as if he was going to chop off your head." "I don't think I lost a syllable. Don't you remember his speaking of the superstition that VIII.] WOMAN'S FUTURE. 121 degrades the present century, makes j)rogi'ess impossible, darkens the present, and threatens the future of the human race." "No, indeed. That's very good. How can you remember it all ? " "Well, I wrote it down to show Mr. Early. He did not quite like me to come to the lecture. Professor Fynes was educated in France and has lived so much in Paris that Mr. Early considers him a very unsafe man. But any one who speaks like that about popery can't be far wrong." '' Did he mean popery ? " " Why what else could he mean ? " A warning hush — sh — sh — sh from the committee, and a scraping of chairs in the vicinity of the platform, notified to the talkers in different parts of the room that some one else was about to address the meeting. There was a flutter of excitement in the front row as Professor Brownlow stepped upon the platform. Surely he would protest against the doctrine of woman's subordination! But no; he said he would not detain them a moment, took that opportunity of stating that the Greek class would be postponed from Wednesday to Friday, and would meet at the usual time and place. Yes ; that was all. He left the room without a 122 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. word in allusion to the lecture. There were murmurs of disapproval on the front row, and the name of Miss Kimberley Finch was handed along^ as if it had been a restorative. " Presumptuous puppy : " exclaimed Miss le Mesurier, who occupied the last chair ; and cast- iiis: an indiofnant glance towards the back of the CD O O lecturer, she left the hall. Mrs. Milner sat with the tears streaming down her cheeks. Mrs. Nicholl was trying to restrain Mrs. Brownlow, who said : " Mary, I shall simply die if I don't ; so let me go : " and she advanced. " Mr. Fynes, I am going home to give my husband tea and toast, do come in as you pass the door. We shall be quite a family party ; only Jack and me and the boy, and I do so want to ask you a few questions." " Thank you, I never take tea." " Well, I can give you milk. At this stage it forms the sole nourishment of the specimen of the human young which we keep on the premises." There was an angry gleam in the Professor's eyes as he turned away from Mrs. Brownlow. Mrs. Milner advanced : '' Oh, sir," she said, " shall I congratulate you VIII.] WOMAN'S FUTURE. 123 or condole with you. You liave so mucli to learn." Mr. Fynes stooped over the little white-haired lady, and looked benevolently, almost paternally, at her. He saw that she was troubled; and was pleased to discover that he had u2:>rooted old superstitions, and prepared the way for a new and purer faith. He smiled, not as if any- thing external had moved him, but that smile which an inner consciousness of powder briugs to the surface. *' ^ly lecture of to-day is the result," he said, "of an exhaustive study of the human race, w^ith special reference to the functions of woman. On all other points I confess myself a student ; but as to that I have nothing to learn." " I w^ill appeal to a student : " replied Mrs. Sturge, gazing upon him in dismay. ''We will ask what eflfect your lecture has produced upon her. I am an old woman, and it does not matter what I think and feel ; my only anxiety is for the dear girls I see about me." Bertie Ravenshaw had passed round in front of the chairs on her way to the door. She bowed to Mrs. Milner, w^ho stepped forward and laid her hand on the young girl's arm : " Tell me, mv love, did vou like the lecture ? " 124 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. Mrs. Milner had seen Bertie several times at St. Mary's ; but the manner in which she ad- dressed her implied not intimacy, but an irre- sistible impulse of affection towards all young girls, which was characteristic of the childless widow. Bertie blushed up to her hair as she replied : "Oh, so much. I never heard anything so impressive." The look of scorn with which the Professor had waited whilst Mrs. Milner made her ap- peal, faded from his face, and he turned to Bertie with evident interest and attention. " Will it content you to be such a woman, in such a position as the Professor has described 1 " " Indeed I fear I shall never be so good and noble ; but I will try." Mrs. Milner looked at her with amazement and the Professor with satisfaction. He bowed and turned away. Bertie's blushes deepened. Mrs. Milner re- leased her band and sighed deeply. Bertie stood in silence for a few moments, and then, per- ceiving that Mrs. Milner was unconscious of her presence, she left the hall. The young girl looked up to the sky as the eager March wind met hsr at the open door. VIII.] WOMAN'S FUTURE. 125 The clouds were sweeping rapidly from the west ; heavy and dirty they looked as they passed on to the valley, but above them a deep serene blue gladdened her eyes. She turned away from the crowd about the gates of the college, and walked towards the park, a strip of undulating land along the summit of the clifis. She saw nothing, however, as she walked, except the sky and the low, rapidly -moving clouds which hurried on, aimless, as it seemed, and troubled as her OT\Ti thoughts. She saw now for the first time what had been the lot of woman. She saw her crushed, de- pendent, humiliated, servile ; taking the lowest place and the poorest portion, cursing the nig- gardly hand that bestowed only what it did not care to withhold, and hating the owner of it. This was woman in the past. But now there was a new departure. Henceforward there was a possibility not merely of resignation and sub- mission, but of acquiescence. To choose the lowest place ; to take it, knowing what it is ; not to be cajoled and flattered, but to accept with open eyes; to be despised and poor and oppressed, and to say : This is thy will, oh, my God, and it is mine. Surely this is right ; surely it is Christ-like, thought Bertie; and then she saw that 126 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. this siie could do ; abandon her own ambitious dreams, her own highest aspirations for personal well-being, and choose this lowly lot of self- sacrifice. It was thus that Bertie interpreted the lecture ; and she walked on rapidly, with beating heart and heightened colour. As she reached the cliff, strains of music from the city fell upon her ear. A piano-organ drawn by a pony and accompanied- by two men had arrived in Minster. Once in every month or five weeks it passed through the city. She had seen it on the previous evening, and had been informed that its advent was looked upon as an event of much importance by all the children in the place. She stood still to listen. Airs from the Trovatore came to her amidst crash and clatter. Music stirred her soul as with the call of a trumpet. Unconsciously she kept time as she walked, and turned her steps in the direction of the sound. The wild, passionate pain of the Verdi music, and the hopeless longing of it, drew her onward and moved her with a strange trouble. That Non ti scordar di me pierced her like a sword ; the life on which she had been musing grew dim and cold and unlovely. She left the heights, and, drawn towards the music viii.J WOMAN'S FUTTRE. 127 that had stirred her, she walked down to the west gate of the old city. As she passed beneath the gate the sound of music was drowned by the cries and shouts of men and boys in an adjacent street. She crossed the road and stood at the top of a steep descent, on each side of which were low and narrow houses festooned with dried fish and haunted by many odours. Half way down two boys were fighting, and the noise proceeded from an approving group of men and boys gathered round them. There was a moment's pause, and Bertie saw two flushed and angry faces. One boy rubbed his nose with the palm of his hand, looked ruefully at the blood, and seemed disposed to cry. She walked swiftly down the steep descent and marched into the midst of the group. " Boys fighting like two wild animals ! " she said ; " you ouo-ht to be ashamed of yourselves ! And to think of men standing by to w\atch these miserable children and encourage them ! " " He begun it, miss," whimpered the boy with the bleeding nose, whose tears started at Bertie's first word; "he begun it, miss. I shouldn't never 'ave said nothink to 'im." " Never mind who began it. You are going to end it now. Come with me : " and she took a 128 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. hand wliich he seemed by no means unwilling to give. " I'll have no fighting ; and Fm downright ashamed to see grown men stand by and en- courage boys to fight and kick as I saw you doing." Bertie stood erect as a grenadier and looked her men full in the face. Two or three of them slouched away with their hands in their pockets, and whistled, but not very loud. "Well, I'm dormed !" said one great fellow, with the brevity and directness of his class. "And pray, miss, who may you be ?" Bertie faced round towards the speaker and looked him straight in the eyes. " Come on, Bob : " said a companion, dragging him away, '* 'tain't o' no use to argy." Bertie was of the same mind; and a few moments later, when the crowd had dispersed, she took the boy, whose hand she still held, with her to the top of the street. A voice close to her said gravely : " I thought I recognised you. Miss Ravenshaw, and I was coming towards you. I am afraid you do not know the character of some of these streets. This is one that it is not safe for a lady to enter. There are very rough people about." " Fm not in the least afraid of boys : " replied VIII.] WOMAN'S FUTURE. 129 Bertie. " I'm accustomed to them ; and I can- not keep my hands off when they are fighting. It is such a brutal thing. I've brought this one away, you see; and when his nose stops bleeding and he leaves off crying I shall give him a penny and a scolding." '* But those boys were in the midst of men of the lowest class ; rough, seafaring fellows, and many of them foreigners." " Oh, I am glad to hear they are not English. They ought to be ashamed of themselves ; and I think they must be. They must feel what a disgrace it is that I should have to separate these little fellows. Why you are not ten years old, are you ? " asked Bertie of her prisoner. " Yes, I am : " sulkily. " I'm turned twelve." " Poor child ! And they were calling out, ' Go it, my game chicken ! ' I'm sure there isn't much game in him, though there seems a good deal of chicken." The boy looked cowed and humbled ; and Bertie, whose excitement had overcome her habitual reserve with strangers, said to Mr. Brownlow : " I mustn't stop. I know what boys are. They hate gettmg a preachment, and it will be of no use to say much or to keep him long." VOL. I. K 130 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. CHAPTER IX. BERTIE IN THE CLASS-ROOM. When Mr. Fynes left the lecture-hall he paused for a moment at a door on which ^' Office ^' was painted in white letters. He looked at the lecture he had just delivered, and which he held in his hand, a goodly mass of manuscript, and after a moment's hesitation entered. Miss Cray- ston sat at one end of a long table, with books and papers before her ; girls came and went on their errands to ask questions and consult her about books. A door communicating with the library was open, and through it came a hum of voices, probably from the general waiting-room which was beyond the library, and the door lead- ing into which was also open. ^'You wiir find the Greek lexicon on the second shelf to the left : " said Miss Crayston to a small pale woman who had come for information. *'And will you kindly close the door into the IX.] BERTIE IX THE CLASS-ROOM. 131 waitin<"'--room. There is so much talkies: that I fear the readers will be disturbed." At this moment Mr. Fynes entered the room. " The students have come down from your lecture," said Miss Crayston, "and seem to be discussing it somewhat eagerly." " Were you present ? " he asked, going up to her and steadily gazing at the brown glossy hair. " No ; I am unable to leave the office during the day." " If the subject is one that interests you I shall be glad to lend you my manuscript. I propose ultimately to publish, but it may be some time before I am able to amplify and prepare for the press." "Thank you ; I should like to see it." " I think you were present, Walmsley, were you not ? " said Mr. Fynes, addressing the Pro- fessor of Mathematics, who was in the position he ordinarily occupied in every room which he entered, namely, sitting before the fire with his feet on the fender. " Yes, I was." "Have you studied the 'Philosophic Positive'? " " No, but I think I have done as much as any of the disciples of Comte. I have bought all his books." k2 132 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " Have you read them ? " ''If I had I should have done more than most of the disciples : " replied Mr. Walmsley, not without malice. He did not approve of loans to the Lady Kesident, nor of his colleague's steadfast gaze. Mr. Pynes was about to answer when Miss le Mesurier entered from the library. " I have just come from the waiting-room : " she said in her harshest tones, looking ferocious, and glancing suspiciously at the heap of manu- script lying before Miss Crayston, " and I must say, Mr. Fynes, that the women in this college are not at all prepared for the subordination you advocate. I never knew a lecture give so much offence." Mr. Fynes was a vain man, and keenly touched by the slightest hint of disapprobation. He was eager to resent the disappointment caused by the unfavourable reception of his lecture, and replied with severity : " I used the term ' subordination ' in its philo- sophical sense. If my hearers are unable to understand me I am indifferent to their opinion, and have nothing more to say to them." '* I suppose you are not quite indifferent to the view that the managers and the council may take." IX.] BERTIE IX THE CLASS-ROOM. 133 " I am j)rofoundly indifFerent to it." " Pray may I ask on what ground ? " inquired !Miss le Mesurier in a tone and with a manner which went far to justify almost any answer she might receive. " There are some persons," he replied, speaking angrily and rapidly, '' whom I consider it worth pleasing or inspiring with respect for me, because I respect them, or like them, or admire them. But there are a great many persons whom I either positively despise or dislike, or for whose opinion I feel a perfect indifference. I should get on much better in the world if I systematically conciliated this large class, which includes all those persons whom I do not intimately know, and a great many of those whom I do ; but it really is too exhausting. It is like being always at work." Miss le Mesurier made no answer. She left the room hurriedly. Miss Crayston stooped low over her books, and Mr. Walmsley put both hands through the short thick red hair which grew straight up all over his head. He had risen from his chair and was standing ^ith his back to the fire. His mouth was grave, and the lips, as usual, compressed ; but his light-blue eyes danced with something that looked very like a smile. 134 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. After a moment's silence he said to Miss Crayston, who also smiled when her eyes met his : " Has my class gone up ? " " The bell has not yet ruDg, it wants two minntes to the time. May I tell Miss Kaven- shaw that you will see her ? " " Of course, if you really desire it. You know that my rule is to receive no new pupils during the session." " But you will make an exception in her favour if she is fit to join either of your classes ?" " Certainly ; but it is most unlikely. Oh, there's the bell : " and he walked to the door ; then lookino; back, he added : " There*s a little table by the window ; tell her to come up in an hour's time with the junior division, and to sit there." Before the time indicated Bertie had returned. She went into the office and laid a bunch of spring violets by the side of Miss Crayston. " They are the first I have seen," she said ; " and they are so sweet that I could not resist them." " Thanks, Bertie. First violets are an event in the year. I am glad to see you, for I was afraid you would be late." " I have no class this afternoon." IX.] BERTIE IX THE CLASS-EOOM. 135 " Yes ; you are to go up to Mr. Walmsley with the juniors." " Oh, thank you. It is the very thing I desire." '* There is the bell. Just leave your hat in the dressing-room, go up at once, and sit at the visitors' table in the ^^^.ndow." Bertie complied, and a moment later entered the class-room. It was oblong, large, and lofty ; lighted at one end by a bow window, opposite to which, at the far end of the room, was a black board. The Professor stood with his back to the class and was writing on the board when the new pupil entered. Eleven girls lifted their heads to look at her, and one of them caught her dress as she passed and whispered : " You have come into the wrong room." Bertie did not reply. She took the seat which had been indicated and waited. The Professor looked at her from time to time and hesitated. He was not aware that the tall, beautiful girl whom he had frequently noticed, was the pupil on whose behalf Miss Crayston had interceded. For a few minutes he was sorry for himself. One lovely woman was already troub- ling his peace, and he was disposed to think that officials ought not to be lovely women with lovely 136 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. pupils and any number of possible lovers. He liked pupils to be pupils and not lovely women ; and lie looked with complacency at the desks before him and the studious faces above them. Whatever else could be said of the class the disturbing element of female loveliness was cer- tainly absent. He was not nervous with a pupil, whether man or woman ; but something of the nervousness that beset him in private life, and when he was with Miss Crayston, made him linger as he approached Bertie, and stop to arrange the pens in a tray on the desk and stoop to pick up a sheet of paper. When he was close to her, and the earnest grey eyes were fixed on him, and her colour went and came, his con- fidence returned : " Do you know anything of mathematics ?" he asked. *' Very little. Perhaps I had better say no- thing. I have worked quite alone." " Have you got Euclid's 'Elements' ?" " No ; the copy I used was my brother's, so I could not bring it away." ^' Do you know the axioms and postulates ?" " Yes ; and the first book and the third." The Professor looked at her with an amused twinkle in his eyes : IX.] BEETIE IX THE CLASS-ROOM. 137 " Oh, you know the first book and the tMrd ? Can you remember them ? " "Yes." " Could you write out two or three problems from memory ? " "Yes." He took three sheets of paper, and at the top of each scrawled in pencil an irregular figure. " Can you make out the letters ? " " Not very well." "Then I will tell you. You will soon get accustomed to my writing." Bertie opened a case she had brought with her and took out compasses, an ivory ruler, and fine pointed pen. The Professor watched her with a smile. " What are you going to do ? " "Draw the diagrams." '*No, no ; I don't want that. Just write out the proof here, under my figures, they will do very well, and use my letters ; and so saying he turned and left her. Bertie gazed upon the sheets before her in dismay. Mr. AYalmsley returned to the black board and his demonstrations. From time to time he eyed her keenly as she sat with both elbows on the table, and her head between her hands, 138 THE Lady RESIDENT. [chap. gazing first at one and then at another of the three sheets. But he did not return until the class was dismissed. He saw that she was unable to execute the task he had assigned, and did not wish to accentuate her failure. At last he approached : " Well, you can't get on ? I didn't expect you could ; and you see it would be impossible for me to go back over old ground, so you had better wait and come to me next October." Bertie blushed and was horribly nervous, but she contrived to say: ^'I do know those books and these particular problems quite well/' *' Then why can't you write them out ? " " Because M N ought to be equal to V S, and P to L K, but they are none of them of the same length ; and the circles OEM and X Y Z ought to be equal, and the angles at their centres equal, but this is not so ; indeed the figures are not circles at all. The pentagon, too, is neither equilateral nor equiangular." The Professor looked keenly at her, and saw by her face that the difficulty was a real one : " And so you think that because I don't draw an accurate diagram tlie principles embodied in the argument are incorrect." " I don't quite understand you." IX.] BERTIE IX THE CLASS-EOOM. 139 " Don't you see there is an abstract truth which these forms embody, but which is not identical with them. Can't you reason out from an ideal which my crooked lines recall, though they do not represent it." Bertie's eyes drooped : " I am ashamed : " she said. '' You see how iornorant I am. I never looked be von d the mere figure on the paper before me." She bowed her head, but he could see the burning blushes which coloured brow and ears, and he was sorry for her. " Could you have written out these problems if you had used my letters and drawn your own diagrams ? " "Yes." "Very well. Do it now. I will wait." It cost Bertie a great effort, but she looked up and said earnestly : " If you will allow me to use your diagrams I will try to show you " but she broke down in her little speech, and could only falter out : *' I am so sorry ; I have been very stupid. I didn't understand. Do give me one more chance." "To be sure : " he replied kindly ; " and I will try to improve my scrawling figures." 