t 
 
 mm 
 
XI B R.AR.Y 
 
 OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY 
 OF ILLINOIS 
 
 v. I 
 
The person charging this material is re- 
 sponsible for its return to the library from 
 which it was withdrawn on or before the 
 Latest Date stamped below. 
 
 Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books 
 are reasons for disciplinary action and may 
 result in dismissal from the University. 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 
 
 BUILDS 
 
 MAR 1 2 
 H&R \ * 
 
 BUILDING 
 
 RETURN 
 CLOSED STACKST 
 
 3 U3u ONLY, 
 
 i980 
 
 1980 
 
 USE ONLY 
 
 
 fflHTOTWG 
 
 OCT 
 OCT 
 
 U!5E 
 
 1 8 1983 
 
 ONLY 
 
 3 
 
 I 8 1983 
 
 L161 — O-1096 
 
•> N 
 
THE ONLY CHILD 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2010 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/onlychildtale01scot 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 A TALE. 
 
 BY LADY SCOTT. 
 
 'Twas a brave thought to think that thou could'st tear 
 
 The idol from its shiine, 
 And rear a nobler, purer, image there 
 
 Than that old love of mine."— Faber. 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES, 
 VOL. I. 
 
 LONDON: 
 HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS, 
 
 SUCCESSORS TO HENRY COLBURN, 
 
 13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 
 
 1858. 
 
 The right of Translation is reserved. 
 
LONDON : 
 
 R. BORN, PRINTER, GLOUCESTER STREET, PARK STREET, 
 
 CAMDEN TOWN. 
 
3x3 
 
 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 CHAPTEE I. 
 
 The brilliant sun of a July morning shone 
 down upon the white turrets of Ellerley 
 Castle, and Lord Ellerley's horses were 
 pacing up and down before the terraces, 
 waiting for the Earl to start on his usual 
 rounds ; but his lordship was keeping them 
 waiting. He had gone up to the nurseries 
 in the western wing, where sat, surrounded 
 by playthings and guarded by a majestic 
 nurse, a little pale, delicate, motherless boy, 
 of eight years of age. 
 
 No amount of worldly attractions would 
 YOL. I. B 
 
 *5 
 
 ^ 
 
2 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 ever have tempted Lord Ellerley to leave 
 the Castle on even his two hours' ride, before 
 he had gone up to smother with farewell kisses 
 that only child ; and on that day in particular 
 it had seemed as if his visit had been longer 
 than usual, and his farewell more tender ; 
 at least, so thought those who, a few hours 
 later in the day, saw the almost lifeless body 
 of the Earl brought up the avenue in the 
 arms of some of his farm-labourers, and his 
 led horse following. 
 
 "Send for Dr. Burgess!" were the first 
 words he uttered, on returning to conscious- 
 ness ; and the Eector of Worthington hurried 
 to the death-bed of his patron, his benefactor, 
 and his friend, and stood there till the 
 hands grew clay-cold in his grasp, the fine 
 features stiffened, and the last breath of 
 life passed over the blood-stained lips. 
 
 The Earl of Ellerley was dead, but before 
 he had expired an hour of life had been 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 3 
 
 granted him, and in that brief space his 
 thoughts had dwelt, with agonising anxiety, 
 on the future of his idolised and unprotected 
 child. 
 
 " My father is old," said he ; "he may 
 never leave Ireland again ; besides, it is 
 not to the Duke of Arran I should like 
 to entrust the education of my boy ; for, 
 under the roof of a doting grandfather he 
 would be spoilt. No ! — it is to you — to your 
 care, my good, true, and tried friend, that 
 I leave my child, my little orphan Strangford. 
 I leave him to you — remember that this is 
 a dying charge — never, under any circum- 
 stances, desert my boy ! Little dreaming 
 that my life would be thus early snapped off, 
 I have never thought of appointing guardians 
 to him; but in you, Burgess, in you I put 
 this precious trust, that you watch over my 
 boy, that you educate him, that you do your 
 best by him. Dear, good Burgess — remember, 
 
 b 2 
 
4 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 to your care I leave him, — to your care I 
 leave his mental and his bodily health. You 
 are to take him to your home — to bring him 
 up — to launch him in the world — and when he 
 comes to man's estate you are to do your best 
 by him for this world and the next — so help 
 you God!" 
 
 Another moment, and all was over. — The 
 poor cold remains on which the rector gazed 
 were nothing now. — All the grandeur, all 
 the honours, all the riches appertaining to 
 the Dukedom of Arran and the Earldom of 
 Ellerley were all now centred in that little 
 shrinking being who, cowering upstairs in 
 his nursery, left alone in the general confusion 
 resulting from the awful accident which had 
 cost his father his life, sat terrified at the 
 unmistakable presence of Death in the 
 house. 
 
 Dr. Burgess looked at him with the 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 most tender pity — for the child was truly 
 desolate. 
 
 "Yes!" said he to himself, as he took the 
 slight form in his arms ; "I will take him — 
 I will teach him — I will do my best by him 
 for this world and the next — so help me 
 God!" 
 
 And then he wrote to the Duke of Arran. 
 It was many days before he received an 
 answer, for the duke resided, and had done 
 so for many years, on his estates in Ireland ; 
 but when the letter came it was both 
 courteous and satisfactory. 
 
 With him, his late son's wishes were 
 laws ; he entirely approved them ; he merely 
 stipulated that his grandson should pay him 
 two visits in the course of the year, when 
 he would of course, he hoped, be accom- 
 panied by Dr. Burgess, to whom his grace 
 expressed his deep gratitude for having under- 
 
b THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 taken the charge in so unhesitating and hand- 
 some a manner. 
 
 The duke thought, however, that, con- 
 sidering the position and prospects of the 
 child, it would be advisable to appoint two 
 other guardians, and he therefore suggested 
 that Sir Elliott Spence, a maternal uncle, 
 should be one, and the late earl's friend 
 and cotemporary, Lord Linton, the other. 
 These guardians, he added, were both young, 
 and, consequently, more likely than himself 
 to be of use to the boy when he entered life. 
 In conclusion, the Duke begged to place to 
 Dr. Burgess's account an annual sum of a 
 thousand pounds, until such time as a larger 
 should be required. 
 
 With all these arrangements Dr. Burgess 
 was both satisfied and gratified, most especially 
 with that relating to the guardians, as, though 
 he intended that nothing but Death should 
 induce him to relinquish his trust and break 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 7 
 
 his solemn word ; still, Death was every man's 
 visitor, and he felt more comfortable that 
 such a contingency had been provided for 
 by the child's natural protector himself. 
 
 When the trustees, guardians, and ex- 
 ecutors attended at Ellerley Castle to arrange 
 the affairs of the late earl, it was agreed 
 that the house and grounds should be let 
 for a term of years, not exceeding thirteen, 
 and that Dr. Burgess should, from that time 
 forth, take possession of his young ward, 
 carrying with him, to the Rectory, such 
 members of his establishment as should be 
 deemed necessary for the child's use and 
 comfort. 
 
 Of the latter class, Dr. Burgess selected 
 the nurse, who had taken him from his birth, 
 and who, though he was getting almost 
 beyond such an appendage, was evidently 
 necessary to his happiness ; and the French 
 nursery governess — a cheerful pleasing young 
 
8 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 woman, who had made her language as 
 familiar to him as his own. 
 
 "And this," said the doctor to Sir Elliott 
 Spence, who, being a country squire not 
 given to accomplishments, rather sneered 
 at the idea of a " Ma'amselle " attached 
 to the suite of his nephew, "this will be of 
 the greatest advantage to the boy through 
 life, independently of the use it is to him 
 even now." 
 
 "Why, my dear sir !" retorted Sir Elliott, 
 "what possible use has it been to him 
 hitherto?" 
 
 " This," said the rector, who was not a 
 man to be ridiculed out of an opinion, " that 
 the society of that young woman has taught 
 a child of eight years of age to master the 
 first of continental languages without the cost 
 of a tear." 
 
 So these two ladies were to be trans- 
 planted to the Rectory, and with them a 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. i* 
 
 young helper from the stables, to take charge 
 of his lordship's pony, — and this completed 
 the suite. 
 
 When Mrs. Burgess heard of the impending 
 incursion she was greatly alarmed. Since 
 the earl's death her husband had considered 
 it his duty to take up his abode at the Castle, 
 so that it came upon her like a shock, and 
 she was at her wits' end. 
 
 It was not that Worthington Rectory was 
 not large enough, for it was a house capable 
 of containing double their establishment, and 
 replete with every luxury and comfort; but 
 it was the idea of the strange servants, who, 
 perhaps, might not consider themselves her 
 servants, and might possibly run counter 
 to her feeble authority, that filled her with 
 fears. 
 
 " Also, my dear, I have not spoken French 
 since I was a girl, at school ; and I am sure 
 I could no more find words to ask the 
 
10 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 governess if she is comfortable than I could 
 
 fly." 
 
 "Then don't ask her!" was Dr. Burgess's 
 reply; " because, depend upon it she will 
 find words to tell you, if she is not ; so just 
 leave things to take their course, and do not 
 trouble your head about trifles. The child 
 and the nurses can have the four rooms in 
 the west gable, and there they may reign 
 unmolested ; but I am much mistaken if 
 you will not find that motherly old nurse 
 a comfort, and the Frenchwoman an ad- 
 vantage." 
 
 When Dr. Burgess uttered these words, 
 his eyes happened to be resting on the lawn 
 before the windows ; and there, toddling 
 up and down amongst the daisies, was a 
 bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked, dark-haired little 
 girl, of five years of age. Mrs. Burgess 
 followed the direction of his glance, and 
 smiled. That was their only child — the last 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 11 
 
 of three, and beloved accordingly; so that 
 when the mother read in her husband's eyes 
 what she imagined to be his thoughts — that 
 the old nurse's experience would be a comfort 
 to her in case of that child's illness, and 
 that the companionship of the governess 
 would teach her French — her fears were 
 partly swallowed up, and she tried to hope 
 the best. 
 
 Meanwhile, all Worthington were talking 
 of the late events at the Castle, and of the 
 rector's singular good fortune. It would be 
 doing amiable human nature too much justice 
 to say everybody rejoiced at it. On the 
 contrary, many of his Christian brethren 
 made remarks which, had he been thin-skinned, 
 might have angered, or, at least, annoyed 
 him. 
 
 Worthington was a parish containing fifteen 
 hundred souls. With all these souls, young 
 and old, rich and poor, Dr. Burgess was on 
 
12 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 terms of intimacy, sometimes friendly, some- 
 times warlike, for lie was one of those zealous, 
 active, energetic spirits who lived but to 
 do right and to correct wrong. The ruling 
 principle of his life was, conscience. Far 
 from being satisfied with preaching a certain 
 number of sermons, and receiving poor appli- 
 cants in his well-carpetted library, giving 
 them good advice, and then leaving them to 
 find their own road to heaven, there was not 
 a man, woman, or child, within his widely 
 scattered parish, with whose character he was 
 not acquainted, and into whose habits and 
 circumstances he did not make it his duty, 
 (and make it appear his pleasure,) to enquire. 
 
 Consequently the poor were often wonder- 
 struck at his knowledge. "Lawk, sir!" was 
 often and often the ejaculation, "one would 
 think you was a fairy ! " 
 
 Yet, to a casual observer, that tall attenua- 
 ted form, that firm sonorous voice, and the 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 13 
 
 erect and finely-formed head, covered with 
 scanty locks, blanched long before their time, 
 did not give exactly the impression one is apt 
 to entertain of those aerial beings. 
 
 However, to proceed. The town of Wor- 
 thington was one long, wide street, containing 
 several good houses. These were tenanted by 
 the " gentility " of the place, and they formed 
 a pretty large tea-drinking society. It was 
 amongst these that all the events of the neigh- 
 bourhood were freely canvassed, and nothing 
 of late years had excited so much vivacity as 
 the death of the Earl of Ellerley, although, 
 personally, he had been scarcely known to any 
 of the inhabitants of the town, with the 
 exception of the rector. 
 
 The Rectory-house was at the end of this 
 long street, about a quarter of a mile out, and 
 ensconced within its own high walls, so that 
 it had all the advantages of a country residence 
 and that of a town one as well. 
 
14 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 Dr. Burgess had lived there for fifteen 
 years, consequently he knew every one as well 
 as he was known himself. His life was a busy 
 one, and though he had a curate, who, with a 
 wife and sundry small children, inhabited one 
 of the smaller houses in the street, that curate 
 only assisted him in his labours ; he never 
 would allow any share to be taken off his 
 shoulders. At all hours of the day, the tall 
 gaunt figure of Dr. Burgess might be seen 
 emerging from the various little streets which 
 branched off from the main one, stooping in 
 and out of the cottages, or walking with giant 
 strides along the lanes where the dwellings of 
 the poor were more thinly scattered. At all 
 hours of the night too, he was available to the 
 meanest applicant, and there had not been a 
 death-bed for many a long day in Worthington 
 by which the doctor had not stood. 
 
 Such was the man to whom, guided 
 possibly by some heavenly instinct, the dying 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 15 
 
 earl had bequeathed his precious trust. 
 Such was the man who undertook to prepare, 
 "for this world and the next/' the future 
 Duke of Arran, and in his as yet untried and 
 novel capacity of private tutor, we may now 
 follow him for a lifetime — follow him through 
 his conscientious task — watch him as he puts 
 pin by pin into the fine mosaic work of an 
 infant character, and mark how, with a firm 
 will and a gentle hand, he forms, by insignifi- 
 cant degrees, the perfect whole. 
 
16 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 A few months after Dr. Burgess had 
 entered upon his new charge, Mrs. Marsh, 
 the doctor's wife, gave a tea-party, and, 
 in inviting the rector and his wife, had 
 ventured to hope, as the evenings were now 
 so long and light, that the little earl might 
 possibly come too. 
 
 "I am so afraid Dr. Burgess may not 
 like to come without him?" she added in- 
 terrogatively. 
 
 "Thank you very much," had been the 
 answer of Mrs. Burgess ; " but independently 
 of the child's deep mourning, the hour would 
 be too late for him. He goes to bed at seven." 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 17 
 
 Mrs. Marsh went home rather surprised at 
 two sentences in this reply. First, at the 
 familiarity of calling the Earl of Ellerley " the 
 child;" and, secondly, at the idea of that 
 exalted rank going to bed at seven. 
 
 The tea party were invited at eight o'clock. 
 The Burgess's were always so late every 
 where, that there was plenty of time to talk 
 of them before they arrived, and fast and 
 furious was soon the conversation. Worthing- 
 ton had, as yet, everything to learn, and 
 nothing but a tea-party appeared likely to 
 extract the desired information, since the 
 rector and his wife were naturally reserved 
 people, and had been but little seen in society 
 since the great event. 
 
 The two Miss Binckes's, maiden sisters, 
 were the first arrivals. Whilst they were 
 taking off their goloshes, which they wore all 
 the winter to keep off the damp, and all the 
 summer to keep off the dust, Mrs. Nelson, 
 
 vol. i. c 
 
18 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 the curate's wife, a little delicate woman who 
 always spoke in tearful accents, and seemed 
 constantly on the point of bursting into tears, 
 arrived. 
 
 " Dear me, I hope we are to see Mr. 
 Nelson?" said Mrs. Marsh, in an alarmed 
 voice ; not that she was at all alarmed, but 
 she always made use of the same words when 
 any member of a family presented themselves 
 without the rest. 
 
 " Oh yes, Mr. Nelson started with me, but 
 some one stopped him in the street, and he 
 told me to walk on. I'm sure I don't know 
 why ! " added the little woman, piteously. 
 
 " Never mind, my dear," said a Miss 
 Binckes, "he is sure to come before tea is 
 quite over. What I want to know is, if 
 you can depend on the Burgess's, Mrs. 
 Marsh?" 
 
 "Surely, Miss Binckes! they promised!" 
 said the hostess, as if that was decisive. 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 19 
 
 "I am glad of that, for we have a thousand 
 things to ask him, sister and I, have we not 
 sister ? " 
 
 " Yes ! a thousand things," replied Miss 
 Anne, who had no original ideas. 
 
 "And I should like to know," continued 
 the sister with the inquiring mind, "if any 
 one saw the break, with a coronet on it, go 
 through the town to-day ? " 
 
 "Yes, I did," said Mrs. Marsh. 
 
 " So did I," said Mrs. Nelson. 
 
 "A break with a coronet on it?" echoed 
 the curate, who was at that moment ushered 
 into the room ; " yes ! I saw it too. There 
 were some children in it, and I saw it turn 
 into the Rectory gates." 
 
 " Well ! whose was it ?" cried Miss Binckes. 
 
 " I do not know ma'am." 
 
 "You do not know?" — in an indignant 
 voice — " yet you saw it go to the Rectory?" 
 
 "I did ma'am, but I could not follow it." 
 
 c2 
 
20 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " Why, really Miss Binckes, the fact is, in 
 the first place I was talking to a parishioner ; 
 in the second, I didn't much care; in the 
 third, I had no excuse." 
 
 " A want of proper curiosity is an injury to 
 general society," said Miss Binckes, severely, 
 whereupon Mr. Nelson was silenced, and 
 his wife very much affected, for her husband 
 had evidently outraged some acknowledged 
 rules with which she herself was unacquainted. 
 
 "Is it not wonderful," exclaimed Mrs. 
 Marsh, as she rose to receive a fresh in- 
 cursion of guests, " what an attraction there 
 seems to be about money ? " 
 
 " No wonder," remarked an old gentleman, 
 rubbing his hands; "don't you find money 
 attractive, Mrs. Marsh?" 
 
 "Oh Mr. Grey, you are always joking, 
 but you know what I mean. We were 
 talking of the Burgess's. You know the 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 21 
 
 rector is as rich as ever he can be, and 
 now I hear he is to have two thousand 
 a-year for taking care of little Lord Strang- 
 ham — dear me — I shall never learn to call 
 him Lord Ellerley." 
 
 " One, my dear madam — one, I heard." 
 
 " Did you ? I heard two, so we will 
 split the difference. But dear me, I hope 
 we are to see Mrs. Grey ? " 
 
 " Thank you, my wife is in the hall, putting 
 on her cap." 
 
 " Well ! but think of fifteen hundred a-year 
 for a man who has at least two thousand 
 a-year of his own already." 
 
 " Yes ! but think what an onerous charge." 
 
 " True ! I should be terrified to have 
 undertaken it. How difficult not to spoil 
 a child in such a position as that." 
 
 "I have heard Dr. Burgess say," said 
 Mr. Nelson, timidly, for he had not had 
 courage to speak since Miss Binckes had put 
 
22 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 him down, "that he shall educate the — the 
 little — I mean his lordship — precisely as if he 
 were his own son." 
 
 " Then/' remarked Mrs. Grey, " he must 
 devote a great deal of time to him. All 
 the more work for your husband, Mrs. 
 Nelson ! You will be worn to a thread-paper 
 Mr. Nelson." 
 
 " Oh don't, don't say so !" began a tremu- 
 lous voice. 
 
 " I'm not afraid," laughed the poor curate, 
 " I often wish Dr. Burgess would let me 
 assist him more ; but I only find work for 
 him. He does it all himself." 
 
 " Dr. and Mrs. Burgess," exclaimed a 
 voice from the door, in deep sepulchral 
 tones, emanating from the parish clerk, who 
 officiated for Worthington as waiter at all the 
 evening parties. 
 
 " If you had been in the room a moment 
 sooner," said Mrs. Grey, waylaying Dr. 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 23 
 
 Burgess as lie entered, " you would have 
 heard your own praises so prettily sung." 
 
 " By Mr. Nelson, who stands covered with 
 blushes," laughed Mrs. Marsh. " How do 
 you do, my dear Mrs. Burgess? I'm de- 
 lighted to see you Dr. Burgess ; but, dear me, 
 I hope we are to see his lordship ? " 
 
 " Oh, Mrs. Marsh ! " Dr. Burgess laughed. 
 He knew that sentence so well, that beyond 
 those three words he did not think it worth 
 while to say anything. 
 
 " We have got a question to ask you, 
 Dr. Burgess," said Miss Binckes, the first 
 moment she could edge in a word. 
 
 " A thousand," added Miss Anne. 
 
 " One at a time !" said her sister, severely. 
 " There was a strange carriage in the town 
 to-day." 
 
 " A break with a coronet on it," said Mrs. 
 Marsh. 
 
 " And children in it," said Mrs. Nelson. 
 
24 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 "And it turned into jour gate/' cried Mrs. 
 Grey. 
 
 " It was Lord Linton's/' was Dr. Burgess's 
 answer, in his quietest voice. 
 
 " Come to see the little Lord Ellerley?" 
 
 "Yes, and to invite him to go with their 
 party to see a circus which is to be here next 
 week." 
 
 " And shall you let him go ?" asked Mrs. 
 Grey, in a tone of surprise. 
 
 " Certainly ! besides, Lord Linton is his 
 guardian, and I wish him to see the child now 
 and then. It is not often there is so good 
 an opportunity, for Linton is too far off for a 
 morning visit." 
 
 " But these circuses are such horrid 
 things," said Mrs. Nelson. " We never let 
 our children go to them for fear of catching 
 something." 
 
 Dr. Burgess smiled, and gave his shoulders 
 the slightest possible shrug. " The boy 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 25 
 
 must take his chance with others," said he. 
 " I take my own child, and Lord Linton 
 brought an innumerable progeny with him 
 to-day, who are all going." 
 
 "You see," whispered Mrs. Grey to Miss 
 Binckes, " it is just as Mr. Nelson said. He 
 means to bring him up as he would a boy of 
 his own. Is he a nice child, Dr. Burgess?" 
 she continued aloud. 
 
 " Yes, Mrs. Grey, a very nice child." 
 
 " Clever?" 
 
 "Why, at his tender years, I have not 
 looked for much proficiency in any particular 
 branch," said the rector, with a smile ; " but he 
 is what I like much better, very gentle, trac- 
 table, and affectionate." 
 
 " Does he seem at all aware of his great 
 destiny?" asked Mr. Grey. 
 
 " No ! He is too young for that !" 
 
 "Will it not be enough to turn his head 
 when it comes upon him ? " 
 
26 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " I hope I shall be able to guard against 
 such a calamity," said Dr. Burgess, good 
 humouredly. 
 
 " But how, my dear sir?" persisted the tor- 
 mentors, " how will it be possible to teach a 
 child, or a young boy, or even a young man — 
 if you hide it from him so long — to contem- 
 plate such a position without some sort of 
 pride ? " 
 
 " His greatest safeguard will be his own 
 disposition," returned Dr. Burgess ; " and 
 though my acquaintance with him is, as you 
 are aware, not very old, it seems to me 
 that it is an amiable one, with as little of 
 childish sinfulness and wilfulness in it as 
 can well be expected from one born, cradled, 
 and reared in every possible luxury." 
 
 Such was Dr. Burgess's opinion of the little 
 Earl of Ellerley after a five or six months' 
 acquaintance; and though the child spent 
 most of his time with his two attendants in 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 27 
 
 the nursery, or else with Mrs. Burgess in the 
 drawing-room, still the rector did not see 
 any reason to alter his opinion of the natural 
 humility of his disposition, until the clay of 
 the circus arrived, and then he saw a thorn 
 amongst the rose leaves. 
 
 Lord and Lady Linton, and four of their 
 children came to the Rectory to luncheon, 
 and they were all to proceed to the tent 
 which had been erected, and there take pos- 
 session of reserved seats. 
 
 On arriving, however, the tent was already 
 over-crowded. There was but just room for 
 Lord Linton and his party, and Dr. Burgess, 
 with his young ward, were obliged to find places 
 where they could. This displeased the little 
 lord very much. In the first place he was 
 put out at being separated from his little 
 friends ; and in the next he was close to a 
 large family of children, chiefly boys, who 
 stared at him as children only can stare. 
 
28 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 "Dr. Burgess, I don't like this place/' 
 said he, after he had endured it for a few 
 minutes. 
 
 "It is not a good place, dear child, but 
 you see how full every bench is. We shall 
 see very well, fortunately, so I think we had 
 better stay where we are, and make the best 
 of it." 
 
 "But I don't like it, Dr. Burgess," per- 
 sisted the little boy, half-imploringly, and 
 half-peevishly ; "we are all amongst the 
 town people," he added, with a wondrously 
 contemptuous intonation, and turning his 
 bright blue eyes scornfully around on his 
 neighbours. 
 
 "Hush, hush, my dear," said the rector, 
 " I know every body here. They are all 
 very respectable, good people." 
 
 "I dare say!" retorted the child; "but I 
 don't like the place, and I don't like sitting 
 next to these vulgar boys." 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 29 
 
 The boys thus designated heard him 
 distinctly. 
 
 " Are we vulgar boys !" cried the one who 
 sat farthest from Dr. Burgess, in a voice 
 intended only for Lord Ellerley's edification ; 
 " say that again, white-face ! " 
 
 The child shrunk closer to the rector, with 
 an expression of intense disgust on his in- 
 fantine features, and, without making any 
 remark, Dr. Burgess quietly changed places 
 with him ; but he had heard the retort as well 
 as the provocation, and determined when the 
 entertainment was at an end, to make it a 
 lesson for the child's advantage. 
 
 The boys who had so offended him were 
 not the sons of gentlemen; had they been 
 so, it would have been more like Dr. Burgess 
 to have laughed heartily at the little aristo- 
 crat's discomfiture, than to have been annoyed ; 
 but, as it was, he was extremely vexed. 
 
 " They were Sutton the brewer's boys," 
 
30 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 said he to Mrs. Burgess when they reached 
 home, " and I had rather it had happened to 
 any family in the town but that, considering 
 that Sutton and I have more than once lately 
 been thrown into antagonistic contact. Last 
 week, at the board of guardians, he was very 
 troublesome, and you remember the manner 
 he behaved about the new pews in the 
 chancel. I had to give him rather a set-down 
 there ; and, of course, when these boys go 
 home and tell how my pupil treated them, 
 and repeat, too, the opprobrious term of 
 ' town people,' Sutton will think, with some 
 reason, that my training, as to how the child 
 is to comport himself towards them, has not 
 been the most impartial in the world. I can't 
 let the matter rest here. I must take some 
 notice of it." 
 
 " Don't you think," suggested Mrs. Bur- 
 
 gess, 
 
 u 
 
 that the least said is soonest mended ? 
 
 Surely Sutton will never dream of being 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 31 
 
 annoyed at expressions used by such a bit of 
 a creature as Ellerley ? " 
 
 "It is the words, not the speaker, that 
 the man will brood over," said the rector, 
 " and it strikes me that on every account 
 I had better make an example of this 
 opportunity. When Ellerley has had his tea, 
 my dear, send him down into the garden 
 to me." 
 
 There was an arbour in the Rectory garden 
 to which, in his rare leisure moments, Dr. 
 Burgess used to repair with his letters, a 
 book, or a newspaper. So, when Mrs. Burgess 
 delivered her husband's message in the 
 nursery, the boy gladly availed himself of it, 
 and frisked down, charmed to be let loose 
 again at an unaccustomed hour. 
 
 "Well little man !" cried his tutor's cheery 
 voice ; " and how do you feel after all your 
 gaiety?" 
 
 Upon which the child broke out into de- 
 
32 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 lighted expressions of admiration of the 
 performances he had witnessed, and minute 
 descriptions of the various feats. 
 
 " So, altogether," said the rector, " you 
 were quite satisfied ? thoroughly enjoyed 
 yourself, eh ? " 
 
 "Oh yes!" exclaimed his pupil, "I have 
 been so happy ! all except," he added, sud- 
 denly correcting himself, " except—" 
 
 " Except what, my dear?" 
 
 " Oh, Dr. Burgess, you know ! those horrid 
 boys you know ! " 
 
 " Those boys to whom you were not very 
 polite, do you mean ? " 
 
 " It wasn't my fault, Dr. Burgess. It was 
 their fault. Did you see how they stared at 
 me?" 
 
 " And is no one allowed to take such a 
 liberty as that ? " 
 
 The little lord laughed. 
 
 "Oh! I didn't mean that. But they 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 33 
 
 called me ' white face/ too ; didn't you hear 
 them?" 
 
 " Well ! the roses are not so bright on those 
 little cheeks as I should like to see them ; 
 but did they call you that without any 
 provocation ? " 
 
 " Any what?" 
 
 "Without your calling them any names 
 first?" • 
 
 The child coloured. 
 
 " Did I not hear something about ' vulgar 
 boys?'" pursued the rector, "and did not a 
 little friend of mine very much dislike sitting 
 amongst i town people ? ' and did he not say 
 so sufficiently loud to be overheard?" 
 
 Lord Ellerley hung his head. He had not 
 a word to say for himself. 
 
 " Did you feel hurt when they called 
 you ' white face?'" continued Dr. Burgess, 
 waiting patiently till he could elicit a 
 reply. 
 
 VOL. i. D 
 
34 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " Of course I did not like it," said an 
 almost inaudible voice. 
 
 " Yet, your little face is white, my boy ?" 
 
 " They had no right to call me so," per- 
 sisted the child. 
 
 " Had you a better right to call them 
 vulgar boys ? Do you know that what they 
 called you was much more true than what you 
 called them ? if it hurt your feelings to be 
 called ' white face,' which you know you -are, 
 think how much more it must have hurt theirs 
 to be called what they are not, for I assure you 
 those two little boys are two of the best be- 
 haved children in the whole town, although 
 it has not pleased God to place them in the 
 same station of life that you are in. Don't 
 you think, then, it was very unkind, very 
 cruel of you to provoke them to be rude to 
 you?" 
 
 " I didn't mean to be cruel," murmured 
 the little fellow, who was naturally tender- 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 35 
 
 hearted, and on whose feelings this appeal 
 made an impression ; " I don't think they 
 minded." 
 
 " On the contrary, my dear, I think they 
 were very much hurt. I saw the one next 
 you grow quite red. Do you know what I 
 should have done, when I was a little boy, if 
 I had behaved as you have to-day ? " 
 
 " What?" raising his bright eyes. 
 
 " I could not have gone to sleep happily 
 without begging their pardons ; saying I was 
 sorry that I hurt their feelings — that I was 
 angry at the moment, and did not mean it." 
 
 Another deep blush on the child's face. 
 Dr. Burgess saw the struggle going on in 
 the proud little heart, but took no notice, only 
 waited patiently. At last — 
 
 "Well! I am sorry. I don't think I 
 meant it," came almost inaudibly again. 
 
 " How pleased they would be if they heard 
 you say so." 
 
 d2 
 
36 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 "Well then, you tell them I said so/' 
 
 Dr. Burgess could have laughed, but that 
 would have spoilt all, so he preserved an 
 imperturbable gravity. ' 
 
 " That would be a very different thing to 
 your saying so yourself," he replied. 
 
 " But I don't know them ?" 
 
 "I do, quite well. Their house is not a 
 hundred yards from this house. Would you 
 like to run in with me ? just in the course of 
 a little evening walk together?" 
 
