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 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
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 nttp://www.archive.org/details/honestyisbestpol01peel
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 A NOVEL. 
 
 IK TWO VOLUMES, 
 
 BY 
 
 MRS. AUGUSTUS PEEL. 
 
 VOL L 
 
 LONDON : 
 T. C. NEWBY, PUBLISHER, 
 
 30, WELBECK STREET, CAVENDISH SQUABE. 
 18G0
 
 p 
 
 8^3 
 
 v.l 
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Calmly the evening shades close round me ; 
 nought save the murmur of the sea is heard. 
 I can lean down and in spirit wander to the 
 time when, mingling with those waves, came 
 a sound more melodious, fuller, deeper than 
 all, chiming with my verj soul, my life. I 
 hear it still, though now it is hushed for ever. 
 Yet it is best, I am still young ; have 
 duties, ties, strength, and power left me ; 
 all but what my soul yearned for, what has, 
 perhaps wisely, been denied ; but the 
 last page has been closed. To-morrow I 
 wake to a new existence : let the past roll 
 
 VOL I. B
 
 2 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 back in those clouds of darkness in which 
 my life has been veiled from you. Read 
 the enclosed ; learn why I have been so 
 variable, why I have recoiled from love — 
 your love ; and yet I cared for you ! now 
 your bride, your wife, you will not love me 
 less for proving to you that though in your 
 eyes almost faultless, I have been, and still 
 am, weak and erring. 
 
 " I have been writing my life up to the 
 present time. Do you care to read it ?" said 
 Inez Wentworth, as she moved towards the 
 open window where her lover was standing. 
 " You have often thought me a mysterious 
 girl." 
 
 " I have always thought you a most 
 fascinating one, Inez ; but are you weeping ? 
 or does the dusk deceive me ? Come near 
 me." and so saying, he pressed her to his 
 heart ! then, leaving her with earnest eye 
 and cheek paler than usual, Charles Hunt- 
 ingdon pored over the following manuscript.
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 6 
 
 I WAS bom in India, and, had my father 
 lived I should have been sent, as numbers 
 of children are, each year, to be educated 
 in England, then borne back to that scorch- 
 ing clime, introduced, married, and settled. 
 This was not my destiny. 
 
 My father dying in action, and my mother 
 from ill health and a broken spirit, 1 was 
 left under the care of two guardians ; one, 
 my only uncle and near relation. Colonel 
 Wentworth ; the other, one whom you have 
 known and cared for, Edward Churchill ; 
 but he comes later on the scene. Mv child- 
 hood had passed ere I knew him; would 
 that we had never met ! but all must feel 
 the same, regarding some being or other 
 that crosses their path in life. Such trials 
 as I have borne bring heaven nearer, for 
 earth, till now, brought no winged herald 
 of joy to me. 
 
 When my mother died Colonel Wentworth 
 and his wife had only just arrived in India. 
 He was rich, of old family, good presence,
 
 4 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 and agreeable manner; his wife young, 
 handsome, and clever. I will not here 
 descant on her merits or failings. Indeed, 
 how much better would it be, in general, if 
 we could refrain from canvassing the con- 
 duct of others ! it does not change them, 
 but it lowers us. Let those who suffer from 
 persecution and tyranny feel that silent sub- 
 mission is ever preferable to striving to clear 
 themselves ; the truth may rest with them, 
 and falsehood on the side of the accuser ; yet 
 in all probability the powerful will flourish 
 like a green bay tree. Then Valerie, my 
 only cousin and companion, can I say that 
 in you I found an honest, open-hearted 
 friend. Alas ! alas ! 
 
 Mercifully, then, was it ordained that my 
 childhood was not passed among such as 
 these. Might not I have grown up amid 
 scenes of treachery and falsehood, with no 
 right ideas of justice or of mercy, like those 
 I dwelt amongst, thinking the weak and 
 defenceless were born only to be kept down
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 5 
 
 and humbled by the powerful. And if I 
 had remembered the words issuing from the 
 lips of the beautiful Mrs. Wentworth, — 
 " Seymour, promise me that child shall not 
 be an infliction on me. Send her to school 
 in England," T might, child as I was, have 
 blessed her for those words. 
 
 A few weeks after this, under the charge 
 of a nurse, I left those Indian shores, glow- 
 ing in all the splendour of eastern beauty, but 
 whose scorching clime had paled my cheek 
 and weakened my frame. How long the 
 vovaofe seemed ! sometimes home alono^ the 
 clear calm ocean, I felt the gentle murmur 
 of waves soundino- like soft music to mv 
 childish senses ; at others, tossed about 'mid 
 storm and tempest, the waves roaring and 
 rising like snow^y mountains, till they seemed 
 to reach the skv, which was black as night, 
 I would hide my head and shudder till the 
 danger passed. When the kind old captain 
 would sometimes take me on his knee and 
 strive to soothe me, he, with his open heart
 
 6 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 and honest face felt for the orphan child, 
 and perhaps thought my life would continue 
 as it had begun, tossed on th-e sea of life, 
 now calm and sunny with my first youth, 
 then chilled and rent with trial and care. 
 Yet my life has not been unhappy ; accident, 
 strange chance threw me amid scenes and 
 people that influenced my feelings and 
 affections, which no earthly power could 
 root out or efface. You who have watched 
 me through many trials, feel the truth of 
 this, nor do you blame me. 
 
 On reaching England I was placed at a 
 school near London. Each schoolgirl's life 
 is perhaps similar in most respects. The 
 difference is to her without a home, except 
 when, taking pity on my forlorn condition, 
 a friend would ask me to accompany her 
 home. I remained with Mrs. Holford, and 
 experienced only kindness on her part. How 
 many, placed as I was, entirely in her power, 
 might have been treated differently, with 
 harshness or neglect ! Yet those long years
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 7 
 
 of schooling I can look back on with plea- 
 sure and gratitude. 
 
 Glancing quickly over these childish years 
 I come to a period when, cast amidst other 
 scenes, I was subjected to trials, of which 
 the remembrance is now softened by dis- 
 tance and the bitterness past and gone. 
 Yet would not most have envied me the 
 change ; taken from school and hard study 
 to remain for a time among gay people, with 
 a companion of my own age ? Assuredly 
 they would : and I set off for the town 
 where my uncle's regiment was then sta- 
 tioned, with a vision of happiness so spark- 
 ling and vivid that I never stopped to 
 conjecture whether they would be cold or 
 warm in their welcome, just or unjust in 
 their treatment of me. At sixteen it is 
 perhaps fortunate that w^e pass quickly on 
 from scene to scene, with little thought, 
 buoyant spirits, and no bitter memories to 
 torture us ; all is fresh, sweet, and lovely 
 as the first burst of spring into life.
 
 8 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 My uncle having only just returned with 
 his regiment to England, this was my first 
 meeting with them after so many years of 
 separation, and as I had left India when I 
 was very young I had no very clear re- 
 collection of my uncle and aunt, of whom 
 I had seen but little, as I was entirely left to 
 the care of servants and the companionship 
 of my cousin Valerie. My other guardian, 
 Mr. Churchill, I had never seen ; he was 
 travelling as tutor in a baronet's family on 
 ihe continent. I sometimes wish that fate 
 had divided us by sea and by land ; that 
 mountains and seas had sprung up betwixt 
 our love. Vain wish ! — I might as well 
 hope that those waves upon the shore would 
 cease to break at my bidding, and be still 
 for ever. 
 
 In my aunt's letter to Mrs. Holford she 
 had said that for another year I was to study 
 with Valerie, w^ho, being a year older, had 
 dismissed her governess and was studying 
 with masters. I should like Valerie, I
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. d 
 
 thought; and study would be pleasant with 
 a youno mrl whom I could love. — Love ! one 
 glance sufficed to make me feel that could 
 never be ; admiration, interest, wonder, 
 but not love ! yet how beautiful she was, 
 burstino: on my already overstrained and 
 imaginative mind, as 1 might have said, an 
 angel ; but have you ever seen one clothed 
 with licrht and beauty, charming: vour senses, 
 but not touching your heart ; the outward 
 mask almost perfect, but with no soul shining 
 through the dazzling orbs ; no truth marked 
 or expressed in the full red lips, smiling 
 blandly ? Such was Valerie ! 
 
 When I alighted from the coach and 
 entered a spacious house on the outskirts of 
 the town, which was laro^e, and seemingly 
 thickly populated, evidently a garrison 
 town, I received no kind of welcome. Mrs. 
 Wentworth, I heard, was out in her car- 
 riage ; and my uncle and Valerie on horse- 
 back. 1 was ushered, therefore, into the 
 drawing-room, where, with a wretched 
 
 2 B
 
 10 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 nervous feeling, I waited their coming. 
 Presently, a loud clear laugh rang on the 
 staircase ; and a voice, not harmonious, but 
 somewhat harsh and loud, drew near. The 
 door opened, and a girl, holding up her 
 long riding dress, and flinging aside her 
 veil, walked into the room followed by her 
 father and a young and handsome man, 
 who carried her whip, and looked admiringly 
 at her. She started on seeing me; but, 
 holding out her hand, said — " I had no idea 
 you could have arrived so soon. Papa, 
 this is Inez, my infantine companion in 
 India." My uncle drew me towards him, 
 kissing me, and welcoming me to his house, 
 and hoping I should be happy with them. 
 I grew flushed, but lifting my eyes up, 
 glanced at the trio, as they stood before 
 me. First at my uncle, who was still hand- 
 some, but hard-looking — a regular man of 
 the world, courteous though, and kind in 
 manner. By him stood Valerie, tall, but 
 not elegant-looking, or well-proportioned :
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 11 
 
 her complexion dazzling as a white cloud 
 contrasted with the glow of an evening 
 sunset — a deep rose hue — while golden hair 
 swept in luxuriant tresses over her dark 
 riding-dress ; splendid eyes of light clear 
 blue, full, intense in their expression, lut 
 with no redeeming softness to shadow the 
 strongly marked classical features : exqui. 
 sitely full mouth, finely rounded chin, and 
 pearly teeth. As my uncle stood talking 
 to me, Valerie turned to the young man 
 who had entered with them, and lowering 
 her voice to a whisper, I heard her say 
 — " You had better go before she comes 
 in ;" and with her words a meanino: smile 
 played round her mouth. Soon after. 
 Colonel Wentworth followed him, and 
 Valerie, throwing herself upon the sofa, 
 exclaimed, " What an absurd youth that is, 
 to be sure !" Smihng, I remarked, " He is 
 decidedly good-looking ; who is he ?" 
 
 " Mr. Frazer ; he has not been long in 
 the regiment : he is so silly he makes me
 
 12 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 laugh. He talks great nonsense, as all 
 young men of that age do, I think ; they're 
 so tiresome ! but it is late, and my singing- 
 master will be here directly, so I must go ; 
 but will first show you your room." Lead- 
 ing the way in silence, she opened the door 
 of my room, and begged me to excuse her, 
 as she had not a moment to lose ; and ran 
 hastily awayc I sat at my window, after 
 taking my bonnet ofi^, and looked out on 
 the high road ; on one side of which was a 
 broad pathway bordered by a railing, over 
 which large trees cast their shadows. It 
 had a gay, cheerful appearance : numbers 
 of people were passing up and down : many 
 a pretty face passed ; and several young 
 officers were sauntering up and down. I 
 could watch all, unperceived by them. 
 Evidently the music lesson had begun, for 
 Valerie's voice, loud, clear, and bell-like, 
 rang through the apartment near ; but, 
 strange to say, though I had seldom heard 
 good singing, her voice, although fine and
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 13 
 
 powerful, gave rae no pleasure. It was 
 wonderful in power and expression, but 
 wanted, what would have made her beauty 
 perfect, harmony. How weary I felt, lis- 
 tening for full an hour, to passages of diffi- 
 cult ItaUan songs, repeated over and over 
 again, till, happily for me, the door of the 
 room opened, and Valerie, entering mine, 
 laughingly said : — ^ It is over for to-day, 
 thank goodness ! and I have come to have 
 a chat with you. How strange it appears 
 for us to meet again ! I trust we shall not 
 quarrel in the frightful manner my old 
 nurse declares we did in India. I cannot 
 say I remember it," she continued, '^ though 
 I am older than you." 
 
 " Nor I either : but we must be very 
 good friends, now, to make up for the bad 
 behaviour of our infancy." 
 
 '' Oh ! I have made up my mind to Hke 
 you immensely !" answered Valerie : " I 
 am sure you are a nice little thing : will 
 you not be glad when we have done with
 
 14 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 all those stupid old masters, and are allowed 
 to go out into society ? I envy my friend, 
 Agnes Wilton, every time she goes out'* 
 
 ^' Is she a great friend of yours?" I 
 asked. 
 
 " Yes, she was at school with me when I 
 first came to England ; and I am extremely 
 fond of her ; but she is no favourite gene- 
 rally, being a sentimental dreamy kind of 
 girl, always in love." 
 
 " The pain cannot be very great, when 
 so often repeated/' I answered. " But why 
 do you fix on so romantic a friend ? You are 
 not romantic, I am sure." 
 
 " No ; that is to say, I should not enjoy 
 love in a smoky cottage, with butchers' and 
 bakers' bills pouring in through the jessamine 
 and roses, with no means of paying them !" 
 answered Valerie with a loud laugh. 
 
 '^ And you are too young to have felt 
 love,'* I rejoined, looking at her. 
 
 *' That is a thing I never could accom- 
 plish, 1 am confident : It's such utter folly,"
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 15 
 
 she continued, as she flung herself back 
 and opened a book which I had hastily 
 glanced over in my solitude : a book of 
 sermons, very high church doctrine. ^^ Do • 
 you agree with the opinions in that book ?" 
 I asked. 
 
 " I should hope so," she answered 
 gravely ; " and I trust, so do you." 
 
 " My opinions as yet are hardly defined 
 to my own heart, being so young ; but I 
 don't think I could agree with the doctrine 
 in that book. Religion is a thing of the 
 heart, not of the senses, or of forms ; but 
 do not let us split upon this point, Valerie : 
 I know little of such matters." 
 
 '^ 1 know a great deal," answered my 
 cousin, proudly ; " and I feel that much as 
 you, or any one else, may despise forms, 
 they are very essential to our service ; but I 
 am very high church, and hope, in time, to 
 make you a convert.'* 
 
 ^' We are early acquaintances," I an- 
 swered, " to talk thus seriously ; but do
 
 16 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 not hope for that, for it can never be. Do 
 you read much ? And what reading pleases 
 you most ? Do you care for poetry ?" 
 
 " Not much, I confess, Inez. Byron, I 
 consider the only poet worth reading ; but 
 mamma allows me to read but little of 
 that. Nevertheless, I contrive to get 
 through most of it, when she is from home." 
 A reproof rose to my lips ; but I repressed 
 it, and merely said : — " I never cared much 
 for his poetry : Tennyson and Wordsworth 
 are my favourites ; how exquisite are some 
 parts of the *' Excelsior !" and then have 
 you read Tennyson's *' Morte d' Arthur," 
 and " Locksley Hall ?" indeed in almost 
 all his poems, there is something original, 
 and very beautiful. I have them, if you 
 would like to read them." 
 
 " Oh ! 1 have read most of them," an- 
 swered Valerie, carelessly ; " but don't 
 think much of them ; as for Wordsworth, 
 I never have patience to read ten lines of 
 it, so dull and insipid do I consider it ; but
 
 HONESTt IS THE BEST POLICY. 17 
 
 I plainly foresee that you and Agnes will 
 be found weeping together over — ' The Pet 
 Lamb/ and ' Mariana in the Moated 
 Grano^e,' she is such a sentimental crea- 
 ture !" 
 
 *' I thought she was your friend : yet 
 your description of her is not engaging." 
 
 " I am fond of her, notwithstanding," 
 answered Yalerie, colouring : " but we 
 must not talk any more of her, now. There^s 
 mamma coming in ; you must go down, 
 presently, and see her. I hope you will 
 like her," she added, in a sneering tone ; 
 *' she is never out of temper, my dear. But 
 do you know, Miss Inez, that papa told me 
 just now he admired your appearance, and 
 thought you had turned out a pretty grace- 
 ful little D;irL Do you care much for ad- 
 miration?" 
 
 " I have never received any," I answered 
 laughing ; " but think it would be delightful, 
 to be admired, approved of, and liked." 
 
 " Approved of, and liked, my dear !
 
 18 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 that's very moderate. I soar higher ; but 
 I must go now, and will send my maid to 
 assist you." So saying, Valerie left the 
 room.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 First impressions are often coiTect, and 
 my first impression of Mrs. Wentworth 
 was that although hard and haughty in 
 manner, there vras more of openness, a 
 darinof bold kind of sincerity about her, 
 than in Yalerie ; a look, as if she would 
 scorn anything mean or treacherous : her 
 beautiful haughty eyes still conveyed to me 
 the idea of truth ; her manner rather that 
 of one made worldly by those she had been 
 brought up amongst, and in contact with, 
 than her natural disposition ; and I have 
 since found I was not mistaken in this idea.
 
 20 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 Still with the traces of great beauty about 
 her, and a figure befitting a queen, tall and 
 majestic, yet I felt no shrinking from or fear 
 of her. She was one, I then thought, whom 
 I could never have dared to speak openly to, 
 but whom I could still entertain an en- 
 thusiastic admiration of, perhaps even, in 
 time, love. So I might, had one w^ho stood 
 near when this first passed through my 
 mind, permitted it ; but that cold, beautiful 
 blue eye glanced at her mother, then on me, 
 and something in its expression told me she 
 had resolved it should not be. 
 
 *' You had better go and practise the 
 
 harp, Valerie," said Mrs. Wentworth, " after 
 
 dinner. Your master tells me you are very 
 
 idle ; I cannot hear of it." 
 
 '' Why do you listen to that stupid man, 
 
 mamma ?" answered Valerie. " I practise 
 
 quite as much as I have time for." 
 
 " I listen to whom I choose," answered 
 
 her mother, " and it's my desire you should 
 
 practise."
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 21 
 
 Valerie left the room frowning. 
 
 Mrs. Wentworth flung herself on the sofa, 
 and taking a French novel that lay beside 
 her, commenced reading, whilst I, with 
 my work, sat silent near the window. 
 
 And I was to live with these people, with 
 whom I felt I had no sympathy, whose feel- 
 ings were as apart from mine as the roaring 
 cataract, foaming down some mountain 
 headland, is from the still rivulet that flows 
 calmly through some green vale. If sorrow 
 should touch me, where then, 1 thought, 
 should I fly for help and sympathy ? Not to 
 her who lay there, proud and cold, I almost 
 dependent on her bounty ; not to the beau- 
 tiful being whose fingers now swept the 
 chords with a powerful, thrilling touch, in 
 the adjoining room. With near relations 
 I was still alone, and as my work fell from 
 my hands, tears of loneliness coursed each 
 other down my cheeks, burning with sup- 
 pressed emotion. 
 
 The noA el had been laid aside, and in a
 
 22 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 short time Mrs. Wentworth lay sleeping on 
 the sofa : the harpstrings ceased to vibrate, 
 and Valerie entered. She either did not 
 notice my grief, or did not choose in any 
 way to enquire the cause ; for, merely look- 
 ing at me inquisitively, she took up the book 
 that Mrs. Wentworth had been perusing, 
 and quickly glanced over its contents ; but 
 at any stir or sound as if to warn her of 
 her mother waking, she placed it in the 
 same spot. 
 
 '^ Are you not allowed to read novels ?" 
 I asked. 
 
 " Of course I am. Why should you en- 
 quire ?" she replied. "Any one would 
 imagine I read by stealth." 
 
 " I did not mean to insinuate such a 
 thing," I answered, " but many girls of 
 our age are not ; it would therefore be 
 nothing remarkable if you were not.'* 
 
 " I am no longer a child," answered 
 Valerie, " nor do I choose to be treated like 
 one : it is different with you who are
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 23 
 
 younger ; besides, I have far greater know- 
 ledge of life and of the world than you can 
 have : the very life of change and scene I 
 have led would cause that. Dear little Inez, 
 you are so very young, and appear to me 
 like one who must have been brought up in 
 some wild, and fed on bread and milk ; but 
 a few months with us will let you into some 
 of the realities of life, my dear." 
 
 *' I have no wish to be initiated," I re- 
 plied, " knowledge must bring pain 1 it 
 will come soon — too soon !" 1 added, sighing. 
 " Come, don't give me a sermon," said 
 Valerie, laughing ; '^ all realities need not 
 be painful : for my part, I never intend to 
 distress myself about anything, or let mis- 
 fortunes weigh on me, if they do come : en- 
 joyment is what I seek, and what I will 
 have. I wish to be admired and souo^ht 
 after, and to make dozens of poor creatures 
 break their hearts about me, while all the 
 time I am heart-whole and free. You will
 
 24 HOJ^ESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 see ntxt spring, when I come out, what I 
 shall do ; but alas ! this is only September." 
 I told her I could not approve of such 
 sentiments, and that perhaps when the long 
 wished for time came she might be disap- 
 pointed ; but she answered only — 
 
 " What a methodist you are to be sure ! 
 depend upon it, Miss Inez, you will be as 
 fond of admiration as anyone else, so don't 
 preach any more, or hereafter I shall bring 
 up this conversation against you." 
 
 I smiled and answered, " No doubt she 
 might, and I had no wish either to be a 
 methodist or prude ;" but I don't know how 
 it was, as Valerie and I talked there seemed 
 a jarring and discord of feeling. She 
 seemed to grow weary for awhile ; but 
 coming closer, whispered — 
 
 " To-morrow I must take you to see Agnes 
 Wilton : I could tell you such a funny story 
 about her, but it's a profound secret." 
 " You had better not, then," I answered.
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 25 
 
 " not knowing her, I feel no anxiety to be 
 burdened with her private history." 
 
 " Private history ! that would indeed be 
 long in telling, as she is now quite pass^e, and 
 has been engaged, or fancied herself so, ever 
 so many times, for none of the unfortunate 
 men ever wished to marry her, but merely 
 to flirt and amuse themselves ; but lately 
 she has fallen deeply in love with a young 
 officer in my father's regiment ; writes to 
 him every day, and I believe has gone so 
 far as almost to propose to him, while he, 
 poor man, thinks of her as his great grand- 
 mother ! and the best of the story is, he is 
 in love with me^ and has proposed for me 
 over and over again. Poor persecuted 
 creature ! no field or lane, however remote, 
 which he endeavours to have a quiet ride or 
 walk in, but Agnes finds him out ; and all 
 the time he is riding in search of me, and 
 whenever he has an opportunity, pours into 
 my ear his unhappiness, and his love for 
 VOL. I. c
 
 26 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 me, and disgust at Agnes. Oh ! it's such 
 fun to hear him." 
 
 " This is a strange story/' I replied, 
 looking at Valerie, *^ and one that seems 
 to me both unnatural and painful : how 
 disgusted you must feel at such conduct on 
 her part, and love on his, that you cannot 
 return ! The less you see of so strange and 
 forward a girl, the better ; and as for taking 
 me to call upon her to-morrow, pray excuse 
 it ; I have no wish for such acquaintance." 
 
 " Dear me, how particular ; but do come 
 
 once, and remember. " 
 
 Just as Valerie uttered these words Mrs. 
 Wentworth suddenly woke up and bade 
 Valerie ring for tea. She did so, but turned 
 to me with her finger on her lip, in token 
 of silence. I sat silently pondering over 
 what she had told me, fancying I could, in 
 my own mind, sift the truth from the false- 
 hood. Still Miss Wilton might be all she 
 said ; but should not her friend have shielded
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 27 
 
 her from a stranger? or, if she had told 
 me her weakness and failings, shown some 
 sorrow or pity for them, instead of relating 
 them only to ridicule ? I judged of her ac- 
 cordingly : treacherous was the word to 
 express her character ; and I mourned that 
 so fair a form should contain so much that 
 was evil. 
 
 Valerie and I set off the next morning to 
 call on Miss Wilton, and though some years 
 have passed since then, my remembrance of 
 that walk is as vivid as if it were but yester- 
 day. It was a bright morning, towards the end 
 of September, still and warm for the time 
 of year. Our path led through fields, away 
 from the town, divided only by low hedges 
 and fences, in which cattle were feeding, 
 and as we walked quickly by we cast many 
 a disturbed glance towards them, feeling 
 glad when we had passed the danger and 
 had entered the narrow lanes leading" to 
 Mrs. Wilton's house. Deep lanes they 
 were, with high banks on either side, and
 
 28 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 here and there, at some turning of the 
 road, some grand old forest tree would 
 stand gleaming in the full light, some of its 
 branches green almost as in early summer, 
 whilst others hung soft with yellow autumn 
 tints, mingling with the rich red leaves that 
 were trembling in the breeze and soon 
 would be lying pale and withered on the 
 cold ground. One large hornbeam in 
 particular I stood for some time gazing on 
 in rapt admiration, as it hung over a pool 
 of water belonging to an old farm-house 
 near, till Valerie said, — 
 
 " Come, we shall never get there, Inez, 
 if you will stand looking at every old rub- 
 bishing tree and pond you pass ; what do 
 you see to admire in them ? you might be 
 a cockney, my dear, fresh from the city, 
 never having before feasted your smoke- 
 dried eyes on green pastures and verdant 
 lanes." 
 
 " I am sorry to have kept you," I answered 
 with a smile, '* but I must own that although
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 29 
 
 neither a cockney nor immersed in smoke, 
 it does s^ive me very great delight gazing 
 on these things, particularly on so glorious 
 a day as this ; and, remember, it is all new 
 to me." 
 
 ** Well, I am glad you are so easily 
 amused," she answered, laughing, " and 
 you have my full permission to watch these 
 rare trees and duck-ponds as long as you 
 like, only do not ask me to follow your 
 example ; but I declare, here is Agnes !" 
 
 Walking towards us I perceived a girl, 
 apparently about six-and-twenty, not tall, 
 but of a good figure, with a face that was 
 not strikingly pretty, though on closer in* 
 spection I noticed marks of real beauty 
 about her, though her complexion was not 
 dazzling in colouring, like my cousin's, or 
 pleasing from animation ; on the contrary, 
 she was pale and rather sallow ; but then, 
 those fine dark eyes were full of feeling, and 
 although too much of sadness was marked 
 upon the high forehead and exquisitely
 
 30 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 pencilled eyebrows and drooping lashes, it 
 seemed a face full of interest, and I won- 
 dered, as she drew near, that Valerie had 
 not mentioned she was good-looking. 
 
 " Dearest Agnes," said Valerie, stooping 
 to impress affectionate kisses on her friend, 
 " how many days have passed without our 
 meeting ! I could wait no longer, and have 
 trudged through fields and lanes and wet 
 grass, passed savage bulls, and everything 
 that is horrible, to come to you. Allow me 
 to introduce my little cousin, Inez, who is 
 come to live with us." 
 
 Miss Wilton looked, as she shook hands 
 wdth me, as if wondering whether the end 
 of Valerie's sentence accorded with my 
 wishes, and certainly the words that I was 
 to live vvith them, were startling and painful. 
 
 Walking by their side I listened to their 
 talk, which consisted merely of what had 
 occurred in the few days' absence ; but still 
 it struck me there was a painful constraint 
 in Miss Wilton's manner towards Valerie,
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. ol 
 
 wliich she was endeavouring to remove, and 
 a few words, spoken in almost a whisper, 
 made me wonder more and more at every 
 sentence Valerie uttered. I heard her say 
 " Well, Agnes, of course you have seen 
 Mr. Frazer ? and how do matters progi-ess ? 
 You know, dear, how really anxious I am 
 that it should be settled one way or other;" 
 and then, lowenng her voice almost to a 
 whisper, I caught the words, ^' When I am 
 riding out with papa he comes to pour out 
 
 his griefs to me, and I do all lean ' 
 
 but then the words died away, and a sudden 
 breeze springing up prevented my hearing 
 more. But surely I had heard enough to 
 raise my suspicions and to con\ince me, if 
 I were not already convinced, of Valerie's 
 false-heartedness towards her friend ; and I 
 longed so to warn her, to tell her in what a 
 strange, almost improper hght she had been 
 painted to me only the evening before, and 
 of the ridicule cast on her and her lover. 
 Yet 1 then thouorht that time might never
 
 32 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 be, and I followed them through the gate 
 leading to Mrs. Wilton's house with a teeling 
 of wonder and of unhappiness. 
 
 I found that Agnes Wilton lived with her 
 widowed mother, and that her married 
 brother and his wife were for a time residing 
 wath them. They received us kindly, and 
 appeared nice intelligent people. I took a 
 sudden interest in Agnes, who seemed, I 
 thought, unhappy, and I longed to know 
 her better. We remained there to luncheon, 
 Valerie in the highest spirits possible. I 
 was sorry to check her mirth, but remem- 
 bering my aunt's strict injunction that we 
 should be home by four o'clock, I reminded 
 Valerie of it. 
 
 '.< Very well, we must go, I suppose," she 
 answered, sighing, ^' but remember, Agnes, 
 I shall expect you to come and see 7ne next ;" 
 and so saying, and kissing her with ap- 
 parently great affection, she wished her 
 good-bye, and we returned home.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 I cannot, at this distance of time, bring 
 clearly to my mind the events of each day, 
 nor the exact impressions I entertained 
 towards those with whom I was thrown in 
 such close contact. If at this period, scenes 
 I then witnessed were passing before me 
 daily, I think I should feel a clearer per- 
 ception of them, and define their separate 
 causes more distinctly. Not that I was ever 
 unobserving : alas ! for my own peace of 
 mind 1 have ever viewed things in too near 
 a light, and scenes and words that many a 
 young light heart would merely have glanced 
 
 c 2
 
 34 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 at and passed on, I thought deeply of, and 
 brooded over. Perhaps our life for many 
 weeks might, by most young girls, have been 
 considered monotonous and stupid, for our 
 days were spent in a general routine ; first, 
 practising with our different masters ; then 
 Valerie usually riding with her father, who 
 seemed, I thought, fond and proud of her, 
 while every now and then Mrs. Wentworth 
 would invite me to drive with her in the 
 open carriage. Often er, however, I remained 
 at home, and would pace up and down the 
 long gravel walks of the quiet back garden 
 in solitude ; and I enjoyed these walks more 
 than the drives. My aunt^s cold manner 
 chilled me ; it seemed as though she treated 
 both me and Valerie as mere school- girls who 
 ought to have no ideas of our own, or if 
 we had, to keep them closely to ourselves. 
 I seldom, therefore, addressed her, and when 
 I did, spoke of the slight every-day occur- 
 rences that passed before me ; yet I would 
 sometimes, for minutes together, gaze on
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 35 
 
 her full dark eyes and speaking face, as she 
 leant back in her carriage. 
 
 One still afternoon in October, as we drove 
 slowly along together, I sometimes glancing 
 on the masses of yellow foliage and then on 
 her still handsome face in silence, she asked 
 quickly, almost angrily : 
 
 " Inez, what a trick you have of fixing 
 your eyes on peoples' faces. Why do you 
 stare at me so? I declare it's quite dis- 
 agreeable." 
 