140 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. He was about to take them, but Bertie laid her two hands on the papers. *' Ah, please don't touch them : " she ex- claimed. " Do let me have them just as they are." *' Very well ! Don't hurry. I have some work, and can do it here." He took a chair to the fireplace, which was on one side of the room, and began to look over the papers given by his class, and to correct them in pencil. From time to time he glanced towards Bertie. She wrote steadily on, without raising her eyes. He smiled as he watched her ; for the relation of master and pupil once established, all his nervous shyness vanished. He had at any rate found a pupil who interested him, and he half rose as he saw her lay aside the second page and take up the third and last ; but he decided not to interrupt her, and resumed his own work. The door of the room opened and Mrs. Armstrong entered. She gave a very obvious start of surprise and said : " Do I interrupt you, Mr. Walmsley ? " ** My class is not over : " he replied, frigidly, rising from his chair. " Oh, indeed. I thought I heard the bell half- an-hour ago." Mr. Walmsley said nothing, but continued to IX.] BERTIE IN THE CLASS-ROOM. 141 make marginal notes on a paper which he held in his hand, as he stood facing Mrs. Armstrong. She looked uneasily towards Bertie, who did not so much as lift her eyes. Under these circum- stances, after watching them both for five minutes, she left the room, and shortly afterwards returned with her work-bag. She placed a chair by the side of the black board, a position which commanded the whole room, fetched a footstool, and taking out a long strip of white embroidery stitched in silence. Professor Walmsley fidgeted. He walked from the fireplace to the table, and then to the window, and stood before Bertie. She looked up at him with her clear, frank eyes and said : " Only a few more lines." He made no reply, but took up the two finished papers and glanced over them ; then he took the third from her hand and inspected that also. " Very good : " he said ; " quite right." Mrs. Armstrong cleared her throat and rose from her chair. He added hastily : " This class is of no use to you. Come up with the senior division next Tuesday. Miss Crayston will get the work for you from some one in the class." 142 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. He left tlie room hurriedly, taking tlie papers with him. Mrs. Armstrong approached the window ; and before she had decided what to say, Bertie bowed and passed out at the door. The manager stood irresolute and angry. She had wanted to say something, and had not known exactly what it was to be, or how she should begin. Bertie, as she passed the office, saw that Miss Crayston was alone, and going in she stooped over her and whispered : " Mrs. Armstrong is up-stairs. She looks like a district visitor who has a tract to deliver. I rushed away." Meanwhile, as Mrs. Armstrong stood in the empty room looking at Bertie's vacant seat. Miss le Mesurier entered. " There are violets on the office table," she said in a half- whisper to her friend; "but I can't make out if it was Pynes that brought them or Walmsley." X.] A PRACTICAL JOKE. 143 CHAPTER X. A PRACTICAL JOKE. '^ Bertie, will you put away your books and talk to me for half-an-liour ? " " Oh, please, let me have a little more time." "That is what you always say. However, I know you are very busy to-day, and we will talk some other time ; I will ring for your lamp, you must not try your eyes in this half-light." " No, no ; that will never do. ^ly work is very delightful, but you are better than every- thing : " and the girl rose from a table at the win- dow where she was wTiting, opened a drawer, put away books and papers, and springing across the room threw herself on the hearth-rug at Miss Crayston's feet, and clasped her hands u^Don that lady's knees, saying : " You see, I am so happy ; and whatever I am doing I could go on doing for ever." " I am sorry for that." 144 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. - Why ? " " Because just now you are sitting on the floor." Bertie blushed as she said : " I wonder what it is that makes me do the very thing that I have ridiculed in others. 1 never saw any grown person sit on the floor until we were at Mrs. Goodall's the other night, and you know how I laughed at that absurd, senti- mental Minnie Pearson, who went about the room kneeling first before one lady and then another, until finally she reclined at Mrs. Brownlow's feet and looked up into her eyes. " T saw Minnie jump up with a very red face. What did Mrs. Brownlow say to her ? " " ' Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are : ' and it really was rather hard upon Minnie. She is such a very little star." *' Well, Bertie, why do you do the same thing ? " " Can't help it. It never occurred to me to do it before ; but sitting here at your feet is just where I ought to be ; and I won't clasp my hands, or twist my head, or turn my eyes up, so please let me for this one night." " This room is quite comfortable : " she con- X.] A PRACTICAL JOKE. 145 tinuecL " And yet what a dreary place it looked when we first came to it. Now, in the evening wdien we see the sunset glow in the sky, or at night when you sit by the fire with your little table and the green lamp, it is like a picture, and I hear music/' " What do you mean ? " " Don't you know when one sees anything very beautiful how the music comes, sometimes grave and sad, sometimes brio^ht and cheerful. Each thing has its own." " No ; I don't know^ that at all ; but I should like to know what kind of music you associate with me." " Something so strange," said Bertie ; " and yet it is always that or something very like it. Do you know the grand, solemn Funeral March in Beethoven's 12th Sonata ? I hear the distant sounds, the tramp of many feet, the clang of arms, and there are loud shouts, cries of exulta- tion, the firiug of distant guns. Then out of all the darkness bursts a triumphal strain, the song of victory, victory in spite of pain and sorrow and loss, and that is you." " Thanks, dear : " said Miss Crayston, w^ith an attempt to smile, but her lips trembled. " I think I am very cruel to you, Bertie, not to get a piano." VOL. L L 146 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. '' Not at all. Didn't I tell you I had resolved to give up music ? " " No ; may I ask why." '^ Well, you see, it's of no use to do a little of a great many things. I am sure that is the way in which girls fritter away their time and do no good after all ; so I have resolved to work hard at just a few things whilst I am at college. I do love music so very much that it always tempts me away from other studies, and it might make me neglect my duty. When I first came I really pined for it. Ever since I can remember I have fallen asleep to the sound of music, for at home my bed-room is above the drawing-room. I miss the home music more than anything else, ex- cept," in a low voice, " my father." '' Are they all musical at home ? " " Nearly all. You would really be astonished to hear Lizzie play. You know she's not clever. Oh, not at all. In fact, I don't consider her even very intelligent. She certainly has no intellectual tastes, and yet she can play Schubert and Chopin in the most wonderful manner. That is one reason why I intend to give up music. I think it goes with rather a low order of intellect, don't you ? " Miss Crayston looked amused, and did not answer. X.] A PRACTICAL JOKE. 147 *' There, now ! " exclaimed Bertie, starting to her feet. '' I have been saying something awfully conceited. I koow it by your face. Don't tell me what it is. I know quite well." "Don't be unhappy, Bertie. When a sense of your own superiority comes outside in that innocent way it is very easy to get rid of it." " Superiority, indeed ! Well, I have deserved it. But I wish you would tell me why, when I was at home, I never used to forget what an iornorant dunce I was ; whilst I never think of it now that I am in the midst of learned people. If one of these Professors had so much as lifted his hat to me a year ago I should have been unspeakably proud and happy at the mere recog- nition of my existence ; and now I am quite calm when he listens to me with respectful attention." " I imagine that the way in which any man behaves to a woman depends not so much on her as on himself." " I know what you mean, and I am learning to see the same thing. There's ever so much shoddy among the students, I mean the cap and gown ones, and you can tell it directly by the way they behave to the girls and women. They are bold and insolent whenever they can try it on." '' May I ask what shoddy means ? " L 2 148 THE LADY EESIDENT. [cnA?. '* Oil, don't you know ? Not tlie real genuine article, but something made up of refuse and rags/' " The shoddy students will not be grateful for the name." " It's a very good name for them. I didn't invent it. My father detests shoddy, and I have learnt to recognise and dislike it from him. Now there is not a morsel of shoddy among the Pro- fessors. They are kings and princes, every one of them : " said Bertie, with enthusiasm. " There is not one of them who could do a discourteous act, or say an ungracious word, to any girl, however stupid or ill-born and bred she may be." " I think you are right, Bertie. It is this that fits them for their task, and that has possibly helped them to undertake it." Bertie had fallen into that state of rapturous admiration for a woman, which is not uncommon amongst women. Instead of replying to Miss Crayston's last remark she stooped and kissed her hands, saying : " You don't know how happy I am, here, and with you. If I could only help to make you happy I should be contented. Do tell me what they say and do at the committee meetings:" s.] A PRACTICAL JOKE. 149 Miss Crayston started at this unexpected speech. "That is not a discreet question, Bertie." " Isn't it ? Then I am sorry that I asked. You always look anxious before the meetings and worried afterwards, and there are notes coming all day long." *'I did not know I had such an observant companion." ''Is it Avrong ? I cannot help it. How is it possible to avoid knowing you are troubled when your face show^s it so clearly ? " " There is nothing, Bertie, that I can tell you : " replied Miss Crayston kindly. " The manage- ment and direction of the college are not easy things. We are all naturally anxious to arrange everything in the best way, and I am new to the work. No doubt I have made many blunders, and committed many faults." " That I am sure you have not : " exclaimed Bertie, hotly. " Well, I won't attempt to prove my asser- tion : " replied Miss Crayston. " By the way, I must answer one of those notes this evening ; and here is an invitation from Mrs. Armstrong, which you may answer for me if you will." " You won't accept it ? " exclaimed Bertie. 150 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " Yes ; I think we had better do so." " Very well ; of course I shall go if you do : " responded Bertie, but not very cheerfully; and then she broke into a merry laugh. " I know it is idiotic to laugh in this way," she said, "but it comes of an unfortunate habit I have got of seeing things instead of thinking of them. Just then I saw a particularly ugly, ill- natured old woman, who is in my mother's dis- trict. She has always a long story to tell to the discredit of her neighbours, and at some point of it she invariably says : ' Saving your presence, mum.' When she reaches that stage my mother sends away whichever of us happens to be with her. One day we insisted on being told what comes after * Saving your presence,' and mother said it was always something very disagreeable to listen to." "Well?" " Oh," continued Bertie, with some hesitation, " I don't think you'll like me to go on ; and I wish Ihadn't begun. The fact is, I am afraid I was thinking those notes of Mrs. Armstrong's and Miss le Mesurier's ought to commence, ' Saving your presence, mum,' instead of ' Dear Miss Crayston.' " Miss Crayston's head was bent down, and she made no reply. X.] A PRACTICAL JOKE. 151 " Beg your pardon, mum/' said Gibson, who suddenly appeared with his white face set in the gloom of Miss Crayston's doorway, " but there's a lady a-settin' afore the fire in the ladies' cloak- room." '* Leastways afore the fireplace, for fire there is none," added his wife, peeping over his shoulder ; " and she've got her feet stuck on the fender." ^Miss Crayston looked up and said : " Mrs. Armstrong came about three o'clock, and went to one of the class-rooms. She fetched a book from the library, which I have not seen her bring back. She is probably reading, and as there is very little to be done in the room I think, ^Irs. Gibson, you may leave it to the mornins:." " Lor, mum : " exclaimed Mrs. Gibson, pushing her husband on one side so as also to appear in the doorway, ^' it worn't my work as I was a- thinkin of, that can stand over well enough. But 'tain't Mrs. Armstrong as is a-settin' there. She*s got a libery book on her lap, sure enough, for I can see the ticket on it ; but she ain't stirred this two hours, not when I stood at the door and coughed." Bertie rose from her usual seat at the window, and coming forward, said : 152 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. " I think Mrs. Armstrong brouglit a lady with her, Miss Crayston. Nora Stewart told me there were two bonnets and shawls in that room, and after Mrs. Armstrong had gone Nora said the door was ajar, and a lady was sitting near the fireplace reading." Miss Crayston looked at Bertie with some surprise ; and Bertie, going close to her, said in a low tone so as not to be heard by the Gibsons, " The girls in the waiting-room were all talk- ing about it, so you need not be astonished at my gossip ; the fact is, there was a regular outburst of indignation. They thought Mrs. Armstrong had set some one to watch them. One of them went up quietly and shut the door, but ten minutes later they said it was open again, and the strange lady was sitting there with her book." Miss Crayston called to mind the complaints of talking in the general waiting-room which Mrs, Armstrong had made that afternoon. She had said how much it annoyed the ladies, whose little cloak-room was on the opposite side of the pas- sage. Miss Crayston had urged that it was undesirable, and would be very difficult, to inter- fere in the matter ; that when the door of com- munication with the library was closed such noise as there was could annoy no one ; that it X.] A PRACTICAL JOKE. 153 was natural there should be a buzz of voices when the classes were over ; and that as the ladies did not sit in their cloak-room she was sure they would not wish to place any unnecessary restric- tions upon the students. Mrs. Armstrong had replied somewhat angrily, that the ladies very pro- bably would make much more use of their room than they hitherto had done. RecalliiDg this con- versation Miss Crayston did not feel any alarm at the report respecting the motionless figure. She said, "You had better wait a little longer, Mrs. Gibson, and then if the lady is still here you can go in and say that the college closes at four, and it is now after six. Ask her if she will sit in the waiting-room, as she will find it more comfortable. I have no doubt Mrs. Armstrong will return, and that this lady is waiting on business." Gibson and his wife still stood in the doorway, and Mrs. Gibson, clutching her husband's arm, said : " Lor, mum, I wouldn't go a-nigh her, not if you was to ofi*er me untold gold ; and Gibson's afraid of his life of a corpse." " A corpse, Mrs. Gibson, how can you talk such nonsense ! " " Taint no nonsense : " said the little woman, bursting into tears ; '' for I can see the face quite 154 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. plain through her veil, leastwise her nose, and it's the face of the dead, that's what it is." Miss Crayston rose to leave the room, and Bertie sprang to her side : " I would much rather go alone, Bertie dear ; I will send for you if necessary, but please stay here till I return." Gibson and his wife drew back, and Miss Crayston preceded them to the ladies' cloak-room. She paused for a moment at the door, and saw a stooping figure sitting near the fireplace. She spoke, but received no answer. She stepped forward, and discerned a large, white, and very prominent feature underneath the veil ; and then the I^ady Resident smiled. She took hold of the bonnet, the figure suddenly collapsed, and Mrs. Gibson uttered a loud shriek. Bertie had resumed her seat at the window^ ; but when she heard the cry she hurried to the cloak-room, where she found Gibson kneeling by the side of his wife and crying, Mrs. Gibson in hysterics, and Miss Crayston trying to make her lie on the fioor. Two or three umbrellas, a bon- net attached to them by a string, and a heap of books, cloaks, and shawls, on the chair by the fireplace, revealed the nature of the trick that had been played. X.] A PRACTICAL JOKE. loo Bertie fetched a tumbler of water, dashed it in Mrs. Gibson's face, and in the momentary silence that ensued she said : " Now, Mrs. Gibson, don't be foolish. It's all a joke. You can see there is nothiug the matter. Some one has made a scarecrow out of the umbrellas and cloaks. That's all." The poor woman gave one pitiful glance at Bertie and fainted, whereupon that damsel desired the husband to carry his wife to the parlour ; but seeing that he trembled too violently to be trusted to do anything, she and Miss Crayston lifted Mrs. Gibson, and bore her to their little sitting- room. Bertie administered sal-volatile, helped Mrs. Gibson to her room, and got her to bed ; sat by her side and made her laugh over the joke of the dressed-up figure until the tears ran down her cheeks, and finally left her in good spirits, but very much ashamed of having been so foolish and given so much trouble. " Miss Bertie," said Gibson, when they were left alone, " is what I call a Nero." " Lor, James, she seems to me much more of the hangel unawares. But there, I don't like to say more in favour of one than of another ; for all the time Miss Crayston sat here so quiet she was 156 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. a-holding my hand, which for all the world is like the back of a nutmeor-grater, in one of them little white, soft hands of hern, and somehow it seemed to soothe me and quieten me more than words can tell. Who was it as wanted 'er just now ? " " One of them himpious old cats, you may be sure." " Mercy sakes, James, don't talk like that ! I can't abide to hear you swear." " Well, they're enough to make a man swear. A pretty row there'll be to-morrow." '' What about ! " ** Why about all this here rumpus — " *^ You never told 'em nothin', did you ? " " They never wants no tellin' ; they ferrets things out." " Dear, dear," said Mrs. Gibson with a sigh. " I wouldn't get the young ladies into a scrape was it ever so, and you can't tell but what our Miss Bertie may be in it ; for after all gals will be gals, just as boys will be boys." " Well, they'll get nothin' out of me : " said Gibson. " Nor me neither : " said his wife ; " and if they says anything to me about bein' took bad to-night, I'll at 'em about making me get up at four this morning to scrub them rooms. Miss Crayston X.] A PRACTICAL JOKE. 157 never knowed notMn' about it; and when she come down at seven and see me she went an' o-ot me a cup of tea with her own hands, that she did, and sit by and made me take it. She have got a proud sperrit, James ; and she's a real Lady, and no mistake. She won't demean herself to say nothin' to me ; but lor', what a life they do lead her." 158 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. CHAPTER XI. EIVAL POWERS. Bertie and Miss Crayston returned to tlie sitting-room and discussed tlie events of the evening. " You have had more experience in hysterics and fainting than has fallen to my lot, Bertie : " said Miss Crayston. " I should think so. We never do it ourselves, I mean in the family, but among the maids there arc generally two or three who scream and faint. There was one used to scream at beetles, and, as we could not get rid of them, my mother had to forbid her to go into the kitchen; another fainted at skinned rabbits ; and the majority of girls in the lower orders sit down and turn white at the sight of blood." " Another of your sweeping generalisations, Bertie." " No ; really there is something in it this time. XI.] RIVAL POWERS. 159 My father thinks that the state of health which goes with this tendency is the result of early hardship, poverty, and want of good nourishing food ; comprehensive ignorance has also a good deal to say to it. Mrs. Gibson will be all right to-morrow, and you need not be uneasy. I wonder who dressed up that figure." " It was very cleverly done. I was quite taken in by it at first ; and if the nose had been a little less pronounced I should really have been startled." " Was there a nose ? what was it made of 1 " " The ivory handle of your umbrella." " My umbrella ! Why I have lost it since Saturday ! " " Yes ; and I have now found nearly all the shawls and water-proofs, even the overshoes, that have been missing ; it was those large feet on the fender that deceived Mrs. Gibson .'' " Then it has been planned for some time," said Bertie, " for some of those things have been lost more than a week. I wonder where they have been hidden." " So do I : " replied Miss Grays ton. " Miss le Mesurier came," she continued, " whilst we were both with Mrs. Gibson, and has discovered the whole thing. I tell her it is a foolish joke, and IGO THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. that it will be well to take very little notice of it ; but she insists on it being investigated." " Investigated ! " echoed Bertie. " Oh, I am sorry ! " "Why?" " Because I am afraid I know who it is. At least I ought not to say that, but I suspect some one. You need have no fear:" she added, hastily, '' I could not speak even to you of my suspicions." " Quite right, Bertie dear ; and I still hope that Miss le Mesurier may be influenced by my advice, and take very little notice of this freak. It should be treated as a childish matter, unworthy even of grave reprobation." But Mrs. ArmstroDg and Miss le Mesurier were not at all influenced by Miss Crayston's advice. On the contrary, they placarded the class-rooms with remonstrances in the first place, and then with appeals to the students to name the " guilty parties," who must be known to some of them. Bertie entered the office one day when Miss Crayston was alone and said indignantly : " I wish we had my father here." " Why ? " " Because he hates a tale-bearer. He w^ill allow no tale-bearino^ in school or out of it, and XI.] ElVAL POWERS. 