 This was a great puzzle. The evening walk 
 was an immense temptation, but the visit 
 was alarming. Still the child knew his tutor 
 too well not to be sure that to refuse to pay 
 the latter would be to sacrifice the former, so 
 that another struggle now took place, and 
 still the rector's patience held out. 
 
 "Well!" said he at last, as he rose and 
 shook himself, "what shall we do? go, or 
 not go ? it shall be as my little man likes." 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 37 
 
 Again there was a long pause. 
 
 "We'll go," at last exclaimed the child 
 manfully, and scampering off as fast as he 
 could to prepare for the treat and the trial, 
 he left his tutor in a glow of triumph and 
 satisfaction. 
 
 " For this world and the next ! for this 
 world and the next ! " he kept breathing to 
 himself, as he walked hastily up and down the 
 gravel walk. " I vowed the vow, and may God 
 help me to keep it, making me always thank- 
 ful, as I am now, that the soil on which 
 I work is one which bids fair in time to yield 
 a good seed. The child does not bear malice. 
 I can mould him to my will — we shall lay the 
 first stone to-day." 
 
 One feature in the town of Worthington 
 was, that the inhabitants always sat at their 
 windows. Consequently great was the sensa- 
 tion when, about half-past six o'clock that 
 evening, the rector emerged from his 
 
38 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 gates — everybody knowing that he dined at 
 seven — leading by the hand the little Earl of 
 Ellerley. 
 
 But the astonishment to which this incident 
 gave rise was nothing at all in comparison to 
 that with which the favoured few, who could 
 see far enough, saw the stately pair march u} 
 to the bright green door of Mr. Sutton the 
 brewer's mansion, and lift the bronze lion's 
 head. 
 
 Was Mr. Sutton at home? Yes! Mr. 
 Sutton was at home, and so surprised at 
 seeing the huge shadow of the rector stretch- 
 ing across the street, and stationary at his 
 own door, that he was in the hall almost as 
 soon as the door was opened, and "Your 
 servant, sir," was uttered in tones which 
 seemed doubtful as to whether they were 
 welcoming a friend or an enemy. 
 
 " Good evening, Mr. Sutton," returned 
 the rector, in his sonorous voice, dashing at 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 39 
 
 once into his subject, from pity to the little 
 being by his side, whose weight now began 
 to hang back from his hand, and whose own 
 little hand perceptibly trembled. " Are your 
 sons at home ? Yes ? I am glad of it, for I 
 have brought a little boy here with me this 
 evening to clear up a little misunderstanding 
 which took place at the circus between him 
 and them." 
 
 "Here, Tom, Robert!" exclaimed Mr. 
 Sutton, leaning back so as to put his head 
 into the room which he had just vacated, 
 " come here, you lads. What have you been 
 about at the circus to-day ? Will you walk in, 
 sir?" suddenly addressing the rector. 
 
 " Thank you, a moment is sufficient," said 
 Dr. Burgess, just advancing so far into the 
 house as to command a view of the boys in 
 the parlour; "but you must not misunder- 
 stand our errand, Mr. Sutton. I have come 
 here with Lord Ellerley this evening, not to 
 
40 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 complain of your sons, but to say that my 
 pupil wishes to apologise to them for a rude 
 remark he made with regard to them at the 
 circus. My dear," he added, turning to the 
 child, " you came to say — eh ? — that — " 
 
 " I'm very sorry, I didn't mean it," came 
 the gentle tones. 
 
 The boys looked ready to sink, and the 
 father drew in his lips. 
 
 " If his lordship has got anything to beg 
 pardon for," cried he at last, with a burst of 
 genuine admiration, " I'm sure my lads must 
 have a great deal more, though I can't say as 
 how a word of it has reached me. Boys, beg 
 my lord's pardon. Be ashamed of yourselves, 
 you young cubs. What have you been at? 
 Beg his lordship's pardon, I say." 
 
 " No, no ! " exclaimed the little earl, cling- 
 ing to Dr. Burgess, "it was not them; it 
 was all me, that's all ; let us go, Dr. Burgess, 
 I'm quite happy now, let us go." 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 41 
 
 And with all his tiny force he dragged the 
 rector into the hall, and fairly out into the 
 street, and five minutes afterwards was 
 dancing home up the road in all the exuber- 
 ance of recovered peace of mind. 
 
 "Now, that's what I call handsome!" 
 shouted the brewer, dashing his hand down on 
 the table, as he returned to his arm-chair ; 
 that's bringing up the boy like his own son, 
 as he said he would, and no mistake ! Now, 
 mark me boys. If ever I catch you saying 
 a word to or against that ere fine-hearted 
 little lord again, what isn't civil as it ought 
 to be, and befitting his consequence, you'll 
 wish yourselves farther off than under my roof, 
 and that I can tell you, so mind. The rector's 
 a tight hand, but I never thought he'd show 
 it to that little lad, and I like him now better 
 than ever I did, so now come here boys, and 
 let's have the story. What did you do ? what 
 
42 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 did you say ? what did his lordship say ? and 
 what did he do ?" 
 
 The next day the story was all over Worth- 
 ington. Everybody was delighted. People 
 had just been beginning to think that Dr. 
 Burgess was holding himself and his pupil 
 rather high, because they were seen so little 
 (the former so much less indeed) in the 
 Worthington circles, but this was proof posi- 
 tive to the contrary. Everybody now made 
 allowances, for the rector. They all saw that 
 the little leisure he had ever had was now 
 monopolised by his charge, devoted to wean- 
 ing him from the nursery, to laying the 
 foundation of his education, and, in fact, to 
 bringing him up, strictly and conscientiously 
 as he always said he would, as his own 
 son. 
 
43 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Two years have passed ; two quiet years 
 have rolled over the rector's head and over 
 Worthington in general, and few changes 
 have taken place. The busy monotony of 
 the rector's life, however, has been varied 
 by duties connected with his tutorship, and 
 he has taken his pupil twice to Ireland to 
 visit his grandfather, the Duke of Arran. 
 
 On the death of the Earl of Ellerley, 
 Dr. Burgess had been inclined to think that 
 the Duke had shown something very like 
 apathy, but the first visit to Ireland had 
 dispelled that idea. He then saw that his 
 grace was a man of very few words, as 
 
44 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 shy in manner as he was reserved in dis- 
 position, but that within the whole range 
 of that magnificent domain, the memory of 
 that lost son was reverenced from high to 
 low, — from the duke down to the most 
 humble retainer ; and that, though the duke 
 could never speak of him, he showed, by 
 his devotion to the child, the love he bore 
 the father. 
 
 The tutor and his pupil spent two months 
 there, and during that time the duke could 
 hardly bear the boy out of his sight. His 
 whole delight seemed to be to study his 
 character, and dream visions for his future, 
 and every disengaged evening he would 
 summon Dr. Burgess to his side and pour 
 into his ear all his hopes, his wishes, and 
 his projects, all of which differed from 
 those of his late son so far that inasmuch 
 as the earl had used the emphatic words 
 "for this world and the next," the duke 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 45 
 
 laid the greater stress on the things of this 
 world. 
 
 In that child he saw himself revived 
 again. That boy was heir to all his grandeur 
 - — that boy was sole heir to honours innumer- 
 able. 
 
 " And my good friend," said the old man, 
 querulously, one day, "I think if I could 
 possibly find a fault in your system of 
 education, it would be this, that my grand- 
 son hardly seems sufficiently aware of his 
 consequence, both present and future. He 
 is almost too humble-minded, — the child 
 seems to have no idea of the position which 
 he is destined to occupy, and I am inclined 
 to think it would be better to bring it before 
 him gradually, than allow it to burst upon 
 his mind all at once." 
 
 " I have done so, your grace," replied 
 Dr. Burgess, "and I assure you that if 
 I have failed, the fault is more with his 
 
46 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 lordship himself than with me. He is 
 singularly humble-minded, he has no self- 
 conceits, he cares little for pomps and vanities, 
 and indeed so long as his own few simple 
 tastes are gratified, he has not a thought 
 besides. But all this may change, some 
 day. I speak but of the present, and any 
 suggestions that your grace may offer, it 
 shall be my earnest endeavour to follow 
 out." 
 
 "Why, then," said the old man, in a 
 relieved voice, as if he had gained a point, 
 " I should say, teach him to think a little 
 more of himself. His is a gentle, shrinking 
 nature — rather too much so for a boy ; 
 shake him up a little — give him confidence, 
 and show him that it will be his place to 
 put himself very forward in this life by-and- 
 bye, when I am dead and gone, instead of 
 holding back. Teach him this in your own 
 good way, and I shall be quite satisfied." 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 47 
 
 But Dr. Burgess, though he saw exactly 
 what the duke meant, did not intend to 
 set about his task immediately. He meant 
 to watch his opportunities, and take prompt 
 advantage of them. 
 
 It had always been a matter of some 
 surprise to the rector, that even the do- 
 mestics about the person of the young 
 earl had failed to imbue his mind with 
 any of those sentiments of self-esteem which 
 children in general so greedily imbibe. 
 
 The boy knew that from being Lord 
 Strangford he had become Earl of Ellerley, 
 and he did not care about it. He was 
 aware that Ellerley Castle was his, and held 
 in trust for him, and he was perfectly 
 indifferent on the subject. He was told 
 that when his grandfather died he would 
 be Duke of Arran, and all the remark he 
 had made was, " I hope grandpapa is not 
 going to die ! " 
 
48 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 So that Dr. Burgess was far from astonished 
 when the old duke, who was the proudest 
 of his race, felt vexed to see how very 
 little his heir cared for all his impending 
 dignities. 
 
 During this two months' visit at Slane 
 Abbey, Lord Ellerley and his tutor were not 
 the only guests. There were, staying in the 
 house at the same time, Sir Elliott Spence 
 and his two sons, who had been invited on 
 purpose to extend the circle of the young 
 earl's acquaintance. 
 
 These two sons were Westminster boys, 
 lads of thirteen and fourteen, and perfect 
 specimens of all the refinement and elegance 
 for which that great metropolitan nursery of 
 young England is proverbial. 
 
 Rough, wild, riotous, and overflowing with 
 animal spirits, they delighted in sports in 
 which the child could find no amusement, and 
 into which he could not be induced to enter. 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 49 
 
 If it were a question of a race on the 
 commons outside the domain, on horseback, 
 Ellerley was their match, for there was not a 
 horse in his grandfather's stables which he 
 would hesitate to ride, but to go out early 
 in the morning ditch-leaping, bog-trotting, 
 ferretting, and rat-hunting, was utterly re- 
 pugnant to his nature. 
 
 The state of total disregard too, as to their 
 personal appearance, in which his cousins 
 lived, disgusted the boy. With hands caked 
 in mud, hair tangled, matted, and generally 
 wet through, their clothes torn and their faces 
 flushed, these boys would return to the Abbey 
 a few minutes before the luncheon-bell rang, 
 and had they not been unflinchingly pursued 
 by Sir Elliott's valet, who had the charge of 
 them pro tern, and heartily wished their 
 holidays were over, they never would have 
 been fit to appear at the duke's table, or any 
 table at all beneath the ducal roof. 
 
 VOL. I. e 
 
50 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 The eldest boy unluckily had a deformity 
 of one hand. Ellerley had never happened 
 to see any one similarly afflicted before, and, 
 without intending in the least to annoy or 
 offend his cousin, the peculiarity, the first day 
 of their acquaintance, had rivetted his atten- 
 tion. 
 
 This the boy was not slow to observe, and 
 instantly fired up. 
 
 "What are you staring at, eh?" he asked, 
 in a savage tone. 
 
 Ellerley was abashed, and perhaps with 
 some faint and lingering remembrance of the 
 incident at the circus at Worthington, with- 
 drew his gaze and quietly said, " I beg your 
 pardon." 
 
 "Why do you beg his pardon?" cried the 
 younger brother, rejoiced at the prospect 
 of setting the two against each other; 
 " haven't you as good a right to look at 
 him as at anybody else ? " 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 51 
 
 " Not if he does not like it," said 
 Ellerley. 
 
 "What does that signify? Look again! 
 and if he doesn't like it, punch his head." 
 
 Ellerley neither retreated nor retorted, 
 but calmly pursued the game which they 
 had just begun, so that the boys had not the 
 gratification of aggravating him up to a 
 pugilistic pitch, but that afternoon, as he 
 galloped by the side of his grandfather's 
 pony-chaise, he did not conceal his opinion 
 of his companions. 
 
 The duke cordially agreed in all the 
 child said. He disliked the boys himself 
 exceedingly, and he liked the father very 
 little better, but he had thought it a duty 
 to ask them, partly because they were the 
 nephews of the little earl's mother, and 
 partly because he wished to see what effect 
 the society of companions would have upon 
 the boy. 
 
 e 2 
 
 UNiVF -'UH(m 
 
52 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " However," said he to Dr. Burgess in one 
 of their tete-a-tetes, " I shall not repeat the 
 experiment, neither shall I press them to stay. 
 They will do my grandson more harm than 
 good, and I am sorry I ever invited them." 
 
 " There I beg to differ from your grace," 
 was the tutor's reply ; "it is true that the 
 characters of the boys do not assimilate, but I 
 have observed with much pleasure that they 
 have managed to draw out my pupil much 
 more than I could have done myself. It is 
 not in their power to spoil him. His nature is 
 sensitive, thoughtful, and refined, far beyond 
 his years, and he will bear having a little of 
 these qualifications rubbed off. Boys do this 
 for each other better than older persons, and 
 therefore I repeat that I differ from your 
 grace, inasmuch as I think these boys have 
 done — possibly unintentionally — more good 
 than harm." 
 
 It was generous of Dr. Burgess thus to 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 53 
 
 plead for Sir Elliott Spence's sons, for from 
 the first day of their acquaintance Sir Elliott 
 had shown no great respect or admiration for 
 the rector. It was only the duke's open ap- 
 probation that made him barely civil, and even 
 then he never lost an opportunity of saying an 
 ill-natured thing either to, or of him, if he 
 could find the occasion. 
 
 The sorest point with Sir Elliott was the 
 authority Dr. Burgess claimed and exercised 
 over his nephew. 
 
 "To which of the public schools are you 
 going to send Ellerley, duke ?" said he one 
 day. 
 
 " To none," snapped his grace. 
 
 " No ? I am surprised. Your grace, I 
 think, was at Eton ?" 
 
 " I was, Sir Elliott, but that is no reason 
 why Lord Ellerley is to go there too." 
 
 " Certainly not, only I should be afraid of 
 bringing up a son at home. Ellerley would 
 
54 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 soon be a fine manly fellow if he saw a little 
 college life. You know home education is 
 very apt to make a boy effeminate. " 
 
 " Sir Elliott," retorted the duke, colouring 
 with anger, "my grandson was left, by a 
 solemn and sacred charge, to the care of Dr. 
 Burgess, and I have as yet had no reason to 
 regret that the trust was accepted, for ably 
 has he hitherto fulfilled his task. As for his 
 soon becoming a 'fine manly fellow/" added 
 the old man, with an intonation of great scorn, 
 "I am infinitely obliged to you, but my 
 grandson is entirely to my taste, and I have 
 no wish to see him any other than what 
 he is." 
 
 "Well," replied Sir Elliott, nothing daunt- 
 ed, "of course if you are satisfied, no one else 
 has a right to say a word ; but all I know is 
 that both Linton and I were agreeing the other 
 day that home education is very apt to make 
 a boy a spoony sort of fellow, — and 'pon my 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 55 
 
 word now, I don't wish to say a word against 
 the doctor, but — " 
 
 " Oh ? pray say on ! " exclaimed the duke, 
 with a short laugh ; " I am delighted to 
 hear what the world says. I live so much 
 out of it myself that these sentiments are 
 quite new to me, and vastly entertaining. 
 So you consider my grandson spooney, do 
 
 you?" 
 
 " Bless my soul, no ! — I merely remarked 
 to your grace how apt the education Ellerley 
 was receiving was, to — to — " 
 
 " Well, then, to proceed, you do not wish 
 to say a word against the doctor? Possibly 
 then, you were going to say a word in his 
 favour? If so, no one will rejoice more 
 than myself to hear it." 
 
 " I was about to remark," said Sir Elliott, 
 with some warmth, since he now began to 
 see the duke was speaking ironically, "that 
 as Linton and I have been named as joint 
 
56 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 guardians to Lord Ellerley, and as we in con- 
 sequence consider ourselves entitled now and 
 then to canvass the subject of his education, 
 we have occasionally observed that the doctor 
 was bringing him up in rather a more 
 serious manner than was at all necessary 
 for a young man of his rank and position." 
 
 " I understand," said the duke, shortly. 
 "You do not consider religion necessary for 
 the heir to a dukedom?" 
 
 " Religion ? Yes, of course ; to a certain 
 degree, religion is all very right and proper, 
 but not to the extent that Dr. Burgess carries 
 it, for, by Jove, the boy wont do this because 
 it's wrong, and he wont do that because it's 
 wrong, and he doesn't think this thing right, 
 and that thing right — and — oh, upon my 
 word, it's going too far, — it puts me out of 
 patience ! All I wish to say is, that if you 
 see all this with my eyes, perhaps your grace 
 will give me leave to take Ellerley to my 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 57 
 
 house for his next holidays, without Dr. 
 Burgess, and I'll soon undertake to make 
 such a change in the boy, that when he 
 conies back you wont know him again ! " 
 
 The duke laughed outright. Every word 
 of this conversation was treasured up in his 
 memory from that day forth, and the next 
 time he was alone with Dr. Burgess, he 
 delivered a few charges to him. 
 
 "My dear Dr. Burgess, I have enjoyed your 
 stay here very much. I approve unreservedly 
 of the manner in which you do your duty by 
 my grandson, and I shall never presume to 
 interfere with your system of education. All 
 I wish to impress on you is, that if I, as his 
 grandfather, do not interfere, no one else has 
 any right to do so. Be so good as to mark 
 my words, and if you have any trouble at 
 any time, provided I am alive, appeal to me, 
 and you shall be supported. Further, I have 
 but one word to say. I charge you on no 
 
58 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 account ever to allow my grandson to visit at 
 Sir Elliott Spence's, without yourself. I had 
 rather he went nowhere visiting without 
 you, but to Sir Elliott Spence's, certainly 
 not. When he is eighteen, we shall see our 
 way better ; but, for the present, certainly 
 not. — I have my reasons." 
 
 "Nor to Lord Linton's, your grace ?" 
 
 " Thank you for reminding me, — nor to 
 Lord Linton's, if you please." 
 
 " But to either, provided I am included in 
 the invitation, I conclude ? " 
 
 " Why yes, — if you think it good for 
 him." 
 
 "I do, certainly, your grace. There are 
 but few people in my immediate neighbour- 
 hood with young families, and since Lord 
 Ellerley is not to go to a public school, or 
 any school, companions and friends become 
 a necessity. In my opinion, the more he 
 goes out amongst those of his own age the 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 59 
 
 better; for, at the present moment, he 
 really has no friends but his dogs and 
 horses." 
 
 "And the safest friends he could have, too," 
 murmured the duke, to himself. 
 
 A few mornings before the intended de- 
 parture of Dr. Burgess and his pupil from 
 Slane Abbey for England, as they sat out on 
 the lawn, waiting for their horses to be 
 brought round for an excursion to some dis- 
 tance, Lord Ellerley suddenly looked up from 
 a deep reverie. 
 
 " I've been thinking — " he began. 
 
 " So I saw," smiled the doctor, " and was 
 going to offer you the usual gratuity for your 
 thoughts." 
 
 "But I'm not joking, Dr. Burgess; I've 
 been thinking — you never will guess about 
 what?" 
 
 " About our journey, I suppose." 
 
 " No, not that." 
 
60 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " Perhaps about Worthington ? " 
 " No, nothing like it ; I've been thinking 
 over — something you'll never guess. I 
 wonder if you will call it wicked, Dr. 
 Burgess?" 
 
 "I do not know, my dear, till I hear, 
 but I daresay I shall not. What is it?" 
 
 " I've been thinking over the parable of 
 the talents." 
 
 "Well, my dear?" 
 " And I've been wondering — " 
 " Wondering — yes — about what?" 
 " Wondering why God has not given 
 me any talents — I have not any talents, 
 have I? and yet — if I have, what are 
 they? I do as much as I can, Dr. Bur- 
 gess, but I don't feel as if I had a turn 
 for anything particular ; is it because I 
 cannot help it? and if it is, why is it? 
 why haven't I any talents, Dr. Burgess? 
 will they ever come ? " 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 61 
 
 The rector paused for a moment, sur- 
 prised at the sudden appeal. He was sur- 
 prised too to find that the child had, whilst 
 applying the parable to himself, misunder- 
 stood it, or else, whilst pondering over it, 
 puzzled himself and lost its meaning, when 
 suddenly there flashed across him the recol- 
 lection of the subject of one of the duke's 
 long conversations; "this," thought he to 
 himself, "is the very opportunity — the op- 
 portunity for which I have waited." 
 
 "My dear," said he, aloud, "you will 
 perhaps think I am not in earnest when I 
 tell you that I hardly know anybody to 
 whom God has given so many talents as to 
 yourself. I really think you have the full 
 ten." 
 
 "I? Dr. Burgess!" The boy opened his 
 wide blue eyes to their fullest extent. " But 
 you must be laughing at me. What talents 
 have I got ?— What can I do ? " 
 
62 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " Perhaps not much at present," returned 
 his tutor, "but that does not prove that you 
 have not had talents bestowed on you, and 
 talents too, as I said, of no limited extent. 
 But I can explain this to you in a better way 
 than by words. Mount your horse, my 
 dear, and this time I will choose our ride 
 myself. Before we return home, I shall have 
 shown you the talents, or a great part of 
 them, for which you will some day be respon- 
 sible, and for which you will have, on the last 
 day, to account." 
 
 The boy mounted his horse in silence, 
 and rode in equal silence by the side of Dr. 
 Burgess. 
 
 Through the park, through the magnificent 
 avenue, down the lanes, and up the wild 
 hills till they came to roads which seemed 
 to have rocks for their basis, did this couple 
 of companions ride on, until at last Dr. 
 Burgess wheeled his horse suddenly round on 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 63 
 
 the summit of the highest hill, and looked 
 at the child by his side. 
 
 " Oh, what a view ! " burst from Lord 
 Ellerley's lips, " we never came here before. 
 I can see for hundreds of miles, Dr. Bur- 
 gess ! I can see the sea ! " 
 
 " You can see the sea," said Dr. Burgess, 
 ' i and on your right you see those craggy 
 mountains. On the left you see those woods 
 in the extreme distance, and at our feet you 
 see this rich plain of fields, woods and ham- 
 lets; in the midst, Siane Abbey — do you 
 know, my child, to whom all this belongs ? " 
 
 " I know that Slane Abbey is grand- 
 papa's," replied the child, hesitatingly. 
 
 " My dear, it is all his ! all that you see 
 is your grandfather's," said Dr. Burgess, im- 
 pressively, " and at your grandfather's death, 
 it will all be yours." 
 
 "Mine?" exclaimed Lord Ellerley, half 
 under his breath, "all this mine?" 
 
64 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " Yes, yours. You will be Duke of 
 Arran." 
 
 " I know that." 
 
 " And as Duke of Arran, all these estates 
 will descend to you. In those small hamlets 
 there are hundreds of poor people — you 
 will have to take care of them — you will 
 have to see that they are taken care of, 
 and not oppressed — you must see that they 
 have church room for the old, and school 
 houses for the young — this is but a trifling 
 portion of all that you will have to do ; — 
 you must strive, when you come to this 
 state of life, to do good unceasingly — much 
 has been given to you — much will be re- 
 quired of you — and when I look round 
 upon this rich and fertile scene and think 
 that it is here that God has placed your 
 lot, and that both this, and Ellerley Castle, 
 and other lands now belonging to your 
 grandfather, will all some day be yours if 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 65 
 
 life be granted you, I think to myself, my 
 child, these are your talents ! of all this 
 will you have to render up your charge 
 and to give account. It is a responsibility 
 which I cannot as yet expect you to feel, 
 but some day I hope you will — you must ! — 
 and now that I have told you what will be 
 yours, of rank, riches, houses, and lands, 
 was I wrong in saying that you have had 
 the full share of talents bestowed on you? 
 the whole ten, my child ! the whole 
 ten!" 
 
 The boy rode home, thoughtful and 
 subdued, by no means elated, and this 
 was exactly the impression Dr. Burgess 
 had wished to make. He was evidently 
 thinking, not of his future aggrandisement, 
 but of the wide means such riches gave him 
 of making the people about him happy 
 and comfortable. 
 
 " I will not have any mud huts, Dr. 
 
 VOL. I. F 
 
66 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 Burgess — I should like all nice cottages," 
 he said, as he suddenly broke into speech 
 again, and thus showed the train in which 
 his thoughts were running ; " would not 
 that be doing right ? " 
 
 " It depends, my dear, whether the 
 people like the cottages better than the 
 huts. Don't you remember the story of 
 the man who felt himself so aggrieved 
 because his landlord wished to plaster up 
 the hole in the roof? — did he not ask his 
 honour how the smoke was to get out at 
 all at all, if the hole was stopped ? " 
 
 "Well then, Dr. Burgess, I know what 
 you would like — you would be delighted 
 if you saw a great beautiful church with a 
 high spire in this valley — would you not?" 
 
 " Yes ; that I should." 
 
 "And you should be clergyman of it, 
 Dr. Burgess." 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 67 
 
 "Ah! my dear/' said the doctor, with 
 something between a laugh and a sigh, " I 
 shall be under brown mould and green 
 grass before that day comes. " 
 
 F 2 
 
68 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Time passed on, and changes crept in- 
 sensibly into Worthington Rectory. The 
 room which had once been the nursery, 
 was now uncarpeted and served as Lord 
 Ellerley's play-room. Bats, balls, hoops, 
 fishing-rods, skates, and every possible va- 
 riety of boyish implements, found a place 
 there, and the room adjoining was converted 
 into a pretty little sitting-room for the old 
 nurse, who had turned out, as Dr. Burgess 
 had anticipated, a help and a comfort to 
 his nervous, delicate wife. 
 
 Even mademoiselle still remained, though 
 no longer an appendage to the Earl of El- 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 69 
 
 lerley. She had now another charge, and 
 might daily be seen in all the lanes round 
 Worthington, sometimes walking with, and 
 sometimes driving in a basket carriage, the 
 beautiful little daughter of the rector. 
 
 Little Brenda was eight years of age, 
 and though she had once made a nice little 
 playfellow for the young earl, he now rather 
 disdained her. He was eleven, and had boys 
 for his friends and companions now, so that, 
 excepting on Sundays, Brenda was seldom 
 brought under his notice. 
 
 Amongst the childish things which, with 
 his growing years, he had put off, was his 
 shaggy Shetland pony, and this he had 
 presented to Brenda. He now rode a spirited 
 chestnut, some fourteen hands high, and 
 scorned the shambling gait of his old friend. 
 
 His companions were different sons of the 
 neighbouring gentry — not many certainly — 
 but his friends were Lord Linton's sons. 
 
70 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 There were three of them, fine, spirited 
 youths, older than himself, and their society 
 had brought forward the intellect and powers 
 of young Ellerley, with a rapidity which 
 was surprising, even to Dr. Burgess, who 
 appreciated his pupil more than any one 
 did. 
 
 Most people thought Lord Ellerley ex- 
 ceedingly backward, not to say deficient, 
 but the doctor stood out for him, man- 
 fully. "He may not have brilliant qualities 
 — he may not be a genius — but he has a 
 disposition so amiable, and moral qualities 
 of so high an order, that I should never be 
 surprised at his making a figure in the world 
 some of these days, in spite of his re- 
 serve." 
 
 Lord Linton liked the boy exceedingly, 
 and so pleased was he with the manner in 
 which he was being brought up, that he 
 offered Dr. Burgess any terms he pleased, 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 71 
 
 provided he would take his three sons also 
 under his charge. 
 
 But this the rector resolutely declined. 
 He looked upon Ellerley as a legacy. It 
 was not a trust upon which he would have 
 entered willingly, indeed he often felt that 
 to be a private tutor was not his vocation. 
 He was wedded to his home and his parish, 
 and he felt that any other pupil would 
 destroy the domesticity of the former, and 
 rob the latter of his time, and therefore he 
 declined. 
 
 " That is the most disinterested parson 
 I ever knew," said Lord Linton to the 
 countess, as they drove home after the 
 failure of their mission. 
 
 They had both spent the day at the 
 Kectory for the express purpose of making 
 the proposal, and Lady Linton was much 
 more annoyed than her husband, at the 
 refusal. 
 
72 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 "It is evident," said she, " that, disin- 
 terested or not, as the case may be, he is 
 determined to keep the boy to himself." 
 
 " He can have no motive but disinterested 
 conscientiousness," returned Lord Linton, 
 " for surely, well-off even as he is, six or 
 eight hundred a-year more, would have 
 been no such contemptible addition to a 
 clerical income, but he was as firm as a 
 rock. Ellerley, as he said, required all the 
 attention which he could possibly spare from 
 the claims of his parish." 
 
 " But he has taken another curate lately." 
 
 " That only shows that he had more than 
 he could do." 
 
 "Well, it may be so," said Lady Linton, 
 significantly, " and it may not. I suspect 
 I am looking further into the matter than 
 you are, and I confess I do not see such 
 very great disinterestedness in the conduct 
 of Dr. Burgess as you do." 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 73 
 
 " If you can find any possible motive for 
 his not wishing to have our boys, other 
 than that he really has not time to attend 
 to them/' replied the earl, " 1 shall give 
 you credit for great ingenuity, my dear." 
 
 "Then I think I can find a motive," 
 returned Lady Linton, "though I daresay 
 you will say it is perfectly ridiculous ; still, 
 remember I am looking beyond the present 
 moment, and you must not laugh till the 
 years arrive in which my prophecies are 
 likely to be verified. I see a great reluc- 
 tance on the part of Dr. Burgess to allow 
 Ellerley to come to us. Alone, you observe, 
 he never permits him to come, in short he 
 has the boy completely under his control, 
 and as long as that great influence lasts, we 
 shall never win Ellerley over to our side. 
 Had our boys become his pupils, there would 
 have been the link of constant companionship 
 and boyish friendship to attach him to us, 
 
74 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 but as it is, Ellerley likes the boys very well 
 for a day, but he had far rather spend his 
 holidays at the Rectory than at Linton ! " 
 
 " Very natural ; Worthington is his home. 
 But I do not see the motive you talked of, 
 yet!" 
 
 " Don't you really?" Lady Linton laughed 
 sarcastically and fixed her eyes on 
 her husband — " Dr. Burgess has an 
 only daughter," she added, pointedly. 
 