 " 1 beg your pardon, aunt," I answered, 
 flushing to my very temples, " I don't think 
 i stare in general ; but I admire you'' 
 
 The latter part of my speech was hastily 
 uttered, and repented of as soon, for 1 
 feared ofi'ending her. She did not reply 
 instantly, but after pausing for some time 
 she said — 
 
 ^* You admire me, do you ? Strange, in 
 so young a girl, almost a child, as you are ; 
 young people of your age would think when 
 beauty was on the wane it was no longer
 
 36 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 interesting ; when the roses and liUes had 
 gone for ever. I could quite understand 
 vour admiring Valerie, with her fair young 
 face, matchless complexion, golden hair, 
 and sweet full lips : you doubtless do admire 
 her, do you not ?" 
 
 " Yes, extremely,'^ I answered, " there 
 seems, as you say, nothing wanting, and 
 yet " 
 
 "Yet what?'' said Mrs. Wentworth, 
 rising up and examining my face minutely, 
 
 " I was going to add that I admire you 
 
 morey 
 
 " This is strange !" she answered, her 
 lips parting with a radiant smile, and entirely 
 losing the cold compressed expression that 
 usually closed them. " This is very strange ! 
 Valerie not being quite eighteen, /, thirty- 
 eight ! but did I say," she continued, " that 
 in Valerie there was nothing wanting ? if 
 so, I do not remember it." 
 
 " No ! but you talked admiringly of her, 
 and with justice," I replied.
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 37 
 
 " Then why do you iidmire me more?" 
 
 " Because — because," I stammered, '' I 
 think there is more " 
 
 " I will finish your sentence for you ;" 
 she added. '^ There is more soul and truth 
 in my face than in her's : it may not be rich 
 in colouring, or sweet in expression, but 
 you Irust it more, though you do not love 
 me : is it not so, child ?" 
 
 " Yes !" 1 answered, " you have guessed 
 my thoughts, certainly." 
 
 " Strange !" sighed Mrs. Wentworth, as 
 if musing to herself, " strange, you should 
 have felt this too, you, so young and inex- 
 perienced !" 
 
 " I have perhaps no right to think so, 
 aunt, and I will dismiss it from my thoughts 
 as soon as possible." 
 
 When I looked up I found that Mrs. 
 Wentworth was weeping bitterly. She, the 
 cold, usually composed and haughty woman, 
 was weeping. It was not like common grief; 
 jt seemed like an indulofence of some lonor.
 
 38 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 borne suppressed anguish, that a few slight 
 words had touched the chord of. I took 
 her hand, pressing it in silence, while she 
 said : — 
 
 " Don't distress yourself, Inez, about me, 
 but promise to love me, though I am proud 
 and cold. You have an enthusiasm of cha- 
 racter that pleases me. Listen, child, to 
 what 1 say : let no one rob you of it, or 
 harden your heart. Remember what I say.*' 
 
 Just as she uttered these words her hus- 
 band and Valerie came cantering up to the 
 side of the carriage. Valerie flushed with 
 the exercise, while her beautiful tresses 
 played with the wind. I looked admiringly 
 at her as she described the ride they had 
 been, till she glanced at her mother's face, 
 which still bore the traces of tears, then at 
 me, with a severe searching look, and whip- 
 ping her horse, rode ofi^ quickly, while we 
 drove home in silence. 
 
 My uncle and aunt dined out that evening, 
 and Valerie and I sat together in the
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 39 
 
 drawing- rooiD, talking. After some time 
 she asked : — 
 
 " What was the matter to-day when we 
 met you? Had you and mamma had a 
 battle ?" 
 
 " No !" I answered, " we are very good 
 friends, and aunt is never unkind." 
 
 " Oh ! never, of course !" answered 
 Valerie ; " but, pray, what was the matter ?" 
 
 " I cannot tell you, for indeed I scarcely 
 know," I replied. 
 
 " Rather say you don't choose to tell 
 me," answered Valerie, " for you must 
 know what you were talking about ; besides, 
 I saw traces of tears on mamma's face : 
 papa even noticed it. You cannot deceive 
 me ; and if you were speaking of, or con- 
 juring up any stories against me, I shall 
 not forgive it in a hurry : your refusing to 
 relate what passed looks extremely like it." 
 
 " Before you thus censure me you should 
 have cause, Valerie. Did I say or hint that 
 I spoke to my aunt against you ? You hastily
 
 40 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 rush at this conclusion without any ground, 
 for doing so : your words are both hasty and 
 unjust.'* 
 
 " Hasty and unjust, am I ?" she said, 
 glowing with rage : "I should like to know 
 what you mean by daring thus to speak to 
 me : let me tell you, Miss Inez, you are not 
 to be mistress here. I have seen for some 
 time the influence you are gaining with 
 mamma. As you refuse to tell me your 
 conversation, I shall think and believe you 
 were canvassing, and perhaps even dis- 
 paraging something in my conduct or 
 manners." 
 
 She sat, her cold, clear light eyes fixed 
 on me ; her colour burning on her fair 
 cheeks ; and as 1 looked on her I thought 
 her very beauty served as an index to her 
 mind. 
 
 " Now," I said, *' in reply to your taunts 
 be it known that your appearance was alone 
 discussed, and thai in terms of admiration. 
 The grief shown by my aunt I can in no
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 41 
 
 way account for, nor do I ever pry into 
 others' secrets when I clearly perceive they 
 have no wish to confide them to my keeping. 
 Are you satisfied now ?" I asked. 
 
 " Xo ! far from it," answered Valerie ; 
 " Do you think any sensible rational being 
 could believe such a statement, that merely 
 talking of my beauty would cause sorrow 
 and tears ; folly ! folly ! I am not thus to 
 be taken in. What did you say of me ? 
 for I will hear." 
 
 I paused for a few instants to weigh in 
 my own mind what the effects might be of 
 telling truthfully, word for word, what was 
 spoken, for although nothing had been said 
 positively against Valerie, and merely the 
 expression of her face commented on, she 
 might construe it differently, and cause me 
 much unhappiness in consequence : still, my 
 silence would raise her suspicion, and that 
 once raised, where would she stop ? 
 
 Simply, word for word, I related our con- 
 versation, not either exaggerating or de-
 
 42 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 tracting from the plain bare facts. When 
 I had concluded, a fixed expression of con- 
 centrated rage and hatred rested on me, 
 like a spirit of evil exulting over a fallen 
 foe : her words came sparingly, in their cold 
 bitter sarcasm. 
 
 " Want of soul and truth ! You are a 
 good judge of character, 1 should think, a 
 school-girl, very young and verdant, my 
 dear, from my observation of you ! I have 
 silently watched }our manoeuvring to sup- 
 plant me in my mother's affection. You 
 will not succeed ; I wish you joy of your 
 future here^ my dear, and you shall know 
 what it is to say I am soulless and untruth- 
 ful. Good night !" and waving her hand 
 she moved towards the door. 
 
 " Valerie !" I cried, earnestly, " come 
 back, I pray, if but for a single instant ;" 
 but looking fully at me, she slammed to the 
 door, and as she mounted the staircase a 
 low laugh reached my ear. 
 
 Like one who, after vainly struggling
 
 HONEST? IS THE BEST POLICY. 43 
 
 amid wild waves and billows to reach some 
 shore, however bleak and lonely, at length 
 sinks deeper and deeper 'mid closing waters, 
 gathering dark as death, so 1 bent down my 
 head and wept.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 There are some, who, in their first bitter 
 anger, heap at once coals of fire on their 
 victim's head. Not so Valerie. The poison 
 she administered was not instantaneous in 
 its effect, or given in large portions ; but 
 slowly and surely. It was measured forth 
 daily, till its effects were diffused through 
 my system, unnerving and weakening ray 
 mind and body. So gradually did she set 
 to work, that as we practised together, 
 morning after morning, it seemed to me 
 that any remembrance on her part of our 
 quarrel on the night I have dilated on, had
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 45 
 
 died from her recollection. When I beofgred 
 an explanation, she replied, she had hoped 
 it was forgotten : people, when out of tern- 
 per, seldom knew or remembered what they 
 said or did ; and she entreated that no fur- 
 ther allusion might be made. Too happy 
 to thus let matters rest, I quietly acquiesced. 
 It was my aunt's manner first caused me to 
 think all was not right ; and that Valerie's 
 apparent friendship was assumed ; not that 
 she spoke ; only her usual resei-ve seemed 
 more plainly shown, her manner colder than 
 before ; and often on my return from a 
 walk or drive with her, with silent uncom- 
 plaining regret for her loss of confidence in 
 me, I would shed some of the bitterest tears 
 I have ever known. My uncle, too, who, 
 on my first coming, had usually a kind 
 word or a kiss for me when I met him of an 
 evening, now seldom addressed me, and 
 looked, I thought, with a suspicious eye on 
 every word and action, while he would sit 
 with his arm round Valerie, and form plans
 
 46 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 for her future happiness and gaiety. His 
 every thought and hope seemed centred in 
 that beautiful girl, who, I perceived, had 
 power and cunning enough to lead him 
 which way it pleased her best; while his 
 wife would sit by apparently unconcerned, 
 silent and proud ; but, now and then, I no- 
 ticed that tears would stand in those radiant 
 feeling eyes : tears, they seemed to me, of 
 unrequited affection; shipwrecked hopes; 
 and deep-rooted pride and unhappiness. 
 A strange enigma did she then appear ! 
 Why did she, I then thought, shrink from 
 and dislike the only one who would have 
 loved and helped her? I did not then see, 
 that those who have for years and years 
 neither gained nor placed confidence in 
 others, and who have borne wrongs and 
 griefs in a proud, calm endurance, do not 
 suddenly feel trust in others : perhaps, for 
 this reason: — that as they know more of 
 human nature, they feel the insufficiency of 
 worldly friendships ; and how few there are
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 47 
 
 in whom we can place confidence. Thus 
 the heart becomes hard and deadened to 
 any appeal for affection. So it was with 
 the beautiful and richly endowed Mrs. 
 Wentworth. Yet, at that time, this was to 
 me, a sealed book. I did not know how 
 her life had passed ; I was too young to 
 dwell much, or for any time too^ether, on 
 what passed around me, or to endeavour to 
 define the causes. 
 
 As our days passed, and few events 
 marked them, I at least hoped that peace 
 and rest would be allotted me : and although 
 coldness of manner, and almost neglect was 
 shown me, I tried to be content, and even 
 happy ; not long was I destined for even 
 that slight share of rest. 
 
 One day as I came suddenly into the 
 drawing-room, I found Valerie in tears, and 
 looking much agitated and angry, while 
 Mrs. Wentworth's face wore an expression 
 of, to say the least, distress and annoyance. 
 " Well, Valerie," I heard her say ; "1
 
 48 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 hope you speak the truth rww, I forgive 
 you again and again ; and have done so 
 for years ; yet you know what I have borne 
 from you — " but on my sudden entrance, 
 the words died on her lips, and Valerie ran 
 quickly past me. How I longed then to 
 go to my aunt, and comfort her, and beg 
 her to feel more kindly towards me for the 
 future ; but she remained sitting there, 
 hardly for awhile seeming to notice my 
 presence , till, at length, she said : — " Have 
 you ever seen a Mr. Frazer since you came 
 here ?" 
 
 " Yes. The first day I arrived, he came 
 into the room with my uncle and Valerie." 
 
 " And has he ever been mentioned to 
 you since, by her?" asked my aunt. I 
 brought to my remembrance the conver- 
 sation about Agnes Wilton ; but, supposing 
 I had been told this in confidence, I merely 
 replied: — " Yes, I have heard her mention 
 him, but not lately." 
 
 " What did she say about him ?" asked
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 49 
 
 Mrs. Wentworth, " tell me truthfully what 
 you remember : I know how difficult it is 
 to recall exactly, words of which we, per- 
 haps, take little heed at the time they 
 are spoken. But if you could recollect, I 
 should feel obliged." 
 
 I paused, colouring, and then said : — 
 '' Perhaps, Valerie would not like my re- 
 peating any little gossip she tells me when 
 we are alone." 
 
 Mrs. Wentworth looked fully into my face, 
 an enquiring anxious pitying look, while 
 she answered : — 
 
 '' You are right, Inez : in general, never 
 repeat what has been said in confidence, or, 
 though perhaps not actually in confidence, 
 told with the idea of its not being repeated. 
 But I am your aunt, and Valerie my 
 daughter ; therefore, for many reasons, I 
 must again entreat that you will answer me 
 one question. I have been cold to you, 
 and feel I cannot expect to gain your con- 
 fidence or love.'* 
 
 VOL. I. D
 
 50 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 '' Oh ! Aunt !" I exclaimed, interrupting 
 her, and moving towards her, while tears 
 forced their way down mj burning cheeks : 
 •' do not say so : I could love you, if you 
 would but think so." The earnestness of 
 my manner strangely moved her : she 
 actually pressed me near her and kissed 
 me. I am sure no girl ever more valued 
 the first kiss of love, than I did that one 
 kiss from her : and from that time, I loved 
 her. In one moment she was still and 
 proud, to all outward appearance as ever, 
 telling me I should not suffer from Valerie 
 in consequence of what I might tell her. 
 and begging me to begin. As well as I 
 could remember, then, I repeated Valerie's 
 words. With a sort of breathless impatience 
 she listened ; and when I came to the part 
 where Valerie had declared, that though 
 Mr. Frazer was considered Agnes Wilton's 
 lover, he was really hers ; and had declared 
 it in their rides, she turned white as death ; 
 while her lips seemed to speak, though no 
 words issued from them.
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 51 
 
 " Thank you, Inez," she said, in a low 
 voice of misery, '^ for tellinof me the trufh : 
 she has endeavoured of late, to prevent my 
 caring for you, and had well nigh succeeded, 
 child. This must be prevented, though," 
 she murmured, as she left the room. 
 
 That evening, Valerie told me, that when 
 I found her so as^itated in the morninof, her 
 mother was doubting the reality oP a pain- 
 ful story she had been telling her ; of a 
 friend of whom she had once been trulv 
 fond ; "I thouo^ht I would tell vou." she 
 continued ; '' for you must have thought it 
 so strange." 
 
 I listened to her falsehood in silence. 
 
 Certainly, my aunt's manner changed 
 from that day, and softened towards me. 
 Many young people of my age might have 
 deemed it cold, and even repelling : but I 
 felt there was real affection at her heart, 
 throuo'h many a fold of cold reserve and 
 pride \ and that she, at all events, put con- 
 fidence in me, and believed me : while 
 Valerie watched me narrowly for some days,
 
 52 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 as though she feared I was again taken 
 into favour. Once or twice she whispered 
 something in my uncle's ear, as we all sat 
 together of an evening, while he would look 
 at her with such an expression of pity and 
 affection, as she would turn from him, with 
 a distracted air, and sigh heavily, like one 
 suffering from some deep injury. I would 
 often retire to my own room, to escape be- 
 ing thus watched and suspected by them : 
 and was ruminating there, alone, one even- 
 ing, when my uncle's voice, loud and autho- 
 ritative, summoned me to the drawing-room, 
 where Valerie, as I had once before seen 
 her, stood kindling and vibrating with rage 
 before my uncle. 
 
 *' Now, Inez," he said harshly, turning to 
 me, "if it is you who have told untruths 
 of Valerie, confess it instantly !" 
 
 " I have spoken no word falsely," I an- 
 swered, fixing my eyes on his face. 
 
 ** You have," interrupted Valerie ; " I 
 know it is you who have thus insinuated
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 53 
 
 yourself into mamma's good graces ; and 
 repeated, or rather invented and fabricated 
 stories against me." I looked straight at 
 Mrs. Wentworth, and read in her expres- 
 sion, she had not betrayed me. 
 
 " Stop all this folly and crying," com- 
 manded my uncle, " and tell us plainly, 
 Valerie, has Mr. Frazer ever made love to 
 you ? for if so, I vow I have not noticed 
 anything : he shall quickly be made to an- 
 swer for it, if he has ; the presumptuous 
 puppy !'' 
 
 " He never has," boldly declared Valerie, 
 " nor have I ever said so to any one ; cer- 
 tainly not to 3/6>w," she continued, fiercely, 
 turning towards me. 
 
 " Valerie," I said, " remember /" 
 
 " Eemember what?" she answered, " I 
 would take Heaven to witness 1 never 
 spoke of Mr. Frazer to you, except as being 
 Agnes Wilton's lover : I could swear it 1" 
 
 " Hush, Valerie ; an oath is a solemn 
 thing: perhaps you have forgotten your
 
 54 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 words : they were spoken lightly, and 
 without thought." 
 
 " They were never spoken at a//," she 
 replied ; " pure invention of yours from 
 beginning to end. When J am so maligned, 
 will no one come forward to help or believe 
 me ? is not my word as good as that treach- 
 erous girl's?" she added, pointing tome, 
 " who thus slanders me to my own pa- 
 rents?" 
 
 ^* Who said she did so?" asked Mrs. 
 Went worth. 
 
 ** She acknowledges it herself," answered 
 Valerie, " declaring I said things which 
 never passed my lips, nor entered my 
 thoughts.'* 
 
 " / believe Valerie," said my uncle ; 
 " and as for you^' he continued, turning 
 towards me frowning terribly, " you are my 
 niece, and I your guardian : so take charge 
 of you I must, under my roof you must 
 remain. If not, never should you enter 
 these doors again, false cruel-hearted girl,
 
 HOXESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 00 
 
 that you are : thus to prove your gratitude 
 for all our kindness — Go !" he exclaimed, 
 anorrilv, while drawing^ his beautiful Valerie 
 to his heart, he kissed and soothed her. 
 
 " Yes, I shall go," I answered calmly ; 
 but I own with pride the words were 
 spoken : *^ yes, I will leave your house this 
 very hour : poor, unprotected, as I am, and 
 an orphan. Still, I woidd rather beg my 
 bread, than remain under your roof." 
 
 I ran from the room. I have no recol- 
 lection how or when I reached my own ; 
 but, on opening my eyes, a form was near 
 me, bathing my hands and cold damp brow. 
 It was Mrs. Wentworth. She alone, amid 
 all that household, knew or cared what 
 became of me in my solitary' wretchedness. 
 1 raised myself up, and looked at her for 
 an instant in a maze of bewilderment, try- 
 inor to remember where I was. Slowly, 
 painfully, did the scene I had just witnessed 
 come back to me ; and, with a despairing 
 voice, I said,— "Oh! let me go ! I said
 
 56 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 within an honr I would leave this house. 
 Nothing shall keep me." 
 
 " Yes, I will keep you, Inez : you shall 
 not go." 
 
 " Do youthen," I answered, '' not despise 
 me ? do you not think like the rest, that I 
 am false and cruel ?" 
 
 " You are truth, itself, child : why 
 should you fear any mortal ? Stay here : 
 while I live, I will protect you." Weeping, 
 I went and kissed her ; but what was that 
 I now saw, causing my faintness to return, 
 my cheeks and lips growing cold and pale 
 with horror ? The delicate white cambric 
 handkerchief, that, while I had spoken, 
 she had pressed to her mouth, was stained 
 with bright scarlet blood. " Oh ! God ! 
 What do T see ?" I cried, " I have killed 
 you." 
 
 " Don't be alarmed," she answered 
 gently, " at a few spots of blood : it is not 
 an uncommon occurrence with me now : the 
 slightest agitation causes it."
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 57 
 
 " But you must be very ill/' 1 said, in- 
 terrupting her ; "do have advice in- 
 stantly." 
 
 ** Advice?*' she answered; ** nothing 
 will save me now : stay here quietly, I am 
 going to he down for some hours ; but when 
 my husband and Valerie go out to-morrow 
 for their ride, come to my room : I would 
 speak to you alone ^'"^ and so saying, she 
 glided from the apartment. 
 
 D 2
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The next afternoon was bright and beau- 
 tiful ; but, as I entered Mrs. Wentworth's 
 room, the sunshine struggled faintly, with 
 a subdued and softened light, through the 
 crimson damask curtains that were shadow- 
 ing her. There she lay, still and beautiful 
 in her sleep, her head thrown back, and the 
 long dark braids of hair, escaping from the 
 comb that confined them, falling in luxuriant 
 masses over the pillow ; her dark lashes 
 fringing her pale slight face, which she 
 leaned against an arm and hand that I 
 have never seen equalled. I could not re-
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 59 
 
 frain from contrasting her with Valerie. If 
 she had lain there in her gorgeous beauty, 
 my eyes would not have rested as they now 
 did, in wrapt silent admiration. Xo, Valerie 
 was almost hateful to me ; her very beauty 
 distasteful and repelling. 
 
 Watching silently, and hardly daring to 
 breathe, lest I should disturb her slumber, 
 I saw her wake suddenly and look at me. 
 
 " Inez," she exclaimed, " why did you 
 let me sleep ? I have much to say, and little 
 time to say it in." 
 
 " I was glad to find you sleeping," I 
 answered, " and, indeed, I think you should 
 not talk, ill as you are." 
 
 '• Speaking quietly to you will not hurt 
 me, Inez. Come near me, young girl, listen 
 to me. I should like to help and warn you, 
 for life is a hard struo-ole from beo^innino- 
 to end." 
 
 " I cau believe that," I answered. 
 
 *' No, you cannot feel it," said Mrs. 
 Went worth, " it is mere theory with you ;
 
 GO HONESTV IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 but for one thing, child, be thankful, that I 
 did not bring you up. What would you 
 have been now ? Uke — ah ! never mind," 
 she continued, with an hysterical laugh, 
 *' whom you might have resembled ; I am 
 only thankful you are saved." 
 
 " Do not agitate yourself so, aunt, nor 
 think of me : believe me, I have never 
 thought you unkind." 
 
 ^' I have been," she answered : " each 
 fault of mine, and they are many, is as 
 clearly before me now as though it were 
 written there. In my youth I never checked 
 or subdued my evil inclinations : no wonder, 
 then, I became hardened and indifferent. 
 My temper, which has always been violent, 
 was never restrained or corrected. My in- 
 vulnerable pride was rather approved of 
 than humbled ; and at fifteen I was as fair a 
 specimen of a spoilt beauty as I suppose the 
 world ever looked upon. My father died of 
 consumption soon after my birth; and 
 Charlotte, my only sister, and I were left
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 61 
 
 entirely with a mother, whose only thought 
 was to have us well educated and good- 
 lookinof. With small means we stru^fo'led 
 on, first in one watering place, then in 
 another. Charlotte married soon and well, 
 and so satisfied my mother's aim and object, 
 and at sixteen I w^as launched into life with- 
 out one principle of right to guide me ; one 
 spark of reHgious feehng to restrain my evil 
 nature. The beautiful Florence Dennison 
 was the belle of every assembly ; the toast 
 at every supper-party and banquet. Men 
 spoke of me as a fine handsome girl, with 
 plenty of spirit ; and women as that abomi- 
 nable flirt ! One day my mother informed me 
 that a nephew of hers was coming to stay 
 some weeks with us ; ' but remember, 
 Florence,' she added, ^ he is very poor, and 
 in bad health, so do not be fool enough to 
 flirt with him.' ' What did I want,' I 
 answered, ^ with a poor sick cousin, when 
 half the world was admiring me?' Yet, 
 Inez, Edmund Hastings was the only one
 
 62 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 who ever influenced me to good, who ever 
 reproved my glaring faults and worldly 
 spirit ; and," continued Mrs. Wentworth, 
 bending down her head as she spoke, " with 
 a feeling of shame do I confess it — the only 
 being I ever truly cared for. He loved me 
 with that enduring love which outlives all 
 other feeling ; and, strange to say, though 
 I hated his reproofs and ridiculed his religion 
 and goodness, I, alas ! loved him, engaged 
 myself to him, unknown to my mother, and 
 would have married him if I could ; but on 
 my mother discovering the fact of our en- 
 gagement, nothing could exceed her rage, 
 and hurrying me away from him, and ren- 
 dering me as unhappy as it was in her 
 power to do, she took me to Brighton for 
 the winter. I think my anger and scorn at 
 her treatment of me must have caused her 
 much discomfort, to say the least of it ; and 
 she must have hern glad when fortune threw 
 Major Wentworth in my path. He was still 
 young, very handsome, with nine hundred
 
 HONESTY IS THE B'ST POLICY. 63 
 
 a-year and brilliant prospects. Cleverly she 
 set to work, and by management and manoeu- 
 vring, soon caused him to throw himself at my 
 feet. With all my faults, meanness, and ma- 
 noeuvring of any kind, I hated ; my pride re- 
 volted against it, and I refused him. I saw 
 plainly that he did not love me ; that it was 
 merely from vanity and longing to win what 
 so many poorer than himself loved in vain, 
 that he so persevered in his suit. He would 
 take no refusal, and after many weeks of 
 various conflicting feelings, a marriage was 
 concluded between two people equally at 
 heart indifferent to each other ; one from 
 a deep affection for another, which was 
 miserable as it was misplaced ; the other 
 from mere ignorance of the true character 
 of her whom he had chosen. I was then 
 exquisitely beautiful, and all eyes rested on 
 me with pleasure. Ah ! Inez, now the 
 vanity of all that is past and gone, and I 
 lie here, pale, wasted, and dying! I may
 
 64 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 tell you this ; Valerie is beautiful ; but look 
 here — does she equal this ?" 
 
 She drew aside a curtain, and then a 
 picture met my view ; as a vision it came 
 on me. A figure, tall, graceful, and dig- 
 nified ; a face so exquisite in proportion, so 
 radiant in colouring, that I grew dazzled, 
 and stood transfixed with wonder and ad- 
 miration, while Mrs. Wentworth's voice 
 drew me to earth again, as she laughingly 
 remarked — 
 
 " My dear, I did not ask you to worship 
 me/' 
 
 " You could not have needed asking," I 
 replied : "all must have bowed to beauty 
 such as yours, matchlesss indeed !" 
 
 Taking one more look at the dark waving 
 hair, deep exquisite hazel eyes, as they 
 seemed to look lovingly down on me, I re- 
 luctantly drew the curtain, and took my 
 place beside the reality, who resumed her 
 story.
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. Qo 
 
 " A year after our marriage the regiment 
 was ordered to india. My husband, if / 
 had desired it, would have sold out of the 
 army ; but I saw that he cared for his pro- 
 fession, and was on the point of being 
 promoted in it, so I decided on going. The 
 idea of India pleased me : new scenes, new 
 faces, were what I longed for. If I had no 
 real happiness I must have excitement. Ac- 
 cordingly we sailed. Pleased, courted, flat- 
 tered, and followed wherever I appeared, my 
 husband naturally felt proud of me, and all 
 the rarest gifts and jewels were bestowed on 
 one who, alas ! lived but on the adulation that 
 was daily, hourly administered. Oh ! Inez, 
 I look back on those years with horror and 
 disgust. No real affection did I give him 
 to whom I was bound for life ; no sort of 
 duty was attended to ; no prayer for pardon 
 was breathed to heaven ; no remorse for 
 what I had done touched my heart or 
 awakened my conscience. Soulless, vain, 
 and unthinking I passed on in my pride
 
 66 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 and loveliness. My little Valerie was a 
 beautiful infant, and I loved her truly, for 
 in every mother's heart there must beat 
 some pure and holy love for a child. Yet, 
 how have I been rewarded ? I ought not to 
 expect reward where I inculcated no prin- 
 ciple of right. Affection I lavished on her ; 
 but alas ! it fell on arid soil ; oh ! that I 
 should have to speak thus of my only child! 
 but there are some," continued Mrs. Went- 
 worth, '^ whom no affection touches ; whose 
 hearts never respond to true feeling. I was 
 sinful, proud, and self-willed,; but I had 
 feeling. Oh ! that those I dwelt amongst 
 had directed it rightly ! but regret for the 
 days which never will come back is fruitless 
 as vain I will strive to improve the pre- 
 sent, for the future may not be mine." 
 
 She stopped, for a slight cough checked 
 her speaking, and she lay back exhausted, 
 whilst I in tears watched her silently. A 
 noise in the passage roused her. 
 
 " Go !" she cried, earnestly, ^' and listen.
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 67 
 
 What I have now revealed is known but to 
 you ; for the few months I may live keep it 
 sacred : the next time you look on me I 
 shall be the same cold, unimpassioned Mrs. 
 Wentworth that each day you have looked 
 on with fear and wonder." 
 
 In silence I left her ; but as I gave one 
 lingering look, she felt its truth and was 
 satisfied. 
 
 *' I thought you were to leave us within 
 an hour," said Valerie, interrupting me as 
 I passed her with my bonnet on. 
 
 " I yielded my inclination to do so," I 
 replied coldly, " to my aunt's entreaty and 
 command : for her sake I remain." 
 
 " Dear me ! what heroism and self- 
 denial !" replied Valerie, with a sneer, 
 *^ particularly as you have so many relations 
 and friends whom you could go to at any 
 moment, and plenty of money at your dis- 
 posal ! really I have seldom seen any niece 
 so loving and obedient." 
 
 '' Your sarcasms fall unheeded," I re-
 
 68 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 plied, " for they are beneath my notice. It 
 is true I have neither relations nor friends, 
 and little money of my own ; yet, let me 
 tell you, that were it not for the love I 
 bear your mother, I would sooner beg or 
 starve than remain here in your presence ; 
 you who, so young in years, are old in 
 treachery and falsehood." 
 
 I left her and passed into the garden : 
 there (my cheeks burning, and my whole 
 frame trembling with agitation,) I paced 
 rapidly to and fro. The air revived me, 
 and after a while its soothing influence 
 calmed my troubled spirit. I continued to 
 walk up and down, till at length, wearied 
 more from grief than exercise, I leaned 
 against the gate (which opened into a lane 
 at the back of the house,) and wept. I was 
 startled by hearing a step, and looking up I 
 saw Agnes Wilton coming towards me. 
 Hastily drying my tears and drawing my 
 veil over my face, I went forward to 
 meet her.
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 69 
 
 She came up, saying, she supposed Valerie 
 was out riding, or I should not be there, 
 musing over the gate alone. 
 
 I told her, no ! that Valerie was in the 
 drawinof.room, if she wished to see her. 
 
 ^' Presently," she answered, ''but just 
 now I will take a turn with you in the lanes, 
 if you like." 
 
 Gladly agreeing to it, I walked for some 
 time with her, talking, when Agnes asked 
 why Valerie and I were not more together. 
 
 " It seems strange," she said, " that you 
 are left so entirehj to yourself, as you appear 
 to me a companionable little creature I 
 can't quite make it out." 
 
 " It must seem so to you," I answered, 
 " but if you knew ' 
 
 " If I knew Valerie, you were going to 
 say," answered Agnes hastily. " Perhaps 
 I know her better than you do." 
 
 " Impossible !" I replied, " or you would 
 not be her friend : no, you cannot know 
 her as I do."
 
 70 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 " You are very young," she answered, 
 sighing, " and have not yet learnt how 
 necessary it is, sometimes, to bear with 
 people patiently, though they cause us 
 anxiety and unhappiness. She is your 
 cousin, remember, and circumstances oblige 
 you to be continually in her society : in all 
 probability, too, most of your life will be 
 spent with her. Would it not be better to 
 bear with her faults and endeavour to be 
 friends ?" 
 