161 now I see how right he is. Nothing can be more demoralising than to try and make girls betray a companion. All the girls here with any sense of honour and justice are furious ; and the sneaks are in and out of the ladies' cloak- room all day long, accusing every one they can think of." Miss Crayston made no reply, and Bertie continued with a flaminor face : o " I have been sent for this afternoon and asked to ' account for the presence of my umbrella.' I really didn't at first knov^^ what Mrs. Armstrong meant. I thought it was a joke ; and when I did understand I merely replied that I could not account for it in anyway, and that I had mislaid the umbrella almost a week previously. They allowed me to see very plainly that they did not believe a word I said, and I left the room." " It is a wretched affair : " said Miss Crayston ; " and the ladies insist on managing it their own way. But I really think I must go into the waiting-room and speak to the students myself." "Oh, pray do ! " exclaimed Bertie. " You will set everything right ; I know you will. Come in now. The girls have nearly all come down from the class-rooms ; I will soon get them together, and say you want to speak to them. Do come." VOL. I. M 162 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. Miss Crayston hesitated. She was very loyal to the council under which she worked, and would not oppose any member of it so long as it could be helped. But these particular members were doing harm instead of good ; moreover, the " investigation " was, as they had assured her, as much her duty as theirs, and she saw that the time had come when she ought to carry it out in her own way. " I will be with you in five minutes : " she said to Bertie, who hurried off at this announcement, and returned within the specified time to an- nounce that the room was quite full. Miss Crayston followed her, and took her place at one end, near the fireplace, where Bertie had secured a vacant space by means of a barrier of chairs. " Miss Crayston is going to speak to us : " she had said in her clear ringing tones ; and all were silent, and made way for the Lady Kesident as she passed through their midst. Bertie was bright, eager, and happy ; very proud of the achievement of getting Miss Crayston " on her feet," and confident that the mountain would prove to be a molehill as soon as the light shone on it. Miss Crayston was paler than usual ; and her voice, clear, low, resonant, had that thrill of XI.] RIVAL POWERS. 163 emotion, that sound as of the beating of a heart, which secured interest and attention from every one present. It cost her a great effort to speak aloud to this room full of girls and women. There were fifty or sixty present, of ages ranging from sixteen to five or six-and-thirty, and Miss Crayston was one of those women who can speak with ease to one or two listeners only. She hesitated for a moment, and then began : " I want to speak to you about something you will all have heard of ; and before I speak about it I should like to clear away some misapprehensions which may have arisen in your own minds con- cerning it. Of course you know that I allude to the construction of a scarecrow in the ladies' cloak-room." There was a general laugh at the use of the word scarecroiv, and a rustle among the audience, who gathered closer to the speaker ; whilst those at the remote end of the room stood on chairs, in order to see her distinctly. "I want to tell you that I don't think any grave fault has been committed ; indeed I doubt whether I should call it a fault at all. If that figure had been built up by children we should all have considered it a capital joke, and very cleverly carried out. It really was a most life- M 2 164 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. like tiling. Any girl or boy under fourteen might well have been proud of it. Above that age I should call it an outbreak of childish folly to dress a scarecrow, but really I see no harm in it, even then. Many girls from sixteen to nine- teen years old would consider it a bit of fun to make their companions think a lady was sitting in a chair readinsf a book, when there was no thin or there but a few umbrellas and some cloaks. Above twenty I imagine no one but an idiot could take any pleasure in such an entertain- ment." There was a laugh at this statement, and the elder listeners, who had shown signs of irritation when Miss Crayston began to speak, were mollified. ''There are no children in St. Mary's and no idiots : " continued the Lady Eesident, '' so we know that the trick has been played by some young girl who thought it a bit of fun ; and I do hope you will not allow it to assume the import- ance and magnitude of an offence. It is true that this figure was dressed up in the ladies' cloak- room ; but as it was first seen after college hours, and when the ladies of the committee had left, there can have been no intention either to annoy or to ridicule them." XL] RIVAL POWERS. 165 Miss Crayston looked round as she said these words, which were received with warm approval. " I am sorry," she resumed, " to be compelled to allude to a notion which would reflect dis- credit of a grave kind on many of you ; but I know that it has gained ground, and therefore we had better speak of it aud set it aside. I think you will agree with me that some young girl has played a practical joke of a most innocent kind, in fact so innocent as to be childish." There was a murmur at the word "innocent," which Miss Crayston heard and understood. "I know," she said, " to what you allude ; the porter's wife was frightened ; she fainted, and was ill with headache all the following day. But it was not the intention of our unknown friend to frighten the porter's wife ; and although her illness gives us good reason to say that such jokes should never be encouraged or even toler- ated, we must not allow ourselves to attribute unmerited blame and to censure as cruel a girl who was only heedless. In fact, ' young and foolish' is my verdict, and she won't do it again." Bertie's beaming face was a pleasure to see. Miss Crayston gathered courage as she pro- ceeded and spoke slowly, but with great fluency. 1G6 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. She carried her audience with her ; and Bertie, to her intense delight, saw that they were consider- ing the subject in a very different frame of mind to that which prevailed when the Lady Eesident began to speak. "No grave fault has been committed," continued Miss Crayston, " none that cannot be, and will not be, easily overlooked by us all ; but I wish to put it to my young friends," and she laid special emphasis on th.^ yoiinf/, ''is it a brave or a right thing to allow any one else to receive blame, great or small, which you deserve ? If you are bold enough to play a trick should you not have the courage to avow it ? Is it quite what I expect of you ? Is it honourable to allow the girls whose cloaks and umbrellas you took to carry out your joke, to be cross-questioned and even sus- pected, until this foolish affair assumes almost the aspect of a crime ? " As the Lady Resident spoke her voice trembled, and she added very slowly : " I shall be much obliged if whoever dressed the fiofure will tell me of it herself. I will not listen to any charge brought against another." " Sure and you're right," said a bright-haired Irish girl with a large flat rosy foce, an upturned nose, and laughing eyes, who started up as the XI.] EIVAL POWERS. 167 Lady Resident ceased speaking. " You're just as right as rain ; an' it was me that dressed up the bogie, an so the murder's out, an' there's an end of it. I never thought there'd be such a fuss and all, over it. I did it myself ; and if you want to find the rest of the things they're in that empty cistern over the door." " Thank you, Nora : " said JMiss Crayston ; " thank you very much for removing undeserved suspicion." " Three cheers for Nora Stewart : " cried Bertie, and there was much laug^hinpf and some cheerins: : but Nora said with a comical face : " You may laugh and cheer as much as you like, but it's more than I shall do. I'd have told Ions: a 2:0, but I knew I should be worried out of my loife by one and another of them." " Who is she ? " was asked by some present. " Oh, don't you know ? We used to call her the wild Irish girl when she first came from Belfast. She is one of the boarders under Miss Flint." '' Poor thing ! " Miss Crayston was speaking earnestly to Nora. The girl had become rather pale ; she replied : "Now don't you trouble about it. Miss Crayston. 168 THE LADY KESIDENT. [chap. I sliall always be proud to know I've pleased you. And you're just roiglit about everything. It was a bit of fun, and I meant to poke the old creature down when they were all gone ; but jest as I was at the door Miss Flint called me and I had to go away. Don't you mind anything she may say. I'd have told long before if I'd known you cared about it." A small slight woman with a grey face, grey eyes, and grey hair in stiff corkscrew carls, had approached unnoticed as Nora was speaking. " You will come with me. Miss Stewart, imme- diately : " she said ; and Nora, with a sudden darkening of expression, which made her face look heavy and dull, turned to follow her from the room. Miss Crayston sent a message to Mrs. Arm- strong and Miss le Mesurier, and awaited them anxiously in the office. When they came she explained the step she had taken, and pointed out that Nora ought not to suffer for a confession made under such circumstances. They listened in silence. Miss Flint joined them, and opened an attack upon the Lady Resident. She had heard the address to the students; a most dis- astrous and unjustifiable step ; degrading the ladies of the committee ; offering insults to those XI.] RIVAL POWERS. 169 in authority; interfering with those above her. Such were some of the scattered and incoherent phrases with which the Lady Kesident was assailed. At length, when Miss Flint's vocabulary was exhausted, the three ladies left the office, and Miss Crayston with a sigh betook herself to her own sittings-room. Bertie sat with her head between her hands looking up at the clouds : " Is it all right ? " she asked eagerly. " I fear not." Nora Stewart disappeared for a week. At the end of that time she re-appeared, pale, de- pressed, and sharply watched by Miss Flint, who accompanied her wherever she went. When eveninor came, and the boardinor- house dinner bell sounded, Nora stood at the door of ^liss Crayston' s room. '* May I come in," she said, "just for a minute ? I'm not going in to dinner. They have told me I may, but I won't ; and they won't miss me from my room, for both the servants are waiting at table." " Come in, Nora dear : " said Bertie. Nora walked up to Miss Crayston, and put into her hands a bunch of violets. *'Do have them:" she said; "I got them 170 THE LADY RESIDENT [chap. by post. They grew in my own garden at home." Miss Crayston rose. She was agitated. " Nora," she said, '' do you know how sorry I am. Bertie and I have been more troubled than you can tell. There is nothing I would not have done for you, Nora ; but I am afraid my very efforts made it harder for you." " Never mind," said Nora, " I don't care a bit for any of them. Oh, but I do want to go home :" and she broke into a fit of wild, passionate crying. '' Hush, Nora, hush : " said Bertie, " they'll hear you in the next house. Go back to your room, and leave the window wide open, there's a darling. You'll see me." Miss Crayston kissed the girl, tried to console her, and chafed her cold hands : but she also uro;ed her return, and with a rueful look Nora bade them good-bye. Bertie left the room immediately after, and was absent for half-an-hour. '' I've robbed the larder : " she said on her return. Miss Crayston looked at her. " I really have," she continued, " I have taken half a fowl, and some ham, and some cold XI.] RIVAL POWERS. 171 beef; a lump of seed cake, two rolls, and some butter. I made them into a paper parcel, tied a handkerchief round it, and threw it right into Norah's window at the first shy." " At what, dear ? " " Oh ; you know: "said Bertie, blushing. " The boys call it shying, and I have got into the w^ay of it. Isn't it a o;ood thino; I have had so much practice ? Well, I put a note in to tell Xorah I could see they'd been starving her, and she was to eat what she could and throw the rest out to me." "Well?" said Miss Crayston, and there was just a shade of constraint in her manner. " Now don't be angry," exclaimed Bertie. " It was better not to tell you until I had done it ; and I'm sure you're very glad that I have done it." "I really don't know what to say about it, Bertie dear." " Well, don't say anything. It's of no use now, is it ? The thino; is done ; and Norah wrote that she had had a 'jolly good dinner.' And what do you think she threw back in the handkerchief ? " said Bertie, with a merry laugh. " Why the bones of the fowl, and nothing more ! " 172 THE LADY KESIDENT. [chap. CHAPTER XII. AN EVENING PAETY. Winter and summer in Minster are alter- nations of wet and dry, of wind and calm, rather than of cold weather and warm. Snow is rarely seen on the cliffs, and is never known to remain in the city for more than two or three hours, except in those severe winters which may be reckoned by the oldest inhabitant on the fingers of one hand. But the wind is a power almost unknown in more peaceful inland regions. Hur- rying across the Atlantic it dashes with horrible force against the granite cliffs, the lofty head- lands, and the detached masses of rock which stretch along the north-west coast of Cornwall. The roar of wind and wave is heard continuously for days together, and heavy clouds of sea-spray are drifted inland. The old city of Minster, although it lies in a valley under the shelter of towering cliffs, is not protected from winter XII.] AX EVENING PARTY. 173 Storms ; the streets are not safe for pedestrians when a ofale is rag^ing^, and when it is over the windows of the houses are dull and smeared with salt sea spray. It is impossible to approach the sea, so great is tlie fury of the storm which rages on it ; and the outer wooden shutters of windows that face seaward are often closed for weeks together. It is a jDerilous exploit to cross the open market square which lies midway in the high street, and must be traversed by any one who would pass from one end of Minster to the other. At night the gas-lamps are often extinguished by the fury of the gale, and the old city is in darkness. But merry groups may be heard if they are not seen. They cling together as they are piloted down the less-exposed streets by some adventurous youth who braves the fury of the gale and the blinding sleet in his eyes, and carries a lantern at his back for the guidance of those who follow. During the college session Minster offers to its students no lack of interest and society : there are concerts, lectures, debating societies, evening parties, and now and then a dance. Each of the Professors receives students at least once or twice durincr the winter, and the Principal has a monthly re-union, presided over during the absence of Lady !Mary by her cousin 174 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. Mrs. Mere weather, the wife of an old Indian general. At these re-unions the ladies from St. Mary's meet the Minster graduates and under-graduates. Miss Flint is there with grey ringlets and dark eyes, and the peculiar droop of the corners of the mouth, which has earned for her the title of The Lugubrious. A few of the boarders accompany her; unhappy-looking girls, who never escape from the watchful care of their supervisor and the depressing effect of her presence. Nora Stewart does not go out. She is not often seen in the class-rooms. It is said that she has a cold, and as Mrs. Armstrong remarks a temper. Miss Flint does not encourage inquiries made with regard to her, and rarely allows any one to visit her in the small room where the Irish girl sits with a worn and tired face watching the heavy clouds and the driving rain. The Lady Resident and Bertie are already popular. Some of the youths complain that there is a certain stand- offishness about Bertie, and that they cannot get on with her. " She is quite right," said Lord Ronald Adair ; " they are fellows who ought not to be able to get on with her." But the greater number of those received by XII.] AX EVENING PARTY. 175 Principal EUice gatlier around the Lady Resi- dent and Miss Ravenshaw as soon as they appear, tellins: them of every occurrence likelv to interest them, asking advice on every conceivable subject, and orivino' it as freelv as thev ask. There was an alarm of fire one nio;ht at St. Mary's, and a room in the boarding-house suflfered considerably. The young men at the next meet- incT uro'ed Miss Flint to induce all the e^irls to form themselves into a volunteer fire-brioade, of which she should be the captain. Young Car- michael and James Talbot, who were enthusiastic volunteers in the Minster Brigade, offered to make all arrangements and ensure due instruc- tion in the use of hose and bucket and ladder ; but the Lugubrious lifted her sad eyes and said : "I think you forget that in the boarding- house we receive only ladies : " and turned away. The young men walked to a window near them. "There it is : " said younor Carmichael. " It is the women themselves who are impracticable. Why shouldn't they pass a bucket as well as a man ? Why should they all want to stand screaming at the windows and be burnt to death because they can't use a ladder or a rope ? " *' But,'' interrupted Lord Ronald, *' they don't 176 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. all want to do that ; and it is not every woman who is afraid of new things." '' No," said James Talbot ; " but all the old women are ; they are all conservative." " Old men are equally conservative :" suggested Lord Ptonald. "No doubt:" acquiesced Talbot; "but they can't enforce their conservative notions on younger men, who at any rate get their fling, and move, if it is only an inch forward, before they subside into conservatism." " That is what makes me sorry for women :" said Carmichael ; " they never do get their fling. The old ones are down upon them at once, and they submit and acquiesce. Why shouldn't they have a fire-brigade and a debating club, and lots of other things that everybody seems to think so good for men ?" " Don't you think they are getting a great many things that are good for them?" asked Lord Ronald. " Not half so many as they deserve," replied the youth gallantly ; " and I tell you, when I get into the House I intend regularly to go into every woman's question, and to go in on the woman's side ; so do Carmichael and Wills, and a lot of us." XII.] AN EVEXIXG PARTY. 177 " But I'll tell you another thiug : " added Car- michael : '' it will be of no use to attempt to help them so long as girls are led about by a woman like Miss Flint. Just see : she is taking those four girls home for fear they sho»uld hear us men- tion the fire-brigade ; and she kept them all in the house for a month when Adair tried to get his cousin and Mrs. Mereweather to start a Debatinoj Club for ladies. And that woman is considered a treasure !" " I don't care so much about that : " said Lord Ronald. " What tries me is, that she is a woman's rights woman, and if she can get hold of you she will talk for an hour in a way to make your blood run cold. She can't see that she is trying to beo^in at the wrons; end of thino;s." " It is not so much that : " said Talbot. " She is the wrong person to begin at any end." The three young men had turned away and were talkins: toorether. ^' Come and tell me about the brigade : " said the Lady Resident: ^^Miss Ravenshaw and I have been saying that we should very much like to know how much it would be possible for a woman to do in time of danorer." "Just as much as a man," replied Talbot eagerly, " and often more ; because I believe that VOL. I. X 178 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. women are mainly what Goldworthy Fynes would call altruistic, whilst men are mainly egoistic." " We won't be diverted from the principal issue : " said Bertie. " We want to hear about fire-brigades, and not about altruism." Now when Miss Mint heard a mention of fire- brigade she had taken alarm, because, knowing the depravity of the masculine mind, she at once concluded that the young men wanted to come up to the house and drill the girls ; but Miss Crayston and Bertie, who had no theories as to masculine or other depravity, had been struck by the suggestion that women might give organised help in time of danger by fire, and so they approached the subject fearlessly. The young men had really no views of the kind suspected by Miss Blint. They were gen- tlemen, with sisters of their own, and more dis- posed to err on the side of excess of chivalrous consideration than the reverse. They explained the work of volunteers in a fire- brigade with great interest, and soon made it evident that they neither wished nor expected to have anything to do with the drill. Sergeant Eoberts, late hero in the Crimea, was, they said, the person into whose hands the matter should be placed. XII.] AN EVENING PARTY. 179 " You see," said Carmichael, ''I know sometliing of the danger, because my sister Margery was in the boarding-house for six months whilst my mother was in Italy. From what she tells me those twenty girls will be smoked to death like rats in a hole if a fire breaks out. Now Roberts has got three daughters, and only the other day he was telling me that they know what to do in case of fire as well as he does, and he can rely on their doing it. I do wish, Miss Crayston, you would see him." " We could do nothing without the co-openv tion of Miss Flint." " Surely you* might make a suggestion to some member of the committee : " urged Talbot. ^' I think that ' rat in a hole ' would be efi'ect- ive : " said Bertie demurely, and they all laughed. " Miss Ravenshaw, you might start a volunteer brig-ade in the Colleo-e, and then ^liss Flint and the house would be sure to follow : " pleaded Lord Ronald. Bertie shook her head, and Miss Crayston replied that it was for Miss Flint to lead and for them to follow. "Miss Crayston," exclaimed a young man who approached, " I have tried in vain to catch your eye. You have missed such an awfully jolly fight. " N 2 180 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " Who has been fighting ?" asked Bertie. " Our clear old Doctor Lloyd and that man with the big jaw. I don't know his name. He is a friend of Professor Fynes." " It is James of London," said young Talbot, " the great anatomist. What have they been saying ? " "Well, James, if that is his name, has been showing that the construction of the human eye gives proof of great carelessness. There are so many errors on the side, both of excess and defect, that really in hearing him speak I did not merely feel how much better lie would have done it, I felt I could have made a better eye myself." There was a general laugh as the speaker, Christopher Horton, a small, spare youth, with a smooth sallow face, large mouth, and mobile features, sat down by the side of the Lady Resident, and picked up her lace shawl which had fallen to the ground. " The human eye is bad enough : " continued Horton, "but when poor Mr. James began to de- scribe the manner in which the femur of the camel is articulated in the pelvis he was really shocked, almost too shocked to go on. The whole arrangement seems to show such gross and criminal neglect." XII.] AX EVENING PARTY. 