WYLDER'S HAjYD.
369
Old Tamar was- sitting in the porch, with her closed
Bible upon her knees; there was no longer light to read
by. She rose up, like the "grim, white woman who
haunts yon wood," before him.
Her young lady had walked up to Brandon, taking the
little girl with her, and she supposed would be back again
early.
Very good. Mr. Larkin would take a short walk, and
as his business was pressing, he would take the liberty of
looking in again in about half-an-hour, if she thought her
mistress would be at home then.
In the meantime Rachel had arrived at Brandon Hall.
Dorcas — whom, if the truth were spoken, she would
rather not have met — encountered her on the steps.
"Have you really come all this way, Rachel, to see
me this evening?" she said, and something of sarcasm
thrilled in the cold, musical tones.
"No, Dorcas," said Rachel, taking her proffered hand
in the spirit in which it was given, and with the air rather
of a defiance than of a greeting; "I came to see my
brother."
"You are frank, at all events, Rachel, and truth is
better than courtesy; but you forget that your brother
could not have returned so soon."
"Returned?" said Rachel; "I did not know he had
left home."
"He'll return to-morrow; and perhaps your meeting
may still be in time. I was thinking of a few minutes'
* alk upon the terrace, but you are fatigued; you had
etter come in and rest."
"No, Dorcas, I won't go in."
"But, Rachel, you are tired; you must come in with
me, and drink tea, and then you can go home in the
brougham," said Dorcas, more kindly.
16*