 " Ah ! Miss Wilton," I answered, sadly 
 *• your advice is kindly meant, and, if 
 possible, should be followed. Faults of 
 temper I could pass over, for all have 
 failings, and my own are prominent ; but 
 there are other reasons, which if I were to 
 acquaint you with, I should feel I was acting 
 wrongly ; reasons to which I hope you may 
 be long a stranger." 
 
 ^' Do you think I love Valerie as I once 
 did?" enquired Miss Wilton: ^' No, no! 
 Once^"^ she continued, " I loved her with a
 
 HPNESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 71 
 
 passionate fondness : I fancied her mind 
 was as lovely as her face ; that love and 
 truth dwelt there ; and when I found that 
 I was miserably deceived, I felt all that you, 
 with quicker perceptions, have discovered 
 in a few weeks. Over and over again has 
 she been false to me, and I have forgiven 
 her. She has promised to behave differently 
 for the future, and I trust she mav. I am 
 perhaps wrong in asking," she continued, 
 " but in what light did she place me to you ? 
 was it your impression she cared for me ?" 
 
 " Since I came here," I answered, " I 
 have brought much misery on myself by 
 repeating her words, even though at my 
 aunt's express command. You will not 
 wonder, then, if I refuse your request." 
 
 " I almost guessed what made you un- 
 happy before you spoke," said Agnes, whose 
 face grew pale as ashes while she spoke. 
 " Strange !" she murmured, '^ every one 
 
 she approaches " but turning round, 
 
 she added, '' You are quite right not to
 
 72 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 repeat what she said. Why did I believe 
 her ? I talk to you to endeavour to live 
 amicably with her, because I know it would 
 ensure your happiness ; and it would be 
 better policy to try and make her care for 
 you : but for me^ I can only tell you I am 
 most unhappy, and even at this present time 
 I fear she is deceiving me. Some day we 
 shall be better acquainted, I hope, when I 
 will tell you a great deal ; in the meantime 
 try and live as quietly as you can : I know 
 it is the only way to ensure you any degree 
 of peace, and though I could never dive 
 deep enough into the cold, proud Mrs. 
 Wentworth, she has spoken kindly of you 
 to me. i believe there is feeling and truth 
 at heart with her, therefore you need not 
 despair." 
 
 '' There is, indeed !" I answered, " and 
 she has been extremely kind to me. Oh ! 
 that all could know her as I do ! I fear she 
 is very ill. Have you not observed how 
 delicate she looks ?"
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY 73 
 
 " I have long noticed it," answered Agnes, 
 *^ and only wonder that Colonel Went worth 
 and Valerie do not see it." 
 
 We had now reached the door, and 
 leaving Valerie and Agnes together, I went 
 to my room, and forgot my troubles in an 
 interestinof book that Mrs. Wentworth had 
 left on my table. 
 
 VOL. I. E
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 I PONDERED over Agnes Wilton's advice 
 daily, feeling the wisdom and truth of her 
 argument, yet fancying it would engender 
 a kind of deceit if my manner towards Va- 
 lerie were to assume a different character, 
 whilst in my heart I disliked her, and felt 
 nothing but contempt for her conduct. 
 And then came another thought. My 
 uncle was not the only one who had autho- 
 rity over me — my other guardian — where 
 was he ? I longed, for a season, for any 
 change of scene, as at least preferable to 
 the quiet endurance of cold asperity from
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 75 
 
 my uncle, and sneering and cruelty from 
 
 Valerie. Yet, one affection would have 
 
 chained me there ; one deep interest in /^er 
 
 whom each day I saw fading before her 
 
 time : yet so slowly, that it seemed like the 
 
 fading of twilight, stealing gradually over a 
 
 calm beautiful landscape, till, at length, 
 
 when darkness comes, veihno: it from our 
 
 sight, we mourn that we did not prize it 
 
 more, when, full of light and life, we had 
 
 perhaps passed on unheeding. Yes, I saw 
 
 her droop and languish by slow but sure 
 
 degrees; yet, unnoticed and unloved she 
 
 passed ! Now and then, when a low hollow 
 
 cough reached my uncle's ear, he would 
 
 say : — " You have caught cold, Florence, 
 
 dn\ang in the open carriage : now winter 
 
 has set in, you should be more careful." 
 
 And she would answer coldly : — " It will 
 
 not make much difference ; but I will order 
 
 the close carriage to-morrow, if it should be 
 
 cold:*' then she would look at me with that 
 
 look I have so often noticed in those that
 
 7G HO.NESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 know their end is near, while I would hurry 
 from the I'oom to hide my grief. If I lost 
 her, what would life be ? She, whom each 
 day, I would watch as carefully as a mother 
 watches a dying child ; lingering near her, 
 waiting for the faintest smile, or slightest 
 caress. With what joy did I gather the 
 few pale winter flowers to place on her 
 table ! or hail the sunshine that enabled her 
 to breath and enjoy the air. Silent and 
 unhappy each day found me ; and I deter- 
 mined to ascertain from Valerie if she 
 thought her mother in any danger. Surely 
 the unnatural brightness of those splendid 
 eyes, the brilliant hectic glow on her cheek, 
 could not be mistaken for a sign of health ! 
 Yet, it might be ; and as we sat working 
 together, one morning, I said : — 
 
 " I cannot help feeling very anxious 
 about my aunt, I fear she is in a delicate 
 state of health." 
 
 " Why, her cough is much better," an- 
 swered Valerie : ** before you came, she
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 77 
 
 used to couofh incessantlv^ : now, she seldom 
 coughs ; and has such a beautiful colour on 
 her face I you really frighteu me to death, 
 the way you talk ! why should you think her 
 worse ?" 
 
 " I only said, I feared," I answered, 
 while tears rolled down my face, as I spoke, 
 *' do you not observe how weak she is be- 
 coming each day ?'' 
 
 *' Yes," answered Valerie, '•' I know that 
 livinor so lono: in India, undermined her 
 naturally good constitution : and perhaps 
 the cold air of this country affects her 
 chest. I declare," she continued, rising up, 
 " you have made me miserable \ and I shall 
 go instantly to Papa, and ask him if my 
 mother is dynig of consumption, which you 
 seem to hint." 
 
 " Pray don't," I answered, " I trust your 
 mother may soon be better : you will alarm 
 my uncle ; indeed, you will." 
 
 " Oh ! it's very well for you to speak 
 thus coldly," she replied, and rushing past
 
 78 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 me, she ran to the library, where my uncle 
 was readinof. 
 
 I followed her. She repeated, with much 
 exaggeration, my words, saying : — ^^ Really 
 if my mother is dying, I don't see why it 
 should be kept a secret from ???/\" My 
 uncle turned deadly pale, whilst he endea* 
 voured to sooth Valerie ; then noticing my 
 tears, a look of pity rested on me for an 
 instant ; but in an agitated voice, he bade 
 us both leave him ; and, as if some sudden 
 thought flashed on him, he took up his hat 
 and left the room, whilst I endeavoured to 
 cheer Valerie, expressing regret for having 
 perhaps frightened her unnecessarily and 
 unintentionally. 
 
 I then retired to my room to watch if 
 my uncle had gone to the doctor's, which L 
 strongly suspected to be the case. And 
 soon, in seemingly close conversation, they 
 walked slowly up and down the road oppo- 
 site mv window. I watched them anxiously : 
 it seemed to me that the words they then
 
 Honesty is the best policy. 79 
 
 uttered, would seal the doom of her I so 
 truly loved. Alas ! from that day, my 
 silent long-concealed fears were, for the 
 first time, confirmed, by those who had 
 mistaken the absence of the couofh, and 
 the bright colour, for renewed health ; while 
 all the time she was sinkinof into the 
 grave, uncomplaining and unnoticed. When 
 we all assembled at dinner that eveninof, 
 my uncle's face wore a strange troubled ex- 
 pression : he would look into Mrs. Went- 
 worth's face with an anxiety and despair 
 strongly depicted. It seemed to me, as if, 
 for the first time, he felt that he might have 
 prized and cherished more, one who might 
 have made the happiness of his life, not 
 merely the bright ornament of society, for 
 whom he felt pride, but no love Alas! 
 that he should have found that out too 
 late !
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 It was now December, three months 
 having passed since I became an inmate of 
 my uncle's house, and a few mornings after 
 the painful decision on Mrs. Wentworth's 
 state of health, which was pronounced by 
 her medical man to be in a most precarious 
 condition. 1 entered her room and found 
 V her alone. She was lying, pale and ex- 
 hausted, on the sofa, and said, as I came up 
 to her : — 
 
 " Inez, are you prepared to take a long 
 journey ? for I am ordered to the south of 
 France, and we are to leave this in a fort- 
 night."
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 81 
 
 " I trust it may do you good ;" I an- 
 swered; " if so, the longest and most tire* 
 some journey would amply repay us ; but I 
 can only think of it with pleasure, and shall 
 delight in going abroad.'^ 
 
 " Seymour has long wished to leave the 
 army," said my aunt. " He is very well 
 off now, and at his father's death will come 
 into the estate. He would have sold out 
 long ago but for me. I felt he needed 
 active pursuits, and something to divert his 
 mind." 
 
 " I have often wondered," 1 replied, 
 *' at my uncle remaining so long in the 
 army, when he was quite rich enough to 
 have settled down in some beautiful country 
 place, and have been happy." 
 
 "He would not have been happy," in- 
 terrupted Mrs. Wentworth : "it requires 
 similarity of taste and disposition to live a 
 quiet country life ; that, alas ! he could not 
 feel with me. Naturally reserved, proud, 
 and passionate, I was not calculated to shine 
 
 2 E
 
 82 PTONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 in such a sphere. Had I married one I 
 loved, with such love as I am capable of 
 feeling; one who would have cared suffi- 
 ciently for me to have borne with my im- 
 perious will, I might have made him happy ; 
 but that not being the case, we have pursued 
 the best course. Inez, when I am dead will 
 you comfort them ? bid Valerie be open, 
 truthful, and sometimes think of the world 
 whither I shall soon go : tell her I never 
 thought or prayed once; borne along by 
 the world's tide, its enjoyments and its follies, 
 I did not think of death. It has come 
 now." 
 
 Endeavouring to be calm in her presence 
 I stifled my sobs, but shuddered, as I saw 
 what the slightest excitement now caused, 
 and entreated her to be calm, for every 
 wish of hers should be attended to. 
 
 Valerie now entering the room, I thought 
 it best to leave them together, and was 
 going to take my usual quiet walk, when my 
 uncle, entering the room, said : —
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 83 
 
 '' Inez, I will drive you in the phaeton 
 to see Miss Wilton, if you like, as Valerie 
 is oroino: to remain with her mother this 
 afternoon. You can stay at the Wiltons for 
 an hour, while I go on to see some friends, 
 and I will call for you as I come back." 
 
 Readily agreeing to so pleasant a plan, 
 we were soon driving rapidly through the 
 cold frosty air. 
 
 My uncle's manner was kinder than usual ; 
 perhaps grief — at the prospect of losing 
 one, whom, however estranged from, how- 
 ever displeased with, he still cared for — 
 had made him at last feel for .others. 
 He talked of our plans for the future, 
 and seemed to cling to the hope that the 
 warm air of a southern clime would re- 
 store his wife's health, and that in the 
 ensuing spring Valerie would make her 
 first appearance in London. 
 
 How futile often are our plans ; how vain 
 and almost presumptuous the slightest trifles
 
 84 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 prove, as well as the weightier matters we 
 ponder over and arrange. In a fortnight 
 we were expecting to leave. We little knew, 
 as we drove that morning, discussing our 
 future, how that future would be passed. 
 
 My uncle, leaving me at the Wiltons', 
 drove quickly on, whilst 1, entering the 
 house, found Agnes alone. Her face always 
 wore an expression of melancholy, except 
 when amused ; hut on this occasion a look 
 of serious annoyance rested on it. 
 
 I related the distressing news of Mrs. 
 Wentworth's state of health, which she ap- 
 peared to feel much, at the same time telling 
 me that she, like myself, had for some time 
 noticed her altered look and weakened con- 
 dition. 
 
 " You all leave in a fortnight ?" she 
 added : "I am sorry to lose you so soon. I 
 had hoped we should have become better 
 acquainted," and then, with some confusion 
 in her tone and manner, she asked — " Have
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 85 
 
 you, among the many officers you must see 
 at your uncle's, ever met a Mr. Frazer ; a 
 tall, good-looking young man ?" 
 
 " Yes !" I answered, " but I have really 
 borne so much from mentioning this Mr. 
 Frazer, that his very name is disagreeable 
 to me." 
 
 " Why, has Valerie e\'er spoken of him 
 
 to you, or told you I was engaged to him ?" 
 
 " I hope you will not think me unkind 
 
 or rude," I answered, ^' but indeed I will 
 
 never again repeat what she tells me." 
 
 Agnes paused for some instants, growing 
 paler and paler ; then she said : — 
 
 " I will tell you why I ask : when your 
 uncle first came here, I was often at their 
 house, and there met Mr. Frazer, who paid 
 me great attention, in time won my afibc- 
 tions, and I engaged myself to him, perhaps 
 a foolish enD^aD'ement, for he was not well 
 off, but he urged it so, telling me that 
 althouorh not then in o^ood circumstances, 
 his prospects were good. I told Valerie
 
 86 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 this, who promised to keep my secret, and 
 appeared pleased at my confiding in her. 
 After a great deal of persuasion my friends 
 agreed to it, and I was more happy than I 
 had supposed I could have been." 
 
 " Then what," I asked, " makes you now 
 look so sad ? and why is he not oftener with 
 you? I never see you together." 
 
 " That I cannot tell you, nor do I know 
 the real cause. For the first few weeks we 
 were engaged he was never happy but in 
 my society. Gradually, however, so gradu- 
 ally at first that I scarcely noticed the 
 change, he has ceased to come as he used 
 to do ; has grown cold and absent in man- 
 ner, like one who is struggling to overcome 
 some feeling that he will not express. I 
 cannot make out the cause, and have im- 
 plored of Valerie, who has lately become 
 intimate with him, to try and solve the 
 mystery. She says he appears unhappy, 
 and she can only make out from his manner 
 that he is changed, and avoids speaking of
 
 HO]SESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 87 
 
 me. This is what she tells me," continued 
 Agnes, " but alas ! I cannot put confidence 
 in Valerie. I know her thirst for admiration 
 is so great that she can never bear to see 
 any other woman loved or admired. Young 
 as she is, hardly out of the schoolroom, she 
 is so vain that even if she had no liking for 
 the man herself, yet the pride of supplanting 
 another, so flattering to self-love, would 
 afford her infinite satisfaction. To her 
 friend, nay, even to a sister, had she possessed 
 one, would she have shown no mercy. Still 
 I had hoped she was changed, and alas I I 
 placed my trust in h^r Can you deny, 
 Inez, that my suppositions have some foun- 
 dation ?" 
 
 She looked at me, whilst I, silent and 
 tearful, stood like one transfixed with pain 
 at her recital. 
 
 *^ You will not tell me, then," said Agnes ; 
 •' but your silence is information enough. 
 Oh ! Valerie ! Valerie ! how much have you 
 cost me !" she continued, while a burst of
 
 88 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 grief followed that made my heart ache to 
 witness. All I could do was to endeavour 
 to console her, as best I might, and promise 
 her that I would watch Mr. Frazer and 
 Valerie that evening, as 1 had heard that 
 he and three other officers were to dine at 
 my uncle's. 
 
 " Promise me that you will !" and kissing 
 me as I got into the carriage, she whispered, 
 *^ Remember !"
 
 CHAPTER Ylir. 
 
 Mrs. Wextworth not beino^ well enouofh 
 to sit at the head of her table, Valerie took 
 her place. I sat next Mr. Frazer ; very ill 
 at ease he seemed, and out of spirits. 
 Every now and then glancing towards 
 Valerie, while she, by turns flushed and 
 pale, looked equally confused, though not 
 unhappy. My uncle was naturally out of 
 spirits, and the dinner passed slowly and 
 stupidly. 
 
 After we left the dining-room Valerie re- 
 mained a short time in her mother's apart- 
 ment, and then, coming into the drawing-
 
 90 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 room, flung herself on the sofa and began 
 poring over the contents of a novel, whilst 1 
 quietly moved towards the door, longing to 
 escape to my aunt's room, a luxury that 
 I generally managed to obtain each day 
 Valerie suddenly said: — 
 
 " Inez, did you find Mr. Frazer pleasant ?" 
 *' No, not at all ; he was silent, and rather 
 stupid, 1 thought." 
 
 '* He is not stupid, however," replied 
 Valerie, " but I fancy he was out of spirits : 
 perhaps Agnes has been cruel ; some senti- 
 mental quarrel, no doubt, poor thing ! 
 Captain Sanders, who sat by me, admires 
 you so, Inez. He told me he thought you 
 very pretty. Really, my dear, you will 
 make quite a sensation in the garrison, but 
 for the peace of the neighbourhood leave 
 Mr. Frazer alone. Agnes is so jealous 
 that, really, I am almost afraid to speak to 
 any admirer she may have ; therefore you 
 must never direct a glance or speak a word 
 to Mr. Frazer. / always avoid doing so.
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 91 
 
 except when I speak of her, and even then 
 she is suspicious of me." 
 
 " She will have no cans 3 to suspect me, 
 I fancy, Valerie." And for fear of getting 
 into any further discussion I left her, and 
 entering Mrs. Wentworth's room, found 
 her busy writing. Yes, there she sat, her 
 loose morning dress haijging negligently ; 
 her glossy hair parted back and shading her 
 long white throat. So absorbed did she 
 appear in her occupation that she scarcely 
 seemed to notice mv entrance. Her face 
 was deeply flushed, and she seemed trembling 
 with the earnest and agitating thoughts 
 that she had imprinted <m the paper, which 
 appeared closely written. She looked up : 
 her gaze was clear, expressive, full of 
 misery ; yet she sealed the letter calmly, 
 and placing it in her desk, moved towards 
 the window, and, to my surprise and horror, 
 threw it open. The cold night air blew full 
 upon her bare chest and glowing cheeks. It
 
 92 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 seemed the act of a maniac. I sprang 
 towards her and said — 
 
 " Pray do not stand there ; the night air 
 wiU kill you." 
 
 I closed the window hastily. Gasping 
 for breath, her lips growing livid, she clung 
 to the mantelpiece, while a sudden spasm 
 seized her. Presently a stream of blood 
 issued from her lips, and she fell heavily to 
 the floor. Wild with terror, I tried to raise 
 her, and ringing violently, alarmed the 
 household. Before they came she grasped 
 my hand in hers, which was deathlike to 
 the touch, tried to articulate in vain ; but 
 with one look that I shall never forget, so 
 full of soul and feeling was the expression, 
 she died. Oh ! the agony of seeing a hus- 
 band cling weeping to the torm of one whom, 
 two hours before, he had left in unthinking 
 coldness. Now she would never look or 
 smile on him more : she was beyond the 
 reach of coldness or neglect ; and as we
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 93 
 
 knelt beside her couch I hoped and prayed 
 that the remembrance of that scene mio^ht 
 never leave us. 
 
 Valerie, faint with terror, rushed from 
 the room, whilst I, pale as a ghost, my dress 
 all dabbled with blood, sat near, listening 
 in horror to my uncle's deep groans of 
 anguish. Sounds of confusion were heard 
 below, voices and cries of terror, while the 
 wind went sweeping and roaring pastj the 
 cold hard rain pattering against the window, 
 and fallinof in torrents from the roof. A wild 
 night it was, seeming to mingle with our 
 woe. She alone was calm, who, in the 
 sleep of death, lay beside me ; she, alike 
 insensible to the agony of him who knelt 
 beside her there, and to the fury of the 
 elements as they swept past. And when at 
 length he rose from his knees and kissed 
 me as he passed from the room, I, for the 
 first time, shed copious tears as I bent over 
 her and pressed her lifeless to my heart as 
 a lover might press his bride, I loved her so.
 
 94 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 But what was it she held so closely between 
 her white fingers, falling on her breast as if 
 at the last with convulsive pressure ? With 
 difficulty I disengaged it, and stooped to 
 examine it by the firelight glimmering on 
 me faintly. Whose hair was it in the small 
 much-worn locket that hung by a narrow 
 black ribbon ? Looking nearer I saw the 
 name of Edmund engraved there. 
 
 Even in death, she loved him still ! 
 
 An instinctive feeling made me hide 
 this much treasured rehc in my bosom, as I 
 hastened from the room ; and to this day, I 
 value it in secret. 
 
 Writing down all I endured during this 
 time of mourning, my first great grief seems 
 to bring it vividly before me. The pain of 
 knowing she was lost to me for ever, whom 
 I would have died to save, was almost 
 insupportable. Valerie was inconsolable for 
 some days, giving vent to her grief without, 
 seemingly, the will or power to prevent it ; 
 while my uncle, silent and heart-stricken,
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 95 
 
 would wander up and down in a disturbed 
 kind of wretchedness, that made my heart 
 ache to witness. Evident preparations were 
 now being made for our departure. My 
 uncle sold his commission ; and was won- 
 dering whither he should take Valerie and 
 me, for a few weeks change, when a letter 
 summoned him to his father, who was taken 
 dangerously ill. Mr. Weutworth, I had 
 heard, was a very old man ; and for some 
 time, his death had been expected. It did 
 not come therefore, as a snrprise ; nor even 
 an affliction. Indeed, my aunt's death had 
 thrown so deep a gloom over us all, that 
 any new grief seemed light in comparison 
 with what was ever present to our thoughts. 
 The colonel was to leave for Wentworth 
 Court immediately ; while, after a few days. 
 Valerie and I were to stay with an aunt of 
 her's, then living at Leamington, till ar- 
 ranofements should be made for our future 
 residence. This plan accorded badly with 
 my present frame of mind ; I wished for no
 
 96 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 new scenes nor new acquaintances. To 
 linger in her room towards dusk, collecting 
 every little relic she had treasured, poring 
 over the old books she had read, and re- 
 calling her lost image to my over-strained 
 imagination, was a kind of morbid joy. 
 Sometimes drawing aside the curtain, I 
 would feast my eyes on the beautiful pic- 
 ture, till T fancied in my dreaming, that 
 those lips moved in eloquent sweetness 
 responding to my thoughts : and the clear 
 hazel of her eyes grew deeper and deeper, 
 as I gazed lovingly at their bewildering 
 beauty. One evening, as I lingered there, 
 my uncle entered : the sight of the picture 
 made him turn pale as death ; and after 
 pacing hurriedly up and down the room, 
 trembling with suppressed emotion, he 
 said : — 
 
 ** Inez, bring me her desk : I leave to- 
 morrow, and will take it with me." Hand- 
 ing him the desk and keys, I said : —
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 97 
 
 *' Wliere is the letter she placed there ? 
 Did you take it ?" 
 
 " No/' he answered, " J could not read 
 it then ; but, enclosed in it, was this." He 
 handed me a sealed letter, kissed me, and 
 taking the desk, and several papers that 
 lay on the table, he hurried from the room, 
 Anxiously, with deep interest, I pored over 
 the contents of that long, closely written, 
 letter ; till [ seemed lost to all but her last 
 words and thoughts. Full of remorse for 
 the past, and entreating my forgiveness for 
 the years of neglect, during which she had 
 been utterly regardless of my welfare, she 
 charged me, as I valued her love, dying as 
 she then was, to warn Valerie against trea- 
 chery and want of truth ; to help her, 
 guard her, and however I might suffer 
 from her tyrannical temper and falsehood, 
 not to forsake her child. I seemed as I 
 closed that letter, to swear in my own heart 
 as solemnly as if the words were spoken, 
 that I would not neglect her last wishes ; 
 
 VOL. L F.
 
 98 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 and as darkness stole around me in that 
 now lonely chamber of death, I shuddered 
 at finding myself alone. I sought Valerie, 
 who seemed to shrink from that room, and 
 who had never entered it but once since 
 Mrs. Wentworth's death. I found her 
 busily packing in her room; and was 
 pleased to find her occupied, knowing that 
 employment of any kind was better for her, 
 than that inactive state into which she had 
 lately fallen. As I helped to arrange dif- 
 ferent matters with her that evening, we 
 talked in a more friendly manner than we 
 ever did before ; than, alas ! we have ever 
 done since I I endeavoured, as best I could, 
 to sooth her grief for that irreparable loss, 
 which 1 knew she would feel more and more 
 every year of her life : for what kindness, 
 what sympathy or affection can equal a 
 mother's watchful tenderness ? 
 
 Yet, Valerie's grief was strange : when 
 the violent fits of weeping were past, she 
 would talk with cold composure of the
 
 HONESTY 13 THE BEST POLICY. 99 
 
 future : of the srav life she would lead : of 
 her future brilliaat prospects, and of the 
 money she would spend, when Wentworth 
 Court was hers. Even in our more serious 
 talk, I felt no awakening interest in her: 
 she could dwell for hours together on high 
 church matters, forms of architecture, 
 fashionable preachers, and practices ; but 
 they seemed mere repetitions of what she 
 had heard and read, rather than any spiri- 
 tual soul breathing truth. Yet, I had no 
 right, so to judge her; and alas! my own 
 heart was evil enough. We are all hasty 
 in our censure of others, fororettinc: the 
 mercy that is afforded and dealt out to us, 
 in unmeasured croodness, bv One who is 
 all-wise and mercifuL Young, and with 
 hasty impetuous feelings, I judged and 
 acted too much from impulse ; and when I 
 loved, it was with a passion and fervour 
 that I have seldom witnessed in others ; 
 while to those I disliked, I was coll, proud, 
 and resented. I had no medium then. In
 
 100 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 my affections I was too susceptible, and 
 yielding to what was perhaps wrong ; while, 
 on the other hand, I was unbending, though 
 not unforgiving, towards those I despised. 
 
 After my uncle's departure, Valerie and 
 I went to Leamington, where Mrs. Harley, 
 Colonel Went worth's sister, met us ; and I 
 was torn from remembrances so very dear 
 to me ! With an aching heart, and blinded 
 with tears, I gazed on a tomb-stone, where, 
 written simply, was a name dearer than all 
 on earth, " Florence Wentworth."
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 On the day I parted from Agnes Wilton she 
 revealed to me the sad intelligence that all 
 eno^ao^ement was at an end between her and 
 Mr. Frazer. The continued coldness and 
 restraint of his manner towards her had 
 made her feel the necessity of an explana- 
 tion, and then, after many hours of painful 
 uncertainty, they had both agreed it was 
 wisest and best to break off the engagement. 
 ** He put it," said Agnes, '' on the plea 
 of beins: in bad circumstances, with little 
 hope for the future ; but through it all I 
 perceived that if his heart had been in it
 
 102 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 he could not have so coldly weighed, in his 
 own mind, an engagement which some 
 months before he had entered into with so 
 much zeal, imploring me not be dissuaded 
 from it. I saw through his excuses but too 
 clearly, and felt that he cared for Valerie ; 
 that her beauty and apparent interest in 
 him had flattered him so far that the feelings 
 he at first cherished for me were so much 
 weakened that he could calmly, almost un- 
 feelingly, give me up.'* 
 
 I remember the anguish that followed these 
 words, and as I bade Agnes adieu ! I begged 
 her sometimes to think of, and write to one 
 who would never cease to take an interest 
 in her welfare, and who had few friends to 
 sympathize with or love her. She promised, 
 and her promises were faithfully fulfilled. 
 
 But now let me pause, and, in reviewing 
 the past, try to bring clearly before me each 
 hour and day of the most eventful scenes 
 in my life — of love, not love in the common 
 acceptation of the word, but strong, deep,
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 103 
 
 earnest love that is seldom felt on earth. I 
 tremble even now to think of it ; so wholly, 
 entirely, alas ! did I give up my soul to a 
 passion that never could be realized. Is 
 there no hope in earth or heaven for unre- 
 quited affection ? Yet mine was returned in 
 the one and only absorbing love of him I 
 cared for. Oh ! that fate had permitted 
 him to break the bands that bound him, 
 unloving, to one who gave him her heart 
 for life ; one who might have made him 
 happy had not another spirit more kindred 
 to his own, loving him wath a deeper, more 
 enduring love, been ever present to mark 
 the difference between a sympathizing mind, 
 and one that, although bound by a closer 
 tie, was as far apart from his as earth from 
 heaven. 
 
 My stay at Leamington was not a plea- 
 sant time for me. Mrs. Harley, though 
 kind, was not a person I could feel any in- 
 terest in, or in whose society I could find 
 pleasure. She was dull and full of prejudices.
 
 104 HONESTY IS THE REST POLICY. 
 
 as all narrow minds must be, and with an 
 obstinacy of character that is not firmness 
 or decision. She seemed fond of Valerie, 
 who had now almost recovered her usual 
 vivacity, and was looking more beautiful 
 than I had ever seen her. Her high-church 
 propensities were satisfied to the utmost. 
 Daily service and the acquaintance of several 
 young curates seemed to afibrd her infinite 
 pleasure ; and by all her aunt's acquaint- 
 ances she w^as looked upon as a serious and 
 amiable, as well as a most beautiful young 
 lady. I w as careful never to speak of Valerie 
 to her aunt, except in terms of admiration 
 of her appearance, which I could do truth- 
 fully ; for although her beauty was not of 
 the description that satisfied or pleased me, 
 there was still something about her most 
 striking and very handsome. 
 
 " Take care, Valerie," I said, one day, 
 laughing, '' that you don't end by marrying 
 one of the curates. Mr. Templeton is 
 evidently in love with you."
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST FOLICY. 105 
 
 " Oh ! dear no !" answered Valerie, " he 
 likes my opinions, and I must own his con- 
 versation is most interesting to me, and his 
 sermons are perfect ; but do you think I 
 intend to marry a curate ? You little kno 
 me if you do, and I am perfectly assuret 
 such a thought never once entered his head, 
 Inez." 
 
 " Well, perhaps not," I replied, *' but 
 remember, people do not always know the 
 real state of their feelings till it is too late.' 
 
 '^ Ah, well !" answered Valerie, " I will 
 take care of myself ; so don't be distressed 
 either on Mr. Templeton's account or mine." 
 
 I have often thought I need not have, 
 warned her thus. In after years I dis- 
 covered that her only aim was to marry 
 richly, and, if possible, to obtain rank as 
 well ; and most certain it was that Valerie's 
 determination of character was such, that 
 if she had resolved on marrying a prince 
 she would have effected her purpose by some 
 means or other. 
 
 '>^ F
 
 106 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICV. 
 
 I felt now more solitary than ever. I 
 missed my old familiar haunts, where I 
 could wander and think of her who had 
 died before her time, so uncared for, so un- 
 loved ! I knew that underneath that chilling 
 reserve of manner had beat a heart full of 
 affection, and had it but found an echo in 
 another's breast, it would, with her strength 
 of character and depth of feeling, have 
 made a glorious and loving woman. Child 
 as I was in years, she seemed to have found 
 in me that which had been wanting in those 
 nearer to her by relation and by circum- 
 stances. I could not bear to think of 
 strangers in that old room where I had 
 loved to dwell, gazing thoughtfully on that 
 picture so beautiful, so calm ! old mementoes, 
 treasured perhaps for years, lying in the old 
 cabinets that surrounded me, half finished 
 verses, written in the depths of despair and 
 thrown away, perhaps forgotten and un- 
 heeded. Yes, these served to raise in me 
 a feeling that has never passed away ; a
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 107 
 
 yearning like hers for something almost 
 undefined, yet seemingly necessary to ex- 
 istence. She felt it once, and in leaying it 
 left life. I, alas ! felt it too, but in feeling 
 it I commenced to live.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 One morning, as I sat with Mrs. Harley, I 
 said : — 
 
 " I wonder what my other guardian, Mr. 
 Churchill, is like, and whether he will ever 
 take any notice of me." 
 