181 ''When did Dr. Lloyd intervene:" asked Bertie. " Oh, he was all about. He said that by common consent the brain and intellect had been given over to the psychologist, but he did think the Almighty might have been trusted to make a bone ; in fact, he seemed to think it more presumptuous to criticise a bone than a brain." " I wish I had heard them : " said Carmichael. *' I wish you had. The Doctor made a splen- did shot. He was actually audacious enough to quote a verse of Isaiah in support of one of his statements," *' What eifect did it produce ? " *'It was just like the bursting of a bombshell. The London man lifted himself off his chair by the hair of his head, and said, ' Is it possible that you adduce that as either proof or argument ? ' Fynes threw himself back in his superb way as if disgust had almost destroyed him, and said: 'It is useless to carry on a controversy where only one side is represented.'" " How insolent he is ! " exclaimed Bertie with a hot blush. The young men saw the blush and looked angrily at their Professor. Just then they did not consider him at all a distinguished person. 182 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. A few words from Bertie or Miss Crayston were enough at any time to give a distinct set and current to their views. In the elder lady the under-graduates recognised a person to be treated with an exceptional degree of confidence and res]3ect. They were not insensible to her beauty ; but, quite independent of beauty, she was gifted with that inexplicable personal charm which draws to itself everything that is noble and of good repute. It was this which caused her on all hands to receive moral support ; and she was one of those able not only to attract esteem, but to retain it. Principal Ellice and the more earnest among the Professors recog- nised her as a distinct power in the University, as a person whose influence over the under- graduates was as great and valuable as over tJje girls at St. Mary's. The Principal looked at Professor Nicholl, and smiled when young Horton withdrew from the group of dons who were listening to the eminent London anatomist, and joined the little group gathered round the Lady Resident. The same thought was in the minds of both. They were glad that the young men should talk over the new views at that time and in that place. Bertie also counted for much. She did not XII.] AX EVENING PAETY. 183 possess tlie influence which a few years seniority gave the Lady Resident, but she called forth unlimited enthusiasm. Her youth and beauty were alone sufficient to make her popular ; and it was also impossible not to see that she was aspiring after a high ideal of human life, and that her aspirations were sustained by warm human sympathy. Then, too, her nature was docile and trustful. She lived habitually in a condition of elevated feelins^, and amono^st those who were character- ised by nobility of nature, and she lived easily with them. Things that w^ere pure and of good repute were native to her. The Professors who knew her best and Miss Crayston herself had sometimes been startled by the passionate earnestness which she sometimes showed; but the under-graduates recognised and admired the generous ardour, the courage in- domitable, and a strength of conviction equalling their own. The two ladies did more in a few months to chauge the set of opinion in Minster with regard to St. JMary's and the higher education of women, than the combined efforts of the council and the University staff had been able to effect in as many years. 184 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. They did much to put down the sneering depreciation of high feeling which is not dis- tasteful to the immature mind, since it may be considered as an assumption of superiority ; and they were more successful than the most eager advocates of Wordsworth's philosophy in limiting the influence of those exalted few, who had hitherto led the under - graduates, and who scorned to acknowledge that they had any high principles of action at all. It was not so much anything said or done, it was what they were, that placed Miss Crayston and Bertie in the position they occupied. It was the influence of earnest and beautiful natures which gave to their lives the sweet and pure flavour that acted as an irresistible charm. It was all very well for Mrs. Armstrong, Miss le Mesurier, Miss Ellen Green, Miss Flint, and others of that class, to talk about sex and pre- rogative, privilege and abuse, to organise public meetings and to advocate repeal of laws and the admission of women to the suffrage. They gathered to themselves those like them, and alienated more than they added. But the two ladies from St. Mary's, by their very silence and reserve on all topics affecting the respective condition of men and women, by XII.] AN EVEXIXG PARTY. 185 their gracious confidence in the courtesy and consideration of all men, carried easily tlie position which the others in vain had attempted to storm. Indeed they did not even carry the position, the gates were thrown open to them. "Why should women be debarred from ad- vanced study and intellectual pursuits 1 " asked young Carmichael. "Does it do them any harm? Just look at ]\Iiss Ravenshaw ! " " What paltry stuff it is," said Lord Eonald, " when you hear people urging that a woman is incapable of reasoning, and can't follow an ar- gument. I should like them to see the eyes of the Lady Resident fixed upon you as you speak. I should like them to find out, as I have often done, that she detects a fallacy, as it seems, almost instinctively. She doesn't run at you with a Saxon halberd, or shoot a great wooden arrow from a cross-bow, but she pricks you between the joints with the finest needle, and you are undone." And so it came to pass that the whole burden of the trouble at St. Mary's was taken up and borne upon masculiue shoulders. The Professors met and discussed pecuniary difficulties and ways to meet them, and the under-graduates 18G THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. tliemselves were a guard of honour to the students of St. Mary's. " Do you know," Miss Crayston says on this evening, " that one of the under-graduates is pivinoj us some trouble ? " " No ! " is the simultaneous exclamation of two young men, whilst two others approach with a sudden look of alerfc attention. "Is it worth while to speak of it ? " asks Bertie with an appealing look. " Certainly : " says Lord Ronald with decision ; " we may be able to help you." " I am sure that you will : " replies the Lady Eesident, " and I will tell you what it is. A vouno* crirl who comes to Colleofe, lives a mile J O O CD ^ on the other side of Minster. An under-graduate watches her, speaks to her, follows her; she arrives breathless and in tears ; frightened, and yet without power or courage to put an end to the persecution ! '' " What a shame ! Who is the fellow ! " " We can't find out. I have sent Gibson, the porter, to meet her or conduct her home, and of course then he has contrived to keep out of the w^ay. I think if he could be told it was unmanly to frighten a girl it would have some effect on him ! " " Yes : " said Talbot, drawing himself up ; "I XII.] AX EVEXIXG PARTY. 187 think if we remonstrate with him we may put a stop to it." Talbot was over six feet, and a brawny, muscular fellow. Bertie, who had brothers, understood him at once. She smiled, and yet hesitated : " My mother says that unless a young lady behaves as if she was a little milliner she need fear no annoyance from a gentleman."' " That is a little hard of you. Miss Eaven- shaw : " replied Carmichael. " Why should the little milliner be annoyed ? " " Of course not," replies Bertie ; '"' and I think you ought to interfere on her behalf; but in a case like this I do think a lady might " Bertie blushed and hesitated. "You are quite right," said Lord Ronald gravely; "my sister Joscelyn thinks as you do; a ladj/ is never insulted." " But, my dear fellow : " exclaimed Carmichael, "just imagine any man taking a liberty with Miss Ravenshaw or Lady Joscelyn Adair." " That is Miss Ravenshaw's point. I take it that Miss Crayston, Miss Ravenshaw, and my sister Joscelyn would be as secure from annoy- ance in a strange city as here in Minster where they are known." 188 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. "Now you must hear me on behalf of my young friend : " exclaimed Miss Crayston. " She is a delicate, nervous little thing, and has no physical strength, and probably very little pre- sence of mind or courage." " Is it Millicent Graham ? " asked Carmichael. "It is : " replied Miss Crayston ; " but of course you will not repeat it." " You don't mean to say any fellow is such a cad as to annoy Iter!''' exclaimed Horton, start- ing off his chair. " I say, Adair, we must put a stop to it." " I believe I know who it is : " said Carmichael. "It's that Simon. I have seen him loiterinsc about, with a flower stuck in his button-hole." " I think," said Lord Ronald, turning to Miss Crayston with a smile, " that we shall be able to persuade him it is not good form to follow a " Thank you: " replied the Lady Resident. Bertie rose and went up to Carmichael. She looked him in the eyes and said : " You'll give him a chance, I suppose ? " " What do you mean ? " asked the young man. " Well," replied Bertie," if he is the man you say, he is such a miserable little creature I think you might make him over to Mr. Horton." XII.] AX EVEXIXG PARTY. 189 Carmichael langhed and said, '*' I don't tliink we need trouble Talbot ; but I should like to say a word to him myself. You see I know ^liss Graham's people." As the two ladies were slowly driving home throug^h the wind and storm Bertie said : " I can't help thinking about that poor Simon." " Your sympathy is unnecessary. The sense of moral reprobation on the part of young men whose position causes them to be leaders in the University will have more effect on such a delin- quent than anything I could do or say." " They don't intend to argue, or appeal, or to rely upon moral force," replied Bertie ; " they'll lick him." " My dear child ! " exclaimed Miss Crayston. " I know : " lauo'hed Bertie ; " but when 1 saw their eyes and the set of the mouth, I knew from our own boys exactly what was going to happen. They'll catch him, and one of them will beat him. He won't be out for a week." " My dear Bertie, I can scarcely hear a word you say ; this wind is terrible, and it seems as if the horse either won't or can't get up the hill." " It is of no use to open a window : " said Bertie, "we can neither see nor hear what is oroino: on, and I am sure we couldn't walk in the teeth of 100 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. this gale. I pin my faith on Cornish horses. I saw that Smith had put two in the carriage." " We certainly shall be jerked out or thrown over : " exclaimed the Lady Eesident. " Don't you think we could walk ? " '' I don t believe we could stand :" replied Bertie. By slow degrees they mounted the hill, and at length the carriage stopped at the door of St. Mary's. " This is a comfort : " said Bertie, " I haven't a bone that is not shaken out of its socket." The Lady Eesident did not reply. She stood a moment on the pavement. " You have had help, Smith : " she said. " Who are those at the horses' heads ? " " They'm the young gents, miss. If it hadn't been for they, us might ha' stayed at the bottom of the 'ill all night." Talbot and Carmichael stepped forward, and took off their hats. "We ventured to follow the carriage," they explained, " for fear the horses should be trouble- some." "The horses is all right," said the driver; " they go over the hill like a shot, they do ; it's this 'ere blasted wind, saving your presence, as is too much for 'em. Lor bless you, we'm dragged XIII.] AX EVENING PARTY. 191 and shoved 'em all up this 'ill. I wouldn't take another such a job not for a fiver." "Who's that behind the carriage ? " asked the Lady Resident. '•Oh, that's Adair," replied Talbot; "he and Horton have done a good deal of what Smith calls the shoving." " Good night, and thank you so much : " came in sweet women's voices from the darkness of the doorway. " Good night, good night : " was called out of the darkness of the night. " I thought so : " was the mental ejaculation of Miss Flint, as she peered through the Venetian blinds of a window in the boarding-house ; " I thought as much ! It's impossible to see any- thiug, but they can't have had/re coachmen." 192 THE LADY RESIDENT. [cHAr. CHAPTER XIII. AFTERNOON TEA. On tlie outskirts of Minster there are many pleasant houses, with sunny gardens sloping to- wards the valley, and within sound of the river Eden, which flows rapidly and rather noisily in this last part of its course. They are occupied by people of suflicient means and leisure to ensure attention to all the little details that make house and garden attractive, and no prettier picture of a small English home in a country town can be desired than that formed by Tregarven House. The drawing-room is somewhat low, but larofe and irree^ular. There are handsome old- fashioned tables, chairs, and carved book- cases in it ; faded pieces of fine tapestry and exquisite specimens of old china ; the scent of dried rose-leaves and spices pervade the room ; in a small window at one end of it stands the cage of a squirrel, the poor little beast is incess- XIII.] AFTERNOON TEA. 193 antly at work, and the whirr of his circular cage is never silent. This room faces the south-west, and a broad wooden balcony stretches outside a window of such large dimensions that it seems to occupy the entire side of the room. The balcony really forms a summer sitting-room, for it has- a roof and side walls of painted wood, which provide both privacy and shelter. Eoses, jasmine, and westeria cover it on the outside, great bunches of blossom and long wreaths hang down over the open front ; but within, the flowers are arranged in a more orderly manner. There are trees of fuchsia in large tubs, and tall oleanders with their exquisite bunches of pink flowers, and glowing scarlet buds. Hydrangeas, pink and blue, great masses of colour, fill in every available space, and spreading tufts of deep blue lobelia are suspended in wire baskets from the roof. A broad flight of iron steps leads to the garden, which is a long and formal slip of ground, but redeemed from insigniflcance by the care bestowed upon it, and the perfection of its flowers. The scent of roses and mignonette fills the air, and the flower-beds, brilliant with colour, can be seen in the interstices of the wooden balustrade. The window is open, and within the room, on a VOL. I. 194 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. low chair placed near a small table covered with crimson velvet, which age has softened to a tone rich and luminous, sits the owner of the honse, Miss Ellen Green. Her friend, Mrs. Armstrong, is seated near her, on a sofa behind a large table, on which she has spread out the papers contained in her bag. ^ Miss le Mesurier, erect on an ordinary chair, faces the squirrel, which seems to possess an occult attraction for her ; whilst in an arm-cbair placed opposite the open window, and in full view of the pretty balcony, its flowers, and the garden beyond, is Professor Goldworthy Fynes. His hat is on the floor between his feet, and he leans forward as he talks, and looks into the crown of it. The Professor was a favourite with the man- aging ladies. He was a man of good family, possessed some private means, and, when he first came to England and to Minster, was believed to be that extremely eligible bachelor, a marrying man. He paid marked attention to several ladies, and amongst others to Miss Ellen Green ; she was fifteen years his senior, it is true, but then her falling ofi" in personal charm had been more than compensated by increased pecuniary attrac- XIII.] AFTERNOON TEA. 195 tions. Miss Ellen Green and Professor Pynes sat together, walked and talked together, until friends beofan to smile when their names were mentioned. Miss Ellen Green's conversation also took a peculiar turn. She seemed to re- member all her dear friends who had married men much younger than themselves, and whose lives had without exception been prosperous and happy. Indeed, domestic felicity, according to her view at this time, could only be secured by a man's union with a woman who had outlived the foolish period of early youth, and was able to advise and control him. Suddenly Professor Fynes disappeared from Minster for two years, and on his return he was found to be engrossed by positivism and in- different to woman. But with the advent of the Lady Resident, Miss Ellen Green noted a re- currence of the old symptoms. Once again the Professor went about with a book under his arm and a manuscript in his pocket ; it is true that the book was a volume of Comte, and the manu- script a translation, the merits of which he sought an opportunity of discussing with the Lady Resident. Miss Ellen Green was loth to lose the Professor. She endeavoured to retain him as friend and allv, and insisted upon consulting him 2 196 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. and obtaining his advice. Her friends were not unwilling to comply with her wishes, and the increasing college difficulties made Professor Fynes a frequent visitor at Tregarven. On this day he had been asked to give an opinion with regard to inspection and examination, which the manao^ino^ ladies wished to establish in the college. ^' You should make something more like a scheme : " he says, in reply to a remark of Miss Ellen Green's. "It is easily done by stating definitely what classes you propose should be examined, by what examiners, and within what time." " I don't see," replies Mrs. Armstrong, "how we can do that. Our plans are not sufficiently matured." " You will have to do it," he continues with some asperity, " before any arrangement can be made ; and you may as well do it now to give your suggestion the air of a scheme." " What do you think of putting most of the examinations into the hands of one Professor ? " asks Miss le Mesurier, turning from the squirrel with a suspicious glance at Mr. Fynes. " There must be several who could do most of it : " he replies coldly. " Mr. NichoU, for ex- XIII.] AFTER XOOX TEA. 197 ample, takes pupils in almost every subject of knowledore. He could at all events take losric, history, and mathematics. Such an examiner would be much more competent to report than a stranger ; and, if I understand your object, it is to obtain a reliable account of the condition of all the classes at St. Mary's." " Yes," said Miss Ellen Green, to whom he had more especially appealed. " Yes, of course, that is our object." " One of them, at any rate : " added Mrs. Armstrong. " Well, your plan will l)e less than is expected if it is not more detailed." " What is the opinion of the Professors with regard to a permanent inspector : " asks Mrs. Arm- strong, who has been consulting a letter. " They will never submit to it, and you may as well give up the idea at once." " I am not at all sure of that," replies the lady. '' I suppose you will allow," he adds in a hard and rather bitter tone, "that any one who feels himself able to refuse inspection, and takes his stand on his character and reputation, is certainly entitled to do so." " I think the refusal will be very much mis- understood." 198 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " That will be a matter of perfect indiffei'ence to the Professors ; but we shall certainly not re- linquish the duty of examining our own classes in the college and determining the scholarships." " Then I don't understand your meaning : " exclaims Miss Ellen Green. '' What did you say the Professors would agree to ? " " I have no desire to say anything that can be considered either binding or final. I think the Professors may be inclined to arrange either for examining one another's classes (as a con- cession to your wishes), or for the appointment of an examiner from without.'