 " Oh, by Jove ! the light flashes in," 
 laughed Lord Linton, "yes, so he has, 
 a child in the nursery ! " 
 
 "A little girl in the school-room, if you 
 please, and the prettiest creature I ever 
 saw. I have not happened to see her 
 for the last two years, and to-day she 
 came in dressed in her riding-habit and 
 hat, and quite startled me. Hair all 
 down her shoulders the colour of bronze 
 — black with a gold light on it — and 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 75 
 
 such a pair of eyes! — eyes, my lord, 
 that will make some sensation some of 
 these days, or I am very much mistaken ; 
 and now say that the rector is disin- 
 terested if you please, but I don't be- 
 lieve it." 
 
 Lord Linton had listened without laugh- 
 ing; indeed he saw some shadow of foun- 
 dation for Lady Linton's suspicions. Still 
 he could not quite make it out. 
 
 " So you think Dr. Burgess is keep- 
 ing the embryo duke for his daughter, 
 eh?" 
 
 " I think a man must be more than 
 human, to have such a chance in his 
 hand and throw it away." 
 
 " And you are afraid she may take 
 a fancy to one of our boys instead? — 
 upon my word, my dear, your argument 
 will not hold good. To have completely 
 feathered his nest, the rector should de- 
 
76 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 cidedly have accepted my offer, for then 
 this captivating young lady would have 
 had the refusal of three earl's sons, as 
 well as the chance of a duke." 
 
 " Laugh away, as much as you please," 
 retorted Lady Linton, carelessly, " but 
 remember that 1 do not dream inces- 
 santly of my sons only. We have three 
 daughters besides, and I must say you 
 might now and then give them a thought. 
 Rosa is just Ellerley's age — Fanny is too 
 old — Julia too plain ; to be Duchess of 
 Arran would be no such insignificant 
 match, my lord, and if you had pressed 
 Dr. Burgess a little more, I think you 
 might have managed it. Had our boys 
 been at Worthington, they would natu- 
 rally have brought Ellerley much more 
 to Linton than they can now — Ellerley 
 would have liked the change — he would 
 have had a sort of feeling of being left 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 77 
 
 behind, when they came home, and he 
 would have spent his holidays here as 
 a matter of course. As it is, the rec- 
 tor has him all to himself, and mark my 
 words if, upon the soft, impressible na- 
 ture of Ellerley, that girl, child as she 
 now is, will not some day make an im- 
 pression ! " 
 
 Had Lord Linton been in the habit 
 of frequenting those distinguished circles 
 which met round the tea-tables of Wor- 
 thington, he would not have treated with 
 such contemptuous scorn, the hints so 
 boldly thrown out by Lady Linton 
 against the disinterested nature of the 
 rector's affection for his pupil, for his 
 lordship would, in that case, have been 
 familiar with all the remarks which had 
 been rife in their coteries on that very 
 subject, for many a long year. 
 
 From the very first, people had said: 
 
78 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 "If the rector plays his cards well, 
 who knows but what he may some day 
 make up a match between his pupil and 
 his little daughter ? " 
 
 And as time wore on, this idea still 
 continued to find favour amongst the 
 Worthingtonians, though they never dared 
 give open utterance to it, not even if 
 a curate happened to be within hearing, 
 much less the rector himself; for once 
 something of the kind had been insinu- 
 ated, and the doctor had been so ex- 
 tremely " savage " — so Mrs. Marsh ex- 
 pressed herself — that no one had ever 
 ventured to repeat the offence. 
 
 But the inhabitants of a country town 
 are not to be easily put down. Those 
 of Worthington had not much to gossip 
 about, and they jealously reserved to 
 themselves the right of gossipping on 
 legitimate subjects, and building castles 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 79 
 
 about anyone they chose, and the rector 
 being the great man of the day — the 
 rising sun — was torn to pieces remorse- 
 lessly, and had been, ever since he had 
 entered upon his new office. 
 
 Such a fairy castle as the ultimate mar- 
 riage of little Brenda to the young earl, 
 was too tempting not to find a myriad of 
 hands ready immediately to rear it, and in 
 vain Mrs. Burgess implored people never 
 to allow such a rumour to reach the 
 rector's ears. 
 
 " I assure you," said she, one evening 
 to Mrs. Marsh and Mrs. Grey, as they 
 sat talking in the twilight, " so sensitive 
 is my husband on the subject, that, 
 ever since some one put it into his head, 
 years ago, he has studiously avoided 
 even allowing the children to share the 
 same studies, lest even a childish affec- 
 tion should spring up between them/' 
 
80 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " But how pretty Brenda grows, Mrs. 
 Burgess ! " cried Mrs. Grey. " She will 
 be quite the belle of Worthington some 
 day." 
 
 Mrs. Burgess smiled. It was not diffi- 
 cult to fill that proud place. 
 
 "But," said Mrs. Marsh, "you see a 
 great deal of Lord Linton's family too, 
 do you not, Mrs. Burgess? — I often see 
 the carriage." 
 
 " Yes ; Dr. Burgess encourages the 
 sons to come and stay with us now and 
 then. He thinks it is good for Lord 
 EHerley." 
 
 " Are there daughters ? " 
 
 "Three ; and talking of belles, even 
 if my poor little Brenda should be the 
 belle of Worthington, I fear she will 
 never be the belle of the county whilst 
 Lady Rosa Lisle is in it. She is the 
 most beautiful girl, I think, I ever 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 81 
 
 saw, considering that she is only about 
 thirteen. She is Lord Linton's second 
 daughter." 
 
 " Has Lord Ellerley ever noticed her 
 at all?" 
 
 " My dear Mrs. Grey," said Mrs. 
 Burgess, laughing, " in thinking of Lord 
 Ellerley, I really sometimes fancy you 
 forget his age. He is but a boy, and 
 a perfect child still. He was thirteen 
 last birthday, and you know a boy at 
 thirteen is much younger than a girl at 
 the same age. Besides he is very odd 
 — very original — -he seems to hold young 
 ladies in a sort of terror, and when the 
 Ladies Lisle come with their brothers we 
 can hardly get him into the room." 
 
 "Is it true that Lord Ellerley is to 
 spend this summer at Linton ? " 
 
 "Yes, I believe so." 
 
 "With the doctor?" 
 
 VOL. I. G 
 
82 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " No ! for the first time he is to go 
 alone. My husband wrote to the duke 
 and represented in the first place, how 
 inconvenient to him were these frequent 
 absences from the parish, and in the 
 next, the advantage it would be to Lord 
 Ellerley to be a little more independent, 
 now that he is growing a great boy." 
 
 " And the duke consented?" 
 
 " He always consents to anything he 
 considers for Lord Ellerley's good." 
 
 This was quite true, and this anxiety 
 for the welfare of his grandson at last 
 amounted to such a pitch, that it led 
 to a step which no one who knew the 
 duke, ever thought he would be induced 
 to take. 
 
 It was, his leaving his dearly loved 
 Irish home, and repairing to an estate 
 he possessed in the north of England, 
 which was within a five hours' journey 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 83 
 
 of Worthington by rail, and consequently 
 accessible to tlie much more frequent 
 visits of Lord EHerley. 
 
 Nothing could have been more agree- 
 able to Dr. Burgess than this change. 
 It removed from his shoulders a moun- 
 tain of cares, though his responsibilities 
 remained the same. 
 
 Here, if a question had to be asked, 
 two days brought the reply. Here, if 
 a troublesome letter arrived from Sir El- 
 liott Spenee, two days settled it, since, in 
 that time, it could be referred to the 
 duke, and his pleasure regarding it as- 
 certained. 
 
 Now, the rector did but little on his 
 own responsibility. Everything was re- 
 ferred to the duke, and the relief of this 
 arrangement was incalculable. 
 
 Family anxieties too, about this time be- 
 gan to prey upon the mind of that man of 
 
 g 2 
 
84 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 many cares. The health of Mrs. Bur- 
 gess began visibly to decline, and she 
 who, always delicate, had never been able 
 to go about much, was now confined 
 almost entirely to her sofa. 
 
 The prospect of his little Brenda, mo- 
 therless at an age when a mother's eye 
 and a mother's heart were of most con- 
 sequence to her welfare, bowed down the 
 spirit of the rector, and all Worthington 
 whispered that there was a change creep- 
 ing over him. They even went so far 
 as to say that something more than fa- 
 mily illness was disturbing and harass- 
 ing his active mind — rumours of money- 
 troubles floated about — small economies 
 were noticed at the Eectory which had 
 never been observed before — yet it was 
 only the rich who discovered these 
 things. The poor felt no evidence of 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 85 
 
 it, for, if possible, they were more 
 looked after and cared for more than 
 ever, the new curate being a man entirely 
 after the rector's heart. 
 
 However, whatever might have been 
 the cause of his depression, it was very 
 certain that the prospect of six weeks' 
 holidays was very grateful to him, and 
 he parted with his pupil that midsummer 
 with feelings of which he was half 
 ashamed, and for which he was angry 
 with himself — the feelings of a boy on 
 the verge of a joyous vacation. 
 
 Lord Ellerley, on the contrary, dis- 
 liked the idea of this visit extremely. 
 
 He did not like Lady Linton. She 
 was always joking and laughing, and he 
 fancied, as all shy people do, that per- 
 haps she was laughing at him. He was 
 afraid of the Ladies Lisle. — " I don't 
 
86 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 much mind the ugly one/' to use his 
 own words, and meaning by that oppro- 
 brious term the Lady Fanny, * but I 
 cannot bear Lady Rosa. She is so for- 
 ward, Dr. Burgess." 
 
 By forward he meant that she paid 
 him attentions with which he would 
 gladly have dispensed. 
 
 "But you like her brothers, my dear," 
 the rector replied, " and it will do 
 you good to see a little more of life 
 than Worthington can offer you. Be- 
 sides, let me caution you against che- 
 rishing a habit of disliking people; — they 
 find it out, and perhaps they may end 
 by disliking you, which "they would not 
 otherwise have done." 
 
 "I'm sure," retorted Lord Ellerley, "I 
 do not care how much Lady Rosa Lisle 
 dislikes me! — she cannot dislike me more 
 than—" 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 87 
 
 " Hush ! " said Dr. Burgess, holding 
 up his hand, and the boy was silent. 
 
 But it seemed as though the prospect 
 of the approaching distasteful visit, made 
 him cling with unusual tenacity to what 
 he called his " home," and to all who 
 formed part of it. 
 
 The evening before he went to Lin- 
 ton, he sat down of his own accord by 
 the side of Mrs. Burgess's sofa, and 
 talked to her, in his quiet, rational 
 way, till moments waxed into hours. 
 The drawing-room windows were open, 
 for it was the close of a real summer's 
 day, and not a breath of air disturbed 
 the fragrant clusters of clematis and jes- 
 samine, which hung from the trellis-work 
 on the Eectory walls. On the lawn sat 
 little Brenda, making a daisy-chain, a large 
 dog asleep on each side of her. 
 
 The boy's eyes turned from the pale, 
 
88 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 sweet face of Mrs. Burgess, to the 
 peaceful scene out of doors. 
 
 "Mrs. Burgess/' said he, at last, "I 
 wish this was my real home. I wish 
 I might live here for ever." 
 
 " Ah, my dear," and Mrs. Burgess 
 shook her head, " your lot in life is a 
 very different one from this." 
 
 "I know, but I wish it was not." 
 
 "When you are older you will think 
 differently," added Mrs. Burgess. 
 
 " I don't think so. I like my life 
 here. When I am of age, and when I 
 am Duke of Arran, I shall live just such 
 a life as this. I will not have the 
 house full of noisy company like Lin- 
 ton, and I should not like to live as 
 grandpapa does, always followed about by 
 such a grand retinue, as Dr. Burgess 
 calls it." 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 89 
 
 " My dear, it is the penalty of rank 
 and riches, and a penalty that you 
 would find half the world glad to pay. 
 Wait till you are older and you will see 
 the truth of my words, and agree with 
 me. The world bows down to rank and 
 riches." 
 
 " But I should not care for anyone 
 to bow down to me/' returned the 
 young earl. " I only want to enjoy 
 myself my own way, and that is as I 
 do here." 
 
 And, rising suddenly, he walked down 
 the steps leading to the lawn, and seated 
 himself beside Brenda and her daisy- 
 chain. 
 
 When Mrs. Burgess repeated this con- 
 versation to her husband, it vexed him, 
 though, as he said, it did not surprise 
 him. 
 
90 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " It only convinces me," said he, 
 " that what I have long suspected is 
 true. Ellerley leads a too retired life 
 here. If I allow his ideas to take this 
 stagnant form, I shall be committing a 
 culpable act. It will be a fault in his 
 education of which the blame will rest upon 
 my shoulders entirely, and without loss 
 of time I must look for some means 
 of rectifying it. This visit to Linton 
 will be a good break into our quiet 
 system, and after the winter, I must 
 devise some new and better plan 
 for making him acquainted with the 
 world." 
 
 The next morning Lord Ellerley left 
 the Rectory, sad and silent, and no 
 sooner had the carriage wheels died 
 away in the distance, than a gentle 
 footfall might be heard pit-pat, pit-pat 
 up the stairs to the old nurse's sitting- 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 91 
 
 room, and a little figure stole noiselessly 
 in. 
 
 Nurse sat at the window gazing at 
 vacancy, but imagining that her eyes 
 were still fixed on the carriage that had 
 taken her darling from her. Tears were 
 chasing each other down her withered 
 cheeks — tears which she never failed to 
 shed whenever her boy left her if only 
 for a few days — and her work lay neg- 
 lected on her lap. 
 
 The little figure watched her for a 
 moment — then gently closed the door — 
 and springing towards her, wound her 
 little arms round nursed waist, laid her 
 head on her lap, and bursting into a 
 passionate fit of weeping, mingled her 
 tears with the drops from those kind old 
 eyes, and knew that in doing so, there 
 was at least one heart that would feel 
 with her, and sympathise with her in 
 
92 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 one of the greatest of her childhood's 
 
 griefs, the parting with Ellerley. 
 
 And they kept their grief to them- 
 selves. 
 
93 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The new curate of Worthington was 
 a very different kind of person to Mr. 
 Nelson, who had occupied that post for 
 the last six years. 
 
 He was a young man in the prime 
 of life, able, energetic, and eminently 
 qualified for the vocation he had chosen. 
 Besides being a finished scholar, Dr. 
 Burgess found him an agreeable and 
 accomplished companion, and, added to 
 these advantages, he possessed a man- 
 ner so impressive, and a person so at- 
 tractive, that he very soon won all 
 hearts at Worthington, and became the 
 
94 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 unconscious object of universal specu- 
 lation. 
 
 In six months, Dr. Burgess found in 
 him what he had long sought in poor 
 Mr. Nelson — an efficient right hand, and 
 reforms that the latter had striven to 
 effect in six years, were performed by 
 Mr. Cuthbert in the same number of 
 months. 
 
 "This is the kind of man," said he 
 to his wife one day, " in whose hands 
 I could leave the parish with comfort, 
 were I ever called upon to do so. This 
 is just the man to leave in charge 
 should the duke attend to a suggestion 
 I have lately made him, that Ellerley 
 should travel and see a little of conti- 
 nental life." 
 
 The words were casually uttered as 
 the rector sat by the invalid's sofa, and 
 though they were merely in the course 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 95 
 
 of conversation, and spoken without fore- 
 thought, they smote a chill on the heart 
 of Mrs. Burgess. 
 
 " Did you think then," she asked 
 gently, "of taking Ellerley abroad?" 
 
 " I think it would be good for him. 
 I shall see how he returns to us after 
 this visit to Linton, but it strikes me 
 the boy requires rousing, and nothing 
 will improve his mind and enlarge his 
 ideas more than seeing the world. When 
 I was a boy I made a walking tour all 
 over Switzerland with my tutor, and 
 that is just what I should like Ellerley 
 to do." 
 
 "And would you propose going with 
 him yourself? " said the gentle voice 
 again. 
 
 Something in the tone startled the 
 rector, and he gave his wife one keen, 
 scrutinizing glance. She did not meet 
 
96 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 it. Her eyes were closed as her head 
 lay back on her pillows, but there was 
 a quivering round her mouth which told 
 more than words. Dr. Burgess saw that 
 to leave her would be impossible — he 
 must wait — it would not be for long — 
 she would leave him first. 
 
 A choking in his throat prevented his 
 replying. That one look at the worn, 
 faded countenance, had gone like an 
 arrow to his heart, and his only thought 
 now was, what could he say to com- 
 fort and reassure her? to show her 
 that in planning the future of his pupil 
 he had not entirely forgotten one who 
 had been for so many years his tender 
 helpmate and companion. 
 
 Fortunately just then a servant en- 
 tered the room, and the temporary emo- 
 tion of one of the rector's bitter mo- 
 ments was checked by the interruption. 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 97 
 
 "If you please sir, Mr. Cuthbert 
 wanted to see you." 
 
 Dr. Burgess rose hastily. 
 
 " Let him come in," said Mrs. Bur- 
 gess, "do not go." 
 
 The curate had merely looked in on 
 some parish business. He was about to 
 lecture at the Town Hall on subjects 
 to suit the comprehension of the lower 
 class of townspeople, and wished to read 
 his notes to the rector, before they 
 were delivered in public. 
 
 Curiously enough, the subject was 
 Switzerland, and both Dr. and Mrs. 
 Burgess listened with delight to the 
 fluent and graphic sketch he had com- 
 piled, of a tour made some years before. 
 
 No sooner had he finished, and after 
 receiving the rector's cordial meed of 
 praise had retired, than Dr. Burgess 
 turned to his wife. 
 
 VOL. I. H 
 
98 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " I wonder, my dear," said he, " if 
 our sympathetic natures have both been 
 impressed with the same idea, conse- 
 quent on Cuthbert's sketch of his tra- 
 vels ? " 
 
 " I think so," replied his wife, with 
 a bright smile, " I am sure of it ! shall 
 I speak first ? " 
 
 " Do." 
 
 " Your idea is that Mr. Cuthbert is 
 the very person to go with Ellerley 
 abroad ! " 
 
 " Well guessed, good wife ! " exclaimed 
 the rector, taking the thin, transparent 
 hand fondly between both his own ; 
 "well guessed, we have run the race 
 of life too long together to be parted 
 now. If the duke agrees, Cuthbert 
 shall take Ellerley to Switzerland next 
 summer, and we shall not be sepa- 
 rated." 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 99 
 
 "No," said his wife, in a low but 
 impressive voice, " not separated by 
 any earthly agency, but, my dear hus- 
 band, we are not destined to run our 
 happy race together much longer. I 
 have been watching for this opportu- 
 nity. I hope I am not taking you by 
 surprise. I hope and trust you have 
 seen that I am leaving you, for it 
 may soften the blow— but I cannot go 
 without telling you what is my sting 
 in death — it is my Brenda ! " 
 
 The rector said nothing. His heal 
 ^as bowed between his hands and he 
 only listened, for he could not trust 
 himself to speak. 
 
 "A mother's loss at Brenda's age," 
 continued Mrs. Burgess, " is very se- 
 rious. You will try to fill my place, 
 my dear husband, I know, but I want 
 to prepare you for the watchfulness 
 
 H 2 
 
100 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 which so sensitive a child will require. 
 No one knows as well as I do, what 
 a warm, impulsive nature her's is. 
 Take care," added the dying mother, 
 with a faint smile, "take care when 
 the time of love and lovers comes, 
 that my precious Brenda may form no 
 unfortunate attachment. Against this I 
 implore you to guard by the strictest 
 vigilance . A few weeks, or even days, 
 of relaxation from this vigilance, may 
 destroy the care and caution of years. 
 Watch over my Brenda's future fate, 
 and, if possible, guide her when the 
 time comes, to marry with judgment. 
 The whole happiness of a woman's life 
 depends on this one step — not that I 
 think it an imperative necessity that 
 she should marry, for, thank heaven, 
 our Brenda will be rich — but what I 
 wish solemnly to impress on you is, to 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 101 
 
 save her from any chance of forming 
 an attachment which you might not ap- 
 prove, and the blight of which might 
 embitter all her young life. My dear, 
 good husband, when I die, I shall die 
 trusting you to see to this ! " 
 
 The rector groaned within himself. 
 This was the second death-bed charge 
 intrusted to him, and he shrunk no 
 more from this than he did from the 
 first, still he felt the last as by far 
 the most difficult. It never occurred to 
 him that his wife had any particular 
 object in making this forcible appeal — 
 he only felt that she must be very sen- 
 sible of her approaching end, thus for- 
 mally to commit to his care her dearest 
 earthly treasure — and the prospect of 
 losing one with whom he had passed 
 so many peaceful, happy years, wrung 
 from his heart a deep and bitter groan. 
 
102 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 It was one of the lights of the Rectory 
 about to be extinguished — it was the 
 first death in the house — and there are but 
 few happy enough not to know what that is. 
 
 A few hours after this conversation, 
 the old nurse came down to sit by the 
 side of the sofa, according to her usual 
 custom, and Mrs. Burgess frankly told her 
 what she had been saying to her husband. 
 
 " But," she added, " I also want to speak 
 to you about my child, nurse, for you will 
 be always on the spot, whilst his duties 
 must necessarily take him much from home. 
 I know that my time here is but short — 
 do you not think so yourself? — I can bear 
 to hear it ? " 
 
 The old woman looked upon the pale face 
 before her — the cheek which grew thinner, 
 and the eye which sank into a deeper and 
 deeper hollow every day — and she could not 
 deny it. 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 103 
 
 " Dear me, ma'am, God knows ! I don't ! " 
 was all the consolation she could find, "in 
 His own good time, you know." 
 
 " Yes, I know, and I do not shrink. But, 
 dear nurse, I want to talk to you, as well 
 as my husband, about my Brenda. You 
 are so fond of her that in your love I 
 tremble, lest you should do that which in 
 the end, can but prove her misery!" 
 
 The old woman was quite startled. " Dear 
 heart, ma'am ! what can that be ? " 
 
 U A dying woman," continued Mrs. Bur- 
 gess, "must not stand on ceremony. My 
 Brenda is peculiarly placed, nurse. She is 
 being brought up under the same roof with 
 one whom we both know to be loveable and 
 amiable beyond most boys of his age — and 
 yet between whom and herself there is that 
 immeasurable disparity of rank which would 
 put anything like an attachment between 
 them utterly out of the question— I mean 
 
104 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 that the rector would never permit such a 
 thing; — now my dear, dear old friend, bear 
 in mind my dying words. Save my Brenda 
 from forming anything of the kind ! you 
 can do much towards this — do all you can ! — 
 I do not speak for Ellerley, because a man 
 goes into the world and sees a thousand 
 women, and Ellerley will be a match which 
 every mother would be proud to win, and 
 one which no girl would refuse — he will have 
 the world at his feet — but my Brenda ! my 
 poor child, buried here in a country town, 
 with but few to choose from— oh, nurse, 
 strive your utmost ! never encourage any- 
 thing like love between them. People may 
 laugh at love-troubles, but not where their 
 own children's happiness is at stake. Keep 
 Lord Ellerley and my Brenda from falling 
 into the snare, and be sure that I never 
 would implore you so earnestly to do this, 
 were I not certain that a marriage between 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 105 
 
 them must not, cannot be ! Do not look so 
 thunderstruck, dear nurse. I idolise my 
 child, and I see all her attractions, but your 
 boy is born to a higher destiny ! Never be 
 induced, by a mistaken love for either of 
 them, to forget this, for if you do, you will 
 most certainly have the broken heart of one 
 of them to answer for, and that one will be, 
 my Brenda." 
 
 Often and often, as she sat by herself, 
 did the old nurse muse over this conversation. 
 She saw the justice of all Mrs. Burgess had 
 said — she could not but acknowledge that 
 the mother was right — but still, in her in- 
 most heart, she was vexed and disappointed ; 
 she now felt that she had been indulging in 
 such a pleasant little dream, and she must do 
 so no longer. 
 
 She remembered all her boy's shy atten- 
 tions to his beautiful little companion, and 
 she remembered all the secret tears shed 
 
106 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 by that beautiful child. She dwelt fondly 
 on the thought that they had never had one 
 childish quarrel between them, and even 
 now, in her mind's eye, she still associated 
 them together as the prettiest couple that 
 ever were seen — the boy so fair, so aristo- 
 cratic in his features and bearing — the girl 
 so rich in her warm, dark beauty. 
 
 And all this must end ! yes, she saw it 
 must end, for if not, she was responsible 
 for the result. They were growing more 
 than mere children now. One was nearly 
 twelve, the other nearly fifteen, and 
 the mother whose unremitting devotion 
 had hitherto watched over Brenda, was 
 dying. 
 
 "As for the rector, bless his heart," 
 mused the old woman, " men never see 
 these things till too late, and besides, his 
 head is so full already, it can't hold much 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 107 
 
 more. No. It's on my shoulders sure 
 enough, and since she's put it there, poor 
 dear lady, I must just make the best of it, 
 and watch. I can't do no more." 
 
108 
 
 CHAPTEE VI. 
 
 Linton was one of the baronial halls so 
 plentifully scattered over England, a grim, 
 grey, castellated mansion, beautiful outside 
 from its antiquity, and modernised inside to 
 the utmost of modern luxury. 
 
 Lord Ellerley liked the place better than 
 the people, and he never drove through its 
 extensive grounds, and saw the groups of 
 deer feeding in the park, and the swans 
 sporting on the lake, without determining in 
 his own mind that some day Ellerley Castle 
 should vie with, and perhaps surpass it, in 
 cultivation and beauty. 
 
 His arrival on the present occasion took 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 109 
 
 place about four o'clock in the afternoon, and 
 though received with all due honor and ob- 
 sequiousness, he was told that all the family 
 were out. Would his lordship like to walk 
 into the library ? Lady Linton was only in 
 the grounds, and had particularly desired that 
 the gong should be sounded in the courtyard 
 to summon her in, as soon as his lordship 
 arrived. 
 
 Oh, no. This was the very last thing his 
 lordship liked. The library even was a more 
 agreeable alternative. But was Lord Lisle 
 out ? his friend ? 
 
 " Lord Lisle was fishing. Mr. Ernest and 
 Mr. Arthur were out riding." 
 
 " Is that Lord Ellerley ?" cried a gay young 
 voice at that moment, as a figure flitted out 
 of a side door. " Oh, how do you do Ellerley ? 
 We are so glad you are come, but we fancie d 
 you would stop at the lake where Lisle is 
 fishing ; so you see everybody is out except 
 
110 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 myself. I stayed at home on the chance of 
 your coming straight on, determined that 
 you should have somebody to do the honors 
 for you." 
 
 Lord Ellerley was extremely abashed at the 
 ease and warmth of his reception, and had 
 not a word to say for himself in reply to 
 the cordial and graceful greeting of the 
 Lady Rosa. He knew she was only his own 
 age, yet for the life of him he could not have 
 welcomed a guest, even at the Eectory, with 
 half the maniere de societe, which this young 
 girl, still in the school-room, displayed, as 
 she performed her part of hostess for the 
 moment. 
 
 Consequently he contented himself with 
 saying how do you do, looking extremely 
 foolish, and feeling exceedingly small. 
 
 But Lady Rosa was too well bred to appear 
 to notice this. Perhaps an inward feeling 
 might have passed through her mind which 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. Ill 
 
 the words, " painfully shy," might have em- 
 bodied, but she did not show it. She merely 
 went on talking. 
 
 " But I am wrong in saying we are all out. 
 Papa is at home, and in bed with a fit of the 
 gout. So cross, that I do not advise you to 
 go near him, but if you wish it very much, or 
 prefer it to going in search of Lisle, I can 
 show you the way." 
 
 " I should like to find Lisle," said Ellerley. 
 
 " Very well. I know exactly where he is. 
 But would you like to see your room first ? 
 You have a new room this time, because now 
 that you come alone, we look upon you as a 
 gentleman-at-large, and treat you to a guest's 
 room. You have the octagon, where the nice 
 library is." 
 
 " My rod is in the carriage," persisted Eller- 
 ley, fidgetting to get away, " perhaps there 
 would still be time for me to fish if I could 
 find Lisle?" 
 
112 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " Just as you like. I dare say there would 
 be." 
 
 Lady Eosa rang the bell briskly, and a 
 servant appeared. 
 
 " Lord Ellerley's fishing-rod is in the car- 
 riage. Send some one after us with it to the 
 lake, and — " 
 
 " Oh, thank you/' interposed the boy, " but 
 I can carry it myself." 
 
 " Why should you ? Impossible — no — let 
 some one follow us — come." 
 
 And flinging her large brown straw hat jaun- 
 tily over her long curls, the young coquette led 
 the way to the lake, Lord Ellerley following her, 
 ill-at-ease, and wishing heartily that he had 
 been permitted to have found it himself, and 
 to have carried his fishing-rod independently 
 over his own shoulder, instead of being at- 
 tended by a young lady, whose curls and 
 conversation overpowered him, and pursued 
 by a stately footman in gorgeous livery. 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 113 
 
 No sooner had Lady Kosa deposited her 
 charge by the side of her brother, than she 
 appeared to think she had done her duty, 
 and, returning leisurely to the house, she 
 re-entered the room from whence she had 
 emerged on the arrival of Lord Ellerley. 
 
 "Well?" cried her two sisters, "I hope you 
 played your part well. Perhaps your grace 
 would like to sit down after so much exertion. 
 How did you get on ? " 
 
 " Miladie Fanny — miladie Julia — shu — 
 sh," said the French governess, shaking her 
 head with a gesture of disapprobation. 
 
 " Such a young bear ! such a very cub !" cried 
 Lady Eosa, sinking into a chair ; " next time 
 you shall go out with him Fanny, for I declare 
 I will not ! Such up-hill work — not a word 
 could I get out of him, and only imagine his 
 wanting to carry his own fishing-rod, with me 
 walking by his side! — the idea! mademoiselle, 
 the next time mama wants me to go and do 
 
 vol. I. I 
 
114 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 the honors, as she called it, to Lord Ellerle y, 
 you must say I have some very particular 
 lesson to finish, and you may give me a 
 hundred and fifty pages of German if you like, 
 but I will not be thrown at his head in this 
 way." 
 
 The Ladies Lisle were brought up in a 
 very precocious school. They were constantly 
 in company, and, being lively intelligent girls, 
 very soon acquired a perfect consciousness 
 of what their mama would expect of them 
 when she drew them out of the little world of 
 Linton, and launched them into the great one 
 of London. 
 
 They knew as well as their mama did 
 herself the designs she had on the future 
 Duke of Arran, and though they laughed 
 heartily in secret at the idea of any young 
 lady making an impression on so half-fledged 
 a nestling as Lord Ellerley, still they were 
 both carrying on their little flirtation behind 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 115 
 
 the scenes of the school-room on their own 
 account, and were therefore quite capable 
 of initiating Lady Rosa into the one which 
 they saw was preparing for her in the drawing- 
 room. 
 
