'Why, about it.' 'Will you though ?' said he, sitting up suddenly, and looking hard at me. 'Yes, yes,' said I, 'depend upon it I will.' you're Miss Clairvaux, I do declare,' 'that used to be so kind to me. said he, How ever purpose to did you get in here?' 'Why, on see you and Toby, to be sure,' said I; that and nothing else. Why, how cold you are, my poor man,' laying my hand on his, which quite chilled me through. It's the bath,' said he, and an awful look 'The bath?' repeated I, came over his face. 'why, that can't chill you now-it was two days ago.' 'O, was it, though!' said he, with the same fearful look. I had it again this morning, cold as ice, for a punishment, 'cause I cried for the stocking,' and he burst out again. Eleanor, the dry sobbing of old people who have no tears!" Her own flowed again. "So I took the gold out of my purse," she went on, "and left in it a little silver and some halfpence, and slipped it into his 'there, there, keep that.' he hid it out of sight, hand, whispering, Quick as thought, with a look of in telligence that was painful to behold. 'You're a good lady,' said he, 'always was.' 'Pray to God, Dick,' said I, 'you remember your prayers, don't you? Pray to God!' 'I can remember our Father,' said he. That's it,' said I, say our Father,' whenever you can, day and night. Good-bye,' and stooping down over him, I kissed him." They both sighed. "How unfit I should be to live in what is called the world!" said Miss Clairvaux, after a pause. "Its pleasures would be nothing to me, and it would call my pains exaggerated. I just do to be where I am, as you may say of many a scrubby tree in a copse, that would never bear to be planted in full sight." CHAPTER VIII. Happy those early days, when I Oh! how I long to travel back And tread again that ancient track! HENRY VAUGHAN. AND then they went to dinner, which luckily was a cold one. When Eleanor saw the sirloin, garnished with parsley, it suddenly struck her that Claudia the blue-eyed had told Mr. Horsefield a direct untruth in saying there was nothing in the house. She thought she would defer mentioning his visit till Miss Clairvaux had recruited herself by eating; and though it might sound better to say Miss Clairvaux had lost every vestige of appetite, yet this would not be the fact, for crying and walking had made her hungry. So she ate, and was the better for it. While Claudia was setting on the pudding, Miss Clairvaux had leisure to think of the home department, and said: "Has anybody called while I was out ?" Only Mr. Horsefield, ma'am." "Mr. Horsefield ?" repeated Miss Clair vaux, with surprise and dissatisfaction. "What brought him here?" "He came by rail, ma'am, I suppose.' "Of course, but what did he come for? something disagreeable no doubt. Did he leave any message ?” "No, ma'am ?" "Did he come in ?" Only into the hall, ma'am. Leastways, he stepped into the parlour of his own accord, but directly he saw Miss Graydon he stepped out again. Ill-bred fellow. Just like him. Did he say anything to you, Eleanor ?" "Not a word," said Eleanor. "Well, I am glad he came when I was out, for I had no wish to see him. Probably he will not come for some time again." "If he should, what had we better say, if you are out ?" said Eleanor. "Oh, merely that I am not at home. There is no occasion to ask him in. Claudia should not have done so, to-day." "I didn't, ma'am !" said Claudia, "I was cleaning the hall, and had left the door open, just the least moment, when in he walked." "Ah, that was very unguarded of you, Claudia. He might have been a thief. Many people have had their cloaks and umbrellas walked off with, owing to the door having been left open just the least moment." "It wasn't open-only ajar," said Claudia. VOL. I. M |