Clairvaux and Mrs. Debenham, as they sat beside one another on the sofa. Mrs. Debenham was desirous of persuading Miss Clairvaux to return the visit before her friends left her, quite in an in an unceremonious way; and Miss Clairvaux was saying that they would only be with her till Tuesday, and she never accepted evening engagements, she had many reasons for finding it best, as a rule, to decline them; and Mrs. Debenham said, oh, but this was no engagement worth speaking of, merely a verbal invitation, only to a little friendly meeting, and Monday would suit her as well as any other time; there should be no fuss, no ceremony, she would take it as a personal proof of regard. So, in short, the gentle-spoken, smiling old lady carried her point with the person who was considered to have the strongest will, and the least value for forms in Meadowleigh; but it must not be supposed that Miss Clairvaux would have let herself be talked over by a dozen bland old ladies, had not the genial influences of the evening-the music, the mirth, the lights, the warmth, the pleasant feeling of hospitality, and of making others happy, blended and united together in producing a pliable state of mind and philanthropic abnegation of her own private tastes, which led to this remarkable result. With many kind and cheerful greetings, then, this little group of persons separated, soon to meet again. CHAPTER XII. Laer. For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour, Or Easter Sunday, it needs only to be recorded that it was as happy a day to them all as it could possibly be. Bright Easter morning! less triumphantly hailed, it may be, among our undemonstrative selves than in countries where, after their long, rigorous fast and solemn night-service, the people run about, kissing and embracing, exchanging forgiveness, loading one another with gifts, and crying, "Christ is risen !" yet by none more reverently and fittingly valued for its own peculiar remembrances; among those of us, at least, who are loving and thoughtful. On Easter Monday, that holiday of thousands, Eleanor persuaded George to forego his ride till the afternoon, and ramble with her in the morning, over hill and down dale. It was quite early in April, and the trees were yet leafless, but when is the country not beautiful? The nightingale and thrush were already to be heard, the hedges were beginning to shew a curious undergrowth of pale green beneath the protecting network of the outer branches, and primroses and celandine were blossoming on warm banks. George, like most young surgeons, was well up in botany, and as they went on their way, he darted on every new specimen he could find. "That Miss Clairvaux," said he presently, "is a capital old girl.” "Don't call her that, George; it is so disrespectful." Well, I won't call her anything, then; but she is a brick." "She is everything that is good and kind. I cannot tell you how I love her." "Lucky for you that she wanted a companion !" "She did not want one-she took me out of pure kindness." "Whew!-then she may part with you any day." "O no! that would not be like her." "My mother and she seem to get on famously." Yes; I am so glad of it!-I could not tell, beforehand, how they would accord.” "That Mr. Debenham, too, is a capital fellow; and I think, Eleanor, he looks a little sweet upon you." "Nonsense!" said Eleanor indignantly. "I do think it though, seriously." |