 Lady Linton was a very young woman to 
 have grown-up daughters, and she very much 
 disliked the idea of being a chaperone 
 so soon. Thus, Lady Julia's eighteenth 
 birthday falling in the summer, she was 
 not to be presented till the following 
 spring, and the world thought that all 
 the daughters were still in the school- 
 room. 
 
 However, Linton was anything but a nun- 
 nery. The house was constantly full of 
 people, and the Ladies Fanny, Julia, and 
 Rosa, with their governess in their wake, 
 always mingled with their guests, so they 
 had as yet had but very little to complain 
 of. 
 
 i2 
 
116 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 When Lord Ellerley found, that first even- 
 ing at Linton, that he was to dine late with 
 the family, he was sadly put out, nor did the 
 assurances of his friends that their places 
 were always at the end of the table, quite 
 away from everybody, at all tend to compose 
 his spirits. The only consolation he found 
 in his distress was, that he was not destined 
 to hand a young lady to table. 
 
 But the dinner passed off much better 
 than he expected. Lord Lisle was in a place 
 of honor, but Ellerley had on each side of 
 him his friends Arthur and Ernest, and before 
 the second course disappeared he was quite 
 happy. 
 
 Only once in the course of the evening 
 he ran the risk of having his equanimity 
 upset, and that was when he saw a lady 
 leaning forward at table to look at him, 
 and then caught the conclusion of a sen- 
 tence — 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 117 
 
 " dukedom of Arran, and sixty 
 
 thousand a-year, if it is a farthing." 
 
 Then he knew he was being talked 
 about, and his cheeks burnt like fire. 
 
 After dinner Lady Linton always had 
 games to enliven the evening. On this occa- 
 sion she proposed a round game. 
 
 "Now, my lord," said she, to Ellerley, 
 laughingly patting him on the shoulder, 
 "your purse if you please. Three dozen 
 counters at sixpence a dozen. I do not 
 allow gambling, so remember no higher 
 stakes." 
 
 " I don't know the game," said Ellerley* 
 
 "Do you not? Oh you will learn it in 
 a moment. Here, Fanny, Julia, — both of 
 you engaged ? — well then, Eosa. Come here 
 Eosa — sit by Ellerley, and teach him vingt- 
 et-un, and don't cheat." 
 
 Lady Eosa took her seat, with a comical 
 glance at Mademoiselle St. Laurent, the 
 
118 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 governess, and sweeping all Ellerley's coun- 
 ters into the same heap with her own, ex- 
 claimed : 
 
 "We must be partners. This is our joint- 
 stock bank, and until you understand the 
 game you are not to be allowed to have any 
 control over your own fortune. Do you 
 comprehend ? " 
 
 "Not the least/' said the young earl. 
 
 Another sparkling mischievous glance at 
 mademoiselle, who was watching the boy 
 with some curiosity and interest. 
 
 " Then I must try and be more explicit. 
 You do not understand the game. I do. 
 Consequently I play for you, pay for you, 
 and win for you till you can do so for your- 
 self. Now do you see ?" 
 
 " Yes — but shall I learn if you do all 
 that?" 
 
 "To be sure you will. You will learn by 
 watching how I play. You must not take 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 119 
 
 your eyes off me," she added, with a pretty 
 little imperious bend of the head. 
 
 " Delightful injunction, " remarked an old 
 gentleman who was looking on, and again 
 Lady Bosa's eyes glittered, but Ellerley 
 either did not see the joke, or else was totally 
 indifferent to any remarks of the kind, for 
 he carefully set himself to understand the 
 game he was playing. 
 
 So effectually did he succeed that in a few 
 minutes he began to observe that his fair 
 partner was not playing as fairly as she might, 
 and when he was convinced of it, he plainly 
 taxed her with it. 
 
 " Of course," she retorted, " everybody 
 cheats at this game. We should lose half 
 the amusement if we did not." 
 
 "Then cheat for yourself, not for me," 
 exclaimed Ellerley, with more candor than 
 politeness, and he separated his counters 
 instantly. 
 
120 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 To describe the curl of Lady Rosa's lip 
 would be impossible. No one had seen the 
 transaction except Lady Linton, who was 
 standing behind her daughter's chair, and 
 slight as the incident was, she was annoyed 
 with Lady Rosa, and pleased with Ellerley. 
 
 But Lady Rosa was of a defiant disposition. 
 Her scorn was quite equal to the boy's indig- 
 nation, and turning to her neighbour on the 
 other side, a young Captain Fitzgerald, she 
 entered into a much more congenial partner- 
 ship with him, whilst Ellerley went on quietly 
 and systematically with his game. 
 
 The next morning Lady Linton was talk- 
 ing about him to her husband. 
 
 " That is a very singular boy," said she ; 
 "he has the organ of conscientiousness more 
 fully developed than I ever saw it in any 
 one." 
 
 "All the better," replied the earl, "the 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 121 
 
 world will rub plenty of it off by-and-bye if 
 he has a surplus." 
 
 " And I was so vexed with Rosa." 
 
 " Rosa must go her own way. She is the 
 most headstrong girl I ever saw." 
 
 " So mademoiselle says, but she also says 
 it is not positive naughtiness, but love of 
 opposition that makes her so trouble- 
 some." 
 
 "Lead her then, and don't drive her," 
 was the earl's curt reply ; and Lady Lin- 
 ton went off to arrange the plans for the 
 day. 
 
 This trouble was usually taken pretty well 
 out of her hands by the young ladies themselves, 
 and so she found it on the present occasion. 
 Lady Fanny had an admirer in ambush, the 
 clergyman of the parish, and had gone off 
 early to the infant schools, ostensibly to 
 teach. Lady Rosa and her governess were 
 
122 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 going to see the hounds meet, that is to say, 
 Lady Rosa saw Captain Fitzgerald in his red 
 coat, and immediately insisted on ordering 
 the pony-chaise to convey herself and the 
 terrified mademoiselle to the scene of action. 
 
 "And what have you done with Eller- 
 ley?" asked Lady Linton, of her eldest 
 son. 
 
 "We asked him what he would like to 
 do — we gave him his choice," they all replied, 
 " and he wants to ride to see Bardon ruins." 
 
 " That stupid place ? What made him 
 think of that ? It is only bearable for a pic- 
 nic. Suppose we wait till we can get up 
 one?" 
 
 " He said he promised Julia to ride there 
 with her, if mademoiselle was to drive with 
 Rosa." 
 
 " Oh," said Lady Linton, and she turned 
 away surprised, but quite satisfied. If 
 Ellerley preferred the society of Lady Julia 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 123 
 
 (who had not even the beauty which youth 
 is supposed to claim as a right) to that of 
 the brilliant Lady Rosa, it was his own 
 affair, not hers. 
 
 Ellerley liked this life very much. In 
 a few days he was quite at home, and the 
 constant stir and gaiety of the house seemed 
 to instil into him the only thing he wanted, 
 and that was, spirit. 
 
 During this visit too, Lord Lisle, to his 
 great delight, obtained what had long been 
 the object of his ambition, and that was a 
 commission in the G-uards, and so infectious is 
 military ardor, that Ellerley, having listened 
 week after week to his friend's glowing anti- 
 cipations of the life that was before him, sud- 
 denly felt himself inspired with the same 
 ardour, and made a formal request to Lord 
 Linton that he would write to his grandfather 
 on the subject. 
 
 Nothing but a soldier's life would now do 
 
124 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 for him, and Lord Linton accordingly wrote 
 off to the duke with real pleasure to state the 
 boy's wishes. He felt a sort of pride in hav- 
 ing been the indirect means of guiding the 
 young earl's mind into so appropriate a chan- 
 nel, and could not help telling Lady Linton in 
 confidence that such a result would never 
 have been attained had the boy vegetated 
 much longer at the Rectory. 
 
 But there his lordship was mistaken. 
 He little knew with what care Dr. Burgess 
 had from childhood watched what bias his 
 pupil's mind might be likely to take as he 
 grew towards man's estate. 
 
 The duke had always especially directed 
 that no particular profession should be urged 
 upon his grandson. He wished the choice 
 to spring entirely from himself, feeling 
 that in that case he would do his duty 
 more completely in it than were any 
 distasteful vocation to be forced upon him. 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 125 
 
 Thus it was with sincere gladness that the 
 rector read a letter from Ellerley himself, 
 stating that his friend Lisle had entered the 
 Guards, and that he had written to his grand- 
 father to beg that his name also might be put 
 down for a commission. 
 
 "lam rejoiced — I am thankful/' exclaimed 
 the rector, " and relieved beyond measure to 
 find that he takes to any profession at all. I 
 confess I had my fears that he might prefer 
 having none, but I am most agreeably dis- 
 appointed, and see in his choice the first good 
 result of sending him a little into the world 
 by himself. He is now fifteen — we will give 
 him three years possibly before he gets this 
 commission, and in that time I must see if 
 my scheme of the tour abroad may not prove 
 equally successful." 
 
 But there were two inhabitants of the 
 Rectory who sat in a little sunny room up 
 stairs, who did not at all enter into the 
 
126 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 rector's feelings. To them it was no subject 
 of rejoicing that Lord Ellerley was going 
 away for some time. To them the tidings 
 were very mournful, and in spite of all her 
 fair words and promises, poor old nurse (who 
 was now dignified by the name of Maitland) 
 sat crying over the news in the deep, soft 
 cushioned window, and moreover permitted 
 Brenda Burgess to sit on a hassock at her 
 feet, and lay her head in her lap, and cry 
 too. 
 
 Brenda was losing her companion, nurse 
 was losing her darling. He was now nearly 
 full-fledged — his wings were grown, and this 
 was to be their first real flight, but the pride 
 of the event was all merged in the sad 
 thought that he was at last fairly out of the 
 nursery, beyond her jurisdiction, and that the 
 happy days when she so anxiously and care- 
 fully tended his childhood were now over for 
 ever. 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 127 
 
 " Do you think he will forget us nurse ?" 
 asked Brenda, after a long silence, raising her 
 tearful eyes, and looking wistfully up for the 
 answer. 
 
 " Never, never, my dear !" cried Maitland, 
 energetically; "it isn't his nature to!" and 
 then suddenly recollecting her good resolutions 
 and promises to Mrs. Burgess, she added, 
 " at least we'll suppose he won't, but no one 
 can't say. He'll have more people to think of 
 and remember, the older he grows, and we 
 must not wonder if he do forget them as is 
 left behind, out of sight you know, my dear. 
 That is but human nature." 
 
 " I don't think so ;" said Brenda, " I don't 
 think it is Ellerley's nature at all events." 
 
 And Maitland puzzled herself so long in 
 finding an appropriate and diplomatic answer, 
 that it ended in her not answering at all. 
 Between anxiety not to do her absent nursling 
 injustice, and at the same time not to raise 
 
128 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 him in Brenda's estimation by injudicious 
 praise, she sought safety in silence, and thus 
 left the young girl to brood over his perfec- 
 tions and feel perfectly certain of his fidelity 
 to his old friends, simply because Maitland 
 had seemed to doubt it. 
 
129 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 " I have just had a letter from Dr. Bur- 
 gess," said Lord Linton, coming into the 
 breakfast-room one morning, with his hands 
 full of papers, and a gleam on his face which 
 looked as if it had brought good news ; " a 
 letter," he added, addressing Lady Linton, 
 "which requires some consideration. He 
 says that Ellerley is going abroad in June, 
 accompanied by the rector's new curate, Mr. 
 Cuthbert, a young man whose father, Sir 
 Edward Cuthbert, I must have known very 
 well in my college days. They are to make 
 the tour of Switzerland and will only be 
 absent about four months, and Dr. Burgess 
 
 VOL. I. K 
 
130 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 wishes to know if we should like our boys, 
 Arthur and Ernest, to be of the party." 
 
 "Well?" said Lady Linton, "I should 
 think there could not be a doubt as to the 
 eligibility of such a plan as that. Do you 
 hesitate ? " 
 
 " Not at all. The boys will be wild with 
 joy at the bare idea, and I shall accept with 
 the greatest satisfaction. But what I wanted 
 to talk over was whether it would not be as 
 well to ask Cuthbert over here for a week or 
 so, just to become acquainted with them 
 before he undertakes the charge. How does 
 our company list stand ? " 
 
 " Quite full for Christmas, but we could 
 have them towards the end of January." 
 
 "Them? — but I only meant Cuth- 
 bert." 
 
 "You cannot intend to ask him alone, 
 surely? it would imply a sort of doubt as 
 to whether you could trust him without seeing 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 131 
 
 him, and look exactly like asking him on 
 approbation ! " 
 
 "Not at all. Dr. Burgess's recommenda- 
 tion is quite sufficient, and my acceptation 
 of the proposal would of itself show my 
 approval. Besides, I have seen him, and 
 heard still more of him. He is a most 
 gentlemanlike and prepossessing young 
 man." 
 
 " I know it," said Lady Linton, coolly, 
 " I saw him myself at Worthington. He 
 is particularly good looking. But that does 
 not alter my opinion that you cannot invite 
 him here alone." 
 
 "Not on the plea of having known his 
 father, and to introduce Ernest and 
 Arthur?" 
 
 "No." Lady Linton was determined to 
 carry her point. " You cannot possibly have 
 him here without Ellerley; at all events if 
 you ask the one, you must ask the other." 
 
 k2 
 
132 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 Lord Linton considered for a mo- 
 ment. 
 
 " Well," he exclaimed, "I do not mind 
 asking Ellerley. I like the boy very much, 
 and shall be very glad to have him, only he 
 is going to the duke's to spend his Christ- 
 mas." 
 
 " But Christmas will be over by the end 
 of January." 
 
 " True." Lord Linton was a man easily 
 convinced. "Very true. Then I write my 
 letter at once," and as pleased as possible he 
 retreated again to the library, leaving the 
 countess quite satisfied with herself for the 
 clever manoeuvre by which she had succeeded 
 in arranging that the young Earl of Ellerley 
 should again become a visitor beneath her 
 roof. 
 
 During this brief dialogue between Lord 
 and Lady Linton, they had not been alone; 
 Lady Julia and Lady Fanny, with a friend 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 133 
 
 who was staying with them, a Miss Joddrell, 
 had all been standing unobserved in the 
 window, concealed by the heavy hangings of 
 a large velvet curtain. 
 
 " How pleased mama is," whispered Lady 
 Fanny, " and how well she managed to get 
 Lord Ellerley invited ! " 
 
 "Who is Lord Ellerley?" asked Miss 
 Joddrell. 
 
 "An infant earl, who will some day be 
 a duke," said Lady Julia. 
 
 " Whom mama fully intends, by-and- 
 bye, for Rosa," added Lady Fanny, "only 
 Rosa and he never agree, which is rather 
 against it." 
 
 "How old is he?" laughed Miss Joddrell, 
 who was the wildest of all the Lady Lisles' 
 companions, but being the reputed heiress 
 of half a million, was constantly at Lin- 
 ton, in hopes that Lord Lisle might ap- 
 preciate her golden charms — "might one 
 
134 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 not have a chance, supposing Rosa were 
 resolute not to look at him ? " 
 
 "No," said Lady Julia, brusquely, "be- 
 cause a woman may not marry her grandson. 
 Ellerley is not sixteen, and you — " 
 
 "I am just twenty-two — six years between 
 us — no such great disparity, after all." 
 
 " Would you marry a man younger than 
 yourself? " cried Lady Fanny, scornfully. 
 
 " Yes ! — two circumstances might induce 
 me to commit the base act," retorted her 
 friend. 
 
 "What two?" 
 
 "The two that induce half the women in 
 the world to do so; — first, the coronet — 
 second, the growing old. I do not mean 
 to see five and twenty as Miss Joddrell. I'll 
 try for Lord Ellerley, I declare ! " 
 
 The assertion was greeted with applause 
 and laughter. Miss Joddrell had never seen 
 him, they said ; they only wished she could ; 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 135 
 
 she would soon weary of trying for any one 
 so apparently insensible ; but this Mr. Cuth- 
 bert — had she ever heard of him ? 
 
 Miss Joddrell, by virtue of her few years 
 of seniority , had seen a great deal more of 
 the world, both in and out of her own 
 county, than the Ladies Lisle had, and they 
 consequently looked up to her as an oracle. 
 Her spirits too were so high, and her wild 
 and daring manners so amusing to them, 
 that it was their greatest treat when she came 
 to stay at Linton. It was to her they were 
 indebted for a habit introduced into the 
 school-room, against which Mademoiselle St. 
 Laurent found it utterly impossible to rebel. 
 Poor mademoiselle had been for years a tool 
 in the hands of her three riotous pupils, and 
 though, thanks to her Herculean labors, she 
 had tutored them into appearing the most 
 sedate and demure of young ladies in the 
 drawing-room, in the school-room she led a 
 
136 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 life which no one who did not see it would 
 believe. 
 
 There was nothing that the Ladies Lisle 
 wished to do but mademoiselle was compelled 
 to aid and abet. She was old and she was 
 ugly, and she had not spirits for their bois- 
 terous mirth, but she had a loving heart and 
 a weak will, and they turned her round their 
 fingers. 
 
 The practice introduced by Miss Joddrell, 
 which the governess had for some time stren- 
 uously opposed, but to which, as a matter of 
 course, she had in the end been compelled to 
 succumb, was this. The dinner hour at 
 Linton was eight o'clock — (a marvellous hour 
 for the country, but Lord Linton disliked long 
 evenings) and the hour of tea for the young 
 ladies in the school-room was six. By six 
 o'clock most of the gentlemen-guests had 
 returned home from their various pursuits of 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 137 
 
 the day, and found that hour and a half hang 
 wofully heavy on their hands. 
 
 It was Miss Joddrell who first brought 
 first one gentleman — then another — then two 
 at a time, and so on — to pretend to drink 
 Mademoiselle St. Laurent's execrable tea, in 
 the school-room, but in point of fact to flirt 
 with herself and her pretty young friends, till 
 at last it became an established custom, as 
 soon as either Lady Fanny, Julia, Eosa, or 
 Miss Joddrell found any admirers worthy the 
 distinction, they were forthwith introduced to 
 the " school-room tea," and there, flirtations 
 went on apace. 
 
 Lady Linton knew nothing of this. She 
 never went near that part of the house. 
 But mademoiselle had an unconquerable idea 
 that the day would come when the countess 
 would most certainly walk in upon them 
 unawares and catch them all " in flagrante 
 
138 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 delicto" and then, what was to become of 
 them ? what would become of her ? 
 
 "Why, as to them" was Miss Joddrell's 
 ready answer, " of course we should hide them 
 under the sofas and behind the curtains, and 
 for you mademoiselle — I should positively 
 deny there had been a soul in the room 
 besides ourselves/' 
 
 " Mais ! " cried mademoiselle, " that would 
 be all very well if we had time, but only the 
 other day, milord himself came to ask for 
 a cup of tea — ah! miladi Eosa, you may well 
 blush ! — and had not Captain Fitzgerald to 
 drop himself out of that window ten feet 
 from the ground? — yes, and 1, innocent, 
 stood shaking like a criminal, whilst you, 
 Lady Eosa — ah ! " 
 
 "I made papa his cup of tea," said the 
 pupil composedly. 
 
 But to return to Mr. Cuthbert. 
 
 "You heard what mama said, Emma — 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 139 
 
 very good looking — is he ? did you ever see 
 him?" 
 
 "Yes. I have seen him, and been in 
 company with him, and heard him preach too, 
 and I can tell you that Linton is seldom 
 favoured with such a guest as lie will be." 
 
 " Why ? how ? " cried the Ladies Lisle in 
 a breath. 
 
 " In the first place he is the handsomest 
 man I ever saw. In the next, the most 
 agreeable — none of your slow parsons ! — " 
 and there came a glitter in Miss Joddrell's 
 mischievous eyes which brought floods of 
 crimson up into Lady Fanny's face — "in the 
 third, he is a man worth talking to. He has 
 seen the world, and knows how to tell you all 
 about it." 
 
 " Delightful !" exclaimed Lady Julia; 
 " come upstairs and tell St. Laurent. It 
 will put her into such a state ! " 
 
 They all three rushed to the school-room. 
 
140 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 Lady Eosa was standing up reciting a scene 
 from the Bajazet of Racine, and mademoiselle 
 was trying to instil into her some of the 
 touching fervour of Rachel's reading of it, 
 when the door burst open. 
 
 " News, news ! mademoiselle ! " they all 
 cried, as they surrounded her, and brought 
 her down from her nights in the realms of 
 romance, " a new guest for our tea-table ! 
 a new man ! yes, mademoiselle, actually 
 quelque chose de nouveau, young, handsome, 
 and agreeable, for your bad tea and burnt 
 toast ! — Are you not charmed ? " 
 
 " Delighted — I can see it in her face," 
 said Lady Rosa, throwing away her book; 
 " so no more of Bajazet till we hear who it 
 is." 
 
 And they repeated all they knew. 
 
 " Now confess honestly, dear mademoiselle, 
 that you will be enchanted to have something 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 141 
 
 quite fresh to exhibit to our poor Fitzgerald, 
 of whom we are tired to death ? " 
 
 It was Lady Julia who spoke, not Lady 
 Rosa, whose property he was. 
 
 "Nay," exclaimed mademoiselle, the mo- 
 ment she was permitted to utter, " I hope, 
 I do really hope, you are all in joke — not 
 saying these things in earnest. I cannot, 
 and I will not, have any new visitors intro- 
 duced into this room. It is quite enough 
 that I receive Monsieur Henniker, and Cap- 
 tain Fitzgerald, and Monsieur Fortescue, 
 ce vieux whom I detest, and — " 
 
 "Ah ha!" cried Miss Joddrell, "but you 
 like handsome young men, mademoiselle, you 
 know you do ! — You don't like Monsieur Hen- 
 niker, because he is Fanny's property, and 
 you don't like Captain Fitzgerald because he 
 belongs to Rosa, and you detest Monsieur 
 Fortescue simply because he is i ce vieux] 
 
142 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 but here comes one unappropriated — one who 
 will eclipse them all — you may have him all 
 to yourself if you like to try — he will admire 
 you immensely — you are just his style — " 
 
 " Mais, mademoiselle ! " shrieked the in- 
 dignant and outraged little woman, "before 
 Lady Eosa I must entreat and insist that such 
 conversation is not carried on, I am perfectly 
 ashamed ; it is really quite disgraceful — Lady 
 Rosa, proceed. i Je faimais inconstant! 
 qu y aurais-je fait fidelef 1 ' * 
 
 " Oh then you know him ! " persisted her 
 incorrigible pupils, whilst the room echoed 
 With their peals of laughter — "how sly of 
 you, dearest mademoiselle ! did you really 
 aimer him inconstant? then trust to us for 
 making hunfidek!" 
 
 " I never saw him — I never heard of 
 him ! " began the victim again, but fortunately 
 at that moment, some small pebbles were 
 thrown up against the window, and the sound 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 143 
 
 caused a dead silence. Lady Eosa crept to 
 the window and peeped behind the cur- 
 tain — 
 
 No more of lessons for that day at all 
 events, and forthwith the young ladies all 
 dispersed on their various enterprises, leaving 
 the poor governess wearied, vexed, and 
 dispirited; for such scenes as this were of 
 daily occurrence, and she had but the poor 
 satisfaction of feeling that, wild and unman- 
 ageable as they were in the school-room, these 
 graceless pupils of hers were considered in 
 company, models of propriety ! 
 
 Who pities the governess? — who counts, 
 when the effect of her labours is made public, 
 all the hours of fatigue, nervous excitement, 
 and anxiety, which it cost her to produce 
 it?— 
 
 Mademoiselle St. Laurent had slaved in 
 Lord Linton's family for six years. She had 
 become attached to her pupils, and had taken 
 
144 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 a pride in polishing the exterior, and in this 
 she had certainly succeeded, for even Lady 
 Linton, fastidious to a fault, had not a word 
 to say against the behaviour of her daughters 
 in society. But in the school-room, in the 
 hours not devoted to their studies, what a 
 life that poor governess led ! — Liking the 
 wild trio in spite of their faults, she had 
 begun by indulging them till the indulgence 
 crept on, and grew, till they overpowered her. 
 Now that the Ladies Lisle were emerging 
 from their chrysalistic state, she saw the fruits 
 of her false kindness. They were beyond her 
 management ! 
 
 Then their companions. Much of their 
 behaviour, and very many of their tastes, 
 sprung from injudicious companionship. Their 
 most intimate friend was Miss Jodclrell, a 
 bold, masculine, dashing character, a great 
 flirt, and with just enough of beauty to carry 
 off these disadvantages. 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 145 
 
 Her father had been in trade, had speedily 
 amassed an enormous fortune, and had then 
 bought an estate in a hunting county, and 
 turned a hunting squire. Now, old and bed- 
 ridden, his motherless daughter was taken up 
 by the county families, and invited every- 
 where, but her favorite house had always been 
 Linton, for before her great fortune had been 
 whispered about, Lady Linton had been kind 
 to her and her daughters had made a friend 
 of her, and the girl was keen enough to see 
 that here she was. not so entirely asked from 
 interested motives, since Lord Linton's sons 
 were all younger than herself — two of them 
 indeed so young as to be quite out of the 
 question. 
 
 Then the Ladies Lisle had other com- 
 panions — not young ladies — young men, stay- 
 ing repeatedly in the house. If these 
 dropped in to the school-room tea, how 
 could Mademoiselle St. Laurent turn them 
 
 VOL. I. L 
 
146 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 out? She knew very well that her pupils 
 took opportunities to let them know that they 
 would be welcome, but on which pupil could 
 she fix the stigma ? all positively denied it ! — 
 how could she help it ? could she tell Lady 
 Linton? — no, that would have been unkind 
 and treacherous, for the girls always entrusted 
 her with all their little secrets, so there was 
 no help for it — the evil must go on, but it 
 was bad, very bad, and mademoiselle groaned 
 over it. 
 
 The worst of it was, the favorites of the 
 Ladies Lisle were never the eligibles. Had 
 they been so, mademoiselle might have to- 
 lerated it, but Captain Fitzgerald had not a 
 farthing in the world but his pay, and yet he 
 evidently admired Lady Rosa. Mr. Henniker, 
 the clergyman, had nothing on earth but his 
 living, yet there were very few days in the 
 week that he did not find some excuse for 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 147 
 
 calling at Linton, and then he always had a 
 peculiar knack of meeting Lady Fanny in the 
 passages, or the shrubberies, or some of the 
 rooms, and accompanying her to the school- 
 room door, and then there was but the 
 threshold to cross ! 
 
 Now there was this Mr. Cuthbert coming. 
 Miss Joddrell had talked them all into a 
 curiosity to see him. No doubt he was just 
 another of these agreeable, clever, good- 
 looking, penniless guests, who would perhaps 
 honour Lady Julia with his attentions, since 
 both her sisters were pre-occitpe, but what 
 was it to end in ? — not in marriages, for 
 both Lord and Lady Linton were known to 
 be as proud as Lucifer. 
 
 " Oh, Lady Linton, Lady Linton ! " often 
 ejaculated the poor worn governess, to herself, 
 " a little more in the school-room, and a little 
 less in the ball-room, and you would give 
 
 L 2 
 
148 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 your daughters a better chance than they now 
 run, of forming alliances equal to then- 
 rank !" 
 
 This was the house from which Lord El- 
 lerley was to take his first view of society, 
 consequently the old duke (who knew but 
 little of the family, and only heard there were 
 three daughters) looked a long way forward, 
 down the long vista of future years, and 
 bearing constantly in mind the brilliant pros- 
 pects of his grandson, began to suspect that 
 the exceeding attention the Lintons paid the 
 boy, were the beginning of a plot upon his 
 future liberty, and he wrote to the rector on 
 the subject. 
 
 " My grandson, " said he, " is coming to a 
 susceptible age. I should be very sorry 
 were he to be launched in the world with 
 shackled affections. The Ladies Lisle may 
 be very suitable matches, even for his rank 
 and wealth, but I wish him to see more of 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 149 
 
 real life and society before he makes any 
 choice whatever. Try, if possible to keep 
 him out of the way of nonsensical flirta- 
 tions, and after this last visit to Linton I 
 think you had better throw cold water on 
 his going there so much." 
 
 Dr. Burgess gave these injunctions his 
 strict attention, as he did all the duke's 
 wishes, but he thought the old man was 
 wrong. 
 
 "Ellerley," mused he, "has already been 
 there enough to look upon it as his third 
 home ; next to this roof and his grandfather's, 
 Linton is, in fact, quite a home to him, and 
 will be so more still when he is in London, 
 for then Lord Linton's house will probably be 
 his head quarters during his minority. Thus 
 if I keep him away from them now, he will 
 only return to them with still greater alacrity 
 when the restraint is off. His grace is over- 
 anxious. Ellerley must run the gauntlet of 
 
150 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 the young ladies when his time comes, and 
 like all other young men, take his chance. If 
 I draw the net away from him, he will follow 
 and fall into it." 
 
151 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 "Good morning, Mrs. Marsh," said Mrs. 
 Grey, on Christmas morning, as she saw the 
 doctor's wife hurriedly passing her window, in 
 the High Street of Worthington. " Good 
 morning, and a merry Christmas to you." 
 
 " The same to you, dear Mrs. Grey," was 
 the answer, as Mrs. Marsh stopped and peered 
 through the laurels in the bow-window at the 
 speaker ; "the same to you, and very many 
 of them, though I fear it will not be a 
 merry Christmas to Worthington. Have 
 you not heard of Mrs. Burgess, poor thing?" 
 
 "No! good gracious, not dead, surely? 
 
152 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 I was sitting with her only yesterday morn- 
 ing." 
 
 " No, not dead, but supposed to be dying as 
 fast as she can. My husband has been at 
 the Rectory ever since last night, and I just 
 looked in for a moment on my way to the 
 schools, and heard she was not expected to 
 live through the day. Here comes Mrs. 
 Nelson. Perhaps she has had some news 
 since I was there." 
 
 " She still lives," was Mrs. Nelson's reply 
 to the various questions which assailed her as 
 she approached, whilst tears rolled down her 
 face, "but the rector has been up all night, 
 and of course cannot leave her now till all is 
 over. Mr. Nelson and Mr. Cuthbert are to 
 do the whole three services between them 
 to-day, and to-morrow being Sunday makes it 
 very hard duty." 
 
 " Poor Brenda," ejaculated Mrs. Grey after 
 a brief pause, during which the three ladies 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 153 
 
 appeared each turning over in their minds 
 the different effects that this death would 
 have upon their circle, and upon Worthing- 
 ton in general ; " I wonder how she will bear 
 it." 
 
 " She is wonderfully calm at present/' said 
 Mrs. Nelson. " I looked in, and she took my 
 hand and led me to her mother's side, but 
 going from light into darkness I could see 
 nothing. I only heard her calm little voice 
 begging me to take the last look of her. 
 You know Brenda is so self-possessed for 
 her age. No one knows what Brenda feels, 
 but my husband tells me that Lord Eller- 
 ley is nearly frantic. If it were Ins own 
 mother, his grief could not be more vio- 
 lent." 
 