^ " The first is a very childish suggestion," said Miss le Mesurier tartly ; *' the last might meet our views." " I will read what Miss Kimberley Pinch says about the appointment of an examiner." " You need not give yourself the trouble to do so : " interposes the Professor. " I am quite sure nothing will satisfy that lady but her own cut- and-dried method, which we shall certainly not adopt." "It is a question for the decision of the council," continues Mrs. Armstrong ; " and we shall en- deavour to make our views prevail there." " In your place I should do the same, and I XIII.] AFTERNOON TEA. 199 should influence every one to whom I had access : " replies the Professor ; '^ at the same time I think we can carry our scheme. It may not be all that you want, but it is too fair to be rejected." " The fact is," says Miss le Mesurier, rising from her chair to draw nearer to the speakers, ^' we are quite resolved to secure means of test- ino^ the teachinof of the Professors, and we intend to do it in the w^ay that seems best to ourselves, for it is of no use to make the cook a judge of the pudding." "^And we," replied the Professor, also rising, '' are equally resolved, that if any examiner is ap- pointed he shall be nominated by the Professors. We will not consent to leave the nomination to the ladies. And we are moreover prepared to show that the payment of such examiners cannot be borne bv the income of the colleoje." Miss Ellen Green, who was deeply troubled at what threatened to be a complete rupture be- tween the managing ladies and the only Professor on whom they could rely, burst into tears. Mr. Fynes was angry with her for crying, and also angry because he had been goaded into saying more than he had intended. He looked at her wdth some contempt and said : 200 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. ''You should not take things so much to heart. In my own affairs I always make up my mind to fight for the ground inch by inch, and allow it to be seen that such is my intention. In that way I never feel annoyed at anything that happens." He left the room, and Mrs. Armstrong coming forward, whispered : " What a French monkey he looks with his flaming black eyes ! I hate to see a man sit and shrug his shoulders in that supercilious way ! Did you see the flower in his button-hole ? He is going to Mrs. Browiflow's. The Lady Kesident will be there. He will tell her every thiug that has taken place here." " There is nothing to tell : " said Miss le Mesurier. Miss Ellen Green dried her eyes : " I think we ought to try and keep one ally among the Professors. Two years ago they were all on our side, and ready to do anything we asked ; and now, if it was not for Fyues we should not even know their plans." The three ladies when they were together always spoke of the Professors as Brownlow, Eynes, Nicholl, Walmsley, and so on. It was a custom they had adopted from Miss Kimberley Finch, who used the same form in her letters. xiii.] AFTERNOON TEA. 201 " I don't see what \Ye are to do ! " continued Miss Ellen Green. " Carry out your own suggestion," urged Mrs. Armstrong, " and ask Miss Kimberley Finch to pay you a visit. Let her see things with her own eyes. Her advice ^ill be far more valuable if she has a full knowledge of the whole affair. I shall write an account of this interview, and perhaps you will feel disposed to add a note of invitation. Did you say, Barbara, that you were going to the Brownlows' 1 " " Yes : " replied Miss le Mesurier. '' Some one ought to go. All Minster will be there, and it will look strange if we stay away." " Perhaps we may look in, later on, when these letters are finished : " said Mrs. Armstrong;. " Fynes always remains to the last, so that we shall meet him again." " I wonder if he would like Miss Kimberley Finch to come:" says Miss Ellen. ''I don't think it prudent to annoy him." Distance does not count for much as an element affecting intercourse in Minster ; and Mrs. Arm- strong retraced her steps to the old city, and passing through it, began the ascent toward St. Mary's. The road slopes gently upwards for half a mile before you reach the College, but the 202 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. row of houses called the Parade, two of which are occupied by Mr. Brownlow and Mr. Nicholl, is not more than seven minutes' walk out of Minster. Miss le Mesurier found the front door open at Mrs. Brownlow's, as usual on days of high festivity ; for the two maids in their neat caps, faultless white aprons, and brown serge gowns, w^ere busy with the tea and the guests. She entered what had been the dining-room, but was now the Professor's study, in which tea was laid out on a long table, together with piled- up plates of strawberries and great jugs of cream. " We draw our commissariat supplies from this source : " said the Professor, who advanced to meet Miss le Mesurier; " but I think you will find it pleasanter in the garden. Mrs. Brownlow is there, and if you will allow me I will bring you out some strawberries and cream." " Thank you, I never take them." " Shall I give you a cup of tea ? " " If you please. No sugar." " How very pretty this room is ! '' exclaimed Miss Graham, who entered with Miss le Mesurier. " I think the gilding just above the black shelves is perfect. I suppose you intend it to frame your beloved books like a picture, Mr. Browmlow, XIII.] AFTERNOOX TEA. 203 and your wall-paper is quite ideal. You must have had that down from London." " Yes : " replied the Professor, well pleased. "It is my wife's choice. In fact the arrange- ment of the room and books is her own ; and she has crowned her good deeds by writing out a catalogue with illustrations : " he added, with a smile. " She would not approve of my showing them to an artist, but I should really like to know what you think of her sketches." " Oh, cliarming ! " exclaimed Miss Graham, a kindly and appreciative creature, who looked out for something to praise in all that she saw. " What a pretty title-page. Those wild flowers are perfect, and the Cupid down among the water-lilies is most suggestive." " I can't see the wings," said Miss le Mesurier, "nor any legs or feet." " Ah, I am afraid you have hit upon the weak spot, Miss le Mesurier. I rather fancy my wife intends that figure for the baby. It is a mere suggestion ; she is self-taught. Perhaps I ought not to have shown her work." " Indeed, you ought to be proud of it. I never saw prettier marginal sketches, nor more graceful fancy in minute details : " replies Miss Graham. 204 THE LADY EESIUENT. [chap. The Professor looked proud and pleased, and turned to Miss le Mesurier, who was examining the book-shelves with an air of dissatisfaction. " I think you don't quite approve of them ? " he asked. ''Well/' she said, ''I suppose it is a new fashion ; and you see I am not accustomed to black out of an undertaker's shop." '' Shall we join my wife ? " suggests Mr. Brownlow, turning sharply to Miss Graham. They passed through the little dining-room, descending steps leading from the window to an old-fashioned garden, or rather to the gardens of the two houses thrown into one. There was a large and carefully-kept lawn, with a croquet ground on the most level part of it. Croquet was played under difficulties on account of the slope of the ground ; but this was a condition incidental to all Minster gardens, and, as Mr. Brownlow said, merely required to be taken into account by the players. Eound the law^n were shaded walks, lovers' walks Mrs. Brownlow called them ; and beyond the lawn was the wilder- ness, a bit of wild, uncultivated land, where brambles and dog-roses grew amongst hazel trees and young oaks, where birds built in safety, and from whence the song of the thrush was always XIII.] AFTERNOON TEA. 205 heard in spring. Narrow paths intersected the wilderness ; the children played there. They watched for the nests of the finches, the robins, and the thrushes ; carried crumbs and biscuits for the old birds, counted their eggs, and fiercely chased any cat that appeared in the vicinity. On this day three of the little NichoUs were on their way through the wilderness. The nurse and a younger child had preceded them, and they were close to a gate of egress, by means of which they passed to a space of broken open ground, covered with gorse and heather, and leading upward to the park at the summit of the cliff. Each child wheeled a barrow, of size suited to its age, and at the gate they met Bertie. She waited for them to pass through, and when they had done so, and arranged their barrows side by side, they turned round and lifted three pairs of eyes to her face. "Well, darlings:" said Bertie. '"Nurse and baby are not far off. You will see the perambu- lator when you pass the thorn tree." The children looked at each other in silence. They let go the handles ; each child retreated and sat down on a little wooden ledge in front of the barrow ; then the youngest, a boy of three years old, fixing his eyes on Bertie, said slowly : 206 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " Baby is dead. His name is Arcliie." " He has gone to the happy angels : " added little Maud, who was four. ''He is away, away, to a far, far happier place : " chanted Grace, a girl of five years old ; and then they all looked steadfastly at Bertie. " Yes, darlings ; I know that the blessed Jesus has taken baby, but I did not mean him. I met nurse with little Bell, and I thought perhaps you call her baby now.'' '' She isn't baby : " replied Grace, very earnestly. " Her name is Bella." "It is Auntie Bell," stated Maud, with pre- cision, ''and sister Bella." " Baby is dead," chimed in little Willie, " and his name is Archie." " And where is Ralph ? " asked Bertie, by v/ay of changing the conversation. " Mamma said he might stay with her because it is his birthday : " answered Grace. " He is seven, and aunty has gave him a box of croquet : " said Maud. At this point they all executed a dance round the barrows, and exclaimed together : " He sa3^s we shall play to-morrow." Bertie passed on and joined the party in the garden. Miss Crayston had preceded her, and XIII.] AFTERXOOX TEA. 207 was sitting on a garden seat under a group of laburnum trees. Professor Fynes was standing by her side. " I should like to put in a clear light some remarks of mine in our last conversation, which I think you found rather startling : " he said. " You spoke of religion being an encumbrance to morality : " she replied, " from which I conclude you to mean that a sincerely religious person will find morality more difficult." '* I mean nothing of the kind ; but it occurred to me afterwards that you might think so. I hold religion, as I said in my lecture, to be indis- pensable to the happiness of the individual and the progress of the race." " Yes ; I remember that you said so, and it seems to me difficult to reconcile that statement with your present assertion, that unless a man disbelieves he will be immoral." " When did I say that ? " asked the Professor, angrily. " On the contrary, I say (a general pro- position about individuals being liable to unascer- tainable exceptions), that if society does not believe some religion its morality will decline." " Well, society does believe so??ie religion, and you say that its religion is an encumbrance to its morality ! " 208 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " Modern society," urged the Professor with some warmth, " is unable to believe the religions that suited our fathers, and I think it is high time some religion was found that does not out- rage the intellect. Tyrolese peasants, who are really devout Catholics, and believe everything, may get along very well at present as they are ; but for us some new provision is indispens- able." "I object to the term outrage the intellect :^^ replied Miss Crayston. " Men of the highest intellectual power in the present day are also devout Christians." *' I know there are many of such who profess Christianity. They are all wretched hypocrites. In fact, English ladies don't know how utterly their husbands and brothers have ceased to believe." " And what do you expect to gain if you offer them a new superstition ? " "Whatever Positivism is, it is not a super- stition : " he warmly replied. " It discards the supernatural, and asks assent to nothing which human reason cannot understand. It is emi- nently practical. It seeks the happiness of the individual, and the progress of the race." " So does Christianity : " said Miss Crayston. XIII.] AFTERNOON TEA. 209 " It embraces much more, but it also includes individual well-being and human progress." "Not at all : " replied the Professor. '' Clnis- tiaiis" and he emphasised the word in a con- temptuous manner, " speak of religion, but they mean theology and dogma. Now-a-days, if people are habituated to couple together the Divinity of Jesus and moral duty as facts of equal certainty, it will go hard with the latter." " I think you had better give me your defini- tion of religion : " said Miss Crayston. '*' I feel very much as if you were describing a corporeal entity, and forbidding me to think of the skin and the muscle and the bones. " I take religion to be the systematic effort to develop the social or unselfish feelings, and to discipline the selfish with a view to unity." " Yes. I know that in a simpler form. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." " Of course. Ail founders of relimon have arrived at it : Moses, Mahomet, St. Paul, Con- fucius, even Brigham Young I am disposed to think, though I should like to look into his social system and its workings a little more carefully before speaking confidently " "Bertie, dear," said Miss Crayston to that young lady who had approached and was about VOL. I. p . 210 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. to take a seat by her side. ''I think Mr^. Brownlow wants you. I told her I was sure you would give Kalph Nicholl his first lesson in croquet." Bertie gave a glance which meant : " May I stay with you ? " but Miss Crayston replied : " You will find him somewhere on the lawn : " and when Bertie had retreated she looked up at Mr. Fynes, and said : " And after that ? " " Well," he resumed, with a rather bitter smile, as he watched Bertie cross the lawn, and recog- nised the fact that she had been sent away, " all these systems have adopted and taken into alliance some base part of our nature to control better by its help the rest. Thus Christianity addresses itself to our cowardice." " Don't you think," interrupted Miss Crayston with some warmth, "that you had better also look into that a little more carefully before speak- ing confidently ? " The Professor smiled ; he had a lofty sense oi his own superiority in the argument. " I grant you," he continued, " that the object of Catholicism, of course I include Protestantism in Catholicism, the object of Catholicism in its best times was not to save men's souls from hell- XIII.] AFTERXOOX TEA. 211 fire, but to improve human society ; and this original aim is not entirely obliterated." *' I am glad you concede so much ; but I pre- sume you consider those good times at an end ? " "Decidedly. Catholicism is now in its decline, it has lost sight of the real end of religion, and made theology its serious business." " And you think that Positivism can supply all that Christianity lacks 1 " " I was not speaking of Christianity. I know nothinor about it. It is not a relioion, it is a collection of rags and tatters, not worthy of investigation ; but I state confidently that Posi- tivism is distinguished from all other religions by appealing exclusively to the highest and purest parts of our nature." '' How can you speak of Positivism as a re- ligion ? " said Miss Crayston. " There can be no religion without a God ! " " I beg your pardon. Religion may exist without a belief in God ; and John Stuart ]\Iill holds that M. Comte is fully justified in the attempt to develop his philosophy into a religion, and that he has realised the essential conditions of one." Miss Crayston looked puzzled and somewhat pained ; and the Professor, who was not anxious p 2 212 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. to close the conversation, considered that he had made a notable concession when he added : ^' Positivism is not, to my own mind, incom- patible with Theism, though perhaps complete Positivists would say that the introduction of a God is purely mischievous. For my own part I think if we will pry into first causes a God is the easiest hypothesis ; but I don't see how I am to know much about him, or what my relations to him are. So much seems clear, that doing my duty to humanity must be my best way of serving him, which dispenses me from looking further than humanity." '' Then you also dispense with any necessity for worship or prayer. You strip your life bare to the very bones, and yet find it possible to hold it up for admiration and imitation." " We do nothing of the kind. The Positivist religion makes provision for both worship and prayer." '' Worship of what?" '' The worship of woman, who is the repre- sentative of humanity." "That seems to me very shocking. 'Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.' " ''It is not shocking at all ; and you employ a XIII.] AFTERNOON TEA. 213 very feminine mode of argument. But I allow that it is perhaps impossible for those who have been brought up as Protestants to realise com- pletely the Positivist worship of humanity, and of woman as its representative." " Most assuredly it is : " said Miss Crayston, with a smile, " especially if I am to accept your own definition of worship. Don't you remember that in our previous conversation you ' defied ' me to define worship otherwise than as ' the service of an Omnipotent Being, with whom we have nothing in common ? ' Now I place the ideal woman on a lofty pedestal, but I do not hold her to be omnipotent, or " "I said," interrupted the Professor, angrily, " that that was the English idea of worship. Of course it would be an abuse of terms to apply it as Comte does. We are slaves to a word. But I imagine a Catholic, accustomed from infancy to the admirable institution of Mariolatry, has no such difficulty, because luorsJiij) with him has a much broader and more practical significance." '' I thought you told me you had been brought up as a Protestant." '' Yes. And I can say from my own experi- ence, that it is very difficult at first even to grasp the idea of humanity in a Positivist sense." 214 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. '' Have you overcome that difficulty ? " *' Certainly. By steadily habituating my mind to contemplate it, I do grasp it now ; and I think I can realise what Comte meant by worship of it, namely, gratitude, love, and devotion to it." " Do you speak now of humanity, or of woman as its representative ? " " Oh, of humanity. I thoroughly share Comte's views as to the function and influence of women i but I confess I do not so clearly apprehend his meaning when he puts her as a type of humanity ; nor do I see what the worship of her amounts to when figurative and metaphorical language is stripped away. I believe my difficulties on this point are shared by English Positivists, and by all thinking people of my own sex." " I am quite prepared to expect that : " replied Miss Crayston, coldly ; '' and now that you have explained the worship of woman, I should very much like to know what I am to understand by prayer." " I imagine prayer to mean meditation on a type and aspiration ; and I suppose most think- ing people have a repugnance to give any other character to their prayer." "Well, then, I must say that most thinking people get nothing out of their worship, and very XIII.] AFTEEXOOX TEA. 215 little out of their prayer, and I should eliminate those two elements from the Positivist religion." " But you can't eliminate them," exclaimed the Professor, ^^ from humanity." "Mr. Fynes," said Mrs. Brownlow, who had approached, " you have talked humanity with a capital H under this tree for an hour, and I am going to take Miss Crayston away. Mr. Walmsley has been looking pensive and quoting : * Laburnums, dropping wells of fire.' " " I should imagine he is disappointed at not seeing a fender under the trees: " Miss Crayston re- plied ; and the two ladies laughed as they recalled Mr. Walmsley's well-known seat in every room. Mr. Fynes did not laugh, he made no reply, but walked away in silence. "What have you been talking about for so long ? " " Positivism. It is a subject that has caused a complete separation between me and a very dear friend, and I w^ant to understand more about it." " Well, do you know I am very glad you had Mr. Fynes here in the open. Mr. Mcholl met him at the Jacksons' the other night, and from what I can understand he talked blasphemy 216 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. enough to blow the roof off. Now don't laugh, because his views are a real calamity in a place like this." " But he makes no secret of them. They must have been well known when he was elected." " Oh, don't you see that he has all the ardour of a fresh convert. He went away for two years on account of his health, and when, he came back he had got a new religion. He is a terrible kind of man, and not at all original. These Positivists reproduce the old savage period, so John says." ^' In what way ? " asked the Lady Resident. ^' John thinks that a Positivist goes about after a woman he admires with an intellectual cudgel, and when he has beaten her senseless he expects her to consent to marry him. But we won't stay to talk about Gold worthy Fynes. I want to intro- duce Philip le Mesurier to you. He is rather a fine fellow in his way, and we are all fond of him. I never understand a word he says ; you musn't try to make sense out of his utterances, but just let them wash over you like a sea wave, and you'll feel all the better for it. I left him under a tree gazing at Bertie." XIV.] IVIATCH MAKING. 217 CHAPTEH XIV. MATCH MAKING. Mr. Nicholl advanced to meet the two ladles, saying : " I am very glad to see you, ]\Ilss Crayston ; Lady Mary Is asking for you, and I should like to have the pleasure of Introducing you to her." " I did not know that she had returned to Minster, much less that she was here." *' That was just what I was going to tell you," exclaimed Mrs. Brownlow, " but the laburnum tree put It out of my head." " Mrs. Brownlow's garden party," said Mr. Nicholl, '' Is, as usual, a great success. It Is the event of the year. Lady Mary arrived last even- ing, and no doubt she returned expressly for It. She looks extremely delicate, and I fear has not gained so much as we had hoped from change of climate. Some star always follows In her luminous track, and this year she has brought Mr. Otto Venning." 218 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " The poet ? " "Yes. There he is in a shawl. You may perhaps have noticed that a poet always wears a shawl.'' "Mr. Nicholl, I shall leave Miss Crayston in your charge, for there are. so many fresh arrivals that I must not stay with you." " I will conduct her to Lady Mary as soon as I see an opportunity. Just now there is no possibility of doing so." Mr. Nicholl was the Professor of History at Minster, and he held a class on that subject at St. Mary's. He was a man rather beneath the middle height, active, vigorous, energetic, with dark hair, ruddy complexion, and black eyes glancing keenly through spectacles. He was popular with all the best students, for his enthu- siasm gave an intense reality to all his own work and to theirs also. " Miss Crayston, why don't you send Miss Raven shaw to me ? " he asked ; " the Principal says she is the most promising pupil he ever had, male or female. Walmsley raves about her, and even Fynes confesses that a woman under twenty may have something that approaches the nature of Intellect." " I think you ought to talk to her yourself, XIV.] MATCH MAKING. 219 Mr. Nicholl ; she says that history is too great for her. Just at present she works so hard that I don't see how she could take on another subject of study." " Oh, I wasn't in earnest. But I think I shall say she must come to me next session. ]\Iy wife brino^s home the most wonderful accounts of her. Don't let her do too much. Look ; do you see that grey-haired man playing with my boy Ealph. That is Dobson, the charity organisation man. I suppose he came down with le Mesurier." " What do you think of charity organisation ? " " An excellent thing ; but the name is a mistake. It is all organisation and no charity. See, there's Lady Mary on that low couch under the trees. What do you think of her ? " " She is very beautiful ; and how young she looks." " She always produces the impression of beauty, and always will, though she is no longer young," said Mr. Nicholl. " When Yillars, the sculptor, was here some years ago, he said a thing I thought very true. He said she was not the most beau- tiful woman he had ever known, but that he had seen her look more beautiful than any other woman." " She looks at once sensitive and sympathetic." 