WYLDER'S HAJVD.
39
might have happened, having no great confidence in her
brother.
"I have sold my commission."
She looked straight at him with large eyes and compress-
ed lips and nodded her head two or three times, just mur-
muring, "Well! well! well!"
"Women never understand these things. The army is
awfully expensive — I mean, of course, a regiment like
ours; and the interest of money is better to me than my
pay; and see, Rachel, there's no use in lecturing me — so
don't let us qnarrel. We're not very rich, you and I;
and we each know our own affairs, you yours, and I mine,
best."
There was something by no means pleasant in his coun-
tenance when his temper was stirred, and a little thing
sometimes sufficed to do so. Rachel treated him with a
sort of deference, a little contemptuous perhaps, such as
spoiled children receive from indulgent elders; and she
looked at him steadily, with a faint smile and arched brows,
for a little while, and an undefinable expression of puzzle,
and curiosity.
"You are a very amusing brother — if not a very
chary or a very useful one, Stanley."
She opened the door, and called across the little hall
into the homely kitchen of the mansion.
"Tamar, dear, Master Stanley's here, and wishes to see
you."
"Oh! yes, poor dear old Tamar; ha, ha!" says the
gentleman, with a gentle little laugh, "I suppose she's as
frightful as ever, that worthy woman. Certainly she is
awfully like a ghost. I wonder, Radie, you're not afraid
of her at night in this cheerful habitation. J should, I
know."
And just then old Tamar opened the door. I must al-