 And this was quite true. The boy did love 
 Mrs. Burgess as if she were his mother, and 
 he had all along closed his eyes to the pos- 
 sibility of her sudden death. When he found 
 
164 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 it was approaching he shut himself into his 
 room, and would not be consoled, and when 
 told at last that all was over, even the heart- 
 broken rector's grief appeared less acute than 
 that of the adopted child. 
 
 But a new feature had of late made itself 
 manifest in Elleiiev's disposition. He had 
 grown impulsive. Feeling that by nature he 
 was timid, and fearing ridicule, he had ac- 
 quired a habit of acting on sudden impulses, 
 and dashing at extremes, and this was his 
 first real grief. At the death of his father, he 
 was too young to suffer the anguish he now 
 experienced, but now with matured feelings 
 he fell prostrate under the blow, and literally 
 went about " heavily, as one that mourneth 
 for his mother." 
 
 And Brenda it was who went from one 
 to the other, comforting and consoling, 
 and never thinking of herself and her own 
 irreparable loss. Patient, quiet, and endur- 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 155 
 
 ing she did her best for the first few 
 weeks to fill, for her father's consolation, her 
 mother's vacant place, and to impress upon 
 Ellerley the necessity of self-control, "if 
 only," she would say, "for papa's sake. 
 Every time you give way to this grief 
 which we all feel equally, you remind him 
 of his loss, whilst I try all I can to make 
 him forget it, if only for a moment." 
 
 " But I cannot help it," was his answer ; 
 " she was a mother to me, and this was my 
 home, and now it will all be different, and I 
 feel as if I had no one left, at least no one 
 like her." 
 
 " You have me," said the little girl, in her 
 calm sad voice, " and this house will always 
 be just as much your home as it ever was, only 
 grief must never make us selfish — so papa 
 
 " Does Dr. Burgess think me selfish, 
 Brenda?" 
 
156 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " Oh no, lie never said so. Only I feel so 
 for papa, that I want you to feel for him 
 too." 
 
 " Do you think me selfish then ?" he asked 
 hesitatingly. 
 
 " Not if you would try and control your- 
 self before him,' 7 she answered, evasively. 
 u You might try, for poor mama's sake." 
 
 "And for yours, Brenda — yes, I will," 
 said the boy, " I will try if only for your 
 sake." 
 
 And glad, on any terms, to gain his promise, 
 Brenda went away contentedly, little dream- 
 ing in her innocence that she had that day 
 instilled into Ellerley's mind for the first time, 
 the idea of striving to do what she wished — of 
 trying to obey her bidding — of endeavour- 
 ing, in fact, to act considerately and kindly 
 for her sake. 
 
 When the news of the death of Mrs. 
 Burgess reached Linton, Lady Linton wrote 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 157 
 
 off a very kind letter to Dr. Burgess, and 
 enclosed one to Brenda. Both were invita- 
 tions, pressing father and daughter to ac- 
 company Lord Ellerley and Mr. Cuthbert 
 at the time their visit was to be paid, 
 and assuring them that they would have 
 no guests, but be perfectly quiet during 
 as long a period as they felt it agreeable 
 to stay. 
 
 But though the rector was fully sensible of 
 the kindness which prompted the invitation, he 
 did not consider it expedient to accept it, in 
 spite of Ellerley's vehement entreaties that he 
 would. Perhaps, had Brenda been as urgent 
 as his pupil, he might have found his resolu- 
 tion shaken, but she unhesitatingly said from 
 the first that she should not like it, and thus 
 Dr. Burgess adhered to his opinion that 
 Brenda was too young for society, and even 
 if she were not, he did not wish her first 
 lessons of it to be taken in so gay a school. 
 
158 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " No, my dear/' lie said to Ellerley, when 
 the boy again and again recurred to the sub- 
 ject. "I am not just now in spirits for com- 
 pany, and Brenda would be overpowered 
 amongst all those gay young ladies. It is 
 exceedingly kind of Lady Linton, but it is 
 not an invitation that I find it possible to 
 accept." 
 
 "Then need I go?" asked Lord Ellerley, 
 jumping at the loophole ; "do you not think 
 I might also be excused on the same plea ?" 
 
 " No, my dear. In our hearts our grief 
 must smoulder for many and many a year 
 — in mine, for ever ! — but we must remember 
 that something is always due to the world and 
 its opinions, and that in this case, the same 
 plea that serves for Brenda and myself, will 
 not be accepted for you. It would be a pity 
 too to upset all the arrangements by which 
 Mr. Cuthbert is to become acquainted with 
 his future companions." 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 159 
 
 " But lie could go to Linton alone/' per- 
 sisted the boy. 
 
 " That would be very uncourteous on your 
 part/' said Dr. Burgess, " particularly after all 
 the kindness and hospitality you have met 
 with from the family. Besides, I thought you 
 liked staying at Linton ?" 
 
 "I should like it if — if — if it wasn't for the 
 girls there," murmured Ellerley, turning his 
 head away. 
 
 A smile, almost a laugh, played over the 
 rector's wan face, and he thought to himself 
 how pleased the duke would have been to have 
 heard this confession. 
 
 " They are so forward — so noisy," Ellerley 
 pursued, as if in exculpation of himself ; " you 
 would not like them if you saw as much of them 
 as I have seen. They are not the sort of girls 
 you would like — they are so unlike Brenda." 
 
 And now a grave shadow crossed the rector's 
 countenance, and in a moment he changed the 
 
160 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 conversation, or rather tried, and was not per- 
 mitted, for, continued Ellerley : 
 
 " Might I not go abroad first, and then pay 
 the visit afterwards ? — it seems so unfeeling to 
 go and be merry, and gay, and noisy at Linton 
 so soon." 
 
 " My clear, as I told you before, the arrange- 
 ments are all made. Others are concerned in 
 them besides yourself. We cannot always do 
 exactly as we please, and if you can pass 
 through life with no greater crosses than being 
 obliged to act rather contrary to your inclina- 
 tions in so small a matter as this, you will 
 have to esteem yourself a very fortunate man." 
 
 Dr. Burgess spoke with an asperity unusual 
 to him, but the fact was, he was thirsting 
 for solitude. He pined for freedom from care, 
 and he sighed to be alone, though it was only 
 to be alone with his grief, and with Brenda, 
 towards whom his bleeding heart now turned 
 with treble tenderness. 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 161 
 
 Even the presence of Ellerley chafed his 
 wounded spirit. Other cares, as we have 
 already insinuated, were gathering now round 
 the rector of Worthington, and worldly 
 troubles seemed thickening day by day. A 
 bank, in which was every farthing of his wife's 
 fortune, amounting to twenty thousand 
 pounds, was supposed to be tottering, and 
 should it fail, Brenda, in the event of her 
 father's death, would be penniless, for the 
 rector laid by nothing. 
 
 Added to this source of trouble, the dying 
 charge of his wife regarding Brenda preyed 
 on his mind. He had a constant, feverish fear 
 lest he should fail in his duty either by her or 
 by his pupil, and thus the prospect of Eller- 
 ley's leaving him for several months was one 
 on which he looked with a sense of intense 
 relief. 
 
 When the duke's letter came, in which his 
 grace had talked of Ellerley's being of a 
 
 VOL. I. M 
 
162 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " susceptible age/' Dr. Burgess well recollected 
 that lie had laughed, and said that the boy 
 must run the gauntlet of the young ladies 
 when his time came, like all other young men, 
 but now, the prudence and forethought of the 
 duke no longer appeared premature or ridicu- 
 lous, and to guard against the remotest chance 
 of an unavailing attachment for his own child, 
 and an unwise one for his pupil, would, he 
 felt, be now his most earnest aim. 
 
 Thus, he saw that Ellerley's greatest safe- 
 guard would be, being thrown into more 
 society, and before Mr. Cuthbert's departure 
 for Linton he spoke earnestly to him on the 
 subject, telling him at the same time, all the 
 duke's peculiarities with regard to his grand- 
 son. 
 
 No better companion than Mr. Cuthbert 
 coidd possibly have been selected for young 
 men of any age, for he had the talent of 
 adapting himself to the young and to the old, 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 163 
 
 and before leaving Worthington he had even 
 succeeded in ingratiating himself with the 
 shy and retiring Ellerley. Consequently when 
 they reached the station at which the Linton 
 carriage was to meet them, the boy felt as if 
 he should now do very well, since he had 
 Mr. Cuthbert with him to enter the house 
 with him, talk for him, and receive a portion 
 of the honours which were sure to be done 
 him. 
 
 " Mr. Cuthbert, do you like visiting ?" 
 asked he, as they drove through the park. 
 
 " Yes, I think I do/' was the reply. " That 
 is, I like seeing the world, high and low, and 
 I like mixing with my fellow-creatures high 
 and low, and I like seeing fine places. This 
 seems a very beautiful place." 
 
 " And there is capital fishing and shooting," 
 assented Ellerley, " so that we shall be able to 
 amuse ourselves I hope without being indoors 
 at all." 
 
 M 2 
 
164 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 "What?" said Mr. Cuthbert with a smile, 
 " breakfasts and dinners al fresco in the month 
 of January?" 
 
 " No, no ; but you know we need not stay 
 at home and always play company," said the 
 boy. 
 
 "As you please," returned Mr. Cuthbert; 
 "I am ready for anything you like best, but 
 do you mean by that, that the inside of 
 Linton is not as attractive as the out- 
 side?" 
 
 " Oh, not near ! It is such a noisy house, 
 always so full of company." 
 
 " And you dislike that ? " 
 
 " I like fishing, and shooting, and hunting 
 better. Lord Linton promised I should go 
 out with the hounds this winter. I do not 
 want to set you against them, Mr. Cuthbert, 
 but I really do not like any body in that 
 house except Lord Linton himself, and Lisle, 
 and Ernest, and Arthur." 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 165 
 
 Mr. Cuthbert laughed. 
 
 "Well/' said he, " perhaps the other in- 
 mates, whoever they are, may improve on 
 acquaintance, and you need not withdraw 
 your confidence from me for fear of setting 
 me against them, because, to tell you the truth, 
 where people are concerned, I generally form 
 my own opinions." 
 
166 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 This time it was not Lady Rosa who re- 
 ceived the guests. Their arrival happened to 
 take place rather earlier in the day, and Lady 
 Linton herself advanced, as the names of Lord 
 Ellerley and Mr. Cuthbert were announced. 
 Apparently the family had all just risen to go 
 into luncheon, for the eye of the latter, glanc- 
 ing round the room and taking in that brief 
 survey a good look of everyone in it, saw five 
 ladies standing in a group near the door. 
 
 u Iam rejoiced to see you again, Ellerley," 
 said Lady Linton, " and most happy to make 
 Mr. Cuthbert's acquaintance, or rather to 
 renew it, for I have had the pleasure of 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 167 
 
 meeting him at Worthington. Ellerley, you 
 see all our party now in the room — a very 
 small one, as I told you, and all your old 
 friends, so I need not introduce you ; but Mr. 
 Cuthbert must let me present him to my 
 daughters — Lady Fanny, Lady Julia, Lady 
 Rosa — Miss Joddrell, and Mademoiselle St. 
 Laurent. Suppose we go to luncheon ? 
 You will not be sorry after your journey." 
 
 And the ladies moved like a night of birds 
 across the hall, Lady Linton talking all the 
 way to Mr. Cuthbert, and Ellerley hanging 
 back nearly concealed by the flounces of Lady 
 Rosa and the stranger whom he had heard 
 named as Miss Joddrell. 
 
 Between these two he sat at luncheon. 
 
 " Well," were Lady Rosa's first words, 
 " and what is the last bit of scandal from 
 Worthington? You know we live quite out 
 of the world here Lord Ellerley, and expect 
 you to be very entertaining." 
 
168 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " Then I am sure/' retorted Ellerley, "you 
 will be disappointed, for Worthington is a 
 great deal quieter than Linton." 
 
 " Is that intended as a compliment, or 
 only one of your usual witticisms?" asked 
 the young girl, with the laugh that always 
 struck a chill into Ellerley; " besides, the 
 quietude of Worthington need not prevent 
 your amusing us, as you know you always do ; 
 so tell me, what have you been doing since 
 last we saw you ? " 
 
 " I don't think that would amuse you 
 much," was his reply, rather sadly. 
 
 " Indeed I fear not," said a very gentle 
 voice at his other elbow, "for I am sure 
 we have all sympathised most truly in the 
 affliction of Worthington Rectory. How is 
 that dear good Dr. Burgess ? " 
 
 Lady Rosa leant suddenly back, and gave 
 the speaker a side-look, which Ellerley did 
 not fortunately see, for the words and the 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 169 
 
 tone had instantly attracted him, but as her 
 eyes returned to the table, another pair met 
 them across it, and the color ilew up to her 
 forehead. 
 
 Mr. Cuthbert was looking at her. He knew 
 Lady Rosa well by reputation, and was curious 
 to see what made his young charge dislike 
 her so much. He now saw at a glance that 
 she was trying to make game of him, and 
 to one of Ellerley's sensitive nature, this 
 manner was of course very irritating. 
 
 " But it is the boy's own fault," thought he 
 to himself; "had there been more dignity 
 about him, and a little more self-esteem in 
 his composition, people would not take these 
 liberties with him. Never mind. It may 
 do him good in the end, and if it goes too 
 far, I can take that young lady in hand 
 myself." 
 
 Little did Mr. Cuthbert know that the 
 young lady was indulging in similar thoughts 
 
170 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 herself. Captain Fitzgerald and his regiment 
 had lately left the neighbourhood of Linton, 
 and the school-room had been dull beyond 
 endurance, so that the arrival of this new 
 guest, and the probable chances connected 
 with him had given a sort of impetus to the 
 stagnation. Lady Eosa Lisle did not intend 
 to waste much of her time upon Lord Ellerley, 
 however much attention she might appear to 
 pay him. 
 
 " He'll do, Emma," said she, to Miss Jod- 
 drell, as they passed out of the dining-room ; 
 "the clerico is worth asking to tea, is he 
 not?" 
 
 " Yes, my dear, but he wont come," 
 replied her friend. " I can see what sort 
 of a man that is. Not like your usual 
 flirts. You will make no impression on 
 him." 
 
 " Trust me. Don't be too sure," laughed 
 Lady Eosa. 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 171 
 
 " Then try," said Miss Joddrell, " but if I 
 mistake not, he was not over pleased with 
 your teazing manner to the lordling at 
 luncheon. What a shame it is to laugh at 
 that poor boy so ! Eeally I don't think him 
 so heavy on hand, after all ! I got on admir- 
 ably, and actually elicited several quite original 
 replies. Do you know that Dr. Burgess has 
 an only daughter ? " 
 
 " Of course we do," said Lady Fanny ; " she 
 was invited here." 
 
 " And a great beauty ?" 
 
 " That I never heard. She is a child." 
 
 " She is thirteen, and having made him 
 confess she was very pretty, I asked him in 
 the sweetest of confidential manners to tell 
 me who she was like. What do you suppose 
 his answer was? — 'Not like anybody here,' 
 said he, whereupon I cast down my eyes, and 
 reminded him that this was a notoriously 
 plain family, in which he perfectly agreed, 
 
172 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 so you see I have done very well for a begin- 
 ning, have I not ? My dears, you have not 
 played your cards well. His Innocence does 
 not like any of you." 
 
 "All the better for your grace !" cried the 
 young ladies, " and I am sure you deserve to 
 be rewarded, for you have certainly begun in 
 time." 
 
 " Of course I have," returned the heiress. 
 " Are not all grand alliances arranged years 
 before they are contracted? But I have no 
 time to waste here. I heard Lady Linton 
 organising a riding-party. Make way mes- 
 dames — I am going to put on my riding- 
 habit — make way for the Duchess of — you 
 know who." 
 
 And the merry laughter of the four 
 young voices rang and echoed through the 
 galleries, till they reached even the dining- 
 room, where a silent couple stood gazing 
 out on the view. 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 173 
 
 A large party of equestrians left Linton 
 that afternoon. Lord Ellerley found himself 
 riding by Miss Joddrell without knowing 
 how she came there, and by Mr. Cuthbert's 
 side was the graceful figure of Lady Rosa, 
 in a cavalier hat with a white feather, and 
 mounted on so skittish an animal that the 
 hand of her companion was almost always 
 on her bridle rein. 
 
 Her brother, Lord Lisle, was on the other 
 side of her. 
 
 " This horse is not fit for you, Lady Rosa," 
 said Mr. Cuthbert, after they had fretted 
 through the woods for about two miles, "it is 
 a great deal too fidgetty for a lady, and a great 
 deal too fresh." 
 
 "She ought not to be on it at all," said 
 her brother ; " you are quite right in saying 
 it is not fit for her to ride, Mr. Cuthbert. 
 What has possessed her to mount it I cannot 
 imagine, for the horse is mine, and very 
 
174 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 seldom carries a lady. It answers truly to 
 its name, and that is Hurry ; it is the most 
 intemperate animal — " 
 
 "And that is just the reason I like it," 
 interrupted Lady Kosa, as she patted the 
 foam-flaked neck of the restless creature. 
 " Only wait till we emerge from these woods 
 and get out upon the common — when once 
 I give Hurry his head, he is the very per- 
 fection of a steed — he will fly like the 
 wind." 
 
 " Then fly by yourself," said her brother, 
 "for I am sure we shall none of us follow you. 
 You know my mother is painfully nervous, and 
 I shall not be able to pursue you if Hurry 
 runs away." 
 
 " He may run away with all my heart," 
 returned Lady Kosa, tossing her ringlets, " but 
 where he goes, I go, so do not flatter your- 
 self I am going to be left behind in a bush or 
 in a ditch." 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 175 
 
 Lord Lisle looked annoyed and anxious, and 
 Mr. Cuthbert saw it. 
 
 "Do not be uneasy," said lie, "I shall be 
 very happy to follow Lady Rosa at a respect- 
 ful distance," and at that moment they came 
 out upon open ground. Away shot Lady 
 Rosa's horse, and away by her side went Mr. 
 Cuthbert, till they were very soon out of 
 sight. 
 
 "I do not like this," said Lady Linton to 
 her son, " I cannot bear Rosa's flying over 
 the country alone with gentlemen in this way. 
 I observe she invariably does it, and I do not 
 like it at all." 
 
 " To-day," replied Lord Lisle, "she can- 
 not help it, for she is riding Hurry, 
 and he always runs away as a matter of 
 course." 
 
 " Then I beg of you to go after them," 
 exclaimed his mother ; " I shall really be less 
 alarmed to be left alone than to think of her 
 
176 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 on that wild animal — pray go my dear — never 
 mind me." 
 
 " She is in better hands than mine," said 
 Lord Lisle, " I can see Mr. Cuthbert keeping 
 close up. Besides I could never overtake 
 them now if I were to try, so make yourself 
 easy. I dare say she is safe enough." 
 
 However, nothing more was seen of Lady 
 Eosa until the return of the party to Linton, 
 and then she was demurely walking up and 
 down the court-yard in her habit, Mr. Cuth- 
 bert by her side. 
 
 " I did not go in," said she, in answer to 
 Lady Linton's inquiries, " because I thought 
 you would require ocular proof of my being 
 still alive. We have been home nearly an 
 hour, have we not, Mr. Cuthbert?" 
 
 " Surely not so much," he exclaimed, but 
 looking at his watch, and finding it was very 
 true, he prudently abstained from confessing 
 that it had seemed about a quarter of that 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 177 
 
 time, whilst the eyes of her young lady- 
 ship and Miss Joddrell again telegraphed 
 signals. 
 
 "Tea?" whispered the latter, as she 
 passed. 
 
 " No — too soon," returned the former, and 
 the four young ladies retreated with one 
 accord, two of them, at least, well satisfied 
 with their afternoon's exploits. 
 
 And a week sped away on wings at Linton, 
 and then the ten days which had been named 
 as the term of the visit, but still the guests 
 stayed on, till it came to the third 
 week. 
 
 "We should be thinking of home, now, 
 my lord/' said Mr. Cuthbert, one afternoon. 
 " I should like to get to Worthington before 
 Saturday, if you have made no particular 
 engagements ? " 
 
 " I ? " cried Lord Ellerley, rather con- 
 sciously, "you are not staying for me, are 
 
 VOL. I. N 
 
178 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 you? I have been waiting for you to give 
 the signal. I am quite ready to go when- 
 ever you like — that is, any day after Thurs- 
 day." 
 
 " Well, then, Friday. Will Friday suit your 
 lordship? because, if I tell Dr. Burgess we 
 return on Friday, I should not like to dis- 
 appoint him." 
 
 "I have nothing to keep me. I shall 
 be quite ready — only, had we not better 
 consult the others before we quite decide ? " 
 
 " I think not," said Mr. Cuthbert quietly. 
 "It is the guest's province to fix his own 
 departure." 
 
 "And the host's to prevent it," laughed 
 Lord Ellerley. 
 
 " No," returned Mr. Cuthbert, in the same 
 tone, " only to endeavour to do so, but in the 
 present case I should like to be firm, because 
 a change of plans might inconvenience Dr. 
 Burgess." 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 179 
 
 " Oh ! " exclaimed the boy, eagerly, " then 
 that is quite enough. I should not think 
 of being over-persuaded to his inconveni- 
 ence. It shall certainly be Friday, if 
 all the ladies in the world were against 
 it." 
 
 And sure enough the opposition was very 
 great. 
 
 "You are false and you are faithless," 
 whispered Miss Joddrell that evening at dinner, 
 into Lord Ellerley's ear, whilst his eyes fixed 
 themselves resolutely on his plate. " Did you 
 not promise me not to fix the day of your 
 going till I told you where the hounds were 
 to meet ? and now — " 
 
 "It was not I— it was Mr. Cuthbert," 
 stammered the boy ; " you know he is wanted 
 next Sunday at Worthington — " 
 
 " Sunday ? yes, but not on Friday ? and you 
 go on Friday, and the hounds actually meet at 
 our very door ! at Linton Bridge, close by, 
 
 N 2 
 
180 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 and I have had my habit braided with red 
 cord on purpose for you ! " 
 
 " For me ? " repeated Ellerley, colouring 
 up with delight at this nattering token of the 
 young lady's approbation of his taste, he 
 having casually remarked that such a style of 
 costume would improve the fair huntress; 
 "now that is very provoking. " 
 
 " What ?— the habit ? or I? " 
 
 " Neither, but that we go that very 
 day, and that I shall not see you in 
 it." 
 
 "But you will not go on Friday?" 
 
 "Oh, yes. Mr. Cuthbert has written to 
 Dr. Burgess, and said so." 
 
 "Then he must write again, and say you 
 are coming on Saturday." 
 
 "He will not do that. When once he 
 makes a resolution, he holds to it so fast 
 that no power could shake it." 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 181 
 
 "Have you ever tried?" 
 
 " No, and I would not, because I know 
 I should faH." 
 
 "And are you so afraid of failing? could 
 you not risk a failure for any great 
 cause ? " 
 
 "I don't think so — I never tried — but I 
 know that when Mr. Cuthbert has made up 
 his mind — " 
 
 " Shall I be bold enough to try?" 
 
 Ellerley only smiled. He did not think 
 that would do, and though he said nothing, 
 his countenance spoke. 
 
 "You doubt my influence, Lord Eller- 
 ley?" 
 
 " Oh, no — indeed I don't— only Mr. Cuth- 
 bert is such an odd mixture of — of — firm- 
 ness and gentleness. You may think you 
 can turn him round your finger, but when 
 you come to try — " 
 
182 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " I see exactly what you mean. Then I 
 tell you who would manage him if anybody 
 could— " 
 
 "Who?" 
 
 " Can't you guess?" 
 
 "Not myself?" 
 
 "No — not you — a lady." 
 
 "A lady?" echoed Ellerley, thoughtfully. 
 " I don't think any lady would have any 
 influence over Mr. Cuthbert. I once heard 
 Dr. Burgess and one of our Worthington 
 people talking together about him, and say- 
 ing he was the most unsusceptible person 
 they ever met." 
 
 " Ah, but a time comes, even to the most 
 unsusceptible, as even you will find some day, 
 my lord ! " 
 
 " I ? — oh don't talk of me !" exclaimed the 
 young lord, laughing and growing red again, 
 as he generally did every five minutes at 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 183 
 
 dinner, under the fire to which he was exposed 
 by the Ladies Lisle or their friend ; " who did 
 you say you thought would turn Mr. Cuthbert 
 round her finger?" 
 
 "I did not say — I only told you to 
 guess." 
 
 "Well, you, then?" 
 
 " No — guess again." 
 
 "I cannot." 
 
 "What do you think of Lady Kosa?" 
 whispered Miss Joddrell, and Ellerley's glance 
 of extreme surprise, met at that moment, 
 not Miss Joddrell's eyes, but Mr. Cuth- 
 bert's. 
 
 He was sitting opposite, and had been 
 watching the young lady for some time. He 
 had observed during the whole of their stay 
 at Linton the regular " set " she had been 
 making at his young companion, and the 
 amusement Ellerley had appeared to derive 
 
184 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 from her society, and he was sorry for it, for 
 he did not like her. 
 
 " Well?" she continued, " do you mean to 
 say you never saw it ? " 
 
 "Saw what?" asked Ellerley. 
 
 " That Lady Eosa can make Mr. Cuthbert 
 do what she pleases, except join the school- 
 room tea, which he has, in the most heroic 
 manner, obstinately refused ever since you 
 came." 
 
 " Do you really believe," said Ellerley, 
 incredulously, "that she would induce him to 
 stay over next Friday, if he had resolved to 
 go away on Thursday ? " 
 
 "I do. Shall I ask her to try?" 
 
 " Yes," exclaimed he. " I shall be curious 
 to see if she can, and yet, if she succeeds, I 
 shall be sorry, and disappointed." 
 
 "What! disappointed at being obliged to 
 stay one more day at Linton ? " asked Miss 
 Joddrell, slyly. 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 185 
 
 "No, no, no," said the young man quickly, 
 " but disappointed in him." 
 
 " Disappointed that your paragon should 
 prove so weak as to yield to the influence of 
 the beautiful Lady Rosa Lisle, or, indeed, 
 of any of the poor silly fair sex ! Oh, 
 my lord, my lord, I hope the day will come, 
 when, in the battle-fields of London, I shall 
 live to hear you recant all these dreadful 
 heresies; and I confess if I could see your 
 unsusceptible friend fairly caught too, and 
 desperately wounded, it would delight me 
 beyond words ! but just wait till to-morrow 
 morning, and then see if what I have said is 
 not true, only say nothing to anybody about 
 it. My eyes are very sharp, and they see 
 when they do not seem to be looking ! " 
 
 At this time, Lord Ellerley had been three 
 weeks at Linton — three weeks under the un- 
 conscious tutelage of Miss Joddrell; and he 
 was going back to Worthington nearly three 
 
186 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 years older in worldliness, thanks to her inde- 
 fatigable attentions, with the effect of which 
 she was herself perfectly satisfied, in spite of 
 the laughter and defiance of her friends. 
 
187 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 When the gentlemen adjourned to the 
 drawing-room, Lady Rosa and Mademoiselle 
 St. Laurent had joined the circle, according to 
 their custom. The former was looking over 
 a very large volume of ecclesiastical engrav- 
 ings. 
 
 "This is the book you wished to see," 
 said she, looking up as Mr. Cuthbert was 
 about to pass the table, and as a matter of 
 course he took a chair which happened to 
 be conveniently placed by her side, and sat 
 down. 
 
 Lord Ellerley, in another part of the 
 room, watched the tete-a-tete with some 
 
188 THE ONLY CHTLD. 
 
 anxiety, and saw that the conversation was 
 certainly not on the subject of the engrav- 
 ings, but he did not know the result till 
 the party had broken up for the even- 
 ing. 
 
 The door of his bed-room was opposite 
 to that of Mr. Cuthbert, and as they paused 
 in the gallery, he looked rather wistfully up 
 in the young clergyman's face. 
 
 "Well?" said Mr. Cuthbert, smiling. 
 
 " Oh, I only wanted to know if — if — " 
 
 " If we still leave Linton on Friday?" 
 
 " Yes — how did you know ?" 
 
 " You have a very tell-tale face, my lord. 
 Yes, I think we decided to do so, did we 
 not?" 
 
 " Yes, but—" 
 
 "Nothing has occurred, that I am aware of, 
 to alter our plans." 
 
 « No, but—" 
 
 "Was that the subject of your very 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 189 
 
 earnest colloquy with that vivacious young 
 lady at dinner?" 
 
 "Not entirely," said Ellerley truthfully. 
 
 "No," laughed Mr. Cuthbert, shaking hands 
 with him, and turning towards his room, 
 "not altogether. I think 1 formed subject 
 for part of it, did I not ? — but never mind, 
 my lord. Do not let me intrude upon any 
 confidences." 
 
 " Oh, Mr. Cuthbert," exclaimed the boy, 
 impulsively, "I should like to have stayed 
 longer on some accounts, but still I am so glad 
 that you stood firm, because I said I was sure 
 you would." 
 
 "Thank you," returned Mr. Cuthbert, 
 again laughing, " I am glad I have come up 
 to your good opinion of me, particularly on 
 so important a point; but do not give me 
 too much credit for firmness, since the 
 temptation was too slight to require much." 
 
 And they separated for the night with those 
 
190 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 words. Mr. Cuthbert infinitely amused at 
 the plot against him, and Lord Ellerley rejoiced 
 that Lady Rosa had not the vaunted power 
 over his friend which Miss Joddrell had said 
 she had ; and he was relieved too, for in spite 
 of her present good behaviour in never noticing 
 him, he still both disliked and feared Lady 
 Rosa. 
 
 Once returned to Worthington, the impres- 
 sion those two guests left behind at Linton 
 was a very favourable one, and Lord Linton 
 continually congratulated himself on the ac- 
 quisition of Mr. Cuthbert as travelling com- 
 panion to his sons. 
 
 " I wish," said he one day to Lady Linton, 
 " that I could get rid of Henniker. I wish I 
 had some good excuse for transplanting 
 him, for if I do not very much mistake 
 he is rather apt to come here oftener than 
 he is required. Who can the man be 
 after?" 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 191 
 
 " If anybody, Mademoiselle Laurent," re- 
 plied Lady Linton, " for I should imagine that 
 even he had not sufficient presumption to aspire 
 higher." 
 
 " There is no knowing," said his lordship, 
 " and that is the reason I should like to get 
 rid of him. I have my suspicions, and I 
 declare the very next living that falls vacant I 
 will see what I can do." 
 
 " Then who would you put in here ?" 
 
 " Cuthbert," exclaimed Lord Linton decid- 
 edly, " without a moment's hesitation, Cuth- 
 bert; that is to say, I would offer it, and 
 Linton is much better than the curacy of 
 Worthington, so that I am in hopes he might 
 accept it. At all events, I shall keep my eye 
 on Henniker, and by the time the boys come 
 home perhaps I may have cause to come 
 to some arrangement. I am very much 
 pleased with Cuthbert, and Henniker, as you 
 know, I never could endure." 
 