 *' No doubt he will," she replied, " I know 
 him slightly He is clever, and a man of 
 very good family." 
 
 ^' Know him, do you ? Where did you 
 meet him?" 
 
 " Why, he is tutor to Charles Huntingdon, 
 whose mother is one of my oldest friends. 
 I met him at their house in Devonshire,
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST FOLIC V. 109 
 
 and thought his manner pleasant! they 
 have been abroad some time. I fancy he 
 has left them now, but am not certain." 
 
 I remained silent, unwilling to question 
 
 her any more concerning one, who, for 
 
 aught I knew, might exercise influence over 
 
 me at some future time ; not that I was 
 
 certain of ever seeing him, but I had a 
 
 girlish curiosity and interest in one who 
 
 was left as a protector and guide to me, and 
 
 who might sway my fate which way he 
 
 pleased. I longed, though with a kind of 
 
 dread, to see him. A letter, put into my 
 
 hand soon after this conversation with Mrs. 
 
 Harley, decided the matter, and my wish 
 
 was granted. The letter, which amused 
 
 me greatly, ran thus : — 
 
 '^ Dear Miss Wentworth, — 
 
 '^ At the particular desire and request 
 ''of my nephew, Mr. Churchill, 1 beg, in 
 '' his name and mine, to solicit the privilege
 
 110 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 and pleasure of a visit from you, as soon 
 as it may be in your power, and that you 
 may feel disposed to come to us. Your 
 valued and much respected father, Lieu- 
 tenant Went worth, was pleased to bestow 
 on my nephew the responsible charge of 
 guardian over you, and he rightly thinks 
 that he should no longer be unacquainted 
 with one over whom he is to exercise 
 authority, and whom, for the sake of his 
 esteemed and loved friend, he takes an 
 interest in. I consider that he judges 
 wisely in this matter, and I feel that he 
 has a right to see and know that the 
 religious principles and moral precepts 
 which ought to be implanted in every 
 young woman's heart, are brought to 
 maturity in you. Hoping, therefore, you 
 will indulge this fatherly and kind con- 
 sideration in one who wishes to act in 
 this relation towards you, we beg the 
 pleasure of a visit from you shortly, and
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. Ill 
 
 " with compliments and good wishes, I sub- 
 " scribe myself, my dear Miss Wentworth, 
 
 *^ Yours faithfully, 
 
 " Sarah Churchill." 
 
 I read this letter attentively, amused at 
 the quaintness of it, and determining m 
 my own mind, if possible, to accept this 
 formal invitation, wondering, at the same 
 time, whether Mr. Churchill resembled his 
 aunt; if so, paternal or otherwise, I felt 
 that, however my gratitude might be called 
 forth towards him, my affection would lie 
 dormant. Strange ! to ponder thus calmly 
 on the future, raising visions of those who 
 are perhaps to exercise a strong and lasting 
 influence over our destiny, and who are to 
 appear to us in so different a light, that we 
 smile hereafter at our vain imaginations, 
 finding how false they were. 
 
 When I showed Valerie the letter she 
 laughed heartily, exclaiming : — 
 
 " And do you really intend to bury your-
 
 112 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 self with those antiquities for the summer 
 in a lonely seaside hamlet ? for they live in 
 the most retired part of England." 
 
 " Yes, Valerie ! I think I ought to go ; 
 in truth I have some curiosity to see my 
 other guardian. Mrs. Harley tells me he 
 is aofreeable and clever." 
 '• Yes ! that is just like my aunt Harley ;'* 
 answered Valerie, '' she makes a point of 
 speaking highly of every middle-aged and 
 elderly man, because her husband was nearly 
 thirty years her senior." 
 
 '' But Mr. Churchill is not old, Valerie ?" 
 
 '* Not old? why, he is long passed thirty, 
 and as you are but seventeen he will try 
 and exercise full authority over you. I have 
 heard he is very stern, and not good tem- 
 pered. I wish you joy of your visit, my 
 dear ! Depend upon it you will be writing 
 to Wentworth Court to beg we wall receive 
 you back. Those antediluvian people will 
 drive you mad." 
 
 I smiled at Valerie's remarks : there
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 118 
 
 might be truth in them, but still I had a 
 strange curiosity to see Mr. Churchill ; and 
 the society of Mrs. Harley and Valerie 
 neither pleased nor interested me. The 
 one was too worldly and uninteresting to 
 attract me ; the otlier too false and hard 
 for me either to sympathize with or love, 
 therefore, in as short a time as possible, I 
 answered Miss Churchill's stiff document, 
 accepting, with due gratitude and form, her 
 invitation, and in a few days, under the 
 care of a friend of Mrs. Harley's, who was 
 going into that neighbourhood, I set off on 
 a journey I had long cause to remember. I 
 was soon to be made feel the truth of Mrs. 
 "Wentworth's words — ^^Life is a hard struggle 
 from beginning to end,*' for I was ere long 
 to experience the intensity of love, and the 
 pain that so often accompanies it.
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 It was a lovely and romantic country I 
 was now entering upon ; no railroads de- 
 troyed the beauty of the undulating ground 
 that lay before me ; no frightful edifice rose 
 between me and the clear sky. It seemed as 
 if my childhood had come back ; a vision 
 of something gone that had returned with 
 a fuller beauty, for I had the power to feel 
 it now. When, at last, through the opening 
 of the trees, the sea, blue and tranquil, 
 bounded the view, I felt a strange thrill of 
 happiness, and associations crowded fast 
 upon my heart. I was only wakened from 
 them by my travelling companion saying : —
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 115 
 
 " In a few minutes I must leave )ou, but 
 you will only have ten miles to travel alone, 
 perhaps we may meet before I leave the 
 neighbourhood ;" and shaking hands with 
 me, she departed, and I was alone. Alone, 
 indeed ! and going to strangers whom I 
 might not like. Yet I felt no regret at 
 leaving Valerie : she was a continual restraint 
 upon my words and actions ; and dull, stiff, 
 perhaps harsh, as my new friends might 
 prove, I should still feel lighter hearted and 
 more free than with one, whom, though so 
 nearly related to me, I could not love. 
 
 Steep and long as the hills seemed ; 
 rugged as the lanes were, still I enjoyed the 
 wild beauty that at every turn met my view. 
 Rocks lay scattered in large masses, clothed 
 in ivy under the hanging cliffs, while trees, 
 in the fresh green of early summer, relieved 
 the barrenness of the general aspect ; and 
 the clear deep sea lying before, with the 
 gentle sound of the waves breaking on the 
 shore, murmured like music.
 
 116 HONESTY IS THE BEST FOLIC V. 
 
 "Whose is that beautiful place?" I 
 asked of a woman, who was now my only, 
 companion in the coach, as we passed a 
 stately old-fashioned mansion, whose lofty 
 towers and extensive park had attracted my 
 attention. 
 
 " That belongs to Sir Charles Huntings 
 don," she replied, " the family are not 
 there now, but are travelling on the con- 
 tinent for the health of Miss Huntinordon : 
 
 c 
 
 poor young lady ! they feared she was con- 
 sumptive." 
 
 " Sir Charles Hunting^don !" I said, 
 musingly, remembering my guardian had 
 been tutor to his son. " Then why is it," 
 I asked, " that Mr. Churchill is not with 
 them ? I heard he was Mr. Huntino^don's 
 tutor." 
 
 " So he is, Miss," answered the woman, 
 " I knows nothing about it. The cook up 
 there tells me strange stories ; but then, 
 Miss, they may not be true." 
 
 " Strange stories ! oF whom ?" I asked.
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 117 
 
 " Well, Miss, I don't know that I have a 
 right to tell ; all I knows, is, Mr. Churchill 
 is at home, and Miss Huntingdon taken 
 away ill to foreign lands." 
 
 " Don't think I wish to leani what I 
 have no right to enquire into," I answered ; 
 '' perhaps he did not suit Mr. Hunting- 
 don." 
 
 " Perhaps W6>/," said the woman, as we 
 stopped at a small village inn, where she 
 now prepared to alight, and again I was left 
 to my own thoughts ; till, suddenly remem. 
 bering it might not be far from Linsdell, I 
 said to the coachman : — 
 
 " Is Mr. Churchill's house far from 
 here ?" 
 
 " Not above half a mile. Miss : you go 
 along that lane, and there is only one turn- 
 ing to your right." 
 
 " Then 1 will walk on," I answered, " and 
 have my luggage sent after me." 
 
 *^ Why, this is where the coach usually 
 stops, Miss," answered the coachman ; *' but
 
 118 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 I would, of course, have taken you on, had 
 you wished it." 
 
 '' Thank you," I replied ; " but I much 
 prefer walkins^;" and I slowly sauntered 
 down the deep lane that wore the fragrance 
 of early summer ; for it was the end of 
 May. It was the close of evening, so still 
 and warm, that I stopped every now and 
 then to listen to the chirp of the grass- 
 hopper, and the low warbling of birds amid 
 the hawthorn bushes that were now tinged 
 with the setting sun. If Mrs. Went worth 
 had been near me now, to feel the beauty of 
 the scene, she, who had inspired me with 
 a love for what was true and beautiful ; 
 who, in death, had made me tliink of a fu- 
 ture existence ! — but now, my only friend 
 was gone, and overpowered with her re- 
 membrance, I wept. Presently a footstep 
 approached : I started, and quickened my 
 pace. It was only a labourer returning 
 from work : he would, in all probability, 
 know which was Mr. Churchill's house. I
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 119 
 
 asked him ; and he pointed to the low- 
 thatched roof of a cottage gleaming in the 
 light of the setting sun, amid the deep 
 wood Thanking him, I pursued mj way 
 down the lane, aud entered a small o-ate 
 opening on a gravel path, bordered with 
 lilacs and laburnums ; and when I reached 
 the low door of the cottage, a sea view 
 burst upon my sight that caused me to 
 pause for a moment, before I knocked for 
 admittance. Humble as the abode seemed, 
 the situation of it appeared hke a sudden 
 entrance into Paradise in that calm eventide 
 of Summer ; and I trembled with anxietv, 
 as I knocked gently, wondering what re- 
 ception I should meet with from the inmates 
 of this romantic dwelling. A servant girl, 
 ill-dreesed, startled-looking, and evidently 
 very stupid, brought me to earth again ; 
 and to my enquiry if ^liss Churchill was 
 at home, she answered : — 
 
 '* You're the young lady that's expected 
 of? then pray walk this way." She led
 
 120 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 me along a narrow and somewhat dark 
 passage, and ushering me into a low, small, 
 but pretty room, said, ** Please Ma'am, here 
 is Miss Wentworth ;" then, as suddenly 
 disappeared, and I was left iete-d-lele with 
 an elderly lady, whose visage was far from 
 prepossessing, being one that had a settled 
 look of querulous dissatisfaction strongly 
 delineated. After shaking hands with her, 
 I said : — 
 
 " I walked here from the village." 
 
 " You walked where ^'^ said Miss Chur- 
 chill, leaning down her head, as if listening 
 attentively for my reply, and when again 
 repeated, said ; — 
 
 " From the village? and what did you do 
 that for?" 
 
 " Because the evening was so exquisite, 
 and I prefer walking," I answered, loud 
 enough to summon any one that might have 
 been in the house ; plainly perceiving that 
 Miss Churchill had received one of her 
 warnings in an eminent degree.
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 121 
 
 " Is Mr. Churchill at home ?" I asked, 
 hoping at least some one would enter, and 
 relieve me. 
 
 " Mr. Who ?" asked Miss Churchill. 
 
 " Mr. Churchill !" I again screamed out. 
 
 " No, he is out ; but I expect him in 
 every instant : he will be glad to make your 
 acquaintance ; indeed we are both glad to 
 welcome you here," she replied stiffly. Then 
 showing me the way to my room, she 
 said : — 
 
 '' 1 hope every thing will be comfortable ; 
 but Jane is such a giddy girl, and so very 
 unmanageable, that she may not have done 
 all I ordered." 
 
 " Thank you," I repHed, " every thing 
 looks very comfortable." 
 
 " Come down as soon as you are ready," 
 answered Miss Churchill; " for dinner is 
 waiting, and young people are apt to loiter." 
 '^ And no wonder," thought 1, as she left 
 the room, " when you are awaiting them 
 down stairs." I almost prayed Mr. Chur- 
 
 VOL. I. G
 
 122 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 chill might be there, when I thought of the 
 wearying conversation I must sustain with 
 his aunt. Lingering as long as I could, 
 for this reason, I waited till I heard a man's 
 step on the stairs, and then, after a few 
 minutes, entered the drawing-room. This 
 much dreaded guardian was standing with 
 his back to me ; and I fancied a stern face 
 would turn towards me. His figure was 
 tall and manly-looking, and when he did 
 turn round to address me, he smiled. I 
 don't know what it was, or always has been, 
 in his smile, that so fascinated me : other- 
 wise, his face was not regularly handsome. 
 
 " I am sorrv I was not in, in time to 
 give you your first welcome. Miss Went- 
 worth," he said kindly ; " but I am very 
 glad to see you : your father was my best 
 friend, and I shall ever deplore his loss." 
 He took my hand as he said this, and looked 
 into my face. T trembled, as I thanked 
 him : he was neither so dread-looking, old, 
 or stern-looking, as 1 had imagined he
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 123 
 
 would be ; and yet, I felt some fear of 
 him. 
 
 "• You look afraid of me," he continued, 
 smiling ; " I wonder what a young lady's 
 idea of a guardian is : can you define it, 
 Miss \Yentworth?" 
 
 *' I fancied you would have been older, 
 and more stern." 
 
 " But you think me a terribly old fellow : 
 come, confess, don't you ?" he asked. 
 
 " No ; you are not very young, though : 
 are you?" 
 
 " I think I am at this moment : before 
 
 I felt very antiquated, but now " as he 
 
 paused, I asked " but now what ?" He 
 made no reply ; he seemed indeed to look 
 stem now, and changed the conversation. 
 1 begart to feel really afraid of him. I was 
 evidently, I thought, too young for him to 
 take the trouble of conversing with me. I 
 had heard he was clever ; and I did not 
 then know, how very immaterial it is to a 
 clever man, whether a young girl is able to
 
 124 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 converse clearly with him, if he likes her. 
 Miss Churchill, now entering, looked to- 
 wards her nephew, and then at me, settled 
 her spectacles, and began knitting. Her 
 nephew never seemed to think it necessary 
 to address her ; but, as from time to time 
 he questioned me of my past life, she would 
 look up enquiringly, and say : — 
 
 " What did you say, Edward ?" to which 
 he answered but once, and then said, " 1 
 spoke of the weather." She appeared satis- 
 fied, and concluding with her usual expres- 
 sive " Oh !" enquired no further.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 How strange to write what has caused the 
 mystery of my life, to enter thus minutely 
 into its details ! So young, so innocent ! 
 Valerie might well have sneered at my igno- 
 rance and exceeding freshness of heart. 
 Yet I still think of those days with raptu- 
 rous feeHng. Dream-land it was, surely, 
 for earth has never been so beautiful since. 
 Then the rocks were bathed in sunHght : 
 then the waves danced in the fresh morning, 
 and at night lay slumbering in the moon - 
 light, which bathed in beauty the young 
 fresh leaves of May.
 
 126 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 It was a beautifully situated cottage, 
 humble-looking, but so peaceful and lovely. 
 The low windows opened on a lawn that led 
 to the cliflPs, from which there were paths 
 steep and circuitous to the sea. The rooms 
 were small^ but cheerful ; and flowers, birds, 
 and music all conspired to make it perfect. 
 
 Mr. Churchill remained all the morning 
 reading and writing in his room ; so I was 
 left with his aunt, by no means a pleasant 
 companion. Silence was the only course to 
 pursue ; so, for the first two mornings I re- 
 mained by the w^indow, working, answering 
 when I was spoken to, but never venturing 
 a spontaneous remark. 
 
 " You are very silent for so young a child," 
 she said, one day, " why is it, my dear ?" 
 
 " I am afraid I am," I replied. 
 
 " Afraid of me ?" she answered, some- 
 what crossly, " and for what reason, pray ?" 
 
 " I merely said I feared I was silent," I 
 answered, moving close to her. 
 
 *' Oh, well, perhaps better than being too
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 127 
 
 forward at your early age. Young girls,'^ 
 she continued, " should not speak often, 
 but when spoken to, and should be retiring 
 and respectful in Iheir manner towards their 
 elders, especially those who are in authority 
 over them." 
 
 I nodded my head in assent, but just then 
 the door opened, and Mr. Churchill walked 
 towards me, and his presence redeemed the 
 tiresome hours I had spent. 
 
 " Come out into the garden with me," 
 he said. 
 
 I hesitated, but longed to go, for Miss 
 Churchill's httle twinkling eyes were rivetted 
 on me, and I had no power to stir. 
 
 " Why, Edward," she said, " how is it 
 your letters are finished so soon this morn- 
 ing? You never come and sit with me till 
 late in the afternoon. As for you, Inez, 
 you had better stay and work ; it's not fit 
 for you to walk, and besides that, idling the 
 day away, a practice bad for young people 
 of your age."
 
 128 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 He merely looked at me. I heeded her 
 words no longer, nor could all the spirits on 
 earth have prevailed had he bid me follow 
 him. Calmly I put my work aside and 
 passed the rest of the morning with him on 
 the top of the cliffs, gazing on the sea, and 
 listening to his talk. He first spoke to me 
 of life and books ; he first drew forth my 
 buried and but then half awakened feelings. 
 Mrs. Wentworth I had loved, for she had 
 been the first to care for me, and bid me 
 think on life as a trial to come ; but hers 
 was a mind worn out with a joyless and 
 w orldly life, and therefore sad as interesting ; 
 but he to whom 1 now spoke freely, had yet 
 energy and freshness of mind enough to 
 strengthen my feelings, and enable me to 
 look upon life with a cheerful view. He 
 made me separate the true from the false 
 estimate of life, on which so many who are 
 disappointed at their first onset, fix their 
 opinions and impressions of life. Neither 
 love nor caresses had ever been bestowed on
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY, 129 
 
 me in childhood ; I therefore expected little 
 and did not exact attention. When true 
 feeling was offered I cherished it, and dwelt 
 on it with thankfulness. 
 
 " Why do you have your aunt to live with 
 you, Mr. Churchill ?" I asked as we sat to- 
 gether one day, '' I don't believe that her 
 society gives you pleasure." 
 
 ^' No !" he replied, " certainly not ; but 
 she offered to come and keep house for me. 
 I felt that by this arrangement I should 
 afford her a comfortable home, and that in 
 return she would relieve me from the troubles 
 of housekeeping, for which I have no taste ; 
 consequently we are helping each other, 
 and, until you came, Inez, I rarely saw her, 
 excepting at breakfast and dinner. More- 
 over, I could not well have invited you here 
 unless my aunt had been with me ; so I 
 hope you are not inclined to quarrel with 
 the arrangement." 
 
 " Oh, no !" I answered, laughingly, " I 
 can endure it whilst you are with me ; but 
 
 G 2
 
 130 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 don't go away and leave me alone with her. 
 You have been abroad for some time with 
 Sir Charles Huntingdon's family, have you 
 not?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 Mr. Churchill rose up and walked a pace 
 or two from me, then coming back, said : — 
 
 " Who told you anything about me, 
 Inez r 
 
 " Mrs. Harley," I answered. 
 
 " What did she tell you ?" 
 
 I related the few words she had spoken 
 in his praise. 
 
 '' Well, I am glad she gave me a good 
 character," he answered cheerfully ; then 
 instantly changed the conversation by 
 asking — ^' Do you read much ? It would 
 be as well if you read with me sometimes of 
 a morning. You are too young to give up 
 study entirely." 
 
 " I should be delighted to read with you. 
 How kind you are to think of it, you so 
 clever, too."
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 131 
 
 " You have had but little opportunity of 
 judging whether I am clever or not. If 
 you like me I am content, and if /can serve 
 you or help you I shall be happy, believe me." 
 
 *^ You are very good to me," I answered. 
 "As to liking you, excepting my aunt, I 
 have never liked anyone so much. Never 
 change to me, promise me," I continued 
 with an earnestness that seemed to move 
 him. He turned pale as he asked — 
 
 " You wish me to be as a father to you, 
 do you not ?" 
 
 " Yes !" I replied, *' I only trust I may 
 be obedient to your every wish. I will strive 
 to be all you can desire ; from my heart 1 
 say this. An orphan and unloved, I should 
 indeed be ungrateful if 1 did not try to 
 merit your esteem." 
 
 " And you will be obedient, Inez ; re- 
 member, give me your hand upon it. What 
 a tiny childish hand you have," he said, as 
 I gave it to him. 
 
 After awhile we once more entered the
 
 132 HONESTY 13 THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 sitting-room where Miss Churchill sat ; and 
 she cast on us a glance I should not like 
 often to encounter. 
 
 " I wonder," she said, " my nephew en- 
 courages such idleness, a whole morning 
 spent on the cliffs doing nothing ; if it had 
 been with a young man I should have 
 deemed it most improper, not that 1 mean 
 to say Edward is old ; he is indeed quite in 
 the prime of life; but then he acts as 
 guardian to you, and entertains a fatherly 
 feeling towards you. If this were not the 
 case I should be much annoyed at your con- 
 duct. Young ladies cannot be too particular ; 
 the stricter they are kept, the better ; and 
 as for doing what you have done this morn- 
 ing, 1 was never guilty of such an im- 
 prudence in my life." 
 
 I made no reply, and Miss Churchill no 
 doubt was pleased at my appearing thus 
 quietly to take her advice. I could fancy 
 her whole life had been spent in lecturing 
 and advising.
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 133 
 
 Oh! those early summer mornings! the 
 hanofini^ branches of the ash and flowei- 
 laden acacia waved in the fresh breeze, and 
 the rich-coloured damask roses scented the 
 sweet air. Picture me sitting at the open 
 window of that small dininoc-room with 
 Edward Churchill, sometimes reading to 
 me, whilst at others he would say — " Read 
 to me, Inez ; I hke to hear you read." And 
 so the mornings passed. Miss Churchill 
 quite satisfied, because he was instructing 
 me ; and I fully satisfied, for I was bappy, 
 and told Mr. Churchill so, Then he would 
 fix such an anxious look upon my face, and 
 turn to his writing again, with a sigh that 
 used to rend my very heart. He was so 
 strange, too, but that made me like him 
 more. Sometimes he was almost harsh ; 
 then, though I liked, I dreaded him ; and, 
 when alone, would mourn that I was not 
 clever, so that he might care to talk to me. 
 He would speak of books, and his impression 
 of them, with so much earnestness and
 
 134 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 discrimination that I fancied 1 must have 
 read them also, and thought the same of 
 them. Ah ! I Httle knew, then, what it 
 was threw such a halo over everything 
 he said and did ; and well for me. 
 
 One morning, as I sat reading to him, 
 Miss Churchill entered the room, saying — 
 
 ^' Edward, here are foreign letters." 
 
 He rose ; he turned paler than I had ever 
 seen him ; he moved towards her without 
 speaking : how his lips trembled as he hastily 
 seized them from her and crushed them into 
 his pocket. 
 
 " What makes you so pale?** she asked, 
 *' but it s over anxiety, no doubt, and quite 
 right." 
 
 '' Hush !" he said, in a voice of thunder, 
 and frowned terribly, while Miss Churchill, 
 looking rather alarmed and more stupid 
 than usual, went away. I also moved 
 towards the door, thinking he might like to 
 read his letters in solitude, when he stretched
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 135 
 
 out his hand, and taking my arm, drew me 
 near him. 
 
 " Inez, why do you go?" 
 
 " I thought you wished to read your 
 letters." 
 
 "And does your remaining here prevent 
 my doing so ? Sit down ; you need not go." 
 
 " I feared you had unpleasant news, you 
 turned so very pale." 
 
 " Unpleasant news before 1 had opened 
 my letters ! a wise remark of yours, Inez !" 
 
 He then broke the seals; walked to the 
 open window ; read them with such an ex- 
 pression of face that I was almost frightened, 
 and then tore them to pieces, and scattered 
 them to the winds. All that day he was 
 gloomy, and looked ill, scarcely speaking. 
 I was, therefore, left to the tender mercy of 
 Miss Churchill, whose incessant " What did 
 you say ?" at every endeavour of mine to 
 converse with her, sent me almost distracted, 
 and with a dreadful nervous headache, to my 
 room. Though the sun shone as brightly,
 
 136 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 and the flowers looked gay as they had 
 looked for many days, something seemed 
 wanting. I almost wished that nature had 
 grown dark and sorrowed with me. It was 
 not till late in the evening that the sound 
 of a deep melodious voice singing, as he 
 alone could sing, made me descend quickly 
 to the drawing-room, where he was sitting at 
 the piano alone. He did not stop or turn 
 to speak to me : he went on singing, as 
 though his very soul was poured forth in 
 song ; and I listened and wept silently ; 
 wept because he seemed, even for a few 
 hours, estranged from me. Foolish girl 
 that I was, thus to give vent to my feelings ; 
 but at sixteen who is wise ? 
 
 I was not long in coming to the conclusion 
 that there was something weighing on Mr, 
 Churchill's mind. Ever since the morning 
 he had received those letters froai the con- 
 tinent his manner had completely changed, 
 becoming moody, and even, at times, irri- 
 table ; whilst he would sometimes absent
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 137 
 
 himself from our society for hours together, 
 and when we met at dinner he would sit in 
 total silence, and scarcely take any nourish- 
 ment. His sunken eye and pale worn face 
 made me feel certain that he was either 
 very ill, or that some calamity had befallen 
 him, which he was silently wrestling with. 
 To Miss Churchill's remarks he scarcely 
 deigned a reply, and when I spoke, which 
 was now but seldom, he would answer, but, 
 at the same time, look so wretched, that a 
 profound silence was even preferable. All 
 that had made my life so happy in that peace- 
 ful and beautiful spot, seemed gone, left as I 
 was for hours together with a tiresome old 
 woman, whose only talk was asking questions 
 about nothing, or giving me what she deemed 
 good advice. Advice from those you love is 
 seldom pleasant, but when coming from 
 those whom you neither love nor esteem, 
 becomes intolerable. Wondering w^hether 
 she noticed her nephew*s altered manner, I 
 ventured to say, one day —
 
 138 HONESTV' IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 " Don't you think Mr. Churchill looks ill 
 and out of spirits ?" 
 
 " Perhaps so," she answered, " he often is." 
 
 " Do you think," I rejoined more boldly, 
 ^* that he is attached to any one, or has been 
 disappointed ?" 
 
 Miss Churchill was very long before she 
 clearly understood my words ; but when 
 she did^ a look of horror and affected 
 prudery was cast on me, as she answered — 
 
 " I think. Miss Inez, your question is 
 impertinent as unmaidenly. At your age 
 such ideas should never enter your head. I 
 am quite shoclced to think how full your 
 head is of school-girl folly and sentiment. I 
 am ashamed of you, Miss;" and rising 
 slowly from her seat she left the room, 
 casting on me what she doubtless considered 
 one of her severest glances, but which had 
 only the effect of causing me to smile at her 
 ridiculous old maidish notions, and sincerely 
 to hope that if I was destined to remain Miss 
 Wentworth, I might be moulded differently.
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 139 
 
 Being alone in the evening I began look- 
 ing over Mr. Churchill's music, and ended 
 in singing some of his favourite songs. 
 When I turned round he was leaning against 
 the verandah, and said — 
 
 " You have a sweet voice : go on singing." 
 
 He drew a chair near the piano, and as I 
 concluded I heard him say — " I can bear 
 this no longer." 
 
 He was looking straight at me. and so 
 earnestlj that 1 blushed violently. 
 
 " Something is distressing you, Mr. 
 Churchill, I am sure. Why will you not 
 let me help you, or if you are suffering let 
 me share it with you." 
 
 " Inez, why do you care what I am feel- 
 ino: ? 1 should have thoug-ht I was neither 
 young enough nor handsome enough to 
 obtain your interest ; besides, 1 am your 
 guardian, di frightful word." 
 
 " If you don't believe me I have little 
 left to say," I replied, moving towards the 
 window.
 
 140 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 '' Inez, would you like to return to your 
 uncle ? I fear it is dull for you here with no 
 companion, and tliere you would have Miss 
 Went worth. I feel it is selfish, wishing you 
 to remain with such as we are." 
 
 I did not answer : I walked hastily from 
 the room on to the lawn, till I reached an 
 arbour, where, when I first came, we had sat 
 together, reading, of an evening. I remained 
 in silent lonely sufifering. I had no friends 
 then ! no one even liked me ! I had better 
 have died with my parents. So I thought 
 in the first bitterness of that moment, and 
 Mr. Churchill did not follow me or say a 
 kind word. It was very late when I joined 
 him again. He was still alone, not reading, 
 but with his face bent down, buried in his 
 hands. 
 
 '^ Inez,*' he said, " I have offended you ; 
 forgive me. I appear inhospitable and 
 heartless, do I not ?" 
 
 " Oh, no !" i replied, coldly, " your ad- 
 vice is good, no doubt. 1 will write to
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 141 
 
 Valerie to-morrow, to know if thev can re- 
 ceive me at Went worth Court." 
 
 " You think," he continued, as if not 
 heeding my remark, " that I wish to get 
 rid of you ; that you are a burden to me, 
 and that you have not found a friend : that 
 is what you have been thinking since you 
 left the room." 
 
 " There seems truth in it, if I have," I 
 answered. 
 
 Mr. Churchill rose, his tall fine figure 
 seeming to grow more majestic as he ap- 
 proached, and his eyes full of tears, he came 
 near me. 
 
 " You think all this, do you not, Inez ?" 
 " Yes !" I murmured, trembhngly, while 
 my heart beat loud and fast, and my words 
 seemed to choke me as I answered : "I 
 know I have nothing in me to make you 
 care for me : I am an orphan, poor, desolate, 
 dependent. No one cares for me." 
 
 There seemed, as I spoke, a violent
 
 142 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 struggle for mastery over himself, and he 
 exclaimed : — 
 
 "What shall I say? God help me! 
 Inez, you see before you at this moment the 
 most miserable of men." 
 
 " I have long noticed your depression, 
 Mr. Churchill ; why will you, then, so de- 
 terminedly keep it close in your own heart, 
 letting no one share it ? I would help you 
 if I could." 
 
 " Would you ?" he exclaimed, clasping 
 my hands in his, " do you, then, care for 
 me and feel for me ?" 
 
 " I would do anything to serve you, cost 
 me what it might," I answered through 
 mv tears. 
 
 '^ Inez, come and read with me to-morrow 
 morning as you used to do ; let us be hapj)y 
 once more, and drown care in forgetfulness." 
 