220 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " She is so/' replied Mr. Nicholl. " At the same time her critical judgment is very good. It is quick and penetrating." " That is a rare combination in a woman." "It is," said Mr. Nicholl. "I have known women as full of sensibility and imaginative atmosphere as Lady Mary, but none in whom intellect made such exigent demands, and in whom there was so much reserve of that which constitutes the charm of her character." "It is a pleasure to stand and watch her : " said Miss Crayston. " Yes ; for you see how the observant mind controls her warm social impulses. See, she notices us. That is Otto Venning by her side." They drew near to Lady Mary, and at the same time Mr. Fynes approached and bowed over her hand with his smile of self-satisfaction. She said a few words, and then turned her head towards the poet, who continued to talk. He was a man of four or five- and- twenty, with long fair hair, delicate complexion and blue eyes. " The fact is," he said, " that the longer I live, and the more I study human nature, the more I perceive that all feminine literature is a mistake." "Not only a mistake," struck in Mr. Fynes; "it is an anomaly." XIV.] MATCH MAKING. 221 " It seems to be a necessary anomaly just at present : " smiled Lady ^lary. " That may be : " replied the poet ; '*' but we must always, and under all circumstances, re- cognise feminine literature as an anomaly, and never suffer it to enter into our ideal of human society." " You have not outgrown St. Paul : " said Mr. Nicholl. " I suffer not a woman to speak in the church." " Ah, yes," Lady Mary exclaimed. " She is banished also from the assembly of saints." " XW religious and philosophical teachers, in- cluding St. Paul," said Mr. Pynes in a hard, dog- matic tone, " are unanimous on this point. It only remains for us to show that this exclusion from all participation in active life and in- tellectual exercise is not derogatory." "On the contrary," exclaimed Otto Yenning eagerly; " it is in the highest and divinest degree honourable to womanhood." " }.Ir. Yenning, allow me to introduce you to Professor Goldworthy Fynes : " said Lady ^Mary. The two men shook hands warmly, and Mr. Yenning turned to speak to Mrs. Brownlow. " I have no doubt, Fynes, you have read Mr. Venning s poems. His Bethany, Sf. John of Fat- 222 THE LADY KESIDENT. [chap. 7nos, the Sisters of Lazarus, and St. Peter, are allowed, as you may have heard, to represent the most orthodox views, and at the same time to possess all the characteristics of original genius : " said Mr. Nicholl, and smiled. " I do not read religious poetry : " replied Mr. Pynes, with a cold, angry stare, and he turned away. Mr. Venning had drawn the shawl round him, and was gazing at Miss Crayston. '' Who is Goldworthy Fynes ? " he asked. ^'Our Positivist :" replied Mr. Nicholl. The poet shuddered. " For shame, Mr. Nicholl ! you are full of mischief:" said Lady Mary; "but I must forgive you, since you bring Miss Crayston to me." " Lady Mary,'' whispered Mrs. Brownlow, leaning over the couch and speaking low, " can you spare me the poet ? " " Certainly." " And may I bring the boy to you presently ? He was fifteen months old yesterday." '^ I must look at him to-day ; but you must send him to me for an hour in the morning, or, better still, bring him with you." " Thanks. Just now I shall keep every one XIV.] MATCH MAKING. 223 away, that you may have five minutes' talk with Miss Crayston." Whilst the two ladies were talking, a man, hat in hand, stood under the trees at no great dis- tance from them, and watched the numerous visitors w^ho now thronged the garden. He was tall, and of a large, heavy build, with enormous hands and feet. His light scanty hair was parted down the middle, and combed straight and even on each side of his head. A fringe of short stubby beard grew beneath his chin, and deline- ated the form of a lower jaw of portentous mass. Light grey eyes peered mildly through gold-rim- med spectacles. The w^hole aspect of the man was peaceable, and yet you could not look at him without recognising the prevailing characteristic as one of aggression. After a time Lady Mary beckoned to him. " AVhat are you doing under the trees, Mr. Philip ? " "Keeping out of the way of science :" he replied. ** Do you see that fellow making love to a most beautiful girl. What does he mean by it ? He looks upon himself as descended from a skulking aborigenes ; he is spouse of the worm and brother of the clay ; he is ready to distil him- self into gas or pound himself into cells." 224 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " Oh spare us : " said Lady Mary. " We don't hold with him, do we, Miss Crayston ? " " He is probably asking her to share his future with him," pursued the speaker ; " W.^ future state. Why, according to his own belief it is so much dirty water, a certain proportion of foetid oil, and so many ounces of scientific dust." " I don't think he would define his future with quite such precision : " said Miss Crayston, show- ing slight signs of disgust. " Do not be too hard upon the sceptics, Mr. Philip : " said Lady Mary. " They have a right to their own time for doubting. God gives them leisure, and I do not see why man should hurry them." " Just so. So long as they doubt aud inquire I have nothing to say. It is their loud-tongued vociferation that there is nothing, because they can see nothing, that I resent." " Le Mesurier, you are the very man I want : " said the Principal^ advancing. " I told my wife you had a new theory of apparitions, and she wishes to know what it is." " Yes," exclaimed Lady Mary ; " I can't tell which is the most difiicult, to believe in appari- tions or to disbelieve in them." "Just so. But I think you hold with me, XIV.] MATCH MAKING. 225 that nature is the drapery of spirit ; and in that case it must be possible sometimes to come upon spirit unclothed." " Do you, then," asked Miss Crayston, " look upon an apparition, a ghost, as spirit unclothed ? " " Well, no : that is not exactly my meaning. I think Principal Ellice alludes to a conversation we had respecting the physiological re-appearance of the soul in nature. I was telling him that I hold it to be due to imperfect death." Miss Crayston looked surprised, and the speaker continued : " I mean by imperfect death a death after which the proper spiritual changes have not occurred." " Philip," exclaimed a rough, discordant voice, " what a strange thing for you to be here ! I did not know you were in Minster ! " How do you do, Barbara ? " said Mr. Philip, making no reply to his sister's ejaculation. '' I met Miss Kimberley Finch at Oxford last week, and she gave me a message for you." They walked away together ; and Lady Mary, looking after them, said to Miss Crayston with a smile : "I never knew brother and sister so unlike each other." VOL. I. Q 226 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " Is that Miss le Mesurier's brother ? " " Yes ; that is Mr. Philip, as we all call him in Minster. You don't know what a good fellow he is ; and it may take you some little time to discover it." " I will tell you what you will find out with very little trouble, Miss Crayston : " said Mr. Nicholl. "He is one of those very advanced thinkers of the present time who condemn everything, hope for little, and do nothing. I have known le Mesurier for the last fifteen years, and I never heard him speak with ap- proval of any existing institution, political, moral, or religious." " He looks like an iconoclast : " suggested Miss Crayston. *' You are right : " said Lady Mary. " He goes about breaking dolls' heads to see if there is any- thing in them." " He has the appearance of a man of action," continued Miss Crayston, " or at any rate of a man who ought to be a powerful speaker." " The strong aggressive jaw is very suggest- ive : " assented Lady Mary ; " and I believe he might, under favourable circumstances, have been a powerful auxiliary in some good cause." " I think not : " urged Mr. Nicholl. " He is full XIV.] MATCH MAKING. 227 of contradictions and crotchets. Destruction is his element. He might have helped to destroy evil, but not to call forth good ; and you will find him far more amusing than instructive. ''And why mifjht have?'' asked Miss Crayston. " As a young man he was poor, independent, and ambitious, able to live simply and work hard. In London, whilst he was reading for the bar, a childless uncle and aunt took a great fancy to him, and, dying, left him a considerable fortune. He bought the house in Wimpole St. where he had lodged, and has lived there ever since. He has now abandoned his profession and renounced his creed ; and he is original, unintelligible, and visionary." '' You are rather hard upon him : " said Lady Mary. " I think he is in a state of transition, and the outcome of it will be noble action in some direction. Just now he is cj^uite run away with by his search for analogies between the material and spiritual world. He is so intensely honest that everybody respects him, and the suspicion of a craze rather endears him to us all, I think." " I heard him holding forth to Brownlow upon analogy, which he says is the ' cement of all things and the high road of influence.' " 228 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. '' The brother and sister are not at all alike in appearance : " said Miss Crayston. " Nor in character," replied Lady Mary. " She is the eldest and he the youngest of a family of nine children. She is eighteen years older than her brother ; and, although children of the same parents, they seem to have nothing in common. I see," she continued, " what Mr. Philip was doing when he was under that tree ; he was watching that lovely girl in the white serge dress. You need not tell me her name. There can be only one Bertie Ravenshaw in Minster." Miss Crayston's cheeks glowed with pleasure as she replied : " Yes ; that is Bertie." " My husband's letters have made me most anxious to see her, and nothing has given me so much pleasure as to watch her as I have done all this afternoon." " We are all very proud of her : " said Mr. NichoU. " She must have a very happy home, with influences of the best and highest kind ; and I suppose she is one of a large family ? " '' You are right on all points. I think it is the father's character and nature that have exercised so great an influence upon her. She often shows XIV.] MATCH MAKING. 229 me letters from him, and tliey attract me more than any I have ever seem He writes to Bertie with the greatest frankness on all subjects which interest him, and treats her with the tenderness of a father, but also with the respect and con- sideration due to a companion and friend." " That enables one to understand the singular charm of her manner with men much older than herself: " said Lady Mary. " That bright blush- ing face, with the frank eyes and confiding smile, have won my heart. Her whole attitude is one of respectful, I might almost say of affectionate, attention." " Really that is very pleasant for us : " inter- posed Mr. NichoU. '' I think I will go and talk to her. Shall I bring her to you, Lady Mary ? " " Any time will do. She is quite as charmiug with the young men as the old, and please don't bring her away from any one. She is absolutely free from affectation and self-consciousness, and receives their little attentions just in the same way that she would acknowledge the sunshine and the flowers. You are very happy together, are you not ? " Said Lady Mary, turning to ■Miss Crayston. " Very happy." " And she wiU return next session "? " 230 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " Certainly, so far as I know." " Lady Mary," said Mr. Brownlow, approach- ing with Mr. Walmsley, " we have come to ask if you will be well enough to attend the council meeting next week ? There will be a few matters of considerable importance which we shall have to decide ; as Nicholl is here, perhaps he will tell you our present position." '' Now, pray don't leave us. Miss Crayston," said Mr. Walmsley ; " there are no secrets from you." She bowed and smiled, but walked away. " My husband tells me," said Lady Mary, " that there is a hitch somewhere ; and, in fact, I have really come home sooner than I intended in order to be present at the meeting of the ladies' committee to-morrow, and at the council meeting of next week." '' Then there is no cause for anxiety on any point." Nevertheless, they remained in conversation for nearly half-an-hour. During the latter part of that time Miss Ellen Green and Miss Armstrong, who could not very well stay away from an entertainment at which all Minster w^as present, had arrived. They joined Miss le Mesurier, who greeted them with : XIV.] MATCH MAKING. 231 "We may as well give it up at once. My brother tells me Miss Kimberley Finch will stay three weeks long;er in 0:sford." *' Is that Lady Mary under the trees ? " "Yes." " When did she return ? " '' Last evening." '' Then we may certainly as well give it up : " said Miss Armstrong, "W^e shall not have the slightest chance of carrying our scheme. All the men are against us ; they will talk over Lady Mary, aod she will influence all the women." " But Fynes is on our side '? " " Don't rely upon him : " said Miss le Mesurier. " He will study nothing but his own interest. Just now it will be with that of his colleagues." " Who is that walkino- with Miss Ravenshaw ? " o " My brother Philip :" snapped Miss le Mesurier, in a tone which was absolutely prohibitive of fur- ther remark. An hour later Mr. Brownlow said to his wife : " Well, my dear, I think you must be tired." "No, really. Jack, I am not. This has been a most festive scene, has it not ? The straw- berries and cream have continued to flow throug^h it, and the tea and cofl"ee have never failed. My boy has been petted and kissed to his heart's 232 THE LADY KESIDENT. [chap. content, and lie will sleep the whole evening, whilst you and I sit and talk it all over." " And pray when is that to be ? " asked the Professor, glancing towards two figures on the lawn. *' Oh, really, John, you must go and put a stop to it. I have tried in vain. Whenever I go near them I hear that extraordinary man holding forth about the motives of separation between the soul and spiritual mind, and the body and natural mind. The last time I passed he looked steadily into my face, shook hands with me, and said something about ' all our relations and utilities having a focal union.' " '' Miss Crayston has now joined them," replied Mr. Brownlow, laughing ; " and if she takes Bertie home, le Mesurier will have no one to talk to." ^' Tell me what Lady Mary thinks of our Lady Resident." " She cannot speak warmly enough of her. Miss Crayston has evidently made a most favour- able impression, and Lady Mary speaks of the desirability of placing her at the head of a whole college of girl-graduates." " Oh, Jack ! If we could only get rid of Miss Flint ! If you could have seen her marshal the six ugliest, worst-drest girls in Minster about XIV.] MATCH MAKIXG. 233 this lawn, and then march them off through the wilderness, you would have been as angry witli her as I am." " My love, she is not responsible for their per- sonal appearance, nor, most probably, for their clothes." " John, I have often told you that men should never talk of things they don't understand. If Miss Cravston had been in chargje of those oirls they would have been well-dressed, good-looking, and they would have enjoyed themselves." At this moment Miss Crayston approached. "We were among: the first to come, Mrs. Brownlow, and you see we are nearly the last to go. Bertie and I were saying that it has been one of our happiest days in Minster, so you can understand why we are anxious to prolong it." "Now, Bertie," said Mrs. Brownlow, "you are to come to-morrow and tell me what you have been talking about with Mr. Philip. I always find when he speaks to me that at the end of five minutes I have got urgent duties somewhere else. I can't understand half that he says, or anything at all of what he means." "He u difficult:" replied Bertie; "but then, all he says is so new to me. I have never thought about spiritual analogies." 234 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " Bertie ! '^ exclaimed Mrs, Brownlow solemnly, "you are not to begin till you can put it into language I understand. I don't consider you responsible just at present. Miss Graham was only a few minutes with Mr. Philip, and when she left him she came up to me and said some- thing about idiopathic complaints, and the neces- sity of phrenopathic means of cure. Now, Jack, are there any such words ? " "Yes, my dear; and it does you credit to remember them." " You must explain them all to-morrow : " Mrs. Brownlow said to Bertie, and the friends took leave of her. "I have never been more interested in my life : " said Bertie to Miss Crayston. "Do let us go home by way of the wilderness and up over the cliff, and then I shall have time to tell you about it." " Yes ; I am quite willing. It is always de- lightful to get near the sea ; and to-night there will be a sunset, and that vivid emerald light which one sees on the Cornish coast when the sun dips down beneath the waves." " You must tell me when the time comes to look for it. I am so excited to-night that I shall forget even the emerald gleam." xiv.] MATCH ^kUKIXG. 235 " What excites you so mucli, Bertie ? " " If I tell you I know you won't laugh at me, for you never do; and yet I can hardly help laughing at myself. I want Mr. le Mesurier to marry Trissy/' " To marry whom ? " " Trissy. Don't you remember her ? Miss Trescott." " The children's governess ? " " Yes, and ours also ; of all us elder ones. She is so good and so dear. We all love her. She is not very young, you know, nor very beautiful; but a man like Mr. Philip doesn't care about that, and he would really appreciate her. All that he says about spiritual worth, and beauty, and excellence, and his keen appreciation of them ; his hatred of show and appearance, and mere material attractions ; all these convince me that he and Trissy are really intended for each other. I don't see how it can be managed ; but we really must bring them together." She caught Miss Crayston's hands in her excite- ment and kissed her. " Now, isn't it really a good plan ? " she asked. "I don't know," replied the Lady Kesident. " I don't at all think that your expectations would be realised." 236 THE LADY RESIDENT. [cHAr. CHAPTER XY. POOE NOEA. The arrival of Philip le Mesurier was usually tlie sisrnal for the commencement of summer fes- tivities. But this year, after a late and bois- terous spring, came a summer wet and cold. Mrs. Brownlow's garden party was the only one held out of doors ; all the others degener- ated into tea and talk. Picnics and drives were almost impossible ; boating was a failure. Lady Mary Ellice was compelled to seek a warmer and drier climate. In consequence of her intervention and influence the College diffi- culties had seemed to vanish. The managing ladies brought forward no schemes ; the Pro- fessors made no complaints ; all dangerous topics were avoided. Mrs. Brownlow said that they had wriggled, and Professor Fynes that they had shuffled, throuQ;h the meetinor • whilst Miss le Mesurier sniffed loudly and said nothing. How- XV.] POOR XOKA. 237 ever, when the excitement connected with it had subsided, Lady Mary left Minster, and ^Irs. Milner also left to pay a long-promised visit to a sister in Xormandy. There was apparent peace ; but those members of the council who looked beneath the surface saw that a crisis was approaching which could not be long averted. The managing ladies were smarting under a sense of injustice and ingrati- tude. An institution sheltered in their house, and supported, as they said, by their money, refused them any allegiance. They had, in de- ference to the advice given by Lady Mary, with- drawn their proposals. Miss le Mesurier, it is true, had ventured to assert that Miss Flint ought to be at the head of the College as well as the house ; but vrhen Lady Mary heard it she shook her head and laughed ; very sweetly and gently, it is true, but still she laughed; and when she did this the other ladies did not say a word in support of their friend's suggestion. For some months the manamno^ ladies had been endeavouring to show the superiority of Miss Flint and the house, to Miss Crayston and the College, and had failed. They were not of those who can pass through the valley of humi- liation and learn there the lessons it is intended 238 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. to teach. They fled from it with loud railing, grew angry and unjust, and were on the way to become wicked. It seemed to them worth any sacrifice, made at any cost, to obtain supremacy in an institution which, at the instigation of Miss Kiniberley Finch, they had begun to claim as their own, because, as they said, their money was in it. They had learnt to believe that no way was right except their way, which was her way ; and saying that right must prevail, they had begun to sanction wrong. Moreover, they were half- edu- cated ; if, indeed, they could lay share to so large a fraction of the commodity ; and were at the mercy of those members of their own sex repre- sented by women like Miss Kimberley Finch. They had begun with a real, genuine, earnest desire for improvement, and had allowed them- selves to be diverted from this aim by the love of power. They would have had quite as much power as they could desire if they had never heard of the lady from Grittleton ; but she, as the champion of her sex, was by way of foisting them into all positions they could reach, and keeping them there, fit or unfit. Miss Flint, the nominee and pet of the man- aging ladies, was pre-eminently unfit for her post. XV.] POOR XORA. 239 Hard, unsympatlietic, dogmatic, and stingy, her influence was that of a constant irritant to the best girls at the house. Some of them broke out into open insubordination, and were, according to the custom of all public schools, said Miss Kim- berley Finch, summarily expelled, or they sub- sided into sullen indifference, like Nora Stewart. The house was not a home. There was nothing homelike in it. Miss Ellen Green, of a warmer, kindlier