192 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 So Mr. Henniker's fate was sealed, little as he 
 dreamt it, and Lady Fanny little guessed that 
 a plot against her peace of mind was in course 
 of agitation. 
 
 Meanwhile Lord Ellerley returned to Worth- 
 ington — delighted, as he expressed it, to get 
 home again ; but he found that in the short 
 period of his absence, great alterations had 
 taken place in the arrangements of the house. 
 The greatest of these was, that he never saw 
 Brenda, and he missed her, but there was no 
 help for it, since all the hours had been changed 
 during his visit to Linton, and Brenda was 
 now the inmate of one wing of the Eectory 
 alone with her governess. 
 
 With this lady she breakfasted, dined, and 
 had tea, and all these meals, which used to 
 be in common, were now shared by Ellerley 
 with Dr. Burgess and Mr. Cuthbert. Morn- 
 ing and afternoon the young earl used to ride 
 on horseback, and in the evening he generally 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 193 
 
 walked with Mr. Cuthbert, so that during these 
 hours Dr. Burgess and his daughter enjoyed 
 the society of each other uninterruptedly, and 
 thus the conscientious rector laid the founda- 
 tion of his future plan of operation. 
 
 Maitland played into his hands, and so did 
 mademoiselle. Both seemed to conspire 
 against the further acquaintance of the young 
 people now that that they were growing up, 
 and it ended by Ellerley's one day confiden- 
 tially confessing to Mr. Cuthbert, that after 
 Linton, where there was always so much and 
 such lively society, life at Worthington was 
 rather " slow," 
 
 Mr. Cuthbert thought this the natural feeling 
 of a young man just growing up, and had not 
 the remotest idea that Ellerley would have 
 found the Rectory less " slow " under any pos- 
 sible circumstances, so he cheered him with 
 accounts of the foreign scenes through which 
 they were so soon to pass, and felt glad that his 
 
 vol. I. o 
 
194 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 young charge began at last to show some 
 signs of a mind anxious to soar above the un- 
 eventful monotony of his present existence. 
 
 But these were not quite Ellerley's feelings. 
 He was gentle, affectionate, and clinging by 
 nature, and the state of affairs when he re- 
 turned to the Rectory made him feel as if he 
 had lost, not only Mrs. Burgess, but Brenda 
 too, and he pined for them both, though he 
 said nothing. Perhaps, indeed, it was fortu- 
 nate that things were so, otherwise he would 
 have felt much more acutely than he did his 
 first departure from the house that had been 
 his home so long. 
 
 The evening before he started, he spent an 
 hour in his old nurse's room, talking to her 
 as he used to do in days of yore, and charming 
 her by his evident sorrow at leaving her. 
 
 " But it's time you should see the world, 
 my dear," she sighed, as the tears fell fast 
 over the hands she held in hers. " I've 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 195 
 
 always looked for this day, knowing it must 
 come, and I know it's right and proper you 
 should go to foreign parts, and 'sociate with 
 them of your own degree. You'll come back 
 all the happier for it, and the fitter for your 
 place in this life, which you know, my dear, as 
 well as I do, is a high one." 
 
 " I don't regret, I don't say it's not quite 
 right even," said Ellerley, in return ; " but 
 still it is a wrench, dear old nurse, and a 
 sharp one too." 
 
 "So it is, my dear, just like going to 
 school, which you have been spared, so it's 
 as well as it is." 
 
 "But nurse, before I go, I want to ask 
 you something — I want to make you promise 
 me something — " 
 
 "Yes, my dear — what is it?" 
 
 "You promise? " 
 
 " Surely !— that is to say — " 
 
 " Oh no, you have promised ! — I tell you 
 
 o 2 
 
196 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 what I want. Nobody but you can do it. 
 When I am gone, I want you to talk of me 
 sometimes — not to let me be forgotten — " 
 
 " Surely/' interrupted the old woman, sud- 
 denly drying her tears, and coloring up, 
 " you'll write home often ? " 
 
 " Yes, yes, of course ; but that is not what 
 I mean. Writing is very different to speak- 
 ing. A few words, now and then, remind 
 people much more of the person who is 
 absent than a thousand letters. Now, dear, 
 good Maitland, you have promised, and you 
 dare not break your word — don't let me be 
 quite forgotten — speak of me sometimes to 
 Brenda ! " 
 
 Maitland's whole face looked hot all at 
 once. Its pale waxiness quite glowed, and 
 she twisted her apron-strings rapidly round 
 and round her fingers. 
 
 " You will ? " persisted Ellerley, " you 
 promise you will ? " 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 197 
 
 " My dear — what can I say ? " she began. 
 
 "As little or as much as you please/' 
 continued Ellerley, speaking fast and huskily, 
 "but talk of me sometimes — don't let me 
 be forgotten. I have been at home now three 
 months, and I have not seen her a dozen times. 
 She is a prisoner to her school-room, and 
 there of course they never talk of me, but I 
 do not like to go away and think I shall be 
 quite forgotten, when, throughout all these 
 years, she has been like a sister to me." 
 
 The old woman drew her breath more 
 freely at the conclusion of the sentence than 
 she did at the beginning, but her stammering 
 answers did not satisfy her young lord. 
 
 " Why should you not ?" he resumed, when 
 he saw her hesitation, " do you see any harm 
 in it?" 
 
 "No, my dear, only her papa is surely 
 more the person — I mean more with her — " 
 
 " Yes ! dear, good man ; but he grows so 
 
198 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 absent. Sometimes he sits hours, and never 
 utters a word, and I know that he's not 
 thinking of me all that time, but of his 
 worries, and his troubles, and his sorrows. 
 Oh, if I were but of age he should have no 
 troubles ! he is worrying about his money- 
 matters, and I have tried so often to tell 
 him not — to tell him, never mind — and I 
 cannot get it out. Oh, nurse, when I am 
 twenty-one, I shall have twelve good livings 
 in my gift, and the richest shall be his 
 directly, but that is not what I wanted to 
 say — what I wish you to do is, about Brenda 
 — will you speak of me sometimes to 
 Brenda?" 
 
 " Dear heart !" exclaimed the old woman, 
 ready to cry with perplexity, " what good will 
 that do?" 
 
 " Why?" asked Ellerley, hastily; " do you 
 think she does not care whether I am here 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 199 
 
 or away, or what becomes of me ? I don't 
 believe it, or else she is very much altered." 
 
 " I said nothing like that," said Maitland, 
 " only, my dear, it ain't for such as me to 
 talk to Miss Brenda." 
 
 "Yes it is," said Ellerley, angrily, "it is 
 for you, and nobody else, and to you I leave 
 it as a charge, a commission, mind ! — and 
 darling old soul, if I find when I come 
 home that you have kept your promise — yes, 
 your promise, remember — you shall have 
 the prettiest watch that all Switzerland can 
 make, and you may throw that old warm- 
 ing-pan out of the window." 
 
 And when Lord Ellerley was fairly gone, 
 and Brenda, escaped from the school-room, 
 came and threw herself, sobbing hysterically, 
 on Maitland's bosom, the memory of the 
 dead rose up before the old woman's eyes, 
 and she clasped the young girl to her heart, 
 
200 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 and screwed up her lips so tight that not a 
 sound could escape, and thought that by thus 
 doing she was by each action keeping her 
 promise to the dead and to the living. She 
 was saying nothing, yet, by that warm, 
 motherly embrace she was showing that that 
 grief was pitied, and that for every tear which 
 fell from those weeping eyes, duplicates were 
 falling from her own on the glossy black hair 
 which lay streaming over Brenda's shoulders. 
 
 "No need for me to speak!" thought the 
 old nurse, rocking the young girl to and fro, 
 as though she were still a child upon her lap, 
 "no need for me to remind her, and talk of 
 him, and tell her not to forget him, bless her 
 sweet soul ! she'll not forget — she'll remem- 
 ber. God only grant, for both their sakes, 
 that she mayn't remember too well ! " 
 
201 
 
 CHAPTEE XL 
 
 Lord Ellerley, Mr. Cuthbert, and the two 
 
 young Lisles went abroad for two months, 
 and they stayed away nearly three years ! 
 
 They had, in the course of one long sum- 
 mer, traversed France, Switzerland, and 
 Italy, so fascinated by each successive country, 
 that they all with one accord wrote home to 
 entreat that they might not be recalled, but 
 still be permitted to wander, and at last they 
 came to a pause in Germany. 
 
 Here, the desired permission from the 
 duke, Lord Linton, and Dr. Burgess, reached 
 them, indeed it was owing to the earnest 
 representations of the latter, that the per- 
 
202 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 mission of the former was gained. Dr. Bur- 
 gess heard from Mr. Cuthbert how exceed- 
 ingly Ellerley had improved both in character 
 and acquirements during their wanderings, 
 and feeling assured that by temporarily re- 
 signing his charge into such competent hands, 
 he was by no means betraying the trust that 
 had been reposed in him, he advocated most 
 strongly this change in the system of his 
 education. 
 
 And time showed that the rector was right. 
 Lord Ellerley went abroad unformed in cha- 
 racter, unfinished, and a timid, awkward boy. 
 He returned, having shot up suddenly into a 
 young man, and stood before the rector unex- 
 pectedly one day, the living image of the 
 father on whom Dr. Burgess had gazed, 
 stricken down in his manhood, some ten years 
 before. 
 
 There were only four trains that stopped at 
 Worthington in the course of the day, and by 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 203 
 
 the most unlikely of these, Lord Ellerley and 
 his companions had arrived. The Lisles 
 went on to the Linton station, and Mr. Cuth- 
 hert was looking after the luggage, when the 
 young earl, too impatient to wait for him, 
 started off on foot to the Rectory, and dashing 
 open the well-known brown gates, rushed into 
 the house, and into the old familiar library. 
 
 There sat the rector, and by his side — 
 " Is it ? is it really Brenda? — oh Brenda how 
 you are grown ! how you are — " 
 
 He was going to add a more flattering 
 term, descriptive of her appearance, but the 
 deep blushes stopped him, and then his hands 
 clasped those of Dr. Burgess, and his eyes 
 scanned rapidly and with the most earnest 
 scrutiny, the worn, wan features. 
 
 " My dear, good Dr. Burgess ! " was all 
 he could say, so touched was he by the 
 change that time had wrought in him, but 
 the rector had a torrent of words and 
 
204 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 welcomes ready, and whilst his face lighted 
 up with the joy of the meeting, its angles 
 seemed almost to be rounded off, and his dim 
 eyes to be filled with unaccustomed light. 
 
 How swiftly the hours of that afternoon 
 sped away ! It was winter, and seated 
 in the middle of the rug before the blazing 
 fire, the rector on one side and Brenda 
 listening to him, all eyes and ears, on the 
 other side, Ellerley felt and said, that he 
 had not been so happy for years. 
 
 "You see," said Mr. Cuthbert, who was 
 obliged to put up with total neglect for 
 the time, " you see that I have at all events 
 brought him back with the heart of his boy- 
 hood, whatever else may have been lost or 
 rubbed off in the course of our travels." 
 
 "Yes!" exclaimed Ellerley, " I should be 
 very sorry to think I should bring anything 
 but the same heart back to my home, but 
 my dear Dr. Burgess," he added quickly, 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 205 
 
 " is it possible you have been ill, and never 
 told me?" 
 
 " Not ill, Ellerley, no— not ill. Do I look 
 so?" 
 
 " You are much thinner — " 
 
 " There was little room for that, certainly." 
 
 "And altogether your looks do not alto- 
 gether please me — " 
 
 " My dear Ellerley, at my age the years 
 tell upon one. I have not yet come quite 
 to the stand-still of life, so perhaps I may 
 even wear away a little more before I subside 
 into the stationary old man." 
 
 "But you shall not grow thinner, Dr. 
 Burgess. You must have rest— and change 
 — I have been selfish, but till this moment 
 I did not know it. Cuthbert," said the 
 young lord, turning to the clergyman with a 
 sort of air of authority which though it sat 
 well on him, still was new, and impressed 
 Dr. Burgess accordingly — " I have kept you 
 
206 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 away from "Worthington too long. All this 
 time the restless, working, never-wearied 
 sword has been wearing out the scabbard. 
 Can we not read it in his very face ? " 
 
 " Partial eyes, partial eyes, dear boy ! " 
 exclaimed the rector, pleased at the affec- 
 tionate interest displayed by his pupil — " but 
 we will now talk of something better than 
 my unworthy self — " 
 
 "Yes," interrupted Ellerley, turning with 
 a bright smile to where the rector's young 
 daughter sat, "we will now talk of Brenda ! 
 Brenda who, if I may say so, has improved 
 quite out of my acquaintance, and burst 
 from a chrysalis into a young lady whom I 
 am afraid you will oblige me to call Miss 
 Burgess ! — and my old Maitland, how is 
 she ? " 
 
 In another moment he was off to the 
 room where stood the old nurse expecting 
 him. She had been told of his arrival, and 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 207 
 
 had not been able to sit down on her chair 
 since. Prepared to greet him with respect 
 and decorum, the instant she saw him, her 
 arms were round his neck, and then putting 
 him from her, she gazed admiringly at his 
 tall, well-knit frame, and the fair, open coun- 
 tenance which continental suns even, had 
 been unable to embrown. 
 
 "But Brenda ! " said he, after her ecstacies 
 had in a measure subsided — " Brenda, dear 
 old Maitland ! — what a beautiful creature. 
 I have seen nothing abroad to compare to 
 her — I never saw a girl emerge into so 
 lovely a young woman. Why, she must set 
 the whole county on lire, or she will ! Is 
 she very much admired ? " 
 
 " La dear ! " laughed the old woman, 
 " you forget, my lord ! she's bufc a girl. 
 She looks old of her age, but she's three 
 years younger than your lordship. Dear, 
 how you have grown, to be sure." 
 
208 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " Three years younger — just sixteen — she 
 looks eighteen — she is beautiful ! — Maitland, 
 you sly puss, have you ever remembered 
 a certain promise you made me just be- 
 fore I went away? — she never wrote me 
 a line, but have you performed that pro- 
 mise?" 
 
 "In good truth then/' cried Maitland, 
 so pleased and happy, that her discretion 
 was somewhat at fault — " I had but little 
 need to perform it ! never a soul in this 
 house was likely to forget you, my lord, and 
 Miss Brenda — " 
 
 "Least of all, nurse? — say it! say it! — 
 least of all?" 
 
 "Nay, my lord, I wont say it, nor I 
 wasn't going to." 
 
 "Yes you were. I saw it on the very 
 edge of your lips, and you shall have your 
 watch in consequence. Don't spoil what 
 you've said by saying any more. Nobody 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 209 
 
 forgot me in my absence, and Brenda least of 
 all. Now for the watch." 
 
 Lord Ellerley brought quite a new atmos- 
 phere into the quiet air of the Rectory. Dr. 
 Burgess hardly knew him for the same 
 creature. He, who had left home so shy, 
 so silent, so reserved, seemed now the very 
 life of the house, wishing the days were lon- 
 ger that he might have the more time in the 
 which to recount his various adventures. He 
 who had begun as a boy to be impulsive, 
 had now become impetuous, and instead of 
 being passive as to his own future, and in- 
 different as to his position, he was now full 
 of enquiry, anxiety, and energy. 
 
 " What has wrought the miracle ? " asked 
 Dr. Burgess of Mr. Cuthbert one day ; "it is 
 what I have always longed for, but never 
 expected to see. How has this change been 
 brought about ? " 
 
 " By the Lisles," was Mr. Cuthbert's reply. 
 
 vol. I. p 
 
210 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " Partly by them, and partly by the society 
 he has mixed in. He has been made a good 
 deal of, and has learnt at last to appreciate 
 his worldly advantages ; not unworthily, 
 but I really think and hope as a means 
 whereby he may do good and befriend those 
 who may want it. For so young a man, he 
 is the most amiable character I ever met, and 
 God grant the world, when he mixes still 
 more in it, may never spoil him." 
 
 " God grant it indeed," said the rector, 
 solemnly, "and that he has hitherto turned 
 
 out so well, I am sure from my heart I am 
 
 thankful ! " 
 
 Dr. Burgess, however, much as he now 
 
 enjoyed the young man's society, did not 
 
 allow him to remain many days at the Eectory. 
 
 He urged him to visit, as soon as possible, 
 
 his grandfather. 
 
 " The duke has been absolutely pining for 
 
 you. His claims on your society are superior 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 211 
 
 to mine, and though I am reluctant to part 
 with you, I must beg you, my dear Ellerley, 
 to start as soon as possible, in order that 
 I may not be charged with unduly mono- 
 polising you." 
 
 " Who has so good a right to me as you ? " 
 was Lord Ellerley's immediate reply. " Where 
 am I so happy as here ? " 
 
 " That is not the question," said the rector ; 
 "it is your duty, a duty you owe his grace, 
 to let your first visit be to him. You can 
 return here at any time, but I imagine you 
 may now soon look for your commission." 
 
 " So Lisle tells me. I heard from him this 
 morning, and I had a letter also from Lord 
 Linton, asking me to go and stay there." 
 
 " You can easily do that, after your visit 
 to the duke." 
 
 " En route home ? " asked Ellerley. 
 
 Dr. Burgess smiled. He saw that the 
 young earl thought of Worthington as home, 
 
 p2 
 
212 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 head-quarters, and everything, and that time 
 and changes had not in the least effaced from 
 his mind all his old ties and associations. 
 
 And truly this was the case. Ellerley 
 returned to the Rectory prepared to revisit 
 with delight the scenes from which he had 
 been so long absent. There was not a spot 
 in the grounds that he did not hail as an old 
 friend, and the first day that he walked down 
 the town, he would have shaken hands with 
 every soul he met, had hands been offered 
 him, so happy was he to find himself back 
 again. 
 
 " By-the-bye," said Dr. Burgess, one day, 
 " your lordship has doubtless heard that you 
 have no longer tenants at Ellerley Castle. 
 The term of their possession expired last 
 year, and the duke has not thought it worth 
 while to re-let it, since you will come into 
 possession, please God, in two years." 
 
 " Ah, what a gay day we will have then ! " 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 213 
 
 interrupted the young earl ; " how have they 
 left the house and grounds? — are they in 
 good repair ? " 
 
 " The Castle requires a great deal done to 
 it. The grounds are, as they always were, 
 beautiful." 
 
 " I should like to ride over and see the old 
 place. When shall we go, Dr. Burgess? 
 Will any day suit you ? " 
 
 "Any afternoon, my Lord — to-day if you 
 please." 
 
 " Then to-day. And may not Brenda 
 accompany us ? does she not ride now ? " 
 
 " Seldom," said the rector, passing his 
 hand over his forehead. 
 
 "No?" began Ellerley, and then he paused, 
 for he saw furrows of pain wrinkling up the 
 care-worn brow. 
 
 " In fact, she has no horse just at present, 
 and the distance is great for the pony," 
 continued Dr. Burgess. 
 
214 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 "My poor old pony? is that really still 
 in the land of the living ? " 
 
 "We are much attached to that pony. 
 We look upon it as one of the family/' said 
 the rector, and then abruptly changed the 
 conversation. 
 
 Ellerley said no more just then, but it so 
 happened that in walking down the town that 
 afternoon, a lady passed him with a very low, 
 sweeping curtsey, and after a moment's 
 hesitation, he recognised Mrs. Marsh, the 
 doctor's wife, and stopped to acknowledge her 
 fluent congratulations on his return to Wor- 
 thington. 
 
 She was just the person he was glad to 
 meet, for he was anxious to hear a great deal 
 about the Rectory which he had in vain tried 
 to learn within its walls, and she soon gave 
 him an opportunity of speaking on the sub- 
 ject, by introducing the change in the rector's 
 appearance. 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 215 
 
 "I am sure, my lord, if we see it, who see 
 him all day and every day, it must strike 
 your lordship still more forcibly/' 
 
 " It does indeed," replied Lord Ellerley, 
 " and at first sight of him, I was shocked 
 beyond words, for of course I love him like a 
 father. Are you going this way Mrs. Marsh? 
 because I am bound nowhere, and can make 
 your road mine. Yes, I was grieved, yet he 
 says he has not been ill. What then has been 
 the matter with him ? Does Mr. Marsh ever 
 attend him ? " 
 
 " He sees him frequently as a friend, but 
 there is no organic disease to deal with," 
 said Mrs. Marsh. " There is, as your lord- 
 ship may have observed, a wasting away — " 
 
 "He is a living skeleton!" interrupted 
 Ellerley. 
 
 " And he grows thinner and thinner every 
 day, and his spirits, which used to be so 
 cheerful, have flagged lattely. He has had a 
 
216 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 great deal of trouble certainly to account for 
 this — " 
 
 " Ah! I thought so! — parochial trouble, 
 you mean. That was owing to sending Mr. 
 Cuthbert away with me." 
 
 " No indeed, my lord. Not that kind of 
 trouble. I mean money-troubles — things are 
 very much changed at the Kectory of late — 
 the poor don't feel it, but we see it, and we 
 see all the economies within and without, 
 which in old days Dr. Burgess never dreamt 
 of practising — in fact he had no occasion. 
 But your lordship must have noticed 
 this?" 
 
 " No," said Ellerley, grieved to the heart, 
 "no, indeed I have not, I have been so few 
 days at home." 
 
 "Ah! it is very sad," continued Mrs. 
 Marsh, "and we all feel for him very much. 
 Last year he lost a great deal by the failure 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 217 
 
 of Minton's bank — nearly all his private 
 fortune, all that would have come to his 
 daughter, and now of course he must save 
 for her sake. He put down his carriage 
 immediately, and has now only his riding- 
 horse; for Brenda, like an angel as she is, in- 
 sisted on having her horse sold when the 
 carriage horses went." 
 
 " I see — I see it now," murmured Lord 
 Ellerley. 
 
 " Yes, my lord, one learns these trials from 
 his face, though not from his lips, for no 
 murmur ever escapes them. And then the 
 expensive governess that Brenda had just 
 after you left, and who remained two years — 
 they were obliged to part with her, and 
 Brenda has been staying for the last year 
 with an aunt, whose daughters had a regular 
 finishing governess, so she had this advantage 
 to compensate as it were for the loss of the 
 
218 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 other. She was to return to her aunt this 
 month, I believe — she is only here on a sort 
 of holiday." 
 
 "Then is her education being finished at 
 Mrs. Pearson's?" enquired Ellerley. 
 
 " Yes, my lord. Dr. Burgess thought it 
 best on many accounts. He thought it would 
 be female society for her, and she is too young 
 to take the head of his house yet, and she is 
 turning out very pretty — " 
 
 Mrs. Marsh ran on, and her voice kept 
 ringing in the earl's ears like a bell, but the 
 sense of her conversation was lost upon him. 
 He was deep in his own reflections. 
 
 " I wonder," thought he to himself, " why 
 Maitland never told me all this ; I wonder 
 Brenda herself did not tell me some of it. 
 Certainly I have not been alone with her 
 since my return, but then Dr. Burgess — 
 surely — I wonder he did not mention about 
 her being educated away from home — his 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 219 
 
 delicacy perhaps — not liking me to know how 
 his circumstances are changed, poor, dear, 
 good old man ! " 
 
 " Brenda bids fair to be the belle of the 
 county," were the next words that arrested 
 his attention ; " we were very anxious that 
 Dr. Burgess should allow her to go to our 
 Hospital ball last week — you were just too 
 late, my lord — but he thought she was too 
 young, and also that as a clergyman's 
 daughter he had rather not — however I think 
 next year we shall overrule these objections, 
 for we want very much to show her against 
 Lady Rosa Lisle — you recollect Lady Eosa, 
 my lord ? " 
 
 "Perfectly. Is it possible she is intro- 
 duced?" 
 
 " She is to be presented in London, my 
 lord, this season/' said Mrs. Marsh, who had 
 a sort of confusion in her head between being 
 "presented" and "introduced," and so added 
 
220 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 the words "in London," that her meaning 
 might be, as she supposed, properly conveyed 
 to Lord Ellerley, " and she is certainly a 
 most beautiful creature, but, we think, nothing 
 to compare to Brenda." 
 
 The young earl went home that day silent 
 and depressed. He had heard much to 
 interest, and at the same time to sadden 
 him, but to him, the saddest thought of 
 all was, Brenda finishing her education away 
 from home. 
 
221 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 One fine morning Mr. Henniker received a 
 little note from Lord Linton. If not particu- 
 larly engaged, would he call at Linton any 
 time before two o'clock. His lordship would 
 be glad of a few minutes' private conversation 
 with him. 
 
 Mr. Henniker of course complied, but as he 
 prepared to keep the appointment, a feeling of 
 extreme nervousness crept over him. What 
 could Lord Linton possibly have to say ? but 
 though he entered the earl's presence uncom- 
 fortably, the first glance reassured the young 
 clergyman, and he took a seat with tolerable 
 self-possession. 
 
222 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " Mr. Henniker," said Lord Linton, at once 
 beginning upon his subject, " I hope the com- 
 munication I am about to make you may be 
 agreeable to you. One of the livings in my 
 gift, a very good one in Yorkshire, has just 
 fallen vacant, and as it is a better one than 
 this in a pecuniary point of view, I have great 
 pleasure in making you the first offer of 
 it." 
 
 And here he paused, and fixed his eyes 
 on the conscious face before him. Mr. Hen- 
 niker bowed, rubbed his hands, bowed, and 
 then stammered out : 
 
 "I am sure I am deeply indebted to 
 your lordship. I need not say how much so 
 — at the same time I am so perfectly happy 
 at Linton, that with your lordship's permission, 
 if I may do so without offence, I should very 
 much prefer remaining, and allowing a wor- 
 thier man to avail himself of your lordship's 
 generous offer to me." 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 223 
 
 Lord Linton drew in his breath and pinched 
 np his lips, prepared to do battle graciously, 
 and bowing blandly, replied : 
 
 " I am much flattered, Mr. Henniker, at 
 this proof of your regard ; at the same time, 
 as a much older man than yourself, permit me 
 to advise that this opening should not be 
 thrown hastily away — " 
 
 " Not hastily, my lord — " 
 
 "Well then, not without due considera- 
 tion." 
 
 " I assure you, my lord, I am so consti- 
 tuted that I never require time for considera- 
 tion. My mind grasps at a certainty in a 
 very short time, and on the present occasion, 
 I frankly assure your lordship — emphati- 
 cally declare to your lordship — that no pecu- 
 niary advantages would compensate to me for 
 leaving Linton." 
 
 "Keally!" said Lord Linton, "more and 
 more flattering, but still, are you aware that 
 
224 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 the living I offer you — since you oblige me to 
 enter into particulars — is worth about eight 
 hundred a-year ? " 
 
 " I was not aware of it, my lord, but even 
 that consideration — " 
 
 " Does not shake your resolution to remain 
 at Linton ? " said the earl, with another of his 
 searching glances. 
 
 Poor Mr. Henniker fidgetted like a fish on 
 a hook. He could not quite make out Lord 
 Linton's manner. Guilty conscience prompted 
 him to think that his intentions towards Lady 
 Fanny had been suspected, and were thus 
 politely frowned upon, but on the other hand, 
 his natural vanity, of which he had a super- 
 abundance, said, " perhaps this good thing is 
 offered you on purpose to facilitate matters." 
 Altogether he was in a very perplexing posi- 
 tion, and Lord Linton saw and enjoyed it. 
 He also enjoyed the reply which now trembled 
 forth to his last question, because it showed 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 225 
 
 that Mr. Henniker did not at all wish to leave 
 Linton, and his patron was quite determined 
 that he should. 
 
 " You are right, my lord. I honestly con- 
 fess I have no wish — I mean I have quite 
 made up my mind — to remain, with your per- 
 mission, where I am." 
 
 " Then, Mr. Henniker," said Lord Linton, 
 rising and placing himself before the fire in a 
 determined attitude, " I have no alternative 
 but to 3ay, with much regret, that that per- 
 mission I cannot accord." Mr. Henniker 
 started up, both alarmed and indignant. " I 
 mean what I say," continued the earl, quietly, 
 but firmly, " and I decline arguing the point. 
 I decline even entering on any discussion as to 
 my reasons. I only beg to state that a living- 
 better than this is in my gift — I offer it to you 
 — I cannot compel you to accept it, it is true, 
 but I can request you to vacate Linton, and 
 that, at your convenience, I now beg you to 
 
 VOL. I. Q 
 
226 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 do. And now Mr. Henniker, shall we join the 
 ladies at luncheon ? " 
 
 But Mr. Henniker was not to be put off so 
 easily. He did not intend to be got rid of so 
 coolly, and instead of accepting the earl's polite 
 invitation, he burst into a torrent of words, and 
 finally ended by betraying his long- cherished 
 secret. Emboldened by his anger and morti- 
 fication, he confessed his attachment to the 
 Lady Fanny, formally proposed for her hand, 
 and ended by insinuating that the attachment 
 was mutual. 
 
 Lord Linton's countenance during this 
 harangue was a picture. The haughty smile 
 — the downcast eyes — the calm brow, un- 
 ruffled by the slightest shade of annoy- 
 ance. 
 
 " Really, Mr. Henniker/' said he, when the 
 reverend pleader paused for want of breath, 
 "you have this day overwhelmed me with 
 compliments, and it is a pity I can in no way 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 227 
 
 respond to them. Allow me, however, once 
 for all, to inform you that I desire I may never 
 again hear a syllable on the last subject which 
 you have thought proper to introduce. From 
 this moment I dismiss it, at once and for ever, 
 and in these words any man, with even less 
 tact than yourself, would be able to read 
 my sentiments. Mr. Henniker, good morn- 
 ing." 
 
 The earl had expected this. His satisfac- 
 tion at finding how extremely sharp-sighted he 
 had been, disarmed his resentment at what 
 he considered a piece of most impertinent 
 presumption, and so charmed was he at the 
 fury in which Mr. Henniker had taken his de- 
 parture, that on entering the dining-room 
 where the family were assembled at luncheon, 
 they all exclaimed : 
 
 " Papa must have heard some good news ! 
 he looks so bright." 
 
 And in the course of the day Lady Fanny, 
 
 Q 2 
 
228 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 by some means or other, became acquainted 
 with the good news, and acting upon the im- 
 pulse of the moment, rushed into her father's 
 library, and flinging herself at his feet, pleaded 
 the cause of her parson. 
 
 The occurrence created a great excite- 
 ment in the Linton family, as all first pro- 
 posals, whether fortunate or unfortunate, 
 generally do, but Lord and Lady Linton were 
 both so determined not for one instant to 
 tolerate such a match, even for Lady Fanny, 
 whose hair was red, and whose seasons in town 
 had numbered five, that the young lady was 
 compelled to submit, and Mr. Henniker's place 
 saw him no more until the departure of the 
 family for London, which took place so 
 abruptly that of course the whole neighbour- 
 hood soon guessed the cause. 
 