 I needed no pressing. Once again came 
 happiness ; once more did T experience 
 what all must prize, that sympathy of taste 
 and feehng, which is so necessary, I think,
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 143 
 
 to happiness, yet so seldom granted us ; 
 never, perhaps, in its fullest sense : in youth 
 we taste of its delio^hts for a moment suffi- 
 ciently to make us mourn for it, when like 
 a shadow it has passed away. It is not always 
 love that first gilds our early life ; not love, in 
 the common acceptation of the word, but the 
 first deep feeling, let it come in what shape 
 it mav. 
 
 My early and enthusiastic feeling for Mr. 
 Churchill seems a thing separate and dis- 
 tinct from any I have since experienced ; 
 deeper, perhaps, because more earnest ; 
 purer, from being more devoid of self. Too 
 happy in his friendship, I let no thought of 
 the future come between me and happiness. 
 I was full of joy and life : the days only 
 seemed too short, the hours to glide too 
 quickly. Another fortnight passed in the 
 same peace I had first enjoyed on coming 
 there ; and yet all care had not left his 
 brow. No ! often he would look as if re- 
 minded of some grief that tortured him.
 
 144 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 and he scarce seemed to heed what passed 
 around him. One day I said, jokingly — 
 
 " You are so absent ; there must be some 
 cause for it ;" and 1 then repeated my con- 
 versation with Miss Churchill, and her 
 severe reprimand on my curiosity, and ques- 
 tions regarding him. 
 
 " Why did you not ask me,'' he said, '^ if 
 you wished to know, you silly little Inez ? 
 but now let me tell you, I have not been in 
 love with any one nor disappointed. Will 
 that content and satisfy you ?" 
 
 " I don't much care whether you have or 
 not, but I don't quite credit that ; but I 
 daresay it is long since forgotten." 
 
 " I cannot forget what never existed," 
 he replied, " but I agree with Aunt Sarah ; 
 you had better read the History of England 
 than the history of the heart, at sixteen." 
 
 '' I am very nearly seventeen," I an- 
 swered. 
 
 " Dear me I are you really ? I must begin 
 to treat you with more deference."
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 145 
 
 " You have not hitherto talked to me as 
 if you thought me so very young, Mr. 
 Churchill, so I see no reason why you should 
 begin now. I like to be treated as your 
 companion and friend." 
 
 ^' And are you not ?" he asked. 
 
 " Yes, sometimes ; but 1 do not like to 
 be despised." 
 
 ^' Despised ! who said you were ? I cer- 
 tainly do not despise you : I wish to improve 
 and cultivate your mind, and now you look 
 angry, as if I had injured you." 
 
 " Pray forgive me, Mr. Churchill ; I am 
 very foolish. Shake hands with me before 
 I leave you, or I shall think you are annoyed 
 with me." 
 
 He kissed my hand, and I repaii'ed to the 
 drawing-room, where Miss Churchill sat 
 in solitar^^ grandeur. 
 
 ** I hope," she began, " my nephew keeps 
 you strict at your reading, and does not 
 allow talking : it is the worst thing possible 
 for children." 
 
 VOL. I. H
 
 146 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 " But I am no longer a child," I an- 
 swered. 
 
 " No longer what^ a child did you say?" 
 
 " Yes, I am nearly seventeen, and only 
 read for my amusement. Mr. Churchill 
 does not oblige me to do so." 
 
 " Eemember, Miss Inez," she replied, 
 " that you are now under our charge, and 
 we both look for that respect and deference 
 w^hich youth should pay to age. The way 
 you answer is very pert and forward, and I 
 must warn my nephew to exercise, hence- 
 forward, a stricter discipline over you." 
 
 As I passed the dining-room door shortly 
 after this conversation, I heard Miss Sarah's 
 voice in full eloquence, and his voice every 
 now and then chiming in, while the words 
 " Never fear ; / will keep her in order, 
 Aunt Sarah. She will learn to be obedient 
 to me, I hope ;" and when I saw Miss 
 Churchill again, her face wore a satisfied 
 expression.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 " I do not see, Inez, why our walks should 
 be confined to the 0110*8 and beach. Would 
 you not like to take some rambles in the 
 neighbourhood?" asked Mr. Churchill, as 
 we one evening returned from our usual walk 
 on the cliffs. 
 
 '* Yes, very much !" I answered, " and 
 there is one very lovely place I long to see ; 
 Sir Charles Huntingdon's. I passed it as I 
 came here. Could I walk there, do you 
 think ?" 
 
 " Certainly not," he replied, " it is very 
 nearly five miles from here."
 
 148 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 " I am so disappointed," I said, and I 
 suppose I must have looked so, for he ob- 
 served — 
 
 "Do you, then, so much wish to go ?" 
 " I do, certainly, but never mind. What 
 other pretty spots are there near ?" 
 
 " No !" he answered, " since you so 
 desire it you shall go. I will hire a pony- 
 carriage, and Aunt Sarah can accompany 
 you to-morrow," 
 
 " And you not go ?" 
 
 " 1 cannot go," he said, with a degree of 
 bitterness in the tone, while he rose abruptly 
 to quit the room. 
 
 ^' Mr. Churchill, come back," I said ** you 
 are annoyed, but why I cannot imagine." 
 
 " How exceedingly silly you are, Inez, to 
 think for a moment I could be annoved at 
 your wishing to see beautiful grounds. I 
 have told you you can go ; does not that 
 suffice r 
 
 '* Not while you remain at home," and I 
 was going to add, " look so displeased," 
 but I checked the words.
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 149 
 
 " Since you wish it, I will go/' he an- 
 swered. " I have often been over the 
 grounds, but thev are so beautiful, I don't 
 object to seeing them again." 
 
 " Then you will drive me thither," I said, 
 joyously. 
 
 " Anything you like," he said, smilingly, 
 and left me. 
 
 A feeling of disquiet stole over me as I 
 pondered on Mr. Churchill's words. They 
 had been few, certainly, but I could not 
 divest myself of the idea that there was 
 more meaning in his dislike to accompanying 
 me to Sir Charles Huntingdon's grounds, 
 than he chose to say ; and then, as in all 
 cases where thought begins to work, a thou- 
 sand reasons convinced me. Why did he 
 never mention the Huntingdons, people he 
 had Uved with so long, and from whom, I 
 had heard, he had received kindness : why, 
 when foreign letters had come, didjiris man- 
 ner change so towards me, looking ill at 
 ease, too, and unhappy, and only when the
 
 150 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 intelligence they conveyed appeared forgotten 
 did he return with pleasure to his pursuits, 
 and lose his reserve. There was some mys- 
 tery in all this, yet it did not promise me 
 any pleasure, the thought of fathoming it, 
 which a mystery generally affords to young 
 people, particularly young ladies. No, it 
 seemed to bring a change of feeling I could 
 not account for, a presentiment of evil that 
 left me dissatisfied with all around me, and 
 weighed upon my spirits. The books that 
 generally pleased me lost their charm that 
 day. Even when Mr. Churchill sang my 
 favourite songs, listless and spiritless I did 
 not listen to them ; and though the evening 
 was warm and lovely, I did not, as was my 
 usual custom, walk either on the shore, or 
 wander in the lanes near the cottage, till the 
 moon shone clear. 1 sat, book in hand, by 
 the open window, refusing to walk, while he, 
 with a look of surprise and slight annoyance, 
 went for a walk with his aunt. 
 
 From that next afternoon I date the com-
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 151 
 
 mencement of what so lonor huncr like a 
 thick cloud over my young days ; and yet I 
 awoke that morning with a light heart, think- 
 ing of the delight of seeing those grounds 
 clothed in all the beauty of a glorious June. 
 
 After driving through the many winding 
 lanes that led from the cottage, w^e entered 
 the broad highway, and soon burst upon 
 my sight, in the full rich sunlight, the 
 Huntingdons' home. The park gates opened 
 at Mr. Churchill's bidding, as if by magic, and 
 we drove up the long avenue, I exclaiming at 
 the fineness of the irees and the extensive 
 view that met our gaze. Yet my companion 
 seemed absent and silent, and the gloom 
 increased as we approached the house. 
 
 The servant having taken the pony-car- 
 riage, Mr. Churchill turned to me and asked 
 if I had any curiosity to see the house. 
 
 *' If we have time after seeing the grounds," 
 I answered, ** but oh ! do be quick, I long 
 to explore every nook and corner of this 
 enchanting fairy-land. If I were in your
 
 152 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 place, and had leave to go over them when 
 1 chose, I should spend half my life here." 
 
 He murmured something, but so unin- 
 telligibly that in vain I strove to catch the 
 meaning, but it seemed as though he mut- 
 tered curses, so black did his countenance 
 become, while the air, the sun, the flowers, 
 seemed in their light beauty to act as a 
 strange and glaring contrast to his pain- 
 stricken face, and he moved by my side like 
 one in a troubled dream ; whilst I, half 
 frightened, ran from him hastily down a sort 
 of glen in the park, where deer were feeding, 
 and the shadows of the fine old trees streamed 
 on the grass, and the sunshine trembled 
 through the large dark leaves. I watched 
 Mr. Churchill's figure as he moved towards 
 me, with a deepening interest. It seemed 
 always, when he was near me, that existence 
 had a charm ; whilst, if he were absent, 
 though it brought no actual grief, there was 
 a void nothing else would satisfy. If he 
 spoke I hung upon each word he uttered till
 
 HONESXr IS THE BEST POLICY. 153 
 
 I believed it was my own thought. When 
 he was silent I would endeavour by playful- 
 ness to dispel it, but oftener would so sym- 
 pathize with his spirit that I could not speak 
 when he was sad. 
 
 '^ What is the matter," I cried, as he drew 
 nearer, " that you look thus ? Take me to 
 those flower-gardens, and on to that deep 
 wood : its shade looks inviting.'' 
 
 " Well, come ! T am not preventing you," 
 he said, drawing my arm within his own 
 kindly ; ^' but as for the wood, it's always 
 damp, and you have thin shoes on; you 
 cannot go." 
 
 " Damp /" I replied, " why there has not 
 been a drop of rain for more than a fortnight. 
 I must really go." 
 
 " Then you shall go alone. I remain i:i 
 the flower-garden," he said, decidedly. 
 
 I left him in the garden, surrounded by 
 roses ol all hue, where he sat musingly, 
 whilst I ran on quickly through the deep 
 tangled wood, till I reached a pool of deep 
 
 H 2
 
 154 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 dark water. Under ihe trees that shaded it 
 there was a rude wooden bench, on which, 
 on closer inspection, some names were carved. 
 I stooped to examine them. Several I had 
 never heard of, but, close together, were 
 two names that seemed to me fo claim 
 attention, so clearly were they hewn ; and 
 in rivetted attention and breathless anxiety 
 I read the names of Edward Churchill 
 and Ellen Huntingdon. I must have lingered, 
 for his voice called my name loudly, and I 
 ran to the entrance of the wood, where he 
 stood awaiting me. 
 
 ^^ Pray come with me to the end of the 
 wood, Mr. Churchill.'* 
 
 I looked imploringly, and he followed in 
 silence, till we reached the bench, when I 
 said : — 
 
 *^ Look at your name and Miss Hunting- 
 don's : did you carve them ? tell me about 
 her — did you like her ?" 
 
 *^ You ask so many questions at once," 
 he answered, smiling; " I find it difficult to
 
 HOXESTT IS THE BEST POLICY. 155 
 
 answer you. I did carve them, however : 
 will that satisfy you ?" 
 
 *' No/' I answered hastily, '' it will not." 
 
 " I advised you not to come to this ab- 
 horred spot/' he said. 
 
 " It is a beautiful spot, Mr. Churchill : 
 and if you think seeing your name carved on 
 a bench, and Miss Huntingdon's annoys me, 
 you are, for once, quite mistaken ; I merely 
 asked about her from curiosity ; and I think, 
 had I as kind friends as you have had in the 
 Huntingdons, I should sometimes mention 
 their names." 
 
 ^* Come and sit beside me on the bench; 
 Inez." 
 
 I neither spoke nor moved. He sat for 
 some time lookino^ cross aud frownins. I 
 pretended not to notice it ; but all the time 
 I was pondering on his strange moods. 
 Presently something glittered past me like a 
 shot, and sank into the dark closing waters, 
 whilst I heard him mutter ; and as I turned
 
 153 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICV. 
 
 towards him, I asked what it was he threw 
 away. 
 
 •* What most people Hke to possess,'* he 
 said, " a ring.'* 
 
 *^ Why, you have not thrown away that 
 beautiful blue ring I have so often admired, 
 have you ?'* 
 
 ^' The fish may be attracted towards it," 
 he replied, " more than I ever was." 
 
 " For shame, Mr. Churchill !" I answered, 
 " I shall take very good care never to be- 
 stow anything upon you." 
 
 " Yes," he answered, " you shall bestow 
 on me one gift : and it shall not be cast 
 away : more valuable than gold or dia- 
 monds, more beautiful too, I think." 
 
 '' I have neither gold nor diamonds," 1 
 answered, smiling ; '' and whatever I have, 
 I will not lightly give away." 
 
 '' I shall not demand it yet," he said : 
 " I shall like to see it each day grow more 
 beautiful, till at last I shall feel proud of 
 calling it my own."
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 157 
 
 " But I have nothing to give, and what 
 have I that each day grows more beautiful ? 
 I fear you have lost your senses, this after- 
 noon : what are you talking about ?'* 
 
 " Never mind : only when I demand it, 
 promise it to me, whatever it may be." 
 
 " I only promise what I hope to fulfil : 
 any thing I have I would give to you, except 
 two lockets — one with my mothers hair, 
 and another which I found round my aunt's 
 neck when she died." 
 
 " I shall not exact either. Come, let us 
 walk : lean on mv arm, Inez : vou look tired 
 and pale." 
 
 For another hour we roamed through 
 lawn and shrubbery, wood and dell ; till, 
 weary with walking, I entreated to rest, and 
 looked towards the house. 
 
 " You do not care to see the house," he 
 said ; " do vou ? vou can rest on this ^farden 
 seat with me : the house is onlv like other 
 grand houses." I saw he did not wish me 
 to go in, and I rested, gazing on its lofty
 
 158 HONESTY IS THE BFST POLICY. 
 
 turrets till the sun sank behind them, and 
 evening closed. 
 
 It was very late when we returned ; and 
 Miss Churchill looked black as night, saying 
 she liked punctuality, and wondered her 
 nephew thus encouraged and indulged a 
 mere child in every whim ; but I looked 
 into his eyes, and saw that he was happy. 
 But why did mine respond to his every look 
 and a trembling thrilling joy course through 
 my veins, if he but spoke.
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 A FEW days of rain and cloud followed the 
 delightful brightness, and July came in 
 with west breezes and driving mists. The 
 ground that had been parched and white 
 with the scorching sun of midsummer, grew 
 moist ; and a fuller green was visible in the 
 deep leaves of summer. 
 
 I could scarcely believe that nearly six 
 weeks had passed since I first entered that, 
 now to me, enchanting home, seeming, in- 
 deed, the realization of all 1 had dreamed of 
 in my childhood. But was it alone the 
 romantic scenery, swelling ocean, and up-
 
 160 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 land glade, that brought snch rich fancies 
 to fuller perfection, or the absence of those 
 who had caused my grief ? Was it not, 
 rather, that all myfeelings in the first fervour 
 of youth, ere I knew the power of bringing 
 them under subjection, were given tlien^ 
 wholly and purely to Edward Churchill ? 
 
 Yet, surely, in each life there may be two 
 separate existences : one, in which we 
 scarcely seem to rest on earth, so visionary, 
 so transient is our excess of joy : then 
 comes a living death, a sudden cessation of 
 our life of dreams ; and we wake to a better 
 stronger life ; and love, that we might have 
 deemed cold, is all we need to make our life 
 pass in peaceful happiness. Yet, would I 
 write what I once felt, with the simple truth 
 in which it was given. 
 
 The rain and mists that darkened the 
 heavens, seemed to fall in gloom and sadness 
 on the spirit of one, whom I now watched 
 with a deeper anxiety ; for again the chilling 
 reserve was visible, and the heart-rending
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 161 
 
 expression told of unquiet thoughts lingering 
 unseen by human eyes, and wasting the life 
 within. 
 
 For once a strono; resolve was made : I 
 would know it ; if pain, love, or despair, 
 ah ! even crime, lingered there, to me it 
 should be laid bare ; but how and where ? 
 
 This thouofht rose and rose within me, 
 and was again quelled and silenced : every 
 moment I breathed, the air seemed suffo- 
 cating. I rose in the dead of night to ponder 
 on it : as one who meditates some fearful 
 crime, is haunted with the thought till 
 maddened he commits it. So did my over- 
 strained diseased fancy determine, that ere 
 another dawn, I would know all. Yet, 
 another and another found me wavering 
 and weak. I had no power to ask him 
 anything, and I grew ill with anxiety and 
 lost spirits. I would sit working with Miss 
 Churchill in silence most of the day, and in 
 these silent moods would ponder how I could 
 best put into execution what I so earnestly
 
 162 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 desired. How well 1 remember the evening 
 I gained my object ! Still and calm it was, 
 after tbe wind and rain ; and all that after- 
 noon, the sun had streamed over the wet 
 grass and shining leaves with a mellow 
 light ; and the broad sea lay so white and 
 calm, that the sails of the numerous ships 
 that covered it, were reflected as in a mirror. 
 It was oppressively hot, too. Tea being 
 over, I saw Mr. Churchill take a book, and 
 saunter down the hill : I knew he was go- 
 ing to sit either on the cliffs or shore : I 
 would follow him, but not yet, for Miss 
 Churchill was on the lawn. In about an 
 hour's time she entered, and, fortunately for 
 me, had a bad headache, and went to bed. 
 Never was opportunity more perfect, and 
 never before had I rejoiced in the ailment 
 of any human being ; but now, to be alone 
 and wander where I liked, unheeded, was 
 delightful. 
 
 I had laid my heavy mourning dress 
 aside, and put on a white dress that evening.
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 163 
 
 It looked so cool and becoming, that as I 
 passed from the room, I turned to look at 
 myself, ere I departed, with a half childish 
 pleasure and vanity ; then left the house, 
 and ran quickly to the shore. Mr. Churchill 
 did not seem to notice my approach : he 
 was, no doubt, absorbed in reading ; nor 
 did he look up for some moments, seeming 
 as if he wished 1 had not come ; but I was? 
 for once, resolved. I told him I had come 
 purposely to talk; such continued silence 
 was not pleasant to me ; that he must put 
 his book aside when 1 told him. 1 said it, 
 smiling, half in jest he might have thought 
 it ; but, as if my word was one of command 
 he laid his book down, and said : — 
 
 " I knew that you would come to-night." 
 " Knew that I should come," I said, 
 '^ how can that be ?" 
 
 ^' Because I felt it, Inez," he said. 
 '' Where did you feel it, Mr. Churchill?" 
 " Where all things are felt, Inez ; but 
 why do you stand there in your shadowy
 
 164 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 attire, leading me on like some water nymph, 
 in your cool white dress ? how sweet you 
 look in it ! sit down." 
 
 It was a low ledge of rock close to where 
 the waves broke, or rather rippled over the 
 smooth shingle. And now the moon was 
 up, flooding it with silver stars ; and I was 
 near him looking at this sea of glory : hap- 
 piness enough, surely ; yet I had work to 
 do : it must be done. 
 
 " You knew that I should come," I began, 
 " did you think I had anything to ask yon, 
 that I have come here to seek you ?" 
 
 "' You have wished it for long," he an- 
 swered, " and must wish it longer still." 
 
 " That I will not, Mr. Churchill, you will 
 de2:)rive me of my senses soon : why do you 
 shun me ? why are you dull, sad, and care- 
 worn ? why P — if the sea come round me, 
 which it soon will, for the tide is coming in 
 fast ; if the waters close upon me, I will not 
 leave till here, face to face, you tell me all.'' 
 '' Girl ! you torture me beyond power of
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 165 
 
 endurance ! Woman ! Spirit ! whatever 
 you are, you are ever present, yes, were I 
 severed from you a thousand miles ; were 
 oceans betwixt us, here would you be in my 
 heart and soul." He flung me from him : 
 he wept passionately, and the sea did come 
 in, and now almost surrounded us, skirting 
 the dark cliffs. He talked wildly : I scarcely 
 understood his words, he spoke despairingly 
 of himself, yet told me nothing that I cared 
 to hear ; only of his faults which I had 
 never seen ; of his grief, yet not the cause. 
 *' It matters not," I said, " you must tell 
 me your secret : yes, girl, child, as you call 
 me, I will hear it." 
 
 " It is," he answered, '' that I love you 
 beyond all else, beyond heaven or earth. 
 Each would be void if you were absent from 
 me — and yet, and yet — " he paused, grow- 
 ing deadly pale, and his hands trembled, 
 whilst he exclaimed : — 
 
 " We are nearly surrounded by water !" 
 Snatching me in his arms, he strained me
 
 166 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 to his heart : through the water he bore me 
 like a child, uttering words that vibrated 
 through me. 
 
 " Say you could love me, Inez ! say it 
 ao^ain and ao'ain : I shall live then.'* 
 
 " Love you ! did you doubt it ? — I shall 
 love you for ever." 
 
 " Then I swear," he cried *' that no tie 
 shall sever us : I will be free. You are 
 mine : yes, let my name be classed among 
 the dishonoured ; let contempt rest on me ! 
 all I will bear for you." 
 
 It seemed a dream, is still a dream, that 
 love, that shore, those rocks bathed in 
 moonlight, I, in his arms, pressed to his 
 heart, he loving me ! 
 
 " Oh ! what a foretaste of heaven," I then 
 thought. 
 
 Unheeding my white dress clinging damp 
 round me, my hair falling wet and dank 
 with his tears, he bore me on till we reached 
 the cottage, where all was still ; and placed
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 167 
 
 me by the kitclien fire, rubbing my hands, 
 till I said : — 
 
 "It is getting very late ; I must leave 
 you ; what will Miss Churchill say ?" 
 
 " You go then before you know the secret. 
 Promise, Inez," he said, " that it will not 
 influence you to love me less." 
 
 " Nothing would do that," I said smiHng. 
 " Promise, whatever happens, whatever 
 you may hear, that you will be mv w^ife." 
 
 ^* It will be before you have asked me," I 
 said. 
 
 " Folly ! ask you ? then Inez, will you 
 be my wife ? swear that you will." 
 
 " Have I not said I love you? does not 
 that suffice ?*' I answered ; " but stop ; 
 what should prevent it ? what is your 
 secret ?" 
 
 " One word will sum up my present and 
 past misfortune," he said ; "I am en- 
 gaged !" 
 
 I did not cry or faint : I looked steadily 
 at the fire ; but my life was going fast, and
 
 168 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 the world grew dark. I could not speak ; I 
 gasped for breath. I tried to rise, but my 
 strength forsook me. He knelt beside me 
 burying his face down. 
 
 *' To Ellen Huntingdon?" I asked, when 
 I could speak. 
 
 " Do not speak of her. I never lo^ed 
 her ; and now she has brought such misery 
 on me 1 hate her for it." 
 
 " Do not breathe such cruel words," I 
 said ; " perhaps you once told her you loved 
 her ; perhaps, like me, she has been pressed 
 to your heart as I have been this night, and 
 like her, I may have to hear that you 
 hate me." 
 
 I sobbed despairingly. 
 
 " Never ! never ! Inez," he said, " while 
 life is left I will not desert you ; never 
 leave you. Surely such love as I bear you 
 must meet with sympathy and gratitude." 
 
 So he spoke for long, pouring his words 
 so fast on me that I at length said — 
 
 '' I cannot hear any more ; my very senses
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY 169 
 
 seem leaving me ; tell me all to-morrow, 
 
 and then " The word died on my lips, 
 
 I could not say " then I will decide." 
 
 Presently the door opened, and Miss 
 Churchill, robed in a red dressing-gown^ and 
 with a nightcap like a pyramid, entered, 
 and stood looking at us both. 
 
 " What is this?'* she said, " are people 
 to be frightened out of their sleep at this 
 hour ? Why, Edward, what has happened ? 
 I think I am dreaming. And yow/' she 
 said, looking at me, "I beg, Miss Inez 
 Wentworth, that you will retire to your 
 room ; your behaviour is unpardonable.'* 
 
 She waved her hand, and the nightcap 
 shook from the effects of her rage. I left 
 the room, and Mr. Churchill then explained 
 to his aunt that I was not so much to blame 
 as she imagined ; that I had been foolish in 
 venturing out so far on the rocks alone that 
 the water had surrounded me, and that he 
 had found me terrified and wet, and had 
 carried me through the water and brought 
 
 VOL. L I
 
 170 HONESTY IS THE BKST POLICY. 
 
 me home in his arms almost fainting with 
 alarm, and had taken me to the kitchen, 
 where there was a fire. 
 
 " You must forgive her this once, aunt,*' 
 he said, " and we must be stricter for the 
 future with her. Remember, she is a mere 
 child. 1 shall not allow her to go out again 
 unless I can accompany her." 
 
 Miss Churchill seemed pacified, for when 
 1 saw her next morning she told me that 
 she would forgive me ihis time, but for the 
 future they must be more strict wdth me. 
 
 A long sleepless night was passed in con- 
 flicting feelings : the path of duty was 
 plainly marked, but happiness, I feared, was 
 gaining ground, and in the ascendancy. 
 
 The next morning we sat together in a 
 deep wood, and the following tale was told. 
 1 can hear each word distinctly in the wind 
 as it now passes me ; I can hear Mr. 
 Churchill say — " Inez, listen to me patiently, 
 and do not scorn me for it all ;" and how I 
 did listen to the end.
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 171 
 
 *^ I need not tell you," he said, " how 
 my earliest days passed ; how I mourned 
 my mother's death, and was left with a 
 father whose only object seemed to have 
 me highly educated, so that I might make 
 an independence for myself. I need not 
 speak of his love for his eldest born, who 
 was to be the head of the family, while I, 
 the younger, was to toil and grieve. I 
 will not enter into painful particulars of 
 my early youth ; I do not wish it. I 
 loved my father, with all his pride : I still 
 love my brother, though he has well nigh 
 ruined me. At my father's death the 
 estate came to Eldred, an estate so en- 
 cumbered that after a vain and hard 
 struggle to keep it up, my brother, whose 
 wild and dissipated pursuits suited not a 
 country life and small means, sold it, and 
 repaired to London ; there he entered 
 upon a life I would gladly veil over, nor 
 dwell upon now. I went to the bar, and 
 might; had I been born with steady pur-
 
 172 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 pose and firmer principles, have not only 
 gained distinction in my profession, but 
 have made, what was then so necessary, 
 money. I had talents, yet I did not use 
 them ; feeling, but I let it take a wrong 
 course. Not only my own debts, for the 
 expenses I often incurred, were demand- 
 ing payment, but my brother was a claim 
 upon me. He often entreated for sums 
 of money, and they were given ; and this 
 w^ent on for some years. I remember his 
 knocking at my chambers one morning, 
 coming in hurriedly and saying — 'Edward, 
 if you do not help me I am a ruined 
 man : I know not where to turn* He 
 looked at me supplicatingly. ' What is 
 the sum T I asked, tremblingly. * Three 
 thousand pounds,*' he said, with a fixed 
 look of despair, * a gambling debt, or I 
 would not have come to you again. My 
 life must answer if it is not paid.*' He 
 laid down his head and groaned. * It is 
 almost all 1 haye left on earth, God
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 173 
 
 Knows, Eldred/ I exclaimed ; ^ but I will 
 give it you.^ * It shall be on good security 
 it is lent/ exclaimed my unfortunate 
 brother, ' and I promise that from this 
 day I will give up what has brought me 
 to beggary/ How vain his promises were 
 I need not tell, nor how weak his nature 
 was, struggling with his warm heart ; but 
 with tears he blessed me for saving him, 
 whilst I pondered what I should do. My 
 profession grew irksome to me ; hard 
 work caused my health to fail me ; I 
 pined for country air, country pursuits, 
 and kindred hearts. A mere chance caused 
 me to leave London ; it was this. I was 
 one day calling on a friend and com- 
 plaining to him of my present mode 
 of life • how un suited it was to me ; 
 how much 1 should prefer to work in 
 the country, if work I must. ^ Strange !' 
 he said, ' for 1 have this very morning 
 been asked to recommend a tutor to Sir 
 Charles Huntingdon's son ; he was to be 
 clever, of course, and a gentleman; yon
 
 174 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 are both, and if the sum offered, £300 
 a year, would suffice, why not take it?' 
 On the impulse of the moment I accepted 
 it, and bade my friend write, and a month 
 afterwards I found myself in the very 
 same coach you travelled in, and stopping 
 at those very gates you so much wished to 
 enter. Oh ! that / had never entered 
 them !'' 
 
 Mr. Churchill paused a moment, and then 
 continued his narrative, though his face 
 grew dark and troubled as he said — 
 
 " Well, on the steps of his own house I 
 first saw Charles Huntingdon, a fine- 
 looking youth of eighteen, with a joyous 
 warm manner ; and I think, like you, 
 Inez, he was glad to find I was neither old 
 nor cross -looking. We were soon good 
 friends. * We dine at seven o'clock,' he 
 said, * I must then introduce you to my 
 father ;' and showing me to my room, he 
 left me. I looked out upon those beautiful 
 flower-gardens and park, then gilded with
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 175 
 
 the sun of a summer evening, witli rap- 
 turous admiration, for my long stay in 
 London made everything look fresher and 
 more beautiful than before, and nature 
 seemed rejoicing with me. I lingered 
 there till the deep-sounding bell sum- 
 moned me, and I entered the drawing- 
 room. I can see them all now in that 
 long, handsome, but cold-looking room ; 
 for there was a decided absence of com- 
 fort about it, notwithstanding the costly 
 silk hangings, large mirrors, and painted 
 walls ; and it seemed to say, ' You must 
 likewise be stiff, cold, and yet polished, 
 or you will not suit its inmates.' Pride 
 was written upon every feature of the old 
 baronet, as he advanced to shake hands 
 with me; pride in the bow of his wife, 
 whose importance she wished me to feel 
 in each word she uttered, though it was 
 kindly said. I was a Churchill ; as noble 
 blood flowed through my veins, yet, as 
 the tutor of their son I was looked down
 
 176 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICTi'. 
 
 upon, and my pride, though of a different 
 sort, rose at the bare idea, and I won- 
 dered why I had chosen, of my own free 
 will, so disao:reeable an office. But 
 another form was visible, sitting in a deep 
 recess of one of the large windows, a 
 slight form, clad in pure white. I turned 
 to look ; she seemed not to be noticed by 
 them, or if she was, they had thought 
 no introduction necessary; but I looked 
 again, and a gentle pair of blue eyes 
 glanced towards me. Her hair was of 
 a shadowy very hght brown, hanging 
 lonsr, and slio:htlv dishevelled , and I re- 
 member thinking her dress, hair, and 
 eyes so colourless, and yet she was pretty, 
 and her figure slight and somewhat 
 bending. When, at last, her father per- 
 ceived her, and said, '.Ellen, let me in- 
 troduce Mr. Churchill to you,' she looked 
 up, bowed, and smiled ; but it was 
 such a 7veak smile, such a vacant ex- 
 pression round the mouth. ' She is not
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 177 
 
 one of my beauties,' I thought, ^ and 
 quite as well, for 1 should not fall in love 
 with her,' and I never did," 
 
 Interrupting Mr. Churchill, I asked how 
 he gained the responsible charge of being 
 my guardian, and what was the origin of 
 his friendship for my father. 
 