nature than her colleagues, saw and reoretted this. She asked the orirls to tea with her, by twos and threes ; loaded her table with pasties and fruit, spent the evening in showing them photographs of works of art which she had brought from almost every gallery in Europe, and sent them away with softened hearts and kindlier looks. But a home atmosphere of distrust, suspicion, and secret antagonism prevailed against her weak efforts, and on no one had they produced such disastrous effects as on the Irish girl, Nora Stewart. School life would have been a cruel ordeal to her under the most favourable circumstances. She had been accustomed to run bare-headed about the fields and lanes near her home. It was a painful restriction to her to be compelled 240 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. to wear a liat. She was a wild, bright, merry child, a great ignorant baby of seventeen, who was all at once treated as a responsible grown-up person. For a short time she was kept in awe by her companions and Miss Flint ; then, as the fear of them wore away, and as she found herself lonely and without a friend, she tried to relieve the tedium of her life by a few foolish tricks. They were quite harmless in themselves, and might j udiciously have been met, first of all with a laugh, and then with a protest on account of their childishness. But Miss Flint and the three ladies talked gravely and looked severe ; Nora's companions were requested to communicate with her only on the subject of lessons, and the Irish girl, after some ineffectual outburst of passionate protest, subsided into dull indifference. Her final freak of dressing up a figure in the ladies' wait- ing-room had brought not only severe reproof, but punishment of a kind most galling to her. She was requested to keep her room, and was informed that she would not be allowed to join her companions, even at meal-times, until she had explained, to the satisfaction of the managing ladies, how she had become possessed of Miss Ravenshaw's umbrella. It was in vain that Nora stated she had taken XV.] POOR NORA. 241 it without even knowing to whom it belonged, just as she had appropriated other articles that suited her purpose. Miss Flint had a deep-seated jealousy of Miss Crayston. The managing ladies entertained bitter hostility towards her, and wished to humiliate her through Bertie, since they could not reach her more directly. They had gradually talked themselves into a condition in which they were no longer capable of treating those whom they suspected with justice. They spoke of Miss Ravenshaw as if she had been a criminal, and laid traps " to detect her," and to induce Nora to incriminate her. The result upon Nora was disastrous. Afraid of saying a word that might injure Bertie or reflect upon Miss Crayston, she refused to answer any questions put to her. Indignant at being suspected of untruth, and urged to confess, she refused to leave her room and dine alone in the hall ; refused to eat the food sent to her, and gradually sank into a condition of sullen apathy. She was roused from this by the sight of the violets, by the interview with Bertie and the Lady Resident, and by that pleasant secret meal which Bertie had flung so promptly to her. A violent reaction followed, and a tempest of tears and sobs alarmed not only all the boarders in the VOL. I. R 242 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. house, but, being followed by prolonged fainting fits throuorhout the nio^ht, caused Miss Flint to inform the ladies that it was of no use to struggle any longer against Nora's obstinacy ; that it would be better to remove all resfrictions, and allow her to resume her previous position in the house and college. Miss Ellen Green was troubled ; she thought Nora ill, and was laughed at by her two friends. She invited the girl to spend a few days with her, and received a churlish refusal from Nora, which made her angry. Still she really had a kind heart, or rather she had a nature which finds it painful to witness suffering. She insisted on delicacies being provided for Nora, whose appe- tite seemed to have forsaken her ; and had a fire lighted in her bed-room on the cold spring days. Nora did not appreciate the last-named act of kindness, or, indeed, the first. She refused to eat the food ; threw up her window, saying she was stifled, and left it wide open all night. The result was a violent cold, followed by congestion and inflammation of the lungs ; the attack was pronounced slight, but her recovery was slow and partial. Her parents, who lived in the north of Ireland, were asked to fetch her home as soon as she was XV.] POOR NORA. 243 convalescent, but they decided tliat slie sliould remain at St. Mary's until the summer. Nora, who knew with what difficulty funds had been provided in order to give her two years at college, and prepare her, as it was hoped, to take a situ- ation as governess, made no complaint of any kind with regard to this arrangement. Her letters home grew shorter and shorter, until they de- generated into formal notes; but there was decided improvement in the spelling, and Mrs. Stewart came to the conclusion that Nora was learning to write with a dictionary by her side, and that until this discipline was unnecessary much inform- ation must not be expected from her. When Miss Ellen Green visited Nora she could not always resist the temptation to take Bertie with her. She had done so once because Bertie, waiting outside the door of the house, had asked so prettily and so urgently to be allowed to see Nora that Miss Ellen Green could not refuse. When she saw the delight of the sick girl, how meekly Nora received from Bertie instructions as to how and when she was to take all the good things that filled the little basket of the managing lady, how merry Nora could be and how bright and happy she could look, how cheerful Bertie was, though her eves filled R 2 244 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. with tears when she entered the sick room, all these things made Miss Ellen Green waver. She did not renounce allegiance to her friends, or go so far as to assert that they were mistaken in their estimate of Bertie's character and the in- fluence of the Lady Resident; but she put the whole question resolutely aside, and comforted herself by arranging visits for Bertie whenever she could do so. At length Nora was able to leave her room : she began to resume her attendance at the classes, and even to take short walks on the cliff. But when she had reached this stage Bertie found it daily more difficult to obtain access to her. Miss Ellen Green left Minster, and then it became impossible. The three managing ladies had received an invitation from Miss Kimberley Finch to join her in Oxford, and from thence to go with her to Grittleton and take lodgings : "which would make it possible to confer at length upon College difficulties, and probably find a solution for them." So wrote their adviser ; and the Minster ladies acquiesced. "It is delightful to be without them : " said Mrs. Brown low, after they had been absent a month ; " but, dear Helen," and she threw her XV.] POOE XOPtA. 245 arms round the neck of the Lady Resident, " it is a very good thing 3'ou are here, for this college is in a most awful muddle." " How so ? " inquired Miss Crayston, who was sitting at the window in her little parlour at St. Mary's. " Why, there seems to be no money. The committee met on Monday, and the council met twice last week, and no one knows what to do." " What has become of the fees ? " '•' Oh, they were divided as usual ; but, you know, they amount to very little ; and now there are tremendous bills for repairs and for the paint- ino^ and stencillinoj of the staircase, which Miss EJlen Green insisted on getting done in an artistic manner, and there is no money to pay for any- thing." " But there is the reserve fund : " urged Miss Crayston. "No one can get at it. The chairman has tried, and the treasurer has tried, and I believe the whole council, individually and collectively, have tried. No one can touch it." " What will be done 1 " asked Miss Crayston. " Can't imagine. The Principal is very angry because the builders have dunned him. and the 246 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. Professors are furious because they have been applied to for money by the decorators. Oh, and the best of the joke is, that a Grittleton solicitor has written on behalf of the manag^ers, to ask that the rent of St. Mary's may in future be forwarded to him, and to suggest what he calls an ' equitable arrangement ' for the repay- ment of the loan. When it came to that the Principal telegraphed to Mrs. Armstrong, desiring her to fix a day on which she could attend a special meeting of the council." " When will it take place ? " asked the Lady Resident. " It is over. She telegraphed in answer that it must be held in the course of two days, no doubt expecting that this would be impossible; but the Principal replied that he would receive the council at the Abbey. She came down by the night train, and is no doubt now on her way back to Grittleton again." " And how did the meeting pass off ? " " The men say they are very much amused, but I think they are angry. Mrs. Armstrong listened to all that was said, made no remarks, collected the bills and dunning letters, put them into her bag, and closed it with a snap that re- sounded through the room. Then she drew her XV.] POOR XOEA. 247 lips togetlier, rose, said ' good morning/ and went away." " A^Tiat does it mean ? " asked ^[iss Crayston. Mrs. Brownlow sliruo-cred Iter shoulders : " You will hear what Walmsley says : " she replied. "And see, there is Goldworthy Fynes coming up the road ; we will ask what he thinks." Mr. Fynes joined the ladies with alacrity, and seemed well-pleased to give his version of the mornino;'s meetino^. '' Any scheme in which Lady Mary and Mrs. Milner concur must be one that they conscien- tiously believe to be right, and they will doubt- less influence Miss Julia Spiers : " remarked Miss Crayston, when she had heard the report he gave. " We have nothing to do with the conscience of these ladies : " replied Mr. Fynes with asperity ; " and if they make proposals that are objec- tionable we shall not be at all more inclined to accept them because they are conscientiously put forward. A more important point is, whether Lady Mary, Mrs. Milner, and ^liss Spiers are disposed to act independently. If they simply succumb to the other ladies we shall be hard put to it." . 248 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " Do you attribute these pecuniary difficulties to the action of any individuals on the council ? '^ " Undoubtedly," replied the Professor ; " and yesterday I assumed a very bold attitude with good effect. I recurred over and over again with considerable asperity to the subject of the reserve fund and the rent. Mrs. Armstrong pro- tested that she did not intend to claim it. I did not, however, thank her, but contrived to shew a sense of injury that the smallest allusion should have been made to it by the Grittleton solicitor." " My husband told me," said Mrs. Brownlow, looking at the Professor with frank simplicity, '' that you did this with the most fearless courage. I was pleased to hear it, because I am sure it must be very difficult to shew a sense of injury when you are asked to pay a debt." " Not at all : " replied the Professor, sharply. "It is a perfectly natural feeling. Moreover, under the management of these ladies St. Mary's has long been approaching a financial crisis which it has at last reached." " Do you hold them responsible for our present condition ?" asked Miss Crayston. " If I was to say that they had delil)erately brought about the present condition," replied Mr. XV.] POOR NORA. 249 Fynes, " I should be alleging more than I have the means of knowing. Of so much, however, there can be no question, they have no motive for shunning financial difficulties which will place the institution at their mercy. I think I may go a little further, and say that they have done their best to cripple the institution in order that it may be induced to surrender to them at dis- cretion." '' I feel," said Mrs. Brownlow, rubbing her hands slowly and gently, "as if I was sitting with Guy Fawkes amongst whole barrels of gun-powder." The Professor looked keenly at her, and she gazed upon him earnestly in return. He tossed back his hair and continued : "I believe I may also say that the majority of the council are indignant at such a policy on the part of ladies sitting with them at the council board, and closely engaged in the every- day manao;ement of the colleo-e." " I should think so : " replied Mrs. Brownlow. " In fact I believe I may go so far as to say, that some of them are furious." " I don't see any way out of the difficulty : " said Miss Crayston, sighing. '•' Don't take it too much to heart : " ur.eed the 250 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. Professor : "If need be I think we shall threaten secession, and the establishment of a rival college ; though I very much doubt whether we could do it. Of this not a word, because it is our last card, and must be played with caution." " Cards !" exclaimed Mrs. Brownlow. " I see a glimpse of daylight. We are playing what the Americans call the game of Brag. Our opponents have enormous advantages, and we must make up for it by prudence and audacity, judiciously combined." ''Our majority is precarious : " said the Pro- fessor, shaking his head : ''A compromise may be politic." " No ; no compromise : " replied Mrs. Brownlow firmly. " We fight to the bitter end, don't we, Miss Crayston ? " But the Lady Kesident looked grave. "I don't understand," she said, "what has brought about so great a change in the respective attitude of the majority of the council and ladies who have done so much for the good of St. Mary's." " Don't you know : " replied the Professor, rising and standing before her chair, " don't you know that since you have been here they have found it impossible to bring the whole institution xv.J POOR NORA. 251 under their private and personal management. You very properly refer all matters of importance to the council, and I think you have found the majority at all times disposed to approve of the course and protect your independence. If that majority is ever forced to succumb it will not be from disloyalty to you, but because the financial pressure exercised by these ladies has left them no choice." The Professor left the room. When the door was closed Mrs. Brownlow exclaimed : ^' I am too angry with that man. He can never send a fox into anybody's henroost without tying a fire-brand to its tail. As if it wouldn't do enough mischief without that. Don't let him pose as your champion, Helen, whatever you do ; and don't let him persuade you that the fight is raging round your standard, and that he alone is willing to die in defence of it." " But I am exceedingly sorry to hear that there is so grave a difiicuity. It seems to me that the very existence of St. Mary's is threatened." " My husband is coming to fetch me after his walk, and you shall hear his report. Do you know that I ofi'ered to chaperon Miss Flint the other evenino". You should have seen the look o* she gave me." 252 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. *' May I ask the occasion of the offer ? " " I saw her standing at the house door in the dusk as I was bringing the boy and his nurse back from the cliff. She looked too lugubrious. I thouo;ht a little fresh air would brighten her complexion, so I suggested that she should walk with me to the bower : ' It is far too late for a lady to be on the cliffs/ she said, with great severity. It was very impertinent, you know, as she saw I had come from thence ; so I replied : ' It iDould be considered peculiar if you were seen there alone ; but if I am with you no one can disapprove.' I assure you, dear, that John and I have had much fun out of that little adventure." Miss Crayston smiled, but did not reply. " Where is Bertie ? " asked Mrs. Brownlow. " She has obtained permission to sit with Nora Stewart for an hour." " Do you know that girl is very ill ? " *' So I fear : " replied Miss Crayston ; " but Miss Flint says it is really a case of hysteria. She kept a school for thirty years, and has had many cases of hysteria under her notice. Miss Ellen Green is very anxious, and she went with me to talk over the case with Miss Fiint, who certaioly at the time convinced us both that her view is XV. J POOR NORA. 253 correct : or ratlier, I ought to say, she sho^Yed us that she is, in her own way, doing everything that she considers desirable for Nora." *' I thought Bertie told me she was not allowed to see Nora ? " " There w^as a difi&culty about it at one time. Miss Flint complained that Bertie's visits made Nora hysterical, and that the girls discussed symptoms, and talked of absent friends. How- ever, Miss Ellen Green has over-ruled all ob- jections, and of course Bertie is too anxious about Nora to risk an allusion of any kind which may excite her. She will be extra-careful in choosing topics of conversation ; and if there is no ill result from the visit she is now paying they are to meet daily." "Helen Crayston," said Mrs. Brownlow, em- phatically, '' Nora is no more hysterical than you or I. Something is wrong with her lungs or heart, and her friends ought to come and take her home." " I saw a letter from Mrs. Stewart yesterday," continued ^liss Crayston ; " Dr. Smart had, at the request of Miss Green, written to her, and this was her reply. She says that she has every confi- dence in Miss Flint, is sure Nora has even more care than she would receive at home ; Mrs. 254 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. Stewart has a young baby and cannot travel, nor can the father leave home until July. Ah, here is Bertie. Well, how did you find Nora ? " " As bright as a bird, and so pleased to see me. She has got a photograph of the new baby, such a darlino;. Her father is comino; to take her home in the summer, and we talked about the children in our respective families, and had much fun over their ways and words." " How does she look ? " asked Mrs. Brownlow. " Her face is rather thin, and that makes the eyes seemlarger than they used to do. At first I thouo^ht their colour was chano^ed from blue to black, but I see it is that the pupils are distended so that you see nothing else. She was breathless sometimes ; but you know what a cough she has had. She complains of rheumatism in the left arm ; it is rather painful sometimes, otherwise she is very well." " Come, that is better than I had hoped : " ex- claimed Miss Crayston. ^' You think it sounds well ? " asks Mrs. Brown- low, doubtfully. '' Perhaps it does ; and now, young people, I believe that my husband has either forgotten me or he is detained at Upton. I shall not wait any longer, or my boy will be late for his tea. He always sits up to the tea- XV.] POOR NORA. 255 table with me in the afternoon ; and I want you two to come and tell me if you think my son and heir is doing pretty w^ell." " I met him in the Wilderness this morning," said Bertie, *' and he made me take him out of the perambulator and carry him to this door. I assure you my arms ache now. He is as big and heavy as a child of two years old." '' Bertie, you are a duck," exclaimed Mrs. Brownlow, kissing her ; '' and you shall have honey on your bread and butter. Do make haste and get your bonnet, Miss Crayston. When any one speaks of the boy it always makes me in a fidget to get home to him." 256 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. CHAPTER XYI. NOEA GOES HOME. " Have you seen Nora to-day ? " asked tlie Lady Resident, throe weeks after tlie events narrated in the last chapter. " No ; Miss Flint won't let me go to her room : " replied Bertie. " The doctor has passed twice. I fear that he has been called in." " I don't think Nora is ill : " urged Bertie with eagerness, unwilling to concede such a possi- bility. ''It is Miss Flint's way. She can't help being gratuitously disagreeable, poor old thing." " Bertie, you have quite a childish habit of saying ' poor old thing.' " '* I learnt it at home, you know ; or at any rate I got it from home. Now that I have been so long away I begin to cling to the old familiar customs." XVI.] XOEA GOES HOME. 257 " I don't see wliy you should cling to this one. You call all the ladies of whom you do not approve ' old things.' It shows a want of re- source ; you should enlarge your vocabulary." ^'Ah, but you don't discriminate:" replied Bertie, laughing. " Haven't you remarked that I called Mrs. Armstrono- a horrid old thino:, and somebody else a pitiful old thing ? I dare say it is childish ; indeed, it is Ethel's expression. She is my pet, you know, and when I say old thing I see and even hear her. I believe I use her very tones." " It seems to me," replied Miss Crayston, "that such a way of recalling your sister is like looking at a bad photograph of her. As to Nora, I fear she must be ill. She was at the literature class last week, and I was quite shocked to see the way she went up-stairs. She was obliged to pause at every step, and even then she was breathless before she reached the first floor." " How cruel of her parents not to come for her : " *'That is a hasty judgment, Bertie. I wish the parents were here ; but I doubt if Nora could take a long and fatiguiug journey." " Do you think she is dangerously ill ? " " Her state seems to me precarious, but I have VOL. 1. s 258 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. not Miss Flint's experience ; and Miss Flint, as you know, is quite convinced there are no alarm- ing symptoms." *' The manaocins: ladies have returned : " said Bertie after a pause. '' Yes ; I saw them last evening. Miss Green, was here this morning : she says they are dis- tressed at the great change they see in Nora, and she has written to urge one of the parents to come as soon as possible." '' I am very glad of tliat." '' I don't know that it will do much good, for Miss le Mesurier has also written to say she thinks there is no cause for alarm. By the way, Bertie, there is to be a grand entertainment a fortnight hence, on Whit Monday." '^ Where ? why ? " exclaimed Bertie. " How awfully jolly !" " Here, in the College ; an evening party given by the managing ladies. All Minster is to be asked, or is asked already." " How delightful ! " said Bertie, dancing round the room ; " but why is it on Whit Monday, just when we were to go to the Carters ? " " They will come to Minster, and we must postpone