 All this happened just after Lord Ellerley's 
 return to England, and the invitation he had 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 229 
 
 received from his friend Lord Lisle was fol- 
 lowed by a letter from Lady Linton informing 
 him of their change of plans, and asking him 
 to postpone his visit till Easter, when they 
 would again be at Linton, and hoped to have 
 a great many gaieties. " But," she added, 
 " should your military duties call you up to 
 town before this, which I hear is likely, make 
 our house your home.' 7 
 
 But to return to the Parsonage of Lin- 
 ton. 
 
 True to the wish he had so long enter- 
 tained, Lord Linton no sooner held it in his 
 power, than he wrote off to Mr. Cuthbert, 
 and in the most nattering terms begged him 
 to accept the living, and utterly unprepared 
 and astonished at so great a piece of good 
 fortune, Mr. Cuthbert went and laid the 
 letter on his rector's desk without a word. 
 
 The kindly face of Dr. Burgess lighted 
 
230 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 up at this compliment paid unsolicited to his 
 young curate, and stretching out his hands, 
 wished him joy of his promotion, for great as 
 the loss to himself would be, he forbore by 
 word or look to allow Mr. Cuthbert to guess 
 how much he felt it. 
 
 " And you will be domesticated in a family 
 with whom you have had good opportunity of 
 making acquaintance," said he, " and amongst 
 whom you will not lose the link that binds you 
 to us. My dear Cuthbert, I sincerely congra- 
 tulate you." 
 
 So far all seemed fair. In a few weeks the 
 Reverend Bernard Cuthbert preached his first 
 sermon in Linton Church, and was duly in- 
 stalled in all the duties of his parish, delighted 
 to find them so numerous, and taking his 
 place amongst his new people with all the 
 advantages with which a great reputation 
 and an attractive presence could surround 
 him. 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 231 
 
 But when he took possession of the Par- 
 sonage, the family were not at the great 
 house. They were not to come down to 
 Linton till Easter, and with them, Ellerley. 
 
232 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 The Easter ball at Linton ! how gay it was 
 to be — how gay it was ! The Linton family 
 only came down on the Thursday evening. 
 On the Saturday Mr. Cuthbert dined quietly 
 with them. It was three years since he 
 had seen Lady Rosa, but he had heard much 
 of her. 
 
 "What do you think of her?" asked Eller- 
 ley, as he drew his friend into the verandah 
 after dinner. 
 
 " We sat the same side," said Mr. Cuth- 
 bert, "and I could only see her profile, but 
 why do you ask? do you admire her so much?" 
 
 "I? no!" with something of scorn in 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 233 
 
 his voice, " I never did and never shall, but 
 she is thought such a beauty. Tell me by- 
 and-bye — " 
 
 " Tell your lordship what?" 
 
 "If you really think her equal to — to Miss 
 Burgess?" 
 
 " I could tell you that now," said Mr. Cuth- 
 bert, averting his face, into which Lord Eller- 
 ley was anxiously looking. 
 
 " Well ? — not to compare, is she ? " 
 
 "No ; " was the reply, given with more 
 energy than the cause appeared to require, 
 "not for one single moment ! — only remem- 
 ber," added the young rector, more tem- 
 perately, "I am very little judge of ladies' 
 looks, and I have hardly looked at Lady 
 Eosa twice." 
 
 " Too bad of you then," laughed Ellerley, 
 "fori am sure she returned good for your 
 evil all dinner time. You know you were 
 always rather a favorite of hers." 
 
234 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " Let me beg of you, my dear lord/' ex- 
 claimed Mr. Cuthbert, quickly, " not even in 
 joke to say these things — it might place me in 
 a disagreeable position here, considering all 
 the circumstances which have so lately taken 
 place at Linton — pray abstain." 
 
 " Well, but observe when no one sees you 
 then — all this county would give it in favour 
 of Lady Rosa — " 
 
 " Because," was the answer, " the other 
 aspirant is so much less seen and known." 
 
 And this was true, but the earnest entrea- 
 ties of a great many of Brencla's friends had 
 at last prevailed with the rector, and when 
 Lady Linton herself came over to beg that the 
 young girl might attend this ball, chaperoned 
 by herself, and stay at Linton for the occasion, 
 he no longer held out, but gave his consent, 
 though with a reluctance which Brenda, 
 enchanted, either did not or would not see. 
 "I am afraid she will look a dreadful 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 235 
 
 dowdy," said Lady Kosa to her sister Julia, 
 " try and find out what her dress is, and do 
 offer her one of our hoops. Don't let her 
 disgrace us." 
 
 Whereupon Lady Julia lavished great at- 
 tentions on the rectors daughter, and in- 
 sisted on accompanying her, even into her 
 room, to see that she was really comfortable 
 and had everything she required. * 
 
 But Brenda had brought a maid with her, 
 and when she entered her room with Lady 
 Julia, that functionary had unpacked all her 
 young mistress's things, and spread out on the 
 bed, proud of its beauty, Brenda's first ball- 
 dress. 
 
 Lady Julia, after one glance, volunteered 
 no further assistance. She saw in a moment 
 that the dresses she and her sister had brought 
 down from town as good enough for the county 
 ball, would be totally eclipsed by the exquisite 
 freshness of their guest's beautiful toilette, and 
 
236 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 she retired as soon as she could, to tell Lady 
 Rosa that if the girl lighted up well, she must 
 look to her laurels. 
 
 " Her father sent to Devy for the dress ! — 
 even said it must be suited to a brunette, 
 and such flowers you never saw ! — so provok- 
 ing we did not bring our tulle dresses with 
 the fern and dew drops. You might have had 
 a chahce against her then ! " 
 
 "How sly of Ellerley!" exclaimed Lady 
 Eosa, very much annoyed, and she made a 
 careful toilette for dinner, hoping that as the 
 ladies were not to dress till afterwards, 
 Brenda would not shine all at once. 
 
 But here again Brenda's star was in the 
 ascendant. She had met Ellerley by chance in 
 the conservatory, where Lady Linton had left 
 her for a moment to find her daughter, and 
 in her nervousness had asked him the impor- 
 tant question : 
 
 " Oh, do tell me ! am I to be full dressed ? 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 237 
 
 — I mean, do they dress much here at din- 
 ner?" 
 
 "White, white, dear Brenda!" was his 
 hurried whisper, " and here — look — I have 
 been watching for you — wear these," and he 
 thrust into her hands a morocco-case, and 
 escaped before she could recover from her 
 surprise. 
 
 She had not time to open it until she was 
 locked into her own room, and there, in its wel- 
 come, happy privacy — for the young girl was 
 naturally frightened and nervous — she gazed 
 long and delightedly at the most costly set of 
 coral which all Naples had been able to 
 furnish. 
 
 Had she been at home, her first impulse 
 would have been to have gone to her father, 
 and asked his permission, before she accepted 
 or wore so handsome a present, but here, alone, 
 with no one to ask or to consult, what could she 
 do but wear it ? Ellerley would think it so 
 
238 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 unkind if she did not — besides, after once 
 putting the elastic snake on her arm, and 
 placing the lovely cameo with its cluster of 
 charms on the white muslin "just to see how 
 they looked," the dress sunk into such insig- 
 ficance without them, that she wondered how 
 she could ever have thought it fit to wear at 
 Linton without the coral. 
 
 So she descended the grand staircase, step 
 by step, hoping some other guest would over- 
 take and go into the drawing-room with her, 
 and at the door fortunately, there stood Lady 
 Fanny, the disconsolate, putting on her gloves, 
 and by her side, they made their entree to- 
 gether. 
 
 Lady Rosa need not have been alarmed lest 
 Brenda should disgrace their party that even- 
 ing. Though timid and shy, she had an air 
 about her and a manner of carrying her beau- 
 tifully-formed head, which was very striking, 
 and as she passed Lord Ellerley, he first 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 239 
 
 smiled at her, and then carried on his smile to 
 Mr. Cuthbert, who did not see it, for he was 
 already watching her as she moved with light 
 but stately gait across the room. 
 
 Lady Rosa's eyes had marked the little 
 scene, slight as it was, and her lip wore a 
 suspicious curl. 
 
 "Mr. Cuthbert," said she, intercepting him, 
 as he seemed preparing to follow Brenda to 
 the seat in the corner where she had placed 
 herself, " you are quite determined not to go 
 to this ball?" 
 
 " Lady Rosa, I never had the slightest in- 
 tention of going." 
 
 "No — I know — but do you think balls 
 wrong?" 
 
 " For myself, decidedly so." 
 
 "Well, but now, for others — for me, for 
 example — is there really any harm in it?" 
 
 "I think, Lady Rosa, that this is hardly 
 a moment to discuss the question." 
 
240 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " If I ask you seriously to-morrow, will 
 you give me your opinion on the subject?" 
 
 " Shall you ask me, seriously wishing 
 and intending to follow my advice, even if 
 it be contrary to your own views?" 
 
 " Certainly I shall!" 
 
 " Then till to-morrow permit me to be 
 silent," and Mr. Cuthbert passed quietly on. 
 Lady Rosa bit her lips, and lowered her 
 haughty eye-lids, and only raised them to see 
 the company pairing off to go to dinner, 
 and Brenda standing leaning on Mr. Cuth- 
 bert's arm. 
 
 " How glad I am to be next you," said 
 she, at dinner, " I was so afraid I might be 
 between two strangers. I only wish you 
 were going to this ball." 
 
 " Don't say you wish it," was the answer, 
 distinctly overheard by Lady Rosa, " or you 
 will make me spend my lonely evening 
 haunted by a regret." 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 241 
 
 "But what regret? you don't care for 
 such things/' said Brenda, innocently. 
 
 "No, but I care for what you wish. I 
 should like this visit to be a very pleasant 
 one to you, unalloyed by a single ungra- 
 tified wish. And now let me admire your 
 coral — I have never seen any in England so 
 lovely." 
 
 Brenda gave a look down the table at Lord 
 Ellerley, seated by Lady Linton, and then she 
 grew rather red, and felt annoyed with 
 herself, for she knew Mr. Cuthbert was 
 looking at her. She was so long making 
 up her mind as to whether she should 
 tell him, or not, from whom she had re- 
 ceived the gift, that it ended by her saying 
 nothing. 
 
 " It reminds me of Naples," continued Mr. 
 Cuthbert ; "if you are fond of such things, 
 you would be sorely tempted to commit great 
 extravagancies there." 
 
 VOL. I. R 
 
242 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 "Are the Italians a handsome race?" 
 asked Brenda, after a pause, in which she 
 was thinking what she could say to change 
 the subject. " Are the ladies beautiful ? " 
 
 " I saw very little beauty/' was the 
 reply. 
 
 " Then do you give our countrywomen the 
 preference, Mr. Cuthbert ? " said Lady Rosa, 
 across the table. 
 
 " I ought," he answered, with his placid 
 smile, "for I have seen more beauty since 
 my return than I ever saw in Italy." 
 
 Brenda looked surprised, and totally un- 
 conscious that she at all came within the 
 bounds of this sweeping compliment, but 
 Lady Rosa smiled brilliantly, and began an 
 animated conversation with her next neigh- 
 bour. 
 
 "Do you think Lady Rosa so beautiful 
 then ? " said Brenda, in a very low voice. 
 
 " I did not direct my observation par- 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 243 
 
 ticularly to her," was his answer, "but she 
 certainly is undeniably beautiful." 
 
 " So she is. I have heard so much of 
 her, and yet am not disappointed. There 
 is something so queenly about her." 
 
 " True, but still it is a beauty that does 
 not in the least interest me." 
 
 "Who is the gentleman next to her?" 
 
 "A Captain Fitzgerald." 
 
 "Is he going to be married to her?" 
 
 Mr. Cuthbert laughed, and Brenda 
 blushed. 
 
 " Well," she exclaimed apologetically, " I 
 thought perhaps it might be so." 
 
 "And you might reasonably think so," 
 said Mr. Cuthbert, "but I laughed be- 
 cause I thought how indignant Lady Rosa 
 would be if she had an idea that we 
 contemplated so infra dig. an alliance for 
 her." 
 
 " Has she then such high views?" 
 
 r2 
 
244 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 "Why, she has some right to look high, 
 but really I only speak from conjecture, and 
 judge but from her own conduct, so that you 
 must not think much of my judgment. I 
 have heard of Captain Fitzgerald for years, 
 and yet the affair seems to stand just where 
 it did when Ellerley was here three years 
 ago." 
 
 And so it did ; but Lady Eosa did not 
 imagine that her opposite neighbour knew 
 that. Piqued by the different answer he 
 had given when it was Brenda who re- 
 gretted his not going to the ball, she 
 began a furious flirtation with Captain 
 Fitzgerald, hoping before the Easter visit 
 was over, to have played him off well 
 against the imperturbable clergyman. 
 
 And now the party started for the ball, 
 the gentlemen preceding and meeting them 
 at the rooms, and it was with a sort of 
 anxious pride that Lord Ellerley looked for 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 245 
 
 Brenda's appearance amongst her highborn 
 friends. 
 
 She did not disappoint his expectations. 
 So equal were the general opinions as to 
 the respective beauty of herself and Lady 
 Eosa Lisle, that neither one nor the other 
 could be said to be eclipsed. 
 
 " Miss Burgess wants manner/ 7 said Lord 
 Lisle, coming up to his friend, " otherwise she 
 is the prettiest girl in the room." 
 
 And this was exactly Ellerley's opinion. 
 As for himself he found that his rank tied him 
 very much to particular young ladies for the 
 first few dances, but the moment he could fly 
 to Brenda he was off. 
 
 "Rosa," whispered Lady Linton to her 
 daughter, as the haughty belle came to rest 
 herself after a violent galop with Captain 
 Fitzgerald, " how foolishly you are behaving ! 
 You are grasping at a shadow, and losing a 
 substance. I shall never have such an oppor- 
 
246 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 tunity as this in my hands for you again, as 
 long as I live." 
 
 " Mama, you are quite absurd !" retorted 
 the young lady, petulantly. " I really cannot 
 aid and abet your manoeuvres more than I 
 do, for it is as ridiculous as it is useless. If 
 he has any feeling in the world about me be- 
 yond utter indifference, it is dislike, and that, 
 everybody but you can see." 
 
 " Then it is your own fault. You might 
 have played your preparatory cards years 
 ago, when he first came to us, and then by 
 this time you would have had the game in 
 your own hands. As it is, I verily believe he 
 admires that girl Miss Burgess morcthan your- 
 self!" 
 
 " He likes her more, if you please !■" cried 
 Lady Kosa, " as any soul can see with half a 
 glance, and liking goes further with Ellerley 
 than admiring, so really mama if you are 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 247 
 
 wise you will give it up, and leave us both 
 alone." 
 
 " Not for you to throw yourself away on 
 Captain Fitzgerald, Kosa. Neither your 
 father nor I would ever permit such a 
 thing." 
 
 " Nor should I ! " was the Lady Kosa's reply, 
 as she rose to an advancing partner ; and 
 shaking out her draperies with an indig- 
 nant look at her mother, she joined the 
 dancers. 
 
 By this time the room had become quite 
 full, when suddenly there was a sensation 
 at the door, and a late party came in. 
 Lord Ellerley, who had danced incessantly 
 the whole evening, had thrown himself 
 down on an ottoman in the card-room by 
 Brenda, and was fanning himself with her 
 fan, when a brilliant figure advanced to- 
 wards him. 
 
248 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 Dressed in cerise tarlatane, with a ban- 
 deau of diamonds fixed on the plait of 
 jet black hair which was wound round her 
 head, and a necklace and bracelets of the 
 same glittering gems, she was attracting 
 universal attention. 
 
 "Who is this?" asked Brenda, gazing at 
 the voluminous apparition in astonishment. 
 
 " I have not the slightest idea/' was his 
 reply ; " nobody I know." 
 
 But he was mistaken, for the next mo- 
 ment he was accosted with the greatest 
 cordiality, and found himself shaking hands 
 in the most friendly manner with his old 
 acquaintance, Miss Joddrell. 
 
 Of course the next thing was asking her 
 to dance, and whilst taking Brenda back 
 to Lady Linton he told her who she was. 
 
 " Did I never mention her to you ? — 
 such an amusing creature, and rather too 
 dashing for my taste, still a very nice good 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 249 
 
 tempered girl. I must introduce her to you 
 Brenda." 
 
 " Oh no, no/' said Brenda, shrinking, " I 
 think I had rather not." 
 
 " But you will like her far better than the 
 Lisles. You will soon get over her brus- 
 querie. She is a county heiress, and is re- 
 puted to have half a million, but, to my idea, 
 it would have been better taste had she 
 come to a public ball like this with fewer 
 diamonds. She could not wear more had 
 she been assisting at a court ceremony." 
 
 A few minutes afterwards the company 
 were crowding round the circle roped off 
 for dancing, to see Lord Ellerley and Miss 
 Joddrell dancing the mazurka. 
 
 "You dance divinely, my lord!" she ex- 
 claimed, when they paused for breath, " I 
 never had a better partner. But I am not 
 surprised, for I hear you have been three 
 years abroad. Where are you staying ? " 
 
250 THE ONLY CEILD. 
 
 " At Linton — how is it you are not amongst 
 the guests ? " 
 
 " Oh, I am at my own place — I have been 
 wandering about so much all the winter, that 
 I thought I would have a party at home this 
 Easter—" 
 
 And she ran on in her usual wild, lively 
 style, till Ellerley found he had danced three 
 consecutive dances with her, and was handing 
 her in to supper instead of Lady Linton. 
 
 " The young earl seems quite struck," said 
 a lady, to Lord Lisle. 
 
 " Oh she always takes possession of people 
 in that way," was his answer; "it is not 
 Ellerley's fault." 
 
 "Well, I hope not," added the first 
 speaker, laughing, "for it would be rather 
 too bad if Miss Joddrell, with half a million of 
 her own, were to monopolise Lord Ellerley. 
 It is not as if he wanted money as much as 
 she wants rank." 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 25 L 
 
 " Ellerley likes to amuse himself," said 
 Lord Lisle, " and he likes society. I never 
 saw a man so improved by his tour. As for 
 marrying, I do not think there is anything in 
 the world so far from his thoughts or from 
 the thoughts of that old dragon the duke, 
 who guards him like a second Cerberus, so 
 it must l;e a very brave woman who 
 would dare to aspire to my friend Ellerley." 
 
 The sun was reddening all the sky, and 
 streaming in a flood like a distant fire behind 
 the hills round Linton, when the wearied 
 party drove into the court-yard, and retired 
 to their closely-shuttered rooms. 
 
 "Adieu, Lord Ellerley," said Lady Rosa, 
 "it is much too early to say good night. You 
 look fagged to death." 
 
 " I cannot return the compliment, Lady 
 Rosa, for this ruddy morning light becomes 
 you. Shall we meet at luncheon or dinner 
 to-day?" 
 
252 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " At neither. I do not mean to be called 
 till the day after to-morrow." 
 
 Lady Eosa retired to her room Ml of 
 spirits, having thoroughly enjoyed her even- 
 ing, but Brenda crept up silent and sad. 
 If all balls were like this she was disap- 
 pointed. 
 
253 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 The first words Mr. Cuthbert addressed 
 to her the next day were : 
 
 " And how did you enjoy your ball, Miss 
 Burgess ? " 
 
 "To anyone but you," said Brenda, "it 
 would of course be treason to confess, that 
 I hardly enjoyed it at all — I was disap- 
 pointed." 
 
 " Did you not dance then ? " 
 
 " Oh yes, till I was so tired I was glad to 
 come home." 
 
 " Then in what were you disappointed?" 
 
 "That I cannot tell. I only know that I 
 did not enjoy it as I saw others." 
 
254 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " And why would it be treason to say so to 
 anyone but me ? " 
 
 " In the first place because it would seem 
 ungrateful to Lady Linton, who invited me 
 solely for my amusement, and secondly, 
 because I am sure Lady Eosa and Lady Julia 
 were delighted with it. So was Ellerley." 
 
 When she gave utterance to the last three 
 words Brenda's voice fell to a whisper, and 
 Mr. Cuthbert's countenance underwent the 
 smallest possible shade of change. 
 
 " Did he dance a great deal ? " 
 
 " Oh, incessantly ! " 
 
 " Does he dance well ? " 
 
 (Oh, Mr. Cuthbert ! truthful, honest, open, 
 sincere — why were you creeping round your 
 question in this way ?) 
 
 "I only danced one quadrille with him," 
 said Brenda, looking down, and then, to the 
 observant eye that watched her, the cause of 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 255 
 
 her disappointment was evident. Uncon- 
 sciously a deep sigh escaped him, and Lady 
 Rosa, joining them, for they were sitting in 
 the recess of the window, exclaimed : 
 
 " What a sigh ! — Miss Burgess, what have 
 you done, to make Mr. Cuthbert sigh so?" 
 
 "Did he sigh?" asked Brenda, innocently, 
 and looking up with sudden interest, " I never 
 heard it." 
 
 Mr. Cuthbert rose, begged Lady Eosa to be 
 seated, and walked away. In that moment 
 he woke to the consciousness that had that 
 look of interest been unaccompanied by the 
 chilling words, "I never heard it," how 
 precious it would have been to him ! The 
 young clergyman was fast losing his heart 
 to the rector's beautiful daughter, and she in 
 her artlessness was unwittingly leading him 
 on, confiding in him as an old acquaintance, 
 and treating him as a friend, to the imminent 
 
256 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 danger of his future peace, for he, at the same 
 time, saw, that her every thought was en- 
 grossed by another. 
 
 And he grieved — grieved over it to the 
 heart — and would gladly have averted the 
 impending evil had he been able, but he could 
 not. How could he, of all people, he to 
 whom she was every day becoming dearer, 
 disinterestedly warn her father of her danger? 
 — no, he could not trust himself, though he 
 also had been one amongst the friends to 
 whom Mrs. Burgess had often spoken on the 
 subject, and as for the rector, how often had 
 he not himself talked confidentially of his 
 daughter and his pupil, and mentioned his 
 resolution of keeping them apart as soon as 
 they should attain to an age when such 
 ideas would be likely to enter their young 
 heads ! 
 
 And yet, if Lord Ellerley should see and 
 reciprocate Brenda's preference, what a 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 257 
 
 brilliant alliance ! Was it in human nature 
 that any father should have strength of mind 
 to resist the temptation ? 
 
 Mr. Cuthbert had, however, one great 
 hope. Dr. Burgess was coming the next 
 day for his daughter, and he hoped that some 
 circumstance might happen which would show 
 him the unfairness of allowing Brenda to mix 
 in such society unless he meant to brave the 
 consequences. 
 
 " If she would only wear the coral," said 
 he to himself, " I think that would rouse a 
 fear." 
 
 And the next day, just before dinner, Dr. 
 Burgess arrived, and about the same time 
 another guest, in the shape of Miss Joddrell, 
 made her appearance. 
 
 She went straight to the old school-room, 
 now called the young ladies' drawing-room, 
 and seized on Lady Rosa 
 
 "Here I am, my dear. Faithful to my 
 
 VOL. i. s 
 
258 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 promise, as I told you ! I hope you an- 
 nounced to Lady Linton that I was coming, 
 did you ? " 
 
 " From that moment to this/' cried Lady 
 Rosa, "I declare it has never entered my 
 head! Julia, you must go and tell mama 
 that I invited Emma the night of the ball — 
 sit down, Emma — never mind — sit down, and 
 it will all be right — be quick and tell us your 
 news." 
 
 "I have none! how should I have any? 
 all the news is here. Well ! you see I have 
 followed up my game pretty quickly, have I 
 not ? have you kept him for me, Rosa ? — 
 or has he been flirting with that pretty par- 
 son's daughter?" 
 
 " He has not indeed. If he does, he is 
 very sly about it." 
 
 "And the handsome clergyman? is he as 
 much here as Fanny's poor, wretched Hen- 
 niker?" 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 259 
 
 " More so, I think. Papa and mama make 
 quite a domestic chaplain of him." 
 
 " Then I suppose, by right of seniority, 
 he will share Henniker's fate with Julia?" 
 
 " No, indeed ! " Lady Rosa coloured crim- 
 son, "he is a sort of person who keeps you 
 at arm's length ; the last man on earth, I 
 should think, to be refused." 
 
 "Really !" exclaimed Miss Joddrell, with a 
 significant smile, " perhaps I may act the 
 part of a kind friend and repeat that remark 
 to him some day. But about Ellerley — how 
 long does he stay ? " 
 
 "He goes up to town to-morrow to join 
 his regiment for the first time." 
 
 " Oh, Rosa, what a foolish girl you are not 
 to exert yourself a little more for such a prize 
 in the great lottery. My dear, you must be 
 in love with somebody else." 
 
 "I am no such thing, that I am aware 
 of," retorted the beauty, " but Lord Ellerley 
 
 s 2 
 
260 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 I never could get on with, from the 
 first day I ever saw him, and though le jeu 
 in this case is very well worth the chandelle, 
 it is too much trouble for me, and I give 
 him up." 
 
 « To me?— thank you." 
 
 " To you, or anybody — not that I think he 
 admires your style, Emma." 
 
 " Does he not? you are very much 
 mistaken. I never saw any one more de- 
 lighted to see me again, than he was last 
 night." 
 
 " The delight was all on your side — I was 
 watching you." 
 
 Fortunately Lady Julia returned at this 
 moment, accompanied by her mother ; and 
 Lady Linton, with as good a grace as she was 
 able to summon up, welcomed her uninvited 
 guest. 
 
 All that day at dinner, the deep-set, 
 anxious eyes of Dr. Burgess wandered round 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 261 
 
 the table, and scanned each member of the 
 company. It was not long before they fixed 
 themselves on Miss Joddrell, who, seated 
 next to Lord Ellerley, appeared as usual 
 to be entertaining him with some very 
 animated recital, and rivetting his whole 
 attention. 
 
 "My dear friend Cuthbert," said he to the 
 young clergyman, who, from a paucity of 
 ladies, happened to be next to him, " I never 
 saw Ellerley so animated. What does it 
 mean ? " 
 
 " Literally nothing, sir, as far as his lord- 
 ship is concerned," was the answer. 
 
 " But the young lady seems making the 
 most of him — am I mistaken?" 
 
 " I think not, sir." 
 
 " Surely it is Miss Joddrell the heiress ? 
 — I thought so. Well — I must not be 
 too anxious about my duckling when 
 first he takes to the water, but really 
 
262 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 she has succeeded in engrossing him very 
 completely." 
 
 " Lord Ellerley," Miss Joddrell was saying 
 at the same time, "that excellent and dear old 
 Dr. Burgess has been staring at me for so 
 long, that if he does not soon remove those 
 wonderfully penetrating eyes of his, I must 
 leave the table." 
 
 " I think he is in a reverie," said Ellerley, 
 laughing heartily, "his eyes are fixed, but he 
 does not know on what object. He does it 
 constantly." 
 
 "What a terrible person to live with !" 
 
 " On the contrary," added Ellerley, warmly, 
 " if you knew him as I do, you would esteem, 
 regard, and venerate him as I do." 
 
 So that evening Miss Joddrell, instead of 
 fastening upon Lord Ellerley as she usually 
 did, devoted herself to Dr. Burgess, not 
 greatly to his satisfaction, since the more 
 he saw of her, the less he liked her. Still, 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 263 
 
 he allowed himself to be drawn into con- 
 versation because he felt that keen, deep 
 interest in Ellerley which made him anxious 
 to enlist all Ellerley's friends amongst his 
 own. 
 
 He knew too, that on his next visit to 
 the duke, he should be minutely questioned 
 as to all the acquaintances his young 
 grandson had formed, and he wished 
 to report favorably of this new favorite, 
 if possible. 
 
 But the young lady was not one likely 
 to fascinate a man of his many years. 
 She was too forward, too lively, too bruyante, 
 and though he tried to quench the unchari- 
 table thought, he took it into his head she 
 was designing. 
 
 Thus, though the impression he himself 
 made was favorable, and the heiress told El- 
 lerley his tutor was a dear, darling duck of 
 an old man, the rector went to bed that night 
 
264 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 disliking and dreading Miss Joddrell, though 
 why he could not tell. 
 
 From Linton Dr. Burgess, Brenda, and 
 Lord Ellerley went towards Morden Park, 
 the Duke of Arran's present residence, 
 leaving Brenda on their way at her aunt 
 Mrs. Pearson's. Had not the young earl 
 been better informed, this would have been 
 looked upon in the light of a casual visit, 
 but knowing that it was not so, his deli- 
 cacy prevented his asking any questions. 
 One glance at his tutor's saddened, care- 
 worn face was sufficient to prevent his trying 
 to penetrate behind the veil which Dr. Bur- 
 gess had drawn over his domestic affairs. He 
 was, therefore, obliged to content himself 
 with forming inward plans for the future, and 
 picturing to himself the day when by his 
 means, these clouds should be dispersed. 
 
 This visit to the Duke of Arran's was 
 an important era in the life of both tutor 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 265 
 
 and pupil. It was the formal resignation, 
 on the part of the rector, of his charge, and 
 the formal launching of Lord Ellerley into 
 the world, and tears, scalding tears, yet tears 
 of gratitude to heaven and affection towards 
 his pupil, rushed to the eyes of Dr. Burgess 
 as he gazed at the fine figure and handsome 
 face of the young man, and thought within 
 himself, 
 
 "As far as in me lay, God knows I have 
 tried my best to make the mental qualities 
 correspond with the gifts of nature, so that I 
 can answer to my conscience in this world, 
 and to my Maker in the next, that, to the 
 utmost of my ability, I have ' done my best 
 by him, for this world and the next/ Heaven 
 grant that to my dying day I may be able to 
 say the same." 
 
 From this time the life of the young earl 
 became like that of every other young man 
 " about town," loaded, as he was, with 
 
266 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 every gift that fortune could bestow upon 
 him, yet nothing seemed to spoil or vitiate 
 the natural goodness and amiability of his 
 disposition. Now and then, on a short 
 leave, he would take a run down to Wor- 
 thington, (where he always found the rector 
 alone) and he never left the Rectory without 
 his old tutor inwardly exclaiming after his 
 departure that he was "one in a thou- 
 sand." 
 
 His seasons in town he always spent with 
 the Lintons, in as far as he met the countess 
 and her daughters, morning, noon, and 
 night, at some dejeuner, dinner, ball, or 
 party, and even the duke had now given 
 up warning him against manoeuvring mothers, 
 so immense, so vast, was the circle of his 
 flirtations. 
 
 And no wonder, for in what house would 
 not the young Earl of Ellerley, future Duke 
 of Arran, and possessor of untold wealth, be 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 267 
 
 welcomed with open arms? The world was 
 indeed at his feet, yet so effective had been 
 the lessons and precepts of his childhood and 
 boyhood, that amidst all the adulation, he 
 remained unspoilt, and, amidst all the nets 
 laid for him, uncaught. 
 