 " I was at school mth him," was Mr. 
 Churchill's reply ; "we were very great 
 friends, and when he married and left for 
 India we kept up a constant correspondence. 
 When 1 first began life in London he wrote 
 to me before going into action, to know if 
 I, who entertained so deep a friendship for 
 him, would, if anything happened to him, 
 act as one of the guardians to his only 
 child. Such a request, and at such a time, 
 I was not likely to refuse, particularly from 
 my oldest and best friend ; therefore, Inez, 
 you were left under my guidance." 
 
 " And must I submit to you?" I asked. 
 
 " No, you shall govern me," he answered, 
 smiling. 
 
 2 I
 
 178 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 I wondered what spirit on earth could 
 govern his ; but I merely bade him proceed 
 with his story, and made no comment, ex- 
 cept to say — 
 
 * * Let me tell the story. Notwithstanding 
 the colourless hair and weak smile of the 
 pretty Ellen, you fell in love with her, bound 
 yourself secretly to her, without the know- 
 ledge of her proud father and worldly 
 mother, and now, Hke the rest of mankind, 
 you have grown weary of her, and are fickle 
 as air." 
 
 " Let me tell my own tale," he replied, 
 " before you so hastily conclude. I have 
 no incident to relate worth recording of the 
 
 first week or so I passed at H 
 
 Park. As for the fair Ellen, she seldom 
 appeared but at limcheon or dinner, and 
 spoke so Uttle, when she did, that she might 
 have 'seemed as a mere piece of pretty fur- 
 niture that I saw daily. Her mother looked 
 at Jier, then at me, sometimes, with a look 
 which said, * remember the immeasurable
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. l79 
 
 gulfs that roll between you ;' and I, in 
 consequence, did not tender those little 
 attentions that most men offer to a young 
 and pretty woman ; on the contrary, I 
 seldom spoke to her, and Lady Huntingdon 
 evidently thought she had nothing to fear, 
 and was most civil and kind in her manner 
 towards me. * Charles was so improved,' 
 she would say, * even in this short time ; 
 and I trust, Mr. Churchill, you will impress 
 upon his mind how necessary it is for him to 
 become steadier and to study hard.' I was 
 then to become counsellor as well as teacher. 
 She little knew how unfit I was for such an 
 office ; yet, perhaps, having thus to guide 
 another made me feel how essential it now 
 was to keep strict watch over myself; how 
 I should strive to make amends for the lonor 
 time I had allowed what might have turned 
 to good account to run to waste. 
 
 " In the autumn of that year Charles 
 
 Huntingdon and I left H Park 
 
 for a small estate in Scotland, belonging to
 
 180 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 the family, where we remained all the winter 
 and spring, and during that time I saw 
 visible improvement in my pupil. He grew 
 to like me, too, with a really strong affection, 
 and the long wintry months passed quickly 
 and happily.
 
 CHAPTER XV. ' 
 
 ^* It was June when we once more entered 
 Charles Huntmgdon's home, and all the 
 family were in London for the season : we 
 therefore had the house to ourselves. I 
 wondered he did not wish to join them 
 there ; hut at that time, never havina^ tasted 
 the pleasures of a London life, he seemed to 
 prefer remaining in the country, where, 
 with his horses, dogs, and good fishing, he 
 appeared quite in his element. 
 
 I should also have been very happy during 
 this time, if unpleasant news had not reached 
 me of Eldred, who having gone on from
 
 182 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 bad to worse, was now quite ruined, and 
 moreover, to add to his folly, had taken 
 unto himself a wife. Penitent letters, but 
 still imploring assistance, reached me : could 
 I let them pass unnoticed ? at first, I deter- 
 mined on doing so, knowing full well that 
 would not be the last time a claim would be 
 made on my generosity : but, at last, I 
 wrote a cheque for the sum desired, telling 
 them both very decidedly^ in my letter, 
 that must indeed be the last time I could 
 give them anything, as I had barely suffi- 
 cient left to defray the expenses I then in- 
 curred. A letter, overflowing with gratitude, 
 from his young and lovely bride, seemed to 
 repay me for what I had done ; and pro- 
 mises from my brother, of reform for the 
 future, made me hope that for her sake, his 
 own, and mine, that promise would be 
 kept ; and for some time I heard nothing to 
 the contrary. One morning, as we sat to- 
 gether over our breakfast, making plans for
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 183 
 
 the day, the letters came in, and Charles 
 Huntingdon exclaimed : — 
 
 " Why, here is a letter from Ellen, in 
 which she says, * they are all coming down 
 nex tweek/ My father is not very well, and 
 Ellen says, my mother thinks she has had 
 gaiety enough, and that country air will 
 revive the roses. I daresay we shall have 
 lots of people staying here during the 
 summer," he continued, " which will make 
 t pleasant; and I am glad they are 
 coming." 
 
 A week after this, the house was full of 
 people ; and the fair Ellen, looking still 
 more shadowy, and even paler than when 
 she left home, was again seen gliding about 
 in those old halls ; and many young men of 
 fashion seemed paying her attention, whether 
 from admiration of her, or from having 
 not much else to divert them down there, 
 I don't know ; but she received it all with 
 the same inanimate manner : and I began 
 to think, that though decidedly pretty, she
 
 184 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 was without any exception, one of the most 
 stupid uninteresting girls I had ever seen. 
 Her brother seemed very fond and proud of 
 her, and I think she loved him deeply, 
 though her manner never evinced being 
 very fond of any one. Yet, how mistaken 
 one may be in outward appearances I and 
 what depth of feeling may be hidden under 
 a cold calm exterior ! 
 
 The dinner bell had rung one evening, 
 and I, as usual, had repaired to the drawing- 
 room, where Ellen was sitting, alone, near 
 the window. I remember her whole ap- 
 pearance very well. She wore a dress of 
 light blue that well suited her; her head 
 was turned away from the door, and the 
 lonof ringlets almost hid her face, which was 
 bent down, while she pulled to pieces a 
 large tea rose she held in her slender 
 fingers. 
 
 ** What a pity !" I said, approaching 
 her, " to destroy what is so beautiful, Miss 
 Huntingdon."
 
 ttOXESTT IS THE BEST POLICY. 1S5 
 
 How she started ! I remember, and a 
 pale pink tint suffused her face and long 
 white throat, as she turned to me. 
 
 ** It is only like every thing thais beau- 
 tiful," she said, " it does not last long." 
 
 '• But we need not destroy it before its 
 time," I answered. 
 
 " Perhaps not," she said, and followed 
 up her words with such a long-drawn sigh, 
 that I looked at her for an instant, to see 
 if really that sentiment, and that deep sigh, 
 had issued from those lips usually so un- 
 moved. 
 
 '* Are you glad," I asked, " to get back 
 to the country ?" 
 
 " Very /" she unswered. " You cannot 
 know how glad, and I only earnestly wish 
 all our guests would take their departure 
 and leave us quiet once more.'' 
 
 Here our conversation ended, for Lady 
 Huntingdon entered the room, and her 
 daughter had seized a book that lay on a 
 table near, and seemed poring over its con-
 
 186 HONESTY IS TUE BEST POLICY. 
 
 tents. A new comer had arrived, I found, 
 a cousin of theirs, Lord Wyniett, a very 
 plain young man, but heir to a very large 
 fortune. He gave his arm to Miss Hunt- 
 ingdon, and they went in to dinner. Most 
 likely, I thought, she is in love with her 
 cousin, and that is the cause of her sighs ; 
 but I don't think I once remarked her during 
 dinner, nor took any heed of her for some 
 time afterwards, nor might I have done so 
 but for a slight circumstance that occurred. 
 I was in the study one day, looking over 
 unpaid bills that daily showered upon me, 
 with no present means of discharging them, 
 for the sum I had laid aside was given to 
 my brother, and where to turn or what to 
 do I knew not. Leaning down, with, I 
 suppose, a countenance full of misery, and 
 evidently much absorbed, having heard no 
 sound, I suddenly found Miss Huntingdon 
 close to me, appearing to be looking for a 
 book in the bookcase, but evidently regard- 
 ing me intently.
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 187 
 
 '* Can I assist you?" I asked, and hastily 
 rose to find the missing volume. 
 
 " Thank you," she said gently ; " but in 
 return may I ask Mr. Churchill if I can 
 help you, you look so sad." 
 
 I thanked her with a smile, but answered, 
 
 " No ! I was merely busy looking over 
 bills and papers, not an agreeable office." 
 
 I had found the book and yet she lingered, 
 and slightly started as the door opened, and 
 her brother entered the room. 
 
 " What you here, looking over my books, 
 Nelly," he said, " and bearing some away, 
 too, you little thief; you told me yesterday 
 you had lately been studying botany. Now, 
 Mr. Churchill and I are going this afternoon 
 in search of a rare plant we heard of : will 
 you come ?" 
 
 *' Oh ! gladly," she answered, with almost 
 childish glee, and looking with beaming 
 grateful eyes at Charlie. 
 
 " But then, cousin Fred must come also,'*
 
 188 HONliSTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 he rejoined, " or mamma will not be pleased, 
 and will perhaps prevent your going with us.'' 
 
 " Oh ! but that will spoil all the plea- 
 sure/' she said quickly; " but if I may not 
 go without him let him come, by all means.' 
 
 " You know, now, you are dying to have 
 him with you," said Charlie, looking with 
 such an absurd expression of face at his 
 sister, who answered — 
 
 " You know I don't like him ; you know 
 he bores me to death. I will run away if I 
 am to be worried in this way." 
 
 Her face flushed up, and tears stood in 
 her eyes, w hile her hand, that leant upon the 
 table, shook visibly. Her brother then 
 kissed and soothed her, telling her he would 
 make Lady Huntingdon agree to her ac- 
 companying us. That afternoon she did 
 walk with us, and Lord Wyniett likewise ; 
 and her mother was satisfied. I hope her 
 cousin was also, but she treated him with 
 great coldness, and addressed all her conver- 
 sation to me. I looked at her once or twice
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 189 
 
 to see if it could be the same cold silent 
 girl that before her parents sat so still and 
 unconcerned, and that now talked and 
 laughed, full of life and joy. I was puzzled, 
 but began from that time to take more in- 
 terest in her, and pitied her for being 
 evidently forced into a marriage with her 
 cousin, whom she did not love. And now 
 they often walked and rode with us, and 
 she always seemed cheerful and content. 
 But let me hasten to the close of this 
 wretched story. 
 
 I was about to leave the Huntingdons for 
 a month, and visit friends in London ; and 
 it was the evening before my departure. I 
 sat near the piano while Miss Huntingdon 
 sang. She sang well, and had been well* 
 taught, but that night her voice trembled 
 much, and when she looked round, her face 
 was very white : she turned and begged 
 of me to sing. I hesitated, but, on Lady 
 Huntingdon joining in the request, I at last 
 complied.
 
 190 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 Most of the company were grouped about 
 in different parts of the room, and were 
 talking, excepting a few whom real love of 
 music had made silent : but Ellen Hunt- 
 ingdon sat not far from the piano on a low 
 ottoman. I never saw such a rapt expression 
 as there was in her face, seeming not to 
 heed the crowd around her, nor busy hum 
 of voices. But she rose slowly, moved to a 
 side door that opened mto the conservatory, 
 and vanished, but with faint faltering steps. 
 Without considering the strange appearance 
 it might have, if noticed, which fortunately 
 I found was not the case, I followed her. 
 She was leaning against one of the large 
 white pillars, the many beautiful hanging 
 flowers that clustered round it falling and 
 seeming to mingle with her long fair hair, 
 and for the first time, I thought her lovely. 
 
 '* Do not come here," she said, faintly, 
 *' or they will follow you and crowd round 
 me : I feel so ill, I could not stay among 
 them."
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 191 
 
 ^' I thought you were ill, and for that 
 reason I followed you," I said. ** You look 
 very pale." 
 
 " I must ; I feel so ill," she answered ; 
 " but who cares what I suffer ; what I feel ?'' 
 
 I bade her not speak in that strain. Was 
 she not liked, loved, courted, admired br 
 all ? what could she wish for more ? Ah ! 
 if she knew what others suffered, her lot 
 would seem blessed while she was rich and 
 powerful. 
 
 *• I wish that I were poor," she exclaimed, 
 " then I might act as I chose — now I am a 
 slave to others ; but I shall not Uve long, I 
 hope," she exclaimed, still more bitterly, 
 as, clasping her hands, she paced up and 
 down, till the door opened and her mother 
 stood before her, with such an angry ex- 
 pression in her face, that Miss Huntingdon 
 fainted, and fell ere I could reach her. 
 
 " What is all this, Mr. Churchill ?" she 
 asked in an angry tone, after I had sue-
 
 192 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 ceeded in lifting the senseless girl into the 
 air. " What was Ellen doing here ?" 
 
 " I observed," I answered, coldly, " what 
 no one else seemed to observe, that your 
 daughter looked very pale and ill, and I 
 followed her hither to ascertain if she had 
 fainted." 
 
 My manner was so calm that evidently 
 Lady Huntingdon was assured I had no 
 other motive than the one alleged ; no 
 had I, and she begged of me to return to the 
 drawing-room. She then called for a ser- 
 vant to carrj Miss Huntingdon up stairs, 
 and I saw her no more that evening. 
 
 The next morning 1 left at an early hour, 
 and was sorry to learn from one of the ser- 
 vants that Miss Huntingdon was very ill.
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 When Charlie wrote to me, he did not 
 mention his sister, except to say she had at 
 last yielded to the entreaties of her parents, 
 and engaged herself to Lord \Y}Tiiett. I 
 own the news rather surprised me, after the 
 extraordinary coldness, and almost disHke, 
 she evinced towards him, and her vehement 
 words, the last night I had conversed with 
 her ; but I hoped she had grown fond of 
 him ; and after a day or so I ceased to 
 think about it ; so little impression had she 
 made on my heart. 
 
 My visit passed quickly and pleasantly. 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 194 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 I now began to hope Eld red might improve, 
 as he seemed to have become much steadier 
 and more rational. Alas ! they were still 
 in difficulties ; and although I knew he had 
 brought it on himself, I could not help feel- 
 ing for him. 
 
 It was the end of August when I returned, 
 the evening before Miss Huntingdon's mar- 
 riage ; and a beautiful evening it was. 
 When I reached the house, I found Charlie 
 had gone out riding with his father ; but 
 Lady Huntingdon was in the drawing-room, 
 very busy ; and she evidently received my 
 congratulations wdth pride and pleasure. 
 
 '^ Ellen is out walking," she said, " but I 
 suppose will be in presently." 
 
 I saw she was much occupied : I left the 
 room, therefore, and w^andercd into the 
 grounds. 
 
 What possessed me to turn down that 
 very path you chose the other day, I know 
 not ; for it was one I seldom entered, leading 
 to that dark pool that lies in shade and
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST FOLIC r. 195 
 
 gloom. I little knew, as I walked uiiheed- 
 ingly along, how every step led me on to 
 what has caused my misery ! I saw some 
 one sitting on a low bench near the ground, 
 and sounds of weeping came to me, the 
 evenino^ before her marriaofe, too, sittino: 
 there, alone, and in tears, and such tears ! 
 as thouofh the heart within was well nis"h 
 broken with its anguish ! 
 
 I went up to her, endeavoured to sooth 
 her, learnt from her lips how hateful this 
 marriage was to her ! how she longed to 
 escape it! could I help her? Fool that I 
 was ; for some time I never saw it, never 
 saw that this unfortunate girl loved me ; 
 but when, suddenly, the thought did come, 
 as in every one's life comes a moment of 
 vanity, so did it come to me. This girl of 
 high birth, wealth, and beauty, whom all 
 courted and admired, thrusting her confi- 
 dence on me, entreating my aid, telhng me 
 she would gladly die ere the morning 
 dawned, and not able to disguise her feeling
 
 196 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 for me, caused me to tell her I would care 
 for her, I would help her : how I wished I 
 was in a position to offer her a home ! but 
 I was poor, unknown, dependetit ! so I ran 
 on. But now the tears vanished : how her 
 pale face Ut up with sudden joy, as she told 
 me that with me she cared not what priva- 
 tions she bore ; my love was all-sufficient. 
 My love ! 
 
 No sooner had I uttered the fatal words, 
 than I repented them : I did not love her : 
 pity, friendship, regard — but love— no ! 
 
 Still, I loved no other, and might love 
 her in time, won by her devotion, though, 
 in my more sober moments, I might have 
 despised her for showing it so plainly. 
 Then her proud and worldly parents, what 
 would they think of such a marriage ? She 
 rose slowly : she drew from her finger that 
 fatal ring, and placing it on mine, said, — 
 
 ' Swear you will never desert me !' and I 
 swore a solemn oath."
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 197 
 
 Here Mr. Churchill paused ; and I had 
 only strength to say : — 
 
 " And it shall not be broken." 
 
 '' It is broken norvj^ he answered ; " when 
 1 broke my faith in heart to her, what 
 matters the mere form of words ?" 
 
 " Every thing," I replied, firmly, " you 
 said you cared for her ; you swore never to 
 desert her : do you think / would break 
 that poor girl's heart ? Oh !" I continued, 
 turning from him, " why did you not tell 
 me this before ? why let me feel what I am 
 feeling now ? Ellen Huntingdon ! why do 
 you stand there between me and Heaven ? 
 you, who possessed all ! I had nothing but 
 his love — and noiv /" 
 
 " Now, mine for ever ! look up, Inez, my 
 own ! lean upon my heart ; here shall be 
 your refuge : the world may pass us by, in 
 its pleasure and its scorn ; come !" 
 
 He was going to press me nearer in his 
 embrace, but I sprang from him, and with 
 a wild bitter cry, ran, it mattered not where.
 
 198 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 It seemed as though fresh strength was 
 given to me. I ran hastily through the deep 
 tangled wood, and there 1 lay with my face 
 hidden in the long grass till I was strong 
 in heart and will to say with truth, " I 
 cannot be your wife." In my agony I had 
 not waited to hear the end of his story. 
 He was sitting in the garden when I re- 
 traced my steps, alone, deep in thought ; 
 but he looked up as I approached, and asked 
 why I had left him ; for he had searched 
 vainly for me. 
 
 " I left you," I replied, " because ray 
 brain could bear no more torturing just 
 then : now I am calm, and can listen to 
 the end." 
 
 *' Oh ! it can soon be told," he answered. 
 " I walked back with Ellen, who trembled 
 like an aspen leaf at every sound, evidently 
 dreading the anger of her parents, for told 
 they must be ; and then the thought of her 
 marriage next morning, for w^hich every- 
 thing was arranged, seemed to distract her.
 
 ^ HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 199 
 
 I did not feel it in tlie same way : I seemed 
 more like one who, though not feeling the 
 thing, still determined on going resolutely 
 through with it. I felt as if I were going 
 on boldly to face death, no shrinking from 
 it, no fear ; and yet such hopeless misery ! 
 And we walked straight to the drawing- 
 room, where Ellen, weak to the last, entered 
 the room only to fall senseless. I lifted 
 her up and with amazing calmness said — 
 * It is but right to tell you. Lady Hunting- 
 don, your daughter loves me. I shall marry 
 her : nothing can prevent it now.' I did 
 not tell Lady Huntingdon / loved Ellen ; 
 that I feared her anger, and knew there 
 was no hope, and that I was distracted in 
 consequence. No ! I stood there so calm 
 that the mother stood looking at me, then 
 at her daughter, as if she dreamt for a few 
 moments, and then such a torrent of word 3 ! 
 I will not repeat them ; anger, scorn, con- 
 tempt, and invective, one heaped on the 
 other, and all directed to me. Ellen, who
 
 200 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 had now recovered from her fainting fit, 
 rose from the sofa, and cried — ' It is not 
 his fault : he never paid me attention : 
 he never asked me to break my faith 
 to my cousin, and marry him.' ^ Then 
 what in the name of heaven do you mean, 
 girl T asked Lady Huntingdon, vrith a look 
 and manner I shall never forget. ^ I mean 
 that I love Mr. Churchill ; that I will give 
 up all for him ; that I would sooner die a 
 thousand times over than marry my cousin ; 
 that no power shall prevent me from acting 
 as I wish.' Then, I remember how she was 
 borne from the room amid torrents of abuse 
 and indignation ; and I was left to relate 
 what had passed. Yes, I had to plead for 
 what J did not feel ; to appear guilty for 
 what I never should have spoken, but for 
 Ellen. 1 think Lady Huntingdon guessed 
 as much. With a woman's quickness of 
 perception she saw on whose side the love 
 was ; but evidently thought worldly con- 
 siderations influenced me : she little knew 
 how willingly, gladly, I would have relin-
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 201 
 
 quished all claim to her dauo^hter's hand, 
 had not honour and feeling for her bound me ; 
 as I had begun, so would I go on with it, 
 even to the sacrifice of my own feelings. You 
 can imagine what passed, perhaps, the 
 horror and rage of Sir Charles Huntingdon, 
 when he heard the awful startling intelli- 
 gence that his daughter had engaged herself 
 to her brother's tutor ; with what hauteur 
 he bade me leave his house for ever, hardly 
 deigning to listen to my defence of what 
 he thoQo-ht so dreadful, whilst I stood 
 trembling with pride before him, not ven- 
 turing to speak lest my rage should cause 
 me to utter words that would have dragged 
 me down to his level. Bowing low, I left 
 the room, and an hour afterwards, the 
 house ; and then came a feeling of freedom 
 and of happiness ; but she whom I had left 
 without a word of farewell, with no one 
 near to breathe a kind thought, or alleviate 
 her bitter grief ; what would become of her ? 
 Was I not selfish in thus leaving her ? I 
 
 K 2
 
 202 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICy. 
 
 determined, instantly on arriving in town, 
 to write to her : in her hands would I leave 
 it to decide our fate, and whatever she re- 
 solved on I would agree to. How many 
 letters I wrote and tore before I sent one. 
 I could not write coldly, and show no feel- 
 ing, to one whose whole heart seemed to be 
 centered in me ; yet how could I write with 
 a lover's fervour, when it was not felt? 
 Writing very kindly, therefore, without any 
 great profession of feeling, w^hich, if I saw 
 her again, she would perceive was wanting, 1 
 despatched my letter, and anxiously awaited 
 her reply. 
 
 Some days passed in suspense for an an- 
 swer. When it did come it was so full of 
 real grief, not alone on her own account, 
 but for the way in which I had been treated, 
 that I pitied and almost loved her for it ; 
 the more at hearing how really ill she was 
 and how her parents still insisted on her 
 marrying Lord W^niett, from whom the 
 truth had been veiled, and who thought
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 203 
 
 her sudden illness had caused his marriage 
 to be postponed. She wrote, that she had 
 bribed her own servant to post her letter 
 for her, and told me that if it were found 
 out that she had written, her suffering would 
 be still greater, and that no power on earth 
 should force her to give me up. Thus did 
 she write, and as I read I wondered that 
 one with so retiring a manner, and so much 
 weakness of character, should, at the same 
 time, be so determined. 
 
 I don't know how it happened, whether 
 her correspondence had been at last dis- 
 covered, but she ceased to \vrite, and I heard 
 from good authority that Miss Huntingdon 
 was dangerously ill; that the family had 
 o-one abroad on her account, fearino- she 
 was rapidly falling into a decline. She had 
 a painfully delicate appearance, and I now 
 dreaded what I might hear. I heard 
 nothing for many weeks. 
 
 And now whither was I to turn, thus 
 suddenly deprived of what had seemed so
 
 204 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 advantageous, and yet had proved so much 
 the reverse. No mot^e trials for me, as tutor 
 in great rr.ens' houses , no, 1 would work 
 again sedulously at the bar, and turn the 
 taleijts I possessed to account. I steadily 
 adhered to this resolve, and found success 
 crown my efforts. And now, as if in reward 
 for my steadier course of life, relief also 
 came in the shape of nine thousand pounds, 
 left to me by the death of my mother's only 
 sister, who, dying unmarried, divided her 
 fortune between me and Eldred. Thus 
 suddenly did fortune smile on us both, after 
 many dark years of reverses and suffering. 
 And my conduct for the future should 
 prove my thankfulness for this unex- 
 pected help in time of need. It was one 
 .-lay, early in December last, that I received 
 a letter from Lady Huntingdon ; to niy 
 surprise and consternation it was to ask, 
 almost to entreat me to visit them at Pisa. 
 She spoke in almost despairing tones of her 
 daughter's health, and though she did not
 
 HOXESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 205 
 
 say my presence would effect a cure, perhaps 
 her pride not allowing' her to do so, the 
 whole tenor of the letter led me to think 
 such was the case. My refusal to accept 
 their invitation was calm and polite. I now 
 could be proud as they had been, and show 
 them that a ofentleman was not thus to be 
 treated at then- will or caprice ; concluding 
 my letter with real sorrow and concern at 
 Miss Huntingdon's state of health, I quietly 
 waited for what might ensue. No answer 
 came, and most of the winter passed. 
 Society again had charms for me, and I 
 entered into it once more, though not in 
 the wild and reckless way of former da)s. 
 On returnino: one nio-ht from a laroe and 
 gay party, I walked into my sitting-room to 
 fetch something I had left there, when, by 
 the dim firelight, I saw some one standing 
 by it, and on the intruder turning round, 
 I was face to face with Charles Huntingdon. 
 He looked pale, ill, and agitated, and grasped 
 my hand warmly at my start on seeing him,
 
 206 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 and enquiry as to what had brought him to 
 England, he answered, with his usual frank 
 charming manner — ' I have come to ask 
 you to accompany me back to Italy. You 
 were right in refusing at first : my father 
 and mother treated you shamefully ; I blush 
 to think of it ; but, for my sake, come. 
 Ellen loves you so ; she is, I tear, dying. 
 Will you not come and see her before she 
 leaves us ?' Poor Charlie ! I can see him 
 now, his fine face looking at me with so 
 much feeling expressed in every feature, 
 while tears stood in his eyes, waiting mv 
 reply. ' Come, only to hasten Ellen's death," 
 I answered; 'be again insulted?' I was 
 ^oing to add ; ^ again utter words and vows 
 I do not feel;' but I checked the words at 
 his interruption of * It shall never happen 
 again. Here,' he continued, drawino- a 
 letter from his pocket, ' read this, and 
 learn how they now lament their cruelty 
 and injustice.' I read it attentively, and 
 then said — ' I will go back with you '
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 207 
 
 The words came reluctantly, slowly; the 
 heart had not uttered them ; no love breathed 
 through them : I felt their strangeness, 
 their coldness, and I turned away. Charlie 
 gazed at me for a few moments, very silent ; 
 yet a life of thought seemed to pass over 
 his brow, and look out of his clear eyes 
 into mine ; they seemed to read something 
 of my strange fate, and the thoughts that 
 occupied me. He said, hesitatingly, ' Yes, 
 you will come ; you are generous and for- 
 giving : may you find the happiness you 
 deserve !' Then, after awhile, he said — 
 * Can you be ready by to-morrow ? if so, 
 we will start.' I nodded assent, and he left 
 me. Well, Inez, you may perhaps guess 
 all that followed ; how 1 found Ellen pale, 
 ill, and seemingly sinking fast ; and how 
 grieved I felt for her. I cannot easily for- 
 get our meeting ; how she wept I and yet 
 to see me again seemed to give her strength 
 and life. After awhile a faint tinge of 
 colour came to that deathlike face ; faint
 
 208 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 smiles played on her small pale lips. Sir 
 Charles and Lady Huntingdon were all 
 kindness and civility, and I plainly perceived 
 my presence had been the last hope to save 
 their child. Entreaties and threats they 
 had found of no avail : Ellen was equally 
 determined : she would not marry Lord 
 Wyniett nor give me up. Strange ! she 
 did not see my coldness ; that pride had 
 not made her feel that my affection had not 
 been great, or I should not have let so many 
 months elapse without endeavouring to gain 
 tidings of her. Each day she grew better 
 and stronger. We were engaged under the 
 sanction of her parents : I need not say 
 sanction ; they proposed it to me. Her 
 fortune was more than sufficient, and when 
 I left them they told me they should return 
 in August, and we were to have been mar- 
 ried in October." 
 
 " That cannot be now," he continued, 
 " 1 have known you since, and loved you : 
 all must be relinquished for you."
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 209 
 
 I merely shook my head, and we walked 
 to the house in silence. My excess of 
 misery did not enable me even to shed a 
 tear. A dead weight lay on my heart ; I 
 could scarce breathe, much less speak.
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 I LISTENED, in turn, to despair and en- 
 treaties from Mr. Churchill, yet my path 
 was clearly marked; I would not swerve 
 from it. 
 
 " By thus refusing me," he said, ^' you 
 cause both of us acute suffering ; and the 
 sin of marrying, when I do not love, must 
 rest upon you : you may live to repent it." 
 
 '' No, I shall not," I answered, calmly ; 
 ^* we do not repent when we act from duty 
 and right principle. I may for a long time 
 be unhappy ; but, Edward," I added, ear- 
 nestly, should I not be far more unhappy if
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 211 
 
 I saw Miss Huntingdon wretched and dying 
 young, from your desertion of her ; if I 
 heard your name, so precious to me, breathed 
 in contempt, and coupled with dishonour ? 
 Think of it as I do, and the consciousness 
 of acting rightly will bring peace at last 
 to your troubled heart." 
 
 I cannot tell whether, after a time, I 
 might not have yielded to all his arguments 
 and entreaties, the conflict in my mind being 
 almost too much for human strength to 
 conquer, left, too, as I was, at seventeen, 
 with no friend, or adviser, or guide, had not 
 an unforseen event suddenly occurred, to 
 decide it for me. The Huntingdons had 
 actually arrived, and a note full of affection 
 and entreaty that Mr. Churchill would come 
 instantly, was put into his hand. He read 
 it, handed it to me, with a look which I 
 shall never forget ; it seemed to say now 
 decide. After reading it I said quietly — 
 
 " You must go at once : it is right to go." 
 
 " Right to go, Inez ?"
 
 212 HONESTY IS THE BEST FOLIC i'. 
 
 How can I attempt to describe the agony 
 of his pale face as he repeated my words. 
 
 " Is it right thus to act a false part, 
 while every hope, every thought of mine is 
 resting upon you?" 
 
 *' And yet," I replied, " that unfortunate 
 girl, just rescued from an early death, loves 
 you, and anxiously awaits your coming. 
 How can you tell her you do not love her ?" 
 
 Mr. Churchill paced up and down the 
 room ; he talked like one distracted, till, at 
 length, he snatched some letter-paper from 
 the table, saying : — 
 
 " I will write the whole truth to Ellen, 
 and tell her I can never see her aofain." 
 
