136
WYLDER'S HAJVD.
"What is it?"
"Nothing, dear Miss Radie— only poor old Tamar."
And a new day had begun.
CHAPTER XXIV.
DORCAS BRANDON PATS RACHEL A VISIT.
It was not much past eleven that morning when the
pony carriage from Brandon drew up before the little gar-
den wicket of Redman's farm. The servant held the po-
nies' heads, and Miss Dorcas passed through the little
garden, and met old Tamar in the porch.
"Better to-day, Tamar?" enquired this grand and
beautiful young lady.
The sun glimmered through the boughs behind her;
her face was in shade, and its delicate chiselling was
brought out in soft reflected lights; and old Tamar looked
on her in a sort of wonder, her beauty seemed so celestial
and splendid.
"Well, she was better, though she had had a bad
night. She was up and dressed, and this moment coming
down, and would be very happy to see Miss Brandon, if
she would step into the drawing-room.
Miss Brandon took old Tamar's hand gently and press-
ed it. I suppose she was glad and took this way of show-
ing it; and tall, beautiful, graceful, in rustling silks, she
glided into the tiny drawing-room silently, and sat down
softly by the window, looking out upon the flowers and
the falling leaves, mottled in light and shadow.
There came a step and a little rustling of feminine dra-
peries, the small door opened, and Rachel entered, with
her hand extended, and a pale smile of welcome.