 " I told you long ago," would Lord Lisle 
 often and often say to his mother, "that El- 
 lerley is not a likely man to marry, so you 
 will all set your traps in vain if you think to 
 inveigle him into a match." 
 
 " I am sure we never dreamt of inveigling 
 him," retorted the whole trio of ladies, " but 
 there are those who do, and who may succeed 
 too." 
 
 " I doubt it, in fact I don't believe it," 
 said Lord Lisle, more sincerely than politely, 
 "unless, indeed, you mean your clear friend 
 Emma Joddrell, who has assurance enough 
 for anything." 
 
 " Emma Joddrell makes perfect game of 
 
268 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 him," exclaimed Lady Rosa ; " I don't believe 
 she would condescend to set at him." 
 
 "Possibly," replied Lord Lisle, "but all I 
 know is that she has made a bet about him, 
 and that is, that before he becomes Duke of 
 Arran she will seal her letters with a coronet 
 as Countess of Ellerley ! " 
 
269 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Two years more have passed. Two years 
 do not pass without changes, and these were 
 not quiet years, nor were the changes slight, 
 as they passed over those with whom these 
 pages have made us acquainted. 
 
 Both at Worthington and at Linton, life's 
 scene had been very chequered. Lady Fanny 
 Lisle had suddenly thrown off her weeds and 
 married brilliantly. Lady Julia and Miss 
 Joddrell were still pursuing their wild career, 
 and Lady Rosa — in no one perhaps had so 
 great a change taken place as in Lady Rosa 
 Lisle. 
 
 From being the gayest of the gay, the 
 
270 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 vainest, and the most headstrong, she was 
 now the quietest, the most retiring, and the 
 most reluctant to join in the gay and giddy 
 pursuits of her sister and her friend. 
 
 Lady Rosa in London got up at seven 
 o'clock, went out at eight, and no one knew 
 what became of her. Lady Eosa at Linton 
 was a district visitor, a teacher in the schools, 
 an indefatigable sempstress, and in fact, to 
 Mr. Cuthbert, a lay curate. 
 
 He was delighted with her. He recanted 
 his old opinions regarding her — he looked 
 upon her as a reformed character — and 
 though he had always obstinately refused to see 
 any beauty in the dazzling belle of the ball- 
 room, Lady Rosa in her straw-bonnet and 
 simple dress, going from cottage to cottage, 
 and school to school, was, in his eyes, a 
 beautiful and admirable object. 
 
 In all his parochial labours she assisted 
 him. In all his duties she shared, and in 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 271 
 
 all his pursuits and projects she took a deep 
 and lively interest, and whilst the gay world 
 called her a saint, Linton and its young 
 rector thought her an angel. 
 
 To the worldly hearts of Lord and Lady 
 Linton this defalcation of the daughter of 
 whom they had expected most, was a bitter 
 trial, for Eosa had had more offers and 
 better ones, than either of her sisters, and 
 had calmly refused them all ; one parti in 
 particular — not Lord Ellerley, but one nearly 
 as advantageous — would take no refusal, and 
 pertinaciously followed the family down to 
 Linton, and still the Lady Eosa said him 
 nay. 
 
 In despair Lady Linton spoke to Mr. Cuth- 
 bert, who was Vami intime de la maison, and 
 implored him to try and persuade the wilful 
 girl to listen to reason. 
 
 " Where can she ever find such another as 
 Lord Chessingham ? " said the mother, almost 
 
272 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 in tears ; " you know him, Mr. Cuthbert — 
 you know how good and excellent he is — 
 can you in any way account for Rosa's ob- 
 stinacy ? " 
 
 " I cannot, indeed," Mr. Cuthbert an- 
 swered, sincerely and earnestly; " there are, 
 as you say, very few so good and excellent 
 as Lord Chessingham, and I am truly sorry 
 that Lady Rosa cannot see him in the light 
 that we do." 
 
 "Then you side with me?" said Lady 
 Linton, eagerly. 
 
 " Most assuredly I do. It would make me 
 happy to see your daughter married to so 
 worthy a man." 
 
 " How you rejoice me ! " exclaimed Lady 
 Linton, who, apparently, had some secret idea 
 in her head which led her not to expect quite 
 this reply ; " if you feel so completely as I do, 
 you can assist me beyond everything ! Speak 
 to her, Mr. Cuthbert — speak to her earnestly, 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 273 
 
 as you only can speak — and implore her for 
 my sake, for her father's, for her own, not to 
 reject Lord Chessingham ! Had there been 
 one single objection which it was possible 
 to raise against him, I would die rather 
 than urge her, but there is not! — tell her 
 so — talk to her — persuade her — bring her to 
 reason, dear Mr. Cuthbert, and "we shall be 
 everlastingly indebted to you." 
 
 " I will try," said Mr. Cuthbert, " I will 
 promise to try, but I honestly confess to you 
 I have my fears. Lady Rosa seems so wedded 
 to the life she now leads that — " 
 
 " Yes ! " interrupted Lady Linton, vehe- 
 mently, "but she might lead just the same 
 life, as Lady Chessingham, and yet attain to 
 the position in which I and Lord Linton wish 
 so much to see her placed. I may say it is 
 the dearest wish of our hearts." 
 
 " That is very true," said the young rector, 
 after a brief pause ; "as Lady Chessingham 
 
 vol. I. T 
 
274 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 she might even have a wider field for exertion, 
 and for doing good. Yonr ladyship is quite 
 right — the first moment I have an opportunity 
 of speaking to Lady Rosa in private, I will 
 use any little influence I may possess, and do 
 my utmost to advance your views, believing, 
 as I firmly do, that in so doing I am condu- 
 cing to her happiness in the end." 
 
 The opportunity for which Mr. Cuthbert 
 looked, he was not long in finding. His avo- 
 cations threw him into constant communica- 
 tion with the young lady, and one fresh lovely 
 morning in early summer he met her about 
 two miles from home, and resolved to walk 
 back to Linton with her, for the express 
 purpose of holding the desired conversa- 
 tion. 
 
 Mr. Cuthbert was not a man to circum- 
 locute. He was naturally candid, open, 
 and straightforward. He entered at once 
 upon his subject. 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 275 
 
 " Lady Rosa/' he began, in his abrupt and 
 rather formal manner, U I am going to have 
 the honour of walking home with you. I 
 have something to say — " 
 
 She turned her clear blue eyes on him — 
 her lips parted as if to speak, and then the 
 colour rushed into her cheeks, and she said 
 nothing. 
 
 " Were I unsanctioned by your parents, 
 your ladyship might justly accuse me of pre- 
 sumption," he continued, looking with some 
 surprise at the agitation which seemed sud- 
 denly to seize her, "but perhaps you already 
 know — or guess — why I take this opportunity 
 of demanding your attention ? " 
 
 " No," stammered the young girl, quicken- 
 ing her steps so much that he had greatly 
 to accelerate his own pace to keep up with 
 her; "no — I cannot — that is, I — I am not 
 sure — " 
 
 " But if you only suspect" said he, "you 
 
 t2 
 
276 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 would very much assist me in a most perplex- 
 ing task — " 
 
 She hesitated, and paused, and hesitated 
 again. At last, 
 
 " Well — perhaps I do. I don't know — but 
 perhaps I can just suspect — " 
 
 " That my mission is to speak to you 
 on the subject of — Lord Chessingham." 
 
 She gave a quick, short start — stopped 
 suddenly, and flashed her eyes upon him 
 with all their quondam fire. 
 
 " Of Lord Chessingham? — no, indeed, Mr. 
 Cuthbert, this I did not expect, or suspect 
 either!'' 
 
 " Then," said he, raising his head and look- 
 ing rather haughtily down on her glowing and 
 indignant face, " may I ask what your lady- 
 ship did expect or suspect ? " 
 
 " Not that\" she exclaimed, passionately ; 
 " that is a subject on which you have no right 
 to speak!" 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 277 
 
 " I own it, Lady Rosa ; but at the earnest 
 request of your mother — " 
 
 " I knew it ! " she murmured. 
 
 " — and impelled also by my own anxiety for 
 your happiness and welfare — " 
 
 " Mr. Cuthbert," said she, her voice trem- 
 bling, and tears following the flash of anger, 
 " you distress me!" 
 
 " If I do, I grieve ; but Lady Rosa I have 
 promised, and I must perform." 
 
 " No — say I would not listen to you ! " 
 
 "But you will. You never yet refused to 
 listen to me — " 
 
 "Ah!" 
 
 This interjection came through Lady 
 Rosa's closed teeth like a long hissing 
 sigh. 
 
 " — and this is a subject on which so 
 much of your future happiness depends." 
 
 "And misery." 
 
 " True ; but Lord Chessingham is not one 
 
278 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 to make anybody miserable. He is good, 
 amiable — an exemplary son, an excellent 
 brother — upright, honorable, high in rank 
 and in the estimation of all the world — " 
 "He is all that." 
 
 " What more then would you have ?" 
 " I would have," said she, looking straight 
 before her, pressing her hand tightly on 
 her heart, and speaking in a clear, dis- 
 tinct whisper, " a man that I could — 
 love!" 
 
 "And honor, respect, esteem?" 
 " That I could love" she repeated empha- 
 tically, still perseveringly avoiding Mr. 
 Cuthbert's penetrating eyes ; " and I 
 neither love nor ever shall love, Lord 
 Chessingham. Mr. Cuthbert ! " she ex- 
 claimed, suddenly, "you know I do 
 not ! " 
 
 "I?" said he, somewhat surprised, "nay, 
 Lady Kosa, till now I never presumed to 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 279 
 
 judge of your feelings with regard to him. 
 I only know that you have certainly re- 
 jected him — perhaps more than once — and 
 I think I know you too well to attribute 
 your conduct to caprice. Still I confess I 
 am at a loss, considering all his lord- 
 ship^ almost fabulous worldly advan- 
 tages — " 
 
 " I care nothing for them ! " she cried, 
 petulantly. 
 
 " Supported, too, as his lordship is by both 
 Lord and Lady Linton, who are most desirous 
 of seeing you so happily settled, I confess I 
 am at a loss to conjecture the motive of your 
 refusal." 
 
 " Did mama tell you to say all this?" 
 asked Lady Rosa, her voice choked with 
 tears. 
 
 "No — but she begged me to talk to 
 you — to try and persuade you — to reason 
 with you — " 
 
280 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 *• And to drive me to my own misery and 
 despair ! " 
 
 •• Xo, Lady Rosa. Those who love you 
 would not wittingly do that." 
 
 tk You are doing it/ 7 she exclaimed in the 
 same vehement manner. 
 
 Mr. Cuthbert was going to reply, and 
 suddenly stopped. Something seemed to 
 strike him, and the blood flew up to his 
 temples. They were at least a mile from 
 home, quite alone. They were just entering 
 a wood which skirted Linton Park, and a 
 stile stopped their progress for a moment. 
 Instead of crossing it as usual, Lady Rosa 
 sat down on it, and hid her face in her hands. 
 
 " But you do not know/' said she, 
 " what you are doing ! otherwise, surely, 
 surely — " 
 
 •"I know so far/' continued Mr. Cuth- 
 bert, recovering himself, "that I am urging 
 you to reflect before you cast from you, 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 281 
 
 beyond recovery, an affection which I believe 
 to be as sincere as it is deep." 
 
 " You urge me?" she asked, looking up in 
 his face, tears hanging on her eyelashes, 
 "you of all people, Mr. Cuthbert?" 
 
 "I" he answered, sitting down by her side, 
 " I who for so long have taken a deep interest 
 in you, and watched with the most sincere 
 pleasure the gradual improvement which has 
 changed a light and frivolous character — for- 
 give me — " 
 
 " Oh, go on ! never mind my feelings ! you 
 will not wound them more than you have 
 already done." 
 
 " — a light and frivolous character then, 
 into one which I cannot sufficiently admire and 
 approve." 
 
 " And yet then !" cried Lady Rosa, clasping 
 her hands, and turning towards him her 
 beautiful though tear-stained face, " and yet 
 you would give me to this man ! " 
 
282 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 " As to one worthy of you," said Mr. Cuth- 
 bert, almost sternly, but as he spoke, the 
 colour again dyed his face, and his voice shook. 
 A cold sort of faintness came over him. He 
 felt now, the painful and delicate position in 
 which he was placed, for he could no longer 
 disguise from himself that the conversation 
 was taking a turn which he had never for one 
 moment contemplated. 
 
 " Without one spark of love on my side, 
 would you have me marry him ? " 
 
 " Lady Rosa, you respect and you esteem 
 him." 
 
 "Mr. Cuthbert, do you consider that 
 enough ? " 
 
 He was silent — perplexed what to an- 
 swer — and her eyes were still fastened on his 
 face. 
 
 "You do not!" she exclaimed, trium- 
 phantly, "thank Heaven you do not! — but 
 then," and her voice fell tremulously, " if you 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 283 
 
 do not, what have I done that you should urge 
 me to such a fate ? — have I not, ever since 
 I became as it were your pupil, studied in 
 thought, and word, and act, to make myself 
 worthy of your attention and interest ? have I 
 not striven to cast off what you disapproved 
 in my character, and night and day prayed to 
 follow what you taught me was right and 
 good? have I not manfully struggled to sub- 
 due within me what your precepts told me 
 was sinful? and have I not, as far as 
 poor weak human nature can conquer, con- 
 quered?" 
 
 " Lady Rosa, Lady Rosa/' cried he, rising 
 and speaking tenderly, yet bitterly, " you 
 have done all this — and as I told you, I can- 
 not now sufficiently admire and approve, 
 what I once, in an earlier stage of our 
 acquaintance, so often and so boldly con- 
 demned." 
 
 "But for whom," she continued rapidly, 
 
284 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 as the hectic deepened on her cheek, 
 and the tears dried in her glittering eyes, 
 "for whom do you think I did it? do you 
 think I had no object?" 
 
 "Yes," said Mr. Cuthbert, "I hope- 
 think — firmly believe indeed, that your object 
 was one which is worthy of yourself. Did I 
 not feel convinced that you were labouring 
 for a reward where no good actions are 
 unrecorded, or forgotten, I should be pain- 
 fully disappointed in the estimate I 
 have lately formed of your character." 
 
 "Then be disappointed!" cried the young 
 girl passionately, " better be that — better lose 
 a step in your good opinion than let you think 
 that in working so hard as I have done, I had 
 no thought for your approbation ! Good 
 Heavens!" she added, suddenly covering 
 her face with her hands, " can it be pos- 
 sible that I have been so blind? — are you 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 285 
 
 so cold, so utterly heartless, that you do 
 not care to think that it is you, and you 
 alone who have wrought this change in me ? — 
 can you have lived with us so long, and 
 studied so carefully to correct my faults, 
 and taken all this deep interest in me, 
 merely to urge me, just as I have attained 
 to the point which I thought would — " 
 
 a Lady Rosa," said Mr. Cuthbert, "hush! 
 say not another syllable, lest in a calmer 
 moment you repent it. You are in a state of 
 excitement which renders you unaccountable 
 for your words, but rest assured when you 
 quietly reflect over this conversation, that 
 anything you may have uttered unguardedly, 
 will be held sacred by me — only say no more 
 till you are calmer. Walk gently home, and 
 think on what I have said to you. To- 
 morrow we can resume the subject — not 
 to-day — to-morrow, with a calmer judg- 
 
286 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 ment, you will be able to decide on the 
 answer which is to pronounce your future 
 fate." 
 
 "Do you then require words?" said 
 Lady Rosa, still in the same intemperate 
 manner. " Can you not read me without 
 words ? Are you so cruel as still to urge 
 me in spite of all that has passed ? Do 
 you mean that you ask this sacrifice of 
 me, Mr. Cuthbert ? Do you mean that 
 you wish me to marry Lord Chessing- 
 ham?— " 
 
 " Lady Rosa — your parents — " 
 
 "But you — you! — without esteem — with- 
 out love — without even regard — would it 
 be right?" 
 
 Mr. Cuthbert was silent. There was no 
 tumult at that young man's heart — nothing 
 but pain and sorrow — he grieved for her, but 
 he could not feel with her. 
 
 " And supposing/' she continued, her voice 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 287 
 
 trembling so violently that she was hardly in- 
 telligible, " supposing too, that all this time, 
 I loved another ? " 
 
 It was asked in a whisper — so humbly, so 
 hesitatingly, so falteringly — how could he be 
 harsh and stern with her ? — no, but he took 
 her hands gently in his, and raised her 
 from her seat without allowing himself to 
 meet her gaze. 
 
 " Lady Eosa," said he, "I craved your 
 attention to this subject at the earnest en- 
 treaty of Lady Linton, and in accepting 
 the mission I had no intention of presum- 
 ing to encroach beyond the prescribed limits. 
 To draw from you a confession, and wring 
 from you in an agitated moment, a secret 
 with which they are unacquainted, would 
 be worse than a breach of confidence on 
 my part — it would be an act of the blackest 
 treachery. For my sake, therefore, if not 
 for your own, v he added, pointedly and em- 
 
288 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 phatically, "for the present forbear, but 
 to-morrow you will find me ready to listen 
 to you again, and rejoiced if anything I 
 have said to-day should induce you to 
 acquiesce in the wishes of your parents." 
 
 "My parents !" murmured she, as if to 
 herself, as she walked hurriedly on, "my 
 parents ! — what an advocate for them to 
 choose ! — by this they have, perhaps, lost 
 me my only friend ! " 
 
 " If you mean me," said Mr. Cuthbert, 
 " you are greatly mistaken, Lady Rosa. No 
 one but a true friend would have acted towards 
 you this day as I have done. I have risked 
 offending one for whom, without, I hope, 
 presumption, I have ventured to entertain 
 the most sincere regard." 
 
 There was an impatient toss of Lady 
 Rosa's head, but she said nothing, and 
 they walked on towards Linton side by 
 side. 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 289 
 
 It was a walk of half an hour, but not a 
 word was uttered by either during the whole 
 of the time, not even at parting. Lady 
 Rosa paused at the iron gate of Linton — 
 Mr. Cuthbert paused too, because it was 
 opposite to the little wicket leading to the 
 Rectory, both close together. Both waited 
 for the other to speak. Neither spoke, and 
 they parted. 
 
 It was an episode in the life of each, but, 
 of the two, Mr. Cuthbert felt it most. In 
 his lonely home that evening, he thought 
 over the conversation that had taken place 
 between himself and Lady Rosa Lisle, and 
 instead of feeling elated to think that the 
 heart of a beautiful and high-born girl had 
 that day been all but tendered to him 
 and he had rejected it, the idea depressed 
 him. 
 
 He had no vanity — he had little self- 
 esteem — so that he hardly knew that either 
 
 vol. I. u 
 
290 THE ONLY CHILD. 
 
 offer or rejection had taken place. He only 
 felt that by some error of his own, a miscon- 
 ception had arisen in her mind, which he had 
 happily had an opportunity of correcting, but 
 that it ever should have arisen, was grievous 
 to him, and he blamed himself alone. 
 
 As for Lady Rosa, she gained her room in a 
 state which only those of her impetuous nature 
 can understand. She fancied she had betrayed 
 her secret to Mr. Cuthbert. Now that the first 
 burst of her anguish at finding him totally 
 indifferent to her preference had subsided, she 
 looked back upon the hour that had passed 
 with horror and despair. She had but one 
 hope, and that was, that he had been as un- 
 observant as he was unconscious, and her plan 
 for the future, whenever they should meet 
 again was, to rouse him from his insensibility 
 and pique him if possible into at least some 
 sort of regret. 
 
 He had postponed all further argument 
 
THE ONLY CHILD. 291 
 
 until the next day. So be it then. The next 
 
 day should judge between them. It should 
 
 mark either her triumph or his downfall. 
 That things could go on between them as 
 they now were, was impossible. 
 The next day should decide. 
 
 END OF VOL. I. 
 
 R. BORN, PRINTER, GLOUCESTER STREET, CAMDEN TOWN. 
 
13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 
 
 MESSRS. HURST AND BLACKETT, 
 
 SUCCESSORS TO MR. COLBURN, 
 HAVE JUST PUBLISHED THE FOLLOWING NEW WORKS. 
 
 ORIENTAL AND WESTERN SIBERIA; A 
 
 Narrative of Seven Years' Explorations and Adventures 
 in Siberia, Mongolia, the Kirghis Steppes, Chinese Tartart, 
 and Central Asia. By THOS. WITLAM ATKINSON. In 
 
 one large volume, royal 8vo., embellished with upwards of 50 illus- 
 trations, including numerous beautifully colored Plates, from Draw- 
 ings by the Author, and a Map. Price £2 2s., elegantly bound. 
 "By virtue alike of its text and pictures, we place this book of travel in the first 
 rank among those illustrated gift books now so much sought by the public. It is a 
 valuable addition to the literature of travel. Mr. Atkinson's book is most readable. 
 The geographer finds in it notice of ground heretofore left undescribed ; the ethnolo- 
 gist, geologist, and botanist, find notes and pictures, too, of which they know the 
 value ; the sportsman's taste is gratified by chronicles of sport, the lover of adventure 
 will find a number of perils and escapes to hang over, and the lover of a frank, good 
 humoured way of speech will find the book a pleasant one in every page." — Examiner. 
 
 MEMOIRS OF BERANGER. Written by Himself*. 
 
 English Copyright Edition. Second Edition, with numerous 
 additional Anecdotes and Notes. 1 vol. 8vo., with Portrait. 
 "This is the copyright translation of Be'ranger's Biography. It appears in a hand- 
 some volume, and is worthy of all praise as an honest piece of work. In this account 
 of his life the poet displays all the mingled gaiety and earnestness, the warm-hearted 
 sincerity inseparable from his character. He tells with an exquisite simplicity the 
 story of his early years. The charm of the narrative is altogether fresh. It includes 
 many sketches of contemporaries, and free judgments upon men and things. The 
 book should be read by all."— Examiner. 
 
 MR. TUPPER'S NEW WORK.— RIDES AND 
 
 REVERIES OF ^ESOP SMITH. By MARTIN F. TUPPER. 
 
 1 vol., 10s. 6d. bound. 
 "Mr. Tupper's new work will do good service to his literary reputation. It com- 
 bines with lucidity and acuteness of judgment freshness of fancy and elegance of sen- 
 timent. In its cheerful and instructive pages sound moral principles are forcibly 
 inculcated, and every-day truths acquire an air of novelty, and are rendered peculiarly 
 attractive by being expressed in that epigrammatic language which so largely contri- 
 buted to the popularity of the author's former work, 'Proverbial Philosophy.'" — 
 Morning Post. 
 
 A WOMAN'S THOUGHTS ABOUT WOMEN. 
 
 Bv the Author of "JOHN HALIFAX, GENTLEMAN." 1 vol. 
 10s. 6d. 
 
 " A book of sound counsel; well written, true hearted, and practical." — Examiner. 
 
 "This excellent book is characterised by good sense, good taste, and feeling, and is 
 written in an earnest philanthropic, as well as practical, spirit."— Post. 
 
 " A very er- -Uent and thoughtful work by a writer who has attained a high degree 
 of celebrity, onering to her own sex reflections and suggestions on subjects of the 
 greatest importance. The book is written in a frank and fearless spirit, earnest in 
 purpose and practical in tone."— Sun. 
 
 CHOW-CHOW; BEING SELECTIONS FROM 
 
 A JOURNAL KEPT IN INDIA, &c. By the VISCOUNTESS 
 FALKLAND. Second Edition, Revised. In 2 vols. 8vo., with 
 illustrations, 30s. bound. 
 
^ntier tfje lEspecfal Patronage of 
 HER MAJESTY & H.R.H. THE PRINCE CONSORT, 
 
 NOW READY, IN ONE VOLUME, ROYAL 8vO., 
 
 WITH THE ARMS BEAUTIFULLY ENGRAVED, 
 
 Handsomely Bound, with Gilt Edges, 
 
 LODGE'S PEEBAGE 
 
 AND 
 
 BARONETAGE, 
 
 For 1858. 
 
 ARRANGED AND PRINTED FROM 
 
 THE PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS OE THE NOBILITY, 
 
 AND CORRECTED THROUGHOUT TO THE PRESENT TIME. 
 
 Lodge's Peerage and Baronetage is acknowledged to be 
 the most complete, as well as the most elegant, work of the kind 
 that has ever appeared. As an established and authentic authority 
 on all questions respecting the family histories, honours, and con- 
 nexions of the titled aristocracy, no work has ever stood so high. 
 It is published under the especial patronage of Her Majesty, and 
 His Royal Highness the Prince Consort, and is annually corrected 
 throughout, from the personal communications of the Nobility. 
 It is the only work of its class in which, the type being kept con- 
 stantly standing, every correction is made in its proper place to the 
 date of publication, an advantage which gives it supremacy over all 
 its competitors. Independently of its full and authentic information 
 respecting the existing Peers and Baronets of the realm, the most 
 sedulous attention is given in its pages to the collateral branches of 
 the various noble families, and the names of many thousand indi- 
 viduals are introduced, which do not appear in other records of the 
 titled classes. Nothing can exceed the facility of its arrangements, 
 or the beauty of its typography and binding, and for its authority, 
 correctness and embellishments, the work is justly entitled to the 
 high place it occupies on the tables of Her Majesty and the Nobility. 
 
 [ FOR THE CONTENTS OF THIS WORK SEE NEXT PAGE. ] 
 
LODGE'S PEERAGE AND BARONETAGE. 
 
 LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL CONTENTS. 
 
 Historical View of the Peerage. 
 Parliamentary Roll of the House of 
 
 Lords. 
 English, Scotch, and Irish Peers, in 
 
 their orders of Precedence. 
 Alphabetical List of Peers of Great 
 
 Britain and the United Kingdom, 
 
 holding superior rank in the Scotch 
 
 or Irish Peerage. 
 Alphabetical List of Scotch and Irish 
 
 Peers, holding superior titles in the 
 
 Peerage of Great Britain and the 
 
 United Kingdom. 
 A Collective List of Peers, in their 
 
 order of Precedence. 
 Table of Precedency among Men. 
 Table of Precedency among Women. 
 The Queen and Royal Family. 
 The House of Saxe Coburg-Gotha. 
 Peers of the Blood Royal. 
 The Peerage, alphabetically arranged. 
 Families of such Extinct Peers as have 
 
 left Widows or Issue. 
 Alphabetical List of the Surnames of 
 
 all the Peers. 
 
 Account of the Archbishops and 
 Bishops of England, Ireland, and 
 the Colonies. 
 
 The Baronetage, alphabetically ar- 
 ranged. 
 
 Alphabetical List of Surnames as- 
 sumed by members of Noble 
 Families. 
 
 Alphabetical List of the Second 
 Titles of Peers, usually borne by 
 their Eldest Sons. 
 
 Alphabetical Index to the Daughters 
 of Dukes, Marquises, and Earls, 
 who, having married Commoners, 
 retain the title of Lady before their 
 own Christian and their Husbands' 
 Surnames. 
 
 Alphabetical Index to the Daugh- 
 ters of Viscounts and Barons, who, 
 having married Commoners, are 
 styled Honourable Mrs ; and, in case 
 of the husband being a Baronet or 
 Knight, Honourable Lady. 
 
 Mottoes alphabetically arranged and 
 translated. 
 
 "A work which corrects all errors of former works. It is the production of a herald, we 
 had almost said, by birth, but certainly, by profession and studies, Mr. Lodge, the Norroy 
 King of Arms. It is a most useful publication." — Times. 
 
 " Lodge's Peerage must supersede all other works of the kind, for two reasons; first, it is 
 on a better plan; and, secondly, it is better executed. We can safely pronounce it to be the 
 readiest, the most useful, and exactest of modern works on the subject." — Spectator. 
 
 "This work derives great value from the high authority of Mr. Lodge. The plan is 
 excellent." — Literary Gazette. 
 
 " This work should form a portion of every gentleman's library. At all times, the infor- 
 mation which it contains, derived from official sources exclusively at the command of the 
 author, is of importance to most classes of the community; to the antiquary it must be 
 invaluable, for implicit reliance may be placed on its contents." — Globe. 
 
 "The production of Edmund Lodge, Esq., Norroy King of Arms, whose splendid Bio- 
 graphy of Illustrious Personages stands an unrivalled specimen of historical literature, and 
 magnificent illustration. Of Mr. Lodge's talent for the task he has undertaken, we need 
 only appeal to his former productions. It contains the exact state of the Peerage as it now 
 exists, with all the Collateral Branches, their Children, with all the Marriages of the different 
 individuals connected with each family." — John Bull. 
 
 HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS, 
 
 SUCCESSORS TO HENRY COLBURN, 
 
 13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET, LONDON. 
 TO BE HAD OF ALL BOOKSELLERS THROUGHOUT THE KINGDOM. 
 
o 
 
 
 
 
 
 co 
 
 Vh 
 
 CD 
 
 
 
 
 ID 
 
 co 
 eg 
 
 CO 
 
 <U 
 
 
 
 
 
 > 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 
 T 
 
 o 
 
 Jh 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 ID 
 
 On 
 
 CD 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 J 
 
 -J-J 
 
 
 
 
 
 b/) 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 $-) 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 CM 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 U2 
 
 • l-H 
 
 .2 
 
 
 
 CO 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 .2 
 
 <u 
 
 U2 
 
 4-> 
 
 
 
 
 • 1— 1 
 
 o 
 cu 
 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 
 4-> 
 
 13 
 
 
 
 4-> 
 
 
 -4-> 
 
 o 
 
 
 J3 
 
 -M 
 
 4-1 
 
 CO 
 
 j3 
 
 'So 
 
 CD 
 co 
 CU 
 
 "3 
 
 " — » 
 
 J2 
 
 
 13 
 
 
 6 
 
 »— 1 
 
 1 — 1 
 
 § 
 
 o 
 
 5h 
 
 Oh 
 
 
 3 
 
 IT) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 CJ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 CU 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 co 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 fl 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 bio 
 
 
 
 CD 
 
 
 (—i 
 
 c 
 
 
 
 
 g 
 
 
 
 > 
 
 o 
 
 Ph 
 
 .2 
 
 £ 
 
 
 
 •3 
 
 
 
 •a 
 
 
 4-> 
 
 o 
 
 • 1—i 
 
 
 a 
 
 .3 
 
 4-> 
 
 
 CO 
 
 
 bjO 
 
 
 ■4— > 
 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 aj 
 
 
 • 1— 1 
 
 cu 
 ,r> 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 •3 
 
 -J-» 
 
 4-> 
 
 CD 
 
 s 
 
 
 _^! 
 
 
 +-> 
 
 CO 
 
 £ 
 
 CO 
 
 • »— 1 
 
 £ 
 
 5-. 
 
 
 boo' 
 
 CU 
 
 2 
 
 < 
 
 CO 
 
 < 
 
 o 
 U 
 
 Q *U 
 
 u w 
 
 • «— i 
 
 o 
 
 
 co 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 IS 
 
 *o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 .s 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^>