 He would have done so, but I seized his 
 hands, and on my knees, in tears, made him 
 at last promise he would never desert Ellen 
 Huntingdon till she, of her own accord, 
 gave him up. All I then urged and prayed 
 for, every feeling both for him and me, 
 came back a thousand times in torturing 
 accents to my broken heart. Yet fto stand
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 213 
 
 in his way ! I to prevent him marrying one 
 who could raise him in the world's estima- 
 tion ; one who loved him, if not more un- 
 selfishly, as much as I did ; one lovely, too, 
 and gentle ! Could I be the one to blast her 
 young lite as with a plague spot, so deadly 
 would the blow fall ! No ! they were en- 
 gaged, and they should marry ; and, as for 
 the last time Mr. Churchill pressed me to 
 his heart with wild broken expressions of 
 anguish and despair, I wished that we 
 might be folded in death. 
 
 When he left the house, Miss Churchill 
 entered the room, and commenced, for the 
 first time, speaking of the approaching 
 marriage. I sat, as if listening, but a train 
 of recollections came back to me, of our 
 rambles together ; his accents of love ; his 
 unhappiness ; his deep thrilling tones ; the 
 music of his voice : all ! all gone for ever ! 
 I seemed hke one grappling with some 
 spirit whose power was such that I grew 
 weak and faint ; a mist spread before my
 
 214 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 eyes ; I walked from the room like one in a 
 dream. I must just have had strength per- 
 mitted me to reach the room. I woke from 
 my trance, stupified, stunned : there was a 
 faint glimmer of light through the casement. 
 I bathed my face, and then leaned against 
 the window ; the cool night air blew on me 
 and restored me to consciousness. There 
 was no one near — all was still — I gazed 
 round my little room — I was alone now in 
 the wide world, and had, of my own will, 
 cast from me the only real love that had 
 been o-ranted me. I took Mrs. Wentworth's 
 locket from my neck, thinking of the time 
 she had sat beside me. Where was she 
 now ? had her agonized heart found rest ? 
 not if she watched over me that night, or 
 if sorrow can be felt for those who mourn. 
 I did not see Mr. Churchill that evening, 
 as I before mentioned ; and the next m.orn- 
 ing remained in my room, feeling ill ; and a 
 kind of dread of meeting any one, kept me 
 there till I heard his voice calling me. I
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 215 
 
 ran hastily down stairs to where he stood 
 awaiting me, looking much agitated. He 
 seized my hands, and whispered : — 
 
 *' They are in the drawing-room ; go, 
 Inez, and make my wife's acquaintance." 
 
 " You look pale and ill ; have you had no 
 rest r 
 
 " Rest, Inez ?" he answered mournfully, 
 " only the good find rest." 
 
 " Then you will find it at last, Edward, 
 for you are acting rightly." 
 
 " Acting^ indeed ! ' he said, " and must 
 for ever act, I fear," he added bitterly. 
 We entered the room together. I came so 
 calmly in, no one would have known the 
 conflict, the ao:onv of heart we both felt ; 
 and this is a thing that so often strikes me, 
 the power we all have of hiding at times 
 the real state of our feeUngs and the arti . 
 ficial unreal existence we dwell in and 
 amongst. 
 
 Ellen Huntingdon sat there, by the win- 
 dow, looking the perfection of elegance and
 
 216 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 good taste ; for her dress, though simple, 
 was perfectly adapted to her figure and 
 complexion, her hair hanging in loose ring- 
 lets over her shoulders; her face, though 
 slight and delicate, lit up with happy smiles ; 
 whilst I, in my black dress, my hair parted 
 plainly, and my eyes dim from weeping, sat 
 near her, asking question after question, 
 seeming to listen with some interest to the 
 various topics discussed. Mr. Churchill 
 stood near ; and as he glanced on both, I 
 felt indeed the sacrifice he was making ; 
 every look told me I was loved. But Ellen 
 noted it not : strange delusion ! and yet it 
 was not wilful blindness. She did not see 
 the trouble. I was glad when the whole 
 party rose to depart : Mr. Churchill accom- 
 panied them to the gate, where the carriage 
 waited. I wondered he could not love her, 
 gentle, lovely, and engaging as she seemed 
 to me; and the earnest affectionate look 
 she cast on him as he gave her his arm, on 
 leaving the cottage, showed me plainly her
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 217 
 
 great devotion to him . No reciprocal feel- 
 ing or look of love rested upon her, deluded 
 girl ! and yet real pity for her was felt, 
 when, on his returning to the room, I 
 said: — 
 
 '* It is strange Miss Huntingdon does not 
 notice your cold manner towards her : I 
 wish you could, for her sake, throw more 
 warmth into it; show her some affection." 
 
 " It is not strange^'' he answered sadly, 
 " do you not perceive, that though she has 
 feeUng, she has no sense ? but never mind," 
 he added, " it is better she should be bHnd, 
 if she will marry me : she may thank heaven 
 for not having awarded her those generally 
 inestimable benefits." 
 
 ** I hope she will never repent her mar- 
 riage," I said, " in time you will love her ; 
 she has amiability and great affection for 
 you." 
 
 " Yes, she has all that," he answered^ 
 " and yet, Inez, I never loved her; I have 
 a regard for her, but no love. Yesterday, 
 
 VOL. I. L
 
 218 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 Inez, when I mentioned your forlorn con- 
 dition to Ellen, she begged of me, in her 
 name and my own, to ask you to come to 
 us when we are married : you will come ; 
 will you not ? ' 
 
 " Not now, Edward," I answered weep- 
 ing: " when time has softened this trial to 
 us, when I feel T can come, and I know that 
 you are happy, I may come once more 
 among you : promise me you will not press 
 it, for some time at least," I added, suppli- 
 catingly. 
 
 '^ You will wait till I am happy,''' he said, 
 laying stress on the word " happy," and look- 
 ing at me earnestly the while, " mark me," 
 he added, " I may recover, in time, from the 
 sharpness of this grief, and become hardened 
 to it : worldly pleasures may have their in- 
 fluence, riches their attractions ; 1 may, as 
 you say, love Ellen in time, and so gain 
 what many would call happiness ; but be- 
 neath all that^ will lie the hard deep lonely 
 grief that no time can change, no mere
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 219 
 
 surface happiness lighten or smooth. I 
 know the lot portioned out to me ; I will 
 bear it quietly, even patiently, as you have 
 asked me, but if you wait to come to us till 
 I am happy ^ you and I will meet no more :" 
 he pressed my hand, rose abruptly, and 
 quitted the room. 
 
 I pondered long and sadly over Edward 
 Churchiirs words : they seemed to haunt 
 me ; and for Ellen Huntingdon I could not 
 bear to think that such affection as she 
 showed should meet with so chilling a re- 
 turn. She was so kind and gracious in her 
 manner to me, also, that I felt still more 
 grieved that I should, innocently, be the 
 cause of so much suffering. We spent the 
 evening with the Huntingdons ', and when, 
 after wandering in the grounds, I was alone 
 with Ellen, she said : — 
 
 *• I hope, Miss Wentworth, we may be- 
 come great friends : I have heard so much 
 of you from Edward, and I now beg you will, 
 when we have a home to offer you, share it
 
 220 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 with US as long as ever you feel inclined : 
 it will be conferring a great favour, if you 
 will promise me to do this." 
 
 Her manner evinced so much kindness of 
 feehng, so much delicacy and truth, that, 
 as I pressed her hand and thanked her, I 
 knew not what reply to make : at last, with 
 faltering tone, and tears, I could not restrain 
 gushing from my eyes, I told her, " I 
 should be happy to stay with them now and 
 then— but " 
 
 "But yvhat ?" she said, looking at me ; 
 " you think I am not sincere in what I 
 ask ; that we neither of us wish it : that is 
 why you thus hesitate." 
 
 " Indeed, it is not," I answered ; ^* I 
 know you are sincere ; but 1 must not 
 always be thus dependant upon others. I 
 have lately thought of trying, at all events, 
 to find some one wishing for a companion 
 whom I might really like to Hve with." 
 
 "What ! some invalid old lady, I suppose," 
 answered Ellen, " no I won't hear of your
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 221 
 
 being moped to death. I shall bring you 
 out, and till you marry, you must remain 
 with us ; remember, if Edward orders you, 
 you must obey him : he is your guardian.'^ 
 
 I thouofht of when he had said the same 
 words : I merely shook my head, and 
 smiled. 
 
 '^ You win consent," she said, ** and let 
 me go and tell dearest Edward so : you 
 don't know how kind, clever, and perfect he 
 is, or how much he has borne for me." 
 
 " I can believe it," I said. 
 
 " Ah ! but wait till I tell you some day 
 of the dreadful scenes that occurred, of how 
 unkindly he was treated ! how, notwith- 
 standing all that, he came to see me, and at 
 last won papa's consent. You must not 
 judge of his manner, which is somewhat 
 reserved, for he never at any time paid me 
 much attention, or appeared in love with 
 me : indeed, I had hardly dared hope he 
 cared for me ; but now I am the happiest 
 girl that ever lived, for I know he cares for
 
 222 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 me ; and he is so delightful, and so hand- 
 some : don't you think so ?" 
 
 '' Yes," I replied, turning to examine 
 some jewels that lay on the table. 
 
 ^' I daresay," she continued, " you think 
 him too old; but I don't like such very 
 young men. Edward is young-looking, 
 though, for two-and-thirty, and there is so 
 much expression in the face : do you not 
 think so?" 
 
 '' Yes," I again replied, " and the ex- 
 pression is, with hinij a true index to the 
 mind." 
 
 " And yet," said Ellen, as if musing to 
 herself, " I cannot help thinking you do not 
 like him much ; you act and look as if you 
 were afraid of him ; I suppose all girls are 
 of their guardians : it sounds disagreeable ; 
 but you must not let that idea take possession 
 of you ; for 1 wish you to feel how good and 
 charming he is. Help me to choose a ring 
 for him," she continued, turning over a 
 number of handsome rings ; '^ for I wish
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 223 
 
 to have my hair put in one : I did give him 
 a ring once ; but he lost it." She little 
 knew that I had seen her ring cast from 
 him into that dark pool of water ; and that 
 he had wished to cast her away likewise for 
 ever. 
 
 " This is beautiful,'* I said, taking up 
 one of the rings, and examining it. 
 
 " Yes, it is, and we will decide upon it : 
 that I gave him was a blue one." 
 
 " I remember it well.*' 
 
 " Did you find out that 1 had given it to 
 him ? and did he ever speak of me, to you ? 
 what did he say?" 
 
 " He told me of his engagement to you, 
 and described you exactly." 
 
 ^' I suppose," said Ellen, laughing, " he 
 said what all people do when they are in 
 love, and very happy. I am perhaps foolish 
 to ask ycu these questions ; but all I wish 
 to know is, would you have found out he was 
 in love with anyone before he told you ?" 
 
 *' I thought he was in love, certainly," I
 
 224 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLlcr. 
 
 answered, "but will he not be wondering 
 \^ here you are ?" I pursued, feeling much 
 perplexed at her close questioning : " had 
 we not better go down stairs ?" 
 
 We both left the room and descended to 
 the drawing-room, where Edward Churchill 
 sat awaiting us. I saw her go up to him 
 and whisper something in his ear. I fancied 
 it was to make him promise to urge me still 
 more to stay with them when they were 
 married, on which he cast a mingled look 
 of happiness and of trouble upon me. 
 
 " Don't look so grave," said Ellen ; " we 
 shall all be so happy, and lead such a merry 
 life together." 
 
 " I hope we may be very happy," he 
 answered ; " you look full of animation, so 
 different from what you did on our first 
 acquaintance, Ellen." 
 
 " Because then I was not happy, and did 
 not know you cared for me ; now I am con- 
 vinced of your love and have nothing left 
 to wish for."
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 225 
 
 He rose up hastily and walked to the 
 piano, and I, kno^ving how his singing moved 
 me, left the room, while Ellen sat in perfect 
 happiness, listening. Oh ! who could have 
 been cruel enough to have torn the veil from 
 her eyes, and laid the truth, in all its bitter- 
 ness, bare before her. 
 
 Their marriage was to take place almost 
 immediately. Lady Huntingdon, Ellen, and 
 Mr. Churchill left us for a few days to 
 arranofe different matters in London. Their 
 absence was a great relief to me. I had 
 no longer, then, to assume a cheerfulness I 
 did not feel, and each day I impatiently 
 awaited Valerie's answer, to hear whether 
 I could leave before the wedding took place. 
 The letter came at last ; very cold and stiff 
 it was, unlike the note of a young girl. She 
 was sorry they could not receive me just 
 then, the house being full of company, in 
 consequence of the London season being 
 over, and many friends coming to them. 
 Towards the winter, however, she hoped I 
 
 L 2
 
 226 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 would come and stay as long as I felt dis- 
 posed, with them; wiote of the gaiety in 
 prospect ; was glad to hear I was happy 
 with my guardian, and concluded by saying 
 her time was fully occupied, and she had 
 no leisure for writing. So now I had no 
 hope left : remain for a time I must, and 
 many tears I shed as I took my solitary 
 walk that day. If I could have entered 
 into the gaiety she mentioned, it must, at 
 all events for a time, have pleased me, and 
 diverted my thoughts. Why was I then 
 denied what she looked forward to with so 
 much pleasure ? / had nothing to divert my 
 miserable thoughts ; everything around 
 served but to remind me of my lost hap- 
 piness, and Miss Chui'chill, whom every day 
 I disliked more, was for a time my only 
 companion. She talked of her nephew's 
 marriage with evident pride and pleasure. 
 
 " It will be such a good thing for him," 
 she said, '' and I am happy to think he has 
 not, like his elder brother, been fool enough
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 227 
 
 to fall in love with, and marry some por- 
 tionless girl : money is, after all, the only 
 essential thing in life, and if people will 
 marry, they had better marry richly. For 
 my part, I think a single life much to be 
 preferred, and with all the numerous offers 
 I had, I thought it far wiser to remain as I 
 was, though I fear I broke many hearts in 
 consequence." 
 
 " How very distressing !" I answered, 
 turning away to hide my laughter. 
 
 " Distressing !" she repeated, " indeed 
 it was ; if you were old enough to hear the 
 particulars, I would relate them, but young 
 peoples' minds should not be poisoned with 
 romance and love." 
 
 I merely nodded an assent to her wise and 
 prudent remark, and left her to indulge in 
 the evening nap she was always too ready 
 for, and hastened to pore over some of the 
 books we used at one time to read together, 
 The days passed stupidly enough, certainly, 
 but free from much that was painful, I
 
 228 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 did not think, as many do after a first dis- 
 appointment, that I should never care for 
 anyone again. I was almost too young to 
 think of Mr. Churchill with any settled 
 feeling of that kind : I only knew that he 
 had more power over me than anyone else ; 
 that his praise or blame moved me more, 
 and that he loved me. I think had I been 
 some years older I should have felt his in- 
 sufficiency to guide me; for, even when I 
 loved him most, I saw plainly the great 
 defect in his character : he lacked the steady 
 unflinching principle of right that alone 
 ensures us respect and real happiness ; and 
 to lead and educate a mind ardent and en- 
 thusiastic as mine, such a prop to lean on 
 would not have sufficed. I think he never 
 knew quite how much I had cared for him, 
 nor how quietly in my own heart I bore my 
 trial, never revealing what had passed 
 between us, never thrusting myself into his 
 society, though taxed by Ellen with in- 
 gratitude and dislike of one whom she
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 229 
 
 naturally thought all goodness, I cannot 
 dilate upon all this, or the suffering I bore, 
 but will dwell only on what was good in him, 
 and on his grief, which was long and bitter. 
 They only arrived home two days before 
 the wedding. Ellen told me I must place 
 her marriage-wreath on ! so 1 was singled 
 out to deck the bride of him I loved. As 
 we talked toorether on the eveninor of their 
 arrival, I felt such a cold feeling at my heart, 
 and, turning away, leaned out of the window ; 
 there was a slight rustle of the trees, which 
 were tinofed with the settino^ sun, for now 
 autumn had come, and the evenings closed 
 early. The clear air of a September night 
 blew freshly in upon us as we sat there, long 
 conversinoc on the various arrano^ements for 
 the future ; even till the moon rose, when 
 Mr. Churchill called out to us from below, 
 and Ellen, at the sound, fled like a cloud, 
 so all-powerful was that voice to her.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 The following evening I had put on my 
 bonnet^ with the intention of meeting 
 Edward Churchill, who said he should be 
 at the cottage at six o'clock. I had pro- 
 mised to meet him, as he had various 
 matters to talk over with me, and I was 
 passing through the drawing-room towards 
 the open window, when Miss Churchill ac- 
 costed me. 
 
 " 1 want }'0u," she said, " to arrange a 
 little matter with me about my dress that I 
 intend w^earing at the wedding; just come 
 into my room, will you ?"
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 231 
 
 " Would it do when I come in ?" I asked, 
 hesitatingly. 
 
 " What !" she answered, " what did you 
 say?" 
 
 I repeated my words. 
 
 *' Oh, pray never mind !" she replied, 
 with a dignified shake of her head. " I 
 daresay I can find some one who will be 
 kind and obliging enough to assist me." 
 
 " I shall be ver}^ glad to render you any 
 service," I said ; " only just at this moment 
 I was going out; but if you will show me 
 your dress I will see what 1 can do." 
 
 She led the way, and pointed to a green 
 satin dress. 
 
 '' I merely wish that these lace ruffles 
 should be put to the sleeves." 
 
 I took up the lace and began arranging 
 it, knowing, at the same time, that by doing 
 so I should be late to meet Mr. Churchill, 
 and so incur his displeasure. I felt unhappy 
 and out of temper. 
 
 ^^ It's a loveli/ thing, is it not?" asked
 
 232 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 Miss Churchill, " and has kept its colour 
 so well." 
 
 I thought it frightful, but dared not say 
 so, the shade of green being ugly and faded- 
 looking ; by its make it looked very much 
 as if it had come out of Noah's ark. I, 
 however, put the lace on, and was joyfully 
 moving towards the door, when she said, 
 after thanking me — 
 
 " Would you kindly give a look also to 
 my bonnet?" and before my wondering 
 gaze she drew forth, and held up for inspec- 
 tion, an enormous yellow crape bonnet. 
 '* All it needs," she added, " is to be 
 trimmed with these flowers : please put them 
 near the top, and a quantity inside : flowers 
 become me so much". 
 
 Those she had chosen were the largest 
 poppies and corn-flowers, sticking up in a 
 peculiar fashion, certainly in a way I had 
 never seen them growing. With, I am sure, 
 the air of a martyr, I again commenced 
 working, longing to tell the cross old thing
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY'. 233 
 
 I would willingly have sat up all night to 
 add to the ugUness of her bonnet, but that 
 now every moment was precious to me, 
 but what might she not have said had I 
 dared to do so ? No, I quietly submitted 
 to her will, and then ran hastily through 
 the garden to the lane, where Mr. Churchill 
 stood waiting. He remained for a moment 
 without speaking, a sort of reproachful ex- 
 pression on his face, and a settled compressed 
 look of sufferinor as thouo:h nothinor could 
 alter it now; like one doomed, and for 
 whom there could be no escape. I told him 
 the cause of my delay ; of Miss Churchill's 
 green dress and yellow bonnet. I almost 
 laughed as the vision of poppies and corn- 
 flowers rose before me : he smiled faintly, 
 and then said — 
 
 " Well, we have not many minutes to be 
 together, Inez. I am beginning a dark and 
 dreary journey — where will it end ?'' 
 
 I stood by him mute ; no answer came to 
 comfort him, for I felt too much to speak.
 
 234 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 "' My little Inez," he continued. " my 
 ward and companion, we shall now indeed 
 be separated ; hut I will strive to do my 
 duty. You have asked it, therefore it shall 
 be done." 
 
 " May God help you to keep this promise 
 faithfully,'' I said at last, as we stood 
 solemnly together under the clear face of 
 heaven, with only the invisible world looking 
 on our sorrow, I at last • tore myself from 
 him and stood near, trembling. The wind 
 moaned amid the dark fir trees with a sigh- 
 ing restless sound : he leaned against 
 them : his agony at last was such, that I 
 came near to him and prayed him to be 
 calm, and th'^n, silent, hand in hand, we 
 walked to the little gate of the cottage, 
 where, with one heart-broken sigh, he 
 left me. 
 
 I had decided on going with Miss 
 Churchill to their marriage the following 
 morning, instead of sleeping at the Hunt- 
 ingdons' ; and I lay that night sleepless
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 235 
 
 and despairing, not as the young and happy 
 bridesmaid of a young and lovely bride ; 
 yet not so much did I mourn for myself 
 or my own feelings, as for him I loved. 
 Almost like one in a dream I stood some 
 hours after at the altar. I had placed the 
 orange wreath on the brow of the fair 
 bride ; my hands arranged the long white 
 veil, and there she stood, in her graceful 
 beauty, by her husband's side, and I, with my 
 light gay dress, her gift to me, stood amid the 
 happy group of bridesmaids, watching the 
 ceremony proceed that tore us two asunder, 
 and bound him for life. And when concluded, 
 what was there in that one look he cast on 
 me ? Oh ! fatal mystery of hfe 1 that one 
 look might have revealed all. Yet, I 
 hoped on. 
 
 The six weeks they were absent, those 
 weeks of long weary trial to me, I will not 
 dwell upon. Alone with Miss Churchill in 
 that quiet stillness, and with no variation 
 either of pain or pleasure to dispel the
 
 236 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 gloom, I felt indeed as if my young life 
 was crushed, and all my senses for a time 
 deadened. It was not misery of that kind 
 whence springs excitement and despe- 
 ration; bearing us on to stern endurance 
 of what we suffer. Mine was not that ; I 
 went about my usual pursuits in a quiet 
 mechanical manner. I talked to my com- 
 panion, as if no recent unhappiness had 
 befallen me, in a cheerful lively manner, 
 and my replies to Ellen's letters were written 
 in the same strain. My walks were over 
 hill and dale, in the thick wood and deep 
 lanes, but never to the shore : the sight and 
 sound of those rolling restless waves made 
 my poor heart sick, bearing as it seemed to 
 me, on their wild surf, the spirit of my lost 
 love, and all my heart's joy. But one stormy 
 evening when the tide rolled high, and the 
 wind roared and swept the bright leaves far 
 and wide from the branches, J hurried to 
 the shore, and my eyes resting on the well- 
 remembered spot, I shed, for the first
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 287 
 
 time, copious burning tears. Little should 
 I have cared then had those mountain waves 
 swept nearer and borne my aching troubled 
 heart to rest, so fraught with uncertainty 
 and joylessness seemed my futnre, and so 
 dreary and lifeless the present ; then fancy 
 led me back, and I was once more pressed 
 in his arms, and heart to heart echoing back 
 our love. That evening was the last I 
 watched, for many months, that rolling tide. 
 The followmg morning brought new ideas, 
 a change of scene and of life, for a letter 
 from Valerie came, telHng me that her 
 father would come to the cottage the fol- 
 lowing day, and take me to Wentworth 
 Court. The letter was brief and evidently 
 written in haste, but, glad to escape ere 
 Edward and Ellen returned to the new home 
 they had chosen, I prepared to depart, and 
 once more enter into what had a painful 
 remembrance, but which I was determined 
 to try again, rather than remain where 1 was. 
 I told Miss Churchill my plans, and pre-
 
 238 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 pared to depart with my uncle the following 
 day. I had not fancied his wife's death 
 would have altered him much, or weighed 
 upon his spirits. I was surprised therefore, 
 when the next morning brought hira to the 
 cottage, to see how careworn he had become, 
 and with what a subdued and saddened 
 manner he met me. He scarcely tasted his 
 breakfast, and as soon as the horses were 
 rested he hurried me off. It was a still 
 grey kind of evening, such as we often have 
 in autumn, when I first saw Wentworth 
 Court. It was situated in one of the 
 prettiest parts of Sussex, about two miles 
 from a rural peaceful village, a regular old- 
 fashioned English village, such as 1 like to 
 see. The scenery was not wild and romantic, 
 like that I had just quitted ; winding lanes, 
 broad meadows, and woods, were the chief 
 characteristic of the scene now before me. 
 Here and there a wild dell or chine, whose 
 sides were clothed with wood and rock, with 
 still streams in the hollow, would serve a-s a
 
 HONESTY 13 THE BEST POLICY. 239 
 
 contrast to the surrounding scenery, but the 
 general aspect of the country was rural, 
 with little that was striking or very pic- 
 turesque : yet, which, with its calm meadows, 
 large trees, tinted now with autumn hues, 
 seemed to inspire me with a kind of peace 
 I could not have felt within the sound of 
 the rolling sea. The old house gleamed 
 forth in the dim twilight, as we drove up 
 the loner windinor avenue to the hill on which 
 Wentworth Court was situated, and 1 felt 
 that, even if not happy with Valerie, I 
 could wander in those beautiful grounds un- 
 heeded ; and surely in those old quaint 
 rooms there must be peace and quiet. 
 
 I entered a large oak hall, from whose 
 ancient walls old faces looked down on me, 
 faces that perhaps once ha 1 beamed with 
 glad and happy smiles, in welcome of some 
 loving heart, or mused in melancholy dream- 
 ing over the long fields, mourning for the 
 loved ones that would never smile on them 
 again, till, in other purer regions, they ^ ould
 
 240 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 meet once more where there will be no 
 death. Yes, as I gazed on them I almost 
 forgot Valerie's existence, carried back as I 
 was to other times, till her voice came ring- 
 ing on my ears ; and she soon entered the 
 hall, arm-in-arm with another girl. Coming 
 forward with her usual careless air, she said — 
 
 " My dear child, I am very glad you are 
 come ; but, no doubt, like me, you will soon 
 be moped to death in this old house ; but I 
 shall do my best to amuse you. Let me 
 introduce Miss St. Leger to you.'* 
 
 A few minutes afterwards. Miss St. Leger 
 having left the room, I asked : — 
 
 " Who is she, Valerie ? She is an eleg^ant- 
 looking girl." 
 
 " She is a daughter of Lord Falcon- 
 hurst's," answered Valerie, " and her eldest 
 brother is very soon coming here for the 
 shooting.'* 
 
 " Is he a pleasant person ?" I asked. 
 
 She replied, after a moment's hesitation,
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 241 
 
 *' Yes, but a perfect idiot ; and so is she, 
 for the matter of that." 
 
 *' And is there any one else staying 
 here?" 
 
 Oh ! how Valerie turned from me ! how 
 her eye-lids trembled, and her face flushed 
 with some strong feeling, as she answered, 
 
 *' Only one or two others ;" and drawing 
 my arm within hers, she led me to my room 
 without speaking. I asked no more ques- 
 tions : I knew Valerie well enough to keep 
 silence. 
 
 '' And your guardian ?" she asked, when 
 she again spoke, '^ how did you get on with 
 him ?" 
 
 With great mastery over myself, I an- 
 swered : — 
 
 " Very well indeed ; he is married now, 
 and his wife is a kind friend to me." 
 
 '' Well, that is lucky for you," she an- 
 sw^ered quickly, " but I have heard it re- 
 ported that Mr. Churchill married her 
 
 VOL. I. M
 
 242 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 entirely for her money, and does not care 
 for her : is this true ?" 
 
 " It is not true," I replied ; and perhaps 
 there was a slight annoyance in the tone in 
 which I said it, for Valerie, with a signi- 
 ficant look, said, " it was only what I heard : 
 so it really was a love match." 
 
 " The love is more on her side than his," 
 I replied, " but at the same time Mr. 
 Churchill did not marry her for her for- 
 tune." 
 
 Valerie soon left me ; and sitting down, 
 I burst into tears : how often must I hear 
 his name thus mentioned? how often say 
 what I knew in a measure was false, or at 
 least widely separate from what I knew to 
 be the fact ? yet, if I spoke the exact truth, 
 what untold misery might not arise from a 
 few unguarded words ! Left to myself, at 
 seventeen, I had to steer, as best I could, 
 through what would have puzzled many an 
 older and wiser head than mine. 
 
 Still, Valerie seemed kinder in manner ;
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 243 
 
 and if only left in peace, my visit to Went- 
 worth Court might be pleasanter than I had 
 anticipated. Drying my tears, I descended 
 to the drawing-room. There was only one 
 person in the apartment, and that one a 
 stranojer to me. There was somethinof so 
 singularly striking and interesting in the 
 appearance of the sole occupant of that 
 spacious room, that I cannot easily forget 
 it. Just hastily, as if putting a few finishing 
 touches to a beautiful yet perfect picture of 
 my cousin Valerie, stood a shght delicately 
 made young man. There was something 
 rather foreign in his appearance and air ; 
 in the marked profile, pale complexion, and 
 splendid full black eyes as they rested in 
 
 most rapt admiration on the face glowing 
 with beauty, drawn so Hfe-like, that as I 
 entered, I started back. He noticed it; 
 and bowing, with a smile lighting up his 
 face, he said : — 
 
 " I trust you think I have succeeded ?" 
 *' It is admirable, wonderful," I answered,
 
 244 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 " but, if anything, more beautiful than 
 Valerie." 
 
 " That could not be possible," he replied, 
 with a slight foreign accent ; and while he 
 pronounced the words, he fixed his eyes, 
 in such fond admiration on his own work, 
 that I wondered if any deeper feeling made 
 him look thus than the mere pleasure 
 of having succeeded so well in the task he 
 had undertaken. As I wondered, the ori- 
 ginal entered : she coloured deeply, and 
 fixed a look on me, a look such as Valerie 
 alone can give, clear, searching, suspicious ; 
 but as the artist turned, she smiled sweetly, 
 saying:— 
 
 *' I am sure my cousin must think it like, 
 though flattered," she added laughing. 
 He did not say to her, as he did to me, 
 that could not be ; but as their eyes met, 
 such a look of affection rested on her, that 
 she was silent, and evidently happy. I 
 wondered, as I gazed on them both, whether 
 any real affection existed between them ;
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 245 
 
 on his part, perhaps, but surely Valerie, the 
 worldly minded, proud Valerie, even had 
 her heart been interested, she would never 
 give her hand to one, unknown, dependent, 
 as I concluded this stranger must be ; yet, 
 she cared for him ; yes, in her clear eyes, 
 as they rested on his, in the tremulous tone 
 of her voice, the restlessness of her manner, 
 I perceived her one fixed and only attach- 
 ment through life. On my uncle coming 
 into the room, Valerie seated herself on a 
 sofa at some distance ; it might have ap- 
 peared carelessly done, and unintentional ; 
 but I knew her character well ; she never 
 acted without some hidden motive, some 
 deep-laid train of treachery ; and I guessed 
 her motive for acting thus : it was, as her 
 whole conduct evinced, to deceive. 
 
 " Who is that young artist ?" I said to 
 my uncle, after dinner, " he seems very 
 clever." 
 
 " His name is Louis Daubeney ; he is 
 extremely clever in his profession ; his
 
 246 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 father was English, but his mother an 
 Italian. This is his first year in England, 
 and his pictures are much admired, he was 
 recommended to me by Lord Falconhurst : I 
 wished to have Valerie taken, and asked him 
 here. He is badly off, poor fellow, and 
 seems quiet and unpresuming." 
 