our visit. You see, the ladies had to decide on a day when the class-rooms were XVI.] XORA GOES HOME. 259 not wanted ; and after "Whit Monday there will be no holiday until the summer vacation. Mrs. Brownlow has asked us to spend Monday and Tuesday with her, so as to relieve Mrs. Gibson, who seems oppressed at the prospect before her." *' She is wandering about the house in the most melancholy manner; and just now, as she opened the door for me, she said : ' Can you tell me, miss, if there's such a thing as squerm candles in Minster ; for I sez to Miss Flint, sez I, taller won't do for the quality ; they're all very well for the young ladies in the 'ouse, but the quality must have squerm.' I was so puzzled that I could think of nothing to say in reply, except that I'd ask you." " Mrs. Gibson has been greatly excited the whole morning : " said Miss Crayston. " Of course the party will be postponed if Nora is really ill ? " " I don't know ; I think not. The house and the college are quite distinct. I did refer to the subject, but Miss le Mesurier says that the greater part of the invitations are already sent out." Bertie was silent. After a few moments she said : *' Of course Nora will wt better." o s 2 260 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. But Nora did not improve ; day by day her strength failed, and at last the time came that she could no longer leave her bed. It was the Saturday preceding the day appointed for the college party, and Miss Crayston, who had retired late to rest, had fallen into an uneasy sleep, troubled by dreams of the sick girl, when she was roused by the voice of Mrs. Gibson : " Will you please come to Miss Nora, mum ; she's very bad." ^^Have you told Miss Flint?" " Lor', mum, why she've been with 'er all night." " Did Miss Flint ask you to fetch me ?" " Well, mum, if you must 'ave the truth, she did notr '' Do you think I can be of any use ? " " Well, ril tell you ezackly 'ow it is : Miss Nora is that bad with a kind of spazzims that I raally do think as she'll die. Gibson has gone for the doctor, but it's very nigh two mile off, and doctors ain't easy roused ; you see, 'e'll either be in his fust sleep, and then nobody can't wake a man, or else 'e'll be in 'is second, and then he sleeps 'eavy." " Well ! " said the Lady Eesident, sitting up and looking at Mrs. Gibson. XVI.] NORA GOES HOME. 261 " Well : " repeated the porter's wife, wiping her eyes : " Liza she come to me and says : ' Do, Mrs. Gibson,' says she, ' do, for 'eavins sake, come with me, for I'm frightened out of my life. There's Miss Nora a- dying, I do believe ; and there's the missis a-telliug of her to show a little couridge and keep up her sperrits, and that she'll soon be better.'" Miss Crayston rose, and, putting on a dressing- gown, passed through the door of communication between the college and the house, and followed Mrs. Gibson to Nora's room. " Now, my dear child, sit up ; just make an effort and take this sal-volatile : " said Miss Flint, not unkindly, and in somewhat tremulous tones. The Lady Eesident stood silent for an instant, and then she advanced to Miss Flint : " Have you any hot fomentations or mustard poultices ? I think they should be applied immediately." " We are quite accustomed to these attacks : " replied Miss Flint, sharply ; " it will pass off very shortly. Now, my dear, do make an effort, just to please me." " I don't think she is conscious : " urgred the o Lady Resident. "Pray, Miss Crayston, spare me sentimental 262 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. exaggeration. Nora, my love, do try to attend to what I am saying. It's all for your own good." The doctor's step was heard ascending the staircase. He entered the room and advanced to the bedside. "What is to be done?" asked Miss Flint in great agitation, as she saw the doctor gravely watch his patient. " Nothing : " he replied. " Nothing can be done." " What do you mean ? " she exclaimed. " It will be over in a few minutes : " he con- tinued, takino; Miss Flint's hand and leading; her away : " She is dying." Miss Flint trembled violently and turned ashy pale. " Impossible ! " she said, sinking into a chair. " Shall I telegraph for her friends ? " " As you please. Any moment may be the last. Stay ! " And once more he advanced to the bed and stooped over the dying girl ; whilst Miss Crayston kneeled by her side, and, clasping the cold hand, followed Nora through the dark valley, and to the gates of death, with prayer- " Nothing could have saved her : " said the doctor, balf-an-hour later, as he and the Lady XVI.] XORA GOES HOME. 263 Eesident stood at the open window of an adjacent room. " I warned her friends some time ag^o that the next attack would probably prove fatal." " Why have they left her here ? " " A young baby in the house, measles, a mother who couldn't leave her children, and a father who couldn't get away from his office ; but the chief reason," continued the doctor with some bitterness, " is the medical knowledge that some ladies possess." " Knowledge or ignorance ? " asked Miss Grays ton. " Well, well, one or the other. At any rate Mrs. Stewart wrote that she was sure her daughter was not ill, because — and she ^Tote twelve pages about somebody else's daughter ; whilst Miss Flint was also sure, because she had known twenty-nine girls with hysteria." "Was it hysteria?" " Nothing of the kind. It was disease of the heart. I told them so." Dr. Smart left the house, and Miss Crayston stood looking^ out over the wilderness towards the green fields far away. Larks were rising in the skv. Their sonor was as the beatino: of wino;s. It seemed to the Lady Eesident an aspiration as well as a hymn of triumph ; she thought of the 2G4 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. young soul that had gone out into the bright- ness of the morning, and was winging its way — whither? And as she mused, the lark she had watched, that fluttered and paused, singing clear and strong as it rose higher and higher, suddenly ceased, dropped down out of the clouds, hovered an instant above a distant field, and settled upon the well-loved nest ; and then the Lady Eesident covered her face and wept. She was roused after some time by a voice which said, not unkindly : " I am sure it is very compassionate of you to feel so much for this poor girl." Looking up she saw Miss Ellen Green. '*We have been sent for," said that lady, wiping her eyes ; '' but it is too late. All was over when we arrived. However, we have the satisfaction of hearino^ from Dr. Smart that o nothing more could have been done. Miss Flint is really invaluable, and her devotion to the College seems to increase, if that is possible. Will you come with me to the dining-room, Miss Crayston ? we want to consult you with regard to a matter we have to take into con- sideration." Miss Crayston followed, and found Mrs. Arm- strong and Miss Flint sitting at a table, and Mrs. XVI.] XORA GOES HOME. 265 Gibson, with red eyes and s^Yollen face, carrying in a tray with tea, and bread and butter. "You see," continued Mrs. Armstrong, who was speaking when they entered, and who shook hands in an absent manner with Miss Crayston, " you see that nothing can now affect the dear one we haye lost. The dead are in eyery way beyond our reach, but the dear girls committed to us are a sacred charge. We must not allow their younor liyes to be blio;hted by the terror of death." "I haye known cases," said Miss Flint, ''in which a delicate orirl has neyer recoyered from the sight of a corpse." " Oh lor', mum," exclaimed Mrs. Gibson, with a fresh outburst of crying, "you did giye me such a turn. To hear you speak like that of a corp, and poor ]\Iiss Nora ; Oh, dear me ! Oh dear, oh dear !" Three of the ladies looked at each other with alarm as they heard the shrill sobs of the porter's wife ; but Miss Crayston poured out a cup of tea, and saying : " Now come with me, Mrs. Gibson ; I am going to make you comfortable. You haye been up all night, and are c[uite worn out." She led the way to the door. 266 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. " Sadly familiar with inferiors : " groaned Mrs. Armstrong:. ''It is quite sickening : " exclaimed Miss Flint. *' Neither Gibson nor his wife have a will of their own where she is concerned." " In the present case that may be useful : " said Miss Ellen Green. When the Lady Resident returned, Mrs. Arm- strong spoke of the effect that Nora's death would produce upon her companions in the house. " They will indeed miss her, and mourn for her : " replied Miss Crayston, to whom Mrs. Arm- strong addressed herself. " She is very much beloved." *' Ah, that is not what I mean : " said Mrs. Armstrong:, with characteristic hesitation. " You see — er — we want to save our young friends — er — from what is painful — er — gratuitously painful. In fact we must save them ; it is a duty to save them." " Death is terrible to the young, to us all," replied the Lady Resident, very gravely ; '' but I don t see how we can obliterate the terror that it inspires ; and if we believe that life and death are both decreed by God, who loves us, I don't see why we should wish to be saved out of His hands." xvi.] NORA GOES HOME. 2C7 " Pray, ^liss Crayston, do for once try and take a sensible, practical view -. " snapped Miss Flint. Miss Crayston turned to the speaker and looked with that slight contraction of the brow which gave such earnest gravity to her expression. Miss Ellen Green interposed : " My dear Miss Flint ! No wonder you are overwrought with all that you have passed through ! I am sure Miss Crayston will agree with us, that it is impossible to leave a dead body in St. Mary's house, occupied as it is by our dear girls. We have therefore resolved to remove it to an unoccupied room which happens to be on the basement." '' Where ! " ejaculated Miss Crayston. " On the basement ! Do you mean that little dark room ? " " My dear ]\Iiss Crayston," said Miss Ellen Green, in a soothing manner, "it is only for a day or two; and remember that the living are our charge. We must act up to our conscientious conviction of what is right for them." Miss Crayston was silent. After a few mo- ments she said : " Will you allow the dear child to be moved to my room ? I shall receive it as a special favour if you consent ; and I will prepare the room immediately." 2G8 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. Two of the ladies moved away, and there was a whispered conversation, the concluding sentence of which was : '' It will be much better if any of the friends should come ; " and thereupon they returned to Nora's room, and the pale form was carried to Miss Crayston's bed. An hour later Bertie was heard moving in her room, and singino; as was her wont. The Lady Eesident went to her, and gently told her ail that had happened during the night. Bertie listened with a white, still face : " T have never looked upon the dead : " she said, '' may I go with you and see her ? " " In an hour's time : " said the Lady Resident. ^^ I should like to get some flowers after breakfast, and we will take them with us." Bertie went out to the Principal's garden, and returned with a basket of white blossoms. " The gardener will get better ones this after- noon," she said, " but these will do in the mean- time." Hand in hand Miss Crayston and Bertie entered the solemn chamber of death, and Bertie, kneeling down to gaze on the still face, said with streaming eyes : " How beautiful she is ! How peaceful ! All the look of trouble and pain has vanished. Surely XVI.] NORA GOES HOME. 269 she is with God. Surely she is at peace and in perfect bliss, for her face is like the face of an angel. Oh, Nora, Nora, if I had only loved you Letter, and tried to help you more." And Bertie reverently kissed the pale hands, and smoothed the bright curly hair of the wild Irish girl. '' If we had known ! " she exclaimed ; " if we had been with her ! Why my mother will sit up night after night with the poor lonely women of the village when they are dying ! She would not have left you, Nora dear, as I have done." '* Bertie, we did not leave her. She knew that we loved her. She knows it now. It is God who decrees life and death and the manner of it. It is not in our hands. To Nora, death has come swiftly and peacefully. She knew none of the terror of it, but little of the suffering. She was conscious only of weakness, and looked for- ward to the summer and her return home with- out even undue longing for it." " Yes ; she talked so much about home of late," said Bertie, " and it was t/iis home that was in store for her. Nora, dear Nora, good-bye, good- bye." *' Don't cry, my child : " said the Lady Resident. " I will not : " said Bertie, clasping the hand held out to her. " God is in heaven. He has 270 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. ordained deafcli for us, and for her ; and see how beautiful she is, more beautiful than when she lived. I think God must give this beauty in death that we may not be frightened at the silence and the cold. You will write to her friends, will you not ? We will make her room beautiful with flowers. They will see she was beloved." They moved gently and spoke low as Bertie's skilful fingers arranged the flowers she had brought with her, and disposed them in the room and on the bed. " They are not half lovely enough," said Bertie, " and there is a tinge of colour, a kind of stain, in these cyclamens. I want stephanotis, and eucharis, and white azaleas, and arum lilies. Don't you think we might drive over to Castle Stair ? Lord Eonald told me they would all be away for two or three weeks. The gardener, no doubt, would let us have all we want. You know how many flowers Lady Joscelyn always brings us." " Yes," replied Miss Crayston. " I will send to the AVhite Hart for a pony carriage, and we will go at once. It is a long drive, but w^e can be home by one o'clock." They returned laden with flowers, and when Mrs. Brownlow called early on Monday morning XVI.] XORA GOES HOME. 271 Bertie led her to Xora's chamber. A white wreath lay at the dead girl's feet, a white cross upon her breast, and bunches of white flowers were rans^ed alono^ each side of the bed. *'When will her friends come '? " whispered Mrs. Brownlow. '' I don't know," replied Bertie, softly ; " we have seen no one since the morning. We shall have fresh flowers to-morrow, and every day." The little lady knelt by the side of the bed with clasped hands, then she kissed the brow of the dead girl, and returning to Miss Crayston, burst into passionate crying. " Oh, my dear," she said, " only think of the mother that bore her. I tboug-ht I should have o broken my heart. I did not dare to cry before the beautiful marble figure ; but only think of the poor mother ! How does a mother bear it when she sees her child lie cold and dead ? And then to be away, not to know if she was soothed and comforted to the last, if human love led her to the terrible brink of the orave where the love of o Christ would meet her." " But she was helped through all her trouble, even if she did not know the hand that helped her. AVe must not mourn for her as if we could have done so much." 272 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. " No : " said Mrs. Brownlow, wiping her eyes ; *' but it is tlie mother in me that mourns. All about my heart are strings and cords that tighten and almost choke me as I think of Nora : " and she wept afresh. '' Don't be angry with me for crying; I shall feel better after it." After a few minutes she said, " I w^ant you two darlings to go home with me. You have done all that the tenderest love could devise, and now I want you to come with me. You both look ill and worn out. My dear Helen is like a ghost." Bertie looked at the Lady Resident. " Miss Crayston was up all Saturday night," she said, " and she had no sleep last night." " I tliought so ; then come back with me to lunch. After that Helen shall lie down for two or three hours, and then we will drive to the sands, aiid make John and the boy go with us. You know you are to stay with me to-night." "Ah, but that is changed now," said Bertie eagerly. "We will not stay out of the house now, will we ? " and she appealed to Miss Crayston. " Not unless the friends arrive : " replied that lady. " Mrs. ilrmstrong asked me if in that case XVI.] XORA GOES HOME. 273 we would give up all our rooms, and I said that we would." "Certainly," said Bertie, "they have the first claim to this sacred charge : " but she looked disappointed. The Lady Resident, wan and tired, found some difficulty in walking to Mrs. Brownlow's. Once there, and resting on a bed lik^ a little soft white nest, she slept for some hours, whilst Bertie kept watch. Tea was ready when they entered the drawing-room. "You are to make a good tea,'' said Mrs. Brownlow, " for the evenino-s are loner and licrht. John says we will have a long drive, and return to supper." Bertie looked at the Lady Resident. "' We should like to go to St. Mary's for half- an-hour," she said. ]\L:. Brownlow moved uneasily on his chair. " I met Miss le Mesurier ; she was on her way here to see you : " he said. " I told her you were with my wife. She said something about friends coming, and that they would be much obliged if you would stay away to-night." '''' How strano-e ! " exclaimed Bertie. o " Of course it is not the friends who wish that : " said Mrs. Brownlow. " You may be sure VOL. I. T 274 THE LADY EESIDENT. [chap. they would like you to be there, and then they would know that some one had loved their child. I shouldn't mind the message if I was you." " I am not sure, my dear, that you are giving good advice. There may be reasons for the request that we do not know." "Yes," said Miss Crayston ; '' and if the friends are there it will not be necessary for us to go. We shall do so chiefly to gratify our own feelings. I think, Bertie, we will wait till to- morrow morning." " Very well : " replied Bertie with a sigh. And so they drove to the shore ; and the coach- man received private orders from Mr. Brownlow to avoid passing St. Mary's. " I should like to have seen our windows : " said Bertie. Mrs. Brownlow was about to speak to the coachman, but her husband, unobserved, pressed her hand, and she was silent. Early on the following morning Bertie entered Miss Crayston's rooms. ''Do you think we may go to St. Marys before breakfast ? " she said. " I have been dreaming of Nora all night. I have been so troubled. I think we ought to have stayed. Will it tire you ? Shall I go alone ? " XVI.] XORA GOES HOME. 275 " No ; I have been expecting you for some time. I shall be ready in five minutes/' When they reached St. Mary's Mrs. Gibson was at the door, in sharp altercation with two men, who had come with a van. The ladies entered, and Miss Crayston beheld long forms piled up in the hall, and Gibson in his shirt sleeves packing crates of china and glass, whilst chairs, tables, and pots of flowers were in con- fused heaps. ''What does it mean?" asked Miss Crayston, who had stood for a moment silent, and with a sickening fear creeping over her. " AYhat does it mean ? " " Well, mum," said Mrs. Gibson, taking up the corner of her apron and speaking angrily, " they hadn't ought to come till nine o'clock, them was Mrs. Armstrong's orders ; and then, says she, we shall be ready for the young ladies at ten. Gibson an' me 'ud have 'ad everything ready by nine ; and here it is only seven." " But what does it mean ? " asked the Lady Resident, fixing her eyes on the porter's wife. ''Well, mum, I suppose you know as last night was the party ? " " The party ! " And the Lady Resident sat down with a frio^htened look. T 2 276 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap. '' Well, mum, you'll excuse me. I might have been sure ifc was all unbeknown to you. But here they was a-singin and a-dancin^ and a laughin' and goin' on, and that poor lamb " Hasty steps came flying down the stone stairs, and Bertie, who had gone up without taking notice of the confusion in the hall, exclaimed : "Oh, Miss Grays ton, they have taken her away. The room is empty. She is gone. No one is there. Oh what have they done ? what have they done ? " "They brought a coffin, and they've a-put the coffin into a box, miss, and ciirried it to the railway station. They come at six last night.'* Bertie gave a cry of horror as Mrs. G-ibson, with angry emphasis, made this statement. She looked round, and for the first time noticed the things that had attracted Miss Crayston's atten- tion when they entered. She hurried first into one room and then into another. "And oh," she cried, "could they talk and laugh and sing the very day, the very first day ! Could they forget her so soon ! " " Lor' bless you. Miss Bertie, now don't you run away with that there notion. Why nobody knows it, no more than you know'd about the party." XVI.] XOIIA GOES HOME. 277 " I did know," sio-hed Bertie : '•' but I foro-ot. It would never have occurred to me that there would be a party." ^ Well, you see, miss, they dared me and Gibson, they dared us, miss, to speak of it to mortal being. They was a-telegraphing all day long, and from what I can make out they've a- stopped the friends from coming here ; and Jones the undertaker has gone with the " — she paused — "with the box to Bristol, and there them as belongs to the poor dear soul will arrive to- night from Belfast ; and little they'll ever know of all as has hapjDened." Mrs. Gibson sniffed loudly, and her husband dropped a tumbler, which fell with a crash on the stone floor. " Let us go to the station ; " said Bertie hastily, lifting the flowers she had brought with her. " For what purpose ? " replied Miss Crayston. ""We can do no more. Come with me to the garden." *'Does Mrs. Brownlow know?" asked Bertie. " I think not ; but Mr. Brownlow must have suspected." " I cannot rest : " exclaimed Bertie, " I cannot sit still. It seems to me so wicked, so irreverent to the dead, so disrespectful to the living. Why 278 THE LADY RESIDENT. [chap xvi. have they not allowed all to share in the sorroAv which was sent to all ? Is it those three ladies who have presumed to interfere when God has spoken to us ? " "Hush, my child ; He speaks also in this." " What will her friends think ^ " " They will be spared pain. They will never know." " Do you wish to return to Mrs. Brownlow ? " " I think not. We will stay here." " Oh, thank you : " said Bertie. Meanwhile all traces of the festivities were removed, and by ten o'clock the college was in order for the resumption of work. END OP VOL. I. -) yt^ i UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 3 0112 055270687 m