 " He has certainly succeeded wonderfully 
 with Valerie," I replied, and as I said it, 
 turned to look at her ; but neither she nor 
 Mr. Daubeney was in the room : Miss St. 
 Ledger was finishing a sketch at the table, 
 and an old gentleman, a friend of my uncle's, 
 was asleep on the sofa. I took a candle, 
 and crossed the old Hall, stopping now and 
 then to view the different family pictures 
 more distinctly, gazing in vain for one be- 
 loved face that ever haunted me in the full 
 richness of her beauty ; and in that last 
 moment of her life, when, supported in my 
 arms, she breathed her parting sigh on a 
 world she had cherished till its instability 
 disgusted her, and its vain deceitful pleasures
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 247 
 
 left her as I knew her first. At length, 
 voices reached my ears, not in the Hall, 
 however ; for vast as it was, each object was 
 clearly shown; but, evidently, from the 
 sound, not very distant. A clear tone I 
 well knew, though softened and full of ear- 
 nestness, and a manly voice, deep and full -, 
 and in such passionate pleading did he seem 
 to speak, that I felt he had but one object to 
 gain, and I mourned that one so young and 
 gifted must plead in vain. Vain, indeed, 
 I thought would be the hope of a young and 
 poor artist aspiring to the rich and beauti- 
 ful Valerie ! I could not hear the words ; 
 and not wishing to listen, I mounted the 
 stairs. Presently, a door opened, at the 
 end of the Hall near which I had been 
 standing ; and Valerie issued forth alone, 
 bright and joyous-looking. No tears dimmed 
 her eyes ; no shade of sorrow rested on her 
 clear white brow ; only the rose hue deep- 
 ened on her cheek, and a brighter prouder 
 smile on her small red hps, as she smiled to
 
 248 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICT. 
 
 herself, treading with stately step her own 
 halls. No start, either, as she perceived me 
 on the staircase, no token of alarm ; only a 
 dark expression overspread her face, a look, 
 as if she would gladly have stabbed me, as I 
 stood looking at her. 
 
 " Come, Inez, into the hall with me ; I 
 have been wanderiner about throuo:h the 
 different rooms to see how we can manage 
 to give a ball here : Miss St. Ledger fancied 
 it would be better to dance in the hall than 
 in the large drawing-room, and perhaps it 
 would. What do you think ?" 
 
 " I agree with Miss St. Ledger," I an- 
 swered. 
 
 The thought of a ball so soon after my 
 aunt's death rather startled me, and I 
 added : — 
 
 *' You really intend having a ball soon, 
 then ?" 
 
 " Certainly," she rephed : " am I to be 
 immured in these old halls till I grow^ as 
 grim and stiff as those old ancestors of mine
 
 ilOXESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 249 
 
 hung round us here ? what strange notions 
 you have, Inez !" 
 
 It was evident to me, from her saying 
 this, that she had read my thoughts. She 
 walked away quickly, and mingled with the 
 group in the drawing-room, who had gathered 
 round Louis Daubeney's picture of Valerie, 
 admiring the wonderful talent displayed. 
 
 M 2
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 A FEW days afterwards Mr. St. Leger arrived, 
 and although not exactly an idiot, as Valerie 
 had described him, he was certainly far from 
 prepossessing, either in person or manner 
 Perhaps his being a nobleman's son raised 
 him in her estimation, for she certainly made 
 much of him, and gave him almost her 
 whole attention. Yet, when she fancied 
 herself unnoticed, her glance would rest on 
 Louis Daubeney with the same look of fond 
 affection I had before noticed. I was 
 puzzled at the deep game she was playing, 
 and watching it would interest me during
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 251 
 
 my stay there. 1 don't think my uncle was 
 pleased with the number of guests Valerie had 
 collected around her, and sometimes when 
 sounds of laughter and mirth echoed through 
 the old halls, it seemed to jar on his feelings. 
 He was certainly an altered man, and yet 
 Valerie's power was supreme, She it was 
 who planned riding-parties, luncheons, and 
 dances of an evening, and though none of 
 the guests, with one exception, seemed to 
 care for the cold haughty beauty, they liked 
 the amusements she afforded them daily, 
 and were glad enough to pass some weeks 
 pleasantly away at Wentworth Court. I, 
 too, entered gladly into these amusements, 
 and although Valerie endeavoured as much 
 as possible to keep me in the background, 
 and treat me like a dependent companion, 
 more tlian like her cousin, I manao-ed, 
 nevertheless, to enjoy myself, and already 
 felt better for the change. It was certainly 
 mortifying to my pride sometimes, the 
 slights Valerie so plainly showed me, and
 
 252 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 when the young people around me wondered 
 that I so seldom rode on horseback, I could 
 not tell tliem that Valerie scarcely ever even 
 proposed my joining the riding-parties she 
 was continually making, I noticed there 
 was always a riding-horse at the young 
 artist's service, and that he rode by her side 
 each day, for I would watch them sometimes 
 winding down the long avenue from my 
 window. I fancy it never for a moment 
 entered the minds of her guests, that there 
 could be any love-making between the beau- 
 tiful heiress of Wentworth Court and a 
 poor artist. It was evidently Miss St. 
 Leo^er's intention that Valerie should marry 
 her brother, who, I plainly perceived, in- 
 tended it also, and began paying her as 
 much attention as lay in his power, though 
 he looked as if he would gladly allow his 
 sister to arrange the matter for him, and 
 be saved the trouble of paying court to 
 Valerie, who exacted the attention of all 
 around her as a right.
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 25S 
 
 Time passed quickly by, and as it drew 
 near Christmas I beard plans discussed for 
 a ball. Nearly three hundred persons were 
 to be invited. Cards were printed ; people 
 from London sent for to decorate the ball- 
 room, and provide the supper and the band. 
 Yet, not a year had passed since my aunt's 
 death. Valerie, in flinging aside her deep 
 mourning, seemed at the same time to have 
 cast from her all remembrance of her 
 mother. As I gazed at my aunt's beautiful 
 picture I thought how soon the dead were 
 forgotten, and how would her pride have 
 suffered if any one had whispered to her, 
 when in the height of her power and beautv, 
 that nine months after her death the very 
 recollection of her would haye died away 
 as though she had never been. Valerie 
 seemed determined that Louis Daubeney 
 should linger on after her own picture was 
 completed. She entreated, and in fact in- 
 sisted on her father having his likeness taken, 
 also on Miss St. Leger having hers, telling
 
 254 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY, 
 
 her that it was a real charity to the poor young 
 man, and he stayed on till Christmas : so 
 did the St. Legers. That Valerie had made 
 up her mind to marry Mr. St Leger I was 
 now convinced, and wondered, in pity, that 
 the unfortunate ill-fated young artist did 
 not perceive that though in love with him, 
 she would not let that stand in the way of 
 her ambition Well, the evening of the 
 ball arrived, and a perfect scene of light 
 and beauty did those spacious halls appear, 
 glittering with brilliant lustres, draperies of 
 clear muslin with circlets of white roses and 
 red geranium intermixed. Leading to the 
 supper-room was an archway of holly and 
 other evergreens, and beyond it the con- 
 servatory, with all the rarest and loveliest 
 plants, just lit with the faintest light possible. 
 The air was rich with the perfume from the 
 orange trees, and the whole seemed like 
 some fairy vision to me, as I wandered there 
 alone. I thought my uncle looked on 
 Valerie with great fondness and pride, as
 
 tlONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 255 
 
 she came sauntering through the gorgeous 
 scene in readiness to welcome her guests. 
 She was dressed all in white, her costly 
 moire antique dress hung in rich ample 
 folds, sweeping her halls ; a circlet of pearls 
 confined her golden hair, which hung in 
 beautiful ringlets to her slender waist ; 
 proud and radiant did she look, as, with an 
 air of triumph, she cast her eyes hastily 
 round the gay scene, and then at her own 
 beautiful imagre in the mirrors that hunor 
 around her. My dress, of white Tarlatan, 
 had not been worn since Ellen's wedding. 
 Valerie looked at me with a contemptuous 
 expression of disdain, and without addressing 
 a single word to me, turned and began 
 talking to Mr. Daubeney, who had just 
 entered the room, and they set ofi" together 
 to the conservatory. Soon the sound of 
 carriages made them hurry back, and 
 Valerie's face was lighted up by the bright 
 colour of her cheeks, which had been pale 
 as marble when she left the hall. Soon the
 
 256 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 company assembled : the band struck up ; 
 lovely faces and graceful forms flew past in 
 rapid succession, and 1 was soon whirling 
 away, like the rest, entering gaily into it. 
 In the pause of a waltz with Louis Daubeney, 
 who, out of spirits at not being able to dance 
 with Valerie, was standing, seemingly for- 
 getful of my presence, watching her intently, 
 she suddenly stopped close to us, and with 
 much scorn and sarcasm in her tone, said — 
 " Eeally, Inez, considering how much 
 you disapproved of the ball being given, 
 you seem sharing pretty well in its enjoy- 
 ments ;" and then, whispering something to 
 my partner, she tossed her head back 
 proudly, and began dancing. I think 
 Louis Daubeney felt pity for me ; for, after 
 Valerie left, he asked me if I would go into 
 the conservatory and rest, which I readily 
 agreed to. Many people were sauntering 
 in and out ; but the partner I was engaged 
 to dance with, not appearing, I begged of 
 Mr. Daubenev not to remain, and to lose his
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 257 
 
 dance, which, after awhile, he agreed to ; 
 and 1 remained sitting by the beautiful 
 orange trees. All had hurried to the ball- 
 room, and in a few minutes I was alone ; 
 but presently a side door from the conserva- 
 tory opened, and some one entered quickly, 
 and approached me. I instantly remembered 
 Mr. Huntingdon, whom I had met at his 
 sister's wedding. I had not then noticed, 
 in all my sad conflict of feeling, how very 
 handsome he was. We left the conservatory 
 to dance a quadrille together, and I little 
 thought then of all that would ensue from 
 that night's renewed acquaintance. I re- 
 member how his conversation pleased me ; 
 and if there had not been so much that was 
 painful in connection with the family, I 
 would gladly have sat and talked with him, 
 instead of dancing with strangers. He 
 left me, after engaging me for the country 
 dance ; and, in the meanwhile, Valerie came 
 quickly up to me, and, in a tone of haughty 
 displeasure, asked how I came to be dancing
 
 258 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 with Mr. Huntingdon? 1 explained who 
 he was. 
 
 " Oh ! then he is the young man Mr. 
 Gresham introduced to me just now? he 
 told me that his friend, Mr. Huntingdon, 
 had arrived unexpectedly, and he had taken 
 the liberty of bringing him ; it never struck 
 me at the time that he was Mrs. Churchiirs 
 brother." 
 
 She moved off to where he was standing, 
 and began talking to him. I so well re- 
 member watching them, and wondering in 
 my own mind whether he would be as much 
 fascinated with my beautiful cousin as most 
 people were. On Louis Daubeney's face 
 rested a look of trouble, his eyes following- 
 Valerie with an anxious loving gaze. He 
 was not dancing, but leaning against the 
 door in silent abstraction, while Mr. St. 
 Leger looked as usual, perfectly at his ease, 
 and to all outward appearance utterly in- 
 diff"erenl whom Valerie danced with or 
 flirted with : whether this arose from con-
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 259 
 
 fidence or indifference, I could not quite 
 make out. It seemed to me, as if from 
 that night began another new and strange 
 era in my life ; for from that time I date 
 my first acquaintance with Charles Hunt- 
 ingdon, and for a time the unpleasantness 
 it brought to both. Clearly before me now 
 comes that pleasant merry country dance ; 
 glad to have Mr. Huntingdon as a partner, 
 I heeded no longer Valerie's angry or scorn- 
 ful looks. She was dancing with Mr. St. 
 Leger, and as she could not dance with two 
 people at once, I wondered why she should 
 so have grudged me this pleasure. It was 
 natural of course, that Mr. Huntingdon 
 should speak of his sister and Edward 
 Churchill. Yet, when he did so, a cold 
 feeling at my heart would fain have made 
 me turn the conversation to something 
 pleasanter ; but I dreaded, by doing so, 
 raising any suspicion in his mind. Some 
 words he uttered that evening, struck me 
 as beino; both strang-e and true.
 
 260 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 " I am glad you are so fond of Ellen," 
 he said, " I shall so miss her when I go- 
 home; for although she will not be far 
 from us, I am one of those who think that 
 when a sister marries, she is in a great 
 measure lost to one. I don't know. Miss 
 Wentworth, whether Ellen's marriage sur- 
 prised you as it did all of us ; for my part, 
 it has been, and always will be a mystery 
 to me — not but what I like Churchill ex- 
 ceedingly; but her infatuation for a man 
 whom 1 never believed to have entertained 
 the same enthusiastic feeling for her, has I 
 own surprised me." 
 
 He paused: I remained silent; for I 
 wondered, as he said this, if any idea of 
 the truth of the matter floated through his 
 mind, that, to almost a stranger, he should 
 have uttered such a sentiment. A fear 
 that something of the truth had flashed on 
 him, caused me, in some confusion, to begin 
 talking on some other subject. 
 
 "I see plainly you don't like talking of
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 261 
 
 your guardian," said Mr. Huntingdon, 
 having a young lady's horror of that dreaded 
 name. " So let us go to supper, and forget 
 all about him." 
 
 It was indeed a name that brouo^ht most 
 sad and painful memories, yet not in the 
 way he thought. It was a relief, however, 
 to put a stop to the conversation. Soon 
 after the company dispersed ; the lights 
 were dying out, flowers hanging faded on 
 the garnished walls, a perfect wreck of 
 beauty ; and 1 was soon asleep, and dreamt 
 that Charles Huntingdon and Edward 
 Churchill met, and that angry words passed 
 between them, Mr. Huntingdon taunting 
 Edward with love for me and treacherv' to 
 Ellen ; and all I could say fell unheeded, 
 and terror and agony of mind assailed me. 
 I woke with a faint despairing cry, and was 
 thankful it was but a dream. 
 
 Two days after this, among the cards on 
 the hall table, 1 recognised Mr. Hunting- 
 don's, and heard from Mr. St. Leger, who
 
 262 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 had met him out hunting, that he was to 
 leave the neighbourhood the following day. 
 Ellen had not written often, but after some 
 little time she sent me a few lines, saying 
 they were now settled in their new home, 
 which they had taken for a year. It was 
 beautifully situated, she wrote, and only 
 two miles from her old home. I must pro- 
 mise to come in the spring, and judge of its 
 beauty. They would both be delighted to 
 see me. When I had read her letter, I sat 
 thinking deeply and sadly over the course 
 1 must pursue. / had so struggled with 
 my 0T\^ weak heart, and so rooted out, I 
 hoped and prayed, every feeling for him, that 
 I trusted with his strong, manly, vigorous 
 mind, he would have done thesame long be- 
 fore, perhaps, and we might meet again as old 
 and dear friends, without the bitterness of 
 the past, or fear of the future. Between 
 me and this calm and happier feeling, there 
 arose that one long, sad, fatal glance he 
 had cast on me, as 1 stood at the altar on
 
 HONESTY IS THK BEST POLICY. 263 
 
 his marriage day, darkening and stifling the 
 very air I breathed, and my decision was 
 made. I could not accept their in^dta- 
 tion now. 
 
 One afternoon, a few weeks after the ball, 
 I was walking alone in the shrubbery, strewn 
 over with withered leaves, looking as deso- 
 late as walks will look, when, after a long 
 continued frost, the rain has come pouring 
 down, scattering far and wide all that the 
 frost had bound up in his icy grasp for 
 many weeks. It was a dull, misty sort of 
 day ; the wide fields beyond looked dark and 
 wintry ; the sky one dense mass of grey 
 cloud ; the leafless trees, and absence of all 
 flowers in the garden beyond, made me feel, 
 like nature, very dismal. On a garden seat, 
 at the end of the shrubbery, sat Louis Dau- 
 beney alone ; his head bent down, resting 
 on his white delicate hands ; his long, dark 
 v\ aving hair flung off^ his brow. I saw him 
 clearly in the distance, though he did not 
 perceive me. A rustling sound amid the
 
 264 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 thick evergreens arrested my attention, and 
 looking round, I saw Valerie, flushed, agi- 
 tated, and weeping, hurrying away. I 
 quickly chose the opposite path, for fear 
 Valerie should perceive me, and with her 
 usual suspicion, fancy I had been w^atching 
 their proceedings; and I saw her quickly cross 
 the lawn, and enter the house ; and not till 
 then did I resume my walk in the shrubbery, 
 taking care, however, not to intrude on 
 poor Louis Daubeney's grief. Sincerely 
 did I pity him, believing his to be a heart- 
 affection for Valerie, who, although I be- 
 lieve she did love him as much as her sel- 
 fish and hard nature w'as capable of doing, 
 would, I well knew, not hesitate in sacrific- 
 ing his affection, or even breaking his heart 
 to satisfy her ambition. I would fain have 
 gone and soothed his anguish as I best 
 could; but knew well how vain words of 
 comfort are in such bitter moments. I, a 
 comparative stranger to him, how could I 
 intrude on grief heart-rending as his ?
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 265 
 
 I turned towards the house with a feeling 
 of sorrow. What I had just witnessed 
 stirred within me a grief which I had hoped 
 was, if not obUterated, silenced. 
 
 The remembrance of it however seemed 
 to cause fresh wounds on what time had in 
 a measure healed. I learned that eveninof 
 that Louis Daubeney was to leave Went- 
 worth Court the following day. 1 believe 
 my uncle thought he had been there long 
 enough ; whether he had any suspicion 
 that Valerie had any preference for him, I 
 could not quite make out ; but I fancied he 
 watched them that evening, and there was 
 an irritability in his manner towards her, 
 that I had never noticed before. Yet, they 
 were very guarded : she wished him good- 
 bye, like the rest of us ; and we all retired 
 to our rooms. Her room was along the 
 same floor as mine ; long after the house 
 was still, I fancied I heard her door softly 
 open, and a stealthy step descend the stairs. 
 It was clear to me that it was then their 
 
 VOL. I. N
 
 266 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 parting took place. Why she thus en- 
 couraged a lover she never intended to 
 marry, I could not understand. She ap- 
 peared the next morning at breakfast with 
 the same cheerful careless air as usual ; yet 
 1 noticed a sunken expression under her 
 eyes, as though sleep had not visited them 
 that night ; and an anxious expression 
 would pass over her face at times, proving 
 to me that her cheerfulness was assumed. 
 Mr. St. Leger proposed that they should 
 ride early that morning, as it was clear and 
 bright, which the weather had not been for 
 some time ; and Valerie gladly consented, 
 and ran to get her habit on. When she 
 was mounting her beautiful and spirited 
 horse, I thought Mr. St. Leger fixed his 
 eyes on her with as much admiration as it 
 was in his power to bestow upon anyone ; 
 and certainly I had never seen her look 
 more lovely. There was more feeling in 
 her face, a slight tinge of melancholy de- 
 picted there, as she rode off ; called forth, I
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 267 
 
 fancied, by tlie absence of one who had for 
 many weeks gazed lovingly on her face, as 
 he had assisted her to mount her horse, and 
 ridden by her side. Yet no one seemed to 
 have noticed their affection, or her change 
 of manner. I made no remark to her upon 
 the subject; indeed, I managed to keep as 
 clear of her society as it was possible to do ; 
 and whenever the weather was fine, spent 
 most of my days out of doors. I began to 
 wonder whether the St. Legers intended 
 residing altogether at Wentworth Court : 
 their visit seemed a very long one ; but at 
 last I heard Miss St. Leger say they really 
 must be going in a day or two ; and it 
 seemed an arranged plan that Valerie was 
 to spend most of the ensuing season with 
 them in town. It appeared to me, that 
 there was a perfect understanding existing 
 between them, which caused me to think, 
 that if Mr. St. Leger had not yet proposed 
 to my cousin, it was decidedly his intention 
 to do so. lie evidently admired her ex-
 
 268 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 tremely ; and, although a man of large ex- 
 pectations, Wentworth Court and three 
 thousand a- year were not to be despised. 
 
 After they had left, Valerie did not ap- 
 pear the least out of spirits; and one day 
 as we were talking together, she said — 
 
 " I suppose you have with your usual 
 quickness," laying a great stress on the last 
 word, " found out, Inez, that I am soon 
 going to be married ; and I need hardly ask 
 you whom I have chosen, for it can be no 
 secret." 
 
 '^ There are certainly only two people T 
 could have thought of," I answered, " but 
 I had not guessed things were as settled as 
 they seem to be." 
 
 ^^ Two people !" she replied, turning pale 
 as she spoke, " I know not what you allude 
 to. Mr. St. Leger is the only one whose 
 attentions I have received. I own I am in 
 perfect ignorance of any other." 
 
 Dreading another angry scene, I merely 
 replied —
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 269 
 
 " Perhaps not; only, among the number 
 of your admirers, it would be difficult to say 
 which you had chosen." 
 
 She did not look quite satisfied, but an- 
 swered — 
 
 " I know there are numbers in love with 
 me, but I do not think I have encouraged 
 any one but Eobert. We are to be married 
 the end of June, and I leave this the 
 beginning of April ; papa will accompany 
 me. I suppose, as Mr. and Mrs Churchill 
 are such dear friends of yours, they will be 
 willing to receive you at that time." 
 
 " I have already received an invitation 
 from them," I replied, '' and even if they 
 could not have me, Mrs. Holford, whom I 
 was at school with, has begged of me to 
 stay with her, so I shall go to her first." 
 
 Thus our conversation ended, and the 
 three months that elapsed between that and 
 Valerie's departure for London, passed 
 quietly enough. A kind letter from Mrs. 
 Holford, inviting me to stay with her as 
 
 N 2
 
 270 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 long as I pleased, made me determine to 
 accept her invitation ; accordingly, the be- 
 ginning of April, I left Wentworth Court 
 for the school where all my childhood had 
 passed. 
 
 Only one year had elapsed since I left 
 school, and yet what a world of thought had 
 passed over me since then ! Leaving it, with 
 the thoughts and feelings of a child, free 
 from all anxiety, and knowing nothing of 
 life, its enjoyments, or its sorrows, I now 
 returned ; how changed ! 
 
 As I drove up to the old iron gates that 
 closed it from the road, and heard the deep 
 sound of the bell summoning the school- 
 girls to their evening meal, I wished that I 
 had never passed those gates, and that with 
 the same light heart and untroubled feeling 
 I was again a mere school-girl, not a thinking 
 and unhappy woman. For a moment 1 
 mourned that I had come where 1 was so 
 forcibly reminded of my change of feeling, 
 but the next, Mrs. Holford's land face was
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 271 
 
 beaming a warm welcome, and a rush and 
 hum of many voices among my old play- 
 mates, eager to embrace me, made me feel 
 that with such warm true hearts still beat- 
 ing there was much to live for and be happy. 
 It was indeed almost worth while to have 
 left, now I saw the joy depicted on so many 
 faces at my return, and I determined for a 
 time to banish all disagreeable thoughts, 
 and in Mrs. Holford's kind presence, lose, 
 if possible, the remembrance of what had 
 caused my grief. I need not enter fully 
 into my visit to Brompton : the quiet of 
 that time seems like an oases in a burning 
 desert, it was so fresh and calm ! Although 
 I told my kind friend of the manner in 
 which my life had been spent since I parted 
 from her, I shrank from telling her of my 
 love affair with Edward Churchill. Some- 
 times I fancied she looked into my face with 
 the expression of one who felt that some- 
 thing still lingered in my mind untold, and 
 would fain have solved the mystery ; but 1
 
 272 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 could not make up my mind to tell her : ra- 
 ther would I allow the past to rest in oblivion, 
 throwing no shadow on my present peace, 
 but letting it lie silent and forgotten. There 
 had been two girls at the school when I 
 left, who, among the many I cared for, were 
 most prominent in my affection, daughters 
 of a clergyman. The elder of the two had 
 left, but the younger sister, w^ho still re- 
 mained with Mrs. Holford, told me that her 
 sister had married a rich Scotch laird, and 
 was settled in the Highlands. She had 
 written to tell me of it, but supposed she 
 had not directed the letter rightly ; receiving 
 no answer, she concluded it had never 
 reached me, which was the case. I wrote 
 a long letter of congratulation to my friend, 
 now Mrs. Mackenzie, and was delighted to 
 receive a kind answer, containing a most 
 pressing invitation to visit her in her high- 
 land home. 
 
 " My husband is most anxious," she wrote, 
 "• to make the acquaintance of my best
 
 HOJ^ESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 273 
 
 friend ; therefore, dear Inez, you must 
 come : you and my sister Mary can manage 
 to travel together, and remember, I take no 
 refusal." 
 
 What a delightful scheme this appeared 
 and 1 accepted it with many thanks. After 
 awhile pressing letters from Ellen Churchill 
 came, begging me to visit them in their 
 new home. Refusing her was very painful 
 to me, but I did so, knowing it was best and 
 right. 
 
 I was glad I had accepted Mrs Mackenzie's 
 invitation. I would not look back : onward 
 now must be my course ; onward through 
 bleak and rugged paths, perhaps, whence 
 the sound of loved voices would be banished ; 
 where all that had been lovely in the past, 
 must be obliterated for ever, — let it be. 
 
 In each life some secret vein of grief lies 
 dark and still ; it finds no utterance : lighter 
 gi'iefs are spoken of, and gain sympathy ; 
 but the deepest who can fathom ?
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 It was during my visit to Mrs. Mackenzie 
 that I fell in again with Charles Hunting- 
 don. It may appear perhaps strange that 
 I have mentioned him but casually ; strange, 
 because in reviewing the past I could see 
 so many reasons to prove he liked me, and 
 yet, at the time, my mind, my heart, senses, 
 and in fact every feeling, were all so ab- 
 sorbed in others that his quiet affection had 
 remained unnoticed and uncommented on. 
 Had I noticed it, I well knew, from the 
 slight acquaintance I had with Sir Charles 
 and Lady Huntingdon, and from all Edward
 
 HONESTY 15 THE BEST POLICY. 275 
 
 Churchill had told me of their characters, 
 that they would never hear of their only son 
 maiTying a portionless girl, who possessed 
 neither rank nor riches, and I therefore 
 should never have encouraged his attentions. 
 My visit to my old school-fellow would have 
 remained unmarked by any event, one calm, 
 happy, quiet course of existence, had it not 
 chanced that Charles Huntingdon had gone 
 to Scotland much about the same time I 
 had done, found out from Ellen where I 
 was staying, and during the shooting season 
 had taken a house in the same neighbour- 
 hood. He received much attention from 
 the Mackenzies, and was continually at 
 their house, joining us at the different pic- 
 nics and excursions we made in their beau- 
 tiful neighbourhood; and a pleasant ac- 
 quisition he was to our little circle. I will 
 not here speak much of what passed, but 
 merely say that bis offer was quietly but 
 decidedly refused. Yet, when we parted he
 
 276 HONESTY IS THE BEST FOLIC V. 
 
 said, looking into my eyes kindly, but so 
 earnestly — 
 
 " I know you have many reasons for re- 
 fusing me ; some that you have stated, 
 others that you have concealed, perhaps 
 kindly to spare me pain." 
 
 I remember, when he said this, that the 
 startled look that must have flashed from 
 me, arrested for a moment his attention, for 
 he said — 
 
 " Whatever I may think, Miss Weut- 
 worth, I will not speak ; but will you say 
 this one word of comfort before I leave, 
 that if, in time, you find me steady to my 
 resolve of striving for your love, you will at 
 least endeavour to give me, in return, the 
 affection that it is my only aim in life to 
 win. You are mysterious. Miss Went worth ; 
 your hfe seems to me full of mystery." 
 
 '' Mine /" I said, looking up. 
 
 " Yes, your conduct to your guardian and 
 my sister is strange and unaccountable.
 
 HONiiSTY IS THE BEST POLICY' 277 
 
 You would not accept any invitation from 
 them, and yet you travel to Scotland to see 
 |)eople you know little of. You have offended 
 Ellen somewhat, I fear, and Mr. Churchill 
 looks so strange and unhappy in speaking 
 of you. I know not what has made you 
 act thus. Y"ou tell me vou are eno^agred to 
 no one ; in love with no one now, and yet 
 so decided is your refusal ; so gentle your 
 manner ; so sorrowful your look when I 
 speak of my affection for you, that you seem 
 wrapped in a cloud of mystery I cannot 
 pierce through. Yet, I will not trouble 
 you ; I am going to travel for some time ; 
 I shall hope on. 1 shall not change. 
 You may meet some one you care for more 
 than me, but promise me," he added, ear- 
 nestly, " you will not marry without letting 
 me know ?" 
 
 '' I shall not love anyone, nor engage my- 
 self to anyone, Mr. Huntingdon," I an- 
 swered, weeping. " I do not give you hope 
 that I may become your wife ; but I can 
 VOL. I. o
 
 278 HONESTY JS THE BEST POLICY. 
 
 safely say you will not hear of my marriage. 
 You have this promise, and it is my con- 
 viction, that I shall not marry at all." 
 
 1 could not allow myself to say more 
 than {-his; I wished the interview to be 
 over ; but I had one question to ask, had 
 he told Sir Charles Huntingdon of his at- 
 tachment to me? he said, he had not, but 
 that he intended doing so, before leaving 
 England. 
 
 *' I shall not care,'' he said, *' for all tho 
 angry words I may receive ; they will pass 
 by like the wind, unlieeded. My greatest 
 thought in life is you, and 1 shall wait 
 patiently to the end." 
 
 With these words, he left mo. Now I 
 did not doubt his sincerity ; but I gladly 
 thought that he was too voung to admit of 
 niv refus.nl causinjr him anv real miscrv ; 
 that no doubt, in his travels, he would meet 
 some one he would like far better thnn me. 
 J did not at that time know the deep ^vrot 
 his love for me had taken. Somotinies I
 
 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. 279 
 
 received a short hurried note from Ellen ; 
 thev were in Paris, very gay, and did not 
 intend comino^ home till the followino 
 winter. They did not retuni for some time, 
 and when they did, made but a short stay 
 at their new home ; they evidently liked 
 the life on the continent. I, after remain* 
 ing a long time with my kind friends, the 
 Mackenzies, made an arrangement with 
 Mrs, Holford to stay with her. In that 
 time of quiet, I not alone gained peace and 
 strength, but I was enabled to help my old 
 friend : and with manv little acts of use* 
 fulness, and my time fully occupied, nearly 
 two years passed by quickly and happily. 
 Soon after Mr. Huntingdon's departure, I 
 received an impertinent angry letter from his 
 mother^ alluding to her son's affection for 
 me ; the tone so unlady-like and unfeeling, 
 that I felt glad I had refused him ; and 
 morel V wrote a few lines to sav, that, as I 
 had decidedlv refused Mr. Huntingdon,
 
 280 HONESTY IS THE BKST POLICY. 
 
 thought her letter unnecessary and uncalled 
 for, and I did not hear again. 
 
 Edward Churchill never wrote to me at 
 all ; Ellen but seldom ; yet, when she did, 
 her letters were kind, and generally press- 
 ing me to visit them. 1 therefore resolved 
 to spend a short time with them in Ger- 
 many the following summer. I hoped that 
 time had obliterated the past to Edward 
 Churchill, that I should find him happy, 
 and giving Ellen the affection she so well 
 deserved, for her long and constant affec- 
 tion for him. Of Charles Huntingdon I 
 heard nothing. 
 
 END OF VOL. I. 
 
 Published by T. C. Newby, 30 Welbcck Street, Cavendish Sq.